Murdered... Inside

Twilight had wiped some sweat off her forehead. "Well... never knew reading could be so... stressful. Heh." She said to herself. She was reading up on Starswirl's Ancient Medallions. She had found out about things she never knew about him, and it was making her a bit excited. "Well it sure looks like it." Twilight shot up to a defensive stance when she heard the voice. But then, she recognized it. "F- Faze? Are you in here?" She asked for his name, and he responded. "I don't know..." He appeared hanging from the room's dark ceiling. It was late at night, so he could do so.

"Am I?" He said jokingly. "Were you... spying on me?" She asked.

"What? No. I just popped by for a visit. Also to say I'm sorry for really spying on you earlier.

"It's okay, water under the bridge. It's fine." She said, and Faze dropped down from the ceiling onto the floor in his physical form. "So, how are you liking Flash so far?"

"Well, he's very polite. But it seems he doesn't like to talk about himself that much."

"Well, his past is very dark. He just doesn't want you to think of him differently."

"I can understand that." There was a moment of silence, then Faze caught Twilight by surprise.

"I know... Twilight."

"Um... know what?"

"Hmph, don't play dumb, I'v seen the way you look at him." He smirked at her and Twilight instantly blushed. Then, she turned away and crossed her arms.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She lied.

"Please. You know as well as I do, Shadow Walkers can read emotions like open books. It's nothing to be ashamed of." Then, Twilight looked back at him.

"Come on, admit it." Then Twilight turned away again.

"Why are you nosing around in my business?"

"1, It's fun." He chuckled. "2, he is my friend. It's not just 'your' business." Then, Twilight just circled her hoof on the bed and blushed.

"Faze... I don't know what to do. I mean... I'm not sure if I like like him yet. I just met him..."

"You know, I had a crush once. It was just like how you are now. Oh man she was beautiful. Her mane was the perfect shade of green. Her eyes were pink, and sparkled in the moonlight. I didn't know if she was right for me. But I gave it time, and we eventually had a relationship. But... she passed away due to a... shifting accident." Faze shivered at the thought, and Twilight was in shock. When Shadow Walkers shift from their forms, they must do it when out of a solid object. Otherwise the material that it is shifted with will merge in with the body. It's a horrible way to go. "Faze... I'm so sorry."

Faze waved her off as a sign he was okay. "Twilight, I am just saying, Flash's past may be... a bit weird. But when you get to know him, he is a great stallion. I mean, I am not trying to force you into anything. I am just saying..."

Twilight breathed deep. "It's okay Faze I get it... Thank you." Faze just smiled at her, saluted, and disappeared into the shadows. Twilight needed time to think, but she decided to turn in for the night. It was 11:00, and she needed rest.

Flash awoke with a yawn, and looked at his clock on his nightstand. "It's 6... I should get up..." His shift starts at 7, he got up, showered, brushed his teeth and his mane, preened his wings, and dressed into his armor. He had grabbed his staff from his weapon rack. "Well Tenesia... another day, another live worth protecting." He looked at the staff's engraved name on it's tip that read "Tenesia". Although other ponies may find it weird he named his weapon, Flash found it necessary. He had this staff ever since he joined Red Fang, so he decided to give it a name. Flash continued out his bedroom door, and made his way towards the mess hall to eat. He usually just sat at an empty table, considering he never made any friends with the other guards. He grabbed some oatmeal, warm tea, and sat down at an empty table. He was about to chow down into it, but right before his muzzle hit the food, he heard a voice. "Hey! You there!" Flash looked to his right, and noticed 3 guardsponies. They were all way bigger than Flash, two of them had white fur, the one that looked to be their leader had grayish fur. "You think you can just go and do that?" The leader spoke up. "Do what?"

"Steal away the position I deserved?"

"Ugh, oh please. I didn't 'steal' anything. The captain chooses what goes around here. Not me. With that attitude, I wouldn't even think of him choosing you." Flash shot back, then started slowly eating his food.

"HA! For a little faggot like you, I'm surprised he even thought of picking you." Flash shot up, his food tray shook as he put both of his front hooves on the table. The mess hall became silent.

"Pfft, that princess... She isn't worth anything anyways." Flash's eyes shot wide open. His hooves were pressing so hard into the table they would leave marks.

"Care... saying that... again?" Flash asked, gritting his teeth.

" She   Isn't   WORTH IT. " Flash pressed hard into the table, then he brought a hoof down so hard it snapped in two. He took Tenesia, and swung it around with one hoof, twirling it, over his head, around his back, and got into an offensive stance. The guardsponies stepped back in fear.

"Shut the hell up! Back off before my anger takes over and I leave you all with a broken neck." He gripped his staff harder, but the three guardsponies stood their ground. "Let's get em'!" The leader yelled, and they charged him. Flash just dodged the first two with minimal effort, then when the leader came forward he swept his staff across the ground and it made him trip. Then, the other two charged again, this time Flash lunged Tenesia straight into the first one, not enough to do any serious damage. Then, he dodged the other one, and smacked him across the face with his weapon. They all laid on the floor aching. "Princess Twilight is smart, kind, and caring. You three are a disgrace talking like that about her." He lowered his staff. "Now just leave me alone so I can actually eat something." He grunted, and the three guardsponies limped out of the mess hall groaning. Flash looked around to see everypony staring at him in awe. Then, he looked over to the table he had smashed. "Heh, guess I got a bit carried away didn't I?" He put a hoof around the back of his neck. Then, one of the ponies in the cafeteria spoke up. "Good on ya mate!" He had started clapping with his hooves. "You really showed them there." Another one spoke up, and also started clapping.

"They deserved it!" "That will teach them!" "Great moves there Flash!"

Soon, the mess hall became crowded with compliments and clapping, and Flash just smiled at them. But he just waved his hooves downward to try and get them to quiet down. "Thank you, but, in all seriousness I am a little hungry, I would like to eat without the whole cafeteria staring at me." The other guards quickly understood, and went back to conversing with their friends. Flash looked back at the smashed table. "Heh, guess that's coming out of my pay check."

"Don't be ridiculous!" A pony with a mop and other cleaning tools approached the table. "After the what you did back there, I'll cover it for you!" She said, pushing the scraps out. "What? Really? You don't have to do that you know."

"Oh it's fine. I make more than enough with this job anyways. Go on and eat!" He told him. "Well... thank you! I really appreciate it." He shook his hoof, and went back to grabbing some food, and eating breakfast. When he was done, he made his way to Twilight's room.

Flash knocked on Twilight's door. He looked around, and made sure it was clear before he used her name. "Twilight? Sorry I'm late, I got caught up with something at the mess hall."

"Oh... Flash... Come in..."

"Um... sure." He said, and slowly opened the door. He looked in and saw Twilight sitting on the floor staring out the window.

"Uh, is there something you need?"

"Flash... I..." Twilight hesitated.

"I saw everything." Flash's eyes went wide.

"Oh..." Flash just looked at the ground, and Twilight turned around.

"And... I have to say... thank you!" Flash's jaw dropped.

"Thank you for defending my honor like you did."

"Well, I wasn't just going to let those three talk shit like that about you- oh sorry, excuse my language."

"It's fine. I really appreciate it Flash. What did you think I was going to say?"

"Uh... well I figured maybe you would be... scared. I threatened them, smashed a table, and I kind of bruised them up."

"Flash it's fine. Should I go talk to those three?"

"No... I think they had enough. Besides, they are probably going to have some bad rep with the guards now..." Twilight nodded in agreement.

"I guess you're right." Flash and Twilight just avoided eye contact.

"Oh, so you heard everything I said..." Flash said. He had just realized the compliments he had given her in the cafeteria.

Twilight giggled. "Do you really think I'm smart, kind, and caring?" She asked making circles with her hoof.

"Heh, I do. You're really a great princess Twilight." Flash's muzzle turned crimson, and so did Twilight's.

"Sooo, is that all you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yes Flash that's all, you can return to you're- uh... p-post..." Twilight suddenly became dizzy, and she started holding her head with her hoof with her eyes closed. "Twilight? You okay?" Flash rushed close and tried to balance her with his hoof. "I... I don't kn- kno... ..." Twilight went to her knees, and she fell to the floor. "TWILIGHT!" Flash suddenly saw a huge flash of light come from her, then it was gone, and Twilight's horn was starting to glow a dark green color. "Tw- Twilight?"

Flash slowly approached her. She had started to open her eyes. Shortly after she began to stand back up. Only this time, there was no color in her pupils. Just blackness. Then, before Flash knew it, Twilight had tackled him to the ground, covering his neck with her hooves. "Tw- Twilight!" He tried to get her off without hurting her. Twilight then tore off Flash's saddle bag, and took a knife out. Flash threw her off, but she dashed back at him and made a clean cut up his neck. It didn't connect with him, he barely dodged it, but it tore his helmet strap and it flew off. Flash knew that Twilight was seriously going to kill him if he didn't do something. Then, Flash heard a knock at the door. Oh no... He heard a guard's voice. "Um, princess? I saw Flash wasn't at his post... and-" Twilight noticed, and flew towards the door, and knocked it down with incredible strength. The guard just barely dodged the fall, but not what was about to ensue. She had tackled him to the ground. "Pr- Princess!" She took Flash's knife, and dove it straight into the guard's neck. He instantly covered it, as he was choking on his own blood. The chokes became gurgles, then silence ensued. Flash watched in horror as the whole scene unfolded.  His mouth agape, his eyes wide. His body was shaking violently. Did she just... commit... murder? Then, she dashed back to Flash with the knife, this time gashing his arm. He held it in pain, then Twilight attempted to make another attack but he dodged. He tried to fly, but Twilight grabbed him and slammed him into the ground. "Twilight!" He yelled. "Snap out of it!!!" He tried to bring her back to reality, but it was no use. She made another gash, this time in his left flank. He screamed in agony. as he clutched it. Twilight continued to attack Flash, with no sign of resistance. Flash couldn't fight her, he didn't have the courage. She had made another cut, this time in his stomach. Flash finally took off to the air, but didn't have the strength and fell down onto his chest. Twilight made another cut in his back, this time bigger than the others. Flash was losing strength, but he realized something that would work.

Pressure points! Flash knew that was it. He could temporarily paralyze her doing minimal harm. With one last fighting effort, he regained his strength, and forced a small fraction of his hoof toward one of her pressure points around her stomach area. Then, another in her shoulder. Finally, one into the crook of her neck. Then, she fell limp to the floor. Flash was breathing heavily, and looked around him. He had cuts all over him. Some minimal, other large like the one on his stomach and back. He had blood all over his fur, and was starting to become dizzy. He fell to his knees, as soon as he did a rally of guards arrived at the horrifying scene. "Oh Celestia..." One of them said, then they all looked to see Flash on his knees. His final words were...

" Get... help..."

He blacked out.