//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Equestrian Marine Corps // by KillerShadow 15 //------------------------------// Earlier "Your Highness, she's wake. You may see her now." I looked at the nurse pony, thanking her. I heard a dull thud behind me, so I turned to find nothing but an over turned stool. "James? James, where are you?" I looked around one more time before heading towards Twilight. After my visit with Twilight, I went looking around for James. After talking with fellow soldiers, I found out that he was not in town. This made me worry. "What if he was Foalnapped! No, that couldn't happen. His men are here and I would have heard something. But that over turned chair makes me wonder. After that mental conversation and one last look around town, I was on my way back to the castle. As I walked in, a pair of guards ran to my side. "Princess! We need you in the Medical wing! Princess Luna is hurt!" I paled at the last part. "I'll meet you two there!" I then teleported. Present When I ran in, Luna looked at me and smiled. "Sister! We are rejoiced at your presence!" I looked over my sister with a displeased look. She was wearing a neck brace and had a large bandage around her right leg. "Sister! What has happened to you?! Who did this?!" I let out an angry tone I have never used before. "Well, We shall start from the beginning. We were walking with a guard who was giving his report when We heard shouting in an Interrogation room. When We walked in, there was one of the Humans that helped rescue Twilight. His face was bloodied and bruised. The Interrogator was none other than Shining Armour. We released the Human to bring him to the medical wing while the guard stayed to yell at Shining. When We were almost there, he woke up and killed the two guards carrying him. Then he threw a knife at me and put an arm around my neck, causing me to pass out." I looked at Luna in a horrified manor. "I can't believe Shining Armour would do such a thing." "Nor can I Tia. Nor can I." I looked at my sister and gave her a hug before leaving. James Oh Lord, what the Hell is going on? I was running away from my captors when I ran into another group of armoured ponies. I don't know what set them off, but they all attack me while a few went for reinforcements. While I managed to lose the guards, I some how got my self lost in the process. I heard a pop of sorts behind me. As I turned around, I saw a bright flash of light, then someone grabbed me from behind. At that moment, my training kicked in. I grabbed the arms holding me got them off and elbowed the creature in the ribs many times and threw them over my shoulder. When my vision cleared, I saw that it was a purple unicorn with wings. It was the pony I saved from the forest. "What was that for? I hadn't done anything to you!" The pony got up, shook her head and glared at me. At that same moment a louder pop and a brighter flash went off behind me. This time I dove behind the purple creature. When I got to my feet, I grabbed the pony and held my knife to her throat. "Stay back! I will kill her! If so much as one muscle twitches, she will need a new head." "Why would you do such a thing James? We both know that you won't, so please put the knife away and come and talk with me." I looked at the pony to see none other than Celestia standing there with a sad look on her face. "No! I want answers! Why did you have me kidnapped!" The princess looked even more sad. "I did not have you kidnapped. Shining Armour did that on his own free will." I could hear the confusion in the purple ponies head before she spoke. "Celestia, why would my brother do that? This isn't him. It had to be a changeling! It had to be!" The mare slumped forward and stared ahead. Trying to wrap her head around the situation was my best guess. "Princess Celestia! Shining Armour has awaken. He is willing to talk." The guard finished his report when he turned his look towards me. He got in a defensive stance and ignited his horn. "YOU! You killed Light Weight and Serenity Shield! Get behind me Princesses! I'll take care of this Mother Bucker!" With that he charged up a spell. Apparently Magic has recoil, seeing as how his magic bolt, instead of heading towards me, it was going to hit the purple pony that was standing a few feet away. My eyes widened as time seemed to speed up. With no hesitation, I dove at the mare and shielded her with my body. There was a loud bang and a bright flash, as if some one set off a flash bang. I felt a painful searing in my back. I opened my eyes to see every thing was blurry and the voices distorted, like you see in war movies where someone narrowly avoided and explosive, but still got hit with the shock wave. That is the best way to describe it. I looked behind the ponies and saw my wife, Rebecca smiling at me, while wearing the same dress I had bought her on our first date. Next to her was my daughter and my son. They were all smiling and waving at me to join them. I had a hard time trying not to tear up because they've been dead for almost 5 years. I tried to choke out their names, but I blacked out before I could.