The train carriage in question is empty save one cloaked figure staring out the window, lost in his thoughts. The pale orange coat reflects the noon sun as his light brown main fluffs in the slight breeze.
"It has been a month," he thinks to himself “one month since Citeydell burned to the ground. I can't believe it; I still can recall it like it was yesterday. The fires and panic the screaming and of course, my family..."
he slowly closed his eyes and trailed off into thought for a minute but immediately shot his eyes open again and slightly spoke the out loud
"no, I got to try and forget, I need to leave Citeydell behind me now. It’s too painful to recall."
The train pulled slowly to a stop and he disembarked into this strange new town. Curious of where he got off at he looked for a notification of where he was, finally his searching eyes found a schedule with departures listing all as Ponyville
"hmm ponyville..." he carried in is tone.
It was a great place to start anew also the last town before the train reached Canterlot, so this was to be his final destination. He pulled his crimson red cloak and quickly rubbed against his trusty shield and left the station. He was tired having not slept in so long due to nightmares and hungry from only having so many bits and spending frugally, and a train tickets were of a priority in his need to flee.
His last full meal had been two days ago and his stomach had been in need of food. he felt around in his bag and pulled out what few bits he had; it only added up to four bits in total, hardly enough for food not nearly enough for a hotel room.
With the knowledge of how broke he was and the growing pain in hunger it was decided that the last bit of money was going to feed him for the night. He trotted into the main roadway of ponyville and took in the rustic feel. He noticed he was getting a lot of strange looks from ponies as he moved. Of course he knew it must be quite a sight to see a tall unicorn carrying a shield and who clearly hadn't bathed in a bit. And a dirty red cloak draped over his head just barely hiding the bright orange eyes. He stopped pondering this when his stomach roared. Knowing his budget he walked into a bakery named Sugar cube Corner.
When he walked in he gazed around the room and marveled at the delicious baked goods his eyes widened and his mouth watered chocolate sounded delicious he approached the counter and from the corner of the store "oh... one second sir!" he turned to see a pink pony sitting at a table with five other ponies.
It was only a second before the pink pony zoomed up in front of him;
"I’m sorry I had a royal guest to tend to" she chimed out in a happy tone
Then a purple mare rang out in a tone of embarrassment.
"Pinkie Pie!"
"Um,'' stuttered the stranger "I’m sorry I’m just a bit hungry"
"Oh well, what can I getcha?" the pink mare sang out
"I-what do you got that's chocolate, and cheap?"
"Oh spending budget I getcha" she rolled out and leaped behind the counter and brought up one by one in a chain while saying the names of each delicious dessert" I have chocolate cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Chocolate pudding...."
She carried on a long list pilling each dish on the counter the stallions’ eyes began to get wide as the wall of sweets formed in front of him his stomach roared and drew attention from the five in the corner. He didn't fully care about drawing attention. He was lost in the sight of delicious food before him. But the pink pony snapped him back into reality. “so what will it be good sir?"
"Oh I’m sorry I kind of spaced out"
"Oh its fine I spaced out too sometimes when I look at such deliciousness, hey wait a second you're...you're not familiar"
She leaned in closer to inspect the stallions face, he cringed back a little hoping to not be target of a lynch mob.
"I got it! You’re new around her!" she shouted out in glee
"Um yeah I got off the train not so long ago." he said turning shyly to the side
"Well aren't you lucky to have come here my names Pinkie pie and that over there is princess Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Flutter shy."
All the ponies in the corner each said hello
"why don't you come and join us for lunch" said the purple unicorn.
Nervously the cloaked unicorn accepted and sat with the rest.
When he took his seat he realized that the one who invited him over actually was a princess when he spotted the wings. He looked at her and with a nervous jolt
"oh um I uhh I didn't realize you... I mean I didn't mind too much when...I’m sorry your majesty."
"Ha-ha it’s okay, you can call me twilight"
"My names shield, shield slider."
"Well shield, I think I speak for all of when I say welcome to ponyville"
"I... umm, thanks. You’re all very kind"
"So where ya'll from shield?" the orange mare had perked up and asked him the question
"From...uh...far away" shield pushed out the question and sank back in his seat
"Ha-ha I think applejack was trying to ask what town?" The blue Pegasus turned to shield and said with a smirk.
The stallion remained quiet even when pinkie pie came over and dropped a chocolate cupcake in front of him.
"Um, you okay there partner?" applejack asked
"Yeah I’m fine..."
The mare looked him over as he bit into the cupcake. This new stallion was hiding something, and this lunch was going to be interesting.
Author's Note
it's a working progress. i am aware it's not taken off right now but it should pick up in the next chapter, i'll have it ready in no time flat.
shield turned a little to the side hoping to lose the inspecting eyes of the ponies. this only helped intensify the onlookers.
"so," Twilight spoke up "what town is it shield?"
"i'm very sure you won't know of it your highness, but if its at your royal request, i'm from-" he cringed as the name came into his mind, he closed his eyes hoping that the memory wasn't there. alas it sat there in perfect symphony as it played out in his minds eyes. he re-opened his eyes and with a slight, unnoticible gasp he said it "Citeydell..."
"um," twilight began once again "i guess you were right, i don't know of such a place"
she hesitated before asking unsure of what would happen but soon looked at the tan coated stallion next to hear and with a pang of sympathy
"Shield, are you okay?"
shield said nothing as he dropped the little bag of four bits unto the table. he stood up and with his head looking down walked out . the mares watched in confusion as the stranger opened the door and called back
"i'm fine"
"wait!" shouted pinkie "i still got to give you a welcome party!"
With a rush to the door all six ponies came out and saw shield walking slowly away not looking back.
"what on earth is wrong with him?" the ivory mare let out in a huffy tone
"i don't know, but i won't stop until i do"said the rainbow maned pegasus in determination
"Rainbow Wait!!"
Applejack yelled out but it was too late, Rainbow dash shot across the short distance in hopes to quicky land in front of Shield, however Shield wasn't oblivious to the shouting and right before rainbow rounded him off he teleported himself further ahead.
"hey no fair using magic" she once again attempted to cut him off but he eveaded again using magic. " alright it's so on"
she tried this time to try and grab him but found he had quickly teleported and only left his cloak. Dash looked turn up at the sound of hoof steps on wood and to her surprise on a roof stood the stallion. how ran off with a sudden turn
"hey come back here!"
shield found himself leaping roof to roof as dash pursued .
"persistent mare," he thought " sooner or later she'll catch me"
at this point it transformed into a game. shield dove out and away as a frustrated rainbow dash relentlessly pursued. finally shield came to a ledge with only the downward slant of the roof showing his escape. Rainbow Dash land into a crouching position as if ready to pounce but rather she huffed out "not bad, -huff- but you're gonna need to be faster than that, now what are you hiding"
shield back dangerously near the edge but before rainbow dash even got an answer, he took his shield out and tossed it gingerly to the side and immediately jumped onto it thus allowing him to casually slide down the roof and onto the floor, no damage. Rainbows' jaw fell agape as the stranger ran down an alley out of sight.
now aware of his new found solitude, shield let out a sigh and continued to walk onward. he need shelter for the night or at least a park bench. this new town wasn't exactly off to its best starts. already he insulted royalty and possibly made an enemy out of six mares. all because he couldn't do it... he couldn't talk about home, about...Citeydell.
his troubles soon came to a halt as the day was coming to its halt and the night proceed when his depravity of sleep began again. he resisted sleep as he came to a public bench overlooking a flat area of the town. only so close to the infamous Everfree forest. his eyes grew heavier as he sat down and looked out over the plains. his resistance to sleep was weak having been hammered at for so long now the night time began and he collapsed into dreams..
Author's Note
been a little occupied, i hope to get chapter three out soon but to satiate the need to know more from chapter one.
night of sorrows: Fall of the guardian core
The sounds are somewhat a blur as the ringing came out into full blossom. why was there ringing? oh right the explosion just a minute ago. i hear as the sense returns shouting. screaming off into the night like the gates of Tartarous tore asunder and it's darkness spilled out onto the town like that of blood from a deep cut.
the air was saturated in smoke and fire flickered all around. the assault had only began around ten minutes ago and already this pandemonium had engulfed all of Citeydell. as i struggle to me hooves i look to my sides, my team is gone! had the blast taken them i couldn't say,rather i'm surprised i'm alive, then the gratuitous amount of pain surge in my forelegs i look at my own side and see the shrapnel dotting my armor in quick realization i tear it from its leather straps and throw it aside. the damaged area isn't bad at all perhaps a sprain if i'm lucky.
now aware that the screaming is about i look around everything is crumbling fire destroying wooden structures and gardens alike. the streets that once had children playing and running around was polluted with debris and fire. not wanting to think of it i try to focus but a new thought bursts into my head, my family!
with a turn and disregard as to whether my team mates survived i run off towards the house. before i could even get to the street they land in front of me. i stare right into to blank eyes of a drake. they appear as a normal pony only they have only blank eyes and scaly dragon-like wings. Their maws gaped showing the razor sharp teeth and the black venom dripping on to the floor as the trudge towards me. i turn as soon as one soars towards me and with a wicked blast i barrel kick it away i re frame from getting into a fight as i'm far to concerned with getting home to see so rather than going at it with the rest i merely teleport a few feet ahead. i ran down my home street. frantic and some what hopeful. this was all happening to fast. my running halted at my house's front steps my eyes widened with tears forming as i looked at the macabre sight before. everything was aflame...
i try my best to move but my feet hold still i so desperately want to burst into the inferno and salvage what i could of the situation. my heart is screaming at me to run in my brain convulses with need to run in, my limbs betray me and i stand and watch with intensifying horror as the house collapses. all i hear is the heart wrenching scream as the fires take everything. its very sound rips my body apart and the tears fall like lead onto the floor. my family wasn't the only thing that died that day; my home, my town, a great portion of my friends, the guardian core, and most importantly the fire that once fueled my very being died down to a low ember. only flickering and slowly going out from the tears that spilled that day.
The screaming reverberates all about then i realize it's all around it was breaking into my head had the drakes caught up to me? no i'm only asleep and the screaming was outside my dreams. i awoke gasping for breath and scanned around for where the scream had originated from and there in the clearing was the rainbow mare and the yellow Pegasus. three large creatures had them surrounded and the rainbow mare was lying out on the floor not to far. the the yellow one was pressed against the tree as the three creature circled her eyeing her every movement all the time growling. these creatures made a sound all to familiar to my ears, and common enemy in Citeydell...Timber Wolves.
Author's Note
now there, i explained a little more of shields life. i tried my best in this chapter i only hope i really nailed it i will elaborate a little more one the drakes as well as the guardian core. i have plenty of ways to write this but i feel that a perspective was needed to really capture that feeling of defeat and utter anguish. after all you got to have a first person perspective to to really understand the grief right? sorry that joke was terrible and i don't blame you if you can't really catch it so anyway i hope to write again soon.
