Author's Note: Hey, Black Tribal here! All I can say is...wow. I never thought I would be writing a story for My Little Pony. I hate to admit this, but I was once an MLP hater. That is, until I actually started READING the fanfiction and WATCHING the show. Now, I am a proud Brony.

I would like to thank SoulHook for giving me loads of help for this story. I always give credit where it's due, and I'm giving him the amount he deserves.

ON WITH THE STORY!

(The Past)

A lone colt jumped over a small stump and gracefully landed on all four hooves before galloping at full speed again through the forest.

This colt was pretty young, but not considered a foal anymore at his age. His solid black coat was glistening with sweat and had caked dirt in it from an earlier tumble. His slightly long silver mane with an almost blood red stripe in it and the short and equally silver and red tipped tail waved behind him as the wind whipped through them.

What's most distinguishing about this particular colt, is the mismatched eyes he has. The left one was a beautiful, shining silver while the right one was a deep, almost burning copper color.

Realizing that a steep drop in the path was coming up, the black colt extended his slightly larger than normal wings and jumped, allowing his wings to carry him a good distance past the drop before landing on the level ground and continuing his gallop.

“STOP! YOU GET BACK HERE!” The colt turned his head and looked behind him. The group chasing him was coming up fast, their solid white coats and gleaming golden armor making them easily visible in the forest green.

There was no way the colt was gonna stop for these particular royal guard ponies, but apparently, karma has a bad habit of slapping you in the face when you least want it to. The colt's front right hoof struck a rock and he fell forward and somersaulted into a tree, hitting his back on it.

A faint aura covered him as the guards finally caught up and now stood over him. The unicorn and two earth guard ponies did NOT look happy. The unicorn picked the black colt up and tossed him over onto his stomach behind them before walking over and getting close to the colt's face, venom staining his eyes and voice. “I want you to listen to me right now, you lousy troublemaker. We've had ENOUGH of chasing you into the forest every time you decide to run away! You either stay at the castle like a good colt, or we will chain you to the wall so you can't escape. Which will it be?”

The colt didn't reply. He didn't even look afraid of the hateful gazes the guards were giving him. The colt simply stood up on slightly shaky legs before turning around with an indifferent and mellow expression and started walking in the direction that he had come from.

“LISTEN TO ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!” The colt yelped in pain as he felt a powerful kick connect with his side and send him forward a couple of feet. Tears and whimpers escaped the colt as the burning pain seared through his body.

A powerful white hoof suddenly began to push onto the colt's injured side, resulting in the colt letting out a loud and pain filled yell.

“ENOUGH!” All eyes turned towards the elegant and solid white alicorn that now stood before them. Her body was more slender, taller, and she had a natural elegant look to her. Her mane and tail of cyan, turquoise, azure, and purple waved and moved as if there was a gentle breeze in the air. The golden tiara, neckpiece, and shoes went well with her coat while clashed with the brown soil. Her orange and yellow sun cutie mark could almost burn your eyes by looking at it as it graced her flank. And finally, her deep, magenta eyes scanned over the scene in front of her, disgust and disappointment prominent in her unwavering gaze.

The guards immediately took a couple of steps back until the only thing between the three guards and the angry alicorn goddess was a few yards and the injured colt. “P-Princess Celestia!” The unicorn gasped. “What are you doing here?” Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly. “I should be asking you the same thing, Lieutenant. I thought I told you to keep an eye on Rev and to bring him back if he runs away, not to hurt him if he does!” The Lieutenant winced at Celestia's seething with rage tone. “B-But-” “But nothing! You have disobeyed a direct order from you Princess.” Her gaze sent cold shivers down the guard ponies' spines. “I want you all to return to the castle and wait until I get back so we can discuss your punishments.”

They tried to argue, but Celestia's gaze made them think otherwise. The Lieutenant gave the black colt one last glare before turning around and walking back to the castle, his partners mirroring his motions.

Princess Celestia sighed in irritation. “Why do the guards have such a vendetta against Rev? He never did anything to deserve it.” She looked down at the unconscious colt. “Sure, he constantly tries to run away, but that would only cause them a headache. Especially since they can outrun Rev.”

The Sun goddess began flapping her wings until she was in a small hover. Reaching forward with her forelegs, she wrapped Rev into an embrace before giving her wings a mighty flap, now soaring into the air towards Canterlot Castle.

It was only a few minutes before Celestia felt movement from the limp colt. He squirmed slightly before opening his eyes. His eyes widened as he saw how high he was and how fast the ground beneath him moving. He began to struggle to break free from whatever was grasping him. “Rev, stop struggling! You wouldn't want to drop you, would you?” Rev looked up at the smiling alicorn. His expression went back to indifferent. “I guess not.”

He began looking around, as if an answer to his question would appear out of thin air. “Where are those guards?” “They have been...dismissed.” Everything went silent between the two, the only audible sound being the wind passing through their manes and ears.

“Why do you run, Revenant Hunter?” The colt faced the alicorn that was looking at him with inquisitive eyes. He shrugged. “I guess I just don't like it at Canterlot.” The Princess's eyes widened slightly. This was a first for her. Everypony she knew always said that they would do anything just to live in Canterlot, but Revenant Hunter lives in Canterlot Castle. After what she's heard about Canterlot Castle, ponies would practically think it's a crime to not like to live there.

“What do you mean?” The Princess leaned her head down slightly. Fury began to burn in Revenant Hunter's mismatched eyes. “Okay, I'll tell you why I don't like it there. I'm tired of ponies watching me wherever I go, I'm tired of having ponies cower just because I'm royalty, which is a title I don't even want, I'm sick and tired of all of the snobbish and dominant-challenged ponies who think that just because they have more money than other ponies, they think they're better,” he took a breath, “I'm tired of being waited on hoof and mane when I can clearly do it myself, I can't play with my friends without some sort of jerk thinking it's a scandal,” another breath, “and speaking of scandals, I'm tired of the Royal Guard Captain thinking it's okay to have a guard following me and sending somepony to spy on my friends because he thinks that they're trying to use me to get their parents closer to you! It took me a week to get Star Searcher's trust back because she thought I sent the spy!” A final breath, “And the thing I'M REALLY sick of my family! They're always making me attend conferences and meetings and making me wear ugly and uncomfortable regal clothes so that it 'boosts my image'! They are always saying how important it is to keep up the family's image, ever since we found out that we were descendants of a lost royal family and that I'm technically the other pony that's supposed to be ruling Equestria along side you!”

Celestia watched the panting colt rant about every reason he's was always like he usually is. She winced every time he ticked a reason off of the imaginary complaints list. What bothered her was that it was all true. Ever since she became ruler of Equestria with her sister Luna, she had witnessed everything he spoke of. She was even the one settle down Star Searcher's family when the little filly saw a Royal Guard pegasus laying in the bushes outside of an open window outside their home. It certainly raised a ruckus in the community, especially when the Princess found out the guard had abused his abilities and turned into a peeping tom. Celestia had to fire him and send him away from Canterlot for good.

Celestia decided to voice a question that was now bugging her. A question she was afraid to ask because of fear for the answer she would receive. With a tear threatening to fall, the goddess leaned her head down farther. “Are also saying that you don't like to rule beside me?” The question was like a stake to the heart, because she remembered asking Luna the same thing before her banishment.

Revenant Hunter's expression softened and he shook his head. “Of course not Celestia. You and my friends were the first ponies to accept me for who I am. Although I hate the 'ruling part' , I still like being by your side. You're the only pony I can discuss personal problems with.” Tears began to form in his silver and copper eyes, “You and m-my friends are t-the only ones I can trust.”

Celestia nuzzled him for comfort while she began to land in front of Canterlot Castle. “I'm sorry that I can't change any of those things, but try to accept it for now. All good things come to those that wait.” She let Revenant out of her grasp. She then took on a more business like pose and a mock serious face. “Now, Sir Revenant Hunter, are you going to try to escape again?” Rev only shrugged, “Most likely, but not anymore today, it's getting late and I'm tired.” Celestia dropped her pose. “Alright. That's good, because Lancer is gone on a mission to the Everfree Forest, and he's the only guard that's right for you.” Revenant snickered. “Are you sure you should be telling me this? I could use it to my advantage if you're not careful.”

Celestia smiled even more than he was. “Because I know you always keep your word and always speak the truth.” Revenant yawned and then giggled. “Yep. You know me better than the back of your gold shoes.” Celestia groaned in an un-princess like manner. “You're not going to start making jokes about my golden shoes again, are you?” Revenant gave a small laugh before walking into the Castle's entrance, The Princess following beside him. “What?! Humble ol' me?! Making fun of your shoes?!” He sighed in disappointment. “Celestia, you know that I know better than to make fun of ,” he then pointed dramatically at her hooves, “the royal, golden, and so expensive-that-it's-ridiculous shoes!”

“Haha, very funny.” Celestia deadpanned as she and Revenant Hunter walked through the Castle doors.

(The Present)

A familiar lavender unicorn with a mane that was dark indigo with a pink and purple stripe through it, with a dark pink star surrounded by smaller, white stars as her cutie mark, was currently walking towards a cottage that was near the Everfree Forest. The mare's name was Twilight Sparkle, current caretaker of the Ponyville Library and personal student of Princess Celestia, not that she's bragging. A saddlebag filled with books sat on her back as she knocked on the cottage door.

“Fluttershy. Fluttershy, are you there?” “...Just a minute.” a small voice replied. A light yellow pegasus mare with a pink mane and strong cyan eyes and a butterfly cutie mark answered the door. A small smile appeared on her face. “Hey Twilight. Come in, I'll make you some tea.” Twilight smiled and followed her shy friend into the cottage. “So Fluttershy, have you heard the news?” The pegasus nodded as she put the teapot on the stove. “Yes. The animals have been telling me about it. They're saying that there was some sort of fight in the...” she shivered in fear, “Everfree Forest.” Twilight sat on Fluttershy's green couch. “Yeah, every unicorn in Ponyville sensed a strong release of magic in the forest. Celestia sent me a letter to check it out for any problems. I was gonna ask the girls for some help, but Rarity is busy with an order, Spike stayed behind to help her, I couldn't find Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie, and Applejack is busy with her apple bucking. You're the only one who seems free to help.”

Fluttershy began to shake where she was standing. “O-Oh...I would l-like to help...but...” Twilight shook her head at Fluttershy's nervousness. Sometimes, the pegasus needs to be more assertive.

An idea hatched in her head. It would be kinda cruel, but she wasn't going to do this on her own. “But Fluttershy, what if somepony is hurt? Wouldn't you want to help them?” Fluttershy lifted up her head. Twilight saw a streak of confidence in them. “Y-You're right. It goes against my nature not to help somepony if they're hurt.” She looked out the window into the dark forest. She shivered again. “But still, it's-” Twilight didn't leave room for argument. “Thanks for the assistance Fluttershy!” She began dragging the pegasus outside of the cottage and into the forest's entrance with Fluttershy covered in Twilight's unicorn magic.

Fluttershy began to panic and her legs locked up in fear, causing her to be literally dragged behind Twilight. They both journeyed deeper into the forest, Twilight using her horn as locator for the magical disturbance. While getting closer to the disturbance's source, Twilight and a recovered and now walking Fluttershy began to notice that something was wrong with the scenery. The trees were covered in ash and burn markings, the soil was also covered in ash and burnt plants, and there was craters in the ground. Fluttershy and Twilight had to swallow down the bile and avoid running away when they saw a charred body laying slumped against a tree, the carcass no longer recognizable. Flutter shy squeaked in fear, but Twilight managed to calm her down enough to keep moving. Twilight's horn suddenly began to pulse and she felt the signal getting much stronger. “We're getting close.” Fluttershy nodded in response.

Pushing away some burnt brush, Twilight and Fluttershy saw a sight that almost made them pass out in fear. There were bodies of multiple ponies spread out everywhere. Some were burnt beyond recognition, some were missing limbs, and others didn't even have heads.

In the middle of the carnage, Twilight spotted a black figure lying on the ground, it's chest rising a falling faintly. The wings on the pony's back were terribly burnt and all of the feathers were gone. He was caked with dirt and blood, and his silver mane and tail were stained in blood, almost making the red stripe in them invisible. He also had an old black fedora that had a flat, almost 12 inch brim that was laying crooked on his head.

Fluttershy, biting back her fear a little, quickly ran up to the pony and began to examine it. It was a stallion that looked terribly injured. The burnt wings could no longer give him flight, he had a gash on his right foreleg and hind leg, and it looked like one of his wings was dislocated. Twilight ran up to her and began rummaging through her saddlebags, pulling out a medical kit that Fluttershy immediately began to use. “Fluttershy? Are you sure you should be helping this strange pony? What if he's the one who caused all of this?!” Fluttershy, a state of rare confidence, didn't even turn her head to answer Twilight. “I don't think he could cause all of this death. He's a pegasus. And pegasi can't utilize magic. I don't think a he could of done any of this. He could be a victim of whoever did this.”

She cut off the excess gauze and closed the medical kit with a sigh. She managed to stop the bleeding and wrap the gashes, but his wing was still dislocated and un-bandaged. “I think only Nurse Redheart and Tenderheart can fix the rest.” Twilight nodded. “Now, how are we gonna carry him back?”

They both turned towards each other with looks of confusion and then realization. Twilight face-hoofed. “Aw hay. I guess I didn't figure that one out.”

To be continued