Author's Note

I wished this was better. In my opinion it does not hold up to the previous chapters performance in my eyes.

Be that as it may, I do hope you all enjoy this chapter. I had to delete it more than once and it drove me to near madness.

One more chapter to go. The Epilogue.

Thank you all for sticking with me thus far.

Also I want to shout out to Omegacannon! I loved the art my dude/duddette!

As always please leave a comment or something. I don't know. I'm tired as hell

The Great Escape

Things had been happening quick, too quick in his opinion. It had been eight minutes since he awoke and he had moved quickly to get into the orphanage and grab his things, be confronted by, then hugged by Mrs Evergarden one last time. Damn he was going to miss her.

Eight minutes lost. How in the absolute hell was he supposed to get the fuck out of the city.

He was still in the guise of the mare whose identity he stole. Scammers only dreamed they could do this shit. Maybe not, it was rather painful to pull off. “Oh God, what would it feel like when I revert back?” He was not looking forward to the feeling of his dick regrowing. Hopefully it would end up the same size and not, smaller.

So he had twelve minutes and not a lot of options. After a very brief debate with himself he decided on the only one that seemed available to him. A stupid plan, but he had not thought that far ahead yet, and if he let himself, he was likely to panic.

With his disguise he actually had a much easier time than he believed possible. The streets were filled with guards from two different factions. One of the Church and the Royal Guard. Both swarmed like angry hornets and bees. As he passed through the streets he could not help but notice that there were a lot of collisions between the two groups as they scrambled to look for him.

It was clear as glass to him that no love was lost between either side as they cursed each other out when one group got in another’s way. Because of the chaos between them, he decided to capitalize on that by moving as they did. While the form he took wasn’t a particularly large mare, the weight of the armor was much greater than the standard guard armor. In the end he knocked down a string of guards as he cut across the city for the most direct and quickest route. Uttering a string of curses in the cute way the ponies did.

He could barely contain his laughter. His grand escape amounted to cussing people out like a kindergartner. This would be a joke for the ages. If he managed to get out alive.

He was going to have to seriously move if he was to make it before times up. The clock was ticking.

The toiling of the bells woke the family of Twilight. They had ended up cuddled up on the couch and falling asleep. Night Light and Velvet hadn’t wanted their daughter to spend her night alone. Not after today.

“What the buck is going on?” Night had been the first to speak, sleep still clinging to his mind. “I swear if somepony got drunk off cider again and thought it would be hilarious to ring the church-”

“No dear. These are alarm bells.” Velvet had gently but firmly interrupted her husband’s building tirade. “We may be under attack.”She said grimly.

In eighty years, he had never seen or heard of Canterlot being attacked. In fact, he had never even heard of the city being attacked since its foundation. He rushed to his and his wife’s study and rummaging into the cases as both mares slowly came to full alertness.

“Attacked? What mommy? What do you mean.” Twilight rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her current woes forgotten as her brain tried to catch up with current events. She heard the pounding of steel clad hooves from the cobblestone street outside their home, but hadn’t really focused on what they might have meant.

“Hush dear, it will be okay.” Her mother gently nuzzled the top of her head. A loud clanging noise could be heard from in the hallway, suddenly Night Light burst out brandishing a short-sword. He was garbed in his old Royal Guard uniform; it was clear to all that he had ‘grown’ out of the outfit since he last wore the purple and gold. The breastplate gleamed dully in the living room's fire light.

“Velvet, Twilight. I want you to stay here. Canterlot will NOT fall.” He proclaimed, with that he charged out the house’s front door.

Both mares looked at each other. “Daddy?” Twilight spoke quizzically.

“That stallion I swear.” She laughed incredulously. “Don’t worry, dear. Your father will be back soon.” How true that turned out to be.

Less than a minute later he had returned, with a group of Royal Guards practically carrying him. “Mrs Velvet? Is this your stallion, ma’am?” A lean mare asked, the insignia stating her rank as lieutenant.

She wanted to laugh but didn’t want to hurt his pride any further. He already looked ashamed, they had taken his sword away from him. “Yes, that is my husband. What is the problem? I sent him out to get something to drink and he came back with, entertainment. I am sure we could, indulge, the lot of you if you're up for it?” The way she said entertain made her daughter groan, but pulled a rueful chuckle from her husband. It also served to disarm the situation. She had long ago learned that an awkward word could calm a dangerous situation.

The lieutenant, for her part, sputtered as those she led chuckled around her. They let him go and handed his sword back. “I-i….No. NO! He just shouldn’t be outside during a time of crisis!” She was flustered, and the laughter from her soldiers only inflamed her embarrassment.

Velvet allowed herself a small smile. “Shame, he’s a real slayer in bed. Oh well, I suppose you are correct. Sometimes my brave soldier wishes he could relieve his glory days.” That was a shot, but one to remind him he was no spring pony anymore. He took the jab with a sheepish smile, sliding his blade back in it’s scabbard with less enthusiasm than he had pulling it out.

One of the guards, a stallion himself, spoke up, “Sorry no offense old timer, but if we need you. Then we are seriously in trouble. “The rest cackled as they politely made their goodbyes and headed back out to the streets.

“WAIT!” It seemed Twilight had finally woken up enough to realize the situation. Catching the attention of the lieutenant once more. “What is going on? Are we under attack?”

“I’m afraid I cannot answer that Miss. Just please, stay in your home. Do not go outside till the all clear has been sounded. I can say, don’t allow anypony in your home that you do not know tonight. Even then, I’d advise against friends. No pony that is up to any good should be out tonight. We are advising all citizens to bar their doors and to keep indoors. Have a good night.”

With that, the officer walked briskly out closing the door behind her.

They all looked at each other in bewilderment. After a few moments, Velvet decided to break the ice. “Honey, what did you see out there?”

“Honestly, my heart, chaos. There are two groups of guards, one belonging to the Royal Guard, the other the Church.” He frowned. “ I have never seen a more contentious group. I refer to all of them, not just the Church. The couple of minutes I had to look around, they were fighting each other, or near enough. I haven’t seen that many swears being tossed around since hoofcamp. I am glad it’s not an invasion, or we really would be screwed.” He looked upset. To him to see the state of the guard like that was beyond reprehensible. They were to act with the dignity of their station, and represent all of the best of Equestria.

After all these years she could easily read his face and know his thoughts. “I’m sorry my love, this must be hard for you to see. I suppose we should just wait it out. Twilight? Make sure all the doors…” Turning around she found that her daughter was not where she expected. Not even in the same room.

A quick search by the parents showed that she wasn’t in the home any longer. Her coat was gone from the foyer closet. They both tried to search for her outside, but the lieutenant had left one of her squad to make sure Night Light caused no further trouble, and barred them inside.

“I understand Mrs Velvet. As soon as I am able I will send a message to my detachment and we will find your daughter. But you MUST remain inside. The criminal is highly dangerous. He has already killed one guard tonight.”

“HE?!” There was only one pony she could think of that could be that dangerous. For him to escape so soon after his trial, and kill somepony, was a stunning shock. The thought he would murder anypony was appalling. “But he did kill those would be kidnappers…”

They could do nothing. Night clenched his fists in anger, and Velvet prayed as they both sat on their couch. Hoping that their daughter didn’t find him.

Her wings beat powerfully in the cool night air. Above the city, she had a perfect vantage point to see the near chaos below, and she idly wondered if Discord was somehow at work despite being trapped in stone for thousands of years. Celestia surveyed the guards, her guards, as they ran about in an unorganized mess.

In the initial announcement that he had escaped custody, no pony knew what to do. Orders had been sparse. The only objective that had been accomplished had been the lock down of the city gates. They now stood secured by more guards than was needed. That was however, beginning to change.

The more of her council that was brought awake in the wee hours of the morning, the more things started to move with purpose. Air search parties were taking to the air in organized search patterns. The city blocks closest to the palace were already being cordoned off in sections, and the first true search parties were being used to go from home to home.

On the other hand, the Church of Sol’s guards were hindering these efforts. She ground her teeth every time she saw a verbal match break out when the two groups got in each other's way. From her vantage point, she could see one mare knocking over various guards as she quickly marched, shouting obscenities. She made a note that she would find out which guard that was and met out punishment for her impudent behavior, she had disrupted the search in that entire square, but Celestia was too distracted by other things to pursue now.

“Your Highness!” A pegasus stallion flew up besides her as she continued to look over her city, trying to figure out possible escape routes he could be using to escape the city.

“Yes? What is it?” She said distractedly.

“Princess, it has been determined to send four teams down into the sewers, we have discovered that was where he was originally being kept and it is suspected he may be hiding in one of the processing plants throughout the city.”

She wanted to use Orion’s ‘duh’ but that was unprincess like, and would give her an image of not being in control. That should have been one of the first things they should have done the moment they found out where he had been kept. They had made the obvious choice, and given the situation four units would have to do, as her troops were still in disarray. She nodded.

“Very good. Inform my generals to not slacken on working the rest of the city with a fine tooth comb. I want him found within the hour.” The likelihood that the crafty colt would be found as soon as that was slim. But she wanted to light a fire under the bottoms of her so-called military advisors to do their jobs. Recent events only served to prove that a serious overhaul of training and discipline would have to be enacted.

“At once your Highness!” With that, the obviously fresh faced recruit snapped out a quick salute and burst back down to the castle. Hopefully the message would get them motivated enough to pick up the pace. She turned her gaze back to her city.

A scuffle broke out in the very square the one Sol Guard had passed through. Their path through was enough to set off both sides into an actual fist fight. Celestia was appalled and angered beyond words. It was like seeing foals brawl in preschool. She had had it.

She could have been gentler with her landing, but she didn’t want to waste time, nor was she inclined to be nice this night.

Her landing in the square sent a shock wave around her as she hit the cobblestone in the middle of the two fighting parties, knocking several soldiers over and putting an immediate end to all fighting in the entire square.

“THAT IS ENOUGH!” Her voice boomed out across the square, silencing arguments and causing many ponies to cover their ears. “I have had it. Where is your Captain?!” She had snatched up a Sol Guard and practically spat in her face. “Who is giving you your orders?!”

The mare she had snatched up wet herself in her attempt to answer. “C-aptain Blue Falcon!” She screamed out in terror. Celestia held her away from herself.

“Where are they?!” She growled out.

“Last kn-know position was-” She licked her lips, “I-in the Art District, Princess!”

She nodded and dropped the mare, who simply fell into her own urine on the cobblestone. “Listen and pass the word. There will be NO more fighting between Royal and Sol Guards. Is that understood?!” She roared. The collection of strangled ‘yes my princess’ in various tones was all she needed before she took to the air once more. Her wings beating powerfully as she gained altitude and turned toward the Art District.

She hoped that mare hadn’t managed to get any of her ‘fear’ onto her. It disgusted her how easily frightened her ponies had become.

She was really beginning to regret sending Shining Armor out on deployment. His ability in magic was not just shielding, but tracking as well. He might have been able to trace Orion’s path. But Shining was in the frozen wastes of the north on a scouting mission.

“Buck me for a fool.”

Two minutes had gone by since he made his way towards the main gates. He had heard Celestia, and felt her impact into the ground before she went off on her short tirade. He did not have a lot of time. That had been way too close for him.

As he passed by a main thoroughfare he noticed that many of the Royal Guards were climbing into the sewers. That was not a good sign. It meant that the longer this went on, the less likely of him escaping. He started to run until he ran into a group of Sol Guards. God was certainly not giving him favors. This was bullshit.

“Halt!” He stopped, because if he didn’t, they would have suspected him of being up to no good in the neighborhood. “Purpose and Destination!”

The mare barking orders at him had a higher rank, a lieutenant of something judging by the rank on her breastplate, he wasn’t certain because Sol and the Royal Guards ranking system seemed to be different. But he figured a quick lie would work.

“I was ordered to the main city gates!” He shouted out. “I am to help our search in that area, we are hoping to catch him sneaking in from the alleyways!” No wonder that mare never talked while guarding him, her voice sounded like Franny from the Nanny. It was awful.

“Where is your unit?” She said less stiffly than before.

He decided to play it up a bit, despite his time constraints, it would be all for nothing if he looked too rushed and they detained him. “Mare, I don’t even know! We got broken up coming through Celestial Square when we ran into a group of the bucking Royal Guard. We got separated when a scuffle broke out.” He shrugged his shoulders then let them hang.

“Bucking Tartarus.” The mare muttered. “Did you see what they were doing?” That gave him pause, he had an idea, and evil wonderful, creative idea. He grinned, though no one could see it with the helmet on and being in the dark.

“It seemed they were heading into the sewers, I saw at least two groups pulling up ponyhole covers. Why?” This was wasting time, he had five minutes left, and he could feel time speeding up on him. But if he could somehow impede progress in the search that would be all for the better.

“Because we were ordered to follow whatever they were doing. You're wasting your time going to the city gates anyways, the Royal Guard isn’t letting no pony close, not even us. Come we can use your help in the sewers.”

He hesitated only a moment, if they already had the gates locked down then it was pointless to go further. He would risk too much. Maybe he could lose these assholes in the sewer by letting them go first, then see if he could find a path out. He chose to ignore the fact that he was about to step back into the filthy, nasty leavings of snobby elites.

“Understood. Lead the way ma’am!”

Twilight had left before she realized what she was doing. She had to find him. The very first place she went was the orphanage, his bedroom. She wasted no time walking in, but rather just teleported inside. She was greeted with a sight she never saw while he stayed. His room was a chaotic mess. Clothes thrown about, the bed had been flipped, and the books were the worst. That had been torn apart in some cases, and stomped all over. But many were missing entirely.

She shook her head and grabbed his school uniform. Her brother had taught her how to do this with marginal success. As her horn came to life the clothing took a purple glow as she began to cast her brother’s tracing spell. She wasn’t very good with it yet, but as long as nothing was purposely hidden she could do a decent job of finding obvious things, and the trail was fresh.

Suddenly before her a purple cloud seemed to fill the room before heading out the door. She followed. The cloud did not lead her outside, but rather to her surprise, to another room, the door still open. Inside she found the floor under the bed had been torn up. Wrapping papers were everywhere.

“He must have come for something he left here. But what was it?” A sudden thought brought her up short, she remembered his biggest secret and she wanted to kick herself. He had not worn any of his trinkets while in court that morning. He must have hidden them away before the trial, and the moment he escaped came back here. She had to admit he was being pretty sneaky.

The purple cloud did not tarry for long. For a moment it filled the room, before heading back out and down the old servant’s stairs. At the bottom she ran into Mrs Evergarden, haggard eyes but shocked to see her there. She looked to be having the same horrible night as her.

“Lady Twilight! What under the sun are you doing here?” She seemed genuinely surprised to see her, as was Twilight for running into her as well.

“I...uh…” She bit her lip then spoke plainly. “I heard he managed to get away.” She said sheepishly, noticing that the older mare couldn’t see the purple cloud that happened to go through her left bosom. Her brother had been correct. No pony could see it but her.

“Oh, I... uh yes. Yes I heard that too.” She was nervous about something, and she had a feeling she knew what the headmistress was hiding.

“He was here wasn’t he? You’ve seen him?” The question caused the older mare to stiffen noticeably. That was all the confirmation she needed. “I see, well I must be going Mrs Evergarden. Stay safe and stay indoors.” Before the mare could say anything more, Twilight ran out the backdoor, following the purple haze that led her out the backyard, and down the alleyway heading deeper into the city. Hopefully she could find him before her teacher or anypony else.

In the back of her mind she knew she was going against her mentor’s wishes. But for once, Twilight did not care.

“Please be safe!”

Velvet Backwater paced inside the warehouse that the Church had purchased for moving their own goods some time ago. Mostly it had gone to food and furniture for the wealthy, but it had since been turned into a command post the moment he went missing. No, escaped he had escaped.

He. That colt was the source of all her troubles.

Had she known then what she knew now, she would have taken him into custody as soon as possible. But she only believed him to be a horrible foal with a foul mouth that had filed his teeth in order to scare others. That he only needed to be educated on proper pony behavior. Proper Unicorn behavior.

She had been only upset when she had learned he was swept out of the city in the middle of the night. And while she had sent missives to the courts of Canterlot for his return, it had only been a token effort. She was more interested in improving her standing within the Church at that time. So while he would have been a feather in her cap, he ultimately did not matter.

Or so she had thought.

It was six years later that she truly regretted letting him slip away as he did. She woke up one morning to find the Manehattan Herald plastered with a front page article: ‘Colt proves Princess wrong!’ Below the headline was his image. Bound in chains, but a cocky grin on his face as he faced up to the Princess herself. It was a rendering from an unnamed artist depicting the events told, but it also showed her Highness looking chaste. Not an image that should ever be shown.

Not even a week later she was tapped to head a new commission. To investigate the foal who would dare rebuke the Sun. The Church had not liked the fact that he had gotten away with it. There were calls to have him arrested. Though the Princess herself had shot them all down.

It was inexcusable. Why give such leeway to this brat?

For a long time after the commission had begun, nothing had happened. No leads other than his boorish and antagonistic behavior, which would never stand up in court for anything other than a slap on the wrist.

Then he vanished from Canterlot last summer. They had finally gotten their break, and oh what a break it was. Between the surprising discovery of what appeared to be an ancient artifact that had recently been used, to his secret dealings with the griffons. His actions painted an incredible picture of nefarious crimes against the Equestrian ponies, and their righteous Princess.

By staying in the limelight ,as he had done, he had been allowed to carry out what had to be the most clever subterfuge in recorded history. Everypony was paying attention to what he did, not noticing his sneaking around, they were all blinded by his clever achievements. Only she could see the danger that he now represented.

During the summer it was decided he needed even closer monitoring as they finished the case against him. Mostly to keep him in check, but she wanted to know what other secrets he was hiding inside the orphanage.

Other than recording devices, there had been nothing. Or at least so it seemed, before Ivy Rose’s investigation could delve further she had been exposed. By him. Ivy had been careless and overzealous, and if she could find the suddenly vanished mare, she would exact a price on her for failure.

It was no matter, the trial went effortlessly, hands were greased with the right ‘lubrication’, and all was as it should be. Even his valiant speech at the end was for naught. His fate sealed, and she finally had him in her grasp.

Till she didn’t.

This had to be rectified, and soon. She had already taken the first steps, blaming him for the murder of the pathetic waste of a guard. Though she did wonder how he got out of the cuffs.

“Lady Backwater!” The shout of her name broke her from the brief trip into her thoughts.

“What!?” She testily responded storming through the warehouse toward a mare dressed in the uniform of the Royal Guard. “If this is not a message of good news or at least that somepony has discovered where the little shit has gone, I.Don’t. Want. To. Hear. It.” She nearly screamed.

“Oh I believe you may wish to listen, Backwater, I am not pleased.” The tone of the voice made her blood run cold as she immediately dropped to one knee, along with everypony else in the warehouse.

She knew she would eventually show up, but not before they were ready to transfer him to one of the facilities in the Ponary Islands. It was too soon. She was set to arrive in the morning.

A pair of hooves stopped in front of her, steel shod. They were attached to legs armored also in steel, lacquered white. Backwater trembled, this was the absolute worst time to have the Mare of War call upon her.

Lady Artful Hammer was her namesake, a hammer to everything regardless if it looked like a nail or not. She was notorious for brute tactics. If she wasn’t so effective she would likely have remained in the normal Church forces. Instead, she had a way of hitting the problem just in the right way to get results. But she was absolutely ruthless and came down on anypony who failed her, or the Church itself.

“Thank you guardsmare, I would advise you to return to your unit, lest the Royal Guard learn of your duplicitous nature.” The calm, gentle, even melodic voice did not belong to this mare, it just didn’t fit. “Mrs Backwater, rise. You and I have words to discuss, and your failure to hold one colt to be held to account.”

Three minutes. It was fair to say he was beginning to panic.

They had climbed down into the sewers and split off into two groups of six. Getting into the tunnels had been surprisingly fast. But now he was stuck with the lieutenant of this unit as they waded knee deep into the water of the sewers.

“This, is absolutely disgusting.” That hadn’t been the first time she had spoken about the filthiness of the under city. She had not stopped bitching about the stench or the suspicious floating objects of dubious nature around them. He felt sickened himself, and most certainly didn’t want to change back in this muck.

Coming to a cross section, there were three other paths they could take and he hoped they would split up even further, dividing their force into two per path. He was in luck. Then not.

“Alright mares, we will separate into three now. Armored Scout, you and Dodgers take the left tunnel. Hassle Hoof, you and Green Fields take the right.” She turned to him, “You’re with me, we are taking the center. Let's move it ponies, time is wasting.” With nothing further the already divided unit separated further, and moved into their respective tunnels.

Two minutes.

Celestia landed with far less velocity than she had the last time. However, she still moved in haste now flanked by a pair of personal guards, their armor gleaming the same royal purple, but instead of silver or gold to denote rank, their armor was lined in black.

It wasn’t long before she made her way to the command ‘base’, which was really nothing more than one of the temples of the Church. With the difference shown to one of her station she was ushered inside, a quick glance around revealed her current quarry. And was given quite the surprise.

Captain Blue Falcon was a griffon with blue markings to an otherwise normal brown fur and feather pattern. He was standing at a table pouring over reports and making notes. While the rest of his command swirled in chaotic activity he casually handed out orders, calm in a sea of chaos.

“Captain Falcon. A word.” Her voice cut through the panic chatter, silencing all and garnering his full attention. The look of mild shock was soon replaced with an easy going smile and a low bow. He looked up to her, a twinkle in his light golden eyes.

“Ah Princess. A pleasure to meet your highness in person!” He smiled, no hint of malice or even mildly perturbed by the interruption could be seen on his face, she wished Cadance had remained in the city, her abilities could have help here. She might have better read his emotions. But she had already left for Griffonia, to demand answers from Bloodbeak on what had happened in his nation. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this most cherished visit?”

It was all she could do to keep from gawking at this bird. She shook her head, wondering why he was the way he was, wasn’t going to get her anywhere. She cleared her throat.

“Captain, why are your guards impeding mine?”

“Oh I do apologize Princess, I was still in the process of getting things organized, that colt has made a mess of everything and we honestly never planned for this scenario.” His face showed anger for the first time in speaking of Orion. “In fact we only learned just now that he may be hiding inside the sewer system. We have deployed troops into them in order to flush him out. Also, we suspect he is without a null ring now. Pieces were found in the cell he had occupied.”

She heard the words, but could not comprehend them. “He broke a null ring? How?!” Questions for later. Though she needed to know all he did. If he was unable to be contained through normal methods new methods would have to be instituted to restrain him.

“He managed to kill his guard and break a null ring in such a short span of time? I will be honest with you Captain Falcon, but I find it hard to believe he managed to break that on his own. Could he have had inside help?” She knew he was dictating the course of this conversation, but she had to learn as much as she could about his escape.

“We honestly do not know, but that seems to be the running theory, we unfortunately have no way of investigating at this time. We have a pony to catch and restrain once again. It's bad enough that he managed to kill somepony, but he has evaded capture for the past two hours. I assure you, the more I learn, the more organized my troops will become and no longer interfere with yours. I apologize for the inconvenience.” He bowed again.

She sighed, she was expecting to do a lot more yelling, but this griffon was too amicable. “See that you do, I wish a report every twenty minutes till he is found. I will be in the air overseeing and searching myself.” Without waiting for acknowledgment, she stormed out of the temple.

“As you wish, your highness.” She should have turned around then, or she would have noticed the calculating look directed at her head.

She did not want to be down here, if not for the fact that she was freezing the sewage water, she likely would never have bothered to come down into the dank tunnels.

She could not believe that he had gone underground. When his path had suddenly veered from heading to the city gates to down a ponyhole cover, she balked at entering herself. But after brief reflection, she realized that was likely the only place he could go. But she was puzzled as to why he had gone down.

The sewer system was completely enclosed. With water being the only thing to escape through long ago forged grates that were magically resistant. She had studied everything about the city, and while not a favored subject it was still amazing to her how clever past ponies had been in securing the capital.

She had looked around then, noticing many ponyhole covers off as well. Was he following the guard into the tunnels? That did seem plausible. Now she was down there with them. Following the trail of purple haze slowly, she was not about to stick her feet in the muck and gunk. So her magic would flare every few feet to freeze the water into something she could walk on.

Coming to a four way split, she noticed the purple haze continued to travel straight and true, and was happy to find that there was a raised stone platform. No longer would she waste magic freezing her path forward.

“This must be one of the old processing sewage plants….”

The entrance had been recently opened, to a layer of dust and crumbling masonry was nearly everywhere. Old indeed. Not likely been in use in years. It was then she could hear a voice coming from inside. She steeled her nerves, and quietly crept inside.

Times up. It was over. He was now on borrowed time. But he had a plan. During the forced opening of the old sanitation plant door, he had managed to pickpocket the lieutenant whom he learned was Stunning Strike, of a null ring. As they proceeded to carefully make their way through the plant, he palmed an hourglass vial, waiting for his chance.

“You know corporal? You're a rather quiet mare. Not that I’m complaining mind you, but who are you? What do you like to do?” She was making conversation, but she had given him the chance he needed with her back turned to him.

“Oh you know. I like to play around with chemicals and I don’t like to talk much.” That was a lie, he ran his mouth far too much. “Oh and my name is Orion, Orion Falls.” He grinned. This was too good to pass up.

The mare whipped around. “That is not funny soldier-” The ring slipped over her horn and he punched her hard in the stomach with the other hand sending her into a crumbling wall. The wall fell apart under her and she was left sitting in a pile of stone and mortar.

He slammed the vial onto her chest and took several steps back as the chemicals made contact and expanded in a red foam around her body that quickly hardened. The small magical charge in the two crystals on both ends of the vial supercharging the foam’s reaction and hardening time. It didn’t take long, and he had managed to avoid covering her face.

Still regaining her ability to breath she stared at him in shock.

“What? You never thought to crossdress before?” He didn’t wait for a response, he simply knocked her out. Just in time too. A surge of pain rippled across his body. “Oh shit.” He collapsed to the ground. Twenty three minutes seemed to be the time limit for him.

On his hands and knees he bit back the pain as his muscles and bones expanded. He certainly wasn’t liking the feeling going on in his crotch.

“Oh….fuuuuuuccccckkkk.” A pair of purple hooves stepped next to his head and his body was suddenly eased of pain as the transformation quickly reverted back into who and what he was.

Looking up he was stunned to see, “Twilight?”

She couldn’t figure it out. Why was the trail ending at the short mare on the right. It seemed to go right to her. The gray maned and brown furred mare was unremarkable. Was she holding something of his?

Her pondering was interrupted by the sudden conversation. She listened in.

“-with chemicals and I don’t like to talk much.” The mare smiled as if there was some great joke, and spoke her name. “Oh and my name is Orion, Orion Falls.” The mare’s smile morphed into a grin as the lieutenant spun around to reprimand the mare. That was when she slipped a null ring onto her horn and she was punched into the wall behind her.

Then the mare slammed some sort of hourglass onto the down guard, she was shocked to see a rapidly expanding red substance spring up and surround the fallen soldier.

“What? You never crossdress before?” And she punched her in the face, knocking the mare cold.

Just as she was about to rise, the mare doubled over and groaned in pain, teeth gritting. “Is she getting bigger?”

She was, and her fur was turning black, the horn growing longer, as well the mane began to become a brown-orange in color, followed by the snapping of bones in the air. There was a groan of pain. Embracing her magic she stepped up to ‘her’ head and sent waves of healing magic into the now larger than her mare.

No, there was a beard beginning to sprout. This was Orion, her Orion. How had he managed to do this?!

“Twilight?” He looked up at her, the blue eyes becoming gray once again. “The fuck are you doing here?”

“Trying to save you. Though it doesn’t seem like you need much rescuing. But what did you do to yourself?” She knelt down, propping up his head as her magic continued to pour into him. He was nearly his full height again.

“Oh you know, a gamble. I think someone is looking out for me, considering your here. Do you have any idea what it feels like to regrow a penis?” He grinned.

Celestia stopped in mid air, just hovering as her aerial guard swooped around to surround her.

Ever since she was informed he was unfettered, she had been casting out her spells in an effort to pick up any of his magic. She had no luck at first, till now. A surge, very faint but just strong enough for her to detect rippled across her magic’s senses. But it wasn’t his magic. It was her student’s. Judging by the strength she had realized it was in the sewers, where Orion was suspected of being.

“The sewers!” He had gone to ground in the sewers, and her student was down there with him. He was trapped. But why was Twilight with him? A chill ran through her, had she been betrayed by her own chosen protege again?

“You!” She stabbed a finger at a messenger that had followed behind her and her retinue in case she needed anything. “Alert my generals, he is below in the sewer system. He is trapped, it is completely self contained! Hurry now!” She once again didn’t wait for acknowledgement. Instead choosing to dive down to one of the many open ponyholes.

“I have you now Orion. You will have much to explain. You as well Twilight.”

“Are you going to explain to me how you did this?” That was the third time, in the third variation she had asked for an explanation. “I have never heard of a spell that changes a pony’s gender like what you just did.”

“Oh dear God she isn’t going to give up.” Also the third variation of previous thoughts on the filly’s tenacity for information. She had already talked his ear off enough for him to tell her about the chemical regents he had used in the creation of the quick foam he had developed.

“You know what? No. No I am not, the less you know the better. Let’s just chalk it up to magic and forget how much pain I was in back there. By the way. Why the fuck are you following me?!”

She had been following him, as he had made his way out the other end of the plant and into tunnels even older than the ones they had traversed before, she had stuck to his side like a knowledge sucking leech. The only light, a torch he had packed away barely illuminated five feet in front of them. He only hoped there were no methane pockets or they were both screwed.

“Clearly I am trying to help you. And what do you mean you're not going to tell me!? If this was some new spell you came up with I want to learn it!”

“A) You have helped me. Immensely. I would have been passed out on the floor in that nasty as room if not for you. And B) That spell was the most painful thing I have ever gone through. There is no way in hell I am teaching or even showing you how I did it. Plus I didn’t come up with it, it is a dark magic spell. So there is your only hint, you can go be a dude elsewhere. Now, go home.”

“Dark magic? That’s evil!” She practically wailed and took a step back. “You shouldn’t be using evil magic like that!”

“It’s not evil ya idiot. Magic is magic. I can just as easily burn someone alive, or drown them. It is all about intent not purpose.” That seemed to bring her up short. He paused and watched her face contort as she tried to puzzle that one out. “Remember Twilight, never judge a book by its cover, always look for the intent in others. Not everything is evil just because it looks menacing.”

He turned around and proceeded down the dark hallway. She was still trailing him. He ground his teeth.

“I suppose you're right.” She said after a time. “Magic is not without purpose, and does not function without input. Dark magic is no different in that respect. Still, it is wild and often uncontrollable. I have only heard of a few being able to use it effectively.

“Ha yeah. Professor Tesla Coil is using it now, and is quite proficient in it. She is the reason I even knew a fraction of how to do what I did. Smart lady, you should pepper her with your questions. Not me.”

“I think I will do that.” They both lapsed into silence. She, stewing over the events that have so far happened. Him, wondering why the hell she was still here. He should have been paying more attention.

Without warning, the bottom dropped out beneath both of them, and they were enveloped in the inky blackness of the suddenly rushing river that enveloped them both.

Backwater sweated, she had never had the displeasure of being subject to one of Lady Hammer’s inventive punishments, and truth be told this was mild compared to what she had heard done. A mere slap on the wrist. She wanted to laugh at the rueful thought. But the strain in her arms and legs was getting worse.

Below her, a collection of candles burned low. Above her, Artful Hammer sat, nearly lounged, on her back. She had been holding this position only a couple of minutes and already she wanted the flames to take her.

“Lady Backwa...ter…” A Sol Guard stood transfixed at the sight in front of him, which only increased her shame as she had been striped bare from the waist up for this particular punishment. Her breasts hanging dangerously low to the flames.

“Out with your report Sergeant. Mrs Backwater is busy now, so I will receive her message.” The calm almost playful tone only served to humiliate her further. It was as if this was another night for the War Mare. That she was in her private study sitting on her favorite chair.

“Um, I….uh yes. Yes ma’am. We just got confirmation through Princess Celestia herself. She has picked up his trail heading into the sewers. We already have several patrols in the sewers.” He licked his lips. Staring straight ahead and definitely not looking at the scene before him.

“Ah so it is a race now. I see, well Mrs Blackwater, it looks like you get a reprieve.” She stood up, much to her aching joint’s joy. “You will proceed into the tunnels to direct the effort. Spare no corner a glance.” She turned to go but stopped, not even bothering to turn around. “Oh and I would advise against coming back without him. The Church will not be pleased, I will not be pleased if the Princess manages to catch him first. Long live the Dawn, Mrs Backwater.”

And just like that she was gone. The guard had seen fit to turn around when she was released from her punishment. A point in his favor, she would not kill him. She had no time anyway.

The magic she had sensed indeed was her student’s, the ice path she had made for herself had yet to melt, a fact that she was more than appreciative of. Not only did she not have to craft her own path but Twilight also pointed out where she had gone. Where he might be. She prayed that her student hadn’t done what she feared.

Now she only had to follow, and hope her hunch was right, and her fears unfounded.

“Where is she at now?” Backwater asked.

“The beacon is coming further in ma’am. We are not sure why Lieutenant Strike has not answered, all we know is her beacon went off shortly before the Princess led a small team of elites with her into the tunnels. We are, however, closer than she is.”

She smiled, they would have to be fast, but all the signs pointed to him being down here with them. She set a fast pace, racing over the crumbling debris that littered the cramped hall.

Bursting into the room she stopped and stared in puzzled alarm. There, stuck to a collapsed wall by a weird red substance, lay Stunning Strike. She was awake, which would make getting answers easier. Though the red substance gave her pause until her own soldiers began to break the material with the hilts of swords and spear butts.

“What happened?!” She demanded as she glared at the still trapped mare.

“We-” The mare gulped briefly as water was poured into her mouth. “I was fooled ma’am. We ran into a Sol Guard mare heading toward the gates. ‘She’ had told us that she was separated from her unit in the square, and was heading to the gates per her original orders. I assumed she would wait for her unit there.” As she spoke they quickly removed most of the and lifted into a sitting position.

“Get on with it, soldier, I do not have all night.” She stood over the lieutenant clearly not happy that the mare wanted to tell her life story.

“R-right, apologies ma’am. As I was about to say, when she had informed us of her original plans I made a decision and ordered her to come with us, as I had just come from there and the Royal Guard weren’t allowing us to post with them-”

As the mare went on, Backwater’s mouth could only gape. He had somehow disguised himself as the mare she had put to death earlier in the night. No wonder he couldn’t be found so quickly, he had somehow managed to remove the null ring and hide amongst her own troops.

Her eyes snapped open. The guard left at the orphanage was him. He had gone back to gather his things, he had planned for this inevitably early on. It was the only explanation she could reason out. Now he was loose somewhere down here with an unknown agent assisting him. Strikes couldn’t see the mare, but she heard the voice and the clop of hooves. Somepony had assisted him in his escape, and now they were both seeking a way out of the city through the sewers.

“Does anypony know of a way out of the sewer system other than the street access points?”

“No ma’am, Canterlot’s sewer system is fairly enclosed, for reasons of security. The grates have been magic forged by enchanters long ago. If somepony were to try and break through they would need some serious magical power. We would be able to feel it if they tried.” A private stated.

“How sure are you of that?” Hope was beginning to rise in her chest, and she mercilessly beat it back down. She would not get her hopes up until he was in custody once again. Her custody.

“Fairly certain, ma’am. My mother helps maintain the sanitation plants around the city. From what she told me, many criminals get caught down here because they can find no way out.”

She smiled, finally some good news.

“Do you know which way they went Lieutenant Strikes?” She asked, the first hint of a smile in hours gracing her lips.

“Yes ma’am. Down that tunnel. It is the only way they could have gone or I would have seen them.” Stunning spoke with confidence. “I may have been groggy from that punch, but he didn’t knock me out for long. It was strange. He suddenly sounded male again.” That last remark Blackwater heard, but understood it was more for her than anypony else.

“If you can walk, come. If not, wait for reinforcements.” They marched out of the room. No longer concerned about speed but about the search. He could not hide forever down here.

Celestia could not figure out what had happened in the old sewage room. There was a strange red material everywhere, a piece was in her hand. It was strong yet with enough effort it could be broken, and she picked up a faint whiff of magical power in the foam. As if somepony had used raw magic to power whatever had produced the substance. The only thing she could tell, was that it was recently created.

“I want a few pieces to be cataloged and bagged. I’d like to know what this stuff is. Captain Strikes, you’re with me. The rest of you spread out. I want this place searched top to bottom.”

She eyed the only other exit of the facility. She had not seen or sensed him on the way here, so that left the tunnel leading deeper into the dilapidated network. The fact that there were a great many hoof prints in the dust and debris of the ground heading in the same direction, meant she wasn’t the only one tracking him down here.

She gritted her teeth. She would not lose him. One way or another, Orion Falls was going to be in her possession by dawn.

The roar of water rushing by pulled him awake. As his senses began to collect he realized that he was jammed between two stalagmites. Twilight was wrapped in his arms, though he didn’t know when that had happened. Shifting to get his feet out from under himself he rose from the shallows and got to the rocky shore of the cave.

As he laid her down he checked her pulse and found it strong and steady. Her breathing seemed to be okay too. But without a magical scan, which he was unwilling to yet risk due to the close proximity of the city, and thus Celestia herself, he could not be sure.

He blinked. The cave was a bit brighter than he expected. The roaring sound of rushing water had maintained a steady volume. Turning around his knees almost buckled with relief.

They had nearly gone over a natural waterfall. The hole the water had cut long ago was an outlet into the open sky. Freedom. He had finally found a way out, luck truly was on his side. He was starting to worry that he was never going to get the hell out of the city. That he would round a corner and there would be Backwater’s grinning mug. Or worse, Celestia.

Looking back to Twilight he debated whether or not to try and wake her. A faint noise made his ear flick. Again another noise. Voices.

“Oh fuck.” They had somehow found him, which group he was not about to wait to find out. Looking down to Twilight he pulled out an envelope he was intending to mail to her and stuck it down her shirt before pulling her further up the cavern floor, away from the water.

For a moment, he just looked at her sleeping waterlogged face. This would be his last time seeing her, the thought made his heart hurt. He would miss her terribly. The realization that he would likely never see anyone again had finally settled in. His eyes burned.

Squaring his shoulders he resolutely turned around and bolted for the cave exit. Maybe there was a natural pathway down the mountain.

That hope was dashed. It was a sheer drop to the lake below. He had to be a hundred and twenty or so yards up, he wasn’t a good judge of distance. Could he even survive that? He hastily looked around for another option.

Shouts of surprise brought him up short. They had found Twilight. No time. He was really going to Harrison Ford this?

Turning around he jumped.

“I am the dumbest mother fucker in the world. Oh that is coming up fast!”

Twilight woke to being violently shaken.

“WHERE IS HE YOU LITTLE WHORSE!” A voice screamed into her face. The roar of rushing water could be heard under the insistent shouting of more than one pony.

Opening her eyes she was greeted with the furious face of a blue furred mare. Her white mane disheveled and dirty as her gray pantsuit. She blinked as her mind started to collect herself. Then both eyes bulged as she shoved the older mare off of her.

“ORION!?” The shouts of other ponies halted as many armored clad heads turned in her direction. But she did not hear his voice in return. “Where's Orion?!” She cried out.

The slap came suddenly and hard, rocking her head to the side and cutting off the beginnings of tears. “That is what I would like to know you little shit. I knew he had to have help, but you? The Princess’s own student?!” The mare practically spat in her face. “Where is he?!”

Twilight couldn’t answer. She had no answer. She had no idea what had happened after they fell through the floor of the tunnel, a sharp pain not caused by the blow to her jaw, ached from the side of her head. Tears came to her eyes. Had he abandoned her? No. Orion was many things but he would never leave her if he did not think she would be safe.

The roaring water drew her eyes to the waterfall, and her heart sank like a stone. Her panicking mind latched onto the possibility that he had been washed out of the cave and out into whatever her imagination could conjure up. Worse and worse possibilities flooded her thoughts, everything from a broken corpse to a drowned one. Her eyes burned and she realized she was crying.

“Stop that crying! You have been exposed for the traitorous foal that you are! If you don’t tell me where he went to I swear-”

“You Swear what, Backwater?” A hardened voice of steel echoed into the cavern, silencing the guards, the mare she now knew as Backwater, and even the noise of the rushing water to some extent.

Looking over through her tears, she saw Princess Celestia, flanked by troops she vaguely recognized as her elite Royal Guard. The sight did not relieve her of her thoughts, but it did calm her nerves.

“Ah Princess Celestia. I have discovered that your own student has betrayed you.” The mare said with a sneer. “She had been seduced by that beast, and helped him escape!”

Princess turned to look at Twilight, and she wanted nothing more than to become one with the rocky formation behind her. That was not the face of her always calm teacher.

“Twilight. It is very important that you answer me.” Her horn glowed, filling the cavity with her golden warm light. “Did you help Orion escape from his imprisonment?”

Her mouth blurted out the answer before she realized what she was doing. “NO! When I had heard he had escaped I-i was asleep at home with my parents…” It was as if something had pulled the words from her. It had to be the Princess, but for once she could not see how the Alicorn had done it.

“How did you come to be here?” Her teacher’s face has softened. The relief that flooded her nearly made her pass out. But she told of how she came to be in a cave nearly a mile under the city.

The angry flame of suspicion slowly faded away inside her. Aside from wanting to smack herself for not realizing Twilight may have learned her brother's technique she was happy to know her own student was a victim of poor choices. And not some elaborate subterfuge designed to make a fool of her.

Still the revelation that Orion knew of a spell to alter his own gender was a shock. She had not realized he was studying dark magic at the time. A poor oversight. One of many it seemed.

She could see the surprise in Backwaters eyes as well.

She figured he had something to do with the red material in the old pump room, so that was not a surprise. Twilight had drilled him on it till he had revealed it was a chemical reaction fueled with magic to accelerate the process. That was interesting.

“So you have no culpability in his escape so much as being swept along in the events of things. This was very foolish Twilight. We will talk later. But there will be consequences. You may not have helped him escape, but neither did you attempt to stop him.” Her student cringed, but the tears were not for her coming punishment.

She knew why. Orion had gone over the edge, already she was getting reports that his body had yet to be found. One hundred and eighty meters was not a small drop. If he survived, he would be broken and battered. They would find him, or his corpse. The thought stirred anger in her heart once again, and she directed her gaze at a fuming Backwater. Before she could even open her mouth to speak, the mare exploded.

“Princess! Don’t tell me you are buying this obvious fabrication?!” The words were spoken to her, but the mare's eyes glared daggers at Twilight.

“I do, because if she had lied, the spell I cast would have pulled the truth from her regardless. She is not guilty. I also know Orion’s only guilt is trying to help a people not his own. I confirmed that yesterday afternoon during the recess. But I was barred from revealing that truth.” Truth be told the spell only worked if the subject answered. If they said nothing, then there was no way for her to force them to tell the truth. With Twilight’s need to validate her reasonings in a pathological sense, she was nearly compelled to answer by rote.

Backwater’s eyes widened. “There is no such spell.”

She couldn’t help but giggle. “Of course there is. I don’t share the knowledge of such spells because of the great harm they can cause. No. My secrets stay with me, and I will not be goaded to reveal any of them.” She regarded the mare briefly.

“Captain Featherhoof. Take her, guards, and Twilight to the castle. I need to clarify something with Lady Backwater.” The look on the Princess’s face changed suddenly. Gone was the kindly features. Instead there was a hardness to her face that had not been there before.

“Did she just tremble?”

“Captain Strikes, would you remain. I would like a witness in case she attempts to falsify reports to the Church.” The tone had shifted to. It was harder.

“Yes your Highness.” The mare next to her confirmed. Though her eyes did not stray from one of her own.

“Captain Strikes? Could she be related to Stunning?”

Long after her soldiers had departed with the Princess’s Royal Guard, said monarch remained quiet. A shrewd and calculated look upon her face. Backwater began to fidget under her stern gaze.

“I dislike wasting resources. You understand this correct?” She could only dumbly nod. Where was her Highness going with this she wondered.

Suddenly the Princess’s horn illuminated and Backwater’s dagger left it scabbard in an orange flamed glow and impaled itself into a very surprised Captain Errant Strike’s throat. A gurgle of blood rushed past her lips as she collapsed to her knees. Backwater herself didn’t get a chance to react much more than a widening of her eyes as she was thrown back and slammed against the cavern wall. The orange flames that held her carried a heat that made her instantly wash with sweat.

She looked back to the monarch and her eyes bulged. The Alicorn that stood before her had a frown as if she discovered someone had taken her favorite book. She looked almost nothing like the Princess she knew. Orange flames were her mane and tail, the eyes now gold in a field of near black.

“Captain Strikes, you have done your duty with distinction. It is a shame that circumstances have forced your demise far sooner than I wanted, or needed. Elysium will honor you.” She turned from the stricken officer and calmly glared at her. “Backwater. Because of you, I will be delayed years in assuming full control of this body. I did not start the Church for you to get in my way.”

Stepping around the now dead guard she stood inches from her own muzzle.

“Because of you, a useful tool had to die to give me the excuse to break you, and to make you pay for the failure of keeping that colt in hand. It also delays my plans for the future.” She sighed. “I am going to have to fabricate a whole set of memories to make little Tia think she had lashed out and killed you for striking down one of her most loyal of guards.”

The mare, that was most certainly not the Princess, grinned. Amused eyes looking into terrified eyes. “This is the first time in centuries I have had to take control like this. I am going to enjoy tearing through your mind. After that, I will have a nice corpse for the coroner to examine. Now, tell me your secrets.” She purred.

Velvet couldn’t even scream.