Will of Fire

Chapter 22 - Promises and Bonds

By: TheXIIILightning

"Before you go, I have a present for the both of you."

We were saying goodbye to Mentore, this errand would take at least a week. We told him why we took the job, he said he didn't like the look of it but he trusted my decisions. Also, even if we had to leave today, we wouldn't go unprepared. Sunshine had her saddlebags packed with camping essentials and food. And I had my sword and the package on my back.

"You didn't have to get us anything Mentore." Sunshine said.

"She's right you know." I said, and Mentore laughed.

"Oh I know kids, but I'm pretty sure you'll love this."

He came back with a wooden box in his mouth, with a wide grin. He was getting old, his grey colored mane was now getting whiter, and his brown coat wasn't any better. His eyes were still bright, with the flame of a fighter. His body may have grown old, but he was still sharp of mind.

He put the box in a small table, besides to door.

"Go on, open it." He motioned us with his hoof.

I opened the box, and inside were the most beautiful necklaces I'd ever seen. One of them was golden with a round edge, like a compass, and it's pointer was shaped like my cutie mark, a lightning. The other one had all the colors of the rainbow and was shaped like Sunshine's cutie mark. It was slightly thicker and had a slot shaped like a lightning. I poked it and the colors turned golden.

"They're beautiful!" Sunshine squealed, bouncing a bit.

"What are they?" I asked. Mentore laughed again.

"Well, they're yours you ass!" He got up and slapped me on the back, still grinning.

"I had them made with my old armor." I was going to protest but he shushed me with a wave of his hoof. "It's nothing really, It was getting rusty anyway. I also asked a old friend to enchant them, I'm sure you'll find them useful."

He went to the box, and picked up the round one.

"This one is for Sunshine." She lowered her head, and he put it on for her. "It will always point you to her twin, that way you can always help Light out of whatever trouble he got himself into." She rubbed the necklace with a hoof, her smile getting wider by the second.

"Oh thank you, thank you!" She gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh it's nothing dear." He hugged her back, but let go after a few seconds.

He picked up the other necklace. I lowered my head and he put it on.

"And this is for you Lightning. This way you'll always know that Sunshine is safe and sound."

"Thank you, it's amazing." I held it in my hoof, checking every detail and corner.

"Well Sunshine, go try it out." He pushed her into the kitchen. "Remember, it will always point here."

"Sure!" She said, and ran of to give a lap around the house. Mentore motioned me to come closer.

"I included something else on that one." He pointed to my necklace. "It will also tell you her mood, you know, for those random swings she has." He whispered and I chuckled.

"Thanks, it'll save me from a few punches." He slapped my back grinning. I'm getting sore.

"No problem kiddo."

Sunshine came back, with a goofy grin.

"It's amazing, it really works!" She gave him another hug. "Thank you so much!" She let go.

"I'm glad you both like it, there's something else."

"More!?" We both said.

"There sure is!" He laughed and pointed at me. "That necklace is in fact a medallion, I put something special in there for you." Sunshine came closer to me, and inspected the medallion.

"How do we open it?" I asked.

"I'll tell you, but you have to promise me one thing." He became serious, and we listened closely.

"Promise me that after the delivery, you will find that unicorn friend of yours and bring her home."

Sunshine and I traded glances, we both smiled brightly and nodded.

"We promise!" We both said in unison.

"That's the spirit!" He put a hoof on our shoulders. "To open it, you need unicorn magic. I'm sure that friend of yours can figure it out."

"Mentore, I'd like to-"

"You'll thank me after I meet that unicorn." He pushed us towards the door. "Sparrow should be near the East gate by now, don't forget to say goodbye." Sunshine skipped ahead of me.

"We will! Thanks again!"

"Think nothing of it lass." He slapped me on the back. Again... "Now git! I need my sleep."

"Yeah, yeah. You old dog." I grinned and took the air besides Sunshine.

Mentore laughed and lift his right hoof, clearly telling me to buck off and slammed the door shut.

[East Gate]

"I don't see him anywhere." Sunshine said.

We were almost outside of town, the guards seemed a bit agitated lately, but since everything looked normal so we payed them no mind. There were two identical guards ahead of us guarding the gate. I moved towards a very specific one.

"Oh I see him alright." I approached my muzzle to the guards own. Keeping them just a few inches apart.

"Nothing can hide that ugly mug of yours Sparrow." The guard didn't even twitch. "Not even your armor."

I kept staring for a while, but eventually he smiled.

"Just so you know, you need to take care of that breath." He smiled and touched the blue star on his armor. The transformation enchantment disappeared, leaving a grey pegasus in a golden armor in it's place.

The armor guards use, has a special enchantment that either turns them white, for pegasi. Or grey, for unicorns.

They use it on duty as a way to show their loyalty by removing their defining characteristics, and for defense. If you arrested somepony and they held a grudge, it could be dangerous for the guard's family.

The only exceptions for this rule are the Captains, which Sparrow is not.

"Sir." Said the white pegasus besides us. "We aren't allowed to drop our uniform." Sparrow motioned me closer.

"That's why I love working with recruits, they're so easy to fool. Watch." He whispered to me.

"Exactly private!" The pegasus got on attention. "And that's why you're getting far in the future!"

"Sir, thank you Sir!" He saluted and got into position by the gate, just like before.

"Wow Sparrow, I'm impressed." Sunshine said.

"Thank you Sunshine, and might I say you look beautiful today." He bowed. "Like usual." Sunshine giggled.

"Oh my, you know how to treat a lady." She stroke a pose. Oh Celestia, not again...

"Yeah, yeah. Drop the act smartass." Sparrow just laughed and stroke a pose of his own.

"That's, Commander Smartass to you."

"No way! You got the promotion!" I punched his shoulder.

"Yesterday actually. Captain Hurricane himself promoted me, he made a huge celebration and everything! Half the guard was there, and even Princess Luna!" He was smiling like a maniac now. Oh no, not another Sunshine.

"Oh, why didn't you tell us!" Sunshine pouted at him.

"I'm sorry Sunshine, but it was really sudden. Right before the night shift actually, I didn't have time to get home and call you."

"Well, as long as you make it up to me later, we're good." She winked.

"Apple pie?" He said.

"Apple pie." She said.

"OK! Break it up you too, we need to get going, and YOU have work to do." I hate it when they get all Lovey-dovey on each other. It's not jealousy, it's just... weird.

"Going?" He said. "Going where?"

"Somepony gave us a package to deliver, we're heading to Manehatten." I said.

"Well, don't let me keep you then, have a safe trip." He waved.

"Thanks."

We were almost crossing the gate, but the guard stopped us.

"Excuse me Sir, but all packages need to be inspected before departure." He said, Sparrow intervened.

"Come on Private, let them pass, they're family!" He said, but the guard stood firm.

"I'm afraid Sir. but I must keep my call. The rules say that every package must be inspected. No exceptions."

They exchanged glares for a while, but eventually Sparrow smirked.

"Like I said Private, you have a future in the guard. Nopony is above the rules, not even family. Good call."

"Sir, thank you Sir!" He went to his post again, leaving us alone.

"Like I said Light, I love the new recruits. I can chill while they are strict enough for the both of us."

We laughed for a bit, and I put the package on the ground. Opening it for the first time we saw that there was a box inside. The hooded pony said that if I opened the package, he wouldn't pay us. So Sparrow just had to stamp the packaging with a special seal, and the pony would be forced to do so. Unless he wanted to go to jail that is.

Sparrow opened the box, and things went bad, ALL of the types of bad.

"L- Light, do you know what this is?" He stammered.

Inside was a jewel, it wasn't perfect but it was white and shined like a star. But I felt cold just by looking at it, that stone could only be one thing.

"Is that the-"

"Do you know what you've gotten yourself into!" He roared at me and flared it's wings. The guard went to his side, and Sunshine went behind me.

"Sparrow, what are you doing?" I cautiously asked him while I opened my wings, ready for a fight.

"My job." He coldly spat. "Private! I'll hold them here, go get backup."

"Yes Sir!"

As the guard turned, to make his way towards town, Sparrow did the unthinkable.

He knocked him out with a slap of his wings. The guard landed unconscious on the ground.

"I don't know what you've done, and I honestly don't even want to." He grabbed one of the guards forelegs. "I just want you to take Sunshine, and get out of town."

"Sparrow, I-" Sunshine started.

"Just go!" He yelled at her. She started tearing up.

"Do as he says, I'll meet you near the crossroad." I told her while I grabbed the other foreleg of the fallen guard.

"I won't leave you!" She yelled.

"Leave me? There's nothing left for you here!" He yelled back.

She didn't say anything, she just ran down the road, sobbing. Sparrow and I hid the body behind a bush, that will buy us some time while we decide what to do. We sat there in sullen silence, sinking in what just happened.

"Promise me you'll take care of her." He said, looking me in the eye.

"I promise..."

"Also, tell her I'm so-"

"She knows..."

I got up and was making my way towards town.

"Where the buck do you think you're going!?" He grabbed my tail.

"I need to tell Mentore what happened."

"The hay you do! You need to protect Sunshine!" He pointed down the road.

"I NEED to tell him, he needs to know what happened from me, and just me!" I stomped my hoof.

We exchanged glares for a second or two, but Sparrow gave up.

"Fine, but before you go you need to punch me." He turned his cheek at me.

"What?" I said.

"So they believe me when I say you knocked him out, besides, everypony knows you're better than me at HTH combat."

"That's true." I said, and we both chuckled. But then HE punched ME first!

"That's for being an ass." He smirked and I punched him.

"That's for sucking at your job." I smirked back.

We laughed for a bit, enjoying our last moments together.

"Follow the wall, there should be no patrols there today." He said, I nodded and got up. "And brother..." I looked towards him, he had his hoof pointed at me. I bumped hoofs with him.

"Good Luck." We both said in unison.

[Mentore's House]

"Mentore!"

I yelled has I slammed open the door. Sparrow was true to his word, I didn't find any guard and the alarm hasn't sounded yet. I might have a few minutes to spend with Mentore, hopefully he will vouch for us while we hide from the guards.

"Mentore?"

Something is wrong, I don't hear anything. I don't hear him snoring, I don't hear him training, I don't hear anything. I can only see the darkness in the room and the faint taste of iron in my mouth. I don't like this one bit...

As I moved forward, I felt water in my hooves, and after a while, I felt something soft.

A small gust of wind opened the door a bit further, and in the new light I could see Mentore at my hooves. Soaked with blood and very still. Like he was...

"Oh Celestia..."

I put a hoof to his throat and I felt no pulse. He was gone, another pony that I failed to protect.

I stayed there for what it seemed an hour, I assume it was an hour, because the sky was now dark. The sound of an alarm woke me up from the shock and I made my way outside.

I could feel the gaze and terror of the populace on me, I had my hooves filled with blood and my lip cut from Sparrow's punch. I knew what they were thinking, I could see it in their eyes. Fear.

I followed Sparrows tip and took flight, passing over the wall without alerting any guard. Making my way towards the crossroad, and as I flew, a lot of things were in my mind.

How am I going to fix this?

How am I going to prove my innocence?

What am I going to tell Sparrow?

.

.

.

What am I going to tell Sunshine?

[Crossroads]

"Lightning! Thank Celestia you made it!"

She hugged me really tight, but I didn't care. I needed it right now and so did she. I hugged her gently and patted her on the back. She stopped crying after a few minutes and I decided to speak.

"Sunshine, I'm afraid I have something to tell you..."

"So what now?"

She cried for a long time. I wanted to myself, but I couldn't. I had to be strong for her, I had to prove my innocence, I had to get back to Canterlot and I had to find Trixie, but not before fixing this mess, No...

But right now that was only a dream, so why not dream it?

"Now..." I pat her on the head, admiring the view from the top of a hill.

A warm fire was behind us, calling us to bed. The stars above urging us to stay awake and the fires from chimneys on the horizon, calling us for adventure and many more wonderful things.

"Now the world is ours for the taking."

End of Chapter 22

Sparrow and Sunshine, sitting in a tree!

K-I-S-S- *Get's punched by Light*

Now for the Hype. *Ahem*

And that's how it all happened. I swear this is like one of those horrible mystery novels...

I wonder how the Mane 6 will react?

Find out in the next chapter of...

Will of Fire!