As Mira was placed gently down on top of the feathers by the force, she stared blankly up at the ceiling, her one good eye almost as glazed as the other. Eclipse was pleasantly surprised by the fact that her dress was fully intact even after the odd change of species.

A rhythmic thumping was rippling through the floor. Eclipse knew something big was coming, so he tucked Mira into a corner and turned to face the door. It opened gently, letting in a hulking minotaur. Eclipse readied his daggers and eyed his target, looking for weak spots or things he could use.

He spotted an overturned hors d'oeuvre table and ducked behind it, hoping for the effect of a sneak attack. If he could get to the legs, he could disable the guard. Unfortunately, the minotaur saw him duck and lifted the table.

“I can smell your fear, pony!” he threatened.

“Soon, you’ll be smelling your own blood!” Eclipse shouted as he dashed for the minotaur's legs, stabbing the backs of its knees as he passed. The minotaur roared in pain and fell to a kneeling position. Eclipse took a moment to breath, but he heard the beast rise.

"I see another pony. Haha! It looks weak and pitiful," the Minotaur laughed as he limped over to the half-awake Mira.

"Get away from her! Foul half-breed!" Eclipse intercepted the minotaur's path and stretched his bat-like wings. I hope I can still fly after all these years, Eclipse thought as he began to beat his wings. He rose into the air and drove his daggers into the minotaurs neck, severing nerves and arteries. Death was instant. The body fell with a mighty thud.

Eclipse ran over to Mira and cradled her. He stood up with Mira in his arms, and walked to the double doors before him, which should be leading to the main entrance. And beyond that entrance door: Freedom. However, one last obstacle stood in their way. A Zebra with a demented look on his face. “Zumba,” Eclipse growled.

“You remember me, bat slave,” Zumba responded with an almost traditional evil grin, “I presume you also remember what it is I do to bad slaves.” He cracked a whip for emphasis. Eclipse put Mira into a corner and turned to face the mad Zebra, the Gemini gleaming in the and dripping with blood. “I see you stole one of mistress’ favorite treasures from her display cases.”

“These are mine and you know it,” Eclipse growled.

“Wrong. You belong to Mistress Satine, ergo, all your old possessions belong to her now. After I deal with you, it’ll be simple matter to return Miraborne to her real self and to serve mistress again,”

“She is NOT a slave! And we ARE leaving. Killing you will be doing Equestria a huge service.”

“Then try it!” Zumba drew a chain-whip from a bag, and lashed it at Eclipse. Eclipse dodged and rushed in, wings flared. Zumba pulled some of the chain back and caught a thrust Eclipse made with his right arm.

“You will not prevail, menial Zebra servant!” Eclipse clawed at Zumba. The manic Zebra drew back his chain and attacked Eclipse with his hands. Zumba was surprisingly good at hand to hand combat and seemed to know how to block or counter every strike Eclipse threw.

Normally, Eclipse would keep his wings furled to prevent them from getting hurt, but he needed to surprise the insane Zebra. He shot his left wing forward along with a left hook punch. Eclipse’s Wings shot out again, aiming for Zumba’s eyes. His wing tips opened barbs, a trait a bat pony could only use if finely bred.

The barbs pierced Zumba’s eyes. He fell to his knees.

And screamed.

Author's Note

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StardustBrony Miraborne Normal People

Art Credit: Tough Love

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