Monster: Retribution

"Mommy!?" I cried out, hearing the roar of fire as they lick the walls of my home.

"I'm right here Tommy, just stay where you are until I can get to you safely!" Mother cried back, standing on the other side

of the hall as rocks and molotovs are thrown through the three windows that align along the left, my left, side of the hall.

"Mommy! I'm scared!" I cried, tears falling like rain on the carpet below me.

"Just get down Tommy, avoid the smoke!" Mother called back, just as another molotov crashed in through the middle window of the hall, igniting a fiery inferno between me and Mother.

"THOMAS!" She cried out, reaching out before recoiling her hand back from the heat.

"MOMMY!" I screamed back, my eyes wide as I knelt down to avoid the gathering smoke cloud above me.

Just then, there was the sound of conflict outside. The sound of our attackers screaming with pain as a monstrous force wiped them all out. The sounds of blood splattering and stomach turning echoes of ripping flesh continued to sound throughout the atmosphere until it was all deafened by a massive form crashing through the wall of the corridor, leaving a gaping hole.

"DADDY!" I cried, recognizing my father's powerful figure.

He looked over at me, his eyes filled with worry. He glanced over at Mother, as if asking to save me first.

"Don't worry about me Bruce, just save Thomas!" Mother cried, pointing to me.

Father nodded, and turned my direction. He rushed over, the flames had little to no effect on my father's flesh, he was a god in my eyes, brushing off the overwhelming environment just to get to me. He was a very giant man, standing at least two or so heads more than Mother. He was built like a tractor, which made his embrace all the more comforting.

He lifted me up, holding me close, whispering words of assurance in my ear as he returned his attention to Mother.

"I'll go out the back exit, you just focus on getting Thomas out of here! We'll regroup at the border!" Mother called to Father, giving him a stern nod before turning around.

Little did I know at that time, Mother was assuring Father that everything would be alright. I saw my father as a strong and brave man, fearless, courageous; however he was more kind, loving, gentle, and sweet than I perceived at that time--it was in his nature to worry for Mother's safety.

Father tightened his arms around me, sheltering my form in his cumbersome torso as he charged through the flames from which he entered and exited out the large hole he made while forcing entry through the corridor wall.

Once the light of the moon flooded my vision, I saw what still haunts me to this day. The ponies, the members of the mob that threatened our lives, were splayed across the courtyard of the estate I called my home. They were mangled, torn apart, as if they were attacked by a ferocious animal... My father.

Bruce Crowley, my father, was born into Equestria as a slave, growing up with nothing in his name. He worked, pushed, fought, bled, and nearly died at many occasions, all to build up the wealth and comfort that gradually granted his freedom; to start a family, and to love his wife, my mother: Allison Crowley.

I knew of my father's past; he fought in two wars: The Minotaur Crusades, where he battled minotaurs nearly two times his size with nothing but swords and knives; and the Griffin Civil War, where he aided the Griffin government from the rebels who wanted to establish a Griffin-Only territory, slaughtering all things that weren't Griffins that already lived within the Griffin Territories.

I knew my father was powerful... But what I saw that day... Was the invoked wrath of a man with only two things that are precious to him in life: Me and Mother.

Father, Mother, and I all lived in a small establishment a few hundred miles South of the Griffin Territory border, Father figured he would move us away from violence in hopes of living a peaceful life; however, he was wrong.

Little did we know, there was a small xenophobic militia composed of ponies, griffins, minotuars, and basically every other sentient race that wasn't human. They despised us, leered at us, and once they learned of a small human family of three had moved into an isolated village filled mainly with ponies miles away from any other civilization; they figured they would make a 'statement', using us as an example... Which leads to the situation we're in now.

Father held me tightly as he rushed to the small guest house behind the main estate. He kicked in the door, setting me down, barricading all entrances; doors, windows, even blocked up the fireplace. After the entire house was secure, he rushed to the basement, with me following behind.

Once I reached downstairs, my mouth drooped in awe. There was an entire armory filled to the ceiling with armor, weapons, gear, supplies, everything one would need to fight an entire army, which in this case... Father was.

He loaded himself up with what appeared to be a modernized version of medieval armor, weapons, and gear. After loading what he could carry, he waved his hand, and in a flash of bright crimson light everything within the armory... Disappeared.

"Daddy... What was... What happened?" I asked breathlessly, looking around the now empty armory.

"A concealed storage spell, something you don't understand right now Thomas, maybe when you're older" Father replied in haste, strapping a large black cloak to his shoulders, lifting up its hood over his head.

"Daddy?" I asked, whimpering.

"Yes, son?" Father replied, glancing down at me.

"Are we... Are we going to die?" I asked, tears brimming the corners of my eyes.

"...No, Thomas... Of course not... We're all going to survive... You, especially" He replied with a warm and gentle smile, embracing me closely.

"I want you to take this, Thomas" Father said, handing me a small black cube.

I fondled it with my hands, observing it's marble-like texture.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Whenever you're in trouble, or when you're scared, just hold this cube tightly... And it will protect you" Father spoke, grasping my shoulder as he assured me.

"O-Okay Daddy..." I spoke softly, nodding timidly as he then rose.

Father lifted me up once more into his arms, holding me closely to his armored body as he then rushed out of the basement through a secret passageway leading to the forest out behind our estate.

The last thing I saw, was my home enveloping in a large orange blaze. The fire consumed the place where I was born, where I've lived my life leading up to now. All those memories, all those experiences... The precious home it all took place in... Was now burning to ashes...

"Thomas?" Twilight spoke softly, shaking the sleeping man's arm rather softly.

"Hmm?" Thomas tilted his gaze towards the lavender mare.

"We've arrived at Sweet Apple Acres" Twilight spoke, gesturing towards the orange earth pony standing next to a larger and

more muscular red stallion.

"Howdy, stranger!" the orange mare greeted, extending her hoof.

"The name's Applejack, sugar-cube, pleasure to meet'ya" the mare spoke with a southern drawl.

"Same..." Thomas replied, shaking Applejack's hoof.

"And the quiet one is Big McIntosh, but folks 'round here just call him Big Mac" Applejack stated, gesturing towards the large stallion.

Thomas shook Big Mac's hoof as well, exchanging quiet nods with one another before resting their limbs on their respective sides.

"Thanks again, AJ, for taking Thomas in for a few days while the library is readjusted for his size" Twilight spoke thankfully to Applejack, smiling sheepishly.

"Ts'not a problem, sugar-cube, anything to help out my friend!" Applejack spoke with a friendly smile, giving the lavender mare a side hug before trotting back beside Big Mac.

"Well, I've got to go meet up with the construction team that Celestia hired to discuss some plans for the restructuring, I'll see you later Thomas. Goodbye!" Twilight spoke, waving goodbye to Thomas and the two farm ponies as she then fluttered her wings, taking off, flying back towards Ponyville.

There was an awkward silence deafening the air for a brief set of time as the three exchanged observational glances; Applejack was really the only one thoroughly examining Thomas, this so called 'rehabilitating gladiator' she has heard so much about.

"So... Thomas, where'd you say you came from again?" Applejack asked, rolling her thoughts around in her head as she craned her neck up to meet Thomas eye-to-eye.

"AJ!" Big Mac hushed, glancing over at her.

"What?" Applejack asked in confusion, perking a brow as she glanced over at her brother.

"Don't pester him with such questions, let him settle down first at least" Big Mac said, in a calm yet stern tone.

"Oh, alright. I'll be in the orchard" Applejack sighed, rolling her eyes as she trotted off.

"I apologize for her bluntness, she's a prideful yet stubborn mare, so she can be rather straight-forward with no precaution sometimes" Big Mac stated, his southern drawl rolling of his tongue along with his words.

"No harm done" Thomas replied, folding his arms behind his back.

"I'll set you up in the barn loft, we used to rent it out for a while, so there's already insullation installed as well as an air

conditioning unit we installed last week. There's already some furniture and what not, plus it's big enough for you to move around freely, so go ahead and make yourself a home" Big Mac explained, leading Thomas into the barn as he spoke, showing him the loft apartment.

"I thank you for your gratitude" Thomas spoke calmly, extending his hand to Big Mac.

"Ts'no big deal, there'll be some chores here and there but besides that we won't work you too hard" Big Mac spoke, shaking Thomas' hand.

"Chores?" Thomas tilted his head.

"Oh, since you're new here, you'll just be in charge of hauling loads of apples here and there. Also, which reminds me, set an ear out for Granny Smith, she'll call out when breakfast, lunch, and dinner are ready" Big Mac said, walking down the stairs from the loft into the rest of the barn.

Thomas let out a long and gentle exhale, leaning his elbows on the open window mantle, staring out into the orchard, as the sun flooded the land with a golden illumination. It set a calm and warming atmosphere, even so, it didn't seem to affect Thomas that much, considering his emotionless demeanor.

I stared out into the vast fields of the forest through a closed window. Me and father had found an old abandoned barn by the forest tree-line. We settled into the top loft, where I now stand by the window, observing the sunset as darkness slowly devoured what golden light was left spilt among the green landscape.

Father was posted atop of the silo standing on the far left side of the barn, observing the area from a high observation point, making sure that we were safe from our attackers. His cloak was black as the darkest night, flowing like a flame in the mild breeze. The sun glistened off of the black armor that hugged my father's physique, displaying an ominous aura of power. His sharp dark brown eyes stared out into the foliage surrounding the field that the barn rested within.

Father suddenly disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, reappearing at the top of the staircase behind me with an unreadable expression rested upon his stone-like face.

"Were we... Followed?" I asked him, glancing back at him.

"No, son, we're safe... For now, at least" Father replied, releasing a sigh.

"Who were those bad people?" I asked, sitting down on a block of hay.

"They, were the Human Eradication Army, composed mainly of every other species excluding us humans" Father explained, taking a seat beside me.

"Why do they want to hurt us, Daddy?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Hatred, Thomas... Pure, irrational, xenophobic hatred" He replied, glancing over at me with somber eyes.

"Will they hurt Mommy?" I asked.

"Mommy can take care of herself, son. She's a strong and clever woman, I doubt anybody can put a dent in her" Father replied, giving me an assuring pat on the shoulder.

"Okay..." I replied, leaning against him.

"Daddy...?"

"Yes, son?"

"Will we ever live happily again?"

"As long as we fight for it, we will..."

Thomas was ripped from his haze from the sound of Granny Smith hollering in the distance, alerting those within hearing range that dinner was ready. Thomas glanced out the window, seeing the old mare slowly make her way back into the farmhouse just as Applejack and Big Mac were making their way there as well.

"Thomas! Did'ya hear that?" Applejack called out, having just approached the barn after a slight detour on the way to the farmhouse.

"Aye" Thomas called back.

"Does that mean 'yes'?" Applejack called out.

"Yes" Thomas replied with a sigh, pulling his head back in through the loft window.

"Don't be a slow-poke, you might not get as much grub if you're late!" Applejack called out once more as she then trotted

over to the farmhouse.

Thomas has survived weeks, if not a month, without ample provisions. Sure, most of the time he was considered dead, but somehow he would always reboot himself through some unknown force and get back up for the next blow that life threw at him. He didn't necessarily care for missing a meal or two, but it wouldn't hurt to be on time.

Thomas glanced down at his hands after pulling his head back in from the open window, realizing that he was carving out a large bow from some of the excess wood lying around. It was sturdy, so the wood must've been leftover construction material from building the support beams for the barn. Thomas was about three-fourths complete with carving it before Granny Smith snapped him out of his day-dream.

Thomas set aside the project he was working on subconsciously, and brushed the wood shavings off of his lap. After getting cleaned up, Thomas made his way out of the barn and towards the farmhouse.

Meanwhile, Big Mac and Applejack were washing up in the bathroom upstairs in the farmhouse, Applejack glancing over at Big Mac every now and then with a peculiar stare before returning to washing her face.

"Hm?" Big Mac glanced over, noticing her stares.

"Why do you stick up for that human? It wasn't like I was being rude or anything" Applejack huffed, now avoiding eye contact with her larger older brother.

"Obviously you weren't paying more attention to his muscular body rather than his body language, and the look in his eyes" Big Mac retorted, causing Applejack to fluster up.

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Applejack snapped, frowning over at the red stallion.

"He's been through a lot, AJ. It doesn't take a smarty-pants like Twilight to figure it out, just somepony who's not too headstrong as you are" Big Mac replied.

"I know he's been through a lot! I heard what Twilight told me about him before she brought him here" Applejack replied with a huff.

"There's a big difference between hearing about somepony, and seeing them for yourself. You were too focused on sizing him up to pay mind to his eyes, or the scars he hides under his clothing" Big Mac replied sternly, causing Applejack's eyes to widen a bit.

"Look, I don't want you to feel angry at yourself, just be a bit more observant and considerate of others with what you can tell by how they express themselves; rather it's conscious or subconsciously" Big Mac explained, giving his sister a gentle hug before trotting downstairs.

Thomas was seated on the couch, since all the chairs were too small for him. Apple Bloom sat right next to him, staring up at Thomas in silence, and in awe.

"It's been a while since I've met somepony whose butt is too big for their seat, other than my big brother Big Mac!" Apple Bloom stated, causing both Thomas and Big Mac to exchange glances; Thomas' gaze said: Did I hear what I thought I heard? While Big Mac's gaze displayed embarrassment more than anything else.

"Apple Bloom, come on... Big Mac's butt isn't THAT big!" Applejack chuckled as she came down the stares, causing the only three mares in the house to share a series of short laughs while Thomas and Big Mac remained in awkward silence.

While the group ate dinner, Applejack stealthily observed Thomas whenever the others weren't looking, catching glimpses of Thomas' body language, and the look in his eyes that Big Mac had mentioned before. The notorious thousand-yard stare, a gaze only seen in a few of the Royal Guard veterans, only Thomas' gaze was far more superior to any veteran Applejack ever saw. Screw a thousand, Thomas' gaze was more like a hundred-thousand-yard stare.

After dinner, Big Mac and Apple Bloom helped Granny Smith with the dishes as Thomas stared distantly at the thirty-inch TV box set rested on a small entertainment center in front of him. There was no cable, only cassette tapes that had a very small selection. Currently, Thomas was absent-mindedly watching a documentary on farming.

Applejack took a seat next to Thomas, exchanging glances between the TV and Thomas, an unsure expression worn upon her face. After a few moments, she took in a deep breath then let out a smooth exhale.

Before Applejack could speak, however, Big Mac quickly busted through the front door of the house, charging towards the barn. Thomas quickly got up, running up beside Big Mac, joining the red stallion in sprint.

"What in tarnation!?" Applejack exclaimed, rushing to the front door along with Apple Bloom and Granny Smith, observing the situation.

There was a group of ponies, mainly stallions, gathered at the entrance of the barn, six to seven of them. They were the Iron Steed Gang, mainly a bunch of troublemaking rough-heads with nothing better to do but to terrorize whoever they want.

They've been pretty evasive of the law for a while, getting away with small things like shoplifting or pickpocketing, but what they were doing now was a whole new level of felony.

They were all drunk, number one; vandalizing the barn, spraying graffiti, throwing empty bottles of alcohol against the side of the barn. They were all hooting and hollering, saying things like: "Go back where you came from you bucking ape!" only with a more intoxicated and slurred dialect.

"Buck off!" Big Mac exclaimed, calming to a halt a few feet away from the gang members.

"Oh look who it is fellas! Big'ole Red here to save the day!" one of them shouted out with a inebriated laugh, causing the others to howl and hoot mockingly.

"And his coltfriend, the human!" Another stallion called out, causing the six of them to howl with laughter.

"What the buck is your problem!?" Big Mac roared, glaring at the lot of them.

"Oh, looks like Red is getting more red! Maybe we sh--"

"Shut your cockholster and answer the question, piss-bag" Thomas suddenly intervened in an eerily calm tone.

"What did you just say to me!?" the stallion growled, haphazardly storming up to Thomas, craning his neck to meet eye to eye with the towering human.

"Are your ears too full of shit to listen to a thing I said?" Thomas replied, crossing his arms, the other gang members fell silent, their inebriated raging eyes focused solely on Thomas now.

"Listen here, you stupid ape!" The stallion growled, before he was suddenly met with Thomas' massive hand on his throat.

Thomas lifted the stallion high into the air, about eight feet or so. The other gang members backed up a bit, gritting their teeth. Big Mac, along with the three mares posted at the farmhouse door gawked in shock.

"I'm sorry, I don't like the sound of flatulence" Thomas stated, before shifting the angle of his wrists, angling the stallion's neck at an odd alignment with an audible cracking noise, rendering the stallion motionless.

"THE STUPID APE KILLED HIM!" one of the gang members screamed, causing a series of wide-eyed stares from both the gang members and the Apple family.

"He's paralyzed, he'll slowly regain control of his bodily functions within a span of four years. Should you all like to end up like your friend, I suggest you all leave... Now..." Thomas explained in an eerily calm tone.

"This... This isn't over, you... You... MONSTER!" One of them roared, as the rest of the five gang members fled the scene. Thomas simply tossed the stallion in his grip limply onto the ground.

"So, the Princess still doesn't trust me?" Thomas called out, just as a few armored pegasi of the Royal Guard landed on all sides of Thomas.

"We could've handled the situation" One of the three guards spoke sternly, her eyes focused sharply on Thomas.

"You didn't stop them from vandalizing the barn, so I did" Thomas replied, crossing his arms.

"You could have--"

"I could have what--called for help and wait for it to arrive? By that time the barn would've been burnt to the ground, and possibly along with the rest of Sweet Apple Acres" Thomas retorted, silencing the mare.

"You could have killed that stallion!" The mare barked, as the other two Royal Guards saw to the motionless Iron Steed gang member.

"I only kill out of mercy, that cowardice prick deserved none of it" Thomas replied, causing the mare's eyes to widen.

"What... Are you?" the mare asked with an appalled expression.

"You heard those troublemakers, I'm a monster; so if you want to cease things like this from happening again, I suggest you use every ounce of effort you have to prevent piss-bags like those troublemakers from provoking my wrath" Thomas replied, coldly, and calmly.

Before further damage could be done, Big Mac intervened, and began to report all of the following events to try and explain Thomas' innocence. Meanwhile, Thomas just returned to the loft, sitting down on the couch once more, and returned to working on the bow from earlier.

After everything settled down, and after Big Mac finished dealing with the Royal Guards, Applejack rushed down to meet with her big brother.

"Big Mac, are you okay?" Applejack asked with a concerned expression, looking Big Mac over.

"I'm fine, really" Big Mac sighed, shaking his head.

"What is it?" Applejack asked, looking confused.

"I'm just... dazed, is all" Big Mac spoke, glancing up at the loft window above the barn entrance.

"Is Thomas okay?" Applejack asked, looking up at the loft window as well.

"I'm not sure" Big Mac replied, as he and Applejack gazed up at the loft window with similar expressions of concern.

It had been an hour or so since the Apple family went to sleep. Thomas had just finished the bow, cleaned up the wood shavings, and went to bed himself. He stared blankly up at the loft ceiling, sighing at the inconvenience of his feet hanging over the edge of the bed. After a while, Thomas succumbed to the depths of slumber, sleeping peacefully while his skin bathed in the moonlight.

It had been six weeks since I heard my husband's last words.

"I'll go out the back exit, you just focus on getting Thomas out of here! We'll regroup at the border!"

We had a plan in case anything would happen, if me and Thomas were separated from Bruce, we would regroup at the border in a few days. If Bruce and Thomas were separated from me, the plan was essentially the same. If we were all separated from each other, our primary objective would be to find Thomas, then meet at the border. However, Bruce and Thomas were separated from me... And I haven't seen them since.

Why did this have to happen? We were so happy! We never bothered anyone, we kept to ourselves, we even helped the damn community by providing countless funding for schoolhouses, shelters for the homeless, and food drives, and this is how we're repaid?

I never even got to tell Bruce, or even Thomas, the truth...

I'm pregnant.

About a month before this all started, I did a urine test, and it came out positive. I've been looking for just the right time, making all sorts of preparations to lead up to the perfect day that I would let them know of the good news... But I guess that day will never come, I'll just have to tell them after everything is over.

I was here, at the camp near the border where Bruce and I agreed we'd meet, and there was not a single sign of them for miles. I had faith in Bruce's capability to protect Thomas as well as himself, so there really was no need for worrying... But I am.

The faces of Bruce and Thomas haunt me in what little sleep I have, I hear their voices all the time... I've had enough of waiting. There was a spell I would use only in an emergency, to locate either Bruce or Thomas.

I raised my hand, closing my eyes, intensifying my magic into the palm of my hand, forming a bright green orb of light. I then inhaled the light, opening my eyes that now glow as bright as the orb of light I had just consumed through my respiratory system, enhancing my senses, focusing them solely on Bruce's presence.

His signal... It is weak... That's not good.

He's not too far, about thirty minutes if I use my transportation spell spontaneously while aimed in his direction. And so, in the interest of time, I casted as fast as I could, transporting myself as quickly as possible great distances in Bruce's direction. I could feel my energy draining, but I don't care... I need to find my husband... I need to find my son... I need to find my family...

Thirty minutes have passed, and I arrived in the location where the signal was strongest. I glanced around.. Immediately my heart sank. There was signs of conflict, the small opening in the woods was completely and ferociously obliterated, by my husband's hand mostly. The corpses of minotuars and ponies were splayed across the small battlefield. There was signs of griffins, but they trailed off north of this position, as if they fled... Or was chasing somebody.

I rushed all around the area, looking for my family... There was only carnage. I began to tear up, breathing heavily as I hastily searched the area.

"BRUCE!! THOMAS!!" I cried out, looking around in a panic.

"Allison..." I heard Bruce's voice weakly echo from behind me.

I turned around... Only to see my husband, Bruce, lying against a tree... Blood oozing from many fatal wounds surrounding his body. His eyes were gouged out, his legs were severed, his arms were mangled into awkward angles, and bruises covered nearly every single inch of his flesh.

"Bruce..." I breathlessly choked out, my eyes widened as burning tears rained from my eyes.

"Report" Blueblood demanded, sitting upon a throne in a secluded mansion a few miles outside of Canterlot.

The mare Royal Guardian pegasus from before approached Blueblood, kneeling before him, lowering her eyes to the floor.

"I would have been able to apprehend the ape, but that damned red stallion got in the way..." the mare replied, "I'm sorry your majesty"

"Big McIntosh, you say? You may have him executed" Blueblood replied, causing the mare to gasp.

"But, he's the brother of one of the main six, the heroes of Equestria!" she exclaimed, before being silenced by Blueblood raising his hoof.

"Then make it look like an accident..." Blueblood replied in a cold and angered tone.

"Yes, your majesty..." the mare replied, bowing her head before leaving the room.