I checked outside the front door and found a newspaper neatly rolled with a rubber band. I seized it and brought it into the kitchen. I had already finished my breakfast and had decided to see who was winning the war before I took any large strides to return to where I belong; fighting alongside my fellow Shadow Bolts to end oppression for the average working pony. I slid the rubber band off the paper and unrolled it. It didn’t take all of six seconds for my jaw to hit the floor, I hadn’t even read the headline when I saw what at first I swore was an error in dating. The date read, Solar Year 1085. That can’t be right. I put the paper down and found a basket of older newspapers sitting neatly folded in a wicker basket on the counter next to a window. Yesterday’s paper read Solar Year 1085. Okay so this isn’t a misprint, then who won the war? That’s when the thought ran through my head ‘hey dumbass you’re in a library’. Taking advantage of my surroundings I started to search through the books by letter until I found a history book. I turned to the index but found nothing about the Solar Lunar War. So because it was a book issued by the Solar Empire and just for the hell of it I figured I should check the beginning of the Wonder Bolts, considering they were formed to combat us during that time it seemed as if it would offer the most insight. Page 249, I flipped to the page and was horrified to see my photo in the book staring back at me. No, I remember taking that bucking picture a month ago. I began to read the passage.

Captain Tomahawk Curtis, or Warhawk as he was commonly known was one of the first documented pegasi to fly for the Solar Empire after the founding of the Wonder Bolts. The leader of his squad, Hawk lead his wingponies with courage and valor until he one day was reported MIA while defending a major stronghold against the invading forces of…

I couldn’t read anymore. Wonder Bolt?! Who the hell told them I was a Blunder Colt?! Then a theory exploded in my head as all of the dots seemed to connect and form a picture. The Elements, that’s it! When Celestia used the Elements of Harmony I jumped in the way in an attempt to save General Moon. Based on everything I’ve seen so far my sacrifice was in vane because we still lost the war. Celestia must have wanted to keep any ideas of a civil war here in Equestria and against her as far from knowledge as possible to keep her name clean. And my being hit by the Elements must have displaced me in time, leaving me to wonder what happened. But if anything was for sure, I was going to bring hell to the doorstep of whoever was responsible for this bullshit history skewing. I stood up quickly, marked the page of the book, closed it and placed it off to the side. I opened the door of the library, stepped outside and extended my wings, I was fixing to fly straight up to town hall and demand directions to Celestia’s castle and do what I should have done a thousand years ago. But the pain that emanated from my fractured wing bone threw a wrench in those plans. And that’s when I had an epiphany. Wait, Star Swirled’s alchemy spell, I can fix this damned bone right now! All I need is, is. Damn it I forgot what it needs. And of course my notebook is on the other side of town stashed under a bridge with my armor, which that too was at risk. Well, I think my armor has spent enough time under a that stone bridge, the river water can’t be good for my notebook and if I was going to fix any of my problems I would need to get this wing fixed, and that’s just the skin of the issue. The war may have ended as everypony else knows it, but for me it still raged on.

I turned in the direction I had first come into town and began to trot; overhead I saw that rainbow maned’ Pegasus clearing clouds. She seemed to pause for a moment and ponder me, but I had no time to converse I had a record to set straight. I didn’t even waste time walking; I ran half way across town and jogged the rest of the way. Somewhere between the library and the bridge I ran across an exceedingly reserved yellow coated, pink maned’ Pegasus, who I swear I had seen before. Not wanting to waste time by stopping to talk, I carried on and jogged down the street. The stone bridge was now in sight, but rather than crossing it I stepped off the dirt path and detoured around to the side of the bridge. There just under the arch was my armor, funny even crumpled up under a bridge like a homeless pony its colors still gave the look of authority. Piece by piece I pulled it out from its hiding place, just in time too, the river’s water level had begun to creep up the banks. I scanned the area around me trying to find another hiding place but found none. I could bring it back to Twilight’s with me, but carrying this through town would be too cumbersome so I decided to wear it. It sounded like a dumb idea but hell these ponies where told that I was a, as much as it pains me to say it. They think I’m a Wonder Bolt. Therefor I wouldn’t be seen as a threat unless the princess herself saw me, and even then she’s been weaving a web of lies for so long she probably believes them. I slipped on and synched up my suit, and it felt damn good to be in my suit again, it gave me a sense of power, and freedom, such feeling would only be amplified once I got back in the air. Speaking of which, I searched my pockets for the note book and sure enough I found it. I sat down and flipped through the pages until I found the alchemical formula. Reading through the components made it sound like the start of a bad joke, a silk worm, a queen ant, and a can of milk; these where the first of a laundry list of ingredients that would go into the liquid that would in theory repair my wing.

Half of the required components where conveniently found in the forest just outside of town, but now I have to go back through town. I get to walk through town wearing the armor of a forgotten enemy that has been confused as an ally. Before I made my way back into town I caught a whiff of a copper like smell, I looked in the direction it was coming from and saw a lumber axe sticking, handle up out of a tree stump. The sight and smell sent a chill down my spine. I had a sudden and quick flash-back to my nightmare where I saw Lumber’s face, but quickly shook myself back to reality. I don’t know what’s gotten into me recently but this is becoming unacceptable, the sooner I begin brewing, the sooner I fix my wing and I don’t care if I fix it in the next three seconds, it wouldn’t be soon enough. In retrospect the decision to war my armor was a very stupid idea. Because if the year on the newspaper is in fact wrong, I am painting an enormous target on my back and the likely hood of arousing an angry mob would be incredibly high. However if the paper was right I would be just fine, just a shadow lost in a shady era in history. Now I had a few minutes to cool off but I was still pissed off over being called a Blunder Colt. So instead of laying low I strode down the street head held high practically flipping off the Solar Empire as I knew it by wearing the other team’s colors, colors most ponies won’t recognize. Given that it was still relatively early in the morning, there weren’t too many ponies out; I suspect they were most likely just now getting breakfast. However the outdoor market opens early, and here is where I find myself catching a few strange looks and raised eyebrows from shop owners setting up for the day. I had most of what I needed for the potion; the only thing I lacked was the syringe to inject the healing fluid into the inflicted area. If this town has a pharmacy I hadn’t found it yet, but I knew where the hospital was and I knew for a fact they would have one. I was once again making my way toward the hospital to see if I could somehow obtain a preferably clean needle. I made it halfway across the market plaza before I heard a familiar voice.

“Hey! Hatchet, is that you?” I turned to see Applebloom, still wearing her red bow. But she now had on an apron, telling me she was running a stand.

“Hey kid! How’s it goin’?” I replied with a smile.

“What are you wearing?” The rage I had felt before melted away, and in its place grew a fear of not having an excuse. Finally it fell on me to just tell the truth, isn’t brutal honesty better than lying? Before I could get a word out the older pony that was chaperoning the filly came up to me and started to solicit what she was selling.

“Howdy partner, that’s a mighty odd getup you got there. Care for an apple? Picked fresh this mornin’ from the ol’ orchard!” the orange mare leaned on her cart simultaneously picking up a cherry red apple and flipping up her wide brimmed hat.

“Ah, so you’re a farmer?” The mare took on another layer of pride before she began to speak.

“Yes sir! Little family farm just outside of town by the name of Sweet Apple Acers. We grow the best apples, this side of Canterlot!” The mare announced proudly.

“Really? I’m a farmer myself.”

“Oh, what do you grow?”

“Eh, whatever is in season; last time I was home it was harvest season for wheat but I wasn’t able to help my pa with the harvest.”

“What did you say your name was?” the Orange mare asked. I suppose she figured if we were going to share stories, we ought to know each other’s names.

“Where are my manners? I don’t believe I said. I’m Warhawk Curtis, folks just call me Hawk.”

“I’m Applejack, and this here is Applebloom.”

“Now her I’ve met before. How’s the crusading going?” I turned the attention back to the filly.

“Wait, you told me your name was Hatchet. And you still didn’t answer me about the strange costume.” Applebloom wasn’t about to let this slip by and I don’t hold it against her.

“Okay I’m going to be as straight as a sword with you, so pay attention because it’s a lot to take in.” I cleared my throat but before I could say what I needed to say the wooden cart that held the apples exploded into a pile of splinters. And laying down face up in the pile of smashed fruit was a cyan, rainbow haired Pegasus.

“Holy hell” the words tumbled off my tongue as I stumbled back. I froze, everything went dark, the only light came from a flaming rock sitting in the spoon of a catapult. I heard somepony order the catapults to fire, but before the artillery could release its payload it was smashed by incoming fire. I couldn’t do anything but watch as the great wooden structure splintered and collapsed, crushing and killing its operators. I looked into the faces of those ponies as the blood pooled around their bodies and leaked from their mouths. I could finally look away and was met by a bronze skull directly in my face. It was only partially covered in skin and had a single eye, its breath smelled like tar. I noticed it wore the same western hat that the farm pony I was talking to had on. Its mouth opened and it spoke.

“Sir?” I jumped, snapping out of a flashback and began to get paranoid. The bronze face was gone; in my dazed state my mind had pasted that metallic atrocity’s face on the apple farmer in front of me.

“Eh, you alright there partner?” Applejack and Applebloom stood next to each other with the cyan Pegasus now upright and no longer covered in fruit, all three of them had worried looks on their faces. But I could do nothing but stutter.

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. Sorry I gotta go.” I turned and unfurled my wings to take off. I gave one strong thrust getting about five feet off the ground before my broken wing caused me to fall to one side. I landed back down hard and stumbled gritting my teeth, and trying not to swear out loud. What the hell just happened? I have never frozen up like that in my life. Not on the battlefield, not in the air, never. Am I losing it? And what the hell was with that skull, why was it following me? I tried to clear my mind, just make it to the doc’s office, get the syringe, get to the library, brew the potion, and fix the wing. I stepped into the hospital lobby for the second time in two days. The receptionist looked up from her book again and was taken aback by my attire.

“Uhh, good morning Hatchet? Can I help you?”

“Yes ma’am I actually swung by here to see of you happened to have any spare syringes.”

“We might, are you okay? You seem a bit off. And I don’t mean like slightly a skew I mean like screw loose type, might need therapy off…”

“It’s quite possible, but it’s going to have to wait until another day.” Behind me, the hospital’s lobby doors swung open, I turned to see who it was. Doctor Rose, the very same doctor who examined my wing was coming in to work. She swallowed a bit of breakfast burrito slowly upon seeing me, and then levitated it into a bag as she shifted her eyes back and forth between me and the receptionist.

“Good morning Rose, do we have any spare syringes?” the receptionist asked

“Mornin’ Doc.” I greeted the doctor. Rose looked at me confused before she spoke.

“I think so. Just pull one from the new shipment.” She said cueing the receptionist to start rummaging through a drawer for a syringe. Rose still looked at me, eyeing me over as if she wasn’t entirely sure if it was safe to approach me.

“What?” I said with a raised eyebrow.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit concerned over the fact that yesterday you claimed to be the lab partner of Star Swirl, who by the way died over nine hundred years ago. Then you tell me about some crazy story about a hydra. And now you show up here in some kind of soldier’s getup asking for a syringe.” There was a silence that fell over the room that was only interrupted by the sound of rummaging through a drawer. The receptionist broke the awkward silence by pulling the item I was looking for out of a drawer and placing it on the counter.

“Thank you kindly ma’am.” I placed what I figured the syringe to be worth on the counter and was off again, back to the library. They probably weren’t expecting to get any money for the medical tool but I figured it was the right thing to do. I stepped outside and took a deep breath. Ice, I’m going to need ice. If what was tested was anything to go on this stuff was going to burn like hell once it’s injected, plus it may become inflamed. But that can wait until the mixture is actually complete. Otherwise I would have water instead of ice by the time the mixture was finished. I was passing Mane Street, what a damn horrible pun. When I noticed an unusual amount of festive banners of a different kind of setup being arranged; a banner was being raised that read “Welcome Princess Celestia” and talk about something called a summer sun celebration was everywhere. These ponies were actually throwing a parade for that power abusing, lime light hogging, money snatching, fat cat, entitled brat of a princess. Who by the way cheated in the war by using a wonder weapon that she shouldn’t have had access to. Then, she insults me by writing me into history as one of her drone headed Blunder Colts. And now she rubs the wound with lemon by showboating and throwing around the power that didn’t rightfully belong to her. I caught myself gritting my teeth again. Apparently my pissed off attitude didn’t disguise well because I had gotten more than my fair share of strange looks from ponies on the street. I finally entered the library and it was all I could do to keep from slamming the door behind me. Just because I’m unreasonably pissed doesn’t mean I should be a poor guest, Twilight has been nice to me so far, I shouldn’t take my anger out on anypony who didn’t deserve it.

Nobody was home except for Spike who was too busily tiding up to notice my being there. I acknowledged him with a hello which was responded to by an over the shoulder wave. Now if I remember correctly Twilight told me that the chemistry lab was in the basement. I searched for the door for a little bit until I found it in between the library wing of the tree and the kitchen. The door swung open and I flicked on the light. I must admit, Twilight’s lab was nothing to sneeze at. Where does that saying come from anyway? Anyway, I started to unload all of the ingredients that I had collected earlier and opened my note book again; placing it neatly on a book stand I flipped to the page of the correct formula. Reading the instructions carefully, I poured a pot of water and began to boil it so that I could distill it, this way I could be sure there would be no unaccounted variables in this mixture. Once that was done I prepared the other components, some needing to be burnt first others only required specific aspects of the larger part. The silk would provide the bone a pattern to mimic, the hive mind of the ant would reprogram the reconstructive cells so they would work faster, strictly on the target area, so on and so forth. Finally the only things left to do was positively charge the alchemical formula with magic, and let it cool down to body or room temperature, then administer. In since Twilight was both not here and wouldn’t know how much charge to use anyway, I took it upon myself. I pulled up a nearby stool, sat down and leaned over the pot taking my dog-tags in hoof. I began to focus on what I wanted them to do and on command they sparked and held a green flame. Just as Star Swirl designed, these tags would technically be illegal given the fact they were carved from the horn of a dead changeling. It was kind of like how ivory from elephant tusks was banned in most all first world countries. The tags around my neck only existed because Star needed a prototype to other amulets to be made later on, like the Alicorn amulet he was attempting to make. I thought it was a cool but at the same time unethical idea, but I would keep my mouth shut if it meant I got to keep the tags my dear friend gave me. Plus the carried over abilities of being able to change my appearance into anypony of my choosing and levitating items I would otherwise have to touch with my hooves or mouth was kind of cool. The fire from the tags fell into the pot and the liquid changed into the desired color. And just like that it was done, but it needed to cool. Now would be a good time to fetch that ice. I exited the basement and entered the surface floor. Spike looked at me, no longer doing whatever miscellaneous task he had tended to before. And he too gave me a strange look.

“Oh, hey… what are you wearing?” I lost track of how many times I had been asked that today.

“Shadow Bolt Commando issue armor, and I’m sorry but I lied about my name. I actually go by Warhawk Curtis. And do you know where I find a bucket’s worth of ice?” I replied with a little urgency.

“We have some in the freezer. I’m sorry did you say Shadow Bolt?” the little dragon gestured toward the kitchen.

“Yes I did. Thanks.” I went into the kitchen and pulled the ice box out of the freezer and made my way back down into the basement. Spike followed me most likely curious about, well everything. I heard the front door of the Library as we disappeared into the basement again. I placed the ice box down on the counter next to the notebook, then I took the syringe in hoof and put the needle into the liquid in the pot. It had in fact cooled to body temperature and was now ready to administer. Spike just looked at me as I drew the mixture into the syringe. I then heard voices and hoofsteps coming down the stairs. The owners of those voices came into view just as I placed a strip of leather from my suit in my mouth.

“So, Twi what you’re telling me is this guy shows up out of nowhere, stayed the night, then made you breakfast. And you honestly expect me to believe that nothing happened?”

“Yes Dash, Nothing happened.”

“Uh, girls?” The same cyan Pegasus that crashed the fruit stand earlier seemed to be accusing Twilight of something, the two were followed by a pink maned’ yellow Pegasus, who was trying to get a word in. I only got a glimpse before I went back to my business. I unlatched my wing brace to expose the broken appendage, and then raised the syringe to the spot where I knew the break in the bone was.

“Hatchet?” Twilight started to say something to me but before she could finish her thought I plunged the needle into the skin, bit down harder on the leather strap. A sharp instrument piercing irritated skin that had already undergone the trauma of a bone breaking felt like an enormous bruise being cut with a knife. Not to mention that the injection needed to be between the two halves of the broken bone. I felt the little metallic tip touch one bone, I missed the mark by a few centimeters, but instead of pulling the needle back out for a second attempt I held the needle in the skin while I fished around for the separation of bone. My teeth would have been cracking at this point if it weren’t for the leather strap. The pain was clear on my face, my forehead wrinkled, my eyes where tightly closed as a few tears of agony, escaped. Finally after what seemed like an hour of prodding I finished the injection and quickly pulled the medical instrument out of my tormented wing. I was expecting to see blood dripping from the penetration site but no blood came forth, most likely from the inflammation. I put the needle down on the table and braced for the burning that I knew was coming. My wing began to make strange popping noises and I felt the two halves of the bone shifting under the skin, reconnect and begin to fuse. Now for the painful part; Spike and the other three ponies in the room looked at me with in shock. Nobody moved though. And here comes the heat. Low and tolerable at first, but as the seconds ticked by it rapidly grew hotter; all the while a voice in my head screamed for me to plunge my burning appendage into the crucible of ice. But I had to hold out for at least ten seconds or I would be in serious trouble. At the five second mark my breathing became heavy and I began to drool slightly on the strip of leather. It felt like the bone was forcibly ripped out and a piece of super-heated rebar had taken its place and was being heated ever hotter.

“Nine, Ten!” I grunted through the leather strap pounding my hoof against the table top, causing the tableware to shudder from the force of my blows. I lunged forth and submerged my wing into the cold of the ice. A few ice cubes popped out of the bucket and skittered across the table and onto the floor. The ice in the bucket actually popped and cracked, melting from the heat of my wing.

“Dear sweet Luna that burns!” I think I may have shouted that, but I’m not one hundred percent sure.

“Hatchet! What the hay are you doing?!” Twilight shouted as she jogged over to me.

“Warhawk, my actual name is Warhawk. I’m sorry I lied. And I just fixed my wing. Spike, hit this spot, as hard as you can.” I spit out the leather strap, wiped my mouth and spoke in a hoarse voice, damn these stupid puns. I pulled my wing from the ice box and held it low so Spike could have a go at it. He socked it, I felt the blow but nothing shifted.

“What is this stuff?” Spike picked up the syringe trying to examine it.

“It’s an alchemical formula Star Swirl as I put together. It’s very dangerous be careful. And DON’T prick your finger on that needle.”

“Wait, you said Star Swirled?” Twilight obviously wanted answers.

“Yeah, that book right there has his writing does it not.” I gestured to the little notebook. Twilight picked up the book with her magic and examined the signature.

“Why is it dangerous?” Spike pondered out loud while examining the syringe.

“It’s designed to speed up the healing process of broken bone.” I began.

“But that sounds like a medical miracle! Why isn’t this spell used in hospitals across Equestria?” Twilight ventured still holding the book.

“It speeds it up by re-programing cells and turning them into bone matter, but it’s only a single cell and doesn’t know when to stop. Use too much and it starts to turn muscle to bone until eventually it reaches something important like your heart and you die. The only way to stop it before it reaches that point is amputation. Use too little and it hurts like hell, doses virtually nothing and burns so bad you literally think you’re on fire.” I explained.

“Why does it burn like that?” Spike asked, placing the syringe down.

“It’s a fail-safe, or an attempt at one. The heat targets the re-programed cells and burns them out in an effort to prevent bone-overgrowth.” I concluded my explanation, pulling my wing from the ice bucket. Twilight was still staring slack jawed at the notebook.

“This signature is authentic. But this entry only looks a few weeks old.”

“It is.” I flicked the last few drops of water and flecks of ice off my wing and started to place my brace back on. After I wiped off the leather strap I was biting down on, I stood up and cleaned up my mess.

“But how?” Twilight began while she turned the book back over to me.

“I have a theory but it’s a bit outlandish and the probability of me being right is very slim” I gestured with my hoof after having placed the notebook back in my vest pocket. The yellow Pegasus began to speak in a hushed voice that quivered as if she were afraid.

“He’s the stallion I was telling you about, the one that almost killed that hydra.” I could barely hear her but the others seemed to hear her clearly. They seemed to clench up a bit almost defensively. Did they think I was going to attack them?

“Relax, that hydra ain’t dead. You can’t kill one like that anyhow, cutting off one head only gives it two more. I only hurt it so it would leave me alone. And besides it broke my wing, I think it got what it deserved…” I defended my violent actions toward the beast.

“Wait, so does that mean you are the Wonder Bolt in the text book we found earlier!?” Twilight exclaimed thinking she finally put together the puzzle of the century. I stopped short now being reminded of the things that drove my blood pressure through the roof just a short time ago, but instead of getting angry I managed to keep my temper low, and spoke clearly with words sharp as a sword’s edge to cut away the misinformation.

“I am no Blunder Colt nor do I have any desire to be, the day I join their sad little band is the day the Lunar Republic falls, and my family sells their farm.” My words left everyone in the room slack jawed save for the rainbow haired Pegasus who only seemed to grow furious at my remarks.

“Hey! You can’t talk about the Wonder Bolts like that! They’re the best flyers in all of Equestria!” She shouted at me and held a threatening stance.

“Yeah, no wonder we were winning the war. That is, before that high and mighty princess cheated. Look sister, my quarrel isn’t with you just as my loyalties don’t reside with the Solar Empire. Twilight, I thank you for your hospitality but for right now, I need to go set the record straight.” With that I strode past the three mares at the bottom of the basement stairs. The mares in the room stood there for a moment before following me up. On the ground floor I waltzed over to the window looking over the street, I peeked through the curtains waiting to see who the guest of honor was going to be for this parade.

“Wait so if you aren’t the Wonder Bolt from the book, you can’t be Warhawk.” Twilight’s forehead was wrinkled in confusion.

“Warhawk Curtis was a Shadow Bolt Commando, whom flew for the Lunar Republic. I am a Shadow Bolt, I am a Commando, I fly for the Republic, and my name is Warhawk Curtis. Therefore I am Warhawk Curtis.” I spoke without leaving the window. I caught the parade just as it was starting; I turned toward the back door, take them by the surprise and they won’t know what hit them.

“You aren’t making any sense. Besides, you don’t even look like one of the mythical Shadow Bolts. You don’t have the eyes, teeth, or wings.” Twilight protested as I made my way over to the door.

“Simple parlor tricks my unicorn friend. Not to worry, it’ll all make sense in due time.” I reached out and grabbed the handle of the door.

“Where are you going?” The cyan mare demanded.

“To rain on Celetia’s parade.” All three mares, and Spike protested as I closed the door behind me catching a glimpse of them as I did so. I think the rainbow haired one was following me but I wasn’t sure. Creeping around behind houses, I positioned myself in a shady alley way and waited. Sliding my goggles down over my eyes and ready to pounce, judging by the path laid out by the decorations the parade would loop around the town hall and proceed toward a local restaurant for lunch. I would be able to tackle the lead soldier and disappear before they could see me take out the one in the back. Turning my head toward a pile of trash, I saw my refection in a broken mirror sitting next to a dumpster. You know what? Twilight was right, I don’t look the part. How are they going to take me seriously if I don’t look authentic? That’s when I decided to refer to the little trick I learned back in an officer’s club a few years ago. My tags light up once again with the soft green glow of changeling magic the tips of my ears pointed and my wings shifted images to seem as if they were part bat. I closed my eyes for a second, and when I opened them again they looked like cat’s eyes and my teeth looked sharp enough to pierce metal. Like I said it’s just a trick I none of us ever really looked like this except when we wanted to scare folks. I looked forward just in time to see the first solar guard. Okay, don’t kill them just show they’re weak and let them run.

I tensed up, ready to jump. Issuing a battle cry I burst forward from the darkness of the alley and tackled the first guard to the ground. The dust kicked up from my attack created a temporary smokescreen keeping us out of sight. He lay in the dirt dazed wildly searching for his attacker, being me. I stood over him trying to see through the dust, it had settled enough for me to see the expressions plastered on the faces of the bystanders. Through my goggles, my eyes locked with the Solar Guard, he was terrified. The only thing he saw staring back at him where lifeless glass eyewear. With a quick kick, he was unconscious. Turning my attention I caught sight of Twilight and her friends, they too were dumbfounded. I flared my wings, thrust them back again and once more disappeared between two buildings; again I was hidden by the shade between the buildings. Behind me I could hear the crowd panicking and I felt a guilty empowerment, I could annihilate this whole security team. Running around to the back of the house to my left, I swooped into a second story window and ran over to the window with a view of the street. Overlooking the halted parade, I planned my next move, the security team had formed what I think was their attempt at a perimeter around the princess. Then the idea burst into my head like a firecracker. I backed away fom the window and I ran down the steps of the house into the kitchen where I located a knife. I then found a piece of paper and wrote the words check mate cheater with a nearby fountain pen. The black ink splattered as I wrote leading to an unexpected but welcome dramatic effect. After I finished the note I ran back to the top of the stairs and from there to the window. I watched and waited, letting the air become deathly quiet. Even the crowd was silent in suspense. Now is the best time. I allowed my back legs to propel me through the widow, but was careful not to break the glass on my way out. I burst through the open window from the darkness of the indoors into the sunlight, tackling another guard to the ground in another explosion of dust, I stabbed the chariot embedding the blade of the knife into the wood so that the note was firmly placed and clearly visible. I chuckled to myself, still within earshot of Celestia’s royal guard.

“Alright, enough point made.” I mused

But I was quickly reminded that I was in face still visible when one of the golden armored guards shouted something along the lines of get him. I leaped into the air, kicking off of one of the guards helmets, causing him to stumble, then flew once more in-between a pair of buildings. Standing in the darkness of another alley way I updated the objective tracker in my goggles to scout out General Moon’s location. I followed the moon icon and found it to be showing her location at a large castle sitting on a mountainside; it looked to be a day’s flight for even the fastest Pegasai.

So, with no more intent to attack I shed my demon like appearance for my normal look, it was kind of like crossing your eyes it’s easy at first but it eventually gets painful. I crouched and leaped from one wall in the alley to the other until I was on a roof top. From there I became airborne and started to make my way toward the mountain side castle which actually looked more like a city. My eye caught sight of something blue in the angled regions of my flight goggles, parts of which I had taken to using as rear view mirrors, a habit that has saved my ass on numerous occasions. I rolled over while flying so my back was to the ground, I looked down to see I was in face being chased by the cyan mare. I must admit I gotta admire her persistence. I rolled back over and looked down. Below me there where hundreds of trees and I had the advantage of a path finding guide that would plot a clear course through the trees allowing me to escape. No it’s too risky, just out run her for now. I beat my wings harder to gain speed the wind whistled through my armor and whipped my relatively short mane furiously as I gained speed. I checked behind me and she was still catching up, damn she’s fast. But let’s see how she moves. I glanced around in search of clouds, but the only ones I could find where stray atmospheric clouds. The kind a Pegasus couldn’t reach without oxygen gear or you’d pass-out and wind up splattered all over the ground. Can’t out run her and I can’t give her the slip; let’s see how high she can fly. It was dangerous to attempt to fly that high, but a few years with the Shadow Bolts and they train you to hold together for at least sixty seconds. I suddenly pointed my flight feathers down, the opposing wind resistance sent me soaring upward climbing higher and higher. The altimeter was going nuts and my wings began to burn from carrying all of my weight straight up. After a few seconds my goggles fogged a bit due to change in temperature and began to warn me of thin atmosphere but I pressed on. I inhaled deeply trying to hold on to as much air as I could for as long as I could. To my surprise I made it to a cloud that drifted lower than the rest and landed. Looking down I waited to see how long my pursuer would last at high altitudes. That’s when I saw her begin to shrink. She had passed out, the extra stamina it took to catch up must have been enough to push her past her limit, without the proper training it was bound to happen. By this point, I too was becoming light headed. I leaped off the cloud and returned to a safer altitude and shot a glance down at her. I could not in clear conscious let her fall to her death. She was good at heart and my quarrel wasn’t with her. Without a second thought I snapped my wings closed and dove, straight down for her. She was falling fast. We were losing altitude too rapidly, I wouldn’t be able to catch her in time. For some odd reason I thought the bronze skull of Iron Clad was chasing me as I fell, and that my own face might resemble that metallic atrocity. The thought of that monster behind me drove me to employ my wings to speed up my fall. The color red began to cloud my vision, then everything was black and white. Before me was a Pegasus, a Wonder Bolt judging by the uniform. As if on instinct I out stretched my wings, the blade along the outside of the outermost feathers would offer a clean cut, straight through the target. I was gaining speed and the target was drawing nearer, then that damned skull flashed across my vision. My world was then flooded with color once more, and mere inches away was the rainbow haired mare from Twilight’s basement. I caught the cyan mare well before we got uncomfortably close to the ground. But my pace hadn’t slowed down. Looking ahead, still traveling with tremendous velocity I started thinking about Dash, I can’t just leave her out here, not with a clear mind. She could be killed. And what the hell is with these flashbacks? I have to go back.

At the town limit I had slowed down to a reasonable glide but maintained a reasonable altitude. The Imperial guard tensed up as they saw me flying overhead but I could care less about them, so far the only pony that had come anywhere close to actually catching me, was a civilian with, as far as I knew, no actual training. She was pretty damned fast I had to give her that, but she wasn’t too bright. I scanned for a good place to stop; the only place that wasn’t crowded and had an easy escape route was the balcony of the library, so o flew over to it. I fluttered my wings back, trying to land as softly as possible, and then slowly rolled Dash off of my back, placing her gently on the floor. I removed my goggles from my eyes, and lowered my ear to make sure she was still breathing. Sure enough she was still ticking and I was relieved for it.

“Damn it, Dash that was a very stupid thing to do.” I mumbled to the unconscious Pegasus. I heard a shout, someone was giving an order. Glancing over the railing I watched a few golden armored Solar Imperials making their way to me, but I was already gone by the time they got to where I was. But I knew they would think I attacked her even though I saved her but no one would believe that, then again, none of that would matter. I was once again bound to my mission to locate General Nightmare Moon.

Author's Note

Sorry this chapter took so long, it needed extra work once I finished writing it.