Disclaimer: I own nothing from the My Little Pony Friendship is magic franchise, I only own the story and the OC that I created.
Chapter 3
The magic portal. A mess of color. Each one blending near seamlessly into the other an a chaotic yet also beautiful display before my eyes.
In case you are wondering. I am falling. Falling. Falling. After what felt like a few seconds turned into minutes, hours, days even. At first I felt excitment, but this soon turned to boredom. Then after even MORE time passed, I felt really annoyed at the God who sent me via bloooo... blllolllooollloo...! Guuh! Magic portal. I miss cursing already. Sigh.
*Some time later*
THUD!
...
...
...
...
"...Ow." Do I really need to say more?
Ok. Lets get everything in order. Firstly; I am in pain. Thats good, but thankfully it is not a crippling pain, as I can move my body quite easily. Secondly; I can see though both eyes perfectly. This did have me a little worried I will admit; due to the close proximity of the burn which is covering my right eye. Thirdly; the smell here is God aweful! The smell of dead dragon is never an easy one to get used to, but couple that with an enhanced sense of smell, with the scent of my own charred flesh. And there you have a potent cocktail for nasal abuse!
I try to stand up, but a feeling of exhuastion keeps me down. So against my better judgement, I draw a deep breath, and start coughing at the lethal cocktail that hangs in the air. A few minutes of coughing, and I gain control of my breathing enough to attempt to stand on my own hooves. At first it was hard, but as I put more effort into it, I finally stand up. Trembling my legs may be, but I'm nevertheless still standing. Still though, it took a lot out of me just doing that. I gaze over the battlefield and see the prepared carnage. Charred trees, shattered boulders, scarred earth, blood and bone. Not a pretty sight to say the least.
This is not what one would expect to see when they come to Equestria. Far from it in fact. But sadly, I can see that this will become a more common sight in the coming months.
"I cannot believe that this will be a more common occurance." I sigh in dejection.
"Still, I will not stop untill the threat has been ended. I will bring peace to Equestria, even if I have to die to do so!" Conviction laces my words as I speak.
With strength of will, I look around for something. Sternguard. My hammer is not in visible sight; until I see the haft peeking out from under the dragons corpse. I sigh heavily in resignation, and move slowly over to the corpse. I grip the hammer in my...hoof...? Wiat a second? I am gripping thehaft of Sternguard in my hoof. My HOOF! How does that even work!? NO! Nonononono! Don't you go about giving me the 'It's Magic' explaination! There has to be a reason for this! With that rant, I find that I cannot get a grip on Sternguard. Eh? What is this? Beacause I don't believe that I should be able to grasp things in my hooves, you are now telling me that I CANNOT grab things with my HOOVES!?
I slap myself with my hoof. The pain is treble what it normally was; due to me slapping my injured right cheek. Cringing at my stupidity, I get control of my emotions. Upon further reflection, I should not act like Twilight Sparkle here and not accept something just because it doesn't make sense.
"HEY! Are you alright!?" A voice calls out from above me.
Speak of the pony...
*Twilight POV*
A sigh escapes me. I am currently being flown via pegasus chariot, to be dropped off in Ponyville. The reason for this is because I recieved a letter from Princess Celestia. This message came in response to a letter that I had previously sent via Dragon Mail Express. I sent this letter to inform her upon my discovering information regarding the return of The Mare in The Moon. Nightmare Moon. And what was the response? 'Stop reading those duskey old books!' it said. 'Make some friends!' it said!
Another sigh escapes me as I lean against the side of the chariot.
"Look on the bright side Twilight. The princess arranged for you to stay in the library. Doesn't that make you happy?" Said a voice in in peppy and cheerful voice besides me. That voice belongs to Spike. A baby dragon. Purple in color except for the pale gren belly scales, lime green colored ears and the dark cabbage green colored spiked ridges going from his head, down his back and ending at his tail.
What he says does perk me up though.
"Yes. And do you know why? Because I know I'm right. I'll check on the preperations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moos return." I say in a serious tone.
"Then when wi-" Spike began but was interupted.
Off in the distance we see a large dragon swooping down roaring at something we cannot discern. The pegasi pulling the chariot pull up and hold position, glaring at the dragon in the distance.
"Whoa! A dragon! Here!? What is it here for?" I say in confusion and excitement. I was about to say more, but then I see the dragon breathe fire at whatever it was attacking. Not only that, but It was striking with its claws everywhere in a clear attempt to kill its target. I search myself to find some sort of writing material; even charcoal would be good right now. Nopony has ever seen a dragon, nor have they been able to observe much about them. My fascination holds until I see just what the dragon is actually atacking. The distance is great but I can still identify the dragons target to be a pony!
"OH MY GOSH! That dragon's attacking a pony!" I shout in horror.
The guards and spike all look at me, then at what the dragon just tossed into the air. Details aren't really clear but it is enough for them to see that a pony was being attacked! I leap into action.
"Spike! Send urgent message to Princess Celestia!" I call out.
"Right!" Spike responds by pulling out a quill and some parchment. Then writes a quick letter detailing where we are and what we just witnessed. He then rolls it up and burns it using his dragon breathe.
"Guards, take us in close so we can help that pony!" I call out to the guards pulling the chariot. But...
"Sorry ma'am. We would be putting both of you in harms way if we did that. I'm sorry to say this, but we can only watch as this continues to its inevitable conclusion." One of the guards responds critically.
"WHAT!? That pony is going to die and you are not even going to help them!?" Shouting now, I cannot believe what I heard the guard just said!
"I'm sorry. But there is nothing we can do at this point." An apologetic but firm voice responds to my dismay.
"But..." I cannot think of anything to say, as I bear witness to the death of a pony before me. Spike then burps, leaving a scroll behind. Spike hurriedly opens it, reads it and gives us a quick summary.
"Princess Celestia, says not to put ourselves in danger." He is shocked at the messages contents. As am I. "She says to hold at a safe distance and to wait for her arrival. She says that we are ill prepared to combat a dragon and that it may be too late by the time she gets here." He finishes in a sad voice.
"No. No, nononono! She has to get here in time! That pony is going to die! She has to get here!" I cry in dismay. I then hear a loud crash, and turning back I fear the worst.
However. What I see next fills me with joy. After the pony crashes back to the earth, they then get back up. Seemingly more angered than hurt at the dragons actions. The pony then, to both my, and everypony's disbelief, trie to talk to the dragon. I can only assume that despite everything, this pony wants to talk this dragon down. Try to stop it from attacking them, still wanting to end the fight peacfully. I cannot believe it. The dragon responds however by breathing fire upon them. The pony then screams in pain. I flinch, unable to imagine the pain they are experiencing right now. This only grows worde when the dragon slashes the pony with its claws. Dragging them across their back, drawing another pain filled scream.
I can only cringe as the dragon casually backhands the pony a distance away. I turn away. I can't bring myself to see this through. I feel Spike tapping my shoulder, so I look and can't keep the the gasp of shock form escaping my lips. Eyes wide, I see the pony standing on their hooves, wielding a large two headed hammer. The pony breathes deeply and shouts.
"I will skin you alive, rip out your bones, tear out your organs and turn you into FU... into FFFFF... FFFFFFFFF... MINCEMEAT!" The pony screams.
The pony, for some reason, pauses. They seem to be confused. But this lapse of concentration gives the dragon a chance to strike, which it takes. One arm lashes forward, striking the unwounded side of the pony. The pony is blown away, but to my disbelief, the pony lands on their hooves staggering, but remains standing. They then gather themselves, says something that I cannot discern at this distance; then charges. Straight at the dragon. The dragon just opens it's mouth and lunges, in an attempt to eat the pony coming straight towards it. The pony then leaps forward, turns their injured side away from the dragon, leaving the hammer to trail loosely from their right hoof. And then, moving faster than I can see, the pony strikes.
...
...
...
There is no way for me to describe what just happened. The pony struck with enough power to completely liquify the dragons head. I turn my head away from the brutal and sickening sight and empty my stomach of its contents.
"Twilight? Whaa... wha... what was that?" Spike asks in complete terror. His body pale, shivering and sweaty.
"I-I-I... I don't know Spike? I should be happy that the pony is alive, but, they just killed somepony." I respond slowly and quietly. "I don't know how to feel about this." I am slightly despondent about this situation. I am confused, shocked and above all else horrified at what this pony did.
"Ma'am?" One of the guards spoke, drawing my attention to them.
"Yes?" I ask.
"If anything, we should be glad that that pony is alright. From what we could see, the pony was attacked unprovoked. And the pony tried to talk to the dragon, maybe to try to reason with it. But clearly the dragon wasn't going to listen. So in the circumstances, thier actions in taking out the threat to their life is justifiable as self defense." The guard said.
His words make sense, and I nod my understanding. Still... what that pony did is not normal. I then look to the pony seeing them fall to the ground. Hammerless. My heart jumps into my mouth as I order the guards to take us in.
In the time it takes us to get there, the pony has stood up on shaky legs and with difficulty, limps over to the dragons side and leans on it. So I call out to them.
"HEY! Are you alright!?" I shout down to them.
"..." The pony does not respond, only staring straight ahead. All things considered, they are likely to be exhausted and near delerious with the pain they are feeling. As the chariot lands I order the guards to prepare some makshift bandages, and for spike to send a report as to what happened here. I make my way swiftly over to the pony, only to be amazed yet again. This pony just lifts up the dragons body, reaches down and pulls out from under it their hammer.
I stare as the dragon is then dropped without any preamble, and the pony then staggers. I rush forward to provide support, but I stop from getting too close. I can now see the wounds they suffered. A horrific burn stretching from their right flank, covering a portion of their back and the upper half of their lead right leg. It travels up their neck and covers their right eye. A charred blackened mess, with blistered, fiery red flesh exposed to the elements. I also see the claw marks covering their back and bleeding freely. The ponies navy blue coat; mixing with their own blood to make it appear as though it was black.
This pony then turns towards me. I have to look up at him as he stands a little under five feet tall. And I stare into his eyes. His eyes are a light blue color, but I can see that they are filled with pain, but also a will. A titanic will I had never seen in anypony before. His face is strong looking, one that holds knowledge and experience of the world around him. The type I would associate with my brother. His body is also strong looking, with taught, straining muscles in just the right proportions. The only exception being a bit more muscle on his uper chest, legs and hooves. Obviously meant to deal great and powerfull attacks against his oponents. As I noticed before, his coat is a navy blue color and his hooves are stone grey in color.
His mane and tail, are a dull steel grey in color with ice blue streaks through them. He is also sporting a small goatee the same color as his mane and tail, only without the ice blue streaks. His mane is about average length with a messy style to it. It is parted in the centre, with the left parting going down over his left eye and curling under his torn left ear. Whilst the right parting rests above his right eye covering his right ear. His tail is again average length, styled in a sort of scraggy manner.
I freeze. I am at a loss for words. What can I say here? Spikes burp pulls me out of my thoughts, as I turn to look over to him. Spike reads it through so that he can give us a summary as the guards come over with some makeshift badages to apply to the stallion before me. He just stands there. Leaving the guards to their business of tending to his wounds as best they can.
"Sorry, but this is the best we can do for your injuries. If we can get to our destination, we can drop you off at the hospital there." One of the guards says to him
"Appreciate it." His voice, a deep baritone that echoes with experience, yet also seems slightly playful. A strange contrast to his own voice. But the fact that even with his injuries, he can still smile in such an appreciative way, it is remarcable. Still though I have to ask. If not for my sake then for the sake of Princess Celestia.
"I-" I begin before Spike interupts.
"Princess Celestia says that we are to bring this pony to Ponyville for emergency treatment at the hospital there. She says that she wants to meet this pony in person." He says. "Well? What are we waiting for then Twilight? We should get him there fast!" Spike exclaims pointing at the pony in question.
"We will Spike, but there is a question I want answered first," I begin with Spike before turning to the colt, "if you don't mind?" I ask the colt.
He smiles in pained humor whilst the guards are bandaging him up as best as they can.
"Sure, I'll answere to the..." He fliches as one of the guards brushes against his burn flesh, "... best of my abilities." His voice is pain laden, but he still responds strongly with a bit of humor. How tough is he? I cannot help the small blush from forming on my cheeks.
"W-well, why did that dragon attack you? Did you really have to kill it?" I ask. I don't know why but I really need to know his reasons for what happened.
His smile becomes sad as he looks down slightly.
"That was two questions, but I'll answer them both." Again he answers with a little humor, but this time in a sadder voice. One filled with regret.
"As for why the dragon attacked me... I really don't know why. I'm a traveler by choice, so I have been to a lot of places. Maybe I entered the dragons territoy and it wanted me gone? Maybe it mistook me for some other pony? There are many questions I have as to why it attacked me, but... it just wouldn't listen to me no matter much I tried to talk to it." His voice only gets deeper and filled with even more doubt and regret of what occured. "You also asked 'Did you really have to kill it?' right? No. No, I didn't have to kill it. I was honestly trying to knock it out. Trying to get it to leave me alone. I did not expect what just happened to actually happen!" His voice... his sorrow... I feel so bad right now! I am making relive what he just survived, and am making it feel like an inquisition!
"Please! I am so sorry for making you feel uncomfortable! It's just that... its just...!" I begin, but can't seem to finish.
"No. It's alright. It's probably your first time seeing such a sight. Practically everypony is like that their first time around. Whether they are the one doing the killing, or if they are just witnessing it." He responds to my apologetic concerns. How can he be so calm about this!?
"How can You be so calm about his!? You just killed somepony! I just don't get it!" I cry. I just cannot understand how he can be so calm abou this!
"...The reason for my calm is because I HAVE killed before." The response I get from him shocks me. Not just me but Spike aswell! Only the guards semm unaffected by his statement. As shown by how they continue to bandage him up.
"You... killed... other ponies?" I back off a few paces. Looking at someone I now start to see as a murderer.
"Yes. I have killed other ponies before. Now, I know what you're thinking. That I am a murderer. A monster. But let me ask you a question. And I want an your answer to be given within six seconds after you hear it. OK?" What I hear scares me, but I nod to his last question. Curious despite myself.
"There is a pony who has for years, been kidnapping little fillies and colts for their own perverse pleasure. They sexually, mentally and physically abuse them and then kill them after they gey bored." The scenario he gives is sickening. "This pony now stands before you in a stand-off. A knife at his newest victims throat, what do you do?"
"I use my magic to make the knife dis-" I began.
"The pony sees your horn glowing, so they slash the lttle colts throat then starts to run. What do you do? His response is harsh.
"W-well I use my magic to try to heal the injured pony and-" I begin again.
"The murderer, then grabs another little pony as insurance against possible pursuit. Then makes a run for it whilst you are healing the one they injured. NOW, what do you do?" His respons is even harsher.
"I-I-I... I don't know." I hold my head low, ears flat; unsure as to how it should have been handled.
"...That situation I gave you, was one I had to deal before." His words shock me. He had witnessed this scenario before? Some pony was so sick as to do things like this?
"Wha... what did you do?" I ask quietly.
"What I did was turn my back." I did not expect this! How does turning your back help in this situation! "There was a rock on the ground nearby, so I picked it up and turned fast. In that time the murderer was confused with regards to my actions. Their irrational state couldn't register my actions properly for them to respond. I then threw the rock with as much accuracy as I could. With luck it hit the hoof holding the knife, which then fell to the ground. I hurl myself forward, colliding with the pony and tackle them to the ground. They reached for the knife, which I wrench from their grip then slam it into their heart. Killing them on the spot."
What he just said... I cannot even...
"What happened after?" I ask in a small voice.
"What happened is that the parents of the little colt ran up to him a held him in thier hooves. Cryin in joy that he was safe. The other ponies also, were sharing in the good mood that had fallen the street. I was not part of that joy. That... was my first kill." I cannot hold the gasp from escaping my mouth. "I then stagger to my hooves; dropping the knife... looking at the blood that stains them... I couldn't register anything for a time. That is untill the little colt came up to me. Asking if I, of all ponies, was alright. HE came up to ME! Asking if I was ALRIGHT! I-I-I could scarce believe it! I just looked down at him!" His voice near hysterical as he relived that memory. I myself couldn't belive what I was hearing. This little colt who survived such an experience was asking his saviour if THEY were alright!
"I asked him, 'what did he mean by that?'. And do you know what he said?" His voice was calming down. Resembling his voice when I first heard it.
"He said, 'You are hurt arn't you? I know what it's like to be hurt, and I would have been hurt if it wern't for you. I wanted to thank you for saving me. But You looked hurt, so I wanted to know what I could do to make you feel better?'."He stops speakiing as tears roll down his face. I couldn't believe what I just heard. This little colt cared about the safety of his sviour not his own.
"When I heard that, tears rolled down my face as I kneeled before him. I said-" he pauses due to his tears, " I said, 'Thank you.' And just held him in my arms as the tears fell. When I finally got control of my tears, I stood up and thanked him again. Then, I said, ' So long as I can prevent others like him from causing harm, then I would willingly put my llife on the line again.' I have put my life on the line ever since. Making the world a better place if only a little. Even if it means killing others to keep the innocent safe." He finishes with a voice of iron.
His experience. I could have got one pony killed and put another in harms way. His strength of spirit is just... it's too much.
"I'm really sorry. I cannot explain how sorry I am for how I thought about your actions nor about your experiences." I pause tears forming as a draw an unsteady breathe. "I know that what I said cannot be unsaid, I know I cannot be forgi-!" He hugs me, even after all that I have said, he hugs me. It feels... warm, comforting.
"It is already forgiven. I cannot fault you for thinking that way. It is how all others have thought. But you atleast, you atleast, now, understand my pain. I hope this doesn't pu any barriers between us though. Its been so long now since I last spoke to anypony for any length of time. And, right now, I could do with a friend." His words surprise me. He needs a friend? He has had no contact with any other ponies for a long time? I know Princess ceestia wants me to make friends, but, finding somepony looking for a friend? I... I am not sure what to say here.
"Hey. I'm Spike. It's nice to meet you, given the circumstances." Spikes introduction has both of us, looking at him from our hug. The pony breaks the hug, but why do I feel less warm now?
"hey Spike. It's a pleasure to meet you too," He smirks a little, "given the circumstances." Spike chuckles at his response.
"Hehehe. Yeah. But... do you suppose that we could leave this place? I'm feeling queasy being here after all." Hispurple scales have a sick tint of green to them.
"Yes. Perhaps it's best we left this place, and get you to the hospital in Ponyville." I first say to spike then to the colt.
"I appeciate the offer of medical care, but if you can just bring me to a source of food, then I can perhaps show you a bit of magic." I blink at his statement.
"Magic? But you're an earth pony, you can't do magic?" I am confused as to what he means. He gives a little laugh, which makes me feel a little warm inside.
"Trust me. It takes seeing to believe it." His mouth is openly grinning ass he said that.
"Alright, but I still think we should get you to hospital." I reiterate the fact that he needs medical care.
"Lets get going then. Onwards to...? Where are we going to?" He asks a little bewildered.
We are headed for the town called Ponyville."
A/N
Really enjoying this now. I just hope that this chapter flows with the previous ones. If not then I shall rewrite it, to fit the whole story a little better.
Feel free to review the story, on the OC, my portail of Twilight and Spike. And the narrative. Work on the following chapters will be sporadic at best, No clear schedule really, just when I have the chapter all figured out in my head.
See ya Next Time!