The Secrets of Caduceus

I flex and grip the mare wrapped in my arms harder than ever. Even though I know that a fall from this height will most definitely kill me, I brace for impact anyways. Though, with the mysterious glowing coming from the mare, I'll be unprepared for when I hit the cement.

I wait patiently for the end. Waiting for the sound of cars driving down the empty streets to get louder and louder until everything goes silent. Waiting… Waiting for…

"Uh… How do you suppose we get rid of this thing?" I hear a familiar voice ask.

The voice is followed by a loud whimpering.

"Could it be… Thorns?"

"Hello? Apollo?" I can concur that the voice is none other that Thorns'

"H-Hey! Thorns! What's happening!?" I shout.

"Well… You're sort of just floating there."

Floating? Could this filly's glow be levitating me? She is a psychic, I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

"Hey. Hey! Wake up--" Then I suddenly remembered, I had knocked her unconscious moments ago. I couldn't expect her to wake up on command.

A moment later, the light around me begins to dissipate, almost as if it were snow melting on the sidewalk. Eventually, it disappears altogether. Then, we fall the short distance to the ground. I clutch her, wrapping her in my arms, as I brace for impact.

*THUD*

Landing on my side, I release my grasp on the filly.

"They won't wait much longer, we need to hurry up before the train back to Asclepius leaves." Thorns states, as she pets the back of Shrubbery's neck.

I nod, and then climb back onto the timberwolf with Aura draped over my back. Thorns leaps on, and the pulls back on ears of our canine friend. He rears up, and then makes a running start towards the edge of the building's rooftop. Leaping farther I could ever imagine, we soar through the air towards the next rooftop; which is situated a little bit lower than previous.

*BOOM*

The wolf lands on the next rooftop, making a giant crater in the cement. He continues to leap from roof to roof. Each lower than the previous, until we were finally low enough to jump from and survive. Unfortunately for the owner of the black limousine Shrubbery decided to land on, we're afraid we're unable stop to pay for the damage.

"That way!" Thorns shouts as she points forward.

Shrubbery gallops down the street. I keep my ears open in case the authorities decide to pick up our trail once again.

"Stop here!" The blue mare shouts once again.

I hop off the back and drag Aura, then throw her onto my back.

Trotting over to the front of Shrubbery, I look up at Thorns and ask, "Is this manhole the one?"

She nods, and then leaps off the wolf's neck.

Suddenly, before I can pull Aura off my back, we hear the sound of sirens in the distance.

Thorns spins around, trots over to me and tosses Aura onto her back, "They found us! Hurry up, get down--"

*WHIMPER*

"Oh no… Shrubbery won't fit though, what do we--" I ask, before being cut off.

"There is no other way, come on!" Thorns shouts, as she begins to climb down the ladder with Aura's jacket hanging from her mouth.

"But--"

*BANG*

A loud gunshot rings out from above us, the sound of twigs snapping and wood being broken follows. Then Shrubbery lets out a high-pitched cry.

"Arooooooh!"

"No!" I cry out in a panic!

The timberwolf falls over on its side. Then, the sharp spear-like projectile that has dug its way through Shrubbery left hind leg is revealed.

*BANG*

Suddenly, another gunshot rings out. Another sharp spear comes flying from the rooftops above us. It lands straight in the timberwolf's uninjured hind leg. Another sharp cry rings out in the air.

Ear-wrenched and tears in my eyes, I try to cry out over the sound of the wolf's agonizing pain, "I'M SORRY!"

I scramble towards the manhole, and begin to climb down, until suddenly another voice is heard.

"Burn the timberwolf! Then go after the ponies!" A deep-voiced stallion shouts from an unknown location.

"NO! Please NO!" I shout, as I try to climb out of the manhole again.

But as I grab the manhole cover, I feel something gripping my hind leg.

"LET GO! They're going to--"

Before I can continue, I hear the sound of glass shattering. I look up to see Shrubbery in flames, scrambling and rampaging everywhere. I assumed somepony had already thrown a combustion projectile at him. The scene was traumatizing, an animal being burned alive while it's being held down by spears piercing its legs. As the Timberwolf thrashes around, its tail slaps me in the face. Knocked back against the rim of the manhole, I begin to slowly slip into the darkness of the sewers. In an attempt to grasp something, I grab onto the manhole cover, which I accidentally pull back into the darkness with me.

As I fall, I can see the flames engulfing the wolf that brought me and my companion so far in the first place. Fortunately, I land in the sewage water for a softer impact.

Unfortunately, the manhole cover follows me into the water, slamming down on me.

My vision begins to blur, and my hearing is muffled as I descend into the water.

I can only hear the soft and quiet howls of my near friend. Will they spare him? Probably not. I slowly come to terms with the sudden incident, as I feel the water current drifting with me to who-knows-where.

Then, everything fades to black.