//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Family // Story: Bolt of Love // by Silentpegasus //------------------------------// Chapter 6 Family. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence made their way into Princess Celestia’s office with concerned looks on their faces. As they entered they saw Princess Celestia sitting at her desk with her sister by her side. “Ah Captain Armor, how good of you to join us.” Luna said with a smile. “Sorry about that ma’am. Lance and I got talking and-” The white Alicorn held up her hoof. “It’s quite alright. How is Lance doing anyway?” “Hard to say ma’am.” He said with a sigh. “You know how good he is at hiding his feelings.” Shining said with a shrug. “So why did you call us here Princess?” “We have a serious problem on our hooves.” Celestia said in a stern tone. The sun goddess levitated a sheet of paper in front of her. “Two days ago a riot occurred at Canterlot Maximum Security Prison.” The white stallion looked at her in shock. “All but three criminals are accounted for.” “Should we get Lance? He is the best tracker we have.” Cadence suggested. “No. Lance is still in recovery as far as we’re concerned and should he catch wind of this it could make him.....unstable.” Luna added. “Why? Who escaped?” Shining asked. The white mare let out a sigh and levitated the paper over to the guard captain. Shining’s eyes shrank and he gritted his teeth as he read the names. “Oh...him.” “Now do you see why he can’t know?” Celestia said. “Completely. Creator knows what would happen if he met that stallion again.” Shining said with a sigh. “I doubt that we’d even get him back in one piece.” The pink Alicorn had never seen her husband so grim. “Correct. We will entrust you with this matter.” Celestia said as the captain nodded. After exiting the room Cadence looked at her husband in confusion. “What’s wrong Cadence?” He asked as he looked at her. “Mind telling me what THAT was about? Who escaped?” She asked as she cocked an eyebrow. The white stallion saw that his wife had no intention of backing down. “Remember that trial that took place back when I was in the academy involving Midnight?” He said in a low tone. “You mean the bat mare that was part of your's and Lace’s squad?” She asked. The stallion nodded as the Alicorn thought for a moment. Her eyes shrank as the memory came rushing back. “Oh, him.” “Yeah. Lance can’t know. Who know’s what he’ll do.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rarity laid on her bed in the early hours of the morning trying to control her ever raging hormones. The mare was trying desperately to force thoughts of the white stallion from her mind. The fashionista was turning over constantly in her bed covers and biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. The mare let out a moan and her eyes rolled back in her head. She started moving her hoof in circular formations in her nether region. As she climaxed she let out a loud moan of pleasure. The woke up to the sound of a large crash. She immediately sat up and saw the white stallion with the door broken down. “Are you okay?” He asked. The mare quickly tried to hide her blush. “Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” She yelled. “I heard you scream so I came to check on you.” He said as he walked over to her bedside causing the white mare to blush. “Are you okay? You seem kind of warm.” He said as he put his hoof against her forehead. “I’m fine!” She snapped. “I’m sorry dear, I’ve just been on edge lately because this client of mine has made such an impossible order.” She said as she got to her hooves. “Well, if you’re sure. Just remember that if you need me then just call me.” He said with a nod. The stallion walked over to the door and repaired it with his magic. “Sorry about the door.” “It’s fine darling.” She said with a gulp. The stallion nodded and closed the door behind him. Lance let out a sigh and made his way out of the boutique and out into the quiet streets of Ponyville. Great, I just walked in on her ‘finishing’ He thought with a groan. The stallion walked down the street to see Applebloom sitting by herself on the swing set. The white stallion trotted over to her with a concerned look on his face. “Hey Applebloom.” “Oh, hey Lance.” She said in a low tone. “What’s wrong?” He asked as he sat on the swing next to her. “Applejack is off on business and I’m bored.” “What about Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo?” “Scootaloo went with Rainbow Dash to a Wonderbolt show and Sweetie isn’t up yet.” “What about Mac? I’m sure he can play with ya.” “Mac? Yeah right.” She said in a sarcastic tone. “Why would you say something like that? He loves you right?” “Of course he does! It’s just that....” The filly lowered her head in sadness. “It’s just what?” Lance asked as he walked in front of the filly and crouched down. “Applebloom, I’m not just your sister’s guard I’m your friend.” “Okay fine. Mac has been acting weird lately.” The filly said as she looked at the guard. “Define weird.” “He’s been working really, really, really hard around the farm.” “Nothing wrong with that.” He said with a shrug. “Not just at the farm, he’s been taking extra jobs around town too and when he finally comes home he’s to exhausted to talk much less play. Ah guess I just feel lonely.” The filly said as she hung her head in shame. Lance scratched his chin as he put the pieces together “I see.” He said as he stood up. “I’m sure he’ll come around.” He said with a smile. “He loves you with all his heart.” “Ya think so?” “I know so.” He said with a smile. “Believe me, older siblings will do whatever it takes to make sure that their younger brothers or sisters are happy.” “Thanks Lance. Ah needed to get that off my chest. I’m gonna go see if Sweetie Belle is up.” The stallion nodded at the yellow filly and vanished in a flash of light. Lance appeared in front of Sweet Apple Acres. The white stallion walked up the dirt road and saw the red stallion kicking the trunk of an apple tree. “Howdy Lance what can ah do for ya?” “You can stop working while I tell you something.” He said in a flat tone. The red stallion looked at him in confusion. “Applebloom says you’ve been acting weir recently. Taking up extra jobs around town and giving everything you have here at the same time.” He said in a stern tone. “Ah don’t see how that’s any of your concern.” He said as he was about to resume kicking the tree. The white stallion caught his hoof inches from the bark with his own. “I wasn’t finished.” He said as he let the stallion’s hoof go. “Applebloom is worried about you.” “Ah said ah was fine!” He bellowed as he narrowed his eyes at the stallion. Mac pressed his forehead against Lance’s. The white stallion was just a little shorter than Mac and looked like he could do some damage to him. “Alright Mac, I’m done beating around the bush. When did you meet the mare?” He asked. The red stallion’s eyes shrank. “A-ah have no idea what yer talking about.” He said as he tried to lie. “Fine, when did you meet the stallion? I don’t know your preference.” Big mac glared at the guard with anger in his eyes. “When did you meet the pony that you’re going to pop the question to?” The red stallion’s expression changed from angered to confused. “Don’t try to lie Mac. I can smell one from a mile away.” “Teach ya that in the guard?” “Applejack?” Lance asked as he cocked an eyebrow. “Eeyup. She can’t lie to save her hide. Ah haven’t told anypony yet.” “Thank you. Now back to you, who is it?” The red stallion let out a sigh and looked back at the guard. “Her name is Cherilee. She’s Applebloom’s teacher.” “How did you two meet?” Lance asked as he leaned against a tree. “A few years ago Applebloom and her two other friends decided to set us up on Heart’s and Hooves day. They got carried away and drugged us with a love potion.” Lance raised an eyebrow at the stallion. “Their intentions were good and Cherilee and I went back to normal after the potion wore off.” “Uh-huh. So how did you two become a real couple?” “Well, we kept in touch. Found out we had similar interests and dislikes. Things just sort of clicked.” He said with a smile. “We’ve been a couple for three years now.” “Does Applebloom know?” “No, we decided to let her find out on her own. Granny knew right away, she may be old but she’s as sharp as a nail. Applejack found out after the second month and was happy for us.” He said with a grin. “And you want to marry her?” “Eeyup.” “Look Mac, having somepony special is great, but so is family and right now Applebloom feels like you don’t want to spend time with her.” The red stallion looked at him in shock. “What now?” “I know it’s not intentional. You care for your sister like an older sibling should, but there will come a time when you WILL be too busy to hang out with her.” He said in a flat tone. “All I’m saying is cherish the time you have together before it’s gone. Take the rest of the day off.” The red stallion stared into the guards light green eyes and let out a sigh. “Fine, just tell me one thing.” “Sure.” “How do you know all this?” “As the oldest of five I can pick up on when a younger sibling is sad and a friend of mine was doing the same things you’re doing now before he asked his mare friend to marry him.” He said with a grin. “Ah see.” He said as he picked up the barrel and threw it on his back. “Ah’m just gonna bring these to the barn then ah’ll head off.” “Good, oh and Mac-” He started to say. “What?” “I was about to say that if you just ditch her then I’d break your legs but I’d just have tell AJ when she comes back.” The red stallion shuddered at the thought of his sister beating him to a pulp. “I think that’s enough motivation.” He said with a grin. “Eeyup.” “Don’t worry about the work. I’ll handle it. What did you have to do today?” “Clear the South orchard. Think you can handle it?” The white stallion looked at him with a blank expression on his face. “Relax, I got this. Go spend the afternoon with your sis. Believe me Mac you don’t know how good things are until you loose them.” He said in a serious tone. “Ah take it ya learned that the hard way?” Splinter only gave him a slight nod at the remark. “Ah won’t ask.” Mac said as he started to trot down the road towards the small town. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Applejack arrived in Dodge Junction mid morning and stepped off the train platform. The orange farmer yawned and cracked her neck as the light from the setting sun hit her face. The mare made her way through town and entered the salt saloon. “Hey barkeep. Get me something cold.” She said with a smile. The old bartender nodded and pushed her glass across the bar. “By Celestia’s beard! Applejack?” The orange farmer turned around to see a light green Earth pony mare with an orange mane and tail. She also had an orange with a quill across it as a Cute Mark. “Do ah know you?” “It’s me! Florida!” The orange mare’s mind connected the dots and face hoofed. “Ah’m so sorry! Ah barely recognized you.” She said as she hugged the mare. “What brings you here?” “I’m here to talk to Cherry Jubille about a cherry shipment that never reached our farm.” She said with a shrug. “I never thought I’d see you here. This’ll give us a chance to catch up.” She said with a smile. “Order another round. This is gonna take a while.” Applejack filled in the mare on all the things that had happened ever since Twilight Sparkle came to Ponyville. It was around three o’clock when the orange mare had finished her tale. “That pretty much sums it up.” “Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said that it was gonna take a while.” The mare said with a smile. “So Mac is back running the farm then?” “Yeah although I’m pretty sure our new employee would give him a hoof.” “Who’s that?” The green mare asked as she put eh glass to her lips. The orange mare face hoofed hard enough to leave a mark on her forehead. “Ah completely forgot! Your older brother is working for us.” Florida’s eyes shrank and spat out her drink in surprise. “What did you just say?” She said as she glared at the orange mare. “Your older brother, Splintered Lance is working for us.” She said as she cocked an eyebrow. “That’s what I thought you said.” The green mare calmly put the drink down on a coaster and punched the apple farmer in the cheek, knocking her off her stool. “What in the hay was that for?” She said as she rubbed the sore spot. “Don’t EVER joke about him!” She said as her eyes turned to daggers and clenched her hoof for another punch. “Ah ain’t joking!” “Yeah right, I doubt that you can resurect the dead!” She yelled as tears formed in her eyes. “What?” “He vanished two years ago and we haven’t heard from him since!” The orange mare trotted up to the saddened orange farmer and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Look Florida, ah ain’t lying to ya. Ah can’t tell a lie to save mah skin.” She said in a saddened voice. The mare looked at the clock and let out a sigh. “Look, ah got some business to take care of with Cherry. Meet me back here around seven and I’ll prove to you that he’s still alive.” The green mare was gritting her teeth. “If ya still don’t believe me then you can beat me to your heart’s content. Deal?” She asked as she stuck out her hoof. “Deal.” She spat out. As the farmer started to leave the green mare grabbed her tail. “If this turns out to be some sort of joke then you’re going back to Ponyville in a matchbox.” She said in a rough tone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Up in Cloudsdale Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo exited the arena with smiles on their faces. “That was so cool!” The orange filly said with a smile on her face. “Yeah, those ponies are awesome!” Dash said with a smile. “Not as awesome as you Rainbow Dash.” Dash blushed at the comment and rolled her eyes. “True.” The two stopped as two blue suited Pegasi landed in front of them. The mare took her mask off to reveal her golden colored coat while the other was light blue. “Oh my gosh!” Dash said in a fan girl voice. “Hey Rainbow Dash thought we saw you in the crowd.” Spitfire said with a nod. THe blue Pegasus then noticed the small orange filly. “I didn’t know you had a sister.” He said as he looked at the filly who was barely containing her excitement. “Scoots isn’t my sister.” The filly felt a little disappointed by the words. “She’s my....student. Yeah, I’m teaching her how to fly.” The orange filly’s jaw dropped. “Really? That’s cool.” Spitfire said with a smile. “So what did you two need?” Scootaloo asked. “We were wondering if you wanted to hang out.” Soarin said. The cyan and orange ponies looked at one another in shock. “YES!” They both chimed. “Cool, follow us.” Spitfire said with a grin. The two ponies giggle silently to one another as the Wonderbolts led them inside. The two ponies followed the Wonderbolts back inside the stadium and into a well furnished room with the other Wonderbolts. The orange filly stuck by Rainbow Dash’s side as she talked to Spitfire. “So what’s new with you two?” “Not much.” Dash said with a shrug. An idea hit her and she grinned. “Hey the Wonderbolts are a branch of the armed forces right?” “Yeah, we’re a different branch of it though. We’re mostly used to boost moral.” Soarin said as he sipped his glass. “Why?” “You see I’ve got this friend who’s in the guard and I was wondering if you guys knew him.” Dash said with a smirk. “Sure who is it?” Spitfire asked as she raised her mug to her lips. “His name is Splintered Lance. He’s a white Unicorn stallion with a dark red mane and light green eyes.” The two Wonderbolts spat out their drink in surprise. Dash looked at them and saw that the two were literally shaking in their hooves and the color had drained from their faces. “Dash, are you positive that that’s what he looks like?” Soarin said with a gulp. “Yeah why?” The blue stallion’s teeth were chattering. “Soarin, why don’t you go introduce Scootaloo to the other Wonderbolts.” Spitfire said with a gulp. The blue stallion took the orange Pegasus and walked over to the other Wonderbolts. led Dash out of the lounge and into her office. The captain sat down behind her desk and pulled out a bottle of Scotch. “Why did you and Soarin freak out?” “Dash, if what you’re telling me is true then you know the most dangerous stallion in all the guard, possibly all of Equestria.” Rainbow looked at her in confusion. “What? He seems like a normal guard to me.” Dash said in confusion. “The Lightning Hoof a normal guard? Yeah right!” She said in a scared tone. “I saw an entire army of changeling turn around in pure fear of him.” Dash looked at her in shock. “The Lightning Hoof?” “Lightning Hoof, The Impaler, Harbinger. The list goes on and on. Bottom line; that stallion is extremely powerful. The only pony that I’ve ever seen that got close to beating him is Captain Shining Armor and even he couldn’t beat him.” She said with a groan. “How do you know all this?” “I saw him once on the battle field during the Changeling war.” She said as she took another swig. “What happened at the battle?” “Battle?” The golden mare let out a small laugh. “It was no battle it was a bucking slaughter! He took down twelve battalions of Changelings with a single spell.” She said as she took another swig. “I’ve never seen a pony so strong.” “But, he acts like he’d never hurt a fly.” “That’s what makes him so scary! One minutes he’s the nicest stallion you’ve ever met, then the next he’s a monster on a war path.” The golden mare had no color in her face. “That’s all I know about him.” Dash looked at the time and saw that it was getting close to dinner time. “Thanks Spitfire. I should grab Scoots and get home.” “Good idea, the team and I have to get up early to get to Canterlot.” She said as she got to her hooves. “Oh and Dash.” The cyan mare turned around as she reached for the door knob. “Don’t tell him that I told you any of this. Ya’ know military secrets and what not.” “No problem.” Dash said as she walked out of the office and collected the orange filly who was starting to fall asleep. “C’mon Squirt. Time to go home.” The cyan mare said as she put the filly on her back and took flight towards Ponyville. As the wind whipped at her mane her mind drifted back to the white stallion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at Sweet Apple Acres Lance had finished the last row of trees and put the apples away. Ash he looked towards the road he saw the large red stallion and the small yellow filly with smiles on their faces. “Hey guys. You two have a nice day?” “Eeyup.” They said in unison. The yellow filly mouthed the words ‘thank you’ as she walked past the white stallion. Lance gave her a friendly nod and made his way back towards town. He saw a familiar white mare gallop up to him. He tried to hide his embarrassment. “Oh.....hello Lance.” She said as she hid her blush. “Hey Rarity. What’s up?” “I was just going to get Sweetie Belle from Zecora’s” “Who’s Zecora?” Lance asked. “She’s this zebra that lives in the Everfree forest. She went there this afternoon when Applebloom went off to play with Big Macintosh. Never thought I’d see that happen.” She said with a small laugh. “Yeah that was my doing.” He said with a smile. “So you’re headed there now?” The white mare nodded. “Then I’ll go with you.” Rarity’s face turned scarlet. “Y-you don’t have to do that.” “I’m your guard it’s my job to ensure your safety. Besides that place is dangerous especially at night.” He said as the two walked towards the forest edge. “Just because I’m a lady doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself.” She said as she narrowed her eyes. “I wasn’t insinuating anything. My father always taught me to be a gentle colt to mares.” He said with a nod. “He sounds like a great stallion.” “Yeah.....he was.” He said in a flat tone. The mare connected the dots and her eyes shrank. “Oh, I’m so sorry dear.” “It’s fine it happened years ago. He went peacefully.” He said as the two made their way through the thicket. “So what does this Zecora do?” “She’s a potion maker.” “Rare to see a Zebra outside their homeland.” “You’ve been there?” Rarity asked. “Yup, saw the world, ate the food, had a foal with a local. The usual.” “WAIT WHAT?” Rarity yelled. “I’m just kidding.” He said with a laugh. Rarity let out a sigh of relief. The two stopped in front of a hut made out of tree. The two trotted inside to see the familiar white filly standing next to a cauldron being stirred by a Zebra mare. “Hey Rarity! Hi Lance.” Sweetie said with a smile on her face. “Hello Sweetie, you as well Zecora.” Rarity said with a smile. The zebra smiled with a nod. “Time to go home Sweetie it’s almost supper time.” “Okay, see ya Zecora!” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. The three Unicorns made their way back towards the small town. “So what did you do today Lance?” “I took over Mac’s shift so he could spend the day with Applebloom.” “Why?” Sweetie Belle asked. “He hadn’t hung out with Applebloom for a while so I volunteered to take over his workload for the day so he could hangout with her.” “Well that’s nice of you.” Rarity said with a smile. “It’s nice to see that he’s not only socializing with his mare friend.” The white filly looked up at her sister in shock. “Big Mac has a mare friend?” Sweetie yelled. “Why didn’t Applebloom tell me? Who is it? Who is it?” The filly chimed. “I believe that it’s Cherilee.” Rarity said with a nod as Lance face hoofed. “NO WAY! Why didn’t Applebloom tell me?” “She doesn’t know.” Lance added. “Mac and Cherilee want her to figure it out on her own. Granted she’d better do it quick.” “Why?” Rarity asked. “Let’s just say Cherilee might need you to make her a white dress in the coming months.” Rarity took a moment to connect the dots and sgiggled in delight. “That’s why he’s been acting like a textbook workaholic the past few weeks.” “What’s he talking about?” Sweetie asked. “You’ll find out soon enough and don’t tell Applebloom or anypony else about this. That’s Mac’s and Cherilee’s job.” “Do you have a special somepony Lance?” Sweetie asked. Rarity focused all her attention on the stallion as he stopped moving. His ears twitched and narrowed his eyes. “Lance?” “Rarity, take Sweetie Belle and run.” He said as he got in an attack stance. “Why?” As the words left her lips a large beast with a scorpion tail leaped out of the bushes. “Ah! A Manticore!” “Rarity go!” “You’ll die!” She protested “DON’T ARGUE WITH ME! GO!" He yelled. The white mare picked up the small filly and ran down the path. The white stallion faced the beats and smiled. “Okay fur ball, your move.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back in Dodge Junction, the green mare sat at the bar with an impatient look on her face. The mare turned her head to see the orange farmer enter the establishment. “Sorry ah’m late Florida Cherry wouldn’t stop talking.” She said with a sigh. “Let’s just see this proof of yours.” She said in a stagnant tone. The orange mare gulped and got to her hooves. “Follow me and ah’ll show ya.” The two left the establishment and circled around back. “Hang on a second.” Florida said as she walked across the street and into a hotel room. Five minutes later the green mare came back with a wooden bat in her hooves. “Okay show me.” “What’s that for?” Applejack asked. “This is the ‘punch line’ of the joke.” The orange mare gulped and removed the red crystal the white stallion had given her the other day. “You’d better stand back.” The mare threw the crystal on the ground and a cloud of red smoke appeared. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rarity and Sweetie Belle made it out of the forest to see Fluttershy trotting along with Twilight. The two ran up to them with worry in their eyes. “Oh thank goodness Fluttershy! Lance needs your help.” “What’s wrong?” Twilight asked. “We were walking back from Zecora’s when a Manticore attacked us! Lance stayed behind.” Sweetie Belle added. “Oh my! We’d better hurry.” As the mare’s took a step forward the white stallion appeared in front of them. “What’s up?” The white mare quickly hugged the stallion. “Did I miss something?” “You stayed behind and fought a manticore!” Sweetie yelled. “Oh that thing? Please, if I can handle a battalion of drunk guards then a Manticore is no problem.” As Rarity broke the hug she saw a patch of red liquid on his chest. “Blood!” “Who’s bleeding?” Lance asked. “You are!” Twilight yelled. “I am?” He then looked down at his chest to see the bleeding wound. “Oh how about that. I am.” He said with a shrug. The stallion froze as his horn started to blink red. “Uh-oh!” “What’s wrong?” Twilight asked. “Applejack is in trouble! I’ll be back soon!” He said as he threw down a piece of paper with a seal on it. The stallion vanished as he stepped on the seal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The smoke cleared revealing a seal on the ground. The green mare stared at the seal with an unimpressed look on her face. “Um, that’s not supposed to happen.” Applejack said. “Well, it’s pulverizing time.” She said as the she picked up the bat and twirled it in her hoof. The green mare stopped as the seal started to glow and a cloud of smoke covered her. Applejack opened her eyes to see the white stallion. “Are you okay Applejack?” “Ah’m fine. A bit startled, but fine.” “So why did you call me here then?” The stallion then heard a banging noise come from behind him. He turned around to see the green mare staring at him in shock. Lance’s eyes shrank as he looked at the mare. “L-Lance?” She said with a quivering lip. “Florida?” He asked in amazement. The mare slowly trotted up to him and slapped him in the face. “JERK! WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!” She yelled with a river of tears running down her face. As the mare raised her hoof to hit him again Lance caught her hoof and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I’m sorry. I’ve been out of Equestria for the past few years.” He said with a sniffle. “Why didn’t you write? You used to!” “I know, I was about to send one with Philomena when I got back.” He said in a saddened tone. The mare then noticed the blood on his chest. “Lance! You’re bleeding!” “Oh this? I had a run in with a Manticore. No big deal.” He said with a shrug. “NO BIG DEAL?” Applejack yelled. “I’ve been through worse.” He said with a shrug. The green mare looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I still can’t believe how much you’ve grown sis.” “You should see Hazel.” She said with a grin. Lance let out a sigh and looked back at Applejack. “Look, tell mom I’m okay. I have to go back to Ponyville.” The mare held her head in sadness. “I’ll talk to Celestia about getting some off time so I can come down and visit. Okay?” “What if we come to you?” She asked. “That could work so long as you don’t tell anypony I’m a guard.” “Yeah, why are you working for Applejack anyway?” “Part of my cover. My mission is to protect Applejack and her friends, so I’ll be there for a bit.” He said with a smile. “O-okay.” She said in a weak tone. “I’ll send Philomena a letter as soon as I get back. I promise.” He said with a smile. “Are you done here AJ?” He asked as he looked at the orange mare. “Y-yeah why?” “Then hang on.” He said as he and the mare stepped on the seal. “I’ll see you soon sis.” He said before he vanished in a flash of light. Florida felt the tears run as she watched the stallion leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The two ponies appeared just outside of Ponyville. The night air hit the mare as Applejack took a moment to collect herself. The farmer threw up on the side of the road and coughed. “Sorry. Figured you wouldn’t be used to that.” He said with a shrug. “Don’t do that again.” She said in a rough tone. “So what did ah miss?” “Well, Mac spent the day with Applebloom and Rarity and I went to Zecora’s hut to pick up Sweetie Belle.” “Mac did what now? How’d you get him to do that?” “I can be very persuasive.” He said with a grin. “Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go heal this wound before I pass out from blood loss.” He said as he teleported in front of the boutique. As he walked inside he aw the white mare asleep on the couch. Lance rolled his eyes and looked at the mare. I have to admit, she does look cute like this. Smack Damn it! She’s the one you’re protecting idiot and don’t forget about- I haven’t forgotten. He thought as he pulled the mare onto his back and walked up the stairs. As he walked he felt the mare rest her head on his shoulders and wrap her hooves around his neck. As he laid the mare on her bed she wrapped her hooves around his arm. Lance slowly slid his hoof out of her grip and walked back to his room. The guard walked over to his bag and withdrew a bottle of red pills. Lance made his way into the bathroom and turned the hot water on in the bath. Once the water was as a desirable temperature he slipped one of the pills into the steaming water. The liquid started to bubble and turn a dark red color. Lance crawled inside and slid himself into the water. After a minute he gripped the side of the bath tup in pain. The water felt as though a thousand claws were slashing him. The stallion fought through the pain and looked down at his wound to see it fully healed. Lance got out of the bath tub and waited for the red water to drain completely. With the water gone the stallion collected the pills and made his way into his room. He pulled the satin covers over his body and let sleep take him.