Minecraft: A Pony's Tail

Several hours later, just as the sun began to peak it's way above the horizon, the group set out into the forest.  With Arid and Torch at the lead they encountered no difficulties for a good while. During this time, Torch started asking questions with Arid.

"So, what happened that shattered this golden age kingdom?"

Arid smiled. "The Empirate was a secessionist group. They left the kingdom, and eventually destroyed the capital Pickaxe."

Torch looked up. "Wait, Pickaxe? As in the city that the one enderpony mentioned? How did he know you?"

Arid sighed. "Yes, Pickaxe was the capital. And yes that enderpony did mention it. His name is Ender Lord Severus. He is a cruel thing. Although, at the time, he was simply a vassal. Somepony else was talking through him via magic. He is special because he can banish away any weapons that so much as touch his head or chest, like he did when you foolishly tried to kill him."

Torch, blushing in embarrassment, changed the subject. "So, what happened once everything fell apart?"

Arid frowned. "Everypony split apart. Some tried to stay together in peaceful villages like ours. Others, more chaotic, unlawful ones became roving bands of raiders and bandits, killing, robbing, and stealing mares where ever they go. Generally, they aren't good ponies. I hate them all. Now, just recently, monsters that hadn't been around since the early days of the kingdom started showing up again, and they've been doing so in force. The Empirate just ran off to hide in Pandora."

Torch nodded, then continued. "What's Pandora like?"

Arid chuckled, his frown disappearing, "You'll see when we get their." Then, still smiling, he continued, "We've got company."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a band of foul-smelling ponies jumped out of concealment, mostly armed with bows and swords. The leader, who held a crossbow, smiled evilly. "All right, give us everything of value and a good mare and nopony gets hurt!"

Immediately, a trio of the guards, including the captain, ran up, only to find themselves hopelessly outnumbered. The captain stopped dead in his tracks, suddenly realizing he would have to comply. "Well, I guess..."

Arid inturrupted, his voice cracking into his not-so-nice one. "Stop right there. I will allow you to leave, with none of our supplies nor mares, and you will do so without me murdering every single one of you!"

The pony laughed. "Oh really? We have you out numbered three to one! And you expect us to just leave?! Wow, this guy's funny! Oh well. Now, give us the treasure and the mare, and I might not kill you."

Arid suddenly stood stock still. "Alright then. We will give those to you on one condition."

"What would that be?" the leader asked, confused. He had never seen some ponies eye color change so fast.

Quickly as a hummingbird, Arid was completely changed over, and he whipped out a pair of repeating hoof-crossbows, and let them have it. One struck the leaders neck, three others found themselves embedded in three raiders' chests. Then, he drew his sword, and delt with the rest quickly and efficiently.

Torch simply stood there, awed at the amount of speed put into that attack. Not a single raider was living.

Arid, back to normal nodded. "Let's move on. There is little time to waste. Loot the corpses and move out!"

Torch shook himself out of his daze, and caught up to Arid, and asked one final question. "Arid, who are you?"

Arid, his face emotionless, replied, "A single pony. That is all."

With that, the group marched quickly on.

...

That night, Arid stood silent vigil over the camp. He grasped his pair of hoof-crossbows, loaded and ready.

Torch, having just eaten a filling meal made by Water, walked up to the strange stallion. "Hey, whats..."

"Shh!" hissed Arid quietly. "You and I are going hunting. Our friend is out there."

Torch blinked and looked out. "The enderpony? Why would he be here?"

"Chasing you, I presume." Arid whispered. "Here. Its an iron sword. Use it well."

With that, Arid tapped Torches shoulder, and again Torch felt every good feeling in his body vanish. He looked at Arid, who was already in his obsidian plate, black cloak, and ridiculous feathered hat. "Let's go."

With that, the pair stalked out into the forest. Torch noticed several glowing red eyes. "We're being watched."

"I know." Arid said simply. "They wish to see what shall happen."

Soon, they reached a clearing, and Arid stopped. The darkness was thick, and Torch could hardly see anything. Then, it was dimly illuminated as Arid's horn began to glow defensively.

Suddenly, out of no where, Ender Lord Severus appeared. "Well well well, if it isn't the new hero and the old traitor. Arid, so good to see you! How did your memories of Pickaxe go? Badly, I do hope. Anyway, I assume you want to kill Severus here? Well, go ahead. He is quite the combatent though."

With that, the voice died off, and Torch drew his sword. Knowing that he could not aim for vitals, he swung for the beasts legs, but stumbled and missed.

Arid, as fast as usual, drew his crossbows and let them rip, peckering the things torso with bolts. The beast roared, and disappeared.

Torch, finding the thing gone, looked around quickly. Then, the monstrosity popped up behind him. He struck, hiting the chest.

Torch, blind with pain, swung madly, and, by some stroke of luck, took of the Enderpony's left foreleg, crippling the abomination.

Lord Serverus attempted to teleport, only to find some sort of magic holding him in place. He searched crazily for the source, until his gazze fell apon Arid, who had his own iron sword out.

Arid smiled. "Are you getting this, old friend? I do hope so. If you havn't already figured it out, I'm draining all emotion from this enderpony, which means he is unable to teleport, and can't disintegrate weapons. I want to send a message however. If you think, in some thoughtless way, that you can win, you can't. This war will end with you dead. I hope you realize that."

With that, Arid lodged his sword firmly in Lord Serverus's chest.

Only then did Arid notice Torch lapsing into unconsciousness.