The Last Horseman

The eerie silence around the crash site was broken by the flapping of feathered wings as a dozen gryphons touched down around the area. They all stared moving about looking for clues on what transpired when a small black gryphon quipped at a larger leopard patterned one near her.

“Well what do you know Aetius, they already left.”  Aetuis looked at the black gryphon and snarled.

“If you don’t clamp that beak of yours shut Ishka, I will do it for you.”

Ishka flicked her tail in annoyance. “We could have been here hours ago, But no. You had to go after the larger piece even though you lost sight of it.”Aetuis roared and pounced onto her, she squawked in surprised as she was pinned to the ground. He growled while he looked down at her, and dug his talons into the flesh of her shoulder. “If you think it's fun to scold me how about I rut you till you bleed, and make you think otherwise?”

“Unless you want to end up like your brother, Aetuis. I suggest you take your claws off her.”

Aetuis looked over his shoulder at the gyrphon threatening him. “Stay out of this Valerin. This is between me and her.”

Valerin narrowed his eyes as he spoke. “And I will gut you before you try anything.” As soon as Aetuis released Ishka she scurried off towards Valerin and his escort. Before he turned and faced him; Puffing his chest out. “You think you can threaten me just because you’re a patriarchs son? You think I’m scared of you or your father? Your just a hatchling to me!”

Valerin laughed. “You can see me as you want, but attacking me is an attack on the Silver tip Clan. Which itself is an attack on all the clans under the king. How do you think King Alvis will respond when the heir of one of his biggest contributing clans is killed by a lowly mite ridden bandit?”

Aetuis Growled. “You can hide all you want behind the king, but when a time comes. I will feast on your corpse.”Aetuis turned away in a huff and barked orders at those under his command.

“Valerin looked down at the small female that cowered behind his guards. “Are you okay?”

“Y…Yes, I think so.”

“Do you usually antagonize him like that?”

“Just when I get to frustrated with his stupidity.”

“Why don’t you just leave? My clan would gladly take you under wing.”

“I…I can’t”

“Why not?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I don’t see how being attacked and threatened with rape makes it complicated enough that you would rather stay?”

She shook her head. “You all hide in the Aries growing fat with a wall of banner guards keeping you safe from the outside world. While we try and scrape by out here in the wastes. You’re kind is no better than those pampered equestrians. You will never understand what it’s like out here.”

Valerin stood there dumbfounded as she walked away, he knew the clanless held distaste for those that belong to one of the four great clans, or even one of the several lesser ones. But to reject an offer like what he proposed and turn him into the enemy. Maybe she was right. Maybe he would never understand them.

He and his escort made their way to Aetuis who was tasting some of the red snow in front of him. He turned and looked at Valerin. “Pony.”

Valerin gave him a puzzled look. “Pony?” Aetuis rolled his eyes “A pony shed blood here. A lot of it.”

“So what happened?”

“You are a dense one hatchling. Look around you! What do you see?”

“I see what seems to be the chaos of battle.”

“Exactly. At least half a dozen ponies where here along with a gryphon. And something else.”

“Something else?”

“Come here and looks at these tracks.” Valerin followed the bandit leader to were the ground was barren of snow and the earth was torn up. “Look at these tracks.” He looked down at the grooved imprints left in the frozen mud. “Have you ever seen a creature that left a track like that before?”

“No?”

Aetuis smiled. “Neither have I. Whatever left these tracks weighs almost as much as a minotaur. And fought a fairly large gryphon before fighting off ponies.”

“How do you know it was fighting the gryphon and not just the ponies?”

Aetuis tapped a claw against the young gryphons head but stopped when his guards raised their muskets. He glared at them before backing off. “If you actually hunted like your ancestors did, Like we do. You would see the stories the tracks tell.”

“Okay so a gryphon is out alone fighting another creature and ponies what of it. And what left this scar in the earth?”

Aetuis ran a paw down his face. “Again the tracks hatchling. First that gryphon traveled with two ponies down here before it got into a fight, and one of the ponies was killed. Then at some point more showed up and got into the fight as well.  Second the thing that made that scar is the reason why you’re out here with.”

“The only reason I’m here. Is because my father promised you a cut of whatever value this mysterious  object held. And he wants to make sure you held up your end of the bargain. But the object seems to have run off on its own now it seems.” Aetuis growled at him and ignored the guards that aimed his way.

A ruffling of wings quickly broke the standoff as one of the gryhons under Aetuis command landed, and was breathing heavily. “Airship…Ponies…object… heading to… the Hoofington Garrison.”

Valerin watched as the scout passed out from exhaustion before turning to Aetuis and smiling. “Seems you can still show your worth and get what the equestrians stole from the king.”

Aetuis gave a bellowing laugh. “You want me to attack the main northern garrison with several dozen of my best. Armed only with blades and a few muskets.”

“My father could be persuaded to possibly forget to secure a few of his air ships that you just happen to also borrow.”

Aetuis rubbed the bottom of his beak with a talon. “Hmm. If you really think you can get me some armed airships hatchling,  I just might possibly find your fathers missing prize.”

___________________________________

Hunter stepped off the airship onto what looked like a docking platform before gazing into the walled courtyard of a small fort. He watched as the life boat wreck was worked over logs toward a large shed, he also noticed the stretcher that held ghosts now covered body was also being taken to the shed. He was jerked forward as the chains on his shackles grew taunt and guards pushed from behind. Hobbling his way behind his captors towards the fort he watched as troops all around him dropped what they were doing to gawk at him. He noticed amongst the plethora of colors that most of them had wings, but some had horns instead and the rest just looked like a normal small horse.

Spark Kicker looked over at the blue Pegasus near him “Nova. Go and lead Glacial to the hospital so he can see how his daughter is doing.”

“Yes sir.”  Giving a quick salute he made his way to the distraught stallion and lead him to the forts hospital.

Spark continued on with the creature in tow towards the fort to get it locked up when a very disgruntled earth pony made his way towards him. “I leave you in charge for a few hours lieutenant, and I come back to this! What in tartarus do you think you’re doing!”

Backpedaling slightly as the stallion stopped in front of him nostrils flaring. “Major, sir. It was only a basic recon patrol on the fringe when we saw something crash down and the situation quickly grew complicated. I acted as I saw fit and would have dropped everything and retreated if gryphons had showed up. And I will add that none did.”

“I don’t care if gryphons showed up or not! What you did was a breach of the borderlands treaty.” He shoved a piece of paper in Sparks chest.

Spark looked down at the paper slightly confused. “Sir? I…”

“The Princess’s will be here within the hour to personally strip you of your rank and title.”

Spark stood there dumbstruck as he watched as the major turned and left, He knew what he was risking when he was in charge a few hours ago, but he never thought everything could spiral downward this fast. His thoughts were broken as the creature behind him and chuckled and said something in its alien tongue. He shot it a glare before turning to his troops. “Get that thing in the prison already!”

Hunter stumbled when he was violently shoved into a wrought iron cell,his captors chuckling and mumbling to each other as the cell door was slammed shut. Hunter hopped on his good leg to a pile of straw in the corner and collapsed onto it; his head giving off a soft thump as he slumped against the wall. He looked at his shackles, pulling the chain between the cuffs testing its strength. Sighing he gave up and dropped his arms, he was too exhausted to try and break out of them, And theyhad stripped him of his combat harness that held all of his tools and supplies when they chained him up. His head snapped up when the door to the cell room opened and several guards walked in escorting what looked to be a doctor and what he guessed were his assistants.

All three of them sported horns, but the two behind the doctor seemed to lack the more masculine features that he’s grown accustom to seeing. Soon afterone of the guards opened his cell door and walked in, before it started to growl gibberish at him while pointing to a large eye bolt in the floor. When he refused to budge more guards came in and dragged him to the center of the room and forced him onto his back as they secured the shackles around his wrists to it. Once they figure he was secure enough the doctor move over to him and talked in soft voice, and starting to tug on pieces of his armor before looking back at the guards and asked them something. The guards shook their heads. Shaking his head the doctor back off slightly. Hunter began to squirm as its horn started to glow a soft yellow,and light swept over his body. Hunter felt his skin tingle as the light passed over him, and he watched as the doctor’s brow furrowed as he seemed to struggle.

After a few seconds the doctor gasped and his eyes went wide. He turned back over to the guards and shouted something at them causing them to get agitated. He then turned to his assistance and pointed to his chest and leg. He thrashed against his constraints and kicked out at them with his good leg when they approached him, soon the guards were holding him down as the horns began to glow on the doctor and his nurses. Hunter howled as he felt the shattered bones in his legs shift around before the pain quickly ebbed away into a dull heated throb, he also found it slightly easier to breath. Hunter let his body go limp as they backed away panting heavily. He tried to contemplate what they did but nothing made sense to him. As the guards began to leave he was unhooked from the floor and hunter quickly pushed himself up against the wall. He prodded at his bad leg and found that it was still sensitive, but nothing like what it was after the crash and that it actually seem to be strait.

Celestia and Luna made their way to the fort entrance where they were met by the rust colored Major who commanded it, who also gave them a quick bow. “I’m sorry you had to visit on these terms your highnesses.”

Celestia nodded. “I also regret that it has come to this Major Boulder.”

“Would like see what was recovered first or proceed to the problems at hoof first?"

"I think we should get some understanding on what we are dealing with first before we dive head first into the heart of the problem major."

The Major nodded and lead the sisters to a large shed were the wreck was being kept.

Celestia and Luna both looked at the dead creature laid out before them on the table. "What can you tell us about these things Major?"

The major cleared his throat. “There were two creatures that where found at the crash site. One was dead upon discovery" Pointing his hoof at the one on the table. "The doctor who examined it found evidence of massive internal bleeding along with several fractured bones. The other one though we just had healed not too long ago, we found it to have seven broken ribs and a shattered leg. Which we had healed, but it still has some minor injuries.”

“Impressive. I would think not many creatures could live long with that kind of damage.” Luna said with an small impressed look on her face.

“It most likely was suffering heavily before we healed it, but I would agree with you there Princess. On the other hoof this creature is something else. Ever since we caught it it’s been fighting us every step of the way. I still have a guard in the hospital with a concussion.”

Celestia left the corpse and made her way towards the mangled wreck of metal and other unknown materials. "What of all of this."

The major and Luna both moved up to where Celestia stood. "We think it's some kind of craft. How it would fly we are not sure and the metal they used to make it is foreign to us as well. Strong and lighter than Iron but no were near that of skymetal." Boulder made his way to a device that laid on the ground next to other random unknown devices and carefully picked it up. "This though we believe to be a long gun of sorts. It has the basic features that you find on a musket, but more advanced then we can even fathom."

Celestia looked towards her sister before then turning to the Major . “I would like to see this creature that still lives and hear what your lieutenant has to say about his encounter.”

“Yes your highness. As you wish.” Leading them out of the shed and towards the fort the quickly made their way the prison wing. He lead them inside while the guard on watch duty quickly dropped to the ground in a bow.

Hunter stirred from a light nap when he heard the door to the room opened, he grumbled as he got up. “You fuckers can’t let me close my eyes for more than a few…” Hunter was stunned as two new creatures walked into the room. Both stood taller than any of the others he’d  seen, and sported wings and horns. He rubbed his eyes not believing what he was seeing.

Celestia looked the create directly in the eye. She saw great cunning in its eyes, and a flame of great anger being smothered by exhaustion. “Have you gave it any food or water at all Major?”

“I’ve been told the guards offered it some but it simply refused. Not in disgust or anything. Just like it was not interested at all.”

“And You have not removed its armor?” Luna asked as she took a step closer and cocking her head slightly to the side.

“No one could figure out how it came off princess, but we did disarm it of all of its gear.”

Every one turned as a new comer opened the door. “you wanted to see me sir.” As soon as it registered in his brain, kicker dropped to the ground in a bow. “For give me your highnesses. I didn’t know you had arrived.”

Celestia looked down at her subject who was visibly shaken “You would be lieutenant Spark kicker I presume?”

“Y…yes. You majesty.”

Celestia turned to the major while the lieutenant still groveled at her hoofs. “Could you please leave us for a moment Major and take your watch guard with.” Boulder gave a quick bow. “Yes your highness.”

Once the major and the watch guard had left she turned back to the lieutenant. “Do you understand lieutenant. What kind of mess you have caused, and that you are looking at banishment or worse. Death.”

Still groveling. “Yes Princess. I absolutely understand what my actions may have caused, and I beg of you to show mercy to my troops. The blame is entirely my own, they were only following my orders.”

"Would you like to explain your reasoning lieutenant?

Kicker sat back on his haunches. "It started out as routine patrol on the fringes of the borderlands to keep an eye on the bandits that like to try and sneak over to conduct raids, but then we caught sight of a massive fireball. When we noticed a small piece break off we decided to check it out and make sure it wasn't going to be anything to worry about. And then we saw the camp site near it and only a single pony tending to it. So we went down to investigate and tell them to leave the area. From there everything began to unraveled. We found our self's rescuing the rest of the camp members and fighting off some unknown creature. I then sent for a light sloop of war to come over to recover the object as it looked like something that could cause more harm if the gryphon's ended up with it."

Celestial looked down at the soldier. "Did the thought of putting the entire kingdom in jeopardy and risking the lives of its subjects; the very same subjects you swore to protect. cross your mind lieutenant when you decided to uptake this quest of yours."

Kicker looked down in shame. "Yes your highness. And I accept any form of punishment that you see fit. Even if it means my own life is to be taken to appease the king of the Aries."

Celestial turned away and looked towards the creature. "It may very well turn to that lieutenant. Please say your goodbyes to your troops and wait with my guards outside with any belongings you see fit to have turned over to your family."

Kick arose and gave a somber nod of his head before walking out the door and letting the major back in.

"I fear it is done then?"

Celestia looked over at the major and nodded.

"A sad day it is then. He was a good officer and I mourn to see his families named soiled from such events."

"A sad event it is."

Every pony in the room stood in silence for a few minutes staring at the creature who had become bored of the earlier display and had gone back to wresting against the wall.

"So what are we to do with this thing your highnesses?"

Luna turned to her sister. "Perhaps we should see if it understands us?"

Luna approaches the bars of the cells and looked inward at the creature.

"Hello there... strange bipedal thing." The creature simply looked up turned its head slightly and spit on the floor.

Luna took a step back with slight disgust on her face. "Well it seems like it's well cultured."

Celestia walked up next to her sister and spoke softly to the thing. "We mean you no harm. Do you understand us at all?"

It replied with a twisted tongue and made weird gestures with its hands.

"I believe I know how to overcome this problem, but I will need your help luna."

Hunter watched with disinterest as the two creatures mumbled to each other and  pointed towards him. before hunter could lay back down and doze off he noticed them stop talking and touch their horns together and start to glow. Hunter stood up straighter not sure how he should be feeling about the situation when a beam shot out from their combined horns and struck him in the face. He fell to the floor screaming in pain as what felt like millions of tiny hot needles blasted their way through his skull. The majority of the pain quickly subsided as fast as it came but enough still lingered to leave him writhing on the floor and yelling out a string of curses.

"I don't remember universal translation spells causing pain like that." Celestia said now looking worried.

Hunter froze at her voice. The shocking revelation that he understood what it said hitting him suddenly.

"Well either it just died or whatever you did faded away." Luna said in a whimsical manner.

Hunter slowly rose from the ground and staggered back against the wall looking at the two things that stood before him.

"Out of the frying pan and into the fucking fire it seems."