Monster: Retribution

by Papa Bear

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Alternate Universe, Human, Dark, Romance
Length: 10852

Thomas Crowley is a jaded man of dark history: having been a gladiator, a slave, a monster. After earning his freedom, he settled into Ponyville, where he struggles constantly to overcome the obstacles society throws at him.

( This is a remake of "Monster" )

Thomas Crowley is a mysterious and jaded man. His history consists of slavery, gladiatorial death matches, and relying on a dark and heinous personality and outlook that only a monster would deem reality. After successfully earning his freedom, Thomas attempts to settle down and forget his dark past, wanting to just move on and get over with it; however, fate decides otherwise. Old wounds are brought to the surface, society is constantly at his throat waiting for the smallest of reasons to judge him, evil forces relentlessly try to destroy what little friends he has around him… Life would soon change, for better or for worse, once Thomas is brought to his boiling point… And the monster is let loose from its restraints…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-11 04:39:40 UTC

Prologue

Thomas winded his arms backward, provoking a series of satisfying cracks to scurry up along his spine simultaneously while he rose from his slouched posture on the edge of the bed. His alarm went off just moments ago, waking him from his ambient slumber. Nonchalantly, he lumbered his way to the kitchen, opening the fridge with a subtle yawn, grasping a bottled water from within the chilled container.

He removed the cap on the walk over to a medical cabinet in his bathroom, obtaining a few pills from transparent orange bottles, popping them in his mouth and swallowing them down. After doing so, he closed the medical cabinet and began to strip himself of his sleeping attire; a tank top, and black basketball shorts.

Thomas stared distantly at himself in the mirror, observing his physique. He traced his fingers over the scars and marks laced along the surface of his nude flesh, exhaling thinly before he stepped into the shower and began to bathe himself.

After he left the shower, Thomas ventured out of the bathroom in the nude. He entered the kitchen once more, preparing some coffee so it would be close to done by the time he returned from getting dressed. There was suddenly a loud thunk heard coming from the living room. He glanced over, blinking as he noticed Ditzy, the mare that delivers his mail, pressed tightly against the window; it appears that she had crashed again.

Her eyes were usually pointed in individual directions, however, this time Ditzy’s eyes were focused on one particular area. Thomas glanced down, noticing his nudity. He glanced back up at Ditzy, making eye contact with her…sort of.

Reaching over to an apron hanging on a hook nailed to the pantry door, Thomas put it on, giving him ample decency. He then ventured over to the window in the living room, slowly opening it, watching as Ditzy toppled in clumsily.

“Howdy stranger” Thomas spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“U-Uh, special delivery!” Ditzy spoke with a stutter, tripping over her words as she dug around for a moment in her mail-bag, before lifting up a royal letter.

“Thank you” Thomas replied blandly, grasping the letter between his fingertips, tucking it into a pocket on his apron.

“Is your head alright?” Thomas asked, noticing the red mark on her forehead.

“I-I’m fine, Mr. Crowley, sir!” Ditzy replied, her muzzle hued red.

“I see…be careful” Thomas said, staring down at her.

Thomas towered over the average pony height of four feet. Thomas, stood well over six feet tall, nearly two and a half feet taller than Ditzy, and many other ponies. Ditzy had to crane her neck backward in order to make proper eye contact, sheepishly smiling as she fluttered her wings, hovering up to eye level with Thomas shortly before turning around and darting out the open window.

After the brief and awkward encounter with the mail-mare ended, Thomas shut his windows, this time closing the blinds, as well as the curtains to avoid another incident such as the one that just happened. Letting out a long sigh, Thomas ventured to his room while the scent of brewing coffee filled the air. He gathered up clothing from his closet and dresser, laying them out on the bed. It was getting rather cold outside, so he picked out a thick beige t-shirt, athletic briefs, and cargo jeans.

Thomas ventured out into the kitchen once more, preparing himself a cup of coffee; pouring the mug half-full of plain coffee, added milk, creamer, and a teaspoon of sugar. While drinking his concoction of caffeine and sugar, Thomas ventured into the living room, staring at the letter he received from Ditzy.

“From: Princess Celestia, To: Thomas Jay Crowley…” Thomas read aloud the cursive font written on the front of the letter.

Thomas examined it, sniffing it, trying look for any signs of fraud or traps. He didn’t smell anything funny, nor did he see anything abnormal, so this must be the real deal. Thomas opened the letter by removing wax hallmark holding it shut.

“Dear Thomas, as promised by your request, I have granted you sufficient time to adjust to a normal society, living in a temporary home until further notice. That was three weeks ago, and now, it is time for you to hold up your end of our agreement; your presence is requested in Canterlot Castle. I’ve taken the liberty of paying for your travel fees, you will travel in a private class train cart accompanied by guards hoof-picked by me. We will be holding a meeting discussing your orientation, it is advised to answer to the best of your ability. Sincerely, Princess Celestia.” Thomas read aloud, his eyes trailing over the words rather calmly.

Thomas inhaled deeply, before releasing a long and heavy sigh. After staring absentmindedly at the letter in deep thought, he folded it back up and tossed it onto the coffee table.

It was a little over three weeks ago, when Thomas earned his freedom. He served as a slave near the border of the Griffon and Minotaur territories, being owned by a merchant who traded and marketed all around the border, profiting by buying and selling both Griffin and Minotaur merchandise. One day, his owner went bankrupt, leaving the merchant no choice but to sell Thomas to a Minotaur slave-runner, who winded up selling Thomas to a noble in the Griffin territories.

This noble, a former general, ended up training Thomas; molding him into a gladiator. Under the global law, to which a gladiatorial slave may earn their freedom through completing fifty matches and eight trials. These fifty matches were consisted of a gradual incline of difficulty, the fiftieth match being the hardest. If one were to complete, let alone survive the fifty matches, but decline the eight trials; they would be free of slavery, but they weren’t allowed to leave the territory. If they completed both the matches and the trials, they would be granted both freedom and privilege to venture anywhere they wish.

Having completed the fifty matches, and the eight trials; Thomas was finally given the freedom promised to him. However, despite having earned his freedom, the matches and trials that granted his rights, also cursed him to forever be haunted by the blood and carnage that followed. When Thomas left the Griffin Territories and entered Equine Territories, he was given a specified amount of time to adjust to a normal society before an evaluation would be hosted by the monarch(s) that rule the territory; Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

Thomas’ days of adjusting were over, and now the time called for him to find out whether or not he will be fit for society.

[Four hours later, Canterlot Train Station]

Thomas exited the train, accompanied by two royal guards; one belonging to Celestia, the other to Luna. Thomas was still wearing his morning attire, however, he had added some additional clothing to contrast the cold weather. He wore a leather bomber jacket, black leather gloves, leather work boots, and a dark-gray radar cap. His hair was tied in a ponytail, in order to avoid it being tossed around wildly in the strong winds.

“Mr. Crowley?” Shining Armor inquired, craning his neck to make eye contact with Thomas.

“Yes, sir” Thomas replied rather blatantly, almost like an emotionless soldier.

“At ease, I was sent here to relieve your current escorts, if you follow me I will lead you to the Castle” Shining spoke, “I am Captain Shining Armor, by the way” Shining added on, glancing back as he began to trot away.

“Pleasured to meet you” Thomas calmly replied, tucking his hands into his pockets while following along beside the stallion.

A half hour passed as the two trekked side by side, receiving stares from some of Canterlot’s more wealthy residents. Thomas simply ignored any stares or hushed whispers which most likely regarded him. Shining armor glanced over, breaking the atmosphere with a clear of his throat.

“You appear to be much more, experienced, and ominous, than I expected” Shining spoke, earning a brief glance from Thomas’ cold blue eyes.

“You don’t say?” Thomas responded in a sarcastic tone.

"I heard that you were both a slave, and a gladiator; I figured that you were an escapee, since not many are known to complete--"

"Fifty physically demanding, non-stop, no break in between death matches against the most ruthless of all corners of Equestria; followed by eight trials that are a hundred times more difficult than the fifty trials endured beforehand?"  Thomas intervened, cutting Shining Armor off as the two gradually legged their way to the front gates of the castle estate.

"Captain Shining Armor and guest" Shining spoke to the guards that were posted at the gates, allowing the human and stallion duo to enter.

"You seem far more less threatening and sadistic than the Captains I've met" Thomas remarked, glancing down at the stallion.

"Perhaps so, but here within the confines of Canterlot and Ponyville, we tend to have a much more--" before Shining could finish, there was a series of loud yelps followed by a lavender blur crashing into Thomas.

"Ow ow ow!" Twilight groaned, wincing as her wings twitched.

"Bwahaha!" Rainbow Dash howled in the distance, causing the lavender mare to growl, whipping her head up towards Dash's direction.

"Shut it, Dash, you know I'm still inexperienced with these wings!" Twilight declared.

"Sure you ar--uh...Twilight?" Rainbow Dash's tone changed from a chuckling fit to a shaky and intimidated whimper.

"What, what is it?" Twilight asked, turning her head towards the direction of which Rainbow Dash's pinprick pupils focused on.

Twilight's ears splayed back, her eyes widened, her pupils shrinking to the size of a dust spec once she realized what, or rather whom, she landed on. Thomas' eyes were locked in an eerie solid stare, syncing with Twilight's eye movements as he slowly sat up, pushing Twilight onto his lap as he stared down at the trembling alicorn mare. Thomas had not said a single word, nor moved a muscle in either of his arms, he just stared eerily at Twilight, observing her closely. Twilight bit her lip, whimpering under Thomas' cold icy gaze.

"Oi..." Thomas spoke in a low tone, staring at Twilight eerily.

"U-Uh... y-yes?" Twilight choked out, quivering.

"You're crushing my boys" Thomas ever so calmly spoke, gesturing towards his crotch, where Twilight's haunches were currently rested.

Twilight released a yelp, flying off of Thomas at lightning speed, joining her brother's side, her face enveloped in a bright crimson shade as she lowered her gaze.

"I-I'm sorry, mister... uh..." Twilight stuttered, looking up at Thomas awkwardly.

"Thomas, Thomas Crowley. He has been requested by Celestia for an Evaluation, you and your friend Rainbow Dash may join if you wish, you may learn a few things" Shining spoke, winking at Twilight, further flustering his younger sister.

"Some things worse than others" Thomas remarked, earning a confused gaze from the two until their banter was interrupted by the sound of somepony clearing their throats.

"I see that you've met my former student, Twilight?" Celestia spoke, glancing over at Thomas as the giant human man rose to his feet.

"Aye" Thomas replied, brushing himself off.

"I apologize that the meeting of you two wasn't as pleasant as I'd hoped" Celestia spoke, glancing over at Twilight who gave a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry, Princess. I was pushing Twilight a bit with some... encouraging words, in order to help her fly better" Rainbow Dash stepped in, hovering down beside Twilight with her ears splayed back.

"It matters not, what's done is done; could we move on?" Thomas spoke, cutting the conversation short.

"Why yes, of course. Come now, I shall lead you to where me and my sister will begin our evaluation of you Mr. Crowley"  Celestia spoke, turning around, walking back into the castle; Thomas, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Shining armor following in tow.

Moments later, the group arrived in a rather empty room; looking to be a conference hall cleared of all furniture, with only simple examination tools centered in the room. Twilight and Rainbow Dash hovered to the side of the room, watching from the sidelines as Shining Armor stood ready to aid the monarchs if needed. Thomas just yawned, a rather nonchalant demeanor about him.

"Alright, Mr. Thomas, please strip to your undergarments" Celestia spoke, hovering a clipboard before her.

"Why are the... Princesses... examining him personally?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, because it is a monarch's obligation to personally evaluate and form a intelligent affirmation on--" Twilight was cut off by Rainbow Dash's hoof.

"Normal talk, please?" Rainbow Dash sighed.

"Oh, right. Well, basically, they're seeing for themselves if Mr. Crowley here is suitable for Equestrian Society" Twilight rephrased, clearing her throat.

"Didn't he stay in a house for like, two weeks though? He didn't need the test beforehand?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, no, not necessarily. There were multiple, if not many, guards posted around his quarters twenty-four hours a day. If anything were to happen, they would have documented it and reported it--if it were an important matter" Twilight explained.

"Oh" Rainbow Dash spoke, returning her eyes to Thomas, before dropping her jaw at the sight--Twilight did the same.

Even Princess Luna and Celestia gawked; gazes of awe, shock, and sympathy. Thomas did as Celestia requested, stripping down to his undergarments; however, what she didn't expect was the rather... saddening scene she laid witness to at this moment. Thomas indeed had a muscular physique, with the usual body hair around his chest, arms, abdomen, armpits, and back--however, what they didn't account for, was the horrific scars that stretched along his body. Knives, shivs, claws, arrows, nails, talons, teeth, stone, fire; they were all the cause for many of his scars.

"Oh my..." Celestia finally spoke up, as she raised and lowered Thomas' arms, examining them, as well as his more scarred areas.

"You certainly hold many flesh-bound memories of many battles, Sir Crowley" Luna spoke, examining as well.

"It's what happens when you're born into the darkness" Thomas replied rather casually, as if it was a well known fact, which only caused a series of awkward stares among the mares and single stallion.

"We expected scars, since thee has achieved the goal of fifty gladiatorial matches, as well as completed the eight trials" Luna spoke, walking around Thomas.

"You should see the ones I've buried" Thomas replied, causing a cold chill to visibly run up Celestia and Luna's spines.

"You two obviously haven't seen the carnage and chaos that I've witnessed, even if you have, you've seemed to have forgotten the sting it gives your dulled senses" Thomas spoke, causing Celestia to clear her throat.

"Let us move on, shall we?" Celestia spoke, as she then had Thomas step on a weight measuring platform.

"Sure thing" Thomas sighed, remaining silent, retaining his emotionless visage.

"Wow..." Celestia exhaled, looking at the results.

"What is it?" Luna asked.

"His weight, is approximately three-hundred and eighty-five pounds" Celestia informed.

"That's more than Big Mac!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, before quieting down with a sheepish smile.

"On with the exam" Luna spoke, as she then hovered the measuring tape in a vertical alignment with Thomas' stature.

"Six feet, eleven inches" Luna stated aloud, causing a few whispers and murmurs to travel among the small group, excluding Thomas.

"Alright then, time for stress testing" Celestia spoke, hovering a orb into Thomas' grasp.

"Tell me when it starts to get heavy" Celestia spoke.

With a single intensification of her magic, the orb glistened, Celestia looked at Thomas for confirmation.

"Not heavy" Thomas spoke, causing Celestia to nod, once more making the orb glisten.

"Still no" Thomas sighed, rolling the orb around in the center of his palm.

After a few moments, perhaps ten minutes, Thomas soon let out a slight grunt, causing Celestia to look up with intrigue.

"Is it heavy?" Celestia asked.

"No, just got a cramp in my leg" Thomas replied, holding up his leg for a moment, before setting it down.

"Alright, the test is over"  Celestia spoke, looking down at the clipboard.

Thomas shrugged, slowly putting the orb down on a steel column-like table. Celestia quickly looked up, her eyes widening, gasping.

"Wait no, don't set it down!" Celestia exclaimed, just as the orb touched the surface of the table, the entire table collapsed in on itself.

"H-How much did that thing weigh!? " Rainbow Dash asked, Twilight nodded in agreement, wanting to know herself.

"A little over... one-thousand one-hundred and eighty pounds" Celestia spoke, causing silence to fill the room.

The rest of the examination went rather, bumpy, yet calm, to say the least. About forty minutes afterwards, Thomas' examination was complete, and was now standing before the alicorn monarchs waiting for their judgement call to be made. Thomas stood with his arms folded respectively behind his back, his feet had a matching alignment with his shoulders, his posture was straight as a vertical line; the air was rather tense.

"Thomas Jay Crowley, after me and my sister examined you personally ourselves, we've concluded to provide you with the best fitting job for your well-fitted requirements, you shall--" Before Celestia could finish, she was interrupted by the sound of the two doors to the throne room being thrown open.

"Auntie-e-e-e!" a rather whiny voice groaned, followed by hoofsteps.

"Blueblood..." Twilight and Rainbow Dash spoke through gritted teeth.

"The blacksmith gave me an absolutely unacceptable helmet! I demand that you fire him immediately!"

"Blueblood, I'm in the midst of evaluating an associate!" Celestia spoke in a controlled tone, though annoyance could be heard woven within her words.

"But look at it, it's way too big, I--" As Blueblood continued to rant, Thomas reached over, grasping the helmet with his singular massive hand, raising it up to his face, examining it.

"Hey!" Blueblood sneered, leering at Thomas as he examined the helmet.

"Who is this brute!?" Blueblood exclaimed, huffing as he glared up at Thomas.

"This, is an associate to whom we, me and Luna, are evaluating" Celestia explained in a calm tone.

"He's touching MY property!" Blueblood huffed, leering up at Thomas still.

"You know what, you're right. this helmet Is way too big..." Thomas spoke, looking at Blueblood straight in the eye as he then, with one hand, crushed the helmet like an aluminum can, causing the entire room to fall silent, and Blueblood's mouth to drop to the ground.

"In my experience, you are correct, this is a rather poorly made helmet--caring more about fashion than you did quality. If you were to wear this into any sort of conflict, you would be met with brain damage--which at this point wouldn't make much of a difference, considering your outstanding personality" Thomas spoke, adding a strong spice of sarcasm towards the end of his sentence.

"How, dare you, I--" Blueblood was once again cut off by Thomas dropping the helmet in front of him, causing a loud clang.

"I've seen and spilt more blood than your arrogant hide will ever even imagine. I witnessed and performed the most gruesome and gory forms of execution to a fallen opponent in the heat of battle, nothing compared to your pussy sparring matches and pathetic fight pits held within the outskirts of Canterlot; the difference between fight pits and gladiator arenas: you walk out with your life in a fight pit. So, just ask yourself this: do I give a fuck about your problems, do I have the patience to endure your bullshit,and how long will it take until I've gutted you alive; showing you your own intestines the second before you die?" Thomas spoke in an eerily calm voice, causing deafening silence.

Blueblood simply picked up his crushed helmet with his magic, backed away, turned around, and walked out of the room. Thomas let out a subtle sigh, shaking his head as he watched Blueblood go, turning to Celestia and Luna before crossing his arms.

"So, where were we?" Thomas asked.

Chapter 1

"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.

Chapter 2

"THOMAS, STAY BEHIND ME!" Father exclaimed, thrusting his arms upwards as he enveloped the both of us in a dome of a transparent magical field, just as a rain of arrows pelted down on our position.

The arrows clinked and clanked against the surface of the energy dome, each arrow crumbling to ash as soon as they impact the field. With a snap of his finger, Father summoned what looked like tendrils of black flame that extended from the exterior surface of the dome.

These tendrils lashed and impaled our attackers, mainly ponies and minotuars. They all screamed in pain as they were slaughtered by the tendrils. I hid my face in Father's back, flinching each time I heard the tendrils ferociously rip the life of our attackers from their mangled corpses.

"KEEP AT IT, STALL THEM UNTIL BACK UP ARRIVES!" one of our attackers exclaimed, causing my father to grit his teeth.

"We gotta get out of here, we can't stay any longer!" Father spoke through gritted teeth, slamming his palms together, causing a massive shockwave to send everything within a five-hundred foot radius to be sent flying back, knocking trees and vegetation flat, and sending all our attackers soaring through the air.

"Hold onto me tight Thomas, I'll get us out of here" Father spoke, lifting me up into his arms, enveloping us both in a black smoke before leaping forward.

After Father set me down, I took a glance around, noticing we were about a mile or so away from where we were attacked. I gazed up at Father with amazement, looking befuddled.

"Daddy, how did you do that?" I asked, looking at him with confusion.

"Magic" he replied, rubbing my head.

"Magic, but only unicorns can use magic?" I replied.

"Not only unicorns, you see, I'm a warlock" Father said, walking me along the forest floor, heading towards a cave in the

distance.

"What's a warlock?" I asked.

"Well, lets just say that a warlock is a powerful warrior, capable of using magic in battle" Father replied, smiling as we approached the cave.

"Is Mommy a warlock?" I asked.

"No, your mother is a witch, but she prefers to be called a spellmaster" Father replied, patting my shoulder.

"Oh... What does that make me?" I asked, glancing up at father.

"Something special, Thomas" Father replied, smiling down at me as we entered the dark caves.

Father closed his fist into a ball, before opening it rather quickly, igniting an orb of flame within the palm of his hand, before letting it drift off and hover in middair; staying there like a torch, providing ample light.

"Son, I'm going to go out and get us some dinner. I need you to stay hidden within this cave at all costs, do you understand?" Father asked, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Yes, Daddy" I replied, nodding, swallowing my fear.

"Good boy... I promise, everything will be alright, please just have faith in me" Father spoke softly, giving me a warm hug

for a few brief seconds before pulling away.

"I do, Daddy..." I replied, smiling weakly up at Father.

"Thank you, Thomas... My son..." Father smiled, standing up, and walking out of the cave.

I watched as Father walked away, pulling the black cube he gave me, grasping it tightly, holding it close to my chest as I

moved to the back of the cave, where the light followed me, waiting for Father to return...

"GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE!" a high pitched voice cheered loudly, violently ripping Thomas from his slumber; jumping about three feet into the air before crashing back down onto his bed in a haze.

"Hi, my name's Pinkie Pie! What's your name? Oh your name's Thomas, Twilight told me, she also said you haven't had a welcome party yet! I'll set you u--" Before the overexcited pink mare could finish, Thomas, by instinctual reflex, grappled her, pinning her to the floor of the loft.

"Ooooh, is this a new game? I like games! Is it a wrestling game? LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!" the pink mare shouted with an enthusiastic announcer voice, before bucking her rear back into Thomas' gut, sending him flying halfway across the loft, crashing into a wall.

Thomas, in the heat of excitement, lifted up his couch, throwing it at the pink mare, pinning her to the ground as she let out an "Oomph!". Not wasting any time, Thomas quickly charged the loft window, breaking through it, descending roughly twenty-six feet from the loft to the ground below, landing with a monstrous dust cloud exploding around him.

"Where are you going!? I JUST WANT TO PLAY!" the pink mare exclaimed, thrusting her head out the window, leaping out as well.

Thomas' eyes widened. He was no longer on Sweet Apple Acres, being pursued by a highly energetic pink earth pony, he was back in the arena, being ganged up by countless opponents. Without missing a beat, Thomas darted forward, just as the pink mare slammed into the ground, flattening like a pancake.

Thomas glanced back, to see if his pursuer was crippled, only to see something rather... Unbelieveable.

The pink mare raised her flattened hoof, peeling her face off of the ground, before looking up to the side, as if she were staring at a camera.

"Look ma, I'm road kill! Ha ha ha!" The pink mare giggled, snorting a bite before she peeled the rest of herslef off the ground, reinflating herself by inhaling deeply.

"What the fuck!?" Thomas inwardly snarled, before taking off in full sprint.

His legs burned, carrying him at a blinding speed of twenty or so miles per hour, his speed increasing the more he thought of that horrifically cartoonish mare.

"Is this a race? I love races! They're fun and I always get a chocolatey yummy wummy trophy at the end!" the pink mare chirped, babbling constantly with no end in sight.

Thomas was closing in on Ponyville... He could already tell, this wasn't going to be fun...

"So, how is he?" Rarity asked Twilight, who sat with the lavender mare in front of the library, which was under construction, resting on beach chairs leisurely with an umbrella shading them.

"How is who?" Twilight asked, glancing over at Rarity.

"You know, that human fellow, what's he like? From what I've heard he's quite the brute" Rarity spoke, sipping on her fruit

punch from a hollowed coconut shell.

"Well, he's kinda intimidating, but I feel like he's misunderstood" Twilight spoke, returning her gaze upwards, leaning back in her beach chair.

"I heard he made quite a stir after his examination in Canterlot Castle, any juicy details you can provide me?" Rarity asked, smirking softly.

"Well..." Twilight thought for a moment, biting her lower lip as she dug for an appropriate memory of that day.

"I heard he got into it with Blueblood, could you tell me about that?" Rarity asked, leaning on the hoof-rest of her beach chair, her eyes hungered for details.

"Oh, uh... Yes, he did in fact... Say some things to Blueblood" Twilight replied with a nervous chuckle.

"Like what?" Rarity asked, dying to know what happened.

"Uh... Wasn't it cold just yesterday? Now it's warm? Crazy, isn't it?" Twilight spoke with a nervous chuckle, trying to avoid the subject.

Before Rarity could respond, Thomas came shooting down a dirt path and onto the paved road leading to the heart of Ponyville. His eyes were wide; mud covered his body, his clothes were torn and rugged, and a red bandana was wrapped around his forehead to hold his long black hair back as he dashed at blinding speed past the two mares resting leisurly on beach chairs. A few brief moments after Thomas was out of sight, the pink mare bounced and giggled after him at a casual speed, not even bothering to keep up with the panicked human.

"No, that's crazy" Rarity replied, blinking.

"Pinkie Pie!" Twilight exclaimed, catching the pink earth pony's attention.

"Oh hi Twilight! I was just playing with that human Thomas that you told me about! First, we wrestled, then, we played tag,

then, we began to race!" Pinkie Pie babbled, her rich blue eyes filled with hyperactive mirth.

"Pinkie Pie! You can't just surprise Thomas like that!" Twilight replied, her eyes wide and filled with scared concern.

"What do you mean?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Thomas... Has been through some things... And surprising him like that will most likely cause him to have some

flashbacks!" Twilight explained,  causing the pink mare to blink in confusion.

"I heard that he was a gladiator, but what could he have possibly of been through that would make him have flashbacks?" Rarity asked.

"You'll have to ask him when we find him, until then... We better hurry" Twilight spoke, rushing towards town.

Thomas stalked through the darkness of alleyways, his cold icey blue eyes peirced the blackness of shadows like daggers to flesh. His keen senses were on high alert, his form was shrouded by his stealth and surroundings; though Thomas was in the warm community of Ponyville, his brain told him otherwise, he was now on the battlefield of Roudan Swamplands of Southeast Zebrica, saving hostages taken by the local guerallas, taking out anyone or anything that stood in his way.

His first target, a hostage, a light biege mare with a golden brown mane and tail, she had a cutiemark of a heart with an overlapping baby bottle. She was in a stall, or in Thomas' eyes: a cage. He silently crept along towards the stall, stopping when he sensed movement to his left.

A zebra.

It was a female, perhaps just a harmless civillian, but Thomas wasn't going to take any chances. He grasped a pebble from the dirth, tightly grasping it in his hand before chucking it behind the zebra mare, causing her to shift her head back for a moment. As the zebra was distrcated, Thomas rolled his way to the stalls, stealthfully sliding under the gap below the walls surrounding each stall until he was able to get to the supposedly trapped mare.

"What the--"

Before the mare could peep another word, Thomas secured his hand over her mouth, then wrapped his free arm around her torso, pinning her forelegs to her chest as he leaned against the wall with the mare pressed to his chest tightly.

"Mmph!?" The mare made a muffled yelp.

"Sssshhh..." Thomas silently gestured for the mare to be silent as he pointed towards the shadow of hooves as they trotted

past the stall entrance.

The mare glanced back, looking up at Thomas with wide eyes, her face shaded a bright crimson red.

"I'm going to help you, but I need you to keep quiet and do as I say, do you understand?" Thomas quietly spoke, causing the mare to blink and hesitantly nod.

"Good, now keep your trap shut and follow me" Thomas spoke, as he then released her, crawling under the gap below the stall walls, leaving out the back.

"I was just trying on some clothes..." The mare quietly spoke to herself, before following along, crawling under the small gap, approaching Thomas' side.

"What's going on?" the mare asked, before being hushed by Thomas.

"No talking" Thomas hissed, glancing around.

"I'm taking you to the evac point, once I get you there, there'll be a team to escort you to safety, understand?" Thomas spoke in a hushed tone, glancing back at her.

"Uhh... Sure?" The mare replied, tilting her head in confusion.

Moments passed, and eventually Thomas lead the mare outside of town, telling her to stay put until the 'team' arrived to take her to safety. After Thomas left, the mare glanced around for a few moments.

"Well... I guess I'll go home now..." The mare spoke, shrugging before trotting off.

"That human was rather sexy, I think I just found some more clop material tonight~" The mare quietly spoke to herself with a soft giggle.

It had been about thirty minutes later, Thomas had already gathered up the CMC, thinking that they were 'child-soldiers' being forced to fight for some kind of militia. They didn't really hesitate none, assuming it was all a game.  Thomas was creeping along with the CMC following close behind.

"I never knew Thomas liked to play commando too!" Apple Bloom quietly spoke with an excited grin, glancing over at her two friends.

"I didn't know he was the playful type" Scootaloo stated, looking a bit skeptical.

"I don't know, guys... He looks pretty serious to me, I think something is wrong" Sweetie Belle spoke, looking a bit concerned.

"Don't worry, Belle, it's just playing, just go along with it!" Apple Bloom replied.

"Sshh!" Thomas hissed, holding up his hand as he came to a sudden stop.

The CMC halted all movement as Thomas glanced back at them.

"Stay put..." Thomas whispered, as he slowly crept forward into an alley.

The CMC all hid behind a dumpster, watching as Thomas approached what looked to be a stallion bullying a mare.

"I'm not going to tell you again, Derp-face, give me Rosebloom's mail, NOW!" The stallion demanded, pinning the winged mail-mare against the wall.

"N-Never! I am never allowed to give anypony's mail away!" Ditzy replied with a slight whimper, wincing as the stallion slammed his hoof right next to her head.

"I guess I'll have to force it from yo--" before the stallion could even finish his words, a monstrous shadow towered over him, and Ditzy.

"What the?" The stallion turned, looking up, craning his neck to meet Thomas' cold icy blue orbs peircing through the stallion's very soul.

"Mommy..." The stallion whimpered before Thomas' hand enveloped the stallion's face, throwing him violently agaisnt a wall, crashing down into the dumpster that the CMC hid behind.

Ditzy stared up at Thomas with awe, blushing as she gazed at his strong masculine figure. Thomas being dressed like some kind of commando soldier only aided Ditzy's imagination.

"Are you alright?" Thomas asked, observing Ditzy for any injuries.

"I-I-I-I'm fine, Mr. Crowley, sir!" Ditzy replied, tripping over her words.

"How do you know my name...?" Thomas spoke, squinting down at Ditzy, kneeling to her eye level.

"U-Uh, I-I-I-I deliver y-y-your mail!" Ditzy replied, her blush growing darker the closer Thomas came to her face.

"Deliver... My mail?" Thomas seemed confused, tilting his head.

Before much else could be said, there was a sudden hoof placed on Thomas' shoulder. Thomas whipped around, pulling out his combat knife, raising it up to prepare for an enemy attack, only to be met with the wide green eyes of Big Mac who had grocery saddle bags strapped to his back.

"Uh... Thomas... Are you alright?" Big Mac spoke, his eyes darting between Thomas and the combat knife.

"McIntosh... What... What am I doing?" Thomas spoke, seeming to have broke out of his flashback haze.

Big Mac shrugged his shoulders, letting out a sigh of relief as Thomas sheathed his combat blade, looking at himself, then looking around.

"The last thing I remember, is waking up to a pink blur... I blacked out shortly after" Thomas spoke, causing Big Mac to sigh.

"That, my giant human friend, was Pinkie Pie" Big Mac exhaled.

"Pinkie... Pie?" Thomas looked confused, rubbing his head.

"That's me!" Pinkie Pie spoke, appearing behind Big Mac, causing both the red stallion and the vast human to jump slightly.

"Pinkie Pie, what did I say about sneaking up on Thomas?" Twilight spoke, trotting up.

"Not to do it?" Pinkie Pie replied, tilting her head.

"Yes, please don't do it again" Twilight sighed.

"Hee hee, sorry" Pinkie Pie giggled.

Thomas kept his distance from the pink mare, standing behind Ditzy, who blushed and looked back up at him, gawking at him.

"Well, how about we just all go back to the farm, and talk about things?" Big Mac suggested, walking away from the group and in the midst of the street.

At that moment, there was a loud crashing noise, followed by panicked screams from bystanders. Big Mac glanced to his left, watching as a runaway cart barreled towards him. Time seemed to slow down, Big Mac's eyes widened along with the rest of the gang.

"BIG MAC!" Twilight screamed.

There was a flash of black smoke, and a blinding light, then a loud crash, followed by a massive explosion of dust that filled the air.

As the dust settled, and after everypony stopped coughing, Twilight and the rest looked around panickly for Big Mac.

"Big Mac!?" Twilight called out, glancing around, breathing heavily.

"E-Eeyup?" Big Mac stuttered, standing where Thomas once was.

There was a shrill scream from a mare, all the attention was suddenly focused on a pile of wooden rubble, the remains of the cart, and Thomas' hand protruding from the wreckage, with a pool of blood pouring out from beneath it.