I sat on a park bench in the middle of the village of shady hollow. Royal guards were rushing around taking statements from the remaining villagers and searching the Mayor’s home. It was like a Scene from a Rob Zombie flick, With dozens of corpses in various states of decomposition. I found survivors, Foals and teens, locked in the basement, surrounded by the dead. They were broken, some had starved for so long they’d been forced to turn to cannibalism. How anyone, especially one of the princesses little ponies, could do things like this...and they call me a monster.

I watched as a guard, probably a fresh recruit, stumbled out of the doors of the mansion and collapse, puking and sobbing. The survivors were being brought to a mental hospital. Hopefully, they would get the help they needed. Well, most of the survivors. The Exception was a small batpony foal, who was currently chewing on my arm. She wouldn’t let go after I saved her. She had been chained inside a ritual circle, and tortured for hours before I arrived. I could only grit my teeth at that knowledge. Even the strongest guardsman had been unable to remove her. Age-wise, I’d put her at about 7, with mismatched eyes. One was an emerald green, while the other was sapphire blue. I hoped the princesses could remove her, though, with the amount of black magic coursing through her body, she’d need extensive training to prevent succumbing to the darkness. Willow had not left my side Either (The others were busy coordinating the relief efforts). She’d been teaching me about my new power, that I call “wraith-sight”. When Activated, I could see and interact with the souls of the dead. It was a side effect of the increase in available dark magic. It also meant That I had to down two vials of my medicine to look human again. I activated my sight to look around.

Many of the dead were wandering, finding their families or begging to be buried properly. Two dead thestrals watched the little filly on my arm sadly, and gave me hopeful looks. the male, who I assume was the father passed through me, leaving me with a whisper.

“Take care of Blackthorne….She bites only those she trusts….”

I shivered at the contact and nodded looking down at the filly, seeing a pure white soul, wrapped around a pitch black core. I sighed. She was basically cursed to be a witch. Ironic, given her namesake is called the “Witch’s tree” I look over to willow. I see her stoic, corporeal body giving me a flat look, but spectral chains led to a bound spirit of a beautiful mare. The expression on her face was one of understanding and sadness, but also hope.

“Willow….I think I’m going to keep her. She’s like us, an unwilling monster.”

Willow’s Doll body merely nodded, but her spirit smiled widely and did a little jig. It would’ve been cute if not for the chains.

I Shook my head. I’m starting to become a collector of broken people. I look down at the filly gnawing on my gloved forearm.

“Blackthorne, sweetie, let’s get you some new clothes and get those cuts looked at alright?” The Filly looks up at my face, and lets go of my arm to nod once, slowly., before climbing onto my back and biting into the top of my head. I doubt it tasted very good because of my hair, and it was slightly uncomfortable, but I didn’t complain. I waved down a medic as the royal carriage landed. Luna and Celestia spotted me as I sat Blackthorne Down on a table as the medic looked her over.

“Count Fielder!” said Celestia as she walked right up and placed a finger on my chest before hissing. “you were supposed to investigate and apprehend the perpetrator, not Kill him!”

I raised an eyebrow and looked at the fuming sun-princess. “I didn’t kill him. His victims did, and with what he’d done, It was a well deserved death. If you don’t believe me, just take a walk through that house. I fuckin’ dare you” I said, earning a look of surprise and anger from the sun goddess.

“I doubt it is worse than anything else My sister and I have seen through the millenia” scoffed Luna. Both marched off and entered the manse, only to return moments later. They were pale and Luna looked as though she would be sick.

“With permission princess, I want to burn this home to ashes. It will release any unfortunate souls trapped there” I said standing and placing blackthorne upon my shoulders. “I shall also be taking custody of this filly. She has been affected by black magic, and I want to help her.”

Celestia and Luna both looked at each other before looking at me and nodding.

“Tis a strange request, but we will allow it.” said Luna, who looked at her sister.

“Indeed. I agree on both counts.” Celestia said. Her horn lit up, and a fiery beam struck the house of horrors. A team of guards patrolled the area around it, ensuring the flames didn’t spread. The girls, Blackthorne, and I Boarded the royal carriage for our trip home.we were all exhausted, and it would be good to get home. Blackthorne slept on my lap, chewing on my arm once again. I wonder what Aderyn would think of his new little sister...

Author's Note

Alright! labor day weekend! I've been drinking Jack and mudslides so I'm pretty happy. Anyway, Here's a quick question, feel free to comment or PM me about it. What would you like to see next? More on the adventurers in training, Gaius and Xenith? More rivalry between Vinyl and Daring? More on Cervi culture? Another slice of life chapter? Or maybe something new? don't be shy! my only purpose is to please you guys. ~whiskey.