Origin of the Elements

Kindness

Fifteen years have passed since the death of the queen. Without a successor to the throne, a power struggle breaks out dividing the races once again. The quarrels and debates turn violent as the lords of the land declare war on one another, all the while closing their eyes to changing world around them.

The forest around the queen’s city slowly transforms, the trees twist into unnatural forms with snarled, thorn-covered branches. The animals deform becoming cruel shadows of what they once were, all with dark smoky eyes. These monsters creep out of the ever-expanding forest, ever seeking a way to sate their unending hunger. Anypony unfortunate or foolish enough to find themselves inside this cruel domain, is never seen again. Their once golden world has turned dark and unforgiving, but only within the deepest darkness can the most brilliant light be found.

A small earth pony town sits at the edge of a desert, ravaged by war, its once simple homes now burnt to the ground, replaced by tents that house unicorn soldiers. The only part of the old town that remains is crumbling food cellar, now converted into a makeshift jail for prisoners of war.

Inside the cellar, a young earth pony mare dips her sand colored foreleg into a bucket of soapy water, pulling out a tattered rag.  She turns to an old bloodstained table and begins to scrub. Tears fill her amber eyes as she thinks about the owner of the blood, the mare knows she did all she could to save the young pegasus but that knowledge doesn’t stop her heart from aching nor does it stop the agonizing screams that still ring in her ears.

The mare wipes the tears from her eyes while brushing her rose red mane from her face. She looks down at the grimy table and sighs. The dark room suddenly fills with light as the cellar door swings open. Two unicorn solders walk down the stairs, dragging a pegasus behind them.

The unicorn in gold armor lifts the pegasus, tossing him onto the table “we caught another one.”

The mare gasps and rushes up to unconscious pegasus “you don’t have to throw him!” The soldier glares at the mare, his cold stare makes her cringe “I-I'm sorry Captain” she says in a quivering voice “I-I didn’t mean to yell at you sir.”

The Captain growls “just fix him up! The Commander wants him ready for questioning as soon as possible.”

“Q-questioning” the mare lowers her head with a sigh “I-Is that really neces-“

“Just do it, Chance!” The Captain shows a spiteful grin “if you keep complaining like this, I’ll have to report you.”

Chance gasps “N-no, please! I’ll…I’ll have him ready as soon as I can.”

“Very good” the Captain uses his magic to grab a metal shackle off the wall. The chain coming from the shackle drags the ground as it floats behind the pegasus, clamping onto his back leg “I’ll be back to check on him in the morning, he better be ready by then.”

Chance bows her head as the unicorns leave. After they’re gone, she takes a clean rag to the pegasus. As she cleans the crimson blood off his silver coat, she lifts his left wing, his body tenses and begins to quiver slightly.

Chance gently runs her hoof down his wing and feels a bone broken in two “you poor thing” she sighs “they really hurt you didn’t they.” She softly brushes his deep blue mane away from his ear as she leans in and whispers “I am sorry, but this is going to hurt.”

Chance wraps one foreleg around his wing and places the other at its base. She braces herself, and then with one precise tug, she expertly sets the bone. The stallion opens his dark brown eyes. He raises his head and screams. He takes a few quick breaths as color fades from his eyes and he passes out again.

Chance leans in “I'm so sorry.” she whispers. “I know that hurt but if I didn’t set the bone, it would never heal right.” As she places her hoof on his side, she can feel his body shiver. “Oh, are you cold? Let me get you a blanket.”

Chance walks across the room towards an old cabinet, the chain cuffed around her leg breaks the silence as it rattles across the ground. The cabinet’s rusty hinges squeal as Chance opens it, pulling out a moth-eaten blanket. As she wraps the blanket around the pegasus, a flash of silver chain catches her eye. Chance follows the chain around his neck, finding a blue shield pendent with silver wings.

Chance removes the necklace “a necklace just like your mark, I bet it’s important to you. Don’t worry I’ll keep It safe.” She walks up to the cabinet and pushes it aside, revealing a small hole in the ground. She gently places the necklace in the hole, resting it alongside several herbs, small stones and a few other pieces of jewelry before pushing the cabinet back.

Chance smiles as she walks back to the table “That’s my hiding place” she giggles as she leans in and whispers “you won’t tell anypony, will you?” she pulls back and stares at the pegasus, her smile slowly fades as tears fill her eyes “please” her falling tears wet the cold stone floor “don’t wake up.”

Chance spreads a blanket on the floor, she stays by his side all through the night tending his wounds and changing his bandages. Just as Chance nod off, a low moan wakes her. She watches the pegasus as his eyes slowly open.

“Oh, good” Chance smiles “You’re awake.”

The pegasus puts his hoof to his head and moans. “My… my head.”

“I'm sorry” says Chance “they gave you quite a bump back there.”

The pegasus looks up at Chance. “they?”

“The unicorn soldiers.” Says Chance.

“Unicorns!” The pegasus jumps up, pain shoots through every inch of his body quickly bringing him back down. He looks down at the bandages that cover him. “Wh-what happened to me? Where am I?”

“You were captured by the unicorns.” says Chance. “You’re in the Rose Wood camp.”

“R-rose Wood! N-no I…I can’t be.” The stallion rests his head on the table as his eyes begin to quiver. “I can’t be there. No, not in Dead Wood.”

Chance looks down at the floor closing her eyes with a sigh and mutters. “I hate that name.”

After a moment of silence, the stallion looks up at Chance. “Are… are you the one who dressed my wounds?”

Chance looks up with a faint smile. “Yes, yes I did the best I could. My name is Felicity Le Chance. I was the doctor of Rose Wood…before the unicorns burnt it down.”

“Thank you Doctor Chance.” The stallion shows a faint smile. “My name is Ace Silverwing.”

Chance raises her hoof. “It’s nice to meet you Ace but you can just call me Chance everypony else does.”

Ace reaches out and shakes her hoof before looking around the cold, dark room “how long have you been here?”

Chance lies down on her blanket “I was captured when they first took Rose Wood.”

Ace’s eyes widen “that was almost a year ago!”

“Really?” Chance lets out a heavy sigh “it feels more like three.”

“Has anypony ever gotten out?” Asks Ace.

Chance rests her head on her forelegs with a somber expression, never saying a word.

After a moment, Ace looks away. He lays his head on the table and wraps up in the blanket. He reaches up to his neck and gasps “m-my necklace!” He looks around the room in a panic “where’s my necklace?”

Chance walks up to him “It’s alright.” She places her hoof on his shoulder. “I have it. It’s safe.” She walks over to the cabinet and pushes it aside “I guess I was right” she picks up the necklace and brings it to Ace. “it is important to you.”

“It is.” Ace holds the necklace it to his chest “my father gave it to me when I got my mark.”

Chance holds out her hoof. “Then you better leave it with me.”

“What? No!” Ace turns away from her “I never let it out of my sight.”

“Please” Chance moves in front of him “Commander Havoc likes to take trophies. If he sees it, he’ll take it from you and you’ll never see it again” she holds out her hoof again “I’ll keep it safe for you, I promise.”

Ace hesitantly reaches out and gives Chance his necklace “please don’t lose it. It’s all I have left of my father.”

“I won’t” Chance places the necklace back in the hole “it’ll be right here if you want it” she pushes the cabinet back, then pulls out the last blanket, she folds it and places it at the head of the table “you should get some rest. You look tired.”

Ace lays his head on the folded blanket “thank you, Chance.”

Chance shows a genuine smile before lying down on her blanket and closing her eyes.

After a few hours of restless sleep, Ace turns onto his side, lying on his broken wing, the sudden jolt of pain wakes him and his shout wakes Chance.

Chance jumps up “are you alright?”

Ace’s face grows tense as he holds his wing “m-my wing. It-it really hurts. Please, can…can you do something?”

Chance shakes her head “I'm sorry, I have nothing for pain. They won’t even give me what I need to make a splint for you.” Chance picks her blanket up off the floor and lays it over Ace. She places her hoof on his shoulder and speaks softly “close your eyes and try to relax. Think of your friends and your family. Imagine being with them, far, far away from here, in a place where the gentle sun warms your coat as a cool breeze blows through your mane. Where the lush green grass tickles your hooves as you walk across the ground and the air is filled with the fragrance of the most beautiful wildflo-.“

Chance quickly turns her head as she hears the cellar door unlocking. She turns back to Ace “pretend you’re unconscious.”

Ace looks up at her and begins to speak but Chance covers his mouth “please” she whispers “don’t move.”Ace puts his head down and lies still.

Three unicorn soldiers come down the stairs. The Captain walks up to Chance, he looks at Ace then to her “is he ready?”

Chance bows her head “I-I’m sorry Captain. He’s still unconscious.”

The Captain glares at Ace “the commander won’t be happy but I'm sure you know that by now” he turns his glare to Chance “don’t you, Chance.”

Chance turns her head and cringes “y-yes sir, but there is nothing I can do. I’ll let you know the moment he wakes up.”

The Captain stares Chance down “you better if you know what's good for you. If you anger the commander, he’ll take away your free time. Or maybe” the captain flashes a fiendish grin “he’ll rescind your protection order” he leans in, an inch away from Chance, he brushes her mane from her face before  lifting her chin and staring at her with hungry eyes “unless maybe…that’s what you want.”

Chance pulls back and looks at the ground “I-I’ll let you know when he wakes up sir.”

A scowl crosses the Captains face “Humph, fine have it your way” he turns and walks to the other soldiers, when he reaches them he smiles and chuckles “one more thing Chance, just a small test if you will.”

Chance looks up at him “a-a test, sir?”

“Just a small one” laughs the Captain “to see if you are lying” using his magic, the Captain grabs the chain connected to Ace’s leg. He grins as he yanks it with all his might. The force snatches Ace clean off the table. Ace yells out as he crashes to the ground.

The Captain laughs callously “oh look, he’s awake” he points to Ace “seize him!” the other unicorns pounce on Ace. He tries to resists but is quickly overpowered and pinned to the floor.

Chance runs up “stop you’re hurting him!” Her back leg suddenly yanks out from under her and she rises into the air.

The captain laughs as he looks up at Chance “aren't you cute hanging upside down” he pulls a brass key from a pocket in his armor and tosses it to one of the soldiers “unlock his leg and take him to the commander.”

“No, please!” yells Chance “he’s not ready yet, you’ll kill him!”

The Captain grins at Chance “how sweet you are, worrying about that pathetic bag of feathers, when you should be worrying about yourself” He strokes her cheek “you lied to me Chance, that’s your third offence, consider your protection gone.”

Chance spits in the Captain’s eye “you’re disgusting!”

The Captain growls as he wipes his eye “and your mine! I’ll be seeing you tonight, Chance!”

As the Captain walks away, he releases his magic. Chance falls hard to the floor. She slowly gets up and limps to the furthest corner of the cellar. She sits in the corner, closes her eyes, covers her ears and hums a song but her song is not enough to silence the horrible sounds coming from outside. She can still hear the first crack of the whip and Ace’s first agonizing scream. She presses harder on her ears and hums louder as tears pour down her face. No matter how hard she presses or how loud she hums, she can still hear the cracking whip, the horrifying screams and the Commander’s fanatical laughter.

After countless screams and untold time, everything goes silent. Chance uncovers her ears and wipes away the tears as she tries to stop her body from shaking. The Captain open the door and drags Ace down the stairs throwing him on the table, all the while never looking at Chance.

The Captain locks the chain around Ace’s leg and turns away “the commander’s had his fun, he’s yours now.”

Chance runs up to Ace, his eyes are closed and his body is shaking violently. She immediately tends to the gashes down his back; trying everything she can to stem the flowing blood. While she works Chance glances nervously at the captain, who stands motionless with his back turned towards them.

Just as Chance is applying the last bandage, the captain turns his head slightly glancing at her before staring at the floor “as…as punishment for lying, the Commander has restricted your free time to twice a week.”

Chance cautiously looks up at him “a-and my protection.”

“Is still on.” The Captain quickly turns and glares at Chance with one eye the other swollen shut “I don’t understand why Havoc insists on protecting you!” He stomps around the table, staring chance down with a snarl “you! You are nothing more than a pile of earth pony garbage!”

Chance slowly looks up to the captain’s eye “your eye, did…did the commander do that?” The Captain turns away. In Chance’s mind a voice shouts ‘he got what he deserves’ but in her heart another voice speaks softly and that’s the one she hears. Chance walks to the cabinet and opening a drawer, she unseals a small jar and dabs a bandage in it, soaking up a light green ointment. She walks up to the Captain raising her hoof “h-here.”

The Captain looks down at the bandage “what's this?”

Chance looks away “it…it’ll help reduce the swelling.”

The Captain turns away from her “I don’t want your pity.”

Chance moves in front of him “it’s not pity, I'm a doctor and…and I just want to help.”

The Captain steps back and looks around the room “I…I just…why? Why would you?” He sighs heavily “just…just leave me alone” he walks towards the door passing Chance “I-I don’t need your help.”

Chance folds the bandage, placing it on the table with a sigh, she turns to Ace, he’s still unconscious and still quivering in pain. Chance places her hoof on his shoulder, leans in, and whispers “It’s a warm spring night, you’re on top a hill staring at the sky. The moon is brighter than it’s ever been and the stars have never seemed so clear. The one you love most wraps their hoofs around you, holding you tight as a cool breeze blows through, carrying a song from far away.” Chance hums a slow beautiful lullaby in his ear while gently stoking his mane. As she hums, he begins to calm, his quivering slows and in time, stops as he drifts off into peaceful slumber. Chance wraps a blanket around him, protecting him from the chill of the deserts night, before lying on the floor, dreaming of somewhere far away from the bitter stone that surrounds her.

As soon as his wounds start to heal, the soldiers drag Ace outside to the Commander, who opens his old wounds and adds new ones. This patter repeats for weeks, the whip cracks, the commander laughs, blood falls from Ace’s back, tears fall from Chance’s eyes, he writes in pain and she hums her sad song.

After one session, Chance tends to Ace’s wounds, and hums her song in his ear. A small smile appears on Ace’s face “you…have a…beautiful voice” he says between labored breaths.

Chance gasps and steps back “I…I thought you were unconscious.”

Ace opens his eyes “please” he takes a heavy breath “don’t stop.”

Chance blushes and smiles as she leans in, humming her song while gently running her hoof through his mane. While she hums, Ace drifts off to another world, for a short time, his shackles are gone, his pain disappears and he is free once more. With her song finished, Chance grabs a blanket and drapes it over Ace pausing to look at the bloody bandages and scars that run down his back.

Chance gently touches his scars “how could anypony be so cruel. What does he even hope to gain from this?”

Ace sighs heavily “I know what he wants. The pegasi have a base hidden near here and that sadistic monster wants to know where.”

Chance stares at his back, before closing her eyes and lowering her head “why…why don’t you just…tell him? Maybe the commander will let you go. Maybe the pegasi will win. Mayb-. “

Ace interrupts her “You don’t understand! I…I can’t tell him even if I wanted to. I just joined the Air Force and they captured me on the way to the camp. Only one pony in my group knew where the camp was and they…they” Ace closes his eyes “and he’s gone now.”

Chance tucks the blanket around Ace “so all this is for nothing?” Ace nods his head. Chance walks in front of him and smiles “you stay nice and warm. I’ll be right back.”

Ace looks up at her “where are you going?”

Chance heads for the stairs “I'm going to talk to the Commander.” She knocks on the door. A soldier’s voice comes from the other side “what do you want?”

Chance speaks loudly “I want to take my free time, sir.”

“Hold on” responds the soldier “I’ll get the Captain.”

After a few minutes, the door opens and the Captain walks in “it’s a little late at night for your free time, Chance.”

Chance bows her head “I'm sorry to bother you sir, but I want to speak with the Commander.”

The Captain looks at her through anxious eyes “a-are you sure about this?”

Chance nods her head “yes, sir.”

The Captain pulls the key out of his pocket “alright” he sighs as he unlocks her leg “just do us all a favor and don’t make him mad.”

They walk outside. Chance looks up at the sky. The barrier that makes the camp invisible to the outside distorts the night sky turning the twinkling stars into blurry smudges. Chance looks at the ground and sighs. The Captain walks up to her “get moving, Chance. I want to get back to my tent.”

The Captain escorts Chance to the commander’s tent, he waits outside and she nervously walks in. A large dark blue unicorn stands at the far end of the tent with his back turned, admiring a ruby necklace. He is dressed in gold, jewel-incrusted armor, with a matching sword attached to his side.

Chance looks down at the ground, her jaw quivers as she opens her mouth “umm…C-Commander Havoc, sir.”

Havoc turns around with a large smile “ahh, Felicity, my dear. It is so wonderful to see you. What can I do for you?”

Chance keeps her stare fixed on the floor as the quivering in her jaw spreads across her body “I-I came to t-talk to you sir, about Ace Silverwing.”

Havoc lifts his hoof to his chin “hmm…Ace Silverwing? Ahh…you must be talking about the young pegasus in your care. What about him, my dear?”

Chance cringes down, nearly lying on the floor “I…I don’t think he knows where the camp is, s-sir. He…he told me he was captured before he learned it’s location.”

Havoc looks down at Chance “do you believe him?” Chance closes her eyes tightly and nods her head. Havoc shows a gentle smile “my dear, are you afraid of me?” Havoc extends his hoof “there is no need for fear. I won’t hurt you, I give you my word.”

Chance looks up at Havoc’s gentle smile and his kind, golden eyes. She reaches up grabs his hoof and slowly stands. Havoc’s gentle smile instantly turns wicked. He pulls back his hoof. A malicious glare flashes through his eyes as he slaps Chance to the ground. Blood drips from Chance’s mouth as Havoc walks up and stomps on her side. Chance screams, tears pour from her eyes as Havoc crushes her into the ground. He leans to her ear “you are far too trusting” he grinds his hoof into her side and growls fiercely “my dear!”

Havoc throws his head back and laughs before glaring down at Chance “you hopeless little fool. You actually believed me, and you expect me to trust the judgment of one so easily deceived.” Havoc smiles and gently pets her mane “he is lying to you my dear. He knows where the camp is” a vile grin flashes across Havoc’s face as he pushes down on Chance’s neck, making her gasp for air “and he will tell me or he will suffer until he takes his last breath!”

Havoc releases Chance’s neck “but don’t worry my dear, I know your ignorance cannot be helped and you are still useful to me” he laughs wildly “why if it wasn't for you, my new toy would have broken weeks ago. However you did question my judgment” using his magic, Havoc drags Chance into the air, hanging her by her forelegs. His eyes turn as cold as Chance’s stone prison as he stares at the terrified mare “now what kind of example would I set for my soldiers if I let a prisoner question me, without punishment.”

Chance shuts her eyes tight and prepares herself but all she feels is a hoof softly stroke down her side. Havoc sighs “but you are lucky, my dear. I’ve had my fun for the day and I am quite tired, so I’m just going to restrict your free time to once a week” he snatches her to him and stares at her, face to face "but do not mistake me, I am very upset with you. Tread carefully, Felicity. If you become more trouble than you’re worth, I will be forced to remove your protection and let my soldiers pass you around like a cheap bottle of wine and that would just break my heart.”

Havoc lowers her to the ground “now, now stop your sniveling, my dear” he smiles as he wipes away her tears “it makes you look pathetic.” He turns his back to her “now get out of my tent before I change my mind.”

Chance keeps her head down as she backs out of the tent. The Captain glances down at her. He quickly turns away when he sees her bloodied mouth “c-come on, Chance I’ll…I’ll take you back to the cellar.” As they near the cellar door, Chance stops and tries to wipe away the tears and the blood with little success. A hoof extends in front of her holding a handkerchief. Chance looks up at the Captain’s cold face; she smiles as she takes his gift “thank you Captain.”

The Captain looks away “don’t thank me. I’m just returning the favor.”

Chance wipes the tears from her eyes “but I haven’t done anything.”

The Captain walks by her and mumbles under his breath “yes you have” he points towards the guards at the door. The guard bows and unlocks the door. The Captain leads Chance in locking the cuff around her leg. He turns to walk up the stairs but stops halfway, turning to look at the wall “Chance…I-I'm sorry” he walks out the door before she can respond.

Chance smiles weakly and lies next to the table. Her mouth hurts, her side hurt, her heart hurts, the cold stone underneath her sends a chill through her body and all she can do is curl up and cry. Chance suddenly feels something drape over her, she looks up to see Ace covering her with his blanket “Ace! You should be lying down; you’ll open your wounds.”

Ace lies down next to Chance “you’ve been taking care of me this whole time. Now it’s my turn to take care of you” Ace slides a folded blanket in front of her “come on, lay down and get some rest.” Chance smiles “a-alright” she lays her head on the blanket, closing her eyes.

Ace leans to her ear and whispers “it’s a warm spring day, we’re in a meadow, surrounded by the most colorful flowers you’ve ever seen. A breeze blows through, filing the air with dandelion seeds and the smell of apples from a distant grove. The birds in the trees and a babbling brook sing together creating a soft symphony that dances through the grass.” Ace puts his hoof on Chance’s shoulder and hums her lullaby. Chance slowly drifts away and for the first time in a long time, she dreams of something other than the tormented screams of those she once knew.

Weeks pass and Chance notices something strange. An entire week has gone by and Ace hasn’t been questioned a single time, this has never happened before and it makes Chance worry. Late in the day, the Captain and his soldiers come in carrying a pegasus mare and a young colt. The colt is terrified but the mare is kicking, screaming and fighting with her all. The soldier slams her to the floor and cuffs her leg. The other soldier turns to captain while lifting the colt off the floor “sir, should we break his wing too?”

The Captain quickly turns to the soldier “of course not! We’re not monsters, besides he’s too small to fly yet, just let him go but check his saddlebag first.”

The soldier rummages through the colts bag “sir, there’s nothing but toys and this.” He holds up a translucent white crystal. When Chance sees the crystal, her eyes immediately open wide.

The Captain takes the crystal and examines it “hmm… nothing but worthless trash” he tosses it back in the bag “give the kid his toys and get out.”

The soldier puts the colt and the bag on the ground “you want us to leave you sir?”

“You heard me” the Captain walks into the far corner of the room “get out! That’s an order.” The soldiers bow then leave. The captain looks at Chance “come here. I have something to tell you.”

Chance slowly walks up to him “yes ,sir.”

The Captain bends down and speaks quietly “Havoc told me he’s getting bored with Ace and now that he has these new captives. He…he’s ordered for Ace to be executed tomorrow night.”

Chance steps back, her body quivers as the color drains from her face “no…no!” She rushes up, drops to her knees and grabs the Captains leg “please, stop him please, please I'm begging you, you can’t let him do this.”

The Captain closes his eyes and looks away “I'm sorry, Chance. There’s nothing I can do, if I try to stop him, he’ll just bury us both in the same grave. I just wanted to give you time to prepare yourself.” The Captain pulls his hoof away, turns and leaves without saying another word.

Chance stays on the ground motionless. Ace walks up to her placing his hoof on her back “Chance? Are you alright, what did he say to you?”

Chance stands up, her mind races as she looks at Ace, she closes her eyes, her expression changes as a fire ignites in her chest. Her eyes open and burn with Intensity “we’re going to escape tonight. I have a plan” she walks over to the young colt she bends down and smiles gently “hello, my name is Felicity Le Chance. What's yours?”

The colt backs up against the mare chest; she wraps her hoofs around him, holding him close. “His name is Air Trot; he’s my little brother, and… I'm Autumn Rain.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both” Chance’s smile grows “Air Trot, I saw the crystal in your bag. It was so pretty, can I see it again please.” Air Trot looks up and smiles, he reaches into his bag then gives Chance the crystal. As Chance examines the crystal, her eyes light up, she smiles wide and even lets out a small giggle “I can’t believe it. It is, it really is potassium nitrate.”

Chance holds the crystal up to Ace and beams a bright smile “It’s potassium nitrate!” Ace stares at Chance looking quite confused. Chance shakes her head “umm…salt peter, it’s salt peter and it’s the last ingredient I need.” She walks up to the colt “Air Trot can I have this please. I-I can use it to get us out of here, to get you and your sister home.” Air trot looks up at Chance and nods. Chance smiles and hugs him “thank you, thank you so much. You’re a miracle.”

Chance runs up to the cabinet, she pulls out a mortar and pestle, she pushes the cabinet aside grabbing several things out of the hole and spreading them across the table. One by one she grinds up the objects “let’s see, charcoal, sulfur and salt peter, if I get the mixture right” Chance pours a small amount of this powder on to the table, she picks up a piece of flint and strikes it. A spark lands on the powder and in an instant, it’s engulfed in flames, releasing a large amount of smoke.

Ace coughs and backs up fanning the smoke away from him “what was that?”

Chance picks up a blanket and tears a square off of it “it’s black powder. I used to use it to make smoke bombs.”

Ace looks over her shoulder as she pours most of the powder onto the cloth “why does a doctor need smoke bombs?”

Chance chuckles “well, I wasn’t always a doctor. You may not believe me but when I was little, I was a thief.”

Ace laughs “you’re right, I don’t believe you, you’re way too nice to be a thief.”

Chance turns and smiles at him “when I was little, me and my family lived in a town ruled by a greedy unicorn.” She rips a thin strip of cloth from the blanket “he would take all the food the earth ponies worked so hard to grow.” She grinds the rest of the powder in to fine dust “my father and mother belonged to a group of thieves that would steal food from him and give it to the needy.” She carefully pours the fine powder onto the strip then twists it pushing the powder into the cloth “my parents were captured one day and after the rest of the group broke them out of prison, they decided to move here to protect me.” Chance places her homemade fuse into the pile of powder then pulls the corners of the cloth up, tying them together. She holds up the bag and smiles “I learned a few things while I was there though.”

Chance’s smile disappears as she stares at Ace “Ace, do you trust me?”

Ace smiles at her “of course I do.”

Chance places her hoof on Ace’s cheek “then if you know where the pegasus base is, I need you to tell me.”

Ace holds her hoof “I'm sorry, Chance I really don’t know where it is.”

Air Trot stands up “I know whe-”

Autumn quickly covers his mouth “quiet!”

Chance walks up to Autumn and puts her hoof on her shoulder “I know it’s hard to trust somepony you just met but I’ve been a prisoner here for over a year now and I just want to get out. I'm on your side; I just need to know where the camp is.”

Autumn pushes Chance’s hoof off her shoulder “why? Why do you need to know where the camp is to get us out of here?

“There’s no other town for miles” says Chance “if we just blindly run out into the desert, we won’t make it. If we don’t have somewhere to go then there’s no point in escaping.” Autumn looks away. Chance moves in front of her with a kind smile and gentle eyes “please, you can trust me. I just want to get you and your brother home.”

Autumn closes her eyes “the…the camp…” she sighs heavily “the camp is to the South, Southeast, hidden on a cloud…between the mountain peaks. It’s not far, we could make it there in an hour, if those-those monsters!” She looks down at her twisted wing “didn’t break my wing.”

Chance hugs Autumn “thank you! Thank you very much. I’ll take care of your wing after we get to the camp. I need you to be strong until then” she turns away “just please, I need you to trust me. I promise, I’ll get you out” She walks up to the table, takes the smoke bomb and ties it under the base of her tail, hiding it in her hair. She walks up the stairs and knocks on the door “I need to speak with the Captain.”

A soldier calls back “you’ve already had your free time this week, Chance.”

“I know” Chance calls back “but this is urgent, please get him.”

After a few minutes, the Captain swings open the door “this better be good, Chance.”

Chance bows her head “I need to speak with the Commander, sir.”

The Captain shakes his head “not going to happen, Chance. Don’t you remember last time? He’s not goi-”

Chance interrupts him “I now where the pegasi camp is.”

The Captain’s jaw drops as he stares at Chance “h-how?

Chance looks back at Autumn than turns to the Captain “I…I tricked them into telling me.”

Autumn jumps up and yells “how dare you! You lied to me, you heartless witch!” Chance lowers her head as venom continues to spews from Autumn’s lips.

“That’s enough!” yells the Captain. He pulls the key from his armor and unlocks Chance’s leg “I guess you really did trick them.” The two of them walk out the door before it slams shut.

Autumn stews in her anger. Ace walks up to her “hey it’s alright. I don’t know what she is doing but” he puts his hoof on her shoulder “we can trus-.”

Autumn smacks his hoof away “don’t touch me. She just sold us out you fool.” She holds Air Trot close as she hangs her head “I'm so sorry. What…what have I done?”

They sit in silence, until the door opens. Chance and the Captain walk down the stairs. He cuffs her leg “congratulations, Chance. As soon as the camp is destroyed, you’re free to go.”

“It’ll be so nice to be free” Chance bats her eyes at the Captain “but I do have a small problem, Captain.”

The Captain stares down at Chance “and what’s that?”

“Well, you see, Captain” Chance rubs her hoof across his chest “once I'm free, I have nowhere to go” she rubs her neck against his “and you’ve been so nice to me recently.” She walks beside him, rubbing against him the whole time “I was thinking I could stay with you” She walks around him, rubbing up his other side “and maybe” she giggles as she lays her head against his neck “thank you, for your kindness.”

The Captain looks down at Chance, his eyes as wide as the grin on his face “that’s sound good to me” he lifts her chin and looks into her eyes “but why wait, when you can come back to my tent and thank me tonight.” He reaches for his pocket.

Chance quickly grabs his hoof “no! I-I mean” she pauses for a moment then reaches up to his chin with an alluring stare “I-I can’t tonight. I'm so sorry, Captain but I have a patient with a broken wing. As a doctor my patients must come first.” She rubs her hoof down his neck and across his chest “you do understand, don’t you? Let me take care of her tonight.” She leans in and whispers “and I’ll take care of you tomorrow.”

The Captain’s grin nearly splits his face in two “alright, you take care of the tonight” he turns and walks up the stairs “and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Once the Captain is gone, Chance wipes the sweat from her forehead “whew that was close.”

Ace stares at the ground as he walks up to Chance “you…you didn’t” he looks up and stares at her with hesitant eyes “you didn’t tell him…did you?”

Chance laughs “of course not. I told him the camp was to the northwest.”

Ace stomps his hoof “then what the heck was all that about, rubbing all over the Captain like that, saying that you’ll take ‘care’ of him tomorrow.”

Chance flashes a confident smile. She flicks her tail, a flash of brass flies through the air. Chance reaches up and catches a key “I just needed to get close.”

Ace’s jaw drops “is…is that? Wow! I guess you really were a thief.”

Chance undoes her shackle with a giggle “I told you so.” She undoes Ace’s “but we have to hurry.”

Chance undoes Autumn’s shackles. Autumn looks down at her “I-I'm sorry, Chance for all those things I said.” Chance looks up with a kind smile. Suddenly voices shout from outside “Fire! Fire!”

Chance rushes over to the cabinet, quickly pushing it aside. She reaches down than runs up to Ace. She smiles as she puts his necklace on him “can’t forget this.” Ace smiles gently at her. She reaches up and kisses him on the cheek “it’s time to go.”

Chance unlocks the door, she cracks it open and sees all the soldiers surrounding the commanders tent as smoke pours out of it. She looks back at the others “okay let’s go.” They sneak out the door than make a run for the edge of the camp, followed shortly by Chance. As they run past the barrier, Chance looks back and sees nothing but empty desert. Suddenly pain shots through her leg as the sound of snapping metal rings out. Chance screams and falls to the ground. She looks down and sees a rusty trap digging into her leg.

Ace runs back to her, he looks down at the trap and tries to pry its jaws apart but it’s no use. He follows the chain to a spike anchored in stone. With all his might, he pulls but the spike doesn’t budge. He rushes up to Chance “d-don’t worry, Chance I'm-I'm going to get you out.”

Chance looks up at Ace with tears in her eyes “Ace you…you have to go.”

Ace grabs her hoof and holds it tightly “no…no! I'm not going to leave you!”

Chance looks at Autumn and Trot “Ace they need you. You have to go with them.”

Ace shakes his head as tears start to flow “no! You need me and I…I need you.”

Chance smiles as a tear rolls down her face “you’re the only one strong enough to fly. You have to go, you have to find the pegasi and tell them where the camp is. You have to bring them back and end this. You’re the only one who can.”

Ace stares down at the ground. He hears the voice of the soldiers coming from the camp and there getting closer. He reaches up, takes off his necklace then puts it around Chance. He smiles through the pain “I'm coming back for my necklace” he bends down and kisses her on the cheek “I promise.” He hesitantly turns and starts running.

As soon as there out of view Chance looks up at the night sky. The stars sparkle brighter than the purest diamond. She smiles as tears pour from her eyes “at least I got to see the stars once more.” The sound of crunching sand comes from behind her. She doesn’t turn because she knows what it is.

Havoc laughs as he walks up “well, well what we have here” he kicks the trap “it seems we missed one of the old traps. Set by the earth ponies the catch a unicorn and look what it has in its jaws” he throws his head back and laughs wildly “priceless! Absolutely priceless!” He quickly turns the soldiers behind him “you four go after the pegasi. Kill the stallion and the colt but bring the mare back alive. The rest of you prepare our defenses for an assault from above.”

Havoc stares at the Captain “I have a special job for you. I want you to take this pathetic pie of mud and string her up in the court yard.” The Captain closes his eyes and looks away. Havoc places his hoof on the Captains side “what's wrong Captain, was I speaking to softly?” Havoc stomps down, slamming the Captain to the ground, he bends down and yells in his ear “allow me to repeat myself, Captain! I said. String! Her! Up!” Havoc smiles wide “did you hear me that time?”

The Captain nods his head “yes, sir.”

Just as the sun begins to rise, Ace and the others reach the mountains. Autumn points up at a large cloud “there the camp is up there.”

Ace spreads his wings and flies up as fast as he can. When he reaches the cloud, his heart sinks. Remnants of materials and old scraps of armor are scattered across the cloud. Ace shakes his head “no, no their gone” he flies back down to Autumn “there’s nopony there, it’s abandoned!”

Autumn gasps “the-they must have moved the camp after I was caught.”

Ace rushes up and grabs her with a panicked look in his eyes “where? Where did they move it? Where is the Camp?”

Autumn pulls away “I don’t know! I-I'm sorry. I don’t know where it is.”

Ace stares at the ground his eyes darting as his mind races. He stands up straight and looks toward the desert “I'm going back.”

“Are you Insane?” yells Autumn “you’ll just get yourself killed!”

  Ace walks forward “I have to go back. I promised her.”

Autumn looks away “it’s suicide” she wraps her hoof around Air Trot “if you’re going, than you’re going alone. I'm not going back to that place.”

Ace nods his head “that’s fine. If you find the camp tell them where their base is.”

Autumn nods her head “I…I will and…thank you Ace.” Ace smiles, spreads his wings and flies away.

Meanwhile, Chance is hanging by her forelegs staring down at blood soaked sandstone. An all too familiar sound rings out, the crack of a whip but this time the scream that Chance hears is her own. Her screams echo into the empty sky as the whip digs it’s mark into her back.

Havoc laughs feverishly as he cracks the whip “yes that’s it! ‘crack’ “scream for me! ‘crack’ “hahahaha  your screams ‘crack’ are magnificent!” ‘crack’“I love it! ‘crack’ “I love it!” ‘crack'

The Captain walks up behind Havoc “s-sir our scouts have failed to recaptu-“

Havoc growls “Captain!” he quickly turns slapping the Captain to the ground “can’t you see.” Havoc screams out “I am busy!” He pants out a few breaths while staring at the Captain “but I'm glad you’re here. I’ve been meaning to ask you something. How did, Chance manage to get your key?” Havoc raises the whip to the Captain’s face “you didn’t betray me, did you?”

The Captain cowers “n-n-no sir, I-I didn’t betray you, sir.”

Havoc glances at the Captain “then how did she get it? You do know what the punishment for betrayal, don’t you? And I promise you Captain I will make it slow.”

Chance barely manages to speak “D-don’t. I…I stole it from him.”

Havoc glances at Chance “is this true Chance?”

Chance nods her head and prepares herself for the tearing sting of the whip.

Havoc laughs “well in that case” using his magic, he tightly wraps the whip around the Captains neck. A sudden snatch of the whip yanks the Captain into the air. Havoc grins as he stares at the Captain’s kicking legs “I am truly sorry Captain but you have showed me how ignorant you are. I have no need for ignorance.”

The Captain hangs in the air. He grasps at the tightening whip, struggling for even the tiniest gasp of air. Just as his eyes start to roll into the back of his head, Havoc crashes to the ground with a silver hoof striking his face.

Ace quickly turns to Chance and tries to free her. Just before he gets her hoof free, a whip raps around his leg, yanking him to the ground.

Havoc runs up and stomps on him. Over and over his hoof comes down with all his might, stomping Ace into the sand. Havoc leans down to Ace’s bloodied face “let me tell you something boy. If you hit somepony, don’t stop until there dead or dying.” Havoc kicks him across the ground with a heartless laugh “you have to be the most foolish pony I have ever seen. You were safe. You were free.” He stomps on Ace’s back then grabs his neck lifting his head to see Chance “and you gave it all up to save her. That worthless pile of mud”

Havoc grins as he shoves Ace’s head into the sand “and to top it all off, you didn’t even get one hoof free. Not only a fool but a pathetic, weak fool.” Havoc draws the sword from his side “the only thing you accomplished is making dear sweet Felicity watch you die."

Chance screams out “No! No please stop! I’ll do anything you want please just don’t kill him.”

Havoc turns looking back at her “anything?” He grins as he walks up “let me get this straight me dear, you’ll do anything I want? Give me anything I want?” Chance closes her eyes and nods. Havoc busts out laughing “you just don’t get it, do you?” He grabs her by the back of the head, snatching her to him. He leans in and growls into her ear “if there was something I wanted from you, I would take it!” he brings his sword to her face, pressing the tip of the blade against her cheek “my dear!” He shouts as he rakes the blade across her cheek, the tip digs in just deep enough to draw blood.

Havoc turns back to see Ace slowly rise to his hoofs. Havoc grins “you’re tougher than you look boy. Come on I’ll give you one last chance.” Ace flies at Havoc striking out with all his strength. Havoc spins to the side dodging h the strike “oh, look at that you missed” he laughs “come on try again.”

As havoc toys with Ace, Chance struggles against her ropes. The rope loosened by Ace comes free and she manages to undo the other.

Havoc catches Ace, slamming him to the ground “enough of this! I'm getting bored.” He raises his sword into the air. Havoc plunges the blade towards Ace. The blade pierces through a sand colored coat and Chance’s body falls to the ground, the sword rising from her chest.

Ace screams and struggles against Havocs unnatural strength. Havoc stomps on him “oh, will you just shut up!” He looks at Chances body and smiles “I guess I was wrong” using his magic, he draws the sword from her chest. The shattered remains of Ace’s necklace fall to the ground. Havoc brings the bloody sword up to Ace’s neck “I guess you’re not the most foolish pony here after all, she is.” Havoc laughs with a twinge of insanity “she gave her life, and all it did was buy you a few seconds so you could watch her die.” Havoc raises his sword “I have to thank you boy! This has been fun!”

A spark of light catches Havocs eye. He looks over to Chance and sees the fragments of Ace’s necklace floating above her.

The fragments glow brighter as they spin. Chance’s body slowly rises into the air. The fragments turn to gold and lock around her neck. The final fragment turns into a heart shaped pink gemstone with a keyhole at its center. The stone connects to the necklace. Chances wounds close. Her eyes open and glow pure white. A brilliant flash of light erupts from her.

Havoc steps back, blinded by the pure light. Ace spins, sweeping Havocs legs out from under him. Havoc’s sword flies into the air. Ace shoots up grabbing the blade. He dives straight at Havoc, driving the blade through his chest, piercing his cruel heart. Havoc growls and reaches up to Ace. Ace twists the sword. Havoc yells, he coughs and chokes. His golden eyes turn dark and his head falls to the ground.

Ace slowly stands he turns and rushes up to Chance grabbing her holding her tight “I…I thought you were dead!” He pets her mane than stares at her “what happened? What was that light?”

Chance looks down at her necklace “I-I don’t know. Everything was black and cold but then I felt gentle warmth and saw a bright light. The next thing I knew I was back and I had this.”

Suddenly soldiers surround them. Chance shouts “Ace quickly, fly away!”

Ace spreads his wings lowering his body “never!” He stares at the soldiers “I'm never leaving you again!”

The soldiers charge but a voice shouts out from behind them “stop!” The Captain pushes past them rubbing his sore neck. He stares down at Havoc’s body before turning to the soldiers “the Commander is dead. As the highest-ranking officer here, I am taking command. Everypony lower your weapons. That’s an order!” The soldiers look at each other than sheath there weapons and back away. The captain nods his head “good, now everypony pack up our supplies and prepare to move out. This mission is a failure and we no longer need to be here.”

The Captain walks up to Chance “Chance, I-I need to thank you. If it wasn’t for you” he looks down at Havoc “I might have become just like that monster. I joined his unit five years ago. All that time around him made me forgot what compassion was. I forgot what it was to help somepony, just because you can. Thank you, Chance.” The Captain smiles and laughs softly “and to think you saved me with a bandage.”

Ace wraps his hoof around Chance “it’s amazing how easily a heart can be changed by a simple act of kindness.”