Dead, But Not Gone

by Crimson Twilight

Chapter 2, Old Friends and Enemies

Gryphonport was an average town, but once upon a time it had been a major trade center, nowadays, while it was still a trading port, there was much less traffic. Still, there was plenty of passerby, merchants selling goods of different kinds, from food to items. Then there were the buyers seeking to find the items they were looking for for the lowest price. And then there were the travelers who passed by the town to rest. This was exactly what Star's group of mercenaries were looking for, a perfect place to fit in. Normally a magenta pony would stick out quite a lot, but with the help of a spell that caused Star to look rather uninteresting, this was not a problem.

The six griffins and one pony walked down one of the larger roads not wanting to draw unnecessary attention. The streets were mostly composed of griffins, but every so often you would find a pair of ponies in armor, nightmare guards. Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice the group, though that might have to do with that they started talking with one of the shop owners and Star using an invisibility spell. If it wasn't for the drain of keeping the spell going, Star would have kept the spell running all the time in town. Moving while casting the spell drained extra, too, therefore she only used it for situations like these, since the other spell didn't work on those who were actively searching for her or already knew about her.

After evading multiple groups of nightmare guards and having a close call with one group, the mercenaries finally reached an inn. They were greeted by the inn owners, a couple in their late forties. They got themselves two larger rooms to share for a night. The innkeepers had had trouble with how to pay since the couldn't go after the sun anymore, this they had fixed by getting themselves a 'clock' which helped keep track of time. The rather new device had been expensive as there was a big need for them. The two beige unicorn merchants clad in some silly blue and white suits had seemed somewhat suspicious at first, but their device had, in fact, worked. It had also proved to be a good investment for the couple.

Star, Gilda, Graywing and Sharp Edge took the room with four beds, while the other five got the room with five beds. The rooms weren't large, but they didn't feel cramped together, either. The floor was made of light-colored wooden planks while the walls were made of darker wood. In the roof was a lamp powered by the ambient magic in the air, which had, thankfully, an off switch. They turned off the lights as soon as they had taken off their equipment, their weapons hidden with the rest of their things.

Graywing was the first in bed and was fast asleep, not having slept much. The others followed suit and were soon embraced by the fog of sleep, too.

---

"What do you mean you lost 'em? You had one job, damn it, lieutenant, one job! I want double the amount of patrols and get some pegasi in the sky damn it, they're not leaving this town without us finding out. And when you find them, I want them brought up to me! Ugh, I'm getting a drink. Why are you still here Lieutenant, you have a job to do!"

The Lieutenant was quick to give the Captain a salute and a 'yes ma'am', and was quickly in the air. The gray lunar pegasus was soon not visible to the naked eye. Thankfully for the nightmare guards, their helmets were enchanted to give the wearer night vision. That gave them an upper hoof in most battles as their enemies struggled to see them, but they had no such problem.

Rainbow sighed. Instead of flying, she decided to walk.

Back in Ponyville, before she became the Captain of the nightmare guards, everypony would have greeted or waved to her in some fashion, but now? Now everyone gave her distrustful gazes, the only reason somepony would greet her nowadays as if they had to, not because they wanted to.

As Rainbow Dash walked down the streets of Gryphonport, she was met by glares, some glared when they didn't think she was watching, others while she was. This had dampened her mood considerably, but she was used to it by now. She didn't give it much thought, lest her mood drop too low.

As she reached the Inn, everyone stared at her, mostly of disgust. She sat herself down next to the counter and ordered their strongest. "That'll be thirty bits, ma'am." The cold voice of the male griffin woke her up from her stupor, only for her to go back to it as soon as she had paid. On any other day she might have gotten herself cider, her favorite, but today she only wanted to forget. To forget all the cold stares. To simply not have to worry, if only of a moment.

She had barely started to drink as she heard a familiar voice, the voice of an old friend. She turned towards the guest room area, where she found the white and brown-yellow gryphoness. "G-gilda" she muttered as recognition entered her mind. "Gilda!" She moved towards the door frame where Gilda stood. She had been talking to somepony that the walls blocked out of sight.

---

Gilda was startled out of the conversation with Twilight, somegriffin had not only known her name, but the voice had sounded familiar. She turned her head in the direction that the familiar voice had come from. Waiving a hoof was a nightmare guard, but not any nightmare guard, no, a Captain. Her eyes went wide, the terror of the fact that they had been found despite their efforts to keep hidden being the primary emotion she felt. It didn't take long for her to notice why the voice had been so familiar, it belonged to her best, and oldest, friend, Rainbow Dash.

A chill went down Gilda's spine as the connections between information were made, the panic causing it to take longer than it would have otherwise. It was at this moment Star decided to poke her head through the door frame, her eyes meeting those of Rainbow Dash. Both went wide-eyed, neither expecting to find the other.

Star dashed to put an as big as possible distance between them, Dash in hot pursuit and quickly gaining. In the end, Star merely manages a few meters or so, the pegasus being much quicker than her.

Just as she jabbed the unicorn's horn, preventing her from casting until she got a dampener on the horn, as a growl came from behind her. "If you want her you'll have to go through me."

Dash and Gilda stared at each other intensely. "Gilda, I don't want to fight you, you're one of the only friends I have. So, please, don't get yourself involved in this." Rainbow said with a saddened expression.

"The moment you joined the nightmare guard you lost the right to call me friend."Gilda scoffed at the prismatic pegasus.

"I didn't have a choice, I was picked for my talents in flying and to lead. I never had a saying in the matter, and the last one to openly go against Nightmare was hanged in front of everypony in town. And, why do you even care about her anyway?" Dash returned.

"She's my friend and I will stand with my friends no matter what, my best friend did the same to me, but I don't see that mare anymore," Gilda said honestly.

Rainbow visibly flinched the unicorn under her still unconscious. She didn't know what to do, her loyalties were divided. She had sworn her loyalty to the nightmare guard, albeit she hadn't had much to say in the matter, but she had still sworn. And if there was one thing she was then it was loyal. But on the other hoof, if she went through with this she would betray the trust of one of her oldest friends. In the end, she knew where she should put her loyalty. Rainbow sighed as she spoke. "Fine, I'll let you go, but if you get captured I won't be able to help you."

"Maybe there's still some left of the one I once called friend. Thanks, Dash, I guess I was a bit hard on you. It's just, after what happened back home-" Gilda sighed, her anger fading, replaced with sorrow. "Not everyone made it. I just hope we could have met during better circumstances." An awkward silence ruled until Star started to wake up. Rainbow, still hesitant, lifted herself from Star's body, the unicorn slowly getting her bearings.

Dash rubbed one forehoof against the other as she spoke. "Well, uh, I'll leave you, then..." An awkward excuse to leave, not that the situation was anything but awkward.

"Yeah... We should get going, anyway..." Once again an uncomfortable silence ruled, only a few moans from the awakening unicorn and the low chatter from the griffins in the bar breaking the otherwise tangible silence.

Rainbow gave Gilda one last glance before she left, joining up with the other nightmare guards at the edge of town. I hope I did the right thing... She thought as she addressed the present guards.

Comments

[Dipti]

Rainbow dash is a traitor plan and simple is she were actually loyal she would be leading a resistance.

[Cross Lament]

Slight issue with the action part; there's no indication of Dash actually doing anything that would render Star unconscious, so it reads a bit abrupt and weird.

[Crimson Twilight]

7137583 She jabbed her horn after knocking her to the ground. That should be enough, remember that she was knocked down from behind, at high speeds, and then struck at an important nervous system. If you have something you think I should add do tell me, but I'm not trying to make them invincible. The reason someone wears armor is to protect the body, it's not just for decoration. I hope you understand my thought process on this now.

[Cross Lament]

7139265 Oh, no, not complaining about it happening or anything. It's not like Star is some sort of hoof-to-hoof expert.

Star dashed to put an as big as possible distance between them, Dash in hot pursuit and quickly gaining. In the end, Star merely go a meter or so, the pegasus being much quicker than her.

She was just about to make a jab on the unicorn's horn, preventing her from casting until she got a dampener on the horn, as a growl came from behind her. "If you want her you'll have to go through me."

It's not really clear what action Dash took (other than catching up to Star), that's all. The way it's worded, even the jab at her horn was aborted.

[Thunder--Clash]

I wonder how the story would progress, it's really interesting.

[Crimson Twilight]

7139356 Woops, that I agree with. Ugh, this is why I need to get a proofreader... Thanks for pointing that out.

[Twilight978]

In the beginning of you your description you say " Nightmare tacking over" think you meant taking

[Crimson Twilight]

7205773 I most certainly did, I'm not sure how I missed that. Thanks for pointing that out.