Chapter 6

A New Life Begins

Terra emerged from the cave onto a balcony on the side of a mountain, overlooking a thick forest. After looking over the forest for a few moments, he placed his fingers to mouth and produced an ear shattering whistled. Followed immediately by an equally as loud roar from somewhere in the forest. A giant midnight black manticore with a red tipped tails fell from the sky.

It folded its wing as the stallion walked moved closer and rubbed back of its ear to which caused it to purr peacefully and swished its tail. “My friend, The Mistress is waking up and we need an element bearer. I don’t expect this to be extremely dangerous, but I may still need your help, Veloces. Will you help me?”

The beast move one of his eyes to look Terra’s before saying in a deep gruff voice “of course my friend.” He bowed to let Terra on. And with him comfortably situated he yelled “ok then, to Equestria!”

It opened its mighty wings and purpled them upwards and hovered over the forest; it turned westward and shot forward at blinding speed.

(Eric first person inside the library)

I awoke to sudden warmth and comfort, fluttering my eyes open, I found that I was in an armchair covered in a blanket. I was dazed for a few moment not even realizing that I fell asleep.

I looked around the room and didn’t see anyone.

As I sat there, a smell penetrated my nose, and it was heavenly. I stood causing something to fall from my lap taking the blanket with it. I found it to be a book on Equestria’s history. I quickly picked the two items up and set them both on the table next the armchair.

With my task done, I decided to follow the aroma to a new room. As I looked around the room, I found Spike standing in front of a large metal box tending to something while humming a merry tune. He was dressed in a white shirt with the sleeve rolled up, a pair of brown pants, and something pink covering his front.

“Hey Spike, what’s that wonderful smell.” I asked him which caused the dragon to look over at me and say “Oh, Eric your up I see. Well it just pancakes.” The name confused me a bit, and I voiced my question.

“What are pancakes?” this made his eyes grow a bit, but shrink back to their normal size he set me down at the table and placed a plate in front of me, which had a stack of things on it.

“Eat.” he said while giving me a smile, before returning to his precise position.

I grabbed the metal object that was sitting next to the plate, and I recognized it as a fork. It fell into a comfortable place almost immediately.

I cut a wage out of the pan-cakes. I stabbed them and brought them to my mouth, and a wonderful sensation enveloped my mouth. It was soft, fluffy, and wonderfully sweet. The pancakes were gone in a few moments leaving a bit of the goo on the plate.

“Hey, Spike?”

“What?”

“When I first got here Twilight gave me a short tour of the town, but I still didn’t see much. Could you show me around?”

“I would, but I need to keep the library open seeing as Twilight still out, dude.” Was what he said, but just when he finished there was a knock at the door.

“I wonder who that is?” he said before getting up and walking out the room.

I heard his steps get fainter till they stopped and the sound of the front door open; then the hurried voice of Pinkie entered my ears “hey, Spike what you up to? How’s Twilight doing? Is Eric up?”

‘Damn she can speak fast!’ I thought still trying to get used to the pink mare’s energy.

“Oh hey, Pinkie. I’m not doing much; Twilight is still sleeping, and yes Eric is up and in the kitchen.”

I could hear two sets of footstep before both Spike walked in followed by Pinkie who was dressed in a pink dress that was just a tad darker than her coat “hey Eric!” she said.

“Hey, Pinkie! What you up to?” The two walked in further and sat at the table with me.

She took on a very serious face then said “Well, you said that you needed to rest for a bit and by my calculations it has been 256 bits. Way more than what you said.”

“Uh…” I looked to Spike and all I got was “Well you did say that, now didn’t you?”

I looked back to Pinkie, who was waiting eagerly for an answer. “I guess I did. What you have in mind Pinkie?” I asked her.

“I know!” exclaimed Spike as a small smile formed on his face “Pinkie, how about you show him around town seeing as he didn’t see much when he first got here, Twilight and I can’t it right now, and you know everyone and everything in town.” He explained.

“Ooh, I like that plan!” stated an excited Pinkie.

“Well seeing as I don’t have anything better to I guess that’s what I’m doing.” I said.

“Well then let’s go!” she exclaimed while pulling on my arm.

“Ok, ok, Pinkie we’re in no rush.” I told her.

“I know, I’m just so excited. That’s all. Oh and I almost forgot.” She said before letting go of my arm and reached behind her back and reviled a pile of what I think are clothes and a pair of nice looking black shoes “Rarity asked me to give you these.”

I looked at the mare and wanted question her about that little stunt, but thought better of it.

I grabbing the stack and said “Do you mind me going and putting this on?” which she nodded too.

I made my way to the room Twilight gave me, closed the door and unfolded the custom made garments. In total, there was three different set of clothes. Most looked to be causal or work clothes, but one set looked to be more formal then all the other. It had a blue shirt that buttoned up the middle, a black jacket, and a pair of black pants.

The shoes looked like they could go with any of the outfits. I looked over the outfits a couple times, but kept going back to the formal one and after my third time going over them I gave up on the others.

The suite was perfect and complimented the seamstress’s skill. ‘I really need to pay her back for this.’ I thought.

I walked out to find an eager mare who exclaimed “Wow! You look good!”

“No, it’s more likely that Rarity’s skill is to blame here.”

“Well she is a master of her craft.” the drake yelled from the kitchen.

“You ready to go Pinkie?”

“Yep!”

“Spike! We’re off.”

“Ok.” he replied which prompted Pinkie the start pulling on my arm again. “Still not in a rush.”

“I know, but there’s so much to see!” she said while forcing me out the door. “Ok, ok! Just calm down.” I started walking, and she took the space next to me bouncing the whole time. ‘Where does she get all that energy from?’ I thought, but decided to keep it to myself.

It was about midday and pinkie had led me through most of the town and had stopped bouncing a little ways back, but had been talking the whole time. It was amazing at the sheer amount of energy this mare had.

While she gave the tour, I would see a few ponies here and there with either curiosity or fearful looks on their face. I tried to be friendly by waving to each of them, but they avoided me, and even couple of them looked almost disgusted of me and would literally run in the opposite direction from the two of us.

I felt a small hand grab onto my shoulder followed by Pinkie saying “Aw don’t worry about them! They just need time to get to know you first; that’s all.”

I looked over at her and said “Yeah, if you say so, but I still disheartening all the same.” And she looked like she was going to respond, but small groan was heard coming from Pinkie’s stomach followed by one coming from mine.

“Hey! Do you want to get something for lunch? Ooh, I know, there’s this nice little restaurant that I love eating at! You want to go there?” she asked.

“Sure let’s go there.” I said and bowed and motioning for her to lead before saying, “Please lead the way.” which made her giggle a bit.

She led me in further into town to a small building with were many tables strewn and many ponies joyfully taking or eating at these tables. ‘That must be the restaurants she was talking about.’ I thought to myself. She walked up to a stallion with a cream coat and a blue slicked-back mane.

The stallion looked over me for a few seconds before he asked “Table for two.” His tone was very neutral, almost bored. Pinkie nodded to answer to his question, which prompted him to say “Very good, follow me.”

He led us to a table that was on the opposite side. As we sat he placed a booklets in front of each of us which said menu. “Call me over when you’re ready to order.” He said before walking away.

I looked over the… menu and really didn’t know what was good, so I asked “Hey, Pinkie what do you think I should get?”

“I like this one,” She pointed the salad. “But ask for no daisies, they over power it.”

“Good to know. You ready to order?”

“Yep. Waiter!”

“Yes ma’am, are you ready to order?” he pulled out a notepad and pen.

“We're both going to have salads with no daisies.” she said which he wrote down.

“Very good, ma’am. I will be back in a few minutes with your food.” he said before walking off into the building.

The stallion returned shortly after that with our food. Pinkie continued to talk while I zoned out for a bit, until Pinkie shouted “Hey, AJ!” which brought me back to reality.

“Howdy sugarcube!” said a voice from behind me which then asked. “Who’s this?” causing me turn around to look. I found an orange mare with a blonde mane being covered with a brown hat. She was dressed in a blue denim pants that stopped just above her knees and a pink shirt with white stripes tied in a knot in the front, which sat above a solid green shirt.

Her eyes grew a bit “You’re that fella from the hospital! The one that Twi got so worked up over!” What she said perplexed me a bit till I figured out what she meant which brought back the same feeling of sadness, but disappeared quickly. “Pardon me, if I upset you.”

I put a smile on and said “No, no! It’s fine, there’s nothing we can do about it now, so please sit.” She sat in the seat next to me.

“I should introduce myself all proper like, I’m Applejack.” she said while extending one of her hand to me.

“And I’m Eric. So, is it safe for me to assume, you two are friend?”

“We’re the best of friends. Isn’t that right AJ?” Pinkie chirped happily.

“We sure are, pink. So what you up to, sugarcube and how’s Twi? I worry ‘bout her at times!” she asked.

“I was showing Eric around town and Spike told me Twilight still sleeping!”

“I-” she paused while staring at me, but soon her eyes grew angry “AW, Celestia damn it, those little varmints are up to it again!” she got up from her seat and said “Sorry, Sugarcube; I have to run, some youngins are trying to steal my apples again.” she took off down the street after a few children, yelling “you better hope I don’t catch you!”

“Well, she defiantly fun.” I said which made Pinkie giggle a bit.

“Well, it looks like we’re almost done!” Pinkie exclaimed with a smile spared a crossed her face.

“Really, well I guess we need to finish then, now don’t we?” I said as I looked at the sun which hung low in the sky.

“Yeah!”

“So what do we have left?” I asked.

“Just one last place, The Sugarcube Corner! It my favorite place in all of town.” I followed her and asked “and why is that?”

“Cuz, I work there silly!” she said with a giggle that made me chuckle a bit at her.

As we walked through the quickly darkening street of the village, I started to wonder way I wasn’t seeing any ponies, but brushed it off as it was getting late.

“Eric we’re almost there!” she pointed to a strange looking building which I would assume was the sugarcube corner. But as I stared at Pinkie’s place of employment, I started again to question why all the lights were out and looked close, especially if she wanted to show me it.

We were at the doorway when I said “Pinkie I think it’s closed.”

“Well I live here with the owners.” She said while turning the nob.

“Well it looks like they’re closed, so I I’m going to head back to Twilight’s.” I said as I started to turn, but was stopped when Pinkie shouted “NO!” I faced the mare who looked nervous. “I um… just wanted um… just wanted you to… you to… you to meet them. Yeah, that’s right; I wanted you to meet them.”

What something did feel right about what she said, but I ignored it and smiled at her. “Ok Pinkie, let’s go meet them.” she calmed a bit and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the dark room, closing the door behind me. When I was completely enveloped in the blackness, Pinkie let go of my arm, leaving alone. “Pinkie, where did you go?”

“Just follow my voice.” She said in the dark. I did as she asked, not even knowing where I was. “You have to find me first.” She said happily. “Come on Pinkie… where are you?”

“Just a little further.” She said as I continued to creep forward. “Almost there.”

“there we go!” she said and two things because very clear to me, one being I there was a binding light, which made it impossible to see, and two there was a mass cheer of “SURPRISE” both causing me fall to me backward.

As my vision cleared a bit, I began to see a mess of colors quickly changing to ponies. There was a banner hanging from the ceiling that said on it “welcome to Ponyville.”

“Are you surprised?” Pinkie asked me with a grin formed a crossed her face, but I was still too dazed to answer her. “Do you not like it?” she asked me as her gain began to fade. “Um… yeah, I guess, but I don’t really know what it is.” I said. She looked totally taken aback by that and said “it’s a party silly.”

“Pinkie, dear, I don’t think he knows what a party is.” Said a green mare with a two toned mane of white and green. “WHAT?!?!?! Doesn’t know what a party is?!?!.”

“It would appear so.” The mare said again.

“Well, we’ll just have to fix that.” She pulled me off the floor and dragging me around the room the meet new ponies.

(Twilight’s dream third person)

Twilight opened her eyes to find her laboratory, but it was deformed with blood soaked saw hanging from the ceiling, instruments which only had one purpose and one purpose alone, to torture ponies, buzzing machines which still had ponies long dead in them, and Eric, laying bare chested on a metal operating table, strapped down completely helpless.

He had what she could only call true utter fear showing clear in his eyes. He pleaded “Twilight stop! Please!”

‘Stop what? What am I doing?’ she asked, but received no answer.

Twilight could feel the wicked smile splitting her face. “Now Eric, I just can’t that.” She said in a voice of lust and joyfulness. ‘Who said that?!?!’ she asked, but still no reply. “Especially when I can learn so much from you.” The voice said again while walking closer, grabbing a scalpel from a bunch.

He struggled against his bindings proving useless. The smile fade from her face, and she took ahold of his hair, brought hers closer, and screamed “STOP STRUGGLING! Your sacrifice will be for the good of science, isn’t that just wonderful.”

‘No, this is wrong! STOP THIS NOW!!’ she yelled, but gained no response. She placed the blade to his chest but then felt control again. ‘Go on Twilight, you know want to.’ said a voice echoed in her head. “What!?!?! No, I would never!” she tried to throw the blade away, but just couldn’t.

‘Aren’t you just dying to know what’s inside him?’ the voice echoed in Twilight’s head as she began to cut into his flesh, He’s screams were sickening, and the blood, the warm crimson blood, only made her tremble and tried to close her eyes, but just couldn’t. She was transfixed to the sight. The man’s screams were dwarfed as the voice cooed ‘Think of all that you could learn from him? What’s inside him?’

“Twilight, please stop!” the man begged quickly being gagged by magic. “No, no! Test subject don’t get to talk.” Twilight was forced to say yet again.

‘STOP THIS NOW!!!’ she screamed to the voice. Her hand lifted, leaving a bloody ‘Y’ cut. His breath was quick and pained; the color in his face was fading slightly. “Just one more thing left, my dear Eric!” the voice said through her, as her hands pulled apart the skin and muscle to show his still beating heart.

Tears began to fall from her face as she sobbed inside ‘Please just let him live!’

‘Too late.’ The voice hissed.

“One of my favorite parts. Hum let me see; I have to be very careful with him, not too rough.” Twilight gleefully sang while removing organ after organ tell the heart was left. “My dear Eric, it looks like I’m going to steal your heart anyways.” She said before placing a small kiss onto his cold dead lips. “Thank you, Eric.” She took a firm grip on his heart and pulled letting his still warm blood splatter over her arms.

She shot up with a start in her bed screaming. She held herself to try to stop the shaking and the heavy breathing. She looked around her room quickly, but couldn’t tell what anything was in the pitch blackness. She calmed herself a bit. “Just a dream! Yeah, just a dream, that’s all it was.” She said softly to herself.

“Twilight!” called a pained and ragged voice. “Twilight, why?” the voice asked. She stumbled with the light for a bit. Her fear returning even stronger now.

As the light flickered to life, she felt sick by the sight. There hanging from the wall was Eric. His body up against the wall hanging limp by stacks, his chest open and empty, and blood still dripping to the floor to form a pool on the ground.

She heard a soft beating coming from her lap. Looking down she found his heart slowly beating pouring blood onto her bed.

“Twilight, why… did you do it?” voice asked. Bring her attention back to the limp body that was staring at her. The blood streaming from his eyes, down his face, and adding to the puddle below him.

“No, no, NO!” she screamed.

“Twilight! You’re dreaming, wake up!” Eric exclaimed, calming her a calm a bit before blackness claimed her.

(Eric first person)

The moon was high in the sky when spike and I left the party, and as the celebration went on I noticed Spike becoming more and more irrational and loopy. And when he vomited up a letter and pasted out, I decided that it was time take him home.

“Hey, Spike you good?” I asked the drake on my back, and all I got was soft snoring “Kay, just keep up the good job then.” I said walking through the small town.

On our approach of the library, the drake began to stir. “whas goin’ on?” he asked slurring most of his the words. “Almost home.” I said which the snoring resumed shortly after.

I stumbled with the door for a bit before I got the thing open, but as it swung open the atmosphere felt heavy and wrong, like something was wrong. I continued to the couch, to put him there for the night, but when I heard a scream coming from somewhere in the house, I dropped him and everything I was holding.

“TWILIGHT!” I shouted, gaining no response, but screaming. I ran to her room finding her in her bed, flailing her arms, and screaming on the top of her lungs. I quickly made it to her bed and grabbed her wrists and held tight against the bed, but she was still screaming. “Twilight! You’re dreaming, wake up!” I shouted at her.

She calmed and after a few seconds her eyes shot open. “Eric!” she said in a raspy voice. Her eyes began to water, leading the tears, then to sobs. I pulled her into a deep hug, but she continued to sob into my chest.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” she repeated over and over again.

I waited till she was a bit calmer and asked “What you sorry for?” but received no response. “Twilight, please just tell me!” I asked again, but still got no response.

“Please, don’t make me talk about it.” She asked after a minute of waiting. I hugged her tighter, and we didn’t say anything for several minutes as she sobbed into my chest.

Slowly the tears dried up, and she calmed a bit, allowing me move away. “You better now?” I asked which she nodded to. I nodded to her and said ok in a soft voice and started for the door.

“Wait!” she yelled to me, then said “Please, don’t leave just yet.” I turned back to her and said “well, I kind of dropped Spike on my way up here, and I need to see if he’s okay.”

“Dude, don’t worry about it.” Said the voice of Spike behind me. I turned to find him staring me straight in the eye. “Please, just give Twilight this.” He said as he handed me the now opened letter. “It’s her next assignment.” He said while walking away, scowling the whole time.

I walked back the bed and handed her the letter. Which she took it, but dropped it after opening it. “What’s wrong Twilight?”

“I leave for The Gryphon Empire in three days.” She said.

(Terra third person)

The Hammering Fist, a popular bar, which stands proud and strong on the border of The Minotaur Republic and The Gryphon Empire. And on this particular night, it was full of both griffin and minotaurs alike. And all of them were engaging in conversation enjoy themselves and a few drinks, but was silenced as the door flung open, showing a blood red horse.

They all shot their glares at him on his walk to the counter. He took a stool between two minotaur bulls of equal height, color and build and the patrons went back to their drinks and conversations. He waved to the bartender over, but was ignored. They stared at him for a long while, before finally one to the left said in a very thick accent “What’s uh ponie doin’ in thes’ parts?”

Terra didn’t answer him and again waved to the bartender, but was ignored again. The minotaur to the left slammed his fist against the wood before bellowing “ah said what’s uh ponie doin’ in thes’ parts?” The bar fell silent yet again and brought their attention back to the red horse.

“If you must know then listen to this you muscle bound shit for brains, because I don’t want to repeat it again for your oh, so tiny brains, I’m not a pony,” Terra spat out, not even turning to look at the bull who was quickly filling with rage. “And what I’m here for isn’t any of your business, so shut your yammering hole and leave, before I cut that thing you call a mouth off.”

The rage filled bull calmed as a smirked formed on his face, before said “Looks like a pony. Smells like a pony. Is a-” is all he could get out before his bottom jaw was yanked off and sat peacefully in the horse’s dripping wet hand. The bull fell to the floor from the pain and gripped his jaw while he writhed on the ground.

Terra rose and kneeled down to the pain filled creature and asked “I told you to shut that yammering hole or I would cut it off, now didn’t I?” the other was in total shock, much like most of the bar was. He stood and swung his large fist at the Terra’s head, but missed. He tried to pull his arm back, but couldn’t and a firm grip took hold of his wrist, keeping him in place.

“I just wanted a peaceful hour or two, but I couldn’t have that, now could I?.” Terra said while standing and spun to face the terrified creature “Just one fucking hour, but you little shits couldn’t give that to me, could you?”

Terra pushed the minotaur up against a wall and said “only cowards attack someone from behind and I no pity for cowards.” He slowly began to twist the bull’s arm, forcing him to the floor. “Now if you apologize, I’ll let you keep that arm of yours.” The bull looked him in the eyes and spat.

He slowly wiped the saliva from his face “Big mistake.” He continued to twist causing the bull to started begging, tell a resounding snap was heard and pain filled scream that sent shivers down most of the onlookers’ spines.

The blood red horse looked at the limp appendage still in his hand and said “What a useless arm, I guess you don’t need it, now do you?” he placed a foot on arm’s joint and started to pull causing the bull to scream in agony yet again, but the horrible ripping sound could still be heard.

With one last pull, the arm was removed causing the bull to spasm wildly in shook on the floor. He fell to his side writhing in pain as a puddle of blood did form under his body.

He walked back to his seat with the arm dragging behind him, before slamming it down on bar and sitting. As he turned a griffin took to the air and started to rush him, but the minotaur arm flying at him sent him back to the ground again.

His eyes shot open, but the stallion was already kneeling over him. “I guess I didn’t make myself clear. I DON’T LIKE COWARDS!” he screamed at the trembling creature. The griffin tried to move away, but was pinned in place. “N-n-no I wa-wa-wasn’t tr-trying to a-a-attack y-ou.” He stuttered.

“Not only are you a coward, you’re a liar too.” Terra grabbed his beak and said “liars don’t deserve tongues.” and crushed the beak, and he hovered his other hand over the griffin’s chest. “and cowards don’t deserve hearts.” he said before slowly moving his hand forward penetrating skin and muscle. The griffin’s screeches were deafening. Bone broke away as his hand went for its goal. He gripped tightly around the quickly beating organ.

The griffin’s breath came shallow and pained, and the light was fading from his eyes. “I guess this is good bye.” He pulled on the slowing beating heart tell in emerged from his chest, spraying blood over the stallion’s arms and its owner’s chest.

He watched it slow oozed blood onto his arm and said “it’s a bit small; it’ll have to do.” He bit into it like an apple and sucked it dry. He forced the griffin watch till he was gone.

Finished with his small meal, he grabbed griffin by the neck and throw the minotaur arm over his shoulder. Walking past the last remaining member of the cowering crowd and proceeding to the door. Without turning, he said, “I’m sorry.” And left.

He continued away from the bar for a little ways before snapping his fingers. The ground rumbled violently before open wide and consuming the bar and all that were inside.

He slowly made his way back to the campsite that he left his friend at. And on his way through the forest, he stepped in few blood puddles, here and there. These were the only thing to of the ones that left. As he approached the camp, the fire was still burning.

“Veloces!” The beast lifted its head to look at the red horse with the arm draped over his shoulders and the body being dragged behind him. “Brought food.” He said while tossing the limp piece of meat that was once a proud griffin to the beast, who eyed it hungrily.

The horse sat next to Veloces and rested against him, staring into the blazing fire while eating the arm. Memories of screams and blood flashed in his mind, memories of wars long since forgotten. He dropped his meal and his body began to shake violently, but was quickly stopped when a wing was draped a crossed him.

“No matter how old you get you’re there to comfort me.”

“Of course, my friend, just as you do the same for me.” Veloces returned to his meal, but Terra just stared at it. “My friend, do you think she’s really returning?”

“I don’t know, but for now we need to focus on the mission at hand.”

“I guess so.” Terra said while started to nod off. And like many nights, his dreams were of slaughter and pain and his birth.

Author's Note

Hey, guys and gals, so this chapter took a little longer than I thought it would, but here you go, and if didn’t like it then I’m sorry and if you did I’m glad, and I hope to see you next time.

Also, I forgot to explain the whole Lyra thing last chapter and when I realized it was too late too, so here we go. She is a medium for higher dimensional beings or in this case, authors. She blacks outs when someone is trying to talk through her, and this is also why she is so obsessed with human. And no, this isn’t my head canon, I came up with it to add a little bit more to the conversion with Pinkie.

And one question, because I can’t really tell if it needs it or not, do you think I need to put a gore tag or a dark tag up on this story?

oh and before i go, please give me criticism.