A unicorn trotted through the empty streets. It was night, and the sun had surrendered the sky to the moon. The residents of Ponyville had no reason to be outside so late, and remained in their homes, content to sleep the hours of darkness away in preparation for the day tomorrow.

But the unicorn had other plans. He moved silently between buildings, pausing every so often to let her horn glow in the darkness. She continued her activity without any sign of boredom.

The unicorn mare approached the edge of the town, towards the path that lead to the Everfree Forest. She stopped once again, and her horn glowed a yellow-orange colour, the light illuminating her dark coat and mane.

The light ceased and a look of concern crossed her face. Her horn began to glow again, and she closed her eyes tightly. A minute passed before the mare moved again. The orange light faded and she looked up toward the forest. A grin crossed her face.

“Gotcha.”

Rainbow Dash listened, silent and wide eyed, as Ash recounted the events of the previous night. He spoke of the events in the hospital, his flight and fight in the streets of Canterlot, and the short journey back to Ponyville. He decided to leave out the incident with the rabbit, as he didn’t wish to scare her any further.

“I’m a killer. A fucking monster.” He said solemnly, meaning ever word. Images of the bodies crossed his mind, giving each word even more weight.

“Don’t say that!” responded Rainbow, “We can still work this out! Twilight could do something! You know how good she is with magic! I... just... just don’t give up now.”

Ash opened his mouth to tell her how hopeless it was, but stopped himself. She’s been through enough already.

“...Alright.”

Dash seemed convinced enough with the answer. Ash trotted to one of the cloud house’s windows and looked up at the moon. He frowned when he realised he had been there longer than he thought. “I need to go. They’ll be looking for me.”

“Already!? But you’ve only been here a few hours!”

“And that was too long. I’m sorry, Dash, I really am, but I need to keep moving. I took a huge risk just to see you again, and I’m glad I did, but I can’t push my luck.” Ash approached her, “I’m dangerous. I’m a danger to myself, and a danger to you, and I will not see you hurt because of me.”

Rainbow Dash looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

“You-”

“Danger approaches.”

Dash looked up at the grey Pegasus. “Ash? Are you ok?”

“I think they’ve found me.”

The Eclipse unicorn tested the cloud cautiously with a hoof. Once she was satisfied the spell would allow the fluffy white surface to support her weight, she stepped out of the chariot, her colleague in tow.

The magical energy she had detected earlier in the night had been a match for the energy found in the Redflower parks, and that found at the crime scene in Canterlot. It was easy to guess where the target had gone. In fact, it had seemed like a very stupid move.

After a few minutes suiting up in her black armour, and quick word with her superiors using a mind link spell, she and her companions had been cleared to engage. The two Eclipse unicorns and two Royal Pegasi Guards had approached the cloud house silently, circling it several times to get a good look, then landing.

The Eclipse mare and the stallion behind her walked up to the front door. The murmur of voices inside touched her ears.

“Remember” she whispered, “Watch out for Loyalty.”

The stallion nodded, the helmet concealing any expression on his face. He positioned himself by the entrance, facing away from it.

The mare nodded, and he bucked the door.

The attention of both pegasi was immediately drawn the door, which had been smashed inward. A pair of unicorns rushed in, both covered in black armour and helmets that covered even their eyes with black reflective goggles. A symbol of a black and white sun and moon was displayed proudly on each shoulder.

“There it is!” a mare’s voice shouted, “Torch it!”

The horns of the unicorns flashed a bright orange colour and suddenly appeared to ignite. Rainbow guessed what was about to happen, and didn’t find much appeal in the outcome. She defiantly placed herself between Ash and the two intruders.

The flames on the unicorn mare’s horn faltered for a moment. “Get out of the way, kid. This isn’t your fight!”

Dash felt a building hatred toward these two. “You have the nerve to come into MY house, and threaten MY fiancé, and you tell me this isn’t MY FIGHT?!” her voice rose in volume as she spoke.

The mare sneered at her, but the gesture was hidden by the helmet. “You’re obstructing justice, kid. I can put you away for a long time for that.”

Ash’s concern about her grew. He felt extremely uncomfortable with having her in such a dangerous position. “Dash-”

“Good luck with that! I’m and element bearer, bitch!”

The mare uttered a short bark of laughter. “You think your title gives you immunity from the law?”

“Rainbow!” Ash hissed, but he was ignored. His gaze drifted between the bickering mares, but then landed on the stallion. What’s he doing?  He tensed his muscles, preparing for the inevitable.

“So what? You’re a cop now?”

The black clad stallion looked back and forth between the arguing pair. Mares, he thought with a sigh.

“A cop? Ha! I’m more than just a cop! I’m Eclipse! The Princess’s-”

“Enough of this!” the stallion snapped, “We have a job to do!”

His horn glowed brightly and Rainbow was surrounded by an orange aura before being roughly tossed aside. Ash had been waiting for this moment and pushed his wings back as he dove forward. He lunged forward at an incredible speed, but the Eclipse had expected an attack.

The mare and the stallion both jumped aside in different directions. The mare landed on her feet, ready for action, but the stallion wasn’t so lucky. Ash’s wing clipped him as he jumped, knocking the stallion to the soft floor and leaving him with a large bruise on his shoulder.

Ash recovered quickly and launched himself at the mare. He threw his hind legs toward her in an attempted buck, but she danced aside and his hooves only met air. He pressed the attack and swung a wing out at her, following up with a swift punch, but she dodged both attacks with ease.

She’s fucking playing with me!

“Do not underestimate your opponents.”

As much as he hated the presence in his head, he took the advice into account. She was clearly more dangerous than she looked. With a quick breath, he launched himself into another assault.

Rainbow pushed herself up to a stand as Ash attacked. She watched him charge forward at a speed she never knew he was capable of, and saw the intruders leap out of the way. The grey Pegasus leapt at the mare and struck at her furiously, but she avoided each one of his strikes with ease. A closer examination of her movements suggested that she was actually enjoying his attempts to hit her.

A light caught her eye and her gaze switched from the fight to the stallion. He was still on the ground, but his horn glowed brightly, and flames grew around it. She realised what was about to happen and opened her mouth to warn Ash, but the stallion beat her to it.

“Down in front!”

The mare immediately understood and leapt aside, rolling on the ground before coming to a halt several meters away. At the sound of the stallion’s voice, Ash realised his folly. He turned to face the stallion and but was greeted by flame.

The fire bolted forward faster than an arrow from a bow. On impact the flame coursed over the startled pegasus’ body like water. The bright flame enveloped its target, covering every surface on his body. It would have been a beautiful sight had it not been a living, breathing pony under the flame.

Then there was the scream, or more of a set of bloodcurdling shrieks of agony.

Rainbow was frozen on the spot, eyes wide as she stared in horror at her burning fiancé, and the smell of burning meat filling her nostrils. She felt an ache in her chest and a lump in her throat as she realised he was going to die.

And there was nothing she could do.

Never before had Ash felt so much pain. His eyes had dried almost instantly and, as the flames burned him, completely give out, blinding him. He could feel every inch of his skin burn and fall away, and every bit of moisture leave his body at an alarming rate. He could barely recognise his own voice as he screamed in agony, but eventually even that gave out. All he could do was endure the pain and wait for death.

But death didn’t come.

The pain began to subside, and, much to Ash’s surprise, his vision returned. When his sight came back he realised what he had previously assumed was his nerves giving out was actually his body healing before his own eyes. The flames vanished and burnt flesh repaired itself. As the pain lessened, Ash became aware of a pounding headache, similar to the one he had during the incident with the rabbit, but to a lesser extent. His thoughts drifted to the voice in his head.

So that’s how it’s been keeping me alive, he grinned, I’m fucking invincible!

“My power is great, but not infinite. Do not grow overconfident.”

Ash’s focus returned to the world, and he beheld the sight of two obviously shocked unicorns, despite their headgear, and an equally shocked Pegasus. The badly burnt Pegasus decided to seize the advantage. He looked toward Rainbow Dash and spoke. “Run.”

As soon as the world left his mouth he made a quick run for the nearest window, his cracked and burnt skin protesting the entire way, and leapt out into the night. The mare fired another bolt of flame, but the shot was rushed and flew a foot over the fleeing pegasus’ head.

Upon the departure of their target, the mare rushed to the door, only to be stopped by the stallion. “Leave him. We’ll wait for backup.”

“Are you kidding? We almost had him! If we just-”

“He’s got away, and neither of us are going after him without backup.”

The mare growled in frustration, but didn’t pursue the matter any further. She examined the room and noticed that the other Pegasus had disappeared. No doubt gone after him.

“Don’t worry” the stallion assured, “He won’t get far.”

The pair made their way back to the chariot. It was going to be a long night.

A/N: Ok, the time between updates will probably get a bit longer, seeing as before I only released a chapter if the one after it was finished in case I fell behind in my writing. Unfortunately that has happened, and there is no pre-prepared chapter.

But anyway, thanks for reading! Remember to rate to increase not only the rating of the story, but the author's self esteem too - Unless you give it less than five stars, but you wouldn't do that... would you?

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