Chapter 21 D: Low profile
Several hours afterwards.
"Ok, I think we lost them." Twilight said, looking back into the everfree forest. "We should be heading West now."
Night Shadow leaned up against a large tree and dropped his bag to the ground.
"Twilight, at least tell me where we are going." Night Shadow said, sounding exhausted.
"I thought you knew." Twilight replied before sitting down on the grass.
"I grew up in the East until I had a mission to travel to what is now Equestria. I've never been out this far before." Night Shadow said, slowly sliding down to the ground. "So we're just wandering around until it happens then, just constantly running away until we're caught?"
"It's only been a day, Night Shadow. Give me time to take all of this in and think."
Night Shadow looked up into the night sky and let his mind drift, thinking about the mare that attacked him earlier.
"Who was that mare, the one that attacked me?" Night Shadow asked.
"Her name is Maneful, daughter of Sombra and a bearer of a diselement. She defended me and tried to help me stop Death Fire…I guess she must have snapped several years ago. I never saw her act like that."
"I swear I've seen her before…I just can't remember."
"You can't remember a lot of things." Twilight said with a smirk as she laid down and closed her eyes. "I bet you forgot what you did back in ponyville to."
"Oh yeah."
"Prove me wrong then." Twilight whispered.
Night Shadow laid down next to Twilight and closed his eyes as well.
"Alright, fine. When I reached the door of the abandoned building I decided to turn invisible and walk right back to where we were standing. I got on the roof and entered the ventilation system and then dropped into what I think was the mares room. So get this, instead of screaming she tried to stab me with a huge knife!"
Twilight chucked softly
"What did you do then?" She whispered.
"I shoved her down a toilet."
"...Is she ok?"
"Well, I don't know. I flushed it and she didn't go down so I got the plunger and unclogged the toilet. It was a big mess.
"What then."
"The moment I walked out of the bathroom, a stallion dished my hair, said it looked horrible on a mare. But right when I looked at him he hit the floor and apologized. Said something like, forgive me my king, I didn't know it was you or something like that. Do you know what that meant."
Twilight opened her eyes and looked at Night Shadow, noticing that he looked just like Death Fire except without the black coat and red hair. She closed her eyes again and sighed.
"I think you can figure it out." Twilight whispered.
"Anyways, after that weird thing, I realized it was a bar and at that point I knew two things."
"Which are?"
"There was bound to be a bar fight….and they had beer. I never had beer before and I wanted to have some so bad. I sat down next to these two big stallions and asked for a beer of my own. The moment I got it though, one of the stallions spat in my drink and then the other grabbed it and poured it all over me. I….I didn't even do anything to them…why were they so mean?" Night Shadow asked himself.
"Go on."
"They grabbed me and threw me outside, said they were going to show me a large snake or something. They also kept on calling me sweetie and honey and started to massage my legs and back….until one of them touched my horn. I have no idea what happened, but it set off some type of spell that turned them into pancakes. I couldn't just leave them like that, so I did what any normal stallion would do."
"Did you change them back."
"Nope, I ate them. They were so tasty to."
"You did what?!" Twilight asked in absolute shock, opening her eyes to look at him again.
"I ate them, what...did I do something bad?" Night Shadow asked.
"You ate two living beings, of course that's bad!" Twilight shouted before looking down at Night Shadow's stomach. "Are….are they in there now."
Night Shadow opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing his stomach to feel around.
"Yeah, along with the others."
"The others…." Twilight asked as her face turned white.
"Apparently my stomach was really hungry and I….well…."
Night Shadow blushed bright red and tapped his hooves together in nervousness.
"You ate everyone didn't you…" Twilight asked.
Night Shadow's ears folded in shame.
"I was hungry…."
"You can't just eat ponies, Night Shadow!"
"But they taste so good. Chocolate covered mare with sprinkles are the best."
"Spit them out now."
"But I can't."
"Why not!"
"My stomach doesn't want me to."
"You're literally letting you gut control you, now spit them out."
"But Twilight."
"Now."
"Twilight."
"I said now."
Night Shadow's lips quivered as his eyes watered.
"Pwease….let me keep them. They're so tasty."
"No, for the last time no. It's wrong."
"Well you know what….Naghh!" Night Shadow said as he stuck his tongue out, dashing away from Twilight.
"COME BACK HERE!"
Maneful stood outside of Twilight's abandoned home as soldiers inspected the area. As she looked up, she could see at least ten gunships and transport ships flying in the area. Many of which landed and released troops to quarantine the town as all the citizens of ponyville came out to watch. Seconds later, another drop ship emerged and landed before the corrupted mare, opening the boarding ramp to release Ammisive and his Shadowbolts.
"For the fastest in the world, you sure took your sweet time." Maneful commented.
"Oh I'm sorry, I was only fending off an Alicorn."
"Did you at least restrain the traitor."
"What do you think."
"Good, at least with him in prison we can-
"Maneful….I didn't catch him….he got away." Ammisive said in shame.
"Oh…well I'm sure Death Fire will punish you appropriately for such a failure."
"I don't need punishment, I need questions answered. Why were you in the area and where did the two subjects escape to?"
"I came here because I was called to investigate by security. By the time I found the red pony at the bar he had already disposed of it's occupants. After a brief chase, they teleported, we're tracking their magic essence as we speak."
"Care to explain how that works again?"
"How many times must I explain a simple concept to your dull skull." Maneful asked before teleporting next to him. "Teleporting is just as it sounds. A portal is opened and they transport from one place to another, leaving behind magic essence. We simply acquire that essence and track it down to it's exit point, which should be easy because that was a short range teleportation spell. Get it now."
"I will never understand how your magic crap works but thanks for trying."
"Figures….stallions have always been the inferior sex. They should only be used for mating."
"Ummmm, I'm right here you know."
"Your point being?"
"Maneful, I'm really sick of your feminine, superiority, supreme race nonsense. Just because Death Fire made you the leader of the secret police doesn't give you the right to push me around. I have command of the air force, you don't see me shoving it in your face!" Ammisive yelled with anger.
"It's cute how angry you can get over something so insignificant. Now, who was the one that pursued the runaway before being given the slip.
"That would be me, ma'am." Night Shade declared from the group.
"Finally, a mare that does more then just look pretty. What did they look like?"
"One mare, one stallion. Mare was a lavender color with I think a purple mane. Stallion was dark red with long black hair. Both unicorns."
"So we are after the same subjects then and not just a misconception. At least we are getting progress." Maneful commented.
"Death Fire personally sent me and my squad to retrieve them, if anyone is to get them I need to do it."
"Did he give names?"
"No, he just said they were important, nothing else.
"Then he is hiding something from us. If these two ponies are as important as Lord Fire makes them out to be, then there will be hired mercenaries and bounty hunters on the hunt by tomorrow."
"So that means?"
"There will be a reward…and I want it." Maneful said with an evil expression.
"It's my job, I should get the reward!"
"You failed the first time, now it's my turn."
"It's still my job!"
As the two argued another ship landed, releasing three stallions as they walked towards Ammisive and Maneful.
"So…I heard there's going to be a bounty." Castigate said with a smirk.
"It's too bad we heard the conversation over the comlink, otherwise we would have missed the fun." Stritin added.
"Ammisive, you idiot, why didn't you turn that thing off!" Maneful yelled.
"How was I suppose to know they were coming here! And why the heck are you guys here anyways?!"
"The moment you left I knew something interesting was happening, so I just followed you. Stritin asked to tag along and we'll Eccentric…he's Eccentric…seriously no pun intended." Castigate said.
"But now that money is involved I'm all in." Stritin declared.
"Wait, Eccentric….it's he a bounty hunter?" Maneful asked.
The four ponies turned just in time to see Eccentric mount a speed bike and take off into the forest, leaving them behind.
"AFTER THAT STALLION!"
"AFTER THAT STALLION!"
"AFTER THAT STALLION!"
"AFTER THAT STALLION!"
"Was that all of them?" Twilight asked.
"Yep, all twenty-six of them." Night Shadow said, looking at all the unconscious ponies around him.
Twilight causally jabbed Night Shadow in the gut, forcing a gum ball to fly out of his mouth.
"You're mean." Night Shadow said as he watched Twilight turn the gumball back into a pony.
"They should wake up soon. For now we need to find a place to stay, I'm tired from all that running."
"I don't blame you, we haven't slept since we escaped the castle."
"There should be a town nearby we could stay in. We could also get food and water while we are at it."
"You sure that's a good idea. News might have spread to all of Equestria by now."
"Just keep a low profile and we will be fine." Twilight reinsured.
"This is going to end badly, I just know it." Night Shadow said, mumbling to himself.
The town was small and unprotected, no guards. Perhaps things would be different….or maybe I just jinxed it.
"Why do we bring him along." Night Shadow asked.
Hey…I just tell it how it is.
"Night Shadow, who are you talking to?" Twilight asked in confusion.
"No one…no one important."
Nice to see I'm appreciated here. Anyways, as the two ponies explored the city, they came across a decent looking motel.
"look, they even have an all you can eat breakfast." Twilight pointed out.
"...can I have it now?"
Twilight smiled as she walked into the building along with the curious stallion. Once inside, they noticed that there was absolutely nobody there. No body behind the counter, no one in the lobby, it was as if it was abandoned. Night Shadow walked right up the counter and looked around, seeing no one.
"Hey, is anyone home?" Night Shadow called out. "I want my breakfast."
"Maybe they are on break." Twilight said as she looked around more.
"This was a mistake, we should just leave."
Before they could leave, a small stallion appeared from under the counter and put a sigh up that said open.
"Welcome, how can I screw up your vacation?" The stallion asked.
"We're not on vacation, we just need a room for the night so we can leave in the morning." Night Shadow said.
"Oh, secret lovers wanting to escape together, how sweet."
"No…we just need a quiet room for the night, is that to much to ask."
"I get it. You want to be alone with your little marefriend so you can, 'get to know her better.' Don't you worry, the beds can withstand a lot of punishment."
"Hey, I don't like him like that, we're just friends." Twilight said.
"Twilight, that has nothing to do with our conversation." Night Shadow stated.
"Yes it does, he thinks you want to…." Twilight said, blushing.
"Want to what?" Night Shadow asked.
"You know…wink, wink."
Night Shadow was confused.
"What are you talking about."
Now Twilight was confused.
'He is either really innocent and oblivious or just completely stupid.' Twilight thought. 'probably both.'
"Whatever, I'll just set you on your way….for five hundred bits." The stallion said.
"Five hundred bits?!" Twilight screamed out. "For both of us?!"
"Of course not, that would be ridiculous." The stallion said, leaning back in a chair. "Five hundred bits for each of you."
"WHAT?! That's a thousand bits, we don't have that kind of money!" Twilight said.
"Inflammation has gone up again and we have to make money somehow. However you get the money is not my problem." The stallion said. "So take it or leave it."
"Wait, you don't care how we get the money?" Night Shadow asked.
"Nope, not at all. You can steal it for all I care."
"Alright, but you asked for it."
Night Shadow abruptly took out a laser pistol and shot the stallion right in the shoulder.
"YOU….YOU #&( #$ SHOT ME!" The stallion screamed.
"I can do more than that." Night Shadow said, hopping over the counter and pointing the gun at the stallions head. "Now, where's my breakfast."
"Night Shadow, what are you doing?!" Twilight screamed.
"He said he didn't care, why are you screaming?" Night Shadow asked, bashing open the cash register.
"You can't just shoot people whenever you feel like it. We're suppose to be the good guys."
"You might be cute when you are confused, you are really annoying when you're constantly nagging. Let me handle this."
"So you just want me to sit here, keep quiet, and watch you kill him?"
"Well, when you put it that way…..yes….well, except for the whole killing part."
"Look, I'll do what you want, just don't hurt me again." The stallion pleaded.
"Now we're getting somewhere." Night Shadow stated. "Alright, here's my offer. I'm going to grab all of the keys to the motel, that will prevent anyone from finding us easily. You will keep the motel open and return to your home for the night. But wait, there's more. If you press that red button under the table or tell anyone what happened here, I will personally come find you, turn you into a potato, and cook you in a soup. Is that clear?"
The stallion nodded in fear.
"Good, and you won't be needing this either."
Night Shadow grabbed the bits from the register and placed them into his bag. He also grabbed the shotgun taped under the table and removed the shells before breaking it in two. He then grabbed a plant from his bag and dropped it on the stallion.
"Is this a joke?" The stallion asked.
"It's called Yarrow, use it to stop the bleeding. Now get out of here."
"I'm really sorry about this." Twilight said.
The stallion gave her a glare before slowly getting up and walked out of the motel.
"You still didn't have to shoot him."
"We have a room, be happy." Night Shadow said, walking to another hallways. "Where's my breakfast?"
Twilight sighed as she placed her hoof over her face and rubbed her head.
"For some reason, I just can't stay mad at him." Twilight whispered as she followed him down the hall.
"Here's our room." Night Shadow said, looking at the door.
"At least now we can get some sleep."
Night Shadow fumbled around with all the keys, trying them get at least on to fit the lock. After the twentieth try, he started to swallow every key that didn't work, making Twilight's eye twitch as she watched. Not long afterwards, he found the right key and opened the door.
"Finally! It took long enough."
"You…just ate every single key…" Twilight said in shock.
"I was always told I needed more iron in my diet. Just fixed it."
"I'm not even going to say it."
They both walked in and noticed that there was a t.v, a fridge, couch, bathroom, shower, and sink. Practically perfect until they saw the bed was only big for one pony.
"Why is the bed so small?" Night Shadow asked.
"Well…it isn't all bad." Twilight said with a blush. "We could always sleep in the same-
"I CALL THE COUCH!" Night Shadow proclaimed, diving into it like a pool.
"Why am I not surprised."
Twilight calmly walked to the bed and dropped onto it like a lifeless doll, to exhausted to take another step. She looked at the digital clock on the table next to her, reading two a.m.
"We should leave around eight, there's no point in staying longer. So that means we should wake up at seven sharp. How does that sound?"
Twilight looked over to Night Shadow who had already formed a snot bubble in his nose, softly snoring the thought of food. Twilight couldn't help but smile as she removed a blanket and pillow from her bed with magic and wrapped it around the stallion slowly, placing the pillow gently under his head. With that done, she turned off the light and laid her head down, covering herself with warmth.
"Goodnight…Night Shadow." She whispered as she dazed off to sleep.
Twilight awoke in her bed, having surprisingly slept well with no nightmares or dreams that she could recall. She looked to the clock, noticing it had just stroke seven. She was right on schedule.
"Night Shadow, wake up, we need to get our things together." She said, getting up from the bed and stretching.
Night Shadow simply moaned softly as he shifted positions. Twilight casually walked over to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder, shaking him softly.
"Night Shadow, come on. You need to get up."
The stallion simply snored louder.
"Fine, I'm going to shower. When I come out I expect you to be up."
The lavender mare walked to bathroom and shut the door. She turned the water on and waited for it to heat up.
"I haven't slept that good in almost a year, not to mention bathed. Maybe that's why Night Shadow stayed away from me last night…or he's just being courteous….nah."
Twilight hopped into the shower and let the water run down her mane and fur. As she washed herself, she couldn't help but wonder to herself.
'It's only been a day and yet I have so many mixed feelings for Night Shadow. Not like the fuzzy kind, but rather…how could I put it into words? What is it about him that makes me feel so safe, so secure…almost like I was around my dad or Celestia. Could I be in love? No, the books I read stated I would know if it was love…or were they wrong.'
Twilight continued to think about this, only creating more questions then answers. It wasn't long before she turned off the shower and dried off with a towel.
"Alright Night Shadow, your turn." She said, stepping out of the bathroom.
It was then she discovered that Night Shadow had not only woken up, but that he had fallen right back to sleep on her bed. The annoyed mare walked over the bed and shook Night Shadow violenly.
"Wake up, we need to go!" She yelled.
Night Shadow made no movement or gave a response as he continued to snore. Twilight was about ready to flip the bed over until an idea came to mind.
"Night Shadow, breakfast is ready!"
"WHERE!" Night Shadow shouted, sitting up abruptly.
"In the bathroom, quick. I heard some ponies were going to eat all of it before you arrived."
"OH NO THEY DON'T!"
The moment Night Shadow ran into the bathroom Twilight locked the door and sealed it with magic.
"You tricked me!" Night Shadow yelled, bashing on the door.
"You are not coming out until you shower!"
"But I want my breakfast!"
"You will get it as soon as you shower."
"Promise."
"Promise."
"Fine…."
Twilight sighed out of relief before looking at the clock.
"Don't take to long, we need to leave in forty minutes."
"Yeah, yeah."
Twilight walked back over to her bag and lightly tossed it onto the bed. She emptied out it's contents to make sure everything was in place. As she was doing so, she noticed the t.v and realised she had never seen one before of knew what it did. With curiosity, she walked over to it and pressed the button on it's side, instantly turning it on.
"What is this thing?" She asked herself.
It was set to the news channel by default, showing live, moving pictures of ponies talking to one another as they discussed events.
"I've been gone for a long time, haven't I?"
Twilight went back to inspecting her bag, listening to the ponies talk in the background.
"And the kittens were never heard from again." The mare on the screen said with false sadness. "In other news, the war continues to rage on in both northern and eastern fronts with no end in sight. However, our fearless leader has informed us that there is nothing to be worried about and that the war should come to a close within the next year."
Twilight's ears perked up at the sound of the news.
"Now this sounds interesting." She said as she looked towards the t.v.
"Rumors claim that our lord is working on a new weapon that will finally end the deadly outbreak that we know as the Undead Supremacy, but how much longer is it going to be."
"Undead Supremacy? That must mean Desolent is still alive. It's scary to know he's fought Death Fire off for this long. He must be really powerful now." Twilight commented.
The t.v cut to Lightning Flash and Shining Armor.
"Why must you pester the king with your questions, he's working on it as fast as possible and protecting you ungrateful hides in the process. You should be thankful for his mercy." Flash yelled.
"We work hard to secure order and freedom in this blessed nation. Take his word for it and be patient, victory will be at hand." Shining added.
As they continued to talk, Twilight slowly walked over to the screen and placed her hoof on the picture of her brother.
"I'll save you one day, big brother, no matter how long it takes. I promise that." Twilight whispered as she removed her hoof.
The t.v then changed back to the news mare.
"And what of the Nightmare Dominion and their leader? What are we to do to stop them? Well, as stated before, we have nothing to fear so long as we have the support of our fellow allies and ponies. Remember who we are, Equestrians, for we are all one in the loving embrace of fire."
"Is this a joke?" Twilight asked. "You would have to be brainwashed to believe this….oh wait….nevermind….figures."
Twilight reached her hoof over to turn off the t.v
"This just in, be on the look out for two-"
Twilight turned off the t.v and looked back at the clock, noticing thirty minutes had passed.
"Night Shadow, get out of the shower, we have ten minutes before we leave!"
"No, i don't want to get out!" He yelled from inside.
"First you don't want to shower, now you don't want to leave?! What are you even doing in there?!"
"Stuff."
"Like what?!"
"Like stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Stallion stuff, you mares wouldn't get it."
"I….just….just hurry up!"
Meanwhile Night Shadow was standing under the shower, holding a bar of soap. He softly sighed when he heard her walk away.
"Now, where was I."
Night Shadow brought the soap bar to his face.
"You're the best…around….nothing gonna keep me down…."
Ten minutes later.
"Everything is all packed and ready to go." Night Shadow said, picking up the last bag.
"And we're somehow right on time to." Twilight said with a satisfied smile.
"Now can I breakfast?"
"Yes, now you can breakfast."
"YAY!" Night Shadow yelled.
Without warning, he abruptly turned all the furniture in the room into food before sucking it all in like a vacuum.
"Mmmmm, that hits the spot." Night Shadow said as he licked his lips.
"YOU COULD DO THAT THIS WHOLE TIME?!"
"Yeah…."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT SOONER?!"
Night Shadow shrugged his shoulder before Twilight tackled him and shook him around violently.
"WHY! ARE! YOU! SO! FRUSTRATING!"
"WHY ARE YOU SHAKING ME AROUND!"
"GAHHHHHHH!"
Half an hour later.
"There should be a train coming through here in about ten minutes according to the trains status board." Night Shadow said.
"You would think there would be other ponies around here. It's just us…alone….in the dark." Twilight said with a slight tone of fear.
"Are you afraid of the dark?"
"Not when you're with me." Twilight whispered. "I can never be sure now that Luna is gone."
"The darkness isn't something to fear. In fact, it can be used to our advantage when the time is right."
"How do you know?"
"Because it's been done many times before and it will be done many times again."
Twilight walked over to Night Shadow and sat next to him before laying her head on his shoulder. Night Shadow, as if by instinct, slowly wrapped his hoof around her waist and brought her close to his body. They waited in the street light for almost a minute in total silence before Twilight broke the silence.
"Have you ever been In love, Night Shadow?" Twilight asked.
"Twice in my life I have fell in love with two beautiful mares….now they are only memories…."
"What is it like? What is it like to be in love?" Twilight asked.
Night Shadow thought to himself before speaking.
"It's like…taking your heart and placing it in a patch of roses on a bright summer day, feeling the warmth the sun gives. As your heart soaks up the heat, it begins to melt at the sight of it's beauty, wishing for it to be reformed and remade into something worth cherishing. Once it is reformed, it becomes something far greater than any power in this world, something far more precious than diamonds, and something far too large to hold….it becomes love…and when it is in it's truest and purest form…nothing could ever overcome it."
Night Shadow's ears twitched, forcing him to turn around and look into the forest behind him.
"Hey, Twilight. Use the bits we have to get some food and water, you're going to need them."
"But can't you just make…."
Twilight looked into Night Shadow's eyes, noticing they were tense and dilated. Without a second thought, Twilight got up and walked into the building. Night Shadow was now alone in the street light as he stared straight into the forest with a look of intensity. As if out of a horror show, hundred upon hundreds of red lights could be seen coming closer and closer to the town. Once the towns lights shined onto them, it was revealed to be a large pack of starved wolves accompanied by hundreds of Death Fire's elite soldiers.
Without fear, Night Shadow walked to the middle of the town and stood proudly in the center as the soldiers and wolves began to surround him. After a minute of the wolves circling around him and soldiers preparing to fire, the question was asked.
"Dead or alive?" One of the soldiers asked.
Night Shadow made no movement as he softly replied.
"That depends on you…."
With that the soldiers fired and the wolves were set loose on Night Shadow. Right before the bullets hit, all the lights in the city shattered and the town was covered in darkness.
"Did we get him?" A soldier asked.
Right then, a huge purple light exploded and blasted away dozens of soldiers and wolves into the buildings around them. Night Shadow quickly dashed around in the darkness and started to punch and kick the soldiers around him, instantly knocking them out with each him. He would effortlessly flip around, take on ten to twenty soldiers and wolves, and move on the the next squad. With all the chaos going on, the elite soldiers didn't seem so elite anymore.
"This guy is tearing us apart!" One of the guards yelled.
"Use flares, now!" Another ordered.
The remaining squad of about two hundred ponies shot flairs into the sky, lighting up the town like the sun. Night Shadow could now be spotted as easily as a piece of broccoli in an ice cream bowl.
"Kill him!"
Night Shadow shot forward a large magical blast from his horn, forcing the soldiers that had enough time to jump out of the way. The red stallion dashed down the middle of the parted squad of soldiers and jumped onto a building before throwing down a purple energy ball. The soldiers that thought were lucky to dodge the magical blast were then caught in both an explosion and earthquake. It wasn't long before soldiers climbed up onto the roof to fight Night Shadow head on.
With a quick spell, Night Shadow turned the soldiers weapons into ash and motioned them to attack him at once. When they did just that, Night Shadow spun around and tornado kicked one of the ponies in the chest, forcing him to crash into a dozen more soldiers and launch them off the roof. However, to Night Shadow's surprise, more and more soldiers just kept coming. Feeling overwhelmed, he slammed his hoof into the ground, forcing all the ponies around him to blast off of the roof as Night Shadow flipped onto the building behind him.
As expected, at least thirty soldiers we once again all around him within seconds. Night Shadow made sure that every time he would punch or kick a pony that they would stay down and not recover, but even with that more and more came to take their place. Each pony Night Shadow took down, five more came in his place. Within no time at all, at least a thousand ponies were in the small town, all after one red pony.
Once he thought there were enough on the roof, he threw a magical rune onto its surface and slide down a pipe along side the building. With in a second, the rune shined brightly and imploded the roof, causing the entire building to collapse. Once he slide down the pipe, he ripped it off from the destroyed wall and spun it around like a staff, bashing it into ponies and wolves that got to close. After the pole broke, Night Shadow looked to the left and saw that the train was approaching quickly to the station. In other words, his escape.
Night Shadow put his hooves together and shot forth a huge, blinding energy blast that blew away the entire street before him, taking hundreds of ponies with it. Once they regained their sight, they looked around desperately for their target, realising he had vanished. Eccentric quickly landed onto one of the buildings and noticed the train quickly approaching, realising what Night Shadow was about to do. He placed his hoof on the intercom on his head and channeled it to connect to the trains.
"This is Eccentric, the element of cruelty, and I order you to use full speed and skip this station! Is that clear!"
He got no response except for the train abruptly speeding up before it stopped at the station. He looked over at the building near the train tracks and noticed Night Shadow kicking open the door on the roof and holding Twilight on his back. Eccentric eye's widened as quickly powered up his cannon and shot. To Eccentric's surprised, Night Shadow jumped into the air and kicked it right back at him, forcing him to jump off and land roughly onto the street below. The building behind him was completely destroyed by the blast meant for Night Shadow and in the process, his intercom was shattered.
The hunter quickly dashed towards the building Night Shadow was on and ran inside, preparing his sleeping darts. Once he got up to the roof, he stared Night Shadow dead in the eyes and pointed his hoof at him, preparing to fire.
"It's over for you, give up and turn yourself it. You can't run forever." Eccentric proclaimed.
The train rushed past beneath Night Shadow, forcing a smirk on his face.
"Night Shadow, what are you doing?!" Twilight yelled in fear.
"Tell your master that he should send someone better next time." Night Shadow remarked.
"WHY YOU LITTLE #&* (# TAKE THIS!" Eccentric yelled.
The moment he fired, he noticed the darts went right through the pony. Seconds later, the image of Night Shadow and Twilight faded away right as the train sped away from the town.
"I won't let you get away!" Eccentric cried, aiming his cannon at the train.
Before he could fire, he heard a faint clicking sound. He looked down and noticed a live grenade and jumped to the side right before it exploded. When he got up, he realized the weapons he was carrying had short circuited due to the grenade. It wasn't long until some guards came up onto the roof and saluted.
"Orders sir?" One of them asked.
Eccentric stared out and gazed at train until it had disappeared in the distance.
"Follow…."