Prolog: Unusual circumstances PT 1
Start
Luna looked upon her passenger with a disgust that had never before been permissible across her regal features.
Eerily purple eyes stayed anchored to the floor of the carriage, his jagged toothed smile was displayed like fine art. Wind whipped his short tendril like mane. The brownish fur of his body canvassed black spots of various size and fill. His breathing was slow and trance like. Gazing lower the individuals fore paws darkened till black, traveling all the way to start of his paws. They'd reminded Luna of the Opera gloves that the rich mares wore.
The right was most interesting, blood red magic runes floated about an inch up and away from the wrist. It writhed angrily, an image of a threatening red cloud of hornets came to mind.
A tracking spell and restriction spell rolled into one. Though the harshness of visibility could have been done without.
though they were needed in this case.
The tribal elder for the small Hyena Kingdom at the edge of Zebrica had said he was a prisoner who they didn't want, simple as that. Under normal circumstances they'd have him killed... He was not a normal circumstance. You don`t really kill the father of the royal heir. Nor have they dealt with one who killed the other, new born pups.
This Hyena, one Wrokenni Agnst, Wroken or Row for short. The guards in charge called him "Broken". When the Lunar Princess enquired why, they said something in him "Wasn't working right." Hyenas while social and pack oriented, on their own were a bit more wary testing potential threats or food sources before others arrive to assist, Wroken on the other hoof/paw was known more for going the full one hundred in everything.
Even higher tier predators.
looking at him now she saw the scares that adorned his frame. Deep lacerations, bite marks, a large circular scar( a present from a Manticore they said.), and bruises.
One of her night guard still hadn't gotten off the "killed pups/filles" aspect of his resume. truth be told it had bothered Luna as well. To kill innocence, expecially new born innocence, one must be truly heartless.
Then there's the... Incident.
Flashback
The dungeon they traversed reeked. Never before had Luna dealt with such inhospitable environments; feces stained the floors of cells, rotting corpses of prisoners and even guards littered around being feasted upon by still living occupants, there weren't even beds! Only stones slabs (if they were lucky) if not stone slabs then grass was provided. Being lonely, trapped on the moon had a slightly better appeal.
Most of the of her Night Guard had vomited within their own mouths, one of them had expelled his lunch into a cage occupied by a malnourished Diamond dog. Said hound had actually bounded towards the mess and began lapping the mess murmuring wheezed "Thank you's".
The state of this facility placed a foul inkling within Luna's mind. The conversation of one of her guards to the warden slithered into her ear.
"- why exactly is the prison kept this way?" The guard questioned. The Warden, a striped Hyena, with grayish fur and coal eyes responded with an amused huff. Her voice slightly masculine.
"Because it discourages misbehavior. Of the 3,000 or so population of village, there only about 100 prisoners here! A quarter of that number is built of: Diamond Dogs, Griffins, a few Minotaurs, and a couple Ponies."
"And why, may I ask, are Ponies in this Prison?" Luna interjected. she pointed a critical eye to the Warden. Said Warden laughed a creepy, high pitched laugh contrary to her voice.
"Don't bunch your wings, your HIGHNESS," she stretched it out with harsh sarcasm, "-just some trespassers, they've been placed in a SOFTER part of the prison, cleaner, and nicer for weaklings." The comment on their weakness, rubbed the Princess and her entourage the wrong way.
"Actually they should be released today or tomorrow, so no need to worry. They were only here a week. Better than some of these poor fucks who never even made it from here." she chuckled darkly. " I supposed they found another way to escape." The guard who had been speaking with the Warden audible gulped. she murmured something about how "they tasted delicious."
Upon reaching the destined cell, guarded by two armed Hyena. Both female. A running theme of the land same as their own. The occupants immediately drew her attention. One was Hyena in question, the other a Griffin; female, brown fur, white feathers, yellow claws. She had three feathers facing forward layered one over the other. The inmates were covered in light gashes, and a few heavy ones. Blood stained the Griffins talons, and the Hyena (Wroken) surprisingly slender claws. Luna was about to use her Royal Cantorlot Voice when one of the guards jeered.
"Hey "Broken"!" The Guard cried. Head immediately snapping to call, eliciting a low almost unnatural chuckle. The absolute hate it broadcasted completely over took them. This distraction was enough for the Griffin cause she immediately pounced him, pinning the marked carnivore.
"Say it." the Griffin teased
"No." Wroken spoke defiantly.
"Say it!"
"No!!"
"Say it, you lost fair and square, now Say it!!!" The Griffin demanded. Wroken groaned lowly, obvious hating every moment. He gave a few more struggles before moaning.
"I'm your bitch." he said quietly.
"What?" she teased. "Can't hear you." she mocked.
" I'm not saying it again." He stated flatly.
"I know ya want to." she teased. The mumble of whatever eased from his jaws as the Griffon Removed herself from atop him. Dusting himself off, Wroken gave a few up down glances before a smile and soft laughter permeated the cells pitiful atmosphere.
"I suppose you won...again." He added woefully. Bemused by the situation neither occupant took notice of the audience. Till the guard whom called, screech-
" 'Broken' " she called. Luna observed the guard, how close she got to the bars was an act easily considered ill advised. He walked to the cell door each step screamed predator, yet hidden with an almost giddy facial expression. Face to face with each other they stared each other down. The guard with a hateful spurn, Row a gleeful smirk like nothing was wrong in the whole world. Something that greatly bothered Luna. He was still bleeding, him and the Griffon.
"seems like your getting out 'Broken'." The Warden said. His attention taken from the staring contest.
"Oh?" He questioned. The statement seemed to not surprise him but, amused him even more.
"From the way your actin' you already knew." the warden looked annoyed like she guessed what he already about say.
"You know Faè tells me everything." even the guards seemed surprised by the reply, the Warden growled/laughed a low throaty sound.
'A traitor?' Luna wondered. Was there somepony/one, willing to help such a criminal?
"where is that stupid pet of yours anyway?"Row sat on his haunches and shrugged. Pet?
"Hunting maybe, I asked if he could bring my cell mate and I something back-" a ripple appeared in the ceiling dropping an apple in front of the Griffon and a fillet of fish, fried to a golden color to Row. Right before it hit the ground, he bit it at the end, tossed it up, then completely engulfed the morsel with an audible SNAP within his jagged jaws.
Light chittering echoed inside the cell till the ripples settled, calming as does a pond from a disturbance. Licking his chops, Wroken observed the startled muzzles of all before him. Tilting his head 'cutely' he decided to rub it in-
"What?" he questioned. His smile big and obnoxious.
"you've had the ability to leave when ever you wanted, why didn't you?" The Princess inquired. Squatting then leaning back he shrugged again like the answer didn't concern them. The guard that been silent the whole time stepped forward her features betraying no emotion. Unlike the other one whom looked ready to tear his throat out.
The ever enthusiastic Warden seemed just as lively as when she first came in. Though her smile, Luna noted was a little more...deranged. The angry guard stepped forward all eyes on her as an over achieving smile let itself grow like fungus. And was just as pleasant.
"Wanna know somethin' "Broken"?" she teased. He twitched. one of Luna's Guards was was about to admonish such behavior but the sharp SNAP of the Goddess of the night's wing cut him off. She wanted to see what he did. "Once your gone, that precious little pup of your ain't
ever findin' out bout you. How's that sound?" her mirth conveyed in a soft chuckle.
"Sounds like I don't have to worry about pup care." he replied matter-o-factly. sauntering close to the bare he got close to the bar. "and by the way-" he leaned on the cell door becking the guard closer. She crept only a bit not falling for any sneak attacks.
"your nephew was delicious." Row mused. It took all of three seconds before she charged the gate gnashing and snarling trying to bite at him. He stood there grinning victoriously. the long forgotten Griffon jumped back, startled by such a display of viciousness. The Other guard plus Luna's made every attempt to subdue the raging female. Luna had her eyes on the warden herself whom seemed deep in thought.
"Why do you not assist?" Luna asked though her tone demanded an answer. The Warden said nothing. the wayward guard was spewing fresh threats.
"If that's how it is then I wonder if your little pup taste like you then?" she snarled, low pitched chuckles chorused with snarls and growls.
"Why go for a appetizer when the full course is right here?" Row bantered. pleased with blind rage he threw her into. All the guards were trying to tell her that he wasn't worth it.
"I wonder if that's what the council thought of that pony bitch mother of yours." an eerie silence permitted the prison. The ambient sounds of misery had all stopped in the wake of the comment. The other female guard had instantly jumped away from her fellow guard while the Night Guard had loosened the grip of the wrathful guard allowing her to press up against the cell door.
Wroken had gone silent all the mirth before vanishing like morning mist. His messy locks drooping his tan brown fur darkening, while his spots had begun to hollow out. Instead of a lippy smile, his face was marred with toothy frown. He made no sound.
"Guess that shut you up huh 'Broken'?" the guard flaunting her verbal victory. Ripple opened beneath her feet and the Griffon, swallowing them both and spitting both victims into the previous positions. Wroken faced the guard with an all to pleased smile. The guard finally realized her mistake. Racing to get around him, she proceeded to be slammed into the cell walls from a quick headbutt. Wroken eased his way to her each step eliciting a low whimper.
Some of Luna's Guards were screaming at the Warden to open the cell, the others attempted to buck it down. Tears fell to the floor from the frightened guard. Stopping a good leaping distance away, Wroken spoke.
"Smile." he said simple. "Smile so the last memory of you is a happy one." he smiled cruelly. The guard curled into a ball now. With a bark of laughter he leapt upon the guard whom closed her eyes and waited or death.
It did not come. When a few moments passed and her soul did not depart her body, she opened her eyes to see her would be killer stuck in mid air thrashing about in a translucent blue glow. A spark in Luna's eyes occurred and the once violent hound went unconscious. His fur returned to normal. The warden seem amused with the turn of events.
"you would not help your subordinate? " Luna asked.
"Saving her did more harm then good." pondering the response the sound's of the guards screaming ripped every creature in the vicinity's attention. Minotaurs, Diamonds dogs, Griffins, and Hyenas, all those who could see looked from their cells.
Those who couldn't pressed ears to the walls, content to hear the cacophony of pain and torment. Jeering and hollering, enjoying the suffering of the most prominent tormentor.
Luna, so disgusted by the showing behind her almost missed the guard be bisected by four spindly purple and white legs from a ripple like portal.
Spider's legs.
Blood flowed like a river pooling around the now dying guard. Pitiful whimpers escaped her loudly, then slowly dropped in volume, till finally... they stopped. Luna being from a time when brutality was slighty more commonplace took it much better than her guards. Each running to an opposing side, running to a cell (empty or not) to release hot bile.
A torn and ripped brown bag was tossed in front of Luna.
"These are his effects." The Warden stated suddenly, before turning to leave.
"Wait!" Luna commanded. "You don't really expect us to take such a volatile-"
"A deal was made your Highness" The Hyena stated. Her expression changing to a deadly seriousness. "You will see to it. Within the next hour: You, your guards, your new 'pet', and his pet will leave from here." Against Lunar Princess's better judgement she did not yell Nor
Argue. She simple lifted Wroken's Body telekineticly, teleported him out the cell, and walked away guards stumbling behind.
Flashback End
Luna hoped Celestia' s deal was worth it because the death potential sitting next to her was not something that could be ignored. Taking in somepony so violent was unthinkable back before she was sealed.
Then again, Celestia had gained an infinite amount of patience over the millenia. Her knowledge and wisdom about situations was completely unsurpassed.
Though the execution left something to be desired. Giving the order to take off, Luna watched the wings of her guards flap with a moderate tempo creating a relaxing beat. Again Luna looked to her passenger/prisoner this time a perturbed sadness wafted from him something akin to a breeze carry hot trash.
Did he in some capacity miss his home? No his visible eye was slighty in the cornor meaning he was looking over. Being discreet as possible Luna in the most discreet way-
"What are you observing? " Not missing a beat Row responded-
"My seed." The Princess of the Night quirked an eyebrow up. His seed? Did he mean his offspring? Obviously Luna chided herself, looking or now she could see a light grey pup stumbling after a ruby colored Hyena decorated in gold and silver jewelry. Both had spots that were Blue in color, but the pup had black fur that went up to the elbows of its front paws.
"Why do you seem upset, she appears quite happy?"
"She's not an Alpha. " Row spoke curtly. "In a few months time when they realize they'll start conditioning her to be."
'Is that not a good thing?' Luna wondered.
"No. But hopefully her siblings will watch over her."
"Siblings?" Luna questioned. "I was told you devoured the other new borns." She exclaimed critically.
"I did."
"But you just said-"
"My own pups Princess, I have other kids." Wroken began his explaination, high in the altitude the village began to look smaller and smaller. " Mating for Hyenas starts as soon as maturity is reached. A female choses a male based on certain facts. A more aggressive female will search out a male of her choosing and forces reproduction. " Luna and Company did not like the sound of that. "I'm most annoyed to say that I was caught by surprise within my own home twice, and once in the market place. "
A Guard whispered "Is there no shame."
"Plus as soon as I'm done with whatever I'm supposed to do I get my freedom for good right?." Wroken exclaimed gleefully.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
" I'm here cause I killed the Shaman, not due to the fact I ate stillborn pups." this was news to Luna. "Thats normal."
"What are you supposed to do?" A guard asked.
"I'm an Augmentist, meaning I can put magic into items and gems, weapons with the right items are given to me." he explained simple. Luna pondered his explaination a moment before answering.
"So you are an Alchemist of sorts?" Row groaned a throaty chuckle.
"If you want technicalites then yes, I'm an Alchemist." They sat a few moments in silence. nopony nor Hyena willing to say a word. About anything. Luna to a few minutes to look around before facing her passenger/prisoner, only to see a rather large white spider with purple accents. it was big enough that if it jumped at her it probably knock her from the carraige. at the moment it sat upon his head doing nothing. This flight is five hours long.
And that still isn't enough for the things she wanted to ask.
She'd try though
End
