Dim ancestry

by Arto

Prologue, Part 1: Anger shows

A pegasus clad in officer's armor was looking down at the once peaceful city of New Hoofton, his face expressing worry and suppressed anger.
"General, you can't possibly think we can hold this position" He talked to his magic powered comm device. "They outnumber us two to one. I know the importance of this city but-"
"I'm sorry Starshield, but this is no topic to discuss. You have to keep this town in our hooves. Our reinforcements can only arrive in a week time."
"Understood, sir." This time he barely held his anger inside him, shutting off the comm device.
He put a hoof up to his head, thinking about the possible ways to solve this. He was looking at the floor, his green eyes revealing exhaustion. The city was well fortified, but fighting would take a lot of casualties for both sides...
"This may be it" He thought. "They know we're dug in here good, and will avoid losing manpower here if they can."
He was amazed at his own ability to still think after 50 hours of no sleep at all.
"Sergeant Stock, tell the lieutenant that I need her here in ten minutes." The grey guardspony nodded his head and left the room, while Starshield adressed the other companion. "Sergeant major? I'll need you here too."
"What is it, sir?"
"Just another one of my brilliant ideas. And get me a coffee, please. A dead captain is no good for talking."
"Right, chief." the purple pegasus turned away. "Just make sure it's not another one of those where we end up surrounded by explosions, will you?" he added, before trotting through the door. If this was any other, regular Guard unit, he'd probably be reprimanded.
The captain wrapped his red scarf around his neck, contrasting with his white mane, azure coat and grey armor. He tried to shake off the sleep and get ready to tell his advisors about his plan. The sergeant major came back with the promised coffee and, in that certain time, the black fluid felt like a wonderful stream of good feelings and awakening. Just as he finished drinking, lieutenant Shadow Breeze came into the room.
"Good morning, captain"
"Morning, Breeze. Right, we can start now" Starshield smiled a little, before talking again. "I wanted to tell you about my plan, so you can call me insane again."
"Does it include blowing up a building we're still in?"
"Well, not this time. We all know they outnumber us. And I think I've got a solution. They will avoid high casualties, and perhaps they will agree for an alternative. Major Storm is an honorable warrior, and he values his griffons' lifes. Basically, I'm going to challenge him to a duel. If he loses, the griffons will halt their assault. If I don't make it out on my own, we'll pull back from the city. Questions?"
"You are bucking insane."
"I just love when you say that, Shade."
"You really think that he'll agree?" The grey mare didn't look convinced at all.
"I've met him before the war, he won't say no to a challenge. What troubles me more is if I can actually win."
"It's not like we have other ideas, Shadow. If we try to hold here, they'll tear us apart." The purple stallion voiced his opinion.
"Right!" Starshield decided to cut the conversation "You'll be my escort to the griffon camp. Only the three of us, we don't want the birdies to think they're under attack. Get ready to fly there in 15 minutes."
Soon after that, the captain was left alone in the observation room again. Shadow Breeze's doubts were not unwarranted; Major Storm was one of the finest griffon warriors, and Starshield knew that very well. But his pride was a double edged sword, he wouldn't decline a challenge. Starshield was an ace among the Royal Guard, and everyone under his command knew that he'd win this fight no matter what. For his kind. For Equestria.
Half an hour later, they were gliding down to the griffon camp. They were unarmed, and were allowed to see the leader. He was wearing silver armor with gold elements, similar to the Solar Guards of their own kind. Starshield explained the cause of their visit, and the major was visibly surprised. He'd rather expect them to surrender, but there was a lot of truth in the pony's words. As a griffon of honour, Storm agreed to take up the challenge. It's just a single pegasus, he thought.

Starshield woke up to the sound of rain hitting the windows. After what he went through during the last week, eight hours of sleep on an old mattress felt like a holiday spent in a luxurious hotel. He still had two hours before the duel. He got up to prepare himself a breakfast, as he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door, revealing Shadow Breeze.
"Can I come in?" There was a slight tone of distress in her voice.
"Sure, Shade. I was just making breakfast, are you hungry?"
"No, thanks. I just came to talk."
"Alright, I'm listening."
The grey mare sighed a little.
"How can you even take it all so light-hearted?"
"It's not like that" Starshield looked into her eyes. "I've thought a lot about this, and showing that I'm worried would just lower the morale for everyone. I'm not careless, don't worry."
Shadow seemed a little reassured by that, and took a seat in front of the captain.
"Are you sure you can win this?"
"I'm sure. Getting splattered all over the ground in front of everypony wouldn't help my officer's career, would it?"
She laughed, lighting up the atmosphere a bit.
"I should've known you'd say something like this. Just... don't get yourself killed. For me."
"I'll try not to." He said with a smile.

The rain was pouring outside. There was a circular area chosen for the duel already. Major Storm was already waiting with his griffon escort, two columns of griffons and ponies, ready to jump to each other's throats if any of them tried to cheat.
Starshield was waiting with his two advisors, counting the minutes left. His wet mane partially covered his left eye, seemingly not bothering the stallion. He was concentrated on his opponent, observing the way he moved.
It was time. The two officers walked up to each other, drawing their blades. A deadly dance was about to begin.
Storm came out with the first attack. Starshield parried with his own blade. He decided to take this defensively, to see what his enemy is capable of. The griffon quickly followed with a punch, which the pegasus avoided using his wings. The captain countered, his blade dodged by mere centimeters. He flew up to avoid a wide, spinning attack from the griffon, and struck his opponent as he followed into the air, grazing his shoulder. He responded with a powerful right hook, blowing the pegasus off his balance, and tried to finish it with a quick sword stab, but Starshield rolled aside, quickly going airborne again. The griffon flew up to him quicker than the captain would've expected, cutting his face as he tried to dodge again. Before Starshield could retaliate, he was thrown into the ground with a force that would've crippled any other pony. Much to the viewers' surprise, he stood up, and a perceptive observer would've seen a change in his eyes just for a few seconds. He launched into the griffon, piercing him with his sword.
"You will not take our freedom."
He fell to the ground, his blade still stuck in the griffon's lifeless body.
"CAPTAIN!" Shadow shouted.
The pegasus slowly rose from the ground, removing his weapon from the enemy's body.
"I'm fine... just a bit bruised, Shade..." said Starshield, water running down his face, washing the blood off the cut.