Chapter 9: Long Live the Queen.

I chuckle lightly as I stare at my work. It’s been over three hours since I woke up and everyone else seemed to be refreshed. I, on the other hand, didn’t sleep well. At all. Even by my new standards. I was plagued by… thoughts of the various possible outcomes of me running into the Mermaid...s. So I decided to make a sort of charm, that would give me a chance to resist the effects of their magic. The thing was made from my last blue crystal and a bit of scrap. It’s not a very effective trinket and would require some mental effort on my part, but it’s better than nothing.

The AAA or the anti-atherical array has also been completed - the runes on the walls. It should make it so, that any active vesselless souls would not be able to get in… or out. At least without me carrying them on myself they won’t. The construct also blocks any attempts of distant scrying, both ‘close’ and ‘far’. Any scrying spell should be unable to see this room and it will come up as a nonexistent structure. The basement is literally invisible to magic casters, hopefully: the merchant as well. I put in a lot of effort into this after all, it‘d be kind of a shame if it was all for naught. It had some other functions, but I considered those to be the most important.

I also had two red gems, one of which I used for a makeshift welding tool and the other for another project that I had planned before and wanted to never use. All in all: I had a pretty productive morning.

I hear a knock on my scratched door and walk over to open it. I press my thumb against an aura recognition rune which glows at the contact. I grin and pull open the door revealing Rusty and more runes on the other side of it.

“Morning, Vadon. What’s with the scribbles on the… door…” Rusty looks at the now note lacking walls. His jaw drops as I let him walk deeper into the room. “I know I’ve had memory problems… but I’m pretty sure none of this was here yesterday. Did you do this in the night?” I look at the clock. Damn, nearly five hours? Didn’t feel like it.

“No. Most of it was just hidden, but the rest I did this morning. I just couldn’t get much sleep done, so I thought… why the hell not? What else do I have to do?”

“I suppose.” He trails off as he examines a constructive rune.

I turn back to the table and begin taking off all the finished schematics and placing them in a neat pile. I notice another piece of paper that has something written on it, lying on the side of the hard metal. I pick it up in confusion and my eyes widen when I recognize what it is. Oh yeah. I agreed to be there today, didn’t I? I muse as I read the time and date for the tea chat at Fancy Pant’s place. Right. Gotta get dressed. The hair?.. Eh, it’s fine.

“Hey, Rusty. I have a meeting a have to go to soon, so behave.”

“Or you will explode me, yes yes, I get it. I was actually kind of curious, how would that even work?” Should I?..

“Well... you won’t die as much from the explosion as from being turned into the explosion.” I explain.

“What?” He says with a blank face, clearly indicating that the subject for him is too early in the morning.

“Look. Don’t worry, it’s not a painful process as I am not a sadist. Plus I am willing to not do it… unless you want me to.” And that implies: willingly doing something, that would cause me to press da button.

“I think, I’m good.” We stare at each other for a few more seconds. “Oh right! I came down here to say goodbye, I am heading back to my home, the mares are willing to let me go, even though they had tied me up before I fell asleep.” He says, while rubbing his shoulder.

“Right. In that case: take this.” I turn around to grab his kitchen knife and hand it over to him.

“Oh, thanks. I nearly forgot about that.” He suddenly gets an alarmed look, “I- I meant the knife, not the- you know.”

“Rusty.”

“Yes?” He asks.

“Chill.”

“I-... Alright.” He says, visibly relaxing.

“I’mma gonna go grab a munch and head off. You” I point at him, “are going to get to the f- flippin’ guard and ask them for help. Tell them that you have been mind-controlled and nearly used for murder for the sake of revenge. Do tell them, that you have been freed of it and that no-one has actually been lynched.” I think back to the amulet I made, contemplating. Nah… he gets snatched again, it’s his own fault. “Any questions?”

“What if I get magic used on me again?”

“I suggest avoiding the pretty ponies.” He looks at me strangely.

“That sounds really condescending for some reason…”

“You’re just having a long morning.” I breathe in and clap my hands, “Let’s get to it then!”

We leave the basement and head off to our respective places: the outside and the bathroom. After working the magic on my teeth, I release a toothy smile and get surprised, when the mirror doesn’t break. Usually had to use bulletproof glass.

Getting back into the living room, I find the three Sirens wide awake at the kitchen table, talking. None of them are having breakfast, so I slip into the room and walk over to the fridge. They finally take notice of me, when I open the fridges’ door and each give me their own version of ‘good morning’.

“Hey. So what are you talking about?” I ask as I pull out an apple.

“We were discussing our next course of action. Do you have any suggestions?” I turn around and take a bite.

“Well…” I look at Adagio, “You could wait for Rusty to report what happened to him yesterday, to the guard, or you could go yourselves and give your own version.” I say, taking another bite.

“Oh, he left already?” Sonata asks, to which I hum in response.

“I am unsure as to how I would be able to help except for moral support. But I’m really shit at that, so I’m heading out.”

“Where are you going?” Adagio asks.

“I agreed to have some tea at Fancy Pants place with Rarity… I know, horrible timing, but honestly? What do you expect me to do?”

“We are a bit lost by ourselves. We have so many options to choose from, but can’t seem to decide on one.” I stare at her for a moment, a thought instantly jumping into my head.

“Why not ask Sunset so she can ask the princess so she can ask the Queen?” They gaze at me with unamused expressions, “What? Just ask Sunset, so that she can inform the princess directly. The thestrals seem pretty intimidating although I am unsure about their effectiveness.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Adagio says putting a closed palm over her mouth.

“Don’t dwell on it too much, otherwise you’ll keep being indecisive. Take a course of action and see where that takes you.” She purses her lips and stays silent. “You know… I’m actually meeting the princess today at around four. We could go together, if you want to.” They exchange looks, before looking back to me and nodding.

“I think, we’ll do just that.”

“Welp, I’m off! See you all later.” I throw away the apple core and head out of the kitchen.

“Good luck with that high-ranking noble!” Aria shouts.

I first make a visit to the basement and stare at my inventions on the table. Releasing a sigh, I pick up the charm and tie it around my neck with a little string. I flick the visible part of the gem with my finger and it flashes, then the runes turn black. I frown and walk over to the wall. Tapping the wall does nothing and I am unsure whether it needs some sort of signal, but it should have done the same already. I walk over to the detector rune and tap it. Nothing.

Maybe it doesn’t need to visibly change? Then why do these keep turning black? Is it because it’s a passive spell and won’t show any signs of change unless magically interacted with? I look at the time and decide to think about this later, since I might be late if I don’t hurry up. I need to find the place first after all. I shove the thing under my shirt and take a few other things including the dagger, my pouch and move out. It’s pretty sunny outside, but thankfully: not too hot and the sun isn’t glaring. Fixing my jacket around the shoulders and back with a firm shake by the lapels, I start walking to the northern part of the city.

There are plenty of Ponies near the market, but it is by no means even close to half-full. While walking through the place, I receive a few surprised stares, a few very haughty ones and a couple scared ones as well. The usual then. At this point, I don’t actually care, but it’s still a bit amusing to see the fear, not so much as the hate though. At least it’s nothing personal. I release a gaping yawn and cover the pit with my hand. Blinking away the tiredness, I release an even bigger and longer one. I stare into sky-blue sky and slack my shoulders. It’s really clean here. I stare at its’ wide expanses for a few more seconds, before snapping back to the road and continuing trudging on.

After a while I finally come across a pretty big mansion, that has the French flower designs on the metal fence. Probably the place. The mansion itself is located a little further in, with a small, bright garden outside the front. The road is neatly paved and there are two small paths leading to two fountains and flower beds from the main path. The three-story building itself is blocky and simple looking. Its’ walls are white, with a tint of grey and the sloped roof is made dark blue tiles, that for some reason remind me of a british-frenchish design.

I tap the metal gate and realizing that it’s open, push forward and walk across the smooth stone. I reach the door and was about to knock when I found a more effective way to announce my arrival: there is a rope to the side of the door, so I pull that. A muffled jingle rings out and I wait a couple of seconds.

Luckily, I don’t have to wait long and a grey Earth Pony in a black tuxedo with grey undertones opens the door.

His white bushy eyebrows rise in surprise at the sight of me, “Good afternoon... sir. May I help you?”

“Good day to you too. Say: is this Sir Fancy Pants’ abode?”

“Yes. May I know who is asking?”

“I am Vadon. We had a scheduled meeting for some tea~” I say with a, what I mean to be, disarming smile, showing my pearly yellows a little.

“Ah! Yes. Sir Fancy and Lady Fleur are expecting you. Follow me. I must say, you are right on time.” I walk inside and he closes the door behind me.

“Am I? Aw, I wanted to be a little early. Give a bit of surprise.”

“I am sure my Lord and Lady would have found that quite pleasant.” We walk to the left of the wide stairs, located in the main hall. The floor does have a red carpet, although it’s not too rough on the eyes.

“So. You are a butler?”

“Yes. Stone Grey - the personal butler of the Sir and Lady of this house.”

“You work alone?” The silver-haired stallion lets out a small chuckle.

“No sir. There is another, much younger butler, although he doesn’t serve neither of my masters.” That… sounds ominous. Or it would, if he said it with contempt. Which I am glad he didn’t. “This house also has many other servants, but they each have their own designated purpose.”

We reach a hallway on the second floor, with windows to our right. You’d think a guest room would be on the one below, but I guess the architects of this entire city went ‘fuck it’ at one point and decided to build whatever, however. Fucking maniacs.

There are paintings on the walls, depicting nature in a pretty similar form of art. The paint seems to be oil and the artists used quite a bit of green and yellow. Oh no, wait: there are a few winter peisages every now and then. All of the paintings have a very detailed frame made of what appears to be gold and bronze. The entire house seems to have a half dark half light atmosphere to it.

We take a left turn and stop at another door, deeper in this new hallway. Stone opens the door and walks in, allowing me to do the same. The interior is pretty nice, if a bit odd. The room is pretty spacious and it sort of looks like a ball-room, but at the same time it isn’t. There is a new set of stairs leading to what appears to be a sort of balcony overlooking the room from all around it. The ceiling has a glass window in it, letting through little sunlight, unfortunately for the potted plants in the corners. A couple of meters away from the door is a sofa and two fancy chairs with a wooden table between them, that has a teapot and a single plate with a cup. The sofa houses Fancy Pants and Fleur, while Rarity is occupying a chair across them. Fancy and Fleur turn around to see who opened the door and when their eyes fall on me, Fancy breaks into a smile and Fleur looks at her cup then the empty one, with an unknown expression.

“Sir Vadon has arrived, my lord.” Stone announces.

“I can see that, Stone. Thank you for bringing him here, you are free of tasks for today.” The butler bows and leaves through the door we came through, closing it behind him.

I walk over to the table and give a curt nod to Rarity, Fancy stands up and extends his hand. I shake it, slightly raising a corner of my lips.

“It is pleasant to see you again, Vadon. Please, sit.” The noble asks, sitting down himself and motioning to the empty seat, to which I happily oblige.

Fleur picks up the white pot with her hands, pours some tea into the ceramic cup and hands it to me with the plate to which I reply with a nod and a ‘thank you’. I hold the cup close to my stomach area and straighten up in the chair.

“How have you been these past few days?” Fancy Pants asks.

“I’ve been quite alright.” The same can’t be said about the others though. “This is quite a boring city, isn’t it? Does anything happen here? At all?”

“Sometimes, although it is astonishingly dull most of the time, so I can’t honestly say yes to that, no.”

“Then why would anyone want to visit here at all?” I inquire.

“Oh, why the sights of course. The ponies and the food, the shops and various other notes of culture. This is, after all, ‘the city where the peace began’.” Yeah. Winning a war would do that.

“So may I ask, as to what you have been doing while waiting for me?”

“We have been chatting about the latest trends and our plans for the nearest future. I apologize, that we started before your arrival, but we simply had so much to catch up on and Miss Rarity has arrived quite early.” Fancy says.

“It’s fine. I honestly don’t mind.” I take a sip of the sweet tea, “The tea is pretty nice. Can’t recognize the taste though.” Fleur raises an eyebrow and Rarity adopts an odd expression, one between horror and pity.

“Why, it is made with cherry. It is the most exquisite tea you will find in Canterlot.” Bragging already? I smile.

“I don’t doubt that.” At the moment. Fancy turns to Rarity.

“So, miss Rarity. I believe we have left off on the matter of your-”

They talked about various things, such as Raritys’ ideas for new outfits and details about Fancys’ proposition to help her with the funding. Fleur bragged gracefully about some maid, that has supposedly outdone herself this morning. They also discussed the latest news, drama and the like. A part of me was paying attention, searching for any hint that they know of the murder, while the other part was lost in deep thought. I suppose, that is why I didn’t hear Fancy calling out my name at first.

“Hm?” I look up at him with a start.

“Are you alright?” He asks in concern.

“I’m fine. Sorry, I was just a bit lost up there.” I look at him apologetically, “Would you mind repeating that?” His smile grows and he releases a short hum.

“We were wondering if there are interesting news, you’d like to share.”

“...I can’t say there is, honestly.”

“Are you implying that nothing interesting has happened with you?”

“I~, I mean: I went to a concert, but other than that, nothing really amazing happened.” Fleur looks at me, surprised.

“Truly?” I give her a few nods.

They share a few looks and Fleur turns back to me, “Well, what are your thoughts on the latest rumours from the palace at least?”

“What rumours?”

“I am talking about the rumours from the palace about a dangerous monster roaming the streets in broad daylight. This morning, as far as I know, every noble has been warned to be cautious and not let anypony suspicious, or well not a pony at all, in their homes.” I look down into the reddish liquid, blinking rapidly.

“I can’t say I do, honestly.” Are they about- No, it can’t be. If the warning is from this morning, then they couldn’t possibly have found out about the Mermaid, at least not from us. “I’m just as confused. Are they real?”

“Nopony knows.”

Rarity finally decides to break the ice, “Well. I have to say, the outfit really suits you, darling. I’m surprised: I have never thought of wearing both jeans and a jacket before~” I look at my clothes.

“ I mean… it’s nothing special, right?” Because otherwise: that is exactly the opposite of what I was going for.

“Oh, but it most certainly is! You are very close to giving me an inspiration, but I feel like something is missing…”

“Sunglasses?” She stares at me, unblinking, before quickly leaning forward and pointing at me.

“Actually ...Yes! That’s it! That is exactly what I- Ohhh~ I will have so many fabulous designs made, thank you, Vadon, you are a great help.”

“Glad to help.” My gladness level is below nine thousand.

“Well, you certainly know how to brighten the mood, miss Rarity. It is nice to see things progressing like so.” Fancy states, “On a happier note, my wife and I are planning on hosting a party soon. There will be multiple noble houses attending and we would be delighted if you two did as well.” Rarity practically squeals in glee.

“Oh, I would absolutely love to!”

“I’m sorry Fancy Pants, but I have to refuse.” Rarity looks at me in shock, as if had just uttered the forbidden word.

“How so?” Fancy takes a bit more of a serious tone, but stays still mostly in a jovial mood.

“There is trouble arising for someone I know and I believe I will be sucked into a chain of events, that I wouldn’t find very pleasant, if I don’t help them resolve it.”

“How serious is it?” I smack my dry lips twice, before deciding to answer.

“‘Not fitting for teatime’ serious.”

“...Well, you certainly know how to bring the mood down, my friend.” I look down.

“Sorry.” I mumble.

He laughs and looks at me with a grin, “You are certainly an interesting character, Vadon.” I feel, like that is not your only reason though…” I sigh and look at him with complete seriousness.

“Fancy. If I may call you that, I’ll be brutally honest here. Let’s stop this, while it hasn’t grown into an uncontrollable mess of events, which we both might not be able to control or get anything useful out of. Even if you are incredibly kind, that does not mean you’re stupid. Which means: you wouldn’t simply invite me to an event, where multiple nobles gather, even if you really enjoy my company, which means, that you need something from my presence there, so let’s not be manipulative dickheads to each other and come out clean. What do we both want?” Two jaws dropped and Fancy took a completely serious expression, devoid of previous joy, which nearly gave me chills.

“Yes. A very interesting character indeed.” He says leaning back and narrowing his eyes, which made me start to think, that I have fucked up. I won’t back down though.

“Di-did you just-” Rarity begins, before Fancy cuts her off with a full on out guffaw.

The two mares in the room stare at each other, one in utter confusion, the other simply awkwardly smiling and shrugging, before looking at me.

“You realize: I am allowed to call you out on a duel or even worse?”

“Of course I do, sir Fancy Pants. But I do not want and will not participate in this stupidly overcomplicated and unnecessary mindgame either way.” He laughs a bit more while nodding, before eventually calming down.

“Fancy.” He says, “You may call me Fancy.”

“...Can I call you Pants?” He cocks his head at me in bewilderment.

“You may call me sir Fancy Arphegious Corona June Pants the third, if you wish. Or just Fancy.”

“...Are those real?”

“Perhaps, perhaps not, who knows? But you may call me that in any case.”

“I will keep that in mind… Fancy.” He nods.

“Well then, I will not drag you into this, but I cannot promise you will not be brought to the attention of other nobles.” Great.

“That is all I can ask. Thank you.”

“You are very welcome. But it still would be nice to have some more chats. I feel as if though you are not unlike a breath of fresh air. Not many Ponies would dare to speak to a noble in such a way. I suggest that you refraining from calling the other nobles that.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“...Also, you realize you could have either simply declined, or said that you don’t Fancy such events?” I stare off into space.

“...Oh yeah...”

Fancy chuckles before turning his head left and snapping his gaze somewhere up, “Ah, dear! Come down here, would you? We are just having a bit of tea with Rarity and our new colorful guest.”

“I heard the laughing and decided to find out what’s going on.” A female voice says from the top of the overhang.

Walking by the marble railing is a pale mare, wearing a sort of red dress-like attire. She gets to the stairs and starts walking down them. Her short hair is a pure white and her eyes are a cold grey, that focus on me as she climbs down mid-way. She stares at me in surprise, not unlike a deer in the headlights would and attempts to do yoga with her mouth, before I finally decide to help the poor girl.

“Hello. I am Vadon, nice to meet you.” She blinks, before continuing her decsent.

“Hello. My name is Rose Fleur. It is quite pleasant to meet you as well.” I stare at her blankly for a moment, before eventually nodding.

“Don’t be shy dear, come on over! You may join us if you wish!” Rose doesn’t move for a few moments, before finally deciding to approach our table.

A blonde stallion in a tux with white undertones appears on the stairs and seems to follow Rose, who takes the place of Fleur, while the tall mare decides to go make some more tea. Probably not the main reason, but that is what she told us before leaving with the pot. The blondes' eyes narrow at me, while I simply look right back at him and blink leisurely once. Whatever happened, that I could not see, seemed to satisfy him and he relents his ‘intense’ stare and smiles faintly. But only for a moment.

“Dear, it so good to see you again. How have you been?” Rarity says.

“I’ve been quite alright miss Rarity. What about you?” The familiar girl asks.

“Oh, this and that… My life mainly consists of business and dressmaking, I have no interesting stories to share as of late. What about you on the other hand? Something interesting must have happened, right?” Rarity asks, a fist under her cheek.

“Well… I went shopping… alone. And also to a public event… it was quite fun.” She uses that word a lot, doesn’t she?

“Oh?” I inquire, assimilating Raritys’ pose.

“Um… Yes. It was a musical event. It was quite nice.”

“...Want a piece of advice?”

“Um… S- I- sure?”

“Try not to use ‘quite’ as much.”

“Whatdoyoumean?”

“It makes it look like you’re faking your sophistication.” Fancy looks at me over his nose.

“Qui- He is correct dear. Although I have to say: you are progressing quite nicely.” Fancy stares off into space and chuckles, “It just dawned on me: how often we nobles use that word.”

“Yes. Well there are many other substitutes and you still can use ‘quite’, but try not to say it in every sentence.” The guy standing by her side shows no reaction and I nearly thought he was a statute.

“...Um… did we meet before?” Rose asks.

“Harsh.”

“Dear, do you two know each other already?” Fancy asks, looking at each of us.

“...Yes. We do, sort of. Sorry dad, I guess he recognized me.” And she mumbles something that sounded like: ‘even though I had an impervious disguise’.

“Right, well. Vadon, may I ask you for a favor?”

“What kind of favour?” I ask, intrigued.

“Could you keep it a secret, that my daughter went to that event?”

“I could… but why though?”

“It is a complicated matter, which I do not feel like discussing. So… what do you say?” Maybe I should cement it?..

“How about a deal?”

“A… deal?”

“I don’t like doing favours,” And promises hold zero value for me, “so instead let’s shake on it. Nor you, nor any part of this house will make any sort of attempt in pulling me into your ‘game of thrones’ and I will not reveal any secrets you’d like for me to keep to anyone in the city. Deal?” He looks at me oddly.

“...You realize I was not going to do that anyway, correct?” He says narrowing his eyes.

“I know, I just don’t work that way. So how about it?” I extend my hand.

“...Deal.” We shake hands and I smile.

“Right, so… What did we stop on?”

We chat a bit more, well: they chat a bit more, while I sort of awkwardly sit in silence. They would occasionally ask me about my thoughts on the matter they were discussing at the time and I would either reply with ‘Hm, I suppose so’ or ‘That’s… really stupid. Because so and so’. Fleur came back at one point with more tea and a servant maid, that helped her bring a sun-chair. Why she had one, I have no idea, but she did and sat on it between Rogue and Rarity.

We shared stories and laughed a bit, although Fancys’ daughter was a bit shy. She didn’t mind joining in on conversation and even shared some tales of her own, but I think: I unnerved her and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to act around me. I kind of understand her, since I felt kind of the same way around my dads’ friends.

Fancy was also interested in the magical anomaly that was over most of the city. I tried to explain the as much of the situation as I could, but I didn’t know all the details since I only helped discover it, not research it. All of them were also interested in my profession which I didn’t have. I told it was more of a hobby that brought me money and they started asking questions about my own personal research. Nothing too specific thankfully, just general stuff such as what I specialized in. They were very surprised when I said it was runes, since not many Ponies apparently like that type of magic, saying it was too complex and hard to follow at times. I laughed.

An hour or so has passed, Fleur has left again, saying she had something to take care of, and I remembered something important. I let Fancy finish one of the times he spent in the knighthood with his mates, before speaking up.

“Can anybody tell me please what time it is?” They look at each other, before Rarity speaks up.

“It should be around two o’clock… why?” I put the pretty much empty cup on the table.

“I have to apologise for the sudennes, but I have another very important meeting to get to. I must prepare for it, so I will have to leave now.” I stand up and deeply nod to Fancy, “Would you thank Mrs Fleur De Lis for the delicious tea?” Fancy frowns for a moment, before nodding.

“Of course. If I may ask: where is it, that you are headed?”

“The palace, I heard it’s quite lovely this time of year. Also I’ve been invited for some reason, so…”

“The palace?” Fancy says, clearly surprised or impressed. “Well then good luck, my friend.” I nod.

“Have a good day everyone, it has been nice having this little chat.”

I give them one last polite nod, before leaving through the door I entered earlier. The elderly butler is nowhere to be seen and as I get further away from the room I faintly hear an amused Fancy say: ‘He’s quite an odd one, isn’t he?’.

I come across a few maids walking the halls, that nearly shriek or faint at my appearance, but there is one that keeps a calm and collected facade. Probably their leader. I find my way back to the main entrance and take my leave.

“Vadon?” I turn around. “I have to congratulate you, because I believe you have left quite a memorable impression on my father.” I stare at the rosish Pony, “Have a great day, Vadon.” I nod one last time and leave through the metal gate.

Along the way, I experience familiar feeling of an upcoming pit of pain and despair, that I will fall into for my actions. Of course, at the moment that will only prompt me to see how far and how fast I can fall into it. There is a chance I will never reach the bottom… but who cares? The feeling instantly intensifies.

I pay a visit to Arcanes’ store for some materials, that I need for completion of my construct. Oh, the array may be finished, but there is one more piece of the puzzle that I want to add. The recognizable smell of wood and some other spice float in the air as I step into the much unchanged shop. Maybe a few things have been sold from the counter, but that’s pretty much the only difference.

“Hello, Arcane.”

“Ah good day… I don’t believe I caught your name last time.”

“I am Vadon. Sorry, I guess it was a little impolite of me.”

“No worries. So what have you come for today?” I purse my lips.

“Mmm… Do you have a~ metal ring? Around this big?” I spread my arms, showing the size I wanted.

“...A metal ring?”

“Make that two. I also must be able to write on them and they must conduct aetheric energy.”

“...Are you sure that you’re not trying to summon anything?”

“Well for one: I don’t know any summoning rituals or spells, and for two: I am trying to accomplish the exact opposite, but also something similar although not exactly.” His stare shows how much trust he has in me. “Do I look like someone that would do something to doom everyone around me?” Arcanes’ gaze lingers on me for a few moment before he finally sighs.

“Anything else?”

I ask for a few more blue and red crystals, some special chalk with a certain metal dust in it and bits of scrap that he didn’t need and had lying around. It cost me around four hundred hundred bits, a price which I was willing to pay. He asks what I was working on exactly and I say that it’s an invention. It technically is in a sense, because I have merged some of the runes, so it’s my own personal creation of my own design. Arcane graciously provides me with a bag to put all the crystals and metal bits in, while I put my arm through the rings to carry them on my shoulder. I get back home, happy with the fact that I managed to not reveal much.

Shutting closed the door behind myself with the key I was provided, I head downstairs to drop off all the stuff, once again pressing my hand against the second recognition rune and walk over to the soft chair in the living room and drop on it and simply lie there for an unknown amount of time. I rise with a groan, when I hear the girls coming down the stairs, who look fabulous.

By which I mean: more presentable to royalty than me, but I digress.

I give a good rub to my eyes and we head out. I stretch a bit, while they close the door, nearly poking myself with the super sharp dagger and I slowly straighten myself as to not ruin more than just my trousers. That was a horrifying thought. Dying from having your soul sucked out of your ass.

“Adagio, I nearly forgot something. Could I go back for a moment? I’ll be quick.”

“What is it?”

“Something that will keep bugging me.” She opens the door and go downstairs to grab the sheath for the weapon. Why I didn’t think of this sooner, I have no idea. I strap the sheath to my belt and meet up with the Sirens again.

“Are you done?”

“Yup!”

Adagio shakes her head in disappointment and we go on our merry way. They take the lead, seeing as I don’t know the path. I walk by their side and all of us are mostly silent, except for a few exchanges. I ask if they have ever met the princess, to which the reply is: no. But they have heard a lot of praise for her from Sunset, who also said that Luna is a bit awkward at times, being lost in deep thought often. She also, and I quote: ‘Has a very peculiar sense of humor, unlike that of a Pony. That’s what Sunset said.’ and I believe it. If she has been stuck on the moon for a thousand years and if I were in her position: I would have a very peculiar sense of humour as well.

The palace gets closer and closer as we near the the lower castle. The is only one last street we have to go through, before reaching it. The street itself is nothing noteworthy, being similar to those before. Although it’s eerily empty and that’s the strange part. I would expect with a few scattered shops and a cafe, there would be at least somebody here, but no. No one likes this street. Poor street.

Suddenly a flash of movement appears in my peripheral vision as something yellow takes Adagio, the Aria and finally Sonata with it, each exclaiming as it does so. As the objects gain some distance, I realize that they are Pegasi clad in light golden armour. What?

What seemed like a hundred guards rush out of the alleyways, teleport far down the street, or land on the roofs. Each of them has a spear pointed at me. A transparent purplish dome appears over all of us, leaving the Sirens and the guards that are holding them outside of it.

I just stand there and blink before looking around at the armored ponies that have surrounded me in less than five seconds. Each of their armour looks bulkier than I have seen before, has purple cloth underneath and an insignia of a blazing sun upon their metal shoulder pads and chestplate. Most of them are earth ponies, but I see a few unicorns within and outside of the shield, with their horns glowing. The front row keeps a distance of six or more meters from me.

The guards ahead of me hold their spears upwards, turn and step aside, letting through a unicorn in gold armour, with metal plates that are purple of colour whose horn is also glowing a pur- lavender shade. He stops when he is within the makeshift circle and pulls out a sword. The guards close the hole made for him, leaving no room for escape. The unicorn strikes a pose extending his right arm, holding the sword and pointing it at me.

“Listen here, you foul demon! I am Shining Armor - Captain of the Solar Guard and I-!”

“Well that’s a bit rude, innit.” He looks at me as if I have sprouted a second head.

“Sorry, what?”

“You show up here, looking all many and intimidating, point yer weapons at me and then insult me.” He blinks. “How dare you?”

“Uh…”

“Right, sorry for the interruption. As you were.” I motion for him to continue and he takes a moment to compose himself.

“Ahem. I have been ordered to capture you and bring you before her majesty! I suggest coming with me peacefully.” He proclaims, having reverted back to his angry face.

“Oh, funny. I was just on my way to see her majesty myself.” His eyes narrow.

“What for?” I extend my arms as if it should have been obvious.

“To- to talk?” I see his muzzle muscles twitch.

“I request that you don’t play games with me. I know who you are and what you are, so you can stop playing these games.” I blink as a million thoughts run through my head, before one eventually stops.

“You were sent to kill me.” He blinks again and his eyes widen.

“Why- Why would you think that?”

“Oh please. There are almost a hundred guards here all pointing their weapons at me, we are all trapped in a dome,” And if they wanted to contain me, then they would only trap me instead of all of us, “and the first thing you do: is march up to the front with a face full of fury and point a sword at me… that is glowing.” It was glowing a white light. “You want me to bring before her majesty… just not alive.” I see his covered hooves twitch and he mouths something under his nose.

“I-”

“Will you really attack an unarmed sapient creature? Do you have no honour? Fight me like a man… stallion.” He looks a bit confused when I say man, but downright baffled after I finish talking. I think he probably didn’t get the message, so I stand in a boxing stance. “Go on, watchu waiting for?”

“...You realize, that it is much simpler for me to do this armed and not alone, right?”

“And I also realize that you, as a captain, care for these stallions and I am willing to spare them, if you fight me one on one. I win? I leave. You win? Well- I don’t leave.”

“My guards are capable of fighting you.”

“Fighting? Yes. But if I beat you: I doubt they’d be able to.” Because they won’t want to A few seconds of silence pass as he seems to consider it, “Eugh. Fine: you can keep the armour on if you want to.” I say dismissively.

“Ar-are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Because the armour will make you heavier, therefore: slower… unless it has spells on it and your mobility isn’t hindered at all, in which case I gain no advantage.

“...Alright.”

He sheathes his sword before approaching me, stopping at a distance of around three meters and taking a boxing stance. I, on the other hand, straighten up and make myself look relaxed. Captain Armor raises an eyebrow at this, but says nothing.

He starts slowly circling to my left, while closing the reach between us simultaneously. I simply follow him with my head, my eyes focused, though relaxed. I don’t follow his legs or his eyes as I observe his shoulders for any change. Ah, there it is. His shoulder move in separate directions: one forward, one backward, as he sharply comes charging me, rearing up for a right hook.

I let him get close and kick the left greave while pulling my upper half backward and downward, away from his fist. The kick catches him by surprise and I sidestep as he trips and falls. He quickly turns over as if expecting an attack, but I just stand there looking down at him with a complete calm on my face. Shinings’ eyes narrow as he stands up and readopts the stance.

A sudden jab comes from him catching me in the shoulder. I grab his arm around the middle and put my leg behind his back as I push and pull, throwing him onto the ground again with surprising ease. I guess the armour is enchanted. He looks strangely at my legs, as if incomprehending their existence. He stands up, smirking for some reason.

“Let’s try to not hurt each other too badly, yeah?” I suggest.

His smirk grows, before he charges me again, this time: he lowers his right arm to his abdomen and throws the other in a sort of strange haymaker. I try to intercept his abomination of haymaker while also punching him in the face. I manage to slow down his attack, but my punch is what keeps my own face intact. I satisfying shout comes from him as bone connects with bone and Shining takes a few steps back, covering his nose.

“What happened to not hurting each other too badly!?” He asks, looking at me.

“What, that hurt? You wimp. I barely have any muscle.” I say with a grin, “I’m Vadon by the way.”

He pulls away his hands and I notice that he was grinning, before it turned into a scowl. He spins on the spot and throws out his hoof in a bucking motion, which is slightly slower than that of an Earth horse or Rustys'. I immediately hop to the side and grab his leg, his horseshoe barely grazing my chest. I heave him as he releases an alarmed shout and a grunt when he lands on his chest.

We keep exchanging blows, as I hand him a few sparta kicks and keep throwing him on the ground in almost every way possible, alway changing my movements as he tries to adapt. I am hoping to tire him out and show the others, that I am still standing. He may be a trained, fit royal guard- or Solar, whatever. But he is still a pony and a prey species. I have human biology, which should give me at least some advantage in lasting against him, right?.. Maybe I’m just being delusional from the lack of sleep.

I see him panting on the opposite side of the ‘arena’ whereas I simply breathe deeply through my nose, standing tall and proud.

His eyes look up and down my form, “What… the tartarus… are you made of?”

I look at a spot on my covered arm, where my watch would usually be, “You know, Captain. We haven’t even been going at this all that long. Only… what? Six, seven minutes? You can surrender you know.” The girls at the back are still being held by the guards and seem half amused, half disbelieving that I am able to hold my ground against a captain of the Equestrian guard.

“I-”He suddenly gets a confused expression and looks back to the castle, “What? T-” He stays silent for a few moments, “Right. I gotcha. Please stop using magic for this.” He says solemnly and turns back to me, then looks at all of the surrounding guards. With a sigh, he pulls out his sword, holding it in his left grip and takes a few steps towards me.

“Captain.” I say, a warning tone in my voice.

“I’m sorry. But I have orders.” He hasn’t yet held up his sword, instead holding it by his side.

“...As am I.”

I sprint across to him, holding myself close to the ground and practically leap upward with a punch, before he can even do anything. The hit connects, stronger than any before and I grab him by the jutting out details on his armour and spin around, throwing him. He manages to land unharmed, but I stomp over to him, before bring my foot down on his face. A crack, a groan-shout and his nose starts bleeding. I pick him up and throw him again, the adrenaline making the task easier. I have a complete sense of calm on the inside as this all progresses.

He catches himself again, before standing up, just as I kick him under the insignia of his mark. He surprises me by not only managing to not lose his balance, but also take a swing at me.

I try to take a step back as the sword flies toward my face in an ark, but I am too slow. My eyes widen as a blinding pain seares through me. I think I hear an alarmed shout and someone calling out my name, but I can’t be certain at the moment. I hold both hands up to my face, taking a few steps back and bend forward, screaming the whole time. I distinctly feel something sharp, warm and wet drip and fall onto my hands. I feel my nose and skull pulsate as blood flows from them.

“Argh! You fucker! I just got those fixed!” My hands are as shaky as my breath. I slowly pull away my hands and quiet gasps ring out.

“Not a pretty sight, ey?” I ask rhetorically, my voice deathly cold.

“I-It’s fine. He can just regenerate them-!” Shining says, sounding a bit sick himself.

“What am I, a fucking lizard!?” I say and feel my eyes drop from my palms onto the ground, rolling away somewhere. I take a few calming breaths and chuckle, “Oh, look what you made me do.”

“Come with us and maybe the doctors might be able to help you.” I chuckle some more.

“Can they regenerate optical organs?” I hiss as I open the lids.

“Well, no.” I stare at where he should be, with mostly empty sockets.

I steady my breathing, before reaching into the inner pocket of my jacket and fish around for something. Once I determine that it is what I am looking for, I pull out the small tool.

“What is that?”

I ignore him as my breathing increases in intensity and search for a bump on the stamp-like trinket. Funny how things happen. I feel the crystal inserted into the very simple and makeshift, but hopefully working contraption. I find the correct side side and let out a breath, before raising the thing to eye level.

“What are you-?”

I apply pressure on the activation rune and insert the thing into my left eye. I instantly scream. The runic circle on the part that is inside burns itself into the back of my eye as I my mind nearly blanks out from the agony. I think I hear someone hurl, but I can’t understand or do anything except scream my lungs out. I come to, finding myself standing on my toes, bent over and shaking. I take a second to stabilize.

With effort I rise, my eyes shut tightly. I open my second eye, no longer bothered by the air on the open wound. I align it with the other socket and plunge it in, screaming again, although managing to stay mostly conscious this time. More guards vomit as I pull it out, my spine and shoulders limp.

I put the stamp back into the pocket and straighten to my full height. I lean my head to my left shoulder and my neck releases four, then two and finally one last crack with a jerking motion. I proceed to do the same for the other side, releasing seven more pops, before restoring my head back into its’ original position.

I open my eyes.

The colourless purple unicorn takes a step back as his see-through eyelids widen over his glowing eyes. The figure takes an almost scared stance, as a dim light shines in its’ hands like veins. I see a multitude of colours shift behind it, as if uncomfortable with something. I rear my head back to look at the runes dancing across a purple dome. I have never seen anything like them, as if it’s a language which has no visual or vocal interpretation. I may not understand it, but I know the result of the equation. It is the same as if you would know the number ‘four’ is a sum of two numbers, but not what those numbers are. I focus back on the unicorn, whose horn also has similar runes spinning around it. There are the two numbers. I faintly see multiple lights behind the shield, but I pay them no mind.

I slowly reach behind my back with my right hand and pull out the dagger, spinning it into an ordinary grip as I hold it extended by my side. I start walking towards the colourless creature that stares right into my 'necromancers' eyes'.

Shining Armour.

I lower my head and tense certain muscles in my body, while leaving others relaxed. I do a complete check of my capability of switching between them. All responses are positive. I am only a few steps away from the pony who is already on guard.

You fucked up.

He lunges forward swinging his blade in another ark which leaves a white smokey trail behind itself. I sidestep and kick as hard as possible, nearly indenting the armour and pushing him to a preferable distance.

Eye…

I stab at him, but he evades to the right, copying one of my earlier moves. He switches grip and raises his arm, preparing for a downward swing.

...For…

I quickly adjust my muscles, just as as the sword starts coming down. But I was already moving before it did. My dagger connects with the shining blade and there is a new metallic sound, just as something white flies through the air and lands somewhere with a cling. The figure takes a few steps back as I my hand keeps moving and my knees bend.

Eye

I unspring from my crouching position, dagger in hand launching from behind my shin. I soar through the air, aiming at his head as I notice his eyes widening. So close.

The tip of the blade is only a few centimeters away from his face, when a golden light begins to envelop him and he disappears, making me stumble a bit when I land over his spot. I straighten up, searching for the source of the spell. And then I find it. A bright spot getting bigger as it gets closer, the other lights parting before it and moving away from me, but keep their spears pointed at me.

The big spot is actually two golden spots with a white hue, that move like clouds in an invisible wind. The figure stops a few steps away from me and I have to crane my neck to look at their face as they are almost over a head and a half taller than me. They are wearing a dress, that has a banner like piece hanging down from the waist and ending in a rombuculous shape. There are more bits that seem folded symmetrically over each other on both sides, covering the wearers legs, almost to the fetlocks.

The tall Pony has a sort of belt made of a solid material around their waist, that seems to have some engravings on it and a gem in a shape of a rhomb in it’s center.

Her shoulders are uncovers and have light stretching down to her fingers in root like patterns, disappearing from view only behind the large braces, which cover most of the second halves of her arms.

The tall mare has a necklace-like decoration made of solid metal over around her neck, that has a socketed oval gem around her upper chest, but it seems cracked. The piece itself has many engravings on it, but I don’t take a close look at them.

And finally, her extended wings, which might as well blot out the sun, are the biggest I have seen so far on any living thing, their span reaching at least six meters at their fullest. A tiara-crown is worn behind her long horn which has some wisps lingering around it as she looks at me with colourless eyes, except for a golden light, shining out of their pupils right onto and into me.

Celestia Kosm.

We stare at each other in silence, as her tail and made exude a mixed gold and light-blue light. No longer in my ‘lust for blood’ mode, I note that everything has the faintest blue tint.

The queen opens her mouth, but I silently raise a finger and she closes it. I walk over to one of the tables outside of the outdoor cafeteria, as all the guards point their sticks at me. Then let me pass, although reluctantly and I take a clean tissue and go back to the main circle, the guards closing the way out behind me. I walk over to a spot on the ground and pick up my destroyed eyes with the tissue, fold it and put it in my other pocket.

I stand once more before her highness.

“Why do you have a tail?” The queen calmly blinks.

“Whatever do you mean?” I notice two purple figures behind the ranks, although one is bigger than the other and seems to be a mare looking at me, holding something like a clipboard.

“Why do you have a tail and the others don’t?” She follows my eyes and looks back to me, doing so without any obvious tension.

“They do. Most just prefer to cut it short.”

“I see.”

“May I have your name?”

“I am Vadon, it’s not very nice to meet you.”

“Why ever not?” I look at her and we both say nothing. “I suppose, I can see the reason from your perspective.”

“You came here yourself. Why?” She puts on, what she thinks is, a disarming smile.

“I wish to talk with you.” No, you me to talk… alright.

“In private?” A spell forms around her horn and suddenly a white egg-like dome appears over the two of us.

All the guards instantly get roused up and start voicing their protest of leaving me alone with her. The egg dims as Celestia opens her mouth, “I wish to talk with Vadon alone. Do not disturb us and don’t let anypony near this street, is that clear.” A muffled ‘Yes, your majesty’ came from the ones outside as their captain begins assigning them to take various positions.

Her horn glows once more and a simple metal chair appears behind her with a flash. There is also a flash behind me. I dare take a look and see that it is a chair from the cafe on this street.

“...” I take a seat on the soft seat and fold my hands, putting my right leg over the others’ knee and lean against the metal spine, “So… Nice weather we’re having.” Her eyelids twitch ever so slightly, which I nearly missed from the brightness, but it’s surprisingly easy to see movement when there are no shadows.

“Indeed. I would first like to know what you are.” I smugly smirk.

“I am something you have never seen before.”

“I highly doubt that.” The smirk is still there, although the smug is gone.

“...I suppose I am a human.”

“A human? What is that?”

“Told you: you never saw anything like me,” I adjust myself into a more comfortable position, “so: a human, in a rough sense of the word, is a mammalian omnivore, capable of survival in harsh conditions.” Of course they don’t always survive, but that’s besides the point.

“You know that from personal experience?”

“You could say that.”

“Hm. So why ‘suppose’?

“I… like to think that my mentality is different than that of a human. I have different values and a completely different view on the world and my interactions with it.”

“How different?”

“It will take me a while to explain and I don’t think I will be even able to do it with my current vocabulary.”

“I have the time.”

“I don’t.” She actually chuckles, “What?”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Uh- no? The lifespan of a human is only around a hundred years and the brain starts to deteriorate at the age of eighty. Plus I might die even earlier than that.” She raises a curious eyebrow.

“Oh… so you won’t tell me anything about yourself?”

No.

“Are you sure?” I lower my head and stare forward with a smile.

“...Get the fuck out of my head.” I say roughly, my face locked in a look of serene calm.

“Ah. I apologize, but that is a bit hard to do, especially when I can quite literally see your soul.” I look up again.

“You know what a soul is?”

“I do. Necromancer.” I stay quiet for a moment and then chuckle.

“I am not a necromancer.” She tilts her head with an ‘Oh?’ “I may study necromancy, but I am no necromancer. I can’t even cast spells!” I shake my head, chuckling.

The queen stares at me with an undecipherable expression, “How peculiar.” She says more to herself, than me.

“Yeah, well. Let’s get back on topic: you have sent a platoon of guards to exterminate the only specimen of the human race on this entire planet and then the captain of said guards made me blind, although not for long. And a~ll this, without any sort of hostile actions from me against you or your country. Nation. So… what is you next course of action?” She looks at me as if she didn’t expect me to turn the tables on her so quickly.

“I have to know more, before deciding anything. You are a possible threat.” I sigh, stand up and walk around to the back of my chair.

“I don’t know what kind of necromancers you have met in the past, but death is not always the solution.” It is most of the time though. If the problem still exists, apply more death. “I honestly have no intention of going against you or your people, unless you or they take any action that will harm m-” My breath catches in my throat as I stare into the sky.

What… is that? The sky has colour, which I have only just realized. But that’s not possible, is it? Unless… Oh… ohohohoho. I chuckle airly as I stare into the storm.

“Your majesty? I believe I can convince you to not imprison... or kill me. As I may be of use to you.” I say, turning around with a grin and a plan.

She raises an intrigued eyebrow. I got a hook. I can make the chain as I go

Author's Note

Hello everyone. I decided to love cliffhangers. Did you enjoy the chapter? Do you have any questions?

Well some of them will be answered in the next couple chapters, which hopefully won't be nearly 19 k words! Yeah?

I will post this story in a few other groups... maybe ask for a proofreader and an editor, that specializes in cliffhangers.

Posting Schedule:

I decided to post at least a chapter a month, since I am quite busy with stuff over on this side of the screen.

Featured:

This story has been featured during this chapter. Two in a row!

On a Sidenote:

There is another story I have posted the first chapter of. Check it out, if you so desire:zelda.

Leitmotif:

This is the theme of the story: Tiago D. Ferreira - Do We Fall [Aram Zero Remix] , I think it fits quite well.

If you have any actual feedback (besides 'Ooh, nice chapter. Can't wait for more.') that would be appreciated. Not trying to be rude or anything, but c'mon. This story ain't perfect in every sense, is it? What, you got no complaints you'd like to share?

Order Or Chaos... out.