Faded Shadows
Chapter 5
"You must be joking?" asked Stone Cutter. "Why in the world would Celestia want me to bring Zhane to the dining room?"
"Those were my orders." replied the guard sent by Celestia. "She ordered him to be taken to the dining room with triple the restraints and double the amount of guards escorting him."
Stone Cutter sighed and looked down the hall.
"Frost! Flare!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Get Zhane readied to be moved! Triple every cuff and chain!"
"Yes sir!" replied the two ponies from the other side of the hall.
Stone Cutter looked back towards the guard sent by Celestia.
"I need you to go round up about eight more guards to help out. Bring them back here."
"Yes sir." replied the guard as he walked off in one direction.
"What's with the extra chains and this other shit?" I asked as the last pair of cuffs were being attached.
"Princess Celestia requested your presence in the dining room." replied Stone Cutter.
"It hasn't even been a day yet." I muttered under my breath.
"Alright Zhane, start walking." said Stone Cutter as he lead me out of my room and into the hallway where Stone Cutter had stopped me.
"We're going to wait here for an extra set of guards that should be getting here any time now." said Stone Cutter.
Those guards got here alright. They got here five minutes after we had been standing there.
"Look who's tardy to the party." I said with a smile as the other group of guards.
"What took you so long?" asked Stone Cutter.
"Sorry sir." replied the guard sent by Celestia. "It took awhile to find eight guards that would be willing to escort Zhane."
"Figures." mumbled Stone Cutter. "You guys are leading to the dining room. My team is going to follow. Once there, you eight will guard the outside of the dining hall while my group will escort Zhane inside. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir!" yelled every guard.
"Start walking Zhane. Follow the guards in front of you."
I rolled my eyes and began to follow the guards in front of me.
After a brief walk, we arrived at a large set of ornate doors.
"Alright, open the door and those not in my squad will stay outside."
The other squad of guards moved to the doors and opened them, letting us walk in. Once inside, the doors closed, leaving us in the candle lit dining room. On the other side of the room stood Celestia and some kind of bird creature which was surrounded by even more bird creatures in armor. We walked forward and stopped once we got close to Celestia.
"Zhane." said Celestia. "This is the current High Priestess of the Griffon Kingdom. She requested to see you, you should feel honored."
"As honored as I should feel talking to you on a regular basis?"
Celestia ignored me and turned to the High Priestess.
"You may ask him what you like."
The High Priestess nodded and slowly started to walk over to me. I looked back to notice that Stone Cutter and his squad had backed up to give enough room for the High Priestess.
As the High Priestess got closer, I could make out the features of her face. She had many piercings along her face and ears, scars snaked along her checks, and an ornate cloth covered her eyes.
"Since when do countries employ the blind?" I asked with a smirk.
"Since when are humans as weak as you?" asked the High Priestess in return. "Your aura is very small."
"I wouldn't call a human who can do what I do weak."
At this point, the High Priestess started to circle me until she stopped right in front of me.
"I see hatred in you but I also see pain and sadness which the hatred has wrapped itself around. I see regret for your family, regret about their deaths. I see helplessness, in which you thought you were too weak to save them or that you could have done something."
"Getting a little personal." I said. "Don't delve too deep, you'll regret it."
"Murder, torture, kidnapping. You certainly have a long list of skills. Knowing where to cut to incapacitate, to maim, to kill. Tactics, survival skills, maintenance of equipment."
"All tools of the trade." I replied.
"Of being a killer?" asked the High Priestess.
"How the hell do you even know that?" I asked.
"I knew you long before you knew me, Zhane. I have seen into your mind and have witnessed the atrocities you have committed out of pathetic necessity."
"You mean out of will to live?" I asked.
"Would Celestia have killed you if she had caught you after the Sunpeak Village incident?"
"Knowing her, probably." I said as I looked over to her. "She did send some very powerful people after me."
"Something tells me that she wouldn't have killed you. Probably locked you up, make you pay for what you've done, but not kill you."
"Do you have any idea how it feels to be caged like an animal?"
"Maybe if you didn't act like one, you wouldn't be treated like one." replied the High Priestess
"Shut your mouth." I said in a low growl.
"Or what, Zhane? I'm here and you're there. You are bound in chains and I am not. Your vague threats do not scare me." replied the High Priestess.
"How has Celestia been able to keep someone as dangerous as you locked up so easily?" asked the High Priestess.
"With lots of precautions." I replied with a frown.
"No, something as powerful as a human wouldn't let itself be detained her against its will. Are you sure you're even human?"
"Fuck you." I muttered under my breath as I messed around with my hand cuffs. My arms were the only place on my body that wasn't covered in triple chains. To top it off, the cuffs were loose and weak enough to possibly pull apart.
The High Priestess turned and started to walk towards me. I waited until she was about six feet away before I pulled as hard as I could on my cuffs. They broke with a loud snap and with that, I sent my hand towards the High Priestesses throat. I got inches away from the High Priestess before several colors of aura surrounded my hand. I looked around to see a collection of griffon and pony guards all pointing their weapons at me. I looked up to see that Celestia had also used her magic to stop my arm.
"Protecting your honor is one thing but lashing out in anger is another." said the High Priestess. "You are an enigma, Zhane. I'll give you that much. I always thought humans were a kind and wise species, not violent and aggressive."
"High Priestess." interjected Celestia. "If I would've known you only want to see Zhane to berate him, I would have never asked my guards to bring him here."
The look on her face was almost that of pure rage.
"Nonsense Celestia." replied the High Priestess as she turned back towards me. "I'm not berating him, I'm simply examining him. He's exactly what we need."
"No, I have not agreed to such terms. I refuse to let Zhane out of my sight." replied Celestia.
"Do you assume that our guards would let him roam free?" asked the High Priestess. "If he is as dangerous as you say he is then we will keep him like a dog on a leash."
I laughed.
"I've heard that phrase too much in the past several hours." I said still stuck between the guard's weapons and the magic holding me in place.
"He is a murderer, a monster with no morals. He will take the first chance he gets to kill you and all you hold dear!" exclaimed Celestia.
"We need something strong to help us win!" yelled the High Priestess.
"I haven't even agreed to send aid!" yelled Celestia.
"What is going on in here!" yelled another voice from across the dining room.
Everyone in the room looked over to see Agliss making his way over to the little group huddle we had assembled. He stopped to see me the way I was. He looked me up and down with a frown and sighed.
"Been causing trouble, Zhane?" he asked. "What did I tell you about causing trouble?"
"Fuck off old man." I replied. "The giant chicken started it."
"You mean the High Priestess standing in front of you?" he asked arms crossed.
"Oh, how did you know that?" I asked sarcastically.
"I've meet several High Priestesses back in my day. If I was forced to pick something that scared me the most in this world, the High Priestess of the Griffon Kingdom would be up there."
"Why would you be scared of her?" I asked. "She's literally a giant, talking chicken."
"Their sense of Clairvoyance is something to fear." he said as he turned to the High Priestess. "Greetings, my name is Captain Agliss of Oasis. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Kiss ass." I muttered under my breath.
"Your greeting is welcomed Captain Agliss, maybe you could help us with a little dispute." replied the High Priestess.
"What would that be?" he asked.
"My country is on the verge of destruction, I have foreseen it." started the High Priestess. "I have come to Celestia for aid yet she refuses to send aid due to the local populace being against a full-on foreign aid outreach. I recommended that she send a couple of troops instead of entire armies. I have seen Zhane, yourself, and one other human in my visions before and I decided to see if my visions were right."
"Where is this going?" asked Agliss as if he was getting impatient with the topic.
"I would like the humans remaining on this world to help us. The rumor going around is that Celestia had already had contact with these three humans and I came to ask for your help."
"I represent Oasis and Equestria as both a guardian and an adviser. I hold no ill will towards any country and if you are in need of dire help, then my partner and myself will help out. As an adviser to Equestria, I must take a stance with Celestia and say that Zhane must stay in Equestria."
Agliss started to pace and then looked towards Celestia.
"However, my partner is preoccupied at the moment so I'm afraid he'll be unavailable to help."
"Then send Zhane along with you." asked the High Priestess.
"I'm afraid that even if it were agreed that he could go, he would be no use to you." replied Agliss.
"Why's that?" asked the High Priestess.
"Since Zhane's capture, he was lost all ability to use magic and is still suffering from many injuries."
"Which have already healed." I added in.
"He would be a sitting target doing nothing but wasting resources." finished Agliss.
The High Priestess sighed and started to approach the Captain.
"This bloody civil war is one fought on the basis of honor. The battle is fought, prisoners are taken, the doctors are allowed to claim the dead, and the prisoners are exchanged for other prisoners. That's how every single battle has worked so far. But, if someone like Zhane were to enter this war. Being a man with no honor, he would quickly unravel the honor bound system. I see no harm in letting an animal work his sick morale tricks."
Agliss paused and looked over to me.
'I'm about to risk friendships for you Zhane. This is your chance to show that you've changed.' ringed a familiar voice inside my head. It must have been Agliss. At least I hope it was. I didn't need another Umbra.
"I see your point High Priestess." said Agliss as he looked towards Celestia. "Maybe we should agree to this."
"Please tell me you're joking?" asked Celestia as she released her grip on me and walked towards Agliss.
"You told me you wanted him to serve Equestria as part of his punishment. To fix some of the mistakes he has made. This would be a step in the right direction."
"I would have to object to this." said Stone Cutter. "I personally know how dangerous Zhane is. He cannot be allowed to leave the castle."
"He is no longer a threat to Equestria." replied Agliss. "He no longer has magical powers. The only weapons he has now is his physical prowess and his mental cunning. Beyond that, he's as harmless as a fly."
Celestia stayed silent.
"Can you not see that our neighboring country needs assistance? Are you really so concerned about what the nobles think? When was the last time that Princess Celestia bound herself by the words of the Equestrian Nobles? If you had done so two years ago, you would have ordered your entire army to hunt and kill Zhane. You even went beyond their judgment to free Zhane with the hope to reform him."
Agliss stopped for a moment before looking into Celestia's eyes.
"I know you want to give Zhane a second chance." he started. "Letting him assist would be a great starting point."
Celestia didn't even reply to the Captain. She simply turned and walked towards the doors leading out of the dining room.
"Six weeks." she replied. "You can help for six weeks but afterwards I want Zhane back in Equestria. Any longer and I'll have no choice but label you as a traitor."
She turned to lock eyes with Agliss.
"Never has my friendship with you been tested so harshly."
With that, Celestia walked out of the dining room, slamming the door behind her.
"I can't believe she said that." said Stone Cutter. He looked up to me with a look of hatred. "You're still a dog on a leash. So watch yourself."
Stone Cutter and his team quickly exited the dining room, finally releasing me from the magical grip they had me in. The High Priestesses guards had also backed away, giving me my space.
"I would like to apologize for my harsh words, Zhane." said the High Priestess. "It was merely an attempt to see who you truly were. I would have settled with Captain Agliss and his friend Captain Yamato. You have something special that will be very useful."
"What's the plan then?" asked Agliss.
"We leave for the Griffon Kingdom immediately. All the necessities will be provided. I imagine that King Grisome would like to meet the both of you."
"Can't wait." I said.
"My guards and I will be waiting at the main gate. Meet us there once you are ready to leave."
With the assistance of her guards, the High Priestess made her way out of the dining room.
"One of these days, you're going to get yourself in a mess you can't get out of." said Agliss as he grabbed one of the chains restraining me.
"All of this wasn't my fault this time." I said with a frown.
"Then why are the cuffs restraining your arms broken." he asked as he picked up the shattered iron.
"Well." I said with a bit of reluctance. "That was my fault."
Agliss sighed and placed his head in his hands.
"I honestly never expected to be in another war."
He turned towards me.
"I guess we'll be on the front lines together."
I started to laugh.
"You'll be the one on the front lines, I'm more suited to take a stealthy approach."
"I don't recall you acting like that two years ago." he replied with a playful smile.
"That was when I had magic to use. Now I don't." I said with a frown.
Agliss walked over to me and began to remove the shackles and chains from my body. He continued until the collar blocking magic flow remained.
"Just to be safe, I'm leaving that there." he said. "Let's go."
We started to walked before he stopped me.
"You try anything funny, I'm going to cut off one of your hands."
"Noted." I replied.
Surprisingly enough, all the guards had vacated the long hallway that led to the main doors. Once we arrived, we found the main doors wide up and the High Priestesses very large carriage outside. We approached it slowly to see her and Celestia conversing.
"If he gives you any problems or disobeys an order, use a shock ward on one of his restraints. He should be wearing a collar at all times that is infused with my own personal shock rune. Knowing you, you should be able to initiate a spark."
Celestia stopped speaking once we approached.
"I hope you two are prepared." she said with frown. She stared at us for a short period before sighing. "Be careful, both of you. You're there for two week, do the best you can."
Celestia turned towards me.
"That includes you."
"Relax." I replied. "I was born to kill.
Celestia ignored my comment and turned towards Agliss.
"You own me, big time." she said.
With that, Celestia turned and walked back into the castle, the giant main doors closing behind her.
"Hop in you two." said the High Priestess as she slowly climbed into the carriage. "We've got a long ride ahead of us."
Four lights flickered in a dark room. Four flickering figures stood before one solid figure. In front of these static images, a shadowy figure stood.
"Report, one at a time." said the Shadowy figure.
"This is Melody and Warlord Solomon." replied the one of the images. "The recruiting is going great. These mercs are Aces being shoved up our sleeve."
"Any news about Azure Phoenix?" asked the figure.
"Word is that he's in the Griffon Kingdom helping the king regain his country."
"We've heard nor seen such a thing." replied one of the other lights.
"Do not speak out of turn, General." replied the figure. "You may continue Melody."
"I would advise sending some Rooks to find that little bugger. Taking out a knight this early in the game would be very beneficial to our future."
"In due time. Thank you for the update."
The Shadowy Figure moved on.
"Queen Chrysalis, update."
"Troop training is going great. As of now, we control five out of the seven surrounding hives. The other two shall fall soon."
"Excellent. Ashkin, how'd the meet and greet go?"
"Celestia is attempting to hide Zhane's existence, let alone the fact that he's now free. That was all I had learn. I would have stayed but I might not be here to speak you with you if I had."
"Thank you for the information." replied the figure. "Now it is your turn, General. Tell me how the war goes?"
"We captured the East Arches recently. It was a major victory and a morale booster."
"I also have some news that might concern you, General." said the shadowy figure.
"That being?" asked the General.
"My insider in Canterlot Castle has informed me that the High Priestess of the Griffon Kingdom has employed the aid of two human to help in the war, Captain Agliss of Oasis and Zhane. If you ever encounter Zhane, bring him back with you."
"Easier said than done." replied Chrysalis. "Agliss was too strong for my army when I invaded Canterlot the first time. He almost killed one hundred of my soldiers. If I had to warn you, General, it would be about this Captain's magic. It's unnatural."
"Noted." said the General.
"That is all for know. Be safe my friends."