Author's Note: Before you start reading this story, understand that this is not a means to change my character or to disrespect the universe this takes place in. I can't say that I'm deep in this culture, I've seen the show and enjoy it as well as some of the fan made music for it. But I'm not about to make an OC or collect merchandise from the franchise. As for the story, I just had the thought that what if I took my bad ass character and all of his bad habits and dropped him into the bright colored and upbeat world that is this series. Don't look into it too deeply or get offended by this. As you read, you'll see how my character changes. This is not cannon to his story though. Just a one off "what if" story. Also, since it is my anti-hero character, expect strong language, graphic scenes, and some cross-over elements. And please enjoy.
18+ for strong language, graphic depictions, and adult themes.
Prelude
Fire. Fire spread the land. Screams filled my ears as the inhabitants burned to death, their skin darkening and melting. The bodies started to pile up, but I knew that when it was all over, those bodies wouldn't be there. Just the ashes of the hundreds who were burned up alive. And in the center, I saw the cause of it all, though I couldn't make out what the creature was.
I awoke from my nightmare, growling and sweating. I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers in tight fists. The nightmare was growing more and more detailed every night. It didn't make sense. The land was unfamiliar to me as were the people who were in it. The strange thing was that they weren't human. If this was a warning, why am I dreaming of a land of animals?
Since I wasn't going to get any sleep, I pushed myself out of the bed and pulled on the clothes I had worn the day before. The black clothes were loose on me, ripped up in random places and had that over all punk look. My spiky green hair added to the punk look, though the roots had grown out and my natural blond hair had regain about two inches. I looked myself in the mirror in the hotel room, seeing the wear of my travels in my blue eyes. As I stared at myself, I could almost swear there were two slits for a pair of eyes just above my own, but that could be my imagination.
After pulling on my boots, I started to pull on my rings, but decided to just forgo putting each one on. The metal rings, as well as the thirty bracelets, dozen necklaces, and a dozen more piercings melted. The metal mixed in with the sheet of metal that was coating the wall, and the metal slithered like a snake up my sleeves. Most of the liquid metal remained under my clothes, hidden from view, while the rest reformed into the necklaces, piercings, bracelets, and rings that they were once were before. I finished my look by grabbing the long black leather trench coat that was hanging by the door to the room. Despite still having two more nights paid for, I grabbed my duffel bag and left.
It was still dark out, and the city was just waking up to start the day. Though, it being the city that never sleep, it was busy even in the middle of the night. The people who were already out were rushing to their jobs, honking their horns as others cut them off, cursing at them as they did. This place was disgusting. Hell, a man ran right into me as I was walking and didn't even say sorry. I growled and cursed at the man. I was surprised the man with short white beard and white hair didn't yell back at me. Kind of the way the city was.
But it was another place to pass through on my way to a new land and adventure. And as the sun started to rise, I walked out of the city, following the road for a while. It was after the city was in the distance that I turned away from the road. I made my way into the field of trees, feeling the heat of the sun shining down on me. It had to be about noon now.
My name is Herorian Time. I've been traveling for a few years now so a day like this was normal for me. And yes, I have powers. The metal that I could manipulate was just normal steel, but thanks to my study in alchemy I learned how to change its state and warp it into what I need. Of course, it came at a price. But it was a price well spent. The metal that was under my clothes were molded to my body to act as armor. It wasn't going to stop bullets too well, but I'm more worried about claws, fangs, swords, and other sharp things. I tend to come across that more in my journeys. And when I need it, I can reform the metal into weapons.
For instance, in one part of my travels, I came across some ninja assassins who were hired to take me out. Their weapons just bounced off the metal I wore, just cutting my clothes instead. I used my bracelets mostly to throw kunai and shurikens of my own. And when the time came, I formed a katana with the metal and sliced them down. I didn't hold back. And I guess this is a good time as any to mention that I'm not a nice guy. I'm not afraid to kill someone who attacks me.
Though there was a time I would kill just for fun. I was rebelling the fact that everyone wanted me to fulfill the role my father left behind when he died. I didn't want to follow his path. I just wanted to live my life the way I wanted. But in the end, I was torn up and conflicted inside. This was why I had left my land in the first place. I wanted to find my own story. Despite learning about abilities I didn't know I had and mastering the ones I did, I still haven't quite found my place. So, I go from town to town, city to city, looking for a place to belong. I've even traveled through time and dimensions to find my own, but with no real satisfaction.
So, here I was, heading to a new place. Where it was, I did not know. I just wonder around until I find something. Typically, it was in the form of a potential rift in space and time. They're everywhere, but most of the time inactive. People would either walk through them unaffected or unknowingly avoid them. I can sense them, and I can use them. I never knew what would be beyond them until I step through. I could step through and find myself about to fall into a pool of lava. But that's life. And if it meant the end of my story, than it's the end.
I thought about that as I walked. I did a lot of thinking as I walked, have conversations with the thoughts in my head. I guess you could say I'm crazy. In a way, I could be. But the fact is about a year ago, I picked up an unwelcomed hitchhiker. A fallen angel trapped within a coin. That creature entered my mind when I picked it up. For a while, I refused him, kept him locked away in the back of my mind. But I ran into some really big trouble. And I needed to make a choice. I took his offer, taking up the coin and powers he offered me. It was dark, evil powers. I guess you can say it's eating me from the inside out. But the power that I felt when I used it. I didn't know how I had lived without it all this time.
Well, whatever you think of me. Hero. Villain. Crazy. It's all the same to me. Just another part of my story, my life. And it was about to get a whole lot more interesting. As I mentioned, I didn't know where I was going until I get there. And I can sense rifts. I happened to start sensing one late in the afternoon after I had taken a break to eat and rest. It felt...different. It didn't seem like the ones I felt before. This usually meant that it was a rift to another realm or dimension. Those always seemed to lead to something interesting. I reached the rift and noticed how unstable it was. I couldn't tell what it would do when I go through.
I glanced around, noticing how I was deep in a forest now, far away from praying eyes. I started to focus my will, reaching out and gripping the fabric of space and time. It opened easily enough, but it was passing through it that would be interesting. I took a deep breath as I stepped through.
Something went wrong. I felt the rift quickly closing around me. My eyes filled with colors, making my head spin. It felt like something was pushing against me from all around me, then pulling me apart, and then pushing again. I pushed forward as darkness started to fall over me, the colors disappearing. Then, my head felt like it burst open, and I collapsed.
I woke with a splitting headache. It felt as if someone had driven a giant metal stake into the center of my head. I groaned as I tried to push myself up, closing my eyes in pain. My back was the next thing to start hurting. My muscles that I didn't even know I had on my back ached. My hands and feet came next. It felt like they had swollen to balloons and that there was some giant calluses on them. This made me fall flat on my stomach with a groan. I tried again, and raised up onto my feet. But when I did, my balance wavered and I fell forward, catching myself with my hands.
I growled, thirst hitting me now. I assumed that the ordeal going through the rift had left me dehydrated. So, I spotted a crystal clear lake and dragged myself forward. It was then when I noticed the yellow fur covered hoof. My eyes widen as I lifted my hand and turned it over. Instead of my hand, the hoof raised up and turned over, revealing the horse shoe shape underneath. I looked down at my other hand to see a matching hoof. I scrabbled to the lake and ducked my head into it, drinking quickly in hopes that it was a hallucination. After taking several giant gulps of water, I raise my head out and shook my head. My hair whipped around and I felt that it was growing out of the back of my neck. I whipped my head around as I turned to push myself onto my feet again, failing and falling forward into the water. I pushed up onto all fours and looked down into the water. I saw my reflection.
As I looked into the water, my eyes widen in surprise. The reflections eyes were like mine, but larger and rounder. My green hair ran down the back of my neck and folded over in a mess. "The fuck?" I mumbled. "I'm...a pony?!"
