"Why does Mr. Raven think it is a good idea for me to watch his daughter. Me the pyromancer Pegasus who burned down an entire changeling hive because they tried to get me to find a food source for them in the town. " I ranted walking towards the library in Blood Raven Manner.
After a little while I spotted the large oak door of the library. I opened the door and was shocked at the sheer amount of books on the rows of bookcases. "Are you the guard my daddy sent to watch me?" a small unicorn filly with a deep red coat and black mane asked walking out of one row of bookcases.
I gave her a nervous smile, "Yes, I am." I hope she doesn't entire to practice her magic today, I've heard some terrifying stories about how she practices magic that her father does not want her to. "What do you want to do today?" I nervously asked.
"Weeelllll Mr. Pegasus, I want to practice teleporting ponies short distances, and I was hoping you could help."
Why did I have to ask. I sighed, "OK. I'll help."
She looked as if she was going to have an overload from sheer joy, "Wait here wile I go and get the book." she turned and went back into the sea of books.
"Oh Celestia. What have I agreed to?" I asked myself.
I did not have to wait long before she returned with an open book in her magic, "OK hold still." the light green glow of her horn intensified and suddenly my vision goes black.
*****
"Mr. Pegasus were did you go?" the filly's face lost all traces of joy and became filled with worry, "What have I done?" the filly collapsed and started to cry.
*****
I started to regain felling in my body, but I did not feel a bed or the library floor under me. I felt grass, soft grass. I put my hoof to my head as I groaned, "Mental note, never help unicorns with magic." I opened my eyes and slowly stood. All around me were trees meaning she ether killed me and I am in the after life or her spell worked and she teleported me somewhere. I started to walk in a random direction thankful for me being half changeling no matter how hated they are not all are bad. Some like my mom try to integrate into pony society but not all are capable. Me being a halfling, I don't have to eat as often as a pony.
I was pulled from my thoughts when I came across a road with a directional sign that said Shadyville. "I guess I can find out were I am there." I started off towards Shadyville. I received a few odd looks on the worn gravel road. It seems that they are not used to armed ponies possibly.
I saw a small wagon being pulled by a rather large earth pony stallion, with a mare and filly in toe, "Mama why is that Pegasus wearing armor? " the filly's eyes locked onto me.
"Now what have I told you about starring?" the mare scolded.
"To not to do it." the foal respond with a shamed tone.
I approached removing my crimson red helmet. When I got close the large stallion started to growl to try and intimidate me, "I mean no harm sir. I only wish to ask were in Equestria we are so I can get back home."
The stallion looked at me like I grew another head, "Son, I don't know were your getting your information from, but you are in Dresenia. We are a couple of hundred miles from the Equestrian Borders." I think the small family heard my hopes shatter like glass.
"That can't be right. I was just in a northern town there. I can't be a couple thousand miles away. Silent will kill me if I don't get home before our date." I responded in denial.
"Sorry to here that but if you want we are going to Shadyville to meet with Shady Eclipse about a house would you like to accompany us?" wait did he not question the fact that I was just in Equestria not even a hour ago.
"I would love to, but I must ask why aren't you curious about me just being in Equestria but now I'm here?" is this place more screwed up than Equestria.
"A lot of weird things have been happening around here. A sudden increase in changeling hives thought to have been destroyed in the Purge is the worst one though." the Purge, I will need to look into that later, "Come we are wasting daylight we can talk more on the way." I smiled and placed my helmet back on and signaled for them to lead the way.
We walked and talked for a good hour before the first buildings came into view. Another short ten minutes and we could see the castle in a walled district of the town, "I'm going to request some farmland a little ways away from town.What about you Crimson?" the stallion asked as we passed through the gate for the castle grounds.
"I don't know. I'll probably request a temporary house near or close to town for until I find a way back." I responded before a shadow of a pony caught my attention. I instinctively took up a defensive position in front of the family.
"You have an eye for detail. A fine gift that few have." an alicorn said as he landed before us.
An alicorn what is going on here, "I have to. Were I'm from griffin raiders love to stalk our guardsmen and civilians."
"You have the a fire in your eyes that is only associated with revenge. I hope that it is for the griffins that wronged you and not the race in general."
I locked eyes with the tall alicorn, "I only hurt those who hurt me, and kill those who harm those too weak to defend themselves." I darkly responded to his statement.
"I will not press the subject. Now I take it you four are looking for someplace to stay."
"Yes we are. Me and my family are farmers and would like a piece of land to continue that livelihood." the stallion responded respectfully.
"I would like a place near or in the town until I can return home." I said.
"There is an unclaimed piece of land to the north it is yours if you will have it." the large stallion nodded and the alicorn summoned a map for the family. The family bowed and left for their new home. The alicorn turned to me, "I have a house here in the walled district that is available if you want I can give you the key and help you find it." I nodded and he motioned for me to follow.
"I would like to say I have no ill bearings for any race, only those who think themselves better than others." I spoke up as we walked toward the town center.
"I'll say this now I care deeply for those under my watch. I do not think myself better because of my position or power." he calmly responded.
We stopped by a group of houses with a small square in the middle that holds a single tree and a few benches, "As long as you stay like that I won't have any reason to dislike you. Oh and before I forget, my name is Crimson Shield."I briefly smiled then said, "I have a history of burning those who push me to much. I would say ask my mom's parents but they are ashes in the desert."
His face was one of pure shock, "You burned your grand parents."
"You would have too if you knew what they were."
"Lets change the subject, the door to your house is in the back left corner of the square." he still looked horrified when he gave me the key to my new home.
"I'll see you later then." he nodded and took to the air as I walked to the door.
I unlocked the door with the key I was give. The first floor was not very big, so I guessed that it is more of an entrance hall than anything else. I climbed the stairs to the right of the door to the much larger second floor. It consisted of two rooms. One was large but not to large, and the other was smaller but large enough for a bed and some storage chests. I pulled my sword from my back and placed it against the wall and went back done stairs to leave the house, "I wonder what kind of restaurants they have here." I mused to myself walking out of the square outside my new temporary house. After a walk around the walled district I found a cafe by one of the town gates. I walked in and took a seat by a window. While waiting to order my food I pulled the locket I got from my mother and opened it to reveal a picture of my mother and Silent Bass. I acknowledged that there were other ponies in the cafe, so I kept myself from making much noise.
When the mare at the back of the cafe was leaving she noticed my less than happy mood, "Are you okay?" she asked. All I could do was shake my head for a response. "Why are you upset?"
This time I found my words, "I think being forced from your home to another country would do it."
"Yes, that would do it. My names Golden Top by the way."
"Crimson Shield." I responded.
"Crimson Shield were are you from?" Golden asked.
"A small town on the northeast border of Equestria."
"That far." I nodded, "So what are you going to do while your here?"
"I will be searching for a way to return to my home. if you know anything that will help I would be grateful."
Golden smiled, "I cannot help you, but I know somepony who might be able to." she motioned for me to stand and follow.
I stood and did what she wanted, "How far away does your friend live?"
We turned the corner outside of the cafe, "She lives right down this way." we stopped in front of what appeared to be a three story tall house, "This is it." Golden approached the door and knocked. After we waited for a short while with no response she quietly opened that door and motioned. for me to follow her inside.
Once inside the voice of a mare called from upstairs, "I should have guessed it was you." Golden. huffed and slammed the door closed. She then lead me to the third floor. The mare that spoke previously is a tall unicorn mare, "Hi Golden who's your friend?"
Before I could introduce myself Golden spoke up, "This is Crimson Shield." she gestured towards me, "He was forced from his hometown in Equestria and is trying to find a way home. I had no idea on how to get him home, so I was hoping you might know a few."
"There is two that I know of, the first is a couple day long trip by boat, and the second is the portal but it is not currently active."
I look at her hoping that she was joking, "Well I will be staying here in Shadyville for a while then. I am not going near a body of water." the two mares looked at me, "What? I don't like open bodies of water."
"My name is Alice Nightingale by the way." she smiled, "So what are you going to do while you are here?"
"I will do what I have done whenever I have free time and the need for bits." they gave me another strange look, "Sorry forgot to say this, I may work as a guard for a noble house but I also am a hunter."
"What do you hunt?" Alice quietly asked.
"I'll hunt anything that hurts innocent ponies and others who do not deserve to be hurt."
"Does that include changelings?"
"On occasion I have had to but I always give my sentient pray a chance to redeem themselves before I kill them. Why do you ask?"
Alice looked at a scar on her shoulder, "There is a changeling here in Shadyville that is not that friendly."
"Do you know there name?" I calmly asked Alice.
"Her name is Unknown, and she is not to be trusted." Golden Top growled.
"Are there any other known attacks made by her?" I ask not so sure about the odds of me finding Unknown.
"There was a couple others." Alice spoke looking over a rapier. "But getting to her will be tricky, because she has become close friends with my student Melody Eclipse."
"I will look into this." I said just loud enough for both Golden and Alice to hear me, "But I will need to learn more about her. Like if she is connected to a hive?"
"She has no hive." Golden said with a hint of anger in her voice. I'll have to ask her about that later, "Please help the princess." she suddenly said.
"Wait what. Did you say princess?"
"Yes, I did. Melody is Shady Eclipse's daughter."
"That changes things." I said, starting to hope that this is a dream, "I need to go and look for some information on changeling activity in the area." I turned and started for the stairs, "I'll. see you two later."
*****
I had started my search in Shadyville, but with no success. It appears that Unknown is relatively well unknown when it comes to most things. With very little information to be found in town I went on a trip to the town outskirts, and to my surprise I might have found evidence of an active hive. Passed the castle that is home to the alicorn called Shady Eclipse is a small abandoned town. I know that most would think the town was just abandoned but it appears as though the residents just disappeared. I search a few of the buildings to confirm my suspicion. Among other things I found an old library that I will return to search once the current issue is over with.
I hurried back to Shadyville to tell Alice and Golden what I found. When I returned to town I went straight to Alice's house and knocked on the door.
After a minute or two Alice opened the door, "Your back, did you find anything?"
"I found a small town a little ways past the castle. It looks as though the residents just up and vanished." I responded.
"Please come inside."
Alice moved to the side to allow me to pace, "Is Golden still here?"
"No she left not to long ago." Alice said closing the door to her house and walking ro the stairs.
I followed her up the stairs to the second floor, "Is there anything that you did not want to say in front of Golden that might help me with the Unknown problem?"
*****
Back in Equestria.
"Where is that stallion?" a gray earth pony with a two tone red mane and tail, a pair violet eyes, and a violet bass Clef for a cutie mark said looking through the small stone house that has recently become known as her home.
*****
"What do you mean you made him disappear? " a large black and red unicorn stallion scolded.
"I....I....I was practicing my magic, and I made him disappear." the unicorn filly responded.
"Crimson Shield was one of our best. That's why he was sent to guard you darling."
*****
Back in Dresenia.
Alice looked off into the distance and sighed. "Alice is everything alright?" I asked kinda worried about the tall mare standing next to me.
"Huh, nothing is wrong. Why do you ask?"
"I ask because I care." Alice went to speak but I stopped her, "I learned a couple years back that those without somepony to care about them that bad things can happen."
"I'll be fine. It will take a lot to stop me."
"I kinda figured, but remember that a changeling with a goal is hard to stop as well so please be careful."
"I will. Want to head down to the Cafe?"
"Lead the way." Alice left the balcony and I followed. After a short walk to the cafe I started to wonder what Silent and my mother are doing.
*****
Back in Equestria.
"Honestly where is that stallion? He should be home by now."
"Now Silent my son does not like to upset you, and you know this. He is probably doing something for Mr. Raven that is very important." a large mare with a blue mane and tail, and a white coat said.
"Or he got unlucky and was assigned as that brats body guard for a day, and she wanted to practice magic with my Crimson as her test dummy." Silent growled.
*****
Back in Dresenia.
"It is not possible! Changelings and ponies are two different species. They can't possibly have an offspring." Golden Top yelled in the middle of the Cafe.
"It is not impossible. My mother is a changeling and my dad was a Pegasus, and I am a halfling." I calmly responded. completely forgetting the other two ponies in the room.
"You....you are just a delusional changeling."
"No I'm not. I have always been like this. I am not a pure blood pony or changeling."
"I'm going outside. Do you want to join me Nexus?" Alice asked standing to leave. Nexus just stayed quiet not moving, "Well you know were to look if I'm needed." she walked out side.
"Ugh" Golden slammed her head into the table, "You're an idiot, you know that right?"
"I know but lets continue this another time. I have things that need to be done."I stood and walked to the door ignoring Golden's frustration. I decided that it was time for me to investigate those books in that abandoned library outside of town.
*****
After a couple of boring hours of searching I found two books on halflings. One written by Celestia and the other written by Luna. "I may not have been looking for these books but it's better than nothing."
