from past shadowsby Nyt VingChaptersintroductionspreperationsEscapeDreamsFlight, or lack of. introductionsAuthor's Note This is my first attempt at a ponified story, and I'm really enjoying writing this. Please comment on it so I know how I'm doing! Thanks introductions You never expect your past to hunt you down, but it happens. sometimes you make some bad decisions. i know I did. Sometimes though, it has more innocent intentions... The smell of cheap booze and hard cider hung in the air of the downtown club. it was an hour till opening, and the owner, a shady young Pegasus named Nyt Ving, was just cleaning up the bar. "getting stuffy again."i grumbled,finishing wiping off the bar. A storm was approaching from the east; the sea breeze was blowing it in off the coast. I was not just the owner, but one of the best DJ's in town, and I knew it. Walking over to my turn tables, I eyed the door, hesitant to open early tonight, I was getting a feeling that it might be better to not at all. "But that doesn't pay the bills, does it? Better get warmed up then",I thought out loud, stretching my purple wings to their full extended length. Wings, yea I know. Probably thinking how most of the DJ's are unicorns.. But I'm not. I worked for what I got. And soon it will all be for naught. You see, I am a soft purple Pegasus, while my mane and tail are white. I tend to stand out a bit in a crowd. So when I got singled out later that night, it wasn't hard to wonder why. But let me get back to the story. Soon, the soft sound of house music filled the open building as the bartender trotted in. I sighed,"and where have you been?" "I've been..out. what's it to you?" "I write your paycheck. It's my business as to where my employees are when their shift started..half an hour ago." "I'm here now aren't I? Doesn't really matter though, I'm leaving on Friday." Sighing again,"fine. But you better be here on time for the rest of the week or else." A couple hours pass without much importance, or at least nothing happened that I noticed. At around 10:30 I was just getting back up to the tables, to relieve one of the other ponies I hired as guest DJ for the week, when the front door opens for the thousandth time that night. But this time the guest was somepony I never thought I'd see walk into my door: Elusive black, one of princess Luna`s private guard. He had a calm an deadly look to him, like most of the royal guards. He briefly looked around, sizing up the place. He stopped and looked directly at me, with a look I can only describe as desperation,and loathing. I shuddered, and looked back to my turntables. But I couldn't get him out of my mind. "Why is he here?" I mumbled to no one in particular. I glanced up a few minutes later to only spot him a few feet away, sitting at the bar talking to the mare working there. Elusive obviously said something funny, because the mare working the bar laughed, and pointed in my direction. The blood drained from my face as he looked not just at me, but into my very being. I missed a disk change. The club went silent as th music suddenly stopped. Mumbling a brief apology, I gently reset the turntables and blush with embarrassment. I'm too good to have made such a simple mistake. Feeling sick, I set the auto play, step down from the station, and walk briskly over to the bar where Elusive was waiting, looking smug as usual. "Business or pleasure…?" I asked, sitting down on one of the bar stools. "Business" Elusive said, taking a sip of his drink. "Well what is it that you're needing officer?I've obeyed my parole.. and I haven't been to underworld... or canterlot, in months." I smirked. "yes, so I heard.. your parole officer happens to be a good friend of mine. But that's not why I'm here."Elusive replied matching my confident smirk with a fierce glare. Suddenly I didn't feel so confident anymore. "In fact," he continued, never breaking that piercing stare, never missing a beat. "I need your help. Is there somewhere.. more private we can talk?" "My help? You. You need MY help? Yea.. let's go to my office in the back. It's a bit more private" I led Guard master Elusive to the back room, my "office" of sorts. Not much more than a small semi sound proofed stock room with a desk and a few chairs haphazardly thrown in. The walls were bare, and the whole room had a sad and run down feel to it. The muffled sound of the club could be heard through the wall to the left of the desk. "So, what's this about needing my help?" I asked, casually sitting down behind the desk, and pulled out a small barrel, about the size of saddle bag. "But first, how about a drink. I just received a barrel of the Apple family's latest hard cider from the summer harvest." I didn't wait for a reply, just poured him a large mug of the frothy alcoholic beverage. With a sigh, Elusive Black Sat down, his armour clicking gently with his movements. He grabbed the mug slowly, and took a hesitant sip. "Mmm. That is good".I smiled and poured myself a smaller mug and sipped it slowly, as Elusive spoke. "I know this is a surprise to you, me coming here for help. With our past and all. The trial..." "that does not matter right now. Drink! You are safe in my house." He took a larger drink of the hard cider "hic-that's some strong -hic- cider..."He trailed off, losing focus on what he was saying. I sat patiently as he finished the drink, realizing that his alcohol tolerance must be pretty low, or he had a lot more at the bar in the other room than I thought. He slumped over, asleep. "Well that's a twist" I lifted him onto my back and carried him up to one of the small bedrooms upstairs and laid him down in the bed. "That's gonna be one nasty hang over..." preperationsAuthor's Note This is my first attempt at a ponified story, and I'm really enjoying writing this. Please comment on it so I know how I'm doing! Thanks! preperations The rest of the night passed with a quiet note. Elusive black, head of princess Luna's private royal guard was snoring softly in on of th upstairs bedrooms, while I went about his business like nothing was wrong. Like there wasn't a royal guard sleeping just a few feet above me. No, other things were on my mind. I still had bills to pay, and my bartender, a mare named Diane Loveshine, had left without cleaning up again. "Why do I even pay these ponies?" I grumbled, washing the bartop. I looked around the messy club, at the handful of patrons who passed out and hadn't woke up yet. I needed to wake them up and get them out of here too. So much to do before morning. Two hours later, panting and covered in a glistening sheen of sweat and dirty mop water, the club was clean. Every pony was out. Well, all but one. That mysterious unicorn snoring upstairs. -Thump-It cam from upstairs. I crept up the stairs and went to the only inhabited room there. Opening the door quietly, I peeked inside. The sun shown through the open front window, illuminating everything in the room. Everything, but the pony sitting on the windowsill, watching the sunrise. "You're awake" I said, gaining Guard master Elusive's attention. "Yes. I have awoken with a most terrible of hangovers", He replied turning towards me. We mad eye contact, and what I can only describe as a shadow washed over us, blocking out the sun. I stepped back quickly gasping at the sudden dread that was now in my chest. My knees felt weak. And then, just as quick as it came, it was gone. Elusive was immediately by my side. "are you ok?" He asked, supporting me. "w-what was that? The dark.. it was so painful.."I trailed off, shaking my head trying to clear my head of the memory. after a minute, He set mr back up on my own hooves; I was starting to feel better again. " I do not know. But I felt it too. It is a most disturbing feeling" he replied, looking at me with a slightly glazed over look. Gathering my wits back about myself, I turned and walked out the room and closed the door behind me. Just outside Elusive's borrowed room, I took a few deep breaths, turned back to his room and walked back in. He was still where I left him moments before, but looking out over the town towards the capital city of canterlot in the distance. He turned towards me and spoke in a now confident and official sounding voice. One I can assume he used many times. "Last night", he started, "last night I came here asking questions, looking for aide. Yesterday I was "fired" so to speak, from lunas guard." "So.. then there is probably a bounty on your head then.." "Yes, there is." "So then what's your plan? Stay here until your found?" "No. I will wait until nightfall and flee." I sat down hard. Learning that the royal guard captain abandoned his post, for what reason he has not revealed, I news to me. And a bounty for his location! That would pay my bills and overhead for months. I could hire a new bartender. But no! He came here for shelter. A long way from canterlot. I must help him escape "I'm coming with you", I said, standing up, looking Elusive in the face. Being a whole head shorter than him, it was difficult to feel equal with him. "No", he replied firmly. "You have helped me enough. " "Look, well known guard in obvious royal armor won't get far undetected. You will need help. A concealment spell.. or a nightmare cloak. " "You can't-" I cut him off, "I can. And I will come with. You owe me it. You are a wanted stallion, I housed you, Fed you, and concealed you." "They won't find me", he replied, sounding less confident. "They will and you know it. I can get you out of here without a trace." I replied stretching my wings, pointing out the obvious. "I'll be back before nightfall. I'm going to go get some supplies to help us. Is there anything that you will need?" Elusive looked away,"no. I am without need. In the meantime, I will sleep off this hangover." He looked at me as he finished speaking, a grin on his face. EscapeAuthor's Note **story has been edited** Escape I returned to the club as the sun was setting. Normally that would be pretty late but today the club and bar was closed. The day off. Elusive was waiting for me, watching me enter and lock the front entrance, for the last time, from the second story balcony. "It is eerie. The club I mean. You come to one for the noise and party. But there is not one now." I turned as he spoke, watching the way he moved around as he spoke. It was apparent he was nervous, and probably a little frustrated by my tardiness. I looked around at the desolate building. "Yes, it is a little unnerving, being here in the silence." I flew up to him landing gently and deposited the two saddle bags I was carrying at his hooves. "Preparations have been made", I continued. He looked at the bags, then back to me, a look of concern on his face. It was getting worse. "What is all of this?" Elusive asked, opening the first saddle bag. I smiled as he gently lifted a silk cloak out of it. "A shadow cloak?" "No. A nightmare cloak actually." His eyes widened in shock. "How did you get one?" Elusive looked at me with distrust, "the only ponies who have access to these are Celestia's guards, and the most expert of alchemists who make them." I stayed silent, a larger smile now on my face. "I ask again. WHERE DID YOU GET THE CLOAK?" He practically was yelling at me at this point. "I made it." I replied, gently removing the cloak from his hooves an depositing it on the floor beside the saddle bags. A look of utter shock graced the guard's face, "you made this? How? Never mind. We do not have time to discuss this right now. Night falls fast and we must soon depart. Is there a rear door here?" He looked around for another entrance. " Yes there is. In the office, there is a false wall that opens up into a enclosed courtyard." "Excellent. Let us depart then." He lifted both sets of saddlebags with his magic an deposited one on either of our backs. I led the way through the empty club, reminiscing about all the fun times I had there, knowing I was never coming back. Elusive bumped into me, knocking me out of my trance, pulling me back to reality. "Are thou alright? You... Don't plan to come back do you. Leaving it all behind?" "... Yes." We remained silent until we were outside. "What now?" I asked. " do we catch a train? Or hire a private carriage? Wait, where are we going exactly?" He chuckled, looking at me. " I was thinking we head back to canterlot." "Canterlot is a no go." I replied not missing a step. "How do you plan to hide in plain sight? I doubt your magic, as impressive as it might be, can keep you concealed for that long. I suggest Manehattan, just up the coast." Elusive pondered my suggestion for a moment and agreed. "Yes. That will work. As for how... you are a Pegasus are you not?" I stretched my wings, nodding. "Then you should be able to carry us there. I will enchant you with my magic, giving you some of my strength and endurance in addition to your own." He lowered his head, pointing his horn in my direction. It started to glow, at the same time I felt an immense amount of strength flow into me. The raw power leaching into me was unforgettable, and desirable. I stretched my wings in ecstasy, the shared power pumping through my limber body. I flapped them twice, lifting myself up into the sky. "Do you plan on leaving me here?" Elusive called softly up to me. I looked down upon him, where he sat upon the cracked patio of the small courtyard. I didn't reply, just coasted down to hover just above his body. I lowered myself more, almost sitting on his back. I reached down and grabbed his body just behind his front legs, and pumped my wings hard. Within moments we were truly airborne, soaring just above the clouds. Our combined shadows danced far below on the passing landscape with aide from the moonlight. I heard elusive sigh in contempt. I can only assume that it was from the beautiful sights beneath us. We had escaped, or so we thought. We flew the first few hour in a peaceful silence. The only sounds to be heard was the wind slipping through the openings and seams of Elusive's armor, making a slight whistling noise. I was getting tired. Even with the magical strength, it was getting hard to fly. My mind started to drift, trying to calculate how far we went. How much farther we still had to go. I couldn't get a grip. Something was blocking my mind. "S-something's wrong" I gasped out, as my chest filled with darkness, wrapping around my heart. My vision blurred as shadows wrapped around us, closing out the night sky that was just now seeing the first graces of the Sun rise. I heard elusive call out to me, but I couldn't answer back. We were falling. I tried to regain lift, but my wings were now numb, completely engulfed by the shadows. Wisps and tendrils of the shadows snaked all about me, slowly creeping towards my face. Another shout from elusive. He had slipped out of my grip! I was crashing. A terrible pain wracked my semi-numb body as I hit the ground. I was slipping in an out of consciousness. A far away sounding yell was the last thing I heard before even my mind was smothered by the shadow entity. DreamsI dreamt. Dreams came and went like the summer breeze. It came back like a lost love returning. A memory of sorts. A quest from my past. Not pleasant, but not terrible either. A victory and a loss.It was just ... kinda there. It's coming back now. More vivid than before. The smell of fresh rain hung in the midnight air. I was sitting in one of the small side yards of the canterlot castle. I smiled, knowing what was to pass within the hour would be one of the greatest heists in equestria history. I donned the cloak I constructed this morning, for the sole purpose of getting me into the castle. It swirled around my body with a life of its own, molding to my unique body. I spread my purple wings, nodding in approval as the magic cloak moved with me. I gained flight within seconds, and was soon soaring up the side of the castle, hugging the wall of the tallest tower. Moments later I came to the balcony that was left open for my infiltration, landing with a quiet and muffled tap. I peered inside the long hallway just inside the door. My goal was down it and to the right, Luna's crown room. The cloak shrouded me, protecting me from the careful eyes of the guards patrolling down the hall. "Too easy" I whispered. I got in step behind the 2 guards walking down the hall, breaking off just before the turn to the door. Th hall was darker down here. Easier to hide, especially with the nightmare cloak. I ducked into a alcove as another guard came from the direction of my goal. Reaching into my solitary saddle bag, I grabbed two bottles. One I drank. The cold liquid oozed down my throat causing a tingly sensation to wash over me. I counted down the seconds that it took to take effect. "... four, three, two, one.." I was now completely concealed from the vampony guards here. But only for seven minutes. Long enough to take down the two door guards, grab the loot and get out. I eyed the other potion in my hoof. I held it with my mouth, ready to throw if the guards got too rowdy. Peeking around the corner, I counted two... no three guards. They were talking in hushed tones, probably about some royalty thing. -slap!- I hit the wall with my hoof. "What was that?" One of the guards turned as the other spoke. "I'll check it out." Moments later the poor stallion was unconscious, being dragged into the alcove. "One down..." I said. I didn't have to wait long for the other two to call out for their friend who was on the ground behind me. They rounded the corner, spotting him immediately, and to their doom, not me. I chucked the potion to their hooves, and a deep crimson fog surrounded them. "-cough- what is t-cough cough- " the both dropped. Hard. I was home free. I took off the nightmare cloak, draping it around my neck. I still needed it. "So close..." I spoke softly, incase any more guards were near. I opened the door to the crown room, peering around the shadow filled room. "Where's...? "The crown wasn't on its stand! My insider said it would be there by now! "Right in front of you." the voice was all around me. Coming from everywhere, but nowhere. I turned in a complete circle, scanning every shadow strewn surface, looking for the speaker. "Come out an face me like a real stallion!" I said angrily. There! The wall to my right! The shadows shifted there. A dark unicorn stepped out and spoke, his voice filling the room again. "well here we are. And what was your plan? To steal the crown?You never stood a chance. I'll admit, walking behind our patrol to hide your hoof steps was smart. The cloak an invisibility potion was a nice touch too. The knockout gas? Ingenious. But it's over! You lose. I caught you." "I guess you did", I said softly. "But where is the crown?" "Where? Right in front of you! It's invisible when not worn!" He realized his mistake immediately. I looked at him then at the pedestal, judging the distance. He eyed me, "don't even think-" I ran for the crown. I was fast, but he was faster. Half a hoof length away from grabbing the crown he tackled me. We both went sliding across the floor, knocking the pedestal over. The crown flew. We both heard it hit the ground. The guard stood up,Un tangling our bodies in a mad dash to find the missing crown. I had failed, but I could at least escape unscathed. I started to creep out the room while draping the nightmare cloak back over my shivering body. "Must be getting sick", I thought, not considering any alternatives. Halfway to the door I tripped over something. The crown! The guard turned and looked where I was standing. The crown was at my hooves. In my reach. I reached down quickly and flicked the crown up into my dangling cloak hood. "Stop!" He yelled, giving Chase to me, as I sprinted back down the hall from which I came. Too fast to notice the guards were coming to. Too quick to study the flapping tapestries on the wall. I was free! Out the door an over the balcony! I had made it! But all of a sudden there was a tug on my tail. The guard was trying to grab me with his unicorn magic. "Oh no you don't!" I yelled, pumping my wings hard gaining altitude in the cool night air. I did it. I stole the crown. But not without penalty. There was now a royal guard chasing me. And he had friends. Days later, I had yet to find any significant power on the crown. The only thing I could find was a small inscription on the front inside band, reading,"quinis momenta asurgo finet". It translated from some old equestrian language to, roughly, "heart shadows". "I guess I can assume that it's the crowns name", I said, examining the golden crown under candlelight for the hundredth time. Apparently blue candle flame would break the invisibility spell, as I had learned earlier that week. -knock- -knock- -knock- The door. Someone was knocking slowly on my apartment door, not ten feet away from me. Quickly snuffing out the special candles and tucking the crown into my desk, I trotted over to the door and opened it, revealing two royal guards. My heart dropped. They had found me already! "We are looking for this pony", one of the guards said. A unicorn whose coat was a darker blue, the gentle color broken up by the sleek black mane an his dark guard armor. The other guard was holding a bad portrait of what I assume was me. It looked like a hooded ghost. Apparently the potions worked."They are wanted in association of a royal theft. "Do you know anything that could help us in the capture of this pony?" I smiled innocently at the two guards who were so oblivious. "No sir, but if I hear anything you will be the first to know." I close the door, shocked by my "guests". The guard who I fought three nights ago was outside my door. More than that, he was undermaster of the night guard! The pattern on his armor said as much. I sat down and took a deep breath. I knew I needed to get out of there. I retrieved the crown and nightmare cloak and made my way up the street, towards the castle. I knew I needed to get rid of the crown. Where better than the place from once it came? Less than an hour later, I was flying, heading west towards the sea town in which I had purchased a small club months earlier. My plans for a new life were almost complete. "Nyt..." What was that voice in my head..? "Nyt, wake up. Please!" It was getting louder, and louder with each passing second. Flying still, it appeared as if the ground was fading away, the sky getting brighter, as the voice got louder. "Nyt wake up! Now! " Author's Note By this point, i was starting to write another story, one about what happened before. I figured it would be a good intro, being so short. Instead I decided to use it to shed some light, or shadows in this case, into why Nyt and Elusive are leaving. Flight, or lack of. Flight, or lack of. I awoke with a start. Elusive was standing over me, his armor covered on splotches of mud. "What's going on?" I tried to stand up, but fell right back down, wincing in pain. "Try not to move too much. Stay down, and stay quiet. There is a patrol of son kind moving through." "Where are we?" I looked around the cave I woke up in. In a bed. "A hideout of mine, about 50 miles from ponyville."He told me, shielding the doorway with a concealment spell. "Why would a honorable royal guard need a hideout? You could simply ask for assistance and housing, and it would needless be provided." He turned towards me, scowled, and went an latex down on the other bed that cluttered the small room. If you could call a furnished, concealed cave, a room. "Sleep. You are injured. We will speak later." I was too tired to complain, and was quickly asleep. Hours passed in a painful and restless sleep. Wisps of dreams floated in my head, much like the shadows not a full day ago. I gasped awake, suddenly aware of the oppressing silence surrounding me. I shuddered in both pain, and chills. It was cold. Winter was approaching. I peered in the semi darkness, finding the dark shape of Elusive. He was snoring lightly in the other bed, just a few steps from my own. At the foot of the beds were the saddlebags in which I sought a salve, that I bought before we left the sea town. Groaning in pain, I got out of the bed an limped around, stretching tight muscles, attempting to limber back up and determine how hurt I really was. My right wing was in a wrap, so I first undid that. Slowly extending my wing, gasping in pain as I felt it pop in three places. It was all I could do not to scream in pain when the bones in my wing grinded back an forth as I exerted myself. The salve, I knew wouldn't be enough to mend the breaks. Cuts and sprains would be gone within the hour, but a break? It would take atleast a week with care, and a lot of bed rest. I continued to inspect my body in the darkness, finding my left foreleg was also suffering a much more minor break. A combination of cuts and bruses peppered my body, blood matting my fur in multiple places. I used as much of the magical salve as I felt necessary, then packed it back in the bag. I bound the breaks as day broke, we had been hiding here for just over a day, including the time I was unconscious. Elusive was just beginning to stir as I prepped breakfast for us. Nothing special, just some travel bars and spring water from a small stream inside the cave. A suprised look graced the former guards face seeing that I was up and about, especially after the crash. We ate the meager meal in silence, the only noises t be heard was the stream flowing quietly behind us. "Back there.. What happened?" I spoke, stretching my good wing, emphasizing my question. "Sigh, I guess there is no reason to conceal the truth from you any longer. You, no, we are being hunted by a most fearful of enemies. When you took Luna's crown, you released a hunter of sorts. Along time ago, before the princess was banished to the moon, I assisted her, with the help of court mages, in separating a piece of her soul energy to bind to the crown. The soul piece was only a shadow of Luna's might and power. But at the same time, it was more than that. It was fear, and anger. All of the emotions that the princess had no need for. Those emotions, that shadow that was bound to the crown, eventually manifested physically into a mare we shall never forget." He paused, standing up and moving to his bed, mentioning for me to follow suit. He continued as I sat,"nightmare moon. The physical manifestation of the shadow spirit. Since it was a part of Luna, it fed off her emotions, mainly her anger and struggle with her position compared to celestia. You know how twilight sparkle freed Luna from her shadow spirit last year, but what you don't know", he leaned forward speaking in a more hushed tone,"what you don't know is how nightmare moon was Luna's prison for those 1000 years. The moon was Nightmare Moon's prison. After Luna was freed, her shadow was more properly bound to the crown, and also the crown room in Luna's tower. When you removed the crown from the room, you released Luna's shadow spirit. That is what is hunting us. " finished, he leaned back and waited for my imminent questions. "I can understand it hunting me, but it's gotten you too this last time. " "Yes. It understands that I am a threat too. It knows I was there when it was released, and its attempting to fulfill its just duty to destroy those who pose a threat to Luna and the crown." Hours passed with me asking, and him answering questions. Day came and went like this. We slept that night, completely uneventful.It wasn't long before we left the cave hideout. We stayed just long enough for my wing to heal enough to travel. Not enough to fly. "Its time." "For what? We are safe here. Why should we leave so soon? Besides, I'm not able to fly with a broken wing, don't even start to think that I can carry you." He looked at me with a most pitiful look, and walked over to the doorway. A small burst of light from his horn and the concealment spell was gone; light started streaming in from the outside, all of the sounds, the smells, they all came streaming in like a spring flood. "A nice change of pace, eh?" "Mmhm", it truly was. The cave, for after all the work to make it more hospitable, was still a cave. Stuffy, wet, and not all that comfortable. We walked out, squinting in the bright sunlight streaming through the clouds. How I wish I could really stretch my wings and flit back and forth throughout the clouds. I can't anymore. The realization hit me suddenly. What if my wing never heals properly? But no. We set it right. Even with the constant pain, I can still look to the sky, where I will soon join the birds soaring on the warm upstarts, gaining altitude as I look down upon the beautiful landscape. Soon. "Are you alright?" Elusive's question brought me back down to the ground, out of my daydream. "Sure. I'm great." A lie. How could he understand my pain? "Your not. I can see it in your eyes Nyt. I can understand how hard it must be for you to not be able to fly right now. But that break is too complex for my magic, but we will soon have you back up in the sky. Once we get to manehattan, we can get you help." We set out then, walking north over the gently sloping plains land,him leading, me following a few yards behind, favoring my injured leg brutally. We stopped for a light lunch and break upon a grassy knoll. From there we could see miles and miles in all directions; from where we came we could barely see the edges of the everfree forest, in all its untamed might. On our right was the mountain that housed the capital city of canterlot high upon its slopes. We were going in the right direction at least. "We need to get going.." elusive looked at me with surprise. We stopped for me to rest my broken leg, as the pain was getting to me. He nodded and we set back off. Even hurt, we were making good time. We didn't stop again until dusk, at that time we set up camp under a clump of trees. "No fire." Elusive spoke, as I gathered materials for bedding. "W-why not?" "We could be seen by passersby. What happens if they tell someone that two travelers were spotted, one injured, the other in some type of armor? We would be dead before the morrow was over. " He let that sink in. "No fire", I agreed, laying down on the makeshift bed. "I'll take first watch." Elusive looked at me with awe. "Are you sure?" "Yes. You need the rest more than I. Don't think I didn't notice your spell. It takes a lot to conceal two full size stallions on the move like that. " Nodding, Elusive spoke, "yes, I suppose you are right. Wake me in a few hours." I had no plans to wake him. I could handle it on my own. Night came, and went. Twice I thought I heard something, but upon light investigation I found nothing but Elusive snoring lightly under his chosen tree. I watched the sunrise from atop the tallest tree in the grove. It was hard to climb it, once I almost fell. But it was worth it. It had been a long time since I'd seen such colors in one, usually other lights would interfere with my views. But this time, there was nothing obstructing my perfect view. The bright ball slowly rose up into the low sky, illuminating the path in front of us. Sighing, I decided to climb down. Elusive needed to be awoken, and we needed to move. From my perch I could see where the plains ended and the outskirts of the city started. Elusive was waiting for me at the bottom, glaring at me. "What we're you doing? And why did you not ever wake me?" "Errr... well... I was trying to judge how much farther we had to go." It wasn't a lie, not completely. That was the reason I climbed in the first place, but I stayed to watch the sunrise, and I do not regret it. "And uh, well you needed sleep... and I was fine staying up and it was all fine. Nothing happened." "No it's not okay, what would have happened if we were found?" "But we weren't. " He didn't reply, just stared me down for a minute, making me really nervous. Turning around, he commanded me to follow. Something was wrong with him... We made good time then, only stopping twice when I stumbled or collapsed from the pain of my leg and wing. I knew the break in my leg wasn't bad, but constantly walking on it was taking its toll on me, and the concealment spell twice that on Elusive, apparently. By nightfall we were approaching the outskirts of manehattan. "No reason to stop now. We will rest inside there." He motions to a new high rise building being constructed. We went in and camped on the third floor, even with the rooftops of some of closer buildings. We had made it, but we were not done yet.
introductionsAuthor's Note This is my first attempt at a ponified story, and I'm really enjoying writing this. Please comment on it so I know how I'm doing! Thanks introductions You never expect your past to hunt you down, but it happens. sometimes you make some bad decisions. i know I did. Sometimes though, it has more innocent intentions... The smell of cheap booze and hard cider hung in the air of the downtown club. it was an hour till opening, and the owner, a shady young Pegasus named Nyt Ving, was just cleaning up the bar. "getting stuffy again."i grumbled,finishing wiping off the bar. A storm was approaching from the east; the sea breeze was blowing it in off the coast. I was not just the owner, but one of the best DJ's in town, and I knew it. Walking over to my turn tables, I eyed the door, hesitant to open early tonight, I was getting a feeling that it might be better to not at all. "But that doesn't pay the bills, does it? Better get warmed up then",I thought out loud, stretching my purple wings to their full extended length. Wings, yea I know. Probably thinking how most of the DJ's are unicorns.. But I'm not. I worked for what I got. And soon it will all be for naught. You see, I am a soft purple Pegasus, while my mane and tail are white. I tend to stand out a bit in a crowd. So when I got singled out later that night, it wasn't hard to wonder why. But let me get back to the story. Soon, the soft sound of house music filled the open building as the bartender trotted in. I sighed,"and where have you been?" "I've been..out. what's it to you?" "I write your paycheck. It's my business as to where my employees are when their shift started..half an hour ago." "I'm here now aren't I? Doesn't really matter though, I'm leaving on Friday." Sighing again,"fine. But you better be here on time for the rest of the week or else." A couple hours pass without much importance, or at least nothing happened that I noticed. At around 10:30 I was just getting back up to the tables, to relieve one of the other ponies I hired as guest DJ for the week, when the front door opens for the thousandth time that night. But this time the guest was somepony I never thought I'd see walk into my door: Elusive black, one of princess Luna`s private guard. He had a calm an deadly look to him, like most of the royal guards. He briefly looked around, sizing up the place. He stopped and looked directly at me, with a look I can only describe as desperation,and loathing. I shuddered, and looked back to my turntables. But I couldn't get him out of my mind. "Why is he here?" I mumbled to no one in particular. I glanced up a few minutes later to only spot him a few feet away, sitting at the bar talking to the mare working there. Elusive obviously said something funny, because the mare working the bar laughed, and pointed in my direction. The blood drained from my face as he looked not just at me, but into my very being. I missed a disk change. The club went silent as th music suddenly stopped. Mumbling a brief apology, I gently reset the turntables and blush with embarrassment. I'm too good to have made such a simple mistake. Feeling sick, I set the auto play, step down from the station, and walk briskly over to the bar where Elusive was waiting, looking smug as usual. "Business or pleasure…?" I asked, sitting down on one of the bar stools. "Business" Elusive said, taking a sip of his drink. "Well what is it that you're needing officer?I've obeyed my parole.. and I haven't been to underworld... or canterlot, in months." I smirked. "yes, so I heard.. your parole officer happens to be a good friend of mine. But that's not why I'm here."Elusive replied matching my confident smirk with a fierce glare. Suddenly I didn't feel so confident anymore. "In fact," he continued, never breaking that piercing stare, never missing a beat. "I need your help. Is there somewhere.. more private we can talk?" "My help? You. You need MY help? Yea.. let's go to my office in the back. It's a bit more private" I led Guard master Elusive to the back room, my "office" of sorts. Not much more than a small semi sound proofed stock room with a desk and a few chairs haphazardly thrown in. The walls were bare, and the whole room had a sad and run down feel to it. The muffled sound of the club could be heard through the wall to the left of the desk. "So, what's this about needing my help?" I asked, casually sitting down behind the desk, and pulled out a small barrel, about the size of saddle bag. "But first, how about a drink. I just received a barrel of the Apple family's latest hard cider from the summer harvest." I didn't wait for a reply, just poured him a large mug of the frothy alcoholic beverage. With a sigh, Elusive Black Sat down, his armour clicking gently with his movements. He grabbed the mug slowly, and took a hesitant sip. "Mmm. That is good".I smiled and poured myself a smaller mug and sipped it slowly, as Elusive spoke. "I know this is a surprise to you, me coming here for help. With our past and all. The trial..." "that does not matter right now. Drink! You are safe in my house." He took a larger drink of the hard cider "hic-that's some strong -hic- cider..."He trailed off, losing focus on what he was saying. I sat patiently as he finished the drink, realizing that his alcohol tolerance must be pretty low, or he had a lot more at the bar in the other room than I thought. He slumped over, asleep. "Well that's a twist" I lifted him onto my back and carried him up to one of the small bedrooms upstairs and laid him down in the bed. "That's gonna be one nasty hang over..."
preperationsAuthor's Note This is my first attempt at a ponified story, and I'm really enjoying writing this. Please comment on it so I know how I'm doing! Thanks! preperations The rest of the night passed with a quiet note. Elusive black, head of princess Luna's private royal guard was snoring softly in on of th upstairs bedrooms, while I went about his business like nothing was wrong. Like there wasn't a royal guard sleeping just a few feet above me. No, other things were on my mind. I still had bills to pay, and my bartender, a mare named Diane Loveshine, had left without cleaning up again. "Why do I even pay these ponies?" I grumbled, washing the bartop. I looked around the messy club, at the handful of patrons who passed out and hadn't woke up yet. I needed to wake them up and get them out of here too. So much to do before morning. Two hours later, panting and covered in a glistening sheen of sweat and dirty mop water, the club was clean. Every pony was out. Well, all but one. That mysterious unicorn snoring upstairs. -Thump-It cam from upstairs. I crept up the stairs and went to the only inhabited room there. Opening the door quietly, I peeked inside. The sun shown through the open front window, illuminating everything in the room. Everything, but the pony sitting on the windowsill, watching the sunrise. "You're awake" I said, gaining Guard master Elusive's attention. "Yes. I have awoken with a most terrible of hangovers", He replied turning towards me. We mad eye contact, and what I can only describe as a shadow washed over us, blocking out the sun. I stepped back quickly gasping at the sudden dread that was now in my chest. My knees felt weak. And then, just as quick as it came, it was gone. Elusive was immediately by my side. "are you ok?" He asked, supporting me. "w-what was that? The dark.. it was so painful.."I trailed off, shaking my head trying to clear my head of the memory. after a minute, He set mr back up on my own hooves; I was starting to feel better again. " I do not know. But I felt it too. It is a most disturbing feeling" he replied, looking at me with a slightly glazed over look. Gathering my wits back about myself, I turned and walked out the room and closed the door behind me. Just outside Elusive's borrowed room, I took a few deep breaths, turned back to his room and walked back in. He was still where I left him moments before, but looking out over the town towards the capital city of canterlot in the distance. He turned towards me and spoke in a now confident and official sounding voice. One I can assume he used many times. "Last night", he started, "last night I came here asking questions, looking for aide. Yesterday I was "fired" so to speak, from lunas guard." "So.. then there is probably a bounty on your head then.." "Yes, there is." "So then what's your plan? Stay here until your found?" "No. I will wait until nightfall and flee." I sat down hard. Learning that the royal guard captain abandoned his post, for what reason he has not revealed, I news to me. And a bounty for his location! That would pay my bills and overhead for months. I could hire a new bartender. But no! He came here for shelter. A long way from canterlot. I must help him escape "I'm coming with you", I said, standing up, looking Elusive in the face. Being a whole head shorter than him, it was difficult to feel equal with him. "No", he replied firmly. "You have helped me enough. " "Look, well known guard in obvious royal armor won't get far undetected. You will need help. A concealment spell.. or a nightmare cloak. " "You can't-" I cut him off, "I can. And I will come with. You owe me it. You are a wanted stallion, I housed you, Fed you, and concealed you." "They won't find me", he replied, sounding less confident. "They will and you know it. I can get you out of here without a trace." I replied stretching my wings, pointing out the obvious. "I'll be back before nightfall. I'm going to go get some supplies to help us. Is there anything that you will need?" Elusive looked away,"no. I am without need. In the meantime, I will sleep off this hangover." He looked at me as he finished speaking, a grin on his face.
EscapeAuthor's Note **story has been edited** Escape I returned to the club as the sun was setting. Normally that would be pretty late but today the club and bar was closed. The day off. Elusive was waiting for me, watching me enter and lock the front entrance, for the last time, from the second story balcony. "It is eerie. The club I mean. You come to one for the noise and party. But there is not one now." I turned as he spoke, watching the way he moved around as he spoke. It was apparent he was nervous, and probably a little frustrated by my tardiness. I looked around at the desolate building. "Yes, it is a little unnerving, being here in the silence." I flew up to him landing gently and deposited the two saddle bags I was carrying at his hooves. "Preparations have been made", I continued. He looked at the bags, then back to me, a look of concern on his face. It was getting worse. "What is all of this?" Elusive asked, opening the first saddle bag. I smiled as he gently lifted a silk cloak out of it. "A shadow cloak?" "No. A nightmare cloak actually." His eyes widened in shock. "How did you get one?" Elusive looked at me with distrust, "the only ponies who have access to these are Celestia's guards, and the most expert of alchemists who make them." I stayed silent, a larger smile now on my face. "I ask again. WHERE DID YOU GET THE CLOAK?" He practically was yelling at me at this point. "I made it." I replied, gently removing the cloak from his hooves an depositing it on the floor beside the saddle bags. A look of utter shock graced the guard's face, "you made this? How? Never mind. We do not have time to discuss this right now. Night falls fast and we must soon depart. Is there a rear door here?" He looked around for another entrance. " Yes there is. In the office, there is a false wall that opens up into a enclosed courtyard." "Excellent. Let us depart then." He lifted both sets of saddlebags with his magic an deposited one on either of our backs. I led the way through the empty club, reminiscing about all the fun times I had there, knowing I was never coming back. Elusive bumped into me, knocking me out of my trance, pulling me back to reality. "Are thou alright? You... Don't plan to come back do you. Leaving it all behind?" "... Yes." We remained silent until we were outside. "What now?" I asked. " do we catch a train? Or hire a private carriage? Wait, where are we going exactly?" He chuckled, looking at me. " I was thinking we head back to canterlot." "Canterlot is a no go." I replied not missing a step. "How do you plan to hide in plain sight? I doubt your magic, as impressive as it might be, can keep you concealed for that long. I suggest Manehattan, just up the coast." Elusive pondered my suggestion for a moment and agreed. "Yes. That will work. As for how... you are a Pegasus are you not?" I stretched my wings, nodding. "Then you should be able to carry us there. I will enchant you with my magic, giving you some of my strength and endurance in addition to your own." He lowered his head, pointing his horn in my direction. It started to glow, at the same time I felt an immense amount of strength flow into me. The raw power leaching into me was unforgettable, and desirable. I stretched my wings in ecstasy, the shared power pumping through my limber body. I flapped them twice, lifting myself up into the sky. "Do you plan on leaving me here?" Elusive called softly up to me. I looked down upon him, where he sat upon the cracked patio of the small courtyard. I didn't reply, just coasted down to hover just above his body. I lowered myself more, almost sitting on his back. I reached down and grabbed his body just behind his front legs, and pumped my wings hard. Within moments we were truly airborne, soaring just above the clouds. Our combined shadows danced far below on the passing landscape with aide from the moonlight. I heard elusive sigh in contempt. I can only assume that it was from the beautiful sights beneath us. We had escaped, or so we thought. We flew the first few hour in a peaceful silence. The only sounds to be heard was the wind slipping through the openings and seams of Elusive's armor, making a slight whistling noise. I was getting tired. Even with the magical strength, it was getting hard to fly. My mind started to drift, trying to calculate how far we went. How much farther we still had to go. I couldn't get a grip. Something was blocking my mind. "S-something's wrong" I gasped out, as my chest filled with darkness, wrapping around my heart. My vision blurred as shadows wrapped around us, closing out the night sky that was just now seeing the first graces of the Sun rise. I heard elusive call out to me, but I couldn't answer back. We were falling. I tried to regain lift, but my wings were now numb, completely engulfed by the shadows. Wisps and tendrils of the shadows snaked all about me, slowly creeping towards my face. Another shout from elusive. He had slipped out of my grip! I was crashing. A terrible pain wracked my semi-numb body as I hit the ground. I was slipping in an out of consciousness. A far away sounding yell was the last thing I heard before even my mind was smothered by the shadow entity.
DreamsI dreamt. Dreams came and went like the summer breeze. It came back like a lost love returning. A memory of sorts. A quest from my past. Not pleasant, but not terrible either. A victory and a loss.It was just ... kinda there. It's coming back now. More vivid than before. The smell of fresh rain hung in the midnight air. I was sitting in one of the small side yards of the canterlot castle. I smiled, knowing what was to pass within the hour would be one of the greatest heists in equestria history. I donned the cloak I constructed this morning, for the sole purpose of getting me into the castle. It swirled around my body with a life of its own, molding to my unique body. I spread my purple wings, nodding in approval as the magic cloak moved with me. I gained flight within seconds, and was soon soaring up the side of the castle, hugging the wall of the tallest tower. Moments later I came to the balcony that was left open for my infiltration, landing with a quiet and muffled tap. I peered inside the long hallway just inside the door. My goal was down it and to the right, Luna's crown room. The cloak shrouded me, protecting me from the careful eyes of the guards patrolling down the hall. "Too easy" I whispered. I got in step behind the 2 guards walking down the hall, breaking off just before the turn to the door. Th hall was darker down here. Easier to hide, especially with the nightmare cloak. I ducked into a alcove as another guard came from the direction of my goal. Reaching into my solitary saddle bag, I grabbed two bottles. One I drank. The cold liquid oozed down my throat causing a tingly sensation to wash over me. I counted down the seconds that it took to take effect. "... four, three, two, one.." I was now completely concealed from the vampony guards here. But only for seven minutes. Long enough to take down the two door guards, grab the loot and get out. I eyed the other potion in my hoof. I held it with my mouth, ready to throw if the guards got too rowdy. Peeking around the corner, I counted two... no three guards. They were talking in hushed tones, probably about some royalty thing. -slap!- I hit the wall with my hoof. "What was that?" One of the guards turned as the other spoke. "I'll check it out." Moments later the poor stallion was unconscious, being dragged into the alcove. "One down..." I said. I didn't have to wait long for the other two to call out for their friend who was on the ground behind me. They rounded the corner, spotting him immediately, and to their doom, not me. I chucked the potion to their hooves, and a deep crimson fog surrounded them. "-cough- what is t-cough cough- " the both dropped. Hard. I was home free. I took off the nightmare cloak, draping it around my neck. I still needed it. "So close..." I spoke softly, incase any more guards were near. I opened the door to the crown room, peering around the shadow filled room. "Where's...? "The crown wasn't on its stand! My insider said it would be there by now! "Right in front of you." the voice was all around me. Coming from everywhere, but nowhere. I turned in a complete circle, scanning every shadow strewn surface, looking for the speaker. "Come out an face me like a real stallion!" I said angrily. There! The wall to my right! The shadows shifted there. A dark unicorn stepped out and spoke, his voice filling the room again. "well here we are. And what was your plan? To steal the crown?You never stood a chance. I'll admit, walking behind our patrol to hide your hoof steps was smart. The cloak an invisibility potion was a nice touch too. The knockout gas? Ingenious. But it's over! You lose. I caught you." "I guess you did", I said softly. "But where is the crown?" "Where? Right in front of you! It's invisible when not worn!" He realized his mistake immediately. I looked at him then at the pedestal, judging the distance. He eyed me, "don't even think-" I ran for the crown. I was fast, but he was faster. Half a hoof length away from grabbing the crown he tackled me. We both went sliding across the floor, knocking the pedestal over. The crown flew. We both heard it hit the ground. The guard stood up,Un tangling our bodies in a mad dash to find the missing crown. I had failed, but I could at least escape unscathed. I started to creep out the room while draping the nightmare cloak back over my shivering body. "Must be getting sick", I thought, not considering any alternatives. Halfway to the door I tripped over something. The crown! The guard turned and looked where I was standing. The crown was at my hooves. In my reach. I reached down quickly and flicked the crown up into my dangling cloak hood. "Stop!" He yelled, giving Chase to me, as I sprinted back down the hall from which I came. Too fast to notice the guards were coming to. Too quick to study the flapping tapestries on the wall. I was free! Out the door an over the balcony! I had made it! But all of a sudden there was a tug on my tail. The guard was trying to grab me with his unicorn magic. "Oh no you don't!" I yelled, pumping my wings hard gaining altitude in the cool night air. I did it. I stole the crown. But not without penalty. There was now a royal guard chasing me. And he had friends. Days later, I had yet to find any significant power on the crown. The only thing I could find was a small inscription on the front inside band, reading,"quinis momenta asurgo finet". It translated from some old equestrian language to, roughly, "heart shadows". "I guess I can assume that it's the crowns name", I said, examining the golden crown under candlelight for the hundredth time. Apparently blue candle flame would break the invisibility spell, as I had learned earlier that week. -knock- -knock- -knock- The door. Someone was knocking slowly on my apartment door, not ten feet away from me. Quickly snuffing out the special candles and tucking the crown into my desk, I trotted over to the door and opened it, revealing two royal guards. My heart dropped. They had found me already! "We are looking for this pony", one of the guards said. A unicorn whose coat was a darker blue, the gentle color broken up by the sleek black mane an his dark guard armor. The other guard was holding a bad portrait of what I assume was me. It looked like a hooded ghost. Apparently the potions worked."They are wanted in association of a royal theft. "Do you know anything that could help us in the capture of this pony?" I smiled innocently at the two guards who were so oblivious. "No sir, but if I hear anything you will be the first to know." I close the door, shocked by my "guests". The guard who I fought three nights ago was outside my door. More than that, he was undermaster of the night guard! The pattern on his armor said as much. I sat down and took a deep breath. I knew I needed to get out of there. I retrieved the crown and nightmare cloak and made my way up the street, towards the castle. I knew I needed to get rid of the crown. Where better than the place from once it came? Less than an hour later, I was flying, heading west towards the sea town in which I had purchased a small club months earlier. My plans for a new life were almost complete. "Nyt..." What was that voice in my head..? "Nyt, wake up. Please!" It was getting louder, and louder with each passing second. Flying still, it appeared as if the ground was fading away, the sky getting brighter, as the voice got louder. "Nyt wake up! Now! " Author's Note By this point, i was starting to write another story, one about what happened before. I figured it would be a good intro, being so short. Instead I decided to use it to shed some light, or shadows in this case, into why Nyt and Elusive are leaving.
Flight, or lack of. Flight, or lack of. I awoke with a start. Elusive was standing over me, his armor covered on splotches of mud. "What's going on?" I tried to stand up, but fell right back down, wincing in pain. "Try not to move too much. Stay down, and stay quiet. There is a patrol of son kind moving through." "Where are we?" I looked around the cave I woke up in. In a bed. "A hideout of mine, about 50 miles from ponyville."He told me, shielding the doorway with a concealment spell. "Why would a honorable royal guard need a hideout? You could simply ask for assistance and housing, and it would needless be provided." He turned towards me, scowled, and went an latex down on the other bed that cluttered the small room. If you could call a furnished, concealed cave, a room. "Sleep. You are injured. We will speak later." I was too tired to complain, and was quickly asleep. Hours passed in a painful and restless sleep. Wisps of dreams floated in my head, much like the shadows not a full day ago. I gasped awake, suddenly aware of the oppressing silence surrounding me. I shuddered in both pain, and chills. It was cold. Winter was approaching. I peered in the semi darkness, finding the dark shape of Elusive. He was snoring lightly in the other bed, just a few steps from my own. At the foot of the beds were the saddlebags in which I sought a salve, that I bought before we left the sea town. Groaning in pain, I got out of the bed an limped around, stretching tight muscles, attempting to limber back up and determine how hurt I really was. My right wing was in a wrap, so I first undid that. Slowly extending my wing, gasping in pain as I felt it pop in three places. It was all I could do not to scream in pain when the bones in my wing grinded back an forth as I exerted myself. The salve, I knew wouldn't be enough to mend the breaks. Cuts and sprains would be gone within the hour, but a break? It would take atleast a week with care, and a lot of bed rest. I continued to inspect my body in the darkness, finding my left foreleg was also suffering a much more minor break. A combination of cuts and bruses peppered my body, blood matting my fur in multiple places. I used as much of the magical salve as I felt necessary, then packed it back in the bag. I bound the breaks as day broke, we had been hiding here for just over a day, including the time I was unconscious. Elusive was just beginning to stir as I prepped breakfast for us. Nothing special, just some travel bars and spring water from a small stream inside the cave. A suprised look graced the former guards face seeing that I was up and about, especially after the crash. We ate the meager meal in silence, the only noises t be heard was the stream flowing quietly behind us. "Back there.. What happened?" I spoke, stretching my good wing, emphasizing my question. "Sigh, I guess there is no reason to conceal the truth from you any longer. You, no, we are being hunted by a most fearful of enemies. When you took Luna's crown, you released a hunter of sorts. Along time ago, before the princess was banished to the moon, I assisted her, with the help of court mages, in separating a piece of her soul energy to bind to the crown. The soul piece was only a shadow of Luna's might and power. But at the same time, it was more than that. It was fear, and anger. All of the emotions that the princess had no need for. Those emotions, that shadow that was bound to the crown, eventually manifested physically into a mare we shall never forget." He paused, standing up and moving to his bed, mentioning for me to follow suit. He continued as I sat,"nightmare moon. The physical manifestation of the shadow spirit. Since it was a part of Luna, it fed off her emotions, mainly her anger and struggle with her position compared to celestia. You know how twilight sparkle freed Luna from her shadow spirit last year, but what you don't know", he leaned forward speaking in a more hushed tone,"what you don't know is how nightmare moon was Luna's prison for those 1000 years. The moon was Nightmare Moon's prison. After Luna was freed, her shadow was more properly bound to the crown, and also the crown room in Luna's tower. When you removed the crown from the room, you released Luna's shadow spirit. That is what is hunting us. " finished, he leaned back and waited for my imminent questions. "I can understand it hunting me, but it's gotten you too this last time. " "Yes. It understands that I am a threat too. It knows I was there when it was released, and its attempting to fulfill its just duty to destroy those who pose a threat to Luna and the crown." Hours passed with me asking, and him answering questions. Day came and went like this. We slept that night, completely uneventful.It wasn't long before we left the cave hideout. We stayed just long enough for my wing to heal enough to travel. Not enough to fly. "Its time." "For what? We are safe here. Why should we leave so soon? Besides, I'm not able to fly with a broken wing, don't even start to think that I can carry you." He looked at me with a most pitiful look, and walked over to the doorway. A small burst of light from his horn and the concealment spell was gone; light started streaming in from the outside, all of the sounds, the smells, they all came streaming in like a spring flood. "A nice change of pace, eh?" "Mmhm", it truly was. The cave, for after all the work to make it more hospitable, was still a cave. Stuffy, wet, and not all that comfortable. We walked out, squinting in the bright sunlight streaming through the clouds. How I wish I could really stretch my wings and flit back and forth throughout the clouds. I can't anymore. The realization hit me suddenly. What if my wing never heals properly? But no. We set it right. Even with the constant pain, I can still look to the sky, where I will soon join the birds soaring on the warm upstarts, gaining altitude as I look down upon the beautiful landscape. Soon. "Are you alright?" Elusive's question brought me back down to the ground, out of my daydream. "Sure. I'm great." A lie. How could he understand my pain? "Your not. I can see it in your eyes Nyt. I can understand how hard it must be for you to not be able to fly right now. But that break is too complex for my magic, but we will soon have you back up in the sky. Once we get to manehattan, we can get you help." We set out then, walking north over the gently sloping plains land,him leading, me following a few yards behind, favoring my injured leg brutally. We stopped for a light lunch and break upon a grassy knoll. From there we could see miles and miles in all directions; from where we came we could barely see the edges of the everfree forest, in all its untamed might. On our right was the mountain that housed the capital city of canterlot high upon its slopes. We were going in the right direction at least. "We need to get going.." elusive looked at me with surprise. We stopped for me to rest my broken leg, as the pain was getting to me. He nodded and we set back off. Even hurt, we were making good time. We didn't stop again until dusk, at that time we set up camp under a clump of trees. "No fire." Elusive spoke, as I gathered materials for bedding. "W-why not?" "We could be seen by passersby. What happens if they tell someone that two travelers were spotted, one injured, the other in some type of armor? We would be dead before the morrow was over. " He let that sink in. "No fire", I agreed, laying down on the makeshift bed. "I'll take first watch." Elusive looked at me with awe. "Are you sure?" "Yes. You need the rest more than I. Don't think I didn't notice your spell. It takes a lot to conceal two full size stallions on the move like that. " Nodding, Elusive spoke, "yes, I suppose you are right. Wake me in a few hours." I had no plans to wake him. I could handle it on my own. Night came, and went. Twice I thought I heard something, but upon light investigation I found nothing but Elusive snoring lightly under his chosen tree. I watched the sunrise from atop the tallest tree in the grove. It was hard to climb it, once I almost fell. But it was worth it. It had been a long time since I'd seen such colors in one, usually other lights would interfere with my views. But this time, there was nothing obstructing my perfect view. The bright ball slowly rose up into the low sky, illuminating the path in front of us. Sighing, I decided to climb down. Elusive needed to be awoken, and we needed to move. From my perch I could see where the plains ended and the outskirts of the city started. Elusive was waiting for me at the bottom, glaring at me. "What we're you doing? And why did you not ever wake me?" "Errr... well... I was trying to judge how much farther we had to go." It wasn't a lie, not completely. That was the reason I climbed in the first place, but I stayed to watch the sunrise, and I do not regret it. "And uh, well you needed sleep... and I was fine staying up and it was all fine. Nothing happened." "No it's not okay, what would have happened if we were found?" "But we weren't. " He didn't reply, just stared me down for a minute, making me really nervous. Turning around, he commanded me to follow. Something was wrong with him... We made good time then, only stopping twice when I stumbled or collapsed from the pain of my leg and wing. I knew the break in my leg wasn't bad, but constantly walking on it was taking its toll on me, and the concealment spell twice that on Elusive, apparently. By nightfall we were approaching the outskirts of manehattan. "No reason to stop now. We will rest inside there." He motions to a new high rise building being constructed. We went in and camped on the third floor, even with the rooftops of some of closer buildings. We had made it, but we were not done yet.
