Author's Note

The First True tale of the Arcana Hotel begins... now. Enjoy.

Features torture and light gore. Viewer discretion is advised.

Wonderbolts Reunion 1 - Misty Night

The misty nights on the plains outside the Galloping Gorge were covered in a rolling mist while the timberwolves howled to the waning moon hovering in the sky above. The site of a grand battle between the Equestrian United Coalition and the combined forces of the Winter Court of the changelings led by Queen Chrysalis. Several fissures and cracks had formed on the battlefield, several created during the final battle when Spike the Dragon had been deployed. While there were several attempts to fix the landscapes there was no possible way due to the magic that was used by Chrysalis.

Under the light of the moon a pegasus mare ran across the war torn plains for some reason beyond her control. A strange sight certainly but it was all she could do. What was once a white coat was now stained a deep crimson as several strands of sinew were torn through the skin. The remnants of her blonde mane covered the small scars that had been cut and recut over and over again as the mottled scar tissue turned a sickly yellow. She hid behind one of the displaced rocks looking around. The pony was hunting her down… she couldn’t keep running forever.

Arctic Spire looked over her body but she could only see so much. The bastard had taken an ice cream scoop… they had used it on her eye… the squelching of the eye popping out of the socket as she screamed in bloody murder. They had taken away half her sight and she wished that that would have been the worse that she had gotten. She wished and despaired when they had pulled their wings out. Sliver by sliver, a feather was plucked every minute by the minute. It had taken two hours for only her right wing. It took another two for her other wing. The agonizing moments as blood dripped from each tip as they were torn. She remembered how she was forced to bathe in her own blood dripping down her fetlocks while she screamed over and over again.

That was only the first night. As she was hung from chains by her now featherless wings she was left in the sun letting the heat beat down on her. The sweat dripping down her body stung every single little cut on her wings as tears streamed down her cheeks only making it worse. They came back the next night and that’s when it started all over again. She didn’t even know why she was being treated so poorly.

They came in wearing a mask over their face but she could tell it was a pegasus. Every few seconds something on their back would twitch. She was also sure that they had wore tail extensions to hide the real color. It was hard to tell through one eye. The other was left hanging from the optic nerve since the previous night.

As soon as he made the first cut in her flank she cried even harder… that made the pony come up licking the tears in exaggerated ecstasy with over anxious shuddering and was could be misconstrued as pre-orgasm mewling. They were enjoying this sick twisted fantasy and she couldn’t even tell if it was a stallion or a mare at this point. The mask hid their features and body style could be anything ever since that prick Wind Rider had tried to frame Rainbow Dash.

She had been one of the Wonderbolt Reserves. Somepony to look up to and now she was being used… Used like a punching bag by some sick freak. All she wanted to do was go to the reunion for all members since their disbandment. She screamed again as her cutie mark was carved off her flank. The pony who did so picked it up in their hoof showing her what they did. Relishing the pain and anguish that washed over her face while they laughed. The voice was scratchy as if they hadn’t spoken in ages… or they were disguising their voice. Whenever she managed to get her remaining eye to focus she saw no cutie mark either. Most likely hidden with makeup.

She needed to escape. She needed to fight back. There were only chains around her. They would get sloppy. So she bided her time and took the abuse. Surprisingly they never tried to… violate her in any matter but the physical torture of cutting and plucking. The standards of a psycho she mused trying desperately to find something other than pain to hold onto. For six days she screamed and cried showing off her powerlessness. She let them think that they had won.

On the seventh day the pony did the unthinkable. They decided to not use the chains to hold her determining in their own twisted minds that they had broken her. Despondent and depressed Arctic Spire decided that then and there was her chance. As the pony brought the knife down again her fetlock she managed to buck them in the side sending them sprawling onto the ground. Instead of running away, she made sure that they were knocked out. With great effort Spire left the psycho a bloody pile of unconscious as she ran out the room that she had been locked in.

In the hallway she finally found a mirror and saw exactly what that… monster did to her. Her eye was gone and the socket had started to corrode and go through necrosis. There were small scars all across her body some cut at the beginning of the week had started to fade only to be cut along the same line once again. Her cutie mark was gone… a pile of spires shaped out like ice. Her mane and tail had been burned slightly allowing the singed portions to touch her flank leaving scorch marks. She wanted to cry, to sob, to wail, to break down and stop. She couldn’t. The monster was still alive and while she thought about killing them, ending the suffering, she couldn’t.

Arctic Spire was a Wonderbolt. She knew what justice was. She knew how justice went. She would make sure that she would make that small portion of her mind proud. The part that kept her from choosing death over life. If she was lucky maybe one of the princesses could save her with their magic. Breaking out of her trance, Spire made her way towards the only other door grabbing a small saddlebag and gingerly placing it on her back. Carefully, she placed her only possessions in there. An invitation for the Wonderbolt Reunion taking place at the Arcana Hotel, her Wonderbolt pin, and the knife that was used to hurt her. Important things only she would even want.

Looking back, she knew it was weird that no one found her. When she exited that door her mouth gaped open realizing just how bad it was. The pony had taken her from her home in Cloudsdale and dragged her away somewhere close to the empty plains past Cloudsdale to the last battlefield of the Second Changeling Invasion.

Unable to fly and horribly injured Arctic Spire made the only choice she could make and decided to gallop to the closest place she could reach. Cloudsdale was a no go since her would be killer was a pegasus. The closest building she could reach was the one she was heading to in the first place. So she galloped as fast as she could to reach her sanctuary.

Each step was agonizing horror as the scars she had accumulated took effect almost immediately when she stepped outside into the cool crisp night air. Each drop of dew that touched her marred skin burned with the intensity of a white hot sun. Every movement of a muscle was the equivalent of taffy being pulled through an arcano-tool. She couldn’t even mitigate it by flying as she looked over the spindly remains of her once proud wings. The thin bone that made up her wings was sticking through the layer of skin on said wing allowing it to be visible.

Cringing she took off over the plains trying desperately to keep to the shadows. While her white coat may have been visible regardless of the shadows, the crimson shade that stained her body made it nothing to worry about. Her captor had made sure not to drain too much blood to savor the look in her eye.

She looked back at the puddle and peered around. The flapping of wings had stopped and she couldn’t hear the tell tale sound of the clip clop of hooves anywhere around her. The psycho had become one with the mist. All she needed to do was find the hotel and she would survive. She had to. Fresh tears fell from her remaining eye surprisingly not yet dried up from her harrowing adventure. She forced them to stop before it got worse and looked around for any other landmarks she could find.

By sheer luck, the moonlight has pierced through the mist revealing a large manor out in the distance. She nearly jumped for joy when she remembered just how much it hurt to move. Steeling her resolve she raced out of the shadows biting back her yowls of pain and ran towards it. The light was spreading the mist further and further than it should be. When she noticed how clear everything was becoming she immediately rushed for cover only to find no cover for her to rush behind. All the stood before her was an empty expanse and a large fissure splitting her off from ruin and safety.

“You really are a fast trotter, aren’t you?” A cold voice came from out of the dissipating mist causing her blood to run cold. She turned her one good eye back to see the same figure merely stepping close to her never at a run but at a gentle canter as if taking his time with the hunt.

“Shut up! You monster!” Spire growled out taking a few steps back. She had nowhere to go and no way to fly away. Again those same shadows crawled over her getting ready to cover her once again in wounds and horror. The pony merely chuckled though only through the motions and not out loud.

She felt that same pressure again. The same pressure and regret now for her more chivalrous nature. She should have killed the monster before her now. The mare known as Arctic Spire would have been gone but the mare left behind would have survived, maybe even flourished as somepony new. A small scattering of dirt fell down below into the fissure with no sound of its eventual thud against the ground below.

“I’m so glad you decided to take this seriously. I’ve been meaning to finish up my little punishment for you. There are still plenty of Wonderbolts around to take care of and plenty to make cry. I enjoyed your tears so thoroughly… If you come back maybe I won’t get rid of you. I’m sure you’ll like that.” The figure said as if it was the sweetest thing in the world.

Spire looked behind her. She could do that. She was in a position where there was no hope at this point. Being turned into an animal for… whatever sick pleasure this pony had was something she didn’t want to be turned into. She froze as they stepped towards her. Her eyes widening in shock as they merely cantered closer. They were right in front of her.

In an act of sheer desperation Spire flung her hooves out knocking away the mask that had clung to the pony’s face. As she turned to run the figure pounced on her holding her now trembling body down as the face came into clear view. When she saw who it was tears freely flowed down her cheeks though the lost eye merely let a trickle of blood flow down from the sudden impact against the ground and her eye rolling off to the side. The pupil staring at the two figures while the mare sputtered out trying to form some semblance of words.

“So you know now…” The voice bluntly whispered as the pony placed their hoof against Arctic Spire’s throat. Once again the mist started enveloping the landscape.

“W-why…?” Spire choked out as the figure merely laughed as a small necklace fell from the cloak that the pony wore. It was in the shape of a pony hanging upside down by their hocks.

“You know damn well why! What is that saying that I always told the rest of the team before hoof? A whorse is a whorse, of course, of course.” The figure growled out before stomping roughly on Spire’s throat causing her to cough up a slight bit of blood before he stepped off to the side.

In their anger, the pony reared his back legs and bucked the pony off into the fissure. With the last ounce of her strength she smacked her throat one more time and let out a piercing shriek into the night as the mist rolled over the landscape turning the area back into the long forgotten battlefield that it once was. The figure sighed but couldn’t immediately go looking for a body in the darkness.

“Crap… It will have to wait till morning… Then I’ll get rid of her for good.” The pony removed their gear placing it in the saddlebags. They lost the mask in the fog after all was said and done and didn’t want to clear the mist in case the ponies living in the hotel heard that shriek. Glaring at his hooves then at the fissure, they grunted in frustration and let their wings flap. Flying off into the night sky, once again hidden by the rolling mist surrounding them.

Ten minutes earlier…

“Welcome to the Arcana Hotel. My name is Four Suits and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. How long will you be staying with us?” Suits intoned to his newly arrived guest only to groan under his breath at who the sudden pony actually was.

“Wow I knew I’d get great service. Who knew it would be by the master of the house themselves.” A thestral mare greeted Suits like an old buddy.

“Nightingale… Always good to see you…” Suits groaned as he realized that he wouldn’t be having another guest come in for the night.

“Hey! Is that any way to treat a beautiful guest such as myself. I’ve come to see my greatest nephew even if we’re not related at all.” Nightingale cheered as she trotted over giving Suits all the attention she could muster pinching his cheeks with her wings while she doddered over him.

“Nightingale… Stop. I’m fine. So what brings you to my neck of the woods so early this night?” Suits chided her before taking on his more professional tone though that was barely audible due to Nightingale’s little screeches while she scanned the room.

While it wasn’t fully known most thestral trained to use echolocation allowing their voices to create the sonic vibrations needed to find objects even in the dark. It was a skill he learned a while back, back when he needed to be taught how to be a noble by Luna and a reserve guard by Nightingale. After she nodded her head in satisfaction she turned back to Suits smiling smugly.

“I checked the area out and I’m confident enough to state no unwanted intruders. Though you do need to do a bit more dusting underneath the benches out here in the hall. Anywho I needed to talk with you about something pretty important and needed to make sure you were still on board for it.” Nightingale summarized as she pulled out a piece of paper from under her wing.

“Sure ‘Auntie’. What do you need from me this time?” Suits snarked as he read over the small scroll.

“We’re trying to get the Wonderbolts to band together and perform again hopefully returning those blue angels to the skies. Those were Princess Celestia’s words. Not mine, “ Nightingale harshly replied before smacking Suits on the head. “Also I’m not that old. Think of me like an older sister.”

“Older sister my hoof…” Suits mumbled under his breath.

“What was that?” Nightingale screeched out.

“Nothing. So they want me to play host to all the Wonderbolts then? Well we got the rooms for it so long as nopony is difficult then it should be fine.” Suits grumbled slightly since his last time hosting the Wonderbolts where Spitfire and Soarin nearly had it out after drinking too much. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash and Fleetfoot had stopped them after they started grinding against each other on one of the tables. It was something he didn’t want to remember since the table was reduced to splinters because of their drunken fight.

“Also Luna is reinstating your guard credentials for these next couple of nights. She says that you will be required to show the nobility and regalness of the Night Guard.” Nightingale snarked slightly.

“In equish if you please.” Suits snarked.

“She said ‘Don’t fuck up’ in the most blunt tone I’ve ever heard. Seriously, I’m pretty sure she sent three nobles into sputtering wrecks for what she said. I was laughing so badly that Azure had to carry me out just for how bad it got. Good times. Good times…” Nightingale sighed out wistfully staring off to some unknown corner of the room lost in memories.

“No pressure, huh?” Suits laughed mirthlessly when he was suddenly stopped by a scream out in the mists.

“Come on Reserve Guard Four Suits. As your commanding officer it’s time to get to work.” Nightingale muttered darkly as the two of them rushed out the door where a small contingent of thestrals were waiting around for her.

“Commander, did you hear that?” Azure Shade saluted.

“No Azure. Of course I didn’t I just decided to rush out of the hotel to declare my undying love for your keen sense of observation. Of course I bucking heard it now get your hooves off the ground and let’s get going to find out what happened!” Nightingale yelled out causing every thestral to take wing while one unicorn trotted along beside them.

“Who’s the unicorn?” Suits whispered to Nightingale as they flew through the mist using their echolocation along the ground.

“First Lunar Unicorn recruit. His name is Waning Crescent. Little on the snout isn’t it?” Nightingale chuckled but her eyes were glued along the ground.

The sound had died out long ago and all the guards on call formed a concentric circle around Waning Crescent as he lit his horn letting out a pulse along the misty ground. After several seconds we moved forward by twenty hooves while several of the guards took flight again and began to lightly flap away the mist.

“We’re getting too close to the fissure Nightingale.” Suits mumbled as they kept walking forward.

“I think I got something Commander!” Waning called out.

Everypony waiting with bated breath as Crescent lifted something in his magic… It was a still intact eyeball with optic nerve still attached. Several of the guards cringed while Suits merely scowled at the sight. Waning looked sick and nearly vomited on the spot but swallowed just as quickly keeping his eyes averted from the sight. Suits had to give the new recruit credit on keeping a level head in this sort of situation.

“Okay ponies. Spread out in pairs and look out for any signs of a body. Azure stay with Waning and check out this area for any more clues. The rest of you spread out. Suits, you’re with me. We’re on fissure duty.” Nightingale ordered the entire squadron as they all flapped out on their mission.

“Great. I’ll pack my cloud floaties.” Suits snarked slightly as he dove head first into the fissure.

“At least you won’t drown with them on in all that darkness.” Nightingale called out.

Azure and Waning looked at each other in differing levels of uncertainty and bemusement. Waning looked as though he wanted to ask something but relented due to his status as new meat.

“Go ahead and ask recruit.” Azure stoically spoke to the now startled unicorn.

“How do you get that level of respect with the Commander to talk with her like that?” Waning muttered as he put the eyeball in a small contained her brought with him.

“You don’t. She decides whether or not you deserve it and then she makes you work for it. Don’t worry about it now and focus on scanning the area for anymore anomalies.” Azure ordered before letting his voice falter to a whisper. “Ten years and I still can’t get her to use my title as a sergeant… “

“What was that, sir?” Waning called out.

“Nothing! Just get to scanning!” Azure yelled out as the thestral guards kept checking out the entire environment.

“Did you find anything yet Suits?” Nightingale called out as she let out another screech to check for the vibrations in the pitch blackness of the fissure.

“Not yet!” Suits called out as he reached the very bottom of the chasm and landed. By sheer luck Quarry Eels had yet to come out this far to live within the cracks.

By night the former battlefield was tarnished in dark magic and seemed to give off an eerie light that permeated the entire plains whenever the moon was at its fullest. It made even the strongest of beasts unwilling to even set foot within the area because of how tarnished the place really was. Another pulse and something completely stood out.

“I think I got something.” Suits called out as Nightingale joined him shortly afterwards.

The two looked around finding a small pair of saddlebags slightly covered in blood and a small collection of items strewn around the impact site. From inside the bag three items had been tossed out. Before Suits could make a grab for anything Nightingale stopped him shaking her head dismissively.

“Let me get Waning down here before we go willy nilly with our hooves. We examine. Don’t touch until we get him down here. I’ll- Look over there.” Nightingale stopped as she pointed to the sight before them.

In all her years she hadn’t seen something as horrible as what was right before her. There on the ground was the broken corpse of what used to be a pegasus. Suits flapped above the body assessing the damage. The wings had been plucked most likely feather by feather. There were several gouges and cuts across her body with every single one either oozing with pus or scabbing over from time. Her neck had bent in an irregular shape allowing the two to see her face. Nightingale had to bite back from screaming in rage. Somepony had decided to scoop out one of her eyes… which explained the eye that was back up on the cliff. Suits couldn’t take anymore and flapped off for the top of the fissure leaving Nightingale behind. She kept watch of the scene slipping into the shadows in case anything happened. They needed to report to the Princess.

“I found something!” Lieutenant Cypress Root called out to his fellow guards.

Cypress Root was one of the larger thestral guards of the group with similar charcoal gray coat but he had very vivid pink eyes and his wings were a lavender shade. A couple paces from his hooves was a very gaudy mask shaped like Shining Armor’s face strangely enough. Both Waning Crescent and Azure Shade came over with the rest of the guards. Crescent quickly catalogued the mask before placing it into one of the bags that he brought with him using his magic.

“This is something I’d never thought I’d see. Whoever this pony is really has an eye for quality when it comes to masks.” Crescent commented innocently on the mask.

“Crescent! Somepony more than likely died!” Azure yelled out.

“Doesn’t change the fact that this mask more than likely makes it premeditated. Even a crime of passion at this point. This pony is sick…” Waning mumbled the last part.

“Private Cypress! Did you find anything else?” Azure demanded his subordinate.

“There were hoofprints but they were scratched away and then immediately stopped before disappearing off into the mist, Sir!” Cypress saluted.

“Don’t do that! Remember we don’t let the enemy tell who’s in charge whenever we’re out on assignment!” Azure hissed as he pushed Cypress’ hoof down.

“Sorry Sir!” Cypress called out causing several of the other thestrals to facehoof.

“Azure! I need a pony to help carry Waning with me!” Suits cried out slightly out of breath as he managed to find the group from Cypress’ voice.

“What for?” Azure stated seeming very concerned.

“What do you think? We found the victim now hurry up and get ready to get down there Waning!” Suits ordered the now scrambling unicorn who made peace with himself.

“Cypress head down there with him!” Azure ordered. “The rest of you create a perimeter and Bramble Fern I need you to report to Princess Luna immediately about this. We’ll need to keep her informed of this incident. Now!”

“Right away Sir!” Both thestrals saluted to the facehoof of Azure once again.

Cypress trotted over to the unicorn and with Suits help picked him up and slowly descended into the abyss. Bramble quickly compiled the information that she managed to gather and the small explanation from Suits while they descended into the abyss before she zoomed off for Canterlot.

“Bramble seems to get the easy jobs, doesn’t she?” Cypress whined a bit.

“You know she doesn’t. She’s just the fastest we got on call tonight. We were supposed to have Shadow Vane tonight but he decided to get drunk the night before.” Waning explained before tensing up again at the constant darkness.

“And you wonder why I didn’t stay with the guard.” Suits rolled his eyes.

“I heard it was cause you couldn’t finish Luna’s Promotion Test.” Cypress chuckled.

“Did you finish her promotion test Cypress?” Suits deadpanned before he shut up and frowned. “Then shut the buck up. Almost nopony completes her high standard test. Nightingale did but she’s insane anyways so it’s fine.”

“Will I have to take that test?” Waning looked at the two of them when they focused completely on him.

“Probably.” Cypress shrugged.

“She’ll probably change it since it was made only for thestrals because of all the flying bits that was part of it. Though you won’t have it for a while. It’s what separates you from being just one of the guards to one of the captains of the Night Guard.” Suits deadpanned slightly

“So… why did you leave?” Waning asked innocently enough.

“You do realize that until you came along Luna had a very… one tracked mind on making the entirety of the Night Guard to be thestrals right? I didn’t want to be there just cause my wings aren’t feathery tufts.” Suits rolled his eyes grunting as they finally came within reach of Nightingale. “Look. Don’t worry about it. Worry about what you two are gonna see here. Most likely than not Princess Luna will be incoming within the next hour. Catalogue the evidence and make sure she doesn’t try that detective bit again. We nearly lost the trail and somehow managed to uncover the Starswirl the Bearded’s remains holding a saxophone.”

“Wait, what?” Waning started before being placed on the ground unceremoniously.

He grumbled slightly until Nightingale cantered up to him. Tapping him on the shoulder he lit his horn up with a light spell releasing a small hovering orb of light to illuminate the fissure. When he saw the body he immediately got to work setting up several scanning spells and checking over the objects as well. Within minutes he catalogued the entirety of her belongings and seemed to be meandering when he saw her face. What might have been hidden in the darkness was apparent to the rest of the ponies nearby. Sorrow. True sorrow permeated his entire being. He lowered his head and kept quiet as he brought out the three objects for our perusal.

“Well… um… It seems this mare was quite the celebrity. A former Wonderbolt if these objects are the real deal but I’m not sure who she actually is. Seems she was on the way for the festivities we were going to discuss with Suits later Commander.” Waning informed them all.

“Unfortunate… anything about the body?” Nightingale scowled towards the body uncertain at what else she was expecting especially this close to the Arcana Hotel.

“She was systematically tortured bit by bit. Most of the wounds on her body had become slightly infected by rust poisoning if I’ve read my scans right. A few even started to turn septic. Her eye was a recent thing, probably popped out within the last day or so. The wings… well those were done slowly and more often than any preening I’ve ever seen. This goes far beyond that. I don’t know whether or not this is good news but there was no sign of any sexual assault. I couldn’t tell you who the mare is either because their cutie mark has been cut off… and I don’t mean that she got it removed surgically. I mean somepony more than likely carved and peeled it off her flank in the most painful way possible and from the time of the wounds it took them at least a week to do it. An entire week of cutting little by little.” Waning finished taking a deep breath as he placed the items away.

Cypress felt sick as he turned further down the fissure swallowing constantly just to keep the disgust from fighting his sensibilities and professionalism off. Suits grunted and looked away uncomfortable at what was going on. Nightingale merely stared off into the distance of the darkness lost of all the mirth that she had before hoof.

“When will Princess Luna be informed?” Nightingale grit her fangs in frustration.

“More than likely two hours, at the very least one hour.” Waning stated.

Bramble Fern rushed through the halls of Canterlot Castle dodging several of her fellow night guards who remained stoically against their posts minding their own business. As she reached the door that led into the throne room she was stopped by the two guards outside.

“Wait a moment. Princess Luna is meeting with a pony right now. Give her a few minutes.” The pony on the left spoke.

“But it’s important! A murder has taken place.” Bramble explained. Both guard's eyes widened in shock.

“Fine… Gimme a sec and I’ll see what can be done.” The guard spoke as he creaked open the door slightly.

Off on the grand throne was a now bored looking alicorn of a dark blue coat and flowing radiant blue mane covered in twinkling stars looking over at another pony who seemed to be meandering over something. Luna’s eye saw the guard open the door worried that another pointless meeting was to occur until she saw real concern in the guard’s eyes.

“I am sorry Lady Shield we must postpone this meeting for now.” Luna explained as she looked at the unicorn before her.

“But Princess Luna, the Shield Family needs help more than ever. Without Razor Shield as the leading member of the family the entire family is falling under its weight.” The mare quietly sobbed.

“Why haven’t you taken over?” Luna raised her hoof only to get the mare scoffing.

“They won’t listen to me. They’ve been trying to marry me off but I’m Razor Shield’s only daughter so we’re at a true impasse at this point. Please Princess Luna isn’t there anything you can do for me?” Lady Shield groveled nearly tossing herself on her cannons. Luna winced at how uncomfortable it actually looked.

“I’ll talk with my sister about this matter. Unfortunately there is little I can personally do without the ruling of the noble courts and that is more due to the autonomy we allow the rest of the noble families to aspire to. Still Celestia and I shall assist you more once we have a grasp of the entire situation. Do not fret Coral Shield we shall help you.” Luna acceded allowing Coral Shield to leave the room head held high. “Come Bramble, this must be important if you managed to talk the guards into letting you in.”

“It is Princess,” Bramble hastily bowed before she started up her explanation. “There has been a gruesome murder outside of the Arcana Hotel. From preliminary investigations the victim seemed to be one of the former Wonderbolts, brutally tortured and tossed into one of the fissure by a still unknown assailant. We require your assistance in transporting the body to our coroner or our coroner to the body. Unfortunately Waning Crescent was not trained in the art of teleportation of deceased objects and we would prefer not to have another incident of the implosion in Canterlot park.”

“Agreed. I shall teleport out immediately. Misty Veil! Gather Sir Graves and prepare for a case immediately!” Luna called out to one of the thestral mares in the room who nodded and saluted before flying off to get the coroner ready.

Luna stepped down from her throne next to Bramble and fired up her horn. Within second she disappeared from the court alongside the other mare leaving the court guards to visibly relax.

“I wonder how glad she was to get out of that pointless meeting.” One guard intoned to another.

“This was the seventh time Coral Shield has tried to bypass the Day Court by appealing to Luna. Crazy that the Shield family is getting this desperate. Without Razor Shield only Coral Shield and her mother Crested Desire remain as the only Shield left. These nobles families are dropping like flies.” Another guard answered.

“It’s gonna suck for whomever takes up their place. Think that the Sparkle family will finally actually step into the limelight?” The first guard stretched out finally not needing to remain still as a statue.

“Probably. Already two of them in places of power at this point.” The second shrugged.

They remained at their post while the gossip of succession went around the room. It would probably be hours before Princess Luna would return… especially if she was going to try playing detective once again.

Luna and Bramble immediately stood before the Arcana Hotel. As Luna made for the door Bramble stopped her and led her out into the mist towards the fissure. As the pair came in the guards that created a perimeter by the fissure immediately stood at attention.

“Princess Luna, a pleasure as always though we wish it was under better terms. Follow me and I’ll lead you to the body.” Azure Shade saluted.

“Forsooth Azure, Get thy stick out of your bum. Still lead the way.” Luna quickly chided.

Azure grumbled the entire way down into the fissure while Luna lit her horn lighting up the entirety of the chasm. Inch by inch the two made their way down where Suits and Cypress were standing at attention while Nightingale inspected things from above. Waning was slowly scanning the areas around the body taking care not to step in the pooling blood that had drained from the body upon impact.

Luna stepped past the two taking in the scene with her own two eyes. It wasn’t the worst scene she had ever seen. The incident with the Griffons almost two thousand years ago showed her just how depraved somepony could be to one another. Still this ranked in her top thirty of horrific torture. Luna cast a spell preserving the area in a memory to the very last detail as Nightingale finally made to ground in front of her.

“Hello Princess. Where do I even begin…?” Nightingale sighed as she peered behind her at the body. “Suits get over here and explain.”

“Seriously Nightingale. C’mon, you know I am blunt with explanations.” Suits complained only for Nightingale to toss a small pebble at his flank. “Ow… Fine fine, you crazy mare.”

“I see you are still getting along well then. Should you wish to return to the guard Suits I can be persuaded to give you a better rank.” Luna chuckled as she watched the young stallion step in front of her with a dour scowl on his face.

“I’ll live. Anyways about half an hour or so ago a scream tore out from this scarred battlefield and we rushed out to look for the source. Thanks to a little guess work we found some of the killers items and with even more work the body as well. We can’t be sure if the killer was disposing of the body or if this was just an unfortunate circumstance of an attempted escape but we can be sure that this pony, whomever it is, was a sick creature. There are several scars and contusions on the body most likely akin to torture yet none of it was sexual in nature for which all of us are glad of.

“A depraved act in of itself I’m sure. Still this seems very thorough. I shall have Graves look into the condition of the body.” Luna nodded as she activated her horn teleporting both Waning and the body away before teleporting all the thestrals and herself back to the edge of the fissure.

“I will never get used to that…” Suits grumbled.

“I thank you all for your hard work. Please continue with your duties. We shall not allow something like this to scare away our hard work.” Luna ordered the guards who all saluted before flapping off towards the hotel through the mist leaving her and Suits behind.

“So… I take it that this is more important than it seems and involves my hotel being used in some way.” Suits groaned as Luna turned to him with a grave look in her eyes.

“That was Arctic Spire. She was to help in a matter most important.” Luna explained.

“Wonderbolts is all I know so far. So what was the plan overall then if you don’t mind explaining to me.” Suits crossed his hooves as his haunches found the ground calling to him.

“The reformation of the Wonderbolts under a new captain. Arctic Spire was to be the main draw at this point as one of the candidates. There was to be a reunion at your hotel once you agreed to it then we would also invite Spitfire alongside Rainbow Dash, Fleetfoot, and Soarin to hopefully set aside their past grievances to get the ball rolling as they say. Most of them have either taken to retirement or joined the guard. We require your cooperation in this matter to allow us to use your hotel as that staging ground.” Luna regally spoke which made Suits grumble under his breath at how asinine it sounded.

“Right. Fine I’ll agree to it. I take it you’re also reinstating my night guard duties as well, aren’t you?” Suits chided causing Luna to blanch, if only for a moment, before regaining her composure.

“Correct. I’m sorry Sergeant Suits but you must play your role this time as well. Somepony is out there doing horrible things and this most likely wasn’t his last.” Luna glowered slightly the heat of her magic actually being visible with how angry she truly was.

“Fine. I’ll prepare everypony tomorrow on staff and explain it to the rest of the guard. When should the rest of my new guests be arriving then?” Suits sighed in acceptance and immediately looked around in the mist. While he wasn’t truly certain he felt eye on him that weren’t the princess’.

“Tomorrow night. We wanted as little time as possible for gawkers to arrive and hassle the retirees. Make no mistake Four Suits, what we do is merely for the benefit of all ponies. A symbol of ponies that save others is needed and the Wonderbolts are those ponies.” Luna got into Suits face causing him to flinch back.

“I didn’t say anything damn it all. I’ll take a look into getting more staff to handle the influx.” Suits groaned at the prospect of more ponies to pay when Luna merely shook her head.

“Have the guards act in the staff’s place. Better they be close to the action rather than hiding in the shadows. Besides… what better place to hide than right in plain sight.” Luna whispered in Suits’ ear while he was close still. “Now come I’ve had enough with not being able to see the moon in this mist.”

Suits acquiesced and trotted after Luna as the two took the long way back towards the hotel quietly listening for any out of context sounds in the mist. By the look on Suit’s face, Luna felt the same pointed stare that he felt as well. When nothing stood out she grumbled exasperatedly before taking flight for the hotel with Suits in tow.

A lone figure remained at the edge of the mist staying in the shadow of one of the boulders looking on at the group of guards that had come completely out of nowhere. They ground their teeth in fury as the fools picked up their discarded mask and flew down into the depths of the abyss so easily. All their careful planning came unraveling within seconds. They waited for almost an hour in anticipation for the chance to knock out the investigator and take all the evidence away when one of the thestrals flew off into the night.

With the mist inherently blocking their sight they couldn’t make a move to stop her. Another half hour passed and a flash of light nearly blinded them. The princess of the night had shown up derailing even more of their plan as she flew down into the abyss as well. The light given off by her horn nearly permeated through the mist leaving them even less place to hide. They knew thestrals could look with echolocation but there was little choice when they needed to hide the evidence. Now that pipe dream had gone over Neighara Falls leaving nothing but shambled debris behind. They made to escape when Luna came back up from the abyss teleporting her and several other guards as well.

Luna ordered her guards back to the hotel making the pony figure release a breath they had not even known they were holding. The only one who stayed behind looked slightly annoyed but stayed to speak with the princess. Keeping their ear open they heard about most of the plans of the other Wonderbolts… the ones that had ruined their chances and life. Before they could get away they noticed that the thestral was straining his ears. Keeping completely still they waited until even Luna was doing it as well. For a few seconds their world was shrinking. They grew agitated wanting nothing more than to hyperventilate for a bit. When they saw the dissatisfied looks on their faces they smirked gleefully before trotting off into the mist satisfied that this was only just the beginning.

Luna and Suits finally landed in front of the hotel to the appeasement of the rest of the guard. Nightingale danced in spot for a bit as she always did whenever she was eager to hunt. What she hunted nopony really knew but they knew better than to get in her way.

“Attention. As of now Suits has been reinstated temporarily into the guard. Nightingale will still be in charge but Suits shall handle your deployment. This is his hotel so it only seems fair. There may be a moment where you will have to be up in the day as well so I implore each of you to keep track of your shifts. I don’t want you to end up like Buzzer.” Luna commanded the entirety of the guard who merely chuckled.

Suits looked around. He had forgotten how relaxed the night guard truly was most of the time. So many quirky individuals who joked around far more than those in the day guard. The only exception was Azure but even he could be persuaded to relax. He wished they would tell him about Joy Buzzer but that was another one of those need to have known the pony stories that went around.

“I will return to Canterlot. When Graves has his report I shall return to speak with you Nightingale. Be well children of the night. The moon shall always watch over you.” Luna gracefully offered her prayer before lighting her horn and teleporting away.

“Let’s get you all situated then. Unlike during the invasion let’s get you in your own rooms this time. Two to a room. Each of you will pull shifts on the staff and that means anything that needs to be done. I don’t care if it sounds undignified. More likely than not you will do everything here at the very least once.” Suits spoke up immediately opening the door. “But for now I’ll get you all situated since there are only… eight of you. Nightingale and Bramble will be in 304, Azure and Cypress are in 305, Midnight and Solitary in 306, and Grove and Nightshade in 307.”

“Finally got the leading bug to bite him. See Grove I told you that he just needed a kick to the flank to get him started.” Nightingale stage whispered making Suits growl in annoyance.

After everypony had a good chuckle Suits led them to their rooms and got them placed as well as giving them itineraries on what needed to be done during their mission to keep their cover. Suits groaned as he went back to the front desk resting his head against it. It had been a long day already and the reinstatement of his old life made him remember just how much he didn’t like doing it the first time.

At the time, alongside Nightingale and Azure Shade, there were eight members of the squad that became known at the Noctis Wing. It was Luna’s idea as she went through what some neighpon ponies would call chuunbiyou stage of life. In Suits’ mind though it was better than her emo stage and the Tantabus incident. The PR nightmare alone was nuts.

Cypress Root was the muscle of the group. His charcoal grey coat and lavender wings belied his real prowess. Intimidating as a manticore barely any earth ponies could actually manage to stand up to him. There had only been two that matched him in stature and they were nowhere close to the situation. Strangely his root cutie mark placed him as somepony who would excel in the state of agriculture. Still he became a guard to do something more to his life. Suits was certain that Luna just enjoyed the eye candy in her eyes he supposed.

Bramble Fern was the speedster of the group. Her dark periwinkle coat and surprisingly periwinkle wings made her invisible against a twilit sky. She wasn’t as fast as a Wonderbolt though being a nocturnal flier made her the best night flier specialist. Her cutie mark of a fern covered in brambles didn’t fit her image but she always said that she enjoyed being out with nature and plants in general.

Midnight Hour was the strategist of the group always preoccupied with the concept of time. With the darkest coat of gray and dark purple wings he fit in with the midnight hours. He also had the picture of a clock tower with the hands at midnight. Every once in a while he would ramble on and on about wibbly wobbly timey wimey things but he said he heard it from a stallion over in Ponyville who worked on the clock tower there. They all swore that Midnight was better than that and for the most part his timing was perfect whenever a mission went on sometimes even saving a pony just in the nick of time.

Solitary Confinement was the quiet one of the group. A steel gray thestral with silver mane and the cutie mark of a rock with a hole in it with bars over the hole. He was once locked up for a crime he didn’t commit. He worked at his rehabilitation only to break out managing to capture the one who wronged him. While they all asked what actually happened Solitary wouldn’t answer anymore. Since that moment he remained silent and the stealth expert of the squad. Rumors bound out of him actually escaping even Pinkie Pie. Nopony actually knew the truth though.

Hidden Grove was the face of the squad managing to keep a perfect liaison with the rest of the populace. A very white coat with light blue wings and a cutie mark of a small glade nestled between trees she exuded complete calmness. She was the one who handled relations with the other branches of the military though Shining Armor was always exasperated because of how often she would get her way thanks to learning from Cadence on how to wrap a stallion around her hoof.

Bella Nightshade was the veritable heart of the group. Even through her sky blue coat and purple eyes she was innocent. Along with her midnight blue wings she was very cooling for any tempers that ever flared. Even then her cutie mark was of deadly nightshade and never got anypony to look twice at her. That made the group look out for her whenever things got too hairy in certain situations. She served as the liaison between the regular ponies and the guards. Suits noted that she was good at what she did most of the time unless mangoes were involved.

Suits looked over his small roster and had to think about who was going to do what job since most of them were inept when it came to morning activities. Even with the help they were there for guard duty and wouldn’t be there for very long. Suits reached under the table gripping the small decanter of yak liquor and bringing it up in front of him. He was a guard once again but he was also the only one still awake and not officially one of the guards. That part of his life was a short one that lasted less than a year before the Second Changeling Invasion. Growling to himself, he placed the decanter back under the desk and ignored it completely. He needed to remain lucid at the very least for now.

The light from the shining moon slowly peered through the multiple windows as Suits once again stood at his post waiting for any guests to appear. Though with what happened and who the target was made him certain that if anypony showed up they were most likely the killer. Suits looked expectantly towards the door when he thought that… and nothing happened. Suit groaned and rested his head on the desk. Too many variables and too many surprises that had been hoisted upon him without his permission. Then again he accepted so readily. The hotel needed more patronage and plenty of money to afford the repairs. While the stipends from the castle were… more than satisfactory to keep the place running, it was always at the bare minimum.

“And Hiero Glyph said I would not be able to make this place great again just because I’m not a unicorn.” Suits glowered as his glare smoldered into the floor. “Even if I’m not magically inclined with a horn I can still be great.”

The decanter under the desk seemed to call out to him crying out that it would heal all his worry and get him away from the sheer disaster that his family had dug itself into. Suits wisely ignored it again. He wasn’t a drunk. He didn’t succumb to drinking as his ancestors would have. Keeping his head in the game he placed Cypress and Grove on guard duty, Azure could handle patrolling the grounds outside with Nightshade, Solitary and Bramble could work outside on the plants keeping things quiet, and Nightingale and Midnight could greet ponies that came in for the reunion.

“Welcome to the Arcana Hotel. My name is Four Suits and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. How long will you be staying?” Suits recited in perfect pitch and tone as he kept watching the door for any movement.

“Seems that you’ve gotten very good at this already.” Nightingale’s voice rang out from the ceiling.

“And you still suck at stealth.” Suits growled out.

“Not my fault you got good at tracking ponies. That was your specialty.” Nightingale teased slightly as she fell from the ceiling opening her wings at the last second and landing with a small flourish.

“I only got good as you so aptly put it because Azure kept ditching me whenever he was on guard duty. Guess he still hasn’t enjoyed watching me when I was just a playful little colt.” Suits mirthlessly chuckled.

“Playful colt my flank. You made so many dead father jokes just to hide how bucked up you were that even I was surprised when that filly Zephyr Gale actually started pining for you. Seriously nopony saw it coming and certain nobles were extremely pissed off that you decided to go after a common born mare. Still here we are now.” Nightingale sighed as she coyly tilted her head back and forth.

“Don’t remind me. Those buckers deserve all the shit that they go through. You know what the saddest part of all this was? Blueblood was the most supportive of it happening and the worst part is that I don’t even know if he was being genuine or if he was playing that diplomat role he usually does.” Suits groaned as he saw that Nightingale had removed her armor and was now wearing a dress jacket.

“At the very least that gave you someone powerful in your pocket. Besides while he is kind of an idiot from time to time, he does respect nobles. At the very least I know Shining Armor has a grudgingly hard worn respect for him. Though the fact that the Sparkle siblings have no idea how to actually be international diplomats was the only reason that this actually happened in the first place.” Nightingale explained.

“That is small consolation. So what are you still doing up? I do need you to work the front desk tomorrow when the Wonderbolts are said to appear. You’ll need to figure out all their names and how well they knew Arctic Spire.” Suits spoke up bringing attention to the position of the moon and the fact that the clock on the wall was around three in the morning already.

“You ordering me around now Sergeant Suits?” Nightingale playfully mocked as she sauntered up to the desk and patted his head. “And to think you used to at the very least be cute. Now you’re all wound up and full of snark.” Nightingale booped his nose as if to make her point.

“Mmh… Just go along with it for now Commander. We all know what happens when you make the schedule.” Suits rolled his eyes as he rubbed his muzzle in annoyance.

“And what is that suppose to mean?” Nightingale pouted.

“You know what that means or does that debacle with Midnight and Nightshade ring a bell?” Suits scowled slightly.

“How was I supposed to know they were exes? I never even knew that Midnight actually had a type of pony he liked in the first place.” Nightingale mockingly cried out.

“We threw a party for them the week after we finished basic! I had to make sure Pinkie Pie wasn’t involved because of how low key they wanted it.” Suits slammed his head into the desk in frustration.

“Hm… the drinks were good that night. Was that what we were celebrating?” Nightingale tittered slightly.

“You are hopeless sometimes Commander. Anyways get some sleep already. I need you to help run the front desk tomorrow with Zephyr and Midnight. If they are coming in tomorrow then I need the Commander be the one who meets with them. Midnight is good at figuring out body language a lot of the time so I need you two to keep an eye out on everypony that comes in.” Suits ordered.

“Fine fine… I still say you should have stayed in the guard but you have your reasons I suppose. I’ll inform the rest of the ponies tomorrow before we start. Try not to waste the day away being an innkeeper. We need a guard tomorrow night.” Nightingale informed Suits with a heavy stare.

“I know. I’ll be ready for it. I still remember how to handle being a guard for this squad,” Suits groaned. “But I’m not going to do the initiation again.”

“C’mon Noctis Wing for life, yo.” Nightingale cheered slightly as she trotted off back to her room.

“For life.” Suits sighed out as he turned back to the desk looking over the rest of his papers.

The clock chimed once again and signaled the coming of four in the morning. Suits rubbed his eyes in frustration regretting not getting a drink before it got so late. Zephyr would be up in three more hours and then she would take over the front. He would have to inform her about what happened. There were several problems coming to the hotel. Ratchet and Goods would most likely be annoyed at the sudden increase in staff but they are doing it for free rather than a paycheck.

“Sombra and Hope are still here… As are Clarity and Fleece. The Seed family left yesterday and the Apple Buffalo family left back for Appleloosa three days ago. This place runs far too slowly…” Suits grumbled as he looked over the bills. Once again, thanks to Sombra and Clarity the hotel made enough money to not be completely supported by the castle stipend.

“I wonder if I should even practice my line when nopony ever shows up consistently. Ugh… It’s another day and a new beginning for events at the very least. Hopefully Twilight won’t be coming as well… knowing her she’ll be wanting to look at the Arcana archives to look up the runes for more arcano-tech ideas.” Suits calmed himself down rubbing his temples between his hooves.

“I’m gonna have to deal with braggarts and show-offs for the next few days…” Suits sighed as he rested his head against the desk.

“Celestia damn it all!!” A figure yelled out as they threw a table against the wall. The floor was still slick with blood from a now dead mare.

The figure lifted the chair where she sat splintering it against the wall. It was infuriating. Maddening even, that even in death she still was causing problems. The figure lifted their hooves to their face rubbing it vigorously. They lifted another piece of furniture throwing it against the wall as they furiously destroyed everything in that small room that they held Arctic Spire within.

“A whorse is a whorse of course, of course, a whorse is a whorse of course, of course, a whorse is a whorse of course, of course…” The figure repeated ad nauseam then completely stopped moving or speaking.

A cold laughter erupted from the room as they pulled out the small strip of flesh holding on to Arctic Spire’s cutie mark. It was beautiful in their eyes… extremely beautiful as the figure ran their tongue across it.

“My love… you will be my salvation… I just need to get more to complete the pair… You will not be alone. I will get you a friend.” The figure whispered as they removed the robe and stretched out their wings as they pulled out a small book from their saddlebags.

Inside the book was a compendium of ponies… all of them Wonderbolts. They flipped the pages slightly until they got to a clear picture of Arctic Spire. Dipping their hoof in the still warm blood they slowly crossed off the picture with a malicious smile. She would be immortalized with all the rest and her cutie mark would be the placeholder for her soul.

“I will not be caught. I will get the other one soon. I kept it contained until now but I will not be caught anymore.” The figure muttered as they got their things ready… including their invite to the Wonderbolts Reunion.

Slowly they walked towards the door fiddling with the small necklace on their neck of an upside down hanged pony. They took one last look at the room smiling in joyful glee as the blood really brought out the destruction of the room. Sighing wistfully they closed the door and headed back for Cloudsdale. They had a reunion to prepare for.