Prologue: A Battle in the Sky
The clashing of metal sounded through the streets of Manehatten, ringing through Aero’s ears. He looked up, griffons swooped through the sky above the city. Pegasi began lifting off to pursue the enemy. Guards engaged the invading army, fighting with whatever weapons they had. The few unicorns powerful enough for battle spells shot beams of magic into the night sky, lighting the entire city.
“Aero!” A shout came from above. “A little help would be nice!” Aero tracked the voice to see a guard being chased by two griffons. Aero grabbed a spear from the wall and launched himself into the air.
“Incoming on your seven!” he shouted, throwing the spear at the nearest griffon. The spear pierced the griffon’s wing, sending him crashing into the other. The two griffons screamed and clawed at the air, tearing each other apart as they fell. The two guards slowed, allowing themselves a chance to breathe.
“Thanks, Aero, “the pegasus said. “That was a clo-” he was interrupted as another griffon slammed into his side. Aero looked behind him and saw five more griffons diving towards him.
“Damn,” Aero swore, diving towards the ground. He tucked his wings to his side, focusing on a small opening in the side of a building. His mane and tail streaked behind him, the air tearing at every part of his body. He shot through the hole. spreading his wings as he passed the jagged edges.
Aero flared, bringing his speed down to maneuver the tight corridors of the building. Risking a glance over his shoulder, Aero noticed that the griffons had stopped in front of the hole. The four of them glared at him like a pack of wolves would glance at a rabbit in its burrow. 'Wait a second, weren’t there five of them?' Aero thought to himself. CRASH! Something slammed through a nearby window and into Aero’s side.
The griffon screeched a battle cry as he grabbed Aero. They flew through the hallway, exchanging blows to the face. They slammed into the ground, a tangle of feathers and fur. The griffon swiped at Aero’s face, bloody gashes appearing behind his claws. “It’s on beaky!” Aero pulled his legs under the griffon and bucked hard. The griffon let out a screech of pain accompanying the cracking of bone. Ha! That should keep him down!
The griffon glared at Aero with all the fury of Tartarus. “And I was considering killing you quickly,” he hissed. The griffon stood, clearly fighting through extreme pain. Flapping his wings, the griffon hurled himself forward.
Aero fled in shock, his adversary clearly had nothing to lose. Extending a hoof he flew through a nearby window. “You want a chase? You get a chase,” Aero muttered under his breath. Now in the open, he was once again a target for the flock of griffons that had been chasing him before. Several screeches confirmed his suspicions.
The city of Manehatten raged with the cries of war. Civilians screamed and ran through the streets, some carrying their children or the precious few belongings they could grab. Plumes of smoke rose from several buildings. War cries of ponies and griffons alike echoed through the streets accompanied by the screaming sirens of emergency crews and fire alarms. The signs of defeat were everywhere; the guard was outnumbered, many fought without weapons while others lay on the ground, bleeding or dead.
Aero flew through the streets of the city desperately trying to escape the griffon flock behind him. Blood dripped from the slashes in his face, running down his neck before flying away in the wind. He risked another glance back. The griffons had stopped following him and seemed focused on something else. Looking around, Aero noticed that most of the fighting had stopped; everyone was looking to the west. Wiping blood out of his eyes, Aero followed their gaze. An army of ponies could be seen marching through the outer city. A pink shield surrounded the army, vaporizing any weapons and armor that passed through.
A screech reminded Aero of his nemesis. He put on a burst of speed trying desperately to reach the shield before he was caught. Red began to fill his vision as blood continued to pour into his eyes. His mind swam with confusion as blood loss started taking its toll. Blinking his drowziness away, Aero put on one final burst of speed. The shield slowed his flight, acting like a jelly of sorts. The magic pulled on him, dissolving any metal he had. Now rid of his armor, Aero picked up more speed.
As he neared the center of the shield he saw its source, the captain of the guard himself, Shining Armor. Aero glanced behind him one final time; his pursuer had changed his target, now targeting the captain himself. “Captain Armor! Get down!” Aero shouted. Shining Armor looked up and quickly ducked, just as a killing blow from a talon swiped where his head had once been.
Aero landed weakly next to the Captain, confident that the fresh soldiers would chase the griffon off. “Thank Celestia you’re here, we’re down to the last pony.” Aero continued to blink blood out of his vision.
“What’s you name?” Shining Armor asked, a deep look of concern spreading across his face.
“Master Sergeant Aero Blade sir,” he responded.
“Sergeant, you’re relieved. I can’t let you risk going back out there again.” Shining Armor looked around before continuing. “You’ve done your part, go to the medics and get patched up.”
“But, sir. I can’t le-”
“You need to see a medic, that’s an order.” Shining trotted forwards. “I need a medic over here! Quickly!”
Aero let himself relax, his injuries catching up to him. A white pegasus stallion with a red and yellow mane over to him, followed shortly by a blue unicorn mare. Both had medical crosses as their cutie marks.
“Caring, I need some disinfectant,” the white pegasus said.
“Way ahead of you, Falling.” Caring floated a large medical kit over and pulled out a bottle. Aero collapsed, far too tired to continue standing. Sleep sounded like a nice idea.
“Stay with me, Aero. Come on, focus,” Falling said, his voice fading away as the world faded to black. “Aero, you need to stay awake.”
Aero gasped and bolted out of his cot, panting for breath. His head throbbed in pain, lights flashing in front of his eyes. He flopped back down and took in his surroundings; he was in a medical tent. The white curtains in front of him parted revealing Falling, the medic from earlier. “Good, you’re awake,” he said. “I had Caring Hoof do a healing spell on those cuts. I’d be careful for the next few weeks, you lost a lot of blood.”
‘How long was I out for? Did we win?’ Aero pondered to himself. ‘Is my family safe?’ Aero looked up at the medic, ready to ask him.
“You were only out for a couple of hours, the last few griffons are being chased out of the city as we speak, and yes those will scar. At least you’ll have a great story to tell about how you got them,” Falling said without hesitation.
“How did you..” Aero started, mouth wide open.
“I’m a medic, I get asked these things a lot,” he chuckled. “I take it those answered your questions.”
“Almost,” Aero said. “I was going to ask if my family was alright.”
“I’m not sure, but all your vitals are normal.” Falling walked over to the side of the cot. “You could go see for yourself.”
Aero smiled. “That sounds great,” he said, getting to his hooves. He felt a bit sluggish and light headed but otherwise fine. “One question before I go.”
“Of course.” Falling put a hoof on Aero’s shoulder.
“Falling what?”
Falling laughed. “That’s not what I was expecting. It’s Falling Star.” He continued chuckling for a moment. “Walk, don’t fly for a couple days and drink plenty of fluids, ok?”
“Falling Star, I like that. I hope to see you around a bit more.” Aero walked out of the tarped off area where he had been sleeping, eager to see his family again.
It had been a long and slow walk but Aero had finally reached his street. The signs of battle were still present, but his neighborhood had been left mostly untouched. This discovery allowed Aero to calm down and enjoy his walk a little more. Maybe he should have asked for a mirror so he could see his cuts. He had never been very self conscious about his looks but the mere thought of scars on his face made him wonder what they looked like.
Stopping by the window of a nearby shop, he managed to catch a look at his reflection. His steel-blue fur was parted to show three thin gashes that stretched from his forehead to below his ear. A fourth smaller cut had removed a small triangle of his ear. Aero gazed at his face before shifting his focus to his eyes. The same look of determination showed in their amber depths but something had changed, now a look of battle weariness hung at the edges of his eyes.
Aero nodded to himself before continuing home. A shadow passed overhead. “Above you!” a cry sounded. Before Aero could react a familiar force slammed him face first into the ground.
“You,” a voice hissed. Aero’s eyes went wide. This was the same voice that had threatened to kill him earlier. “One thing you must know is that I never back down from a promise to kill.”
Aero struggled to get up but was stopped by something sharp stabbing into the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The griffon slammed his weight down onto one of Aero’s wings. A loud snap was heard accompanied by Aero’s cry of pain. “It’s a pity, you would have been more fun to kill in battle. I guess this will have to do.”
The griffon dug his talons into Aero’s flesh eliciting another cry of pain. Grinning, the griffon took to the sky, hauling Aero with him. Lights began to flash in his vision again as his body screamed in pain, threatening to shut down from blood loss. After several seconds of climbing the griffon released the payload.
Aero tumbled from the sky, clinging onto the edges of consciousness. “No!” a cry of anguish sounded from below. Aero slammed headfirst into the ground; ‘I’ve failed you,’ Aero thought before the cracking of his neck silenced his thoughts forever.
Author's Note
This is just a prologue to the main story but it will be necessary to understanding the story as a whole later on. I'm just glad I got this done because inspiration comes at 1:00 in the morning on school nights. The next chapter will likely be posted in a couple weeks but in the meantime any editors will be greatly appreciated. Post a comment below and I'll see if you fit the bill.
That's it for now.
-Lightning Flick_r
Sweat poured down Swiftwing’s face as he flapped his wings, desperately trying to pull himself off the floor. His wings buzzed, sending waves of air through his room; loose papers flying through the breeze he created. His face scrunched in effort, Swiftwing tried one last time to pull himself up. The colt’s muscles screamed in agony as the searing pain of exhaustion began to set in. He stopped and collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath.
As he recovered, Swiftwing looked around his room to see how much damage he had done this time. His Wonderbolts poster hung by a single pin, ready to fall at any moment. Several pieces of paper lay scattered around the room, covering up various toys, figurines, and books that had been flung around by the force of the wind he had created. As Swiftwing looked around his eyes settled on his reflection in the mirror. His sweat-soaked mane looked less like its usual dark yellow and more like a pile of moldy hay somepony had slapped on his head. His coat fared no better, his sea green fur was matted and scraggly; his mother was going to throw a fit when she saw him.
The clip clop of hooves coming from the hallway brought him out of his trance. “Swift, honey?” His mother called. “I’ve called you twice now, it’s time for dinner.” Swiftwing yelped in surprise, desperately looking around his room. “Swift?” The door creaked open. “Swift what are you doing that’s so…” Her voice trailed off as she entered the room.
Swiftwing squeaked and fell to the floor, hiding his face beneath his hooves. His mother walked over to him and crouched down. “Swift, look at me.”
Swiftwing peaked out from between his forelegs, “Yeah?” he shakily replied.
“Look, Swift. I know this is hard for you, but look at this.” She stood and gestured around the room with a hoof. “This is the fourth time this week you've managed to wreck your room.”
“Mom, it’s just…”
“I know honey, just please come down and eat.”
Swiftwing sighed and glanced around the room one last time. “Alright, mom. Can you help me clean up after dinner?”
“Only if you promise to go outside next time, alright?” she said, walking down the stairs.
“Alright.” Swiftwing slowly followed, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting to see his room magically cleaned.
“Swift?”
Swiftwing glanced at his mom. “Yeah?”
“I’m worried about you,” she said. “You’ve been working yourself to death trying to fly, you spend every day either in school or lying in bed and you’ve barely eaten anything.” She pointed at his plate. Sure enough, Swiftwing hadn’t even taken a bite.
“I’m just not hungry, ok?” Swiftwing started to leave the table.
“No, Swift,” his mother replied. “You can’t keep doing this, sit down and eat. What would your father say if he was here right now?”
Swiftwing sighed and sat back down. “Alright, mom,” he said, taking his first bite. Swiftwing’s mom sighed.
“Come on, Violet.” she muttered to herself. “Why can’t you be strong for him?”
Swiftwing looked up. “What?”
“Nothing honey, just keep eating,” Violet said. “So, tomorrow is Friday. do you have any plans for after school?” she said, changing the subject.
Swiftwing looked up, halfway through a bite of noodles. “I was just going to come back home.” He turned back down to his noodles and continued eating.
“Well, how about we go get some ice cream after school,” she offered. “Would that make you feel a little better?” An awkward silence filled the room for several tense seconds. Both of them seemed content with letting the other speak first. “Swift?” Violet broke the silence.
“Sure,” Swiftwing mumbled.
“What, honey?”
“Sure,” Swiftwing said, slightly louder. He pushed his plate, still mostly full, away and stood. “I’m done.” He turned and walked up the stairs.
“Swiftwing, come back down and finish,” Violet called after him. Swiftwing sighed walked into his room, closing the door behind him.
Swiftwing looked out his window. It had been almost a week since the battle over Manehatten but many of the city’s scars remained. Burned buildings were scattered around the city. Many of the ponies had left or stayed in temporary shelters until their houses could be rebuilt. They served as reminders of the losses that day brought, losses that Swiftwing felt.
He left the window and flopped down on his bed, tears starting to roll down his face. Sniffles slowly became sobs as he cried into his pillow. The tears streamed down his face only to be swallowed by the fabric. Swiftwing’s cries continued, slowly becoming less frequent as exhaustion finally took him into a dreamless sleep.
Swiftwing woke to the sunset outside his window, staining the world with a red glow. Everything seemed bathed in the crimson light as if a fire was slowly burning the world. Swiftwing sighed, perhaps a trot would help him clear his head. He crept down the stairs, the third step creaking as the floorboards groaned in protest to the movement.
“Quiet you,” Swiftwing whispered to the board. A quiet snore sounded from upstairs, his mom must have gone to sleep early. Swiftwing grabbed a pen and scribbled a note saying he was going on a walk. If all went well he wouldn’t need it but it would save him an angry mother later on.
Taping the note to his door, Swiftwing once again descended the stairs, carefully avoiding the troubled stair. Silently, he made his way out the door, closing it slilently behind him.
The streets of his neighborhood seemed deserted, there wasn’t a soul in sight. Puddles of water in the streets reflected the crimson sunset, turning puddles of water into pools of blood. The sun continued to dip below the horizon as Swiftwing walked down the street. Tinges of purple and blue invaded the bright red of the setting sun.
As the sun dipped below the horizon Swiftwing turned around and began walking back home. A pegasus wearing armor stood at the end of the street, looking straight at him. Swiftwing’s heart skipped a beat, was that... no... it couldn't be. “Dad?” he whispered to himself. The pony turned and began walking away, his telltale cutie mark briefly flashing before his back was turned. “Dad!” Swiftwing shouted, “wait!” He began running towards his father. His heart raced, threatening to pound its way out of his chest as he ran.
The thundering of Swiftwing’s hooves on the hard street echoed against the empty houses. The pegasus ahead of him stopped and turned around spreading his wings. “Dad!” Swiftwing called to him. Looking up, the pegasus lept into the sky and flew away without a word. “I can’t-” Swiftwing’s voice caught in his throat. “I can’t follow you,” he whispered to himself. “I’m just a failure.” Swiftwing stomped a hoof in frustration.
Defeated, he turned and walked back home. Tears fell from his face for the second time that evening as he passed by the last few houses before his own. A loud groan came from the door as Swiftwing pushed it open, wincing at the noise. The note he had taped to the door fluttered down to the floor as he closed shut the door behind him. Swiftwing slowly moved up the stairs, stopping when he reached his mom’s door. He opened her door and peeked in. His mom formed a lump under the blankets, slowly rising and falling with her breath. “Hey mom?” he started. “Mom?” He lifted himself up onto the mattress and tapped her sleeping form.
The blankets shifted. “Your mom isn’t here right now,” the sleeping form said. “but I am!” The blankets exploded upwards revealing a gold and brown griffon.
“Help!” Swiftwing screamed in pure terror as he quickly backed out of the room. “Somepony, please!” He turned and ran down the stairs, heading straight for the door.
“Go ahead and run little guy, a chase is just what I wanted!” The sinister voice pursued Swiftwing as he ran out the front door, diving for the bushes out front.
SMASH! The door exploded in two behind him. The two halves clattered down the street. “Come out little guy,” the griffon hissed. “I just want to play a little game.” His yellow eyes scanned the area locking onto the bushes where Swiftwing was hiding. “How about a little game of hide and seek?”
Swiftwing crouched down into a ball. His body quaked in fear as the griffon slowly walked up to him. “Guess who’s it?” the griffon smirked, separating the bushes to reveal the terrified colt. “You!” Swiftwing shielded his eyes and braced himself.
Swiftwing bolted upright, sweating and gasping for air. The rising sun streamed in through his window as a gentle breeze ruffled the curtains, carrying the voices of the neighbors and the clop of hooves on the pavement outside. A sense of serenity filled the air. “Swift!” His mother’s voice split through the silence. “Get on up, it’s time for school!”
“Ugh, hooray for Fridays...” Swiftwing muttered as he dragged himself out of his tangled sheets. “I’m up!” he shouted down the hall before trotting down the hallway to the bathroom to start his day.
Author's Note
Alright it's out! Sorry this took as long as it did. A big thanks to my new editor: Deadray-Jenkins. He did a great and speedy job getting this story back to me despite the couple hiccups we had (most of which were my fault). Anyway, thanks for reading!
