~Tohro~

One small inch off course, and the lockpick snaps in half. The now useless metal bits fall from the lock. For a moment, I internally panic, fearing how cacophonic the sound of the bits could be if they hit the stone floor. Luckily, my wings reflexively stick out and catch the bits. The hallway of the soldier barracks remains silent, save for my sigh of relief, which I let out into that same wing before tucking the bits away in one of the many pockets on my leather barding.

I retrieve another lockpick. This one is a bit longer and sturdier than the seven I’ve broken thus far. It figures that the lock of an Imperial soldier’s room is the first time I have to rely on Altair’s picks. I truly have chosen the right side in this war.

Well, for the most part. I’ve seen both the good and the bad of the Imperial Legion. I’m usually the type to focus on the good, but I cannot deny that there are true scumbags to be found in the queen’s service. Pyro and Ember, for one. I do not wish their fate upon anypony, but there is no denying that what they did deserved punishment. And then we have assholes like Fade…

I am content with the large coin purses that come with working in the Legion, but if Jade is to be believed, Fade’s greed has yet to be sated. And I would trust Jade with my life. According to her letters, Fade is a few stones short of obsessive, keeping a constant record on every prisoner to enter the Imperial Legion’s grasp. If there is little to no chance for them to be claimed, he has them sold off. The reason for the purchase doesn’t seem to matter, so long as Fade receives a hefty sack of bits in the end. The selfish bastard must be swimming in it…

“You would have me believe we have a wolf among us sheep?” Queen Platinum had asked me when I presented Jade’s suspicions to her. Of course, I didn’t mention Jade’s name or allegiance. I didn’t want things to get awkward, to say the least.

“To be fair, Your Majesty, I’d rather consider this fellow a black, rabid wolf amongst us white, elegant wolves,” I had said. “With your permission, I would like to investigate Fade’s quarters and belongings.”

Needless to say, the queen was a little apprehensive towards the notion. “You would know why I would refuse such a request.”

I had expected such a response, and I replied in turn, “I understand completely, but this is a matter of security. If Fade is involved in a trafficking chain, then what is stopping him from selling off prisoners with valuable information that could win us this war? Perhaps we could step into a moral grey area for a while for the sake of the Empire’s well being?”

Her Majesty took a moment. She had paced around the room a few times before I had her figured out. It was a constant flip flop of moral consciousness that could be manipulated by an outside source.

“Perhaps you don’t have to sanction an investigation,” I suggested.

Platinum paused for a moment, then she turned to me with a wry smile on her muzzle. For a moment, I could comprehend Platinum’s thoughts, and it was wonderful. The knowledge that I’m under the employment of such a reasonable authority figure, and royalty besides, just makes my quest for peace in Equestria all the more within reach.

“Very well. You may not…” she paused, then put emphasis on the words, “have the key,” then resumed speaking normally, “to Fade’s quarters. By the way, did you know that his patrol shift occurs every other day from dusk to midnight? Isn’t that interesting? I mean, I can’t quite see how that helps anything, but for some reason I felt like relaying that completely irrelevant information to you.”

Thus, I left the throne room without the key to Fade’s room… and chuckled at the thought of the hundreds of lockpicks within my bag of holding, eagerly awaiting the day they’d be of use. Thus, here I am.

I have gratitude for Altair’s skill set. He taught me the more subtle aspects of lockpicking. That brilliant gryphon could pick the gates of Tartarus if he did so wish… if he found them. But he and I, we’re thieves, so finding the unfindable is just one of our many abilities.

The lock clicks.

I let out a silent victory cheer, then open the door.

Fade’s barracks are certainly more organized than mine. His spare set of armor has been polished to a sheen that’s nearly painful to look at in the sunlight. The armor in my quarters is still stained with blood from my last encounter with Shokenda, if I recall correctly. His swords line the wall in perfect order, and his books, parchment and whatnot, it’s all sorted and stacked on his worktable. Fade must spend a lot of time in here to keep the place in shape. Perhaps he’s also had the time to ensure somepony like me doesn’t find something they shouldn’t.

I elect to look into the least likely places to find proof of his crimes. I approach the manikin and carefully remove the helmet. Fade might notice if I get dirt all over it, but if I can incriminate him, it won’t matter. However, looking into the crooks of the armor proves fruitless.

“Of course he wouldn’t hide any evidence on himself… Come now, Tohro. You’re better than this.” I survey the rest of the room. When my eyes fall on Fade’s writing desk, I decide to seek my objective in someplace a bit more obvious.

There are three drawers. The first two open without a fuss, one of them containing stray coins (Yoink), bowls and plates. The other is full of linen wraps and a couple clumps of iron ore. I can assume Fade plans on paying the blacksmith a visit later. The third drawers, however, is the one that won’t open.

I decide to remedy that issue with another few picks. The first pick breaks almost instantly the moment I turn the lock, but with a few careful adjustments, the second one opens the lock just fine. I open the drawer to reveal a variety of documents. I have no means of telling which one may involve illegal trafficking, so I simply grab the first one I see, a clean looking one embroidered with Imperial golden accents, and give it a read.

Greetings, Fade of Ivarstable.

I, General Oregano of the Imperial Legion, offer my praise for your vigilantism during the Imperial Legion’s attempts to drive the Blackwings out of Trottingham. While our efforts were unsuccessful, it was a well fought battle, especially on your part. While most civilians took their belongings and ran, you took up arms to defend yourself and your fellow equine. You fought with bravery and honor, two qualities that are very much valued by our Queen Platinum, along with the rest of the Legion.

My rank bestows upon me the power of inducting new soldiers. I wish to have you join me and the true sons and daughters of Equestria in the fight to keep this land whole. Contained in this letter is a map to Everfree and a badge bearing the royal colors. Present this to the soldiers outside the barracks and they will allow you entry into my quarters.

If you wish to accept this offer, respond to me within a month.

Sincerely, General Oregano Von Spice of the Imperial Legion.

Goodness, Tangerine. Your husband was a stallion among stallions, but it seems he made a critical mistake… Unless Fade started this black market after he became a soldier. That too is a valid possibility.

The rest of the parchments include letters that don’t reveal anything of significance from a skimming. There’s little more than a few maps and some hastily scrawled reminders about patrol duty. There is absolutely nothing incriminating to be found.

“Not good enough… What would Altair do?”

I recall my mentor’s words of wisdom, which accompanied many days of training in the dimly lit corridors of Baltimare’s sewer system. Oftentimes, Altair would present me with a cabinet, or a desk, and tell me to steal an object of value from it. After a usually successful lockpicking, I would take the ring, necklace, or tiara, and pocket it silently. I was fairly good at that. Altair mixed things up a little in later days. There were times when I was only allowed one object out of many, such as an unseemingly expensive bottle of mead in a pile of fake gemstones.

Sometimes, however, there would be no treasure to be found. That is, until I discovered a removable panel hidden inside the cabinet or desk. I was one of the few to complete that test within an hour. Altair told me often, “The world would have no need for thieves if secrets were obtainable by all.”

I look beneath the desk and tap my hoof along the underside. I can’t feel anything that would lead to a secret compartment; it all just seems like regular wood. I can’t see any sort of switch or levy along the braces either. I look at the drawers again. The idea I have is a stretch, but it is worth a try. I pull out the third drawer entirely, being cautious to keep the documents organized. I hold it up to the underside the desk. Just as I thought; the drawer’s length doesn’t coincide with the desk’s length. I set the drawer down and remove the others, then look closely into the back.

“I knew it.” That isn’t the back of the desk, it’s a imposed board. It falls with a simple push of my hoof, revealing a black, unmarked book and a set of quills and ink. I grab the book and lay it out on the top of the desk. “It’s either erotic fiction or something I can use to prove you guilty… Possibly both, if luck serves. Now, Fade, what are your secrets?”

The first few pages appear blank, so I flip through the book rapidly until I come across a page with writing. I was expecting journal entries, or perhaps a checklist of actions taken to ensure security in his trafficking, but this is outright meticulous. What sort of criminal creates such a detailed list of transactions like this?

Client: Segment 3,000 bits 1 pegasus, 2 earthwalkers
Hard labor for construction of unofficial tollgate.

Client: Et Voila 1,500 bits 1 unicorn
Sideshow for traveling performer. Expect return with damage.

Client: Temerity Blackwing 13,000 bits 6 unicorns, 10 pegasi, 5 earthwalkers
All purchases were children. Paid extra to not disclose purpose of purchase.

Clients: Lock and Key 2,000 bits 2 earthwalkers
Prostitution. I recommended earthwalkers as they would be less likely to escape.

Many of these records make me want to vomit. By Fade’s writing, it seems that he holds complete apathy for the lives he ruins. I thank the Divines that I’m able to find the cult’s purchase on the third page, just before I lose my lunch.

Clients: Unknown females 7,000 bits 4 unicorns
Clients wore heavy robes. Paid extra to not disclose purpose of purchase.

Jade was telling the truth, not that there was any doubt in my mind. The situation is worse than I thought. This journal is enormous, and hundreds of these pages are filled from end to end. With this, I have enough evidence to put Fade away in a cell for fifty lifetimes… Or, just end his one right now.

“You see, Caro? That is what you do. You let the authorities handle these matters and let the act of justice be known to the ponies of—”

“What in the name of...?!” shouts a gravelly voice.

I turn around on a single hoof and crouch in a defensive stance. “Fade?” I ask accusingly. The unicorn stallion standing in the doorway has a dark blue body and a heavily trimmed mane. He’s clad in light Imperial armor, but he’s still about a head taller than me. “Yeah, thought it’d be you…”

“Thief!” He points at me, advancing forward. His horn comes alight, levitating two wakizashi from his sheaths. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Aw, I’m offended!” I pout, coming out of my stance, dropping my hood and giving a flip of one of my golden locks. I deliberately stand in the way of the open book, keeping it out of Fade’s line of sight. “I’ve been a part of this outfit for half a year now, and you don’t even recognize me?”

“Oh, Tohro…” The stallion relaxes a little, putting away his blades and chuckling to himself. “My apologies. I heard the rumors that you were part of the Thieves Guild, but I took that with a grain of…”

“The salt and whatnot. Yes, yes, I know. It’s all very confusing, but the Thieves Guild are actually quite an honorable flock of feathered faces. Think of my joining them as a way of bringing justice beneath the muzzles of authority.” And never has such a phrase been so appropriate for my quest. “Plus, the skills I’ve learned from them can serve the Legion.”

“That’s all fine and good with me.” Fade tilts his head, his eyes looking to the ceiling, as if he’s trying to comprehend something beyond his grasp. “Hm, I wouldn’t have let Lightning Brand take my shift if I’d known Platinum had issued room inspection.”

He cannot tell I’m here to swipe his personals, and yet he’s managed to put together a discreet trafficking service… Okay.

“Yes, it’s just another slag job for a freshly grown leaf like me,” I say, playing along with the lie Fade created. “But it is only fair that I ensure my fellow soldiers are as cleanly as they are mighty.” As I speak, I reach behind me nonchalantly, and silently move the book my way. “After all, if the Dragonborn can be so obsessed with his hygiene, we should all follow his example.”

“Do what you must, then.” Fade walks about the room for a little bit. He hasn’t asked me to leave, so I won’t. I watch him with my eyes, avoiding turning my head his way. He paces about the room absentmindedly, looking calm enough. At least, it seems that way. Upon closer glance, I can see that his eyes betray his actions as well as mine, looking towards the desk. The moment before he turns his head, I quickly slide the book off the desk and into my bag.

“Well, everything seems to be in order!” I say, casting my hoof into the air and letting out a false yawn. I clutch my bag tight to me as I walk past Fade. “Keep up the good work, soldier.” I pat him on the barrel, specifically on the belt of his armor. “Perhaps we’ll have a round at Blink’s pub later.”

Fade smiles down at me. “Of course.” He watches me as I trot to the door. “Oh, Tohro…”

“Yes?”

My hoof halts before it touches the stone floor. It’s forced into the air, yanking the rest of my body with it. I grit my teeth. My eyelids are squinting furiously as I try to ignore the pain. My shoulder burns as my foreleg is twisted like dough.

My body is turned around. Through the slits of my vision, I can see Fade approaching me, looking simultaneously cocky and angry, his horn alight. “I’ll have my book back now.”

I don’t think Fade has any intention of breaking my leg, but he is keeping me on the brink. My muscles feel like they’re tearing apart. “I… argh... have no… idea—”

“Did I say you could talk? I said I want my book, not lies.”

I’m sent airborne into solid brick. As I slide to the ground, I clutch the back of my head and let out a silent growl of anguish. “Grrrraaaagh…” I will away the pain with a sickly smirk aimed right at Fade’s gruff mug. “Heh. I’ve had worse.”

One of Fade’s wakizashi embeds itself in the wall, close enough for me to see my wide-eyed reflection. My white coat does look quite good with this dark outfit. It brings out the natural sparkle in my eyes.

Fade holds out his hoof, his other wakizashi flourishing out of its sheathe. “Book.”

I look into my reflection again; if I’m going to die at the hooves of this money grubber, I may as well die looking at something beautiful.

However, it seems that I have a good way out of this. I can see the alarm bell on the opposite end of the hallway. That gives me the best idea I’ve had all day. If an emergency calls for all available soldiers, all one must do is ring that bell. I suppose a private under assault by a traitor would qualify.

I snatch the wakizashi and yank it out of the wall, slashing at Fade. He’s a nimble one, able to leap back and turn in an instant. Whether or not I wounded him doesn’t matter. I now have enough time to flare my wings out and give them a strong thrash, forcing Fade back a little. With some extra space between me and him, I leap to my hooves and charge at the bell, tugging on the rope.

My shouting accompanies the echo of the bell’s ringing. “Wake up, everypony! Soldier needs assistance! Any moment now!”

Fade has finally gained his balance, stepping my way with both of his wakizashis in tow. “Damn y—”

To the sound of dozens of shouting voices and the stomping of armored hooves, every door in the hall opens at once. Imperial soldiers gallop out into the hallway, all in full arms and armor. I smile, proud to be part of such a fierce army. I can’t recall any time the Blackwings were this organized.

One of the soldiers, a mare in exotic, extravagantly customized armor and robes, turns my way. “Intruder, Private Tohro?” Her attention is quickly accompanied by the other soldiers.

I point at Fade, who is turning back and forth, his mouth agape in confusion. “There!” I pause as the soldiers look at him. Understandably, not all of them are reaching for their weapons. “Fade! We must take him to Queen Platinum! He’s illegally trafficking prisoners!”

“Bullshit, I am!” Fade shouts. “I’ve served the Empire for longer than most of you lot!"

“You are sure of this?” the mare-soldier asks me. “False accusations are not humor to us, Private.”

“I have evidence to present to the queen herself!” It would be a regrettable idea to let it slip that the dear queen gave me ‘orders’ to search Fade’s quarters, so I keep that unsaid.

Fade is unable to keep calm, clenching his teeth and fuming at the nostrils as he eyes the exit. That mistake will likely be his undoing. “He’s lying! He was—”

The mare approaches Fade, gently touching the blade of his wakizashi and pushing it down. “Stay calm, soldier. We’ll go to Her Majesty about this. If Tohro is lying, then you have nothing to fear.”

“This doesn’t have to get messy,” I say, my brow furrowed. I keep my wings spread, parting my feathers to show off my wing blades. The other soldiers have their weapons drawn as well, all of them focused cautiously on Fade.

"Why are you all looking to me with your blades?!” He’s spitting with anger, thrusting his hoof at me. “He’s the one who gallops alongside thieves and vigilantes! He even keeps the name of his true allegiance! Blackwi—"

The mare brings her hoof down. On his head. "Shut your trap, soldier.”

“What the hell, lady?!”

“You should know by now. Tohro keeps the name Blackwing to remind himself of the sins he's repenting for, just as he keeps that scar. Not to mention that he and his friends have better protected the interests of Queen Platinum over you, I, or any Imperial since their little guild was sanctioned. Now, move."

Fade almost wilts at the intensity of her glare, and I can't help the fact that my wings spread a bit further, straying from my battle-ready position, and more towards respect for this mare.

“Yes, well…” Fade says, his head tucked to his neck. “See… I have no intention of rotting in a cell, so…” His horn flashes, and he stomps the ground.

White fills my vision as I the soldiers all grunt and yell. I expect that when my vision returns, Fade won’t be standing there anymore. The first thing I see is the big mare’s pretty muzzle; the rest of her face is covered by her gold mask and a white hood. “Are you well, sir?”

“Better now,” I reply. I look over her shoulder. Everypony else has their hooves to their eyes, their heads bowed and their hooves shuffling. Fade has essentially turned this disciplined group of hardened soldiers into a bunch of confused children.

“Someone put out the light! I can’t see shit!” one of the younger soldiers shouts.

I fly over the soldiers as they try to gather themselves back to order, looking around the corner at the exit. The door is still closing, and I can see an armored hoof just slipping out of sight.

“There!” I kick off the ground and flap my wings, sending me right up to the door. I shove it open, rolling into the barracks’ training grounds. Archers are usually refining their uses of crossbows and longbows on the painted targets laying about the place, with others duking it out in the sandpit. However, there isn’t anypony present, much to my frustration. They must all be on duty.

“Tohro!” The mare-soldier is approaching me, flapping a rather large set of lilac wings. “It seems that you and I are the only ones who can catch him.”

I exhale furiously. “Damn you, Fade!” I tap my head, trying to formulate a plan. “Well, uh… How fast can you fly?” I ask my companion.

“Fast enough,” she says.

“We’ll fly over and call all soldiers, sellswords, anypony with a weapon to arms and tell them to sweep the streets. Make sure all exits are blocked. Cover cracks in the wall if you have to.”

She nods to every word. “Yes, sir. I will follow you.”

The mare-soldier and I take flight, soaring above the barracks’ entrance and sweeping over the white buildings of Everfree. While my eyes trace the streets frantically for a galloping blue unicorn, I hear the mare-soldier speak. “If Fade should be found, what will become of him?”

I keep my head down as I speak. “We turn him over to Queen Platinum.”

“No shit, sir. But will he go to the block?”

I don’t truly know if he will, but I don’t wish to answer. I don’t want to sound as if I want Fade to die. I don’t care what heinous things he has done, I do not wish death upon him. I’m not that sort of pony…

~Vision End~

~Shae~

The whole world is like an old painting I'd see hung in the lower, less refined floors of Wintercolt Academy. The colors of Everfree are muted and grey. The edges of my vision are all but black, threatening to consume the rest. It's as if I bear the weight of a hundred chains on my head. It takes all of my strength to keep my chin from falling onto the wood table... Let sleep overtake me...

"Mommy!"

I shake my head, throwing aside all of my desire to let my head fall. I turn in my seat and look down, seeing my little blue filly staring up at me with nothing but reverence and love in her turquoise eyes... as well as a look that I've come to memorize as a desire for nourishment.

"Just a moment, Luna." One of my hooves sorts through my bag, the other stroking my daughter's mane. Beneath my now well dwindled selection of potions and alchemical ingredients, I find many bottles of my milk. I levitate Luna onto my lap and hoof over the bottle, taking off the cap for her. Her thirst, as per usual, is almost inequine, more like that of a minotaur at a Hearth's Warming feast.

"The bairn has a warrior's belly, that's for true," says Rosemary as she takes a bite of an alfalfa and bean bun. While her chewing starts off loud and boisterous as per the norm, she quickly slows down to look me over, her smile waning. "I know I repeat myself, but you're absolutely sure you're well, lassie? You were dozin' off there."

“Was I?” I ask, though I mostly say it in denial. I’m well aware of many things at this moment, though the last time I had more than an hour of sleep is not one of those things. Though I may have had two hours yesterday… I can’t remember.

Luna snuggles into my lap, humming a rhythmless tune as she usually does. Being me, I had anticipated the worst when I brought her out in public for the first time, but whatever fear I had wasn’t held by the little one. She had alternated between standing close to me, hugging my legs to reassure me that she was still well and around, and running about to stare intently at every single thing that could possibly be seen. It was a constant flux of cuteness and terror for me.

“I can’t let this filly leave my sight for a second lest I lose my sanity,” I say to Rose. “That’s why I’ve been so reluctant to have a day with you. This filly…” As I pet Luna, her ear twitches. “She’s my life now.”

“Luna!” I hear Celina call. “Come here! I want to show you something!” Immediately, Luna leaps out of my grasp and hits the ground running, stumbling a little as she runs to Celina outside the pub.

I turn to Celina. “Don’t you go too far away with her!”

“I know, Mother,” says Celina. She says that with slight exasperation, as I’m sure she’s used to hearing that by now. “We’re only going to the spectral fountain. It changes color every time you toss a coin in, it’s amazing.” She levitates Luna onto her back and trots away. “We’ll be back soon.”

“Be safe…” I slowly turn back to Rose, who is wearing that sinister smirk once again. “What?”

"Don't make me take ya right here n' now, love. You're bein' too damn cute for your own good."

I grab my mug and churn down a very large gulp of grape juice to cover my embarrassingly large blush. “Could you not?” I ask, slamming the mug down. I’ve nearly emptied the whole thing.

Rose shrugs and continues to nibble on her meal. “Only statin’ the honest truth… You know, you’re bein’ somepony completely different when you’re around your little ones. Well, Celina ain’t so little, but dodgin’ my point.”

“Trust me, Celina isn’t much easier than Luna.”

“How so?”

As I search my memory, I recall a particularly long night filled with trembling and cold sweat. Celina’s pink mane, for a moment, had taken on a deathly grey color. “You were gone… You were all gone…”

“It’s okay, it’s over now. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

“Night terrors, I presume?” I hear Rose ask, pulling me back into the present.

"Yes, night terrors... I should have expected as much. One does not simply face eternity with a smile on their face. Celina was right to say I have no idea what she's going through."

"Would you want to?"

I look into what remains of my grape juice, trying to come to an answer. On the one hoof, knowing how Celina reacted to the concept of immortality, I don't think I'd like to know it myself. But then again, if it could help her cope with eternity all the better by the time I'm gone... "Yes. Without question."

"You're a bloody saint, Shae..." Rose says with a mock sneer. She sighs, resting both of her hooves over each other on the table. "I love you."

"Huh?" I ask, looking up from my mug to see Rose, her head tilted and her lips curled into a rather sheepish smile. I blink a few times, realizing that this is the first time I've heard those three words come out of her mouth. I’ve always known, so her actually saying it comes as a bit of a shock, but it’s a shock of the wonderful sort. I smile back at her. "...I love you too."

Rosemary lets out a heavy breath she must have been holding. After a few moments of comfortable silence pass, we both know that those words haven’t changed a thing between us, and that’s just fine.

“So, you were talking about buying yourself a forge?” I ask.

~Vision End~

~Tohro~

“Tally-ho!” The mare-soldier leaps out of the alley, throwing her forelegs around Fade’s hindquarters. She slams him to the ground, rendering him helpless with a haymaker to his back.

It’s far more satisfying than it should be to hear him yell, but after an hour of seeking this bastard out, seeing him hurt a little just makes me smile. However, I shake that gratification off as I approach him. “I told you, this didn’t have to get messy, but you just can’t seem to take honest advice from an honest colt. But, then again…” I wave Fade’s book of sins in front of his face in a taunting gesture. “Honesty isn’t part of your ideals, isn’t it?”

Fade reaches for the book, but I’m easily able to snatch it back and put it away. He growls at me and spits at my hooves. “Spare me your moral speeches, Tohro. You know neither of us is above the other.”

I may as well humor him. “Meaning?”

“You lied and cheated, breaking the law to incriminate me. Even now, you wear Altair’s leather. You’ve only proven my point. If you’re to continue your lawbreaking in the name of catching lawbreakers, who is to say that the liberties of the good ponies of Everfree won’t be compromised? Odds are, some authorities might want to follow in your footsteps.” Fade smiles. “I’m sure you’re familiar with why Baltimare disconnected from the Empire at this war’s beginning?”

I remember well enough, so I nod reticently.

The mare-soldier asks, “What is he talking about?”

I sigh. While explaining the Empire’s greatest mistake won’t exactly help my case, I speak anyway. “When the commanding officers of the Legion wanted to snuff out any signs of Blackwing resistance, they ransacked the houses of many civilians. It was a foolish gesture, not to mention an unsanctioned one. It only strengthened Shokenda’s arguments against the Empire, and drove Baltimare to breaking ties.”

Despite that, I still have my resolve. I show one of my hidden blades and present it to Fade. “Woah!” he shouts.

“But it’s a thing of the past. I am above you, Fade. Don’t feed me any of your morality bullshit; you sold ponies against their will. Prisoners or no, you’ve ruined countless lives in the name of profit. Your opinion is meaningless.”

Fade’s nostrils flare as he goes unusually still. “Well, so much for diplomacy, then…” His horn flashes, and he disappears, leaving the mare-soldier to fall onto her stomach. He reappears next to me with his both of his wakizashi cocked back.

I get on my hind legs and lean back to dodge Fade’s swings. He made the mistake of using both swords at once, leaving himself wide open. I buck at his chin with one leg, following up with his stomach. I twist my hoof as it lands in the soft cloth of his light armor, adding a bit of spin to his knockback. However, he catches himself with levitation and lands on his hooves like a feline.

He charges directly at me, swinging his blade. I dodge to the side and strike his leg, in the hopes that he drops his weapon, but just as my hoof collides with him, he disappears.

I hear him galloping away from behind me. I about face, looking down the surrounding streets and alleyways for where he could have run off to.

“Sir, there!” The mare-soldier casts out her hoof at the nearby market stands. The shopping townsfolk are disrupted from their errands by a certain unicorn shoving aside anypony in his way.

“Good eye.” I kick off the ground and start flying, following the trail of fallen over ponies. Fade must have taken at least some damage, as he’s not galloping as fast as before. My greatest concern is that he’ll teleport away like a coward. I overtake him and retract my wings, landing and drifting to a stop in front of a small pub.

“You irritate me, Fade!” I present my loaded crossbow to the bastard. “I’m warning you!”

He’s looking around again, and I just know he’s gonna dart off in a hurry. The crowd makes things difficult for him, and the way behind him is out of the question, as my companion is standing there, her hoof reaching for her sword. “Put your weapons down. You don’t have to make this difficult.”

Fade growls at the both of us. “You chose to make this difficult.” His head turns towards the pub. I look there as well, noticing how its doors are wide open, and there’s an exit on the other side of the interior…

I dive for Fade as he kicks off. I slam into his barrel, and we roll into the pub together, my forelegs wrapping around his neck, his hind legs bucking haplessly at the air. I touch his horn, immediately putting out his light and any attempt to teleport away again.

“Tohro?!”

I look up to see a familiar lavender unicorn amongst the standing patrons.

“Hello, Shae! How’ve you been?” I ask, pressing Fade’s head into the gravel.

Rosemary is there too, visibly chuckling at the unusual sight. As for Shae, she looks confused as anypony would. I’m about to explain the situation when Fade brings his head back quickly, slamming it into my muzzle. I flinch long enough for Fade to buck me off of him and rise to his hooves. He starts running.

I catch myself in the air. “You son of a—” I stop myself as I see Shae reach out to Fade and swing her hoof to the right. Fade trips and falls, barreling into the wall next to the exit. Shae looks at her hoof and smirks. It seems my favorite unicorn has more power than she thought she did.

Shae rises onto her hind legs and brings her hooves up slowly. The apple cider in Rosemary’s mug floats into the air, followed by the many other drinks throughout the pub. They all coalesce above her into a single liquid mass. With another flex of her foreleg, shots of the liquid fly at Fade, turning into solid ice on contact. He starts to gallop away until one shot freezes his hoof to the ground. Another crystallizes around his horn, rendering him unable to disappear.

Shae has the widest smile on her face as she returns to standing on four hooves. “It seems I haven’t lost my touch.” She makes a step towards Fade before stumbling over. As per the norm, Rosemary is there to keep her from falling. “Okay, I lied.”

Fade must be seeing red, with how wide his scowl is. With a particularly shrill yell, he breaks his hoof free from the ice, though not without leaving a few pieces of himself behind. Combined with the other daggers of ice piercing his armor, he leaves quite a trail of blood as he runs out of the pub.

I aim my crossbow, ready to give him another bad leg, but he quickly downs a bronze vial and disappears from sight. I drop my aim and shout, “What the hell?!”

“Invisibility potion…” Shae mutters. “Third tier alchemy.”

“That might explain why it took so long to find him,” says the mare-soldier.

“Well, you needn’t get into a rush, then,” comments Rosemary as she ushers Shae back to her seat. “You have a trail right to him.”

The mare-soldier trots towards the exit, tracing the blood trail while speaking to Rosey. “I wouldn’t be so laid back. Either he’s off to have himself a prayer at the church of Epona, or he’s making a break for the ships.”

I purse my lips. I can think of at least a few more insults towards Fade I’m reluctant to say in polite company. I swallow them all at once and take flight. “Thank you, Shae.”

The poor doll is resting her head on the table, but she waves at me with as much love as ever.

With that, the mare-soldier and I continue forth, galloping down the road with Fade’s blood serving as our navigator. We’re passing by other food stalls and restaurants, where standers by are backing away in confusion at the blood trail.

“He’s bloody fast for a fellow with a damaged hoof,” the mare-soldier remarks.

“Damn nuisance, that’s what he is.” I glance at her and her grin, which is all I can see of her face beneath that helmet. “And you sound upbeat about that.”

“What can I say, sir? I love action.”

I smile as she and I turn the corner, following the blood trail past the aforementioned church. “So do I.”

The smell of moisture on the air tells me we’re nearing the water. The finely polished streets have given way to stone roads and wooden platforms, with tunnels lining the waterfront. A pair of pegasus soldiers stand at the top of stairs that lead down to the docks proper. They’re standing around a rather large drop of blood.

“Oi,” I call to them, forgoing my manners.

“Ah, Private Tohro,” says one of them, paying my lack of propriety no mind. He looks to the mare-soldier. “And…?”

She quickly bows in response. “Private Mistral. I’m new blood. And speaking of which...”

I had paused for a moment, realizing how rude it was of me to never ask this fine fighter’s name. Given the circumstances, I hadn’t given it a thought. In any case, I turn my attention to the trail, which has come to an end.

“Yeah, we were meaning to ask about that," says one of the soldiers. "We were just passing by on our standard rounds, and imagine our shock when we saw splatters of red everywhere. You know anything about this?”

“Lying, traitorous bastard’s bleeding lying traitor bastard blood, and he’s gone invisible on us,” I say. I’m wearing my irritation with Fade on my withers. “Unless you want an illegal trafficker leaving this city without facing justice, you’ll fly off to every captain in this harbor and tell them they’re not going anywhere until the criminal is caught!”

"A-ah, right, yessir! Right away!" One of the guards rears back a bit, turning around, before swiftly fleeing towards the dock's small tavern, where a large collection of guards are taking a rest.

I turn towards the other one, almost feeling guilty at the way I scared his friend, but his smile eases that thought, letting me get back to the matter at hoof. "Right. The traitor's a trader. Prisoner trader, to be exact. Sells other ponies for personal gain, and has, by his own records, been doing so for a sizable time now. If your friend can handle warning the guards, could you give us a hoof, show us known hiding spots 'round the docks?"

This is a formality at best, really; after my time in the Thieves' Guild, and even with my experience from before then, I can find a certain rat in the sewers after seeing him once... if I have time, which is something that is being scattered to the winds with every passing second.

"Well, 'course I can," he says. "Follow me a ways, and I'll point out a few spots along the dock most ponies would think to hide."

As we start galloping down the stairs, the guard looking almost smugly calm as he casually takes in a breath of air. "What kind is he, anyways? Pegasus, he might've flown to a high-up nook or cranny to hide, or gone under the piers. Groundpounders like me usually stick to hiding in empty stalls, or taking a dip in the drink below. Unicorns can hide in nearly all those places, plus a few others besides, 'specially if they've got teleportation."

Gah, Divines dammit, Fade! I snap my wings out, the tips almost brushing the walls on either side. "He's is a unicorn, but he can’t use magic. Horn encased in ice. Drank himself an invisibility potion. Not sure if he'd really be hiding; more likely he'll be trying to find a quick way out of town."

I look around and see the soldiers pouring out of their tavern, speaking to whatever seafaring ponies they can find, presumingly informing them to stand anchored. That's of no use to me. I keep my ears alert as I look across the harbor.

“...and it doesn’t matter how much it costs. Money is no issue to anypony here. Get me out of here and I'll have your whole crew set for the next decade!"

My ear twitches as a voice echoes down a side tunnel. Enraged, whiny, and desperate. That's him. Twisting myself to the right, I slam my hooves into the wall and jump down the tunnel towards the third docking bay, practically running along the ceiling as I push myself faster.

I see the light ahead, the voice getting higher, louder, more desperate, until I burst out onto a dock, barely missing Fade as he ducks below my outstretched hoof. I change direction in midair and make a sweep at him. He dodges that as well, though he nearly stumbles into his gruff looking associate. Looking at Fade, I can see his body is still slightly translucent from the potion.

"This ends here, Fade," I say as I land in a crouch, ready to attack or gain altitude if the need arises. "You've disrespected the law, and you've disrespected me. Time to find out which one hits harder."

"You're a determined one, aren't you?" he asks, drawing a wakizashi with his mouth.

"You hurt my friend, Fade."

He bites the hilt. "I don't care!"

Mistral is charging out of the tunnel, the other guard hot on her hooves. Fade almost makes the mistake of looking back at her, but keeps his glare on me. Good. He's afraid of me.

For a second, he's standing in front of me, but the moment he makes a move at me, he disappears in a gust of wind, his blade clattering to the wood. I look to the sky and see Mistral soaring up high with Fade dangling in her grasp. There’s no escape for him up there. He can’t disappear, and he can’t hit back.

Mistral wraps all four of her legs around Fade’s barrel and folds her wings. She enters a freefall, spinning as she steers towards a schooner anchored at the docks. At the last possible second, before she hits the ship, she pulls up, dropping Fade and looping back around.

I leap off the dock and fly for the schooner, skimming the water of the harbor as I do so. I land at the helm of the ship, where the crew is gathering to watch what I’m sure is an interesting sight to them. Fade has drawn his other wakizashi, using his hooves to swing it uncoordinatedly at Mistral. She doesn’t even seem to be fazed by his attempts on her. She reaches for her blade and makes a blindingly fast swing at Fade, who only dodges by a hair’s width, stumbling towards me.

I hit him in the chest with one hoof, the other landing squarely in his jaw. I go airborne, gaining momentum with a few spins, and slam my hind leg into Fade’s barrel, relieving him of his weapon and sending him rolling towards the wheel of the ship, where Mistral awaits.

She pins Fade to the deck, then places her hooves on the handles of the wheel. “Port or starboard?”

Fade spits at her. “Go to hell!”

Mistral smiles. “I figured as much.”

She spins the wheel, bringing a handle down on Fade’s leg. An audible snap silences the crew.

Fade, for all his big talk and apparent ‘bravery,’ lets out a strangled whine before slumping forward, unconscious. Mistral is huffing and snorting, eyes flicking wildly as her nostrils flare. The adrenaline is strong in this one.

"Private Mistral!" I bark, snapping the mare to attention.

She immediately stands at attention. "Sir!"

I force myself relax a little, and so does she. "You were fantastic, but don't forget that we're better than him. Soldier brutality isn't something we should strive for. Consider what happened today as a last resort."

"Yes, sir." She has the good grace to appear chastened, despite the armor covering most of her. "Sorry, sir. I got... carried away."

"This was probably your first chase, then, I presume. And perhaps even your first real fight. You did well, but only use your emotions as a strength in battle; let them control your choices, and they're naught but a weakness. Otherwise..." For a moment, I think of Caro, and a certain horrifying moment in Baltimare... Shaking myself out of my lecture, I point towards Fade, who is rousing himself from his unconsciousness. "Now, then. Let's heal this traitor’s leg and bring him to the queen."

Night has fallen.

The many soldiers from the docks may not have been able to serve much use in capturing Fade, not that they ever had the chance, but I am able to appreciate their willingness to escort his weak body to the Rainbow Palace. Unicorn soldiers carry Fade on a makeshift bed, with one of them healing his leg to prevent any permanent damage. She promised to not fully heal him so he wouldn’t gallop off again.

“This went too far, Fade,” I say to him.

His face is bruised and bled, yet that doesn’t stop him from scowling at me.

“You hurt people. It didn’t matter if they were criminals in cells, you hurt them. You ruined whatever chance they had at a normal life. You sold life, and your dignity, for coins. There is nothing but evil to such an act, and any attempts to justify it will be ignored. You’re not a good stallion, Fade.”

He has a look of pure loathing towards me. This is nothing new.

I look away from him and continue speaking. “I have your book, Fade. I must commend you on your organization; not many criminals would have such a detailed list of committed acts, but given your trade, I suppose keeping records was a necessity. But the book can serve another purpose, you know. It could save you from the axe.”

“...How?” he asks, begrudgingly.

“It’s quite simple. You tell the queen that you’re willing to turn over the book as evidence of your crimes, which can allow the Imperial Legion, along with anypony else looking to do good deeds, to seek out the prisoners you’ve sold, as well as apprehend those who purchased them. For making amends, you may be out of prison in less than a year.” I place my hoof on the makeshift bed. “But that will only happen if you allow it to happen.”

Fade doesn’t respond. He rolls his head over, deliberately looking away from me.

“It’s just something to think about,” I say, allowing Fade to sort out his thoughts. My greatest concern is that he’ll refuse out of stubbornness, or even worse, disbelief that anypony could show him such kindness. I turn to Mistral, who has been listening intently the whole time. “I’ve seen too many ponies sent to their deaths without a second chance. Unfortunately, many times I was the one gifting them their end.”

“The Blackwing assassin isn’t an advocate for murder,” she quips. “Now I truly have seen everything.”

“Oh, if only…” She can’t imagine the sights I’ve seen, but those are tales for another time. We’ve already made our way to the palace gates, where I hold out my hoof commandingly. I’m about to say something, but much to my surprise, the other soldiers stop on a dime from my gesture alone. “Huh.” I shrug and speak. “Set him down. Criminal or no, I won’t have him bedridden in the good queen’s presence.”

Fade’s healer steps away as the makeshift bed slowly descends.

“Get up,” I order the traitor.

He does so. While he doesn’t show any sign of pain, he is obviously limping and unable to go much faster than a trod. That’s good enough for me.

“Soldiers, take him to the queen, obviously. I’ll catch up with you.”

The gatekeepers allow the soldiers, and the limping Fade, to pass into the palace. The guards form a circular formation around Fade, keeping him from performing any acts that resemble shenanigans. I’ve had enough of shenanigans for one day. I think it’s time I focus on another objective.

An objective called Mistral.

I intercept her as she goes to join the other soldiers. It’s been quite some time, and I’m quite out of practice with a seductive look, but I think I pull it off well enough; she chuckles in return. “So, I can’t help but notice you keep that hood up," I comment.

“How about you amend that?” she replies. Her words sound rather saucy. I think we’re on the same page of this tome. I reach for her hood and pull it off, letting it fall around her spaulders, to reveal a heavily braided white mane. As she pulls off her gold helm, I’m treated to a greyed lilac face. Her eyes are rather wide and childlike, though her right one looks faded. It must be a glass eye.

“You and I quite the kindred spirits, Mistral,” I whisper. “We both love a good brawl, we’re rather playful with our foes, yet we value life above all else. Am I right so far?”

“Very much so.” She nods, reaching out to me and brushing a few stray locks out of my eyes. “I’m sensing something here.”

“I knew I wasn’t the only one...” I press my hoof against her chest and gently push her up against a nearby house. With her unable to gallop off anywhere, not that she seems to have any desire to, I lean in and kiss her. I pull away, eager to see her reaction, only to have her return the favor. Her lips are young and spry, not at all like the hardened sticks I have to put up with on a daily basis. When she pulls away, I nuzzle her and whisper in her ear, “What are you doing later?”

“I was considering disrobing and taking a bath… Of course, you’re welcome to join me, sir.”

"I think I'd like that, Private."

Her breath his hot on my muzzle. "I was thinking public, sir." Ohoho, she's cheeky, too!

I’m tempted to slip my hooves into the joints of her armor and undo her straps, but before I’m able to make any such move, the cacophony of shouting soldiers violates my ears.

The soldier part of me forces my body to move away from Mistral, returning to a professional disposition as I gallop towards the shouting. It’s concerning enough as is, but my heart starts pounding when I realize the shouts are coming from the Rainbow Palace.

“What is it now?” I ask nopony in particular.

I gallop to the palace entrance and open the doors, not waiting for them to close behind me as I run into the entrance hall. The shouting is coming from the corridor next to me. I make a few steps before I cross paths with Fade’s healer, who has removed his helmet to show panicked eyes and an open mouth; he’s hyperventilating.

“S-sir, it’s Fade, he—”

My hoof hits the floor so hard, it leaves a scuff in the carpet. I may have to compensate the caretakers of the palace for that, but how could I care? As my vision passes over one of the palace’s many windows, I’m tempted to break it. That wouldn’t accomplish much, though. Instead, I turn my anger into a long breath, and turn to the unicorn soldier. “He ran away again?” I ask.

The response is much less what I expect; he shakes his head. “I… don’t think that will be much of an issue, sir…”

“How do you mean?” I ask, unable to theorize what could have possibly happened.

The unicorn soldier beckons to me and trots into the corridor. I follow closely. “We were doing as you commanded, escorting Fade to the queen’s chambers under absolute watch. Nothing could have gone wrong, but, somehow…”

We turn the corner, where the other soldiers lay disheveled and spent. Some rest up against the walls, others sit, furrowing their brows.

“Sir…” one of them says, looking my way. “There was nothing we could do. Everything just went black, and when we opened our eyes, well…” She nods towards the opposite wall, where nopony is resting. I look up, and see exactly what has everypony so distraught.

Fade is impaled to the wall, displaying an unmoving expression of horrid surprise. His blood has already stained the drapery and the carpet.

I blink a few times, just to ensure what I’m seeing is real. When I’m absolutely sure it’s not a hallucination, I mutter, “Fuck.”

Queen Platinum has well taken in the scene, her muzzle crinkled in disgust. "My, my. And the carpet was freshly put in... Shame." She turns toward me, a questioning gleam in her eyes. "Well, Tohro, what do you make of this?"

"I… I don’t really know," I manage to murmur as I look around the corridor. The shock of first seeing Fade like this is still crawling along my spine. "I wasn’t here, so the culprit must have been waiting for my absence. The only two ways in or out would be through the door to the Throne Room, or the window..." I reach out and place my hoof against the glass, pressing firmly. "This is stuck fast; most likely never meant to be useable in the first place."

Her Majesty survey’s Fade’s corpse again, particularly what has been used to impale him. "Do you know whose sword that is?"

Of course I know whose sword it is. It's Mistral's. She'd flashed it around enough during her battle with Fade for me to recognize its unique appearance; a pearly white blade that perfectly segues into an elegant black hilt. I daresay it looks familiar...

"Yes, it's Mistral's,” I tell the queen. “She is the mare who had helped me bring Fade in. But she's not likely to have done this..." On account of my nearly successful attempt at having her alone.

“Private Tohro is correct, Your Majesty,” says Mistral. She too seems to be in mild shock, gangling stiffly towards us. “I was with him when Fade was killed. Whoever stole my sword must be a superior thief to even Altair himself.”

She said that with a bit of reverence to her voice. Either way, I nod in agreement. “She speaks nothing but the truth, My Queen.”

“And I believe her wholeheartedly, as I do you, Tohro.” Queen Platinum lends both me and Mistral comforting touches of her hoof on our withers. “Now, Private Mistral, I must suggest you go lick your wounds and give yourself a thorough bathing. You look absolutely flustered from what has transpired today.”

Mistral bows to Queen Platinum before taking her leave. She gives me a lick of her lips and a sultry wink as she turns the corner.

“As for you, Tohro…” The queen checks around her before she gets rather close with me. She whispers, “Was your investigation successful?”

“Oh!” With all of the excitement of recent moments, I had nearly forgotten about presenting my discovery to the queen. Better now than never, I suppose. I reach into my pouch and conjure up Fade’s book of sin. “Every single sale Fade has ever made can be found in this.”

Platinum takes the book with aura and flips through it. Her frown intensifies with every turn of a page. “Hmmm, this is most concerning… We would know more about these sales if it weren’t for, well…” She nods to the corpse bound to the wall. “But not for naught!” she says, suddenly rather chipper. “We can still make use of the names he has left in here. There is a lot of power in knowing just one pony’s name, Tohro, never forget that. Now, I’ll have a few scribes write up wanted lists for the purchasers in this book. I’ll also inform the Legion about this, along with every local guard.”

“I do hope any assistance in the effort to right Fade’s wrongs will be well rewarded?” I ask.

“Of course, deary.” The queen looks absolutely giddy. I can imagine after all the misfortunate she’s been through, she takes solace in any good news. As she turns to me, I can see nothing but warmth emanating from her otherwise tired, wrinkled face. “Tohro Blackwing, you’ve done Equestria a great service on this day, and I don’t often use the words ‘Blackwing’ and ‘great service’ in the same sentence.”

I take the compliment to heart, as I know she wouldn’t say such a thing unless she meant it. However, in searching my feelings, I don’t feel as if I’ve performed any great service, even though I succeeded in my mission. There’s just something hollow about this victory, and Fade’s corpse serves as a reminder of why. “I could have saved a life today.”

“Huh?” The queen’s ears twitch.

“I was fully prepared to be an advocate for Fade. I wanted to keep him away from the block by allowing him to help us find his customers and reclaim the ponies he sold away. Even with his book, there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to undo much of what he’s done. He would have made for an invaluable asset.” I peer up at his corpse again. He looks afraid. “If only I were able to give him a second chance…”

“Valuing life, as per usual. This is very wise, child.” Platinum nods, humming affirmingly. “Still, my point stands. You have done more today than most soldiers can accomplish in years. As such, I ask if you would accept the privilege of being referred to as Corporal Tohro from this day forth?”

In an instant, my remorse seems a little thinner. My heart skips a beat, and my wings begin flapping involuntarily. “I would gladly accept that title, Your Majesty!” My voice echoes across the corridor.

“Calm yourself, Corporal. Deep breaths.” The queen waves her hoof, waiting until I do as she commands. After I take a few breaths, she continues. “Now, I recommend that you take a bath as well. Have yourself a well-deserved rest. I, however…” She sighs and looks to Fade once again. “I must have this whole place spotless and sanitized before the summit.”

I pause my walking and turn back to Her Majesty, tilting my head. “Summit?”

“Come to think of it, it may be useful to mention this book to the other jarls…”

I speak up. “Summit, Your Majesty?”

By her expression, I may as well have asked her to stand on her head and do a Saddle Arabian fertility dance. “Didn’t I mention? I plan on summoning every Jarl loyal to the Empire to discuss current political matters.”

I nod. “Ah. With respect, that sounds absolutely dull.”

“It is, but I still feel a summit is warranted. I intend on formulating a new battle strategy with the loyal jarls. If all goes right, we will take the battle straight to Shokenda Blackwing’s doorstep, and end this war forever.” She ends that sentence with a flourish of her hoof, which I commend with a hoof stomp. “Speaking of, that brings me to your next mission…”

“Such a task must be quite the honor, sir. I must confess my jealousy.” Mistral looks up at me in reverence as she rests her hooves on the edge of the hot spring.

A reposed sigh escapes my lips as I empty a bucket of water over my head, letting the warm water cleanse my body of today’s madness. I can feel the individual bits of dirt and grime leaving my wings, the stress physically leaking from my head. I relax my muscles and smile, turning my head towards Mistral. “I wouldn’t be too giddy about it. It’s nothing more than a pet task disguising a much greater responsibility.”

“How could informing the Jarl of Dragon Bridge about the summit be considered a pet task?”

I remove myself from my seat and step towards Mistral. “Think of it this way. Any underpaid courier could perform such a task, so why would I, a corporal of the Imperial Legion, be asked to do such a thing? I ask that rhetorically, of course. See, I’d have raised a brow at the queen if it weren’t for what else awaits me in Dragon Bridge.” My smile grows larger. “My best friend is there.”

Mistral nods, listening intently as she sits at the edge of the water. “Right, the Dragonborn…” She eyes her blade in the corner of the room, which has been cleaned entirely of blood. She’s been doing that often, probably fearful that it could be taken from her again.

I continue. “Caro has been off for some time, hunting dragons wherever he may find them. Her Majesty has clearly ordered me to join him in his endeavors.” I chuckle, my breath visible against the steam. “So, I’ll be away for a while, fighting something other than Blackwings or lawbreakers.”

Mistral claps her hooves together. That look of reverence is even broader than before. “Amazing, sir! Oh…” Her ears droop a little. “But, that means we won’t see each other for a while.”

“Aye.” I nod, keeping a straight face, though I’m disappointed by that fact as well. Nothing excites me more than being able to see Caro again, but it will be a shame to leave behind such a potent companion.

“And here I was, hoping for a bright future in jolly cooperation,” Mistral mutters.

As I wrap my forelegs around Mistral, aiming to grant her comfort, I consider her brave actions, how raw her emotions are, and how well coordinated we are in the field of battle. I would be lying if I said I would miss the opportunity for more missions together. Even so…

“Well, I am a corporal now. If Her Majesty’s goal is realized, and I have no reason to doubt it will be, this war is about to enter its climax. I’ll likely be needed by the Legion more than ever in coming days.” I press my hoof up against Mistral’s chest. “We’ll have our jolly cooperation then. No Blackwing will stand in our way.” Sans a few, but Mistral doesn’t need to know about them.

“I’ll look forward to it, sir.” She puts her smile back on, tilting her head upward to kiss me.

I chuckle rather sinisterly. It seems I had forgotten something in all of the excitement. “Ooh, speaking of climaxes…”

Mistral wraps her hooves around my head and pulls, bringing me to the tile floor with her. Her coat is still mussed up and wrinkled from wearing her armor, and yet it’s also quite moist and smooth from her bath. She truly is a beauty of the battlefield, not to mention, now that I’ve seen her out of her intimidating garb, she is outright adorable.

My mind is full of happy thoughts. Justice has been attained for Jade and all others that have been harmed by a traitor’s greed. I now hold a new, well-deserved title for all of my hard work. An end to this war lies on the horizon. It’s a distant horizon, but it is visible nonetheless. And, of course, I’ll be reunited with my best friend in due time. Nothing, not even what happened to Fade, can damper my high spirits.

Nor can anything damper Mistral’s moaning. Yeah, I still have it.

~Vision End~

Caro digs his hooves into the dirt, bringing his backwards slide to a halt. His teeth bite deeper into the hilt of his longsword as he wipes the sweat from his brow.

His ear twitches. He turns his head at the sound of a child’s voice. No, multiple children. They’re inside a small house, one that hasn’t been ravaged, tapping their hooves on the window, yelling as loud as they can. Caro expects them to be yelling out of panic, for fear of their lives, but that’s not the case. They’re smiling for him. Their yells are words of encouragement.

He can’t make out much of what they’re saying, but he gets the message well enough; they’re not afraid of any dragon, so long as he’s around.

Said dragon, a slender one with many fins coating its white scales, lands on the same dirt road as Caro stands, using the two buildings beside it as support for its arms. It blows a plume of electrified smoke from its nostrils. “Must we do this all day?” it speaks in an oddly feminine tone. “You make matters far more complicated than need be. It’d be easier for the both of us if you’d just lie down and die.”

Needless to say, Caro doesn’t take kindly to the dragon’s condescension. He removes his blade from his mouth and slings it over his shoulder. “That bridge doesn’t belong to your kind, Rasahrel. It matters little if it was built with the remains of your ancestors.”

Caro gestures to the town of Dragon Bridge’s namesake which crosses a large chasm. Constructed of many large bones and adorned with the skull of a single small dragon, its violent and yet oddly beautiful visage is only amplified by the presence of a large, sparkling waterfall.

And yet the dragon doesn’t seem to see beauty in it. Rasahrel’s eyes narrow, thick with golden aura. “Little to you and the Dovahkiin that came before. But, then again, why should it matter? After all, it isn’t the bones of equines that stain this land’s beauty. Not that I can promise it will remain that way when the Reclaimer arrives.”

Caro marches towards Rasahrel, flashing a reassuring grin at the hiding children. As he approaches her, the crackle of electricity causes strands of his mane to stand on end. He ignores the odd sensation, keeping an eye of the bridge. He knows how important the bridge is, allowing safe travel for adventurers and caravans over a treacherous pit of beasts and deadly rocks. And this dragon, like many before it, would see it destroyed…

“I suppose reasoning with you, like the others who have attacked this town, would be completely pointless?”

“So you finally realize.”

“That’s all I needed to hear…” Caro breaks into a gallop, kicking up stones in his wake. “You won’t have what is theirs!”

Rasahrel makes the first move, swiping at Caro with her long claws. Caro effortlessly ducks out of harm’s way, but the blades of her arm catch him unawares, shaving some skin from his barrel. He ignores the brief sting and leaps over her arm, swinging his blade and tearing through a chunk of her flesh. The moment before he hits the ground is a blissful one, as he relishes the scent of freshly spilt blood mixing with his.

“Wuld nah.” With a surge, Caro flies across the packed dirt, a streak of white stretching out behind him as he jumps up towards the dragoness’ face, sword flashing in a downwards arc as his momentum brings him right back down to earth. “Yul toor!” A torrent of flames erupts from his mouth, blasting at the dragoness’ exposed belly as she roars in pain and anger. Though the sword wound becomes cauterized, it doesn’t spare Rasahrel any pain.

Caro lands on all four hooves, glaring up at the beast’s furious eyes. They flash gold for an instant. “Qo ruzaak,” she speaks, turning her head and letting loose a torrent of lightning across the street.

With nowhere to run, Caro stands his ground and yells, “Lahspaan luh!” A cyan shield erects itself around him, buckling as the lightning washes over. Even with his ward’s protection, it does little to keep his body from shaking involuntarily from stray bolts. Once the torrent passes, he examines the several cuts and burns inflicted by the lightning. “Damn…” he mutters. “You’re fucking merciless…”

“You’re a fool, Dovahkiin. Just like all those before you. This is mercy...” The dragon’s head turns, her eyes alight with anger and malice. “Mind that I can always harm them instead...” The dragon starts to breathe in and turn her body. “Qo...” Caro’s hackles raise in alarm.

“Don’t even think about it, bitch!” He roars as he sheathes his blade, sprinting towards the only nearby house left untouched.

“Ra...”

Reaching the building, he watches as the children inside lose the hope in their eyes, the light replaced with terror. His own vision begins to darken as he sprints up the wall, pushing off, and then calls forth his most recently discovered shout. “RIM GAHROT SULEYK!”

“...zaak!”

Rasahrel’s lightning breath comes in a concentrated burst, with Caro intercepting its course. With a burst of light, Caro is completely enveloped in the bolts of radiant lightning, their blue aura turning to gold and the bolts quelling into a gentle glow.

Caro’s form shines as the lightning is absorbed into his body, the air thruming with the Thu’um’s magic as a smile crosses his face. “You shouldn’t have done that.” He takes his sword in his hoof, flourishing it for Rasahrel to look upon. Her eyes widen as the blade radiates the very same lightning she wielded. “Now you’ll know their pain.”

He leaps at the dragon, his temporary surge of power allowing him to knock her sweeping arm aside without so much as a grunt. He grabs onto her beak and lifts himself up, landing between her eyes.

“You may not know fear, but I can recognize it.”

Rasahrel shakes her head wildly, trying to send Caro flying. “No... Trickster! Skoboviik! You cannot kill me! I must reclaim what is ours!”

Caro shakes his head, his body not budging as he’s flailed around. “I’m sorry. I usually get a bit more fight out of your kind. You never had a chance.” He hefts his blade, the light from it blindingly brilliant, and slashes it across her muzzle. Just as his blade leaves her scales, a brilliant flash of electric light bursts from the wound, throwing Caro to the house’s rooftop.

He gets up quickly to see a sight that makes him blush. Rasahrel is thrashing about, moaning and screaming as electricity runs through her veins, leaving her a twitching, convulsing heap on the ground. Her white scales have turned sickly and brown. Blood leaks from whatever wounds aren’t cauterized. What makes Caro grin in particular is her eye… or lack thereof. It’s nothing more than white and red liquid flowing down her beak.

Just as Caro prepares to receive another soul for his efforts, the dragon opens her remaining eye and rises, her movements labored and strained. She speaks eloquently as ever, despite her grievous wounds. “Th-this… This does not cause pain… Do not think me defeated... Dovahkiin... ” With a spastic flap of her wings, the dragon takes to the sky. “I abide to alleviate these mere scratches...”

“I won’t allow it...” Caro mutters under his breath. He curses at being denied a soul. Then again… If she were anything but a lightning breather, that would have killed her, he considers. He dismisses the thought and readies his blade once again. Throwing himself off the roof, he hisses under his breath, “Golt su ru!” Instead of falling to the ground below, the air shimmers beneath his hooves, as if it's becoming solid for him. “Wuld nah kest!” He takes grand leaps after the dragon, sending himself high into the air. For just a moment, he deeply enjoys the feeling of flight, wondering how it would feel if he had wings, or something to that effect... Then, his shout gives out. With his body still falling forward, he’s bound to collide with the dragon.

With a sudden jerk, the dragon falls off course, her wings still riddled with tremors of the electric discharge. Caro looks to the ground far below, dreading the inevitable fall. He’s prepared to shout and allow himself to land safely, but that will leave him unable to claim this dragon’s life, or her soul.

One step forward, two steps back, he thinks, watching the dragon fly away and letting himself fall. He enjoys the moment for what it is. The sunset in the distance, the rush of wind in his ears, the weightlessness of his body… He smiles. I wonder if Tohro feels this way all the time.

“Hellooo!”

A cheery voice invades the silence of Caro’s freefall before he’s snatched out of the air by a streak of white and yellow. Grunting with the force of impact, he turns to glare at the pegasus holding him aloft by his hind legs. “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he mutters, folding his forelegs. “I just can’t get away from you.”

“Oh, you know you love it, mate!” Tohro laughs as he swoops down towards the town. He makes a curious hum as he notices the smoke rising from a few of the homes. “Looks like you got a bit playful with your friend. Where is it, anyway?”

“She’s escaping because you got in my way, mate,” Caro says, unable to keep the smile off of his face despite being disgruntled.

“Nothing gets away from us. We’ll catch your lizard-friend soon enough.” Tohro grunts, lifting Caro up and wrapping both sets of legs around his barrel. “Epona’s nethers, Caro. Have enough sweets lately?”

“Focus, feathers,” Caro says. He points at the silhouette of the dragon crossing the light of the sun. “There, go!”

Tohro casts himself forward with a strong flap of his wings, diving and catching the wind to make up for the weight. “I’ll get you alongside, uh, her… I know you’ll take care of the rest.”

“You’ll be there to catch me if I fall?” Caro asks.

Tohro smirks down at Caro, unable to help himself. “Always.” He dives once more, steering towards the dragon.

She’s slow, her grievous wounds leaving unable to fly beyond a slow glide. Even a flap of her wings causes her to snarl in pain. Tohro passes over her tail and loops around, flying along her underside.

“A little further…” Caro commands, his eyes focused on Rasahrel’s chest. “I’ll cut her heart out and have her dead before she hits the ground. I won’t let her get away with what she’s done.”

Tohro takes one more glance at Dragon Bridge, his ears dropping at the sight of the carnage left in the dragon’s path. “Is that what happened to Reinoc?”

“It’s what happened to me.” Caro’s eye twitches, ever so slightly. “That’s what Saviikaan wants.”

“As if he stands a chance against you, Dragonborn.” Tohro steals a nuzzle on Caro. He tries to ignore the scent of burnt fur and blood. As he pulls away, he tilts his wings and spins until he’s soaring upside-down, looking straight up at the dragon’s frame. “Do it!”

Caro releases his grip on Tohro, returning to the air. But only for a moment. He memorizes the confident, cocky smirk on his best friend’s face before he speaks. “Fus… ro dah!” A burst of pure force flies from his lips, sending him upwards. He turns his whole body, takes his sword in his hoof, and cuts at the dragon’s stomach.