The Masked Stallion

As usual, Canterlot was bustling with posh ponies eager to buy items. The pretty city was even beautiful at night, with its glistening fountains and pools filled with crystal-clear water. The busy lights of the city, flashing on and off.

But there was an especially loud commotion in the Canterlot Castle Dining Room. The Canterlot Elite were celebrating their latest and most victorious win over a war against thousands off Changelings in Badlands.

"3 cheers to the captains of Canterlot *BURP* Elite!" A voice called through the glass windows. A young stallion by the name of Good Spirit was chanting words to please his captains. Spirit loyally raised his cup of sarsaparilla to honor the captains. The other recruits picked up the line and raised their glasses eagerly to behold the 2 mightiest captains raising their elegant glasses in return.

"HIP, HIP, HOORAY!" The group cried. They clinked their glasses together and gurgled down the contents good-heartedly.

"That was only one cheer, but *BURP* alright!" Spirit added, and whispered an 'excuse me' as the group began to chatter ferociously. They continued to chat until Supreme Captain Swift Flyer entered the dining room.

"Good evening sir!" They lined up into position, setting the glasses down onto the tables and pointing a hoof to their heads, resembling a salute of some sort.

"I expect you all to be very happy at this moment."

"Yes sir!"

"I see. I would like to speak with Captain Regal Knight, Order of Section 675 confidentially in my quarters for a moment. This won't take much of your time."

A handsome stallion popped up from the crowd.

"Affirmative, sir." He trailed Swift Flyer towards the exit of the dining room. He flashed a smile at his brother, Captain Bolt Highflyer. Bolt saluted back at his brother and turned towards the crowd of the Canterlot Elite members.

"Awaiting orders, sir." A older stallion said from the crowd. He took his helmet from the table and attached it to his head.

"Continue usual act until I say so." Bolt commanded, and turned his head back to the exit, awaiting his brother to return.

"You needed me, sire?" Regal questioned. Swift Flyer nodded. "It has come to my attention that there is many recruits trying to come into the Elite?"

"Yes sir."

"And many are untrained but are still in the academy?"

"Affirmative, sir."

"I am very disappointed in you, Regal Knight." Swift Flyer set his helmet onto an antique table.

"Sir, if you may, I would like to expla-"

"There are no explanations." Swift interrupted sharply.

"It has come to my attention that you are not training my recruits well enough to be in the Elite."

"Well actually sir-"

"Being in the Canterlot Elite is a very special privilege." Swift Flyer continued. "You should not be accepting such foul stallions for such a high rank in the Equestria society. I am disappointed in you."

"Permission to speak, sir."

"Go on."

Regal Knight cleared his throat nervously. "I did not accept these stallions, sire. It was my partner in Section 675, Bolt Highflyer." Swift Flyer flung a look of disgust onto his face.

"I do not accept accusations." He said shortly. He stared at Regal Knight with a look of angriness and betrayal in his eyes instead of his usual cheerful but committed look.

"I also do not accept weaklings into this very special place and rank at this rate. We are celebrating, but the men are weak. Look at their thin bodies! Surely you must see that."

"Sire, please. I would like to have the time to say something."

"You may not, Recruit. I refuse to hear some more foul accusations about this incident." Swift quickly opened the door to his quarters with his horn, surrounded by a bubble of dark-green-colored magic. "Exit the room, Recruit. Oh, and I will need your Captain's badge back." He ripped off the badge from Regal's armor.

"Sire-"

"That was a command."

"Hi Reggie!" Bolt exclaimed as Regal Knight angrily trotted towards him. He suddenly stopped and concealed his anger. "How'd it go?" Bolt asked.

"It was...great." Regal managed to choke out the words just lightly. "Uh, look Bolt. I need to go." He smiled weakly, threw a hug on Bolt, and cantered towards the Captains Quarters.

Items flung onto the wall ferociously and bounced back as Recruit Regal Knight of Section 675 was packing things into his small saddlebags.

"Sheet, food, hood, brush, sanitary bag, canteen..." He murmured as he counted the items. He stuffed the items into the saddlebags and pulled a black tattered coat onto his body.

"If Swift Flyer finds out about this, I'm dead as a Changeling." He buckled the saddlebags and opened the grand window. He peered down to meet a bundle of grass, about 10-12 feet down. He shrugged.

I can hold the pain. Bolt couldn't if he was here. He thought as he carefully climbed down the window, clutching onto the antique frames for a while. He slowly but surely worked his way down to about 4 feet, and fell down on the ground. He suddenly heard a marching sound.

"Straight hooves! Standard formation! Attention!" a sharp and commander-like voice pierced through the quite garden. A long argue and mumbling of moans followed the command, and the sound of shuffling hooves.

"You all are ate up, soldiers!" The commander yelled. A few moans followed as usual and some sharp replies came speeding by.

"Yes sir!"

Regal slowly crouched down to knee-length and shuffled through the thick, long and green grass. He continued to do this until he reached Main Gate of the castle, the place of freedom and happiness for him.

Why not escape? It's better for me outside! I'll find a nice job in town, get my skills to use! He thought, and looked around the gate. A few guards surrounded the gate, some chatting and some dutifully doing their job. Regal paused for a moment, thinking on what to do.

"Why are you not doing anything?" A round and rough voice cut through the garden. The guards looked at the stallion, surprised as it appeared to be their captain.

"Greetings, sire." The guards straightened their backs and crisply saluted.

"I thought you would be better than this." He said. The guards stared at him, guilty and shamed.

"Move out of the way now. I've got some business to attend to in Canterlot. Get on with it, you pack of softies." A guard cleared his throat nervously.

"If I may ask sir, what sort of business?" The 'captain' looked back irritably. "Some business that you should keep your pretty little face out of, spitball." He marched his way to the gates and slowly but surely, trotted right into the center of Canterlot.

"Where is he?" Bolt asked Captain Mist Flare of Section 784. He shrugged helplessly.

"I can help you find him." He whistled and 5 guards came up to him in a straight line.

"Listen, soldiers! I need you to find Captain Regal Knight of Section 675, alright?" He barked. The guards nodded in sync. "Yes sir!"

"You will find him at all costs, or it'll be back to basics in Section 1." He continued. "Affirmative sir!" The guards bustled into conversation at once, the head guard ordering the ponies to go to specific places.

"Don't worry, Highflyer. You'll find him. I know you will." Mist put a hoof on Bolt's shoulder as the guards stretched out.

The 'captain' was now gliding into the nearest public toilet. He charged into a changing room, closed the door, and took off his saddlebags. He quickly tucked his helmet and badge into the bags, ruffled his hair, and took out a tube of 'Krazee Hair Time', made by a certain pony named Pinkie Pie. He slowly removed the cap and squeezed a blob of the gel onto his hoof, then made rubbing motions on his mane as he put it to the size he wanted. He continued to take out different sort of pony-changer-things, and finally hopped out of the stall.

There wasn't even a captain anymore. There, standing tall and proud, was a crazy-looking pegasus. His mane was very different than the normal Regal Knight. He had a neat blue mohawk, a silly grin on his face, and he had replaced his cutiemark with a cutie-tattoo sticker he'd found in one of those train station shops as a set of light-green headphones.

"This'll hide me for a mere few days." He smiled hopefully and gritted his teeth at the thought of Swift Flyer finding out.

"Please stay safe Bolt. Please."