Allen Key laid in the bed staring at the wooden ceiling overhead as he tried to fall asleep. With all the commotion outside the dwelling though, it was very difficult. As he sighed in his worries, Allen looked over at the bed next to him and saw Derpy sleeping peacefully. Though she never did wake up after the antidote was given to her earlier that afternoon, he still felt content since both the elder, and the doctor said that her body accepted it and the poison is now neutralized. Allen tried to look at her to make sure she was still breathing, then when it was confirmed, he turned his head back to the ceiling and continued trying to fall asleep that is, until he heard Silvia speak in her sleep. Allen turned his head the other way and looked at the bed on his other side as he saw Silvia tossing and turning as she mumbled in her sleep, “Serene… don’t… no… I can’t…”
Seeing that the dream deeply troubled her, Allen looked away and tried to ignore it since it was none of his business. Finally, after laying in the bed for a few more minutes with no success at even feeling sleepy, Allen climbed out of the bed and left the room as quietly as possible without waking the two. As Allen opened the door of the small shack, He was amazed to see that not only were the bat ponies out and about, But they were everywhere as if he were in the center of a busy Canterlot street. Allen started trotting into the open as a few ponies stopped to stare at him. As he continued ignoring those staring, he could hear them talking amongst themselves, “Look… a surface pony.”
“I heard that Silver Stream brought him here.”
“Yea… she brought two.”
“Why would she bring them here?”
“Who knows, the elder told us to just let them be so just ignore him.”
Though Allen didn’t like being the center of attention, he was somewhat used to this sort of treatment because it wasn’t much of a change from the ponies in his hometown who would make fun of him behind his back. So in light of this situation, Allen just continued about his business and ignored them all as he continued trotting down the path. As he got closer and closer to the center of the massive cave, Allen noticed that now this place was starting to resemble an actual city, to include buildings, streets, street lamps, and even outdoor markets and vendors. As Allen looked around at the amazing spectacle that he never knew could exist underground, a young filly approached him, “Hi…”
Allen looked down and smiled, “Hello.”
The filly spoke, “What happened to your wings?”
Allen smiled at the filly’s innocence, “Oh… I wasn’t born with any.”
The filly tilted her head, “Why?”
“Because I’m not a bat pony.”
The filly thought to herself then spoke again, “Why are your eyes like that?”
“Like what?”
She continued, “Well… mine have a long black line in the middle, but yours have a circle.”
Allen smiled again, “Oh… well that’s because my eyes allow me to see during the day. You see, I’m an earth pony from the surface.”
The filly smiled at him as she spoke with surprise, “The surface! What’s it like up there? I bet it’s really bright. So bright you can’t even see.”
Allen replied, “Well, some days yes bu… wait a sec. you mean you’ve never been there?”
The filly lowered her head in embarrassment, “No… mommy told me that ponies up there don’t like us. She says that they are mean to our kind so she forbid me from ever going up there.”
Allen thought to himself as he replied, “Well… I don’t seem mean… do I?”
The little filly smiled, “N-no… infect you’re really nice. Why do you think that is?”
Allen smiled as he answered yet another question, “I don’t know… I was just born that way. “
The filly asked, “Are all surface ponies as nice as you?”
Allen shrugged his shoulder, “I honestly don’t know. Why do you ask so many questions?”
Without missing a beat, the filly replied, “I’m on an endless search for infinite knowledge.”
Allen was dumbfounded, not only was he not expecting an answer to his sarcastic question, but the filly answered so quickly, he had no idea how to respond. Finally, his silence was interrupted by laughing as he turned to see the Elder approaching them, “Didn’t expect an answer like that did ya smarty-pants?”
When both Allen and the filly turned to the Elder, The filly smiled, “Granny Sonar!”
The Elder smiled, “Echo? I thought you had school tonight?”
The filly realized what the elder meant as she replied, “Oh yea… I almost forgot.”
The filly turned around and started flying away as she called back, “Bye Surface earth pony! It was nice meeting you!”
Allen waved back, “It was nice meeting you too!”
As the little filly disappeared into the distance, the elder trotted next to Allen and smiled, “Handsome, kind, and good with foals. I feel so relieved that the first surface dwellers to come here in the past three decades is such a catch.”
Allen blushed as he replied to the awkwardness of the moment, “Um… thanks?”
The elder smiled, “I’m glad you were able to make little Echo’s day. You see, Surface ponies don’t get a very good reputation down here.”
Allen replied, “I noticed… it seems like everypony is looking at me like I have some kind of sickness or something.”
The elder nodded her head, “Please don’t take offence to it, I’m the last pony who remembers the old days when we two were in peace.”
Allen looked at the elder with confusion, “Wait… you mean that things weren’t always this way?”
The elder shook her head, “Not the slightest. You see, the surface ponies and the Bat clans used to be perfectly equals… but that was before our clan made the mistake of dishonoring not only the clan… but all bat ponies in Equestria.”
Allen was now intrigued, “So… what happened?”
The elder explained, “Centuries ago, right after the fall of the Eternal Eclipse. The bat clans were a traveling race, who sought a home to call our own. However, none of us sought to claim a nation for ourselves; instead, we sought to find a nation to work for their trust, and acceptance. Then we stumbled upon the damaged nation of Equestria. Still recovering from the damage of the Nightmare Crusade, we bargained with Princess Celestia herself in hopes that in return for our support in rebuilding her kingdom that she would provide us with a home of our own, to which she happily accepted. Back then, there were five clans who made five colonies of ponies for all of us, the two largest, were The Equestrian Caverns and the Hallow Shades although she had to cast her darkness spell for us to live here. For centuries, we bat ponies and surface ponies lived in perfect harmony, and that harmony grew when ninety years ago, Princess Celestia allowed Bat ponies to become royal guards. But… not long after that… things took a turn for the worse.”
Allen looked at the bat ponies around them as he replied, “It must have been pretty bad to turn harmony… into complete segregation.”
The Elder nodded her head, “Indeed it was. I was just a wee filly when it happened… but I remember seeing the soldiers marching down our streets with banners and spears. Our clan leader at the time didn’t like the surface at all. So using lies and negative propaganda, he turned a number of the clans against them and sought to build an army in hopes of attacking the closest town that was just starting up. I think it was called Ponyville or something like that.”
Allen was shocked, “Attack Ponyville? But why?”
The elder shrugged her shoulder, “Who knows… all I know is that when word reached Canterlot about this plan, Princess Celestia came here herself in hopes of stopping it from happening, but no matter how hard she pleaded, the stubborn fool just turned her away with a fair warning. If they don’t move their settlement in the next three days, then the bat ponies would go to war with the surface.”
Allen was now in suspense, “So… what happened next?”
The Elder smiled, “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
Allen tried to understand, “You mean… he never attacked Ponyville?”
The elder nodded her head, “Yep… the next morning as everypony laid down to go to bed, I heard an echoing sound in the cave, so I went out to see what it was. I don’t know exactly what it was, but I saw a black figure sneak into the leader’s home and sneak back out in less than a minute’s time. Then it vanished into the shadows of the dawn with no trace left behind. Funny thing as when the next night came and we all emerged from out homes… the leader didn’t. In fact nearly half the night went by before any of us though to check on him. Nevertheless, whatever that black figure was, it killed him in his sleep. Needless to say, with the leader of the rebellion dead, the attack was never called and we had no choice but to approach Princess Celestia in Canterlot and publicly apologies for our threat. However, when she accepted the apology, she had some conditions. For one, Bat ponies were no longer allowed to enter any Surface town, unless they were unarmed, and were traveling alone. Then they had no right to hide their reason for traveling. If a surface pony asked, then by law you had to tell them why you were there. As for our side of that agreement, they removed all bat pony colonies from the map and restricted all surface ponies from stepping hoof into any bat pony city.”
Allen sighed, “That’s… horrible. The mistake of one shouldn’t be casted upon the rest.”
Hearing the wise words, the elder smiled, “True words… but that’s what happened, and with that? All Bat ponies were taught to despise the surface and its resident, even though becoming a royal night guard is still one of the greatest honors any bat pony could achieve. In time, the rest of the clan’s became fed up with all the rising tension between the surface and the bats, and just… moved away. Now, we are the last clan to stay in Equestria, but the main reason is because we would like more than any to make up for our ancestor’s betrayal… even if he died before anything came of it.”
Allen asked, “So… did you ever find out who or what killed the leader?”
The elder looked around and started whispering, “I don’t know… but I think it was an assassin hired by the princess… there has been talk about a secret organization that works to keep the peace in Equestria. But when I told the royal guard what I saw, he just brushed me off and told me that I don’t know what I saw because I was just dreaming. If you ask me… it’s all a conspiracy.”
Allen gave the elder a funny look as he replied, “A secret organization that keeps the peace? Who would be keeping the peace when the royal guards are doing fine on their own?”
The Elder whispered even quieter, “I hear it’s a secret organization that used to be well known throughout the world but became secret shortly after the Nightmare Crusade… they call themselves the Cu…”
the mare went silent as she looked over Allen’s shoulder and froze. Curious, Allen turned around and saw Equinox standing there as he smiled, “Well, Well, if it isn’t the Earth pony who came here with little sis. Enjoying our home trespasser?”
The Elder gave Equinox an annoyed stare as she replied, “Nox… you will treat him with respect while he is here… understand?”
Equinox shrugged his shoulders as he replied, “Why elder… I have no idea what you mean. I’m only greeting the surface dweller the way he deserves to be… like the rest of his kind.”
Allen stepped up to Equinox as he spoke, “If you’ve got something to say to me then just say it! The fact that you’re too afraid to talk is extremely annoying!”
Calling the bluff, Equinox smiled, “Whoa, so the earth pony has a little bit of courage in him doesn’t he? But is he all bark? Or douse he have a bit of… bite in him?...”
the slightly taller bat pony got close to Allen and glared into his eyes as he stared the earth pony down. Then without warning, he quickly opened his wings with enough speed to hit Allen with the wind and cause him to flinch at the unexpected action. After that, Equinox started to laugh, “HA! I knew it! I don’t know what’s more sad, the fact that my sweet baby sister who was the strongest of us was saved by a surface dweller… or the fact that she was saved by one as pathetic as you. Run along home little egg head, there are thing here, that aren’t for the faint of heart.”
Equinox started trotting past Allen as he used his shoulder to push him out of the way in a threatening manner. Then the bat pony trotted away laughing at his insults as Allen glared at him, “I hate that guy…”
the elder nodded her head, “As disrespectful as he was… he brings up a good point. Are you strong enough to handle your journey?”
Allen nodded his head, “Of course I am. Nothing will stand between me and my dream. Thank you for the lesson Elder… but I better get back to my friends.”
With a confident and annoyed step, Allen began trotting past the elder without letting her reply to his answer. As the Elder watched him leave, she smiled, “Your friends… good, Silver could use a friend’s advice for what awaits her. I can only wish you luck young stallion. This won’t be a safe journey for you… not anymore.”
as the elder turned to trot in the other direction, a large shadow flew over her as she paused in shock before turning to look in the direction the object flew in, “Oh no…”
back on the road, Allen was mumbling to himself in anger, “Stupid bat… it’s one thing to have a brother who treats you like garbage… but to have one who is as big a jerk as he is… no wonder she didn’t tell us that she was ba…”
Before he could finished his sentence, an armored stallion dove down from the sky and picked him up as he carried him through the air screaming in surprise. After realizing what happened, Allen looked up at the stallion who was carrying him as the pitch black stallion stared back at him with a glare that sent chills up his spine. Allen didn’t know who this pony was, but from the looks of things, he could tell that he was in serious trouble.
Back in the shack that they were sleeping in, Silvia rolled over and could hear a fain sound while she tried to sleep so she lifted her ear to listen, but as soon as she heard it, her eyes opened in fear as she mumbled, “I… I know that sonar…”
Without wasting a second, Silvia jumped out of the bed and rushed to the window as she looked outside, “Oh no… Allen!”
Leaving Derpy asleep in the bed, Silvia rushed outside just in time to see her father as he carried Allen over the shack and towards the central plaza of the underground city. Knowing that Allen was in danger, Silvia rushed as fast as she could down the street towards the site. As the commander arrived at the plaza, he increased his speed and dropped Allen key from a few feet leaving the flightless pony to hit the ground and roll into the wall of a building. After hitting the wall, Allen struggled to pick himself up as the dark stallion landed and glared at him in rage. Feeling too nervous to speak, Allen backed against the wall as the large bat pony spoke, “You’re wise to fear me… but then again you have always been too smart for your own good.”
“DAD!”
The dark stallion turned around and looked at Salvia as she entered the plaza, “Well if it isn’t my worst student… here to further disgrace our clan?”
Ignoring the insult, she replied, “I know why you here and why you’re angry… but that should mean that you know why I came back too.”
The commander looked at Allen and replied, “Yes… This pony saved your life. It’s a little sad; I knew your injury removed your ability to fly… I didn’t think it made you weak too. It’s funny that a pony like him would even accept a life debt for you.”
Silvia stood up with pride as she replied, “It’s my duty as a member of the clan to he-”
The commander turned around and glared at Silvia in a way that caused her to stop talking as she stepped back I worry. Then he approached his daughter and grabbed her chin as he looked her in the eye and replied, “Your duty?... as a member of this clan?... sorry, but you aren’t a member of this clan… you’re nothing but a rogue. Nopony in their right mind would accept a deserter like you.”
Allen stepped forward, “That’s not true!... We’ll accept her!...”
The commander pushed his daughter back as he turned and looked at Allen, “Ah yes… how could I forget you?... Allen Key.”
Allen was surprised, “W-what?... you know me?”
The commander smiled as he replied, “Yes… I learned of you a few years ago. Some ponies in Ponyville were worried saying that a crazy and possibly dangerous stallion was building something that could be used as a weapon. So, to prevent any threat from befalling the princess and everypony else, I decided to observe you for a few weeks. But once I discovered you’re nothing more than a lunatic with a death wish, I just brushed you off and ignored you. There is no way in the world that you could ever be a danger to anypony other than yourself.”
With a herd of bat ponies gathering around them to include Equinox, Allen could only stare at the clan leader as he replied, “Watching me… are you kidding?”
The commander shook his head as he looked into the gathering crowd, “No, though it is low on my list of priorities, I have an obligation to keep the kingdom safe from idiotic threats like you. Though I found out quickly that you and that stupid friend of yours was of no rea…”
“Shut up…”
Thinking that he heard wrong, the commander looked back at Allen and asked, “What did you say?”
Allen glared at the night commander as he replied, “I said shut up! Derpy is my friend, and I won’t let anypony call her stupid.”
The commander smiled sinisterly, “Don’t tell me you have feelings for that dull little nitwit.”
“I SAID SHUT UP!!!”
With his anger filled words echoing throughout the underground city, Allen stood his ground as he angrily glared at the commander who could only chuckle, “Is… that a challenge?”
Hearing the question, Silvia realized something important. Hoping it wasn’t too late Silvia yelled to Allen, “ALLEN! BOW NOW! PLEA FOR FORGIVENESS!!!”
Ignoring her advice, Allen continued standing there as he glared at the commander with deep hatred. After a brief period of silence, the commander nodded his head, “Very well… challenge accepted.”
Not realizing what happened, Allen’s expression of anger turned to confusion, “What?”
The commander trotted to the middle of the plaza, Drew his sword, and stuck the end into the ground leaving the sword to stand on its own. Then he turned back to Allen and spoke, “When one of us has fallen, the winner must return to this sword. Then according to our costumes, the victor will draw the blade… and end the life of the defeated.”
Allen froze in shock; he didn’t know that what he was doing by standing up for Derpy was actually a challenge. Allen was speechless as Silvia yelled out, “No! Allen Bow! Kneeling down and pleading for forgiveness is the only way to save yourself!”
The commander looked out the corner of his eye at his daughter and spoke, “Restrain her…”
With that command, a number of Equestrian Night Guards dove in from above and pined Silvia to the ground with spears on her back. Then the commander looked back at Allen and continued, “That’s right earth pony… if you bow to me now and beg forgiveness, then I might just let you live… so how about it? Are you willing to show that stupid little pony that you’re just as weak as her?”
Allen’s rage quickly returned, as he replied, “No! I won’t kneel to somepony who would ever call Derpy stupid. If anything, you’re the stupid one here.”
The commander’s expression quickly turned to a serious one as he replied, “Very well… then, on your guard!”
With those words, the night commander opened his wings and darted towards Allen with a speed so intense that Allen didn’t realize he moved until the bat pony was standing only inches form him. Allen stared in shock at his foe, as the massive pony punched him in the side of his face, knocking him to the ground with ease. As Allen laid on the ground struggling to pick himself up, the clan leader approached him and spoke, “Pathetic… to think that somepony like you would even think to challenge me… IT’S AN INSULT!!!”
With Allen still on the ground, the night commander began mercilessly kicking him as Silvia called out, “ALLEN! Dad stop! He won’t survive!”
The commander ignored his daughter as he continued kicking the weak pony more and more, seven, eight, nine times before letting the wounded earth pony fall flat on the ground in pain. With Allen’s movements reduced only to his deep breathing in pain, the large bat pony sighed, “I though you would be better than this. But I guess even the love you have for somepony who is too stupid to realize how insane you are isn’t much to a weakling like you.”
Leaving Allen on the ground, the commander began trotting to his sword as he mumbled to himself, “I guess the duel is over, time for me to end it now.”
When the commander reached for his sword, he heard a faint response, “You’re… You’re wrong…”
the commander paused as he turned back to see Allen using every bit of strength his body could handle, as he picked himself up and glared back at the commander, “You… you don’t understand… Derpy… she may not be a genius… but she is the smartest pony I know… even smarter… than you…”
The commander was impressed that Allen could muster the strength to stand, and even more so that he could reply with such an insult, but he held his expressionless face as he replied, “Sorry… but I can’t hear you. If you have something to say, that has any real value… then you have to show me how valuable it is. Come here and tell me the meaning of your words… and I just might consider agreeing with you. In fact, if you can tell me face to face, then I may actually take it back.”
Surprised to hear the offer, Allen looked at Silvia who was still pinned to the ground and shaking her head at him telling him not to listen, but with an offer like that on the table, Allen couldn’t pass it up. Using every bit of strength to hold himself up, Allen slowly started trotting towards the commander who held his ground next to the sword. With each passing step, trying not to stumble, Allen eased closer and closer the leader of the bat ponies as everypony in the herd to include Equinox, was amazed at his determination to reach the commander. Finally, after the long and painful trot, Allen approached the commander as the commander spoke, “Good, now tell me… exactly how is that mare of yours smarter than me?”
Allen replied while still feeling the effect of the beating he took, “Derpy… doesn’t care what you look like… she doesn’t care where you were born, what type of pony you are, she doesn’t even care what your wildest dream is. She… she chooses to judge by what’s inside… she likes me, for me… not because I’m smart, or an earth pony, or even my dreams of flight. She judges ponies by who they are as ponies. She is my friend, and the reason she is my friend is because of who I am… that’s all. I mean, look at your daughter, she’s a bat pony, she has a scarred wing and a checkered past, but even though we don’t even know her past, Derpy chose to become her friend anyways. Yea… she isn’t a genius… but because of the way she is, I think she is by far the smartest pony I know… even smarter… than you.”
Though he was nervous in saying it, Allen spoke those words directly to the commander’s face who could only admire his courage as he smiled and replied, “Really… well in that case…”
Just then, the commander opened up both wings as he flung his left wing under Allen’s legs tripping him. Then he used his right wing to not only catch the falling pony, but swing him around and toss him through the air as Allen flew over the observing herd and hit the balcony railing of a building that sat at the other end of the plaza, leaving the battered pony to fall to the ground. As the herd quickly opened up so that the commander could see his motionless foe, Silvia called to him, “ALLEN! Dad please! No more, he can’t take any more of this! He’ll die!”
The commander looked at his daughter and replied, “Congratulations Silver… your friend has convinced me to spare your life and the life of that other surface dweller you brought here. However, I won’t over look your treasonous action. So for your treachery in returning here and for bringing surface dwellers. I will take your honor, by forcing you to watch as you fail in fulfilling your life debt. Perhaps this will show you just what happens when you disobey your commander!”
With that said, the commander griped his sword and pulled it from the ground as he started to approach the wounded earth pony. Allen laid on the ground with pain thriving through every inch of his body as the commander came closer to him. As he laid there, he could only think about what the commander just said, he was grateful that now Derpy and Silvia were going to be free to leave, but as he thought about that, he felt bad that Silvia was going to fail in her goal, as well as the thought that he may never touch the sky himself. When these thoughts crossed his mind, Allen became more determined, so as the commander was still making his way to him, Allen raised one of his hooves and planted it on the ground as he tried to pick himself up again. This time, the commander couldn’t hold back his shocked expression as he stopped half way from reaching Allen, and watched in awe as Allen trembled in his struggle as he picked himself up from the ground and turned to look at his foe. The commander could only smiled as he mumbled to himself, “Well I'll be… he is stronger than he looks.”
With nopony hearing his mumbling, the commander continued trotting closer to Allen, as the wounded earth pony tried to hid the expression of worry on his battered face. Finally, as the commander reached him, he spoke, “You’re much stronger than I expected, I admire that… but this isn’t personal in anyway. I’m merely teaching my daughter a lesson. So… in light of that, do you have anything to say before you die?”
Allen felt like he was too weak to respond, but he still managed to reply, “T-take… it… b-back…”
The commander smiled, “I already did...”
With that said, the commander raised his sword up as Allen closed his eyes to accept what was next.
With his eyes closed, Allen waited until he heard a loud sound that sounded like metal hitting stone, but when he didn’t feel any pain, he opened his eyes to see what happened. When Allen opened his eyes, he saw a long needle sticking out of the ground between him and his foe, as the night commander looked at the rooftop of the building behind him in shock. Confused, Allen looked at Silvia who also had the shocked expression on her face as she and everypony in the plaza were looking at the same thing that the commander was in complete shock and awe. Slowly, Allen turned around and looked at the roof of the building behind him, but when he saw what everypony was looking at, he too froze in shock. Up on the rooftop of the building overlooking the plaza was a mare wearing a black hooded cloak, and welding a scythe. As everypony in the plaza looked at the mare, she raised her scythe up and taped the shaft against the ground creating a loud sound that echoed throughout the plaza. When the sound was heard, a large number of cloaked ponies began stepping out of the shadows of alleyways, rooftops, and even balconies all around them. When Allen backed up from the cloaked mare, he found himself standing next to the commander as the commander spoke, “The Reaper… but why is she here?”
Allen looked at the commander in confusion, “The… Reaper?”
Ignoring Allen’s words, the commander sheathed his sword and called, “You are interrupting a duel, and breaking the law by coming here! State your business!!!”
The Reaper looked down at the commander and spoke, “We are here because we seek a criminal of justice! We have reason to believe he is amongst you and we wish to discuss this matter in private!”
Knowing that this was some kind of code, the commander asked, “Is this a matter requested by the princess?”
The mare replied, “No… this is a matter requested… By The Cutters.”
The commander looked out the corner of his eye at Allen then back at The Reaper before replying, “Fine! Then let’s retire to discuss this further.”
The cloaked covered mare nodded her head as she stepped off the rooftop and fell as she used her wings to stop her fall mere inches from the ground. Then the pegasus began following the commander as he spoke while turning to leave, “Luck was on your side today Allen… next time, you won’t be so lucky. You may stay one more day to recover, but by night fall tomorrow. You, my daughter, and your… smart friend, better be gone.”
The commander and The Reaper then continued past Allen as he sat down in pain with all the bruises and cuts he took from the fight. As the commander and The Reaper started to pass Silvia who was still being held down by the guards, The Reaper stopped as she looked at the guards and spoke, “Release her…”
With actions controlled by fear, the guards quickly let Silvia go as they lined up behind her as if they were commanded by the princess. Then when Silvia picked herself up from the ground, The Reaper, with the shadow of her cloak still covering her face nodded her head to Silvia as she continued following the commander through the herd.
When The Reaper was already passed her, Silvia mumbled to herself, “Who on earth was that?”
Then she heard a sound as she realized that Allen had fallen to the ground in exhaustion. Reacting quickly, Silvia rushed to his side as she looked at him and patted his face, “Allen!... are you alright?”
Allen mumbled with his eyes closed, “Y-yea… I’m fine… are you?”
Silvia smiled as she replied, “Well, my pride is totaled… but I’m okay… thanks to you. I guess I owe you twice now.”
Allen shook his head as he replied, “Tell you what… we’ll just call this a freebee.”
With that said, Allen used all the energy he had left as he passed out on the spot. Then Silvia put him on her back as she began trotting back to where Derpy was still sleeping, as she made her way back, she passed Equinox who smiled, “That was cool, he took a beating like that and still survived. You got yourself one lucky guy there sis… for a surface dweller I mean.”
Without waiting for a reply, Equinox trotted past his sister as she spoke, “You did this… didn’t you?”
Without turning back, Equinox replied, “Whatever do you mean sis? You saw it yourself… this was all dad’s doing.”
When Equinox was too fare for her to hear him, he mumbled very quietly to himself, “Great… now The Cutters know she is alive too… this is where things get complicated I better watch my back, if they find out about my plans then I’m more than just finished… I’m dead.”
A few minutes later, the Night commander watched from his second story window, of his home as Silvia returned to their temporary residence with Allen still unconscious on her back. As she entered the building, The Reaper stepped up behind him and placed her hoof on his shoulder, “It’s strange… that colt was put through quite the beating and yet he still managed to keep himself conscious until the fight was over.”
The commander nodded his head, “He’s persistent, but he’s also a fool. Everypony knows that the only way to defend what you care about is to stay alive. It’s one thing to stare death in the face… but if you don’t even throw a punch, then staring only wastes what life you have left.”
The Reaper smiled as she put down the hood on her cloak, “Perhaps… but he knew this fight was over before you even planted your blade, so what other options did he have. Besides, he did save Silvia and that mare friend of his.”
The commander nodded his head, “Yea… and I don’t think I have ever seen her worry about the life of a stallion before, I wonder if he could be the one.”
The Reaper shook her head as she replied, “Unlikely, you know as well as I that Silvia prefers the company of females.”
The commander nodded his head, “True, but still. There is something about that colt that she admires; otherwise she wouldn’t have seemed as worried as she did.”
The Reaper replied, “Perhaps she wanted to make up for past mistakes.”
The commander nodded his head, “Perhaps… anyway, why did you come here? You know that you’re not allowed here anymore.”
The Reaper nodded her head as she trotted to a nearby chair and sat down, “When I discovered that Silvia was still alive, I had to protect her. Even… from you.”
The commander nodded his head, “I see… well, then you did your job. She is safe and as long as they leave tomorrow, they will have no more problems from me.”
The Reaper stood up and replied, “Good, I’m glad to hear that. Although, I wasn’t lying when I said we are in pursuit of a criminal.”
The commander looked at The Reaper and replied, “Really?”
The pegasus nodded her head and continued, “Yes… after the incident, we discovered that Silvia’s search and rescue mission that killed her team, was a set up.”
The commander was surprised, “Set up?... How?”
The Reaper replied, “The ponies she was ordered to find… never existed in the first place.”
The commander became annoyed, “Then who gave the order?”
The Reaper stood up and put the cloak hood over here head as she replied, “We don’t know… but since Silvia’s return here is well known, we believe she may still be in danger. I'll have The Cutters continue the investigation. As for me, I have matters to deal with in Canterlot.”
The Reaper started trotting towards the door but just before she opened it, the commander spoke, “Jasmine?”
The Reaper stopped and replied, “Yes?”
The commander approached her and kissed her before replying, “For what’s its worth, it was good seeing you again. And… I hope you can keep our daughter safe.”
The Reaper smiled as she placed her hoof on the commander’s cheek, “I'll do my best, just… don’t kill her first. I'd hate to kill you too.”
With that said, The Reaper left the room and vanished into the shadows as the commander replied, “Well, I guess that’s what I get for marrying a member of the noble Mist family. And ya know what… totally worth it.”