Shadow of Fury

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Reaper, Shamrock, and Willus sat at their table at the cafe, eating lunch. Shamrock ate a hay sandwich, Willus was eating some apples. Reaper ate waffles, despite his friends insisting that it wasn't something you eat for lunch.

"So, how've things been for you guys?" Shamrock asked.

Willus smiled, taking a bite out of an apple. "Good, good. I've really been able to raise money for the apple family by selling their fruits in my shop! And, I daresay I've started enjoying them more myself!"

"What about you, Reaper?"

The changeling shrugged. "Everything's fine, I suppose. Appointments have been coming in regularly. It almost surprises me how many ponies have deep-rooted psychological trauma here," he said.

Willus chuckled. "Almost?"

Reaper huffed. "Everyone's a little crazy, aren't they?"

Shamrock and WIllus laughed.

"Say, Reaper, maybe sometime you should give me one of those psycho-appointments of yours!" Willus said.

Reaper's eye twitched.

"Willus, there aren't enough bits in the world to make me even consider saying yes to that," he said flatly.

Willus pouted, while Shamrock laughed.

"What about you, Shamrock? How have things been for you?" Reaper asked.

Shamrock shrugged. "Good. I've been walking Dinky to school, and helping Derpy out with some of the heavier packages. I might even get a job at the post office!"

"Well, that's good for you! You must be happy!" Willus said.

Reaper smirked. "Not as happy as our friend over there, I bet," he said, gesturing to a table behind Shamrock.

Across the cafe were Lightning and Twilight, apparently having a great time. They were laughing as they ate, although the three colts couldn't tell exactly why. They grinned.

"I never doubted for a moment he would get her someday," Willus said.

Shamrock and Reaper nodded.

Suddenly, Sputnik appeared, rushing towards Reaper.

"Boss! Boss!" he shouted.

Reaper groaned. "Can't I have one day of peace? Just one day? Is that too much to ask?"

Willus and Shamrock chuckled at the changeling's misfortune.

"Boss! Boss! You gotta see this!" he said, shoving a newspaper in Reaper's face.

"What? What is it?" he asked angrily, pulling the newspaper off of his face. His face was unreadable as he read the front page. Willus and Shamrock tried to get a good luck at it, but couldn't.

Suddenly, Reaper smiled. He smiled a cruel, predatory grin of pure hate. "Sputnik, I want you to go to Rarity's and buy all the red yarn you can. We're going to need a lot,"

"On it, boss!" the robot said, before running off.

"Wait, Reaper, what's going on?" Shamrock asked, confused.

Reaper stood, pushing in his chair and tucking the newspaper away. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have to cut this short, Gentlecolts," he said, before tossing a coin of bits on the table, not bothering to even see if it contained the right amount.

"I have business to attend to,"

Shamrock and Willus were confused. "What just happened?" Willus asked.

"You tell me," Shamrock said.

Suddenly, a blur flashed by them. It stopped, revealing Rainbow Dash with a newspaper.

"Hey guys, have you seen Reaper?"

"Yeah he just left. He saw today's newspaper, then said that he had business to attend to. Do you have any idea what's going on?" Willus asked.

Rainbow shook her head. "No, but I don't think it's anything good,"

"What could possibly have him so worked up?" Shamrock asked.

Rainbow gave him the newspaper. "See for yourself," she said.

Shamrock and Willus were surprised by what they saw. The headline read:

"CHANGELING SPY CAPTURED! REVEALS LOCATION OF HIVE!"

All of the ponies looked in the direction Reaper had left.

"So what do you think is going to happen next?" Rainbow asked.

"I don't know. But whatever it is, this is just the beginning," Shamrock said.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Reaper frantically worked in the Downstairs Room. He connected lines, until finally he had it.

The location of the hive.

He grinned.

"I'm coming home," he said.