My Little Pony : Ties That Bind.

" So you failed to sway her hmmm? " Discord laughed aloud as he sat atop a nearby stump deep within a dark wooded area his legs crossed a smile on his face.

" The heart is not easily swayed by earthly riches." The Mysterious Figure spoke in a stern but calm tone, her voice never raising nor falling off into a whisper.

" Well if you knew that, then why even try? " Discord asked as he rolled his eyes, this acquaintance of his was beginning to get under his skin.

" The heart like all things is a living thing, it too has a destiny intertwined in many paths..." The figure spoke as she flaunted a hoof before her a portal made of green mist appearing.

" You make it sound like you've done this before." Discord asked his intrigue hooked by the manner of this figure as silence filled the space between them both.

" You have your order's Discord find me the others,' and ask not question's you shouldn't." The figure spoke in a tone that was all business.

Discord simply sighed biting his tonuge, knowing if he soured this mares mood he would never get the answers he sought and the one truth his own heart ached for.

" Sure thing." Discord sighed as he already found the third pony she wanted named Candy Pop, she wasn't hard to find.

" If I'm unable to sway the hearts of those I seek then we must go to Plan B, so be prepared." The figure spoke trotting into the mist as it started to vanish from view.

" Grrr...You said I had only to help you now not later." Discord snapped as he stood up the figure sighing aloud as she vanished.

Discord sighed himself knowing this partnership would be a long one.

**************

Gladius slowly trotted down the long twisted path he had taken hours ago for a new job he accepted from a mother mare, who claimed her daughter had run away deep into this winding forest of the Everfree.

The branches were tangled above blocking out what little light the moon had offered from high above as it also prevented the pegasus from flying which would have helped alot in this case.

His mane was a fiery crimson color that was short and pointed up, his coat was pure black matching the darkness around him perfectly as red colored eyes kept a close watch on his surroundings.

He was a traveler and for most of his life spent his time helping those who couldn't help themselves, it was the most he could do to forget the memories that haunted his past ones filled with true horrors.

If he could save others from feeling his pain then in the end, it was worth the trouble he usually found himself in.

Snapping back into reality he could hear the soft sobbing of a young mare in the distance, this had to be the pony he was sent to find on this dark night one he would lead back home.

Galloping proudly down the twisted path he pushed through the barbed thorn ridden forest, breaking down barriers of brush as he followed the sobbing while it grew closer and closer.

Giving one last push he sprung out of the dark brush and into that of a hidden pond deep within the woods, the water before him shimmered brightly yet wasn't clear but a dark purple color as it were poisoned by something.

Slowly his eyes studied his surroundings looking for the source of the crying before spotting a large boulder that had rolled down a nearby hill, beneath it trapped in a small ditch slowly filling with the murky water was the young mare he was hired to find.

" Please help me..." The voice of a young mare spoke in a shivering tone her coat and mane soaked to the bone as she weakly squeezed a hoof out of a small opening for help.

Gladius galloped over to the boulder as he placed his own hoof atop hers' to help keep her calm, he could see that the ditch was filled with leaking water up to her neck she had very little time left.

" Don't worry Miss I'm here to help you..." He spoke unsure of his own words this boulder would take three or four strong stallions to move at most and he knew there was no time to head back.

" I'm so cold..." The mare coughed aloud shivering as she slowly slid her hoof back into the opening her eyes filled with a sense of fear and tiredness.

Glaring towards his obstacle he swiftly placed his shoulder against the rock, his hooves digging roughly into the muddy dirt below him as he pushed with all his strength.

The boulder never budging even a little, he could only watch as the ditch continued to fill with the cold muddy water the mare sobbing as it reached above her neck.

Gladius felt his heart racing he had to do something he couldn't stand by and let this mare fall to her fate, a wicked voice in his head whispered there was nothing he could do.

It mocked him telling him to give up to just walk away or face frightening memories of the young mares death.

Gritting his teeth he locked out the whispers, his muscles strained as he pushed up against the boulder, his body tensing even as he felt the world around him spinning.

Looking down he watched the mare cry as her whole face vanished below the water, he knew he must push ahead or face his own fate before him.

Wincing he screamed out from the top of his lungs, his wings spreading outward proudly, his body aching while muscles threatened to tear, his hooves quivering he used everything he had as the boulder pushed away.

Taking a deep breath calming his mind he gave one last push as the boulder rolled off the ditch., ignoring his own pain and aching body he swiftly pulled the mare from the water as she gasped for air crying and coughing.

" Who...who are you? " She whimpered shivering as he turned towards her removing an emergency blanket from his saddle bag and wrapping it around her as she continued to cry frightened.

" Nopony..." Was his reply as he gently comforted the young mare before him, the whispers finally fading away.

Yet unknown to him a figure cloaked in darkness watched his every move from afar hidden among the trees as she slowly turned around fading back into the shadows once more.

***********

" Where am I? " Rainbow Dash asked as she sat upon a soft velvet pillow, many a food item placed before her as she gazed forward to a mare named Lazura.

Lazura stood from across the room watching her as she slowly trotted forward a smile across her face.

" You are in Serenity Hollow young child." Lazura spoke her voice trying to come off as warm and soft but instead sent a chill down Dashes spine.

" I...who am I? " Dash asked her mind running a blank, all she remembered was a blinding light then waking up in a dungeon cold and bruised.

" That my child is a question I can anwser." Lazura smiled turning away as she slowly walked towards the door to exit the warm room.

" You know who I am?, tell me! " Dash snapped as she tried to stand, only to feel her body ache.

" Soon but first eat and rest, in the morrow all will be revealed." Lazura spoke as she stopped momentarily before continuing on and exiting the room.

Dash sighed aloud slowly lowering her head as she took a bright red apple in her mouth, her stomach aching for food as she began to eat it.

*****

Outside the castle atop the roof stood a Pony with a long crimson mane flowing down her head, her fiery tail swished to the side like a thunder bolt as dark green eyes watched the distance.

Her horn atop her head shined a dark red as her hues narrowed, spotting those eyes in the distance how their pupils were pointed in shape while her lavender mane flowed in the wind.

" Hmmm...found you." The Pony growled her mind-set only on one thing revenge.