The Masked Stallion

“When I was a little filly, my parents abandoned me. I was sent to the orphanage where I lived with my big brother, Regal Knight. He always took care of me even though the orphanage was all dusty and horrible.”

“It was horrible? I thought orphanages were great places for abandoned children…” The innkeeper muttered.

“You’ve been hearing the wrong things.” Bolt replied, and continued his story without hesitation. “One day, while my brother and I were eating a small snack in our stall, 2 Canterlot guards stumbled into the barn. They asked the barn keeper about us for a while and then took us out of the orphanage. We were sent to Canterlot Castle to meet Princess Celestia.”

“Impressive.” The innkeeper commented, and passed him the glass of sarsaparilla from last time’s ‘encounter’. Bolt pushed it back once more and smirked.

“Anyways,” Bolt said. “Princess Celestia told us she suspected that our cutiemarks had something to do with the Prophecy of Canterlot. And indeed, after a few tests, it was true. My cutiemark was silver robot wings with a silver sword in front and my brother’s cutiemark was a shield with a silver sword in front. Our cutiemarks, both similar, were both praised as well. I was still curious about my cutiemark though.”

“Looks to me you don’t have any robot wings. You a Pegasus?” The innkeeper asked and looked at his hood suspiciously. Bolt shrugged and took off the hood fully to show it wasn’t true.

“We began training to become Royal Guards and soon we were accepted into the Canterlot Elite, a secondary stage of the Royal Canterlot Guard Force. After countless battles and training sessions, my brother and I became the top of the top. We both were the headmasters of the Elite, and we stood side by side, confident nothing would happen. But something did.”

The innkeeper inched his head forward a bit to hear the news. Bolt looked at him and took a deep breath, somehow struggling to break the silence.

“M-m-my brother…he disappeared...after a celebration.” Bolt stammered and dug his face in his hooves, sobbing sadly. The innkeeper gasped and instantly brought Bolt’s face up. “What happened?” The innkeeper urged on, dying to find more news to help the poor stallion.

“We were celebrating over a victory of some war, and then my brother left to get something, but never came back. I thought he went to the toilet or went to grab a drink, so I checked, but he wasn’t there. I reported to the Princess and she told me not to worry about anything. But I did. Ever since, I’ve been fleeing to town to town to find my brother.” Bolt banged his head on a wooden post, trying to remember where his brother had left to.

“That’s quality mahogany you’re touching there!” The innkeeper shouted, zipped his mouth shut and reopened it again. “I mean, I’ll help you. Give me some clues. Where was he from before he was sent to Canterlot?”

Bolt thought for a moment and took out an old Equestrian map of the world. He pointed to a few cities, traced some invisible routes, and finally pointed to Manehatten.

“Manehatten?” The innkeeper said loudly, and shut his mouth again.

“You’ve got a big mouth…” muttered Bolt as a few ponies turned around and looked at the innkeeper strangely. “Sorry!” The innkeeper mouthed back, and coughed awkwardly. A few ponies rushed out of the bar.

“But yes, we were raised in Manehatten then we moved to the rough side of it. There was still a little peace and quiet so we hooked up some jobs and we got sent to the orphanage.”

The innkeeper looked at the map and took out another one from his bar. “If I’m correct, you started from Canterlot?” He asked, and took out a pen. Bolt nodded. “And so you started from there and went to…” The innkeeper paused. “I came to Neighara Falls, then to Manehatten.” Bolt answered. The innkeeper marked the places. “And then I went back to the Falls and to Fillydelphia and Baltimare. Then to Rambling Rock Ridge, where I stopped for a long time.” The innkeeper looked surprised.

“Jeez, Rambling Rock Ridge is pretty hard to cross.” The innkeeper adds, and marks more of the places. “I went to Dodge City after that hid me real good. Then I continued and turned to the Badlands…” The innkeeper gasped. “Badlands?” He roared. “Isn’t that forbidden?” Bolt nodded. “I encountered some dragons there, and I can assure you, they weren’t exactly friendly.” The innkeeper laughed and marked his trail.

“And finally, I went back and turned to the left route to Appleloosa and cut through Macintosh Hills to San Palomino’s Desert. I hid there until FINALLY, I came to here.” Bolt finally breathed for a moment, and the innkeeper traced the final route.

“So if I’m correct, you have quarter of Equestria to visit?” The innkeeper questioned, and showed him the map. Several places were marked and some were circled. Bolt smiled and nodded. “Yeah, this is my exact route.” Bolt suddenly yawned and rubbed his eyes.

“Got a room?” He asked. The innkeeper smiled and threw a room key to him. “Make sure to come to the bar tomorrow alright?” Bolt flashed a smile, caught the key, and trotted upstairs to his room. He had a long day ahead of him.