It had been four long, uneventful days since they left for Colt Lake City. They had stayed off of the main roads while running through Equestria to be on the safe side of things, which was why it was taking them so long. Under normal circumstances, the hike would have only taken about a day or so, but these weren't normal circumstances. Not even close.

Gates wasn't even sure if it was four days. The sun hung on the horizon in the same position it had since the first attack on Canterlot. Gates knew that meant that both of the royal princesses were in trouble, a fact that Gates had been trying so hard to ignore. He didn't need any more motivation to win, and neither did anypony else.

This was why Gates and Twilight decided to keep one detail of Firefly's letter from everypony else. Princess Luna's scheduled execution may have been too much for them to bear. It was a hard idea for Gates to face himself, he couldn't put that burden on his friends. He truly felt sorry for Twilight. He would have preferred to keep it to himself and not put any more stress on his friend. Not only had she lost Pinkie Pie like everypony else, she lost a lifelong friend in Spike. Now she had to think about the idea of losing another pony she was close with.

"Not everyone is as used to letting their friends down as you are," Gates knew the voice, it was a voice he could never forget, it burned like an iron in the back of his mind.

"Yeah, I know, Rampart," Gates thought out loud," That doesn't make it any easier on me, it's not like I'm not trying."

"What was that dear?" Rarity asked as all five of Gates friends looked back the gray pony who was plodding behind the group.

"Oh, nothing," Gates said dodging the question," just, eh, nothing..." His friend shrugged and looked back ahead as Rainbowdash went on about a new trick was going to practice before the attack.

"Lying too," Rampart scoffed," I'll be sure to nominate you for friend of the century."

"Right," Gates thought, making sure to keep them to himself," I should just tell them I'm talking to my other friend who lives in my head, I'm sure that would work out great."

"It only seems fair that they should know they're hanging around around with a lunatic," Rampart said wryly," and maybe if you didn't leave us behind you could actually talk to me."

"Well, I'm coming back," Gates thought," maybe I'll stop by and see you."

Rampart laughed," You and I both know that won't happen."

"Yeah. I know," Gates replied, annoyed," I wish you understood that I didn't try to abandon you, I didn't want to let you down."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Rampart replied disdainfully.

"That's the thing: I don't sleep at night," Gates replied," thanks for that, by the way."

"Just keep on feeling sorry for yourself Gates, you made your choice and you have to live with it."

"You don't think you could leave me alone do you?" Gates asked sarcastically, knowing the answer he'd get," I'm kind of busy right now."

"Try and push me out all you want, Gates," Rampart said," I told you, I'll never leave."

"I know," Gates said out loud as he pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind, he hoped to Celestia that they would stay there.

"You know what?" Rainbowdash asked, snapping Gates out of his reverie.

"Oh," Gates looked around," I know this place, we're almost there." He wasn't lying this time, he knew exactly where they were, there was no way he could possibly forget this place.

"How do you know?" Twilight asked," It's a little out of the way of both Canterlot and Ponyville, did you come on a mission with the guard her once or something?" Twilight's questions made Gates realize how little he had shared with his friends about himself. How little they actually knew him. However, he thought, it might be a good thing that they don't know everything about him. If they knew everything, there probably wasn't a single pony in the world who would stick around Gates.

Gates refocused, he couldn't let his mind roam. "Well, we all have to start somewhere, right? This is where it all started for me. This is where I grew up."

"Really?" Rarity replied," Well, it's got to be nice coming home, even under these circumstances. I'm sure all of your friends will be simply delighted to see you."

"I wouldn't exactly call it home," Gates said," I haven't been back here since... a long time ago." Gates hoped he would never have to come back. He abandoned these ponies, his friends. He had let them down. He had faced enemies of unspeakable power in his life, but none where more terrifying than facing the ponies he once called his friends again. After so many years, he doubted they would even recognize him. At least that's what he hoped.

"Well if you were half as awesome as you are now when you grew up I'm sure they'll be super excited to see you!" Rainbow assured.

"I don't think so," Gates said," I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger."

"We all make mistakes," Fluttershy soothed," I'm sure they can forgive you for anything you could have done."

"Not if you didn't give them the chance to forgive you..." Gates muttered under his breath. He genuinely appreciated his friends words. He had no doubt that they cared for him a great deal, and he felt the same way. There were so many ponies who had met recently that he had let into his life recently. He loved them And now this Triumvirate was taking it all away from him again.

"Nonsense darling," Rarity soothed," if these ponies are truly your friends they will forgive you no matter what."

"If you don't mind my asking," Twilight added," what exactly did you do?"

"It's... kind of a long story," Gates replied," it's not really the easiest thing to talk about." Gates didn't want to lose his friends, and he knew there was no chance that they would stay by his side if he told them what had happened so many years ago.

"Don't ya worry 'bout it," Applejack said," maybe another time. We all know y'all are stressed out enough as it is. We'd hate for ya to go crazy on us." The six friends let out a collective laugh. Even Gates found it funny, but for two reasons.

The six ponies walked for about ten minutes before coming to the top of a hill that looked down on a town only a little bigger than Ponyville.

"Welcome home," Twilight said as they walked down the hill. Everypony followed Gates through the outskirts of the town. Gates felt hundreds of memories rushing back. Gates felt a chill go down his spine as they walked near a shining lake, still and calm. The sun reflected off the lake, giving the whole landscape an amber glow. They walked over a small hill that led into the town.

Gates looked off the far end of the lake. He knew exactly what he was looking for, and he knew he would see it. Gates eyes fell over the spot, sure enough they were standing just like they were when he left so many years ago.

"I told you I never left," Rampart's voice came back into his head.

Gates ignored his thoughts and caught up to his friends. "Alright everypony," he began explaining, preparing his friends for the task ahead," we don't know exactly what we're looking for, but if we can find the guard, we have a place to start."

"Wait," Rainbow interrupted," so we just spent days trying to get away from these guys, and now we're gonna run straight at them?"

"That sounds about right," Gates replied.

"I reckon I was right, Goldie," Applejack added," maybe y'all have lost your marbles."

"We aren't walking in blind this time," Gates explained," we know what we're dealing with. Figuring out what we're looking for is the hard part, after that it's simple. We win."

"So what are we looking for?" Twilight asked.

Not what," Gates said," Who. Firefly's letter confirmed what I had been suspecting. We have to find the ponies at the top of this, they know what we're looking for. They know about the only thing that can help us win, the only thing that we can use to save Celestia and Luna, the only thing that can bring everything back to normal."

"So if we find it before they do," Fluttershy asked," it will fix...everything?"

"If not it will make it one hay of a lot easier," Gates replied.

"Well then I guess we're going for it," Rainbowdash said," we've got your back Goldie." The rest of his friends gave a nod. He was happy his friends were in this for the long run. He promised himself he wouldn't let anything happen to them. He wouldn't let them down.

"Alright," Gates said," let's get started. The six friends had walked around the edge of the town for barely a few minutes when Fluttershy stopped suddenly and looked at the sky.

Rarity, noting Fluttershy's wary stare at the sky, asked," What is it dear?"

The yellow pegasus slowly tore her stare from the sky and down to her friend," I just...thought I saw something, it was probably nothing-"

Fluttershy was squelched when another pegasus shot through the sky like lightning. The pegasus came to a stop over the six ponies as nearly half a dozen portals began opening around them.

"Gyro..." Gates muttered," well that was quick." He charged his weapon and fired at the legendary pegasus, but he quickly evaded the bolt. The portals around them were raging, it was pure chaos. Gates was surprised at the lack of guards Gyro had with him. He didn't have any accompanying him, which made Gates uneasy. His thoughts were stopped when he heard a shriek from behind.

"That was pretty quick too," Rampart's voice came back into Gates' mind. He galloped as fast as he could to his friends aid, but it was no use. Rarity had become entangled in the chains that so many other ponies had fell victim to.

"Rarity!" Twilight yelled," don't give up! We'll help you, don't worry!" Gates dove and grabbed hold of Rarity's hoof. The chains slowly dragged the two ponies across the dirt. Golden Gates tried with all of his strength to pull Rarity free. Ultimately he knew it would be no use.

"Everything's going to be all right," Gates assured," I'll fix this, I-"

"I know you will," Rarity said in an oddly calm voice as she released her grip on Gates' hoof.

"I'm sorry," Gates said under his breath as his friend was pulled into the portal. It gave off a near blinding flash as she disappeared into the dark mass.

Tears fell from Gates' eyes. He felt anguish and rage building up inside him. He had just promised to keep them safe. He had just promised that he wouldn't let them down. His mind went to a state of blind fury. He charged his weapon as he turned and ran at Gyro.

"Good idea," Rampart's voice rang in his ears as he fired at Gyro," you fight, I'll get to work on her eulogy."

Next Chapter: Chapter Eighteen - Aerial Ace Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 34 Minutes