//------------------------------// // Bladewing // Story: The Search For The Everglade // by Colt_Flick //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Bladewing As the lights of the city of Noveria disappeared behind him, North Star pulled the cloak he had found in the bag around his shoulders and shivered from the cold. The snowy plains seemed to go on forever in every direction, but by watching the stars he was able to continue on his course South-West, his star-pattern markings glowing kept a light around him so he could see where he was going. "Maybe I should've tried to get out of it." He thought out loud as wandered along, the blizzard had died down some, allowing him to wander without having to fight the wind, He saw it as a sign that someone out there wanted him to succeed. His eyes widened at that thought... succeeding... he'd be the pioneer who discovered the new land, "A new land..." he muttered to himself, "...and I'll be the first unicorn exploring it, maybe even the first pony." As he travelled he began to wonder whether the snow-covered field would stretch on forever, though just as he was planning to stop for a break he noticed something in the distance. He quickened his pace to a trot as he saw the forest in the distance, jogging until he reached the edge of it where he stopped to examine the entrance. The trees had no leaves, allowing him to still navigate by the stars even as he walked through the forest. "At least it's some protection from the wind." he told himself, stepping into the forest as his horn and star pattern lit up once more, continuing to follow the stars. But as he walked he began to hear something. The sound of metal on metal, and the yells of combat. He darted behind a tree and listened to the voices as he crept along, trying to locate the source of the sounds. "Grab her wings!" a raspy voice yelled out. "I'm trying, she's too fast!" a snively voice responded furiously. As North Star got closer he noticed something moving out of the corner of his eye, he ducked behind the tree and stopped himself from glowing as he peeked out, watching the fight. A single pale blue Pegasus filly jumped about, as three diamond dogs tried to attack her, the largest wielding a hammer and the smallest wielding a dagger. The pegasus flipped over one of them, her wing spreading out and the diamond dog letting out a cry of pain as a red cut appeared along it's back. The Pegasus landed a few feet away from them and spread her wings, shining steel blades along the ridges of each of them, she flicked the blood off them but kept them spread, preparing to leap again. "Leave me alone, you dogs!" the pegasus yelled out, "I have nothing of value!" "LIAR! You have silver on your wings!" the largest growled, raising his club and charging at the Pegasus. 'A pegasus...' North Star widened his eyes, realizing the mare was outnumbered, and despite her stance he could tell she was getting tired. He closed his eyes tightly, summoning up his courage before leaping out from behind the tree. His horn lit up and began to fire random coloured beams and stars. It was enough to throw off the large dog's aim and cause the hammer to smash into the ground next to the Pegasus, who jumped past him and slashed at his left arm. "What are you doing?! GO!" The Pegasus called out to North Star as the smallest jumped on her back, the unarmed diamond dog charged towards North Star, flailing his arms and trying to scare him away. North Star let out his best battle cry as he brought his head back before thrusting it forward, sending a bolt of magic from his horn straight into the diamond dog's chest. The Diamond dog hissed and writhed in response, rolling around on the floor as he tried to get over the pain of the magical burn. The large diamond dog finally got his hammer free of the ground, and seeing as the smallest had the Pegasus pinned her ran towards North Star, raising his hammer once again, "Stupid Hornhead! Let's see how sparkly you are when you're smashed!" he bellowed out. The small diamond dog continued to pin the Pegasus to the ground, though as it raised the dagger she closed her wings, cutting into the side of his body with one wing while blocking the blade with the other. It let out a cry of pain and held it's wound, dropping it's weapon, at which point the Pegasus threw it off and kicked it into a nearby tree, a heap of snow falling from the branches and burying the dog. North Star barely avoided being crushed as the hammer slammed into the ground next to him, once again getting stuck. The Diamond dog let go of the hammer and grabbed at the Unicorn, only for North Star to fire off a blast of magical energy into the Diamond dog's face, causing it to stagger back and roll around, screaming into it's hands as it clutches it's face. "Leave, now... you have caught me feeling merciful." The Pegasus warned the others, taking a few steps so she was at an equal distance from each of them, the medium sized diamond dog grabbed the largest and fled, leaving the smallest below the snowy pile. "Miss Pegasus-" "What are you doing this far from the city, Unicorn?" Silence fell over the forest, after the combat it was a welcome one, though it didn't stop North Star from feeling awkward. "I'm... doing a favour for the princess." he replied after considering his answer for a while, it was best to be honest. "The Princess?" The Pegasus asked skeptically, North Star nodded in response, causing Bladewing to flick the blood off her blades and tuck her wings back, the blades folding naturally with them, "Such a title, and to think it gives someone like her power over others. If she were a pegasi, she'd have been overthrown years ago," "Well, she's not a pegasus, so we have to deal with her." North Star replied defeatedly, after his first encounter with the princess he really didn't think much of her, though Bladewing seemed to smile at his disliking of her. As he turned his attention back to her he began to look her over. The Pegasus had a long mane, the same colour as his coat, which matched her long tail, she wore a cloak that covered her cutiemark. The blades along her wings on closer inspection had joints dotted where the wings naturally bended, allowing the blades to fold when the wings did, though they looked like they had seen a lot of action. "...So, you're a pegasus?" North Star asked excitedly. "Of course... was there ever any doubt?" she replied, a little confused by the question. "Well, I've never met a pegasus before... you're the first one." he replied shyly, feeling embarassed about that. "Really?" The Pegasus replied with some surprise, only to instantly drop back to her deadpan expression, "And I thought I was sheltered." She turned away, "Still, do not get used to my appearance. I must continue my mission." She reached back under her cloak casually, only for her eyes to widen as she began to rapidly pat around. "My bag!" She glanced around where they had been fighting, beginning to pace and search for it, only to notice the three mounds of dirt where the diamond dogs had fled, it seemed even the smallest had survived. "Thieving dogs!" The Pegasus yelled, stamping her hoof on the ground. North Star looked onwards on the situation, staying silent as he watched her dig at the ground with her forehooves, only to turn around and kick it with her back legs. "Without my compass I'll never complete my mission..." she paused as the direness of her situation dawned on her, "...I'll never return home." "Wait, what -is- your mission. Maybe I can help." North Star offered quickly. "I cannot tell you my mission and you cannot help me." The Pegasus snapped, "You're a unicorn..." her expression softened a little into one curiousity, "...though apparently not like the others." "What are the others like?" North Star asked curiously, sitting down to listen to this. "Idiotic, uppity... full of themselves, like your princess." The Pegasus rolled her eyes, "Skies forbid she ever get a little rain water on her mane, she might slaughter my entire species for treason." "Heh... that's her alright." North Star laughed at the description, causing the Pegasus to give him her most confused look yet. "You.. appreciate what I'm saying? you won't defend your Princess?" she asked uncertainly. "Well, she's not the most level-headed unicorn out there, but no one else really wants to lead, I guess. Besides, I've heard your leader isn't exactly the nicest pony out there either." North Star explained. "Commander Hurricane can be strict," Bladewing lowered her eyes to the ground, remembering the Pegasus commander clearly, how he towered over her and barked orders, "...Sometimes a little hasty with his punishments..." she added, recalling the many times the weaker fliers had rocks tied to their legs to strengthen their wings, only for more than a few to plummet to their deaths, "...But, I've never doubted he wants what's best for us." She spread her wings, revealing the blades along each of them, getting a gasp of awe from North Star as she did so, "Even with the burden I carry, I know it is because in doing so I will find the pegasi a new place to graze..." she looked off in the direction she was heading before, "...They will no longer starve." "You're investigating the new lands too then?" North Star perked up, getting back onto his feet. "You know, given where we're currently standing, I'm assuming you've been travelling since sunset... isn't it dangerous to fly at night?" A look of horror crossed the mare's face as she realized she had revealed her mission, though she tried to return to her natural calm expression, "Very clever, unicorn... yes, I'm investigating the new land, and I can fly whenever I please." she turned sharply, some snow being kicked up as she did so, "...Though perhaps it was against my better judgement that I flew through the forest at night... it did after all get me here, fighting off those dogs..." The Pegasus seemed to pause on this thought, "...I must thank you again for helping scare them off." "You're welcome, I wasn't expecting anypony else to be travelling at this time of night though, much less a Pegasus." North replied, moving to stand next to her, staying out of the reach her wings. "And I wasn't expecting to see anyone other than a pegasus scout, we were both surprised." the Pegasus replied, looking over to the colt, "Though it's a fortuitous encounter... you've traveled this far, it means you know how to navigate... and without a compass." "Yeah, I can navigate by the stars!" North Star chimed, his horn glowing and his markings lighting up, causing the mare to jump back, "It's okay, it's not a combat spell, It's used for navigation." North Star explained, "I can use this to navigate by night... it's like a visual star chart in my head." "You can navigate by night, but not by day..." Bladewing began, lowering her wings, "...and I can navigate by day, but not by night," the mare stroked her chin with her hoof, considering this opportunity, "...Unicorn, I have a proposition." "What's that?" North Star asked curiously. " I need to find the Everglade, but cannot without a means of navigating... I will travel with you," The Pegasus paused as she saw North Star's face light up, she kept a stern expression, "but only if you promise that what you find will not reach your princess. The Everglade cannot be touched by her ridiculous rules and terrible leadership." "Th-that's not fair! If I don't get that information back to the Princess, my friends are going to starve and my species will die out!" North Star glared at her, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "I'm not saying that!" The Pegasus replied, equally aggressive, though after a pause she breathed out a heavy sigh, "...Your kind brings the moon and the sun... without unicorns the skies would not change, the stars would fade... we need you." she paused, "...We just... don't need her." she explained, referring to the Princess. "She's not all bad, The Princess cares about us all." he lowered his gaze to the ground, "She's just hard to deal with." "Just like Commander Hurricane." the mare replied sympathetically, "...I know it isn't easy, but this is what's best for everypony... a few pegasi, a few unicorns and a few earth ponies. We will have enough food to share, and we won't have to fight over it." "I don't like this.." North Star replied before taking a few steps, "Maybe we'll figure it out when we get there... let's just keep walking." he concluded, making his way along. "I'm North Star, by the way." "I am called Bladewing." the Pegasus replied, tucking her wings back and shuffling them a little as she followed him. "Your name is Bladewing?" North Star asked curiously, it seemed like a strange name to give to a child, even in a militarily-focused society like the Pegasi had. "That is my purpose." Bladewing replied simply, "Until my mission is over, I go by Bladewing." she lowered her eyes, North Star could hear the regret in her voice. "You military types don't have a lot of fun, do you?" he asks, leading her along towards the edge of the forest. "We play after we work... besides, there's a certain thrill in combat..." "I... see." North Star replied with a shudder. Whether by luck or destiny, North Star had obtained a companion, though he wasn't sure if having Bladewing around made him feel safer or more vulnerable. The Pegasus clearly had no problems with killing, and no fondness for unicorns... and yet, she travelled by his side and spoke of a future where all the races could live in harmony. ...perhaps this was destiny after all.