My Name Is Tatsurion the Unchained

Entry One.

   Why am I even bothering with this thing? I look ridiculous writing in this tiny journal with my massive claws, hunched over the table, face almost touching the page. But she asked me to do it, to document my past experiences, for some kind of therapy or something. I don’t understand how writing is supposed to help me get over my ‘issues’ but I must listen to my princess.

I am of two minds. Literally. Maybe. It’s hard to tell if I am truly two minds housed in  one body, or simply the result of a sick and deluded mind. Regardless, I am both myself and not. The other, the one who originally owned this body, the one I awoke in when I first woke in this world, is ‘asleep’. Though I believe dormant would fit better.

I am, or at least I think I am, Matthew ‘Bob’ Mandel. Born and raised in the great state of California, USA, Earth. The ‘other guy’, who’s name I am using seeing as it fits in better around these parts, is Tatsurion the Unchained. Apparently he, I, we were born from the coupling of a dragon and quillspike, a type of giant bipedal porcupine thing. Yeah, its pretty crazy. Needless to say when I first woke up I had a hell of a time adjusting mentally.

When I first woke, surrounded by snow and ice, in a body most definitely not my own, I was terrified  and alone. For the first few moments I had stumbled around blindly, terrified, confused and alone. And then I heard him, the echos of his thoughts in my, our, head. I found myself able to walk as the muscle memory of the other began to show.

I think thats the only thing that kept me alive. When I was unsure of how to move, of what to do to survive as I was forced to hunt penguins and  seals, fighting off polar bears to keep my kills, it was the skills of the other that allowed me to win and thrive as instinct I never held as a human guided my claws. I soon became able to view his memories, something I took a guilty pleasure in doing whenever I was forced into a cave or forced still during a storm, it killed time and helped me learn more about my new form. But it also brought about a fair amount of concern from me as I slowly began to lose myself in his memories. They becoming more of a reality to me than my own as the matched my new reality closer than my own. I began to doubt my own past, how could I possibly been a human at any point in time?

After all I am a monster roughly the size of a full grown elephant, with large bat like wings and a thick tail, spines growing from my shoulders and claws. Nothing like a human.

Yet I have begun to accept the duality of myself, with the help of my dear friend Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Ah, Cadenza - or as she prefers to be called, Cadance- such a nice mare. I would most likely still be aimlessly roaming the frozen north if it wasn’t for her. The first time I meet her was by complete coincidence, I had been flying south for a few weeks. Just trying to find someplace that wasn’t completely covered in snow, and had come across a battle. Well, more like a slaughter.

Cadance had been ambushed by a group of black, bug like pony creatures, on her way to visit the Lunar Glacier, a glacier that sparkles like the stars in the night sky under the light of the full moon. The monsters had taken the group by surprise and had been able to bring down her escort and  capture her within minutes. Luckily I had been flying over head and decided to help, using the element of surprise to drop down on the bugs and take them out easily. Well, to abridge a long and lengthy tale, I explained what I knew of myself to Cadance, explained  I had no where to go and nothing to do, learned she was in fact a Princess, and  so I was hired to be her bodyguard. Speaking of which, I must wrap this up, I have to escort her down to the train station.  Her fiances kid sister and her friends will be arriving soon, and she promised to meet them when they arrive.

I don’t know why he can’t do it himself, I mean it is his sister, but Cadance just can’t seem to tell Shining Armour no. I honestly don’t know what she see’s in that guy, ever since he came back from his post in the Badlands he has acted like a total dick.

-Tatsurion the Unchained, guard of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza

In his personal chambers within the grand castle that all three princess of Equestria called home, the man in the body of a beast finished attaching his shoulder guard. For one whom’s profession offered pay equivalent to even the most well off businessman, the room of the bodyguard of the princess of love was sparse in its furnishings. A filled bookshelf, desk, and chest made up the entirety of its furnishings, the walls were bare, and a lone candle was the only source of light in the room. Not even a bed was found in the room, not for lack of space as the room itself was quite expensive, but do to the fact that it would be wasted on the rooms inhabitant, who preferred to sleep on the floor.

   While he had only called the castle home for a short time, never staying in it for more than a week as Cadance had a habit of traveling, he had already gained a reputation amongst the nobles and staff. No one was to mess with Tatsurion the Unchained or his charge. It was not that he was overly violent or hostile- he would admit that his temper had lead to a bit more bruising than necessary, but it was within reason- it was just the fear he could instal within the much smaller equines when he would turn a rage filled eye on them when they had done something to him or the Princess. He figured this part of him came from Tatsurion’s personality.

   But he also had another side that helped ease the tension with the ponies, and that was the gentleness he exhibited around animals. Whenever he was around animals, whether it be a spider or timber wolf, he was always more at ease and would find himself to act calmer and gentler with those around him. He contributed this to Matthew.

  With a sigh he finished adjusting his armour, and turned expectantly towards the door.

    --lb--

   Tatsurions chambers are located at the base of one of the castles five towers, the one closest to the royal garden, and conveniently located  down the hall from Cadances’ room. Said princess was currently making her way towards her bodyguards room. She had a spring in her step as she approached the room of her guard, and friend.

Ever since he saved her from those things in the frozen north she had considered the giant creature a friend, and she knew he thought the same of her, despite the fact he never openly admitted it. In fact, she considered him one of the ones closest to her, despite not knowing him for very long. It wasn’t just because he had rescued her once or twice- or every other saturday and rotating weekdays, as he would put it- but because despite his own issues he was always ready to listen to her when she had a doubt or insecurity. He never pushed her away when she felt the need to talk about her issues, no matter what time or the severity.

   And considering the number of times she has woken him in the middle of the night to talk about her concerns for the wedding, thats saying something.

   And in return he asked nothing of her, no matter how many favors she asked, no matter how many rescues he has performed, he never asks for anything. He hadn’t even asked for his job, and it seemed he never would ask for anything, and thats why she felt so close to him, and felt the need to help him. Because even though he acted all tough on the outside- except for the time he’s cooing over the animals in the garden, not that he would admit to it- she could see right pass the mask he put up to the fear and insecurity he felt within.

As a princess and his friend she felt it was her duty to help the one who had helped her so much without asking for anything.She knew he was still confused about who he really was, and she supposed him being some strange combination of two individuals would make that a very difficult issue, but she knew that he would never solve it the way he was going about it he would never resolve anything. He needed more than just talking to her, when she could get the big guy to talk, he needed friends. And hopefully her soon to be sister-in-law and her friends could help with that.

Or, at least help him lighten the hell up.

Reaching his door, she rapped on the door three times, on the third the massive barrier of oak and steel swung inwards, revealing the rooms massive inhabitant. “Ready to go, Bob?” She inquired of the much larger mammal.

“What do you think, Pinks?”