Oh jeez, I have to screw it all up every time don't I? I spend a day at a farm with a beautiful mare, and I screw everything up. Jeez, I can't even spend a day in the company of somepony like Applejack without making them hate me. You know what really sucks? That this is the story of my life. The only friend I have who's female that I made myself is Nightspring. Sure, Bolt Flare and my other room mates certainly did have a hoof in getting their fillyfriends to like me. But for every time I've tried to talk to anypony who was pretty or anything of the sort I'd become... well basically my old, awkward self. See, back in school, I was an awkward, gangly mess. my mane and tail never changed, but I was thin and I was horrible at socialising. I locked myself in my house and room and studied what I could. I was never terribly good with magic, but the potential I'd showed in the initial test had more than convinced them. I'd practically blasted the wall away in an insane attempt to prove to them that I was worth teaching. Apparently they decided it was enough, if only to make sure that I didn't wreak havoc through the city.
I think they did it more from fear than actually wanting to take me in. But they took me, and I think they were disappointed in me when I started. I couldn't summon that sort of power again even if I tried. And trust me, I tried. I majored in Illusion and combat magics, and even then I was terrible. Or, not terrible, but mediocre at best. I had a little trouble with making illusions solid. I can make them lifelike easily, but making them solid is another thing altogether. Combat magic, on the other hoof, was difficult no matter what it is. Sure, I'm better at it than I am even at simple levitation, but I tend to combine my combat magic with my illusion magic to mask and enhance it. I rely mostly on my magic and hoof to hoof combat, and I have to make sure I'm not within striking range for my enemy's weapon.
Why the hell am I talking about this?
Ahem. Anyhow. My hooves are killing me, and I'm not sure if that's because of my mad gallop away from Sweet Apple Acres and the (admittedly much faster) Applejack. In fact, the only reason I got away from her is because I made it look like there was six of me, and we all dashed off in different directions. She gave chase to the wrong apparition and I got away clean. I was shocked that it worked though. Guess she hasn't seen many illusions since I did have to make it up on the fly. I'm not complaining though. I'd rather not face her wrath from unwanted affections. She probably had a coltfriend of her own. Oh jeez, I hope not. If she tells him about what happened and what I look like, he's likely to try to kill me. And I really don't want to have to beat up anypony else.
I'm skirting the little town that Sweet Apple Acres sits across from and I have to say, it's quite adorable. Much more my style than stuffy Canterlot, but to be honest, it's not really heavily populated enough. I know, that's not something many ponies would admit to, but I like populated areas, the denser the better. I guess it's because I can blend in easier in large crowds than in a town as small as this where, no doubt, everypony knows everypony else. I like to know I'm not recognised in public except by anypony except those I was friends with.
Hold on, I think I'm being followed. I can feel the prickling on the back of my neck that was the trademark sign that somepony was following or watching me. Continuing how I was to avoid suspicion, I turned a corner into an alley and quickly bent the light around me, rendering me invisible just in time to watch a bush with big, thick framed glasses poked around the corner with an exaggerated movement. I remained close to the wall, eyes wide as I watched it, and heard it gasp and shoot away down the alley, looking for I can only guess me. I waited for some time to make sure the bush wasn't coming back before shooting away myself, not wanting to run into her again.
I think I got away with relative ease, although I was dodging a bush, a large bale of hay and a weird looking box with a massive mustache and the same glasses on it. It was... disturbing to say the least. I've never been chased by inanimate objects before, and certainly not a bloody bush. As it was, I bypassed the main part of the town and cut across a park, making sure to keep the spell up. I didn't want to be seen, and the only thing ponies would see is maybe a strange shimmer at best. Dodging a few ponies, I managed to get through the park unseen. I got past it and what did I see but another house? Well, more a cottage than a house, but you get the idea. On the other side of the cottage was perhaps my salvation from civilisation.
A forest.
I could hide in a forest for years if need be. Obviously I have shelter there, and if not obviously I can make some. Either way, I need to get past the cottage first. Not that it's going to be difficult, aside from a heap of animals, nopony seems to be there. I decided to be careful anyway and kept my refraction up. It was starting to take a toll on me, despite it being actually quite a simple spell to pull off. I actually passed through the space between the forest and the cottage relatively easily, despite one bunny staring at me the entire time. He must have seen the shimmer of me moving, understandably, much too fast to not leave a trace. Definitely a downside, but I'll live with it. Besides, it's just a rabbit. I did, at one stage, hear somepony humming and it sounded quiet pretty, but I wasn't here to admire pretty humming, I had to get somewhere where I could spend the night and hide out until I got a plan together.
And that forest was my best bet.
But now that I'm in it, I'm not so sure. I let my illusion drop and a strange sense of dread hits me like a hammer. I don't understand, what's this feeling? This place is just a forest, why would I be filled with such a sense? It's ridiculous, I'm a guard! A Royal Guard of Canterlot! I will not be cowed by some stupid forest. It's just a bunch of trees, what could possibly go wrong?
I traversed deep into the forest. I didn't want to be too close to the entrance, and I had to find a source of clean water. There's a lot of weird noises here, and I'm really not in the mood to find out precisely what they are. Pushing through a curtain of stiff plants of some kind (Obviously I'm not too well versed in foliage), I find myself in a clearing. Shafts of sunlight illuminate the area, and there's a bubbling, enticing looking brook right there. Throwing caution to the wind, I rush over to it and start gulping down water. It's sweet and clean, and there seems to be a few bushes here and there with some kind of berries on them, so I suppose this is as good a place as any to set up camp.
I take off the saddlebags with little difficulty and reach into the food stuffed left bag, bringing out a cold apple fritter and bite into it with relish. Damn, that mare can cook. Again I find myself wondering why she doesn't live in Canterlot.
Good Celestia that's annoying.
As I eat, I look at the right side saddlebag with curiosity. These things are magically enlarged, so would that mean there's something in that one to offset the weight of the other bag? I polish off the fritter and flip it open and reach in. The first thing that popped out at even my slightest touch was a small tent, bursting out and erecting itself whilst I scraped myself off the floor and was glad that nopony was around to hear my distinctly girly scream.
It was a small thing, barely large enough for a single pony, and even then they'd have to be pretty small. Not tiny, but small. But it was shelter, and that's all that matters, making my first priority much, much easier. Eagerly, I dug into the bag again, bringing up a pot, two frying pans, a small metal grille on a stand that I could rest the pot and pans on, and a kettle complete with several boxes of tea bags and powdered milk. Twilight Sparkle, you are a fucking legend. AJ said she got this from her friend 'Twilight', and since she's an element of harmony (As explained by the VIP clearance for the castle) I can only assume she meant Twilight Sparkle. She obviously knew what she was doing. The last thing I brought out (After soap, shampoo, conditioner, two different sized combs, a brush, magnifying glasses, a horn file, a hoof file and a set of binoculars) was a knife.
A knife.
Survival knives are often exaggerated by sellers to make them sound better than they were. Whoever made this knife obviously knew what the hay they were doing. The thing had a long blade with a wickedly sharp smooth edge at the top of the blade and a serrated edge for sawing at the strong of the blade. The hilt is made of strong wood of some kind and is very nicely crafted. On the bottom of the hilt rests two letter.
'AJ'
Obviously this was made for Applejack. I made a mental note to thank her fervently the next time I saw her, after she'd finished kicking my flank to the other side of Equestria that is. Either way, I had nothing to actually test the edge against that was practical, so I couldn't actually see if it was sharp without potentially hurting myself, but it looked sharp enough, so I shrugged and decided to put it in last when I packed up, in case I needed it. You never know. For now, I decide to tuck it away in the tent. So I trot over to the tent and poke my head in to find a place to put the knife and my jaw drops, dropping the knife with it. Yes, I was holding the knife's hilt in my mouth, shutup.
The tent was massive inside, a definite improvement to the outside. It still only had one bed, and yes I mean an actual bed, but it looked like there's much more room, and I'll bet you can put more in here. The whole place was already set up, including a small, empty bookshelf and a bedside table. I trotted over to that, opened the top drawer and lay the knife down there and decided to go make myself some tea.
Ah, tea.
It felt like years since I had tea when I had my first sip, even though it'd only been about a week. Either way, it was like Celestia herself descended and bestowed unto me a taste of Alencar itself. I tried to make it last, really I did, but it was just so delicious that soon after I made it it was all gone. A sad thought, but true.
Ah well, perhaps another cup in the evening.
Oh, and by the way, the cups were in the tent. In a cupboard. It was so cool. I have to meet the unicorn that enchanted this, because I think guards should be given these as standard issue for long distance recon missions and such things. Because this. Is. Awesome.
Simply Awesome.
~*~
I spent most of that day, after my tea of course, laying charms over the campsite. One to keep it from magical detection (at the cost of my magic when a probe of thought was sent out), one to make it difficult to see from the air which would have to be renewed every twelve hours and a series of compulsion traps.
A compulsion trap is a tactical combat spell. Basically you infuse an area with an idea, and as somepony walks onto it, the idea takes a hold in their mind and bugs them incessantly until they follow through with the idea. Unfortunately, they have limited range. It also takes almost no magical strength since all it's doing is sending one tiny little idea and planting it in their mind. One must remember, however, that the more ponies who walk across the field at any given time, the amount of energy required increases. For example, persuading twenty ponies that they don't need to walk any further takes exponentially more than simply convincing one. It also depends on the complexity of the idea, even to the point of being capable of persuading your target's mind that there's something there that isn't, or isn't something there that is. Doing something like that takes much, much more time, effort and magical energy to create and maintain. It also depends on the pony. Certain minds are more resistant than others. This might make it sound like a waste of time and energy, but it's worth it if you know what kind of idea to implant.
Simple ideas catch hold much easier, so I simply implanted a sense of insane boredom into the areas I trapped, followed by a sense of rebellion. The boredom will make them more susceptible to rebellion. However if the pony is naturally rebellious, I can't see how it'll help, but the boredom should work. As a last resort, straight after the initial two rings is a third ring with a powerful compulsion to turn around and go back, that searching any further is useless. But if they get to there, it'll tax my magical energies and will probably leave me unable to fight back if any more than six or seven make it through. Maybe. Could be less, could be more. As I said earlier, it depends.
With my safeguards in place and night approaching quickly, I searched around for some wood to start a campfire away from my barriers. I picked up sticks from the forest floor, dry leaves, anything flammable. Heading back, I sat in front of my very own, brand new tent and started setting my campfire up. A circle of rocks to keep it contained along with a shallow pit for it as well, then I started heating up an apple pie that Applejack had given me and set some water to boil in the kettle. I'm going to have to remember to thank Applejack and Twilight Sparkle the next time I see either of them. All the while, I had to think about what the hay I'm going to do.
I'll be damned if I let myself get blamed for crimes I didn't commit. And I know that Shining is an honourable stallion. If I can get him to listen to reason, I have to be able to prove...
The Princess! Of course!
When the Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is awake, I'll be able to go home! She knows I didn't attack her! She can corroborate with my story and prove that I'm not responsible! Which means that Shining will let me go, and possibly let me back into the core, and I can apologise to her about being so damnably aggressive. It's so simple, I can't believe I didn't think of it before! In fact, it's been what, six days? She's probably already awake. I'm not going to risk it just yet, since couriers took time to get from one place to another, but it's entirely possible that I can get this over and done with sooner (preferable) rather than later (not preferable), go home and hope that Spring is still up for that dinner.
Yeah, that's a plan. That's a good plan. It means all I really have to do is wait things out, right? Easy peasy. If only I wasn't so alone... hooo..... oh well. I won't be for too long hopefully. I'll come out in a day or two and hopefully this whole thing has blown over and the Princess has told them what really happened. Then I can go home.
I have never in my life wanted to be home more. Even if I am alone there in relations, I have great friends and, even though she's not interested in a lame bookworm like me, I have Spring.
And they're all I need.
~*~
I've waited for two days in this forest, and I haven't heard a hide nor hair of anypony looking for me. It's a relief, and maybe a sign that they're not looking for me. That, or their not looking incredibly hard. And without that sense of urgency, it could mean that I'm not being hunted to be brought home in shackles anymore, which is a definite plus. It's this reasoning that has made me decide to leave the forest today. It rained yesterday, and the water skein I found in the tent after a more thorough inspection has been filled by it, so I've got hydration while I'm on the road. I'll keep the camp site up just in case though, I don't want to have nowhere to go back to should I be wrong.
I've fashioned a makeshift sheathe for the survival knife that was in Applejack's saddlebag, and it now hangs at my hip much like a sword would. I may not be terribly well versed in swordplay, let alone combat with a dagger, but it's more reliable that hoping that my magic won't fail me completely halfway through combat. Leaving the saddlebags in the tent and the tent up, I double check my wards, recast my gramarye for fliers and begin my exit. The forest is just as creepy as I remember, and I find myself shying away from several sounds. I'm so glad there's nopony here to see me being so damnably cowardly. No point beating myself up about it, only to go on. Self consciously, I cast a track spell in case I get lost.
The Track spell, affectionately named the 'Breadcrumb' spell in reference to an old folk tale, links one mental anchor to another, one to a location and one, naturally, to the mind of the caster. It then strings out mental energy in a thin, ethereal stream that one can 'follow' back to the original anchor. It's a safeguard in case one gets lost, or if you're working your way through a maze. It's low level spirit magic, and not many ponies put stock in it. Goes to show even the lowest level spells are hand huh?
Anyhow, I think it took me about an hour, hour and a half... maybe two? To find my way to the exit to this place, which is significantly longer than it took me to find my clearing in the first place. But the Track spell was still strong, so I'm not complaining. I finally figured out what's so eerie about the forest as well. There's no birdsong. None at all, not even a peep. I burst out into the sunlight and take a moment to bask in it's brilliance. Two hours in the dark does things to you when you don't know what's around you, and it was good to be back in the sun. After my moment of basking, I looked to the sky. More than likely if there was a pony looking for me, the first to find me would be a pegasus. At a cursory glance, I can't see anything, but it's best safe then sorry, so I take my time. I can see a few birds, but nothing more. Satisfied that I'm alone I take a step and stop, staring at the pony now looking at me with wide eyes.
I remember her not only from the VIP posters, but from meeting her once before. her green eyes are wide and watching me and I'm not sure she recognizes me. I know her as Fluttershy, and I also know she's terribly sweet. She's also insanely cute. Her mane is a lovely shade of pink that actually goes quite well with her yellow coat and feathers and her flank is adorned with three pink and yellow butterflies. Figures, since she's almost as quiet as Butterflies. Hesitantly, I lift my hoof and wave to her. I think I jolted her out of her reverie because she started before waving back to me with a smile on her face. How about that, she does remember me. Well, may as well go and say h- OOF!
Something fills my vision and I feel a crashing pain in my chest and torso as I'm flung back, straight back into the forest. I hit the forest floor a few times, bouncing like a rag doll before hitting a tree.
Ow. Ow, ow, ow, ow.
I look up slowly to see a familiar face standing over me, glaring down at me like I was some sort of disgusting rat to be squashed.
"Nightspring?" I asked incredulously. Her armour had been heavily modified for extra maneuverability and she had a mask and goggles over her face, but I'd recognize those beautiful, heavenly wings anywhere. I'd also recognize the large, broad bladed scythe she was pulling from the holster on her back. I could see her eyes from under the goggles, and she looked pissed, determined and something else I couldn't quite place.
"By order of Guard Captain Shining Armour and by the authority of the Princesses Celestia and Luna, you, Arc, are under arrest. Shining Armour has put out a decree for your return, dead or alive."
I felt my heart sink even further than it already had.
"You're coming with me Arc, whether you like it or not."
Like it or not huh... Guess it all went to hell then? Why the hell hasn't Mi Amore woken up yet!? She should have been able to tell them what happened that day in her room! Gah! I'm not giving up! I will NOT give in!
"No," I firmly reply to Nightspring. I'm on my back against a tree, but even from my vantage point I can see her eyes widen, "I'm not going back to face a punishment that isn't mine to take."
I hear her growl and the grip on her scythe loosens a little and her stance shifts subtly. Time to weight up my options. I can't take her in combat without my armour. That scythe is too deadly and has a much farther reach than I'm comfortable with fighting. Obviously I have no armour at all, meaning it'd instantly cleave me in two and she'd barely have to try. On top of that, She had armour on that covered all the important places, not that I think I could even bring myself to harm her in the first place. I'd never be able to forgive myself if I hurt her, even if it was just a scratch. That's actually probably why they sent her, because of my stupid infatuation. It wouldn't have been difficult to find out about, just ask anypony in the core. Even Spring knew about it, she was just nice enough not to be cruel about it.
So, what's option one? Give up. Give in, go home and face the music. What's the worst they could do? Imprison me for half my life then let me go, incapable of finding work, unable to go back home and unable to find friends. I'd end up a hopeless vagabond in the street, probably wouldn't survive the first year I'm free.
Option two: Fight back. This is a bit of a no go automatically since I can't hurt Spring, and even if I could I'd have to get within range to fire off a punch or two and hope I can stun her. I can't rely completely on my magic, although I'd use it to enhance my combat abilities. Problem again with that is that I've sparred with Spring before. I have never once won a sparring match with her. Ever.
Option three.... Well, it's the only viable one I can think of.
With a gulp, I rolled out of the way as the scythe came down like a god's wrath, hitting the tree at an angle, the blade sinking in like a knife through warm butter. It occurs to me that it wouldn't have actually hit me, rather she wanted to trap me with it. Her eyes flashed as I leapt to my hooves and took off, running as fast as I can. A few seconds and I can hear her behind me, no doubt bounding from tree to tree occasionally. In a desperate attempt to throw her off, I create several copies of myself and send them off in different directions. I can't tell if it worked, and I only have one place left to go. Taking a long, roundabout route to return and using my track spell, I return to my campsite. I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I have no time to be nice and my horn lit up as I reached for the tent magically. It seemed to read my intentions however and packed itself down and into the saddlebags. I don't have time to be impressed and, with a burst of exertion, I levitate the utensils into the bag as well and reach for it only to hear a triumphant shout and hurl myself out of the way just in time to avoid Nightspring's tackle, which she switches into a roll. How she got past my wards so easily is beyond me, but I'm not about to question it now. I circle her warily, really not wanting to fight her. If I can get to my saddlebags, I'll be able to run again, and this time without having to concentrate on the track spell I should be able to manipulate the air around me to make me run faster. It's worth a shot at least, but first I need that bag.
Spring stops circling in front of the saddlebags, like she can read my mind.
Fuck.
Now I have no choice but to go through her to get them and that's going to be a problem. Without letting me even have a chance to plan anything she lunges forward, scythe held up, ready to slash. Without any other choice, a wrench the knife from it's place at my hip and hold it up at a parry. The solid sound of metal on metal rang through the glade as my survival knife stopped Belladonna in her tracks. I heard a growl from the masked Nightspring and she pulled the scythe away and spun around, going for another overhead swipe from the other side, the scythe spinning in her grip as she adjusted it. I turned and once again blocked it with my knife. I knew it'd be handy. With another growl of annoyance, she leaps back and watches me intently. I switch from handling the knife blade facing forward to a backhoof, defensive stance. I don't want to hurt her, but maybe I can get her to listen to reason.
"Spring, I don't know what they've told you," I said warily, trying to anticipate her next move, "But I assure you I didn't kill anypony."
"I saw the bodies," She shot back, "And you're the only pony I know who uses only his hooves in combat. Who else could it have been?"
Okay, another clue. They were killed via blunt force trauma, most likely hooves.
"Not me," I said back grimly just as she leaped into the air, delivering a spinning, lateral swipe straight at my head. Now that was too far, she wasn't trying to debilitate me anymore, she was trying to kill me. I barely blocked it and for a moment the blade was inches from my neck before I managed to push it back. I can already feel sweat dripping from my brow. Remembering the wards, I let them go, absorbing what energy I could from them and began to focus.
"Oh no you don't!" She shouted and swung the butt of her scythe up and smacked me right between the eyes. I saw stars and for a moment couldn't comprehend what was going on around me just in time for her to start swinging at my hind legs. With a split second reaction I leaped up and towards her, like I had with the guard with a spear. Belladonna hit the ground as I landed on the handle, the extra weight making her drop her and suddenly we were grappling.
Now I'm in my element.
I threw a punch which she blocked, then followed up with a strike with my left hoof to her abdomen. She oofed softly as it connected and I tried to press my advantage only to be headbutted viciously. I felt my nose break and resisted the reactive tears from springing to my eyes. Adrenaline surged through my system and I let out a flurry of blows, first with my left, then with my right hoof. She managed to block a lot of them, but she hadn't undertaken advanced hoof to hoof combat training, and it was showing. She lashed out with a feral haymaker and I ducked under it, going onto all fours again before throwing myself forward and tackling her to the ground. She used my momentum to her advantage and flipped me over, landing on me, my broken nose pressing against her soft underbelly for a moment before she adjusted herself and started to lay into me. Her blows hurt, but they were made for swinging something much heavier and she wasn't used to fighting like this, so they didn't affect me as much as they could. I took advantage of her winding up a stronger blow and grabbed her ear in my teeth and yanked to the left. She squeaked and rolled. Now I was on her, but wasn't for long. In her roll she managed to get her powerful hind hooves under me and she kicked, her wings flaring on the ground and I went flying, rolling on the ground. I managed to get my hooves under me and looked up, dirt and hair filling my vision for a moment. I shook my head, trying to clear my eyes of the irritating distractions and looked up in time to see those beautiful wings filling my vision. In a bid of desperation, I reached for my magic and used the first and easiest thing I could think of.
Displaced air.
Displacing air can lead to severe and powerful physical effects including implosion and explosions, so making one directly in front of me normally wouldn't be a good idea if I hadn't thought of a combat shield as well. With a cry, Spring was sent sprawling back in the dirt, then slid into the brook, which seemed to rouse her. She leaped up onto her feet then faltered, almost toppling. She was running on nothing, whilst I wasn't? This was new. Must have been from her searching for me. She regained her footing and leaped at me. I looked around desperately and the first thing I saw was my dagger and Belladonna on the ground nearby. And in that instant I got an idea. I waited for her, readying myself. When she reached my she leaped into a full body tackle. She always was more balls than brains. I dodged to the right, tolling closer to the weapons and she snapped open her wings and changed direction mid leap.
Perfect.
I met her tackle with an uppercut, hitting her straight on the jaw and her head snapped back as she collided with me. I used my magic to make gravity around us increase and we hit the floor forcefully, me on top. This would almost be fantastic if I wasn't currently fighting her in a deathmatch. That drained me more than I thought it would, but I still had enough energy to grab Belladonna from beside me and swing it downwards.
Impact.
She flinched as the blade entered the earth beside her head, sinking in like it was nothing and my horn lit up as I angled the haft across her entire body and the earth swallowed the other end of the haft, holding her firmly in place as I moved earth and packed it hard around her body, making shackles of earth on her hind hooves and a pair of blocks at her shoulders.
With it over, I did the only thing I could do.
I collapsed to the ground, exhausted, and slept.