The party lasted well into the afternoon. Fireball and I were exhausted from all the dancing we did and rides we gave. I can't believe I wanted to miss that! Children, life's last glimmer of hope for a bright future of happiness. Too bad it had to come to an end. After the fourth pizza Fireball finally gave up on standing and decided to plop down in a booth. Thankfully, Clyde was generous enough to carry her to the car for me and set her in the back seat while I found an outlet to charge the laptop.

Once again keyboard usage seems to elude me, but somehow I manage to navigate towards Skype once again. Letting out a sigh I stare at the screen which displays no new notifications; we were still on our own. This wasn't so bad as we had my truck, each other, and a belly full of pizzas.

It's crosses my mind that we could settle down and live here. There's a chance the police will give up, plus, we guards are a dime a dozen, there's probably still at least a hundred that didn't surrender to discord... right?

My mind rebels against me. I didn't join the guard to be a scared little filly when I found a nice place to rest. I became a guard because it was a way that I could use my time to protect others. If I was going to sit around and do nothing all day, then I might as well be dead because hell should freeze over before I abandon my duty.

A new notification pops up and my eyes were suddenly glued to the screen. Unfortunately, it was not from our resident rulers, but some jack ass online, probably a friend of Fireball, wondering where he went. Apparently Fireball's wild nights on the X box were not unheard of by others.

A loud honk drew me out of my thoughts and I turn to see a very much in the mood to leave Fireball, hoof poised above the horn to let loose the ear demon again, staring at me. Waving a little to know that I had not gone deaf in the past five minutes, I close the laptop, which had gained a measly ten percent charge since I plugged it in, and set the stuff on my back. Movement was getting easier when I stopped paying attention to the improbabilities of the situation. Intentionally swinging my hips a bit and miss-stepping I found that, not only was the bundle glued to my back by some magical force, but I felt absolutely ridiculous swinging my hips like a mare.

Shivering absentmindedly I shook the image of a feminine me out of my mind unto the far reaches of my brain, hopefully never to see it again.

The short trot to the door is interrupted by Clyde. “Ya leavin?”

Turning towards him I let out a small smile. This was probably my first true smile in a long time, and my last towards a stranger for awhile I think. “Yes, we have to meet someone and unfortunately we can't delay. We very much enjoyed your food and company though, if I meet anyone I’ll be sure to spread the word.” I finish with a small wink which he returns.

“Would appreciate that, thanks.” He leans over the counter a little, his voice dropping. “Ya have nothin to fear in this little town. We're very acceptin ta strangers, it's the ones that are from outa town that ya gotta watch ou for. Word will spread fast that yer here. Ah hate to say it, but yer probably better off leavin.”

Sighing in resignation I then return my gaze to his face. “Thank you for your advice, I’ll make sure that Fireball glues her hoof to the gas pedal.”

Another warm smile graces his face. “Just don crash, unfortunately the video games aren't realistic.” His tone was joking and I could tell he meant no harm by the comment. So, with a little wave and one last goodbye I left the building and made my way back to the truck.

As I open the door and hop inside my eyes grew wide at the still form of my companion. I could tell she was barely breathing, but something was definitely wrong. I push the equipment I’d been carrying to the floor and jump over to her side. I put my head to her heart and listen for the beat. It was strong and lively, that meant no poison. So what was wrong? The pizza, did it somehow clog her throat? No that would have had immediate effects; it had to be something else.

I’m suddenly lifted from her body and tossed back into my seat. Regaining my balance I wildly check for any attackers before noticing my friend fumbling with the cars and sighing sadly. “Shadow, Shadow, Shadow... Can't you tell the old CPR trick when you see it?” Well excuse me if I don't need low slimy tactics to pick up a mare, do I?

“Excuse me?”

“I was trying to get you to kiss me you dolt!” She states in a 'duh' tone. Before I can go unconscious from the shock of things I see her open her mouth to continue and decide to hold off until she can finish. “It's a gag that's played between, hopefully two friends and not random strangers, that can get really awkward, to get one, usually the loner type, to kiss the other. It's not for affection or anything, but it's awfully funny when they jump off rubbing their lips to get the 'taste' off.” So I was subject to a prank, that's both comforting and annoying at the same time. Oh well at least she's okay, that's all that matters.

My eyes drifted to the driver's side window as Fireball managed to start the car once more and shift it into reverse. At the edge of the window I see a blue Honda skid around the corner like one of those cars from the fast and the furious and come barreling down the street. It could be just someone in a big hurry. It's just someone in a big hurry. No, I need to stop kidding myself, they've heard about us and are after us, great, just great.

Motioning to Fireball I started to warn her, but she had already seen the car and an evil smile adorned her face. I wonder if I should tell her that body work, especially on a truck, costs hundreds of dollars. What does it matter? She wouldn't care and personally, I think I'll prefer flying to driving any day of the week, if I ever get around to doing it for once. The problem with her plan right now is that it will involve pain, lots of pain. To whom this pain will be administered... I have no idea, but I’m going to take a wild shot and say it's the other driver.

Suddenly I see the gears shift into reverse, which isn't good for the transmission at all. Before I can berate her however, the truck lurches and I see the e-brake has been lifted. She's going to kill us both! Practically jumping out of my seat I lunge for the steering wheel, only to be forced to sit back down. The car is now slowing, partially, probably to compensate for the fact that the pizzeria is literally right next to the road and he or she would have to make a immediate stop.

I try to struggle a little but I see that Fireball has that look in her eye and I relax. It's a look of pure enjoyment, ready to be entertained. It means she's not about to do something extremely foolhardy and maybe dangerous.

The emergency brake flies back down and the truck lurches backwards while the rest of my internal organs try to escape my body. I watch in slow motion as Fireball does a J-turn and flips to a straight line while the Honda immediately turns and stops. Continuing to watch I realize that either we just scared the living shit out of some random person, killed someone, or scared the living shit out of somebody who deserved it. Either way, it WAS pretty hilarious to watch. Slowing a little Fireball turns to me and shoots a shit eating grin. “You can check the back fender if you wish, if you can fly against ninety mile an hour winds, but I’m one hundred and fifty percent sure that guy didn't touch your beautiful piece of machinery.”

Sighing I facehoof. Believe it or not I can't begin to imagine what my life be like without her. Of course I’m speaking in the platonic terms only, marriage would only get in the way of my work. There's been many a time though that I’ve wanted to go home and kick something or go get drunk because somepony is being a total piece of shit. Fortunately Fireball was able to- What the fuck is wrong with me? Oh yeah, I’m being brain fucked by some invisible parasite that invaded my brain a few days ago that's turning me into someone I don't know who had their own life before they stole mine. Lightly smacking my head I use pain therapy to refocus my thoughts.

A light tap interrupts my smacking and I look over at my friend. She had a concerned look on her face. “Did I go too far that time?”

Sighing I turn back to my hooves and hold my gaze. These aren't mine. Yet, why did they feel so familiar? Feeling I really have no other answer I simply bury my face in my hooves, my brain doing mental calculations for me about how fast we were traveling only judging by the sound of the wind. It is so cool to be able to do that, to be able to see farther, better and have a heightened sense of smell. I hate it, I hate it so much. It's like someone took a car that my dad gave, a car that had a past, that I held dear to my heart, and replaced it with a Ferrari. In any other situation I would love to have a Ferrari, but not if I have to sell out my life to get it.

“Shadow, please tell me what's wrong, you know you're such a downer and radiate this... aura when you get in this state.” I felt another touch on my shoulder and my brain alerts me that we are slowing down and moving in a rightward direction.

“I'm fine Fireball, what we have to do now is reach Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna as quickly as possible.” The car grew warm by a degree, which means she doesn't like my answer. “Look, I’m not mad at what you did to that jerk in the Honda, I’m... feeling uneasy from all the food.” It fells wrong to lie, especially to my best friend, but I don't want the 'your past matters most' speech again.

“That's a lie and you know it.”

I look over at her, my brain once again alerts me that we have in fact stopped. “No it wasn't.” Another blatant lie that cuts through me.

Cursing quietly to myself I watch her horn glow a tiny bit before sighing. “I still feel that this entire thing is wrong.” Looking back at that accursed magic thing I see that it is in fact dull this time. “I don't want your speeches about how I should accept that I’m both the pony and the human I was, and I don't care.”

As I finish the last word I see a look of hurt cross her face. “I'm sorry Fireball, I-”

“No you aren't, if you were sorry you would at least take into consideration not the last five years we've spent together, but the five before that, as ponies. Since you obviously don't care that we've been friends for a grand total of ten years, why should you care about my feelings then? I’m not the human friend that you once had.”

I open my mouth to speak, but I realize that she is correct, I’m being a complete and total ass to her, and frankly, I have been about this whole ordeal. In my defe- no, I have no defense.

I open the door and climb out. “Wha-where are you going?” Her voice sounded like borderline panic.

“I'm just going to get some fresh air, you can continue driving.” I hear her start to talk again, but the door is already in motion before I can acknowledge. What kind of friend am I? I wonder as I trot around to the rear tire. I- no, I need to forget my feelings for now, I need to resolve this pony human business today, or I fear that it will interfere with my ability to serve in the royal guard. Giving my wings an experimental flutter I grit my teeth. I've apparently done this hundreds upon thousands of times, this should be nothing. Spreading my wings I give a strong flap and leap from the ground, judging the height and distance so I landed lightly on the side of the truck bed.

Sighing I turn back to look in the rear window, waving slightly to let Fireball know that I was indeed still with her. My eyes started to water though. I should be in there with her, comforting her, letting her know that I have her best interests in mind, but I’m not. The truck starts to pull back onto the highway and the wind picks up. Soon we are cruising around eighty down the highway and I lay down, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of wind through my mane tail and wings, too bad it isn't night, it's so much better at night.

The thought of my normal sleep schedule triggers a yawn from me, I probably should get back into the habit of taking the night shift and switching with fireball. If all goes well we'll be in Iowa in less than 6 hours, but then again, nothing ever goes well for us. Next Chapter: Finally, some back story... Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 7 Minutes