Status Quo

The gun fell from my mouth, my eyes staring at ones now bleak and void of life. Enough of her skull had been ruptured to paint my entire face with blood. I had expected to feel something at this point – jubilation or perhaps relief – because it was all finally over. Instead there was nothing, my non-existent emotions matching well with the lifeless corpse I had just created.

A lot of ponies would be happy about this. I wouldn’t be one of them.

“Tell your story. Tell everyone what happened, and truly tear down the shroud.”

At that moment my mentor’s last request felt impossible to uphold. Everything I had gone through, all I had endured, nopony would want to hear of it. They see me as a hero, some shadowy avenger responsible for the downfall of Brayington County’s darkest corners. If they knew who I was, what I am, that illusion and respect would be gone. The moment they saw the mare they called the Shroudbreaker, everything would change.

Then I realized that was the point.

These past few days, following the end of my crusade, I had time to sit and think on his final request. I now understand the importance in letting every one of you know exactly what I went through. If I don’t, you’ll become just like myself, or those I have had to kill. Being your beloved Shroudbreaker is not glamorous, its torture. It is important you all understand that.

Pulse said to tear down the shroud. I’m going to do that now. It’s time you all learned who your beloved Shroudbreaker really is, and how all of you hated her not even one year ago.

Her name, my name, is Rainy Day. I’m a pegasus, and for the longest time, I was the most hated pony in Brayington County.