> Book I: A Ballerina's Fairytale > by Just Jack > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter I: A Lost Knight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bella pulled on her jacket and changed into a pair of flats before picking up her duffle bag. Practice went well, the other girls were good as was her partner, no injuries so the show should go off without a hitch when they performed that night for Queen Nightmare. "See you tonight!" She called, walking out and onto the noisy streets of Manehattan. In an alley just outside the dance studio, there was a split second moment when sunlight shone through a swirling nexus, as a man stumbled through. The portal then promptly shut, leaving him looking very much out of his element. For one, he was wearing leather armor and robes that belonged in the last millennium Having heard the snap of the portal closing Bella stopped and frowned, before seeing the light from the alley. Where had that come from? Curiously cocking her head, she moved to the alley way's entrance and rounded the corner, blinking at the sight of a man in armor, looking disoriented and confused. "Umm... Are you alright?" she asked, looking the large man over. Looking down at the lady addressing him, Just Heart tilted his head to the side. "What is the year? And where is Princess Celestia? I must see her at once." He then sharply scanned their surroundings, his sky blue eyes widening. "Should not the sun be out?...It is only a half and one hour since noon..." Bella backpedaled when she heard the name of the fallen princess. Just mentioning the word could have you thrown in prison if not worse. Where had this stranger come from and why was he asking these questions?! "Wh-Who are you?" she demanded "I am Just Heart, aid and guard of Celestia. Now where is she, and why is the moon out?!" He spoke with a hint of dread in his voice. Having not truly been answered, he feared for the worst. Could she really be...? "...She's been dead for the last thousand years... You... You need to go back to where you came from," Bella said before turning and briskly starting for home. If she was lucky, no one saw her talking with the stranger and nothing would ever come from it. As it was, she was lucky to be a dancer with the Queen's ballet company, she shouldn't be risking her livelihood for some stranger. "She... lost?" Looking confused and lost, the stranger slowly made his way to a rooftop where he could easily study his surroundings while remaining unseen. Arriving home, she made sure to lock her door and dropped her duffle on the couch. Shower. She needed to shower, grab a light dinner and get her makeup done before going back to the theater. Pulling the drapes shut, she started the water and undressed. On a nearby Rooftop, Just Heart ran his fingers over a pendant that hung from his neck, before reining in his despair. He had a purpose. If the Princess ever fell he was to find her successor, but he knew not where to begin his search. Bella had just pulled on her sweats and a loose t-shirt when there was a heavy knock at the door. Frowning, she went over and opened it, feeling a cold tickle of fear run down her spine when she saw two large members of the royal guard. Thankfully, one was a familiar face, being her step brother. "Bella, you need to come with us," he said, eyes not quite meeting hers. "Sprint? Is everything alright?" she asked, confused. "It's about something that happened this afternoon, just please, you need to come with us," Sprint said, barring his partner from just grabbing her. With a thought, Just began heading in the direction the woman who spoke to him had gone. He thought that if she were curious enough to seek him out when he appeared, she might, MIGHT, be willing to help him. Moments later he arrived at the apartment complex where she made her home. Not yet grasping that he stood out, he took the back way in still wearing his ancient leather guard armor, with a sword at his side, and a bow upon his back. Bella shook but nodded, leaving the door open while she gathered up her purse and duffle, on the off chance she'd be able to make it to the theater on time. Going back to the men, Sprint's partner went to put the magical suppression cuffs on her when he was again stopped by Sprint. "Her magic's not strong enough for attack or defense spells and she's cooperating, don't bother with them," he almost growled, gently taking her upper arm and leading her down the hall for the building's exit. Coming through the door at the end of the hall, Just saw Bella first, then the two guards. His eyes widened for a second, before narrowing as they locked onto the symbol of Nightmare Moon that was etched into the armor of the two guards. With a flourish of his cloak, Just Heart called out to the guards as he unsheathed his blade "Unhand her you traitors!" The small group jumped and turned to look at the stranger, Sprint and his partner pulled out their swords. Bella gaped at the man. Oh great, now things were just going down the toilet. Sprint stepped in front of Bella, pulling his shield from his back. "In the name of Queen Nightmare Moon, drop your weapon and surrender!" Sprint's partner called out. Inhaling deeply as his eyes widened, Just recklessly dove forward towards the two guards. His cloak pulled about his left arm as he positioned it infront of him, concealing his right arm and sword completely. "FOR CELESTIA!" He cried out with such fury and righteous indignation that the whole building, perhaps even the other complexes nearby, was likely to have heard his warrior's call. The second guard smirked and charged forward, swinging his sword to land a blow on Just's shoulder. Sprint in the meantime urged Bella back into her apartment before closing the door and rushing to assist his partner. "Sprint, be careful!" Bella called before he closed the door. Just threw his left arm upward, allowing the guard's sword to cut deeply into his arm. Grunting with pain, though smirking with confidence, Just then pushed the guard's sword above his head where it'd be useless, and ran the man through with his hidden but readied blade. He stepped in as he forced his sword further into the nameless guard, before pushing the man's body off of his sword and onto the floor. "I don't wish to kill you, and I doubt you could kill me. So run along now and perhaps you can attempt later, with more men and in a less confined area." Just narrowed his eyes as he spoke, readying his sword once more "My partner never was very smart," Sprint said, sliding a glance to his sister's apartment door. "I, on the other hand, didn't make captain because of my good looks." He bolted into the apartment and slammed the door shut before bolting it. Bella jumped and ran over, only to be ushered to the balcony with the fire escape. "Run, I'll find you later, keep your head down," Sprint said before pulling his phone out. "He's captain of the guard...? Low standards these days." Quickly casting a sensory enhancement spell, Just pressed his ear to the wall and listened in on their conversation. Silently admitting that this captain's plan would have delayed him for an hour or so had he not used this spell, Just stopped to pull off some armor and weapons off of the dead guard, before silently running outside to search for the curious woman. Bella had managed to grab a sweatshirt and her wallet before doing as her brother told her, starting down the street to a local market to get a few things. Where in Equestria could she hide? Maybe the lower part of Manehattan? It was pretty sketchy there though, but it was also the only place she wouldn't be asked many questions. Getting her items, she quickly paid and got moving, pulling her hood up. Leaving on his archaic robes, but putting on the dead guard's undamaged armor and sword, Just headed out to find The Curious Woman after hiding his old gear. Now looking less like a nut job, and more like one of Queen Nightmare's Special Magi Guards, Just moved openly. Reasoning that she'd look for a market to get temporary supplies before trying to hide somewhere. No idea where. But somewhere. After finishing his thought, Just realized he had walked into a large street market. Bella had just reached the market's exit when she froze, seeing the guard. She looked around for another exit, spotting one nearby and trying to keep herself from running towards it. When she looked back, she bumped into a display with some glass jars, gasping as they toppled over and caused a loud crash with glass shattering everywhere. Just's head snapped towards the sound of glass shattering, tensing for a second before he realized there were no guards around. He quickly made his way towards The Curious Woman, grabbing her arm as he got close, and whisking her away from the crowd and into an ally before anyone could notice. Bella had been stunned by what happened, she just barely saw the guard and didn't have a chance to bolt before he was dragging her off. However, seeing that the guard was in fact the nut job from earlier, she started struggling to get free and dug her feet into the sidewalk. "Let me go or I'll start screaming!" she exclaimed. "Please, I mean you no harm m'lady. I just wish to speak." Realizing that she might not be comfortable around him, be both took off his helmet and set his sword well beyond arm's reach. "I just want to ask you some questions." He spoke softly, holding his hands were she could see them "No harm!? Because of you, I'm wanted for questioning! And that usually leads to never seeing the outside world ever again!" she hissed angrily, crossing her arms. "And you killed a guard! Called my brother a traitor and I'm associated with you because you came looking for me! You've effectively ruined my life and I don't even know you!" "You're the one who spoke to me in that alleyway, and he is a traitor if he's loyal to that tyrant and murderer Nightmare Moon. And I'm sorry for ruining your life, but I am lost, and need answers." As he spoke Just Heart scanned their surroundings, making sure no one else, that might be dangerous, was nearby. "You looked lost! Of course I spoke to you but you're nuts! And Nightmare Moon has been ruling for a thousand years, she's the ONLY queen we've ever had! And while she may rule with an iron hoof, we don't have a great deal of crime and aren't at war, we're relatively happy! She... that other pony is DEAD, she's never coming back and you need to figure that out if you're gonna be here." "I know that Princess Celestia is dead, you've made that clear. But I am her personal guard, and failing that, I am The Sun Seeker. It's my sacred duty to find her successor, and aid her in returning the light of day to equestria. And I am lost. Lost 1000 years from where I should be." "I can't help you. I'm just a ballerina, I was even supposed to perform for the queen tonight... And the Sun Seeker's a myth. It's not real, you're just... some guard who couldn't handle being unable to protect his charge." "Is that really how broken you people are? That you give up even when you should find hope? If that's so, then I'll search alone. And your miserable, hopeless soul will need this more than me." He reached up, pulling his necklace off and forcing it into Bella's hand. It was six small crystals of different colours fused together by magic. "What other choice did we have? No one else was powerful enough to raise the sun and moon, that knowledge was destroyed once Queens Nightmare began ruling," she said, blinking as he shoved the crystal into her hands. "What's this? ...This is contraband... isn't it...." "You find a way to have hope. You always find a way. Sun or no sun, you should never, never, give up hope. Once you have, you've lost everything." Looking down at the small gem, he smiled slightly "Yes, yes it is. But it seems you already have something illegal to own here, so I wouldn't worry." "Wait, what?! Of course I don't! For pete's sake, you make no sense and you're dangerous to be around," she glared before looking around and pulling her hood up. "I need to get to lower Manehattan, can you leave me alone now?" He smiled a little more, looking towards the market as he spoke "You do, though it's the kind of contraband you're born with. And yes, if that is truly what you wish, I will leave you be." Just then reached over, picking up his stolen sword and helmet. "Just promise me you'll keep the necklace." "I'll say it again, you make absolutely no sense," she deadpanned but pocketed the necklace. "Fine, I'll keep it but if I get in trouble, I'm telling them that it was all your fault." With that, she turned and started walking, keeping her head down as she made her way to Lower Manehattan. Finding a place to lay low was easy enough, there were plenty of cheap motels and Bella picked the cleanest she could find, flopping onto the slightly lumpy mattress and sighing. What a day...