//------------------------------// // Xenophobia // Story: The phantom of Equestria // by BrokenStar54 //------------------------------// I take a look around me as we exit through the doors. A group of dapper-looking ponies were staring at us as we ran, a few guards in golden armour were chasing us, and Ezra was looking frightened and confused, both emotions struggling to take over the other. "Come on! Let's get out of here." I yelled behind me. We run by a group of ponies in dresses and they all shout out at us, calling us monsters. I turn down an alleyway and hit a dead end. I hear Ezra behind me, panting from running so hard. "Look for a way out." He called out. I began looking around, a few trashcans were tipped over, litter was thrown around the small space, and a grate on the ground was uncovered, inviting me to open it. I take a closer look and find it latched to the pavement. I pick up a nearby hammer, strange how often convenient tools just pop up, and start banging on the rusty latch, trying to pry it open. Obviously enough, the hammering created a lot of noise, and the golden armoured ponies showed up at the entrance to the alley. "Hurry up, Calvin! The guards are here!" I look back over my shoulder and begin hitting the latch with renewed vigor. The latch was starting to come up, ever so slightly. "Calvin, they got guns!" Another look over my shoulder confirms that the guards have what appears to be long, scope-less rifles attached to their sides. A pale, blue light was emitting from deep in the barrels, and from holes on the side of the weapon. Oh fuck. This won't end well. Finally the latch gives way and bends, but in the wrong direction! I quickly hammer it around and pull up the latch. "It's open, come on!" Ezra turns and lowers himself down into the hole. I get up to follow when a single word sounds out behind me, chilling me to my bones. "Fire!" A sound not unlike an air compressor going off followed rays of light from the rifles. Most of them miss, then again it must be hard to aim as a pony, hitting the brick behind me. However, a sudden, searing heat ignites in my upper right arm, causing me to cry out in pain. I waste no time and start crawling toward the hole in the ground. The guards start running towards me, eager to get me before I escape. Right before they get to me, a ray of red energy shoots towards the golden armoured ponys, stopping them in their tracks. I look up with them to the rooftops, spotting two ponies, each wearing a long flowing cloak, making it impossible to tell who they are with the sun behind them. "Don't just sit there," shouted a feminine voice. "Go down there!" I push myself into the hole and ease myself in, as im about to let go, I fell something poke my head, hard. I look up into the barrel on one of those rifles, slime, and let go. As I fall, I hear the gun discharge. After what seems like forever, which I understand may be about two seconds, I hit the ground. I look around, I seem to be doing a lot of that lately, and find myself in what looks like a sewer, but is much cleaner than one. I see Ezra to my side, talking to me. No sound reaches my ears, however, and I black out from loss of blood. Celestia was waiting impatiently for the results of the squad she sent out to chase the two bipedal creatures. As she was pacing around the throne room, a few thoughts went trough her head. Why did they attack Luna?.... Are they always going to be this hostile?.... Can they be caught and reformed if so?.... Obviously, nopony knew the answers to these questions. She continued pacing as the great doors opened and a familiar white unicorn with golden armour appeared. "Ahh, Shining Armor. Do you have the field report?" "Yes your highness, the enemy has escaped underground." A slightly worried look flashed across Celestia's face. "However," continued Shining Armor. "We also received reports of two unknown ponies wearing dark cloaks, who aided in their escape by attacking the guard." This caught Celestia's attention. "How did they attack the soldiers?" "I believe one of them shot out a red beam. Why, do you know them?" Celestia walked over to the only window that wasn't made into a display of stained glass, and looked out onto the roofs of the buildings of Canterlot. "Yes," she answered after a pause. "I'm all too familiar with them."