Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 4: A Fallen Shadow

By: Major Frostwing

-One Year Later-

I walked through the halls of Canterlot Castle A scowl on my face as I shoved the doors to the meeting room open slamming them closed behind me using my magic. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" I demanded as I looked about the room. The entire Council of nobles were seated staring down at me with cold glares of their own. There was nearly fifty of those pompous assholes all full of disdain towards me.

"Jon we have summoned you for your dismissal as The Fist of Equestria." An aging mare said adjusting a large manila folder in front of her.

"I know I read the fucking summons you fucking child. I am demanding what gives you the right to even make such a move against me?" I asked as the mare only smirked.

"The Princesses of Equestria appointed us to handle matters that she can't oversee herself. If the council deems the Princess cannot make rational decisions the council can make decisions in her stead." The mare answered me before raising the folder. "A head of military in possession of forbidden magic. and has been corrupted by the taint of dark magic can at any point be court marshaled. But you are an exception to that rule. You are not a part of the military." The mare said handing the folder to her assistant.

"I am a defender of this country And a weapon that is at the beck and call of the princesses. You cannot strip me of that." I said as the mare only chuckled.

"Actually. We can. Even though you are a defender and in your own words a weapon then that falls under a very specific set of rules. Defenders of Equestria. Which the rank has only been given to four ponies of valor and yourself. Fall under the rules of incorruptible by dark magic and the use of forbidden magic. If a defender is ever to fall to dark magic or use forbidden magic they are stripped of their rank and are banished from Equestria." The mare said as I felt my magic flare.

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THOSE RULES WERE CREATED AFTER I GAVE UP MY TITLE THE FIRST TIME!" I yelled pointing at the mare.

"That matters not Jon. Rules are rules and are to be followed to the letter." The mare said nonchalantly. "Not to mention your little army you had created. We have not been able to pinpoint exactly who has been touched by your taint but know that they will be weeded out and executed for their crimes." She said as I flicked my hand forming my pistol as I took aim at her head.

"I will not sit here and have you threaten them for something they are innocent of." The mare only cocked her eyebrow at me before smiling.

"You only prove my point Jon. You are clearly corrupted by the dark magic that courses through you. A true defender would take his punishment with his head held high. You scrape and claw for excuses to prove an innocence that does not exist." I felt my blood boil as I lowered my pistol.

"What the fuck do you want from me?" I asked trying to keep my anger under control.

"You are to renounce your title and leave Equestria and never return." The mare said as I took a deep breath letting it out slowly.

"And what of my soldiers?" I asked tightening my hands into white knuckled fists.

"They will not escape their punishment. They have been corrupted so they must be eliminated." I looked up at the mare a cold glare cut through her bravado.

"You will never find them." I said as I turned on my heel leaving the meeting room with a snap of my fingers as I teleported. I arrived in Celestia's throne room as she finished up talks with a foreign dignitary from The Griffon Empire. They bowed to each other before the dignitary left without a word to me.

"Jon? What an unexpected surprise. What can I help you with?" Celestia asked as I flicked my wrist revealing my summons to her.

"Do you realize that your little fucking council just fucking removed me from power?" I asked as she snatched the paper out of my magic reading it over before crumpling the paper up.

"Ludicrous!" Celestia shouted getting up from her throne only to be stopped by me raising my hand.

"Trust me I am furious over this but the law for Defenders is very specific when it comes to them. I broke both of the laws and they must have dug very deep into those old books to find something to crucify me with. Worst yet in my army is now a subject of a witch hunt. They will hunt down my soldiers and put them to death. They fear that I am corrupting their perfect little world." I explained as Celestia looked at me sadness in her eyes. "They are adamant on me being removed from the picture. Keep a close eye for me Tia. I fear something is coming and they know I can do something about it." I turned away making my way out of the room when Celestia stopped me.

"What about Dash and Star Gazer?" Celestia asked as I froze sighing.

"Tell them this is to protect them. I am leaving you in charge of protecting them. No harm will befall them or I swear to god as my witness. I will not stop until I have wrought my vengeance. Send a mass message to your troops. Code 751. They will know what to do."

"I will Jon... When will you return?" She asked as I cracked a smile.

"When all hell breaks loose. I will be there to snuff out the chaos." And with that I snapped my fingers disappearing to the meeting point.

I stood in a large clearing in the center of The Everfree Forest. I was waiting calmly holding onto my necklace that always remained on my neck. "To pass this on is to pass on one of the only links to my old life and to overcome a petty fear. But she will need something." I heard the tell tale signs of a teleport. I released the necklace letting it fall onto my chest. "Finally my hammers arrive." I said getting to my feet. I looked at the six that stood before me. "We have a very important mission to complete. I expect it to be carried out with utmost precision." The six before me snapped to attention.

"Nobility means nothing. Loyalty conquers all." Royal Blue. Unicorn. That snot nosed son of a noble really shaped up to be a great soldier and an excellent strategist.

"We live to complete our mission." Sunny Shield. Pegasus. The daughter of a bunch of flower growers and cultivators. One of my best infiltrator assassins.

"Their blood shall be spilled before ours." Flame Aegis. Earth Pony. Son of one of the greatest gunsmiths of our time. The leader of my heavy ordinance division.

"Silence Is followed by a crack of thunder." Echo. Pegasus. Daughter of a long line of communication operators. My best sniper and counter intelligence officer.

"Mercy for none. Carnage for all." Shatter. Earth Pony. Son of a long LONG line of criminals. My best at siege and secure missions.

"The Anvil withstands all punishment." Mythril. Unicorn. Daughter of a small family based on the outskirts of Equestrian territory. My most dangerous user of the arcane and one of my greatest students.

"Good. Now then." I began to pace in front of them before pointing at Sunny. "Sunny take your soldiers and base yourself in the dragon lands. Hand this letter to The Dragon Lord." I snapped my fingers as a letter appeared in her hands.

"Yes sir." Sunny quickly pulled out a stone crushing it in her hands as she teleported away.

"Flame." I said snapping my fingers as another letter appeared in his hands. "To the Diamond Dog Alpha. Await further orders there." I ordered as he gave a salute. He pulled out his own stone as he teleported away.

"Echo." Another snap another letter. "The minotaur lands. Await orders." She gave a salute.

"I await the flash sir." She said before using her stone.

"Shatter." I gave him his letter. "Manehatten. Remain hidden and use your contacts to get in touch with the underground King Pin. Await further orders and keep your men alive." He snapped a salute.

"Consider it done and wrapped up." Shatter used his stone.

"Mythril. You are with me. To the Griffon Empire. Gather your men and clear all traces of our existence magically." Mythril saluted teleporting away. "And that leaves you Blue. You have the most important roll. You are to split your squad of four and send them to Mythril's unit. You are to remain in Canterlot and remove every ounce of our existence from the records. That includes Celestia's paperwork on us. You are to keep me informed of all happenings in Canterlot of any nature." I ordered. At one time or another Blue would have felt betrayed but he was smart now.

"What has happened that has made you scatter our forces like this sir?" Blue asked as I shrugged.

"There is a witch hunt for the Equestrian hammer where you will all be put to death for corruption via dark magic. I am scattering the unit to the winds but you all still serve me. Even though I am being banished from Equestria. I will explain more later but you have your orders." I said sternly as Blue snapped a salute.

"Consider it all nonexistent." Blue Disappeared with a teleport. I once again was left alone sitting down in the clearing as my hand once again clasped the small pendant on the chain of my necklace.

"She will understand one day... I pray to whatever god is out there she will understand." I whispered clenching the pendant tightly.