Chapter 10: Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt

Hungry. So very hungry.

Mac just rolled his eyes. For the past week, things had been going well for him in this department. During the day, he would not have to worry about the Rider and could enjoy the company of those around him, to a point. Then at sun down, he would just excuse himself and go find a place to transform. Simple as that.

But, for whatever reason, the Rider was not able to get enough to eat last night. Now, all the Rider seemed to be able to talk about was his hunger, or to mock Mac about something. Being on the farm left the Rider with an almost endless amount of ways to mock him.

“Not ma fault yer hungry,” Mac whispered, pulling a cart full of broken branches and other clutter from the orchard. “Now quit yer bellyaching.”

My bellyaching is your bellyaching, Mac-Mac. Besides, I bet you were getting pretty lonely without me around. The Rider laughed as Mac reached the compost pile behind the barn. This is the place you have missed all these years? A farm, some annoying family members, and chores? I would think you would’ve given this up for the chance for adventure in a heartbeat.

“This was ma home. Ah would have gladly lived ma entire life here and would have died a happy stallion,” Mac whispered, his eyes furtively scanning around him. He never knew when Little Macky might do one of his famous surprise dive bombs. As much as he liked the little colt, he had a lot to learn in the way of manners and discipline.

Whatever you say, Macky. Mac just grunted; the Rider would never understand things like family, love, and loyalty. All he wanted to do was feed, battle, and destroy the wicked. Dumping the contents of the cart on the pile, Mac started to make his way back to the orchard to gather more.

Walking the familiar route back to the orchard brought waves of joy and heartache to Mac. He had dreamed about coming back to his home, of being a simple farm pony again, to once again work the fields that his ancestors had begun and that he and his sisters would tend to.

Those dreams would never be fulfilled by his hooves. He was cursed, unclean, not the same pony he was.

With realization sinking in again, Mac could only hope that he and the Rider could find that Demon Soul, leave Ponyville and resume his damned existence alone.

Come on Macky, you’re not alone. I’ll always be here to—

“Blazing Tackle!” With the distraction of the Rider’s talking, Mac failed notice Little Macky barreling towards him from the orchard, leaving him no time to react as the bright red and blue colt slammed into his chest.

Mac gave out a low ‘oof’ as the colt bounced off his broad chest and went tumbling into the ground, giggling uncontrollably as he did.

“Didn’t your mother tell you not to do that?” It took Mac no time at all to transition into his Wild Blaze persona as he looked down at Little Macky.

“Sure she did! But she also said to get you as fast as possible, and that was the fastest way I know!” The small colt laughed as he got back to his hooves, jumping right back into the air.

Mac gave him a quizzical look as Little Macky kept buzzing around like a large bumble bee. “Why did she tell you to do that?”

“I don’t know. Some white pony in a suit came with Aunt Dash and Aunt Twilight and said he needed to talk to you.” Macky was now doing circles around Mac’s head, giggling the entire time. “He looked really important! Mama told me to go get you when he showed her a shiny badge! I bet he works for Shining Armor!”

“A badge?” Mac questioned, to which Macky nodded furiously to. At that moment, the Rider broke into a fit of laughter that drowned out all other sounds around Mac, giving him a major headache.

It looks like somepony has finally been found out! Oh what fun this shall be! Will you show them the real you, Macky? Tell them the whole story? Or better yet… will you run away again?

The Rider continued to laugh as Macky kept spinning around Mac’s head. Mac would have thought the colt could hear the demonic laughter echoing in his head.

“Come on, Wild Baze! When I bring you back, Dad promised to take me flying! He never does that till chores are done or Mama isn’t home!”

“Alright, just lead the way Little Macky.” Mac had no idea how his voice sounded. He tried to maintain his Wild Blaze voice, but the laughter of the Rider was making his head hurt and his thoughts unclear.

Macky didn’t seem to notice a change in Mac and zoomed ahead towards the orchard, leaving a light blue trail behind, leaving Mac to his thoughts and the Rider’s torment. Questions flooded Mac’s mind as he walked towards the orchard, unhitching himself from the cart just in case he had to make a quick getaway.

What reason would this strange pony have to suspect Wild Blaze of being the Ghost Rider? He had been in Ponyville all week, out in the middle of nowhere and not near any big cities. Were they even there to question him about being the Rider, or was this some different case altogether? How would this pony even know to come to Ponyville? The Rider hadn’t killed anypony in Ponyville, so there was body to lead him here. Then how did they also even know of Wild Blaze the drifter?

Mac couldn’t make heads or tails of the reason why this pony would want to meet with him, but he kept walking on towards the orchard. He had to remind himself he had nothing to fear; there could be no evidence that he and the Rider were connected. Wild Blaze was an Earth Pony and the Ghost Rider was a Unicorn, not to mention a living skeleton. But still, if the law was looking for Wild Blaze, they might as well be looking for the Rider.

Every step felt like he was on a death march: the grass crackling under his heavy hoofsteps, a lump in his throat that would just not go away, his mouth dry, and a feeling of what was like butterflies flying around his his stomach. The anxiety was growing within him with each step he took, further into the orchard where he had once loved to take walks.
Finding where the pony was waiting for him proved to be of little difficulty, even after he had lost sight of Little Macky.

Standing in one of the clearings of the orchard was Twilight Sparkle, who gave him a sheepish grin once she saw him, and Rainbow Dash, who was hovering in the air and looking all too pleased to see Wild Blaze. Applejack was there as well, scowling at the last pony present, the one that had obviously wanted to meet Wild Blaze.

“Ah, you must be Wild Blaze,” he said, advancing towards Mac. “My name is Special Agent Bentgrass of Their Majesties’ Royal Investigation Service.” Bentgrass held up a slender hoof to Mac.

Mac simply looked down at Bentgrass’ outstretched hoof for a moment, before looking up into his strange eyes. The strange pony’s left eye looked like a dragon’s, and the fierce yellow slit seemed to bore into him. Inside his head, he could hear the Rider take a deep sniff, then huff. Apparently, whoever this pony was, he wasn’t evil.

“And what do you want with me?” Bentgrass just smiled, looking right into Wild Blaze’s golden eyes, as if he was just hoping for this reaction.

“Just a simple talk, Mr. Blaze. I heard you might have some insight on a case I’m working on.” Mac felt uneasy talking to this strange stallion. The way he talked, with that odd musical accent, just seemed to rub him wrong. It felt like he knew some strange and powerful secret that, once told, could shatter a ponies life.

“Don’t know how I could be of any help to somepony like yourself. Only been in town for less than a week.”

“Oh, that is exactly why you are the pony to ask, Mr.Blaze.” Bentgrass laughed, but it did nothing but make Mac’s blood boil. “For you see, I have learned that you have recently been to many cities where there were Ghost Rider attacks.”

At those two words, the Rider let out a ear-splitting laugh inside of Mac’s head. It was his worst fears realized. Somepony had somehow made the connection between Blaze and the Rider. Mac tried to keep a normal face as the laughter kept growing louder and more intense in his head; it was as if an entire marching band was playing in his head, completely off key.

“You mean that urban myth? Didn’t think anypony took that story seriously,” Mac replied in his calmest voice possible.

Bentgrass simply chuckled at this, as Rainbow Dash gave a snort in the background and Twilight seemed to be trying to look anywhere except at Mac.

“Oh yes, many ponies do believe it to be an urban myth. I would just like to question a pony that was at each place of attack to get their view on it. Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”

“Ah don’t see why ya need to have a private conversation on ma property with one of ma workers,” Applejack growled, taking a few steps towards the white Earth Pony.

Bentgrass only raised an eyebrow, before reaching into a inner pocket of his suit and producing a slip of paper. “I actually don’t need to tell you why. This is a royal declaration that allows me to question anypony I believe to have some kind of connection to the Ghost Rider, in any way I feel is necessary,” Bentgrass said, outstretching the paper for Applejack to read it.

Oh, they are really coming after you, aren’t they? the Rider laughed. Giving this much power to get us? What will you do, Macky? Mac didn’t respond as he watched his sister look over the document, her scowl growing with every word.

“This hardly seems fair to anypony… ” Applejack mumbled, before turning to Mac, her eyes heavy with regret. “Ah’m sorry Wild Blaze, but it seems that yer goin’ ta have this private chat with Agent Bentgrass here.”

“No problems, Mrs. Nimbus,” Mac said, turning his gaze on Agent Bentgrass. “Mind if we use the barn? Less chance of being interrupted there than anywhere else. Does this suit your needs Agent Bentgrass?”

“That would be perfect. I was actually planning on using the barn for this,” Bentgrass said with such a air that Applejack just could not help but snort. Seeming to not to hear her, Bentgrass walked past Mac and towards the barn. “This won’t take long, Mr. Blaze, I assure you.”

Mac nodded in reply and started to follow Bentgrass back to the barn; but a hoof shot out in front of him cutting him off.

“Wild Blaze will meet ya there, Ah just want to have small chat with him first,” Applejack said, stepping in front of Mac keeping him there. Bentgrass looked back for a second, before nodding and making his way towards the barn, looking to have not a care in the world. Once he was out of earshot, Applejack turned to Mac, her face in a scowl.

“First off, how many times have Ah told ya not ta call me ‘Mrs. Nimbus?’ Ya know that bugs me!” she snarled, before her eyes softened ever so slightly. “Second, be careful alright? Ah don’t know what the featherbrain up there said to get em’ on yer case, but Ah’m sure it’s nothin’ some honesty can’t fix.”

The Rider broke into a fit of laughter at the last part, causing Mac to cringe in a bit as he looked at her.

“Will do, Mrs. Nimbus,” Mac said, cracking a slight grin as he turned to walk after Bentgrass.

“Yer doin’ that on purpose! Ah already have a son and a colt-like husband ta cause me trouble! Ah don’t need any more!” She shouted after him, laughing a bit. Mac missed teasing his sisters, and made sure to do it a bit here and there while working on the farm. Just another small thing that meant the world to him that was taken away by this curse.

It didn’t take Mac long to see the pale pony waiting for him outside the barn. Next to the bright red barn and the healthy green grass, Bentgrass stuck out like a sore hoof. Mac also noted, as he approached, that Bentgrass was leaning against the barn, whistling some tune just quiet enough that Mac couldn’t make it out.

Mac’s heavy hoofsteps did not go unnoticed. Bentgrass turned and smiled at the approaching stallion as if greeting a close friend, which served to make Mac question how safe it was to actually talk to this stallion.

“Very good. Mrs. Nimbus did not keep you long. From the way she spoke I thought she would try to delay this meeting as long as possible.” Bentgrass eased the barn door open for Mac to enter. “After you, my good sir.”

Mac stepped into the barn, his hoofsteps now much louder on the wooden floor as they echoed off the walls. There were a few bales of hay inside used during the winter for extra food for the cows and the Apples when grazing was not an option, or the path to town was covered in snow. There were also empty baskets strewn about the barn in preparation of apple season. On the far side of the barn where most of the farm tools to farm were, as well as some old pictures and other keepsakes.

The barn was much larger than it had been when Mac was still called Mac by his family. It made him wonder how much of Soarin’s Wonderbolt money went into rebuilding this place, or if the extended Apple Family pitched in due to the loss of two family members. Whatever the reason, the barn looked grand and was definitely able to hold more product in it, meaning a greater payday.

“I do enjoy the architecture of Earth Ponies. Just feels more... homey than those built with magic,” Bentgrass said, ripping Mac from his thoughts. “I am not one to boast, or to belittle the accomplishments of the other races, but there is something about a building built with only hooves that make it something much more grand, don’t you agree, Mr. Blaze?” Bentgrass asked, passing Mac and moving his way towards the tools of the barn.

“I guess. Never spent anytime inside a classroom to learn about such things.” Mac could not help but secretly agree with this strange pony. Sure, everypony had a way to build, and each was unique and special to that pony, but something about an Earth Pony made structure did feel like home. “Could you drop the Mister thing? I doubt you need to address me as such.”

Bentgrass seemed to have made no notice of this as he scanned the tools that were inside the barn. Mac could not see his face, but he was sure that the agent’s eyes were lingering on the bladed ones. He walked a few paces down the wall of tools before stopping and turned to face one directly.

“And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, ‘Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.’ So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped,” Bentgrass said, stunning Mac as he reached for the scythe. “An interesting little passage for an interesting little tool, wouldn’t you say, Wild Blaze?” Bentgrass had turned around, examining the scythe in his hooves. “A tool not just used to reap wheat like farmers do, but a tool to reap the souls of the world. I wonder if the Rider has ever used this?”

That’s not a bad idea. Why did we never think of that, Sport? the Rider said, echoing inside of Mac’s head like his hoofsteps had a while before.

“I guess it’s possible. The paper always make him out to be some sadistic monster,” Mac replied, stepping up to Bentgrass and also looking up at the tools. All but a few seemed to be new, most of the old ones having been destroyed in the fire.

“So I take it you are believer in the Rider?” Bentgrass placed the tool back up in its rightful place before giving Mac his full attention. “You don’t find the stories too unbelievable, farfetched, or mad to believe in?” Something about the way Bentgrass said these things sent a chill up and down Mac’s spine, as if he had already figured out Mac’s little secret.

“We live in a world with Princesses that can control the sun, moon, and love. Then there are creatures like Discord who can change the world around them to whatever they want with a simple snap. I’m just one of those ponies who accepts there are things that can’t be explained and moves on.” Whatever Mac had said seemed to be the words that Bentgrass had wanted to hear.

“I am happy to see somepony as open-minded as myself,” Bentgrass chuckled, as he reached into his suit. “Princess Twilight is a incredibly smart pony, but she can’t keep her mind open unless science can provide a true reason to open it. You and I, however, are of the conviction that there are things in this world we cannot explain, but we know they are there.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I just know I’m not smart enough to explain everything I hear and see. But enough beating around the bush Agent Bentgrass. Why do you want to talk to me about the Ghost Rider?” Mac watched carefully as Bentgrass pulled a sizeable piece of folded up parchment from his suit’s inner pockets.

“Yes, I suppose the time for pleasantries is over, and we must get to the real order of business.” Bentgrass set the piece of folded paper on the workbench before turning back to Mac. “Tell me Wild Blaze, where were you the last five nights?”

Here it comes. Rider chuckled. Mac ignored him, staring right into Bentgrass’ mismatched eyes and launching into his rehearsed speech.

“In my hotel room, asleep. Working on a farm is much harder than I thought, and I’ve been turning in early all week.”

“Really? And is there anypony to verify this?”

“You can ask Mrs. Nimbus, she always sees me off the property. Then there’s Cherry Jubilee down at her inn, she definitely remembers me walking in most nights.” This was true for all but the first night he had stayed in Ponyville. Mac had been cautious about the times he left the farm and got back to the inn; it would stop any questioning into his personal life if nopony saw his comings and goings.

“But nopony to verify you stayed in your room all night? Not a lover of any kind?” Mac gave a snort of aggravation at the question.

“That is a tad personal, isn’t it?” Bentgrass just grinned at Mac as he started to unfold the paper.

“I guess it is. But you see Wild Blaze, I have a suspicion that you are in fact the Ghost Rider. So if you wish to prove me wrong, I would hope you have some better evidence to show your innocence.”

Out of the corner of Mac’s eye, he saw a orange flicker of light beside him. Glancing slightly to his side, Mac saw a mirror where his reflection should have been clearly visible. Instead, it was the Rider, his head thrown back, laughing.

“Really? You think I'm the Ghost Rider? Kind of a far fetched theory," Mac stated, trying to block out the laughter.

“Not at all, actually. For you fit right into the jigsaw puzzle I have been working on for so many years." Bentgrass started to unfold the paper some, looking away from Mac as he talked. “I started to work on this case long before their Majesties assigned me to it. Something about it drew me in, and ever since I could not focus on any other work but this.”

Looks like you got a fan… or a stalker. The Rider said. Mac gave his head a light shake, he did not need the Rider interrupting him, not now of all times.

“That’s all good Agent Bentgrass, but how do I fit into this little puzzle of yours? Right now, I find you to be on the crazy side of things; unless you got some kind of proof.” Mac wanted, no, he needed to see if Bentgrass did get some kind of evidence on him. If he did, Mac would have to disappear again and make a new identity with the Rider’s magic. From there, he could make sure not to make the same mistakes again.

“Tell me Wild Blaze, have you ever heard of a railroad town called ‘Devil’s Prairie?’” Forgetting the paper he was unfolding, Bentgrass started to remove a small envelope from his jacket, making Mac question how many pockets this pony had, and what was inside each.

“Can’t say that I have. Should I?”

Bentgrass turned around to face Mac, a wide grin spread across his face. “It was a town that sprung up around a railway station like many others, and was a bit of a thriving town till the Rider showed up. He attacked it about a week ago. Actually, it was attacked the same night you arrived in Ponyville.”

Mac felt his entire body go cold, and as if his mind had been disconnected from his body. He didn’t know where the Rider was getting his meals, but from the way Bentgrass spoke, it seemed he was about to get his answer.

“Luckily the task force assigned to capture you… Oh, I’m sorry, I meant to say the Ghost Rider Just a slip up on my part,” Bentgrass did not slip up on accident, that grin on his face told Mac that every passing second Bentgrass seemed more assured in his accusation. “Anyway, they were able to keep the press away. A tip came to us from a mare that was forced to work as a prostitute describing the ordeal. Naturally, I was one of the first to respond to the scene. A busy night the Rider must of had. Care to guess how many dead there were?”

Mac stayed silent, as his golden eyes focused on the envelope that Bentgrass was holding. Bentgrass must have felt comfortable with the way things were going, for he had no problems of keeping the conversation alive by himself.

“We found the remains of forty five victims. Well, I would not call them victims. Most were involved in sex trafficking and murder. So I would call it as overdue justice,” Bentgrass chuckled slightly at this, as he started to spread the picture out on a nearby hay bail for Mac to see them. “The Rider must have felt this place truly needed to be punished, for he seemed to have gone a bit, hm, overboard.”

Why Bentgrass thought this came to no surprise to Mac. Each picture was of what seemed to be a dead caribou or what was left of them. Each picture was worse than the next. If Mac hadn’t grown so accustomed to this side of life, he might have thought they were pictures from an overzealous horror film.

“I see you're not phased by these pictures Wild Blaze,” Bentgrass remarked, as he held one last photo in his hoof. “Many of the agents working on this case could not stand the sight of some of these corpses. Especially this one, looks like he got torn in half by the motorcycle,”

“Just because I didn’t get disturbed by these pictures does not mean I’m the Ghost Rider. I have been to many different places, and seen many horrors,” Mac said, trying to sound as confident as possible.

“I did not say it did.”

Fell for it. The Rider snickered.

Mac stood his ground as he looked down at Agent Bentgrass. “Doesn’t take a sharp mind to figure out where you are going with this,” Bentgrass just kept on grinning, looking like a cat that was just about read to take his prey. “Now hurry up with this.”

“This last picture is one of the most interesting. The Rider did a real number on this last caribou,” Bentgrass placed the picture on top of all the others and waited for Mac to react to it.

Looking down, Mac had to grimace a bit from it. If Bentgrass had not told him it was a caribou, he would have never guess. The corpse’s head was so completely bashed in that it was hard to tell the forehead from the chin. None of the limbs were connected to the body at all, having been ripped from the body. The rest of the body looked heavily beaten; not a inch of it looked to have been spared from its attackers wrath.

“It was not until we got back the autopsy report did we know what species or gender this bastard was,” Bentgrass held the picture out in front of him, as if he were looking at a old vacation photo instead of a mutilated murder victim.

“You seem more a fan of the Rider’s work than his enemy,” Bentgrass tore his eyes from the photo to look back at Mac.

“I am no fan of the Rider, Mister Blaze. I am merely... hmm, intrigued by his apparent ethical code. However, he is still a murderer, and I will bring him to justice, one way or another.” Bentgrass seemed to be enjoying this little dance, while Mac felt himself get infuriated by it. Everything this pony said had a deeper meaning to it, and each time he missed it, Mac dug himself a deeper hole in which he would be found out as the Ghost Rider.

“What do these murders have to do with me? And better yet, why do you even suspect me at all? Last time I checked, I am not a Unicorn, a skeleton with a flaming skull, and I don’t have a motorcycle.” Mac growled, turning away from the pictures as Bentgrass went back to the paper he had been unfolding.

“Just like how Discord can change his appearance, I believe that the Rider can change his, to take the form of a normal pony during the day. I have always theorized that the Rider cannot come out during the day, and quite recently I believe that my theory has been proven true,” Bentgrass was finished unfolding the paper now, and turned to Mac once again. “I bet you're wondering how I found you.”

“That has crossed my mind a few times,” Mac admitted. “But more of why you're concentrating on me.”

“It was quite simple finding you; you left me a trail to follow,” Bentgrass stepped aside to show Mac the paper he had been holding on to. It was a large map that had Ponyville in the center of it. The map showed details routes, rivers, and other towns located nearby. “If ponies just did their homework, I would have not of been the only pony to find you.”

“You're still convinced that I am the Rider? I have yet to see any evidence,” Mac stated flatly as he overlooked the map, seeing nothing special about it. Bentgrass just grinned as he looked at Mac’s face.

“Look here, this is where Devil’s Prairie was,” Bentgrass made a small circle with a pen he had pulled out. “Then the next night the Rider attacked a bar to the north, known to be the hideout of a gang of violent criminals. It is right about, here,” Bentgrass drew a line from Devil’s Prairie to where the bar was supposed to be. “After that, the Ghost Rider showed up in another town and killed a pony that was suspected of killing his wife and foal, but was released due to lack of evidence.” Another line was drawn to the town where the pony was killed.

It was at this that Mac noticed that Bentgrass had drawn a triangle almost. Mac leaned in a bit, curious about that this pattern was supposed to mean.

“A night later he traveled northward into another small town where he found a pony, that once we did some investigation, had many charges of sextual assult against him, but again, could never be tried. The next night, he traveled almost a perfect line towards an underground drug lab. No survivors there.” Bentgrass turned to Mac, wearing a grin of that of a poker player who had seen his opponent's hand and knew he was going to win. “Finally, he came back to that first town as if to find scraps of his meal, and in doing so, made this.”

Bentgrass took a step back for Mac to get a better look, and at once a feeling of nausea came over him. For the Rider’s trail of bloody victims and punished souls made the beginnings of a pentagram. All that was missing was the circle that surrounded the star. Then, as if that was not enough, in the very middle of the star was Ponyville.

“A strange occurrence is it not?” Bentgrass said, a grin plastered on his face as he drew the circle around the star to make it complete. “You truly drew me a map of where to find you,”

“So what, you think just because I arrived in town the same day that there was an attack somewhere, and because of this strange symbol means I’m the Ghost Rider?” Mac turned to face Bentgrass, standing at his full height Mac was much taller and much more built than Bentgrass. “That ain’t exactly proof, Agent Bentgrass.”

“True, oh so very true,” The agent laughed as he looked down at the map. “But, the fact that I can hold you in custody for seventy two hours without having to give a reason why might help. Might fill in some blanks tonight.” Bentgrass looked right up at Mac, not seeming to be intimidated by the stallion’s height, strength, or the fact that he could be the Ghost Rider. “I do believe that Ponyville has a jail, does it not?”

What will you do Macintosh? Run? Continue to lie? Or give in? You sure as hell can’t kill him, I won’t allow it. His soul is innocent. The Rider was enjoying this too much. He was generally happy about what was happening to Mac right now, making the latter grow angrier. But he would not be slave to emotions, not again. He needed to figure a way out of this logically.

“Alright Agent Bentgrass, lets say you do hold me in content and throw me in jail tonight,” Mac began, taking a few steps away from Bentgrass. “And lets say when the sun sets, and evil is at it’s strongest, I transform into the Ghost Rider. What will you do then?” Mac turned to face Bentgrass, his golden eyes locking with the drag and dull of eyes of Bentgrass. “I’m sure being an agent for their Majesties you’ve got some pretty neat tricks up your sleeves, but do you really want to fight the Rider?”

The two stallions stared at one another, their eyes locked in a battle of wills, and neither was willing to give any ground in the fight. They had both seemed to have shown their hands, and it was up to fate to decide the winner.

“No, I guess I would not be willing to hold the Ghost Rider in jail. I’m sure he would just melt the bars and go about his business like nothing was the matter,” Bentgrass said, letting out a breath. “I truly have no idea how I would contain the Rider. I know there is work going on that department, but nothing definitive of yet.” Bentgrass took a few steps towards Mac, the smile never fading from his lips. “But tell me, am I right?”

Mac looked towards the barn door, almost expecting to see somepony looking in on the conversation. This Agent Bentgrass was the only pony to have guess the connection between Wild Blaze and the Ghost Rider, and had ever came close to capturing the two. He was clever, brave, and beyond all else innocent in the eyes of the Rider.

“Yes.”

Author's Notes:

As always, thank you to Jake the Army Guy and jszellmer for the edits!

Cliffhangers for the win!!!