Falling Temperatures

After I arrived back in town I was immediately smothered by a cyan unicorn.

“Oh my God Ram, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in like six months,” shouted Autumn

“It’s been a long time. As to why I’ve been gone, it’s sort of a long story…,” I said with my head drooping.

“Well I got time, want to get something at Sugarcube Corner?” she said concerned.

“Yeah…, I’d like that,” sighing as we began to walk to the bakery. Walking in I began to survey the room taking count of all of who was in the bakery.

“Roseluck, Cloudkicker, Derpy, Snips and Snails, Twist, Caramel, and Thunderlane. Eight ponies, one priority target, to many witnesses to attempt to eliminate Thunderlane,”

“Hey there! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, what can I get for you?, *GASP* RAM IS THAT YOU!” the excessively loud voice of Pinkie Pie assaulted my sensitive ears.

“Yep high Pinkie,” I said rubbing my ears, “look I want to tell you all something very important later. Can you tell everyone to meat us at the library?”

“Sure thing! Now what will you be having?” she asked again.

“I’ll have a cupcake please,” chirped Autumn.

“Same” I said flatly.

Pinkie returned a few seconds later with our order. We laid our bits on the counter and sat down to eat. However I could keep my eyes of Thunderlane.

“Why the hell are you staring at Thunderlane might I ask? “Autumn blurted sarcastically.

“Well it’s kind of…well part of my…job you could say,”

Hesitantly glancing back at Thunderlane, he was looking at us. I flashed my red irises for a second to send him a message,

“I’m here for you, outside now!”

I looked over at Autumn, “Hey I need to take care of a few things OK? I’ll be at the Library in a few hours,”

“Uh, OK?” was all I heard from Autumn before I teleported myself and Thunderlane into an open field.

“I know what you are. And you know why I’m here don’t you?” I shot at him.

“I believe so,” he taunted. The sun was setting as we both began to call upon our demon forms. His wings became leathery and powerful. His muzzle elongated slightly and his teeth sharpened themselves,

“What do you think Knightwatch lap dog?” he called.

A smile came to my face as the words left my mouth, “Mine’s better,”

Thunderlane cocked his head to the side. Then his eyes went wide as he noticed the crystals of black ice start to cover my body.

“Well are we going to do this?” I shot at him.

“Hang on, I want to ask a few things,” he said calmly

“Shoot,” I fired coldly.

“First, how and who turned you?” he asked Infuriated by the question, I literally spat at him,

“Lyra Heartstrings turned me after I made a deal for the lives of three other mares she had in her capture,”

“Secondly, what does this “form” you take?” he asked with a curious tone.

“This is a modification of my “Rage Shift” or state of intense magic power brought about by emotion. Only now it is brought about my own will,” I said with uncertainty in my voice.

“Finally, how does this feel?” he said with a wry smile.

Caught off guard I only managed to get out, “Wha…” before a set of fists clashed against my icy faceplate.

Grunting I shrugged off the blow as several more blows wracked every side off my body.

“Damn he’s fast!”

I thought as the black blur bounced seemingly between shadows. Contemplating strategies to overcome his infuriating speed I smiled as an idea came into my mind. I channeled my cryomancy into my hands to produce two small spheres. One I shot towards the darting shadow of Thunderlane. The other I slammed into the ground, deep freezing the water vapor around me, creating a dome of permeable ice. As Thunderlane barreled towards the dome I smirked at him.

“Gotcha,” I whispered.

His eyes went wide as he passed into the dome. His speed took a severe dip as he slowed to a near crawl.

“WHAT DID YOU DO!” he shouted at me.

“Took away your advantage,” I said confidently as I drew back my fist. Time stopped as our eyes met, my gauntlet sharpened into the same pronged blade I had used against Lyra. It claimed his throat as I held him high above my head as I said,

“Thunderlane, you are hear by charged with several counts of murder and as well as being a Vampony. How do you plead?”

A thick wad of blood against my faceplate was the only response.

“Defense noted,” I chuckled as the two prongs squeezed together.  Removing his head smoothly and cleanly.

His body writhed for a moment before became still. I picked up his head looking into his lifeless eyes and thought,

“This is what I could become huh? Not likely,” I teleported to town hall after I had let my armor melt.

“I have confirmation of the death of a Bat buy the name of Thunderlane,” I told the secretary.

“P-Please go in to see the Mayor,” she stuttered.

Walking into the office I saw an obviously stressed Mayor Mare scribbling something down on her desk.

“Mayor? I have something you need to see,” I called softly trying not to spook her.

“Oh? And what would that be?” she said without looking up from her paperwork.

“This,” I said calmly as I placed Thunderlane’s head on her desk, eliciting a small jump from the mare.

“Thunderlane? What did you do?” she questioned harshly.

“I did what I was told to do,” I said coldly, “I was sent her by the crown to eliminate all possible threats to the crown in this town. That includes those marked on this list,”

I handed her a sealed scroll. Eyeing the Lunar seal, she opened it. She went wide eyed as she read the list.

“You are part of the Knightwatch and I shall respect that. I will inform the town of Thunderlane’s…passing.”

“I wish to remain anonymous if that’s possible, at least until I can break the news myself,” my head dipped down in hiding.

“No problem,” she chirped, “But I still can’t help but wonder if the Vaponies could be helpful or even saviors, not just monsters,” she said staring into the moon

“Don’t worry I’m sure one will come around soon,” I reassured her.

Placing my hand on her shoulder she sighed.

I walked out with nothing left to say.

“Time for the second hardest decision of my life,” I thought to myself as I teleported to the library.