After clothing Argyle with a tarp, Augeron finished pulling on his belt, then noticed Argyle gave out. "Hurry up, Canagan!"

   Canagan pulled hard on the belt tied around Argyle's side, securing him to his side. "Got it, let's ride!"

   Augeron took off with his friend matching his pace in near mirrored rhythm. It was a ways to the hospital, but Canagan and Augeron were fast, rated top of their unit in fact.

   "He's gettin' cold, we don't have long!"

   "Just keep running! We are almost there!"

   "Hang 'n there, Boy'o!"

   It was like the royal wedding all over again. Augeron cursed it. No, there was no way he would lose another friend, not again, not ever.

   Augeron narrowed his eyes on the hospital's main entrance.

   "Push it, Canagan!"

   "Clear the way! Dyin' one comin' through!"

   They burst into the hospital, scaring half of the ponies in the waiting hall out of their skins. A thin droplet trail of crimson lead to the front door behind them.

   "Get the Doc, he needs help!"

   Nurse Redheart jumped out of her seat, then gasped at Argyle's condition.

   "Oh my goodness! Uh, Doctor!" She ran into the back.

   Augeron with Canagan trotted next to the emergency room doors. Heartbeats later, the doors opened with a white bed cart and three medical staff including Doctor Stable.

   Doctor Stable looked at Argyle and gasped. "What in Celestia happened?! Another Manticore attack?!"

   "Can you help him, Doctor?"

   "Y-yes, of course. Everypony, help me!"

   Augeron and Canagan undid the belts holding Argyle to their sides. Even the ponies in the patient waiting area got up and helped get Argyle on the bed cart.

   "Right, to surgery!" Doctor Stable's horn glowed, forcing the doors to open.

   They carted Argyle away.

   One of the nurses approached Augeron. "I'm sorry, but you will have to wait here."

   He nodded. "Yes, thank you."

   Canagan took his helm off, it suddenly feeling a bit too heavy. He glared at the blood trail leading back to him, then noticed the huge red stain on his left golden steel side-plate.

   Looking back at the doors, slowly closing, he watched the outline of the cart carrying Argyle away. "Fan againn, Argyle.

     (Stay with us, Argyle.)

   "Nurse Redheart! Get the bandages, quickly!"

   "Yes, Doctor!"

   My eyes slowly opened. I was being carted down a white hallway, no idea where I was, or what I was doing there. Someone in a white coat flashed a light in my left eye. I was too groggy to really do anything about it.

   "Pupil's unresponsive, he's in shock from blood loss. I need more blankets and get an epinephrine injection ready in case he arrests!"

   I tried moving, but was wrapped up in blankets.

   "Wha...where?"

   "Argyle, it's Doctor Stable. You're in the hospital. You're going to be alright, just hang in there."

   I tried to focus on him, but my eyes would not listen, so I just smiled.

   "Doc? Heh, it's...good to hear you."

   "Same here. Do me a huge favor and try not to talk, alright?"

   "Su...sure."

   The room was getting dark again. My head felt suddenly hazy and clouded. My eyes fluttered, feeling like they were made of lead. Things started to feel cold.

   "Oh, no, he's arresting-"

   I blanked out as Doctor Stable yelled orders.

   I felt a chill hit my skin, then opened my eyes.

   I stood in a strange place, one side light, one side pitch, with a mixing of gray colours between. Things melded and appeared, fixed and free, fleeting and lingering. Silhouettes, shapes and objects went as fast as they came. Both sides had it, yet all passed through the gray colours.

   Feet scraped on the floor to my left.

   I turned and faced the black expanse. I found it strange that it felt familiar, like I knew and had seen that blot my whole life.

   "Veil shrouds validity."

   "Hello?" I could not see anything, but I felt whatever was hiding inside. It was sad, empty and disappointed. In what, I had no idea.

   "Yet none hear it scream, while worlds burn."

   "Why are you sad?"

   I held a hand out to the dark. "Can I help?"

   "Light bears not dark, yet dark only sees the light, why help?"

   My hand nearly touched the gray. "Because no one should be this sad, this broken."

   "Yet the seasons wax, suffering goes unseen by those blinded by light."

   My eyes watered. The pain worsened the closer my hand got to the black.

   It was unbearable. "Take my hand, please."

   "All is shrouded."

   A cold hand sheathed in darkness reached out of the blot, meeting and grasping my hand halfway through the gray. A wavelike distortion waked vertically when my hand contacted it.

   My mind was suddenly set upon and weighed down by tons in weight. My knees almost buckled. My shoulders felt heavy, so heavy. The pain tore at the edges of my being. I never thought such feelings were mortally possible.

   "Truth moves galaxies, shatters men at their mortal soul."

   I grimaced. "H-how...can you...live l-like this?"

   "Life is pain. Reason only gives incentive to persevere it, yet truth drives the passion."

   I did not fully understand. "Life...i-is happiness, calm, p-progress."

   "Privileges, not truth. For every smile, there are ten grimaces."

    My chest heaved. My body reacted to ease the pressure, the weight.

   Half of a Humanoid figure leaned out of the blot, also sheathed in black. I watched, withheld, as it opened its eyes. They glowed burning in crimson. All I saw was the leaning outline and the eyes.

   "Leecher of light, now shrouded in truth, ebb this dark to gray."

   Those eyes, worn, tired, sleepless, I felt like my heart was breaking. I wanted to end it, to make the anguish in them go away.

   "So. Much. P-pain."

   "Caged."

   Getting use to the torment, I hesitantly got up, then grimaced while tilting my head.

   "what? Is t-that your name, Caged?"

   "I am caged, yet the key remains...daunted."

   "You're trapped? How? What key?"

   "Growing still...in the bright."

   He let my hand go, then leaned back into the dark, taking the pain and sadness with him. "In due time."

   Recovering, I held my hand out again. "No, come back!"

   There was so much I wanted to ask and for reasons unclear to me I needed to help him, desperately had to.

   "Watch the wings."

   My hand stopped halfway through the gray.

   Something was stopping me. "Please, wait, what wings?"

   "The gusts tide over all, taking what cannot flee with it."

   I could only see his burning eyes through the dark. "Beware the throne, the cold Sun upon it."

   I shook my head. "Sun? Throne?"

   The place around me distorted, while fading away. The eyes slowly backed further into the dark, also fading.

   I reached out with both hands. "Wait, who are you?!"

   As the strange place faded away, light laughter echoed. "Caged."

   Groggy, I opened my eyes to a white room. I heard beeping to my right. My left arm was slightly cold in the inner elbow, even though it was wrapped up in a blanket. My vision returned a little.

   I lifted my head. The beeping was from a heart monitor to my left. The cold in my arm was a saline drip hydrating me through an IV. I wondered where I was at first. Thinking on it, I recalled Augeron and Canagan, the investigation and Pinkie.

   I survived somehow.

   I was in a hospital, alone in a single room. I lied in bed running that weird dream over again through my mind. I never had one like that before.

   What did he mean by Sun and throne? Hmmm.

   I looked at my left arm. It was wrapped in a bandage with a red streak running up it. Thinking on all of it, I just said one thing.

   "Thirsty."

   It felt like the goby desert had taken a vacation in my mouth. Typically for hospitals, I noticed a jug of water on a nearby table. I reached and grabbed it, then used the built in cup to pour a drink.

   After my sixth cup, nature called. I looked to my left and saw the bathroom door at least twenty steps away. I frowned.

   "Barefoot in a hospital bathroom?"

   I shrugged, thinking I would set myself on fire later. The main door opened and two familiar faces walked in.

   "Oh, hey, Boy'o!"

   Canagan waved. "Thank Saints, you had us worried for a minute there."

   I waved back. "Hey guys."

   "Yes, how are you feeling?" Augeron walked next to the foot of my bed.

   "I feel fine, a little tired and woozy, but fine."

   "Well, Saints."

   Canagan laughed while nudging Augeron. "Looks like you 'ave competition, eh? Now Argyle's the right beast!"

   He laughed. "A title well deserved."

   Doctor Stable with Nurse Redheart walked in through the open door.

   "Ah, you're awake."

  Stable smiled. "That is an excellent sign."

  "Hey, Doc."

  I smiled back, then looked at my arm. "Thanks for patching me up."

   "Of course, but you are quite fortunate to still be with us. Your heart almost stopped completely."

   Stable checked my chart. "Alright, time to change that bandage."

   Stable and Redheart gently took off the stained cloth. I got a good look at the long stich work holding the fresh wound together.

   Stable eyed my wound and smiled. "Well, looks like you will make a full recovery."

   "How long?"

   "Oh, five days should do it, if your condition continues this way."

   I nodded my head. "Sounds great."

   "Wonderful! Redheart will finish with your arm and I will return later."

   Redheart went to get another bandage while Doctor Stable returned to seeing other patients.

   Canagan pointed at my arm. "Phew, that's gonna be one heck of a scar."

   I looked again, then chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."

   It was a rather large cut. It trailed down almost my whole left bicep, in the left most meaty part.  

   Thinking about it, I looked at Augeron with his scar. It trailed down his right forehead, nose bridge, then ended on his left cheek.

   I gestured at Augeron. "Speaking of which, how did you get your scar?"

   Augeron crossed his eyes, looking at where the scar met his nose. "This?"

   I nodded.

   He went and sat down on a chair near the window.

   Canagan looked at his friend.  I could tell the air had a bit of tension when I ask that.

   Augeron seeing Canagan's expression waved his hoof. "Easy friend, I will tell him."

   I waved my hand. "Sorry, I didn't know it was touchy."

   "No, it is alright."

   He pointed at his scar. "I got this at the royal wedding."

   I heard about what happened there. The changelings attacked and almost won, were it not for Twilight and my other friends.

   I tilted my head. "You were at the wedding?"

   Augeron nodded. "Yes, an old friend of mine and I were fresh out of guard academy. It was our first year as full fledged guards. Funny, he was the only Pegasus in my unit. He should have been transferred to a Pegasus unit, but he refused. We were stationed near the Palace, all was quiet, then the changelings set upon the castle. It did not take long for the magical shield to fail, with Shining Armor being worn out from the wedding."

   "I heard about the attack. It sounded pretty bad."

   "Yes."

   Augeron leaned forward on his seat, then hung his head down.

   "His name was Highrise. I have known him since I was a filly. He did not make it when the changelings hit us."

   He sighed. "There were just so many of them."

   I frowned.

   Canagan put his hoof on Augeron's shoulder. "Aye, that was also the day I first met this beast. He fought off five of 'em buggers at once. It was inspiring."

  "What happened?"

   Augeron smiled briefly, then went blank.

   "A dozen rushed us through a hallway, cutting off Highrise, myself and two other guards in my unit. Soon it was down to me, Highrise and six changelings. Highrise got wounded before taking out the sixth one, leaving me to fight the other five. After barely dispatching them, more swarmed in. I thought it was all over until Canagan rushed in and helped. When it was over however, Highrise bled out in my hooves."

   He pointed at the scar. "I got this defending my friend to the bitter end."

   Canagan huffed, then sneered, "Changelings, nasty things they are. Their sharp mandibles tear light armor to shreds."

   "Canagan and I fought through to the rest of my unit, then under General Arco's rally we pushed the changelings back. We lost a lot of good colts that day."

   "And we've been thick as oatmeal ever since." Canagan smiled.

   I furrowed my brow at Augeron. "I'm sorry about your friend."

   He smiled. "It is alright. Everything that needed to be said was, before the end."

   Nodding, I wondered what happened to Pinkie, if I really did kill her. "What happened to Pinkie?"

   "The Pink one?"

   Canagan huffed, then frowned. "She's dead."

   "Yes. The others found her with a rather large burn hole where her neck bone was." Augeron stared at me, stricken with sadness, but I saw a hint of approval in his eyes.

   I just closed my eyes. Even though Pinkie tried to hurt me, she still was my friend. I still loved her dearly. It was strange how that worked.

   I rested my head on my hands, not wanting Canagan or Augeron to see me cry.

   Canagan put his hoof on my shoulder. "It's not your fault, Argyle."

   "Correct, she almost succeeded in killing you. Do not fret. I talked to the guard and it was written off as self defense."

   "Right."

   What happened in my dream about the Crystal Empire was just that, a dream. I had never killed anything before in real life. It felt contradicting.

   "As for the other families, I cannot imagine." Augeron grimaced.

   Nurse Redheart returned with fresh bandages. "Alright, let's get that arm dressed."

   Augeron got up. "I am glad you are alright."

   Canagan nodded. "Same here, Boy'o."

   Augeron smiled. "We have to go, but we will return later."

   I waved. "Bye guys."

   "Take it easy, Ladd."

   I wiped the water from my red eyes.

   Redheart seeing my appearance asked, "Does it still hurt?"

   I shook my head. "No, just life stuff."

   "Ah."

   She nodded. "Whatever it is, I hope it works out."

   I smiled. "Thank you."

   Redheart finished redressing my arm, then pointed at a cupboard. "I put all of your personal affects in there and lunch is in thirty minutes, so I'll be back with a tray."

   "Thank you."

   She smiled. "Certainly!"

   She walked out of my room while closing the door.

   After waiting ten seconds, I jumped into action.

   I finally figured out what Starswirl was talking about in his journal. The corruption, I did not know exactly what it was, but I figured it had something to do with the little girl. Anypony who was behaving strangely was a prime suspect of being corrupted. What happened with Pinkie proved it.

   I thought about Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Minuette. I would greave later. I needed to warn Luna about Celestia. The dream said beware the throne and the sun upon it. You cannot get anymore clear than that.

   I was still in my hospital robe, so I decided to go back to my room and get dressed. After taking one last drink of water and quickly answering nature's call, I grabbed all my personal affects then focused on a flashport. The room was still spinning a little, but I fought through it the best I could. I would vomit later.

   Focusing a picture in my mind, I fell through the hospital floor, then emerged in my room after a flash.

   While getting dressed, I winced while my left arm slowly ran through my long sleeved shirt. I had to protect it as much as possible. Once fully dressed, I grabbed my stuff and bolted out the door, then asked a Palace staff member what time it was. He said 7:47 PM.

   Something was off. The hallways were empty, not bustling with guards like normal. I walked to the library to see if Luna was in her nook and to check on Zaner. He was not there. I was getting rather worried. Zaner was always patrolling the hallways leading to the Starswirl wing. The gate was also locked tight.

   Whatever could have been going on was not good. I stood there thinking where else Luna could have been.

   "There, that's him."

   I eyed behind me and saw three guards approach.

   I waved. "Hello, do you kn-"

   "Come with us, quietly."

   I raised my eye brow. "Huh?"

   They began to encircle me, cutting off any chance of walking away by backing me into a wall.

   Something is definitely wrong.

   The guard to my left cleared his throat. "Argyle Orion, by order of the Empress, you are under arrest."  

   I almost laughed. "You're kidding, right?"

   They all stared holes through me.

   There're serious. What the hell?

   I crossed my arms, already planning out my escape roots. "Alright, what have I done?"

   The guard to my right answered. "Come with us."

   The guard in front of me added, "We don't want any trouble, just come with us."

   Wait, did I hear right? Did that one say Empress?

   I looked at the one to my left. "What did you mean by Empress?"

   "No questions. Come peacefully, or we drag you before her." The guard in front of me stepped forward, with the other two following.

   I was in little shape to fight. My left arm put me at a detrimental disadvantage. I smirked ever so slightly, seeing my escape root.

   I held my hands up. "Alright, I'll come peacefully."

   The guard in front of me snorted. "Smart choice."

   The guard to my left put a metal clasp around my hands then cast a rather advanced binding spell over it. I would have been impressed, if I had not already read about its counter spell.

   Even though I looked board, inside I was devilishly smiling.

   I looked at the guard in front of me. "Yes, it was."

   He just looked at the guard to my right.

   "Alright, that'll hold him." The guard to my left tugged on a chain surrounded in yellow magic.

   I moved with my unassuming armoured escort, saving me the trouble of finding Luna by leading me to her instead. Whatever was happening, Luna had surely heard of it and I would be there the moment she confronted Celestia in the throne room.

   I shook my head while walking through the empty halls.

   Empress, huh? Well, I can't wait to hear what Luna has to say about this.

   Looking to my left down a hallway I was passing, I saw Zaner walking down it to my pleasant surprise. He saw me and stopped, a distraught look stricken upon his features.

   I waved to him, then felt a head butt me from behind, pushing me forwards.

   "Keep moving, no lollygagging."

   I laughed lightly.

   He's first.

   Zaner was gone after looking back. I wondered what he was up to.

   "Drat. Nothing tangible here."

   Luna had spent the last five hours looking around the Palace for any clue to the whereabouts of her sister's personal Butler.

   She searched his courters, his place of work, even asked her sister is she had seen or heard of Fernsworth. Of course, she had not. It was as if he disappeared.

   "Hmmm, this well dressed Butler may excel at covering his tracks, but he will need to return to Celestia's side eventually."

   Luna nodded in agreement. "Yes and I will be waiting."

   She was about to leave Fernsworth's room, when the corner of a fallen paper caught her eye. It was sandwiched behind a dresser. Her horn glowed and the paper floated to her. Fortunately, it contained a message.

   "Well, perhaps not as excellent as thought. What does it say?"

             Good. All is going as planned. When I return, the Human will be put where he can be watched and to keep my indigo pest distracted.

             Be sure Fernsworth to keep an eye on him when this phase of the plan is in act. Relay anything amiss as usual.

             Succeed in this and the corruption will burn under the Sun's eternal light.

             Strength and loyalty, agent of light.

   Luna dropped the letter. She felt like the breath was knocked out of her. It had to be lie, some sick trick or jest.

   "Luna, you knew-"

   "Don't say it! There could be another answer to this!"

   She hung her head down. "There has to be."

   "Your Majesty!"

   Luna shook her head, then turned and saw Zaner running up to her, flustered and panting.

   Seeing Zaner that way worried Luna a little. "Hark, Zaner, what have you?"

   Zaner stopped hooves away, panting. "I...I found Argyle, Ma'am. He...he was arrested by the guard! They're taking him to the throne room!"

   Luna did not expect that. "What?! Are you certain he was not just walking with them?"

   Zaner shook his head. "No, Ma'am. He was shackled and I heard his left arm was injured today. He was even hospitalized over it."

   Nightmare Moon sighed. "Seems we have been too immersed in our little scavenger hunt."

   Luna's eyes widened. "How, who did this?"

   Zaner tilted his head. "The Ponyville Collector captured him, Ma'am. Have you not heard?"

   "Yes, Luna. Have you not heard?"

   Luna furrowed her brow. "The source of the disappearances? Who is this Ponyville Collector?"

   "Word from the guard says her name was Pinkamena Diane Pie."

   Luna gasped.  "What!? One of the Elements of Harmony was a murderer?! But, how can that be?"

   She stared at the floor, rattling inside her head for a plan. In one mere day, her entire world had turned upside down. All the rules were shattering right through her hooves.

   "First, we must save Argyle, then we confront Celestia."

   Luna gritted her teeth. Somepony had a lot of explaining to do and she knew just who to ask.

   She turned then trotted towards the throne room. "Come, Zaner. We are getting to the bottom of this."

   Zaner trotted alongside her. "Yes, Princess."

   I soon arrived at the throne room. Two guards stood at watch near the ornate doors.

   One of the three guards approached the door. "We have brought the Heretic to be judged. Open the doors."

   A shock of lightening went up my spine, knocking any amusement I was feeling to the dirt.

   Heretic?

   While the doors opened, thoughts raced in my mind.

   Why did he say that word?

   My eyes widened.

   Sun, throne, Empress, heretic, oh no.

   If I was right about my deduction, the fire beneath the frying pan would have been preferable to what was in motion. I stared into space when the throne room was clear. While walking into the room, my tomb, the beautiful goddess sat upon her throne smiling at me, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

   We're too late.

   If my hands were not bound I would have clapped. Celestia tilted her head, like she was figuring out why I was being brought to her. I thought that very coy of her.

   Surrounding me were guards and the usual high class snoots whispering among themselves while staring at me.

   Smile all you want, demon in white. My hand is yet played.

   Reaching the foot of the throne, I snickered. I was right where I wanted to be, yet Luna was nowhere to be found.

   Celestia's eyes bared down on me, seemingly sweet and kind, like Pinkie Pie. Somewhere inside lied a hunger, a beast, also like Pinkie Pie.

   "Ah, Argyle Orion, how has the investigation come along?" She smiled.

   "Pinkie Pie is no longer a threat, as you know."

   I stared back and smirked. "Empress."

   Something butted me at my side.

   "Watch your tone!"

   I looked at one of the three guards. "You know, I don't need my hands."

   After a few heartbeats, eyes widening, he backed off a good ten feet.

   That should buy me time.

   Celestia laughed. "Though I thank you for finding the killer, I cannot allow threats in my court, however slight."

   Careful now, just wait for Luna.

   Celestia tilted her head. "And what do you know of Empresses?"

   "Everything."

   I blankly stared back at her. "I know what you're planning."

   "Oh?"

   She raised her eye brow.

   "Do you now? Well, then you know why you are here. What you are accused of?"

   "Something I'm not guilty of."

   Celestia shook her head, then looked to the court.

   "Argyle Orion is accused of Heresy."

   Everyone in the room gasped.

   Celestia looked back to me. "Argyle, how do you plead?"

   "Does it matter?"

   She thought to herself, with hoof tapping her chin, then shrugged. "Not really."

   At least she's honest.

   I looked around. "What have you done with Luna?"

   Celestia shrugged. "Not a clue. I was hoping you would tell me."

   Good.

   I cleared my throat, then raised my voice for the court. "Then how is it, if you aren't a sole ruler, that you can claim me a criminal, without proof or probable cause?"

   Celestia looked surprised. "A sole ruler?"

   She laughed. "Now, Argyle, the Sun needs not rule when all exists under its light."

   "Then you admit to it?"

   "I admit the Sun needs no kingdom. We all bathe in its light, or shrivel and die. Otherwise, it is heresy."

   "Yet I stand unlit, valed in darkness. How can I be brandished a heretic to the Sun, when all I have known is shadow?"

   "I am the Sun. Have I not bathed you in my light? Here stands the Student of my sister Luna, who has once been corrupted herself. Now he stands a traitor."

   That situation was going south.

   My foot tapped lightly, wishing Luna would show soon. "A traitor to what exactly?"

   "My Solar Empire."

   Celestia got up, her smile gone.

   "You betrayed my trust."

   She walked down from her throne. Every guard she passed bowed before her. "I did wish dearly you would have seen things my way, in my illumination."

   I frowned. "Show me your proof."

   Celestia laughed. "Oh, very well. Why is it that a legendary creature shrouded in mystery happens upon Equinity just before this coming storm?"

   I just stared at her, as she circled me.

   "You were not the first. In Starswirl's time two Humans were found, one died, one lived. The rest of that history is lost to us. Why?"

   Has she read the journal?

   Celestia smiled while leaning closer. "How do you think that book got there, hmmm?"

   My eyes widened.

   Her horn glowed, then Starswirl's journal poofed out from empty space. She held it for the court to see.

   How did she- oh no, Twilight.

   "This is the journal of Starswirl the Bearded. He called it the Corruption. It eradicated our past after two Humans were seen."

   She pointed her hoof at me. "Coincidence? What of the Ponyville Collector? When in the last thousand years has a single murder happened? Two weeks this Human has walked the land, two weeks of tragedy."

   "That is hardly my fault." I glared at her, swearing that if she hurt Twilight there would be no forgiveness.

   "I never said you were doing it on purpose."

   Celestia went back to her throne then sat down. "Adding to the evidence from my Faithful Student, I must conclude that you have some tie to the corruption and must eliminate you as a possible threat in result."

   "Are you certain this is what you want? Think hard now. My people have made this same mistake."

   "Humans do not have their Sun. They live under it."

   Celestia waved her hoof. "As such, to protect Equinity, I am claiming this position as your Sun. Under my light this Solar Empire shall burn away the corruption and by doing such Equinity shall take its rightful place as the world power, the center of radiance!"

   The room roared with applause and cheering.

   "Sister!"

   The room died down.

   I grinned at Celestia.

   Just in time, now the game can truly start.

   Luna walked out of the crowd, distraught and angry.

   Celestia leaned back into her throne.

   "Ah, sister, I am so glad you could join us."

   She pointed at me. "We were just about to execute a heretic."

   Luna recoiled. "Argyle?!"

   She looked at me, then wide eyed to her sister. "Surely tis all a bad jest?!"

   "Still have yet to kill that archaic speech bug I see."

   Celestia laughed. "Yes, I mean your student, Argyle."

   Luna frowned.

   "I see."

   Her eyes glowed. "Student, it is time to break your bonds."

   "You got it." I cast the counter spell I had been saving.

   The metal clasp creaked, then cracked to pieces, freeing my hands.

   "Wha- get the heretic!" The guard to my left charged, with the two others behind.

   My left arm was stiff and hurt, but magic still flowed. Raising my right arm, a pressure blast knocked all three of them flying into the crowd.

   The throne room roared with cries and screams of terror, as the snoots scattered like cockroaches to the exit.

   "Monster!"

   "The Heretic is loose!"

   "Everypony for themselves!"

   "Save us, Empress!"

   "Save the children!"

   "Gaaahhhh!"

   I just stood there shaking my head at the hundreds fleeting away.

   Imbeciles.

   "Student, to the door!"

   Luna trotted up to me. "Haste!"

   "Do not let them escape!" A group of Palaces guards swarmed from the edges of the throne room and tried to surround us.

   I huffed. "Damn."

   Luna looked shocked. "What insolence? I am your Princess!"

   The guard with a nut allergy rolled his eyes. "No Princess of mine protects a heretic."

   The guard with a scarf shook his head disgusted. "I bet she corrupted him."

   The albino guard agreed. "Yeah, Argyle was a nice Human before she got to him!"

   The guard with an eye patch pointed his hoof at Luna. "She's the real traitor!"

   Luna's nostrils flared. "How dare you! There will be no mercy, fools!"

   My right hand lit up with lightening. "Alright, whose face gets cooked first?"

   The sassy guard pouted. "Why is it always the face?"

   The guard in green yelled, "Come on, let's get them!"

   "Yeah!"

   Grunting, Luna had quite enough. Nopony was going to harm her student.

   Her horn glowed and a bolt of dark energy arced and hit the floor. A brood of huge dark spiders swarmed at the charging guards, scaring half of them away, while the others yelled bucking and kicking the air to knock off the spiders crawling on their backs and through their manes.

   "Quickly!"

   Luna glared at me. "We have bought you time, leave!"

   "What about you?! I can't just leave you!"

   I waved my hand. "Come on!"

   "Nay, go on! We're right behind thee!"

   I looked back, the doors were open and two other guards charged in. It was my chance to get out. I raised my right hand, lightening arced and hit the guard on the right. He fell like a rock in mid stride, out cold.

   The other leaped at me before my stiff self could stop him.

   The guard was suddenly cast aside life a leaf in autumn and landed somewhere down the throne room.

   I looked and saw Luna glaring at me. "I said unto thee run! Go, I am right behind you!"

   "Argyle, over here!

   I saw Zaner waving his hoof near the doors. I ran to him, while Luna effortlessly gave the guards attempting to swarm around me flying lessons. I focused on the hallway outside the door and flashed passed two more guards blocking my path.

   I flashed back, running down the hallway. Zaner was keeping at my side.

   Zaner flashed ahead of me. "Follow me, Argyle!"

   He turned and I followed him to the library.

   After we finally reached the Iron gate, I bent over while holding my legs with my hands panting. "Phew, that was close."

   Zaner shook his head. "You're telling me, but we need to-"

   "Search the area! Find the heretic!"

   "Uh, oh."

   Zaner opened the Iron gate, then motioned at me. "Hurry, get inside!"

   I rushed in and the gate closed behind me.

   "Hey, you over there!"

   I hid away from the gate, so no one outside could see me.

   "Yeah? What's going on?"

   "There's a heretic on the loose. Have you seen a Human go through here?"

   "A stinking Human? No, I would've reported it otherwise."

   "Alright, see that you do if he shows up. Let's ride!"

   I heard hooves thunder down the hallway.

   "I hope you find and gut that freak!"

   Damn, Zaner's awesome.

   After a few seconds, Zaner got up to the gate then whispered to me. "Argyle, you need to go. I can't let you out. This place is crawling."

   I went up to the gate. "What about you?"

   He waved his hoof. "Pifff, don't worry about me and I'll be sure to let Luna know you're safe."

   "Thank you, Zaner. You're a good friend."

   He grinned. "Later, Argyle."

   I chuckled. "Later, Zaner."

   I focused on a far away place I could go to, somewhere I had not been to in a while. I saw stone, moss, distant trees. I smelled fresh air on the breeze. The floor fell beneath me and I flashed into a thought, not a picture.