Canterlot Academy Trials

“Seems to be the case, mi’lord,” the Devon Rex commented, “We have very limited information on the subject, but given the case, it’s highly probable that whoever that Odu has involved has also picked up some of his traits. We should be wary of anyone else who exhibits similar values.”

The king sighed and mentally noted down everything that he had just heard. “Alright…I need to think this over. Thanks for the explanation, everyone.”

With that, Mau left his agents and everyone else would subsequently leave the war room and head to their respective quarters for the night. Mau in particular would arrive in his bedroom where his wife was reading a book in bed.

“Grrgh…well this has put quite the strain on us, hasn’t it?” the cat king asked his wife as he lied down next to her.

“...I spoke to some of my own agents as well,” his wife, Bombay, replied as she closed her book, “They’ve all pretty much told me the exact same things that your agents have told you. This Odu individual was treated poorly by his own father and was even molested…I can’t believe it.”

“Yes…” Mau sighed as he lied down, “While it doesn’t excuse his actions, I think it paints a better picture as to what exactly his purpose behind all of this is.”

“And what do you think that might be, hun?”

“...he’s doing this not just as a way to take control of his own life, but as a twisted way to keep this from happening to anyone else…” he paused for a moment and shrugged, “Or at least, that’s my hypothesis. I don’t know the man personally so I can’t make any snap judgements about his character or his intentions.”

Bombay sighed and lied down with her husband, “...still. Looking to incite a war is a bit drastic. It’s almost as if he’s looking for a reason to be put down.”

“...it’s a thought I had also. Maybe he’s doing this as an elaborate ruse so that he can fall to suicide by the authorities. Whatever the case, we can’t allow him to live on like this. I’m sure it’s eating away at his mental state. Putting him down might be the only sort of release we can give him at this point--he’s beyond saving.”

“I see…” the queen mumbled with a purr, “Well, at any rate, we know what we need to do. Mio already has the information he needs and they’ll likely intercept him by tomorrow. I guess with his horrific father dead, he’s had no one to aim his anger at except the diamond dogs…which is likely a scapegoat now that I think about it.”

Mau noted that with a twitch of his whiskers. The feud between the Diamond Dogs and Abyssinians had ended quite a while. Was it possible that Odu had genuine animosity towards that race, or was it just a massive cover-up for an elaborate suicide attempt?

Unfortunately, as Mau had said, there was simply no telling for the moment as they simply couldn’t comprehend the way Odu thought nor did they know him well enough to make a judgement call. At this point, the tiger man was an enemy to their nation and had to be dealt with accordingly. Nothing would ever excuse the act of taking his anger out on innocent people through an act of war.

“...whatever the case, there’s no use mulling over it right now, my dear,” Mau advised his wife to relax for the time being, “All we can do is simply focus on what’s important regarding the safety of everyone in our kingdom. That’s what leaders should always do after all.”

“You’re right, yes…” Bombay agreed as she snuggled up to Mau, “We shall continue to work towards building a proper future for the next generations after us. For now, let’s get some rest, hm?”

“Indeed…we have a lot to do starting tomorrow…”

That’s when the queen got ready to present an idea that would take their mind off of things for the time being and clear their heads. “...why don’t I help you relax, Mau-Mau, dear?”

“...if…if you’re willing, then allow me to do the same for you, BB…”

Meanwhile, back at the inn, in the room Fang was staying in…

Sha’Beel was lying next to Fang while sobbing heavily, burying her face in the dalmatian’s chest for comfort.

Fang reciprocated the desire for affection by running his right paw alongside her head to keep her close to him while smoking a cigarette in his left. “...there now,” he muttered, “I’m sure it’s been a rough time for you.”

“It…it has…” Beel mumbled between sniffles, “I thought I knew everything that I wanted in life, but really…I was just lying to myself while following his lead. At this point, it’d be best for me to simply slit my throat and drown myself!”

“...don’t speak such things,” Fang coughed up some smoke as he held her against his body, “...you can still give your life meaning even now, Sha.”

“Easy for you to say…” she purred weakly against him, “...you have a family and friends that love and adore you no matter what. Your life is perfect, Jun.”

Fang froze, then looked off to the side as he contemplated what she had just said…and considered everything that he had worked for his entire life up until that moment, including his dying mother. The revelation caused him to crush the cigarette in his paw as he grit his teeth with a pained grimace on his face.

“...you…you don’t know what you think you know, Sha.”