The Last of His Kind

"Please have a seat and relax, that word you said, tell me what it means so my mind it does not tax."

"Kyan'nue is difficult to explain, but I will try. It is the you that is you. Who you truly are inside yourself, your very being."

"Ah, you speak of the soul. Now tell me, what tragedies on you have taken their toll?"

"My home, my world, is gone. Destroyed by foul beings that came in a boat that sailed the sky."

"A sad tail to be sure, for your loneliness I may have a cure."

"Truly? You can help?"

"Nearby to my home is a town, the ponies are friendly and kindness abounds. I can take you, it will only take a few."

"Are you certain the others will not be frightened of me? I know i must look strange to you."

"The ponies might be scared to start, but they will warm up to you and welcome you into their hearts."

Zae'kyal nodded. "Take me to the town please Zecora."

"I will indeed, of this I will make most speed."

Together the pair left Zecora's hut, lightly jogging towards the nearby town Zecora had said was called Ponyville.

As they jogged they continued to exchange pleasantries.

"Tell me my strange friend, why that weapon do you tend."

"A true warrior is never without his weapon, i was, and still am a warrior."

"I do not wish to groan, but what is that stone?"

"The Nal'thyak call it black-ice, we only know it is rare and very tough."

Zecora paused to consider this. The pair jolted to a halt as a shrill scream reached their ears.

"That sounds like the scream of a pony folk! Come before we lose all hope!"

Zae'kyal nodded and followed Zecora as she ran off towards the sound of the scream.

They skidded to a halt at a horrifying sight.

Three small fillies surrounded by wooden wolves. On the outside of the circle, other ponies were desperately kicking and bucking the wolves trying to save the three within.

As they saw this, something within Zae'kyal snapped. Visions of his village being slaughtered flashed before his eyes. He entered a state that village elders only told tales of, the state known as Jhat'ghyal1, the red rage.

He lifted his spear and roared with a fury equal to that of the mightiest Lyk'tiol2, the red rage fueling his strength and speed. He lashed out, striking true and withdrawing spearing three of the wooden wolves in as many moments. Then, he leaped over the circle landing on the head of a wolf that had gotten rather close to one of the fillies. He lashed out with the blunt end of his spear, bashing aside more of the wolves, and letting loose another mighty roar.

The wolves paused, unsure of their next action. Zecora and the other ponies took this opportunity to step up their efforts, kicking and bucking the outside wolves. Zae'kyal speared another wolf, protecting the fillies as if they were kin, the red rage pulsing angrily in him, demanding blood. Again and again he attacked, spearing, butting, clawing, and kicking.

As if from a far distance a voice calling his name entered his mind, the red rage drained from his eyes, and he saw his spear was pointed at Zecora's throat. He noticed that the wolves had fled and the fillies were huddled protectively behind the three other adults.

"I am sorry Zecora, the Jhat'ghyal had taken hold of me."

"No harm was dealt, the fillies we have helped."

"Zecora? Who and what in the hay is THAT?" Asked an orange colored pony wearing a strange head-covering.

"This is Zae'kyal, a friend who wanted to find a new home. I was taking him to Ponyville so he did not have to roam."

"Greetings, any friend of Zecora's is a friend of mine."

"Well shoot, you helped us save our sisters, I reckon ya'll right."

"Indeed, thank you very much darling."

"Yeah, yeah, thanks."

"Mah name's Applejack, and these two are Rarity and Rainbow Dash"

"Charmed, i'm sure."

"Hey."

"Yah said you were taking him tah Ponyville?"

Zecora nodded. "Indeed I was, but those screams gave us pause."

"I, for one am certainly glad they did. Though you are a bit brutish, anypony that can help save my sister is good in my book."

"I reckon we can take it from here Zecora, iffn yah want to go back home."

"Thank you applejack my friend, things back home must I tend."

"Thank you for your help and allowing me into your home Zecora. I owe you a debt, ask and i will wield my spear in your name."

"No debt is owed, only doing what is right and leading you on this road."

With that, Zecora turned and began the trek back to her hut. Zae'kyal turned towards the other ponies, observing them.

"Applebloom! What do yah say tah somepony that saved yah?!"

The three fillies shyly spoke as one. "Thank you mister."

"You are welcome little ones. Will you tell me your names?"

"Ahm Applebloom."

"I'm Sweetiebelle"

"And i'm Scootaloo."

"And we are, THE CUTIE MARK CRIUSADERS!!!"

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Zae'kyal, a warrior of the Nal'thyak."

"What's nal-the-ack?" Sweetiebelle asked.

"I am sorry, though it seems we can understand each other, some of the words I use do not have meaning for you."

"The solution is simple then darling, if such a wor comes up we can ask what it means and you can tell us."

"Rarity's right. So what's nal-the-ack mean?" Sweetiebelle askd, stoically ignoring Scootaloo's muttered "Dictionary."

"The Nal'Thyak are my people, or were." Zae'kyal replied, looking downwards.

"Were? What happened?" Applebloom asked, hoping to make their sad looking savior happy again.

"Now Appleblooom, iffn he don't wanna answer that he ain't gotta."

"The Cal'nyar happened. The destroyers, they came in a boat that sailed the skies. They destroyed everything in sight, homes, friends, my life-mate. She was carrying our first child."

The ponies gasped, their hearts going out to Zae'kyal.

"Such monstrous brutes!"

"Down-low, no good, rotten apples!"

They walked in silence, allowing Zae'kyal his thoughts.

"Does your village have a Ghyr'gol3?"

"And what is a gear-gall darling?"

"One who holds knowledge to pass on to the younger ones."

"Ah! Yes, our village has one of those. Twilight Sparkle is simply the best when it comes to knowledge."

"Can you take me to her? I will need her knowledge to find out more about this place."

"Of course sugar-cube. We don't mind a bit."

"Thank you."

Together they walked, intent on visiting a certain purple librarian. Zae'kyal hoped the village would not be too frightened of him, but he remembered Zecora's words. "The ponies might be scared to start, but they will warm up to you and welcome you into their hearts." He smiled, he believed the striped Hyat'ket and he felt that the others were kind as well. So far, Zecora's words had proven true, but only time would tell.