Skybolt Sunhammer

The silvery-furred pegacorn alighted next to a stall and stabbed at wicker baskets with his horn, letting grain spill out on to the brick. He leaned down and nibbled from the growing pile and grunted contentedly. The vendor had long since fled and neighboring vendors cowered under their tents or wagons. The pegacorn paced to the side and pushed aside a crate cover with his horn, uncovering fresh vegetables. He set to munching vigorously: this stall certainly seemed to have quite the selection today....   Brown eyes watched from the shadows under cloth drapes. The pegacorn named Skybolt lifted his head and flicked his ears back, as if sensing something. He turned his head to the side, looking about the neighboring stalls. He even looked straight at the man hidden in the pile of wares, and the man held his breath, not wanting to risk a sound. Skybolt shook his head and went right back to feasting. His brother Sunbolt currently raided another nearby stall.   The silvery-furred pegacorn had his muzzle buried halfway into a bushel of tubers when Ander sprang out from his hiding place and quickly looped the halter around Skybolt's head, following the instructions Norin had given him and having practiced several times on a straw mockup the night before. He lashed the rope securely to a nearby heavy wagon all before Skybolt could register what just happened. "Hah! There! I have you now! I've bested you, so you must yield now!" Ander crowed and gripped the loose end of the rope tightly.   Skybolt screamed and beat his wings furiously, all-but splintering the stall Ander had set out as bait and tearing the wagon apart as he rose into the air. "Whoa! WHOA!!" Ander barely kept his grip as the wagon popped apart completely and the rope slipped loose. He hastily wrapped the rope around his arm and tried pulling back on it, but Skybolt dragged him into the air like a kite as he took to the air effortlessly, bellowing in rage. He had smashed through a heavy-wooden wagon like toothpicks, and it took every bit of strength Ander had to avoid having his arm torn out of socket as he grabbed the rope with both hands.   Skybolt screamed and screamed, banking and diving as he flew all over above the city, close enough to the Rider's Citadel to narrowly miss its central dome. Ander pulled his legs close but Skybolt showed no sign of stopping as he banked towards the distant Archive before veering back over the larger estates where many noble Houses lived. The pegacorn made a beeline for the western face of the Citadel Chapel, and judging from his speed, Ander could tell what he planned to do and yelled in protest.   He knew for a fact the Queens wouldn't appreciate having their windows smashed by an Oldworlder, so when Skybolt banked sharply, intending to slam Ander into Ritho's window, Ander lifted his legs and started kicking until his heels connected with the stained glass and he ran over the white stone of the exterior wall. He and Skybolt cast curious shadows as they moved past: Skybolt flapping his large wings and Ander running along the outside. He passed over Eyurodin and Witheren's windows before Skybolt craned his head down and saw Ander still hanging on to the rope and bellowed in fury, veering away sharply and dragging Ander spinning into the air yet again, yelping helplessly.   Startled people in the streets looked up and pointed as they saw the shadows sweep overhead: Skybolt's great wingspan and Ander hanging on for dear life. They had passed by the Traedeskaton and Peirolyth and come back over the smaller estates. Skybolt descended slowly, apparently seeking to smack Ander against a balcony or parapet. "Oh no...no...noooooo!" Ander saw a large stone arch ahead that seemed very eager to smash him in the face. Ander pulled his legs forward and curled up, causing the rope to hang lower instead of trailing out behind Skybolt.   He let go of the rope just as Skybolt flew over the arch, but instead of sliding over the stone smoothly, the rope caught into the seam of jutting stonework and snagged around Skybolt's leg. Ander landed on his heels and rolled forward safely, coming to a stop just as the rope pulled Skybolt off course and his snared leg smashed into a smaller arch further up the street. Stone showered all over the street, sending clouds of fine dust into the air. Ander scrambled to his feet and shook his head, sputtering from dust in his moustache. His eyes widened when he heard a echoing groan.   "Oh no...no....no!" Ander bolted forward, following the trail of shattered stonework and came upon the mighty pegacorn sprawled on his side, one wing tucked beneath him and the other strewn loosely over the brick. Bloody gashes marred the silvery fur on his left leg. "No! No! I-I've ruined you! No!" Ander wailed and knelt down close to the injured leg. Skybolt made no move to scramble to his feet and escape. He merely grunted and raised his head feebly. "I-I'm sorry! This-this isn't what I wanted! I-I-I....I don't know what I wanted..." Ander lamented and gently placed a hand on Skybolt's flank. He merely wished to tame such a magnificent beast, to fly freely in the sky as he had as a pilot. He had no idea...He crawled over to Skybolt's head and hastily undid the halter and pulled it off, tossing it to the side in disgust.   Ander felt his eyes burning with tears. An injury like this would earn a horse on Earth a one way trip to the knacker... Skybolt huffed and fluttered his lips, apparently completely spent. Ander knelt there for several moments before frowning and looking down at his belt and the bundle of Richtho leaves Yainae had given him in the event his mad quest hit a SNAFU...which it certainly had. "I will make this right, I swear to you," Ander growled through his teeth and removed the bundle from his belt then searched the street nearby before finding two narrow strips of metal pried loose from a fixture. He reached up and tore first one then the other sleeve off his jacket. If Khanphe had any objections about him destroying his gift, he'd have to save them for another day.   Skybolt's ears flicked back and he tilted his head up and looked behind himself to see Ander running his hands over his injured leg. He squirmed and kicked slightly. "HOLD STILL, DAMN YOU! I'm trying to help!" Ander barked firmly with a tone he usually reserved for cadets. Skybolt relented and twitched slightly as Ander gently squeezed between the hock and hoof. "It's fractured...but not shattered or splintered at least..." Skybolt flinched and swished his tail weakly as Ander began wrapping the moist leaves around the wounded leg then placing the metal strips over the skin and tying one sleeve around the top then the other towards the bottom to steady it. He pulled his belt off and wrapped it around leg to secure the crude splint then scooted back and rose to his feet slowly. "Can you stand?" he asked.   He took another step back as Skybolt rolled onto his stomach and pulled his forelegs and right leg under himself, tucking his wings close. Ander moved as if to help, but he couldn't offer a shoulder to a winged horse, least of all one this size. He could only wait and watch as Skybolt pushed himself to stand with much effort, favoring his left leg. He held it raised and lowered it slightly. "How does it feel?" Ander asked. Yainae insisted the leaves healed quickly. Skybolt gingerly touched the hoof down but did not put weight on it. He craned his head to the side an looked at the splint.   "It should heal in due time. Well...then...our business is concluded. I will leave you in peace," Ander nodded and turned to walk away, stooping down to snatch up the discarded halter. Skybolt whinnied before he got far. "What? What? I have no quarrel with you! I've caused you enough trouble today!" Ander argued and turned around, shrugging and slapping his arms agaisnt his hips. He remained still as Skybolt began walking towards him, still favoring his left leg but not struggling or limping. If he wanted to run him through with his horn, he had every right to. Ander looked up as the pegacorn came right up to him. Even if he wanted to run, the ordeal had left him far too exhausted to move much.   Skybolt lowered his head and stuck the tip of his horn through the coiled halter in Ander's hand. He lipped at the rope and picked it up slightly, shaking his head. Ander's brow furrowed, confused, and he raised his hand and stared at the halter. Skybolt poked at it again with his horn and burbled in a way Ander hadn't heard before. "...you want this?" Ander gazed up at Skybolt, stunned. Skybolt's nostrils flared and he grunted softly. Ander flicked his gaze from him to the halter a few times.   "...No....no...you are too good for this..." Ander dropped the halter and stepped to the side of Skybolt, placing his hands on his neck and shoulder. He could feel the sheer power rippling under his hide. Skybolt stood there patiently as Ander stroked his neck, running his fingers along the mane. Ander inhaled sharply through his teeth before tensing and springing up, hauling himself onto Skybolt's back, his legs dangling just infront of the wing shoulders. All the while Skybolt hadn't tried to buck him off or pitch violently. Ander couldn't believe what he was doing: sitting astride such a mighty, magnificent creature.   Try not to pull anything. Don't fall off.   "What?" Ander blinked when he thought he heard his own voice in his mind and did a double take at Skybolt but had to brace his palms against the neck as Skybolt broke into a gallop down the street towards a wider thoroughfare. Onlookers who had started congregating around the area recoiled and scrambled away as Skybolt spread his wings and launched into the air powerfully. Ander's heart leapt into his throat at the sensation as he saw the ground pull away, large estates becoming small squares as they rose higher and higher. The streets below became a blur as Skybolt soared over the city, making an arc between the Pavilion and the Four Corners.   Well? What do you think?   Ander chuckled softly at first before breaking out into peals of laughter, shouting his jubilation. "WOOOOO! WOOO HOOOO!!!" he briefly let go of Skybolt's neck and pumped his arms into the air, holding them to the side and feeling the air rushing past as Skybolt flapped his wings. Now, after all this time, he had finally found a way to fly. "Woop!" Ander yelped when Skybolt jerked his head up slightly and Ander braced his palms against his neck again. He looked down and saw two familiar figures waving up at him.   Friends of yours?   "Yes! Torke and Norin! Come in for a landing! They'll want to meet you!" Ander assured and patted Skybolt's neck. Skybolt circled about the area once more before descending slowly, keeping his wings at full stretch and gliding leisurely as if landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Ander's grandson and son of Dais and Danae, Chi Chi Lina, Darius, becomes the first in nearly half a century to be accepted by Skybolt.

"So what are you scribbling about this time, eh?" Norin asked from where he leaned against the fence.   "Just the first few pages of a new, grand, sweeping epic the likes of which has never before been seen in history! A tale like no other, immortalizing Ander's legacy for generations to come!" Khanphe held a sheaf of papers in his hand and fluttered it briefly. Skybolt raised his ears and walked over, raising his head and sniffing at the manuscript. "Ah, see! Even Skybolt is interested! As you can see here, I have done my level best to faithfully recount events from memory..." he leaned close and waved his hand through the air above the pages.   Without warning, Skybolt opened his mouth and chomped down on the sheaf, ripping half of it straight out of Khanphe's hands. Khanphe's eyes popped wide open and he stared at the empty space where there'd been pages before while Skybolt blissfully chewed away at the pages with their flowing script. Skybolt flicked his ears and swished his tail before walking away slowly, his hooves crunching against the gravel. Khanphe's expression hadn't changed and he stared ahead into space.   "...What was it...Ander used to say back in the day....'Everyone's a critic'?" Norin mused and braced his knuckle against his jaw.

"You...would not BELIEVE the day I just had!" Ander began as he entered the room and shrugged off his shredded jacket. "Before you ask what happened to my clothes, let me explain-" he raised his hands but paused when he saw Yainae seated at a table laden with piles and piles of parcels of varying sizes, bulging sacks, and bound boxes. "...what's all this?" Ander blinked and looked at Yainae, who had one arm against the table and her other hand pressed against her chin, drumming her fingertips against her cheek.   "This? This is payment. Word went far and wide along the banner network when the people saw you riding Skybolt. Requests came pouring in, along with gifts and tributes, from every great House willing to pay for the privilege of having him sire a foal of their own." Ander continued to stare at the laden table dumbfounded as Yainae rose from her seat and walked towards him, placing her hands along the collar of his undershirt. "I have seen...more wealth in a single day...than I have in the past ten cycles. You have given me...so much more than I could have ever dreamed of... Ander...you truly are a legend in the making...."   The next day, with advice from Norin, Ander cordoned off a section of the House grounds as a makeshift enclosure and the procession lasted from sunrise to sunset of representatives from other Houses, some on the Council, some lesser, but any and all who could pay and did brought with them a pegacorn mare they insisted was of impeccable pedigree. Skybolt wasted no time with his efforts: he'd spent so long running wild in Bainshaebo, now he had a great deal of oats to sow, and boy howdy did he. Ander couldn't help but chuckle at Skybolt's antics as he'd frolic with one mare only to snub the next. Regardless of how much the representatives gushed about pedigree, it seemed Skybolt could tell who would provide worthy offspring.   "The grounds here, for all their size, are very confined. If it were up to me, I would established an entire paddock just for him at Mazzan," Norin grumbled from where he leaned against the wall beside Ander.   "Do you think the old Master Breeder would agree? Skybolt was supposed to be his magnum opus. It might come as a black eye to have him back at Mazzan, especially under the care of a 'Oldworlder'," Ander shrugged and rolled his eyes.   "He might be convinced....and if not...I will just have to do it myself when I succeed him...." Norin purred craftily, drawing a glance from Ander.