In Youth Eternal - A Dark Secret

Chapter 8: The Reveal

“Captain Strong Wing,” said the a female royal guard communications officer, entering the makeshift base of operations on the outskirts of Ponyville where they initially touched down.

The Captain looked up from what paper work he had. “Yes? What is it Scarlet Mane?” replied the gruff, experienced Captain.

“White Nimbus and his assigned partner have failed to report in,” she announced. “They were last seen entering the Ponyville Library.”

Captain Strong Wing narrowed his eyes in thought. “He always was the type to get into trouble. Too boastful and arrogant for an average fighter,” he commented, with little emotion in his assessment of his missing soldiers. Captain Strong Wing, from his experiences, was a rather genre savvy individual. Although White Nimbus was arrogant and bit of a trouble maker, he was at least consistent with reporting in.

“Orders, Captain?” the communications officer asked.

“Regardless, I will gather a few troops and investigate the library personally,” he said calmly. “I have a feeling that the both of them are no longer with us.”

Scarlet winced a little. “Are you sure, Captain?” she asked.

Strong Wing gave a nod. “In my experience, when soldiers who are normally consistent with reporting in fail to do so, especially in a town like this one,” said the Captain, a serious look appearing on his visage. “Well, I think you know where I’m going with this.”

“Yes sir.” she replied.

“Will there be anything further?” the Captain asked.

“No sir,” said Scarlet.

“Alright. You are dismissed,” he ordered. Scarlet promptly left the military tent to resume her usual duties. The Captain followed in tow to gather a few troops who were still at the camp to investigate the library. Strong Wing was determined to find out what had happened to them.

*     *     *

Spike was finishing up his account of the events that have recently transpired, from their visit to Canterlot, to finding the book, to his witnessing of Twilight’s capture, his escape, his return to Ponyville, and the fight in library.

“-And that was when you showed up and saved us, Rainbow Dash,” he finished explaining. The book was laid out on the table, open for the five ponies to see for themselves. Fluttershy began tearing up with worry at the whole mess. She held her face with her hooves, barely able to cope with Twilight’s predicament. Applejack placed a hoof on her to try and calm her.

“So what are we waiting for!? Let’s get this party started!” exclaimed a hyper active pink mare.

“Now hold on, dear. We don’t have plan. It would be suicide to just charge in like a group of brutes!” argued Rarity.

Rainbow Dash had an idea. “Hey! We should go find the Elements of Harmony!” exclaimed the cyan mare, ready for action.

“But Celestia keeps em’ locked up with some mighty strong magic. How’re we supposed ta’ get to ‘em?” interjected the blond earth pony, raising a valid point.

“We have no choice,” said Spike. “There’s noooo way we could beat Princess Celestia and her guards without them.” Spike closed the book, seeing no reason for it be open anymore now that everypony had seen its contents.

“Oh! Oh! I have an idea! I have an idea” claimed Pinkie Pie, hopping up and down in place.

“Drum roll please! Pinkie Pie has an idea, everypony.” Rainbow Dash snarked, sarcastically.

Pinkie Pie shot her a glare momentarily before continuing. “Aaaanyways. Maybe we could get help from Princess Luna!” suggested the hyper pink mare, smiling.

“Hmm. Well as far as I know she isn’t working with Princess Celestia,” Spike pointed out. “I guess that’s our best bet.” Spike grabbed a quill and scroll. “I’ll send a letter to Princess Luna and ask her to meet up with us.”

“But, um... What if she doesn’t listen to us?” said Fluttershy, softly.

“That’s a chance we’ll have to take. We have no other choice,” Spike replied as he started to write his letter.

‘Dear Princess Luna,

You have no doubt heard about Twilight Sparkle’s disappearance from Princess Celestia, and how I, Spike, am responsible. But please hear me out. I am holed up in the Ponyville Library with the other element wielders, but I don’t know how much longer we can stay here. I have proof that Celestia is hiding something sinister. Please hear us out. We need your help.

Twilight’s loyal assistant,

Spike’

Spike rolled the scroll up and torched it with his emerald green flames. The flames whirled around for a moment before vanishing. However, instead of the usual recipient, the letter was on its way to Luna instead.

“What do we do for now?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“We’ll just have to wait and see if-” Spike began to say. He and the ponies suddenly heard a number of loud hoof steps storming into the main library. The group quietly crept up the stairs and listened through the door that led into he main room. To be safe, Spike quietly locked the door.

“Jeez, this place is a wreck,” a voice commented, regarding the state of the library interior.

“No kidding. It’s like a tornado swept through here,” replied another.

“I found blood!” a third voice sounded.

“You did? Any idea who it belongs too?” asked a fourth.

A fifth voice silenced them. “Enough chit chat. I want this whole place searched top to bottom for clues,” ordered a gruff sounding stallion.

The previous four voices replied in unison. “Yes sir!”

The sound of voices and hoof steps continued as they spread out. Two guards disappeared upstairs while three remained in the main room wandering around. One set of hoof steps drew near the door. Spike’s and Mane 5’s eyes widened as he drew near. The door shook a little.

“Captain! This door is locked,” shouted a voice from just on the other side of the door. They silently began to sweat, nervous at the possibility of being discovered.

“Break it down if you have to,” the gruff voice commanded. With that, Spike and the Mane 5 quietly pressed themselves against the door to prevent entry.

“Captain!” a voice sounded as two sets of hoof steps rushed down the stairs from the second floor. “We found White Nimbus and his partner, Yellow Bolt.”

“And?” the Captain inquired.

“They’re dead. Both of them,” he replied solemnly.

“Hmph. I thought as much,” said Captain Strong Wing. “I should have sent more troops with them. Maybe their deaths could have been prevented. It seems we’re dealing with a dangerous target.”

Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but smile to herself, recalling how she swiftly defeated the two guards.

“We also found hoof prints,” one of the guards pointed out.

The Captain’s eyes narrowed. “So our target may have accomplices?” he asked.

The guard nodded in response. “It appears that way.”

“Well, for now, let us resume our investigation. The last place to check is behind that locked door,” spoke the Captain as hoof steps drew closer to it. “Alright. Break it down,” he ordered.

A power thud sounded, but the door did not budge. A second vain follow up attempt to break the door failed just as easily. “What the hell is with this door?” questioned one of the guards. He attempted one more time to buck it down, but once again failed. “Damn thing won’t budge.”

“Stand aside,” ordered the gruff Captain. “Let me try.”

Spike and the Mane 5 continued to press up against the door to hold them off in hopes that they will go away. However, the next attempt the buck the door in was much stronger. Spike and Fluttershy were knocked back. Fluttershy caught herself, but Spike fell down the stairs, creating an audible thumping. The sound created a silent panic among the group.

“Did you hear thumping?” asked one of the guards.

“Yes,” replied the Captain. “Something was just on the other side of this door,” he inferred. Strong Wing bucked the door again. The door caved in somewhat. It was pushed back a bit, breaking on its hinges. And yet, it seemed to pop back in place thanks to the efforts of the ponies. They became more nervous.

“Uh. Did you see that? The door just popped back into place,” observed one of the guards.

“Then that settles it. Somepony is still on the other side of the door trying to hold us back,” said Strong Wing.

By this time, Spike had gotten back up and brushed himself off. He was bruised a little from his fall down the stairs. The Mane 5 knew their presence was known now, as did Spike having still managed to hear the Captain’s observation.

Captain Strong wing glanced at two of his troops, nodding towards the door. They nodded their heads in response, turning around to buck the door with him. With that, one final attempt was made. This time, the door shattered with the group hiding behind the door all being knocked down the stairs.

Rainbow Dash managed to catch herself in the air, gritting her teeth. The first one through the door was the Captain. He took note of the pegasus floating before him, and the rest of the mane 5 that had fallen down the stairs. He arched a brow when he saw Spike was with them.

“I see you were hiding our target from us,” Captain Strong Wing said, firmly. “You will be charged with treason for housing a fugitive.”

The rest of the Mane 5 managed to get back up on their hooves. Rainbow Dash confronted the Captain. “Oh yeah?” she said. “I’m not scared of you! I’ll take you on just like I did that other pegasus! Mano a mano!” Floating upright, she put her hooves up and threw several warm up jabs.

“I see. You must be the one who killed White Nimbus and his partner,” stated Strong Wing. He observed how Rainbow Dash didn’t have so much as a scratch on her.

“Yep. Got the drop on the unicorn, then took the other one head on,” gloated Rainbow Dash. She smiled arrogantly as she narrowed her eyes in anticipation. "He was easy!"

“Hmph. White Nimbus was an average fighter at best. Too hot headed in combat for somepony of his level,” claimed the Captain. “I, however, am a whole different game from him.” The Captain scuffed the floor, narrowing his eyes. Rainbow Dash glared at him.

“All of you. You’re under arrest,” he told the group. “Make it easy on yourselves and go quietly.”

“Not so fast!” Rainbow Dash shouted, pointing a hoof at the Captain.

“So, you still wish to defy me? So be it,” said Captain Strong Wing. “You leave me no choice but to show you your place. Follow me.” The Captain turned around and receded into the main room. “If it’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you’ll get.”

Applejack facehoofed. “C’mon sugarcube. Ya can’t  be serious!”

“Don’t worry Applejack. I got this!” retorted Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash glided into the main room with rest of the group in tow. The guards scattered around the edge of the room. Once he was at a good enough distance, the Captain turned to face the defiant Rainbow Dash. Spike and rest of the group stood around by the door to the basement.

The cyan pegasus, narrowing her eyes, scuffed the ground several times. Both pegasi spread their wings to allow them to balance on their hind legs. “Go Rainbow Dash!” shouted a certain bouncing pink earth pony.

“Here I come,” warned Captain Strong Wing. His wings began to flap as he kicked off with his hind legs, charging straight for Rainbow Dash. His blazing speed caught Rainbow Dash off guard, considering the cyan pegasus is thought to be the fastest pegasus in Equestria.

Barely reacting in time, her eyes widened, as she leapt backwards, taking flight into the air. The Captain followed. Rainbow Dash made a valiant attempt to get the first hit however. She attacked with a number of jabs in rapid succession to overwhelm him. Each strike was blocked or parried by the Captain, however. He threw in a surprise kick to the stomach, sending Rainbow Dash hurdling backwards.

She winced in pain before catching herself to avoid smashing into a book case. Already the Captain was following up with another assault. He attempted to overwhelm the cyan pegasus with a combination of fast punches and kicks. “Ah!” yelped Rainbow Dash in surprise.

She had to focus her hardest to avoid taking more hits. The previous kick was quite strong. Her hooves were moving everywhere, blocking her opponents attacks. The pegasus was sweating with nervousness. ‘This guy is fierce!’ she thought. But she could not falter.

The cyan pegasus suddenly dropped below Strong Wing. She kicked up with her back hooves, her hooves connecting with the Captains lower jaw. He was knocked upwards, grunting from the fierce blow she gave him.

‘This one is tougher than I expected. It is no wonder she beat White Nimbus so easily, even if he wasn’t anything special,’Captain Strong Wing thought to himself after recovering. However, Rainbow Dash attempted to use his own strategy against by promptly following up with another assault in an attempt to overwhelm him.

Her wings flapped rapidly, allowing the cyan pegasus to close the short distance within the blink of an eye. Such is expected of somepony with her speed. One of Rainbow Dash’s front hooves shot up in an uppercut, landing another hit on the Captain’s lower jaw.

Strong Wing would remain composed however. He immediately counter attacked by throwing a hook, driving his hoof into the side of cyan pegasus’ head. He quickly followed up with a kick to the side of her rib cage, finishing with smashing Rainbow Dash downwards with both front hooves.

She yelped in pain as she was sent spiraling into the floor. The wooden floor cracked on impact. Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth and growled, now covered in bruises and bleeding from the mouth.

Captain Strong Wing flew straight down with front legs extended, going for the knock out. Rainbow Dash suddenly shot him a grin however, which surprised him.

She sprung up from her current position, leaping out of the way. The Captain’s hooves only connected with the floor as Rainbow Dash, now on all fours, bucked him full force. She struck his rib cage and sent the Captain flying into a book case. Despite this, no bones cracked.

The others all watched in aw at the intense fighting. RD’s friends were most impressed by her fighting ability, while the guards were shocked at how there was somepony as tough as he is. And that she’s a mare.

Rainbow Dash jerked her head back in surprise as the Captain rose to his hooves in moments to face her again. ‘Man he’s tough!’ she thought.

“You know, it’s a shame you are digging your own grave. You would have made a fine soldier in the Equestrian Royal Guard,” admitted Strong Wing.

Staring one another down, the two opponents made for a final charge. This was cut short when a burst of dark blue light erupted between them, causing both pegasi to stumble backwards.

Princess Luna stood between them. Both Rainbow Dash, Captain Strong Wing, and everypony else gave a bow to Equestria’s co-ruler.

“Enough of this!” said Luna. “Captain, I order you to stand down.”

Strong Wing was dumbfounded. “Princess Luna,” he began. “If I may ask, what are you doing here?”

“That is none of your concern,” she replied, looking him in the eye. “Now stand down,” she firmly ordered.

“With all due respect, Princess Luna, I take orders from Princess Celestia,” he remarked. Luna was visibly frustrated.

“Captain. These ponies claim to have evidence that my sister is hiding something sinister,” she pointed out. “I suggest you hear them out.”

Strong Wing closed his eyes, tilting his head down a little. “I already know,” he claimed, reopening his eyes. Princess Luna was shocked to hear this.

“Then why do you continue to pursue the innocent baby dragon?” she inquired, angered by the Captain.

“Because Princess Celestia ordered it. I will remain loyal to her until the end,” he said to defend his point of view, raising his voice a little. He kept a serious visage about him.

Princess Luna’s horn started to glow. A powerful dark blue light erupted from the tip, creating a blinding flash. When the light faded, Captain Strong Wing and his troops were unconscious. Luna turned towards Spike. “I wasn’t about to have him interfere,” she stated. “Plus, what he said. About how he already knows about what my sister is hiding.”

Spike nodded. “I’ll get the book and let you see for yourself,” said the baby dragon. He darted downstairs to retrieve the book.

“We’re so glad you could make it!” exclaimed Rarity.

“It was mighty nice.” Applejack remarked, with a smile. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy nodded in agreement.

Spike emerged from the basement doorway with the titleless book. “Here it is,” he said. Spike set the book down on the central table, which miraculously managed to avoid having been hit during all the commotion. He promptly opened it.

“Okay Princess Luna,” Spike said. “I’ll start from the beginning.”

With that, Spike proceeded to tell Luna the same recount he told his friends, showing her the book.

And she was shocked, to say the least.