Author's Note

*UNEDITED. Please point out errors if any.

4-Hooves Of An Angel

Once again, Azure woke up on the floor struggling to breathe. Except she felt hooves around her as she desperately tried to get air in, each attempt failing as she held her throat wondering why she couldn't breathe. She was terrified for the moment, not sure if this was another attack or if she was back. Though, upon hearing another mare's voice, she found her answer.

"Just relax, try to breathe." The mare cooed with a soft voice, oddly calming Azure who's heart was racing.

"I can't breathe!" Azure croaked out, desperately trying to get air in still, it was as if her very body was rejecting it.

"Calm yourself, just slow down and close your eyes, trust me." The mare cooed softly once more and brought Azure to her lap. Not having any choice but to trust the strange, although calming mare, Azure did as she had asked and closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. For a moment it felt like a stupid idea and the next moment, Azure found a moment of relief as she took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. Her heart was still racing, but she could breathe.

"Are you alright?" The mare asked and Azure simply nodded her head. Something was troubling Azure once more, she couldn't put her hoof on it and it felt as if it was laughing at her, discriminating her.

"Thank you." Azure mumbled, not sure of who to thank or why they were here even, not to mention why was still wrapped in their hooves. Not that she much minded it right now, she just prayed that the horrors were over for the moment. Opening her eyes, everything looked normal, she was in the castle once again.

"You're welcome, I'm just glad I happened to be patrolling these halls today. It's not often guards are up here, we're usually on the first floor, courtyard or by Royal Chambers." The mare, now defined Guard Pony explained.

"What's your name? I'd at least like to know who I'm thanking." Azure asked and tried to glance at the mare.

"My name's Angel Charm and you are?" Angel asked and began to help Azure to her hooves.

"Azure, though that's a maybe." Azure answered plainly, still unsure of her name.

"Well it does seem fitting for your coat at least, and perhaps your sweet voice as well. Now can you tell me what happened or why you're here?" Angel asked, though her tone was slightly flirtatious.

"I wish I knew why I was on the ground, but Princess Luna brought me here last night. As to what happened, I guess I blacked out again." Azure tried to explain and at same time, wished she was back on the ground with the mare. Though she shook the thought away.

"Really? What business do you have with her?" Angel asked, now more curious to Azure's explanation.

"It's a long story, and frankly I'm too hungry and thirsty to repeat it all." Azure let out a sigh, she hadn't drank or ate since she had woke up the night before. Or at least she thought it was last night that she had woke up, and she was quite parched and hungry by now.

"Well, how about I take you down to get some food and then you can tell me? If you have business with one of the princesses, I have an excuse to have an early lunch." Angel giggled, much like that of a young filly enjoying herself. Azure could only look at the Guard Pony with one of the most confused looks she has managed yet.

"You're quite chipper, for a guard you know?" Azure looked to the eyes of Angel, which were a dim blue. Under all of that armor she wore, Azure could make out the white coat of the mare. Her name made a bit more sense now, and she could only imagine how she looked with her wings spread and the armor off. Before she had realized it, Azure shivered wit her new, but strange thoughts. Not that she was about to complain about thinking about something other than questions for once. But why another mare?

"I know I am, but I can't help that I enjoy my job and my life too much to act like all the other guards." Angel chirped out, and under her helmet she was smiling widely. She was certainly a happy mare, not that it was unusual. But she struck Azure to be the kind of mare with a stallion tied to her.

"And for such a happy mare, I'd bed that you're married." Azure sighed and shook her head.

"Quite the contrary, but why don't we get some food? I'll pay.' Angel offered and took her helmet off. Her mane, unlike the rest of her, was light blue. The style of her mane was probably more unique than most. It was straight and fell mainly on the left side while the other side was much shorter.

"You don't have to ask me twice, just lead the way. I'd probably walk into a wall." Azure mumbled awkwardly, though Angel simply laughed and started to walk ahead.

"Oh what have I got myself into now?" Azure asked herself, though she was pretty sure of the answer, She earned herself a nice chat and perhaps food. For the moment, she had completely forgotten about the vision and nightmare she suffered through.

Walking past the windows, Azure felt the warm sunshine on her coat. It was much more pleasant than the cold night air she was sure she'd be used to. With each window letting in the sunshine, each bit of sunlight felt warmer than the last. Outside the windows, she could see the streets and other ponies hard at work. Others enjoying their day off as the young colts and fillies played in the grass. Some, showing their cutiemarks off and their abilities, others simply watch with fascination for the day they would learn their destiny.

It wasn't a scene that Azure was used to, but it felt familiar. Surely she had been like those happy fillies once right? Surely she had a million questions about the world and her very destiny, place and purpose to the world? But would those questions had haunted like they do now? She didn't know what her cutiemark meant, she didn't know where she came from, how she got there or why. And she most likely wouldn't find out anytime soon, not without Luna's help and the book.

She continued on to follow the mare down the long corridors of the castle until they finally reached the castle's front door. A grand, but although very large pair of doors waited sealed. Azure looked to Angel as she nodded, taking the hint, Azure's horn began to glow. The same red aura as always enveloped the two doors and she began to pull them open. Much easier said than done, they were far heavier than she expected. In hopes to not make herself look bad in front of Angel, she concentrated more and pushed more magic to her horn. Now fully charged, she opened the doors with ease, almost too much ease as they swung open and into the castle's walls. Thankfully it didn't break or crack anything under the magnitude of her strength.

"I guess I don't know my own strength, sorry." Azure apologized and looked at the doors. She had troubled herself enough with trying to lift the slab of stone from the night before and the ladder, but then she simply slammed these grand giant doors into the walls? She had a hard time believing it, but she did feel different.

"That's fine, it happens sometimes, though it's usually when Princess Twilight enters the castle in a frenzy or Luna is angered. So, color me impressed that you were able to cause that." Angel once again chirped happily and walk through the doors. Both impressed and curious about her new friend, Azure shared the same thoughts for the most part.

Azure followed her as her mind ran on repeat, she saw everything once more in a flash. Just who was she, if she belonged on that battlefield? Just who was this mare that appeared in a crypt and became acquainted with royalty, and a even a guard? And what role did she play in the world, or was she something's pawn moving forward across the board and dodging the dangerous? Or was she simply surviving by pure luck? No, it was quick thinking and rational thinking that got her here. She was here because she belonged somewhere, she just didn't know where or why.

"Just who am I and why?" She asked herself silently, not wanting to alert Angel to her confusion or to appear weird.

"You are what you are and always will be, a servant, Azure." A voice echoed in her head and her eyes widened. She was hearing voices again.

"You're as worthless as you are unique and gullible as you always have been, always will be. Nothing special and certainly unknown to the world." The voice, once more echoed in her head. Her mood dropped instantly, the words had quite literally already got in her head.

"Nothing special? Worthless?" She asked herself quietly as if taking the words to heart and almost believing them.

She looked at Angel's mane as it blew in the wind, to which she giggled and stretched her wings out. They stretched a lot farther than Azure could've dreamt, the beautiful white wings seemed as if they glided over a surface without being in the air eve. They were sturdy, strong and most importantly, angelic to a point. Azure was once again left unsure of how this mare didn't have a stallion, not that it matted much to her. Or so she thought.

"The trick isn't not let other ponies get to you, but to keep yourself from getting to you. We will always be our own worst enemies, but if you keep telling yourself you're special and unique, that you can stand out from the crowd, you'll truly shine." Angel spoke, in one of softest voices Azure has been able to hear yet. As soft as Princess Luna's voice was, it didn't compare at all to Angel's sweet voice.

"That, that was amazing Angel! Where did you hear that from?" Azure asked, her mood suddenly springing back and her spirits high again.

"My mother used to tell me it everyday before she went and disappeared, she was a smart and kind mare. The kind a stallion would feel as if he had found himself a perfect queen." Angel explained, her soft voice mixing with one of sadness.

"I'm sorry to hear that Angel." Azure plainly said, she wasn't sure what it was like, but she imagined it was sad for someone to just disappear. Though it made her wonder if she had just disappeared from somepony's arms at some point and ended up here.

"It's alright, I've moved on. But I will also keep her legacy with me and spread it if I can. Everypony deserves happiness, even if they weren't the greatest or the best. We all deserve a chance." Azure could only smile more as Angel spoke. Was Angel always like this? So free to speak her mind without worry of judgement?

"I can agree, we all deserve that chance to have it. To keep it and protect it," Azure tried to add in and earned a nod from Angel.

"You're a pathetic failure of a warrior if you start to think that Azure!" A voice screamed in her head and for a moment, she almost let that voice have its way again.'

"No, you shut up in there. I am not pathetic, I am not a warrior either!" She shouted back in her head, not wanting to seem crazy to Angel. Whom she hadn't heard her answer before bumping into Angel's flank with her muzzle.

Angel blushed brightly and jumped slightly/ She turned and look at an equally blushing Azure. "Sorry about that, I got distracted." Azure mumbled and looked away.

"It's alright, Azure. But we're here." Angel assured her and giggled like a filly too happy to care.3

Azure looked up and over to what looked like a diner. How had she not noticed them from ahead? Or how had she not noticed just how crowded this place was with buildings, each appearing to be large. And then there was this small one in the middle of it all, few ponies inside as well. Workers from what Azure could tell.

"Come on, lets eat." Angel chirped and hurried inside, Azure wondering who the hungrier mare was now. Or perhaps she wanted to break the awkward feelings? She would never know and simply began to run in after her, except she stopped halfway at the door as the voice picked up again.

"Worthless, useless and yet so powerful. Azure, listen to me, you're a pathetic mare. You're a terrible mare at that, one who cannot comprehend who you are. Just give up already!" The voice, much colder than before echoed in her head and Azure remained outside the door as she had a mental battle with herself. Something else was fighting for dominance over her mind, and she surely wasn't going to make it easy for it.