Heavy grunting filled the air as the worried Mightyena mother strode around the massive boulder blocking her from accessing her burrow. She had been trying to get her cubs to leave the burrow when the rock above the entrance had fallen, covering the hole. Given that she was a solitary individual without a pack of her own, she had no one to rely on to help her.
She needed her cubs back! With an effort rarely seen in her species, she rammed herself against the boulder's side, trying desperately to push it away so her cubs could escape. The rock shuddered slightly as the Pokémon continued shoving against it yet refused to budge. The whimpering of her pups grew behind the boulder, rising to a crescendo even as her own anguished howls echoed through the evening.
A sudden thundering of heavy footsteps caused the Mightyena to freeze in her tracks, her ears perking up in both anticipation and fright. If it's an Ursaring or some other predator, she'll have little chance of fighting back. Spotting a faint shadow emerge from the trees, she whirled around, snarling as she raised her hackles.
She's not going down without a fight! The yipping of the pups grew louder as the imposing shadow grew larger, the underbrush whipping aside to reveal the massive form of what appeared to be an enormous construction of clay and metal, two blue eyes glowing eerily in the darkness. The Mightyena's stomach churned as she looked on in fright, realizing that the thing's hand could crush her with one simple swing.
The mighty hands of the creature, divided into armored segments ending in thick, pillar-like fingers, reached towards the Mightyena, causing her to yelp in fright. Despite her fear, she prepared herself to leap at the being in one last attempt to defend her young, even if it meant her own death. To her surprise, the creature's hands went past her, grasping the massive boulder on both sides. With a slight grunt, the golem hefted the rock above its head, before tossing it aside with a jerk of the shoulders.
The Mightyena shaking off her shock quickly shot into the now free burrow, beyond delight to see her pups standing just behind where the rock used to be, slightly dazed but alright. Their tails wagged excitedly as they embraced their mother. The looming shadow of their rescuer appeared over them, quieting the rambunctious Pokémon.
Looking up at the enormous golem-like creature, they saw with relief that it was the park warden Boulderon. The Subterra Guardian had a gentle expression, kneeling to glance down at the Mightyena family.
"I saw that you were having a bit of trouble, so make sure to stay out of the way of this area next time. It's notorious for the undeveloped tracts of land, and debris collapsing is quite common."
The mother, despite not speaking the tongue of the "civilized" Guardians, gave a yip in response, acknowledging the warden's words. The golem gave a smile in response and waved as the Mightyena and her pups ran off, their happy yowls and yaps filling the air. The golem proceeded to sit down, shaking the very earth as he hit the ground.
Reaching into a bag slung over his shoulder, he took out a flask and unscrewed the lid. Tilting his head back, he took a long draught of the amber liquid within, the finest malt liquor around, produced at his friend Wolfurio's breweries. While the Haos Guardian was normally a weapon-smith, his dabbling in brewing and alcoholic drinks produced concrete results. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Boulderon screwed the lid back on and tucked the flask back into his bag.
Looking over the massive expanse of the national park the Arch-Paladin Dragonoid himself had commissioned for him, Boulderon thought of how his dream was finally accomplished: building a haven for all the endangered species of Pokémon and Bakugan. A land protected by the word of Drago himself, little could threaten its constituents, especially with the Subterra guardian's watchful eye over it.
Then what was this pain he was feeling? The agony in his chest whenever he bore witness to the park? Looking down at his forearm, the golem felt a stabbing pain in his chest when he saw the three faded pink butterflies emblazoned on his armor. These butterflies could have been mistaken for childish finger-paint by the unexperienced, yet it could not be further from the truth.
It was the last mark of Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness and his former partner. Boulderon took a breath and closed his eyes, trying to hold back his tears. Pulling out the flask, the guardian gulped down another mouthful of the liquor, wiping his eyes with a massive hand. It had been decades since the guardians had left Equestria, and yet Boulderon could remember it like it was yesterday.
Long ago…
"Are you alright, Boulderon?" A quiet voice roused the Subterra Guardian out of his stupor. Groggily shaking his head, Boulderon glanced down to see the concerned teal eyes of his partner Fluttershy. The butter-yellow Pegasus was sitting at his side, stroking the sleeping Angel nestled against her chest. The duo were at a grove, a secret one that Boulderon had created for himself and his partner a long time ago considering the Pegasus' shyness.
"No-Nothing… I'm alright," the golem rumbled, wiping at his heavy eyelids with a hand.
"You don't have to lie to yourself…" Fluttershy whispered, reaching out with a hoof and resting it on his arm. Boulderon glanced down at her, his expression softening. No one could calm him down as easily as Fluttershy did, that was for sure.
"I don't wanna burden you with my problems, Flutters, especially considering Twilight's coronation is just a few days away," Boulderon commented, staring down at the crystal-clear lake in front of them. "You must be beyond busy with the preparations for it." The Pegasus sighed as she stroked Angel's fur, casting occasional glances at her guardian as the serene afternoon air filled their lungs.
The duo sat in silence for several more minutes before the Pegasus spoke.
"Boulderon… Please, don't bottle your feelings up inside."
Drago's words echoed through his head.
"We are going to have to leave Equestria… as long as we continue to stay here, Equestria will never be at peace. Evil such as Naga and Kyurem are only the tip of the iceberg. To keep our home safe, to keep our partners safe, we must depart. This news does not come lightly to any of us but make peace with your partner and loved ones before my or Twilight's coronations. We must leave shortly after."
The sadness in the Dragonoid's eyes could not have been more evident.
Boulderon felt something in his chest break. Tears began streaming down the golem's eyes as he felt Fluttershy's hoof on his arm. He broke into choked sobs, the massive body of the Subterra Guardian shaking as he did so.
"Boulderon!" his partner asked in worry, her soft voice only further aggravating the Guardian's sorrow. "What's wrong?"
"I've been hiding a secret from you… Flutters… I just…" Boulderon stuttered through his tears, the giant golem shaking his head in a vain attempt to stop his tears. "Drago talked to us in private…we must leave Equestria by the end of the coronation… It's for the greater good. The longer we stay, the more we attract evil and negative forces determined to destroy this land…"
Fluttershy was silent for a few moments, before gently stroking Boulderon's arm as the Guardian quieted down.
"Bouldy…" she remarked, a small smile gracing her features, even though Boulderon saw a glimmer of sadness in her teal eyes. "You've been there for me ever since I was a filly, spending all your time caring for others over yourself… Perhaps it is for the better."
Boulderon shook his head and stomped his foot into the ground, releasing a tremor that shook the trees around them. He refused to accept the reality of the situation, leaving the mare he had been bonded to since the day Vestroia was destroyed by the Gargonoid invasion and his mother was slaughtered in front of his eyes. He had fought monsters ranging from hulking dragons and territorial Tyranitar to outmuscling his predecessor Hammer Gorem in earthshaking battle to befriending an eldritch god of darkness and destruction, yet nothing bit him as hard as the prospect of leaving his partner.
Looking down, Boulderon saw that tears were streaming down Fluttershy's silken cheeks as well, and yet the Pegasus was still smiling.
"One day we'll meet again, Boulderon," she said, giving him a gentle nuzzle. "I promise…You will always be my Guardian."
"Forever and ever, Flutters," Boulderon whispered, hugging her with a small smile in return as the duo went back to glancing at the lake in silence.
It had been decades since Drago and the rest of the Guardians returned to the restored Vestroia, and yet this memory was burned directly into Boulderon's mind, making it impossible to forget. As time passed, Fluttershy sent letters every now and then to tell Boulderon about her life back in Equestria.
Boulderon shook his head to clear his thoughts, realizing that he smelt the faint scent of chaotic magic in the air. A faint smile touched his lips as he realized it could only mean one thing.
Discord and Dharak had come to visit.
Tucking his flask back into his bag, the golem slowly rose from his resting spot and went to the edge of the savanna, near a cluster of massive trees. The Spirit of Chaos and the God of Destruction were among the few beings who could consistently transport themselves between Vestroia and Equestria, transcending the fabric of reality to bypass the magical wards and locks that normally bound the portal shut. Doing so however cost immense amounts of energy and magic, making it impractical to do more than a few times a year. Today was quite a times before their normal meeting time. Something must be amiss…
Boulderon smiled as he saw Discord's distinct serpentine form hovering near the trees, Dharak's hulking, black-armored body behind him. His smile faded as he saw the tears streaking down Discord's cheeks, the Draconequus wiping his face with his lion paw while the grim-faced Dharak gently patted his back with a massive claw, his own expression one of sorrow.
"Discord? Dharak? What's wrong?" Boulderon asked, wiping the dust from his gauntlets as he neared the two. Discord said nothing, the only sounds being his quiet sobs.
"Boulderon… I think you should read this privately…" Dharak said, gently patting his distraught partner on the back as he snapped his claws. A plain brown book appeared in a flash of light, dropping into Boulderon's outstretched palms. The golem shook off his surprise before looking down at the book.
His heart dropped as he saw the familiar trio of pink butterflies emblazoned on its cover, a single yellow feather acting as a bookmark. This is Fluttershy's journal, a book kept by the Element of Kindness recording every memorable moment throughout her life, from the day she earned her Cutie Mark and met Boulderon to the day she and the rest of the Mane Six achieved their destinies. A book that could not be removed from her possession unless…
"No…" The Subterra Guardian whispered.
"Boulderon, you must understand…" Dharak stated but was cut off when the golem collapsed against the rock, opening the book with trembling fingers and flipping through to the bookmarked page.
Dear Boulderon…
By the time you're reading this, I won't be around anymore. Time has claimed me, as it does to so many other Ponies and Creatures… Please understand, it is no one's fault. I have asked bothDiscord and Twilight not to intervene with my lifespan, as I would find it immoral to live so long while the rest of our friends have already passed on.
I hope that you realize that it is not your fault what happened. Everypony lives and passes on, it is but part of nature, and now it is my turn to pass on. Even though a Pony's lifespan is but a matter of minutes in a Guardian's life, I always cherished the time we spent together, no matter how short it was.
I always thought of the time we spent back at the grove before you left Equestria, of the anger and sorrow you must have felt when you realized you had to leave. I want you to know, I never really got over your departure either, but it is not about either of us in the end. It is about the greater good for both Equestria and Vestroia. I hope you do not hold any resentment or anger in your heart for what has transpired.
I hope that one day another Pony or Creature will be able to make you smile once more, Boulderon, even though it may not be me. You will always be my brother, even if we are physically separate.
Things may not have proceeded the way we wanted, but there will always be light at the end of the tunnel.
You will find happiness one day, Boulderon; I'll wish for it.
Your friend and partner, Fluttershy.
Dharak and Discord silently watched Boulderon slowly put the feather back into the book, his trembling hands slowly closing the journal. His chest heaved as he collapsed to his knees, heaving sobs wracking his body as he buried his face into a hand. The Spirit of Chaos and his Guardian knew there was little they could do to comfort the distraught golem and thus agreed it would be best to leave him to his mourning. With a snap of his claw, Dharak transported himself and his partner back into the Chaos Realm.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy… I'm so sorry… I never kept our promise…" The golem's broken cries echoed through the night.