Chapters A Friend, Dragons and a Wolf
The rest of that night, The Dragon and The Dragonslayer tried to better comprehend their situation.
War Bond did not like it, but the idea that she was now bonded to a dragon had hastefully settled in. She accepted it. Her training as a Dragonslayer made her good at coping with with unfortunate circumstances.
After a good while of silence she tried to strike up a conversation, get a dialog going. But Goliath was not one for idle chatter. If he replied, he usually answered her questions in the least number of words possible.
To her surprise, her fatigue actually disappeared. When she inquired about it, Goliath told her that there was a good chance that she was now cold blooded. The cold had made her tired, then the heat from the flame did the opposite, and made her lazy. Apparently Goliath was a dragon who loved sun bathing.
With the rain pouring outside, the fireplace was as close to sun bathing as the pair could get.
When she noticed the storm calming to a heavy rain, she was happy that it died down. Not long after Lyve Wyre reemerged from her room and into the foyer.
War was surprised that the night was gone already.
“Mornin'” the mostly asleep mare stated with a deep long yawn. Her magic putting two cups worth of hot chocolate on her tiny stove, something to heat them up for the cold morning.
“Hello!” War replied more awake then she thought fitting.
Tell her nothing of me.
Yeah telling her about the dragon in my head would be a real smart move... if I wanted to get a nice new straight jacket!
Now is not the time to be thinking about new articles of clothing!
What? No, that's not what a straight jacket is!
I care not if you call it clothing, or an accessory. This is still neither the time nor the place for that!
No! Gah! A straight jacket makes it so a crazy pony can't do anything with their hooves. It also binds wings, and has an enchantment that prevents unicorn magic.
Why would you want one of those at a time like this!?
I don't want one! That was the point!
You just stated that you had a smart idea so you can get a new one!
I was being sarcastic!
Now you make up words!? This no times for games Hatchling!
Sarcasm isn't made up! It's when...mmmrrr! No! I'm noting going to explain all this right now!
“Heh, you still asleep War. Don't they have like... schedules in the military? Like don't you have to get up early I mean?” Lyve stated with a small grin, and ever so slight tilt of the head.
The two just realized that they had made their shared body stare off to space for a solid forty seconds.
Speak!
I'm going to!
“Yeah, we do... thats why I'm up right now. I just kinda spaced out for a second there is all.”
“Oh okay. Well I'm making hot coco. So umm... yeah... coco. Unless you didn't want any. I mean it's fine, don't you guys have like a set diet or something?” she mumbled slightly in her words.
Say you don't want any, I despise that disgusting chocolate. That putrid swamp water taste vile!
“No its fine, they feed us anything, we work off all that fat and sugar anyway... in fact, could you give me a bit extra. I don't mean to be a bother but your hot coco is just amazing!”
“Oh.. Okay thank you War! That's very nice.” Lyve gave a sleepy grin and set poured a bit more hot chocolate on the stove.
A infantile action.
“Once again, I'm sorry that this is all happening so randomly.” War stated with the smile on edge of her lips.
“It was a little... weird, but I don't mind. I have been meaning to try to find you..." she stated awkwardly.
"So, what have you been up to Lyve?" she asked, much less awkwardly.
“Things haven't been going great for me lately, but lets not talk about the sad right now. How have you been War Bond! Your enlisted now right?”
“Yup, I'm a Dragonslayer now. Been one for a good long while.”
“How that going for you? I'm not going to lie. I was really worried that you were part of that Dragonslayer squad that got wiped out. Real tragedy.”
“What are you-”
Her words were cut out by an impossibly loud roar from outside. The sound boomed throughout the town, shaking the entire building. The sound of heavy flapping wings filled the air. The rain, as heavy as it was, was virtually silenced by the flapping.The two both knew exactly what that sound implied. Neither of them were happy to hear it. War was surprised. Goliath was pissed.
“I have to go... Do my job!” War sated hastefully.
“But you don't even have a weapon!”
“I know!”
War Bond moved with extreme haste. She opened the door of her friends home, and her eye's widened.
In the sky, three small dragons fluttered. By small, I mean they were only the size of a large one story home. They had long powerful legs, so muscular and dark they looked like stone. Their talons at the base of their legs were long and razor sharp, looking like the talons of a large bird of prey rather than a dragon. Their long spiked tails looked like long third legs, that seemed to coil about as the kept themselves in the sky with giant wings. Their abdomens, like nearly all other dragons, were a pale beige. These dragons did not have normal arms. Instead, they had wings and arms similar to a bat. Where the wings extended out and ended in tiny claws. The overall thin bodies of the dragons were more serpentine then others. All leading up to a very avian head. Pointed heads, like that of a snake, leading into a beaked mouth, with fin-like ears sweeping back with the long horns of a goat, which spiked straight off their green scaled heads. With eyes like hot metal, they stayed together. Their long aerodynamic bodies looked to have a hard time staying in a single place.
Jeht Wyverns... shit.
I know them as Storm Chasers.
War snuck closer, then much to her surprise she understood them.They spoke in a language she could understand. In fact, outside of Goliath, she didn't know dragons could talk! Yet right then she knew exactly what they were saying to each other.
“We can't just wait here we need to keep going!”
The three seemed not to notice her.
“Screw this, lets rampage!”am feeling a bit hungry...”
I gotta warn everypony.
Or, we stop them.
How!?
You are Dragonkin now. We Fight!
It's three to one, we can't take them.
They are weak. And you have me.
You really expect me to think you would help me kill dragons?
Hatchling, these dragons are no kin of mine. Believe my words or not, their extermination is a common goal on our behalf.
… If I believed you, and I don't, we still don't have a plan.
Actually, I just had a theory. Now then, on a solely technical aspect. You are equine, an we are in an equine form yes?
I guess, what does that have to do with anything?
And we know that the soul-binding forces our minds to fuse into a single unit. So we are half of one of us, and half another.
Yes? Where are you going with this?
Yes, so is it possible that because I am a dragon, and I also make up half of this body, that we would have a Dragonic form?
She felt her head grow heavy. So heavy that she was forced to look down at her hooves. They were not hooves for long. She saw them warp and twist. Stretching into claws. Her body fur slowly melding into scales. Then her body moving upward as she grew in size. She looked at her hooves again, then noticed how she was now the size of three buildings while standing on her hind legs. Her mouth felt odd, full. Full of large pointed teeth. A slitherine tongue slid about in her mouth. Her sight shot back up, and she felt a deep breath fill her longs, followed by a long booming bellow pushing through her teeth.
This body was not her's. Yet it also was. She felt each claw, each scale, the new tail, the feel of sharp teeth, and a slitherine tongue. The size, with it came a feeling of power, yet not her power. It felt so unreal, foreign. She wondered if Goliath shared this feeling of surrealism when he let her control their body. It was so out of place, so different, so uncomfortable.
Did we just...
Short answer yes. Leave this to me, I know how to be a dragon. Sit back and stay for the ride. I may be missing most of my size, but size never won me my fights before.
I'd like to disagree.
You've never met my old friends...
“Well who's this then?”
The three wyverns flew around the standing dragon form of Goliath and War Bond, which was apparently much smaller than Goliath was by himself.
Standing at about three and a half buildings tall, and a building and a half wide, The pair's dragon form out-sized the Wyverns. Their body was a golden bronze, with similar spines that were a shade redder. There body was large, and had great wings, fully stretched, they were easily twice their claw reach. War Bond realized, Goliath was not a Colossal Dragon. Not at all. He was far too wide... too big, and box shaped. The body was large, muscular, not like the more slithereen body types of normal dragons. Yet he still had a very long tail, and massive wings. He was unlike any dragon she had ever seen, or even read about. He was an entirely new breed...
“Tell Atlas that we don't need no back up.” She heard one of the gliding wyverns spit.
“I am not with Atlas, the opposite really. I'm not going to repeat myself so listen up. Return home now, before any of us get hurt. Namely you three. That is your only warning.” She felt her mouth growl in Goliath's voice.
The Wyverns just laughed. One swooped down, lashing at them with it's powerful legs and tail. Jumping back down to all fours, Goliath dodged. With a quick stretch of the wings, they were ready to vault into sky in moments.
Lyve Wyre, took the first step out of her home, not taking anything more them a small peek at the sky.
“I warned you!” Goliath nearly roared.
They're Jeht Wyverns, so they are fast, and those claws hurt, but they don't have anything else, no breath attack. Just speed.
Storm Chasers also do not need much air, as they can fly high, and at a high speed for fast periods of time without stopping. If they drag this out, they can get the upper-claw.
So we can't let this fight last to long, they can out last us!
This fight will not last long.
They Wyverns continued to speed around Goliath. Who sat and waited. Poised. Lining himself up. The Wyverns' mad cackling annoyed him. One's higher pitched laugh specifically.
In the blink of an eye, He flapped his mighty wings with all his force, launching himself skyward. Like the opposite of an owl or eagle swooping down on an ignorant rabbit, he pounced upward on the annoying one with all his force. They collided mid-air, then fell down. They slammed into the ground with enough force to shake the earth. Due to the angle of the vault, they landed at a slant, so he dragged the wyvern through the soil. There was so much power that the soil spit, and dirt parted away in the trail they left from skidding into the ground. In all of this, Goliath had moved his claws. War Bond could feel their claws sink into the wyvern's flesh.
His front claws dug into the wyverns wings, and his back claws pined down those muscular legs. He had pinned the wyvern onto it's back. And he stared down at the wyverns whole torso. With a deep breath. He poured hot pink flames down on the annoying wyvern. The wyverns scream of pain sounded like high pitched thunder. The wyvern flailed, trying desperately to break free from the downpour of blanketing flames. War could feel the heat of the flames on their chest.
With a prideful laugh, Goliath moved his front claws, isolating the burning dragon's head. Moving his head down in an eerie calm, he opened his gaping pointed maw. With a single bite, he beheaded the wyvern. It's head hardly fitting into his mouth, he turned then spat the still flaming head into a building. The head shattered the wooden building into pieces. Goliath let out a viscous roar. Blood that was not his own spilling done their chest. She could still taste the coppery blood.
“I am painted in the gore of the first blood! Who else waits to test my flames !” Following his boast Goliath let out another angry roar. It was the only sound. The rain seemed to stop in respect to the giant. The sky was still a dark gloomy grey.
The two other wyverns eyed each other with a very focused intention. Kill .
They dived down as a single unit. With a well placed dodge, Goliath took advantage of the dive attack. He turned, then lined up his shot, with a breath, he spat out a glob of near liquid-like pink flames. The fireball trailed faster than the wyverns, but they moved quickly and gave an elusive twist, just avoiding the attack.
The two wyverns turned to him again and swooped down for another attack. With a snort, Goliath spat our a flurry of five more fireballs, He knew his attack would work. The wyvern was moving to fast, it could not evade in time. The fireballs popped with a flower of hot pink flame which showered down like rose petals. The injured wyvern fell to the ground as a ball of flames, smashing through a small hut on it's way down.
The third wyvern twisted, turning mid-air. Goliath was treading on a building, making his way to finish of the injured wyvern. His back to the still flying wyvern, he did not notice it speeding toward him, claws out. Those claws were like a predators talons... hooked. They both felt the hooks drive themselves into their back. War Bond wanted to scream in pain. Instead she just watched from the eye's of Goliath. Who merely blinked for a moment from the pain. The wyvern bent forward, large talons deep into their back, with a hunch his upside down head and beak could peck at their face.
Goliath acted quickly, dodging a peck attack, then grasping the wyvern's head with sharp claws. With a tug, Goliath pulled more of the wyvern in front of him. War could feel the hooked claws pull hard on their flesh. This time, the wyvern looked at them directly in their shared eyes, it knew it was dead. With a new breath, Goliath let out a stream of searing pink flame, not a plume, or glob. But a stream.
The wyvern was dead, upper torso completely roasted black. With a very hard pull, Goliath ripped those hooks from his back. War Bond couldn't believe the pain. She wanted to cry. She could feel the hot blood drip down her back. The pair moved toward the destroyed building where the now final wyvern fell. It was still semi-conscious and a bit aflame. Goliath picked it out of the rubble and chucked it away from the city. Now awakened, the wyvern struggled back to it's legs.
The wyvern tried desperately to flee. Doing it's best to begin take off into the safety of the storm. Goliath wouldn't have that just yet. War felt her teeth bite down hard. With a powerful kick off from the soil, she felt her entire new body pounce on the wyvern. Slamming the fleeing dragon into the soil. Her mouth filled with blood. Goliath moved with such ferocity that even she did not notice him sink his teeth into the wyvern's wing. He stood back up, taking with him the wyvern's entire wing-arm. The lib was trapped in his teeth.
“Walk back to your master, tell him that he is not welcome here.” he spat.
The wyvern slowly stumbled back to it's legs. Before shambling away. Defeated, head held low, legs and body covered in blood.
The pair let out a powerful roar of victory. The booming howl of victory bellowing like thunder. With giant wings, they took to the sky, soaring skyward and into the thick bank of clouds above. For a moment they were lost in the gray fog of cloud. Then they pierced into the clear open beautiful sky. The sun blazed radiantly. Goliath moved their body to better enjoy the sunlight. War did not handle this as well as he did.
Once they broke through the cloud, she was overwhelmed by a dreadful sense of horror. The height of her body sent her into a panic. Her head began to pulse, the forming of a toxic migraine. The rush and flood of nausea yanked at their throat. She quickly learned that heights did not suit her well.
Control yourself, or we're going to fall!
Oh- I can't I gotta puke!
Stop this weakness Hatchling!
I can't... shit this is bad!
Their body flailed, their body felt the pain. The sheer skull shattering head ache. Grinding his teeth, Goliath tried desperately to keep steady. To keep going and get a safe distance to change back. He was losing consciousness. This was more then vertigo. This was something far more then a simple wave of disorientation. They couldn't focus, couldn't breath. In a blink. Everything went black.
The two woke up simultaneously... They both had their own bodies.
It was as if they were in a giant open... area. The world above them was pure unending darkness. Nothing but a black sky, no stars, no sun. Nothing but darkness. Yet still, somehow they could see. The ground around them stretched for miles. Far beyond the horizon and even beyond what they could see. The ground was covered in pure snow white grass, thick glorious colorless white grass. Goliath had somehow returned to his real gargantuan size His immensity was staggering. Mountain Claw did not do him justice. He was ten... twenty... hundreds of time larger then any colossal dragon she had ever heard of.
It stretched with the land as far as the eye could see. A white blanket over a dark world.
Yet, by far the most odd, was the water. Clean, pure, unmoving water flooded this land. The water was easily half of War Bond's height. She awoke completely submerged, yet she did not drown or feel any discomfort. Didn't even interrupt her breathing. She picked her body up slowly raising it from the liquid. Her movements did not even ripple the water. Goliath did the same, slowly rising his utterly massive body. Even his body could not ripple the water.
They both looked around quizzically, in an attempt to figure out where they were. They almost instinctively looked each other in the eyes. Oddly enough, neither had known about the other's being there, even though War had clearly seen Goliath as she looked about her surroundings.
Neither of the two panicked. They were both felt... calm about this.
“Do you know of this place little Hatchling?” Goliath tried to whisper, but his voice was still very loud to her.
“Not at all. Was hoping you would.”
He did not respond. She assumed due to his size, hearing her was hard for him.
That's discouraging. "You are very big." she yelled at the top of her lung.
“I noticed, it is odd we have been separated.'”
“Did we like... bust a seam or something?”
“Bust a what ?”
“A seam, you kno... that's right, dragons don't wear clothes. Now isn't the time or place. Did we stop being connected?” she yelled.
“I highly doubt it. I felt your presence long before I noticed you were here with me.”
Goliath's body slumped down, letting himself lay as low as he could. Eerily, this once again did not disturb the water. War just gave the titanic dragon a odd look of confusion.
“Climb on to me, You are small to me, waiting for you would only slow us both down, climb on to me so we need not wait.”
War was silent.
“Do you still not trust me?”
War thought on that.
“No.” she replied steadily
“I saved that town, saved both our lives from drowning in soil, I spared your life. I do all that I can to aid you.”
“I've spent... my entire life being told how terrible dragons are... you're nice... but... i can't just... trust alright. Deal with it.”
“I have lived on for eons. I even remember what you would call the first night. I have slain countless ponies who have come for my head. I have also slain countless other dragons . I have exterminated more different kinds of breeds of my dragonic brothers and sisters then the number of breeds that currently exist . There is much blood on my claws. More then you will ever know. We are one now. I do not understand what will happen now that our souls are now together. I do know now of our potential. I intend to find these things out, with you. We need to trust each other, if we do not, we will both end up dead . We must act as the single being our bodies now are.”
“....... I ...... I know.”
The two awoke in a soft bed. Once again in a single shared body.
Were back.
We are indeed.
The two were laying in a soft bed in a long room. Some kind of medical station. The room was shaped like a fat rectangle. Along one of the long sides of the room with white and pink striped wallpaper, was a number of single pony mattresses on a set of wheels. Most of these had an injured pony laying on them under a thin sheet. A pulley device of some kind was implemented between each bed. If anypony wanted to, they could pull a sting and a sheet would hide them from their surroundings. Along the opposite wall that shared a pleasant wallpaper, exactly opposite of where the beds were place were windows. Each mostly hidden by bright pink curtains, but light still escaped through the edges of the curtain's cover. The floor was made of a clean and polished hardwood. The moans and groans of wounded ponies filled the air along side the distant medical jargon of doctors and nurses from beyond her walls.
Sitting up, she overheard the words two nurses who were idly chit-chating.
“No way. Impossible! Dragons don't just fight each other!”
“I'm telling you they did! That's what messed up so much of the town!”
“I didn't see it! I've been in town all day!”
“You wouldn't believe how fast it all went down! I mean, I head a ruckus, but I didn't investigate it! Then I hear this like deep roar! I look up, and this huge dragons growling at these three little ones!”
“I don't need to hear this again Balm!”
“It was just so crazy! The big one just tore the other apart then flew off!”
“And happened to stomp on half the town, and threw the losers corpses on the town too! I know! I saw the bodies but its just... you just don't believe it y'know!”
“That's what I'm talking about, it's so surreal!”
It took them both a long moment to realize that the large portion of damage was their fault. That shared dragon form was bigger then most of the towns buildings, and those thick armored scales made bumping into them feel like bumping a pillow... or a gnat. They had just acted, not really considering the damage their fight might do to the town.
War Bond had mixed feelings, mostly because she was unsure on how she actually felt at the moment. She felt bad for the town, and felt guilty for the damage, but she also felt a bit guilty for Goliath, not knowing how he would feel. That dream they just had was also very odd... things that needed to be said were not said, and she didn't know his feelings about it, or her feelings for that matter... she just felt like they were both hurt.
Then there was Lyve... THAT was a whole batch of emotions she wasn't given time to deal with. All due to her soul being glued to a dragon's soul.
There was also this incredibly overbearing feeling in her gut that she was being watched... she couldn't place it. It wasn't scary or frightening, but it also wasn't like she had someone looking out for her. More like there was an observer, just watching. How and why she felt this way, she didn't know.
Oh shit... this is our fault... thank goodness we tried to keep airborne... she tried to distract herself
I apologize, this is my fault. I changed us without thinking, a foolish, brash, hasted decision. That is not like me. I've been on my own for … a long time. Sometimes I forget how my size and … toughness can effect my environment.
Hey now... it's not all bad. This damage, all of it, is much better then the destruction that would have happened if we didn't get involved. Those three would have wiped this little town from the map! Everypony here who is alive should be thanking you! she tried to mend what she could. She wanted to trust Goliath
She wanted to take some of the things stated in that dream to heart. She wanted to comfort her dragon companion. Now she wanted to at the very least try to create a friendship of some kind. It would make whatever she was going through easier at the very least.
That does not justify my actions, but I thank you for such kind and sweet words.
You're very welcome .
There was a moment of silence. That dream world was still fresh in their heads, but neither of them really wanted to bring it up at the moment.
What is this place, some type of emergence home?
Something like that.
War Bond sat up in her bed in an attempt to make herself more comfortable. Upon doing so she felt the wet sticky bandages on her back, and noticed the cloth wrapped around her head.
I think were in a hospital, or something along those lines.
Hospital?
How is it that you can understand so much of what I say, but don't know hospital!?
I was surprised when you spoke in my dragon tongue, but you have proven that you speak it well. But I fear that my age and old knowledge of equine language is the problem. You know words and are transferring them over correctly, but I do not know them.
What?
You speak good dragon, but your new equine words don't translate well to me.
I don's speak dragon. Up until I met you I had no idea dragons could talk. It had been a rumor in the Academy, but nopony really thought dragons were capable of speech. Let alone an entire language.
Hatchling, you speak dragon tongue now.
No, I'm talking in my language, and so are you!
I have only been speaking in my native tongue, as have you Hatchling.
What!? That doesn't make any sense that would mean were hearing different things!
Curious... rather interesting. I hear you in my tongue, you hear in your equine tongue. Did you happen to notice what those three storm chasers were telling us?
They spoke, I still understood them oddly enough.
Very interesting, our soul-binding continues to intrigue me.
At the very least it gets rid of the language barrier.
Back to the hospital.
Well, most of the language barrier. A hospital is a place where injured ponies can got to get healed when they hurt and they can't, or don't know how to fix it themselves. Ponies don't heal as fast as dragons, so places like this can get full when emergencies happen.
I see, dragons would have little need for places like this. Why are we here.
Well, we did fall from the sky from pretty high, and we had a good chunk of our back ripped out. So somepony probably found us and brought us here. Which reminds me, how are we not super dead from that fall.
Dragons have a natural... crash resistance.
That's nice. Sorry still trying to get used to all this... dragon...ness.
I am... apologetic. I know I have asked much of you.
Hey now... this sure beats dying.
That doesn't make make my actions any less wrong. I d-
“Hellooo? Ma'am are you alright?”
Snapped out of their internal conversation, War glanced at the nurse who was staring at her with a odd and inquisitive look on her face.
“Huh? Umm Yeah I'm fine.”
“That head wound might be worse then we thought, I'll let a doctor know that you might need more attention. I'll be back as soon as I can be.” The nurse stated in a breath, she must have been busy with everything going on. She jotted something down on a piece of paper, the turned away from her back on her way. Only to twist back “Oh an that eye of yours is quite beautiful!” She stated with a smile not forgetting her bedside manner.
We should leave. My flesh can heal quickly, we are taking up space and slowing them from helping ponies who need help.
I had the same thought. I'm on it.
Pok Pok was in general disarray. A good portion of the town had been crushed and smashed through. The two dead dragons were still laying there, too much work to deal with at the moment. Ponies were traveling in and out of the medical station, which also had small tents outside of it for other injured ponies.
They both had a large tinge of guilt run through them, they were about to begin helping as best they could when a familiar voice called out to them.
“War Bond!”
“Lyve?!”
The surprise was mutual. Lyve Wyre galloped into an embrace with her old friend.
“War Bond you're alright! I was so worried you just ran off and... look at you, you got hurt! What happened?! An your eye!? Holy shit! You! Eyeball!!!”
“Lyve, relax... I'm fine.”
“You eye isn't!!”
“What's wrong with my eye?”
“It's like... sideways... and thin... like a-a freaky vertical slit? Kind of like a snake or something. Yeah... definitely a snake eye. It's super freakin' weird.”
Or a dragon eye. I believe you have an eye like mine now. Very interesting, perhaps the after effect of out transformation.
Weird...
“Which one?”
“The right eye.. that's crazy gross! What the hell happened to you?!... and what the hell is that!?” Lyve exclaimed.
War swiftly turned, looking in the same direction that Lyve Wyre was looking. She saw nothing but a few buildings lucky enough to go untouched by the battle.
I don't see anything
“Over on that building, that's way too big to be some bird!” Lyve stated in a panic.
“Where?!”
Over a good distance away she saw it. A black blur. It jumped down the building it was perched on.
This can't be good...
They both noticed how the jump didn't phase the blur, nor did it even slow it, as it continued to dash in their direction.
“Why is it coming here?!” Lyve wanted to panic more than she already was.
Do we.. engage? How could this end in destruction?
That black blur was fast. Faster then they were.
“War Look out!”
Before either of them had the ability to react, they were slammed into the ground hard.
“What the hell!” Was all they could mutter before that blur slammed it's hooves into their rib cage hard enough to smash the air out of them.
“You were right, their sync rate is insanely low. Under five percent.” A smooth voice spoke.
They heard Lyve speak. “Get out of here you freak!” They then heard the growling of a vicious hound, and Lyve hold back a screech of terror.
The dragon and the mare forced themselves up. Struggling to catch their breath they saw Lyve fall the the ground in fright. They moved to get a better look at their attacker. A tall stallion. They both immediately noticed some very odd details.
He was large, full bodied, and muscular to boot. That however was not what made him stand out. His fur was thick and grey, not like the fur of a pony, more like the fur of a wolf, or other large hounds, save for spots where the fur blended into other colors. Around the under part of his neck his fur blended smoothly to white, a bit clouded, but white nonetheless. While at his ankles, and down through his hooves, the fur turned black. His features reassembled that of a hound as well. He had ears that were large, looked like they can be moved to focus on sounds from different directions. His jaw was canine, sharp pointed teeth he blared out at her, perfect for shredding meat, and molars for crushing bone with those very strong jaw muscles. All these characteristics are reflected in his very unequine skull. At her particular angle, his eyes even gave a slight glare of the light. He was far from a normal pony, he looked more like a wolf then a pony, like something got a wolf and gave it longer legs and hooves. She understood why Lyve was terrified.
“What the hell are you?” War glared.
He didn't reply. He closed his mouth and began to strafe a circle around the two mares, his hoofsteps quick and precise. His eye's locked on War Bond.
I want his name, press him!
Once again he did not answer. Keeping up the strafe, he dodged around them. Then without word, he dashed in close, sniffing her along her neck. She reacted as fast as she could, but he still dodged her counter attack. She felt his breath on her, if he wanted to... he could have ripped their throat out... easy. He just kept that grin on his face, instantly back to the strafe.
“You smell like an old lizard and fear. What are you hiding? Am I hiding the same thing? Got questions? Maybe I have answers.” His voice was calm and smooth, like the voice of a con artist. It went with what was a still rather handsome face, if a bit canine.
War felt her eyes widen.
Get his name!
“What, and who are you?” She glared.
“Same as you exactly. But completely different.” He stated simply. As if that made sense to both of them.
“What the hell does that mean?!”
“What does it mean? Not here.” He stated with a gesture in Lyve Wyre's direction.
I want his damn name!
“What's your name you mongrel freak!” She shouted angrily.
“You first.” He replied, finally stopping and looking into their eyes. None of them dared to blink.
“War Bond... And Goliath.” War Bond started, but Goliath finished. His deep voice still louder than her.
What the hell!?!?
A grin rose on the wolf pony's face.
“Feral Silver. A real pleasure to meet you-” Then a voice deeper than his own, but now distinctly feminine came out of his mouth. Notably his tail even gave a slight wag. “-Fenrir. Good to hear from you again Goliath."
"Wish I could say the same to you Fenrir." Goliath's voice sneered from War's mouth.
Fenrir began "Be in Canterlot in three days. We'll talk again.-” Feral's voice returned. “- Don't worry, I'll find you. And make sure to come alone... or at least as alone as things like us can be."
The blur returned as he dashed away and got out of sight quickly, nearly in an instant.
War Bond sat uneasily at a diner table. She had lived in Canterlot before, but she had never been this particular part of it. The "seedy" underbelly. The less beautiful, and less tourist attracting part of town. The beaten side of town. The part of town most ponies try to ignore, and it being so unsupervised makes that rather easy.
She arrived to Canterlot a day earlier then she was told, the capitol was close to Pok Pok, and she had questions. She didn't want to wait.
She casually spoke to the only waitress at the cafe. Ordering three entire salads, the waitress was far from excited, she spoke with a mundane voice drenched in sarcastic enthusiasm.The waitress left and walked to the kitchen slowly.
The diner was dirty, and smelt pretty bad. Two homeless ponies sat not far from her, trying to sleep. The diner could have been nice if somepony would clean... any part of it.
War rested her head on the table, staring off at nothing in particular. She was hungry, very hungry. She wanted to clear her head, she had been thinking quite a bit about what had been going on. She had decided that it would be best to get some food. She had thought about her situation so much, that she wanted to stop for a while then take a second look at everything. Unfortunately she couldn't stop herself from at least going over what she had collected in her head.
First and foremost, who or whatever these Feral Silver and Fenrir characters are, they seem to... relate. Assuming that they are similar in to us in that they have been similarly soul-bound to each other. They probably know what was going on better than me or Goliath do.
Secondly, Goliath had to know Fenrir. Or else he wouldn't have revealed himself to those two.
Third, I have a large.. well very very large, number of questions I want answered about what the hell I am. I do not exactly like my situation, but it's better than being dead. I really don't know what to do, I've mostly just been following a string of events and hoping for the best, a large part of me wants things to go back to the way it was before. Yet there's this creeping thought in my head that this is... is actually better. After all I stopped three dragons! Even more so that these last two days have been more eventful than my entire enrollment in the Dragonslayer Academy, and my time as an actual Dragonslayer.
Then there was Lyve Wyre... Ugh I don't want to think about that right now...
“Here are your salads ma'am. Enjoy.” The waitress stated dully. War gave a slight smile and picked her head up. She felt her body tense at the sight of a cloaked stallion sitting across from her, his canine facial features still noticeable, but hidden in the silence of the cloak.
“What can I get you?” The waitress asked plainly.
“Just a water please.” that smooth voice rolled out.
“Whatever you want sir.” Once again the waitress trotted away slowly. Feral Silver shot his head back, throwing back the hood of his cloak, his eerily canine traits emerged to stare at her.
How the hell is he so silent?
“How did you... get here?” War asked, still highly suspicious of this mysterious figure.
“You're here early.” he was annoyingly calm.
“How did you get here without my noticing?” She pressed.
“I've gotten good at staying hidden.” he stated, looking as if he was analyzing her salads.
“And how did you find me?”
“I got a good whiff remember, I know your smell.” He replied adding a hoof-point to his nose.
“You tracked my scent?”
“You're hungry aren't you? I know from experience that those salads won't help anything.” he stated with a grin growing on his face.
“What do you mean they wont help?” She inquired.
“Don't forget what we are, we eat for two, and the bigger halves of us are both carnivores... are dragons only carnivores or can they also eat fruits and what not, or do they have to eat gems instead?”
He is right, I do require meat and gems, so there is a good chance you should now too.
“Technically dragons are the ultimate omnivores. They can get nutrients from just about anything, from meats and fruits, to solid rock and crystal gems. So being... whatever I am, I should be the same... right?” she answered
Feral Silver replied with a nod, then reached under his cloak a tossed a hoof of frosty diamonds onto the table. “A gift from the bitch in my head.” he stated, looking to her for a response.
He is referring to the she-wolf Fenrir that has bonded to him, damn now I owe her twelve rabbits.
You know Fenrir?
She's one of those old friends I mentioned.
War scooped up the diamonds and put them in her travel bag, which had been taken off her back (she attained that bag by account of her fast hooves at some sport store in the fancy parts of Canterlot.) and placed at the floor beneath her.
“He'll have to get back to on those rabbits.” She noted the grin on the half-wolf's face.
“Not that the salad isn't just “awesome” but if you wouldn't mind, I can take us to go get some real food.”
“No way, absolutely not!”
“It's not as bad as you think, and once you do it once it gets easier, trust me.”
“No... it's... I can't! It's too gross even for me!”
“You got dragon, so you don't even have to do it the same way I do!”
“Well how do you do it then!” The second she said those words she regretted it.
Feral had gone to a pet store and purchased a number of bunnies and other small critters... to eat. Sheer disbelief was War first response, but she was now fearing that eating animals would have to become a norm.
Now he took one of the bunnies, from the torso sized crate he held. The back alley where they lurked was silent and horrifying. With the least amount of effort, Feral bit down hard on the rabbit's neck, it's tiny squeak of a scream shooting out as blood ran and stained it's fur. Next Feral began to violently shake his head, in a second the clueless bunny's neck was broken and it was dead.
War Bond watched on in horror. Her mouth agape at the sheer brutality of nature. Feral's fangs and other sharp teeth reduced the rabbit to ribbons in mere seconds, when he was done he dropped the less interesting viscera onto the floor.
“For the rats and roaches.” He commented with a bloody smile. He immediately wiped that blood with his cloak, getting most of it before it set into his fur.
“Did you have to shake it so hard... you looked like a puppy with a toy...” she stated still in disbelief.
“That's why pups do that y'know, practice. Even playing normally, that's practice for real combat when their older.” he said as he pulled two new bunnies from the crate, who were blissfully unaware of their impending doom.
“I have a whole new outlook on puppies...”
It's nature, they have to be ready to survive.
But still...
Eat, then we must talk to them in private, away from others, about our future. Once eating is done we can move on.
I don't think I can...
“Talking to that dragon? He'll tell you the same thing, just eat the damn rabbit.” Feral tossed her the larger bunny, before feasting on the second.
How did he know?
She held the bunny, which just so happened to be as cute as physically possible.
“How did you know?” she asked inquisitively.
“Fenrir and I used to do the same thing, back when we first got soulbound. Just starring off into space like that I mean. It's fine, normal I guess, that will go away once your sync rate goes up, but we can talk about that later, eat.” He stated plainly, mid way through his bunny.
“Bu-” She was interrupted when she belched a wave of pink flame, roasting the rabbit in dragon fire in an instant. She silenced herself by biting into the guiltily delicious rabbit. Much to her own surprise she rather enjoyed the taste. Then she immediately felt guilty about it.
“I'm going to need to speak with Goliath now.” That female voice assumed to be Fenrir stated through Feral.
There was a silence.
“Not here, not in front of them.” Goliath replied. Very loudly.
"Fine, To the back of the alley. We can talk in private if you wish." Fenrir replied coolly.
A short trot to the back of the alley was all it was. Not talking an entire five seconds to do.
Feral turned and locked eyes with War, who found herself unable to blink.
The sky was black, and the endless field of white grass stretched across the sensible world. They were back in this place, this odd place. More confusing was the fact that a giant wolf rivaling Goliath in size, somehow managing to only be about a building or two shorter then him. She sat, eyes on our tiny mare. The four sat across from each other, Fenrir sat beside Feral, who was now entirely equine, and the Dragon sat beside War. Each party of two sitting across from each other. The two elders dwarfed the ponies completely. Fenrir moved her gaze from War to Goliath. An almost an instant, the two giants were gone, moving with the land itself, now they were barely noticeably as blurs against a white and black background.
War Bond was in shock. She had been here once before but by no means was it like this. She had been under the assumption that is was restricted to her and Goliath only. Now there were others in this place. Another thing to add to her list of confusing questions. She starred off at the blurs for a good while before the sound of hooves sloshing through water took her attention.
She looked at the far more equine Feral Silver. His furriness had been dramatically reduced, and the changing in tone at his neck and hooves was gone. He size was hardly reduced, apparently he was a big buck without Fenrir. She did notice his cutie mark for the first time though. His fluff had hidden it well. It was a wolf skull... eating the moon. He had now taken a seat and was starring into the starless sky.
Full of questions, War asked the very first thing that came to her mind. She intended to ask her questions the best way she could.
“Where the fuck are we!?” she blurted staring at his back.
“Not entirely sure. I mean... its a bit confusing. Hasn't Goliath taken you here?” he replied smoothly.
“He told me he didn't know what this place was!”
“Hmm. Well. Fenrir has never explained what this place was exactly. But in the simplest of terms. Its an alternate plane of existence, where things like Fenrir and Goliath originate from.”
That did not help much.
“Things like Fenrir and Goliath? ”- she dashed into his field of view, almost glaring at him. -” Alternate plane of existence ? Those are the simplest terms?”
“Yes. This place is separate from Equestria entirely. And only beings like our Fenrir and Goliath can come here, I assume they can bring whomever they like, I call them Old Ones.”
Still in a bit of shock. War sat across of Feral, directly in front of him.
“Why that name? What are they?”
“Once again, I'm not entirely sure, Fenrir... picks her words wisely. Apparently they are ancient creatures that have been alive long for an incredibly long time. Fenrir claims to have seen our world's very first night. Along side several friends that she hasn't seen or talked to for thousands of years. Save for Goliath now.”
War said nothing... she just sat with her head in her hooves. Trying to comprehend that.
“You alright?” Feral inquired
“No... yes... all of this is a lot to handle... and the whole I have a dragon in my soul or... something. And now there are more then one, it's just a lot.” she nearly whispered.
“Well... your handling that better then I did.”
“I really doubt that.”
“You try to kill yourself?”
She looked up at him. “No... but you did?”
“Yup, several times. Never was able to succeed. Fenrir stopped me every time.”
“Wow...”
“Yeah... don't worry though, it gets better. You kinda have to accept things and move on. Also you have something that I didn't have... help. It was just me and Fenrir, and we both just had to roll with it. Although our first impression with you wasn't great, we fully intend to help you. Fenrir and I both are just.. cautious. We needed to make sure you were who we thought you were... Oh, and plus you get used to having her... or him in your case, there in your head. Part of the whole sync rate thing.” His calm demeanor did a very good job of calming War down. There was a bit of a silence for a moment. Feral looked back up into the sky.
Feeling a bit better, but still a bit overwhelmed, war decided to “steer into the snow” she had to take in a lot, so why not dive in?
“So what's the deal with the the whole sync rate thing.”
“That's a big question little Missy. It's kind of.. like two oranges.”
“Orange...s ?”
“Yes, oranges! “- Feral lifted his forehooves, pretending to hold two imaginary oranges in his hooves. -” These two oranges are your and Goliath's soul. You see, without syncing up. “ Now he pretended to bash the oranges together repeatedly.
“What does that mean?” She asked
“Smashing two oranges together doesn't make one big orange. Just a sticky mess. But once your sync rate goes up, it stops being fruit and is more like... a sword and sheath. Two separate things that fit each other perfectly.” he returned to sitting normally with a grin on his face.
“Okay? So I'm an orange, but I need to be a sword or something?”
“More or less, yeah that's right.”
“So how do I do that.”
“Bond with Goliath as you would any friend. Talk to him. Trust him. The closer you grow to him, the higher the sync rate. The higher the sync rate, the more in tune you will feel with your body. Also I'm pretty sure you'll end up like a dragon pony or something. Just as a side note.”
“Yeah, I was going to ask about that next, whats the deal with that, why aren't you all wolfy now, does that mean I'm going to get all.. dragony?”
“Well... to be honest I don't know. Fenrir doesn't either. We think that it has something to do with the fact she's significantly larger then me in her true form. But there is really no way to tell for sure. There are tons of possible explanations.”
“You seem much more... well less weird then when we first met.”
“Yeah, I'm a bit different when I don't have Fenrir reading my mind. She can do that by the way, and Goliath will be able to do the same to you for future reference. And vise versa, I can read her mind.”
She gave a nod of understanding, not really minding that considering what Goliath had already caught her doing...
“Why would you be different? Not having her in your head I mean?”
“Well, don't get me wrong, I love Fenrir like a mother, but she can be... a bit much. Speaking of Old Ones. She tells me that Goliath is more over the lone wolf, silent but strong willed type, how true is that?”
“Well, he's silent alright...”
There was another silence, and Feral returned to looking up at the cloudless sky once more.
“Why do you keep doing that?”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
“You give a lot of answers.”
“True.” he stated with a nod
“I got more. Like how did you and Fenrir find me so fast... I mean like in Pok Pok?”
“She had been tracking Goliath for some time. When he vanished we investigated. Followed the path of destruction, then followed his smell back to a graveyard. Then you popped out your grave, and she explained that some of her old friends may have bound their souls to equine like she had done to me. And how Goliath in particular would be the last one to do something like that. So we followed you for a while, then introduced ourselves.”
“In the weirdest freaky way possible?”
“Once again, a precaution.”
“Sure! I believe that!” she stated sarcastically, glad to find a friend in the wolf pony she was now calling a companion.
Meanwhile
Two giant beings, in stature, demeanor, ego, mind, power. They were massive in every sense of the word. The giant wolf Fenrir looked much like her soul bound mate Feral in their combined state. Only significantly larger, and much more canine. She had no equine qualities, and was only a bit shorter then Goliath. The massive dragon's golden scales glimmered, and numerous scars painted a picture of his life. His wings clung to his back, folded, but the rips and scars were present in those too. Most notable was the single scar on his chest, a massive mark even with his utterly massive body size.
“How is it that every time I see you, you have more scars?” Fenrir inquired, hiding a laugh well. Goliath kept his stance, not saying a word, just giving her an angry look, as if she already knew the answer.
“How long has it been since we've seen each other? And this is how you act.” Fenrir added.
“Yet your the one who is acting like a hatching.” Goliath growled.
“Answer my question you old lizard.”
“I'd guess four thousand.” he gave a flush of fire and smoke from his nostrils.
“Try twelve thousand.” she replied with a snort of her own.
“Has it really been that long?” Goliath asked genuinely, giving a look of confusion. massive claws scratching his side.
“Feels much longer when your stuck worrying about some old lizard who wont come out and talk to his friends. I talked to Ziz not two thousand years ago, Levi in within the last seven hundred. Bem was... three thousand, then he decided to take a nap. Knowing him, he's still sleeping. Even then, even Greep checks in from time to time with all of us. Where have you been?” Fenrir scolded like mother to her child. She was more worried then she was angry.
“I've been away. Dealing with things. You know my brother...”
“So you just ignore your friends... your friendships. Do we mean that little to you?”
“What can I say... I just lost track of time. Wouldn't be the first time.” His demeanor shifted, he leaned back, smooth grin sneaking onto his face. Fenrir just glared, then gave a heavy sigh.
“You'll never change...” A grin moving to her face as well.
“Good to see you are holding up well too, you old bitch!” Goliath laughed. He laughed with his entire body, wings flapping and body pulsing. Fenrir joined in on the laugh.
“How is Ziz, and the rest of the old gang. As good as you I hope.” Goliath asked, before he took a second to compose himself.
“Better then you'd think, not as good as you'd hope.” She replied.
“At least they are all still standing.”
“You know what happens next right? You think that little mare is ready?”
Irked at the sudden change in subject, Goliath sat down lower, getting a bit more comfortable.
“She can handle it. She's tougher then you may think. If a bit... talkative.”
“Everything is talkative compared to you, you old cranky lizard.”
“Yes, yes. Enough of that now."
"Even plants! I've held longer conversation with the trees of my forests!"
Goliath snorted again. "What comes next?"
“The Summer Sun Celebration I believe.”
“Are you ready?”
“As long as you can keep the secret, we should be fine.”
“I hope that your pup, and my Hatchling will be enough.”
“They have to be Goliath. They have to be.”
“You two, in the cloaks. With me!”
The Summer Sun Celebration was as beautiful as ever. However, after a speedy exit by the young Princess Celestia, a large squad of Equestrian Guards had now blocked the exit. Demanding the attention of the cloaked War Bond and Feral Silver.
Do we run? War Bond asked Goliath.
“Yo, we better just do as they say. We don't want to make a scene.” Feral whispered to her.
He's right, we may be able to escape but that may get... violent.
Alright, you got it big guy!
“Hey, you two! C'mon I aint got all day!”
The two trotted forward, and were quickly escorted by the guards, in to the castle. They were sent into a waiting room.
The waiting room was magnificent. A red velvet carpet, golden shine to the walls. Portraits of fancy dressed ponies sat hanging on the walls. Suits of armor sat on display in the corners. The bench they sat on was embroidered with magnificent gold trimmings, the seat also being made of a soft velvet.
The entire time the four remained silent. Not stating a single word. War had taken her cloak mostly off now, but Feral kept his own on. His outward appearance continued to be something he intended to hide.
After what felt like hours, the two were finally allowed into the castle's inner sanctum. The guards flanking them, now part of the elite guard, their golden armor shining brighter then others, not to mention all of the fancy decorations and symbols etched in. Unlike normal guards, their helmets and armor coated their entire body, leaving no skin to be revealed at all.
Celestia sat on her throne, guards surrounding her. As radiant as ever. Her glorious pink mane flowed like it was mana, and her snow white fur matched it well. She may have been young, and relatively new to the throne, but she was still highly respected.
With a gesture from her hoof, the guards knelt, then left. Leaving the two pairs and the princess alone in a giant throne room. It was somehow more lavish and extravagant as the waiting room, the pattern of gold and red velvet continued in the giant room.
“I am sorry about the wait. My guards took quite a bit on convincing to let an AWOL Dragonslayer, and escaped convict into my presence while they were not at my side. But I remain adamant that what I must say must only be between us.” The lack of the Royal Voice and overall informality of the princess came as a giant shock. The two pairs glanced at each other in confusion. Then back to the Princess.
“Oh, my apologizes, I nearly forgot. Here, I'd hate to miss out on the words of my... less visible company.” Her magic lifted a cloth bag of some soft material. The two gazed at the bag, before two dimly glowing orbs floated out, both glowed a dim yellow similar to Celestia's magic. Both took the orbs in their hooves. Then the bag slipped into War's saddle bag. All eye's were back on Celestia.
“Do you know what these do Fenrir?” Feral thought.
“Perhaps... I am not sure.”
“I think I know.” Goliath thought loudly.
The pair looked at each other in surprise.
“These orbs will allow anything wearing them to communicate telepathically with anything else wearing them within an ear shot! As if your very thoughts traveled as sound around you.” Celestia thought aloud,
“Princess... Not that I mean any disrespect. But what is going on here.” War asked still wrapping the event around her head.
The conversation had shifted from words to thoughts entirely now.
“She needs something from us.” Goliath cut in.
“Goliath! Don't make judgments so early, especially not about the princess! We don't need more enemies!” Fenrir scolded.
“He is not wrong Great Wolf Fenrir.- Celestia defended. -You are here because I need help. Your help specifically. Along with you, Son of Ti-”
“I have little intention of helping you. Not after last time Celestia. I helped your mother, and it took me a few millenniums to get things straightened out.” Goliath interrupted angrily.
“I am not my mother Goliath. But this is larger then our delayed argument. I need you, and your friends.”
“Umm... how do you all know each other?”
“This bitch's mother-”
The throne room door burst open. Three elite guards busted in. Weapons drawn.
“Everything alright in here Princess? It's been quiet.”
“Everything is fine Lance. Please, this is a private conversation.” Celestia retorted.
“Sorry ma'am... Carry on.”
The three knights slowly made their exit.
“She doesn't know us. Goliath, what you did for her parents is history.” Fenrir began as soon as the door closed behind the knights.
“She knows of us. She's a damn Alicorn and can feel us the same way we can feel her. It's like a six sense.” Goliath clarified, he obviously took the interruption to calm himself down, even if it was slightly.
“They have a unique feeling. I felt it as soon as they set foot on castle grounds.” The Great Wolf stated. Explaining it to the two "normal " ponies.
“And now she plans to ask us of something.” Goliath stated spitefully.
“You should be the one concerned. Atlas has finally gone over the edge. He and his followers plot to conquer the world.” Celestia's passion echoed in their minds, even through the telepathy.
“Let him fight and die.” Goliath growled.
“That's the problem. Nothing but a few very one sided battles stand before him and his goal. Most dragons now agree with his views and want to fight. I can't stop them. There are far too many on his side now. He is going to bring a war. A war that even if we could win, the losses would be... apocalyptic! We need to stop this madness with the Elements of Harmony! I beg of you, and all your friends, to come and use the Elements to stop Atlas from scorching our world, bathing it in the flames of dragons!”
“Goliath... we have to do this.” Fenrir stated stoically
“I care not for the trifles of an arrogant kingdom!” The old dragon boomed
“This is more then the kingdom. He will destroy every non-dragon.”
“I'm in” Feral said out loud. Drawing everything in the area's attention.
With focus now on him, he cleared his throat and spoke aloud, as if it was more meaningful that way.
“This is bigger then me. Then... everything really. It's sudden, and I don't... don't really understand everything. But a huge ass, old dragon wants to take over the world right? And he'll kill anything that aint scaly. And you need these Old Ones' Magic called “The Elements of Harmony” to stop him. I don't know how that will work, but... hell. Beats letting everything die. So yeah, I'm in. Let's go find some Old Ones... and some Elements I guess.” Feral stated with a frighteningly calm demeanor.
“I am in as well. The pups of this world need help. What kind of alpha would I be if I let them all end up dragon bait?” Fenrir added on. Obviously proud of her pup.
War Bond felt the orb fall from her grip.
War Bond. I greatly dislike this. I don't trust the Princess. Nor do really care about the outcome of the world. I am old, and have seen the end come close. But it never comes. I also don't believe Atlas has the dragon-hood to stage such an attack. But, I would like to see my old companions again... I am willing to do this for them, but only if you wish too. We can leave. I know where we can go. Get away from all of this... drama. It is things like this that lead me to hide myself, I hate drama such as this. But if you want to go play hero. I shall not stop you. I shall stand by you. You are my Hatchling after all. It is your choice Hatchling.
War Bond slowly reached to pick up the orb.
This was a lot to handle. She really missed the base. She missed the order.
The daily routine.
But...
Leaving...
It was so much easier then all this. She could just forget about everything. Things would be so much... simpler.
Yet.. the mystery. The questions. The larger things going on just beneath the surface. The Old God like beings from eons past. Princess Celestia's request. These past few days, no matter how horrifying, scary, extremely confusing and intense. These were the most exciting and unbelievable moments in her life. She was basically half-dragon now! The closest thing she had to a real friend was a wolf-pony! She would go on a quest to save nearly every thing alive! But... it couldn't be that simple, there must be twists and turns in the road.
This was an Adventure... risky... but easily the most thrilling thing she could do with herself. This would undoubtedly be more entertaining then her hiding away in some cave.
She picked up the orb. Held in her hooves.
“Lets go meet some old friends. I convinced this old lizard to help out.”
“Damn Hatchling, she's got the silver tongue of gambler.” Goliath added on.
The rest moved very quickly. Celestia was overjoyed. Wanting to help and move things along as fast as possible. She allowed for them to take whatever they needed for their journey from the armory. Celestia was worried that Atlas may have some kind of plan to stop the Elements of Harmony, so she wanted them to be prepared for anything.
War Bond equipped herself with elite knight armor. Disenchanted to no longer be of a golden color. The armor in it's natural color wouldn't attract attention. The heavy plate mail looked like much to carry for such a journey. But her years of training made the armor feel weightless to her. Her weapon was a large, hoof-crafted Claymore. She named it Justice.
Feral Silver took cloth armor, the darkest shades available, his long dark cloak fit fine on top of the armor. His only weapons, a pair of daggers. Designed initially as sidearms, yet still their design was well crafted and elegant. After War named her blade, he decided to name his daggers. Tooth and Claw felt like appropriate names.
Before much longer they were equipped with a few healing potions, and rations to last them for a long quest. As they finally left Canterlot Castle. War finally slowed down enough to ask.
“Where are going?”
“Were going to get my best friend.” Goliath stated for her.
“You didn't even want to go on this quest!” Fenrir voiced.
“He will be a great aid in journeying long distances, and is the closest!”
“That's... convenient for you.”
“Who would you rather us meet with first?”
“Greep, he is easily one of the strongest of us, and if Atlas has anything big planned. He can be a big help.”
“Fine, we can get Greep after, Ziz is simply closer.”
“Fine whatever you want.” Fenrir stated with an attitude.
“Hey War, is it just me, or do these two act like children?” Feral asked
“They are not as refined as I first thought.” she replied.
War opened her eyes. Everything she could see was blurred. The deep cold creeped through her. Unable to breathe, she pushed herself upward, toward the glimmer above. Those shifting blurs rippled above her. Her head pushed through, immediately she took a breath of air. Water clung to her face. The water of the fast moving river forced her body down the river. The heavy rain made the river charge down its path. The sound of rain assaulting the river was nothing compared to the already deafening rushing waters.
Freya's head burst from the river a moment later. “Where's-”
“FERAL CANNOT SWIM!” Fenrir screamed out from under the water. Feral himself preoccupied with struggling not to drown.
Without words or thoughts the two dived down in search for their friend. Through the muddy water they saw him below. Feral was deep. He fought to hold his breath below, his back touching the depths, the river dragged him down deeper. He flailed wildly, desperately clinging to the idea that doing so would somehow propel him upward.
War swam instinctively, her body gliding through the water toward her friend.
“GO!”
She swam closer and closer, but the longer she took, the slower his movements became. By the time she was close enough to grasp him, her breath was nearly out. Her chest burned, and he had all but stopped moving, his body limply moving with the river.
Goliath roared for her to keep going, Fenrir was calling out in an unusual panic, Ziz was shouting something she couldn't make out in the loudness of it all. Freya was likely speaking as well, but she couldn't hear her. She did her best to ignore them all and focus on rescuing her friend.
It all became nothing but noise. Her heart sunk in her chest, she was terrified of losing this friends so soon. That this, of all situations, could be his end. Every sound seemed to fade. All she could hear was her own heart beat bashing in her ears. Steadily it grew faster and faster. She bit down hard, swimming as hard and as fast as she could. Her chest began to burn more and more. She was running out of breath, out of time.
With the last burst of strength her breath would allow, she wrapped her forelegs around him and pushed her legs as hard as she possibly could. She felt talons grip her sides and help pull her up and out of the water.
Coughing up water in a shallow of muddy water, she looked at Feral. He was vomiting water. Freya moved to helped him sit up. She was virtually holding his body up for him so he could get the river out of himself. After three or four fits, he struggled to catch his breath. Her heart was still pounding heavily in her chest. All of them heaved heavy breaths.
War looked about at her surroundings. They had been carried a great distance by the river, the mountain was a solid distance away. Not that she could see it very well. Her vision was largely blocked by trees. They had all been swept into a forest. She made the realization that this must have been what happened to most of the water that rained down on them.
“Fuck!... Shit!...Sor...ry... Gah!” Feral fought to both speak and breathe. With a painful gasp he threw himself down, laying in the muck as he struggled to breathe properly.
“You Asshole!.... Gah.... Tell us you can't... swim next time!” War labored, catching her own breath from the struggle.
“So-Sorry... but thank.. you for the save.”
“You should have told me that you can't swim. I would have aimed for something other than the river.” Freya scolded.
“Sorry, I was hoping... that I would be able to... keep afloat long... enough to ask for help.” he gasped.
“I too was also distracted by the whole... jumping off a mountain-thing.” War said with a laugh.
“Sorry guys, I guess it wasn't such a great escape plan after all.” Freya voiced sadly.
“It's fine... you didn't know... You still helped...Look at the... bright side... all that... blood got washed... out my coat.” Feral mended.
“It's alright kiddo, we all made it out alive. You catch your breath.” Ziz laughed.
“Are you alright Fenrir?”
“I'm fine Goliath. Feral is fine too by the way. We just need to catch our breath.”
“Okay, so we climbed a mountain. Where to next?” War stated, shivering from the cold.
“You four need to find a place to settle down, rest up, and get your strength back.” Ziz commented.
“Is there a village, or at least a inn nearby? We still have a few hours until sundown.” Fenrir added.
“That depends, where are we going next.”
“Let go wake up Greep.”
“Is the ocean nearby? Maybe we can go get Levi.” Ziz pondered.
“There is no ocean nearby, I say we go wake Greep and Moth. Then we can go get Levi.” Goliath basically ordered.
“Can something please tell me what is happening!?” The griffin let out in a burst.
The group realized they should probably elaborate the situation to it's new party member. They hastefully explained the situation to the griffin and her other half.
“So some big dragon named Atlas has an army of dragons, and Princess Celestia has a feeling like he wants war. So we're getting a group of old friends together who just so happen to be ancient beings who are all also massive in size like Ziz, but are also attached to smaller organisms like me and you two ponies? And if we don't do that then Atlas conquers the world?” Freya inquired, having realized she left the Order’s lance on the mountain edge, she begun wishing that she had kept it with her.
“His intention is to exterminate all living creatures who aren't dragons. This isn't murder, or serial killing. He wants fucking genocide.” War sneered.
“Okay, I get that, but why do we have to stop him? Also, how does getting the group back together stop a dragon warmonger?”
“We carry the Origins of Harmony.” Goliath spoke stoically, his will causing War Bond to lift her head with his pride.
“Okay this is new to me.” War cut in. “What are the Origins of Harmony?”
“I'm curious to what those are too.” Feral added.
“They are the reason why Celestia wants us. The Origins of Harmony are powerful artifacts as old as we are. They have the power to cause great peace, or great destruction.”
“They have the power to stop Atlas. We have hardly ever used them in our lifetimes. But the time has come for them to surface again.” Goliath spoke with a great passion in his heart.
“Do we also carry the Origins then?” Freya inquired.
“Possibly, this soulbound-ing we started is still fairly new to us.”
The group made idle chit chat now, moving away from the heavy topic of complete global war. As the party talked, they casually began to set up a small camp near the river. They agreed that a quick rest would be for the best.
Feral focused on his make shift rain shield. Once he gathered and stuck together some twigs and leaves, the forest trees and his tiny wall kept him from getting to wet. He gave his body a hearty shake, casting off most of the muck that had stuck to his fur. As soon as they curled up, Feral and Fenrir were asleep.
War and Goliath both agreed that they didn't need as much rest as Fenrir and Feral. War and Freya took the time and reminisced about their time at basic training. The two Old Ones caught up for the first time in centuries. Ziz and Goliath traded battle stories, traded tales of their new feats of skill and intelligence. War and Freya compared training regiments, and spoke of their favorite weapons.
Once night began to fall, a campfire was made.
There was a pleasant silence. The nearby river pushing forward, it's water crashing on and on just beyond the party. The soft patter of rain on moist grass, tree leaves and wood.
“I'm tired, I think I'll try to get some real sleep.” War stated, finishing with a yawn.
“Hold up! Before you do, I got a question!”
“It will only take a minute. War, you don't mind do you?”
“Umm, I guess not.”
“What's Feral's deal? I'm getting a weird vibe from the guy.”
“Weird vibe? What are you talking about?”
“You don't feel it War?”
“No! He is a bit odd, but I've never got a “weird vibe” from him.”
“Maybe she... OOOHHHH I see! Oh my! I didn't know, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you have to spell it out!”
"Spell what out?"
"That you have "feelings " for Feral Silver!"
“Wha!?” She felt her face get hot. “I do not have “feelings” for him!”
“Its alright, your secret will be safe with us!” Freya held back her laugh.
“I'm going to sleep.”
“Try not to dream of him!” Freya laughed.
“I hate you all.”
Huddled hooves blocked her vision.had to see them.
She could see the front of the crowd.
The stage was set.
The Dragonslayers.
She stood anxiously. Heart racing.
Truly only minutes passed as she waited, yet to her the wait felt like an eternity.
The sun finally hit the horizon, filling the sky with a unbelievable mix of red and orange.
A dark cloud began to form.
A harsh wind pushed the audience, which had now become completely silent.
The center of the cloud mass began to glow.
As the cloud spread across the sky, twilight began to gleam as day became night.
Soon the sky was deep and black.
With a deafening boom, a shot of thick lightning blasted the stage.
War Bond felt herself in awe.
Before anything happened next.
The sky.
Full of stars that shined beyond brightly.
The stars above seemed to gravitate toward each other.
Their glow growing closer, the starfall slammed into the stage.
“...Star Swirl...”
With a flap of her wings.
With a stomp of her hooves.
Finally, with a leaping swipe, he landed onto the stage.
With one of four blades drawn.
The crowd exploded with noise.
He stood with a silent pride.
The crowd cheered and stomped.
The Dragonslayers stood tall. Proud.
She still remembered.
Even though she was a filly.
She remembered when Ravage was slain.
She still remembered the stories.
She still remembered the fear.
She still remembered his face.
She still remembered that day.
The day she decided to become a Dragonslayer.
The day that every decision for the rest of her life would stem from.
She remembered wanting...
She remembered wanting....
She remembered believing... in something.
War Bond opened her eyes. The soft drips of rain drizzled onto her face. Her body was cool. She felt calm. Relaxed. She sat up, her body moist with the rain. She felt amazed that a short nap could feel so rejuvenating.
“Good. We can start our walk to the next town when Freya touches down.” Feral voiced.
“We need to resupply. We lost everything we had to that pegasus cult.” War added.
“You made sure to get that sword.” Feral stated with his half eye-lidded face.
“Justice demanded to be rescued. And it's called a claymore.” War replied with a grin.
“Anything to report?”
“Nothing yet.”
“What is wrong Feral?”
“Nothing is wrong... it's just...”
“How do you mean?” War asked
“Three things. There is something in the air. It's hard to focus on with this rain, but there is this... order. Like a stink, like eggs left in the sun.”
“We don't smell anything.”
“My nose is like... a million zillion times better then yours.”
“Ah.”
“Next, this river smells funny. Like... it's hard to place. It's odd.”- Feral trotted to the river, glaring at it, he moved his nose closer. -“Like flowers trying to bloom. Plant-ish, but still a pleasant odor.”
“The river? So you mean... like the water smells like flowers?” War inquired, her face one of confusion.
“Somewhat, it's not quite there, but... that''s not what rivers smell like.”
Freya touched down softly, water seemed to slide off of her feathers, but soaked her fur.
“The river flows west, and if we keep with it, we'll hit a village in about.... oh, four or five hours on hoof and paw.”
“Well war and I can't fly so there so that puts a damper on things... and Freya, to catch you up-” Feral repeated himself, explaining the odors he smelt in the air.
“Good to know, we'll be wise to keep that in mind. War, you good to go?” She asked with a kindhearted smile.
“Huh? Yeah. Why?”
“We don't want to start walking if everyone isn’t ready, silly.” Freya stated with a small laugh.
“Well then let’s start walking. This is going to take a while.” Fenrir spoke softly.
“Let us begin then.”
“Let's get moving.” Feral stated with a grin.
“We should just take a raft and ride the river, but some-wolf here can't swim.” Freya teased.
“Hey, I can swim, he can't.” Fenrir defended herself.
After a few minutes of following the river, somewhere around ten minutes or so, Freya picked herself up.
With heavy flapping her wings, hovering just above the ground she glided. Leading the way for the four that followed.
“Hey!” Freya gave a twist, spinning around and flew backwards, still skillfully flying in a straight line with the river. “Maybe I can teach you to swim when the rain lets up.”
“Thanks for the offer, that is real kind of you, but I think I am going to have to refuse.” Feral shuddered.
“Aww. Why not? Swimming isn't that bad.”
“For me it is. I think I'll be fine. So, thanks for the offer but no thank you.” Feral canine ears rolled down. He looked like a puppy who just got in trouble, but he continued walking.
The dirt path by the river was very moist, nearly mud. War and Feral splish splashed into it with every step of their hooves. The river was just a bodies length to their right, and it roared. The muddy water was dark. Yet even with the white foam that formed on the rapids, if one focused hard they could see the rocks and pebbles that lay in the depths. The sheer speed of the river made a fogging haze around them. Combined with the thinning rain, made the air thick with moisture.
The trees around them were a deep green, and they all reached for the river, as if they thirsted for a drink. The branches we a thick black, wet just like everything else. Even the muddy forest floor had specks of green leaves, either in long vines that touched the ground, or leaves that had fallen and were kept alive by all the recent moisture.
The sky wept. A deep longing gray. Not quite black, the day was starting it's shift into night. They had used the last of their sunlight for rest. Fortunately the rain began to finally drift away. The once thick drops that stung when they smashed against their bodies, were now much softer, the pitter patter mostly overtaken by the sound of the rushing river. The breeze was cool, like a waft of cold mist, it was refreshing. The delight washed over the party with each breeze. Lifting their spirit and mood. The group began to speak.
“So. What can you do exactly Feral?” Freya inquired.
“What do you mean? Like... as a job? Didn't we tell you that I'm an escaped convict? The job market isn't exactly open for me at the moment.”
“No that is not what I mean... like fighting wise, and wolf wise. I already know about War Bond's training as a Dragonslayer, I'm curious to know what you add to the party. Not that I think that you aren't pulling your weight, I just want to know what you can do. Not that I think that you can’t do anything-”
“Well umm...”
“Is that why you are an escaped convict? You get arrested for thievery?” Freya asked with a gasp.
“Among other things.” Was his reply.
“Where did you escape out of? How did you escape? Should we be worried?” War asked curiously, and with a bit of humor. Speaking as if it was some great mystery.
“That is a long, long, story for another time. But no you shouldn't be worried, we're together on this and I look out for my own.”
“I think we can do that to extent right Goliath.”
“I can do that to! With Ziz! It's cool, my wings get huge!”
“I like your little griffin Ziz.”
“I like your puppy. He's neat.”
“Goliath's Hatchling is a cute one yes?”
“She'd be cuter if she wasn't tied to sulfur-breath.”
“That's odd? Did your wee chick just get a bit uglier? No wait, that's you.”
“Hey. Ancient beings who act like foals. I smell something.” Feral stopped with a grimace on his face.
“What?”
“MOVE!” With a bark, Feral dashed, colliding head on with War, and shoving Freya forward.
All at once the river exploded.
A long coiled dragon with a odd shaped head rippled through the water. It's body was a shade of dark blue, with the rushing water and night fall. It was almost impossible to see in the waves. It's eyes were on the side of it's head, and a bright yellow.
It's face was that of a standard dragon, save for the single line that ran up it.
That's where it's face split open.
It's jaw sat normal, like any other dragon, it was a simple jaw, if you considered long jagged spikes as teeth simple. It's face split down the vertical middle. Revealing a haunting pair of addition teeth along the side of the “mouth”, and a long claw like tongue. Wings like fins, it slid through the water with ease.
Out of the water now, it's face split open, revealing that terrifying true face. With a wretched gagging sound, a burst of water came from it's mouth.
Feral had smelt it coming, and got everyone out of the way in time. The water shot out like a cannonball, hit the mud and exploding out in all directions. The force was strong enough to uproot a tree, forcing it to come crashing down into the forest floor with a loud squash. The dragon, as quickly as it had emerged, slunk back into the river.
"It reeks of flowers!"
“We need to figure out how to beat this thing!” Freya stated as she dashed to search for proper cover.
“I don't know, I need to take a good look at it.”
“Everyone, back away from the river's edge, we need to back out of it's area of sight!”
“Good idea.”
The group dashed back, putting distance between them and the river.
An instant later, the dragon emerged again, only to dive back into the river a second later.
“What's it doing?” Freya asked, ducking behind a tree.
“Looking for us.” War replied with a grimace.
Again, it popped from the water with a shower, but this time it spat out a surge of water again. This time at an odd upward angle. It slid back into the river in less than an instant.
After a short wait, a ball of water splashed down hard, just off of War Bond.
"Oh Shit! It can see us somehow!?" She stated rolling from her cover to another tree.
It leapt from the river again, staying there for just a moment before it dived back into the water.
"Why does it keep doing that?"
“What was tha-” Freya was slammed into the forest floor by a crushing ball of water. With a massive splash that soaked everything around her. She lay motionless in the forest mud. The water pooling in the small crater that had formed from the impact.
“Shit!”
“They'll be fine They are just unconscious.”
“How, it just nailed Freya with a trick shot!” War cried!
“We need to figure it out!”
“It can some how tell where we are from under water... we can't see it.... fuck it let's just fucking do this!” Feral growled, snarling loudly!
“What are you doing!?” War shouted, confused.
“I'll rip him up from th- shit!” Feral made a mad sprint toward the unconscious Freya. As he did, the mysterious dragon burst from the river again, shooting in the same upward angle. Letting out that spine chilling gagging noise.
He wasn't entirely fast enough.
He reached Freya too late. While he was able to grab and move her, neither of them escaped the bursting water. While he was able to evade direct impact, the force of the splash hurled him and Freya into a tree.
“We need to find a way to beat this thing! We can't escape! We need to cross this river at some point! It’ll wait for us!” War explained.
“Fuck, I'm going to let him eat me. I'll rip his lungs out!” Feral snarled, getting himself on his hooves again.
“Feral! That's fucking stupid!” War warned.
“We don't have time to argue about this War! Did you want to do it!? No, you aren't crazy enough to do this, I am!” He dropped Freya and ran toward the river.
“Feral! Stop you moron!” War yelled out.
“FUCK I KNOW, ONCE HE EATS ME FENRI-”
As he ran toward the river bank...
The river dragon erupted from the river with a geyser of water.
War, felt her body begin to gallop hard. Her hooves begin to shift into a claw with dark gold scales. Her tail grew heavy, and her chest ached. She felt her claws rip into the soil with each step. Goliath was pissed.
The night had taken over, she couldn't see.
A splash of the sent a chill down her spine. She felt herself rush at the waves that pillared upward.
"Taken care of." they said in mixed voices.
War felt her tail lighten, and her claws fade to hooves all at once.
“You're not eaten!” War grinned with relief.
“Good. Consider it payback for all the times you made me worry about your sorry ass.”
“SILENCE! YOU DON'T GET TO SPEAK PUP” War felt burst from her mouth
“HEY, CALM DOWN GOLIATH.” Fenrir barked back.
“HE PUT YOU IN DANGER” War roared with Goliath’s voice
“HE STOPPED THAT DRAGON.”
“I CAN DEFEND MYSELF!”- Feral cut in, his body beginning to take over again. -“Goliath, we are fine. I know Fenrir can swim, so I ripped up the dragon's inside, then realized that we could grow if I let Fenrir take over. We burst out of that thing pretty quick. She swam us up, but we saw you all dragony and pissed. I was going to tell you guys my shitty plan, but the fucking orb fell off.”
“That is no excuse, you put her life in danger!”
“Don't forget Freya you scaly motherfucker, it was going to keep shooting at the one target that couldn't move on it's own. She was the target and I didn't see you jumping in to save her!”
“How would you know that?!”
“That-”
“HEY!” War bond screamed as loud as she could. Goliath's anger made it hard for her to think clearly. Still she knew better then to let this go on any longer. “Arguing won't get us anywhere, so all of you shut the fuck up! Goliath, Fenrir is a tough bitch you know that, she's fine. Fenrir... good job! Feral, you made the three of us nearly shit ourselves in worry. Don't pull shit like that again or I'll kill you myself. Seriously man, Goliath freaked out. I was a freaked out, Fenrir was all worried. Not cool.”
“That wasn't my intention, I was just-”
“We know. Just be more careful next time. Also good job with helping Freya.” War stated with a grin.
Just then, Freya was able to regain consciousness. She picked herself up slowly.
“Help me with what?”
“Nothing but get hit with a water cannon blast thing.” War explained. Everyone else seemed to stay silent.
“Oh. Explains why it feels like we just got crushed by a tree.”
“Yes, the pup was a bit rash. But I must admit his methods worked. And quickly.” Goliath "complimented"
“We didn’t have time to fight really. It had a major advantage tactically. But it did not count on… indigestion.”
“Indigestion?” The two avians asked in a single voice.
“Within, the like two minutes you were out, the river dragon ate me, I turned into a big wolf, then everyone yelled at me for being too awesome.” Feral explained.
“We also yelled at you for being a moron.” War scolded.
Freya and Ziz gave a short giggle.
“Thanks for helping then.” Freya passed her friends a smile.
“We normally try to keep it ready for emergencies, but since we have shifted completely twice today, it will be about a week before we can shift more then claws or fangs again.”
“Yeah, when Freya and I shift to much we get about a week grace period also.”
“I wonder what that means for us War.”
“Well, it means we can only shift every so often, so we shouldn't abuse it.” she replied to her other half.
“Wow, I just realized you guys beat that thing really fast.” Freya marveled.
Without ever really realizing it, the group had begun moving again. Talking about the fight they just had. As soon as she realized she could, War gave Feral another orb. The group calmly walked and talked about nothing of real value. Feral expressed his worry of the other two smells lingering in the air. War made fun of his wet dog smell. Freya added on with quips over how he can’t swim. He took it in stride and laughed with his friends.
“The village is just up ahead.” Freya announced. Gesturing with a wing toward lights just beyond the forest trees ahead.
“Past the river.” Feral stated with an unusual fear in his voice.
“Bridge is out.” War added.
“How are we doing this?” Feral asked, looking toward the rushing waves.
The village was visible now, yet the river still blocked the party’s way. Well, Feral’s way at least. The rushing waters smashed into rocks. The drizzle of rain and river haze created a perpetual misting. No bridge was in sight. The night was dark with rain clouds overhead. The forest sat behind them.
“I can fly you across.” Freya stated kindly.
“No deal.” he retorted instantly.
Catching Freya’s trick to force their friend to learn to swim, War quickly hopped in.
“C’mon, let’s not do this.”he tried to defend himself.
“Hurry pup, the village is close.”
“What’s it going to be Feral?” Freya asked calmly.
He didn’t respond.
Freya opened her wings and began to slowly lift off the muddy floor.
“Fine! Not like the opportunity will come up anyway.” Feral finally submitted.
“Good.” With a grin on her beak, the griffin wrapped herself around a grumpy Feral. She easily lifted the two of them over the river, and landed safely on the other side of the river.
“See, was that so hard?” War teased, the smile not leaving her face.
“Yes. Let’s just go.” Feral growled.
“Wait.”
The party turned and looked to Freya.
“Well, I was just wondering if walking into town like this would be a good idea. Being that War Bond has her freaky dragon eye and a claymore on her back, and Feral looking like he just got out of a filly’s werewolf nightmare, that being so we might not be welcome guest at this place. Maybe Freya and I should go first and get you guys some robes to hid in.”
“Come to think of it, we would probably scare some folks.” Feral added.
“I think I can pass.”
“If you think you can I’m not going to stop you.”
“I can just sneak in. This late at night, I won’t get caught.” Feral stated with his normal confidence.
“Well then, what’s the plan. We don’t have any bits.” Freya and Ziz asked.
“Don’t worry. This is where I exceed. I can get us in a motel for a night, and get you two some trotting around bits. I’ll… acquire myself a big mantle and join up with you guys.”
“And I assume you’ll be stealing these things for us.” War stated nearly scolding him already.
“Hey, a lot of thing are going on right now. Nopony is really getting hurt by me… detaining myself some equipment.”
“But you are still stealing.” Everyone seemed to tell him at the same time.
“Well, it’s more like scamming, but if you want to get by with no money, you are going to have to listen to me. I agreed to learn to swim, but right now, getting by will be much easier if we do this my way.” He spoke with good intentions in his heart. His friends could feel it.
“Looks like the rain finally let up.” A dismal brown mare stated to a stallion who worked on keeping a fireplace burning.
“About damn time.” he replied.
The inn was warm with hearth-fire. A number of tables and chairs were spread throughout the inn. The mare sat behind a bar. Idly, her horn’s magic cleaned mugs. They both looked tired. The wooden interior of the building gave the place a very inviting and comforting feeling. Torches lit up the darkness where the fireplace did not reach.
“Storms been thrashin’ nearly a day and all night.”
“Keeps customers away.”
Help! Help! Somepony! Anypony! Please help!
The two innkeepers traded looks. The mare’s worried face prompted the stallion to stand and investigate.
Please help!
He opened the front door to the inn.
He looked out into the night to see a mysterious figure through a mare on to the ground and begin to run off with astounding speed. A griffin began to chase the figure, with a leap the griffin took to the air.
“What’s going on here!?” the stallion demanded.
“That masked stallion just stole all of our money!” The mare with the freaky eye replied.
“Hu-”
“Damn it, that bastard got away with all our money! I lost him the darkness.” The griffin stated returning herself down beside her companion.
“Our money?”
“We are just travelers, we were going to stay at this inn, but that thief came out of nowhere. Bastard, now we…” the griffin couldn't finish, instead she helped the mare up on her hooves.
“Come on in!” The mare stated “the night’s on us. We take care of folks in this town.”
“Well… we don’t want to bother-”
“It’s fine.” The stallion interjected “Like she said we take care of folks.”
Within minutes Freya and War Bond were in a cozy motel room. Two bowl of oatmeal hot and fresh. A set of rain resistant robes, and a hoof-full of bits. The two looked to each other with confused eyes, a bad taste in their mouth from the guilt of their actions.
“I feel kinda bad for taking advantage of ponies this kind…” Freya voiced before War did.
“Yeah, they were just trying to help us and we’re… well you know.” War replied.
“Hey, try to remember what we’re doing here ladies.” Ziz spoke through Freya’s mind.
“But still…”
knock knock knock
“There is our thief.” War voiced as she opened the window of the inn.
“Yo, you remember to deny the first request to stay?” Feral asked as he calmly climbed through the window and returned “Justice” to War Bond.
“Yes, and we also remembered to not use our real names.” Freya replied.
“I have to say, you are really good at this Feral.”
“It’s what he does. He is good at it.”
“What did you acquire for yourself.”
“Just a mantle and a few bit’s. Picking pockets is easy this late at night, but there are less targets to pick.”
“Stealing is wrong, Fenrir.” War reprimanded.
“That doesn't make him any less good at it.”
“I forgot how much of a mother you are, always so proud of everything we did back in the old days! well now i guess it would be the really really old days. Remember when I fried those pesky sky sharks with a single bolt?”
“I tried to out do you by shooting fireballs and trying to scorch more than you.”
“You both killed so many sky sharks that the damn things were wiped out before the week was up” Fenrir laughed.
knock knock
“We’re fine ma’am. Thank you again for everything.” Freya replied.
“It’s no problem lassie. If you need anything, Don’t fret asking. Good night ladies”
“Good night!” They stated as their hearts pained in their chests.
“Yeah, that’s the guilt, it goes away with time.” Feral stated as he counted his “hard earned” bits
“Jeez you’re cold hearted for someone who had his tail between his legs because some running water.” War jabbed. Annoyed at him for his unethical treatment of these kind people.
“That was different, water and me have a bad history.”
“So, what next?” Freya interrupted.
“We need to resupply.” War stated immediately.
“I was thinking we should get ourselves a wagon.” Freya stated directly.
“Why would we need a wagon? It would just get in the way.” Feral asked.
“So we can carry party members. So we don’t all have to walk everywhere.” she hastily replied.
“So like… me and you can sit and rest in the wagon as Feral pulls?-” War asked almost stunned by that idea. “- or like if one of us get’s hurt. With a wagon, getting someone to safety or help would be way faster.”
“I was actually a field medic… I mean… I can do basic things like stop bleeding or stitch wounds.” Freya stated with a blush that glowed through her white feathers.
“Whoa really?! You didn't tell me that!” War stated excitedly.
“Yeah, I’m no doctor, but I can keep us going so we don’t burn through our healing potions so fast.” Freya replied, looking around the room as if looking for something.
“Wait wait wait, hold on.” Feral interrupted “Why I am I the one pulling the wagon!?”
“Well a gentlecolt like yourself wouldn't make a lady like me or War Bond pull would you?” Freya replied with a smirk.
“I’m a thief! I don’t care much about self image, and in case you've forgotten War fully armored weighs at least three times more than I do!”
“Okay, I don’t weigh that much! And lets just figure that out when we get the wagon.” War replied with a glare.
“But I don’t want to get a wagon!”
“I want one, Freya wants one, we outnumber you!” War stated matter of factually.
“Wait! What about Goliath and the others!” Feral argued.
“I think a wagon would be a great idea.”
“Aww damn it! Fine! It is not my day today.”
The sun had just begun it’s rise, filling the sky with a incandescent orange.
“Wow, you’re here early, I just opened up.” the plain store owner stated.
Feral strode in wrapped up in his mantle and what was Freya’s robe. He was completely covered, the loose cloth even covered his muzzle.
“I saw you walk in and figured I’d get my shopping done early.” he spoke smoothly, his confidence returned now.
“Well I’ll get you what you need. What would you like sir.”
“I need some bread, oats. Healing potions if you got any, some gauze umm…”- he slid out a piece of paper, a small shopping list. -“a whetstone, oil for that whetstone, a tinderbox, and a salt lick.” Things the girls had sent him to get. They did not trust him with acquiring the more costly items the party wanted.
“Alrighty, I’ll get those for you just a moment good sir.”
“Mind if I look around? See what else you got?
“Sure thing.”
Feral moved around the shop smoothly. Slickly he slid everything on his shopping list into his robe and mantle. He did it quickly, smoothly, skillfully. In a way that truly showed his mastery of the craft.
“ I thought you said you wouldn’t steal anything.” “I did. I’m not stealing, I am just adding to the portions he is already giving me.” “ I see.” “If he doesn’t notice and doesn’t charge my portions correctly, it’s not my fault.” “ I doubt the others would see it that way.” “The shop keep was less than attentive, relax. I doubt they would even notice.” “ Very well pup, know that if they figure it out, I’m not going to be part of it.” “That’s fine, they won’t notice.”
“Your order is ready sir.”’
The scent of metal and ash filled the air. A smooth scent, proving the quality of the wood and fire being used in the forge. This local blacksmith didn’t make too many weapons, or armor, mostly just tools. Hammers, shovels, yard utensils mostly. War Bond stepped inside and took a marvel at the sheer skill in craftsmanship in the simple tools at the store.
“Hello, umm I’m looking for some equipment.” she stated.
“What kind of of equipment lassie.” The blacksmith was a hard dark bronze. His mane nonexistent.
“Some lightweight armor. It doesn’t have to be anything amazingly sturdy, something that is tough enough to take a few hits, but is light enough for a griffin to where and not have her flight to disrupted. Also I need a solid breastplate, that one is for me so it doesn’t need to be lightweight. If you can, I'd also like my claymore here tempered. Oh and a Lance, preferably single bladed.”
“You know yer stuff, aye lass?”
“Indeed I do.”
“Then you know I gotta ask if yee got the bits to pay for all this.”
“Well… no, but me and my friends are on a really important quest and these things would make all of our lives much easier.”
“Aye’m a blacksmith, Aye don’t do it for the money, but Aye can’t live on favors now can Aye lassie?”
“Please, we really need these, I can offer you some bits, I have…. fifty! I know that’s not enough for what I’m asking but…”
“Lassie, Aye’m need at the very least triple that.” he stated sternly.
“ Say what I tell you War Bond. Does the your passion not burn bright enough?” “What?” “ Just say it. I know his type.”
“Umm… Does your passion not burn bright enough?” she stated with less than adequate confidence.
“What. Did. You. Say?”
“Is the heat of your forge not good enough? Or is it you who backs away from my request!”
“Aye have what you’re looking for in me back room! I’ll show yee some real steal! Me armor is the best you’ll ever wear lassie!”
Morning.
The sun was up. The sky was the bluest it had been in days.
War walked to the agreed meeting spot just outside the town, a small seemingly abandoned barn and bare grass field. Wearing a thick breastplate, a lance on her back beside Justice. A smirk on her face. Feral kept the sacks of his acquired supplies on his back, and on the floor. Where he sat casually chewing his hoof without a real expression on his face. Freya stood rigid, her displeasure evident through her posture alone.
“I’m back, and I got some armor and a lance. All out of bits though.” War stated calmly, knowing Freya would likely speak next.
“I got us the the basics, we she be good on the road for now.” Feral replied as he began to take a normal standing position.
“I couldn't get us anything those damn wagon are crazy expensive, there is no way we will be able to get one!” Freya complained.
“There has to be a way for us to get our hooves on some real money. Or at least get a wagon!”
“We could always just steal one.” Feral offered, but the only response to that that he received was a glare from all directions. “Fine we’ll...we….umm something is wrong.” he stated, his ears shooting upward, and his tail standing up tall.
The group now looked to Feral with curiosity.
“Remember when I said something smelled like it died, or like rotten eggs? Because that shit just got really potent holy shot it’s bad.” Feral gagged, burying his nose in his mantle.
The girls gave a sniff. It was definitely there, but it was slight, slight enough that unless you actively thought about it, or didn’t think about it, it might as well have not of been there.
“I don’t really smell anything.” Freya stated calmly.
THUMP
With the sound of paws on grass, a thump landed in plain sight of them. A beast that looked like something mashed a few monsters together.
“Smelly motherfucker.” Feral growled, his body lowering into a fighting position.
The most of it was lion, for sure. It had the forepaws, head, and torso of a lion. But the horns of a ram. It’s back legs however, were hooved and jointed like a goat’s. The fur changed from lion’s blond to goat brown in mesh of hair. That’s not where it ended. Jabbing it’s way out of the lion’s right shoulder was a goat’s head and neck, complete with horns and all. It moved and breathed separate from the lion. Along it’’s sides a monster pair of leathery bat wings. Finally, instead of a tail, a long snake coiled around to look at the party.
Overhead, more of these creatures flew. At the very least, there were twenty.
“We already fought these things!” War complained.
THUMP THUMP THUMP
“War and I will deal with these four and then we’ll regroup.”
“Twenty bits says I gank more than the both of you combined.” Feral challenged, turning to run in the direction of the village.
“Happy Hunting!” Freya beamed as she took to the sky after the chimera.
“You both get the head starts, to make it fair!” Fenrir laughed as her shared body began to run.
Four chimera.
The chimera quickly made it a point to encircle War. Their stride displaying their pride. Size and power with each step. Each separate head eyeing her, looking to her as if she was the next meal it would eat.
War slid Justice off of her back. She quickly got down the positions of each chimera around her. She had already determined each chimera’s range and speed by judging their walk.
“Be careful War. These are not dragons, but do not let your guard down.”
The first chimera made its attack, leaping forward with both claws. War sidestepped early, seeing the attack quickly, but as soon as she dodged, the snake head shot straight toward her. A flash of her steel stopped the head in it’s tracks. SLAM
She rolled along the grass in order to put some distance between her and the chimera.
Standing the chimera tried to surround her again.
Not this time.
With a breath of fire, she blocked the path for the chimera.
Immediately, a chimera made a leap, attempting to pounce. Rolling Justice upward, a swipe wiped a claw clean off the chimera. It immediately responded with a backdash, the snake sliding over it’s body attempting to make a quick counter attack. Still recovering from her swing, she couldn’t dodge, instead she tried to move her body. The fangs of the snake-tail bouncing off the breastplate with little more than a scratch.
War countered by pushing forward. Moving in on the chimera, she swept her claymore upward once more. Cleaving both the overextended snake head and the goat head before the chimera could react.
Desperate, the creature lunged it’s maw forward. Only to have it’s head completely cleaved in two in a single instant due to Justice and War’s powerful downswing.
“That’s one down.”
A second chimera tried to use the end of War’s first encounter as leverage, leaping in the air for a pounce. Instead of landing a solid hit, it’s maw was filled with flame. A breath of fire consumed the chimera, it wouldn't suffer however, as Justice quickly finished it off.
“That's two down.”
The other two chimera looked to War with anger. Eyeing her with far more hatred than previously before. Now she had the edge.
“I need to strike, move in, feint, firebreath, strike, nail them both quickly. While they are angry.” “ Go for it. Watch for their flight.”
War gave a small dash forward, then moved as if she would swing her blade, the chimera attempted to dodge stoutly, but War didn’t put any follow through. Stopping in her tracks, she let out a breath of fire. The heat and fire didn't reach, as the target leapt into the air to evade this time. However, the second one was distracted by the flames couldn't evade Justice. It’s head no longer in place, it fell.
“Three in a row.”
The final chimera stayed airborne, eyeing War Bond and circling over head. It tried desperately to form some kind of plan. The best thing it could come up with was to run away. Turning tail and flying away, it fled.
War felt her body move for her.
“The key to fireballs it to simply lead the shot according to speed and distance. That chimera is neither far, nor fast. So I do not need to lead the shot very far at all.”
She felt her eyesight focus on just ahead of the chimera’s flight path. A single huff, and she spat out a thick plume of hot pink fire. The shot lobbed perfectly. Exploding the instant it collided, the chimera fell to earth in a great ball of pink flames.
“And down they all go.” War smiled.
She looked down at the stack of supplies Feral had left, tossed them in the barn along with Freya’s pauldrons. Then raced to catch up with her friends.
Feral was acting… feral.
Dripping with blood, he literally left a trail of blood in his wake. None of it his. The grin on his face was one of intense enjoyment, his eye’s wide. His disguise tossed away, he prowled the town. The bodies of chimeras that met him were obvious. Their bodies were being torn apart and ravaged. His claw’s out, he strode low. A shriek sent him running. Fangs bared. A family of ponies stood cornered by a chimera. Seeing him soaked and dripping with blood didn't help anything.
"Get to the inn! Now!" He shouted his presence enough to take the chimera's attention.
A chimera glared at him, it’s snake tail to a wall.
The family took off running.
Feral grinned.
With a jump, Feral launched himself, landing on the creatures back. Instantaneously, he went for the goat’s horns. His fangs sinking deep into the goat skull, and his claws gripping the horns themselves. The snake-tail tried to intervene, but wasn’t fast enough. Ripping the horns off the goat’s head with a squelch of blood, Feral immediately slammed the two horns into the snake, and into the chimera’s back, stapling the tail in place. Now, with the goat screaming in pain, the snake pinned down, there was nothing to stop him from taking advantage of the creature’s size.
Save for the wings. The chimera, tried desperately to take to the air in hopes of shaking the wolf off. Feral wouldn’t have any of it. His fangs ripped at where the creatures back stretched into leathery wings. As he chewed, his claws sank into it’s flesh. The chimera was not able to keep itself afloat with one functioning wing. The two collided into the soil with a smash.
The beast began to roll over in an attempt to take pressure off of it’s chewed wing. A grim mistake. Feral took advantage the instant he could. His teeth slid into place right in the chimera’s neck. He held it’s windpipe between his teeth. As he held it’s breath, his claws began to dig into it’s chest, ripping and shredding it’s meat like paper.
All the while the intoxicating flavor of blood filled Feral’s mouth. He was salivating heavily, a mix of his drool and it’s blood slid down the chimera’s neck.
It couldn’t scream or cry out. It couldn’t even breath.
Feral’s claw’s dug deeper and deeper. He moved faster and faster, his excitement growing and growing. He lusted to show the creature it’s own beating heart.
With a fountain of blood and shredded meat, he did. He stared into it’s eyes as he showed the chimera the heart that had just been beating in it’s chest. Pulling his head back, he finished by ripping out everything that was in its neck, then let the blood pour down his body as he held his head up high.
He loved that feeling. The sensation of still warm blood gliding over and messing his coat. He absolutely loved it.
Spitting out the neck, he looked about his surroundings.
“Now where’s number ten?”
Freya kept up a high speed, wings pushing her forward. The lance in her claws was red hot. The electricity Ziz helped her generate danced on the edge of the blade. The wind in her fur and feathers, the feel of air combat was something she had not felt on a long time. It sent a cold chill down her spine.
A chimera speed toward her, racing to get her in claw’s reach. With a grin she spread her wings. Catching the air she slowed down. Her red hot lance twirled about her. As the chimera sped past her, the lance cut through it. Burning and slicing, the chimera’s leg fell down to the soil below. Along with it a wing, and the chimera. It’s neck sliced through, it died before it hit the ground.
Her lance sizzled loudly, like when cold water hits a hot pan. Freya looked around her, in the air, she had to keep an eye out for enemy in every possible angle. Spying a pair of chimeras closing in from below her, she grinned.
“Two for one, good deal.”
A bolt charged in her wings. Electricity sparked from her feathers to her lance. Including the burst of thunder, a bolt of lightning shot down. Striking both of them, the lightning jumped between the two repeatedly, then extended down to the ground. The chimeras sizzled as they fell down to soil.
Freya grinned as she flew down to help the panicking townsfolk.
Feral ran about, scaring the locals, corralling them into the local inn. His blood covered body splattering about, the locals, screamed as they ran into the inn.
“Feral! What are you doing!?” War scolded as she entered the town proper.
“I tried to tell them to run into the inn. But the just kept screaming! So I rolled with it.”
“Of course their screaming, you are dripping with blood! None of that is your’s right?”
“No I’m fine. this is all chimera blood.” He grinned, shaking his body, he splattered blood all around him.
“Fuck Feral! “ Freya fretted as she landed down beside her party members. “I hope that’s not your blood.”
“No I’m fine. Is that the last of the townsfolk?” her replied.
“As far as I can tell yes. Anypony else locked themselves in their home I think.” Freya explained.
“Good, now we just have to deal with these chimera.”
“These chimera seem odd. Not as structured as I’m used to seeing.”
“It was a bit odd. They seem so sluggish.”
“Wait, Ziz, Fenrir, do you feel that?”
The younger halves looked to each other with confusion.
“OH MY GOSH LOOK AT HIM! YOU DIDN’T MENTION HE WAS THAT CUTE!” a voice screamed in an absurdly loud volume.
Regal, the half tiger pony strode into view, her swagger and pride evident in her strut. Beside her, a smaller framed mare walked. Her body looked heavy, shaggy like dry tree bark. Her mane a thick green, tied like vine-like deadlocks eye’s wide and grin on her face. On the other side of Regal, a silky stallion walked on long legs. He had a beak, eye’s like a hawk. Smooth earth brown feathers flowed over his entire body like water. His legs were eerily long.
The six glared down at the other six.
“Mandragora , not the most pleasurable of meetings if I am honest.” Fenrir quoted through Feral
“Hi there wolfy.” Une grinned with a blush.
“Is it just me, or is it creepy that she finds me attractive when I’m dripping with blood. ”
“Ziz, I prayed for the day we would fight again!” The hawk pony glared.
“A griffin, looks like I’ll get to show you the air superiority of the pegasi.” Hábrók's pegasus half challenged.
“Why Goliath, you are oddly silent, what’s wrong?” Regal grinned.
“I was looking forward to killing you because you hurt Fenrir earlier. Unfortunately, It looks like you are just going to run away again.”
“Why would I do a thing like that?”
The ground beneath the two parties cracked.
“Behemoth just arrived.”
Sliding from the crack an enormous monolithic creature began to pull itself out of the soil. The body of a massive pony, as utterly massive as a building stood. Massive tusks protruding forward from his mouth, massive horns like an ox. His body looked like stone, like a statue that an expert crafted with years of his or her life.
Behemoth, as he seemed to be called, turned to the rival party.
“Shake it and take it.” His unbelievably bass voice rocked shook the earth.
His front legs began lift up. Dirt fell off his forehooves as if it was sand. As soon as he raised them over his head, he slammed them into the ground. The resulting earthquake sent a fissure through the hard dirt.
The rival party grimaced.
“We can’t take them on three versus four, we need to retreat now.” Regal scowled.
Hábrók glared, the pegasus he was spread his wings, and began to grow. His body began to distort, and grow. His hooves slid into his body. His hind legs spread out and shifted into talons. Within seconds, he was a massive hawk. The same size as Behemoth. The enemy climbed on his back. A flap later and they were in the sky. Not long after they were gone.
Behemoth turned towards his friends. Cracks covering his entire body. Soil fell off of him. Following with rocks and pebbles. Rocks fell and fell until on a pile of rubble remained. A small shift in rubble caused a miniature rock slide. A small colt striding out of the gravel. Breathing heavily.
“Well, they sure ran off quick.”
The sky finally was blue for the first time in what felt like centuries. The road ahead was wide enough for the entire party to walk side by side comfortably. Although the path was made of dirt, it had the added benefit of being moist from all of the recent rain, so the path was actually pretty soft and made for pleasant walking. The area around them was a stretch of land where the forest blended into grass fields mostly owned by farmers, so the mix of trees and grass made the path pretty green. The sun’s warm light lit up the fading forest radiantly. The beautiful scent of wet grass and clean air was refreshing. Yet our party didn’t seem to notice any of these delightful things. They continued on their journey, moving West toward the Great Swamplands. Their attention primarily focused on the several pressing matters.
“So... If I understand correctly, the two of you are both children?” War questioned.
“While Behemoth has physically aged the least out of all of us, he has almost always been here with us. But, as far as we can tell, he is technically still only a child for his species, whatever that may be. We have never seen another of his kind in our lives.” Fenrir elaborated for War.
“As a result of that and our souls being bound. I too am forced to take the shape of my child-self. However our fusion has also made my body mostly stone. So do not worry, I am not to be taken lightly in combat. Behemoth has also gifted me with the ability to control most forms earth and rock.” The stone colt explained as he trotted onward. Outside of his craggy exterior, he actually looked like a small colt.
“So... you are both children?” Freya asked poorly hiding her snicker.
“Well yes and no. They are children physically, but their minds are still mature.” Ziz tired to make it look like Freya actually didn't understand.
“Okay! Now that we have worked out the technical part of our new party member’s appearance, we can move on to the things we should really be talking about. Those things being that three motherfucking soulbound Fuckers nearly got the fucking drop on us again! And we need some kind of hint as to what those fuckers can do! We need some clue as to who and what we are going to eventually fight against. If we fought them now we'd be going in blind.” Feral blared.
“Also, how did Stone Wall and Behemoth get so close without our, or even their noticing.” War added.
“Truthfully, we do not know. To be honest, we felt you all just fine. Same for the other old ones, that is say, we felt them too. Who was there… if I recall correctly we definitely felt Regal. That is why we rushed to you all in the first place.” Stone and Behemoth explained in a rather odd voice, Stone’s voice of a young colt did not mesh well with Behemoth’s utter bass voice.
“That truly is odd… perhaps the soulbonding process is involved with all this?” Fenrir pondered on that for a moment, a quick silence filling the party.
“We really don’t know. However we now know there has to be some kind of link. Something is happening here and we do not really know why. Only time can tell…” Moth let out swiftly.
Fenrir gave a deep breath through Feral. The party was silent for a much longer this time, the only sound being the soil beneath their hoof steps.
“Things could be better right now.” Behemoth rumbled.
“Either way, I think Feral is right, we need to take a look at our enemies.” Ziz remarked.
“Who should we start with?” Fenrir asked for the party.
“Atlas. He is an Elder Dragon, the same as me. We are nearly the original, two of the first. We were some of the first dragons to ever walk this place, or any place really. We are nearly ageless, and our size and power are both mighty and destructive. But we lack the specializations that make some of our dragonkin so frightening. However, Atlas is not to be underestimated, he is our greatest enemy. His weakness is in the fact he sees himself as better than all of us. Stepping away from the safety of the Dragonlands, and fighting us himself is too far beneath him. He’ll throw his goons and foolish followers at us, but until we get to him, he will not come down from the throne he built for himself… At least not until he has all of his dragon forces are mobilized and ready for all out war. He is a danger to all of us, to all living beings and stopping him is our main goal.” Goliath made War Bond give an serious and angry face.
“As for Mandragora,-” Fenrir began “- she was an… odd creature. Mostly composed of… well she is much more than just a talking plant. She is alive, she thinks, acts, and breathes the same as any of us. Yet she also just so happens to be a plant. If I recall correctly, she has a very powerful set of lungs and can screech dreadfully loudly. Even for beings like Goliath and Ziz. She is a great threat, as she can be quite… annoying. She is a problem that we will likely deal with early on in the upcoming fight. Lucky for us, as I recall she isn't a very great fighter, but she will make an excellent distraction for her allies, focusing our attention that should be focused on the real damage dealers like Regal and Hábrók.” Fenrir scowled on Feral’s face.
“Hábrók, is technically a... I guess you would say a cousin of mine. We are related by blood, but the two of us are definitely not family. He is... well, he is an ass, putting others in danger to make himself look and feel better. He is strong, fast, and devastating in aerial combat. Try not to fight him an open spaces where he has room to take to the air. He could become a problem, he is not afraid of any of us. Nor should he be, I believe he maybe one of their strongest fighters, not counting Atlas. His tenacity will be his strongest feature during the fight... " he paused for a moment "Well tenacity may not be the right word... it's more... stubbornness.” Ziz recounted, putting a talon to Freya's chin.
“As for Regal, she used to be friends with all of us, she was nicer back then. However, even in the long gone past, she was...n’t the... greatest of friends.” Fenrir had difficulty finding words suddenly.
“We eventually started to spend less time with her… We grew apart as some friendships tend to do. I don’t know why for certain... but if I recall she got mad at us for some reason.”
“With everything that happened between her and Greep…we shouldn't have been surprised as we were at the time.”
“You should say, what didn’t happened between her and Greep.”
“That isn’t a story any of us have a right to tell. But to put it simply, we aren’t friends anymore, and she is quite hostile toward us now.”
“So none of them should be a real problem, since me and Fenrir were actually able to go one-on-one with Regal and come off mostly on top. If either of us could feel her coming, we would have won easily.” Feral stated with less pride then he wanted.
“That’s the thing pup. Regal isn’t the best fighter. That is why she got help. That’s why she is trying to sneak up on us. She can’t out fight us, so she has to find some other way to best us.”
“So those others are going to do her fighting?” Freya asked kindly smile.
“All of us fighting at one time in one big team fight sounds… crazy.” War sounded a bit worried.
The party stopped as they, all at once, noticed that they had stumbled into a rather large open grass field completely surrounded by trees, behind of which was a utterly massive lake. Wide and open it sat gaping, like a mouth in the flat ground. The party took a minute to realize what they were looking at. Realistically, the lake was very well hidden. Nearly a full day’s travel from the nearest town, and it was difficult to spot surrounded mostly by trees.
“Perhaps we should consider stopping to eat.” Ziz virtually asked, a sudden hunger taking him and Freya.
"Let's get ourselves some food. I am sure there are plenty of fish in that lake." Fenrir stated excitedly. Feral's canine tail wagging.
"This far out, we have it all to ourselves." Behemoth and Stone stomped.
With a grin, Freya spread her wings, and leapt into the water with a splash. The sound of static clicked. With a bright flash, the water around her glowed with her electricity. A number of fish slid up out of the water, sizzling slightly...
"We do the same thing with sky-sliders... umm…... Those are basically like cloud fish… you know... fish that “swim” in the clouds… I-Its a griffin thing." Freya gave a grin to her party.
After the fish were collected, a breath of flame made an instant campfire. The fish were quickly set on the campfire to be cooked, Feral had highly recommended that they be cooked this way to get the most out of the opportunity. As the first batch of fish were cooked by War’s pink flames, Freya collected more fish for the party using her and Ziz’s "fishing " technique. She took several dips into the lake, collecting more fish, everyone eating for two meant quite a bit of food was needed.
The party shared a meal of fresh, well cooked fish. None of them had realized that the electrocution had already partially cooked the various fish Freya zapped, so they did not come out quite right, but that did not stop them from enjoying the meal.
War took her time, enjoying her food, granted she did eat most of her fish in a single bite, but she enjoyed that too. Well into her meal she had a realization. She felt bad for a moment, realizing that a large number of fish were being slaughtered… very easily. Goliath reassured by reminding her, that they were fish and would likely die for some other reason because they are fish.
At some point during the meal, every single party member took a moment to watch Feral ravage his portions. They all agreed that Feral didn't taste any of his food. Stuffing his maw and shredding the flesh from the creatures, he devoured the fish. He laughed, enjoying eating everything but the head of the fish, then making it look like the fish head was talking, "No please! I have a family! Noo- then eating the head. Fenrir had to keep telling him not to play with his food. War took the time to make a comment about how he would smell like wet dog and fish now.
Freya ate in the oddest way of the group. Mostly because she was a griffin, and her eating style was culturally different than everyone elses. She delicately pecked at fish, almost strategically. Picking apart the best pieces of each fish, gracefully avoiding things like bones and organs. Ziz laughed when Feral finished his own portion, and moved to eat the scrapes that Freya had thrown away.
Stone wall didn't eat the fish, focusing instead on eating grass he had collected and cleaned. He explained that he wasn't a carnivore. Both he and Behemoth only ate plants. The party ate his captured portion of massacred fish. He coolly munched away on the plants he had collected, giving a short laugh at the other party members’ antics. Moth told Stone to leave the moss growing on his stone hide. It would make a pleasant meal if the need arises.
Once they were through eating and conversing lightly, Goliath cleared his and War's throat.
"Now that we have sufficiently sated our hunger, I would like to take our opportunity to speak with my fellow… aged companions in private.” Goliath stated very seriously.
“What can’t you say in front of all of us?” The “young” colt Stone Wall asked bravely.
“It is not that I cannot say it. More over I wish to speak to my old friends personally and privately, something I haven’t done for a long time. I would also give a chance to get out of each other’s heads for a while.” Goliath retorted.
“I can understand that.” Freya stated with a smile toward War Bond.
“Makes sense.” Stone remarked. His suspicion not fully gone, but warded away for the moment.
“Alright… Fine can’t be too cautious now can we?” Feral added with a grin directed at Goliath and War bond, and a quick look and smile at Stone.
“No, you can’t. I respect your curiosity.” Goliath replied.
The sky was that eerie infinite black. White grass stretched beyond the horizon in all directions. War’s memories of this place were blurry at best. Thinking about it made her head hurt. Instead, she took in the place again. The unmoving water felt just as unnatural as last time she was here.
Her attention was drawn by the utterly giant beings she was in the presence of. The gargantuan ox seemingly made entirely of stone, soil, and gravel, lazily stood tall, roughly the size of Goliath. His body was an ecosystem, plants, trees, grass, and small critter nests covered large portions of his body. Standing perched on the colossal ox, a massive and mighty bird. A great grin on it’s beak. The flurry of such bright green colors that combined to create his feathers popped in the monotone that this … realm seemed to emanate. "Veins" of glowing feather faded in and out of his feathers.
She felt talons pull her body into a hug. The average sized griffin that was Freya still stood very tall to her. Freya gave War a tight squeeze. The griffin looked the same for the most part. Her beak paled slightly, and she lost the feathers over her body. Now she looked like a normal griffin, feathers only on her head and neck. Her fur had come back, and the feathers around her eye’s were now a deep dark purple instead of the bright green they had been.
A tiny colt sat on the griffin’s back. He was a soft yellow color, with brown mane. Cutie mark of a field plow on his tiny hips. He looked almost the same as well, his only changes were that the rocky texture of his skin had vanished, and he was colored now. Stone Wall hung on to avoid the water. He stood shorter than the unmoving water.
An instant passed by, and the old ones were specks on the horizon.
“This place is always so freaky. How do they do that!?” Feral gave a shiver as he moved his body through the unmoving water toward his allies.
“Wow… Feral you're actually handsome.” Freya remarked, letting go of War, and then opening her own arms toward him.
Feral responded with a raised eyebrow.
“What? You are.” Freya replied, beckoning him toward her with a twitch of her talons and a smile.
Feral glared at her and didn’t move. War realized that even without his tail and ears giving away his feelings, Feral was a very easy person to read. At least when he didn't like something.
“I’m good.” He told her. Sitting down in motionless water.
Feral was fine with conversations. But the more they traveled with him, the more they came to realize he doesn't like to be touched. Coincidentally getting close to him didn't phase him, nor did his invading their space, which he did every other day or so to "keep their scent fresh in his head."
As a result they felt they understood him a bit better, Freya responded with the only logical course of action, by pouncing on him with an attack hug.
“What the hell are you doing!” Feral snapped even with his slightly above average size, he could not push the griffin off of himself.
“Combat power embrace.” She grinned, squeezing him tightly with her hug. Her intention was to help him with his boundaries.
“Freya seems a lot more… playful without Ziz I think.” Stone stated, having jumped off Freya before her pounce, he had to stand on his hind legs to keep above the water.
War picked him up without hesitation, placing him on her back. He replied with a gentle nod and a “Thank you kindly.”
Feral pulled himself from Freya’s “combat embrace ”. Shooting her a glare, he stood up.
“You weren’t such a sour mood when it was just us here.” War remarked.
“You didn’t try to hug me.” Feral glared, as he shook his entire body like a dog. Freya just giggled lightly.
“War and Fenrir huh? You two were in here all alone .” Freya teased.
“Yeah, I explained the whole… sync rate thing to War Bond. She had just combined with Goliath, so neither of them had come to realize they were syncing up.” Feral elaborated, obviously not getting what Freya was hinting at.
“Freya, you are definitely… out spoken without Ziz.” War stated, obviously getting at what Freya was hinting at.
"I think that much is obvious." Feral continued his angry look at Freya.
“You have a badass cutie mark. How'd you get it?” Freya grinned in reply to the glare. Completely ignoring their comments.
“Me?” Feral asked, confused.
“Well, War does too, but I was referring to you, yes.”
“My cutie mark isn’t cool?” Stone asked, looking a bit disappointed.
“Comparatively? Uhmm… no. He has a wolf skull… eating a moon. And she has a shield with a dragon on it. Those are radical. You have a plow.” Freya replied.
“Plows are cool. However, I would like to know where those came from now.” He replied with a smile. Looking toward the fully grown pony members of the party with curiosity.
“Mine really isn’t a big deal. Got it when my mom taught me how to fight with a shield when I was a filly. That’s all.” War smiled, looking back at her past, she missed her mother’s face. How long ago had it been since she had seen her?
“I got mine when I broke into, and then raided some rich pony’s house. I was a kid back then, so he never expected me to break in and ransack the place. As for the mark, I was really poor, so I always thought of it as me, this wolf among ponies, stealing the moon rather than eating it. Wow that feels like so long ago…” Feral grinned... then scowled.
“What!? Those stories were weak! I was hoping for like… epic battles and stuff.” Freya gave the party a frown for the first time.
“You get a cutie mark when you are a kid. Kids don’t do anything interesting.” War replied, forgetting about the "child " sitting on her back.
Stone just tapped her shoulder and gave her a half eye-lidded look. She gave out an embarrassed squeep.
“Present company excluded of course!” She added hastefully. The party members gave a laugh. Her thoughts her own, for the first time in a long time, War grinned.
I… missed this feeling. Jeeze I might actually miss Lyve or… him… no. This is different. I may have only known these… things? for a few days but… this is different. Real. Funny. Loyal. Kind. These friends are real friends. Not like them. That doesn’t matter anymore though. Not as long as I have these new friends… even Goliath, Fenrir, Ziz and Behemoth. I can’t wait to meet the others… New friends… new everything. This is all happening so fast. I guess that’s how you can tell how great something is. Some days can feel like eons. But the good days, the important days… the bad days, they all go by so fast…
"Do you think Feral or Stone could know?" Goliath brooded. The dragon standing on his back legs. Arms cross, wings stretching out before pulling back onto his back.
"They might be suspicious, but they does not suspect the truth." Fenrir answered, then gave forth a heave and a sigh. Sadness clear in the old wolf's eyes.
"Maybe we should just tell them." Ziz stated, a similar sadness in his voice, but less in his body.
"We should, but we can't afford that moral drop now. Let us wait until the time is right. We should be more concerned with Stone. He is very smart. He might figure something out." Behemoth answered, his powerful bass voice rumbling, it was always hard to tell if he was upset or not. The sheer bass of his volume made it hard to read those emotions in his voice.
"Moth is right. We wait. We need them in top condition, we can't afford to fail, especially not this soon. Once Greep and Levi are with us, and the origins are secured... Then we can tell them." Goliath spoke as he did so long ago, the undeclared leader, guiding his friend's the best he could... Even when things were... Different.
"I am unsure if my Feral can handle it..." Fenrir worried, he face wearing a crown of sadness. “We’ve been together for so long…”
"Too much is on the line Fenrir. As much as we want to tell them... And trust me, I want to tell Stone... We can't. You know we can't. They don't understand the necessity of all this. They wouldn't go through with it if they knew." Behemoth warned, his shame voiced clearly through his bass voice.
"I just can’t... I do not want to do this to Freya, she is... Important to me... I do not want to lie to her." Ziz cringed, he held his face. He wanted to cry. He wouldn’t let himself.
"War Bond is just as important to me. You know that we must keep them ignorant of what must happen." Goliath stated, his heart hurting far more than he wanted it to… more than he knew it could...
"We are not lying, we are just prolonging the outcome of truth." Behemoth tried to rationalize for his friends.
"How is that not different then lying!? Dammit! He is my pup! I love him! I-I-I..... He has a right to know... He deserves to know!" Fenrir snapped, her snarl coming out unintentionally.
"Fenrir... I agree, we all do! We will tell them... Just not right now." Goliath let out a long breath of dark smoke. "When the time comes... Fenrir, Ziz... The truth will be revealed. Fenrir, you have always been the most motherly out of all of us. I know this is hard for you." Goliath tried to comfort her, a gentle claw on her shoulder and a tail rubbing softly against her own. He gave her the softest look he could muster, she settled down a bit.
She knew his scaly body wasn’t the nicest thing for her to lean on. She also knew that Goliath was not the greatest at this particular situation. The fact that he was trying made her feel warm inside.
"It just doesn't feel right..." She cringed.
"Nor should it." Goliath responded.
The old beings sat a moment in silence. Fenrir nuzzled Goliath softly. Ziz stayed perched on Behemoth's horns. The group could feel sadness in the air.
"I... I really wish we had spent these last years together...." Fenrir spoke, breaking the silence.
"We all do." Goliath replied.
"Hey.... Remember when Levi took us swimming... That kracken attacked Goliath, and he ended up stained black from the ink for like twenty year?" Ziz laughed.
"He looked an obsidian dragon!" Moth rumbled out a laugh.
"He did look silly! With his wings still bronze and everything!" Fenrir giggled.
"Remember when Lotus and Ziz first met? We were all still children, and Ziz was doing his little... Display dance?" Goliath retorted, as if somehow ready for that.
The creatures all began to break into a fit of laughter, save for Ziz who just heaved a sigh.
"His little tiny little kicking! Oh and when her tripped and fell over! Bwahaha!" Fenrir burst out.
"I was a just a baby back then! Of course I had no rhythm! I dance way better now! Damn it Goliath! You always bring that story up!!" Ziz defended himself, flicking one wing up and the other down, he danced a intricate and beautiful dance, his under feathers and their various colors fluffing and blaring.
"You alway bring up that kracken."
They really missed each other.
The beings laughed. Fenrir’s tail wagged. Goliath and Behemoth’s deeper voices rumbled laughter. Ziz danced his intricate mating dance, a rainbow of feathers bursting forth.
"War? Where are you going!!?" Freya shouted. Looking much more feathered in the real world.
"The Great Swamplands are only a few DAYS away, we need to start already!" Feral rushed.
"Hold on I have to pee!" War explained mid gallop, hurrying to find a place to relieve herself privately. She looked about for a tree large enough to hide her.
"Make it quick my hatchling." Goliath popped in.
"Going to the bathroom is so weird! With you in my head and all." War had forgotten that he was there again. He made trips to the restroom much more awkward.
"Sorry. I will be silent." Goliath apologized.
War Bond hurried behind a tree to relieve herself. The wave of refreshing release washed over her. As she finished up, she was was overcome with a feeling of sickening dread. Her head was fogged, blurry. She couldn't think. Couldn't feel. She felt the cold touch of steel on the front of her neck. The lightest touch of breath on the back of her neck.
"War Bond." A voice stated in an odd accent.
Her mind clouded, she was slow to respond. "Who... are... you?" Every word sent a painful pulse through her skull. The migraine began to form in her head.
"I am an assassin." The voice replied calmly.
"...how..." she couldn’t get anything out.
"Soulbonding has been around as long as they have been. Its nothing new. As with anything, some know more about it than others."
She could tell the voice was male, but not much else. War Bond couldn't focus. Everything hurt her head too much.
"I was hired to kill you. But I am no mercenary, I have honor. Codes of ethics. I was told that you were a living embodiment of evil. From my knowledge, evil does not save a village from chimera, and leave before they can be held as heroes. You are not what I was told you are. Your life is yours for now. But do not make me regret letting you live... Know that you are not as powerful as you think. Know that you can be bested by exploiting the weakness you know not of. Know that you will not remember our meeting, but you will remember my words. Power lies not with size, might, ferocity, or grace. But in truth. In knowledge. In acceptance. Power can be both found and born. If you are to survive you endeavors. Let go. If you remember nothing of our meeting, Remember. Let. Go."
The wave of refreshing release washed over her. As she finished up, she was was overcome with a feeling of sickening dread. An instant later, the dread had vanished.
"Ugh, did you feel that?" War asked, her head aching suddenly.
The Swamplands had not been anything unexpected. It was a swamp, a massive, thick, and muddy swamp. The land was called the Great Swamplands because this particular swamp stretched on for miles. It just kept going and going. Rumors were widely known that if one wondered in, they would never leave. That was just a rumor. Our party’s quest was far more important than a rumor.
The muddy water was a eerie and fearful shade of brown that bordered black. The trees surrounding them were all dead, their hard corpses still standing. The other swamp vegetation had begun using these corpses to survive. Dangling vines that oozed a black slime hung over the dead trees, giving the illusion that the trees actually stilled lived. That ooze ran down the trees, giving the haunting idea that the trees were crying black sap.
Half of our party had to trudge through a trench of knee high mud. Freya was lucky to just fly over the sludge. Stone was too short to comfortably get through the swamp, as a result he got to get a free ride on Freya's back. Feral and War had to dredge through it. They had no idea what the sky was like, those black creeping vines made a canopy they couldn't see past. They scent of dead rot clogged each and every breath they took it. So little light pierced the canopy, they were nearly in complete darkness. The canopy was the seal of their tomb.
"I can't see anything. Its so damn dark!" Feral complained, his legs growing tired as they pushed past the mud. He was just a bit ahead of War Bond.
"Our sense of smell is blurred, everything we smell is wrought with the odor of death." Fenrir added obviously annoyed.
"I think night has fallen." Freya stated just above them.
The sound of a tree branch snapping penetrated the darkness. With a huff of fire, War Bond made three torches, cloth wraps made of robes would be the only thing they had to slow the torch's burn.
"Taa-Daa!" War cheered!
The makeshift torches illuminated the dark swamp. The swamp ahead seemed to stretch forward into darkness. The trench they were trapped in forced them into going in one direction. Large mounds of dryer dirt blocked even Freya. The trench had forced them in a single direction for nearly an hour now.
"Are even going the right way?" Feral inquired.
"Very deep. I can barely feel the direction he is in. Not like Levi. For her I can get some kind of range but... Greep is here somewhere, just keep heading West." Goliath answered, his voice seemingly unphased.
"I can just barely feel him to the West as well. That is unusual." Moth rumbled, Stone still on Freya’s back.
"Should we be worried?" Freya asked, already worried anyway.
"No, Greep and Lifeblood can hold their own."
"True, but still. Now of all times..." Fenrir let out a deep sigh through Feral.
"Who is Lifeblood?" War asked.
"Greep’s soulbound partner." The old one’s all answered together.
"You already know he is soulbound?" Freya stated with a flutter.
"He did it a very long time ago. But we haven't seen much of him for a even longer time." Goliath brooded.
"He and Lifeblood are... Odd. You will see. They have been together for far longer then any one of us." Behemoth added lightly.
"Fenrir and I have been together for seven years." Feral stated proudly.
"Ziz and I are going to hit three years real soon!" Freya smiled brightly.
"Goliath and I have been together..."
"I feels like way more than seven years..." Feral grinned…
“Whoa! Shit!” Feral stopped in his tracks. Ahead of him, a short cliff three ponies tall. The trench lead to a opening in the swamp. “Well… I’m not turning back.” With a short hop, he splashed into the muck below.
As he trudged through the muck, Feral felt his eyes begin to moisten.
"Aww Feral is crying! Thats so cute!" War teased, poorly hiding her snicker as she made the same short jump.
"Changing the subject, three weeks is a long time to get to know someone, don't forget that it is an entire three weeks. This isn't like six or eight hours a day, it’s the full twenty-whatever hours. I forget how long days actually are."
"That is very true, we have been together of a pretty long time now." War smiled.
Freya and Stone fluttered down. The new segment of swamp looked identical to the last. Only now, War and Fenrir could feel the cold muck touch their bellies.
“Hey… Feral, why aren’t you freaking out, there is water everywhere.” Freya stated as she flew just above him.
“One, this is swamp mud, not water. Two, I'm tall enough to walk through it. Three, it doesn’t look deep, just weirdly dark for mud.” He replied solidly.
Freya let out a surprised gasp. “Hey! When we were at the lake you never let us try to teach you how to swim!”
“Not my fault you didn’t remember.” Feral stated casually.
“Feral! You made a promise!” War scolded him as well.
While on Freya’s back, Stone moved so he could give Feral a raised eyebrow.
“I need help getting past a flooded river. So I promised to try to learn how to swim.” Feral answered before Stone had to ask.
A pile a mud began to bulge upward in front of Feral. Like a brownish black cyst pushing up from the thick mud. His attention on Stone, Feral bumped into to with a squelch.
"Ewha? What the fuck!?" Feral stopped, forced to slowly step back due to the thick swamp mud.
Layers of thick sludge slid down the swamp pillar. As the sludge fell away, the body of somepony stood.
"You alright fella?" Feral moved forward, lightly tapping the unmoving pony. Still heavily covered and dripping with swamp sludge.
The pony didn't react. The last of the muk dripped away. The coat of the pony was covered in that effluvial black ooze the trees were secreting.
"Let... Me... Diiieeeee!" The pony reared, throwing his forelegs up in the air, his entire head falling off into the slimy mud below. Thick white pus spewing out the open neck hole, tiny worms and beetles crawling out the wound as well.
"What the shit!!" Feral jumped back. Reacting, he dashed around the thing as it searched for It’s fallen head.
"What the fuck! Look!" Freya shouted. Pointing out more pillars of slime that were pushing up from the muk. The cysts began to spread.
"Oh fuck. Goliath your friend is West right? We need to bail!" War nearly screamed, the cysts pushing at them.
She began to trudge through the slime as best she could. Freya kept above the muck trailing slightly ahead. Feral moved not far from her side. The sludge slowed her and Feral immensely, the cysts couldn't move fast, but did not seem to be affected by the sludge, they simply walked through it.
Freya swept down slashing at the walking rotten beings with her lance.
The Cysts walked faster then the party could run. Freya turned and kept to the air and did her best to escort the grounded ponies. She felt her stomach lurch when she sliced off a leg from one of the cyst ponies, only to have it plunge It’s open oozing wound into the muck and pull out with a completely different leg accompanied with a plethora of bugs attached.
They were trotting through a sea of corpses. Rotten and partially devoured corpses.
The party was surrounded, trapped. The Cysts were coming from all directions.
"Alright. Time to see what I can do about this." Stone stated lazily. He lept into the mud from Freya's back. His ripple in the mud turned into a wave-like tide. That wave continued forward in all directions until it became a tall mud wall. All around them, mud walls began to rise, encircling them. The ground was coated in rotting meat and life. Bugs in every part of life, eggs, larva, pupa, fully grown and confused as to what happened to their muddy home. "There is not much soil in this “mud”, I made the best wall I could. They will get through it soon." Stone explained as he climbed up onto Feral’s back. His focus was labored, like when a unicorn uses a powerful spell, or too much magic in too short a time.
Freya flew around in circles, watching as the Cysts tried to push through the wall. Already they could get a hoof or two into the mud. "We only got a few extra minutes!" She shouted to her friends. Suddenly she felt a nudge on her back. Looking up she saw a zebra stretching a hoof to her from the thick canopy overhead.
"Mahkalo! Mahkalo!" The Zebra shouted intensely.
"Umm... Guys? We got some zebras here... speaking funny talk."
"Nu! Nu! Pooku shi-maki talo tami! Mahkalo!" The Zebra shouted, screaming at the griffin.
"He wants to help us! He wants you to pull us up and into the canopy!" Feral roared to her.
Freya gave a hearty nod. She shot down in a single instant, first grasping War Bond, then lifting her up to the zebra, who helped pull her up the canopy. Then Stone Wall and Feral. Up in the canopy, three zebra stood on makeshift walkways hidden up in the canopies. The walkways themselves were crafted of old dead wood made into boards.
The Zebra all wore sashes over their eyes and faces. Cloth scraps over their bodies. The First held a long katana on his back and had a blood red cloth tied on his right foreleg. The second was a Zebra mare with a bow and arrows, on her right foreleg a beige scrap of cloth. The third was a obviously younger Zebra, he had a pair of daggers some kind of holster on his neck, his leg cloth mostly stained, but still beige cloth.
"Kalisio! Mutah beelo!" the Zebra with the red cloth shouted.
“My cellmate in prison hailed from the Great Swamplands. He taught me his tribe’s language so we could have some kind of secret code to talk in. I taught him how to speak more of our language and how to read. ” Feral explained inside his head. “Oh and he wants us to put out the torches. ”
“Kalisio!” The Zebra Leader shouted again.
War inhaled heavily, her fire returning to her.
“Whoa.” she mumbled.
"Hutomati calo! Divanana kula...."Travelers! Fancy tricks will not stop them...
In the darkness, the party just rested for a few moments in silence.
“Potic majo ktyu.” The Zebra mare’s voice stated just above a whisper.
“Umm… This is going to sting? ” Feral elaborated in his mind. “I’ll ask what she means. ”’ They heard somezebra take a deep breath.
He didn’t have to ask. A second later his eyes began to burn as if a lemon had just been squirted directly into his eyes. He felt his face get pulled into a soft furry chest.
“Tami soo nook kikijo. Yo mathifa gol? Fin tome dokrkojo. ” The Zebra Leader stated.
“The powder grants sight in the darkness. Do you speak my tribe? You seem to understand. ” Feral had quickly become an impromptu translator.
“Tu fin mal dah. Ze mah ha.” Feral muffled under the mare’s chest.I do indeed. These other’s do not. ”
“Tas soom goosha maki goto bla. Tome bana sum gotoko Xebara. Blasha monshh dola.” The Leader stated.We’ll talk more about this when we reach of village. Xebara will give you all sight. We must be silent now. The Flesh Puppet’s cannot follow us back. We must wait for them to disperse. ”
The Zebra mare named Xebara let go of Feral. Moving toward the next pony she would be “giving sight” His eye’s still stung, but he could see. Everything he was seeing was a pale shade of green. But he could see clearly in the dark. Xebara repeated the process for the others. However, she licked Stone’s eye before blowing the powder.”Shini cuma kali.” She whispered that “It hurts less this way.”
The Leader kept peering into the swamp below the canopy. He held a hoof up, signaling to the group to both remain still and silent.
“Can we really just trust these Zebra.” Goliath asked harshly.
“Well, we already let them save us and that mare Licked. My. Eye. I think we might as well trust them. ” Stone Wall gave a shiver. He enjoyed being able to see, but the eye lick was just weird.
“Plus if they try anything funny, I am one hundred percent sure that we can take them. ” Freya thought positively.
“We did already escape from a pegasi cult. I think we can can escape from Zebras. ” War grinned. She enjoyed the recent memory of her running into a wall, and the wall falling down instead of her.
“These folks are usually kind enough. I’m sure we’ll be fine. ” Feral thought with a hint of caution.
“Hey, Feral. Would you kindly ask what those things… those Flesh Puppets were? And if there is a way to kill them. ” Stone remarked gently. “We need to get past those damn things, and that muk slows us down too much. ”
“Yeah, I kept stabbing and slashing those things up, but they didn’t stop. ” Freya added less gently.
“And I can’t fight those things with claws, I’d rather not get that close. ” Feral growled under his breath.
“Once we get back. We don’t want to track those things back to their village.” Ziz gave the thought.
After a solid twenty or thirty minutes passed, time was difficult to tell due the near complete darkness, The Zebra Leader pointed with his head, and the zebra team began to lead them to their village. They entered the Great Swamplands from the southeast. They needed to head more West, they moved northwest. Not entirely the wrong direction.
The wood pathways appeared old and fragile, but was extremely soft and didn’t creek or crack. The black ooze that utterly coated the canopy dripped all over the wood and branches. It was an odorless substance, but silky to the touch. An odd fluid. The tree canopy was nothing but those thick black branches and vines. The vines coiled and twisted with each other, creating a thick black wall from all directions. The vines however could be relatively easy to move out of ones way. The wood paths were tied to the higher and firmer branches. A misstep could send them back into the swamp below.
“Datsi, mahga too.” The Leader stated. “Mina soyka jo Toruk, mina soyja Xalik.”
“He said it’s safe to talk now, His name is Toruk and the child is Xalik. ”
“Dalk mosk ku. Mina soyka Feral Silver.”Thank you for the help. I am Feral Silver. ”
“Feral Silver… So yuk toma kalik toma soh jah ka.” the leader stated.Feral Silver, we believe in helping those who need it. ”
Feral had to keep playing translator as they traversed the canopy. Xalik only spoke once to explain that the path was made to be intentionally confusing. Toruk took over his explanation, stating that the maze is needed to keep intruders from finding their village and the Flesh Puppets from flooding the path if they ever found a way to get up into the canopy. Xebara added that it was like having many doors to escape from if necessary.
The party finally reached the village after a long trip. They made it a good distance closer to Greep. But they would need to stop at this village first.
The zebra village was small, smaller than expected. A tree top village, it hung in the canopy. Tiny huts sheltered zebra from the ooze dripping from above. The zebra all seemed to go about their own business not paying any mind to the newcomers. The village had odd looking bulging “things” hanging down from the higher parts of the canopy, they assumed these pods were hanging fruit of some kind. A large number of rather large bats sat in stacked cages, to fat to do much else. The village children stuck to the pathways, firmly under the eye of their mothers. Armed Zebra stood with a higher eye view, they stood on pieces of wood that were positioned higher than the lower levels. The village seemed very peaceful, they had adapted to their very strange way of life quite well.
"Xalic tommah sokij Xelatath." Toruk ordered.He just ordered the younger guy to find and bring someone named Xelatath. "
Xalic gave a solid nod and trotted away.
At some point Xebara had picked up Stone Wall and placed him on her back. He said nothing, enjoying the perks of being seen as a child, he didn’t have to walk through the mazed canopy.
Toruk looked to the party in silence. For the first time, even in the odd lame green color, War could see the age worn into his face and body. He was definitely older. That much was clear.
After only a few minutes, Xalic returned with a new Zebra. This one had dreadlocks and a spear on his back. The cloth in his leg a dark blue. Like the others most of his body was hidden in cloth.
"I am Translator, I welcome to village. I am Xalatath." He spoke, smile on his face.
"Xalatath... mook jah kal." Toruk stated, with a flair of his hoof he and his team left, Xebara setting Stone down with a sad smile.
"Handle this. "
"That was infestation team. Work on keep Flesh Puppets away. Good they reach you in time. Swamp slows us whose hearts still beat." Xalatath explained. "You must be tired, Swamp no place for beating heart. We have much food and drink, take what you need." the zebra explained openly.
"Thank you kindly. We need very little, and will not be a burden." Feral nodded.
"We greatly appreciate your generosity. Truly we do." Freya smiled.
The party was led around the small village, they were given cooked bats, tiny sacs full of a foggy liquid that seemed to be water, and tiny purple lumps that came from the hanging "fruits ".
War was the first first to drink the liquid, oddly enough she was surprised that it tasted exactly like strawberries.
After a good deal of time, somewhere in the range of thirty to forty minutes, Xalatath was about to leave the party to their own devices.
"We must get through the swamp if we are to reach Greep, I believe he is at the center of the swamp. Those puppets are going to need to be dealt with." Goliath boomed.
"On it. " Feral stated proudly in his vocal mind.
"We really appreciate the help. Not that we don’t like you’re village or anything, but we should really get going. First we need to know what we’re up against. What are those things down there? Is there anyway to kill them?" Feral inquired on Goliath's behalf.
"Those things down there be Flesh Puppets, they cannot be slain. They are undying. The best that can be done is to lead them away. The Infestation teams do just that. Then chop off limbs and heads. Then getting around very hard for them. But leaving this place would be foolish without escort. You lot do not know this swamp." Xalatath stated, his friendly demeanor shifting quickly to a much more serious one.
"If they are so bad, why don't you just all leave?" War asked not understanding what could compel a race to live in a land full of the undead.
"This is home. We have lived here for eons, since the very first of moon cycles, only a few hundred moon cycles ago did those monster show themselves, and darkness trenched us. But we make do. We find a way." Xalatath smiled with a pride for his village.
"We must hurry. This is a nice village but we need to find our friend." Ziz hurried.
"That place is full of puppets! It is too dangerous! You cannot go there!" Xalatath scolded.
"We will be fine. Now that we know that we can stop them, or at the least slow them down for a little while." War added
"Why you wish to go there!? Them monsters are worse in the deep! Things that creep and crawl through your meat. Monsters like twisted, sick jokes. Cruel shapes of things that once roamed. That is place where nightmares are born!" The Zebra warned, he moved his hooves around nervously.
"We have... A friend we think is in there, we need to find him. The sooner the better." Feral argued.
"If he made it that far he dead. I guarantee it. I am sad at your loss but he is gone. No point dying too! It not worth it." Xalatath glared.
"Your are sure he is alive right? " Stone asked what the others were thinking.
"Yes, he is fine. Just not conscious. We’ll need to wake him up is all." Fenrir answered.
"Its hard to explain, but if we can just get in there. Your canopies can be a wonderful help in speeding the process along. If you can just lead us there you can help us out immensely!" War elaborated with a light hoofstomp.
"That far out?! Then the puppets reach our canopy! No! Them things down there, can get to our village if they find the canopy paths! Horrible nightmare things they are! You saw that mare Xebara, her young son was taken by one of them… it was made of… rotting meat, looking like a snake but wore the faces of our dead. Our heartless friends! Our family long dead!" Xalatath tried not to yell. Still other zebra in the small village began to look their way.
"Okay! Take us there, then we will lead the puppets away from the canopy! Like just drop us off, you leave, we get our friend and make our way out!" Feral tried to get something from him at all, getting a taste of his reactions.
"No! I will not take risk! I am not dangering all my kin for one of yours." the zebra argued.
"Alright, Alright.” Feral decided to use all his skill of persuasion. The thief knew exactly what to say now. He knew how to get something from the zebra. “Listen. At some point, we are going back into the swamp. Be that to leave the way we came, or to go get our friend and keep on going. We could do that with you escorting us, making it faster and safer, or we go without you, into the swamp all slow and dangerous. In a few minutes, My friends and I are going to go through to the center of that swamp. With or without your help."
Xalatath hesitated "...You would really endanger all your lives? Just to find one who is surely dead!?"
"This is a special circumstance. Our end goal is really important. That and he means a lot to us." War started moving her breastplate armor, as if setting it before a long journey.
"I... I will not help you kill yourselves. That is not something I wish to be part of." the zebra still hesitant.
"Then at the very least, do you have any recommendations?" Feral grinned.He’s in. ”I'm sure. ”
"Don’t do this." Xalatath said with a sigh, and a longing look.
"Besides that?"
"... They follow flame... Those things... They seek out fire. The big ones... They are harder to stop, but fight them the same. slice them into bits, bury them if you can..." Xalatath looked at his for a moment. “Damn it… Fine I will take you part way through the canopy. But please… this is suicide.”
“Maybe it is for others… but for us… Well, We’ll be fine.” Stone Wall put a tiny hoof on the Zebra. Xalatath gave the "colt" a odd look.
“This as far as I go. I will not risk anymore.” Xalatath whispered. Stopping, he pointed down at the swamp with a hoof.
“Thank you for taking us this far.” Freya gave him her signature smile.
“Xalatath. Demija hunok twah jah moha gotha meno suta. Zemano… Zemano groosda mutana. Zemeno domaja uhrah-ha…” Feral stated brooding.
“Falakalo muyasha Feral… hunok majah. Zemeno thralla gajia hosoomba.” Xalatath replied after a standard.
“What was that?” War asked with a little laugh.Fenrir? "
Feral made an odd gesture. Tapping his chest, then his head and eye. Xalatath did the same thing simultaneously. With a nod. Feral was the first to jump down through the canopy. The rest of the party following him soon after.
With a rather loud and messy splash in the mud. The party looked about for the Flesh Puppets. None had revealed themselves. Yet. Freya flapped into the air, Stone was pleased with staying on Feral. The party pushed westward. Moving slowly, they kept a nightvision powered eye out for the monsters that could be lurking near by.
“What was all that at the end their Feral. ” Freya thought, not wanting no make any unnecessary noise.
“I already said, Not any of our business. Really not even mine. I just got stuck in the middle of it. ” he thought back.
“That’s fine too.” Freya gave him a grin.
With a moan. The first cyst began to push upward through the swamp.
“I’m… sorry! ” The Flesh Puppet moaned as it lunged toward Freya, who quickly shot upward. Feral pushed the thing forward. Freya’s lance strike was quick. She took off it’s head, but that did not stop it. A second swing took a leg, as did the nest three. The torso just sank in the muck as they pushed through.
“Easy enough.” Freya beamed.
“Umm. In small number yes.” War stated as she sped up her pace immensely. Feral and Freya turned and saw the horde of Flesh rising through the mud. “Run! Gallop! Just keep moving!” Goliath added.
The party had no choice but to flee. They were outnumbered and surrounded in seconds. More focused now. Stone began to make short hoof jabs from atop his furry friend. As he did the mud in the swamp water pushed out. He was able to knock them over from a safe distance. The mud at any of the creature’s hooves shoving them down.
Freya played bodyguard, anything that got too close was sliced into pieces. Her lance and power of flight allowing her to do so from a safe distance. Their back up being War and Goliath lobing a fireball in the opposite direction. The Flesh would immediately chase after it. Some would even let themselves catch on fire.
They kept this up for a long time. For a solid hour the party kept at a high speed. Stone and Behemoth’s jab’s pushing the Flesh down. Freya and Ziz slicing through them if they got close, and War with Goliath’s fireballs pushed away the attention of a large group. The Flesh came at them endlessly.
However. While not stopping, the number of the creatures did begin to slow. Probably not by chance, at the same time they saw something straight ahead of them. What looked to be a giant wall of fog. While not far away they still had a ways to go to reach it. What worried them the most was that the closer they became to the fog. The less Flesh Puppet’s seemed to be attacking.
Before long the fog was only a few minutes or two away. The Flesh had stopped it’s chase. The party took the moment to catch it’s breath. As they did, they noticed their surroundings for the first time.
“Hey, this swamp is actually mud. Look it’s brown! Not… whatever color it was before.” Stone stated with a grin as he noticed the swamp below.
“And look these trees actually look… green?” Freya gasped.
“Okay… this fog just got way freakier.” War stated with more fear then she would have liked to show.
A great and powerful moan filled the air.
A giant cyst began to push through the black mud just a few yards away.
NO MORE
Rotting gray meat slid out of the muddy tomb.
KILL ME
The size of four Freyas, It rose.
LET IT BE OVER
Appearing to be made entirely of severed heads, the twisted body looked like a both massive but thin frog. As the “frog ”’s “eyes ” opened, hundreds upon hundreds of loose eyeballs sat meshed together. Some glazed over, others not. Each head screamed out obscenities. Each head cried for death.
“Fucking shit…” Feral cringed.
“How the hell do we stop that thing!” Freya wanted to scream.
“That’s fucking disgusting.” Stone held back a gag.
“The dead should be allowed to rest in peace. This thing is more than a monster. It needs to be killed.” War gritted her teeth. She felt a chill rush down her spine. It’s utterly putrid odor sticking to her throat. Her goosebumps crawled.
“Set it ablaze. We render it into ashes.” Goliath snarled.
Static clicked at Freya’s feathers.
“Feral, Don’t move. It’s time for a little teamwork.” Stone stated, real mud beginning to slide over Feral’s body at a haunting pace.
“Alright. Feral and Stone. I trust you can get that thing’s attention?” War somewhat asked, but more over ordered.
“You got it boss.” Stone remarked
“Freya, you ready?”
“Born ready.”
“The one-two punch guys. The one-two punch.” War grinned. Freya’s body moving over hers.
In a matter of seconds, Feral and Stone had transformed into a mud golem big enough to rival the Flesh Frog. Stone dried the mud into a crisp and hard outer shell. Their Golem began to charge the Frog.
END ME
With a slam, the Golem rushed into the Frog, which stumbled. It tried to grasp the Golem, but Stone disconnected anypart that it touched. They slid out it’s “hands” every time. War and Freya had vanished.
The Golem made a few attacks. Punching and kicking the frog. It slowly began to fall apart however. From the Frog’s attacks and the dripping ooze from above, the Golem would not last long.
After the Golem took it’s last attack, Stone had it shoot out Feral and himself. Ejecting them into the real mud beside the wall of fog. The Frog did not notice the lance now in it’s back. Mud golem sloppily holding the Frog in place.
RAAGAAH
Placed there by a stealthy griffin, it didn't notice. Instead, it closed in on the two it had been fighting. Dragging with it the melting husk of the Golem.
Freya let out a flap and a bolt of lightning, which held the Frog in place. Feral and Stone were in the mud, which Stone safely grounded. The lightning stopped the beast instantly.
“One.” Freya smirked.
The frog shook and trembled violently. Electricity flowing through out the meat, stunning the nightmare. All of those eyes couldn’t take the voltage and began to burst. The meat was being cooked by the electric blast that flowed freely through the dead meat.
BURN
“TWO.” Stone shouted. Feral and Stone both throwing their entire body upward in a full body uppercut. A large hard mud hoof did the same just underneath the Frog, the mud hoof slugged it’s body upward on to two legs. Electricity still flowing through it, the Frog was stuck on it’s two back legs. Belly exposed. The Golem still holding on tight.
BUUURN
A giant thick hot pink fire ball collided with it’s underside. Pushing the Frog far back and setting it ablaze. With a pink burst of flames, the Frog was wrapped in pink flames. It wanted to sink back into the murky sludge below, but Stone's Golem held it up, keeping it from sinking away. Together the Golem and the Frog blazed, burning away into ashes.
“Punch.” War felt the smile on her face.
“That went well! Haha!" Feral laughed.
“Wonderful control of the Golem Wolfy.” Stone placed himself back on Feral's back.
“Great teamwork. A great leadership War.”
“Astounding combo! We work well together.” Freya smiled that smile of hers.
“Now that the Frog is disposed of. Hurry. In to the fog. We are very close!” Fenrir hurried the party along.
“Whoa… shit.” Stone Gasped.
Inside the fog, the party found Greep. Deep, Deep within the fog. There sat an altar. A stone altar. It sat on a small bundle of soil that pushed over the silky water around it, the green grass looked clean and moist. Surrounding that altar, a massive collection of bones. Bones from nearly every animal imaginable, rabbit, snake, deer, pony, dragon, wolf, falcon, even bones that the party did not recognize, just bones. Skulls of everything that contributed to the bone piles also sat within the stack. Piles and piles of dry, white, brown, tan, sanded, and haunting bones. Some brittle, others still looked strong. Sitting on the altar, pure white equine bones wrapped gently by a thin black veil. No trace of meat or even a scratch upon the bones. They sat perfectly set as if particularly placed by someone. Thin green vines had wrapped around them, holding them in place as if keeping them still. Astoundingly, their sight even returned to normal. They could see just as if it was day in this fog, but only near the altar.
“Greep! Wake up!” Goliath roared out of War. But the bones didn’t move.
“That is what Lifeblood and Greep look like when they sleep.” Fenrir replied casually.
“They… look like bones?” Feral questioned.
“Indeed.” Behemoth nodded.
“You say it so casually.” Stone was still in surprise, he pondered for a moment on what kind of creature Greep could be.
“It is casual. No real concern besides the fact they won’t wake up.” Ziz stated, as Freya moved in closer to the pile of bones.
“Those two will not wake up on their own.” A new voice pierced the fog. The party immediately looked around for the source of the sound. A Zebra sat causally. At the edge of their vision. He was wrapped in a dark red wood colored cloak. His mane cut short and made to stand up looking like the trunk of a tree. A bandana was twisted around his head. On each of ears, four earrings dangled, each looking like a tiny and sharp knife. Tied on his front legs, two odd looking rods.
“You aren’t from that village.” Feral growled, his body ready for a fight.
“No. I certainly am not. My tribe is not stupid enough to live in zombie infested territory. It is a divine miracle that no kingdom near this place has not razed this place to the ground..” The Zebra laughed.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Freya stated with a serious face.
This is a development
“I know they can’t wake up. If they could, they would be here right now.” The zebra stallion remarked, leaning back cooly.
War Bond gave him an angry violent looking glare, partly due to Goliath's will.“How do you-”
“Do realize that if you have any plans to wake these two you all will need me."- his voice did not wane, nor did his words, he knew the language well, not like Xalatath. -"My tribe has been soulbonding for generations. I can tell you what is wrong with the pile of bones. I may not know your plan. What those things are. Or who or what you are. But if you have any intention of hurting me, any plans you have may run into a snag.”
Press him.
“Explain yourself.” War grimaced.
With a deep sigh, the Zebra stood up.
“My tribe sent me to investigate why so many Mythos are now traveling together. Mythos being our word for those ancient being you are all tied to. I figured this would be the best place to meet you... Well the safest. You wont hurt me if I am the only one who can give you the chance to wake these two.”
“You know about them?” Feral gave the zebra a vile and angry glare.
“In particular? No. But I can feel them. They hang like black clouds.” He gave an annoying grin.
How does he know what is wrong with Greep?
“We won't hurt you. Not unless you aim to impede our goal.” War stated level-headedly.
“I will help you if you answer my questions. Why are you all together now? Why is there another group of Mythos gathering near here? And why are there even more gathering in the far north?”
The Dragonlands! Atlas is building his army! He really does mean to bring a war!
The worst has been confirmed. We must stop Atlas now. The sooner the better.
He can sense the others. Perhaps he would make a useful ally. Speed this all up a bit.
His knowledge of soulbonding could come in handy.
Tell him what he wants to know, it makes no difference to us, we already have to stop Atlas, what is a tribe of Zebra.
“We aim to stop the beings in the north. An ancient dragon Mythos named Atlas plans to raise an army and end the lives of all non-dragon life forms. We need our friends together so we can stop him. The other group nearby is working for him and trying to stop us. We need to get these two up. This pile of bones is our friend apparently, and he is asleep and will not wake up, If you can help us, please do. We were given this quest by Princess Celestia. We could really use you on the team. If you wouldn’t mind.” Freya said in a single breath. Her eyes and face dead serious.
The zebra sat on that for a while. He looked to each member of the party. Then gave a sigh. Moving toward War, he stretched a hoof.
“My name is Abvol of the Haemon Tribe. I will aid you all in your quest. However, if I find out you are lying, you will sleep like these two.”
“We are glad to have your help. Don’t worry. We aren’t lying. Now. If you wouldn’t mind keeping your part of the deal.” Feral slicked out.
“I will keep to my word. These two are trapped in their minds. My tribe has created a special powder crafted from rare roots that can send the soulbound into that state of existence.They have been in this place for a long while, chances are it is my tribe who did this to them, and I take it upon myself to aid you for what my kin did long ago. There in the melded minds they must face their innermost demons. Both of them must overcome whatever demons they may have if they are to ever awaken. I can send three of you into their mind to aid them, Three being, one without the soulbound partner, and the other with their other half. Simply said. Only three, total, can go. Any more can break the sleeping one’s mind.”
“War Bond, You Fenrir and Feral go.” Goliath order, his voice echoing from War’s mouth. This however did not get any reaction out of Abvol.
“Wait! Why us!?” War asked surprised. No one else seemed to question Goliath’s judgment.
“Greep will want to see a friendly face, his closest friend was Fenrir. She has to go. Feral because he also has a silver tongue, and talking maybe needed for those inner demons. You go under my will. Yell at those two if you have to. Fenrir is the kind one. Feral plays the middle ground and you play the angry one.” Goliath gave his reasoning with a straightforward attitude.
“But you are way better at being mad then I am!” War stated, not entirely sure why she part of her did want to go into the pile of bone’s inner and darkest mind.
“Exactly, now go! I am going to stay here and make sure the new one is trustworthy.” Goliath stated, moving War’s sight to glare down Abvol, who once again did not react to Goliath.
“Go War, We can handle things here. Don't worry.” Ziz stated. Reeling Freya to move in her direction.
“Besides, you are the most level-headed out of all of us. ” Freya added with a grin. She gave War a pat on the back.
“Yeah, we are going to need you in there. I’m pretty psycho incase you forgot. ” Feral thought with a laugh.
With a smile and a breath from his nostrils, Abvol smirked. “I assume you lot are talking it over?”
Feral stepped forward. “I will go, with me is the Mythos Fenrir. The Great Wolf. We will go. Be warned. If this is some kind of trick, The agony you will feel for any kind betrayal to me, or any of my friends here, will be so excruciating that you will pray for death for the rest of your life, which I assure you, will be a very long time.” Feral glared straight at Abvol. Their eyes locked for a moment of silence.
“Turn out to be sincere, and he’ll do the same to your enemies that betray you… He means well.” War smiled mildly. Not sure what to make of Abvol just yet.
“I am glad to see I have made such a passionate ally. By the way, I feel I must warn you. Fail to wake the two trapped, and you will be trapped with them.” Abvol added calmly.
“Already figured as much. Thats good. I work best under pressure.” Feral gave War a grin.
“I will be going as well. Just me. Not my Mythos.” War added proudly.
“For the record. Mythos sounds way better than Old One Feral.” Fenrir commented.
"We'll talk about that when I get back. " Feral grumbled.
Abvol pulled out a small pouch, then a second one. He trotted to Feral first. “Take your hooves and place them upon the sleeping.-” Feral lifted his claws, and Fenrir clutched the pearl colored bones on the altar. “-Or claws that works too. Now take a deep breath...” Abvol smiled. Opening the pouch, a small amount of light pale green powder sat. With a puff Feral took a deep breath of the powder cloud. Almost instantly. He fell limp, unconscious.
Abvol repeated the process for War Bond. However, he used a pale purple powder instead. The sensation of the powder rushed her head. Everything seemed to stop and blur. She felt herself separate from Goliath the same way she did when they go to that weird plane of existence.
“Where am I?” was the very first thing I thought in this strange place. This mind I sojourned into with a wolf and half a dragon. A place deep within the mind of two beings I had never so much as seen... Either we were in such a rush we made a few mistakes, or that Zebra played us. I decided right then that it was too late to worry about that. I'll let my friends who stayed behind deal with that Zebra, and I will focus on getting these two to wake up. Fenrir must be worried, she has known that Greep hasn't been moving, and to see him asleep despite her being so physically close... Hell, Behemoth came to us after all. This guy-er... thing can't even wake up...
I was in a building. Well, the stone walls and... no the cobblestones walls and floor gave it away, along with all those torches on the wall. The rug carpet was nice enough.
Honestly I figured the inside of a mind would be different… I expected... less. Structure? Looking around. I was in a really long hallway with like… a billion doors. Literally, like a billion doors! They just kept going and going. The fucking hallway went on for miles. As far as my eye's would see.
The next thing I noticed with my very first step. That was that I had hooves. Not claws. Fuck! That means no Fenrir. No Fenrir means my smell and hearing are way down! And with War Bond no where in sight I was on my own. Shit! I really hate it when I don’t have Fenrir’s sense of smell and hearing. On top of that I was on my own. Damn.
The next thing I had to do was to check my surroundings for War and Fenrir. That made me more annoyed, since I can normally do that with a sniff and a raised ear. So I looked in both directions of the hallway. No one. Just doors. Shit. I needed to try some of these doors, there were a million anyway, maybe one of them had something useful, or War or Fenrir could be trapped in one of these rooms. Opening them couldn't be too horrible. Part of me felt like I was making excuses to open the doors, no idea why I'd do that, but I still had this weird feeling in my gut. Who knows, maybe I was just curious.
I tried the door. Nothing special marked the door. It looked just like the other infinity doors. Always trickier with hooves. Why the hell we ever invented knobs in the first place I’ll never know. With a twist the doorknob rotated. Unlocked. Good. With a light shove, the door rolled open. It did not open into a room.
What the hell, this was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was Goliath, but he looked all young. He was speaking, it was as if I was looking through eye’s of someone else, just like when Fenrir takes over our body.
“-Can’t do things like that. I… You aren’t bad or evil. Do not listen to her.” Goliath was talking to whoever’s eye I was looking through.
“Are you sure? Am I not… evil?” a tired voice spoke.
Goliath let out a smokey breath. After a short pause. “I’m no good at this… But… I know you aren’t evil. But in the end, only you can decide whether or not you are a good… you. Do you understand?”
The eye’s I was looking through looked down, long dark cloths wrapped around body I couldn’t fully see. “I… Yes.”
With a slam the door shut in my face. I was forced to my ass. I just sat… thinking about what I just saw. Alright.. I am in Greep and Life Blood’s mind. That was obviously one of Greep’s… memories? I looked at the seemingly infinite hallway. Each door must be a separate memory. Would they be in the order that they happened? I have no idea how to get the hell out of here…. ? Fuck .
War Bond shook herself awake. Immediately she was face to face with a wolf. She recognized the way fur blended into different colors. “Fenrir.” She smiled to the wolf.
“War Bond. I can’t find Feral.” Fenrir replied nervously.
War was still in the daze of her waking, she took her surroundings in for a moment. She was in a very shallow pond, more of a big puddle really. Around her was a thick, and dark blue forest. It was as if she was looking at a forest from a great distance away, but the trees didn’t become more clear as she got closer, so being up close didn’t remove the haze around them. They all seemed blurred and blue. For some reason unknown to both of the girls, Fenrir was just a might bigger then War Bond. Big for a wolf. Small for a Mythos.
The words Fenrir had just spoken set in a minute or two later.
“What do you mean you can’t find Feral?” War asked, the gravity of someone being lost in a mind setting in.
“I can’t find him. I do not smell him, I do not hear him… He isn't around here at all...” War Bond was sure she sounded worried, she knew Fenrir was trying to hide her concern.That probably wasn't good.
“That… might not be good.” War stated, a bit worried herself, a lot was happening fast.
“Let’s prioritize, if we find Greep and Life Blood, they can help us find him.” Feral stated, the slightest bit of hesitation on her tongue fading. She masterfully hid her worry.
“Alright, that is a plan but… where do we go? How do we find a Mythos in a soulbound mind?” Where are we? What can we even do here? Is it dangerous?" War asked, hoping that she could offer help of any kind.
“Perhaps we were hasteful in pouncing on this so soon. We will have to play this by ear. That is a saying correct?” Fenrir’s hindsight kicked in.
It felt like I had been walking for hours. The sound of my stupid hooves clippity clomping with every step poked me in my brain, it was fucking annoying as hell. I tried not to think. My mind wandering isn’t good. I tend to get… worse. "It’s okay in battle "- I repeated to myself. -",but lapsing into my battle tendencies here could be very bad. Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think. "-I kept repeating that in my head over and over again. -"Don’t think. Don’t think. " As I walked and walked, I tried to focus on my stupid hooves. For an instant. I remembered… a mental image. A bad one. That was all it took without Fenrir in my head to keep me in check.
A pony, face caved in. Covered in blood. I remember the kill. The rush I got. That ultimate fucking satisfaction from when a hoof bashes so hard the bone caves in or breaks! The splash of hot blood on my face! I let out an orgasmic moan unintentionally. Getting a hit in at that perfect angle, so their eye pops! That glorious, amazing, utterly fucking fantastic feeling when you feel the life drain from their body with every hit, kick, stab, or slash! IT GETS ME SO RILED UP. I CAN’T TAKE.
I threw open the first door I felt. I needed to get my mind away from all the bloodlust.
I was relieved when I saw her face. All my lust vanishing almost instantly. Fenrir looked at Greep’s face here. She looked noticeably younger, but I recognize my Fenrir anywhere.
“Okay, How about this? I promise that if he ever yells at you again, I’ll be here for you. I already scolded him, so he will probably apologize next time he sees you. You know how he gets.” Fenrir was talking in her nice voice. The voice she uses to try to comfort her friends. She’s done it for me a lot so I recognize it pretty well.
“That… is okay. Fenrir… I am worried. Yes.. I mean... He wasn’t wrong. Everything he said was… right…”
“Gr-”
“You can't deny it. I am not… like all of you. He was correct.”
“No he was wrong. But even if he was correct, that doesn’t make him right.” Fenrir explained.
“But-”
“No, Listen to me. We all know how you are. You do not have a problem you… your just different. That doesn’t make you wrong. Or terrible. He was mad. You know it hasn’t been very long since… that. He hasn’t been the same… He’s only had a few centuries to let it sink in. He just let out his anger in the wrong place, he had no right to say those terrible things.” Fenrir made a face I actually had never seen her make before… but I recognized the ticks. The facial ticks. She was sad. She was distraught. That was the same face a heartbroken mare makes...
“...Fenrir... honestly… do you think I am a monster?”
“No. You aren’t a monster.” She said, that sad heartbroken smile still on her face. I bothered me that she made that face but has never told me about anyone that would give that face to her… who could give her that face.
Greep gave a short laugh. ”You’re still thinking about him aren’t you.” I guess he could sense it too.
Fenrir just looked at Greep… There was a long, long silence.
“Of course… I love him.” she said with a sigh that was partially a laugh.. What the fuck! She loved someone! How could she not tell me?! How could I not just find out!? Was she keeping secrets from me?! How many more could she have?! My mind rushed unable to handle that information properly.
“You fell in love with him? Would you mind telling me why?” Greep was speaking too calmly. I wanted answers. I was freaking out.
“I have no idea… just somewhere along the way… I just realized it. His smile. The ways he tries to show he cares. How he has always been there for me… But this isn’t why I am here, we aren’t here to talk about why I am in love with Goliath, I am here to tell you that those things he said were wrong, no matter what.”
The door slammed in my face. But I couldn’t move… Fenrir… My dearest and closest friend, she was family, she a part of me... and she was in love with Goliath… I realized how wrong what I had just done was. That might have been something the two only shared with each other. And I invaded that memory. I was looking into the deepest part of Greeps mind. I had no right to be there. I sat for a long time in pure utter silence. Then I just started puking my guts out.
After I ran out of vomit, my head cleared up pretty good. Then I made a realization. I could figure out what direction to go! If I opened another door, and saw Fenrir again depending on whether or not she looked older or younger I could determine both whether or not these memories were in the order they were made, and if I was going into older or newer memories! But that would mean invading the privacy of Greep again…
Wait a minute… Even if I did figure all that out. Would the exit be at where the memories started, back in the older memory direction? Or would the exit be where the newest memories were being placed?... Fuck! Just pick a direction then I guess! Good I wanted to be angry, I didn’t want to think about Goliath and Fenrir.
I ended up deciding to just keep going in the direction I was already going in. Might as well just keep going right?
The hazy forest was a labyrinth, a maze of trees locked War Bond and Fenrir in a blue haze. Nothing was clear. The two walked together, they had been wondering lost for some time. Simply moving with the hopes of finding someone. They found no one thus far. No sounds, nothing but a foggy hazy.
“We’ve been wondering for a long time. We are pretty lost aren’t we?” War asked, looking to Fenrir as she walked.
“Indeed, I hope we can find someone soon. I’m worried. Time may go at a different rate. We may have been here for roughly an hour, but it is impossible to tell how much time has passed outside of this mind.” Fenrir explained.
“Do you really think time might be traveling different in here?” War had never experienced anything like this. She looked to the She-Wolf Mythos for guidance.
“In one’s mind, anything may be possible.” Fenrir replied with grin. A soothing smile.
“I guess, I’ll take your word for it. You know these two better than I do.” Her attention focused on Fenrir, she nearly ran into a tree. She brushed up against that tree roughly.
The tree hazed heavily. Fogging in, it hazed to form a spectral image of two ponies. Tall, as if the two were looking up at them from the ground.
“What are we going to do! What if this broke the chain! Our people have spent centuries working for this, and we might have ruined everything! ” The first figure stated with a panicked voice.
“We might not have. Everything might be fine! The ritual still might work, even if it doesn’t, we might be able to blame somepony else. We can figure something out! We still have time! ” the second figure’s voice was still very panicked.
With a glimmer the tree fogged back up. Hazing heavily, it returned to a it’s foggy and blurred state.
“What... was that?” War asked, full of confusion.
“I have a faint idea… One moment.” Fenrir walked to another tree. Then gave a forceful push with her paw.
The tree repeated the same process. Glimmering into the specters of several hooded pony. All of them tall, looking down at the wolf and the dragonslayer.
“This cannot be! ”This isn’t what was supposed to happen. ”This is wrong! ”No! Why! Seventh son of a seventh son of a seventh “son”! The prophecy can’t come through if it’s a girl! ”The child can’t be a girl! ”How did this happen! ”
The voices came all at once in a hysterical panic.
The tree faded just like it did last time. Blurring into the fog once more.
“I believe these could be some kind of… memories?” Fenrir stated uneasily.
“What makes you think that?” War raised her eyebrow. “Kind of a long shot don’t you think?”
“What else could they be?” Fenrir stated seriously.
“I have absolutely no idea.”
“Come now, War Bond. We should not be here. Let us keep moving.”
I was getting really tired of all the nothing around me. I was tempted to open up another door. I wouldn’t be breaking too many rules would I? Along the list of my wrong doings, this wasn’t too horrifying. I tried to justify my curiosity. I didn’t want to... lapse again so soon. There were plenty of other motivators.
At the end of my ear, I heard crying. Soft… gentle sobs, just at the edge of my hearing. I slowed myself down, and stepped lightly, hating how much more noise hooves made then soft padded claws. I was still able to track down where the crying came from. With a push the door open the memory began.
I watched from Greep’s eyes yet again, as he spied on two clothed ponies and a tiny picnic basket. Everything was covered in snow. White were all around . He hid behind something… probably some trees. He watched the ponies from the shadows.
“I… we can’t do this can we? ” a mare’s voice stated sadlyWhat other choice do we have? ” a stallion stated with a morbid tone.This is wrong… ”It is, but it’s us or her. ”She’s my daughter… she’s your daughter… ”She’s our daughter… I know. This isn’t easy for me either, but we have to do this. ”... this is wrong… ” The mare cried softly…We will be exiled. One life for both of ours. We can always have another. ” The stallion tried desperately to justify whatever it was they were doing.
Wordlessly, the two set the picnic basket down and trotted away. After the sound of their steps faded away, we moved toward the tiny basket. The crunching of snow marking each of our steps. Greep peered in the basket. A tiny white unicorn filly sat in the basket, bundled up like a rare treasure. Her fur and mane matched the snow.
“Oh! Hello tiny baby. I thought you were food. Ponies usually put food in baskets like that one.” Greep’s offputting voice stated flatly. The filly just turned her head curiously at us.
I heard a puff of laughter as Greep stared at the infant in silence. “Ponies normally get fear when they look upon me. Funny. I can stab fear into any heart, but you don’t even seem worried little tiny baby.” Greep just continued looking at the tiny thing.
“I wonder where those two ponies went. They just left you here. Odd. Some ponies can be weird… Wait a moment. What if you are food! What if they want to eat you small tiny little baby! No wait, cannibalism is usually looked down on. I was scared there for a moment mini small tiny little baby.” Greep kept talking to the thing as if he expected to talk back to him.
“Wait. Don’t you ponies get cold. With all this snow you could freeze! If I didn’t know any better, I’d think those two left… you……. Uhhhmmmm. Oh no.” Greep finally broke eye content and began to look around. Nothing but forest trees and snow. “Oh no… Well ummmmmm….”
Greep looked around more. Much more frantically.
“Alright! Do not worry teeny mini small tiny little baby. I’ll help you. I can raise a pony baby by myself! Well… probably.”- he looked back at the infant who was now reaching up, trying to touch him. -“Hey, Baby, do you think you’ll be okay with me?.”- The baby just kept trying to touch him. Babbling softly. -”Yeah… me neither. But it’s okay… I have an idea.” His face went down low. Lightly touching the forehead of the confused infant, who took advantage of his closeness and began poking his face. I remember that… he is binding his and the baby’s souls… That baby had to be Life Blood. With a bright light blinding both me and Greep, the door closed.
A small thud landed right next to me. Looking over I saw a small pure white unicorn mare, huddled on the floor. Her face was a feverish shade of red. She hid her body behind her legs. Eyes wide she gazed at me. That can’t be Life could it? She was so very white, like snow white.
That is when I saw the black aura from her horn. And my throat begin to tighten. No! She’s strangling me! I have to focus, I might do something I will regret if I lapse now! I struggled, glaring her down. My body began to move on it’s own. NONONONONONO! I began moving closer, each step made her flinch. My mind flooded with mental pictures, all of her bloody, bloody mangled body. I lusted for her blood. I wanted to stain that white fur with her blood.
MY body threw itself forward, tackling her and pinning her down under me. My throat throbbed in pain, and the lack of air began to burn my lungs. NO, NO, NO DO NOT HURT HER THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE ANYTHING ELSE!
I did just that. I did something to get my mind off bloody murder and all of the amazing things it made me feel. I slammed my face into hers and pressed my lips against hers as hard as I could. My eyes locked with hers. I felt her grip on my neck loosen, I broke both of our concentration. She dropped the spell in utter shock. I grinned, standing and falling to my side. I gave a hard and painful swallow, then a equally painful series of coughs.
“Sorry, about that…” I cracked out. The mare was somehow even redder in the face now. Is she sick or something? I hope I didn’t just infect myself. Her eyes were full of tears. They streamed down her face.
“You…. bastard….” she whimpered, still hiding herself. What the hell is with this mare? Why does she keep doing that?
“I said sorry, you didn’t let me explain. You went straight to choking me!” I growled at her.
“So!! Y-You just stole my innocence!? What are you demon! How did you invade this place! Or are you just another nightmare!” The tears still pouring down her face.
“Stole your- The kiss? It was just a kiss! And I’m no demon! I’m here to help!” I tried to explain.
“Just a kiss!? Are you not satisfied-” she let out a small gasp, more tears began to stream”- You aim to force yourself on me foul demon!?” She squinted hard, trying to get her horn to strangle me again I assumed. She couldn't get her horn to spark.
“What!? No! Stop that! I. Am. Not. A. Demon! I'm a... relatively good guy!” I shouted.
“Liar!” She shouted back.
“I’m here to help!” I felt myself growling. My tail instinctively lifted. Ears slid back. I knew anger wouldn’t help, I was mad anyway. This was not the first time I was called a rapist and didn’t like it the first time either.
“Help what?! Help yourself to my supple flesh you foul demon!” Her horn began to glow again. Shit.
“Stop! For the last damn time! I’m here to help you!” I grabbed her face, I stared into her face, eyeing her. Forcing her to lock eyes with me, tears stopping, her spell dropping again as her face burned bright red. “Look into my eyes! I am not going to rape you. I am not going to hurt you! I want to help you wake up! If you don’t stop trying to strangle me, I’ll… kiss you again and again and again! Now tell me if I am fucking lying!” I toned down what I was initially going to say. This one had extremely less swearing.
With that I threw her away from me. Sitting down properly, I looked at her. She was breathing heavily, sitting up more but still hiding her body like she had some hideous deformity on her body. Her face was much less red now, but still a tinted pink. She stopped crying at least. But still sniffled her snot. Her mane was a messy and unruly mop. She looked like she had been crying for a very long while.
“You aren’t lying… But you are still pervert.” she replied softly.
“How am I a pervert?” I asked, feeling by bruised neck.
“How?! You pinned me down and stole my kiss! ” She yelled at me.
“Compared to what I wanted to do, consider yourself lucky.” My comment made her redden again, I didn’t realize how that kinda hurt my “I am not a rapist” argument until after it left my mouth. “Not like that! I wanted to kill you! Murder you! I don’t want to get into the details, that wouldn’t be good for either of us.”
“Are you really here to help?” She eyed me suspiciously. I was upset, I needed to start controlling my words again.
I rolled my eyes. “How can I prove I wanna help you? Listen, all of that nastiness could have been avoided if you just talked to me instead of trying to strangle me!” I wanted to growl.
“Sorry, but when I see a stallion I have never seen before in my life, and I am completely naked, I freak out! Especially since were in my mind, and my mind is melded with someone else’s!” She argued.
“Naked? We are ponies, we don’t wear cloths! I don’t even like to wear armor!” I laughed. She just got more red somehow!
“See! You are a pervert! What kind of modest pony walks around with the world looking at her bare flesh! Her soft fur exposed!” She yelled at me some more after that but I tuned her out. Instead, I thought about Fenrir, and how she would handle this…. I waited for her to finish her lecture.
“I’m sorry.” I said, hating the fact that I just pulled a Fenrir. She just stopped, she started looking at me with a odd look.
“I am sorry for kissing you. I am sorry for stealing your innocence . That was not my intent. I tend to have… murderous tendencies when I fight. I didn’t want to hurt you, so I did the first thing I could think of that wasn't violent. To be honest, I think it is super weird that a kiss means that much to you. And that you don’t want me to see you naked. But… we are obviously different and I apologize. It was still wrong for me to do, and I am sorry.” If Fenrir was here, she’d giggle at that I did this without her telling me to do it five times first. As a final attempt at apologizing I turned around, focusing on a wall instead of her.
“I’m sorry too. I probably should have tried talking instead of going straight for your throat. You are still a pervert though.” I heard her from behind me. Yes. Progress. I think. She wasn't like any mare I had ever met.
“Hate me later, Now then. Can you please wake up now so we can leave?” I really hoped that we were done here and could just somehow leave.
“I can’t.”
“What?”
“If I could just wake up, I would have a long time ago. But I can’t .”
“Why not?!” I nearly growled again.
“I don’t know.”
I gave a deep sigh. “Well… let’s try to figure this out.”
Outside. The fog around the party was beginning to thin. Just barely, it was definitely still there. But they were now able to see a small distance around them. The change was a bit scary, but just barely noticeable.
“Is he okay?” Freya worried.
“He is fine. His throat may be a bit sore, it looks like something was strangling him. But he seems fine now.” Abvol replied, leaning over Feral.
“Do you know why he just finished twitching madly a few minutes ago. That came out of nowhere.” Stone Wall and Behemoth’s meshed voice was still a bit off putting.
“No. I do not. Do not forget, anything may happen in a mind. Especially the mind of a Mythos. Only through their will can the three be harmed.” Abvol replied again, stoically.
“Is there anyway for us to help them? They have been in there for a while.” Goliath pondered. War Bond’s body sat as if she was awake. Her eye’s open and everything. Goliath was simply in control of her body now.
“I doubt they will be able to hear us if we try to tell them anything. The bones are in a very deep sleep.” Abvol replied honestly.
Stone was audibly sniffing. “Do you smell that? Like a hint of rotten eggs or something ugh.” He sat up and moved to his fellow standing friends. Climbing up and onto Freya’s back.
The other prompted a similar sniff. “It’s definitely there, but it’s not that bad.” Ziz commented.
“I do not trust that odor.” Abvol mulled that over… “We should be on the look out. Perhaps the undead lurking outside the fog grow near. Hungry for new flesh.” the zebra worried aloud.
“If that’s true, then these guys better hurry and get Greep…” Behemoth groaned.
“We cannot rush this process. Only the wind knows what horrid nightmares they could be facing.” Abvol placed a hoof on the tiny Stone’s back. “Worry not of your friends. They will return shortly.”
Stone gave a yawn. “Oh yeah… I should explain some things… about me being a colt.”
Fenrir and War Bond moved along the forest floor. Still hoping that they were moving in the right direction.
A splash of water turned their attention.
A small puddle of water sat surround by trees. The water rippled from the center. Prompting the girls to investigate.
They approached it in a arid silence, the hazed forest all around them. The dark foggy blue tinting every color.
They approached and looked to the water. It’s reflection returning as the ripples slowly faded.
Their faces appeared in their replications shown in the mirror of water.
Along with a skull of a dragon.
They immediately dodged back. Looking to the tree’s that were just above them.
The black robes mostly wrapped and hid a shapeless figure. Almost completely hiding whatever lied behind the robes, the robes revealed the tips of bones poking through. Save for the hood. A hood was up, the same dirty jet black color of the robes. Forcing it’s way through that hood was the massive skull of dragon. Long stretching bones that faintly resembled a length of knotted arm bones from various creatures clutched the top a of a tree with freakish “digits of bones”. A second “arm” hung low. Clutching a rusty harvester’s scythe. The shadow like robes hid the entire lower body and torso.
“Greep.” Fenrir said with a touch of excitement and joy.
“That’s Greep! It’s like I am staring at death himself.” War nearly yelled.
“You aren’t to far off there missy.” a tired raspy voice spoke from somewhere behind the skull of the dragon.
The shapeless entity dropped with a literal bone crunching snap. The entirety slowly moved toward the girls. No trace of footsteps below it’s robes. No utterance of sound either. It soundlessly moved closer and closer. Harvester slowly gliding closer and closer, poised to strike.
“Greep. Calm yourself.” Fenrir ordered.
“I’ve been trapped in our mind for nearly two hundred years. Explain how you two are here, or I start harvesting.” The shapeless being replied with hauntingly raspy voice.
“It is I, your friend Fenrir. This is Goliath’s soulbound partner, War Bond. Now enough, calm down.” Fenrir ordered again.
“You expect me to just believe you?” Greep laughed, silently moving closer.
“A very long time ago, I made a promise to you. About a dragon friend of mine.” Fenrir stated, more annoyed than anything else.
Fenrir immediately found herself wrapped up in a very tight embrace. A kind, if a bit pokey, hug.
“Fenrir! Delightful! You’ve come to help me haven’t you!?” Greep tilted his head back, the dragon skull falling away into the hood. With a forward tilt, the hood slid forward and only darkness peered forward.
War Bond looked at the sight in disbelief. Not fully understanding what was happening. Greep completely shifted his tone.
“You are War Bond, yes?” The hood turned in her direction.
“Yes. Goliath’s soulbound partner.” She replied quickly.
The shadow that was Greep engulfed War in an equally passionate (and pointy) hug.
“I apologize, I have been here for a long time, please understand my confusion. I am Greep. Oh about my comment earlier, you see my name comes from what they local pony-folk started calling me. I am the Grim Reaper, or rather, The Grim Reaper is me. Based of my image I mean.”
“Oh…” War Bond was washed with an incredible feeling of unease. Gr im Reap er she realized.
“Now then. We need to find your little one.” Fenrir explained. “As well as my own.” She added after the fact.
“Your soulbond is here as well? I cannot wait to meet him!” Greep moved as if he was excited. It was hard to tell if he really was excited due to the lack of… most physical features. "Life Blood is this way, follow me."
I glared at this cobblestone wall something fierce. l couldn’t think of anything to help this damn mare. I couldn’t even tell if she was still here. Turning around risked her freaking out again, and I need her to trust me. My hearing was shitty, and my smell was basically non-existent compared to what I was used to. I was really pissed.
“You still there?” I growled unintentionally.
“Yes. Haven’t moved.” she replied to me.
“Good.” I need to think of something. My way of thinking isn’t getting me any ideas. Let’s see what she has thought of. “Any idea on how to get out of here?”
“I’ve tried everything I could think of already. I’ve tried waking myself up in every way possible, going to sleep in even more ways, and so on. I’ve opened nearly every door here. Nothing. Now way out. Were trapped here demon.” Her words didn’t help my mood any.
Alright, Fenrir has gotten me this far, what else would she say… She’d want to talk to that Abvol Zebra...wait a moment… Abvol... she keeps calling me a demon... demon.. he said something... about...Inner demons! That’s right!
“You wouldn’t happen to have any inner demons would you?!” Part of me was hoping for some literal demons, I like hurting things a lot.
“Inner demons? What do you mean?” she was confused... she had no idea what inner demons refers to... can't get a break now can I?
“Like a problem you don’t want to face. Something like… shame! Are you ashamed of anything?”
She didn’t reply. At all. That’s right. She probably doesn’t trust me… at all. I guess that whole kiss thing might have been more trouble than it was worth… Alright. Fenrir has gotten me this far, so now keep going with that. Fenrir… she would probably… try to comfort her, get her to open up by telling her something she is ashamed of… hmm. I don’t want to do that… but what other choice do I have… Shit… Oh well. All or nothing is how I like to play anyway.
“Alright. I think it’s safe to say I am not one of your favorite ponies right now. But, I had an idea. I am going to give you an example of some inner demons. My own experiences with my demons…” I waited to see if she would react or say anything. She didn’t. Any normal mare should have said something. None of my knowledge of mares would work on her, I fucked up my first impression too much. That plus she didn't act like any mare I knew.
“Well I am starting then…” I had take a pause… I actually was unsure on how to start. “Back when I was a colt… a long time ago… Well… Let me back up a little more. My parents, for some reason I will never know, left me for dead when I was a colt. Didn’t even have a cutie mark. My only memories of them are of them arguing and drinking... mostly the drinking. I don’t know who they were, or what their reasons for abandoning me were, but they did it. I was a smart kid though, I learned how to keep myself alive. Mostly off the back of others. To put it simply, I stole… everything. Food, water, toys, money, you name it. I stole it.”
“You just stole things from random ponies?” she asked intently. At least she was listening.
“I had to learn what to do, and I had to learn to survive that way. Not like I could get a job or anything, I was a kid. By the time I old enough to realize what it was I had been doing that whole time, or how wrong stealing is, no pony wanted me. I was the local thief. So I embraced it, I was a really good thief, so I got better. Stealing got easier and easier. When I was old enough to get a job, I didn't want to work, I had stealing. One day, I decide to find some new targets, move to a different town. I run into some rival thieves, two brothers who were abandoned like me. As it turns out, most thieves are a lot like me. Now I had partners in crime. We ransacked everything we could for our own gain. My friends grew from from two to four, then five, and eventually seven. We became a band of thieves, looking to get out rich.”
“You were the leader of a gang of thieves?”
“Yes and no. We were all young. Still what adults would call kids. Our early and mid teens. But we did do quite a bit of stealing. When we hit a rich ponies mansion, using the plan I created, I found myself with my cutie mark. I got it really late all things considered…-” I was silent for a while longer… trying to plan my words. “- Still time moves on, and we got older. When we reached young adulthood, we were still stealing… only thing was, ponies are a lot harsher on adults. In a single day, everything changed. A quick pickpocket turns south, knives get pulled and a fight breaks out. One brother knives the guy threatening the other brother. Blood everywhere. We go from thieves to murders in a matter of seconds. We now had the law pulling for us. And as these things turns out, the dead pony was a member of the Guard. We were never going to get away with it. They got us all in a matter of days.”
“All of you?”
“Every single one of us. We spent three days locked in a cell together. Then on the morning of the fourth day… I wake up alone..”
“What happened to your friends?”
“That was what I wanted to know. I start screamin’ “Where the hell are my friends!” the night guard looks at me, he was ending his shift... and he looks pissed, like he knows something’s up. He tells me. “Ain't got no friends kid.” I took it the wrong way… Start screaming more. Mean shit, about his mother and family. He turns around and starts talking. “Round these parts, just a few days ago, when you lot all got caught, some raider bandits came stollin’ by. Took a lot of men to stop them. Fewer nights ago they escaped us.” He goes on telling me how thirty something civilians were killed, more were raped and beaten, about fifteen guardponies wound up dead, even more were injured, and my “friends” made a deal.”
“What was deal?” she stated, from the sound of her voice, she really liked my story.
“That I end up the law’s bitch. Those fuckers scapegoated me. They walk away free ponies and I get pinned with everything… every thing. Shouldn’t have even bothered with the trial. I was guilty the second I walked in that damn court room. That Guard knew what was happening to me was wrong. He tried to help, but I told him not to. I didn’t want him to lose his job or something. I was sentenced to sixty-three life sentences. They weren't going to execute me, the whole fucking town wanted me to rot in the worst fucking jail possible. That was exactly what happened. I was sent to Black Reef Prison."
"Black Reef Prison?"
"A penitentiary located at the bottom of the ocean. Magic kept it from getting crushed by the sheer water pressure. No real light could reach it. It is mob rule, you do your best to find food and drinkable water, and stay away from the real psychos and murders. And it was cold. So cold you prayed you get enough to drink so you could piss yourself for a second of warmth.”
“By the Gods…” By the Gods? That one was new to me.
“That place... turned me into a monster. Those... murderous tendencies of mine started there. I hated those “friends ” of mine. I spent years in that prison. I longed to get out so I could rip them apart. I spent years hating and wanting to violate them. Hating my parents for abandoning me. Hating the only ponies who had ever called me their brother. Hating everything… and everyone That prison rotted me. Rotted my core. Turned me into a twisted abomination of hate, anger, and more hate. I was trapped in that dark horrible place of sheer terror for years…”
“But you are out now?”
“I escaped, but that’s not the point. You see, one night I realized something. All my hate. All my anger. All the time I spent fantasizing about my revenge… none of it mattered. None of those things changed anything. Chances were, I was going to rot down there. No amount of anger would get my parents or my old “friends ” in there with me. I would never get my revenge. And with all I stole, I didn’t deserve any. Funny thing is… If they had asked… I mean, if my "friends would have asked me to take the blame... I would have done it for them. I would have taken the knife in my back… For them.. before they betrayed me… I would have done anything for them, they were like family. Heh. Guess there is such a thing as too much loyalty. Anyway. My point is… As soon as I said “fuck it” and let everything just go… I felt better. Don’t get me wrong, in there I was a fucking lunatic monster, but when I forgot about the anger and hate… It just kinda… went away. Not dwelling on any of it… saved me. I had to let all that hate and baggage lose… and it was like this tremendous weight just lifted off of me. I don’t know what happened to you… or what you’ve been through. Nor do I have any right to. But… if you can… just… try to forget all that... shit. Just let it all go. It helped me… maybe it will help you.”
My eyes opened and I found myself eyeballing a Zebra. Abvol was inches away from my face.
“Abvol?!” Fenrir and I shouted simultaneously. Our voices mixing and making us sound badass. Abvol jumped back, smile on his face.
“You awaken!” he grinned ear to ear.
“What the hell? I’m awake?” I heard War Bond speak. Good, for some reason I was worried that only I and Fenrir had woken up.
“It is good to stretch these old bones!” I heard in a raspy voice.
Looking to them. The two stood on the altar. She was almost the same, but she appeared now to be part bone, and part badass . She was the same white mare, but her body was wrapped up in this weird eerie moonless night level black cloak. Where it pressed up had, only bones seemed to push out. Like it rubbed up on her skeleton itself. Her mane was just as mashed and messy. On her back, a small harvester’s sickle… Oddly enough… and I am embarrassed to admit it. But seeing her there… looking like a badass half skeleton warrior maiden… She was the most beautiful thing I had ever had the pleasure of looking at...
The party as close as close as it could be without actually being complete.
The party was getting excited for the future.
However before they could celebrate the arrival of their new friend. Something lurking in the fog wanted to intervene.
“It’s back…” Freya whispered. Apparently something had been prowling on them for some time.
In the edge of the fog, something dragged lumbering feet.
“We should deal with this thing.” Abvol voiced.
“What is it? That Frog from earlier?” Feral asked.
“Think bigger… think worse.” Behemoth and Stone voiced.
“Undead Dragon.” Goliath answered.
The rotting head of a dragon pierced the veil of the fog. The wretched odor of the monster would have been vomit inducing this close, but the party had been around the reeking of death for some time now.
“One-Two Punch?” Freya asked.
“We might need more. All together now!” War and Goliath’s voice smoothed together. “Freya. Hold it still. Feral. Agro! Stone. Crunch it! Life Blood, just fuck it up however you can!”
Freya flapped her wings, electricity sparking from her, she took to the air.
Being the first to close the distance toward the Flesh Dragon, Feral acted first. He dashed around the creatures front claws. Using it’s limited sight and the fog to his advantage, he kept just out of the beast’s attacks. Just dodging the swiping and stomping claws by the edge of his fur. Knowing he could do little actual damage, he instead took the creature’s attention.
Air to her advantage, Freya reached the thing next. Promptly focused on catching the wolf pestering It’s legs, the dragon couldn’t notice the thunder bird just above it. She positioned herself perfectly.
Stone clapped his hooves.
War twisted her neck, spiking Justice upward.
Life Blood closed in, the sickle stretching out into a long scythe. She moved the tool behind her body using the shadowy grip of her horn.
In a single motion smooth motion. Feral dodged back, leaping and tapping the Dragon’s chin with a claw, prompting the beast to lower it’s body in an attempt to bite Feral in two. Before it could attack, Freya’s lightning zapped through it, holding it place. War Bond kept running sword up. Stone stomped loudly. The earth’s churning rumbled loudly. The floor began to shake. Life Blood kept moving on, her horn glowing, and scythe beginning to dance behind her.
War Bond reached the creature. Justice slicing the monster from chin to tail, black goo, organs, and puss streaming out. Some of which sizzled and smoked from the lightning still coursing through it. War Bond’s dragon blood kept the lightning form really hurting her. When she stopped she stood beside Life. Who had similarly raced across the dragon. Her scythe shredding the soft and tender meat that years of rotting created. The Dragon’s neck was also slashed wide open by that scythe. Stone Wall let out a deafening bellow, and the earth split beneath the dragons legs, pushing it’s legs out, he stretched the fresh wound War had made. Splitting the entire dragon in half. It's gore falling in the fissure that Stone smashed closed.
The party swiftly regrouped. Proud of their kill.
“Now!” Goliath used the situation to get things moving. “To the West, once we reach the ocean. Our party will be full. Together all enemies shall fall behind our might. The foul Atlas and his Army shall fall, and the world shall be saved!” He continued proudly.
War felt herself let out a mighty and proud roar of victory.
“I cannot move west.” Abvol replied.
“Bu-”
Before the party could react, he continued.
“I must report to my tribe what I have witnessed here. I will return to you all with time.” With a grin. He slid into the fog. Disappearing.
The party couldn’t wait for him. Their journey was not over. They still had much to do.
The Sea of Serpents waved softly in the early morning light. The cool blue waters softly shifted and swayed. Gently rocking three old ships that glided down the surface of seas. The early morning sun guided them. The ships were all aged, their years on the sea and in the hot sun were obvious, showing to even to one who had never been to sea. The wood was sun bleached and cracked with the scars of time. The masts and their sails shared a common tanned hue to them. Besides their age, one other thing unified these ships. A black flag with Celestia's Sun Mark crossed out with a sharp and bright red X. What that meant was simple. These ships were owned by pirates.
The lead ship was slightly larger and just ahead of the other two, forging the path with the largest of masts. The pirate captain stood out obviously in his tattered, aged, and faded Equestrian Naval Officer's uniform, especially when compared to the rags his crew wore. It boasted a light blue overcoat a with white undercoat. White being a “correct” color, but time had changed that color long ago. The gold trimming that should have complimented his uniform had been harvested for its worth long ago. The colors did not really compliment his pale mustard yellow color and foggy "white" mane, that color, like the white of his uniform, being subject. Being his manes natural color, his history of hygiene left his mane dirty, a color very close to gray. A long sheathed blade at his hip, and knife on his his chest.
The other pirates ran the ships, scurrying about, they had their duties. Some worked on washing and cleaning the deck. Others worked the masts and sails, and tended to the weaker boards on the boats. Most however, drank booze and talked amongst each other and muddled about.
The ships raced across the sea.
“Make this quick, those friends of mine are going to be at the docks of Flashport soon.”Aye, very well. We'll sack dis dogs and head t’ port. “
"Oye! To arms lads! We're tak'n dem ships and spendin' the dough in Flashport! Keelhaul the lot of ‘em!" The Captain roared from the lead ship.
All at once the entire crew began to cheer and roar. In what was a rough thirty minute chase, the pirates were on the vessels. Within’ distance to hop on deck, the pirates began their siege. Invading the ships, the pirates fought with the sailors. Swords clashed. Blood splashed. Prayers were made, but none were answered. The Captain casually strolled down one of his target ships. Of the few who tried to face him, a quick parry and powerful kick gave him space. His crew dealt with them after that. Several being taken to one of the pirate ships.
A quick trip in the cabin, and he saw that this ship had no cargo. As he made his was calmly back to the deck of the ship. With a flick of his hoof his pirates left the ship. Another moment later and only the sea vessel's own crew sat on the ship bewildered at what was happening. With their cabins ransacked, and several hostages taken, the pirates rushed to their own boats. Confusing the non-pirates.
"Jus those two dere Capt'n." a pirate pointed out. He stood near his captain, on the bow of the
"Arr you su'ure?" The Captain replied, his calm demeanor never changing.
"Aye Capt'n. We checked. Da cargo is only on those two." The pony pointed out again.
“Oye, to deep with t’is lot den.” The Captain walked a few steps forward. “By da waters of my myself, Capt’in Dusk Bones, may the sea drown this lot slowly.”
With a hard bite on the hilt of his blade, the pirate captain Dusk Bones gave one mighty swing of his blade. As if the sea obeyed his order, as he swung, a harsh tide shot from the sea, smashing in to one of the sea vessels with a powerful crash. With only three mighty swings of his blade, three crushing tides rushed from the waves and destroyed the hulls of the three ships not holding cargo. Water rushed in and the sea greedily began to consume. The pirates rushed the other two ships. Their blades slicing the survivors. The hostages were beaten and tied up. They would be hung upside down from the edge of the ship, dragged along under the ship. Keelhauled.
“Git the lot on board.” Dusk Bones ordered. Wordlessly his men followed his order. The dead sailors were harvested. Their clothes and tools to be sold. One by one, ponies were being taken from the brig of the captured ships on to the pirate ships. Their chains now broken.
“Fuk’n slavers. Dis close t’port too. Fukers are askin’ to git dere guts trawled out on me bow.” Dusk said aloud angrily.Aye, Levi. We have the tide and the wind. We will be to port soon .”
“In the swamp, that wretched odor of death and rotting was everywhere. Now here we are by the sea, plenty far from that place now, aaaaaand now everything reeks like fish and sea water, blarg.” Feral growled lowly.
Freya gave an audible sniff. “It’s not bad at all, that sea breeze smells pretty nice to me.” the light hearted griffin grinned.
Life gave a similar sniff. ”I agree with that statement Freya, as I also enjoy that scent.” the grim looking mare said too cheerfully for her appearance. Her gaunt face and dark eyes did not match her personality well.
“Yea, Feral likes to whine about the smell of everything. You get used to it.” War Bond teased with a light tap on the wolf's shoulder, which he promptly ignored.
“You do, it becomes like… a second nature kind of thing. Oh my! The sun sure is bright today. It’s a little warm. Feral is going to bitch about the smell of things.” Stone added with a laugh. Coming from the tiny colt, the entire party wanted to hide their snicker, not that they did.
“Fenrir used to do the very same thing. So he probably gets it from her.” Ziz added in between a hearty laugh.
“Indeed, she used to complain and whine on and on about bad smells for hours at a time. Nearly all of which we didn't seem to notice.” Goliath reminisced with a vigorous laugh from War's chest.
“Well I would have complained less of you two ever took the ten minutes to clean yourselves. None of these friends of mine ever kept clean for more than a few hours. One day to the next they would get themselves into something that reeked.” Fenrir defended herself with a growl.clean air. I can smell every stupid fish in the damn harbor. And not just the ones being sold, include the ones swimming near the damn docks.” Feral added to the defence, taking away Fenrir's growl and replacing it with a glare of teeth and fangs.
“So, now what’s the plan? We couldn't even get a wagon. How do we get a boat?” War asked changing the subject to something notably more serious. She was looking to the town of Flashport in the sun of the early dawn. The city was made mostly of cobblestone buildings and roads. It was a rather large town, where many came from far away lands. All with a hope of making a honest living. At least that was the town motto. Somehow the harbor was even bigger than the town itself. The town made of mostly fisherman, mercenaries, families, sailors, merchants, and pirates. Mostly unsavory types.
Judging from all the ships that bore black flags docked in the harbor, pirates frequented the town more than tourists or civilians. Rumors of Flashport and it's hospitality toward anyone with bits were known far and wide, it was a hot spot for gamblers and mercenaries alike, as well as everything in between the two. The actual residents claimed that if you had the money, almost anything can be found in infamous little port town of Flashport.
"From the feel. Levi is still out at sea. She must feel us all together, so I assume we just need to wait for her. She is indeed on her way, just slowly." Goliath spoke calmly, but he could feel tension in the air.
"That may not be an option. You know our enemy is closing in on us yet again, correct?" Behemoth answered with his low voice, he felt it just as well as Goliath did.
"Indeed, and I am sure they brought reinforcements this time." Goliath put an angry look on War’s face. The non-mythos gave each other a particular look.
"War and I shall deal with Regal." War and Goliath spoke at once in their combined voice.
"We can deal with Habrok. Stay out the sky 'till we're done. Ready Freya?" Ziz stated almost solemnly.
"We can silence that Mandragora." Fenrir put the slightest grin on Feral’s face.
"We'll can take any of the newcomers, right Greep?" Moth boomed.
"I'm sure Life and I can deal with just about anything." Stone smiled.
"But I don't feel anyone else..." Fenrir warned.
"We don't have much time. We should prepare, while we have the chance. Get the townsfolk warned and inside. Let us hope Levi can arrive in time to lend some assistance. We have a fight on us now, and with our backs to the sea, running away is not an option." Goliath and War ordered.
"They know we are coming. We've got a snake to deal with now." Regal growled lowly. The tiger pony paced in a circle for a moment, pondering her means of attack.
"That won't help them Regal. I shall have my vengeance yet. With the wind in my wings they shall fall." Hábrók squalled.
“Do not underestimate these guys or their ponies. They are skilled fighters.” Une and Mandragora waned softly.
"They do not know of us. That Dragon will fall to my blade." A rogue's voice spat.
"They do not. I promised you blood. Let us fight and settle some things, then you and yours can come for the kill." Regal smiled maliciously.
"Just do not get in our way when we start." A mare added.
“It would be easier to let us do the fighting. But have the fight you are looking for. And if these two get out of hand they are dead too.” a second rogue sneered.
Two dragons made their way to Flashport.
One walked with an extra two pair of legs, the creature was longer than normal dragons. It’s scales were a silky slimy silky white. Its head lacked a mouth at all. and it’s tail was very short. The most noteworthy things about it were it’s wide wingspan and he gapping and massive cavity in it’s gut. It’s mouth was an opening on its belly. In the shape of a V the rows of jagged teeth made it something one does not want to look at.
The second was a jet black dragon. Much smaller in size. This one did not seem to have any unusual body structure or appendages. The two monsters looked down at the town. The sun still not high in the sky.
“Let’s get this started then.” Regal smiled.
The soft tide washed the shoreline. It crashed against the wood docks softly. The caw of seagulls squacked. The sun still lower than its peak. The dawn had past, but the sun was still dragging in this morning. Feral sat calmly. Gazing out in to the sea.
Feral sang his song "What I've seen... Can never be... Lost my Hope... Lost my faith... "
"-Lost my life.- " Une began to sing softly with him. He hardly dained to notice her. Not even turning his head and gaze away from the sea.
-All I see... Is Bloody Streams
They sang together perfectly.
I close my mind... what you see its surreal... eternity
lost my love... lost their life what you hear trapped by fear…
Close my mind..
Dull my blade What I see is not real
Soldier's soul
Lost my mind Lost the truth I am damned
Lost the world Lost them all What have I now… but phantom blood...
“Wow. My love… I can't even begin... where did you learn such a beautiful lullaby?” Une smiled seductively at the wolf.
Sand crunched as Feral stood. His eye’s still out to sea. “Was going to ask you the same question.” he replied softly.
“I have my ways now. But so do you. I must say, you are so much more handsome up close. I am smitten by your mane alone.” she smiled that seductive smile of her’s.
Feral gave a deep sigh. “You should surrender.” he said solidly, yet he didn't even turn to her.
Une or Mandragora laughed. “Why would I do that Sweetie?”
“Do you value your life at all? I’ve already won our battle. So if you want to keep living, surrender. Even if you win. Atlas will kill you.” Feral stood with his confidence and pride.
“You think that? Do you really think that? He promised us the world you know? Kind of too good to pass up.” she laughed.
“Too good to be true. Don't be a fool. Surrender and keep living. Or fight me and die.” His words were like pressed steel.
“This is hilarious. Honey… honestly, I mean really honestly, do you think you can beat me? That’s funny. You sure make up for that ignorance with your looks.” she didn't drop her smile.
“Like I said. I already won.” Feral finally turned around. Meeting her eyes, he didn't even flinch.
“Now-you-are-going-to-say- You haven't won anything yet.”
“You haven't won anything yet- wha!?” Mandragora’s eye’s widened.
He had predicted her words and tone exactly. That confidence of her’s finally dropping.
“Nice trick”
As she began to scold him, he spoke in perfect unison with her, even to the unique cadence in her voice.
“Bastard! Enough! Stop! How are you- MMRRR BE QUIETTRAAGGRRMM STOP IT!” She began to scream loud enough for it to hurt Feral. But he didn’t let her know that. Instead, they gazed at each other in pure and utter silence for a moment.
“I’ve predicted each of your words. You think I can't predict everything you will try in a fight? I already won, women are simple, you are simple.”
“Nevermind, you aren’t handsome.” His perfect copy of her words yet again only made her burn even more with anger.
“You know… you know she will not surrender yes?”
In the air Hábrók and Ziz flew within the minds of their other halves, just a bit away from each other.
“Ziz! Enough of your running! My vengence is at talon!” Hábrók roared in the sky. Ziz and Freya casually flew on. Ignoring them.
With a spreading of his wings, Hábrók dashed for Freya. The two responded with an artful dodge and laugh. “I didn't kill your sister Hábrók, you know that. You were there when it happened.” Freya shot up even higher, and the pegasus only followed her altitude.
“It was because of you she ended up dead! If she never met you she’d still be here! THAT MAKES IT YOUR FAULT!” Another rapid dash, this time the air screeched with him, the dodge Freya gave was just barely not enough to fully evade. She felt the burn in her side. She had been cut.
“The wind is his claw. Now that we have the altitude. We fight back.”
The wind screeched again, prompting a much faster reaction from the griffin this time around, she attempted to counter with a strike of her talon. They met for only an instant, Flying by each other in an single second of time. With the green fields to the east, and the sea to the west, up that high in the sky.
It was only them.
Blood dripped from Hábrók’s leg. The gash on Freya’s side burned. The two flew in circles, their only company was each other. They never dropped eye contact. With a flap Freya dashed even higher. Hábrók followed with hate and anger in his eyes.
“Get back down here! I’m the fastest! I am the best! DIE MY BY TALON”
The air screeched again. This time The griffin turned around and talons clashed.
The two dragons made their way onto the the town of Flashport. Before they could get far a ghostly mare floated up and stopped them.
“Turn back. You need not die today.” she spoke, warning the two.
The two dragons laughed. The six-legged one’s laugh was particularly haunting to gaze at. The black dragon spread it’s wings and floated up to jam it’s face at the little mare that was Life Blood.
“Who are you to stop us?”
“That depends…”
Her shadowy cloak began to move on its own and shift about over her body. In seconds her body was completely hidden by the growing and stretching shadows of her cloak. The pitch black dragon backed away. As she began this particular ritual the soil beneath the six-legged dragon began to roar. The ground cracked and the six-legged dragon backed up swiftly. The black dragon was distracted by the shadows.
The ground erupted and the tusked and horned beast that was the stone Behemoth began to erupt from the soil. The earth trembled and shook. The booming was loud and powerful. It echoed loudly. As Behemoth pulled himself from the soil, the Grim Reaper began to sulk out of his cloak. Arms made of clutching arm bones stretched and caught a massive harvester’s scythe made of chalky white bone. The black dragon tried to back up more, but the Reaper’s cold bone hands gripped it tightly. The shadows hidden in the hood spun in the dragon’s mind. An instant later, a skull matching the one in his own head pulled itself out the dark and shadowy cloak.
“Who the hell do you think I am?” The Grim Reaper cackled madly.
Behemoth let out an even louder roar then the earth that quaked beneath him.
Regal strutted onto the docks. Her steps were completely silent, but the old wooden docks creaked at the weight of her body. War Bond and Goliath stood just as proudly on the docks, their back to sea.
"I see you felt us coming this time around. New tricks? New friend?" Regal sneered.
“That is not important. What is, however, is this attack. Stop it. No one has to die here.” Goliath responded steadily.
“Honestly, that was more for your own good. A chance to save yourself. Figured I would be a good sport before I kill you. It was a honor to know you Regal. I’ll spread your ashes in the sea.”
“You talk a lot of game their scaly.”
“Enough. Let’s get this over with shall we?”
War Bond placed the hilt of Justice in her mouth. Regal slid into a more poised stance. The two both used a highly reactionary style. War Bond knew she had the disadvantage, as great swords aren't as effective at the close range duels like Regal’s rapier would pushing itself into. However, her great sword would have a mighty weight advantage over the rapier, meaning Regal couldn't really block and must rely on dodges.
Regal moved first, stepping closer until the two were within attacking range of each other. With a lightning fast strike, Regal shot low, sweeping with a slash at War’s front legs. War moved fast enough to rear, moving her front legs up and evading the sweep, countering with a stomp toward Regal combined with a swing of her massive blade. Regal had to leap back to evade, the blade of Justice barely missing her mane. The wood dock couldn’t handle the heft of the attack and the wood planks in the way of the blade were splinters. The dock trembled, shaking heavily and yet not unbalancing either of them.
Regal flicked her mane back behind her, re-entering her stance.
War lifted Justice to it’s attack position, moving it so she can strike quickly again.
The two stepped toward each other slowly. With a lunge, Regal thrusts for War’s shoulder, but a swift parry sends the thin blade up. With a massive and wide swing War counters, but Regal silkily slides just enough to evade the attack, then follow up with an attempt to slash War’s face. War feels the blade coming, and tries to evade. Goliath put up the scales, but Regal’s blade still gashed deep into War’s cheek. This all happened in just over two seconds.
War back peddled. Putting distance between her and her smiling foe.
The blade cut through my scales. That’s a Dragonslayer’s blade.She was smart enough to come prepared.
This type of quick encounter repeated over and over. Regal starting, War countering. Each time one side would manage a minor hit on the other. Be it War nicking Regal's side or leg, or regal glancing a lock of War's mane.
Regal dashed forward again to close the distance yet again. War attempted the first strike this time, beginning with a very heavy swing. Before she could get to far into the swing, Regal rushed in shooting the blade for War’s eye. War smiled. Her bait worked. Stopping her own swing, War poised herself, pushing the hilt of her blade into the hilt of the thrusting Regal. Pushing the sharp blade away from it’s target. War threw herself upward. Pushing Regal out a balanced stance. War’s hoof landed square in Regal’s face.
That blow made Regal flinch back. As did the next one and the one after that. As well as the four or five that came after the third one. With a downward smashing swing, War sent Justice down and Regal’s rapier was shattered and sent sprawling down into the water of the docks. The dock itself also shaking with pain.
Regal smiled sadly. Half her face already badly bruised. “End it. Atlas is going to kill me anyway. Kill us all. You're a fool to think you can stop him.”
“You’re a fool for working for him. Sorry it has to be this way.” War spoke before Goliath could.
“At the very least I got a chance to see some old friends.” Regal glared.
War responded again. This time by bashing the hilt of Justice on the back of Regal’s head. For a second blood ran down Regal’s face, before she fell unconscious on the docks.
“We’re just leaving her here?”
Hábrók flew hard. A large number of gashes and cuts in his body, wings, and face.
Freya flew with a similar stress. She felt an aching burn in both her sides. Like hot coals pressed on her wounds. Even breathing hurt. Her deep breaths tried desperately to gather more air, but the sheer height they were at denied her by having such thin air. Hábrók struggled to keep himself balanced, the strong wind pushing him slightly along just as it did Freya. The flying was now taking so much focus their battle was slowing.
Freya smiled ready now to end her aerial battle, letting herself go, she began to fall. Hábrók took it as a sign of his victory. The air screeched as he slashed through it with an open-taloned dash down toward her. Freya gave a single flap of her wings. Hábrók dashed too fast, he was unable to slow himself. Now out of the attack’s range, she countered. Hábrók felt her talons do much more then slash him. Her talons deep in his chest, he began to fall limply. Freya falling with him, talons still deep in his chest.
“You fucker!” Hábrók screeched through the sound of rushing wind as they fell together.
“When you’re dead. Tell your sister I still love her, you bastard!” Ziz roared back.
“I’ll kill you! I’ll…” Hábrók suddenly felt his life begin to drain from his body. He saw his blood. Floating.
He fell faster than his blood.
“You bastard… you took her away from me… then you let her die. May you never sleep as we cry together for the rest of eternity.” Hábrók forced out painfully. He screamed those words. Bellowing deep from his belly, he wanted to be sure Ziz heard.
“I miss her too. You'll be together for the first time in eons Hábrók. May you enjoy the afterlife with your sister, as I continue on cursed with my memories of her.” Ziz said his final piece. Freya pulled her talon’s free. Hábrók continued falling with her. The holes in his chest weeping.
His vision fading to black. The last thing he saw was Freya beginning her hovering. With all his energy he picked up a talon and grabbed her wing.
“Something to remember to two of us by….” Hábrók just barely whispered.
With a single blade of wind.
Freya’s wing separated from her body. Blood poured. She let out a cry of anguish and pain.
Hábrók wrapped himself around her. Flapping with all his might, he slowed her fall. Sadly. He stopped moving while holding her. The two collided into the ground with crash. Only the earth to soften their landing.
Freya’s whole body ached. She pulled herself from the dead pegasus in a daze. Her body wanted to stop. But she didn’t.
“Did… Did he just save us from crashing?” Freya edged out.
“Let me aid you as I can Mistress Freya!” Abvol smiled outwardly, galloping to her aid, large bundle on his back.
“Abvol!” Freya and Ziz shared their surprise and their voice.
Setting the bundle down, Abvol began to pull out medical supplies. Wordlessly he began to patch up Freya’s injuries.
Freya let out her signature smile. “Thank you.”
“I made haste here. I apologize that I could not arrive any sooner. After I bandage you, we must help the others!” Abvol replied hastefully.
“I’m not sure that they will need it.”
Feral Silver dashed and whirled about the sandy beach. Patches of sand were turning bronze as they mixed with his blood. Feral was covered in gashes and cuts. Blood matted his thick fur, dripping from it slowly. Every step he took left a fresh brown dent in the sand. As he ran, Une and Mandragora lashed at him with thorny vines, which stretched from her own body. He dodged gracefully, looking as if dancing elegantly about the beach.
Mandragora and Une were getting tired, most their protective bark had been ripped from her body. Thrown down into the sand by where she stood. Now, she covered her body in razor sharp thorns. Striking her would mean hurting yourself. From the number of deep bleeding claw marks on her body, and Feral's bloody paws, he had no problem with her defence. Her breathing was labored, and she was slowing. She had lost a lot of blood as well, it into the sand beneath her. Now all she wanted to do was let out a screech, but everytime she tried to take the extra air needed for her scream, Feral flashed to her in an instant, and he'd rend her with his claws.
He wanted to make vital strike, but in his haste, he had little time for aiming. With the holes in paws and the gashes in his hide, attacking hurt and left him open to counter attacks. The thorns on the whipping vines made getting hit excruciatingly painful. The sand sliding into his wounds stung. Moist with blood, the beach clung to him. Fatigue and sand were slowing him greatly as well.
They were at a stalemate. Only that Mandragora was rooted in a single spot, her vines reaching out from her mane and back while Feral was forced to dance around the beach. His stamina hitting near its limit, he decided that he had to end the battle before he lost it.
He came up with a risky plan. With a sprint, he dashed for the mare. He took four whips to his back, the vine snapped into his hide. Splattering blood across the sand. Feral fell, sliding into the sand with a hard slam. Stopping only a short distance from Une's hooves, Mandragora let out a sigh of relief. She began to move, stepping toward Feral's motionless body. She stopped, unsure of her victory. After a brief pause he began to take in a deep breath.
Jumping up instantly, Feral slammed a claw in her throat. As she choked on her blood a second claw viciously ripped into her body, splaying her blood to mix with his in the sand. He stabbed and lashed onto her flesh. She fell in a bloody heap onto the sand.
He did not look much better.
You did well my Pup.
"Feral!" a shout came from the solid ground away from the beach.
Abvol and Freya ran to him.
"Abvol! Good to see you again! Oh, Fuck! Freya! Shit! Your wing!" Feral grimaced at the sight at the one winged griffin.
“I’ll be fine. Damn Feral. I hope all of this isn’t your blood.” She grimaced at the bloody scene as much as he did her wing.
“Feral Silver, a pleasure. Please allow me to tend your bleeding wounds.” Abvol interrupted, already in the process of taking out the supplies needed to help Feral and his various wounds.
“It’s mostly mine. But I’ve lost more. Take care of Habroke?”
“Hábrók is dead. Not before he took my wing. But hey, I’m not dead so there is that.” Freya smiled, even at such a moment she remained optimistic. “I take it Mandragora didn’t want to surrender.” Ziz added looking to the still bleeding corpse of the half-plant mare.
“She was a slave to Atlas words. When we take his head, her death will be avenged.” Fenrir remarked.
Before anyone could respond a loud and pounding roar filled the air. The group all turned to gaze at the source of the sound.
The shadowy symbol of death slid about, dodging the furious and angry claw swipes of a dragon far too frustrated to land an actual strike, the Reaper pestered the monster by making ranged swings from a distance just out of reach. The pitch black dragon had completely wrapped itself in fire. Blazing, it chased at the shadowy figure of death. As the two dodged each other. The belly-mouthed dragon stood attempting to engulf Behemoth in it's gargantuan jaw. Teeth scratching into the hard rock. Behemoth as a result, was lifting the beast over his back. The ground cracking and groaning underneath the two.
The Reaper made a sanity draining cackle and dashed back, practically begging for a leaping pounce from the flaming dragon. The dragon delivered, and made its move, both pouncing at the Reaper and falling directly into a swift counter. Greep slid his scythe low. The blade sliced clean through the creature's abdomen, spilling a river of blood. The monstrous dragon clutched at its wound, but still it's stomach spewed with gore. The Reaper made another wide and sweeping slash, plunging the blade of the bone scythe deep in the dragon. Dashing completely around the dragon circling the creature a number of times, the scythe lashed around in a full circle, digging deeper and deeper with each revolution. Pulling the scythe from the beast, the dragon fell sliced entirely in two. It screamed out loudly as it's flames began to creep into it's non-insulated organs.
Behemoth let out a laugh. He held the maw-mouthed dragon tightly. The dragon began to scream and roar in terror at the realization that it would soon be dead. Its scream of horror echoed throughout the entire town. Behemoth was sinking, his body lowering into the soil. Already more than halfway into the soil, the dragon was desperate. It clutched at the surface of the earth, clawing at it madly, upturning the soil it so desperately clung to. The pressure already crushing the dragon, blood spewed out of the ground from beneath where it was getting crushed. Similar to a geyser occasionally, blood would squirt out up high. It was like popping a particularly fluid filled piece of acne. It was far too late. In a matter of seconds the screaming stopped as the two were completely engulfed in the soil. Forcibly buried and crushed by the earth, the monster was defeated.
Life Blood now walked along to harbor. Her breathing was heavy and labored. She looked as if all that sleep she had gotten was meaningless. The young mare was visibly exhausted. She suddenly stopped, as a tiny hoof emerged from the sand beneath her, with a little help from Life Blood, Stone pulled himself free, looking just as exhausted as Life Blood.
“We meet at the beach now, correct?” Life asked between breaths.
“War Bond! Soldier of the Dragonslayers. You went missing when a force was deployed on an unregistered Titan-Class Dragon ranked Danger Level Triple S. Save your words I already know the truth. The whole truth. You must realize Ms. Bond, that our time has finally come to an end. Our time of Equine supremacy. It is time to stop resisting, and let the end come. Surrender to Atlas. Surrender to me. Let this entire mess finally end.” Leader of Titanslayer Mercenary Unit and once General of the Dragonslayers, Blood Tooth glared out from the start of the docks.
War was starstruck.
“You... You want to... What? I don’t understand.” War bond was in shock. She really did not want to believe what she was seeing.
“Trust me girl. This war you have been fighting, that war doesn't end. I have been fighting it longer than most. I've slain more dragons than nearly anyone else has ever seen, yet still, still we are their victims, still they attack us. After a lifetime of fighting, they tell me I will need to fight more . I’ve had enough. Enough resisting. Enough fighting. Why drag this out. Why make this take longer. Why have the struggle. Why have the fight. Stop resisting them War Bond. Let them win.” Blood spoke as if issuing an order.
“You want me to... just give up?” War Bond whispered to the stallion who was her greatest hero and inspiration.
“You speak as if you know everything Blood. You don't. I have lived for thousands and thousands of your lifetimes. And each and everyone of them has an Atlas. There is always something like Atlas somewhere in the world. And there is alway someone to stop them. Don’t hold us back because you have been broken by all this.” Goliath boomed out from War Bond’s mouth.
“That is exactly my point Dragon! Every time there is peace, there is something that wants to end that peace! No matter how many times we fight to keep the good, something wants to take it away! Enough! It's pointless! Just stop the struggle! Why bother with the violence! Look at this! Two more dragons brutally murdered ! Look at the blood on the beach, the blood spilt by this pointless and meaningless war! All the lives that you and your “paragons of peace” have ended today alone!” Blood roared, his anger and sorrow burning in his eyes.
“Look at that town! Flashport! There are inhabitants who have nothing to do with a power hungry dragon who was born eons ago! Who they know nothing about at all! They deserve to live their lives, and they do not deserve to end up a pile of ashes for no reason besides that they were born. They are the ones caught in the crossfire! They are the ones you will let die! They are the ones you say have no meaning but to die! Look to the town you damn fool!” Goliath roared louder then he had ever roared from War's mouth.
“That’s all they will do in the end! That's all any of us will do! Eventually, we all end up nothing but dust. I'm trying to help you, to help you all! But I see you will never understand. I promise to give you a swift end.” With that Blood drew his blade.
Blood entered his battle stance, War delayed for a second before entering her's. Blood held his blade the same way War did, or rather she held her blade as he did. She had copied her style from him. Now they stood versus each other, the only difference was that War was stiff, very inexperienced in comparison. Her hero wanted her dead. Her Hero no longer had any desire to help anyone. Her hero now stood directly in her way.
Blood swung in a hauntingly similar wide swipe, War knew the style well. Dodging his strikes was easy. She kept backing up. Not fighting back. The reality of what was happening clouded her. She was running out of dock to back up on. Blood attack unrelentingly, swinging hard enough that her armor wouldn't mean anything if he actually landed a swing.
Regal slammed her body into Blood Tooth. "I'm not done fighting yet!" she growled.
“Yes you are. ”
With a single shove Regal was thrown to the hard docks.
The sound of a ship not too far away could be heard.
The sound of water being ridden was the only sound in the air for that instant.
With a single swing of his mighty blade, Regal’s head fell from her body.
Blood painted the docks and Blood's blade Dragonsbane.
“She was warned not to get in our way.” Blood stated as he gave his blade an aimless swing, splashing away the blood clutching at his blade onto the dock.
“You bastard! She was on your side and you killed her!? What happened to what you stood for! When did you stop believing in anything!” War Bond snarled.
“When I realized that all of this, and I mean absolutely everything , means nothing . Tell me you pitiful pathetic girl, if in five thousand year, that's five zero zero zero years from now, from right now , nearly everything we know will be gone, then what possible meaning could it have? The answer is none. Is there any meaning in anything that we do? No . We are nothing more than grains of sands waiting to be pulled deeper and deeper into the ocean. When we die, the world keeps turning. When Atlas wipes out all of us, will the world care? No . The sun and moon will begin to move on their own as they did before us, and the world will keep on spinning. We mean nothing . It is nothing but a cosmic joke for the foolish nothings we are, t-to stand for nothing . For nothing to die for nothing . Weeping for the dead is pointless and idiotic, crying over nothing is the action of a immature child. This animal ’s death means nothing. The world and every one and every thing she knew will continue on unchanged. My taking her head, was just as meaningless as her life.” Blood Tooth lectured like a teacher to a incapable child.
“You Bastard!... You… Son of a Bitch!" War Bond was pissed. "You say we mean nothing… you say that we mean nothing merely because the world doesn’t care…What about an infant’s innocence. A mother’s smile in pride of her child's acheivements. The blade of a warrior. The honor of us Dragonslayers. These are all things that mean something! Just because something is not physical doesn’t mean it’s not real, it doesn’t mean it has no meaning! You look at me like I am an ignorant child, but you are the one who really knows nothing!” War Bond shouted as loud as she possibly could.
The two blades clashed with the sound of hard steel on steel. The two grinded against each other in a shower of sparks and light. The flash of the blade. The feel of the steel. The two battled, swinging their massives blades with the hope that they would take the life of their enemy. Knowing that who ever landed a strike first would be victorious. War Bond could feel something burning inside her. It wasn’t like when Goliath was bonding to her. It wasn’t like she exhausted herself and her lungs were burning. This burning felt good . Felt empowering . Blood Tooth and War Bond clashed their blades, they made mirroring strikes at each other, the one who attacked harder got the edge and pushed. The more she fought, the more the passion burning in her chest shined.
Unfortunately, Blood Tooth was a very experienced fighter. And his blade was designed to kill dragons. The legends called Dragonsbane the ender of Dragons somewhat redundantly. The blade that took the first dragon life in eons. Goliath could feel its pressure, draining him by proximity alone, but he would never tell War that the blade was draining them. He stayed his tongue. He knew she needed concentration.
War let out a grin. Dragonsbane and Justice clashed and clinched, grinding with a shower of sparks again. War and Blood shoving their blades into the other with as much force as their bodies could allow. Neither gave an inch. A lance came whirling down separating the two. A pegasus in blue and yellow armor speared down at War who just barely dodge in time. The blade of a second lance glancing off her armor.
“Stay out of this Wonder Volt!” Blood snapped.
“Then kill her alrea-UGH-” Both midair and mid-sentence, a shower of rocks bashed into her side, throwing her off balance and into the sand with crutching slam.
“Keep going War!” Stone shouted. “You can do this!” Behemoth boomed.
Dragonsbane and Justice collided again in another power struggle. War and Blood were fighting to see who was stronger.
“Fuck that!” Wonder Volt began to get up, but found herself bound by a pair of talons at her throat.
“Kick his teeth in War!” Freya shouted to her friend. “C’mon War Bond!” Ziz squawked.
The dock rumbled faintly as Feral and Life Blood made their way on to the dock.
“Bare your fangs War!” “Rip him to pieces!”
A beam of shining magic pierced Freya's shoulder. With a gaunt of pure agonizing pain. She fell limp. Star Swirl’s spell had left a hoof sized hole where her shoulder should have been… The wound was seared, it did not bleed. Star Swirl hovered toward the dock.
Volt was up in an instant. Wings out, she dashed to pierce War. Black colored aura grasped her wings and stopped her.
Life Blood was still as her magic held the pegasus in place. Volt laughed as saw an easy target. Volt tossed her final lance into the air lightly, then gave it a sharp kick, which sent the spear shooting through the air.
A split decision was made.
The ship was cleaving through the water not far from the beach.
Life hit the sand below the dock. Feral took the spear in her place. It gored him through his side. He fell motionless in to the sand beside his friend who he had just saved for the second time. Blood tainting the sand once again. The spell still dropped, and so did Volt. She landed in the sand once again. This time she grinned as she slid out her holdout dagger and began to spread her wings to fly toward War.
Only she did not move. She looked about, and found her hooves firmly placed and rooted into the sand. She looked about frantically, seeing the hull of a ship not far off, she saw the unmoving colt in the sand. “There! ” She screamed out with a point. Star Swirl traveled with a blink, teleporting to get a better angle, a second of hesitation passed over him as he aimed his magic at the colt. But it was Stone’s mastery of earth kept Volt rooted in place.
A beam of magic shattered the stone colt, and Volt attempted to take off. But still found herself bound to the sand. She looked to the pirate ship now speeding impossibly fast toward her. The tide beneath pushed the ship toward her in a righteous fury. A ex-naval officer stood on it’s deck proudly, He gazed at her with the eyes of old warrior, eyes much like her own. The eyes of a stallion that had killed many times before. The eyes of death on a pirate ship. She had seconds. Looking down at her armored hooves, she saw the face of the colt in the sand. His sand stretched out like tendrils on a crab, they held her in place, making her stare at the ship speeding toward her. With a crash of sand water and blood, Volt was crushed under the boat with her last scream.
Star Swirl started another spell, but instantly found the same colt he shattered glaring at him as he burst from the sand like a volcano, only now the colt was twice the sorcerer’s size and had horns.
War took her eye away from Blood and worried for a moment on her friends, in that instant, Justice was struck and launched from her teeth.
Fortunately, with a well aimed toss, a Pirate Captain’s sabre appeared not far from her or Blood Tooth.
Both War and Blood knew the fight was over.
As Blood made a jumping slash down at her, She took the rum flavored hilt in her mouth. Dragonsbane cut deep into her side as she managed a timely sidestep, but she didn’t stop.
She fought through the pain of a blade slicing deep into her.
And the sabre found itself plunged deep in Blood’s chest.
The blade pushed the tide below them into the docks.
When she forced the blade up from the stallion’s chest to the stallion’s chin vertically, the tide broke the old dock.
War found herself in the waters of sea. The water itself red with Blood.
War Bond lifted herself out a groggy dreamless sleep. The long rest still in her eyes, she took in her surroundings. She lay on a bed. She was in a small wooden cabin of some sort with no windows. A lantern sat hanging, swaying slowly. A soft looking carpet was covering the old looking floorboards. She picked herself out of bed and gave a hearty stretch. Her body was stiff, and resisted her movements. For some reason, it took her a little while to find her balance.
Where are we?
She made her way to the wooden door of room she was in. With a shove it opened.
However, the open sea was on the list of things that she did not expect to see. The light of the day refracted off of the waters. Two other ships slid through the water just beside the one she was on, not more than a bodies length away. Both looked just as aged and weathered as the one she was on. A number of ragged looking pirate ponies went about their duties, not really noticing her.
The air stung her wounds.
“War Bond. Goliath. You’re up and running. There’s some good news.” The tiny colt Stone smiled from the bow of the ship. He gave War a kind wave and beckoned them toward himself.
“What’s the bad news then?” War and Goliath asked together as they approached.
“Well…”
“Is Fenrir breathing? And what of Ziz?” Goliath asked, his tone more serious than ever. War felt how nervous her dragon was, even though he had stated that he could feel those friends of his. Goliath was uneasy.
“No one is dead just yet. Relax. But things could be better. Moth said it, you’ll want to see for yourselves.” Stone replied with mild sorrow to his voice.
Stone guided the two to a neighboring ship, where notably less pirates seemed to be moving about. Judging from the size of the ship, she assumed that this was the lead ship. The Captain of which was steering the boat with two other pirates. He wore that faded uniform. War and Stone made their way into the hull of the ship. Where they saw the rest of their friends. Two of which were bedridden.
War Bond and Stone Wall walked in to find Freya, Ziz, Greep, and Life in the middle of a conversation, but from the sound of things, it was like more over an argument. Freya sat in bed, her wing nub wrapped up as well as the hole in her shoulder. Unfortunately for her, the hole was not on the same side where she lost her wing, making moving either side of her body painful. Beside her in another bed, Feral laid asleep and motionless. Covered in bandages and burns. Life sat in a chair across from the two adjacent beds.
“-but It would be more than just sitting her wait- Oh War! Just the mare I wanted to bring into this conversation!” Life stated enthusiastically. She looked both angry and exhausted.
“We’re at a stalemate, and you two might make us a decision.” Ziz stated. The room had enough tension to cut with a knife.
Freya gave a glare “These guys are nuts. They want Abvol to-”
“Ms. War Bond, Goliath, there you two are. One would think it harder to lose someone on a boat.” Abvol said with a small laugh, ending with a warm smile.
“Please, just explain what you need for us to decide upon.” Goliath boomed with impatience.
Abvol gave an odd look between smiling laugh, and frown... Then gave a sigh, his smile fading quickly.
“Feral is more than likely in a deep coma. He has lost… a lot of blood. More than anything his size should be able to bleed. He and the She-Wolf are very strong to have survived. And that is not even mentioning the damage to the body getting speared caused. They are alive, but I worry they might never awaken.” War immediately felt Goliath grint her teeth.
“Fenrir was only lucid for a few minutes. She explained that Feral’s mind is dangerous. She knew what we would want to do and she warned us.” Freya stated strongly.
“But now Feral is in a coma! And some of us want to go into his mind the same way he, War and Fenrir did for me and Greep. Stone, Ziz and Dusk agree with me on this plan of action.” Life added hastefully and with a mean look aimed at Freya.
War’s head turned to the two present in the room, as Dusk was outside at the moment running the ship. Stone gave him a nod of confirmation, Ziz nodded Freya's head while she rolled her eyes.
“But Leviathan, Behemoth, Greep, and I agree that we should leave their minds alone for a while and wait to see if they wake up on their own.” Freya shot out without that smile of hers. Returning the glare toward Life Blood.
War’s head moved again, looking to the others, who looked far less than happy. Stone had a frown on his face, Greep grinted Life's teeth.
War knew this would be the end of the argument, none would interrupt Goliath or any plan he made. Except, possibly for one.
“This argument is stupid! We’re getting them back now.” Goliath boomed angrily, War could feel his anger, he felt as if everyone was just wasting time.
“But, shouldn’t we wait for a while? I for one do not want to go into another mind.” War stated matter of factly. She was the only one to question the dragon.
“Wait for what? An attack where one of us can’t move? Can’t defend themselves? So more of us can get hurt defending them?” Goliath roared back. “This isn't up for discussion anymore, Abvol is sending someone into Feral to wake his ass up.”
“I shall.” Abvol stepped forward. “If you all vote, you tie. I am part of this as well, and I want Feral and Fenrir to wake up as soon as possible. So I break that tie. There is danger however, Feral’s mind may not be normal, but that is all the more reason to go! The process shall clear his mind of the bad clouds that fog his world. And Feral most likely has some very dark clouds. If you see how this helps him, maybe you all could do this too. I understand more than any of you this process and how-”
“Enough. We are doing it. I need no argument for something I already want. We save our friends, even if that means taking risks.”- War Bond’s hoof lifted and moved toward Feral with a vigorous point. -“He put his own life at risk in order to help Life and Greep, twice. And I know he would do it to help any of us. We are going to do the same for him dammit! No arguing, no more talk! Talk does nothing! Actions and results do things. Abvol!” Goliath lectured loudly. No one wanted to be the one to interrupt him still.
“I need only a moment to prepare.”
Abvol felt a hard tap across his cheek. He found himself in a wide open green grassy field. Goliath sat beside him, his tail had coiled around and not so gently woke him up. Like Fenrir was in Life’s mind, Goliath was much smaller. Three wolf pups ran across the grass field, dashing, playing. Only these pups were as big as Goliath was currently. One was broader, like what Behemoth would look like as a wolf, the other looked much more like Fenrir, third was just a might smaller, and had tangled fur. Oddly enough, Abvol got the feeling that Fenrir seemed to be one of the three running about the field.
“Fortitude, Fury, and Fenrir. Fortitude her brother, Fury her sister.” Goliath spoke softly, kindly.
“Fenrir has siblings? I know both much and nothing about you Mythos.” Abvol was surprised.
“Not anymore. The story of their death is a tragic one. Would you like to hear it?” Goliath asked sincerely.
“I thought we were in a hurry, don’t we need to find Fenrir?” Abvol pondered Goliath’s curious behaviour.
“She is right there-” Goliath’s tail pointed to the pup that vaguely resembled Fenrir “-young again in her mind. As for the hurry, well… I do not wish to take her away from her brother and sister so soon.” Goliath was oddly calm, relaxed even.
“The mighty Goliath having a heart. What would the others think?” Abvol smiled.
“Did you want me tell you the story or not?” Goliath replied in is normal “grumpier” voice.
“Sure. Let her enjoy her family for a bit.” Abvol replied looking to the pups playing.
“The tale is not a long one. One day long ago. A village of pony-kind met a utterly massive wolf. Bigger than any creature they had ever seen. They panicked. They ran away. But they came back one day, this time with with warriors. The wolf meant them no harm, but he could not speak their language. So as the soldiers pierced him with spears and swords and archers sprayed him with arrows, he stood solid. Unflinching, he never so much as swayed from the pain. When they finally realized the wolf had no intention to harming them… The wolf had sealed his own fate. Still standing tall, he bled to his own demise soon after the onslaught had stopped. A second wolf saw her brother’s end, and went into a rage. With tooth and claw, she tore apart all of the soldiers, then ripped into all of the townsfolk. Then she destroyed every building in the village, brought down every tree in the area. More soldiers came, and she killed them. Then even more soldiers came, and she killed them too. Then the next soldiers came, and they killed her. Before they did, with her last words she spoke her brother’s and her own name. They added those names to their words.” Goliath's tone was somber.
“Where was Fenrir?”
“With us. She knew her brother and sister were gone before the rest of us, still wasn’t easy for any of us. We stayed with her to make sure she did not go fight to her death as well.” His despair was still hanging in his voice.
“Is all that true, Mythos?”
“Sadly.”
“Have all of you… all you Mythos I mean… been through something like that?” Abvol looked to Goliath with sad eyes.
“Life does those things to you, and when things live for as long as we do… One goes through a lot.”
“What about you?”
“I too have my scars, Zebra.”
There was a long silence for a while...
"Alright, Zebra. Whatever you see here stays between us. Understand?" Goliath began to stand up tall.
"Yes, Mythos. But why must I hold my tongue?" Abvol stood as well.
"Things may get... ugly."
I opened my eyes. The sheer depth of Feral's insanity finally became understandable in that single moment. From the way I had seen him act. His love of battle and blood. His uncouth behaviours and manners. They spoke the language of an intellect smart enough to hide ones dark and bloody secrets. And he was hiding some very dark things just under the surface.
However, none of that really mattered at that moment, as I was trapped in a cell, and I looked undoubtedly into Black Reef Prison. The sheer odor was repulsive, surging my body with the urge to vomit. The stench was a mix of blood, sweat, vomit, urine, feces, and rotting dead. Each was so pugnat that it was identifiable as a separate odor, yet they mixed into a reeking so powerful that it made a painful knot in my stomac.
All I could barely see outside the hall was a rusty hallway out beyond my extremely small rust “colored” cell, which was a little under twice my body size. The room barely gave me space to move. Only a single small, dim light lit up the outside of my cell. And it flickered, struggling to stay on. Yet still it was bright enough to see the space just outside the cell. Bright enough to see the bars. Bright enough to see the oozing something ever so slowly sliding across the floor. Whatever the something was, the most perplexing thing about it, was that it didn't freeze. Bright enough to see all of the darkness surrounding my cell.
You see the worst of all these things was the cold. The sheer cold. The insane. Unbearable. Brutal. Unrelenting. Cold.
Frost clung to every possible surface. The bars, the walls, the ceiling. The cold was ripping into my body like a rabid dog. Tearing into my miserable body.
I yelled, calling for any response. But only my own echo howled back at my call.
I wanted to scream in terror. I was trapped. I was beyond cold. I could barely move. I had that stench in my nose. Even if this was Feral's exaggerated memory and not accurate to what Black Reef really was, if this was how he saw it.... How the hell was he sane enough to speak? How long was he in this terrible place, and how did this place not break him? Or had it already broken him My mind was racing.
I couldn't concentrate long or hard enough for me to do anything with my magic.
Frost clutched my coat, slowly this place was trying to freeze me.
Drag out my suffering.
Struggling to pick myself up, I tried to find a way out.
I cleared my mind. Ignored the pain of the oncoming cold slowly digging into me. Forgot of the disgusting order stabbing my nose. Pushed past the sickening knot in my twisting stomach. I had to leave that fear rattled state of mind. My will is steel, not clay. With focus, I teleported outside my cell.
The sensation was odd, and the effort shot a spike into my mind. I may be in Feral's mind, but the headache was real. But I freed myself.
I questioned why no unicorn had done that before me, or how unicorns could be held in cells at all, but as I began to make my way out of that hallway, I saw the other prisoners. Their cell's dim light shone down on their faces, as if on display. I wanted to release them, but I was unsure of what that would do to Feral’s mind. At first, I had not realized that I was looking toward unicorns. Their horns had been bashed into pieces, only bloody scars or nubs remained. Pegasi had their wings clipped of every feather. The dead eyes didn't even bother to follow me. The one’s that did all looked at me with the dead eyes. No hope or life in their eyes. These were broken ponies. Mere shells of what they once were.
As I made my way through the halls the wretched smell of the place followed me. The place was like a labyrinth, the hall I was in twisted and turned wildly. The cold nipping at my hide the entire time. I had little idea where I was going, but I just wanted to get out of these wretched halls. I pondered if this was what my mind was like for the others. I had been there long enough to know my way around, but that was an open forest, this place was jail, ponies all locked up tight in this horrid unforgiving place.
Then I remembered. I remembered how I hid my memories as trees in the forest. How Greep held all of memories behind doors. Despite my waking to find myself in a cell, I hadn't actually opened a cell door.
Stopping, I turned toward a cell. A dead body lay within it. Frozen black flesh desperately clung to bone in the cold. This pony clearly had not eaten in a painfully long time before his death. Hesitantly, I put a hoof to the cell’s opening mecanism. Then with slow lurching screech, and the slightest pull, the door slowly began to claw itself open. In a flash my perception had changed.
I was galloping on short legs, my chest pounding, lungs burning. The fear was real in my heart. It took me a moment to realize that I had entered Ferals memory, and was experiencing it from his perspective, despite my assumption that I would do so by opening that cell.
The memory was short and fast, the sensation of him sprinting ended and the cell slammed shut. I was worried that I would see something terrible, but I confirmed my suspicion. I was in Feral’s mind, and these were memories that he had locked away in a labyrinth and thrown to the bottom of the sea. That did not bode well.
It was the first time that War Bond had her own head in long time. It made her feel uneasy, to be alone again. She sat calmly on the boat. Gazing out to the sea. Trying to calm down and relax. The salty air smelt fresh but stung her wounds.
I can't remember the last time I saw open water like this… It was back with...him when I was still a foal… At the very least this whole ordeal, journey, quest or whatever… at least I am away from all that drama. And I have friends again, I really miss that… friendship. It feels good to have ponies to talk to… to have anyone to talk to. and Goliath is this… giant… guardian I guess. No he’s more than that. He is like a mentor or something. Guiding me… training me. Like a big brother or father. Granted he can be a little awkward, which is strange considering he is an ancient dragon…
War Bond’s thoughts brought a smile to her face. She enjoyed the privacy of her own mind again.
“Goliath Mountainclaw picked you… a Dragonslayer? That sure sound like our Goliath.“ A voice War did not recognize announced
“Oy Lass.” Another spoke.
War turned and only saw the pirate’s leader. Captain Dusk Bones.
“My name is Leviathan. Pleased to me the soulbound partner of Goliath at last.”
“Thanks for the assist back at port. We didn’t expect… all of that.”
“More death than I would have liked. And I am dreadfully worried for Fenrir.”
“What happened back there? I mean after I fell into the harbor?”
“No need to worry young lady. You passed out, not Goliath. He brought you to the surface. Then Goliath seared Fenrir’s injuries shut. Some slaves we rescued helped us get you all on our ship. Soon after he blacked out as well. Now we’re headed toward Celestia’s Capital City, to ask for a speedier ride to the Dragonlands. Which we cannot reach via boat.”
War sat on that for a minute. The salty air still stung her wounds. From the small bandaged cuts, to the aching gash on her side.
“Sometimes… that’s all you can do.” War said sadly. Still looking to the sea. Waiting for her friends to return.
I contemplated opening more cells. That is how he found me after all. But he and I are two very different beings. This place filled me with an off-putting fear. And I worried about my friend, if this was his state of mind… how far is he from completely breaking? My worry grasping the better of me, I argued with myself to open another cell. Perhaps if I knew more of what was hidden down here, the better I could help Feral.
With a hoof, I pried open another cell.
This one was longer and hurt. The memory made my body ache with pain. Feral was low to the ground. Stalking a particularly muscular looking stallion. Moving without making a sound. The prison he was locked in felt and looked familiar to the one I was now in, but this particular place looked much more open and wide despite the darkness. His eyes moved toward a Zebra who was also sneaking near him. The Zebra looked ragged and beaten, a large burn scar where the Zebra glyph should be. The Zebra turned to him, and gave a nod.
Feral’s eyes returned to the stallion. He snuck closer and closer until he got in range to make a leap. He pounced down on the big stallion. His heart pounding in my chest. The cold gripping on his hide. The pain all over his body. The stallion roared with anger, Feral’s mouth filled with warm coppery taste. He was biting down as hard as he could on the stallion’s neck. Without fangs, it was much harder to rip into flesh.
The stallion went down, but managed to land a painful kick into Feral’s… tender nether region. The pain was sharp and dug through his body. The stallion coughed violently, the bite mark on his neck bleeding, but not lethal. The Zebra came and began slamming his hooves into the large stallion. The stallion retaliated with another powerful kick so mighty I heard bones break, that sent the Zebra sprawling to the ground clutching the side his body.
Feral moved quickly, slamming his hoof down onto the stallion’s face. The blow landed just above the eye. Before another attack could be made by the stallion, Feral attacked again, this time he stared down at the floored stallion. Feral’s hoof smashed into the stallions face, this time bones broke. Feral took only a second to stare at the now disfigured face of his target. More of Feral’s hooves came down on it. Again and again. Warm blood splattering on Feral. Again and again he kept smashing. With every strike the stallion’s body twitched, but I think we both knew he was dead. He smashed until there nothing but a grim bloody puddle where the stallions head should be. The Zebra finally stopped Feral.
“Stop...” the Zebra said in that odd way that only Zebra spoke “Eat before other’s come.”
Feral and the Zebra began to slowly rip into the the dead stallion’s carcass. Pulling as much meat as they could with teeth not made for such actions.
“FRESH MEAT.” Someone screamed from above. Feral and the Zebra looked to each other for not more than in instant before they got up and starting galloping as fast as they could.
They ran hard, stopping after they turned a corner. Perhaps they ran a bit too hard, a terrible nausea came over us. Feral began to make gagging sounds. The Zebra wrapped his leg around Feral’s neck tightly, strangling him.
“You need to keep it down. It could be the last time you eat anything for a long time.”
The memory ended when lack of air made Feral black out.
Back to my own senses. My mind immediately went to something that confused me about the memory. Feral was frightened. When he was smashing his hooves into the stallion’s face… he did not lust for the bloodshed, he was not angry, or confirming the kill… no. I know for a fact that he was just terrified…He was guided by fear, plain and simple.
War stepped into the room where her friends sat. Freya in particular gave a rather upset and angry presence.
“Hey.” War stated as she took a seat on the floor besides Stone Wall.
Stone met her with a happy smile.
“Don’t pout Freya. Hello War Bond.”
“Hello there War Bond. I don’t like being a girl… It’s rather… I enjoy my male parts more if you understand.” Greep spoke from Life’s body.
“Yeah, don’t take offence, he doesn’t mean that as an insult or anything.” Ziz spoke nervously.
“It’s fine. We have been traveling together long enough for me to know how Greep is.” War laughed, giving Life Blood's body Greep was controlling a friendly jab to the shoulder.
“My apologies madam. Was I being rude again?” Greep asked.
“Kind of. I think Freya is just blowing off some steam. She a bit roughed up. We all are. So we’re a bit grumpy is all Greep.” War gave a soft smile and spoke loudly.
“Tension is high. We might lose Fenrir and Feral.” Behemoth groaned.
“I don’t think that will happen. Goliath is going to get them back.” Ziz replied.
War sat on that for a moment, then asked a question that had been on her tongue for a long while.
“Why do you all trust in Goliath so much?” War asked.
“He keeps us together. Always has. Even when he leaves for ages… He always comes back eventually. Ready to help us. Care for us. Sort us out. He’ll yell at us when he need to be yelled at. And hold us when we need to be held. Even when he losing something important himself… He is the greatest friend I have ever had.” Greep answered almost instantly.
“We’ll give you a recent example. He probably hasn’t told you about his brother and everything that happened with Celestia and Luna. He isn’t trying to keep it secret or anything… he just… doesn’t like to talk about it.” Ziz said solemnly.
“There was a time, was not the first, where we shifted apart… things were said that couldn't be taken back. Feeling were hurt. Everyone was at each other’s throat.” Behemoth said sadly.
“He was away… gone.” Greep sounded upset.
“Our friendship was falling apart. All of us. You see, Goliath had agreed to protect The Queen’s children. He and the old Queen had been… let’s say they were very close, after all, she was a Mythos like us. The few centuries old, and still relatively newborn Celestia and Luna gained a mighty guardian. Dragon attacks were high. Back then, Goliath and his siblings had a bigger name for themselves. At least among us Mythos. Nobody fucked with the Mountainclaws. Everyone was scared of them. With his new duty, he wasn't around much. And tension among us got… bad. It had already been on the rise, but without Goliath to sort us out... well we said things we shouldn't have. That’s when Goliath’s sister, Toxicity attacked a village that was a bit too close to the capitol and he was entrusted to protect the lands… You see, Goliath’s two sibling… they believed the same thing Atlas spews. That dragons are the ultimate species. She attacked and… Goliath fought her. Despite Goliath’s warnings, her venom not affecting her brother, and a number of other pressing factors against her… She attacked. Goliath, wanting to protect the ponyfolk who were still beginning to inherit the earth, fought and killed his own sister. He did not blame the Queen, as he knew that something like this was the reason he was hired.”- Ziz was silent for a moment. He was on the verge of tears -“We hardly even talked about it with him. Granted, Goliath wasn't one for conversations like that... We all just went on about our own problems. He murdered his sister, and still he got us all together and straightened out. He sorted out all our problems and got us to forgive each other. His sister never even came up that often... But it wasn't just then… Goliath has always done that kind of stuff for us. He was the one who brought us together in the first place. He started this friendship that has lasted literally forever. And whenever the end seems near he keeps us together. No matter how much shit he goes through. Yeah, sometimes we go our separate ways for a while, but he has never let us fall apart. Just a while back, we all went on our own business, still on good enough terms but..."- Ziz had to stop, he wiped Freya's tear filled eyes. A mix of both their tears. The room was dead silent. -"Then not even one hundred years ago Ravage told him that he was going to attack the capitol. Not wanting to kill another sibling, he took the royal children and left. Ravage savagely attacked the capitol and was slain. Despite his loyalty to the Queen. He took the hiring of mercenaries to kill his brother as a betrayal. While all of this happened we were all “too busy” to help him with his… problems... Goliath had already murdered his sister, and was betrayed by a female he loved… and all we ever did was bitch to him about each other. It was no wonder to us when we lost contact with him and stopped talking to each other… even then. Right now. He brought us all back together again! He always does that. Even back when we were all young. Even now. I will always be his friend… because he would always be mine. No matter what.” Ziz stopped… passion deep in his voice.
“That is only one reason we follow him. But outside friendship and love, do you need more?” Greep announced.
“I hate… that Goliath takes so much on himself to carry. Yet he cares so much for us despite our faults.” Behemoth boomed.
“He may not look like he does, but Goliath has a big heart. And I think that’s why he picked you War. He knows you would do things a lot like he would. He knows you care.” Ziz smiled.
War felt herself blush but felt no shame in it.
“Shit dude.” Freya gawked. “You guys suck as friends!” she laughed.
“We could have been better. There was a lot of drama. But that is all history now. Now is our chance to make up for letting him carry us so much...” Ziz smiled sadly on Freya’s face, as a silence took the room. “Its not like we are never there for him or anything like that! It’s just that scenario provides a good example on why we all… respect him so much. We are old, and have been there and not been there, but the past is the past, now. Right now. I am going to fight by his side.” Ziz beamed!
“Let him rest his back!” Behemoth joked.
“We have happy stories too, mind you.” Greep laughed.
"Wait so... So Goliath took a job as guardian of Celestia and Luna?" War asked.
"Indeed."
"Why? If he knew he might have to fight his siblings?" War pondered.
"Like I said. He and the old Queen were... Close. Like... really really really close." Ziz gave forth a cough.
The thought came down on War's mind.
"It wasn't like they were... Well you see. What was between them had ended a long long time ago. Before all that had happened. But they still cared deeply for each other." Ziz coughed some more.
"Celestia and Luna both mean much to Goliath. Though he doesn't like admitting it." Greep remarked.
"That is all the past. Let's focus on the future. Let's focus on the now." Stone added, looking to Feral's unmoving body. "That is what matters."
“You shall speak not of what you saw here today. Understood?” Goliath growled.
“This stays between us alone.” Fenrir glared.
“Mad’am, Sir. I am not foolish enough to cross you.” Abvol said quickly after a cough.
The trio stood in a large open grassy field. The tall grass reached to Abvol’s chest The sky was in a perpetual state of dusk, the sun just barely below the mountains of the horizon. A pleasantly cool breeze seemed to go on endlessly. The calming scent of mist was in the air. This place had become sarene.
“Now we need to Feral. Fenrir, can you sense him?” Goliath asked without turning to his friend.
“Yes, but I worry that… we shall deal with it if it comes us. For now follow me. His mind is not a safe place to be traveling alone.” Fenrir replied, moving to take the lead.
“That reminds me. We brought Life Blood with us. We should hurry.” Goliath groaned.
“Life Blood? We need to make haste. She may be in great danger if she is in his mind.” Fenrir stated in a far more serious tone.
“What is wrong? Do you know why his mind would be dangerous?” Abvol asked as the two Mythos began to tread quickly.
“I fear that… that Feral has been… been broken. He has felt… off since I awoke in this place.” Fenrir replied solidly.
My third door was… confusing. I can only assume what was happening. I was… Feral was clinging to a bloody corpse. Still warmish, not frozen entirely just yet. In utter darkness, he cried… Whimpering in shadows “I’m sorry.” Over and over again for what felt like hours. That’s when things began to brighten, and I saw the other bodies.
At least a full twelve in total.
I heard him gasp “Freedom.”
I regained my senses.
Between laying among corpses, that dreadful odor that refused to go away, seeing bloody murder from my friend’s eyes, the neverending darkness, the feeling of making no progression in this maze of shadows, the biting cold, being surrounded by starving dead-eyed ponies, and the flickering lights that seemed to grow brighter and brighter with every flicker. I hit my limit. I vomited onto the floor. A lot. My composure broken, I vomited again and again. Until I had nothing left, then I decided on sitting in the light for a while. The light was warm, and I was fighting the urge to cry. I really just wanted to get out of this hellish place.
Then I remembered my new friends. War and Goliath battling fearlessly on that dock. Freya and Ziz fighting miles above the earth and losing their wing. Behemoth and Stone fighting beside Greep as we fought those monstrosities. Feral and Fenrir taking a spear for Greep and I. I wanted to be like all of them them. Be strong. I didn’t want to have to be saved for a third time. I wanted to be better. I knew I had to fight!
I bit down on my leg, hard enough to start tasting blood. I swished the coppery flavor in my mouth, then spat. Standing, I was ready to take on anything. I began pushing through the halls. I trotted along for what felt like hours in the icy air. I wouldn’t let it stop me though. Not this time. This time, I was going to save my friend.
Tall pillars of rusted frosted iron lined the long walkway of the dark massive room. Dim artificial lights tried and failed to fill the room with light, they barely managed to illuminate the walls. The air reeked of too many things. The floor was stained with... something that can only be described as effluvial. As a trio of species made their way down the hall that Fenrir claimed Feral was at the end of.
“What is this place? What hate brought young Feral to this?” Abvol asked, his voice poorly hiding his fear.
“The prison he was once unjustly forced into.” Fenrir spoke softly.
“What the hell did they think he was guilty of?” Goliath inquired.
“Not exactly sure, a large number of things.”
“That answer seems… obvious.” Abvol commented. “Is it just me, or is the stench if the dead growing stronger and stronger as we go through this hall.”
“Indeed. I noticed that as well.”
“That does not bode well…”
The group pushed onward. Growing more and more concerned with the increasing stench of rotting flesh… They walked until they met two large doors wrapped in chains. Before a word could be spoken, Goliath let out a breath of fire. In just under a minute the chains, and the doors began to melt away. As the doors disappeared, the wretched odor of death exploded. The stench was so pugnant and thick, that it felt tangible in the air.
The doors simply faded from existence.
As the group stepped through, they saw a ghastly sight.
The room was a wide open atrium, the ceiling was nowhere in sight, none of the lights on the walls reached that high. In the center of the atrium, a massive pile of dead. Standing just over three times Goliath’s current size, if he were standing on his hind legs instead of all fours. At the peak of this mountain of dead bodies, laying on his side, motionless, incoherently mumbling gibberish, Feral lay.
After a moment of sheer silence, Fenrir moved to speak. But was interrupted when dead rotting body fell from the shadows above. The sound of raw meat splattered just a few feet away from the she-wolf. She took a step back and looked to her companions.
“Be silent, we must tread lightly.” she whispered. She took a moment to compose herself, compose her thoughts. Feral was in much worse condition than she had feared.
“Feral! It’s-” Before she could finish Feral screamed louder than she had ever heard him shout before.
“STAYAWAY.” he roared. Directly after he let out a howl of agonizing pain.
Something pushed hard from underneath his skin. As if some type of snake or worm was crawling just under skin.
“NOTSAFEMONSTERRRAAAAAHHHH” his scream of pure unadulterated agony echoed in the atrium, his pain filled howl stung deep in his friends souls. More “ worms ” pushed up against his skin, dragging more roars of agony from Feral.
“What the hell is happening to him!?” Fenrir growled.
“I have no idea… but he needs help...” Goliath slowly edged out.
“His innermost demons wish to break free. If he does not conquer them, then they will surely conquer him!” Abvol shouted.
Feral let out another cry of anguish. He let out a series of rapid breaths. After one very deep breath, he spoke slowly.
“Get... away... I don’t want to kill you… run…” His voice rolled out slowly, but the tone he had with his words was dead serious.
“Why would you harm us dear? We are your friends, we are trying to help you.” Fenrir replied kindly.
Feral began to twitch.
“...I did this...” he uttered just above a whisper, just barely audible. “I killed all of them.”
Yet another body splatted onto the others.
His friend’s eyes never left him.
“I’m a monster.” He whimpered.
Ferir cringed.
“I am a monster.” He spat.
Goliath braced himself.
“I am a MONSTER!” He roared.
Abvol took a step back.
More tendrils pushed under his skin. He body began to bloat, surge and twist. He let out a long anguished cry. Raw bloody flesh burst from under his skin. Along his spine all his skin ruptured, splitting as if ripped open by brute force. Long tendrils reached out from the gaping wound, ripping and pulling more and more of his skin away to free the monster just beneath the surface. Each rend in his body was accompanied by brutal cry of torment. A hulking mass of knotted muscle and bleeding meat made itself more and more visible.
As if a sick twist on a cocoon, Feral’s monstrous and grotesque new body emerged from his own meat. A new horned head, filled with a seeming endless supply of jagged sharp fangs. Long segmented insect-like legs. He was made entirely of raw, dripping meat. A new deep roar filled the air. Flashes of murder began to fill his friends heads. In the prison, hooves wrapped around throats. Icy shivs stabbed into necks and backs. Head were slammed into walls. Throats were ripped out.
“He sees himself as an abomination… and that is what he has become…” Abvol’s eyes were full of fear. “If he does not overcome this, we are all dead!”
Fenrir howled. “Feral! Stop this! Please we-” Feral roared a bloodthirsty roar, as one of his new tentacles whipped Fenrir hard enough to send he slamming to the ground. Goliath reacted a moment later, letting out his own roar as he lept for feral. Unfortunately, Goliath forgot his size, and a massive insectic leg stepped down on him, pinning the dragon to the floor. In a rage, Feral began to slam into the massive mountain of bodies with everything he had, quite literally. Each available leg stomped into the pile, his tentacles lashed at the rotten dead meat, his torso and horns slammed into the pile.
More flashes of grizzly murder played in the groups heads.
An ocean of gore began to wash out of the pile, be it blood or black bile, it streamed down slowly. The atrium began to fill quickly. The entire prison began to rumble and shake. Unable to withstand the force of his wild flailing. More bodies fell from nowhere. He ravaged the corpses and let out roar after bark after howl.
“What’s wrong with him!” Freya cried, still stuck in her bed.
Feral shook violently. Seizing uncontrollably, blood dripped from his mouth, and began to seep into his bandages.
“I can’t tell, something must be going wrong. Damnit! We need to hold him down!” Stone shouted. “Get Help.”
“Oy, Git us Salt Wife in here!” Dusk roared his order out the door “Tell ‘er she needs to dress ‘is wound again! Gawkers! Don’ jus sit there wit yer mouths open, HOLD HIM DOWN NOW!” The pirate screamed. Stone, War, and Greep held Feral’s flailing body down in place.
I knew something must have gone horribly wrong the instant the entire place began to shake violently. My stride sped up from a light jog to a full gallop. The cells rumbled, and the lights began to burst. I ran as fast and as hard as I could. In my haste, I stuck to the left side of the hall hoping that I would be lucky enough not to reach a dead end. If low light was hard to navigate, I could only imagine how terrible traversing this place with no light would be. That is when the murders began to play in my head.
Presumably these were Feral’s memories. They jumped around seemingly randomly. He killed ponies with Fenrir’s claws, sharp shivs made of icicles. In one haunting case, he slammed a fellow inmate into a jagged icy wall, when he pulled the inmate back, intestine and other viscera stuck to the ice. But he wasn’t done. A small blade carved from ice slid back and forth through the inmate’s neck cutting it wide open.
I kept running. The horrible images flashed by in an instant, but they all stuck in my head vividly. I felt myself cringe. I fought the urge to vomit. I hoped to drown out the images by focusing on galloping. Yet it was not nearly enough. I nearly came to a full stop several times, but with the ebbing darkness behind me, I dare not stop entirely.
I soon began to hear blood-chilling bellows and bawling. Like the pain filled shriek of a dying beast, it echoed through the halls. I feared whatever monster mad such terrible noise. The terrible cold was no longer my greatest grievance with this place, no. That horrid, terrible moan would stick with me forever more. With the bellowing, it took me a small while to realize the reeking stench of death had grown.
In fact, the roaring grew louder. The odor grew stronger. Stopping. My chest began to beat loudly in my ears. Fear in throat. I looked back. Darkness reached out for me, wall mounted lights unable to take this places shaking. My only place to run seemed to be leading me straight to a beast of nightmares…
No! I could not stop! Perhaps if I tamed the vile demon in Feral’s mind, then I could free him of his own curse? Perhaps I was close to awakening my dear friend! It was the closest thing that could give me the hope to continue. The argument did not need much, it beat being terrified in the darkness. I galloped hard and continued my mad dash.
I soon found myself behind large doors, and I entered a large open atrium. As the doors opened, a pool of near black crimson burst over my hooves. The disgusting bile filled me with revulsion. I continued forward anyway. The horrid abomination stood before me. On long spider-like legs it stood tall. Twisting tentacles writhed and moved in the air. Dripping, the creature was made of nothing but raw skinless flesh.
It let out a howl as it turned to me. Hunks of chunky gore filled the room, be that severed heads or limbs, or an internal vital organ. Whatever happened in here must have been an utter slaughter. My friends lay on the ground defeated. I instantly feared they would be next. Fenrir lay on her side, eyes wide with horror, blood soaking her fur. Goliath lay on his back, barely breathing. Abvol was not far from me, but closer to the beast. I could not tell if he was battered and bruised, or just was too close when the massacre occurred. The abomination began to move toward me.
“That is Feral please! Find a way to help him!” Abvol shouted, before it’s leg batted him away.
My body froze. That thing he called Feral was closing in and would be on me in seconds. I could already reach me if it tried, but it wanted to get close to me. My whole body clenched up. All sound faded away. That thing got closer and closer. My chest was heavy. It took a second for that to settle in my head. But my mind was steel. I refused to let him down.
It got closer. Feral got closer.
“Feral!” I screamed. “THIS IS NOT YOU!” As I spoke it froze mid step. Only a few feet away from me, I could see into his eyes. I had thought it would be the smell, then I believed it would be the sheer cold. Then I thought it would be the bellowing roars that would never leave my mind. I was wrong. It was his eyes. I shall never forget his eyes. They were full of terror. More terror than I felt. More than I would ever feel. He did look at me, those eyes looked through me. He was too terrified to see things clearly. He was more dreadfully terrified anything else in the room.
“This is not you.” I said again. Feral made no attempt to reply. He simply fell down on his long spider legs.
More flashes of grizzly murder stabbed into my head.
“Yesh et esh.” He let out, not from his horrid from, but within my head.
I closed my eyes, picturing the images of my dear friend as he truly was. A loyal companion. A selfless ally. A true friend.
Another bloody murder crossed my mind, then I found myself in a memory. As if i had just opened a cell. Feral was just outside a building, opening a wooden door. The instant he did a murky brown earth pony’s eyes open wide. They were in some kind of inn. Tables and chairs were scattered about, a bar was not far away, and a fire burned warm in a hearth.
“Hey What do you-... Silver Sash! N-No way! They sent you to-” the stallion stumbled over his words.
“Black Reef.” Feral's voice came coldly.
“Now umm… wow you look so different… what happened? How did you escape!?”
“I murdered my first real friend. A zebra, they wanted his body back, so then I hid with his corpse back to the surface for about two whole days.” Feral replied with no hesitation.
“Umm… I se-”
“NO YOU DON’T SEE! When I got to the surface, they were hunting me. So I killed all of the guards after me too.” Feral exploded. Moving closer to the stallion.
“Listen, I get it! You’re pissed. I understand-”
“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I HAVE BECOME.” Feral boomed.
“Listen! We didn’t know they would send you there!” the stallion began to back away.
“What? Did you think I’d just get executed!” Feral slammed his hoof into a table, flipping it to the ground. His hoof stung, but he ignored the pain. Moving closer and closer to the stallion.
“No! They said they would send you to jail, bb-b-but we thought we would bail you out in a few days! Honest! We had no idea it was Black Reef!” The stallion pleaded.
“BLACK REEF TURNED ME INTO A MONSTER!”
“You had to do some bad things in jail, I get it!”
“No, you don’t. Do not make me say it again. I did horrible things. I was like a wild beast.” Feral brought down his voice, but was still audibly pissed.
“We have all done bad things! Just relax, I feel your pain!”
“Have you ever eaten anyone? What about disemboweling someone? Seeing their guts spill to the floor… and then fucking eating them, just because it is the only food you will get. Just because the blood will make you warm for a few seconds, before freezing to you just like everything else?”
The stallion was motionless, eyes wide.
Feral grabbed the stallion and moved toward the hearth.
“You feel my pain right?”
“Of Course!”
Feral threw his “friend” into the hearth, then slammed the hearth’s iron mesh shutter closed. As the stallion let out a pained deathcry, Feral grabbed the hearth’s fire iron in his teeth. half-way through passing through the metal mesh, his “friend” was still aflame. The fire iron came down hard on the stallion’s knees before a hard kick sent him back into the hearth. Cry’s of agony never stopped filling the air. The entire time, Feral just watched, unflinching, unblinking.
Eventually, an eerie silence took over. Feral’s eye turned to a creamy white mare who was standing in the doorway..
“Vanilla.” Feral stated calmly. “You are the last one.”
“Silver Sash… what do you mean?” Fear in her voice.
“Silver Sash is dead. I’m just a wild monster left behind. You are the last one who betrayed Silver Slash. The ones who killed him. I killed everyone else. Only you remain.”
“I’m next…” she whimpered.
“Yes. You are going to die.” Feral laughed. Right in the young mare’s face.
“Why? We are friends! Please Silver!” the mare pleaded, falling to her knees. Tears in her eyes.
“I am not Silver Sash. I am a feral beast, coming for revenge.”
He slammed the fire iron on her head. Then tossed it away. Grabbing her bleeding head, it bit down hard on her ear, then ripped it off.
She let out a scream. He laughed.
“Weak! You would have died your first day in Black Reef!”
“Please! Silv-f-f-Feral! PLEASE!” a puddle of her fear began to spill from between her legs. Feral just laughed. He laughed and laughed as the mare begged him for her life.
“You make me sick! HAHAHAA! You vile piece of shit! You fucked me! You fucked me and you have the gall to beg me not to fuck you! FUCK YOU!” He moved to kill before he stopped.
“You know what? No.”
The mare just froze.
“You get to live. You will remember me. You will remember my pain. You will remember my agony. Everyday until you die, you will never get to forget. You live knowing you and your friends are dead. That because of your betrayal, all your friends are dead by my hooves. You will remember how you tainted me. Turned my heart black. Filled me with a hateful darkness. You will remember killing Silver Sash.” He grabbed her head in his hooves, moving his head close to hers.
She just blinked.
He bit down hard on her eye and pulled back in an instant. The eye’s juices filled his mouth. She let out a scream, and he took her other eye with a second bite, her screaming all the while... He spat her own eyes onto her face and laughed.
“You will live in darkness forever more! And you will wake every day in the dark! You will end each day in the dark. AND YOU WILL NEVER FORGET ME! FERAL SILVER!”
It all came back to me in a rush. I gazed into Feral’s sad, scared eyes again. I took a single deep breath.
“Feral…” I looked to the monster before me. “You are not a monster. You were betrayed by the only people who you thought cared for you… Then you killed your friend so you can leave that awful hellish place…-” I felt tears well up in my eyes ”- you say you are a monster, a wild feral beast… but… That is not the truth. You… you are my friend. You care about me and I care about you! We all do! You once told me that I can’t let the past hold me back! That I had to let things go, move on! You may have been that… you may have been something worse once, but now, now you are better! Now you save lives! Now you fight to save everyone! You are no monster! Do not let the past hold you back!”
A new memory filled my head… but this time. It was not Ferals.
I was among wolves, but I dwarfed all of them around me. I was Fenrir. She moved about the forest, leading her pack. She heard crying. Following it she saw him. Feral lay on the dark forest floor. Crying.
“Poor lost soul… all alone. Not a soul to care for you…”
Her wolves seemed to surround Feral.
“Leave him.” She barked. ”This lone wolf is in need of us… a pure soul… needing guidance. He may not look it. But I can feel it, he has the heart of a wolf.”
When I felt my senses return, I saw Fenrir move up behind Feral.
“I saw goodness in you that day. That is why I chose to save you. I… know you have seen and done a lot. Things you will never have the luxury of forgetting. But… my pup… you are are good. Deep down you know right from wrong. You use your anger and use it to fight evil, you use it to help your friends. No monster feels guilt for it’s actions. No monster sacrifices itself to ensure the safety of a friend.”
Feral’s eyes began to stream tears down.
“Stop knocking yourself down kid. You can’t make up for your actions if all you do is bitch and whine. Stop wallowing in self pity, calling yourself a monster for no damn good reason, and start getting shit done! You can’t undo what’s been done, but you sure as hell can make up for it!” Goliath roared, back on his feet.
That’s when the sun came out. In an instant. We were all standing in pure blue shallow water. The sun high in the beautiful sky, a beach not far away. Never had I felt a more warm feeling all over my body. Warm water, warm sun…
Feral, looking much more like himself fell to his knees in tears.
Back in reality I was inches away from his face, apparently Greep had been holding him down. I stared into his eyes, which still streamed tears. Stone and War Bond were besides me, and we all took a few steps back.
He took a shaky breath. “... Thank you ...”
Feral Silver stood by the edge of the ship, he simply took in the vastness of the sea. Stone Wall not far from him, watching him. Feral simply stood, gazing into the open waters. Nothing but the sea was around them. As far as the horizon stretched, no land could be seen. The sun was high in the sky and beamed down a heavy heat.
“So you really swear by it?” Stone asked, slowly walking closer to his friend, his tiny stone hooves making a unique knock on the wooden boat.
“I have never been more clear headed. Honest. It was like… there was this black storm or thick fog. Now, now I can see clearly. Its hard to describe.” Feral beamed, despite his bandages and many wounds, he still managed to seem in good spirits. He seemed to have conquered his fear of water.
“I might have to give it a go then.” Stone replied with the smallest smile in the group.
“Ask Abvol and let us know. Since you are not trapped in your own head, or a psychopath you and Behemoth should be fine on your own.” Feral gave his friend toothy smile only he could give with his mouth full of sharp teeth. The sea reflected the suns light, the world around them seemed brighter out here out on the open sea.
“Elements of Harmony?” Stone inquired.
“A better time than later.”
The party was together fully for the first time in ages. Each member sat in a circle. Stone Wall and Behemoth, an earth pony and a colossal ox made of stone, mysteriously their physical form was that of a colt made of stone. Captain Dusk Bones and Leviathan, a pirate leader and ocean serpent who on several occasions, has been mistaken for islands during naps. In his old faded navel uniform, you could barely make out the scales, giant fangs, and gills. Feral Silver and Fenrir, an escaped convict and a utterly massive she-wolf. They looked like a wolf with legs that were to long for it's body. Freya an Ex-Valkyrie griffin, and Zellion or Ziz, A thunderbird who claims to be able to black out the sky with his wingspan. The next pair, Life Blood and The Grim Reaper, Greep for short, were a special case. A unicorn raised by the very… peculiar living embodiment of death. And finally the Dragonslayer herself, War Bond, a war maiden with a massive blade on her back. Soulbound to the mightiest of titans, the gargantuan elder dragon Goliath Mountainclaw. The two were had scales and fangs, bit more noticeable were dragon eyes in the mare's head, as well as the fact she was starting puff smoke out in her sleep.
Also there was a Zebra.
“We have all gathered hereto stop Atlas. He is at the head of the Dragonlands army, and hold a high position in the Dragon government. He has convinced many of my brothers and sisters that we dragons are the ultimate beings. That all other forms of life must be exterminated. He considers all but dragons to be vermin. Through him the lives of both my blood kin have fallen. As we speak, he is building his army, building resources, preparing for a war. A war that the rest of the world will lose. However! We can stop him before it begins. We dragons have a system in place. The Elder Dragon Council, in which the five oldest dragons willing to take the positions are the voice of all of us. That is to say that the respect dragons have for them bounds most dragons to their will. They set ground rules. It is through respect for the Council that most Dragons leave others animals and live their lives separated from most other creatures. For countless eons, we have simply been observers. But for a shorter time we have been split. Divided. Many among us want more freedom to roam this world. So for eons, two of the five have pushed for expansion. That was until Atlas broke that tie, challenging his way in, he slew our brother and brought change into the Council. Atlas will not willing give up his place. I must challenge him, and when I take his life, I will take my place on the Council, stop this pointless war, and negotiate with the Princesses for a end to a pointless struggle.”
“But first we shall need to use the Elements of Harmony. We are the Origins of Harmony, and we carry the Elements in our souls. These Elements are… pure. They have both symbolic power and actual dangerous power. Together, we can try to convince Atlas of his foolish actions. If not then we must use the Elements, and bring Atlas down.”
“So we have the plan, we have the power, and we have each other. All we need is to get to the Capitol, Princess Celestia and Luna shall provide us with faster way to reach the Dragonlands. We are close to the end of all this.” War grinned on War's face.
“Take the trip to rest. We still have days until we reach land, and even then it is a full two days walk to get into Canterlot. I highly recommend getting a look at your own mind, and clearing the air a bit if you will.”
“This be quite a lot to take in.” Freya was the only one among the group who did not look confident.
“I am curious, What happens if we fail? Atlas knows he is in trouble now. He has to have some sort plan for this exact situation. He might get desperate. A cornered dragon may know of his defeat, but will not go down without breathing a fair share of fire.”
“We will not fail.”
“Bu-”
“We shall not fail, Leviathan.”
“Question!” Life Blood raised a hoof into the air. “What… what about after? After we win, and Atlas is defeated… what will we do? I mean, this is the first time that you Old Ones - Mythos - Origins - or whatever have been together in lifetimes. Plus I actually have friends, relatively speaking , close to my own age. Are all going to go our separate ways? Or will we get to spend time with each other without all this… doom and fighting?” She asked attempting to hide her small frown.
“We can worry about such things once we arrive to them. For now let us focus our attention on victory.” Goliath replied.
“It is unfortunate but these friendliness...atiys are not our priority. We can enjoy such things at a later time.”
Life gave a confirmatory nod but wore a disappointed look on her face.
“Now. If it not too inconvenient for us. I would like to undergo Abvol’s mental Mythos therapy process. I am not concerned with my sanity or anything but, I would like… a light dusting of my metal cobwebs if you will.” Stone announced, shocking mostly everyone by speaking more than a humble three word sentence.
“I am ready and willing whenever you are dear friend.” Abvol had a grin on his face. “I highly recommend my “therapy process” to all. Do not fear, as some of our many friends are more than willing to come to your aid if necessary.”
“I am ready.” Stone let out a small grin.
When I came to my senses I was alone. Good. Behemoth may be a close friend to me, but he did not need to see me go through this. Part of me knew what was coming. The other pretended that side was wrong. My chest was heavy with anticipation, like when you know something terrible is coming. I sat in the dirt for a while, my back to the soil , just relaxing there looking up at the sky.
I awoke on my old farm. The tall grass fields in front of a humble home, a barn, and chicken coop. Behind my childhood home, a never ending sea of corn and a field of lush green bulbs of potatoes. I remembered back when I was just a colt and I really thought that the corn never ended, that it just went on endlessly into infinity. I was just outside, on the porch of my dust covered and sun bleached home. It even smelled exactly the same. My heart wafted pain and sadness when I stepped on the porch stair that always squeaked. No matter what my Dad and I did to it, we could never get it to stop squeaking.
I stood and had to take a moment to adjust to being tall again. It’s very nice. I liked being a kid… but... with a stretch I enjoyed my height. Being a child has it’s perks, but the fact that no one ever takes you seriously can get frustrating… very frustrating Then again, I never have too much to say anyway. Honestly I am mostly indifferent about most things. I could care less about the whole dragon invasion thing, but it means quite a bit to my new friends and Behemoth, so I can deal. I guess as I currently stand. I don't have anything else but them. Before Behemoth started booming for us to go help his friends, we just wandered. I looked like a colt so I could just go to villages and get taken care of. Some of the bigger cites would toss me in orphanages, but those places had free food and beds. Not that sleeping outside was to bad. I just hate it when birds think I'm a statue.
I stomped, reminding myself to stop procrastinating. I was not looking forward to doing this, but I am a bad news first kind of guy. Get the band-aid off quickly, move on. I was under the belief that the things bothering me deep down were indeed going to show up eventually. If there was time to do this, its was before I get killed by dragons.
With a heavy sigh, I opened the front door of my home.
My father sat calmly by my sister. He was mid huff of his pipe. From the sweat of his brow, he had just finished a hard days work. I sometimes forget that I get my dirt brown coat of fur from him. My sister was doing what she always doing, reading. Day or night, by sun or by candle, she was always nose deep in a book. She was the pony to put your money on. One day she would have been a big shot scholar, bringing in more bits in a day than three years harvest. Her soft tan fur… and her braided chestnut mane she got from my dad really brought me back.
I could see my Mother cooking in the kitchen, I got my rusty mane from her and I am always told that I have her ruby eyes, but that is a hard thing to compare. My brother had her mahogany fur. The smell of her cheese and potato soup filled my nose and heart. I really miss those days, hard work and home cooking is something… special. I tried not to cry, but that was a one-sided battle.
I felt the tears fall from my face, hard like a steady rain. Seeing them after all this time hurt. When I managed to clear my eyes and head, I finally realized it. None of them were moving, it was like I was inside a picture. A single moment held forever in time. I laughed. Of course this is how it had to be right? Set in stone ? What a fucking joke. My own mind was fucking with me. Its always a fucking joke. Once you realize what a joke everything is, seeing the world any other way just doesn't make any sense. I fucking hate my name.
With anger in my step I cantered toward my father, who at my touch began to turn to dust. His body became ash and fell upon the floor. Like a statue I couldn’t move, I could only cringe and feel my heart sink into my chest. In awe of how my actions once again led to my fathers turning to ashes. I stomped in anguish and hate. A pitiful self hating stomp of anger. Looking to the frozen image of my sister, I dare not touch her from sheer fear. I cried as I desperately battled to keep myself looking back.
I walked past her and my mother, never looking back. The temptation to so much as feel their soft mane again after all these years was too much. I’d rather try to keep them in my mind than have them fade to ashes due to my foolishness again. With a single step into the grass of my old yard. I see it. It all comes together like an artists rendition. A great unveiling. The curtains pulled apart on a great stage.
My brother, armed with nothing more than a shovel, and the blazing terror of a dragon. The last time I ever saw my brother was long before the fire ever engulfed him. The dragon itself was coated in flame, and a stream of fire burst from it’s mouth. Like earlier, this was a motionless but nonetheless vivid picture. But unlike last time, this was not my memory. It was always how I pictured the scene.
My memories shamed me. My brother fought, staying his ground. Against impossible odd. And I just ran away. Like a coward, I had already fled.
This was before, when I had something to live for. I mean, now I have War Bond and her party, we're all friends. But before them I had nothing.
I never wanted to be a farmer, I ran away from that life. I did not care about my responsibilities or my family. When I had others to care about, I shut them out for writing my path for me, and I left. While I was away, a fire-heart dragon burned my home to the ground. I survived because I rejected the gifts my parents gave me. Because I left my sister for dead. Because I ran away, I got to live. I had never felt real shame until then. I should be dead. Instead I have been wallowing in the shame and guilt for years. For some reason unknown to even me, I blamed myself for their deaths as well, like as if I would have been able to help stall it long enough for my mother and sister to escape. I don’t know. I just found it impossible to not blame myself on some level. I needed to get past this. Abvol claimed I could.
Now I gazed at the bravery and honor of the family I deserved no part in. Unable to watch, I turn around, but the house I grew up in... my mother... my sister... It was all ashes. Burnt to the ground, the ember's still red and glowing. I scream the loudest scream I have ever uttered. I yell with more anger then my body can take. Then I cry, for once again I am powerless. Once again turning my back on my family has left them in ruins. Averting my eyes, I turn, nothing but ashes are at my back as well. What a cruel joke. This is a joke. This is all a joke.
My world is raining ashes. The sky had become dark, rain pouring down, swelling and flooding in the black ashes of my life. I yelled... I yelled for the family I had abandoned. Stomping my hooves into the black puddles, splashing and painting myself black as well. I have nothing. I have only ever had nothing. My fate was to be rendered into ashes by dragon fire, and despite all my running, fate had pushed dragons back at me once again.
“That’s not true.” my sister's voice cut through rain.
I turn to her in an instant. My mind races. I assume she is merely a figment of my mind come to further my torture. To mock me and joke at what a pitiful failure I am.
“Please go away.” It amazed me how fast everything had gone to hell. Perhaps that was what it was like for my family? Everything is fine and happy one second, and ashes the next. Or perhaps that what I thought it was like. I was dueling my guilty subconscious. Panning the ash filled waters of my mind for a rational explanation for the personal hell I had willingly delved into.
“No, you’re being a big dummy big brother!” My sister yelled at me. Memories of her scolding me for sleeping in too late only made me cry harder. I could remember each crease in her pouting face as she slammed her tiny hooves into my side. “Dad made me do your chores! Why are you the favorite all you ever do is fart around! ” She did that a lot, too shy to actually swear she would just say fart.
A crash came from behind me, and I see that a mountain far far away picks itself up, it is shaped like an ox. Behemoth… my mind thought. Been a long while since I saw that Ox in his real form. Fucking mountain with horns.
“Not now! Focus on my words you lazy Poop!” She shouted.
“Go away!” I countered, not wanting anymore mental torture.
“No! Look at me!” Her voice made my sorrow deepen. As if each syllable was an icy dagger stabbing directly into my heart.
“Leave me alone!” At this point I just wanted to wallow for a little while.
“Look at me!” Whatever she said echoed in my ears. Pounded into my ears like the bellowing of a giant
“Please… just go!” I pleaded with my sister. Desperate to find an easy way to silence the guilt she represented.
I felt tiny hooves grab my face. Pulling my head to look into the ruby eyes of my sister. Not unlike the young colt I am when Behemoth is bound to me, she was covered in dirt and filth.
“Stop it.” She said plainly. “Stop hating yourself. That’s stupid.”
I couldn't believe what she was telling me.
“You are just a figment of my imagination.” I replied angrily! As if getting mad at her would scare her off.
“Maybe.” she replied. “But you need to know what I am about to tell you… You fart!”
I laughed loudly and audibly. What could she possibly say? I was in my own head! She couldn’t say anything I didn't already know. It was a joke, it had to be a fucking joke.
“We never blamed you for leaving.” Her words echoed in my head and I became dead silent.
“Shut up.” I ordered her. "SHUT UP"
“We were happy to know that you would get to live.”
“I said SHUT. UP.” I ordered her again.
“I missed you... but knowing you would survive filled my final moments with happiness.” Her voice sounded like the singing of angels, gracing my ears with the voice of heaven.
I couldn’t respond.
I was so deep in my own thoughts that I didn't even notice my colossal companion sit down next to me. I mountain snuck up on me. Now who is the joke?
“Are you all right? Would you like to talk about it?”
I sat there, still trying desperately to process my sisters words. I could not reply.
“I’ll let you think about it.”
It felt weird to be here, but Behemoth had front row seats to my ordeal and was very insistent I should be here. At the very least, he wanted me watching as a sideline observer. Behemoth and I watched the other mythos. We sat watching a memory of Behemoth's play out. Being considerably smaller then my soul bound companion, I took a seat on his snout. I was missing a bit of context, but it appeared that the group had gotten into some kind of heated argument, and things looked to be at the verge of violence. I focused on peeling the drying ash out of my fur.
“I don’t have time for this Behemoth.” Goliath stood on his back legs, the magnificent golden bronze dragon was standing on his hind legs, his anger showed straight through in his body language. That and his snarling teeth were also a good sign.
“Make time! Coward!” A second apparently younger memory of Behemoth boomed louder and with more frustration then I ever heard from him. He lammed his hoof into the ground and held his head low, horns pointed at Goliath, who stood nearly twice as tall.
“Behemoth! Don’t! Goliath, stop antagonizing him!” The Great Wolf Fenrir scolded. She was a lot more intimidating now that I saw her in the day light. She seemed bigger, and more… noble? Proud? I couldn't find the exact word for it.
“I am not antagonizing anything! This fool wishes to start a fight. Need I show him why that is a fool’s task!?” Goliath spread those massive wings, moving into a wide fighting pose. I felt the tuft of wind push me hard enough to nearly knock me onto to my back.
“You think me as weak?! Bastard!” Behemoth looked about ready to explode, which as a giant rock monster made me think he actually could, and the result would be volcanic.
“Bash the dumb bull Goliath. He needs to learn baby doesn't always get what he wants.” The Long serpent that she was, I didn't realize who Leviathan was for a moment. She was coiled up like a snake, and had a long face much like Goliath, only she had this set weird fin/wings on her head in front of where her ears would have been. The spikes ran down her spine, and these fins/wings seemed to extend from side every now and then. She was a giant, blu-ish black snake with creepy fin-wings. She just laid there coiled up as if she was bored with the whole situation.
“Stay out of it Leviathan.” Ziz stated. He sat perched on the shoulder bones of the equally massive pile of bones I knew to be Greep. Ziz himself seemed to be ready stop things if they got out of hand. Greep didn't have his robe, and was significantly larger than I had seen him before, or in the future... we was much larger back then. I seemed like every bone of everything that had died thus far just kind of clung to him. He must have the ability to change his shape and size. Despite being made up of bones… he still managed to look sad. As if seeing his friends fight broke his… heart?
“Enough! I've had enough! You think she isn't using you! We're your friends not her!” Behemoth stomped down hard. Then made a headlong charge toward Goliath. The shouts of his comrades were nothing more then a breeze in the wind.
Goliath made a long side step, sweeping the ox's legs with a tail swipe. Behemoth fell hard, smashing into the earth with a massive pounding thud that boomed in my head.
“Goliath!” Fenrir barked. He didn't even notice her, he just turned to Behemoth.
“Get back up. We aren't done.”
Behemoth forced himself up, nothing hurt but his pride. Ziz started getting antsy, obviously unsure to stop them yet. Another ramming dash, not the brightest move. Goliath laughed, he braced his hind legs and stuck out one claw, catching Behemoth by the horn. The sound of the impact was like rock bashing into rock, only on a much louder and larger scale. Goliath had on a face of sheer joy, with a shift of his legs he began to move Behemoth. In turn Behemoth began to shake and stomp, but it wasn't enough to stop the dragon, who began to spin, dragging the colossus that was Behemoth with him, after three full circle spins those wing shot out and Goliath jumped, high and still spinning. Three or four times higher than they had stood. His friends shouted for the end of the fight, but Goliath seem intent on putting Behemoth into the ground.
Still spinning and still using a single arm, Goliath began to lift Behemoth’s body until all of the beast was over his head, then boom. Like thunder Goliath shot down, slamming Behemoth into the world so hard that it cause the earth beneath us to shake, and the impact of wind and earth boomed in my ears, the force threw me back a few feet and made my ears squeal a high pitched whine. Goliath wasn't even down, he crouched low going for another grab, but Ziz tackled him the thundering pound of the lightning bird’s electricity pulsed in my whining ears.
Goliath just tossed Ziz away, but then Fenrir dashed in, taking his throat in her maw and pounding him to the earth. Goliath was pinned, Ziz came down with his talons and secured Goliath to the ground.
“Yup, the Ox is out cold.” Leviathan slithered over to Goliath. “You won, like every knew you would. I said shut Behemoth up, not shatter the ox. Are you done showing off?”
Goliath gave a puff of smoke from his nose, his eyes darting away from his friends. Ziz flapped up and away, standing not so far away. Fenrir released her grip on his throat and stepped back.
“You've gone too far Mountainclaw.” She growled.
Goliath didn't say anything. He just got up. Then picked himself up in to the air, then flew off into the sky.
“Should we just let him leave like that?”
“He'll talk to Moth once he gets back. Goliath can be a real… He can be mean. But he means well.” Ziz stretched his wings.
“Means well? He slammed out friend into the ground so hard it caused an earthquake! He would have kept going if we didn't stop him! Goliath knows how to really make me angry!” Fenrir seemed to be snarling unintentionally.
“Moth’s fault. Dumbass fought Goliath thinking he can win. Goliath does what he likes, he doesn't need a watcher.” Leviathan pointed out with a serious tone. She was on Goliath's side, but not a fan of his methods.
“Behemoth had a point. He is leaving to help that equine. Again. He always helps her. It’s annoying. He is our friend not her servant.”
“They care about each other Fenrir. He’d part the heavens for any of us, she just has her hooves full with the whole… pony thing she’s got going on and needs more help than we do. Not to mention the dragon council has been requesting Goliath’s presence more and more. He has a lot going on too. He likes the time alone he can spend flying to help her with whatever. There is a lot more going on then there was a few thousand years ago. There are more in our lives then each other.” Ziz spoke with an unusual level of maturity. I was starting to think that he was the voice of reason in this motley crew.
“He shouldn't spend so much time on his own. Goliath… needs to be with his friends. Those who care about him the most.”
“Am I the only one afraid he joins the Council permanently? With all the time he has to think he could just decide that would be best for him.”
“He hates the council.”
There was an off putting silence for a while.
“I pretended to be unconscious so Goliath wouldn't embarrass me anymore then I embarrassed myself. Looking back at it, I was very foolish to battle him in the first place. That was the day I learned just how much stronger Goliath was then I, that he could easily kill us. I mean, he has such power… and I resented him for it. This fight was about more then him going out on his own again. For the longest time I felt… upset that he was so much more than me. That at my very best I was not nowhere near Goliath, if he intended on actually fighting me seriously... I'd be dead. Now it seems so foolish. Why would I feel that way? Goliath has the worst life out of all of us. He keeps so much hidden under his scales and carries so much on his soul. I wanted for so long to be strong like Goliath. Now I understand. I thought of him as a beast who had so much. Now I understand he keeps us together because he wants so desperately to keep what little he has.”
“Seems a bit.. odd. I mean, you resented him?”
“Maybe resent isn't the best word. I simply mean that He seemed so perfect. I have known that the truth about my dear friend, that he was different, not a bad different but a... a leader, for a long time, but I have never forgiven myself for being such a... child. Nor have I forgiven Goliath beating me as hard as he did. That moment has really always been a great shame upon me. I must move on from such petty things.” The giant Behemoth, had never really spoke to me this much in a single sitting. It nice to have a chat with him.
“You are a surprisingly complex and deep fucker you know that right?” I joked, giving the monstrous beast the tiniest smile he can see.
“Somewhat. But I imagine that as complex as we are, I have simple problems compared to our friends.”
“That’s probably true. Have you met Feral? That guy might have just gotten a whole lot less crazy, but he is still by far the craziest guy on our team!”
"That reminds me. I should thank Levi again for telling them I was unconscious."
The salty air hung in the air. The sun was out and blazing, the party was no longer a great distance from the Capital. Stone awoke with a stiff shake, readjusting to his tiny foal body. Feral, Freya, Life, and War sat near the bow of Dusk's ship. Feral sat grinning out to sea as Life gave him a much needed hair cut. Mostly she was trimming out his various knots and tangles, as well as trimming him down to look more like a shaggy pony then weirdly tall wolf thing. Freya was training her legs, doing full body push ups now that she did have her ability to fly. Or would they be squats? Lucky for her she was already pretty tone, not like other griffins that rely on flight more heavily. War and Goliath were training with her over sized claymore. She had tied eight anchors to the thing for added weight. Four on both flats of the blade.
"Now that it doesn't fill me with a intense fear, the sea is pretty cool." Feral observed. He was more then a little bit twitchy.It was obvious he had more energy then he knew what to do with.
"Cute. Umm, dull. Lifeless." Ziz mocked with his laugh.
"I wonder how much is dead there are in the sea."
"Gah. Do I need this trim? I'm getting all... edgy just sitting here!" Feral began tapping his claws into the boat.
"Worry to much!? You nearly died a few days ago!" Life Blood gave a hard pull on his ear.
"It's not my fault! The sea air might has revitalized my fighting spirit!" Feral shot a claw into the air.
"You can't fight yet Feral!" Ziz squawked.
"Thank you Freya."
As the little argument went on. War and Goliath were focused on their training. Swinging and trading blows with an imaginary opponent. Despite her massive weapon, and it's added weight, she danced around swinging the thing with almost no effort. Graceful as ever she waltzed, her partner was the blade she carried.
"War. If you don't mind my asking. Who taught you how to fight like this? You are very skilled for someone at your youth." Goliath asked as the others argued. They both ignored Life "accidentally " snipping Feral's ear a bit when a wave tipped the boat, and the incurring laughter and jokes.
"Huh? I've told you guys before my mom taught me."
"Who was your mother to be so skilled with such a blade."
"I'm not to sure. I've always intended on talking to her about it but... there's been a lot on my plate recently."
"What of your father Hatchling?"
"I only met him once. He was a mercenary so he was almost constantly away. One day news arrived that he was dead. I was still a little kid but, I remember what he told me. Mom said to remember it so I did."
"What did he say?"
"Does that really matter right now?"
"Perhaps."
War gave an annoyed sigh.
"Honey. I know you are young. But you need to remember what I am about to say. This world is full of deceit... Never turn your back on a friend... There will be those that deceive you, those that'll let you down. Live your life with a passion, Everything you do, do well. You only get out of life what you put in... so I'm told. They will never say what what they mean, don't bother with the straight answer. You make your own luck. You create your own destiny. I believe you have the power. You can do whatever you want to, as long as you are willing to fight for it. I know you must have so many questions for me. I'm sorry I missed so much. That I have to go away again so soon. Don't worry. I know all the answers. I'll come back... to fill you in. Live your own way my precious War Bond. Pffft, never took to much from it. The ass was there for maybe five minutes of my life, what the fuck can he know about anything! Then he goes and dies. Leaving me and mom again. Good for nothing shit!" War slammed her claymore in a massive overhead swing, smashing straight through the ship.
"Oy! What the Fuckin' Shit! Muh boat!" The pirate captain Dusk Bones shouted from the rear of the bridge.
The group was silent as the War bond slowly realized that she had gone from thinking, to talking, to shouting, to smashing all with in a small time frame. The sudden realization that she may have issues about the her father only made her more angry. She looked about at the eye's watching her.
"My bad." She leaked out embarrassed. "I haven't thought about my father in a long time. I guess it's something I just kinda... push away."
"I can smell you blushing War. Chill girl. We're all friends. No need to be embarrassed. You have dad issues you haven't dealt with. Comparatively that's pretty mild to my shit. Which everyone knows by know I'm sure. I killed people and, was permanently changed to be... well. Feral. I was and am pretty fucking crazy. Don't get hung up on the things we think. We are your friends War." Feral gave War his new toothy smile.
"We can help you with that kind of... poop!" Life Blood somehow beamed shyly.
Dusk Bones came galloping in. "Muy boat!"
"We weren't gone for long were we. I ask trying to ignore War's episode in an attempt to pretend I never saw it." Stone trotted up on his tiny legs staring up at War Bond with a joking grin.
"IN CASE YAH TAINT NOTICED ET. WE BE FUCKIN' PIRATES. AYE CAIN' JUS SAIL UP RIVER, DOCK AND ASK DAH NEXT SHIPWRIGHT AYE SEE TO FIX MAH FUCKIN' BOAT. CITIZENS DON FUCKIN WORK FER FUCKIN' PIRATES! AN' DAY SURE AS FUCK WON'T HELP US BEIN' WE LOOK LIKE A BUNCH AH FUCKIN FREAKS. WE GOT OUTLAWS ON BOARD, NOT JUST WAR 'N' FERAL, BUT AYE GOT ME WHOLE FUCKIN CREW TO WORRY ABOUT YOU FUCKIN' FUCKS! FER FU-"
"Wait he's right. A lose criminal, a AWOL solider, a pirate, and a little kid might attract some unwanted attention. I'm also like the only Griffin in the country so there's also that. We wont be able to just walk up to Celestia or Luna." Freya cut in much to the groups dismay.
Feral gave forth an exaggerated laugh. "Yes. I've thought about this for a while. Secretly. Because I'm insane. And no one here want's to do the crazy guy's plan. Well. I'm getting ahead of myself."
Feral stood, shook off the cut fur to reveal a surprisingly dapper version of himself, even with his bleeding ear, before sitting down calmly.
This is a story that takes place over hundred years before the rise, and fall of Nightmare Moon.
There have always been dragons. They have always been mighty and fierce creatures that can rain down terror on villages and strongholds alike. No matter where you live, or where you go, there is and always will be the threat of a Dragonic attack. As they have adapted and changed to survive in any environment. From the snow capped mountains in the north, to the great desert in the west, the rich forests of the east, and the grassy fields of the south. No village is safe. No Fortress is strong enough. Dragons roam as they please. Some even say that they have taken to living in the oceans and seas. Dragons can come an many sizes and shapes with an unlimited number of terrible skills and abilities.
Equestria was still a relatively young nation. Unfortunately, for an unknown reason, dragon attacks were at an all time high. The young nation had no idea how to handle such fierce and wild attacks. Entire towns would just go silent over night. When others would go to find out what had happened, they would bare witness to the terror, and waste that dragons could bring. There were hardly ever any survivors.
That is, until a great dragon attacked the capitol city. When Canterlot was... was assaulted by the dragon dubbed Ravage, three heroes rose up to the challenge and saved the capitol city. Blood Tooth, and earth pony, Star Swirl, a unicorn and Wonder Volt, a pegasus. Together they united and defeated Ravage. They gave Equestria the answer that they so desperately needed. Dragonslayers.
An entire military force was created to train soldiers for the one purpose. To learn how to kill dragons. Only the best of the best would make it. Of the hundreds thousands who applied, few thousand were ever accepted into the program every year. Being a Dragonslayer was like being a celebrity. Everypony loved you. You got money, protection, high ranking titles, ponies vying for your affection! The country needed heroes. Dragons kept coming and fighting, Dragonslayers kept rising to the occasion and fighting back.
Even with the Dragonslayer program enabled, many innocent ponies were still being killed. Then... mysteriously. The undeclared war stopped. Dragon attacks changed from a multiple attacks a month, into a yearly one or two. This went on for nearly ten years.
In the beautiful city of Canterlot, there was a mare. Young Ms. War Bond, a mare who is one of the many new recruits for the Dragonslayers, she trained everyday in case of a dragon attack on any nearby towns or villages. She was a dark ebony mare, her mane was an icy light blue, usually cut into a short, yet still remarkably cute cut. Her eye's were a deep crimson. She wasn't much of what one would call a... girly mare. Her trained muscles and stubborn tomboyish personality just never attracted very many bucks.
The day had been rather taxing for her. After starting her morning with a fifteen mile gallop, she went on to weight training for a few more hours. After that she finally ate her first meal of the day, noodles, rice, and potatoes, caloric fuel. After that came weapon training. Broadswords, warhammers, long bows, shields, all for a minimum of forty minutes, both in her hooves, and using her teeth to wield the weapon. Before mid-afternoon, she ran another fifteen miles. After her intense work out, she finally got a chance to rest back at base.
She trotted through her barracks, trotting to her bed where she sat down and took a deep relaxing breath. Her eye's closed, she rested for a minute, going about her plan for the rest of the day, and evening. After a soothing hot bath, and a big meal, she decided to do a bit of reading and study up on dragons.
She went over the anatomy of the listed and defeated dragons.
Blood Dragons. Usually smaller then the average dragon, and with a darker primary color, with a bright secondary one. Most commonly, they will be a dark black, with a bloody red underside. Unlike other dragons, they weigh more then their size would dictate, slowing their flight. This is due to the blood dragon's unique ability of which it gets it's name. Blood dragons cannot breath flames of any kind, instead they spew up vast amounts of their own acidic blood. The blood can easily burn through most standard armor sets, but is unable to burn through it's own scales. These dragons, cannot be burned by their own acid blood, but they can be burned by other blood dragon blood. They have the blood to support this due to their having roughly five hearts, each pumping more blood then the regular dragon heart. This extra liquid slows them down, but also gives them extreme levels of stamina. Do not try to out last these dragons, they will out last you. It is best for these dragons to be taken down by archers, and lancers.
She set down the guide book. She already knew these things, but she figured it was best to keep refreshed. She wanted to build a habit of reading a bit about any kind of dragon at least once a day. She was now ready to start her evening, she's probably hit some bar, have a drink or two, then head back to base for some rest.
This was her schedule. For what seemed like a lifetime, she stuck to this same routine. Work out, eat, train, work out, shower, eat, study, drink, good night. That was it. The mundane schedule was not what she expected. Granted, she was not the kind of pony to go bragging about being a Dragonslayer, she had seen several of her fellow Dragonslayers doing that very act, but she thought it was shameful. She wanted to be just like Blood Tooth. She wanted to be recognized for her skill, not her title.
It was the middle of the night. She was fast asleep.
“GET UP, COLOSSAL DRAGON SPOTTED HEADED EAST, LETS GO STOP THIS FUCKER BEFORE HE GET HERE!” Her commanding officer blasted from her dorm room. It didn't take her more than five minutes, to get out of bed, make her bed, suit up, place her claymore on her back, and make her way outside. She really liked claymores, mostly because it was also Blood Tooth's weapon of choice.
As she made her way on to skywagon number nine, her registered transport unit, she went over Colossal Dragons in her mind. Mostly to calm her nerves, this was her first time in active duty. This is what she was training for. She and over a thousand other trained warriors would do battle with the Colossal Dragon.
Okay, Colossal Dragons, no breaths of any kind, slow, bad fliers, too big. But they make up for all that with shear might and size. You don't need to move very fast when a single step is going to move you nearly a mile... most likely cause of death... trample... stay calm. Slash and dodge, slash and dodge. Keep inside blind spots, and watch out for claw-steps. You can do this.
Her and nearly one hundred others sat in a sky wagon. Everypony was silent, save for the one commander. Who instructed them that teamwork was key here. Told them of their battle plan and formations. She looked to the faces of others, to see how they held up. Being that three ponies in that wagon had already vomited, she knew they were all scared, for most of them, this was their first chance to be in active combat.
“We're dropping off a bit of a trot away. We don't want it to know were coming, but from the look of things out there, I don't think it could anyway.“ the commander ordered.
The roof of the sky wagon opened wide, they were a solid three miles away from their original landing zone. Which was already a good ten miles off from the dragons reported location. She looked up at the sky.
It was completely consumed with smoke, any higher, and their flier would choke to death from lack of air. It only looked like it got thicker from where they were flying.
“C'MON, WE'RE DROPPING NOW LET'S GO!” the commander roared through the loud winds, before leaping off the skywagon. One by one, each pony unbolted themselves and jumped from the sky wagon.
She took a breath as she saw her turn was coming, undoing her bolt, she held her breath as she made the leap of faith. In seconds, the sky wagon looked far away. She felt the wind slash at her underside. The wind flowed through her armored body. It was so cold so high up. That's where things got blurry for her. Fading away.
She awoke in utter darkness. She struggled to move her body, which felt horribly stiff and rigid. She tried desperately to feel for her surroundings. She couldn't move more then an inch in any direction. Her nose was full of the stench of death, and muddy soil. She was trapped.
She was trained enough to know to control her breathing, not to panic. She knew that there was a good chance that she had very limited air. She couldn't recall what had happened. She couldn't remember any from the last few days. She didn't know where she was, or how she got there. Her head ached, and her chest burned.
She felt about her small container. There wasn't much distance between her muzzle and whatever she was trapped in. Using all the strength she could muster in such a confined space, she bashed her hooves against the roof of her container. Again. Again. She bashed at the roof with all of her force.
The container let out a painful cracking moan. She instantly knew that she had been trapped in some kind of wooden container. She knew she could break it. She felt her escape coming. With a few more bashes, she felt her hooves break the hard wood, and penetrate into the outside.
Unfortunately when she moved her hooves, some kind of soft substance began to fill her container. She made the sudden realization all to late.
She had been buried alive.
She awoke dreary in darkness once again. However... things were not pitch black.
She lay on her side in the mud. The rain falling hard. It was night, and very dark. Yet somehow, she could see. She could see through the blackness, she saw everything in a dark dull gray. This however, was far from her greatest concern.
She, for the second time, awoke in a daze. Now she lay in mud, struggling for breath.
Rain soaking her down to her core. Her chest burned with an intense hot pain. She was missing... a lot of memory. The last thing she remembered was reading about Tower Drakes, then heading to bed. She had no idea how she ended up getting buried alive.
The more she tried to remember, the more her head pounded.
OK, just drop it War, forget the how for now. Focus. Where am I.
She struggled to stand in the friction-less mud. She felt her hooves slip, and she slapped against the mud with a splat. Reminded her of the hazing she got as a new recruit.
This is easier, I don't have anypony watching and judging. There is no weights stuck to my sides. I can do this.
She pushed herself up, and her hooves clapped in the mud. She looked about for her surroundings. She saw nothing. She was in some kind of open field. The only thing she saw were tiny rocks placed in an odd formation. They went on as far as she could see. They were all equidistant from each other. A flash of light filled her vision, for just an instant, she saw a gate not to far away. Then the booming thunder blasted the field loudly.
At a gallop, she rushed for the gate. She felt her hooves slip, but she was fast enough to catch herself this time. Steadying, she kept up the dash. She galloped hard, when she reached the gate, she scaled it in seconds. It was much easier then the one she had been training with. She was glad all that exercise was legitimately useful.
The soil beneath her was still wet, but grass kept her from stepping in mud now. The grass was soft, and squished under her hooves. This didn't slow her down, she kept moving forward.
Another flash of light. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a large stone... thing . She couldn't describe it. Not from the single instant she got to notice it.
She turned and rushed in that direction. Eventually her short ranged night vision illuminated the stone for her. She looked at the flat rock. Feeling as if this was just some dumb rock. Randomly here in the middle of the field by mere circumstance. Trotting around it, she took a careful look at both sides. She froze when she reached the opposite side, according to where she approached from. She realized that she came from the stone's back, and now she looked at the face of the stone. A pure level of dread and panic filled her.
Canterlot Memorial Cemetery.
What the fuck!? What the fucking fuck!? Am I a fucking zombie!? What the shit!
She fell flat on her flanks hitting the wet grass with a squish. She couldn't escape the cold. That extreme impossible cold. It froze her down to her core save for the burning in her chest, in her heart.. She was confused. She was scared, downright terrified. She was clueless to what was going on and how things have been happening.
She wouldn't let any of those thing stop her. She had year's of training to become one of Equestria's best warriors. She was a fucking Dragonslayer!
She took a deep breath. Calmed herself down. And began to think.
Okay so first things first I need to get out of the damn storm. Where am I? Canterlot cemetery. So that means I am underneath the capitol. That's a hell of a trot on hoof, where else can I go. Pok! Pok is only a thirty minute trot from the cemetery. Crossing that field is a lot easier than climbing that mountain in a storm. It's a start.
After a fifteen minute gallop, she arrived the small town of Pok Pok. It as a small neighboring town. Built entirely off of the success of Canterlot. When ponies dreamed of moving to Canterlot but found it a bit outside of their price range, Pok Pok offered a place to stay and significantly lower rates.
The small village was quiet in the heavy downpour. The booming thunder pounded the place, bellowing across the sky and throughout the town. She quickly scaled a two pony tall fence to touch down on the soggy thick grass of Pok Pok. She felt her hooves sink deep into the wet soil. She was impossibly cold. Yet her chest was burning, not from the gallop, no. She couldn't place it, and it had been burning since she first woke up in that coffin.
It felt like her heart was on fire, melting, making a burning hole in her chest. Yet the entirety of her body felt cold, ice cold. She was shivering viciously, the cold piercing her body's core. As she approached the town, she felt her body slowing down, stiffening. She thought she might be freezing quite literally.
OK I need a plan! The Inn! Shit no bits! Okay... umm... what can I do?
"War Bond? Is that you?"
Young Lyve Wyre, a unicorn mare with an ivory coat and a sword metal gray mane with a colorless streak in it, she had emerald eyes, and nice teeth. She was a mare who was very to herself, but not really by choice. At a time she was actually close friends with War Bond, back when they were both small fillies. However, when they became of age, War Bond left to go train and follow in the hoofsteps of Blood Tooth himself. Lyve Wyre however left to Canterlot, as one of the first sets of students to attend Canterlot's School for Gifted Unicorns. These two separate paths, among other things, lead the two astray. They hadn't talked to each other in what felt like a lifetime.
“Wha? War Bond!?” Lyve Wyre stated with a level of disbelief.
“Yea... yeah it's me!” She was glad for a friendly face... but of all her old friends... it had to be her...
“How... what? I can't...” She seemed to enter some kind of state of shock.
The fire place blazed. Filling the main room with both light and warmth. The tiny room looked big with the lack of furniture. There was an armchair sitting there next to a lantern, facing the fireplace. Then there was the tiny table, only reaching high enough to touch in between the knee and shin. The house itself was quite small. As were most houses of Pok Pok, but the residents preferred the term cozy.
War Bond sat on the floor by the fireplace, she was wrapped in a bedsheet, she wanted to forget the word cold. The hardwood floor was cold, so she used the extra length of blanket to sit on. She was mostly dry now, Lyve Wyre helped dry her with, “wimpy flame magic”. That bitter cold was now replaced with a soothing warmth. The burning in her chest seemed to fade away.
Lyve Wyre trotted into the room, the sleep still in her eyes, her magic holding a tray of two small tea cups. Neither of the girls liked tea, the cups actually contained soothing hot chocolate. Rather than sit in the chair, Lyve took a seat not far from her friend. The fire cracked and burned. Her magic moved a cup of hot chocolate toward her friend, who then set it down on the tiny table.
They both sat in silence for a while. Enjoying the warmth of the fire. Listening to the howling winds outside, accompanied by loud rain drops, and the occasional bellow of thunder. The hot chocolate steamed the cool air. Flames danced on the pieces of wood in the fireplace, wiping about rhythmically. As if the flames were dancing.
War Bond sniffed her drink, wanting to enjoy the nicest thing thats happened to her in a while.
“Careful, it's hot.” Lyve warned. unphased, War took a long drink, loving the pleasant warmth flowing into her body, and the chocolatey taste in her mouth.
“Thanks Lyve.” War stated calmly. The two mares were still a little shocked about where they were, and who was in their company.
“I'm sorry to drop in on you like this Lyve... things have been... weird for me, recently and I wasn't sure what to do.”
Another cackle of thunder filled the air.
“It's alright War. Its really good just to hear from you again, We have talked to each other in... wow I can't even count them... since before I graduated from Canterlot's School for Gifted Unicorns.”
“Wow, your right. Come to think of it I wasn't even a recruit back then.”
“You enlisted! That's right! I just went to school.”
“Magic school, and your magic still sucks.”
“Warmed up this hot chocolate.”
“Your magic isn't great.” War stated with an over-sized grin. The two girls traded looks and gave a short laugh.
“Its good to see you again.” Lyve replied with a small grin.
“Same to you Lyve.”
The two friends were obviously still tired. That sat in the silence of each other's company for a little while longer, until they finished their drinks.
“Hey... not that I don't want to catch up... but its really late, and I'm super tired. Would you mind if we continued our awkward silence in the morning. I only have one bed... so you're sleeping here. You can this chair cushion as a pillow. Or just sleep in the chair.” Lyve stated after a long yawn. Her magic taking the armchair cushion and setting next to her friend.
“Hey, that's totally fine. Thanks for the help and chocolate. We can chat later.” War Bond replied, as she flipped the cushion to the less sat on side.
With a grin and a wave, Lyve blew out her lantern, and trotted back to her room. Glad to see her friend alive and healthy, and glad that she opened her door to her, she retreated back to her fitful sleep. War Bond was thrilled to out of that damn storm. She just laid down casually and grinned. The warmth of the fire was beyond soothing. Like a flaming blanket of cotton... or fluffy puppy fur. She had a hard time putting it into words. She heaved a sigh, and rested down, closing her eyes and hoping to sleep away all her worries. She was confused but also very tired. She wanted to tackle the confusion of her situation while she was well rested. Unfortunately for her, sleep didn't come easy.As tired as she was, she just laid there, back to the fire place for awhile. She was tired, but at the same time was not sleepy. She just laid there trying to blank her mind from the night's events.
Okay, this is not working. I want to sleep! I need to sleep! Guh! Just sleep already!... maybe if I do something to take my mind somewhere else...
Her mind immediately jumped to a very... primal urge.
Well... I could do that I guess... I doubt Lyve would walk back in here. Even if she did, I don't think she can see through these blankets. Wow... first time in a while... I haven't done this since... since before I enlisted. Well alright, yeah. I'll do it. Take my mind off all other troubles.
She moved on to her side. And slowly moved a hoof down her belly... and into a much more sensitive place.
What... General Blood Tooth? You want too what?! Oh my, I'm just not that kinda of mare... but... but your so strong... so very...muscular... and handsome...
I apologize for interrupting... this, but do know that you are not as alone as you think you are.
Years of training had made her reaction so smooth, she moved like well oiled machine. Bolting up and immediately grasping a fire iron from the container just in reach of her teeth. She looked about the room, giving the entire room a quick look over. She searched for the source of the sound.
“Who's there!?” She ordered.
Be silent young one. We need not wake the maiden of this home. The voice was eerie and hauntingly familiar. Deep... and beastly. She looked about, looking for the voice, but no matter where she looked, the voice sounded as if it was over her shoulder.
She tried to scream... scream for her dear friend. Yet she couldn't open her mouth.
Do not yell, if you wish to speak to me, speak to me through your mind. As I do to you now.
How the hell am I going to do that!
You just did.
FUCK you can read my mind!? Where are you!? Who are you!? Get out of my head!
That awful burning began to get hotter again.
I cannot read you mind.. I am part of it. We are now one. They both felt it. The pain was unimaginable.
Who the... that doesn't make any sense . She was losing focus, the pain was over taking her.
Yes I don't quite understand it eith...-
A flood of thought came rushing into War's head. All of a sudden she remember everything. The burning pain peaked, then faded away. The colossal dragon. The eye looking beyond her... into her soul. She was hit with the memories like a surge of tidal water. Instantly extinguishing that flame in her chest.
-no it makes complete sense now. I assume we just experience the same rush... the same... flood of memories.
This is impossible....
No, it was a spell I learned when I was but a child. It is called a Soul Bond. We are now bound by the soul. We are one in flesh, but two in mind. A new experience for both of us I believe.
You bound our souls? What does that even mean... well I guess you just explained it but...
It was a spell, I stated that already. As for what happens next... well I am not sure. Why we lost our memories of just before the binding temporarily I do not understand. I awoke to you panicking underground, so I dug us out, but for some reason, I lost consciousness, only awakening again not long ago. Just long enough to see you wave good night to your friend, then begin...
Lets not talk about that What does a soul binding do exactly?
I am not entirely sure of the after effects, but I know we are now two souls bound into a single body. I see what you see. Feel what you feel. That is all I know on the spell however.
So you really don't know what is going to happen next do you?
Indeed. I was curious to see how this all works. At my age, new information is quite rare.
So when I blacked out in my grave...
I... took the reigns... for lack of better words.
And you just stopped me from screaming...
Indeed. It would appear that we can both control the flesh. Yet one of us remains... in the primary control station. Your body. You have the most control. I can stop you, but I cannot directly counter your movements. Odd. I didn't think I could silence you.
This is freaky... there's a dragon in my head... in my body.
Indeed. This must be much to take in. I apologize for this... you did not ask for this. At the very least, you have a good chance to change physically for the better.
Whoa... what do you mean that?
We are in this together. I have a theory of what's happened, and will happen to our body.
Well... thats... nice I guess... There is either a dragon in my head or I'm insane. This is fucking crazy. Why did you do all this. Who are you? You are part of me. You did this without my permission. I deserve answers!
Indeed you do... what would you like to know. We don't need much sleep. Probably just a few hours every few days... I assume this is because you have my body's systems. Which are intended for much... larger beings. So this small body requires less rest.
So we have most of the night huh? Okay... first things first. Introductions. Who are you?
My name is Goliath Mountain Claw.
War Bond. Pleasure to umm... have the same soul I guess.
Separate souls, but they are linked to one body.
Yeah... alright. Next question. Why did you bind our souls.
I was fighting a losing battle. I didn't need to win. I just needed my enemy to not win. Joining souls with you denied him his victory.
Alright... I don't really get it, but I doubt you would give me more. That was cryptic enough. I know when things are hidden. I don't like it, but I respect it. We can talk more about that later, lets move on.
Thank young one. You have my thanks.
Okay... so what difference did all this make to my body .
From what I believe. You have become stronger physically. As well as had an increase in your stamina. You also should have taken my resistance to flame. I am almost sure there is more to our union then that though.
What is your plan now that we've joined souls.
You have done me a great deal. For that I am greatly thankful. I intend to do the same for you. Using my ancient knowledge and skills I shall aid you. You are also now half dragon. I do not know how this will effect your body, but I shall help how I can.
No alternate motives? Not that I trust you just yet anyway, but it's worth asking.
I have made clear to you all my intentions young one.
You do realize that I am a Dragonslayer right. I kill dragons.
Ahahahaha, Young child. I have slain more dragons then you have ever seen.
So... How old are you than?
Old Enough to have seen what you ponies call the first day. Ever.
Alright then.... I guess that will do for now. Just don't try to get me killed.
We share a body, if you die, as do I. You may remember blacking out six feet underground. When I pulled us out? I intend to keep us both alive.
Well... I guess this is happening. This is really happening.
Indeed... and if your intention and goal is to court this... General Blood Tooth, I can aid you in winning a male's affection...
What... NO! NONONONO! Ignore that! That little moment never happened alright!
I am a male, I can help.
I don't want your help with that! Blood Tooth is a-
Dragonslayer I know. We all know of him.
So you get it! Me being with him is impossible.
Nothing is impossible. Why not long ago, I'd bet you were sure you wouldn't end up half dragon.
NO! NOPE! NOT DOING THIS! We're not talking about Blood Tooth. Or.. Thinking about him! Shit this is really weird.
Indeed. I do believe we are going to be stuck together for a while. What an interesting turn of events.
Oh please wake War Bond. Just wake up, this is just some crazy dream!
You are handling this better than I expected.
"Why are we doing this again?" War Bond asked.
"Our friend is at the top, so we need to climb it." Fenrir answered for the group.
"Your friend just so happens to live on the peak of Equestria's largest mountain." Feral complained.
"Not the largest, just the one of the tallest." Goliath mended.
"Don't you think this is all moving too fast! Like we're rushing this thing a bit!" War hesitated as she and her friend Feral Silver stared at the massive mountain before them. The two wore the magic orbs around their neck as a pendant, to keep a line of communication.
"We're on what? Chapter four! The readers are ready for things to get moving." Goliath answered.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Feral asked blatantly.
"Sometimes he will say things like that, you learn to ignore him eventually." Fenrir answered readily.
“What's with these storm clouds? I noticed them back when the mountain first got in view, why the hell aren't they moving?” Feral inquired, ignoring the two Old Ones.
“It's those Order freaks.” War answered.
“Who?” the party seemed to ask simultaneously.
“The Order of the Storm? Those pegasi who worship weather? They're loons. They believe if they keep their temples in perpetual storm that their gods will bless the land with rain and lightning.” War answered.
“How are they with outsiders?” Goliath wondered.
“Pretty harsh, unless you're a pegasus, then they try to convert you with weird brain washing rituals.” War responded.
“How do you know all this?” Fenrir nipped.
“I'm... well, I was in the military, we keep an eye for all potential threats. A rogue pegasi force like this can cause some real damage.” War replied.
“Let's just get started! Sitting around talking about why this won't be easy wont get us up this mountain.” Goliath huffed impatiently.
With a heavy sigh, Feral began on the mountain path. War stood in place, glaring at the daunting mountain in front of her. The peak was somewhere above the heavy storm clouds. Looking from the base of the cliff, she could see the rain falling on the higher parts of the mountain, as well as the glimmer of white snow near the top. She pondered for a moment where all the water was going.
With an even heavier breath, War followed Feral, who was walking on the path ahead of her.
Three days had passed since the princess had rushed them off on an adventure with very little time to think, or to figure something out to go on. They were relying primarily on the Old One's ability to sense other Old Ones. The trot to the mountain where their friend slumbered had been uneventful and otherwise mundane. Now they had arrived at Thunder Mountain. One of, if not the largest mountain in all of Equestria. When Feral asked why it was called Thunder Mountain, War explained that it was frequented by thunderstorms on a regular basis. Which is probably why the Order of Storms made it home of one of their temples.
The mountain's lowest part, which they now trotted on, consisted mostly of green grass, a dirt pathway, some thick trees, and a steep incline. The grass was a deep green, the dirt path was moist from the near constant drizzle. The trees surrounding the path were also green and healthy. As they trotted forward, very little happened. Until they reached the second layer of the mountain.
Green grass and dirt path was replaced by rocks and gravel. The trees vanished, replaced by bulky boulders. Unfortunately the pathway narrowed, and the rocky surroundings remained a threat, as the drizzle heavied to rain, tripping when this moist was easy. Among the constant danger of falling, many creatures could be waiting from behind, waiting for prey.
Finding it as a pleasant way to pass the time as she had done on the trip to Thunder Mountain. War decided to start a conversation.
“So whats the deal Goliath, who are going to meet exactly?” she asked as she stepped over a small pile of wet gravel.
“My closest friend Ziz. A truly pure creature with a heart of honeydew. Noble, powerful, a great ally to have with us.” Goliath answered.
“That means he's nice. He's a good guy, but he's... just a bit... loud for me.” Fenrir answered much more mildly.
“He worth the climb?” Feral asked, not sure he wanted to make such a climb.
“Completely.” Goliath answered with hint of joy the group wasn't expecting.
“Wait!” Fenrir said aloud. “I feel eye's upon us.” She growled.
Without a sound, three manticores lept from the cliff above. Terrible beasts. The body of a lion, with the face of an ape, but with sharper teeth. Leathery bat wings both muscular and massive protruded from their back. The venomous tail of scorpion raised above their bodies poised to strike in an instant. The manticores opened their mouths, revealing three or four layers of teeth or jaws, ready to rip them apart. The three manticores surrounded the two pairs.
“I've been waiting for this!” Feral stated excitedly as he drew Tooth and Claw, then dashed at one of the manticores without any fear at all, laughing all the while.
War wanted to help, but one of the manticores was on her the second she tried to turn to run in his direction. Drawing her claymore, Justice, she held the blade in her teeth, her neck muscles bulging.
The first manticore had swept it's paw at her, but a quick side step gave her an opening to poise herself for an attack with her massive blade. The next attack was the second manticore's pounce. Goliath's voice in her head sprung her to react, side-stepping again, the attack and swinging the heavy blade in a giant vertical arch, easily cleaving the now landing manticore's wing clean off.
The manticore howled with pain, but the terrible death cry of Feral's manticore filled the air just after. War only looked for a moment. He had Tooth and Claw deep into it's neck, while it's own tail had been forced to pierce through the creatures back and into it's underbelly, disemboweling it. Gore covered the mountain trail, intestine and other organs fought with each other to for what spilled out first. With a final push, then a twisting pull, the wolf yanked off the manticore's head, roaring the viscous howl of a bloodthirsty wolf.
A hard pain hit her side. Refocusing, she saw that the manticore's tail had tried to sting her, but had deflected of her platemail, denting it badly, and definitely leaving a bruise underneath the heavy armor.
"Stay Focused Hatchling!"
With another long swipe, she cleaved the tail of the manticore be fore it had time to retract the stinger. The pain made the monster rear up in it's hind legs, stinger-less tail flailing about wildly. Instantly countering, War slid the blade into position underneath the beast, the blade leaving a line in the dirt. Then as the monster began to fall back down, she gave a powerful vertical upswing, slicing the beast cleanly in half vertically. It just fell limply in two pieces. Viscera raining down like gore filled pinata.
"Focused enough for you? "
War instantly turned back to the one winged manticore.
It had a number of deep looking cuts along it's legs and underbelly. Feral slid beside War his cloth armor wet with more than just rain. He had been clipped. The claws of the manticore managing to nick him in the side.
“You two alright?” War said clearly despite the hilt in her mouth.
“We'll be fine, get to his side, I'm going to put his face in the dirt, you cut off his head!” the wolves replied with an odd voice, as they seemed to be speaking simultaneously, their voices mixing.
The two ran at the last remaining manticore. The beast roared, blood rolled down it's wingless side. Feral dashed straight at the beast. War flanked him, reaching it's side.
A feint from Feral baited out a claw swipe, the counter attack on Feral's behalf plunged Tooth and Claw into the manticore's forehead. Gripping onto the daggers, Feral forced the manticore's head low. Already in prime position, War brought down the blade of Justice, which beheaded the beast with ease.
Tooth and Claw cut out slabs of manticore meat to eat later. They were now stored in a special pouch of Feral's lightweight saddle bag. Save for the slab Goliath had wanted to “taste”. A healing potion was all Feral needed to patch himself up. As he stopped to let the magic potion do it's work, War removed her plate mail, and tried to un-dent it, as well as examine her side, which was sore and bruised heavily, luckily the stinger came at an angle, head on, she would have cracked a rib for sure.
Back now on the trail, the two pairs resumed their travels. The rocky mountain terrain less of a threat as it was now three manticores were gone.
“Where'd you learn to fight Pup?” Goliath asked curiously.
“Who? Me? Just something I have been doing for a while. Gotten good at it, Fenrir makes me better.” he answered.
Goliath just snorted.
Now that they had returned to following the path, War wanted to strike up a new conversation.
“That reminds me. You're an escaped convict?” War asked.
“He is, not me.” Fenrir stated immediately.
“Yeah yeah.... Before I met Fenrir, I was in a bit of trouble with the law.”
“What'd you do?” War stated what Goliath was thinking.
“What does any criminal do? Poor life decisions.” Feral responded.
“What did you do in particular? Fenrir?” Goliath pressed.
“I won't say anything my pup doesn't want spoken.”
“Nothing big. Prison taught me to be quick anyway.” Feral stated.
“You weren't fast enough to dodge those claws.” Fenrir teased.
“Sorry, I was trying to keep an eye on your lizard buck-friend.” Feral replied in an attempt to counter.
“Or were you trying to get a look at War Bond's flanks?” Fenrir said suppressing a giggle. War Bond shot him a raised eyebrow tinged with a slight glare.
“Hey now, if I wanted to do that, not even you would notice Fenrir. Besides, that armor leaves everything to the imagination, that's too much work for me.”
A heavily armored hoof hit him in the back of the head.
“Hey, you did the same thing! You took a glance at me getting the first, and best , kill, and you got stung by those things!” Feral exclaimed.
“But this armor that leaves “everything to the imagination” lets me take a hits! Unlike that paper you have on!”
“And don't forget we also have dragon scales, you squishy wolves!” Goliath stated with a hearty laugh.
War mostly sat back as the three bickered lightly, and made each other laugh. She was surprised. She knew that Fenrir and Goliath were old friends, but Feral was surprisingly chummy with Goliath. He was much better at being “friends”... a better socialite then she was.
Almost like a wall of ice, a bitterly cold wave crossed over her. Her first real battle had just flashed by. She had been trained in the art of combat for years. But it was her first real battle. It was not sitting back and letting Goliath do the fighting, not sparring with her fellow soldiers. It was nothing like a sparring match. It was faster, scarier, more dangerous, more taxing on the mind and body. And she was barely realizing it now. Her first real kill. It came so easy. She questioned it, the pit growing in her stomach clenching tightly.
She had the dragon in her head, and she had hardly joked and laughed with him. In fact, in her private time with him, he mostly stayed silent. She wanted to become good friends with these wolves, and Goliath. Everything was happening so fast. She was just... overwhelmed. Yet... the smile stayed on her face. Talking telepathically to Old Ones and a Lycanthrope, this was crazy, far beyond anything she had dreamed would happen to her back on that base.
She really liked her new friends.
“Fenrir seems really sweet, Feral can get... intense , but he is charming and means well. Goliath is... odd. But his want to make me happy despite our rather odd relationship is really heart warming.”
This helped subdue her stomach, and relax a bit.
“Things are bad, but these ponies and... things... beings around me... have the same goal, and we're working to achieve it. It's not as bad with them here .”
Of course, she had forgotten that the orb around her neck transmitted ALL her thoughts to everypony else with an orb...
“See?! I'm her favorite! I'm sweet!”
War Bond hid her blush by adjusting her armor. Looking toward it to make sure it set correctly.
Before long they were surrounded by rocks and boulders.. The height of the mountain was growing more apparent, the incline was getting steeper. The peak was still out of sight. They just kept going, kept following the path. They really hoped that the path continued to the peak. Scaling the mountain horizontally with hooves would get hard.
I close my mind...
what you see its surreal eternity
lost my love...
lost their life what you hear trapped by fear...
“You're singing it again.” Fenrir stated quietly
“Am I? Sorry.” Feral stated solemnly.
“What was that? The song I mean.” War asked.
“Nothing. Forget about it.” Feral answered
“We have not long before sunfall. Perhaps we should consider stopping until the sun raises. It would be a nasty fall down.” Fenrir added quickly.
The two pairs soon began to build a shelter among a high set stage of boulders and rocks. Mostly out of twigs and leafier branches. The very little extra they had scavenged became a campfire, which both Feral and Fenrir agreed would bring moths and bugs, but stave off night time predators.
War set up a leaf and moss based “mattress” of sorts. Rocks did not make the greatest pillows. It wasn't until she had already finished her mattress, that she realized she would likely sleep in her armor for protection, and it really didn't matter all that much.
Feral didn't have a problem with sleeping on the bare floor. His fur and coat made good blankets, and it also had the benefit of being soft. He coiled into himself much like a real, fully canine creature would have. He had stayed like that the entire time War built her mattress. It wasn't until soon after that she finished that he pulled out the manticore meat and threw it upon the flame. Fenrir's words passing over War and Goliath's mind just like real sound would have.
“Eat. Keep your strength up, you too War.” Fenrir mothered.
The sky was growing darker. Not from the worsening of the clouds overhead, but the setting of the sun. The dull gray of the sky transformed into a dark starless sky, eerily reminiscent of the other world they had visited. The rain seemed to worsen. The light rain that had been their companion had changed into a solid heavy rain. The telltale signs of a storm seemed to become much more obvious.
“Stay near the fire, the cold weather will slow us down.” Goliath explained. War had forgotten the negative effects of being cold blooded. She did not want to feel that pure icy cold again.
The meat was ill-prepared. Cooked through and through, slightly burnt, and mostly flavorless. It was a bit haunting to War that she preferred the taste of fresh still bleeding bunny rabbits.
Once night began, War tried to sleep, despite Goliath's protests. Feral scouted ahead, surveying their surroundings every so often, keeping weary for any predators lurking on the mountain. After a few hours of silence, laying down with her eye's closed, War Bond realized that she required significantly less sleep then she realized. She remembered Goliath telling her sleep wasn't required, but she hadn't actually slept since before she even met Feral. Back at Lyve Wyre's...
“Lyve is probably worried about me...” She thought as she opened her eyes, staring into the crackling flame. “.. serves her right.”
“If you don't mind... who is Lyve Wyre to you?” Goliath stated, differing from his normal silence.
She wasn't entirely sure what to do, but Feral's voice filled her head.
“Bond with Goliath as you would any friend. Talk to him. Trust him. The closer you grow to him, the higher the sync rate. The higher the sync rate, the more in tune you will feel with your body. "
She stuck a hoof down the neck of her armor pulling out the orb allowing for telekinetic conversation. She set it down just to the side of her, the string of the pendant blocking it from simply rolling away.
A cold wind blew over the pair.
"She's an old friend, who I ignored for a long time... until I had no choice. Even then we really haven't been friends... for... reasons..."
"You need not tell me everything Hatchling. If speaking of this... un-comforts you, you need not speak."
"It's... stupid. Just the drama of a dumb teenage mare. I won't bother you with the details."
"However you wish."
"We got into an argument, stopped talking. Well, I stopped talking to her. She tried to get a hold of me, but I ignored her. Eventually she gave up..."
"We must all face our demons one day. This world is an equilibrium."
There was a pause for a moment, then a smile slid on war's face.
"Thanks Goliath... I think I understand what you mean."
"I know I can be... very... silent. But we are together for a reason. You may not realize it, but you are now my Hatchling. I wish to be your... companion."
"That's really sweet of you... I think"
War smiled. Perhaps Goliath was... nicer than she first thought. The two spoke for a while, not exactly about anything in particular, the two just talked.
"Hey, Gol, What kind of... Old One is Fenrir? If you don't mind my asking."
"She is the kind of creature that...you respect. One wants her on your side. She can be a horrifying nightmare, or a wonderful ally."
"I mean in ways that don't have anything to do with like... fighting."
"She is... a passionate creature. With several emotions. She also has a tendency to want to...be something... great?"
"What? Great? I'm... confused"
"Yes I know. Just know to stay on her good side. I was a bit of the... leader back in the old days. Our circle of friends mostly listened to what I stated. She was the... second... she did not like that and made it known regularly. However, she never directly challenged me for control, she knows I can best her in battle. Other then that she can be a bit... overbearing at times."
"Overbearing?"
"You'll see... wait... I feel something..."
Without warning, a figure slammed into the rock beside the campfire. Instantly back on his hooves, Feral turned over to War Bond. His body was beaten, dirty, and his clothes were stained with blood.
“This cunt's tough, I can't gank her!" Feral and Fenrir's voiced mixed into each other angerly, the snarl they made simultaneously didn't lighten the tone.
"Sorry!" Throwing the orb back on she looked over in the direction that Feral came flying in from.
A tiger stood glaring at them both.
"That's Regal Goliath! Atlas sent her to kill me!" Fenrir snarled.
The tiger stood with an overconfident smile.
"That's no tiger, it's a mare! Their like us!" Feral spat.
The mare trotted forward. Like Feral, she was much furrier. Her fur and coat were a crimson, with black stripes of a tiger trailing through over her body. Almost making her look like a zebra, but the wider head, sharp teeth, set of claws on the front of her legs instead of hooves, and feline eye's glowing from the campfire ruined the illusion. She wore only a cape around her neck. Her confidence was swimming off of her.
"Goliath! ... Oh well, I'll have to try again later, for now, Meet Silk Sword. My soulbound mare." the Tiger stated calmly. Her voice a haunting mix of two, just like Fenrir and Feral.
Feral looked bad, he was bleeding much more then they had ever seen him bleed. But Regal and Silk didn't look to much better. Their wounds were pretty even, but Feral had gotten hit one too many times. A large bloody claw mark was raked into his chest, still bleeding and fresh. Regal had a very good wounds too, and what looked like a pretty good stab wound in her right leg. They had obviously been pretty evenly matched.
“Of all his allies, Atlas sent you after us?” Goliath growled.
“Well, he didn't know you were around. Sorry, but we'll have finish this later. This info is important, Atlas needs to be made aware of it. We had no idea that this the other force was... you! ” With that she jumped down the mountain side, and out of view.
It was no use, War tried following, but the steepness of the cliff and her full body plated armor weight wouldn't end well. They saw the striped mare dodge into low foliage and out of sight.
Immediately feeling her body twist, she felt herself move back, Goliath was controlling her movements.
“How the hell do she beat you two!” He sneered.
“It's those damn paws!” Feral shot back.
“How did paws beat you!” Goliath boomed, War didn't like his anger, but somehow, she was starting to get frustrated herself. Not at Goliath, but at the two wolves. She agreed with each words Goliath spat out their shared mouth, as he scolded them. Which he did for a solid ten minutes,
“She got the jump on us, padded cat feet! Plus the damn rain! We couldn't hear or smell her coming, she got this first strike in, set us back a bit.” Feral defended
“How could you let her sneak up on you! You two are supposed to be better than that.” War found herself scolding as well.
“Why the hell did you not hear us! He howled, roared and even used the damn orb!” Fenrir seethed
“Two of us and only one of her and she got away!” Feral added.
The two dragons were silent. Then after a long while, War took back control, going to her saddle bag for medical supplies.
“We still have a long way to go. C'mon.” War offered a few bandages and a healing potions to the hurt wolves.
After the two patched themselves up, they coiled up and licked their wounds. After a period of hostile silence, the party continued onward as soon as the suns first rays began to brighten up the gray sky. They climbed up the mountain slowly, the path slowly dwindling into a barely traceable line of used gravel and dirt. They trotted for a good while in silence, but it was once again it as War who broke the silence. They spoke as they trotted on.
“So who is Regal.” she asked, breaking the tension.
Not really to her surprise there was no immediate answer. It was a surprise however, when Feral answered.
“You know these two are Old Ones?” Feral answered.
“Yeah.”
“And how we're going to find a few more?”
“I do, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“Well, that was something from their past who wasn't a friend. Far from it.”
War chose to hold her tongue. This... was a lot. She was really starting to get the feeling of being caught up in something much, much, much bigger than she initially assumed.
“I need to be careful, there could always be more monsters here. Feral and Fenrir are good, but they aren't in perfect shape at the moment nor do those knives do much damage. Goliath an I have some good power, but my attacks are slow. Now everypony is mad at each other too. Damn, why did I get angry? I felt bad when I first saw them so mangled and I'm the one who took off the orb! But once Goliath got mad... so did I. This is... fucking crazy! We don't even have a full sync rate and yet he is affecting my brain. Come to think of it.. I've never seen those two not feel the same... emotion, they were both mad earlier and are both mad now. Yet when at the same time they both seemed so much more calm earlier. This is fucking scary. Wait... can't everypony hear... my.... thoughts ?”
“Yes” They all replied.
“Shit! Again!”
That gave the party something to chuckle at.
War felt her leg lift up and grab Feral, it forced him into a headlock. Goliath was controlling her again.
“What the-”
“Next time we'll kick that cunt's ass and send her back to Atlas with her tail between her legs!” Goliath boomed, as he moved War's body and gave the wolves a hard mane tussling. Like a older brother picking on his younger sibling.
“Aww Fuckin-! Stop it! Lizard-breath!” Feral growled.
“Why are we giving them a noogie?” War asked, but Goliath didn't respond.
“That's his way of saying “Sorry for being a complete asshole” is all.” Fenrir stated with frustration infecting her voice.
Goliath let go and gave the wolves a hearty punch in the spot where a claw had previously dug into.
“Apology accepted.” The wolves replied.
“Let's just get up this damn mountain, this stupid rain is making you smell like wet dog.” War teased.
The wolves replied by giving their whole body a vigorous shake.
The path was thin. Nothing but a bent line of rocks loosely strung together. It was obvious that non-pegasi rarely used this path. The thick clouds were now nearly black, and drenched the party as well as the terrain. The rain had grown into a monsoon. Pouring down fat drops of rain that seemed to form a series of small rivers in the rocks. Large boulders claimed small puddles and pools of water. The traces of all green seemed to vanish, any plant to reach this high was drowned or sent back down by the ebbing tide of water. The rocky surface was fragile. War's steps sent a series of rocks tumbling downward in the streams with each step. She feared tripping. Feral's poise didn't seem to faulter from heavy downpour, but War noticed how he was slowing down considerably, still bruised from losing that battle with Regal and Silk Sword.
“Where is all this water going, it wasn't pouring down from where we climbed up?” Feral asked as he drudged upward through the narrowing path. He didn't have to speak, as whatever force made the orbs link up didn't seem to be lessened by the rain. They could still hear thoughts clearly.
“Perhaps the Order fellows War spoke of are collecting it. I doubt they can get working plumbing and water up here, let alone tap water for cooking and cleaning.” Fenrir answered.
“Or it could be collecting in a natural waterfall or something.” War tried.
“Maybe the mountain is absorbing it, could be why it's so green down there, but so rocky up here. Like a cut rose growing thicker rather then taller.” Goliath replied.
“Could be all three for all we know.” Feral contemplated.
The two pairs continued up the path. The heavy rainfall soaking them. Feral's cloth armor already torn, provided little protection, he was soaked to the core, his thick fur was heavy, and is body was sluggish. War's heavy armor was already heavy, the water mostly went around it, only squeezing through the tiny gaps in the armor, and being dragon slayer armor it was well insulated, she was warm, but the day of climbing and soaking in water made it lose that warmth, however slowly. She was cold blooded, and the cold was ebbing in on her. Soon she would begin to slow down like she did before.
In the downpour, they stood in a box. The path ended a steep wall of rock in front and to the sides. The rocks had trapped them, the only way to go was back the way they came. They were close to the clouds now, they had climbed a great distance. The didn't suspect the several scorch marks on the floor and walls at all.
A bolt of lightning struck down at War's feet. The sound made her ear's ring, and the sudden bolt startled her. She jumped back. But still stood.
Feral let out a grunt of pain. Stumbling slightly as he held his ears.
“Their hearing is far more sensitive then mine! That must have hurt ...”
“IT'S A-” Fenrir was cut off...
A second bolt of lightning stuck down, this time hitting the wall just behind War. She ducked down as a result, but this time her ears went into a great whine.
Feral hit the floor, desperately holding his ears in an attempt to block the thunder.
With a flash the third bolt landed where it was aimed. Hitting War and numbing her entire body. She didn't feel herself hit the ground. She could no longer hear, but she could still see the flash that came with each bolt. Several more were fired. None hitting her again, or Feral. The booming sound was enough to render Feral unconscious. The blast of lightning had stopped War, brought her down in an instant. She wanted to figure out what was happening. But everything went black. The last thing she heard was Goliath.
“They... got a preemptive strike on us...”
War came to her senses slowly. Her vision a blur. She first noticed her inability to move. When her vision cleared she noted the fact she was behind bars. She realized that she could no longer hear the rain. Instead she heard a loud howling. Whether it was wolves or the wind, she couldn't tell. She felt that she was not wearing her armor, and Feral was nowhere in sight. She was bound by chains, stuck up against some wall. Noting her surroundings, she saw that she was in some kind of stone fortress. The cobblestone floor and walls with wooden torches were a give away. And the number of cells suggested she was in some kind of dungeon. She could smell the coppery scent of blood. But more overpowering then anything was the sheer overwhelming cold.
“War? Can you hear me now?” Goliath asked.
“Yeah... I can... Goliath... cold...” she stated. They spoke through thoughts, she didn't want anypony to realize she was awake. She didn't know why she was so unbelievably sluggish however.
“We're freezing to death. We need to warm up. We are trapped however, and we don't seem strong enough to take dragon form.”
“That's... not good.”
“I believe it's those Order ponies you mentioned, they caught us in a trap. Boxed us in, then sprung!”
“What... about... the others? Can you... sense them?” she struggled to think clearly.
“I can feel Fenrir, and shes moving. Either she escaped and is prowling around here, or they're moving her. I can't tell. As for Ziz, I can definitely feel him above us.”
“Armor?”
“They took everything from us.”
“How aren't... you so...”
“I've been cold blooded far longer than you. I'm much better at dealing with it. But it's hard. Losing focus.”
“We need... to escape.”
“Don't fight it. We need to conserve heat. Let Fenrir or Ziz free us. We can get these Order folks back after we warm up.”
“But... what if... they are hurt?”
“Fenrir takes more than that before going down. She's a stubborn bitch.”
“What about... breath... fire breath.”
“You don't know how, and I can't. I'm not strong enough right now to do it for us.”
“I can try...”
“Don't, you'll burn our insides. It's instinct for dragons, not ponies.”
“Have to try... are we... gunna let Fenrir... save the day? Let her... be the alpha?”
There was moment of silence.
“Steady your breathing. Focus, you'll kill us if you fail.”
War did her best to steady her breath. It took several minutes, but eventually she hit a rhythm.
“Good... now, give a deep breath.”
War took a long hard breath.
“When you exhale, start by biting your teeth and flicking your tongue, make sure your mouth is wide open and both are out of the way. Then just breath out.”
War tried, but nothing happened.
“Again!”
On the second attempt nothing happened again. She was just taking deep breaths.
“Again!!”
This time something caught, and her mouth filled with flame for an instant. The surprise made her clench her teeth, smothering the flame and causing her to cough up smoke.
“Better, you did it. Good thing you shut your mouth early. Any later and you'll explode your head. That is fine, that is natural, let it happen, don't think about it, together this time!”
The pair harmonized, focusing on breathing together.
In a breath, a burst of flame flowed through their mouth, hitting the floor and staying a moment before flickering out. The heat felt wonderful, but now they had to catch their breath.
“Great! But we need something to lite. Our fire needs fuel.”
The warmth from her fire was reliving, but quickly fading. The sudden energy was all she needed to form a plan of action.
Goliath could help but grin at his Hatchling.
Fenrir and Feral sat in a cage. With a number of other mountain wolves. When Feral awoke, his vision was filled by his forepaws being licked clean. The taste of blood in his mouth. Shackles around his ankles.
“You're finally awake Pup.”
“What the situation, what happened?” Feral asked quickly, regaining his senses almost instantly.
“A trap, the fools threw us with the other wolves.” Fenrir replied calmly.
Taking control of his now fully wolf body he glances at the bloody mess of a wolf carcass laying in the center of their holding cage. Still wrapped in it's chains. Just as the other wolves caged with him were. The scent of urine and feces was strong. Those who forced them in here didn't clean the cage well or often. It was infuriating that countless wolves had been trapped in such a confined space, and left in such poor conditions. He was furious.
“That pup was the former alpha, thought he could take me. Died a fool's death.”
“So whats the escape plan?” Feral growled.
“Figured I'd let my little jailbird break us out, was waiting for you to wake up.” Fenrir stated calmly.
“Can you feel Goliath?” he nearly snapped.
“Yes, slightly, he's just cold. He'll get himself free and start rampaging through this place sooner or later. Now that were high and dry, as soon as he feels us moving around he will feel the need to free himself. If not, then that mare surely will convince him. However, using the time I had alone to think I realized three things.”
“What's that?”
“One, when Regal got the drop on us... we couldn't feel her presence, but she knew where we were, but she felt Goliath, and didn't know it was Goliath. This may prove to be a problem in the future. Second... Ziz is coming. I feel him descending, he must feel us and want to know who we are, I highly doubt he will recognize us. Remember how we couldn't recognize Goliath once he had been soulbound. Third... I definitely feel Ziz... but also something else. Either he is soulbound like us and even more bonded then we are, or he has company.”
“This just keeps getting more and more complicated.”
“Would it be fun if it was simple.”
Using his claws to pick the shackles that were on his neck and ankles, Feral grinned. The locks succumbing to his will in seconds each. He was free in under a minute. he stretched, his front legs extending low, his back legs standing tall. He stretched like any hound would after a nap.
“I guess not, damn that nap really helped my focus. That or these locks are shit.” He replied through clenched teeth...
“Probably a combination of the two Pup. Now free the pack, and lets lay siege to the bastards that thought they could imprison wolves! Let's tear them asunder!” Fenrir was boiling just as much as he was.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
A bloody scream filled the air. War bond was screaming in complete and utter agony. Screaming a terrible blood curling scream. The howl filled the halls and dungeon.
Three Order pegasi dashed to her cell. They wore thick black robes over their entire body. They were wrapped in those robes, scarves hide their faces, and odd flaps sat on their back, one can assume it was a type of opening that would allow wings to slide through. Snow thinly coated their robes.
She lay motionless pinned against the wall.
“It was screaming...” One of the three stated. The pegasi opened her cell and two stepped inside with her. They moved close to investigate.
“Do you smell that?” the one who stayed back uttered.
“Yeah... kinda like... burnt... sulfur?”
A tidal wave of bright pink fire roared out War's mouth. Bathing her two onlookers in fire, the third was hit with the wall of heat that the fire pushed forward. The two were completely absorbed in the fire. They both tried to scream, but the flames engulfed them so heavily that the attempt to draw breath filled their lungs with flames. They had no air to breath, and the air above them was superheated. Their eyes burst and burned away from the intense heat, their blood boiled. They were cooked almost instantly. The robes they wore had vanished, as did all fur and feathers. Nothing but charred flesh remained.
War tore herself down from the wall and stood over the still flaming charred corpses of two Order pegasi. The chains that bound her breaking due to her powerful body, but she still wore the shackles and collar. The third was frozen with fear, staring in awe as War's pale body seemed to flush with color again.
She let out a breath of thick black smoke.
“Where's my stuff?”
The pegasus didn't answer, he couldn't. He was frozen in place due to sheer disbelief. Unrelenting fear.
He looked at her dragonic eye.
“You're a monster...” was all he could get out his mouth.
His scream filled the air. The empty dungeon flashed an eerie pink. As the dragon's flame flickered in the dark. A bloody scream filled the air. The Order pegasus was screaming in complete and utter agony. Screaming a terrible blood curling scream. The howling laughter of a dragon filled the halls and dungeon.
A great and loud howl of a large group of wolves filled the air.
More screams filled the fortress halls. Wolves were loose and wild. Rabid and furious, they relentlessly sunk their teeth into every Order pegasus they found. Among them was a giant, a wolf twice the size of any pony. It laughed as it's claws tore pegasus after pegasus into ribbons of wet bloody meat for the various pack members who followed. They traced a bloody path of destruction through the Order barracks. Pegasi desperately ran toward the inner sanctum. Most ran past leaving other's for dead.
Order sentries arrived with large spears. They slayed the beasts from a distance. Stabbing and slashing wolves before the claws and fangs could reach.
“How'd these mutts get loose?!” a sentry roared as she pierced a wolf with a lance. It's high-pitched whine calling more wolves to the front lines.
As a great shadow turned the corner, she got her answer.
Feral moved into view. His wolf form dwarfing the sentries, he barely fit in the cobblestone hallway. Nearby wolves stepped away from his path. His gaping maw soaked with blood, his claws dragging entrails and viscera. Hunks of pony gorily dripping from his mouth alongside red oozing saliva. His dark fur was darker with blood. His eyes were filled with rage.
“I SHAKE YOUR CORPSE IN MY JAW” he snarled, before giving a roar that spat blood and chunks of pony meat from his jaw. He began to run toward them.
“FALL BACK!” The sentry screamed.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING” a sentry screamed in terror. Feral barreling toward them.
“FALL BACK!” the sentry leader order as she ran toward the wolf. “PROTECT THE OVERLORD.”
Her allies dashed away in a moment not turning back. They left their captain without another word.
She lunged forward with her lance at the beast, but a claw swipe knocked her lance to the floor.
“Your valor has saved you this day. Be not a fool who rushes death. You get to live the rest of your life. Enjoy it.” the monster spoke.
The beast swatted the sentry to the wall. Feral looked back at the pegasus. Then continued on his way.
Wolves overran the halls, the sentry looked at the halls. Wolves walked by her without even the the slightest hostility toward her. They knew she had been left alive.
War Bond rushed into the armory, but Sentries followed and flanked her.
She was surrounded in a moment by seven armed sentries. Yet none had the courage to strike. They all feared her counter attack.
Once a sentry worked up the bravery and lunged at her with a lance, She swiftly dodged, side-stepping the attack. Not slowed by the heavy armor, or the cold, she was swift. With a disarming strike at the lance she took the weapon right from the pegasus' grasp. Taking the lance as her own, she swiped a heavy swing. Cleaving the pegasus of his forelegs. He cried in pain, but a thrust sent the lance through his brain. All of this in one smooth flowing motion.
Using the opening, she dashed forward, placing the lance in her mouth as she galloped over the fallen sentry. With a full body spin, she lacerated two more before dashing through a hallway. The guards gave chase. But immediately halted as she stopped to take a deep breath. A breath of fire blazed through three more.
Dashing through the flames, she finished off the remaining guard in a flash of her blade. She dropped the lance, waiting to be reunited with her claymore, she would have hated if the blade saw her with another weapon.
Kicking open the door to the armory, she gazed at a assortment of weapons. She and Goliath grinned at the weapon cache they found. They spotted Justice hanging on a wall. Tooth and claw were missing, as was her armor.
“Overlord! Both prisoners have escaped, they are far more powerful than we assumed. They are not mere defilers of our hallowed ground! They are monsters. The mountain wolves are loose and feasting on our kind! The she-dragon is reducing our greatest warriors into ash!”
“The gods are mad at our ignorance. They wish for us to overcome this test of faith. Victory is assured child.” The Overlord spoke with charisma. His robe was a bloody crimson with gold edging.
With a pull of a lever, the ceiling of the Overlord's quarters opened, letting the snow from the outside pour in. The blizzard that had formed at the mountain's peak filled the room quickly.
War Bond trotted into a hallway full of wolves. They quickly sniffed her body before dashing off. She pondered that for a moment before seeing the shadow of a giant turn the corner. The blood soaked Feral Silver moved into view. She gave him a astounded look.
“You're huge!” she beamed.
“Ahh yes, We are aren't we?” Fenrir and Feral replied in that odd mixed voice. Their body shrunk down. They transformed into Feral in his half wolf state, the form she had come to see as his normal body.
“Better?” He asked in his own voice, spitting out chunks of meat he hadn't noticed were in his massive mouth before. Blood still soaking most of his coat.
“Giant wolf mode seemed more helpful.” she stated with a bit of disappointment.
“You do realize that it's a blizzard outside right? Ms cold blooded.” Fenrir asked.
“Figured, but we will be fine.” Goliath answered, giving a puff of fire.
Feral formed a claw and removed War's shackles.
“You pick locks?” War asked.
“Possibly.” Feral answered sarcastically.
War Bond rolled her eyes.
“Fenrir, Do you feel Ziz coming?”
“I do Goliath. I believe he been soulbound, just like us.”
“I sense it also. Something is off. My horde says he is just got company.”
“You still owe me some three or four hundred rabbits, and about six or seven hundred hordes of treasure, remember?”
The two pairs walked into a large room with an open roof. It had been wrapped in snow. They sky above seemed to swirl with clouds. The wind howled and flung snow about, but no snow was actually falling.
War felt the cold of the snow. “Why are we outside?”
She felt her head crane upward. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Feral do the same.
Feral and Fenrir began to give a great and loud howl. She heard every wolf in the building do the same. She felt her own body take a deep breath as Goliath prepared to roar.
“ZELLION HEAR YOUR COMRADE” Goliath bellowed a roar that echoed on the mountain top, it shook the entire temple.
The wind stopped. The clouds above seemed to swirl even more somehow. Twisting and showing all onlookers a spiral of clouds. Lightning flashed above. Giving a shadow of something above lurking in the clouds. A figure descended from the clouds.
It's body was a deep dark wooden brown, with white feathers around It'd head. It was something different. A pegasus unlike any other. It's entire body was coated in feathers. With a massive pair of wings flapped softly. On the pegasus' face, no muzzle, but a beak. No hooves, but a pair of talons and paws. The realization was sudden. It was no pony at all. But a griffin.
The wind started up again. Mid-descent the griffin moved with the wind, flailing.
“Whoa! Updraft!” It screamed in a female's voice before she came crashing down suddenly. Landing beak first in snow, she was buried to her hind-legs in snow. Her laugh could be heard through the snow.
“Umm need some help?” War bond asked mildly. A second later, the griffin pulled herself from the snow, large grin on her beak.
With a point toward Feral, a charismatic voice of Ziz spoke from the griffin's mouth.
“Zellion.” Fenrir stated with a deep sigh and a face-hoof.
“Ziz.” was his reply.
“ZIZ!.” Goliath roared. War felt her body lunge to pounce on the griffin. She wrapped her legs around Ziz and give a powerful squeeze.
“GOLIATH!” Ziz roared back as the griffin's body wrapped it's legs around War.
War felt her muscles clench up. Tightening her grip.
“Brace yourself.” Goliath echoed in her head
War's entire body felt the shock of electricity flow through her body. Not like the bolt from earlier, but much more controlled. It bounced around her body, like the shock was being... friendly. Hurting more then anything else.
The two dashed apart in a second. Goliath roared a dragon's bellow. Ziz let out a loud avian screech, like a falcon diving on it's prey.
“Okay you two. That's enough intensive cuddling. We are in enemy territory. We need to get off this mountain.”
“You're right Fluffs, these guys are nuts. We gotta jet pronto.” Ziz voiced through the griffin.
War took the bag she recovered from the armory and gave Ziz an orb.
“So you can just think your thoughts to us instead of talking through your friend.” War answered before the question was asked. “I'm War Bond by the way.”
“Freya. Why are you two so bloody? Why are you here? What's happening?” The griffin replied.
“Feral Silver. We had to fight our way here. As for the other sh-”
“Formalities later, let us leave this place.” Goliath ordered.
“Whoa! I heard that! These little things are neat!” Ziz beamed.
“We can all hear all of both your thoughts, so keep that in mind.” War warned.
“If you want to think to yourselves, ground rules are to just let us know before you take it off.” Feral stated with a glared toward War Bond.
“Okay, we can chit chat later let's get off this mountain!” Fenrir spoke.
“How are we going to do that?” Ziz questioned hastefully.
The three pairs looked to the edge of the mountain cliff, a bit away as the temple was built away from that edge.
“Let's get out this temple, then figure something out!” Goliath commanded.
“Just wing it?” Ziz asked.
“Pretty much.” Fenrir echoed.
The three dashed through the halls, several sentries chasing and hunting them down. The horde of wolves ran free but were not being considered the largest threat. Freya wrestled herself a lance and proved quite skilled at wielding it. War Bond continued using her fire breath to blaze just about anypony foolish enough to get too close, and block the path behind them with flames. Her blade was too slow and wide in such confined quarters. Those who dodged the flames met with Feral's claws or Freya's lance. The dashed through halls, kitchens, dungeons, they searched for an exit while avoiding encounters.
War's breathing was getting heavy, and her mouth felt like she had been crunching jalapenos. Feral seemed to be slowing down, and he wasn't reacting as fast as when they started. Freya was more confused then anything else.
“What's going on?”
“We'll explain everything once we're safe.” Goliath replied.
Her questions unanswered, she was hesitant to fight.
“If Ziz trusts them then that should be enough for me. ”
The three ran in vain, they were confused by the layout. They agreed that it was sheer luck they found each other in the maze of a temple.
“Fuck this!” Goliath roared “We are leaving!”
War felt her body stop and face a wall.
She knew what Goliath was going to do.
War Bond's body went crashing through the cobble stone wall. She burst through and landed on her side. The hole in the wall showed nothing but another room. She felt her body get up and shake off rubble. A gash had cut through her leg, but she and Goliath ignored it. Getting a running start, she broke down three walls before reaching outside.
The wind was loud and the snow was heavy. War picked herself up she stumbled about for a moment, her side was covered in gashes and three or four sharper rocks stuck in it. Freya dashed to the mountain cliff. The others dashed to follow her. Feral stood to her left, War to her right. The three, or six rather, gazed down at the mountain edge, the steep slope and jagged boulders made the base of the mountain terrorizing.
War gazed down at the mountain, then felt the griffin's leg moved over her and gripped her body.
“What are you doing?” War asked as she looked to the griffin beside her, noticing she had grasped Feral in a similar way.
“Oh... no fucking way.” Feral's thoughts were cut off by the sound of pegasi at their back.
“THOSE ARE THE DEFILERS END THEM!”
“This is a bad idea.” Fenrir stated.
“Could be worse.” Goliath added.
“What are we doing?” War asked.
“WINGING IT!” Freya shouted. With a crouch, the griffin bent her knees. With a leap of faith, the griffin held on to the two pairs as she lept off the mountain's edge.
