Neil sprung off the stone walkway, his body angled to cut into the alleyway at full speed. As he passed the corner of the flower shop, his eyes widened in shock. Standing there, less than a body length away, was a muscular white mountain of a pegasus pony covered in golden armour. The stallion's blue eyes widened in shock as Neil soared through the air mid-leap. With all four hooves off the ground, he had neither the time nor the ability to veer off course before his unprotected chest slammed into unyielding metal armour. He could almost hear the popping and cracking of his forward shoulder joints as his breath was forced from his body. Or were those ribs breaking? He couldn't quite tell as his momentum dragged the guard with him toward the ground.