My Little Pony: Equestria's Warriors Returns

by Spirit Of Fantasy

After many wars, heavy losses, and violence with enemies. The eldest brother of the royal sisters makes his return, and discovers the student of the sister he blames for their youngest sister's banishment. Now along side this young and talented unicorn, ready to battle evil. He will discover the new world of friendship and love that replaced his world of pain and hateful battles.

21. Chapter 21:Over A Barrel

Chapter 21:Over A Barrel

"Applejack! Hurry up with your story and come back for some train food!"Orion called from his seat on the Ponyville train that was currently on it's way to none other than Appleloosa.

He sat back and looked out to the desert region they were about to enter. It had been some time since he first arrived to Appleloosa on his way to Ponyville to save Luna. To return to the western town in a more positive mood and knowing criminal behavior has dropped since his fight with Clip Sharp. He relaxed, listening to the quiet sounds of the train rolling into the desert along side his friends. Finally after a few moments, Applejack came back to the passenger cart with a story book in her forearm.

"Applejack? Were you really reading a bed time story to… An apple tree?"Rarity asked while Applejack sat in her seat just in time for the trolley food Orion ordered.

"Heh…uh… Well, you know, being replanted in a whole new place is very upsetting for a tree,"Applejack explained her passion for the apple trees, especially the one they had in the luxury cart in the back,"And Bloomberg here is one of my favorites."

"No fair, Applejack! You got a luxurious, private sleeper car for a tree, while I am crowded and cramped in the same car with all the other ponies,"Rarity complained, only to get some less than amused looks from the others,"How am I ever going to get my beauty sleep?!"

"You'll get your sleep like the rest of us will, and you'll like it all the same! No need to get picky!"Orion said while paying for all the food they were quick to start eating.

"And Bloomberg is the whole reason we're making this trip,"Applejack added to the arguement to stop Rarity's child like whines,"He needs his rest so we can give him as a gift to my relatives in Appleloosa!"

"Hmph! You talk about it as if it's your baby or something…!"Rarity whined before taking a small and sharp elbow to her side.

"Don't forget about what you learned with Typhoon before…! Lighten up a bit…!"Orion reminded her sternly of her past issues with standards while she sighed to try and humble up.

"Sigh… Widdle Rarity is saddy waddy… Ugh…!"Rarity groaned while Applejack cooed over her prized tree.

Hours later, the night had settled in, but the train still rolled along nice and strong. The stallion's that pulled the train switched shifts and were resting in the cart next to Orion and his friends. They were quite the snorers, but they certainly earned the good shut eye for their work. While he and the mares were settling down for the night, but the ladies appeared to be wide awake. Making it difficult for him, Rarity, and Spike to get some much needed sleep of their own.

"Oh boy, we're going so fast! This is so exciting, I can't even wait!"Rainbow looked out the window to the night as Orion grumbled at the conversations keeping him await.

"Oh my goodness…!"Twilight exclaimed at the view before Orion punched in a decent dent in the metal window.

"It's late…! we should all be sleeping for tomorrow! Ugh… This is what I get for springing extra for those high sugar tea cakes…!"Orion groaned and pulled his hood down to cover his eyes.

"For crying out loud in the morning!"Rarity added to Orion's rant while turning away to ignore every pony.

For a few minutes, there was peace and quiet for Orion, but it was short lived. He could hear the girls conversing in whispers, but their whispers were almost loud enough to not be whispers at all. He groaned and turned away towards the window to ignore them. Though it seemed they would never stop chatting up a storm in the loudest whispers he ever heard. He took a pillow up and hid his head under it to block out the voices while Spike had finally had enough.

"Do you guys mind? I was up early fire roasting those snacks you're all eating. And I'm pooped…!"Spike grumbled.

"Uh…speaking of which, some of these popcorn kernels didn't get popped."Rainbow made a complaint about her popcorn not being fully popped.

"Okay fine… Good night!"Spike turned away and tried to sleep as well.

"Uh… Maybe it's time we all got a little shut eye. We've got a big day ahead of us."Twilight decided after seeing Orion and Spike thoroughly annoyed with all the talking.

"Finally…"Orion and Spike responded with relief.

Some of the candles went out, and the mares finally began to settle down. Peace came back to Orion as he made another attempt to go to sleep, but then the whispers returned. He could hear then whispering to each other about the tree they would be replanting. Then it somehow derailed about Fluttershy being a tree of some sort, the voices continued to mix together. Orion huffed and finally turned to give them a piece of his mind, only for Spike to finally give up and take his slumber elsewhere.

"Oh for Pete's sake!"Spike yelled before taking his business to the other cart with Bloomberg.

"Yeah I'm done here…! Call me when you're all done chatting up a storm this late!"Orion decided to go with Spike's idea and walked with the baby dragon into the other room.

"Well that was kind of huffy…"Twilight mused just as Orion and Spike shut the door to close them out.

"You can take a tree branch, and I'll take the tree trunk…!"Orion instructed before slumping onto the tree trunk and trying to go to sleep.

"Sounds good to me. Bet Bloomberg's branches are somewhat comfy…."Spike yawned and crawled onto a tree branch.

Orion nodded and laid his back against the tree, barely able to shrug off the screams of the girls after Rarity hollered at them. He sighed, before finally resting his head against a leafy branch. It was then that he finally managed to go to sleep, the moment the ladies all settled down. He then allowed himself to fall deep into slumber, thinking of his family. What he thought would trigger a happy dream with his sisters, only resulted in a more peculiar dream.

---

Before he knew it, he was in the middle of a throne room of pure nature. From the dirt and grassy floor only divided by a red carpet that a much younger Orion walked. All the way to a gold and silver swirled throne where Cosmos and Galaxia sat patiently. A ceiling made of clouds and a sky that changed with the time of day, as did the actual outside world. Only the clouds were rumbling, for a danger was at hoof, and it required the work of Orion himself.

The younger Orion slowly took a knee and bowed to his parents in respect. He took a moment of silence, ensuring for respect as he was taught to show from his father himself. Cosmos nodded, and Orion gradually raised to his feet to hear the words of the king and queen.

"Father… Mother… I take it the threats from the Loubrim clan continued to pour in?"Orion asked of his parents, and the king stood up and huffed with a nod.

"Not only that… But they made an attempt on Galaxia's life,"Cosmos announced with a growl before tossing a ball that shattered into black sand on the floor,"Spider's Black Sand…! Poison that liquefies the insides within moments! It was in her tea this morning!"

"That is highly illegal dark magic…! You believe it was them?"Orion asked while his father brushed his shoulders of any dust.

"I know it was them…! Threatening our family, gambling in dark magic. Now they have made an attempt only my beloved queen's life!"Cosmos yelled before the queen herself stood up to intervene.

"Easy Cosmos…! Do not let the Loubrims get to you."Galaxia put a hoof to her husbands shoulder to calm himself.

"Of course my queen… Orion… They have gone to far, and they have refused any reason I could offer,"Orion lifted his eye brow, knowing that there was a drastic measure coming,"They have left us with no choice…! I am enlisting a full genocide of the Loubrim clan!"

Orion looked up for a moment, this was a rare mission they ever had to undergo. This mission required a stone heart, great skill, and a high tactical approach. The worse of the mission, was that usually, no pony or any creature of such was not to be spared, not even children.

"Are you certain you wanna carry out this order? They have definitely warranted for a massacre, but this is still brash."Orion asked with uncertainty of his father's decision.

"When they threaten and try to take Galaxia from me. It tells me that she isn't the only target,"Cosmos huffed and looked to the noon sunshine that glimmered,"If they are willing to try and murder the queen, then it means you, and even Celestia and Luna are potential targets of their wrath."

"It sounds far fetched, I know. But your father is right son. If I am at risk for assassination,"Galaxia explained the truth of the matter to their son,"Then the girls, and even you are a target of the Loubrim clan as well. These dark magic users cannot be allowed to endanger us or our kingdom."

"Please try to understand son. This is for the good of our world, and our family,"Cosmos insisted that his son take up the mission of complete execution to a clan,"I will recommend War Fire and Shadow Swirl on this mission. You won't have to go in alone."

"Very well… For our family, and for our home. I will carry out the destruction of the Loubrims,"Orion finally agreed to the mission with a sigh as he turned away from his parents,"But only on one condition. And this condition is the only way Shadow Swirl will accept the mission."

"Of course son… Name it."Galaxia and her husband agreed to let there be a new condition to this execution.

"We will kill them all… Except for the children. The children must be allowed to live,"Orion gave his condition to unfazed parents that did not appear to worried about the requirement,"Shadow Swirl's compassion for children will rehabilitate the younglings and help them live more peaceful lives. Is that a fair enough requirement?"

His parents did need a moment to think the condition over, but it was not a difficult choice. It was truly just a moment of thought before they looked to their awaiting son. With small smiles, they nodded and agreed to the terms of this full genocide of hostile ponies. However, hearing the words of his parents would not be happening as it did so long ago. For the rumbling and thunderous slams of unknown actions shattered his dreams instantly, and awoke him.

---

His eyes snapped open as another slam knocked him off the tree trunk. He slammed to the floor and was quick to get up, only to see dents around the walls. Another one bent into place before he then went to a window, while Spike was continuing to snore away. He looked through the small windows, and there he saw a small herd of buffaloes at the side of the cart. He widened his eyes and then adverted them the moment another buffalo slammed into the side of the cart, shattering the window.

"What the hay…?! Why are buffalo raiding a train?! This is a breach of our peace treaty!"Orion growled before storming to the door and leaving the cart before bracing for another slam.

He just barely managed to open the door to the next cart before the next attack hit. Only to see Twilight and her friends rolling and screaming as they rolled like a ball. Slamming into each bed before the buffaloes ceased their assaults on the side of the train. It gave them all the break they needed before Orion could reach the mares and untangle them.

"Thanks! Thank you for the help there!"Twilight shook off her daze while the others went to a side window.

"You have any idea why buffaloes would be raiding in this day and age?!"Orion asked while Twilight's ears drooped at the word, raiding.

"They're raiding?! As in, they're…sticking up the train?!"Twilight exclaimed while her friends gasped at Orion's revelation.

"Of course they are! These are raiding tactics! They do this to try and break the train down so they can board,"Orion explained the tactic that the buffaloes were using on the train,"Thankfully this train held up on their assault, but that means they'll probably try the sparrow tactic."

"Is the sparrow tactic sort of like what they're doing now? Looks like a circus act."Pinkie pointed to the window as they looked to see buffaloes stacking on top of each other.

"Yup, they're stacking up to give a height boost. Then there's the sparrow,"Orion pointed out as a small and sleek bison jumped on her large comrades to jump to the train,"Sparrows infiltrate the trains and unhitch the precious cargo they're taking…!"

"Well they won't be taking anything on my hoof!"Rainbow Dash boldly stated and took off to go outside and stop the raid.

"Now that is something I can fondly agree on Rainbow. The rest of you stay put!"Orion stated while the small buffalo landed on the roof, forcing him to rush outside.

He kicked open the door to the back of the cart and rushed through. He then jumped and scaled up till he was on the roof, and feeling the rush of wind through his hair. He looked forward and saw Rainbow Dash right in front of the small buffalo to stop her. Only to see the small sparrow of a bison jump flawlessly over Rainbow Dash and continue running for the back cart. Though after avoiding Rainbow Dash, she knew the moment she saw Orion, there was no jumping over some pony that tall.

She appeared to be going from a frontal attack, Orion knew better than to think that. So after reading her movements, he simply swung his leg low the moment she tried to strafe. He kicked her back and to her side as she crashed with a loud thud. Rainbow arrived just in time to grab her, and hold her still for Orion to approach her. He stood tall and loomed over her before the young bison looked up to meet his red crystal eyes.

"What are you buffaloes doing? You are raiding a Ponyville train carrying precious cargo to Appleloosa,"Orion pulled a foot long dagger made of red crystal from his wrist and put it to her neck,"Explain yourself, or you're coming with us to Appleloosa…!"

"We just want the tree…! Appleloosa has taken too much of our land…!"She finally spoke as she kept a stern, but straight face.

"That land was given by your people to mine, many ages ago…! You can't just take it all back,"Orion placed the dagger crystal to her cheek to remind her who was in charge,"We agreed on that in the peace treaty, and YOU are in violation of that treaty…!"

"No… You lie…! No such agreement exist!"She spit on his cheek and got her legs up to kick him in the groin.

She forced Orion back just enough to slam her head against Rainbow's muzzle. Freeing herself and going under Orion's partially crossed legs before making for the cart. Rainbow was quick to brush off the blow and pursue the small bison while Orion recovered. Only to miss the small bison the moment she dropped down between the carts. Rainbow looked back, only to meet a sign up close and personal with a loud slammed before she slid off and fell to the ground.

With both combatants taken care of, the small bison went for the cargo. She undid the hitch to the cart, and watched as it slowly parted ways with the train. She hopped to the roof of the cart, and whistled for the rest of her comrades to pick her and the cart up. Only to suddenly feel the buzzing of magic under her hooves before looking down to see the red magic all over it. She looked back to the train, and found Orion holding onto the train with his right hand full of magic.

She growled, seeing the tenacity of the mysterious human pony. She then started another chain of whistles before the buffaloes changed their objective and rammed the cart. It took only three more rams against the cart before a large hole was busted wide open. Orion looked to the whole and shook his head, already knowing what their plan was since they couldn't get the cart. He reeled the cart closer, and aimed a glowing hand that was partially clutched at the buffaloes.

"You're not taking that tree! But you will get something to take back to your leader,"Orion yelled before lifting his hand up in a clutching motion before the ground exploded,"Your fallen comrades...!"

Giant clustered pillars of red crystals erupted from the desert sand. Buffaloes then began to drop after being tripped, and even skewered by the crystals that arose from the earth. The small bison gasped, and suddenly felt her nerves start to break, for she clearly was not experienced in loss of life. She watched as her comrades began to fall and slain by crystals from nowhere. She felt herself almost read to give in before she pulled out a tomahawk from her bushy hair.

Orion saw her rearing back to throw it at him, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. He huffed and snap his fingers just in time for the tomahawk to be thrown. It twirled and went for his chest before he then stopped all his magic to smack the weapon away. Only to see that he released the cart, and saw it quickly rolling away from the train. The buffaloes had finally backed off after securing the cart, but little did they know, Orion had the prize they were after.

"Foolish bison… There's going to be Tartarus to pay for this,"Orion said while looking to the apple tree that he teleported out of the cart just before he released his grip on it,"Hey Spike! Mind waking up there? We kind of had a close call here!"

His called were not answered as the wind of the train rustled the tree branches. His eyes widened before he knelt down and checked through all of Bloomberg's branches. He found nothing, and that's when his heart dropped the moment he realized what just happened. He gulped as he saw the cart disappear in the distance, along with the friend who was in the clutches of the buffaloes. He felt the weight of his failure baring down on him as he fell to his knees.

"No…Spike…! Gosh dangit…! SPIKE!"Orion yelled to the horizon as the train continued on to Appleloosa.

Upon arrival to the old western town, all was quiet for Orion and his friends. He stayed on the roof for the rest of the trip, waiting and thinking about the friend he left behind. The thought of what buffaloes were known to do with their captured victims chilled his spine. He sighed, before hearing the train start to come to a loud and screeching halt at the station. He looked up, and looked to the station they pulled into before the train had come to a full stop.

He looked down, and slowly stood back up as he looked out to the desert. Spike and possibly Rainbow Dash were captured by marauding buffaloes and he was in no position to go after them. He jumped down from the roof and landed at the side of the door. Just in time for all doors to open and the passengers to safely exit the train, including his friends. Upon their exit to the station, they met up with him, and were greeted with a solemn look that was slowly turned away.

"I'm sorry… I wish I could have done more to prevent their capture…"Orion immediately began to apologize for his failure to save Rainbow and Spike from the raiders.

"There wasn't much you could have done… They all just took us by surprise,"Twilight hugged him as best as she could while he petted her mane,"We just gotta hope that they find their way back and hopefully they escaped the buffaloes."

"I don't understand…! We agreed, we made a peace treaty between my people and theirs,"Orion yelled with outrage and confusion at the sudden change of the buffaloes behavior,"How could they just soil and rob from my people?!"

"Well I guess they don't wanna honor your peace treaty any more,"Applejack incited sternly, but patted his back gently,"By the way, I owe you a bundle for saving Bloomberg at least. He can get planted in the fields now at least…"

"But was the tree really worth the risk of our friend's lives…?"He asked Applejack before they all began to leave the station and enter Appleloosa.

His words in the meantime gave Applejack a chance to think on his question. Her ears drooped as she felt a bit unfulfilled now that she knew that she cared for a tree over her friends. Though the moment they were entering the town, they were met with a familiar blond mane face.

"Hey there! Welcome to A-A-Appleloosa!"Came the loud and excitable greetings of the blond haired stallion Braeburn.

"Braeburn, listen-"Applejack tried to talk to the old friend, only to get cut off.

"Cousin Applejack, mind your manners. You have yet to introduce me to your compadres! Shame on you!"Braeburn playfully teased in a friendly manner.

"Braeburn, listen. Something terrible has happened…!"Applejack tried to get the stallion's attention only to get blown off the moment Braeburn noticed Orion in the back.

"Well I'll be a oiled up pig and tossed in for catching! I didn't think I'd be seeing your face again stranger,"Braeburn reached through the group and took up Orion's hand to shake it happily,"It's an honor to welcome you back to our town sir! A high honor indeed!"

"Greetings Braeburn. It has been some time since my quiet and momentary visit to your town,"Orion gladly shook the friendly stallion's hoof nice and firm as Apples were,"I hope me and my new friends were not too late. We were sort of held up a bit."

"You two know each other?"Twilight asked with curiosity.

"Yep I...helped the town out with some trouble making bandit called Clip Sharp, how is that crook by the way?"Orion asked with a chuckle.

"Well... It looks like that fella is going to be eating out of a straw for the rest of his life, the payment for being a bandit,"Braeburn scratched his mane and gestured to the jail house,"But thanks to you, our town is safe and has flourished since then."

"Look Braeburn, We know we were late getting here, but-"Applejack quickly made an attempt to get her cousins attention, but was once again cut off.

"Yeah, by seven minutes as a matter of fact…! That's seven minutes less of y'all's time that could be spent here in Appleloosa!"Braeburn gave them all a gander at the western town of Appleloosa.

"Listen Braeburn, we-oof."Applejack was cut off again by more conversations between the two.

"We could use just a place to stay for the night to recuperate. Maybe we could enjoy the town once we find our lost friend."Orion incited a chance to possibly stay somewhere for the night.

"Well shoot! We could you and all your little friends here with a nice hotel room,"Braeburn gladly offered them all a place to settle down for a bit,"It's just over yonder right next to the sheriff's jail house…!"

"But Braeburn we-"Applejack was once again cut off.

"I can set your rooms up right now if you want, while YOU and your friends can enjoy the wonderful sight of not just the town,"Braeburn tried to be entertaining and most welcoming to the group,"But also, you can enjoy the sight and taste of the apples from our Appleloosa apple orchard!"

"That would help us a great deal. We were planning on getting some food and a place to stay for the night. Then going out into the desert to find our friends…!"Orion explained their first hoof requirements while they stayed in town.

"Oh of course! Sorry for prying, but what happened to your friends stranger?"Braeburn asked before Applejack finally got his attention.

"Braeburn!"Applejack hollered to her cousin.

"Uh, yeah cousin…?"Braeburn replied a bit nervous from his loud and stern cousin.

"We have a huge problem here. Our friends are missing!"Applejack explained the situation to the baffled stallion.

"By a stampede of buffalo…!"Fluttershy added to the situation.

"They took Spike!"Rarity exclaimed.

"And Rainbow Dash as well!"Twilight followed up with another missing friend.

"And we can't find Pinkie Pie either!"Fluttershy pointed out a small detail that Orion failed to notice.

"What…?! Pinkie's gone as well,"Orion gasped and looked around to confirm that Pinkie had disappeared as well,"Oh no… She went after our friends… Gosh that pony is crazy…!"

"Oh my gosh…! I am SO sorry ya'll, but did you say… Buffalo,"Braeburn asked with a sigh and took off his hat for a moment,"Them buffalo, they want us settler ponies to take every single tree you see here off this land. They sure as hay don't want any new ones added in."

"Well it is not their place to say that you have to stop your orchard plantation,"Orion explained an unknown history to Braeburn that left him even more baffled,"We agreed in our peace treaty fifteen hundred years ago that the whole land was gifted to you and your people here as a means of peace with the buffaloes…!"

"Really? We haven't known such a thing in ages. It sounds like something we would find in the old historian building over yonder,"Braeburn showed the way for the group to go to the hotel to settle down,"Care to enlighten me and the sheriff himself about this peace treaty while we walk?"

"Certainly… Care to tell us why the buffaloes are behaving like this?"Orion asked curiously as they all walked to the hotel.

"Beats me! We put a lot of hard work into this land, so we can feed our town, our families, and our foals,"Braeburn ranted of his personal feelings about the buffaloes,"And now they're saying all these trees have to go?! It ain't fair!"

"Indeed it is not… They aren't even obligated to do such things…"Orion agreed.

---

A day later, they were all set up with a large hotel room for the group to share. Though they did not stay in the room to enjoy it much, for they had more pressing matters to attend to. They all stood outside the town, packing up and preparing for a trip into the desert. Their mission was to find their missing friends, beat down any marauding buffaloes that discovered them. While the mares were packing up and preparing to go to the desert, Orion was on his own mission.

Within an old decrepit building he, Braeburn and the sheriff of Appleloosa explored. The stallion twirled his black mustache as he searched through the dust and filth. While Orion tore into the building, searching the area from top to bottom in his hunt for the treaty. The stallions respected his need to find the ancient contract, and even had their own bit of curiosity to it. For they knew nothing of the treaty, but if Orion was so insistent on a treaty between them and the buffalo, they needed to see it.

"You sure there's such thing as a peace treaty in here, stranger?"The mid aged stallion asked while dusting off his hat after dust came down from the dark ceiling.

"I know it is…! I was there when it was crafted and signed by both parties!"Orion hollered as he over turned a table and checked an old wooden bucket.

"Really? Wouldn't that make you well over like a thousand years old?"Braeburn asked after checking a broken case full of old papers.

"It comes with being an Equestrian warrior…! It's why Clip didn't stand half a chance before."Orion answered before walking and noticing how hollow the wood floor was.

"Well, if we or even Clip knew that. Maybe all that violence and the robbery wouldn't have happened,"The sheriff thought before approaching the human pony,"Half the town wanted to throw you a party for helping us with that varmint…"

"It was nothing really… It's just what we warriors do for the home we love,"Orion replied and busted open a gaping hole in the floor with both fists before feeling a much different piece of parchment,"There it is! I know it's brand of paper anywhere…!"

The stallions quickly hushed up and stood before Orion to see for themselves. From out of the floor, the hidden prince slowly pulled out a rolled up scroll like parchment. The paper was think and rolled up around a heavily rust gold roll that preserved it. He was cautious to hold it, and show it to the sheriff and Braeburn himself before letting out a relieving sigh. He then gripped it with both hands and slowly unrolled the scroll to show off the most ancient writing they had ever seen.

"Well I'll be…! That certainly is some ancient text right there…!"The sheriff and Braeburn put their hats to their chests while Orion blew some of the dust off.

"Hereth be the treaty of Appleloosa. Let this contract seal peace between the natives of the desert and the ponies of the Appleloosa settlement. I, prince Orion bequeath this contract to the settlers so the agreement over the land given by the natives binds thee to the treaty. Should any hostility come from either party, all trades will cease to that party and punishment shall come in the form of thy leader's execution or possibly the utter destruction of the entire party. Signed Prince Orion, Sheriff Dead Eye, and chief Thunderous Quake."

"Thunderous Quake was the chief of the buffaloes, well over a thousand years ago. He signed and connected himself to this treaty,"Orion explained before rolling up the treat and hiding it in his outfit,"Now they went and violated the peace treaty through robbery and kidnapping…! The bison have dug themselves into a dangerous hole…!"

"Well we certainly have some choice words for them the next time they think they can bully us into getting rid of our trees,"The sheriff ranted before he noticed out a broken window, the buffaloes themselves arriving along with the rest of Orion's friends,"Well speak of the devil… Looks like the chief and a couple of his body guards are coming…!"

"Well that's a relief. At least it appears that they haven't harmed my friends…!"Orion looked out the window before rushing to the door to leave and confront the buffaloes.

He burst through the doors and speed ran across the sandy lands in a huff. Twilight took notice and ran to Orion to keep him cooled while he took notice of the small buffalo that served as the sparrow. He cracked his neck before Twilight tried to hold him back. She only served as a paper weight that tried in vain to stop him from moving at full steam. It antagonized the larger dark buffalo that bared the chief hat, but the small buffalo kept him calm and collect.

While Applejack, Rarity, and the returned Rainbow Dash joined in to try and stop Orion. They too only served as paper weights that he dragged along with him as he approached the buffaloes. He quickly withdrew one of his swords and twirled it before the blade touched the side of the chief's neck. His guards snorted and threatened to defend their leader, but were nervous to approach after seeing the red crystal eyes. The chief remained composed while the small bison appeared fearful.

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here after your people raided our train and kidnapped our friend,"Orion lightly dragged his sword tip over the chief's neck while giving the bison a stare like daggers,"Speak…! And may your words be wise and well thought out…! For the sake of your people."

"We did not kidnap your friends… We treated them with honor. We only wanted the tree,"The chief quietly answered before slowly pushing the tip of the sword away from his neck,"The… Appleloosans here have been obscuring our traditional paths and taking more of our land. We were told that we could work something out."

"Yeah, why not just hear them out there O! They really are cool and all,"Spike insisted after running under the chief's legs and hopping up to Twilight's back,"They apologized for the whole raid and everything…!"

"Really…? Well…You may be disappointed with how that turns out,"Orion sheathed his sword into his arm once more and stood tall while his friends finally relented and fell on each other in exhaustion,"You tried to steal cargo from an Equestrian train. You put Equestrian citizens in danger. And are trying to sabotage an Equestrian civilization's main source of food! This is all in breach of the peace treaty!"

"What treaty?! No such peace treaty has ever existed! You lie!"The buffalo growled and clashed heads with Orion.

"Oh he ain't lying chief! He's got the treaty itself with him as we speak!"The sheriff entered the conflict with his hat tipped off as he looked to Orion.

"That's right! Care to show them good sir?"Braeburn asked of Orion to show the buffaloes the treaty, causing them all to go silent.

He slowly sighed, and reached into the collar of his long coat. He reached around a bit before he gripped it, and slowly pulled out the golden rod scroll, containing the treaty. The mares all gasped in shock, the tiny buffalo felt her jaw drop to see such an ancient document. The chief wanted to refuse what he was seeing as Orion unrolled the treaty to show them it's documentation. The chief was left in shock as he showed them all the ancient agreement, and at the bottom, the signatures.

"It's real…! It's an actual treaty between Appleloosa and the buffalo tribe!"Twilight exclaimed while the small buffalo investigated a bit closer and recognized the signature of Thunderous Quake.

"That's… Chief Thunderous Quakes signature…! Our ancestor…! He… Agreed to give this piece of land to the Appleloosans,"Rainbow Dash put a hoof to the young bison as she read the whole treaty,"He did it for peace between our people… And now… We've violated the wishes of our ancestors."

"Advert your eyes Little Strongheart! This is a trick!"The chief tried to get in front of the small bison that turned out to be his daughter from the way he treated the little one.

"So you go by Little Strongheart do you? Kindly talk some sense into your father here before he gets himself in more trouble than he can get out of,"Orion insisted and gained the full hostile attention of the chief,"Either he has no respect with what his ancestors left him, or he's just being stupidly stubborn. You're clearly a bison of some reason in all this…"

"Don't you dare speak of me in such a manner in front of my daughter!"The chief made a vital mistake after gripping Orion's collar to threaten him.

"Ooh…now you did it…!"Twilight feared before Orion swing his arm to knock away the hoof wrapped onto his collar.

The moment he knocked away the buffalo chief's hoof from his collar. He instantly had his hand around the throat of the chief and growled before hoisting the chief up. Showing his strength as he lifted the chief high into the air over his head where he dangled in the warrior's grip.

"Whoo nelly! I almost forgot how strong you were!"Braeburn remained baffled by the sudden turn up on the heat while Rainbow held back Little Strongheart.

"Unhoof me at once beast! Or see this town and it's orchard trampled to rubble!"The chief threatened, only to scare many including his own daughter.

"Silence yourself! You have put innocent ponies in danger, including a pupil of princess Celestia herself,"Orion squeezed his neck while his glare turned into a death stare,"You dared to threaten this town with it's entire destruction…! You violate an ancient treaty between the good ponies here and your own people! I warned you about making your words wise and well thought out…!"

"O…! Take an easy…! There doesn't need to be an sort of violence here."Twilight informed her friend to try and cool the heated prince down.

"Yeah dude…! You're coming off as kind of a psycho!"Spike added.

"We will not be intimidated by the likes of you warriors…! Our stampede will begin at high noon, and if the orchard is still there-"The chief was cut off the moment he was thrown to the ground coughing and collecting himself for a moment,"We'll flatten it… And the whole town!"

"And if that is the path you're going down…! You'll leave me no choice… But to destroy your people,"The chief's threat was scary, but Orion's warning was scarier to hear,"ALL of them…! The stallions, the mares….! And even the children…!"

The mares were horrified by the exchange of threats, but Twilight saw Orion's look. She knew he wasn't kidding around, the idea of him bringing complete destruction to an entire village of people. It sent chills down their spines as the chief slowly stood back up.

"So let that be the warning. You show up here looking to destroy this town. I will carry out a full genocide on your people! NONE will be spared,"He yelled as Little Strongheart pushed her father away from the lethal tongue of the angered prince,"I would suggest talking sense into him child! Before your father gets you all killed!"

"Lets go father… We need to talk about some things…"Little Strongheart begged and finally got the chief under control and their party departing from the town.

They watched the buffaloes depart, all but the chief appeared a bit shaken. While Orion huffed and stormed away towards the hotel to take a break from the intense situation. He hid the treaty back in his garment for safe keeping, just in time for his group of friends to catch up.

"That was some mighty fine shaking down you did there partner. You may have just scared them bison straight!"Braeburn played it cool, not wanting to think that Orion's threats were no joke.

"I wasn't trying to scare them…! It's what's GOING to happen should they go through with their threats!"Orion made that perfectly clear with Braeburn before the six mares finally broke their silence.

"O, that's completely barbaric! I don't want to tell you how to do your job but… CHILDREN TOO,"Twilight exploded while their friends exploded with worry,"The chief is just having trouble with reason… We don't need to resort to a full blown execution of a clan!"

"It's not my first rodeo! And from the looks of it, I'm hoping this one will to be my last…!"Orion yelled while bursting through the door to the hotel.

"Wait a minute! You done this kind of thing before?!"Rainbow Dash yelled out in complete confusion.

"That's terrible…!"Fluttershy cried in fear for such barbarism being a part of life.

"It's part of our job as Equestrian warriors… We do what we must to protect our home from threats…! Both foreign and domestic,"Orion stopped at the bar where apple juice and food could be purchased,"We don't like it… We don't want to do it… But we have to no matter what… For our home… For our people…"

"But this isn't your old world any more…! You don't have to do this…!"Twilight begged Orion to reconsider what he had decided to do with the buffaloes.

"They already decided to soil and spit on an important document and moment in the old days,"Orion was given a complimentary drink of apple cider for a special drink,"It's time for them to understand why they shouldn't have disrespected the past as they did…!"

"We won't stand in your way if this is what you feel must be done, we will be fending off the buffaloes as well,"The sheriff permitted Orion to carry out his duty as the hidden prince gulped his drink down,"But we won't be killing anything… That deed is yours and yours alone to do…"

"Thank you… Now if all of you will excuse me… I need to be ready in case the worse happens…"Orion decided to excuse himself to go to the hotel room and rest up.

"Orion…"Twilight spoke his name to herself as she worried deeply for her friend.

"Bummer…! If only I had the chance to perform my share and care musical!"Pinkie groaned with lack of fulfillment on a side project they had in store to help make peace.

They night had once again settled for Appleloosa for another day to come. Though for many, they wished for this next day to never came, for war would arrive upon it's rising. For now however, there was only the night that glittered with millions of stars above their heads. Peace remained for them all, except for Orion, as he sat in a small bed by the window to the hotel room. He looked up to the night, thinking of the things he would once again be forced to do for his people.

He heard the door open, and a couple candles light up to illuminate the room. He looked over, and saw all the mares enter the room quietly, Rarity came in first sporting some cow girl braids in her mane. He snickered to himself while the rest of the group entered the room. He looked away, believing that he was going to get a bunch of heat for what he decided to do about the buffaloes. Only to see them bring in mugs of apple cider for all of them to enjoy including himself.

"Is there something to celebrate for this day?"He asked while Twilight gave out the mugs of apple cider to her friends first.

"Well… Tomorrow we're going to give a solid appeal to chief Thunderhooves,"Twilight explained while the others drank without restraint,"Hopefully we can prevent all this talk of bloodshed of yours."

"And maybe you won't sound like a total wacko for a change."Spike added before chugging his drink down and immediately falling asleep on his own bed.

"Yeah… The ponies here are letting you do this, but it don't mean they like what you're threatening to do,"Applejack admitted her own doubts about Orion's intentions,"But I suppose like you said… This ain't your first rodeo. So I reckon you already know what's going to happen if you do this."

"It's one of many burdens I'll carry for the rest of my eternity if I must. It's my job, and I am devoted to it,"Orion reminded them all, and forced a moment of silence to take over,"There has always been more to being a warrior than just me rescuing and being a hero at times. Sometimes I must do things for the sake of my home, no matter how much I don't want to do it. No matter how much of a villain it may make me appear to be."

"Well that's not right…! No pony should be forced to do such things…! No matter how strong they are!"Fluttershy worried with lack of understanding the burdens that warriors are willing to carry.

"Fluttershy's right...! That isn't something for even guys like you to be forced into doing. You're a living person with a heart and everything!"Rainbow agreed with Fluttershy's compassion.

"It's because I have a heart that I pray that the buffaloes see reason. Or I may have no choice… I'm sorry."Orion apologized ahead of time for the actions he would have to perform.

"But O this isn't right fo-"Rarity was suddenly cut off by Twilight as she collected her own drink and Orion's.

"It's ok Rarity… Tomorrow we will prevent this deed from having to be done, and you won't have to do such things,"Twilight suddenly changed her tone and gave him his cider before offering hers to him for a toast,"To a pursuit of peace… And hopefully not having to be a monster tomorrow."

"I suppose tonight is a good time to try and hope for peace. Hopefully you're all successful,"Orion agreed to her toast before drinking his cider smoothly before immediately noticing a foreign taste,"Oh no… Twilight did you really just…!"

He was incapable of saying any more before his body felt numb. He went from paranoid level awake, to shutting down and incredibly drowsy the next moment. He felt his body go numb, and fall asleep before his mind immediately followed in kind. He dropped his mug, barely able to hear it shatter before he fell asleep, he was still, and deep within slumber. Twilight sighed, and it was a great sigh of relief while her friends appeared only slightly worried.

"Ok… That just bought us several extra hours to reason with the chief and his people,"Twilight informed her agreeing friends as she put Orion's hand to his chest and his feet up to the bed,"Please don't be too mad about this… We just don't want a good friend to become a monster…"

---

There was not much that the man could do in his current position. His drug induced slumber carried him into what he already predicted to be a memory dream that really stuck with him. His conflict with the buffalo tribe truly set this memory in motion. Before he knew it, Orion was sitting over a large cliff alongside none other than War Fire in the dead of night. Half a mile north west from Olden town, they both peered over to their target village.

"They watched many ponies of gray, silver and black patrolling the wooden walled village. While hundreds of civilians slept soundly in their cabin like homes, as if all was fine. It filled the mouths of both warriors with the foul taste of evil and deception for their activity.

"Dawn will be here any moment now… Then we strike them quietly until we're inside,"Orion watched the large village with disgust after the attempt these ponies made on his mother's life,"We'll make these Loubrims regret trying to poison my family…!"

"I'm just glad to get out of the barracks for a bit… So they're all on death's list?"War Fire asked with great curiosity for the thrilling carnage he would perform.

"Yes… All of them… Except for the children. They are to be secured and evacuated once all the adults are dead,"Orion explained the condition granted by the king and queen of Equestria,"Their village is to be burned and all the knowledge they have on dark magic is to be destroyed…!"

"Secure the children of dark magic users?! Are you out of your mind. Those little rats are just as dangerous as their parents,"War Fire felt the need to argue the idea of sparing the lives of the Loubrim children,"They will stab us in the backs with their daggers and curse us with vengeance for their people's death…! Just because they're young doesn't make them any less of an issue…!"

"End of story War Fire! It's the only reason me and Shadow Swirl agreed to this mission,"Orion growled loudly to remind War Fire of respect for their people,"We will rehabilitate these offsprings, and we will show them peace rather than death! Is that perfectly clear?!"

"This is bull scat…! Your passion for children will get you and Shadow killed…! And I'm not making promises…!"War Fire argued and remained defiant to be merciful with their enemies.

"Let me put it this way…! You so much as harm one child in that village. And I'll show you dangerous…!"Came the elegant, yet stern voice of a mare before War Fire looked to his own shadow that bent and changed against it's will.

It went plain and blob like before it suddenly began to rise from the ground. The shadow became thick and three dimensional as it stood tall before War Fire. The shadow then took on the molding form of a unicorn mare as fluorescent purple eyes snapped open from the shadow. Once the smooth and seemingly feminine figure of the mare had fully formed. The shadow dissipated to reveal a beautiful unicorn mare of deep purple with a self flowing mane and tail of dark purple like the royal sisters.

Her pitch black cleric like robe complimented her horse shoes that were open just enough to see the tips of her hooves. The robe blasted in the wind as her eyes focused on War Fire. She Looked to her own shadow that suddenly connected with War Fire's. The moderate eye liner around her eyes mimicked that of a hollow shade as black smoke gently circulated over her robe. She sighed, and allowed herself to give War Fire a serious and stern warning to the pony of fire.

"That is your only warning, War Fire…! Stay away from those children…!"Here elegant voice appeared tame, but a gentle voice only masked what the mare truly was.

"Shadow Swirl, easy… Save that tension for the Loubrims,"Orion reminded the mare, but she did not take her stare off War Fire,"You're up first Shadow. The sun is rising, and the sentries are weary. Take them out and unbar the wooden gate. We'll rush in and massacre the civilians."

"Fine…! Just keep a leash this fire demon's neck…! Or I'll gladly wrap a dark noose tight around his neck instead…"Shadow Swirl warned with a snort before her body was cloaked entirely in shadow once more and fell back into the shadows.

They watched as the shadow bolted like a snake in the grass down the hill. Her form was impossible to see, and she was already slithering under the radar of the Loubrim sentries. However, her powers would weaken the moment the day began from the east. The sun was already peeking over the mountains, glistening and glowing orange and blood red. Just in time for Shadow Swirl to squeeze under the great wooden gate to the large Loubrim village.

She entered the village, avoiding a bonfire where three groups of four leather armored guards stood. Watching the sun slowly rise over the mountains, and enjoying the last of the darkness. Half of the guards could easily be made out to be drunk, while others conversed. Speaking trash of the king and queen and the wonders that their dark conjurers continued to discover. It hurt Shadow Swirl's ears to hear of average ponies gambling in magic she herself was to be trusted to use and protect.

The corruption of dark magic was strong here, and she had to cleanse it. To do that, she formed a small ball of black in her hoof, and pushed it into the ground before it began to spread. Impersonating a virus, it covered and rolled all over the ground and crept up the walls. Blackening the wooden walls with her own dark magic and surrounding the sentry towers. Where unsuspecting watchers were taken completely by surprise the moment the sun beams touched their village.

The first sentry pony gasped the moment he felt slick black tendrils against his belly. He looked down, and nearly managed to gasp before tentacles sprouted like weeds. Stuffing themselves into his mouth and wrapping all over his body nice and tight. He muffled and looked around, seeing the same fate befall the other sentries before great torment was felt from below. Looking down one more time, he witnessed his own destruction as the blackness swallowed and began to grind his body from bottom to top.

He screamed, but no pony could hear him as he felt his hooves melted and grounded into meat from within. His body sunk, and his legs suffered the same fate before the rest of his body did. He screamed as loud as he could, reaching for the sun that his people dared to murder. He saw it for the last time, before his vision darkened the moment his face was covered in darkness. His hoof slowly sunk into the black goop, where only blood now bubbled and filled the shadows taste for blood.

"Sentries are down…! Get ready you two, the doors are getting unlocked."Shadow spoke to herself as her magic covered the door and slowly began to lift the wooden bar off the door.

"Hey Aldrich! You wanna end the shift and come back to my place?! I know you've been looking to get down if you know what I mean,"One of the drunk guards stumbled over to a sentry tower to call to a mare watcher that guarded it,"Come on baby! I know you hate being up there all by yourself! Why not come and get warm with this stallion…!"

The stallion chuckled for a moment, hoping the mare would come down. Only to see blood coming down the ladder to the tower like slime. He fell silent, his blurry vision from the heavy drinking made it difficult to notice, but blood was a common sight for him to see. Finally, he gasped and backed away, yanking his short sword from his holster and looking around. Only to be spooked by the yells of his comrades crying out in pain before death.

He looked back to the bonfire just in time to see Shadow Swirl putting a hoof through a guard's chest. Before back hoofing a spear away and lifting her legs up to grip around another's neck. Her legs instantly snapped his neck like a twig before spinning her legs to the left, breaking another guard's neck. She then tossed her first victim into the group to be consumed by the shadows. While she ducked and high kicked a stallion into the air and jumped to give him a drop kick that went clean through his chest.

She used the guard's body to cushion her fall before yanking her hooves out of his corpse. Just in time to leg sweep and pile drive a mare guard's head into the dirt, shattering her skull. She finished by ducking under and double punching two more guard in the gut. Before getting behind them, and skull smashing their heads together, letting blood splatter from their eyes and mouths. She let out a sigh and looked to the drunk guard that backed away and against the door.

"Your actions have sealed the fate of your people… Now you will all die,"Shadow Swirl spoke once more as the bar fell from the door to the hooves of the fearful guard,"You should have thought twice before denying the king and queen, and daring to take their lives."

"ALARM! ALARM! We have intruders within the-"The guard tried to warn the clan, only to feel the hot steel of an inflamed sword burst through his chest.

He gagged and spewed out a pint of blood as he looked to the thick sword. Flames and embers radiated off it's steel self before it was viciously yanked out of his chest. He then felt the heat grew from behind as he fell to his flank, the heat had then turned to fire. The guard could only widen his eyes before the entire gate lit up like a boiling hot furnace, and explode. He gurgled before his body and the gate were reduced to ashes and flames, the blast rattled the village.

Families were disturbed and peaking out their homes to see what happened. All it took was the sight of Shadow Swirl herself and the prince walking through the flames of their destroyed gate. Mares screamed and ran for their lives while some stallions burst through their doors. Brandishing dark daggers empowered with evil magic as they ran for the warriors. War Fire found their feebleness amusing as he raised his sword to the air before it burst into flames and reshaped into a massive great ax.

"And so the slaughter begins… And we have plenty of Loubrim pigs for candidates…!"War Fire anticipated with some excitement before he charged pass Orion with his ax at the ready.

"We have the stallion's here Shadow Swirl…! Hunt down all the mares! Then find the children,"Orion gave his orders to the pony of darkness before pulling out both red crystal swords,"You were all dead the moment you tried to poison my mother! NOW YOUR FATES ARE SEALED LOUBRIMS!"

He charged behind War Fire, letting the pony of fire swing his ax down. Causing a massive wave of flames to scorch a group of ten attacker sand knocking their charred corpses away. Orion then jumped over War Fire and bringing two swords down on two stallion's heads. He then began to slash his swords together, crippling and even severing limbs before ducking and slashing out their legs. Leaving them to be crushed under the heavy blade of War Fire's fire ax.

Orion back flipped over the pony of fire before slashing and disarming a cloaked pony. He smirked, knowing that this specific Loubrim was one of the great dark magic conjurers. They were the more primary targets to slay so their knowledge of dark magic would be gone forever. He thrust his left sword through the cloaked one's mouth before leg sweeping another. Plunging both swords into a conjurer's chest before ducking to evade War Fire's ax that performed flawless crowd control.

Quickly the attackers dropped their weapons, and changed to a flight tactic. They ran in the same direction, screaming and panicking as War Fire stopped for a moment. He smiled sadistic like, looking to the first few wood houses around the village center. Before he then opened his gullet and let loose a dragon graded stream of fiery destruction that set the houses a blaze. He then looked to the retreating citizens and chuckled before he began to run after them.

"Oh I love it when they RUN!"War Fire chuckled before wildly swinging at the crowds he caught up on, leaving Orion to dispatch of the conjurers.

Meanwhile, Shadow Swirls was far ahead of the stallions, dealing with the mares. She ran with swiftness, strafing as shadows surrounded her hooves and formed into claws. She silenced the screams of each mare she found with powerful slashes like a dragon. Tearing open their backs and plunging into their chests for a quick and painless kill. It wasn't too long before she had groups of ponies backed against the blackened wooden wall, like lambs to a slaughter.

She stopped, watching them scratch and hit at the wall with their hooves. Only to make no progress as they then turned to Shadow Swirl in time to see small but slender tendrils shoot from her back. She released a deep breath and watched her tendrils attack with lightning speed. Screams of pain and death rang through the village as the wall trembled at great atrocities being done. Blood pooled and slowly escaped through the wall, leaking from a mound of bodies.

Shadow Swirl stood before that pile as she retracted the tendrils from her back. They dislodged from the bodies that they pierced and retreated back into her body. Her look became solemn as she looked away to the one victim that did survive her attack. A small disheveled and dirty filly laid on her belly trembling, fearing the same fate would befall her. She whimpered as she heard the mare approaching her, like death itself twirling his scythe and ringing in her ears.

She tightened up the moment she felt Shadow's hooves step in front of her. Her ear lifted to the sighs of the mare of darkness, her spine tingled the moment she felt her touch. The gentle brush of Shadow Swirl's hoof grazed and petted her back before she then felt nuzzles. Then gentle nuzzle of the dark mare slowly made the filly lift her head up and open her eyes slowly. Looking to the warrior face to face, tears burned her eyes before sliding down her cheeks like rain upon glass.

"Shhh… All is well now child… Shhh… You don't need to be afraid any more,"Shadow gentle trailed her hoof across the filly's cheek to wipe away the tears and calm her,"Return to your home and wait there until the chaos is over… Make sure your eyes are down…"

Shadow Swirl smiled softly the moment the filly lowered her eyes to the ground. Slowly she began to walk away from the carnage and mound of bodies. Shadow Swirl made sure the filly was out of sight before going into the last two houses to do the reaper's job.

Meanwhile, War Fire was in the middle of crushing what remained of the stallion's he hunted. Each swing was the strength of a giant full of flames as he skull split the last stallion. His death rattles were like music to the pony of fire's ears as he looked to the pile he made. The bodies of his scorched and split up victims surrounded him, and filled him with satisfaction. His ear twitched, and he was fast to throw a hoof around and sweep up a colt into his grip.

The colt grunted and coughed before dropping a knife he had in his hoof. He then held War Fire's hot forearm, dangling as he struggled against the Equestrian warrior. War Fire found the child's struggles amusing as he looked around, seeing Orion was busy with the last of the conjurers.

"This is exactly the thing that I warned Orion and Shadow Swirl about when it came to kids,"War Fire sighed with a breath full of embers that burnt the colts face,"They're just as dangerous as their parents… They are nothing but potential enemies of the future… They need to die as well… That is the way that permitted genocides are suppose to be…!"

With Orion busy, the fiery pony sighed and put the squeeze on the colt. He listened to the chokes and struggles of the colt as his hooves waved around and reached for War Fire. He simply tilted his head before seeing the colts face turn blue, then the fun was over for him. War Fire closed his eyes and put the last bit of squeeze into his grip before he felt the crack of the colt's neck. It felt like shattered glass in his hoof before the child instantly went limp, and his voice was silenced.

War Fire's remorse was quenched by the maniacal mind he carried. He slowly dropped the colt's body, letting it rest with all the other stallion's he slaughtered in his wake. Though he knew his work wasn't done just yet, as his ear lifted and drew his attention. He sighed, the moment he saw a small filly walking quietly with her head held low and her eyes stuck to the ground. After what happened with the colt, he was done playing by Orion's rule on the genocide and didn't take a chance.

He walked quickly over to the filly just as she was about to enter a house. He stood in front of the door, just in time for the filly to knock right into his strong legs. She fell to her flank and finally needed to look up before her wide eyes met the burning red eyes of War Fire. Her breath has already began to shudder as she tried to back away from the pony of fire. He tilted his head, finding her slow retreat ridiculous, but it would have proved to be a good idea.

"Going somewhere little Loubrim child? Perhaps into this house...or...going to pick up a weapon to use on us,"War Fire chuckled before wrapping his hoof tight around her right back leg and began to drag her,"Come now… There's no need to be afraid. Your worries are almost over…!"

The filly panicked, this stallion was not gentle like the mare was. She tried to wiggle free, grabbing at the grass she was dragged over as they walked to the bonfire. Finally, all she could do is scream, hoping for some pony to save her from the fiery pony. The pony then felt herself get released, only to roll over and feel the back hoof of War Fire slam down on her chest. She tried to scream as loud as she could, and Orion was just barely able to hear her as he slit the neck of the final conjurer.

"What the hay?! That's a filly,"Orion took notice just in time to see War Fire lifting his ax up and prepared to bring it down,"War Fire?! WAR FIRE STAND DOWN STAND DOWN! WAR FIRE NO! WAR FIRRRRRRRRREEE!"

Orion ran as quickly as he could, but he was not fast enough. He saw the ax come down, and split open the filly's chest, letting blood splatter on War Fire's face. Just in time for Orion to shove War Fire off and against a burning building. Orion quickly went to the filly, kneeling down and getting a hand under the young ones head and lifting her onto his knee. He panted, brushing the mane out of her face, and see the horrendous wound on her chest, his heart froze, for her breaths were labored.

He did his best to keep his lips from trembling, and the pain in his heart contained. As the filly took her last few breaths and gently reached for Orion, he kindly gripped her hoof. Letting her feel one last source of life before her eyes slowly shut, and her final breath be drawn. The moment her eyes fully shut, her breath came out slow and long to last. Her body went limp in Orion's hands, and she finally passed on, no longer afraid, and no longer in pain.

Orion's body shook, his grief grew as he held the filly with one hand. While he placed another hand to his head that ached with sorrow, his hand tightened against his head. His pain for the youngling was burning inside as he finally placed her down gently. His head went low for a moment to think, he panted and everything to get a grip on the things they had done. Then as he heard War Fire grumble and dust himself off, sorrow instantly lit up into a burning rage.

"RRRRRRGGGHHH WAR FIRE! YOU DUMB WALKING CAMP FIRE,"Orion roared as he turned around to War Fire and stomped towards the pony of Fire,"WE HAD AN AGREEMENT! NO CHILDREN WERE TO BE BUCKING HARMED! WE AGREED!"

"One of them came at me with a knife trying to stab me in the back, I couldn't take the chance,"War Fire argued before Orion slammed his body against his own and slammed the pony of fire against the wood wall,"This was exactly what I warned you and Shadow Swirl of! The children are no different than the adults, they're just fun sized bucking assassins!"

His argument earned War Fire a punch across the jaw that mimicked iron. His head slammed against the wall before blood poured out the corner of his jaw. He rubbed his muzzled and breathed heavily to collect himself from the rattling daze he was in.

"Children are the bucking future of our world, and we are to protect that at ALL COST,"Orion shouted while the fire warrior slowly stood up a bit wobbly on his hooves,"You're getting docked and taken off missions until you do something about that blood lust of yours! Because you are OUT OF CONTROL!"

"Wouldn't be the first time… Nor would it be the last…!"War Fire wiped his mouth off before stabilizing his balance.

"I've finished my work here! But I have not seen a child since I sent,"Shadow Swirl paused upon arrival after seeing War Fire messed up, and cold silence take over,"What is it…? Did you guys see a small filly? I sent her to her house to wait till the slaughter was over…"

"The conjurers sacrificed five children yesterday. They wanted to celebrate even when their poison assassination failed,"Orion explained one chunk of mostly different info before sighing,"We found two more… But…"

Shadow Swirl's mane blew in the wind the moment Orion stopped speaking. He looked to his left and gestured the direction with a nod, and Shadow Swirl quickly turned to look. Her heart shattered the moment she saw them, the colt that laid dead with a broken neck sickened her. She felt her ability to breath growing difficult and heavy as she slowly walked to the colt. She swallowed, feeling her legs grow shaky as her lips failed to resist the trembles.

"No… No… No no no no…please…! No,"Shadow Swirl suddenly dropped to her belly before the colt and brushed his mane with a shaking hoof,"Please Cosmos no…! No…! Oh my gosh…!"

Her eyes watered, her vision blurred with tears that slowly began to roll. Slipping down her face as she nuzzled the colt's head before closing his eyes to let him sleep. It was only when she looked up, and saw none other than the small filly she spared. She gasped, and choked out a whimper before she crawled to the filly with haste and fear. The minute she crawled to the filly's body, she immediately began to cry, choking and sobbing for the innocent life.

"Please Galaxia no…! Please don't do this…! Please god…!"Shadow begged the king and queen for mercy that didn't come as she picked the filly up in her arms to cradled her.

She nuzzled, and pressed her head to the filly's as she wept for her. Her heart for children was aching, and her motherly spirit was in great torment. She kissed the child's cheek and rocked with the filly in hopes she was slumbering well and peacefully. It took only one look at the slightly burnt wound on the filly's chest before she already knew what happened. She growled raspy like through her sobs, letting her tears fall upon the filly before she turned with a blackened face to War Fire.

"I'm gonna kill you…! You are dead…! Not today…! Not tomorrow…! But you will die by my hoof,"She promised War Fire as her upper and lower jaw suddenly split apart to reveal a four jawed mouth tipped inch by inch with sharp teeth,"And my shadows will consume you…! And torment your soul! FOR ALL ETERNITY!"

"Perhaps… If a knife wielding child doesn't do it first…!"War Fire defended his action before he earned a primal, alien like screech from Shadow Swirl.

"Enough! There's one more child that is not accounted for. He could still be alive,"Orion got between them as Shadow Swirl stopped and slowly reformed her normal teary face,"I learned from the conjurers that there was eight children. Five they sacrificed the other night. And we have two here…! We're missing one… An orphan."

"Did you try looking to your rear?"War Fire suddenly asked before pointing behind Orion.

The prince lifted an eye brow, before he felt the razor sharp tip of a blade touching his leg. He slowly turned around and found another small unicorn colt with what looked like a red blade in hoof. The colt's mane and tail was pitch black and messy, stained with dirt and blood. Dirt was dusted all over his gray coat, but a cut on his right arm was easy to see still. Orion finally turned completely to face the colt as his hooves trembled with the weapon, the prince slowly knelt down.

"You know, no pony would blame you for doing it right here, right now. We deserve it, more than anything,"Orion grabbed the colt's arms and brought the blade to his chest as they looked into each others red eyes,"The center of my chest is only soft spot… You push that weapon in, and I will pay for my sins with my life…"

"Orion…!"Shadow tried to stop Orion from leaving himself open to death.

"I deserve this for what we did here child… You won't be convicted for revenge,"He promised as the colt's hooves shook before the blade suddenly sparkled and revealed to not be an ordinary weapon,"That sparkle… That is a red crystal you hold in your hooves… But… It's not mine…"

Suddenly the colt's angry expression relaxed and gave in to sadness. He closed his eyes and released what now appeared to be a shard of red crystal that gleamed with magic. It landed to the ground, only to be picked up by Orion, he released the colt, allowing him to cry. The colt was mad, but he knew he was no killer, and as an orphan in a clan of evil ponies. It was only a matter of time before his people enraged the Equestrian warriors, but suddenly the tone changed.

"Child… This is not my crystal… Is it yours…?"Orion asked and showed the colt the shard of crystal.

The colt let his eyes fall to the ground as his body trembled with fear. He slowly began to nod before his hoof was taken up into the hands of Orion. He looked up, letting a tear stream down his right cheek before seeing the warrior return the shard to him.

"Show me… I need to make certain…"Orion wished, and was not disappointed the moment the colt raised his hoof high.

He cringed, it stung at first upon focusing his blinking red magic. Before they all knew it, red crystal pieces suddenly sprouted like vines all over the colt's tiny arms. Orion's eyes widened, for now he knew for certain that this was a special colt. Shadow Swirl could not help, but grow curious herself, and rushed to the colt's side with wide and sore eyes. She made sure the filly was comfortable before wiping blood from the colt's arm and tasting it.

"Orion… This one isn't even a Loubrim…! He's just an orphan colt,"Shadow Swirl informed after deciphering the blood and discovering this colt's origins,"I don't know his origins… But what's certain is… He's… A red crystal bearer…!"

"I'm… not a Loubrim…?"The colt finally spoke before Orion placed his hands to the colt's shoulders.

"No… But you are something so much more than them… We are sorry that you had to witness such things,"Orion apologized and leaned up nice and tall as he explained,"The Loubrim threatened and tried to poison the queen… After that, we could no longer let them go… They were marked for complete execution…"

"Though we never meant for you or any of the children to get hurt…"Shadow Swirl added while nuzzling the filly.

"So… What happens now…? I don't have a home… I never truly did,"The colt looked down to the ground and shuddered with sorrow and fear,"I wish we never angered the god and goddess… But they just wouldn't listen to me…!"

"Well… That's unfortunate for them… Because you my young one are a red crystal bearer,"Orion explained while showing small crystals grow from the palm of his hand to compare to the colt,"As am I… And I never wanted any of this chaos for a child like you… So the least I could do… Is offer you this…"

"What the buck do you think you're doing?"War Fire questioned before taking a high kick to the jaw from Shadow Swirl.

"You shut up, Flank hole!"Shadow Swirl silence the stallion as he went quiet to wipe more blood from his mouth.

"Enough...! Shadow Swirl give the children a proper burial outside the village,"Orion commanded, while Shadow Swirl huffed and did as she was told before he looked to War Fire,"You... Make yourself useful, and set the rest of the area ablaze...!"

"This is a mistake Orion... Mark my words...!"War Fire commented before walking off to set the village more ablaze.

"What's say you come with us…? Our castle is meant for special ones like yourself and I,"Orion went into detail about the offer he wished to give to the colt,"I can train you… Give you a home, and the skills to master your red crystals and use them for the good of Equestria… Maybe even make it better so we don't have to do things like this any more…"

The colt looked away for a moment, a morbid hate burned slightly in his chest. Only to evaporate and cool down the moment he began to realize, he never did feel like a Loubrim. He was an orphan, and he was surely going to become the next sacrifice for the conjurers. Now that he learned that he was never a Loubrim, he then truly felt himself detaching from this clan. And now this tall prince that bared the same power as him was offering him a home and a chance to make a difference.

"You really think I can make a difference…?"The colt asked before Orion held his hoof tight and respectfully.

"Any pony can… Especially the special ones like you… I can promise you a home, friends, and a purpose,"Orion made his promises to the colt before lowering his head for a moment,"If you choose vengeance… I will respectfully await the day you come to kill me, and embrace death like an old friend."

"No... I wasn't well liked here any way... And yet... I can't help but grief for them... I… I accept your offer sir,"The colt gave in and placed his hoof upon the prince's hand before suddenly being brought in for a hug,"Please... Do right by me... So that I can maybe do right for life itself..."

"You won't be disappointed… I know you'll grow to do extraordinary things,"Orion spoke as he hugged the colt nice and snug,"My name is Orion… You may call me Orion or mentor if you wish. What is your name…?"

The colt looked around, taking in a deep breath as he looked to the dead Loubrim. The fires were reaching the walls and the remaining houses while creeping to the bodies. He knew there was no holding back now, and he truly did want to be somewhere else rather than here, only bad memories remained. Now he wanted new memories, he wanted a home, and he wanted the strength to survive. And for the future, he wanted to prevent a disaster like this from ever happening again.

"My name… Is Sombra…"He answered and gave a slight bow before he was taken into the arms of Orion to be taken to the kingdom.

---

That name stuck with him from the day they first met, and Orion never forgot that. Suddenly the dream rumbled and cracked away to nothing but darkness at last. Before he knew it, Orion's eyes truly opened to a greatly lit hotel room just in time to roll to the floor. He was quick to look around the room, it was empty and only one candle still burned. He looked to himself, and saw that he had drooled on himself while he slept, but what he truly cared to remember was Twilight.

"That crazy mare drugged me! She put me to sleep for Celestia's sake!"He yells suddenly awoke Spike the dragon before he then gasped to see Orion awake.

"Uh oh… Hey…O…! You slept like a log, didn't you?"Spike tried to sound nice to cover up his fear.

"Yes! Thanks to Twilight slipping me some narcotic drugs! Where is she?!"Orion rolled to his feet before Spike with a glare while wiping his drooling mouth.

"Um…outside! But the town is in chaos right now! The buffalo are attacking and… Oh no,"Orion narrowed his vision and growl before he fixed his outfit and rushed out of the room,"Please don't kill them O! PLEASE!"

Orion did not listen, he stomped down the stairs, scaring the citizens that took cover. They gasped one by one, knowing that their savior from before was about to fight again. They gave him plenty of room to march in before he made it to the end and burst right through the doors. Upon exiting the hotel, he entered complete chaos in the form of buffaloes and ponies everywhere. Pies were being thrown to neutralize the buffaloes, while the hulking brutes themselves trampled property.

He growled to see the buffaloes daring to challenge his warning and authority. He tensed up, before seeing Twilight and her friends rushing in all directions to stop the carnage. Twilight was the first to freeze in her place the moment she saw Orion staring her down. She gulped, but was not surprise that he woke up a bit earlier than she anticipated. Her friends stopped their actions as well upon seeing him out and about, their hearts froze with looks of pleas on their faces.

"Please… Don't kill them… Give us a chance…!"Twilight begged of him as some buffaloes and ponies took notice of his arrival.

"You had your chance…! While I was sleeping off those drugs you slipped me,"Orion called out before the fighting slowly began to cease around him,"Now I'm going to do what warriors have to do…! Chief Thunderhooves!"

He called out the chief, just as he was about to tangle with the sheriff. He turned, and stared for the longest time at the awakened and tense warrior. He turned to face Orion, just in time for the prince to draw out a red crystal sword and point it at him. Only to be surprised that the warrior did not begin to attack his buffalo fighters, it was the chief himself he was after. The moment Orion ran to the chief, the large bison forgot about the sheriff and drew out his tomahawk to challenge.

Orion immediately jumped and went with a downward thrust. The chief rolled to the left to evade, letting the blade dig deep into the land he wanted to take back. He went to strike the warrior in the back, but his arm was quickly grabbed, and he suffered a counter attacking kick to the nose. He snorted, only to get round housed from the left, and staggered for a moment. Though he was able to duck under a strong slash and quick step away from the prince.

He was quick to roll to the right and back to evade a serious of swing. Only to stumble and earn a cut to his right arm, and a headbutt to further insult him for being hard headed. He stumbled back, and was kicked in the chest before falling to the ground. He needed to pull back, but after a quick roll towards the left of Orion, he got his chance to strike. He swung his tomahawk down, only to feel it completely deflect off the back of the human pony prince.

He was rewarded with a back hand and another kick to the nose that drew blood. He backed away to assess his injury, but needed to cut recovery short the moment Orion charged. He rolled to the right, avoiding the grip of the prince as they all watched in fear.

"Um… I was thinking that we were going to see a bunch of buffalo dropping like flies,"Applejack proclaimed her confusion that the intentions of Orion changed,"Now he's just going after the chief! Did something just change in that pony?"

"I… Don't know… Orion…"Twilight worried the moment Orion missed the chief and was suddenly taking tomahawk hits.

He simply stood up and took the tomahawk strikes before it cracked against his body. All was hard to understand until they saw the crystal armor gleaming in the afternoon sun. His clear and camouflaged armor served him well as he struck the chief in the chest. Before the massive buffalo could even register the pain, he was then grabbed by his neck. Orion glared into his eyes before shooting the chief with a blast of red magic from his grip that sent him to the door.

Te chief was slowed, and rolling on his back while gripping his chest. He groveled and backed away as Orion approached him, holding the sword with both hands. Ready to execute him with a thrust to the heart, but the chief was not done fighting. For he felt the tomahawk of a neutralized buffalo fighter fumble in his right hoof. He felt his body weaken, as he gripped the tomahawk tightly.

"I warned you…! I gave you the chance to rethink your mistakes and spare yourself the threat of death,"Orion growled as he lifted his blade up and prepared to skewer the chief,"Now… Your people shall have to find a new chief… One that is full of reason and respect…!"

"We don't respect beings like you, who think they can control everything,"The chief tightened his grip and prepared to throw,"These are our lands…! And you cannot have them!"

The chief tossed his tomahawk, but Orion moved his head aside. Dodging the tomahawk that slammed into the pillar of a ruined building. Orion turned back and lifted his sword to do the deed, but the creaking of a building caught his attention.

"Father!"Came the calls of Little Strongheart that feared for her father, only to not notice the building she stood under.

The wooden awning of the building buckled after the tomahawk destroyed it's pillar. It gave away and broke into pieces as it then tumbled towards the small buffalo. A flash of the young filly screaming flashed in Orion's mind, and triggered a surprising change of heart he had. He was quick to swing his free hand up, allowing a wall to rise over the small bison's head. She ducked, only to see the wall of crystals protect her from the falling debris.

"Strongheart!"The chief suddenly changed from angry to scared for his daughter before getting a pie to the face from the sheriff.

"Now you done just almost got your own kid killed their chief! What more are you willing to risk?!"The sheriff decided to give the buffalo his two cents about the buffalo chief's choices.

"Nothing… I… Surrender… Please spare my people…"The chief lowered his head in surrender as his daughter rushed to him for a hug while he clenched his wounds.

"Don't worry… I've had a change of mind overnight... Thanks to a friend,"Orion looked to a bunch of heart melted mares that were tearing up to see him make a very life giving decision,"I've done more than enough killing… And with the way things are… I don't think I want to become a killer any more…"

"So what happens now…? After all of this…? What will you do?"Little Strongheart asked before Orion noticed the chief taking a liking to the pie all over his face.

"Well… This may seem odd but… How do you feel about those pies…?"Orion asked as a plan was formed, and was quickly sent in motion.

Before they knew it, the path was kept open for the buffalo. But the orchard could grow around the path, growing plenty more apples for every pony. As for the buffalo, Orion and the chief decided that in exchange for peace, they would get a moderate share of the apples. From regular apples to all the best apple delicacies would be shared with the buffaloes. The chief deeply agreed to this, and peace was finally restored between the ponies and the buffalo tribes.

Orion sat on the hill, watching the buffalo picking up their orders of apples. He smiled, watching happiness between the two groups of people. He sighed happily, for what truly made him happy was for the first time, Orion didn't need to take the lives of the innocent. His ears perked up, before Twilight sat right next to him, watching Applejack get her chance to plant Bloomberg. She released a happy sigh of relief, and suddenly hugged Orion from out of the blue.

"Well… I suppose I owe you for putting me to sleep… It gave me a serious chance to think,"He extended an arm to wrap around Twilight to accept her hug,"This was the first time I chose not to be a killer for Equestria…. Guess I have you to thank for that."

"It was nothing… I'm just happy I didn't have to see a friend do something he never wanted to do,"Twilight responded and rested her head upon his shoulder,"I never want to see my friend become a monster… Because no matter what you've done in the past… you're a good pony inside."

"Thanks… I suppose you have a serious friendship lesson for today? I could use one of those."Orion laid back just as Twilight beamed with a smile and pulled out a letter.

"As a matter of fact, I did…"Twilight answered before unrolling her letter and began to read.

Dear Princess Celestia

Friendship is a wondrous and powerful thing. Even the worst of enemies can become friends. You need understanding and compromise. You've got to share. You've got to care.

"Short and sweet. Just the way I like it Twilight…"He patted her back and smiled before Pinkie suddenly bounced between them.

"Hey! That's what I said!"Pinkie ranted about earlier when she tried to do her share and care performance.

"Well now I'm really glad I was passed out… You saved me from a horrible performance…"Orion whispered while Twilight simply giggled.

Oh geez, this became another monster of a chapter. I just had so much planned for it, and I just didn't want to cut corners here. Please do your best to read this massive monster of a chapter. If you can't I'm sorry. If you can, much love to you. Stay pony every one.