John Sampson's Story

I’m borrowing Luna’s shower so I will be fresh when I appear as Luna’s protector.

“Dost thou poor little Earth pony require assistance with the shower?”

“Not if you plan to raise the moon tonight. After warming up with Celestia you need to be careful how you walk in front of me.”

“Be it true that she asked thou for the kiss?”

“Yes, indirectly. But what didn’t show was what she was doing with her magic under my clothes.”

“This is most exciting, John. Her desire to be ever independent and aloof was one the core elements of our argument so many years ago.”

I got dried and dressed, buckled on my sword, and waited by the door for the moment.

“It’s time, John.”

“Some day you are going to have to let me in on the secret of your clock.”

But she is by me on her way up the stairs so all I can do is follow. One step out and two steps left. Assume parade rest. I can see her magic as she raises the moon. The raising is simple but the handle is complex. And the big question is how can I see it in my no magic human body? Is all this high power magic around me soaking in?

Luna stands at the rail and smiles for her ponies then we head downstairs and out to stroll the crowd. This crowd is different. We have batponies, and batpony foals. The other tribes are all there but almost no foals. And the big difference is that the batponies want their foals to meet Luna and I together. The walking is much slower because so many ponies want to talk instead of just bow and back. I like this better.

The minotaurs are still around and still keeping their distance.

After a while we settle on the same dais now sporting Luna’s colors.

“I like your crowd better, Luna. They’re more connected, more participating.”

“Be there such a big difference?”

“Yes, your batponies are interacting with you, the individual, as opposed to Celestia’s abstract goddess image. It’s healthier.”

“An interesting way of looking at it, John. Have thou progressed on thy conundrum?”

“I think I have but I’ve been too busy to test it. I am becoming less hurried in my pursuit as other strengths are developing.”

A batpony of Luna’s Nightguard is standing quietly in the shadows behind the dais.

“Captain, why don’t you come around here and join the conversation?”

He jumped a little but didn’t immediately move.

“Yes, I mean you behind the dais.”

Luna spoke, “John, my Nightguard are supposed to walk the shadows around me.”

“I understand that, Luna, but he has reminded me that I have been remiss in some of my duties and I must rectify that mistake before it becomes too late.”

The batpony comes around and approaches us from the front, “Your Majesty, I am at your service.”

“Captain, I should have spent time with you and your ponies before placing you in a public situation like this. That is my fault and I apologize for having to disrupt things to correct it. As you may have guessed, I can see you in the shadows even when my nose is pointed in another direction. I am also far faster and stronger than you might guess. And I am wearing a sword with a reach greater than your best spears. So if something should happen, get Luna to safety and stay out of my way. It takes a half acre to draw this monster but I can do it faster than you can see. I will draw all threats to me and dispose of them while you and your ponies keep Luna safe. Do we have understanding?”

“Yes, sir. We have heard of your strength and speed but it is good to have it confirmed.”

“I am going to be taking some Night Courts in the near future. We may find some time afterwards to spar or exercise. You need to know who you are working with. Tonight, we have another question. Can you see the several Minotaurs gathering in the far corner of the courtyard towards the moon?”

“Not well enough to identify them, Your Majesty. Would you like them investigated?”

“Please. And if action begins, drop the titles and shout ‘John’. It’s faster.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The batpony turns and squeaks briefly. A show detaches itself from the courtyard wall and drifts away. A few seconds later a similar shadow drifts above the Minotaurs in a loop and along the south wall to disappear over the west wall.

A batpony lands next to the Captain, “There are four Minotaurs in the southeast corner and two more approaching them from the west. The four are armed and are putting on mail. There is enough mail and weapons for three more Minotaurs.”

I replied, “Excellent report. Captain, deploy your ponies quietly. You will take Luna’s place on the dais staying shadowed until they commit. Luna, teleport to Celestia’s conference room and get Celestia and Steel up on what’s happening. Tell them that this is probably a feint.”

Luna popped out and the captain moved up on the dais with me.

“Your Majesty, why do you think this is a feint?”

“We’re on ‘John’ time now. Because last time we tangled I smoked five Unicorns simultaneously. They know that seven Minotaurs can’t be more than an annoyance.”

“Are you talking about that magic accident that happened at the same time as the bank raid, sir?”

“Those five Unicorns were defending something hidden in the basement of the bank, something stolen from the Castle.”

“So there may be a lot more to this than what we see right now, sir?”

“I see no point in risking a flock of pissed off Alicorns otherwise.”

We wait. The Minotaurs are moving around but not getting any closer.

I speculate, “They’re waiting for a signal of some kind. That’s good. It gives Steel time to get the entire Castle locked down.”

The crowd seem to be thinning in our vicinity. Not a big change but the bands are gone.

“Captain, is it your ponies or Steel’s pulling the foals out?”

“Ours, sir.”

“Then Steel must have a message for us because lunch is coming.”

“Yes, sir. But I can’t tell who is bringing it.”

“I can. That is Duchess Captain Swift Trail. I can feel our heart.”

The Minotaurs are closer but not a threat. I step down to accept the tray from Swift and place it on the dais.

“I hope they don’t get suspicious about the lack of magic use. What is Steel up to?”

“The Castle is fortified and all targets are accounted for and warded. Steel wants to know what you are going to do about the Minotaurs.”

“Tell him to line the walls around the courtyard with Guard then I’m going to negotiate with them. Have any ambassador or known employer that can be located brought in. Now get back inside quick.”

Before Swift can turn to leave, the Minotaurs are coming at full charge.

“Captain, get Swift in the Castle. She’s a target.”

I crank up my strength then walk out to meet the Minotaurs pulling my sword as I go. The Nightguard are pulling back from their line of attack and filling in behind them.

Deep breath and turn up the volume, “Stop!” and they do, looking bewildered. The biggest one starts towards me again.

“They told you that I don’t have any magic, didn’t they?”

That stopped him again.

“They lied. Most of what they told you was lies. The only way out of here for you is to realize that and cooperate.”

He yells and charges. I kick in speed and make a simple roundhouse cut across his neck as I step across his path and out of the way of his falling body.

Slowing down and stepping closer to the rest of them, “Look around you. I can walk away and you’ll still have a company of Guardponies to deal with. Give me details of who is behind this and I will give you passage home.”

One of them spoke up, “We want our ambassador.”

“No, you don’t get to ask that until all weapons and armor are on the ground.”

They complied promptly.

“Now step this way until you are clear of the weapons.”

They did.

“Who wants a ticket home?”

Silence.

I turn to the Guardpony nearest me, “Go get Applejack.”

Back to the Minotaurs, “I don’t expect you to know who AJ is so I’m going to help you. She’s a member of the Royal Herd and an Element Bearer, the Element of Honesty. You can’t lie to her and you can’t hide from her. Information not volunteered does not earn a ticket home.”

Silence. Anypony this disciplined has to be military.

AJ comes in at a full gallop, “We can’t find Swift.”

Focus, “Details?”

“Swift never got back from taking you lunch and there is a dead Nightguard between the dais and the Castle. According to witnesses she was walking with the Nightguard but nopony saw anything happen to them.”

“We need to extract every single bit of information you can from this bunch. They might know where she is.”

I step back and concentrate. I can feel an even three part beat so I know she is alive and not too stressed but I can’t seem to get a direction. AJ is right in front of me but Swift seems to be in multiple directions. Not good.

“I’m going to look at the dead Guardpony and confirm what happened.”

I sprint over and yep, it’s the Captain. And he has a hole in him just like that last assassin at the Spring Fling. I kick up the speed and run back to AJ.

Addressing the Minotaurs, “Your employer has kidnapped one of my mares, a member of the Royal Herd. Don’t count on diplomatic immunity.”

That makes them nervous. I walk up to the one that asked for their ambassador.

“Follow me”

He doesn’t move so I dial up the strength, grab him by a horn, and march him to the other side of the dais.

Pushing him to the ground, I stand over him, “You are messing with my band. Right now the Royal pony wants to make a deal. If that doesn’t work, the monster that eats Manticores will come out. He really wants to play with you.”

Damned if he isn’t crapping all over himself.

“AJ, this one wants to talk.”

AJ walks up and wrinkles her nose, “You must be very persuasive.”

“AJ, I want to know if he tells the least untruth or evasion.”

She looks at him with that special focus.

“Who is behind this?”

We made our way through a long series of questions to arrive at ‘he’s a security contractor for the Minotaur embassy and gets his orders from the one I killed who gets his orders from embassy staff and all they are supposed to do is test our security.’

They all have the same story but the ambassador has arrived and we have somepony new to question. Celestia and the rest of the Royal Herd are with him surrounded by most of the Guard staff.

“AJ, focus on the ambassador.”

“You can’t use magic on me nor can you hold any of my staff. Every Minotaur on my staff has diplomatic immunity.”

“Are these Minotaurs on your staff?”

“Yes they are.”

“Then diplomatic immunity no longer applies. See the dead one over there? All the weapons on the ground? They attacked the Royal Stallion with drawn weapons on the Royal Palace grounds. They aided in the abduction of a Royal Mare. Those are acts of war.”

That shook him.

Celestia spoke up, “John, I’ve know this Minotaur for years and he is an honorable individual.”

“I’m sure he is, Celestia, Aj is standing here verifying it for me. But he is also the chief representative of his government in Equestria and agents of his government are part of an attempted coup right here in front of us. The instant that he gives these agents any aid or authority from his government we are at war with the Minotaurs so just let me handle it. I want him to understand that if any harm at all comes to Swift because he withheld information or help, I will personally escort the entire Minotaur race back to the stone age.”

He’s looking at Celestia, pleading.

“Don’t bother looking at her. She knows she can’t control me in this. I’m plenty strong enough to tear your land to pieces without any help. AJ, verify that for him.”

AJ put the look on me, “John, the Element agrees with you.”

I look back at the ambassador.

He collapses, “There is one other. They are all ‘security contractors’ hired in the capital and sent to me as a package. I can take them or resign. I tried to find their boss to bring him here with me but he is signed out to go to dinner with a pony of the herd Blueblood. They are supposed to be discussing a construction contract. I will bring him to you when he returns.”

“He won’t return. He’s dead by now. They haven’t hesitated to kill ponies so they damned sure won’t be bothered by killing other races. What do you think we should do with the rest of them?”

“I and my government disavow and repudiate all of them and all of their actions. They are all part of some rogue operation not sanctioned by any legitimate agency of the Minotaur government. I beg that you be merciful with them.”

I look up at the Royal Herd present, “We have more than enough for a Royal Court present. Does anypony present doubt their guilt?”

I take a head count and get all ‘no’.

“Geld and release them.”

Another head count gets a little hesitation but no disagreement.

“Colonel Steel, can you make sure it gets done quickly? And get them some tarps to haul off their remains without contaminating any more of the Castle?”

“With pleasure, You Majesty.”

Turning back to the ambassador, “Be sure to make a complete report to your government ASAP. I want them to know what they have awakened.”

I walk over to where Luna is standing, “Luna, please walk with me.”

“Of course, John.”

As we drifted towards the Castle door, “I didn’t even ask his name. What kind of band does he leave?”

“He was Dark Sword and he leaves two mares and three foals.”

“Have they been notified?”

“Yes. The Guard will care for them.”

“So will I. I owe him. And I am sorry for screwing up your day.”