I stepped out of the forge and shook my head to clear it of the hammer's ring. Though it had been years, I still remembered the noble craft of forging. The master blacksmith had seen this and hired me quickly. I would start tomorrow, but now I desired sustenance. There was a decent place nearby; low prices and good food. Not that I was low on bits, but being frugal was always a good thing. How much would this job pay anyways? Before the long walk armor was in high demand, but now? It seemed as though Equestria was at peace. In that at least, Celestia was different from Cepheus. He couldn't keep peace if it was tied around his neck.

Ah, there was the place. Dervish. A classic restaurant complete with a worn out sign and colts chasing foals down the alley beside it. And shouting at them about being blank flanks too. The sign was the weekly specials. As I skimmed through it, my mind slowly registered what I'd just seen. "Bullying," It thought. "Food," my stomach replied. "You're the law," mind answered. "Not here," stomach argued. "That didn't stop you at the Chrystal Empire," mind countered. I hate me sometimes.

The foals were cowered in a dark corner of the alley, red capes pulled over their heads. The colts surrounded them, tormenting them gleefully. "Is there a reason for this?" I asked, hoping in my stomach that there was. Sadly, I was wrong. The colts jumped at me, pulling weapons out from hidden sheaths. Two, smaller than the other, came at me with jagged knives. I faded diagonally back and strategized. If I could - jump over a low swing from a notched shortsword by the third colt – draw them back to the main road, then I would have – a knife wielder came flying at me, thrown by his fellow. I ducked then rolled the side of a vertical slash from the sword. – Witnesses to prove that I didn't start this. I propelled myself into the wall, then off of it into a flip that landed me in the road. The closer knife lunged at me again, likely mistaking my retreat for weakness. Flames sprung from my hooves into a blade, deflecting the knife out of his hoof into the cobblestones. Frowning, I remembered where I was. I hated fighting in cities. No real harm to participants of surroundings.

The sword and knife two attacked angrily, leaving them open to an easy disarming. The former first knife tried to punch me and I caught it with my hoof. With a quick shove, I sent him flying into Dervish's wall. His compatriots helped him into a shaky stand and the hobbled away, my gaze following them until they turned a corner. Hopefully what I had done would get them off the grey side of the law. I had been farther away from the right path, and it was not a good place.

"Thanks mister!" one of the ponies from the alley said cheerfully. It always amazed me how fast the young recovered.

"Yeah! That was cool!" the other piped in, his voice barely understandable through his Bitlyn accent.

"Have they bothered you before?" I asked.

"Lots of times, right Babs?" the colt replied.

"Yeah. We were going to tell their parents, but nopony knows who they are, or at least won't tell us." She glanced at her friend meaningfully, and he nodded. "Would you tell us how you got your cutie mark sir?"

"Under two conditions. Firstly, that you tell me why you want to know. Secondly, I eat first. If you agree to these conditions, then be here when I come back." I walked into Dervish and ordered my meal. As I waited at a corner table thinking how much I disliked the Bitlyn accent that everyone here had, an old stallion walked over to my table.

"I saw what ye did out there laddie. Time was that I could do the like… What you hope for won't happen though. That evil's a generational thing; your hope has been mirrored in many who tried like you. The tradition of violence continues though. You might want to watch your back for a while; the Krysha family will meet you on their terms."

"Thank you for telling me this sir. Is there anything else you think I should know?"

Just that there will be three brothers and they don't kill. I would suggest extending the same courtesy to them, no matter how much you may want to do otherwise. Here's your food, I won't keep you from it."

I ate quickly and went back outside. The foals were waiting, and the filly spoke up as I approached. "I'm Babs Seed and this is my friend Joey Wheeler. We're the Manehatten chapter of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. A crusader tries anything and everything to get their cutie mark. When we aren't crusading though, we ask ponies how they got their marks. Yours looks really cool and you helped us, so we thought we should ask you. Could you tell us in our clubhouse though?"

"How far is it?"

"Not far."

"Let's go then." Not far was just down the street, hidden behind a dumpster. Furnishings were sparse, just a small table and a few worn rugs, but it felt comfortable. I sat on one of the rugs and bade them do likewise. "In short, I acquired my emblem by murdering my family and directly opposing the judgment of my superiors. Do you still wish for me to continue?"

Both were obviously a bit shaken by my words, but Joey nodded and Babs whispered yes. I willed fire into an illustration of my words and started my story.

I stood in the shallow crater left by the battle last night. The thin morning light illuminated a ship slowly sailing toward me. With it came the realization that I was on an island, separated from the world.

At the edge of the crater, I stepped over the charred remains of a body and looked down the burned street towards the ship. It was actually floating a little ways off shore, and a launch was pulled up on the beach. A group of stallions, all armed and armored, walked up the street, bones of the fallen crunching underfoot. The foremost called out to me, "Dost knowest by whom this has been done by little one?"

"Who wants to know?"

"A justicar of Mane."

"Why does he wish to know this?"

For time untold, this island has been under the Lord of Mane's power, but none are allowed to visit it. My ship was patrolling to enforce this, when a plume a fire drew my query. As this lies within my jurisdiction, I am here to inquire. Hence I ask again: Who hast done this?"

"Why is the island contraband? I see nothing special about it."

"The residents are – were – a dark herd. They practiced the dark arts and demonology among other things. The cursed-"

"Why allow them space then? Surely this Lord of Mane has the force to erase them."

"He has this power, and has considered this route, but the tribe bears one of the 5 names of old power."

"Tintalor, Mythrion, Azkezal, Excalibur, or that of 1,000 tears?"

"Mythrion. But my patience wears thin. Who cased this genocide?"

"Thrice now, you ask the obvious. Hundreds lie around you, one stands before you. Hundreds smolder, one burns not. What need have you to ask?"

"You mean to say that this is your doing alone?" I nodded. "What is thy name?"

"No name hath the hell-child."

"Son of Mythrion, I bind thee!" Rope sprang from his glowing horn and bound my legs together. Another wrapped around my ribs, forcing the breath out of me as a third straightened my neck. Despite my struggles, the stallions flipped me over and thrust a spear between my legs. Thus trussed, a final rope muzzled me and I was carried to the ship.

The Justicar summoned his crew as we stepped aboard. "Throw him in the treason hole when I'm done with him." He turned to me and his horn glowed. "If your name was not as it is, I would revoke it, but given the circumstance I call you by your new name. I name you Mythrion Kinslayer."

With that, I was thrown, still bound into a hole in a cabin. Magic-colored ropes caught me mid-fall and held me securely. The hatch above me closed and motion intensified, but I remained level. 'Perfect,' I thought, 'I can rest a while like this.'

Time meant nothing in that pit. All light and sound was shut out. Slowly, fire rekindled on my hooves and spread from there to the ropes. Eventually I dropped to the bottom of the hole and burned off the rest of my bindings. After a bit more rest, I floated up, past my former position, to the hatch. Though it was airtight, it was mostly wooden. A quick burst of fire removed it and I was out.

The cabin door opened illuminating a fleeing guard. He never made it into the hallway. Stepping over him, I made my way to the main deck, hooves searing the wood with every step.

How peaceful the night was, stars and moon lighting a sleeping crew. The Justicar stood at the helm, adjusting the course and conjuring ropes to adjust the sails. I savored the moment, appreciating the night and its beauty and calm.

Chains of fire sprang from the deck at the Justicar's feet binding him to the wheel. "Where are we headed? Answer well and you may live."

"Indirectly to Grainland."

"Indirectly?"

"The direct route is too short."

"How fast can we be at that land I spy shading the horizon?"

"Equestria? A few hours presumably."

"Take me there." I extinguished his bond so he could steer again.

"You know it?"

"I will."

"Is that so?" He had turned to the wheel, but at this he spun, flinging ropes at me. Flames flared from my mane, stopping them mid-flight.

"Steer fool. You have no power over me."

"You can't treat the captain like that!"

Yeah! You're our prisoner! We give you orders!"

Curses! When had they woken up? Quickly I formulated a plan. Fire bound the wheel to its present position and I leapt through the irate seaponies. "Me? A prisoner? I am unbound, how is that captured? Are you so delusional of your captain's power that you see it where it is not?" When they hesitated, apparently unused to question, I shot a tongue of fire at the bow where it caught and started to grow. Another hit the Justicar's horn and his ropes fell to the ground, lifeless. The crew stared at him questioningly: should they stop me or the fire? "You have nothing. Bring me to Equestria or forfeit your lives. None but you and I need know this ever happened. The choice is yours."

A few of the crew threw down their weapons and rushed to stop the spreading fire. Slowly, others joined them until it was out. The Justicar began adjusting the sails and we turned toward the land. Slowly, the coast drew closer, but a speck from the side approached faster.

"Pirates off the starboard bow!" the watchpony called.

"Kinslayer! This is your fault!" the Justicar accused, "Assist us!"

The ships came broadside and unicorns began trading bolts. Ropes flew from our ship to theirs and pulled us together. Ponies leapt between the decks and pegasi fought in the air above us. I laughed. Fire burst around the other ship's rigging as I leapt off the deck toward Equestria.

The mariners petty squabble faded into the distance quickly. Equestria's coastline was clearly visible, but my fire was faltering. A few hundred yards off shore, it gave out entirely. I fell into the sea and tried to swim, but I was too tired and collapsed. AS my consciousness faded I could feel the tide pushing me in.

The flame lighting my story faded as the narrative finished. "When I regained consciousness, I had this," gesturing to my flank, "Any other questions?"

"Uh, yeah," Babs said, "What does it mean you're good at?"

"Battle and destruction."

"What do you do with that?"

"I was a general for an important pony."

"Was?"

"My lady was defeated. I have been in exile since."

"How long ago was that?"

"About 1,000 years ago."

"Right…" Babs said skeptically.

"I don't believe you!" Joey cut in in a high pitched voice.

"Anyway, we should get back home. Thanks for telling us your story."

"Even though it was kinda scary."

"We'll be sure not to get a cutie mark like that. Bye!" They opened the door and walked quickly out. From the unclosed door, I watched them cross the street and enter a large building.

Satisfied that they were safe, I shut the door and glanced around again. 'Not much.' I thought, 'But more than the last few nights.' I stretched out on the rug I'd been using and thought about the second half of my story.

Darkness was everywhere. I couldn't move. Voices drifted through the distance to me.

"What is it?"

"Well, it's equine, but besides that, is it alive?"

"I think its breathing. What do we do with it?"

"We could bring it to the king."

The voices faded into nothing again as the darkness squeezed tighter; a mother protecting her child. Her embrace loosened and I was somewhere else. Though my body remained immobile, I could see my surroundings.

It was a bare room made of stone. Light filtered through a window high in one wall and washed over a pony in a white coat. Both the window and door had iron bars over them.

"So you're awake. Can you stand?" My eyes snapped back to the pony in the coat, but my body still refused to move. "No? Could you tell me how you got here? Not yet? When did you get your mark?" I had one? The corner of my eye glimpsed a bit of red on my flank. How long had that been there? "Just recently? I see… Well, I've been assigned by the king to watch over you until you're ready for the next part. I can't say I enjoy this task… Back to sleep with you then." I felt a pinch, and then slipped back into my mother's embrace.

When she released me again, I had been bound to a stone. Twisting my head, I looked at my flank. Twin swords crossed over an explosion of some kind. "Ah, you're sentient. Normally, I would execute a pony with an emblem such as yours upon sight, but you might have potential of some kind. What are you?" The speaker's voice carried authority, but more than that, obscene self—righteousness.

"I am interested in seeing who speaks as a lord, but hides as a serving wench. Face me like a stallion, and I will talk. Continue to remove yourself, and there will be retributions."

"Foalish knave! Know not who thou art and who I am?"

"I know mineself, But not thou. Mayhap if thou dared to face me, I would know more of you."

He growled and I felt a mind spike thrust itself through my skull. A sphere of fire pulsed from its entry point and swept the room, followed by the scent of singed hair. The spike dissolved as hoof beats faded quickly into the distance.

Sometime later, a different set of hooves approached my back. They continued around me until a large minotaur stood before me. He reached down, unlocked my chains, and then stood back, examining me. His eyes showed approval as he nodded. "Drink up," He said, passing me a flask after taking a swig from it, "Can you stand up? I do believe it's working; good. That'll keep you going for the show. Come on, it's time to go."

He lead me down a few corridors and stopped in an armory. "Choose something. I, Tempered Steel, will be testing you." A large axe rested on his shoulder, and a flask met his lips for a long moment. Following my gaze, he tipped his head toward more of the flasks on a counter. "There is drink a plenty in my armory. Drink up if you want to live a long life. That's what my sire said, and he was a 'taur of truth."

I shook my head. "Could we just get on with this test?"

"You don't even have a blade."

"I have no need for one."

"No drink, no blade. If nothing else, this one is crazy. Tempered Steel likes him. Come!" A few corridors later, we came into a sky-lit clearing surrounded by viewing space. Three alicorns occupied a raised box, and a few ponies of the other races were scattered around, but the majority of the space was unfilled.

Tempered Steel and I faced off in the center of the ring. We touched hooves, breathed out, then a bell went 'ding'. His first swing was at my ankles and I reared to avoid it. Tongues of fire trailed from my hooves into the blades on my flank to catch his axe's backswing. We fough on like this, staying in the same place, never stopping. Suddenly I say a tiny opening and jumped back half a step, releasing my swords into a wave of fire. He rushed at me, ignoring the heat, and flipped me before pinning my heck to the ground with the haft of his axe.

"Enough!" The snobbish voice from earlier. Curses I couldn't see the foal from here. "I place him under you command Tempered Steel. Teach him all he needs to know and spare him no punishment."

The next morning I went into the forge. A large order of royal armor had come in, so that was why I'd been hired. Tempered Steel had taught me how to forge on armor similar to this, but using much purer metal. If it worked, then I had no real complaint. I wouldn't make my own armor of it though. Lunch break came and I turned in the armor I'd completed before I went wandering. Near every good forge was a good pub.

Second shift passed much the same as first, and at closing time I collected my wages. Now where was that pub again? Ah, right there. Just out of the way enough to attract the interesting ponies. Like those three over there. A bit shady, but not horribly so. Like how they watched me vacantly as I called for three of the strongest.

After a few drinks, the approached me. "You the new worker down at the forge?"

What is it to you?"

"We have a small tradition here, but you might already know of it."

"Why would I know the traditions of those that I don't know?"

"Because you've already begun. The tradition is that we treat him to as many drinks as he thinks he can handle, then one more."

"Who pays?"

"Us of course."

"Doesn't that get expensive?"

"It's not often that ponies get hired in that forge. It's just our way of having fun."

There was something off about this, but they no doubt expected me to handle my drink a bit worse than I did. The phrase 'drink like a demon' was based in truth.

After a suitable number of drinks, I acted as though I was thoroughly drunk. The three ponies paying for me seemed to be doing similar. When I ordered another though, they pulled out knives and pointed them at me, suddenly sober. "All your money, now."

"Nah, I'm fine with keeping it."

They brought their knives closer. "We know who you are and what you've done to our sons. Be glad that all we want is your money."

"Still keeping it."

The knives were on my neck now. "Who do you think you are?"

"Oh, I thought you knew. I am Child of the flame of Hell and the midnight sun. Ego sum ultio in nocti."

"What does that even mean?"

"It means that you are foals to threaten me."

"You think just because you terrorize foals you intimidate us?"

My mane flared and whipped around me, cleanly severing the blades of their knives from the hilts. "Flee while your lives are still yours to waste."

Before they could run though, a minotaur blocked the door. "Pay first." Hastily they threw all their bits on the counter, and he let them pass. "Iron Will thinks that he knows you flamed one. Come with him."

To the Ponyville (Head) Chapter of the Cutie Mark Crusaders:

We met a pony yesterday with a really cool mark, but we don't want to get one with it. It was the scariest story we ever heard. We can tell it next gathering around the campfire. If you meet a pony who's mane and tail and hooves are on fire, don't ask about his story.

From:

The Manehatten Chapter of the Cutie Mark Crusaders

So, as usual, Seth shows me up with his chapter's length and beauty of language-in-age. Hopefully you all enjoyed seeing what Mythrion has been up to. I might have to include a chapter on the fourth guardian- Capellan- has been up to since his return... If anyone has an opinion one way or the other about that, let me know.

As always, feel free to leave a positive, or negative comment, and I don't own MLPFIM, and neither does Seth.

Mythrion's concept is owned by Seth fanfiction. net u/4393578/ Seth-Kinslayer. com