New Dawn

Jerrod leaned back against the tree with a smile on his lips. He'd been in Ponyville for a week and it was everything he had hoped it could be. Peaceful, quiet, relaxed and friendly. Sure, it had started out a little rocky, but now the villagers were at ease around him. The welcoming committee had been a little much,but what could you do? These ponies were just so friendly sometimes. He tapped his foot in the air and smiled; welcoming committee, such a weird concept. Everywhere he had ever been, silence had gone with him--that is, until Ponyville..

He stepped off the train and stretched his hands into the air. He held it until a popping sound came from his back. “Now that's the ticket.” He dropped his hands with a content sigh. “How are you two doing?”

Swiftflight spread his wings and shook himself a little. “Feels good to have the sky overhead.” Sun Feather mimicked him and nodded in agreement.

Jerrod sighed deeply and let the warm, rustic air of the town sink into his lungs. Suddenly, a gigantic smile attached to a ludicrous pink face exploded into existence before his very eyes. Jerrod coughed in surprise.

"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!" trilled the pink, smiling face.

Jerrod watched the face bounce up and down in front of him for moment. “Um, Hi?” He took a step backwards to give himself some breathing room. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Pinkie darted in closer, her face nearly pressing against Jerrod’s. “ISN’T IT!”

Jerrod lifted his hand and placed it on her face. He pushed her away from his face. “Sure?” He kept the mare pushed away and looked around for help.

A blue mare smiled at him as he caught her eye and darted in, bumping Pinkie out of the way. “Hi, I’m Rainbow Dash. Maybe you’ve heard of me, the fastest mare in Equestria.”

Jerrod nodded slowly then smiled coyly. “Fastest eh? I thought that was anyone I was with.” He offered his hand.

Rainbow stared at it confused then looked to Jerrod's face as she took the hand and shook it slowly. “What's that supposed to mean?” Jerrod smirked and leaned in, pulling her close by her hoof. As he whispered into Rainbow's ear, her wings shot open and she landed with a dull thud on the ground. “I...I...see.” Blushing deeply she shuffled over towards Pinkie mumbling under her breath.

“Hah, never would have pegged her for someone so innocent.”

Jerrod looked from his spot under tree. “Are you in my head or something?”

A mint green unicorn head popped out of the canopy with a smirk. “No, you were talking out loud.”

Jerrod paused with his mouth open and finger up and then dropped his hand and shrugged. “Oh.”

“Please continue, I wanna hear about how you met the rest.” The unicorn smiled at Jerrod.

Jerrod nodded. “To answer your first question, she’s really not that innocent. If she was, my joke would have sailed right over her head, which would have been a little impressive considering how low a joke it was. As for the second question, her mind just doesn’t live in the gutter like mine so she never realized what else she could have been saying.” Jerrod chuckled. “Now where was I - oh yea. Meeting the elements of harmony.”

An orange mare sporting a wide-brimmed stetson gave Rainbow a teasing punch to the foreleg as she passed her. "Heh, if that's what he thinks 'fast' means, I guess that makes me Quickster McSpeed, eh?" An even deeper shade of red flushed through the fur of Rainbow's cheeks and she mumbled something incoherent.

The mare shook her head and smiled up to Jerrod as she offered her hoof. “Name's Applejack.” Jerrod took her hoof and opened his mouth to speak only to be interrupted as a mini earthquake rattled him to the bones. He tried unsuccessfully to gain control of his shaking body for a few moments before it stopped and Applejack tipped her hat to him. “I work out on Sweet Apple Acres if ya ever want to stop by.” Jerrod nodded numbly and stared at his limp arm.

“Yep that’s Applejack alright.”

Jerrod looked up. “Shut up or I’m gonna leave you there all day.” The unicorn saluted and mimed zipping her mouth shut. “Thank you.”

A white mare flipped her hair as she walked past Applejack. “Really AJ, do you always have to be so enthusiastic when you shake someone’s hoof?” Rarity turned to jerrod. “I apologize for my friend Applejack, she doesn’t know her own strength. I'm Rarity, premier fashion designer for Ponyville and the occasional upper class pony.” She offered her hoof and Jerrod took it in his other hand, closing his eyes in fear and sighing as Rarity shook it gently. “I do hope you don't mind me saying, but your clothes could use a bit of touching up. If you’d offer me the chance I would love to be the one to touch them up.”

Jerrod smiled at her and looked at his outfit. “Well I don't see why not. Just promise you won't alter them or anything.”

Rarity brightened up. “I wouldn't dream of it, unless you wanted me to.” She turned away. “I work at the Carousel Boutique, drop by whenever you like.”

Jerrod looked around. “Aren't there supposed to be five of you? Twilight mentioned five of you.” A gentle tugging on his pant leg prompted Jerrod to look down. A butter-cream colored mare looked back up at him from a tiny gap in her pink mane.

Jerrod dropped to a crouch “Well hello there. You must be Fluttershy.” Fluttershy nodded meekly. “Well it's a pleasure. You know I think I have something you might like.” He stood up and turned to the others. “I have something you each might like.”

“There you are.” Sun Feather trotted up beside Jerrod. “I have been looking everywhere for you.” Jerrod grumbled under his breath as Sun Feather laid down in the grass next to him. “Luna told me to guard you and that’s what I am gonna do, whether you like it or not.”

Jerrod rolled his eyes and sighed. “A man can dream though, a man can dream.”

The unicorn poked her head out of the tree. “Can we keep going on the story? I wanna hear about the stuff you gave them.”

Sun Feather looked up, confused. “Why...ya know, I don’t think I want to know.”

Jerrod shrugged. “She’s in heat.” A branch smacked Jerrod in the head.

“THAT’S PRIVATE.” The unicorn huffed and then her eyes went wide as she leaned a little too far to the side and began to slide from the branch she was perched on. Scrambling to catch herself she succeeded in the nick of time and let out a relieved sigh as she clung even tighter to the branch..

Sun laughed. “So were you chasing him cause you heard some crazy rumor or something?”

Jerrod opened his mouth but the unicorn beat him to it. “No. Bon Bon had him over for dinner last night and one thing led to another. At the end of the night Jerrod here was shamed by Bon Bon’s expertise on how to handle a unicorn.”

Sun smiled coyly. “Is that right Lyra? Little old Jerrod here doesn’t know that much about pleasing unicorns eh?”

Lyra laughed and shook her head. “No, just not as much as my Bonny.” Jerrod smirked.

“Now, back to the story, we are getting a little off-track here.” Jerrod glared at both of them. “Unless Sun here really is that interested in Lyra’s sex life, in which case I will use my astounding powers of not caring what others think of my promiscuous ways to shame both of you.” Both of them nodded silently. “Good, now where was I?”

Jerrod’s peculiar trunk trundled up and parked itself next to him, its lid popping open. “So, for Fluttershy I have,” He reached into the trunk and pulled out a small ball of fluff. “A fake parasprite. Twilight mentioned how much you liked them, but they are a dangerous species so you can't keep it around. Using a bit of Deer engineering, Zebrican magic, and assistance from Twilight, I have made a construct of one.” He breathed on the ball and a pair of gossamer wings opened followed by a blinking pair of blue eyes. It cheeped once and flew over to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy looked at it then to Jerrod then back to it. Gently she placed her hoof under it and smiled. “Thank you, it’s adorable.” She blushed a little. “I don't have anything for you though.”

Jerrod chuckled. “Think nothing of it. It's simply a token of my goodwill.”

Rainbow bolted over to Jerrod and hovered over Fluttershy. “What about me? Did you bring me anything?”

Jerrod laughed out loud and shook his head. “I said all of you didn't I?” He reached down into the trunk and pulled out a thick parcel. “I have here in my hand, the first edition of the...” He paused and looked at Rainbow as she seemed to vibrate with excitement. “Training manual...for...the...WONDERBOLTS. Signed by Commander Easy Glider and his original squad..” He held it out to Rainbow with a smirk.

Rainbow took it reverently in her hooves and stared at it as she peeled some of the brown paper wrapping. A tear formed in her eye. “This is EPIC!” She shot up in the air with a hoof pump and then settled in front of Jerrod. “I don't even want to know how you got your hands on this.” She giggled to herself and refolded the paper over it.

Jerrod turned to Rarity next. “For you.” He reached into the trunk and pulled out a bolt of fabric. “Dragon's silk. Crafted from shed dragon's scale, it makes some of the greatest armors in the world, but it also makes the most beautiful garments.”

Rarity stared at it with her mouth open as Jerrod passed it to her. “But...but...but...how did you get your hands on this? I don't think anypony in a hundred years have had the privilege to work with a fabric this fine.”

Jerrod shook his head and patted Rarity on the head. “Three-hundred years actually; the last time was a fake. As for how, well,I have my secrets and that's one of them.”

He turned to Applejack. “You were a little harder. Living a simple, spartan farm life without desire for many material possessions.” He reached into his trunk and pulled out a plain black velvet bag. “These seeds are very precious and I wouldn't trust another soul with them. A long time ago I was on the island of the Dryads. They are a wood elemental with a very powerful and unique connection to nature. Their nature is very similar to earth ponies in a sense, the trees they protect and the forests they live in are extremely long lived and very hearty.”

Applejack stared intently at the bag. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?”

Jerrod nodded. “I have in this bag the seeds of an apple tree loved by and cared for by a powerful Dryad. He was a dear friend of mine and these seeds were presented to me before I left his home. He said to find a pony with the power to cultivate them. From what Twilight has told me, you're that mare. The best farmer in the Apple family in seven generations, and an Element of Harmony as well.” He passed the bag to Applejack. “Would you do me the honor of planting these seeds and caring for them.”

Applejack reverently took the bag. “Why? No one else got something so personal,so why me?”

“Yea, I would like to know why as well. I mean, that is really personal and kinda...not you.” Sun Feather looked up at Lyra. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Lyra shrugged. “I haven’t known him as long as you so I don’t know. I do agree it’s a little personal though.”

A vein throbbed in Jerrod’s forehead and clenched his teeth. “Would you two please stop interrupting? You're worse than an ill-timed orgasm.”

Lyra chuckled. “And you know this how? Personal experience, maybe?”

Jerrod rubbed his temples and sighed. “I wasn’t always okay with boning anything with a sentient mind and of legal age, so yes, personal experience.” Sun Feather lifted a hoof. “Not now, maybe another day. Right now we are talking about why my gift to Applejack was so personal.”

Jerrod smiled. “I met some of your relatives, I owe them a great debt and, well, you aren't them, but you are of the same lineage.”

Applejack stared at the bag and lowered her hat over her face. “I will grow these seeds for ya. It's my honor to be given such a privilege.”

Jerrod chuckled. “Thank you.”

He turned to Pinkie. “For you.” He tossed her a note card. “Access to the royal treasury to throw my welcome party.” Suddenly the platform went silent. Every pony had turned to stare at Pinkie and Jerrod. In unison they all began backing away slowly before turning and fleeing in what looked like terror. Jerrod turned back to Pinkie and jumped back. She was a blur of pink, streamers rolling off of her like water and balloons floating away from her.

Suddenly she solidified. “Gotta go.” In the blink of an eye, Pinkie vanished with a pop and a sudden burst of colorful confetti. Jerrod watched with a confused expression as the confetti drifted to the ground.

Six mares gathered around him and looked at the pile. “What have you done?”

Lyra and Sun Feather both sighed. “That was a hell of a party.”

Jerrod nodded. “I was more interested in those six mares. I mean, did either of you see Fluttershy after she had a few drinks in her?”

Sun nodded and blushed. “Yes, yes I did.”

Jerrod laughed and Lyra smirked. “Looks like somepony might have a little explaining to do.”

Sun rubbed the back of his head. “Well, um. Remember how I disappeared for a few hours during the party?” Jerrod nodded. “Yea, Fluttershy.”

Jerrod whistled. “Never would have expected something like that from you Sunny.” Jerrod pulled him into a noogie and paused. “Wait, I would never expect that from her either.” His eyes narrowed and he grabbed his poor pegasus guard by the cheeks and turned his face to his. “What did you tell her?”

“Nothing, I swear.” Jerrod’s eyes narrowed more and Sun Feather’s wings started to twitch as he pushed away from Jerrod’s grasp. “I admit we didn’t do anything and she wanted to know about you. Well, we did kiss a little, but that’s all.”

Lyra cleared her throat. “Um, what are two talking about?” Jerrod glanced up at her and shook his head. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Sun Feather jumped up in the tree. “Jerrod here is...well, it’s complicated.” Sun Feather trapped his chin with a hoof. “Jerrod has lived most of his life here on Equus and it’s been hard on him. He keeps the details pretty close to heart, but once he lets you in you can see the scars. Fluttershy though, she is a natural empath almost and she picked up on some of Jerrod’s pain. It’s why she was so timid at the train station and not at the party. Basically he scared the hell out of her, but after she had time to think about it she realized that something was wrong. She thought I could help her figure it out.”

Jerrod stood up and pointed at Sun Feather. “Tell me you didn’t tell her anything.”

Sun Feather fluffed his wings and stuck his tongue out. “Nope.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry Jerrod but I did. Nothing specific just that you have a complicated past and that you need time to come to terms with it.”

Lyra poked the pegasus beside her. “So, Jerrod’s...” She trailed off and looked at Jerrod. “You seem so normal though.”

Jerrod shrugged and leaned against the tree. “I’ve had practice. It’s why I like things quieter as opposed to wild.” Jerrod slid down the tree and sat leaning against it. “Ugh, please tell me you didn’t tell any of the others anything.”

Sun Feather dropped down from the tree. “She was the only one who asked. The others just wanted to know more about you before they tried to approach you. I guess all of them felt it a little.”

Jerrod smacked the back of his head against the tree a few times. “Ugh, everywhere I go I sow fear. Doesn’t matter the race, doesn’t matter how powerful or advanced they are, they all fear me a little on some level.”

Lyra stared down at Jerrod and sniffled. “That’s so sad.” She rolled to the side and fell out of the tree, landing on Jerrod’s lap. “I don’t think you're scary.” She nuzzled Jerrod. “Neither does Bon Bon.”

Sun Feather wrapped a wing around Jerrod’s back and gave him a half hug. “Neither do I”

Jerrod sighed and scratched Lyra behind the ears and stroked Sun Feathers mane with his other hand. “But you guys know me, at least a little and you do fear me a little. I have seen it from both of you. Those little motions you make when I do something just a little different or start to get a little irritated. Even that brash hotty Rainbow Dash was doing it. Applejack too, she is so confident and strong but neither of them of approached me at the party.”

Lyra snuggled against Jerrod’s chest. “But they didn’t avoid you either.”

“Fluttershy did, so did Rarity.” Jerrod took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “I haven’t seen any of them since the party either.” He stopped petting the pegasus and put the hand behind his head as he laid his head against the tree. “Well I did see Rarity but it was very brief, only managed to drop off my cloak.”

Sun Feather. “Why does it bother you so much?”

Jerrod closed his eyes in thought. “Because I thought they might be different. I mean really, they seemed so strong. Twilight told me about all the evils they have faced and yet they’re still timid around me.”

Lyra and Sun Feather snuggled against Jerrod. “Just give them some time. Once they see who you are then I think they will warm up to you a little more.” Lyra nodded in agreement and Jerrod smiled a little as he patted their heads and looked around the park..

A group of foals were playing tag off on one end of the park. A couple sat in a bench a little ways off from them, nuzzling each other affectionately and making kissy faces. Jerrod leaned back and looked up at the sky. Sun Feather gently lifted a hoof and placed it on Jerrod’s knee and Lyra curled up tightly in his lap, wrapping her tail around Jerrod’s back as they all settled into silence. The sun was starting to dip towards the horizon signalling the beginning of the afternoon. Foals began to swarm the park as school let out, the gentle buzz of conversation permeate the air. A calm peaceful feeling settled over the trio as they watched the park come to life.

After a bit Sun Feather opened his mouth to speak but a loud angry scream interrupted him. They all glanced around the park,confused. Jerrod looked at Sun Feather and Lyra and shrugged before settling back against the tree and closing his eyes only to be startled by someone yelping. They both looked around again and noticed someone barreling across the park towards them.

As he drew closer they were able to see he walked upright on a pair of goat-like legs that were covered in a thick red hair. Two horns jutted from his forehead then curved back over the top of his head. A small red goatee hung from his chin, the tip of the goatee rested against a leather belt hung with knives that was slung across his chest. He pointed a grungy-nailed finger directly at Jerrod. "YOU!"

"Who, me?" mouthed Jerrod innocently.

The goat-legged instigator balled up his fists in rage, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. "YES, YOU! YOU ABJECT PILE OF FILTHY SHIT!"

Lyra looked up at the creature. “Hey, watch the name-calling, buddy. I will have you know that Jerrod here is a wonderful human being.” Sun Feather nodded in agreeance.

The satyr let out a barking laugh. “You are such fools. Do you not know what this worthless scum has done? What horrors he has wrought?” He shook his head with an amused smirk. “You have no idea what it is you defend.”

Sun Feather rose to his feet and glared at the instigator. “Perhaps we don't know of his past but we do know of his present. This man before you is not a monster by any stretch. He is a lost soul in search of peace. A creature desperately seeking redemption and forgiveness while trying to forget what he has done.”

The satyr snorted. “Fools, stand aside and let me gut this waste of life.” He pulled a dagger from a belt of them slung across his chest. “I will rid the world of this filth once and for all.”

Jerrod flinched to the side as a loud thock sounded out by his ear. Hissing in pain he touched his cheek. “What the...” He pulled his hand away and looked at the blood on his finger tips. “What.” He turned his head and saw the hilt of a dagger in the tree. Turning back to the creature that had thrown he frowned. “Why did you do that?” The creature screamed and charged instead of answering forcing Jerrod to roll away. He quickly reached back and pulled Lyra to the side just as the satyr’s hoof slammed into the tree. Rising into a crouched position, Jerrod raised his hands defensively in front of him.

The satyr screamed and jumped at him. “MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND ALL YOUR VICTIMS FROM THE ISLE OF THE TWO MOONS! I WILL AVENGE THEM!” Jerrod froze and the satyr slammed into his chest forcing Jerrod off his feet. They both rolled across the grass until the satyr came to rest over him with a predatory smile. “I am Teyvin of House Dolbus, the last living descendant of House Dolbus, and I claim your life in accordance with the old laws.” He lifted the in his hand dagger ready to end it quickly before Sun Feather's hoof slammed into the side of his head with a painful thud.

The satyr fell to the side and rolled into a half standing position with one hand on the ground and the other pressed to the side off his head. Sun Feather spread his wings protectively over Jerrod as he stood behind him. “You will leave now before I am forced to arrest you.”

Teyvin smirked at Sun Feather and rose to his hooves, pulling a second dagger from the belt across his chest as he rose. “You have no right to stop me, pony. He killed my family, my friends and countless others, and by the old laws I am granted the right to exact what I deem to be fitting justice for the crime.”

Jerrod shook his head and placed a hand on Sun Feather's flank as he struggled to his feet. His eyes were closed and teeth clenched, his voice was low and gravely as he spoke. “Stand down guard, this is my fight. His laws may not hold weight here but I should at least hear him out.” He stepped in front of the pegasus and locked eyes with satyr. “What is it you wish Teyvin of House Dolbus?” He cocked his head to the side as he squeezed his eyes closed and his breath hitched for moment.

Teyvin stood tall and sneered at Jerrod with a proud smile. “The head of the Knight of Blood, the Lord of Death. THE HEAD OF DOMINUS! By right of the ancient laws I lay claim to your head, to your life, for the crimes you have committed against the Isle of The Two Moons.” He swung his arm forward and a glint of steel was all the warning Jerrod had to shift himself sideways. A single dagger flew past Jerrod and a scream sounded from behind him. Jerrod turned to see a small filly with the blade buried in her shoulder and Lyra galloping to the filly’s side.

The park went silent as Jerrod turned back to the satyr, all emotion drained from his eyes. “Dominus is dead. In his place I, Jerrod, stand.” Jerrod took a deep calming breath. “The prize you wish to collect is no more.” Jerrod twitched again and brought a hand to his head as his breathing grew shallow and fast. “The criminal Dominus is....is...” Jerrod stumbled to the side and dropped to a knee. “Dead.”

Teyvin smirked and tossed a dagger up, catching the tip of it. “You claim his death and yet I see before me the criminal kneeling. Your lies will not deflect my wrath nor my blades and I shall see that justice is done and vengeance taken.” Teyvin drew his arm back behind his head. “Any last words?”

Jerrod leaned forward, placing a hand on the ground as he seemed to growl then it stopped and was replaced with whining sound. “No, Dominus...Dominus...he is...” His body shook and his breath came in labored gasps as he staggered to his feet. “No, this...you can’t be.” His eyes slowly grew wider in fear. “NO!” His body spasmed and he dropped back to the ground. Teyvin’s arm lowered and his head tilted to the side as Jerrod jerked to his feet.

Jerrod’s body stood tense, shoulders back and head turned to the sky as it spasmed for a moment. As quickly as it had begun Jerrod’s body went limp and fell forward, arms hanging close to the ground as a low gravelly chuckle rolled across the park. Slowly he lifted himself and revealed a sick, twisted, predatory smile. His head was tilted to one side and his stance screamed at everyone around that he was ready to kill. His fingers twitched and eyes languidly took in the surroundings before the same deep rumbling sound asked a simple question. “Who says such lies?”

Jerrod’s body sagged, all traces of the thing before gone. His arms were wrapped around his chest, squeezing his upper arms tightly in fear. A thin layer of sweat coated his body and he breathed in deep heavy gasps. “You can’t be, it’s not....” His voice trailed off and his body went limp again, almost falling to the ground. For a moment Jerrod stood slumped forward, not moving before he suddenly straightened up and threw his head back. His stance was loose but every muscle was tense, his fingers twitching erratically before everything stopped. Everyone present took a step back in fear of the human who stood before them now. They no longer say the gentle fool they had been coming to know but in his place stood a predator, a fearsome creature ready to take the life of whoever happened to be in his path.

He stood still, a twisted smile on his lips as he rolled his shoulders and head. “Oh it feels good to be outside.” He spoke in a deep, deep voice, reminiscent of two boulders grinding against one another as his eyes turned to Teyvin and he leaned forward. “Good morning, Teyvin. You called?”

Teyvin took a step back. “What?” He crouched low and pulled a second dagger from the belt on his chest. “It matters not, what just happened.” Teyvin’s hand shook as he gripped the blade tighter. “I will claim your head and those whom you have wronged wil lbe given peace, prepare yourself you foul beast.”

The body in front of Teyvin jerked sideways and stumbled. The smile fell, replaced by a fearful expression. Hands pressed against the sides of its head as it whimpered in fear and pain. “No, begone, this isn’t right, you can’t be.”

His body jerked and spasmed, the sadistic grin with blood thirsty eyes taking over the face once more. The arms dropped and one lifted in front of the body, waving a finger back and forth slowly. “Now now, no more of that. Just stay in there quietly old friend.”

Teyvin lifted one of his hands, ready to hurl the dagger clutched in it. “Stop your stalling and face me! Come taste my blade and the hate of every soul you massacred.”

Dominus turned to Teyvin with a sick smile that morphed into a twisted frown. “Now that’s just rude. You should know I always like to play with my prey.” He closed his eyes and rolled his shoulders and then his head. “You’re the one who wanted me to come out and play, so...let...us...PLAY!”

Without missing a beat Dominus dropped low to the ground and darted forward as the echoes of his last word died. Teyvin startled back as Dominus seemed to appear in his face with a gleeful and bloodthirsty smile. On instinct the daggers came up to block the attack, only for Teyvin to be staggered as Dominus disappeared again and a foot landed squarely between his eyes. A sickening crunch echoed out and the satyr was forced to his knees.

Teyvin smiled as blood poured from his nose and grabbed the foot still resting on his broken nose. “You are a mighty opponent indeed, Dominus, but I have trained since the fall of the Isle of Two Moons to slay you. Your tricks will accomplish nothing against me.” Slowly he twisted Dominus’s foot until a pop echoed through the park and the foot was facing the wrong direction.

The smile quickly fled Teyvin's face as the twisted creature let out a diabolical laugh. "Hahaha! Teyvin, old friend, why would you think that I would ever use tricks against you?" Rolling backwards, Dominus lifted Teyvin into the air with his misshapen foot. With a powerful kick he sent the satyr across the park towards a tree. A loud crash and Teyvin hit the tree head first and leaves drifted down around him as he crumpled to the ground at the base of the tree. Dominus cackled once more as he popped his disjointed foot into place with a nauseating crack. He tramped over to where the miserable satyr lay and placed a foot over his chest. "I don't need tricks to end you, old friend."

Teyvin opened his mouth to answer. Dominus cut him off by grabbing his face with one hand and lifted him into the air. “See, no tricks.” Dominus dropped to one knee, bringing Teyvin’s head down to the ground with a crack. Cackling gleefully he lifted the head and slammed it back down, over and over until Teyvin grew still. Dominus frowned and shook him. “Hey, the crowd’s calling for more, no going to sleep in the middle of the performance.” He shook Teyvin a little before letting his face go and grabbing it by the chin. “Hey, listen, listen to their happy shouts. They are loving this and here you are falling asleep on them. Listen to the bloodlust, feel the energy in the air, let...it...stir...your...heart.” With each word from the end of the sentence he slapped Teyvin’s face to wake him.

Teyvin groaned and opened his eyes slowly. “No, that’s not...they are screaming in terror.” He pulled a dagger free from the belt and jammed it into Dominus’s arm. “They aren’t screaming for more, they are screaming for less, you delusional beast.”

Dominus chuckled and squeezed Teyvin’s chin tighter as he lifted him into the air above him. “And it’s wondrous.” He spun in a half circle, brandishing the creature in his hand to those around him. “See their terror stricken faces, and yet they are liars, all of them. They sit high above us and feign terror while confident in their safety.” Dominus spat on the ground. “Fools, all of them, fools who deserve not the lives they flaunt over us.” With a grunt Dominus hurled the satyr in a graceful arc. Teyvin twisted himself and hit the ground between two ponies who jumped away in fright.

Pulling himself to his hooves, Teyvin pulled another dagger free. “They were right to be confident. You were the first and the last to have ever risen up against us.” With a flick of his wrist the dagger whistled across the park. A low grunt signaled the end of the dagger’s journey. “We made one mistake with you; we underestimated your intelligence and we paid the price.” He lowered himself slightly and charged across the field towards his foe. Smiling, he jumped into the air and planted a hoof against the hilt of the dagger buried in Dominus’s shoulder. “And now I am here to make you pay for your crimes against them.” Dominus staggered backwards until he fell back onto a bench.

With a growl, Dominus grabbed the hoof planted against his shoulder.. “You want to make me pay for giving back everything they gave to me? You are an even greater fool than I would have imagined.” He brought his other hand around and drove it into the knee with a painful crunching sound. He drove his fist into the knee again and again, each time cackling madly. “Do you want to know how many times I was broken by your kin? DO YOU?” He slammed Teyvin agaisnt the ground and released his leg. “DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF MY BRETHREN YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, THE WARDENS BROKE?”

Teyvin curled up, clutching his knee. “So you killed them?” Dominus growled and Teyvin glared at him as he pulled out another dagger and threw it. “Did they truly deserve to die?” The dagger buried itself in Dominus’s palm and he laughed.

“Death was a kindness for those monsters.” Dominus smiled and licked the blood from around the wound in his hand. “And you will go join them shortly.”

Teyvin pulled another dagger free and then staggered to his feet. “We will go together.” He charged forward with the dagger held at his waist. He slammed into Dominus, forcing him to stagger back slightly with a growl. “You can go first.” Teyvin whipped another dagger free and swung it around into Dominus’s side and into his lung.

Dominus laughed and coughed a little blood. “Impressive, but not impressive enough.” He pulled the dagger in his stomach free without so much as a grimace. Teyvin’s wide eyes followed the dagger as it was lifted high into the air were it seemed to pause before it vanished. The force of the blow and pain of the dagger drove Teyvin to his knees as he screamed in pain. He could hear the crunch of bone in his shoulder and feel his knees shatter against the ground.

A powerful voice rang out, eliciting a smile from Dominus. He gripped the satyr’s head and turned it slowly towards the source of the voice. “Look who has arrived.” Dominus licked his lips as the blue alicorn screamed at him again. “She demands happiness.” He leaned down and growled at Teyvin. “I will give her your blood and life and she will grant me a stay from the battles for a time and there I will give her the happiness she seeks.” Dominus turned from Teyvin to grin at the alicorn wistfully.

Teyvin stared up at Dominus with wide eyes. “You don’t hear them, do you?” He started to laugh, a hollow empty laugh full of despair. “In all my travels I never would have imagined such an outcome.” He pulled his last dagger from his belt, twirling it between his fingers. “These blades, I had them made for the sole  purpose of killing you.” A glint of light flashed across his face as the blade landed at Dominus’ feet. “But I know longer wish to fight you.” Teyvin turned his eyes up. “Fight him Jerrod, don’t let him win. And you, release him. Set him free and leave his body.”

Dominus crouched down, his arms resting on his knees. “You weak-minded coward.” He snatched the blade and drove it into Teyvin’s eye. “Your words mean nothing to me. Jerrod is dead, his body is mine.” Dominus’s started laugh and paused as a small tear splashed against his arm. He stared at the spot confused, then he jumped a little as another tear landed beside the first. “What? What is this?”

Teyvin stared for a moment. “It’s compassion.” His grip loosened as he watched the tears flow down the beast’s face. “It’s the one thing you can never be.” Teyvin felt the grip on his face loosen as Dominus stepped back. He landed on the ground and fell to one side as Dominus’s face began to show fear.

Dominus stared at his hands, fear and sorrow warring across his face. “What, what is this?” He gripped the dagger in his hand and growled. “YOU. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” He tore the dagger free and froze as the assembled voices all screamed in unison. Staggering to the side he slumped against something warm and felt a wing wrap around his waist. Dominus jerked away and shook his head. “No, no, no. You can't do this. You need me! They will kill you if you do this.”

Teyvin starred as the beast from his nightmares dropped to it’s knees, clutching it’s head and screaming. It curled up on the ground, sobbing and screaming in two different voices.

The alicorn that had arrived moments ago knelt in the grass beside Teyvin’s nightmare and nudged it gently with her nose and the sounds lulled but it continued to kick and writhe.

Pulling himself off the tree Teyvin staggered forward a few steps before falling to the ground again. “Jerrod, please. Don’t let it end like this.” He coughed up a little blood. “Don’t let it win.”

Jerrod stopped kicking and slowly uncurled, his breath heavy and labored. “Teyvin?” He rolled over and got to his knees. “What...what have? What is?” His body jerked and he wrapped his arms around himself. “No. No, leave me be.”

Teyvin rolled onto his back and coughed. “Fight him Jerrod, fight him.”

Jerrod managed to pull himself to his feet with the help of Luna. Leaning heavily against her he wrapped an arm around her neck. Jerrod looked to Teyvin and shook his head lightly as he spoke. “Teyvin, I’m so sorry.”

Teyvin looked to the sky with a hand on his forehead. “For what, it’s what I wanted. To fight the Knight of Blood, the Lord of Death. I guess I just never realized how truly horrifying he was. I’m the one who needs to apologize. I brought up memories that should have just been left to rot. I let my anger and hatred take over. I became the very thing I sought to destroy.” He lifted his hand towards the sun. “Jerrod, promise me something. Promise me that you will bury that monster.”

Jerrod coughed weakly. “Such a sudden change of heart there Teyvin. Kinda anticlimatic don’t ya think?”

Teyvin smiled. “I just faced my own death, at the hands of the creature who has haunted my nightmares for fifteen years. It kind of put a few things in perspective.” He chuckled wrily. “I also just discovered that I have wasted the last years of my life.”

Jerrod staggered away from Luna, stumbling up to Teyvin and plopping down in the grass beside him. “What things have been put in perspective?”

Teyvin looked over at Jerrod and sighed. “The true scope of the horrors that pit put you and all the others through. Even knowing a few who had won their freedom I never understood how horrible their dreams were.” Teyvin coughed weakly and a little blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. “Or how badly you and the others were broken by the trainers.”

Jerrod leaned back on his elbows. “I don’t think anyone who hasn’t been through it can appreciate what it did to us. I’ve been running from it for a decade. It was only five years ago that I really faced it, and I thought I had won too.”

Teyvin shook his head. “I wasted the last fifteen years of my life and now I have undone a decade of yours.” He smiled. “Look at the two of us, two of the unlucky few to survive The Isle of Two Moons Massacre. One the perpetrator, haunted by what he did and the other, a survivor haunted by what his family had helped to create.”

Jerrod frowned. “But we can’t let it define us, we must move forward and face the future. The past has helped to shape us, but it shouldn't define us.” Jerrod waited a moment before looking at Teyvin. “Hey, you there?” He leaned over Teyvin and then pulled away and looked at Luna. “I’m sorry.”

Luna tilted her head. “You’re sorry. Have you seen-” She stopped mid-sentence as Jerrod fell backwards into the grass with a dull thump. “Jerrod!?” She jumped forward and landed on her stomach beside Jerrod. “Jerrod?” She nudged him with her nose. “Hey, this isn’t funny. You can stop playing now.” She pushed against his shoulder and recoiled as a foul smell filled her nose. With her magic she rolled him over and covered her mouth with a hoof. “NO!” She stared at the dagger wound in his shoulder. A pale purple color pulsed around an oozing black puncture in his flesh. Purple veins flowed down his arm, joining with the wound in his hand.

Sun Feather raced up. “What is...” He stared at Jerrod. “Quickly, we must get him to a doctor at once!.”

Luna’s head bowed as her horn began to glow with a deep blue aura. “Bring him closer and we will depart for the most skilled healer in Equestria at once.” She pointed to the injured filly and her mother. “Bring the child closer as well, she will be needing urgent care as well.”