Faded Shadows

Chapter 2

"How does it look Doctor?" asked Celestia as she watched a pony in a white coat enter the room.

"Not very good." he replied. "He has several 3rd degree magical burns around his body and on his face. The bones in both of his hands and his right foot were completely shattered along with multiple open wounds along the mentioned areas. Due to the wounds on his face, we believe that he has sustained some kind of ocular damage, but we won't know that for sure till he wakes up."

"Any sign of him waking up?" asked Celestia.

"As of now, if he awoke, he would be in a considerable amount of pain. We'll keep him on some painkillers just in case he does wake up

"Thank you doctor." replied Celestia as she watched the doctor walk out of the waiting room.

"You think that he'll wake up anytime soon?" asked Luna as she looked at her sister.

"I have no idea." replied Celestia. "Let's get in there and see how bad it is."

The pain was almost immediate. My hands, feet, my everywhere hurt like no tomorrow. A kind of pain were the only relief is the sweet release of death. As of now, my eyes were closed, I dared not open them, I feared at what I would see. With my sight robbed for the moment, I turned to my memory to fill in the gaps. I remember holding Avalan down, I remember turning to stone. From there, my mind goes a little blank. Somewhere in-between memory and fake contractions of my mind. For a while, I thought I was dead again, floating through the void. Guess that wasn't the case.

I remember seeing those ponies again, then blacking out again. Now I'm here, in this spot, unconscious to my surroundings. In my line of work, that's the only slip up that would kill you. I would know, it happened to me.

I decided to feel around a bit. I tried moving my hands around but stopped to the pain that came with it. To top it off, I couldn't even feel them. My memory took me to when I held Avalan down, how me impaled my hands and my right foot with those spikes of his. With a sigh, I realized that I would have to open my eyes despite the desire not to. Slowly, I opened both of my eyes to be met with the dim light surrounding me. My left eye seemed to be blocked by something attached to my face. Probably some kind of bandage. I remember getting hit by that blast from the Elements of Harmony, maybe that hurt my body somehow. It was weird because I didn't feel any pain after it hit me.

Taking a look around revealed a nicely furnished room full of medical equipment. If I had to take a guess, I was in a hospital of some sort. My only question was where was this place? I closed my eyes trying to force the memory back into my head. I was unblinded, I saw Celestia, and I hit the ground. Did they free me from that prison? Why the hell did they think it would be a good idea to release something like me? They're more stupid then I remember.

I opened my eyes and realized where I was, I was back in Equestria, my second hell. I gritted my teeth in anger, I wanted nothing to do with Equestria. Even though I left on hopefully good terms, this was the last place I wanted to be. A sound caused me to reopen my eyes and direct them towards the door at the far side of the room. The golden door knob turned slowly, allowing the door to click open. I froze, not knowing who or what was about to enter. Though, much to my surprise, Sunbutt, her sister, and Agliss walked in.

"Wow." said Luna with a genuine gasp. "He looks horrible."

"Magic burns are always the worst." replied Agliss. "Especially from some of the most powerful magical items in all of Equestria."

"I wonder if he's awake?" asked Celestia as she approached my bed.

It was really hard not to reach out and grab her, just to give her a good scare.

"He's probably still on those painkillers that the Doctor gave him." replied Agliss. "I doubt he'll be waking up anytime soon."

Agliss glanced down towards me, giving a small smile before looking back towards the Princess.

"Well." said Celestia with a loud sigh. "There's no point in sitting around. I have plenty of work that needs to be done. I've got a royal priestess coming to visit from the Griffon Kingdom in a week's time. I have to order supplies in advance."

"You two go." said Agliss. "I'm going to stay for a bit."

Celestia started to argue but was shepherded out the room by Luna, leaving Agliss alone in the room.

There was a small pause as Agliss waited to her the two Princesses walk away from the door.

"Why?" I asked.

"Looks like he is awake." replied Agliss. "I knew you were up to something."

"Why?" I repeated.

"Why what?" replied Agliss.

"Why did you free me?"

Agliss moved to the other side of the room and grabbed one of the chairs placed around the room. The sound of metal scrapping on the tile floor echoed through the room until Agliss reached my bedside.

"It wasn't even my decision to free you." he said as he sat down. "It was Celestia that ultimately decided to do so. It was surprising how many of her loyal subjects detested the choice. I believe she said she wanted to reform you."

"She what?"

"She wanted to give you a second chance." said Agliss. "You have been on her mind ever since you turned to stone two years ago."

"It's been two year?" I asked.

"It sure has." he replied. "These last two years have become a large blur. Yamato and I managed to clean up Oasis, get it livable again. Discord was reformed a while back, Twilight Sparkle has become a Princess, Shining Armor left Equestria to be with his wife in the Crystal Kingdom, a terrifying evil recently reared its ugly head in Equestria only to be beaten. On top of that, there has been reports of a civil war in the Griffon Kingdom to the east. Other than that, the last two years have been a blur. Everypony has since recovered from the damage you caused, as much as they could. Several fillies and colts now reside in the Canterlot Orphanage because of what happened at SunPeak village."

I scoffed.

"Are you trying to guilt me, Agliss? Because it'll take a lot more than that." I said with a smile.

"I'm just telling you what has happened in the last two years. It's up to you to feel bad about what you've done. I'm just here to spend time with one of the three humans left in this world. But, if you wouldn't mind, I have a question."

I smiled.

"What is it, old man."

Agliss rolled his eyes.

"I never really understood why you didn't harm the fillies and colts at that school house in SunPeak village."

"I may be a heartless monster but I have lines I don't cross. Killing kids is one line I don't want to ever cross. I'm just glad it hasn't come to that."

"It's surprising to hear that someone like you has morals they follow." replied Agliss.

"Being a killer comes with a set of rules and conduct that you follow. Sadly, I forgot those as soon as I was brought into Equestria. I was just glad to be alive."

"What rules would a madman have?" asked Agliss. "You take life like it's nothing."

"You do the same thing as a soldier." I replied. "You kill and conquer in the name of a King or Queen. In my case, it's more of a cause than anything else.

"There is no difference, murder is still murder."

"Killing for yourself is murder, killing for your Government is heroic, killing for a cause is justified."

"No killing is justified." replied Agliss.

"It is if you have a reason, a cause to justify those reasons. Back where I lived, I killed for a cause, a justified one at that. In the beginning, I was unguided, I liked the adrenaline rush I got when I ended a person's life. I found a reason to direct that feeling at those who were not worthy of inhabiting the same world as I. Rapist, pedophiles, bad people that got off scott free. People that deserved to die, they were my targets. Although, I had my urges and every once and awhile I over did it a bit. I killed close to fifty people before the Government of my home country saw fit that I needed to be stopped and stop me they did. They didn't see that I killed for a reason, they just saw that I killed wealthy men with no history of crime. They may not ever know why I killed them but I know why, and that's all that matters."

"You were still killing, taking a life that was not yours to take." replied Agliss.

"How many things have you killed on the battlefield, Agliss?" I asked.

"I've been in several battles in my life. I have killed before." he replied.

"Then it is safe to say that you took a life that was not yours to take."

"No, because my killing..."

"Was justified?" I interrupted.

"Yes." Agliss answered reluctantly.

"Then what's the difference between me killing for a cause and you killing for a cause. We both killed for the same reason, to make our world a safer place. The only difference was the way we killed."

There was a pause.

"If it wasn't for my blind loyalty to Avalan, I would have gone after those vile in the world. Like the Black Hooves, or the Changelings. Instead, I lost my way, I sided myself with them. Out of blind fury and revenge, I took a different road than I should've. Something I would have never done in my world."

"You speak like a wise man yet a young boy lay before me." said Agliss with a smile.

"Don't get me wrong Agliss, if I had the chance and the strength, I would slaughter every single pony in this castle. But hey, what can I say, when you've had as much time as I've had, you start to think. You start to think if what you're doing is worth it."

There was a small silence.

"What happens now?" I asked. "There's no way Celestia's going to just left me walk free."

"You're probably right about that." said Agliss. "What I do know is that she'll be a little more lenient than the rest of Equestria."

"I can imagine that." I replied.

"I believe she'll have you clean the mess you made." replied Agliss.

"It's been two years and you haven't done so?" I asked.

"We've long since cleaned the mess you made. What I'm referring to is the ponies that you've wronged."

"One would think that they'd want me to hang for what I've done." I replied.

"Some probably do, but a good majority are fillies and colts that are now orphaned because of you. There are guards that were left disabled by your actions. I do believe that your only justified kill in Equestria was Dark Wing and his gang. I'm sure that the Black Hooves have sworn death upon you. Surprisingly, after your capture, they offered to help clean some of your mess up."

"You could say that the new leader is a friend. At least I hope so." I said with a small smile.

"All I can say for now is for you to get some rest. You look like shit and the next few weeks are going to be hard for you." said Agliss.

"Do I really look that bad?" I asked.

"You took like someone burnt your face then proceeded to carve it with a knife. It's going to make a wicked looking scar though." Agliss said as he pushed his chair back against the wall.

"Glad to know you think that." I said with a frown. "Must be bad."

"More than you know." replied Agliss. "The doctors might come back every now and then to check on you so please don't give them any trouble. I'd hate to have to come in here with a sword drawn."

I rolled my eyes and slumped into my bed.

"Anything bothering you? Besides the obvious areas." asked Agliss.

"I can't feel my hands, let alone move them. My right foot feels as if someone dropped a boulder on it. My face burns from time to time, as does my whole body. Other than that, I'm feeling pretty good." I replied.

"Alright, I'll pass it on." said Agliss as he walked to the door.

With that, Agliss opened the door to my room, stepped outside, and closed the door. I smiled as I realized that was the first actual conversation I was able to have with the man without fear that he would strike me down. I closed my eyes in thought of the upcoming events. Agliss was right, the next few weeks are going to be tough.

"I'll just worry about them when they get here." I said to myself as I settled in ready to get some actual sleep.

"Well?" asked Celestia as she watched Agliss walk back into the throne room. "How'd it go?"

"He didn't wake up." replied Agliss.

"At least you tried" said Celestia with a big dopey smile. "Thank you for coming Agliss, you may leave for Oasis if you wish."

"I think I'll stay till he recovers, just in case." said Agliss. "I'll need to send word to Yamato to hold down the fort for a little longer."

"In that case, I'll have a room readied for you." said Celestia. "I expect you at tonight's dinner, we are having a large dinner party for the staff and guards of the castle. I'm sure many would like to meet you."

"Unless I'm mistaken for Zhane." said Agliss with a smirk.

"Please." said Celestia as she rolled her eyes. "My guards know who you are. I'm sure they know the difference you and Zhane."

"I sure hope they do." said Agliss as he turned away from Celestia and walked out of the throne room.

Alright, the story is now on a regular update pattern until I finish it. I hope you guys enjoy the sequel and I will see everyone next Monday.