Whisked Away

Whisked Away: Chapter 11: Guardian Angel

Felix's everything hurt. His head was throbbing so hard he was surprised he wasn't being thrown around. His vision was extremely blurry, covering everything in the room with a thick grey glow. He was in hell.

But he was alive. How? Felix thought.

He heard the voice again. Gentle, feminine. Felix's vision was slowly fading back in, revealing to him a thick palette of browns, yellows, and reds. When he was finally able to focus again, he realized he was staring at a roof. Felix tried to stand up, but was stopped by a shreik of protest from his muscles. He fell back into the soft bed.

Wait... Is this Fluttershy's bed? What am I doing here?

She must have found him. He smiled, though he released a sigh soon after. Why does this trip have to hurt so much? It's bad enough that most of the shenanagins I go through leave me scratched up, but this is my second major injury and I haven't even been here a week! Fluttershy suddenly opened the door, and let out a squeak of surprise when she saw Felix trying to stand up.

Both of them stared at each other for a short while. Felix broke the silence. "What happened?"

Fluttershy looked at her hooves. "I found you outside." She replied. "What was that?" Felix asked.

"I found you outside."

Felix smiled. "Well, thank you for saving me, 'Shy." He told her. She looked confused for a second. A sudden bang at the door made them both jump. "Hey! Anypony home?" Rainbow Dash's voice called out. Felix heard a door open.

Well, shit.

"You can't let her know I'm here!" Felix desperately whispered to Fluttershy. She stood there for a second, then nodded. Fluttershy left the room and closed the door. Felix reached his hand up and felt bandages wrapping around his head. Remembering Ruben had destroyed any feelings of optimism that he might have felt. I just hope Angel dosen't show up. That crazy bunny's sure to ruin everything.

Felix tried to get up again, this time with more success.

A pounding headache made it hard to focus. He found himself stumbling more than he was walking. But, after some trail and error, he managed to keep his balance. Felix's head still felt light after blood loss, but he knew it should fade in time. I couldn't have been out for long, Fluttershy dosen't have all the nessesary medical tools handy to treat a patient in a coma, as far as I can tell. Felix remembered the hardships this new world had brought, but it was a nice escape from the post-apoctalyptic earth. As Felix glanced out the window and took in all the sights of nature, he found it hard to imagine a world as pristine as this could one day look like the destroyed cities that he had called home.

Fluttershy and Rainbow were talking somewhere below him, about what he couldn't tell. Felix hoped Fluttershy would at least do somewhat of a good job at keeping him hidden. He'd had enough to worry about as of late, and a raging Dash was the last thing he needed. Felix suddenly noticed something in his peripheral vision. A large, dark shape ominously lurked just down the path to Fluttershy's house. The black armour the bipedal creature wore stood out intensely among the colorful shades the forest offered. The small symbol the creature wore parallel to it's heart was a blue shield in front of crossed rifles.

Paladin's armour.

No! Not now! Why?

The armour that had haunted Felix's dreams ever since Ruben's passing was quite alive, slowly crossing the path in front of the house. Felix felt relief as the tip of the soilder's rifle had entered the bushes behind it, signaling it's exit. But Felix's gut instinct told him that there was a greater reson to the soilder's appearance that just poor luck. the direction the soilder was heading in a north-northwest direction, towards Canterlot. Wait. Canterlot? The Paladins aren't diplomats, their 'religion' tells them to kill non-believers. That must mean that they're either trying to capture the city or... Felix swallowed hard.

...They're going to try and assassinate Princess Celestia.

Felix knew that if the Paladins knew about the princesses, this world would be dragged into catastrophe soon enough.

I can't let that happen. Felix determinedly thought as adrenaline coursed through his veins. Not caring if he gave himself away, Felix ran to the door and bolted downstairs. Dash and Flutters were staring at him in shock. Before either of them could move, Felix spoke. "I need to get to Canterlot as soon as possible. The princesses are in danger!" Dash's shock soon shifted into anger as she stood and started crossing the room. "You're lying." She declared. Felix felt all his anger welling up inside him. This was the one pony that had almost killed him- twice. Now she stood before him, openly defying the fact that Felix knew that the princesses were in danger. But Felix knew better than to start a fight; he was in no condition to win and he needed their support. Felix glared into Dash's eyes. "Whether you choose to believe me or not is trivial. But, I need your support if I'm to stop this world from ending up like my own. Please, drop your grudges and help me." Felix told snarled at Rainbow Dash. She seemed to cringe, which surprised Felix. A tear slowly slid down Dash's face. "I-I'm sorry. It's just that my mother was killed by one of your kind." She revealed to him. Felix felt a stroke of pity.

He sighed. "I know the feeling. Both my parents and my brother were killed in the pointless war." He glanced up. "I know that you feel sad that it happened, angry at my race, and ashamed that you couldn't do anything about it. But, I need your help. We can stop this, together." Felix knew the emptyness of his promise, but he needed help to complete his task.

The two pegasi started to whisper, and Felix could only guess what was being said.

"We'll help you." Rainbow replied finally.

The trip to Canterlot was uneventful. Felix had been allowed on the train peacefully only after Rainbow's and Fluttershy's insisting that he was 'harmless' and that he wouldn't hurt anyone on the train.

'Harmless'. We'll see about that.

The time seemed to pass slowly as Felix stared out the window. The distant city of Canterlot was steadily growing closer, though it would be some time before they arrived there. A day at best. A doctor was aboard the train, and after some reassuring she agreed to check on Felix's head injury. The adrenaline had long since faded, and Felix felt tired and drained. The doctor assured Felix that it wasn't too major, and that it should properly heal in no time. Oddly enough, the train had all of the mane six on board. Rainbow had asked why.

"Why, the summer sun celebration, you silly filly!" Pinkie pie had told her. Felix's heart skipped a beat.

Celestia has to appear in public for the ceremony. The Paladins had all this planned.

It took all the effort the girls could muster to insist that Felix didn't need a celebration party. Pinky had been adamant, but eventually agreed to hold it when they got back to Ponyville. Their voices slowly faded as Felix fell into an uneasy sleep.

He woke at moonrise, to be escorted directly to an inn with Twilight chosen to be his warden, of sorts. Rarity had gone off to enjoy the sophistication of the city, while the others had wandered off to do their own things. Felix felt each moment agonizingly painful, while Twilight busied herself reading the books she had brought with her on the trip. Felix felt sleep taking hold again, and he asked Twilight to wake him an hour before the sun rose.

"Why are we here and not out there?" Rainbow asked him. They had chosen to take up position just to the left of the stage, near the front. The moon was just setting below the horizon, and Felix knew that it would happen soon enough. The group was secluded, near some bushes that Felix had chosen as his hiding place. Humans were still considered beasts to equestrians, and staying out in the open couldn't possibly end well.

When Felix noticed a small black gleam on the hill overlooking the ceremony, he knew he wasn't mistaken.

Celestia entered his vision, and majestically strolled between the rows of guards. Felix knew that the moment had come.

Time slowed down.

Felix rushed from the bushes just as Celestia rose to the air, horn glowing. He leapt and tackled her, effectively moving her off-balance. A loud crack was heard and Felix screamed in agony as a bullet ruptured his heel. The princess regained herself quickly, staring in shock at the human that she remembered from only days ago, lying on the ground and panting. "Run! Now!" Felix shouted at her as she was escorted away by a group of guards. The crowed had scattered in panic, and the girls were staring in shock.

Felix heard another crack as pain shot through his brain for no longer than a millisecond.

Then everything went black.