A Shadow in the Night
By Firebolt
Chapter 1: In Remembrance…
Two weeks after the end of the Great War in the south most of the surviving ponies had returned to their homes and peace had come back to the countries of Equestria and Nordheim. The ponies in Seaddle had begun to repair the demolished city with the help of the captured changelings though these didn't appreciate it. In Nordheim city the ponies organized a ceremony in remembrance of their fallen comrades.
The warriors gathered in the huge courtyard of the palace; all of them wore their armor and had sheathed their weapons. The coffins of the two hundred fallen warriors were laid out in front of the main entrance beneath the balcony on which Thunderwing waited for the ceremony to begin; saddened he looked down at his citizens. He watched them for a while until they managed to find their right place to stand and as every pony was on its place the king raised his voice. "Equestria was under attack and they needed our help, so we marched to their help. We faced superior forces, but we didn't retreat. – We fought and defeated them, but we can't enjoy our victory. - Many ponies died in the exercise of their duty. -" The stallion paused for a while and wiped off a tear of his face. "Today we're here in remembrance of Skydiver, - Silver Mane, - Broken Arrow…" He recited the names of the dead. "…Ruby Star and last but not least Prince Firebolt. –" He paused again to give the ponies the time to think of their fallen brothers and sisters. The alicorn closed its eyes and conjured up a few pictures of the dead and after a few moments he opened his eyes again and raised his voice. "It is our duty to remember their names – and that's what we'll do!"
Thunderwing flew down and landed beside the first coffin; inside it laid a pale blue Pegasus stallion with a dark grey mane wearing light leather armor. "Skydiver, Sergeant of the second light cavalry, you fought well and we won't forget you and your deeds. – Rest in peace, my friend." The dark blue stallion closed the coffin and went on to the next one. "Silver Mane, Recruit of the fifth Hunter battalion, you didn't survive your first battle, but you fought well and made your nation proud. - We won't forget you and your deeds. – Rest in peace, my friend." "Again he closed the coffin and continued the ceremony.
Finally after half an hour he reached the last coffin; it was more decorated than the others and was empty. He sighted deeply before he began to speak. "Firebolt, Prince of Nordheim," He failed in chocking back his tears. "You fought not only for Nordheim and even death couldn't stop you. Not a single pony deserves death especially not you, but nopony can imagine why the Angels of Death came after you. - We won't forget you and your deeds. – Rest in peace, my brother."
Slowly he turned around and looked at the warriors of Nordheim who were still standing there, waiting for him to continue. "We lost many good ponies – and some of us lost more than comrades. – But they died not for nothing! They helped to keep peace in our country. – They went through absolute hell and now they'll be laid to rest." He said and every battalion sent four warriors for each of their fallen comrades; Shadow Hunter and Night Hawk came to carry Firebolt's coffin, both were wearing their battle armor, but unlike the others they didn't wear their helmets. The ponies stepped slowly towards the coffins and the remaining warriors formed a passage from the main entrance of the castle to the eastern exit of the courtyard. The coffin bearers stopped in front of the coffins and Thunderwing lifted them with his magic upon their backs. The ponies stepped slowly and awe adducing along the corridor and the ponies they passed lowered their heads as a sign of their sorrow.
Finally he reached his brother's coffin again and lifted it upon Shadow's and Night Hawk's back. As well as the others the two stepped slowly along the passage and the cobblestone streets of Nordheim until they arrived at the cemetery; it was a large, enclosed area outside the city walls. The two flags at the entrance were at half-mast as well as the flag above the memorial of the Nordheim's first war; it was a statue of, Snowflake the Brave, the first hunter and king of Nordheim who stood on his hind legs with his sword in the mouth and the bow on his back, in his right front hoof he held a flagpole. The statue was placed upon a large marble base; circular around the monument the graves of the fallen warriors were arranged marked by small and white colored wooden crosses.
The procession made its way through the cemetery and stopped close to some freshly excavated graves. The bearers of the first fifty deceased stepped next to the graves and waited for their king to place the coffins into the holes. As they were buried the group went on to the next graves and two hours later there was only one coffin left, Firebolt's. Shadow, Night Hawk and Thunderwing stepped back to the memorial were they went to a lonely excavated grave. "Even if we haven't got a body to bury you will be laid to rest." The stallion picked the coffin up and lifted it into the grave. "Rest in peace." A tear ran down his cheek and moment later he teleported away. The other two ponies stayed at Firebolt's grave for a while before they went back to the castle.
"Are you up to do your job or should I step in for you?" Night Hawk asked as the two ponies reached the main entrance of the castle.
"No thanks. I'm fine." Shadow answered hiding her sorrow. "I'm sure that I can handle it. – I knew that this time would come and I knew that I have to take farewell of him, sometime."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Don't fear to come to me if you need help." The stallion offered as they arrived at the entrance to their base beneath the castle.
"I'm fine, thank you." She answered a bit irritated and entered the base without him.
"I hope you're right." He mumbled and stepped towards the king's rooms. On his way he passed several guards, but most of them ignored him, even as he tried to talk to them. The stallion ran into a dark grey unicorn mare as he went upstairs. "I'm sorry." He said and helped her back on her legs.
"No problem." She answered, "Nopony got hurt."
"That's good." He sighted and tried to pass her, but the mare stopped him. "Hey! I told you that I'm sorry."
"You are looking for the king, aren't you?"
"Yes. Isn't he up there?"
"No. I'm searching for him as well, but it seems as if he disappeared off the face of the earth." Shadowsword explained. "Do you have an idea where he could be?"
"Not really." He answered and went along with her to the base of the stairs. "Should I tell him that you are searching for him?"
"No, it's okay. It isn't that important." She said and stepped towards her office. "Good luck with your search."
"Thanks!" he called after her.
Night Hawk wandered for hours through the castle; he was in the barracks of the royal guards, the dungeon, the mess, the kitchen, the throne room and he had even searched him in the base, but nowhere was a sign of Thunderwing. Frustrated he went back to his own room, but as he stood in front of the elevator he realized that there was one place where he hadn't searched – the family crypt. So he turned around and headed towards the crypt.
A few minutes later he entered the oldest part of the castle. The hallway was lined with columns and between them were the stone sarcophagi of the former kings and queens. Slowly and without making loud noises the stallion stepped along the hallway and as he reached the sarcophagi of Firebolt's parents he stopped. Between Blizzard's and Firebolt's grave he spotted a black tail lying on the ground.
"Thunderwing? – Are you ok?"
"…"
The Pegasus slowly stepped closer to the alicorn, but he still got no answer.
"Are you ok?" the stallion answered finally as Night Hawk was close enough.
"I think so."
"One of your friends died and you feel ok with that?"
"No, I'm not."
"Then why are you asking if I do?" Thunderwing answered with a pinch of sarcasm in his voice while standing up. "Of course I'm not ok."
"I know that it is hard for you, but life has to go on. Your citizens need you, don't show them that you're weak."
"I'm not weak; it's just that – I didn't have enough time with him."
"Maybe his life was short, but he did so much for us and we won't forget him. – Wasn't that what you told your citizens during the ceremony?"
"But-"
"No buts. – As long as ponies live they will remember him."
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure." Night Hawk said in a soothing voice. "Let's go back to the castle. There are ponies who need you."
"Thanks." The dark blue stallion answered before they headed back to the castle. It was already dark as they arrived at the main entrance and most of the ponies were already asleep. "I better go to bed. – I don't think that there's anypony who needs my help now."
"That's a good idea. You'll see tomorrow you'll feel better."
"See you tomorrow." Thunderwing said and trotted towards his rooms.
"See you tomorrow." Night Hawk answered and went towards his own room. While he waited for the elevator he took a glance at the clock which hung above the elevator door; it was past midnight, no wonder that there was nopony else than him and a few vigils. Tired he collapsed into his bed a few minutes later and fell fast asleep.