The King Of Nothing

The tension in the throne room was palpable, as the royal sisters were facing a difficult meeting between them, Major Shiitake, and their more trusty advisers.

"Everypony, please remain calm. We need to keep our heads cool if we want to get to the bottom of this." Celestia asked everyone present to calm down before another discussion could break up.

"What else is to deliberate, your highness? That stallion wandered the castle unsupervised, found one of the elements of harmony, and attacked her without rhyme nor reason," Shiitake mentions.

"What about motive?" An elderly deep green unicorn stallion with a thick mustache, fancy clothes, and a monocle argues back. "We all heard the report and eyewitnesses, but besides the statement Sir Marcus provided, we have nothing to go around, and frankly, I keep finding the story more odd than you claim, Major Shiitake."

"Moose Booze is right," A younger pegasus with puffy yellow wings and suave and long hair with a beautiful dress stepped in. "Amon has never before been known to wander around at night; the attack happened just when the princess conveniently was busy on a long meeting, and Fluttershy just so happened to be lured into meeting him out of the blue. There are just too many coincidences for this to be something random, yet there is no way Amon could have this much knowledge to pull this off."

The mare put her hands together as she stared at the major. "I wonder how convenient it was for our steam major to step in at exactly the right moment to make the arrest and place herself a hero with a suppression ring."

"I'm not the one being questioned here, Ms. PuffyClouds. We are here to devise the proper punishment for that criminal!"

One final pony, an earth pony stallion that seems to be just entering his golden years, with some gray on the side of his mane, fancy clothes, and dark red fur, clears his throat. During all the meetings, he has remained quiet, listening to everything carefully.

"We are still missing one final statement to hear, the accused one." The pony finally spoke up. "Did he confess to any wrongdoing? I feel like we are omitting his side of the facts."

The princesses just remain quiet and sigh. "That is because he has been oddly quiet about the whole ordeal," Celestia replies.

"I can attest to that. Once I heard the news, I went and confronted Amon myself," Luna mentions. "And besides asking for the well-being of Marcus, he simply replied, and I quote: 'Nothing I say will change anything' and then refused to say anything else."

"Seems to me like the confession of a guilty conscience," Shiitake mentions while crossing her arms.

"And all I hear is the call for help from a desperate stallion, starting to give up hope!" Moose fires back in irritation. "Redwood is right; we are missing crucial pieces. If Amon wanted to hurt anyone, he had plenty of time. For this out-of-the-blue outburst, it simply doesn't make any sense."

"I agree," Celestia nods and stands up. "And that is why, until we figure out what is really happening, we will put on hold any form of punishment. But there would not be a need for deliberation for punishment, as I already decided. Whoever caused all of this would be sentenced to petrification. Are there any objections?"

"None from me, sister," Luna replied as everyone else remained quiet momentarily before nodding.

"And just to finish the meeting, where is the accused at the moment, your highnesses?" Moose asks with a raised eyebrow.

"If you must know, he is safe and secure under constant surveillance in one of the cells in the castle dungeon," Luna replied.

"He is still in the castle?!" Shiitake asks in alarm, gaining everyone's attention.

"We do not need to justify our actions and don't plan to change them, but I must ask: Is there an objection to our decision, Major Shiitake?" Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"None, your highnesses," Shiitake replied in a low tone, clenching her teeth.

"And what about the victims? Are they okay?" Redwood asks as well.

"Ms. Fluttershy didn't receive any pronunciation injuries, so she was discarded soon enough. Mr. Marcus, on the other hand, still resides in the royal infirmary for treatment," Luna replied. In the room in question, the human was spoiled by his marefriends while AJ just paced back and forth with her arms crossed.

"I just don't understand; how could this ever happen inside the castle, for Celestia's sake!" AJ exclaimed in exasperation.

"I'm as shocked as you, Applejack," Marcus says dejectedly. "I really don't want to think about it, but the reality is that. It appears we overestimate the mental faculties of Amon."

"It's really a sad thing. He really didn't seem like a bad pony, but to have this change of heart suddenly… the poor thing was probably more traumatized than we thought," Pinkie confessed, putting the spoon down.

"Even so, what AJ is saying really makes me think," Rarity mentions. "He notices how Fluttershy seems interested in him, then comes off too strong when she confesses, and when she rejects how he became, he acted violently?" Rarity asked herself. "I just didn't view him as the violent type."

"It is always whom you least expected, my gem. Frankly, it was a miracle that I was on my midnight jogging when it happened. I dread to imagine what could have happened if I were too late."

"Yeah, about that, you say you manage to restrain him using a suppressing right, right? Why were you carrying one in the first place?" AJ asks with a raised eyebrow.

"It was part of my last invention. I wanted to develop a prosthesis that can replace lost horns for those born or who have suffered an accident. I had an idea of a ring that could connect and create artificial magic. The suppression ring was simply the base; I must have forgotten I still had one in my persona when I was jogging."

"I say, it was extremely lucky," AJ mentions before sighing. I still can't believe things escalated this much. I need to know what that colt has to say for himself," AJ says, heading to the entrance.

"AJ, no!" Marcus exclaimed and raised an arm. "What would be the point? I told you already that Amon is mentally unstable; you can't believe anything else he said. Or worse, risk getting hurt yourself."

"I appreciate the thought of that, sugarcube, but I want to be the judge, and I can take care of myself. For now, I suggest you do the same." AJ shoots him a grin and thumbs up before continuing her march.

"Besides, someone needs to ensure your marefriend doesn't do anything stupid once she arrives and hears what happened to you."

"Wait, Dashie is here? I thought she was still on her wonderbolt tour in Las Pegasus."

"Come on, sugarcube, we are talking about Dash here. Do you think she would stay still when he hears the news?" AJ asks Marcus with a raised eyebrow.

Everyone remains calm for a moment before nodding. "You're right, AJ; you must stop her before she provokes that dangerous stallion and gets herself hurt."

"...yeah, that too." AJ plays along and leaves the room, and Pinkie and Rarity keep spoiling Marcus as he recovers.

Soon after, in the deepest part of the dungeon, Amon sighs as he leans against one of the walls and occasionally glances at the iron shackles on both his arms and legs. They had a thick chain attached to them, connecting them and, by proxy, Amon to the walls of his cells.

At the moment, Amon just remains quiet and stoic, taking notice of the sounds around him but not paying them too much attention, as he occasionally hears the sounds of metal doors opening and closing. It wasn't until he felt someone stopping at his cell and heard a familiar voice that the stallion raised his head.

"Amon, thank Celestia, I finally found you," Fluttershy calls out. Amon can see her wearing a black hood to cover her face as she grabs two of the bars in his cell.

"Yellow? I mean… ah, Fly, no. Shy… Fluttershy, wasn't it?" Amon asked before shaking his head. "The heck are you doing here? How are you here? Luna told me this was a secluded section of the palace," Amon asked as he stood up and tried to approach, only to stop halfway, thanks to the chains in his shackles.

"I ask my friends," Fluttershy replies, standing back and pulling mice from her pocket chips before putting them back in her pocket, her face becoming more worried. "And I needed to talk to you; what happened last night? How did I freeze? And nods to everything they were telling me. Amon, I'm so sorry! I'm the reason why you are here; I should have defended you."

"There is no need to apologize, Fluttershy. I'm glad you play along."

"You do?" Fluttershy asks, perplexed, as Amon nods.

"Tell me, Fluttershy, how much of last night do you recall?"

"That is what I feel most guilty over; everything is too blurry. I remember your card, us meeting in the garden, and then I heard some distorted sound; I felt like I was floating, then a hit to my head, and next thing I know, you were in front of Marcus with a bloody knife in your hand."

Fluttershy rubs her head before grabbing the bars once more. "Please, Amon, Princess Luna told us you refuse to say anything, but you know something, right? Please tell me what happened last night."

"If I could, I would Shy, but right now, anything I say would play right into Faust's hands."

"Faust?" Fluttershy repeatedly confused.

"Listen, Fluttershy, I know you have questions, and I'm not making any sense right now, but from my perspective, it's the bad ponies that are after me. They moved, put me right where they want me, and are just waiting to finish their plan. They await my reaction; they want me to spread chaos everywhere. But they didn't count on me just staying quiet."

Amon smiles and points at his head. "They don't know I'm also playing their sick little game. And right now, I'm chipping away their patience while waiting to make their mistake."

"Amon, what are you saying? You are not making any sense," Fluttershy says in a very concerned voice. Before Amon could elaborate, they heard a metal door opening again.

"Perfect timing, quick hide! Something tells me you will understand soon enough," Amon asks her as he returns and sits in the corner of the room again.

Still confused, Fluttershy could only comply and hide her face as best as she could while going into an open, empty cell and hiding in the shadows in time to see a group of guards approaching.

"I must say, specimen, you sure are full of surprise, aren't you?" Faust's voice calls out to Amon as Fluttershy peeks and listens intently to their conversation.

For his part, Amon could only chuckle and shake his head as he kept his head down. "Good old Doctor Faust, I was wondering when you would be coming to gloat." He then looked up to face the pony for the first time, seeing a gray stallion in a trench coat and sunglasses. The guards around him had the same lost gaze in their eyes.

"I see you have been busy. Would they be my executioners?" Amon asks sarcastically.

"That all depends on you, specimen, and how cooperative…"

"...Save me the speech, would you, asshole?" Amon interrupted him with a roll of his eyes and a heavy sigh. "If you wanted me dead, you would have only hypnotized a maid to stab me while I sleep. So just shut up and tell me what you want."

"You shouldn't test my patience, especially when it is not your life, the one in danger here, but the ponies around you. Or do you want me to bring the head of Fluttershy or that maid that took a shine to you to make my point?"

That got Amon's attention as he saw the guards pointing their weapons at their throats after Faust snapped his fingers. "You continue to disappoint me, specimen; you do. You even fail at creating fucking CHAOS!"

"What are you doing?!" Amon asks in alarm.

"The better question is what are you willing to do, in order to spare their lives? As I said, this all depends on your next words. So either you finally do what you are told, or I'm going to stage a prison break; let's see if you can still keep quiet with a dozen mutilated royal guards surrounding you."

"Please, Faust, they have nothing to do with this; let them go."

"Are you ready to follow orders?" Faust asks sarcastically as he raises his arm. "I can always look for that bitch maid and the element whore to join the body count."

"No! I… I will listen."

"Good," Faust cheered and lowered his arm before nodding to the guards who put away their weapons. "See specimen? Things can be easier for us if only you follow commands."

"What…do you want?" Amon asks with a clenched fist as Faust laughs.

"The same thing I have wanted from the start: specimens. I want a monster, an enemy of the kingdom so vicious and brutal that not even the elements could stop it. I want you to go into a rampage, as I planned."

"This was your goal all alone, then? You made my life a living hell, kidnapped and tortured thousands, turned me into… this. Because you want to destroy the kingdom?"

"I'll make it better!" Faust exclaimed, hitting one of the cell bars. "You think we are monsters? No, Amon, you don't know shit! I LIVE under the thumb of a real monster, a sociopathic bitch that brainwashed an entire town so that she could play house. I'm the victim here, and you will be the tool for me to get revenge."

Faust stands back and takes a moment to breathe before continuing, "Let's not go sidetracked. We are having a gentlemanly conversation here, and don't worry. I don't want you to start foaming from the mouth and act like a caveman. No, you make it so it would raise a lot of questions with your calm demeanor now," Faust admits in irritation.

"No, instead, I want you to start your campaign of terror simply enough. I'm going to make arrangements for the bitch that put me in hell to give you a private visit soon enough. The second you two are alone. You are going to defile her and then make your escape through the sewers, where you will await further instructions."

"You are sick FAUST I'm not gonna rape an innocent…" Amon protested and stood up as far as the chains allowed him, starting to bend them in anger

"THAT WHORE IS ANYTHING BUT INNOCENT, AND YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD, SPECIMEN," Faust yells at him and raises his hand once more. "Or the blood of a lot of innocent ponies will be in YOUR hands, ape."

Amon froze and backed away when the soldiers started taking out their weapons again.

Regaining control, Faust lowered his hand and smiled at him. "Once that mare enters this cell, there will be blood, either from that whore filthy hole or all the ponies I have under my control. Keep that in mind if you think of defying me."

Amon just remains quiet and kneels down as Faust laughs and leaves him alone. "Cheer up, primate. Look on the bright side. Pretty soon, you will get lucky," Faust sadistically comments as he and his group leave Amon alone.

Once they were gone, Fluttershy stepped out from her hideout and rushed to Amon. "Amon, was he the bad pony you told us?"

"And it is more dangerous than I thought, Fluttershy." Amon shakes his head and looks at her. "Like you just witnessed, he can control other ponies, and it is most likely that he has everyone under some mind control, including you. He might still have it, and you don't realize it yet."

"And if you had spoken up, the castle would have been in complete chaos, or he could have used it to label you insane and put you in an even worse situation," Fluttershy speaks mostly to herself.

"I needed to remain quiet, and Luna understood that. We both were waiting for Faust to make his move." Amon smiled and pointed behind him where there was an obsidian crystal.

"A listening crystal," Fluttershy exclaimed in shock. "You record everything?"

Amon nods. "That mare is a genius on deduction; without saying a word, she figured out what I was trying and played her role flawlessly, and now you need to play yours too, Fluttershy," Amon says, picking and handling the crystal to Fluttershy.

"Me?" Fluttershy points at herself.

"I'm sorry this happened, Fluttershy, but you have become a witness. And for the sake of who knows how many ponies, you would have to act as if you hate me as well as giving and said your testimony to Luna without Faust knowing."

"W-What? Why?"

"I know it is too much to ask, but please, help me find the truth, Fluttershy. I'm not even sure this is Faust's real body. If we let him escape, who knows what he could ever do next, you saw him. It clear there is no gram of morality left in him"

The pegasus remained quiet, scared, confused, and worried from all she had just heard before nodding once. "We must stop that pony and get you out of here." She smiled and took out the mice. "Here, so you don't feel lonely. Whiskers can keep you company."

Amon blinks in confusion before approaching and extending his arm as Fluttershy does the same and passes the mice. "Ah… okay, nice to meet you, Mr. Whiskers." Amon smiles and starts petting the mice gently as he sits down.

Her fluttershy heart melts at the image and fills her with resolve: "Don't worry, Amon. I will get you out of…"

Fluttershy has to hide a second time when she hears yelling on the floor atop them, "Where is he?! Where is the son of a mule that cut my coltfriend!?" The raspy voice of Rainbow Dash alerts both of them.