Bridled Fury

by IStoppedWatchingAtLikeSeason3

Kratos, Ghost of Sparta, finds himself taken to a world very different from his own. Will he be able to continue his journey for vengeance, or will the former god of war finally meet his match in Equestria? And yes, I went there. SHELVED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

11. Prelude to War

"So..." Rainbow Dash looked around, clearly uneasy about being unable to move quickly. "You wanna talk or something?"

Kratos glanced over at the pegasus for a brief moment before his eyes returned to the forest path. "About what, exactly?"

"Well, I talked to that Hermes guy, and he seemed really afraid of you. Something about what you did back in your world or whatever."

Kratos grimaced. "Hermes is a coward, although I suppose his cowardice was justified."

Dash squinted. "How, exactly?"

"I killed his uncles. A few of his siblings." Noting his companion's disbelieving stare, he added, "They attacked me first, though."

"Wasn't he a god? Gods don't die! And how many do you even have in your world?"

"Far more than just two," the Spartan assured her. "And they usually don't die, unless you have this." He nodded his head back to the glowing weapon strapped to his back. "The gods of Olympus abandoned me, and have attempted to kill me more times than I can remember. Don't pity them, and don't pity me."

"Ohhhh-kay," Dash replied, shifting uncomfortably. "Let's talk about something else. How's your time been in Ponyville?"

"Fine." Kratos didn't add anything else.

Rainbow Dash decided to try again. "...Have you been having fun?"

"Yes."

The junior speedster rolled her eyes. "Would you care to tell me about it?" she snarked.

"To what end?"

"To make this go a little faster! I mean, come on!" Dash's expression was one of agony. "We're in the middle of the Everfree Forest, and not only can I not fly, but I'm stuck walking with the dullest traveler ever!"

"You could just go on ahead if you're so bored," Kratos shot back.

The pegasus shook her head. "Nuh-uh! I'm sticking right by you, even if you're going to be a jerk about it, so you might as well make the best out of it!"

Kratos grumbled under his breath, "Either you truly believe in loyalty, or you're just a stubborn fool." Turning back to Dash, he sighed. "What do you want to know?"

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. "Whaddya think of everypony? You know: us, the princesses, any other ponies you've met around here?"

"Erm..." Kratos began. "Princess Luna is the friendliest deity I've ever met, although that is not saying much. She seems rather optimistic, though."

Dash looked confused. "You only saw her for like five minutes, though."

Kratos shrugged. "She has visited my dreams a few times."

"Huh." Dash glanced over at the Spartan stallion. "Guess she kinda likes you. What about Celestia?"

"...I don't think she and I are on good terms."

"Well, duh!"

"As for the bearers..." Kratos looked over. "Applejack is a fine wo...mare, albeit a tad stubborn. Means well by it, though. I'm still not very fond of Rarity, but that's her own fault. Pinkie Pie is..."

"Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie?" Dash offered.

The Spartan considered the description. "...That works, yes. Haven't spoken with Twilight, but she seems... too intellectual for me. As for you, I admire your bravery, at the least: not many would charge straight towards a god. Don't know you well enough otherwise."

"What about Fluttershy?" The pegasus shot Kratos a look he couldn't quite decipher.

"Fluttershy..." Kratos sighed. "Fluttershy was the first being who showed genuine kindness to me in a long time. She was willing to take me into her home and care for me however she could, and I cannot thank her enough. She has hidden depths, though, a hidden strength..." The Spartan allowed a small smile, looking downwards with a look of remembrance.

"You seem kinda... fond of her."

Kratos' head snapped back up. "...What?"

Dash shifted awkwardly. "Okay, lemme ask it like this: do you, y'know, like Fluttershy?"

"In what sense?"

"Do you... have the hots for her?" Dash finally asked.

Kratos stared. "Why? Do you?"

"What?" Rainbow Dash looked aghast. "No way! She's been my friend since forever! Besides, I don't dig mares! Why'd you even ask that?"

"First off," Kratos began, "because you gave me that sort of... impression. Second, because my relationship with Fluttershy is nothing like that!" The anger boiled away. "She... reminds me of someone, really."

Cautiously, Dash ventured, "Who?"

"...Calliope. My daughter."

"...Oh." She turned back towards the path, then stopped. "Wait a minute, you're a father?" she asked, her mouth gaping in shock.

"Why is my life of such great interest to you?" Kratos demanded, glaring at the pegasus.

"Mostly 'cuz we don't really know anything about you," Dash said, rolling her eyes. "We know you're from another world, that you've got something against Celestia, that you've apparently seen and done a lot of messed-up things, and you're currently living with a friend of ours. Not exactly reassuring."

Kratos simply harrumphed and turned back towards the path, stewing in his anger. Of course Rainbow Dash was right, but he was in no mood to admit that. He thought he'd have felt a little better, releasing his stress over the past few days by beating Hermes into a bloody pulp. He'd have thought finally getting his ha... hooves on the pest would have been far more satisfying, but afterwards he felt as hollow as he did when he first arrived in Equestria. On top of that, it wasn't like he could very easily tell them his background without alienating all of them. The less they knew, the better.

After they walked along for a long period of silence, the Spartan could hear Dash sigh. "All right, so that's a touchy subject. As long as we have that cleared up, how'd you like that party yesterday?"

Kratos mulled the question over. "From what I can remember, it was the most at ease I've ever been. Pinkie has a way of making one feel... welcome."

"Well, yeah," Dash shrugged. "That's her whole deal. She throws parties to make ponies happy. The one time she thought we hated her parties, she went a little nuts. I think Twilight mentioned some syndrome, but I dunno."

"Which is why those floating objects are her cutie marks?" Kratos asked.

"Yeah! And my cutie mark is all about me striving to be the fastest, and yours is..." The pegasus glanced over at Kratos' cutie mark. "...Uhhh—"

"I don't know either," Kratos said.

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Don't tell the Crusaders. They might just make you an honorary member. You'd never leave Equestria then."

Kratos allowed a low chuckle, partly at the now almost fond memory of the three fillies. "They would forgive my assault on their tree house?"

Dash thought about it with a sly grin. "Scoots would probably hold a grudge, at least until I gave you the Rainbow Dash seal of approval. What can I say, the kiddo loves me."

Kratos briefly noted the apparent ease he was now having with the pegasus, and was about to reply to her remark in kind when he felt the ground underneath him crumble. Without another moment of warning, the trail beneath Kratos collapsed into the ravine that edged along the path, tearing up the underbrush along the way.

"Kratos!" Rainbow Dash attempted to take off towards the falling Spartan, but her wings still ached, and she only succeeded in crashing to the dirt path. She opened her eyes just in time to watch Kratos tumble out of sight.

~/~/~/~

Moments later, Kratos landed unceremoniously on a rotting, fallen log, knocking the wind out of his lungs if only because it had caught him off-guard. He rolled off, thudding onto the mossy ground.

The stallion stood slowly, scanning the area. This section of the forest was even darker and more choked with vines and foliage than before. He was far from feeling afraid of anything the Everfree had to offer, but he remained on his guard anyway.

As he continued looking around, Kratos' eyes picked up a small glimmer of light shining through the darkness. Recalling his last experience with mysterious sources of light, the Spartan advanced cautiously, checking that the Blade of Olympus was within reach.

Kratos emerged in a small, perfectly circular clearing, with the exact center holding a small white altar. Upon the altar rested the small marble bust of a young man, his head held high and proud.

"Greetings,GhostofSparta." The voice was different from the first one he had heard, but they shared the same bizarre echoing sound. "We'vehadoureyeonyouforsometime."

"Who are you?" Kratos barked.

"Righttothepoint,Isee.Oneofyourbetterqualities." The Spartan could swear he heard the voice "ahem" before continuing. "IamBellerophon.YouhavealreadymetmyfriendLancer,ifyourecallyourvisittothetemple."

"Then you are the ones responsible for my journey!"

"Indeed. You, Kratos, are the only one capable of freeing us from our eternal prisons."

Kratos scowled. "And why should I?"

Bellerophon tsked. "NotthetrueparagonofKindness,areyou,GhostofSparta?Nomatter.Isimplywarnyouthatyoumaywellshareourfate,ifyoucontinue."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Zeushastheentiretyofthepantheonswrappedaroundhisfinger," the voice replied, its voice flowing through the air. "HecouldeasilypressuretheRoyalSistersintodisposingofyou.Perhaps,say,withthethreatofwar?"

Kratos' confidence faltered. "They would not dare."

"Oh?Andwhatofalltheothergodsyouhavemetinyourtravels,hmm?Isupposenotlongago,theywouldnothavedaredeither?" The voice emitted a mirthful chuckle, and Kratos could almost see a smug grin on the bust's features.

"All the gods will betray you, Ghost of Sparta. Even your beloved Princess Luna has been using you, although her designs are really rather benign compared to what Celestia has in store, should you become too much of a liability."

Kratos glowered at the entire clearing, not sure where to aim his glare. "...What do you want of me?"

"StrikeZeusandCelestiawiththeBladeofOlympus," the voice declared.

"...I can do this."

"Then,usethepoweryougleanfromthemtobreakourbonds,andtogetherthethreeofuswillbemorethancapableofdestroyingthegods,ofbothOlympusandCanterlot.Onceyoucleanupsomelooseends,ofcourse."

Kratos' eyes widened. "Loose ends?" he echoed.

"TheElementsofHarmony," Bellerophon replied. "Theyaretheonlyforcethatcanhaltourascension.Disposeofthem,andvictoryisours."

Kratos stared, his eyes far away even as his ears hard everything the spirit said.

"Justthink!" Bellerophon continued. "DoyourecalltheblissthatLancerbestoweduponyou?Youcanreturntothatfeeling!Itwillbeanendtothememories,thesorrow,thetragediesthatfollowyoureverymoveandhauntyoureverymoment!Youwouldbeafreeman!Y—"

"Kratos!" Another voice cut in from above. "Where are you, buddy?"

The Spartan shook his head, the familiar voice breaking his trance. "Rainbow Dash..."

"C'mon, you gotta be okay!" Dash continued, still unseen through the thick canopy. "You're not going to go and die or disappear or anything on my watch!"

Kratos turned back towards the statue, his face locked in grim determination. "No."

"No?" Bellerophon sounded genuinely surprised.

"I will not slay the Elements of Harmony to free you," Kratos clarified. "Nothing you can offer me would move me to any other decision. You act as though you know me rather well, but there's something about me you should know."

Kratos craned his neck, gripping the Blade of Olympus tightly in his jaws. "I am no traitor," he growled, somehow still speaking clearly.

With that, he leapt, swinging the sword with all his might into the statue, shattering it and driving the blade into the altar.

Bellerophon howled in pain, and for a moment Kratos could almost hear a more feminine voice crying out in tandem. Magical tendrils of white light exploded from the bust, writhing as it shot upwards through the trees overhead. As the light left, Kratos heard a hoarse voice whisper in his ear, "Youhavenotheardthelastofus."

With that, the clearing darkened to match the rest of the forest.

~/~/~/~

Rainbow Dash looked up to see the sun far lower than it had been before, the sky slowly approaching the colors of sunset. "This is so bad," she muttered to herself. "It's my time with the big scary dude from another world, and now he's gone, or worse. The others are gonna kill me!"

"Not... if I... have anything... to say about it!"

The pegasus turned towards the edge of the ravine, just in time to see a large, wickedly curved blade drive into the ground. Slowly but surely, a dirt-stained, scuffed-up Kratos clambered onto the ledge. He allowed a weary smile. "I would have returned sooner... but this body is not meant for vertical climbs."

"Kratos! Boy, am I glad to see you!" Dash froze for a moment. "Not that, y'know, I was worried or anything," she added, attempting to recover.

"I don't doubt that," Kratos replied knowingly. "Let us continue where we left off."

With that, the two returned to the path, treading more carefully this time. What neither of them noticed, however, was the glowing portal behind them.

~/~/~/~

Zeus practically shook with rage as he dispelled the communication. Kratos had learned almost all the Elements. If Celestia kept her promise, she would return him to the world of Olympus, and there was little doubt of what would happen after that now that he had also retrieved the Blade.

The god of thunder turned, taking in the view of his majestic mountain home. He would not stand to see this place desecrated by the Ghost of Sparta's presence.

"I suppose, then," he rumbled, "that it is time."

~/~/~/~

As the brief glimpses of sky turned more and more orange, Kratos squinted ahead. "I think I see the edge of this forsaken wood."

Dash's eyes honed in on the tunnel of light at the end of the trail. "Hey, yeah!"

Cautiously, Rainbow Dash put on more speed. Upon finding that her wounds were no longer as painful, she broke into a gallop, with the Spartan following close behind. Both of them reveled in their perceived victory, albeit in their own manners.

Both of these celebrations were cut short, however, as a dark, swirling mass appeared in the ground in front of them, halting their advance. An immense foreleg, thick with muscle, sprang out of the mass, and out of the darkness climbed a beast taller than either of them, even as said darkness disappeared. Kratos recognized the brutish, beady eyes that locked onto him, as well as the humanoid body shape that seemed almost foreign to him now.

"What... is that thing?" Dash asked slowly, staring.

As the creature hefted its immense battle-axe, Kratos growled one word: "Minotaur."

Almost on cue, the creature bellowed and charged, gigantic hooves thudding on the forest floor. Kratos responded in kind, readying both Blades as he galloped towards his foe.

With a roar, the minotaur swung its axe in a massive horizontal swipe. Kratos effortlessly ducked under the slice, then swept the Blade of Exile at the beast's legs. He sprung up as the minotaur stumbled, drawing the Blade of Olympus across its chest.

The minotaur fell to its hands and knees, expressing its surprise with another agitated roar. The Spartan silenced the beast with two jabs to the jaw with his forelegs, and an immense buck between the eyes that would have made Applejack proud.

The minotaur swung blindly, just grazing Kratos. He responded by launching the chain blade into the beast's chest, yanking himself towards his target.

Kratos landed on top of its chest, only to feel a meaty fist close around his throat. The Spartan was flung into a nearby tree, splintering the trunk as he knocked it over. Slowly, he stood back up, his face set in grim determination.

The Spartan slowly advanced towards the minotaur, even as it threw another swing. He turned, allowing the axe to bounce away harmlessly from the Golden Fleece. As the monster reeled from the rebound, Kratos bucked one of its knees, bending it the other way with a sickening crack. The minotaur fell to its left knee, the other one hanging limp behind it, even as Kratos leaped onto the beast's head.

Without a second thought, he drove the Blade of Olympus into the back of the minotaur's skull, allowing it to trail down along its back as Kratos descended behind the creature, leaving a jagged cut the entire way down. Silently, he landed on all four hooves, even as the minotaur collapsed behind him, its body limp and its spine all but obliterated.

Kratos turned back to see the monster dissipating, and a very stunned Rainbow Dash. "Wha... you just..." She did not blink for a long time.

Kratos suddenly felt extremely self-conscious. "That was a minotaur. That's what I do to minotaurs. There's usually more of them, though, and other monsters..."

Dash finally blinked. "That's what you do? Monsters appear, and you just brutalize them?" She shook her head as she stood back up, and in passing asked, "Why the hay do you want to go back?"

Kratos couldn't answer. He had his reasons, but doubt had begun to gnaw away at them. Still, the minotaur's appearance was worrisome. "Rainbow," he said, "that was a monster sent by the gods of Olympus. This was no coincidence."

The pegasus turned to Kratos, even as they continued their fast-paced walk. "Whoa, what? Then what was that?" she asked.

The answer was on the Spartan's lips even before his nose detected acrid smoke in the breeze. "This is an invasion," he growled.

The sight that greeted the duo's eyes as they ascended the hill was one that neither of them had ever hoped to see. Before them lay Ponyville, a simple thatched-roof village with a small, peaceful populace. And it was under attack.

This time, they took off towards the town at the same time. It didn't even register to Rainbow Dash that, even as she flew at full speed, Kratos was galloping just as fast as her.

~/~/~/~

"The horror! The horror!"

The cream-colored mare recoiled from the beast in front of her. The undead stallion snarled, rusted armor clanking as it cornered her between two overturned wagons. "Please," Roseluck begged, "not like this!"

Both of their eyes widened in surprise as, with a crunch, a blade erupted from the beast's ribs. Before the rose-maned pony could say anything, the creature was yanked away by a long length of chain.

Roseluck only stared as that large fellow from yesterday's party landed in front of her, wielding two awful-looking blades, including the one that had dispatched the monster. "Is there a safe zone?" he asked gruffly, mumbling through the other blade's hilt.

The mare nodded her head, still jittery. "I-I was headed towards the town square. I—"

"Move, then!" Kratos growled, already turning to try and locate the pavilion over the rooftops. Rainbow Dash arrived above them, signalling down the street. The three of them bolted down the cobblestone, even as more ponies and monsters appeared.

Kratos leaped onto the back of a gorgon, smashing his front hooves into its temples even as a small colt was wrapped in its coils. The snakelike creature recoiled in pain, freeing the colt even as Kratos drove the Blade of Olympus into its neck. The Spartan noticed the colt's fearful gaze locked on him. "Get yourself to the square," he growled.

The colt complied immediately, even as Kratos scanned for his next target. He knew he should only target the monsters attempting to hurt others, but he felt an old, familiar feeling brewing in the pit of his stomach. As he bucked a much more goat-like satyr against a stone wall, feeling its body collapse under his hooves, the Spartan was almost... enjoying himself. At the very least, it was unnerving the other ponies, particularly Rainbow Dash, who had so far seen the most of his martial abilities.

The enjoyment more or less evaporated upon having one undead soldier score a lucky strike across his muzzle. Kratos grit his teeth, ignoring the sizable cut across his cheek, and sent the warrior careening into a wall, crumpling as it hit the ground.

The Spartan turned towards the chaotic crowd of colorful companions they had garnered along their way. "Silence!" They froze, turning towards him with apprehension. "The pavilion is down this street. Make your way there, and don't do anything foalish!" Offhand, Kratos cursed the effect Equestria had on his speech.

As one, the civilians took off towards the town square. Kratos followed close behind, watching for stragglers and enemies as they traveled. Soon enough, they reached the circular building, the doors flanked on either side by the Royal Guard. The Spartan couldn't help but notice their absence elsewhere.

"Move to the center of the pavilion in an orderly fashion," one of the white-coated soldiers droned. "Once there, wait calmly for further instruc...tion..." The guard stared at the immense earth pony bringing up the rear of the crowd in recognition.

Kratos raised an eyebrow. "Who is to dispatch the monsters wreaking havoc in this village?" he asked.

"We're... just the vanguards," the pegasus offered. "The main force should arrive soon enough, assuming they got out of Canterlot fast enough."

"'Fast enough?'" The Spartan parroted.

"This isn't the only location under attack," the second guard said, holding up his professional demeanor while shooting his fearful partner an irritated look. "Now, sir, if you would please join the others inside."

Grudgingly, Kratos walked through the double doors, shooting the first guard a look that made his armor rattle. As he continued along, he heard the second guard speak up. "What in the name of Celestia was that little act, Gladius?"

"You weren't in the throne room when I was, Charger!" Gladius replied defensively. "That stallion was a complete maniac!"

"You mean that's the guy who...? Dear Luna..."

Kratos chuckled. He had hoped his reputation caught on with the Guard: everyone needed a sort of looming threat to enforce humility once in a while.

Eventually, Kratos relocated Rainbow Dash, who had gone ahead and located a group of the others. The other Bearers had made it, as well as the dragon, Spike, the Crusaders, and what the Spartan presumed to be members of the Apple family.

"Kratos!" Fluttershy, hurried towards the Spartan, her red, teary eyes wide first with relief, then with surprise at the cut across his face. "Oh, my goodness! You're hurt! I was so worried when Rarity told me you got into a fight with some pegasus, and then you ran off and—"

Kratos raised one hoof, blocking Fluttershy's attempt to tend to his wound. "That was no pegasus," he clarified. "That was Hermes, Olympian god. He was sent to spy on and sabotage our efforts."

"Where did you two go, anyway?" Twilight Sparkle scrutinized Rainbow Dash and Kratos. "They said you ran out of Ponyville, but..."

"We cornered him in the Everfree Forest," Kratos clarified, not noticing the eyes he drew upon mentioning the name. "It took us hours to get back to town, and when we returned, Ponyville was... under attack."

Twilight nodded. "And the monsters?" she asked.

The Spartan grimaced. "A favored army for the gods of Olympus."

The others were silent. Apple Bloom scanned the faces of the adults. "So, is this a... a war or something?"

"...Kratos?" Fluttershy stared up at the stallion towering over her. "Is it?"

Kratos looked away for a moment, scanning the crowd of ponies scattered across the building, huddling together, seeking some sort of refuge from the hell outside. It was a familiar sight, one that he had crushed underfoot more times than he cared to remember. An idea sprung to mind.

"...This is no war."

At this answer, even the bored-looking red stallion standing by Applejack expressed some surprise. "I do beg your pardon, Kratos," Rarity began, "but what about an invading army of monsters makes this anything different from a, well, a war?"

Kratos turned back to the group. "The monsters outside are spreading chaos," he replied, his eyes glinting with cold steel, "so that Ponyville will suffer considerable damage in property, possibly in lives. This is supposedly happening across Equestria, meaning that many towns are likely under siege. Let me ask you this: how would your princesses react if they were to look out the window and see their majestic cities burning, their beloved subjects running helpless from a new and terrifying threat?

"This is no war," Kratos repeated. "This is a warning. A warning to the Royal Sisters. If they do not relent to the wishes of Olympus, then the real invasion will begin."

"...What're the wishes of Olympus?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"If I have to guess?" Kratos turned to the window facing Canterlot, his mind already beginning to plan and calculate the next battle. "My head on a platter."

~/~/~/~

See what I did there? Huh? Sh*t's getting real up in this fic! ToonNinja here, and boy has this been interesting. Now, let's talk, hmm? Right, first off: Kratoshy, down for the count. This will likely be met by almost unanimous relief, accompanied by somepony who considered it their OTP. I apologize to the latter; I mean, you can still ship them if you want. I won't judge. Much.

Bellerophon wasn't just a name, as you can now tell. He'll be playing a role in this, but you guys will have to wait to see what this spirit has in store. But whatever you do, do NOT look up the myths associated with Bellerophon. It MIGHT just give you a vague idea of where he fits into all of this, and if there's anything I can't stand, it's clarity.

Also: Kratos gets to kill more things.(Yaaaay!) But now, all the little ponies are going to get a glimpse into the churning insanity that is Kratos' previous life. (Boooooo!) Hey, the plot demands it. I just deliver. Tune in next time to see where this cliffhanger goes!