This is written from Midnight Swooper's point of view.
“Keep running! Swooper, just go! We’ll find what we’re looking for,” yelled Rose.
“It’s hurts... Rose it burns so bad!” I sobbed, trying to run faster. My body was singed, burned nearly all over. I could scarcely run, I couldn’t fly, Rose couldn’t use magic and we were absolutely lost.
“I know! Come on...” she strained.
“Are we going for the border?”
“Yes, we’re going for the border!” she hissed back. I winced. I knew it wouldn’t last too long; we’d find a herbal remedy somewhere in the forest, but we needed to get as far from that scene as possible. What went on there? She just... burst into flames! Her eyes went all weird and she just shot fire at us... it was so abrupt. I couldn’t really comprehend what happened at all.
It was a little... unreasonable of us to just cruelly and blatantly attack her, but Rose’s odd and uncontrollable thirst for violence and... blood, was just too much. I agreed, of course, but it didn’t exactly run with me as much as her. She was a front-on killer; I was a stalker and I killed either out of defence or assignment.
But attacking that little alicorn was definitely a mistake. She was so powerful! But how were we to know? She was just an average pony when Rose went at her; she received wounds and it took us a normal amount of time to get her down. But just as we were about to... well, she exploded.
So Rose and I were finding the border quicker than ever. We were going to start a new life, find an employer, and avoid the Empire and Equestria forever.
Rose knew what she was doing. She knew how the find it without magic and get us across. We weren’t entirely sure what was directly adjacent to Equestria, but knowing the place, it was most definitely a well-governed kingdom. We needed a longer journey.
When Rose’s horn was healed, we could get there.
* * *
We’d run all night. We didn’t sleep, or eat, or take any time to slow down. Eventually I felt no pain; my muscles moving so fast so regularly made them feel robotic, but I knew when I finally slowed there’d be pain. There’d be cramps and aches of all sorts, definitely.
Rose sensed we were out of Equestria. We were in another kingdom. She also knew her horn was getting better at long last. Sparks began flying when she tried to make an aura. We were sprinting, still very automatically, through the woods of whichever kingdom we’d reached. I was just thinking how unprotected the borders were.
Equestria and the Empire were vast kingdoms. The hills and mountains and other sights rolled for miles and miles before they reached towns, cities or other populated places. However, if we had stumbled across a land of limited area, with cities near each other, it could be dangerous if we came to a town whilst in the woods. Rose wanted to stay low, wait until her magic had healed, then either continue across this land or teleport far away. Either option worked for me, as long as we were safe and could continue living our lived of assassination.
“Don’t slow unless we find a town.” Said Rose.
“Alright. But, they won’t know who we are, right?” I said. I watched Rose’s face. Her expression beneath her green hood seemed to morph a little, lasting about a minute. “Hello?”
“Yes, just let me consider.” She snapped back. I pursed my lips. We continued running, slowly starting to let our pace lower. We were going to have to slow to a stop, not just skid to a halt. All my muscles were basically cramped in the movement anyway. In a moment we were trotting, and the pain all over was kicking in.
“Oooww...” I groaned, making Rose flinch. Then she spoke.
“I suppose we could go stay in town. It’s probably safer anyway.” She muttered.
“Oh the fabulous ideas of Midnight Swooper strike again.” I yawned. Rose sniffed.
“Just hide your weapons, tidy your hair and all that crap. We’ll go and clean ourselves up.” She said.
“Where, exactly, genius?” I asked.
“Oh I don’t know.... the river?” she hissed, shaking her head in annoyance.
“Fine, fine, cranky pants.” I raised my eyebrows.
“Make yourself prettied up, and we’ll get service.” She insisted.
“You’re the one who uses that strategy. I’m not as fabulously gorgeous enough to make everypony swoon over me. You’re doing that; I’ll just tie up my hair and be done with it.” I replied, yawning again. “Whoa, I’m tired.”
“Yes, I know.” She paused. “I think there’s a road through there, and a river over there. We’ll clean up then follow the road to the nearest town.”
I looked briefly at the road only just through the trees, then followed my companion through the shrubs on the other side. A rocky, clean creek lay in front of us, and Rose’s hood was off instantly. I grinned and tossed mine on top of hers, running toward the water. I gasped and shivered. It was extremely cold, and though it almost froze my hooves off, I could feel it soaking into my burn wounds and making them feel like magic. I ducked under the water and splashed it around, soon finding myself in heaven.
I began scrubbing off the horrid dirt and scabs, making my coat a whole lot more shiny and perfect. I ran my hooves over my hair, feeling all the leftover residue come out of my blue locks and into the stream. Very soon I was clean, ever so fresh while I stepped out of the water onto the creek bed. I shook all the drips off and squeezed it from my mane and tail, before sitting down in the grass to dry off more.
Rose came out a minute later and repeated what I did, then we sat together on the bank. The early morning rays of light were just peeking through the treetops, reaching us in pools of gold and drying us quicker.
Rose then began tying up her hair, using a single lock to wrap the bun into a neat style, revealing her whole face aside from the two locks down by either ear. She always seemed to look gorgeous, despite her dark profession.
I coughed and tried myself. I basically just ended up making it look less matted; it just decided to be one big wave covering half my face, as normal. I then stood and slipped my cloak of my shivering body, letting the hood fall around my shoulders. Rose put hers on too, and in a second we were away from the river and onto the road just metres through the trees.
The road was simple; pretty brown gravel lined by the green forest and looking quite lovely in the early hours of day. We continued on our journey, hoods off, smiles on and looking lovely and clean. We’d only look like simple travelling mares in need of a stay. We’d have to hide our knifes; Rose’s dagger and the pen knife I stole from Angel.
A few minutes later, we began to see the first signs of town. Houses came into view and the forest thinned, and eventually we reached a bridge across the very stream we’d swum in. We crossed and we were then on the main street of a small village. The houses were neat, the brown road branching off at the end of the road and the centre occupied by a neat fountain.
“Do you think there’ll be a motel here?” I asked.
“Probably. It’s a border town - I’m sure travellers use this road a lot and need motels. There’s bound to be one here.” She said. I nodded, still looking ahead. When we reached the end of the street, Rose approached a random mare coming out of her house and walking along one of the pathways. Using her most smooth of voices and movements, she spoke to her.
“Good morning, miss.” She grinned. “Will you be willing to direct us to a hotel anywhere? We’re travelling.” She mare smiled.
“Yes, just down that road. It’s got lovely service for ponies on the road.” She said happily. Rose nodded.
“Thank you so much.” She paused, “Oh, also; we’re from Equestria and without a map. Would you be kind enough to tell me which kingdom we’ve a-wandered into?”
“Oh, you’re in Staria. It’s um... it’s very small. What’s your destination if you haven’t a map?” the mare asked curiously.
“We’re heading to... Skyrithia. My um... cousin lives there. But my horn is ruined and Maria here doesn’t like trains.” Chuckled Rose in such a fake laugh. Maria? Geez, she couldn’t even think of a suiting fake name for me.
“Well then, may your journey be pleasurable. Goodbye!” said the mare finally, turning to walk back down the street. Rose watched her go, then grabbed the back of my hood to drag me off. She stomped down the street and I looked at her in surprise.
“What?” I grumbled.
“She was too happy. I had to be happy around her.” She snarled back at me.
“Ooh touchy.” I whispered. Rose growled.
We soon arrived at the gate to the hotel. Rose walked up the pathway to the large front door and we went inside, to find a very fancy lobby with gorgeous lighting and random plant pots of ferns scattered here and there.
We went to the desk where a simple stallion glanced at us.
“Hello ladies. Looking for a room?” he offered.
“Yes, your most basic please.” Said my companion, a small smile twitching on the side of her face.
“Alright.” He said. The stallion ducked under the desk and grabbed a key to a room, passing it over the desk. “Fifty Stars please.” He said.
“Oh, um...” stammered Rose.
I leaned up to whisper into her ear. “Ever consider foreign currencies? Or even money at all?” I hissed. She scowled at me. She was totally stuck, and I was only going to sit there and watch.
“Can we pay tomorrow? I uh... still have Bits and haven’t transferred it into Stars yet.” Stuttered Rose.
“Okay ma’am, I will allow you to pay in the morning. Does that sound fine?” he smiled. Rose rubbed her forehead. “As long as you commit.”
“Yes, yes, fine. We’ll do that.” Muttered Rose. She grabbed the key for the room, shoved my shoulder and went for the stairs without another word to the stallion.
“What? You don’t have money and you have no way of getting any.” I said flatly, following her up the staircase.
“Yep.” She replied.
“So, what’s your plan?”
“I won’t pay, simple. We’ll bail on them. It’s not like they’ll catch us, right?” she spat. I raised both eyebrows.
“Were you a criminal, always?” I asked in quite a sarcastic tone, but all knowing what she’d reply with.
“Yep.” She said again, coming to the door of our room, forcing the key in and kicking the door open. I ran inside and threw my hood onto the first piece of furniture I found, stomping to a bed and flopping onto it.
My back ached infinitely the moment my spine sank into the soft, wondrous, springy mattress. A sweet sensation of comfort I hadn’t experienced in almost an entire year, and all my pain form the running seemed to just flow around me for one split second while I bathed in the fluffiness...
“Oh my gosh.” I whispered, rolling over and shoving my face into a large pillow.
“Yeah, don’t get too comfy, Swooper. We’re leaving in the morning.” She said back irritably, taking of her cloak and pausing to examine her dagger.
“Well where will we go?” I asked.
“We’ll just cross Staria. From what I’ve previously seen, it’s a long but very thin kingdom. It’ll take us only... a few days to cross to the western side.” She replied thoughtfully, tossing the dagger at the opposite wall. “Whatever lies ahead we’ll enter. If we’re in Staria, it’s certainly not a good idea to stay.”
I sighed. That was always the way with her. But I had to agree, if I wanted to be safe.
“Also, if my horn heals overnight, we can walk for a few hours then teleport to a border town. I’m thinking we could possibly ask for a few more directions when we get there, and I’m pretty sure things will go smoothly.”
I nodded. That seemed reasonable, but if her horn didn’t heal then that plan would take a whole lot longer. But what if she got medicine? We were in a town after all – we hadn’t come across any medicinal shops the entire time of our solitude, so it obviously just dawned on me...
“Hey, what if you seek medical help?” I offered. She looked at me silently. “Go down to a doctor or a chemist and get something to heal it.”
“Hmm... OK, but I don’t want to be questioned or anything,” she began.
“Rose, don’t worry. Just say we were travelling in the Everfree forest, and whatever ponies are in the shop will most certainly understand.” I insisted. She bit her lip and sighed.
“Fine, OK. But what about the money?” she asked. I thought for a moment.
“Pssh I don’t know... kick him in the head when he’s handed over the medicine? Then you won’t even have to figure it out yourself.” I said matter-of-factly.
“Fine, whatever.” She muttered. She grabbed her cloak and put it on, not bothering to retrieve her dagger as she stormed from the room. I’d see her back soon enough. But I though it fine to just enjoy my Rose-free time while I lay in comfort upon the bed.
In just a second, the comfort turned to tire...
I hadn’t slept in days...
After just a single minute, I was sound asleep.
* * *
“Swooper, up. I have dinner.” Grumbled a voice in my ear. I opened my eyes and groaned, my muscles and bones aching again. I looked to see Rose on the other side of the room, and the window beyond her was dark.
“What? What...” I moaned. “How long have I been asleep?”
“All day. I didn’t want to wake you, plus I’ve only been here a couple of times.” She replied flatly, not looking over at me.
“Whoa... what have you been doing?” I asked, dragging myself out of bed to join her.
“Well, first I got my horn fixed, then I used my magic to steal some money, I bought lunch, I went to the library, and now I have dinner.” She said.
“Alright. What is it?”
“Lasagne and fries.” Rose said. I poked out my tongue.
“Lasagne and fries?” I repeated, “You couldn’t think of a worse combination, could you?”
“Look, I had lots of money and you know we’re both starving our guts out. Eat something. I also got some cider.” She gestured hastily to the two bottle of cider next to the aluminium tin of lasagne and cardboard box of fries. I grabbed the fries instantly and opened them, stuffing ten in my mouth as once.
I suddenly realised how very hungry I was, and soon I had eaten half the box. I then reached for the lasagne that Rose had cut onto a plate. I ate it almost whole.
“Oh gosh.” I muttered is bliss over all the pasta. I was so HUNGRY. When I’d swallowed, I grabbed the bottle of cider and chugged the whole lot of icy, apply, bubbly liquid.
“I know.” Sighed Rose, who finished just as quick as me. My stomach was stuffed, my tire was gone, and my bodily dirt was clean. Though we were staying in merely a traveller’s motel, I was in LUXURY. “How about you have a proper shower? There’s a shower room just over there.” Offered Rose in an almost casually happy tone. It made me relaxed.
I nodded.
When my shower was over and my body smelled of floral soaps and my hair smelled of apples, Rose said she’d have a turn and left the map she was examining on the table.
I perched myself on one of the seats again and looked down at it. It was recognisable. I saw, as normal, the edge of the Empire, Equestria nearby, and then Staria. A long, winding piece of large but thin land that made its way down the borders of both Equestria and the Empire. I looked past Staria... there was a state of unknown land, that even the map labelled it as, that was between Staria a brown-coloured land called Volglacia. I could not think why they’d put a piece of unknown land there, as if it was just not owned by any ruler of any sort.
I pondered over it for a while, not bothering to look at anything else, until Rose emerged again. She sat down near me as well. “So, what do you think?”
“Probably exactly what you’re thinking. What the hell?” I said blatantly.
“I know. I’m just wondering what the ponies near the border will say. I’m also considering going to Volglacia if it seems such a bad place to divide it so much...” she muttered. I cocked my head.
“What do think will even be there?” I whispered. Rose shook her head.
“If it’s bad, we’ll go. I guess just teleport straight over and see what Volglacia’s like. I’ve never even heard of it!” she said.
“That’s super weird. Perhaps it’s a normal kingdom that the Empire doesn’t associate with.” I supposed.
“Or maybe it’s just one they know nothing about.”
It seemed like a very relevant point. It could be a good idea to go. There were so real risks so far from the Empire. Though the Empire felt like home to me, and being so distant made me feel sick, they would just catch us. The royals hated us and knew who we were, and going back to Equestria wouldn’t help either. Aka and Whirlwind were bound to tell the Equestrian royals about us if they suspected our whereabouts. Rose was smarter than that. That’s why we were fleeing, to start an even newer life.
“When will we go?” I asked finally.
“In the morning. I’ll teleport us straight across Staria.” She said with a sigh, getting up from the table.
“Sounds good to me.”
