Chapter 2: The Messenger

Rainbow Dash was worried, to say the very least. As much as she had been brave at Canterlot, she and her friends had just been thrown into the deep end. Sweating, she shook her rainbow coloured mane, and looked at Shaded Comet. He was calmly strapping on his armour, looking as if he didn't even notice the changlings. This worried her even more.

Gulping, she then looked towards her friends. Rarity was still out cold from shock and Fluttershy was shaking with fear, attempting to hide behind her pink hair. Applejack was just like normal, staring out of the window. Pinkie was nowhere to be seen.

She is probably just being Pinkie. Rainbow thought. She then looked for Twilight. She was looking at Shaded. "Twilight? What's wrong?" Twilight turned her gaze to Rainbow Dash, clearly thinking. "Nothing is wrong, Dash. I'm just thinking about somepony..." Rainbow looked at her, clearly wanting to know more.

"Who is it, Twilight?" Rarity was up, and she seemed to have heard everything. Twilight motioned towards them, signalling them to come closer. They did, and she pulled them in closer.

"It's Shaded! How can he be so calm?" She whispered, clearly confused. Rarity covered her mouth with her hoof, muffling a laugh. "Darling, all colts are like this. He is actually scared. He's just putting on a brave face."

Rarity couldn't have been more correct. Shaded was actually in the middle of a mental maelstrom of thoughts and fears. Trying to keep his face set in stone, he finished putting on the rest of his armour.

One thought seemed to find his brain, and forcefully entered it. I swear. I swear on my blood, my heart and everything of any value in myself, that no harm will become of you or your friends, Rainbow Dash.

Shaking his mane, he caught Rainbow staring at him again. Studying her, she looked really worried. This wasn't like her, he noticed. She was actually acting like a filly for once, rather than a colt.

His eye twitched. NO!Not again! He couldn't help himself. He winked at her again. CELESTIA DAMN IT! He screamed at himself inwardly. Trying to avoid her eyes, he looked out the window again. A streak of black appeared in the corner of his eye. A Changling had spotted them, and was going into a dive.

For Shaded, everything slowed down in time. He had no time to lose. He ran at Rainbow Dash and her friends, tackling them to the floor as the Changling dove at the window, blasting a hole at where they previously were.

The train rocked with the impact, slipping on the tracks, metal screeching against metal. There was an audible groan as the train's wheels bent under the pressure, snapping on the axle. Veering wildly on the tracks, the carriage began to flip.

Rainbow Dash felt the carriage move of it's own accord underneath her. Shaded had just tackled them to the ground, saving their lives. But now the train was straining under the attack, beginning to roll.

She grabbed Rarity as Fluttershy picked up Twilight. Together they lifted them out of the now rolling carriage, and landed next to the tracks. Neither of them seemed to be hurt. Pinkie was beside them, breaking the rules of reality again.

Straining to look, she couldn't see Shaded or Twilight. In the distance, the train had stopped rolling and was skidding along the ground on it's side. She put the white unicorn she was carrying down, and flew to the wreckage, tears forming in her eyes.

What if they didn't make it? What then? Pushing the thoughts aside, she looked around the area for any sign of Twilight or Shaded. There was plenty After about a minute, she heard a feminine groan from a group of bushes. She pulled Twilight out, landed and checked for Shaded. Not seeing him, she began to cry.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight stood over her. She knew what was wrong, but couldn't bring herself to ask, or tell her about Shaded Comet.

Shaded had attempted to fly her out of the carriage after making sure that the others were already out. It was obvious that he was now scared as his eyes gave everything away. After picking her up, they escaped to the outside of the train.

He was quickly hit by a Changling, knocking him back into the carriage. He dropped Twilight in a bush as he was attacked, before being swarmed with a large amount of Changlings that charged into the train's wreckage, gnashing their teeth in anticipation.

And that's when Twilight fainted.

Rainbow Dash was dead inside. Shaded was dead. There was no way he could have got out in time. Her eyes were beginning to hurt from the tears, stinging as if they had been stung. But she couldn't stop crying.

Shaded had saved their lives, at the cost of his own. "He died a hero's death, Rainbow. That's what he would have wanted." Twilight sat down beside her, nuzzling her. At least he saved our lives. Thank you, Shaded Comet. She began to sob again.

She felt a hoof on her shoulder, and she looked up. It was a grey pegasus in blackened guards armour. "SHADED! YOU'RE ALIVE!" She tackled him in mid air, hugging him tightly.

Shaded winced and returned the hug, letting the cyan mare cry into his shoulder. He was definately relieved to see her alive, but still, why was she crying? He was hurt, but not that badly. That was an understatement. In truth, the pegasus was in a great deal of agony. "I thought you wer-were dead Shaded!" She sobbed into his shoulder. Ah, that explains it. He looked up, hearing wings.

There was blood red pegasus mare above them. She landed besides them, and shook her spiky black mane. Her eyes were a deep blue, and she studied them, clearly worried. "You okay? I saw the wreckage." Her eyes were now grey, with what seemed to be rainbow specks in the irises.

Wierd. Shaded thought to himself.

The pegasus removed her headphones, revealing two piercings in each ear. "Name's Rewire Stitch. I was flying overhead, and I saw the train flip." Rainbow shakily got to her hooves, and introduced herself. "Name's Rainbow Dash. Ponyville's weather manager and fastest flier."

Rewire shook her head in disbelief. "The Rainbow Dash? The winner of the most recent Cloudsdale Young Fliers Competition?" Rainbow nodded. "I'd like to race you soon." Rewire then looked at Shaded. "You are?" Rainbow introduced Shaded for her, saving him the awkwardness of the situation. "He's Shaded Comet, one of my weather co-managers."

Rewire Spark didn't fall for the lie. "Why's he wearing Royal Guard armour then? Is he a weather guard? Or did he find it in a cloud?" Her sarcasm made Shaded grind his teeth in anger, hurting him even more.

Twilight changed the subject. "Why did your eyes change colour?" Rewire looked at her. "My eyes reflect the mood I'm in and it's intensity. For instance, my eyes turn to a pink colour if I am annoyed, and the same shade as my coat if I am really angry." Twilight nodded, then motioned at her cutie mark. "What's your cutie mark?"

A pair of pink eyes gazed at her. " A chain scythe and a bass guitar." Twilight looked confused. Rewire sighed. "I like fighting and music." With that, the blood red mare began to hover. "Since you guys look alright, I'll see you around. If you need me, I'll be in Cloudsdale." She flew away towards Cloudsdale, putting her headphones back on.

Shaded couldn't actually hold himself up any longer. He collapsed to the ground, hearing his broken wing bones crunch. The group of mares didn't even see him fall. He was in too much agony to make a noise. His mouth was open in a silent scream. And then he blacked out in pain.

There was a dull throb in Shaded's head as he slowly opened his eyes. Everything around him was white. White walls, white beds, white equipment, Rainbow Dash, white- Wait a sec. Rainbow Dash? She was staring at him, relief in her magneta eyes. "Wakey wakey. You're lucky you weren't on a cloud this time."

Shaded sighed and rolled his eyes, humouring her. He tried to get up, and pure agony sprung up in his wings, forcing him back down onto the bed. "Heh... Shoulda warned you about that." Rainbow chuckled at him. "Doc! He's awake!" The doctor came in.

He was a green pegasus with a blue mane. His cutie mark was a red cross in front of a pair of white wings. "Good afternoon Miss Dash." He spoke with a clear and precise accent, with a moderately deep voice. "My friend, what you did was heroic to say the least. I congratulate you. Anyway, getting back on topic, you broke multiple bones in your wings, fractured your left foreleg and have a few new scars."

Shaded nodded at him, but then cocked his head to the side. How long?, He wondered. Rainbow answered him. "A week. You've been in a coma for a week." "You're in Canterlot." The doctor added.

Shaded closed his eyes, and tilted his head back. He heard everypony go silent, and Rainbow say "Princess Celestia." Shaded bit his lip. Oh no. He gulped and opened his eyes. Princess Celestia was in front of him, her pastel mane flowing as if there was a breeze. She looked serious. I need you to come with me, Sergeant. She said telepathically.

May I ask why? Shaded was stunned. That was the first time anypony had referred to him by rank in four years. I will explain on the way. Her horn touched his skin as she tilted her head down. I'm going to heal you. Her horn became enveloped with a yellow-white glow as she rearranged and fixed his broken bones.

Bones. And nothing else. She looked up, somewhat stunned at Shaded's reaction. Are you sure? She asked cautiously. Yes.

When she had finished, she turned to the doctor, who was in shock, and calmly announced that we were leaving immediately. "Sergeant Comet is coming with me, as will Miss Dash." Rainbow Dash's jaw practically hit the ground in astonishment. "Sergeant?" She asked, clearly confused at Shaded's title.

Shaded guiltily smiled at her.

Shaded, a Sergeant of the Royal Guard? She was actually quite sad, rather than confused. He might not even come back to Ponyville! Ever! She hid her thoughts away as she felt Celestia put a hoof on her, guiding her out of the hospital, Shaded following behind.

"I will explain later, Rainbow Dash." Celestia seemed disturbed. Rainbow heard it in her tone. "What's wrong Princess?" Celestia stopped in the street.

"The Changlings have sent an ambassador to deliver a warning. I know not of the content of this warning, but I have assembled Twilight and your friends, the Elements of Harmony, in the court."

It was Shaded's turn for his jaw to hit the floor in surprise. He looked at the Princess, and she answered. "Loyalty. She is the Element of Loyalty."

Rainbow giggled to herself. Nobody actually knew aside from her friends and the Princesses. "I'm going to teleport us to the court." Celestia's horn glowed again with the same colour of light. With a flash, they were in the court, beside Twilight and her friends.

Shaded listened closely as Rainbow whispered to the others, confusion on their faces. He was worried about her. Celestia noticed, and led him outside. "What's wrong Shaded? I thought you liked your rank. Or is it Miss Dash?" Shaded sighed, and replied. "I like her Princess Celestia. A lot. But I'm not sure if she feels the same..."

Celestia winced at the raspy, constricted voice that had just spoken. She looked around, wondering who had just spoke. "Princess? Are you alright?" Shaded was concerned now. And then he realised he hadn't spoken in about four years. She wouldn't recognise his voice.

She then looked down at Shaded, shocked. "Sorry Comet. I haven't heard you speak in a long time. You sound like a male version of Rainbow Dash." She apologised, chuckling slightly. Shaded smiled grimly. "We'll talk more at a later date." They walked back in.

"Let's see what this messenger has to say. Send it in." Celestia announced. "It?" Shaded whispered. "We don't know it's gender." She replied.

The doors opened, and the Changling walked in. It seemed scared. And in pain. The black monstrosity stood before the Princess, and began to speak in an insectiod, but male, voice.

"I come to deliver a warning." The Changling shuddered, as if in pain. "I am doing this of my own accord, not on the behalf of the Changlings, as I am no longer, strictly speaking, a member of the Changling populace." It motioned towards where the horn of a Changlin g should be, but wasn't.

"Why are you here?" Celestia asked the Changling, confusion evident in her voice.

"The city which you call Cloudsdale is about to be attacked." It repilied, still in pain. Celestia walked over to it, and her horn glowed. The Changling tried to run, but Shaded held him whilst Celestia healed it.

Shuddering in relief, the Changling smiled. "You will be given a room in the castle to stay until you feel better. We will continue this later." The Changling nodded, and was led out of the hall.

Twilight turned to Shaded. "Why was his horn missing?" Shaded in turn looked at Celestia. "It means that they are a disgrace to the Changling population. Those that survive the removal are cast out to starve to death without the aid of the community. The fact that he managed to find us is extraordinary."

He wasn't here on his own behalf. I think it's a trap, personally, of course. Celestia spoke into Shaded's mind. I agree. He replied. But this cannot be ignored. It's the perfect strategy. Celestia went outside, and motioned for Shaded to follow her.

When they were, Celestia spoke. "Why is it the perfect strategy?" Shaded replied, his face downcast. "Only those that can fly can land and live on clouds, therefore only pegusai can fight back this time. We need to heed this warning." His voice cracked, and immediately his face was contorted in pain.

"Why do you not let me heal your vocal chords?" Celestia asked, curious. Shaded Comet looked up. "It is a reminder of my stupidity that night. You know why." She nodded, and raised her head. "Bring Captain Armour here. We need to dispatch troops to Cloudsdale immediately."

A/N-

Thanks for the OC submissions! As you may see, I have just used one of them, and have "plans" (hehe) for the others.

OC used: Rewire Stitch

Created by: AllTheStuffILike

Please tell me what you think of this chapter, and if there is anything I can do to improve it.

P/S- If there are any spelling mistakes or missing letters, it may be me, or it may be my laptop. Either way, sorry.

-Jadazzle1994