Hole Hearted

Months to study the enemy, it took months more to infiltrate their ranks. Vanquished now were the dreams of her people, unimaginable success and then came unfathomable failure. She despaired that she had not been there, even if only to be cast off with her sovereign. She had been in the outskirts when in flash it was all over sparing her to a greater cruelty. Isolated now, she was now alone. Without purpose, without mission, without orders, what was there left?

The wind whipped her black hair about. It was an illusion, her hair was actually green but she did not care.  A city upon a hill indeed, the sheer drop would surely kill. She stepped tentatively closer to the edge. With a hurl she flung herself from it. Her body fell limp as she gave herself to gravity. Closing her eyes she accepted death and darkness.

A caramel blur hit her.

“You're so light.” said a gentle voice.

She opened her eyes. “Let go of me!” she cried.

“I will once we're on the ground. What were you thinking?!” said he, a Pegasus.

She looked at her rescuer. She noticed the illusion of gray fur upon her hooves; she still was wearing her disguise. To him she was still among his kind. He set her down gently unto the ground.

“Playing on the edge is dangerous. I swear I talked to them a dozen times about a security rail.” said the light brown pony with a reddish mane.

“Playing?” she asked.

“…” he looked at her severe expression. He shook his head of the thought. “Yeah that's right, playing!” said he insisting.

She struggled to challenge him. “I wasn't-”

“Hey let's get some lunch, my treat.” said he.

Grabbing her by the hair he pulled her away.

“Wha?!” as she was led by the insistent pegasus.

They sat in the quint little café with an open eating area. The ritual of eating, it did not sate her. It was only done for the pretense of maintain normality. Yet something was different today as she imbibed the tiny pieces of yellow cake.

“Didn't get your name?” said he looking at her pouting expression.

“What's yours?” she countered.

“Dented Armor… friends call me Den.” said Den. Upon his flank was a shield with a dent in it.

She couldn't help but laugh. “Hahaha, Dented? Why not broken armor?” asked she.

“Well, dented isn't perfect but it's still good. My dad thought so when his armor saved him from a Griffin lancer. I'm honored dear dad thought me something worth his life.” said Den.

“Names are but labels. Your kind always attributes such meaning to them; where there is none.” said she.

“Okay, Miss unicorn. I still would like to know yours.” smiled Den.

“My name is… Echo.” said Echo chewing on a piece of cake.

“Echo?” questioned Den.

“Yes Echo.” said Echo.

“Echo?” said Den again.

“Echo!” she now shouted. She looked around as the other patrons of the café now focused on her. “You're doing that on purpose!” snapped Echo.

Den snickered. “Yeah, at least you're not pouting now.”

Echo caught herself. “I must really get back to… whatever I was doing… this has been a delightful diversion.” She stood up wiping the yellow cake crumbs from her mouth with a napkin.

Den smiled turned. “Hey, why don't we do something else? You like scenery? I know the best views in all of Canterlot.”

“I'm not interested in views.” said Echo.

“It's better than whatever you were doing at that cliff.” said Den kindly.

“I…don't know.” said Echo.

“I know of secret passages. I could get us into the palace if I wanted.” said Den.

Echo's ears perked. “The palace you say? Where the Princesses sleep?”

“Yup.” said Den.

Echo followed Den through to a dead end alleyway.

“So Dent, do you have ill intentions for me?” Echo mused.

“What?” said Den looking back.

“You’ve led me to this closed off area, one can only assume.” Echo smiled.

“Not all dead ends are as they appear.” Den stopped at a white wall he tapped his hooves upon it twice. “Old engineering.” murmured Den.

Echo looked at him unimpressed.

Den shoved the wall. “Sometimes you’ve just got push on.” The mechanism behind the door finally opened to a staircase.

“Follow me.”

Vengeance at least, in day this hapless fool was to take her to the enemy's keep, how perfect. Even for her sovereign, it took months of the masterful malice to do the same. She would know the path to revenge.

The winding maze of passages took them to an alabaster tower.

“What is this tower?” asked Echo.

“Princess Luna's tower, she sleeps during the day.” said Den.

“Ah yes.... nice and defenseless.” said Echo. The invasion of course had counted on that. Her sovereign was mighty but the combined might of the sun and moon might have thwarted even her…

“You coming?” asked Den walking up the steps.

Echo arched her about looking around. “What of the guards?” asked Echo.

“They're trading shifts and posts, we got a short opening come on!” said Den leading on.

At top of the tower, the sublime beauty of it hit her. The entire lands of Equestria could be seen grander than any map. From the white frosty Chrystal mountains to the redden wastes of the Badlands. Echo's eyes became wide with wonderment. Den held a hoof out when she walked too close to the edge.

“Like it?” said Den.

“Yes, I do.” Echo was still mesmerized by the sight.

“Perhaps there is still beauty in this world to make it worth living?” Den suggested.

Echo found herself smiling. She saw Den try to wrap his wing around her. Echo jumped back.

“I'm sorry too forward?” said Den nervously.

“No you're not. I just don't like to be touched…” said Echo.

“Sorry.” said Den.

“No, it's okay.” said Echo warmly.

“Come on, we got to go the Sun's setting, Princess Luna will be awake soon.” said Den.

“Wait where does she sleep?” asked Echo smiling nefariously.

Den motioned with his head at the door behind them. “Come on, her Guards will soon be here.” he tugged Echo by her hair.

Den escorted Echo through the streets now illuminated by dim lanterns.

“Thank you for this…” Echo paused then spoke his name out loud. “Den.”

“Hey no problem, Echo. I thought you needed it.” said Den.

“No before at the cliff… I was…” said Echo.

Den put his hoof to her mouth. “I know. We've all been there at some time or other.” said Den.

“You have?” asked Echo.

“Yes, when dad died…” said Den.

“I'm sorry, when was this?” Echo said slowly.

“The invasion…” said Den.

Echo gasped. “No.”

“Afterwards it was. Dad was a guard captain, one of the last to be captured, but the Royal Guard was never considered in the same prestige. The failure shook him up; it was just another weight upon his back. He got drunk and threw himself off the cliff. He was an earth pony you see…” said Den bitterly.

“I'm sorry, I'm missing a mother so I can relate. She died during the invasion…” said Echo. Echo had seen the motions somehow they felt right. She leaned against Den. They both stopped walking and stood a moment.

“I thought you didn't like to be touched?” Den chuckled lightly.

Echo jumped back again. She coughed. “This is my house over there.” She trotted up to the door. “It's been nice meeting you Den.”

“Likewise, Echo.” smiled Den.

Echo was surprised by her words and more so that she hopped towards him. “When can I see you again?”

“We could meet again at the Grape Café during lunch. They're famous for their juice.” said Den.

“Why not in the morning?” asked Echo.

“I have morning duties.” said Den.

“What duty?” asked Echo.

“Guard duty, I'm a Royal Guard, a Vice Captain in fact. Today was my day off.” smiled Den.