Blue

I woke up suddenly, to the sound of the guards marching in front of our mansion. I opened my eyes lazily, and was greeted by the sight of my beautiful wife curled up to me, breathing lightly, with a hint of a smile on her face. I felt incredibly happy just for being able to spend my free time with the pony I love, even in these troubled times. She suddenly perked up, noticing I was awake, and looked me directly in the eye.

"Good morning, Shiny." she purred.

I reached out, and welcomed her embrace a second later. I let myself forget about my worries in a deep kiss. I pulled away, too soon for my stirred senses.

"You were more eager than this last night." Cadence teased.

"Cadie, I'm soon off to escort the witness to questioning. Also, I'm incredibly worried about what might go wrong. If Rarity really knows even half of what she claims to know, we'll be hot on the tail of a criminal, who is trying to set the nation ablaze. Maybe if Rainbow Dash is let out, they will agree to investigate the DJ's case more thoroughly."

"And the third one? The unicorn who was abused by the warden?"

I sighed. "Honestly, I don't know. She has not told me anything usable. The only facts we know are that there were three small communities, not even worthy of the title of a village, that were found slaughtered by an Ursa Major. She was caught at the crime scene, where the director supposedly injured her severely. Nothing about the part she played in it."

"I believe in her innocence, Shiny." she said firmly.

"Then I will believe in her, too." I replied, snuggling closer.

"Weren't you worried about being late just a minute ago?" Cadence asked me playfully.

I sighed. "Yes, I was, and I still am, but that's not all to it. If Rarity is an important witness in this case, and if that fact somehow got out... she will need every protection she can get."

"Then let me help you guard her."

I furrowed my brow. "We have talked about this, Cadie. I'm not going to put you in such danger, no matter how close the pony is to you. I couldn't bear to see something happen to you."

"Let's look at this from an another perspective, then. Whom do you suspect to attack?"

"Chrysalis." I answered without a second thought.

"You see?" Cadence pointed out, "if it isChrysalis, you need me to defeat her. And if not... Is there a pony in the employment of the nobility that could penetrate your defensive spell?"

"No, there isn't." I puffed my chest with pride. "Nopony can break my shield. Still..."

I was interrupted by her hooves closing my lips.

"Shiny, don't worry. I want to help you protect her. Why are you worried, even? Your abilities were praised by all of your teachers."

"Because..." I sighed. "Because Rarity was teleported away yesterday, by Princess Celestia herself, to a place only she knows of. Today, I'm supposed to get a telepathic message from her any minute now, which will tell me where to go to get her, as it is impossible for the princesses to simply teleport her to the scene, because the truth spell requires their full attention to maintain. Casting a teleport spell could mess up the whole preparation. And an ambush can easily set up, based on my movement, or on the way back, while I'm escorting her to the court. We will move with a small guard battallion, who received training fit for elites."

While I was talking, she went to our dressing room, and made some infernal noises, whose existence I couldn't even begin to comprehend. When she finally came out, she was wearing a protective armor I had a craftspony specifically make for her. It offered the finest protection for somepony of her stature.

She struck a menacing pose. "How do I look?"

"Like a bloodthirsty kitten." I laughed. She smiled with me. I could tell the amount of her resolve, because she refused to even try on that armor before. As if to a cue, Rarity's location popped into my mind.

"Fancypants? Really?" I called out loud, without thinking.

"Why?" she asked. "He's as good as anypony else."

"Yeah," I replied sheepishly, "but with the unrest recently, and the animosity towards blue-colored ponies, he could be in grave danger."

"Shiny, relax. Nopony even knows that she's been staying there since yesterday."

I sighed. "I guess you're right. I'll get ready, the boys should be here soon."

I donned the signature armor of the Guard Captain, and not a moment too soon. The five elite guards have arrived, clad in heavy armor, styled heavily after ancient cavalry. I greeted them, and we took formation, Cadence in the middle; we began to head to Fancypants' manor, alert for any kind of danger.

Curiously, the streets were empty, a gift I was thankful for; would-be assasins could hide themselves away harder. We soon reached the Fancypants estate, a rather large, Trottingham style mansion standing in a spacious garden, with the unmistakeable bush labyrinth that usually signalled the owner is rich enough to buy them. Personally, I always found them useless. Why create a place for assailants to hide on your own volition?

Some of the Lunar Guard were already standing there. I suppose they were ordered to guard the place for the night, just in case. Their leader, Night Shade, an older, but surprisingly swift unicorn with dark, almost blackish brown coat and purple mane, with streams of grey in it, stepped forward. I let him cast his signature spell, which he used to identify me. You see, he is blind. But his special talent is perception, as his cutie mark represents: a magifying glass. He is the elite of the elite in night actions— the fact that in pitch black darkness he has an advantage made him a fearful fighter. That does not mean he was helpless against opponents who could see clearly; he had a nasty arsenal of tricks to temporarily blind his enemies.

"All right, Captain Shining Armor, the witness is ready to be escorted. She's located in the tea room at the present time." I wondered if he has fun like that, too: straight to the point.

"Lead the way, Liutenant." I replied, while signalling my ponies and Cadence to wait outside. When we stepped inside, I shot a friendly smile towards him. Even though I was younger, I was a captain, and him a lieutant. While others would take offense to it, he simply accepted the fact I was appointed without any normal means of advancement; in turn, I often listened to his advice and observations.

"So, how's your family?"

He looked concerned.

"We strongly suspect with my wife that our young foal might go blind soon. I would not be worried normally, because I became blind quite early, too, but the kid has not yet earned a cutie mark yet. It'd be a shame if he only inherited my blindness, and not the way I was able to overcome it."

I looked at him, surprised. "You're unusually talkative today."

He grunted. "Yeah, boy. I'm on the edge. This whole new 'blue represents evil' stuff is horseapples. Yet some stupid ponies still believe it."

"So you don't?"

He stopped, turning to me, and locking my eyes in his sightless gray gaze.

"Listen here, boy, when you feel, and not see most of the world outside, you realise there is no pattern. No rules. You could search for a lifetime, and you would still. Find. Nothing. Being good or bad is a personal choice... or for the insane, a personal fault."

"I'm glad you feel that way." I replied. "Sometimes I feel only Cadence supports me against this newfound prejudice."

Night Shade snorted.

"Boy, nothing I say here will reach anypony's ear. I have a strong feeling of justice, but I also have a family. I ain't going to express my opinions if it may hurt them."

I laughed. "Didn't expect you to. Family first."

He looked at me with a less grim expression.

"That reminds me, how's your father?"

My smile was replaced with a concerned expression.

"He was threatened a few times already. I think some noble is playing some scheme here, trying to get under my skin."

"Don't give in to them, boy. Nobles are a rotten bunch."

We arrived to a richly decorated door. I could swear it was made from platinum, the way it glimmered. Night Shade turned to me, and lowered his voice.

"This is where we part ways. My Night Guards are tired, so we will leave immediately. Don't let Chrysalis win this one."

I gasped, and lowered my voice, too. "You also think this is her work?"

"Not publicly. Luna be with you."

"Luna be with you." I repeated the ancient greeting of the Night Guard. He left silently and swiftly, making sure to evade the fancy carpet whereever he could. I knocked on the door, and entered, without waiting for a response. Three white unicorns sat around a tea-table, but the only stallion amongst them stood up.

"I say, Captain Sparkle, what a pleasant surprise!" a familiar voice greeted me. Fancypants stepped forward, and extended a hoof. Without a second thought, I shook it.

"It's nice to meet you too, Sir Fancypants. Pity that it's such a gruesome occassion."

"Yes, I can say that we are terribly concerned with these reports of unrest. Aren't we, darling?" he asked, turning to his wife, Fleur de Lys.

"I agree, this recent crime spree does not look promising."

I looked at Fleur with more interest. Was that dissatisfaction I saw in her eyes? Was she keeping her distance from her husband? I waved away my doubts. She has known him since ages, surely she won't give heed to these stupid rumors; she will stay beside him, like Cadie, who believes in me.

"Ready to go, Miss Belle?" I asked Twilie's friend.

"Yes, let us depart at once. And please, call me Rarity." she smiled. "Sweetie Belle is my sister. I don't use my last name."

I felt myself redden with shame. "M-my apologies."

She let out an elegant chuckle. "Let us go."

I waved goodbye to our hosts, and led Rarity to my troop. As soon as we stepped out of the mansion, they took formation. We joined them, and departed for Canterlot Court. Cadence and I were on the lead, nuzzle by nuzzle. Rarity followed suit, surrounded from both sides and her back with guards. I was incredibly tense. Maybe that was the reason I stopped when we were halfway there. The streets were empty, courtesy of Princess Celestia issuing a decree the day before yesterday; not a single soul could be seen on the streets. Despite that, every fiber of my being screamed danger.

"Formation!" I yelled. The guards immediately turned their backs to Rarity, readying their spears. I erected one of the strongest barriers I ever produced. Cadence strengthened my magic, pouring her power into me, while her eyes darted around, trying to notice anything amiss. Curiously, she did not have to look for long. Seven figures stepped out of an alleyway, all clad in black, leather-like outfits. One of them was clearly a griffon, the others looked like unicorns. The griffon immediately charged at us, but my shield fully absorbed his attack, causing him to stammer back nearly to the hoof of the others. His movement was strange, sometimes pausing in the middle of movement, as if he forced himself to remember how to move. One of my guards threw a spear at him, and surprisingly, he did not seem to do anything to evade it. The sharp metal pierced his chest, and he fell to the ground, unmoving.

It was only by this time that I realised the other assasins charged their horns during this interlude. My shield is strong, but if they can shoot it in unison... there was a slight chance my shield could have been cracked. Cadence seemed to think the same, because she poured even more of her magic into me, as if readying me for the clash of magics. I put full power up front.

Then, time seemed to slow for me. These 'assasins' charged themselves too long. Realization kicked in. I tried to turn around, but it was too late. I couldn't. Somehow, as I was concentrating on the black figures, something... unnatural entered my body. An alien magic, numbing my body, taking control of my powers. But it also did something else... It caused me to see through the eyes of the killer, too. I saw ourselves, and the deadly contraption before his eyes (her eyes?). Another wave of dominant magic, and I felt the back of my shield disperse. The guards were surprised at this, and I saw them panic through those twisted eyes. I wanted to scream, to tell them to get out of the way, to push them aside, but I couldn't. I watched helplessly, as the machine suddenly shot out about two dozens of sharp metal pieces. I could not close my eyes, and even if I somehow managed to, the killer kept a close watch on what happened. The blades pierced the guards' and Rarity's body, killing them instantly. I felt pain, but it only grazed my shoulder.

Time was still slow for me. It felt like an hour until the others died, and the blades reaching Cadence. Red mist filled my mind. Not Cadence! She can't be harmed, even if it's the last thing I do!

Somehow, I managed to shake off the force stopping my movement. Maybe it was indeed my love for Cadence, maybe the mysterious shadow had anticipated this. Whichever was the cause, I lunged for her, however while doing so, I completely dropped my shield. At that exact moment, one of the unicorns in black finally shot his magic. It hit me on the side, and I fell to the ground, now immobilized not by an outer force, but pain. I could only watch in terror, as Cadence was pierced by the remaining metal pieces, and collapsed lifelessly. I felt a piece of me die there.

As if to a cue, i felt the presence completely let go of me. Before his (her?) gaze faded away, however, I saw him (her?) incinerate his (her?) own infernal contraption with a storm of fire. Then, the connection faded, and I had no idea where that despicable creature disappeared to.

Refusing to accept reality, I fought against myself, declining to look at Cadence, and admit that she was indeed dead. I turned my attention to the unicorns, rather, whom have already closed in, surrounding their fallen griffon friend. Before I could get up, they blew themselves up. That is right, the remaining unicorns' energy was released in a large explosion, that tore them apart to little pieces. The sound of the explosion, and the sight of the bloody chunks was burned within my memory forever.

Not a minute later, we were surrounded by guards, ones I did not know. They were lead by a noble, who was unfamiliar to me, too. He was dark green, and rather slim-built, sporting an orange mane and a goatee. His cutie mark was not obstructed by his fancy vest: an open book.

One of the guards checked my battallion. "All dead." he exclaimed. "Except the captain."

"Guards, arrest him!" the noble cried.

I saw a hoof close in, and gave up my consciousness.