I moved here 6 years ago, to seek refuge from the rest of society. They wanted me dead and gone. One or the other. They didn't like what I had shown them. Claiming it wasn't right, it didn't feel correct. I made a fool of Einstein, I shook hands with Stephen Hawking and laughed at him. I helped NASA out with their deep space fuel problem. I pioneered the nuclear fusion reactor. I solved too much too quick, and the people didn't like the way their world was changing. Oh, no they did not. They chased me out of the cities, they cast away my creations and spit on my papers. They were so stubborn. They wanted to do it themselves. I wasn't another person according to them. I was an alien, a being that threatened their world view because that's how I looked through their eyes. I still have planted the seeds for innovation in their minds. No matter their doubt now, they will thank me through the decades. But they still didn't know how life worked, even if I handed it to them ever-so-ceremoniously on a silver platter. The lack of information, the absence of the essence of true survival ran through each and every one of them. I created things because they were needed for them, to win the hearts of the people, show them that information and gadgets and learning was beautiful and artistic. They create things to make their lives lazier, simpler. I create things to make mine more complicated. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was one of them at a time. I've changed. I have the heart of a warrior, the mind of a god. I have the strength of a mammoth and the silver tongue of a dragon. I have the mending powers of even the finest doctors and the survival capabilities of a virus. I am human. I changed the world. For better or for worse, I haven't a clue.
I reside on an island now. A quaint little island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The island has everything I need. If anything, the ecosystem needed me. There was only 1 other species of carnivore here. I've built myself a shelter; a home. I've built myself a home here, I live here. I hunt and I create. I study the leaves, I learn the sounds of the wildlife. Knowledge is power, the sensible ones said. They were right. I have the reigns of this tropical wonderland, and I intend to steer it to serve me. I have a home, I have steady, plentiful food.
But there's nothing more to it. I've learned of everything that lives here. Now I need to learn what "here" is. My final task is to study geography. I have to learn the land now. And after that, well, I don't know. It's frightening, not knowing. Maybe I should investigate what death feels like.
Yes, that would do fine.
I rubbed my eyes as I woke from my leather bed. Still hanging on to society's values of comfortable sleep is one thing I felt no remorse for. It helped rejuvenate the body, steady the mind. I looked around my cozy wooden home, thankful that I installed a window to allow the sun to rise with me. I started towards the wrought iron water pipe (sink was not quite the word for it) as I held my right hand out and turned the makeshift lever with my left. After a sufficient amount of the lukewarm water had flowed into my mouth, I swallowed and walked to my rack. I looked at my most proud accomplishment and grinned from ear to ear. Armor was something always frowned upon in society, a sign of protection from justice. To me, a lifeline. I grabbed the leather chest piece and threw it over my torso in record time. I gripped my fur pants and pulled them up to waist and tied the leather rope around it in one swift motion. Doing this very routine for 6 years, I had hardly noticed I was already dressed and ready. I grabbed my knife and hatchet, my "bottle/canteen hybrid", and 4 sizable pieces of dried, salted seagull meat from the bed stand.
I was assaulted by the surprisingly cold oceanic sunrise as I open the reinforced wooden door. The entrance closed with a familiar creak and slam and I stepped forward and admired the rising sun. A peaceful sigh escaped my lips and I returned to my senses. With a great step of the right foot, I set forth, walking south of my house to explore uncharted territories.
I was still walking, playing with my knife and cutting at leaves every chance I had. I counted the purple flowers and tried not to blink for as long as I could; anything to keep my brain stimulated and working, remembering even the most minute detail. The sky was more blue than it was yesterday and the birds were moving to the other side of the island; the water had most likely decided it was time to dry up and move to my side of the island again.
My legs had ached, but I didn't pay heed to my weariness. I was enraptured in studying even the most obvious things. Rusty rocks, river stones, oak... leaves? I tried to name the objects near me. A hill approached as I trotted along, relatively relaxed. It threatened my wish for a walk in a straight line as I started to the right to avoid smashing into it.
The hill was actually rather large, with a comical little sapling of a tree on top of it. Rounding the corner of the grassy mound, I spotted a deep indentation in the side, a cave. I didn't need to go spelunking today; metal was hard to work with, and rocks are of no use to me as of late. Giving the cave not a second thought, I proceeded south until I stopped dead in my tracks. Something was wrong. Deadly wrong. I couldn't move. My muscles were tensed and taut, but my legs wouldn't budge. My arms were glued to my sides. My head craned on its own toward the large opening. Something flickered.
I heard the unmistakable sound of electrical humming and rapid fire of a piston. A loud, hellish ringing attacked my ears to the verge of bleeding. My legs gave away as my knees impacted the ground. I collapsed and looked back at the assailant in the cave from my prone position, and was nearly blinded. The inside of the cave was a burning, magenta light. My GOD it was blinding. The lights and the ringing went on again and again tormenting me further and further. My body was tired, exhausted. I had cramps in my knees and back. But it wouldn't fucking stop. The visual and auditory abuse went one for what seemed like hours, before it started going quiet. My ears were leaking blood and pooling in my hair as the world got dimmer and dimmer. What... the...
Equestrian mornings; the ideal time to sleep in. Contemplate simple lives, get lost in one's own thoughts. The sun had begun to peek over the hills and valleys of Equestria's neighboring countries and regions. A crisp, light, and whipping breeze laid over the sleeping town of Ponyville at dawn. Equestria now, and always was the land of harmony. A blanket of quiet and sleepiness lay over the peaceful village. Twilight Sparkle lay in her bed, ever-content in bliss as she practiced the ritual of rest. Until she was launched out of comfortable bed at the speed of lightning. She jumped up from her floor with a yelp and grabbed Spike's basket in her magic hold as her library violently shook itself like a small rattle, launching her tomes of knowledge off of the intricately crafted shelves. Oh dear CELESTIA! She watched in horror as the books fired off from the shelves, in huge groups each tremor. She galloped under her bed with Spike by her side, and sat, waiting in fear as she hoped for the brutal rumbling to cease.
"Twilight, what's going on?!" Spike yelped in fear, his voice raising in pitch with each letter.
"I don't know! An earthquake maybe, but I feel an immense amount of magic in the air! Somepony else is doing this! WHY?!" Twilight yelled over the cruel rumbling.
"Imme-a-what?!"
"Nevermi-i-ind!" Twilight hastily replied with an annoyed sigh, not forgetting the danger she was in.
The bed began to lift itself off the floor as it weightlessly floated up. Unbeknownst to Twilight, right outside her window, the entire town was being gravitated upwards as screams all over the small village rang out. The two purple creatures began to feel as if they weighed nothing as they started helplessly floating upwards, arms and hooves flailing about.
"HE-E-E-ELP!" They shouted in unison.
And then, silence. It was peaceful. They stand suspended in they air the all the sound stopped. The two friends attempted to cry out to each other, only to discover that the powerful magic of the moment had silenced the world. The planet shook violently again and the sound returned.
The harmony was shattered in an instant, as a vile, thunderous crack shattered the morning air, only accompanied by an equally ugly tremor. It was loud, only comparable to 3 sonic rainbooms. The air was yanked from its comfortable position as a silent being as it was unceremoniously forced to carry through the ugly, ear shattering sound that dared threaten it. The bastardization of the peace was only punctuated by a single word: "FUCK!"
A single word is all that could be uttered after that shock: "FUCK." It cracked like a whip across the air.
After such an outburst, such pain, I had come to the conclusion that rest would benefit my weary, aching muscles. My exhausted body could take the waking world no longer. I was in pain, so much pain... I lay my head down on the ground, not noticing that the blood, that previously occupied the area my head lay in, did not exist any longer.
I woke up, near well rested as my sweaty body reeked of sweat and blood. My tired eyes groggily opened, expecting to see my window and all my items on the shelf adjacent to it.
The realization hit me all too soon. A branch fell and landed on my weary body, telling my instinct to get up and switch me to full survival mode. I jumped upwards, stood my ground and unsheathed both of my weapons in manic fear. My legs were spaced and my weapons were held close. My eyes darted left and right, my head spun around within the blink of an eye. I was a terrified cat backed into a corner. Still in proper combat position, I investigated my surroundings to confirm that I was near the cave and boulder. No such objects were in the vicinity.
I focused my eyes upon my environment to confirm that even one object of familiarity still existed. My house is gone... I'm not home. Oh, I'm not home at all... Nowhere even close. I was in a dark forest that carried the foul aroma of rot and death. The constant, nagging feeling that I was being watched was ever present. No sunlight could be seen. In fact, no light at all... besides the 2 yellow rays that lay within a stone's throw away from me. I squinted my eyes to get a better look at the spheres. I took a bold step forwards, weapons still drawn.
It blinked. It flinched. It barked. A growl behind me confirmed that I needed to get out. Fast. Whipping around at inhuman, near spine snapping speed, I swung the back end of my hatchet and turned my head in time to see lumber and twigs explode outwards from the impact. A plethora of barking and yelping in vengeful response alerted me that my presence was no longer welcomed. It never was. I did the sensible thing to do when dealing with an unknown assailant. Flee.
I bounded in a full sprint to my right. Left, right, left, right, left, right. My breathing was getting erratic and raggedy as I ran for my life, eyes wide open in panic as I heard 12 feet follow me in near pitch black forest. I was sweating from every area in my body imaginable and weak at the knees. A tree rapidly approached me as my feet developed a mind of their own, jumped and kicked to the right, leading 2 of my pursuers to slam into the tree as I flew to the left, unharmed. Catching my balance as I kept running, I steadied my body and returned to my painful mantra. Right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, jump, right. Arms and legs swinging as fast a humanly possible, I picked up the pace faster and faster than I would've thought I was capable of as I ran towards the light at the edge of the wooden columns. I was hyperventilating in relief as I sprinted towards the beautiful glow, looking more and more glorious as it grew larger and larger.
And then it went dark. The light wasn't there. It was just gone. GONE. Only a blink of an eye. The forest was playing tricks on me. I stopped dead in my tracks and caught my breath. Eyes wide in insane rage, I turned to face my attackers, once and for all. 6 glowing eyes approached me as I drew both of my weapons wearily. Gritting my teeth, I ran towards them, knife in my left, hatchet in my right, held above my head. I left forth the largest war cry this world has ever seen as I let them see what the hell I was capable of. The roar was deafening, it was primal. It was terrifying.
They stopped in fear as I sprinted toward them in pure, white-hot fury. Savagely frenzied, I swung my right arm as brutally as possible and cracked one of their skulls as I violently kicked another. Two yelps accompanied my show of bloody strength. Yanking my hatchet out of the toughened skull, I stabbed one of the vile creatures in the eye and butchered its his neck with my hatchet as I grabbed the third and final wolf's throat in my hands. I held him in front of my face, as I let forth another cry of anger, and swung it to the ground. It whimpered and whined and attempted to flee in vain as it sorrowfully stared at it's broken legs and murdered brothers. I lifted my right foot above it's head and stomped.
SNAP! I broke it's skull.
My chest heaved between breaths as I stared at my murderous accomplishment.
I squatted down, looking down at the brainless act of a kill that I had committed. Killing with little to no remorse; the curse of a human. But I began to doubt that they were ever alive. They were lumber canines, not living beings. Right? They were a pun, a bastard child of a joke. Timberwolves. Right? I began to doubt my baseless reasoning. Distant barks echoed through the forest as I realized my presence and the lack of living wolves had not gone unnoticed. I stood up and began to stomp away.
I walked on, tired legs abusing me, constantly nagging reminders that rest was needed. I didn't trust this forest to rest in, I stepped and stepped knowing that if I decided that respite from walking in the forest could mean certain death. My motivation was survival. Until my eyes caught a glint of light. I stopped, mid-stride as the plates on my armor jingled. My eyes widened in surprise, as I jogged towards the shine. The leaves and brush rustled under my feet and I picked up in pace with each footfall until I reached a full sprint.
It was different this time. This light was different. It was genuine. It was real. I paid no attention to the fact that I was walking upon a path now, I hadn't noticed. I was enraptured in the thought of escape from this hell.
Sunlight. I sprinted towards the sweet relief of sunlight, forgetting the horrible ache and pain in my chest and legs. It didn't matter. I ran and ran and ran, smiling from ear to ear as my manic, relieved laughter filled the air. I once more returned to that painful mantra; right, left, right, left, right, left... left? My foot snagged a heavy object as adrenaline filled my mind. Time was slowing, and I seemed to be getting shorter as I was no longer touching the ground. Once again, I was denied something I dearly wanted.
The ground rapidly approached my eyes and time slowed down. My eyes drifted downwards to shoot one last look of hatred to the object that dare deny my freedom. I looked down to see a yellow and red blur. A shrill scream rang across the air like a bell, I don't know if it was mine. And then I saw black. It seems the world wants me dead.
"Zecora-a-a!!!" Applebloom shrilly screamed.
"Fear not little one, heed these wise words, 'basically, run!'" The zebra shouted in the distance.
Applebloom, fearing for her life in the dark, picked up her lantern and ran towards the safety of the zebra as fast as her little legs could take her.
"My dear, you've had a quite a fright, are you sure you're alright?" Zecora worriedly mused to the filly under her legs.
"There was a... a... a monster! It just came up outta nowhere an' tripped over me! It kicked me real hard!"
"Fear not, for such an occasion, gaze upon what I've brought!" The zebra pulled a bundled up net out of her saddlebag as she set down her lantern.
"We're gonna catch it?!" Applebloom exclaimed in a mix of surprise and fear.
"Why child, of course! Now, please escort me to the source!" Zecora bowed in mock honor.
Applebloom trudged on in fear as her legs quaked. She knew that they were getting close. She could... smell it. It didn't smell good. It smelled as if Winona's mother had been dug out of the ground. Death. Applebloom stifled a sob, remembering that painful day. They approached the sleeping husk of a massive, hairless ape as Applebloom yelped and dashed behind her guardian, Zecora.
The zebra skillfully tossed the net over the creature as she gazed upon her catch in horror. The being barely fit in the net.
"Applebloom, I need you to stand away from such a beast, for upon us, it may feast!" Zecora exclaimed in genuine terror. She hesitantly tied the ends of the net together with her teeth as her hooves violently shook. "A carnivorous beast is a dangerous thing, but I am afraid that no beast can craft a string!"
"Well, what does that mean?" Applebloom inquired, unsure whether or not it was a bad thing.
"Little one, do not fear, but look how it dons its spear..." She gestured to the long, wrought iron dagger in the sheath on the right foreleg's sleeve. it was easily the two-thirds the length of Applebloom herself.
"It can think?!" Applebloom shrieked. "What do we do?" She panicked.
"We need my dear friend, Twilight; a helping hoof, she may lend."
The strong zebra grabbed the net and began dragging it away to the edge of the forest, a mere 8 minutes away.
I woke up again, my head feeling worse than ever. I remember what happened last time I went to sleep and I was not about to make the same mistake again. I jumped upwards only to hit a rope. Two yelps accompanied my attempt at escape. My captors let go of the net as I fell to the ground. I let out an angry, but pained grunt. Looking around from my prone position, I realized that they had led me out of the forest. I seized the opportunity as I unsheathed my knife within a second and began cutting through the rope. I heard... hooves? They were backing away. Why...?
I remembered; cat backed into a corner. They must have had no clue what I was to do next. Ah. It must scared them half to death. I finished sawing through the rope as I crawled out and stood to my full height in a display of power. I looked around me, as a predator would before going in for the kill. I looked to my left and...
Well... drew my hatchet along with my knife and stared at it. I flinched back in surprise. I was staring at a... zebra. A zebra. On the edge of a forest. There was so much wrong with this situation. So much. I turned to my body to the right, to locate that second pair of hooves.
"What the FUCK?!" I barked. I was staring at a smaller, yellow and red horse. It was hardly the height of the distance of my knee to the ground. I walked toward it, trying to get a close look as it tried to scramble away. And it started screaming. As far as I could tell, it wasn't speaking English, but the call for help in any animal was universal. Right behind me, I heard hooves rapidly approach me as I jumped. A zebra just tried to ram me to protect a child that wasn't even the same species as far as I could tell. They both sported gigantic eyes and comically thick legs, but as I learned earlier, they were heavy enough to knock me down. The zebra face planted into the dirt.
I decided to treat them as hostile as I drew the one thing that I created and never used. I reached into my quiver-shaped backpack and undid 2 straps. The zebra got back up from it's tumble. The large eyes made it easy for me to see emotions. And it was very clear indeed that it wanted to maim me and murder me. No remorse. I pulled my crossbow pistol out and loaded it with a bolt. It began to run toward me as I stood my ground. I fired right into the neck. A sickening plop! indicated that it had indeed penetrated. The yellow horse sprinted to it, chirping something I couldn't understand. I ran up to the zebra faster than the child and kicked it in the ribs.
I looked at child next and contemplated killing it too. But nothing could have justified what I had done and what happened in return. I stared into the child's eyes once more. They were clouded, foggy. They were wet. She was crying. "Oh god. Oh god..." I dropped all three of my weapons. I backed away. The blood was pooling up around the zebra as it coughed and cried along with the child. It began to call for help again, each time, the chirping voice cracked more and more. I walked towards them and kneeled down with my head in my hands, hoping it would get the message across that I was sorry. Because I was. "I fucked up. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." I whispered. I lifted my head up as the calls for help ceased. It was staring at me now. All I could do was nod my head left and right. I reached into my bag once more, not to draw a weapon, but to pull out a makeshift parchment and a quill. I stabbed myself in the wrist for blood ink as it watched in horror. I wrote as large as I could: "I am sorry." I handed the paper to her as her damp eyes looked upon me in disgust.
I retrieved my weapons and trudged further into the plains, regretting what I had done today. I told myself "no remorse." What a load of shit. I have seen the impossible today, and I have killed it. Maybe I'm a monster. Maybe they are not the animals.
I stumbled away, tears in my eyes. I didn't need to do that. I just... did. It was impulse. It was...
Evil.
Heartless.
Mindless.
...Human.
I am no better than the people who exiled me. I remember the day. The day that armies of law enforcement officers and cities of people gathered outside my door.
They were angry because I told them what to do. I told them they weren't efficient. That they were expendable, that they could be replaced. They labeled me as some sort of a terrorist for me informing them how to properly use anthrax in a military setting. They were pissed because I showed the efficiency of an inhumane super soldier program. They were outraged, because I taught them the very basics of theoretical cloning. I killed men in the name of "science." And I would do it no more. I didn't deserve to be spared. Only the scientists and politicians stood for the vote that decided whether or not I should live. They regretfully voted yes. And I killed. I killed people. Because I saw it fit. I was a ruler, a menace. And I didn't even know it. I could topple the world to serve me and it scared them. After all this time, I understand why. They were scared and heartbroken. They were terrified at what I could become.
I had no concept of real humanity. I just thought. And things made sense. I shared those thoughts, and nobody appreciated them. Just because I spouted some insults and death threats didn't make me any different from anybody else. I get it now. What it means to be human.
You have to care. You have to be stupid sometimes. You have to suffer. You have to feel anger. You have to go to war.
I'm human. And it's terrible.
I began to forget what I had done, so long ago. I killed a thinking, breathing creature. And the look in it's eyes...
They spoke to me. They asked me one word.
"Why?"
It had been 7 months. 7 months of innovation. The island I lived on was nothing compared to the gold mine of resources that were at the edge of these plains. There was a mountain range not 20 minutes away from my camp. The amount of things I could build was ridiculous. So far, I had reached the point to where I had the time and resources to cast iron. That's right. No more wrought iron. I began the day pouring hot, molten iron into clay casts as I sweat gallons upon gallons in the blazing heat. A pulley system was devised for the giant stone bowl. I pulled the rope as I grunted in effort to yank and lower the troubling bowl. I moved the casts down, production line style to decrease the amount of fuel needed to heat the iron. With a final grunt and pull, I had finished. The gritting of my teeth had soon turned into a proud grin. I clapped in joy as I paced back and forth, staring at my accomplishment.
I smiled as I gazed upon the beautiful 27, white-hot ingots that were still cooling inside of their clay casts outside of the cave in which my camp resided.
Time to make some proper armor and tools. I slung my hammer over my armored shoulder, knowing that I would be near invincible in due time.
I hammered the sheet on the workbench, grabbing the tongs and putting back over the forge every few seconds. I was crafting sheet metal for shin guards, bracers, and knee pads. I had an entire armor suit envisioned. After the metal had been completed, the next step was to find fabric on which the metal could stay. Some pelt leggings with shiny, wire-brushed iron greaves and knee pads would work just fine.
I grabbed the tongs once more and plunged the sheet into water as it sizzled and hissed. I pulled it out and held it near my face to check if it was cool enough to make contact with my arm. When I had confirmed that it was not going to burn my arm off, I laid it on my forearm and began bending with all my might. When the correct curve was achieved, I began to slowly cut the excess with a saw that was hardly the size of a kitchen knife. Today was going to be a long day.
After finishing the armor pieces necessary, (besides my breastpiece, the current one was already bent and cut to perfection) looked up at the rapidly moving sunset. I knew something was wrong with the world. The sun should not move so fast to set when it's taken so long to move to noon. I'd tried drawing my astronomy and astrophysics knowledge to explain such an anomaly. In every scenario, it was literally impossible. None of the stars were the familiar, and they were always different. Every night. Maybe... I'm in hell. I was never one to be religious, just for the fact that I had science on my side. But maybe there's a special hell for people like me. Non-believers and murders. Xenophobes.
I dismissed such a thought as I began weaving leather strips through a...
Dare I say it, a manticore pelt. It wasn't nearly as large as I'd imagine, but it was most likely a child. It didn't fight back, even with a knife in it's neck or a hairless, armored weasel-monkey riding it's back. Needless to say, it was the inexplicable hunt I'd ever had. I made sure that I had killed it hours and hours away from home, in case the family decided that they needed to seek revenge. Carrying it home was a problem. I had to fashion a sled out of scrap wood to carry the nearly 800-pound carnivore. It was unnerving to know that I just killed a mythological being that was said to tear a man apart within seconds. It made me feel too cocky, too brave.
The leather strips were finally in place and tied as I decided to try the chestpiece on. I tore off my old set of armor and tossed the chainmail shirt over my body as I threw the rest of the chestpiece on as well. I bounded for the lake to see how I looked, wearing my new outfit. It wasn't as stuffy and hot as I'd imagined, and not very restricting either. I still kept my weapons in their sheath, in case some mermaid or something popped out of the water. I had refined my knife to feature 4 finger holes, not unlike the US military knives. It had also been sharpened and lengthened as it sported 7 menacing looking teeth. It was practically a shortsword now. I slowed to a stop at the bank of the lake as I squinted my eyes, trying to see my reflection.
I looked like a warrior. Someone who should not be trifled with. Someone who should be respected. I loved it. The military back home would be jealous. I looked and felt like a god. A vengeful warrior clad in the shiniest armor in the land. It was amazing, I didn't know that I actually had the willpower to craft something so simple, yet so complex. I was used to working on pen and papers and dicking around with wires, trying to make machines for ungrateful idiots. I should've been doing things like this, working with my hands. It felt exhausting, but good. I sighed happily as I sat down, requiring a considerable amount of effort, due to the heavily pound suit of armor. I stared up at the moon in awe. It wasn't the same as I'd remembered, but I didn't care. I never took the time from studying to just look at something. Even it wasn't the moon I knew and loved, it was nonetheless beautiful. I sighed once again, content and happy that I had finished the suit.
With a small grunt of effort, I stood back up and started back home. It was an uneventful walk until something caught my attention. Something I never wanted to hear again. Hooves. I stopped dead in my tracks as I heard weapons being drawn. Revenge was something I always never wanted to stoop down to. It made me no better that the people that exiled me. Evidently, these creatures were no different. I didn't blame them. I slowly turned around and stared at a platoon of...
Royal ponies? Oh, FUCK. With a cursory glance at their armor and weapons, they appeared to be clad in a brass-gold alloy. They were far beyond the stone age, as I had expected. They were medieval. And I was barely industrial. They spoke once again, in their chirping language, though instead of a more feminine way of speaking, it was gruff and to the point.
"Bea yedith chryp niicht, cnep ryup nineem. Ynum chiirup riuset myniad chon kiirup." The evident leader of them stated matter-of-factly and angrily.
I cocked my head to send the message that I didn't understand. Evidently, that was the wrong move. Adrenaline kicked in immediately as I realized my life was in danger. I spun to the side as three arrows hissed near my ears. I yanked my hatchet at lightspeed and chopped an arrow in half as a show of strength. I pointed an succumbing finger with my free hand towards the leader. The finger turned into a fist as I banged my armor, to signify that I would settle any score that me and him had. He stepped forward along with two other ponies as I held my hand out. I pointed towards the extras and pointed further back, telling them to leave. He muttered something else as he sent the two soldier back. Once more, I pointed toward the leader and cupped my hand 3 times, making the "come here" motion. I took a few steps of my own, as dramatically as possible. It was obvious that he was nervous, but didn't want it to show. He radiated overconfidence.
I kneeled down to his level and gave him a long, hard stare. I asked him simply, "What do you want from me?"
Shining Armor and his platoon of guards were to hunt down the most wanted criminal in the kingdom. It was responsible for attempted murder, a crime not committed in the kingdom for over a thousand years. He did not, however, think it would be smart enough to armor itself. It was obviously insecure in the land, a trait shared by literally nopony. The creature towered at 3 times his height, it was a hulking giant with hairless paws and a barren face.
"By the orders of the Royal Sisters, you are under arrest. Any further attempt to resist arrest will result in non-lethal pacification."
It moved its head as the rookie archers panicked. They fired the blunted weariness-inducing arrows.
A veteran shouted, "You imbeciles! You've doomed us, you idiots! It's going to kill us!" she shouted in horror.
Shining watched in awe as the skillful creature dodged all 3 arrows on only two legs as it chopped the fourth. From the looks of it, the enchanted arrow was cut clean through. Sharpened weapons were outlawed unless legalized by Princess Celestia herself. Even kitchen knives were enchanted to not harm ponies. This creature was ready to kill.
A chattering of murmurs from the platoon consisted of "Dear Celestia..." "Oh buck!" "I'm going to die!"
The warrior ape-weasel pointed a claw toward the platoon as everypony flinched. Shining Armor stood vigilant, as he knew that the creature was smart enough to beckon the leader. He stepped forward with two of his bravest soldiers. The creature was unsatisfied. He gestured once more to his guards and signified that it demanded they leave. "You two, go. I don't want innocent ponies getting hurt because of this." He nervously trotted to the creature. It's face looked more angry than the fury of a thousand nightmares. It was a creature of chaos. It was destructive. It was intelligent. It asked him, "Hjuat duu yiu waamnt ferim nmee?"
"Well? I don't suppose you could speak English anyway, you trigger happy idiots," I spat. I pulled a small piece of parchment from a pocket with my eyes still on the leader. I pulled out a quill as well, as his hardened gaze softened. I lightly poked into my skin with my knife as he flinched, knowing that I could kill him if I wished. It once again became steely as he saw me utilize blood with a quill. I drew a rough human sketch as I sketched an arrow toward an outline of a crown, signifying that I wished to see their ruler. I showed the crude drawing to the pony as he shook his head. He hesitantly held the quill that I just dipped into blood with his mouth as he drew an even worse sketch of me and doodled an arrow pointing towards prison bars. I took the quill from his mouth as I ignored the spit on it as I drew a question mark under the arrow.
He drew a picture of a zebra with a crossbow bolt in it's neck. He looked at me with contempt, disappointment. Anger. I stood up, remembering in full. I tried to forget. My first contact ended in assault and tragedy for a child. I know what I did back at home and I know what I did here. I remember every moment. My lip trembled and my eyes burned. From the child crying to the bleeding zebra. It just pooled around her, it didn't spray as the zebra fell in battle. It was a miserable, painful death. She just whimpered and closed her eyes. And there I stood, as I had done thousands of times, as something died in front of me because I said it should. I was ready to receive punishment. I know damn well what I did, and I was just delaying the inevitable. I just stood, staring blankly ahead. I sniffled and whispered softly, "Damnit." I held out my hands and pointed toward the picture of the bars. He stared at my confusedly for a minute before realizing that I needed to be fitted with shackles. My dampened eyes widened in surprise as the cuffs were basked in a glow as they levitated onto my wrists and snapped shut. He beckoned with a hoof for me to follow him. The comically large eyes in the platoon grew larger as they realized their mistake. They all saluted, much like the military back home. They began to follow suit and surround me in a shell as the quadrupeds stomped. About a dozen of them took flight with wings that could never support them.
They escorted me to a golden-brass carriage, fitted with bars. They opened a path in the shell toward it. I was ready to answer for my crimes against humanity and these ponies. Curling into the fetal position, I remembered the misery in every single test subject's eyes. Every scared man and woman. Every gun pointed to my head. All of it.
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The cage opened as my weary body stepped out. Instead of surrendering to escort, I walked forward by myself and looked around. I was in a beautiful, giant marble palace. I spun in place, admiring the beauty and glow of the fortress. A sharp intake of breath ensued as I stared at the intricately crafted pillars and the stunning Roman architecture. The bravest guards tried to push me forward as I resisted. I just kept staring, eyes wide and bathing in the awe-inspiring glow of the palace. I let forth a manic laughter, with a smile on my face. It was beautiful and massive. I was on a mountain, overlooking the entire land. Guards tried in vain to restrain me as I looked a rail overlooking the mountain. I gasped, looking at the colorful land and the perfect clouds. A beautiful, quaint village lay basking in the ever bright afternoon sun as a city of clouds and rainbows loomed not a few miles away. A light breeze whipped across my face as I closed my eyes in content. The guards gave me a moment of silence to admire their homeland.
I was interrupted from my trance as I remembered the reason I was here. I had to answer for my crimes. I followed the guards once more as they escorted me up the massive marble steps. Citizens were pushed back in order to keep away from me. I was a criminal, and I knew it. Massive arches stood overhead as we began walking into a main hall of sorts. Doors were slamming shut, left and right. I really was terrifying. And they should be afraid of a murderer like me. Because I didn't deserve to live.
We walked through several corridors and arrived in a dining hall as two guards sporting spears opened a door. Ever so dramatically, light poured into the room. I got what I asked for. An audience with the ruler. She was unlike the ponies I had met so far, who had hardly surpassed my knee in terms of height. But she was different. She stood at my full height, even on her throne. I'd began to make a habit of admiring the beauty of everything in the palace, and while I was not attracted to her, all of her features seemed sculpted and perfect. From everything to her eyelashes to her crown to her boots. Every pony the room bowed in her presence as she hid behind an emotionless face, waiting for me to follow suit. I gave her the benefit of the doubt as I gave a very human bow, typically used on stage or as a respectful farewell. When my eyes returned, she gave a content, genuine smile. While the smile did turn into a grin, we simply stared as her guard did not question.
She peered into my very being and I did the same. She stood and stepped forward, I looked to my sides, waiting for the approval to do the same. The guards did not appear to be preventing me from such an action. I took a step of my own as we silently gazed into each other. We stood there for what seemed like hours, learning about each other just by observation. I looked into those magenta eyes, I didn't see an egotistic ruler who made promises of riches and gold and vanity. I saw a wise, old woman. That softened face and gentle smile were only in place to hide her old, old eyes. She had seen too much for too long. My jaw trembled as shivers ran down my spine. I saw a true warrior who could draw her limits. I saw a fierce freedom fighter, a representative for her people. I felt... humbled... by her presence. My arms loosened up as I no longer saw it fit to be tensed in front of such a character. My eyes widened even further as I smiled. A single tear of joy slid across my cheek. I'd found the most forgiving, most fit-to-rule leader that could ever exist. I gave in my right leg and lowered my head in as much respect as I could give. She was the perfect ruler for the perfect land and I but a interloper; a hurdle to overcome. And I had respected that.
I returned to my feet and dared to ask another simple question. My face softened in knowing what would happen next. I would have to go to a prison. I used my eyes to direct that I wanted her to look at my shackles. I held them up for emphasis as I asked, "How long?"
She seemed to understand the general meaning of the question by context clues; it was obvious that even her, a hidden warrior turned ruler, could not speak English. It was readily apparent that she knew what I had done. Though her face betrayed emotion, her eyes told another story. She was disappointed, angry even. But she was curious and fascinated. She saw it in me too; I am a simple murderer and hunter, not a warrior like her. Committing ghastly crimes is nothing compared to taking part in glorious chaos of war as blood fills the air. She knew that I was not ready for that. For a second, but only a second, I saw a smirk.
I closed my eyes in fear of what was to happen next. A low hum and a quiet ringing was heard as my whole body began to feel lightweight. I opened my eyes out of instinct as I realized I was suspended 20 feet in the air. The ruler's horn was glowing, she was responsible for it. But contrary to what her guard believed she was going to do, she was just putting on a show. I saw a child-like playfulness in her eyes. I furrowed my brow as the guard watched me in the confusion, wondering why I didn't fear death as I had just seconds ago. With the sound akin to a fuse popping, a weight was lifted off of my body as my shackles fell to the floor, 20 feet below. The ruler set me down again with her gravity-defying object manipulation as I stared at her horn in awe. She only smiled. She knew what she was capable of.
She spoke in a gentle, superior tone as she addressed the military leader from earlier as he held his mouth agape in outrage before realizing his mistake. He quickly muttered something and bowed. He said something accusing, angry even. The ruler had seemed unfazed. She once again repeated what she had said before.
The guards began to walk out of the throne room as I looked back at the ruler once more. Her smile was gone, and she simply gestured for me to follow the two guards with a simple bob of the head. I complied and followed suit.
The biped simply entered the throne room as her subjects bowed. She silently sat, waiting for the creature to comply. It gave a weak bow in unsure respect to Celestia as if ponies were nothing it had ever seen before. She gave a longer glance at the armor clad creature. It was hairless, save for part of it's face and the top of it's head. It sported a longer mane in proportion to its head and most likely was filthy. His weapons still stood in their respectful sheathes and scabbards. The only exposed skin was on it's paws that ended with blunted claws and a minimalist amount of fur, its head, and a small part of its neck. The creature gave Celestia a universal look that she received every day, but not on this scale of bewilderment. The creature was admiring her. And the guards gave a forward report stating that he stood near the balconies, looking at the land as if it was foreign to him.
She needed to learn more. She stood up and took a step forward. The creature reluctantly did the same, in fear of her guards taking action. She stared into it's small, beady eyes. Her practiced poker face allowed her to see anything without anypony having a clue what she was seeing. The first thing, the most ready and brightest thing, was wisdom. He had so much that he had yet to use. She saw... emotional suffering. Loneliness. Regret.
His eyes were so much older than he. He'd seen things that Celestia could not imagine. His knowledge far surpassed her own. He'd done things that he will never forget. His hardened, steely gaze signified that he didn't forgive easily, especially himself. He was not one for mercy, but his eyes were. He was horrified with himself. And he was studying her as much as she was studying he. A simple thing slipped by his eyes. Only for a second. And it was rare. A rare, unique skill. And she saw it. She had a nice hard, long, look. Inventiveness.
She let an unprofessional smirk slip onto her face. She had a plan. Nopony should ever have to suffer. Neither Zecora nor him. She concocted a self-redemption for the creature and made a compromise to make sure he still serves time. Her plan was as follows: The creature was devastated by what he believed to be a murder on his part. He demands to be punished. He has so much skill, so much wisdom that would go to waste in a rotting dungeon. But letting him leave without punishment would be detrimental to his sanity and Zecora's sense of security. She would allow him a sentence that she had just thought of in the spur of the moment. Criminal engineering duty. He was inventive; so inventive that in fact, at this very moment, he could escape and break those cuffs with nay but a manepin. She would allow him to redeem himself by creating for the kingdom and it's protection.
Even though Celestia had her poker face, the creature did not have one of it's own. The biped was prying and she knew what he saw. He trembled and shook. She knew exactly what it was. No other pony in all of Equestria could see it. He saw it as plain as her coat. Celestia had the blood of many on her hooves. So many. She could not cope when she had first realized. And she was watching a splitting image in front of her. The creature has the blood of many on its paws. Warriors respected warriors. And he didn't know it yet, but he was a finer warmonger than even her. His body was build to fight and survive. His cunning meant to outlast and outlive the enemy. He truly was a force to be reckoned with. Yet, he bowed in respect to her.
One thing plagued her mind still as the creature asked a question it it's guttural tongue. Why is this amazing creature still in shackles? She lifted the creature with strain as much of her magic rolled off of him. She was practically squeezing a bar of soap. But as with soap, she felt some magic ooze out when grabbed too hard. It was not her own. And it was strong. Stronger than her sun. She broke the shackles as the creature's magic field exploded in a brilliant turquoise light. She set him down in fear, now knowing what he was capable of. She would not invoke the wrath of him unless he threatened her nation, for there was more to that creature than even he knows.
"Captain Shining Armor, come forward," Celestia softly demanded.
The ruler of Equestria whispered her devious plan into the captain's ear as he listened in outrage.
"My apologies, your Highness. But I don't believe such a course of action to be... beneficial to either party," The captain bowed.
"That creature is stronger and smarter than me in every way but willpower and sanity, Captain. You'd do well to remember this in your entire time supervising him," she glared. "If we can harness that to benefit our kingdom, his crimes will be pardoned and he may leave, so long as such an occurrence never happens again."
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Permission granted."
"I do not trust it."
"Captain, I can tell you that there is more to him than meets the eye. To put it into perspective, his posture tell me that he is but a civilian. You've seen how he can fight. You've seen what his weapons can do. Imagine what happens if you allow him to breed contempt, to train himself to become a soldier."
Shining Armor regretfully remembered Zecora, barely alive in a comatose state in the Ponyville hospital.
"You are dismissed."
The creature stood confusedly, wondering if it was free or not. Celestia simply gestured that he needed to follow the guards.
