//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: To Be Bold! // by Whirl Wind //------------------------------// To be Bold Chapter One: A New War It had been sixteen years since the war ended and Whirl could continue with his life. He had made several additions to his home including a new building on his land, a training center. He and his son, Bold Character, were practicing with their staves and Whirl was getting his flank whipped. Bold, a pale turquoise unicorn with a book and golden quill cutie mark and a dark green and light green colored mane, landed a blow on the side of Whirl’s face. “Oh! Sorry dad! I didn’t mean to hit you in the face, but you know how it can get when the adrenalin gets flowing.” Bold said with a nervous chuckle. Whirl rubbed his face and smiled. “No worries. We just need to get protective helmets now too.” he said with a slight laugh. “Nice hit though. You are so much better at this than me.” “Well I am sure my magic helps. That and swinging a staff is the same as swinging my quill when I write. Still though, I should have had better control over my actions.” “Good boy, or should I say good stallion? You have grown up quite well, how old are you again?” Whirl asked jokingly, knowing full well what the answer was. “Seventeen dad, you know that. Not quite a stallion yet, but give it a few months.” Bold replied with a smirk. “Is that enough training for today?” Whirl looked at all the fresh bruises on his body and chuckled. “Yeah, I think that we have trained enough for today. Do you have something you have to get done? Bold nodded. “Well I was going to meet up with Frost Star at the bowling alley to hang out. I was wondering if you had sold those tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala yet?” “No, why do you ask?” Whirl asked as he took off his safety equipment and hung it up on the racks. “Well… I was wondering if I could have another one to ask if maybe… Frost would like to go with me.” “Ahhh, our soon to be stallion wants to take his marefriend to the Gala?” Whirl said in a teasing tone. “She isn’t my marefriend dad! She’s just a friend!” Bold retorted. “Calm down lover boy, I was just teasing. Of course you can have the ticket to the gala. The tickets are in the envelop Princess Luna sent them in in my room. They are all yours.” Whirl said with a smile. Bold smiled and gave Whirl a tight hug. “Thanks dad!” he said before dashing out of the training room and into the house. “Mom! Are you home yet?!” he shouted as he ran into his parent’s room. Derpy was sitting on the bed sewing together a hole in one of their protective training gears. “Yes Bold, how did your training go? Did you tear some more of your equipment? I swear you two are going to end up with large bruises if you aren’t WHIRL WEATHER WATCHER WIND WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?!” she exclaimed when Whirl walked in with a large bruise where Bold had struck him. Whirl gave her a smile. “Oh nothing, just our son giving his old man a workout.” he said with a nervous chuckle. “It’s not too bad honey, just a small bruise.” Derpy gave a disapproving grunt and continued her sewing. “You two need to stop hurting each other. What is the point of fixing this stuff if you two are going to be hitting each other where you aren’t wearing it?” “Don’t worry about it mom, I didn’t get hurt at all. Besides, we are going to be getting face protection and helmets soon.” Bold said with a smirk. “Not sure if I will need one, dad hasn’t been able to land a blow in weeks.” “Yeah yeah, take your tickets and go on your little date.” Whirl said as he tossed the tickets over to Bold. Bold caught them with his magic and chuckled. “Thanks dad, I’ll be back later.” he said as he ran out of the room. “AND IT’S NOT A DATE!” his voice sounded before the sound of the front door closing filled the house. Bold ran down the small dirt path that lead to his house. He hadn’t realized how late it had gotten, the sun was setting over the mountains and dusk was in the air. Now under normal circumstances it would just be a simple stroll through Ponyville, but ever since the war things have changed. With the large decrease of guards things had gotten a bit more dangerous in the land of Equestria. Crime rates in larger cities that were trying to rebuild began to increase rapidly as some ponies got desperate for food and shelter. Things eventually smoothed out for the most part but some of the criminal factions stayed elusive and remained a strong element of crime in Equestria. Ponyville was not excluded from these factions either. Small cells of large factions made their mark on Ponyville five years ago and since then crime has been on the rise. In such a small town the size of the guards patrol was limited to a small contingency of five guard ponies and only a hoof-full of community watch members. Bold arrived in town just as night set over it. “Augh, I trained too late! Frost is going to be mad as a wild manticore!” he thought as he skidded to a halt. “I need a shortcut!” He looked around and saw an alleyway. “Damn… an alley… well I don’t have a choice if I am going to be on time!” he thought as he started to run down the alley. A loud bang behind him brought him to a halt and he turned around to see what it was. A sharp pain hit his side and he fell to the ground. “Well well well, what do we have here? Tickets to the Gala, for us? How nice of you.” a voice sounded from behind Bold. Bold rolled over and stood up. He stuffed the tickets into his mane and secured them. “These tickets are not for you. Now we can both just walk away, or this can get violent.” he said as he levitated a broken broom stick over to him. The stallion threatening him chuckled and let out a loud whistle. Bold heard the sound of hoofsteps behind him getting closer. He swung the broom stick around and whacked the incoming pony in the head and gave him a swift kick, knocking him unconscious. Bold swiftly turned around to the first pony and smirked. “Thought you had cornered some defenseless pony huh? Just another target for your stupid little gang, huh?!” “You little runt! Do you think that there was just two of us?” the pony shouted before letting out a loud set of whistles. Bold began to panic as the sounds of flapping wings and galloping hoofsteps came from all around him. He looked up and struck down an incoming pegasus before a chain wrapped around his neck and began to choke him. He felt a painful kick to his hind legs and he fell to his knees trying to get the chain to loosen. Just as he started to black out a loud yell and the sound of hoof meeting skin sounded. “Get him!” the leader shouted. Bold looked up and saw a pegasus shaped pony taking down the gang one pony at a time and at one point three at a time. “Let’s get out of here, this pony is crazy!” one of the ponies shouted before the rest started to follow suit. Bold got a good look at the mare now; she was pure white with a dark blue mane and tail that had a single light green streak running through them. Her eyes were a dark blue that were just barely visible in the dark alley way. Bold pulled the chain from his neck and tossed it aside. “Are you okay?” the mysterious mare asked. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Thanks for saving me but… who are you?” Bold asked. “The name is Windy Wisp.” she said as she helped Bold to his hooves. Bold was able to get a good look at her now. She was a white pegasus pony with five stars as a cutie mark and a loose mane and tail that was blue and light green. She was no older than Bold was he noticed. “Where did you learn to fight like that? That was more amazing than anything I had ever seen.” Bold said in admiration as he rubbed his neck. “An anti-criminal organization called The Dusk and Dawn.” Windy responded with a confident smile. “I’m on the dusk team, keeping an eye out for scum like THIS!” she said as she kicked one of the stallions that had started to stir. She started to cuff them one by one as she spoke. “You weren’t too bad yourself, are you part of the dawn team or something?” “Dawn team? No, I was just on my way to meet somepony for a date when these ponies attacked me. My date! Oh I am so late!” Bold said frantically as he started to run down the alley. Windy swiftly flew in front of him. “Wait! You can’t leave yet.” she said as she pulled out a device that shot a red flaming ball into the night’s sky. “You have to stay here and be my backup in case more of them come. If they come back with more weapons I am not sure I can handle them alone.” Bold looked at her for a moment and nodded. “Alright… but you have to come with me afterwards and explain to my friend why I was so late.” he said as he picked up the broken broom handle again. Windy pulled out a small stick from her belt and tossed it to Bold. “This might be a little more effective.” she said with a wink. Bold dropped the broom handle to catch the stick. “This thing is too small to be used as a weapon. What am I going to do throw it at WHOA!” he exclaimed as Windy walked over and pressed a button causing the stick to expand into a long stave. “I have never seen anything like this before.” “That is not surprising. They are nonlethal weapons we have been developing to keep the criminals at bay. Keep it; we can use a combat knowledgeable pony to be using these.” Windy said with a smile. Bold spun it around a few times before swinging it back a forth. “It’s heavy at the tips… this was made to hurt, really badly.” he said in an concerned tone. “Sometimes we have to use extreme force to subdue these ponies. We do what is needed to keep everypony else safe.” Windy explained. “Well this will certainly do it.” Bold said as several pegasi landed behind him. He backed away and readied himself. Windy put a hoof on his shoulder. “It’s alright, they are part of the dusk team. They are here to help us.” “Windy, report.” a familiar voice sounded from the back of the group. A yellow pegasus with a large scar on his chest stepped forward. “Uncle Sunny?! What are you doing here?!” Bold asked in shock. Windy stepped forward and gave Sunny a salute. “Seven criminals arrested and awaiting transport captain.” she said proudly. Sunny looked around and signaled the others to take away the arrested criminals. “Bold, I’d hate to think that you had a part in some kind of criminal activity. What were you…” “Captain, this stallion was the victim of the initial assault. Had I not arrived he would probably be dead.” Windy explained quickly. Bold nodded. “I was on my way to meet up with Frost, so I took a shortcut down this alley when I was attacked.” Sunny looked around. “We need to get lights down these alleys right away. But they will do no good if we do not get more recruits. What do you think Bold, do you think you have what it takes?” Bold looked up to Sunny with a surprised look. “Me? What makes you think I want to fight criminals?” “Well, we don’t have any unicorns or earth ponies on any of our teams, we could really use your help and you are the only one I can think of that actually trains in combat. If you accept you will be sent to an extensive training camp before you took your place alongside the rest of us. Please Bold, I am getting a bit desperate for help.” Sunny explained. “What about Frost, she is still waiting for me. And if gangs are out she could be in danger.” “We have already initiated a curfew for this week and we have escorts going out to get ponies home. Frost will be safe, I promise.” Sunny said sincerely. “Augh, this is going to make her really upset with me.” Bold said as he started to pace back and forth. “So? What do you think of our offer?” Sunny asked. “I’m thinking, I’m thinking! I just don’t know yet… I mean… when would I leave for this camp? How long would I be gone? Would I still get to write my stories?” “Tonight, for two weeks maybe one in your case and of course you would still get to write your stories. I would just ask your assistance at night to keep an eye out for trouble. Just think of what would have happened to you if Windy had not stepped in, with no backup I might add. You would have been robbed and for all we know you could have been killed.” Windy shrunk back a bit when Sunny mentioned the fact that she went in alone. “About that sir, I was just…” Sunny raised a hoof. “No need to explain. I do believe you have found yourself a permanent partner.” he said as he looked at Bold. Bold stopped his pacing and levitated his staff in front of him and closed it back into a small stick. “Alright, I’ll do it. Uncle Sunny, let my father know where I went and give this to Frost.” he said as he took out a small book and quill from his mane. He wrote down a note and rolled up the two tickets to the gala inside and gave the scroll to Sunny. “It’s a note explaining what is going on and… well other things. So, where do I go?” Sunny smiled and put the note on his belt before turning to Windy. “Windy, take Bold to the training camp.” Windy gave Sunny a salute and started to walk down the alley with Bold close behind. Once they were out of earshot of Sunny, Bold finally spoke up. “So, what is this camp anyway? What will I be doing?” “It’s a highly organized, highly dangerous, and highly secluded training camp. You will be subjected to tests of strength, stamina, and will that will push you to your limits and it may even break you. Not all ponies are strong enough to make it through and some are even mangled during their training. If you don’t think you have what it takes then now is the time to back out.” Bold scoffed. “If you can make it through I am sure I can too.” Windy immediately turned on him and got right up in his face. “And what is that supposed to mean?!” she asked angrily. “Sensitive about your strength; I thought so. I was just testing you a bit, sorry about that. It is a bad habit I tend to have.” Bold said with a chuckle. “Ohhh, I am going to make sure you pay for that.” she said as she continued to lead him. They headed out of town and into the Everfree forest. “Don’t get jittery on me just because we are going into the Everfree. The camp is at the far end of the forest and I don’t need you to complicate things.” “I go in here all the time, no need to worry about me.” Bold said confidently as they arrived at a small river. “Steve! Are you here?!” Windy shouted suddenly. The water riled up and a purple serpent emerged from the river. “Yes, yes I am here. Oh look who it is, the little ruffian pegasus. You know darling you would look so much better with your mane styled.” he said as he leaned against the shore. “Oh Steve, you know that I don’t like to style my mane. I let the wind do it for me.” Windy replied with a friendly tone. “I was wondering if you can give this gentlecolt a lift to the other side.” Steve looked over to Bold and raised an eyebrow. “Well this is a surprise. Windy never brings her friends to see me. Hello there sir, my name is Steve Magnet. It is a pleasure to meet you. I can see that you are a bit more… refined than the usual pegasi that fly over my river, without the thought of even stopping by to say hello. Well except for Ms. Wisp here who has been stopping by every night before going on duty.” “So there is a soft side to this tough exterior.” Bold said as he poked Windy in the side while she ignored him. “Steve, can you give this gentlecolt a lift to the other side before he becomes a corpse?” Windy asked again in an annoyed tone. Steve smiled and lifted Bold to the other side. Windy flew across and landed next to him. She started to walk back into the forest after thanking Steve. Before Bold could follow Steve whispered in his ear. “I think she might like you, which is saying a lot coming from her. Just keep on your best behavior and she will open up a bit.” he said with a wink. Bold smiled and nodded. “Thanks Steve, it was a pleasure meeting…” “Are you two going to chat forever or am I going to have to tear you two apart?!” Windy shouted from way up ahead. Bold gave Steve a nod goodbye before running to catch up. “Sorry about that, Steve was giving me a bit of advice.” “Oh really? About me?” Windy said with a scoff. “How’d you know?” Bold asked with a raised eyebrow. “Well Steve has a bad habit of misreading my contempt for somepony as me caring about somepony.” Windy said casually. “Ah… so you hold contempt for me then? I didn’t think I was that bad…” Bold said in a discouraged tone. “Well… I never said that I hold contempt for you necessarily.” “So you care for me then?” “Alright, that’s enough. Stop while I don’t hold contempt against you.” Windy said sternly. “Right, sorry about that. So uh… how did you get your cutie mark?” Bold asked to switch topics. “I lead a group of my friends home late one night when we all got lost while camping. It represents my ability to lead others under any situation.” Windy said sternly. “I am sure your parents are very p…” “I don’t have any parents. Not that I ever needed them. I can take care of myself.” Windy said in the same stern tone. “Is that why you keep going in without backup? Because you can take care of yourself?” Windy just ignored him and continued to walk in silence. They reached a bridge that looked like it had been recently rebuilt. Across the bridge were the crumbled remains of what appeared to be a castle. “Here we are, welcome to your new home for however long it takes to train you. Follow me and I will take you to where you will be sleeping until we get you on a proper schedule. I hope you enjoy the night, because that is the only time of day you will be seeing from now on.” Bold nodded and followed her inside. The interior was nothing but a well-lit obstacle course. Bold looked over to Windy with a confused look. “Where is the place where I am going to be sleeping?” “On the other side of this room. Careful not to get hurt.” Windy responded as she started to navigate the various traps and obstacles. Bold watched carefully and mimicked her to the best of his abilities. They got near the end and jumped through the last obstacle, two blades swinging from the ceiling. Bold wasn’t able to dodge them so he used his magic to stop them mere centimeters from his body. He walked forward and released the magic holding the blades and they reset themselves. “How many recruits have died here?” “We have never lost anypony before. We have doctors here to treat any injury and they are really good. They were able to fix me up quite well when my flanks got caught in the very trap you just stopped.” Windy explained. “I didn’t see any scars though.” Bold said as he looked at her. Windy’s face turned red. “You were looking at my flank?!” she said angrily. Bold’s ears perked up and he blush. “N-no! I mean yes but… I was just looking at your cutie mark I promise!” he said quickly as Windy got more and more upset. “I would never… I mean… not to say you aren’t attractive or anything I just want to make sure you know I would never look at you that way without your permission!” he stammered. Windy pushed him in front of her and forced him to start walking up a set of spiral stairs. “You’ll have to navigate that obstacle course every time you want to sleep. But tonight, I will be keeping you awake for as long as possible in the arena.” she said in a stern tone. “You will fight me to the best of your abilities, is that clear?!” “Yes, very clear.” Bold responded nervously. “Listen, I’m sorry that I made you upset.” Windy turned him down a hall and pushed him to the ground in a room. She pulled a lever and a stone door closed behind them. “You aren’t sorry yet, but you will be.” she said as she picked up a staff and hit him on his side. “Get up! Defend yourself!” Bold stood up and rubbed his side as he extended his staff. “Very well, but I must warn you that I am quite good at this.” he said as he spun the staff in the air with his magic. When she swung at him he simply deflected the strike. Windy scoffed at him and swung the staff several times, each blow was deflected perfectly. “Not bad, now let’s see how you attack.” she said with a smirk. Bold was unsure of what to do, he had never attacked on purpose. “I… I don’t want to hurt you.” he said nervously. Windy sighed and retracted her staff. She walked over to Bold and looked him in the eye. “Do you think that gang felt the same way?! Do you think that they didn’t want to hurt you?!” she asked sternly. “But that was different; they didn’t save me from almost certain death.” Bold said softly. Windy used this opportunity to smack him in the face with her staff. “True, but just imagine what I am going to do to you while you worry about hurting me. If it makes you feel better, just know that I am going to start breaking bones if you don’t fight back.” Bold rubbed his face and smiled. “You want me to actually hurt you? Fine, but I won’t hurt you too much if that is okay with you.” he said as he started to spin his staff again. He leaped forward and struck Windy squarely on her side. “Ah, I wasn’t ready you little…!” she shouted as she started to fight back again. They fought into the late hours of the night and by the end of it all they were both racked with bruises and one final blow to Bold’s side caused him to collapse. “Augh! S-stop… I think you broke something!” he stammered as he writhed in pain and started to wheeze. Windy was panting heavily and laid down next to him. “Th-then I won… good work… you did well… you gave me quite a fight… never had a new recruit do so well…” “That’s because his father trained him day after day. Since he was just eight years old.” Sunny said as he opened the door with a doctor. “Dr. Ray, I do believe our new recruit needs some medical attention.” Dr. Ray, a brown unicorn with a dark brown mane and a red cross as his cutie mark, walked over to Bold and knelt down next to him. His horn started to glow and he looked at Bold with a smile. “Just a slightly cracked rib, this has to be the least wounded recruit I have ever treated.” he said with a chuckle. “You should have seen some of the injuries your father and uncle here came to me with. This is a scratch compared to the time Sunny came to me with a spear wound to the chest.” Bold wheezed as the doctor mended him. “You know… my father?” he asked. Dr. Ray nodded. “Yup, I was their doctor for such a long time and a good friend to them too. Sunny came to me a while back and offered me this job. I told him that I was getting too old for this but he talked me into it.” he said with a chuckle. “There, all better now.” Bold let out a deep breath and rolled over onto his belly. “Thanks doc, it feels much better. Anything you can do about the bruises?” he asked with a chuckle. “Nope, it’s the rule for new recruits. You have to keep every bruise you get for the first day, or night in your case. Now then, Windy finish up with Bold here and hit the hay. Oh and Bold, uh… here is the response from Frost Star…” Sunny said before he gave Bold a letter before he and Dr. Ray left. Windy retracted her staff and placed it on her belt. “Let’s get you fitted with a belt so you have a place to put your things.” she said as she walked over to the wall. “You look like a large to me stud.” she laughed a bit and tossed him a belt. Bold caught the belt with his magic and clipped it around his waist. “Huh, perfect fit. Thanks. Looks like we have all kinds of things on this belt.” “Yes indeed. You have, hoofcuffs, wingcuffs, three staff slots, and a flare device.” Windy explained. “Well what is this thing then?” Bold asked as he pulled off a small bead. “That, is an experimental device. It dampens magic within a twenty foot diameter. It stops unicorns like you from using magic. Unfortunately you can’t use that device without some training in pure brute force.” Windy said as he nudged Bold’s shoulder. “Hey, I know how to use my hooves to swing this thing around. I am just better with my magic, that’s all. You are much better obviously.” Bold said as he opened the letter from Frost. He frowned when he read the letter and dropped it to the floor. “Well… I guess that’s that…” he said as he walked to the door slowly. Windy looked at the letter and saw two torn Gala tickets. She looked away for a moment before curiosity got the better of her and she picked up the letter and read it. “I think we should just be friends Bold. You just… you seem like a good colt but you are just too… different…” Windy dropped the letter, picked up the tickets and placed them in a small pouch on her belt. “Hey Bold, wait up!” she shouted as she ran after him. Bold was out in the hall waiting for her with a depressed look on his face. “Can you show me where to sleep now?” he asked quietly. “Sure, just follow me.” Windy said as she lead him down the hall and to the bunks. They were the only ones there at the time. “Everypony is changing shifts, at this time nopony is here… you can have bottom bunk.” she said as she turned into a room and jumped on the top bunk. Bold followed her into the room. He hung up his belt next to hers and laid down on the bottom bunk with a sigh. “Hey, if it means anything at all… you are kind of cute… I don’t know who Frost Star is, but she’s missing out.” Windy said sincerely. Bold looked up at the bottom of the top bunk. “Missing out on a freak I guess…” he said sadly. “There is nothing bad about being different!” Windy said as she jumped down from the top bunk and pushed him. “Stand up, now.” Bold sighed and stood up but kept his head low. “Why did I need to stand?” Windy lifted his head and looked into his eyes. “There is NOTHING bad about being different. Say it.” Bold looked at her with a frown before looking away and mumbling something. Windy slapped him gently on the face. “Look at me and say it loudly.” Bold looked back up to her. “There is nothing bad about being different.” Windy smiled and nodded. “Good, now make sure that you believe that. I know I do. How different do you think I am with no parents? I had to convince myself that there was nothing bad about being different. I won’t let you think otherwise just because some mare wants you to think it is a bad thing.” “She wasn’t just some mare… we have been friends since we were just foals… we did everything together since then.” Bold explained. “I finally built up the courage to ask her out and she… tore up the tickets… and my heart…” “Well, then I will just have to mend it.” Windy said as she took out the tickets from her belt and taped them together. “I’m not one to get fancy and slow dance and such but… it’s not right what she did to you and… well as I said, you are kind of cute.” Bold smiled and looked at her. “Thank you Windy…” he said with a yawn. “That means a lot to me…” Windy smirked and put a hoof on his cheek. “Let’s get to bed.” she said as she jumped up to her bunk. Bold rolled onto the bottom bunk and closed his eyes. “Windy?” “Yes Bold?” “Thank you for saving my life…” Windy giggled a bit. “You’re welcome Bold, now get some sleep.” **** The next week went by pretty quickly as he trained with Windy. The first night they were going to go on their first patrol, Bold awoke with a start and hit his head on Windy’s bunk yelling. “Nooo!” He looked around and he was panting rapidly. Windy jumped down from her bunk with a panicked look on her face. “What?! What is it?!” Bold let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Sorry, just… just a bad dream…” Windy chuckled a bit. “What was it about?” she asked as she clicked her belt her belt on. “Just… this lifelong nightmare I have had on and off since I was small… nothing special.” Bold replied softly. Windy tossed him his belt and he put it on. “Sounds like it is special to me. I remember when I was just a filly and Princess Luna was in my nightmares, helping me sleep peacefully. I always wondered if it was really her or if it was just part of my dream.” “Oh it was her. She told me all about how she visits little foals in their sleep and keeps them safe. She also tells you how to make the nightmares go away, doesn’t she?” “How do you know that?” Windy asked curiously. “Heh, Uncle Sunny and Princess Luna have been dating since before I was born. I have talked to Princess Luna before face to face. Where do you think I got the tickets to the Gala from?” Bold asked with a grin. “I envy your life Bold. You have so much.” Windy said softly. “Well, are you ready to go?” Bold nodded to her with a smile. “I sure am. You know, I can arrange a meeting with Luna so you can meet her if you would like.” he offered. Windy shook her head. “No, I need to do a bit more for Equestria before I meet somepony as special as a princess. Just a personal code.” she said as she walked to the door. “Let’s go.” Bold followed her out and out of the forest to Ponyville. As they arrived the town was cloaked in the darkness of the night. They climbed to the roof tops and silently made their way from alley to alley. A cry for help broke the silence and they made their way to the source of the cries. A lone mare was being held at knife point and being mugged. “I got this one.” Bold said as he pulled out his three staves and smashed the robber to unconsciousness. The mare they saved was huddled in the corner shaking. “It’s alright miss, we are peace keepers of the dusk team.” Windy walked over to the mare and helped her to her hooves. “Bold, cuff the criminal.” she ordered. “Calm down now, it’s alright. You are safe with us.” she said softly. Bold cuffed the earth pony and rolled him onto his side. “Windy, his cutie mark has been… crossed out.” “Yes, we have been getting more and more reports of these gang members renouncing their talents in order to join some of the gangs. What shape is being used to cross it out?” “A triangle with an ‘X’. What does it mean?” “The tri-cross gang. They have three cities of interest and three leaders. They are a small time game but they are just as dangerous. Now let’s get this poor girl home safely.” Windy said as she gestured to the mare she was supporting. Bold walked over to Windy and the mare to give reassurance. “Fluttershy?! What are you doing out after dark?” Bold asked as he looked at the shivering yellow mare. She only responded with squeaks and squeals. Windy wrapped a wing over Fluttershy’s back and started to walk. “No need to talk right now. Bold, set out a flare and then come with me.” she ordered. Bold launched a flare and caught up with Windy. “It’s going to be okay Fluttershy, you know who I am right? It’s Bold Character, Whirl’s son.” he said reassuringly. Fluttershy nodded. “I-I know… I am just so scared…” she said softly. “I know, I kno—LOOK OUT!” Bold shouted as he leaped over Windy and smacked down a chain. Three gang members ran out of an alley way, a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony all in masks, and he got his staves ready. “Get her out of here, I can handle these three!” he shouted as he started to spin his staves. Windy picked up Fluttershy and started to fly away quickly. Bold quickly subdued the earth pony gang member but the other two put up a fight. “Criminal scum! You won’t get away with your foalnapping!” one of them shouted, clearly being a mare. Bold stopped in his tracks as he blocked the blows coming from the other two. “Wait! I’m not the criminal, you are!” he shouted. The two ponies halted their attack. “Where are you taking Fluttershy?!” the pegasus asked. “We are taking her home! We saved her from a robber not more than five minutes ago!” Bold explained. “To show you that I am not your enemy I will put my weapons away and I officially apologize for knocking out your friend there.” he said as he put this staves away. “Sweetiebelle, go check on Applebloom. I’ll deal with this guy.” The pegasus said. “Who are you and what are you doing out here?” “My name is Bold Character of the dusk team. Did you say that I hit Applebloom? AJ’s sister? Scootaloo?! Is that you?!” Bold asked happily. Scootaloo took off her mask and looked at Bold. “How do you know my name?! How do you know who Applebloom is?! And what is a dusk team?!” “My father is Whirl Wind, a friend of AJ’s and I know Applebloom and you from her. We never met formally but I heard you three are the best of friends. Let me assure you that we are working to the same end, keeping criminals off of the streets. It is good to know we aren’t alone but we have to find a way to keep us from attacking each other. Let’s get Applebloom to Fluttershy’s and we can talk there.” Bold explained. Scootaloo nodded and assisted Sweetiebelle in carrying Applebloom and Bold escorted them to Fluttershy’s. Once they arrived Bold walked inside with the three following close behind. Windy leaped from next to Fluttershy and got combat ready. “Bold you got captured?!” “No no no! They are friends! They mistook us as criminals and were trying to protect Fluttershy. Applebloom is hurt, pretty badly… she needs medical attention.” Bold explained as the other two set Applebloom on Fluttershy’s couch. Fluttershy gently hovered over to a cabinet and got out a medical kit. “Things have gotten out of hoof in this town… I remember when the nights were safe... for everypony.” she said in a sad tone. Windy put her weapon away and pulled Bold aside. “How do you know we can trust these two?” she whispered. “Applebloom is the sister of one of the elements of harmony. We can trust them with our lives by just knowing their names.” Bold explained. “They are on our side.” “Very well, I trust your judgment. Are they dusk material?” Windy asked in a whisper. “Knowing them they won’t join our team. These three are the most renowned ponies in Ponyville. That is probably why they are wearing masks, to keep their families safe. I recommend we assure them that the town is in good hoofs and request that they do not come out after night.” “Sounds like a plan. Since you know them you can break the news to them.” Windy said with a smile. Bold nodded and looked at the others. Applebloom had awoken and she looked at Bold directly. “Applebloom, I am so sorry for knocking you out. I didn’t know it was you…” “Bold? Is that you Bold? Ah didn’t recognize you in the dark… otherwise ah wouldn’t have attacked…” Applebloom said softly. “Listen, what you three did tonight was very dangerous. I could have hurt all three of you severely and you could have found yourselves in jail. Now I don’t want to see you get hurt so I have to ask you to never do this again. We have a large group of ponies known as The Dawn and Dusk. I am part of the dusk team that keeps Ponyville safe at night and we have the town well in hoof.” Bold explained. Scootaloo stomped her hoof. “You can’t just expect us to do that!” “That’s exactly what I expect you to do! Today Applebloom got hurt! BY THE GOOD GUYS NO LESS! Next time it could be all of you by the BAD GUYS! I am not willing to let that happen to anypony!” Bold sighed and turned towards the window and walked up to it. “Listen… Sweetiebelle, you are one of the most beautiful singers in all of Equestria. If you want to help talk to Sunny Plains, see what you can do to help fund our organization. Scootaloo, you should be at the Wonderbolts academy, what if you get caught here out of your bed at night? And Applebloom… it’s almost cider season… I know that loosing Granny Smith wasn’t easy for you… but going out and almost getting killed is not the way to repay all the hard work she put into raising you. You’re all… look, I know you don’t know me at all but my father has told me all about how proud he is of you. You three have kind of been some of the best friends I have had, you inspired me to be a better pony. Being home schooled… I only had two friends… and one of them recently… well let’s just say she doesn’t like me like I thought she did… but I would still protect her like I am protecting you three now, so please trust me when I say that this town will be safe and sound as long as I am on the streets.” He turned around and looked at the three of them. Sweetiebelle and Applebloom had tears in their eyes and Scootaloo had a stalwart expression on her face. “Okay, we’ll let you take care of it. But if ANY of our friends get hurt… the blood will be on your hooves.” Scootaloo said almost threateningly. “Now now, there is no need to threaten my troops.” Sunny said as he walked into Fluttershy’s cabin. Bold and Windy started to salute and held their position. “It’s good to see you three again. Bold, Windy, you are both dismissed. I need to talk to these three.” Windy and Bold put down their hooves and walked outside into the cold night. “Come on Bold, let’s get back out there.” she said as she pulled out her staff again and started to walk back into town. Bold walked alongside her. “Something is wrong…” he said worriedly. “What do you mean?” Windy asked with a frown. “Sunny’s face… it looked like my father’s whenever something major was wrong at work, or when my mother was sick…” “Any ideas on what might be wrong?” “No, but it is something we are going to have to deal with soon. For now, let’s keep our minds on the task at hoof.” Bold said as he leaped up to one of the roofs. **** The sun started to make itself known by painting the sky in orange and red. Bold and Windy made their way to the river in the forest and Steve was waiting for them. “Hey Steve! How are you doing?” Windy asked as she gave him a hug. Steve sighed and looked down to her. “Oh darling, I’m afraid that you have to wait here for Sunny this morning. He… he has some bad news.” he said sadly. “Wh-what do you mean Steve? He isn’t going to get rid of us is he?!” Windy asked worriedly. “No, it’s much worse…” Bold said as he looked at Steve’s face. “I can see it in his eyes. This is something horrific.” Steve set Windy down and nodded before laying back down under the water. Windy and Bold waited there and Sunny arrived soon. He looked at the two as they gave him a salute. “At ease… sit down…” he said softly. Wind and Bold both looked at each other before sitting down on the ground. “Bold, your father is already in Canterlot consoling Princess Luna and Princess Twilight is on her way back from the Crystal Empire but… it is up to us.” “What is up to us? What happened?” Windy asked worriedly. “Princess Celestia’s broach has been stolen…” Sunny said sadly. Windy scoffed and stood up. “What?! That’s it! Just some stupid piece of jewelry?! What kind of bad news is that?!” she asked angrily. Bold pulled her back down and looked at her sternly. “Windy, Princess Celestia is dying!”