Knight of the Sun

Knight of the Sun

Chapter Two: The Forest

By the time Amethyst had woken up, Sir Adam was already awake and ready to leave the camp behind them in search for civilisation. He was still dressed in his armour. Amethyst noted that he had gone to sleep in it, which she couldn't have imagined would have been very comfortable. His shield was attached to the back of his armour and by his side was a large brown sack.

“Good morning my lady.” he said, stomping out the still glowing remains of the fire. “Sleep well?”

Amethyst nodded, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hooves.

“What time is it?” the tired pony questioned.

“About half past six, if your world is at all similar to mine.” replied the knight. Amethyst groaned, then looked at Sir Adam curiously.

“How did you know that?” Sir Adam pointed to the sky.

“The position of the Sun my lady. All of the knights of Sol know how to read the time simply by looking at the holy sun.”

Amethyst didn't really know what to say to that. She got up off of Sir Adam’s cloak and stretched, working out the aches and pains of sleeping on the cold ground. Just then her stomach groaned. Amethyst winced and put a hoof to her belly; she hadn't eaten in quite a while…

“Hungry?” said Sir Adam.

“Very.” affirmed Amethyst. The knight knelt down and rummaged through the brown sack. After a brief moment of searching he pulled out another, smaller sack and threw it at Amethyst’s feet. Amethyst raised an eyebrow and picked it up. Quickly undoing the knot preventing the contents of the sack from spilling out, Amethyst came face to face with the last substance she wanted to see.

Oats. Very familiar oats.

Seeing her disgusted expression, Sir Adam frowned.

“I hope they’re edible. I liberated them from the dogs earlier this morning.” he said.

“Oh, no not at all!” Amethyst tried to contain her disgust, attempting a smile which turned out a grimace. “They’re just… well…”

“Slaver food?” Sir Adam suggested.

“Yes,” Amethyst said, visibly sagging. “I’m not trying to be ungrateful or anything though!”

“My dear lady,” Sir Adam held up a small sack of his own. “I know exactly what you mean. These oats are terrible!”

“Oh.” Amethyst blushed, feeling slightly ashamed for complaining.

“Plain, stale oats aren't the best food. But food is fuel. And fuel is exactly what we’ll need if we are to get out of this accursed forest and get you home.”

Sir Adam walked beside her and picked up his cloak, dusting it off and then folding it neatly into the sack.

“Eat up,” he said, getting up and patting Amethyst on the head. “There’s a long day’s walk ahead of us. And I for one don’t wish to carry you.”

Amethyst sighed and started to munch on the oats as fast as she could so she wouldn't taste them.

“Food isn't fuel,” she grumbled. “It’s food! It’s meant to taste good.”

Sir Adam just chuckled.

Soon they had set off into the forest, The sun shone merrily through the canopy of leaves overhead, making the forest look a lot less foreboding than it had the previous night. Amethyst could only hope that the good weather foreshadowed an equally good journey.

“How are we going to find our way out?” Amethyst asked Sir Adam, stepping over a root as they trekked through the forest. “We have no idea where we are.”

“Do not fear my lady,” replied the knight, jauntily. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Weren't you the one who said you were from another world?” said Amethyst skeptically.

“Well… yes,” Sir Adam admitted. “But we have forests in my world too.”

“Oh, ha ha.”

“Patience, my lady.” Sir Adam reassured his companion, shifting the weight of the sack on his back. “You’ll see soon enough.”

So the two trudged on through the forest, the sound of birdsong all around them. Amethyst didn’t really feel like talking, although she had plenty of questions to ask the knight. It was still morning after all, and Amethyst was not a morning pony. This did however have the unfortunate side effect of leaving her alone with her thoughts.

‘I was a slave.’ she thought. ‘A slave to those… those monsters.’

She knew had been traumatised, and would never forget those all too long days working for the dogs. How she wasn't curled up in a corner crying her eyes out right now, Amethyst didn't rightly know, she preferred not to think about it.

She dreaded to think whether or not she’d have lasted much longer without the knight’s assistance. Even if she’d have survived the beating the last dog gave her, which Sir Adam himself said he thought was unlikely, she would never have been able to work at the pace the dogs demanded.

But she had been saved. In her darkest hour he had come, in the most literal sense her knight in shining armour. More than that, he was still saving her now, taking her home despite having already done so much.

‘And all I've done is moan.’ she thought forlornly, ears flattening to the side of her head. She had been so ungrateful to Sir Adam. A guilty weight sat itself down in her stomach as she thought about her actions.

He was, at least as far as they both knew, a foreigner to this world. The knight said he'd take her home, but even he’d admitted that he had no idea what he was going to do then.

‘I have to take him to Princess Celestia.’ Amethyst thought. ‘She’ll know what to do, and then I’ll have helped him as well...’

Amethyst smiled, not feeling quite so guilty as before. She knew that she owed a life debt to the knight, one it was doubtful she would ever fully repay.

‘But, I’ll try my best.’

After a few more minutes of walking, Amethyst thought she heard the sound of running water. Sure enough, as they pushed through one final layer of trees into a clearing, they were presented with a large river. The water looked surprisingly clean, and Amethyst suddenly ached to simply jump in and bathe in it.

‘Damn... It’s been too long since I've had a shower.” she thought, longingly.

“Here we are!” said Sir Adam happily, dropping the large sack filled with their supplies on the ground and walking up to the side of the river.

“And just where is here?” said Amethyst.

“Why here is a river of course!”

“I know that,” replied Amethyst, rolling her eyes. “I was just wondering how this helps us.”

“Well my lady,” said Sir Adam, kneeling down besides the river. “If your world is anything like mine, then I’m sure if we follow this river downstream, we’ll eventually come across a town or hamlet of sorts.”

Amethyst looked at the knight oddly.

“Why does a river mean we’ll find a town if we follow it?” she asked.

“A river means a lot of things, my lady.” said Sir Adam. “It means fresh water, for both people and crops; as well as trade and fertile soil. At least, that’s how it is in my world.”

Sir Adam un-clipped his gauntlets and Amethyst stared at his revealed limbs with barely disguised interest, this was the first time she had seen the knight remove his armour. Sir Adam peeled off the dark leather gloves which had been protecting his hands from the abrasive metal gauntlets and Amethyst gasped at the sight of them.

“Naturally, such boons the river brings would be taken advantage of by any potential settlers. Anyway, could you please pass me one of the cups out of the bag?”

Amethyst tore her eyes away from Sir Adam’s hands and undid the knot of the sack. After rummaging around inside it for a second she emerged with one of the small metal cups. Holding it in her mouth, she walked over to the knight and dropped it into his waiting hand.

Pulling out his amulet from beneath his armour with one hand, Sir Adam filled up the cup with the other by dipping it into the river.

“What are you doing?” asked Amethyst. “Getting a drink?”

Sir Adam did not answer, instead holding his amulet above the cup and closing his eyes. Suddenly he began to speak.

“O sun, O light, bless this liquid and cure it of night. Let sunlight reign and wounds be healed, let sinners repent and your people kneel. O goddess, O goddess, in your infinite wisdom let this water be your vessel. The vessel of your grace and the vessel of your power. Let my faith be fuel for your fire O goddess, and bless me this day. Glory, O glory, I thank you. Praise the Sun.”

Amethyst braced herself, staring at the pendant with a tinge of fear. A few seconds passed, then another. Amethyst frowned as Sir Adam put the pendant around his neck again, being careful not to spill the water.

“Was that it?” she asked. The water didn't look any different to her.

“You expected more?” said Sir Adam.

“Well, yes actually,” admitted Amethyst. “I thought there’d at least be a flash of light, if it’s a spell you’re casting. Did it work?”

“As I have told you before my lady, there is no witchcraft at work here, it is a prayer,” said Sir Adam, taking a sip of the water before holding it out to Amethyst. “Here, drink, it shall restore your strength.”

With the cup still in his hand, Amethyst put her lips to the cup and took a sip. As soon she swallowed she felt the effects. It was as if her entire body was submerged in sunlight. She felt rested, content.

“Good?” said Sir Adam.

“Amazing,” replied the pony, a goofy smile upon her lips. “Give me some more of that. Hey!”

Sir Adam emptied the rest of the water back into the river, putting his gloves and gauntlets back on.

“What did you do that for!” yelled Amethyst angrily. “I wanted more of that!”

Sir Adam shook his head sadly.

“What you just drank was not to be drank by the gallon at your tavern.” he explained. “It contained the power of Sol herself. It is easy to become addicted to such power, as you now know first hand. The feeling is… euphoric.”

“But…” Amethyst protested meekly. “I want more. I don’t know why, I just… do.”

Sir Adam nodded understandingly.

 “I’m sorry, but those oats alone would not have given us the strength we need to continue. Soon you will feel will be stronger and substantially less hungry. The cravings will pass before long.”

“You could have told me.” muttered Amethyst. “I don’t like it when ponies try to drug me without me knowledge., no matter what the drug

“You have my apologies, I did not think.” said Sir Adam sincerely.

“No, you didn’t.” replied Amethyst, glaring at him.. This must have been what it felt like to be addicted to magiherb. Suddenly Amethyst had a new empathy for the ponies addicted to the drug, if the feeling in her gut was even at all similar to theirs.

Soon the cup was away and they were on the move once more and (as promised) the cravings for holy water faded away, leaving Amethyst feeling awake, refreshed and ready to face the day.

As morning turned into midday, the pair still walking peacefully along the riverside, Amethyst finally asked Sir Adam the questions she’d been itching to ask him.

“Sir Adam?” she started, hesitantly. He his head towards her.

“Yes my lady?” he replied. Amethyst rolled her eyes. She didn't ever think she’d get used to being called that.

“What happened to the other ponies; the ones also in the mine.” Sir Adam thought for a moment before he answered.

“As soon as the dogs and I began our fight, they must have fled. They weren't my top priority at the moment, as I’m sure you could imagine, but I didn't see any of them them once I emerged from the fight victorious.”

Amethyst snorted.

“Glad to know that they didn't care enough to help.” she said bitterly.

“You don’t know that.” said Sir Adam diplomatically. “They were probably just scared, or maybe they thought you already dead.”

“Or maybe they were just cowards.” replied Amethyst dismissively.

“Perhaps, but I’d like to think the best of people.” Amethyst’s ears twitched.

“People? You've said that a lot. Is that what you call other things like you?”

“One of the ways,” Sir Adam replied. “We are called, humans; man and woman for male and female, person the singular, people the plural.”

“That’s strange. For us it’s pony the singular, ponies the plural.”

“Alright, I’d like to think the best of ponies then.” Sir Adam replied, shaking his head and chuckling.

“What’s so funny?” said Amethyst.

“Oh it’s nothing,” said the knight. “I’m merely a little bit bemused with the vocabulary of this world.”

“Do you not have ponies in your world then?” questioned Amethyst, hopping up onto a fallen log and walking alongside Sir Adam.

“Oh we do, though they aren't at all intelligent.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Amethyst, slightly affronted. Sir Adam coughed.

“Of course by that I mean they are by no means at all similar to your kind in all but name, my lady. Completely and utterly different.”

“That’s weird, a world without ponies.”

“I can only imagine.” said Sir Adam. The knight looked up in thought for a moment, fingering the hilt on his sword with his free hand. After a few moment’s silence, he spoke.

“Amethyst?”

“Mmh?” murmured Amethyst, jumping off of the log and looking up at her friend.

“Since I see no quick end to our walking, how about you and I make a deal.” said Sir Adam.

“Oh?” said Amethyst, raising an eyebrow.. “What kind of deal?”

“I will ask a question about your world, then you in turn may ask me a question. Perhaps then the both of us will better understand each others choices in vocabulary and such.”

“I’ll finally get to know who this ‘Sol’ character is then?” asked Amethyst. Sir Adam nodded. “It’s a deal, but only if I get to go first.”

Sir Adam smiled.

“Very well, ask away.”

“Who is Sol?”

“She is the goddess of the Sun, the Holy Dawn, Lightbringer and protector of the weak. I am sworn to serve her and her creed until I draw my last breath, upon which I shall join her in the heavens.” Sir Adam spoke plainly, his voice holding the same firmness and conviction it had when he had recited the poem (or ‘prayer’ as he had called it, Amethyst remembered) the previous night.

“How many different races are there in this world?” Sir Adam asked.

“Oh err,” started Amethyst. “I never was that good at geography. Well there’s us, the ponies, who are made up of earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi. The Diamond Dogs you know and they live all over the place. Then there’s the Gryphons in the frozen north, and then the zebra and buffalo tribes in the desert south. And then I think there’s the otters over the sea in the east. I think that’s all of them, but I wouldn't take my word for it.

“You have unicorns and pegasi in this world?” Sir Adam said incredulously.

“Yup!” said Amethyst happily. “Pegasi have wings and can fly, and unicorns use their horns to cast magic.”

“What do earth ponies do?”

“We do other stuff to do with the earth. Generally we’re stronger and more durable than the other ponies. Like me, I find gems. It’s my special talent in fact.” said Amethyst proudly.

“Special talent?” asked Sir Adam.

“Oh yeah,” Amethyst turned her flank towards the knight slightly. “This is called a cutie mark, it’s a special symbol that represents my special talent. It appears when we’re foals when we realise our purpose in life.”

Sir Adam examined the mark closely. It depicted a light purple gemstone with rays of white light shining off of it. Before he had merely assumed it to be a tattoo of some sort but the new information simply brought more and more questions to the inquisitive knight’s mind.

“Intriguing…”said Sir Adam as he stroked his scraggly beard. “What if a pony were to receive a mark that they didn’t like? What happens to them then?”

Amethyst chuckled. “That sort of thing doesn't happen Sir Adam, you’re special talent is your purpose in life. It’s something you never really get tired of doing.”

“And you never get tired of working with gemstones?” asked Sir Adam.

“Not really,” said Amethyst. “And I don’t work with them as much as I just find them, that’s my talent.”

“Oh? Could you find some now?”

Amethyst stopped and concentrated for a moment, feeling the earth beneath her with practised ease. Her ear twitched slightly.

“Around… four miles that-a-way,” she waved her hoof vaguely at the river. “Is a small geode, probably emeralds, not really worth the effort of digging up.”

“Impressive.” said Sir Adam, looking at the pony admirably.

“Well,” Amethyst’s heart swelled slightly at being recognised for her talent. “I do like to think I’m pretty good at it.”

They began to walk again along the riverside and Amethyst asked her next question.

“What’s a goddess?”

“A goddess or god is an immortal being. One of great power. Sol, for instance, controls the power of the sun itself. Such a being is deserving of our worship and in exchange we become her disciples. It is a simple exchange, we follow her way of life and follow her commands and in exchange she watches over us.” replied Sir Adam

“Does that mean the Princesses are goddesses then?”said Amethyst absentmindedly.

Sir Adam stopped walking and turned toward Amethyst sharply.

“What?” he asked. “How would your rulers be goddesses?”

Amethyst sat down nervously on her haunches.

“Err… well. I was just thinking. Celestia and Luna are both immortal, or at least they've been around for a long time. Like, thousands of years. And Luna controls the moon and Celestia the Sun.”

That had done it. Sir Adam’s eyes were wide open in surprise as his brain attempted to process what the mare had just told him.

“You can’t possibly mean-”

Just then, a chorus of howls pierced through the previously tranquil mid morning air. Amethyst and Sir Adam turned around, eyes darting from side to side in an attempt to find the origin of the sound. Sir Adam dropped the burlap sack containing their supplies, drew his sword and unhooked his shield from his back. Soon enough there was a rustling from a clump of a vegetation, about twenty meters from the pair. A small diamond dog with brown fur and a ruby studded collar around his neck burst through bushes, his tongue lolling out from his mouth. He was panting and his beady eyes scanned the terrain.

“There they is!” he shouted as he saw Sir Adam and Amethyst. “The murderer and the slave!”

As soon as the dog yelled, another five dogs emerged from the bushes, these ones dressed in mismatched pieces of armour. Some of them had pieces of leather armour; a shoulder pad here, a pair of greaves there. Others had pieces of more useful metal armour. All of them were armed with some weapon or another.

Amethyst’s legs trembled in terror. The very sight of the grinning monstrosities and their large, sharp teeth set her on edge, the same way all herbivores felt when faced with such an overt and dangerous predator.

“Amethyst,” said Sir Adam quickly, not taking his eyes off of the dogs. “Run, as fast as you can. Keep following the river and I’m you will reach safety, I promise you.”

Amethyst nodded wordlessly, turning to run.

“Oh, and Amethyst,” said Sir Adam. Amethyst turned back towards him to find him holding out a familiar golden amulet in his hand towards her. Slipping the golden chain onto her neck, Sir Adam patted her on the head. “Sol protect you my lady.” he said, turning back towards the dogs.

“But…” muttered Amethyst, baffled.

“Go. Now.” the knight simply ordered.

Amethyst didn't have to be told twice. A small part of her felt slightly guilty for leaving the knight to face death once again on her behalf, but it was an exceedingly small part.

Five dogs had emerged from the forest while Amethyst ran, making the pack eleven in total. One large, black dog with a spiked collar and a large sword stepped forward from the rest of the dogs.

“You creature. You are the one who has broken into our mines, stole our property, killed our brothers. You have committed crimes against the Greypaw clan, and will pay with your life.” the dog spoke in a deep growl. Sir Adam was surprised at the dog’s relatively advanced speech and decided to reply. Perhaps this foe could be reasoned with.

“I have done nothing but free those you have kept against their will. Sol does not look kindly on slavers. I am honour bound as a knight of the Sun to give you but a single warning. Turn away now and today your blood will not be spilled upon this ground. Remain and you will perish.”

The leader of the dogs laughed, though it sounded more like a wheezing growl. The rest of his pack followed suit.

“Puny murderer is outnumbered. How do you think you would beat us?” said the huge dog, wiping a tear from his eye.

“I was outnumbered before,” replied Sir Adam, stepping with practised ease into a battle stance suited for combating multiple opponents, his shield held close to his body and his sword held out to the side. “What makes you so sure the outcome will be different?”

The dog gave a dark chuckle.

“Murderer, they were the worker dogs. We are the warrior dogs. We will avenge our fallen.”

The dog raised his sword into the air and pointed it at the knight.

“Dogs, bring me his head!”

With a mighty howl, the dogs charged at Sir Adam, brandishing all manner of weapons.

The first dog to reach Sir Adam swung his axe at the knight’s head. Unable to block such a powerful swing, Sir Adam darted backwards, letting the large weapon pass through the air in front of him. Caught in the momentum, the dog redirected his swing into an arcing downwards slash and stepped forwards, hoping to cut his adversary in half. Sir Adam sidestepped to the left, batting the axe further downwards with the shield in his left hand and swinging with the sword in his right. He decapitated the dog cleanly through it’s neck.

Two more howled in anger and attacked him. The first thrust it’s short sword at the knight’s chest but Sir Adam parried it it with his own sword, pushing it into the other dog’s chest. The second dog yelped in pain as the side of the sword cut into his belly and he fell to the floor. Shocked, the second dog, didn't notice Sir Adam’s sword until he felt the cool metal cleave through his arm like a hot knife through butter.

Blood spurted from the dog’s new stump as he screamed in agony and fell to floor with his brethren. The other dog’s hesitated, none had cut down their allies quite as fast as this… monster.

“Foolish mutts!” bellowed the bigger dog, eyes bulging, mad with blood-lust. “Useless! Useless!”

He walked forward until he was standing in front of Sir Adam, who was breathing slightly heavily, the lack of proper food taking it’s toll on his usually strong, battle honed body.

The pair began circling each other, the dog now more wary of the knight than he had been at first. The dog was only a few inches taller than the Sir Adam, but the dog’s muscles bulged out from below patchy steel armour, his greatsword dwarfing Sir Adam’s longsword as a man would dwarf a child.

Sir Adam had faced larger enemies before. He knew that the only way to take down a giant was to get fast and get close. So that is exactly what he did. Striking first, Sir Adam rushed the dog quickly jabbing at the dig’s front with his sword, attempting to outmaneuver his opponent's larger, heavier weapon.  The dog took a step back, retaliating by swinging his impressive weapon at Sir Adam’s head. The knight ducked and then stepped forward, expecting his opponent to be off balance from the momentum of such a huge weapon but the dog turned into his own weapon’s momentum, delivering a powerful kick with his leg which pushed the knight over onto his back.

Sir Adam wheezed as he hit the dirt, winded. The dog grinned a devil’s grin and went for the killing blow, swinging his weapon down wildly at the fallen knight. The steel glinted in the morning sun as it fell straight towards Sir Adam’s chest. At the last moment the knight rolled to the side, the greatsword carving a small hole as the heavy weapon made contact with the ground.

The knight got back onto his feet and with a battle-cry ran at the dog’s side, brandishing his sword. He slashed at the dog’s exposed abdomen with his sword, drawing a deep cut in it’s side. The dog merely grunted and turned quicker than Sir Adam has excepted. The dog’s meaty hand flew in from the side and the dog grabbed hold of Sir Adam’s shield, yanking it violently from his hand.

Sir Adam cried out in pain as he felt one of his fingers break, forced to let go lest his entire arm be pulled out of it’s socket. He jumped back to avoid another swing from the dog’s sword. The dog chuckled and threw the shield away, leaving one of the other dog’s to scurry to collect it. Sir Adam’s eyes narrowed, to take away a knight’s shield was one thing, but to treat it with such distaste? It was an insult. Bracing himself against the pain Sir Adam held his sword in two hands, staring determinedly at his foe, who was now somewhat relaxed.

“Silly, pathetic, murderer,” said the dog mockingly. “Now you die and I avenge my brothers. You lose. I win.”

Yelling, the dog brought it’s sword up and launched a flurry of blows. Sir Adam hopped back and forth rapidly, knowing his failing strength couldn't possibly muster even a single parry of the humongous greatsword without breaking his arm. Sir Adam stumbled when trying to step back, the tip of the blade leaving a thin cut on the side of his cheek. Hastily, Sir Adam thought through his options, he couldn't last much longer, he was just too tired, both mentally and physically. With a lunge, the dog’s sword pierced through the side of Sir Adam’s armour, he had tried to move to the side, but had been too slow. He yelled out in pain as the sword cut fairly deep into the side of his torso. The dog smiled, and stopped his attack, preferring to savor such a kill.

This was just the opportunity Sir Adam needed.

Stopping abruptly. Sir Adam closed his eyes and held his sword out in front of him.

“O goddess, O goddess bless me with strength…” The muttered prayer did nothing to stop the dog, who slashed at the knight, intending to cut him two. Sir Adam’s eyes snapped open, shining with determination. With his last ounce of strength, he brought his sword up to meet the dog’s own, tilting it to the side and moving with the sword’s momentum, diverting the greatsword to the side. Sir Adam yelled in victory as he dealt an uppercut which made devastating contact with the dog's chest.

The great dog fell forward in pain as his muscles gave out, falling right into an armoured kick. The dog fell onto his back, screaming, as Sir Adam stepped through his kick and stood over the dog. He gave one final yell before he plunged the sword down into the dog’s neck.

The leader of the dog’s gave one final gurgle, then all was quiet in the forest. All that could be heard was the disgusting squelch of steel against flesh as Sir Adam pulled his sword out of the newly made corpse’s neck. The dogs stared at the knight, gobsmacked that their seemingly invincible leader had fallen.

Their ears twitched as Sir Adam muttered the end of his prayer.

“...and let the sun reign on high forever. Praise the Sun.”

The bloodstained, battle weary and injured knight turned toward the remaining dogs, his eyes hard, his lips twisted in a pained grimace, his jaw set like iron.

“Run.” he growled. The dog's looked at him hesitantly, frozen.

"I said..." Sir Adam shouted. "Run!"

And the dogs did just that.

"For as long as the sun rises in the morning, the Knight’s of Sol shall remain, an ever present force against those who would bring the weak to harm." - The First Testament, Book of Sol.