The Tale of the Bladechaser

A great love is a lot like a good memory. When it's there, and you know it's there, but it's just out of your reach, it can be all that you think about. Then you can focus on it and try to force it, but the more you do, the more you seem to push it away. But if you're patient and you hold still, well maybe, just maybe, it'll come to you. I just have to be somewhere she can find me.

Bladechaser had finished assessing the scene and collecting samples for Twilight to run in the small lab in the basement of the library, getting the titles of a few books that would help him get acquainted with basic knowledge of Equestria. For the time being he would be with Fluttershy for a few days to help him get used to his new pony body as well as the basics of flying as a pegasus. Once that was done he would work with Applejack to build up his body strength while applebucking. Finally he would go to Rainbow Dash to learn more about flying as well as how to fight fluidly as a pony. Between his physical rehabilitation as a pony, discovering more about the source of madness in Equestria, and finding the killer in Ponyville, he was going to have a rough week or so.

For now though he would stay with Fluttershy. She had plenty of food for the animals as well as a spare room. Sadly the bed was rather small since the only other use it had was when she was babysitting the CMC. Even though he probably wouldn't be able to use it again Bladechaser kept his sword with him, serving as a reminder of who he was and his heritage. As he looked up he saw Fluttershy open the door, her hoof turning the handle with a surprisingly deft manner despite her lack of fingers. He  would remember to ask how she could grip things in her hooves.

"Um.. din-dinner'sready.."

She almost squeaked meekly as Bladechaser placed a hoof on her shoulder, still a little awkward in this body.

"Listen, don;t worry about me being here. I'm about the last person here who can harm you. Hell, I actually need your help to learn how to do basic things while I'm here. Even then I need to get strong enough to help you fight whatever it is that's here. Once that time comes there is only one thing you will ever need to worry about..."

He gentlylifted her chin, looking in her eyes as he spoke. Fluttershy would say later that Bladechaser's eyes were still as water, full and deep and practically glowing with compassion. Those were the eyes that could mend even the most sundered of hearts.

"..is what will happen to those who threaten my friends."

Those words seemed to make Fluttershy more comfortable, particularly since they were friends now. She slowly helped Bladechaser to come down the stairs to the living room, the animals being as hectic as ever before Fluttershy gave them her infamous stare. Immediately every critter from the smallest mouse to the lumbering bear snapped to attention and sped to their assigned spots for dinner. Blade could only look in wonder at the mare.

'How can someone so shy be so dominant..'

He struggled to hide a blush as they sat down for a simple dinner of grass. Truthfully Bladechaser struggled to eat, remembering that grass was hardly nutritious for humans. Still, it tasted surprisingly good once he had gotten past his trepidation.

As he read through the books he learned more and more about pony culture, practicing common mannerisms with Fluttershy so he would not draw attention to himself. He often got a visit from Twilight who quizzed him on some more commonly known facts about Equestria. She  would also bring updates on the investigation, following up on leads once they finished analyzing the samples. As he suspected there were traces of carbonized steel on the back of the victim's head, indicating a crowbar as the culprit. She had already asked some of the business owners who got their items delivered there for their own crowbars, testing the metal against the sample they had. For the sake of being fair they also included the Apple Family who often received new farm tools to help the farm and the Cakes. Still, he was doubtful that would give them any successful leads.

What he did remember was that case, the one the dead mare was wheeling behind her. It wasn't found at the scene and they began searching for dump spots nearby. They found it in some bushes in the market square, just by the pet supply store. He didn't think  it worth his time to check in on the store owner just for that, figuring the place was picked at random by the killer. Twilight began checking over the case and taking samples as Bladechaser made his way home.

About a week had passed since he arrived in Ponyville in his new form, leaving Fluttershy's house and heading to Sweet Apple Acres for her training with Applejack. he had finished all of his lessons with Fluttershy and felt much more at home in his new body. He had even learned how to grip some objects in his hooves! It still astounded him that ponies could grip objects with such clumsy appendages, it just boggled his mind! As he was on his way he did notice a cute looking unicorn, her mint green coat seeming to brighten the world around her as her silver air billowed in the wind. She could be seen playing with a lyre, the same instrument adorned her flank. He was just outside Sweet Apple Acres when he noticed a strange shadow on the ground. Apparently it was a sky delivery group, unloading a heavy crate before a strangely cross eyes mare dropped the crate. It was falling right at that unicorn!

"Look out!"

He charged ahead, nowhere near as fast as Applejack or Rainbow Dash but enough to make a good pace.  The green unicorn though could not hear him, enthralled with her won music as she continued composing. The ominous shadow seemed to grow bigger around the pony.

'Faster..Faster.. Faster!.. FASTER!!'

The one word raged in Bladechaser's head, the world seeming to slow around him. The unicorn noticed the shadow and looked up, her eyes growing wide with fear as she dropped her lyre. She tried to move, to scream, to do anything! She was a deer frozen in the headlights, her life flashing before her eyes. Growing up with her momma and papa, going to school with Bon Bon and her friends, learning about humans and their world, working as a musician in town, a strong blue pegasus grabbing her, wait.. that last one wasn't her past!

Bladechaser tackled the mare in just the nick of time, the crate shattering as farming equipment was scattered across the ground. If one of the Apples saw they would see the pony responsible getting scolded by another pure white pegasus, their face nearly going red with the anger it showed.

The blue stallion slowly got up, helping the unicorn as well.

"Are you alright? Anything broken?"

The mint green pony slowly got up with the helping hoof, looking at the stallion that saved her.

"Yes, I'm ok. Can't believe I almost died there!"

Bladechaser placed his hooves on her shoulders, shaking her lightly till she looked him in the eye.

"Listen to me, you're ok now. That's all you should be thinking of right now. You're ok.."

The mint green pony took several deep breaths and calmed down, Blade sitting down as well as he looked her over. From what he could tell she wasn't hurt, no splinters of wood hitting her  anywhere nor any blood. Soon the unicorn perked up.

"I don't think I've seen you around before. What's your name?"

Bladechaser smiled and nodded. "I'm Te- er.. Bladechaser. Sorry, still getting settled in right now."

The mint pony smiled. "Nice to meet you Bladechaser, I'm Lyra."

Blade shook her outreached hoof, glad to get to know another pony in this crazy universe. Compared to the others she saw she seemed almost tame, that is until she spoke again.

"Say, uh, you don't seem to be from Equestria. You probably know a bit about us but the way you hold yourself, I never really saw anything like it."

Bladechaser immediately stiffened up, trying to hide his posture and imitated Applejack as best he could. Lyra simply laughed.

"No, that's actually a bit more obvious. Suppose you might have come from  one of the Griffon Kingdoms or maybe Saddle Arabia. I uh.. don't suppose you know about humans by chance?"

If Blade were drinking he would have made a huge spit take, wondering just how much the unicorn know. Did the Princesses make some secret announcement that humans were among them in disguise? What kind of panic would that cause? How much stronger would the madness grow as panic set in and the basic foundations of society crum-

"Helloooo! Anyone home?"

Lyra's voice snapped him out of his worse case scenario moment, blinking a few times and nodding. "Ya, ya I'm here.. I do know a bit about humans I gu-"

Blade was cut off by a hysterical scream from Lyra, almost acting like a band groupie who just met her personal idol.

"OhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygod!!! You need to tell me everything!!"

Bladechaser pushed her back down to all four hooves once she began hovering in the air with excitement, trying to calm her down.

"Listen, you probably wouldn't believe half of the stuff even if I said it. It might be better if I don't say any more.."

Lyra shook her head with determination.

"You don't understand! People have been calling me crazy for believing in humans for years! If there is anything, ANYTHING you can tell me I can know I was right all along!"

Bladechaser tried to comment back but words failed him as he saw those sad puppy eyes, looking around to make sure the mail ponies were gone before sitting her down.

"Listen, when I said you'd think I was crazy when I say this, I meant it. I'm actually human, or was before I ended up here.. Far as I know humans don't exist here and for good reason. From the moment I arrived I felt like I was burning, being roasted alive by the sheer amount of magic here. I changed so I could survive here. I can barely fly as it is!"

Lyra listened patiently, switching from excitement for learning more about humans to genuine worry. She didn't think him crazy for some reason, some ring of truth in his words convincing her.

"It does make sense  I suppose. Normally ponies have cutie marks!"

Bladechaser remembered reading about them from the books Twilight lent him, already having enough time to have a point of view on the matter.

"Honestly, I'd rather go without one. From what I read it only indicates one talent, one specialized skill. I prefer to think of myself as multi-talented. It almost feels like a sentence, to have that as your destiny.. Just feels so binding!"

Lyra had not thought of it like that, a little disturbed how a stranger tore apart the blessing she had accepted as her cutiemark. Soon enough though she got her mind back on track.

"But why are you here? Can't imagine why a human would want to little ol' Ponyville."

A solemn expression came upon Blade's face, knowing he couldn't lie to the mare now.

"There is something in Equestria that threatens the delicate balance between Discord's magic and that of the regal sisters. I believe it might be some entity from my world causing it. I was brought here to help keep it from doing harm here. The elements are locked away where they are needed and the last group who spotted it were driven insane. They needed someone who could fight it without losing their mind."

Lyra's eyes went wide, a new form of terror she never knew filled her eyes.

"Why.. why are you telling me this?"

Blade sighed and looked at her.

"I never believed in sugar-coating the truth. Something this big and the whole world is gonna feel it. I also believe that you know well enough that panicking wont do a thing to save us. Think back to before, with the box looming overhead. You were scared, frightened beyond imagining. Despite nearly being crushed your body froze up, not moving as you panicked. What we need now is a clear head, and we need to know what we're up against if we are to do that."

Lyra blushed a bit and realized just how strong the stallion was, giving her a stern yet caring look as they nodded to eachother.

"How about we make a deal?"

Lyra perked up, not expecting this from Blade.

"You keep a clear head and don't get killed, and I'll tell you what I know about humans. Deal?"

Lyra beamed and shook the hoof ecstatically.

"Deal!!"

Lyra walked off, skipping and singing happily to herself as it seemed everypony she passed chimed into the tune. Blade couldn't help but remember that bit in the Equestria books that mentioned ponies would break into song at the drop of a hat. He shrugged and waved it off, figuring  it was just coincidence until he saw three fillies marching by singing as they left the farm. Something about having hearts as strong as horses or such. He stood corrected...

Still, he couldn't help but get a little crush on Lyra, the cute mare being absolutely fascinated by him and he with her. He would have time to learn more about her later. For now though he already left Applejack waiting long enough.

He soon found Applejack and started applebucking, landing on his face the first few times before getting the hang of it. After an hour or so of that he was taken to a freshly fertilized field bare of trees with Big Mac and Applejack. Applejack soon started telling him what had to be done as Big Mac got himself hooked up to a large plow.

"Alrighty, we gotta start tillin' this here field for us to seed next week! I know you liked that weird metal thingie so ya won't be usin a regular plow like me and Big Mac. You'll be usin this."

The orange pony handed him a simple looking hoe, remembering what Fluttershy taught him about holding objects with his hooves.

"Ya can use it with your hooves, as I hear Fluttershy was teechin ya, or you ca use it with yer mouth. Yer call buddy!"

Blade felt like the strong pony broke his spine as he pat him on the back, getting hooked up to a plow and getting started. Blade fumbled with the handle for a few moments before getting his grip, nothing like using fingers but it still worked out. He was just glad that when he was transformed he kept his muscle mass and strength.

It took a good hour of trial and error but he was son using the hoe properly, knowing now he could do some of the basic attacks with his sword. Soon enough night fell and it was time to head back inside for some food. The Apples graciously let him stay now that he was training with Applejack to get up to par with the others physically. Fluttershy was good for the basics but he needed some strength training and learn how to use it now that he was a pony. As they were sitting down Twilight dashed into the room, not even exchanging greetings with everpony which soon worried the Apples. Blade was the first to respond.

"Twilight, what happened? What's wrong?"

The alicorn's face showed trouble was afoot, showing a grim look of worry.

"A pony in ponyville has disappeared! We think it's related to the murderer."

"Who was taken, what was their name?"

"Lyra Heartstrings."

The air seemed to shift from the happy atmosphere from before  to complete tension, a the sound of a small pin could have been heard from miles  away as even the farm animals became quiet. This silence belied what was happening below the surface as Bladechaser's fury came to a rolling boil.

"We find this scum, NOW."

He grabbed his sword and strode out of the house, the Apples looking at him curiously before Applejack and Twilight chased after him. The stallion looked like he would tear the town apart looking for the killer.

"Blade, what's wrong. Why are you suddenly so angry?"

Blade whipped his head around, his eyes filled  with an unspeakable rage, Applejack would only recall a similar expression as Nightmare Moon herself was purged from Princess Luna.

"Lyra  and I met already. She's a strong mare, standing up against so  much already. Now some SLEEZEBAG has taken her god fucking knows where! I will tell you this: anyone who hurts my friends will regret every single breath they took on this earth. Now that he's  abducted Lyra, tell me on a scale of 1 to 10 how screwed  that son of a bitch is."

Twilight and Applejack gulped, simultaneously saying eleven as they were very glad he was on their side.

Despite his anger Blade's mind was very clear, almost disturbingly so. He went into town, everyone still searching though many stopped as they saw the trio entering town. The ponies already knew Bladechaser was on the investigation, though they still felt  afraid  in his presence. They could all feel the rage pouring off of him. Soon enough they were outside of the pet supply store they had found the case, a large sign saying 'closed'  in the front. Twilight was the first to ask what the two mares were thinking.

"Why are we here?"

Bladechaser looked back.

"This is where we found the case before. Not to mention the store owner hasn't  shown his face since he came in to submit his crowbar for testing. His store is the only one nearby that sells  supplies for carnivorous pets such as a bear  or two at Fluttershy's cottage. Surely he owns an industrial grinder to make some of hi products. Since you're herbivores I'll spare the details. He is also the only one NOT searching for Lyra. We haven't seen him around. He does not participate in the search because he already knows where she is."

Twilight and Applejack look at eachother in horror, not wanting to imagine what could have happened to Lyra. Soon enough the rest of the Mane 6 had come to the store, Blade wasting no time with explaining what was happening and charged into the store. A strong kick from Applejack knocked the doors from it's hinges, Twilight and Rarity used their horns to light the way, Pinkie Pie supplied her cannon, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were monitoring what was happening from above.

They went into the storage area of the large store, coming across a very scared Lyra chained over a monstrous grinder with a blood red unicorn levitating a knife in hand. From the looks of things Lyra had been given a large number of cuts to her body, only enough to reach the muscle. The scumbag was torturing her! The insane pony looked down and began cackling.

"Ah! Yes! The players have arrived eh? One must love it when the game can begin, yes.. You want to play a game don't you? I was about to make a nice coat out of this pretty thing here."

Bladechaser and the girls stopped a hoof  ahead before he saw the unicorn bring his knife close to her throat, tsking at the stallion.

"Ah  ah ah! That's not how the game works silly! There can be only three players here. The others will simply have to wait their turn~"

Blade turned to the others and nodded, letting them slowly spread out and get at a few different angles.

"So, what are you supposed to be? A henchman of madness? A poor sod who lost his mind and was abandoned by his perspective master? I'm sure that was a shock to you now wasn't it?"

Despite his calm outward expression they could swear they saw waves of pure fury emanating from the stallion.

"Oh yes!! You are not  dull like all the others are you? Oh how they grow so soft and TENDER during so many years of peace. You're more like me than you know.. You can see the darkness can't  you?"

Bladechaser gave a quick smirk.

"Oh yes, I have seen that darkness. Far more than you could ever  imagine. I spent day after day looking into that void, searching for something worth while. Soon enough, I saw a light, just a tiny speck but enough to give hope. That is why it's you who are truly blind. You can see the darkness yet you cannot perceive it. You cannot see the hope that lies within the void.

"Now I will give you a choice: One, you let Lyra go and I just pummel you HALF to death for hurting her. Two, don't let her go and I will end your existence, VERY slowly. Life, or Death? I only give you this choice once, there will be no second chance here."

Bladechaser popped himself  on two legs, ignoring how his equine body complained against the posture as he slowly drew his blade. Lyra would feel her eyes going wide, the proof of Bladechaser being human was right before her eyes. He now stood on two hooves, sword held ready in  his front hooves as he took a offensive stance.

The mad pony rubbed his chin musingly.

"Hmm, I'll take option 3: I turn your little friend into mush and I watch as  your mind breaks for the master to control!"

The mad unicorn hit a switch behind him, Lyra's body lurching toward the roaring machine as the chains slowly lowered her. Blade flew into a frenzy and charged with at the unicorn, kicking him off the platform long enough for him to pull Lyra away from the jaws of the machine. As he did the crazed Unicorn lunged at the pegasus, a deft parry pushing the smaller blade aside as he got some more ground between the madpony ad Lyra. Fortunately Rainbow speed in and grabbed the mint green unicorn, giving Blade the freedom he needed to go all out. Despite Blade's advantage with a larger weapon, the unicorn was using the small blade with magic and was accustomed  to using it. Soon enough Blade began   to adapt slowly to fighting in this new form, knocking the knife away before letting his sword drop and giving the unicorn a strong buck into the chest that sent him flying back a few feet. As it would seem the applebucking earlier  paid off.

"Heheheh, you can't escape the gaze. They're watching! Always watching, always seeing!"

Lyra was gripping Fluttershy tightly, the yellow pegasus working to comfort Lyra as this whole mess was being taken care  of. The anger on Blade's face didn't help too much though.

"Who is watching? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE!"

"The eyes! The EYES!! Always watching!!"

Blade took note of the eye comment, turning and leaving the madpony.

"Someone will pick you up. I'll enjoy working you over for everything else you can give us."

As much as he wanted to, he couldn't strike at an unarmed pony. It just didn't feel right to him. Soon enough he had his chance, the mad unicorn grabbing a pipe  and aiming to smash Twilight's head in. Bladechaser blocked the heavy pipe with his sword, watching it break  at the middle before he brought the remnant of the sword across the unicorn's neck. The already red coat of the unicorn began to turn a deeper crimson as the blood began to leave his body from his throat.

"As I said, no second chances."

The group had returned to the library once the incident at the pet store was taken care of. The store was shut down and is being checked  for anything linking it to the other deaths and disappearances. Bladechaser helped  to console Lyra with Fluttershy before turning to Twilight with a request for a topic he thought relevant. He started talking about humans which helped pep her up quite a bit.  Rainbow Dash, Spike, and Rarity helped look through the books for the one in question. Applejack and Pinkie were making some sweets in the kitchen for everyone and to help alleviate the shock. All the while they gave strange glances to Blade, shocked that he ended that pony's life like he did. Sure, they had seen accidents where ponies died, but the first time a pony killed another in front of any of them was baffling. Still, it wasn't long before Twilight found the book.

"Here it is, 'Zoologist guide to Interdimensional Creatures'. I hope this has something relevant."

Bladechaser flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for: The beholder.

Beholder: A creature known to originate from the plane of  madness. It is noticable due to it's many sprouted eye as well as it's enormous main eye and fanged teeth. They are most noticable for their rumored ability to dispel any magic they see. They are considered to be highly dangerous in theory, though none have survived an encounter to verify their existence. For now, they exist only in the realm of theory.

The stallion smirked and spoke half to himself and half to everyone else.

"Oh.. Oh that is brilliant! Who would have known that would be the case!"

He looked up to see the girls giving him the same glances they gave the mad pony from before, figuring it was a good idea to elaborate.

"Ok, was going to try and keep this from you to avoid the creep factor, but the events here in Equestria have bled  over into my world in the form of an idea, namely a children's cartoon about this world, and more specifically about your adventures  with Rainbow, AJ, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Lyra  has even been seen in the episodes. However, something from our world bled over as well: the concept of a beholder. They are not natural in this universe yet there is a book on it here. Now that the events of this world are bleeding over more profusely into my own, the same is happening likewise, only it being far more dark. This Beholder could very well have been given shape by the copious amount of magic here. Something that is physical from the human world like myself could barely survive from heating up. An IDEA though is an entirely different story. The magic could give  it form. It also explains what happened to the guards. Beholders nullify magic and since almost everything here is absolutely brimming with it, it had a physical effect on them as well. If  the guards were unicorns they probably would not have survived at all."

The looks on the ponies faces went from astounding, to worried, to absolute panic. They had no idea how to fight off such a powerful magical being! Even Sombra nearly killed them all and HE didn't have the power to blink magic out of existence around him. This could very well destroy Equestria! Bladechaser was much mroe calm, smiling almost happily before the others took notice of his chuckling.

"And what in the hay is so funny to you Blade?"

Blade brought a hoof to his lips, trying to silence his chuckling.

"I just had to appreciate the irony. A beholder constructing itself from that which it dispels."

Twilight's expression changed first, gears  turning in her head as Blade continued.

"In  other words, if the Beholder were to see himself.."

Twilight chimed in,

"It's gaze would dispel itself and erase it from existence! Blade that is brilliant!  I knew you'd fix the madness coming into Equestria!"

Blade's gaze turned solemn again.

"Sadly the beholder is simply a symptom of this problem. The truth is the madness  is coming through the rift between worlds. We need to mend that before we are anywhere near fixing all of this."

Twilight's gaze showed  her surprise and shock. "But Blade..  If we close the rift..."

The stallion pegasus nodded.

"Then I'd be stranded here. And I need to be on this side in case anything else slips through as it closes.."

Blade slumped  down in his seat, Lyra placing a comforting hoof on his shoulder.

"Listen, I may be new to all of this, but  we can worry about that when the time comes. For now, lets just focus on destroying this beholder thingy."

Bladechaser  smiled and placed one of his hooves  on her own, showing how much her kindness meant to him. Perhaps being left here  wouldn't be too bad after all.