Friendship Needs a Bodyguard

Chapters

File 0: Blackened Memories
File 1: The Drunk Savior
File 2: Hellstone Walk

File 0: Blackened Memories

The winds kicked around the kirins' manes as they stood guard. Their resolve was good and their stance was bold against the beating heat of the Sun.

Along an all too accurate path, a carriage surrounded by unicorn and kirin guards rode forward. It's movement unheeded by any stones or rocks that dare attempt to stall it. Inside were four creatures; two kirins in fine uniform suits and two unicorns with trim clean suits devoid of any creases and seams.

The older kirin, a stallion, white in color with a black mane looked toward the yellow unicorn with a blue mane and spoke first. "I'm glad to see that your training has paid off. I’ve never seen my soldier so clean and proficient. Now my country will be ready for anything. I thank you Comet Tail from the bottom of my heart." He held one hand out of the carriage and sighed in relief.

“No, problem, President Sable.” Comet Tail was glad. It had been so much hard work, but it paid off perfectly. He knew now they would be ready for anything.

"Indeed, honey," the slightly younger kirin noted as he placed his hand in the older kirin's free hand. At first, though the younger kirin pulled back at the sight of the unicorn. "Sorry," he whispered under his breath.

“Oh, you two are a thing?” Comet laughed.

The younger kirin turned away, wanting to hide his face. President Sable placed his fingers under the chin of the younger kirin and brought his nose to his own, making the young one smile. “Yes, this is my fiance.” President Sable spoke up. “Once peace has been brought to our land, I am planning to take this wonderful creature as my own.”

“Good, good. Maybe you two and my coltfriend can have a double date.” Comet’s words only confused them. He waved his hand to calm them. “Don’t worry. I was just joking. I prefer not to take any mission personally. It’s quite rare to run into others like us outside Equestria.”

“Indeed, our kind of relationship may seem strange. But it is one we all must value.” The younger kirin finally lowered his guard.

“I couldn't agree more.” Comet loosened his shoulders. When he first met the leader of this country he didn’t expect them to have such a similar mindset to his own.

"Back onto topic, Comet Tail." President Sable interjected. "I hear this Princess Celestia wanted all the nearby countries to be ready for something. Yet we still do not know what?"

"Yes, apparently her draconequus friend said that something might be happening today that could affect every country around Equestria."

"Does this have anything with that bright light that shot out of the Castle of Frie--" He was stopped at the carriage abruptly halting its movement.

"What's going on?" The younger kirin's face filled with paleness once more.

"Don't concern yourselves." Comet held up his hands to them before looking to the unicorn beside him. "Watch over President Sable... and his future husband." The unicorn took up his sword while Comet pulled out a long gladius and leaned his head out the window.

Outside the heatwave had been replaced by a cold stickiness as a lone creature in a black coat stood in the way of the carriage. He was holding out a long katana and aiming it forward. Up in the sky the Sun had gone pale not just twisting the feeling of this scene, but giving a greater feeling that something was terribly wrong.

"Hmm, it's a black dragon... I think." Comet Tail looked to the guards surrounding them. "Ace, Drone, take him in, alive."

"Yes, sir. " The two guards nearest to him left the group and charged forward. The black 'dragon' pulled his katana back into his sheath as they got closer. Comet could only smile at what seemed like a perfect victory.

However, with a single draw that seemed far too fast for a dragon, the guards were cleaved in half. A coldness increased in the air as blood poured from their wounds and toward the carriage.

"Shit," On Comet's words, the others charged in. Comet pulled his head back in and hit the ceiling, "Grape Vine, get us out of here."

"Yes, sir." On that, the carriage heavily turned and raced in the other direction.

"What's happening?" President Sable questioned.

"I don't know... there is no way a dragon could move that fast." Comet concentrated magic in his horn. "Hmm.."

"What are you doing Sir Comet?" The younger kirin questioned.

"Contact spell. I need to know if this was what Discord was warning us about." He closed his eyes however quickly opened them seconds later. "What? That makes no sense?"

"What is it?"

"I can't contact Canterlot at all."

"Could they be blocking us?" the other unicorn commented

"No... it's like there is nothing there." Comet waved his head back and forth in denial before pulling on a different spell. "I'll try a searching spell. I need to see if there are any more attackers coming." Comet closed his eyes once more and the outside world was revealed in his mind's eye. He could see everything around the carriage for up to a hundred meters in a circular spread, However... "Damn it, your guess was correct there are magic dampeners in the area."

"I don't remember authorizing such things."

"Hold on, President Sable. I don't think they are the main cause--" Comet stopped his words and his eyes popped open. "Look out." He threw his hands up and pulled a shield of magic over the president as a giant shockwave burst through and tore the carriage in half.

"Kind!" The president reached out to his fiance as the two were separated by the attack.

Comet Tail and the president's fiance were sent to the far right as the other half of the carriage was pulled into the air by a yellow aura of magic.

******

"And that was the last thing I remember before everything went black." Comet Tail put down the cigarette and puffed slowly. "I never did find out who that fast dragon was or who used that white aura of magic."

"Yes, that's good much better than last week." The gray earth pony doctor jotted down more notes.

"Yeah, seventeen months of work for nothing." Comet Tail crushed his cigarette and threw it perfectly into the ashtray.

"Not nothing, you have at least some idea of when you lost those memories, you just need a bit more work to find out how." The doctor twirled his pencil around.

"Right, Doctor Allswell?" Comet's voice was filled with a bit too much snark to care for. "Is this work going to help bring my leg back." Comet slapped at the metal limb with a broken gladius caked in dust strapped onto it.

"You at least can walk."

"Yeah, but I couldn't during the war." Without any hesitation, he walked over to the window and pulled it open. In the distance, the Canterlot's mountain once stood, now only a crater remained.

"That is none of your problems. The King has been good to us since the princesses disappearance. He gave you a new leg and all of this good technology."

"Right, the King is so great, yet we never have seen him directly." Comet's eyes wandered upward to a might float crystal fortress that floated above the crater before turning away. "My mission failing happened on the same day that place appearing."

"Yes, but the attack on the kirins happened so far away from here. The king has nothing to do with that event. Your memories do. And they are the only thing that can help you now."

“No, they clearly can’t.” Comet huffed and reached for his pocket as something vibrated. He pulled out a peeper and walked to the door.

“Wait, your session is not over yet.”

“Yeah, but it's time for work.”

“We made so much progress.”

“Yeah, as in none at all.” Comet opened the door and left the room, quickly slamming the door behind him.

Doctor Allswell leaned back and finally gave his own annoyed huff. “So close…” He wrote some small notes down and turned to a phone. Taking a deep breath he picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“State your name and rank.” The voice on the other side was quick and strong in his words.

“I am Doctor Alan Allswell of the Raven Institut. Rank, Lieutenant Captain of the Poena Guard.”

“State your business.”

Doctor Allswell got up from his chair and stared deeply at the crater that Comet had shown so much anger toward. “I have my next report on Comet Tail for the king.”

******

The one on the other side of the line took every word to count. “Good, I’ll take the report to him once I arrive back at Nigrum Crystalli.” The yellow pegasus closed his phone up and turned back to his work.

“Captain Flash Sentry.” A soldier walked up to him. “We found fifty rebels inside, but still no sign of it.”

“Bring forward any that are still alive.”

The soldier turned away and gestured to the other soldiers. Twelve ponies were brought forward. Most of them were very old or broken souls. However, among them were two children.

Flash slowly walked to the children. He leaned down and smiled at their small faces. “Tell me, were there any other children in the safe house.”

“No, sir.”

Flash’s face quickly frowned. “Good, good.” He rose back up and looked to the older ponies. “Now I will ask this once and only once. Where is it?!”

None of them answered though it didn’t seem to be out of some absolute loyalty rather something else. Something that Flash could see very clearly. He walked away from the children and looked over each older pony. He stared deep into each eye as he walked by. Once he reached the end he loose a small smile. “I see, Lieutenant Outer.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Remove the children.”

“Sir?”

Flash turned to the soldier with a glare. “Do as I said, a child should never see such brutality.”

Understanding the order, the children were quickly removed from the area. His kindness to them was indeed quite strange to the soldiers, but it brought less fear from them then his rage. The children only saw kindness in Flash’s eyes as they were pulled away.

Flash turned away from them once they were out of sight and looked toward all the older ponies once more, finally speaking to them. “He gave strength and you ran from it.” The soldiers lifted strange weapons with barrels on the end. “He gave you valor and you ran from it.” The soldiers aimed their weapons as the tip began to glow. “He gave you kindness and you give him hatred.” On that final word, the soldiers pulled their triggers.

As the light burst outward from each weapon and the loud bangs bounced over every wall Flash’s eyes never lose their cold gaze. He kept a calm stern mind and stayed ready and loyalty to the kingdom he now served. The kingdom they all now served.

Once they stopped he looked up to a tear in the ceiling. He closed his eyes at the feeling of rain pouring down. Under his breath, he spoke a few small words, “You were once the best of us, Comet. But now you are nothing but a weak soul. And a weak soul is not fit to live in this world.”

"Sir? Sir? Sir?" Another soldier ran up.

Flash's eyes popped opened and faster then anypony could process he rushed forward and gripped the soldier by the throat and lifted him high into the air. "There better be a good reason for interrupting my prayer?!" Flash's words were pure rage.

"Sir... We found it." On those words Flash only squeeze tighter.

"Where?!"

"Just beyond these plains. There are some ruins... and an altar."

"Show me..." Flash finally dropped him to the ground.

******

Author's Note

Well, this was a hard chapter to release. This chapter showed off our hero, Comet Tail, and our villain, yes it's Flash Sentry. Though there are some other hints in this early chapter to other things.

More chapters will be coming soon. Track this and keep an eye out for a blog explain the schedule sometime next week. Or follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/Gryphonstar5678

Don't forget to comment and give a like as those always help. In particular, I'm trying something different with this story compared to my other ones and I would like to know if this difference is helping you enjoy the story better and why. And if not, why not?

File 1: The Drunk Savior

A purple batpony stallion and a white unicorn mare danced around the ballroom to soft music. The two held tightly to each other simply enjoying the moment, the music and each other's scent.

A pleasing mix of sweet chalk, red lilies, blue grass, and cool rum swung around them in their movement. The Two swung around the place, being near empty, they could have the whole place to themselves for as long as possible.

After a few more swings the two came to a stop. The mare leaned into the stallion's shoulder. Her thick glasses did little to hide her beauty from him as she giggled when his finely combed beard brushed against her nose. "Do you miss this?" She questioned.

"Of course, every minute of it..." The stallion word's drifted as he leaned his mouth into hers. "I will always desire you, Moondancer."

She hummed at the mention of her name but pulled back from his kiss. "As I desire you, Jack. But it seems our time is up."

"What...?" He could barely compute her words as a loud booming flew through his ears. The ballroom grew dark. Seeing this he gripped tighter to her. "I don't want this to end."

"But I have to go..." Her voice drifted as her image shifted back and forth before fading from sight.

The loud booming returning. Sounding as if it was right above him the echoes were like engines firing. He looked in all directions for the source as the ballroom darkened to pitch black.

The dream was ending.

******

In the skies above pegasi soldiers flew by with watchful eyes. Their flight magic creating a loud booming sound. Their bold golden armor was the only other color in the sky outside of the grayish-brown as the Sun and Moon locked in a twisted eclipse refused to let any other color fill the sky. It had been this way for far too long and the only hope that came for the ones that once looked up was when the rain clouds covered the horrible sight.

Deep within a tavern crashing and splashing could be heard as a purple batpony fell back, laughter covering his lips. He wore a shredded brown robe over a maroon blazer only keeping his right army out to hold his drink, keeping the rest of himself clean tightly to the warmth of his old clothing. The right hand itself also had a thick and long glove held over just as tight. The tavern was mostly empty outside of him and a cloaked warrior.

"Damn it, that loud noise broke the connection!." The batpony continued to drink and drink without a single loss of measure.

"Are you sure it wasn't the cider that broken the connection instead." The cloak warrior simply padded him on the back and refused every drink the batpony offered.

“Come on, Stone. It’s rude to let a pony drink alone.” The batpony gulped down another.

“Oro, you are never alone, Jack. As long as your connection to her is still strong.” The warrior pushed the offer away again. “Besides I’ve already had enough.” His lies were easy for the batpony to see.

“I would hold those hips directly rather than through the dreamscape.” Jack swiped at his hand and turned away. He took another drink and let the smooth malt cider take his pain away. There wasn’t much else they could do in this new world.

Jack laughed at the thought, new world. He didn’t care at all about this world he just wished it would let him enjoy at least some happiness.

Jack’s ears lifted at the sounds of footsteps approaching the tavern. “They found us again?”

Stone reached for a rusted and cracked katana yet refused to remove it from its sheath. “Flash must be getting desperate.”

Jack used the rim of the cider to lift his head before breaking the glass enough to use it as a weapon. “Fucking jackass can’t let his former friend get some sleep.” The two turned toward the door.

“Wait, that…”

A blue earth pony in a fine suit and small glasses walked in. “There you two are.” He jumped out of the way from the broken glass as Jack chucked it.

“Damn it, Noteworthy. You need to be more careful Stone nearly chopped you in half.” Jack laughed, he was the only one laughing as the others knew Stone was nowhere near that aggressive, best shown on how Jack had already thrown the bottle before even seeing who it was.

“You are the ones that need to be more careful after blowing up the King’s Third Watch Tower!”

“That was his idea, “ Stone pointed to Jack.

“What? It was blocking my view of the Sun.” Jack poured another drink and raised it to the sky.

“Liar,” Noteworthy facepalmed while walking over. “The Sun has been blocked out since Canterlot fell!”

“Fine, it was blocking my view of the Moon!” Jack laughed harder knowing full well the Moon had been locked into place for just as long.

“I told him was a bad idea.”

“Which is why I’m here.” Noteworthy stopped at the bar and placed down some cuffs. “Make this easy.”

“You’re handing me over to Flash?!” Jack jumped back and lifted his left arm in the robe, revealing a to a massive weapon over the arm, aiming it at Noteworthy in defiance.

“Of course not. This is to make it look like I am. Unlike you and Stone, I still have a family.” His words stunk right through Jack’s chest. "And since Mad Jack's army fell last month, there is only so much fighting that can be done."

“What's the plan?” Stone stood ready.

“I turn to in and a friend of mine breaks you out during transport.”

“Won’t that make things worse?”

“It’s either that or facing Flash’s firing squad.” Noteworthy moved the cuffs over Jack's hands only to stop halfway.

Jack leaned over with a cruel smile at Noteworthy being slowed by the massive weapon. “What? Haven’t got enough foreplay in since you're stallion left you.” He was stopped as Noteworthy elbowed him in the gut.

“Sorry, your arm is not as big as his,” Noteworthy finally gave a laugh of his own.

“Oh, maybe someday I’ll meet this former lover of yours and ask him.” Jack shook the chains and walked closer, “I'll ask him how long it took him to pop that little ass of your.”

“Said the stallion who hasn't fucked anything from mare to stallion to random toy in over two years.” Noteworthy pushed back.

“Okay, please stop with the sex jokes around me.” Stone pushed the two away before they killed each other.

“Fine.” Jack sat back down and got another drink.

Noteworthy pulled out a note, “Now, this is the friend. He’ll get you to safety.”

Jack took the picture and stuck it in his coat. Noteworthy looked over to Stone and pointed to the rusted katana. “You're going to need to hand that to me.”

“No,” Stone took a tight grip on the hilt yet refused to lift it from its sheath. “This stays with me.”

Noteworthy's eyes narrowed before giving up. "Fine, but if they break that stick it's on you." He pulled out cuffs for Stone as well. "Now let's get moving, Dr. Ki--" He was stopped as the doors exploded.

Smoke spread everywhere as their ears ringed from the blast. Soldiers ran inside and quickly surrounded them. "Knock, knock." A voice called out a them.

"Look like leave might not an option anymore." Jack looked away in shame as a gray earth pony in spiked armor walked toward. Her mane once just as gray as her fur now neon green and spiked up over the left side of her face where sever burns still stood.

"Damn it," Noteworthy whispered as the earth pony walked over to him. He bowed to her and answered, "Lieutenant Limestone. I was told that I would be the one to bring the two to Captain Flash's airship--" He was caught off guard as Limestone punched him in the gut. The hit knocked him clear to the otherside of the room.

"Plans have been changed and the monolith has been found. We can't take the chances with these two. I have been order to take them straight to Flash, personally." Her soldiers charged in.

Jack knocked back the soldiers as they tackled him. He placed his hand over the metal gun over his other arm, making it glow. He lifted and aimed at Limestone. "Stand down, Limestone, I don't wish to see pie sister fall in war." His hesitation, laughter and drunken was gone as if they were never there in the first place.

Stone huffed gripped tightened at his rusted katana. He stood beside Jack and echoed his words."Your sister would have gave us a five minute running start."

"Yeah, Pinkie was always far more merciful than me. I still don't know where the King vanished her to." She held her axe and ready for a fight. "And, frankly I don't fucking care." She charged in as Jack's weapon filled the room with light.

******

Author's Note

Yea, Limestone is on Flash's side as well. This just keeps getting worse. Noteworthy seemed to be in an uneasy alliance with Flash to protect a family he claims have. More stuff, enemies and allies to come soon.

Also note that this world has been like this for seventeen months. Well, in February I planning to post another story based in the point in the timeline, a month before this story. More details on that in February's schedule which will come out nexrt Monday.

Please, send some love to this story as it only needs three more upvotes to get off the dumb graybar. More chapters coming soon, though I have yet to settle on a proper time table yet so track this as soon as possible.

Don't forget to comment, I love that people are enjoying having Flash as a villain and I would love to hear what you think of Limestone being his Lieutenant.

File 2: Hellstone Walk

The rain beat down over the twisted geodes that traced over each building. They bounced over several things from the crystals to the stone walls to the steel fire escapes down finally onto the weakened ponies hiding in fear down below. Indeed the world had changed for many, but no one so much more than Comet Tail, or at least that is how he always saw it.

Comet Tail cocked his gun and stopped by a wall. His horn glowed a small shield to keep the rain from dampening the flavor of his cigarette as he tapped his foot in annoyance. “Hurry up.”

Though his cigarette was safe, he didn’t mind the rain hitting his face. It felt good in some ways at least. Better to feel a chill that had been haunting him all these seventeen months. The world had changed drastically in many places and non so more than on the edge of Equestria's one powerful capital, Canterlot.

The mountainside was long gone and only chunks of the city could be reached before being stopped by the magic barrier surrounded the lord and master of their lands. The princesses were gone, some believed dead, Twilight was gone, her friends were either gone scattered and or fully shattered. Ally kingdoms had faded from reach long ago and Equestria itself was on its last length.

Comet Tail didn't care in the end, his failure in fighting was pointless as he spent more of the war stuck to a bed. In the end, the new ruler won and brought forth many things including very advanced technology. Comet Tail was glad this stuff gave him a way to walk again but many weren't as lucky as him.

No matter how much time had passed and who he was serving, one thing was for sure, Comet Tail had work to do and plenty of it. Even without war, he was still stuck doing guard duty. However, where before he would watch over the royal and elite now he watched over the scum of the underworld. The only form of civilization that didn't care who was in charge.

Waiting here for what felt like far too long for his taste often made him ponder. This job was much slower than his previous job, of course. He used to be a proud, bold, best of the best soldier until Canterlot fell. Everypony lost something that day, but they didn’t get a metal leg and minor memory lost. Comet Tail couldn’t help laughing at that last part. A metal leg, he would have never considered such technology possible until it was shown to him.

He stopped as the door finally opened. Soft moans echoed from a hallway that stank of certain smells Comet Tail would rather not ponder too much on.

His current employer walked out. It was a fat short stock of an earth pony with a bright pink jacket covering that most of his body, in particular his half undone pants. “Sorry, Comet. The ladies love some good action.”

“Whatever?” Comet Tail huffed and looked forward. “Let just get moving. We already an hour behind schedule.”

“What? You got to get back to your own mistresses.” The employer snarked and walked ahead. He stopped for a moment and looked back to Comet Tail with a small sneer. “Oh, that right. You prefer a different breed of bitch.”

Comet Tail shrugged and kept walking, ignoring the word of his employer. This was in fact commonplace to him since he always preferred to keep his eyes on the surrounding of the world should another slip-up happened. As they got into the deep of the rain his metal leg ached. Thoughts and memories tried to play with the feeling, but Comet Tail smashed that with a slap to the face.

“You should buy some of my drugs?” Employer’s words got through this time. “You would be surprised by the wonders they do for pain.”

“Sorry, I don’t want to dull my senses.” Comet straighten his stance and kept moving.

"No, I insist. I'll give it to you at half price."

"Huh, sounds worthless." Comet Tail stopped at the turn.

"Far from it, I have been getting a large stock serving under our gracious alicorn king." The employer smiled and took a bow.

"You work that close to him. I'm surprised he hasn't turned you into one of his zombies."

"Like Flash Sentry and Night Fright, I'm more useful alive." The Employer laughed hardly.

"Comparing yourself to those sellouts isn't something to be proud of." Once things were clear Comet Tail dropped his gun to his side.

"Said the stallion with a metal limb given to him by our benevolent ruler." The employer walked through the opening much to Comet Tail's dismay.

The outer roads were just beyond them and the employer’s chariot was in sight. Comet Tail was annoyed at his employer's recklessness but glad that they would soon get some cover. He held up his hand as his employer got to the edge of the opening.

“Hold here. I need to see if the chariot is clear too.”

“Fine…”

Comet Tail quickly moved across the road very slowly, noting everything from some bums lying on the side of the road to even the dime on the ground and cracks just before reaching the chariot. Everything seemed clear but Comet Tail still felt uneasy. The employer attempted to make a move and cross as well, but Comet Tail held his hand once more. Annoyed he did as he was told and Comet Tail continued his search.

Comet opened up the chariot and looked everything over. He scanned the chairs and the wheel, even the shag carpet. He dropped down to the road ground and looked under the chariot. There was nothing but the usual stuff. Everything seemed clear, maybe his fear was wrong.

One final check, he grabbed the keys and placed them in their slot, and turned the trigger. The chariot kicked up some smoke but worked all the same.

“Huh, okay. It’s clear.” Comet left the door open, turned, and waved over to the employer.

The employer walked over rather slower than Comet Tail wanted. Really the longer he wasted time the more danger could be drawn, then again Comet Tail was charging by the hour, so maybe there was no concern.

The employer arrived and took the keys away from Comet Tail. “I see you taking your time admiring everything.” He tapped on the top of the chariot. “It’s Noxiton Original. I was handed this by Jack Nox himself.”

“Made by a drunk and the son of a criminal, not exactly something to brag about.”

“Yeah, Jack hasn't been the same since his bitch left him.” The employer stepped into the chariot and smiled at the soft touch. “Are you getting in?”

“Once you start the chariot I’ll get in.”

“Oh, you want to hear it purr.”

“Not exactly. Just scoping out a final test--” He stopped as something vibrated in his pocket. “Hold on.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed out a phone.

“Oh, everypony wants to hear it purr.” The employer turned the engine on and laughed at the loud roar it sent off. “See, good, isn’t it?”

“Right?” Comet Tail headed to the backdoor.

The employer nodded his head and closed his door. Comet Tail's ear flicked at the sound of a trigger moving as the door closed...

Without warning, Comet Tail was sent back by an explosion and the chariot and his employer went up in flames. Comet Tail hadn’t fully registered this as the first he felt was his body hitting the other side of the road. The next thing his body could sense was the vibrations of footsteps on the ground, racing toward him.

“Damn it, not again--” Comet barely finished his words as his eyes went blurry. The last thing he sensed before losing consciousness was sirens. He dropped his phone revealing the caller id showing the name, Noteworthy.

******