A New Start

A New Start

Story 4

Chapter 3: After Dark

By: FluttersIsAwesome

Cobalt patted my back. “Gilda, this is my sister Cyan. She runs the post office here, so if you need anything mail related and you’re given a hard time, just let her know.”

She nodded. “You’re welcome in my home any time as well.” She then turned to Cobalt. “Speaking of which, where is she staying?”

He backed away just slightly. “I said it was ok for her to stay with me.”

She shook her head. “Whatever.” She looked back at me with a smile. “Cobalt’s a good guy, but be nice. Don’t take advantage of his good will, kay hun?”

I grinned. “No problem, I’m good at living modestly. I don’t need much.”

Cobalt laughed and slapped my back. I know he didn’t mean it, but his hoof hurt. I cleared my throat to indicated that I didn’t like it, and he withdrew his hoof.

“Heh, sorry Gilda.”

I closed my eyes and smiled at him as I got up. “No worries.” I wiped my eyes dry and went to put the picture in my bag when Cyan stopped me.

“Oh no, Gilda, here. This came in the package too.” She handed me a frame with a wire. The frame fit the picture perfectly as I slipped it into the glass.

Cobalt patted my back again. “You ready, Gilda? It’s getting late and, despite the cheer in the town, Luvenhëgen is not a good place to take a late-night walk.”

I looked at the clock and saw that it was 10:05 P.M. I slipped my pouch over my head and grabbed the picture. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Cyan waved to us as we left. “Bye you two! I have to close up the office, but I’ll come see you, ok?”

Cobalt nodded back. “Just be careful!”

I turned to him. “Is it really that dangerous at night?”

Cobalt’s expression became so serious it was scary. “Yeah. It’s the Raishi settlement. We get a lot of... monster visits here in Luvenhëgen because of them. And these are the smart ones that crave power; Dragyarks, Kirdens, Ymirs, you name it. Any monster that really is one, that is, a creature with an evil heart, hates a Raishi.” He stopped walking and looked up in the direction of the settlement.

“From what I understand, the Raishi used to be totally different. They walked upright on two legs and had no tails. The only place where they had a lot of hair was on the tops of their heads, and some males grew it on their chins and upper lips. They had the ability to switch between those forms and the forms they now take permanently. They still kept their sharp teeth and red eyes, they just transitioned from whatever they were to the wolves they are now. They hunt monsters in an attempt to purify Equestria.”

I tilted my head. “But doesn’t that make them murderers?”

He shook his head. “If that were the case, what do you call the executioner of a criminal that killed twelve foals?”

I looked away. I honestly didn’t know how to answer that.

“They do Equestria a favor. They get rid of evil that tries to destroy, but as a result, that same evil focuses on destroying them, and often times the city gets caught in the crossfire. That’s why I have to give my guards special training designed for fighting monsters.”

I looked at him pensively for a minute. There is no way this can be true. Their leader is such a... total goof. “I apologize if I offend you by questioning your honesty-“

“The behavior of the king you witnessed was the way he acts when he’s laid-back. He is very serious when it comes to protecting both his people and us.”

He began walking again, and I followed close behind. “So, do you two live together?”

He shook his head, and his smile returned. “Nah, she’s got a husband and a foal at home. My house is empty except for me, so there’s plenty of room for you.”

I blushed a little bit. I knew he didn’t intend to try and get me to sleep with him, but just the idea of being alone with only one other pony in a house was a bit embarrassing. “I appreciate it, Cobalt.”

He looked back at me happily. “Think nothing of it, friend.”

The change of mood seemed so sudden.

Cobalt’s eyes became fierce, and his expression became serious again.

“Cobalt? Is something wro-“

He grabbed me and jumped to the side as an ugly beast jumped forward. It had the head of a dog, but its body look like a twisted mess of flesh. It was hideous, and I could see faces in its body. I became horrified: It was made from the bodies of dead ponies that were twisted and contorted into the shape of a bipedal dog with arms and hands. It was carrying a double sided axe and sniffing around.

Cobalt held me back. “Careful, Hell Hound.”

It was too late, the monster had caught a whiff of our scent and charged at us.

“Gilda, stay back!” Cobalt jumped onto his back legs and slipped his hooves behind him. He fit them into two bracers that were attached to the lower back of his armor. He turned his hooves and that released the lock on the bracers, as well as the ones on the blades. They weren’t bracers, they were swords.

“These were made just for me, stand back.” I did as he send and he ran under the Hound’s legs. He jumped up behind it and slashed at its back, causing it to scream in pain. He jumped up on the Hound’s neck and attempted to stab it in the head, but it grabbed him and threw him against a wall.

The Hound rush at him while he was trying to recover, so I flew in. I jumped in front of him, ready to take the hit or counter with my own.

“Gilda, MOVE!” Cobalt struggled to get up as the Hound swung at me.

We both closed our eyes, but opened them as we heard the sound of tearing flesh.

The beast lay there in front of us with a giant hole in its abdomen, and Soul was on top of its body. “I told you, Cobalt. You have to kill a Hell Hound in one move. You don’t get a second chance with them.

He nodded slowly at the wolf. “Yeah... right... got it.”

Soul picked up the monster onto his back. “Get home, now.”

No matter how embarrassing it was for him and for myself, I put my arms around Cobalt without thinking and flew up. “Will do, Soul, thanks!” I took off holding Cobalt, but when I looked at him, he was smiling at me.

“Thanks, friend. Let me tell you where to go from here.”