//-------------------------------------------------------// Guided by Hate, Fueled by Blood -by Kokopelli- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// What is Pain? (a.k.a. Foreward) //-------------------------------------------------------// What is Pain? (a.k.a. Foreward) What is pain? Is it the aching and reacting of our nervous system? Or is it a true feeling of the mind that lets s reflect on what is important, and makes us hurt? Some of you may wonder why I don't like romance. My personal feelings will be revealed later on through Gyro Scope, and know that most of his opinions and past experiences are also mine. Aside from a percentage of the deaths, of course. But pain helps us to learn. For example, if one were to stick his hand in a blazing fire, the pain would teach him not to do so again and tell others not to. Mental pain helps one learn as well. For example, if a boy steals a loaf of bread, guilt fills his mind, and it tells him not to do it again. But pain can turn the kindest of hearts into a cruel person, who is guided by hate and anger and revenge. I know that feeling. We all do. Love can cause pain, but it can heal. It can kill, it can save lives. As the story progresses, two souls shall battle for dominance over a weapon, and, who knows? One might die, or they both live. As I said, who knows? Only the story knows, and not even it knows exactly where this will end. //-------------------------------------------------------// 1: Revenge //-------------------------------------------------------// 1: Revenge Guided by Hate, Fueled by Blood, Written by Kokopelli, probably pretty badly. No editors, unless you'd be willing to do so. A stallion stood on a hill facing Ponyville, his glossy black mane reflecting the moon. He gazed down at a group of six ponies, one was lavender, another cyan, a third pink, a fourth orange, one yellow, and the last was alabaster. They appeared to be enjoying a picnic, while watching the falling stars. The stallion cared not for the stars. Nothing mattered except revenge. Revenge for his mother, his father, his uncle. The Royal Guard had killed them with orders from Canterlot itself. A oath had been sworn. To kill the country's most precious little heroines, and then: Tear down Canterlot. Brick. By. Brick. This stallion had a name that would soon be the most feared name in this stupid world. His name was Bloodlust, and he lusted for blood. Twilight was so happy to be with her friends, and not have to deal with some threat from a thousand years ago about to destroy or take over Equestria. Unfortunately, she was wrong. FWOOMSH, FWOOMSH, FWOOMSH., the sound of gigantic scaly wings. A dark red shape soared down towards them, black eyes full of hate. "Well hello there, Elements of Death. I have been waiting for this for a long time." The figure said, landing, black wings buffeting them, and blowing away some of the balloons. The night had been starry and beautiful, but the stars seemed to go out in his wake, and the darkness seemed harsher and colder. His mane gleamed like obsidian. An evil grin revealed a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. "Gyro Scope, you don't have to do this. You shouldn't have had to go through all of that pain." Twilight protested. Bloodlust glared at her. "Life is pain Highness." He spat, "Anybody who says differently is selling something." Twilight glanced at her friends, three of which were posed to fight, one of which was looking ready to bolt, and the last was busy eating the whole plate of cupcakes. "Pinkie!" They all groaned. The pink party pony looked up. "What?" She asked, looking shocked, frosting around her mouth. The stallion used the distraction to attack, or else they never would have been caught off guard. He used his hooves that were the strength of a dragon and kicked Rainbow Dash in the wing, breaking it, and sending her flying. He dove under Applejack and knocked the wind out of her, breaking her ribs in the process. Bloodlust shot towards Twilight, razor-sharp teeth snapping down on her tail, and swung her into a tree. Bloodlust then sank his teeth into Pinkie Pie's ear, and yanked his head back, ripping off part of her ear. Despite all of the fuzzy pain they were all going through, rage filled each and every one of them. "How dare-!" Rarity shrieked, but was cut short when Bloodlust punched her. Bloodlust stalked towards Fluttershy, who was covering her head with her hooves and wings. Bloodlust leaned down and looked her right in the eye, and something about the black, hollow pits changed, they became a grayish turquoise. Before he could do anything, a cyan and rainbow blur slammed into him. Rainbow punched him in the snout, and the chest, and any undefended place, which was to say, everywhere. The stallion didn't defend himself. He became grayer, and his wings shrank, and a slightly curved horn jutted from his forehead. His eyes became softer, gentler. A look of deep, sincere regret shaped his face, and tears flowed like rivers from his eyes. All he said was, "I'm sorry. You shouldn't forgive me. I don't want you to. I now see why you shunned me." Twilight pried Rainbow off of the wrecked stallion, who was now just as hurt as all of them, Fluttershy aside. He had a black eye, and the skin had split near his cheekbones, and his bottom lip was split. His burned face had been healed a little while back, but it was still very beaten up. "I should heal you all best I can." He murmured. He pulled out a strange metal wand and waved it over all of them, mending their bones, closing their cuts, even regrowing the chunk that was missing from Pinkie Pie's ear. The wand flashed and whirred. Soon, it shorted-out and he stomped on it. "I'm so sorry." He said softly, crying. "I would never have hurt any of you. As soon as all of you are better, I'll leave, you'll never hear wind of me again, I promise." He sobbed "And who knows? I might show up dead, and you can all throw a party, and Equestria will be safe from me." Gyro turned his back to them, and slowly walked away, and then two lines shot from his midsection, and he shot up, into the darkness. Gyro Scope hated himself. His family would be utterly ashamed of him. The Autreys would die out. And it was his fault. He watched the Elements of Harmony leave the picnic, crying almost as hard as he was. Now that Clockwork was dead, there was nobody to love him, or keep watch over him, or comfort him. But one day, that all changed. It all changed. And he slowly began to mend. //-------------------------------------------------------// 2: Surprise //-------------------------------------------------------// 2: Surprise After what had happened, in turn for hurting them, the Elements decided to teach him each one of their elements, and things that they did, so ponies would like him more. The day everything changed, Rarity was teaching him about fashion, so she took him to Canterlot to meet her boyfriend, Fancy Pants and his group of elite socialites. The sun shone down on them, and the streets were packed with ponies (mostly Unicorns which Gyro didn't find odd in the slightest) dressed in nice clothes, mostly with their heads up, and eyes closed. Gyro didn't understand how they could do that and not run into things or trip. Rarity said that they were meeting her friends at a very fancy restaurant. Gyro hoped they had something besides fancy salad and mushrooms. Gyro hated mushrooms. What could he say? He wasn't a fun guy. He loved pasta though, mostly with butter and parmesan cheese. Or alfredo. It didn't matter what cheese, exactly. Gyro knew the names of only four of the elites. Fancy Pants, Jet Set, Upper Crust, and Fleur de Lis. If Jet Set and Upper Crust began to insult and criticize him, they were in for a whooping surprise. Man, he disliked snooty, pompous, and arrogant fools. Now, from what he remembered about the show, Fancy Pants and Fleur were rather nice. But from what Gyro could gather, this might not be the same universe, so he couldn't know exactly what to expect. And he did so. But he hadn't expected something like what would soon happen. The charcoal and alabaster Unicorns arrived at a restaurant called Le Tapis Rouge, which Gyro translated as The Red Carpet. He spoke a little French, mostly the word 'allons-y', a little German, Russian, Swedish (swear words, mostly), and Latin, even though it was a dead language. That had never gotten the girls, not that he wanted one anyway. The restaurant was made of a rosy marble, with gold lettering spelling out the name of it, and a Hollywood star-type red and gold carpet was the logo. Gyro sucked in a lungful of cool air. Maybe he could sneakily play on his phone without Rarity seeing and pretend to listen to gossip and fashion tips. Gyro let out a low whistle when he walked in. Velvet pillows lined each booth, fancy, three-pronged forks lined the tables. At least everyone there wore a suit or dress or something fancy. Gyro glanced down at his worn out denim. So what? He never worried about wearing nice clothes, he didn't even like to! Then again, there were those times when he dressed up as the Doctor, but that didn't really count, did it? Rarity walked in front of him, approaching the waiter at the area where one would sign in for a table. Rarity flashed him a card and a smile, and the stallion at the stand smiled back, then frowned at Gyro's clothes. Gyro shot back a look that said Buddy, I'm much more than I dress like. A large table of snobbish looking ponies was laughing in their annoying way. One of them, a large Unicorn stallion with a white coat much like Rarity's with a dark blue mane and mustache waved them over. "Rarity dear! So good to see you!" He called, waving over the two. He grinned at Gyro, and the smile seemed sincere. "And you, lad! I've heard many good things about you!" Fancy Pants said, gesturing at Gyro. All of the other ponies at the table gave him an appraising look, aside from Jet Set and Upper Crust, who sneered. Gyro hated them instantly. Then, he saw Fleur de Lis. Before now, Gyro had never realized how much more real Equestria was from the show. He'd heard about how some ponies looked, and both Sweetie Belle and Clockwork were pretty, but Fleur was knockout beautiful. A lush, light pink mane cascaded down her shoulder. A white, neatly brushed coat, and magenta eyes. Gyro immediately felt self-concious about what he was wearing. The only thing that probably looked 'regal' was the triangular short sword around his midsection. It had rivets in the blade to make it lighter. If one of these snobs got on his nerves, well, Rarity had warned all of them about his past, so all of them knew the lethal risks of agitating him. Rarity sat next to Fancy Pants, and Gyro (much to his displeasure) sat next to Fleur de Lis, which made him very nervous. And of course, Jet Set and Upper Crust picked up on his nervousness, and used it to taunt him. Gyro glanced down at the leather sheath strapped to the bottom of his wrist. Gyro saw many griffins, so he could only assume meat was on the menu. If meat was what he was served, at least he had something to cut it with. "So, Mr. Scope, what sets you apart from the rest of ponykind?" Jet Set asked, a small snide undertone to his voice. "Well, for starters, I have these." Gyro replied, keeping his cool, pointing to his elongated canines. "Humans eat meat, and no, we don't eat monkeys or apes, so we have sharper teeth." He fidgeted with the pommel of his sword, glancing at the other socialites. "I'm much more talented with technology than anybody else, and I change my race every once and a while. Each race has it uniqueness. The feathers as a Pegasus are tipped with green, I have green fetlocks as an Earth Pony, and my horn has a green spiraling design, as you can all see." I shot a cold glare at Jet Set. "And 'Gyro Scope' is a fake name. I would not advise to call me 'Mr.' no matter how polite you might think it is. Just because I look like I'm in my mid-twenties, I'm a teenager still. Not a vandal, not a criminal. I have been through more than all of you combined. Humans are designed for science, while you are designed for magic. Humans , at least sensible ones, don't think magic is real, nor friendship. At the age of twelve, I had lost my faith in humanity. At fifteen, a year after I got here, I disliked your kind. I don't care how wrong it was, I had good intentions. The Royal Guard killed my parents the minute the came here." "I don't recommend you taunt me. Rarity can vouch for that. When I'm pushed beyond my breaking point..................I'd rather not say." Jet Set smirked at his uncomfortableness. Gyro glanced around. To his surprise, many seemed interested. Fleur looked at him, and he nearly froze. "Were humans the monsters that we have all heard of?" She asked, her melodious voice unreadable. "Not all humans. The first.. the first......." Gyro gulped, nervousness reaching a nervous level of 9,001. "The first life I took was a man, a human. He was the reason I brought my mother here, because he nearly killed her. I know humans who would never harm a fly. I knew of some who would turn the world into a holocaust." I reply.                     1, why wasn't talking to rich people as easy as he thought? The food came out, ten of everything. Bread, butter, steamed vegetables, tea, coffee, mushrooms, pasta (yes!),  and, score! They had steak. Gyro had a plate set in front of him, with a loaf of bread, unsliced. Gyro unbuttoned the clasp on his sheath, and pulled out the Buck knife. He began to neatly slice the bread. Gyro (as a human) had been a carbaholic, as his mother had said, so bread suited him just fine. Gyro grabbed a piece of Gouda cheese and put it on the slice of bread, then hesitated. Meat? Nah. Gyro used his napkin to wipe the breadcrumbs off of his knife, and then slid it into the black leather container. Then, he saw a flicker of gold and brown. It couldn't be her could it? No, impossible. He'd held her hoof as her life ebbed away. But her body had disappeared. Gyro tried not to cry, it wouldn't be very manly of him. Not in front of anybody. Not ever. "Fan, I'm an idiot!" Gyro growled as he smacked the wall of his bedroom in the hotel him and Rarity were staying in. "I can't develop a crush! Not after all that's happened!" "Dear, are you alright?" The Element of Generosity called. "Fine." Gyro muttered, nursing his sore cleft. How could he have a crush on one of the most high-class ponies in Canterlot? Growling, the distraught human paced his room. His laptop was running on his bed, his sword lay glinting in the glow of the sunset coming from the window. He couldn't get Fleur de Lis out of his mind. She seemed kind enough, but with him, he didn't know who to trust. Gyro couldn't focus on what he was doing. "Arrgh!" He growled, smacking his head on the wall. The pain helped clear his mind. "Focus, Autrey, focus." His form and been flickering for the past forty-five minutes, and now, it settled on Pegasus. He touched his wingtips to his temple. He turned his head to the doorway to his room, where Rarity stood in a nightgown, looking concerned. "Is everything okay?" He bit his lip. Applejack had been teaching him honesty, and Gyro was expected to be so. He gritted his teeth. "Nej." "Hmm?" "No. And I'd rather not say why." "Aidan......" He winced. When one of the Elements called him by his real name, it usually meant it was time to run. They had sort of adopted him as a brother (more like an irresponsible son, Gyro always said) and they treated him kindly, but...... "Just a small, personal issue." Gyro mumbled, his stony turquoise eyes not meeting her sapphire ones. His fetlock scuffed the ground. Rarity smirked. "It wouldn't have to do with a certain Ms. Fleur de Lis, would it?" "S-shut up." "Does it?" "Yes. No!......Maybe so." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I-I'm gonna go for a walk." He said, strapping his sword around his waist and storming past his friend. Rarity tried to stop him, but the distressed stallion was already out of the door. He felt his wings go away, and two cords, grappling hooks, shot out from the strap around his midsection, pulling him into the night sky. Gyro wiped tears from his eyes. He hated when people (specifically ponies) thought they knew everything he went through, and tried to comfort him. It never worked. Maybe for a little bit, but then he got angry all over again. The two cords retracted, and his green fetlocks touched down, clacking against the cobblestone. His eyes scanned his surroundings. Default Canterlot. No ponies in sight or earshot. The dying rays of the sun cast an eerie light of the white buildings. Clockwork would've thought this was romantic. Gyro shook his head vigorously. Don't think about her. It just makes the pain worse. He got ready to take off when a familiar voice called his name. Gyro froze. It couldn't be. Gyro turned around. A brown and gold Pegasus stood behind him. "You can't be here." Was all Gyro could say. "I know I can't. But here I am." Clockwork replied. A green glow shone over her and she became a changeling. "The reason I disappeared was because I was done with you. I faked my death. I killed the real Clockwork and became her. I should thank you. You helped me." She said, voice now much different, yet still it held certain aspects of Clockwork's voice, such as the British accent. Gyro Put his right hoof to the handle of his sword. Straps could be heard wrapping around it. He unsheathed the iron weapon, pointing it at the creature. "Leave. I'll kill you if you don't." "Ooh! I'm SO scared. You don't have the nerve." Gyro shot forward, sword to her neck. "Try me." "I think I will." The changeling said, smirking. She became white with a pink mane. Gyro roared, temporarily becoming Bloodlust. There was the sound of iron stabbing through a body, and then a thump. All that was left was a brown feather. Gyro floated it up to his face and studied it, and then, without thinking, shot it high, so high into the inky blackness, so that it could help him better forget. Rarity paced the hotel room. Gyro didn't normally do this, not anymore. He became tamer, less likely to lose his temper. A timid knock sounded from the hotel door Rarity rushed to it. Gyro stood in the doorway, sopping wet and crying. "So she was actually a changeling?" "Ja." Gyro mumbled, nudging an apple away from him. His head was flat on his mattress. Gyro had already run out of tears to shed, so he just tried to forget everything, which never worked. His sword was lying on the ground, his knife stabbed into the wall. Gyro had never been felt emotion like this as a human, and wasn't used to, and didn't know exactly how to react. He mumbled something under his breath. Al he knew was anger, and hate, and sadness. All he felt, was pain. His ears were ringing painfully, endlessly. It was driving him mad. Gyro whimpered pathetically, pawing at his ears. He hated hurting and not being able to do anything about it. His entire body was uncomfortable or in pain. He was too tired to complain anymore. Gyro fell asleep, Rarity soothing him When he woke, it was quiet. Gyro's stomach rumbled. He ambled his way to the hotel's kitchen, when a posh voice made him jump. "Good morning, Gyro." Rarity murmured. "Javla helveta!" Gyro yelped, "Don't sneak up on me like that! Vad fan is wrong with you?" the stallion recovered his wits, cursing in every language he knew under his breath. "I thought you might like some breakfast." Rarity said, "Or do you just want some privacy, because of what happened yesterday?" "I'll take a little bit of food. I might go for a walk. Maybe not. Walks aren't always what a person needs." Rarity nodded. Nothing was alright with the poor stallion. Rarity didn't think his heart would ever heal. //-------------------------------------------------------// 3: Back to the Village of Ponies //-------------------------------------------------------// 3: Back to the Village of Ponies Apple Bloom was crying. She didn't normally cry, but Diamond Tiara had been especially tough on her. They had gone far enough to suggest that she was  so desperate, she spent every night at a whorehouse. Apple Bloom had been tough at first, but when she got to the clubhouse, she had broken down. A soft knock sounded from the door. "Apple Bloom? You okay in there?" Came a concerned, masculine voice, though not as deep as her brother's. "Go away." She sobbed. The door creaked as Gyro pushed it open. He put a feathery wing around her, letting her cry on his shoulder. "What happened?" He asked gently, his stormy eyes unreadable.         "Whaddya think?" She snapped. Her step-brother winced, then let out a low growl. "I swear I'm going to destroy that horse one day......" Gyro looked down at her, eyes yet again unreadable. Then, without warning, he lifted her muzzle up and kissed her. Apple Bloom didn't know what to do. She was utterly confused. He was a brother to her. But here he was, kissing her. Apple Bloom was ddebating on whether or not to run away screaming, when he broke away from her, face turning into Diamond Tiara, who laughed evily. Apple Bloom woke with a start. It had all been a dream, sunlight was streaming through the windows, and a gray Pegasus was watching her, eyes disturbingly like the ones in her dream. The farm filly yelped, pulling her covers up. Gyro Scope was watching her with a stony expression. Apple Bloom was suddenly reminded of a myth that he had told her, about statues that weren't statues, that stood still when you looked at them, but began to move when you didn't. Her brother was chillingly like one of the....were they called Weeping Angels? Except he was more of a fallen angel, who had turned to darkness. Sweetie Belle's coltfriend, Button Mash had talked about many games with "fallen angels", but they were helpers, not what Gyro had explained. He said that fallen angels that had fallen from their highest state, "Arkangel", and had gone over to the devil. Gyro was the opposite of that, he turned from a demon, to a dull angel. He still made mistakes, everypony did, but he tried his hardest to make up for them. The stallion gazed at her reproachfully, as if he could see right through her, and her dreams. And maybe he could. And maybe he had. The stallion opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it. His stormy eyes raked over her, then softened.         "Apple Bloom......." He said softly, walking over to her bedside, "What happened to you? What happened to Equestria?" It was a quiet dinner that night. Gyro barely touched his food, and neither had Apple Bloom. The former human excused himself early, to go on a night flight. AppleJack and Apple Bloom both offered to go with him, but he refused to go with anypony The night air was cool and comforting. Gyro disregarded this immediately, He had other problems. He was surrounded by Night Guards The guards were armed with lances, or others had spikes or their boots. Gyro reached for his sword, found it wasn't there, and planned to fight hoof to lance or hoof to boot. But the guards lacked a readiness to attack, but they looked as if they were to subdue him, not kill.  Then, their leader appeared. Luna was unlike anything Gyro had expected, her indigo coat made her regal features look striking. Her blue eyes were filled with sympathy and empathy. An ethereal mane shimmered like the night sky. Gyro let out a feral growl.         "If you're gonna kill me, get it over with," He snarled, "I don't need a whole retelling of the constitution and the Bible with 'thee' and 'thou' and all of that medieval shit. If you're gonna kill me, make it quick." He lifted up hhis chin and closed his eyes, preparing to feel the cold blades of lances sinking into his body. Instead, he heard the flapping of wings and the clanking of armor as the Guards flew away, ordered by Luna.         "We know of thy condition. You have our sympathy."         "Sympathy is the last thing I need. And you don't know anything." Gyro spat venomously.         "We-I, wish to speak with you..." The night princess replied, looking hurt.         "Access denied." He snarled, baring his teeth in a feral growl.         "Please," She begged, "We did everything in our power to stop the guards that killed your family form ever reaching their destination." Gyro froze.         "Wha-?" Was all he said, mouth open. Before Luna could react, the stallion had her in a tight hug.         "Thank you," Gyro whispered, "Thank you." he pulled away, regarding her with his stormy turquoise eyes. He was grateful, that even if she had failed, that she had tried to save  his family. Very few ponies had hugged her, and even fewer had thanked her when she had failed. What it means to fail. The next day, AppleJack went to wake up her adopted brother. To her immense surprise, he wasn't there. She normally had to drag him out of bed. When she looked out of the window, she saw him bucking apples. He looked............different, but the farm pony couldn't put a hoof on what exactly it was. Her brother didn't normally wake up this early, and he certainly didn't work at the farm. She trotted downstairs, where her older brother and younger sister were both watching the stallion, concerned looks on their faces.         "What in tarination?" AppleJack said aloud.         "He never was quite right after what happened between him an' Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom suggested. Her older sister shot her a look and looked at his face. A determination she had only seen when he had gone head to head against Button Mash with theories,  mechanics, and rumors of video games, and had been ready to win. The Apples watched in awe as one kick took down half the apples on one tree.  A mail mare with a gray coat and blond mane approached cautiously, for the last time she'd been here, she'd knocked over the barn.         "Hey AppleJack!" Ditzy Doo called out cheerfully. "What's goin' on?" Apple Bloom turned to the gray Pegasus.        "Oh, mah brother is doin' somethin' completely out of character." She replied.  Ditzy gazed to the stallion.        "That's your brother?" Ditzy asked, searching similarities between the two. She found none.        "Adoptive brother," She explained.  Apple Bloom glanced over and an orange Unicorn with a fiery red and yellow mane was talking to him. Apple Bloom felt a pang of jealousy as she saw that the Unicorn was attempting possibly flirt with him. If he noticed, he did not show it. AppleJack gave the Unicorn a familiar look.         "Now wait jus' a second, she should be in tha' other world..." AppleJack murmured. Gyro glanced at Sunset Shimmer, or Sunshet Simmer, or whatever. It'd been a while since he'd watched EG, but names did not desert him. She was obviously getting at something, and he couldn't put a finger on it. He hoped she would cut to the chase. She was distracting him from his work, and he was trying to focus.         "Look, Miss Shimmer, could ya cut to the chase?" He grumbled.         "Of course," she replied, nodding, "I was sent by Princess Celestia, since I know more about humans than any other ponies. She requests that you hear a request from her out." Gyro growled, pausing in his bucking.         "No deal." He snapped. The Unicorn had a look of grim determination. Damn politicians. Never left you alone.         "She thought you would say that. She says that she has an offer of redemption."         "I don't need no redemption."         "Believe it or not, Equestria is on the verge of war. We need good, seasoned fighters. You are the one who has the most battle experience, even though it is not much."         "You want a hero? I'm no hero. I'm just that guy who don't give a shit when this comes up. You want a hero? Look somewhere else." He shot back, beginning to back away. Sunset shot out her hoof to stop him.         "It is not only Equestria at stake. It may seem hard to believe, but all of creation is in danger."         "Then find the Doctor. He can help. Better than anybody else. If he even exists."         "I hope when you see this, you will know why we need you." From her saddlebags, she pulled out a strange-looking device. Gyro recognized it immediately.         "It was taken from him after the battle of Trenzalore. I hope this proves to you that the Doctor is Dead."