I couldn't stop running. I constantly heard the sounds of growling, claws brushing through the grass and dirt, and the ferocious barks of one of my greatest fears of the Everfree Forest... timberwolves.

There was something different about these ones, though... they had a black smoke coming from the cracks on their bodies. As familiar at magic as I was, I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out just what kind of magic it must've been that caused them to change like that. Already, they managed to cut my legs, and even bite my shoulders a few times, but ignoring the pain, I continued to run.

Finally, when I was beginning to think that I was going the right way, the feint sounds of the growling only intensified. I wished I could go back to Ponyville, but sadly, I was defeated in a duel against a tyrant known as Trixie. Why would she even do something like this, though?! It doesn't add up!

Once I made it to a clear opening, I was breathing heavily, but determined to escape with my life. Before I could make it there, however, I ended up getting the wind knocked out of me by another one of those possessed timberwolves. Luckily for me it missed its attempted bite, but the force of the impact caused me to fall to the ground, and collapse by the exhaustion and blood loss.

My vision started to blur, as I watched the three timberwolves slowly approach me, with black drool dripping from their fang-filled mouths. This was the end of me, I just knew it. At that moment, my entire life flashed before my eyes...

How I passed my first Magic Exam...

How I impressed Princess Celestia enough to be her own personal student...

How my mother and father helped me move into my own place...

How Spike learned to send the scrolls to Princess Celestia for faster messaging...

How I moved to Ponyville...

How I met my friends...

How my friends and I defeated Nightmare Moon, and saved Princess Luna...

How much I've learned through both, my own lessons, and the lessons taught to my friends...

How I was defeated by Trixie...

How I ended up lost in the Everfree Forest...

How much I wished for a way to survive this ordeal...

Then, as my vision continued to blur with the tears that filled my eyes, the last thing I could see was a pair of iron boots that were oddly shaped standing over me, but facing the timberwolves, while carrying a lit torch. The figure must've towered over me by at least three times my height, or more. The scariest thing was that it didn't look like a Minotaur, yet it walked on two legs.

Then, everything faded to darkness...

Throughout the seemingly endless forest that grew over my hometown, Everfree Village, I followed the path that was set for me. Before I died, I was given a special power... I was able to sense the locations of my targets. This target was one I am spiritually bound to protect, as orders of the oldest daughter of my former queen and king, Celestia. By her orders, I am to protect the one she calls "Twilight Sparkle".

With a basic human spell that could sense the life force of the targets, I was able to tell right away that she was in danger... and not just ordinary danger, either. She was being hunted by creatures infected with the curse known as the Shadowblight.

The Shadowblight is a ruthless curse that, over time, turns those infected with it into heartless monsters... shadows of their former selves. There is only one known cure to this curse... one way to lift it. The blood of a Solar Knight... or in this case, my blood. Not that it matters much anymore... I'm a knight, so I'm used to cuts and bruises already. In fact, my left arm is always bandaged beneath this iron armor that I wear.

I wasn't always a knight, though. I'm aware of that. Unfortunately, though, I have lost the memories of my former life... even my own name is a mystery to me... so I've merely adopted my title as my name, since I'm the last of them. I am 'The Solar Knight', and my mission right now is to save my target from these beasts, and lift the curse from her bloodstream before it's too late. With that in mind, I ran as fast as my feet could take me.

When I was getting closer to her, I saw a timberwolf about to pounce on her. Quickly, I drew my sword with my right hand, and prepared a nature spell with my left. Then I managed to raise a root in front of the timberwolf's paws, which tripped it. Unfortunately, though, the tripping only caused it to ram directly into Twilight Sparkle, while the other two sped to their friend, and slowed their paces, while approaching her. I had to take immediate action right there.

Quickly, I picked up a branch and lit it with a basic fireball spell at the tip. Then I ran up to the timberwolves, and swung the branch their way, to keep them out of the light. That's one of the things about the Shadowblight... its weakness is light.

Then, with the torch still lit, I levitated it over us with a spell, removed my gauntlets, and drew a dagger from it's sheath on my right leg. Thankfully, Twilight wasn't awake at the time, because I could tell for certain that this kind of treatment would be... disgusting to her, to say the least.

With the dagger over my left hand, I slowly cut a small gash in it, and moved it over her forehead, allowing the blood to stain on her forehead, while staying just below her horn.

When my blood was on her forehead, her entire body started to glow yellow, meaning that the effects of the curse was lifting.

With that job done, I had to do another one for her... I had to bring her somewhere safe. I was already informed by Celestia of the events that transpired in Ponyville, so I had to take her somewhere else. Thankfully, I was given a house by Celestia herself in the ruins of her old castle... but it was hidden for a reason... I had to keep myself from being spotted, for the safety of those who would see me. After all, the blood of a Solar Knight is beyond valuable these days... for both parties, in fact. The Badlands wants my blood, but Equestria needs it for their safety.

Anyways, I hadn't a moment to lose, for the makeshift torch was already starting to dim down. With that in mind, I left a floating fireball over Twilight, causing her to remain in the light, while I picked the torch up, and doused it with water magic. Then I looked at the timberwolves, and drew my shield from the sheath on the back of my armor. I was carrying a kiteshield, so my legs were still slightly exposed, but not entirely. Thankfully, though, a bite or scratch from them would only hurt me, but not infect me, due to my blood being blessed. With that as my advantage, I wasn't afraid to get up close and personal with them.

Apparently, they weren't either...

When the first one leaped towards me, I quickly bashed it back with my kiteshield, and sliced at it with my longsword, which only caused it to back away. Then I used a fire spell to engulf my longsword in flames, which caused the timberwolves to growl, and crouch for another pounce.

When the one on my left did, it soon found the blade of my sword in its skull, and right at the contact, its entire body turned to ash, and blew into the wind, while the other two charged forward. Then, in one horizontal swing, I managed to slice the other two into ash, leaving a black trail behind me, where they would've landed.

With no other threats around, I quickly sheathed my sword and shield, and ran back to Twilight. Then, when I made it to her, I placed a highly modified saddlebag that was compatible for humans to wear around their belts on the ground, and opened it. When I went through it, I pulled out a large roll of bandages, and wrapped it around her, while being careful not to look in certain areas of her body that she would, otherwise, want to keep hidden from the eyes of others.

After patching her up and packing my things back, I carefully lifted her off the ground, and carried her through the Everfree Forest, all while keeping a wary eye on her vital signs. Thankfully, she still had a pulse, and was breathing normally.

Then, I felt her starting to stir around in my arms. Sure enough, she was waking up now.

I started to slowly wake up, feeling unusually tired, fatigued, and still frightened by what happened before I blacked out. At first, I thought it was just a nightmare, and that I was back home in Ponyville, sleeping in my bed... until I realized that the so-called "Bed" that I was sleeping on wasn't a bed at all, but two bony legs... or something like legs. Then, once I opened my eyes, they shot open at the sight of what those "legs" belonged to... or should I say... "arms", as a Minotaur once pointed out.

I was about to scream and panic, when I heard the creature speak in a masculine tone that, for some reason, made me feel more peaceful.

"Don't worry, Misses Sparkle... they shall not harm you, while under my protection. For now, you should get some rest... you'll probably wake up in my home, where I will take care of your wounds."

I couldn't believe my ears! Was this... creature... really protecting me?! Well, since I'm in his arms, and not in the bellies of three different timberwolves, I chose not to deny his words, and weakly smile.

"W-who... are... you?" I weakly managed to ask, as my eyelids grew heavy.

He looked down at me, and replied, "I do not have a name, Misses Sparkle... but you may call me the Solar Knight. I was personally hoof-picked by Princess Celestia to protect you with my life... so there's no need to worry. Your safety is my primary goal."

I nodded at him, as my eyes finally started to close. "W-well, then... thank you... Mr. Solar Knight..." With that, the exhaustion finally kicked in, and in a split second, I was fast asleep.