What lays behind the chaos.

Secrets and Lies

The sun was starting to break through the twilight, the sunlight seemed more vivid in the citadel, somehow the empire had discovered a way to make Celestia's work more "appealing", but it could only be seen from their own point of view, like a way to make the ponies who lived under Celestial rule see the day as something more beautiful than it actually was.

Shadow got off the train, putting his book in his saddlebag, the sight of the sunlight bothered him, and especially being in the empire -Republicans couldn't say much, they had fallen in love with the night themselves, and they had gotten their way to keep the empire from the sight of their precious moon, as some sort of punishment for their rivalry, as they thought it would be torture to them- as soon as he laid a hoof outside the train he was surrounded by guards, this specific train only came by in special occasions, it was the only train that connected the empire and the republic, it's railroad was installed after the conflict came to it's current state of "cold war", both factions were still rivaling over the control of the land, but they had both decided to put a stop to the battles and deaths, and tried to make an agreement over the main subject of their fighting, but it seemed impossible to reach a decision they would both go fine with.

Shadow had participated in all of this meetings between the factions -which were given the name of ecliptic encounters, as the sun and the moon would join each other for a short time, before separating again, of course this reunions were marked with an actual eclipse, which would warn the ponies of Equestria that a meeting was being held between the princesses- he had became Luna's consultant and right hoof, and this was his only reason to go to the empire in the first place, but this was different, there was no eclipse, there was no meeting, Shadow was there in his own business, and this exalted the guards, making them intercept the pegasus the moment he arrived.

"What brings you here?" a guard said. "there is no business for the republic here at this time!"

"I search for an audience" Shadow replied "nothing more, I'm no threat to the empire in this moment"

"We can't allow you to pass", another guard stated "Lord Solaris is not available in the moment"

Shadow sighed, the sole mention of that name made him angry, especially with the word "lord" before it, but he kept his mind in task.

"it is not to Solaris that I want to talk" Shadow responded. " I wish an audience with chancellor Snowbound! Tell him General Lightning is here"

"Who do you think you are to use that tone around here" a guard frowned "you should have more respect when you could get killed if you try any funny business, I would do it myself if it wouldn't bring the whole republic after me for hurting their little general."

"Calm down" another guard stepped in "I will talk to the chancellor, you two register him to make sure he's not caring any weapons"

"Alright put down the saddlebag and open it" a guard said as the other started registering his wings, Shadow frowned as the third guard walked away.

After making sure he was clean one of the remaining guards took Shadow to the castle's lobby "you wait here" he started "until we are told you can go on"

The guard left the room and Shadow waited a couple minutes before the third guard came back

"You may go on, the chancellor is waiting for you, follow me"

The guard lead the way, and Shadow followed.

"I apologize." the guard started as they walked "for my comrades' behavior back there, but we both have to accept that the relations between our states are more than just unfriendly, and this tends to get to the heads of most ponies."

Shadow just stared as the pony talked.

"I for one" the pony continued "am glad we have reached this 'cold war', I know it's not exactly peace, but at least it will stop all this senseless killing for a while, and I really hope that we can eventually end it forever."

"Why are you telling me this?" Shadow interrupted.

"Because" the guard replied, "I have seen you before, you always come to the ecliptic encounters with princess Luna, and I know what you do in this meetings, you want to stop the war don't you? Well I do too and I think it's great to see both factions are working on it together, it's...almost like the old days, before the Newcomers arrived."

Shadow remained silent, thinking about what the pony had just said.

"Oh sorry! I didn't mean it that way, I know not all the Newcomers are bad, is just tha-"

"Save it," Shadow interrupted "you don't have to remind me what my kind has done"

"I'm sorry, I just..." the guard remained silent until they reached their destination "here we are"

"Thank you." Shadow said "and thank you for being honest about your feelings."

The guard looked confused at Shadow as he entered the room, then went back to his post. It was a small room with a table in the middle, and only a white unicorn standing next to it, he was the first to talk once Shadow had fully entered the room and had closed the door behind him.

"What the hell are you doing here Shadow? Do you think you can just come to Temdusoli* anytime you want? You are risking both our necks here, I know we are not exactly in conflict right now but come on!" Said the unicorn angrily.

Shadow remained calm and stared as the blue maned pony, then he talked: "Snow, I have a little question for you. Could you tell me, where princess Celestia is?"

Snow was chocked by the question unable to make any word come out of his mouth. Shadow went on.

"I find your reaction strange" he said  sarcastically "It should be easy just to tell me where Celestia is shouldn't it?"

"Unless" he said as he approached the unicorn "She just isn't anywhere! UNLESS SHE IS WHEREVER THE FUCK LUNA IS! RIGHT?"

"Shadow, calm down" Snow replied "I'm sorry bu-"

"Save the crap! You know something about this don't you? Well, I want you to tell me everything you know about what happened to the princesses."

"Alright" Snow replied "but you asked for it, and you may not like what you'll hear."

"I'm waiting"

"Remember, about two months ago when the last ecliptic encounter was held?"

"Of course, I mean it wasn't really productive, but at least we were able to have a calm conversation for a change. Except for Midnight ans Solaris that is."

"Yes, that's the thing! After the real meeting was over and you and the princesses left, Solaris, Midnight and I stayed there a little bit longer, and as usual they started yelling at each other and insulting each other, like they always do, I left the room to take the report to the archives, and when I got back to the meeting room they where sure enough still yelling. I was about to enter the room again when they both yelled something that sent a chill down my spine, they both said 'I COULD END YOU! END THIS WHOLE WAR RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT FUCKING PRINCESS!' After saying this they both remained silent for a while, then they started talking and realized they both felt the same way about the princesses, they both thought that it was them who were stopping the progress of the factions, and that as long as they were still around the war would keep going, they finally agreed that something had to be done. after that they just left the room and Midnight went back to the train with you and princess Luna, the next thing I know is that they are secretly meeting, plotting something, and just now, I was informed princess Celestia went missing, and I know it has something to do with them."

"What do you mean 'missing'?" Shadow worried.

"I'm not certain, but knowing Solaris I don't doubt they might have killed them."

"You can't possibly mean..." the pegasus' eyes widened as the unicorn nodded "But that's impossible! How could they do that?

"I don't know, but however they did it it's really powerful and dangerous. Now lets hurry! We don't have time to lose."

"What's the matter?"

"We are leaving, Shadow, I'm offering you the chance to get out of Equestria with me!"

"What do you mean leaving? Are you suggesting we just let them be?! We can't do that! It's our responsibility to stop them, to end the war we started, without letting any more lives get lost."

"Are you stupid?! we don't have to do anything! Staying here is suicide Shadow, if we start messing with their plans we will get killed first."

"Running away is cowardice Snow. We started this war, we can't just look away as Equestria gets destroyed by our acts, we have to at least try to give it an end, fix what we've done."

"We have done enough! We can't do any good to Equestria, is better if we just leave. Please Shadow consider my position, I have a wife! A family, I can't risk to get killed, not even consider risking their lives. Please run away with Carrot Tops and me, we'll go over the griffon kingdom, to Saddle Arabia, we can start a new life there, in peace and safety. You have somepony too right? I'm sure she won't want you to risk your lives in this war anymore. Take her with us! Start a family away from Equestria, safe yourselves!"

Shadow looked away. "I think it's a little too late for that now."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't know, but you can still come with us! I'm sure she wouldn't want you to die senselessly, wouldn't she take the chance I'm giving to you? Isn't this what she would have wanted?"

"She wanted peace! And I promised I would do everything I can to make her wish come true. I'll do it for her!"

"I see." Snow put his right hoof in his chin thinking. "I see I can't change your mind, but I can tell you to be careful, Midnight and Solaris are way stronger than you think and it will be hard to take them down. If you have a chance to fix this take it. But remember my offer is always valid, if you ever want to get out, you know where to find me."

Shadow nodded and Snow guided him back to the train station, there they said goodbye to each other and parted ways, Snow went back to plan his escape, while Shadow was thinking about what he was told: how could Solaris and Midnight get rid of the princesses?

Shadow still needed information about the elements, and he knew were he could get it. The train left Temdusoli's station and headed back to Plenilunium. Although Shadow ordered the driver to change his direction not long after they had left the city, this new destination was placed to the northwest of Temdusoli, and northeast from Canterlot ruins, they headed for Neighagra Falls.