I followed the guards that served as my escort through the castle, heading towards the garden. Once outside I saw a small ship, surrounded by humans. My shackles had been removed and my wings were healed, but there was no way I could get away from all those watching. For a start, the human weapons could fire faster than I could fly.
We silently trudged forward, and I kept my gaze to the floor. Out of my peripheral vision I could see that the guards lining the path had removed their helmets and placed them on the floor. This was normally a sign of respect, except it was the back of the helmets facing me. That was the sign of shame.
I knew that each and every one of them wanted to kill me themselves, but they stood fast. WE reached the bottom of a ramp, and then I finally lifted my head, meeting the gazes of Princess Luna and her family, and Princess Celestia. Sky Sapphire walked forward slowly and motioned me to bend down, which I did so, allowing her to whisper into my ear. “I forgive you.”
I stood back up and wiped a tear from my face, nodding to the filly. She went back up and stood in front of her father, who's glare had only intensified as we got closer. Celestia stepped forward with her wings spread. “Warding Spear, on this day you will no longer be a resident of Equestria. For your punishment, I have decreed that you will travel to the world of the one that you tried to kill. It is certain that you will die there, but not known is when. You will have no chance to return, so if there is anything more you wish to say, now is your chance.”
I turned and looked over the crowd, seemingly full of guards, but I did spot a few nobles here and there. “My fri... former friends, I bid you pay heed to my actions, and learn from my mistakes. What I thought was love was lust, and I allowed it to control me, which nearly decimated a loving family. I will bear my punishment with honour, and will not back out.”
My eyes met a pair of familiar orange ones, and I stepped towards them. I approached the pony as the crowd parted, and bowed in front of the mare. “Blazing Petal, I am truly sorry. I realise now what I have truly lost, and I sincerely hope that you find one that you deserve, and who deserves you. I hope you find your happiness.”
To the surprise of the assembly, she pulled me up and kissed me, before turning and galloping through the crowd. A hoof on my shoulder caused me to turn, seeing Defiant Moonlight there. “Come on, it's time.” I nodded and once more walked to the ship, stopping briefly to look at Luna, and then her husband. Their faces were like stone, showing nothing of what they thought, but the colt between them glared at me.
I stood on what was called the 'bridge', watching out the windows as Canterlot Castle got smaller below us. I should have run, should've chased Petal down... but then what? I would only be dragged back by force. This was my punishment for my crimes, and I would follow it through. Who am I?
Now, I am nopony. At least, nopony that you should care about. Suffice to say, I am the opposite of what I once stood for, and have become what I fought. My name is Warding Spear, and I am on my way to my death. I don't blame her really, after what I did... jealously is a terrible thing, but I was blind to what I already had.
The humans around me prepared to go into 'the freezer'. It was some sort of deep sleep, which allowed them to survive long missions in deep space. The one called 'Klaus' informed me that they would only be dropping me off, then heading to meet up with a bigger fleet. They couldn't tell me their mission, but he stayed out of the tube to keep me company.
I had initially declined his request, saying I didn't deserve it. Then I realised that it was for their safety, not my well being. This journey would last a month, and the ship would be operated by a skeleton crew. I was shown to a cargo bay, which was the size of a mid range Canterlot apartment. There was a stack of hay in one corner, more then enough to give me somewhere to lay and eat. I would survive... for now.
I watched out the window once more as we passed a large red planet. The translation spell ended after a few days, but that was all it took to learn their written language. I looked back to the terminal and read a few more lines about 'Mars'. It was named after the 'Roman' god of war, and they were a race ancient humans. Very bloodthirsty from what little information I had uncovered.
And then it was gone. A few more minutes and a smaller grey sphere appeared. I took a deep breath as I remembered it's name... Luna. It had intrigued me that our moon princess had the same name as part of his world. Maybe they were more in tune we each other then I knew. It passed without notice, and the view screen centred on a large world.
At first I thought we had turned around, but noticed that the land masses were different to ho.... my former home. So this was it, Earth, or Terra, where he came from. The ship accelerated, and I noticed a red glow form around the edges of the window. The humans seems to ignore it, so it must be safe.
The glow intensified, and then started to steam. After a few moments it too cleared, revealing a beautiful clear blue sky. The ship pitched down, and we entered dark clouds. Lightning crackled around us, but again the others seemed unfazed. We were there for a good ten minutes before we got through, and my mouth dropped open in shock.
Ahead of us lay what was once a great city, and I could see the coast behind it. This place was at least ten times the size of Canterlot, with towers almost as high as the mountain. Or, they would've have been, if most of them were still upright, and not on their sides. It was a sorrowful sight, that something this wonderful could be destroyed.
In a flash it disappeared as we passed over it, flying across the ocean. I moved to the side and looked out another window. There were hundreds of vessels floating on the water, some only just visible. There were many different insignias, the most of which was a star inside a circle, a bar across the middle. And then they were gone, leaving just water below us.
After an hour, my hosts pointed towards the main window, where more land was nearing. I felt the ship start to slow down, and watched as we descended to just above the see level. We moved to the left of the land, flying along the coast. There was a quick, sharp turn and we slowed to a stop over a lush, green area. I turned and left the bridge, following Klaus.
The ramp lowered revealing grass, and I took some slow steps, before ignoring that feeling in the pit of my stomach and speeding up. I got a good distance from them and turned, sitting where I was. The look in Klaus' eyes was one of concern, and worry. He gave me one last glance and nod, then the hatch slid shut. I let my senses go, hearing nothing but a small wind. It didn't take long for me to become accustomed to the 'north' of this world. I was a pegasus after all. I turned towards to south and began my walk. I always liked going south.
I came across a road of some sort, and approached one of the small black structures. It was a bad idea, for inside was a charred black skeleton. I didn't know how long it had been there, but I knew that was not a pleasant way to die. More of these things dotted the area, and I saw a metal plate on the floor. I walked over and managed to read the faded paint. 'Plymouth, 16 miles.' It seemed like a good start, so I walked in what I guessed was the right direction.
I was tired, so very tired. In the past two weeks I have only gotten about five hours of sleep. The city that was once Plymouth was a bad idea. It was more of a tomb now. I easily worked out it was one of this nation's main, if not largest, naval bases, and as such was part of the focus during the fighting that went on here.
I headed in the other direction, going east, as it was just ocean to the west. I passed many places, all in varying degrees of destruction. I finally settled on the place called 'London', but that was also a bad idea. The only advantage was I could fly from building to building when they got close enough. These humans were something else.
They showed the same tenacity and problem solving, but they were... I don't know how to put it. They reminded me of Timberwolves from training. If one group met another whilst hunting... me... then they would fight amongst themselves. It gave me a chance to get away. So here I was, resting on top of a tower with the human symbols for 'BT'. What it stood for, I had no idea, but I didn't really care. I had already checked, and the internal stair case structure didn't get this high.
I had survived by living like a neanderpony, eating grass. It had no taste, but it sustained me. I glanced up as I heard creaking, seeing one of the buildings nearby collapse. It was followed by the screams of those inside. I tuned them out, now imagining them as the animals they had become. In that world, it was kill or be killed.
By Faust, I was glad that hospital still had supplies. My forelegs, chest, stomach and muzzle were covered in bandages after I had used the burn treatment cream. The motherbuckers had set the building on fire with me inside. If not for my wings, I would be dead.
I should be, that is why I was sent here after all. But it seemed like this was some sort of test for my soul. Like something was willing me to survive, and return. I winced as I walked out of the room I was in, heading up to the shelter I had built on the roof. It no longer concerned me how long I had left to live. My time would come.
I walked through the corridors of Canterlot Castle, my armour polished to a high shine. The sound of laughter hit my ears, and I turned to see a blue alicorn filly with a magenta mane staring up at me, a grin on her face. “Good evening, Princess Sapphire. How are you?”
“I'm fine thank you, lieutenant. Tell me, have you seen my brother?”
“I'm afraid that I do not know the current whereabouts of Prince Flame, but rest assured, I will keep an eye out for him.”
“Oh, that won't be necessary.” Before I could reply, something landed on my back, knocking me to the floor. I felt a small pony prancing on my back, and send the colt scampering with a few tickles, looking over to see the filly smiling.
And then things changed. Her face became a fearful one as I watched, and bars appeared between us. Flames sprang unbidden, surrounding the filly. I could see her tears, but couldn't see a way to get to her.
I watched as an alicorn stallion entered, pulling her to his chest. She'd be fine... and then more bars appeared behind and to the sides of them, a solid sheet of metal clanking down on top. They were trapped, and their magic wasn't working. I tried to reach a hoof through, but the heat was unbearable. The stallion made no noise as he held his sobbing daughter, telling her things would be all right.
A noise behind me made me turn, seeing Princess Luna and prince Rising Flame... out in the garden? I ignored as to why I could see that, and tried to get their attention. Instead they remained in place, tears coming down form their eyes as they looked at... two gravestones.
A creaking made me turn back to the cage just in time to see it fall to the floor, throwing up all kinds of items. A piece of glass slowly floated past my eyes, allowing me to see my expression. I expected to see one of horror, of shock, of desperation, and the feeling of being useless.
Instead the one I faced was one of glee, cackling madly as the two trapped ponies were consumed by the flames. The screams of the filly became like music to my ears....
I shot up fast, sweating from the nightmare again. Here there was no Lunar Princess to walk amongst our dreams, and I deserved this. It was this one or one where all I could see was a set of orange eyes, but I couldn't remember who they belonged to. I once more found myself on top of a building, watching as the sun set to the west. Absent mindedly, I ran a hoof over my eye patch. I lost it about three months ago in some close melee, and couldn't get it healed. When was the last time you saw a unicorn on this Tartarus hole?
I had also learned that here, I needed... to kill. I didn't have a choice. After the first one, I only did it when I had no other option. After the tenth, I likened it to removing weeds. It became second nature, and now it was me and them. I sighed and pressed the record button.
“I was once called Warding Spear. I am... was a pony of Equestria. I did things wrong, bad things.”
“Now I am on the world of the one who I tried to kill. I also tried to kill his daughter. My ruler, and at one time my employer, sent me here to die. I am still alive, but I am no longer that pony. He died months ago.”
“I am... somepony new. And I am fed up with calling this world my own....”
I looked up from the recording device as the sound of engines came though the clouds. Seven ships appeared, four with the black eagle crescent and three with the flag of what ever country in which I now resided, a collection of red, white, and blue stripes. A strange glow came from them, searching. It focused on me and then stopped. This was about to get interesting.
A smaller vessel came away from the group and headed my way. I didn't attempt to fly away, standing my ground. It came to a hover just off the roof, and twenty soldiers jumped out. One lifted up his visor, and I recognised the face, but couldn't remember his name. They started to surround me, and I watched them as carefully as a stranded pegasus with one eye can.
The door to the roof burst open, and a flurry of the other humans ran out. My instincts kicked in and I leapt towards them, spinning around and bucking a pile of them off the roof. I kept moving, kicking out and hitting them in the chest. I didn't see any more, and turned back to the others, backing away slightly as they had their weapons raised.
Klaus' finger twitched, and his weapon fired. I close my eyes, but the pain never came. I opened them again as some thuds sounded behind me. A quick glance showed four bleeding bodies. The other ships moved off as he waved me over. I let my gaze follow his outstretched arm.
I then saw more ships, all had bright lights below them. One flared brightly, sending a shaft of light down. It moved around a little, and smoke followed. They were destroying their old world? Why would they do that? I looked down in the streets and saw hundreds of soldiers moving along them. Their weapons fired, and I saw the other ones running. They weren't destroying it, they were cleansing it, reclaiming it for themselves.
I took wing and flew towards one of the further ships. I had to get off of this world.
I dumped the last human into the last freezer tube. The last three months had made the infiltration of the ship easy. This one was faster apparently, and it was written in the language I had learnt on the way here. I hit the engage button and headed up to the bridge. Once there I looked through the worlds listed, finding none that would be suitable, except one. But... could I go home?
No, I couldn't. But because I was born in the world that was currently burning behind us. I set the ship ready to leave, when a line of text appeared on the main view screen.
Warding Spear, stand down and prepare to be boarded.
Refusal to comply will result in your destruction. You
have five minutes.
I quickly tapped a reply, ensuring that there was no over riding of the systems. Once you knew the words, it was easy to control.
Warding Spear is dead, I have no name.
Your crew will be unharmed and returned
when I have no more need of them.
The terminal I was using flashed green, so hit the start button. The stars blurred as we began to travel faster than light.
I herded the pilot towards the bridge, keeping one of the smaller weapons trained on him. My wings, after all, had become rather dexterous. He slowed a little, so I pushed him forward with a hoof. He got moving again, and he took a deep breath as he saw the planet. I showed him to a picture of what I wanted, and he studied it for a moment before nodding.
I nodded in reply and set the gun down, watching as he climbed into the seat and took control of the vessel.
The mare and her parents looked at the strange red streak in the sky, choosing to ignore it. They said their farewells and she made her way towards the Canterlot train station to get the last one home. She noticed a few stallions eyeing her as she crossed the street, and quickened her pace. She could hear hoofsteps come closer, at a slightly higher rate. She turned into a side street, and began to gallop, but then she had to stop. It was a dead end.
The group slowly came towards her, smiling devilishly. One of the larger ones stepped closer, puffing out his chest and using a hoof to make her look at him. “Now then, what's a pretty little thing like you doing down an alley like this?” The mare closed her eyes and began to shake.
“P-p-please.... I h-h-have a fmily, and f-f-foals!” The stallion's hoof ran along her back, and lingered for a moment over her flank.
“Oh, I don't think you'll need to worry about that tonight, right lads?” The others started laughing, forming a tighter circle. Then one fell to the floor with a pained grunt. They all turned to see what happened, and could make out a set of orange eyes, which was followed by a mare's voice.
“You have one chance to leave now, or you'll all get hurt.” None of them made to move, and then there was crème and maroon blur as she shot forward and knocked another stallion to the floor. Two down, five to go. The others made to attack, but were beaten back one by one until the leader turned and fled.
He was struck to the ground in the shadows as the good Samaritan turned to the shaken up mare. “Hey now, it's okay. You're safe now. Can you tell me your name?”
“C-c-c-cherril-l-lee.”
“The school teacher? Come on, let's get you to the hospital.” The sound of soft hoofsteps made them both freeze, and Blazing Petal turned to look at her unknown assistant. “Thanks, means the guards can round 'em all up now. So, who are you?”
They said nothing, but stepped out of the shadows. The two mares couldn't make out any decent identifiable markings due to the cloak and hood they wore, but could tell it was a stallion. One that had endured incredible hardship if the burn scars around his forelegs and muzzle were any indication.
Petal moved closer, which resulted in her mystery friend stepping back. They kept moving until the light reflected up out of a puddle and shone on his eyes. Or rather, eye, as one was covered with a brown patch, made to match the stallion's coat.
But that one single, deep crimson eye told her all she needed, and her mouth slowly dropped in shock. “W-w-warding S-s-spear, is that you?”
“No... he is dead. I bid you good night, and may see you again sometime.” He turned and fled, leaving Petal torn between her ward and chasing him down. The flash of gold entering the little area made up her mind, and she took off to find him. If it really was him, then she could finally get the answers to the questions she never asked.
Down in the alley, the Guards that had arrived were busy rounding up the stallions, and talking to Cherrilee. “Can you describe the mare to me?”
“She had a c-c-cream coat, and maroon mane. She was a pegasus, and had orange eyes.”
“By Faust, it's Blazing Petal again. It's okay, she used to be a guard, be left a while ago after a... something that left her in a dangerous mental state. I'll get the Captain to talk to her later. What about the stallion?”
“I didn't see much of him, he had a cloak on, but his forelegs ans muzzled had been burnt, and I heard her say his name, as if it wasn't possible.”
“What was the name?”
“I think she said 'Warding Spear.'”
“Buck. Okay, sergeant!” A guard ran over and saluted. “Take this mare to the station and ensure she arrives home. She needs to be with her family.” He saluted once more and got two more guards, escorting the mare away. “Everypony else, round them up and take them to the dungeons. I'll break the news to them when they come back tomorrow.”
The lieutenant looked around and sighed. “Luna's going to be pissed, and I'm going to get my flank hoofed to me.”
Author's Note
I couldn't do it. I had two endings, one where he got killed, but reading between the two I found this to be better.
I know a few of you wanted him to die, but in essence, he has. Earth has changed him, a lot. Yes, it will link in with Night's Children again, but not started the next chapter yet.
