//------------------------------// // Chapter 36 - Strange Defeat // Story: In the Royal Guard // by J8ck78 //------------------------------// "Okay! This! Is! Getting! Ridiculous!" Said David With each word Shadow jabbed at his head as he moved down a wall. he kept dodging until he realized something: he was getting tired. The fear of the fact that maybe sitting at his desk for the past few months and going out for PT only when actually required. Shadow, meanwhile, went on morning flights, midday runs, and did something at night that he didn't really care for because he was asleep at that time. As she put another hoof mark into the wall he took off again, slowly running out of energy as he kept going, Shadow right behind him right and ready for the kill. Turning sideways he started to run on the side of the wall in order to save his energy and started to pick up speed. As he looked back to see her still on his tail he looked back to see a window open up from the storm and he was moving too fast to move. "Oh this is going to hurt." he said he smashed through the window head first, his helmet taking most of the impact, but the glass shattered and he lost his balance mid flight and spiraled to the ground. He stood up barely able to stand and wobbled around for a moment. Suddenly he felt a a sharp unimaginable pain in his left wing and himself leaning to the side. He looked to see the purple hoof covering of the Shadow's hoof on his wing, and the fact it was broken. He stared wide eyed at his broken wing, a silent scream escaped his lips as he stared at it until Shadow got up and looked at him with a evil smile and David knew he was defeated. "Owe." said David as he fell to the ground, "Well this is going to hurt." As he said that, Shadow was flying up and flew in for the final blow that would take him out, David had one final kick in his hoof right into the side of her face. the force of it took off her helmet and threw her into the wall. "YEEEEEEE-HA-OWE!" David screamed at the top of his lungs as he landed on his broken wing with the weight of his armor and body crushing it even more. The echoing cries deafened the thunder outside and alerted the other ponies to his pain. "Oh Celestia, Sergeant David!" said Spirit "No!" said Starlight "Have faith in the Sergeant. He's fully capable of handling these situations." said Shining Armor in assurance as he ran with them to join the fight, but even he was worried. David meanwhile doubled over in pain and couldn't get up as tears of pain welled up in his eyes and he slammed his hoof down to try and remove some of the pain. Even more pain surged through his body as Shadow stepped on it and looked down at him. "Sergeant? What is going on?" she asked "YOU'RE STEPPING ON MY BROKEN WING THAT'S WHAT!" he screamed in anger and pain He looked up to her, and her demeanor had changed. It was no longer a intent and determination to kill him, it was of general worry and emotion he had never seen her use before. Before he could get a better look she kicked him across the floor and he slid into a wall and a stature fell upon him, just barely missing his wing. "What the? Stop it!" yelled David "David I can't control my body." "Oh that's just freaking fine and dan-you're still trying to attack me aren't you?" "Yes!" said Shadow in fear David broke free from the statue pile, and instantly crashed in pain a few feet in pain from his broken wing. Shadow still came after him and David took off running with one good wing and one bad. Shadow's half controlled body flew after him closing in. "Explain to me while you're able to think outside mind control and yet you're still attacking!" "Explain to me how you're still alive!" she said, "Swooping down on your left!" David managed to dodge as she landed there with a force that cracked the ground. At least he had a warning system now when she was going to attack, though he didn't quite understand the process of it. "Diamond dog didn't kill me! I went after him! Every Guard I found save two were mind controlled!" "So that's why those Guards attacked-I'm trying to cut you off in front of you!" She flew overhead and was about to just that when David took a hard left and galloped into another hallway. Shadow was right behind him and closing once again. "I answered yours! Answer mine! Khan said you were under a potion made by Discord a long time ago!" "Haven't you read about Discords potions!? They never made sense! However it would take a massive force or a sudden emotional burst to stop it!" "Explains why the cannon on Spirit worked. That's allot of pain and fear in one blast." "You shot Spirit!" "He was mind controlled!" "You right hind leg!" yelled Shadow David leaped as she tried to knock out his legs, just barely missing as she did. As he landed, his wing took some of the vibration and he nearly fell over. "I can't take much more of this!" he said starting to slow "You have to David! Or else my body will kill you!" "Oh no it wont!" said David He slid to a stop and turned around to face her. Shadow didn't want to hurt him in any way, but she wasn't in control and slowly stepped toward him to finish him off once and for all. He snorted knowing full well was his only choice, and dropped to his knees. "I surrender." said David "What!?" she asked shocked Her body came to a full stop before him and stood there. David stood there catching his breath as Shadow stood over him. "I can't run, I can't fly, and I'm out of breath. I surrender. Take me to this Lord Rex guy and let's get this over with." "Sergeant! You can still fight! I know you can!" pleaded Shadow, "You need to keep fighting!" "Coming from the pony who's body is trying to kill me?" laughed a defeated David, "No, I'm out!" "Sergeant I order you to keep fighting! The fate of the palace rests upon it! You can't stop!" "Only time I'm going to disobey your orders Captain. Sorry." She looked to him and would have shed tears if she could. With him defeated, she was technically defeated and her body kicked him up. He stood there with his head down as she lead the way to Lord Rex. As she did, David drew a classic evil smile. His new plan was working, but it gave him great pain that he had to keep Shadow out of the loop. Once he came face to face with Lord Rex, he knew exactly what to do. ---- "Your Majesties, the castle is under attack!" said Armor They had finally made it to the Princesses, and picked up a good number of unturned Guards along the way. Most didn't know what was going on, but Armor had given them their orders and they were duty bound to prepare for whatever he ordered. "Explain Captain!? Who is it?" asked Celestia "A Diamond dog with a potion from Discord has managed to infect the Guard and turned them against us! These Guard here were from the fight!" Some of the Guard, and even the Princesses themselves were suspicious. Diamond Dogs were hardly a threat to Equestria at any given time, and now one had suddenly infiltrated the Royal city of Canterlot, let alone the Royal Palace? However, Armor was not only the Captain of the Guard, but the older brother of Celestia's own pupil, and he would never lie. The look on his face only sealed the truth for the Princesses "Does thou know where the Diamond Dog is?" asked Luna "8th Floor balcony your majesty!" said Crescent "We have Guard in there as we speak trying to stop him." said Armor "Captain Armor, go there and grab as many Guard as you can along the way!" ordered Celestia, "Luna and I will remove the storm for a little surprise." She smiled at Luna and they both knew what they were talking about, but none of the Guards did but Shining Armor had his orders. As they flew off, he turned to his comrades and cleared his throat. "Alright Guard! Let's move it to the eight floor balcony and join the fight! We are about to face a enemy who has turned our fellow Guard against us with a Discorded potion from long ago! Do not underestimate him! This is not a drill, this is what we were trained for, the ultimate calling! Let's make our Princesses proud!" As the Guard took off ready for the fight, Charger whispered to his Pegasus friend. "We basically make them proud standing at attention so, what's the point of that last sentence?" Crescent just rolled his eyes.