The Midnight Hour

Dearest Sister,

Princess Celestia received grave news today. A princess from a land to the north was taken hostage and requires a ransom. The Northern Kingdom has asked Equestria for help with the ransom, requiring 5000 bits as a short term loan.

I have been tasked by Celestia herself to carry the bits up to the Northern Kingdom and to aid in the transaction between the bandits and the Knights of the North. I hope it all goes smoothly, for not only Celestia's sake but also for this northern princess, I was only able to catch some of the name as I was rushed out to prepare for the journey. I think the name was Cadenza.

I shall write again when my journey is complete.

Yours truly,
Shining Armour

The Prototype

I felt as if my back was on fire, as if a million ants were running up and down my spine. I regretted again accepting the offer of new equipment from the Special Services, new gear always itched like crazy for the first week. I did however like my new armour, fitted plate mail with golden edging, enough to turn away the blade of any bandit stupid enough to get close to me. I was also being used as a prototype tester, the new armour came equipped with a new weapon system. Two “Lance” blades sat above my shoulders, ready to thrust forwards past my head on command by biting a button on my collar. Linked with these were two more “Wing Blades” that swept back from my sides, turning me into a well armoured, well armed, not to mention completely prototype fighting unit.

My thoughts turned back to the task at hand as I approached the small village ahead of me with caution, I had been travelling for 3 days and had passed through several towns before now but this one seemed different. There was no noise coming from the town, as if all the people living there had vanished. I journeyed along the dusty track, travelling ever closer to the outskirts of the town. I could hear a rhythmic knocking coming from the outskirts of town, as if somepony had recorded a woodpecker and then played it on repeat. I crouched beneath the window of the first house I came to and peered inside, seeing nothing but dust and an overturned table. The source of the knocking was revealed moments later as I glanced around the corner. The door was sitting wide open, flapping in the dull breeze and bashing endlessly on the doorframe and the wall. Somepony had sure left in a hurry.

Walking through the town I saw evidence of daily routines sudden interrupted, meals half eaten in houses all over town, a bundle of flowers laying torn and discarded in the street, a torn newspaper fluttering idly down the street. By the time I got to the Town Square I knew something was terribly wrong. My worst suspicions were confirmed when I saw rusty red streaks on the side of the town hall.

This was the work of bandits, I was sure of it, they had struck when nopony was ready, when they were all in their homes, with their families. It was despicable, a desperate act by evil ponies and I was not going to stand by making a simple delivery while they terrorised the countryside. In 3 words: It, Is, ON!

The Princes

Tracking the bandits took almost no effort at all. The bandits had made no effort to hide their passing, leaving a river of hoof tracks leading into the nearby hills, a set of ancient peaks known collectively as The Three Princes. As I snuck through the foothills I recalled what I had been taught about hills before me.
“Rumours say that deep inside the vast hills of The Three Princes are a set of caverns, covered in mystical markings describing ancient prophecies and events yet to come. Find these, and you will find your destiny” My teachers words whispered in my head as I darted from cover to cover, not taking my eyes from the bandit sentry, a brown stallion wearing only rags, guarding the entrance to a cave. I slipped behind a boulder as his gaze drifted lazily back and forth across the hillside, following the pattern of boredom that he had kept up for the past few minutes.

As I heard the guard mutter wordlessly to himself I darted from the cover and sprinted up the hillside, using my magic to crack a tree branch off to my left. I watched as the sentry stood up at the sound, peering into the darkness just as I had planned. I bit down on my collar and the Lance blades darted out in front of me, like the twin horns of the Reaperpony himself, sliding forwards and locking into place with a soft click. My twin blades slammed through the guards ribs, killing him and lifting him in the air as I slowed from my charge. With another bite of my collar the blades slid back into my armour, dropping the unlucky guard at my feet. I turned away in disgust as I saw that the guards cutie mark was of a cage, filled with slaves.

I turned to face the yawning entrance of the cave, a dark abyss that promised only fear and terror. Looking back at the bandit on the ground in front of me, I knew what had to be done. I stepped inside.

The prophecies

I had lost count of the bandits I had killed. They weren't organised, just like the township that they had captured. I entered a round chamber, dimly lit by shafts of soft moonlight pouring through the ceiling. Along the walls were scratches and marks, left by ponies long gone. A pedestal sat in the centre of the room, formed from the very rock of the mountains. I turned to the walls and gazed at the images I saw there. My gaze was drawn to a three horned pony, lifting a pony up into the air on two of its horns, face split by a wicked grin as he revelled in the killing.
I felt a chill in the air as I looked further along the wall, image after image of the same pony, killing and destroying any that stood in his way. Finally the last image showed the Tri-Horned pony entering a circular chamber and claiming what sat on the pedestal. My heart turned to ice as I realised that the pony depicted on the walls, the pony that had brutally ended the life of all opposition... was me.

I stumbled back, looking desperately around the walls, trying to find some redeeming feature to this horrible presentation of myself. I backed away from the images, closing my eyes as I tried to block out all memory of the killing. A sudden cold on my flanks forced me to turn around, coming face to face with the pedestal. Laying atop the pillar was a golden tail, a weapon made to crush the lives from ponies without mercy and regret. I felt a chill run through the air again as my hooves reached out to take the tail.

I couldn't stop myself from lifting the golden weapon into the air above my head, seeing its beauty as it caught the fading moonlight and reflected it back onto the walls, showing details to the images of the Tri-Horned Pony that I had missed before. In each of the scenes was a small, weak filly or colt behind the Tri-Horned Pony, clutching onto a shining tail, being saved and protected from the evil creatures around them. I smiled as I realised that despite the age difference of the tail and my armour, they were made to fit together. Three seconds and a satisfying click was all it took to tell me that my realisations were correct.

The Princess

I galloped from the chamber as fast as I could, taking a final glance back at the map somehow drawn by ponies long dead, showing me exactly where to go. I darted around a corner and skidded to a halt as a unicorn shrouded in a bright blue robe teleported in front of me.
“Die intruder” The unicorn shouted as I saw his horn flash with sickly green light. I bit down on my collar as bolt of green fire impacted on my armour, burning the beloved edging. I rolled sideways, trying to avoiding the incoming flames.
Remembering the images from the round chamber, I leapt into the air, soaring above the vile magic caster. I landed behind the unicorn, feeling a shock as I swung my tail into his side and crushed the pony into the wall. I stepped back, letting his body drop to the floor as the life drained from his eyes.

Leaving the body in the corridor behind me, I entered the slave room, noticing at once that the two guards were slumped in their seats, staring into each others eyes like spring lovers. I watched as the cage keys levitated away from the two love struck guards and started to unlock the nearest slave pen. Without a single effort from me, all of the slave pens had been unlocked and the slaves had started to file past me, glancing at my blood streaked armour and gaping mouth.

My jaw snapped shut as the last pony walked from the cages, an Alicorn of amazing beauty and grace. Her slender pink horn flashed as a heart appeared between the two guards and they slumped further towards each other. I turned towards the Alicorn, presenting my hoof as she trotted towards me.

“I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Northern Kingdom but you may call me Cadance, after all you did put in all the effort to come and rescue us. I thank you for your help and request that you accompany me back to my home, it will be a long trip and I fear to be alone in such wild lands. Come along.” Her voice slid straight through all the doubts that had been plaguing my mind since the chamber of prophecies, brooking no argument from me.

I smiled and turned, following Princess Cadance out of the slave chamber, leaving the guards to their fate.

The Present

Dearest Sister,

I have returned from my journey with many stories to tell you. I brought a present home with me. I know how much you dislike your current foal sitter so I brought you a replacement. Her name is Cadance, and I just know that you will love, love, love her.

Yours truly,
Shining Armour