The Outlander's Trial

"So as you can see," continued Breach, "With these spells in effect, it shouldn't be hard to keep any other daemons from breaking into this plane from Tartarus."

"Thank you, Breach, and I apologize for the armed guard you've been under, it's honestly to keep the peace." replied Celestia, honestly believing that this 'stallion' wouldn't cause trouble.

"Well I'm sure Luna had just as hard a time as I did, and it means a lot that she vouched for me, I knew we weren't supposed to have a full moon that night." Breach noted as he reflected back on the night they met the Elements. There had been a full moon not two days earlier, and without its light Bow wouldn't have had a shadow for him to reenter this world from. "I take it Luna had been watching us?"

"Well," interjected Luna as she trotted into the room, "You two did travel at night often, my domain might I add."

"Might I ask why you didn't just have us arrested on the spot? Or why we drew your attention to begin with?" questioned Breach, who had been bothered by Luna's blatant acceptance of him, it wasn't natural, or what he was used to.

"I was evil myself not to terribly long ago, and I didn't see any trace of it in either of you, not even when the inhabitants of Mareyland chased you off. Besides I'm dapple flanked myself, and was treated horribly by other fillies. I want to see what you and Bow amount to, I see you two doing great things in the future." and with that Luna took wing and left.

"Are you ready to go back to Ponyville, Breach?" Celestia questioned. "Besides I believe Luna told me something of you missing Bow quite a lot."

At this Breach blushed, a first but certainly not the last time it would happen. "Well, er, yeah, you know just good friends and such."

He didn't know what to say honestly, and if Celestia knew, what did she think of it. With this in mind he took his leave. Returning to his room he began to pack his things when he noticed a pair of notes from Luna and Celestia.

Celestia's read, "Breach I thank you for your help, and I hope you and Bow find a pleasant place to live." Oh yeah sure, if Bow actually wanted to live with him, which was yet to be determined.

Luna's on the other hoof was a bit more personal, "I know you love her, find common ground, something you both enjoy and I'm sure everything will work out." Now how in the hay did she know that he liked Bow? Oh well there wasn't anything he could do about it.

Once he'd collected his things he put them into a shadow pocket and made tracks for the train station. Besides, he wanted to give Luna's advice a try, worst case scenario; things go from an awkward daemon-pony friendship into an even more awkward daemon-pony friendship. He boarded the train to Ponyville hoping for the best.

"Thank you for all the help Dash!" sputtered out Bow, who was still amazed at how helpful and supportive Dash had been in the past 2 weeks, "I didn't know if you and Twilight would've wanted to help me prepare for Breach's return."

"Not a problem, after all" started R.D. when Twilight cut her off "Dash we all know how cool you are, you don't have to say it."

"Oh ‘cause I WAS going to say coolest, most awesome unicorn is helping!" At this Twilight blushed, but continued combing through Bow's hair.

"So you really do love him huh?” inquired Twilight.

"Yes, and I know it's weird but..."

"But what, so you like somepony for who they are, despite where they come from." or what they are, Twilight added as an afterthought, but who was she to judge, besides this particular mare deserved some love and happiness after what she'd been through, and so did Breach.

"Thank you Twilight, for everything, if you hadn't carried Breach out of that chasm with your magic, and had you and the girls never shown up.... Thank you so much." at this Bow couldn't help but break down crying. While Twilight comforted her she looked at the clock.

"Oh gosh, look at the time, we need to go meet Breach at the station, and try to get you on a date." Twilight stated determinedly.

The train had just stopped and the new group of assassin's, led by the stallion Baener, watched the train pull up. The plan, as it was, was to wait until Bow had met up with Breach and then take them out, secretly Baener hated the mad queen as much as Bow did, but he was a survivor, doing everything he could to stay alive. Even if it meant working as an assassin.

Breach stepped out of the train, something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out exactly what it was. An odd but familiar smell on the wind. Bah he was just being paranoid, too much time on the run. He looked 'round until he spotted a rainbow coloured mane and headed that way. Seeing as he towered over other ponies it was easy to push his way through the crowd, and as he neared Dash he saw Bow standing next to her, flanked by Twilight. Bow is who got his attention the most though, mane and tail combed and styled, with make-up? Yes she had make-up on, and the black eyeliner was the most attention grabbing for it made her emerald hued eyes glow and sparkle all the more.

"There he is, what do I say?" questioned the very nervous and flustered Bow. She wasn't used to this, the make-up and romance stuff just wasn't her. As Breach approached, and without the strain of being on the road and how relaxed he looked, she couldn't help but notice his well muscled form and how they rippled through every step, the way his black coat shone, or the grey in his mane giving off a silvery glow. Nor did she notice before how striking his dark yellow eyes were against his black flank now. Despite his scars that criss crossed his physique, or partially because of them, her eyes scanned him from nose to flank.

"Scoots, Ah don't know 'bout this. AJ and Ardee were clear that they didn't want us following them, or bothering Breach or Bow, today and I don't want AJ sickin' Fluttershy on us with that stare." whispered Applebloom with a shudder. "And if Rarity finds out, I'm grounded for sure." noted Sweetie Belle.

"C'mon girls, where's your sense of adventure, and besides we aren’t 'bothering' them, we're just 'watching' them" Scootaloo replied. Just then she noticed she noticed an odd movement. Did she really just see what she thought she saw? Immediately Scootaloo took off towards the four ponies, while Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stared on at their foalish friend.

They didn't know why, but when their eyes met, they locked. Breach and Bow stared at each other, slowly moving forward without even realizing they were moving at all. Like a dream breach bent down as Bow stretched up.

'What are you doing Bow?' Bow's mind was racing, she meant to gush her heart out to the large stallion and closest friend, and pray to the gods (that she didn't actually believe in) that he accepted her. Instead they were inches apart and getting closer. 'Honestly, this works just as good' and she started to close her eyes.

'I can't believe this, she actually loves me? I mean this is great but.... oh I just need to shut up.' Breach stared back, amazed that this was happening. Muzzles inches apart he watched as Bow's eyes closed, in a rather sensual manner at that, and realized that he had absolutely nowhere he'd rather be, and that Bow was his.

Scootallo dashed forward and jumped right past Dash's face, straight at the couple.

Dash and Twi were mesmerized. This was by far more than they could have hoped for. Dash, rather surprised at herself, thought that it was A) beautiful(ugh) B) great that they shared feelings, they'd make a great couple as far as she was concerned and C) Awesom... wait orange and purple?

"Scootaloo? What the hay are you doing!?" yelled Rainbow.

Someone yelling? This broke the trance Breach and Bow had just in time to see Scootaloo go past, swing her scooter and hit....air?

"He's doing well getting into position, and my invisibility charm shouldn't wear off until he's clear." noted the second in command, Siobhan.

"Perfect." replied Baener; personally he thought that they should forget about the two that made up his quarry. After all it was one mare and a daemon, and hay, aside from there now apparent relationship (which he found rather creepy) nothing seemed off. Well orders were orders.

'These two foals have no idea I'm here' thought the assassin as he stalked closer. It was tough in the crowd but he just needed to get a bit closer. Then he could finish them. Suddenly he heard yelling.

"Scootaloo? What the hay are you doing!?"

Just then his two targets pulled back as he saw a filly come barreling towards him, and then nothing.

*CRAAACK*

Out of thin air an assassin materialized, knocked silly by Scootaloo.

"Ha I totally knew it, I did see..." Scootaloo abruptly stopped talking as a spell from an assassin unicorn blasted into the ground next to her sending her flying.

Breach burst into action, spinning around just in time to see Dash already beating the daylights out of the offending assassin. "The_buck_you_did_not_just_attack_Scoots" Dash screamed in between strikes.

"Twilight grab Scootaloo and get out of here, Breach and I got this." yelled Bow; she wanted as many friends as possible out of this. She did a pirouette around an attacking mare and struck with a series of blows as she spun past, dropping the assassin.

Breach found the nearest shadow and stepped in. Bow was caught up facing two assassins after the one she just dropped.

"We've got you now traitor." hissed one assassin.

Bow was honestly concerned about her odds.

"You've got nopony to help you now since your stallion friend disappeared" hissed the second.

At this Bow smirked, catching the two off guard. If their moment of confusion wasn't enough, Breach burst from the shadow of the first assassin and sent him flying, while Bow took down the frozen with fear second assassin.

Breach knew they were in the clear, but his anger had not subsided, and where was Rainbow Dash. Just then he heard a yell from the other side of the parked train. He could've gone between cars, or could have jumped over it, but no, he smashed right through to find Dash pinned by two assassins while the third prepared to finish her off. Tapping into that primal side of his mind, his eyes turning pitch black, he opened three flaming portals.

The assassins did not know what to make of the portals. One minute they had the chromatic trouble making pony pinned then these portals opened. Suddenly three claws shot through them, one for each assassin. The poor ponies were dragged screaming into Tartarus never to be seen again.

The portals closed, and Breach was disgusted with himself for even allowing such a thing to happen. He was supposed to be better than this. But the fight was over, and it was time to see to his friends.

"Well that was a failure" remarked Baener.

"I take it we won't be returning to the outlands then" replied Siobhan, Baener's second in command

"Of course not, but we won't be going after those two either. For now we hide and feign our deaths"

With that the two surviving outlanders disappeared into the Everfree forest.

Dash was at the side of the hospital bed. 'I can't believe I got pinned, so not cool.' She looked at the small frame of her favourite fan. 'Oh Scoots, I can't believe I let this happen to you.' Dash was distraught, she'd always seen the orange filly as a token fan, and then like a little sister. She looked back at the last time she was at the side of a hospital bed with the filly. The cancer was bad, and Dash couldn't have prevented that, but she could have, no SHOULD have stopped the filly from being hurt this time.'

"Twilight I'm so, so, so sorry for what happened" said a plainly upset Bow.

"It's not your fault, you couldn't have expected this to happen, and I'm sure Scootaloo will be fine." came the reply.

Breach was with the royal guard, helping set up defense. After the blatant failure of the assassins open attack, there was sure to be retaliation.

"Seer, did they survive the attack?"

"Yes my queen"

"And who ruined the attack?"

"A young filly, by the name of Scootaloo, she was injured and in a ward."

"Oh, wonderful, she better hope she dies, because if she doesn't I'm going to kill her." the outlands Queen replied matter of factly, "Oh and guards, take the seer to the pit, I hate bad news."

The outlands Queen had plans for Ponyville, specifically a certain unicorn. This was turning out better than she thought, not only did she know where Bow and that disgusting daemon Breach were, but now she knew that they were with Twilight Sparkle, that horrible little witch of a mare.

Vengeance would be sweet, quite wonderfully sweet!