Another short little upload for all you dear readers. Enjoy.
The night was still and quiet, cloudless and a dark moon shrouding the world in darkness. On a couple of clouds, the Shields slept as they did, huddled tightly together. But one was separate, twitching slightly from the dream…
It was asked of the Shields to kill when it was necessary. It was difficult to grip the concept of killing, even when there were those across the borders who had embraced the taking of another's life. The Shields took it amongst themselves to go a step further and be the better warriors. Only neutralize your opponent, kill only when it means your life.
The sun was getting ready to set on the border, the final rays cast over Griffindor and Equestria. The rouge group of Griffin's emerged from their hiding. They all wore tight grey clothing; the leader wore a black band over his forehead.
"Guards don't stand a chance," the leader said, looking over his flock of 25 Griffin's. "Soon Princess Celestia will learn that the Griffin's deserve this land that she walks upon and calls her own."
The flock had only just crossed into Equestria when a silver Unicorn suddenly seemed to appear before them. He was facing the, olive green eyes staring at each Griffin in turn.
"It is unwise to do what you plan."
"How do you know what we plan to do you filly!" the leader Griffin mocked.
The silver Unicorn shook his neon green mane. "I know a great many things, much more than than most could accomplish in a single lifetime. Do you not see that this action you take shall only lead to failure?"
"We will squash you like Parasprites! I don't know about you," the leader Griffin raised a sharpened claw, a steel casing around it. It make his claws look wickedly curved, as if the blades themselves hungered for blood. "But I have taken lives into my hands! I have ripped out the throats of monsters you would cry yourself to sleep sucking your mothers teets!" He spat in the face of the Unicorn.
"Leave now," a sudden seriousness entering the silky smooth voice. "Or suffer the consequences of noncompliance and a wish to do harm to Princess Celestia."
"What are you gonna do? Wave your hooves at me?"
"Nightmare, I've had enough of this. Your lead."
The leader prepared to swipe at the Unicorn, but a sudden shriek made him halt the attack. He looked back to see one of the Griffins had fallen. The rouge warriors front limbs were twisted horribly and cocked off to the side. Suddenly a warrior farther back seemed to be hauled into the the air a short distance before what looked like was hurled back to the earth.
The lead Griffin turned to the silver Unicorn, but he had disappeared. "Where are you?" he yelled
"The question should be who is attacking your flock," came the silky voice. It had a sinister overtone to it as another Griffin had its body used as a battering ram to three others, knocking all out cold.
"His name, is Nightmare. Your worst." The second bit was added like a juicy after thought, thinking that 'your worst nightmare' was a bit cliche. "His counterpart is Edgar, named after our dark poet. You know what they both like to do?" At this point, the Griffin felt fear creeping up his spine.
"They both like being nothing more than creepy thoughts in the darkest corners of your mind. VERY REAL thoughts."
As more screams from his flock filled the night, the leader felt helpless, and alone. His flock had circled around in an attempt to protect themselves, but they still fell around.
"We would have brought more, but Nightmare loves it when he has off of this fear to feed off of."
The Griffon spun around just in time to see a streak of black wallop another two of the flock and then disappear into the darkness.
"You see, as slow as his is, you still can't track him. Because much like a real nightmare, you can never see them.." A new voice entered the air. It was rough, low, cold, and dark.
"Until they are right behind you."
The Griffin spun to meet the attacker head on. "To me!" he cried. He wished he hadn't. A pair of bright blood red eyes looked him straight in his own. The Griffin felt an overwhelming sense of fear. He could see a long cloak and a set of teeth, grinning, but it barely registered compared to the eyes. Then it seemed, hell itself had opened up and grabbed them.
The battle was bloodless, and quick. "That was good work," Brains said. His black Shield cloak was short enough it revealed his legs, which stuck out like silver spires in the night.
"Too easy." Nightmare said roughly. Nightmare practically blended in with the night, which were now covered with his green goggles. No matter his speed, he would remain invisible to all as long as he wished it at night. Edgar flapped overhead, nodding in agreement. "They would kill simply for the sake of blood and life, not knowing what they have done," he finished rather eloquently. Brains was taken aback.
"Be thankful that this is the worst of our troubles. The princess much never come to danger."
"Princesses," Nightmare added. Brains nodded.
"We will kill you," came a weak voice. Nightmare and Brains rushed to the source of the feeble threat, a Griffin struggling to hold onto his consciousness. They stood over him, towering, intimidating. The Griffin was not deterred.
"One day, warriors will come and claim Equestria. It could be us, or it won't. But one day your pathetic kingdom will end. They will come, rape your mares and fillies, slaughter the colts and stallions."
"Not today," Brains said. He turned and left the Griffin to his fate. However, Nightmare didn't turn away. He motioned for the black Pegasus to follow, but Nightmare was rooted.
"It will happen; there will be nothing you can to do stop it." The Griffin coughed weakly, gaining strength. "Even you wont be strong enough to stop it. None of you will be strong enough. There's nothing you can..."
The kick came so hard and fast Brains didn't even register it until his own brain had comprehended the fact that Nightmare had kicked the Griffin with all of his strength. The little pieces were probably in orbit by now. Brains said nothing, just let his friend deal with his one and only fear.
"That day may come," Nightmare said quietly and darkly. "But Celestia help me if that day come while I am alive." He turned and strode up to his partner. Silence fell between the two.
"Gonna report me?" Nightmare asked.
"You are my squad leader. As such I only report what is necessary. Threat neutralized."
"Thank you friend."
"Just don't let that cold day in hell fall because you think too much into this and don't do what is needed in the future." Brains said. Nightmare didn't know it, but Brains was many years his younger. The silver Unicorn felt he was looking at an older brother, tormented with his own internal demons. He felt a single tear drip down. He couldn't loose Nightmare. As his leader, his buddy, his brother, he refused to let him fall because Nightmare was terrified of what his own strength could cause. Brains had never say it, but his body language told him differently.
"Do not worry yourself," Nightmare said calmly. The roughness remained, but somehow in this semi-peaceful moment, it was comforting. "It'll be a cold day in hell if I watch my home fall." Nightmare smiled at the Unicorn. The two walked into the darkness, heading home, each in their own thoughts.
Stronghoof awoke to the night still in full swing. His body somehow got tangled in the wisps of his cloud, a good couple feet from his compatriots. Which was odd, considering all Shields were very close when they slept, regardless of what sex you were. Stronghoof unwound himself and hung over the edge of the cloud. The ground seemed so peaceful compared to the turbulence of his mind.
"It'll be a cold day in hell if I fall in love," John thought out loud, finishing up the thoughts of the dream. Though that had actually happened. At the end of that battle, that was exactly what he thought. He never figured him for a Pegasus who would find someone. Much less be pegged by Princess Celestia as one who could fall in love.
"Is it love?" John asked himself. He could swear that every time he shut his eyes he was seeing Dash.
"I should talk to her," John said. "We had only talked about simple feelings." The black cloaked Pegasus thought for a moment. "Yes, this is most certainly different. I need to talk to her… But how?" He felt his head droop down.
"Well, I guess I could talk to her at the party in a couple days. Or is that too long to wait? No, no, has to be soon, you've been here less than a week and you're talking love? What is this some action romance novel?"
Little did John know, for all his hearing, he never heard Brains stifle a laugh as the Unicorn; having used his magic to keep him on the cloud, he was listening in on John's monologue.
Another think John didn't know; Rainbow Dash was also staring out into the night.
"Always thought it would be one of the Wonderbolts," she said reluctantly. "Oh, not like that," Dash thought out loud. "He's just not what I figured I'd end up falling for. Don't get me wrong, he's a good guy. If he wasn't there were plenty of times he could have hurt me."
It pained her, but the kiss that other Pegasus had given John had made her wonder who she was. She felt so conflicted in her heart and mind she didn't even know what to do. She walked through her empty house, wishing for his calming presence.
She made her way to the living room, and over to the couch where he had slept. It still smelled like him. Dash mentally kicked herself when she caught herself wanting to just stand there and smell the remainder of his visit. She felt tears welling up as her conflicting emotions waged war.
Dash slowly got up on the couch and curled up where John had slept the night before. She closed her eyes, and eventually fell into an uneasy sleep. It had seemed like only moments later she awoke to the sound of rocks hitting her windows. Tiredly she slunk off of the couch to the door. Little pebbles sailed from over the edge of her cloud home. Looking over the edge, the source of the disturbance was found. Scootaloo was bouncing on a trampoline, propelling her into the air much higher than the young orange Pegasus could get. Slingshot in hand, she shot the little pebbles at her home.
"What in the wide world of Equestria are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying on down to meet the crusaders.
Scootaloo was positively beaming at her hero's arrival. The other two, despite smiling faces looked slightly concerned. "We came to see how you were!" the Pegasus said.
"Come on, I'll show you how I am," Rainbow Dash said, trying not to sound gloomy. Scootaloo didn't notice, but Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom looked at each other silently, hoping they weren't to late.