Bear the Grudge, Wrathful Outsider
Can You Not!?
Previous Chapter“OHSHITOHFUCKOHSHITOHFUCKOHSHITOHFUCK! GAAAAAAHHHHHH!”
As you can see, I was taking the change of my sudden appearance in another world quite well. I would dare say that I was the epitome of suave calm and class.
Okay so I freaked out, you would have too!
I pretty much resorted to rolling on the floor writhing in a frothing mess.
My gear was off, of course. So I’m safe in that regard.
So! I pretty much turned from making comprehensive sentences to maddened babbling ala Homer Simpson. “WOOBWOOBHABABAHABAHABADA!” Yeah, this was turning into a downward spiral…
But then something out of my peripherals shined. It wasn’t my ring, it was…
Oh fuck no.
Oh…. fuck…. no.
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS DOING HERE!?!?!?
After rising from the ground, wiping away the foam and slobber, I cautiously tip-toed my way towards the summon sign. Who exactly… Oh!
Well, there’s no reason to be worried, at least.
It was Solaire, Sunbro!
Hm… well, I don’t think there’s any beastie running amok, so there’s no real reason to summon him. But then again, maybe he can help me figure out what’s going on?
Yeah, way too hopeful on my end, but it’s a start! Now, how do I do this…?
I knelt down, and touched the symbol.
Summon Phantom Solaire….
Wut. Why is there a fucking bar of text right-
“PRAISE!” A golden man rose from the floor with his hands outstretched. “Oh god it’s good to be doing something...” He cracked his neck.
….”What the actual fuck.” I deadpanned, yet held a blank look on my face. “....Solaire of Astora?” I asked the guy.
“That is my title yes.” He rolled his shoulders. “Though I am not he.”
“....So what, you’re just running around with his name?” I asked with a raised eyebrow, scratching the back of my neck.
“Just like how you are running around as Corvo?” He leaned on the wall. “... Thank you for summoning me. I was bored.” He yawned. “Hiding from Sun Butt is boring.”
“Sun butt?” I paused, and remembered that Celestia, that white coated… pony thing, had some tattoo of the sun on her ass cheek. “Celestia…?” I was silent in thought, “I… do remember that the whole thing with Summon signs is that its a link…” my eyes widened, “A link between worlds. Son of a bitch, there are other versions of this place. You’re in one of them.”
“The veil between worlds is thin, and the flow of time is convoluted.” He walked forward. “I expect that you are new.... Am I right?”
“You’d be right…” I replied with a nod, “...So, I got here from Comic-con. You?” I asked him. I figure I’d get to know the guy that may end up helping me eventually.
“A convention in Arizona... You are lucky, or not depending on how you see things.” He chuckled. “I have been in my world for four years.”
“Four years…?” I shook my head, “Huh, I live in Arizona. Me and my friends took a road trip to Cali for Comic-con.” I shook my head once more, “But that’s besides the point. I take it you’ve been summoned by others before?”
“Many have seen my sign, and many are stuck here like you.” He traced his hand over the summon sign. “I have been searching for a way back.... Though my attempts are futile.” He sighed. “Be careful here my friend... Many will see you as a villain, and you shall be hunted.”
“Hunted!?” I nearly fell over, “For what!?”
“Where did you appear?”
“In Celestia’s bed…” I muttered.
He facepalmed. “Of course... Anything interesting about your appearance?”
“Not really, just… fell from a portal. That’s about it.” I shrugged, “I take it something fucky happened when you appeared?”
“I burned the forest down and sat in their thrones.” He said casually.
“Well shit.” I deadpanned, “No wonder they don’t like you.” I paused, “But… hunted down? A bit much, don’t you think?”
“They think me an enemy to the throne, and with you falling into her bed they’ll want answers.” He paced around the room. “Be wary... A flower is beautiful, yet deadly at the same time.”
“Why though? She said she believes me, she even gave me this…” my eyes widened, “Unless they just want to make it easy for me to spill the beans on imaginary threats…”
“A honeyed tongue is much harder to pry, but sweeter nonetheless.”
I facepalmed, “Oh jesus christ, how long have you been dressed as Solaire to start speaking like him? I don’t want to turn into a friggin’ mute…”
He laughed. “I kid I kid... I’m just teasing.” He looked around. “I wonder...”
“About what?”
“How Siegmyer is doing.” Solaire shrugged. “He’s been quiet recently.”
My eyes widened slightly, “Siegmyer? The actual one or a friend of yours dressed as him?”
“Actually no, the real one.” He looked up at the sky. “True armor and all. He’s taught me how to use a sword.”
“...Son of a bitch…” I leaned against the wall, “This whole thing is getting weird…” I looked to…. I’ll just call him Solaire, “Now I’m wondering just what it is I’ll be dealing with. And… if I can summon you, that means I can get invaders…” I groaned, “Oh fuck me I can get invaders…”
“If I stay too long.” He looked at his staff. “My magic is uncontrolled. Cast me away before I bring something you might not wish.”
“Wait a minute.” I may end up regretting this, but I feel like I owe the guy. “Do you have a spare summon stone? I owe you for this, and if I can, I want to help you.”
He paused and stood in silence. “If you wish....” He reached behind him and pulled out a white soapstone. “I went all out with this costume.” He laughed. “I shall eagerly await you... Whenever you can join me.”
I grinned, and nodded towards my gear, “I made modifications to mine since I couldn’t afford the right get up. But the effect is the same.” I scratched the back of my neck, “Hell, I took ballet and fencing classes to be even more fancy and balanced. Then I took a more manly class of learning how to swordfight with a sword like that one.” I gestured towards my officers sword. “Don’t hesitate to summon me when you need me.” I paused, “I just hope that when you do I’ll at least be of some use.”
He smiled. “Of course... Summon me in your times of need.” Solaire turned to the summon sign, and held out his staff. “May our fates be intertwined.”
“For Jolly Co-operation, eh?” I ask with a smirk.
“Of course!” He lifted his staff. “For the glory of the sun!” He slammed it down on his summon sign, causing his body to warp and fade. “Goodbye... Friend.”
“Adios, Space cowboy.” I did a little two-fingered salute, and then he had disappeared.
This would be a good chance to get some rest...
With that, I crawled onto my bed, laying my head down to rest.
Slipping away was an easy matter. Using the power of ‘Blink’ really does make things easy.
I still have work to do.
Politicians have sat in their thrones of deception for too long. I will root them out first. Then the Celestial sisters will be next.
They have left me to rot in that stone prison. Just as Solaire had said.
Hm, I do hope they got my little present…
(In Celestia’s Study)
“S-sister… why would-”
“Because Luna…” Celestia sighed, sadness obvious in her voice, “We… we betrayed him.”
“But dear sister, we had no choice! It was either that, or all out war!” Luna stood firm in what she said, just as sad, but confused. “Luna… you and I both know Corvo.” Celestia looked out the window of her study, a distant look on her face, “Family meant the world to him. To him, we were someone he would lay down his life for.” She shook her head, a somewhat spiteful look upon her face, “The Griffon Empire had us, as he would say, “by the balls”.”
Luna held a morose expression, her eyes still on the long since finished audiograph, “Sister… is… is there any way to explain this to him? Any way to fix this?” She held a sense of hope in her, hope that the man she called brother would still have a chance.
Luna looked up at her night sky, hoping to find solace in her work.
There was none. All she could think of was the guilt and pain she felt.
Waking up to a pony hovering above my head was not the highlights of my morning. It really wasn’t. Especially when this one was WAY TOO CLOSE!
“Back the hell off!” I pushed the pony away with my foot, “A little space would be nice!”
The… pegasus? Yeah, pegasus(god I have to get used to this…).
“Ah, do forgive me sir.” The pegasus… who I guess is a female, due to how light her(?) voice is. I can’t exactly make her turn around and check. That’d be weird. Very, very weird.
Fuckin’ ew.
“Jus’... the hell do you want?” I ask with a tired sigh, rubbing my eyes.
“Breakfast is being served in the dining hall, milord, Her highness sent me to awaken you as to arouse you from your slumber.” Now that I got a good look at this pegasus, she was a beige colored pegasus, with a brown mane. She wore a maids hat, and the little apron.
Now if she were human…
Well, I won’t go into that.
Mornings would be an even harder issue to deal with.
I rolled my eyes, and got up with a few pops in my back, “Yeah, well, mission accomplished.” I’ve only just now noticed how huge her eyes are Jesus Christ. “So what,” I asked her as I slipped on the black leather coat, “you gonna lead me there?”
The maid nodded, “Yes, milord. I was instructed to do so.”
“Enough with the lord crap…” I sighed, “Just call me Corvo. Or Mr. Attano if you want to insist on formal shit.”
Taking up the name of Corvo wasn’t my first idea. I had originally thought it would be best to just use my actual name.
But… something compelled me not to. Something inside me just told me that I will use the name of Corvo.
Weird.
“Very well… Mr. Attano.” I SWEAR TO GOD IF SHE WERE HUMAN.
Okay, let me clarify! Her voice sounds like Jennifer fucking Hale. You try listening to that voice and picture a hot maid with naught but an apron and that little hat thing!
I didn’t fucking think so.
“Well, lets get to breakfast, I guess…” I sighed, leaving my gear here.
If Solaire is right, I shouldn’t need any weapons to explain exactly just what it that’s going on. Solaire was a huge help on my sanity, seriously.
Wow that sounded weird…
The walk was silent the rest of the way, the maid didn’t really have much to say to me besides letting me know where exactly I’ll be going. Couple of minutes later, we arrived to the dining hall.
Well, I guess it is, I’m seeing Celestia sitting at the head of a table with a bowl of- oh fuck you.
Salad… guh, salad.
There better be some eggs and potatoes in the kitchen.
Celestia smiled gently and waved me over, “Ah, Corvo. I am glad thou could make it. Please, do have a seat.”
I nodded to the maid in thanks, and made my way over to the table. “Weird wake up call you have there, Celestia…” I sighed, pulling the chair out and popping my shoulder to get the morning stiffness out.
“Ah, thou means Dust Pan. She is rather new to her work, do forgive her.” She giggled a bit.
I rolled my eyes, and looked at the table, “So! You said that we would discuss things about this ti-” around then I felt a shiver go up my spine.
“Sister, is this the… human, thou told us about?” I turn and there was another winged unicorn. Just a darker version of Celestia with a navy blue coat, starry mane and oh dear god she was glaring at me.
“Um…” I began eloquently, “uh, yeah. Hi.”
She huffed, and looked to Celestia, “He speaks to us as if he is of familiarity with us.”
“I also speak because you’re the one glaring at me.” I deadpanned.
My brain literally does not know how to stop my lips.
Before the blue mare could reply, Celestia used her magic to to keep her mouth from moving. She gave a pointed glare towards Celestia, while Celestia giggled sheepishly.
“Now now sister, won’t thou let me explain first before thou jumps to conclusions?”
The magic around her mouth disappeared, and she huffed and sat down on the opposite side of me, “Very well. We are listening.” Oh great, more glaring...
“Excellent.” Celestia smiled. She turned to me, “Now Corvo, would thou give an explanation as to why you had appeared in my chambers?”
“HE WHAT!?”
Oh this may or may not be the death of me…
I stood atop a building, looking down upon Canterlot. A sense of disgust welling up in my gut. I worked hard to make this city prosperous alongside the sisters, to build a sort of… I don’t know, unity, I guess is the word.
Gangs were taken down, criminals stopped. Hell, I’ve even taken down an entire organization dedicated to causing an all out war.
Yet that had damned me. I give people safety, and they give me condemnation.
“Master?” But…. some things never change.
I turn around, and behind me is a pony garbed in a coat similar to mine. Hm. The order is still alive, good.
I nodded, “Yes. I am back from imprisonment. I trust everything in the order is fine?”
The pony, a descendant of that old maid… Dust Pan. She was a nice pony…
Oh who am I kidding… she stuck up for me, and she suffered for it. She had children, and they… grew up to hate me. That I was the one at fault.
Then I met her daughter. I saved her life.
After that… she seemed to be in awe of me.
“Yes, everything is just as you left it. We’ve… we’ve even kept your gear safe.” Ah! Awesome! She reached into her saddle and- she just pulled out my sword.
I stared at the pegasus mare that held out the sword to me with a raised eyebrow under my mask. “I take it,” I began and strapped my sword to my hip, “that magic has advanced much further since the years of Starswirl? I do not remember seeing any mare or stallion doing such an enchantment.”
The pegasus, who I’ve yet to learn the name of, just the fact that she sounded like Jennifer fucking Hale tipped me off that it was her descendant.
I swear, I am not into that.
Who the fuck am I kidding? No humans as far as the eye can see, not a single woman, only mares.
a thousand odd years of imprisonment can do that you.
I nodded, and rolled my shoulders, a resounding pop being heard. “I see. I wonder if I am as good with my sword still. I do not wish to be rusty.”
The mare actually smirked, “We have waited for this day, master. Oh so very long… there is a warehouse filled with gang members that have taken a liking to robbing those they want, even committing foul acts in the process. Over the years, they have grown, their numbers spanning to over fifty.”
I gave a glare to the mare, who withered at my gaze, “And you did not deal with this why?”
“W-well… the order k-knew-”
“That is no excuse disciple.” I finished harshly. “You are not one to deem what should be taken care of later. The sooner this filth is taken care of, the better. I will be the one to deal with it. Answer me, is the location of the order the same?”
“....Y-yes, master…” She said, thoroughly tongue-lashed. She looked like I just killed her puppy, or something. Her ears splayed against her head, her wings tucked against her body tightly… perhaps I was harsh.
With a sigh, I stepped forward, and rubbed her head, “Next time, do as you are trained, disciple. Being lax because you feel I would return is no excuse.”
“Sorry master…” I shook my head, and drew my sword.
“Now go, inform the others that I have returned. I have to be a janitor right now…” I then warped away from that location and onto the floor. I used Dark vision, an old favorite, to better see just what was around.
The old, familiar whispers that came with these powers rang in my ears.
Huh, looks like I was standing on top the warehouse. Who would have thought.
I look up, and see an open window. From it, I could hear a lot of chattering. I looked forward, and was surprised with how accurate the disciple’s information was. There was indeed at least fifty of them in there.
Hehehe… time to get to work.
Lets see if this ring lost its touch.
“Oh come on Harvest, at least pass the damn cider instead of hogging it all!”
“Screw you, Grain.” the blue hat wearing pony said with in a nonchalant manner, “I’m the one who paid for it, anyway.”
A heavy thump was heard from the other side of the boxes that sat upon. Followed by more, and more, until it sounded off… thirty times, Harvest counted.
“What in tartarus was that?” Grain Sickle asked him cautiously, the rest of the gang getting up from wherever they were, to spare a cautious gaze at the large stack of boxes they sat upon.
Then it happened. All at once, the boxes flew everywhere, as if an explosion had just went off.
Some boxes crushed the others, spraying blood everywhere, creating a puddle underneath the fallen timber.
What Golden Harvest saw would haunt him.
Behind the boxes, was a huge gathering of corpses. All of them slaughtered in some gruesome manner. Some were missing their heads, some had their guts tore open.
Others… were not so lucky. Some were still alive, as they tried desperately to hold their insides, well, inside.
In front of them, stood a being clad in black, a damning mask boring into his very skull and a blade that dripped with blood.
“Tell me…”
Harvest almost jumped out of his flesh, a voice whispered right in his ear.
“Are you afraid of the dark?” One by one, the lights that had illuminated the warehouse exploded in a shower of glass.
And then the screams of his friends were heard throughout the building. Harvest waited for his time, to feel that blade plunge into his stomach or neck.
Yet it never came. Despite all of the sounds of flesh being severed from bodies, blood spraying onto the floor and the screams of pain, not once did Harvest feel any cold steel touch him.
‘W-WHAT IS THAT THING WAITING FOR!?!?! KILL ME ALREADY!!!!!’ it was maddening. All those screams…. Oh dear Celestia they were ringing in his head!
And then, another whisper in his ear, “Attano has returned… let it be known.”
And with that, he passed out.
“That pretty much sums it up.” I sighed as I scratched the back of my head. I had pretty much laid out what exactly had happened, minus giving out my actual name and the ring. Comic-con, everything.
Celestia nodded, while Luna had looked pensive, but kept that same glare on me. “I see…” Celestia replied, “Interesting. And thou dost not know exactly how it happened?”
I nodded, “Pretty much… It’s all crazy…” I sighed and leaned my back against the chair, “To be honest, I wouldn’t even know where to begin on telling you just how… I don’t know, panicked this makes me.” Panic is putting it mildly. Right now, I feel like going bat-shit insane while rolling on the floor foaming at the mouth screaming about Great Britain and god save the queen.
Again.
Don’t ask…
“‘Tis… upsetting, we understand.” Luna began, sounding less harsh than earlier. “Twas an accident that thou had appeared, nothing more. We are sorry to have taken such a harsh with thou.” I guess it’s hard for her to apologize for anything.
I shrugged, “Hey, if some guy appeared in my sisters bed without any explanation I’d want to beat the hell out of him too.” THOUGH SHOUTING MY FUCKING EARDRUMS OFF IS NOT NEEDED!
“It would seem that we are the only ponies that know about your situation, young Corvo.” Celestia began, “Would thou prefer that you stay here at the castle? I’ve no problem with it. Sister?” She turned to the navy blue mare, who was silent.
Finally, she nodded, “We’ve no problem either, sister. If he wishes, we will not stop him.”
Well. Alright then.
Celestia smiled, and turned to me, “There. Now then, perhaps you’d like a meal now?” She asked with a somewhat teasing tone.
“Gee willikers ma’am, that sure would be swell.” I said with sarcasm dripping from my tone. “Just potatoes and eggs, please. Scrambled eggs, and a cooked potato.”
Celestia nodded, and relayed that order to a near-by maid.
“Now then, once your food is here, we can begin eating!”
These ponies… are kinda nice. Hm.
Maybe being stuck here won’t be so bad...