Frozen in Timeby DSNChaptersChapter 1: First Comes The ThunderChapter 2: Then Comes The StormChapter 3: A New EraChapter 4: Debts Chapter 5: ConnectionsChapter 1: First Comes The ThunderThe sun shined bright across the land of Equestria. Not a single cloud was to be found in the sky while the fields swayed in the wind like a massive rolling sea of lush plants. The sun's rays beaming down had creating a blanket of warmth that had all the animals of the forests to come out and take part of the marvelous day. The birds soared through the sky, giving their wings a stretch while the animals of the land came out to hunt for food and take a long drink from the rivers that flowed through out the land. A lone bird sailed through the sky and perched it self upon a long thin branch, gazing through the dense woods. The sound of running can be heard in the far distance from inside the woods, but began to get closer and closer. The bird cocks its head waiting for the what ever was approaching. A peach colored pony was galloping through the woods at full speed jumping over fallen trees and dodging trees, pushing himself as hard as he could. His apple red mane blown back from the sheer speed he had been running. He quickly had reached where the tree line ends and were the shear open lush fields began. With all of his might, he gave one giant leap over a tree that had fallen and soared through the air with the sun reflecting off of the white-gold trimmed armor. He landed with precision and continued to continuously push himself to even try to go even faster. The tall grass and plant life began to continually smack him across the face with what seemed to have been no end. The stallion reached the end of the field, but caught a loose root with his back left hoof and began to take a unstoppable tumble down a massive embankment. One after another, pieces of armor plates became loose and had completely detached themselves from him. He had finally came to a halt after slamming himself into a massive log down below. He gave a grunt as he tried to recover from the disorienting fall. He looked down to notice that his chest plate and front two hoof plates were completely gone, only to expose the black plain uniform under it. He looked up in the sky and saw that extremely dark smoke grey clouds began to slowly creep and peek up over the tree line. The animals that once out frolicking about had began to run back to their homes and the birds began to squawk and eventually all departed, hoping to dodge the darkness engulfing the skies. The pony quickly picked himself up and began to run as fast as he could to the castle. *** Star Lane slowly opened his eyes, smacking his alarm clock while giving out a long drawn out yawn. He slowly rose out of bed and sluggishly walked to his bathroom and flipped on the light. He gazed at himself in the mirror and wiped away the crust from his eyes. He stepping into the shower letting the warm water rain down upon him. He started to wash his navy blue coat then squeezed some shampoo into his front hooves and began to rub the shampoo into his jet black mane. He stepped out shaking his mane and coat to get rid of any excess water and squeezed out some toothpaste to brush his teeth. He finished up and trotting to his wardrobe to open to his uniform hanging there, freshly washed and pressed. he slide on his coat, a long space cadet blue with a pure black trim going around the collar with a image of a crescent moon on both side of the collar. He inspected himself in the mirror giving off a couple of poses. He looked down at his alarm clock that read ten-fifty and made his way down stair and out the door going off to work. Star Lane trotted through the streets of Canterlot while enjoying the beautiful day. There was many ponies out today either doing some shopping or out walking and enjoying nature. Took a deep breath and gave a subtle sigh. "Today is going to be a good day." he said. *** The peach pony had finally made it to Canterlot after what seemed to be a life time of running. "Finally." he said, panting heavily. He quickly headed through the gates and towards the castle. He ran bobbing and weaving through the large crowds trying to avoid from crashing into anyone. *** Star Lane slowly made his way towards the Canterlot castle when he noticed a pony who seemed to have been in a rush to get somewhere. He was darting and dashing between crowds of ponies flawlessly while seemed to be flowing gracefully in and out. He stopped for a second to notice he was heading directly towards the castle. "I wonder what his rush is," he said, somewhat intrigued. Star Lane began to pick up his pace and began to quickly head towards the castle.He made it up to the front gate where there was two very large stallions guarding the massive door. They noticed the patches on his collar and saluted him with Star Lane doing the same. He made his way inside making his way down the long, massive hallway decorated with huge windows and statues and various paintings. He made it to the chamber door where the royal sisters reside. He heard a conversation from more than one pony and gave subtle knocks on the door. "Enter," one of the ponies said. He slowly opened the door and saw both of the royal sisters standing there along with Lighting Bane, a brown pony with a light grey mane that is also leader of the crescent shadow team. Even the pony he saw running through the streets from earlier was standing before them. "Star Lane," Lighting said, with a discontent, horrid look on his face. "We have a major problem." Author's Note Thanks for the read! I really hope you enjoy it and would like to see more in the near future.If you should find any errors in spelling or any kind of illogical sentences please let me know and I will correct them quickly. Thank you! Chapter 2: Then Comes The Storm"How is this possible?" Stare Lane said. "This is beyond troublesome," Luna replied. Celestia slowly walked up to her throne and gave a sigh. She then turned around and sat down in her chair. "Sister?" Luna said. "I feared this day would come. I have hoped and prayed that five thousand years ago was the absolute end of him," Celestia said. "Sister, it is time." Luna gave her sister a nod in assurance and turned to Thunder Bane and Star Lane. "Thunder, I want you to assemble the group together and come with me," she said with a serious look that could pierce through the toughest of souls. They both saluted the princess with their front right hooves. "Yes ma'am!" Thunder Bane said. Thunder Bane turned to Star Lane. "Star, I want you to go get the rest of the group, get set up and meet here," Star Lane responded with a salute. "Yes sir!" Thunder Bane gently placed his front right hoof on Star Lane's shoulder. "Look, I know you are only twenty two years old and the youngest in the group, but I am going to bring you all back home to your families in one piece. That is a promise." Star Lane gave him a somewhat assured smile and quickly began sprinting off to the soldier housing building. He made his way down the long hall and took a left down another hallway pushing himself to go as fast as he possible could. Quickly using his shoulder, Star lane forced the wooden door wide open to the outside walkway across one of the inner walls. He gazed up at the sky horrified that a swarm of dark grey clouds had completely engulfed the bright blue clear-less sky that once loomed from above. Bolts of lighting came crashing down striking other surrounding buildings and the massive towers directly above him. He quickly sprinted across the walkway, smashing his way through another door and began making his way down the what seemed to be endless stairs. *** "Thunder, please come with me," Luna said. Thunder gave her a nod as they both followed up the stairs to Celestia's throne chair. "Sister? Sister are you ok? We must prepare," Luna said hesitantly. Celestia some what lost in her own thoughts and dazed quickly snapped back to reality with a worried look. "Yes, lets go," Celestia said. The three walked behind her throne chair and the two sisters horns began to glow. A image of the sun and moon inscribed in the brick wall began to glow brightly. Brick by brick started to disappear until then there was a door made followed by a flight of stairs. They made their way to the bottom and arrived to be greeted with a pedestal holding a staff with a dark blue shaft as the handle with a symbol for a sun and a crescent moon perched on top of the staff. The bottom and top end of the shaft had gold plates in each end and there was six slots near the top end of the staff, each with six gems placed inside them. "This staff was created in the event Sombra would return. Each of the colored gems each represent one of the elements of harmony. Yellow for honesty, pink for kindness, blue for laughter, purple for generosity, red for loyalty, and finally magenta for magic," Celestia explained. "When used together as one, the staff can expel and an amazing amount of power from anypony who is kind hearted and believes in harmony itself." "However," Luna added. "Should one or all of the gems be lost, then the staff will not work. It requires the power from the six gems in unison to grant such power," "Thunder Bane, I trust you to take this and use it against Sombra and rid him once and for all. I have my full faith with you and your fellow ponies to be able to expel this darkness." Thunder Bane bowed down before the princesses. "Yes princesses, we will not fail you and Equestria." Celestia's horn glows as the staff lifts from the pedestal and is secured into Thunder Bane's back. "Let us return back to the top, we need to hurry," Celestia explained. The three returned up top taking four steps out from the door way in the well when suddenly there was a couple of knocks on the main door. "Enter," Luna said cautiously. Suddenly, two large stallion guards come bursting through the door and crashing into two pillars ahead. A dark black shadow crept out of the door way as a roll of black fog began to come into the room. A pair of crimson eyes appeared from the shadowy figure that glowed a bright green around them. A purple flame flickered widely from around the eyes themselves. "Knock, knock!" *** Star Lane quickly ran down a narrow empty hallway made of cold and rough brick. He quickly made a sharp right nearly knocking down a planter when he come to the very first door on right. The door swung wide open as three ponies turned their heads looking right at Star Lane. There was Crimson Guard, a crimson red pony with a jet black mane like Star's who was in the middle of reading a book. Then there was Shining Strike, a tan pony who just got done grooming his short dark green mane which was typical since he was always in a constant state of grooming himself to stay looking sharp. Finally, there was Nova Wind who was sitting in the floor polishing his armor. He was a dark grey pony who had a pure white as snow mane which made him good at recon in heavy snowed in regions when he wore his snow ghillie suit. Star Lane was panting extremely hard while trying to speak, but all he could do at the moment was slur his words, making him incoherent. "Geez what's got into you?" Crimson said. Star Lane tried to speak again, but still couldn't properly form a sentence. "Star just regain your breath and relax. What has got you in such a rush for?" Nova said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. Star Lane took a few deep breaths and finally managed to calm down and breath properly. "Thunder Bane told me to get you all and suit up. Something is coming towards Canterlot and it doesn't look good," he said. All the ponies in the room stared at him for a second, somewhat second guessing what they was hearing. "Now!" Star Lane shouted. The ponies quickly began to put on their suits. They slipped on their dark purple chest pieces that fit around their entire torso that was trimmed with pure black with a crescent moon stamped in the center. They then attached the armored plates to each of their legs. Finally they all put on their shoulder plating and was set. "Alright, follow me! We have to meet Thunder Bane back at the princess's throne room." They all gave a nod and began the journey back. They quickly made it back down the hall and started up the stairs making quick haste. "What do you think it is?" Shining said. "I don't know, but it is something we have never seen before. On my way I saw the darkest clouds I had ever seen begin to completely swallow the sky and roll towards Canterlot," Said Star Lane. "Well, whatever it is, it better be ready to sent back from where it came from!" Crimson said confidently. "Up ahead!" Star Lane shouted. The four ponies seen the door to the princess's throne room doors had been completely blown off. They quickly made it to the door way and was terrified what they had ran into. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were on the ground motionless. They saw where two larger stallions had been completely thrown through two pillars and was completely motionless as well. All of their jaws hung wide open when they saw who was there standing above the two sisters holding Thunder Bane by the throat with magic. "No..it can't be." Nova said in pure terror. "King Sombra," Star lane said in a low somewhat quiet tone. "Sorry to crash in like this, but I have been waiting for this reunion for sometime," Sombra smirked, while holding Thunder Bane in the air. Thunder Bane tried to speak, but he continuously made strangling noises from having Sombra's magical grip pressing down on his throat. "Let him go!" Crimson Gaurd yelled at Sombra while taking off in a dead sprint towards the two. "Crimson, no wait!" Star Lane shouted. Crimson Guard jumped off his back legs towards Sombra, but he gave a sly smirk standing on his back two hooves and spinning around extending his right hoof and making a complete connection with the side of Crimson's head. Crimson Guard was sent flying through a pillar then a huge pane of glass and then over the balcony, plummeting to his demise. The three remaining was completely horrified. Fear and completely paralyzed them broom head to hoof. They couldn't even begin to comprehend what had just happened or that their friend was gone. "Now where were we?" Sombra said with a smirk towards Thunder Bane. "Ah yes, now I remember." He flung Thunder Bane up towards into the ceiling so hard it caused a imprint of his body into the stone ceiling. He unstuck and began to free fall back to the ground. "Thunder Bane!" Nova shouted, as he ran to catch him, but Sombra appeared in front of him looking down upon him, standing on his two back legs with a evil smile. Nova's legs began to buckle and could feel the sweat rolling down his face. Then Sombra put booth his front hooves together and swung them downward pile driving Nova into the ground causing a crater. "Star come on we got to get out of here!" Shining said, shaking Star Lane has hard as he could, but couldn't break the paralyzing fear that fell upon him. "Come on or we are going to die here!" He said yelling at him. At that point he realized he wasn't going to move. He quickly ran back through door and down the hallway. "I don't think so," Sombra said. His horn glowed a bright red and a long beam shot from his horn passing Star Lane's face by mere inches and down the hallway. Suddenly an explosion erupted from deep down in the hall causing smoke to bellow out from the door, pouring into the room. "And then there was one," Sombra said with a miniacle chuckle. Sombra slowly made his way to the single pony that stood before him. He looked down at Star Lane and could see absolute fear in his soul. Star Lane's back legs grew weak and he fell sitting on his flank. "I can see it. I can see it in those dark hazel eyes of yours that you truly understand what fear is. I can see that you truly respect the powers that I have and how easily I can extinguish your existence," He said with a serious straight face. Star Lane could speak. The only thing he could do was stare into the pure evil that burned within his eyes.His whole body felt weak and thought that the spot he was sitting in was the very spot he was going to die. "I'm not going to kill you," Sombra smirked. "No, I am going to give you something worst then death itself." Sombra's right hoof began to glow and he placed it on Star Lane's shoulder. Suddenly he could feel something growing all over his body. He looked down to see clumps of crystals began to rapidly consume his entire body until his entire body from his neck down was incased in these crystals. "Don't worry little pony, just relax and enjoy the nice nap," he maliciously chuckled. Then the crystals worked their way up to his head until Star Lane was completely incased in a giant crystal like coffin. Sombra's horn began to glow a dark green and managed to lift the giant crystal prison and launched through the castle ceiling and into the sky till it was out of sight. Sombra turned his attention to princess Celestia who had just managed to open here eyes. He slowly trotted to her kneeling down being mere inches away from her face with his. "Your reign has come to an end." Author's Note Finally got this one pumped out. Hope you enjoy it and if he see a mistake let me know and I'll have it fixed asap. Hope you all are enjoying the ride so far! Chapter 3: A New EraThe wind blew viciously on the mountain side that was so cold, it could literally cut anypony down to the bone if they wasn't prepared for the unforgiving environment. A old stallion wearing a long thick coat with fur lining the insides with heavy leather boots that Also had fur in the insides, slowly walked round the rocky terrain picking up an assortment of flowers. "Oh my, these look terrific!" he picked up the violet flower that had two other flower heads branching off from the main stem and placed them in his bag hung around his side. He slowly walked a bit further ahead scouting the area of more flowers. The old pony collected a couple more flowers when he noticed something sparkling in the distance. He slowly made his way over and noticed a small sparkling crystal lying on a mountain of snow. He wiped some of the snow off revealing even more crystals. He cocked his head in some what dismay as he began to brush even more snow off. "Oh my word," as he brushed the remaining bit of snow to reveal an entire pony encased in a large cluster of crystals. He gently tapped the crystal coffin with his hoof when suddenly the crystals began to crack. The cracking continued through out the entire surface then the entire casing shattered freeing the pony inside. The old pony bent down to exam the trapped stallion inside. He was unconscious and was wearing armor with a crescent moon stamped on the front of the chest piece. He gently leaned his head down to his chest and perked his ear up to listen for a heart beat. Sure enough there was. "My goodness, he is alive! I can't leave ya out here poor fellow," he quickly got partly underneath Star Lane and lifted up and placing him firmly over his back. "My, you are a somewhat heavy fellow. Don't worry, you'll be safe at my home as long as my loving wife doesn't kill me for bringing a random stranger home," he chuckled to himself. With Star Lane draped over his back like a towel, the pony began his journey back down the mountain. *** A light yellow mare was sitting in a rocking chair beside the fire place peacefully book. Her light shaded pink mane blew from a gust of wind that blew through one of the windows. She got up and trotted over to the window and shut the shutters and returned to her rocking chair. As soon as she sat down she heard a knock on the cabin door. "Come in !" the door slowly open to expose the old stallion carrying Star Lane. He quickly trotted in and shut the door to block the harsh weather. "Goodness the weather out there is starting to pick up." "You find anything nice dear?" her face was stuck down in her book. "I found some beautiful flowers for the windowsill! I also found something else," he trotted over to the bed laying down Star Lane. The old mare looked up in disbelief. "Oh my goodness! Where did you find him!?" She frantically got up and rushed to the bed. "I found the poor fellow in-bedded in some sort of crystals. I barely touched the thing and it just crumpled into dust," "Goodness me, let me get him warm! He must be absolutely freezing cold!" she pulled the sheets back and quickly tucked Star Lane in even though it was a bit difficult with the heavy armor he was wearing. "let me get him a warm rag!" she quickly trotted over to the kitchen and got began to run a wash rag under some warm water. She trotted back over and laid the warm damp rag on Star Lane's forehead. The old stallion slowly made his way to the couch and slowly sat down to enjoy the warmth radiating from the fire place. "Come sit down dear, let him get some rest." he looked over at his wife patting the cushion beside him. "Let me get the poor thing an extra blanket. I'm afraid he isn't warm enough," she walked over to the closet beside the kitchen and rummaged through to find another blanket. She brought the blanket over to Star and jumped back in shock. "Honey! Come quick, he is waking up!" The stallion got up and slowly trotted his way over to the bed. Star Lane groaned and slowly began to open his eyes. Everything was fuzzy and couldn't get a feeling of where he was then everything slowly came into focus. He saw that a light yellow mare with a light pink mane and a orange stallion with a dark grey mane with a long fully grown grey beard to match. "Where....am I?" Star Lane was confused and trying to make some sense of what was going on. "Relax dear, you are safe here," she said as she ran her hoof over his mane. "I found ya covered in thick snow. You seemed to have appeared in some sort of giant crystal sonny!" he took a seat in the chair beside the bed. "Where am I?" Star lane asked. "Why, you are in our cozy little cabin home! It's not much, but it is still a great cozy place to be!" he chuckled. Star Lane was still dazed and confused as to what happen. He sat up a bit and quickly placed his hoof on his forehead from the sudden headache that rushed over him. "Ugh" he held his head down holding his head and clutching the sheets with his other hoof. "Take it easy sonny, you must have been in that thing for quite some time," he got up out of his old rickety chair. "I got something that will cure that head ache!" he chucked as he trotted over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle with a brown liquid inside it. He got a tiny glass and poured the brown contents into the glass and brought it over to Star lane. "Here ya go sonny! this should help ya!" he smiled and handed the glass to Star. Star Lane slowly reached out for the glass and took a sip of the liquid then immediately spit the contents out. "My! looks like he can't handle his liquor too well!" he laughed. The old mare gave the old orange pony a smack on the back of the head. "Honey he needs water! Not alcohol!" she scoured. "I apologize for that. I'm just not a drinker," Star Lane said, setting the glass on the dresser beside him. The stallion rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "It's ok sonny! Let me get you some water." He trotted back over to the kitchen and fetched Star Lane a glass of water. He handed it to Star and he quickly gulped down the entire glass. Star Lane wiped off his mouth and sat the glass down. He took a look around the cabin and seen the small kitchen that was right beside the living room where the fire place was. Little tacky decorations and even a grand father clock sat in the corner of the living room. "Your home is really nice." "Why thanks sonny!" the old stallion smiled. "It may not be a whole lot, but its still good ol home," the light yellow mare gave a comforting smile as well. Suddenly it all came rushing back to Star like a huge crashing wave into a cliff side. "Sombra!" he shouted. The old coupled looked at each other for a split second and turned back to Star. "What's that sonny? Was you on your way to meet with Lord Sombra?" he cocked his head to the side, puzzled as to what he was talking about. "Wait...Lord....Sombra?" Star gave him a somewhat mortified and confused look. "Why, yes sonny! Did you forget who ruled these lands?" he quizzically asked. "What!? No! He doesn't rule anything! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the one's who rules Equestria!" "Why, Lord Sombra has ruled these lands since the beginning of time!" he slapped his knee and laughed. The old mare gave a concerning look and placed a hoof on Star Lane's forehead. "You must be not feeling good!" Star Lane shook his head causing her to remove her hoof away from him. "No! That isn't right! he shouted. "Wait! What is the year!?" he looked at both of them as if they was completely crazy. The old stallion gave out another knee slapping laugh. "Why it's seventy seventeen!" An entire wave of shock and disbelief and completely covered Star lane. He looked down at him clutching the sheets with an endless flood of thoughts rushing through his mind. He slowly threw moved the covers off of him and got up and trotted a couple of steps before falling on his flank. "This...can't be right. This isn't right." he quickly tried to hold back the tears,but his will power wasn't strong enough. Tears started to flow down his face as he banged his front hoof against the wooden floor. "Damn it!" He stomped his hoof. "Damn it!" He stomped again. The light yellow mare quickly trotted over and hugged him tightly. She ran her hoof through his mane to try to calm him down, "It's ok deary." Star Lane couldn't believe it. everything...everypony he knew....was gone. Lost to the one unbeatable opponent no pony could ever defeat, time itself. Everything he knew was taken away from him, friends, family, his home, and his whole life as he knew it. This couldn't be real, it had to have been some sort of sick twisted nightmare. After some time, Star Lane managed to dry his tears and slowly stand up and took a deep breath. The mare retreated back to the side of her husband. Star Lane turned around and gave a bow to the couple. "I am forever in your debt for taking me into your lovely home and taking care of me. My name is Star Lane," he said warmly. Both of the old ponies smiled. "It's nice to meet you Star Lane! I am Bubble Bop and this is my lovely husband, Dust Wave." "It's a pleasure to meet ya sonny! What is that on the front of your armor there?" he pointed at the crescent moon. "Oh, it is a crescent moon. It's the symbol for the Crescent Shadow, an elite group that is bound to protect the lands of Equestria. We was formed under Princess Luna herself," The couple both looked at each other in confusion and looked back at Star. "Who is Luna sonny? She some sort of part of Lord Sombra's military?" Star was completely dumb founded. How could they possible not know who princess Luna or Celestia was. Did Sombra really rule for so long that any kind of memory of the princesses had been lost? Star Lane sat down and began to explain to them that it was Celestia and Luna who was the rulers of Equestria and that Sombra had sent him five thousand years ahead in time after he had seized his control. "My, sonny that sure is quite a tale," he stroked his beard, intrigued in Star Lane's story. "I must find a way to get back home so I can prevent this from ever happening," he stood up, "I am forever in your favor for such amazing hospitality," he bowed to the old couple. The couple smiled at him, "Deary, it was absolutely no trouble at all. You are welcome here any time you like. your home will always be open to us," "That's right sonny! I hope you managed to find you way back home!" he smiled. Star Lane trotted over to the door and opened it, but before he left, he gave them one more bow and thanked them both. The old couple smiled and waved their hooves goodbye. Star Lane smiled warmly, waved goodbye, and began to sprint down the path towards ahead. Author's Note Finalllllllllly got this out. I really hope you all are enjoying this. I know the writing isn't perfect but I am trying really hard to improve my writing as I go to make it a more fun experience for you all. I am sorry the chapters have been short but I plan on start making them longer. Hope you enjoy! c: If you should run into a mistake let me know and I shall fix it asap c: Chapter 4: Debts Chapter 4: Debts Star made his through the thick forest that seemed to engulf him and completely shielded anything inside from the sun light beaming down. The wind blew causing the trees to sway back and fourth as if they was coming alive to dance in the wind. Countless dark green leaves detached themselves and flowed down from the large towering trees like rain, covering the path Star Lane was walking on. After sometime, he came up to a large sparkling river that seemed to flow endlessly into the far distance. Star trotted down to the river bed, knelt down, and took a long refreshing drink. He wiped his mouth with his hoof and looked up at a lone rabbit that stared at him from the other side of the river. The two made eye contact that seemed like a life time. Neither of the two broke the long stare down until the rabbit eventually was the one to give up and sprinted away into a near by bush. Star looked down and noticed his reflection in the water that was clear as the day time sky. "I've got to find a way to fix this." He got up and trotted down the side of the river, following it until he reached the treeline of the heavily thick forest. He ventured out from the forest and trotted through a tall meadow. He only managed to get about half way through the meadow when he heard a growling sound. Star looked down at his stomach and heard that it growling at him in despair once again. Star remember that he actually hadn't ate anything since he had came to this world. He had to find some food soon or he wasn't going to make it much further. He scouted around and noticed some bushes near by that appeared to have bright blue berries growing on them. He licked his lips in delight as berries was one of his favorites. He quickly trotted over and picked a berry and began to chew it up. The tasty juices gushed out of the fruit releasing a wave of sweetness over his taste buds. He swallowed the sweet berry and started to pick more off the bush. In the midst of his snack he noticed something near another set of bushes that had berries on them as well. He got low keeping his eyes on the bushes up and slowly crept towards them. He got no more than five feet away from the bushes when he noticed a small white filly with a ice blue mane holding a basket in her mouth that contained a bunch of the berries Star Lane was eating. He loosened up when he slowly approached the filly, trying his best to not scare her. "Excuse me, little filly?" he slowly poked his head around the bush. The little filly gave a loud Yelp, jumping in the air and landing right on her bottom. "My apologies, I didn't mean to scare you," the little filly frantically tried to pick up the berries she had spilled, trying to not make eye contact. "Here let me help you with those," Star Lane knelt down and picked up some berries and placed them in the filly's basket. She had stopped for a moment to look at Star Lane with her ice blue eyes and scooted back against the bush. Star Lane gave a small smile and chuckled. "I promise I'm not going to hurt you," he noticed a near by white flower and trotted over and picked it out of the ground with his mouth and trotted back over to the distraught filly and gently placed it in her mane. "There, now you look even more like a princess," he gave her another warm welcoming smile. The filly reached up with her small hoof and gave the white delicate flower a gentle touch and a smile began to form on her face. "There, it's always nice to see a little filly smile instead of having a scared frown," he said as he began to stand back up. "What is your name little one?" The filly hesitated for a few moments, but gave the flower another gentle touch and smiled at Star Lane warmly. "My name is Snow Cream," she said as she slowly got off her bottom and stood up. "Well, it is nice to meet you Snow Cream. My name is Star Lane," Star gave the young filly a bow which gave her such a thrill "Are you some sort of prince?" She asked with a tone of excitement. Star Lane chuckled and rubbed his mane with his hoof. "Well, not exactly. I'm not any sort of royalty, but I actually serve under two princesses," Snow Cream's eyes light up with pure excitement. "Oh wow! That is amazing!" Star Lane looked around, remembering that he really wasn't sure where he was going exactly. "You wouldn't happen to know where the nearest town would be? I am sort of lost at the moment." Snow Cream smiled and nodded her head. "My village isn't too far from here, I'd be happy to take you there," she walked over to her basket and picked the last couple of berries and placed them in her basket. She looked back at Star Lane and pointed to the dark purple armor that he was wearing. "What is that symbol on your chest?" Star Lane looked down, noticing she was referring to his armor. "This is a crescent moon. It is a symbol of one of the princesses I mentioned. Her name is Princess Luna." Snow Cream let out a awe of amazement. " Could you tell me some stories of these princesses?" She looked up at him with a smile. Star Lane returned the smile and rubbed the top of her mane. " I would be delighted to. Come on, let's head out," Snow Cream nodded and picked up her basket with her mouth. Star Lane lowered his head and place it underneath Snow Cream, lifting her up and putting her on Star Lane's back. The little filly giggled and the went on there way. *** "Oh wow! So they are actually sisters?" "Yes, they are and they both look after everypony and protect them through out the land of Equestria." "Wow! I never would have thought that....." She stopped mid sentence and got really quiet. Star Lane looked back at her, wondering what kept her silent. "Snow Cream? Are you alright?" he asked, somewhat concerned. Snow Cream didn't say anything and pointed at smoke raising towards the sky. "That smoke...it's coming from my village.." She said in horror. Star lane looked up into the sky and seen a long trail of black smoke bellowing above. He narrowed his eyes and his ears perked up. " Snow Cream, hold on tight," he said in a serious low tone. Snow Cream was somewhat surprised from his tone, it wasn't the same welcoming, happy voice from before. She didn't say a word and tightly gripped around Star Lane's neck and he quickly sprinted towards the smoke, causing her basket full of berries to fall and be left behind. *** "No! Please!" a neon green mare shrieked. A dark grey stallion with his white mane blowing back in the wind picked up the mare by her light purple mane and lifted her to were they both at eye level. "Now now, what did I tell you last time when we came back next time and you didn't have our money?" he slung the mare to the ground and kicked her in the stomach. "I remember telling you clearly that your little shop was going to burn along with the rest of this shit hole," he then kicked her once again. "I also remember telling you that it wasn't going to be pleasant what I was going to do to you and everypony here if you all didn't come up with Storm Barrage's money," he stepped over the battered mare and raised his front right hoof that was completely metal with blue bright lines running throughout his hoof. A compartment opened up on one side of his hoof and three small rockets lifted out and was pointed directly at the on looking crowd of ponies. The rockets launched from the hoof and flew towards the crowd. The ponies frantically scattered as the rockets hit two buildings and struck the large bell hanging from the bell tower, causing the large bell to come crashing down. "This is way too easy," he chuckled. A young Pegasus peered around the corner of one of the homes with his mother, looking at the stallion destroying more homes. he gritted his teeth together as his wings expanded out. "Smoke Cloud no, he is too strong!" the mare yelled at him. He quickly dashed out towards the stallion flying towards him as fast as he could. The stallion turned around and saw a light grey stallion flying towards him. The stallion smirked and stood on his back hoofs and held back his front right hoof and swung his hoof connecting with the Pegasus's chest, dropping him to the floor. The stallion stood over him and stomped down on his wings crippling both of them. The young Pegasus shrieked out a ear piercing yell as tears began to roll down his face. "Did you seriously think you had any chance against me?" he stomped on his wings again, grinding them into the dirt. "I'll give you credit kid, you really have a huge pair on you to think to try to take me on. I kind of respect the effort, but I can't respect such a foolish Pegasus to run straight into a fight, just to throw his life away," a long blade unsheathed from the side of his metal hoof and held the blade to young Pegasus's neck. "I want you all to see what happens when you try to stand up to me. You are just throwing you own life away just like this young fool here! Let him be an example before any of you ever attempt something like this again!" he yelled out, drawing the blade back ready to pierce the Pegasus's throat. The on looking crowd look horrified, some covering all of the young foals's eyes. The young Pegasus gave out a faint cough. " Y-y-you won't get away with this forever. One day you are going to pay for what you have done to us," the stallion smirked and chuckled. "Oh really? Do you really think that anypony here is going to save you? That's a laugh! None of these scared fools wouldn't dare to even think about crossing me. Now you are going to learn what happens when you challenge me!" The stallion thrust the blade forward towards the Pegasus. He closed his eyes waiting for his inevitable fate, but seconds had passed and didn't feel anything. he slowly opened his eyes to see a navy blue stallion with a jet black mane, standing on his two back hooves holding back the blade with his armored front hoof. "Snow Cream get to safety," he said, with a somewhat stern tone. She quickly unwrapped her front hooves around his neck and sprinted to the crowd of ponies. Star Lane locked eyes with dark grey stallion with the most meanest glare. The stallion chuckled, "Well kid, looks like you get to live one more day," Star Lane raised the blade even higher until Star Lane's hoof and the blade were both above their heads. "No, he is going to live a long happy life, and not ever worry about evil ponies like you to come and hurt him, or anypony else." The stallion smirked, "Heh, that's a big statement. I haven't seen you around here before. You must be lost stranger, this doesn't concern you." Star Lane shoved the blade away, causing the stallion the stumble back. "It does, when innocent ponies are being hurt, it is my duty to protect them. If I didn't, I wouldn't be worthy to wear this crescent moon on my chest." "Well, crest or no crest, you are going to die either way!" The stallion dashed forward, thrusting his blade towards Star Lane. He quickly kept stepping back and swaying side to side, avoiding the thrusts. "Hold still!" The stallion yelled out in annoyance. Star Lane's backed touched a stone wall and quickly ducked, causing the blade to be lodged into the brick. Star Lane threw his front right hoof into the stallion's chest, knocking the stallion backwards and landed on his back. He quickly got back and spit off to the side. "You know, I must admit that I am somewhat excited for a real fight. The ponies here have tasted my blade many times and not one has been able to put up as much of a fight as you have," he shot Star lane a sly smirk. Star Lane's ears perked straight up from hearing those words of the stallion admitting to slaying innocent ponies. He narrowed his eyes at the pony and stood up on his hind hooves, setting himself in a combat stance. "You are pretty good at hoof to hoof combat, but lets see you fend off against something like this!" The stallion raised his metallic hoof and the bottom opened up, revealing the barrel of a gun. The gun began to eject rounds down range towards Star lane as he quickly got on all four hooves and quickly dart left with the sound of bullets hitting the ground close behind him, kicking up dirt. Star Lane quickly leaped and dived through a window of one of the homes, protecting himself from the rounds bouncing off of the stone wall. "Oh, you are just going to hide now? it's a little too late for that? Come out and show yourself coward!" There was no response, just a quiet tension filled the air as the crowd of ponies looked on. "I said come out!" Again, there was no response. "If you don't show yourself, I'll kill the kid!" The stallion turned around and turned his gun towards the Pegasus still lying on the ground. "You got till the count of three!" The stallion yelled furiously. "Three!" "Two!" He walked over and shoved the barrel of the gun into the Pegasus's face. "One!" Suddenly, Star Lane leap off the roof of the building he dived into, down on top of the stallion. Star Lane landed on top of the stallion pinning him down into the ground and released a fury of punches into the stallions face. The metal hoof quickly released two small prongs with electricity flowing between the two. He quickly rammed the prongs into Star lane's armor, causing a massive jolt of electricity to flow through Star Lane's body. "Agggghhh!" Star Lane yelled and was kicked off of the stallion. Star Lane tried to get up, but his muscles were weak from the high jolt of electricity. The other stallion got up, spitting a large wade of blood from his mouth. "Ya know, you are really starting to piss me off now. At first it was fun, but now you really are going to die," he slowly trotted over and kicked Star Lane in the face. "It's not really a fair fight now is it with this armor now is it? Why don't we get rid of it," he removed the armor plate covering Star Lane's torso. "There, much better," the stallion delivered a swift brutal kick to Star Lane's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "You like that? It's only a small taste of what I am going to do to you," He unsheathed his blade and slashed Star Lane's back over and over again. Star Lane released a grunt every time he felt the blade run across his back. The blood from the wounds began to run down his back and started to turn parts of his navy blue coat a dark red. The stallion smirked and yet again, delivered another hard swift kick to Star Lane's chest. The crowd looked on in shock and horrified at the beating Star Lane was getting. Snow Cream began to tear up as she watched Star Lane being kicked and beaten over and over again. "Oh no, you don't even get to die right here on my now. I am just getting started with you!" He pulled his hoof back in a clear display of him about to thrust his blade into Star Lane. Suddenly, a large brown muscular stallion sprinted towards the stallion, throwing his entire weight into him. The stallion went flying into the opposite direction and slammed into the dirt. The dark brown quickly tried to help Star Lane up. "I've got you," Star Lane was still some what weak from the beating he had just endured, but me managed to get up on all four hooves. "Are you ok?" Star Lane looked up at the large brown stallion with a light green mane that had a concerned look. Star Lane nodded then quickly realized the stallion was charging straight at the brown stallion. "Watch out!" Star Lane shoved the brown stallion out of the way and felt every inch of the blade pierce through his shoulder, coming out of his back. Star Lane let out a yell as a burning sensation tore through his shoulder and back. The base of the stallions hoof touched Star Lane's shoulder and the blade was lodged deep in the stone brick. The two were face to face looking into each other's eyes. Star Lane could see the crimson red in his eyes that burned with the intensity of the sun. "You idiot, you could have just let me skew that big dumb idiot, but you just had to be the hero. Now you are pinned up against the wall with no where to go," Star Lane grunted and gritted his teeth. "I am not going to let anypony get hurt as long as I'm around!" He yelled out, then proceeded to head butt the stallion multiple times until blood began to run down Star Lane's forehead. Head butt after head butt the stallion became weaker and weaker until Star Lane delivered one final blow, knocking out the stallion and falling backwards causing Star Lane to be pulled on top of him. The brown stallion rushed and managed to break off the blade from the hoof and pulled Star Lane off top of him. He noticed that Star Lane began to pant heavily and drift in and out on conciseness. The brown stallion carefully worked Star Lane onto his back, walking by the knocked out stallion, but not before delivering a swift kick to his head with his back leg. "Quick, somepony get nurse Love Heart!" He yelled out. Two ponies rushed over to help. "You two help Smoke Cloud, I'll help this one," they both nodded and went over to assisted the Pegasus laying on the ground. The brown stallion quickly made his way to a house that was destroyed in the chaos and gentle set Star Lane on a long wooden table. The crowd poured into the room observing Star Lane bleeding on the table. Ponies stood in the door way, but was quickly pushed aside by a smaller baby blue unicorn mare with a long cotton candy pink mane. "Let me through! Excuse me, I need through!" She yelled out. She made her way to the front and began to frantically examined his wounds. "Cross Bound!" The brown stallion that helped Star Lane to the table perked up his ears. I need some thread, a needle, some alcohol, cotton swabs, gauzes and bandages right away!" The stallion nodded and made his way out the door to get the supplies. Snow Cream made her way to the front, going in between other ponies legs to get a look at the scene. She gasped in horror as she saw Star Lane laying on the table with blood dripping off the end of the table, landing in a puddle of blood. "Star Lane...." Author's Note I am so very sorry it has been so long since I released a chapter. I have been moving into a new house and it has been absolute hell getting things packed up and moved. We are finally settled into our new so I will be able to release new chapters a lot more often now. Once again I am very sorry and I hope you enjoy. If you see any errors please let me know and I'll fix them right away. c: Chapter 5: ConnectionsLove Heart quickly washed her hooves thoroughly and sterilized all of her equipment. Her horn glowed a bright blue, lifting the needle and thread while carefully threading the needle. Star Lane began to start roll over, but two stallions kept him from rolling off the table. Love Heart took a deep breath, closing her eyes and opening them again. She slowly brought the needle close to the wounds and began to slowly stitch together the open wounds. Star Lane let out small grounds and gave a small jolt as the initial prick of the needle pierced his skin. She slowly but carefully closed each of the wounds on his back. After what felt like hours, she had finally managed to stitch all of the open wounds closed. She leaned back and let out a loud sigh but knew that her job wasn't close to be being done. She threw the swabs over in the pile of bloodied swabs and cloth then looked down at her hooves to see that they was stained heavily a crimson red. "You did it Love Heart!" one of the on looking ponies shouted out in joy. She let out a sigh and looked directly at the blade that was still lodged in Star Lane's shoulder. "I'm unfortunately not even close to being finished. Cross Bound, I will need your help with this one," she motioned him over and the large stallion trotted over to the table. "What do I need to do to help Love Heart?" he asked. She let out a sigh and pointed at the blade. "I need you to help me remove that thing from his shoulder as carefully as you possible can", he nodded and went around the table to the base of the blade coming out of Star Lane's shoulder. "How should I do this? Do I need to push it out completely through his back or pull it out of his shoulder?" Love Heart lifted some fresh sheets of cloth onto the table. "What I want you to do is pull the blade by it's base and slowly begin to pull it out of his shoulder," she prepared the fresh cloth around wound. "Now, when you start pulling, I am going to try to keep pressure on the wound to try to keep it from bleeding profusely," the stallion nodded, wrapping the base of the blade in cloth and gripping it with his teeth. Love Heart placed cloth around the wound and placed her hooves on it. "Are you ready Cross Bound?" she looked at him with a serious look. He nodded and waited on her signal. "Alright, ready...go," she applied pressure down on the wound as Cross Bound began to pull the blade slowly out of Star Lane's shoulder. Star Lane let out a yell, grinding his teeth from the sharp pain that shot through his shoulder and back. He started to rock from side to side, giving Love Heart a hard time to keep up the pressure. "You have to stay still!" she quickly let go for a split second and climbed on the table and sat on top of Star Lane and returned pressure to the wound. Cross Bound managed to pull the blade almost have way out before letting go of the base. "Cross Bound, get something for him to bit down on!" Cross Bound looked around and picked up a clean piece of cloth, twisting it tightly. He knelt down at face level with Star Lane and lightly shook him. "Hey....hey, here use this while I'm pulling the blade out," Star Lane slowly opened his eyes and seen the stallion holding out the cloth. "Ju...jus....just pull it out quick. Get it over with please," Star Lane muttered. The stallion nodded as Star Lane open his mouth and bit down on the twisted up cloth as hard as he could. "Alright Cross Bound, are you ready? This is going to be the final pull," he nodded at Love Heart and gripped the base again with his teeth waiting for her signal. "Alright, ready?.......pull!" Cross Bound pulled on the blade more quickly, but was careful to not rip it straight out. Star Lane grunted and yelled, but the cloth in his mouth muffled his scream. Cross Bound stumbled back slightly as the entire blade was completely removed from Star Lane's body. He dropped the blade on the floor and quickly helped pressure on the wound while Love Heart cleaned the wound with alcohol soaked swabs. Star Lane let out another grunt as the burning liquid ran into the hole in his shoulder. "There we go, we are almost done. Just hang on for a little bit longer," her horn glowed again as she levitated the needle and thread over to her. Cross Bound stepped back and watched as Love Heart quickly stitched up both the enter and exit wound on his shoulder and back. Love Heart stitched in the last one and let out a sigh of relief. All of the ponies that was observing the operation began to cheer and celebrate. Love Heart dropped the thread and needle and made her way off top of Star Lane and walked over to a old wooden rocking chair and plopped right down in the seat. Love Heart shut her eyes and began to rub her forehead,but felt a hoof rest on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Cross Bound smiling down at her. "You did good Love Heart. He is alive because of your great work," he said comfortingly. She gave him a small smile and looked down to see her hooves and part of her chest was dyed a crimson red color. "I guess I should maybe clean up," she said somewhat jokingly. "Not only that, you need to get some rest as well," Cross Bound said. Love Heart sighed once again. "Not before I check on Smoke Cloud. His wings was damaged pretty bad," she said with a gloomy tone. Love Heart took trotted over to Star Lane and completed her work by wrapping a bandage around his forehead. "Cross Bound, could you please and carefully take him off the table and put him in the bed in the corner of there?" she pointed at the small bed in the back left corner of the room. He nodded and carefully lifted Star Lane on to his back and took him over to the bed and gently layed him down. "I'm going to go check on Smoke Cloud real quick," she said as she made her way to the door. "Love Heart, you need to get some rest afterwards," he said with a concern. She gave him a small hearted smile and nodded. The crowd of ponies moved out of her way as she made her way through and out the door. "Alright everypony, let's let him get some rest. He needs to be alone to recover. We need to begin to rebuild all the damaged homes from the attack," he motioned the ponies out the door. The crowd dispersed and began to put out any remaining fires and began to clean up. Love Heart made her way to a home in the north western corner of village and lightly tapped on the wooden door. "Come in," she gently opened the door to see a white Pegasus mare with smokey grey man sitting on the edge of the bed. "How is he doing Swirl Wave?" love Heart asked. Swirl Wave stroked his mane, tearing up and gently placed a hoof on his chest. "He has been sleeping the whole time. He hasn't moved a inch since he got into bed," she looked at his wing that was completely covered in bandages. There was a complete silence in the room until Swirl Wave finally spoke up. "Tell me....will he ever be able to fly again?" Love Heart's chest became tight and felt a lump in her throat. "Please tell me...." Love Heart looked down at the floor, ashamed to look at her in the eyes. Even though her duty was to help fix ponies who had been hurt, she still always found it heart breaking tell a pony that they wouldn't ever be the same. "His wings.....was severely damaged. Many of the bones in his wings are broken and on top of that, his wings are too mangeled to be able to realign so they can heal back properly. Best case senerio is he is able to regain partial function in his wings, but it is highly unlikely that he won't be able to even partially fly ever again. I'm so sorry." Swirl Wave clutched the sheets,Love Heart looked up just enough to see drops of tears slashing on the sheet. Love Heart counsels bare to see the mare cry over the sheer thought that her own son would never fly again. She quietly turned around and silently opened the door to make her way out. "Love Heart..." Love heart stopped in the door way,perking her ears and turning her head. "Thank you...for helping my son. He might not be able to fly anymore, but thanks to you I still at least have a son," she looked up with tears rolling down her face, but gave a warm smile. She returned the smile back at Swirl Wave. "Please, no thanks are needed. I am just doing what I was destined to do. To help sick and injured ponies when they need me." "We are so lucky to have somepony like you. Why don't you get some rest, you look really tired." She said somewhat concerned. Love Heart chuckled, "You aren't the only pony to have told me that today. Come to me if his condition changes at all," Swirl Wave nodded and Love Heart made her way out the door and to her home. She made it to her home, a simple cobble stone, one room home with a roof made from planks and hay just like every other home in the village. She opened the door and made her way inside and looked up to notice a gaping hole in her roof. She let out a sigh, not even bothered during the moment that her roof had succumbed to damage. She trotted over to her bed and plopped down on it, completely exhausted. She pulled her covers up and over her snuggling to get herself comfortable. Her exhaustion had finally over came her as her eyes had slowly shut, drifting off to sleep. *** A knock came to Love Heart's door with a familiar voice. "Love Heart! You need to come see this!" Love Heart sat up in her bed and regained her focus. "Love Heart? Are you alright?" She quickly recognized the voice, it was Cross Bound. She threw the sheets off of her and got up and trotted to the door. The gently opened the door to see Cross Bound standing in front of her. "What's going on Cross Bound? Is something wrong?" he shook his head and urged her to follow him. "You absolutely won't believe this," she cocked her head to the side, interested in what he was wanting to show her. They made their way through the village and noticed a crowd of ponies forming a circle. The two made their way to the back of the crowd then Love Heart tried to peer over the crowd. She decided to make her way through the crowd until she made it to the front when her mouth fell wide open. Star Lane was standing there in the middle of the crowd, standing completely straight up. How was this even possible? He had just been injured yesterday and yet, he was standing there talking to the ponies, wrapped up in bandages on his shoulder, back, and forehead. Love Heart made her way past the crowd and trotted towards Star Lane. Star Lane turned around and looked at the mare with a warm smile. "Ah, you must be the lovely mare that attended to my wounds. Thank you very much. My name is Star Lane," Star Lane bowed to the mare, causing her to blush. She didn't say a word, completely frozen and blushing profusely. Star Lane cocked his head to the side with a puzzled look. "Are you alright?" Love Heart shook her head, snapping her out of her trance. "Oh....yes! I am perfectly fine," she tried hard to not zone out again."You don't need to be up and about. You need to lay down and rest so your wounds can heal properly," Star Lane rubbed the back of his mane and chuckled. "Oh! I am incredibly sorry for that. I really don't like to be sitting down for long periods of time," Love Heart shook her head. "Please, you need to lay down so they can heal properly," she kept pressuring Star Lane. He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders which caused an alarming bit of pain. "I guess you are right. I apologize, I'll lay down for a bit," Love Heart pointed at her house. "Come and let me check on your wounds for you," she insisted. Star Lane smiled warmly and nodded. The two began their way through the crowd as the two trotted off to Love Heart's home. A couple of mares whispered to each other. "Did you see that? Love Heart is getting that dream of a stallion all alone," one mare said. "I don't blame her, I would do anything to get that sexy thing alone with me!" another said. "Oh please! It takes a real mare like me to tame that kind of beast," a third said. The two made it to her home and Love Heart slowly opened the door, revealing the small one room home to Star Lane. he quickly noticed the hole in the ceiling right above them. "I'm sorry about your home," Star Lane trotted over and sat down on her bed. Love Heart was rummaging through one of her shelves when she realized he was talking to her. "Oh! Um....it's alright," she said somewhat quietly. She trotted over and examined the bandages. They had quickly became dirty and soaked with dried blood that stained the pure white bandages. "You definitely need these changed," Star Lane smiled and nodded as Love Heart slowly began to unwind his bandages. She started to blush heavily when she got a good look at his body tone. It was really cut, making his abs and muscles really noticeable. She tried to keep her cool as she completely got off one of the bandages. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your name Mrs..?" Love Heart blushed even more. His voice was really soothing with a sweet, caring tone to it. "It's Ms. Love heart, but everypony just calls me Love heart," What was she doing?Blushing over a stranger like a little school filly. Even though this stranger was extremely handsome and had something about him that just attracted her to him. " Well, Ms. Love Heart, I am forever in your debt for being able to take such good care of me," he gave her a comforting smile. She returned a small grin and began to wrap the new bandage around his wound. She noticed the bandages on his back also needed to be changed so she began the task of removing those as well. She threw away the old bandages and checked each of the individual stitches on his back. Everything seemed to be ok for now so she began to wrap the wounds around his back. When she reached around the front of Star Lane to grab the roll of bandage, she had accidentally brushed up against his chest and her face began to turn red. She quickly grabbed the roll and quickly finished re-bandaging Star Lane. Her horn began to glow as the pile of old bandages lifted up and floated over to the trash can and dropped inside. "Love Heart?" she looked up at Star Lane meeting her eyes with his. "Do you know who that stallion was that attacked the village?" he asked. Love Heart sat beside him and let out sigh. "His name is Bolt Shock. He is part of a gang that terrorizes our village and extorts us for money," Star Lane shook is head and frowned at the thought of ponies doing such thing. "They come to our village at the end of every month to come collect the money that we all break our backs trying to earn for them. As you can see, they are capable of brute force and show no mercy to us, even if we do pay them," she trotted to the window beside the door and opened the shutter, pointing to the top of a hill just outside the village. "That hill is where we have buried many of our own that have been slain from their sheer brutality, including my own family," Star Lane opened his mouth, trying to say some words of comfort, but couldn't find the courage to. "It has been this way ever since I was little and even far back before I was born. We have suffered under the hooves of them for far too long. Stallions, mare, and even fillies," she let out a subtle sigh. "Sadly, I'm afraid things aren't going to change," she trotted over and sat back down on the bed beside Star Lane. He quickly jumped up and turned around facing Love Heart. "No, their terror is going to come to an end now. I am not going to stand by knowing that innocent ponies are being hurt," Love Heart just stared at Star Lane. "I won't let them hurt you all anymore." "Star Lane...you don't need to do this. This isn't your problem to bare." "I have taken an oath to protect any and all ponies who are in danger or can't fight back themselves," he said with a serious tone. "That was just one though, and look what he did to you," she pointed at his bandages while frowning. "You are correct, but I am not going to let these wounds from stopping me from protect all of you. That is a promise and one I intend to keep," trotted over to the open window. Love Heart looked at him and couldn't help gaze at the stallion. She quickly snapped out of it again. Why did she keep losing control of herself? Even though she hasn't been with a stallion since she was a teenager and preferred to be on her own, what made him so much different that it made her want lost in his presence? Star Lane turned around to face her. "Love Heart, what happened to Bolt Shock?" she nodded and got up. "Some stallions got a hold of him and ended up chaining him up to a wood beam inside one of the destroyed houses," Star Lane turned around looked back out the window. "Can you take me to him?" he asked. Love Heart didn't say a word and trotted over to the door and gently opened it. "This way," she said. The two made their way to one of the destroyed houses that had its roof completed caved in and the side wall that had collapsed revealing the inside. Star Lane poked his head in and noticed the stallion had his two backed hooves chained together and tied to a wood beam. His front hooves were also chained together and tied off to a near by metal grate that covered a old fire place. Star Lane slowly made his way inside and noticed that the stallion's front right hoof was partially a stump. He metal hoof had actually been detachable and was placed on top of the fire place mantle. The stallion looked up, his face all bruised up and one eye was swollen shut. He saw Star Lane enter the room with his one good eye and chuckled. "Well well, look who it is! What? did you miss me all of a sudden?" he gave a nasty grin. "Not hardly," Star Lane replied. "Oh, so you came to kill me right? That isn't very noble of you to kill a stallion while he is down," he let out a groan trying to stand but falling back on his stomach. "No, that would be an easy way out for you. Even what you did that doesn't deserve such a easy escape," Star Lane trotted over and sat in a old rickety wood chair. He let out a laugh, causing him to cough viciously. "You fool, once Storm Barrage realizes I haven't came back, he is going to come here and burn this entire shit hole to the ground," he raises his head and looks directly at Love heart and grins. "And he is going to kill you, and your pretty little mare friend over there," he lowers his back to the floor and begins to cough harshly. Love Heart became shook, but Star Lane got out of the chair and stood directly in front of Love Heart, breaking Bolt Shocks view of the terrified mare. "You are wrong, he isn't going to kill anypony. Yours and his days of hurting innocent ponies are over with," Star Lane stared down at Bolt Shock. He gave out a crackled laugh as he lifted his head again looking right at Star Lane. "I wouldn't count me out just yet," Star Lane saw the stallion click down on one of his back teeth that didn't seem like all the rest. it looked...metallic with something on the crown that began to blink. A beeping noise started to emit from the metal hoof sitting on the fire place mantle. It took Star Lane milliseconds to piece together what was going on. He looked down at the stallion who had the biggest smirk on his face. "Gotcha!" "Love Heart!" Star Lane quickly turned around and lunged at Love Heart, wrapping her in his arms as a massive explosion erupted from the inside of the house causing a large cloud of smoke bellow up into the sky. Star Lane landed in the dirt directly on his back causing a sharp pain to dig into his back. He gritted his teeth, but opened his eyes to see Love Heart laying on top of him with her face borrowed into his chest. He looked up to see the house was completely engulfed in flames, knowing that the stallion couldn't have survived and laid his head back down in the dirt. Love Heart came to and lifter her head up to see that she was within inches of Star Lane's face, causing her to blush a bright red. Star Lane lifted his head to see Love Heart with a bright red face just staring at him. "Are you ok Love Heart?" he asked. "Ye...yeah...are you?" she asked back somewhat quietly. He nodded and Love Heart quickly got up and helped up Star lane then both took in the scene of the house in the process of burning down to the ground. A pain shot through Star Lane's back and should witch caused him to kneel to the ground. "Star Lane you need to lay down," she knelt down to help up back up. "you need to get some rest," she said concerned. He chuckled and gave her a assuring smile. "You are right. I won't be much good to keep my promise if I am hurt now am I?" She gave me him a small smile and helped him up and helped back to the original house where he was operated on. She opened the door and slowly helped him to his bed and helped him lay down. "Thank you again," he smiled. "I should be the one for thanking you. For risking your life for us," she said, returning the smile. "It is the path I have chosen. To protect innocent ponies like you and everypony here from being hurt by wickedness," he said with a smile, complemented wtih yawn. Love Heart giggled and got up. "I'll let you be so you can get some sleep. I need to be out there helping do clean up," she said as she made her way to the door. She opened the door and only made it half way through the door when she heard Star lane. "Love Heart," she turned around to him. "Everything will be alright. I promise," he turned his head over to her and gave warmed smile. She smiled with tears forming in her eyes as she mouth the words 'thank you'. Star Lane turned his head back over as she made it out the door and slowly closed his eyes with a smile on his face. Author's Note Shew finally! I honestly went back and rewrote basically the whole thing twice I was so dissatisfied with what I wrote, but I think this second version is a lot better than the first time around c: I hope you all are enjoying the story so far!
Chapter 1: First Comes The ThunderThe sun shined bright across the land of Equestria. Not a single cloud was to be found in the sky while the fields swayed in the wind like a massive rolling sea of lush plants. The sun's rays beaming down had creating a blanket of warmth that had all the animals of the forests to come out and take part of the marvelous day. The birds soared through the sky, giving their wings a stretch while the animals of the land came out to hunt for food and take a long drink from the rivers that flowed through out the land. A lone bird sailed through the sky and perched it self upon a long thin branch, gazing through the dense woods. The sound of running can be heard in the far distance from inside the woods, but began to get closer and closer. The bird cocks its head waiting for the what ever was approaching. A peach colored pony was galloping through the woods at full speed jumping over fallen trees and dodging trees, pushing himself as hard as he could. His apple red mane blown back from the sheer speed he had been running. He quickly had reached where the tree line ends and were the shear open lush fields began. With all of his might, he gave one giant leap over a tree that had fallen and soared through the air with the sun reflecting off of the white-gold trimmed armor. He landed with precision and continued to continuously push himself to even try to go even faster. The tall grass and plant life began to continually smack him across the face with what seemed to have been no end. The stallion reached the end of the field, but caught a loose root with his back left hoof and began to take a unstoppable tumble down a massive embankment. One after another, pieces of armor plates became loose and had completely detached themselves from him. He had finally came to a halt after slamming himself into a massive log down below. He gave a grunt as he tried to recover from the disorienting fall. He looked down to notice that his chest plate and front two hoof plates were completely gone, only to expose the black plain uniform under it. He looked up in the sky and saw that extremely dark smoke grey clouds began to slowly creep and peek up over the tree line. The animals that once out frolicking about had began to run back to their homes and the birds began to squawk and eventually all departed, hoping to dodge the darkness engulfing the skies. The pony quickly picked himself up and began to run as fast as he could to the castle. *** Star Lane slowly opened his eyes, smacking his alarm clock while giving out a long drawn out yawn. He slowly rose out of bed and sluggishly walked to his bathroom and flipped on the light. He gazed at himself in the mirror and wiped away the crust from his eyes. He stepping into the shower letting the warm water rain down upon him. He started to wash his navy blue coat then squeezed some shampoo into his front hooves and began to rub the shampoo into his jet black mane. He stepped out shaking his mane and coat to get rid of any excess water and squeezed out some toothpaste to brush his teeth. He finished up and trotting to his wardrobe to open to his uniform hanging there, freshly washed and pressed. he slide on his coat, a long space cadet blue with a pure black trim going around the collar with a image of a crescent moon on both side of the collar. He inspected himself in the mirror giving off a couple of poses. He looked down at his alarm clock that read ten-fifty and made his way down stair and out the door going off to work. Star Lane trotted through the streets of Canterlot while enjoying the beautiful day. There was many ponies out today either doing some shopping or out walking and enjoying nature. Took a deep breath and gave a subtle sigh. "Today is going to be a good day." he said. *** The peach pony had finally made it to Canterlot after what seemed to be a life time of running. "Finally." he said, panting heavily. He quickly headed through the gates and towards the castle. He ran bobbing and weaving through the large crowds trying to avoid from crashing into anyone. *** Star Lane slowly made his way towards the Canterlot castle when he noticed a pony who seemed to have been in a rush to get somewhere. He was darting and dashing between crowds of ponies flawlessly while seemed to be flowing gracefully in and out. He stopped for a second to notice he was heading directly towards the castle. "I wonder what his rush is," he said, somewhat intrigued. Star Lane began to pick up his pace and began to quickly head towards the castle.He made it up to the front gate where there was two very large stallions guarding the massive door. They noticed the patches on his collar and saluted him with Star Lane doing the same. He made his way inside making his way down the long, massive hallway decorated with huge windows and statues and various paintings. He made it to the chamber door where the royal sisters reside. He heard a conversation from more than one pony and gave subtle knocks on the door. "Enter," one of the ponies said. He slowly opened the door and saw both of the royal sisters standing there along with Lighting Bane, a brown pony with a light grey mane that is also leader of the crescent shadow team. Even the pony he saw running through the streets from earlier was standing before them. "Star Lane," Lighting said, with a discontent, horrid look on his face. "We have a major problem." Author's Note Thanks for the read! I really hope you enjoy it and would like to see more in the near future.If you should find any errors in spelling or any kind of illogical sentences please let me know and I will correct them quickly. Thank you!
Chapter 2: Then Comes The Storm"How is this possible?" Stare Lane said. "This is beyond troublesome," Luna replied. Celestia slowly walked up to her throne and gave a sigh. She then turned around and sat down in her chair. "Sister?" Luna said. "I feared this day would come. I have hoped and prayed that five thousand years ago was the absolute end of him," Celestia said. "Sister, it is time." Luna gave her sister a nod in assurance and turned to Thunder Bane and Star Lane. "Thunder, I want you to assemble the group together and come with me," she said with a serious look that could pierce through the toughest of souls. They both saluted the princess with their front right hooves. "Yes ma'am!" Thunder Bane said. Thunder Bane turned to Star Lane. "Star, I want you to go get the rest of the group, get set up and meet here," Star Lane responded with a salute. "Yes sir!" Thunder Bane gently placed his front right hoof on Star Lane's shoulder. "Look, I know you are only twenty two years old and the youngest in the group, but I am going to bring you all back home to your families in one piece. That is a promise." Star Lane gave him a somewhat assured smile and quickly began sprinting off to the soldier housing building. He made his way down the long hall and took a left down another hallway pushing himself to go as fast as he possible could. Quickly using his shoulder, Star lane forced the wooden door wide open to the outside walkway across one of the inner walls. He gazed up at the sky horrified that a swarm of dark grey clouds had completely engulfed the bright blue clear-less sky that once loomed from above. Bolts of lighting came crashing down striking other surrounding buildings and the massive towers directly above him. He quickly sprinted across the walkway, smashing his way through another door and began making his way down the what seemed to be endless stairs. *** "Thunder, please come with me," Luna said. Thunder gave her a nod as they both followed up the stairs to Celestia's throne chair. "Sister? Sister are you ok? We must prepare," Luna said hesitantly. Celestia some what lost in her own thoughts and dazed quickly snapped back to reality with a worried look. "Yes, lets go," Celestia said. The three walked behind her throne chair and the two sisters horns began to glow. A image of the sun and moon inscribed in the brick wall began to glow brightly. Brick by brick started to disappear until then there was a door made followed by a flight of stairs. They made their way to the bottom and arrived to be greeted with a pedestal holding a staff with a dark blue shaft as the handle with a symbol for a sun and a crescent moon perched on top of the staff. The bottom and top end of the shaft had gold plates in each end and there was six slots near the top end of the staff, each with six gems placed inside them. "This staff was created in the event Sombra would return. Each of the colored gems each represent one of the elements of harmony. Yellow for honesty, pink for kindness, blue for laughter, purple for generosity, red for loyalty, and finally magenta for magic," Celestia explained. "When used together as one, the staff can expel and an amazing amount of power from anypony who is kind hearted and believes in harmony itself." "However," Luna added. "Should one or all of the gems be lost, then the staff will not work. It requires the power from the six gems in unison to grant such power," "Thunder Bane, I trust you to take this and use it against Sombra and rid him once and for all. I have my full faith with you and your fellow ponies to be able to expel this darkness." Thunder Bane bowed down before the princesses. "Yes princesses, we will not fail you and Equestria." Celestia's horn glows as the staff lifts from the pedestal and is secured into Thunder Bane's back. "Let us return back to the top, we need to hurry," Celestia explained. The three returned up top taking four steps out from the door way in the well when suddenly there was a couple of knocks on the main door. "Enter," Luna said cautiously. Suddenly, two large stallion guards come bursting through the door and crashing into two pillars ahead. A dark black shadow crept out of the door way as a roll of black fog began to come into the room. A pair of crimson eyes appeared from the shadowy figure that glowed a bright green around them. A purple flame flickered widely from around the eyes themselves. "Knock, knock!" *** Star Lane quickly ran down a narrow empty hallway made of cold and rough brick. He quickly made a sharp right nearly knocking down a planter when he come to the very first door on right. The door swung wide open as three ponies turned their heads looking right at Star Lane. There was Crimson Guard, a crimson red pony with a jet black mane like Star's who was in the middle of reading a book. Then there was Shining Strike, a tan pony who just got done grooming his short dark green mane which was typical since he was always in a constant state of grooming himself to stay looking sharp. Finally, there was Nova Wind who was sitting in the floor polishing his armor. He was a dark grey pony who had a pure white as snow mane which made him good at recon in heavy snowed in regions when he wore his snow ghillie suit. Star Lane was panting extremely hard while trying to speak, but all he could do at the moment was slur his words, making him incoherent. "Geez what's got into you?" Crimson said. Star Lane tried to speak again, but still couldn't properly form a sentence. "Star just regain your breath and relax. What has got you in such a rush for?" Nova said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. Star Lane took a few deep breaths and finally managed to calm down and breath properly. "Thunder Bane told me to get you all and suit up. Something is coming towards Canterlot and it doesn't look good," he said. All the ponies in the room stared at him for a second, somewhat second guessing what they was hearing. "Now!" Star Lane shouted. The ponies quickly began to put on their suits. They slipped on their dark purple chest pieces that fit around their entire torso that was trimmed with pure black with a crescent moon stamped in the center. They then attached the armored plates to each of their legs. Finally they all put on their shoulder plating and was set. "Alright, follow me! We have to meet Thunder Bane back at the princess's throne room." They all gave a nod and began the journey back. They quickly made it back down the hall and started up the stairs making quick haste. "What do you think it is?" Shining said. "I don't know, but it is something we have never seen before. On my way I saw the darkest clouds I had ever seen begin to completely swallow the sky and roll towards Canterlot," Said Star Lane. "Well, whatever it is, it better be ready to sent back from where it came from!" Crimson said confidently. "Up ahead!" Star Lane shouted. The four ponies seen the door to the princess's throne room doors had been completely blown off. They quickly made it to the door way and was terrified what they had ran into. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were on the ground motionless. They saw where two larger stallions had been completely thrown through two pillars and was completely motionless as well. All of their jaws hung wide open when they saw who was there standing above the two sisters holding Thunder Bane by the throat with magic. "No..it can't be." Nova said in pure terror. "King Sombra," Star lane said in a low somewhat quiet tone. "Sorry to crash in like this, but I have been waiting for this reunion for sometime," Sombra smirked, while holding Thunder Bane in the air. Thunder Bane tried to speak, but he continuously made strangling noises from having Sombra's magical grip pressing down on his throat. "Let him go!" Crimson Gaurd yelled at Sombra while taking off in a dead sprint towards the two. "Crimson, no wait!" Star Lane shouted. Crimson Guard jumped off his back legs towards Sombra, but he gave a sly smirk standing on his back two hooves and spinning around extending his right hoof and making a complete connection with the side of Crimson's head. Crimson Guard was sent flying through a pillar then a huge pane of glass and then over the balcony, plummeting to his demise. The three remaining was completely horrified. Fear and completely paralyzed them broom head to hoof. They couldn't even begin to comprehend what had just happened or that their friend was gone. "Now where were we?" Sombra said with a smirk towards Thunder Bane. "Ah yes, now I remember." He flung Thunder Bane up towards into the ceiling so hard it caused a imprint of his body into the stone ceiling. He unstuck and began to free fall back to the ground. "Thunder Bane!" Nova shouted, as he ran to catch him, but Sombra appeared in front of him looking down upon him, standing on his two back legs with a evil smile. Nova's legs began to buckle and could feel the sweat rolling down his face. Then Sombra put booth his front hooves together and swung them downward pile driving Nova into the ground causing a crater. "Star come on we got to get out of here!" Shining said, shaking Star Lane has hard as he could, but couldn't break the paralyzing fear that fell upon him. "Come on or we are going to die here!" He said yelling at him. At that point he realized he wasn't going to move. He quickly ran back through door and down the hallway. "I don't think so," Sombra said. His horn glowed a bright red and a long beam shot from his horn passing Star Lane's face by mere inches and down the hallway. Suddenly an explosion erupted from deep down in the hall causing smoke to bellow out from the door, pouring into the room. "And then there was one," Sombra said with a miniacle chuckle. Sombra slowly made his way to the single pony that stood before him. He looked down at Star Lane and could see absolute fear in his soul. Star Lane's back legs grew weak and he fell sitting on his flank. "I can see it. I can see it in those dark hazel eyes of yours that you truly understand what fear is. I can see that you truly respect the powers that I have and how easily I can extinguish your existence," He said with a serious straight face. Star Lane could speak. The only thing he could do was stare into the pure evil that burned within his eyes.His whole body felt weak and thought that the spot he was sitting in was the very spot he was going to die. "I'm not going to kill you," Sombra smirked. "No, I am going to give you something worst then death itself." Sombra's right hoof began to glow and he placed it on Star Lane's shoulder. Suddenly he could feel something growing all over his body. He looked down to see clumps of crystals began to rapidly consume his entire body until his entire body from his neck down was incased in these crystals. "Don't worry little pony, just relax and enjoy the nice nap," he maliciously chuckled. Then the crystals worked their way up to his head until Star Lane was completely incased in a giant crystal like coffin. Sombra's horn began to glow a dark green and managed to lift the giant crystal prison and launched through the castle ceiling and into the sky till it was out of sight. Sombra turned his attention to princess Celestia who had just managed to open here eyes. He slowly trotted to her kneeling down being mere inches away from her face with his. "Your reign has come to an end." Author's Note Finally got this one pumped out. Hope you enjoy it and if he see a mistake let me know and I'll have it fixed asap. Hope you all are enjoying the ride so far!
Chapter 3: A New EraThe wind blew viciously on the mountain side that was so cold, it could literally cut anypony down to the bone if they wasn't prepared for the unforgiving environment. A old stallion wearing a long thick coat with fur lining the insides with heavy leather boots that Also had fur in the insides, slowly walked round the rocky terrain picking up an assortment of flowers. "Oh my, these look terrific!" he picked up the violet flower that had two other flower heads branching off from the main stem and placed them in his bag hung around his side. He slowly walked a bit further ahead scouting the area of more flowers. The old pony collected a couple more flowers when he noticed something sparkling in the distance. He slowly made his way over and noticed a small sparkling crystal lying on a mountain of snow. He wiped some of the snow off revealing even more crystals. He cocked his head in some what dismay as he began to brush even more snow off. "Oh my word," as he brushed the remaining bit of snow to reveal an entire pony encased in a large cluster of crystals. He gently tapped the crystal coffin with his hoof when suddenly the crystals began to crack. The cracking continued through out the entire surface then the entire casing shattered freeing the pony inside. The old pony bent down to exam the trapped stallion inside. He was unconscious and was wearing armor with a crescent moon stamped on the front of the chest piece. He gently leaned his head down to his chest and perked his ear up to listen for a heart beat. Sure enough there was. "My goodness, he is alive! I can't leave ya out here poor fellow," he quickly got partly underneath Star Lane and lifted up and placing him firmly over his back. "My, you are a somewhat heavy fellow. Don't worry, you'll be safe at my home as long as my loving wife doesn't kill me for bringing a random stranger home," he chuckled to himself. With Star Lane draped over his back like a towel, the pony began his journey back down the mountain. *** A light yellow mare was sitting in a rocking chair beside the fire place peacefully book. Her light shaded pink mane blew from a gust of wind that blew through one of the windows. She got up and trotted over to the window and shut the shutters and returned to her rocking chair. As soon as she sat down she heard a knock on the cabin door. "Come in !" the door slowly open to expose the old stallion carrying Star Lane. He quickly trotted in and shut the door to block the harsh weather. "Goodness the weather out there is starting to pick up." "You find anything nice dear?" her face was stuck down in her book. "I found some beautiful flowers for the windowsill! I also found something else," he trotted over to the bed laying down Star Lane. The old mare looked up in disbelief. "Oh my goodness! Where did you find him!?" She frantically got up and rushed to the bed. "I found the poor fellow in-bedded in some sort of crystals. I barely touched the thing and it just crumpled into dust," "Goodness me, let me get him warm! He must be absolutely freezing cold!" she pulled the sheets back and quickly tucked Star Lane in even though it was a bit difficult with the heavy armor he was wearing. "let me get him a warm rag!" she quickly trotted over to the kitchen and got began to run a wash rag under some warm water. She trotted back over and laid the warm damp rag on Star Lane's forehead. The old stallion slowly made his way to the couch and slowly sat down to enjoy the warmth radiating from the fire place. "Come sit down dear, let him get some rest." he looked over at his wife patting the cushion beside him. "Let me get the poor thing an extra blanket. I'm afraid he isn't warm enough," she walked over to the closet beside the kitchen and rummaged through to find another blanket. She brought the blanket over to Star and jumped back in shock. "Honey! Come quick, he is waking up!" The stallion got up and slowly trotted his way over to the bed. Star Lane groaned and slowly began to open his eyes. Everything was fuzzy and couldn't get a feeling of where he was then everything slowly came into focus. He saw that a light yellow mare with a light pink mane and a orange stallion with a dark grey mane with a long fully grown grey beard to match. "Where....am I?" Star Lane was confused and trying to make some sense of what was going on. "Relax dear, you are safe here," she said as she ran her hoof over his mane. "I found ya covered in thick snow. You seemed to have appeared in some sort of giant crystal sonny!" he took a seat in the chair beside the bed. "Where am I?" Star lane asked. "Why, you are in our cozy little cabin home! It's not much, but it is still a great cozy place to be!" he chuckled. Star Lane was still dazed and confused as to what happen. He sat up a bit and quickly placed his hoof on his forehead from the sudden headache that rushed over him. "Ugh" he held his head down holding his head and clutching the sheets with his other hoof. "Take it easy sonny, you must have been in that thing for quite some time," he got up out of his old rickety chair. "I got something that will cure that head ache!" he chucked as he trotted over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle with a brown liquid inside it. He got a tiny glass and poured the brown contents into the glass and brought it over to Star lane. "Here ya go sonny! this should help ya!" he smiled and handed the glass to Star. Star Lane slowly reached out for the glass and took a sip of the liquid then immediately spit the contents out. "My! looks like he can't handle his liquor too well!" he laughed. The old mare gave the old orange pony a smack on the back of the head. "Honey he needs water! Not alcohol!" she scoured. "I apologize for that. I'm just not a drinker," Star Lane said, setting the glass on the dresser beside him. The stallion rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "It's ok sonny! Let me get you some water." He trotted back over to the kitchen and fetched Star Lane a glass of water. He handed it to Star and he quickly gulped down the entire glass. Star Lane wiped off his mouth and sat the glass down. He took a look around the cabin and seen the small kitchen that was right beside the living room where the fire place was. Little tacky decorations and even a grand father clock sat in the corner of the living room. "Your home is really nice." "Why thanks sonny!" the old stallion smiled. "It may not be a whole lot, but its still good ol home," the light yellow mare gave a comforting smile as well. Suddenly it all came rushing back to Star like a huge crashing wave into a cliff side. "Sombra!" he shouted. The old coupled looked at each other for a split second and turned back to Star. "What's that sonny? Was you on your way to meet with Lord Sombra?" he cocked his head to the side, puzzled as to what he was talking about. "Wait...Lord....Sombra?" Star gave him a somewhat mortified and confused look. "Why, yes sonny! Did you forget who ruled these lands?" he quizzically asked. "What!? No! He doesn't rule anything! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the one's who rules Equestria!" "Why, Lord Sombra has ruled these lands since the beginning of time!" he slapped his knee and laughed. The old mare gave a concerning look and placed a hoof on Star Lane's forehead. "You must be not feeling good!" Star Lane shook his head causing her to remove her hoof away from him. "No! That isn't right! he shouted. "Wait! What is the year!?" he looked at both of them as if they was completely crazy. The old stallion gave out another knee slapping laugh. "Why it's seventy seventeen!" An entire wave of shock and disbelief and completely covered Star lane. He looked down at him clutching the sheets with an endless flood of thoughts rushing through his mind. He slowly threw moved the covers off of him and got up and trotted a couple of steps before falling on his flank. "This...can't be right. This isn't right." he quickly tried to hold back the tears,but his will power wasn't strong enough. Tears started to flow down his face as he banged his front hoof against the wooden floor. "Damn it!" He stomped his hoof. "Damn it!" He stomped again. The light yellow mare quickly trotted over and hugged him tightly. She ran her hoof through his mane to try to calm him down, "It's ok deary." Star Lane couldn't believe it. everything...everypony he knew....was gone. Lost to the one unbeatable opponent no pony could ever defeat, time itself. Everything he knew was taken away from him, friends, family, his home, and his whole life as he knew it. This couldn't be real, it had to have been some sort of sick twisted nightmare. After some time, Star Lane managed to dry his tears and slowly stand up and took a deep breath. The mare retreated back to the side of her husband. Star Lane turned around and gave a bow to the couple. "I am forever in your debt for taking me into your lovely home and taking care of me. My name is Star Lane," he said warmly. Both of the old ponies smiled. "It's nice to meet you Star Lane! I am Bubble Bop and this is my lovely husband, Dust Wave." "It's a pleasure to meet ya sonny! What is that on the front of your armor there?" he pointed at the crescent moon. "Oh, it is a crescent moon. It's the symbol for the Crescent Shadow, an elite group that is bound to protect the lands of Equestria. We was formed under Princess Luna herself," The couple both looked at each other in confusion and looked back at Star. "Who is Luna sonny? She some sort of part of Lord Sombra's military?" Star was completely dumb founded. How could they possible not know who princess Luna or Celestia was. Did Sombra really rule for so long that any kind of memory of the princesses had been lost? Star Lane sat down and began to explain to them that it was Celestia and Luna who was the rulers of Equestria and that Sombra had sent him five thousand years ahead in time after he had seized his control. "My, sonny that sure is quite a tale," he stroked his beard, intrigued in Star Lane's story. "I must find a way to get back home so I can prevent this from ever happening," he stood up, "I am forever in your favor for such amazing hospitality," he bowed to the old couple. The couple smiled at him, "Deary, it was absolutely no trouble at all. You are welcome here any time you like. your home will always be open to us," "That's right sonny! I hope you managed to find you way back home!" he smiled. Star Lane trotted over to the door and opened it, but before he left, he gave them one more bow and thanked them both. The old couple smiled and waved their hooves goodbye. Star Lane smiled warmly, waved goodbye, and began to sprint down the path towards ahead. Author's Note Finalllllllllly got this out. I really hope you all are enjoying this. I know the writing isn't perfect but I am trying really hard to improve my writing as I go to make it a more fun experience for you all. I am sorry the chapters have been short but I plan on start making them longer. Hope you enjoy! c: If you should run into a mistake let me know and I shall fix it asap c:
Chapter 4: Debts Chapter 4: Debts Star made his through the thick forest that seemed to engulf him and completely shielded anything inside from the sun light beaming down. The wind blew causing the trees to sway back and fourth as if they was coming alive to dance in the wind. Countless dark green leaves detached themselves and flowed down from the large towering trees like rain, covering the path Star Lane was walking on. After sometime, he came up to a large sparkling river that seemed to flow endlessly into the far distance. Star trotted down to the river bed, knelt down, and took a long refreshing drink. He wiped his mouth with his hoof and looked up at a lone rabbit that stared at him from the other side of the river. The two made eye contact that seemed like a life time. Neither of the two broke the long stare down until the rabbit eventually was the one to give up and sprinted away into a near by bush. Star looked down and noticed his reflection in the water that was clear as the day time sky. "I've got to find a way to fix this." He got up and trotted down the side of the river, following it until he reached the treeline of the heavily thick forest. He ventured out from the forest and trotted through a tall meadow. He only managed to get about half way through the meadow when he heard a growling sound. Star looked down at his stomach and heard that it growling at him in despair once again. Star remember that he actually hadn't ate anything since he had came to this world. He had to find some food soon or he wasn't going to make it much further. He scouted around and noticed some bushes near by that appeared to have bright blue berries growing on them. He licked his lips in delight as berries was one of his favorites. He quickly trotted over and picked a berry and began to chew it up. The tasty juices gushed out of the fruit releasing a wave of sweetness over his taste buds. He swallowed the sweet berry and started to pick more off the bush. In the midst of his snack he noticed something near another set of bushes that had berries on them as well. He got low keeping his eyes on the bushes up and slowly crept towards them. He got no more than five feet away from the bushes when he noticed a small white filly with a ice blue mane holding a basket in her mouth that contained a bunch of the berries Star Lane was eating. He loosened up when he slowly approached the filly, trying his best to not scare her. "Excuse me, little filly?" he slowly poked his head around the bush. The little filly gave a loud Yelp, jumping in the air and landing right on her bottom. "My apologies, I didn't mean to scare you," the little filly frantically tried to pick up the berries she had spilled, trying to not make eye contact. "Here let me help you with those," Star Lane knelt down and picked up some berries and placed them in the filly's basket. She had stopped for a moment to look at Star Lane with her ice blue eyes and scooted back against the bush. Star Lane gave a small smile and chuckled. "I promise I'm not going to hurt you," he noticed a near by white flower and trotted over and picked it out of the ground with his mouth and trotted back over to the distraught filly and gently placed it in her mane. "There, now you look even more like a princess," he gave her another warm welcoming smile. The filly reached up with her small hoof and gave the white delicate flower a gentle touch and a smile began to form on her face. "There, it's always nice to see a little filly smile instead of having a scared frown," he said as he began to stand back up. "What is your name little one?" The filly hesitated for a few moments, but gave the flower another gentle touch and smiled at Star Lane warmly. "My name is Snow Cream," she said as she slowly got off her bottom and stood up. "Well, it is nice to meet you Snow Cream. My name is Star Lane," Star gave the young filly a bow which gave her such a thrill "Are you some sort of prince?" She asked with a tone of excitement. Star Lane chuckled and rubbed his mane with his hoof. "Well, not exactly. I'm not any sort of royalty, but I actually serve under two princesses," Snow Cream's eyes light up with pure excitement. "Oh wow! That is amazing!" Star Lane looked around, remembering that he really wasn't sure where he was going exactly. "You wouldn't happen to know where the nearest town would be? I am sort of lost at the moment." Snow Cream smiled and nodded her head. "My village isn't too far from here, I'd be happy to take you there," she walked over to her basket and picked the last couple of berries and placed them in her basket. She looked back at Star Lane and pointed to the dark purple armor that he was wearing. "What is that symbol on your chest?" Star Lane looked down, noticing she was referring to his armor. "This is a crescent moon. It is a symbol of one of the princesses I mentioned. Her name is Princess Luna." Snow Cream let out a awe of amazement. " Could you tell me some stories of these princesses?" She looked up at him with a smile. Star Lane returned the smile and rubbed the top of her mane. " I would be delighted to. Come on, let's head out," Snow Cream nodded and picked up her basket with her mouth. Star Lane lowered his head and place it underneath Snow Cream, lifting her up and putting her on Star Lane's back. The little filly giggled and the went on there way. *** "Oh wow! So they are actually sisters?" "Yes, they are and they both look after everypony and protect them through out the land of Equestria." "Wow! I never would have thought that....." She stopped mid sentence and got really quiet. Star Lane looked back at her, wondering what kept her silent. "Snow Cream? Are you alright?" he asked, somewhat concerned. Snow Cream didn't say anything and pointed at smoke raising towards the sky. "That smoke...it's coming from my village.." She said in horror. Star lane looked up into the sky and seen a long trail of black smoke bellowing above. He narrowed his eyes and his ears perked up. " Snow Cream, hold on tight," he said in a serious low tone. Snow Cream was somewhat surprised from his tone, it wasn't the same welcoming, happy voice from before. She didn't say a word and tightly gripped around Star Lane's neck and he quickly sprinted towards the smoke, causing her basket full of berries to fall and be left behind. *** "No! Please!" a neon green mare shrieked. A dark grey stallion with his white mane blowing back in the wind picked up the mare by her light purple mane and lifted her to were they both at eye level. "Now now, what did I tell you last time when we came back next time and you didn't have our money?" he slung the mare to the ground and kicked her in the stomach. "I remember telling you clearly that your little shop was going to burn along with the rest of this shit hole," he then kicked her once again. "I also remember telling you that it wasn't going to be pleasant what I was going to do to you and everypony here if you all didn't come up with Storm Barrage's money," he stepped over the battered mare and raised his front right hoof that was completely metal with blue bright lines running throughout his hoof. A compartment opened up on one side of his hoof and three small rockets lifted out and was pointed directly at the on looking crowd of ponies. The rockets launched from the hoof and flew towards the crowd. The ponies frantically scattered as the rockets hit two buildings and struck the large bell hanging from the bell tower, causing the large bell to come crashing down. "This is way too easy," he chuckled. A young Pegasus peered around the corner of one of the homes with his mother, looking at the stallion destroying more homes. he gritted his teeth together as his wings expanded out. "Smoke Cloud no, he is too strong!" the mare yelled at him. He quickly dashed out towards the stallion flying towards him as fast as he could. The stallion turned around and saw a light grey stallion flying towards him. The stallion smirked and stood on his back hoofs and held back his front right hoof and swung his hoof connecting with the Pegasus's chest, dropping him to the floor. The stallion stood over him and stomped down on his wings crippling both of them. The young Pegasus shrieked out a ear piercing yell as tears began to roll down his face. "Did you seriously think you had any chance against me?" he stomped on his wings again, grinding them into the dirt. "I'll give you credit kid, you really have a huge pair on you to think to try to take me on. I kind of respect the effort, but I can't respect such a foolish Pegasus to run straight into a fight, just to throw his life away," a long blade unsheathed from the side of his metal hoof and held the blade to young Pegasus's neck. "I want you all to see what happens when you try to stand up to me. You are just throwing you own life away just like this young fool here! Let him be an example before any of you ever attempt something like this again!" he yelled out, drawing the blade back ready to pierce the Pegasus's throat. The on looking crowd look horrified, some covering all of the young foals's eyes. The young Pegasus gave out a faint cough. " Y-y-you won't get away with this forever. One day you are going to pay for what you have done to us," the stallion smirked and chuckled. "Oh really? Do you really think that anypony here is going to save you? That's a laugh! None of these scared fools wouldn't dare to even think about crossing me. Now you are going to learn what happens when you challenge me!" The stallion thrust the blade forward towards the Pegasus. He closed his eyes waiting for his inevitable fate, but seconds had passed and didn't feel anything. he slowly opened his eyes to see a navy blue stallion with a jet black mane, standing on his two back hooves holding back the blade with his armored front hoof. "Snow Cream get to safety," he said, with a somewhat stern tone. She quickly unwrapped her front hooves around his neck and sprinted to the crowd of ponies. Star Lane locked eyes with dark grey stallion with the most meanest glare. The stallion chuckled, "Well kid, looks like you get to live one more day," Star Lane raised the blade even higher until Star Lane's hoof and the blade were both above their heads. "No, he is going to live a long happy life, and not ever worry about evil ponies like you to come and hurt him, or anypony else." The stallion smirked, "Heh, that's a big statement. I haven't seen you around here before. You must be lost stranger, this doesn't concern you." Star Lane shoved the blade away, causing the stallion the stumble back. "It does, when innocent ponies are being hurt, it is my duty to protect them. If I didn't, I wouldn't be worthy to wear this crescent moon on my chest." "Well, crest or no crest, you are going to die either way!" The stallion dashed forward, thrusting his blade towards Star Lane. He quickly kept stepping back and swaying side to side, avoiding the thrusts. "Hold still!" The stallion yelled out in annoyance. Star Lane's backed touched a stone wall and quickly ducked, causing the blade to be lodged into the brick. Star Lane threw his front right hoof into the stallion's chest, knocking the stallion backwards and landed on his back. He quickly got back and spit off to the side. "You know, I must admit that I am somewhat excited for a real fight. The ponies here have tasted my blade many times and not one has been able to put up as much of a fight as you have," he shot Star lane a sly smirk. Star Lane's ears perked straight up from hearing those words of the stallion admitting to slaying innocent ponies. He narrowed his eyes at the pony and stood up on his hind hooves, setting himself in a combat stance. "You are pretty good at hoof to hoof combat, but lets see you fend off against something like this!" The stallion raised his metallic hoof and the bottom opened up, revealing the barrel of a gun. The gun began to eject rounds down range towards Star lane as he quickly got on all four hooves and quickly dart left with the sound of bullets hitting the ground close behind him, kicking up dirt. Star Lane quickly leaped and dived through a window of one of the homes, protecting himself from the rounds bouncing off of the stone wall. "Oh, you are just going to hide now? it's a little too late for that? Come out and show yourself coward!" There was no response, just a quiet tension filled the air as the crowd of ponies looked on. "I said come out!" Again, there was no response. "If you don't show yourself, I'll kill the kid!" The stallion turned around and turned his gun towards the Pegasus still lying on the ground. "You got till the count of three!" The stallion yelled furiously. "Three!" "Two!" He walked over and shoved the barrel of the gun into the Pegasus's face. "One!" Suddenly, Star Lane leap off the roof of the building he dived into, down on top of the stallion. Star Lane landed on top of the stallion pinning him down into the ground and released a fury of punches into the stallions face. The metal hoof quickly released two small prongs with electricity flowing between the two. He quickly rammed the prongs into Star lane's armor, causing a massive jolt of electricity to flow through Star Lane's body. "Agggghhh!" Star Lane yelled and was kicked off of the stallion. Star Lane tried to get up, but his muscles were weak from the high jolt of electricity. The other stallion got up, spitting a large wade of blood from his mouth. "Ya know, you are really starting to piss me off now. At first it was fun, but now you really are going to die," he slowly trotted over and kicked Star Lane in the face. "It's not really a fair fight now is it with this armor now is it? Why don't we get rid of it," he removed the armor plate covering Star Lane's torso. "There, much better," the stallion delivered a swift brutal kick to Star Lane's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "You like that? It's only a small taste of what I am going to do to you," He unsheathed his blade and slashed Star Lane's back over and over again. Star Lane released a grunt every time he felt the blade run across his back. The blood from the wounds began to run down his back and started to turn parts of his navy blue coat a dark red. The stallion smirked and yet again, delivered another hard swift kick to Star Lane's chest. The crowd looked on in shock and horrified at the beating Star Lane was getting. Snow Cream began to tear up as she watched Star Lane being kicked and beaten over and over again. "Oh no, you don't even get to die right here on my now. I am just getting started with you!" He pulled his hoof back in a clear display of him about to thrust his blade into Star Lane. Suddenly, a large brown muscular stallion sprinted towards the stallion, throwing his entire weight into him. The stallion went flying into the opposite direction and slammed into the dirt. The dark brown quickly tried to help Star Lane up. "I've got you," Star Lane was still some what weak from the beating he had just endured, but me managed to get up on all four hooves. "Are you ok?" Star Lane looked up at the large brown stallion with a light green mane that had a concerned look. Star Lane nodded then quickly realized the stallion was charging straight at the brown stallion. "Watch out!" Star Lane shoved the brown stallion out of the way and felt every inch of the blade pierce through his shoulder, coming out of his back. Star Lane let out a yell as a burning sensation tore through his shoulder and back. The base of the stallions hoof touched Star Lane's shoulder and the blade was lodged deep in the stone brick. The two were face to face looking into each other's eyes. Star Lane could see the crimson red in his eyes that burned with the intensity of the sun. "You idiot, you could have just let me skew that big dumb idiot, but you just had to be the hero. Now you are pinned up against the wall with no where to go," Star Lane grunted and gritted his teeth. "I am not going to let anypony get hurt as long as I'm around!" He yelled out, then proceeded to head butt the stallion multiple times until blood began to run down Star Lane's forehead. Head butt after head butt the stallion became weaker and weaker until Star Lane delivered one final blow, knocking out the stallion and falling backwards causing Star Lane to be pulled on top of him. The brown stallion rushed and managed to break off the blade from the hoof and pulled Star Lane off top of him. He noticed that Star Lane began to pant heavily and drift in and out on conciseness. The brown stallion carefully worked Star Lane onto his back, walking by the knocked out stallion, but not before delivering a swift kick to his head with his back leg. "Quick, somepony get nurse Love Heart!" He yelled out. Two ponies rushed over to help. "You two help Smoke Cloud, I'll help this one," they both nodded and went over to assisted the Pegasus laying on the ground. The brown stallion quickly made his way to a house that was destroyed in the chaos and gentle set Star Lane on a long wooden table. The crowd poured into the room observing Star Lane bleeding on the table. Ponies stood in the door way, but was quickly pushed aside by a smaller baby blue unicorn mare with a long cotton candy pink mane. "Let me through! Excuse me, I need through!" She yelled out. She made her way to the front and began to frantically examined his wounds. "Cross Bound!" The brown stallion that helped Star Lane to the table perked up his ears. I need some thread, a needle, some alcohol, cotton swabs, gauzes and bandages right away!" The stallion nodded and made his way out the door to get the supplies. Snow Cream made her way to the front, going in between other ponies legs to get a look at the scene. She gasped in horror as she saw Star Lane laying on the table with blood dripping off the end of the table, landing in a puddle of blood. "Star Lane...." Author's Note I am so very sorry it has been so long since I released a chapter. I have been moving into a new house and it has been absolute hell getting things packed up and moved. We are finally settled into our new so I will be able to release new chapters a lot more often now. Once again I am very sorry and I hope you enjoy. If you see any errors please let me know and I'll fix them right away. c:
Chapter 5: ConnectionsLove Heart quickly washed her hooves thoroughly and sterilized all of her equipment. Her horn glowed a bright blue, lifting the needle and thread while carefully threading the needle. Star Lane began to start roll over, but two stallions kept him from rolling off the table. Love Heart took a deep breath, closing her eyes and opening them again. She slowly brought the needle close to the wounds and began to slowly stitch together the open wounds. Star Lane let out small grounds and gave a small jolt as the initial prick of the needle pierced his skin. She slowly but carefully closed each of the wounds on his back. After what felt like hours, she had finally managed to stitch all of the open wounds closed. She leaned back and let out a loud sigh but knew that her job wasn't close to be being done. She threw the swabs over in the pile of bloodied swabs and cloth then looked down at her hooves to see that they was stained heavily a crimson red. "You did it Love Heart!" one of the on looking ponies shouted out in joy. She let out a sigh and looked directly at the blade that was still lodged in Star Lane's shoulder. "I'm unfortunately not even close to being finished. Cross Bound, I will need your help with this one," she motioned him over and the large stallion trotted over to the table. "What do I need to do to help Love Heart?" he asked. She let out a sigh and pointed at the blade. "I need you to help me remove that thing from his shoulder as carefully as you possible can", he nodded and went around the table to the base of the blade coming out of Star Lane's shoulder. "How should I do this? Do I need to push it out completely through his back or pull it out of his shoulder?" Love Heart lifted some fresh sheets of cloth onto the table. "What I want you to do is pull the blade by it's base and slowly begin to pull it out of his shoulder," she prepared the fresh cloth around wound. "Now, when you start pulling, I am going to try to keep pressure on the wound to try to keep it from bleeding profusely," the stallion nodded, wrapping the base of the blade in cloth and gripping it with his teeth. Love Heart placed cloth around the wound and placed her hooves on it. "Are you ready Cross Bound?" she looked at him with a serious look. He nodded and waited on her signal. "Alright, ready...go," she applied pressure down on the wound as Cross Bound began to pull the blade slowly out of Star Lane's shoulder. Star Lane let out a yell, grinding his teeth from the sharp pain that shot through his shoulder and back. He started to rock from side to side, giving Love Heart a hard time to keep up the pressure. "You have to stay still!" she quickly let go for a split second and climbed on the table and sat on top of Star Lane and returned pressure to the wound. Cross Bound managed to pull the blade almost have way out before letting go of the base. "Cross Bound, get something for him to bit down on!" Cross Bound looked around and picked up a clean piece of cloth, twisting it tightly. He knelt down at face level with Star Lane and lightly shook him. "Hey....hey, here use this while I'm pulling the blade out," Star Lane slowly opened his eyes and seen the stallion holding out the cloth. "Ju...jus....just pull it out quick. Get it over with please," Star Lane muttered. The stallion nodded as Star Lane open his mouth and bit down on the twisted up cloth as hard as he could. "Alright Cross Bound, are you ready? This is going to be the final pull," he nodded at Love Heart and gripped the base again with his teeth waiting for her signal. "Alright, ready?.......pull!" Cross Bound pulled on the blade more quickly, but was careful to not rip it straight out. Star Lane grunted and yelled, but the cloth in his mouth muffled his scream. Cross Bound stumbled back slightly as the entire blade was completely removed from Star Lane's body. He dropped the blade on the floor and quickly helped pressure on the wound while Love Heart cleaned the wound with alcohol soaked swabs. Star Lane let out another grunt as the burning liquid ran into the hole in his shoulder. "There we go, we are almost done. Just hang on for a little bit longer," her horn glowed again as she levitated the needle and thread over to her. Cross Bound stepped back and watched as Love Heart quickly stitched up both the enter and exit wound on his shoulder and back. Love Heart stitched in the last one and let out a sigh of relief. All of the ponies that was observing the operation began to cheer and celebrate. Love Heart dropped the thread and needle and made her way off top of Star Lane and walked over to a old wooden rocking chair and plopped right down in the seat. Love Heart shut her eyes and began to rub her forehead,but felt a hoof rest on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Cross Bound smiling down at her. "You did good Love Heart. He is alive because of your great work," he said comfortingly. She gave him a small smile and looked down to see her hooves and part of her chest was dyed a crimson red color. "I guess I should maybe clean up," she said somewhat jokingly. "Not only that, you need to get some rest as well," Cross Bound said. Love Heart sighed once again. "Not before I check on Smoke Cloud. His wings was damaged pretty bad," she said with a gloomy tone. Love Heart took trotted over to Star Lane and completed her work by wrapping a bandage around his forehead. "Cross Bound, could you please and carefully take him off the table and put him in the bed in the corner of there?" she pointed at the small bed in the back left corner of the room. He nodded and carefully lifted Star Lane on to his back and took him over to the bed and gently layed him down. "I'm going to go check on Smoke Cloud real quick," she said as she made her way to the door. "Love Heart, you need to get some rest afterwards," he said with a concern. She gave him a small hearted smile and nodded. The crowd of ponies moved out of her way as she made her way through and out the door. "Alright everypony, let's let him get some rest. He needs to be alone to recover. We need to begin to rebuild all the damaged homes from the attack," he motioned the ponies out the door. The crowd dispersed and began to put out any remaining fires and began to clean up. Love Heart made her way to a home in the north western corner of village and lightly tapped on the wooden door. "Come in," she gently opened the door to see a white Pegasus mare with smokey grey man sitting on the edge of the bed. "How is he doing Swirl Wave?" love Heart asked. Swirl Wave stroked his mane, tearing up and gently placed a hoof on his chest. "He has been sleeping the whole time. He hasn't moved a inch since he got into bed," she looked at his wing that was completely covered in bandages. There was a complete silence in the room until Swirl Wave finally spoke up. "Tell me....will he ever be able to fly again?" Love Heart's chest became tight and felt a lump in her throat. "Please tell me...." Love Heart looked down at the floor, ashamed to look at her in the eyes. Even though her duty was to help fix ponies who had been hurt, she still always found it heart breaking tell a pony that they wouldn't ever be the same. "His wings.....was severely damaged. Many of the bones in his wings are broken and on top of that, his wings are too mangeled to be able to realign so they can heal back properly. Best case senerio is he is able to regain partial function in his wings, but it is highly unlikely that he won't be able to even partially fly ever again. I'm so sorry." Swirl Wave clutched the sheets,Love Heart looked up just enough to see drops of tears slashing on the sheet. Love Heart counsels bare to see the mare cry over the sheer thought that her own son would never fly again. She quietly turned around and silently opened the door to make her way out. "Love Heart..." Love heart stopped in the door way,perking her ears and turning her head. "Thank you...for helping my son. He might not be able to fly anymore, but thanks to you I still at least have a son," she looked up with tears rolling down her face, but gave a warm smile. She returned the smile back at Swirl Wave. "Please, no thanks are needed. I am just doing what I was destined to do. To help sick and injured ponies when they need me." "We are so lucky to have somepony like you. Why don't you get some rest, you look really tired." She said somewhat concerned. Love Heart chuckled, "You aren't the only pony to have told me that today. Come to me if his condition changes at all," Swirl Wave nodded and Love Heart made her way out the door and to her home. She made it to her home, a simple cobble stone, one room home with a roof made from planks and hay just like every other home in the village. She opened the door and made her way inside and looked up to notice a gaping hole in her roof. She let out a sigh, not even bothered during the moment that her roof had succumbed to damage. She trotted over to her bed and plopped down on it, completely exhausted. She pulled her covers up and over her snuggling to get herself comfortable. Her exhaustion had finally over came her as her eyes had slowly shut, drifting off to sleep. *** A knock came to Love Heart's door with a familiar voice. "Love Heart! You need to come see this!" Love Heart sat up in her bed and regained her focus. "Love Heart? Are you alright?" She quickly recognized the voice, it was Cross Bound. She threw the sheets off of her and got up and trotted to the door. The gently opened the door to see Cross Bound standing in front of her. "What's going on Cross Bound? Is something wrong?" he shook his head and urged her to follow him. "You absolutely won't believe this," she cocked her head to the side, interested in what he was wanting to show her. They made their way through the village and noticed a crowd of ponies forming a circle. The two made their way to the back of the crowd then Love Heart tried to peer over the crowd. She decided to make her way through the crowd until she made it to the front when her mouth fell wide open. Star Lane was standing there in the middle of the crowd, standing completely straight up. How was this even possible? He had just been injured yesterday and yet, he was standing there talking to the ponies, wrapped up in bandages on his shoulder, back, and forehead. Love Heart made her way past the crowd and trotted towards Star Lane. Star Lane turned around and looked at the mare with a warm smile. "Ah, you must be the lovely mare that attended to my wounds. Thank you very much. My name is Star Lane," Star Lane bowed to the mare, causing her to blush. She didn't say a word, completely frozen and blushing profusely. Star Lane cocked his head to the side with a puzzled look. "Are you alright?" Love Heart shook her head, snapping her out of her trance. "Oh....yes! I am perfectly fine," she tried hard to not zone out again."You don't need to be up and about. You need to lay down and rest so your wounds can heal properly," Star Lane rubbed the back of his mane and chuckled. "Oh! I am incredibly sorry for that. I really don't like to be sitting down for long periods of time," Love Heart shook her head. "Please, you need to lay down so they can heal properly," she kept pressuring Star Lane. He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders which caused an alarming bit of pain. "I guess you are right. I apologize, I'll lay down for a bit," Love Heart pointed at her house. "Come and let me check on your wounds for you," she insisted. Star Lane smiled warmly and nodded. The two began their way through the crowd as the two trotted off to Love Heart's home. A couple of mares whispered to each other. "Did you see that? Love Heart is getting that dream of a stallion all alone," one mare said. "I don't blame her, I would do anything to get that sexy thing alone with me!" another said. "Oh please! It takes a real mare like me to tame that kind of beast," a third said. The two made it to her home and Love Heart slowly opened the door, revealing the small one room home to Star Lane. he quickly noticed the hole in the ceiling right above them. "I'm sorry about your home," Star Lane trotted over and sat down on her bed. Love Heart was rummaging through one of her shelves when she realized he was talking to her. "Oh! Um....it's alright," she said somewhat quietly. She trotted over and examined the bandages. They had quickly became dirty and soaked with dried blood that stained the pure white bandages. "You definitely need these changed," Star Lane smiled and nodded as Love Heart slowly began to unwind his bandages. She started to blush heavily when she got a good look at his body tone. It was really cut, making his abs and muscles really noticeable. She tried to keep her cool as she completely got off one of the bandages. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your name Mrs..?" Love Heart blushed even more. His voice was really soothing with a sweet, caring tone to it. "It's Ms. Love heart, but everypony just calls me Love heart," What was she doing?Blushing over a stranger like a little school filly. Even though this stranger was extremely handsome and had something about him that just attracted her to him. " Well, Ms. Love Heart, I am forever in your debt for being able to take such good care of me," he gave her a comforting smile. She returned a small grin and began to wrap the new bandage around his wound. She noticed the bandages on his back also needed to be changed so she began the task of removing those as well. She threw away the old bandages and checked each of the individual stitches on his back. Everything seemed to be ok for now so she began to wrap the wounds around his back. When she reached around the front of Star Lane to grab the roll of bandage, she had accidentally brushed up against his chest and her face began to turn red. She quickly grabbed the roll and quickly finished re-bandaging Star Lane. Her horn began to glow as the pile of old bandages lifted up and floated over to the trash can and dropped inside. "Love Heart?" she looked up at Star Lane meeting her eyes with his. "Do you know who that stallion was that attacked the village?" he asked. Love Heart sat beside him and let out sigh. "His name is Bolt Shock. He is part of a gang that terrorizes our village and extorts us for money," Star Lane shook is head and frowned at the thought of ponies doing such thing. "They come to our village at the end of every month to come collect the money that we all break our backs trying to earn for them. As you can see, they are capable of brute force and show no mercy to us, even if we do pay them," she trotted to the window beside the door and opened the shutter, pointing to the top of a hill just outside the village. "That hill is where we have buried many of our own that have been slain from their sheer brutality, including my own family," Star Lane opened his mouth, trying to say some words of comfort, but couldn't find the courage to. "It has been this way ever since I was little and even far back before I was born. We have suffered under the hooves of them for far too long. Stallions, mare, and even fillies," she let out a subtle sigh. "Sadly, I'm afraid things aren't going to change," she trotted over and sat back down on the bed beside Star Lane. He quickly jumped up and turned around facing Love Heart. "No, their terror is going to come to an end now. I am not going to stand by knowing that innocent ponies are being hurt," Love Heart just stared at Star Lane. "I won't let them hurt you all anymore." "Star Lane...you don't need to do this. This isn't your problem to bare." "I have taken an oath to protect any and all ponies who are in danger or can't fight back themselves," he said with a serious tone. "That was just one though, and look what he did to you," she pointed at his bandages while frowning. "You are correct, but I am not going to let these wounds from stopping me from protect all of you. That is a promise and one I intend to keep," trotted over to the open window. Love Heart looked at him and couldn't help gaze at the stallion. She quickly snapped out of it again. Why did she keep losing control of herself? Even though she hasn't been with a stallion since she was a teenager and preferred to be on her own, what made him so much different that it made her want lost in his presence? Star Lane turned around to face her. "Love Heart, what happened to Bolt Shock?" she nodded and got up. "Some stallions got a hold of him and ended up chaining him up to a wood beam inside one of the destroyed houses," Star Lane turned around looked back out the window. "Can you take me to him?" he asked. Love Heart didn't say a word and trotted over to the door and gently opened it. "This way," she said. The two made their way to one of the destroyed houses that had its roof completed caved in and the side wall that had collapsed revealing the inside. Star Lane poked his head in and noticed the stallion had his two backed hooves chained together and tied to a wood beam. His front hooves were also chained together and tied off to a near by metal grate that covered a old fire place. Star Lane slowly made his way inside and noticed that the stallion's front right hoof was partially a stump. He metal hoof had actually been detachable and was placed on top of the fire place mantle. The stallion looked up, his face all bruised up and one eye was swollen shut. He saw Star Lane enter the room with his one good eye and chuckled. "Well well, look who it is! What? did you miss me all of a sudden?" he gave a nasty grin. "Not hardly," Star Lane replied. "Oh, so you came to kill me right? That isn't very noble of you to kill a stallion while he is down," he let out a groan trying to stand but falling back on his stomach. "No, that would be an easy way out for you. Even what you did that doesn't deserve such a easy escape," Star Lane trotted over and sat in a old rickety wood chair. He let out a laugh, causing him to cough viciously. "You fool, once Storm Barrage realizes I haven't came back, he is going to come here and burn this entire shit hole to the ground," he raises his head and looks directly at Love heart and grins. "And he is going to kill you, and your pretty little mare friend over there," he lowers his back to the floor and begins to cough harshly. Love Heart became shook, but Star Lane got out of the chair and stood directly in front of Love Heart, breaking Bolt Shocks view of the terrified mare. "You are wrong, he isn't going to kill anypony. Yours and his days of hurting innocent ponies are over with," Star Lane stared down at Bolt Shock. He gave out a crackled laugh as he lifted his head again looking right at Star Lane. "I wouldn't count me out just yet," Star Lane saw the stallion click down on one of his back teeth that didn't seem like all the rest. it looked...metallic with something on the crown that began to blink. A beeping noise started to emit from the metal hoof sitting on the fire place mantle. It took Star Lane milliseconds to piece together what was going on. He looked down at the stallion who had the biggest smirk on his face. "Gotcha!" "Love Heart!" Star Lane quickly turned around and lunged at Love Heart, wrapping her in his arms as a massive explosion erupted from the inside of the house causing a large cloud of smoke bellow up into the sky. Star Lane landed in the dirt directly on his back causing a sharp pain to dig into his back. He gritted his teeth, but opened his eyes to see Love Heart laying on top of him with her face borrowed into his chest. He looked up to see the house was completely engulfed in flames, knowing that the stallion couldn't have survived and laid his head back down in the dirt. Love Heart came to and lifter her head up to see that she was within inches of Star Lane's face, causing her to blush a bright red. Star Lane lifted his head to see Love Heart with a bright red face just staring at him. "Are you ok Love Heart?" he asked. "Ye...yeah...are you?" she asked back somewhat quietly. He nodded and Love Heart quickly got up and helped up Star lane then both took in the scene of the house in the process of burning down to the ground. A pain shot through Star Lane's back and should witch caused him to kneel to the ground. "Star Lane you need to lay down," she knelt down to help up back up. "you need to get some rest," she said concerned. He chuckled and gave her a assuring smile. "You are right. I won't be much good to keep my promise if I am hurt now am I?" She gave me him a small smile and helped him up and helped back to the original house where he was operated on. She opened the door and slowly helped him to his bed and helped him lay down. "Thank you again," he smiled. "I should be the one for thanking you. For risking your life for us," she said, returning the smile. "It is the path I have chosen. To protect innocent ponies like you and everypony here from being hurt by wickedness," he said with a smile, complemented wtih yawn. Love Heart giggled and got up. "I'll let you be so you can get some sleep. I need to be out there helping do clean up," she said as she made her way to the door. She opened the door and only made it half way through the door when she heard Star lane. "Love Heart," she turned around to him. "Everything will be alright. I promise," he turned his head over to her and gave warmed smile. She smiled with tears forming in her eyes as she mouth the words 'thank you'. Star Lane turned his head back over as she made it out the door and slowly closed his eyes with a smile on his face. Author's Note Shew finally! I honestly went back and rewrote basically the whole thing twice I was so dissatisfied with what I wrote, but I think this second version is a lot better than the first time around c: I hope you all are enjoying the story so far!
