//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Five // Story: Starlight // by PurpleFire135 //------------------------------// Fluttershy flew close to the rooftops of the City. She had never been much of a flyer and even now she didn’t like to be any higher than necessary. Besides that, there were patrols roving the skies and the lower she flew the less likely she would attract notice. She nervously glanced as one passed over her. They didn’t even look down at her. She let out a small breath, tilting her wings to turn. She caught sight of another, lower, patrol of Guards out of the corner of her eye and dropped down to fly between two buildings. One of the patrol broke off and dipped down, as if looking for something. Fluttershy felt her heart speed up and she felt her pulse painfully in her neck. She put a hoof to the scar that was just beginning to form over the wound she had received from the attacker. Even if she, Rainbow, and Starlight had only fled her home a few weeks ago, it already felt like a long time ago. The time when she had lived peacefully in the forest alone seemed even longer ago. Absorbed by her thoughts, she clipped a wing on a fire escape and had to flounder to correct herself. She shook her head… she was not built for this. She whipped around another corner and could see the dark shape of the Guard headquarters looming before her. She sighed in partial relief. One step closer. She still had a ways to go though, because of Applejack’s roundabout routes to the center of the City. She rounded another corner and risked flying above building level, just to get another look at her planned route. A few more turns and she would be there. Her wings twitched and she was about to fly forward when something flew out of the sky and nearly dropped on her head. She jerked back with a squeak as she watched the object fall and hit the ground with a thud. She squinted, trying to see what it was, it kind of looked like a— “Hey! That’s mine, you bum! Leave it!” A voice from above her yelled down. Fluttershy looked up at the pony the voice was attached to on instinct. She could have kicked herself when she saw the Guard pony staring down at her. “Well, look at what we have here.” The Guard, who Fluttershy instantly recognized as the very same as the one who had given her the new scar on her neck, taunted as she tipped her wings and dove at Fluttershy. Fluttershy tried to dodge, but she was in no way fast enough. This mare had proven herself to not only be as fast as Rainbow, but possibly faster. There was no way Fluttershy could have avoided her dive. The mare slammed into Fluttershy and drove her towards the ground. Fluttershy’s head smacked against the pavement as they hit and the air was driven out of her lungs. “What a funny coincidence. It isn’t very often I get a second chance to fix my mistakes.” The mare remarked drily. “And so nice of you to just find me right here. Makes it just too easy… almost.” Fluttershy tried to respond, but all that came out was a wheeze. “What was that? I would really like to hear what you have to say,” She shrugged and grabbed a knife from the belt on her saddle bags. “Pity I won’t get to.” She brought the knife swinging down towards Fluttershy, who squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, come on now! I like to see the fear!” the mare whined as her knife gently pressed on Fluttershy’s scar. Fluttershy defiantly kept her eyes shut and mumbled something. “What was that?” “Why?” “Why am I going to kill you?” The mare finished for her. “I love this question….Well, let’s see. First, I like to finish what I start, and second because I finally figured out who you are.” The mare said triumphantly. Fluttershy opened her eyes to stare at the mare above her, who was staring back intently. “I thought you were just some Pegasus friend of Rainbow Dash’s, whatever, you got in my way, but then I started thinking, and then looking into the records once I got back to the City. I realized you were as good a prize for me to bring in as Rainbow Dash, better even! A hidden element bearer! You have no idea what bringing you down will get me! I’ll be able to put this whole fiasco behind me! I’ll be the best in the business again!” The mare rambled, her eyes widening maddeningly as she talked faster and faster. She had the look of somepony who had lost it a long time ago and had finally snapped. “After I failed to kill Rainbow Dash, I’ve had some very tight situations. You, know I was almost killed myself! Can you believe that?! But then, then they let me out to find you, once I told them who you were! It’s funny! I was on my way back to the Everfree right now!” She started laughing. Fluttershy tried to follow the mare’s ravings but she was beginning to fade as the blow to her head was finally sinking in. Her vision was going black and she knew she was going to pass out. She blinked. No! If I pass out, I won’t wake up again! She thought. There was something digging into her back, she tried focusing on that. If she could just stay focused and awake. She didn’t know past that. Just awake. That thing in her back really was annoying. She idly wondered what it was, usually the streets, even the back alleys like this one were kept pretty clean in the Upper City. “Are you even listening?!” The mare scolded as her knife dipped down. A blot of blood rose up as it broke through skin. That prick of pain jarred Fluttershy. She gasped and came back to her senses, which also meant she realized exactly what was driving into her back. The thing the mare had dropped! “I said, are you listening!” the mare shrieked and pulled her knife back to stab down. It looked like she was actually going to do it this time. Fluttershy used the lessened weight from the mare’s backwards pull to lift up and grab the object underneath her. Fluttershy whipped up the tazer, flicked the safety off, and the prongs shot out to lodge firmly, point blank into the mare’s chest. Electricity rolled across her body and she screamed in agony. A second later she collapsed down onto Fluttershy, the knife falling to the concrete with a clatter. Fluttershy let out a breath and rolled the mare off of her. She looked down at her attacker and realized with a shock that the other mare was dead. She had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. Fluttershy started shaking. She had been looking to survive, nothing more. As she started at the dead mare, she felt bile rise in her throat. She turned around and threw up, still shaking. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in and then let it out slowly. She was okay. She needed to get back to the others. That is what mattered now. She could deal with the consequences of this later. She pushed her short mane out of her face and flapped her wings, flying as quickly as she could towards the Guard Headquarters. --- Applejack looked around a corner and slipped out into the street, careful to watch for patrols and Guards. None should be in this sector at this time of day, although, Applejack thought wryly, it’s not like I can tell what time it is anyway with another glance behind her, and another towards the burning sun, she slipped back into another side alley. She looked up. If every pony was where they were supposed to be, Fluttershy should fly over right….now! The sky remained empty. Applejack frowned. Her path was an even bigger zig-zag than the rest of the group’s since her path followed behind each of the other three, and she would see them at specific times as they either flew, ran or bounced past her route. She took off at a run, doubling back along Fluttershy’s path. Something must have gone wrong. Suddenly, Applejack heard a whooshing sound above her. She looked up as she ran, relieved to see Fluttershy’s yellow form flying fast towards the City center. Applejack sighed in relief and then promptly ran into somepony as she tried to follow behind Fluttershy. “Hey!” They yelled as she tumbled over them. “How dare you trip over an old lady?! Watch where you are going, uh, whippersnapper?!” a blob of pink and mumu scolded her. “Pinkie Pie it’s me!” “Oh, good. I’m a little rusty at impersonations.” “We don’t have time for that.” Applejack groaned and pulled Pinkie up. “If we don’t get there soon, we’ll miss our opportunity.” “Got it.” Pinkie replied seriously. “What are you even doing here? This isn’t on your route!” “I know, I heard a scream and then a squeak, I had to make sure everypony was okay!” “A scream?” “Yeah. I though Fluttershy might be in trouble, but I guess not. Anyway, I’ll see you up there!” Pinkie said happily as she bounced off. Applejack frowned. She just couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. She shrugged. There really wasn’t time to dwell on it. Applejack took off back towards her path at a brisk trot. They needed to get there and be done with this sneaking around thing. She looked at a street sign and nodded. She should pass by Starlight in a block or two. She heard fast hoof steps coming up behind her as somepony whizzed by. It took her a moment to realize it was Starlight, running her little legs out at top speed, her fedora bouncing up and down on her head. Applejack speed up and caught up to her, not stopping. She ran alongside as Starlight panted, “Guard! Following me!” She huffed. Applejack’s eyes widened in surprise as she leaned over and scooped Starlight up onto her back. “We just have to lose him! He doesn’t know about my horn!” She elaborated. Applejack blew out a breath in slight relief. “…I think anyways.” Starlight finished a little guiltily. Applejack turned her head almost all the way around to look at her. “WHAT?” “Well, I kinda needed to lose him! I wasn’t going to get away fast enough without some serious talking, so I made a distraction.” “You used magic?” “Yep.” Applejack frowned and ran faster. She whipped around a corner into an alley and swore when she realized it was a dead end. “WHY?! Why in the muther-bucking horse apples do we even have these?!” Starlight shrugged, about to slip off of Applejack’s back. “Just stay up there. He might not notice where we went. By the way, what kind of distraction ends up with you being followed anyway?” “Apparently a bad one. I thought it was genius actually, but then I heard him behind me.” Starlight said huffily. Applejack resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They both looked up a rapid hoof beats ran up the street. They stopped and a head peered around the corner to look at them. The uniformed Guard stepped into view, the sun shining behind him. Applejack squinted, desperately trying to see who exactly it was. “General?...Uh, wait. Applejack?” He asked. Applejack instantly relaxed as she recognized his voice. “Silver! You have no idea how glad I am to see you!” He looked around nervously and then came into the alley to meet them. “What in the world are you doing here?!” He whispered. “Saving the world and other related duties. What do you think?” Applejack said in full volume as she pointed to the sun. “Ah. That. Yes. So.” He said, shifting from hoof to hoof. “Stop that. You’re making me nervous.” Applejack told him. He shook himself. “Sorry. Things have been bad since you left.” Applejack arched an eyebrow. “Obviously.” “Can we get on with it?” Starlight asked, bored. Applejack smiled deviously. “Yep, in fact we’re going to get in a lot faster now, I think.” She said, eyeing Silver Shot who looked around as if he wanted to find some pony else to be right now. “It wasn’t enough that I snuck you out? Now you want me to sneak you back in?! Do you have any idea how tight things have been lately? The entire council has completely lost it and trust me, the entire Guard is on high alert!” He whispered quickly. “Stop that. You’re the official leader of the Guard, Silver, act like it!” Applejack snapped. “All you have to do is get us in and then give me your card pass. I can handle the rest.” “What are you planning to do?” “Oh, don’t worry about that.” “But…” “I said don’t worry. Now let’s go.” Silver Shot nodded. --- Pinkie Pie shucked off the itchy mumu, disguises from this point on would be useless, if they were caught, there was no going back. She walked up behind Fluttershy, who was already waiting at the rendezvous point about a block away from the Guard headquarters. Fluttershy squeaked in surprise as Pinkie came up behind her. She whipped her head around, her eyes wide. “Pinkie! Don’t scare me like that! I’m already jumpy enough.” Fluttershy whispered angrily. Pinkie nodded. “Sorry.” They both sat there for a second. “I wonder where Starlight and Applejack are.” Fluttershy said. “They both can take care of themselves, more or less. Besides, I think Applejack was following behind all of us. If something happened she can handle it. I’m sure they are both okay.” Pinkie said, reassuringly. “I don’t know how you can stay so positive.” Fluttershy remarked. “Are you?” Pinkie asked. “What?” Fluttershy responded, confused. “Are you okay?” She clarified. “Oh, yeah. Just fine.” Fluttershy said, turning away from Pinkie. “Because you were flying really fast back there. I don’t know how you made it here before me.” “Oh, I was just nervous. Didn’t want to be in the sky longer than I needed to.” Fluttershy said, trying to brush off the topic. “I saw what happened.” Pinkie said softly. “What?” Fluttershy asked, her face going pale. “I saw what happened in that alley. Was she the one that hurt you before?” Pinkie asked. “How much did you see?” “Not much. By the time I got there she was…I mean, you had the situation handled.” Pinkie trailed off. “Oh.” They both sat in silence for a few more seconds. “I would have helped if I thought you were in trouble. I wish I had been there sooner.” Pinkie said. “I know.” “It’ll be okay, I promise.” “I know that too.” Fluttershy sighed. Loud hoofsteps came up behind them. They turned to see Starlight, Applejack and a Guard pony run up to them. Applejack looked up at the sky. “We really don’t have much time.” “Who is that?” Fluttershy asked nervously, pointing at the Guard. “He’s gonna help us get in!” Starlight said, eagerly. “Yep, but we have to move fast. Silver?” Applejack said, nodding to the Guard. “Alright follow me. We should be able to go in through back entrance in a few minutes. They Guard will switch out and if I’m lucky I can delay them a few minutes so you all can slip in. I’ll leave the door unlocked. Watch for my signal.” He said to Applejack who nodded. He walked off, looking completely casual and at ease. “Come on!” Applejack said, pulling Starlight up onto her back and motioning to the others. “Pinkie, wait.” Fluttershy said softly. “What?” “Thank you.” Fluttershy said and gave Pinkie a quick hug. They ran up behind Starlight and Applejack. “Are you ready for this?” Applejack said, turning to look at Starlight. “As I’ll ever be.” Applejack turned to face all three of them. “Pinkie, Fluttershy, you two will need to take Silver’s pass card and get Starlight to the observatory tower. Just keep going up. It’s at the very top floor of the Guard building.” Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy nodded. “Wait! Where are you going?” Pinkie asked. “I’m going to get Rainbow Dash. We’ll meet you at the tower as soon as possible. Starlight, do whatever you need to do as soon as you get there.” Starlight nodded grimly, as a tight nervous feeling rose in her chest. She could do this. The glint of a small mirror reflecting the sun shone out from the window directly to the left of the door they were waiting for. Applejack looked up and smiled. “That’s the signal. Let’s go.” --- She stared at the ceiling. She concentrated on feeling nothing, thinking nothing, doing nothing. Just focus. Breathe in and out. You can do this. Something sharp whipped past her head, just barely nicking her cheek. Her concentration shattered into a million painful pieces. She didn’t know how much longer she could do this. She struggled to be impassive again. It wasn’t working well. “Where is she?! Where did you find her?! Tell me!” This wasn’t the first time he had tried to get her to tell him something, anything. For some reason, quite beyond her reasoning, he was desperate to find Starlight. She couldn’t figure why it was so damn important to find one little filly, unicorn or not. At first she had tried arguing, yelling, telling lies, but he saw through every one and the weird thing was, the more she yelled and screamed at him, the more he seemed to enjoy it. So, now, she was trying to be silent, unflinching. This just seemed to enrage him, and the madder he got, the more he hurt her. She wasn’t sure which was better, but at least this way she was pissing him off. She liked that. She blinked, looking up through the haze of pain as he dealt another blow. By this point she wasn’t even sure where he was hitting her, it all just blended together in a cacophony of pain. She wiggled, the straps that held her down dug into her flesh. That was the worst part. She had all this pain, but the worst was that she couldn’t move. Even her wings were pinioned behind her. Just the thought of being unable to move scared her, living it was a constant nightmare of pain and terror that she couldn’t escape. Something hit her head and blood streamed down into her eye. “I don’t care how long this takes! You will tell me what I need to know!” He yelled, inches from her face. His dark red coat wet with sweat and what might have been blood, with the color of his coat it was hard to tell. In a small, dim sane part of her mind she knew he was one of the Council members, probably Iron Flare, the leader. She had no idea what had warranted himself dealing with her, rather than a lower-ranked Guard. Personally, she had a hunch it was because he liked this job. She remained silent. He frowned. “You know that if I don’t get the information I need from you, that I will kill you. Why all this for one filly you barely know?” He said, as he calmed himself and smoothed down his wild hair. “You’re willing to die….just to stay true to a friend. Unbelievable.” He said with contempt. She relaxed, this was usually when he got frustrated and left. With lightning speed he whipped around and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her down on the table. Her wings were crushed underneath her, shooting waves of agony through her body. The pinion holding them dripped with blood from where it had been stabbed through. She screamed. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” He smiled. She gasped, unable to breathe through the pain. “Tell me where she came from. Now.” She tensed, the pain rolling through her like a living thing. She just wanted it to end. She bit her lip and tasted blood. “No.” She said, looking him in the eye as best she could. He pushed down harder. She felt her vision go black as she heard a snap underneath her. She stayed conscious though, unfortunately. A bright red light overtook the room as a piercing wail split the air. An alarm bell. He growled in frustration and ran to the door, turning before he left. “That wasn’t the worst of it. Keep in mind, Miss Dash, that there are far worse things than death, and I know all of them.” He told her, slamming the door. She shook, the pain still unbearable. With a sigh as the door slammed, she slipped into unconsciousness.