//------------------------------// // Chapter one: losing a friend // Story: Broken Wings // by JPTrixie-Fan //------------------------------// The day was bright and warm and Equestria was at peace, much the same as it had been since before the return of Nightmare Moon. In the halls of the palace Princess Luna paced back and forth till she finally decided to glance out across the courtyard, outside her sister was speaking to her favourite student Twilight Sparkle undoubtedly leaving her most recent lesson. “Oh we wish we could have friends like Celestia does, we know that we have our guard but it’s just not the same!” the dark blue alicorn stated as her Canterlot voice boomed through the chambers and halls around her. Upon hearing the commotion in the royal chambers her most trusted guard rushed through the large wooden doors that separated her chambers from the rest of the palace. “My princess what is it that troubles you so?” The dark brown Pegasus stallion asked as he took off his helmet to reveal a long and thick black mane. “Ah! Broadsword our faithful captain, tis nothing that would concern you… We are just ….. Lonely” Luna sighed, tired from being awake all day. The brown stallion trotted closer and bowed his head “My princess you always have me, your sister and your servants.” Broadsword smiled and noticed that Luna was beginning to fall asleep. “My princess please rest, tonight I will try to find a way in which you can visit your subjects.” He stated raising his head and helped Luna to her bed. Luna lifted her head and looked at the Pegasus “Broadsword, we appreciate your efforts and your princess will hold you to your words…” her voice trailed off as she drifted off to sleep. Her companion smiled and tugged a cover over the dark blue princess, as he raised his head he glanced briefly out of her balcony but instead of clear skies he saw something not quit right. On the horizon were pink clouds of cotton candy which were thundering down chocolate rain, Broadsword suddenly felt a chill up his spine he knew what this was. He knew that it had broken free… The greater beast of chaos and disharmony; Discord had returned and was now wreaking havoc across Equestria. “Guards to arms!!” Broadsword yelled charging towards the barracks. His orders rang through the halls as he put his helmet back on and prepared to fight the beast. Outside, the guards had formed up in three ranks and full battle dress as Broadsword strode through the doors to the courtyard. At that moment a malicious laugh echoed around the pegasi and manifested itself as a mixed up creature made of several animals. “Discord!” Broadsword spat the word in his disgust. “Why hello there captain, are you enjoying my chaos?” the draconicus asked smugly and materialised a literal half glass of chocolate milk. “Oh! How rude of me I should entertain you captain, here dance with your friends.” He chuckled as he grew several arms and poked each guard quickly turning them grey, their eyes were now cold and evil. “Guards!? Don’t let him taint you!” he ordered while drawing his sword. The guards that he trusted laughed psychotically and surrounded the brown stallion, their auras now filled with nothing but bloodlust and malice. Broadsword felt suffocated, the blank stares of the soldiers piercing him like daggers. Taking a step back he adopted a defensive stance and warned the guards not to advance but they continued to lurch forward until they dove upon him biting and slashing at their former commander. The attacks of his soldiers rained down upon him shattering his wings and scarring his right eye, the pain was intense like he was being torn asunder by the talons of a dragon but he had to fight back. Throwing a mighty blow Broadsword swung his blade and rent open the chest of his former lieutenant before following through and burying the sword deep into another’s neck. The fighting continued for some time and Discord grew annoyed and rather bored “I think I’ll go play with the princess while you all play out here.” He stated and began casually walking to Luna’s chambers. As Broadsword slew the last of his warriors it hit him and he stood battered, bruised and bloodied. His breathing was laboured due to the deep wounds all over his frame but he had no time to rest, no time to lament over what he’d just done; he had to stop Discord from reaching the princess. *** The blood from his eye trailed down his mussel, his wings burned from the pain and hung by a thread but he had to keep running the princess was in danger. Today was like a nightmare that wouldn’t cease, he just wanted to put the battle from his mind but with each step he left a bloody hoof print behind like a sick reminder of what he’d done to his fellow ponies. Although it had been mere minutes since he had unsheathed his sword it felt to him like hours but In truth he no longer cared how much time had passed all that was on his mind right now was getting to Luna’s side. The clatter of hooves echoed throughout the halls of the palace as he galloped at full speed to beat the being of chaos to the princess. Each step drew him closer to her chamber, the halls seemed like they went on forever. He ran through the seemingly endless halls, until there it was; standing as stern as ever the heavy door to the princess’s chambers. *** The heavy door creaked open but what lay on the other side was not the horror he thought it would be, instead it was peaceful and there sleeping soundly was the dark blue princess of the night. Once again a malicious and maniacal laugh echoed through the room and there he stood once again, giggling like a child Discord pointed outside at the courtyard. “Oh my little captain how ruthless of you, killing them so heartlessly and I thought I was the bad guy here.” The draconicus taunted as he danced around the Pegasus captain before disappearing in a cloud of smoke and reappearing next to Luna. “Now I wonder…” he smiled devilishly as he stared at the sleeping princess. “If I turn her would you do the same as you did outside? Hmmm… decisions and debates maybe I should do it just to check hmmm?” “Discord!! Leave her alone!” Broadsword yelled with a fury burning in his voice. “Ooh so fierce and predictably boring of you. You disappoint me captain.” Discord displayed his boredom by strolling around the sleeping princess before stopping abruptly to face Broadsword. “Discord! I swear by Celestia if you touch her I’ll kill you where you stand!” Broadsword brandished his weapon as a threat. “That sounds like a challenge captain, alright I guess I’ll play along” Discord materialised a bull’s-eye over his chest “Please strike the coup de gracé, punish my evil deeds” he said sarcastically and poked Luna to provoke Broadsword into attacking. The angered Pegasus lunged with his blade but found it turn into a feather as it connected with the draconicus’s chest, leaving the chaotic tormentor laughing at the very idea of Broadsword trying to fight his powers. “What’s wrong captain? Sword gone to the birds? Maybe it was chicken?” the smug beast taunted. “Alright, alright for real this time.” He said and spread his arms like he was offering to be killed. Broadsword knew it was another trick but he decided to try again nonetheless, this time as he lunged forward his hooves became stuck on the ground causing him to fall on his face. Giving an annoyed grunt he threw the blade at discord but it was to no avail, the chaotic tormentor magically turned the blade into a boomerang and laughed as Broadsword ducked to avoid the projectile now hurling toward him. As the blade clattered on the ground Discord giggled to see the bulk of the pegasus’s tail now falling to the floor. “Well captain that was a close shave” Discord joked as he looked at the serious Pegasus. “Fiiiiiiiiiiine!” Discord groaned no genuinely bored by the seriousness of the captain. “I’ll leave her alone, there are more interesting ponies to play with. One of which I actually find rather funny.” And with that he skated out on the floor which he decided was better turned to soap but as he passed Broadsword he decided to poke his head before vanishing in a cloud of cotton candy. “Princess!!” Broadsword slipped on the soap at first, then within seconds of Discord leaving the soap vanished leaving the captain feeling rather stupid. *** Dark blue eyelids flickered and opened as Luna awoke to see the horribly injured captain now resting his unconscious head on Luna’s edge of her bed. Luna was shocked at first but she quickly calmed herself and she pressed her horn to his head to start the mind reading spell. She wanted answers and reading his memory was the best way to get them. After a few moments she found her answers and what she saw in his mind made her eyes well up with sadness but those memories were best left buried. The thought that struck her most was the pain the captain was in and she worked quickly to heal him with her magic. The healing magic was incredibly draining and took its toll on the princess but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t heal his wings, from now until he dies they were broken and he would never fly again. Broadsword woke to see the exhausted princess still trying to heal his wounds, she looked up at the brown Pegasus her eyes tired and filled with tears. The princess felt guilty that she couldn’t heal the captain’s wings, she felt like she had failed her most loyal of friends. “Princess please, you’ve done enough. You need to rest and get your strength back.” The brown Pegasus begged, but the royal alicorn shook her head and kept trying to heal him. “Captain Broadsword, I saw your memory and I know what you had to do, but I fear my sister will act rashly and will not accept that you used such force. So I have used my magic to remove your cutie mark…” the princess said her voice now weak with fatigue. Her next words were cut short by the concerned outburst of the Pegasus captain. “Princess what are you saying?!” “Broadsword my faithful guard and close friend I am hiding your identity so you can live freely and safely outside of my sister’s wrath. Because… because I fear she will enforce a severe punishment for your actions. That’s why I’m going to lock away your memories except for your name, I am so very sorry.” Luna stifled her tears as her magic took its inevitable effect. “Princess… princess…….. Who? Who are you?” the injured Pegasus stood confused while looking at the saddened alicorn, his coat was stained with blood still, but he no longer knew why. “Why am I covered in blood? Why do my wings hurt?” he was beginning to panic as she remained silent. “Please… What am I doing here?” he pleaded. “We… I am nopony, nopony at all, but a friend asked me to give this to you. She said it was for your birthday.” She said smiling weakly and wrapping a dark blue cloak around the injured Pegasus. “She told me that you had to run, run very far from here and never return” she said clipping the cloak around his neck. “Miss can I ask your name?” Broadsword asked growing more confused. “You may… We, I am Crescent Moon, now please hurry and leave for your safety. You can get to the forest through this door. Now go!” the saddened princess ordered as she opened the passage. “Oh! She gave me one last message… she said thank you.” This was the last he saw of the beautiful alicorn princess before she closed the heavy door behind him. (chapter one end)