Sound blurred as I awoke, violently shaking my head and breathing raggedly. You know what you hear when you get a LOT of water in your ears? Yeah, it sounded like that. My head was swimming, my vision blurred, nothing felt right. What felt like hours was really seconds as my vision came back into focus as I heard a low raucous, yet maniacal laugh. Still staring at the floor slightly dazed, I watched and moved the gloved hand in my left field of vision, trying to make sure it was under MY control. Looking over my right shoulder, I flexed and opened what seemed to be a Midnight blue feathered wing. Yep. Also mine.

“With such advanced technology and weapons I must admit, I expected more of a challenge from your species. So weak. Why do you keep fighting?” the dark male voice boomed with sarcasm. “You have skill though I’ll give you that. You could be second in command of my army with that skill.”

I waited until I heard the clip clop of his hooves on the marble floor directly in front of me.

“What do ya say, huh?” he asked, a hint of hope in his voice.

Discreetly flexing my wings, back, legs and arms, I grit my teeth as the realization of how much pain I’m actually in.

“Did you seriously think you still had the strength to fight? I wouldn’t offer you a position of such high authority if you were in prime condition. Say yes, and we shall spare Canterlot… for now.”

“You may as well kill me… My species may be weak by your standards, but we’re just as tenacious. Now, may I ask you a question?” I asked through my gritting teeth.

“Pffft. Go ahead.” he chucked.

“I‘m not afraid to die; ARE YOU?!” I shout as I summoned as much strength as I possibly could, and charged him. Grabbing his torso, we both collided, knocking he wind out of both of us. A further shock came from the impact of us against a stained glass window. It shattered into a galaxy of multicolored glass fragments as we fell from the observatory in the West Tower of Canterlot Castle.

As my luck would have it, my good wing was cut from the glass, and the other was broken from one of his hooves earlier. Figures. Just then I saw his horn begin to shine. Once again, acting on instinct, with my bad hand, at this current point in time its my only working hand I reached own to my waistline. Pulling out the object I seeked, I pointed it and squeezed. The loud bang that followed was deafening.

Not looking at that evil stallion anymore, I looked down an found myself about to crash into the royal pool. Shocker. Again, instinct for me kicks in. Throwing my arms out an crossing my forearms into an X, I smash into the glass ceiling, once again creating a galaxy of shards and light. Sound is blurred again as I hit the water… hard. Opening my eyes, my vision was once again blurred. By now though exhaustion had taken its toll and I begin to pass out. The last thing I remember seeing was a pink glow, and a light blue shape, and hearing a faint echo.