SEASON 1: THE ADVENTURES OF ALEX IN EQUESTRIA

IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER (Alex's narration)

The farm pony began to pounce on me while slowly closing her eyes... once the mare was close to me, she pushed me, making me fall backward onto the ground with her on top of me. I looked at her somewhat surprised, but before I could say anything, a lavender-colored magical energy beam passed near us, hitting the cowgirl's hat. If it hadn't been for her, it would have hit us.

-Applejack: That was close (I'll hit whoever ruined this for me)

-Alex: Applejack, your hat!

-Applejack: Don't worry, I can fix it, are you okay?

-Alex: Yes, thanks to you, where could that have come from?

-Applejack: Judging by the trajectory, I'd say it's from Swamp FroggyBottom.

-Alex: Swamp Froggybottom? But then... oh no... Twilight!

As soon as I remembered what was happening in the mentioned swamp, I stood up and took flight towards that swamp very worried, considering that Twilight wouldn't shoot, and even less miss, a bolt of that kind without reason, I quickly assumed she was in danger...

CHAPTER 13: Shadows of the Past, Part 2 (Season Finale)

(Narration in the third person)

The chapter begins with our protagonist and his friend Applejack running down a path towards the entrance of the Everfree Forest, and very unlike the first time, they entered without fear of what was inside, as their concern for their friends was greater.

INSIDE THE FOREST

While they kept running (and Alex flying), a group of wooden wolves hunting what appeared to be a rabbit with spider eyes could be seen in the distance.

-Applejack: Alex, timberwolves ahead!

-Alex: I know, it's my pack!

The human howled loudly, catching the attention of the wolves, which the rabbit took advantage of to flee; Alex and Applejack ran past them, only to be followed by them.

-Applejack: Hey Alex, would you mind explaining to me how you have a pack of timberwolves?

-Alex: It's a long story, basically I accidentally defeated their alpha and now I'm their new leader.

-Applejack: It makes sense... - she said to herself while thinking about how little sense it made - and could you also tell me why we're running towards Froggybottom Swamp?

-Alex: Because Fluttershy is in danger, and apparently Twilight too, if I remember correctly this is the day the Hydra appears.

-Applejack: And how do you know that?

-Alex: There's no time to explain (besides, it's very complicated to explain) we must hurry to-

But his dialogue was abruptly cut off. The human closed his wings and braked with his feet as hard as he could, which worried Applejack and the forest wolves, causing them to stop running.

-Applejack: Alex? What's happening, why are you stopping!

But Alex didn't respond... in his gaze, a great terror could be seen, for in the distance he had been able to discern that it was not the Hydra attacking his friends... but the beast that had harmed him so much before: The Great Bear.

The poor human felt like he couldn't move, and yet, his body kept trembling; all of this worried Applejack, who was going to ask him again if he was okay but couldn't because Alex ran off in the opposite direction, leaving her alone and worried.

-Applejack: Alex, wait!

The pony first looked at where the beast was and then at where her friend ran, unsure of whom to help first...

-ALTRESMIL: And here you might be wondering, what happened with Alex, why did he run? The poor guy was traumatized after his last fight; until that moment he felt invincible, and having to face again the only thing that has been able to hurt him generates immense fear in him. That said, let's continue with the story.

MEANWHILE WITH ALEX (Narration by Alex)

I was running through the forest, clearing branches and everything in my way, thinking: "Why is that thing here?", "it was supposed to be a Hydra"... "I can't do this..."

But my thoughts were interrupted by a branch shaped like an arm that came out of nowhere and threw me a few meters back, making me fall on my back.

-Alex: Stupid branch... *sniff* stupid bear... *sniff* stupid everything!

I began to sob, lying on the floor from the anger I felt. Deep down, I wanted to help my friends, but even deeper inside, I knew I couldn't defeat that thing... when suddenly I heard a voice saying:

-¿?: Pathetic...

-Alex: What? Who is there?

I stood up, wiping my tears, and looked for where the voice was coming from, but there was no one.

-¿?: You don't deserve to live...

-Alex: - I drew my sword and kept searching, annoyed - Come and say it to my face!

But at that moment, I had a mental image; it was that wooden wolf that my pack knew as Alpha.

-Alpha: And to think that someone so cowardly defeated me in a hand-to-hand fight

-Alex: Hey, you are the old alpha of my pack, where did you come from?

-Alpha: My soul remains trapped in that sword you always carry on your back, tormented by having been defeated by someone who doesn't deserve to take my place.

-Alex: Hey, I beat you in a duel, which makes me deserving of it.

But after saying that, I was charged by that wolf, making me fall and roll into that void.

-Alpha: Being an alpha is not just about defeating others! It's about taking care of your pack, and from what I've seen, you're a failure in that regard.

-Alex: Ugh... - I looked at him, getting up slowly - But I do take good care of my pack

-Alpha: But not to your true pack

At that moment, I could see how my friends were struggling to survive against the Great Bear... and I was just fleeing the place...

-Alex: ... you don't understand... - I said almost crying from helplessness - that thing-

-Alpha: That thing is threatening your friends, and if you're not capable of risking your life to defend them, let me tell you that you have failed as an alpha and as a man. So tell me, what are you going to do?

Upon hearing those words, I felt as if I was returning to reality. I lowered my arms just like my head; my eyes, covered by my hair, couldn't be seen, but a tear could be seen welling up from them.

A few seconds after that, Applejack arrived very worried, asking me what had happened and why I had run away. I turned to look at her and could only ask:

-Alex: Applejack... do you consider me a failure for being afraid?

-Applejack: What? Alex, I don't know what happened in the last few seconds, but we need to go help our friends.

Applejack was right, so I wiped my tears and cleaned my nose; I nodded while looking at Applejack, which made her a little happy and she wanted to go back but was stopped by some words I said.

-Alex: Wait, Applejack... before you go, I need a favor.

-Applejack: Um, sure, what do you need?

-Alex: I need you to kick me

-Applejack: Huh? :v

-ALTRESMIL: Yup, that's exactly the face he made.

-Alex: I want to go help our friends, but my legs won't let me... I need you to kick me towards the swamp with all your might.

-Applejack: But Alex, I kick trees, I've never kicked someone before, I'm going to hurt you.

-Alex: Please...

Applejack was still unsure whether it was a good idea or not, but she finally decided to do it. She lifted her hind hooves and kicked me with such force that I was sent flying towards the swamp, and there was even a crunching sound when I was kicked; but the important thing is that I was on my way to help Twilight.

MEANWHILE WITH THE TIMBERWOLVES (Third-person narration)

-ALTRESMIL: Alex gave the wolves their names to avoid confusion, they don't quite agree but it doesn't bother them either since their alpha renamed them.

-Wolfi: I knew he was a coward from the day we trained him.

-Fang: The threat they fled from is no small matter - he turned to look at the bear holding a pony over its open mouth - not even with the entire pack could we stand against it.

-Claw: That doesn't change the fact that he broke the first rule of an alpha, which is to take care of his pack. We'll have to choose a new one...

But at that moment, Claw was shattered by a projectile that was too fast to avoid; it was Alex, moving at great speed towards the bear.

-Fang: Or maybe they just needed to have a little faith in him - he said, showing a gesture that seemed to be a smile -

AGAIN WITH ALEX (Narration by Alex)

Thanks to Applejack's push, I was close to helping our friends, but when I arrived, I could see how the bear wanted to eat Fluttershy; I adjusted my trajectory towards its mouth and, being close, I hit its eye with all my strength, making it let go. I took the opportunity and quickly grabbed Fluttershy in my arms. The additional weight made me have to dive down, but luckily I knew how to recover and landed near Twilight and Pinkie Pie... covering them in mud.

-Alex: *panting* *panting* Are you okay?

-Pinkie Pie: Alex! - she shouted happily to see me - I'm so glad you made it!

-Twilight: Alex, where did you come from?

-Alex: That doesn't matter, you have to get out of here now!

I handed them to Fluttershy, who was lifted by Twilight's magic. I turned to look at the bear, which was still holding its injured eye with its paw.

-Alex: I'll take care of the bear - I told them very seriously, turning my back and drawing my sword and shield -

They responded to me, shouting "What?!" in unison.

-Twilight: Are you crazy?! You can't beat that thing!

-Alex: I know! - I replied loudly, surprising her - I'm not trying to beat it, just give them time... (besides, I can no longer keep running away from my fears)

While we were talking, the bear recovered from her eye and looked at me with a paralyzing hatred. I placed my shield in front of me, expecting anything, but the bear launched a quick strike that I barely managed to block, sending me flying back a great distance, only being stopped by a large tree that bent from the impact. My shield shattered, my sword flew from the impact, and I fell unconscious to the ground.

-King: Damn human... - he was still complaining about the pain in his eye, which he also felt when I hit the bear - I was going to give you a quick end, but now I'm going to tear you apart piece by piece

The bear started walking towards my fainted body, ignoring my friends. Twilight shouted at the beast, trying to prevent it from hurting me, but Pinkie stopped her.

-Twilight: Pinkie, let me go! I have to help him!

-Pinkie Pie: We can't do anything Twi, that bear is too strong.

-Twilight: We can't leave it like this!

-Pinkie Pie: And what about Fluttershy!

Twilight had forgotten that Fluttershy was also in bad shape.

-Pinkie Pie: I don't want to leave either, but we can't do anything, if we don't go we'll all die!

That made Twilight reflect on the decision she was about to make; her second option was to give Fluttershy to Pinkie Pie and let them go together, but the other beasts of Everfree could hurt them. In the end, with tears in her eyes, she decided it was best to leave while they could; they began to run to get away when, out of nowhere, a large wall of dark crystal with reddish tips appeared in front of them. They turned to look at the bear, who also looked at them with a hint of annoyance in her gaze.

-King: Don't think I'm going to let you go that easily - he turned around, making the bear do the same, and walked towards them - you tried to hide and defend the human, so I can hurt you without worrying about my promise

The bear raised its paw and brought it down quickly and forcefully towards them, but Twilight stopped the attack with a magical barrier around them. The impact generated a wave that pushed all the mud away from around the barrier.

-King: Damn unicorn - it attacked the barrier again, causing some cracks - you won't be able to hold out forever

He continued attacking, creating more and more cracks in the barrier; a look of pain was evident on Twilight's face as she kept pushing herself.

-Twilight: Pinkie... you have to take Fluttershy with you

-Pinkie Pie: What? No... Twilight, don't do this to me! - she said as her body trembled and jumped harder and harder -

The barrier emitted a loud creak.

-Twilight: Tch... I'm sorry Pinkie... I can't take it anymore... - the bear prepared one last blow - tell Celestia I'm sorry for disappointing her...

The bear struck, destroying the barrier and causing Twilight to collapse, falling to the ground. Pinkie approached and took her in her hooves, looking at her with tears in her eyes, although the bear (and King) cared little about that.

-King: Let's finish this... quickly -he began to slowly lift his hoof as it was surrounded by a reddish magic, planning to pierce them with more of those crystals; he quickly lowered his helmet to release that magic, but his body was violently thrown against a wall. This was because something attacked the bear, sending her crashing against that crystal wall. It seemed to be a white flash that had attacked her, and suddenly, the flash spoke:

-Alex: I told you to leave!

MOMENTS BEFORE

I placed my shield in front of me, expecting anything, but the bear launched a quick blow that I barely managed to block, sending me flying back a great distance, only being stopped by a large tree that bent from the impact. My shield shattered, and I fell unconscious to the ground.

After fainting from that blow, I felt my mind falling into a great abyss, deep and empty, making everything suddenly turn black. After a while, everything turned white, it was a vast emptiness with nothing for miles around, except for me lying in that void... lamenting.

-Alex: (Here again... means I failed again...)

Without realizing it, a celestial aura began to appear, slowly taking the shape of the Great Bear; when I noticed its presence, I looked at it annoyed and just shouted:

-Alex: Go ahead! Finish me off once and for all! It's the second time you beat me! Why don't you kill me?!

At that moment, a white flash struck the bear, turning it into smoke and making it disappear.

-¿?: Because it is not your time yet - said a voice coming from that flash -

-Alex: Huh? That voice... (It's the one I heard when I helped Princess Luna)

The white flash began to approach me, gradually taking on a human form very similar to mine. This other me crouched down a bit and extended his hand to me.

-Another Alex: Your friends need you, it's not the time to give up

-Alex: - I looked away - I can't help you... I gathered all my courage and tried but I failed... I'm useless

-Another Alex: No, you're human - upon hearing that, I turned to look at him - and it's normal to fail when trying something so difficult, but if you keep pushing yourself, if you keep trying, if you don't give up, in the end, you'll be able to achieve it. Remember what Dad said, the first step to achieving something is believing that you can achieve it. And the second...

He brought his hand even closer to me, looking at me with confidence. I decided to take his hand and stood up slowly (my body in the swamp also stood up). Standing up, that other self began to shine until it disappeared; I closed my eyes because of the brightness, and when I realized it, I was out of that void.

BACK TO "REALITY"

I was standing again, my body aching but for some reason, I no longer cared; I opened my eyes and it could be seen how they had turned completely white. A glow began to surround me (meanwhile, in another part of Equestria, an object in the shape of a collar began to shine in the same way); before I realized it, I was flying towards the bear at great speed and with all my strength, I struck her, sending her flying against a huge wall of glass.

-Alex: (...It's giving it your all until you achieve it!)

I could barely react to what was happening, it was as if my body was moving on its own; I turned to see where my friends were and the first thing I did was scream at them to leave.


Background song: Lift the Curse - Kingsbury


(Narration in the third person)

After that, the human flew towards the bear at high speed, trying to hit it again, but it dodged the blow. He struck that wall with his fist, breaking through without much trouble, which the bear saw, causing her to become frightened.

-King: Impossible, my crystals are the hardest material in Equestria, no one but me can break them!

-¿?: I notice you're worried...

-King: You shut up, I don't need you!

Once again, the wall was breached by the human, heading towards the bear and hitting it in the stomach, sending it into the mud.

-¿?: Hand-to-hand combat was never your thing...

King said nothing, and just stood up to make the bear invisible. In that state, he lunged at Alex, trapping him and slamming him against the muddy ground, then began to stomp on him repeatedly with hatred.

-¿?: Jo, this isn't like you.

-King: Shut... up... Edge!

He launched another blow but it was countered by a counterattack from the human, who shot out of the ground, covering the bear in mud to see her clearly. King stepped back to shake off the mud and avoid another blow, but the human followed him at great speed; he began to hit the bear with incredible force, King could only block the attacks while retreating a little with each one.

-"Edge": I can help you... if you give me the other one...

-King: Grrr... it's your fault... that I don't have... all my power!

Alex stopped hitting and stepped back a bit to breathe somewhat forcefully.

-Alex: (It's very strong... everything hurts... how are we going to defeat it?)

A voice inside his head answered him, it was the other Alex he had seen before:

-Another Alex: (We don't need to defeat her, just stop her and get our friends out of here, and I know how)

After that, Alex began to fly around the bear at great speed, his wings moving like those of a hummingbird; the mud started to rise little by little as if it were a tornado. The bear tried to follow him with her eyes but he was too fast, until suddenly she received a strong uppercut to the lower part of her snout, making her lift off the ground. Alex continued punching, making her rise higher until he decided to position himself above her and prepare his final blow.

-Alex: Now take this... Primary Lotto!

He threw a strong punch towards the bear's face, sending it crashing to the ground. All the mud beneath her dissipated in an instant, and the bear fell unconscious along with its handler.

-Alex: -he started breathing heavily- Heh... *smiles* You're not so rude anymore! Or ye...

Alex's wings suddenly stopped, making him fall onto the beast's belly; all his muscles had tensed after so much effort.

-Alex: Ouch... my wings... I can't move... it hurts to the core...

-Another Alex: (At least we managed to get our friends out safely, now we can rest)

Or maybe not...

IN ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD, VERY VERY FAR FROM EQUESTRIA

Narration by King?

After that hard blow, I fainted in my dark room; my subconscious was floating in a vast emptiness the same color as my room, there was nothing except the presence of another pony... my son Kris...

-Kris: ... - he didn't say anything, he just looked at me coldly -

Recently, I had taken over his body to fulfill my mission, but now that I fell unconscious, my soul lost control. Does it want to reclaim it? He knows he can't defeat me.

-King: Hi Kris - I greeted him out of mere courtesy, I didn't intend to stay long -

-Kris: Hi Kris? Is that all you're going to say to me? - he replied angrily - Not even an explanation of why you did all this or what crystals happened in my absence? Just a "Hi Kris"?!

-King: Kris, I understand that you're upset, but I don't have to explain to you why I did it.

-Kris: And why not?! You took over my body! You locked me in my own subconscious! And if you're here, it's not because you're going to free me; someone probably knocked you out... it was the human, right?

The fact that he believed that made me a little irritated, yes, it overwhelmed me, but this is not over.

-King: I admit I got complacent during our meeting, but I won't let-

But before I could finish my sentence, I was interrupted by a magic bolt thrown by Kris. I easily dodged it, but I wasn't going to accept such rudeness so easily.

-Kris: No, I'm not going to let you continue with this madness! It's because of your obsession with killing humans that we ended up in this deplorable situation! Why the hell don't you tell me what this is all about?

-King: I already told you that I don't have to explain anything to you, besides, I couldn't even if I wanted to...

-Kris: Tch... even after I saved you from dying that time, can't you tell me why we ended up like this?


BACKGROUND SONG: Numb (Cover en español por Bastian Cortés)

-ALTRESMIL: This song is mandatory to listen to while reading, as the characters' dialogues go with the music, thank you.


-King: ... (I don't want to involve you, I never wanted to do it)

The atmosphere became silent for a long while, until my son started talking again.

-Kris: Cansado de lo quieres de mi~ me siento tan frágil, la fé ya no está aquí~ no sé que estás esperando de mí... la presión es tanta... la de tus pasos seguir!~

-King: La resaca no se acabó... atrapado en resaca estoy...

-Kris: Cada paso que doy es un nuevo error para ti!~

-King: La resaca no se acabó... atrapado en resaca estoy... ¡In-sensible soy!

-Kris: No te siento ahí...

-King: Cansado estoy...

-Kris: Insensible aún más!

-King: Ahora soy así!

-Ambos: Lo que quiero hacer! Es ser aún más yo y ser menos tú!~

-Kris: No ves que sofocándome estás! Aprietas muy fuerte! Temes perder el control! Lo que pensaste que podría ser ya se derrumbó justo enfrente de ti!~

-King: La resaca no se acabó... atrapado en resaca estoy...

-Kris: Cada paso que doy es un nuevo error para ti!~

-King: La resaca no se acabó... atrapado en resaca estoy...

-Kris: Cada segundo que va... no puedo soportar!

-Ambos: ¡In-sensible soy! No te siento ahí... Cansado estoy... Insensible aún más! Ahora soy así! Lo que quiero hacer! Es ser aún más yo y ser menos tú!~

-Kris: Y yo sé! Que podrí~a! Pa~gar también! Pero sé! Que eras cómo yo cuando alguien te decepcionó!

Hearing those words reminded me of something I had long forgotten, the face of an alicorn with warm colors like the sun, as well as the betrayal he committed... Solaris... I could see it reflected on my son as he continued singing.

-Kris: Lo que quiero hacer! Es ser aún más yo y ser menos tú!~

When she finished singing, her melancholic expression turned into one of determination. She quickly ran towards me and jumped forcefully, ready to hit me knowing the damage it would cause me. At that moment, I hesitated to defend myself... but the doubt didn't last long... I countered with a sharp crystal pillar, piercing and stopping Kris, making his expression of firmness turn into one of pain, liquid gushed from his mouth as he coughed, and although he didn't show it, I too suffered inside.

-King: I'm sorry, son, but I haven't finished my mission yet - I began to cover Kris's body with more crystal until it was completely enveloped - I promised someone that I would end the humans, and you know the value of promises in our family.

... a silence filled that void after those words, I began to walk away from my son and return to consciousness in the earthly world... just like the Great Bear...

BACK IN THE SWAMP (Third-person narration)

Alex was still paralyzed on the bear, which opened its eyes and began to straighten up, causing the human to fall to the ground; Alex couldn't believe that after everything the bear was getting back up, he desperately tried to get out of there but could barely move his limbs. The bear looked at him and grabbed him tightly, making him scream in pain.

-King: (I no longer have the strength to continue with this, so I will have to give you a quick death, but not without taking something from you as punishment for hurting my good eye)

The bear's claw moved to reveal the human's wings, with its other claw it grabbed them, and while Alex resisted and screamed, it pulled them forcefully, tearing them from his body accompanied by a horrible crunch; Alex stopped making sounds after that. The beast threw the human high into the air and when he came down, it swallowed him whole. Immediately after, it closed its eyes and lay down on the ground, no longer under King's control, who was exhausted after controlling it for so long.

-King: Phew... phew... I had never... manipulated something so powerful... for so long... phew... at least I've finished with that nuisance - after catching his breath, he stands up again - but it's not time to celebrate, that human crossed into this world somehow and I'm going to find out how, even if I have to declare a second war...

Th S... are going to pay for this!

TO BE CONTINUED... IN SEASON ZERO (Exclusive of Wattpad)