//------------------------------// // Release // Story: Earning Freedom // by Daxisle //------------------------------// Release Mac charged through the cold plains outside of Ponyville after a retreating Spike with Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash in tow. Luna was unable to assist them at the moment, considering Shade was holding her in combat for some reason. For all his attempts to gain the night pony's attention and quell his rage, Shade took no notice. It wasn't surprising, with the bat pony's hatred for her, he probably wouldn't even listen to Sin. But the apple farmer had more pressing matters at hoof. And with what little time the girls had to give an explanation, it struck a blow to find the dragon immune to magic. That would make this difficult. Luckily, Pinkie and Rarity agreed, the latter a bit more reluctant, to help get Sin some where safe and see about medical treatment. As the remaining four of them began gaining on the drake, Twilight ran up to his side. "Do you even have a plan?" She asked through panting. Mac gave her a smirk. "Nope." He admitted before running faster, leaving the gaping mare to fall behind with the others. He may not have had a plan, but standing around was defiantly not an option. As the three began to get in range of feeling the earth shake from the monster's steps, Rainbow Dash took to the air again and shot forth like a bullet. However, this time she didn't fly around in a menacing manner, instead flew directly above his eyes and, from what Mac could tell, tried talking to him. "Spike listen to me." Rainbow pleaded as she hovered just in front of him. To her surprise, there were tears running down the massive dragon's cheeks, and her ears immediately pressed down to her skull at the sight. She didn't get a chance to apologize before he turned away and began another direction. "Spike! Hold on a sec!" The cyan pegasus caught up quickly enough and landed herself on his muzzle, wobbling to keep herself steady. "Spike, just stop okay? I know you can understand me." Surprisingly enough, Spike's pace began to slow to a depressing heel drag until his legs finally stood still. Rainbow motioned for the rest of her friends to hold their place for the moment, hoping that keeping it just the two of them would calm him down His good eye avoided looking directly at her and his bad one was beginning to swell, a bit of blood mixing with the tears. It was a pitiful sight, that pulled at the mare's heartstrings. "Hey, hey easy." She tried to sooth as she felt his body tense with silent sobs. "It's alright now, big guy. No need to get upset." She gently stroked his muzzle. Slowly, Spike began to cry, Rainbow's soothing words doing little to stop it. His body trembled and he lowered himself to his knees and elbows. Dash bit her lip and looked on with compassion. "Hey, I'm sorry for what I'm-" she took a breath "I'm sorry for... ya know, what happened back there. I shouldn't have tried to mess with you like that." The dragon gave a small yet hopeful smile. Shade dashed in a zig zag motion to avoid the night blue beams of magic cast by his opponent, he'd gotten a few good hits in but nothing fatal. The beast's magical abilities were formidable, but he was sure with the correct timing he'd be able to finish it. After she'd fired off another magical blast, Shade took the opportunity to fly right at her and slam a hoof into her throat. Luna dodged the assault and fired another beam that could only be described as ah hair's breath miss. "What do you hope to accomplish in this? You were given a pardon!" The beast bellowed, ending her previous stagnancy and flying after her opponent. Shade's adrenaline was off the charts, he out flew the princess with relative ease and took a nose dive to the ground, relishing in the battle he'd waited years for. While not effective, the attacks he landed made him feel amazing. Like a young strapping colt beating his meat furiously for the first time. After all of that time spent in the box, after all the suffering he'd endured, he finally had his chance to get the mare he wanted with none around to help her. As he fell, he looked back to find Luna giving chase, her eyes glowing white and her ethereal mane whipping around in a furious rage. "So you show your true form." He said to himself before taking a sudden, and almost impossible, 90 degree shift to travel just inches above the landscape. He dodged left and right every time he heard the sound of a released spell, all the while contemplating his next move. Suddenly, he came to a stop and dug in his fore-hooves, shifting his weight forward. Wait for it... A trickle of sweat fell down his cheek, a dark blue beam missed his body by inches with an almost feel-able hiss. Shade's heart slammed against his chest, a mix of excitement, anxiety and nervousness. If this didn't work, it would hurt him alot more than it would hurt the beast. He heard a gasp and threw his legs back as hard as he could. both his hind hooves hit home, he wasn't sure what they hit, but the contact that threw his body forward and earned a pained scream was all he needed for a satisfied smile to bare across his muzzle. He spread his wings and used the momentum to begin flying again, only getting about a house distance from the ground before a sharp jolt on the back of his neck sent him tumbling down. After the initial impact, twisting a few appendages, he rolled to a halt and shook his head to clear the oncoming disorientation. Luna, had already recovered from his buck and glared at him with her seething white eyes. The beast was mad, and he couldn't be happier about it. "Come on beast I expected better! Or is your age beginning to show?" Shade wiggled his eyebrows. Luna gave a second long look of confusion at the mixed message than yelled angrily before rushing to the pegasus, who smirked and returned the motion. It wouldn't take long for the two to clash, and without a thought in his head, Shade arose his hoof to slam it into the princess' face. A flash of light later, he found that his hoof didn't make contact and came to a skidding halt. What happened? He looked around, yet couldn't find her. "Where'd ya go, Matriarch?" He spat, his golden eyes darting and his heart working overtime. "Have you lost courage as well as your youth?" A sharp pain in the back of his head answered him. It sent him staggering, but failed to knock him out. He turned back with a sadistic grin to find his prize standing before him, her previously white eyes returning to their original teal, and a deadpan that would make a cast iron skillet red with shame. "Thou wish us to bringeth it? Than we shall oblige." Her words were soft, just above a whisper. A nerve racking contrast to the royal Canterlot voice, and almost twice as intimidating... If he were any other pony. Shade ignored the labored breath he was starting to find himself in need of, flared his wings, and widened his smile so that it showed off his canines. "Let's play." Pinkie walked carefully, Sin placed on her back and Rarity lightening the load slightly with her magic. The two had initially agreed to take him to the hospital, but Fluttershy's was closer... Yea, that's the reason and they're sticking to it. "I still haven't the slightest idea why we're helping him." Rarity stated looking at the unconscious stallion in disdain. "This is all his fault, after all." "What do you mean?" Pinkie asked looking to her fashion obsessed friend. "What do you mean, what I mean?" The unicorn mare asked injudiciously. "Had this ruffian not come and taken our little Spike away, this whole situation could have been avoided." Pinkie couldn't really disagree, but she couldn't say her friend was right either. The pink mare mentioned how it was the dragon's own choice to go. Rarity countered the point with the pony's influence and silver tongue. Playing on the emotional manipulation the stallion had put upon the dragon. However, that couldn't have been the case. Spike did mention how he'd never met Sin before and how Mac was the one who explained the Federalist's teachings. "Well, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were defending that ruffian." The fashonista proclaimed snidely. The party mare furrowed her brow. "It's not that I'm defending him, it's just that Spike said he wasn't happy here." Rarity rolled her eyes and groaned, dismissing the outburst at the farm some months ago as an exaggerated response to a bad day. The two continued to debate where the blame lay the entire walk to Fluttershy's. Not surprisingly, the animals that usually offered the property a certain charm and grace had long since scattered during the commotion that wasn't too far away, leaving the typically lively and inviting cottage, a simple, quite house. Rarity took the initiative to knock on the door, a few moments later, the pink maned pegasus poked her head out. "Oh hello Rarity." She greeted with a small smile. "You should come inside. There's something terrible going o-" She stopped and squeaked before backing inside and slamming the door. The fashonista groaned and knocked on the door again. "Fluttershy, dear? I'm terribly sorry about all this, but well... we need your help." No sound came from the house. Just as Rarity had motioned for Pinkie to follow her to head to the hospital, the timid pegasus poked her head out of the house again and quietly apologized. "It's just that, well, he scares me." "No need to apologize for that darling, he'd scare anyone with a bit of good sense." The white mare snickered, lightening the mood. "Please, come in." She allowed the three inside. "Thank you Pinkie, please put him on the couch, if you don't mind." The party mare gave a solute and gently lay the stallion down. "You know, he's not that heavy for an earth pony." She said stretching her back with a satisfied sigh. "Pinkie he lives in the woods, his verity of food is most likely very limited." "Malnutrition is an extremely dangerous condition," Fluttershy said, walking back into the living room with a first aid kit. "Oh my," she froze, taking in the blood stained cloak and splintered pieces of wood that stuck out. With a renewed spirit, the animal caretaker rushed over and began inspecting his injuries. "Poor thing, what happened to him?" "You remember that terrible thing you mentioned at the door?" Pinkie pressed her lips. "Well, he tried to stop it." The timid mare's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness." She turned her attention back to the patent and began to work, gently removed some of the wood from his ribs. A few stirs and groans, but otherwise no real protest to stop her. Pinkie and Rarity moved to another room to allow her to work in peace. "Shh, it's alright." She cooed picking out the last splinter. The preparatory work didn't take more than ten minutes. Luckily most of the shards came loose with out leaving any see-able splinters.. "Alright now, let's see what we can do for-" She stopped again when she'd realized what lay behind his cloak. The wood weren't sticking into his side, they were lodged into a pair of small brown wings wrapped up in old bandages. She furrowed her brow and inspected the appendages. The dirty gauze indicated that they hadn't been changed in a while, and that the wings had been stuck in place the whole time. She'd have to ask him about that when he came to. Her attention was drawn away again and she began to look over the wounds, however, another sight caught her attention. His cutie mark, or lack there of. "What?" "Everything alright in there, deary?" Rarity's voice sang. Looking behind her to the kitchen, than back to to double check what she saw to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. Reluctantly, coming to terms with the fact there was no mark present on his flank, the butter milk mare carefully lay down the cloth and turned to walk into the kitchen to inform Pinkie and Rarity of her findings. The two seemed to be just as shocked as she was at the revelations. Neither had ever seen him fly or his lack of a "special talent" mark before. "Is it possible for adult ponies to be blank flanks?" Fluttershy asked. "If so, he'd be the first I've ever heard of." The white unicorn said puzzled. The pegasus of the group nodded in agreement. "Well, we could ask him." Pinkie gave a scoff. "Good luck with that. I've tried getting him to talk ever since I met him. He's more closed up than Cranky Donkey." She sighed at the end, a little hurt at the fact. The girls wondered back out to the living room and let out a collective gasp. "Where did he go?" While Rainbow sat trying to comfort Spike, Twilight, Applejack and Macintosh sat where they were. Careful not to intrude on the space that could send the drake into another panicked frenzy. Mac tried to hear what they were saying, but neither one of their voices even made it over to him. Neither had made a violent move yet, that was good at least. "Whatcha s'pose they're talk'n bout?" Applejack asked. He and Twilight shook their heads, he had no clue how the dragon even grew, much less why or how. Chances were they'd find out soon enough though. The longer the three of them sat there, the more Mac felt something was... off. 'Yea, because Spike growing twenty stories tall and going on a rampage isn't off.' Mac inwardly groaned. Something felt off, and it wasn't Spike. But it had something to do with him. If memory served, something happened last time besides what he did. Oh buck, what was it? Rainbow couldn't shut up about how "awesome" it was to see them fight. Ugh, it was infuriating how on the tip of his tongue it was. Wonder Balls? No, no that wasn't it... Thunder Jolts? No, that doesn't sound right either. Vonderbilts? What the hay were those? "WONDER BOLTS!" Yea, that was i- wait what? Mac looked up, his eyes constricted at the site of seven blue suited soluettes flying at them with smoke trails behind them. As the first of them came into view, Twilight rushed in their direction, "No wait!" She yelled. "Stop! Please don't hurt him." Her yells either feel on deaf or apathetic ears. The troop's speed didn't decrease, nor did they look any less threatening. With a look of regret, the unicorn's horn began to glow, suddenly a shining violet net appeared directly in front of the fliers and they each slammed into it, each giving choice words of surprise and anger. "What the buck?!" One yelled. Twilight lowered the performers to the ground and turned the net into a bubble designed to keep them trapped inside. "What's the big idea?" Another asked, a firey orange and yellow maned mare. "I'm sorry." The lavender unicorn apologized, "But we just got him calmed down, we can't afford for you to make him angry again." The mare grimaced at her captor than looked at the monstrosity siting stagnantly. After demanding who Twilight was, the mare introduced herself as Spitfire, Captain of the Equestrian Special Fliers, as well as the Wonder Bolts. The knowledge may have been common to her and Pinkie, but Mac had never heard of the sky dare devils, he was tempted to watch a performance if they were willing to take on a fully grown dragon. "Hmmm, I guess he seems alright." Spitfire admitted, her tone wavering between skepticism and admission. "Yea, all the crazy one's do." One of her fellows spat, this one a black maned stallion. "C'mon Spitfire, remember what happened last time? That thing almost leveled all of Ponyville." He motioned to the town, "doesn't look like it fair much better this time." "Excuse me." The scholar frowned. "But that 'thing' happens to be my friend." "Soarin..." The leader growled. "Uh-uh, sorry Fire, but just because the target is passive now, doesn't mean it's not dangerous." The pony flapped his wings and began slamming into the bubble, making a few cracks that dispersed just as quickly as they came. "Darn it, let us go!" Defiantly, Twilight shook her head and calmly explained to the pony she had no intention on his release if he planned to cause problems. They had a plan now, and she had no intention of allowing anyone, not even Celestia herself, to interfere with that. It was then that the stallion flier recalled who exactly Twilight was, as well as her relationship with the current issue. In a tone that made Mac's blood boil in rage, began to berate her for how much of her fault it was that this happened. "Soarin what has gotten into you" Spitfire chided. The angry stallion scoffed at her. "Don't remember what happened last time?" The stallion barked, his eye narrowing. "That thing didn't even break a sweat taking us down." A pregnant silence transpired, filled only with the angry breaths of Saorin. "So?" Spitfire asked. "What does that have to do with anything?" "Revenge." They all looked at Twilight. "You want to get back at him for beating you so easily." The leader of the Wonderbolts gave a confused look to her fellow, who of which neither confirmed nor denied the accusation. His stare, however, made it all to clear what the truth was. The librarian let out a long sigh, "look, I understand that the incident may have hurt your pride, but attacking him now wont-" "It doesn't matter anyway!" He interrupted, flapping his wings and hovering again, "so long as the dragon remains as is, he is a threat." Soarin's eyes turned to Spitfire, "and we have our orders." The fire maned mare stared her subordinate in the eye, trace hints of doubt beginning to surface on her face. Mac felt the tension, even from the outside. His eyes scanned the remaining five members of the Equestrian fliers, all of which seemed impassive, their blue tinted goggles hiding their eyes. The earth pony's breathing grew louder, if Soarin did try to break out and attack Spike, he wouldn't let it happen. Their orders be damned. "Subdue the target at all costs." Spitfire exhaled, barely above a whisper. Mac looked over to his sister, the two sharing a look of determination as well as a nod. "I'm sorry, Twilight." The Captain of the Wonderbolts said before she and Soarin hovered up, getting ready to slam into the lavender force field. Macintosh and his sister crouched down and readied themselves to jump. He was pretty sure he could take Soarin on his own, and maybe Spitfire along with him. But the rest of the team was beyond him. Hopefully Twilight and his sister could handle them. The sound of a harsh slam was accompanied by shattering glass. "NOW!" Shade laughed maniacally as he dash from side to side, avoiding the night princess's spells. His muscles ached, his lungs begged him to stop, and a direct hit on his side burned something fierce, but he would never get another chance like this. "Weeeee!~" He sang before shooting up into the air and taking another nose dive for his nemesis. To his great irritation, another bright flash occurred and the beast had once again disappeared. But there was a theme he noticed now, every time she'd teleport, she'd always appear... "Hello, puppet!" At break neck speed, the bat pony turned around and bolted forward. In another flash of light, Luna appeared before him, her angry face holding for only a moment before the satisfying look of pain overtook it and she went flying back. Pushing his advantage, Shade flew into her and pushed his wings to to knock her off balance and on her side. Unfortunately for the moon holder, it worked. She was skidding on her side, her wing being pulled against the ground and Shade forcing her to continue moving. This was it, now, if he could just get to her horn, he could finish her infuriating disappearing act. While maintaining the force needed to push her along the ground, he inched his hoof up closer to her head, by the time he'd gotten to her neck, Luna's eyes had snapped to their glowing white again and threw her hoof, slamming into her assailant's wing. The disruption set Shade off balance and he rolled over his enemy and landed a good few feet passed her. The insane stallion lay in a daze, the adrenaline in his body quickly dispersing, leaving him drained and exhausted. The cold fileld was quiet as the sun gave dismal heat from above. It was a strange feeling, being this tired. Then again, he'd never had an opponent who'd been nearly as strong as the beast. He tried to lift his hoof to stand, the soreness of moving his muscles made him cringe. But he couldn't quit now, he was so close, the matriarch hadn't even moved yet, if she stayed down, he could finish it all right now. But not before telling her why. "You wanna know why I'm doing this?" He asked, pushing past the pain and gaining shaky footing. A small smile creeping to a full blown psychotic bellow. "You really, -hehehe- you really don't know what I plan to gain?" Luna didn't respond. Shade began to stagger an advance, his legs full of lead and his panting mutilating his word. "Poor little beast all alone with none to protect her... I've waited for this day for years, beast. Ever since I was locked in the box, it was because of you... All you." He stood over her, looking down, his face devoid of expression. "Did you really think you'd -eheheheh-" He chuckled. "Did you really think your 'pardon' would be enough?" "It's because of you: my parents abandoning me, letting them take me away and put me through Tartarus, forcing me do what ever they said even if it hurt me. No matter how I begged or cried or screamed, they would just tell me how disappointed you would be." He placed his hoof gently on her neck, his face growing to it's psychotic grin again. "It was because of you my sanity came to an end, and now I plan to end you." With all the force he could muster, he pushed his hoof down and began to twist. Suddenly, the princess screamed, she screamed a beautiful melody of pain and anguish. It was bone chillingly familiar, a terror filled and desperate cry that took him back to the box. "Do you feel it?" He asked softly, his voice drowned by Luna's shrieks. "Do you feel helpless and scared? That's how I felt." He placed a second hoof upon her throat, stifling her voice. "Don't worry, unlike for me, your suffering will end quickly" The Alicorn's body thrashed as she tried gasping for air, her flailed useless and her legs thrashed about trying to get free of him. But it was no use, Luna was in the most helpless position she could be in, and Shade couldn't be happier about it. He watched with glee as the first signs of her death showed. The beasts legs began to quit wobbling and hung limply against the ground, her wings quickly following, her chest going still and finally, her eyes slowly closing and a very low final, defeated breath leaving the princess's muzzle. Finally, quiet. Complete and utter silence. No thrashing, no spells, no yelling, no wind. Just pure and utter silence. Shade stood over his deceased prey, his smile softening, only one thought going through his mind. 'He'd finally done it, he'd finally killed the beast.' Funny, he'd always run plans through his head about having to kill a legion or two of guard to get to her, yet she was brought to him all alone. Ironic, really. He turned away. "And may the Demon Lord repeatedly violate your soul." He spat. He began to walk, victory had a bitter sweet taste to it, but still better than potato salad. "Where doth thou thinkest thine is going?" Shade froze, a chill ran up his spine. 'no.' Slowly, he turned his head. His golden eyes nearly budged out of his head at the sight of the beast standing tall and proud, her coat and mane were flawless, absent of any signs of damage or battle. "We aren't done here." "No..." Shade took a step back. "no, no this can't be... you-" he was cut off as a bolt of dark blue slammed into him, taking the pegasus to the ground. There he lay, the pain and exhaustion all but tossed aside for the confusion that consumed. How could she still be alive? He crushed her throat for what had to be at least five minutes, it wasn't possible, ponies couldn't go that long with out air. How did she not die? By the time his thoughts subsided, he noticed the beast standing over him. He looked at her, his eyes no longer full of hatred and mal-intent, but just exhaustion. "Doth thou wish to know a secret?" Luna asked with a gossip like smirk, he managed a slight nod, the matriarch slowly descended her head and whispered "Alicorns are immortal." Shade blinked a couple of times, taking in the information and letting it sit. It started out quaint and rough, but his chuckles of madness began to grow. He laughed, he laughed as hard as he could force himself to. "Immortal, of course." He chuckled, wrapping his forelegs around his stomach. "Of course you're-- you can't die! Ahahahaha, the one thing I want--" He broke into a semi-stifled laugh, "-- and I can't have it! AHAHAHAhahahahahaha!" As angry and hateful as the night pony was, all he could do was laugh. His one dream, his one purpose, his one goal in life... impossible. Apparently, one's world could be shattered twice. "Oh, buck it." He managed as his laughter began to die down. "Buck... it... all. Just kill me and get it over with." No point in him living now, might as well end it. Luna quirked a confused brow at him. "Kill you?" "Come off it... We both know what you really are." He smiled coyly. "You get your jollies out of torturing and and hurting." "We are no longer Nightmare Moon!" Another harsh laugh. "So you claim." The look Luna gave showed she'd had enough. "I will not kill you, Star Shade. You will stand trial for your actions against the crown as all ponies will." "Oh... I don't think so..." He smirked up at her. Luna's face was firm, yet her silence indicated for him to continue. "Well, not unless you want your dear sister to know about your dealings with Triple M." The night sister's eyes widened and she let out an audible gasp. "Oh yes... I will." Shade knew the beast was cruel and foolish, but hopefully not too foolish. "I'll deny it." She said. "I'll deny everything!" The stallion grinned than looked around before mentioning his adversary to come down. He softly whispered something into her ear. Luna's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Tis a lie! Y-you're bluffing!" "Try me." A long and tense pause came between the two. For all her grand standing, Shade knew he'd won. That last little tid bit would seal the fact that he wouldn't stand trial and go back to prison. Now it was up to her: Would she kill him, or leave him be? Macintosh had successfully tackled Soarin to the ground and used his superior strength to hold the stallion down. Applejack, albiet with a bit more difficulty, yielded the same results with Spitfire. "Easy there, big girl." She cooed. "NO!" Twilight cried. Mac cursed under his breath, the unicorn had managed to only grab two of the other fliers. The escapee's were en-rout to their target. Hopefully Rainbow Dash would be able to handle them. Finally, a smile. The magenta eyed pegasus had spent the better part of ten minutes trying to calm the dragon down. It really didn't help when the Wonderbolts showed up either, as awesome as it was to see them, they couldn't have picked a worse time. The duration of the time of her talking, she noticed the ground was steadily growing closer. The greed growth effect was wearing off, and if she could just keep him occupied a little longer, and away from anything valuable, he'd eventually return to normal. At least, that's what she hoped for. "Alright." Rainbow Dash nodded. "So, what do you say? Will you calm down and just talk to us?" She asked reassuringly. Spike closed his eyes and nodded. Thing were finally going to be alright. At least until a crashing sound, followed by a loud "NO!" came from behind. The two looked over just in time to see three blue and yellow suited fliers coming right at them. "What?" Rainbow asked in shock. She immediately jumped up and took off to intercept the Wonderbolts, no time for words, she couldn't let them undo her work. She'd regret it, the act may very well bar her from ever joining the team, but with what was at stake she had no choice; not to mention the massive head ache to come. She collided into two of the pegasus, unable to catch the third. As she, tumbled down to the ground, she noticed the last flier had slammed itself into Spike's shoulder, some how tearing through his scales. For all her efforts, the drake had only shrank a little bit, he was still a relatively formidable size and was now terrorized again. However, instead of fighting, he once more began to flee. He didn't get far though, something tripped him up and he fell to the ground. His impact causing a small earth quake. She would have flown over to check if he was alright, but the two ponies she'd assaulted had regained their bearings and looking to get even. "GET OFF!" Soarin cried attempting to struggle. But Macintosh was a stallion of the field and apprentice of the wild. Years and years of bucking apple trees and plowing fields, along with his natural strength as an earth pony, made him easily stronger than the flier. "Nope." "Do you have any idea what's going to happen to you for this?" Spitfire proclaimed trying to gain her ground against Applejack. Oh there would be consequences, that was for sure. But between a scolding from the pony sisters and a destructively rampaging dragon, the choice was clear. Fruitless as the effort may have been. "Well, if you'd just list-" A booming roar erupted from behind them, followed by a massive smashing and trembling of the ground. They all looked behind to see what caused it. "SPIKE!" Twilight exclaimed. Suddenly, a swift and unexpected pressure in the apple stallion's side sent him flying off of his charge. His guard lowered by the shock, he flew fully off of his captive and landed in a heap. "Big Mac!" His sister cried. The pony tried to get to his side and back to Soarin, but sharp and extremely acute jolts of pain sent him back down. Mac gritted his teeth, lamenting his broken ribs and the one responsible. He slowly rose his head to find the one of the three escaped Wonderbolts had returned and were now trying to assist their comrades. Mac pushed past the pain and steadily gained his ground while Applejack bucked Soarin away from her and Twilight divided her concentration between the two she had and one who'd assaulted him. "Enough!" Soarin Barked, wiping a bit of fresh blood from his muzzle. "Aid to an enemy of the nation is treason!" In the blink of an eye, time stopped. Struggles halted, words of release had silenced, and the very sounds of natured seemed to have just... stopped. Everypony present stood motionless and wide eyed at Soarin, even Applejack and Spitfire had ceased their wrestling. Treason? The word made Mac almost forget about the pain in his sides. Treason was the highest offense anypony could be accused of, so little had ever gone against the princess that the charge had all but been forgotten. What was even the punishment for that? Twilight, understandable, stood far more flabbergasted than the rest. Celestia's opinion was one of the highest regard to the mare, to think her mentor would look unfavorably upon her itself would be earth shattering; let alone see her as a criminal of the most heinous offense. "You've already assaulted multiple members of the Equestrian Air Force-" the stallion spat. "Interfered with Special Operations, and now you're aiding a threat to the nation." His words were frank and exploratory, not malicious, but very direct. "Those are grounds for treason." "Treason?" A soft voice called. All of the ponies looked up to find Princess Luna slowly descending to the ground. "Twilight Sparkle, please release those ponies from thine grasp and explain to us what's going on here." Doing as she was asked, Applejack removed herself from the leader and sat by her friend. With all the grace of a disillusioned madmare, Twilight began spouting out random information that was more important to her own welfare than to the events that lead up to the current situation. At least, that's what Mac could tell between the constant apologies and begging to not be sent to the dungeons. It wasn't until a battered Rainbow Dash was retrieved by her idols that anything truly insightful was spoken. According to her, Spike had wondered into the Diamond Dogs mines for some reason... Silently, the brown cloaked Federalist crept behind a hill to avoid detection from the group of arguing ponies. He wasn't sure who the blue suited equine were, or why Macintosh and his friends were fighting them, but he had a bigger problem. Sin limped a bit quicker, knowing it would only be a matter of time before the lot of them redirect their attention. His legs were shaking and his cloak stained with blood. Eventually he found his target and quickly climbed up the dragon's chest and retook the bolt he'd shot. He looked up the now silent group of ponies, the lunar princess now holding authority over them, then back to the bolt head. Sin shook his head and climbed down from the unconscious drake, he noticed a huge wound on the beasts arm, scales being stripped away revealing vulnerable pink flesh. Upon noticing a few scattered and loose scales, Sin furrowed his brow in contemplation. His mind was abuzz with the ethics of what he was thinking on doing, it wasn't right, even by his standards. But the power unicorns had, this was his one chance. "I'm sorry, Spike."