A New Voyage

Amidst the upturned landscape and endless clouds of dust, in a certain field north of Ponyville, stood a lone gigantic male pony, his tired eyes scanning the landscape.

"Where the hell'd they go.. Bah, I doubt they managed to get out of that unscathed." He continued his search for a moment. "Dumb bitch. The first taste of booze I've had all day, and she just has to go and throw a friggen hissy fit. And NOW she just up and runs away." Still not certain his adversaries had left him alone, he felt the need to search the sky above.

"...Eh? Who's this now.." He caught sight of a pair of hovering figures. One of which he could swear he'd seen before.

"... Son of a bitch. Doesn't she know when to give up?" He grumbled as the familiar blue creature descended before him, the second yellow creature lagging behind.

*******************************************************************************************************

Ponyville. While most would simply see it as a plain little town with very simple citizens, those who knew recent history would know that it held a much loftier position. It was the home of the newest princess of Equestria, and the Elements of Harmony. Being so close to Canterlot, it was often a target for Celestia's investigations into the lives of her citizens. And over all, the peace it held for so long was nothing less than a standard by which all of Equestria could be held to. Perhaps this is why Discord was so determined to make it his capital during his rampage?

In any case, it is quite understandable that when a place of such importance has been utterly ravaged, Princess Celestia would be speechless. She mindlessly surveyed the scene before her. No matter where she looked, beyond the airborne dirt and debris, she saw nothing but destruction and ponies frantically running every which way. The air was filled with the booming rumble of further damage being done by the buildings that were still collapsing. How many of her subjects had been injured in this chaos? How many had met a far bleaker fate? Such thoughts crowded her mind as she scanned the ruined landscape.

"Your majesty!"

Hearing her guard call out roused her from her stupor. She know became aware of the group that had gathered at her feet: the elements of harmony, at least most of them, and her personal guard, as well as a hoof full of Ponyville's residents. All that were present wore the same terrified expression, and were waiting for her to speak.

But that was the issue wasn't it? Though the brunt of the destruction was done by this newcomer, she couldn't shirk all of the blame.

'If I had simply bode my time and waited for the Elements to fully gather.. could we have been spared this fate?' The crash of a nearby home caving in followed by a half dozen shrieks momentarily disrupted her thoughts. Closing her eyes and taking a cleansing breathe, she shook her head. 'No.. I took that risk once and everypony knows how that turned out. There were too many variables with this.. Whitebeard.'

"Your majesty!" Her guard called again. "What are your orders?!"

She did not regard him. "Gather any trained in medical aid, and search the collapsed structures for injured. Twilight, I wish for you and the Elements to lead those still capable to Ponyville's outskirts. I will be waiting there." She then turned to the few civilians that were present, "Please, follow me." Having spoke, she turned and began to leave, the small group of ponies not far behind behind.

"What are you going to do, Princess?" Twilight said as the guards began carrying out her orders.

"I plan to contact the full Royal Guard. The team we have here is simply not enough," she said without stopping.

Twilight hesitated for a moment before she left with the elements, and spike to do as she had asked.

**********************************************************************************************************

"What do you want, kid? I'm in a less than happy mood right now." Whitebeard grumbled.

"R-r-r-rainbow? Please, can't we just.. Leave him alone?" Fluttershy begged on the verge of tears.

"NO WAY! You saw what he did! This old jerk is dangerous! We HAVE to deal with him! We're the Elements of Harmony!"

"Gurarararara! Elements again? That bitch was saying something about that to some brat and her friends.. So I guess you're with them, eh?" Whitebeard laughed as he sat down. "As if a group of brats like you can harm me."

"Watch your mouth gramps! You don't know who you're-" Before Rainbow could continue her chastisement, she was nearly thrown off her hooves by a tremor.

"I know damn good and well who I'm dealing with: a group of kids that some idiot convinced were actually worth something in a fight." He said, now visibly annoyed. "But I tell you this much girl, you and the other one you brought to fight earlier are stronger than the rest of them, and you know how well that went. Don't push your luck."

Rainbow didn't back down. "When we're together we're invincible! A tired old pony like you wouldn't stand a chance! But none of that matters, because I'm taking you down right now!" She immediately rocketed off into the sky.

"Rainbow Dash WAIT!" Fluttershy beckoned.

"Have it your way." Whitebeard grumbled standing back up.

After climbing for a minute or two, Rainbow rocketed towards Whitebeard at thunderous speed, a rainbow trail burned brightly in her wake.

The distance between them shortened with every moment, until finally he waved his right hoof at her sending a shock wave barreling upwards.

'HAH, like I knew you would!' She thought to herself. With a slight change in her posture, she managed to quickly glide to her left and out of the way of the attack loosing only a little speed.

Whitebeard in turn now violently slammed his extended hoof in her direction causing the air to crack, alerting Rainbow a much heavier attack was coming. Her response was to arch upwards and allowing her speed to propel her into the air, before beating her wings to continue her assent.

Her plan had worked. With her belly in the air she looked down to see the air she previously inhabited vibrate and crack for a good distance.

'HA! Thought you had me didn't- HUH?!' As she made her mental boast she scanned where she had left Whitebeard only to find him gone.

A bone chilling growl from above revealed him to her.

Before she could do more then look upwards and get a full view of him, she felt one of his fore hooves embed itself in her stomach. No tremor, no magic. He simply punched her, hard in the gut.

She squeaked, closed her eyes, and braced as best she could as she speedily was sent to the ground.

"RAINBOW DASH!!" Fluttershy shrieked as she saw her friend crash. She made an attempt to rush to her aid, but stopped when she heard a rush of air and a yell from above where Rainbow lay.

Looking up she saw Whitebeard descending rear left hoof first, and whats more said hoof was alight and surrounded by a strange white ball.

"N... NO, STOP! PLEASE!!" She cried, but to no avail. The giant crashed into the ground and unleashed an immense burst of power through the area. Fluttershy was shaken off her hooves and was unable to regain her balance. Tears filled her eyes as she lay being violently rocketed by the blast.

When the shaking stopped she opened her eyes, surveyed the scene. Whitebeard was still standing, though surrounded by a great cloud of dirt and dust, and Rainbow was..

A violent cough from nearby drew her attention. Looking for the source, she saw a rainbow maned heap lying a good distance from Whitebeard. It seemed that the giant had simply thrown her with the wave, rather than crush her.

"I ain't pissed enough at you to kill you just yet kid. Gurararara, but if you try this again, you'd best believe this will keep happening," Whitebeard called out.

Rainbow didn't answer, or rather she couldn't. Fluttershy raced to her side, this time making the full trip.

"R-rainbow Dash! Are you.. Do you.. I.. " Fluttershy tried to find the proper words, but given the circumstance was unable.

"Oh it's you again, I didn't notice you before. You really have a knack for being unnoticeable, don't you? Especially around loud mouths like her, eh? Gurararara,"

She didn't dare to look, as the voice had come from right behind her. She merely shook in place, hoping he would go away. As she did she was forced to observe Rainbow Dash, her friend's collapsed and wheezing form.

"Now.. now you listen here, buster," it started off quiet. "I don't care how big, and bad you think you are. NOPONY has the right to go around beating up other ponies like this!" But started to grow.

"Eh? Hah, don't start with me, she's been picking fights with me since I met her. She got what was coming to her." Whitebeard responded.

"In case you've forgotten you broke into my house and practically chased me out! Then when you were confronted with what you did, you started shouting at us!" Her conviction to protect her friend carried her well beyond sense, as she hovered above Whitebeard and stared him down. "She was protecting me from who she thought was a dangerous pony, and based on what I've seen you do so far, she was absolutely right!"

"Hmph, of course I'm dangerous. Don't you know? I'm a pirate, I do as I please and if you don't like it" Fluttershy's eyes were suddenly locked with his. "Then man up and do something about it. Though I have to know.. Are you prepared to die for that fool?"

"I am!" She continued against her better judgement. "I can't fight you, but I won't just back down when my friends are in danger! And one thing I sure can do is tell you, that you"

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes.

"Are are a big! DUMB! MEANIE!!" Her voice echoed across the landscape and time itself seemed to halt as she furiously glared into Whitebeard's eyes.

Seconds turned to minutes, and nothing but a quiet wind, and the sound of Fluttershy's wings filled the air. Slowly though, another lower sound began to introduce itself.

"Ha" The large pony before her exhaled. "Ha ha"

'Wha-? What?' Fluttershy thought.

"GURARARARARA-RA-RA-RA-AAHAHAHA!!!" His laughter sounded like thunder to her ears, and as close as she was it shook her to the point she fell to the ground. "Hahaha, oi oi, you can't just go yelling things like that at people, you know?"

"Huh?" She squeaked.

He leaned in close. "You might hurt someone's feelings." He said with a grin.

Hearing this caused Fluttershy's heart to stop for a moment. She fell to her haunches in complete disbelief. After taking a few moments to breathe, she looked back up at the smiling old pony.

"This city of yours is too noisy for my taste. I'm leaving to find some place where folks aren't so easily riled up." He huffed and walked past where Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash lay.

"You're.. leaving?" She whispered to herself with a sigh of relief.

"Ah by the way.." He said causing her to look back at him. "It's important. You'd better hang on to it."

Unsure at his words she looked around trying to find what he meant before staring at him again.

"That bond." He smiled back at her. "It's got a strength to it no single soul can hope to topple, I know from experience." His expression became more solemn and he took a moment before speaking again. "..And I also know from experience... it ain't something you'll ever be prepared to lose."

Having said that he turned again and made his way across the land, leaving the shocked young mare and her injured friend in the middle of the ruined field.

Fluttershy watched as the old pony began to shrink from sight. "Our.. bond?" She turned towards Rainbow Dash. ".. I'll get you some help Rainbow. I'll be right back!" She then spread her wings and flew towards one of the few forests that wasn't completely upturned.