Kyra Blade: Bounty Hunter

When the morning arrived, the first thing that Starlight was aware of was warm sunlight on her fur. Second, she was lying in a bed. Opening her eyes in shock, she beheld a white ceiling above her. Turning her head slowly, she looked out the window to see a robin's egg blue sky, with only a few white clouds scattered on the horizon. A bird sat perched on the windowsill, twittering happily.

Starlight gave a low sigh, absentmindedly raising a hoof to scratch an itch on her forehead.

Or rather, she tried - only to realize that her movements were restricted by the stiff white bandages that covered her forelegs. Starlight blinked in confusion, the sharp scent of disinfectant finally registering to her sleep-addled brain. It was then she realized, she was in a hospital. But how had she got here? Starlight's eyes widened - the events of the last two days hitting her like a train.

She remembered Kyra rescuing her from the diamond dogs, then the next morning, when Kyra had transported them both to the city of Baltimare, using her magic. Shortly thereafter, they had found this hospital. After giving a brief explanation to the doctors, Starlight had been led away to receive treatment for her injuries - while Kyra had stayed in the lobby to speak to one of the doctors in private.

Kyra. Where was Kyra? Starlight turned her head from side to side, her gaze scanning the room for any sign of the unicorn, but it was empty.

Well, not completely. Starlight's heart thumped a bit faster in her chest, as she realized that on the end table beside the bed, there was a leather pouch, with an envelope beside it with the words "For Starlight" written neatly in pen.

Leaning sideways, Starlight reached for the letter with a trembling hoof, wincing as her body objected to the sudden movement. With the letter now clutched in her hooves, she quickly tore the envelope open.

Inside was a letter addressed to her, written in the same neat hornwriting she'd seen on the back. Heart in her throat, Starlight began to read.

"Starlight. I'm sorry, but by the time you wake up and read this letter, I will already be gone. I can't tell you where I am going or why, but rest assured I have made arrangements with the doctors to ensure you will continue to receive help in your recovery. When you have regained your full strength, there are a handful of gems I have left for you in the bag included with this letter. However you decide to use them is up to you, but I hope you will seize this opportunity to start over somewhere far from the town you left behind. For now though, all I can do is bid you a fond farewell.

Until next we meet.

Your friend, Kyra."

Starlight re-read the letter several times, feeling a lump form in her throat. Eventually she leaned back against the pillows, the letter pressed tightly against her chest, eyes shut tight as warm tears ran down her face. Kyra was gone, and Starlight didn't know if she would ever see her again.

.....

"So, you have returned," Luna said. She and Kyra were once again standing in the castle ruins - Kyra having gotten in contact with Luna the day before by telegram after arriving in Ponyville. "Judging by the fact you do not have Starlight Glimmer in your custody, are we correct in assuming something went wrong?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Kyra's head hung low as she spoke, ears pinned back against her skull in a show of remorse.

"Might we ask what happened to prevent you in completing the task?"

"I didn't get to her in time," Kyra explained. "As crazy as it sounds, there was a colony of diamond dogs in the caverns which found her first." Kyra paused, taking a deep breath. "There was nothing I could do. She was already dead by the time I tracked them down."

Luna's eyes widened in bewilderment. Clearly she had not been expecting this.

"Oh." The dark alicorn's ears drooped against her skull. "That's unfortunate. We're sorry she had to meet such a terrible fate. Criminal or not, she did not deserve to suffer such cruelty."

"I'm sorry I failed, Luna."

Luna stepped closer to her student, surprising Kyra as she pulled her into an embrace that felt almost motherly. Kyra blinked in surprise. In all the time she'd known her, Luna had never done anything like this before.

"Do not blame yourself, Kyra," Luna said, now stepping back and releasing Kyra from the hug. "We know it wasn't your fault."

"All the same, I feel responsible for what happened. If you wish to withhold the payment originally promised, I understand."

Luna considered this for a moment, before answering in a firm voice. "No. That will not be necessary."

Kyra looked at her, surprised. "But Luna, we had an agreement."

"Yes, we did," Luna answered. "And since we are the ones who enlisted your services, we reserve the right to decide whether or not to honor the agreed payment." Luna smiled at Kyra's astonished face. "You have served us well these many years, Kyra. For this, we are more than willing to forgive and forget this one failure."

"I... I don't know what to say, Luna." Kyra stared at the Princess of the Night, unable to believe any of it. "Thank you."

"On the contrary, my friend," said Luna. "It is we who should be thanking you. You shall be missed, my friend."

Kyra bowed her head respectfully. "Likewise."

.....

That evening, Kyra found herself sitting on a grassy hill outside of Ponyville, her eyes on the stars above, her mind and heart elsewhere. Since leaving the Castle of the Two Sisters after speaking with Luna, Kyra had found herself aimlessly wandering Ponyville, hardly noticing anything around her. She was thinking about Starlight Glimmer, whom she'd left at the Baltimare City General Hospital. Kyra shut her eyes, feeling an ache in her heart that had not been there before. She hoped Starlight was okay. It had not been easy to leave her behind, but Kyra knew it must be done. Staying with Starlight would have only put her safety in jeopardy, and Kyra was not willing to take that risk. She could only hope that Starlight was safe and on her way to a new life somewhere.

"Who knows?" Kyra muttered to herself. "With how crazy this world is, it's possible we'll cross paths again. Someday."

As Kyra sat alone on the hill, a single shooting star swooped across the sky, brilliantly bright in the violet and apricot sunset. Ponies who saw it glanced up in amazement, eyes widening in delight. And hundreds of miles away, seated on a bench outside the Baltimare Train Station, Starlight Glimmer looked up and smiled.