Quest for the Heart of Deathbolt (PG-13)

[battlefield]

"Good," said Battlefield, pouring himself a third shot. "I'm sure you'll have everything taken care of. Want a third shot?" He then said, "By the way, a friend of me and Gold's has been asking us about Galaxy."

Bellstar sat there silenty in shock for a few minutes. "Excuse me," she finally said, leaving the room. She returned a few minutes later. "Aurora, you have my complete codolences for your loss. If you will see me later, I'd like to make a proposal to you." She then saw the tears in Aurora's eyes, and gently wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "I will help you with your revenge."

From across the room, Battlefield heard Aurora, and knew immediatly why she was so angry and bitter.
Poor kid, he thought sadly. She's still just a baby herself.

[sunstar]

"I'll come." Aurora managed to smile thinly.

Sunstar had heard the whole story before, but even now she felt for the young unicorn.
"I'll take that third shot. I'm going to need it." Sunstar said, "Galaxy has been her old crochety self, why?"

[battlefield]

Bellstar smiled back, wiping away some of the tears off of Aurora's face. "You know what, come with me right now. I have something to show you." She helped Aurora to stand up, keeping an arm aorund her. "Follow me." She led her iout of the room and down a corridor. "I think you will want to see this."

"Here you go." Battlefield poured Sunstar a third shot of ale. "I don't know why; she's always been that way. When I first met her, she made me feel intimidated, and a little awed." He sipped his third shot. "Maybe something's bothering her," he theorized. "What has she been up to lately?"

As he talked with Sunstar, Battlefield watched as Bellstar walked out of the room with Aurora. He then glanced over and saw that Annick was still sitting in front of the fire. He was still puzzled about her. She was, to say the least, unusual.

[sunstar]

"Galaxy is old. I've never known her not to be crochety. Galaxy has been working with our prospects. She says we have a few gems this year that might rise and become Guardians themselves someday. Lets see, there is Ribbon, Earthia, and Bladestar. She says they show great promise." Sunstar replied, "Galaxy loves working with them because they make her feel young."

Aurora followed Bellstar, curious about what Bellstar wanted to show her.

[battlefield]

"So the master has found some new students, huh?" Battlefield remarked. "Those kids will get quite an educaiton from her about being a Gaurdian." He sipped some more. "Anyways, as I was saying, me and Gold have a friend of our's who seems quite interested in Galaxy lately. Everytime we get together he asks about her."

Bellstar led Aurora to the second floor and into a luxurious bedroom, which must of belonged to the sorceress. Sitting near a pair of windows at one end was a crib. Inside was a infant pegasus foal, with a snow white body, and a black mane and tail. He was dressed in a small red sleeper outfit.

[sunstar]

"Does your friend have a name?" Sunstar asked.

Aurora stared down at the sleeping baby.
"Is he yours? he's very cute." Aurora couldn't help but smile at the baby pony.

[battlefield]

"His name's Nightshot," replied Battlefield. "He's a Gaurdian. Remember that sharpshooter who helped bring down that smuggling ring in Pegville last year? That was him."

"Yes, he's mine," replied Bellstar, smiling. "His name is Perseus. I rescued him from a crib house in Winthrop Valley a few months ago." She began to gently run her hand through his hair.

[sunstar]

"Oh yes, I remember him. Galaxy was the one who called him in to help out. Even I was susprised at how good he was. Nightshot gave Bloodstone a run for the money. I still don't know who won the little contest over who could take out more enemies." Sunstar said, "What is his interest in Galaxy?"

"Was it Lady Dracora's crib house? Thats the one I work at. Lady Dracora is very nice. I like working for her. She has taught me so much about foal birth." Aurora said, "Plus, she isn't crooked like other places. She runs a clean place and the stallion she works for runs a genuine business. They will not put a foal up for adoption unless both parents have agreed to it. It's a nice place. It is where I had Sunset."

[battlefield]

"Nightshot won," Battlefield told her. "He's the fastest sharpshooter I've ever seen." He finished his third shot. "As for why he's interested in Galaxy, that's a mystery. I think he's fallen in love with her."

"I am glad to hear there is at least one crib owner that is honest," said Bellstar. "But the crib house I rescued Persephone from was a very crooked place. I had to kill to get him out."

[sunstar]

"One of Zurg's I bet." Aurora's eyes darkened at the thought of the zebra colored Stallion.

"Don't tell Bloodstone. He thinks he won." Sunstar chuckled, "Galaxy shuns romance. Her first love was a butterfly winged unicorn named Arrow. He fathered Milky-way and later, Silverswirl. Arrow sacrificed himself to save Galaxy and his two little daughters from Cosmic. Galaxy found love again in a pegasus stallion named Orin. Something happened and Orin was lost. Galaxy doesn't know if Orin survived. She doesn't talk about Orin or Arrow. She did mention a lost love with a Nightshot once. Andromeda doesn't know who her father was. I wonder if your Nightshot might be the same one Galaxy talked briefly about years ago..."

[battlefield]

"Maybe," Bellstar acknowledged. "All I know is that he has been the light of my life." She smiled as the pegasus colt slept.

"I promise. I wouldn't want to ruin your father's day," Battlefield vowed, crossing his fingers behind him. "It's possible he's the same on, I guess. He's as old as Galaxy. He's a valkyrie stallion, and you know how long they live. It would explain why Galaxy called for Nightshot specifically to help against the smugglers last year. and it would explain why he keeps asking questions about her." He chuckled. "Although, it would be a shock to Andromeda if Nigtshot was her father. I think we should keep quiet about the whole affair for now. The last thing I need is Gal getting upset about us poking into her love life."

[NumiTuziNeru]

Over by the fireplace, Annick was almost completely still.

Almost.

Her one eye suddenly swivelled around in its socket a few times, before finally settling on watching the others by the table with a strange click.
The other one remained in its place, gazing mindlessly into the fire.

[battlefield]

As he talked with Sunstar, Battlefield noticed Annick swivel one of her eyes towards him, while keeping the other still. It was just more strange behavior from a strange pony. Just as a goof, he swiveled his own eyes around, keeping one on Annick and the other on Sunstar.

[sunstar]

Sunstar was tempted to display a bit of her power, but quickly reminded herself that using her power was a no-no at the moment thanks to Deathbolt. Even though a hundred years had passed, her power was still very low.
"Galaxy would probably skin us alive if she found out. You are right, it does make a lot of sense. They acted like they knew each other well while they were together last year." Sunstar replied.

"I felt the same about Sunset and Eclipse." Aurora nodded, "He is lucky he has you."

[battlefield]

"Then that proves it," replied Battlefield. "When we were in a fix during that raid, she called upon the one stallion she personally knew who could solve the problem." He grinned. "I wonder if it's possible to relit the fires of love between them."

"I'm lucky to have him," said Bellstar. "I always wanted a child of my own, but I just never met the right stallion."