The scent of pine was heavy in the air, a fitting smell for the ancient forest. There wasn’t much of a breeze as the day was relatively calm, the only interruption was the occasional bird singing and chattering of squirrels. A nearby brook babbled quietly and quickly, while a nearby river rushed towards its destination. The air temperature was comfortable if not slightly cooler. Although it was high summer in the forest occupied mountains, snow still capped the mighty peaks. The animals of the mountain countered the cool air by basking in the sun, whether it be lying on a particularly comfy patch of moss or absorbing heat from the baking rocks.
A fiery-red lizard sat on one of these rocks, carefully eyeing the insects that flitted back and forth across the flowing water of the brook. It had been a very successful day so far for the reptile. Its belly was already full of the delectable bounty, proving that it was not going to go to bed hungry. Deciding that it would catch one more, it opened its mouth slightly, coiling its long tongue in preparation of a strike. This was not to be as two fast moving shadows raced across the water and over the lizard, causing it to panic and flee between a few loose boulders.
The two small shadows continued on, ignoring the wildlife beneath them. The ones responsible for disturbing the wildlife were far, far above the forest, appearing as specks in the sky. Unlike the rather temperate forest, the two flyers were experiencing a much different climate.
Swift Winds carefully lifted his right foreleg to wipe away some of the ice beginning to collect on the lenses of his flight goggles. He instinctively compensated for his change in air drag by manipulating his feathers to keep himself balanced. While moving his foreleg back into place, he lightly brushed against his flight harness, ensuring that the straps were still secured. If he dropped his specially modified saddlebag at this height and it fell into the powerful Westerlies that he and his wing pony were currently flying over, he would be hard pressed in catching it.
The dark blue pegasus had a cutie mark depicting gusting winds, marking his special talent for flying in powerful air flows. He looked to his right and checked up on his flight partner. The other pegasus had a light gray coat with a black mane. He sported an artificial leather flight cap, goggles, his own specialized flight bag, and a golden scarf. His cutie mark was a straight, blurry streak of clouds.
Strato Streak glanced over towards him and nodded, not bothering to speak as every ounce of oxygen in the low air environment was needed. Swift looked forward and continued watching the distant ground beneath him. The Galloping Mountains were vast, but more importantly, were one of the highest mountain ranges in Equis.
Very few ponies could fly above these lords of the land, much less at the altitude Swift Winds and Strato Streak were currently at. Flying above the wind belts like the Westerlies, Swift and others like him were able to traverse the nation, or even the world if one so desired at a very high speed with minimal energy expenditure. Another bonus was that this ability was highly sought after, meaning one never had to worry about unemployment. Most pegasi would either freeze to death, become unconscious due to lack of oxygen, or become severely injured in the sometimes violent winds.
That’s what made working for the postal system so profitable. Most unicorns were incapable of sending messages clear across the country and instead relied on pulled wagons or winged couriers. The message Swift and Strato carried was anything but a love letter or shipping orders.
Swift was eating the distance quickly, the green forest passing blinkingly fast beneath them. The sun was shining brightly above them and still had a good six hours to go before setting on the hazy horizon. Mentally calculating their position, Swift angled his wings downwards and dove rapidly, feeling the air pressure slowly increase before he smashed into the Westerlies. Controlling his body in the buffeting wind he expertly exited the deadly winds. Swift gave a quick glance to Strato before continuing his approach towards the ground beneath him. They leveled off when they reached just below the altitude table of the peaks, flapping their wings occasionally to adjust their flight in the now random gusts of wind.
Swift slowed down slightly, allowing Strato Streak to pull up alongside him. “We should be nearing Trevelyan,” he bellowed, the fog from his breath racing away from him. “Have you seen any patrols yet?”
“Not yet,” Strato stated. He moved his head left to right before he stopped. “Wait,” he squinted, wiping his goggles briefly. Swift followed his gaze.
A trio of dark shapes were flying low over the tree tops heading in a direction away from them. Swift estimated that both Strato and him were about a kilometer away and, with his current airspeed, were closing in on them. Swift rolled his head towards them, commanding Strato to intercept. They both tipped their wings towards the left and began a shallow dive, rapidly gaining on them. One of the shapes turned their head and spotted them, their large ears twitching. The formation continued flying straight, albeit slowing their pace. Swift and Strato began bleeding their speed by producing further air drag with their hooves and flaring their feathers. As they neared, Swift was able to identify them as thestrals.
The two couriers pulled alongside them, needing no introduction as their unique gear provided their identity, or at the very least their purpose. The thestrals were wearing light sets of purple armor, proving Swift’s assumptions that they were a patrol, correct. The small group continued to move at a quick pace, ignoring the increasingly biting cold the further north they moved.
A snow capped mountain passed on their right, giving view to a massive stone city. It was tucked near the bottom of three mountains, the short valley providing the only safe way of approaching the snow-shrouded city. Swift could see heavily-armed thestrals moving along the top of the battlements, watching as the flying group crossed overhead. The cobblestone streets were empty at this time of day as the thestrals were nocturnal in nature. They continued along their flight path towards the castle’s courtyard. Swift glided in before giving a few quick pumps of his wings, slowing his descent. His hooves met the cold stone with a series of loud clacks. Swift gave his coat a quick shake, throwing off the small amount of frost that had build up in his fur. The biting cold wasn’t an issue as he was used to flying in the high altitudes.
A nearby officer—judging from the bars on his shoulder pauldron—approached the new arrivals. “Anything to report?” he addressed the three scouts.
“No sir, everything was clear.”
The NCO nodded before dismissing them with a wave of his hoof. He turned his attention to the two pegasi. “Couriers,” he stated with an air of indifference. “What can I do for you today?”
Swift glanced at Strato who shared the same message with his eyes. “This is a matter that needs to be taken up with the Head Baron.”
The large thestral eyed the two before releasing a subtle snort. “What is the severity of the situation?” he asked as he turned, gesturing for them to follow. “The Baron is rather busy with the recent influx of rogues. There have been recent attacks on the more secluded hamlets.”
“It’s the Princess. Specifically, Princess Luna.”
The NCO stopped in his tracks, whipping around to glare at Swift. “This had better not be a joke,” he said, his accent slipping into a heavier dialect as his anger spiked.
Swift shook his head, staring the thestral dead in the eye. “She has returned.”
1 Day Ago
Summer Sun Celebration
“… and that’s when the idiot punched one of his squad mates. Luckily, I was there to save his flank.”
“Wow, you’re so brave!” The red mare gushed, collapsing into Strato’s side. The pegasus stallion smiled and pulled her closer, causing the mare to giggle.
Swift took a gulp of his cider before shaking his head, waving off the approaching waitress. “As I recall, you ran out of the foyer to gather some of the solar guards. I had to fend off four fully armed griffons from potential disability.”
Strato cleared his throat before sliding his hoof across his neck, gesturing for him to knock it off. “Y-yeah, but when I couldn’t find any back up I had to defend my wing commander.” The mare smiled before laying a kiss on his snoot.
“Why don’t you describe some more of your heroics in greater… detail… at my apartment?” She glanced across the table towards Swift, her face locked in a lustful smile. “Your friend can come too, if he wants.”
Strato’s grin couldn’t have grown any larger. He looked at Swift with expectant eyes. “Well, what about it? It’ll be a good time.”
Swift shook his head before looking down into his mug. “Nah, I’ll pass.”
Strato’s smile disappeared. “Listen Swift. It’s been what, three years? She wouldn’t have wanted you to continue on like this.”
The mare whipped her head towards Swift, the predatory looks she had sported earlier gone. “What?” She glanced between Strato and Swift before realization dawned on her face. “Oh. Oh. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know,” she looked at Swift, her voice full of sincerity.
Swift waved a hoof at her before speaking, “Don’t worry about it. Why don’t you two have some fun alright? I’d just be a drag.”
Strato watched his friend carefully, judging his words. Swift smiled at him, genuinely touched that Strato was concerned for him. He nodded at Strato before making a shooing gesture. Strato sighed, “Alright, but only since you insist.” He set a couple bits on the table before pointing towards the door. “After you sweet flanks.”
The two slid out of the booth and maneuvered through the room, slinking around the crowded tables. Although it was early morning, the night guard had only just gotten off their shifts and would flood the nearby pubs. Swift eyed his drink before taking a final swig of his drink. The waitress from before pulled alongside the table, placing the empty mugs on a tray she balanced on her back. “Will that be all sir?”
Swift dug in his bit bag, fishing out a few silver pieces. “Yes ma’am,” he respectively replied.
The mare pocketed the payment in her apron before smiling appreciatively. “Have a good day.”
Swift scooted out of the booth and headed for the door, turning his head to reply over his shoulder. “You know what they say, no rest for the wicked.”
“Well then, you better be sure to get some rest.”
Swift smirked before pushing his way outside and into the early morning air. The sun had yet to rise as Princess Celestia was visiting another town for the Summer Sun Celebration. He took a deep breath before walking down the stone streets. More and more ponies were beginning to come out of their homes, preparing to open their businesses for the new day. Swift ignored most of the activity as he began to feel the long hours of being on duty throughout the night wear on him. His body began to run on autopilot as he headed towards his home, allowing his thoughts to run rampant in his head.
‘Package to Baltimare on Thursday. Two days, clear weather reports, and no threat of bandits. Recipient is one ‘General Hoofton’. Wait, when do I leave again?’ Swift shrugged off the forgotten information and would just check his schedule when he would get back on duty later that night. His thoughts continued revolving madly, ranging in a variety of topics. He grimaced slightly about what was brought back up in the pub. He wasn’t mad that Strato brought up her, he wasn’t even irritated in the slightest.
Strato was known for hitting any available flank whenever they were off duty. He even did so when they were on duty. No, Swift couldn’t blame him for attempting to get his commander, and more importantly his friend, any sort of reprieve from the still sore feelings.
‘Or as Strato would say, “You need to get laid”.’ Swift appreciated his help, but the pegasus didn’t feel ready to permanently bury his past. Or her.
He arrived at his destination much sooner than he thought, finding himself on his front doorstep. Swift grabbed his key that he kept on a chain hanging from his neck with his mouth, maneuvering it into the keyhole. Turning it and hearing the lock click, he pulled it back out and allowed the key to fall back into place before pushing the door open. He stepped inside while closing the door behind him with a hind hoof, using his wings to hang up his bit pouch and key next to his flight goggles on a nearby coat rack; not that he ever needed a coat in his line of work.
The stallion walked through the house, ignoring the rumble in his belly as he climbed up a staircase. He glanced at a few of the pictures that hung on the wall, smiling sadly at the memories. The captured images showed a variety of different scenes, the occupants consisting of a familiar blue pegasus and an unfamiliar white earth pony. He turned right and entered a short hallway, watching the trail of pictures. The two ponies became closer and closer in each one, steadily showing increased intimacy between them. The final one gave him pause as it always did. The mares belly was swollen, but her eyes glinted with happiness. Swift had a hoof wrapped around her withers, giving her a chaste kiss on her cheek.
The stallion raised his hoof and brushed the picture gently before continuing into his bedroom. He didn’t bother washing up and instead crashed into his bed, quickly falling asleep atop the covers.
The sound of his window curtains ruffling in the breeze dragged Swift back to the land of the living. His right ear twitched before he slowly opened his eyes. A gentle shade of aquamarine light provided the room with a pleasant low glow. Swift shifted and instantly shivered as his damp pelt moved across the soaked comforter. Becoming increasingly uncomfortable the longer he stayed in the cold sweat of his bed, the pegasus rolled out of it. After he set his hooves on the floor he moved over towards his window. He peaked out of it and witnessed a most wondrous sight. The sun was getting low in the sky with a cloud partially covering it, the castle located a little ways up the mountain providing a very pleasing addition to the picture. Ponies were milling about excitedly in the streets even though the sky was slowly beginning to darken.
Figuring all the commotion was due to some sort of new fashion trend or the appearance of a new actor or actress the pegasus shrugged and headed to the restroom. After answering the call of nature and brushing away the mystery taste of morning away, Swift took a quick hot shower. His short coarse coat was easily dried, the stallion only needing to wipe his hoof through his short gray mane once to remove most of the water. He exited the bathroom and headed downstairs. Grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on his kitchen counter and his Royal Courier ID, the stallion approached his door. He held the apple in his mouth while he grabbed his flight goggles and placed them around his neck. He opened the door and stepped out onto the street, turning in the direction of the white castle.
Swift walked on three hooves as he ate his breakfast. Today was supposed to consist of him working in the office as paperwork was always necessary. Looking forward to getting it over with, he finished off his apple and sped up his stride. A pair of unicorn mares trotted past him quickly and were chattering loudly. Catching his eye, Swift watched as they took a right on the main road. Heading in the same direction, Swift looked past the unicorns and his eyes widened in surprise. The ponies he had seen milling about the streets earlier had shifted and moved towards the castle, building in number until the road was backed up for blocks. More ponies continued to flood out of nearby streets and piled on to the rapidly increasing size of the crowd.
Shaking his head in disbelief, Swift sprinted up to the two unicorns from earlier. “Excuse me!” The two turned around at his call, pausing their conversation. “What’s going on here?”
“Haven’t you heard?” Swift shook his head, watching as their eyes widened in excitement. “Oh! Well remember when the sun didn’t rise until several hours after it was supposed to?”
“What?” The look of complete confusion on Swift’s muzzle caused the two unicorns to glance at each other. Swift shook his head, “Never mind that. Continue please.”
The two perked back up immediately at the prospect of sharing the exciting news. “Princess Celestia’s long lost sister has returned!”
Swift blinked, his mind rushing to fill in the gaps. “Nightmare Moon?”
The two shook their heads before the other mare replied, “No, not anymore. The Elements of Harmony cleansed her. It’s a beautiful story!” The two mares swooned.
Processing this new information, Swift knew that the castle was probably a mad house. He quickly stretched his wings before addressing the mares. “Thank you!” The stallion blasted up into the air and put a burst of speed towards the castle. He reached the crowd and continued to fly over them, causing a few pegasi in the crowd to shake their hooves at him angrily. Since the castle walls didn’t defend the palace from the sky, flying was restricted unless you were in the lower districts of the city. Normally, ponies that were caught flying would receive a hefty fine. Only guards or licensed pegasi like Swift could fly in the airspace freely.
Swift approached the castle wall and dipped towards the front gate, bypassing the front of the crowd. He quickly landed at the closed gate and waited patiently as one of the guards closed in on him.
“Identification?” Swift showed him the ID hanging on his neck, allowing the guard to inspect his credentials. Nodding in satisfaction, the guard made eye contact with the gate house keeper. “Let him through!”
Swift thanked the guard before trotting under the gate and through the courtyard. He didn’t enter the foyer as he instead walked towards the barracks. The reinforced stone building was kept separate from the castle, providing its own mess hall and office. Swift entered the office’s and immediately moved out of the way of an exiting guard. The room was dreadfully crowded, ponies attempting to relay information to one another through the mad chaos. A small squad of guards pushed past him and left the building, barely changing the amount of walk room.
Swift pushed his way through the crowd until he reached the door to the mailroom. He attempted to open it only to find it locked. Keeping his ears pressed flat against his head in an attempt to counter the noise, he knocked on the door. The door handle shifted and the door opened a crack. The postmaster peered through the crack, his eyes widening when he recognized Swift. The door opened quickly and the red unicorn pulled Swift through before slamming the door shut again.
Swift looked around the small mailroom and instantly saw Strato, noticing that he wasn’t looking too good. He was however a bit confused when he saw the Guard Captain himself in the room with them. The postmaster walked passed Swift before looking towards Shining Armor.
“This is the other one sir,” the postmaster said as he began shuffling through mail.
Shining looked at the new arrival before asking, “Swift Winds was it?”
Swift gave a questioning glance at Strato before answering, “Yes sir.”
“Good, let’s get you up to speed. As you may or may not know, Princess Luna has returned from her banishment. Princess Celestia has tasked me with making the appropriate changes to ensure our new VIP is safe and happy. The first thing on our list is to appropriate guards for the Princess. Princess Celestia has suggested that the thestrals would be a suitable candidate as they had once served Princess Luna. There’s a lot of other more cultural reasons and customs involved in this decision, but that’s not important for your task.”
The Captain used his magic to pull two sealed scrolls from his saddlebags. “These are to be delivered to Head Baron Elderich in Trevelyan.” The white stallion handed them to Strato and Swift. “You two have been selected for this task. I trust that you’ll succeed with little to no incident. Good luck.” The Captain nodded to the postmaster before leaving the room and into the mass chaos.
Swift held up the scroll before moving towards a small row of lockers in the mailroom. Strato Streak was walking right next to him as he too headed for his locker. Reaching his locker, Swift opened it to reveal his flight harness, flight cap, and a scarlet scarf. He secured the scroll in the harness before beginning to strap it into place. He looked up and watched as Strato did the same. His friend had dark bags under his eyes and his fur was ruffled.
“What happened to you?”
Strato grunted, pulling his cap onto his head before replying, “Remember that mare from this morning? Well, we were at her place and had just started getting playful when we heard the commotion on the street. We went out and that’s when we realized that the sun had not risen. I immediately headed for the castle. A lot of yelling and shocking news later, here I stand.”
Swift smiled and began tying his scarf in place. “Should have went home. That way you could have gotten some sleep.”
Strato smiled in return. “There was no way in Tartarus I was going to miss a night with her! Did you see her flanks?”
Swift waved Strato off, shutting his locker door and facing the postmaster. “Is there anything we should know, Atlas?”
The postmaster glanced over a piece of parchment before replying, “There is a large storm moving over the Galloping Mountains, so you’ll need to move quickly if you’re to make Trevelyan before it crosses your path. The thestrals are also in the middle of their heat season. Hear that Strato?!” Atlas spoke louder. “Hooves off the populace and don’t cause anymore national incidents again, alright?”
Strato walked up to them while tugging on his flight harness. “That’s not fair!” he replied indignantly. “She gave me her consent.”
“Not if she’s the daughter of the griffon king. You’re lucky the Princess is a smooth talker.”
Strato nudged Swift, “She was a wild one. I felt those scratches for weeks!”
“Ahem! Back on topic, the Captain wants you both back as soon as possible. We’ll be needing to contact a lot of the foreign dignitaries about these new developments. There are also reports of increasing rogue attacks in Transylvania. I suggest you keep your wits about you.”
“Sounds good. Thanks Atlas. Let’s go Strato. Grab some coffee quick, I don’t want to have to rescue you from falling out of the sky alright?”
“Way ahead of ya.” Strato produced a styrofoam cup out of nowhere and chugged it down quickly, wincing as the bitter taste washed across his tongue. “Ehg, should have made a fresh pot.”
Swift again nodded his thanks to Atlas before pushing his way into the other room, shocked at how empty it was.
Strato pulled up alongside him, eyeing the room. “Guess the Captain cleared house, eh?”
Swift shrugged before leading Strato out into the courtyard. The two performed a final check on their equipment before looking to each other. “First one to the Galloping Mountains gets a free round!”
“You’re on!”
The two rocketed into the dusk sky, causing a few nearby clouds to roil away from their wake. The two used warm updrafts to lift higher into the sky, eventually having to pump their wings to reach their desired altitude. Swift placed the sun to his left and headed north, preparing for the long night flight ahead of them.
Trevelyan
“... shall send a regiment for inspection and, hopefully, integration.” The Baron rolled up a piece of parchment and lifted his stamp piece. Dipping it in a tray of heated wax, he placed it above the parchment and stamped it, making it an official document. He let it air dry briefly before handing it over to Swift. After securing it in his saddle, the Baron stood up. “I shall see you gentlecolts out.”
Swift and Strato followed the aging thestral out of the elegant office and into the stone hallways. They continued in relative silence until a question popped into Swift’s mind.
“I again thank you for seeing us today. I heard that you have been quite busy.”
Eldritch laughed dryly, “Kid, if you want a piece of advice from an old hoot like me, don’t go into politics. They will drain your energy and good looks faster than a rogue can drink you dry.”
Swift leapt at the opportunity to learn a little more about secluded country. “Speaking of that, do the rogues have something to do with the recent attacks on the hamlets?”
“Yes, they have been getting bolder. They attack at early dusk and dawn, slaughtering civilians and rampaging through the towns. I have taken measures to counter this with increased guard activity.”
“Have you tried talking to them?” Strato suggested.
“That would be impossible.”
Swift glanced at him quickly. “Why is that?”
“Because they are, for the most part, feral. My experts believe it is a result of their self banishment in the wild wastes.”
Strato glanced towards Swift before turning his attention back to the aging Baron in front of them. “Why did they do that?”
“You stallions need to read up on your history,” Eldritch chuckled. “Long story short, when Princess Luna was banished an undyingly loyal group of thestrals decided they would share her fate in the most similar manner possible.”
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when a maid suddenly entered the hallway. She was dressed in a typical maids uniform found anywhere, although her bat wings were something new for Swift. She did not notice the small group and approached a vase with a dust feather in hoof, the movement causing her uniform to ruffle. Swift’s nose was instantly flooded with a strong musk, his eyes widening as he felt his body suddenly heat up. He could feel a small tingle of electricity at the base of his brain and a strong urge reared it’s ugly head. Stirrings deep within became more pronounced the longer he stared at the mare. Swift rapidly reeled in his urges and his rampaging thoughts before shaking his head rapidly.
Strato on the other hand grew a sly smile. He watched as the maid finally looked towards them, the mare freezing when she realized she had company. She quickly lowered her head towards the Baron, who was sporting an angered look. “I- I’m sorry Baron Eldritch. I was not aware this hallway was occupied. I shall take my leave immediately.”
The maid disappeared the way she had come, her scent still lingering in the hallway. Baron Elderich sighed before continuing to walk down the corridor. “I’m dreadfully sorry about that. It’s heat week and all mares have been ordered indoors to prevent… unpleasant actions from the more rowdy thestrals. We cannot send the males away to retreats like Equestria does as we need the guard on a constant watch.”
Swift continued to follow the Baron, his body slowly relaxing as his body was no longer being fed the mare’s pheromones. “It’s fine, just gets the heart pumping.”
The Baron gave a genuine laugh at that. “Quite right.”
Swift glanced to his right and noticed Strato staring down the hallway that the mare had appeared from as they passed. Strato almost seemed to hesitate but was brought out of it with a quick kick from Swift. Strato jerked back into place and continued walking with Swift, acting as if nothing had ever happened.
The small group passed through a set of wooden doors and onto a stone path. There was a large overhang above them, stone arches along a wall next to them supporting its weight. The jagged horizon was on fire and caused the ponies to squint when they glanced in its general direction, the setting sun shining brilliantly in the distance. Swift noticed a large black mass peeking out from the side of one of the distant mountains. Faint blue flashes reached his eyes, letting him know that the storm was cooking in a spectacularly violent fashion. Swift checked his straps quickly before nodding towards Strato.
“Ready to go?”
“You know it.”
The Baron eyed the storm before raising a hoof to stop them. “That is unnecessary. Nopony can fly through a storm like that, even if you are Royal Couriers. I can have quarters arranged for an overnight stay.”
Swift bowed his head respectfully in the Baron’s direction. “While I thank you for your most gracious offer, we cannot accept. Captain Shining Armor is expecting our return with utmost haste.”
“Surely the storm will ground you if you attempt to fly in it? I may not fly as well as I used to, but even I know high altitude storms are incredibly unpredictable.”
“We’ve flown in worse,” Strato butted in.
Eldritch glanced back and forth between them before pursing his lips briefly and gave a quick nod. “Alright, since you insist. But if you find yourself in trouble and need to turn around you are more than welcome to.”
Swift again smiled appreciatively towards the Baron before stretching his wings. He gave them a few quick flaps before bending his knees and leaping through the open archway into the sky. He spiralled straight up a few dozen meters before leveling off towards the darkening horizon, Strato pulling up alongside him.
“We’ll stay below the Westerlies. The current is already flowing against us but the storm has most likely made it a death trap now. You know the drill,” Swift spoke.
“It’ll be a piece of cake. That hurricane on the coast of Mustangia gave us a harder time than this, I’m sure of it.”
Swift smiled before pulling his flight goggles down. The two continued to fly on south towards Equestria, watching as the last light of dusk in the west fianlly sucumbed to the black of night. The air smelled of ozone as they approached the storm, hearing as much as feeling the thunder in the dark abyss. A cold wind began to rip at their coats as they made to enter the storm and face the wild brutality of nature’s finest.
Swift and Strato plunged headfirst into the dark clouds and immediately shifted their wings to allow the drafts of the storm to carry them, choosing to be taken by the wind instead of hurting themselves by fighting it. Rain beat down upon them as they continued maneuvering in the high wind, expertly steering away from the more violent sections of the large super cell. Swift felt a rough tingling sensation in his wings, warning him of the nearby buildup of static electricity. The two pegasi dived down and built up speed to assist in the oncoming climb away from the imminent lightning strike.
That was before a sudden blast of cold air buffeted them backwards and higher into the sky. Swift attempted to pull in his wings and drop away from the pushing wind before he felt the static in his wings intensify suddenly. Opening his mouth in an attempt to warn Strato, his world suddenly became very bright. He futilely closed his eyes in an effort to block the light and felt a searing heat wash across him. The light faded behind his eyelids and he allowed them to open, large white blotches spotting across his vision. He watched clouds race past him, reminding him to open his wings to stop his free fall. He never even heard the lightning strike, instead his ears registering a very low ringing sound that was slowly gaining intensity. He glanced around quickly while calling out for Strato, failing to hear his own voice.
Realizing that he could not see him and that he would be unable to find him in the storm, he angled his flight back along its original course. If Strato was okay he would know to what to do. They had trained for scenarios like this. Swift would fly until he exited the storm. If Strato was not on the other side he would wait for him until the storm has passed. In the following hour after the storm Strato did not appear Swift would then report to the nearest civilization. He would send a message to headquarters before assisting in a search and rescue party.
The reality of Strato possibly being dead struck Swift, but he pushed such distracting thoughts away. He needed to survive here and now as his life was in danger. They both knew the risks and they had gambled. Swift ignored the cold rain and continued to press forward, battling the winds towards his freedom. Fighting past a particularly strong updraft, Swift cleared one last cloud before witnessing the night sky. He had made it.
The pegasus coasted for a few minutes to gain some much needed rest from the hard flight before flying in a very wide circle by the edge of the storm, intent on waiting it out. Whenever he began to lose altitude he would glide into the updraft feeding the storm before breaking contact, all the while keeping his eyes peeled.
Feeling his energy slowly drain, the stallion looked around for a quick place to land. A cloud that had straggled away from the storm caught his eye, proving to be the perfect candidate. He approached the cloud and bled his airspeed before he landed on it, bending his knees to absorb some of his momentum. He pulled up his flight goggles before padding down an area of fluffy cloud to bed down in. After settling himself in with his body facing the storm he prepped for the long wait.
Swift wasn’t sure how long it had been, but enough time had passed that the moon had risen and now shined brightly down upon the landscape. Swift continued to watch the storm, knowing it to be the tail end of it judging by how calm it had become. Sighing, the stallion stood up and stretched his wings, ignoring the slight ache in them. He walked towards the edge of the cloud and allowed himself to fall over the edge. He plummeted a dozen meters before spreading his wings, pulling out of the dive and towards the sky. He put his back to the dying storm and flew towards the clear horizon.
Swift did not know the layout of the area, so he had to rely on hope that he would stumble upon a town before he reached the borders of Equestria. Swift had only flown for a few minutes before he spotted three distant shapes moving perpendicularly to his course. He was about to call out to them before they suddenly swerved towards him, no doubt having spotting him. Swift slowed to a hover, his body relaxing in relief. Help was on its way. He would have them take him to the nearest city and he would go from there. He watched as they rapidly approached, his smile turning to a confused frown. They weren’t slowing down. At the range they were at Swift also noticed that they were not wearing the purple armor of the thestral Guard.
‘Rogues!’
Blasting his wings backwards, Swift headed right towards them on a collision course. The thestrals screeched as they almost made contact with their prey. Swift breathed deeply before suddenly angling his wings, thrusting himself into a wide barrel roll right over the thestrals before diving down towards the left in an effort to gain speed.
The thestrals screeched angrily before reorienting themselves to give chase. There was no hope of them catching Swift however as pegasi wings made them faster than the leathery composition of the bat-like wings. Knowing that he had speed on his side, Swift simply pulled out of his dive and headed away from his pursuers, leaving them in his dust. A white glint caught his eye and Swift immediately shifted downwards as another thestral rocketed past him, barely missing its mark.
Swift quickly glanced around and saw multiple contacts in the distance surrounding him. At the distance in which they were flying, Swift mentally calculated their flight and realized that they were going to cut him off. And judging by the new appearance of a few more thestrals far above him Swift knew he couldn’t perform simple evasive maneuvers to avoid the forming blockade. They were going to box him in.
Swift thought quickly, burning precious seconds in an attempt to form a plan. He evaluated his situation methodically, knowing that while he had speed, the thestrals had maneuverability on their side. Their wings had evolved to fly in tight cavernous spaces, resulting in the ability to change direction in the blink of an eye, dashing about quickly.
The thestrals above him had the advantage of altitude as they would be able to dive on him when he reached the blockade, preventing him from flying above it. Swift found a conclusion and immediately turned around. If he couldn’t out maneuver them or simply speed away, he would out fly them. The storm was still turning angrily by the mountains, carving their way through the ancient majesties. Swift dived beneath the three night ponies that he had passed before, his heart beating rapidly as they only passed inches away. Pouring on the speed, Swift rocketed towards his destination.
A quick glance behind him showed that the thestrals were coalescing into small groups before heading in his direction. They were going to hunt him down in the storm. Swift pulled his flight goggles back over his face to protect himself from the driving rain as he came within meters of mother nature’s rampage. Swift plunged into the darkness and immediately dropped against the updraft, guessing that the predators would use the updrafts to gain speed after him while heading in the wrong direction.
The world seemed to slow down as Swift’s mind worked overdrive, taking everything in. The howling winds filled his ears, his heavy breathing being the only other sound available to him. He felt his damp coat matt against his skin in the cold rain counteracting the intense heat of his pumping blood. The scent of rain and sweat filled his nose while streaks of lightning burned the ozone. Swift instinctively felt the ground approaching and popped his wings out, pulling out of his steep dive.
The tips of pine trees whipped beneath his hoofs as he gained a little altitude. The winds were very unpredictable here as the landscape would change its direction and concentration. He expertly shifted when the wind would change, keeping his current height and speed all the while. A brief flash of lightning behind a nearby cloud on the right revealed the shadows of several thestrals on the other side. Swift angled away from them before the cloud to his left suddenly burst open, revealing the shrieking forms of more thestrals heading right towards him.
Swift pulled up quickly, neglecting to watch where he was flying. He collided with another unseen thestral above him, stunning him for a mere second. That’s all the dark pony needed before it began to grapple him in that air. The other thestrals flashed past before beginning to circle the struggling pair. Swift struggled and was able to turn himself around in its grasp before he suddenly moved his head back as the thestral attempted to bite him, its jaws snapping inches from his neck.
Swift squirmed violently and was able to free his right foreleg. He threw a wild haymaker and made contact with its muzzle, causing devastating damage as Swift heard bones break. The thestral screeched in agony as it released Swift, the pegasus taking the chance to drop as quickly as possible. He ignored his pursuers as he dropped beneath the tree line, weaving quickly between the ancient pines. The thestrals kept up with him above the tree line as they had no obstacles to dodge.
The trees were thrashing about, creating a very hazardous flight zone for Swift. The pegasus searched for a means of escape from the forest while also finding a means to evade the shrieking thestrals. His answer came when Swift spotted a half dead pine tree, all of its branches dead and stripped except for a clustered few on the left side. Hoping that the green needles signalled that the branches were still alive and not brittle, he streaked towards it. Folding his wings and curling his body, he struck the branches and felt them give. His gut flopped as it suddenly stopped before thrashing back into place as the branch whipped him back in the direction he had come from.
Swift bent his wings halfway to strengthen them as he smashed his way through the tree canopy. Using the little amount of time he had gained from the surprise trick, he flapped his wings hard. He flew with an updraft to his right, angling his wings like a sailboat to take power from it while moving perpendicular to the wall of wind. Swift could no longer hear the screeches of the thestrals as he sped quickly along. He slightly relaxed while maintaining his speed, taking deep breaths. He was home free.
His vision suddenly cut out as his world suddenly became red. Feeling his scarf flapping in his face, Swift used a hoof to yank it back down. His vision returned and his eyes widened in surprise as the wind tossed a large tree branch right in front of him. Swift desperately attempted to perform evasive maneuvers but yelled in pain when it hit his right wing full on. He dropped instantly, his wing flapping in the wind as he had no control over it. He didn’t have any time to think before he slammed into the tree canopy, losing all the air in his lungs as he bashed his way through. He had a second to take in a breath before he suddenly stopped.
His body was completely numb and his vision was black. His vision slowly flickered back into focus, revealing the canopy above him as he was lying on his back. His mouth opened and closed uselessly as he failed to draw in breath. His lungs burned and Swift’s mind began to spin back up, causing him to panic. He swallowed before his chest finally contracted and drew in the sweet oxygen. His senses popped back into existence all at once. The rain roared as it impacted against the ground, distant thunder sounding off after each lightning strike. More importantly, Swift heard shrieks and watched as a few shadows flashed overhead, the tree canopy concealing the downed pegasus.
Knowing he was still in danger, Swift attempted to move only to muffle a yelp in pain. Not only did his wing feel as if it was being burned when he shifted it against the ground, but his right foreleg radiated an agonizing ache. He slowly lifted his leg above his muzzle and stared in shock. There was an odd bump about halfway up his lower foreleg, a small crimson river dripping down onto his muzzle.His nose picked up the strong scent of the liquid.
Blood.
A series of short shrieks sounded off nearby as shadows began to flicker above the canopy. Swift’s entire body began to shiver violently as fear rolled into every part of his being. Ignoring the pain, Swift hastily rolled over his good wing onto his hooves, tucking his undoubtedly broken leg against his chest. He needed to move quickly if he hoped to have any chance of evading the airborne predators. A small trail in front of him looked promising, egging on his haste. The pegasus hadn’t taken five steps before something slammed into his back, causing him to drop onto his belly. He almost lost consciousness as pain flared from the pressure on his broken leg. A heavy weight pressed down on his back while a hoof planted itself at the base of Swift’s skull, pressing his muzzle to the earth.
Breathing deeply while pushing against the creeping darkness at the edges of his vision, Swift lashed out his left wing, blinding the thestral above him. He quickly reached with his left foreleg and swiped the hoof planting his head down, unstabilizing the thestral. Swift followed it by tossing his head back, bashing the night pony in the muzzle. The weight disappeared, allowing Swift to stand. His entire body ached as he blindly stumbled forward, his vision blurry from his headbutt. Something smashed into his muzzle, Swift yelping as he hopped backwards. The strike had cleared his vision and revealed Swift’s surroundings.
Several thestrals stood in front of him, cutting off the trail he had originally aimed for. He rapidly backpedaled on three legs before turning around. He stopped when another pair of thestrals blocked him, flashing their fangs as they crouched slightly. Swift looked side to side, dread filling him as he saw more thestrals completely surrounding him. The predators growled and raised their wings as they prepared to strike down their hard fought meal. Swift’s breathing slowed as a sense of finality washed over him. Seeing no way out, the stallion slowly looked around him, watching as one of the thestrals took a step forward.
‘If you’re expecting me to go quietly...’ Swift turned and faced the thestral full on, staggering his handicapped stance and growling lowly as he challenged it. ‘You got another thing coming.’
The thestral’s eyes narrowed before it charged. Swift yelled loudly as he performed a short hop, allowing the thestral to pass beneath him. Throughout the leap his rear legs were coiled beneath him, striking out at the creature. The sound of the impact rang through the clearing, proving he had struck true. Swift whirled around in case the thestral was following up his initial charge. Instead the thestral was lying on the ground, unmoving. Swift stared at him for a second longer before realizing that it was dead. Adrenaline pumping through his body, Swift turned to see a few of the thestrals staring at him angrily. He had a moments warning before they all charged him at once.
Swift yelled as he too blindly charged into the mass, punching—with his good hoof, kicking, and biting whatever he came in contact with. It was mere seconds before he was thrown to the ground on his back, bites and surprisingly minor cuts crisscrossing his body. One thestral stood above him and went for his throat. Swift moved his head to the left, the thestral plunging their gaping maw into the mud. Another sharp pain ripped through his inner thigh as somepony bit him in the sensitive flesh. Screaming in pain, Swift lashed out with his left foreleg and punched the thestral who was standing above him in the muzzle as it was pulling away from the mud. He followed it up with a strike from his left hind leg into the one who was biting him.
He had succeeded in stopping the bite but the thestral above him was beginning to reorient itself. Swift pulled his left foreleg back again to deliver another punch when somepony took a hold of it. Another sharp bite pierced his leg, angering Swift further. Using the thestral’s bite against it, he pulled it near him.
“You bite me! I bite you!”
He lunged towards the dark pony before biting the nearest available body part. The thestral let go as the pony bit down upon its large and very sensitive ear. Swift bit with all his strength, tasting blood as it began to spill into his mouth. Swift’s body suddenly locked up as somepony latched onto his neck, a cold shock jolting through him. He could feel the suction throughout his entire body, causing him to shiver violently as his muscles refused to respond. With a loud screech, the thestral he had in his mouth yanked itself free. The thestral stomped its hooves in pain before it paused, Swift seeing that it was staring at him from the corner of his eye.
Swift’s world began to blur as his blood was consumed by the blurry figure above him. More dark blotches encroached on him, the pegasus closing his eyes as he began giving in to the dizzying darkness. Sudden loud shrieks echoed around him, but he didn’t care. They were too far away now and couldn’t hurt him any longer. He slowly opened his glassy eyes as the pressure on his neck disappeared. His blood starved brain couldn’t process images, thus he was unaware of the thestrals backing off of him. Something touched his body and he felt the ground shift beneath him. The movement proved to be too much for his brain as it shut down to save essential functions, thrusting Swift into unconsciousness.
A dull roar was the first thing that registered in Swift’s mind. As it began to quiet down, he realized it was the steady beat of his heart. With his body beginning to slowly wake up, Swift opened his eyes. He couldn’t see anything but a never ending blackness. The smell of earth and moss was very strong, Swift confirming it when he carefully moved his left foreleg and shuffled in the soft mat beneath him. The pegasus attempted to stretch, wincing when his wing and leg were pulled slightly. He shivered when a dull ache reared in his neck, reminding him of his encounter. He froze as he recalled the attack. He ran through what happened in a chronological order, dread filling him as he foggily remembered being drug across the ground before blacking out.
Throughout this time his eyes had barely acclimated to the darkness, Swift working out that there was a concave dirt wall in front of him. He breathed deeply, taking in the new scents. The smell of the dusty earth told him he was underground. His eyes widened when another scent entered the picture. It was another pony, and it certainly wasn’t him.
Realizing he could be in great danger, Swift struggled to his hooves. All the while he ensured his leg was tucked beneath him to prevent further injury. He squinted in hopes of seeing in the darkness better before turning around. He could barely see the perimeter of the dirt hole he was in, noticing that the gloom was a little brighter on the other side. He shuffled towards the light, his hopes of freedom skyrocketing the closer he got.
Those hopes plummeted when he felt his hoof knock into something soft, warm, and fuzzy. He held his breath as the now dark shape in front of him stirred, its breathing changing slightly. The figure stopped moving and continued to rest easy, prompting him to release his breath. Little did he know that the figure’s ears were incredibly sensitive to most sounds, even more so when the very, very slight breeze released from the pegasus tickled the hair deep within it’s recesses.
A bright golden eye popped into existence, causing Swift to audibly gulp. He slowly took a step back as the figure lifted its head and turned towards him, the two slitted orbs peering into his soul. Swift felt increasing heat flood through his body as he became more fearful of the still figure. He watched as he knew to be a thestral slowly stand up. The pegasus glanced past it towards what his adjusting eyes could now make out as a covered hole. The thestral stood patiently, waiting for the shaking pony to make its move. Swift, feeling desperation crashing into him as his freedom was feet away from him, feigned moving to the right before lurching to his left. He should have known better than to think his injured form could hope to overtake the quick reflexes of a thestral.
As had happened before, Swift ended up on his back. He whimpered as pain flared in his wing. He closed his eyes and prepared for the thestral to tear into him, praying to Celestia that death would be quick and merciful. It was because of this that he was caught completely by surprise when he felt the thestral touch his chest gently. He opened his eyes and watched in dread as the thestral stood above his body and rubbed its muzzle into his fur while inhaling, his fear killing the urge to laugh as its breath tickled his fur.
‘What’s it waiting for?’
Seeming satisfied, the thestral moved up his body, pushing Swift’s muzzle aside as it smelled his neck. Swift shivered as it hovered over his bite mark, dreading the oncoming feeling he had experienced earlier. He closed his eyes as it stroked its tongue along the bite, slight flashes of pain coursing through him as the wounded skin became agitated. After a few more wet licks Swift opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
‘What the buck is going on?’
Swift glanced to the right, his now fully dilated eyes catching a surprising sight. The ear of the thestral looked damaged as it was hanging slightly as if it was in pain. A look of dawning graced his face as he realized it was the thestral he had bitten. That didn’t explain why he was still alive. The thestral dragged its tongue a final time across Swift’s neck before it began to back off of him. It’s muzzle stopped when it reached his lower pelvis. Instinctively reacting, his legs closed and he attempted to roll over to protect his soft underbelly. He stopped when the thestral planted a hoof to his thigh and lowly growled. Swift again shivered and broke out into a cold sweat as the thestral spread his legs. It sniffed the bite wound on his inner thigh before it repeated the same process it had done to his neck.
Swift’s body locked up as confusing emotions ran through him. He had not been touched like that in a very long time, causing a subtle stirring to make itself known down below. Struggling to understand what exactly was going on, Swift’s brain finally registered something he had not noticed before. The den he was in was filled with a heavy scent, one that he had smelled not all that long ago. It all fell into place as Swift’s brain clicked.
“The thestrals are also in the middle of their heat season.”
The words of Atlas echoed through his head. Swift felt his body begin to react to the thick wall of hormones flooding his system. His heart began to beat faster and something down below began pulsing with need. The thestral, which the scent flooding the room confirmed it to be female, continued her licking with her eyes closed. This egged Swift further on and he watched as his grey mottled length slowly began to unsheathe. This did not go unnoticed by the thestral as her sensitive nose picked up the new musky scent of his stallionhood. She opened her eyes and stopped licking, her own urges heating her to the core.
Swift watched in morbid fascination as the mare moved and buried her muzzle into his scrotum. She inhaled deeply, further fueling her instincts. She moved her muzzle up and inhaled the scent of his shaft, her ears filled with the roar of Swift’s pounding blood. Swift gasped when she gave his member a long lick, quivering as her heated saliva cooled in the air. The mare moved up his body until she was level with him. She spotted the unnatural lump in Swift’s right leg, moving closer to inspect the injury.
Swift watched as she nuzzled his leg, the stallion hissing when she shifted the damaged bone. As she moved her muzzle away from the injury, Swift caught a brief glance of her golden eyes. There had been something strange about them, almost as if there was an intelligence there. This all went flying out the window as the mare straddled him, his member being squeezed between the two of them. Swift’s hormone doped brain sent spikes of pleasure throughout his body as something wet and burning hot touched the underside of his length.
The mare above him began grinding away on top of him, rocking their forms back and forth. The pain in Swift’s wing was easily overridden as pent up stress rapidly began bleeding out of his relaxing form. He closed his eyes and drunkenly smiled as the mare above him began to growl very lowly, the vibrations reverberating into him at their point of contact. His member was painfully hard and was becoming increasingly slick as the mare continued to move along it, the stimulation of his medial ring bumping against her love button slaving her to nature’s laws.
Swift opened his eyes as she shifted upwards, his member trailing a couple inches after her as it was released. In his hormone addled state Swift knew what was going to happen next. His eyes widened as a clear memory ran across his mind.
A star studded night sky blinked quietly in the twin black pools, his flushed face reflecting in the foreground. The pools were reigned in by a beautiful shade of aquamarine. Swift watched with bated breath as they moved closer to him before something brushed against his lips, pushing firmer to lock themselves together. He leaned back and fell into the soft grass, bringing the white mare with him. After a few moments of this she released him, all the while continuing to stare into his soul.
“Yes,” she softly breathed out. “Yes Swift, I’ll marry you.”
“I love you Sky.”
“I love you too.”
A brief bout of panic struck his prone form.
‘I’m not ready!’
He attempted to wiggle out from under the mare above him, groaning in pain as he did so. He yelled in pain as a hoof pinned his broken leg to the floor beside him, tears burning down his cheeks. The mare hissed before shifting slightly again to line herself up with Swift’s member. The pegasus weakly attempted to struggle, groaning in pain as both of his injuries were shifted. The mare moved and Swift’s pain ridden world was suddenly washed away. His breath froze when he looked down, seeing his member buried to the hilt into the thestral above him.
The pulsing heat prompted him to exhale his breath. His will was eroded away as his hormones banished his reasoning. Her marehood squeezed him in its entirety as powerful contractions rippled upwards. He gasped as the mare rolled her hips forward and returned back. The gyrations dragged the head of his member along her tight walls in a most delightful way. The mare above him moaned lowly as she continued her movements. Swift let his head drop to the mossy floor as he moaned with her.
This continued for a minute before the mare stopped and shuffled her hooves to a better stance. Swift looked up in time to watch her stand, moaning as his stallionhood dragged along her insides on its way out. She stopped with just his head inside of her, shifting again to prepare her stance. Swift shivered as the cool air came into contact with his slick pride. Instinct controlled his next action as he placed his good leg on her flank. The mare moaned as he pulled her back down while arching his back, penetrating the mare in untouched spots. Swift didn’t brag, but from what he had seen he was a bit larger than average.
He helped the mare as she pulled back up, their joining parts making slight squelching sounds as they parted. Swift’s eyes rolled back as he felt her marehood pull against him as if it refused to let him go. His tongue lolled out of his mouth as she leaned back and sucked him back into her burning snatch. They fell into a steady rhythm, the two ponies rocking back and forth as their bodies twitched in pleasure.
Swift looked up at the bouncing mare standing above him as she moaned and squeaked. In the back of his mind he realized how exotic thestral mare’s were as they as a species were few in number. The thought only served to turn him on further. He lifted his head and watched as his member dipped in and out of the mare, his pelvic region getting drenched in the mare’s glistening excitement. His head was pushed to the ground as the mare used a hoof to restrain the stallion, keeping her constant movement against the stallion. Swift moaned at what he found to be a rather kinky action. The head of his length dragged along the contracting ridges within her, pumping against her like a piston. He felt the constricting depths pulse to her heartbeat against his stallionhood.
Her pace suddenly sped up as her breath began coming out in rapid succession of one another. Swift’s ears perked up as he realized she was nearing her orgasm. Following her lead, he pressed onwards as he too thrusted against her as she pushed downwards. She gasped as Swift plummeted into her, his drenched orbs slapping lewdly against her. Swift moaned as the suction within her increased tenfold. Her tightness became stronger as he was almost crushed within her. She began to shriek loudly as her contractions pulled Swift in further. The stallion grunted as a stirring from deep within made itself known.
His stallionhood pulsed harder and began to hurt slightly as his own pressure developed within. His head flared, pushing back against the squeezing depths and dragging further along her ridged marehood. Yelling with lust, Swift wrapped his good leg around the mare and pounded into her with everything he had. The thestral screeched louder as scalding liquid rushed out of their union and soaked the stallion beneath her.
The pressure and slippery friction along with the sounds of the orgasmic mare proved to be too much for Swift. He continued to yell as his length seemed to burst, strikes of pleasure racing to the base of his mind and back. His flared head lodged itself into her, halting their motion as his boiling foal batter spilled forth. The mare moaned as the pegasus dumped load after load into her aching snatch, the warm liquid prolonging her orgasm. Swift panted heavily as the last of his sperm exited into the mare, sticky white rivers leaking out from around the seal of their union. Swift’s leg collapsed to the ground as he moaned, his member still being squeezed as the mare’s orgasm slowly died down.
The mare quivered above him as pleasure still smoldered within her. Swift felt his member slowly soften and felt the mare shift to remove him from her. He shivered as a spike of pleasure from the slight friction caused his member to twitch, releasing a small final spurt into the thestral’s marehood. Swift closed his eyes and laid back to enjoy his orgasmic bliss. The cool air slowly cooled down his heated body, parts of him more so than others as he felt fluids crawling off of him onto the ground.
Two light thumps near his head caused him to open his eyes, revealing that the thestral was still standing above him with her two forehooves placed on either side of his head. His small smile disappeared as he noticed her eyes. The slits in her golden irises were more narrow than he remembered last seeing them. His eyes widened as she opened her fang filled maw and dived onto his neck.
He didn’t have time to react as his body locked up once again, the powerful suction freezing his muscles. Swift weakly gasped as the uncomfortable pressure settled into his body. The hazy darkness creeped in from all sides as his vision began to unfocus. Knowing that nothing would save him like last time, Swift gave a weak cough before exhaling. He closed his eyes and submitted to his inevitable demise, a single tear matting the fur by his eye.
The smell of antiseptic crashed against Swift’s senses, the dry air causing his eyes to water slightly. The polished white ceramic tiles, while slightly gritty with dirt, were still a dangerous slipping hazard for the speed he was moving at. A wooden door suddenly opened and blocked off the section of hallway Swift was sprinting down. Realizing that he would not be able to stop himself from crashing into the departing nurse, Swift lifted his wings and pushed down in a short flap, controlling his now airborne approach. The stallion used his skill set to expertly swing around the door at high speed, losing a feather when he slightly clipped his wing.
“Hey!” Swift ignored the call from the nurse and continued flying down the hall, blowing papers out of the wooden slots that dotted down walkway. If Swift had been paying attention, he would have seen how some details of his current surroundings were… wrong. He passed an open door, not realizing that it only consisted of an endless white expanse. Wisps of the cloudy material flickered on the very edges of his vision, but went unseen by Swift.
He reached the corner of the hallway and tucked his body to the right. He pulled out of the high G turn and raced towards the receptions desk at the very end. Swift flared his wings and stopped almost instantaneously, feeling the built up wind race past him and blast the receptions pony.
“What room is Sky Watcher in!?”
The mare behind the desk looked over her glasses before replying, “Name?”
Swift felt a bolt of anger shoot straight through him. “I don’t have time for this! My wife is in labour!”
“Name sir?” the mare replied determinedly, giving him no leeway. She engaged the stallion in a staring match, neither willing to give ground.
Concerned about the mother of his foal, Swift backed down with an explosive sigh. “Swift Winds.”
The purple earth pony quickly filled in his name into a guest sheet before continuing, “Who are you visiting?”
“I already told you! Her name is Sky Watcher.”
The mare continued writing on the form before pointing down the hallway to Swift’s right. “Room 337. It’s down the hall and to the lef-,”
Swift didn’t hear the rest as he was already gone. He watched as the door numbers flashed quickly past, slowing down as he approached the correct room. The door to the room was closed, Swift taking the moment to breath deeply. Settling his nerves and tucking his wings, Swift knocked twice on the door before pushing it open… only to find the room empty. The pegasus looked around and realized that ponies had been in the room recently. The bed was missing and there were various hospital equipment scattered and left unattended. The hoofsteps of a pony behind him caused him to turn around. A doctor walked into the room with his face in a clipboard when he noticed the stallion.
“Ah, good evening. I’m afraid this room is off limits at the moment. Is there somepony you were looking for?”
Swift’s eyes narrowed in anger, “I’m looking for my wife. I was told she was in this room.”
The doctor’s eyes suddenly widened. “Are you a Mr. Winds?”
“That’d be me.”
The doctor lowered his clipboard before looking the pegasus in the eye. “I wish my most sincere apology to you.” Thoughts of the worst kind shot through Swift’s mind, causing him to suddenly begin worrying greatly. He watched as the doctor hesitated before speaking, “Mrs. Sky Watcher died giving birth.”
All thought stopped, his mind collapsing. Swift began to rapidly shake his head ‘no’, a very quiet hoarse whine passing through his lips. The doctor lowered his eyes and fiddled with his clipboard slightly. “It is also with my deepest regret to inform you that the foal did not survive the emergency c-section.”
The world stopped dead. Swift’s mind locked up, blocking any conscious thought from being acknowledged. The doctors words bounced inside his cranium while his lungs refused to work. A dull ringing in his ears prevented him from hearing the desperate shouts of the hospital staff as they attempted to stop the running pony. Swift’s body was on autopilot, taking him away from the danger and the source of his anguish. The next second resulted in a blast of cold air smashing into him, his fur ruffling in the cold night air.
The world crashed back into focus as Swift realized he was in a free fall. His muscles stiff, the pegasus struggled to create some sort of flight. Fighting the sluggish response of his wings, Swift was able to change his trajectory from falling to a controlled glide. The stallion aimed for a nearby cloud and crashed into it. Swift shakily stood up and shivered when the the cold night breeze blew against his damp pelt, sweat dripping off of him. All his bodies newly found ache and pains hit him with a nasty vengeance, causing him to moan in agony. A sharp heat pierced his stomach and Swift opened his mouth as his stomach emptied itself violently.
The pegasus lost control of his legs and fell into a heap. He feebly moved his head, sliding on the slick surface of his stomach’s contents. Swift moved his eyes skyward, watching the stars twinkle gently overhead. His teeth chattered as another gust of wind blew past. Closing his eyes, the tattered pegasus fell into a dream filled with nightmarish torments.
A light breeze tickled Swift’s ears, causing him to scrunch his muzzle in annoyance. He shifted his leg in an attempt to wipe his muzzle, receiving a rude awakening as he practically punched himself.
“Buck!”
He shot straight up and clutched his muzzle, wincing as his injured leg throbbed. He sensed light through his eyelids and slowly opened them. He paused as the images of his surroundings raced through his mind. He was laying in a soft cozy bed in a decently sized room. The walls were a stark white and hurt his eyes slightly. There was an open window with the curtains drawn open, allowing the breeze to roll in. The smell of blood caused him to panic briefly, a loud beeping next to him increasing his stress. He looked down and saw blood dripping onto his foreleg, which he now realized was wrapped in a hard plaster cast. His observations were interrupted when a brown earth pony mare streaked into his room.
“What’s going on in here?” she questioned as she approached the awestruck stallion. Swift attempted to back away, holding his good leg out to stop her approach. The mare ignored his actions and expertly knocked his only defense away before pushing him back into the bed. Swift panicked as recent memories pushed their way out of his waking mind, causing him to begin lashing out. To the mare’s credit, she was certainly well taught. She pinned his leg before wielding a syringe in her mouth, placing the shot directly into one of his veins. A warmth immediately coursed through his body, causing the stallion to relax.
“There, that’s much better. Now let’s take a look at that bloody nose shall we?”
Swift didn’t protest as he didn’t want the good happy feeling to go away. He liked this feeling. He liked his bed. He even liked this mare. Swift grinned drunkenly while the nurse tended to his injuries, waving off an arriving crash team responding to the tripped heart monitor.
He didn't know how much time had passed before he could actually function correctly. Even then it was still foggy at best. He could hear voices out in the hall but was unable to make out what they were saying. This went on for a couple more minutes, resulting in Swift to get increasingly impatient. He could feel the drugs slowly wearing off which allowed the pain in his injuries to begin radiating across his body. Just when he thought he couldn’t handle it any further he heard the door handle click. He watched in anticipation as it swung open and allowed the voices to be distinguishable.
“I will be quick, thank you nurse.”
Swift’s eyes widened as a tall white mare walked through the doorway. He knew immediately that he was in the presence of Royalty and attempted to salute with his injured leg. The mare raised her leg and motioned him to lower it.
“That is not necessary. You have already been through much, noble Swift. You do not need to worry about such trivial things.”
Swift lowered his leg before replying, “Yes, your highness.”
Princess Celestia approached the side of his bed and watched the stallion carefully. “Do you remember what happened?”
Swift blinked, images smashing across his cranium in that single instant. He swallowed, “Yes, yes I do.”
Celestia nodded in sympathy, “Good.” She settled on her rump before continuing, “I know you are in pain and that it may very well be painful to speak of this, but if you are able can you explain exactly what happened?”
Swift visibly shivered before nodding. “We were leaving Trevelyan, having delivered the message successfully. Strato and I decided to fly into the storm as it was something we trained to handle. At one point the storm separated us and I followed protocol. I waited outside the storm for a couple hours, it was hard to tell how long exactly as I had rested. Failing to have spotted Strato, I continued along my flight path to seek help.” Swift paused when he remembered their terrible screeches and shrieks.
The princess seemed to notice this and attempted to reassure him. “We do not have to continue this Swift Winds.”
“No, it’s alright your majesty.” Swift took a few deep breaths before continuing. “I encountered a group of rogues and took evasive action. I flew back into the storm in an attempt to lose them. I was engaged briefly before fighting my way lose. At one point airborne debris knocked me out of the air.”
“And that is where you sustained most of your injuries am I correct?”
“Yes ma’am. I became surrounded and could not flee. I remember being bitten before blacking out.” Celestia nodded sagely before letting him continue. “I woke up in a what I thought was a cave, later learning that it was a den.” Swift shivered violently, his heart monitor speeding up slightly.
Celestia laid a hoof on Swift, calming the pegasus stallion. “The rest of the story does not need to be told.” She locked eyes with Swift, radiating comfort until he finally relaxed. “Strato made it through the storm although he was far off course. When he failed to find you he did exactly what he was trained to do, gathering a search party from one of the local hamlets.”
Celestia frowned before sighing. “The thestrals were able to track you down, and what they found wasn’t pretty. You were in a den in the middle of a rogue nest. The search party outnumbered the rogues and were able to scare them off.” She paused, “They had interrupted the thestral that was feeding upon you when they attacked the nest, barely saving your life from what I understand. You were missing a lot of blood.” She frowned further, “They were unable to catch the mare that assaulted you.”
Swift shuddered as he felt the ghostly licks of the strange pressure within. The Princess gave Swift an inquisitive gaze. “Swift, I have one more thing to ask of you.” When the stallion nodded she hesitantly continued. “When the surgeons were looking you over, they found,” she lowered her voice, “bits of flesh in your mouth.”
Swift grimaced slightly, “I-I bit one your highness, specifically the one that almost killed me.”
A look of realization dawned across Celestia’s eyes. “That explains the further condition we found you in.” At Swift’s look of confusion she elaborated, “Swift, the only reason you are alive is because you *ahem* asserted your dominance over your attacker.”
“Wait, wait,” Swift interrupted while raising a hoof. “You’re saying that I signaled a desire to, uh, you know… make the four legged beast?”
Celestia blushed slightly, raising a hoof to her muzzle. She was able to nod slightly. Swift just stared at her in dumb astonishment. He blinked his eyes in slight confusion, “So, what now?”
Celestia relaxed before sighing, “You recover. It’s the only thing you can do. The Crown will pay for any additional help you may need.”
The pegasus knew exactly what she was suggesting. “Yeah, yeah I guess you’re right.” The two nodded together, silently contemplating on the things that had been revealed. Deciding to move onto better topics he asked, “Where is Strato?”
Celestia smiled softly, “The world waits for nopony. He has been sent out to finish delivering the news you had previously carried to other nations. He proved to be rather stubborn to remove from your side.”
Swift grunted with small smile, “He may not look like much, but he’s a true friend if I ever had one.”
“Indeed.” Celestia patted Swift on the chest before rising. “You sustained a lot of injuries, said list containing a broken wing and leg, fractured ribs and severe bruising, your large blood loss proving to be the most concerning of these.” The regal mare smiled, “You are very lucky Swift. You can expect a paid leave during your recovery.”
“Thank you, your majesty.”
Celestia nodded before backing away. “Forgive me but I must take my leave.”
“The world waits for nopony,” Swift echoed.
Celestia smiled, “You take care of yourself Swift Winds.”
“You too, Princess.”
Swift watched as the most powerful mare in the world exited the hospital room. The pegasus sighed before snuggling deeper into the comforters, feeling sleep tug at his body. He thought of everything that had happened to him, releasing a long breath of relief as he knew it was over. He fell into a surprisingly gentle sleep for the first time in many years. His experience would fail to break him, proving to only strengthen him for the challenges he would face on the road ahead of him. Little did he know that, in time, life would reward him.
20 Years Later
The plant life of the Canterlot Castle Gardens was whipping about angrily in the strong, constant gale. The few that dared to venture outside had to fight against the wind in order to reach their destinations, whether they were in the air or on the ground. The castle staff were not so lucky, as they still had to attend to their duties. The Solar Guards stood stoutly in their golden armor along the walls, courtyards, and halls of the great palace. One particular hallway led to the more militaristic side of the castle, a recent addition in the past two decades. If one were to venture deep enough in the offices, they may be able to find a door with the stenciled title, Flight Trainer 2d Lt Swift Winds.
A white pegasus in an Airpony’s uniform approached the door, a manilla envelope tucked securely in her wing. She raised a hoof and knocked carefully on the opaque glass.
“Come in.”
She opened the door and walked inside, stopping at the front of a mahogany desk. She stared straight ahead before giving off a stiff salute. The blue pegasus sitting behind the desk set a document down before pulling off his reading glasses. “Ah, Spectrum. How are you this fine day?”
Spectrum, having rapidly befriending Swift a few years back due to her almost daily visits, relaxed. The mare glanced around his desk, noticing the stacks of paperwork. “Better than you, sir.”
Swift chuckled, “Eh, it’s not all that bad. Certainly keeps me away from home.”
Knowing she could be more outspoken with her superior, she smirked slightly. “You need a mare to fill that home sir. Living in your office is not healthy.”
Swift looked around his room, knowing full well that he spent more time here than anywhere else. There were several uniforms hanging from a makeshift closet along with other articles of clothing. There a few personal items strewn about his office as well. He looked back up at Spectrum and smiled, “Are you offering to fill in that position?”
“Buck no sir. You couldn’t handle me.”
Swift laughed jovially. “True, true.”
Spectrum’s smile faded a bit. “Seriously though sir, get out once in a while. You never know who you could meet.”
Swift shook his head, “I’m old, Spectrum.”
“You’re not that old sir. There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
Swift smiled appreciatively before nodding. ‘Since you asked so kindly I will see what I can do. No promises though.”
“That’s all I’d expect sir.”
Swift breathed deeply, knowing that she was right. Truth be told, Swift was sure that if he tried he may find a special somepony. That was before old memories burned slightly at the back of his head. No, he was better off if he didn’t.
“Alright Spectrum, I know you didn’t come in here to chit chat. What do you have for me?”
“Sir, I have a message from the General.” She opened her wing and expertly maneuvered it onto his desk.
The Second Lieutenant grabbed a letter opener and cut open the envelope. The mare waited patiently as the stallion opened the document, placing his glasses back on as he began to read. Less than a minute had passed before he looked up. “Why am I reading a personal profile? She isn’t a part of the trainees.”
“I was told that she is a last minute addition. Her records were to be shown to you due to her particular nature.”
“I can see that. Is there anything else?”
“No sir.”
“Thank you Airpony, you are dismissed.”
The mare clicked her hooves while saluting before she turned and left. The Lieutenant glanced over the profile one more time before setting it down. He folded his glasses and finished off his cup of coffee. He pulled himself out of his chair and stretched briefly before heading towards the door. He grabbed his officers hat before exiting the room.
He walked briskly down the corridors, nodding politely to the ponies that passed him and saluting those in charge. Swift walked between the barracks of the Solar and Night Guard towards a smaller bunk room. He stood outside of the door briefly to gather his thoughts before he pushed through. The room was filled with 30 beds in total, only 16 of them actually being occupied. The Equestrian Guard did not accept the fairly new branch of soldiers with open hooves.
Swift, as well as the Princesses, knew however that the new Messenger Corps would not go away quietly and expected it to grow within the coming years. The new breed of messengers would perform not only as messengers, but as advanced scouts and spies should the need arise. They would be the foremost warning of a threat to the nation of Equestria and, if Swift could help it, they would be the best of the best.
He cleared his throat loudly, causing 16 Airponies to drop whatever they were doing and line up quickly, standing straight and still as Swift perused through their line, his eyes lingering on the single thestral at the end.
He quickly glanced back along them before beginning to pace along them. “Listen up, as you may have noticed we have a new recruit in our presence. Airpony Dawn Breeze will eat, sleep, sweat, and bleed with the rest of us as a team! Now I know we are only a week into your course but I still expect you all to show her the ropes!” He paused in his pacing while fixing the recruits with an intimidating stare. “I expect zero problems! Understood!?”
“Yes sir!”
“Excellent! Get your gear together and head out! We’re doing air sprints today!”
“Permission to speak sir!” a stallion called from the line.
“Granted.”
“Sir, nopony is outside today.”
Swift slowly approached the pegasus stallion before responding, “How does this relate to my orders?”
A nervous sweat began to break out on the pegasus, “The weather isn’t safe for flying sir. Nopony would fly in that.”
Swift thrust his muzzle uncomfortably close to the recruit. “Why does that have anything to do with us, Airpony?” he whispered harshly. When he failed to respond Swift’s voice increased in volume. “Are we not the best fliers in the world!? Nopony better say the Wonderbolts! They are just glorified showponies. We are better, and to be better we need to be able to do our jobs the fastest, most efficient way we can! The weather will not stop us, especially a little breeze! 20 laps! Grab your gear and get going!”
Nopony had time to groan as they quickly rushed about to follow their commander’s orders. Swift watched as they filed out of the room, eyeing the thestral as she began to fall into the line. “Dawn! A word if you will.” The thestral paused, allowing the others to pass her. As the last recruit exited she approached Swift, stopping to stand at attention. While she had a calm exterior Swift could see the tension in her stance. “What are you so nervous about Airpony?”
The thestral’s eyes flashed with surprise before they hardened. “Sir, I am not nervous.”
Swift smirked before nodding, “Alright, then why are you… uncomfortable?”
She clenched her jaw briefly. “I am a new recruit for a newly instated program with high demands sir. Anypony would be uncomfortable.”
“True, true. In that case, let me bring light on a few things around here. One, and most importantly, we do not lie to one another. If we are to survive what may come we must be able to trust one another. We have to know that the pony next to us has our back as we have theirs. Understood?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good! Now, is there something you would like to address?”
Dawn bit her lip for a few seconds, thinking over her options as Swift waited patiently, having personally gone through the same process with every single recruit. The thestral finally spoke, “Truthfully sir?” At his nod she continued, “I’m concerned about how I’ll be treated.”
“A reasonable concern, assuming you are implying to the outlook on your species flight abilities when compared to that of the Messenger Corps?” The thestral’s jaw dropped when Swift hit the nail on the head. “Let me ask you this, do you think you should be here?”
She didn’t even hesitate, “Sir, yes sir!”
“Why?”
His question caught her off guard for a moment before she gathered her thoughts. “I worked hard to get here sir, harder than the others. I had to retake the initiation tests several times to get here sir. I know that the Sergeant was failing me on purpose as I was more than keeping up with the others.”
“Acknowledged. I’ll keep this simple,” he said as he looked her right in the eye. “You ignore those who doubt you. I don’t train those by species, I train those who succeed. You work hard and you will have your place here.”
Dawn gave a small smile, “Thank you sir, that is much appreciated.”
“I have one more question for you. Your file, there were gaps in it. Any reason why?” Swift was understating it. Her file, while recent, was practically barren. As far as he could tell, she had simply appeared in Equestria a few months ago. This did not sit well with him as he had previously stated the importance of trust. If she was more than a simple recruit…
Dawn’s attitude dipped slightly as her leathery wings twitched, her hooves shuffling on the floor. “I-I’m originally from Transylvania sir. At least that’s as near as they can tell.”
Swift looked at her in confusion. “But, why would that be so abnormal? You are a thestral.”
“No, not completely.” At Swift’s further baffled gaze she continued, “I’m a mixed breed sir. Half thestral, half pony.” She paused while she closed her eyes. “There are a few cases of us existing sir. A couple ponies cross the border, generally Nobles, seeking to take part in the wealth of the mines and lumber. Mistakes happen. It’s normal for the fathers to denounce their hybrid children.”
Swift sported a firm frown, genuinely disgusted. His views were already low with the Nobles, but now he wasn’t sure if he could even give them any amount of respect after hearing such things. However, he still had not received an answer. “That doesn’t explain your lack of records.”
The thestral’s stance slacked a bit as her head dropped. “I don’t have any records because I didn’t have anypony to claim me, not even my mother. I don’t remember much, but I know I was separated from her at a young age. I wandered for a bit before the officials picked me up.” Her eyes watered slightly, “They placed me in an orphanage. It was a terrible place. I only stayed there for a few years before I ran away.”
The Lieutenant nodded slowly, gesturing for her to continue. “I lived off in the woods for the rest of my foalhood. It was only when I matured did I decide to move on. I had heard of Equestria from others and figured that such a place was right for me. It took a couple months, but they eventually allowed me a citizenship. I was required to attend some form of education as I only knew what I could pick up.”
“And then you decided to join the Messenger Corps?”
“I am rather strange sir. I fly much better than those of my kind, whether it be my altitude ceiling or ability to endure violent storms, due to my hybrid genes. I figured I was suited for the new program.”
Swift nodded before stepping away. “Well then, consider yourself an official member of the team. Welcome to your new family.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“We better get going. The others are not going to appreciate your cut in laps. You better go catch up.”
Dawn saluted sharply, “Yes sir!”
Swift watched as she exited before he cracked his neck and stretched. He trotted out of the barracks and headed towards the training yards. He reached his destination in no time, arriving in time to watch as the thestral joined her fellows in the air. The wind ripped at his hat, causing him to tuck it under his blue wing. He looked back up, beginning to yell at those who were slacking. Swift hid a small smirk as he watched Dawn leading the pack, still gaining distance between them and her as she pumped her wings hard against the harsh winds.
Swift’s attention was dragged away as he saw an airborne carriage rising into the sky, taking off from one of the castle’s courtyards. Swift watched it for a few moments, figuring it was a Noble on some ‘important meeting regarding the health and safety of the nation’. He flared his nostrils in disdain before he caught a brief flash of color in the sky. He looked up in time to watch a red decorative hat fly out one of the open windows of the carriage, tumbling violently in the wind. It trailed scarlett lace behind it, reminding Swift of his time as a Royal Courier. He missed that red scarf of his. He sighed with nostalgia. They were never able to find his gear after…
His eyes almost bulged out of his head.
‘That’s not possible!’
He head snapped to the right as a form passed right over his head before turning on the inside of a marker. The thestral was almost catching up to the packs tail, slowly but surely making up for her lost laps. Swift’s heart hammered in his chest as he struggled to think.
‘Dawn Breeze.’
Her name alone struck a chord within Swift. The pegasus stallion suppressed a shiver before he slowly calmed himself. He couldn’t be sure, and he might never be. All that mattered now was his job and his team. Attempting to solve the mystery would only bring harm, the pegasus unwilling to bring back the pain. He breathed in before he regained himself, turning his attention back to the sky. A small smile played on his lips. He didn’t need to confirm anything.
She was already family.
Author's Note
And I'm taking you all with me!
Here's a treat for my Guardian fans, it's of course from the talented marking!
First clop fic.
