I saw some thick trees off to the side, and I decided to take a short nap. I walked over there and laid down. Sleep did not come easy for me though. Every time I almost fell asleep I swear I heard growling from somewhere around me, but nothing came out to attack me.

After the third time of failed sleep, I knew this wasn’t going to work. I was bored stiff. I tried humming some of my favorite songs, practicing magic, which I was really good at, I found. A high pitched scream, followed by some words, cut off my thinking.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH! GET AWAY FROM ME!” After that I could hear several magic shots being fired, followed by more screaming. Then I heard another scream from the first pony, I swear I know that voice. The scream was cut off, though. I knew I needed to help, whether they like me or not, I’m not going to just name myself Paladin and not try to be one.

I started galloping towards the direction I heard the screams from. It was in a clearing. When I arrived at what I assume was the scene of the crime, I almost gasped at what I saw. There were no bodies, so that meant whoever it was, they took them as their prisoner. In the middle of the clearing was a very recognizable wagon.

“Trixie…” That won’t stand, not on my watch, time to knock that tower down. I started looking for hoof prints. I found some off and out of the clearing. I started following the trail, on alert for any movement at all. There were a few shaking bushes, but they all turned out to be bunnies or some other non-threatening animal.

I kept following the trail, almost out of the woods, before I found a small house. I assumed that that’s the kidnapper’s hideout due to the trails leading right up to the door. I need a plan. But before I could think of anything, I heard someone speak.

“Hey boss, look over here, I think someone followed us.” Said one voice.

“What is it?” Said another who I assume is the ‘boss’.

“Some black thing followed us out here, what should we do?” Said a third voice

Well, there goes the element of surprise, guess I’ll have to go in ‘guns blazin’ as they’d say. I got out from behind the very little cover I had, and got to thinking about how I could best incapacitant them without killing them. I had the most gorey Idea I’ve ever had, though that isn’t saying much as I’m not really that kind of person.

I started charging up my magic. I slowly walked out of the bushes, trying on my best ‘you done fucked up’ face. They immediately charged me, oh how stupid can they be, never underestimate your opponents. I set my plans into action, and I instantly heard screaming.

“AHHHH! MY EYE!” The first voice said again. He was a white earth pony with a short brown mane.

“AHHHH! MINE TO!” The third voice added. He was a brown pegasus with a short blonde mane.

“I’M BLIND!” Said a fourth. He was a yellow pegasus with a brown mane.

That’s right, I blew up their eyes in their heads. What? It’s not like I knew how to fight physically in a quadrupedal form! I left the ‘boss’ with no injures. All his three men were down on the ground, writhing in pain. That just left the ‘big bad boss’ to deal with. He simply looked at me with fear, and proceeded to run the other way. I stopped him with my magic, brought him over to me, and turned him around. I simply, and calmly said:

“Where is she?” I was giving him one chance to play nice.

“W-w-which o-one?” He asked. The 'boss' was a pudgy blue earth pony with a very short purple mane.

“The one with the wizard hat.”

“Inside, i-in a c-cage.”

“Good.” I said happily. “Now, I suggest you leave, and never do anything like this ever again.” I dropped him, and naturally he started running away. I had no intention of letting my guard down, criminals like this always have a backup plan. I used my magic to reinforce the molecules of my chitin, now it felt like titanium armor.

I started walking to the little house, expecting a very one sided fight. When I opened the door, there was no one there except a few ponies in cages scattered around the room. When they looked at me, it was fear in their eyes. I was kind of expecting that too, but I had other plans than to hurt them. Again using my magic, I flung the doors to their cages and motioned out the door. Some of them ran out, while others were hesitant, but they to soon left. Two of them were asleep, one was some background pony I didn’t recognize, and the other was Trixie. I walked over to the one I didn’t know and woke her, at first, of course, she squeaked in fear, but when she saw all the cages were opened, she nodded and ran. Next was Trixie, who I saw had more than just a few cuts and bruises. I decided not to wake her yet, as I didn’t want her to feel any of that pain, so I decided to take her to the Ponyville hospital. I knew something like that would be dangerous, but being a Paladin means that my life doesn’t matter to me, it’s who I decide to be the Paladin of that matters to me, so if helping her means that I go to prison for being a changeling, then so be it.

I lifted her up on my back and headed out to Ponyville. It was a pretty short flight, as I was going so fast. I was using my magic to keep the wind out of her face, while also making the chitin on my back really soft, it kind of hurt, actually, but that’s what being a Paladin means. I was almost over Ponyville, when a light blue blur in front of me made me slow down. I knew it was Rainbow, but I had more important things to do than getting killed by Rainbow Dash.

“Hey Paladin! What’s up?” Still trying to lie to me? I might as well play along, them not knowing that I know that they know what I am might be helpful; Actually, that line of thinking might be similar to what they were thinking.

“Just escorting Trixie here to the hospital.” I told her.

Rainbow looked over to Trixie, then instantly regretted it. “W-what happened?” She said through almost throwing up.

“She was kidnapped, I was nearby when I heard her screaming, I followed them, beat them senseless, and released all their prisoners. I’m guessing she put up a pretty good fight, as I don’t see any reason to harm somepony that’s complying willingly.” Rainbow flinched at that last statement, I’m guessing she was planning to attack me when she first saw me returning. Then she looked disgusted and confused.

“Wait, all their prisoners?” Rainbow gulped. “H-how many were there?”

“Nine others, but none of them had any wounds, so they didn’t need any medical attention.”

“WHAT!? NINE!? Kidnapped? They’re going to pay!” Rainbow said angrily.

I just rolled my eyes. “They did, three of them lost an eye, and I was going to do much worse to the boss if he didn’t tell me where they were keeping her. Luckily for him, he was a coward and withheld no information. So he got away unscathed, maybe.”

Rainbow almost puked at the ‘lost an eye’ statement, then grew curious at the last part. “Maybe? What does that mean?”

“When I released everypony, some of them ran out quickly, I’m guessing some of them are going to exact their revenge on him.” That would be fun to watch, not that I’d ever tell an Element of Harmony that.

“Well that’s good, I’d hate to see what they could do to him.” Rainbow said through an obviously forced smile.

I said nothing, still looking for the hospital, when I finally spotted it. “Well, I’m taking Trixie to the hospital, so if you don’t mind, I need to land now.” I said with a slight bit of sarcasm near the end.

“I’ll come with you!” Now, of course I knew she wouldn’t trust me just like that, but there’s like 24/7 hospital personnel, I didn’t think she would be that protective over her friend’s arch nemesis, but I guess she is.

“Fine, whatever.” I said through gritted teeth, but she didn’t seem to take notice on that.

I started flying downward with her right besides me. When we landed, I, of course, got a few looks, most consisting of disgust. I did my best not to let Rainbow notice I noticed. I walked in the doors, getting a few looks from the ponies in the lobby. I walked straight up to the front desk, when the receptionist’s eyes fell on Trixie, she motioned for a stretcher to get her to a room.

“Uh, miss?” The receptionist turned towards me. “Is there any rule against me staying with her during her recovery? I want to be there when she wakes up.”

“Are you family?” The receptionist questioned.

“No.” I replied back.

“Then you’ll only be able to visit during visiting hours.”

“Ok, good day miss.” I turned around and started walking to the door. When I got out, I decided I needed a nap. I flew off towards Whitetail Woods. I was going to have to do something about those growling sounds. Little did I know, however, Rainbow was following me on the ground, along with Pinkie Pie, ‘cause she’s Pinkie.

Author's Notes:

Don't know why you're still reading, but whatever.