Titian's Quest- The Seven Beasts

The moon was over head ponyville and most ponies in ponyville where asleep but not at the Maple farm. In his room was Titian Maple and he was working on bills about the house, the pluming and the electricity for the lights, fridge, freezer and oven. His back was acting up once more after collecting all the maple from the trees today. He stopped writing and was the harvest would cover the bills. He stood up and sighed as he walked to his bed. “This is bad…” He said and lay in his bed. He turned the light off and lay his head down with closing his eyes. Hours past and the large farm pony couldn’t fall asleep and he opened his eyes. “This is going be long week…”

~~~

Weeks past and Titian was asleep in the middle of the Maple trees. “Titian?” Isa Pawstar asked and poked her special somepony. Titian’s eyes shoot open and looked at Isa. “You were asleep…again.”

“Sorry Isa.” He said and rubbed his eyes. There were black rings under his eyes and his back legs were shaking.

“Titian what is wrong?” Isa asked and she stared straight into his eyes. “Your hind legs are shaking like an earthquake and you have bigger rings under your eyes then blueblood’s ego.” Titian sighed and unclipped himself from his cart. He lay down and Isa lay down beside him.

“The bills are getting bigger and I can’t keep up with them…” He said and closed his eyes. “I-it-ZzZz…” He had fallen asleep again and Isa lightly shook him. “Who?” He shook his head and sighed. “Oh right…I’m going have to sell the farm and find a different job…” He dosed off again and Isa frowned.

“Sleep my Titian.” She said and kissed his nose as he fell asleep. “I hope you can find an answer to your problems.” Isa sign and leaned on him as she allowed him to sleep. A newspaper fell into Titian’s face and causing him to wake up. He moved it from his face and seeing an ad in the paper.

“Join the Royal Guards…” He muttered and looked at the benefits. Isa looked at the paper as well and raised her eyebrow.

“That is all the way in Canterlot.” Isa said and she looked worried. “Do you really think you can be a royal guard?” Titian closed his eyes and weighted the pros and cons of being a royal guard. “Titian? What about your back?”

“I’m going try…maybe Twilight can fix my back with some magic?” Titian said and looked at Isa seeing worry in her eyes. “Don’t worry I will be safe and come home to ponyville when I can.”

“Alright…” Isa said and the worry was still in her eyes.

~~~

Titian walked out into the training area for the royal guards and he was wearing the night guard outfit. He got in the formation with the rest of the other recruitments and Titian looked around to see he was tallest out of the recruitments. The drill sergeant can trotting along and stopped in front of Titian. “Recruit!”

“Yes sir?” Titian asked and saluted to the drill sergeant.

“Where is your helmet?” He yelled to Titian and Titian didn’t flinch.

“It wouldn’t fit on my head!” Titian yelled and looked at the drill sergeant. “Sir, permission to speak?”

“Granted!” the drill sergeant yelled and was staring into Titian’s eyes the best he could.

“Where is your hat?” Titian asked and smiled. The drill sergeant became flustered from the question and his face turned red.

“What is your name recruit?” The drill sergeant snarled and his eyes tried to pierce into Titian’s soul. “And what you were going before entering the royal guard?”

“Titian Maple, I was a maple farmer.” Titian said and looked straight back into his eyes. “How about you drill sergeant?”

“None of your business recruit!” The drill sergeant yelled and walked to the center. “Thanks to the maple farmer all of you are going run hundred laps of our training route!” Every earth pony groaned and the Pegasus and unicorns snickered. “Without using magic or wings and if I catch any of you cheating another hundred will be added to the laps!” Everyone groaned and everyone started to glop through the route.

It seemed to be hours as Titian started to run and he one of the slowly moving ponies in the group but he wasn’t as out of breath as the others that were faster. The drill sergeant was on the side drink some water and yelling at ponies that were stopping. Titian was getting tried stares from the others and he just ignored their glares as he focus on the route. He keep running but he noticed the slower ponies rushed by screaming and he even saw the drill sergeant running away. “RUN MAPLE RUN!” He yelled and Titian looked back to see a manticore but it didn’t look right.

Its coat was dark grey and black mane with black scorpion. Its eyes were blood red and claws bigger than anything he ever seen. “RUN FASTER!” The drill sergeant yelled back at Titian but Titian stop with turning to face the manticore. “MAPLE DON’T BE A HERO!” Titian ran straight to the manticore and his head down. Titian’s head slammed into the manticore’s nose and the manticore screamed in pain and swinging its claws at Titian. Titian moved back but he wasn’t fast enough to get cut over his right eye. Titian closed his right eye and went into to kick again but the manticore slashed at him and cutting his side of his snout. Titian went on the defensive and trying to stay out of its claws. He got more cuts on his body but he could still fight and the manticore swung its right paw to Titian. Titian reared up his body dodging the claws and he slammed down on the manticore arm. The manticore screamed in pain and Titian took this to head-butted the manticore three time. The head-butts broke the manticore’s nose and blood came out of its forehead. Titian back up and the manticore slashed to the left this time Titian ducked. His mane was cut and Titian rushed up to head-butt the manticore. The manticore’s jaw was now broken and it moved back whimper. Titian stood tall and let out a yell that shook the ground. Manticore yelped and turned around but as it turned around its tail cut Titian’s front leg. The manticore rushed away and the drill sergeant rushed over to Titian. “YOU ID-” Titian fell onto the ground and people rushed over to him.

~~~

Titian woke to find himself in a hospital bed and doctor and nurses looking at him. “Ummm…hello?” Titian said and the doctor shined a light in his eye. “How long have I been out?”

“A few hours and the poison from the manticore had some unusual effects…” The nurse said and Titian raised his eye brow.

“Unusual effects?” He asked and looked worried. The nurse used magic to lift a mirror to show Titian’s coat was grey color, his eyes were serpent like eyes and the white on his muzzle gone. “It’s not that bad and looks like those were going scar…Can I get out of here?”

“Well we got the poison out of you and you’re all stitched up.” The doctor said. “So you can leave.” Titian got out of the bed and sighed. He turned to see his cutie mark and his eye twitched. “Something wrong?”

“Nothing…” Titian said and walked out of the hospital.

He returned to the training grounds and everyone stopped to see Titian walking to the drill sergeant. “Sir!” Titian said and saluted. The drill sergeant looked at Titian and looked into Titian’s eyes.

“Do you have a death wish, recruit?” The drill sergeant said and Titian lowered his hoof.

“No sir.” Titian said.

“What were you thinking then!?” The drill sergeant yelled. “Where you trying to be a hero?”

“No sir.” Titian said. “I was thinking about my comrades, my teacher, and the people.” The drill sergeant looked into Titian’s eyes and smirked.

“You’re going be a great royal guard.” The drill sergeant said. “Take a week off to get rest.” Titian was about to argue about the week off but an arrow was shot and it missed a target. Titian made a weird face and the drill sergeant raised his eye brow. “What is wrong recruit?”

“Arrow…plot…” Titian said and turned around to limp away. Everyone looked at Titian limped away with an arrow in his plot and to the unicorn holding the empty bow.

~~~

Titian walked into the house and Amur was standing at the front door. “Hey Amur, something wrong?” Titian asked with tried voice. He felt somepony grab his tail and looked over his shoulder. “Aunt Oaky?”

Aunt Oaky was bigger than Titian and lot stronger. Her coat was ash brown and her mane was black with big curls in it. Her eyes were brown and her cutie mark was an oak tree. She was the care taker of the trees in the city and it paid well. “Guess what brother.” Amur said and Titian gulped. “Make over time.”

“NOOOOOO!” Titian yelled as he was dragged of by his Aunt and followed by his blind sister.

~~~

Titian rushed to the train station with Princess Luna following her newest guard to welcome the new animal caretaker for the royal gardens. The train stopped and the doors opened up allowing ponies to get off. Titian looked over the large coward to spot Isa and rushed to her. “Titian!” She rushed to him and both smiled. “H-Happy Heart and H-Hooves Day.” Both leaned in and kissed each other and both blushing. Princess Luna blinked and waited for the two to finishing kissing as well greet others coming off the train.

~~~

Amur landed at the station and used her keen sense of smell and hearing to find Luna. “Hello Princess Luna.” She said and her ears flicked to hear sloppy kissing. “How long have they been kissing?”

“An hour…I think…What time is it now?” Luna looked around to find a clock but none was in her view.

“10:17 am. Why are you asking?” Amur’s ears move to Luna’s direction and waited for an answer from her.

“The train came in at 8:17 am…” Luna said and small beads of sweat went down her face.

“Oh my…I think I’ll need to buy ear mufflers for tonight.” Amur said.

~~~

Titian was asleep in his bed with Isa lying beside him and his eyes were shifting under his eye lids as he was having a nightmare. In the nightmare Titian was running darkness and he didn’t know where he was going. He stopped as pair of red eyes opens up and row of smiling sharp teeth. Titian turned around and started to fall into the darkness. Titian gasped as he woke up and cold sweat drips down his face. “Titian?” Isa was woken up by Titian’s gasp and she rubbed her eyes. “What is wrong love?”

“Just a nightmare…a nightmare.” He said and nuzzled Isa’s snout with his snout. “Don’t worry.” Isa nodded and laid her head back down to fall asleep. He got off the bed and walked into the dining room but stopped to see a note on the table. He looked at the note and saw it was Amur’s writing.

Dear Brother,

You’re too loud, going to friends house as you two celebrate hearts and hooves day over night.

From, Amur

“Thanks Amur.” He went to the kitchen and took out the milk with his mouth. There was knocking at the door and Titian put the milk on the table than walked to the door. He opened it up to get blinding glare of sun light and his eyes adjusted to the light to see royal guard unicorn. “Ummm…hello?” The unicorn used his magic to give Titian a scroll and Titian took it. He opened it and started to read the message.

Dear Titian Maple,

You have been summoned to the castle for a mission; please hurry to the castle as this mission is of grave important.

From, Princess Luna and Celestia

Titian looked at the royal guard and nodded. The two rushed to the castle and Titian went straight into the throne to find both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were waiting for him. Titian bowed to them and they waved away the other royal guards.

“Stand, Titian Maple.” Princess Celestia said and Titian stood tall.

“What is this important mission Princesses?” He asked and he was wonder why they would pick him.

“We need you to slay seven beasts that have been terrorizing every race in the world.” Princess Luna said and Titian looked confused. “We can’t send Twilight Sparkles and her friends as they have other troubles here in Equestria.”

“Why me then?” He asked and gulped.

“I wish we can explain but we can’t.” Princess Celestia said. “Will you take this mission, Titian Maple?” Titian started to think and closed his eyes as he sighed.

“Yes, I will take this quest.” Titian said and Luna used her magic to put a saddle with saddle bags on him.

“Both of these bags are enchanted, the right can carry anything and the left is mail bag so you can get messages from your family and friends.” Princess Celestia explained and Titian looked into the right bag to find lots of food, water canteens and a maps. “You can send letters back if you put it into the left bag.” Titian nodded and understood the explaining. “You will travel to Mstarasi’s capital Damara to find guide of the land to find the first beast.” Titian nodded and turned around. “Your train leaves to Sableside at noon so you have time to say goodbye to your family and friends.”

~~~

Titian enters his home to see Isa and Amur and he went to Isa first. He kissed her lips and then explained the quest he was chosen for. Isa held back her tears and Amur eyes opened in disbelief. “Titian…please back alive…” Isa said and kissed her deeply.

“I will,” He said after breaking the kiss and looked at Amur. “And you stay out of trouble.” He rubbed Amur’s head.

“Will do.” Amur said and kissed his cheek. “Do come back home alive brother.” Titian smiled and kissed Isa for the last time before leaving for the train.

~~~

Titian sat down by a window on the train and was wearing a brown cape with a hood for rough land he was going be going over. He pulled out a map and looked over it to see what he was in for.