Demons from the Past

In the morning, two days after the Ursa mishap, Ponyville has gone back to normal. New houses were built for the families who lost theirs. Many ponies were wondering where the bipedal creature who saved them went. Especially Lyra, who was running around everywhere looking for him.

"Lyra! Stop!" A voice called out behind her. Lyra stopped running and turned her head, only to see her roommate and friend Bon Bon, the residential candy maker of Ponyville. She finally caught up with her, panting heavily. "Lyra....why do...want to see this....thing...anyway?"

"Well Bonny, he is the only one of his species here, and I want to study him. That isn't too hard, is it? Bon Bon was about to answer when a small blur went by her, followed by getting hit and tumbling. "Hey! Who tackled me?" She looked up to see Rainbow Dash, on top of her, muzzle right in front of her's. They both blushed heavily while Lyra fell over, laughing.

"Really Rainbow? Why are you always on top? Let the poor mare be on top. And buy her a few drinks first also!" Somepony said, making Lyra stop laughing and gasp. Rainbow leapt off Bon Bon.

"I-I'm so sorry Bon Bon! Aldric and I were just having a race and he went down an alley so I followed him, only to crash into you. If anything, blame Aldric." She pointed a hoof over her shoulder.

"Well I'm not the one who wanted a race. You didn't say any rules so why not taking the shortest route?" Bon Bon and Lyra both looked around trying to spot Aldric, only seeing Rainbow and a hawk, sitting in a tree.

"Um...Rainbow? Where is he?" Rainbow looked at her confused and then nodded, pointing to the hawk. "What? Is he behind the tree." Rainbow shook her head. "Is he...the tree?" Rainbow shook her again. "Is he....a ghost?" Rainbow and Aldric both groaned, amazed how stupid somepony can be.

"I'm the bloody hawk!" The hawk shrieked at them. He then flew up a bit then transformed back. He landed on his feet walking over to Bon Bon and Rainbow. "Hi there, Bon Bon was it?" Bon Bon nodded, shaking slowly at his size. "Why are you all afraid of me? Yes, I understand that. No, I already said I wouldn't." He turned around and walked back to the tree. "Gah! No! Why would I ever do that?!? Fuck both of you!" He then slammed his head on the tree, making it shake. "No, I wasn't talking to anyone invisible. I was talking to myself, and no, I'm not insane no matter how insane that sounds." Lyra slowly walked up to him.

"So, Aldric." He looked at her and his eyes widened. He slowly started to back away, thinking of his options. He could either run, transform, kick her, throw dust in her face, or kill her. Two of those were instantly thrown away. 'Okay, dust, transform, run.' She then grabbed him with her magic and lowered him to the ground.

"I'm going to study you, right now, and you can't stop me." Aldric's mind then filled with perverse images. He shook his head furiously.

"Sounds....kinky?" Silence. Bon Bon had her mouth open, Rainbow smacked her face with a hoof, and Lyra seemed to stop working. She wasn't even holding him with her magic any more. "Um....I didn't mean to say it?" He said, looking at them. He gaze returned to Lyra. He flicked her head with his finger. "Did I break her? Wait....that sounded wrong also." He then whispered something into Lyra's ear and she gasped, slapping him. "Ow," he said, massaging his face. Her face was beet red.

"Lyra," Bon Bon started, "what did he say?" Lyra's body started turning red, sweat running down her face.

"Well I'm going to go girls see you later!" Lyra sprinted down the alley, then making a sharp left turn. Bon Bon and Rainbow both looked at him with a 'da fuck you say?' look.

"Do you really want to know? Seeing what it did to Lyra?" They looked between each other and back to Aldric, shaking their heads. "Thought so, now are we going to fin-.....anyone else smell smoke?" They looked at him, then a smell hit their noses.

"Yeah," Rainbow stated, "I do smell smoke! You smell it too Bon Bon?" She nodded her head, looking at the alley.

"Look, its been fun, but I better check up on Lyra. Laters!" And with that, she slowly went down the alley and went left, disappearing from view. Aldric cleared his throat.

"I think we should find Twilight, she would probably know what's going on. Race ya there!" With that he transformed back to the hawk, flying towards Twilight's library.

By the time they had got to the library, Twilight was just stepping outside of her house. Aldric transformed and walked up to her.

"Hey Twilight?" Twilight jumped, she wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings.

"Oh, hey Aldric. Weren't you having a race with Rainbow?" He nodded and flicked his head back. Twilight soon saw Rainbow walking behind him. "Oh, hello Rainbow."

"Yes, the hellos are nice and all, but can you tell me what's with all the smoke in the sky? It's burning my nose." Aldric asked her. "Is it a forest fire?" Twilight shook her head. "Volcano?" She shook no again. "What then?"

"It's a hibernating dragon." Rainbow looked shocked while Aldric looked ecstatic. "No Aldric, the Princess asked me to relocate it, so you can't harm it." His smile faded.

"Come on! It'll be quick! Just a quick slash here and there and done!" Twilight shook her head. "Fine. Do you want me and Rainbow to get the others?" Twilight nodded. "Thought so, Rainbow, you get Pinkie and Applejack, I'll get Rarity and Fluttershy." Rainbow saluted him and flew off.

"You two are getting along nicely, any reason behind that?" Twilight asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I suppose we are getting along." He answered. "Well, I'm going to get the others, later." With that he transformed back into a hawk and flew to Rarity's house. When he got there he transformed back and started knocking on the door.

"Just a minute darling!" Rarity's voice was heard inside. The door opened to reveal a small filly unicorn, with a purple and pink mane and tail. She took one look at Aldric then slammed the door on him.

"Rarity!" The filly said through the door. "There's a monster at the door!"

"What are you talking about Sweetie Belle?" Hooves on wood could be heard approaching the door and it soon revealed Rarity. "Oh, hello Aldric! Welcome to Carousel Boutique!" She ushered him inside. "What are you doing here? Do you need some help fixing those awfully dreaded clothing?" He raised an eyebrow at this.

"No, and it isn't clothing, it's armor. Twilight wants you to go to her house, I would recommend bringing some supplies."

"Why would I need to bring supplies?" He was about to speak when he saw two eyes looking at him and Rarity.

"I think your little companion over there is eavesdropping." He said, pointing to the eyes. Rarity looked behind her to see a glimpse of pink and purple go back around the corner. She sighed and went over to the corner. About a minute later she had the small filly from before.

"Aldric, allow me to introduce my little sister, Sweetie Belle." Sweetie Belle looked at him, scared and intrigued. He stuck a hand out and she slowly took it and shook.

"Hi Sweetie Belle." She just nodded and slowly stopped shaking. "I'm not going to hurt you." Sweetie Belle still looked unsure. "Rarity, I think she's still too scared. Can we continue this conversation upstairs?" Rarity nodded and they went upstairs. "Look Rarity. Now don't be alarmed, but there's a dragon sleeping near Ponyville and Celestia asked Twilight to get rid of it. She wanted me and Rainbow to gather up everyone and meet back out at her place. Can you get supplies and get there while I go to Fluttershy's house and tell her?" Rarity nodded and went into her bedroom.

"Remember Aldric!" She said to him before he went away. "The offer still stands to fix those dreaded pieces of armor!"

"I'm good, thanks!" He went down the stairs and opened the door and walked outside. "One down, one to go."

"There it is! The creature that saved us!" One of the ponies shouted. He froze and gulped, looking towards the voice. Soon, ponies were surrounding him, asking him a lot of questions. Aldric to look nervous then steeled himself.

"All of you! Back away, now." He spoke a with firm, don't question me, voice. They slowly backed away. "Now, I'll answer some of your questions in due time, but for now, I have a dragon to stop, goodbye." He walked through the gap the ponies made, and ran to Fluttershy's house. When he got there, some of the animals didn't run. He knocked on Fluttershy's door. He waited for a full minute before knocking again. No answer. He slowly unsheathed his sword, knocking harder. He grabbed the door handle and twisted, unlocked. He kicked the door in, holding his sword. "Fluttershy? You here?" No answer, something wasn't right. He went to the kitchen, nothing. He soon checked every room in the house. No one was here. "Where is she?" He felt a small tugging on his leg. Looking down, he saw Angel. He crouched down and put his hand out, Angel jumped on it and he brought to his face. "Where's Fluttershy?" Angel pointed at the front door. "Of course she's outside, so basically, I just broke into a pony's home and ransacked it?" Angel nodded, causing him to sigh. "Well, I'll see you later Angel." He set Angel back down, and started walking back to Twilight's house.

When Aldric had returned, Fluttershy was already there, along with the others. Twilight looked at him.

"Finally, what took you so long?"

"For one, the ponies around town were questioning me after a left Rarity's. So now, I have to answer their questions at a later date. Secondly, when I got to Fluttershy's house, she wasn't there. I thought that, maybe, someone had broken in her house, so I kicked her door in and checked everywhere, sorry Fluttershy, and then Angel told me that you weren't home. Also, when I said Angel told me, I didn't mean he literally talked to me, but I just pieced it together that you weren't home."

"It's okay Aldric," Fluttershy started." You were just looking out for me." He smiled and leaned back.

"So, Twilight," she looked at him. "When are we going to find this dragon?" The other gasped, besides Rarity and Rainbow. "What? You didn't tell them that a dragon is what's causing all this smoke yet?" She smiled sheepishly and shook her head. "Wow....okay, Twilight, tell them the plan. Or do you not have a plan either?" She glared at him before clearing her throat.

"Yes, a dragon is hibernating at that mountain over there." She pointed a hoof to a single mountain in the distance. "Princess Celestia asked us if you can go relocate it, because if we don't, smoke might cover all of Equestria for the next hundred years." Aldric spoke.

"If it's just sleeping, how is it causing smoke?"

"Apparently, it's snoring. Now, I trust Rainbow and Aldric told you to get supplies?" They all nodded except Fluttershy, who was shaking slightly. "Okay, now I'm gonna figure out the shortest and safest route to the mountain and up it." Twilight took out a map and begin talking to herself ideas. Aldric walked over to Fluttershy.

"Hey," Fluttershy jumped into a bush when he spoke. "Man, you really are shy. Come back out." Fluttershy walked out from the bush. "You look nervous. Why is that, you know, besides the massive dragon."

"Th-that's just it, I'm scared of dragons." Aldric had a 'oh really?' look on.

"Fluttershy, everyone's scared of dragons. And what about Spike? He's a dragon." Fluttershy nodded.

"Yes, but he isn't a huge, gigantic, terrifying, enor-" Aldric cut her off.

"Okay okay, I get it. Spike isn't a scary, all grown up dragon. Also, there is really no need to be afraid, I'll be up there, defending you."

"You...will?" Aldric nodded. Before they could speak again, Twilight spoke up.

"Okay! I think I found the shortest and safest route. Everypony ready?" They all nodded their heads started walking. Aldric nudged Fluttershy and they followed.

They arrived by the base of the mountain, it is far larger up close then it looked. Fluttershy was shaking. Aldric then shrilled, making everypony look at him. When he finished he waited for a minute before he did it again.

"Why are you making such a dreaded noise darling?" Rarity asked, before he was able to answer another shrill was heard. They all looked up to see a black mass falling towards them. It opened up wings and landed next to Aldric. It was Blackwing, looking at them all.

"Hey Blackwing, just want you to know, we are relocating a dragon. You know, the one causing all the smoke?" Blackwing nodded, and threw his head at Aldric's sword. "Look, if thing's get out of hand, I'll use it." Blackwing lowered himself to the ground. "No thanks, I'll stick with the ponies. Just stay close, okay?" Blackwing nodded and shot up into the sky. Aldric turned around when the dragon snored. Fluttershy tensed up and fell over. "I'll carry her." Aldric scooped up Fluttershy and started up the mountain.

Soon they passed this little drop which they stepped over. Fluttershy finally stopped being tense and Aldric released her from his grasp. Twilight then spoke in a whisper.

"Everypony be quiet, this is marked as an avalanche zone." They all nodded and started walking quietly. They were halfway there when Fluttershy screamed.

"AVALAN-" Rainbow pressed a hoof against her mouth. It started echoing, then they all felt vibrations. They looked to their right to see boulders falling down the cliff.

"RUN!" They all started running, weaving from falling boulders. Aldric drew his sword and start slicing rocks into pieces. Soon, everything quieted down, the avalanche was over. Blackwing was on the ground looking to see if anyone was hurt.

"Were good buddy." Aldric said, causing Blackwing to go back up. They all started their journey again. Rainbow went up to Twilight and started talking to her while Aldric hung to the back of the group. He shrilled again, causing Blackwing to come back down. "I'm going to scout ahead." He told them climbing onto Blackwing.

"Shouldn't we stay together Aldric? We would be safer in a group." Twilight asked approaching him.

"Yes, we would be safer. I just want to see what's ahead in the path." Before she could say anything Blackwing shot up. "Get us to the cave buddy." Blackwing nodded and started going up. "Actually, go as high as you can." Blackwing looked back at Aldric and shrugged. He started flying up as fast as he could. They soon lost track of the others. "Okay, this is good." Blackwing leveled out and started flapping. He looked back at Aldric again, a questioning look on his face. "Just wait." They waited a good seven minutes before a massive roar was heard. "Later Blackwing." Aldric slipped off Blackwing's back and started plummeting to the ground. Blackwing shrilled and started following him. "Stay back!" He yelled at Blackwing. He saw a layer of clouds and breached through it. He saw the tip of the mountain and spread eagle. He saw red scales glinting below him.

Down at the ground, the dragon had awoken and exited the cave because Rainbow kicked it in jaw. Fluttershy had revealed she had a fear of dragons, Aldric had left, and they couldn't stop it. Everypony was running around trying to not be crushed.

"HEY YA BIG BASTARD!" Everypony and the dragon stopped and looked into the sky. Soon the dragon crashed into the ground, causing a cloud of dust to be spray everywhere. When it settled, Aldric was on the dragon's muzzle. "So," he said, turning around. "How did you all like my dramatic entrance?" The dragon started getting up before Aldric put his sword up to the dragon's eye. "Make any sudden movements and this gets shoved in there." The dragon slowly started lowering itself back to the ground. "Good. Now," he turned back to the ponies. "Why did you let this get so out of hand so fast?" All heads turned to Rainbow Dash.

"Thanks girls." Aldric sighed and got off the dragon. The dragon got up on his hind legs and roared at Aldric. He turned around just to be batted off the mountain. They all gasped and ran towards the edge. Blackwing slowly flew up, Aldric on his back.

"Oh you shouldn't have done that. Blackwing?" The gryphon turned its head back. "Let's see how fast this fucker can go." Blackwing somehow managed a smile from his beak. "Go into his cave." Blackwing nodded and shot past the dragon into his cave. Aldric blasted the gold with fire, eliciting a pained yell from Rarity. The dragon eyes slitted, and his mouthed started steaming. "What? You mad?"

"NO ONE DESTROYS MY GOLD!" The dragon roared, erupting fire from his mouth onto the roof. 'Yeah, he mad.' Aldric thought to himself. Blackwing shot back out of the cave, the dragon trying to bite him.

"One thing about dragons!" He yelled to group. "They hate it when you mess with their stuff!" The dragon opened his wings. "Okay! I'll distract him, you all get out of here!" They all looked at him crazily. Twilight was the first one to speak.

"We can still work this out! And Aldric, you said you wouldn't kill the dragon!" Aldric sighed.

"First of all, we cannot work this out. Dragons go into a sort of state when you destroy their stuff. So you wouldn't be able to get even close to him. Second of all! I'm not killing it, I am relocating it! Now, get out of here! That's an order!" They didn't question him. They started running back down the mountain. "Come on, let's go Blackwing." Blackwing started flying away from the mountain. The dragon ran towards the edge of the cliff and jumped, wings open.

"I WILL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!" The dragon roared again, shooting fire at them. Aldric started laughing.

"Just like old times huh?" Blackwing shook his head, dodging another fire blast. "So, how do you relocate a dragon without killing it? Wait.....Twilight said I couldn't kill the dragon, but what else could kill a dragon?" He began to count the things that could a dragon. He looked to his left to see the Everfree Forest. "Get us into the forest!" Blackwing banked to his left, then diving with the dragon right behind them. They crashed through the trees, causing Aldric to fall off of Blackwing. "Blackwing! Go back to town and warn them not to go into the forest!" Blackwing shot back through the trees. The dragon crashed through the trees, almost crushing Aldric. Aldric walked up to its face, then kicked it. His eye opened, looking towards Aldric. He snapped his jaws at Aldric, who stepped out of the way.

"You....I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Aldric nodded.

"Yeah, you'll have to wait for thousands of others who want too. Now, if you'll excuse me." Aldric ran deeper into the forest. The dragon got up, towering over the trees, roared and charged. The dragon started trampling everything in his way. However, the creatures of the forest didn't like that. Manticores, timberwolves, cockatrices, cragadiles, and even a hydra started attacking the dragon. The hydra clamped down on the dragons neck, slamming it to the ground. Everything started attacking the weak underbelly of the dragon, ripping through the softer scales like a knife through butter. The life in the dragon's eyes vanished. All the beasts starting roaring in victory. "I told you ya big bastard, you shouldn't have fucked with me." Everything turned towards Aldric, growling. "Oh....fuck."

Aldric stood there, battered, bruised, and bleeding. His sword was covered in blood and sap. Surrounding were corpses of manticores, cockatrices, and cragadiles. The hydra ran away, but not without losing its tail. Twigs started flying past him, glowing green. They started forming paws, legs, a torso, and finally a head. A massive timberwolf stood in front of him, a wooden crown atop its head. It roared at him, blowing his cloak off. Aldric growled, spitting out blood. Aldric returned the wolf's roar with his own, causing some twigs to fly off it. It roared again, louder. Aldric returned the favor. Soon a roaring contest started, seeing who would be intimidated first. Aldric spotted a black shape in the sky behind the timberwolf. He shrilled loudly, the black shape falling at high speeds. The timber wolf opened its jaw and was about to chomp down on Aldric when the black shape smashed through him. Blackwing was standing beneath it, covered in sap. Aldric took this to jump on the wolf's muzzle and slash at its eyes. It howled in pain before Aldric lit his sword on fire, plunging it straight into its skull. The howling ceased and it fell into a heap of twigs. Aldric walked off the heap before blacking out, falling towards the ground. Blackwing caught him, Aldric lying on his back.