In the Reach of the dark

The soft beat of the rain and the fire rising at the docks made Far Reach enter some kind of trance. He couldn't think right about anything as a bunch of worries grew inside his heart.

He knew that if something like that happened, Alloy's presence would be essential to help any pony that got injured or worse... And this thought made him angry. He wished he could be stronger and be with her. He wished he could help her in her fights.

But there he was. A Pegasus who couldn't even fly. And in his anger, he hit the wall with his hoof before stepping back to sit at his bed. Both hands holding his head as, after so much time trying to adapt to that world, everything fell down.

As tears started slowly to escape his eyelids, Far Reach started to murmur to himself in a low voice, attempting and failing to hold his fears and sadness.

• I... I am alone... uttered alone - the hold of his head tightened as the tear started to flow freely - she is there... and I am useless!

Between gags and tear, the low tone of Reach started to rise; his cheeks getting redder by the mixture of emotions.

• I SHOULD BE DEAD! - he yelled to himself - WHY AM I HERE? WHY I HAVE TO SUFFER EVERYTHING AGAIN?
  "FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHY AM I ALIVE! I CAN VIVID REMEMBER BEING SHOT BY THOSE THUGS, SO, GOD, WHY?
  I TRIED MY BEST AND GIVE MY ALL IN THE FIRST TIME TO LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT COMPUTERS JUST SO COULD BE SHOT AND AWAKE HERE?
  A PLACE WITHOUT TECHNOLOGY, ONLY MAGIC!
  FUCKING MAGIC!
  THIS MUST BE SOME KIND OF JOKE; A FUCKING GODLY JOKE!
  A WORLD OF PONIES... Ponies that have a heart of gold..."

His rage was subsiding, but not his sadness; but not his worry with that mare. Trying to sort his mind, Reach just lied on his bed; eyes glued into the ceiling, his voice becoming quieter by the second.

• Ponies that welcome me with open arms, even when I was in jail... - he put one arm on his eyes, a small smile forming amidst the tears - Ponies that accepted me without questions and... gave me a home, a job, and even friendship.
  "Shit, I'm an idiot. I should stop complaining and just support her...
  I should be happy to just have a second chance and try to live to the fullest... funny... I can't even imagine what the guys would say if they knew that I am having feelings for a Mare..."

Far Reach spoke with a little giggle, and yet there he stood, still looking at the ceiling and thinking about everything that happened in the last six months, he was right. He really had developed feelings for the guard-mare, and there was nothing he could do. This acceptance made him blush.

That's when he heard the sound of the front door of the library opening, and, by being so late in the night, in the mind of Far Reach there was only one person who would come to visit him. Violet Alloy.

His heart started pumping fast, and jumping from his bed, Far Reach started running as fast as he could in the direction of the stairs and, with some careful steps, he started the descent.

The first floor of the library looked like a haunted place into Reach's eyes, and he could feel a chill up his spine. And as he stepped down the next step, he could see how the place got strange. Far more strange than when he left.

Reaching the first floor, Reach walked carefully, trying not to hit anything while looking around in the search for some light as all the candles he had lit up before were off, and he felt as if a heavy, unnatural darkness was hovering over him.

• Alloy, are you here?

The answer came with the piercing sensation of something on his left wing, something that had enough strength not only to pierce his wing but also to pin him against the wall on his back.

The pain was enormous, almost the same as the bullet, maybe more; and as a reflex, Far Reach tried to scream, but a talon like hand reached his muzzle before he could.

• So you are the human the rumors were talking about? - spoke the unknown assailant with a feminine voice - I thought you would be bigger.

Far reach didn't know what to do, as he was pinned down by something in his wing and had someone atop of him. Even so, he tried to yell, only to feel another pain in the right wing. His assailant had pierced him with something in both wings, and he could feel clearly the warm blood seeping.

• No. No. No. - spoke the attacker, an attacker that Reach could now see the silhouette of a beak and big wings - Big sister didn't tell you that you could scream... yet...

And, finally, Far Reach could see that he was dealing with some kind of griffon, or maybe a hen by the voice, but while Reach was trying to identify the enemy, he felt another surge of pain. The hen had kneeled on his groin, making tears flow with his suffering. As a reflex, he closed his eyes and pulled his wings, only for the injury in them to hurt even more.

• You know, big sister here doesn't like it when you make a face like this, maybe your big sister should teach you some manner? - Reach didn't have recovered from the hit when he felt something sharp slide over his check, maybe another weapon - besides, they only told me to take you... not to do it without some fun.

This time, before the hen could do anything, Far reach started making noises, as if he had something important to say. The hen was not in a hurry, no one knew she was there, and it was the first time in a long while that she had been assigned a target, and she wanted to enjoy each second of it.

• Oh, my little brother wants to speak? How cute! - The hen smiled, putting the tip of her weapon against Reach's crotch - But if you try to scream, I will take your "sword".

After she spoke, the hen giggled and, slowly, took out her talon like hand of Far Reach's mouth. Because of the constant pain on his wings, Reach was out of breath, but he could still mutter.

• You... will… pay... for...

• This? - The hen cackled while hitting Reach in the face - and who will make me pay? Your mare-friend?

A fillet of blood escaped Reach's muzzle, but before he could speak, the hen continued.

• You know, she really was strong... maybe she could make me pay... oh my! - The hen was mocking Far Reach with her hand over her beak, faking fear - Luck that your big sister doesn't need to worry about her anymore, and I can have you ALL for myself!

-What? - even in the darkness, Far Reach's eyes widened – What do you MEAN?

• Oh! Sorry, I forgot you didn't know! - The hen cackled once again - That unicorn was strong and fought bravely, but the best part was when I stabbed her, and she spoke your name! Such a romantic act!

• Wh...what? IT... IT CAN'T BE!

• But it is true. SHE.IS.DEAD! - hearing her words, Far Reach broke, and the hen laughed loudly. She had her fun, now she was going direct to business and, with a simple hit with the pommel of her weapon on Reach's head, made him unconscious.

• Ah, little brother, a shame I can't continue playing with you - she spoke almost rhythmic while taking out the daggers she had plunged unto Reach's wings - maybe your big sister will have a chance to play with...

The hen stopped, the ears peaking. Something had landed outside the front door of the library. Her mission was to be invisible, a ghost. But now that she had acquired the target, something had come into her way.

She was going to pick up Far Reach with her arms and ran to the second floor to try to fly by the window when the door was broken open, splinters flying everywhere. As the light of the moon pierced inside the library, a pony stepped in.

By the size of the pony, it was a mare and, by the wings, the hen believed it was one of those Pegasus, but soon she perceived that the wing had no feather and the coat was almost dark.

• Move away from the Pegasus and back off, or you're going to regret it. - spoke the newly arrived.

• Do you think you can take me on alone?

• Maybe I can, maybe not. - The bat pony mare pointed a weapon at the hen - that's why I brought reinforcements.

As if with the clue, the hen could hear many "clicks" of at least a dozen crossbows outside the library. The hen was strong, strong enough to claim the fifth position on the dark claw, but it wasn't her specialty taking down an entire battalion – even more one made of those darn bat-ponies – Bat-ponies that, if what she heard was correct, were few in numbers but compensate with dedication and strength.

Fifth slowly retreat to the stairs, leaving the unconscious Pegasus in the ground and, running to the window on the second floor, she escaped.

She lost this round, but she would follow him, and she would, inevitably, attain her "human" target. No matter what.

• Captain, should we pursue her? - asked a Thestral stallion armed with a crossbow.

• No, our priority is the Pegasus, not his pursuer. Besides, the count said that those behind this attack would come for him no matter where he may be, so this hen will probably follow us - The Thestral captain made a gesture and another Thestral mare landed by her side - Quick, apply first aid on him. We're taking him with us to Hollow Shades.

The captain pointed at the Thestral stallion that made the first question.

• You stay and tell the guards that we took him by the orders of the count – then she turn the whole battalion – NOW, YOUR BUNCH OF WORM-EATERS, WE FLY. WE WILL REACH HOLLOW SHADES BEFORE THE SUN RISE. UNDERSTOOD?

• UNDERSTOOD! - all the captain soldiers replied.

Author's Note

So...
I had an extra time this week, so I'm posting this chapter today.
Why?
Because I have anxiety and I already have other chapters ready. So, the chapter of Sunday's chapter will still be release on Sunday.

See ya.

(Btw, I love comments, they make us write better. So if you have any comment, opinion or even correction to make... Go crazy!)