The Port town of Davenhoove was a small, close-knit community with a population of 126. And because of this it’s perfectly understandable that such a close community would have already have heard about the commotion that took place inside the “The Golden Mare", one of the oldest buildings in the town. Ponies who’d pass by the bar they could hear Old Pony Simmons, one of the towns oldest residents and founder of “The Golden Mare” screaming some poor pony’s ear off. He was notorious for it after all, despite his old age that he had the lungs of a manticore.
Inside the old bar, the “Human” now formally known as Binks, was getting an ear full from the very same pony. Forcing the human to “Clean up his own shit” the old pony stated so poetically. The human grumbled some colorful words under his breath as he swept away at the damages of what occurred moments before. The young veteran, Cannon Fire, watched with bemused fascination as the strange creature continued to work. Up close he noticed how different he truly looked. His pale, pinkish skin, small beady eyes and lanky limbs made him look so....alien. But, what was really startling was his eyes, they had a strange quality to them... so pony-like yet so different at the same time. He was pulled from deep thoughts by the human.
"Jesus dude, I get it! I'm cleaning it see so, chill out old dude go relax and take a Viagra or whatever old pony's do" said the human obviously getting annoyed by the old pony's tirade.
"Tch, you young'uns' these days ain't got no respect! Ain't no matter the species ya are" The old earth pony said.
"Yeah, yeah whatever old dude.." stated the human with a almost bored expression.
"Now you listen here 'huuman!' " *he said dragging out the 'u'. "You lucky I ain't kicked you out unto the streets yet after the trouble you caused, the only reason your still here because this young stallion ova here." pointing a hoove to Cannon Fire." And plus I need somepony to sweep up foo me I haven't swept this floor in weeks, it was getting filthy and me being an old pony I can't handle so much stress on ma back ya understand."*
"Yeah, that you a lazy old coot do your own damn work!" Shouted the human in response.
"Is that how you talk to your elders!?" Asked the old pony mildly shocked.
"No that's how I talk to lazy, pretentious old ponies with shit- for- brains!" yelled the now angry human.
"But my back!!"
"You weren't worrying about your back when you were yelling at me!!"
"Enough!" Seriously, that's quite enough." said the annoyed Pegasus.
"Yes, everypony calm down! We shouldn't be fighting right now!" said a pony from the amassed crowd. She was a unicorn with a dark green coat, a light green mane, with dark purple eyes as well as a cutie mark of a leaf bellowing in the breeze.
"I 'ma sorry darling, I just got riled up is all" the old pony apologized.
"Yeah, he's sorry" the mare glared at the human. "What !?" the mare merely rolled her eyes as she strolled over to the old pony and the human.
"Let me handle the rest." she said as she her horn began to glow a dark purple, enveloping all the broken glass and chairs back into place as if nothing happened.
"Thank ya, Treebreeze" said the old stallion.
"No problem!" said a chipper Treebreeze.
"Wait if you could do that the whole time why didn't just fix it from the gecko!?" asked the human.
"Simple..you never asked." said the mare as a few ponies around the bar chuckled a little from the human's misfortune.
"Tch. Stupid ponies...whatever it's done now. So, old dude can I have that drink now?
"Yeahhh... but ya still paying for it!"
"What after all the free labor I just did you should be giving it to me for free!"
"Why ya ungrate-"
"It's fine I'll pay for it old timer...Apple Cider, right?" said Cannon Fire cutting the old stallion off.
"...Yeah" said the human uncertainly. He quietly walked over to the Stoll next to Cannon Fire and sat next to him in awkward silence. They sat next to each other in pregnant silence.
"Sooooo...thanks for helping me back there, I might be mince meat if it wasn't for you" said the human breaking the silence.
"Don't mention it" said the Pegasus with a neutral expression on his face.
"And for the drink too, I'm kind of broke"
"Don't think me yet, I have questions"
"...you know your a real stick In da mud ya know that"
"So, I've been told.." said the young stallion as the elder pony walked over with drinks in tow. " Here's yer apple cider's sir that'd be twenty bits" Cannon handed the old pony his payment." Thank ya kindly" he said to Cannon then turning his attention to me, glaring. "And I 'ma keepin' ma eye on you, *Huuman!" he said as he trotted away and in kind causing Binks to lift his middle finger in response.*
"..Old bastard.." the human said as he forced down some apple cider.
"..Now, time for those questions."
***Cannon Fire's PoV***
"Ok, ask away" he said gulping down more cider.
"Ok, who and what are you?" I asked curiously.
"I told you, I'm Binks' The Human" he said casually.
" 'The Human?' " I asked
"Yeah, 'The Human' as in the one and only" he said with pride. Many of the ponies in the room gasped at what the human was implying.
"Y-you mean that your race is-"
"Extinct!? Oh you poor thing" Treebreeze said as she ran up to comfort the human only to be stop by the human's 'hand'.
"What!? No, I meant that I was the only human in Equestria!' Humanity's ain't extinct!"
"O-oh my bad. I-I just.."
"Jumped to conclusions?" asked the human.
"Y-yeah..." said Treebreeze, cheeks red with embarrassment.
"Never mind that...So, if your not from Equestria then.. where are you from? I asked
The human's facial expression changed showing a familiar emotion. An emotion that I've I seen every time I look myself in the mirror - shame and regret. " ..I'm from someplace far away.." said the human with a forlorn expression on his face.
"I see..."I could tell that this was a difficult subject for him so I decided to move on with the next question.
"Ok next question. What's Humanity exactly?" I asked
"Hmm, let me answer that question with another question...What is Ponykind?"
"Hey, I'm the one who's-'
"Just answer it" he snapped.
"It's. It's..--"
"Humph, can't answer it can you hmm?" He was right. I couldn't answer such a simple question.
"You're probably thinking 'How could I not answer such a simple question' answer is there is no answer. There isn't some broad or simple definition for one's race ain't possible. There's so many different people..er ponies I mean with different cultures, ideals and -" he looked around the room " -...colorful personalities that it's impossible to define such a thing. Same thing with Humanity, it's impossible truly define us, there are no black or white but, simply shades of gray."
"I-I see."
"That makes sense. Celestia knows SOMETHING has to make sense today.." commented Treebreeze.
"By the way, who IS Celestia, anyway? Is she some kind of famous pony stripper or somethin' " he asked.
"What you don't know who Princess Celestia is?!" asked a shocked Treebreeze
"Oh, so she's royalty...So she's a royal stripper?"
"What!? No she's a -"
"A PRINCESS PONY STRIPPER!"
"She's not a stripper she is the benevolent ruler of Equestria, who raises the Sun an-"
"Wait, 'Raises the Sun?'....yeah I call bullshit on that one, no one can possibly do that!"
"But, its true!" shouted Treebreeze, cheeks flushed with anger.
"Oh, yeah and I'm a pretty pony princess stripper...oh wait I'm not but, I know who is~ " he said smiling
"NO! She's.. ughhh never mind.." she said as random ponies in the background chuckled in amusement as she took her seat.
"So, what about you?" asked the human
"Huh?" I asked, shaken from my deep thoughts.
"Well, you've been interrogating me this whole time I figured that I'd ask some questions" said the human taking a sip of his now have full cup of cider.
''Fine. Go ahead." I said as I gulped down some of my cider.
"So, who died?" He asked. I instantly spat out my cider, across the counter onto Old Man Simmons." ...Thanks kiddo" he said as he wiped himself off with a tablecloth. "No prob, old dude" The human said with a smirk as I stared at him wide-eyed, how did he..
"W-what!? N-no one died.." I stammered
"Oh please, don't lie to me, you ponies are awful at lying."
"W-what do you know anyway? How can you possibly know how I feel?" I asked in retaliation.
"More than you ever know. Eyes are the mirror of the Soul after all " At that moment, I stared into this strange creatures eyes, this Human, and I knew by simply looking into his bright, blue eyes I knew that he's suffering through the same inner turmoil that mirrored my ...I saw it all... shame, regret, and most of all... I saw a deep-rooted loneliness that reflected across my retinas. I knew the pain he was growing through because I'd gone through it himself.
"It was me, Frost, and Blazer-I was leading the team into The Dark Zone." The ponies in the room instantly gasped, even the old pony looked shocked. The human looked confused but made nothing of it so, I continued. " We were part of the Navy Recon. It was suppose to be a simple Recon mission, a simple I and out mission, standard. We were the best of the best, we thought nothing could stop us...but, as we made our way further into The Dark Zone, Frost and Blazer started to get a bad feeling they told me, at one point they were practically begging me to stop and turn back...but, I didn't listen I was too arrogant, to confident in our skills, in MY skills that I failed to notice the danger right front us.
"W-what was it?" asked a frightened mare from the back of the bar.
"I don't know what they were but, they weren't ponies, they may have looked like ponies but, they...they weren't ponies. they moved, they're eyes...Oh Celestia, they're eyes! They were filled with so much....Despair* but, the raveled in it, rejoiced it." The human furrowed his eyebrows, as if he was trying to remember something. " They a-ambushed us, we try to fight back but, to no prevail we...we ran away as fast our hooves could carry us but they caught up with us...Blazer was first. He was cut down in a instant." Gasps were heard around the bar, some mares were openly crying. the old pony simply shook his head sadly and Treebreeze covered her mouth with her hooves as he continued. " I didn't had time to say good-bye as Frost pulled me away from his corpse....after running for what seemed like forever we were almost out we thought that maybe...that maybe they had stopped chasing us but, it was all a trick. They were playing with us the whole time they were there waiting at the entrance for us.... laughing at us...they let us get to the entrance, let us hope, to only crush it ..it was so cruel. I knew at that moment that I was going to die...I just knew it. I looked at Frost and realized she wasn't quivering in fear or wailing like I thought she was...she was smiling, after everything we just gone through she smiled. Her last words to me was..." Your were always such a crybaby, Cannon.. always letting your emotions get ahead of you were always so...honest I think that's what I liked about you most that unyielding honesty regardless of who it was, you always said your just do's...do me a favor... ' she gently kissed me on the lips as her eyes leaked tears' ...And Live your life to the fullest." She pressed her horn against my forehead, casting a spell on me...A Teleportation Spell. "Good-bye crybaby...I'll miss you.."*
"After that I found myself in a meadow full of flowers, It must been so beautiful....the flowers I mean but, at that moment all nothing mattered.." All of the ponies, including me, in the bar were now openly crying including The old pony, using a tablecloth to wipe his tears away. The human expression was hidden under his mane as it obscured his face. "I was given an honorable discharge and several months of intensive therapy but, even to this day I still-"
"Blame yourself? Is that what your about to say?' interrupted the human.
"Y-yes I do If I had only listened they'd still be alive." I said as clinched my eyes shut in shame. Then suddenly I found myself on the floor and clenching my jaw in pain. I look up to see the human glaring at me in anger. The ponies in the bar were going wild with anger at what the human just did.
"You fucking Idiot! How there you?" he bellowed
"W-what do you mean?"
"Your friends, Frost and Blazer, sacrificed their own lives just so you could live your life...and here you are filling sorry about yourself, drowning in your own self misery, so deep in your own little world that you can't see the big picture...DON'T YOU SEE THAT YOUR DISHONORING THEIR SACRIFICES!!" he screamed in anger now it was my turn to get angry " WHAT THE HAY WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, YOU WEREN'T THERE, YOU DIDN'T LOSE YOUR BEST FRIENDS, SO SHUT UP YOU BUCKING APE!" The crowd started in horrified wonder as he grabbed me by my neck and stared directly into my eyes. " I KNOW THAT THEY WOULDN'T WANT YOU LIVING HOW YOUR LIVING NOW...." His voice became somewhat softer. " ...do you really think they'd want that to watch you live your life in such misery? You really think they'd want that? what were Frost's last words?" he asked
" 'To live your life in the fullest' " I repeated. He put me down he reached into his pouch and brought out a certain a item, a wooden flute.
"Do you see this? This belonged to my father...I don't remember much about him, my memory of him is pretty fuzzy but, when I was younger and he gave this to me...he was a sailor just like you, he told me that when he went into battle, he would always bring this with him. One day I asked him why would he carry such a thing with him into battle you know what he told me he said " To remember those that had fallen. His comrades, his friends, those he loved and cherished. It was BECAUSE of they're sacrifices that he was able to move forward with his life, to honor those who gave their lives for us." He then crotched down to eye level and said. "Live Cannon....Live your life to the fullest for not only you but, for them, for Frost and Blazer! Live your life with no regrets!" Tears trailed down my cheeks as I realized how foolish I was...how disrespectful they entrusted their lives to me their hopes, their dreams, their legacies.. no.. I WAS their legacy they not dead at least not truly, they lived through me and I through them and It was about time I realized it and it was all thanks to this creature, this Human, that now I finally realized this...I'll no doubt still feel remorse and regret but, I couldn't let that hold me back.... I had to live... for them.
"Looks like you finally realized it eh?" the human said grinning.
"Y-yeah...yeah I have.."
"Good for a second there I thought I'd had to punch ya again. Not that I'd mine, of course"
I chuckled "I'm sure you wouldn't have" he stretched out his hand as did I, Hand and Hoof together. Suddenly, we were met with a applause that rivaled even the biggest of crowds and realized that not only the occupants of the bar but, the whole-bucking town was here! They must've overheard the entire thing. I blushed slightly in embarrassment and waves shyly to the crowd while, the human was relishing in the attention, bowing and stating "Thank you, thank you I'm here on Tuesdays and Thursdays".
A teary-eyed Treebreeze walked up to me "You okay?"
"Better than I've been in along time actually.."
"That human's something else, isn't he?" said Treebreeze, staring at the human.
A small smile graced my lips"...Yeah, he sure is."
*"HUUMAN!"*
Everypony(plus 1 human) looked towards the source of the voice to find Old Pony Simmons. The senior citizen trotted his way to the human as both of them stared into each others eyes, as if they were searching for something. Then, the old pony gave a earnest smile and said "I 'ma sorry foo treating like that earlier ya didn't deserve that pardner....you ain't half bad...foo a no good disrespectin' young'un."
"And you ain't so bad either...for an old, crazy ass coot that is." he replied with a grin.
"So Disrespectful.." said the old pony, but found himself smiling regardless.
"Hey, old dude do that piano back there still works?" asked the human.
"Why it sure does, why ya ask?"
The Human turns to the assembled crowd and asks " Who wants to hear a song" he yelled/asked the crowd. The audience roared with a resounding 'Yes'.
*3RD PERSON*
"They must really like songs" as the human walked over to the piano and sat down, cracking his knuckles in preparation which caused the ponies in the roam to cringe a little.
"This is an old sailors song, I like to call it..... *'Binks Brew' "*
"Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo,
Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo,
Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo,
Yo-hohoho, Yohohohoo,
We’ll deliver Binks’ Sake
Oceans breeze shall guide the way
Sailing forth atop the waves
Across the briny deep."
Ponies in the crowds stared dance with lyrics..
"The evening sun is dancing high
Painting circles in the sky
As it sinks the song of birds
Ring out across the sea!"
"The hometown port is far behind
Out of sight but not of mind
Smiling wide our joyous song
Will boom toward the shore."
"Waves crash and they lose their hold
On sprays of silver and of gold
We pass this by upon our course
Toward the oceans end! "
Treebreeze and Cannon dancing side by side..
"Well deliver Binks’ Sake
Causing trouble all the way
The pirates life upon the sea
We've chosen one and all."
"When its time to rest our heads
The seas our pillows and our beds
We proudly bear the skull and bones
Upon our flags and sails!"
Old Man Simmons found a random mare and began dancing with her..
"Raging in the far off sky
A violent tempest we can spy
Beat the drums our marry ship
Shall dance atop the waves!"
"Don't let fear control your head
Or you may find yourself dead
So hold your ground and come the morn
You'll greet the rising sun"
"ALL TOGETHER NOW!" shouted the human. They all singed in unison..
"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
We’ll deliver Binks’ Sake
All along its merry way
Our journey shall take weeks and days
But never feel to long
Waving our goodbyes to friends
Whom well never see again
Don't despair for they'll be there
Forever in our dreams!
We’ll deliver Binks’ Sake
Booming song shall clear the way
Adventure HO! Well go while singing
Songs about the sea.
One day we’ll meet Davy Jones
And on that day we’ll turn to bones
Until that day we’ll wander in our
Never-Ending tale!
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho,
Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho."
**a few hours later..**
"Do you really have to go?" questioned Treebreeze.
"Yeah, why not stay in Davenhoove we'd treat ya right" said the old pony earnestly.
The human was staring out towards the sunset as he said "I can't stay here.. don't know why but, I feel as if my true purpose is somewhere out there.." he said as he reached out his hand to the setting Sun before clenching his fist " No...I know it's out there. I was brought here for a reason and I plan to figure it out, no matter the cost and besides you guys would cramp my style" he said, causing a few ponies to chuckle in response.
"But, where will you go?" asked Cannon
"Wherever the wind takes me.."
"Just be careful...there's things out there at work....something in the shadows" warned Cannon.
"Oh Cannon, My dear little Pony. Didn't I ever tell you...I'm human, I'm the most dangerous thing on this planet."
"Just be careful...please"
"Don't worry I will be" he searched into his pouch and brought out the wooden flute from earlier and tossed it to Cannon. "Here"
"Y-your giving this to me but, this is your fath-"
"He's not here now is he? Keep it. As a reminder for what your living for, WHO your living for, never forget or I'll come find ya and sock ya in the face again you here?"
A small tear trailed down Cannon's left cheek. "I will...I promise." A small smile graced the humans lips.
"So...this is it then huh?" asked Cannon.
"It sure is...I've never been good with good-bye's sooooo...HOLY COW, PRINCESS CELESTIA IN LANGERIE!!" The human pointing in the opposite direction. All the stallions(and the mares) turned to where the human was pointing to find no such thing and as they turned around the human had already disappeared...
"You think we'll ever see him again?" Treebreeze asked Cannon. He turned to her then, stared down at the flute and clutched it with his hoof with heartwarming smile.
"No doubt about it!
**PRESENT DAY**
Cannon stared down at the simple wooden flute as he stood on the deck of the ship his symbol of *Hope , his legacy to both himself and his friends as well as that strange creature that restored his hope, that human, his...friend..***
"Thank You....Binks"
**-TO BE CONCLUDED IN THE EPILOGUE**
The Beginings of a new Adventure - Epilouge
It was a queer, sunny summer day as the Sun has just risen over the countryside. The young human named Binks’ sat on the terrace along the mountainside, with a look of contentment on his face as he played a melodious tone on his banjo, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” to be exact. The Human watched as the sun slowly rose into the sky, unnaturally so, that he thought what Treebreeze said about the whole, “The Princess controlling the sun thing” had some merit but, he quickly disregarded that notion believing it to be nonsense of course.
Binks’ POV
“Hmm, guess It's time to head on out then but, first...” I said kneeling over his duffel bag and rummaging through its contents. “Ok, time for a quick run of supplies.”
5 sticks of beef jerky. Check
3 Bottled Waters .Check
First aid kit. Check
Magical Rubik's cube. Check
Magical Banjo. Duhhhhhh
Magical slingshot. Check
Pair of spare clothes. Check
“Hmm, thank god I have enough space for all this.” but, of course space is no problem when you have a magical duffel bag that can hold almost anything.
And the last item I pulled out was of course, a wooden flute. “Ahhh, here you are. For a moment I had thought I’d actually given him the real flute.” I said grasping the small item in my palm.
"Chirp."
“Huh?”
"Chirp. Chirp." In front of the human was a small, blue bird no bigger than the size of my fist.
“Oh, it’s you Twitter and where have the hell you been huh?” I asked the bird. Get it? Because it's a blue bird and it's name's Twit- oh never mind...
"Chirp."
“Oh really, and how that go for you?”
"Chirp. Chirp."
“Well, good for you, then”
"Chirp."
“The wooden flute? what about it?”
"Chirp. Chirp."
“Oh, you mean the fake one I gave to that pony? Yeah, I’ma miss that one but, it’s no skin off my back.” The flute was apart of a little project I was working on every now and then mainly cause I was bored.
"Chirp.Chirp.Chirp."
“Oh, don’t you go lecturing me ok? I had no choice, I couldn’t just leave the guy like that I mean sure I may have lied about my dad being a sailor.” Lied was an understatement , I didn't remember no one from my past upon arriving in Equestria, much less my father. I could remember places and things but, not anything truly about myself. “And besides that guy needed a pick me up so, I figured giving him the flute would give him something to live for. I mean hell add a touching story and a sentimental item and they’ll eat it right up.”
"Chirp."
“Yeah, maybe I was jerk playing on that guys emotions but, it had to be done if I hadn’t done anything he’d committed suicide within the month.” I stated
"Chirp. Chirp."
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right--wait how you know about that anyway? You was out hunting for worms!” I accused in my best ‘Ha-ha caught ya red handed, bitch!’ voice that I could muster. Twitter chirped in an especially squeaky chirp. Oh definitely guilty.
"Yeah, me and you need to talk about boundaries."
"Chirp."
"Yeah, whatever stalker." I said as I rummaged through my bag, looking for a particular item. I pulled out a map that I had....umm 'acquired' from the bar.
"Chirp. Chirp."
"I didn't steal it. I'm just umm borrowing it for an indefinite period of time. Besides who's the real criminal here? Ya stalker!" I replied.
"Chirp"
"..Touché" I unfolding the map revealing a map of Equestria and beyond. It showed the country of Equestria and it's various cities, Canterlot being the capital in the center. All other surrounding regions and countries as well including, Griffonia and The Crystal Kingdom to the far north as well and to the archipelagos of South Equestria.
"The princess stripper is there." pointing to Canterot. " These pony puns are fucking ridiculous I mean 'Whoofsconsin' really? "
" Chirp."
"You said it buddy"
Glancing at the map, I noticed a particular location on the map..."The Dark Zone". I had remembered what Treebreeze told me about it during the party...
FLASHBACK(DURING THE PARTY)
I walked up to Treebreeze as the party raged on around us. She was talking to some random stallion, who was obviously trying to get some Pony-on-Pony action but, Treebreeze was oblivious to his efforts. I decided to step in, of course.
"Hey, Sherlock go get your dick wet somewhere else, I have business with this mare."
"W-why. I-I" said the stallion
"Beat it" I said as threating as possible. The stallion yelped and trotted away in a hurry. Treebreeze looked at me and gave me "The Evil Eye" huh didn't matter what species, all woman had it I guess something's are just universal..
"What's the big idea? I was having a conversation!" shouted Treebreeze.
"Trust me, all that guy wanted was to get under your tail."
"I Know! Do you know how it is hard to get some to get rutted around here!?" *Whoa.. didn't know SHE of all people had that side to here. it's always the quiet ones..*
"O-oh my bad then. Well I just needed t-"
"To rut."
"Yeah, I-- wait WHAT!?"
"Oh, don't be shy I'll be gentle~" she said with a sultry smile and half-lidded eyes.
"Nonononononononono...NO!!" I thought to myself.
"No way in Hell!" I yelled.
"Huh, why not?" she asked sounding somewhat desperate.
"Because your a Pony and I'm a human" I calmly replied.
"So?" she said indignantly.
"I'm not fucking you, Treebreeze." I may have missed a woman's touch but, I wasn't THAT desperate.
"Tch, fine. So what is that you wanted?" she asked.
" I wanted to ask you about 'The Dead Zone'." I replied in a serious tone.
"Why would you want to know about a horrible place like that?" she asked curiously.
"Please Treebreeze.. I really need to know.." putting on my best puppy dog face. She stood there for a few moments before answering "Fine, I'll tell you but, you have to promise me not go near that place"
"Why?" I asked
"Because I don't want what happened to Cannon Fire to you, you're a friend after all" She said with a genuine smile. A ..friend I was her...*friend?*
That word made me feel hollow inside for some reason.
"R-right your...friend. I promise that I won't go to The Dark Zone."
"Pinkie Promise" *what are you, 9?*
"Tch, fine"
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! Just like that" she said.
So stupid. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" as I said that a cool gust a wind swept over me as a giggle could be heard. "You hear that?!" I said startled.
"Hear what"
...Why do I feel like I just sold my soul to the Devil?
"So tell me all you know." I said.
"Well, not much is none about it but, it's believed to be part of Tartarus." *WHAT?!*
"Wait, hold on, time out! You mean The Tartarusas in the Underworld?" I questioned.
"The same one" she replied with a chipper tone.
Holy crap...
"Wow...you don't here everyday that Hell's a real actual place.." I replied solemnly.
"What's Hell?"
"Nothing...please continue"
"..Like I was saying it's part of Tartarus or gateway so to speak , they say that even Celestia's Sun can't pierce the dark veil that surrounds that place, that magic is simply rendered...useless." she said suppressing a shiver.
"Can.. you show me?" I asked
"Sure if you have map that is."
I took out the map that I 'borrowed' from Old Pony Simmons private cabinet and place it across the table near to us. "Hey, this is Simmons's map how'd you get it?" the mare questioned.
"Oh, he gave to me as an apology about what happened earlier." I lied
"Oh well that was nice of him."
"It sure was.." she then brought out a quill from under her tail 'I don't even want to know'and then began marking three distinct locations on the map as big 'X's.
"The first entrance into Tartarus is somewhere in the wastelands" pointing to the first 'X' marked by the wasteland. "The second is deep within the Everfree Forest." pointing to the second 'X'. "And the third and perhaps most dangerous is, The Mountain of Darkness, St. Hooves or most commonly known as..-"
"..The Dark Zone" I whispered.
"Precisely"
"Wait if this place is so dangerous then why send ponies or anyone there in the first place." I questioned
"I though that myself it is very strange, now that I think about it" It wasn't just strange it's down right suspicious why send ponies to such a hazardous place, what was the point and more importantly...who and what were they looking for?
I was lost in thought Treebreeze's description, Cannon's story, the circumstances...and every time I think of it, it all goes back to that one word...Despair. I shook myself from those thoughts as saw Treebreeze looking at me in concern.
"You okay?" she asked
"I'm fine...and thanks for the info I appreciate it"
"Well, I know one way you can thank me.."
"Jesus, woman *NO MEANS NO!!"*
FLASHBACK END
"Chirp. Chirp."
"Yeah, yeah I know where do you think I should go?"
"Chirp."
"Humph leaving it up to me to decide eh? " I looked down at the map and grinned. " Well, I hear that Griffonia is nice this time of year"
"Chirp."
"Well, you know me I've always have been a bit of a thrill seeker, besides I'm in no rush. I want to explore, see what this world has to offer. " I said as I stared towards the horizon.
So Twitter..."staring down the blue bird"....ready for an adventure?"
**Meanwhile at the Golden Mare...**
Treebreeze was quietly sitting in the back of the bar as she heard Simmons's scream " WHERE THE HAY IS MA MAP?!" and all Treebreeze could say at that moment was..
"Uh oh"
****The End....for now..****
When the young stallion went out of his quarters and onto the deck of the ship, the S.S Maneuver, the first thing that came to view was the vast expanse of the ocean that seemed to expand infinitely into the horizon. But, his mind wasn't focused on the beautiful scene but, on one single peculiar creature, well peculiar wouldn't be the word the describe this creature, this "Human" ,oh no more like downright crazy. The Pegasus reached for a certain object from his pouch, a wooden flute, a gift that he gave before he departed. The stallion smiled and chuckled a little as he remembered the bipedal creature. As he gazed at that wooden flute he remembered the advice he gave that day...
3 Weeks Ago...
The cold fall wind blew again, sending another flurry of leaves across the street and reminding the Pegasus of his abandoned task. He quickly brushed them away, mumbling a few colorful words to himself before he continued his quiet stroll down the cobbled road. He hung his head low "Why did you have two die ?" he quietly asked himself as he continued down the road. He eventually found himself in front of rundown bar by the name of "The Golden Mare". "Good, I could use a drink" the stallion thought to himself but, before entering he noticed a load noises coming from within the bar. "Hmmm, sounds like somepony's making a ruckus" the stallion said to no one in particular. He opened the door and his eyes widened, trying to make sense of the scene before him.
1st PoV
The tables we're upturned and disarray, broken glass and chairs were scattered everywhere. In front of him two charcoal-colored griffons, with there claws extended, their eyes flashing with killing intent. But, by far the strangest thing was the weird creature in the middle of the devastation, It had a resemblance to a minotaur but, was obviously something entirely different. It appeared to be male at least I thought it was. It was completely furless with only a small patch of fur that seemed to be his mane came down a little past his eyes and small patch under his chin.He wore what seemed to be a coat under a brown robe as well as pants and strange garments on his "hooves", and what appeared to be a banjo on his back along side some type of pouch or bag. His face was also strange, his eyes were small and straight-forward like a predators and they were a bright blue, with bags under its eyes as he hadn't slept in a few days, and then there was a strange gleam in his eye almost as if he wasn't afraid of the two deadly carnivores in front of him if I known better I'd say he was....enjoying himself .The other occupants of the bar were hiding against the walls trying to stay of the way of what very well maybe a slaughter before even thinking it through I...
"STOP!!" I shouted. At that moment every eye was on me at that exact moment. If I was younger the sight of so many stares would have unnerved me but, years of training in the Navy had knocked that fear right out of me (both figuratively and literally).
"What's going on here!?" I asked with much authority as my voice can muster.
"Stay out of this pony! This is between us and the ape!" sneered the griffon
"Yeah, between us so why don't you just beat it ya damned pony!" replied the second griffon as he ruffled his wings.
"Yeah we should listen to the little pony and stop fight-"
"Shut it, you furless freak you started it in the first place!" shouted griffon#1
"Hey, how I suppose to know you would take offense to being called a Turkey?! Seriously, who gets offended by something like that" countered the strange creature momentarily shocked that it could talk.
"WE DO!" said the griffons in unison.
"Well, someone wear their hearts on their sleeves. Or fur, eh whatever " said the creature
The griffons growled in anger as the flared their wings and readied their claws, readying them selves for the kill.
Oh Pony feathers..."ENOUGH! Unless all you want to be detained, cease this admittedly or else..." I stated
"Or else what? you'll go tell your Princess on us? Who are YOU anyway?" griffon#2 said snidely.
"I am Lieutenant Cannon Fire of the 14th Division of Her Highnesses Royal Navy and YOU sir are causing a public disturbance in Her Highnesses sovereign state do I need to go any further, Griffon?"
"Yeah what he said!" shouted the creature. A stare from me quickly shut him up.
Both the griffons both stared at Cannon Fire, the creature and then themselves they grudgingly retracted the claws and folded their wings. "Fine well leave" then they turned to the creature and griffon#1 said "This isn't over ape, not by a long shot if we ever catch you in our Griffonia, your as good as dead " said griffon#1 as he rushed out the bar "Yeah, what he said " replied griffon number#2 following suit. They roughly brushed passed Cannon Fire as the left the bar. The other occupants breathed a sigh of relief. I myself quickly turned my attention back to the creature.
"Tch...asshats..." he said under his breath. "Thanks for the help, Man-I mean pony I don't know what would have-"
"And don't think your off the hook creature! What were you doing agitating those griffons of all things!?" I asked cutting him off.
"I just asked them a simple question and then they just flipped out on me and then they started saying all kinds of racist things to me like 'hairless ape' and 'Monkey' and I'm like WAAAAAAHHHHHH and he was like GRRRRAAAHHH and- "
"Ok enough I get it already" I said already forming a headache from the creatures tirade.
"My bad bro I got a little excited there" the creature said chuckling a little.
"It's fine... I know griffons aren't the most cool-headed of creatures."
"Yeah I know they're dicks." said the strange creature. I found myself laughing from his statement and how blunt he was about it.
" Ha-ha, I suppose they are...my names Cannon Fire by the way and yours?" I asked
"My names Binks...Binks the Human."
-To Be Continued
