Ashes to Ashes

Considering Alex was once a Death Knight, he was desperate to eat anything. He was, however, hesitant to what laid in front of him. It looked to be a sandwich of some kind, buttermilk bread with what looked like daisy's in the middle. He glanced at Rarity, he couldn't simply just not eat it. She is letting him stay with her and is giving him food to eat. He picked it up with his hooves and took a large sizable bite. After a few seconds of chewing he swallowed it down and found himself surprised at how good it tasted.

He consumed the sandwich in a matter of seconds. He looked out the window and noticed the sun fell below the horizon and made way for the night. Although he didn't feel tired, his mind was exhausted. He yawned heavily and said, "So. When should I expect Pinkie's party?"

Rarity held a shocked look and was about to say something when she was cut off by Alex, who said, "Even though my eyes were closed I could still hear you guys. Quite the crowd you hang around. Do they react like that everytime a new face shows up in Ponyville?"

Rarity recalled the conversation she had with her friends while Alex slept. Rarity knew that everytime a new face came they reacted differently. He was different however, he was more of a stranger than anything. Everytime somepony new came, they would be very friendly and very open. He was dismissive and emotionally distant. While yes he took large steps that night, he was still hiding details. Rarity said, "Not especially. Know that no matter who comes Pinkie always throws a 'Welcome to Ponyville Party'. I would expect it either tomorrow or the day after."

Alex nodded slowly and yawned severely. Rarity chuckled with a smile and said, "Tired are we?"

Alex smiled as well and said, "After a meal like that, one might agree that they have recuperated. Or to just sleep off the stomach pains."

Rarity laughed and the air felt more welcome and appreciative. Alex felt more at home, more at peace. Again, these emotions haven't come across him in a while. The last time he felt like this was when he became a Paladin. He remembered the ceremony and the training that followed it. It was those days where he became good friends with Tirion Fordring. Before those days, Alex looked at Tirion and saw him as a rival. But as they were given missions together, they became like brothers. Which was way it was devastating when he was exiled. He truly lost a brother that day. Leaving behind only memories and good times with him.

Alex stood up from the seat and stretched his hooves and back out like a cat. He said, "Where shall I be sleeping?"

Rarity looked at him and got up, she motioned for him to follow and he did. She led him up the stairs and to a room near the edge of the boutique. He looked inside and saw that it looked to be a guest room. There was a bed near the corner, a few windows, and a drawer or two. It was warm and inviting, filling Alex's soul with its blessings of rest and respite.

They stood frozen in the doorway and Rarity looked over at Alex and she noticed two features that she hadn't seen before until now. Two scars. One on his chest, it looked large and an identical one in the same position was on his back. The other was in a fatal position, it was located where the head and neck met. She looked closer at them and said, "Where did you get these?!"

Alex moved his hoof along the scars and said coldly, "They were parting gifts from my sons."

Rarity was worried. They were in fatal positions, not even the most skilled unicorns could bring him back to life. He either had somepony watching over him or he is carrying with him a curse. Something held him together, but something was pulling him away. Something was missing, an important piece was missing. She put this in the back of her mind and would take him to see Twilight in the morning. She said in her usual friendly voice, "Here we are. Make yourself at home. Be sure to be up early, I make a mean breakfast. That and we will be taking a tour of Ponyville."

Alex asked, "Don't you have a shop to look after?"

That much was true. She had responsibilities and duties to hold. Cilents to help and make clothing for them. But he was new to Ponyville, she wanted to be the one to show him around. There was a certain air that he carried, hidden beneath the depressive and sadness was the faintest feeling of protection and nobility. A promise of defense and protection. Even though it was faint and almost not there, Rarity embraced the feeling warmly. Holding in her heart knowing that he is willing to protect anypony. Rarity got Alex's attention and she said somewhat seriously, "It doesn't hurt to take a day off once in a while, that and I expect some answers Alex."

Alex smiled warmly and answered, "I'll reveal what I want you to know."

They exchanged friendly looks and they left each other's presence to their rooms. Alex had all of the feelings crash over him and he laid down onto the bed. Welcoming the darkness and, hopefully, peace of sleep. It was when he started dreaming that he knew they would not be peaceful. He heard a loud familiar cold voice say, "Who do you love?"

Alex saw himself killing and destroying every foe that approached him. This was not the day he faught a horde of undead. No, this was when a team of heroes tried to defeat him and claim the Ashbringer as their own. He saw in all of their hearts if any of them had the potential and the will to carry the Ashbringer. They all were unworthy of the blade. He slew each and every one of them as they approached. Finally after what seemed not long was his victory.

But was this victory worth it? Who was he to decide that this was their fate, failures to be forgotten. But his mind and will was not his own. His actions gone away from him.

The scene changed and he found himself someplace he had never been. He saw himself standing atop a crumbling tower, near him was Rarity and two unfamiliar mares. They were tall and held power inside of them. One was bright white and her mane and tail was a spectrum of bright colors, flowing in the breeze. Very regal and leadership like. Next to her was a smaller and leaner dark blue mare. Her mane and tail a light blue, she held beauty beyond compare and they both stood readying for a fight. Rarity stood close to Alex. Who was wearing a familiar dark blue armor. His uniform when he was a Knight of the Silver Hand, wielding in his hooves was the large sword that was the Ashbringer.

They were facing down what looked to be undead ponies. One looked like a death knight and motioned for the undead ponies to attack them. Before they clashed a booming voice echoed through his mind,
Your power will be mine. And so is this world.

Now flashing through his mind were morbid scenes of death. He saw Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy lying on the ground bleeding out. Slowly dying. The scenes focused and he saw Rarity tied down to a deus and half conscious. She looked broken and torn. He focused and saw a pony step closer to Rarity, he saw the pony and it was Pinkie Pie. But she was different, her mane and tail were straight and long as opposed to her usual unruly crazy mane and tail. His vision blurred and he was put into Rarity's perspective. Pinkie said, "Poor poor Rarity. The last one of the group. I have to admit that I was expecting Rainbow Dash or Twilight right now. It looks like I was wrong about you."

Alex noticed that this wasn't her usual voice. It was a bit deeper and more mature. He felt shivers run up Rarity's spine, Pinkie leaned down and whispered, "Call out for him. You know you want to."

Rarity was holding back tears and remained quiet. She was filled with fear and she was weak. Alex could feel the many wounds around Rarity's body. She shivered even more as Pinkie licked along Rarity's side of her face, licking up a bead of blood that dripped down from her head wound. After a long lick Pinkie Pie came back up and said, "You know that I am going to enjoy every moment of this. Just know that I will miss you Rarity."

Pinkie Pie lifted up a sacrificial ceramic bone knife and thrust it down, with all of his power he shouted and heard it echo as his vision flashed momentarily and he shouted back into reality, "NO!!!"

* * *

Alex shot himself awake and he heard crackling of thunder and rain beating against the nearby windows. He buried his face in his hooves and slowed his breathing. He was no stranger to nightmares and how real they feel, but this. This was beyond what is normal for a nightmare. Alex mulled over what exactly happened, that cold voice. it sounded so familiar, it sounded almost exactly like Kel'Thuzad but not. It was true that it was of the same intensity but there was something different about it. Alex looked up as her heard hooves enter the room. He suspected that it was well into the night and he no doubt awoke Rarity. He looked and saw she was concerned, the same look that he had seen many times the earlier afternoon.

He looked over and saw Rarity standing there wearing what looked to be a silken robe. She stood there and she said, "What in Celestia's name are you shouting for?"

Alex looked away and Rarity stepped closer and sat next to him. She said, "Did you dream about your sons?"

The rain did nothing to help ease the tension that was resting in the air. Rarity felt slightly annoyed that he was still pushing her away, she wants to help. Alex sighed and said, "No...and thank the Light that I didn't. But it was much worse."

"What was it?"

Alex was very hesitant at first but he loosened as he continued and Rarity listening intently, "I saw memories of my past at first. The dark memories. I did cruel things where I came from. But then it shifted to seeing you...tied down bleeding on a deus with...Pinkie Pie...looming over you with a ceramic bone knife...and the rest of your friends were either dead or bleeding out on the ground."

Rarity's face grew darker and she said, "Well...I don't know what to say..."

She trailed off as she started thinking. She tried every analytic approach she could and tried to decipher the dream. She never heard of such dreams, death always occurred naturally in Equestria. Aside from some accidents, death came with age or just plain bad luck. Rarity slowly turned her head to meet Alex's distraught eyes and she said, "Where are you from?"

Alex tried to find an answer that can suffice but he clenched his eyes and said in his mind, 'No, you can tell her.' Alex mustered all the strength he could and said, "I'm from...a far away land...called Azeroth...and it is nothing like Equestria. War encompasses the place and is unmerciful for those who don't want to fight. I was one of the ones that protected those ponies. I protected them. But...I was...I was too weak to protect even my own family..."

Rarity pulled him into a warm hug. She no doubt surprised him with the gesture. She said resting her head on his shoulder, "I can't even begin to imagine just how awful you feel. How much pain you are holding. But know that I will always be here for you, as a friend."

Alex returned the gesture and said, "Thank you Rarity. Truly your generosity and kindness is surpassed by no other."

Rarity pushed Alex away from the hug and said happily, "Now. No more nightmares Alex. Sleep well."

Alex smiled warmly and replied, "I'll try. Good night."

Rarity left for her room and Alex left alone in the dark. He fell asleep knowing that he has a friend to wake to. It quelled the pain but not all of it. Now he felt guilty that he did not tell her the truth.