Chapter 1 - The Awakening of a Stone Soldier
Chapter 1 - The Awakening of a Stone Soldier
A sound of rumbling could be heard as it echoed off the trees. The ground was still, but a statue that sat in the middle of the forest started to shift and glow. Vines and moss that held onto the sculpture tore off as the statue vibrated even more. It's stone surface starting to crack and then finally erupting off it's mold scattering everywhere.
A blackish stallion with bat wings, green eyes, and a scraggly looking mane and long flowing tail was laying on the ground in the statue’s place looking very disoriented. As he got up, his head felt really fuzzy and he tried to put his thoughts together on what was going on. Looking around him proved to be useless as he could not seem to figure out where this place is or even why he was here.
“Where am I?” he asked himself, “I definitely don’t remember all these trees around me!” He continued to speak to himself as a vision flowed back into his mind.
“Last thing I remember was I was running through an open field when suddenly everything started to go black.” The pony pulled himself up, now noticing that his legs felt very weak. His body felt the same as it always had but, his muscles seemed to have weakened a bit as it felt as though he hadn’t moved them in a long time.
“I could swear that I had only been standing not to long ago, but this doesn’t feel like it,” it was then he noticed all the stone that had fallen of him, “what have I been doing and why is there so much scattered stone around me? Was…” he paused now seeing that the stones around him looked as though they had been molded to him. This made him quickly panic.
“Was I turned to stone?!” his anxiety starting to increase, “No! No! No! That couldn’t be what happened, could it? If so how long have I been out?” ‘Gotta calm down’, he thought as he tried again to remember how he got there. ‘I was in a war, I remember that, but...’ his mind started to hurt as he tried forcing himself to remember.
“ARGH! I can’t remember!” he yelled, his frustration in this situation was annoying him to no ends. *crack* Immediately, the pony turned to the noise, crouched in a battle stance, and saw that wood like wolf creatures, which he remembered as Timberwolves, were approaching him. One of the wood creatures launched itself at him, which he quickly dodged and then batted it away with a good hard buck only to feel his body straining from the exertion. Another leaped towards him and he managed to knock that one out of the way as well, but as the beasts continued to circle him he realized that he need get out of here and fast! He need to make an exit, he needed to escape, he need power.
Those thoughts was the thing that awoken something inside of him, a feeling of overwhelming strength and power beyond anything he could imagine. Its presence wrapping around his mind and drowning him in it’s pool of endless flowing energy. His body being slowly covered by a glowing black aura that emanated throughout his body. The pupils of his eyes becoming more lizard like and change to a creepy turquoise shade. His bat wings stretched out instinctively as a sign of intimidation and power as the mysterious force soon took control of his body.
The Timberwolves could now sense that an overpowering evil was seeping out of this pony and that the tables had turned into his favor. Being smart, the pack retreated into the woods not wanting to tangle with the odds being against them. As soon as they were all gone the aura around the pony died down as he regained control of his own mind. Confusion flooded his thoughts as the experience he just felt had never happened before.
"What the heck was that?!" 'Things just seemed to be getting weirder and weirder today', he thought. As he made his way through the forest, he could feel that the mood of the forest had changed and felt like the forest was now afraid of him. 'Well it should be', a grin now spreading on his face.
After spending what felt like an hour of stumbling around the dark forest, he came across a strange hut. The hut was covered in tribal masks, hanging flasks, and other bizarre things, Which was giving him a very unsettling feeling. He really did not want to stick around this place for too long! As he slowly approached, the door to the hut opened up and a zebra walked out. The bat pony had never seen a zebra before and so his first response was to be paranoid and defensive.
The zebra, named Zecora, stared at the pony who in turn stared strangely at her. ‘Do all these ponies have to make such a fuss?’, she thought to herself. Well it was a visitor and such guests were rare.
“What have we here, somepony who shows no fear?” her speech seemed to be in constant rhymes, “to wander here alone, is your brain full of stones?” Well that was rude, he thought, but then again now that he thought about it the forest wasn’t really inviting. ‘Maybe it was a zebra thing to be rude,’ he thought, but then decided to not scold her and instead ask for help.
“Hi my name is Thunder Wing and I was wondering if you could tell me where I am,” he asked not sure if he would get help from this strange pon… zebra.
Zecora studied his movements and could tell that he was completely lost. Though one questioned remained, why did it feel like the forest was trying to hide from this pony. He didn’t seem like he was all there at the moment and looked as if he was easy prey for the beast of the trees. So why did it seem like he was the most dangerous thing in the forest.
“An outsider like you should be aware, for you do not know what trap you have been ensnared, as this is the Everfree and will make sure you never leave.” Zecora then explained about the dangerous to Thunder Wing from the creatures that roam and the plants that grow. Thunder Wing listened to about half of it, but his mind was more on himself. The zebra took note of this and decided that it would be better to just find out what he needed.
"Well since my tale is such a bore, is there something you need more?" Thunder Wing's ears perked up to her question.
"I'm sorry for being rude, but do you have a map perhaps," he needed information and learn about his surroundings.
Zecora motioned him in and led him to a table with a map that seemed to have markings on it of which he assumed Zecora made to point out important details. As he continued to stare at the map the more it made less sense.
"Is this the current version of Equestria's map," confusion was definitely going to be the theme today, he thought.
Zecora answered this question also with confusion, "This is in fact the current map, but to you this seems untrue."
"Everything just seems... foreign," he realized that this could mean her, "Oh not you! Just... the landscape, the cities, everything. I've never heard of the Everfree Forest." A vision then soon consumed his mind, a voice calling out from what seemed to be the distant past, 'I need you to head west, take this path from the north and...' The vision ended and he stood there wondering what that was.
If anything this showed Zecora that this pony was more lost than usual. His eyes showed distress, but beyond them she could see that this pony was just beginning what seemed to be a grand adventure spanning many trails, or a very stupid one. Looking at him very closely, she could see he was focused on what seemed to be the west part of the map, best make sure he gets to there safely.
"I can see that you have someplace to be, would you like me to be your lead?" It really was all Zecora could do to help as the ponies seemed to fear her. Thunder Wing turned this offer down.
"No, no. I’ll be fine on my own, besides I can't endanger you with my travels," how Thunder Wing said it though, sounded as if he was calling her out on being a mare.
Zecora immediately took offense to this, "are saying that I cannot fair, on the account of me being a mare?" ‘Luna have mercy,’ He had, in so to speak, just stuck his hoof in his own mouth, ‘wait, who's Luna?’
Forgetting his place he asked Zecora, "who is Luna?" 'Okay this pony is an idiot,' Zecora’s impression gave him a look that said, you are so stupid, on her face.
"You may take the map and leave me be, but if you continue to stay I will force you to leave," the demand in her voice showed that she was done with him.
'Best to leave now,' Thunder Wing thought as he grabbed the map and darted out of the house. Once he was sure he was far enough from the hut, and away from the angry zebra, he sighed with relief and checked the map. 'Are all zebra's like this?! Best not try and piss off another one again,' he thought as he looked to see that the nearest town to the east was a placed called Mareville.
"Well might as well head in there, though did the ponies really run out of names and call this town “Mareville”? That is really sad since last time I remember we only had like, a total of 6 cities," he continued to voice his thoughts to himself as he walked on. As the conversation to himself progressed the less he paid attention to his surroundings, but this didn't mean he didn't react to things around him. Thunder Wing's body moved through the forest as naturally as breathing was to him, leaping over vines, avoid dangerous plants Zecora told him about, and even unconsciously flying over a river as his mind focused elsewhere.
"But that doesn't make sense either! Argh! I hate this! When is anything going to make sense?!" Thunder Wing then looked around to see he was now standing in the middle of a rope bridge that stretched out from two cliff sides. He was now very confused on how he got there, as he figured he would of noticed walking on the bridge or at the very least know how he ended there.
"...this forest must be magic," he reasoned to himself, "that's got to be why I'm here... yeah!" With confidence that was his reason for being there, he took one step and felt the bridge fall under him. Thunder Wing closed his eyes and let out a surprised yell as he fell to his death... After a while of not feeling immense pain or whatever death was, he opened his eyes to see he was flying in place where the bridge stood.
Oh... right... he had wings. He thanked the mysterious pony named Luna that no pony saw him being stupid as he flew over to the other side. On the other side there were some old ruins, but it was nothing he cared about and quickly walked by. As time stretched on, he began to get tired as well as hunger. Maybe he should of asked that zebra for food, well no point in worrying about that now. The important thing he needed to do now was gather food and shelter.
After finding a cave nearby that seemed to be empty, he then wander, not to far from his shelter, and gathered wood. Luck seemed to be on his side as he found mushrooms that he could identify as edible and picked them. They wouldn't fill him, but it was better than nothing.
Now that he had set up his place for the night, as well as creating a fire for warmth as well as protection, he then decided to eat some of the mushrooms and then get some sleep. The forest may be dangers, but they could all back off as he was tired. Closing his eyes for the night, another echo of a memory called to his mind as he slept.
"...the keys opens the door..." the voice said before fading away.
Blood sprayed out from the neck of a noble looking stallion, as the knife was pulled out by a grey pony with white and black hair.
"I'm sorry," the pony said coldly, with a slight trace of regret. The door to the room opened, allowing light to pierce the dark void of the room, as a noble like mare with her even more noble looking filly were standing in the doorway.
"Shamy! I heard a crash are..." the mare froze, as she looked to see the light fall upon her now dead husband. A quick glance and she could see that another silhouette of a pony was there with a bloody knife in it's mouth. Said pony was now just flicking the blood off her husband, off the weapon, and proceeded to sheath it. Screams of terror could be heard as it echoed through the mansion as both the mother and her daughter cried out in sadness and fear.
Turning to the door slowly the pony could hear the sounds of the guards and staff rushing towards them and needed to act fast.
A voice, only heard to this pony, spoke out, <”Yang…”> it paused before deciding to change it's mind, <"smoke the room and run past."> The pony followed the instructions and reach into the saddle bags that was strapped to it's back, which also hid the now sheathed knife, and pulled out two small round objects and cast them towards the ground. The two family members quickly backed away from the door as the smoke filled the room and shot its way into the hallway giving the pony enough room to run pass as well as to stay hidden.
Turning the corner, the pony could here the servants arriving from the other hallway. Good, luck was on their side today. Heading for the kitchen, the mysterious intruder was almost free as it pulled off a tile in the kitchen revealing a tunnel underneath, when a second scream nearby signifying that the pony was not alone.
While this maid work for many years under the family, she had never seen a stranger in the kitchen and since there was light in this room, she could clearly tell that this was one pony that was up to no good. This pony was a gray earth stallion with a short white and black mane and tail. His cutie mark was two half circle that had come together, both being different colors, either black or white and having a dot of the reverse color on each of the half pieces. While he wasn't buff, he did look very fit and she had now just alerted him to her presence.
<"...Yang... I'm sorry,"> the voice's tone was one of defeat and sorrow. Yang, the gray stallion, closed his eyes as he whispered, “please forgive me,” before moving quickly to the maid, grabbing her by the chest and lifting her up with one hoof and then sending a precise blow to her heart with the other hoof. The maid’s body wriggled a bit before going limp.
Carefully, he set his second corpse of the night onto the floor and quickly headed through the hole in the kitchen making sure to cover it back up with the tile. While he did succeed in his mission, the fact that he was found out meant that “she” would be very upset with him. As he continued down the tunnel leading to an abandoned house on the outskirts of town the voice came back and spoke to him.
<"I'm so sorry Yang,"> it apologized, <"I didn't think we would be found out and I know “she's” going to punish you for my mistake."> The voice's tone for this “mare” was of resentment and hatred, and just speaking about “her” made the voice unable to hold in the emotions.
<"Why does “she” have to be like this! That “mare”, always takes it out on you! I HATE HER! She needs to get up and die!"> Yang listened to the voice, but showed no signs of agreeing or disagreeing with it.
The voice sighed in frustration, <"Let's just get back before she finds more excuses to hurt you."> Yang exited the tunnel into the abandoned house's basement and covered it up with the nearby bookshelf before leaving the building. The dead grass around the place and it's run down look had given it a stupid rumor that it was haunted. Down a distance from the house was a road that lead to the town, but it was the opposite direction of that road he was focused on.
"Where in Equestria am I?" as Thunder Wing turned the map from side to side. After leaving the cave, at who knows when since the sky seemed to not exist in the Everfree Forest, Thunder Wing had now found himself lost. The forest itself seemed to want to keep him in there, but at the same time still trying to avoid him as he was too powerful to contain in it's woods. It still had one more trick to hopefully catch this incredible prey.
As Thunder Wing continued through, the thick of the forest started to clear out and a town came into view. Thunder Wing now seeing a town thought, 'now I can get directions.' As he walked into town everything seemed to be empty. Was this an abandoned town?
As he searched around town, the forest's magic was almost done, all it need to do was reach into this pony’s mind and the illusion would be complete. The magic began to invade Thunder Wing’s mind, without him knowing, and started to look for something that would seal the pony’s fate. But as it dug deep into his mind, a mysterious force unlike what the forest had seen from the pony, forced it out from invading Thunder Wing's mind with a threat, one of which the forest feared.
With such a presence protecting the pony, it was clear that this “Thunder Wing” was something that need to leave immediately. It was then that Thunder Wing felt like giving up, that a green earth pony with no cutie mark showed up from behind Thunder Wing out of no where and spoke.
"You are not wanted here. I must ask you to leave," the pony said calmly, but Thunder Wing could tell there was some urgency in this pony's voice.
"Why? Did I do something wrong? If I did I'm sorry, I just was lost and need to find some directions out of this forest," Thunder Wing explained very confused about this sudden hostility towards him.
"If you are lost then I shall show you the way, but I ask you to never to come back," the pony said as it started to head out of town.
"But why? I don't understand," he asked, though it seemed that the only thing this pony cared about was to get him out of here as quickly as possible. Thunder Wing thought that maybe he should ignore the pony and maybe find his own way, but the pony then added.
“If you stay here, we will be forced to make you leave, so please make it easier on all of us and follow me.” Deciding not to anger an entire town he followed. The two made their way through the forest and Thunder Wing noticed that the forest was clearing up and that a light shining like a beacon was up ahead. Thunder Wing quickly ran towards the light and saw that he was finally out. The sun was shining in the sky and from the looks it seemed he had gotten out close to noon.
"Thank you so much! I thought I'd be trapped if it weren't for... you?" Looking back, Thunder Wing saw that the pony had vanished. 'Okay... well' he thought and then spotted a village in the distance. 'I hope this place will be more hospitable,' as he stretched out his wings and flew towards the town.
It had taken until sunrise, which had oddly took awhile to show up, but Yang had finally gotten to Mareville, his hometown. Mareville wasn't as big as the town he had just come from, which was more of a getaway area for the rich, but was still decently sized town as it was sort of a pit-stop for many traveling merchants. The town of Mareville was basically a trading post, built as a halfway spot for some of the other populated cities on the outsides of Main Equestria. (Main Equestria being made of mostly everything around Canterlot) Though trading did change as the railways were now the more preferred method of getting goods to their designation. However, there were still some trades-ponies who continued the old route, which in turn, kept Mareville from becoming the next ghost town.
Now while Yang was known in the town, he did not in fact have a bad reputation, though it still wasn't good either. The town knew him as the head son of the Fang family and that he lived with his twin sister Yin in that mansion up on the hill. Many things of what the family did was still unknown, but from time to time they would get guest, many from outside of town, who would pay them a visit for a bit and then leave. Some of these ponies were that of high nobles and some were just middle class, but even still they would come from who knows where and see the Fang’s and then leave.
As for Yang, he was a quiet one who kept to himself and never said a word to anypony and always did his business quickly and then left. There has been a couple of times where he has helped a pony in need, like the time Ms. Butterworth was choking on a plunger and the time he pulled out the foals who had fallen into the irrigation ditch because they were playing a rough game of tag, but he usually kept to himself and so to did the villagers.
Yin, his sister, on the other hand was well loved by the town and was the complete opposite of Yang as she was more social. In fact she seemed to be radiating positive energy, that is until you got to know her. She wasn't bad, but some of the towns ponies could tell there was much anger and sadness in her eyes after being around her for many years. However, Yin was really good at hiding her emotions to newcomers under that fake smile of hers. But, besides her inner emotions, she was a happy mare who was friends with pretty much everypony in town.
In fact, somepony might argue that the townsfolk were the twin's family as the two seemed more happy when they are in town then when they’re heading home. This might have to do with the fact that when one of them heads into town they would almost always be covered in bruises. Yin would always denying being beaten and make up a story and Yang of course would say nothing, but many could tell it was their horrible mother. Yet no pony could do anything to stop it and any pony who tried would disappear or suddenly leave town.
Yang walked to the front doors and knocked, it maybe his home, but manners where something mother alwaysed enforced. The door opened and a well dressed looking pony answered the door. With a quick look up and down the pony motioned Yang in.
“The madam is waiting for you in her bed chambers,” the butler pony said and then shut the door behind Yang as he made his way to room he knew too well.
As he reached the door the voice sounded very distressed, <“Yang, please don’t go in! I’ll go in, she likes me,”> Yang shook his head, which made the voice groan in displeasure, <“why do still care about that horrid mare! After what she’s done…”> There was a silence and much to the voices displeasure, Yang opened the door and walked inside. As the door shut, the air in the room felt as if something was trying to choke the life out of Yang. He walked into the middle of the room seeing that she was sitting on the a couch watching the fire in the fireplace.
"I'm home... mother," he knew he had said something wrong as she got up from the couch and slowly made her way over to him. With one quick motion, the mare backhanded Yang in the face, which he took it as if nothing had happened.
"I told you never speak to me or anyone again," the cold resentment and anger could clearly be heard, "now leave me with Yin."
Yang, however, did not move nor seemed to be doing as their mother asked, instead he just continued to stare at his mother with that same unchanging and emotionless tone. He could still see all the pain in his mother's eyes, from the day their father had died during their birth. Their mother was devastated, but it didn't end there as her beautiful filly, who she had just given birth, changed in front of her eyes into colt. It wasn't until later that the ponies of the hospital and their mother learned after another change back into a filly, that this foal was in fact the product of two souls merging into one pony. While this surely was strange, the more stranger part was that this foal, at such a young age, already had their cutie mark.
A powerful blow struck Yang in his right eye, as he fell to the ground, but it did not stop there as a swift kick to his stomach showed she was not in the mood for his sympathy. His head was brought up forcefully by his hair and another hoof slammed into his right eye over and over.
"YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME WHEN I GIVE YOU A COMMAND!" her venomous words sticking him as her hoof continuing to hit him with each word. After she stopped he nodded again showing no signs that this had any affect on him.
"I'm sorry mother..." he said as he closed his eyes.
"I'm not your mother," she said as a light enveloped over his body. In no time at all, the light quickly dimmed and disappeared and a mare, roughly the same size, but a little shorter than Yang and her mane and tail reversing the positions of the black and white of Yang's hair, laid in his place on the floor staring up at this witch of a mother with all the bruises and the black eye that this monster inflicted onto Yang just now.
"Yin," their mother's tone flipping immediately from anger to love and concern, "I'm so sorry that horrible thing made me hurt you. Are you alright?"
Yin continued to glare at this creature as she spoke, "I'm fine..." her hatred growing a the last word left her mouth, "...mother." This response, ignoring the obvious hatred in Yin's tone, pleased their mother as she hugged her daughter and helped her up.
"You are so strong, my beautiful Yin," she said cheerfully as she made her way back to the couch, "come sit with your mother! I bet you are very tired after dealing with that failure of a mission caused by that “demon's” screwing up." Yin didn't say anything and sat down next to her mother staring at the fire and keeping her vision off of the “other pony” in the room. Their mother didn't pay any attention to this and instead grabbed a comb from a box nearby the table and began to brush Yin's hair.
"I never understood why you never grew out such beautiful hair," the comb running across the truffle of hair on Yin's head and then to stump of a tail.
"I like my mane and tail the way they are," Yin mumbled in displeasure of the affection given to her.
Her mother put away the brush, "Oh well, anything is still beautiful on you my darling Yin," then she got uncomfortably close to Yin's ear as she whispered, "where are my children? Why have you been holding back Yin?" Yin's eyes stung with tears as the words stabbed her like a knife in the heart. Quickly, Yin's head was grabbed and forced to look at her mother.
"Its him isn't! He's the reason you don't have children," her venomous tone seeping back as Yin struggled to get free from her grasp.
"No! It's not him it's me!" Yin replied desperately trying to escape. It was that moment that Yin saw the face, the face that haunted her nightmares. It was a insane twisted smile with those eyes ready to hurt somepony if she did not get her own way. She then pressed Yin into the couch backwards as she forced her daughter under her.
"Then if all the suitors I brought to you didn't work, then I'll just have to make it work myself."
Whenever things went horribly wrong Yin would always call out one pony's name, "YANG!" Immediately a flash of light drove off the psycho mare followed by a hard shove which sent her sprawling to the floor. Yang stood up and ran for the door, the crazy pony yelling for Yin to come back. As Yang exited the door, he then turn and whispered, “I'm sorry,” before heading out of the mansion and towards the town. A quick switch and Yin was now in control crying her eyes out in the middle of the path heading into town.
Yin yelled as tears streamed from her eyes, "I'LL KILL HER! I SWEAR BY CELESTIA, THAT I WILL END HER!"
She turned her face to the sun and screamed, "DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
As Thunder Wing lands at the front gate, the high noon sun shined down on the town. To Thunder Wing it looked like a very peaceful town with foals running around playing, the merchants chatting with customers about new stocks, and the food... Thunder Wing's stomach began to growl when he thought about food. He walked over to a stall that was selling homemade bread. As he waited in line he noticed that ponies were giving strange coins to the merchants to buy goods. Was this some type of new currency?
He reached to his saddle bag and then stopped. He didn't have a saddle bag... why? As the pony in front of him left, the merchant greeted Thunder Wing.
"Well, well, well. A bat pony in this town? You must be really lost, or on vacation," the merchant chuckled, which Thunder Wing scowled at him.
"Now, now. Cool your feathers..." the merchants face scrunched up as he realized that was the wrong expression to use, "...er wings. Anyway how can I help ya?" He smiled showing he meant no offense.
"Well... I was hoping to grab some food, but... I have no money," Thunder Wing admitted. It was then that the merchant's attitude changed from kind and friendly too annoyed and angry.
"So, you came to get some for free? HUH! WELL YOU CAN TAKE YOUR POOR PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE! NEXT!" The pony behind Thunder Wing pushed him out of the way. 'Great... more hostilities' he thought as he walked away. *sigh* Well... guess he had to start asking for coins.
After drying her tears and calming down, she headed into town just wanting to get out of this place until she was ready to slit that mare's throat. She need distance and maybe head to another town and plan her mother's assassination. A quick glance showed that the sheathed knife strapped to her side was in plain sight. It was the family heirloom that had been passed down to her and Yang by their father after he died.The two kept it instead of throwing it away as it was the only thing they had of their father and they used it to honor him during their assassination just like he had.
The Fang’s were a family of trained assassins that continued the tradition by teaching their young. The twin's father was going to be their teacher, but due to his death their mother trained them instead. While she was a horrible mother she was still an expert assassin and taught the two everything she knew, though she would always force Yang to do the hard work. In fact, Yin had to secretly train with Yang in order to progress her training as their mother never taught Yin, due to her being “the favorite”. This in turned made Yang more precise and quick in fights, where Yin was more agile, but also brutish and bloody, though that was more towards her deep hatred to her mother which she took out on her victims.
As Yin made her way into town one of her friends from town came running over to Yin. Her name was Mayble and she had been friends with Yin for years and was always there when Yin was sad. Now, while the two were close friends Mayble and the other villagers did not know that Yin and Yang where in fact the same pony. This was because last time Yin showed somepony Yang they were immediately killed by their mother. Though Yin was sadly grateful that it was only that pony she showed and no one else knew or saw, otherwise there would be more dead friends on her hooves.
"Yin! How are..." Mayble stopped her greeting as she saw that Yin was sporting a black eye on her right side, this made her very angry as she silently asked, "...she did this to you didn't she." Yin looked sourly away as she didn't want to make excuses for that pony anymore nor did she want to confirm what had happened as mother had eyes everywhere in town.
"I'm sorry Mayble, but I just need to leave quickly." Before Yin could continue to the town entrance she was stopped by Mayble who wrapped her hooves gently around Yin's neck. This made Yin feel very submissive to the mare, but her mind was in no place to deny comfort. A small kiss was placed on Yin's cheek.
Mayble spoke softly, "please, Yin... leave this place and don't come back... but... could you... take me with you." The choking tone of her voice showed that this was a really hard request to make.
Yin leaned her head onto Mayble's and spoke sadly, "I have to come back..." the grip on Yin's neck lessened, "but, when I do come back, I promise to take you with me." The grip tightened once again and her friend nuzzled the side of her neck.
A mischievous smile spreader across Yin's face, "and then I can properly introduce my brother to you." Mayble face reddened and she quickly broke free of her grip.
"What!" she stammered moving away hiding her face from Yin, "I-I a... that is... I DON'T LOVE YOUR BROTHER!" Yin couldn't help but giggle, as Mayble’s face continued to redden.
"I-I mean I do like him b-but, I," she then grew quite, "what if he doesn't like me?" Smiling, Yin placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"I'm pretty sure he likes you too," she said with confidence. 'Though probably not love... yet,' Yin thought.
Her friend brightened up, "You mean it?!" Yin nodded, which then was followed by a squeal of delight from Mayble. After some friendly banter, Yin then asking to borrow a saddle bag and some bits, which Mayble used as a form of blackmailing Yin into promising to introduce Yang to her. The two hugged and then separated ways.
With things now a little brighter she headed through town... or she would have if something didn't catch her eye. Thunder Wing was standing in the middle of the merchant area looking completely helpless as he asked ponies nearby to spare change. <“Are you going to help him out?”> Yang asked Yin as she walked by.
Yin paused and looked back behind her and Thunder Wing was looking to her as well. “Fine... I'll help him,” Yin said to herself as she walked up to Thunder Wing.
"Hello stranger," she said while smiling so he would think she wanted to talk to him.
Thunder Wing was surprised that somepony, finally, was showing kindness, "hello, could you help me out. I'm kinda new here and I don't have any “bits”."
Yin looked him up and down. He look like a homeless beggar who had wandered into town. ‘Just this once,’ she thought, knowing that Yang was happy to hear that.
“Well, I can help you, what did you need to do with the bits?” she asked while analyzing his movements and actions to determine his intentions. However, this pony didn’t really have anything to hide as he quickly brightened up.
“Really!” this pony had surprised him, once again, “Oh, well I just wanted to get food. You would be fine with buying me food?” The mare smiled, at least this pony wasn’t one of those beggars that just con ponies for bits.
“Sure, but this isn’t the area to be in if you need food. Follow me,” Yin then headed towards a store called ‘The Dough Makers’ and head inside with Thunder Wing trailing behind. The ringing from the bell on the door made the pony in the kitchen, behind the counter, look out and smiled as his eyes connected with Yin’s. The stallion raced over to Yin and throw open a big hug which Yin returned happily.
“Oh my, you certainly grown more attractive,” he said as the two parted from the hug. A bright blush and smile appeared on Yin’s face, which that smile seemed a lot more genuine than the one she had gave Thunder Wing earlier.
The stallion then turned to Thunder Wing and wrapped a hoof around Thunder Wings head, “is this your new boyfriend Yin? I thought you would have chosen one of the Makelkin brothers.”
Yin started to become flustered, “W-What?! NO! I-I mean he’s not… uh that is to say… uh…” Her face continued to redden from embarrassment. The stallion then let go off Thunder Wing’s neck who had been very uncomfortable with this act.
“Oh! So you two are not with each other, ha ha ha, well my bad, anyways what can Mr. Dough do for you Yin?” He looked to Yin who was slowly regaining her thoughts.
Before she could form a sentence Thunder Wing answered rather nervously, “well… she came here to buy me food… ya.” Mr. Dough looked Thunder Wing up and down which Thunder Wing wondered why ponies needed to do that.
“Ah,” he said smiling happily towards Yin, “just can’t let a poor pony go hungry now can’t ya!” Thunder Wing looked himself up and down now. ‘Do I really look poor?’ he thought. Mr. Dough then head back to the kitchen and started to get to work. Yin, after taking a deep breath, looked to Thunder Wing.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Dough is like that,” she said, hoping that he didn’t take offense to him.
Thunder Wing caught that she was worried, “Oh, no it’s okay… though I would rather not be touchy with others.” Yin smiled softly and then head over to the counter. The wonderful aroma of cooking bread could be smelled as Mr. Dough was in the kitchen. Within no time he came out with a loaf of bread and placed it on the counter. As Yin reached into Mayble’s saddlebag, a hoof stopped her and she looked up to see Mr. Dough.
“You don’t need to pay, you’ve already paid enough for living in that place,” he kept his happy tone, but his subtle sympathy and sadness were clearly directed to her. Her eyes began to water and she ran over and hugged him tightly which he then returned. Thunder Wing on the other hoof thought this was just weird and really didn’t know what to say or do.
When the two broke away Yin thanked him and motioned Thunder Wing to follow her outside, but before Thunder Wing could follow after Mr. Dough called after him, “Hey stranger,” the mood of the room changed from a friendly inviting place to serious court like atmosphere, “watch out for her. I know you have no reason to listen to an old pony like me but, I have a feeling that you are going to need to be there for her someday. So don’t ever leave her alone.”
Thunder Wing decided to ignore this and to just follow after the mare. Yin smiled and hand over the entire loaf to Thunder Wing who then felt wrong taking the whole thing.
“You’ll need it more then I will,” she said and before he could protest she ran off. He shook his head in annoyance and then sat down next to a table and began to eat. The bread was actually really good, even better than any he had ever had.
“Sing Song, Drizzle Drops, where were you two?” the orange mare pegasus asked. She was known as Goldy Wing and her yellow flowing mane and tail showed off her beauty, but her personality was more competitive then she looked. The stallion pegasus named, Drizzle Drops, who had a turquoise coat and navy blue hair/tail with his tips a lighter color, look annoyed with the orange mare.
"Wondering why you ditched us," he said and then looked to Sing Song. The brown pegasus, Sing Song, with a braided salmon mane and tail, looked upset that Goldy had abandoned them.
"Why did you leave us?" Sing Song demanded in a hurt tone. Thunder Wing who was still eating his bread looked over to the three to see Goldy Wing’s ears were dropping and she looked towards the ground. Goldy's words fell deaf as Thunder Wing’s attention was now focused on Sing Song. The mare was gorgeous, her voice was like angel from the heavens.
His mind starts to day dream as he thought about her and him on a date. But, before he could get to the kissing moment one of the three said something that broke him out of his trance, "I'm the fastest pony here..."
Thunder Wing got up ate the last of the bread and walked over to them and called out, "Hey you three!"
The group jumped and turned to the stranger. Drizzle Drops immediately became nervous but, Sing Song comfort him while Goldy Wing stood defensively in front of the two. "What do you want?" Goldy asked as she tried to make herself sound tough. This however did not affect Thunder Wing as he had only one goal.
"I'm the fastest pegasus in Equestria," in the way he spoke, it was as if it was an irrefutable fact. Goldy grinned as her eyes looked into his. Her face showed that she wanted to prove him wrong.
"Do you want to prove that mister grim and dark," she said, and poked him with her hoof.
He brushed her off and asked, "what do you mean by grim and dark?" She shook her head, does this guy not understand how creepy he’s being right now?
"I meant that your tone is rude and unsettling and that your presence is mysterious and unnerving." Thunder Wing just rolled his eyes and refocused on the group.
"Are we going to race or what?" Goldy Wing could see that this pony needed to be shown his place.
"Alright, you asked for it. Are you guys ready?" Goldy asked her friends who seemed more hesitant to race. She looked at them confused.
"I'm sorry Goldy. I think we'll stay out of this," Sing Song said as she looked to Drizzle. Goldy looked to Drizzle as well who was quite frightened of Thunder Wing and then looked to Sing Song and nodded in understanding, but before the two could leave...
“So is the pansy of a stallion backing out?” Thunder Wing said, disappointed in not having a stallion on stallion race. This immediately in raged Sing Song who flew quickly into Thunder Wing’s face.
“Oh that it is it! Bring it on buster! All three of us are going to take you down! Do you have a problem with that?!” Sing Song’s tone was so sudden and aggressive it caught everyone off guard. Thunder Wing took a step back from Sing Song and just shook his head.
“Good! Let’s get this race over with,” Sing Song then walked away towards the starting point. Whenever anypony had a race in this town it was usually at the front gates. The two pegasus looked at each other and then at Thunder Wing.
“ARE YOU COMING!” Sing Song yelled, which made all of them, including Thunder Wing, jump and quickly followed after her. Once everypony had gotten to the gate and was calm, namely Sing Song, Goldy began to explain the course. All of them would start here at the gate and fly off to the peak off Tip-Top Mountain. They would then fly around it and head back towards the middle of town and touch the fountain. The first one there, of course, would be the winner and be know as the fastest, at least in the town.
“We start when the next bell rings for Mr. Rodashia’s stand,” Goldy Wing said as she pointed to a stand nearby and then looked to Thunder Wing and grinned, “You ready to lose?”
Thunder Wing looks to her, his face showing that he had nothing to fear and was ready to smoke these chumps out of the air, “I will break you.” His taunt sounded threatening, which actually made the Goldy a little nervous. But, the feeling quickly faded and she gave Thunder Wing a competitive grin.
“Watch and learn ‘old man’,” Goldy said as she ready herself. Thunder Wing looked away and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and slowly began to shut out the noise and world around him but, still listening intently. He gave his wings a good stretch to get ready. Goldy Wing was focusing her mind. ‘I have to prove this sucker who he’s is messing with, there’s no chance he can beat me in this race,’ her thoughts bursting with determination and adrenaline. Sing Song fluttered her wings, which moved as fast as a hummingbird's wings and Drizzle Drops was breathing in and out to calm himself and as he tested his wings and with a flap, a gust of wind blew behind him showing to all that his wings were indeed quite powerful.
The world suddenly became still as all the racers listened intently for the bell. Some of the local ponies had stopped what they were doing and were watching as the town ponies knew this was going to be one race to watch. DING!
A massive gust of wind blew behind the flyers as they all shot forward, Goldy and Sing Song were quickly in the lead with Drizzle behind them and then Thunder Wing. Thunder Wing quickly took notice of the clouds up ahead and flew into them to hide his presence. Sing Song had taken the lead and behind was Goldy Wing, but Goldy was using the slipstream from behind Sing Song to catch up and then pass her by.
Meanwhile, Yin made quite a good distance from the town, but she decided to give it one more look back to see that the local flyers were at it. She smiled, but was surprised when the bat pony she had just meet today burst out of the clouds and passed the leading flyer Goldy. Goldy herself was surprised by this as he came out of freaking nowhere and had taken the lead. Thunder Wing’s lead would not last long, as while he was turning around the peak to head back to the town both Goldy and Sing Song had taken even sharper turns and had past him. Drizzle was also going to pass him but, one quick glare from Thunder Wing and he back downed.
As the race looked to Yin like Goldy was going to win she looked to Thunder Wing one last time before continuing to move on. However, when her eyes connected with Thunder Wing she saw something that later she wish she had never seen. Black smoke was forming around Thunder Wing and soon he became nothing but a black orb of smoke as his fury ignited. ‘NO! I CANNOT LOSE! I MUST WIN!’ his thought rang out through his mind. The world and time around Thunder Wing became frozen, dark, and silent.
“Do you desire the power to win?” a deep and bellowing voice said. Thunder Wing looked around but could not see anything.
“YES! I MUST WIN!” Thunder Wing called out. Thunder Wing burst out of the dark orb but, it was if the orb was attached to him like a rubber band and as he continued to fly further and further the orb stayed in place but stretched more and more. Drizzle who was behind Thunder Wing could not react fast enough and flew into the orb, but never came out. The ball then quickly flew into Thunder Wing and propelled him forward in blinding blur of black light. He flew past the Goldy and Sing Song but, his trajectory over shot the town and was soon out of sight. However, the orb was still floating there above the town. The two fliers stop and didn’t know what had past them and what this thing in front of them was.
Yin stared at the orb as it started to shrink and shrink. In a sudden second she saw the town, saw the two fliers in the air, she saw the mansion she lived in. That second then disappeared as the orb exploded and the Marville was consumed in a black orb of destruction, and a wave of incredible might threw Yin back as she held onto the ground trying to hold out against the force. Then suddenly the pressure stopped and she looked to the town and her eyes widened in horror. The town was gone and all that was left was a crater. Her mind shut down, her lungs felt as if they were being strangled, her vision blurring and swirling.
“no…” she choked out as she started to run to the town tripping and stumbling as she made her way there, “...no, this can’t be happening… NO!” She ran towards the center of the crater looking around but, the town had been vaporized by the explosion. She looked to where the town entrance was to see a flash of smiling faces and the outline of the town gate. Then she looked to the town center again seeing the fountain and the fillies and colts playing around it, but that vision quickly fled as well.
“MR. DOUGH! MS. BUTTERSWORTH!” the realization was like a wolf coming up slowly to it’s prey, circling it and wait for it to show it’s weak spot. She ran more along the crater calling out to the town’s ponies, but with every vision the truth of no pony being there crept closer and closer. Her pupils had shrunken as the realized this too might affect, “...Mayble… MAYBLE!”
Again no pony answered, and the wolf readied itself for the kill. ‘Mother...’ her panic and desperation turned to rage and anger as she looked to the hills where her ‘home’ was. The mansion was gone and with it her revenge… she was alone. Now, the wolf lunged and bit into it’s prey and with that a scream of sadness, pain, loss, regret, helplessness, lost love, and many more poured out from her mouth and she soon fell unconscious.
It was a day later that she was found by wandering travelers. They had been planning to do some trading at Marville, but were shocked to find the town gone and even more that there was somepony passed out in the middle of this crater where the town had been. As they carefully loaded her into their wagon and went to go get help for her they, would hear her mutter every once in awhile, “I will kill him…” and then followed by tears from her face, her body starting to shiver uncontrollably, her moaning in pain and then it suddenly stopping.
To many the day was a glorious day, the day Luna came back and the day Nightmare Moon was defeated. Others it was a day of weird sky transitions and a town and it’s inhabitants suddenly disappearing, but to Yin and Yang, it was only known to them as ‘The Day They Lost Everything’.
