Celestia's night was fast approaching, and Shining Armor was beginning to lose the mare. The light of the sunset bathed the city of Baltimare in its lushish hues. The dying light would soon be his downfall, as the distance between him and his target grew and grew. The streets were packed with ponies returning home for the evening, and they were limiting his ability to keep up with his fleeing prey. The sheer amount of people roaming the street was the best cover this mare could have hoped for losing him. Shining persisted, refusing to be outdone by this traitor.
Either way, it was difficult to match her speed. The afternoon earlier had brought moderate rainfall, and the tarmac and concrete was still damp and slick with the overcast's contents. It was nearly impossible to tell exactly where this mare was headed, and Shining knew very little of this city. Every second lost was another gained on her end. Her destination was a mystery, but her determination was absolute. Something Shining had no trouble matching.
The stallion's armor began to weigh him down. The pony he was after word nothing more than saddlebags, and was much lighter on her hooves. His armor wasn't needed for something like this, and he would quickly sacrifice it for the added speed he needed. He tossed aside his helmet, and blinked out of his cuirass. His eyes scanned the area, obstructed by the crowd, until her eyes met with the cerulean blue irises of his target. Breaking into a gallop, he quickly gave chase, weaving in between the crowd to the best of his ability. With his horn quickly recharged, he lit it up, preparing another blink. He could feel his hooves losing their traction upon the wet tarmac, as the slick layer of rainwater loosened his traction.
His horn was ready, and soon again the mare was in sight. A quick flash, and he was upon her. The pale orange mare barely had time to react, as the white stallion fell upon her, tackling her to the ground. In quick fluid motion, Shining fell to the ground, with the mare following him. His target's horn lit up, as she soon disappeared before she made contact with the earth. Shining recovered, standing to his hooves and quickly searching for the mare. The unicorn had vanished, before swift blur caught his sight. He saw the form of a unicorn galloping upon the low rooftops.
He quickly raced after them, charging up his horn for a third time. The crowd thankfully began to thin, as his pace began to quicken. He focused, using his training to attempt to calm his nerves before he grew too fatigued. Another slow set of seconds passed, as his horn was ready for another launch. Shining unleashed his magic, blinking himself as close to the form upon the roofs as possible.
He suddenly found himself behind her, confirmed as the mare he was after, maybe a few yards behind. The mare looked back in shock, her orange and red mane swaying in the wind she galloped against. Shining pushed himself, sprinting to the best of his ability. In front of the two came the abrupt end of the building. The mare in front instinctively jumped, her form falling below the edge. Shining was close behind, refusing to let his hesitance take hold, he quickly took the leap. Below him was another solid rooftop, maybe two yards below. He landed, painfully, before continuing his pursuit.
Baltimare was drenched, in both past rain and the colors of the sunset. Had he the time, he would have complimented Celestia on her craftsmanship. Now, he only cursed her for the impeding night, and the certain defeat it would bring for him. He could not lose this mare.
The mare quickly halted her steps, before disappearing in a flash of cyan light. Shining growled, as his eyes danced around his vision, before catching her on the other side of the street, climbing over a slanted rooftop of an apartment complex. Shining stopped himself, as he quickly surveyed the area.
This mare was more talented than him at magic, that much was certain. There was no feasible way he could blink as far as she did. He continued to gallop down his path, keeping an eye on her general direction. That's when he saw his chance.
A large streetlamp was connected to another on the opposite side of the street. Taking the leap, his horn lit up, as a brilliant magenta aura surrounded his hooves. They met the thick cable, as his slick hooves ground against the steel. The slick rainfall almost erased friction. He slid towards the other side, beginning to lose his balance, as his momentum reached its apex. He was met with the sudden end of the cable, as he jumped. His speed launched him into the air, as he landed and slid against a slanted roof, allowing his inertia to continue. Another leap found himself upon the concrete of another slat roofed building.
There she was, his prey was almost fifty yards to his right. She was heading straight for the ocean line. The coast of Baltimare was approaching rapidly, as Shining could feel the earth beneath them rise with each passing step. Their altitude from the sea grew, as the leveled roofs continued to be a consistent path. A quick blink, and Shining erased twenty yards from the distance.
The sun was absolute completely consumed, as his target faded further and further into invisibility. He could hear the rushing waves of the ocean coast crash against the land, as the abrupt end of the city drew closer and closer with each passing second. Shining's heart pound faster than his hooves, as his fatigue began to override his adrenaline.
The mare quickly turned, veering right in an instant. Shining followed suit, trying his best to gain ground upon her. With their direction changing course, Shining could see the famous Horseshoe Bay approaching them at an alarming rate. What was most concerning was their elevation. Ships the size of large houses could be seen in the bay, no larger than a cockroach in scale.
The edge of their chase came too soon, as the mare stopped upon the concrete drop, peering over to the massive wall of cement leading down into the bay. She hesitated, before looking behind her. Shining slowed to a trot, confident that his prey was cornered.
“This is it, Sunset! Nowhere to go,” Shining said, closing in.
She smirked. “Nowhere but down.” The mare hopped backwards, falling off of the edge.
Shining cursed, as he recklessly jumped after her. The wind blasted against his face, as he began his free fall. The bay below him was approaching ever faster, as the wall adjacent to him began to curve. The concrete inched closer and closer with each second, and Shining braced his hooves with a magical aura. His hooves made shaking contact with the surface, almost knocking him off balance.
The wall continued to slant ever so slightly, as Shining hooves slid against the surface like ice. He wrestled his eyes away from the encroaching bay below. He saw Sunset slightly ahead of him, as she quickly spun around, utilizing the spell as him. Her horn brightened, as a thick blast of magic careened towards him.
Shining hopped off of the wall, the blast hitting the wall with absolute ferocity. Once again, he found himself in free fall. He aimed himself towards the gliding Sunset, and pressed his hooves against his body. He quickly accelerated through the air, still a considerable distance separating them. With his velocity renewed, a flash of magic erupted from his horn, as he blinked towards her.
His added velocity caught up with her instantly, as he slid against the wall at an alarming speed. He blazed toward her, his magic flaring with more power he had exerted in years. He was upon her in a matter of seconds, as he screamed past her, a whip of magic wrapping itself around her hooves as he past. His magical grasp flung her from the wall, about thirty yards into the air.
The ground came to greet them, as Shining kicked himself off of the wall. The water of the bay was eager to catch the two of them. Shining quickly pressed his hooves against his body, as the sheer force of the water crashed against his form.
Water enveloped his entire being. The sudden shock of cold tightened his muscles, as his body seized up. A small and gentle aura of his magic absorbed him, as it relaxed his muscles and carried him to the surface. A quick gasp of air brought his senses back to him, as he scanned the area for any sign of his target.
The orange mare was swimming to shore just in front of him.
One last burst of magic, and the stallion sat upon the shore, glaring down at the escaping mare. She looked up at him in shock, before complete and utter exhaustion came over her features.
“Okay, fine. I couldn't run if I tried...” Her voice trailed off.
“Good, because I'm not chasing you again,” Shining huffed. His breath was cut short, when the mare disappeared in a flash.
“Oh come now,” Sunset said behind him. Shining quickly turned around, astonished she still had power left. “I was Celestia's personal student! You think you could get me that easily?” She cackled, before galloping off into the maze of docks.
Shining gave chase.
Author's Note
SO FRIGGIN CLOSE TO WINNING
No, this isn't realistic in the slightest, but I wanted to write something you'd see in like a James Bond film or something like that :D
