//------------------------------//
// Old memories 
// Story: Rouge Flame: Legend of the Elemental Warrior 
// by Steel Heart 
//------------------------------//

After a long debate with Nurse Readheart, Eclipse had eventually convinced her to discharge him from the hospital, and to let him back into the air, "You know, ol Redheart is probably the only thing in this world that truly scares me", Eclipse said more to himself than the 8 ponies walking with him with a slightly suppressed shudder. "Now. About that lift home AJ. You still up to flyin at high speed? Or has apple buckin brought you down to earth?"

"Just how fast can you fly?", Twilight asked with her ever present need to question everything. "Alot faster than Cel. I'm sure she can vouch for that", Eclipse replyed with a chuckle. "Indeed he can, and if I can recall correctly, your crusing speed is roughly the same as Rainbow Dashes top speed without making a Sonic Rainboom" "Well you know I'm not one to boast-"

"No disrespect princess, but thats a laugh. Nopony is as fast as me!", dash interrupted with her chest puffed out with pride as she hovered in front of the group. Eclipse waved his hand in the direction of the cyan pegasus and said in a mocking tone, "But on the other hand, Dasho here couldn't zip about between th trees or carry large loads long distances like I can, or pull out of a high speed dive like I did with Luna th other day even if her life depended on it." Dash just huffed and took off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner.

Eclipse watched her zip off in her usual hot headed manner, "She hasn't changed one tad has she?"

"Nope, and ah doubt she will, now are y'all sure ya can handle me on yer back?"

"Oh c'mon. I could but Big Macca to shame when i was half the age I am now, and I have no doubt that i still can."

"Hmm ya do have a point there."

"Alright then. Hop on", Eclipse said as he did his crouch once more, but with his torso bent forwards in a deep bow, which Applejack used to her advantage by simply walking over his back. Eclipse then interlaced his fingers and placed his hands just above her hocks to keep her secure, and Applejack put her fore legs over his shoulders to help in securing her. Once she was set to go, Eclipse stood up to his full hight with Twilight gawking at how he lifted Applejack with such ease. "She normaly like that, or is this a one off?", Eclipse asked nodding in Twilights direction.

"She'll get over it, now lets get goin so ah can make sure Apple Bloom hasn't destroyed anythin."

"Ok then. Ill see you lot in a few minutes." And with that, Eclipse turned to look down the street, he then spread his wings to about half of their full span, roughly the same width as the street. He then run down the street lightly flapping his wings trying to gain some speed, then as if choreographed, he leaped into the air and unfurled his wings to their mighty span and began to beat them in one swift movement. From this distance Twilight and Luna were in awe of how much sound he made with each downstroke, to them it was deafening, and yet they both found him majestic in the way he flew, and within a few wing beats he was out of sight.

Celestia chuckled lightly at the faces of her sister and student, she didn't know a ponies jaw could drop like that. Twilight then shut her mouth and turned to her, face beaming with her head obviously filled to the brim with questions, "Calm down Twilight, i am sure he will answer any questions you have in good time." After a few minutes, they had moved to Ponyville square, which was the biggest place inside of Ponyville that could handle Eclipses wing span, and true to his word, at two minutes to the dot from when he left, Eclipse had done his first flyby over the square. Twilight and Luna didn't see him at first untill his second run, and both were, once again, in awe. This time by his speed. The reason they missed him the first time was because he was going so fast, that he was just a dark coloured blur.

Eclipse was on his landing run, and Twilight could now guess why he was called Eclipse. He had shifted his body into a standing position with one leg bent at the knee, with both wings beating hard to slow him down, during all of which, he had blotted out the morning sun. All the ponies in the square, the princesses included, had to brace themselfs from the sheer volume of air Eclipses wings were pushing around. When Eclipse was about 5 feet from the ground, he stopped beating his wings and fell the rest of the way, his feet were pointing down so he would land on his toes, which he did, then landed on his feet proper, then bent his knees to furthermore absorb the shock and he stood up and folded his wings back behind him again. All with the grace of a cat.

"My, my Eclipse. You have certainly gotten good at your landing haven't you", Celestia said as she was now making her way through all the ponies that had gathered to see this new spectical, while muttering things to each other, such as 'Is that really him?', or 'But he died years ago, that can't be our Eclipse can it?'. Eclipse just shrugged, "Well its an everything eat pony world out there, or in my case, an everything eat hybrid. So ya gotta learn quick." Eclipse then looked over to Twilight again and spoke in a language that she couldn't comprehend which made Luna visibly tense up, it sounded like warm milk and honey flowing over a river bed, and despite his voice sounding like gravel cruching under ones hooves (acording to her), it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard.

((bear with me guys, i wouldn't know how to write a different language even if my life depended on it. So use your imagination))

Eclipse then gave her an odd look and turned to Celestia, *I thought she was your student?*

*She is.*

*Then how come you haven't taught her the language of the alicorns like you did me?*

*Sister. I thought only an alicorn could speak our tounge, so how did you manage to teach him?* Luna asked.

*I used to tutor him when I would visit his parents, and we would have alot of free time, so i indulged him a little.*

*That you did, and damn was it hard to learn, but I won't lie, it was alot of fun.*

*And sister?*

*Lulu, you don't have to be formal when we're speaking our own language. And besides. I doubt young Eclipse here will repeat any of this*, Celestia said as she threw a warning look in his direction.

Eclipse just put his hands up with his palms facing the two regal sisters, *Hey c'mon, I'm not that stupid. So fire away*.

Luna sighed with relief and looked back towards her sister, *Ok then Celi. The question i have is: why haven't i  healed, yet Eclipse has?*

Celestia decided to say what she had to in Equestrian so her student could also hear, "Because Luna, its the simple fact that he's non magical. You see dear sister, both the arrows had a small amount of poison on them, but don't be alarmed. This particular poison doesn't kill its victims, because its ment for magical targets such as yourself. This poison affects the magic in ones body. And by that, i mean it weakens your abilities from using spells, but you can still do simple stuff such as telekinesis, and how you are affected by magic. Such as you are for the moment unable to be affected by healing spells. And added to the fact that you are now heaver, so flight is out of the question for now."

"But. How is Eclipse able to fly if hes non magical?", Twilight asked with a hoof pointed at Eclipse.

"Brute strength", Eclipse replyed while making a point by flexing an arm until making his already large bicep bulge.

"Oh. Well I guess that works just the same. Added to the fact you also have an obviously large surface area to work with."

"What can I say? Genetics love me", Eclipse said over his shoulder as he too was making his way over to Sugarcube corner.

------

'ding'

"I'll be right with-your highnesses! And.. Eclipse?.. Is.. Is that really you?"

"The one and only miss Cake... Sorry about the mess i made a few days ago, i was forced to 'land' here, if you get my meaning."

"Oh thats fine dearie. But if I may ask? Why land in here?"

"I was just about to ask the same thing", Dash asked from a nearby table.

"Ever try to land on water when your goin flat stick with a load on? No offence princess Luna."

"None taken", Luna quickly dismised.

"No. Why? Does it hurt?"

"Id rather fly head first into the nearest mountain at my top speed than land on water."

"Pfft. At YOUR top speed? Your talking to the fastest flyer in Equestria, so it couldn't of hurt that much. Anyway, why were you.. Uhh.. Not going to land in water?"

"Thats funny that you call yourself 'The Fastest Flyer in Equestria', because it should now be 'The Fastest Pegasus in Equestria and The Slowest Flyer in the world'. And the reason I landed in here is because I had the 'choice' of ditching in the lake and getting myself and luna killed from the impact or, end up with a few bruises and busted bones. And I chose the second option."

Celestia watched as Rainbow Dash and Eclipse were now arguing over who was the fastest flyer in all the land, and she chuckled lightly to herself at some old memories that were starting to surface, "Ahh, those were the days."

"Excuse me princess, but.. Uhh.. Could you tell me about how you and Eclipse are family friends?", asked Twilight as she too watched this 'spectater' sport.

"Ok then. You might want to take a seat, this is a long story. It all happened during the war between the Shadow Elves of the far south."

------

35 years ago.

Battle. Violence... Death.

These were the things that ran through Celestia's mind as she ran as fast as her already fatiuqed body would go. Her wings were in ruin. Her perfect white coat was red with blood. Her mane and tail now draged in the dirt. And the tip of her horn was snapped off. She was a wreck. She gambled a glace behind her, only to see her pursuers were still with her, baying for blood. Her blood. She kept running for as long as she could, but it wasn't long before her legs buckled from beneath her, and she fell to the ground comletely exhausted.

Her pursuers caught up with her and were now laughing like hyenas would. Just before they made the kill. "So Celestia. Are you ready to die? To bad if you arn't", and with that last sentence the laughing increased, and her hope plummeted. She raised her head to gaze into the eyes of her killer. The leader raised his sword preparing to strike uttering thier prayer, "for the father, our king." Celestia looked back at the ground and waited for the blow. 

All of a sudden, the otherwise still air was broken by a loud explosion. Celestia quikly looked back up to her would-be executioner, only to find half his head missing with his comrades in shock from what had happened.

"Get. The fuck. AWAY from her you sons of bitches!"

Celestia whipped her head around to look behind her only to see something that made her blink in disbelief. It was tall, and well built. It wore clothes on its mostly hairless body with a felt hat atop its small head, and it stood on its hind legs as tall as she. It was a human. A legend ment to scare young alicorn foals from doing anything naughty, was now standing in front of her, defending her from her assailants. In its clawless fingers, it held a long metal stick with a wooden bottom that got larger as it got to the rear. The stick had a compact telescope on top, and it had a small knob on the side, and a small ring of metal on the bottom protecting a small sliver of metal.

The elfin soldiers regained thier composure and stood thier ground, "This does not concern you. Now get lost before we lose our temper."

The human lifted one of its hands to the small knob on the side of its stick, lifted it, and pulled it back, which made the stick eject a small brass cylinder. It then pushed the knob forwads and down again, "one last warning you fucking retarded gimps. Piss off and leave her alone." The elves roared, and charged at the human. The human raised its stick to its shoulder, and leveled it at the nearest one. Its finger then wrapped itself around the small piece of metal at the bottom and pulled it.

There was another crack of thunder, and the leader fell. The human repeated the process with knob again, and there was yet another crack of thunder, and another fell. The last elf was now too close for the human to pull the knob again (pun unintended), so it fliped the stick around so it was now holding the long metal piece in its hands like a club. "COME AND FUCKING GET ME YOU SHITSTICK SO I CAN KNOCK YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF AND MOUNT IT!!!". The elf complied. As soon as the elf got within range, the human swung its improvised club, which connected with the side of the elfs head with a sickening crack. 
     The human now stood over its quarry before it lifted its now obvious weapon above its head, and brought it down again on the dead elfs head. Again. And again.

After the human had reduced the head to nothing but a gory puddle, it threw its now useless weapon away, lifted its head towards the sky and let out a blood curdling warcry. It then turned towards Celestia, and started to make its way to her. Celestia was now truly afraid of this legendary creature of violence, death and pain. When the human had reached her, it stood there. Looming. Threatening. She quickly jamed her eyes shut as it raised a hand to its shoulder, obviously getting ready to deliver a killing blow to her. But she was snapped out of her state of utter fear when there was a loud thump on the ground in front of her. She opened her eyes to find a large bag lying in front of her. The human then kneeled down to its bag, unzipped it, and began rummaging through it.

Celestia tried to think of a way to get away from the human before it could pull out another weapon. But her plotting was cut short when the human started to pull its hand from its bag. Too scared to look away from the retreating hand, Celestia wondered what the human had decided on what it would use to finish her off, she hoped it would be quick. But what the human pulled out of the bag wasn't a weapon. It was a small white box with a red cross on it with the words 'First Aid' stencled on it, and a carrot. "Hey there. You want somethin t' eat?", the human then held out the carrot for Celestia.

Celestia was indeed hungry, and she stared at the carrot expecting it to be pulled away at the last second so the human could mock her. But the carrot held its place in front of her muzzle, "Go on. Take it. I got plenty more. Ya can 'ave a second if ya eat this one, and a third if ya let me take a look at ya." Celestia cautiously sniffed the carrot before she gingerly took it from its fingered grip, "There ya go, now I promised ya could 'ave a second one, so here ya go", and the human thrust another carrot into range of her muzzle.

---

Celestia had to admit, this human knew how to fix up her up, and it had so far kept every promise it made. The human was now sitting cross legged in front of her, re-arranging its 'First Aid' kit. She had to say something to it, to thank it for saving her, and giving her medical attention. Only two words could summaries how she felt, "Thank you."
  "SONOFAFUCK!!!", the human propelled itself away from her in complete shock, as if it didn't expect her to talk. It now lay somewhat awkwardly on its side, pointing a shaking finger at her, "th.. The fuck? You can.. Talk?"
Celestia nodded, "I'm sorry if I startled you. But i had to say something for your kind deeds." "ya nearly gave me a fuckin heart attack, but from whats happened t'day this is a new one."

"Why? What happened?"

"first up, I was out huntin feral pigs when the ute shit itself. Second, after I pull me head out from under th bonnet, I find myself here. Third, I saw them fuck 'eads tryin t' kill a horse with wings an' a horn (aka you), then ya said thanks. The first one would be normal on any other day. But two and three are new."

"I see. Once again, I am sorry for giving you a fright."

"nah shes right. Now. Do you have anywhere to be in particular? A fowards operating base or something similar?"

"How do you know I was in battle?", Celestia asked with amazement.

"th' breast plate kinda gave it away.", the human replyed as it shoved its first aid kit back into its bag.

Celestia looked down to her chest to see a scratched and dented golden breast plate, "Oh. Well I don't think i can walk that far to the command tent."

"How far away is it?"

"Its a few miles to the north.", Celestia said as she nodded in a northerly direction.

"Hmm. Can ya stand? It just has to be for a few seconds."

"I think so. Why if I may ask?"

"Well. If you let me put my bag on ya, I could carry ya there."

It was decided. Celestia agreed to having the humans bag on her back, while she rode him to the command tent. Celestia winced slightly as the human stood up with a bit of effort, with the rope that was tied around both cutting into each others skin slightly. "North was it?", Celestia nodded, "righto then". The human then dug his hand into one of the pockets on his shirt, and pulled out a small black rectangle with a silver back. The human pressed a button and the rectangle lit up, the human then used a finger to fiddle with the strange rectangle, each movement of his finger manipulating it. After a few seconds, the human pressed a small triangular symbol, and music started to play from it. "So. Ya got a name?" "Celestia" "Nice to meet you Celestia. Names Cameron."

------

Present day.

"So.. What happened after that?"

"While I was healing, he helped us win the war, then he retired to become a Blacksmith. And he was the finest Blacksmith in Equestria, and Ponyville was lucky to have him. And a few years after that, he married a nice young pegasus mare, and they both had a child, and they called him Jacob. But he was always called Eclipse. And Eclipse it shall remain."

"But, that incident was fifteen years ago. Shouldn't have Ponyville gotten a new Smithie?"

"Yes Twilight, it was fifteen years ago. We were asked if we wanted a new Blacksmith, but we all said no. So now we get contractors from Canterlot."

"But why Rarity?"

"Sentimental reasons. You couldn't replace Cameron for his skills for even a million bits. Like the princess said, he was the best. He could make things to last."

"My regalia Twilight. Cameron made it all for me as soon as the war ended, 34 years ago. I have never had to have it repaired. And quite frankly, its alot more stunning and comfterble than any other regal wear i've ever had.

"So he was even better than the leader of the Blacksmiths Union?"

"My student. He was the leader till the day he died."

Then thier convosation got interrupted by laughter, and all three mares looked over to where Eclipse and Dash were sitted at. "And i kid you not D, his glasses were like this.", and Eclipse grabed ahold of both thier empty mugs and put them to his eyes, which made Dash fall off her chair, and cross her fore legs from her laughter, "Now, combine that with the best combover you could possibly imagine." Dash then laughed so hard that her face was beginning to look even bluer than ever, and she began to gasp for air.

After a few minutes, Dash had sort of managed to settle down a bit, but she was still giggling from whatever Eclipse was talking about, "Oh Celestia, if only Pinkie Pie was here to hear that. Speaking of which, where is she?" "I've got a fairly rough idea." "Really? Where?" "Looking for the best combover to go with coffee mug glasses." And once again, Dash was rolling on the floor in laughter.

"Ok. But seriously Eclipse. Where would she be?" Twilight asked.

Eclipse scratched his chin and pondered for a second, "Hmmm, knowin her. Shes most likely stettin up some 'Welcomehomefromthedeadinwhichyouwereflyingaroundtheworldforfiffteenyearswithoutwritingtousoncebecause youweretryingtoprotectusfromsomebadguyspartywhichdoublesupasathankyouforsavingprincessLunaparty'.", and Eclipse gasped for air, "I really do not know how she can say stuff like that without taking a breather. And i've got a large lung capacity. So thats sayin somethin."

"Shes got me stumped on that one too. As with her Pinkie sense."

"Yeah the Pinkie sense has everypony stumped. Your not the only one tryin to figure it out."

"Eclipse, darling?" Rarity interupted.

"Yes, Rarity-poodums dear?"

"Would it intrest you if I made up some attire for you, including some boots? And i remember not wanting you to call me that", the last sentince said with a hint annoyance.

"Why yes it would interest me, but I can't pay you for it."

"Call it a favour for not calling me by that name again."

"Ok then, yes please. But on one condition. No fancy stuff, just basics for me."

Rarity sighed, obviously disappointed with Eclipses request on non fancy clothing, "Ill see what i can do". And she trotted off to her boutique

"So, Eclipse. Do you have anywhere to sleep tonight?", asked Twilight.

"I'm sure theres a good tree somewhere out in the park."

"A tree? I was going to offer a room at the library for you."

"Huh? Oh, right yeah. Well if you insist."

------

"SPIKE! Get the spare room set up, we have a guest."

"You don't have to do that, Ill probably end up sleeping on the bookshelf."

At that moment, Spike walked out of the kitchen with an amethyst in his claws, with a large chunk bitten out of it, "Is that him? Hi i'm Spi-", Spike was sudenly interrupted as he got pinned to the wall via his throat from Eclipse. "Dragon, what are you doing here?", Eclipse growled menacingly at the small purple dragon squirming against his vice like grip. "ECLIPSE!!! LET GO, YOUR CHOKING HIM!!!". At Twilights request, Eclipse let go of spike and he fell to the floor. He then clamored his way over to Twilight, crying as he did so.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!? YOU COULD OF KILLED HIM!", Twilight stomped her hoof for emphasis.