Author's Note

Warning: The gore gets heavy in this chapter. If you don't want to read it pm me and I'll tell you the basics of what happens.

This is the fastest I've ever written a chapter. Two days. That's an academy record or something. This chapter, although 2k words, is fast paced, so it goes kind of quickly.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - Making Her Life Worth It

A cool evening breeze weaved its way through the leaves of a small bush, forcing the leaves in a multitude of directions. The evening had been a peaceful one. Most ponies were asleep in their beds or cots, and those awake were navigating to their homes, in search of slumber. One of those ponies heading home, was Golden Strike.

Golden Strike, or 'Strike,' as he was known to his friends, and family, was an ironically silver coated pegasus stallion. His spiked yellow mane, was his most distinguishable feature, next to his deep golden eyes. He wanted nothing more to do, than to get home, and pass out in his bed. This feeling grew ever more present, as he flew through the air, desperately trying to lose the three pegasus soldiers, that chased after him frantically.

There was no reason for the pursuit, at least to Strike's knowledge. All that had transpired within the last few minutes, had him baffled. He had been walking down the path towards Canterlot, from his job in the weather office, that resided outside of the city. Somewhere a while back on his hour long trek, he had walked past a patrol of soldiers, that had been heading in the opposite direction. While he passed, he noticed that the captain, at the head of the patrol, had been eyeing him suspiciously.

Choosing to ignore it, wound up having Strike followed, by three pegasi soldiers. After some time, he realised that, as he began to walk faster, nearly galloping, the soldiers would do the same. Once he picked up off the ground, and began to fly, the pursuit began.

Witnessing the whole confrontation first hoof, Luna charged through the forest, and undergrowth, keeping herself hidden from both the pegasus, and the soldiers. She kept pace with the silver pegasus. There was no obvious reason for them to chase the innocent pegasus. She chose to wait in the shadows, to see how the situation would transpire.

The silver pegasus was by no means a slow flier. In fact, he was gaining distance from the soldiers. Luna speed through the forest in amazement, as she saw the silver pegasus dodge through hills and large rocks, in a desperate attempt to break contact. All of his attempts failed.

Luna looked forward, down the path of the four pegasi. Noticing a large open straightaway, brought about a sting of nervousness. She wanted to react, to jump out and halt the chase, but she chose it best not to interfere, at least until it was necessary.

Her unexplained nervousness received its purpose, as the lead pursuing soldier rounded the final obstacle, pulling a large chain out of a side pouch he had been carrying. As he pulled it out, Luna could clearly identify two apple-sized iron balls, that sat attached to the two ends of the three foot long chain.

It was not an unfamiliar device to Luna's eyes. It was known to most royalty and military personnel in Equestria as the 'amputation chain.' Its purpose, although rather gruesome, was extremely effective. It was designed to be thrown by a strong pony. The chain would travel through the air at a high velocity. It was used to target limbs of fleeing, or escaped criminals. Contrary to its name, it was not designed to actually amputate appendages. It's purpose was to break the strong hind leg bones of running ponies. The metal balls would keep the chain wrapped around the victim, holding them down, after the excruciating injury.

Due to the gruesome nature, it had been outlawed for use in openly public areas. This mountain path, however, was more than well secluded. Luna winced, and shuddered, as she realised what was about to happen before her eyes. The chain was used on strong leg bones, not nimble, and fragile pegasus wing bones.

The soldier released the chain, and it plowed through the air. An audible whistle was picked up in Luna's ears, from the chain's raw speed in the air. The chain reached its victim at the perfect time. Both of the pegasus' wings were perfectly vertical, with the chain colliding at an all too perfect perpendicular angle.

A bloodcurdling scream rang out through the hills, and mountains. Luna looked on in fear, as she watched the silver pegasus' body plummet to the ground. It didn't take long for contact to be made with the ground. The speed that the chase had accelerated to, made it only that much worse for the silver pegasus, as his body audibly crunched, followed by bouncing, and skidding along the gravel path. Luna stopped running, and dove into a bush, watching the scene unfold, with wide eyes, maw gaming open.

The soldiers that had given chase, flew lazily toward their target. As much as she wanted to, Luna couldn't take her eyes off of the Silver pegasus. She could hear him weeping, as he struggled to stand. Somehow, Luna felt horrible for not helping the pony, but in all honesty, she had no idea why he was being chased. He could have been a well known criminal.

The silver pegasus was able to pull himself up to his hooves. The chain hung loosely around his back, wrapped around two wings, that now hung limp at the sides of his body. She watched as he took his first step, only to scream out again, as his right hind leg knee joint, bent the wrong way. He collapsed back to the ground, in a bloody, bruised, weeping mess.

The three soldiers all landed around the silver pegasus. Luna focused her hearing, so that she could make sense of the situation. They had essentially formed a pseudo circle, around the broken pegasus. They all stood still, looking down at him with various looks, combined of either victory, and self affirmation, or disgust, and depreciation.

The stares lasted quite a few moments, as the silver pegasus quivered and shook helplessly, lost in a world of anguish, and pain. The guard that had thrown the amputation chain, stood in front of the collapsed Pegasus.

"Why did you run from us?" The soldier asked, in a chillingly calm tone.

"B-Because you w-were...chasing me." The crippled pegasus answered, between panting breaths, and sobs.

"We chased you because you ran." The soldier to his right spat.

"I was only going home!" The pegasus yelled, somehow finding a reserve of courage.

"The only place you're going, is to Princess Celestia." The soldier at his head answered, picking up his face. The soldier looked into his eyes for a moment, before pulling back and punching him across the face.

The pegasus was dropped to the ground, as blood began to drop from his mouth. He proceeded to spit out a tooth. "No! Please don't take me to Celestia! Didn't you see what she did to her own brother?!"

"Ya know what? I'm not sure if I remember exactly what happened. Can you fill me in on the details?"

"Are you serious?! She publicly executed her brother in Canterlot!"

The guard to his right laughed. "Wow, you must really have a death wish. Don't you know that she ordered all Equestrian military to immediately kill anypony who speaks out against her?"

"Wait! WHAT?!" Was the only response the pegasus could mutter, before receiving another blow to the head. He didn't have time to react, as multiple punches came crashing down onto his face.

The beating stopped only momentarily, so that he could cough up blood, and moan as blood also began to drain out of his nose.

The guard that had been standing on his right rolled him over on his side, only to kick him in the stomach.

The pegasus choked, as his eyes shot open. He coughed and gagged, desperately trying to get air in his lungs. The same soldier wasted no time in kicking his chin, forcing him to see another kick come down on his forehead.

The pegasus' body went limp. After a few moments of inspection, the guard that had landed the knock-out blow began to laugh. "Hahaha. I thought he would last longer than that."

"What a pathetic waste of time. Hey, Private Shield. Why didn't you help out?"

Luna gawked, she hadn't noticed that the third soldier had stood there the whole time doing nothing. He hadn't said, or done anything.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter. You can kill him." The same soldier said, pushing a knife into his hooves, before walking off, followed by the other soldier.

Luna watched as the silent guard, supposedly 'Private Shield,' positioned himself by the head of the silver stallion. Luna sprang into action, dashing out of the bush, charging the surprisingly small soldier.

The private barely had time to turn, and utter the words "What the?" Before he was launched across the path in a flailing mass from Luna's push.

The knife clanged as it hit the ground, allowing the other two guards to turn around, and come charging back, weapons drawn.

Luna smirked, and pulled one of her katanas out of its sheath. She charged toward them, ready to strike. She jumped over the front soldier's horrible attempt at a slice with a sword. Angling the blade in her mouth downward, she locked eyes with the second, now wide eyed, and skidding to a stop, soldier. He barely had time to react, as the katana came crashing down onto his face. As Luna landed, she turned quickly, sparing herself just enough time, to see the soldier's body fall lifeless to the ground. She did not hesitate to make direct eye contact with the first soldier. She smiled, as she could see him swallow a lump in his throat, before foolishly charging again.

This time, however, Luna stood her ground, holding her katana in a defensive horizontal grip. She waited for the soldier to swing down to her head, before pulling the katana up, performing a successful parry. The soldier's sword went crashing down into the ground, burying itself in the path. Luna moved swiftly, plunging the point of the katana into the face of the soldier, burying the blade inside his body, clear up to the hilt. The soldier made a few quiet grunts, before falling limp, and sliding off of the sword. His body fell to the ground, leaving a blood coated katana in Luna's maw.

A loud scream drew Luna's attention up the path. She looked up, to see the 'Private Shield,' galloping away up the path. Luna cursed under her breath, before charging after him. It didn't take her long to catch up to the soldier.

Lunging at the soldier, she talked him, knocking him onto his back. She stood on top of his body, and swung her head around, preparing to sink the blade of the katana into his throat. Midway through the swing, a realization struck her. This was the soldier that had not done any harm to the pegasus. In a split second moment of curiosity, she pushed her head forward slightly, choosing to force the katana into the ground, only a fraction of an inch off of the soldier's neck.

"Why didn't you beat, and berate that pegasus?" She asked quickly, grabbing the katana with her magic, allowing her to speak.

The soldier opened his eyes, only to stare in a frozen state of fear.

"Do not waste my time. I will not hesitate to kill you." She glared into his eyes, hoping to force an answer out. The soldier continued to be unresponsive. "Fine, have it your way. Death does not discriminate."

Luna pulled the katana up out of the ground, and hovered it vertically over the soldier's face. Closing her eyes, to keep blood out of them, she powered up her magic for a heavy stab. She pulled the katana back, preparing to bury it deep in the ground beneath the soldier's head.

"WAIT!"

Luna looked down to see the soldier preparing for the stab. Noticing that it did not come, he opened his eyes. Seeing that she had stopped, he took the opportunity.

"I didn't do it, because it wasn't right." He said as fast as he could.

"How am I supposed to believe you. You were going to strike him dead, were you not?" Luna asked incredulously.

"Only because I was ordered to!"

"You say you did not beat him, because it wasn't right. I need more of an answer than that."

"I never wanted to hurt him. I knew he was innocent. It felt wrong to even think of doing something like that."

"Well, why didn't you stop the other two?"

"Princess Celestia said she would kill anypony, and their family, if they didn't follow orders. We were ordered by the patrol captain to murder that pegasus. I don't even know why."

"Why not just quit? Or leave the military?"

"Same rule. Anypony who tries to quit, or abandons their post, gets their family executed."

"Do you have a family?"

"Yes. My mother, and two younger sisters."

"What of your father?"

"Executed, for speaking out against Celestia."

"Where is your family?"

"In Canterlot."

"What district?"

"The middle district."

"Address?"

"Fifth, on South Berry Street."

"Do you want to quit the military?"

"Desperately, yes."

"Good. Stay here, and protect this pegasus. If he wakes before I return, keep him calm. I'm going to get your family, and bring them back here. If you lied to me, or if I come back and you're not here? I will personally find you, and cut your body apart, piece by piece, starting from your hooves. Stay here, understand?"

The soldier gave a simple, slow nod. With that, Luna climbed off of him, and allowed him to get up. She began to gallop in the direction of Canterlot. After a second, she paused, and turned to face the soldier. "What is your name?"

"Private Aegis Shield."

Luna nodded, and took off into the now night sky, in search of Fifth, South Berry Street, in the Middle Canterlot District