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The Full House - Chapter III

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Chapter III: Arrival



    Luna knew perfectly that it was stupid. She - Princess of the Night, bringer of the Moon - was playing dress-up. And to be frank, she was too old for this. Yet, she couldn't stop it now. She trusted her personal maidservant with her little secret, but she would simply die from embarrassment if her older sister learnt about her nighttime hobby.

"You look dashing, my Grace!" exclaimed Mystique Wind, her beautiful personal attendee  with unhidden excitement. At first she treated Luna's quirky dress-up with concerned pity, but after a few "sessions" she began to enjoy it. At the moment, Princess Luna wore a perfectly robust and quite baroque royal dress made of dark blue silk with endless sapphires knitted into it. It looked like sky at night, and  it cost more than Mystique annual income for sure.

Luna smiled weakly. She looked great, no doubt about it, but she probably would never wear it in public. That was the main reason, why she liked dressing up – because it was a game. In front of her trusty mirror she could be all those mares that she wasn't in reality. Her smile grew more confident, while she batted her eyelashes in a flirty way and said with honeyed tone "You really think so, darling?". Mystique Wind blushed. 'Gotch'ya!' thought Luna and burst into a chuckle.

"How long will it take for our messengers to find them and bring them here?" Luna asked, getting out of her dress and trying something much more extravagant for a royal princess.

"Um, hard to say, my Majesty. Week? Maybe less with some luck. Um." Mystique wasn't easy to shock, but Princess new dress was quite… unfitting. She looked like a heroine from some kind of fantasy novel, with high boots from dark leather, white stallion shirt with puffed sleeves and a hat with huge brim and long, red feather.

"You should see your Muzzle, Mystique!" Luna smirked. "You know what this costume is lacking?" she added and answered herself without giving her maid a second "A sword!". Mystique Wind gasped, as Princess Luna focused her stern gaze on her. Before Luna could order her to bring a weapon, she opted to sudden change of a topic "Why would you like to go with them, my Princess, if I may ask?". Luna lowered her gaze and blushed all of the sudden.

"You wouldn't understand." She said shyly after a moment of silence. But Mystique was a professional and she couldn't bear to see her mistress in such a bad humor . "I'll try my best to understand, my Grace." She said with a calm voice. Princess Luna looked at her, and in her dark eyes there was a spark of something… malevolent?

"Luna", said princess of the night.

"Excuse me, my Majesty?", replied Mystique with bewilderment.

"Please. Call me Luna. Just Luna, without any grace'ing, majesty'ing and especially not My-Highnessing. It make you feel distant, and you are the closest thing to a friend I ever had. You already know a few of my secrets! And I want you to be my friend, and not just 'somewhat of a friend'". Luna looked upon unmoving figure of her personal maidservant, when she asked with a serious muzzle.

"Is this an Order, my Princess?"

"No. It's a request." Replied Luna with a sad look.

Mystique Wind nodded with still dead-serious grimace.

"Then I must say, that this is really not a costume for you, Luna".

Luna blinked a few times and exploded with laughter, quickly trying to stifle it in fear, that this loud outburst will attract guards or even worse – Celestia herself.

* * *

"Phillydelphia on the horizon!" exclaimed the jewel-maker cheerily, happy for an uneventful journey. Rest of the team also sighed with relief, boredom of bothersome traveling wore off instantly by the sight of a big city. Swash took a deep breath and smiled – at last, time for action, for moments he lived his life. He looked upon his friends and noticed that Pinion was still sullen from their last, quick conversation. His good spirits dropped as quickly as they raised, as he blamed himself for her poor humor. Past was a dangerous and ominous place for some. He probably would always feel surge of rage and hatred from this particular memory - how the little griffon joined their vagabond team.

It was one of these bad nights, long ago. Dark skies were covered by thick blanket of almost black storm clouds, rain was cutting mercilessly through the thicket and quickly change paths in the forest into muddy nightmare. Absolutely horrid weather, but they had a mission – well paid mission, commissioned to them by grieving ponies of Cloppenburg. There was something in the wilds that made it dangerous. Three kids got lost here and never were found again. Dr. Cunning did oppose to taking the job, having not a slightest clue to follow, but something made Swash took it. So they searched the forest, scattered to maximize amount of ground they could cover in a single day.

So far Swash found nothing. Forest was so regular of a forest, that it could be used as an exemplar forest in some kind of weird "How to recognize a Forest from a Far Distance" book. Nothing indicated any kind of monster to live here. "I hate you, stupid thicket." He mumbled to himself. "I hate you with all my might." He looked towards the grim skies with a grimace "And when we return to the city I will have a word with local pegasi for sure – they will feel my hoof, oh they will feel it!". He continued his heavy walk in the mud, grumbling and cursing under his muzzle. Suddenly, he stood up with shock, his ears flipping around madly – did he just heard someone yelling? It was faint, but it surely was real. It couldn't be any of them – Ace didn't shout in terror, she simply got mad. Nothing in the entire forest could scare Lagro and Dr.Cunning made others scream. So…

He gathered his strength and dashed towards the sound. He could hear a few additional screams for help, each getting fainter and fainter, as they broke into loud sobbing. Swash jumped through the trees and found himself on a circular field of high grass. In the middle there was a small, shivering lump of feathers and fur, currently crying and having trouble with breathing. Swash closed the distance carefully and reached a hoof toward the creature, but a harsh command stopped him.

"Do not touch it. It is ours." A big, bruised stallion with many tiny scratches all over his body stepped up from the shadows. He wasn't muscular, but he still looked burly with a stubble and a look of someone, who do not care at all for his apparel. Next to him was a rather small colt with huge teeth and with enough fidgety in him to spare for entire class of difficult foals. "It is ours. It escaped. Now we found it. Not your business." Exclaimed the big one. "Yeah! Not yer' business guv!" added quickly the smaller one. Swash raised his eyebrows,  and focused on the little figure.

    It was a griffon, very young one. It looked terrified, it shivered all across its mangled body. And it looked bad, like it was just beaten mercilessly. However, there was a feature that was even harder to miss – it had only a single wing, and where the second wing should be, there was only a little stub. When the big stallion make a step toward the circle, little griffon crawled in panic away from him. Swash quickly added one to one, and he really didn't liked the sum he had got. His horn glowed rapidly, as he unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards a couple of rugged ponies.

    "One more step and you will be full of holes, my friend." He said coldly. They stopped, of course, but both gave him very angry looks. Griffon watched the scene with bewilderment beyond measure. Big stallion broke into a false smile and laughed lightheartedly.

    "Com'on boss, tis' really not yer business, its'a family iss-ues, if ya got me well!" he exclaimed while scratching his head. "Ya see, she was quite a bad girl, and we need to punish'er a little, but then she ran away, foolish thing! In tis weather, you keen! It's called sui-cide, it is. That's why we ran after her, yes, to see that no'arm happen to her. Innit, Rowdy?" he added while giving a kick to the little colt, who quickly added with furious nodding "Yeap, yeap!".

    Swash didn't moved an inch. He looked at the little griffon. She met his gaze and instantly broke it, quickly lowering her head and whimper. He knew what that meant – he seen it in his life a few times. There were ways to turn someone into this – it was worse than stealing, it was worse than murder. Stripping a person of its dignity and willpower by any means possible. He felt a sudden need for bloodshed, but he contained it within him. However, it add an edge to his tone when he spoke "You. Both. Leave now." Two ponies shuddered with anger, but his sword was enough to kept them at bay. "I will not repeat myself" he added as he turned his blade for a striking position. Stallion and a colt snarled, but quickly dashed into the shadows of the wild. Swash waited a few second, listening to the rain. He then turned towards the griffon, who instantly shrank by his attention.

    He took off his scarf and covered her with it. She started crying yet again. "What is your name?". Little griffon looked at him with glassy eyes, big drops of her tears mixed with relentless rain, as she replied meekly with a broken voice after what seemed like a thousand years of silence. "I have no name." He nodded as he expected it – slaves don't have names as they do not matter enough to gain one. "Do you want to have a name?" Little griffon looked shocked by the question, but nodded slowly. Swash smiled kindly and said "Pinion. How do you like Pinion, little one?". "Pinion…" she repeated her new name a few times, and then nodded yet again, much more vigorously. "I like it."

    A few hours later they all met again in their gathering place, where Lagro started a campfire. Rain finally stopped, but the skies were still ready to pour some more. They all looked at him with questioning stares, but no one said a thing. Little griffon named Pinion was sleeping from exhaustion on his back. He let her off him gently with his magic, and laid her on a sleep bag near the fire. Dr. Cunning without a word came closer and examined her. After a few minutes of perfect silence he stood up and began whispering to Swash with a serious muzzle.

    "Bruises all over, new and old. Very old. Constantly beaten and not with a tender hoof of a father. Blunt instruments used too. I didn't want to check her that thoroughly, but I am afraid she may had been… used. I know you know what I mean by it. But there is one more thing." He added quickly, as he saw Swash snout changing into a mask of fury. "Her wings. She had two. I mean, this particular griffon was born with a pair of wings. She didn't lost it in a fight or because it was broken. It was amputated. Cut off." Swash nodded slowly, gave a sleeping griffon a quick glance and then spoke aloud. "Lagro, you are staying here. Keep an eye for her. That is first thing. Second – any luck with our little task?" Everyone shook their heads, but Ace added "I found a dirty old hamlet, about four hundred yards away from here, north-east. I checked it out as it was empty – someone live there for sure, but not a sign of anything that would consider our mission, so I left". 'Good. Now It will be so much easier' Swash thought to himself, but he nodded to them and exclaimed calmly "Please, do continue. I am sure we will find something. I, however, have something to be done. I will return shortly." He finished, and rapidly headed north-east, as Ace said. After he took only a few steps, Dr. Cunning said "I know what you are after. Just do it quick Swash." Swash nodded. He would be quick.

    Half an hour it took him to find the hamlet Ace spoke about. He was tired from constant gallop, but he couldn't let them slip away. It was his lucky day, as he heard racket coming from inside. So they returned and probably were packing to leave. Maybe. Or not. It really didn't matter now. He pulled his sword free, and slowly paced towards the building. It was a shack, no doubt – poorly maintained to not fall down on resident inside, and that's all. 'Funny, how I always noticed such stupid things in moments like that' he thought hastily. He opened the door with a kick – two stallions, one big and burly and one young, small and with big teeth looked at him with terror. Swash did it quickly.

    When he returned to the camp, Pinion was already awake, trying her best to hide below his scarf and sleep bag. Lagro's had that effect on kids. Dr. Cunning and Ace returned from their escapades and now focused their firm looks on him, still covered in drying blood. 'Stupid rain never fall when you needed it', Swash gave all of them a Stern gaze and proclaimed, still with icy cold voice "This -" he pointed the little griffon with his forehoof "- is Pinion. She will be travelling with us from now on. Be nice, and say Hi to Pinion." Everyone said their variants about "Hi". Pinion emerged slowly from below the scarf, still pretty terrified. "Now, Pinion, I know you are afraid…" he began, but the little griffon interrupted him with a bold "I am not afraid!". She instantly curled and began shivering with closed eyes, ready for a hit that would never came. After a few silent seconds, she opened one eye in disbelief, only to saw a soft smile and kind stare of Swash. "That's good Pinion. That will do for now".

    Swash returned from his memories and sighed painfully. It took time for her to open up. And when she did, everyone tried their best for a band of rugged ruffians to console her. After she told them all – how she was thrown away from the mountain, how those creature that looked like ponies found her, how they made her did… a lot of different things. How they cut her wing to make her unable to run away. And more. Much more. Swash was furious with himself – it shouldn't be quick. He should make them suffer – but then it would not be justice. It would be murder. That thought didn't make him felt any better. However, when Pinion told them all, every little terrifying detail of her young and unfortunate life, she changed practically in a single day. She became energetic, curious, eager to learn, maybe even happy. It was hard to tell, but it surely was good to see her that way. She quickly became somewhat of a mascot for the team, and  he loved her like a younger sister.

    "Oh don't be so gloomy Pin!" he tried. "I promise that I'll buy you something nice in the city! How about that?". She instantly raised her head while a smile blossomed on her beak "I want a hat!" she said with excitement. Well, she was still a kid after all.

* * *

    Twilight grumbled under her nose and wriggled a little. She usually was very patient with, well, pretty much everything, but she wasn't used to Rainbow Dash taking her time. Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed, when meaningless chit-chat flew around her, as her friend relaxed a little. After the cyan pegasus heard the name of the mercenary team she got extremely excited and even more hot-headed than usual.  Without any sensible explanation she dashed out of the Carousel Boutique to bring something that, as she said – "Gonna' explain anything, really!". Whatever that was, Dash obviously couldn't find it in her sky-palace, or she would be back in a minute or so. Twilight made a decision and instantly stand up.

    "Excuse me, girls, it was lovely to see you all and to see Rarity's getting well, but I must write to Princess Celestia immediately and attend to some, uhm, task. You know how it is" she tried with a smile. She got their attention and the room went quite, but not for long – Rarity broke into a wide smile and began "Well, of course Twi..-" but was interrupted by Applejack "Ah'm sorry Twilight, but don'tchya want to see what Rainbow wanna' show us?" . Oh, A.J. had this special way of asking questions, that sounded all plain and innocent, but had way different meaning, easily readable to anyone – and this one meant 'Rainbow Dash feelings will be hurt, if You don't stay'. Twilight was saved from answering however, as the door opened with a loud bang and Rainbow Dash entered with a wild grin, all sweaty from fast flying.

    "Got It!" she exclaimed, while catching a breath. "That…" Huff. "Cold…" Breath. "Icy…"

    "Calm down, Dashie and take a deeeep breath, silly filly!" said Pinkie Pie suddenly appearing behind the cyan pegasus and mimicking her deep intakes of air. Rainbow threw her a dangerous look and snapped  "Huh, I mean, Icy Cold, yeah? The snow pegasus? She borrowed these from me and now I flew to her house, but she was sleeping, so I tried to wake her up, but she is kinda' stone-cold sleeper, yeah, so I broke her doors, and she awoke to that! But she was quite angry, and she yelled, and well… I shouted a little too, and we had a little fight, as we always do, and then I explained that I need my books. And that's all!". Everypony looked at her with confusion.

    "Could you, eh, maybe repeat that a little slower, darling?" asked Rarity meekly.

Rainbow dash growled and simply took a bunch of tattered, thin books from her saddlebag and threw them on the floor rather carelessly. Twilight winced a little at such disrespect towards written words, but she quickly get over it, when she saw what kind of literature these books represented.

    "Trashy bit-books?" she said it aloud with sincere bewilderment and quickly put a forehoof to her mouth with blush. "Sorry! Sorry. I mean, these could be a fun read and all..." Rainbow Dash simply burst into laughter. "Chill out, Twilight! I know these aren't anything serious, but the hey, I am not into reading myself, yet, I enjoy reading novels like that you know?" Rarity smiled to herself, as she could relate with Rainbow with a passion for, let's put it delicately, cheap form of literature. "But those here are a series about The Full House team! They always write at the back, that all the stories inside are based on real events and such, but you know – nopony takes it seriously!" Dash continued with a cheery humor.  "But! If the team is real, maybe some of these stories are real too! That would be so awesome!" she added, prancing around the room with closed eyes.

    "Really?" asked Fluttershy sheepishly. "What are these stories about, for example, um, if I may ask?"

    "Yeah! Are they good guys or whatnot?" A.J. added her question.

    Dash stopped in place and tapped her chin with a forehoof. "Well, hard to say. Depends on the story, to be true! They fight monsters, save fillies from oppression, use swords and tricks and explosions and stuff. Pretty cool, innit?" She exclaimed with excitement.

    Twilight rolled her eyes yet again, this time at the naivety of her friend. 'Stories from a trashy adventure novel… sheesh, really?' She thought, but others were much more excited. Rarity for example already took one of the books and started to flick through it, so does Fluttershy. Pinkie sat eerily still for her, thinking hard on something. Applejack was the only one except Twilight who really didn't share the excitement – and she was observing Twilight with a guessing stare. Applejack stepped towards the lavender unicorn and told her privately "Stories be stories, but somepony must have her hoofs on the solid ground, eh? Glad Ah'm not alone this time in it. We really shouldn't get excited, I reckon. We should get careful. I don't like this, Twi, and I see it bothers ya too." She glanced over rest of her friends, currently occupied by exchanging sentences from the books that they found interesting. Applejack sighed with a smile and nudged silent Twilight "Its'a'good that they have us around." Twillight nodded and looked up, ready to speak, but sudden yelp from Pinkie Pie broke her concentration.

    "A PARTY! Newcomers in Ponyville! We need to throw them a party!" She exclaimed while bouncing around. "A party, a party! I love parties. Well, this will be a great party, and they'll enjoy it for sure!" She stopped, and with an uncertainty in her tone she asked "This is a good idea, is it? I mean, a party. Party is always nice."

    "Indeed Pinkie Pie! It is a fantastic idea." Said Twilight with a mischievous smile on her snout. "We don't know yet when they are going to arrive, so I am going home to write to Princess Celestia – I will ask her for sure about it, don't you worry!" she added and quickly stand up.

    "Bye girls! Nice seeing you all, have a good night!" she said and dashed out of the library. It happened so fast, that nopony even was able to reply while she was gone.

    "What was that all about?" asked Rainbow Dash.

    "Oh, you know Twilight. She probably just got an idea, and she run to check it immediately. I know how it is, so I can't blame her" replied Rarity with a wave of a hoof. She couldn't know how right she was.

* * *

Swash hated cities like Phillydelphia. It's all about size – big cities developed so rapidly, that rest of Equestria seemed backward in comparison in every aspect of life. With his sword and a look of a rebellious scallywag he didn't fit into the big cities, with their modern "way of life". He preferred little towns with single inn made out of wood with a huge fireplace – places that fitted his persona. But well, beggars can't be choosers. He and his team sat idly in the inn, chit-chating and relaxing before they would go out to find another job that threw them into another grim forest, black pit or murky marsh in search for another monstrosity – be it real or totally phantasmagoric.

"So, what now Swash?" said Lagro with his tubular, low voice. Oh, he always attracted attention, no matter how civilized and cultured place they attended – even in Canterlot he was constantly followed by stares of genuine interest from curious ponies. Well, he sort of stand out.

Swash staring into a flame of an oil lamp, that stood on their table recalled how he met his huge companion.

It was hilarious – now. Back then it was quite chilly. It was their first assignment as a newborn team, maybe a month after Dr. Cunning join Swash and Ace – and it was first serious task, with a profitable reward as a perspective to be taken into account. In the distant west of Equestria laid Appleloosa, still fresh settler-city full of ponies that thirsted for freedom; so it attracted primarily the worst kind – thieves, troublemakers, mares with negotiable affect, card sharks and shady merchants. It was the place of their mission that attracted Swash – he believed that he would fit the Wild West quite well. Also, Ace was the most terrifying card player he ever saw, so even if they couldn't fulfill their mission, they will still grab some profit out of the trip.

Assignment was simple – Find and kill a monster that hides somewhere in the badlands surrounding the town. Why? Well, why add some reason other than the fact of being a monster? But back then Swash didn't bother with overthinking things, and his newfound brain by the name of Dr. Cunning didn't oppose to the task, so he took it. Reward promised by sheriff Silverhoof was big – suspiciously big for a monster hunting, but sheriff clarified this with a single sentence: "Nopony ever came back.". Swash asked how many had tried before him and his team. Eight. Eight hardened bounty hunters from all around the Equestria failed at this task – that was the reason hiding behind a huge lump sum of bits.

And they still took it.

They worked with a plan, and it was a good one. Ace Flush stayed in the local saloon, earning their stay in it and a few bits on the side. After a few days she became popular among young colts and hated amongst veteran gamblers, for they couldn't win with her in any possible way. Swash and Doctor decided to scout the mountains and valleys around the Appleloosa to find any track of the monster. And they didn't found a single clue or track or anything in days. Time passed, and new players joined the game. More bounty hunters and simple thugs tried to find their reward by slaying the eluding prey, and that only irked Doctor, who hated working in crowds.

He even suggested to "trim the competition", and Swash laughed, as he thought that Cunning was joking. He didn't know him back then.

Days passed, and Swash was getting hopeless – if the creature was there, it could hide forever within the never ending and vast complex of lairs and tunnels that covered entire ochre-red mountains and cliffs of this land. Only a stroke of luck stopped them from leaving – Doctor found a mound, a big pile of rock that he described as "not created by nature". They dig into it until skeletons and bodies rolled out of it – eight, to be precise. It was a burial mound for the hunters that tried to hunt a predator.

Swash remember how Doctor carefully and with attention examined each of the eight bodies. Mutilated, he said. Tore apart, he said. Whatever they were fighting, it was big. Strong. Armed with long claws or huge fangs or probably both. Not a single one of them were eaten or even nibbled on. Also, burial mound – monsters did not build graves for the fallen, and did not let a good source of food go to waste. There was no monster in Appleloosa – there was something worse than any monster could be.

Swash called it a day, and returned with doctor to the saloon to break the news to Ace. And to decide, if they should continue. They surely earned a lot so far, thanks to Ace Flush skill with the cards, and nopony would even notice their departure. Doctor opted for leaving, arguing, that whatever killed all of these unfortunate ponies probably left long ago – nothing implied otherwise, especially now, when they knew it wasn't a mindless creature that would stay within its territory. Ace was undecided – she preferred to stay, but not for the big reward. As she put it back then, she "Still have a plenty of suckers to dry off their bits". And so they stayed – Swash decided, that he must meet this creature. Fight it. Defeat it. Only to prove himself in his very own eyes.

'I was quite a fool.' He thought, still staring the flame of the lamp.

Next day in the dawn they heard a distant, yet still powerful boom of an explosion. Dynamite – somepony used dynamite in the mountains, and the reason for it was plain as sun in the blue sky. If the monster didn't want to get out of the safe shades of the caves, they will made him came out. With a bang. Swash and Doctor were galloping toward the following explosions and soon they reach quite a group of different ponies, observing a gang of five armed stallions prepping another dynamite roll. One of the group, a bright yellow pony with a huge moustache that covered his muzzle entirely came to them and said "Sorry, guys, but the rewards will be ours here. We gonna' smoke out that bastard and kill'im right and proppa'. No 'ard feeling, but business is business, aye?". When he finished, another powerful explosion tore the sky with a roar, and a part of the mountain collapsed, raising a cloud of red ash that covered everything. Swash still with buzzing in the ears saw a shadow of a big silhouette appear in the entrance of the former cave.

"Idiots." Said a creature with a low growl. "Days of careful hunting, days of silent observing, hours of perfect stillness wasted." It added with a snarl. Creature was quite hulky, and reminded a young dragon in form – brown scales covered its massive body, muscles flexed behind its skin, big jaw adorned a bulky head with tiny, beady eyes and small, but muscular legs kept the creature barely upright in a hunched position, entire balance kept by a long and thick tail. Dragonling was more ten twice bigger than any stallion and was quite intimidating. Also, it wore a dirty poncho and flat, black hat with wide brim.

The "Big Moustache" just nodded to his companions, and said "Indeed! Your hunting is over, monster. You will pay for those whom you slayed" just before he jumped with his gang into action. Dragonling was taken by surprise and managed just a few blinks before a pair of ponies plunged their blades deep into its chest. Everything stopped and went still, and after a few second the only sound heard was the sound of a blood drops hitting the soft sand beneath the creature. A beast just raised its head and with a stoic tone proclaimed "Now, well, now you managed to get me angry". With a rapid strike of a clawed hand one of the assailant were tore into two halves with a gush of blood and a loud noise of breaking spine. The fury of the sudden strike instantly withered from the group, that quickly stepped back to regroup in shock – creature still had two long blades in its chest, dripping with blood. Nevertheless, it managed to kill in a single strike with unerring speed for something that should be already dead. Swash hardened his magic grip on a sword, but didn't moved a muscle.

Creature smiled and said "I am not the one who you are looking for" but now it didn't matter. Four ponies enraged by the death of their companions pressed another attack. And they were good, very good to be honest – professionals, acting in perfect unison. While one was forwarding with a thrust or lunge, two others flanked him with their blades to kept him out of retaliation. It worked well, as the trio managed to cut the creature multiple times, enraging the dragonling and dying sand crimson with its dark blood. The unicorn stood out of the fight himself, accumulating magical energies into a powerful blast. Swash, being a unicorn himself, felt a powerful change in aura – whatever the spell could do, it will be devastating.

As on command, the trio jumped away from the wounded creature to let the unicorn hit it with the magical bolt – with a loud hum a white lightning hit the ground, when a second ago a dragonling stood. Unicorn missed. The creature was in mid-air, as it lunged itself into a fierce jump towards the swordstallion trio, easily dogging the lightning bolt. And three ponies were in deep bewilderment – how could anything pierced with two blades be able to jump like that? – but their shock died away with them, when the creature landed between them, scattered them aside like toys and roared "I am not! The one! Who you are looking for!". After that, before giving its opponents time to react, he put them out with mighty blows.

Swash gulped and decided, that it's time to enter the fray. With a quick dash he tried to get close to the beast. Adrenaline pumped into his bloodstream, time slowed for his perception, everything became a hazy in-motion panorama. He saw how another streak of energy sent from the last standing unicorn hit the creature this time, right into the chest. He saw how the dragonling fell to its knees with a low scream fueled by excruciating pain. He saw how the unicorn prepare himself for another, final spell. He saw how the unicorn horn glow got brighter and brighter, how sparks began to fall of the tip, how another surge of pure energy flew off it towards its target. And especially he saw, how his very own blade turned hot and bright orange, when it met the lightning on its way – he would always remember the sound of his trusty sword breaking on the impact with such powerful magic. Unicorn, like his fallen companions, wasn't immune to being shocked by the flow of events. He realized a second to late, that still red half of the blade is flying towards him. He gave almost no sound, when it plunged deeply into his chest with a smoke of burning flesh.

Swash dropped his destroyed weapon and turned his head toward the kneeled beast. Beast, that looked at him with suspicion in its beady, reptilian eyes.

"I… wonder." Creature said, coughing blood. "You did that to claim the reward for my body. Or to save my life." Swash didn't answer, but with a glow on his horn he telekinetically drew both blades from the chest of the dragonling. Blood gushed from the wound and the beast sagged with a moan. Swash gave both swords a very critical look, before he dropped one of them into the sand and sheathed the second. After that, he looked over the monster.

"You didn't kill these ponies before them." It wasn't a question, but the beast nodded nevertheless.

"You made them a grave.  What killed them?" Swash asked.

"I… hrkk… It matters not now. The true killer is either buried in the caves or it left the mountains now. These explosion –" another attack of coughing, more blood decorated the sand "-destroyed my work. I was so close to kill the monster." Creature smiled weakly. "Ironic, isn't it? Hunting monsters for lives, die as one. Pretty neat, If you… think about it."

Swash stood there for a few second in stillness, and he dropped his stare after something wet touched his hooves. Blood. Puddle of blood was getting bigger and bigger.

"My name is Swash. Swash Knack. And you will not die here…?" he let the question hung in the air.

"Lagro..." the creature said, before drifting away into darkness.

Swash looked into the flame of the oil lamp. Someone started to nudge him, and after that, he awoke from his memories.

"Wha- What!? I don't want any!" he blurted.

    Ace looked at him like he was some kind of a circus freak. "Nopony is offering you anything, dimwit. You were starin' at the freakin' fire for a couple of minutes now like a creep or something. Lagro asked a question, and it was a question we want answered too! What's now!?" she said with another nudge to his flank.

    "I don't know! What am I,  some kind of a scrying orb or whatnot? Like always, we'll stumble on an occasion and we will take it. Simple as that." He said while scratching his eyes. He shouldn't drift into the past like that, it wasn't healthy for sure. Ace rolled her eyes in anger, but said nothing, as she satisfied herself with an under muzzle litany of curses.

    "Well, that is quite simple yet effective philosophy of life, isn't it?"

    Every member of the team rapidly turned head toward the voice of a hooded pony, that walked towards their table. She – and it was definitely a She, Swash could tell from the velvet voice and the fluid trot – was escorted by a pair of Royal Guards; the fiercest and most disciplined warriors Equestria could offer. The mare revealed herself to a gasp from Swash and Ace alike – she was a young filly unicorn with silver coat and crystalline, transparent mane. The mare was practically glittering in the light. Young unicorn, visibly encouraged from the attention, said  with a commanding tone.

    "My name is Vexing Sun, and I am fulfilling a duty of a Royal Messenger of Equestria. You said-'  she nodded to hypnotized Swash "-that you are willing to take an opportunity. That is fantastic, because here is one. Her most serene Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, alongside with her royal sister, the most benevolent grace, Princess Luna, request your entire team presence in Canterlot Alabaster Palace, immediately. Of course, if you are willing to heed this request." She finished with a smirk.

    Swash with mild bewilderment looked at his comrades and saw all of them nodding. He then faces the iridescent beauty of the Vexing Sun and said "We very much are. Don't waste time than, please, lead the way", he began to trot towards the exit of the inn, but one of the Guards stood in his path, while Vexing Sun chuckled.

    "I knew faster way of travelling, mister Swash. Allow me" she said with a flirty voice that made his body shiver with electricity. Her horn glowed with a bright light that exploded soundlessly in a flare, so white, that everyone closed eyes in self-defense. A sudden sensation of movement, a quick *zzap* and Swash felt his hooves landing on… marble? Swash opened his eyes to a panorama of tall, slim towers covered with golden spires, scrapping at the twilight sky.

    "Welcome to Canterlot!" exclaimed Vexing Sun, prancing a little in place. "We hope your stay will be pleasant."
♥ ♠ ♦ ♣ CHAPTER III - Arrival

So, some mixture of feelings here - first, I tried my best to made you all WAFF inside with Luna scene, than I want to make your blood course faster through your veins with Pinion and Lagro’s backstory. Believe it or not, this chapter had more than 30 pages at first, before I decided to “trim it” for the sake of my Dear Readers ;) So please, do excuse me if these backgrounds would feel a little... rushed!

◄◄◄ Chapter II - VaudevilleChapter IV - Showtime in the Shadows ►►►

Cover art created by :iconaeterne: !
Equestia and Characters from the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic created by :iconfyre-flye: !
© 2011 - 2024 Fapony
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