Storm on the Horizon
The scent of pine was heavy in the air, a fitting smell for the ancient forest. There wasn’t much of a breeze as the day was relatively calm, the only interruption was the occasional bird singing and chattering of squirrels. A nearby brook babbled quietly and quickly, while a nearby river rushed towards its destination. The air temperature was comfortable if not slightly cooler. Although it was high summer in the forest occupied mountains, snow still capped the mighty peaks. The animals of the mountain countered the cool air by basking in the sun, whether it be lying on a particularly comfy patch of moss or absorbing heat from the baking rocks.
A fiery-red lizard sat on one of these rocks, carefully eyeing the insects that flitted back and forth across the flowing water of the brook. It had been a very successful day so far for the reptile. Its belly was already full of the delectable bounty, proving that it was not going to go to bed hungry. Deciding that it would catch one more, it opened its mouth slightly, coiling its long tongue in preparation of a strike. This was not to be as two fast moving shadows raced across the water and over the lizard, causing it to panic and flee between a few loose boulders.
The two small shadows continued on, ignoring the wildlife beneath them. The ones responsible for disturbing the wildlife were far, far above the forest, appearing as specks in the sky. Unlike the rather temperate forest, the two flyers were experiencing a much different climate.
Swift Winds carefully lifted his right foreleg to wipe away some of the ice beginning to collect on the lenses of his flight goggles. He instinctively compensated for his change in air drag by manipulating his feathers to keep himself balanced. While moving his foreleg back into place, he lightly brushed against his flight harness, ensuring that the straps were still secured. If he dropped his specially modified saddlebag at this height and it fell into the powerful Westerlies that he and his wing pony were currently flying over, he would be hard pressed in catching it.
The dark blue pegasus had a cutie mark depicting gusting winds, marking his special talent for flying in powerful air flows. He looked to his right and checked up on his flight partner. The other pegasus had a light gray coat with a black mane. He sported an artificial leather flight cap, goggles, his own specialized flight bag, and a golden scarf. His cutie mark was a straight, blurry streak of clouds.
Strato Streak glanced over towards him and nodded, not bothering to speak as every ounce of oxygen in the low air environment was needed. Swift looked forward and continued watching the distant ground beneath him. The Galloping Mountains were vast, but more importantly, were one of the highest mountain ranges in Equis.
Very few ponies could fly above these lords of the land, much less at the altitude Swift Winds and Strato Streak were currently at. Flying above the wind belts like the Westerlies, Swift and others like him were able to traverse the nation, or even the world if one so desired at a very high speed with minimal energy expenditure. Another bonus was that this ability was highly sought after, meaning one never had to worry about unemployment. Most pegasi would either freeze to death, become unconscious due to lack of oxygen, or become severely injured in the sometimes violent winds.
That’s what made working for the postal system so profitable. Most unicorns were incapable of sending messages clear across the country and instead relied on pulled wagons or winged couriers. The message Swift and Strato carried was anything but a love letter or shipping orders.
Swift was eating the distance quickly, the green forest passing blinkingly fast beneath them. The sun was shining brightly above them and still had a good six hours to go before setting on the hazy horizon. Mentally calculating their position, Swift angled his wings downwards and dove rapidly, feeling the air pressure slowly increase before he smashed into the Westerlies. Controlling his body in the buffeting wind he expertly exited the deadly winds. Swift gave a quick glance to Strato before continuing his approach towards the ground beneath him. They leveled off when they reached just below the altitude table of the peaks, flapping their wings occasionally to adjust their flight in the now random gusts of wind.
Swift slowed down slightly, allowing Strato Streak to pull up alongside him. “We should be nearing Trevelyan,” he bellowed, the fog from his breath racing away from him. “Have you seen any patrols yet?”
“Not yet,” Strato stated. He moved his head left to right before he stopped. “Wait,” he squinted, wiping his goggles briefly. Swift followed his gaze.
A trio of dark shapes were flying low over the tree tops heading in a direction away from them. Swift estimated that both Strato and him were about a kilometer away and, with his current airspeed, were closing in on them. Swift rolled his head towards them, commanding Strato to intercept. They both tipped their wings towards the left and began a shallow dive, rapidly gaining on them. One of the shapes turned their head and spotted them, their large ears twitching. The formation continued flying straight, albeit slowing their pace. Swift and Strato began bleeding their speed by producing further air drag with their hooves and flaring their feathers. As they neared, Swift was able to identify them as thestrals.
The two couriers pulled alongside them, needing no introduction as their unique gear provided their identity, or at the very least their purpose. The thestrals were wearing light sets of purple armor, proving Swift’s assumptions that they were a patrol, correct. The small group continued to move at a quick pace, ignoring the increasingly biting cold the further north they moved.
A snow capped mountain passed on their right, giving view to a massive stone city. It was tucked near the bottom of three mountains, the short valley providing the only safe way of approaching the snow-shrouded city. Swift could see heavily-armed thestrals moving along the top of the battlements, watching as the flying group crossed overhead. The cobblestone streets were empty at this time of day as the thestrals were nocturnal in nature. They continued along their flight path towards the castle’s courtyard. Swift glided in before giving a few quick pumps of his wings, slowing his descent. His hooves met the cold stone with a series of loud clacks. Swift gave his coat a quick shake, throwing off the small amount of frost that had build up in his fur. The biting cold wasn’t an issue as he was used to flying in the high altitudes.
A nearby officer—judging from the bars on his shoulder pauldron—approached the new arrivals. “Anything to report?” he addressed the three scouts.
“No sir, everything was clear.”
The NCO nodded before dismissing them with a wave of his hoof. He turned his attention to the two pegasi. “Couriers,” he stated with an air of indifference. “What can I do for you today?”
Swift glanced at Strato who shared the same message with his eyes. “This is a matter that needs to be taken up with the Head Baron.”
The large thestral eyed the two before releasing a subtle snort. “What is the severity of the situation?” he asked as he turned, gesturing for them to follow. “The Baron is rather busy with the recent influx of rogues. There have been recent attacks on the more secluded hamlets.”
“It’s the Princess. Specifically, Princess Luna.”
The NCO stopped in his tracks, whipping around to glare at Swift. “This had better not be a joke,” he said, his accent slipping into a heavier dialect as his anger spiked.
Swift shook his head, staring the thestral dead in the eye. “She has returned.”
1 Day Ago
Summer Sun Celebration
“… and that’s when the idiot punched one of his squad mates. Luckily, I was there to save his flank.”
“Wow, you’re so brave!” The red mare gushed, collapsing into Strato’s side. The pegasus stallion smiled and pulled her closer, causing the mare to giggle.
Swift took a gulp of his cider before shaking his head, waving off the approaching waitress. “As I recall, you ran out of the foyer to gather some of the solar guards. I had to fend off four fully armed griffons from potential disability.”
Strato cleared his throat before sliding his hoof across his neck, gesturing for him to knock it off. “Y-yeah, but when I couldn’t find any back up I had to defend my wing commander.” The mare smiled before laying a kiss on his snoot.
“Why don’t you describe some more of your heroics in greater… detail… at my apartment?” She glanced across the table towards Swift, her face locked in a lustful smile. “Your friend can come too, if he wants.”
Strato’s grin couldn’t have grown any larger. He looked at Swift with expectant eyes. “Well, what about it? It’ll be a good time.”
Swift shook his head before looking down into his mug. “Nah, I’ll pass.”
Strato’s smile disappeared. “Listen Swift. It’s been what, three years? She wouldn’t have wanted you to continue on like this.”
The mare whipped her head towards Swift, the predatory looks she had sported earlier gone. “What?” She glanced between Strato and Swift before realization dawned on her face. “Oh. Oh. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know,” she looked at Swift, her voice full of sincerity.
Swift waved a hoof at her before speaking, “Don’t worry about it. Why don’t you two have some fun alright? I’d just be a drag.”
Strato watched his friend carefully, judging his words. Swift smiled at him, genuinely touched that Strato was concerned for him. He nodded at Strato before making a shooing gesture. Strato sighed, “Alright, but only since you insist.” He set a couple bits on the table before pointing towards the door. “After you sweet flanks.”
The two slid out of the booth and maneuvered through the room, slinking around the crowded tables. Although it was early morning, the night guard had only just gotten off their shifts and would flood the nearby pubs. Swift eyed his drink before taking a final swig of his drink. The waitress from before pulled alongside the table, placing the empty mugs on a tray she balanced on her back. “Will that be all sir?”
Swift dug in his bit bag, fishing out a few silver pieces. “Yes ma’am,” he respectively replied.
The mare pocketed the payment in her apron before smiling appreciatively. “Have a good day.”
Swift scooted out of the booth and headed for the door, turning his head to reply over his shoulder. “You know what they say, no rest for the wicked.”
“Well then, you better be sure to get some rest.”
Swift smirked before pushing his way outside and into the early morning air. The sun had yet to rise as Princess Celestia was visiting another town for the Summer Sun Celebration. He took a deep breath before walking down the stone streets. More and more ponies were beginning to come out of their homes, preparing to open their businesses for the new day. Swift ignored most of the activity as he began to feel the long hours of being on duty throughout the night wear on him. His body began to run on autopilot as he headed towards his home, allowing his thoughts to run rampant in his head.
‘Package to Baltimare on Thursday. Two days, clear weather reports, and no threat of bandits. Recipient is one ‘General Hoofton’. Wait, when do I leave again?’ Swift shrugged off the forgotten information and would just check his schedule when he would get back on duty later that night. His thoughts continued revolving madly, ranging in a variety of topics. He grimaced slightly about what was brought back up in the pub. He wasn’t mad that Strato brought up her, he wasn’t even irritated in the slightest.
Strato was known for hitting any available flank whenever they were off duty. He even did so when they were on duty. No, Swift couldn’t blame him for attempting to get his commander, and more importantly his friend, any sort of reprieve from the still sore feelings.
‘Or as Strato would say, “You need to get laid”.’ Swift appreciated his help, but the pegasus didn’t feel ready to permanently bury his past. Or her.
He arrived at his destination much sooner than he thought, finding himself on his front doorstep. Swift grabbed his key that he kept on a chain hanging from his neck with his mouth, maneuvering it into the keyhole. Turning it and hearing the lock click, he pulled it back out and allowed the key to fall back into place before pushing the door open. He stepped inside while closing the door behind him with a hind hoof, using his wings to hang up his bit pouch and key next to his flight goggles on a nearby coat rack; not that he ever needed a coat in his line of work.
The stallion walked through the house, ignoring the rumble in his belly as he climbed up a staircase. He glanced at a few of the pictures that hung on the wall, smiling sadly at the memories. The captured images showed a variety of different scenes, the occupants consisting of a familiar blue pegasus and an unfamiliar white earth pony. He turned right and entered a short hallway, watching the trail of pictures. The two ponies became closer and closer in each one, steadily showing increased intimacy between them. The final one gave him pause as it always did. The mares belly was swollen, but her eyes glinted with happiness. Swift had a hoof wrapped around her withers, giving her a chaste kiss on her cheek.
The stallion raised his hoof and brushed the picture gently before continuing into his bedroom. He didn’t bother washing up and instead crashed into his bed, quickly falling asleep atop the covers.
The sound of his window curtains ruffling in the breeze dragged Swift back to the land of the living. His right ear twitched before he slowly opened his eyes. A gentle shade of aquamarine light provided the room with a pleasant low glow. Swift shifted and instantly shivered as his damp pelt moved across the soaked comforter. Becoming increasingly uncomfortable the longer he stayed in the cold sweat of his bed, the pegasus rolled out of it. After he set his hooves on the floor he moved over towards his window. He peaked out of it and witnessed a most wondrous sight. The sun was getting low in the sky with a cloud partially covering it, the castle located a little ways up the mountain providing a very pleasing addition to the picture. Ponies were milling about excitedly in the streets even though the sky was slowly beginning to darken.
Figuring all the commotion was due to some sort of new fashion trend or the appearance of a new actor or actress the pegasus shrugged and headed to the restroom. After answering the call of nature and brushing away the mystery taste of morning away, Swift took a quick hot shower. His short coarse coat was easily dried, the stallion only needing to wipe his hoof through his short gray mane once to remove most of the water. He exited the bathroom and headed downstairs. Grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on his kitchen counter and his Royal Courier ID, the stallion approached his door. He held the apple in his mouth while he grabbed his flight goggles and placed them around his neck. He opened the door and stepped out onto the street, turning in the direction of the white castle.
Swift walked on three hooves as he ate his breakfast. Today was supposed to consist of him working in the office as paperwork was always necessary. Looking forward to getting it over with, he finished off his apple and sped up his stride. A pair of unicorn mares trotted past him quickly and were chattering loudly. Catching his eye, Swift watched as they took a right on the main road. Heading in the same direction, Swift looked past the unicorns and his eyes widened in surprise. The ponies he had seen milling about the streets earlier had shifted and moved towards the castle, building in number until the road was backed up for blocks. More ponies continued to flood out of nearby streets and piled on to the rapidly increasing size of the crowd.
Shaking his head in disbelief, Swift sprinted up to the two unicorns from earlier. “Excuse me!” The two turned around at his call, pausing their conversation. “What’s going on here?”
“Haven’t you heard?” Swift shook his head, watching as their eyes widened in excitement. “Oh! Well remember when the sun didn’t rise until several hours after it was supposed to?”
“What?” The look of complete confusion on Swift’s muzzle caused the two unicorns to glance at each other. Swift shook his head, “Never mind that. Continue please.”
The two perked back up immediately at the prospect of sharing the exciting news. “Princess Celestia’s long lost sister has returned!”
Swift blinked, his mind rushing to fill in the gaps. “Nightmare Moon?”
The two shook their heads before the other mare replied, “No, not anymore. The Elements of Harmony cleansed her. It’s a beautiful story!” The two mares swooned.
Processing this new information, Swift knew that the castle was probably a mad house. He quickly stretched his wings before addressing the mares. “Thank you!” The stallion blasted up into the air and put a burst of speed towards the castle. He reached the crowd and continued to fly over them, causing a few pegasi in the crowd to shake their hooves at him angrily. Since the castle walls didn’t defend the palace from the sky, flying was restricted unless you were in the lower districts of the city. Normally, ponies that were caught flying would receive a hefty fine. Only guards or licensed pegasi like Swift could fly in the airspace freely.
Swift approached the castle wall and dipped towards the front gate, bypassing the front of the crowd. He quickly landed at the closed gate and waited patiently as one of the guards closed in on him.
“Identification?” Swift showed him the ID hanging on his neck, allowing the guard to inspect his credentials. Nodding in satisfaction, the guard made eye contact with the gate house keeper. “Let him through!”
Swift thanked the guard before trotting under the gate and through the courtyard. He didn’t enter the foyer as he instead walked towards the barracks. The reinforced stone building was kept separate from the castle, providing its own mess hall and office. Swift entered the office’s and immediately moved out of the way of an exiting guard. The room was dreadfully crowded, ponies attempting to relay information to one another through the mad chaos. A small squad of guards pushed past him and left the building, barely changing the amount of walk room.
Swift pushed his way through the crowd until he reached the door to the mailroom. He attempted to open it only to find it locked. Keeping his ears pressed flat against his head in an attempt to counter the noise, he knocked on the door. The door handle shifted and the door opened a crack. The postmaster peered through the crack, his eyes widening when he recognized Swift. The door opened quickly and the red unicorn pulled Swift through before slamming the door shut again.
Swift looked around the small mailroom and instantly saw Strato, noticing that he wasn’t looking too good. He was however a bit confused when he saw the Guard Captain himself in the room with them. The postmaster walked passed Swift before looking towards Shining Armor.
“This is the other one sir,” the postmaster said as he began shuffling through mail.
Shining looked at the new arrival before asking, “Swift Winds was it?”
Swift gave a questioning glance at Strato before answering, “Yes sir.”
“Good, let’s get you up to speed. As you may or may not know, Princess Luna has returned from her banishment. Princess Celestia has tasked me with making the appropriate changes to ensure our new VIP is safe and happy. The first thing on our list is to appropriate guards for the Princess. Princess Celestia has suggested that the thestrals would be a suitable candidate as they had once served Princess Luna. There’s a lot of other more cultural reasons and customs involved in this decision, but that’s not important for your task.”
The Captain used his magic to pull two sealed scrolls from his saddlebags. “These are to be delivered to Head Baron Elderich in Trevelyan.” The white stallion handed them to Strato and Swift. “You two have been selected for this task. I trust that you’ll succeed with little to no incident. Good luck.” The Captain nodded to the postmaster before leaving the room and into the mass chaos.
Swift held up the scroll before moving towards a small row of lockers in the mailroom. Strato Streak was walking right next to him as he too headed for his locker. Reaching his locker, Swift opened it to reveal his flight harness, flight cap, and a scarlet scarf. He secured the scroll in the harness before beginning to strap it into place. He looked up and watched as Strato did the same. His friend had dark bags under his eyes and his fur was ruffled.
“What happened to you?”
Strato grunted, pulling his cap onto his head before replying, “Remember that mare from this morning? Well, we were at her place and had just started getting playful when we heard the commotion on the street. We went out and that’s when we realized that the sun had not risen. I immediately headed for the castle. A lot of yelling and shocking news later, here I stand.”
Swift smiled and began tying his scarf in place. “Should have went home. That way you could have gotten some sleep.”
Strato smiled in return. “There was no way in Tartarus I was going to miss a night with her! Did you see her flanks?”
Swift waved Strato off, shutting his locker door and facing the postmaster. “Is there anything we should know, Atlas?”
The postmaster glanced over a piece of parchment before replying, “There is a large storm moving over the Galloping Mountains, so you’ll need to move quickly if you’re to make Trevelyan before it crosses your path. The thestrals are also in the middle of their heat season. Hear that Strato?!” Atlas spoke louder. “Hooves off the populace and don’t cause anymore national incidents again, alright?”
Strato walked up to them while tugging on his flight harness. “That’s not fair!” he replied indignantly. “She gave me her consent.”
“Not if she’s the daughter of the griffon king. You’re lucky the Princess is a smooth talker.”
Strato nudged Swift, “She was a wild one. I felt those scratches for weeks!”
“Ahem! Back on topic, the Captain wants you both back as soon as possible. We’ll be needing to contact a lot of the foreign dignitaries about these new developments. There are also reports of increasing rogue attacks in Transylvania. I suggest you keep your wits about you.”
“Sounds good. Thanks Atlas. Let’s go Strato. Grab some coffee quick, I don’t want to have to rescue you from falling out of the sky alright?”
“Way ahead of ya.” Strato produced a styrofoam cup out of nowhere and chugged it down quickly, wincing as the bitter taste washed across his tongue. “Ehg, should have made a fresh pot.”
Swift again nodded his thanks to Atlas before pushing his way into the other room, shocked at how empty it was.
Strato pulled up alongside him, eyeing the room. “Guess the Captain cleared house, eh?”
Swift shrugged before leading Strato out into the courtyard. The two performed a final check on their equipment before looking to each other. “First one to the Galloping Mountains gets a free round!”
“You’re on!”
The two rocketed into the dusk sky, causing a few nearby clouds to roil away from their wake. The two used warm updrafts to lift higher into the sky, eventually having to pump their wings to reach their desired altitude. Swift placed the sun to his left and headed north, preparing for the long night flight ahead of them.
Trevelyan
“... shall send a regiment for inspection and, hopefully, integration.” The Baron rolled up a piece of parchment and lifted his stamp piece. Dipping it in a tray of heated wax, he placed it above the parchment and stamped it, making it an official document. He let it air dry briefly before handing it over to Swift. After securing it in his saddle, the Baron stood up. “I shall see you gentlecolts out.”
Swift and Strato followed the aging thestral out of the elegant office and into the stone hallways. They continued in relative silence until a question popped into Swift’s mind.
“I again thank you for seeing us today. I heard that you have been quite busy.”
Eldritch laughed dryly, “Kid, if you want a piece of advice from an old hoot like me, don’t go into politics. They will drain your energy and good looks faster than a rogue can drink you dry.”
Swift leapt at the opportunity to learn a little more about secluded country. “Speaking of that, do the rogues have something to do with the recent attacks on the hamlets?”
“Yes, they have been getting bolder. They attack at early dusk and dawn, slaughtering civilians and rampaging through the towns. I have taken measures to counter this with increased guard activity.”
“Have you tried talking to them?” Strato suggested.
“That would be impossible.”
Swift glanced at him quickly. “Why is that?”
“Because they are, for the most part, feral. My experts believe it is a result of their self banishment in the wild wastes.”
Strato glanced towards Swift before turning his attention back to the aging Baron in front of them. “Why did they do that?”
“You stallions need to read up on your history,” Eldritch chuckled. “Long story short, when Princess Luna was banished an undyingly loyal group of thestrals decided they would share her fate in the most similar manner possible.”
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when a maid suddenly entered the hallway. She was dressed in a typical maids uniform found anywhere, although her bat wings were something new for Swift. She did not notice the small group and approached a vase with a dust feather in hoof, the movement causing her uniform to ruffle. Swift’s nose was instantly flooded with a strong musk, his eyes widening as he felt his body suddenly heat up. He could feel a small tingle of electricity at the base of his brain and a strong urge reared it’s ugly head. Stirrings deep within became more pronounced the longer he stared at the mare. Swift rapidly reeled in his urges and his rampaging thoughts before shaking his head rapidly.
Strato on the other hand grew a sly smile. He watched as the maid finally looked towards them, the mare freezing when she realized she had company. She quickly lowered her head towards the Baron, who was sporting an angered look. “I- I’m sorry Baron Eldritch. I was not aware this hallway was occupied. I shall take my leave immediately.”
The maid disappeared the way she had come, her scent still lingering in the hallway. Baron Elderich sighed before continuing to walk down the corridor. “I’m dreadfully sorry about that. It’s heat week and all mares have been ordered indoors to prevent… unpleasant actions from the more rowdy thestrals. We cannot send the males away to retreats like Equestria does as we need the guard on a constant watch.”
Swift continued to follow the Baron, his body slowly relaxing as his body was no longer being fed the mare’s pheromones. “It’s fine, just gets the heart pumping.”
The Baron gave a genuine laugh at that. “Quite right.”
Swift glanced to his right and noticed Strato staring down the hallway that the mare had appeared from as they passed. Strato almost seemed to hesitate but was brought out of it with a quick kick from Swift. Strato jerked back into place and continued walking with Swift, acting as if nothing had ever happened.
The small group passed through a set of wooden doors and onto a stone path. There was a large overhang above them, stone arches along a wall next to them supporting its weight. The jagged horizon was on fire and caused the ponies to squint when they glanced in its general direction, the setting sun shining brilliantly in the distance. Swift noticed a large black mass peeking out from the side of one of the distant mountains. Faint blue flashes reached his eyes, letting him know that the storm was cooking in a spectacularly violent fashion. Swift checked his straps quickly before nodding towards Strato.
“Ready to go?”
“You know it.”
The Baron eyed the storm before raising a hoof to stop them. “That is unnecessary. Nopony can fly through a storm like that, even if you are Royal Couriers. I can have quarters arranged for an overnight stay.”
Swift bowed his head respectfully in the Baron’s direction. “While I thank you for your most gracious offer, we cannot accept. Captain Shining Armor is expecting our return with utmost haste.”
“Surely the storm will ground you if you attempt to fly in it? I may not fly as well as I used to, but even I know high altitude storms are incredibly unpredictable.”
“We’ve flown in worse,” Strato butted in.
Eldritch glanced back and forth between them before pursing his lips briefly and gave a quick nod. “Alright, since you insist. But if you find yourself in trouble and need to turn around you are more than welcome to.”
Swift again smiled appreciatively towards the Baron before stretching his wings. He gave them a few quick flaps before bending his knees and leaping through the open archway into the sky. He spiralled straight up a few dozen meters before leveling off towards the darkening horizon, Strato pulling up alongside him.
“We’ll stay below the Westerlies. The current is already flowing against us but the storm has most likely made it a death trap now. You know the drill,” Swift spoke.
“It’ll be a piece of cake. That hurricane on the coast of Mustangia gave us a harder time than this, I’m sure of it.”
Swift smiled before pulling his flight goggles down. The two continued to fly on south towards Equestria, watching as the last light of dusk in the west fianlly sucumbed to the black of night. The air smelled of ozone as they approached the storm, hearing as much as feeling the thunder in the dark abyss. A cold wind began to rip at their coats as they made to enter the storm and face the wild brutality of nature’s finest.
Swift and Strato plunged headfirst into the dark clouds and immediately shifted their wings to allow the drafts of the storm to carry them, choosing to be taken by the wind instead of hurting themselves by fighting it. Rain beat down upon them as they continued maneuvering in the high wind, expertly steering away from the more violent sections of the large super cell. Swift felt a rough tingling sensation in his wings, warning him of the nearby buildup of static electricity. The two pegasi dived down and built up speed to assist in the oncoming climb away from the imminent lightning strike.
That was before a sudden blast of cold air buffeted them backwards and higher into the sky. Swift attempted to pull in his wings and drop away from the pushing wind before he felt the static in his wings intensify suddenly. Opening his mouth in an attempt to warn Strato, his world suddenly became very bright. He futilely closed his eyes in an effort to block the light and felt a searing heat wash across him. The light faded behind his eyelids and he allowed them to open, large white blotches spotting across his vision. He watched clouds race past him, reminding him to open his wings to stop his free fall. He never even heard the lightning strike, instead his ears registering a very low ringing sound that was slowly gaining intensity. He glanced around quickly while calling out for Strato, failing to hear his own voice.
Realizing that he could not see him and that he would be unable to find him in the storm, he angled his flight back along its original course. If Strato was okay he would know to what to do. They had trained for scenarios like this. Swift would fly until he exited the storm. If Strato was not on the other side he would wait for him until the storm has passed. In the following hour after the storm Strato did not appear Swift would then report to the nearest civilization. He would send a message to headquarters before assisting in a search and rescue party.
The reality of Strato possibly being dead struck Swift, but he pushed such distracting thoughts away. He needed to survive here and now as his life was in danger. They both knew the risks and they had gambled. Swift ignored the cold rain and continued to press forward, battling the winds towards his freedom. Fighting past a particularly strong updraft, Swift cleared one last cloud before witnessing the night sky. He had made it.
The pegasus coasted for a few minutes to gain some much needed rest from the hard flight before flying in a very wide circle by the edge of the storm, intent on waiting it out. Whenever he began to lose altitude he would glide into the updraft feeding the storm before breaking contact, all the while keeping his eyes peeled.
Feeling his energy slowly drain, the stallion looked around for a quick place to land. A cloud that had straggled away from the storm caught his eye, proving to be the perfect candidate. He approached the cloud and bled his airspeed before he landed on it, bending his knees to absorb some of his momentum. He pulled up his flight goggles before padding down an area of fluffy cloud to bed down in. After settling himself in with his body facing the storm he prepped for the long wait.
Swift wasn’t sure how long it had been, but enough time had passed that the moon had risen and now shined brightly down upon the landscape. Swift continued to watch the storm, knowing it to be the tail end of it judging by how calm it had become. Sighing, the stallion stood up and stretched his wings, ignoring the slight ache in them. He walked towards the edge of the cloud and allowed himself to fall over the edge. He plummeted a dozen meters before spreading his wings, pulling out of the dive and towards the sky. He put his back to the dying storm and flew towards the clear horizon.
Swift did not know the layout of the area, so he had to rely on hope that he would stumble upon a town before he reached the borders of Equestria. Swift had only flown for a few minutes before he spotted three distant shapes moving perpendicularly to his course. He was about to call out to them before they suddenly swerved towards him, no doubt having spotting him. Swift slowed to a hover, his body relaxing in relief. Help was on its way. He would have them take him to the nearest city and he would go from there. He watched as they rapidly approached, his smile turning to a confused frown. They weren’t slowing down. At the range they were at Swift also noticed that they were not wearing the purple armor of the thestral Guard.
‘Rogues!’
Blasting his wings backwards, Swift headed right towards them on a collision course. The thestrals screeched as they almost made contact with their prey. Swift breathed deeply before suddenly angling his wings, thrusting himself into a wide barrel roll right over the thestrals before diving down towards the left in an effort to gain speed.
The thestrals screeched angrily before reorienting themselves to give chase. There was no hope of them catching Swift however as pegasi wings made them faster than the leathery composition of the bat-like wings. Knowing that he had speed on his side, Swift simply pulled out of his dive and headed away from his pursuers, leaving them in his dust. A white glint caught his eye and Swift immediately shifted downwards as another thestral rocketed past him, barely missing its mark.
Swift quickly glanced around and saw multiple contacts in the distance surrounding him. At the distance in which they were flying, Swift mentally calculated their flight and realized that they were going to cut him off. And judging by the new appearance of a few more thestrals far above him Swift knew he couldn’t perform simple evasive maneuvers to avoid the forming blockade. They were going to box him in.
Swift thought quickly, burning precious seconds in an attempt to form a plan. He evaluated his situation methodically, knowing that while he had speed, the thestrals had maneuverability on their side. Their wings had evolved to fly in tight cavernous spaces, resulting in the ability to change direction in the blink of an eye, dashing about quickly.
The thestrals above him had the advantage of altitude as they would be able to dive on him when he reached the blockade, preventing him from flying above it. Swift found a conclusion and immediately turned around. If he couldn’t out maneuver them or simply speed away, he would out fly them. The storm was still turning angrily by the mountains, carving their way through the ancient majesties. Swift dived beneath the three night ponies that he had passed before, his heart beating rapidly as they only passed inches away. Pouring on the speed, Swift rocketed towards his destination.
A quick glance behind him showed that the thestrals were coalescing into small groups before heading in his direction. They were going to hunt him down in the storm. Swift pulled his flight goggles back over his face to protect himself from the driving rain as he came within meters of mother nature’s rampage. Swift plunged into the darkness and immediately dropped against the updraft, guessing that the predators would use the updrafts to gain speed after him while heading in the wrong direction.
The world seemed to slow down as Swift’s mind worked overdrive, taking everything in. The howling winds filled his ears, his heavy breathing being the only other sound available to him. He felt his damp coat matt against his skin in the cold rain counteracting the intense heat of his pumping blood. The scent of rain and sweat filled his nose while streaks of lightning burned the ozone. Swift instinctively felt the ground approaching and popped his wings out, pulling out of his steep dive.
The tips of pine trees whipped beneath his hoofs as he gained a little altitude. The winds were very unpredictable here as the landscape would change its direction and concentration. He expertly shifted when the wind would change, keeping his current height and speed all the while. A brief flash of lightning behind a nearby cloud on the right revealed the shadows of several thestrals on the other side. Swift angled away from them before the cloud to his left suddenly burst open, revealing the shrieking forms of more thestrals heading right towards him.
Swift pulled up quickly, neglecting to watch where he was flying. He collided with another unseen thestral above him, stunning him for a mere second. That’s all the dark pony needed before it began to grapple him in that air. The other thestrals flashed past before beginning to circle the struggling pair. Swift struggled and was able to turn himself around in its grasp before he suddenly moved his head back as the thestral attempted to bite him, its jaws snapping inches from his neck.
Swift squirmed violently and was able to free his right foreleg. He threw a wild haymaker and made contact with its muzzle, causing devastating damage as Swift heard bones break. The thestral screeched in agony as it released Swift, the pegasus taking the chance to drop as quickly as possible. He ignored his pursuers as he dropped beneath the tree line, weaving quickly between the ancient pines. The thestrals kept up with him above the tree line as they had no obstacles to dodge.
The trees were thrashing about, creating a very hazardous flight zone for Swift. The pegasus searched for a means of escape from the forest while also finding a means to evade the shrieking thestrals. His answer came when Swift spotted a half dead pine tree, all of its branches dead and stripped except for a clustered few on the left side. Hoping that the green needles signalled that the branches were still alive and not brittle, he streaked towards it. Folding his wings and curling his body, he struck the branches and felt them give. His gut flopped as it suddenly stopped before thrashing back into place as the branch whipped him back in the direction he had come from.
Swift bent his wings halfway to strengthen them as he smashed his way through the tree canopy. Using the little amount of time he had gained from the surprise trick, he flapped his wings hard. He flew with an updraft to his right, angling his wings like a sailboat to take power from it while moving perpendicular to the wall of wind. Swift could no longer hear the screeches of the thestrals as he sped quickly along. He slightly relaxed while maintaining his speed, taking deep breaths. He was home free.
His vision suddenly cut out as his world suddenly became red. Feeling his scarf flapping in his face, Swift used a hoof to yank it back down. His vision returned and his eyes widened in surprise as the wind tossed a large tree branch right in front of him. Swift desperately attempted to perform evasive maneuvers but yelled in pain when it hit his right wing full on. He dropped instantly, his wing flapping in the wind as he had no control over it. He didn’t have any time to think before he slammed into the tree canopy, losing all the air in his lungs as he bashed his way through. He had a second to take in a breath before he suddenly stopped.
His body was completely numb and his vision was black. His vision slowly flickered back into focus, revealing the canopy above him as he was lying on his back. His mouth opened and closed uselessly as he failed to draw in breath. His lungs burned and Swift’s mind began to spin back up, causing him to panic. He swallowed before his chest finally contracted and drew in the sweet oxygen. His senses popped back into existence all at once. The rain roared as it impacted against the ground, distant thunder sounding off after each lightning strike. More importantly, Swift heard shrieks and watched as a few shadows flashed overhead, the tree canopy concealing the downed pegasus.
Knowing he was still in danger, Swift attempted to move only to muffle a yelp in pain. Not only did his wing feel as if it was being burned when he shifted it against the ground, but his right foreleg radiated an agonizing ache. He slowly lifted his leg above his muzzle and stared in shock. There was an odd bump about halfway up his lower foreleg, a small crimson river dripping down onto his muzzle.His nose picked up the strong scent of the liquid.
Blood.
A series of short shrieks sounded off nearby as shadows began to flicker above the canopy. Swift’s entire body began to shiver violently as fear rolled into every part of his being. Ignoring the pain, Swift hastily rolled over his good wing onto his hooves, tucking his undoubtedly broken leg against his chest. He needed to move quickly if he hoped to have any chance of evading the airborne predators. A small trail in front of him looked promising, egging on his haste. The pegasus hadn’t taken five steps before something slammed into his back, causing him to drop onto his belly. He almost lost consciousness as pain flared from the pressure on his broken leg. A heavy weight pressed down on his back while a hoof planted itself at the base of Swift’s skull, pressing his muzzle to the earth.
Breathing deeply while pushing against the creeping darkness at the edges of his vision, Swift lashed out his left wing, blinding the thestral above him. He quickly reached with his left foreleg and swiped the hoof planting his head down, unstabilizing the thestral. Swift followed it by tossing his head back, bashing the night pony in the muzzle. The weight disappeared, allowing Swift to stand. His entire body ached as he blindly stumbled forward, his vision blurry from his headbutt. Something smashed into his muzzle, Swift yelping as he hopped backwards. The strike had cleared his vision and revealed Swift’s surroundings.
Several thestrals stood in front of him, cutting off the trail he had originally aimed for. He rapidly backpedaled on three legs before turning around. He stopped when another pair of thestrals blocked him, flashing their fangs as they crouched slightly. Swift looked side to side, dread filling him as he saw more thestrals completely surrounding him. The predators growled and raised their wings as they prepared to strike down their hard fought meal. Swift’s breathing slowed as a sense of finality washed over him. Seeing no way out, the stallion slowly looked around him, watching as one of the thestrals took a step forward.
‘If you’re expecting me to go quietly...’ Swift turned and faced the thestral full on, staggering his handicapped stance and growling lowly as he challenged it. ‘You got another thing coming.’
The thestral’s eyes narrowed before it charged. Swift yelled loudly as he performed a short hop, allowing the thestral to pass beneath him. Throughout the leap his rear legs were coiled beneath him, striking out at the creature. The sound of the impact rang through the clearing, proving he had struck true. Swift whirled around in case the thestral was following up his initial charge. Instead the thestral was lying on the ground, unmoving. Swift stared at him for a second longer before realizing that it was dead. Adrenaline pumping through his body, Swift turned to see a few of the thestrals staring at him angrily. He had a moments warning before they all charged him at once.
Swift yelled as he too blindly charged into the mass, punching—with his good hoof, kicking, and biting whatever he came in contact with. It was mere seconds before he was thrown to the ground on his back, bites and surprisingly minor cuts crisscrossing his body. One thestral stood above him and went for his throat. Swift moved his head to the left, the thestral plunging their gaping maw into the mud. Another sharp pain ripped through his inner thigh as somepony bit him in the sensitive flesh. Screaming in pain, Swift lashed out with his left foreleg and punched the thestral who was standing above him in the muzzle as it was pulling away from the mud. He followed it up with a strike from his left hind leg into the one who was biting him.
He had succeeded in stopping the bite but the thestral above him was beginning to reorient itself. Swift pulled his left foreleg back again to deliver another punch when somepony took a hold of it. Another sharp bite pierced his leg, angering Swift further. Using the thestral’s bite against it, he pulled it near him.
“You bite me! I bite you!”
He lunged towards the dark pony before biting the nearest available body part. The thestral let go as the pony bit down upon its large and very sensitive ear. Swift bit with all his strength, tasting blood as it began to spill into his mouth. Swift’s body suddenly locked up as somepony latched onto his neck, a cold shock jolting through him. He could feel the suction throughout his entire body, causing him to shiver violently as his muscles refused to respond. With a loud screech, the thestral he had in his mouth yanked itself free. The thestral stomped its hooves in pain before it paused, Swift seeing that it was staring at him from the corner of his eye.
Swift’s world began to blur as his blood was consumed by the blurry figure above him. More dark blotches encroached on him, the pegasus closing his eyes as he began giving in to the dizzying darkness. Sudden loud shrieks echoed around him, but he didn’t care. They were too far away now and couldn’t hurt him any longer. He slowly opened his glassy eyes as the pressure on his neck disappeared. His blood starved brain couldn’t process images, thus he was unaware of the thestrals backing off of him. Something touched his body and he felt the ground shift beneath him. The movement proved to be too much for his brain as it shut down to save essential functions, thrusting Swift into unconsciousness.