Captain Barehoof examined the scene before him.

One of his Royal Guards lay dead in a pool of blood.

Captain Barehoof was the leader of the Princess's Royal Guard. He was a white Pegasus, and being the commander of the Guard, wore a special suit of armor. His armor was bright blue with a golden strip going along the side. The helmet had a red star on the front.

He looked over to his second in command, Lieutenant Brink. He was a grayish unicorn, the same kind of suit as Barehoof, but without the golden streak and star.

Captain Barehoof walked over to him, a blank stare on his face, "Do we know who did this?"

Lieutenant Brink turned to the Captain, "Maybe sir. This room belonged to a Pegasus named Cody Benson."

The Captain nodded, "And why would we suspect him?"

The Lieutenant waved his hoof over the bloody scene, "Cody is wanted on the account of assault on two Canterlot citizens. This leads us to believe he is the one responsible for this."

The Captain looked to the corner, where a white sheet was hanging, "What is behind that sheet Lieutenant?"

"Look." The Lieutenant said as he walked over to the sheet and pulled it down.

The Captain recoiled a bit at the sight. On the wall, written in blood, was the words, 'Your next Lance!'

The Captain looked at the Lieutenant, "Tell me, do you know what this means? As in, who is Lance and why he's next?"

The Lieutenant nodded, "We do sir, thanks to Princess Celestia. He is the one this Cody Benson is after."

"I see."

The Lieutenant walked up to the Captain and saluted, "What are our orders sir?"

Captain Barehoof turned to the Lieutenant, "Relay a message to the Princess, tell her we need to know what to do next."

"Yes sir." Said Lieutenant Brink as he turned for the door.

_________________________________________________________

I looked at Twilight, who was reading a book. "What'ca reading Twilight?"

Twilight looked up at me and smiled, "Oh nothing, just a book about parenting."

I chucked, "Again? That's the fifth time this week."

She just smiled and went back to reading.

I turned to Frederic, who was off in dream land. "And what are you doing?"

Frederic shook his head and came to his senses, "Just thinking about my date last night with the Princess." He said while smiling to him self.

"How was it?"

He clapped his hoofs together, "Great! We ate, talked, and best of all, sat on the side of the hill outside of town and watched the moon rise and fall."

"Rise and fall? Was you out there all night?"

He smirked, "Sure was."

"Doing what?"

"Talking, laughing, that sort of stuff."

I shrugged, "Sounds kinda fun."

"It was."

I turned to the bookshelf. Hmm what do I want to read? History, science, magic, flying, or what? To many choices.

Might as well learn more about Frederic. He's been here about five years! Shit must have happened between that time and here.

"Hey Frederic."

He looked up and was about to answer when there was a knock on the door.

Twilight looked up from her book, "Who could that be?"

I shrugged, "Beats me. I got it." I said as I made my way to the door.

Upon opening it, I was surprised to see a armored Pegasus and Unicorn standing there. Both Royal Guards but wore the symbols of high ranking members.

"Yes?" I asked in a forced happy voice.

Damn, what did I do? No, better question is, what has Greg done.

The Pegasus with the blue armor spoke first, "I am Captain Bare hoof, and this is Lieutenant Brink. We are here under the direct order of Princess Celestia herself to protect you. You are Lance, correct?"

Protect? "Yes, I'm Lance. But why would you need to protect me?"

Lieutenant Brink spook up, "The Pegasus Cody Benson as killed a Royal Guard while escaping his hospital room. He wrote the words, 'Your next Lance.' In the Royal Guards blood on the wall."

Wait, he's escaped! And killed a Royal Guard! Shit, I'm screwed. "What are you going to do about this?"

Captain Barehoof nodded behind him.

I looked past him to see at least ten Royal Guards standing in two lines.

"We are just here to Protect you while a bigger force searches for Cody." Said the Lieutenant.

Captain Barehoof looked past me to Twilight, "Miss Sparkle, do you know of a place outside of Ponyville that would be safer."

Twilight looked at him, "Safer? Isn't this place safe enough?"

He shook his head, "No. This is likely the first place Cody will look for Lance."

Twilight put a hoof to her chin, "Well, there is no place outside of Ponyville that would be safe, but there is a place in Ponyville that would be just as safe."

"Where?"

"The school house. There's no classes going on, so I think we can all go there till Cody is caught."

The two Royal Guards looked at each other. Then the Captain looked at her, "Is it defensible?"

Twilight smiled, "Yes, plenty of rooms. Also a small tower on top to keep watch."

The Captain nodded, "Great, lets move out."

I looked at Frederic, "Come on lover boy, lets go to school."

Frederic looked at me and laughed, "I thought I was out of school when I turned twenty?"

I smiled, "Guess not."

_________________________________________________________

Cody sat watching the library and the Royal Guards outside.

Two of them walked forward and knocked on the door. It was soon answered by Lance.

The sight of Lance sent waves of anger and rage through Cody's body.

They talked for a few minutes, then all of them, even the Guards, left the library and started walking down the street.

Cody smirked, perfect. He looked up at the sky, the sun almost down.

Night would be here soon, and when night begins, the killing begins.

Cody smirked evilly as he looked down at the two weapons he had. A Royal Guard sword, very few of those, and a small cooking knife.

Cody twisted his head around, popping his neck. Oh how much fun it is going to be to spill all their blood.

_________________________________________________________

Captain Barehoof looked at the civilians in front of him. All seated in the small desk.

They was at the school house. The night sky above them making everything loom and creep.

He had put six Royal Guards out side, in groups of two, to patrol the grounds. There's one in the tower, one by the door to this room and two walking around the rest of the school, keeping guard of each room.

Lieutenant Brink was by the window looking out at the grounds.

He had all his Guards armed with the standard issue curved swords. The sklash's as they were called by the Guard.

He looked back to the two civilians, and at the Royal Blacksmith, "We may be here all night. Is that okay with all of you?"

Lance looked up from a book he was reading and smirked, "Oh yeah, I could stay here all night." Heavy sarcasm was in his voice.

Captain Barehoof shook his head and turned to the window. It was going to be a long night.

_________________________________________________________

Lieutenant Brink sighed. Why did they have to stay here, of all places?

He would rather be back home, with his beautiful wife and filly. Tomorrow was his daughters ninth birthday, and he couldn't miss that. If he did, she would be devastated.

He shook his head. He was not going to miss that, not this time. He loved her to much to put her through that.

His horn glowed and he pulled a picture out of his breast plate. A picture of his wife and daughter.

A small smile crept onto his face at seeing their happy expressions.

A loud knocking sound came from outside the room. At the front door that lead outside.

Captain Barehoof looked at him, "Lieutenant, go see what it is. Probably one of the patrols."

Lieutenant Brink nodded and left the room. As he neared the door that lead out side, he started to sense something. Something felt off.

When he opened the door, he jumped back in horror and let out a small yell.

Because, right outside the door was the six Royal Guards, all missing their heads.

He shook his head and pulled the door shut.

"Captain!" He yelled as he ran back to the room where everypony was. "Captain, their all dead! All dead!"

The Captain looked at him in shock, "Who's all dead?"

"The Royal Guards who was sent outside. Their all dead!"

The Captain walked over to him and shook his shoulders, "Get a hold of yourself!"

Lieutenant Brink took a deep breath and exhaled, "Sorry sir. Its just... I've never seen death like that."

The Captain nodded, "I know Lieutenant, none of us have. This is all new to us."

Frederic walked up, startled at the news, "Dead? That can't be. Who can take on six Royal Guards, all armed with weapons I made, and live?!"

The Captain shook his head, "I don't know." He looked Frederic over, "You do have that ruin with you, right?"

Frederic nodded, "Never leave the workshop without it."

The Captain nodded once, "Good, use it. You'll need the protection it looks like."

Frederic nodded and his horn glowed. A bright light surround his body and burst outward.

When the light faded, he stood there, completely different. A steel colored suit of armor covered his body, his full body, not like the Royal Guards armor that only covered some. There was also two swords by his sides, each one of the sheaths had the name 'Sanger' and 'Yolosh' carved into them.

It was strange why he would name his swords, but nopony asked questions.

The Captain nodded, "Stay here and protect those two." He then looked to the Royal Guard standing by the door, "Sergeant Romper, go get Private Daily and bring him down here. We need to all stay together."

The Sergeant nodded and left the room.

Captain turned to the Lieutenant, "We're in trouble now."

The Lieutenant nodded, "I agree sir."

_______________________________________________________

Sergeant Romper walked up the sprawling stairs that lead to the small tower.

He sighed, "Why me? I didn't sign up to fillysit the low ranking members."

When he was near the top he yelled, "Private Daily, come down to the main part of the school. We're regrouping."

No response came from the Private.

Sergeant Romper sight, stupid colt must be asleep or something.

He walked up the remaining stairs, ready to give the Private a piece of his mind.

But, when he reached the top of the stairs, he was meet with a horrifying sight.

The Private was stuck to the wall, his own sword sticking out of his chest. His face was carved to make him look like he was smiling. A sight that sent chills down Sergeant Romper back.

He must tell the others.

Sergeant Romper turned to go back down the stairs, but stopped. A Pegasus sat on the edge of the towers window, a smile on his face.

"Nice to meet you." He said as he swung a blade at the Sergeant.

_________________________________________________________

Corporal Blitz turned to the sound of something falling above.

He turned to his partner, Corporal Link, "What was that?"

Corporal Link shrugged, "I don't know. Should I go check it out?"

Corporal Blitz nodded, "Yes. I'll come up behind you."

They made their way to the stairs that lead to the tower. Corporal Link went up first, followed by Corporal Blitz.

When they reached the top, Corporal Link peeped his head in the room.

A loud slicing sound was heard.

Corporal Blitz looked at his partner, "What is it?"

As he said those words, the body of Corporal Link slumped back, his head cut down the middle.

Corporal Blitz screamed in horror and turned to run down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, there was a sharp pain in his back. But he kept going, all the way back to the main room.

_________________________________________________________

Lieutenant Brink looked to the door. What was that scream?

Seconds later, the door burst open and there stood a panting Royal Guard, Corporal Blitz.

The Captain walked forward, "What is it Corporal?"

The Corporal caught his breath, "Hes in the building. Everypony is dead, everypony!"

Everypony in the room recoiled in shock. All the Royal Guards are dead!

Lieutenant Brink looked at the Corporal's back, "Corporal, whats that on your back?"

The Corporal looked back and gasped, "Buck me!"

Upon looking closer, Lieutenant Brink could see that the object was a knife! Stuck deep into the back of the Corporal's neck bone.

The Corporal staggered back into the hall way, just now beginning to feel the pain of the blade in his skin. "Help me."

The Captain began to walk forward, but a green blur outside the door stopped him. The Corporal had a look of surprise on his face. His surprised face fell to the floor, followed by the rest of his body.

The mare named Twilight Sparkle screamed in horror at the sight and Lance began to throw up his dinner.

Lieutenant Brink winced at the sight and began to close the door with his magic.

But as it closed, the same green blur dashed in and slammed into the Lieutenant. Send him into the wall, pinned by the thing that had slammed into him.

When he looked down at his attacker, he knew who it was. Cody Benson. Cody had a amused smile on his face.

The Lieutenant winced from a pain in his chest. When he looked down at his chest, the full pain hit him.

Cody had a small knife jammed into Lieutenant Brink's chest, blood slowly seeping out of his breast plate.

"Good night." Cody said in a evil voice.

He stepped back and let Lieutenant Brink fall to the ground.

His last thoughts was of his family and how much he was going to miss.

_________________________________________________________

Frederic was shocked at the sudden attack from Cody, as was everypony else in the room. Everypony was to shocked to to move or think as they watched Cody kill the Lieutenant.

The Captain was the first to recover, "You bucking..."

The Captain stomped his hoof in anger and charged forwards, straight at Cody.

Cody laughed evilly and twisted around. He bucked the Captain in the face, a hit that sent the Captains helmet flying off, along with a few teeth.

The Captain hit the floor and slide. He than lay still, barely breathing.

Frederic lunged forward, while Cody was distracted and pulled out his two swords with his magic.

Cody turned back to face him, a look of surprise on his face.

Frederic plunged the first blade into the top of Cody's back and the second into his flank.

Cody screamed in pain and collapsed. Blood oozing out of his two wounds.

Frederic shook his head and brought both blades over Cody's head, ready to end all the killing.

"Stop Frederic!"

Frederic turned to the source of the scream to see Lance, a determined look on his face. "What Lance?"

Lance shook his head, "Don't do it."

Frederic's eyes widened, "Don't do it? But this will end all the killing. The killer will be dead, and everything can go back to normal."

Lance shook his head fast, "But then you would be a killer. If you truly want the killing to stop, then let him live. Let the Princess deal with him."

Twilight nodded, "The Princess will give him a fair trial."

Frederic squeezed his eyes shut, "No, he can't be allowed to live. He's a blood cold killer, nothing more."

Frederic felt a hoof on his armored shoulder, "Frederic, we left a world of killing behind. Do you really want to become a killer? Something of the old world that doesn't belong here."

He hung his head, Lance had a point.

"Just let the Princess deal with him. Twilight can send him there right now."

Frederic nodded, "Do it. I don't want to be like my father."

Lance nodded, understandably, "Thank you Frederic." He turned to Twilight, "Okay, you two transport to Canterlot. I'll stay here and... clean up this mess."

Twilight nodded, "Just leave them, the Princess will send a group to do it."

Lance nodded, "Alright. I'll round up the bodies I guess."

Twilight then walked over to Frederic, "Ready?"

He nodded, "Yeah."

With that, he, Twilight and Cody was transported to Canterlot and before the Princess herself.

_________________________________________________________

I sat back and sighed, all the bodies laid side by side in the main room.

The Captain was okay, the only surviving Royal Guard of tonight's events. He was unconscious on a make shift bed.

I put my face in my hoofs. I thought I left all this killing behind on earth, but its a plague. It follows humans where ever they go.

The killing will never stop. As long as a human remains alive in the world.

Next Chapter: Aftermath Estimated time remaining: 62 Hours, 58 Minutes