Author's Note

EDIT: New intro!

Sorry it's so short, folks, but I figured giving you all something, even a teaser like this, would be better than nothing. However, you can expect an update on The Storm Queen soon, as well as on Shadow of Rage along with one of two new stories on the horizon.

For now though, this is all I can get out before the festivities around here pick up. I hope you all enjoyed it, even if it was short.

Thanks for reading!

-Timeless

8th Meditation (EDITED)

A youth lies in the mud, staring up at the grey clouds above.

His heart searches for the sky behind the clouds.

Gritting his teeth, he gets to his feet, and marches on the muddy path.

Blood slips down the side of his bespectacled face.

He dons his mask.

He glances to the masses of bodies either side of him.

He runs forward, up the muddy path in the storm.

His heart searches for the sky behind the clouds.

"Has there been any developments yet on the prisoner's queer equipment?" Celestia asked, lifting a tea biscuit to her muzzle with her magic and daintily biting into it.

Twilight sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead with a hoof as she leaned on the table in a very undignified manner. "Not in the least. The only thing we've picked up from his equipment, thanks to Luna," she nodded to the midnight blue mare across the table. "Is that the blue greatsword is made of moonlight. Unique moonlight we can't quite pin down, but nothing else." She groaned. "And that Japonese katana of his was just...insane. The amount of materials in it, the level of magic, all of it makes me wish we were able to figure out more about it. As it stands all we know is that it's almost certainly a God-level artifact. One we've never heard of or seen, either."

Celestia shared a look with her sister, both frowning. "A mortal with that level of equipment hasn't been seen for many years..."

Luna nodded. "Not even one wielding our own artifacts."

Twilight nodded slowly. "I know. As for the rest of it, all of it seems pretty pedestrian. His music box played a nice melody, but there was no magic to it." Twilight seemed to lean yet more on the table. "That book of his made no sense, either. It's language isn't like any I've seen. Heck, it almost feels like a cipher, but if it actually is one, then I have no idea where to start." She rubbed her forehead with a golden shod hoof. "The necklace he has wasn't that unusual, simple acrylic, though the symbol was unusual. There was a black tourmaline crescent in his pocket as well, but it wasn't enchanted or anything either. There was a pocket watch, but the only other thing of actual note was his, uh...I think Sunset called it an MP3?" She shook her head. "Musical device, basically. Couldn't get it to open, though."

Luna hummed, taking a sip of afternoon coffee - because you can never have enough coffee, in her opinion - before asking, "And he still has not wakened?"

Twilight shook her head with a frustrated grumble.

Celestia shared a look with her sister, then looked back to her junior. "And have you gained any information from the drake?"

A shake of the head.

Celestia frowned. "Unfortunate."

"Princess!" came a Guardsmare's voice behind Twilight. Trotting up to the table, she saluted. "Apologies for the interruption, but an urgent matter has surfaced."

Twilight sighed deeply, then straightened up and turned her head to look at the Guard. "What is it?"

The Guardsmare paused a moment, shifting her weight, before answering, "The prisoner has disappeared from his cell."

"...WHAT?!?"

The three alicorns - though mostly Twilight - all but tore down the halls of Canterlot Castle, panic, or at least worry, in their steps.

"Was there any sign of teleportation magic? What about invisibility?" Luna queried the Guardsmare as she barely kept up with them.

"Not that we were aware of, Princes- er, Luna," the mare replied. Luna frowned, and they all picked up speed. Soon enough they reached the stairs leading down into the dungeons, where Twilight all but flew down the steps, the others close behind her.

Despite all their haste, when Twilight, the Sisters, and the guardsmare arrived at Hamin's cell, they could see that their haste was not rewarded. Throwing open the heavy titanium door, Twilight saw only an empty cell, with none of the countless wards activated.

Somehow, Hamin had escaped without tripping a single one of those wards. Twilight's mane started to fray as a scene from days past flitted through her eyes. The blood, the screams, the head that rolled on the floor, and the glassiness in those navy blue eyes. His eyes.

Her eyes narrowed as her magical aura flared. "...Guardsmare." She began through gritted teeth.

The guardsmare saluted. "Yes, Princess?"

"...Is the prisoners equipment missing as well?"

An uncomfortable pause. "...Y-Yes, Princess."

Twilight took a deep breath. Then another. And another. It barely helped. "...Send out a warrant of arrest. Bounty included. I want this fugitive found, and I want him found now. Am I understood?"

The guardsmare nodded. "Yes, Princess."

"Good. Then go."

"Yes!"

As the guard ran off down the halls, Twilight took one final breath...then let out a Royal Canterlot Scream.

Another poster was posted on yet another notice board. On said poster was a roughly drawn sketch of Hamin, with the words, 'WANTED; ALIVE - 50,000 BIT BOUNTY.'

As the guard who posted the poster walked off to continue their duty, a few creatures took notice of the new bounty. Tearing off the scrap of paper with a claw, they looked it over with a grin on their beak before looking back to their comrades. "Well heck, girls, looks like we might have a good hunt on our claws!"

A changeling giggled, sheathing her knife. "How much is this one?" The griffon showed the wanted poster to her comrade, who whistled lowly. "Well damn. That is a catch. He looks pretty exotic, too."

"I'll say," a Minotaur Cow mused, bending down to inspect the poster.

"Well, if we're hunting again, we should get started, eh?" an amber colored stallion urged, hopping off his stool.

The griffon nodded, grinning still as she pocketed the poster. "You'll get no argument from me. Let's grab the others, too."

The changeling smirked, bumping hips with her companion. "Tartarus yeah."