Granite returned to Canterlot with Krossair in bond, while Eclipse went back to Cloudsdale to take a rest. It’s been quite some time since Eclipse had a good night of sleep, either way. Back on his bed in his office, he lied down, and quickly drifted to sleep.
While Krossair was locked up and waiting to be tried for his crimes, Granite rushed Obsidian to the medics, hoping to save her from the brim of death. Krossair was too brutal, and Obsidian couldn’t take it.
Obsidian was resting in the same hospital as Captain Windspear was, and Granite had no place to stay in Equestria, so he called the Wonderbolts barracks home for the time being. It wasn’t exactly the most comfortable place to stay for him, but at least he didn’t need to camp out in the wilderness.
The Shadow Realm and Griffonstone may have supported Equestria’s defence, but this wouldn’t apply for every single tribe. They were just lucky to have 2 allies on their side. With over 20 tribes out there planning to overrun the nation, they would need more allies.
The Equestrian forces had control of the eastern border and the centre area, with northern and southern areas under constant attack by various enemy forces. Their best bet would be controlling the western area, and hopefully finding some allies to assist them in the war.
Since they had little to no knowing about the undiscovered west, their best bet would be Eclipse, the one that had actually been there. Back at Canterlot once again, a conference was held regarding the undercover western region of Equestria.
“By the look of it, that place is most likely wilderness. There are small towns and villages around the coastline, with not-so advanced technology. I doubt that we could find much use there.” Eclipse reported.
“Rumour has it that there are creatures and abominations there. You sure you haven’t seen anything strange there?”
“Speaking of abominations, there are actually some, as far as I know. There was a mare I saw back then in an inn. She is a white mare, with both horns and wings. And I saw bat ponies there, I wonder if those bat ponies’ attack are actually originated from that place.”
“Horn and wings? You mean alicorns? Like Us?” Celestia asked.
“Kind of, but I doubt that. Considering that born-alicorns are rare, and trained-alicorns even rarer, I would say they just look like alicorns, but are just some kind of abomination of unicorns and pegasus.”
“I’ve heard of that. Those are most likely the forbidden alicorns, ponies that looked like alicorns, but do necessarily contain a legitimate alicorn’s power. Essentially just a unicorn with wings. Mostly, they have power equivalent to a typical unicorn, but some can reach higher level, although not as much as a true alicorn.”
“Sounds promising. No matter what they are, if they could help us in this war, then it’s worth a try for negotiation. “
“Tread carefully, we don’t know what else is out there.”
With that, Eclipse left the castle and on his way towards the west again. Granite, as a part in the United Equestrian Forces, decided to follow him. Since Equestria’s previous greatest threat - the griffons were dealt with, they would have plenty of time to plan before retaking the other regions of Equestria.
The western region of Equestria was covered by jungles and dark forests, covering a majority of the land. With that, proceeding there with aircrafts wouldn’t be a wise idea. Instead, Eclipse and Granite drove a jeep there.
Traveling on land, it took way more time to arrive there than by air. Crossing mountains upon mountains, through plateaus and basins. It would take at least two days to arrive there.
It was actually Granite’s idea. They could have chosen to fly to the borders of the undiscovered area, and then travel with a jeep. Apparently he thought that a jeep ride of adventure was a good idea, and it actually was. Both Eclipse and Granite found themselves enjoying the adventure and treated it as a remedy.
“I don’t know, I think I started to feel better after all this madness going on previously.”
“I guess I can finally accept the fact that the Alpha team is gone for good. They were good soldiers, and they deserves eternal peace in their afterlife. How about you? Still having trouble forgiving your past?”
“Krossair is tried and would soon be put to an execution, that’s a good thing. Think about it, if I didn’t have the greed and hunger for power, fame and wealth, Griffonstone would not be plunged into chaos, those in Manehatten and Baltimare wouldn’t have to die, and Obsidian wouldn’t have to go through all of this.”
“The damage had be done, this is a fact. My brother taught me that, if we just let our past act as shackles and incapacitate ourselves, the world wouldn’t become a better place. It’s about how we move forward to the future. It doesn’t matter what damage we have caused anymore, how we’re going to fix this is what it matters the most. I used to be a beast, nothing more than a puppet of the dark magic that was controlling me. I destroyed a lot, but now, I let it go, and I now serve this land with all the gifted power I have.”
“That day, the invasion of the Crystal Mountains, it was Krossair’s idea, and I supported his plan. The Shadow Realm was there first, but we decided to strike, and masked the truth that the Shadow Realm was the true invaders. That time, I knew that there was an armoury with high end weaponry in the base from the documents in the office there.”
“I knew that if we were to conquer this place, and all of Griffonstone, I would need something powerful enough to devastate everything. I didn’t actually planned to harm anyone in this place, I would just hold a missile for ransom, but then like 10 of them showed up. I was outnumbered, and they were actively hunting for me. I had no choice but to fight back. I wanted to minimise the casualties, but they were so damn hostile, so I had no choice but to kill them. One was so damn tough, I gave him a few slashes, and he was bleeding like crazy. He wasn’t going down, so I put a few more shots on him with my magnum.”
“Is he wielding a 12-gauge?”
“Not sure, but he was wilding a shotgun, and he looked like Lannister somehow.”
Eclipse sighed. He just focused on driving again and stayed silent.
“I’m sorry.” Granite apologised.
“Don’t tell Lannister. I’m alright. I’ve seen enough life and death. Lannister used to be just a Royal Guard. He hasn’t been in the battlefield for long. If he knows that you killed his brother, I don’t know what he would do. You might as well worry about Obsidian.”
“I don’t know mate, with her current situation, I fear that she wouldn’t make it…”
“She’ll make it. I can see it. When this war is over, I would chop a mountain retreat for you in Shadow Realm, and I guess you could finally live the
life you were longing to live.”
“Heh. That is if we don’t lose the war.”
“Come on. With us, how would we lose?”
Two days seemed like forever on road, but they had made it. From that point, no map to guide them, but Eclipse’s previous memory that was leading them through the wilderness.
They stopped at the inn Eclipse stayed during his escape that day. Eclipse headed in the inn again, while Granite followed after he parked the jeep for Eclipse.
Eclipse headed for the bar table, just like the day that day. It was the same bartender, same wine, same setting. It was like living that day all over again. The two sat down on the stool and ordered some drinks.
“Oh it’s you sir! Haven’t got a chance to say goodbye with you that day. I haven’t even asked what you name is.” The bartender started. He was a mare, with a red ribbon on her mane. A cup of beer as her cutie mark, and her fur was the colour of apple grunt.
“Oh! Yeah, sorry that I left so rushed that day. My name is Eclipse, and this is my friend Granite. You are?”
“AppleAle.”
“Nice to meet you, Ale. Actually, I return today with a reason. I was wondering if you had seen that mare that sat next to me that day.”
“Huh? I’m sorry, but I have a little problem remember who you’re talking about. You know, I have a lot of mare customers.”
“Oh right. She has white fur, in a pink and purple uniform. She ordered a cup of of drink and left.”
“Oh, you mean Colonel Lightningbolt. She’s a tough mare, not the kind that you can just see and call upon.”
“This isn’t a problem. Just tell me when and where can I find her.”
“She told me not to tell anyone about it.”
“How about bits? 50?”
“Nope. Sorry.”
“Oh come on, I’m the Head-Commander of the Wonderbolts.”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Prince of the Shadow Realm!”
“Seriously, I don’t know, and I won’t tell you.”
“Damn!”
“Come on Eclipse. Let’s just try something else.”
“No! I’m damn sure she’s the one I’m looking for.”
The two sat there, waiting for something to happen, but neither of them knew what they were waiting for.
That was until the door of the inn opened again, and the mare Eclipse was looking for finally arrived.
“AppleAle. Same drink. Extra ice.” The mare called.
“Alright then.” AppleAle responded, and turned around to prepare the drink for her customer.
“So you are Colonel Lightningbolt.”
“Yeah, and who are you?”
“I believe we have met before.”
“Oh have we? I’m sorry, I don’t remember that.”
Eclipse sighed and gulped down his drink. He put the tankard down and headed out towards the jeep and got on. Granite followed right behind him.
“Hey, hey! What’s the matter? Why do you have to be so pissed?”
Eclipse started the car engine and drove away from the inn.
“You aren’t pissed because of a mare right?”
Eclipse smirked, “I thought my act got them good, I can’t believe that you fell for it too. All I needed was what’s the organisation she is in, and I got it.”
“You mean, the Western Sentinels?”
“Bingo. I know where they called base, and we’re heading there in the morning.”
“Damn, you’re smart.”
Eclipse just smiled.
The arrived at the base in the morning. This place looked kind of broken and obsolete. A grass field surrounded by chain link fence. The two waited at the gate, for Lightningbolt to come out.
“Eclipse, stop looking like you are looking for a damn girlfriend. You’re looking for an ally for the war!” Granite nudged Eclipse.
Eclipse remained silent and waited. Granite had no idea what Eclipse had in mind, so he decided to just shut up and watch.
“Here she comes.” Eclipse said under his breathe, as the are he was looking for stepped out from the bungalow to the field. She looked towards
the gate and spotted Eclipse and Granite, so she headed towards them. A few mares followed right behind her as she walked towards the two.
“What are you doing here?” Lightningbolt asked. “I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but the rest of Equestria is in war now. I was sent here to request for alliance and aid in the war effort.” Eclipse responded.
“Do you know who you’re talking to?”
“I’d like to know.”
“Colonel Lightningbolt, the mare in charge of the Western Sentinels. And who are you? I do not fancy strangers in my department.”
“Captain Eclipse, Head-Commander of the Wonderbolts, Equestrian Royal Air Force.”
“General Granite, Commander of the Griffonstone Royal Agents.”
“Wait, you’re Granite? Like, Obby’s fiancé? Malachite’s buddy?” Lightningbolt was shocked among hearing the name “Granite”.
“Uhh, yes?”
“Oh, Obsidian and I had been friends since I was just a filly. She had actually came here before, and she mentioned a lot of things about you. So what about that Krossair?”
“Dead, or exiled. I own Griffonstone now, at least for the moment.”
“Awesome.”
“But seriously, we’re here to talk about an alliance for the civil war. And honestly, I would be here today if it wasn’t Eclipse, so yeah.”
“A friend of Obby is a friend of mine, so I guess I can help.”She answered Granite.
She then turned to Eclipse, “In one condition.”
“Which is?” Eclipse asked with an eyebrow raised.
“If you can defeat me, in a flying show off.”
“Come on, I do those before breakfast everyday, at least before the war started.”
“We’ll see to that, Captain. I guess I shall go first, just to show you what a master flyer’s moves look like.”
As she said that, she leaped up into the air and levitated herself by flapping her wings, and flew straight up high up in the sky. With a dash, she dove straight downwards and did a huge flip, with a spin and an elegant twist she slowly landed, like an angel from heaven.
Eclipse was mesmerised by her performance and Granite found his partner staring at the mare without moving a single muscle on his body. Upon her landing, her teammates clapped their hooves and cheered for her, and she bowed, like a champion.
Eclipse stopped his staring once her performance was complete, and stretched his wings, popped his joints, preparing for the show down.
“There’s still time for you to back away and not embarrass yourself, if you think this is too difficult for you.” Lightningbolt taunted.
“Oh don’t worry, I’m sure I can handle it.” Eclipse replied humbly, he didn’t want to hurt her feelings right away, after all.
“We’ll see to that then, Captain.” She teased.
“Confident mare, I like that.” He mumbled under his breathe, he still remember that day when he first met that mare. He still remember the feeling of blossom within his heart that day. He still remember that he liked that mare upon seeing her. He realised that he wasn’t just looking for an ally for the civil war out there, but also a mare his natural instinct guided him to pursue.
He knew that he can’t fail, both for the future of Equestria and his own dignity. He did a sprint head started before jumping high and flew up. With the add of the warm, rising air, he quickly ascended to the cloud’s height and did a free fall. He rotated his body so that his back was parallel towards the ground, and flew in circles. And with the aid of the wind, he started flying backwards, while maintaining his control, making him glide along a path of wing up in the sky. With another spin, he folded his wings and reopened them once he along hit the ground, creating an insane lifting force that sent him back up in the sky. As he returned to his position, he saw a small bunch of flowers near a corner of the field, so he dashed straight towards it and grabbed it as he approached the bush. He made another tight turn and finally, with a front roll, landed in front of Lightningbolt, with the flower in his hooves, towards the mare.
The mare blushed as the stallion landed, half due to her embarrassment of boasting her skill at the stallion, and half due to the flowers he offered. Her face was rose red when the team behind her cheered louder for Eclipse. Lightningbolt, although being over-confident about her flying skill, still knew when to draw the line for her boasting and taunting.
“Wow, your performance was… absolutely stunning. I’m sorry for what I’ve said before, and I’d gladly provide any aid you might need from now on.” She apologised, her cheeks felt so hot that it was almost like burning. Not many stallions had treated her that well before.
“Nah, it’s nothing. Thank you very much for your offer.”
“But before we actually fight, there is a small problem to solve, it’s about my team actually.”
“What is it? Your team look alright and straight up professional.”
“You see, they have the power, the magic power, the strength and endurance for flying. However, they still lack the training and skills in actual battles. Yes, we guard the western area of Equestria, but we don’t have specific training on an actual military operation. Frankly, we never even left this region in our life.”
“You all have basic flying and combat training. That’s enough. All you need are some weapons training and you are all combat-ready.”
“Alright, sounds fine for me. When do we start?”
“We can do some lecture about modern weaponry today, and let them choose what they want to use tomorrow. We don’t have too much time, since we are still losing ground out there, so we must hurry.”
Eclipse wasn’t the best lecturer in Equestria, but to teach a team of mares to use guns should be easy, considering he used to do so on a daily basis. With the assistance of Granite, it was rather easy for him.
That night, Eclipse returned to the base to prepare for practical training for the next day, and he saw the mare flying in the air, which she seemed to struggle a lot. Apparently she was trying to mimic what Eclipse had accomplished that morning. When she tried to do the flip Eclipse did, she lost control in the air, and she was stuck flying in circles and spinning like crazy in the wind.
Eclipse had flashbacks of the Invasion of the Crystal Mountains, where the strong wind torn the team apart. It kind of haunted him for a while, until he shook himself awake and realised that Lightningbolt needed help, immediately. He flew up with a leap and dashed straight at the mare. Just as she was about to fall from the sky, he caught her in his front legs and she found herself being awkwardly embraced by the stallion.
Eclipse touched down gently and placed Lightningbolt down. She was a bit shocked by that chaos in the air, but she eventually calmed down. The competitive mare had apparently pushed herself to hard to win everyone and be supreme in flight.
“Thank… thank you for helping me, Captain.” Lightningbolt thanked Eclipse, while she was still panting and trying to figure out what just happened.
“It’s nothing, my dear. Call me Eclipse, by the way.”
“Alright then… Eclipse.”
“Why would you even try that? That took me 2 years to master.”
“I..uhh… I was just hoping that I can be cool in front of my team and everyone here.”
“Competitive is good, only when you know how to draw the line.”
“Right, right. Thank you… darling- I mean, Eclipse.” She staggered.
Eclipse smirked. “Hah. What is it? Why are you blushing like crazy?”
“What- No, I’m not…”
“Yes you are, dear.”
“Come on, just let me have dinner, we can always talk later…” With that, she stepped away from the stallion, almost mortified from the situation. She surely had a bit of feeling towards the stallion as well, but she didn’t want to admit it, just yet.
Eclipse was very certain that he liked the mare, and he could sense that she also had feelings towards him too. He decided to try again tomorrow, as he could maybe invite her out for dinner or something. The Equestria part of the deal was secured, but his own part wasn’t, yet.
He stayed in the inn with Granite for that night, sharing the same room to save bits. It wasn’t the most comfortable experience for the two, but they’re both soldiers and they were pretty much used to cluster together in a night, although sounding somewhat gay.
In the morning, as soon as the first beam of sunlight hit the land, Eclipse and Granite already arrived at the training compound and Lightningbolt arrived next.
Somewhere around 9am, the team had arrived and once again ready for their duty and routine. Eclipse and Granite brought a few guns with them, as well as some special range weapons, just in case some of them has special needs and didn’t want to use a typical firearm.
Eclipse and Granite instructed everyone about different kinds of firearms, and teaches them to use the guns. Everyone could pick what guns they felt comfortable to use in battle. Although they would be using their magic more than actual firearms, it was a good way to show them what they would be up against out there, and learning to use a firearm essentials gave them a second option for self defence, should the need arises.
Lightningbolt, however, found herself disliking firearms. They were bulky, the recoil was hard, the reloading was troublesome, and they were just not the kind of weapons for mares like her.
“I do have a kind of weapon, that served in the battlefield since the start of First Celestial Era, single shot, but light weight, simplistic, and you could control how powerful each shot is.”
“Sounds nice, show me the weapon, as long as it isn’t a gun.”
Eclipse went back to his jeep to take the weapon. After a moment, the weapon was in Lightningbolt’s hooves, an arm made of carbon fibre, with a piece of string tying the the two ends of the arm together. Some accessories were attached on the arm, like sliding wheels and sights. It was a compound bow, light weight, simplistic, and silent.
Eclipse demonstrated how to use a bow and arrows, and he guided Lightningbolt to do so. As she was holding the bow, Eclipse stood right next to her, and guided her aim by rising his hooves to guide her front legs. His face touched hers, and they could feel each other’s breathe gently blowing at each other.
She was a fast learner, and she mastered archery with an afternoon’s practice. She was almost like she was born to shoot with a bow. Soon her accuracy was way supreme than her team, and almost even better than Eclipse himself.
Eclipse haven’t felt the feeling of love since he was born, until now. He had an indescribable feeling of faith in his live, and he felt like his life had a purpose, and he must win the war, not own for his nation, but for love, to protect what he loved and cared.
By the evening, everyone was getting hungry. Eclipse seized the opportunity and actively invited Lightningbolt for dinner, which the mare gladly accepted. They decided to head to a higher class restaurant for that night.
Although still in their uniforms, which would be more accurate to be described as battle attires, they still looked high class enough to enter. They ordered some steak for dinner that night. Eclipse knew that his funds would be drained in an instant, but since when had this stallion cared about that.
“So, you’ve never been anywhere else in Equestria before?”
“I never did, and so as my team. Most of us just stayed here for our entire lifetime.”
“Won’t you all wonder how the outer world looks like?”
“Look, I’m a forbidden alicorn and I am not eager to head out to be discriminated or treated like an exotic creature. One had tried to go beyond the boundary of our land, and it didn’t turn out so great for him.”
“But if this is the case, why would you decide to come along with me?”
“At first it was just for Granite and Obsidian, but later on I realised that… I wanna see the land, explore how big it is, and with someone special.”
“Someone special?”
“Yes… yes… Someone special. I knew for sure I have feelings for him, but I fear that he won’t, after how I treated him..”
“Then tell me who he is, maybe I can help?”
“It’s.. you.” She staggered, she was quite afraid of Eclipse’s response.
Eclipse chuckled. It was hard to believe that a competitive and tough mare could become so shy when she came across such topics.
“Don’t be silly, dear. If you fear that I don’t like you, then I should fear worse. Remember how you talked to me before the showdown? I have feelings to you as well, literally the first time I saw you in the inn.”
“Oh, right.. I’m sorry..”
“Nah, silly. You don’t have to be sorry. Your competitive instinct and confidence is why I like you. Besides, you look very cool when flying, while being so cute on the ground.”
“Really? Thanks…”
“We’ve met for at most a week, and we already like each other. It was weird to think about, but honestly, since the war started, when have I seen anything positive happen? All I see are bodies and blood. All I hear are gunfire and screams. All I smell is the scent of blood and gunpowder. All I taste is blood. All I feel is pain. War can change anyone and everyone. I didn’t expect to find someone I love, until now.”
“So are we… couples?”
“Affermative, my dear.”
Lightningbolt couldn’t help but feel the tears tracing down her face. It was tears of joy, and both could feel their love with each other. Eclipse felt incredibly faithful and energised, way more than before. The two stood up and Lightningbolt embraced the stallion tight with her front legs, which Eclipse responded with a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Dinner was over and Eclipse paid for their meals. The two decided to go for a walk at the coast, under the silvery moonlight and the cool breeze from the sea. It was enjoyable for the two, as their wings covered each other’s back. The two sat down on the beach and embraced each other as they got mesmerised by the night sky.
It wasn’t until Eclipse’s phone vibrated furiously in his pocket that he drew himself back out from his dream. It was Granite calling him.
“What is it damn it, I was having a great time.”
“Eclipse, the compound is under attack!”
“What? You kidding me?”
“Do I sound like I’m messing with you? Get Bolt and get over here and help! The team wouldn’t hold much longer!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll head over now, just hang tight.”
“You better make it quick!”
As Eclipse hung up the call, he notified Lightningbolt about the news. She wasn’t surprised about the news however.
“Meh, those damn random creatures again. They always pick a fight with us.”
“No! This time it’s different!” A voice said behind them. The two turned their backs, only to find Shadestep stepping out of a portal, with the two’s weapons in his hooves.
“We were supposed to work on some solutions of dark magic for the civil war, but something went wrong, and it apparently contaminated some creatures here. Those bastards soaked in dark magic are destroying stuff here!Now take this and go!” He tossed them their guns and bow as he proceeded to the compound.
Before Shadestep left, he passed a sword to Eclipse.
“This is the sword for you. Me, you, Lunar. We all own a sword like this. There is power inside this blade, make good use of it.”
The two arrived at the compound to meet up with the team. There were a few massive creatures that seemed to be born in a nightmare. Horns, sharp teeth, tentacles, spikes, essentially any abomination you could imagine.
“Oh Shade, what have you done…” Eclipse muttered.
“Open fire!” “Guns! Guns! Guns!” The team opened fire at the abominations. It was their first mission using firearm, and it was turning out not so well, as those abominations advanced and growled.
Eclipse decided to try out his new sword, and he activated his dark power. His eyes once again glow the lime green colour, with purple smoke spewing out from the corner of his eye. His hooves were on fire, and the blade also burnt with a bright purple flame.
He flew up and chopped the abomination with a few cuts. The Western Sentinels used to deal with these kind of creatures before, but with dark magic this time? None of them was previously trained to deal with such situations, but they’ll just have to improvise for this. Along with the rifles and guns, the mares also used their magic to shoot at those weird looking, pale green monsters. Shadestep assisted Eclipse in stabbing and slicing those abominations, especially tentacles that might grab on to anyone.
Eclipse managed to stab one to death as the team dealt with the rest. One of the member was injured, but they at least got the situation under
control. After putting hundreds of rounds on those abominations, one more had fallen, while the other fled back into the forest.
The battle took them almost 6 hours, and one wounded in action. It was already 4am as they defeated those creatures. Shadestep and Granite stayed to inspect the two dead abominations, while Eclipse and Lightningbolt checked on the mares for their well-being.
“What the heck is this? There’s something pink here… In the one I killed.”
“Cut it open, see what that is. Hope that’s not some kind of sack filled with fluids, because those are damn gross.”
“What entire nation… It’s a mare! Tangled up in the tentacles… By the Shadows, it gross here.”
“Bring her out!”
Shadestep freed the mare after cutting her loose from the grasp of the abomination, and set her on the ground. Granite went over to investigate Shadestep’s finding. The mare didn’t move a muscle at all.
“Is she dead or something?”
“She still has heartbeat, and breathing, barely.”
“Hey Eclipse, Bolt, you’ve gotta see this!”
Hearing Granite’s calling, the two rushed to see what they have found. They saw the mare lying on the ground motionlessly, and Lightningbolt was surprised.
“What is it Bolt?”
“She’s… Dasher.”
“Dasher?”
“Dasher is my sister, but she went missing a few years ago. No one knew what happened, but since that night she hadn’t returned. Everyone just assumed that she’s captured by some random creatures like the one there and died.”
“Funny enough, I actually cut her loose from that abomination there.” Shadestep interrupted with a chuckle.
“Either way, thank you so much, darling, Grand, and who’s this?”
“He’s Shadestep, my older brother from the Shadow Realm. I also have a younger brother named Lunar, which isn’t here right now.”
As they talked, the mare lying on the ground slowly awakened with a few coughs. She gently opened her eyes as she sat up from the ground.
“Where am I?” Dasher asked, dead confused.
“Sister!” Lightningbolt was at cloud nine upon seeing her sister’s awakening, and she embraced her sister within her front legs.
“I thought you were never going to return!”
“How long have I been lost? I’ve lost count of time already. Those damn abominations in the forest are not to be underestimated.”
“It’s been years, but it doesn’t matter anymore. The only that matters now is that you’re back.”
“Who saved me? Is it this handsome stallion?” She asked as she looked at Eclipse.
“No, it wasn’t me. He did. He’s Shadestep, my brother.” Eclipse pointed at Shadestep.
“Oh, you’re the handsome on that pulled me loose from that thing, thank you so much. You’re surely welcome to visit me anytime you pass by.”
“Alright then, thanks for that.” The black stallion was seen blushing by everyone around for the first time.
“Hey, darling.” Lightningbolt nudged Eclipse.
“What is it?”
“The sun is rising soon. Wanna see the western sunrise?”
“I’d gladly accept your offer, Colonel.”
The two chuckled. Lightningbolt led Eclipse up a mountain top, and there they could see that very dim yellow beam of light slowly getting brighter and brighter. Although the stallion had saw countless sunrises, this one was different.
The fact that he was lying next to his lover somehow made the sunrise he was looking more beautiful.
“Actually, Bolt. I had one concern that I feared to tell you when I first met you. Now that we had been through this much, I reckon it wouldn’t be a problem telling you this.”
“Which is?”
“Do you believe in conjuration and necromancy?”
“Kind of. I mean, I haven’t seen something being conjured.”
“Now you see one, right in front of your eyes.” He turned to look at his mare.
“What do you mean?”
“Would you believe that I am summoned by dark magic, had no actual life, and could in fact just turn into a pile of black ash upon death?”
“Frankly, yes. I mean, Equestria is always a magical place, and it is even more… weird in the west. I’ve seen a lot of strange but interesting thing in my life comparing to where you live, but a stallion that was summoned by dark magic? That’s a whole new story.”
“You still love me, right?”
“Of course, silly, why wouldn’t I? I would never judge someone by their background or appearance. Okay maybe I did, I used to, but at least for you, I won’t.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Speaking of appearance, what’s with your wing and your eye?”
“Funny that you mentioned that. It was actually Granite. He took off my wings one time in an invasion and scratched my eyelid at Baltimare. We used to be nemesis because of Krossair. Now with Krossair locked up and waiting for an execution, we called truce and joined force to continue fighting in the civil war.”
“Wow, you sure have a lot adventures.”
“Yes I do, and there will be more coming. Adventure of me and you. I wish I could marry you right away, but let’s just leave that until the end of the war.”