The Last Alicorn

Chapter 3: The Visitor

Four sleeps had past since my last dream. I had told the voices all about it, but they already knew all the details. They had refused to tell me anything else about that memory.

I now wandered the peeling halls of the Canterlot castle. Many memories swam through my head, but they weren't mine. My mane and tail slowly waved through the air as I explored each room. This is what I usually did most days, but sometimes the voices would train me and teach me things that would help me defeat the four creatures.

I stopped in a small room, probably had been a servants room, and examined it's scorched walls and shattered windows. The heat of the Eternal Day had started many fires over the years, but they always died out since there was not much to burn.

I was about to start rummaging through a crisp dresser, when the sound of metal hitting stone echoed through the castle. 'What was that?' I heard Cadence whisper in my mind.

'I don't know...but we should go back to the tower just in case..,'  Luna whispered in an unusually scared tone. I ignored her, and not just because I was mad at them for giving me the silent treatment, but I was curious. Not many creatures had ever entered the palace.

I grabbed the nearest thing, which happened to be a dusty candle holder, with my magic and shakily levitated it as protection.

Even though I was an alicorn, my magic wasn't very strong.

I inched towards the door to the hallway, blocking out the cries of protest in my mind. Carefully, I opened the door, hoping it wouldn't make any noise. Building up all the courage I had, I peeked out into the brightly lite hall. We all held our breaths.

It was empty.

A loud, screechy cry nearly scared me out of my hide, and I dropped the candle holder with a clang. Taking a step back, I looked around for the source of the sound.

It went off again above me. I whipped my head up to see a small, black creature sitting on a broken window. Its pointed head was turned so its beady eye could get a good look at me before it spread its shaggy wings and flew off down the hall.

Sighs of relief echoed in my head, ' Just a crow,' Twilight explained to me.

I nodded. Of course. A crow. I knew that.

An unbelievably strong force shot through the right side of my face, bowling me over onto the floor. Pain, something I had rarely experienced in my life, consumed my jaw. I could hear everyone screaming in my mind, spitting at who ever hit me and telling me to get out of here.

I cradled my face in my hooves, too shocked to really move, but my blood almost went cold as I felt a thin blade being held lightly against my neck. I dared to sneak a look at my attacker.

A tall, broad pegasus stallion stood above me, patchy armor covering his back with a helmet shielding his face. His hide was a light peach, with a crow cutiemark on his flank. A sword was strapped to his front leg, which was now pointed at me. "Surrender, changeling scum!" he growled, his deep voice being slightly muffled by his helm.

I was baffled. He was talking to me.... but.. not in my head. I heard him with my ears, not my mind. The princesses continued to scream at me, but I tuned them out. I wanted to know more about this non-alicorn.

His blade pressed a little harder to my throat, "I said, surrender, changeling," he roared. I didn't know what to do. Should I surrender? I wasn't a changeling though! "Speak!" he yelled, hurting my ears. I shrunk away from him, suddenly immensely frightened.

"Great Celestia, you're a friendly face, aren't you...?" I whimpered.

He froze in place, the sword still at my neck. Suddenly, in one fluid movement, he pulled the sword back and slid it into its sheath, unstrapping it from his hoof. He stepped back, letting me get to my feet.

I carefully gathered my hooves under me and shakily stood, still holding my cheek. He continued to observe me before unhooking his helmet and setting it on the floor.

His lush green mane was cut short, with striking light blue eyes. He was biting his lip and rubbing one foreleg over the other, as if he was nervous. I waited for him to do something.... anything, but he continued to remain silent.

After some time had passed, I decided he was no longer a threat. I spun around and started to head back towards the tower, no longer interested in outsiders. "Oh,... uh, ...w.wait! Don't go!" he called after me. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. His was looking at the ground, " Uh.. forgive me, miss..... I thought you were a changeling....," he paused for a second, " I am Private Treetop of the Apple family, bearer of the... uh.. element of kindness.."