Chapters

1) Cloud Zapper and the Golden Sun
2) Cloud Zapper and the Forgiven Soul
3) Cloud Zapper and the Gifted Crown

1) Cloud Zapper and the Golden Sun
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Cloud Zapper and the Sacred Heart Saga

1) Cloud Zapper and the Golden Sun

Author's Note

This book was a commission, so the story is not entirely of my design. But it is thankfully in my style, and thus longer than my usual daring do books. However this will be updated far less, as I will be focusing on my daring do project and this will come second, as well as other side things I do. :) This is the first in an extremely large series of books that will be revealed, and like the daring do series, this series will also be available eventually in hardback to own as merchandise should you like it enough to grab it. ^-^

So here it is, enjoy the book, and more will be on its way in time. ;)

1) Cloud Zapper and the Golden Sun

Cloud Zapper and the Golden Sun

Dark images flashed.
The sound of rushing in the veins, the sound of steel clashing against steel breaking through the darkness and the coppery scent of spilled blood…they were all very familiar.
Too familiar.
But that was part of the job right?
To protect and serve, to hunt and take down…to fight.
But He had fought more than most.
He had fought too much.
His mind reminded him, reminded him of what had happened, the slashes, the flapping of wings, the feel of a sharp blade cleaving through flesh and bone, the splashing spray of crimson blood.
His mind reminded him of the present; the serving, the kneeling, and the doing of his duty and what it had cost him. Family, friends, yet was he so content?
He tried to be.
But then his mind changed. He felt a rushing, he felt a pain and then he saw what might come to pass.
The cackling of green fire licked his skin, the soft moans in the dark, the foreboding images of death and screams and there he saw it, green dark eyes in the shadows, glaring out with lustful desire.
And then the fire consumed him.

Cloud Zapper woke abruptly, sweat pouring from his face as he shook, looking around.
“W-what?” He asked himself, panting softly as he gazed around his room. The stallion sighed, running a weary hoof through his white and blue mane, looking around.
Azure eyes closed to allow the stallion to gather himself before he looked out the window. It was dawn; Luna was lowering the moon on the highest ivory tower.
He sighed at her beauty, the way that her flowing celestial mane blew in the breeze with an eerie yet beautiful darkness.
He wasn’t in love of course; his admiration was purely a fact of his devotion to the princess and her sister.
Cloud Zapper was a Royal Guard.

Pulling himself from his bed, he stood up tall. He wasn’t extremely built, even smaller than most other Guards though not by much. His abilities lay in his speed, and he was defined by his loyalty and sense of justice. His flank bore the cutie-mark of a yellow heart in a blue shield. The mark represented his love and devotion for his duty, and the justice and protection of others.

Cloud Zapper padded over to the closet, opening the doors to reveal his golden armour. It bore several distinctions from usual armour. The official artificial mane on the helm had been removed; allowing his personal mane to flow freely, this was a symbol of the royal respect he had earned, and the trust that was laid on him.
Cloud wasn’t a captain or anything; he was part of a very small division known as the Inquisitor Guard. They were a small group of elite royal guards that had earned the respect of the crown through many deeds, and had earned the right of investigation.
Every guard needed to investigate events that concerned threats to the crown, but Cloud was allowed the right of pursuit. He was able to leave the palace and the princess’s side to deal with far off threats from particular individuals. They were the detectives, the judge, jury, and executioners for the crown. They were loyal, they were fierce, and while Cloud Zapper was young, he was quickly placing his name up there with the very best of them.

He smiled at his armour before closing the door and heading out of room without putting it on. He’d best get himself cleaned up first.
The barracks where the Guards officially slept were actually rather grand, but it did hold military significance, so it was communal showering.
Entering the shower area several other fellow guards were already up, ranks that he overshadowed in authority, but not so much as to warrant a salute.
He entered the shower area and turned on the stream, sighing happily as the hot water cascaded over his mane and his body, his grey fur becoming dense and slightly heavier as it collected water.
“Looking forward to a good day?” A voice said to his right.
Cloud Zapper turned and grinned at the other stallion, looking him over.
This was Captain Sunride. He was one of four captains stationed at the castle.

The Palace guard where separated into four groups.

The Militia Guard:
These were the guards on show, constantly surrounding the princess’s, they were the face of the royal guard, a show of strength and their duty was simply to be there. To protect, and defend the palace as needed. They were the first and last line of defence for the palace and the princess’s alike.

The Inquisitor Guard:
These were the guards that investigated, tracked and captured or took down targets of importance who were a danger to the princess’s and the kingdom. They often worked outside of the royal decree, using their smarts and ingenuity to achieve their ends. Cloud Zapper was one of these.

The Aerial Guard:
These were made up of only Pegasus. Most of the other guard groups were a mixture of races, but only Pegasus could take this role. They were the guards that transported the princess’s, they pulled the carriages. But they were not simply labour mules; they were the first and last line of defence for the traveling princesses. As they travelled and transported the princess’s, large groups of them would fly above unseen, scanning everything. They required excellent eyesight and the ability for ground and aerial combat; they were firm and deadly when challenged.

And finally;
The Mystic Guard:
Only Unicorn could enter this guard unit.
Famously founded by their first member, Starswirl the Bearded, who through his research and prowess in magic, managed to both discover several ancient magicks, and also protect the princess’s during their early reigns.
Only unicorns with great magical potential were able to enter this particular guard set, and their aim was to research magic, enhance their own skills, discover potential ways to aid Equestria in their studies, and protect Canterlot and the palace with their magic if they were required.

Captain Sunride before Cloud was the captain of the Militia guard. He was physically built strong, like that of a shire pony and taller than most. He was over a head taller than Cloud, but there was no lack of respect. He and Cloud were actually good friends.
“I suppose,” Cloud responded to the greeting, shrugging his hunches, looking up into the stream of water, closing his eyes and letting it wash over his muzzle.
“You suppose? That’s not like you Cloud. Is something wrong?” He asked sounding somewhat concerned.
Cloud shrugged and sighed, thinking back to the dream he’d had, and how real it seemed.
“I suppose I just haven’t been sleeping well.” He said, giving a slight smile to the captain who simply smiled back. The captain gave him a somewhat mischievous grin that brought a light flush to Cloud’s cheeks.
“Well if you need help waking up, I suppose I could help you out there.”
Cloud Zapper was not unused to such advances.
Three of the four guard types only allowed male guards in them. This wasn’t a sexism ideology, simply an old doctrine that had never went out of style, and the style of life very rarely invited many mares into the field. Only the Mystic Guard had frequent female members.
Because of their personal vows to the princesses as part of the oath of the guard, they were not allowed to seek family whilst in service to the princesses.
No families coupled with living together and barely leaving the palace meant that a tradition between the males had rapidly grew, and enjoying each other’s physical company was not an uncommon thing in the shower rooms..
Cloud Zapper could already feel his own body start to stir and excite and he smiled up at the captain.
“I suppose I wouldn’t mind a little aid to improve my mood.” He said, grinning softly, feeling his shaft slip from his sheath, hanging low below him.
The other male eyed it with a smile and turned his body, presenting his own rather large shaft.
Cloud Zapper needed no invitation, and it wasn’t long before his lips were over the other stallion’s member, tasting the flavour eagerly before slipping him into his maw. He didn’t mind that there were in the public shower rooms, it wasn’t the first time, and he had no doubt some other guards may enjoy themselves before the shower was over.
He suckled the tip softly, letting his tongue run over the flat equine head with a soft moan, enjoying the taste. The other stallion however had different plans than enjoying the smaller male’s mouth. He grabbed Cloud Zapper and turned him around, wasting no time in mounting his back.
Cloud moved his tail out of the way, and the first touches of that shaft at his tailhole had him groaning softly before with a loud gasp it was thrusted in, feeling his rump spread around the large equine penis
No stranger to this play Cloud happily bucked back, grunting as he pushed the shaft deeper, his cheeks flushed pink as he felt the other males balls press against his own; his own cock drooling pre onto the wet floor.
The Captain began thrusting, the first rut eliciting a heavy groan from Clouds maw as he gasped, grinding back, shuddering and panting as the other male picked up a steady rhythm.
The shaft speared him deep, rubbing against his prostate and sending Cloud into a plethora of pleasurable sensations, panting hotly and grinding back, every thrust against his prostate sent his own shaft twitching and drooling pre-cum ever more copiously to the wet floor below.
He as panting, letting out heavy moans now. Captain Sunride was grunting, holding him tighter and thrusting firmly into Cloud Zapper below him, his balls slapping the other males loudly as he felt his shaft tip beginning to flare.
“Gonna cum…” He grunted, panting as he thrusted faster and harder, Cloud Zapper letting out heavy moans before Sunride slammed in with a single rough thrust.
Cloud gasped, feeling his prostate struck by the firm blow sending his body quivering, his own equine shaft erupted, his cock pouring hot seed over the floor as he felt his tailhole filled with the other stallions cum. He blushed and smiled, groaning as Captain Sunride pulled out.
He turned to the smirking face of the captain, a smile on his own face as his body still quivering slightly.
“Feel better?” The captain asked curiously, a rather smug smile adorning his face.
Cloud nodded and sighed, finishing his wash he grinned. “Thanks, I kinda needed that.” He said, feeling much better after some good sex.
Cloud Zapper left the shower room and dried off, making sure he was once again in his sheath and fully dried before heading back to his room.
Upon arriving he went back to his closet, opened it and picked up the helm from its stand.
Placing his helm on, he threaded his mane through the back so it flowed down properly. The helm was a snug warm fit, more comfortable than it looked, but he wasn’t quite sure if that was its design, or simply so many years of wearing it.
Taking the rest of his armour and latching it onto his body, he moved to the mirror
There stood a strong stallion. His blue and white mane flowing out of the back of the helm and down over the golden armour that reflected bright rays of the dawning sun. It glistened, newly polished the night before.
The night before…the dream.
Even the euphoric aftereffect of sex couldn’t take away the gut feeling that something was wrong.
Those dreams he’d had were more than what they seemed, he could tell. They had been so vivid, vivid enough that he could almost still taste the coppery taste of blood from the battlefield.
He sighed to himself and shook his head before heading for the door. He had a job to do, and standing around contemplating dreams wasn’t going to get it done.

When not on a particular assignment, Inquisitor Guards patrolled the palace areas and did the rounds questioning informants.
Informants were particular ponies not within the guard, but entirely outside of it. They were often called the Little Spiders, because they had webs of contacts and ears to the ground, they were usually the first to tell when danger was incoming against the palace; unless the Mystic Guard beat them to it with prophecies of course.
Prophecies…there was another headache he didn’t want to deal with.
Prophecies were the bane of all guard. They were often unavoidable, and sometimes trying to avoid them would make them happen anyway. It was the mystic guard’s primary job to deal with prophecies, to make them, to discover them, and find out which ones needed to be called to attention. To Cloud Zappers knowledge, no current prophesies were much of a problem or threat. He hoped.
Surely if a bad one had been discovered, as guards of royalty they would have been informed to be prepared for the threat, so he supposed the lack of news and information was a good thing.

Cloud Zappers informant was an earth pony. His blue coat and white mane didn’t set him apart from others very much, the only main identifier he had was a lack of a cutie-mark. But this wasn’t due to being a blank-flank, he covered it using makeup.
Most the guards avoided using him as an informant. Generic Blue was considered shady and not the most reliable of ponies. He often had ulterior means, and always knew more than he let on.
But he talked for Cloud Zapper.
They went way back.
Cloud Zapper was the only pony in Canterlot that knew the true identity of Generic Blue. An identity he wasn’t about to reveal to anypony, no matter the cost. He valued his friend too much, even if he was a bit of an ass sometimes.

Cloud Zapper clopped down the steps into the low alleyways of Canterlot; he turned right and knocked on a door. A panel slid back.
“What’s the password?” A voice called out from the other side, purple eyes looking out at Cloud, scrutinizing him. He knew exactly who Cloud was, but with things like Changelings in the world, couldn’t really be too careful.
“There is no password.” Cloud replied, smiling.
The pony looked him over and grinned, opening the door. ‘There is no password’ was in fact the password. It was a rotating system. A password would be used for two weeks, and then there would be a week where the password was ‘there is no password’ before a new one was chosen.
The door opened up into a dimly lit hallway with stairs traveling down. He moved downwards, his hooves clopping on the stone below before he reached the bottom, and turned the corner. He entered into what could only be a storehouse basement, a basement which had now become the home of Generic Blue.
He had hired men with him, making sure he was protected, and sat in the middle on a rather comfy looking chair.
Generic Blue wasn’t rich, he didn’t need to be. Knowledge was power, and there were few that knew more than the stallion in front of him.
Generic Blue turned to him, his black eyes piercing Cloud Zapper with a glare, a glare that soon turned into a bright grin.
Black wasn’t the real colour of his eyes, he covered it with contacts so that he wouldn’t be recognised in his everyday life. He went to great lengths to make himself forgettable. His mane was temporarily bleached a pure white, his blue coat a standard colour that was on many a pony in Equestria, not a single part of him looked like he would be anything more than a random pony.
A pony in the background.
Of course, Cloud knew the real him. Knew the real colour of his coat, his mane, his eyes, knew his cutie-mark.
But Cloud hadn’t seen the real him in years. They had lost contact for anything other than business. Now he only saw his friend as ‘Generic Blue’. It had been almost six years since he’d seen his friend’s cutie-mark, the true colour of his eyes, mane and coat. He hoped one day to rekindle the friendship, but he doubted that would happen.
“Cloud, what can I do for you today?” He asked cheerfully, grinning broadly as he hopped out of his chair to join him. Ponies were close by, all eyeing what was happening casually. They were the guards, the protectors, and while not a one of them could stand against Cloud Zapper alone, the mass of them were a real threat. They protected Generic Blue. Whether out of unusual loyalty, or due to being forced to, as Generic had something on them, a blackmailed guard. Either way, they were obedient and always ready for a fight if it was needed.
Generic Blue was almost as well protected as the princesses.
“Standard visit I’m afraid, just wanting to know the usual.” Cloud Zapper informed, he visited Generic Blue on an average of once a week, just to gather basic information if it could be found. His visit days however constantly changed and were randomised, this was to protect himself, as much as Generic.
Predictable tropes could get a pony killed, best to keep your life random so you’re hard to follow.
“Well it’s a good thing you arrived. I may have some little tid-bits for you.” Generic chuckled. “I have heard news of some stirrings in the east. The Changeling’s are stirring apparently. They haven’t done anything much, raided a few towns here and there, but that’s pretty usual for the area. But that’s not the interesting part; would you like to know the interesting part?” He asked as his hoof extended.
Cloud Zapper reached out and emptied some bits into the pony’s hoof, bits that Generic quickly stashed away.
“The interesting part is that they aren’t just killing or stealing, they are capturing and foalnapping ponies of all kinds, most notably unicorns.”
Cloud Zapper bit his bottom lip, not liking the news. “Do you have anything else?” He asked hopefully.
Generic just shrugged, “maybe.”
With a light glare Cloud Zapper was keenly reminded of why they had drifted apart as friends in the first place. He pulled out some more bits and placed them in Generic’s hoof.
The blue pony chuckled.
“Go to your mystics. I think they’ll have something interesting to add to this. There might be an old prophecy that they aren’t heading.”
With such a vague answer despite being paid more, Cloud Zapper knew he wasn’t going to get anymore from Generic; it was all the blue pony likely knew, or at least…all he was willing to share.
Bidding Generic goodbye, Cloud walked out and took off into the air once out the door.
The wind lifted up his wings and allowed him to soar high as he headed back to the palace. He arrived in only a few minutes, heading inside and to the left. There was a winding stairway down into the library levels, he entered them and crossed past the rows and rows of books.
This was the Royal Canterlot Library, famed throughout Equestria, and was a place Cloud Zapper often wished he visited more. He liked reading, and always loved taking a book to bed at night, but unfortunately his duties often kept him up late, and seldom gave him enough free leisure to pick up a book any other time than the weekends.
At the far end of the library, were another set of stairs. He went down them into what was known as the Propheterium. Rows and rows of ancient scrolls littered the shelves, piles and piles of information and relics and prophecy’s that would have shamed the great libraries of the past in their vastness.
He approached a unicorn mare who wore the studded robed armour of the Mystic Guard.
He cleared his throat to get her attention. She raised her head from her work desk, upon which sat a scroll in Ancient Equestrian she was currently in the middle of translating by hoof.
“Yes?” She asked with a sigh, obviously not happy about being interrupted. “May I help you?”
He nodded.
“I have it under good authority that there is trouble brewing in Marên-an-Gwlas. A stirring of Changlings are capturing ponies for something specific. I have been informed this might have something to do with a particular prophecy; either discounted, assumed completed, or previously overlooked. I will need copies of each prophecy concerning the Changlings.”
The mystic looked at him and just smiled.
“We are quite good at our jobs. If a single prophecy is considered completed, it is because all the signs say it has. We triple check these things so as not to make a mistake. No prophecy is overlooked and very few are ever discounted. I can get you the scrolls, but I fear your search may be in vain.”
The problem with the mystic guard was that they often considered themselves superior on many levels for their ability with foresight. Their magic making them overlook the strength of the other guards as meaningless. What’s the point of battling enemies with weapons when a magical shield will prevent any battle at all?
It was an ideal that Cloud thought stupid, and egotistical. He knew the worth of the Mystic Guard, and they were important of course, but so were all the others. After all, a shield didn’t help the first time the Changelings invaded, and he doubted it would help very much a second.
Cloud Zapper just narrowed his eyes. “Yes, I’d still like those scrolls.”
The mare shrugged, her horn glowed, and slowly a pile of scrolls landed on the table.
Cloud smiled. “Well that doesn’t seem so many.”
And then a hundred more scrolls landed on the pile. His brow dropped and he sighed. He wasn’t going to be sleeping much tonight evidently.

The scrolls were dusty in his hooves as he read through them. The mare had been at least kind enough to give him the translated versions. He wasn’t able to read Ancient Equestrian, so he’d have been here longer if she’d been that cruel.
It quickly occurred to him just how needed the guards were. There were invasions and inceptions and stealthy incursions, and all manner of actions that the Changlings were apparently going to be part of. But after several hours, it became apparent that a particular one fit the bill far more than other.
It was called the Prophecy of the Sacred Heart.

‘Secret voices toe the way,
Watching,
Waiting,
Seeing.
Sacred Heart falls to prey,
A change of shape and being.
Altered mind, to gain the Heart,
A kingdom and a throne.
Shields will break,
Shadows will fall,
The past will then be known.’

He looked over it and sat back.
According to the notes that accompanied the prophecy scroll, this was about the invasion of Canterlot by the Changlings. The ‘Sacred Heart’ is referencing Prince Shining Armour and his marriage to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and the ‘kingdom and throne’ representing the threat to the princesses and the kingdom. At least, that’s what the mystics thought.
But Cloud Zapper had some interesting questions.
Prophecies were made in writing. A mystic pony would go into a trance, induced by a mixture of unicorn magic and Zebra Alchemy. Once in the trance the prophecies would sound out, both in speech, but also written down in whatever language it was from. Most notably, Ancient Equestrian. The writing was part of a prophecy as well, magic induced, so how it was worded and spelt became significant.
Every time it mentioned the ‘Heart’, the word was capitalised. As though that was important.
That and the last line concerned him.
‘The past will then be known’, was a foreboding message, that seemed to have nothing to do with that invasion.
More was going on here.

Looking up at the time, Cloud sighed. He’d been reading through scrolls and prophecies for the past eight hours, and combined with his trip into the inner quarter had left him very little time left before he’d need to head back to his room.
To his left, the unicorn mystic came out of a shelf of scrolls and passed nearby.
“Can I have a moment?” He asked kindly.
She gave him an annoyed glance before padding over. “Yes?” She queried, obviously not happy at an Inquisitor being this...inquisitive.
He showed her the notes he’d made. “The capitalisation and the mention of the past concern me in this prophecy. What did you mystics make of it before considering this prophecy concluded?”
The mare shrugged. “I don’t know, that was a few years ago. I wasn’t part of the sect that dealt with that prophecy. Likely it was just considered fluff. A lot of prophecies seem to have a bit of fluff about them in terms of wording, like the powers that send them seem to throw it in just to make it rhyme.” She chuckled and Cloud found himself pleasantly surprised at her attractive laugh. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. The rest of the prophesy was down to the letter, so unless you can find anything else that supports your idea it might not be over, then I suggest you keep looking, or get over it.” She shrugged, walking away.
Cloud Zapper looked down, and re-read the prophecy.
His fears meant something. He could feel it.
Cloud Zapper had always had good instincts, he’d always known where to look, where to go, what was right, what was wrong. He was always good at knowing when to jump, when to fight, when to talk, when to dodge and when to slash. He didn’t know why, maybe it was his talent. Every one of those skills and instincts allowed him to be an effective protector, always able to take on even the toughest of opponents in battle. At least…so far.
But these instincts had got him this far, trusting them had made him an Inquisitor, helped him survive through many battles and even wars. He was there during the last invasion, fighting against the Changlings. He had seen battle, and his body had the scars to prove it, hidden under his fur coat. He had always trusted his instincts, and he wasn’t about to stop now.
He needed permission to leave.
He needed to go east.
He needed to go to the Marên-an-Gwlas.

The Marên-an-Gwlas, which roughly translated from the regions ancient language to the ‘Land of Holes’ (or ‘Holes in the Land’ to be more literal), was to the east. It bordered with the base of the Chrystal Empire and only the desert separated its borders from Equestria.
Marên-an-Gwlas was an unforgiving land, and often considered especially dangerous to go into. Queen Chrysalis called this her home where she raised her hive of Changelings and for their part ‘ruled’ them; though it was often understood that it wasn’t really so much of a ruling.
The Changelings were of a hive mind. They had their own personalities and personal thoughts when individual, but when among the buzz of the hive their minds would sync with their queens; one mind and one body.
This is what made the lands dangerous.
The entire population of the Changeling race inhabited that singular region, and with so many there, their hive mind was extremely intelligent, and the Queen’s eyes were everywhere in the land.
Legends told of it once being a great kingdom; but it fell prey to Queen Chrysalis well over a thousand years ago, just before the reign of King Sombra in the Crystal Empire; some even considered the events linked.

Cloud Zapper mulled these facts over in his mind as he headed for the throne room. He knew what he had to ask, and he was sure the Princess’s would listen. They often did, they were kind like that.
The sound of his hooves on the floor below echoed around the gilded chambers as he entered the large hall, the thrones before him at the end of the room.
He approached in a dignified manner, his gaze firmly on the princess’s. They seemed to be in conversation but they halted and smiled at him, watching expectantly before he bowed.
Cloud Zapper gazed up at their regal forms. Celestia’s blue sky hair waved in the light, flowing luminously and scattering light across the walls.
Luna was no less regal and beautiful; her night mane casting starry reflections and lights across the wall behind the throne as he gazed at her.
He bowed his head again.
“Princess’s, I request the right to leave for Marên-an-Gwlas. Trouble is stirring in the east with the Changlings, and I believe that a prophecy might indicate trouble and a threat towards the throne.”
Celestia listened and turned to her sister. Luna lifted her chin slightly. “Which prophecy is it you speak of?” She asked curiously.
“The Prophecy of the Sacred Heart, Your Highness.” He answered firmly.
He looked up and he despaired as Luna’s expression changed to one of kind amusement. She found the situation amusing…she wasn’t taking him seriously.
“That prophecy has been discounted. Princess Twilight Sparkle overcame Queen Chrysalis’s attempts and she was banished away by Prince Shining Armour and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s efforts. I believe these stirrings are just restless Changelings likely, and you need not trouble yourself. We would prefer you stay, Cloud Zapper, lest we need you in further more important endeavours.”
He grit his teeth. They were kind; they didn’t want him wasting his time. But he knew something was wrong.
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, I have a bad feeling. My instincts have never failed me before. I am certain something big is stirring in those dreadful lands; please give me leave to go.” He said, trying his best to sound dignified, even though what he said was akin to begging.
“No.”
The word hit him like a hammer in his chest.
“We will not allow you to waste your talents. I am sorry Cloud, But you have your answer, return to your duties.”
He stared at the floor. His duties…what duties?
He spent his days, looking around for some kind of trouble, most days he might as well be a militia guard for all the inquisition he conducted. He was TRYING to do his duty right here, to protect the throne.
And they were not letting him.
“Yes, Your Highness.” He said gruffly and walked out without a backwards glance.
He knew what he had to do.

Their final words were to do his duty.
The Inquisitor’s duty was to protect the throne at all costs. And that meant even his honour as a soldier.
Cloud Zapper was going to disobey orders.

Gathering everything he’d need, he shined up his armour and headed out, only to be stopped.
At the main gates a militia guard halted him.
“We have been ordered to not let you leave the premises.” He said firmly. “I’m sorry, Cloud Zapper.”
Cloud cocked his head and looked at the guard sternly.
“I was ordered to go about my duties. And that involves using my informants, my most reliable of which is outside of the palace grounds. Will you prevent me from following the Princesses orders?” He challenged firmly.
The guard hesitated, which is just what Cloud wanted.
“Next time, understand what is expected of you.” Cloud bit at him sharply and just walked past. As long as he maintained the superiority and disappointment of the guard, the guard might not remember that keeping him inside was also in fact a royal order.

He managed to get away without another incident, and headed for the lower south quarter. He found Generic Blue’s place again and knocked.
“There is no password.” He said firmly and was allowed in.
Descending the steps he walked down into the large basement area.
A voice sounded out from his right. “I thought you’d be back.”
Cloud turned and saw Generic Blue; he was standing by some saddlebags that seemed fully packed. “I got you what you might need for your trip, and yes, safe passage out of Canterlot without raising suspicions, though you’ll need to lose the armour for a little while.
“You knew they wouldn’t let me go?”
He chuckled. “Of course I knew, if they believed everypony who claimed a prophecy was about to be fulfilled, do you think we’d ever not be at war with someone?
“There are plenty of crackpot ponies that shout about prophecies, so you gotta understand their wariness.”
Cloud Zapper sighed. “But I am one of their most trusted guards-“
“No you’re not.” Generic Blue said firmly, causing Cloud to pause.
“You are just a single one of three hundred guards that protect the princesses. You are neither a captain, nor a high rank. Simply an Inquisitor.
“Tell me, what have you done to give yourself status? You have fought in a single war against the Changelings when they attempted to invade. You have otherwise shown skills, and followed orders, not unlike many guards before you. They only remember your name because the princesses have good memories for that kind of stuff, and they consider it polite.” He shrugged. “The fact is this…you are not special, and you haven’t established yourself as anything other than a normal guard in their eyes.”
Cloud Zapper looked down.
“Now, now. Don’t go getting all mopey on me” Generic Blue said with a wave of his hoof.
Cloud Zapper however thought that easy for him to say. He had no idea how hard it was to do this job, and how hard it was to climb the ranks. His life was his duty, and now he realised his duty hadn’t really mounted up to much.
“Here is your chance.” Generic continued. “You could become great, you could become respected and loved, and all you need to do is get out there and prove your instincts correct.” He grinned.
Cloud swallowed and looked up. “And if they aren’t?”
Generic Blue smiled. “Well that is the problem isn’t it, you COULD be wrong, my information COULD be wrong. But let me ask something, what do you value more?” He asked, approaching Cloud slowly. “Your honour and reputation, or the thrones safety?”
Cloud Zapper gulped.
“If you are wrong and do nothing, you continue to rise in the ranks and protect the throne. If you are wrong and act, then you dishonour yourself, lose your rank, your duty, and everything. But-” He said firmly. “If you are right and act; you save the princess’s, they herald you and you earn title, respect, and the satisfaction of doing your duty.” He smiled. “But...if you are right and do nothing…then the Changelings attack and the fall of Canterlot and the throne falls into your hooves…because you didn’t protect them when you had the chance.
“So what ya gonna do?”
Cloud Zapper knew the answer immediately. “What do I need to do?”
“Remove your armour.” He said with a smile, pulling out a sack. “Store it in here.” He said as Cloud Zapper undressed and placed the armour into the sack.
The cool air ran over his fur coat and he sighed. Despite the fact that clothes were rarely worn by ponies anyway, he felt somewhat exposed and naked without the armour, and he wasn’t sure he liked the feeling.
Generic Blue handed the sack to another pony who took it away to Cloud’s alarm.
“Wait, where are you taking my armour?” He demanded.
“Do you want to get out of the city or not? You can’t as a guard.” He said firmly.
“But you can’t just take it-“
“I’m not.” Generic said firmly. “You will meet up with one of my associates outside of the city; he will return you your armour. But for now, you must trust me. We have a lot of work to do.”
Cloud Zapper begrudgingly agreed.
He wasn’t happy about this. He barely trusted Generic these days. The blue pony was a valuable informant, but almost always had his own agenda’s, and the concept of trusting him with something as precious as his armour was not something he was ever going to be happy with risking.
“Oh, one question.” Generic Blue began with a grin that actually worried Cloud for a moment.
“Erm, yes?” Cloud asked hesitantly.
“How are you with makeup?”
The question had Cloud Zapper worried.

Cloud Zapper was not a happy pony.
He walked with a new mane style, and…well a new everything.
His mane was a deep blue, and curled around him in some sort of effeminate style. His eyes had been changed to pink by the use of contacts, and even his coat had been altered. He was now a bright pink.
They’d even taken the time to alter his cutie-mark. Changing it so while he kept the usual shield, it no longer contained a heart, but instead contained a smiley face.
He knew he looked nothing like he normally did, but he had a strong feeling that Generic Blue had enjoyed designing his new look FAR too much.
With his new look and saddlebags, he approached the gat of Canterlot and just presented papers showing he was headed to Ponyville for some sort of festival or other. The guards didn’t even bat an eyelid.
He walked right past them as though he were any other pony.
As much as he hated this new look, he couldn’t argue with Generic’s results. That pony knew how to make someone a disguise.

Cloud Zapper had to walk the way, the changes to his body had weighed down his mane and coat, and flapping his wings could dislodge the dye and get him caught. Also moisture in the air as he flew would likely cause the fur to streak from him. So he was a Pegasus grounded, and forced to walk down the mountain trek.

After about seven hours he grew a new respect for Earth ponies that constantly stayed with their hooves on the ground
Walking sucked.
His hooves were sore, his ankles blistered, and he was panting from how heavy his pack seemed after carrying it for so long.
He was currently deep in the woods at the base of Foal Mountain and a sound behind him reached his ears.
His soreness and tiredness forgotten he tensed. His body betrayed nothing of his current awareness.
When a something was sneaking up on you to get you by surprise, the best thing to do was turn the element of surprise back at the it, by striking only moments before they did, letting them think at first that their stealth was succeeding.
Whatever it was, it was getting closer. It was behind him.
And at the last moment he stepped to the side, turned and drove his head towards it. The pony behind him didn’t expect it; suddenly Cloud Zappers head was under him, and with great strength Cloud lifted up, forcing the other pony to rear up on its hind legs before Cloud Zappers hooves swept his legs, bringing them down either side of the pony’s body that suddenly found itself pinned to the floor.
“Who are you?!” He demanded with a menacing glare.
The pony looked terrified but pointed to the side; Cloud Zapper glanced and saw a sack, his helm having rolled out nearby.
It was his armour.
Cloud sighed and stepped back. “You should have announced yourself.” He said gruffly, dropping his saddlebag and grabbing the armour. “Are you thirsty?” He asked curiously, the other pony pulling himself to his hooves and nodded.
“You gonna say anything?” Cloud asked curiously, the pony pointed to his throat and shook his head, pointing to his cutie-mark. It was a treble clef and a dash, signifying musical silence. His talent likely being music, but it seemed he was mute.
He sighed and walked through the trees with the sack. He reached a small lake he knew had been nearby.
He let the other pony drink first before he took a deep breath and climbed in. The dye in his mane and fur coming out easily as he washed over himself. The dye spread out in the water, so it was a good idea they’d drank their fill before he climbed in. When he climbed out he was happy to see he was back to normal, though his mane had become knotted. He tried his best to sort it with hooves, but hooves were never built for taking knots out of a mane. He shrugged, gathered up his armour and looked it over. He sighed at the scuffmarks.
“You could have taken better care with this.” He grumbled, setting about polishing it up a bit, but some of the scratches just couldn’t be helped. He donned it, and looked in the river at his reflection.
He looked like he usually did, somewhat dishevelled and damp, but still like Cloud Zapper the Inquisitor Guard.
Smiling he turned to the other pony. “Are you gonna head back now?” He asked curiously, grabbing his weapon from the bag too. Most ponies used different weapons, but Cloud Zapper favoured the sword. The weapon was originally developed by the Griffins, their talons easily capable of gripping the hilt, but Cloud Zapper loved the balance and the weight, also he enjoyed the style. There was a particular style of fighting done by ponies that used the sword, but not many could master it. Cloud Zapper had been trained with the privilege of a good teacher.
The pommel at the base of the hilt was part of a dangerous technique, able to be gripped in the teeth and used to rotate the blade with momentum, allowing for strong precise swings. The teeth were in danger, trying to guard and block and slice with their strength alone could damage the neck and jaw, and took much training to master and gain the muscular strength in the teeth and jaws to manage at all.
Thankfully Cloud specialised in this.
The other pony nodded to the question and Cloud extended his goof. They bumped hooves in farewell before Cloud re-donned the saddlebag and walked away.
Despite the added weight of the armour coupled with the familiar weight of the saddlebag, he felt stronger wearing the gilded metal. His hooves no longer ached like they had, and he walke3d with a better posture than he had before.
Cloud Zapper looked up and flapped his wings. His wings were powerful, more than powerful enough to take to the sky. He had places to be, and a throne to save, and he was not going to tire himself out by walking the entire way.
Thankfully, the saddlebag was a specific Pegasus one, meaning it didn’t cover his wings and hinder his flight.
The saddlebags weighed him down and increased the difficulty of his flight, but he forced himself to continue. Despite the difficulty, it was easier than walking, and faster.

To the east of Canterlot and Ponyville were the desert areas, the desert areas led their way to the buffalo lands and such towns as Appaloosa, but beyond that entered the Crystal Empire territories, for a part.
The Crystal Empire’s borders stretched down in a form of sharp point across the end of the desert, enough of an ownership to be considered a part of their empire, but it was only a few miles across in reality before it entered into the darker regions.
The darker regions were home to two different areas.
The Negasus Kingdom and Marên-an-Gwlas.
The Negasus Kingdom was to the south and Marên-an-Gwlas above it; the top regions of Marên-an-Gwlas actually bordering with the Crystal Empire’s south-east borders.
They were however, rather protected.
Prince Shining Armour and his princess constantly helped the Crystal Empire’s borders with a special shield spell that not malevolent force could enter.
It was considered the strongest shield on Equis; a mixture of Prince Shining Armour’s special shield talent, enhanced by the raw power of the Alicorn Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.
It was said even Celestia and Luna could not break the shield, which is why Queen Chrysalis had needed to weaken Prince Shining Armour and increase her own power before she could manage to invade Canterlot the first time.

Cloud Zapper flew along the higher borders of the desert wastes and looked out ahead of him. The sandy dunes below stretched on for quite a distance, but he could see in the far distance the beginnings of spires and a shimmering light. It was the borders of the Crystal Empire.
The sight thrilled him and he pushed himself to fly faster. He’d been gone from Canterlot for almost a full twelve hours by now, which suddenly occurred to his mind that he may be being hunted. They would likely have sent word by dragon fire to the Crystal Empire, knowing where he was headed.
Figuring avoiding the Empire was a smart move he flew diagonally, so as to put some distance between him and the borders. This sadly increased how long he would have to fly, but he preferred that to getting caught. His leaving wouldn’t be a national emergency, just seen as disobedience. However, there was the chance that the Princesses considered this as a very bad idea, and that the presence of a royal guard in Marên-an-Gwlas could ignite something akin to a war.
He hesitated.
Could that happen?
He felt his stomach drop and toyed with the idea of going back, but shook his head.
His instincts, he had to trust his instincts.
Cloud Zapper forced himself to keep moving, ignoring the nagging feeling that while he was right that something was stirring to threaten the throne that this might still not go as he hoped it might.
But then again, he reasoned, how did he expect this to go? That he wander in, defeat the entire Changeling nation and saunter back out?
Hardly.
He had absolutely no idea, the best he could hope to do was get in there, find some proof of their dastardly plans and deeds, and then head back so that Canterlot could defend itself in time.
After all, he was only one Royal Guard.

Marên-an-Gwlas lay before him.
The striking difference between this land and the last was chilling.
The ground was sandy dunes up to a point and then…it just turned to rock. Cracked rock with dead trees and spires that jutted from the ground before him, like those that made the world had torn the land asunder and separated them with a singular black line of stone.
Landing on the sand he approached the border, and lifting a hoof from the warm sand he stepped onto the black rock. Instantly the temperature changed, his hoof was cold, like there was a barrier, a difference in worlds. He gulped and stepped over the border complete, a light chill running over his coat.
He had no idea if this chill was psychological, whether it was just the starking contrast he saw, or if he was actually stepping into something that was like magic, a land that was damned.
He had a feeling it was the latter.

As his steps moved him through the forest of dead trees, Cloud Zapper had the distinct feeling he was being watched, which likely meant he was.
He walked on, the sound of his hooved echoing as though he were alone in the world, and he certainly felt isolated. The cold dread chilled through to his bones and he not for the first time, wished he had some form of backup.
Looking up the grey Pegasus contemplated rising into the sky to make his way, but he figured that would make him easier to spot, and that was the last thing he wanted. Besides, he knew where he was going.
He had never been to Marên-an-Gwlas before, but the large foreboding spire of a mountain in the distance was something of a good indicator as to where he might need to head.
Anything as abhorrent as the Changelings would likely make their hive in the most desolate and damned looking place in the land, at least, that’s what he reasoned.
The ground beneath him kicked up dust that smelled like burned wood, but it was cold, not like ashes, but something more akin to the ashes of decomposition, like many things had died here and long ago turned to ash over age.

After several hours he finally reached the summit of the mounting. A buzzing nearby had him ducking into a corner as two Changlings flew by, chuckling to one another as they entered one of the caves in the rocks. He watched them go, their black holey bodies with green eyes looked identical to him, but he thought that maybe one was larger than the others. He often worried how they were made, as far as he was aware, queen Chrysalis was the only female Changeling.
Their mating habits however were not what he was here to find. He followed them in, ducking into alcoves so as not to be seen.
Fiery torches lit the way and he found that the two Changlings split off down two ways of three. Three tunnels stood before him and he decided to head down the third, if only because he travelled downwards. He assumed that anything he found would be deep in the mountain, and that meant going as deep down as possible.
The air inside smelled stale and disgusting, but he followed the path anyway.
Despite this being the home of the entire Changeling race, he was surprised to find his ways almost completely unguarded. One or two Changelings did find their way across his path, but quick hiding meant they never saw him, and otherwise his trek was largely interrupted.
This wasn’t really a comfort, he had a feeling he was being herded.
Cloud Zapper headed down a left passage that seemed to spiral downwards and found himself in a new room. There were symbols over the walls.
Re-entering the corridor he grabbed a flaming torch in his maw and brought it back, letting the flame illuminate over the walls.
Gilded walls shone back, hurting his eyes and he gasped.
The walls were covered in writing, much of which was ancient equestrian, but some of it was in modern language.
There were four prophecies.
The first was of the Sacred Heart, a prophecy he was aware of. The second was different.
He began to read:

‘Twilight falls,
The land grows dark,
No starry speckled mane.
Darkness rises,
Hunger groans,
The past is all to blame.
Vengeance delivered,
Vengeance taken,
Vengeance raining down.
Seated throne,
Soon to be known,
The fall of Gifted Crown.’

Cloud Zapper just stared. This was looking troublesome.
He turned to the third prophecy.
He began to read:

‘Corruption lingered,
Darkened core,
Change triggered forever more.
Starry night,
Within the mane,
The Moon returns yet again.
Waited battle,
Ended foe,
Truth rising from below.
The past revealed,
Remaining none,
The Forgiven Soul undone.’

A shiver ran up his spine, making him gulp. He turned to the final prophecy, and as he began to read, his stomach dropped and his eyes widened.
He had to get back to the princesses!
He turned and dark green eyes glared at him mirthfully. He reacted, drawing his sword only to have it knocked away from him and a strong hoof slamming him into a wall and pinning him there.
He stared up into the eyes of Queen Chrysalis.
“Have a good read?” She asked with a chuckle.
Her voice was melodic and actually beautiful, despite its duelled and darkly powerful tone. However, its beauty didn’t stop a chill from racing up his spine at her every syllable.
“Let me go!” He demanded, struggling, his sword having fallen to the ground nearby.
“Of course, as you asked so nicely.” She actually did to his surprise, her hoof removing from him and backing off.
He reacted fast, picking up his sword and charging, he swung his head, his sword skilfully slicing through the air only to stop with a green glow. She yawned and suddenly struck him, her hoof striking him with surprising strength and sending him against the wall.
“Care to try again?” She asked curiously, a mirthful chuckle sounding from her throat.
Cloud Zapper glared and charged, only to jump, spread his wings for a moment before diving to the ground. She had expected an aerial attack; instead he landed on the ground, skidded lowly and slashed out with the sword. She jumped rapidly but the steel bit into flesh and sliced into her hoof. She landed with a growl looked at her hoof that now had green blood drooling from the slight cut.
Her chuckle surprised him as she licked the wound clean. “Very well done young Guard, you are quite the combatant. It’s been a long time since I saw my own blood.” She smiled, her horn glowing.
Cloud Zapper tried to prepare for anything but suddenly he was enveloped in a green glow. Pegasus couldn’t fight well against magic.
“But I suppose with those skills it would be unwise for me to taunt you further.” She shrugged.
Suddenly he was slammed at the wall, a cracking sound reached his ears and a spike of agony from his wing tore through him.
Before he could assess the damage he was slammed up to the ceiling, the breath knocked out of him, dragged along it for a little while, stones cutting into his back before he was slammed down into the ground, screaming as something else broke.
His right wing and left arm were broken; he twitched on the ground, his back bleeding and blood running from his nose.
Queen Chrysalis walked past him and picked up his sword with magic.
“Interesting that you use a sword, very interesting indeed. Not to mention impressive. It took me by surprise.” She admitted with a smile before the blade struck down right through his hoof.
At first it didn’t register due to the shock, but then he screamed, the blade had slid through flesh and bone and pinned into the ground, forcing him to stay in position.
She turned from him to the final prophecy and began to speak, her words adding more and more malevolence and dread to the words he’d already read.
“‘Once three are gone,
The ending song,
The throne returned to claim.
Ancient ruler of darkened Heart,
Returned to rightful plain.
Unopposed by those of Gold,
All fall down to one,
The end of ancient powerful might,
The fall of Golden Sun.’”

Her words echoed out throughout the dark chamber, her face turning to Cloud Zapper who struggled on the floor, blood drooling over his hoof.
“The Prophecy of the Sacred Heart, the Prophecy of the Gifted Crown, the Prophecy of the Forgiven Soul, and the Prophecy of the Golden Sun. Princess Cadence, Princess Twilight, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia” She said darkly, her hiss at the end of Celestia’s name showing obvious disdain.
“I tried to complete them years ago starting with Mi amore Cadenza, or Cadence as you call her, and failed of course. I won’t fail a second time young Royal Guard. Your Golden Sun will fall.”
“They’ll stop you, they’ll read the signs!” He spat back at her through gritted teeth.
“Really? Last I checked they figured a prophecy complete, isn’t that why you came alone?” She chuckled. “They are unsuspecting, they are undefended, and they are alone.” She said darkly. “I will take back what was once mine, and then even more.” She said darkly.
“I will say it again young Royal Guard, your Golden Sun will fall.”

Cloud Zapper stared back at the prophecies, panting through the pain.
It was all about Celestia, all about the Golden Sun. All about the past, but what was the past? Queen Chrysalis ruled this land now, what did she once have that she wanted back? Where did she come from? What was this past?
It felt important for stopping her, important for her plans, and important for her motives. He needed to find out, if not to save himself, then to save the throne.
Lest the Golden Sun fall.

2) Cloud Zapper and the Forgiven Soul
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Cloud Zapper and the Sacred Heart Saga

2) Cloud Zapper and the Forgiven Soul

Cloud Zapper and the Forgiven Soul

The cell he was kept in was dark.

He wasn’t dead, and they were even feeding him. In the gloom, sometimes deep within the night, he could hear the groans of other ponies. The sounds of their pain and torture. It was unlike any torture that Cloud Zapper had heard of, but it was torture nonetheless.
Changelings had to feed to survive; he knew the basics of how they worked. They could drain the love from a pony by force, and that was what they were doing, one by one to the prisoners. Those that resisted lasted longer, the draining took more time, and the food was rationed. They WANTED ponies to resist. He remembered it was something to do with their digestion of love, that the faster they absorbed it, the faster they’d digest it and the less time they’d have of it nourishing them. So they needed to eat slowly, to make sure they kept the food coming for longer periods of time, rather than gorging themselves. So instead of just draining them all, they did it one at a time, and they did it painfully, and scarily, trying to make the pony terrified for their life, trying to make them squirm and scream, and trying to make them resist.

They hadn’t yet made their way to Cloud; he had yet to taste the bite of their magic. The cell he was in was hewn out of black rock, the floors were rough, the walls were jagged and sharp, and the bars were barely more than interconnected spikes that ran from floor to ceiling. The only way he could find in or out was a hatch in the roof that he had been dropped down into once the Queen had finished her monologuing.

His thoughts turned back to those moments, thinking about the words he’d heard and prophesies that had been revealed to him. There were sadly a lot, and Cloud’s memory wasn’t good enough to remember each and every one. He thought there were four, if he recalled correctly. The first was the Sacred Heart Prophecy, long since considered complete, only for him to discover that it was anything but, and simply heralded future events yet to transpire. The second he’d remembered had been something about a ‘Gifted Crown’, and the third had been about a ‘Forgiven Soul’. The fourth was the easiest to remember, it was the one Chrysalis had read out for him, so when he thought of it, it was her maniacal words that filtered through his mind. It started with ‘Once three were gone’, that told him that the first three prophecies needed to be completed before the final one could come true, or at least, he hoped that’s what it meant. There was also something about a throne, and the ‘fall of Golden Sun’. He could make a guess that whatever she was doing was going to target Princess Celestia. But what about the other two? His brain hurt.

Cloud Zapper was an Inquisitor not a Mystic Guard. His duty in the Royal Guard did not often require him to think to such extents as this, so he was predictably bad at figuring this out.

Sighing to himself he glanced around his cell once again, wondering if there was any way he could actually get out of this, his green eyes looked around the room, scanning, hoping to find something that his previous fifty looks had missed. If he could get out, he could take what he’d learned to the Princesses, and they’d be able to actually do something about the prophecies and the threats. But first, he somehow had to escape.

He looked around for something to use, but sadly they’d stripped him of his gear. He felt oddly naked without his armour, though for most ponies that weren’t a problem, but for him? He found himself feeling quite vulnerable.
The dull air seemed to have a light breeze through it, suggesting that there was an exit nearby. If he could only find a way out of this place, then it wouldn’t take much to escape. He was a Pegasus, so getting up to the hatch wasn’t the problem, it was opening it. It only opened from the other side.

Cloud Zapper lay on his back on the uncomfortable floor, staring up at the ceiling and thinking about how he might escape, and when no answers sprang to mind his thoughts began to wander.

He should have told somepony where he was going, he realised that now. The only one that knew was Generic Blue, and he wouldn’t divulge that location to anypony. He was a smarmy and greedy bastard, but he was also tight lipped. Someponies might try bribing him, thinking that they could buy the information of his whereabouts. But Generic dealt in favours and secrets, he wasn’t too much into material wealth. Besides, nopony knew that Cloud visited Generic so often. The only pony that might have a chance at figuring it out was Captain Sunride. The stallion knew Cloud well enough that he knew Cloud had an informant, and he was smart enough to know that the best informant in Canterlot was Generic Blue, so maybe he’d be able to track down Generic and get answers, but the price of that information would be steep. Generic enjoyed his friends, and those that owed him favours, and thus he would never give up such information lightly, and the price might be more than the Royal Guard was willing to pay.

The bars were thick to get out on this level, the door wouldn’t open from this side to get through the top level, there were no windows and the room was naught but black stone. He had to start considering the possibility that he wasn’t going to make it out of this.

BANG!

The sound made the stallion jump and look around, the sound of buzzing Changeling wings met his ears as the bug-like devils whizzed down the halls about him and beyond the bars. There was another loud crash and there was a shaking that vibrated through the walls and the floor. Something had made a very big bang, and it was causing all manner of chaos.

The place began to take on a kind of emerald diffuse glow that seemed to be coming from almost nowhere, it was like the inside of the hive was waking up, becoming more active and preparing, like its defences were suddenly up and alert. Another crash struck nearby that had Cloud’s ears perked up, trying to find out what was happening. He rushed to the bars and craned his head, trying to look around in the hopes of getting some idea as to what was causing the commotion. A wrenching sound nearby drew his eyes to the hatch in the ceiling, and with a snap it opened wide and a familiar red face looked down at him, grinning, the pearly white teeth of the stallion was startling in the gloom, his red mane stuck up from behind his head in a militant Mohawk, and his deep blue eyes gave Cloud a tight feeling in his gut that could only speak of security, if not safety.

“Gonna stay down here all night, ya pansy mare?” Captain Sunride said with a mischievous grin.

Cloud rushed up, through the hole, being helped by the Captain that pulled his hoof.

“Oh, you came?” Cloud spoke nonchalantly, “You needn’t have bothered. I was just about to make my escape.” He said, grinning at the Captain who just smirked back.

The Captain’s smile spread across his face. “Sure you were.” He said with a grin, nudging him with his shoulder. “Now come on, we’re getting out of here.” He said, turning away.

“What about the others?” Cloud asked quickly.

“Others?”

“Yeah, in the cells I heard screams; I think there are other ponies in here.”

Captain Sunride looked at him for half a heartbeat before shrugging. “They aren’t the mission, you are, and boy, are you in some shit when we get back.” He said, shaking his head piteously.

As Captain Sunride turned away to keep walking, Cloud grabbed his hoof quickly, pulling him back. “Captain…please.” He said softly. “For me, let me help them.”

The hesitation that passed through the Captain’s thoughts was palpable in the air before he sighed, nodding.

“You owe me so much for this.” He grumbled, turning in the other direction.

It turned out there were indeed many more prisoners, almost fifty in fact. They were emaciated, and weak, some had been left in their cells with those that had died, forced to sleep only a few hooves from rotting corpses. The two of them smashed the locking mechanisms of the doors, opened them up and let those that could fly out, and picked up those that couldn’t. The problem they soon encountered was that some of the prisoners were incapable of supporting themselves. Many couldn’t fly very long and many could barely run or even move. Many were lame and injured, needing to be carried. Help arrived in the form of a three pony squadron, headed by Sergeant Ebony Blitz. She was a Unicorn Mare, as most Mares’ in the Inquisitors were. The Inquisitors took their ranks from the esteemed members of the other Guard Factions, applying to the Inquisitors wouldn’t get anypony in; they had to be invited or drafted. The Aerial and the Militia Guard both only accepted Stallions, but the Mystic Guard accepted Mares, so sometimes a Mystic Guard would be chosen for the Inquisitors, giving a few Unicorn Mare’s in the Inquisitors with the Stallions. They were not to be taken lightly. To enter the Inquisitors would require the highest capabilities, but it was also very specific. Just being really good wasn’t enough, it required being very good in the field. So for Ebony Blitz to have been chosen, she would need to specialise in defensive and offensive spells that were very useful in the field. And Cloud Zapper could attest that there were fewer things more deadly than a Unicorn with a high combat capability arsenal of spells.

Ebony Blitz had a dark ebony mane, matching her name, her cutiemark was a stylised sword and shield, and despite being stoic, firm, strong and a no-nonsense sort of mare, her coat was a bright pink. Nopony in their right minds ever talked about her colouring to her face, well, actually, nopony talked about it period, she was that scary sometimes they often didn’t dare. Besides, she’d earned a lot of respect in her exploits.

“What’s going on here?” She demanded, despite the Captain being of a higher rank, she wasn’t the kind of pony to hide any negative feelings in her tone, so when she spoke to Captain Sunride, it was harshly, and demanding.

“We’re-”

“We’re freeing the other prisoners.” Captain Sunride said in an authoritive voice, his words interrupting Cloud Zapper’s confession quickly.

“That is not the mission.” She said, her eyes narrowing.

“With their food reclaimed, not only do we save lives but we likely put a major dent in their capabilities to feed their army in this hive, thereby dealing quite a blow to their forces whilst in transit with our mission.” He said firmly, speaking as though it were his idea, and not Cloud’s request. Cloud knew what he was doing; Captain Sunride was saving Cloud’s hind-quarters from further issues when they got home. The grey stallion chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered this situation. He’d get in major trouble if it was found he’d convinced them to deviate from a direct mission order, but Captain Sunride would only receive a stern warning. Cloud was already in deep trouble when he got back for leaving without permission in the first place, and disobeying a direct order from the princesses in the process. He was mightily grateful that Captain Sunride was doing this for him.

“I’m going to include this in the report, you understand?” Sergeant Ebony Blitz remarked, her brow furrowing in warning.

“I’d be disappointed in you if you didn’t, Sergeant.” Captain Sunride proclaimed. “Now help us rescue these ponies. That’s an order.” He said firmly, to which Ebony nodded, helping a pony stand while her two guards beside her, both of them under her command, aided some other ponies. Together, the five of them began helping the prisoners out.

“Where’s the rest?” Cloud grunted, supporting a limping unicorn as they moved through the green and black corridors of the hive, looking for the nearest entrance.

“Trickshot’s round the other side of the hive, he’ll probably be joining us soon.” Captain Sunride grinned, despite the effort of carrying an Earth Pony on his back, the dark grey coat of the stallion looking dull against Captain Sunride’s vibrant red. Unfortunately the stallion on the Captain’s back couldn’t walk, his front legs ended in bloody stumps at the knee, he’d need major medical attention when they got him to safety.

“Trickshot?” Cloud asked dubiously. “Just him?” He questioned as a note of worry permeating his voice.

“Yup.”

“So there’s Trickshot, and us?”

“Yup.” Captain Sunride replied again in the same casual tone.

“Five here, one back there. Six ponies against a Changeling Hive?”

“Exciting isn’t it.” Captain Sunride smirked at him.

Exciting was NOT the word Cloud Zapper would use for this situation, so he tried to pick up the pace, but in doing so a powerful lancing pain up his chest ripped through him, making him almost stumble.

“Are you okay?” Captain Sunride asked, looking concerned.

“Y-yeah.” Cloud said, grinning a little through the pain. “No problem.” He said, glancing down at his chest. On his left side, halfway up the breast was a dark spreading blotch that could be easily seen through his grey coat. He was bleeding internally, likely from a shattered rib or some kind of injury that the Changeling Queen had bestowed on him during their fight, a wound that had now become worse due to straining himself with movement. “Okay…” Cloud began, giving a light smile. “Maybe not so good.” He fell down onto one knee, grunting as the pain began to spread; it was becoming hard to breath.

Ebony Blitz suddenly rushed over, her horn glowing as he felt her magic wash over him for a moment.

“He has a shattered rib, it’s punctured one of his lungs, it’s collapsing.” She said horridly, grabbing the pony off of Cloud’s back before pulling him onto her own back, despite already carrying one other pony. Cloud thought he was about to collapse before the strong form of Captain Sunride was against him.

“Relax.” Ebony said firmly, making him look at her. “It’ll hurt to breathe, but you need to take breaths anyway, but make them shallow, trying to inflate the lung could cause more damage. You can survive just fine with only one lung working, but you have to be careful, breath shallow, and keep moving, don’t tax yourself, and DON’T go into shock. If you let yourself go into shock, you could slip unconscious and not wake up.” She turned away, moving with difficulty as she carried the two ponies on her back.

Cloud, leaning against Captain Sunride, began moving slowly, trying to put some distance between them and the Hive.

“How are we not being chased yet?” Cloud panted as he stumbled a little, he was beginning to feel dizzy due to oxygen not being circulated properly in his body, but Captain Sunride kept him standing and moving.

“Trickshot is really good at diversions.” Captain Sunride remarked with a bit of a smirk. Cloud couldn’t help but chuckle a little, an action he immediately regretted as pain lanced through his chest.

A rushing sound met his ears and an orange pony with a pure white mane rushed by and landed with a skilful skid along the dirt. Trickshot looked up with yellow eyes.

“Diversion’s fallen, sir.” He said rapidly. “They’re on their way boys, saddle up!” He called out.

“You heard him, to arms; get these ponies out of here.” Captain Sunride called out, roughly shoving Cloud until he found himself leaning against Trickshot instead. “Get the package out of here, and get these ponies to safety!” He barked.

“I can still fight.” Cloud Zapper shouted out, his brow furrowed. He’d never run from a fight before, and he wasn’t going to abandon everypony now.

“No you can’t, you’re the package, we came here for you. So we are completing this mission. Get to safety, and make sure those ponies get to safety with you.” Captain Sunride’s tone left no room for argument, so Cloud, with Trickshot helping him, got to the other ponies. One of the decently strong ones, helped support him, and together they walked. He knew there would be an extraction area nearby; they wouldn’t expect them to escape Changeling territory on hoof of course, so they just had to reach it. Sergeant Ebony Blitz stayed with them, while her two underlings, Private Shining Spear and Private Auburn Leaf stayed with Private Trickshot and Captain Sunride; the four of them intent on holding off the Changeling’s advance. Ebony would help Cloud take care of the other ponies if it was needed.

They reached the crest of a rocky hill, looking down there was a path of almost half a mile where at the bottom in a clearing sat a transport carriage with waiting Aerial Guard ready to leave. They only had to reach it.

Of course, this was around the time the buzzing of fast flapping wings could be heard from behind them, approaching rapidly. Cloud Zapper looked over his shoulder and watched as the Changelings suddenly rushed towards them. The ponies wasted no time in defending themselves. Captain Sunride jumped up, his spear sliding out from the holder on his armour, smashing into the first Changeling that came close. Trickshot ducked his maw into the grooves of his armour, sliding out blades in his maw. With a swift flick of his head, he let them fly, throwing them through the air with great precision. The sharp instruments sliced through the wings of three of the Changelings, causing those that were wounded to fall down to the ground with bloody thuds.

Ebony Blitz took the more direct approach, when a Changeling charged at her. The instant it got in range, her horn began to glow, a powerful shield erupted in front of her for the Changeling to crash into with enough force that there was a powerful crack and its neck twisted at an odd angle before falling down to the ground with a thud. She barely had a reprieve before another struck her shield, she lowered it just in time to conjure a sharp blade made out of magic, spearing it forward through the Changlings chest, it squealed in pain before slumping to the ground along with its dead kin.

One of the Changelings slipped by their defences, Cloud widened his eyes as it struck him, driving him to the ground, sending a massive lurch of pain stabbing through his chest. He yelled out in pain, looking up as the Changeling pinned him down, its bright blue eyes glaring into him with jagged jaws that opened wide, snarling as it prepared to tear out his throat. He picked up a stone with his hooves and just as those jaws thrust down, the stone was lodged in; smashing several teeth from his foe before his hoof struck the Changeling hard, forcing it off of him. He got up, reared on his hind legs and smashed down powerfully, feeling the skull of his enemy crunch from the blow. Cloud turned to the others, gathering his breath as he panted in pain.

“Move!” He called out, moving faster towards the extraction point. Cloud’s chest burned brightly with the pain of his internal wounds, and he knew he was unfortunately taxing himself beyond what he should. But he couldn’t slow down now, they didn’t have enough of a reprieve for him to simply lie down and rest. The armoured ponies of the Royal Guard fought their way down the hill, Changelings pouring from the hive after them, becoming more and more numerous by the second. Cloud Zapper was quickly forced to ignore the pain in his chest and his difficulty in breathing, as the numbers became too much for everyone else to manage. He ran to Shining Spear, taking the stallion’s sword so he could defend himself. Thankfully, Shining Spear himself had a dagger he was much more comfortable using that a sword. Cloud turned, gripping the pommel of the blade in his jaws as a Changeling rushed towards him. He deftly sliced upwards, the blade arcing up, glinting in the light before slicing through the throat of the Changeling; the fallen foe flew through the air as it died, over Clouds head. Cloud had less than a moment before he was forced to defend against the attacks of another. He ducked under its blows, sliding underneath the Changeling and opened its belly, spilling viscous green guts to the ground. Another Changeling jumped onto his back before he noticed it was there, a sharp pain lanced through his shoulder as it bit down onto his shoulder viciously, making Cloud yell out in pain. The Pegasus Guard almost collapsed for a moment before the weight of the Changeling was suddenly lifted, the Changeling being forced to the ground, pinned there by a spear that had struck its side. Cloud turned, gasping, to look at Captain Sunride who rushed up to him.

“Get in!” The stallion demanded, hustling Cloud and the other ponies into the transport carriage. The Aerial Guard were defending themselves too, but thankfully they were well trained, one of them in particular grappling a Changeling with his bare hooves, flipping his foe to the ground, bracing its body with his back hooves and twisting its neck with his fore hooves, breaking its neck. Ebony’s Privates both jumped onto the carriage, followed by Ebony herself who used her magic to defend them. Captain Sunride and Trickshot took to the air with the Aerial Guard pulling the carriage, and together they flew up and away from the Changeling territories, those that dared follow them, were quickly cut down.

They’d made it, and with no casualties. It was the best they could all hope for. Cloud lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling of the Transport Carriage, panting softly. His chest had grown a horrid purple from the internal bleeding, and there was a ringing that persisted in his ears. His eyes began to close as exhaustion overtook him, voices called out to him from beyond the weariness, but he wasn’t quite sure what they were saying, he felt hooves on him, but they were rough and annoying, and he didn’t know quite how to tell them that he just needed to sleep. That all he needed was rest, and that his chest didn’t hurt that much anymore…which was a good thing, right?

The slumber became too inviting, and soon enough the darkness took him, and for a little while at least, Cloud felt nothing.

Pain lanced through Cloud.

It started small, barely permeating the emptiness that he had found himself in. He hadn’t dreamed, he hadn’t really thought of anything, he was just there, floating in the darkness of the void. Peaceful. Then, sensation began to return to him and Cloud found himself aware of his body, aware of his thoughts. He first noticed the pain, a deep throbbing fire in his chest that slowly built, then the throbbing spread around his shoulders, particularly the left one, before it settled up in his head where it began pounding like the drums of a Fillydelphia concert.

“GARGH!” He awoke with a yell, clutching his chest and gasping for breath. The pillow below him was soft, the bed was quite nice, and the sheets that covered him were thin and clean. His chest however felt sticky, there were bandages around him and he looked around to find himself in the medical ward of the palace. His yells seem to have alerted a doctor to his condition, because it wasn’t long before a pink mare with a deep red curly mane stepped in wearing a white nurse’s outfit. She padded right to the IV that fed into his left hoof, fiddled with the dial a little bit and within moments, the pain began to recede.

“Better?” She asked kindly. Cloud could only nod in response.

“How are you feeling?” She asked professionally, taking out a torch and shining it into his eyes to check his response.

“Like I got hit by a carriage.” He grumbled miserably

“Anything else?” She asked, pressing a cold stethoscope to his chest, the coldness making the stallion hiss slightly in shock. She listened to his heartbeat for a moment as she waited for him to answer.

“My...my hooves feel tingly…and I have a headache.”

“That’s expected.” She informed him kindly. “You lost a lot of blood; we had to give you a transfusion.” She smiled softly. “You had three fractured ribs, and one shattered one, it perforated your left lung and caused a collapse as well as internal bleeding.” She said, still smiling warmly. “You also had a fracture in your skull, and several nasty bruises. You must have fought pretty hard.” She said, smiling down at him.
He shrugged, grunting from the pain the movement caused.

“Ah yes.” She chuckled, glancing at his shoulder. “And a bite of course, though it wasn’t deep.”

He sighed. “Did the other prisoners get out?” He asked, hoping that everything else had gone okay.

The mare simply shrugged. “You should ask your Captain, I’ll let him know you’re awake.”

He watched her leave, breathing a little easier. It was hard, and hurt in his chest, but nothing compared to what it had been. Obviously they’d done a good job in fixing him up. Cloud’s thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of a red stallion with a similarly coloured mane. Captain Sunride looked down at him with a smirk.

“Hey.” He said softly. They both stared at each other for a moment, blue eyes staring into green as the two stallions enjoyed the quietness of each other’s company. Though it wasn’t long before it became a little awkward, and Cloud turned away, his cheeks flushed a little. Sunride cleared his throat discretely and sighed. “So,” he began, obviously not really knowing what to say.

“What happens now?” Cloud asked softly, trying to act casual even though he knew it would likely involve a stern reprimand.

“You heal.” He shrugged, obviously avoiding the subject.

“And after?” Cloud urged, his brow furrowing at his Captain.

Sunride sighed softly, shaking his head. “After…after, you go before the Princesses in an official Hearing, where the consequences of your actions will be decided.”

Cloud’s stomach fell, but he had pretty much known that this would be the result. He just hoped that when he pled his case and told them what he had found out, that it would be enough to secure him at least some level of leniency.

“Look just…get better, okay?” Sunride asked, looking a little worried. Cloud scanned his face, noticing the length of his coat, as though it hadn’t been properly kept recently, and that his usually perfectly kept mane was frayed and longer at some ends than it usually would be. His eyes also looked tired. Sunride had probably been waiting for him to wake up, and Cloud realised he’d probably refused to leave until that had happened. He gulped and smiled.

“Hey, I’m okay. And I can handle the Hearing.” He said, speaking with more confidence than he actually felt. Captain Sunride nodded and straightened himself up.

“Well you better.” He said before smirking. “The group won’t be any fun without you. Give it a week and Moonlight and Breeze’s bickering will probably make me wish I was back rescuing your sorry butt.” He grunted before smirking.

Cloud could only chuckle as his Captain took his leave. The grey stallion lay there, staring up at the ceiling as he sighed, thinking of what was to come. He only wished that it wouldn’t involve a big punishment. The idea that his position in the Inquisitors could be revoked scared him half to death.

Cloud Zapper had been a member of the 45th Inquisitor Squadron since he’d completed his training. Originally applying for the Militia Guard, the Inquisitors had seen his talents and quickly pulled him into their ranks. Since then, he’d entered a life he could only have ever dreamed of. Instead of staying around the Palace and Canterlot, directly protecting the Princess and the Capital City of Equestria as he had intended, he’d been placed into one of the 50 Squadrons of the elite Inquisitor Guard. Instead of waiting for trouble to come knocking, he went out and sought it, taking down labelled targets and threats to the crown. He’d found himself moving all over Equestria. He’d faced Dragon disputes at the border of the Badlands, hunted Thieves around Canterlot and Cloudsdale, and took up arms against an invading force of Minotaur from the Northern lands.

Each time had been an assignment, his group sent out under the command of Captain Sunride, taking them to different lands at the Princesses request and settling disputes either through negotiation, or force. But they were always labelled missions. Always corroborated assignments with actual intelligence gathered about each situation. This time, Cloud had forgone any Intelligence; he had ignored previous assignments, and had disobeyed a direct order…all because of a bad feeling in his gut about a prophecy, and the words of a thief.

Forget losing his Inquisitor position, he’d honestly be surprised if he wasn’t thrown in prison.

The Hearing was about to begin, and Cloud Zapper found himself standing in the Royal Throne Room. The hall was lit by the streaming sunlight that filtered colourfully through the stained glass windows; each window depicting a significant moment in Equestria’s history, some recent, and some very, very old, but all of them beautiful. Their light shone down with rainbow hue’s that danced along the floor and walls, casting strange shapes in the shadows. Cloud stood on the red and golden carpet that led from the large doors up to the throne where the Princesses sat. Bother Alicorns looked down at him with faces that might as well have been masks for all they told him about his upcoming fate. Behind him, either side of the red carpet sat the rest of his Squadron. There were seven of them in the 45th.

Captain Sunride led them, next in line of his command was Sergeant Moonshine followed by Cloud Zapper himself with the rank of Corporal. Directly below Cloud, was Private First Class Starlight Breeze. The final three were just Privates, Trickshot, Stonehoof and Melody Song.

They all stood behind him, waiting for the Princesses to speak to him. Despite behind him, he could feel their presence, as though they were standing beside him, the 45th Squadron, looking up at the Princesses in solidarity. Both Princesses looked regal. Celestia, the primary ruler, stared down at Cloud with a face that made Cloud feel like he should be bowing. Regality and strength poured from the Alicorn like an aura. Her sister was no less Regal, but in a different way. Her posture, her colours, and the look in her eyes spoke of a mare capable of war. A mare that was strong, able to be kind, but if the need came to it, battle hardened and able to pick up a blade in defence of her fellow ponies. Cloud felt less inclined to bow to Princess Luna, and more inclined to follow her into battle.

“Corporal Cloud Zapper of the 45th Inquisitor Squadron of the EUP Royal Guard.” Celestia finally addressed, her voice echoing in the large hall they stood in. “You are charged with disobeying a direct order from your sovereign, illegally passing into another sovereign’s territory, and subverting your duties. How do you plead?” Celestia asked firmly.

“Guilty.” He admitted, seeing no reason why he should lie when all claims were true.

“Before a sentence can be decided, you will have permission to state your position and reasoning.” She allowed.

It was a gesture that he was quite thankful for, she could simply decide his fate unfairly, but she was allowing his time to speak. Of course, he had been expecting that. Celestia had the capacity to be a strict ruler, but she was always fair. Cloud Zapper took a step forward, breathing deeply. A light twinge of pain in his chest told him he wasn’t yet healed completely, but the two weeks in hospital had certainly helped his recovery. At least now he felt well enough to go back to work, or at least attend this Hearing.

“I am guilty of the crimes you lay claim against me.” He said loudly, admitting his folly. “I did indeed enter Queen Chrysalis’s domain without invitation, I did leave for such a place without permission, and in direct violation of an order that you yourselves gave me.” He sighed. “And in doing so, I did ignore my duties that were required of me here in Canterlot.” He looked up at them, trying to humble himself. “But I would never do such a thing without great cause.” He looked around himself at his fellow Guard before he spoke his next words, choosing them carefully. “As Royal Guards, it is our duty to protect Equestria from harm. As Inquisitors of the Royal Guard it is our duty to seek out those that may threaten the peace of this nation, and stop it from destroying lives, and potentially, the lives of our Sovereign.” He turned to the Princesses, looking at them with a sombre expression. “I learned from an informant of a rising threat in the east, of a prophecy that was thought fulfilled and thus cast aside, but had instead yet to be completed, and so threatened the peace that we protect.” He sighed. “I did not trust my informants words alone, so I researched said prophesy, finding many inconsistencies that might suggest that it may indeed still be active. I had…a gut feeling; a gut feeling that if I did not delve further and gain answers, that we would all regret it.”

“Who was your informant?” Princess Luna asked, her brow furrowing curiously.

“The information was provided to me…by Generic Blue.”

Luna’s brow raised in shock before her features changed to one of anger. “You disobeyed our orders on a feeling and the words of an underground swindler?!”

Cloud gulped and nodded. “But with respect, he is more than a swindler.”

“Oh I know what he is. I know who he is.” Luna said scornfully. “He is a snake, a manipulating snake with his hooves in every coffer and his ears in every household. He is nothing short of a thief.”

“And?” Celestia asked curiously. He looked up and met her eyes. When she spoke to him, unlike her sister, she was calm, collected and seemed to be showing him some level of respect, or at least, not outwardly showing her displeasure. “Did you find the answers to your feeling? Were your actions warranted?”

Cloud knew that Celestia’s kindness would not sway his punishment if the judgment came down to it, but he was at least grateful that she did not hate him for what he did.

Cloud Zapper gulped before he answered. “More than I would like.” He took a deep breath, ignoring the ache in his chest as he did so. Cloud then began to speak, telling them about Chrysalis and everything that he remembered about the prophecies, including the one that had previously been thought to be fulfilled. He spoke until his mouth was sore, even describing how he was rescued. “I am not sure how they found me, but I would probably be dead if they didn’t.” He said, glancing at Captain Sunride and giving him a soft smile.

“We told them.” Luna said, her anger seeming to have faded a bit, but she still spoke with a level of sternness to her tone. “When you were reported missing, I recalled your request, and forwarded that information to your captain. He seemed under the impression that considering how passionate you were about the situation…that you might end up doing something stupid.” She said, her eyes narrowing, her gaze and works bringing a flush to Cloud’s cheeks. Was he really so predictable?

“So you see, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna.” He concluded slowly, pushing away from the subject of his idiocy, “I am guilty of the crimes you lay on me, but I do not regret my actions.” He looked up at them, hoping they now understood why he’d done what he did. “And I can only hope that the information I have brought you today is in any way a comfort for your ability to prepare for what is to come. Because I think war is coming to Equestria. War in green flame.”

* * *

Cloud Zapper’s room felt smaller than it had been when he’d left for the Changeling Kingdom. He looked around it and began picking up the odd pieces of rubbish that he had laying around his bed. He dumped them in the trash, and sat down on his bed. He glanced up, seeing that his closet was closed. Standing up he padded over to it, opening the doors with a loud creak. His armour sat there, polished and ready for him. Somepony had put it away for him, even taken the time to clean it up. But it didn’t look perfect. On the top of the helmet there was a dent, one of the blows he’d received from being thrown at a wall, and probably what had fractured his skull at the time. He ran his hoof across it; remembering what he’d been through at the hooves of the Changeling Queen.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

He turned to his still open door at the pony that had decided to drop by. Captain Sunride’s features showed he’d obviously gotten a great deal more rest, and any sign of his previous dishevelment was now only committed to memory. Cloud’s eyes ran over the stallion’s form, trailing over the flank that was currently hidden by the golden Royal Guard armour. Cloud found himself chuckling at a thought that cropped through his head.

“How do you do it?” He asked the red stallion, smiling at his Captain.

“Do what?” Captain Sunride asked, looking a little confused as he entered the room.

“You go in a hundred battles, you face overwhelming odds, I end up in hospital, and you come back without a scratch.” Cloud remarked, trying to sound playfully indignant.

“Well usually, I practice the ancient art of ‘not-being-where-my-enemy-is-trying-to-hit’.” He smirked. Captain Sunride had one of those muzzles that couldn’t pull off a smirk very well; it came off more like a playful sneer or a cheeky grin.

“Maybe you can teach me it sometime.” He sighed, sitting back down on his bed.

Captain Sunride took off his golden Guard helm and put it aside, sighing softly. “You know why they did it, don’t you?” He asked softly.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Hey, suspension isn’t as bad as what you could have gotten. You’re still an Inquisitor; you still have your job and livelihood.”

“I know.” Cloud replied, sighing softly. “I get it, I really do. The words of an enemy of the kingdom, a thief, and a gut feeling aren’t tangible enough evidence to relieve me from being punished for my crimes.” He grumbled, rolling over onto his side. “But at least they’re taking it seriously.” He said with another sigh. “At least they’re looking into it more.”

“True.” Captain Sunride said softly, a hoof lying on Cloud’s side, stroking there lightly. “I was worried about you.”

Cloud rolled over, looking at him again. He gulped. “You were?”

Captain Sunride nodded, a shy smile touching his lips. It was a look that Cloud couldn’t help but chuckle at. Here there was a large strong stallion that was excellent in combat and the veteran of many battles. He was a veritable war machine as far as leaders go, and suddenly he looked as shy as a school-colt.

“Why does it feel like this is more than just visit from the Captain?” Cloud asked, biting his bottom lip, already feeling some familiar stirrings inside him.

The Captain shrugged. “Do you want it to be?” He asked, his voice a note of curiosity, with a little awkward shyness.

“That depends on the end goal.” Cloud asked softly. “If we’re talking; you jumping my bones right now, I can go for that.” He said, chuckling when Sunride somehow turned a deeper shade of red. “But if you’re talking about something…more…” He let the sentence hang there as they both sat in silence.

The silence between the two stallions spanned about thirty seconds before Captain Sunride closed the distance between them. The stallion’s lips met Clouds, and Cloud melted into the embrace, murring softly as he kissed the other stallion back. Captain Sunride slipped on top of Cloud’s body, pressing against him as they lay on the bed together, kissing each other eagerly, their tongues wrestling for dominance as they groaned into each other’s lips. Cloud could feel the sweat between them, the heat of each other’s bodies as the excitement grew, already tightening the grey stallions sheath enough to have his member poking out a little to greet the cool air.

Captain Sunride was the first to break the kiss, trailing his lips in soft butterfly kisses that made Cloud giggle a little, trailing those kisses down his cheek and to his throat. Cloud shuddered, biting his bottom lip as a heat flared from each of those kisses, making him shudder in need. He glanced over Sunride’s shoulder, noticing the door was still open.

“W-what…” He panted, trying to get the Captain’s attention.

Sunride stopped for the moment, panting above him as he pulled away. “D-did I do something wrong?” He asked, panting heavily from his own excitement. His own level of enjoyment quite apparent from the shaft that lay exposed and limp against Cloud’s stomach. He wanted to touch it, to caress it and slip his mouth over it, listening to his captain moan and shudder under the attention, but he refrained, holding back his urges.

“The door.” He said simply, smiling a little at the stallion on top of him. To Cloud’s surprise though, Captain Sunride looked disappointed.

“I’ll let you rest then.” He said, slipping off of him. Cloud’s eyes widened before he shook his head.

“No, I don’t want you out the door; I want you to close it. It’s open.” He smirked, nodding towards it.

Captain Sunride glanced at it, blushed bashfully and chuckled. “Oh…yeah.” He padded over to it, pushed it closed and bit his bottom lip in a way that made Cloud almost melt at how adorable it was.

“Captain-” Cloud began.

“Please.” Sunride chuckled. “Sunride will do. I’m hardly your captain in this setting.” He chuckled, stepping back up to the edge of the bed.

“What IS your full name...nopony ever calls you by it.” Cloud asked with a smile, laying on his front now, ignoring the sensation of his shaft pressing into the mattress.

“Sunride Blitz.” He answered, giving a little smirk.

“Blitz?” Cloud asked, his brow rising in surprise. “As in-”

“Ebony is my cousin.”

The words through Cloud off a little bit. Ebony was cold, hard, a bit of a bitch sometimes, and a stickler for the rules. Sunride however, was calm, warm, and able to bend the rules if it meant saving lives, and had always been kind to his subordinates. He and Ebony were practically opposites.

“Well THAT’s unexpected.” He smiled, looking up at the stallion. “So…” He began hesitantly. The red coated stallion chuckled as he looked down at Cloud Zapper. The grey Pegasus watching those sapphire blue eyes of Sunride‘s slowly caress up his body and down to his rump. It was a hungry gaze that had him blushing under his coat. Once again his thoughts were cut off by a firm kiss from the Captain, murring softly. He rolled over, feeling better now that his nethers weren’t constrained against the bedding. Sunride Blitz kissed Cloud firmly, slipping on top of him. Cloud was the first to break the kiss panting as his cheeks burned heavily. His hooves lifted up, undoing the strands that held the Captain’s armour in place, undoing the ties and letting each piece slowly clatter to the floor. Inch by inch Sunride’s body was exposed to his gaze. Cloud had obviously seen Sunride nude many a time, but there was something intrinsically erotic about undressing another stallion when the aim was sex. This…WAS sex right? Just sex?

Cloud didn’t know.

Relationships had been difficult for Cloud Zapper for most of his life. He’d just never found the time for them. He’d spent day after day just focusing on his time as a Royal Guard, going through training and drills and his job. When he’d gotten among the Rank’s he’d been surprised at the openness of them. Of course, sex wasn’t done by all, it wasn’t a tradition that everypony had to join it, it was just that those that needed release, might just find a willing stallion, and none of the others really minded. Cloud’s first had been with a stallion named Swift Breeze. He’d been very gentle and had taught him quite a bit. Since then He’d been with stallions and mares of all sorts, but it had only been sex. Just sex. Never a relationship. He and Captain Sunride had romped in the showers a few times; it wasn’t overtly common, but not unheard of. It had always been a simple deal back then. But this time, it was different. That stallion, now naked, laying on top of him, those kisses slowly caressing down his throat in a way that could only make the grey Pegasus moan, was certainly NOT just sex. It felt…different. Like it was-YIKES!

Cloud’s thought process derailed like a train off the tracks, his mind became a jumble of incoherent words as soft lips travelled over his length, making him gasp and quiver beneath the attention. Sunride’s tongue worked over the tip of Cloud’s length as he slipped his lips up and down the shaft, murring at the taste in his mouth. Cloud’s rump couldn’t help but lift, his hips thrusting into the air in a needful fashion that was reminiscent of a mare in heat. Despite the thrusts, the red stallion didn’t gag, managing to, much to Clouds pleasure, slip the shaft down his throat. Cloud Zapper’s hooves slid down, running through Sunride’s crimson mane, panting and shuddering as he thrusted into that maw, feeling his length already starting to swell.

“C-careful…” He gasped, biting his bottom lip hard as he arched his back. Cloud’s eyes were becoming glassy as the pleasure surged through him, the sensation of a burning heat in his loins becoming unmistakable. “I’m close.”

Sunride Blitz didn’t slow down at all; on the contrary, he began to speed up, suckling and slurping over that shaft as he felt the tip of it beginning to flare. Cloud let out a sudden yelp, whinnying loudly as his shaft erupted, spraying the back of Sunride’s throat with his seed. The grey stallion writhed on the bed, whimpering a little before he went still, the soft gulping noises being the only other sounds in the room as Sunride swallowed his corporal’s semen.

Sunride pulled off and gave the tip a single lick before licking his own lips, chuckling a little. “Tasty.”

“You...” Cloud began, panting as he lay there. “…are evil” Sunride chuckled for a moment before lying down beside the spent stallion, letting Cloud have a rest for the moment. “Are we done?” Cloud asked, looking a little worried that this was all they were going to do. Sunride shook his head.

“Nah, just a rest.” He said warmly. Cloud Zapper nodded and turned to look up at the ceiling. Both stallions lay there on the bed, Sunride with his eyes closed as he relaxed for the moment, and Cloud with a worried expression as he gazed up at the patterns that the brick made on the ceiling.

“What are we?” Cloud’s voice was so soft it could have been a whisper, and after a moment of silence he was unsure if Sunride had even heard him.

“What do you want us to be?”

The words met Cloud’s ears and he felt his heartbeat change rhythm in his chest. Where before he’d been unaware of the strong muscle in his chest, suddenly it was the only sound he could hear. The firm pumping that filled his ears made the stallion almost panic. He wasn’t sure how to answer, or if there even was an answer.

“I-I don’t know.”

“Well, how do you feel?” Sunride asked, leaning up onto one hoof and looking down at Cloud. But the grey stallion couldn’t meet his eyes.

“I don’t…” He began, his words cutting short when he realised he was repeating himself. “I just…” His words failed him, and for a moment, Cloud felt ashamed.

“I see.” The warmth in Sunride’s voice was suddenly gone. The look on his face had Cloud panicking again, but when he opened his mouth to try and fix the situation, to say that he actually cared about Sunride as something MORE than a friend, his words failed him. “I should go.”

Captain Sunride Blitz pulled himself off of the bed, his shaft having softened and now hanging limply below him as the red Pegasus began donning his armour.

“I’ll see you-well…I don’t know when I’ll see you, with the suspension and all. Stay well Corporal.” Cloud’s hoof reached out for the stallion but he pulled out of his reach, and just walked out of the room, leaving Cloud there alone.

Stupid.

He was stupid.

He was so bloody STUPID!

Cloud Zapper slammed his head against the wall again and again before burying himself under the covers, crying to himself. He didn’t know why he’d reacted like that, or why he’d even asked such a stupid question. Things were going so well, and he’d messed it up so easily. Was he scared? Afraid of having a REAL relationship?

He thought he might be.

Cloud Zapper stayed under those covers, sniffling to himself as he blocked out the world, wishing he could just bring Sunride Blitz back into his room, and offer him whatever the stallion wanted, trying to find some way to cross the bridge he was scared he might have just burned.

Cloud’s father had died on the job. His mother lived over in Cloudsdale, and his only friends were those he worked with on a daily basis. Now he couldn’t even see them due to his suspension. He was lonely, so very lonely.

“I know it needs cleaning, but it’ll have to wait.” Cupcake Crème said with an exasperated sigh. “I need to serve the customers first. After we close up, I’ll get the oven sorted. I promise.”

The stallion she was speaking to was a grey coated, black maned, grumpy pony with a bit of an under-bite. He wore a white chef’s outfit that was minus the hat. He huffed and grumbled under his breath as he walked away, leaving the pastel mare to her duties. She turned her blue eyes back to the customers and smiled in delight as Cloud Zapper, a frequent customer, sat up onto one of the stools.

“Blueberry muffin, please. Four of them.” He said pressing his forehead onto the surface in front of him, staring down at the floor.

“Oh my, a four muffin day?” She chuckled, setting them up. “They’ll be ready in a jiffy.” She said warmly, her curly pink and cream coloured mane swaying as she bobbed her head down, carrying the tray in her muzzle. Once the muffins were in the small oven and cooking, she looked up and sighed. “So, what warrant’s a four muffin day?”

Cloud looked up at the nice mare and sighed. He’d been coming to this stall for years, and he and Cupcake Crème were good friends by now. Though, they never really spoke as friends, Cupcake was a bit older than him so there was a distinctly maternal air to the way that she approached him on all subjects. But he didn’t mind that, it was just nice to have somepony that wanted to listen to his issues. Plus there were muffins. Like, the best muffins in Canterlot. Sweet ones, salty ones, ones with strawberries in them, and icing…oh she did cupcakes too of course, just as her name implied, but we’re talking muffins here. The best-

“Cloud, dear?” She prompted, snapping him out of his muffin fantasy.

“I just…” He gulped and thought about what it was he needed to talk about, his ears wilted a little at the thoughts and his cheeks flushed.

“Aahh. So that’s how it is.” Cupcake responded wisely, nodding with a knowing expression.

“What?” Cloud asked, his eyes widening in surprise and confusion. “What’s what like?”

“It’s okay.” She shrugged, checking on the muffins. “I’ll not stand in the way of a stallion in love.” She said cheerily, “muffins are almost done.”

“L-love?!” Cloud’s cheeks burned so hot he was sure he was turning as red as Sunride.

“So who’s the lucky pony?” She asked curiously. “Oh you don’t have to tell me, not my place I suppose; still, they must be something special. Here you go darling.” She said, piling up four hot freshly baked muffins onto a plate for him.

“I…I’m not in-I mean I can’t-he’s my-”

“He?” She enquired with a somewhat mischievous smile. “Well that answers one of my questions, just one way or both?”

“W-well…both I think...or any, if they’re nice.” He stammered out, grasping onto answering easier questions as his brain still dealt with the concept of being in ‘love’.

“Very sensible. And is he ‘nice’?” She asked with a playful grin and a twinkle in her eyes that spoke of much pestering to come if he didn’t just answer her now.

“I…erm…Yes. He is…He’s my Captain-”

“A Captain?” She said brightly. “Well that’s a good catch if I ever heard of one. I’d love to get me a Captain.” She chuckled. “Oh, but an old mare like me-”

“You’re not old. You’re very beautiful.” Cloud said quickly as he cut her sentence off. She turned to him and looked at his sincere face, smiling at the surprised look in his eyes.

“You are such a kind boy.” She smiled kindly. “This captain is very lucky.”

Cloud just huffed at that before sighing to himself. “I’d be lucky if he ever speaks to me again.” He grumbled quietly, but loud enough that Cupcake Crème heard him clearly. The baker sighed softly and reached over the counter, laying a hoof on Cloud’s and looking at him warmly and kindly.

“What happened?”

Cloud Zapper sighed to himself, turning away for a moment. “We were together…and we were erm…talking.” He said quickly, though the glint in her eyes told him she was reading between the lines and probably figured that more than ‘talking’ had went on. “I asked him...what we were. And he…” He stopped mid-sentence, not sure how to describe it.

“His answer wasn’t the one you wanted?” She offered curiously, her face a mask of sympathy.

“No it was everything I wanted.” He blurted out in something of a panicked tone. “But I didn’t know I wanted it, and I don’t know what to say or do because I froze, and when I couldn’t answer him in return, he just walked out and now I think I’ve messed everything up.” He finished before slamming his forehead onto the table.

“Hey, mind the table.” She chastised before sighing. His small ‘sorry’ making her tut and shake her head. “Now you listen here, young stallion.” He looked up at her curiously. “There are woe’s in this world far too numerous to mention. And life isn’t easy, and truth be told, it shouldn’t be. If it was easy it wouldn’t be worth any effort now would it?” She didn’t give him time to respond before continuing. “Effort and hard work make everything alright. And as long as you try, and keep trying, then you haven’t failed yet. You hear?” Cloud could only nod as she stared at him sternly. “Now you go and find this old buck, tell him that you ‘love’ him, and then sweep him off his hooves to your bedroom to let him know just how much you mean those words.” Cloud’s cheeks burned at that advice, before nodding again.

“Yes ma’am. Thank you.” He said gratefully, feeling much better after her pep-talk. Cloud got up, taking the plate of muffins. He got around fifty feet away before he galloped back, fishing out some bits. “Sorry! Almost forgot.”

She chuckled and waved her hoof, giving him a wink, “on me.” She whispered. “But only for today.”

Cloud smiled warmly at the mare before turning and trotting away, taking a big bite of a muffin, murring at its warm fluffy goodness.

The training yard was round the back of the Palace, in the Guard Ground’s that were used for practice and the training of new recruits. Cloud knew that he would find Sunride either in the yard, or in one of the offices. Unless he was on assignment, but he doubted one had come up in only an hour.

“Hey!” A mare’s voice shouted out to him as he approached the grounds. Cloud Zapper turned around and saw a stern looking unicorn approaching him. The pink coat and dark contrasting mane of Ebony Blitz was a vibrant colouration in comparison to the white walls of the castle on either side of them.

“Erm…hi?”

“Don’t ‘hi’ me!” She snapped in an angry tone. Cloud’s eyes went wide in confusion. “What’s your deal?!”

“My…deal?” He replied with an uncertain tone, looking around them for some sign of what she might be on about. To his knowledge he hadn’t done anything to her, hell, he’d barely met her before this. Just seen her around, learned of her in an off-hoof sort of way, and she was part of the team that rescued him. Otherwise they had exchanged little to no contact.

“First you come onto Sunny, and then you freeze up? What? Is he just a quick buck for you?!” She yelled.

“Sunny? No…I…Captain Sunride? No he’s not; I was just going to talk to him-”

“Oh no you don’t. He doesn’t need you making his day any worse. Get out of here. GET!” She kicked at his back legs making him yelp.

“No...I…I really need to-”

Cloud’s attempts to reason with her were cut off by the sudden sound of yelling from the courtyard. Somepony was screaming, and it sounded like pain.

Their fight momentarily forgotten, they both galloped for the training area. The training yard was large enough to have an obstacle course surrounding it, whilst also having a combat space in the middle. On all sides you could see the castle, especially on one main side where it towered up in spires that almost seemed to scrape the heavens. The other sides were covered with alternating wings of the palace that housed the barracks and the living quarters of most of the Royal Guard. Surrounding the interior fighting pit were racks, four of them, each holding different weapons that were allowed to be used for training. They were training weapons, bluntened so that they wouldn’t do much damage during training exercises. Except you couldn’t fake the point of a sword, so they were still dangerous, as attested the stallion in the middle of the ring who currently had one through his shoulder and one of his wings. He was lying still, surrounded by blood with three other ponies nearby. One of them was a white maned, grey coated pony with a winged sword cutie-mark, and he was attacking the other two with a malicious grin on his features. The biggest oddity and problem was that the pony on the ground was the exact same pony as the one attacking the other two guards, or at least, they looked the same. Right down to the cutiemark.

The attacking pony ducked below a swinging mace, an area above the attacking ponies head glowing strangely before releasing a burst of magical energy. The blast struck the guard wielding the flail, sending him flying back with a painful cry. The other stallion guard lashed out with his hooves. The Pegasus that had somehow used magic without a horn, ducked to the side and lashed out with its teeth, his jaws slashing down onto the limb it caught, rending a painful looking gash in guard’s foreleg, causing him to yell out. Ebony jumped past a stunned and confused Cloud. Her magic grasping the handle of the sword that jutted out of their fallen comrade, yanking it from his body and slashing through the air. The attacking Pegasus stallion turned and his eyes widened before the blade sliced through the flesh and bone of its neck, severing it from its shoulders. The stallion fell to the ground, the head rolling to a stop by Ebony’s hooves before it and the body became engulfed in what seemed to be green fire. When the flame dissipated, the corpse of a Changeling lay there. This one seemed to be riddles with holes like all the others, and it was larger than any that Cloud had previously seen. Despite the average stature of the pony the Changeling had adopted as its form, the Changeling itself was a hulking beast of a creature, easily as big and strong looking as a shire horse. Its wings were longer, and its frill on the back of its neck was larger than any Cloud had seen before as well, and this one didn’t stop at the base of the neck like most, it travelled all the way down its back and along an elongated tail. The tail itself, ended in what seemed to be a sort of natural scythe like blade.

“I have never seen a Changeling like that.” Cloud said, looking worried.

“Me either.” Ebony said firmly. “Get a medic down here, we have wounded.”

“But how did it get in?” Cloud Zapper asked her, hoping she had some theories.

“It’s a changeling, not exactly hard for it to get past security.” She grumbled.

“Yeah, but why?”

“Do you always question EVERYTHING?” She snapped, rounding on him. “You question the Princesses and almost get us all killed saving you, you question Sunny and break his heart, and now you question this instead of getting that poor soldier a BUCKING MEDIC!” She shouted the last words, obviously infuriated. Her gaze bore into him before her expression turned to one of revulsion. “You disgust me.”

Cloud Zapper stared at her for a moment before slowly nodding, he turned away to go get the medic as he had been asked, not entirely sure if he was angry at her, or angry at himself.

“What’s going on out there?” A familiar voice called out. Cloud turned to see Captain Sunride Blitz trotting up, his gaze glancing from the wounded guards to the dead comrade. “Who did this?!”

Cloud was about to point to the corpse of the Changeling but he noticed it wasn’t there; his eyes went wide as he looked back to Sunride as the sound of a sickening crunch met his ears. Sunride jerked, his eyes widening in surprise and pain.

“NO!” Cloud shrieked, blood dripping from Captain Sunride’s maw as the stallion suddenly fell to the ground, the Changeling standing behind him with a malicious snarling grin adorning its features. It’s scythe-like tail rose up, the tip dripping red from Captain Sunride’s blood.
Ebony charged with a shriek, her blade swinging powerfully, the changeling moved back, but she advanced again, feinting to the left before her blade arced round and sliced through one of its limbs, severing a leg as the creature attempted to dodge. It shrieked in pain and stepped back as Ebony circled it, but before their eyes, in a burst of green fire the limb replaced itself, erupting from the stump and green fire, morphing through bone, muscle and sinew before appearing perfectly intact. Cloud noticed that this limb was free of holes than the usual limbs.

“What the buck is this thing?!” Ebony shouted in frustration, her rage blinding her ability to focus properly on the combat, her blade began slicing and hacking at anything she could reach, but for each limb she severed, the Changeling regrew it in a flash of green fire. In one of her rage filled swings at its head, the Changeling managed to get close, ducking under one of her swipes for its head, it’s jaws lashing out and biting down hard on her shoulder making the mare shout out in pain. Cloud rushed up behind the beast, bearing a dagger he’d taken from one of the racks. If cutting off the head wouldn’t work, then he hoped this would. He launched his muzzle forward. The sharp tip of the blunt edged weapon pieced flesh, slicing through the Changeling’s back. It shrieked in pain before Cloud rammed it deeper, slicing into the creature’s heart. The Changeling suddenly went still, jerked a moment with a gurgling sound, before falling limp to the ground. Green flame began to erupted from the wound that Cloud had dealt it, and for a moment he was terrified it would raise itself again, but this time it stayed dead, the wound widening in green flame as though eaten away by acid, bearing the monsters insides to the world as the wound grew large enough for a pony to stuck their muzzle in before it’s progress finally stopped. The heart had disintegrated, and now it really was a corpse.

“Sunride!” Cloud yelled as he spat out the blade, running to his Captain’s side. The Captain’s eyes were fluttering, he was shaking and there was a lot of blood. By the way his body was shaking, Cloud figured he was going into shock and was probably about to die. Everything after that happened in a daze. The medical ponies arrived, but as Cloud had failed to get them, obviously one of the other guards had done their duty. The medical ponies hoisted the wounded onto stretchers, and took them away to be cared for. Cloud was with Sunride, staying by his side. It was funny, only a few weeks ago their roles had been reversed, with Cloud needing healing, and Sunride watching over him. He needed to let Sunride know that he cared for him, so he decided to stay with him, and try to mend whatever bridge he’d burned in that bedroom.

The hospital had a scent to it.

It was the kind of scent that made a pony think of a swimming pool. It was a mixture of chlorine and disinfectant that spoke of desperate attempts to hide the smell of blood and disease.

Cloud Zapper sat in a comfy chair with a fabric lining that hugged him in a pleasant fashion. But all the comfort in the world couldn’t alleviate his stress and worry he faced as he sat at the bedside of Captain Sunride. The crimson coated stallion laid on the hospital bed, bandages covering his bloody wounds and tubes entering and exiting through his nose and mouth as he clung to life support. Magical healing had only done so much, but the wound had been coated in a strange substance they couldn’t quite clear, and it seemed to be slowing the healing process dramatically. It had taken seven hours in surgery to get the Captain to a stable state medically. Cloud had heard no news since from anypony…not that he cared much. The only thing he cared about was what was in front of him.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Cloud looked up to the door of the room to find Ebony standing there with the door ajar.

“Can I come in?” She asked, her voice surprisingly soft and concerning. He actually thought for a moment that if he said ‘no’, she might actually leave.

“Sure.” He said softly, nodding to her before turning back to Sunride.

She stepped into the room and headed for the opposite chair on the other side of Sunride’s bed. “How is he?” She asked softly, looking over her cousin with a concerned expression.

“Stable.” He said softly. “But they don’t know if he’s going to wake up. That’s up to him.”

She nodded at that, staring at the floor. “I’m sorry I went after you like that at the training yard.” She said, actually seeming contrite, which in itself was a little unnerving for the grey Pegasus. “What happened?” She asked him softly, her expression inviting him to talk about it.
Cloud Zapper sighed softly. “I asked a stupid question, he gave me a wonderful answer…and I panicked.” He admitted, turning from Sunride to the floor which was suddenly a lot more interesting…and less likely to make him feel shame.

“Why did you panic?” She asked, her voice a little firm as she spoke, but at least it wasn’t angry.

“Because-” He began, sighing and turning his eyes to the ceiling, taking in the tiles that were strewn above him. He unconsciously began counting them as he spoke. “-I’ve never had somepony I care about, like I care about him.” He admitted, though whether he was admitting it to her or himself, he wasn’t quite sure. “I’ve always had sex with no strings attached. Always just been physical and friendly…it’s never been…more. It scared me. I don’t know how to handle it, or how to deal with it. I don’t know what to DO with it. Is it supposed to be romantic? Do I have to buy flowers? Confess undying love-” His words faded off at the ‘L’ word.

A silence stretched out between them that was awkward but welcome.

“The Mystic Guards can’t identify the Changeling.” She said firmly, her voice speaking professionally now. She was obviously in her Sergeant mode.

“So what happens now?” Cloud asked, turning back to Sunride.

“We talk to the Princesses about it.” She said with a slight sigh. “They’re old, maybe they’ve seen something like this before.” The grey Pegasus nodded at that. “And I’d like you there.”

He turned to her when she said it, looking over her face for any sign that she was pulling some sort of joke. “What?” He asked, not quite understanding why she would ask that. “No…I’m not leaving his side.”

“You were there.” She said firmly. “You managed to kill it, so that means you need to be there to tell how it happened. You being here won’t make him get better faster.”

Cloud sighed and turned, slipping out of his chair and to the window where he could look out into the night. The Canterlot sky twinkled and glittered with jewelled stars in Luna’s night, the spires of the city rose up high and from this vantage point he could see the Palace in the distance, with its many towers raising high to spread the clouds above it.

“Please, Sunride would want you to go. You know he would.” Her voice was soft, but it wasn’t ‘pleading’, she wasn’t ‘begging’ him to do this. Cloud figured she’d never be the kind of mare to ‘beg’ anypony for anything. She had quite a bit too much pride for that. He sighed and just nodded at her request.

“When?”

“Tomorrow, o’six hundred.”

He nodded again and heard the door go as she left him to his worries and troubles. He knew that with such an early start he’d need to get his sleep, but he doubted slumber would be easily found tonight.

The body was brought in on a stretcher, carried on the back of two Royal Guards, one Earth Pony and the other a Unicorn. After walking to the base of the steps below the Royal Throne, they jointly lowered the stretcher to the ground. Cloud Zapper stood before the two Princesses, their eyes gazing down at them all tensely. It wasn’t every day that a corpse was brought into the throne room, so it was understandable that everypony felt a little strained with the situation. The tension in the air was thick and Cloud Zapper couldn’t help but gulp on a lump that had formed in his throat. Behind him sat Ebony, Starlight, and Trickshot, the others of his squad not able to join them this early on due to several duties that detained them. The unicorn that had helped carry the stretcher, gripped the cloth covering the body in his magic, a light pinkish-purple glow that pulled the sheet away with a single sweep where it furled into a bundle nearby.

The corpse was exposed; it seemed almost undamaged, were it not for the gaping hole in its sternum that was wide enough for a ponies head.

Cloud Zapper looked up at the Princesses, to see if any of them showed any signs of familiarity. But while his eyes naturally sought out Celestia first, it was Princess Luna that surprisingly stepped forward. She moved around her regal sister and looked down at the dead creature below her.

“This is most troubling to us.” She spoke in a worrisome voice. The Princess looked troubled, a frown marring her face with concern.

“My Princess, you know what this is?” Cloud asked, glancing from the corpse to the Princess. The aforementioned corpse had unfortunately begun smelling with a faint biochemical smell that was similar to solvents and melted cheese. It was only a little, but enough that it made Cloud’s nose wrinkle.

“This is one of the ‘Hundred’.” She said warningly. “Yes, we know of this creature.”

“The hundred what?” He asked curiously not enjoying the worried expressions that the sisters shared at his question.

The Princesses stared at each other in silence for a few moments, obviously silently debating their next course of action, before Celestia, as regally as she could, gave a single nod of defeat, and turned away as though in shame, an action that Cloud found disturbing. Luna turned back to them and nodded as though to herself. Her horn began to glow and the air above them shimmered with dark shapes that seemed to form as she spoke.

“Eons ago, before our reign, before the reign of Discord, and before the Reign of Sombra over the Crystal Empire, the lands of the Crystal Empire were that of lush forests.” As she spoke the shapes took on the shape of an unmarked map, showing the land of Equestria, the map moving to a location north east where the Crystal Empire now stood, but instead of a sweeping nation and a glorious city, it was swept in green and lush vegetation. “Among them lived the Fae, dazzling creatures of great beauty and powerful magic. They lived and kept the forests beautiful and healthy. When ponies settled, they helped the ponies, and they lived together in harmony. Until…Sombra came to power.” She said warningly. The images showed a shadow version of Sombra, his tendrils of power sweeping across the land.

“But what does this have to do with the Changelings?” Cloud asked curiously, looking from the magical images to the worried face of the Princess of the Night.

“Everything,” she said softly. The images suddenly changed, they rushed closer to the top of a mountain where Sombra seemed to face against a regal creature not too dissimilar from an Alicorn, but with notable differences. The shadow of Sombra suddenly reached into the regal beings chest and tore out her heart, the images brutal enough to make Trickshot meep behind Cloud, and a shiver to run up the stallion’s spine.

“The Queen of the Fae was overcome.” She said softly. The heart in Sombra’s magic seemed to suddenly crystallise blue, and it erupted in power that seemed to drive him back. “But she was powerful. And in her last moments she cast a spell of protection on her heart as it was taken from her, a spell that spread throughout her land and protected it from his rule for some time. It took him almost two hundred years to find a way to take over, and in doing so, he caused the Crystal Empire to disappear.”

Cloud looked at it confused, the image closing in on the heart of the Fae Queen.

“The Sacred Heart.” He said softly in astonishment.

“Yes, young Guard.” She said gently, shaking her head. “The Sacred Heart that protects the Crystal Empire is the Heart of the Fae Queen.”
Cloud sat back, nodding. “So Queen Chrysalis wants this Heart, or does she want the power of Sombra? What has this to do with her?”

Luna smiled sadly at the Guard and shook her head, her starry mane flowing about her in a beautiful manner. “Fae were very powerful. They were also almost immortal. They could survive almost any injury, except damage to their Heart. If their heart was damaged, they would die. When the Queen cast her protective charm on her heart, she stopped it from ever being destroyed, and so she never died.”

“She survived without a heart? How is that possible?” Cloud asked, trying to wrap his head around the concept.

“It is possible, but not without consequence.” She said, the images above them suddenly changing and forming to become the Fae Queen, before she began to writhe in agony, and twist and alter in shape till she seemed to let out a silent scream that sent shivers down to Cloud’s bones as she suddenly became something much more familiar.

“The Fae Queen…is…Queen Chrysalis.”

The silence that fell was palpable. Nopony wanted to break it; nopony knew really what to say. Eventually it was Cloud that broke the silence.

“She’s evil...I thought you said the Fae were good.”

“They were.” She said softly. “But time changes many things, and sometimes it can change the heart.” She said softly. “You see, in their new form they could not live on the magic and good will in the forest, they could only live on the most potent of magicks, love. But when they fed, they took the love out of those ponies. I am sure you have seen what happens when a Changeling feeds on a victim?” She enquired, and she was right, he had. The victims stopped being capable of caring. They didn’t care about work, family, anything…they stopped functioning, and some even went as far as starving to death. A town that had been drained by Changelings, stopped being a town, they were walking ghosts…hollow. He nodded in answer to her question, looking back to the images. “Thousands of years of being shunned for this, of her only source of food being a pain for others, and her ever growing population of children…when life forces one to assume the roles of villainy…sometimes there is little choice.” Luna herself looked quite pained when having to admit that, as though it were a personal shame.

“And the ‘Hundred’?” Cloud asked softly.

“The ‘Hundred’ are in reference to the original one hundred Fae that changed with her that day, all other changelings were born after and are born without a heart, just like how she is now, and they can die quite easily. The original hundred still have their hearts. They are stronger, more powerful, and like their Fae forms, cannot die unless their heart is destroyed.”

“Well that explains why it wouldn’t die.” Cloud concluded. “So what does Chrysalis want?” He asked gently, looking from the images back to the princess.

“She wants her heart back, to make herself and her children whole.”

“Is that such a bad thing? Won’t it stop her from being evil?” Cloud asked curiously.

Luna nodded. “It would.” She said gently. “But taking away the Sacred Heart would doom us.” She said gently. “Beneath the Crystal Kingdom lies something that sleeps and it sleeps because of the Sacred Heart.” She said softly. “If it is awakened, the entire of the Crystal Kingdom, and the entire of Equestria, will die.”

Cloud gulped. “What…what sleeps there?” He asked softly.

Princess Luna’s voice turned hard at this question. “The Titans.”

In the darkest parts of the night there skulked a shadow, followed only by other shadows of equal likeness. They travelled in the silence of the night and slowly through the alleyways and the even into the darkness of the mind.

Their approach seemed to sap the kindness and caring from the world. Their steps on the cobbled streets rose babes from their slumber, turned couples into enemies, and satisfaction into the most hollow of pits. Their curse was that hollowness. Their lives filled with it, their names spoken with it, and their very being encased within that hollowness, like it was a sphere surrounding them, a barrier which could not be breached. It was a cage for their souls.

Slowly the Castle came into view, and they crept ever closer. The nearer they came, the more defences they encountered. But the bumbling Guards could not see them, or recognised that they were there. Their magic was beyond what they were used to, beyond their senses. And slowly they crept into the castle of the two sisters, searching for the one they needed, the one that called to the darkness like a siren, and who had once been its vessel.

Their half-kin could not do this. They could not get so close without the wards and spells blocking them. Without the eyes of the Guard seeing them for what they really were. They were half-kin, barely more than shadows of a conception. They were barely real. But they were Her’s. They belonged to Her and so they put up with them, trained them, helped her breed them, and in turn they repaid her in their quest for food. But food had become scarce. Food was becoming illusive once more. And that meant action needed to be taken, to restore what they were, for the good of all, and for the good of Her.

They crept through the gates and up the walls, spinning their way through the night like flies and shadows that moved with the wind. They found that room, the one that smelled of the one-time-vessel.

Slowly they crept into that room and placed what needed to be placed, it was a single stone of power. A stone that called to the darkness in others. It was a stone that had allowed them to get so close, a stone that had made them like smoke. They were no longer smoke, and now it was time to die. But that was okay. They could die for Her.

The Titans.

The Titans were told of in ancient myths. They were thought to be sealed away, in some dark pit, not far from Tarterus itself, and held by a great power. But no pony really thought they existed. They were described as colossal creatures that could render mountains asunder; they were the bane of the old world. The death of the Alicorns.

But they were just a story. There weren’t any creatures of that size. Ursa Minors were the largest monsters in the lands, and even they were said to be dwarfed by the might of the Titans. But they didn’t exist.

If he kept telling it to himself, Cloud thought he might believe it.

Luna’s meeting had gone well into the day, and with the coming of night, Cloud could only ponder over her words.

“I thought the Titans weren’t real.” Cloud had questioned, unable to grasp the concept of such beings truly existing.

“They did, and they do. They were beings from the east that invaded the Alicorn’s home. There was a war. A war unlike anything that Equestria has ever known since. Alicorns invented that word; they scorched the land with it.” Luna’s words could only burn through Cloud like acid. War. It was such an alien concept. They’d had Changeling invasions; they’d had monsters and spirits of chaos, but never a WAR. War was something one looked up in the dictionary for definition. It was spoken of in fantasy novels as brave knights driving themselves into heroic battles to cut down tyrants. But the look on Luna’s face suggested the reality, was far less knightly. “Alicorn’s won the war, but at the price of our home and our lives. The Titans were sealed away with great power and magicks, beneath the earth. But that magic, time has unwoven, it needed to be protected. The touch of darkness on that magic began to make it waver, but with the Sacred Heart, the darkness could not touch the magic to un-weave it. But if the Heart should go, then they could unmake it. They could break free, and render Equestria asunder once more.” Luna seemed to smile for a moment, as though her thoughts had dwelled on a particularly sad thought that she could only find amusing. “Alicorns, Fae, and Titans. So much of the old world was not brought down by the weariness of age. So many creatures that gazed immortality in the eye and took hold of it, grasping it to ourselves like a shield. We thought ourselves never ending.” She turned to Cloud and the others. “Understand this, valiant Guards. Immortality is a folly. Because it does not dictate that something last forever, only that when it does fall, it is always from the most violent of natures, and the darkest of moments.” She said wisely. “The immortality of somepony should not be measured in the length of their life…but in the span of the hearts they touch, and in the minds of those that choose to remember them.” She smiled at that bit of advice, before giving them leave to go.

Cloud had gone straight to his dorm, needing to think about things. For the first time he felt that life was very short, and he didn’t quite know what to do with it. Was he happy being a Guard? Was this to be his life? He thought about Sunride. He hadn’t told the stallion how he’d felt, and now the stallion he cared for, fought for his life under the care of others. And Cloud could do nothing but watch in hopelessness.

Life was too short, it was far too short.

Suddenly a loud screeching wrenched himself from his sheets. The running of hooves around the barracks areas convinced Cloud Zapper to grasp his armour and don it as quickly as he could. The shrieking was loud, violent and not easily ignored. It was the ward alarm; something had tripped the ward spells that protected the Castle from intrusion.

Cloud sheathed his weapon and headed for the door, rushing out into the corridor.

“What’s going on?” He4 yelled as Trickshot passed him by.

“We’ve got Changeling’s!” He yelled as he sped down the hall as fast as his wings could carry him. Cloud Zapper launched himself into the air as well, his wings beating heavily as he soared down the path after his friend. The outside air rushed over him when they exited into the open air, the cool wind waking Cloud up far better than any stimulating drink could. The sight of running Guards and the sound of clashing told Cloud that this was likely not just a single enemy. He and Trickshot rushed around the corner of one of the towers, heading for the far end of the Castle. They were below the towers of the two sisters. Twin Towers that rose up, close to each other, built from rounded stone, at the top of which was an open terrace that lead into the Princesses bedchambers.

Cloud halted at the sight of the fighting.

Changelings like the first one that had attacked earlier that day. But there were five of them. Nigh-un-killable Changelings, bearing scythed tails and fangs that dripped with powerful poison. The Guards attacked, jabbing and lunging with sharp weaponry, but the Changelings were fast, blasting spells and lunging with their tails. There was already a growing pile of dead. For each slash the Guards did, the Changelings either dodged or healed, and attacked with far more precision.

Cloud Zapper drew his blade and flew above them before diving. He caught one when its back was to him, his blade slicing through carapace and flesh, driving into the creature’s heart. It screamed and the wound began to burn and melt around the blade as he pulled it out, The Changeling falling dead.

“Go for the heart!” He yelled, turning just as one of them lashed out of him in an attempt to avenge their fallen kin. He defended with his blade, ducking in low and slicing up, his blade slicing through that tail, separating it from the monsters body. But the moment he was close its jaws snapped out. He barely got his blade back down from his swing, lodging it edge first into the creature’s mouth. They struggled for a moment, Cloud Zapper scrambling for purchase on hind legs before he lurched forward. He jumped on the beast, bearing his weight down and watching as his blade slowly sliced through its jaws and down its throat. The sensation was strange, like slicing through a mixture of mud and butter surrounded by thin rock that crackled and split under the sharp edge of the sword. He pulled the blade out and sliced out again, slashing right through the Changelings heart, killing it quickly. His two successful kills it seemed had barely been more than luck. A third turned to him and lashed out with its bladed tail, moving around his defence. The scythe like blade slashed out and almost gouged his side, his armour deflecting the blow. He jumped back, another stallion Guard rushing up behind the Changeling and lashing out with his spear. Its hind legs reared up suddenly, grasping the spear in what seemed to be almost hind-leg talons before wrenching it down from the Guards muzzle while the other leg gripped the stallion’s throat, smashing him down into the ground. Trickshot dashed suddenly in from a corner, the tail scythe of the beast lashed out and Trickshot leaned back, sliding along the ground for a moment, underneath the tail, his hoof lashing up and striking under the beasts chin in a dazing blow, just as Cloud rushed up and thrust his sword hard into the monsters heart, making it yell out in a dying scream. Cloud turned to Trickshot and nodded with a smile, just as a weight landed on his back and drove him into the ground. He turned and grabbed a rock, the changeling that had landed on his back lurching down with its jaws before the rock was shoved into its mouth, smashing those teeth. Cloud rolled over underneath it and tried thrusting up to lurch the Changeling off of him, but pain suddenly tore through his right leg as the scythe-like tail pinned the appendage in place. A spear was suddenly driven into its side and it was wrenched off of him, pinned to the floor. The creatures jaws widened and new teeth erupted from its gums before it turned, latched onto the spear in its side and snapped the weapon in half before pulling itself from the spears length, the wound healing before their eyes.

One of the Guards charged forward, his weapon was knocked from his muzzle and the scythe was rammed into his stomach, the wound accompanied by a gut churning scream of pain from the stallion Guard. A blade lashed out from somewhere unseen, and the Changelings head suddenly rolled to the ground as Sergeant Ebony Blitz nearby, she turned to the headless Changeling, still standing around, its body lurching as it mustered the energy to regenerate. She rose what looked to be a crossbow mounted on her fore-hoof, pulled the string back with her maw and loosed a powerful barbed bolt that struck the Changeling in the breast and tore through into its heart. It fell over dead. A cry was her only warning as the final Changeling pounced; she dodged out of the way, rolling on the ground before turning. The Changeling pounced again, a new bolt flew, and Ebony was driven to the ground by the Changeling, both of them going still.

There was a silence before slowly the Changeling moved, their weapons were ready, and their spears aimed before it was lurched off of Ebony and she sat up from underneath it. They’d won.

Cloud Zapper sat down relieved as the other Guards cheered and the wounded and dead was collected. They’d lost three Guards in the battle, but considering they’d faced 5 of the so called ‘Hundred’, Cloud had honestly expected a much worse fate. Maybe the Princesses were really worried about nothing.

Princess Luna entered her chambers with weary steps. Her hooves clopping on the polished floor beneath her echoed around the empty room before she hit the carpet, stepping over on the soft tendrils of the fabric. Her fore-hooves reached up and slipped off their caps and shoes, and slowly she removed, using her magic, the neck ringlet that was part of her royal garment. When they were removed, her crown glowed a soft blue for a moment, as did her horn, before the crown was lifted from her head and placed on a navy blue pillow on a side table beside her bed. Removed of her royal finery, Princess Luna stood there before her bed, looking down at it before turning towards the terrace and the night that was hers to command. She looked through those thin billowing fabric tresses that covered the entrance to her room, and breathed in the scents of the night. But as she breathed in she noticed a particular scent, it was like brimstone, heavy in the air and oily in the nose. She rubbed her nostril in irritation, coughing when it slid down her throat and seemed to claw around in her chest.

“What-what is this?” She asked herself, looking around her and seeing a dark shadowy smoke seeming to drift about, but it wasn’t spreading, it was circling her in an unnatural manner. As she breathed it in unwillingly, she felt some parts of her mind beginning to slip, something tugged her into the darkness and her eyes went wide in panic. It was taking her back.

“SISTER!” She yelled out suddenly, shaking her head, and backing away, trying to remove herself from the clouds embrace, but sadly to no avail. The door burst open and Celestia charged in, her eyes wide at the sight of her sister trying to fight off the smoke that seemed trying to claw its way down her throat. “SISTER! SAVE US!” Princess Luna’s voice was stricken with terror.

Celestia reacted as fast as she could, her long white horn began to glow and powerful gold rays of magic erupted.

“You will NOT take her!” She erupted, and her magic blasted at the smoke, but nothing happened, the smoke seemed immune. “No.” Celestia said, her eyes widening in concern for Luna’s safety.

“You cannot have us!” Luna declared, her eyes glowing a powerful white as she called upon her power. Her horn began to glow and at its tip, a powerful white glow began to burn brightly. “You cannot have us!” She repeated again, louder this time. “YOU WILL NOT TAKE ME BACK!” The Canterlot voice boomed out as she stomped down, her magic erupting in a powerful burst that shattered everything in the room, the bed tore apart, fragile vases shattered into a thousand pieces, and the walls behind Luna cracked from the power of the blast. From amidst the broken bed Celestia spied a stone, a black stone that seemed to pulse with the shadow.

“No!” She yelled, her magic suddenly erupting as she ran to the stone. She slammed down with her hooves as her horn lit up with a pure white flash of power. The stone was shattered, crushed under her strength and power, the stone’s shards no longer released their black smoke. Celestia turned to her sister, hoping to have saved her from her fate, only to watch as the last vestiges of the shadow, clawed itself into Princess Luna’s throat.

The Princess of the Night’s body went rigid, her eyes burning a brilliant white, and her mouth opened wide in a silent scream. Suddenly, her coat began to darken, tendrils of night blue erupting down her body from her eyes, she seemed to grow in size to as large as her sister, and Celestia watched in horror as dark and ancient armour formed over her sister’s body.
Princess Luna’s body finally relaxed, and the last vestiges of her terror seemed to cease. The mare lowered her head and stared at the ground as though exhausted.

“Sister?” Celestia asked with her brow raised in worry. She gazed at her sister with a look that was both shock, and terror, and marred with concern and worry of the worst. “Luna, is that you?”

Her sister began to shiver, but that shiver soon revealed itself to be a cackle that sounded deeper than Luna’s natural voice, and its base was amplified by the Canterlot voice, turning it into something sinister that crept up the spine, and spoke of dark days ahead.

“Your sister is no more.” The Princess of the Night said softly, her eyes flashing open and power suddenly swirling around her. “NIGHTMARE MOON HAS RETURNED!”

The top of the tower exploded. Rubble and debris fell down below, sending Guards who couldn’t fly scattering and ducking for cover. Large pieces of the tower fell down before it lost all support, and the top half of the tower just crumbled, falling down entirely.

A mare in the Palace Gardens with her Stallion screamed as she stood in paralysed fear, the large hulking mass of the tower about to crush her. An orange and white blur flashed by and suddenly the mare was lifted up and away in a rush, at the same time as a magical rope wrapped around her stallion and yanked him out at the last second, all of them landing safely nearby.

“Are you okay?” Private Trickshot asked, smiling down confidently at the mare. His white mane tucked over one of his eyes in a cute sort of way.

“Y-yes…my…where’s-”

“He’s right here, ma’am.” A comforting voice spoke from nearby. As she turned her head to look, a golden rope was being lifted from around her dazed stallion, the rope belonging to a large but toned unicorn with a gold and white two tone mane, and a coat of a deep blue.

“Sergeant Moonshine, at your service.” He turned to the orange Pegasus and nodded. “Good work, Private Trickshot.” He turned and looked up at the half destroyed tower, a few bits of rubble still plummeting slowly to the ground. “What do you say we go see what all the fuss is about, eh?”

“Looks like Cloud’s got the same idea, sir.” Trickshot grinned at the streak of a fast flying Pegasus that soared up the tower above them.

Cloud Zapper slipped under a falling bulk of stone and caught the updraft; he flapped hard to bring on more speed as he ascended up the length of the tower. The bricks of the tower mere inches from his hooves as he flew gave him an indicator of his speed as he raced upwards, his eyes narrowed.

This tower was the Tower of Luna. This was where Princess Luna retired each night to walk the dreams of ponies, to protect them from the darkness of their own minds, and the darkness that could invade them. She was the protector of the night, the shield against the forces which few could even comprehend. She was also the Forgiven Soul.

His memory worked better than it usually did. He could hear it in his head, spoken in a voice he didn’t quite recognise.

‘Corruption lingered,

Darkened core,

Change triggered forever more.

Starry night,

Within the mane,

The Moon returns yet again.

Waited battle,

Ended foe,

Truth rising from below.

The past revealed,

Remaining none,

The Forgiven soul undone.’

Cloud Zapper’s eyes narrowed as he flapped again, putting on another burst of speed as he got closer and closer to the tip of what was left of the tower. This was Chrysalis’s doing. This was the work of the Changeling Queen. Those intruders, they did something to Princess Luna, and it was all part of the Queens plan.

The grey Pegasus saw something at the edge of his vision that distracted him from his thoughts. He turned and saw an orange figure flying just a little bit behind him to his left. The figure was a mixture of orange and dark blue. It was only when he looked closer that he realised it was Sergeant Moonshine riding on the back of Private Trickshot, and below them was Private Melody Song carrying Private Stonehoof. He smirked at the imagery. Another movement, but this time to his right, made him turn to see Ebony Blitz, his eyes widening as she flew on her own accord, her back having sprouted beautiful butterfly style wings of purple and pink that let her fly as well as any Pegasus. Flying beside her were her own Privates, the Unicorn Private Shining Spear clinging to the back of the Pegasus Private Auburn Leaf. From beside Cloud came another figure, soon flying almost alongside him, the smiling light blue form of Private First-Class Starlight Breeze met his eyes.

The gang was here. Members from his own team flew beside Ebony and her own recruits. Only their Captain, Captain Sunride Blitz was absent. Cloud Zapper wanted to make him proud.

“This is your show, Cloud.”

Cloud turned his head to see Sergeant Moonshine staring at him, nodding his head. He turned to Sergeant Ebony Blitz and saw her watching him expectantly. Cloud was a Corporal, nowhere near a Sergeant yet.

“Why?” He asked, shouting over the rush of the wind in his ears.

“This is the Changelings, isn’t it? They did something.” Ebony Blitz called out. Cloud looked around to see all of their eyes looking to him in confidence, all their smiling faces of his friends.

“You know more about what’s going on, you’ve got the experience, so this is your show.” Sergeant Moonshine said firmly.

“Don’t mess it up.” Ebony’s stern voice added, bringing a light chuckle from Cloud.

He turned to look up; they were approaching the peak of the tower now. His show they said. This was his show. This was HIS team. Whatever they faced up there, it would be up to Cloud Zapper on whether they made it out alive. They depended on him now…it was probably a bad call on their behalf if he was being totally honest.

But he wouldn’t let them down.

He wouldn’t let his Captain down.

After all…Ebony would probably kill him if he did.

Cloud Zapper and the rest of the Inquisitor Guards of the 43rd and 38th Squadron respectively, erupted over the side of the tower into the open air. They arced down and landed firmly on the stone surface of what had once been Princess Luna’s Royal Chambers, but were now the open top of the half collapsed tower. They landed with firm poise, Ebony Blitz’s magical wings blinking out of existence with soft flashes of magical sparkles. But even as they landed, powerful wind battered them, and each of them had to brace themselves against the onslaught.

Cloud Zapper looked up, trying to discern where it was coming from, but what greeted his eyes was not comforting, and a horrible chill slithered down his spine.

Princess Luna hovered there in the air, black tendrils of energy rushing around her in magical power, with Celestia nearby, white and gold magic slithering around her in a similar fashion. But they were not flying together, they were apart, and flashes of magical energy danced between them in a show of power that was powerfully violent. They were fighting against each other, each spark of power taking the form of golden and white, or black and blue lightning that battered each other’s powerful shields.

“Why are they fighting?!” Private Melody Song asked, his young voice barely piercing the roar of the raging wind around them. Cloud turned to look at him, he was worried. Melody had only recently joined them; he was the youngest of them all, and quite the prestigious prodigy from the training camps. His mane was a soft yellow and his coat was a turquoise that clashed quite spectacularly, and true to his age, he kept his mane in quite the juvenile style of covering almost half his face. Most would have considered him too young for the Inquisitor Guard, but he had proven himself more than capable. Cloud just hoped that his leadership here wouldn’t get Melody killed. Thankfully Private Stonehoof, a large white stallion with a light grey mane, had taken to looking after the young’un, and the two were pretty much thick-as-thieves now.

Cloud Zapper turned back to the fight, his eyes running over Luna as he shielded his face from the gusts of wind erupting from their power.

“I don’t think that’s Luna.” He commented, more to himself than the others, His eyes widening when he suddenly figured it out. “The Forgiven Soul undone.”

“What?” Ebony asked, yelling over the roar so that he could hear.

“She’s not Luna!” He yelled. “The Changelings have somehow brought out her darkness…That’s Nightmare Moon!”

A soft cackling met his words and the lightning crackled more. The mare that had once been their dearest Princess turned to them with a malicious grin.

“DOES’T THOU COME TO SERVE THEE AS OUR GUARD?!” She asked, her Canterlot voice echoing well above the rumble around them. “OR HAST THOU COME TO CHALLENGE US?”

“Leave them be!” Celestia demanded powerfully. Cloud turned to see her shield seeming to funnel with her magic before it erupted out in a powerful wave, aimed straight at her sister.

Luna turned with a menacing grin back to her sister and with a flash of her magic, a giant blue shield defence erupted in front of her, the magical blast struck the shield powerfully and suddenly deflected out at an angle. The blast shot straight at Cloud Zapper and the rest.

“NO!” Celestia’s voice sounded out in panic. She disappeared before appearing in a flash in front of them, her regal visage marred by how exhausted she looked and the fear that had etched itself so deeply into her face. Her magic flared up to block the blast. The princess screamed out in pain as the magical blast battled her own shield. When it was over her horn was smoking, and she looked about ready to faint. A magical tendril suddenly wrapped itself around her body and dragged her up into the air before throwing her hard into a nearby wall. The Princess yelled out in pain, only to be lifted again and slammed down into the ground. The tendril then wrapped itself around her neck and slowly lifted her up in front of her own darkened sister. Nightmare Moon’s eyes narrowed, their white glowing depths displaying an eagerness for victory.

“YOUR TIME IS OVER, CELESTIA.” She cackled. “THOU CLAIM OVER THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY HAS PASSED TO THOSE LOWER THAN THOUSELF, AND WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHERE ARE THOU PRODIGIES WHEN THOU NEEDST THEM MOST?” She grinned, her smile arched in a malicious manner.

Suddenly a shining sword of turquoise magic slashed down, tearing through the dark tendril that held Celestia. The Princess began to fall and Private Trickshot and Melody grasped her quickly, flying her to safety.
“SO THOU DOEST DEFY US!” She turned to them, her eyes widening as Cloud Zapper rushed forward, on his back stood the large Earth Pony Stonehoof. He launched off of Cloud’s back, his hooves thrusting down in a powerful blow. A magical aura suddenly surrounded him and stopped him, inches from the Princesses face. “DOEST THOU JEST?!” She yelled before she let out a pained roar. She turned her head to find two magical arrows in her side, blood dripping from the wounds. Ebony Blitz flew nearby, her butterfly wings flapping behind her prettily. Another set of magical arrows popped into existence beside her and rushed at the Princess. She threw up a magical shield to block them, her magical focus on holding Stonehoof failing. He began to fall, but as he did he thrust down hard, aiming for her back. His hooves started to glow with an indigo over-glow, likely from Shining Spear nearby. His hooves struck Nightmare Moon with more strength than they should have, sending the Alicorn princess flying down into the floor below, smashing up parts of the floor.

“Don’t let up!” Cloud Zapper called out. Shining Spear and Ebony let loose a barrage of magical arrows into the smoking ruin where the Princess had landed, the rising smoke obscuring their vision.

As they attacked, the area began to glow brightly with a dark blue and purple glow.

“ENOUGH!” Nightmare Moon’s Canterlot voice erupted out. A massive wave of magic suddenly exploded outwards, hitting them all. Cloud was forced back, striking a wall with enough force to knock the wind from him. He fell down to the floor coughing heavily. Celestia, as weak as she was, was also knocked nearby. Cloud looked up, panting and hurting, seeing that all his squad were down. They’d done well at first, considering their opponent, but she’d just flattened them with one blast. They were no match for her.

“You…can’t win.” The weak voice of Celestia spoke from near him. He turned to look at her, grunting as pain spread up his sides. “You can’t beat her by any power, or tactic. Her power surpasses even mine.”

“But she’s your sister, you’re older than her, aren’t you stronger?” Cloud Zapper insisted.

Celestia just shook her head. “We each govern what we needed to govern.” She looked up to see her sister rising herself from the rubble of the floor. “I was given dominion over the day, and the protection of those in my kingdom was mine. But those evils that come by the light of day may be many, but their strength is nothing to envy. Very few even come close to my power. But the night…” She stared at her sister, a longing in her eyes that tugged at Cloud’s heart strings. “The night is the domain of ‘THOSE’. The True Darkness. And she fights it, each and every night. She protects pony’s minds, their hearts from its corrupting power. It is so strong, so very strong when in the light of the moon.”

“So if the sun were to rise?”

“Then she would be defeated, but my power is almost gone, and she draws on ever more strength from the darkness. I cannot raise the sun while she holds the night.” The fear in Celestia’s voice was palpable.

“What if we could hurt her? Hurt her just enough, distract her, maybe even use up enough of her magic…could you raise the sun?”

“I…I do not know.”

“Could you try?” Cloud Zapper said, turning to Celestia with a pleading gaze. She turned to him, and tears slowly welled up in her eyes.

“Such a feat…” She gulped. “Not all of you may survive…you may die this night.” Celestia looked scared of the thought, hurt to her core that such a thing might happen.

Cloud Zapper looked over his Princess and slowly pulled himself to his hooves. He turned to his team, each of which slowly made themselves stand up. Stonehoof sported an injury to his right leg, but he showed no pain in his expression, Melody looked to have hurt his head, blood covering the side of his face, but his eyes were determined. Each one nodded to Cloud in turn. Cloud Zapper turned slowly to the Alicorn Princess he served and gently he lowered into a reverent bow, his nose almost touching the dusty stone beneath him.

“For you my Princess, it would be an honour.” He raised himself up and turned to Nightmare Moon who had now pulled herself up, power soon surrounding her once again. “It has been an honour to serve you.” He said to the Princess, his eyes still staring at the dark blue Alicorn.

Cloud Zappers wings snapped open and he launched forward. Celestia’s right hoof reached out, as though begging him to come back and stop his foolish plan. But even as he jumped, so did his team. The world seemed to slow down to a crawl.

Princess Luna cackled and blasted down at him with a magical barrage of arrows. Cloud Zapper span as he flew, ducking below the first wave and weaving between the rest, one arrow slashing across his left wing, making him cry out in pain. A powerful magical blast from Ebony slashed down on the Alicorns back, striking Nightmare Moons shield from behind. The dark Princess turned to the Sergeant and let loose a blast, sending Ebony Blitz flying back. The agile unicorn landed, feet first on the far remaining wall, launching her body forward back into the fray. The pink unicorn conjured a magical drill like shield in front of her, spinning it fast as she dived for Nightmare Moon’s shield. But as she approached, the shield of the Alicorn erupted with an over-glow. The drill struck the shield and there was a flash of power between them, the dark Alicorn cackling at their foolish attempts. But Nightmare Moon’s laughter did not last for long, her smile faded and she cried out when a strike from Shining Spear broke through, a magical spear having managed to punch through the front of her shield. As the Princess had been focusing her magic on defending against Ebony, she’d forgotten about her front, giving Shining Spear’s powerful attack enough chance to punch through. She glared and her horn erupted in a powerful glow. Her stomach was bleeding and her eyes were wide in anger. Her horn erupted in red magical energy that she forced down at Shining Spear with violent strength. The moment she blasted down, Private Stonehoof knocked Shining Spear out of the way, saving his life. The blast hit Stonehoof instead hard on the back, sending him falling and rolling off to the side. He skidded to the side and lay ominously still.

“NO!” Melody Song cried out, tears erupting from the young stallion’s eyes as he screamed. He dived after his dear friend, Nightmare Moon lashing out with a powerful blast that struck Melody’s wing before he could reach Stonehoof’s body. The boy cried out, feathers and sinew exploding from the appendage in a bloody mess. He landed past Stonehoof, skidding along the stone before almost falling off the edge. He grasped for dear life onto the edge of tower with his hooves, the expanse below threatening to swallow him whole.

Cloud Zapper rushed to aid his friend, not wanting to lose him. Melody’s eyes were wide with abject terror; he clung to the side, scrambling in a panic. To a Pegasus, there were very few fears greater than falling. Flight was life, soaring with the birds was a form of freedom, and for it to become ones death…it was as bad to a Pegasus, as being buried alive might be for an Earth-Pony.

Nightmare moon cackled and another blast rushed past Cloud Zapper. He watched it in almost slow motion as the blast struck the floor just in front of Melody Song, that part of the tower erupted into dust and rubble; the stone that Melody clung to was thrown off and Melody with it. The blast knocked Cloud Zapper backwards and away from his falling friend, as he was launched away from Melody he watched, his perception heightened in the moment of battle, he saw Melody’s eyes widen in fear as the young Pegasus fell off of the edge to his death. Cloud’s back struck a wall and pain lancing up his side, but it wasn’t the bruises or the cuts that hurt him the most, it was knowing that he’d just lost two dear friends.

Nightmare Moon stood and cackled, laughing at their foolish attempts to beat her. Ebony Blitz landed nearby to Cloud, slowly joined by the rest of the group. He panted and looked up at their opponent.

“YOU FOOLS, DID THOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD DEFEAT US?!” She cackled. But she didn’t attack. She wouldn’t until they attacked her, she was melodramatic, and she was a show-mare. She had an ego that needed an audience and she liked proving how powerful she was. Cloud could only surmise this was from living in her sister’s shadow for so long.

“Sergeant Moonshine, can you power share?” Ebony asked, turning to her Private.

He nodded in reply. “You need some juice for something?”

“No, give it to Zapper.” She said firmly. Cloud’s ears perked up.

“What?” He asked, looking confused.

“Trickshot, Breeze, Auburn, put your hooves on the Corporal.” She commanded, ignoring Cloud’s confusion. They each obeyed, their hooves placing on Cloud Zappers wings and back.

“What’s going on?” He asked, looking between her and them earnestly. He didn’t like the way Ebony was avoiding his eyes.

“Sergeant, I’m not sure I can do three at once. I might burnout.” Moonshine warned. Ebony just nodded at that.

“Do it.” She said firmly. Moonshine just looked at her for a moment before nodding. He turned to Cloud Zapper and pressed his horn to the grey stallion.

“What are you doing?” Cloud Zapper’s eyes widened when suddenly a glow surrounded his body. It tingled at first, but then the glow felt different; it felt like it was pouring something into him. Private Trickshot, First-Class Starlight Breeze and Private Auburn Leaf shook as they held onto him before they suddenly collapsed to the ground, panting and looking weak; Sergeant Moonshine joined them looking exhausted, his horn smoking and sweat pouring down his brow. Cloud however, had never felt stronger, a light glow surrounded him and it felt like his heart was pounding three times faster. “What’s wrong with them, what did you do?” He asked, looking a bit panicked. Whatever they had just done, it had put four of them out of commission. Ebony turned to him, finally looking into his eyes, and what Cloud saw there, made him almost stop breathing.

“When you have a clear shot, take her out. You’ll be faster, stronger, don’t let him, hit as hard as you can!” She demanded, her eyes looking almost empty before turning to Private Shining Spear. “Do it.”

Shining Spear nodded, his horn joining hers before he gasped, his magic erupting out powerfully before it went into her. His horn lost its glow and began smoking.

Ebony turned to Cloud and for the first time she smiled at him. “Hey, live or die this is it.” She said. “But if you get through this…look after Sunny. You do right by him.”

Tears began to flow down Cloud Zappers cheek, and he didn’t even know why. Why did what she was saying, sound so much like a ‘goodbye’? He never got his answer. Sergeant Ebony Blitz turned to face Nightmare Moon. “Hey BITCH!”

The Alicorn’s eyes snapped to the pink Unicorn. “WHAT DID THOU CALL US?”

“I called you a BITCH, a snobbish, spoiled little BRAT of a BITCH that’s scared of her sister’s shadow!” Ebony retorted. Her voice was filled with a childish teasing demeanour that Cloud hadn’t thought she was capable of.

“OUR SISTERS SHADOW?! I AM SHADOW! I AM DARKNESS! I AM THE NIGHT!” Her horn began glowing powerfully. “AND YOU SHALL BOW TO US!” Nightmare moon cried out in anger. Ebony didn’t move to dodge or hide, instead she leapt right at the Princess. She didn’t seem to need wings to fly anymore, she charged at the princess under the power of her own telekinesis, her own shield drill erupting once again, but this time tinged with the same indigo over-glow of her Private Shining Spear. But then the drill became thinner, it became more pointed, more concentrated at the tip. Cloud Zapper’s eyes widened. There was no WAY that shield would block anything that Nightmare Moon could throw at her. Ebony looked back for a moment, it was a moment that many might have missed, but Cloud saw it. Their eyes met and she smiled a little softly. It was then that Cloud knew that she didn’t expect to shield herself. She was sacrificing herself.

“NO!” Cloud rushed forward as fast as he could, a trail of lightning blue and grey left behind him as he rushed. The moment he moved, Nightmare Moon let loose a powerful blast.

The world for a single heartbeat…seamed to stop.

The world around them was a riot of lights and flashing power, the soft glow of the moonlight playing on the polished stone of what was left of the Royal bedroom of Princess Luna. The soft wispy clouds above where grey and formless, but not yet heavy with rain, it was almost beautiful up here, high in a tower away from the world below, looking over it like it was almost out of reach. But this beauty could not last forever. And this moment in time inevitably gave way to the next.

The beam of dark power struck Ebony’s piercing shield. Her magic small and concentrated enough to punch through, tearing and drilling through the blast, splintering it off so that as Cloud got closer, none of it hit him. But a lot of it hit Ebony. Her skin began tearing, her body began blistering, and slashes and wounds opened up over her body as though she were being flayed alive. She burst through the other side in what could only have been a second or two, but it had felt like a lifetime. Her momentum failed and slowly the pink Unicorn began to fall. Cloud saw it all in slow motion. The slow descent as Sergeant Ebony Blitz began to fall, and the smiling face of Nightmare Moon as the defeated mare fell before her. The moment she saw Cloud Zapper though, her expression changed. Cloud saw that Ebony’s eyes were still open, watching him, she gave him a single soft smile before her eyes closed, and a rage filled Cloud Zapper unlike anything he had ever felt.

“YOU BITCH!” He screamed out, his speed far too fast for the Alicorn to react. He was within her shield in a heartbeat, his hooves thrust out in a devastating blow. The resulting strike jarred pain through his hooves like a lance, but he held them firm. He felt bone and features underneath his hooves splinter slightly from the impact. The Alicorn’s head snapped back, blood pouring from her nose and mouth from the blow, her eyes closed as she grimaced in pain, her horn momentarily free of its glow. She flew through the air and struck the wall hard before falling to the floor.

Cloud landed on the floor a little distance away, pain lancing through his hooves that told him they were probably broken. He lay there, hoping that it had been enough, because if it wasn’t, he didn’t want to know what would happen next, or what that would mean for Equestria. But slowly, Cloud Zapper noticed a light behind the lids of his eyes, a soft glow seeping through the darkness.

He opened his eyes; his vision gazing out at a sunrise that spread light across Equestria in beautiful rays of red and gold. The tower was soon hit by these rays, and Nightmare Moon, who began trying to stand, looked out at the light with her eyes wide, she turned to her sister.

“NO! YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NIGHT FROM US!” Her power was waning even as she spoke, smoke started to rise from her, and as Nightmare Moon stiffened she let out a scream of pain and terror, she clutched her head as though in agony.

“NO! WE…I…” Her voice had duelled itself, as though there were two of her. “I will not…” She spoke in a younger voice that was much kinder. “WE CANNOT-” Her eyes widened and magical smoke began to rise from them and from her mouth. “YOU CANNOT! I AM THE NIIIIIGHT!” Her cry echoed out as the black smoke billowed out of her mouth and slowly the ancient armour covering her hide disappeared, and her colour lightened as the tendrils of darkness seeped away. Slowly but surely, Nightmare Moon was replaced once again with Princess Luna. The smaller and younger looking mare slowly collapsed.

Private Trickshot rushing to the young Princesses aid, catching her before she hit the floor, and slowly lowered her down to the ground gently.

Cloud Zapper watched from where he laid with a soft smile on his face at the victory they’d achieved. But that smile was hollow. He was distinctly aware of hooves on him, his men surrounding him, and slowly he felt himself carried. His gaze barely saw who held him; he just stared down into the centre of the cratered rubble that had once been Luna’s Chambers here at the peak of this grand tower. There on the hard stone lay a pink mare. He watched her, staring at her, hoping to see her move, hoping to see her twitch, hoping to see take a single breath. But she didn’t. She just lay there, still as the stone on which she lay.

Cloud Zappers eyes closed and the darkness he’d fought seemed to take him for a little while, but it was peaceful, a respite from the ache that burned in his gut, from the pain of his hooves, and the grief that had begun to claw at his throat.

The Pegasus had arranged for a light rain the day of the funerals at Cloud Zappers request. It was sombre, and a bit depressing of an idea, but it felt…appropriate.

Tears in the rain and all that.

Three caskets lay before them, each draped in the Equestrian flag, each shining and gleaming with woven gold. Each casket was embroided with gorgeous decorations of heroic feats, of legendary scenes that each Guard within had committed.

Corporal Stonehoof.

Corporal Melody Song.

And Captain Ebony Blitz.

Promotions had been given to each as an honour to them, medals had been given to their families in reminder of their loved ones deeds. But could any medal or promotion really make up for it? Could they ever even describe what each of these Royal Guards had given for the sake of Equestria?

Cloud Zapper didn’t think so.

The grey Pegasus stallion wore his full Guard armour, the gold glinting in the light of the sun that shone through the grey drizzling clouds as he ascended the stairs to the podium. He stood before the stands, a microphone near him to enhance his voice. Before him a procession of Guards stood there. Sergeant Moonshine, Private Trickshot, Private First-Class Starlight Breeze and Auburn Leaf stood there among them, just a few of the large crowd that had joined them. The rest of the 38th Squadron, Ebony Blitz’s team, also stood with them, though Cloud did not know each by name. But he made a mental note that he would try to get to know each of them in the coming months. At the front, on either side of the podium he stood on, sat three ponies, Princess Celestia, a contrite Princess Luna, and a bandaged, but awake, Captain Sunride Blitz, who had managed to make a recovery after more samples of the Changeling venom were able to be gathered from the other ‘Hundred’ that had invaded, and thus yielded an antidote.

Cloud Zapper looked down at the piece of paper before him; it was a speech that he had written the night before.

“I want to speak to you all about a Sergeant, and two Privates.” He began, looking at those before him. “But you all knew them anyway, so what could I say?” He said, a soft smile joining the tears that marred his face. “I could tell you how as Royal Guards, they exemplified the virtues of courage and the stalwart strength of any that came before them. How they were strong, fearless, and gave their lives in the protection of Equestria. But you all know that.

“So I’m going to tell you not about a Sergeant and two Privates, I’m going to tell you about Ebony, a mare who was so stubborn that on her seventh birthday she wouldn’t let go of her father’s leg until he bought her the teddy that she wanted.” He smiled and a few attentive Guards in the audience couldn’t help but chuckle a little. “A story, that, for those of you that knew her, could attest that she’d kill me for telling you.” There were a few nods in agreement at that. “She’d also kill me for telling you that on her first application to become a Royal Guard, she actually failed, though there was probably a little bias in that decision on the instructor’s behalf. It wasn’t that she hadn’t surpassed all their expectations with amazing prowess, she had. It was simply because one of her instructors didn’t like her…so she chose to trap him in a conjured cage for three hours.” The crowd chuckled more at that, even Sunride smiled a little, only for another tear to drip down his cheek. “Ebony Blitz truly DID exemplify what it meant to be a Royal Guard.” He said firmly, looking to the crowd. “She WAS stalwart and strong, she WAS powerful and what she sacrificed for us will never ever be forgotten.

“She was also beautiful, brave, and if any of us could ever hope to even be half the Guard that she was, well then Equestria would be a much safer place.” He said softly. There was a silence that followed, before Cloud Zapper began to chuckle a little. “A mare walks into a bar, the bartender asks, why the long face?” This got him a few curious looks. “Melody Song was a stallion of really bad jokes and puns.” He grinned. “He was silly, juvenile, reckless, sometimes idiotic…and just what we needed.

“In the darkest of nights, when you find yourself hoof deep in tarterus, and the only thing you’ve got to look forward to each day and night is pain and the chance of losing your life or the lives of your friends…Melody Song was the pony to have with you. He was the kind of stallion that would do whatever it took to make you laugh; he once went as far as to hit himself with a frying pan as a joke.” He grinned. “It was the first time Stonehoof ever smiled.” He sighed. “Stonehoof…‘there’ was a stallion that was the embodiment of ‘stalwart’. He invented the term. He was big, strong, and the buck could throw a punch like you wouldn’t believe. He was quiet too, barely ever spoke when he first joined us, he just followed orders and said either ‘yes sir’ or ‘no sir’.” He shrugged. “Then the tyke turned up. Melody was the baby of the group, a prodigy straight out of boot camp. Smart as anything, but didn’t know when to shut up. Fast as anything, but didn’t know when to stop. Tried everything we could to make him listen, but the guy was reckless, he’d do orders and then he’d go further, he’d do something we didn’t need him to do, thinking he was helping except he’d have messed everything up for us or somepony else, can’t tell you the amount of times I had to cover for the idiot. He couldn’t concentrate on anything for very long, and we were at our wits end. That’s when Stonehoof finally spoke more than two words to any of us.

“He trotted right up to Melody Song and he said ‘Boy, you better start doin’ as your told and just as your told, or you’re gonna be in trouble. You gotta have the right mind to be a Guard, you wanna be helpful, do as ya asked, but always remember, to be a good pony, before you try to be a good soldier.’” Cloud Zapper smiled at the memory. “They were friends after that, thick-as-thieves. They looked after each other, cared about each other; they loved each other as brothers.” Tears began to fall down Cloud Zappers face. “As the night descends tonight, don’t think about the short night that almost spelled the end for Equestria, and did spell the end for these three brave Soldiers. Mourn their deaths if you have to, but celebrate their lives, celebrate their hearts and what they fought for. Celebrate what they sacrificed themselves for. Life.” He looked down at the caskets. “As Stonehoof once said, ‘remember to be a good pony, before you try to be a good soldier.’”

Cloud Zapper stood to attention and saluted, as did every Guard surrounding the caskets, saluting those that were laid to rest. Cloud Zapper watched as the draped Equestrian flags were slowly removed and the caskets lowered into the ground.

Why had this had to happen? Why did good ponies have to die? What was this for? Had Chrysalis wanted to team up with Nightmare Moon to take over the Crystal Empire, she didn’t seem like the type. If she got her heart back, wouldn’t that make her ‘good’ again, surely she wouldn’t want an evil presence waiting there to destroy the Fae kingdom she wanted to rebuild. She had to have had a different plan. Whatever it was, Cloud was going to stop it.

A hoof pressed onto Cloud’s back and he turned to look into the azure eyes of Captain Sunride. Their lips met briefly and Cloud Zapper almost melted into the kiss, needing the stallions embrace. They hugged when the kiss broke, holding each other closely. Cloud looked back to the caskets that were now deep within the earth. He could feel Sunride shaking against him, fighting back the grief that struck him.

Cloud nodded to himself in determination. Chrysalis, whatever her plan was, was going to be stopped, and Cloud was going to be the one to do it, or he was going to die trying.

Author's Note

I hope you all enjoyed this latest addition, there will be many more books in this series to come. ^-^

Leave a comment and a review or whatever, let me know what I did right or wrong, can't improve unless I know where to improve. ;)

3) Cloud Zapper and the Gifted Crown
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Cloud Zapper and the Sacred Heart Saga

3) Cloud Zapper and the Gifted Crown

Cloud Zapper and the Gifted Crown

The rubble was strewn about the ground like rising peaks of some forgotten castle. Their charred and damaged remains wouldn’t seem out of place at the old ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree forest. But these rocks and walls were not the long-forgotten testaments of times damage on stone. They were the aftermath of battle.

It was battle that haunted Cloud Zappers dreams. The likes of Luna herself could not keep such screams silent in the dark. A darkness that called to him in familiar voices, and now, familiar screams. Indeed, Luna seemed absent from any dreams for a while. Rumour was that she hadn’t left her room much since the incident. He didn’t blame her.

Cloud Zapper had not slept fitfully for weeks, and the slow procession of weary duty and sleep deprivation had caused dark circles to be ever present around his eyes as he stood at his station.

The weeks following the funerals of Stonehoof, Melody Song, and Ebony Blitz had been trialling. They were a military, so they were expected to fill empty positions. Captain Sunride, their leader, was tasked with such a job. A job almost impossible to accomplish. Two teams had fought that day, facing the embodiment of darkness itself, the reborn Nightmare Moon. The 45th and the 38th Squadrons of the Inquisitor Royal Guards had stood side by side, fought with everything they had, and succeeded at a terrible price. The 38th had lost Ebony Blitz, their Sargent, posthumously granted the rank of Captain, and Cloud Zappers own 45th squadron had lost Private Stonehoof and Melody Song, both having been granted the posthumous rank of Corporal. Being the only leader left within two such squadrons, Captain Sunride was tasked with promoting a new leader in Ebony’s stead, to lead the 38th.

He had to find his own cousins replacement.

Cloud Zapper did not envy him the task.

The pain and difficulty of such recent burdens had caused a rift between both of them. Disinterest in both emotional and physical connection in the wake of grief had paused Cloud’s and Sunride’s relationship with no sign of it being rekindled anytime soon. This had brought on a somber mood to Cloud in recent days. The lack of Sunride’s warmth in his bed had him pining for the stallion, and, in usual Cloud behaviour, he sought to fill the gaping hole inside him with confectionary goods.

“Another muffin?” The kindly mare asked softly, giving him a sympathetic eye. Despite having just finished his fourth, Cloud Zapper nodded to another.

“He’ll come around, ya know.” The mare continued, buttering up the latest muffin and offering it over the counter. Cloud wordlessly took it in his hoof and stuffed it into his maw. She watched him and pierced her lips. Cupcake Crème had a brown mane and a cream coat, her sparkling blue eyes held a maternal affection for Cloud as he sat there, wallowing in muffin-filled sadness. “Tell ya what, what you need is a night out. How about it?”

Cloud glanced up at her and finally spoke, “with you?” He looked confused.

Cupcake giggled sweetly. “Oh no, my cousins in town. You’d like him.”

Cloud made a face. “I’m not after hooking up-”

“No, no, no. He’s straight. But he does know all the best places in Canterlot. Why not go out for a night, shake it a little, get your mind off things for a bit.”

Cloud shrugged, but as he didn’t outright refuse, Cupcake seemed to take that as an affirmative.

“Great, okay. I’ll send him round to the guard house around seven.” She pushed Cloud off the stool and onto his feet, stuffed a blueberry muffin into his mouth and swatted his flank to get him moving. “And don’t wear armour!” She called as a confused and unsure stallion padded back towards the guard tower, chewing on muffin goodness.

There were dead things here.

Old things.

Dead, old things that were dark.

The darkness permeated the very air and the spirit. And though she lacked a heart, Chrysalis could almost feel it’s absent beat grow louder.

There were not many things that left a queen such as her uneasy. There were not many things more powerful, or as old. There were not many things that made her afraid.

This was one such thing among that very short list.

WHO ARE YOU?

The voice wasn’t a voice. It was a permutation of the air. A vibration among the rocks. A silence that spoke words. And though not a syllable was truly uttered, the question was absolute, unmistakable, and demanded an answer.

“I am Queen Chrysalis.”

WE DO NOT RECOGNISE YOUR CROWN HERE.

Chrysalis felt a threat within those unspoken words. As though to defend her title would mean death. She wasn’t entirely sure she COULD die, but that voice made her feel the need to be cautious, lest she find out the depths her immortality could stretch to. “I am here to trade.”

AND WHAT COULD A BUG OFFER US?

She knew this was no racial slur. They did not speak of her species, but her stature. An immortal and powerful being, that with enough love could match the power of Princess Celestia herself, was being considered nothing more than a bug to such beings. Chrysalis swallowed and looked into that encompassing black.

“I offer you a mote of freedom. I offer a break in their chain. She is weakened. You must feel it. Now is the time.”

THE KEEPER OF THE DARK IS NOT THAT WEAK.

“We don’t need to focus on her. She is strong enough to oppose you directly, yes. But she cannot protect anyone else at this point. I have seen to that.”

YOU OFFER ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN?

A low smirk spread across the changeling queen’s features. “I offer you Twilight Sparkle.”

A poke in the side made the purple mare snort loudly, the snort was quickly followed by a yelp and her eyes snapping open as she lost her balance. She fell to the floor from her chair with a thump.

“You slept at your desk again.” An unimpressed purple dragon said simply. His scales shone lightly in the noon glow, the bold purple colour was offset by the vivid green of his stomach and spines. He wasn’t a tall dragon. Just a short one. An adult by pony age and a baby by dragon years, Spike looked over his keeper as she rubbed her head tiredly.

“What time is it?” The purple alicorn fluttered her wings a little to stretch them out as she tried to shake herself awake. In answer to her question, her small dragon assistant held up a clock. He cringed when she yelled, “NOON!”

“Twilight…” The dragons attempt to grab his keeper’s attention was futile as the bookish pony dissolved into a panicked state.

“I have to finish writing out my conclusions for Sunbursts theorem on ‘Mist Mane’s Material Amity’ and how it relates to Starswirl’s work on Ancient poultice remedies-”

“-Involving Somnambular Bloom and Heart’s Desire?” The dragon interjected with his arms crossed. Twilight Sparkle looked at him, her mouth still open from being cut off half way through her sentence.

“You finished all your notes before you passed out last night.” Spike, the dragon, explained. “I used the framework for the paper you’d already set out, wrote it up using your notes and sent it off to Celestia before waking you.” He then produced a toasted daisy sandwich. “Breakfast?”

Twilight paused and leaned back against the wall with a breath of relief. “Spike, you’re the best assistant ever.”

“I know.” He said with a smile, watching her yank and wolf down the food. “But you really should go to bed at the right time, Twilight. You’re not good to anyone when you don’t get a good night’s sleep.”

“I sleep fine at the desk.” She defended stubbornly.

Spike gave her another unimpressed look at her. “If the bags under your eyes were any bigger, I could use them for trash when I take out the garbage.”

Twilight huffed grumpily before grabbing a nearby mirror and looking at herself for a moment. To her dismay, she couldn’t really argue. “Okay, maybe I do need a good night’s sleep.”

A slam of the door from downstairs had them both looking to the bedroom door. Rushing out to the balcony that overlooked the library below, they saw a hooded white mare in the middle of the room. “Zecora?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Twilight, you must come, dark things have just begun!” The Zebra mare called up to her in rhyme.

Twilight rushed down the stairs, her earlier tiredness forgotten in the moment. “What’s happening?”

Zecora shook her head, “I have glimpsed through mirror water at things unknown, and have come to warn you of what was shown. A darkness comes, it approaches fast, we must prepare or we will not last!”

“But mirror water, without Alicorn magic is indistinct. Can you really be sure of what you saw?” Twilight asked. She never wanted to second guess her friends, but mirror water was reputedly bad for fortune telling. It was only useful when combined with Alicorn magic and then drank, something Twilight had first-hoof experience with.

“Thrice I have looked, and thrice the results did not waver. Sure, I am that they portend something graver. We must act or we will be consumed by this threat; do not dismiss me, or on Equestria’s chances, I would not bet.”

Twilight looked at her sympathetically, “I’m not dismissing you. I’m sorry. What did the mirror water show you?”

Zecora breathed for a moment before approaching a table. She pulled out a golden ornate bowl from her cloak and placed it down, before pulling out a recognisable flask with a purple liquid. She slowly poured the liquid into the bowl, and pulled out what looked to be some ground herbs. She gently sprinkled them into the water, muttering under her breath; “kioo maji, kuonyesha nini ni lazima kujulikana.” The water swirled unnaturally for a moment, and as Zecora added five seeds around the bowl close to the edge, a ripple spread from each seed that caused images in the water to form.

Twilight watched carefully as Zecora began to speak again, and as she spoke, the shapes in the water took form.

“A darkness with presence. Ancient and untold, yet bound and unknown. Kept contained with ancient magic, magic weakened by something tragic.” The darkness seemed to lash out within the bowl, the indistinct shape of an alicorn and a battle could be seen, all displayed in shadow. These shadows split and lashed out at each other, almost like they were trying to swallow the other shapes and lights as they formed. “It comes to us soon, and its true intentions I cannot view. But what is certain,” she turned to Twilight, “is that it comes for you.”

“Me?” As Twilight watched with wide eyes, the darkness formed a six-pointed star, Twilights cutiemark, only for the blackness to tear the star apart with such violence, both Twilight and Zecora jumped back as, with a loud cracking sound, the bowl of water shattered and splashed purple water to the floor.

“This did not happen when I viewed it before.” Zecora said looking shaken. “I viewed it with the protection of a chime. It must have dulled the clarity of the brine.”

“So, what does it mean when the brine breaks the bowl?” The look Zecora gave Twilight at that question sent a shiver of fear down Twilight’s spine.

“It means we have ran out of time.”

Twilight felt a tingle of awareness pass through the tip of her horn. And as though it were felt more than heard, there seemed to be a creak in reality…

…before the young alicorn princess felt the world crack open.

Starlight Breeze looked him over thoughtfully. “Maybe the blue.”

“You said no to the blue, an hour ago.” Cloud groaned as he looked in the mirror. He was currently sporting a red smart vest that fell down as a tailcoat over his flank.

“Yeah, but that was before I saw you in red. Besides, that was a navy blue, this one’s cerulean. Totally different.”

Cloud Zapper rolled his eyes at the light blue pony. “Blue is blue.” He mumbled.

“No, it’s really not. Colour coordination is important. Besides, it matches your mane.”

Cloud had asked Starlight Breeze to help him pick out an outfit. The stallion was known for his impeccable sense of style so Cloud had figured this would be some quick advice and then he could get ready for the ‘party’ tonight. But they’d been at this for over an hour now, trying on various outfits.

“Can’t I just wear something simple?”

His fellow Royal Guard looked at him curiously before sighing. “Fine, if you’re just gonna be grumpy about it. Here.” He picked out something nice but simple. It was a blue and white blazer and some slacks for his flank. “These should do.”

Cloud tried his best not to sigh in relief, “thank you.” He gave the other stallion an appreciative smile.

As Cloud slipped into the outfit, pulling the slacks over his hindquarters, Starlight sat on the bed in the corner.

“So,” Starlight began. Cloud’s ears perked up at the tone of voice. “You and the captain, huh?”

Cloud rolled his eyes and finished pulling up the slacks before grabbing the blazer. “Yes, well… sorta. Kinda.”

“Figured you’d settle for a mare, handsome buck like ya’ self.”

“I like both.” Cloud said, shrugging his shoulders as he slipped his hooves into the blazer sleeves.

Starlight seemed to look at him curiously for moment before he spoke again, “so you and Sunride, you both okay?”

Cloud sighed gently, “yeah, just, with everything that’s happened recently…”

“He’s put up a barrier?”

“More like a wall.”

Starlight nodded at that and slipped off the bed. “Well, do let me know if you ever get into the market again.”

Cloud turned his head to look at the stallion. He wasn’t unattractive. A cute grey mane over a light blue coat and piercing blue eyes. Not a bad catch… but the idea of being with anyone other than Sunride had his insides turning.

“Maybe.” Cloud said dismissively, not wanting to broach the subject.

“Hey.”

Cloud turned as he felt a comforting hoof lay on his shoulder. “He’ll come around.” Starlight said with a warm smile.

“So everyone keeps telling me,” Cloud replied, trying his best to smile back.

“Okay, well, I got guard rotation on 3b. Ya know, I don’t mind the increase in pay, but getting promoted to Corporal has been hell for my shifts.” He grumbled with a small smile, “I’ll see you around.”

Cloud waved at the stallion as he left and turned back to the mirror, tugging at the blazers collar. He didn’t look bad. Maybe tonight he could just forget everything and have fun.

Silver Breeze was a mail pony. His silver mane was medium length and was accented well in colour to his lime green coat. He had a large satchel slung around his neck and strapped to his side as he flew through the air, his wings gently caressing along the nearby clouds as he enjoyed the gentle breeze. He did love his job.

Silver Breeze closed his eyes, humming to himself as he swayed back and forth through the convection currents that swirled along the upper skies, tilting his wings to the slightest degree to catch that small updraft, only to tilt them up and gently start his decent as he approached his destination.

The feel of the wind and air pressure changed sharply, as though a large object were suddenly directly below the cloud cover. He arched up as fast as he could, but he struck it. The clouds dispersed, and a black form took shape below him, a throbbing pain lancing through his wings causing him to cry out. He backed off. “What the hell?”

He looked down. It was huge. Around the entire town of Ponyville, there was a dark sphere of what Silver could only describe as… malice. That’s what it was. Pure malice. He felt it, like a creeping under his skin, a gut wrenching feeling and a sickly taste in his throat. A feeling that described itself only, as incomparable hate.

The blackness stretched around the whole town like a dome, blocking seemingly any entrance to the inside.

“Well, there go my delivery time bonus.” Silver muttered, his eyes still roaming over the blackness in shock. The blackness throbbed before him. Seeming to pulse and beat like a heart. The sound of crackling could be heard, and something in Silver told him to get out of there. Turning to run, he felt something stop him, and with a scream he was yanked back, clawing at the very air itself in an effort to free himself from the grasp. Blackness swallowed him whole.

Cloud Zapper stepped outside palace grounds, tugging on the blazers collar to fold it into position.

“Hey! You must be Cloud!” A bouncing blue stallion with a bright fluorescent pink mane bounded over to him. He was wearing a neck ruffle and swanky red tailcoat vest that somehow, didn’t seem too eccentric on him. His piercing red eyes were bright and friendly.

Cloud looked a little uncomfortable, responding with, “yeah,” as the stallion wrapped a hoof around his shoulders.

“Awesome, we got a great party ahead of us. Hey crew, get over ‘ere and say ‘ello to the heart broken lad. We gotta give him a night to remember.”

“Oh, we getting’ ‘im laid?” Asked a bright green stallion with a buzz cut black mane, a wide grin spread across his features like he was eager to get started with such a task.

“Nah, got orders on this one. He’s ta get plastered, have a good time, and just forget ‘is woes. No funny business.”

“Maybe I should just go back to my dorm.” Cloud Zapper said, feeling way too uncomfortable with such eccentric stallions around him.

“Oh no you don’t,” said the blue stallion, pulling him along. “Sorry boi, but we ain’t goin’ till you’re smilin’.”

Cloud gulped as he was marched off with the stallions. The two he’d spoken to were flanked by a bright purple stallion with another pink mane, and the other one was a dark grey with a blond mane. This was going to be a long night.

The party was… loud.

That was the best description for it. Loud and heavy and it hurt his ears. Strobing lights flashed over the dance floor as stallions and mares rubbed shoulders, gyrating and dancing with all the finesse capable of drunken bodies. In the corner a stallion threw up, in another a mare and a stallion were doing everything legally allowed for two people to do in public, and looked about ready to cross that threshold, if only for the thrill of the public display. The dance floor could barely be seen for the stomping hooves and swaying bodies as the DJ pulled and scratched on his decks.

Shouting over the music was a chore, but somehow the other stallions managed to do it with gusto. They shoved drinks in front of him, and at their urging, Cloud took full gulps. He tried his best to avoid the heavy stuff, but it seemed the stallions were insistent.

“’Ello there!” The blue stallion called out, whistling happily at the sight of some rather attractive mares dancing on the dance floor. Cloud’s host turned to him and wriggled his brow as he stood up. Despite the pink mane, Cobalt Flourish was a surprisingly masculine stallion. He had an air of confidence about him that made others gravitate to his personality. The stallion padded over to the mares and without much of a word, he began to dance with them, gently inching closer. One of the mares glanced over, looking him up and down before smirking. Cloud couldn’t deny he was handsome, so he wasn’t too surprised when Cobalt managed to grind his way over the mare’s flank, whooping happily over the music.

“Wanna go over to see if they want a piece o’ you too?” The other pink maned stallion asked to Cloud’s left. This stallions coat was a bright purple, giving his colours a stark feminine feel despite his square jawline. Burgundy Flourish was Cobalt’s brother, he preferred to be called Burg.

“Nah, too soon.” Cloud answered with a shrug, smiling at the stallion to thank him for his offer before taking another gulp of beer.

“So, Cloud, tell me what it’s like in the guard.”

Cloud shrugged at the question. “Probably like most jobs. Get up early, get your gear on and go do what you’re told to do.”

Burg smirked, “is it true you boys all screw in the showers?”

Cloud’s cheeks flushed a little. He cleared his throat and took another large gulp of alcohol. “Well, not all of us… but, it’s not unheard of.”

“So… is it like an orgy thing? A tradition thing? Or like a relief thing?”

Cloud rolled his eyes. “Okay, it’s more like a relief thing, lack of mares ya know. The tradition around it is less about doing it… and more about ignoring it if others are doing it.”

“Why ain’t there no mares?”

Cloud bit his lip and tried to think of a way to say this without coming off like an asshole. “Well… it’s kinda backwards. And it’ll probably be overturned and changed in the next few years but… mares don’t really join the guard. Well, not the Aerial or Militia anyway. There are mares in the Mystic Guard though.”

“Which one you in?” Burg asked, draining the last dregs of beer from his own cup.

“I’m an Inquisitor, we’re sorta like the detectives.”

Burg drunkenly nodded and pointed at Cloud feverishly. “I know that one! Ain’t there mares in that one?”

Cloud shrugged at the question, “not many.” He replied. “We’re made up of the best members of all the areas, Mystic Guard included. Sometimes we get a mare, sometimes we don’t. The ratio’s way off though, like one mare for ten stallions.”

“I can see why ya go for the dick then. With those odd’s ya might as well.” The pink maned stallion cackled.

Cobalt Flourish padded back over, his hooves around the shoulders of two mares who were looking a little tipsy. “We’re heading back to the hotel room. Ya comin’?”

Cloud nodded, wanting to get out of the noise. The alcohol was already giving him a headache and the base of the music wasn’t helping.

The outside cold air helped his brain to relax, but he quickly found out how drunk he was when he almost stumbled off the curve and into another stallion. Mumbling apologies, he followed the other stallions and mares. The third bright green stallion had barely spoken all night, but he was watching the swaying flanks of the mares as they walked. Reaching the hotel room, they stumbled in. Cloud headed right for the bathroom. Pouring himself a large glass of water from the tap, he gulped it down, hoping to clear his head a bit. He stumbled back into the room and fell down on the bed. He glanced lazily to his right and watched Cobalt pin a mare down as he mounted her, his mottled brown length slipping deep into the mare’s entrance until their hips slapped together, both letting out loud moans. Their moans became the accompaniment to squeaking bed springs with each thrust, the wet sound of slapping hips joining the other sounds in the room. On the other bed nearby, the green stallion was doing the same to the other mare, his thrusts a little more insistent and rough on the mare. Not that she seemed to mind.

Cloud sighed and rolled over to ignore them, closing his eyes. One positive thing had come out of this loud night… he hadn’t actually thought about Sunride once. He fell asleep to the sound of squeaking bed springs.

“Ow! Stop hittin’ me!”

Cloud awakened to a thwapping sound. He looked over at the doorway. Cobalt was getting swatted round the head by a rolled-up newspaper held in an azure aura. Cupcake hit him again for good measure.

“Leave me alone!”

“I told you to give him a good night out!” The baker yelled, “not grab the nearest harlot!”

“He did have a good night! I swear!” Cobalt defended, ducking under another swing at his head from the newspaper. Glancing to the side showed a still sleeping Burgundy and two mares. One of which was awake and looking sheepish.

Cupcake Crème glanced over at Cloud and saw that he was awake. “Oh darling.” She pouted and padded over. “How are you feeling?”

Cloud rubbed his forehead. “A little hungover… okay, a lot hungover.” He smiled, his vision a little blurry from the throbbing headache. It felt like his head was in a vice. “I just need some water.”

“I’ll get him some.” Cobalt grumbled, heading over to the small fridge and throwing him a bottle. “I’ll pay the hotel for it.” He sighed.

Cloud took a deep drink of the bottle only to almost jump out of his skin. The door burst inwards with a loud bang. Three Royal Guard stallions rushed in. The first to the front was Starlight Breeze, his light blue coat accented by the bright orange of Trickshot’s.

“Cloud, we have to go now!” Starlight yelled, pushing past the bewilded Cupcake and her cousin. Somehow Burgundy just snorted at the yelling as he slept through it.

“Yo, Cloud.” Trickshot said, his usual grin spread over his face. He looked from Cloud to the two mares and the sight made his usual grin spread wider. “You get lucky?”

“No, I-” His breath caught when Sunride stepped between them. His red coat was unmistakable, neither were his deep blue eyes. Eyes that now looked from Cloud to the mares. “It’s not what it looks like-”

“Get your gear. There’s an emergency.” Sunride’s voice held no warmth or understanding. It was cold. Cold enough to send ice through Cloud’s heart as he watched the stallion he loved turn around and walk out of the room.

Cloud stared at them and gulped. “I… I didn’t…” He was almost speaking to himself.

“Cloud.” Starlight said carefully. “There’s an emergency, we can sort this out when we get back.”

Cloud Zapper nodded, taking a gulp but finding it almost impossible. It felt like there was a stone in his throat. “What’s the emergency?” He asked in a croaky voice, trying his best not to break into tears.

“Somethings taken over Ponyville. The entire place has been wrapped in some kind of darkness.”

‘Twilight Falls,

The land grows dark…’

The first line of that prophesy came to his mind unbidden. A cold sweat ran down the back of his neck and he spoke in a soft whisper, “it’s happening.”

Sunride hadn’t spoken to him the entire time.

Cloud sat among the others, a large regiment cart pulled by members of the Aerial Guard carried them on their way to Ponyville. The back was cramped and dusty, and while the seats were uncomfortable, it sure beat flying the whole way.

Cloud looked at each of his comrades. Sergeant Moonshine, Corporal Starlight Breeze, Private Trickshot, and Private Autumn Leaf, and at the front was Captain Sunride Blitz who stared at the floor between his hooves. Whether he was contemplating life or the mission or even what kind of jam went best on toast, Cloud didn’t know.

Trying to pull his mind away from the stallion, he thought about the mission, about the report. After getting their gear on they’d flew as fast as they could to the Royal Courtroom. The princesses looked stressed, Celestia retained her usual regal façade, but every few moments Cloud noticed she’d shift her weight between her hooves. And her voice had the smallest hard edge on certain syllables. She also closed her eyes more, collecting herself for brief seconds before continuing. She was worried. Twilight Sparkle had long been her student in magic, practically living at the palace for most of her academic life. There was a motherly bond that couldn’t be broken in that, and Cloud saw it was taking everything the princess had not to run to her students aid herself. But she couldn’t. The princess could not face all the dangers of Equestria. Not even most of them. If she were defeated, or worse… killed… who would run the kingdom? How would Equestria fair if it’s ruler ran from her duties at a moment’s notice to go into battle?

And it wasn’t like they were all powerful. Cloud had spoken to friends in the Mystic Guard before with a curiosity about history and subjects of magic. He knew the general story. The Elements of Harmony. They were once wielded by the Princesses. But their power was only partial, and they had to both wield them to unleash their true potential. This was why when Nightmare Moon had first risen, Celestia could not rid her of the corruption like the new bearers could. It was why Princess Luna had to be imprisoned in the moon for a thousand years. The Elements no longer considered the Princesses wielders. When two bearers faced off against each other, they could no longer be the wielders of Harmony. As they themselves were not in harmony.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends had taken up that mantle. Their strength together was far greater than Celestia could ever hope to be, and despite her fears and desire to protect the filly that she had helped raise as much as the filly’s parents had… it was for the best that such dangers be faced by those more capable.

It was this understanding that stayed Celestia’s hooves in the courtroom. And held her voice strong despite its slight tremble. It was this understanding that allowed the Princess to do her duty.

And here they were, being sent in the Princesses stead. Flying in a carriage to Ponyville.

Everything was happening so fast. The dangers of Chrysalis, the reveal of who she was, the threat of the Titan’s if she succeeded, the attack on Princess Luna, and now Twilight Sparkle.

Cloud was frayed at the nerves, and he knew he wasn’t the only one. Looking around him he could see the strain on each of their faces. Trickshot’s smile was a little too wide, and his hooves seemed to be held tight against him as he sat there. Moonshine, usually perfectly well kept in appearance, had missed straggling hairs in his mane. It was a small detail, but the pony was practically OCD about his appearance, so this oversight was likely telling of his emotions. Starlight looked his usual self, if a little tired. Which Cloud was honestly thankful for, they needed someone on their game. Though Cloud knew he wasn’t taking the rank of ‘Corperal’ very well. He got promoted after the Nightmare Moon incident, and since then had often complained about the increase in his guard rotation hours. Autumn Leaf was the same. Tired, and worried. He was visibly wired. While not the newest or the most inexperienced, Autumn was always a worrier and wore his heart on his fetlock, and it showed. The stallion could wield a lance like nobody’s business, but before a battle he always had this air of being coiled like a spring. And there at the front was Sunride. Still just staring at the ground. What Cloud wouldn’t give for one of Melody Song’s bad jokes right now.

“Incoming!” Yelled one of the Aerial Guard’s from the front. The cart shifted and tilted violently. Cloud yelped as he was thrown against the bulk of the carts interior, rolling out of the way as the tilt sent a spear flying at him, sticking into the side near his head.

“Zapper!” Sunride yelled, for a moment Cloud was hopeful it was a call of concern until his captain continued. “Get out there and see what’s happening!”

“Yes sir!” He yelled as he launched himself out the back of their enclosed cart. He freefell for a second before extending his wings, catching an updraft and soaring into a spin. He came up alongside the cart and barely dodged as a strange tendril of blackness rushed by him. “WHAT THE FUCK?!” He aileron rolled out the way of another tendril and tilted his wings so the roll became a barrel, swinging him under the cart and to the other side. “Seen anything like this before?” He called out to the Pegasus up front above the rush of the wind.

His yell could barely be heard over the noise as the sky cracked and split open with lightning and rain. Before them, a swirling vortex of clouds spun in a dangerous hurricane around what Cloud could only describe as a massive black dome. The dome itself seemed to swirl in his vision, and the encompassing dark was both reflective, and also seemed to swallow light completely. It was as though looking into the deepest well with a mote of water at the bottom.

“Corporal,” one of the Pegasus started, “we ain’t seen fuck all like this before.” There was a strange ripple that travelled through the dome before another tendril ruptured out and seemed to make a grab for them. The Pegasus barely dodged, the side of the cart getting struck and torn open. Their occupants yelled and the entire cart began to list to the side. A yell from inside caused Cloud to stretch his wings out, catching the draft in front and launching himself backwards behind the cart. He arrived just in time as Moonshine fell from the open back. Cloud caught the Unicorn as he fell into his hooves. One of the thick cords holding the cart into the reins of the Pegasus was damaged, it began to creak as the metal frayed. “We’re going down!” The Pegasus yelled. The three Aerial Guard angled and headed for a rocky plateau nearby.

The landing was rough.

The cart smashed into the rocks, one of the Pegasus called out in pain as he landed badly, a sharp crack following a bent wing as he skidded along the floor. The cart fell to its side, tearing itself up more before skidding to a halt.

Cloud landed with Moonshine, letting the stallion touch solid ground, obviously panicked from the ordeal. “That was not fun.” He said, looking to Cloud, “thanks.”

Cloud nodded respectfully before moving to the cart as the others climbed out. Apart from a few bumps and scrapes, it looked like everyone was okay.

“Corporal Zapper, what happened?” Sunride asked, stroking his bruised temple.

“Sir, that happened.” Cloud answered, pointing to the sphere of blackness around Ponyville.

Captain Sunride slowly approached the edge of the plateau. “What in Celestia’s name is that?”

“No idea.” Cloud said, stepping up beside him. “But it was firing weird tendrils at us. But, if I had to guess… that’s Ponyville.”

They stared in silence for a moment, drinking in the sight as the heavy wind blustered around them, their coats and manes soon sodden and heavy from the rain as it cascaded around them. The wind had a bite to it, and it travelled fast and hard. Cloud kept his wings tight to his side. The gusts of wings pulled at his secondary’s and primary coverts, almost yanking the feathers from their root in a manner that stung if he turned his side to the bite of the wind. If he spread his wings in this, he’d surely be pulled away into that swirling vortex.

Cloud turned to Sunride, watching his face as his commanding officer looked over their obstacle. The princess had specifically told them to go there, see the issues and help solve it if they could. But no one had information. There were some vague reports, but anypony that got too close disappeared and no word was sent back. They’d flew in blind.

“What’s our orders?”

Sunride bit the inside of his cheek visibly as he mulled the question over in his mind. “Your orders… are to find me a way in.” He turned to Starlight. “Corporal Starlight, I need you to assess the situation.”

The smaller stallion nodded but looked concerned. “I need to get closer-” he looked down at the sphere, “-a lot closer.”

“On my back, lighten the load.” Cloud Zapper said, lowering himself down. “I’m going to need your help with the wind.”

Starlight Breeze padded over and mounted vertically, laying his weight along Cloud’s back. His horn began to glow and a soft light encompassed his whole body, making his weight suddenly seem a fraction of what it was. This way Cloud’s flying wouldn’t be much impeded by carrying him.
Cloud padded to the edge and spread his wings, jumping off towards the Sphere.

The initial gust of wind almost snapped Cloud’s left wing as he tried to push himself forward, but with a second glow of Starlight’s horn, a field rippled around them both. A shield to hide them from most of the gusts. It was specially designed to work with Pegasus, it didn’t block all the gusts of wind, just most of them. After all, if it blocked them all, a Pegasus could hardly take flight at all, but at least this meant they weren’t going to be dashed against rocks from the force of the hurricane.

They unsteadily sank down towards the ground. Cloud could hear Starlight chuckling at something as they flew.

“Ya know,” Starlight called over the loud wind with a mirthful grin on his muzzle, “this isn’t really the way I’ve been hoping to mount you.” Cloud rolled his eyes as they finally landed on solid ground. Starlight slipped from his back and gave Cloud another grin. “Was it good for you?” The Unicorn jested with a wiggle of his brow.

“Just get started.” Cloud said, trying his best not to snigger. Though he’d be lying if he said he didn’t appreciate the humour, crude as it was. He needed a little mirth after recent events. Starlight chuckled at the Pegasus and stepped forward. He was about ten metres from the base of the dome. The wind was strong here so the Unicorn was having to use the wind protection spell on himself just to stay grounded, while Cloud Zapper dug his hooves into the dirt in an effort to do the same.

Starlight’s horn began to glow brighter, an overglow slowly sliding over its length as he braced himself against the wind. His magic shot out in an arc of blue light, hitting the sphere.

Clouds waited for almost a full minute before speaking, “well?”

His question was barely heard above the roaring of the wind, but Starlight looked pained and confused about something. “I… I don’t know... it’s strange… it’s like…” The spot where his magic connected with the sphere began to glow red. His blue magic was suddenly rushed back at him, it’s edges glowing red as it sent Starlight flying back to the ground, a yell of pain joining the blustering sounds of the storm.

Cloud rushed to his side quickly, looking for any sign of damage. “Starlight, are you okay?” He asked, noticing that the unicorns horn was smoking and glowing red at the tip like it was hot.

Starlight groaned a little, but didn’t wake up. There was a strange rumbling that was less a sound, and more a feeling that passed through the air. His coat and the feathers of Cloud’s wings stood on end and with less than a second to spare, he dived to the side, carrying Starlight as he rolled. A tentacle of blackness crashed into the ground where he’d been standing, displacing rock and dirt with the force. A second tentacle erupted out and he dived again, one of his legs was struck though. Cloud watched as the blackness engulfing his leg. Starlight flew from his grip and he struggled to pull away. But somehow, the blackness wasn’t just gripping him, it felt like it was swallowing him. It began crawling up his leg, inch by inch. Cloud spread his wings, capturing himself in the powerful gust and gale of the wind, hoping that it’d help him pull free. But even as he pulled, even as the swirling wind tugged at him, even as he clawed at the earth… he felt himself slipping back.

“CLOUD!” Red hooves gripped his. Cloud’s eyes looked up into the blue eyes of Captain Sunride, the other guards fast approaching as they flew or galloped in the gale to reach him. Sunride pulled so hard Cloud felt like his hooves would be yanked from their sockets. Multiple tentacles suddenly rushed forward, one wrapping around Clouds midsection, another wrapping around Sunride’s neck. Cloud screamed as it spread up over Sunride’s face, suffocating him as it dragged them both back towards the sphere. Cloud could see them, his comrades, his friends and family in arms. They watched, screamed and gave chase, unable to help as the blackness drew both him and Sunride in. And their terrified faces were the last thing he saw, before the world went dark.

Cloud woke with a groan. The world seemed fuzzy and dark and rubbing them didn’t seem to do any better. At first, he thought he might have sustained some damage to his eyes, but he quickly realised that no, he hadn’t. The place he was in was just darker than he’d expected. The area around him seemed to have a weird blood red and purple hint to it that reminded him of assorted grapes and fruits mashed together. The floor was cobbled stone and shapes somewhere in the distance looked like buildings. So, he was still outside… or inside… looking up to the sky made a pit form in the Pegasus’s stomach. The sky was a swirling vortex of black’s, purples and dark hues that seemed to pulse and almost breath. He was inside the dome.

“Cloud?” A groan sounded behind him. Cloud Zapper turned and saw Captain Sunride Blitz a few metres from him, cradling his head in discomfort, likely feeling the same as Cloud did. A burning migraine was throbbing at his temples.

“Captain.” Cloud padded over and helped him up. “Are you alright, sir?” He asked, keeping it professional. Though he was really worried about him. Those tentacles hadn’t been very gentle.

Sunride nodded. “I’m alright.” He answered, looking up and around him. “Where are the others?”

“I don’t think they were pulled in.” Cloud looked around to confirm that theory, but they did indeed seem alone.

“Maybe they were smarter than us and kept their distance.”

“Then why wasn’t Starlight pulled in too?” Cloud mumbled as he looked around them. “What is happening in here?”

The dome ceiling above them swirled and a shot of lightning cracked from above, lighting the interior of the dome brilliantly for a second. The sharp towers of the buildings silhouetted against the flash and the town, for all its colour, seemed dark and foreboding in the instant.

“Come on.” Sunride said, walking past Cloud Zapper as he pulled on ahead. “We need to find Princess Twilight Sparkle. She’ll be in a better position to deal with this than we are.”

Cloud agreed with that logic and followed his captain. The entire town had been trapped, and yet, as they walked into the town, not a soul greeted their eyes. The place seemed vacant. Dead. A movement to his right made Cloud jump a little as paranoia began to creep up his spine. “I really don’t like it here.”

“Quiet.” Sunride shushed him, crouching low behind an abandoned cart as the sound of giggling could be heard from nearby.

“What is that?”

“Shh,” Sunride hissed as he stepped out from behind the cart that barely concealed them. He moved around a building and a figure seemed to stand there in the darkness. A mare, judging by her figure and the pram she had beside her. She seemed to be giggling at something. “Ma’am, are you alright?” Captain Sunride approached her slowly. “I’m Captain Sunride, Captain of the 45th Inquisit-OOOhHOLY SHIT!” He yelped back, his body coiled in a tight stance, his wings flared and angled behind him as though he were ready to take off at any moment.

Cloud Zapper rushed to his side and leaned down, grabbing the pommel of his sword into his mouth, he swung it out and held it at the ready.

The mare just stood there, giggling. She turned her face to them, and a chill ran down Cloud’s spine. The mare was missing her jaw. Blood dripped to the floor, and her teeth were jagged blades that looked ready to tear through flesh. Her eyes were pinpoints and maddening to behold. The very sight had Cloud’s stomach twisted up in knots. She reached into the crib and pulled out a foal, a screaming bloody foal with the umbilical cord still attached to its stomach. The mare held the boy up aloft and before Cloud could react, the mare shoved the babe down her own throat, her neck engorging and distended with the shape of the screaming babe as it slipped down into her gullet. A long slippery tongue extended and licked over her bloody shark-like teeth as she descended into another fit of laughter. Clouds gut wrenched and his hooves reacted. Suddenly he was in front of her, the blade singing as it sliced through the air. His blade met flesh and- nothing. The air was cut, and silence fell as he looked at the empty space where the monstrous mare had been. Silence stood in her place instead.

“What the fuck was that…?” Captain Sunride stared at where the mare had been, looking like he might be physically sick from the ordeal.

“I… I dunno… but she disappeared so, maybe it wasn’t real…” Clouds words were full of hope. Though he didn’t really believe them.

The air felt stale around them as they walked through the town. The air had a light chill to it that had Cloud shivering as he walked. Things slithered in the darkness, the alleyways seemed darker than they were. The rubbish and refuse of piled up garbage hung a heavy stench in the air as they walked past alleys that had long since been abandoned as places to dump all manner of crap. The place looked disgusting. Rats seemed to slither about the place and signs above shops seemed old and frail, many of them barely hanging on by a single chain.

None of it seemed right. This wasn’t the Ponyville he’d heard about. He’d been here in his youth; the place had seemed beautiful and quaint. But this place was filthy, and things crawled in the dark vestiges of shadows and rotten smells putrefied the air. Each breath seemed to threaten to choke him. Slowly they crossed the square, the long road to the castle stood before them. The road was cracked with dead reeds lining the path, and the castle before them hadn’t fared well either. It’s shining crystal form seemed cracked and shattered in places. Even its reflective beauty could not be helped but be marred by its state of disrepair.

“Why is everywhere like this? I heard Ponyville was nice.”

Sunride just grunted in reply as he approached the large double doors of the castle. He raised a hoof, took hold of the door knocked and knocked thrice. The loud knocked seemed to vibrate the surface of the crystal door, cracks formed and with a creaking crash, the knocked itself fell from the door to crack on the crystal steps below.

They waited in silence.

A susurrus began. It slowly grew from the edge of hearing to something that could almost be precepted as a whisper. A creek from inside, a rustle from behind them, a movement in the darkness; all these things served to send creeping fingers up both stallions spines.

The door before them lurched open with a loud echoing bang that made them both jump in fright.

“What do you want?” The mares voice sounded annoyed. Looking through the crack in the open door, Princess Twilight Sparkle stood there with half lidded eyes and a gruff manner. She looked like she hadn’t showered, her mane was a mess and if Cloud was entirely honest, she looked either drunk or pissed off.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle?” Cloud Zapper asked curiously. He’d seen pictures of her, her purple coat and mane, the horn and wings he could barely see from this angle all said it was her. But she was not as he had expected. She was shorter for one...

“That’s who’s house this is… wha’d’ya want?” She repeated, narrowing her eyes at them.

“Princess,” Sunride stepped forward, “may we speak to you?”

The princess looked between them both glumly before she shrugged and turned away from the door, leaving it open. They stepped inside and closed the door. The place had a dusty smell that lingered on the nose. The feint aroma of moist books and mouldy pages assaulted the senses and the floor seemed sticky to the touch of their hooves as though it had neither been washed or swept in months. As they followed her into the crystalline halls their reflections tinted off the walls around them, highlighting the grime and smudges that marred their surface.

Twilight turned into one of the rooms, the entrance a yawning archway beset into the wall unceremoniously, as though the crystals that made the surface of the walls had grown in such a fashion as to accommodate the entrance to the other room. Cloud wondered absently if the entire castle had been grown rather than built. He could see no sign of polished workmanship, yet the floor, stairs and walls were shiny, smooth and without flaw. The room they entered was filled wall to wall with books. The tomes arched grandly to the highest ceiling Cloud Zapper had ever seen. The room was circular, and levels and walkways were numerous above them, approachable only by ladders; but many of the shelves looked unkept. Books had fallen to the floor, three mountains piled up high were located at each corner of the room. Twilight herself walked over fallen books as though forgetting they were there, and made her way to what seemed to have been a makeshift bed made out of a couple of chairs, some bedding, and a pillow. She laid herself down on them, ignoring the Cloud and Sunride as they looked around.

Cloud approached one of the cases to his right, and curiously, reached out for a book and took it down. He opened the page and saw the scrawling’s of the writer’s mouth. Mouth-written words spread across the page accompanied by complex geometric diagrams describing the intricacies of what Cloud could only assume was advanced magics. But as he watched, the words seemed to shift under his gaze, and slowly, the ink began to run, spreading and smudging across the page as though the book were freshly printed and being run with water.

Cloud snapped the book closed and put it back, glancing back at Twilight as she lay snug in her place. The loud snoring that followed told him she was asleep.

Captain Sunride rolled his eyes and poked her. “Princess?” He asked, his voice stoic and professional.

“Uh… WHAT?!” She yelled, the Alicorn’s grimace at him for disturbing her sleep felt a little smouldering. Cloud was acutely aware that while he didn’t understand much of what was going on, this was still an Alicorn Princess, and upsetting her might not be the best move.

“What is happening in this town?”

Twilight glared at the captain for a moment before turning over and slipping back to sleep.

As Captain Sunride seethed, Cloud Zapper moved over to a nearby table. Books had been scattered over the surface absently as though thrown on without care, much like the other surfaces in the room. But as Cloud’s eyes scanned the table, he noticed something. He moved two of the tomes out of the way, a ‘Magical Mystery Maladies’ by ‘Marble Minerva’ and ‘The Complete Compendium of Curses, Cursive, and Coughing Cures’ by ‘Commutative Greg’. Beneath them lay a single book that seemed to have actually been placed there on purpose, as it laid in decent placement on the table. The book was open, and while the right page was blank, the left page had half a page of lines written in rapid, but relatively neat scrawls (relative to Cloud’s own ability to write. He wasn’t very neat).

‘-comeing from the mountains. Not above them, but beneath them. There was something in one of my books on the subject, ‘Earthly Enemies, Amorphous Adversaries, and Ears of Corn’ by ‘Agatha Antique’ that said; ‘Beings of this age cannot exist in a world of strong magics, as they are opposed to it. While encompassing the concept of magic itself, they are anti-magic, and ethereal in nature, as though a second side of the coin. They can only be contained within a resisting vessel.’ The rest of the book delved into the geometrical components and sociological impact of ears of corn through ancient history, which does not help my current situation at all. It is my review that Agatha Antique had an obsession with corn and an inability to focus on a single subject. Besides, her pros were weak and much of her sentence structure is shoddy at best. But about this thing, it’s old, from before Equestria was founded and it’s changing things. Thing’s aren’t real and I can’t change it to make it not real. I’ve tried to send word to Celestia but my magic isn’t working, this thing, it feeds on-’

‘Thing’s aren’t real and I can’t change it to make it not real.’ Cloud reread that line repeatedly. It still made no sense. “Captain.” He called over, grabbing the book and bringing it over to the red stallion. Captain Sunride, grateful for the distraction away from the infuriating Princess, looked at the book and read the text.

“I think it starts on this page.” Cloud turned the page and looked down, only to see the ink starting to run and smudge. “Read quickly.” Cloud warned cautiously as his eyes ran over the text as fast as his brain could absorb the words.

‘If Zecora’s predictions are true, then something is coming that threatens everything. It started with the impact of something in town, but it didn’t fall. It cracked through, literally CRACKED through the world. It’s in the centre of town, the mayors place, and it began spreading. Everything’s changing. I can’t seem to analyse it, but my equipment in my lab was able to detect something like a sound-’

“A sound coming from under the mountains?” Cloud asked curiously, not understanding what that could mean.

“Look here,” Sunride pointed to a paragraph that was just starting to run, the ink slowly smudging with the rest as the page became an illegible mess. “It’s in the centre of town. We need to go stop this.”

Cloud nodded and with Sunride they headed out of the room. “Wait,” said Cloud quickly, turning back to the slumbering Twilight. “What about the Princess?”

Captain Sunride glanced from Cloud to the princess and shook his head, “leave her, she can’t help us.”

Cloud reluctantly nodded and followed his captain.

They exited the castle back into the air outside. It wasn’t cold, the atmosphere seemed set on a comfortable temperature that was neither too hot or cool. But something in the air still had Cloud Zapper shivering.

“What do you think is going on here? What was up with that mare and the baby? Or the princess? What trapped us in here?”

“Do I look like I have those answers?!” Sunride yelled, rounding on Cloud angrily.

Cloud instinctively shrank back submissively. “I’m sorry.”

Sunride’s expression softened and he let out a tired sigh. “I’m sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”

Cloud gave him a small smile, “it’s alright. I guess I’m not handling this well.”

“Me neither.”

They both stood in silence, words that were left unsaid seemed to be hovering in the air between them. Cloud almost snatched one when Sunride turned away.

“We should get moving.”

Without saying a word in reply, Cloud nodded and followed his captain.

The town was just as he remembered before going into the castle. The domed sky seemed to pulse with a darkness that was both distinct, and vague simultaneously; and all manner of destitute around them seemed ever more prominent in the gloom. Wood beams and framings of doorways that might, in the light of day, seem charming, now seemed gnarled. Each knot in the wood, each chip and crack seeming vivid and garish and almost offal in nature. A tree nearby had overgrown roots that seemed to have cracked the concrete below it, and in the dark light Cloud’s mind cast images of intestines and organs of the tree strewn upon the road like some obscene horror of disembowelment committed by some fiend. Intellectually, he knew they were just roots, he knew the wooden beams were just chipped, he knew the frame of the door was just cracked… but his imagination twisted them till his stomach could barely stand their sight. Instead, Cloud Zapper opted to stare at the ground as he walked, that or look at the armoured flank of Sunride… which wasn’t an altogether unpleasant option, but probably not appropriate for the mission.

They reached the main square swiftly. In the centre was the town hall, and an array of abandoned shops and stalls around it. Cloud looked up at the building in the centre. The building was cracked in half, and seeping from the cracks were tendrils of an ethereal nature. They seemed to shift and pulse as Cloud looked at them, unable to focus on one specific detail or factor of their shape. The large double doors to the building were broken off, one of them hanging by only a hinge. Their surface seemed to be adorned with veins of purple pulsing that was almost analogous to the colourless darkness of the dome above them.

The inside of that doorway was dark.

But it was a different kind of dark. It wasn’t the pulsing dark, it wasn’t the ‘foreboding’ dark, and it wasn’t the ‘threatening’ dark. It was a ‘nothing’ dark. An ‘empty’ dark.

“We’re going in there aren’t we?” Cloud said, fearing he knew the answer before he’d finished asking the question.

Captain Sunride took a deep breath and nodded, “yup.”

For a moment they looked at each other, knowing that whatever happened in there, it may be something they wouldn’t be able to walk out of. Together, they looked back into that darkness, and moved forward.

The inside was dark. Go figure. Coming in from a dark and foreboding outside, to a darker and more foreboding inside. Cloud was starting to drastically dislike the situation he was in, not that he had found it fun at any point. ‘Mare-eating-baby’ has been where the adventure turned from ‘standard-but-kind-of-weird’ to ‘all-kinds-of-no’.

The walls were papered with deep reds and the carpets a plush pink that seemed both inviting, and vomit inducing. Though Cloud wasn’t sure if the nausea was caused because of the colours, or the sickly smell in the air. It smelt of dust and water rot.

Both stallions braved the darkness slowly, one hoof in front of the other as the corridors stretched out in front of them. They made their way down a hall to the end, and turned left at a T-Junction. Following that route, they came to another long corridor. Halfway down a turning right was open to them, curiously, they both took it, only to find another long hallway.

“This doesn’t add up.” Sunride mumbled to himself. He launched forward. Cloud ran to catch up, both of them galloping down the hall, turning left, and then right, and then another right. The place was just long corridors… no rooms.

On the left wall of the hallways was a painting in a frame. Captain Sunride padded over to it, narrowed his eyes and slammed his hoof into the glass covering the work of art. The glass cracked viciously down the centre, other cracks spider-webbing out in a pattern that distorted the painting inside. With that, Sunride and Cloud headed down the corridor again. They turned left, and then another right, only to take the next two lefts. This was another long hallway, and a familiar cracked painting greeted them. With a narrowed glare, Captain Sunride galloped forward. Cloud struggled to keep up with his comrade, running as best he could to follow the twists and turns the captain weaved through hallway after hallway. And always, they came to the same cracked picture.

“We’re going around in circles!” He took the picture off the wall and smashed it against the adjacent wall in anger. Cloud looked down at the pieces of glass, thinking about them. They caught the glint of the dull light in the hallway, a light that didn’t seem to be coming from anywhere. The picture was partially exposed from its frame, and underneath it was a cloth backing. Cloud’s mind ran back to what Princess Twilight had written. “It’s not real…” He mumbled to himself. “We’re not going in circles!” He said loudly suddenly.

“Yes, we are, I smashed that painting and it’s the fifth time we’ve passed it.”

“No, it’s not. Trust me.” He knocked the frame over and pulled out it’s cloth backing. Using his teeth, he tore it into two pieces and as Sunride protested, he wrapped it around his eyes, blindfolding him. Tying off the back, he slipped the other rag of cloth around his own eyes.

“Any reason why you’ve blindfolded us both?” Sunride asked, not sounding too happy about it. “The last time you tried blindfolds it didn’t go well if you remember.”

The small jibe actually made Cloud feel better about their relationship, even as his cheeks flushed and his sheath twitched under him at the erotic memory. “No, nothing like that. Twilight wrote in her book that nothing was real, I think this thing’s messing with our minds, making us always come back to the same point. But it can’t change what we see, if we aren’t seeing anything.” Cloud Zapper reached and pulled on Sunride’s hoof, leading him. He enjoyed the feeling of his lover’s hoof in his, it made him want to say how he felt about him. But he knew now was not the time, and the rift between them wouldn’t be fixed with a few kind words.

With his free hoof, he gently brushed it periodically along the right wall, following it to the edge slowly, turning the corner and following it down. They took another turn before his hoof brushed against something like a frame. He stroked along it, and his hoof soon found a door, and then the handle. He grabbed it, turned, opened it and pulled Sunride in with him.

They sat in silence.

The room they’d entered had been a bedroom. Obviously, the mayor had used the main hall as her own personal home as well. It made sense, if she was needed a lot of the time, why not make her home the base of operations in the town. Certainly solved the issue of commuting to work.

The bedroom had lush shag carpeting, posters of a few old bands that the mayor had obviously liked, a large bed, a vanity table of pictures of her winning several awards in her younger days, a clothes dresser, and a room to a base on suit lavatory and shower room.

Somehow, this room seemed unaffected by anything going on outside. At least… mostly. A few books were stashed on a few bedside shelves, and opening any of them made their ink begin to flow down the page immediately. But much like the Princess’s Castle, everything else seemed relatively okay. At least nothing horrific was going on.

Both stallions had chosen this moment to relax, to take a respite from the adventure they were on.

“Any theories on what’s going on?” Cloud asked, trying to find some form of conversation. He was sat on the bed, watching his captain as he searched through drawers of the mayor’s personal items, likely looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. Thus far, his search had yielded no results. Unless quills were counted, and though the great adages said that the quill was mightier than the sword, Cloud would very much prefer a sword at this point (especially as words written by quills seemed to be temporary at best currently).

The red stallion could only shrug at the question. “We’ve been in this town for nearly two hours, and no sign of the others. No sign of anyone here that isn’t twisted. This labyrinth of hallways was all in our heads, so what if out there is as well?”

Cloud nodded and sighed. “Yeah, I suppose it could be. You handling it okay?” He asked, sounding concerned as he looked to his captain.

The red stallion paused. He was facing away from cloud and just staring into a draw full of clothing, but not really seeing it. “I’ll be fine.” He said, sounding a little cold.

“Sunride-”

“Just don’t.” The stallion snapped. Cloud whimpered a little and turned away. Sunride’s expression softened at the whimper and he bit his lip. “This… isn’t really the time to talk.”

Cloud nodded and a silence passed between them. The grey Pegasus tried his best to just push away his thoughts. But he couldn’t. His teeth grit together. “Why not?”

Sunride glanced to him. “What?”

“Why can’t we talk now?”

“Cloud-”

“No, don’t give me bullshit. This room seems to be relatively safe, we’ve got time to take a moment, why can’t we use it to talk about us?” Cloud had slipped from the bed and stared at the red stallion now. His eyes almost pleading for an answer. None came. The silence between them was almost deafening to Cloud. “She asked me to take care of you.”

“DON’T BRING HER UP!” Sunride yelled, rounding on Cloud angrily. “Don’t you DARE bring her up!”

Cloud just looked at the stallion sadly. He could see the other Pegasus trying to hide the tears in his eyes. Cloud padded closer and wrapped his hooves around him, pulling his captain close. The familiar press of his form was marred by the armour he wore, but it was enough. And the scent of his crimson mane had Cloud closing his eyes and drinking it in. “She wouldn’t want you to do this to yourself. Please…” He pulled away slightly and stroked Sunride’s cheek gently. “…I miss you.”

They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment before the gap was bridged and their lips met heatedly. Explosions flashed through Cloud’s mind as he tasted those lips again. It was a familiar taste, a familiar motion, but one so new after so long. His hooves slipped up and pulled the helmet from Sunride’s head, removing his own as well. The shiny gold glinted in the dull light of the room as they both clattered to the floor below the stallions. They were kicked to the side as Cloud was backed up and pushed down onto the bed. The grey Pegasus knew they didn’t really have time for this, but he didn’t care. They would make time. He had no idea what would happen, or how they’d get out of this place. But for this moment, he didn’t want to be anywhere else but in Sunride’s hooves.

Their erect members pressed together, mottled grey with deep red, pressing close as their tips throbbed and their lengths twitched with the pleasure of the caress. Their hooves roamed, grey hooves ran over red fur, and red hooves stroked down grey sides as both stallions kissed and enjoyed the moment.

Obviously not wanting to waste time, Cloud found his hind legs lifted and Sunride position himself. With a single thrust, Cloud felt himself spread open. That length slid inside, and with every inch, nerve endings fired and sent the grey stallion into mewling moans of pleasure. There was no foreplay or being gentle. This was need. Cloud looked into the eyes of his lover and knew that this was a moment needed for both of them, and it needed to be carnal.

The first withdraw and subsequent thrust pressed their hips flush together and a loud moan sounding from Clouds muzzle. The soft slap of hips and skin filled the air as Cloud’s lips once again found Sunride’s muzzle. They moved together, lifted together, thrust together. The pleasure rising to a crescendo and the moans growing in volume by the second. The thickness of that length was felt, the tip flared inside him, and with the first hard thrust of Sunride’s climax, Cloud squealed marishly in pleasure. The mottled length between them flared and erupted, splashing both of their bellies with hot seed with enough force that a copious amount also splashed under Cloud’s chin.

When his length finally gave up and left itself twitching and slowly began losing its girth between them, Cloud settled back, panting and shuddering. The comforting weight of Sunride on top of him made the stallion smile, his hooves wrapping around him and pulling him close. “I love you.” He said gently, meaning those words more than ever.

Sunride didn’t repeat the words, but he nuzzled gently into Cloud’s neck. The words had not been said often between them, their relationship had grown from a sexual friendship with mutual respect, to a deep romance that neither could deny. But those words were still very rarely said, and Cloud missed the sound of them.

With a light mewl, Sunride withdrew entirely and slipped off the bed. Grabbing some nearby wipes from the side of the table, they both began to clean themselves up into a more respectful state. Once their armour was retightened, their manes brushed with a brush from the vanity table, and their helmets replaced back onto their heads, they both looked to the door.

Cloud couldn’t help but smile, he felt closer to Sunride. The gap was there, but a bridge was being built. He felt a good portion of it had finally been constructed, and he hoped to bridge it entirely before too long.

“So, what’s the plan, captain?” The question was official, but it was accompanied by a light nuzzle under the chin.

Sunride was trying not to smile as well. They were in a hellish dome and not an hour and a half ago, they’d seen a mare eat a baby. So, they should probably take this seriously. But for the moment, they were both feeling pretty good, and it was nice to be able to have a moment like that, among all this darkness.

“We find whatever it is in this building that’s making the dome. And then we either break it, or kill it.”

Cloud nodded. It was a good plan.

The dark hallway greeted the two stallions as they finally left the safety of the bedroom. Despite the sex and the good feelings that followed, both stallions felt their anxiety rising from the situation. The hallway seemed clear, but something in the air had an uneasy feeling about it. Together they padded down the length of the corridor, and turned right. Thankfully, they were not met with one of the repetitive hallways from earlier. Instead there was an archway in one of the walls, and a glowing light blazing from the depths. Approaching the archway, both royal guards poked their heads round and looked into the room.

The centre of the room blazed with a sort of black light, it flowed and pulsed in the darkness. The darkness was almost tangible, swirling and pulsing and moving like liquid around what Cloud could only describe as an ‘egg’. It was egg shaped at least. This room was the main one in the building, a desk sat in the corner where the Mayor might do her work, and along the sides of the room were a collection of organised drawers for files and things of the like. The floor was a dark wood that reflected none of the light cast upon it, despite being lit by it at the same time. The visual effect was one that Cloud’s brain fought against. A headache began to grow and he pulled his eyes from the weird non-reflective floor and looked back to the egg. It sat still on a crudely erected pedestal made from cracked rock. The surface of the egg itself also seemed to be stone, a long crack led from the side up to the vaulted tip where it seemed to be open and pulsing with a low indigo hue, lined with blood red along the edges of the crack.

But this was not made both stallions blood run cold. Then edges of the room wriggled and seemed to scream silently. Ponies were fused to the wall. Everyone from the town seemed fused and part of the wall, wriggling and screaming silently to be free.

“I think we found the towns people…”

“What do you think it is?” Captain Sunride asked curiously.

Cloud shrugged, looking back to the egg that Sunride was referencing, “dunno, but I bet it’s the source of everything.”

“I’ll second that bet.” Sunride said, his eyes narrowing. The red stallion stepped forward, expecting something to attack him. But nothing came. Slowly he approached the egg and waited… but nothing was stopping him. What kind of creature or being would allow someone to get close enough to attack them.

Well, it was certainly a mistake on this things part!

Captain Sunride glared, turned and bucked out with his back legs. His hooves struck the egg.

The egg rocked, but didn’t fall, and Sunride screamed.

In the instant, his hooves touched the eggs surface, it was as though the world stopped entirely. He was frozen in time... conscious… and he saw things.

A world engulfed in green fire. A mare screaming as she was pinned, a blade tearing up between her legs, through her marehood and tearing through her stomach, blood and viscera painting the ground and her fur. Her screams became gurgles as she choked on her own blood. The scene shifted to a cackling, to a clash in a battle. Spears and swords, wings and horns, blood and bone… they hacked, the tore… and then they were crushed. A huge claw striking the ground, tearing apart both armies as claws rent gashes into the dirt like scars upon the planet.

You are not strong enough!

A low hungry growl was heard among those words. Hearing them felt like they were being carved into his soul… and there in the darkness that was engulfed in the red glow of evil eyes, Sunride saw Cloud. He saw Cloud’s fur burning away. He saw Clouds skin melting. His muscles tearing from his bones and somehow, despite long being dead. He could hear Clouds scream.

That scream evolved into his own as he fell to the ground, back in the room with the egg, his brain seeming to burn and the visions in his head tearing screams from his throat with such intensity he tasted blood.

Hooves held him close and rocked him, stroking his head, whispering soft words of concern and as he felt his sanity return, he could feel the wetness of tears on his shoulders. Tears that joined his own. He turned to Cloud and gulped.

“Are you okay?” The grey Pegasus asked, he looked at Sunride with worry and pain in his eyes.

“I’m… I’m alright.” He said, his throat gravely and hoarse. “It… I could see… and feel…” He gulped, tasting more blood.

Cloud tried to help Sunride to his hooves; they barely took the weight. “Come on, we need to go, we can find help. Maybe Twilight has a way of taking this thing out.”

“No.” Sunride said, looking back to the Egg. “I could… I don’t know… I felt something. Like it was pulling at me.” He’d felt many things when he’d touched the egg. The pain, the heat of the burning, the fear… but something else. Something had creeped inside him. “Try to fly.” The order was met with a confused expression, “just do it.”

Cloud followed the order and jumped, his wings spread. Suddenly he dropped to the floor with a yelp. “What the-”

“I think this thing eats magic. I could feel it pulling something… it was inside my wings. And my body… and my head.”

“It was in your head?”

“Yeah, I think… I think I fought it.”

His memory seemed fragmented. Time in the egg had seemed to only last a moment, yet at the same time it had been infinite. He’d felt the darkness, heard whispers in his mind, and his screams and pain in his own head... he’d tried to fight it, and he’d managed. It’s how he’d pulled back out.

“A vessel.” Cloud seemed confused. “The book,” Sunride continued, “Twilight wrote that the book she read said it could be contained within a resisting vessel. It was pouring into me, I was able to resist it.”

“Wait, wait, wait. What are you talking about?” Cloud didn’t like where this was going.

“This thing shows nightmares, it shows darkness and it feeds on magic. I have to stop it.” Sunride turned to Cloud.

Cloud’s eyes filled with tears as he realised just what was being said. “Wait, no, no you can’t, I just got you back! That thing could kill you!” Cloud felt like he was hyperventilating, his eyes wide in abject terror. This wasn’t real, it wasn’t real. That thing, it shows your worst fear, and this absolutely HAD to be his worst fear.

“I’m sorry.” Captain Sunride pulled off his helmet and smiled warmly to Cloud. “If I can contain this thing, you have to get out of here and explain everything to Princess Luna. Listen, I saw things when I touched it. Green flame, Changelings, and something rising from the earth.” Sunride seemed to gulp. “I saw you die, Cloud.”

“It’s not real!” Cloud protested, “none of it’s real.”

“But it will be.” Sunride protested, “I could feel it. It shows nightmares, but not always lies. It showed the truth because it was harder to see and more terrifying than any lie it could have told. I felt it, Cloud. The world is in danger. The world needs Princess Twilight, the world needs you.”

Before Cloud could argue anymore, soft warm lips met his, and he found himself in a kiss. Tears ran down his cheeks at its sweetness, all while his heart felt like the heaviest burden he’d ever carried.

Sunride pulled away and reached for Cloud’s helmet. He pulled it from his head and slipped his own on. “I promote you to Acting-Captain if I am unable to take the role.” Sunride was trying to be brave, but his voice wavered, “Cloud Zapper… I love you.”

Those words felt like knives. Cloud lunged, trying to grab Sunride, but he was too slow. The red stallion managed to duck out of the way, turn and dive at the Egg.

The light was blinding, the scream was deafening, and among that bright darkness, Cloud felt his world crack open.

The cerulean blue sky was marred by fluffy silver clouds, each one tinted with the bright yellow glow of Celestia’s sun.

Yet as Cloud looked upon such a beautiful day, it somehow felt darker than any night he’d experienced.

The golden helm in his hooves was marred and scuffed, the three notches on the side indicated the rank. A rank he now claimed, and never wanted. His hooves ran over it with the cloth. The intent was to polish it, but rather than doing it properly, he used the cloth as an excuse to just caress the shape of the helm.

The dome had collapsed that day, and Cloud had been found sobbing over the body of Sunride. The Captain was alive, but unconscious. Cloud had been found and met by Princess Luna. Despite the presence of her regality, he did not bow, or even acknowledge her. He stared down at the seemingly sleeping form of Sunride. He’d have cried more, except his sobbing by that point was dry, he had no more tears left to shed.

The princess had said something. Something about knowing what this creature was. Something that she protected the darkness from, the dreams from, and the world from each night. Something she’d locked away and kept locked away a thousand years ago. Something that could not have been freed without aid.

But Cloud didn’t care.

The words were water. They washed over him as he barely listened, thinking only of the gaping chasm in his chest that Sunride had once filled.

Twilight had been admitted to psychiatric care. The darkness she’d faced had dulled her mind and damaged her psyche. With Luna still weak after her Nightmare Moon incident, that left two of four Alicorn’s in the world damaged and hurting. Cloud knew Equestria was vulnerable and he’d have to be the one to save it.

But as he held the helmet, as he looked down into the soft golden reflections of the glinting metal, he stared into his own eyes and realised something that scared him.

He was supposed to help save the world.

But this world had taken Sunride from him, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to save it.