The Protectors: log one

When I got to the train station Greycloak was their waiting for me. He had changed his coat to blue, and he had his sword Venn .It was getting him a lot of awkward glances,

I walked up to him "How long in ‘till the train gets here?”

“About five minutes. “He answered

"I wonder what’s up with them." I asked.

"War hasn't ravaged this land for 700 years. A pony carrying a sword is strange to them. Most fear what is strange.”

A foal trotted up to us.

“But not all “He whispered to me “Hi their little one." he said to foal.

"Are you a royal guard?" The foal asked in squeaky voice

"Nope." He answered

"Then why do you have a sword? Because" It leaned closer to Greycloak and whispered. “I don't think the others like it.”

"I noticed. It’s for my job. “He answered.

"What’s your job?”

"Take a guess? “He challenged.

The foal seemed excited by this.

"A knight?"

"Nope"

"Smith?”

"Not anymore."

“Mercenary?”

"Tartarus no!"

The foal thought for a second .Before guessing “Adventurer?”

Greycloak laughed with low and rich laugh before bellowing "You got me.”.

The foal leaped in joy at this. “You’re an adventure! You’re an adventure! You’re an adventure!”

"Waxhandler what did I tell you about running off!" My organs got stuck in my throat when I saw the pony walking up to us. Princess MI Amore Cadenza only heir to the crystal throne, and Phrotonturner's charge. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be, she’s a nice bit of joy in an existence of pain."

"Okay then .Waxhandler lets go." she said awkwardly.

The train as if it was trying to break the tension arrived at that moment.

“Goodbye then, I was happy to have made your acquaintance" Greycloak said as he did an elaborate bow.

Greycloak and I walked onto the train, and took a seat. The train had hearts and was painted pink. I wondered sometimes if pony engineers and architects intentionally were trying to encourage enemies to invade. Out of curiosity I looked back at train station and sure enough the foal was waving goodbye to the train as the princess dragged her away.

“Nice kid .Anyway do vampires sparkle in the sun? “My familiar asked out of nowhere.

“What! No of course they don't sparkle. That would be stupid. Where did you hear something so retarded.”

“Netflix. CAKE!! I smell cake! “My familiar said as he ran jumped through the train wall behind me.

We rode in the train for hours. I watched the land speed by. Odd how one’s own home world can become as strange as any alien planet given a few hundred years.

"This morning I was given a job offer.” I admitted

"Really, what job?" Greycloak asked.

“It’s from the magic police. They want me to train some of their novices."

Greycloak's familiar flew up next to us and answered “In my humble opinion Master Gix It would do you well to have a student.”

Greycloak followed that up with “Regardless the magic police are protectors of Equestrian. You training those fits in with your current duties. In the end though it’s your decision.”

I just sat there and thought about what he said for the rest of the train ride.

The train stopped at Huffington and we got off the train. All the other ponies waited until Greycloak was firmly off the train before exiting themselves. When we got off the train we walked into town. , Despite its location, hoofing ton was originally settled by unicorns and Pegasus so it took full advantage of steam based technology. Copper pies stuck out of buildings. Large steam power machines cultivated the fields. A sky dock could be seen on the edge of town. I saw at least two ponies who had mechanical limbs. The most notable thing about the town was the sheer number of smiths in the town. Fifty percent of all metal goods in Equestrian are forged in this one town. We passed at least 11 smiths just on our way to the town center. We eventually made it to the center of the town.

“So do you know the way were supposed to be going?” I asked

"I though you did." grey cloak responded

"We'll great now. Were lost." I said

"Ash this way." Greycloak said as he walked up to a female Pegasus .The mare in Question had a tan fur and a brown mane. Her front right leg was gone instead a copper mechanical one too its place. Judging by the scared tissue it was torn off. Her wings were also mechanical. Judging by the scared tissue lightning took her wings.

Greycloak introduced himself using one of his many false names “Hunter" he said sticking his left hoof out.

The mare shook it "Abby Sprocket. Nice sword you got there. “She said in a light accent.

"See where new and we don't know our way around. We were wondering if you could point us in the direction." Greycloak explained.

"Sure thing if you let me see that fancy sword of hour’s Hunter." Abby demanded.

"Alright then but be careful with Venn." Greycloak said as he handed her Venn.

Abby took the sword “Swords got a name. Old fashion much. Oh I see why Crystal steel. Now one makes that any more. Old puppy this one, and exquisitely." She said as she looked at the sword .I had to agree the sword gleamed a beautiful silver in the sun light. The Old equestrian engraved into the blade was done to the tiniest detail. The gold cross guard had gems put in it for every color of the rainbow in order. “I wonder who made this, Goldprint, Steelhammer. “She said as she turned the blade.

"Don’t!" Greycloak said too late.

Abby Sprocket looked up from the blade her mouth hide open .The blade raveled the tiny insignia of a pony in a hood.
Greycloak snatched the sword away from her and put it back in its scabbard. “Which direction to the Everfreeforest.”

"That way but," she said pointing.

We started to walk away.

"Hey!" Abby stood up and walked after us. "That sword it’s one of Greycloak's. Where? How? Did you get one? Theirs what ten in existence.”

"Twelve actually.” Greycloak injected.

"That sword is worth more than what this town produces in a year. It belongs in a museum. What in the name of Celestial are you doing with it? "

"It's just a sword .Let it go." I said.

“Just a sword! JUST A SWORD! It's not just a sword! It's a work of art. Function and beauty joining in perfect harmony with each other. It’s the art of the forge brought to its highest degree. “Abby Sprocket preached.

"Screw this!" I shouted as I teleported Greycloak and myself to a street 200 yards. "You used your real name.”

"You’re allowed to use it once. Greycloak responded.

“Well that's wonderful, I have to by Silvermane for the next century." I complained.

"That name makes no sense . Greycloak commented.

"Sappiremane sounded feminine .I was drunk!” I rebuked.

"Jute’s introduction ‘ceremony’?”Greycloak asked.

"I'm still feeling the hangover. Regardless let’s get going before your fan girl finds us "I said.”

Greycloak nodded in agreement .We walked in the direction Abby Sprocket gave us. We walked through the city.

A few ponies tried to introduce themselves. Greycloak handled most of them. I didn’t have the patience to deal with civilians. With a few exceptions. We walked on.

We arrived at the Everfreeforest as the sun went down. I looked around for any ponies.

"Where here! “My familiar screamed. "Aw my beautify, how I missed you" My familiar said as he kissed a tree .The tree responded by growing twice its size. Greycloak looked at me questionably.

"It's his holy ground.” I said awkwardly.

Greycloak just shrugged. . A small bulged in my skin appeared under my skin on my chest. The bulged crept up my neck
It got to my cheek and moved to my left eye, causing pain as it went, it got to my eye and got stuck. It’s struggled and clawed at my eye as it tried to get out. It felt like and an animal was clawing my eye out! The vision in my left eye went out! I taped the left side of my head. My eye exploded outward. Blood and bits of my eye splattered the ground along with a small metal insect.

"Fucking defective piece of shit!" I shouted in anger. My Multipurpose Insecticide Robot floated in front of me. My eye repaired itself. "Run a diagnostic, do repairs and guide us to the weapon stash you piece of junk!" I commanded. The M.I.R floated there for a minute before leading us to a clearing 100 feet away.

We entered the clearing and I screamed in shear frustration. The entire stash had been utterly destroyed. Weapons and technology was scattered around the opening.

"Well this is just wonderful!” I Complained.

"This was a cragadiles work. Greycloack said as he inspected the markings on the ground.

We gathered all gear and inspected all of it. The only piece that survived was a pack of nutrition injections. We dug a hole and put all the broken gear in it .We intended to retrieve it later.

"We cannot go back we will simply have to make due.” Greycloak said.

"Come my friends. My kingdom awaits." My familiar as he walked into the forest. My M.I.R crawled back into my body, without any complications, Greycloak, his familiar and I followed.

Show us his kingdom he did. The Everfreeforest responded to my familiar the way a Kingdom reacts to the return of
A beloved king. If that makes any sense. The magic of the forest swirled around my familiar's feet like a pack of puppies. The trees opened up so we could see the stars in their full glory. Everywhere my familiar step a beautiful glowing flower grew. Every tree he touched grew like the one he kissed. Whenever we came across a monster instead of attacking they bowed in respect. Manticorers, hydras, ahuizotls, chimeras, moon slugs, cockatrices, cloud gremlins, chupacrabras and all manner of other creatures came to bow to their king as he passed. My familiar stood tall in the way a king would. The forest was in joy at the return of its god.
We had to stop three times on our journey .The first time was when the vampiric jacklalopes bowed.
When they did this my familiar walked up to them. He added them to our physic link. Their minds felt dark and shadowy, but not evil. The largest of the jacklalopes, likely the leader, leaped forward.

"What is it great one!" The head jacklalopes asked.

"I have a great boon I must ask of you." My familiar said

“Name it feral one and it shall be done.”

"You serve king Bloodheart lord of all vampires, yes?”

"Of course my lord." the jacklalopes responded.

"Do not tell him of my companies approach. I wish him to not know of my coming. "My familiar commanded.

"You ask me to betray my king? ”The jacklalopes asked.

“Yes I do. You are to tell all animals that serve him this order." My familiar responded.

The vampiric jacklalopes sighed and bowed”It shall be done. ".

"Why is He acting so different than usual?" Greycloak’s familiar asked.

"He has a severe case of Dissociative Identity Disorder.” I answered "This is likely a completely different personality.”.

The next time we stopped it was when we came across two timber wolves timber wolves. When my familiar saw this he growled. The other animals made themselves scares at this. When timber wolves saw us and instead of bowing they attacked. IT pounced at me. My horn glowed and a fire ball shot out of it .It struck the beast in the chest and exploded. Greycloak punched the other one and its head exploded upon contact with his hoof and it fell to pieces. I cast a spell smothering the remains in chaos. The remains screamed as their order magic was snuffed out.

"Beings of order on my land this is troubling. Why would they come here?" My familiar thought.
We continued on for about an hour. Greycloak pulled out one of the nutrient injections and injected it into himself. He pulled out another one and offered it to me.

"We can’t afford to sleep .Our healing factor can replace sleep but it requires nutrients to do that. Greycloak explained.
"There’s only three injection's in that pack it’s only enough for one of us to be battle ready. Regardless I have an idea.”
I walked up to one of the trees and pressed my hoof against it.

"Are sure these are not normal trees. Greycloak warned.

"I’m not.” I said as I began the spell. My hoof fused with the tree. I felt the flow of energy in the tree. Nutrients from the leaves flowed down the trunk into me through my hoof. Expectantly the magic in the tree hit me as I began to drain that to. I ended the spell and ripped my hoof free. And fell to the ground. I fought to gain control the new magic. It was like trying to file papers while in a tornado. After a few minutes I managed to get it all in control. And stand up.

"You alright?" Greycloak asked desperately.

"Fine. Let’s go." I responded.

“I assumed it worked." Greycloak asked.

“A little too well." I answered

We continued on.

We made it to our location just as the sun came up. As clockwork the castles magical shields went up as the first beam of sunlight stuck the first stone. My familiar shook his head as his usual personality took hold.

"Hey guys I'm back!” My familiar announced." Did I miss anything ". .?

"Nothing important." I told him.

“Now we wait." Greycloak said as he began to meditate on a stump. His familiar curled around the stump.

I walked to a log and took a seat. Then we waited.