Savant

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.