White Shadows

Since the massive blimp we were on was a Frigate class vessel, it was much too big to fit through the narrow passage of which all blimps had to go through to gain unlimited access to Canterlot. Sure, you could go over the massive wall, but only if you wanted to be obliterated by Thunder Cannons and White Phosphorus launchers. So, we had to take the long way, in which we passed over the dreaded Equine pass. The back gate to Canterlot was much larger, but much more dangerous. Bandits, pirates, and ever military vessels raid unprotected ships, much like the one we were on now. While I had military experience (and a whole lot more experience killing idiots who tried to take my loot.) I would not be able to fend off a whole squadron of fast moving blimps.

To make matters worse, there was a massive Steam storm brewing up. It would make it near impossible to go outside. No means of defense, whatsoever. The ashes blown over from Equine would burn your skin, along with the hazardous air. If we were attacked, we’d be screwed.

We were about 50 miles into our journey (whole trip-without a jump portal, which was used to reach me, but they were already in the savannah- is about 400 miles) when the storm reached us. We were thrashed around on the inside of the medical bay, and I was in desperate need of fresh air. The medical bay wasn’t helping either, with its bright red crosses on every wall, its bright white lights, and the massive gears churning around. The walls we painted a baby blue, and the recycled air was killing my stomach.

Twilight, on the other hand, was having a wonderful time. She was playing with the little filly, and Diamond was simply sipping on a glass of water. I just watched the hot steam form on the window, and form cool water droplets. While I was paranoid beyond belief, I still enjoyed watching stupid little things, like water races down the side of the window.

“For an explorer, your attention is easily captured,” Said Twilight, walking up alongside me.

“True. Mostly I’m just watching for bandits,” I said, tapping on the glass.

“And what happens if there are bandits? There is no way of defending ourselves, you know that, right?” asked Diamond, and I scoffed.
“You should know by now that I would get out there, fully clothed, and take those bastards out of the sky, even if they are my former countrycolts,” I said, and Twilight cocked her head.

“You’re Equinian?” She asked, and my face drooped.

“NO! I’m a griffon horse who wears a shitty bandage eyepatch, and speaks like I’m from a hellhole! Of course I’m Equinian, can’t you tell?” I asked sarcastically, and it was Twilight’s turn to act sarcastic.

“Oh, excuse me, your highness, I didn’t realize you have such high tastes,” muttered Twilight sarcastically.

“Well, you’re pardoned,” I said, and Daring Do giggled.

“Daddy made fun of mommy!” laughed the filly, and Twilight blushed a hot red.

“Oh, I’m not your mommy, Daring,” said Twilight sheepishly, and Daring made a confused face.

“But you would make good mommy wif daddy,” Said Daring, and Twilight became ever more red.

I bellowed out with laughter.

“Oh, little one. Don’t worry, mommy will be here soon,” I said, and Daring smiled.

“Okay! When mommy gonna get here?” asked Daring, walking up to me, smiling graciously.

There was that pain again. My chest felt like it became swollen, and I coughed violently once more. Daring Do became panicked, and started to cry.

“Daddy’s hurt!” She wailed, and Diamond immediately jumped by my side, supporting me.

“Sweet Celestia, I think there may have been more to that curse you were talking about,” Said Twilight, on my other side, helping me back onto the bed.

“I’ll be fine. Just get me a glass of water,” I muttered, swallowing blood back into my stomach.

Diamond poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to me, when I heard a slight buzzing. I took a look outside the glass, and saw my worst fear.

Outside, riding on an attack blimp, was a group of ponies fully covered in Equine combat gear. Behind them were two other attack blimps, and on the front one, was a gunpowder loaded Gatling cannon. Not the best weapon for an attack on a blimp, but it was lethal.

“Get down!” I screamed, and everypony hit the floor, as the Gatling cannon spurred to life, and send a volley of lead balls into our room.

I heard the screams of ponies being massacred by the weapon, and I stood up, brushing off the shards of metal and drywall that had fallen on me.

“I’ll be back…” I said, anger flowing through my veins.

“You better. I ain’t takin’ care of your daughter alone,” Said Diamond, and I just scoffed.

“Don’t worry,” I said, running out of the room.

The medical bay was completely destroyed. Bodies littered the floor, blood pooling around them. I looked around for some protective gear, and sought out a body of a colt whose head had been torn apart. I pulled on his bloodied trench coat, and grabbed his goggles and his boots. Sure, my face would be unprotected from the hot storm outside, but the important stuff that mattered would be okay.

Next thing was to find a weapon, preferably a firearm. If not, a harpoon or knife would do. I ran to the weapons bay, and found a steam rifle, two flintlock pistols, my talon knife, as well as a foreleg long single blade knife. I shoved them in my bloodied jacket, and ran to the front of blimp.

Opening the door was like opening a pot of boiling water with your face right over it. Not painful, but uncomfortable. The outside was a flurry of red and black clouds, along with the constant sound of ammunition cracking against the side of blimp. Most of the deck had been destroyed, the massive .68 caliber balls tearing apart the wood. The only thing left was a cannon.

Cue the pirate music, I finally get to use a cannon.

I ran over to it, and found that it still had balls next to it, along with fuses and gunpowder, even though it was just a decorative object. With the theme to Pirates of the Coltibbean in my head, I loaded the Cannon, and got used to its controls. Just as I got comfortable, an attack blimp flew right into my aiming range.

“There’s a live one! Kill ‘em, for Aftlan’s sake!” shouted the Equine soldier, and the Gatling Cannon spurred up again.

I pulled on the fuse, launching a cannonball at the blimp. It missed them by mere inches, and was enough to break the wood on the side. I loaded another shot, using the thick iron of the cannon as cover, and launched the second round. While I missed the crew, I hit the steam compounder, and sent magic enhanced steam everywhere, scalding the crew alive. The blimp fell out of the air in a mass of green steam.

“One down, a couple to go…” I muttered.

Suddenly, the cannon exploded in a flame of burning steel, and iron shards. I was thrown back, slamming against the deck wall. The wood of the outside was on fire, and the blimp that had attacked me had a phosphorus cannon at the ready.

“Fire!” shouted the gunner with his thick equine accent.

A massive flame shot at me, and I dodged out of the way, narrowly escaping death by burning alive. The blimp was close enough to board now, and I came up with a split second plan. I ran at the attackers, and jumped on board their ship, drawing my steam rifle. I reared on hind legs, using the butt of the rifle as a club, hitting the enemies over the head. When they had all fell down, I lit a magic match, and stuck it into the water bulb. Steam was immediately created inside the bulb, and I shot a pulse of green gas at each of the assailants. The superhot steam burned through each of them, killing them instantly. I dropped the rifle, and jumped off the blimp, my foot accidentally hitting the steering wheel on the way off.
As soon as I hit the burning deck, the attacking ship grinded into the side of the blimp, unbalancing the larger vessel. The final attack blimp rounded the side, and the crew jumped onto the larger vessel, all armed with flintlock pistols or rifles. Being stupid Equines as they are, they all immediately fired at me, and none of them hit me, seeing as how I was hiding behind the crashed blimp.

“Oh come on, at least give me a challenge!” I shouted, and suddenly, I heard the sound of metal wings flapping.

I looked up, to see a Pegasus dive bombing at me. I jumped out of the way, and pulled out my flintlock, and fired one of my pistols into the dive bombing Pegasus. He smashed into the wooden deck, sending splinters everywhere. I turned to the rest of the ponies, who were fumbling over their flintlocks, trying to reload them. I charged the Equine soldiers, using the back of my pistol as a club, smashing the back of their necks. Brutal? Yeah, but hell, it had to be done.

After I had taken care of the first few, I was faced with fully reloaded flintlocks and steam rifles. By now, the smoke from the crashed ship and the flames was suffocating, and the ship was slowly going down.

Move quickly.

I jumped at the soldiers, pulling out my knives. The other ponies did not expect it, and I cut them into sushi in a matter of seconds, slicing their muscles and organs. Their useless bodies rolled off the side of the now falling ship, and I was left with the captain of the attack vessel, who had his cavalry sword out.

“Your move, Captain,” I said, and the captain swung his sword.

I easily parried, kicking him into the flames. I noticed a white phosphorus cannon ball rolling slowly towards the burning captain, who was screaming in pain. I pulled out my remaining Flintlock pistol, and shot the cannon ball, causing a massive flaming explosion.

“Rest in pieces- wait, no, that puns already been used… here… lemme see…” I muttered to myself, standing on the side of the falling ship.

“Wait, wait, I got one! ‘Hey, it’s quite windy out here; I wonder where the captain went! He must have been BLOWN AWAY!’ Aha, get it! Because you know, blown away! Ha-ha!” I realized I was standing on a falling ship, laughing at probably the worst pun in existence.

I looked at the bridge, and saw flames slowly making their way up the side. Not good. Running inside, I made my way up to the bridge, trying to keep it from being destroyed by death by mountain side. While the remaining crew members were finally trying to steady the ship, the captain had been torn to pieces, and due to my knowledge of flying blimps, I was the next candidate. I grabbed the steering wheel and the clutch, and pulled the blimp upwards.

“C’mon, you big piece of crap!” I screamed at the ship, when it did not oblige.

I turned to the controls, and put the hydraulics and fans on full speed. I made the steam boosters go at maximum speed, and almost immediately, I was getting calls from the engine room.

“Captain, the ship can’t withstand this type of pressure!” shouted someone through the microphone.

“Do what you must! Either this ship crashes, or we get it to Canterlot!” I screamed into the microphone, and the crew looked at me with a look of fear.

“Hey, you aren’t the captain!” shouted the man back through the microphone.

“I don’t care! JUST GET THIS THING MOVING!” I screamed in the microphone.

“Sorry, pressure,” I muttered, turning back to the cracked glass that was serving as my windshield.

I kept on pulling up on the altitude adjustment, and the hydraulics. Sure enough, the blimp slowly pulled upwards, going at massive speeds towards the back top of the mountains.

“What are you doing?! They’ll shoot us down!” shouted one of the bridge members, trying to put out a massive flame.

“Well, I’d rather be shot down and land in Canterlot than burn alive in this hellhole!” shouted another bridge officer.

When we crested the mountain, the engine gave out. We were literally about to grind down the mountain side, into the extended plateau of Canterlot. I grabbed the microphone.

“Hold onto something, everypony, it’s about to get rough!” I shouted into the microphone, as we started to grind down the side of the mountain.

Shrapnel flung through the windshield, destroying the inside of the room. Soon, the whole blimp was coming apart, and the fire was not helping. It would be a miracle if we made it to canterlot, not counting if we survived.

After what seemed like an eternity, we broke through the thick clouds, and headed straight for the landing pad in canterlot. Ponies looked up in awe as they watched the massive burning blimp skid down the hill.

Meanwhile…

Princess Celestia stood on her balcony, smelling the sweet, crisp air. Everything was perfect at this one moment. The war was going well (even though they had only been in the state of war for a single day) and her subjects were happy. While she was concerned about Twilight and the explorer, she could just relax for the time being.

Up until she saw the blimp skidding down the hill. She watched in awe as the flaming hunk of metal hit a massive bump, and started to bounce down the side of the mountain. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Finally, the flaming blimp rolled to a stop on the landing pad, in its upright position. Out of the bridge, she saw a gray earthpony slide down the side of the blimp, carefully avoiding flames, and stood in front of the whole public of Canterlot.

“Behold, the amazing landing powers of SHADOW!” shouted the figure.

Celestia facehoofed.

At the crash site.

Sure, not everypony was happy that I had just illegally parked a flaming blimp in the middle of their crown jewel, but did I care? Hell no.

Everypony who had survived the pirate attack had gotten out of the ship unscathed, including my own party of mares.

“That was awesome, Daddy!” shouted Daring Do, running up to me.

“Let’s never do that again…” muttered Diamond, who was gagging.

Canterlot was shining beautiful as always. The massive marble towers protruded from the ground, the fountains squirted fresh, clean water. Marble statues, stuck in dancing position, were spread everywhere, and Pegasi flew across the sky. The sun reflected off of small ponds, and there were a few clouds in the sky to add the finishing touches. You wouldn’t think it’s so majestic when you worked in the underground factories. That was the pits.

Twilight walked up to me, and sighed.

“Because of you, I’m afraid of blimps.” Said Twilight, her face a slight shade of green.

“Glad I could help,” I said sarcastically, as a couple burly looking royal guards approached me.

I knew from their face that I was in big trouble. They all had spears and shackles with them, and as soon as they reached me, they put their chains around my wrists.

“You are under arrest for destruction of government property, breaking the border blimp laws, and disrupting the peace.” Said one of the guards.

“Big whoop. Take me away officers.” I said, when one of the guards yelled in pain.

I turned to see my daughter, Daring Do, punching the living crap out of one of the guards. She was on top of him, jamming her hoofs into his eyes. The guard was bucking wildly, screaming for help. Everypony around him started busting up, including the other guards. Suddenly, another guard appeared this one much larger than the rest. He had a scar over his lip, with different shades of blue for hair. He had a crest similar to Twilight’s cutie mark on his chest plate, and I realized who it was.

“Oh shit,” I muttered to myself.

“Shiny!” shouted Twilight, running up to the massive stallion.

“Hey, Twily! I heard you were heading this way, I just didn’t expect you to come in so… unusually.” Said the Stallion, rubbing Twilight’s head.

Twilight smiled, and nuzzled up to the stallion, who was presumably her brother, Shining Armor.

“So I train you to become one of the best soldiers in the entire world, and you end up getting a job that cost you an eye, and destroying a commercial blimp? I have to say, I’m not surprised,” Said Shining Armor, walking up to me.

“How do you even remember me? You barely noticed me when I was in the academy,” I said, and Shining Armor laughed.

“I never forget a face, cadet,” Said Shining Armor, giving me a solid punch in the shoulder. “At ease, boys. The princess is expecting him, and I’m sure he had perfectly acceptable terms for this emergency landing.”

Daring Do hopped off the guard, who was rubbing his sore face, and followed after our little group. Diamond stayed back with the ship, to give the full report to the guards.

“So how do you know Shining Armor, Steam?” whispered Twilight, nudging me.

“Drill officer. Helped me serve my mandatory four.” I muttered back, when we reached the gates of the castle.

They were iron clad gates, magically enchanted for maximum protection. Two royal guards with flintlock rifles stood outside, staring with a never ending gaze. Beyond it was the marble towers of the castle, and its countless gardens. Inside were the ballroom, and the Princesses chambers.

“Big buiwding!” shouted Daring Do with excitement.

“Yeah, it’s called a castle, Princess Celestia and her sister Luna lives inside it.” I said, putting her on my back.

“Cewestia, and Woona?” asked Daring Do, and I smirked at her attempt at saying the royal sister’s names.

“Pretty close, little one,” I said, and Shining Armor cocked an eyebrow.

“So what’s the story with the blimp?” asked Shining Armor, leading the way through the gates.

“Attacked by Equine bandits. I took action, but it was too late for the blimp. So, using my previous experience with blimps, I flew it over the mountain ledge. Now, I’m here, completely unscathed.” I said, and Shining Armor nodded.

“I take it you killed them?” Asked Shining Armor and I sighed.

“I didn’t have much choice, really,” I muttered, and the stallion nodded once more.

“Well, I’m presuming it isn’t the first time you’ve killed something.” Said Shining Armor, and an awkward silence came over the group.

We continued into the massive castle, wandering past artifacts and gem stones, that I may or may have not collected. We passed the maids bedchambers, and then the chamber of harmony. After that was the ballroom, where a congregation of ponies were. After the grand galloping gala, the ballroom served as a social plaza, even though it was so close to the throne room. Shops were open everywhere. One was selling bronze wings to earth ponies, so they could fly. Another was selling water bulbs, for all your steam needs, while another was selling magic matches. I sighed, and stopped by a clothing store briefly.

“You got any eye-patches?” I asked, and the salesman looked around his stall.

“I got one around here somewhere,” He said, fumbling around with his items. He suddenly pulled out a black eye patch out of his massive piles of crap. “It’ll be 20 pieces.”

I reached for my money pouch, which was absent from my belt. I looked at Twilight, and gave her a sheepish grin. She sighed, and walked over, putting down 20 gold coins on the table. I turned away from the crowd of ponies, and tore off my bloody bandage. I let it drift down to the ground, as I pulled on the eye-patch. I turned back to the group, and Daring smiled.

“You wook good, Daddy!” said Daring, and she ran up to me.

“Thanks, little one,” I said, rubbing her head.

She gave me a heart melting smile, and I held back a painful sensation in my throat. I made a slight coughing noise, and we continued on towards the castle.

Once we entered, I felt relieved. The place was spotless today, almost having a golden glow to it. You know, like how when stallions from the jerhorsey shore get spray tans, and they seem to be glowing an irradiated bronze. I didn’t know who took care of the place, but he did a good damn job. The halls of the inner castle were lined with statues, one of which that kept on showing up. It looked like a regular sized stallion, but he had an odd-shaped cutie mark imprinted on his marble statue, and a smile that made me think he was once a sadistic person. We continued on, and when we got to the chamber doors, we stopped.

“I’ll do in, and see if her majesty is ready to see you.” Said Shining Armor, and he motioned for Twilight to come too.

I sat down, and Daring Doo lay down next to me, curling up to go to sleep. I looked at her, wondering where on earth such a perfect little thing came from. My train of thoughts we interrupted by the door opening, and a royal guard motioning for me to enter.

“Can you watch her for me?” I asked the guard, and he nodded.

I walked inside the room, and I saw 3 ponies on near the throne. Two of which were the royal sisters. At the base of Luna’s chair, a red pony with a black mane in a blue jumpsuit was wiping up a coffee spill, muttering to him. Twilight and Shining Armor where in the middle of the room, looking slightly nauseous. I walked in, and bowed to the royal sisters.

“Hello, White Steam.” Celestia’s voice was grim, layered with sadness.

“Hello, your highness. Is something wrong?” I asked, and she nodded.

“About your “Daughter”… my top scholars looked over your condition… it doesn’t look good. They couldn’t turn anything up, but an old “friend” told me about what may or may not be happening to you,” Celestia said softly, and I had a feeling that something bad is about to happen.

“So…” I started, and Celestia started to speak.

“It’s an age old curse, used by the first master changelings. They would create a being that the victim of the curse could not help to love. The object of which the changeling has created, has a single spell on it, so that when the curse-bearer shows affection and or love towards said object, it drain the love and life-force from the curse-bearer, and then gives it to the changeling. Soon, after a short-to-long period of time, the bearer dies, and the said object disappears from existence.” Said Celestia, and I felt astounded.

“Is there any way to revert it?” I asked, and Celestia shook her head.

“Not that we know of. The best we could do is take away your “daughter” and exterminate her, but you would be against that, wouldn’t you?” asked Celestia.

“There has to be some way!” I shouted, and I heard the red earthpony sigh.

“Look, two options. You die, or your daughter dies, whoever she is,” He said, briefly looking up from the stain he was scrubbing.

“Pillows! Thee shalt not talk to thy subject higher than thee!” Luna said, hitting him on the head.

“No… No it’s quite alright. At least he’s blunt and truthful. How did you get this information anyway?” I asked, and the sisters looked at each other sheepishly.

“Well… ever thought that there was something that was more powerful than us? Much more powerful?” Asked Celestia, and I shook my head.

“Nope. Not that I can remember,” I said, and Celestia sighed.

“Well, I guess we’ll have to show him…” Said Celestia.

Luna looked at her sister doubtfully, but Celestia gave her a reassuring nod. Luna waved off everypony except for me. The room became dark, as the two sisters put their glowing horns together, and launched a purple looking ball at the middle of the room, where it exploded into a figure which looked like a earthpony.

He was a pure white, with the sign of the homunculi as a cutie mark. His eyes were a deep blue, as well as he had blue streaks in his white hair. He had the same sociopathic smirk on his face, and he was staring straight at me.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Steam. I’m the creator, and I’ve been watching you for a very long time.”