Emberfall

by The Fluffy Ninja

Rating: teen
Tags: Human, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 18212

Twilight must go on a long and perilous journey to atone for her sins.

Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic and Princess Celestia's protege, is a traitor to the nation of Equestria. She has betrayed the trust of her friends and family, and she will pay dearly for her crimes. Now an exile in a world ravaged by magic, Twilight will embark on a dangerous quest to find her way back home.

Daniel is a survivor and a man running out of time. With the life of one of his family on the line, he'll do anything to save them, even if he must escort a mysterious unicorn across the treacherous wastes. Together, these two strangers will learn just how far someone can fall.

Amazing art work belongs to Hajijack520. Check out his page.

Published 2014-01-18 19:50:07 UTC
Last updated 2014-06-07 20:29:33 UTC

1: The Deal

Twilight restlessly tossed and turned, pulling tightly on the bed sheets. She buried her head in the pillow and tried to drown out the rain outside. It did little, the constant drumming of raindrops never ceasing. The sound drove her mad. How could she possibly sleep while a rainstorm hammered away at the old house? All she wanted was a moment of peace and quiet so that she could rest and quell the knot of nervousness in her stomach.

Twilight closed her eyes and her mind slowly drifted towards the comfort of her home in Ponyville. She sat at her old wooden desk with a book sprawled open before her. Columns of books flanked her on both sides, basking in candlelight. Twilight could hear the soft rustle of branches outside as she scanned the book before her. What words that were written on the pages themselves mattered little to Twilight. She felt warmth and happiness and that was all that mattered.

However, she heard a soft yawn behind her, followed by a small, familiar voice calling her name. Twilight’s heart dropped as a rush of memories bombarded her mind. Suddenly, her home began to shake violently. Her books fell to the wayside in the ensuing chaos. The floorboards snapped out of place one by one. The walls around her cracked and crumbled. The voice yelled out her name one last time, and Twilight was pulled down into the abyss. She was swept away into the blinding maelstrom. All around her, the wind cracked and cackled. Twilight flailed wildly in free-fall, desperately trying to fight the storm. She couldn’t let the darkness take her, she would not allow it. She needed to return to the voice and her home, but the more she struggled, the heavier her limbs became. The more she fought, the harder the storm fought back. Soon enough, the voice was drowned out. There was only cold, lonely darkness, and Twilight fell further... further... further...

She snapped awake. The dream was broken. “Spike?” she whispered, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Once she had regained her senses, Twilight wiped away the single tear in resentment. She could still hear the storm outside. Twilight sighed in exhaustion. She needed some air, some room to think. The unicorn tossed the bed sheets off of her and slipped out of bed. She approached the bedside nightstand and used her magic to grab the gas lantern that sat there. Her horn glowed a little, and a tiny flame sparked inside the glass. The light from the lantern casted a dim glow on the bedroom, showing the aged and peeling wallpaper.

Twilight, with her lantern close by, opened the bedroom door as silently as possible. She cautiously tip-hoofed across the living room, careful not to create a single sound. She did not wish to disturb the other lodger in the house. When she finally made it to the front door, Twilight once again opened it as sneakily as possible. When she stepped out on the porch, she was immediately greeted by the rain.

The rain had a strange effect on Twilight. Inside the old house, the sound of the rain tormented her, but out here, it was strangely calming. The rhythmic pattering had a mind-numbing effect on her. She appreciated this greatly. Setting the lantern down beside her, she sat down on the porch. The lantern provided her warmth against the cold, night air.

Past the heavy downpour, Twilight looked out at the only world she knew for the past week. It was still considerably dark, but Twilight could see the silhouettes of the other houses. She saw the shadows of the bent and twisted trees that grew in front of the houses. They looked like the gnarled claws of a timberwolf. She yawned and fell under the spell of the rain. Her eyelids came to a slow close.

“Difficulty sleeping I presume?” a soft voice asked behind Twilight.

Twilight shot up on to her hooves like a startled cat. When she realized who it was, she rapid-fired her apology. "I‘m so sorry that- I didn’t realize- I didn’t mean to-"

The woman, with a small smile, raised a single hand to quiet Twilight. “Twilight, no harm was done, so there is no need to apologize.” The woman sat beside Twilight and invited her to sit. She accepted with a sigh of relief. “You are such an intelligent girl, but you seem to have a habit of speaking before thinking,” she teased. Twilight smiled. They both sat in silence, enjoying the peace of the rain.

Her name was Samantha, and she was Twilight’s only companion in this new world. Although she only knew Samantha for a week, Twilight felt that Samantha was someone to be trusted. She was the only one in the world who truly understood Twilight's plight. Samantha was the first to find Twilight when she came to this new world, and she was the only source of company for the lonely unicorn. Ever since then, she had nursed and took care of Twilight.

Twilight had to admit, it was strange to meet a human for the first time, but she had grown used to their strange features, like their hands or lack of fur. Samantha was always courteous and willing to listen to her. She also explained to Twilight some of the differences between Earth and Equestria, such as that ponies like herself did not have cutie marks like they do in Equestria, and there are different races that exist on Earth, like the elves, griffons, lizardfolk, and so on. Twilight was able to gain somewhat of an understanding of this world, and she was always eager to absorb more knowledge of this new place. However, she did find it rather strange that a human from a completely different world would know anything about her homeland, but Twilight elected to keep that thought to herself. She had only one ally in this strange place, and she did not wish to lose that.

Samantha looked very young and pretty, but she possessed knowledge beyond what her age suggested. She had her beautiful white-gold hair tied up in a bun. Even in her rugged attire, Twilight thought that she had what Rarity called ‘a lady’s grace.’ However, there was one feature that caught Twilight’s attention. It was her eyes. Samantha’s eyes held a distant look, like she was staring out into the distance, waiting for something.

“So, may I ask why you are out here alone on this cold and rainy night?” asked Samantha.

Twilight shrugged. “I’m just having some difficulty sleeping.”

“I feel that there is more to it than just that. Was it another nightmare?”

“Something like that I suppose.” Twilight stood up and began to pace back and forth on the porch. She tried to collect her thoughts.

“It’s just that- I had this dream. In it, I was back home, like I had never left in the first place. I was back in my library, back where I belonged. I was happy for a moment, but then I heard someone calling my name. Before I knew it, everything fell apart. It was like the world opened up and swallowed me whole. I was falling into this dark pit with no way out. I tried to fight back, but it did nothing. Eventually, I just… gave up. I stopped fighting,” Twilight paused in hesitation.

“Maybe I deserve this. You know I’ve hurt people. I have hurt those I care for the most, all because I was so sure that I was doing it for the right reasons. And now here I am, lost.” She stood still for a moment and turned her gaze downwards. A heavy feeling gripped her heart.

Twilight felt a warm hand placed on her shoulder. She turned and met Samantha’s dim, silver eyes. “Twilight, I understand that you were in a situation with no way out. You did all you could do. Sometimes, a sacrifice is called for to protect those we care for the most, even if it hurts them.”

“But my family, my friends, and my teacher- everyone will hate me when-and if- I get back. What if ‘all you could do’ is not enough?”

“Sometimes, it is never enough.” Samantha let go of Twilight and made her way to the door. She paused at the door and looked back at Twilight. “But they will not turn their backs on you Twilight, I’m sure of it. All those who care about you loves you more than anyone could possibly imagine. I know for certain that you are going to set things right.”

As Samantha went to open the door, she stopped. “Twilight, you know what you must do. A long and dark path lies ahead of you. However, you will not be alone; the man who will accompany you will be arriving shortly after sunrise.”

Twilight turned towards her. “Are you sure he will come, that he will take the job?”

“I’m positive. There is a lot at stake for him as well, and he cannot afford to refuse.”

With that said, Twilight watched as the door closed behind her. She then turned and looked out towards the horizon. In the distance, past the stormy clouds and the lonely houses, Twilight could see the dim glow of the rising sun.

“I hope you’re right.”

***

“This is the place.”

A small old house, a faded maroon door, white walls overgrown with vegetation, and dirt-smeared windows. This house fitted the description perfectly.

Daniel slid off the saddle of his horse, Ulysses, and stood before the house. He sighed. Daniel felt… well, he wasn’t sure exactly what he felt. Nervousness? Excitement? Maybe a mix of both. Daniel had never taken a job on his own before, and he was jumping into this one as blind as a bat. The twisted knot in his gut told him this was a bad idea, and he should just take Ulysses and ride away, but Daniel knew there was no other way. There was only one way of setting things straight.

Daniel turned back towards the saddle and took only one item: his .45 handgun. He examined the grey iron pistol for a moment, and then holstered the weapon in his right pocket and pulled his navy blue jacket over it. Then, he faced Ulysses. “Alright old boy, it stopped raining, so I’m gonna leave you out here. I’ll head inside and I’ll be back in a minute. You won’t even notice I’m gone.” Ulysses shook his light brown head and neighed in retaliation. Daniel guessed he must feel the same way he did.

Daniel calmly placed his hand on Ulysses's muzzle. “Calm down boy. Look, I know how you feel, but this is our only option right now, so the sooner we do this job, the sooner we get to go back home, okay?” The horse calmed down as Daniel brushed his neck. “Trust me, if there was a better way, I’d take it. Now, I need you to sit out here in case things go bad, can you do that for me?” Ulysses seemed to nod his head in affirmation. “Okay, good.”

Daniel hesitantly took his first steps onto the wooden porch of the house. The aged planks moaned under his footsteps. Daniel found it surprising they didn’t snap under him. Once Daniel reached the maroon door, he mustered up his courage and knocked. He waited for a moment, and then he heard a slow, creaking noise as the knob turned.

When the door opened, Daniel had expected Samantha, the mysterious white haired woman to be standing in the doorway. This was why Daniel was taken aback when the door revealed a purple unicorn, wide-eyed and looking up at him. She was equally as confused as he was. “Uhm, hi.” She croaked after a moment. It sounded more like a question rather than a greeting.

“Hey,” Daniel answered back. Both of them stood there in awkward silence. This must be the wrong place, Daniel thought to himself. He didn’t remember anything about a unicorn. “I’m looking for a woman named Samantha, is she here?” Daniel asked.

“Yes, she’s here. You are Daniel, right?”

Daniel nodded.

“Okay then, she told me you would be here. Come inside,” she politely said.

As Daniel stepped into the living room, he saw the multiple candles strewn about the room. The candles provided some light for a mostly gray, empty room. The carpet was torn to pieces and the walls were cracked. The only pieces of furniture in the room were two, ripped up chairs set near a coffee table. It seemed that this place hadn't been a proper home for anyone in years, save for wanderers and scavengers.

"Sorry about the mess, I would have tidied up the place and made it more… homely, but Samantha said a lot of places are like this, so I just-" The unicorn trailed off when she saw Daniel giving her a quizzical look. She let out an anxious cough.

“Uh, just try to make yourself comfortable, I’ll be right back with her,” the mare insisted with a fake smile. She then dashed off.

As Daniel took a seat in one of the chairs, he saw out of the corner of his eye a quick glimpse of the unicorn. It was very brief, but Daniel saw as she looked back at him before ducking into another room. She had given him a strange look, as if she was analyzing him. She was probably sizing him up to see if he was capable for the courier job. Daniel decided to pretend it was nothing and leaned back in the chair. She seemed a bit off anyways.

The chair was unexpectedly cozy except for the odd bump in the chair that rubbed uncomfortably against his spine. Still, this was a welcome reprieve from the muggy weather outside. Plus, Daniel needed a break from sitting on the saddle all day.

Daniel decided to take this time to relax. He took his glasses off and wiped away some of the fog that had collected on the lenses with the sleeve of his jacket. His vision was much clearer when he returned the glasses to their rightful spot.

Daniel took a second look around the living room and noticed two books lying on the coffee table in front of him. They were in surprisingly good condition. Only a few creases marked the bindings of both books. One book was titled The World Atlas and was accompanied with a picture of a globe. The other book, which was noticeably thicker and had more creases, had no picture and was titled A Brief History of Humanity in gold lettering.

Huh, kind of ironic, Daniel thought to himself.

“I see you found your way here,” a soft voice spoke behind Daniel. The young man jumped in his seat, his hand pressed firmly against his pocket. When Daniel saw a familiar pair of silver eyes, he relaxed. It was Samantha.

“Sorry about that, just a little jumpy,” Daniel apologized, his face a slight pink color now. Samantha suppressed a chuckle. She took her place in the seat across from Daniel. Daniel also noticed that the purple pony had returned. He watched as she curled up near the coffee table and casted a violet glow around A Brief History of Humanity. She then opened up the textbook and buried her nose in the pages. She didn’t seem to mind sitting on the floor.

A silence had settled in the room of three. Only the occasional rustle of pages broke the spell. Finally, Daniel spoke up.

“I’m here for the job,” Daniel stated plainly. He wanted to get through this as quickly as possible.

“I expected as much,” Samantha stated matter-of-factly. “You didn't venture out here for a social call I assume.” She picked up the atlas lying on the table and gingerly flipped through the pages. Then, Samantha returned the open book onto the table. When Daniel examined the page it was open on, he recognized the map it displayed. The knot in his stomach became tighter.

“The North Frontier,” Daniel whispered to himself. This did not bode well. The North Frontier was one of the most hostile places in the wastes. Year after year, the North is constantly assaulted by massive and unpredictable storms. Winds strong enough to break bone and blinding blizzards that froze travelers in mere seconds. Also, there had been rumors that some of the most predatory monsters of the wastes stalked the land.

Daniel tried to hide his anxiety behind a brave face. He didn’t want to appear afraid and weak. When he had broken away from his thoughts, he could see the mare out of the corner of his eyes. She was giving him the same calculating look from earlier. Daniel had a feeling she could see past the ruse on his face. She turned away when she noticed he was looking at her.

“You want me to deliver a package to the North?” he asked Samantha. He avoided eye contact with the pony.

“Yes. More specifically, here.” Samantha pointed at a large mass of land in the northwest corner of the map. Her finger was placed on the coast of the Bering Sea. “You will find a small town called Port Concord. Once you’re there, go to the lighthouse and deliver the package. My contact will be waiting there. Once the job is complete, you will return here for your payment.” She looked up from the map and met Daniel’s gaze with her piercing silver eyes.

“Will you take the job?”

Daniel sat quietly and stared at the map. It was the question that he had been asking himself the entire time. He had thought long and hard about this before coming here. It would be a long journey, probably take him three to four months to reach the destination alone, and he would be trekking across some of the most dangerous lands in the wastes. It was risky, but it was a risk Daniel had to take. The reward was too important to pass up, and there was simply too much at stake. Besides, it wasn’t like he had a choice anyhow. This one's for you, Susie.

He took in a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

Samantha leaned back in her chair. Although she seemed pleased with herself, there was a faint sadness in her eyes. “Good.”

“So where’s the package?” Daniel inquired.

“The package? Well, she’s sitting right next to you, and her name is Twilight.”

***

Twilight watched as Daniel hovered around the horse. He circled the horse, inspecting and tightening the saddle straps and the various objects attached to it. She could see a bed roll and a few saddlebags clinging to the saddle.

The horse was tall and well-built. Its smooth, light brown coat made it look graceful but also tough. However, the owner seemed to be the exact opposite. Daniel had a thin frame and seemed to have no apparent muscle strength. Twilight remembered the shy, blue eyes that hid behind the man’s glasses. When Twilight was told she would have a guide, she had expected someone strong and gruff, a survivor of the harsh wilderness. She had expected someone that was like the heroes from those old cowpony stories her brother read when they were children. Daniel was less like a cowpony- er, cowboy, and more like a librarian. Now, Twilight had to trust this complete stranger with her life.

Twilight tried not to dwell on this and turned her attention to more important matters: her luggage. Twilight would be taking her saddlebag with her on the journey. The only item inside the saddlebag was the package. Samantha had made her promise to not open the package until she had reached the lighthouse. Twilight knew very well the burden she carried with her and the risks that came with it, and Twilight swore to Samantha that she would complete her mission no matter what.

Twilight returned to the spot on the porch where she had talked with Samantha that morning. She found the lady sitting alone on the steps of the porch. She was looking out towards the horizon, like she was looking past where the sun rose. Samantha turned and smiled towards Twilight, but there was a twinge of sadness in her smile.

“Come to say goodbye to the old hermit lady?” she joked.

Twilight smiled back at her and spoke sincerely. “Well, yes, but I also wanted to thank you. You saved my life and have given me a second chance. I will never forget the kindness you have shown me.”

“That’s good Twilight, but you don’t need to thank me. Your company has been enough. Oh, it’s been such a long time since I had someone to talk to. Almost all of my friends had moved on…” Samantha hung off of those last few words. There was a tone of regret when she mentioned her friends, but this moment lasted briefly before she stood up and dusted herself off.

“But there is no point in clinging on to things of the past. It is time we move forward, especially you Twilight.” Samantha crouched down and embraced Twilight in a warm hug. “Goodbye, Twilight. May you find your way home.”

“Goodbye, Samantha. Thank you for everything.” Samantha let go of Twilight, and Twilight walked towards Daniel and the horse, her saddlebag slung over her back. Twilight gave one last glance at Samantha and saw her wave and smile towards her before disappearing into the aging house. Twilight hoped that she would see her again one day.

Twilight paused before the brown horse and looked up at the rider. Daniel was already seated on the horse and looked ready to leave.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Yeah, you?”

“’Bout as ready as I’m ever gonna be. Climb on up.” Daniel lowered a hand and helped Twilight on to the saddle. When she was seated, Twilight began to slip left and right on the saddle and nearly lost her grip.

“Whoa, how do you ride this thing?!”

“Try to keep yourself balanced on the seat. If you need to, put your hands- I mean hooves around my waist.” Twilight squeezed her hooves around Daniel’s waist, forcing the air out of his lungs.

“Not that tight,” he croaked.

“Oh, sorry,” the mare apologized. After a few more seconds of squirming, Twilight managed to situate herself in a somewhat comfortable position.

“Are you good now?” Daniel asked. Twilight nodded back.

“Alright then, try to hold on, this is going to be a long ride.” Daniel urged Ulysses to move, and the horse began to trot down the street. Twilight looked back and watched her little corner of the world disappear in the distance.

2: Trouble on the Road

The old road was disfigured and twisted. The various breaks in the grayed asphalt intertwined with one another. Dead grass and weeds grew in between the cracks, slowly taking over the street. The rusted metal shells of cars littered the road. All of them had been stripped for parts. Their color had long since faded. Another lonely highway that had endured both time and the elements.

Twilight noted how silent it was, and this unsettled her. The only sound she could hear was the whisper of the wind and the hoofsteps of the horse she rode on. Even the sound of chirping birds were strangely absent. She felt all alone on this dead road.

A cold wind brushed against Twilight’s spine, making her shiver. “Its freezing,” she said.

Daniel nodded his head in agreement. He too was beginning to shake from the biting cold. “I know. If we stick to the highway, we’ll reach a patrol outpost soon. Once we get there, we’ll go inside and warm ourselves up.”

Twilight hoped in the back of her mind that the outpost was not too far away. The group rode on in silence. Overpasses and abandoned vehicles had become a common sight on the road. Countless green signs with the names of forgotten cities passed them by. All of the different vehicles became a blur of chipped paint and rust in Twilight’s mind. It was the same scene over and over again. Twilight was getting restless and wanted to think about something else other than the ruins around her.

Daniel stopped at the side of the road and dismounted. He said that he wanted to give Ulysses a break and grabbed the horse’s reins. He started down the highway again while leading the horse. Still sitting on Ulysses, Twilight took the opportunity to start a conversation.

“So, where are we going?” she asked. It was a question that had been nagging her since they left that morning.

“I already told you, we’re going to stop at the outpost,” Daniel responded.

“I meant after that.”

“Oh.” Daniel rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Well, I had planned that we would follow the highway up to the city of Baltimore. I’m supposed to meet someone there, and he might help us out on our little mission. Plus, we could grab some supplies while there. We are going to need some warmer gear if we keep on heading north.”

Twilight was racking her brain. Daniel had said ‘Baltimore’, and she swore that she had heard the word before, but she wasn’t sure from where. When it finally came to her, she spouted out, “Wait, don’t you mean Baltimare, not Baltimore?”

A moment of silence passed, and then Twilight could hear a low chuckle from Daniel. A small grin was etched on his face. “Why are you laughing?” she asked slightly agitated.

“I’m sorry, but was that supposed to be some sort of pony pun?” he questioned light-heartedly.

Twilight realized her mistake and immediately tried to cover for it. “Uh, yeah. It was a joke. Thought it would help lighten up the mood,” she fibbed.

“Well, I thought it was kinda funny,” Daniel said sincerely.

As they continued on down the road, Daniel felt a small trickle of rain on the back of his neck. He looked up into the sky and saw the dark, heavy clouds above. The wind was beginning to pick up. It wasn’t long before the drizzle turned into a relentless downpour.

“Great, just great,” He huffed. “I thought the worst of the storm had already passed us.”

“So, what are we going to do?” Twilight asked. Daniel hopped back on Ulysses and spurred the horse to pick up the pace. Twilight, caught completely by surprise, held on desperately as Ulysses bolted down the cluttered highway.

“We need to get to the outpost and out of this storm. It’s only going to get worse.”

“How can you tell?!” Twilight yelled over the storm.

As if to answer her question, a streak of lightning shot down from the storm clouds and struck dangerously close to the group. Twilight could feel the heat from the lightning strike, and her hairs stood on end. She yelped in surprise and nearly fell off, but Daniel quickly reached back and grabbed her hoof. “I’ve got you!” he shouted as he pulled her back on.

Ulysses dashed forward against the rain, weaving around the wreckage that surrounded them. The wind was blowing more forcefully, and Twilight was finding it more difficult to hold on. Raindrops and powerful wind slammed into Daniel’s face, covering his glasses. It was nearly impossible for him to see the low building that sat by the side of the road.

“Whoa, slow down boy!” Daniel cried out. Ulysses skidded to a halt in the parking lot of the outpost. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. She was cold and soaked to the bone.

“Goodness, I thought I was going to lose my grip back there,” she said. When Daniel didn’t answer back, Twilight looked back at him and noticed he was staring dead-on at the outpost. “Daniel, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

“Something isn’t right here,” Daniel replied. His eyes darted cautiously around the area. “Even in this weather, there should be a guard outside. This place looks abandoned.”

Indeed, the place seemed to be deserted. Not a single person was in sight. The concrete barriers that were positioned around the aged gas pumps were moved out of their usual spots. The windows of the former-gas station were busted and were crudely boarded up with wooden planks. This storm-beaten building had certainly seen better days.

Daniel and Twilight dismounted Ulysses. Twilight grabbed her saddlebag and levitated it onto her back. She watched as Daniel walked over to Ulysses and whispered something into his ear. She couldn’t make out what he said, but the horse then turned around and sprinted down the road until he was out of sight.

“Daniel, what did you tell him?” she asked with an edge of wariness in her voice.

“I told him to get out of sight. I’ve got a bad feeling about this, and I don’t want our only means of escape getting hurt.”

“And how was telling him to leave was a good idea? Are you sure he’ll be safe? How will we escape if he’s not here?”

“Trust me, he’s smarter than he looks; he’ll be close by when we need him.”

“I hope your right,” Twilight muttered under her breath.

Daniel and Twilight came up to the door of the outpost. Daniel thumped his fist on the door. “Is anyone there? We need to come inside; the storm out here is getting worse by the second!” No one answered back. Twilight pressed her hoof against the handle of the door. The door slowly creaked open. “This isn’t good, why was the door unlocked?”

Daniel reached into his side pocket and retrieved his handgun. Twilight looked at him with suspicion. “Have to be prepared for anything,” he told her plainly.

Hesitantly, the two carefully stepped into the building. Daniel closed the door behind them while holding his weapon at the ready. It was dark inside with gloomy light filtering in through the slits of the wooden planks. Twilight casted a small orb of brilliant light that hung over her. In the pale light of her magic, they could see that the room was completely trashed. Shelves and desks were overturned and carelessly scattered about. The walls were laced with large cracks. Bits and pieces of broken items lied on the floor. Shattered glass littered the area around the windows along with discarded bullet casings.

“Sweet Celestia, what happened here?” Twilight whispered.

“A fight,” Daniel stated. “There must have been a shootout between the guards and whoever was attacking them. The question is who was attacking? There was no blood or bodies outside or in here.”

Twilight stepped around the debris on the floor and reached the back of the room. She was in front of the store counter, and she spotted the door behind it. Although some of the letters were scratched out on the name tag, Twilight could make out the words “Manager’s Office.”

“Hey Daniel, there’s another room back here. Maybe we should check it out.”

As she reared around the counter, Twilight caught her breath. Lying crumpled behind the counter was the corpse of a… thing. The creature was humanoid in shape, but that was the only resemblance it had. The creature seemed to be made up of an onyx crystalline material, like someone had coarsely carved the skeletal remains of a human from a large crystal. Its claws were like broken glass, and its misshapen head had no eyes, but its maw was lined with sharpened points like teeth. Twilight grimaced when she noticed that both the teeth and the claws were stained dry crimson.

As Twilight backed up, she jumped when her rear bumped into something. She flipped around and shot an arcane blast from her horn. The bolt missed Daniel by a hair and crashed into the wall behind him.

“Whoa, Jesus! Watch where you aim that thing,” Daniel yelped.

“I- I’m so so sorry, I panicked! Are you okay? Did I hit you? If I did, it’s okay. That was just a stun spell, so it wouldn’t have hurt you, but I should still be sorry, which I am, because maybe it DID hurt you and then…”

Daniel could see her mouth moving, but he could not make out a single word of what she was saying. The words were coming out, but it was way too fast to understand. Daniel kind of wished that the spell had knocked him out now.

“Twilight,” he said just loud enough to catch her attention. “It’s fine. I wasn’t hit. Just… please be careful with your magic. Also, just ‘I’m sorry’ will work fine next time.”

Twilight opened her mouth as if to say something, but then she just simply nodded. Once she had regained her composure, she looked back at the strange creature. She spotted that its chest was riddled with holes.

“What is that thing?”

Daniel gave her a quizzical look. “You’ve never seen a Hollow before?” She shook her head. Daniel cautiously approached the Hollow and tapped it with the barrel of his pistol. The creature remained motionless.

Daniel took in a slow breath, removing his glasses as if it helped him think. “Hollows are a nasty a piece of work. These monsters are some of the most dangerous beasts out in the wastes. They don’t sleep, they don’t eat. All they ever do is hunt and kill any living thing they come across. Although they aren’t much of a threat alone, a pack of them could easily tear a person apart.” He spoke slowly and deliberately. He wasn’t just answering a question, he was giving a warning.

Twilight’s throat went dry at the thought of a horde of these things, with their jagged claws and gnashing teeth. “How do you stop them?”

Daniel put back on his glasses and stood up over the Hollow. He placed his left foot on its head. He slowly pressed down with all his weight. Twilight could hear the shattering noise it made as Daniel crushed the head. “You either destroy the head, or you keep hitting them ‘till they don’t get back up.” Daniel turned back to look at Twilight. “It’s safe to come over now. Let’s get this door open.”

Twilight came to Daniel’s side, careful to step over the still Hollow. “Do you think the guards might be in there?”

“I don’t know, but it would make sense. Maybe they holed themselves up in the room when the Hollows attacked.” Daniel reached for the handle and tried to turn it. When it wouldn’t budge, he shook the handle. It did nothing.

“Crap, it’s locked.” Daniel looked down at the keyhole. “Maybe if I had a screwdriver and a few bobby pins…” he muttered to himself.

Before Twilight could say anything, she heard a rustling noise. It came from the front door. Daniel was aware of it too and motioned for Twilight to duck behind the counter. “Get rid of your light and stay quiet,” Daniel whispered. Twilight quickly dissipated her light spell. Daniel grasped the grip of his pistol with both hands. His index finger hovered near the trigger.

The front door swung open and three figures stumbled inside. One of the figures, a woman wearing a flight jacket with a yellow-black badge, whipped around and slammed the door shut. In her hands, she held a lever-action rifle. The second person was a man who was dressed similarly as the woman. He was clutching his side and taking in deep breaths. The third person was a young girl, probably 15 to 16 years in age. She was holding up the injured man. The girl gently propped the injured man against the wall. The shoulder she was using to hold him up was stained with blood.

“Holy hell,” the girl said out of breath. “There must have been… a dozen of them. What… are we gonna do?”

The woman looked back at her with a determined look in her eyes. “We’re gonna hole up in here and wait until they’re gone. If we’re lucky, the storm will have blown over by then.”

The girl raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that what you tried to do last time?”

“Yeah, but it’s not gonna be like last time.” The woman turned her attention towards the man. “Reynolds, how are you holding up?”

“Oh, don’t worry about me, just suffering from a minor case of bleeding out.” He responded laboriously.

“Alright, so smartass here can still talk. Ceilia, head into the back room, there should be a first-aid box we could use.”

“Well, I’ll need the key first.”

As the woman was fishing her keys out, Twilight whispered to Daniel, “Should we show ourselves? They look like the guards of the outpost.”

“That is exactly why I’m afraid to do that. We would look like we were trying to steal their supplies while they were gone. They might just shoot us on the spot.”

“But if we don’t show ourselves, they’ll find us hiding back here anyways. That would not help our case either.”

Daniel sighed in hesitation. “Alright, we’ll do it your way.” Daniel holstered the gun in his side pocket. “We’ll go up together and I’ll talk to them, okay?” Twilight nodded. “Okay, then.”

Both Daniel and Twilight stood up slowly. Daniel’s hands were raised in the air. “Please do not shoot us; we are friendl- AH CRAP!!” Daniel yelled as the woman fired her rifle. The bullet whizzed past Daniel’s shoulder and buried itself in the wall behind him.

“I said don’t shoot!” he snapped.

The woman cocked the lever of the rifle in a flash. She aimed the barrel directly at Daniel. Her steely eyes burned into the intruders. “That was a warning shot. Do anything stupid and the next shot goes into your chest. Now, what are you doing here?”

It was Twilight that spoke next. “We were travelling down the highway when the storm hit. We came here to find shel-.”

“Bullshit.” She turned the rifle onto the unicorn. Twilight’s heart was pounding against her chest. “You’re raiders and you came here because you thought it would be easy pickings. Well, I’ve been having a really shitty day and I don’t have time for lies. I suggest you start telling the truth. Now.”

“They are telling the truth.” Everyone turned their eyes to the girl named Ceilia. Twilight inspected her closely and noticed that the girl’s face was thin and her ears were pointed. “I mean, look at them, do they really look like raiders to you?”

“No, but we can’t trust them. They’re complete strangers and they were hiding out in our outpost, probably trying to grab whatever scraps that were left.”

“Listen,” Daniel calmly interjected. “When we found this place, it was deserted. We weren’t trying to take anything; we were looking around to see if there was anyone left. We found the dead Hollow in the back.”

Twilight remained tight-lipped, but she noticed the guardswoman had lowered the barrel of her rifle slightly.

Ceilia was looking at the woman with her bright green eyes. “Right now, we need to focus. Your friend needs to be treated, and there is a horde of Hollows heading this way. If you want proof that you can trust them, let them help us fight off those monsters.”

An uneasy silence settled in the room until the woman finally lowered her weapon. “Fine, they can help.” The woman spoke to Daniel and Twilight. “I… apologize for how I acted. My name is Amber, and the other two are Reynolds and Ceilia.”

Twilight gave a nod to show that she accepted the apology. “My name is Twilight, and he’s Daniel. Tell us how we can help.”

"I need to patch Reynolds up and get him into the back room. It has an exit and is probably the safest room here. All three of you need to barricade the windows and the door. Use anything that ain't nailed down."

Without a moment's rest, the four began their tasks. Amber went to Reynolds side and hauled him into the back room. Daniel, Twilight, and Ceilia worked together to shove the shelves and desks into place. Soon enough, the makeshift barriers were in place.

"Alright," Daniel said. "I'm gonna head to the back and get ready. You two be ready to go when its time."

As Daniel went to the back, Twilight turned to Ceilia. "Thanks for talking her down. Things would have been bad if you weren't here."

"No problem. The last thing we need to be doing is waving guns around and making accusations. Besides, I figured we could use a few extra fighters against the Hollows."

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. "Are you going to help us fight? I have my magic, and Daniel and Amber have their guns. I don't see any weapons on you."

Ceilia smiled mischievously. "Don't worry, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve." Ceilia raised her and it became engulfed in electric green sparks. Tiny bolts of lightning arced between her fingers.

Twilight's eyes widened. "You can use magic?!"

Ceilia shrugged. "Of course I can, how do you think I've made it this far?"

“You two get back here,” Amber called from behind the counter. She was loading her rifle with a few more rounds. The door was closed behind her. Twilight assumed that Reynolds had been moved to the back. Daniel was next to her, inserting more bullets into a few spare clips he had laid out in front of him.

“Daniel, I want you on the right side windows, keep anything from getting in.”

Daniel nodded and scooped up his pistol clips. He moved to his spot and positioned himself.

“Ceilia, Twilight. Both of you are going to cover the left side windows. I’ll get the front door. Remember; don’t attack until I give the word.”

Twilight and Ceilia hastened to their spots. Amber moved forward to the door and cocked her rifle. Everyone stood ready in front of their makeshift barriers. No one made a single noise. The only sound that could be heard was the downpour outside and booming thunder.

For a moment, nothing happened, but then Twilight spotted a shadow move through the opening in their defenses. It was there only for a second before it vanished. Twilight held her breath as more shadows appeared and disappeared. Each one was followed by a scraping noise, like pieces of glass scratching against pavement. Her muscles tensed and her heart raced. She was finding it increasingly difficult not to let loose a spell.

“Wait,” Amber whispered.

The scratching noise had escalated into the sound of wood being torn apart. Twilight watched as the planks of wood were ripped off the windows. She could see the tips of black crystal claws tearing away at the defenses.

“Wait.”

One by one, the planks were torn away, revealing more and more of the creature on the other side. Twilight swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She could see its spiny arms and barbed torso. When the last plank fell, Twilight could finally see its horrid head. It had empty sockets for eyes and razors for teeth. It opened its mouth and released a high-pitched shriek.

“Now!”

Twilight summoned up arcane energy into her horn, and unleashed a violet blast. The bolt raced into the mouth of the Hollow and severed its head clean from its mouth. As soon as the Hollow fell, two others leaped onto the window and clawed away at the barricade with lightning speed.

In an instant, the room became filled with gunshots and spells. For each Hollow that fell, another two came to take their place, shrieking their guttural cry. Bullets flew and spells blasted onto the Hollows created showers of exploded crystal. The storm was drowned out by the battle.

Twilight shot spell after spell at the oncoming wave of Hollows. More and more began to stack up on her window. She kept casting her magic bolts at them, always aiming at the head like she had been told. Even as more fell, others joined in to take their place. Soon enough, there was simply too many at her window. The horde managed to tear through a good portion of her defenses. Their teeth was gnashing hungrily.

Twilight ducked as a claw swiped at her head. It missed her, but it snagged the straps of her saddlebag. When Twilight realized what had happened, she jerked back against the Hollow. She could not lose the saddlebag no matter what. It was no use and the Hollow pulled back violently. Twilight’s head crashed into the barricade. It sent her ears ringing and pain shot through her skull as the Hollow kept pulling. She was being choked by the strap and could not bring herself to scream. She watched as more claws came through the window and tried to grab her. She was only barely able to dodge their attacks, but it would only be a matter of seconds before she would be pulled through the window and into the horde.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

After the gunshots had ended, the Hollow that held her went limp and Twilight was free from its grasp. The unicorn turned around dazed and saw Daniel standing over her, firing his pistol at the crowd of Hollows in front of them. More Hollows came crawling through the window.

Twilight shook herself out of her daze. As Daniel was loading in another clip, he yelled, “Amber, we have got to go! There are too many here to hold them off!”

“We can’t run, Reynolds is injured! He won’t be able to keep up!”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea.”

All four of them dashed into the back room. Just as they made it to the backroom, the horde of Hollows came swarming into the outpost. Slamming the door shut, Amber grabbed the desk in the room and shoved it in front of the door. It would buy them precious minutes.

“Oh hi guys,” Reynolds said slumped in his corner. He waved his black Beretta at the backdoor. “I believe we have guests.”

Ceilia sprinted forward and shoved the door open. The Hollow on the other side was knocked back. Ceilia leaped up onto its chest and clasped her hands around its head. Electric green magic sparked around her hands, and the Hollow began to shake violently. Its head popped like a glass balloon. Everyone stared at her in surprise. They had not expected her to act so quickly.

“Get out here!” Ceilia yelled back.

Daniel grabbed Reynolds by the arm and leaned him against his shoulder. “Ow, take it easy. I just got stitched up.”

As they all stepped out into the rain, Daniel raised two fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly. After a few seconds, Ulysses came barreling around the corner of the outpost, trampling a few Hollows on the way. Daniel and Amber stepped in to help Reynolds onto the saddle.

“Now, I suggest you hold on tight, it’s gonna get bumpy. And you,” Daniel was talking towards Ulysses. “You be nice to the man and take it easy on him, understand?”

Ulysses neighed in confirmation. “Alright then, now go!”

Ulysses galloped away from the group and onwards down the highway. “Once this is over, we’ll meet up with them further up the highway.”

“Well great,” said Ceilia. “What do we do now?”

Daniel turned back to the group. “We run.”

***

The worst of the storm had come over them. The sky was lit up with lightning bolts and rain came slamming down. Wind whipped their faces as they ran down the highway. They dodged and zigzagged around the rubble and wreckage of cars. Amber and Daniel would turn around quickly to fire their guns at the approaching horde, hoping they could take out as many as they could.

Twilight’s ears were pounding against her skull. Her lungs were on fire and her legs threatened to give out on her. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep this up. The mass of Hollows were getting closer by the second. It wouldn’t be long before the group was overwhelmed.

Twilight had to think. There was no way they could just outrun them. Surely she had a spell or something that she could use. Looking up into the storm clouds, a light turned on inside her head.

“Daniel, we need to stop right now!”

“Are you crazy?! We can’t just stop!”

“I think I’ve got a spell I can use to stop them.”

“You think?!”

“Just trust me on this one. It’ll take some time, so I need you to protect me.”

Daniel looked at her cautiously. He finally gave in. He told everyone to stop and take up positions to defend. As they took cover behind a few cars, Daniel said, “Whatever you got to do, do it quickly.” Daniel then turned and fired upon the Hollows. Amber followed suit and Ceilia began to cast arcs of lightning at the monsters.

Twilight closed her eyes and blocked out everything. The gunfire, the Hollows, and the wind. The only thing she focused on was her breathing and the storm. The spell she was trying to cast would require a great amount of concentration. One distraction and the spell would backfire with grave consequences.

Twilight imagined herself in the heart of the storm. She stood in the center of it. The wind howled around her and lightning crackled along the clouds. She needed to take control of the storm. Just a piece of it, just enough to defeat the Hollows.

Twilight allowed the power of the storm to enter her. She could feel the electricity run through her veins. It ran from her hooves to her horn. In the pit of her heart, the power burned inside. It was like a flame, and Twilight felt it as it spread rapidly. She was losing control of it, and it threatened to consume her, to burn her up.

No. I need to control it.

She thought of what was at stake. She thought of the lives that depended on her. She thought of the promise she made to Samantha. She thought of home, her friends, her family, and her mentor. Most of all, she thought of Spike. He needed her. Nothing would keep her from getting back home to him.

She felt the power surge through her. Twilight opened her eyes and let loose the full fury of the storm onto the Hollows.

A great wall of lightning crashed down on the horde. The bands of electricity ripped and shredded the Hollows. The explosive power of the spell melted the creatures. They were reduced to ash as waves of lightning came smashing down upon them. Shrapnel went flying from the resulting explosion. When the dust settled, not a single Hollow remained.

Everyone was wide-eyed at what Twilight had accomplished. In mere seconds, she had utterly decimated the horde. Silence had fallen upon them. They were too baffled to speak. What they had witnessed was like an act of a god.

Finally, Ceilia spoke up. “Holy shit, that was awesome!”

Twilight’s body stiffened. The color in her face was flushed pale. Her heartbeat increased as well as her breathing. A cold sweat broke out on her skin. She had never used so much magic before. Her legs felt wobbly. Her head began to feel light, and everything was fuzzy.

Daniel rushed towards Twilight. He had seen how unstable she became. “Twilight, are you okay? Talk to me.”

Twilight looked into Daniel’s icy blue eyes. She could think of only one thing to say to him. “I’m sorry,” she croaked weakly. Daniel caught her as she blacked out.

***

Twilight felt like she was adrift at sea. She could feel the swaying motion under her. When she opened her eyes, Twilight could see the orange-purple light of the evening sky. Large, puffy clouds drifted like whales in the ocean. Faint little stars began to blink into existence. It was like a dream, but Twilight could feel something under her, something holding her up from the ground. She looked up and saw the figure cradling her.

“Daniel?”

“Twilight? Oh thank God, you’re awake!” Daniel sounded surprised, but Twilight saw how his eyes lit up and knew that he was relieved to see her.

“Wait, Twilight’s awake? Let me see her.” It was Ceilia that had spoken up. She bounced over to Twilight. “Hey there sleepy pants, how are you doing?”

“Uh, fine I guess. Thanks for asking.”

“It’s amazing that you can feel anything after that spell you did. That was crazy; I’ve never seen anyone use magic like that before. You have to show me how to do that.”

Twilight was slightly blushing. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say.”

“Come on Ceilia,” said Amber. “Leave her alone, she’s been through a lot. Besides, you got to help me keep Reynolds awake. We don’t want him slipping off the saddle.”

“Ugh, just give me a few minutes, that’s all I need. I’ve been through a lot too,” Reynolds whined.

As Ceilia left, it was just Daniel and Twilight left following the group. “How long have I been out?”

“Oh, about three to four hours. Ceilia told me that you were recovering from that spell you casted, said it must have drained you of your energy or something like that.”

“So, have you been carrying me this whole time?” She asked. “I remember you caught me before I passed out.”

“Well, not exactly. We all took turns carrying you, except for Reynolds for obvious reasons. Thankfully, nothing else crazy has happened so far. Right now, we are still following the road up to Baltimore.”

Twilight watched the clouds as they drifted by. She noticed out of the corner of her vision that Daniel would give her an occasional glance before looking away.

“Is there something you want to ask me?”

“Yes there is. I’ve been thinking back to what you did back there. I had never seen magic used with such power or cause so much destruction before. Heck, I didn’t even think it was possible to do.” Daniel took in a slow breath. “Something like that must have cost a lot of energy. It was really pushing the limits. What I’ve been wanting to ask you is; would something like that hurt you or… or kill you?” Daniel’s voice went dry saying those last words.

Twilight remembered how she felt using that spell. She remembered the burning inside and thought she would burn up to. Twilight sighed heavily. “Yes, if I didn’t control it or I didn’t have enough power in me, it could have been bad.”

“Twilight, I understand we were in a really messed up situation, and I’m thankful that you saved us. But I don’t want you to do anything like that again. I can’t risk you dying. I need this job to go right. Just promise me you’ll not put yourself at risk like that again.”

Twilight listened to what Daniel said. Although she wanted to protest against him, he did make a good point. In order for this job to go well, she needed to live. Killing herself would accomplish nothing, and she would never see her home again. “Okay, I promise.”

They continued on in silence. The wind was soft and chilly. The deep orange sun arced into the west and began to rest. Twilight found it comforting when she could hear the chirping of birds return. The night birds filled the sky with their songs.

“Uh, Daniel?”

“Yeah?”

“You know, you can put me down now,” Twilight said smiling.

“Oh, really? I’m, uh, I’m sorry it’s just that… yeah, I’ll just put you down.” Daniel carefully set Twilight down back on her hooves.

“Thanks.” When Twilight looked up, she was stunned by what she saw next.

The highway carried on until it hit a large wall. The wall was as tall a four-story building. It stretched east and west indefinitely. It was made of concrete with watchtowers lining the top of it. A large stone gate stood where the road ended. The sheer size of it was baffling. Peeking over the wall in the distance were the tops of buildings.

“Daniel, what is that?”

"That is the city of Baltimore."

3: Choices

The fading sunlight danced across the ripples of the Inner Harbor. Small fishing boats drifted into port after a long day out on the water. Dockhands and sailors alike left behind their posts and made their way towards the nearest bars. Small shops and stalls were winding down to a close. The stall owners and merchants collected their daily earnings before retiring to their homes. The city guards rounded up and down the streets as they lit the gaslight lamps, also making sure to keep a careful eye on the beggars and pickpockets that lined the sidewalks. It was the same routine as any other day. But tonight, things were going to change.

Mr. Frost leaned against the railing that ran the length of the harbor, his tall figure cutting a shadow into the dusky sky. He watched with mild amusement as the day died down, the people of Baltimore absently milling about on the docks.

Digging into the pocket of his blackened leather duster, the man retrieved a pack of slightly crumpled cigarettes. When he popped open the pack, he was disappointed to find only three smokes left. Shame. It was hard to find a good pack these days.

He kicked back and lifted a paper cylinder to the corner of his mouth. It dangled there as he rummaged through his pockets for a matchbook. Behind him, he heard light footfalls tap against the pavement.

“Ms. Nalia, nice of you to finally join me,” he stated as he flicked the match head against his sleeve. The match sparked, and he lifted the tiny flame to the end of his cigarette. “You certainly took your sweet time. Decided to take an evening stroll without me?”

He inhaled, making the ember of his cigarette burn bright. Mr. Frost pivoted around to face Nalia. A pair of burning, bronze circles met his gaze.

“I had some difficulty evading the guards. They’ve doubled their numbers on the wall due to the recent Hollow attacks. All of them are on edge. They could present a problem.” All of this was relayed in a professional tone, her face unyielding as stone.

Mr. Frost flicked away the ashes from the end of his bud. He smirked. “Don’t tell me a few bumpkins with rifles got you all scared. If we’re good enough, they won’t even notice were here. Discretion is our best asset. Anyways, is there any news on our mutual friend?”

Never breaking eye contact, she answered, “I believe so. A unicorn matching the description of the target entered the city gates not too long ago. However, she lacked the mark you described.”

Nalia looked down to inspect the cuffs of her leather vambraces. The tips of her sharpened ears paled. “Also, she wasn’t alone. A pair guards were with her, but they departed shortly after. Only two others remained with her. I couldn’t identify them,” she finished snapily.

Mr. Frost tugged down the brim of his hat as his icy blue eyes narrowed in on her. “Show me,” he ordered.

In one swift motion, Nalia dug into her satchel and tossed a coin into the air. The coin reflected the orange glow of the sun before being snatched out of the sky by a gloved hand. Upon examination, it was a simple brass circle with an open eye displayed on its side. The man delicately traced a single finger along the curves of the etching. Wherever his finger touched, a trail of blue shimmering light followed. Strands of luminous magic shot up from the light trail, and each thread snaked around each other, furnishing itself into a chaotic knot. The air around the eye hissed and glowed until a misty image formed above it, mixing in with the smoke of tobacco.

The Darkwatch has some interesting toys, Mr. Frost mused.

Smoky tendrils rolled down from the corners of Mr. Frost’s mouth as he saw a familiar face in the ghostly mirage. A spectral, violet unicorn with a white saddlebag clinging to her side. Twilight Sparkle. Mr. Frost could feel a sense of excitement well up inside of him. She wasn’t dull like the others. No, she was smart. She was clever. She was special.

Twilight’s trail had gone cold a week ago, but alas, here she was again, marching right back into his hands. However, Mr. Frost chomped down on the end of his smoke stick. Apprehending her and the package would not be so easy this time. This time, she would be ready for him. Twilight was learning to cover her back, evidenced by concealing her cutie mark. Probably using some sort of magical charm. It also seemed that she had made a few friends. Smart, but could very well be her undoing. People tend to be reckless and untrustful these days.

He glanced at one of the figures that stood near Twilight, a teenage elf girl with long, blood orange curls that bobbed at her shoulders. She seemed familiar, but the image was particularly hazy around her. He stole a quick glance at Nalia and wondered if the dark elf knew anything about the little one. She had seemed apprehensive in her response when she had mentioned Twilight’s companions. Mr. Frost made a mental note to keep a watchful eye on Nalia. His fellow associate was showing signs of restlessness. He would have to remind her that she doesn’t get the girl until he gets what he wants. That was the deal, and backing out of a deal with him was very costly.

Mr. Frost focused his attention onto the other stranger, and when his eyes fell upon the other figure, a thin, crooked smile split his lips.

Twilight Sparkle and a Nightingale in the same place? he pondered. This little job was becoming more intriguing by the second.

“What is it? What do you see?” Nalia questioned.

“A face from the past.” Mr. Frost stole one last breath from his cigarette before dropping it onto the ground. He snuffed the bud with his boot. His hand swiped at the vision, and the cloud dissipated into flickering sparks.

“Looks like I’m going to have a chat with this one.”

“And how do you plan to persuade him to help you? It seems he is assisting the Twilight girl.”

His crooked smile stretched even wider. “Everyone wants something in this life Nalia, and I’m going to give him just that. Tell me, do you still have access to the Darkwatch databases?”

Nalia responded with a quick nod.

“Good, I want you to pull up everything they have on both Thomas and Daniel Nightingale.”

Mr. Frost stepped away from Nalia and looked out at the bay. He watched as small ripples expanded into larger ones, each one clawing out to the edges of the harbor.

“Oh Thomas, old friend,” Mr. Frost whispered. “It seems you still have a few secrets left.”

***

“Y’know, you don’t have to do this,” insisted Ceilia as she twiddled her thumbs. “It isn’t like I haven’t been on my own before.”

“I already told you, don’t worry about it,” Daniel said. He tugged at Ulysses to stay close. “You just need a roof over your head for at least one night. After that, we’ll go our separate ways. This is the least we can do for helping us out earlier today.”

“Are you sure your friend would be willing take in all three of us?”

“Of course, Geary’s a real nice guy. Besides, he loves company.”

The group travelled down the streets of Baltimore as a gust of sweet, autumn wind swept past them. The dilapidated apartment complexes were smushed together as narrow streets knifed their way around the structures. The bright orange glow of the sun painted the walls.

Twilight half-listened to Daniel and Ceilia’s conversation, but her mind had wandered somewhere else. She watched as bystanders strolled up and down the streets, eager to return to their families. She watched as children and foals alike played in the streets, savoring the last light of the day. This was the first time Twilight had seen other equines in this world. Of course, all of them were blank flanks. They ran and squealed and giggled until their parents called them home.

Twilight’s thoughts wandered back to simpler days in her home city, Canterlot. It was a wondrous time, a time before Nightmare Moon, before the Elements, before… before she ruined everything. She remembered the days of Canterlot Park, when she and her brother would play together. It was always a struggle, of course. Everything involving siblings is. While all she wanted to do was read in peace and enjoy the sunshine, Shining always pestered her to leave behind her books and have fun like other fillies her age did.

“You can always read at home, Twily,” he would say. “How about you stop reading about adventures and have a real one?”

And many adventures they did have, some like the books she read as a child. As seafaring pirates, they scoured the Emerald Gulf in search of treasure and the fabled empire of the Sea Ponies. As soldiers in Celestia’s Royal Army, they turned the tide of battle at Fort Sunflower against the Shadow Pony’s legion of monsters. As daredevil adventurers, they explored the dark and mysterious corners of the ancient Maple Tree Forest. From sunrise to sunset, they were the heroes of Canterlot Park, that is until Mom and Dad called them home.

Twilight wondered if Shining would remember those days of adventure. She wondered if he smiled just like her when he thought of all the good old days, and she wondered if he would still call her Twily, his little sister.

Nonetheless, Twilight knew in the back of her mind that her big brother didn’t care for those times now. Those adventure were long gone. Another hopeless memory that piled on with the others. He was glad that she’s gone now, lost to another world. To him, she was no longer his little sister, just another problem that was swept away in the wind.

“Hey, hey Twilight! You still with us?”

Twilight snapped out of her nostalgic trance. “Wh-What?”

Before she could react, Twilight grazed something against her shoulder. A string of unpleasant curses followed behind her. Twilight went to apologize before she realized that whoever she had bumped into was already out of earshot. She saw that Ceilia was giving her a small smirk.

“What are you smiling about?” Twilight asked in agitation.

Ceilia turned away and twirled a lock of her hair. “Oh nothing, just watching you daydream.”

Twilight huffed. “I wasn’t daydreaming,” she grumbled.

“Really? ‘Cause it seemed like you were, staring out into the distance with that big deep-in-thought look on your face. Tell me, was it about a boy?”

“What?! No, that’s just preposterous!”

“Fine, so was it a girl instead? It’s okay, I don’t judge,” Ceilia teased as she batted her eyelashes.

Twilight just rolled her eyes and opted to ignore the child. It was useless to argue against her. She had better chances converting a tiger to veganism. Still, a part of her was silently grateful that Ceilia had interrupted her daydream. She thought of the past enough as it was.

They continued on deeper into the city. Soon, Daniel came to halt in front of an old auto repair shop. Two grimy, metal garage doors stood adjacent from each other while a flashing neon sign hung over the doors. The sign said Geary’s Workshop in bright green letters. A metal-searing, hissing noise could be heard coming from inside the building.

“Okay, so a word of warning,” Daniel said as he parked his horse at the front of the shop. He gave Ulysses a light pat on the muzzle. “Geary’s pretty nice to strangers, but he’s also a bit... different. He can be a little eccentric sometimes, so don’t freak out.”

Twilight’s head tilted slightly to the side. “What do you mean by ‘different’?”

“You’ll just have to see for yourself.” Daniel approached the closest garage door and gave it a good rattle. A moment passed and nothing happened. He knocked again, harder than the last time.

“Shop’s closed,” a hoarse voice grunted from the other side. “Beg somewhere else, you bunch of leech lickers.”

“Thought you said he enjoyed company?” Ceilia deadpanned to Daniel.

He ignored her. “Open up! It’s me, Daniel!”

The hissing sound ceased immediately. Silence hung in the air before it was followed by the loud scraping of the garage doors. On the other side of the doors stood a stout earth pony with a scratched welding mask over his face. His pale green coat was matted with grease spots, and his tail was singed black at the tip. The pony’s sea blue mane was slick with sweat. Twilight noted, once again, that he did not have a cutie mark.

The pony lifted the metal mask and revealed a beaming smile. “Daniel,” Geary whispered in an awestruck tone. Then, the earth pony suddenly rushed up to his old friend and scooped him up in a massive bear hug.

“By the beard of a dragon, it is you!” he laughed as he paraded Daniel around the front of the shop.

The sight of a chubby earth pony tossing around a fully-grown man was too much for poor Ceilia. She was on the verge of tears, and her face was beet red from laughter. Even Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle along with her.

“Geary,” Daniel rasped red-faced. “Please... put me down!”

Geary promptly did as Daniel asked, dropping him like a sack of stones. Unfortunately, Daniel gracelessly fell on his bum, warranting a not-so-elegant yelp from him, and Ceilia began another wave of chuckles. Daniel stood up, shooting a death glare at Ceilia while rubbing his sore bum. She responded with quieted snickers.

Daniel turned away and smiled at his old friend. “Goodness Geary, how long has it been? Must have been a while ‘cause you seem to have put on a few pounds.”

Geary gave a proud slap on his stomach. “A diet of beans and beer will do that to anypony. Speaking of anypony…”

He offered a hoof towards Twilight. “Salutations ma’am. Name’s Gear Head, but everybody calls me Geary.”

“It’s nice to meet you, my name is- GAH!” Twilight leaped back in surprise as a straight, blue flame shot up between her and Geary. Her cheeks burned red as a roll of heat rushed over her head. The blaze soon sputtered and died, and Twilight could see Geary rubbing the back of his neck embarrassed.

“Oops, sorry. Wrong hand. It was set to blowtorch mode.” Before Twilight could ask what in the world he was talking about, she looked down. She had expected to see a pale, bluish-green hoof. But instead, a long metal device had taken its place. The contraption was surrounded by a mass of grease-stained gears and steel scraps that extended to his shoulder. Twilight soon realized that this alien, metallic device was Geary’s hoof. Geary pressed one of the many gears with his one, real hoof. The metal appendage leaped into action, the various metal parts whirring and spinning. The blowtorch vanished under a blur of steel until the clanking of the device came to a still. What had taken the place of the blowtorch was a metal claw.

“Sorry, let’s try that again,” Geary proposed with his claw extended. Still feeling a bit wary, Twilight accepted the claw with a timid hoof.

“Well, you managed to avoid giving me second degree burns on my face, so there’s a start,” Twilight remarked half-jokingly. “My name’s Twilight Sparkle, if you were still wondering.”

“And I’m Ceilia.” She approached the two as they were greeting each other. She glanced at Geary’s metal claw. “Cool hand, but you’re not going try to set me on fire as well, are you?”

“Of course not!” he laughed heartily. “That’s a onetime deal, not gonna happen again.”

“Is there any other settings other than ‘burn strangers I just met’ on that thing?”

“Oh, more than you know. Hell, more than I know.”

Geary took a step back and looked between the two of them. “I didn’t realize you travelled with strangers, Danny.”

“Yeah, a few things have changed, but Ceilia is only going to stay with us for one night. Me and Twilight are going to be sticking together a little bit longer.”

“And when you mean staying with us, you mean sleeping in my house, correct?”

Daniel nodded. “If that’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all.” Geary gave Daniel a light punch on the shoulder. “C’mon inside and make yourselves comfortable. Just don’t touch anything that looks like it can bite. Or explode. Or both.”

Twilight and Ceilia exchanged glances. Although Ceilia was eager to see what awaited them inside, Twilight did not share the same level of enthusiasm. Regardless, she was tired and would be glad to finally have somewhere to rest and recuperate.

All four of them disappeared into the workshop as the sun made its final descent. The last trickles of sunlight began to fade into darkness. As the garage doors closed shut behind them, a pair of cold, blue eyes watched from the encroaching shadows.

***

Everything was packed and ready to go. Medical supplies, food, some clothing, and ammunition were all crammed into a travel pack. Ulysses sported his weathered saddle proudly, ready to hit the open road. Everything was ready except for one thing: Daniel.

The rain came down in steady streams. Daniel closed his eyes and listened to the plinking and plonking as raindrops spattered against the tin roof over him. He breathed in deep the musty air and exhaled. He wanted to leave, to go out into the world and finish the job he had yet to begun. Still, a tightness in his chest stayed his feet, keeping him from taking that first vital step.

The screen door banged behind him. Daniel snapped his eyes back. The feeble figure that stood before him brought a lump to his throat.

“Susie, what are you doing out here?”

A stiff breeze could push her over. Her arms, thin and bony, swayed at her side. Her long, auburn hair was a frazzled, greying mess. Her cheekbones stretched from under her face, and dark bags hung under her dim eyes. Her skin used to be a rich olive tan, something she had inherited from their mom, but now, all that color had faded away, leaving nothing but a shell of the old Susan.

She coughed. “Can’t I say goodbye to my little brother?” She smiled tiredly. It took a lot out of her just to do that.

Daniel shook his head. “You need to go back inside, you could catch a cold or something! Here, I’ll help you get back to be-”

Susan clamped her hand over his mouth. She glared at him, an eyebrow cocked. “Daniel, seriously, hush. I swear, you’re just as bad as mom was.”

When she removed her hand, Daniel mumbled, “Well, one of us needs to be.”

Susan sat at the edge of the porch, her legs dangling from the side. She patted the empty spot next to her. Reluctantly, Daniel took his spot next to his sister. He wasn’t sure why, but when he looked over at Susan, all he could think of was that she was still a head taller than him. Even after all these years of growing up, she was still the bigger of the two. Some things never change.

“So, I take it you're just gonna run off on your little adventure? Not even tell us goodbye?”

Daniel sighed. “It’s not that I didn't want to say goodbye, it's just that I… I….” The words stuck to the side of his throat. When he swallowed, it was like swallowing boulders. “I don’t know, guess I figured it would be easier for everyone if I just went ahead and leave.”

Daniel waited for a response, but all he got was a snort. He turned to see a smirk on his sister’s face, a cocky smile he always hated growing up. For the first time ever, he was actually happy to see it. “Danny, you need to lighten up. Melodrama really doesn’t suit you.”

"Come on, I'm trying to be serious."

"So am I," she said.

The smirk dissolved into a flat line. It was Susan’s turn now to sigh. “But do you really have to go? I mean, that lady could have been a complete whacko. How do you know she isn’t going to lead you on some wild goosechase? What if she was trying to drag you into something that is way over your head?”

Way over my head, huh? Daniel thought to himself. Maybe there was some truth to that. Maybe that was the reason why he hadn’t took the first step.

“I have to go, you know this. Look at you, this has been the best you’ve been in months. After what she was able to do for you, that lady must’ve been telling the truth.”

“And maybe I’ll be able to pull through this, you don’t know for sure. Please, just give it a few more weeks,” she pleaded.

“No, I can’t wait a few weeks,” Daniel replied. “If I'm going to do something, I gotta do it now. You’ve got a husband and a daughter to look after. You’ve got a family that needs you, and I’m not going to risk losing you.”

“And what about you? You're my family too, what if I lose you?”

Daniel felt as Susan’s frail fingers wrapped around his arm, holding him back. She squeezed, but her grip was so weak. He gingerly lifted her hand away. “You’re not gonna lose me. I will make it back home.” Daniel wasn’t so sure he believed himself.

Daniel stood up from his spot and looked into his sister’s eyes. They shined with a sadness that he had only seen once before. “All these years, you’ve been taking care of me, of mom, and your family. Now, it’s my turn to take care of you, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you better. That’s my choice, and there’s no changing that.”

Susan sat in silence, staring out into the rain. Finally, she stood up with a defeated cough. “No talking you out of this one, huh? You’re so thick headed.” She reached over and pulled Daniel into a warm embrace. Susan held on, hoping he wouldn't leave her. Her little brother wasn't ready for the big world yet.

“Don’t do anything stupid, you hear? Don’t trust anyone, and don’t play hero. You worry about yourself first, and you get back home safe. Otherwise…”

She took a step back, her face smiling tiredly. However, she could not conceal the worry that hid behind her eyes. “...I’ll have to hunt you down and kick your ass.”

Daniel returned the same sad smile to her. “Yeah, I know."

He scooped up his backpack and slipped the straps over his shoulder. Stepping over to Ulysses, he heaved himself onto the saddle. He looked back at Susan. There was one last thing that needed to be said.

“Do me a favor and tell Natalie I’m sorry that I didn’t finish our book. Tell her I promise to finish reading it when I get back.”

“I will, and I’ll hold you to that promise.”

He winked at her. “I know you will.”

Then, Daniel spurred Ulysses into a gallop. The horse reared back and then darted down the road. Hooves dug into the ground and threw bits of the earth into the air. Daniel chanced a final glance back, and he saw as his home shrank away into the distance, and on the porch, Susan stood alone as she waved her last goodbyes. And then, it all vanished into the rain.

***

Something pressed against his cheek, something uncomfortable that clung to the side of his face. His eyes still closed, Daniel shifted his head upright. Suddenly, his left arm felt like it was being pricked on all sides by a thousand needles. A numbness ran from his forearm to his fingertips.

Daniel opened his eyes, and then immediately shut them. Too bright. Too blurry. A shot of pain crept to the front of his skull. Daniel massaged the side of his temples. Wasn't naps supposed to help with headaches, not make them worse?

His arm rested on a smooth surface, a table he guessed. His memory was feeling hazy, so it was difficult to think straight. Daniel reached out with his hand as it searched his surroundings. It brushed against some sort of ceramic object that slid slightly at his touch. He dared not to push it any further. He moved on, and finally, his hand rested on a familiar, wiry object. He lifted the object up from the table and held it in front of him. Clicking open the legs, he rested the glasses on tops of his ears.

Once his glasses were back in their rightful spot, he tried to blink. This time, no light hurt his vision, only the burning of sleep at the edges of his eyes.

Ah, much better.

He saw that he was indeed at a table, and that the porcelain object he felt earlier was a coffee cup. Besides a small superficial crack that ran down from the brim to the bottom, the mug was in good condition, brandishing #1 Dad on the side. Daniel peered into the cup, and a puddle of black liquid awaited him. No steam crawled up from the fluid.

Coffee is coffee, hot or cold, he thought to himself as he brought the mug up to his lips. A river of cold bitterness dashed down his throat. Daniel lowered the empty cup onto the table.

“You think you got enough sleep there, Rip Van Winkle?”

Daniel saw Geary leaning against a wall at the back of the room, his foreleg and metallic claw crossed over his chest. “Not enough if you’re still here,” Daniel joked.

Geary stepped down on all threes and trotted over to the table. “Very funny, they should make you a comedian,” he sneered as he took a seat across from Daniel. “So, how’s the coffee?”

Daniel traced his finger along the rim of the cup. “Well, it was just about as cold as I remembered it was.”

“Oh please, this is coming from the guy who burnt oatmeal, oatmeal. Seriously, how do you manage that?”

Daniel grinned. “It takes talent, my dear Geary, talent,” he said as he took another sip.

“I didn’t realize being a horrible cook was considered a talent. I swear, if you were a pony, that’d be your special talent.”

“Hey, at least I would probably get a cutie mark.” Daniel cringed at his own words when they slipped out from his lips. You and your big, stupid mouth. Way to go you jerk.

“Hey man, I’m sorry, I was just joking. That was real stupid of me, I didn’t mean to-”

“Daniel, it’s fine,” Geary said, but his face said otherwise. The disheartened pony couldn't bring himself to meet Daniel's gaze, only able to stare down at his claw. “Me and every other pony have the same problem, it’s nothing new.”

But that doesn’t make it okay, Daniel quietly berated himself. For over a thousand years and countless generations, every single pony that has ever lived has been denied their birthright, their destiny. And here I am, cracking jokes like its nothing. Some friend I am.

The two avoided eye contact with each other, only taking interest in the dusty floor tiles or the corner covered with cobwebs. Geary tapped his claw to a slow, measured beat as time dragged on. Eager to alleviate the mood, Geary spoke up. “So, I was talking to your two friends. Told me ‘bout the trouble you ran into on the road.”

“Really?”

“Mmhm, and how your marefriend ended up saving all of your flanks.” Geary leaned back in his chair, yawning as he stretched his limbs. “Or more like that elf girl told me. That unicorn was pretty tight-lipped.”

"Yeah, she doesn't seem to be the talking type," Daniel said as he walked over to the counter, coffee mug in hand. The countertop was crowded with an assortment of metal doo-hickies and doo-dads, the playthings of the tinkerer earth pony.

Geary watched as Daniel fruitlessly searched the counter. “If you're looking for the coffee pot, it's to the left of the counter and behind the toaster.”

Daniel stepped to the left of the counter and saw the cannibalized corpse of some piece of machinery. Behind it sat the coffee pot.

“This thing was a toaster?”

“Eh, I got bored one day.” The earth pony looked over to the right side of the counter and something wrapped in rags caught his eye. Was he forgetting something?

“So tell me,” Geary continued, pushing the wrapped object to the back of his mind. “What exactly is the deal with your marefriend?”

“Would you stop calling her that?” Daniel waved a pot of cold coffee. “She's not my marefriend.”

“Then what is she to you?”

Daniel tipped the pot and black coffee flowed into his mug. He grimaced. “She's my job,” he answered plainly.

“Your job? And what the hell do you mean by that?”

“My job is to escort her north, someplace called Port Concord.”

Geary's eyes lit up like lightbulbs. “North?! Daniel, have you lost what little marbles you had left? That place is a frozen hellhole, no job is worth going up there for.”

Daniel took his seat at the table, staring at the swirl of bubbles in his coffee. “This one is.” Daniel stared up at Geary, a glint of desperation in his eyes. “I'm doing this for Susie.”

Geary's shocked expression softened after that. “Oh,” he managed.

“And that's part of the reason I came to you. I know you have some maps stored away and hoped you could help us.”

Geary looked over at the rag shrouded object again, scratching the underside of his chin with his claw. “Well, I'll have to think about it. First, tell me more about this Twilight person. Why is she so important that you have to be her personal bodyguard?”

Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know, but there's definitely something up about her. She's got this crazy powerful magic, I mean you've never seen anything like it!”

“You're talking about that little thunderstorm trick she did?”

“Yeah, and trust me, it's anything but little.” Daniel took a sip as he struggled to remember everything. There was something he was forgetting...

“She also holds onto to this white saddlebag constantly. Never leaves it out of her sight.”

Geary raised his claw in the air. “So what? It's probably just a bunch of her personal crap.”

Daniel shook his head. “No. No, it's more than that. When we were out on the road, we'd been attacked by some Hollows. In the middle of the fight, one of the biters grabbed the saddlebag. Rather than letting it go, she held on. I had to step in and get them off of her, otherwise she would've been pulled into the horde. What's so important in that bag that she would risk her own life for?”

Geary whistled. “Damn, are you sure that you're protecting her, or whatever's in that bag?”

Daniel’s reply never left his mouth, for his answer came knocking at the door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Geary raised a confused eyebrow. “Strange, no one ever comes by here this late. Why don’t you think that question over while I go see who it is.”

Geary sat up and left the room, leaving Daniel alone with his thoughts. All he could think about was Twilight, and a lot of questions seemed to surround the mysterious mare. Like, how could she possibly not know what a Hollow is? Anyone that has ever lived out in the wastes has either seen one or heard stories about the creatures. And where did she learn how to use such powerful magic? Sure, Daniel had seen basic spells like telekinesis or simple light spells, but has never seen anyone manipulate a storm before. However, the biggest question that stuck out in Daniel’s mind was what exactly was in Twilight’s bag, and why is it so important? Was it an artifact of some kind? Was it a weapon? Did she steal it from someone? Did she kill someone for it? Many unanswered questions buzzed around Daniel’s head like a cloud of angry wasps.

When Daniel had learned that he would be escorting a pony rather than a package, he was hesitant to take the job. If someone needed protection, it was usually because that someone angered the wrong people. Anyone that was after Twilight must surely be after what was in her bag as well. It didn’t matter though, Daniel still had to take the job no matter how skeptical he was. This was his only option, his last option, to save his sister, and there was no backing out of it. Daniel buried his head in his hands. So many questions. So many uncertainties.

What have I gotten myself into?

Daniel could hear the chair across the table shift against the floor. “Geary, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I’ve been thinking about Twilight and this job, and there’s just so many questions that-”

Daniel looked up, and his heart skipped a beat. His mouth, a dry sand pit. It wasn’t Geary that sat across from him, but a man; a black clad stranger he had never seen before.

“Hello Mr. Nightingale,” the stranger said with a tip of his hat. Daniel just stared back, too shocked to say anything.

The stranger leaned back in his seat, a relaxed smile on his face. “You seem to be at a disadvantage, Daniel. I know so much about you, yet you know nothing about me.”

The stranger offered a friendly hand towards Daniel. “You can call me Mr. Frost.”

Daniel's eyes flicked between the hand that hovered in front of him and Mr. Frost. “Where's Geary?” he questioned.

Mr. Frost took back his hand as his friendly smile shrinked into a thin line. “I politely asked Mr. Gear Head to remain in the other room while we had this chat. It's essential that we have this conversation one-on-one.”

Mr. Frost propped his arms onto the table, his hands clasped into a single fist. Daniel watched every movement with extreme caution. “How do you know my name?”

“You could say I'm a friend of the family, your father in particular. You and him practically have the same face. Did Thomas ever speak much of me?”

Daniel shook his head. “I never talked to him much. Sorry.”

Mr. Frost sighed as he dug around in his pockets. He pulled out a single cigarette and a matchbook. “That’s a shame. Me and Thomas knew each other very well. Mind if I smoke? I'd hate to be rude, but it helps me think straight.”

“I’d prefer you didn’t. This is Geary’s house, not mine. You need his permission if you want to do that.”

“Fair enough,” Mr. Frost said as he pocketed his cigarette and matchbook.

Mr. Frost then took out a rusted brass coin out from his pocket. He lightly thumbed the sides of it, and Daniel could clearly see the open eye on its side.

“You know what this is, Mr. Nightingale?”

Daniel nodded. “Yeah, you part of the Darkwatch?”

Mr. Frost chuckled like Daniel’s question was a joke. “Heavens no. I’m afraid my employer is not too keen on relations with that group, but I happen to have a few connections there. For example, this little toy here has helped me keep a very careful eye on both you and your unicorn companion.”

Mr. Frost noticed Daniel’s shoulders tense up at the mention of “unicorn”.

“What are you talking about? What unicor-”

“Don’t try to play dumb with me, Daniel,” he hissed. “I’ve been at this game far longer than you have. I know when someone is trying to lie to me. You could say it’s part of my job; to root out the liars. And it seems your friend is one of them.”

Mr. Frost brushed himself off as he stood up from his seat and began to pace back and forth near the table. His eyes scanned the graveyard of machinery that was laid out on the countertop. This didn’t help with Daniel’s nerves. “Mr. Nightingale, I’m no fool. I know for a fact that you are working for Twilight Sparkle, and I know the exact reason why you took the job. Do you realize who you have gotten yourself involved with?”

“Listen, all I know is that Twilight hired me for a job. She needed an escort and that is it.”

Mr. Frost chuckled again which elicited a curious look from Daniel.

“So, does this job require you to die for her?”

Daniel could feel the weight of stones crush against his chest. “Excuse me?”

“Because, as I’m sure you already know, she’ll kill you whenever this is all over.”

Daniel couldn’t believe it. This was absurd. No, there was no way that the same unicorn that risked her own life would ever harm him. “No, Twilight would never do that. She’d never try to hurt someone.”

“Daniel, how long have you known her? A week? A day? How can you trust her? I’ve known her for much longer, and I know just how far she’s willing to go to get what she wants. I’m sure you’ve seen the saddlebag she carries with her at all times, never letting it out of sight, always keeping it close.”

Mr. Frost stepped over close to Daniel. He beamed down unflinchingly at him with crossed arms. Daniel refused to look back. “Do you know what Twilight did for what’s in that bag? She lied right to the faces of her friends. She betrayed her entire family. Hell, she nearly killed her own brother just to save her own hide. How long do you think you'll last before she throws you to the hounds as well?”

Daniel refused to accept this. He started to feel an anger spark inside, but whether it was directed at this stranger or Twilight, he could not tell. “You have no proof,” he growled.

“I already have all the proof I need. Has she shown you what’s in that bag? Has she told you that you will die for whatever's inside it? You won’t be able to protect your family when you're dead, Daniel.”

Daniel took in a deep breath to calm himself. This was becoming too much for him. He wanted to silence his ears and hear no more. “Why are you here? What do you want?” he demanded.

“I’m here to collect a debt, and help you.”

Mr. Frost took back his seat across from Daniel. A long silence fell in the room as neither of the two moved an inch. Each sat in silence. Daniel left his coffee untouched. Mr. Frost never let up his unrelenting gaze. Nothing but deafening silence.

“Twilight Sparkle cheated both me and my employer in a deal we had. I want what rightfully belongs to us. In exchange for your help, we will cure your sister’s ailment.”

Suddenly, the feeling of crushed stones was lifted from his chest. His sister, healthy again? The thought was too good. His sister, no longer sick. No more coughs in the night. No more scavenging for medicine. No more “I’m sorry” from the doctors.

“Can you actually help her? You can cure Susie?”

“Of course. My employer has plenty of resources at his disposal. A word from him, and all your problems will vanish. All you need to do is help us.”

Daniel removed his glasses and buried his forehead into his hand. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Mr. Frost stared down at the boy with his icy blue eyes. “Daniel, you're a smart man. A reasonable man. You have two options: you can either help a fugitive who betrayed her own family, or you can help those who really matter to you: your family.”

Mr. Frost leaned closer. “I think the answer is very clear here, but which one is it going to be?”

***

Twilight was sound asleep in her cot. Strands of her violet mane flowed over her feathery, white pillow. The hills of bundled sheets rose and fell with her every breath. The end of her nose twitched ever so slightly as she softly snored. Daniel could see her slumbering face, and it was the most at peace he had ever seen her.

This mare had changed so much for Daniel already, and he had only known her for one day. She was the mare that he was sworn to protect. She was the mare that had saved his life. She was the mare that he had held in his arms. And she was the mare that he was going to betray.

How could everything go so wrong so fast?

Countless doubts swam around in his head, but Daniel always found himself falling back to where he started: was he going to help this stranger or his sister? It was a question that didn’t need an answer.

He could see the white saddlebag resting next to Twilight on the nightstand. Just sitting there. Waiting to be stolen. It would be so easy to just take it and go, but why was it so hard to just reach for?

Daniel steeled himself. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, but he was doing it for the right reasons. He couldn’t worry anymore about Twilight. He couldn’t worry about what was in the bag. He had to focus on getting back home.

Fighting back the sinking feeling inside him, he stretched his arm out towards the waiting bag. Suddenly, he heard the cot creak next to him. His hand froze as his fingers were just a breath away from the straps. He bit on the bottom of his lip to silence the yelp in his throat. The sleepy mare sat up from her cot and stretched her limbs as far as she could. Daniel’s heartbeat thundered like a steam engine. Twilight let out a relaxed yawn as she laid back down on her bed. She shifted her slim body and swiveled her back to Daniel. She muttered something under her breath before everything was silent once again. He didn’t move an inch until he was sure that Twilight had fallen back to sleep.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, Daniel wrapped his hand around the straps. Slipping the strap on to his shoulder, the bag came to rest against his side. From where the bag was touching him, a sense of warmth began to spread throughout Daniel’s being.

The tingling sensation washed over Daniel’s skin, reminding him of a feeling he had long forgotten about: the warmth of home. He was reminded of the long, winter nights when he and Natalie would sit close to the crackling fireplace. Huddled in the comfort of the hearth fire, Daniel would clutch the pages of a book, reading aloud as little Natalie looked up at him with hazel eyes filled with wonder. Depending on the story, she would either giggle heartily, cry in sorrow, or gasp in awe. However, she would always fall asleep, and Daniel would always quietly cradle her in his arms. Once he tucked the little girl into bed, he would give her a light kiss on the forehead and say...

Daniel shook himself out of the surreal trance.

What was that?

He stared down at the bag and rubbed the side of his head. He shuddered. The sooner he was done with the accursed thing, the better. He hurriedly stepped over to the door. Before he shut the door, he looked through the crack to glance at Twilight one more time. It was so strange to see her like this: peaceful. Like Daniel had never betrayed her trust and turned her life upside down mere minutes ago. He sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

He silently clicked the door shut.

Once he had stepped out of the hallway, Daniel found Geary waiting for him in the next room. He sat on a beige sofa with bits of fluff sticking out of the cushions. His eyes whisked over to the saddlebag that hung from Daniel’s side. The earth pony’s sunken expression told Daniel that he already knew.

“I guess you already heard everything, huh?”

Geary nodded. “Yeah, was glad when that creep finally left, but you’re not really going to help him, right?”

“I’m sorry, but I have to. I’ve got to help him, for my sister’s sake.”

Geary’s sea green irises drifted towards Twilight’s room. “But that means-”

“If there was a better way, I’d do it. But that’s just it; there isn’t a better way.”

Geary stepped down from the couch. There was a rise in his voice. “Daniel, there’s always a better way. That guy seriously rubs me the wrong way, and I don’t think he exactly has your best intentions in mind. You can’t trust him.”

“I can’t trust Twilight either. I don’t have a single clue about what she has done. All I know is that she isn’t above hurting her own family to get her way, so what if she betrays me? Then there’ll be no one left to help my family.”

“You need to give her some more time. Maybe then she’ll open up more to you, and then you can learn the truth from her.”

Daniel looked away. “Geary, time isn’t on my side. My mind is made up.”

A dark cloud of uncertainties hung over them. Geary was quiet for a moment before he asked, “So, there’s no way to keep you from doing this?”

Daniel stared down at his feet as he shook his head.

Geary huffed. “Well, if you’re still stuck on meeting with that pale freak, you should at least arm yourself.”

Before another word could leave Daniel’s mouth, Geary stepped out of the room. When he returned, he held an object wrapped in oil-stained rags. He handed it to Daniel.

“What is-”

“Just open it.”

When all of the rags fell away, Daniel couldn’t fight back the small smile on his face. It had been such a long time since he had seen this. It was a slim, metal cylinder, a foot in length. Gray iron in color, two black rings topped each side. In the center was the etching of a pegasus with its wings outspread.

Does it still work? Daniel asked himself.

Daniel pressed his thumb against the pegasus, and two metal rods slid out of both sides with a satisfying shink! Grasping it in his hands, Daniel gave it a light twirl in his hands. The quarterstaff sang through the air as he swung it. Smiling, he pressed the button again and the two sides retracted.

“You fixed it.”

“Of course I did, don’t know why you sound so surprised.”

“Thanks.”

Geary responded with a curt nod.

Daniel placed the quarterstaff in the pocket opposite of his handgun. As he walked over to the front door, Daniel stopped himself.

“Geary, you know I’m just trying to look out for my own, right? I don’t have any other choice.”

The pony’s ears drooped to the side of his face. “Daniel, you always have a choice. It’s just a matter of whether you see the other options before you or not.”

Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. There was nothing left to be said. In complete silence, Daniel turned and took his first steps into the night.

***

Red on white. Something warm, something wet pools at her hooves. Blood pounding in her ears. Blood rushing away from her face. Blood everywhere. So much of it…

Her skin, cold and clammy. She shivers. Salty tears trail down her cheek and rest on her lips. Her heart sinks, two boulders tied around her hooves. They’re shaking. She’s falling. She’s drowning. Nothing but red and darkness.

She didn’t mean it. She didn’t want this. She just wants him to wake up. Wake up.

Wake up…

Twilight gasped for air like a fish out of water. She greedily sucked the air down her throat. She blinked, and little dots of light fade to black. She was in the dark, only the glow of the doorframe provided any light. Her fur was wet from chilled beads of sweat. As she shook herself awake, Twilight mustered enough mental strength to bury this nightmare in the darkest, most forgotten parts of her mind. She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take.

Twilight sat up as her cot creaked under her. She rested her hooves on the nightstand adjacent to her rapidly made bedding. These nightmares, they were starting become worse and worse with each passing night. She was finding it harder for herself to just fall asleep. Twilight began to wonder if she would fall into a deep nightmare one night, and never wake up again…

Wait. Something wasn’t right. Something was out of place, wrong. Something very wrong…

The saddlebag. Where was it?

Panic shot up into her throat. Twilight leapt out of bed, and her horn conjured up a ball of light. Scanning the top of the nightstand, the saddlebag was nowhere to be seen. Where was it?

In a flurry, Twilight frantically looked under the nightstand and under the cot. She flipped the mattress and the sheets from one side of the room to the other. She inspected every nook, cranny, and corner of the room, but the bag was in none of those places. Her ears began to drum. Where was it?

Keep yourself together, Twilight. You can find it, you just need to look harder.

Twilight dashed out of her room and down the hallway. She tore through the rooms like an unstoppable twister. She ripped open cabinets doors, turned over furniture, and ransacked the rooms in hopes of finding just a shred of where the bag could be. The bag eluded her, and the drumming was getting louder and louder.

No, no, no! This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be…

“Twilight, what are you doing?”

Twilight snapped around. It was Geary, an expression of concern plastered on his face. He stood in the center of his overturned furniture.

“Geary, you have to help me! When I came in today, I had a bag with me, a white saddle bag. But it’s gone! Please, I’m asking you for your help. It is important that I find that bag, or-”

“Twilight,” Geary interrupted her. “I think you need to sit down. We...we need to talk.”

Twilight’s bottom jaw hung down. “Bu-but why? That won’t help with finding my bag. We don’t have time to talk. We don’t have time to sit. We need to find my bag.”

“I don’t think you understand, we need to talk so you can calm down.”

“What’s all the ruckus for?” It was Ceilia who had just entered from the hallway. She yawned as she rubbed the remnants of sleep out of her eyes. “I can hear everything all the way at the end of the hallway.”

Geary glanced over at the elf girl. “Ceilia, please go back to bed. This is hectic enough.”

Wait. Something wasn’t right here either. Something else was out of place, missing…

No, not something, someone.

And then, everything clicked together, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Twilight turned towards the countertop piled high with metal pieces.

“Where is Daniel?”

Geary looked nervously over at Ceilia, his eyes pleading for help. He received none.

“Twilight, I don’t think you should-”

Twilight’s horn lit up into a brilliant light, and every last scrap of metal that had previously rested on the countertop was flung away. Metal shrapnel crashed into the wall, leaving behind craters and cracks. Glass shattered onto the floor, sending clear shards sliding off into the most far off corners. Debris littered the room. The storm of metal ringed in everyone’s ears long after it ended.

Twilight directed her burning gaze at a shocked Geary.

Through gritted teeth, she said in a low-tone, “When I ask a question, I expect an answer. Now, I’m only going to repeat myself once: Where. Is. Daniel?”