The arrow waiting on the bow glinted in the night, the orichalcum tip aimed right at the door to the shop. The archer waited silently in the shadows, ready to hit the Royal Guard's horn for a second time. She was resilient, having shaken off the effects of the orichalcum in just over ten minutes. This time it would all go to plan.
It was the dragon that had ruined it. They hadn't been expecting that someone immune to orichalcum was going to be at the celebration. Had it not been for that, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony would have been captured along with all three Princesses.
The door burst open, and a blinding light shine out. The archer winced as they were forced to cover their eyes, several hoofsteps in the snow indicating that the group was heading towards the castle.
The light on Twilight's horn died down as they ran towards the castle. Amethyst's horn had a light aura around it as she covered up their tracks behind them.
"Spike, take Cinnamon and fly ahead to the castle," ordered Twilight. "Try and contact those in the Night Guard to inform them of what's happened. If they don't believe you, just say that Lieutenant Sparkle sent you."
Spike nodded, and he and Cinnamon split from Twilight and Amethyst, running into an alleyway so that Cinnamon could mount him. Twilight and Amethyst continued running, weaving back and forth to avoid an incoming arrows.
"What makes you so sure that the Night Guard wouldn't have been targeted, too?" asked Amethyst.
"A majority of the Night Guard is composed of thestrals," replied Twilight. "They can see in the dark, and have a heightened sense of hearing. Even if they were targeted, they would most likely be safe."
"Thestrals? You mean ponies with bat wings?"
She nodded, and made a sudden sharp turn down a different pathway. Amethyst skidded in the snow as she tried to turn as quickly, falling behind Twilight. She still continued running behind her, trying to make note of any other times the guardspony was about to change direction again. Sure enough, just about a minute later, Twilight made another sharp turn, which Amethyst managed to react to much quicker than before.
"Keep up!" called back Twilight, sounding like she had forgotten that Amethyst wasn't a Royal Guard member.
Amethyst didn't respond, and instead saved her breath to continue running after her. It was clear that Twilight was trained far better for this than she. The two moved closer to the castle, having covered just over a third of the distance in just about two minutes.
Another sparkle caught her eye, and she looked up to see an arrow flying toward's Twilight horn. She quickly grabbed Twilight's tail in her magic, which pulled her to an abrupt stop, and the arrow landed harmlessly in the snow.
"They already caught up to us?" Twilight quickly got to her hooves, and defensively stood in front of Amethyst. "That means that the shooter is likely a pegasus..."
Amethyst let out a huff of air in frustration as they had to wait in another bout of silence. The wind charm was still going around her horn, but Twilight's was an open target.
Why am I so weak? she thought. I can only do things with the aid of someone or something else... Her eyes narrowed angrily. But I'll never get anywhere unless I try.
The most notable advantage to being outside rather than inside was that she could gather moonlight (or sunlight) on her horn. Granted, the raw energy had to be let out in a single burst due to how unstable it was, but maybe that burst was all she needed.
Amethyst began to gather moonlight on her horn, while Twilight continued to look around for the attacker. After more painful waiting, Amethyst heard another elastic sound, being that of a bow, and quickly put her hasty idea into fruition.
She stepped beside Twilight, and dipped her head down so that her horn was pointed at the ground. She grabbed Twilight's forehoof in her own, and released the moonbeam she had been making. She felt a sharp blow of pain from having her head so close to where the beam had hit, but she also felt her hooves leave the ground as she and Twilight spiraled backwards through the air.
With the night sky sparkling above them, for just a moment, Amethyst felt as if she was flying. Sure, she could ride on a pegasus as she had done when first meeting Fleetfoot, just that never held the same thrill as being in the air without the aid of others. Unlike Twirly, she didn't want speed, but instead, just simple lift.
The landing was rather painful as the two unicorns unceremoniously slammed onto the ground and tumbled across the street. Had it not been snowy out, they could have sustained far more serious injuries than some aches and bruises. Amethyst nearly crashed into a streetlight, but Twilight conjured up a spear construct that, though it knocked the wind out of her, preventing her from slamming into it.
"Are you alright?" asked Twilight, running over and pulling Amethyst to her hooves.
"Just sore," she replied, being careful not to touch any painful areas as to not increase the pain.
"You sure you're good to keep moving?"
"Of course!" She started walking towards the castle, and immediately tried not to wince as a bolt of pain zipped up her thigh. "We can take a breather once we reach the castle!"
Twilight smiled. "That's some nice determination you've got. Let's go."
They continued running towards the castle, with Amethyst trying her best to keep her pain hidden as to not concern Twilight. But back where they had been standing before Amethyst's moonbeam, the archer angrily stomped out to grab yet another arrow that they had avoided.
"It's easier to hit a pegasus in a windstorm than these two!" they sniped in irritation, shoving the arrow in their quiver. "And now they're trying for the Night Guard's assistance..."
"Need me to go fly ahead?" asked someone who's presence was unknown to Twilight and Amethyst.
"I need to find the arrow that she dropped, so yes," replied the archer. "Even if this plans falls through, we have to leave no trace behind. We can't have everything ruined by being tracked."
The second nodded, and took to the skies towards the castle. The archer wordlessly hunted through the snow for the arrow that Amethyst had dropped.