There was once a bedtime story, about a red pegasus lurking in the shadows. The story was good at scaring the little fillies and colts, often told by the campfires. I found an interest in this story as a little filly, the story wasn't true ofcourse. I lived my life like any other pony, before I decided that I wanted to go on adventures. I liked the stories of a adventurous pegasus roaming the Everfree and finding old relics, I too wanted to do that. I didn't come long into the haunted forest before I fell, my wings was stuck, some kind of sap had stuck to my wings and I fell. I lay at the bottom of the cliff, damaged and broken, badly bleeding. Some strange creature came up to me, it looked like it was burning but it wasn't. It was beautiful and it gave me a weird feeling. I was dizzy from all the blood loss, then the creature spoke to me but didn't open it's mouth. It said it could save me.
I let my eyes dart from right to left in the dark room, looking for my target.
My ears are as open as they can possibly be as to catch any sound that might slip it's way thru my preys mounth, breathing, or simply anything to reveal their position.
I can't let them escape now, I can't let anypony get out.
If they where to scream they could alarm nearby ponies, or even worse, have somepony ring the town bell.
If that where to happen I would have to flee, fly as fast as I can and get away from there before anypony can see me, but it would be too much of a risk.
If any of the ponies where to try anything sound related I would get them, and they know it. Slowly but carefully I step over the old creaking wood to try my best on sneaking up on my pray, it's making too much noise.
Suddenly a unicorn jumps out from behind a crashed drawer, and I can barely dodge the bold of raw energy passing just above my right ear.
My movements are light as a feather but as fast of the magical bolt that had just missed me and burnt a black mark in the wodden wall behind me.
It only takes me a mere second to get up to my attacker and pin him down.
-Please! don't hurt my family! I beg you!
I stare at him with my faintly glowing eyes, I push him up against the wall just beside the drawer and proceed to slam him onto the floor.
The moon light shines in from a nearby window right at the unicorns face, he got a blue mane and white coat, easy to spot. I go back to the bookcase to feth my knife, it's not there.
-Help somepony! There's a crazy pegasi in our home! She's gone mad! ,It comes from outside.
I have to get away from here, fast, before somepony can see me.
I start to rush for the window but realise that the unicorn is still here, he's seen me in the light of the moon and has probably made out my colours, I can't let him tell them anything, I can't have somepony revealing me.
-I have to finish what I started, I tell him before showing off my sharpened teth, moving closer to his new not-so-good hiding spot. You know that I can see you, you can't hide. I take one step closer to the colt, fear clear in his eyes.
I position myself over my helpless victim, ready to bite open his neck.
-You there! Get down on the ground now! The light from the flashlight hurts my eyes and I back away, blinded, falling over a book laying on the wodden floor.
Shielding myself from the ray of blinding light. I try to take off into the air only to be stopped by two stronger colts holding me down.
I buck all around me trying to roll away or unfolding my wings but nothing is working, they have me in a steady grip and I can't seem to move.
They turn me around to see my face, revealing my full identity.
-By the name of Celestia! he screams. I look back at him with faintly glowing eyes and my sharpened teth.
-Get that flashlight away from me!
-What is wrong with you? the other colt says, stammering his words.
I shut my eyes and my mouth fully, as to take on the apperance of any average pony.
Their grip around my hooves and wings get's a bit lighter and they seem to calm down.
-Let me go.
-Are you crazy? you where just about to murder this unicorn and he had done nothing wrong. Murder is the most serious crime anypony can commit.
They let loose on their grip a tiny bit more, I can feel the adrenaline rising, I have to move fast.
Not losing any more time I free my hoof and hit the colt on my right side in the muzzle before hastely turning to give the other colt a good bite on his front leg.
I fly out of the window with as much speed as I can, aiming for the sky.
Suddenly I feel a burning sensation in the left side of my flank, that damn unicorn must have hit me.
There's a loud thump-like sound when I crash into the ground beneth me, I have to get away from there, I have to!
-You are going nowhere miss!
I turn around in the precise time to launch at him, tackling him to the cold dirt road.
He screams in agony as I tear off his right ear and I'm just about to hit him in the eye as he bucks me in the stomach, sending me flying atleast nine yards away into the wall of a stone building.
Of all places I could chose this was close to being the worst, the town being just a few miles away from Canterlot.
I can't recall last time I was in this much pain, it had been very long ago.
I'ts hard to open my eyes, I don't think I have any strength left in my entire body, for some reason it's kind of amusing tho.
-I think I knocked her out.
-You think?
-Yeah, she's not moving.
-Good, keep an eye on here while I send alarm to Canterlot, this stuff haven't happend in ages. Try to find something you can tie her with, a big rope or something.
-Get some guards here as fast as possible, she could probably bite a rope straight off if she wanted to.
I manage to open my eyes, I let out a weak sound barely able to be heard only to have my mouth close again.
-Oh shit, she's still awake. I can't belive that she could take all that and still be conscious.
-Hold her down if you have to, I hope to get to Canterlot as soon as possible.
I lean down against the ground and shut my eyes, I can't stay awake any longer.
I lose control of my body and feel the darkness around me comming to put me in a sleeping state.
I wake up on a cold stone floor, this place is familiar, I've been here before.
My vision is still a bit shaky and I'm not feeling any good at all, I take a quick look around the room.
It only takes me about three seconds to realise where I am, the Canterlot dungeons under the Canterlot Castle.
I let a heavy sigh flow from my mounth before looking around to try and find anything that could help me escape.
The dungeons are old and has been unused for a long period of time, but the cell is in good shape so there is no way I'm getting out by bucking the bars.
Slowly I stand up on all of my four legs, nothing seems to be broken but my flank is still sore from that blast of magic thrown at me back in that town.
-So you're awake?
-Who said that that? Show yourself!
-I'm guarding your cell to make sure you don't try anything stupid.
-That doesn't tell me how you look now does it?
-Why should you care about how I look? Do you have to look at somepony before you can talk to them or anything related to killing me maybe as you tried to do with that unicorn down in Cloudlake? He steps out in front of the bars, wearing a full armor suited just for him.
-Where's your spear? I ask.
-What's up with all your questions crazy?
-I have a name.
-I know, I recognized you from one of the registers, you've been in here before.
-I have, seven times, and I've always gotten out.
-Well we'll see about that, this cell here is enchanted with a lot of powerful magic to keep you in place as you are known to have gotten out several times. We had some unicorns put some stuff at it just for you.
-How kind of you.
They're all stupid, they don't understand, they don't know the way I work.
Sometimes a sacrifice can be so tempting to make when you know that it will save your life. Magic have kept me alive, but not any regular boring magic preformed by everyday unicorns, darker magics, forbidden.
-Just tell me if you get hungry, I can bring you some food.
-No thanks.
I lay down on the dusty floor and decides to take everything in.
I guess I should make a mental note of any recent events.
I went to a randomly chosen house, I found both a mare a colt and their little filly, the ponies in the town where alarmed and they found me in the worst possible time, I get struck down, bucked in the stomach, and now I'm here in the dungeons, great.
I think I could try some tricks at that guard and have him let me out, but I have to put my words carefully.
-I have to go to the toilet. Classic.
-It's right over there, he points at the toilet in the left corner of the room, I won't look I promise.
Ofcourse the toilet is in the cell, what was I thinking? They would obviously have it in the cell to make sure nopony could try that old trick.
-I'm not using that one.
-Well you have no other choice .
Angrily I give the ground a rough kick.
-Stupid, I whisper to myself.
-I'm sorry did you say something? The guard turns around to look at me.
Before any warning I fall to the ground, screaming in agony.
I look up at the guard with as much despair in my eyes as I can, if I put up a good act hes sure to open the door to take a look at what's wrong with me.
-It's not going to work miss.
I continue, screaming like if I'm about to die, holding my front legs against my head.
The guard looks both confused and shaken, this has to work!
The door to the cell is opend and he takes a step closer in my direction.
This is where it's my turn to act, I can't belive he was that easily fooled.
I take off from the cold floor, using my hind legs as if they where a springboard.
I'm a couple inches away from his head when I collide with an invisible wall, it's soul purpose to keep me away from the bars.
Hastely the guard backs out of the cell and locks the door as I kick the wall with all the power I can muster, again and again and again I hit the wall.
Nothing.
-You shouldn't have done that, bad ponies don't get their food.
I snort at him, again sitting down on the cold dumb stone floor.
-Looking at the guard angrily won't get you out of there, you know that right? He says.
-You're afraid of me, I can see it in your eyes.
-Why would I? I'm wearing a full armor and besides, you're locked up.
-Prove it. Prove that you're not afraid of me. Get in here and give me some company.
-Why would anypony give you any company? Dark magics are a terrible thing to abuse and you've done it more than once.
-So you know that huh?
-I'm giving you one more chance, do you want your food or not?
I nod, I haven't gotten something to eat in about two days.
-OK then, I'll be back shortly.
Once again I let out a sigh, my floppy ears down against the sides of my head, nothing is going as planned, everything is going downhill and I just can't seem to get out unless, it hits me like if a plank had fallen on my head, I just need to tell him that I want to get some fresh air.
It could be simple as that, just telling him I want some fresh air, promise to not fly away.
I think I'm in cell twohundred and seventy five, that's where they used to put me.
By now they should know that I didn't use to be like this, maybe that's why he was going a little too smoth on me.
It would be much more berable to sit in here if there was actually a window.
-Here's your food. He unlocks the door and walks in with a tray covered in some salad.
-Thanks. I say, the volume of a faded whisper.
-I'm sorry what was that? He looks at me with a smirk.
-Thanks.
There's an awkward silence.
-Do you think I could go out and get some fresh air, I mean I can't flee if you've got an eye on me right?
-I think I could let you have a little time outside.
He walks around the corner of the cell, out in the corridor and comes back with a collar and a chain.
-That's not what I was thinking, that's humiliating.
-Well that is what you get, so sit still when I put it on or I will have to get some more guards to hold you down.
We start walking down the hallway of the dungeon, cells on all sides.
-So we're going out. Right?
-Yes of course we are. You wanted to remember?
-Why wouldn't I remember? It was just recently.
-So why are you asking?
-No, no. Just checking you know.
-Still don't have any trust in the guards then?
-I guess I don't.
We come to a staircase leading upwards, made out of stone as the rest of the halls under Canterlot.
The steps are sort of unkempt and slippery, easy to fall down.
What if I bucked him down the stairs and flew away? Nah, that wouldn't work with the collar and chain around my neck, if he fall so do I.
Slowly making our way up the staircase is easier than expected and we'll be up in no time, no complications.
Well that's of course just what I thought.
Just as we're about to reach the top of the staircase another unicorn comes down the stairs.
-Oh Celestia, look who you have there. Was a while ago I saw her.
-Yep, she's my responsibility at the moment, we're going for a walk since she wanted to have some fresh air.
-Well then, just watch out for her teeth, they're you know, kind of sharp.
-I've noticed.
-Guys, I'm standing right here.
-And soon you're standing outside. Sorry Featherburst but I've got to get this one out in the garden before she decides to do something stupid.
-Why would I do something stupid? You're stupid.
-Thanks crazy. Come on, let's get moving then.
He nudge me as to tell me to start walking.
We trott up the last steps of the staircase and proceeds down the second hallway leading to the gardens.
The hall is made out of white marble and the statues, the stained glass, it's breathtaking.
The castle is many thousand years old but it's still in a better shape than anything else I've seen.
I wonder why they have the dungeons under the castle, it just doesn't seem like a good idea to keep the dangerous ponies right under the castle, it just doesn't.
It's really stupid if you think about it.
Well, most placement of things in Canterlot is sort of stuipid.
We arrive at a big set of wooden doors, atleast eight meters high or something.
-Open the doors guys! Comming thru with your favorite red pegasi!
The doors are encased in a yellow glow and starts to move.
I just can't belive how they can keep this place in such a good shape when there's never anypony to be seen cleaning around here.
I really feel like biting the guard in his back or something, but I guess he wouldn't be so happy over that.
I better not do that or I might never get to go out in the garden ever again.
The door is now fully opened and the guard decides to nudge me again.
-No way! Guys look who he brought!
-Oh shit, where did they catch you this time Sky?
-Don't say my name.
-Guys, looks like Sky is as shy as usual.
-Stop it.
-Hey, Plasma, Acidfire, don't make her upset.
I give them a cold glare and turn around.
-Sky I think that's the wrong way.
-I'll bite your head of Plasma, bite it of.
-Why so angry Sky? Does the light hurt your sensitive eyes?
-Acid don't try me.
-Come on prisoner, let's go get some fresh air.
We walk past the two armoured ponies heading for the garden.
The cold air hit my coat as we come out of the building and I slightly shiver, it's still winter but most of the snow have been wrapped up.
From the garden you can see almost everything.
Every little inch of the enormous Canterlot town, every house, every tree, even the pond on the outside of the town.
I bet the town would look even better on the night, when I don't have to peer out of my sort of closed eyelids.
Yes, the sun do hurt my eyes and Acid is right, they're sensitive but they still work in the light of day.
Sometimes I wish I could just go back.
Back to when I had friends and family, when I was just a normal red pegasi who minded her own business.
That's too late now.
I let a tear slowly flow down my cheek.
-Wow. When I heard about you I expected a cold blooded pony whitout feelings, and here you are, crying.
-I'm not. It's the sun, it hurts my eyes.
-Sure it does.
-Hey! I'm not crying!
I hit him softly in the side.
-Look, she's playful too!
-I'm still the most dangerous pony you've ever met.
I sit down on the marble slabs, shielding my eyes from the sun.
-I didn't think the sun would be so, bright.
-Hey, why did you get so upset earlier when they called you by your name? In the cell you sounded like you wanted me to use it?
-I don't like when they use it.
-So is it okey if I, call you by your name?
-Yeah, it's fine.
-So, Sky, why do you, you know?
-I have to.
-You don't want to talk about it do you?
-No.
-Okey.
Now how am I going to do this? I can't just fly away when he have me chained, well I could but, shouldn't consider bringing him with me.
Maybe I could tell him to unchain me, possibly force him if I had to.
I could bite the chain straight of, or I could bite his hoof straight of, both would take too much time and I don't feel like hurting him, he's been nice to me I guess.
I can't get attached to anypony in any way, not even a friend is possible for me anymore.
Why is he making this so complicated, I've escaped magic prisons, killed more than two guards at a time, but when it comes to a chain and not wanting to hurt my keeper, I don't know what to do.
-If I where to face my adjudication, how much would I have to take?
-I'm sorry but your in really deep Sky. You're stuck here for the rest of your life and I'm not allowed to tell you but, they're going to torture you, I'm sorry.
I look down on the marble slabs where I recently decided to put my flank, my ears down.
-I'm sorry but I can't stay here much longer, the sun is going down and I have to get away from here very soon.
-I'm sorry Sky, I can't let you.
-No, I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you but if you don't release me I'll have to.
-Is this some kind of joke Sky? Because it's not funny. I might have to call for more guards now when you say that.
I stand up, turning around to look straight at him.
-Sky, what are you doing? Take it easy Sky.
I take one step forward in his direction.
-Sky, please stop. H-help! I need some backup over here!
I take two more steps forward, I'm close enough to strike him down now, just a couple hits to the head would do.
In the right corner of my eye I see more guards coming this way.
He stumble back and look at me with frightened eyes, it hurts, for some reason it hurts, not physically, but the other way around.
Wasn't the guards trained for this? Why's this one so scared and, nice?
I feel something sharp enter the upper part of my back, a crimson liquid running down over my right leg.
I fall to the ground, a bit dizzy, oh how I remember that feeling, of blood loss, just this time it's really not that bad.
The guard before me stands up, my keeper.
-Plasma you idiot! You can't just shove your horn straight up into her back!
I close my eyes, but I'm awake of course.
It's much easier to hold on as long as possible if you close them.
-Hey what's your name? I ask.
-Sky you're still awake? Thanks Celestia for that. Plasma if I ever see you do that again I'm making sure you get suspended from being a Canterlot guard.
-Hey Acid, Sky's letting him use her name without being upset. Dream light you're not making friends with the prisoners now are you?
-Shut up Plasma, I'm not, but she seem like a nice mare to me. She's not been as violent as everypony says she is.
I feel something push against my wound, probably a bit of cloth or anything like that.
-Sorry to disappoint you Dream light, since that's your name, but I where about to hit you multiple times in your head. It was nice meeting you tho.
-I told you she was goin.....
I don't hear the rest of their conversation, I let sleep take hold of me.
Somepony's shaking me, I open my eyes and see Dream light to my left.
-Hi Light.
-Oh, good you're awake.
-Well you kept shaking me.
-Sorry, you've only been sleeping for about one hour, so you haven't missed much.
-Mhm.
We're still outside in the garden, and it's not very dark but it's better than the beaming sun that was there before.
I look to my right only to see Plasma and Acidfire standing on full guard, spears in their hooves.
-You really need that spear when you got that horn Plasma? And Acid, I remember you used to buck really hard whenever I tried to launch myself on any of the other guards.
-There you are Sky, on the marble slabs, helpless.
-Plasma as I said earlier, I'm going to kill you whenever I get the chance.
-Right, you're not even strong enough to move your own flank in that state.
Yep, Plasma is so going to die.
I'm going to make sure to rip him apart bit after bit slowly till his body can't take it anymore and decides to shut down.
-Plasma, Acid, of you go, I'm taking Sky back to the cell.
-You sure you don't need help carrying the huge flank of hers?
He's dead, sooo dead.
-Just leave you pieces of shit. I hiss.
I only need to wait a little more before I can put my plan in act for real this time.
Acid turns around.
-Light, remember that she's much stronger than she looks.
-I'll be okay, I've got her in a chain.
Like if that's going to help.
They both leave and the big wooden door starts to close, again a yellowish glow encasing it.
-You know what I have to do Light.
I stand up, my right eye slightly flinching.
-Sky, how do you, you need to rest. You shouldn't stand up, you're weak right now, you've lost alot of blood.
-You call that alot? Really? Why are you so nice to me huh? Tell me!
-Sky calm down!
-Not a good idea to have your friends close the doors now was it?
I put a smile on my face, possibly too big and more considered a crazy smile.
It's gotten dark.
-Do you feel that? The darkness? In the dark there's no light, only dreams. Am I right Dream light?
-You're coming back in, the dark is clearly not doing a good impression on you Sky.
He begins to snatch the chain.
-It's dark now Dream light, you should sleep. Light's out.
I jump onto him and dig my teeth down into his back, I don't want to hurt him but I have to.
I. have. to. get. away.
He screams, it clearly hurts him badly, but why wouldn't it?
I bring my teeth out of his back.
-If you could have just let me go in the first place it wouldn't have come to this! And the opening in your armour isn't tactical in any way.
Once again I dig my teeth down into his back, he gives away another scream and proceed to throw me off, sending my flying up in the air.
I open my wings and gently hover down to the ground, we are chained together, he can't get away without releasing me first.
-Sky! Stop!
He's almost crying, I judge it on his shaky voice, he's scared, very scared.
-You can't get away from me Dream light, and you know it.
-Please Sky! Please stop!
-I can't, I'm sorry.
Maybe I don't have to hurt him, maybe I can get that chain away from his hoof ,and maybe I can let him go.
I launch at him again and grab his left hoof in my mouth.
He hits me and his right hoof connects with my muzzle.
I pull on the chain as much as I can and it let's go of his leg.
I back away a good five meters.
-Sky! D-don't you dare!
I go up to the railing of the garden, looks at him, and then I jump off.
-Sky!
He run up to the railing to look for me.
It's dark and he can't see where I am.
He goes away, and I fly out, heading for the middle of the town.
I need to find someplace to hide, the guards will come looking for me.
Slowly I make my way thru the dark town, most of the ponies seems to be asleep.
Where am I supposed to go? I mean I could probably just tap on some of the doors and if I'm lucky somepony would let me in.
I don't think they would tho, considering I've most likely woke them up with my tapping.
I know I wouldn't be happy if somepony woke me up, so I better not.
Maybe if I try and look for an open window I could just fly in, nopony would notice a thing.
I start trotting around on the streets, avoiding the streetlights on my quest to find a open window.
It doesn't take too long before I find one and I decide to make my way up.
There's no light whatsoever so the ponies in the building is most likely sleeping.
I do my best in not making any noice when I go thru the window, shorty after getting in to the house I close my entrance with my mouth and look for a spot where I can sleep.
-Hi.
I lose all my balance and fall over on the floor, making a loud thud.
Before me is a young little colt looking at me tierdly, I just lay there.
-Why do your eyes do that?
-Uh, eh I didn't mean to wake you up.
I look at the window.
-What's your name? Mine's Flowy.
Why is the window not opening when I want it to?
I hear somepony coming closer, got to hide fast.
-Flowy you're not supposed to be awake this late.
Oh buck, it's probably his dad.
-I was just talking to the mare with the glowing eyes.
-Who?
-She was right here I promise!
-Well she's not here now so why don't you go back to sleep?
-Dad I saw her!
-It was just a dream ,Flow.
-No I swear, she came thru the window!
-It's locked flow, nopony came thru there.
The little colt starts looking around the room trying to find me, best for everypony would be if he didn't.
-Go back to sleep okay?
-She's there, look.
He points his hoof at my hiding spot, under the bed.
I got to make a run for it.
I roll out from under the bed an look at the door.
-Flow go to your mom!
The little colt runs out the door and his dad closes it as fast as I take my hoof off the ground.
-I don't want to hurt anypony I just want somewhere to sleep over the night, I've been up really long and.
-What are you doing in my sons room?!
The pony before me looks really angry.
-The window was open and I thought I.
-You thought you'd brake in to our house?
-Geez, I'm sorry but you're making such a big deal out of this.
-What are you anyway, a changeling?
-No I'm not.
-Then why the glowing eyes and the sharp teeth?
-You'd rather not ask me that.
-You're in MY house, I make the rules here. The rules are, you're going out.
-If I refuse?
I lay down on the floor, yawning loudly.
He walks up to the window and opens it.
-Get out.
Irritated, I look at him and then walk up to the window.
Flowy is standing by the door looking sadly at me when I fly out.
-But dad she's my friend!
-No she's not, she's a bad pony and I don't want you to be like her when you grow up. I'm not even sure if she's a pony at all.
I sit down on the roof, waiting.
It only takes a couple of minutes before I hear the window slide open and the little colt starts to whisper out over the dark streets, looking for me.
I fly up in front of him and he backs down from the window sill.
-Thanks kid.
-Not so fast, what's your name?
I look at him, rolling my eyes.
-It's Sky.
He lets me pass.
-You can sleep with me Sky.
-Sorry, but I'm better off on the floor.
Oh, okay.
He hops up on the bed and makes his way down in his sheets.
