Forces

Chapters

Forces pt.1
Forces pt.2
Forces pt.3

Forces pt.1

Forces

Hello, my name is Pea Gravel. This may seem strange but the world you know of cupcakes, rainbows, princesses, even friendship is noting but a dream for ponies like me who don't live alongside with you. If you'll let me, I'll explain it the way I lived through it and maybe you'll appreciate the world you live in a bit more when you put down this book.

I was born like everypony, into poverty. My father, orange hair and dull red fur with a face that shown the labor he did to feed my mother and I. My mother was a pegasus, a rare thing to find as a free pony, and dad was an Earth pony like me. Both of them were nomads until they met each other, my mother's fair grey fur and platinum mane caught his eye and the fact she had wings meant her children could. Sadly it didn't but what came out of it was a little grey filly with a grey coat and an orange mane...me. I remember we occasionally got strange looks because we all had varying shades of green for eyes, mine the lightest.

Having a family to care for was no easy task in the world we lived in. Both were from the desert which was full of things similar to diamond dogs (but scrawnier and in larger packs) , deadly scorpions, and worse of all Carnahorses. Now for you kids at home, yes a Carnahorse is exactly what it sounds like. Its a pony that can only eat meat. With all of these dangers and a brewing territory dispute with the Ridge Dogs and the Sand Boars. The Ridge Dogs had forts and camps running all along a rocky mountain range on the rainy side, the Sand Boars were buying whatever help they could get to get land on the Dog's side of the mountains. Were were less likely to get eaten by the Boars and my father needed to find a place as close to safety as we could get.

The Sand Boars were a group of, mostly, rich and powerful Boars. Unusual kinds of boars though; Ermanthain Boars. They had other pigs working under them and occasionally other kinds of hoofed critters like ponies. If you showed that you can be of use or fight well, they or their mid class nobles will hire you. If you don't stay up to snuff you'll probably get turned in to the butcher and be sold off for a profit.

We found a rancher in the Sand Boars territory who was willing to let a family of ponies stay and work. Now again for the kids who don't know, a ranch (out here at least) is a farm-like place but with live stock. Along with barley or wheat they raised practically brain dead horses, pigs and cows for carnivorous buyers. Unfortunately, ponies who couldn't keep up with feeding and tending the herds were turned into glue, food and leather while their bones were sold to the Coyotes. My father didn't want this this to happen to me so he made a deal with the rancher pig, he dose the whole family's share of labor while my mother and I clean the pig's house and cook. The pig accepted happily.

I know what your thinking,"Pea Gravel! That's a horrible trade, what happens when your father can't work anymore?"

The truth is, my father would rather work out in the fields under sweltering heat then fight the Ridge Dogs. These diamond dogs have a massive, well organized pack. All they would do with a pony is eat it or 'play' with it awhile, the Sand Boars on the other hand are a much more lenient to other hooved creatures. They would rather pay ponies to work for them until their use is out then eat them or 'play' with them.

I was about eight when I started noticing differences with my parents. My father became thinner and sun bleached while my mother came back to our house on the ranch later and later from the Pig's house. The later she came home, the more silver she came back with. This was a reoccurring thing and at the time I thought nothing of it, the only thing that kept the two going was the stories dad would tell late at night. They were of fantastic things like wish granting fairies and ponies who could slay dragons, tales of hope for the pitiful things we were. I became fascinated with things outside the norm and I was often caught daydreaming when I should have been scrubbing or dusting, but I

wasn't the only one. He often told stories to the sore ponies and cows that worked with him and his stories gave as sense of hope...and sometimes purpose.

One night not to soon after I turned eleven everything changed.

The desert air was hot for the time of night while all of the tired ponies, bulls and whatever else unfortunate enough to be stuck in the ranch all slept dreamless, except me. I lay wide awake between my parents on our dirt floor with a single wool blanket over the three of us. I stared at the mud brick ceiling with a sense of unknown fear. I tossed and turned for awhile until I decided to go to the glassless window night sky and gaze at the stars. I got a wood crate to help me reach the windowsill and poked my head out the window. My heart froze and my eyes blinked in disbelief at what I saw slinking through the other ranch houses. It was a dragon. Each pueblo was thin and about two stories tall, the dragon was crawling and shoulders almost met two thirds up.

I would later come to know that this dragon's name was Wiktet. His body was long and a rust red color with porcupine quills running down his wavy back but no wings like the ones I heard of in stories. His teeth jutted out to make his mouth look like it was in a permanent smile. Wiktet slithered through the ranch houses like a snake through a gopher tunnel. He peered his pale yellow eyes into the mud brick houses with a hungry look. He licked his lips as his arm carefully into a window and shuffled his talons through the room while I watched. His eyes lit up when he grabbed something, he pulled his tawny arm back out and held a labor worn pony between his talons. Wiktet licked the sleepy pony who cringed from the unnatural touch. She opened her eyes for only moment before the dragon shoved her neck back with a push of his thumb, causing the mare to go limp. I couldn't believe what I saw but what came next was just as shocking.

The pig rancher hobbled his fat girth down the path that ran along the fronts of the pueblo houses. Wiktet crawled out to meet him and his massive size dwarfed the fat pig. I saw an almost...mutual look between them.

"Gracias, cerdo," the dragon drooled,"Your workers have a...sabor especial."

"De nada, Wicktet," The pig looked around in the darkness nervously,"I have a favor to ask of you if you'll listen," the rancher said through his fat.

"For a few bites, I may take it. What dose my little cerdo want?" Wiktet hissed.

"I have this one familia in a pueblo," The pig pointed to my house and I ducked out of view,"The Padre in there fills my workers heads with stories full of azúcar y mentiras, sugar and lies. If he keeps going they might get ideas..."

The dragon wheezed an awful laugh,"You want me to eat some caballitos?"

I could hear the dirt scrape against his belly and claws as he crawled closer. I had to think fast, I ran over to my parents and shook them awake.

"Mamma! Padre! Wake up!" I cried.

"Eh, what is it pequeño?" My Padre asked groggily. He saw how frightened I looked and held me close in his arms,"You just had a bad dream, Pea. Come back to bed-" His eyes shot open when he saw the talons of Wiktet's hand slip through the window. The talons scrapped the floor and caught the wool blanket. My mother snapped awake hearing my scream and looked in horror as the tawny dragon arm slithered out of the window. We heard a growl and then a hiss, it was a hiss like the sizzling of meat on a fire.

A blast of fire scorched through the window. My father pushed me and my mother as far back as he could and shielded us from the flame. I clenched my eyes shut in fear but still heard the sizzling of his flesh. The fire stopped pouring in and I took a look at father, half of his body was scorched disturbingly. I heard a wheezy laugh from Wicktet and his claws came into the window again, gripping the frame. He pulled to the side and the mud structure gave way and caused the roof to collapse. My young mind had trouble reacting to the situation but Father held me and my mother under him while the mud and timber fell.

It was black and suffocating. Slowly the rubble was lifted by malicious claws and my unconscious father was hauled off of me. My mother grabbed me and pushed us up into the air with her wings. We flew for only a few seconds then a sudden invisible force gripped us. Though we held each other tight we were pulled apart and floated to Wicktet. His mouth reeked of old meat the closer we got.

His eyes looked maliciously at my mother,"Ssssooo...you think you can just fly away, do you?"

Mother spat at him, the dabble of saliva hitting his nose and looking like a drop against his size. He growled and I saw on of my mother's wings being pulled against it's will. Wicktet laughed,"I've lost my wings, forever grounded with you filth. Now you shall know the weight of being cast to earth." And with that the extended wing slowly stretched. Mother shrieked in pain and the pulling of tensed muscle met my ears. With a sickening riiiip the wing fell to the ground. Mother held a hoof to the wound and shivered, the trauma silenced her. Wicktet's eyes darted from her to the ground and I saw my mother thrown to the ground and heard her ribs crack from impact.

The dragon looked to me. I saw that the rest of the ranch workers were awake and watching but to afraid to do anything. The burned body of my father limped from the pile of rubble to my mother. Wicktet dropped me to the ground and gazed at my parents.

"How cute, caballos. You, male," The dragon's raspy voice commanded,"take your child and your mate and leave, or I'll play some more."

The pig spoke up,"I thought I asked you to kill them."

The dragon turned and growled. The pig nearly jumped out of his flabby skin,"Cerdo! You do not make the orders here, I do!"

My father did his best to lift mom on his back and walked off into the night. I followed, refusing to look back at the dragon.

We walked out in the dark desert night and eventually came to a road. We had taken it sometimes before when we brought goods to market. I asked where we were going. Dad said,"Doctor," flatly. I did my best to keep up, he was going surprisingly fast for a burned pony. The next day we got into the market town, a port on a large desert river. We were watched by everyone as we walked to the clinic. Without knocking, dad shoved the door open with his head and walked inside. The medic pony was about to protest but when he saw the their condition he rushed over. Dad told me to wait outside for them.

I remember sitting outside for hours waiting. Later the medic let me inside. I saw both my parents in suits of bandages. Dad got better quicker then mom, her condition became more mental then physical after awhile. While they were bed ridden in the clinic, I did odd jobs in the town to raise money for our meals. The medic wasn't free and housing wasn't either. Once dad was able to walk around, paying off the medic's bill became much easier. When I fed my mom late at night, she had a glazed look and almost never noticed me.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked dad one night.

"Well, Pea...sometimes when winged ponies like madre, they get sick. In the head."

"Will she get better?" I asked. Dad shrugged sadly.

After three weeks the medic threw us out. He gave dad a bottle of medicine called,'JADE CACTUS FRUIT'. It was a pain reviler and a stimulant to make her happier, but she couldn't have too much. We became nomads after that. We went around from place to place looking for food or work. Dad and I did farm work while mom...well, she couldn't do much. If she wan't eating a Jade Fruit she looked depressed and lifeless, when she had one she only wanted more. This went on for a two years.

I was ten and we were camped at a forested basin near a river. The dry desert wind blew around in the night through the Joshua trees. On occasion my mother's wing socket would spike in pain, tonight was the most agonizing for reasons I still don't know. She sat up in the dark next to my sleeping father, I was dozing nearby. Mom went through our supplies desperately and once she found her 'medication' she shoved fruit after fruit in her mouth. She chewed, faster and faster. Her green eyes dilated and she collapsed. Her body twitched and jerked like a fish out of water. I woke up to hear gurgling croaks from her and when my dad woke up only moments later, she was already dead.

Dad's head hung over defeated next to her. I tied to shake her awake but dad pulled me aside. With tears in my eyes I tried to reach my mother but dad pulled my face square with his. My face was streaked with tears, dad's was too. He pulled me into a tight hug and we just sat there for hours. I cried myself to sleep in his embrace.

I woke up the next morning to find we were far from the river. I was on dad's back along with our bags. He was heading to the mountains.

"Where's madre?!" I cried.

"In a better place now, Pea," He sighed heavily,"I pray she made it to the Sun Goddess' Garden."

I jumped off him and he stopped to look at me,"NO!" I shouted,"I want her here with US!"

"Lady Death works in mysterious ways, it's not our place to question the will of the gods," He said walking again.

I ran in front of him, blocking his path,"Why? Why can't we question?"

"Were cerdo , ponies," Dad said bluntly,"We're beasts of burden. No matter what we accomplish something else will still be master to us. It's the way the gods made it and that's how it will stay."

"So madre was meant to die?" I asked, feeling the cold grip of reality close on me.

Dad sighed bitterly,"I never said that. I'm just as heart broken as you, Pea, but there's simply nothing we can do!"

I sat on the dusty ground. A look of defeat about me. Dad gently put me back on his back and began walking again. We wandered for days and both of us were very quiet. Sometimes I'd wake him in the night screaming from a nightmare, he'd just hold me tight until I settled. We eventually came to the foot of the rocky mountains. We avoided campfires because they'd attract predators, so that night we just lay in the dark and looked up at the sky.

"Pea, have I told you the tale of the Gentle God?" Dad asked.

I sniffled,"No, I don't think you have."

"Well maybe it will help you cheer up...

Long ago, before anything, there were three gods. Grom was the eldest and proudest. Olst was the middle child, he was always trying to undermine his brothers. Last but not least was Aki, the youngest. Grom became board with the empty space they lived in, so he made the world and the mountains. He built the trees and carved valleys in the earth. He spread the blue sky above and the bright sun at the center. He stood back and smiled to his younger siblings with pride.

"Look," Grom cried,"See how strong my creations are! Nothing can break them!"

Olst looked at the mountains so tall and valleys so deep. His mind began planning,"Yes, brother," Oslts said,"Very strong, very great. But look at mine, see what they do!"

Grom watched as oceans filled his deep valleys, swirling with unpredictable and dangerous currents. He saw wind blow though the skies bringing rain and violent winds that blew Grom's trees down and rain that worn away Grom's mountains. In the sky Olst placed a black curtain with countless stars to block out Grom's mighty sun. The curtain would rise and fall at random, disrupting the sun's light.

Grom grew angry,"What is all this?! Why ruin my perfect world?"

Olst smiled,"Because it never was perfect!" then he ran off, he was far to quick for the grand Grom to catch.

Grom shook the ground trying to catch Olst, who only stuck back quicker. Aki watched his brothers chase each other in the chaos of the world, his heart grew heavy. Aki flew up into the sky while his brothers fought and moved the stars into wonderful patterns and pictures and made a cycle for the moon so day and night would be equal. He made currents for the wind to blow through and water to run, making rivers for all of the rain to lead to the oceans. Aki stood back and smiled at the harmony he had made. Oslt and Grom stopped fighting and looked in awe at what their little brother made.

"Amazing!" Grom said.

"Crazy!" Olst cried.

Aki patted his brother's backs,"We can stop fighting now, everyone's work fits together perfectly!"

They lived happily for a long, long time. One day the brothers sat in a forest drinking from a river.

"Aki, why haven't you made anything? Grom and I made everything around us, how about you try?"

"Yes!" Grom shouted,"Let's see little Aki make something!"

Aki sat and thought. A light shown in his eyes and he knelt to the ground, his brothers watched intently. Aki pulled up from the ground a little sliver of green, then more sprung from the ground. Soon it covered all but the driest dirt in the world.

Grom was puzzled,"What's this?" He asked, plucking one up,"It's so small and weak. What good is it?"

Aki smiled,"It's grass. It takes up much less space then your trees and doesn't get blown over by Olst's winds."

Olst frowned,"I don't like it. Make something to get rid of it."

Aki leaned back and thought. He thought and thought until he got an idea,"I know. Look at this!"

Aki cupped his hands together and held them for awhile, his brother's held their breath in wait. Aki gently put his hands to the grass and let the new creation out of his hands, a small white pony walked out. She looked up at the three giants and became frighted, Aki pet her back gently and she calmed down. He pointed to the grass and the pony took a small bite. She neighed happily and ate her fill.

Olst had a smile grow on his face,"Aki, what happened when more of these come around? We surely can't have a world of just these!"

Aki and Grom looked to each other. Grom grinned and cupped some dirt. His brothers watched as the dirt glowed in his hands and blew away, a bull lay in his mighty hands. Olst's eyes widened while Aki huffed. Grom let the bull to the ground and it snorted and dug it's hooves in the ground.

Olst smiled,"Very nice, brother. Look at what I can make though!" Olst cupped his hands around light from the sun and mixed a handful of earth with it. A red dragon burst out of his hands and flew over their heads. It blew plumes of fire around and roared ferociously, terrifying the bull and pony.

Grom and Olst butted heads about their creations and decided it would be best to make more. They spread their creations throughout the earth, filling the oceans and covering the land. When Grom made a wolf Olst made a raptor, a frog to a snake and so on. Soon there were so many things living on the earth the brothers had a hard time walking around. Olst grew tired of this and behind his brother's backs made a new creature, Death.

Soon the animals grew old and began dying. Some other animals began eating the dead, vultures and flies ate their fill almost daily. Grom grew saddened that his mighty creatures were being undermined by something so simple. Aki tried to cheer him up by making him a present, one unaffected by death. Grom woke up one day to find Aki standing next to him. Something hid behind Aki.

Grom squinted,"What's that?"

Aki stepped aside and Grom saw what was hiding. It was a she. She looked at him shyly. Her whole being was that of youth and cheerfulness, Grom looked to his brother for council. Aki shrugged,"Talk to her."

Grom reached out to her face, she punched his nose and ran off giggling. Grom reared back in surprise. Aki laughed,"You're not afraid of a girl are you?" Grom stood up and ran after her. They chased and played in the warm sunlight Grom had made. Aki's heart felt lighter seeing his brother so happy. However, Olst sat from a mountaintop with the venom of jealousy in his blood. A bitter feeling toward his brothers began to grow.

The woman that began to love Grom named herself Esta and soon they had a child. A fiery child named Courage. All of Grom's creations; bears, bulls, sharks, became fearless. Olst felt stricken seeing Grom so happy with is family. This became so strong that the world turned cold and winter began for the first time. Courage grew sick from the bitter cold, causing Grom and Ests to become afraid for their child. Olst offered to cure Courage and make the sun rise and fall to melt the snow, in exchange for a woman of his own.

Aki was hesitant. If Olst was going to love his woman like Grom did, Olst would've asked. The fact that a trade had to be made planted doubt in Aki. He agreed though and the next day when Olst was on his mountain, his woman climbed up to meet him. Instead of the bright and happy Esta, this woman, Dymo, was cunning and bitter like him. Time passed and their child was soon born, Fate.

Aki lay back on a cloud and watched his brothers and their wives with pleased eyes. Everything felt right in the world. He became more reserved and left the others be off on their own business. One day, Courage and Fate visited their uncle on his cloud.

Courage was bright eyed with wonder at everything he saw,"Aki, why do you stay away from everyone else?" he asked.

Aki yawned,"There's nothing left to make, everyone's happy."

Fate sighed,"But what about you? Don't you feel lonely without a wife, children?" she asked solemnly.

Aki thought about this,"Fate, Courage, go bring your fathers to the forest. I need to talk to them."

The children obeyed. Aki flew to the forest and soon his brothers with their families found him. Aki motioned his brothers alone come forward. He held his hand out,"Grom, Olst. Let's make something together!"

The three brothers placed their hands together and a strange light glowed from the point where the three hands touched. They opened their hands out to a flat place for the new thing to be seen. There in their hands sat two creatures shaped like them. They had the compassion of Aki, pride of Grom and the cunning of Olst. Everyone was pleased of these new creatures.

This new creature spread out into the world, taming and conquering the wilds. Grom saw them wandering around the wilds, hiding from some of the strong creatures in the world. Grom decided that he should make more powerful types of them. Grom's were bigger, stronger, much harder to convince and loved challenges. Olst thought the brothers versions were naive and dense. Olst's were much more clever and cunning, creeping in the dark and trees. They all spread out and Aki's brothers were happy. Aki grew weary and needed rest. He went up to the sun to sleep and left his brothers to their own...

The god-looking creatures lived in a weak coexistence for ages. Soon metals were made to make them stronger, they built temples and cities that caught the eye of Grom and Olst. Soon the two brother's began having their creations fight one another, using Aki's as food or laborers. This age is very similar to the one we live in now, where the humanoids live higher on the food chain then us ponies.

When Aki woke up he saw war, famine, and more pain then he could fix. His brothers were locked in a brutal fight, one that even Aki couldn't subside. Aki moved unknown to anyone, becoming a force to watch over his creations. He had one promise to us, one day a champion will rise for the Gentle God. One that will crush Grom's champions and Olst's monsters.

But that day hasn't happened yet...maybe never will..."

The story struck me as odd. I had never heard a tale like that from him, it seemed almost to big of a story to be true. I accepted it though and snuggled up next to my father,"Soooo...where dose the Sun Goddess fit in with all of this?"

Dad yawned,"She's a creation of Aki. It's not certain that she's his champion though..."

I slept well that night, no nightmares or ambushes from the dark. That all changed when I woke up...I sat up groggily near the mountains...alone.

I jumped up and looked around for Dad. I cried out to the desert air and the mountain but no response came to me save an echo. I felt crushed, mother died and dad just left. I sat and cried like any foal would in those horseshoes. With a tear streaked face, I noticed an arrow drawn in the dirt pointing up to the mountain, maybe Dad was there?

Picking up what supplies he left behind I began hiking up the mountain...

Forces pt.2

Forces

Hiking up the mountain with my young hooves the snow was heavy on the other side of the mountains. Nowadays I know the reason the desert I spent my young life in was so dry and relentless, it was in a rain shadow of these mountains. From what supplies I took from the carnahorse's cottage I was fed little for several weeks. In the pine forest that covered this side of the mountain I spent many sickened nights only being kept warm by leather and wool coats I took from the cottage.

I about a month I reached the foot of the mountain range and found a thick pine forest with some trees I had never seen. These trees had leaves much bigger then pine needles. I gazed at the forest and embraced the sight of the most green I had ever seen. I walked through it, it's cold wet ground feeling alien on my hooves. As I walked I found a ridge that led to a small cliff face. I heard the sounds of clanging metal and the occasional grunt of anger.

I crept to the ridge and saw thirty feet down in a rocky clearing a pony I could only describe as stretched. In her suit of dark plated iron armor I could see she had long legs, a long snout, long ears and a long tail. She even had backwards facing horns sticking thorough her helm. From my point of view I thought the set of tan bat wings on her back was a cape. The long armored pony had a group of bandits attacking her from all sides.

The group consisted of four rams with spears and a massive pig with a heavy flail. All of them had thick leather hide armor with occasional pieces of iron as protection. But the part that frightened my young self the most is that they seemed to be having fun as they were attacking the pony from all sides with a sword in both forehooves. I was amazed by how quickly she moved with all of that armor. One of the rams threw a spear but missed the pony, unfortunately it hit some loose dirt I was leaning on and I rolled down the cliff. Both sides watched me roll down the hill with amusement.

I landed right in front of the pig. He looked from me to the armored pony. He kicked me in the ribs then used one of his forefeet to keep me on the ground. The armored pony looked at me through her visor with shocked pink eyes. With the pig's hoof on my back I could barely breath.

"Heh heh heh, wacha gonna do now?" The pig snickered with the mace's handle in his mouth.

"Ya fat swine!" the mare's muffled voice called through the helm,"I'll slash the fat off your damned bones!" It was an accent I had never heard in the desert.

"Pit down yer swords...and yer armor too an' I let 'er go," The pig licked his lips,"I bet yer a squishy 'un under all dat armor!"

The mare was standing on her hind hooves and stamped a foot closer,"I'll warn you only once...get off."

The pig leaned more on to me and I cried out in pain under his crushing strength. He laughed only for a moment. The armored mare's wings rocketed her toward the pig, she readied her swords as the pig simple brain tried to register what was happening.

He didn't have long. The mare's swords dug deep into his adam's apple and as she pulled the two apart his wide neck split open gushing blood out onto me and the ground. His weapon fell to the earth and I scrambled to get out of the way of his falling body. He landed with a wet thud and his ram followers scattered. I sat panting and afraid while the pony looked at me through the visor.

"Is the wee filly injured?" She asked with her accented voice.

"A-a little. That bastard was heavy on my back. But...thanks for saving me, Miss," I responded. I rubbed the thick blood off my jacket.

"What a mouth on such a young lass," She said sheathing her swords. She walked over to a large rock and lifted a large pack from behind it and placed it between her wings. She looked back to me for a moment,"Oi, there's a river over yonder. If you don't want some wolves or worse chasin' ya, I'd suggest you wash the blood off of you," She sniffed the air,"Actually you need it any way. I kin smell you from here."

I felt a little offended at this. I looked down at my hooves and saw not the skin tone hooves I have, but mud crusted nubs. I pulled some of my mane in view and saw it was matted and had bits of sticks in it. I glared at the mare, I knew I was a bit dirty, she didn't have to be so blunt about it.

The mare was walking away to a thicket of trees and I rushed up to her to follow. My chest aced from the pig's attack but I didn't want the armored mare to know it really hurt. She stared straight ahead as if I wasn't next to her.

"So yer followin' me now?" she asked.

"I-is that a problem?" I asked as bravely as I could. I could sense a smile from her inside that helmet.

I followed her for a little and listened to the sound of cicadas and singing birds. The armored mare broke the silence,"Do you have a name, lass?"

"Pea Gravel, miss," I said meekly.

"Tsk! Ya don'y have tah call me Miss. If you're going tah be formal say 'mam," Her voice grated,"And I have a name too, Alia Bufordox."

I giggled when I herd her name,"Bufordox? What kind of name is that?"

"S'a traditional name for Dragon Ponies like myself," She replied flatly.

"Dragon pony?" I asked vacantly.

"Are ya that stupid lass?" Alia groaned,"Look at me wings! They aren't a-covered in feathers are they?" She said lifting her bat-like wings.

"Is that all that makes you a dragon?" I asked.

"When we stop at the river I'll show ya. I'd rather not carry this here armor unless it's on me back."

After a small walk through the pine and leafy trees I heard the sound of moving water. Once out of the woods I saw a small river, up until then it was the biggest body of water I had ever seen. I threw off the leather coats on my back and rushed to the river. Jumping into the shallows the cold water felt amazing on my grubby skin. I rolled around and dunked my head under the water while Alia moved to the shore undoing some of the leather straps on her armor. I had figured out a strange form of the doggy paddle until I looked over at Alia. I trotted to shore with a soaking coat of fur.

Alia was undoing the leather under her chin and I realized something terrifying at the time. Alia had fingers like a dragon's. She slid her horned helm but the streamline horns stayed on her head. Alia held the thick iron helm in her hands and looked at me with her pink iris eyes which complimented her burgundy mane that flowed out between the horns. She had very smooth skin that almost looked like fish scales in the tree dappled light and a scar ran across her muzzle cheek to cheek. Alia lay her helm next to the rest of her armor and stretched her arms and wings out with a yawn.

"So you really are a hybrid!" I exclaimed.

"What a daft lass, did my wings really not give it away?" She groaned.

I sat near her examining her alien appearance, she didn't take it to well.

"Am I funny lookin' to ya?" She growled.

"No, just different," I smiled.

"Pea was it?" She asked picking her sharp teeth with a claw,"I've got to say, either you're the bravest wee pony I met or the stupidest."

"Why?" I asked whimsically.

"Cuz most ponies turn tail and run at the sight of me. Ya see...most ponies think I'm some sort of monster or something cus my father was a dragon," Alia said.

"I don't think your scary. I've seen a real dragon and you're nothing like him."

Alia threw her head back and laughed loudly,"Really? Ah, what kind of dragon did ya see lass?"

"He was long and redish black. He had creepy yellow eyes and porcupine quills on his back," I recalled with a chill.

Alia's face grew serious,"Did he have wings?"

"No, that's the weird part! All of the dragons I've heard about have wings like you."

"That's no good. From what ya told me, that one sounds like the Lamb Cruncher, Wiktet. He's one of Borox's cronies," Alia said with a frown.

"Borox? Who's that?"

"Ah child, you lived under a rock didn't you? Borox also known as the Serpent Father or The Bloody Bastard by non followers, is teh head of some cult for wingless dragons," Her wings twitched,"I could never imagine being stuck to the ground like an 'earth crawler'...no offence."

"S'alright Alia," I smiled.

There was a silence between the two of us for a moment. Alia looked around impatiently,"You washed up, why are ya still here?"

"I want to follow you," I said bluntly.

"Come again?" Alia itched the inside of her ear.

"I want you to teach me to fight like you did back there," I asked with bright eyes,"Could you?"

Alia bit her lip. She folded her arms and scanned my size for a moment,"You? You learning to fight like me? Don't make me laugh."

"What have you got to lose?" I asked.

"Well...yer a pony. Ponies aren't the fighting type," She grumbled,"Most of the things out there would eat ya alive!"

"I escaped a dragon and killed a carnahorse," I said flatly.

"Bullshit you did. I've seen carnahorses, their as tenacious as a mule is stubborn. There's no way in heaven or hell a filly would kill one."

"So you don't believe me?" I asked.

"Hell no I don't. Don't go trying to swell your story to make it sound better, that's not how it works out here," She piratically scolded.

I stood up on my hooves,"Alright, I'll fight you for it."

Alia rolled on the ground laughing. She whooped and hollered while I stood with a uneasy glare. Her fits of laughter subsided and she sat up and looked at me with an amused look.

"Oh lassie, you'd really fight me even knowin' I'm a mercenary that's killed more creatures then ya have teeth? Even knowin' I'm a carnivore?" She grinned devilishly.

"Yes," I said simply.

She got up and walked over to a nearby tree. She broke off two staff-like branches and tossed one to me. The stick landed in front of me and I looked from Alia to the staff. She held her staff in her mouth and walked back to her sitting spot on the shore. She sat down and smiled with the stick between her teeth.

"Alright, I'll go easy on ya. Just try to land a hit on me," She grinned.

I picked up the staff with my jaw and looked at how Alia was sitting. She sat like a cat would waiting for her prey to come closer. I shifted my hooves around looking for a vulnerable spot while her hot pink eyes stared me down. I took my chances for her left side. I jolted off the ground and had my staff mid swing but something blocked my strike. Her wing was splayed out like a shield and I was swept away like a dust bunny. Rolling back, I went for the other side. This time a smack in the face from her tail. Targeting the center. Crack on the head with a staff. I put my staff in my fore hooves and stood on my hind ones, this made Alia's eyebrow raise a little. I went in for a downward strike and was blocked by her staff. Strike, block, strike, bock, kick...

She spat her staff out when my hind hoof went towards the base of her jaw. She headbutted me and I went sprawling back. I was about to push myself up when a stick poked my throat. I looked up and Alia had an annoyed look as she stood over me.

"Look lass, it's been fun an' all but I've got things to do. So if ya don't mind, kindly bugger off."

I've been told my eyes turn a mint green when I'm especially angry. This was one of those times,"There's only one way to use your mouth in a fight," I growled and bit the staff at my throat. Somehow I pulled it out of her grip and made a full 360 turn before cracking it hard on her muzzle.

I stared wrathfully up at her breathing heavily. Alia stared down at me with a shocked look and a nose dripping blood. She held a hand up to her nose and sat down blinking wide eyed.

"Never I'm my life have I seen a pony with such pain tolerance and...and drive for combat. Ya didn't even notice the blood dripping from your forehead did you?" She asked breathlessly. She held a hand up to block the streams of blood from her nose.

I dropped the stick and placed a hoof on my forehead then held my now blood covered hoof in front of my face. Now that I thought about it, my whole forehead was feeling warm and wet now. My adrenalin had subsided and I sat across from the dragon pony my head aching from Alia's strike. We sat in a few moments of pained silence.

"Alright, I'll teach you what I know...or at least some of it," She said with a grin behind her hand.

I hugged the dragon pony. She seemed shocked and shoved me off her torso.

"I'm your mentor not yer mum! Don't go huggin me like that!" She scowled.

"Sorry...so what's my first job?" I asked excitedly.

"First up, we both need to wash off again. Can't walk around like some blood covered cannibals, eh?" Alia chuckled.

We both went over to the river and dunked our heads into the cool water. The flow if it felt amazing on my head that now felt like it was spit in two, thankfully it wasn't.

Alia smiled wryly. She pointed to her stack of armor and chain mail,"First I need ya to sort me armor inta two piles. One that the armor isn't cracked or rusted and one that is. Then once you're done with that take the grindin' stone out from the bag an' sharpen my swords."

I jumped to the task while Alia slipped into the river and let the cold water relax her sore muscles. I had sharpened farm tools before but never swords. A few hours passed and I scanned and checked Alia's armor while she swam through the river bend. It was almost dark and I stopped working to get a fire started. Alia saw me make a small flame started with some flint and tinder I stole from the carnahorse. The dragon pony jumped out of the river and shook the water off her mane onto the fire. I was about to protest but I remembered that I was under her lead now.

"Ya can't make a fire here you idiot!" She hissed a whisper.

"Why not? Fire scares off animals, right?"

"Yeah but not Ridge Dogs, fire would be a beacon to 'em," She looked over at her armor which still looked like one stack,"I thought I told you to put the good and bad armor in two piles."

"I did, all of your armor is beat up," I sighed as I scattered the ingredients for the fire,"Your going to have to find a real good black smith or pay for a whole new set."

Alia lumbered over to her belongings and cursed under her breath. She pulled out a blanket and bagged up her armor. The dragon pony tied a rope at the end of the bag, flapping her wings she settled the bag on a thick branch on a tree above and tied the rope to secure it. Alia lay on a branch adjacent to the burdened one and called down to me.

"I don't think ya want to sleep down there, some Dogs may come by."

"Could you help me up there?" I called back.

"I'm already laying down, come up here yourself."

I muttered under my breath as I hoisted my belongings onto my back and tried climbing the tree. It took awhile but I managed to get a decent height. Even tough made it up abut twenty feet, Alia was still higher up. I grumbled as I used the jackets to make a makeshift rope to tie myself to the branch with a wool blanket for warmth. Once secured, I tried to sleep.

"Ya not used to sleepin' in trees?" Alia asked sleepily.

"No, not really...it's weird," I groaned.

I heard her chuckle before I fell into a dreamless sleep.

In the days that followed we went toward Alia's manor. She wore her armor almost the entire time, even sleeping in it. For 'safety' she said. At first I thought the idea of a settlement run by a mercenary was silly but it would be my home for some time. The fact that a settlement run by a pony, even a hybrid, was impossible to me.From what she told me it was in an old river basin and was the first farm to get the spring thaw's rain. Now I knew she was crazy, a pony having such a good spot for a manor?

We walked through the pine forest and eventually the mountains were behind us like a pack monolithic giants. The land away from those towers of rock was patched green and flat . A dirt road led us away from the mountains to some mounds in the distance. The rocks were the only landmarks in the tall dry grass, save the occasional tree which grew in patches. The mounds in the distance was a town with windmills and was full of griffons. They called it Breeze because of the powerful air current that plowed overhead; they used the town as a rest stop for fliers, merchants and messengers.

Alia told me her manor wasn't to far past the town. I asked her why she didn't fly over to the manor in stead of walking, she pointed to the cracked suit of armor and I smiled dumbly. As we went through Breeze, I got a lot of grimaces and dirty looks from the griffons and even ponies. Almost every pony I saw had a collar or a bridle on their muzzles. A few had a blank glossy stare like some washed up fish, I knew for a fact those ponies were the...'livestock' kind.

A three week journey came to an end and Alia's manor was in view. It had large wood structure at the center and a few small fields with an orchard next to it. The closer we got, the more detail I could see. The manor house had a simple but strong looking design and a few smaller houses around it in a grid pattern. On the east side were the small fields and on the west side was the orchard.

I felt a little sick when I saw her workers, they were slaves like the ponies in town. I saw four mules in her field with heavy plows in tow with that fish-like stare. Alia lead me to one of the smaller houses that had a hefty brick chimney. Going around the corner I saw it was a blacksmith shop. There was a barrel chested sand yellow stallion behind an anvil pounding on a piece of metal with a hammer. Behind him hung several metal things such as ax heads, pitch fork heads, sword blades, all decently made. Alia took off her helm and waited for him to look up.

Eventually he did and I saw a forge and time worn face of an older stallion with a graying ginger mane. He put down his hammer and wiped soot from his face,"Afternoon Lady Bufordox," His voice was gruff," I'm glad to see you back, is there anything I can do for you today?"

"Aye, Smelter. I need ya to repair my armor. It's been cracked since last time I was here."

"Oh dear. I'll do what I can but you've really gone and banged it up...if your lordship permits, we don't have very much coal left for this kind of thing...my apologies."

"Oh shut it. Just tell me what else the manor is running low on."

Smelter shifted his weight,"Well...there's flour, salt, coal, iron, lumber and wheat seeds." The blacksmith muttered.

"Wheat seeds? Flour? I've got a whole wheat field out there," Alia fumed.

"Bad season last year. Didn't rain for a whole four months...dried the whole thing up. I'm surprised the apple orchard is still alive." Smelter smiled.

"I understand that but why are Sammy and his brothers still tilling the field?" Alia groaned.

"While you were gone I planted barley. Those mules wanted ale so bad they've been tending the fields even with the drought we've had."

"Alright, alright. There's a few things I need to catch up on," Alia said hurriedly,"Pea, help me get this armor off. I miss my bed in the big house and I'm rather worn out."

Undoing her armor straps was rather easy and once she left Smelter went to work. I leaned on the framework of the shop while Smelter heated up the forge. It was a few moments before he decided to chat.

"So, your name's Pea Gravel?" Smelter asked eyeing a forearm piece.

"Yes sir," I said quietly.

"No reason to call me sir, I'm a slave. You don't seem like your...how would the best way sound...owned."

"I guess not, Alia called me her 'squire' on the way out here," I said bashfully.

"Squire huh?" He said holding the armor close to the forge with tongs to heat it up,"You're a lucky one. The best a slave like us here can get is stuff to call our own. Or just have an owner like Master Bufordox, she's very kind despite her...jaded attitude."

"Us? How many slaves are out here?" I asked with a grimace.

"Well...there's me, Jimmy and his three brothers, Sweet Summer, and Dew Berry. Sometimes critters looking for work stop by during harvest time with the mercenaries Alia hired to keep us safe when she's gone," He chatted while merging the crack in the armor,"Come to think of it, I think you'd like Dew Berry. She's about the same age as you...I think..."

"Where is she?" I asked attentively.

"She's the house maid and Alia's personal cook. I'm pretty sure lil' Dew would be in the Big House making something for the mistress to eat. Don't bother waiting here or anything, I'm going to be just working on this until curfew so go ahead."

"Okay...see you later Smelter!" I giggled as I headed for the Big House.

"One more thing," He called before I went too far," The well is beside the big house, you should wash up before going inside."

I took his advice and found a small well near the big house. I fished out the bucket inside to wash the dirt and grime off me. After that I went for the inside of the house. The door was unlocked and the 'receiving' room had an ornate carpet under a rafter filled ceiling. There were a few doors and the one at the far end had tantalizing smells coming from it.

I followed the wafting smells to a brick built kitchen. Dried vegetables hung from the ceiling along with pots and pans. There was a long table at the center covered in a cook's mess. A young red mare with a sky blue mane chopping turnips. She had a deep blue patterned bandanna keeping her long straight hair from her face as she worked.

"Food's not going to be done for another few hours Sweets," She din't even look up from her work,"No snacks either, you'll spoil your appetite," She said in a collected voice.

"Ummm...I'm not Sweets. I'm Pea Gavel, Alia's squire," I said.

I saw her teal eyes when her face shot up,"You? Alia told me you were some kind of natural born fighter."

"Yeah...and?"

"Well, ponies are more...domestic creatures," The red mare said,"Ponies are born to work, not fight."

"I've worked on a ranch. I hated it," I grumbled.

"A pony not wanting to serve is like a bee avoiding flowers. It's plain silly," the mare huffed.

"Okay, I take it you're One of the newer 'helpers' around for this time of year then?"

"No, I'm Dew Berry. Their tending the orchard," She glared at me," So were you after something?"

"Food, I'm starving," I giggled greedily.

"Absolutely not. Just because you're a squire doesn't mean you can eat before the rest of us. The soup should be done in about two hours."

"Gaaah! Two hours?" I cried,"What have you got to eat that isn't soup?"

"You could go for an apple outside," Dew went back to chopping turnips,"If you want to help you could put bit of ginger into the pot," She nodded to a fire spit with a cauldron over it at the far end of the kitchen,"Spices are in the pantry cabinet near the cauldron."

"Tsk, nah. I think I'll pass," I said turning to leave. Once I was facing the main door again a wiz then a thud was heard from my right ear. I looked and saw the knife Dew was using stuck in the wood door frame. I spun my head in her direction.

"What the hell...are you out of your god damn mind?!" I shouted.

"Sorry...I thought I saw a fly. My bad," She smirked and put the vegetables on a plate to put in the pot.

"You bet your bad," I grumbled.

Later that day Alia showed me to my cabin. It was small and quaint but dry. She let me place my things inside but had devilish smile.

"Kiss your old self good bye," she grinned,"Tomorrow we start training."

In the days that followed Dew and I became more...mutual, we both were in our thirteenth year now. In a open part of the orchard Alia began training me how to use a sword. We used some of the spare lumber to make wooden paddles we used to batter one another. Once sword practice was over I had to do laps around the manor, fields and all. My daily schedule became a organized hell.

-Wake up at the crack of dawn and scarf down what was left over from the day before or cook something my self. Alia and I were the only one's up then.

-Ten laps around the Big House.

-Multiple exercises that would 'bulk me up like a mule', according to Alia.

-Once the sun had been out for awhile we would start sword practice. Every week we switched weapon types; axes, spears maces, that sort of thing. She told me to use everything that wasn't nailed to the ground to win.

-At noon I was granted a break, after a run of coarse. Every ten laps meant an hour of break time, so I pushed myself to twenty laps around the manor property.

-At break time I lay under a tree or inside depending on how hot it was. Here Dew would bring me a cool rag for my head and some apples. I felt bad, I was so exhausted most of the time I couldn't even thank her. She didn't seem to mind.

-After break time I tilled the fields or tended garden and orchard. Here I got to spend time with Sweet Summer. She was a ditzy green mare with a blonde mane and a sun hat on every day. Her nectarine eyes seemed paranoid somehow and she always talked about and issue with the weather, even if it was a pleasant day outside.

-Once it grew dark dinner came around and I wolfed down my rations. I was allowed three hours of a 'night break' before curfew at eight. Here I got to spend more time with Dew. She always was ready to listen to what I had to say, even if it was a smart ass remark. She'd just throw another right back. Occasionally if I had the remaining energy, I would tell on of my father's stories about grand adventure and larger then life ponies being heroes, Dew found them unlikely but entertaining.

-Curfew hit and I crashed into sleep until the grueling cycle continued.

This went on for two years. In the later part of the first year I had to wear Alia's armor in every exercise, let's just say I'm more of a leather kinda gal.

One night while small clouds of fire flies droned through the hot night air, Dew visited my cabin. I was laying on my straw filled nap sack drained of the day's work and seemed a bit surprised when she came in. In the two years of my training she had slimmed out and...puffed up in certain places. I felt a bit awkward being as muscular as most fit stallions while she was becoming well endowed .

"Pea, do you have a moment?" she asked quietly.

"Sure bud, come on inside," I said sitting up. I hung my hind legs over the edge of the bed and patted a spot next to me. Dew walked over and sat down slowly.

"You seem bummed out Dew, what's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"I overheard Master Bufordox talking with a shady looking griffon. He told her about a raiding mission being funded by the Sand Boars to get a foot hold on this side of the mountains...she's bringing you with her."

"That's great!" I slapped her on the back,"My first mercenary job, this'll be a cake walk!"

Dew had a solemn look,"Didn't you hear me? I said 'Sand Boars', as in the ones you lived under and parents died because of. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

I sat in thought,"I don't have anything against them, just the one at the ranch. Once I see his flab of a face I'm going to make it a pancake," Dew groaned at me," What? You don't believe me?"

"Oh I do it's just that...were only fifteen and I've seen you pull a plow almost as good as Jimmy. All I can do is cook and clean...and a bit of sewing."

"Hey, I can't sew shit and I'd probably burn a salad if I was cooking," I smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks Pea, but you're not the least bit worried about the mission?" Dew sighed.

"Nah, I'll be fine. You better make me a good victory meal though," I smirked.

Dew seemed amazed at my lack of worry at the upcoming event. She bade me good night and went back to the big house. I knew it was nine because all of the porch lamps on the cabins were dimmed out, curfew time. I lay back on my straw bed looking up at the ceiling in thought. "What's going to happen?", I asked myself,"Am I going to survive this or was Alia right, am I just going to get eaten alive out there?"

A knock came from the door.

"It's curfew Dew," I whispered,"You'll get in trouble if your out here."

"Aye, she would,"Alia's voice came from behind the door,"But she's not here. It's just ol' Alia."

I scrambled to the door and opened it for her,"Yes mam'? What can I do for you?"

"I came to tell ya about a job opportunity. I've talked with a client about a fort this side of the mountains that a certain fort that a Sand Boar noble has his eyes on. Interested?"

"When do we start?" I asked brashly.

"We set off tomorrow. Get some rest, that's the last bed you're going to sleep on for a while." Alia yawned.

"Alright, see you tomorrow," I said. Alia nodded and walked through the hot summer night back to the big house. I went back to my bed and now seemed much more tired.

The next morning, or before dawn, Alia drug me out of bed. She was in her full suit of armor that was freshly polished. I stared groggily at her and she tossed something heavy at me. It landed on my lap and I saw a set studded leather armor. I blinked with disbelief at it.

"I've been meaning to give this to you, but now you need it," Alia said.

"So we're leaving?" I asked.

Alia nodded," Put it on, I'll wait outside for you. I got one of the mules already packed up with supplies."

The dragon pony left my cabin and I began putting on my new armor. It felt confining on me but not so much I couldn't fight in it. I left my cabin with a dizzy head. I was really going to do this. I saw Alia standing near by with one of the mules who had several packs, bags, spears and swords. He had a bridle in his squared off mouth. I met up with them and we set off with the sun rising behind us. Before we were to far away I turned to look at the manor again and found a surprise. There was Dew Berry, Smelter, Sweet Summer ans the other three mules all waving to me. I felt a swell of pride and a bit of sadness. I had to make it, for my mentor and for them.

I looked back at Alia,"So how much are we getting paid for this?" I asked.

"What a greedy pig ya are," Alia chuckled,"If you survive theirs forty pieces of silver waiting for you. Their's also a twenty gold piece award for the commanding dog in the fort. He's a gnoll from the south."

"A gnoll?" I asked vacantly.

"You know what a Diamond Dog is right?" Alia sighed.

"Yeah, it's like a dog but they walk on two legs and talk like us."

"Eeeh...close enough. Well a gnoll is like one of them but bigger and heartless. I'd rather fight fifty Dimoders then a big gnoll like the one in that fort."

I cringed. Something that makes Alia intimidated? That's no good, but I can't disobey her. She already signed up for the job and I'm her squire.

"How far away is the fort?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Its close to the mountains about a hundred and sixty miles north west from Breeze. It'll be a good long hike," She chuckled.

It took about three days of no conversation to reach the rendezvous camp where the rest of the mercenaries we were going to work with. It was a massive camp with a thousand mercenaries. Alia had her mule set up a tent while she led me to the center of the camp to confirm we were fighting. We walked through the makeshift alleys with several angry eyes looking back on us. I saw goats, caribou, pigs, and a few minotaurs and griffons. The only ponies I saw were several carnahorses that smiled at me with their razor teeth. We reached the center tent that had two minotaur guards. They were ready to stop us from entering but a learned voice called from inside.

"Ahh, Bufordox. You've come at last! Come in, come in!"

The guards stepped away and we entered. Inside there was a large pig with a purple robe trimmed in gold. He sat on an immensely cushy green pillow with several ponies fanning him. In his hoof he had a goblet of wine and a elated grin on his face.

"You haven't changed a bit, Bufordox. Tell me, who's your little friend? Is she your slave or are you just being unnecessarily kind to me?' He asked eyeing me.

"Nay, she's not a slave. This pony is my squire," The pig half choked on his wine hearing this,"Her name is Pea Gravel."

"Good afternoon your Excellency," I bowed,"I'll be honored to aid in the capture of the admirable fortress you've set your ever keen eyes on." I said humbly. Alia raised an eyebrow at my smooth talking.

"How wonderful! You've taught your pet well. I think it's fascinating a pony can speak so eloquently!" The pig chortled.

"Your lordship, when do we begin the siege?" Alia asked.

"The siege itself has already been afoot for several weeks, I called upon your services because the whole thing may go out of hoof. Now that your here we can start our assault upon that mutt infested fortress. I wouldn't want to begin without my favorite dragon pony!" The pig smirked after a sip of wine,"Now if you want to socialize with the rabble be my guest. With the skill of that dammed gnoll I don't believe most of them will survive."

With that we nodded and left the pig to his drinking. Being in a mercenary camp made me feel uncomfortable but I had to tough it out for Alia, for everyone at the manor, for Dew.

...I felt sick, siting in the war camp. The smell of cooked flesh and the growl of battle-hungry creatures prodded my senses. I lay on a canvas cot, trying to keep a straight face as Alia sat across from me. She slurped at some soup, I could tell she enjoyed the taste. I lay waiting for the battle, falling asleep as the sun came down.

"Wake up, you,"I heard Alia whisper,"We're off!"

I sat up groggily, a sliver in the tent flap showed me it was still dark. Alia dropped a sword half my length in front of me, then my leather armor. I busied myself with getting in the armor then followed Alia into the dark midnight camp. In the minimal light, I could see the glimmer of steel or iron arms and armor shuffling through the night. My knight and I joined up in the growing mass.

Being so close together, I could smell sweat and blood from the other mercenaries. Only a handful of torches were lit, one in particular was held by Dobervitch, our client.

"My loyal ungulates, were gathered here tonight to take a fortress that rightfully belongs to us," His flaunting voice was quiet in the night air but his audience heard every word,"If you follow the plan I hath constructed, failure is impossible. I have sent my pegsi servants a ways away to the far side of the fortress, to create a favorable gust of wind."

Alia whispered over to me,"The way he's talking, ya's swear he was coming with us," We both stifled a laugh.

"This wind will damper the sound of our forces," Dobervitch continued,"We'll be down wind of those dog's rotten noses, so their most favored sense will be useless. My informant told me of a weak region on the south-west side of the wall. I will send Dren and Mutcher," He motioned to a minotuar and a crow headed griffon,"They will take their forces to the main gate with the mangonels I've provided to batter down the main force while you, Alia, pierce the South-west end."

The agreement was silent and the mass of mercenaries split into three groups, each almost two hundred strong. The one's that followed the griffon Dren were all some type of fleet creature or one of flight. Mutcher's were all mules, some small diamond dogs and other minotaurs. The ones that followed Alia along side me were regular ponies, goats, two burly boars and a pack of carnahorses. Seeing the shark toothed equines band up behind me made my hair stand on end.

The sudden gust of wind startled all of us. It was a steady gale that blew leaves violently through the night air. Dobervitch smiled and with a silent nod we doused the few torches. The three groups went their separate ways to the dog run fortress. Walking through the night air, I realized Dobervitch was right. We were walking through a leaf floored forest but the crunch couldn't reach my ears over the gale. I asked if Alia could hear it, but she had a hard time hearing me!

The march tensed every muscle in my body, I wasn't sure if I was ready for a siege like this. Through the trees ahead we saw the light of brazens on the fortress' battlements the south-went end in perfect view. Again Dobervitch was correct, I had never seen a stone wall in such disrepair. It had a gate house, or a big hole that could be considered one. There was a catch to the weak spot though, It was being patrolled by a dozen of heavily armored D Dogs with great-swords, axes and maces in their mighty paws. Alia drew a wing up slightly, motioning her company to halt. I was surprised at how quickly they followed her orders.

She looked back to them and called just slightly over the gale,"Sit tight an' wait, lads. Rush the gate 'ouse on my signal!"

Ducking behind trees, bushes and anything else, it seemed like the company disappeared. Alia and I sat behind a thick shrub at the front lines, watching the battlements carefully. The smell being wafted from the fortress didn't help with my already sick stomach.

Like planned, rocks flew from the sky onto the battlements and other side of the walls from us. All of the D Dog guards on our end of the fortress scrambled around in a panic. Shouts of battle and cries of pain met my ears from the far side of the wall, light from oil fire now lit up the night sky in a deadly yellow-red glow. Almost all of the D Dog guards at the South-West corner ran to assist the main fight, not knowing that the fort's down fall would be right where they stood. Only eight armored dogs were left on the ground, while ten stood up on the walls. Sadly for me, the biggest and meanest looking dogs were the ones left.

Alia smiled a grim smile under her helm. Waving her tail up in slightly, she summoned a squad of archers. They were pegsi armed with crossbows fit for flying with. Alia pointed to the ten remaining guards left on the wall, the rest of us would deal with the armored dogs. The pegsi loaded and aimed their weapons, each with a dog in their sight. They were ridged, awaiting Alia's signal. With a wave of her claw, six dogs dropped dead with bolts buried in very necessary places. The other four readied their log bows and aimed fire tipped arrows at the forest. Due to the amount of wind blowing and how dry these woods were this could potentially catch the forest on fire. I knew as well as Alia did, we couldn't run two hundred warriors out of a blaze without heavy casualties.

Alia screamed to charge and rocketed up into the air. I was left in a dust cloud on the ground while the dragon pony soared to the wall. The mercenaries rushed past me, pounding hooves against the ground, shouting and waving their weapons as they charged the eight armored dogs. I watched Alia get struck with two arrows and land on the battlements, she slaughtered the archers in mere seconds. I could do nothing but follow and draw the sword sheathed at my side.

I held the sharp iron weapon in my jaws as I ran alongside my equine cousins. The armored Diamond Dogs barked savagely at us, though they faced two hundred foes. Thankfully I wasn't still in the front lines, seeing the Diamond Dogs fight would make any right-thinking pony turn tail and run.

One with pig tusks on his helm swung a great sword that ripped through three ponies in one strike, leaving decrepit corpses to fall back to earth. Through bodies being thrown around I saw the Diamond Dogs beat our forces back relentlessly. A mace swing flattened anypony it touched and seeing grey matter paste the ground and life blood paint steel woke up an animal in me. The same animal that hacked away at the carnahorse so many years ago. Jumping thought the deterred pony ranks I had my sword at the ready.

As The tusk helmeted dog ran a carnahorse through, I sprung into the air. Time seemed to freeze, my sword nearing the dog's exposed maw. I felt the force of the iron sword hit under his jaw and sink through then jut out the other side. He wobbled, gurgling and coughing as I stood on his chest still holding my sword. Deep red blood oozed from the wound and off his back, his might paw dropping his over sized sword to the stained ground.

The battle didn't stop just for me, but it felt like it. I strained to pull my sword out from his neck then he fell to the ground with a thud. Having a newly painted weapon in use, I ran again. I now targeted the other dog's ankles as I hauled ass to the gate house. Chopping though flesh, I felt accomplished and alive as I ran to the gate house, the first one to reach it. Out from behind the wall where none of us could see, a diamond dog waited with a gut wound and a rock. He was positioned to hit the first thing he saw before he bleed out. Unfortunately, that last thing was me. In a split second, I saw him and the rock. A heft crack met my head and everything went black...

With a splitting headache, I pushed myself off the bloodied ground. I saw that I had been out for a while, the fighting was now in the main hold instead of in the court yard or outside the walls. I felt a river of red pool of my head, but a simple wound like that couldn't stop me from quitting. Now thinking clearly? Out the window.

I staggered though the court yard, tripping over the mangled bodies of ponies and dogs alike. My sword felt heavy at my side, but the adrenaline and lust for blood drug me forward. After several agonizing meters, I reached in keep. The doors were knocked off their hinges and the faint sounds of fighting came from within. Running from burned out buildings in the courtyard, dozens of ponies ran my direction. None of there were armored, all of them had some sort of collar on their necks. I knew that ex-slaves were running past me, saving a few ponies made our bloody work a bit more justified...right?

I went through and found a blood bath in the great hall; tables knocked over, wood supports burning, bodies stung everywhere and even a few unlucky survivors. Suddenly Dren, the crow headed griffon,flew past me to the exit squealing in a battered panic. I moved at a faster pace and found he was running from a flight of stairs. Downward stairs.

The painful cries grew louder and more agonizing the nearer I got. I found some mashed meat bits, possibly a goat? I ventured down the stairs with my sword still drawn, it scrapped the blood stained stone wall as I moved downward. After climbing over a pile of dead diamond dogs on the stairs I finally reached the bottom. What met me at the bottom was a steel spring trap snapping against my right hoof.

I dropped my sword from my mouth in sheer shock, then bit my lip to hold back a scream of pain. I knew if I was loud at all, it'd be the death of me. Looking down I saw the clamp biting into my leg, I cursed over and over under my breath. I reached for my sword and tried to pry the trap open. It gave way slightly, but I had to endure the sounds of somepony being eaten alive down the hall while doing so.

After what felt like a lifetime, I finally freed myself. My hoof was shot for use so I just limped down the hall, nearing the source of the commotion. With growling and screams echoing off the stone walls, I gimped over to a lit doorway.

It looked like the door to a large treasury, silver coins and blood covered the floor while torches illuminated the grizzly scene. I crept slowly to the entrance and made a peek inside. I saw twenty of Alia's mercenaries surrounding a giant brown D Dog, it made a twisted hyena-like laugh. With it's bare hands it mashed and threw the armored ponies like rag dolls, painting the walls and floor in crimson. The dog bit, ripped, slashed and tore at his foes that stood knee high to his girth. He wasn't the only one in there...

I got one good look at it and it was no normal Diamond dog. These were Gnolls, the most ferocious kind of bipedal dog that I knew, the kind that made Alia cringe. Their faces were that of a hyena, hence their cruel laughter. With specked brown fur covered in chain mail and thick leather, their size was Herculean compared to even a large Diamond Dog.

Further in I saw Mutcher near another one of the beastly dogs. The other Gnoll squared off Mutcher. They circled each other, the Gnoll with a flail and the minotuar with his ax. Though Mutcher was a massive creature, one who could easily fit my face in his palm, he seemed...afraid of these things.

The Gnoll howled with pale yellow eyes and drooling maw, Mutcher took his chance to strike. He swung in from an upward angle and landed a devastating blow the Gnoll's shoulder, almost carving the dog's arm off. Mutcher smiled but was met with a clamped jaw to his arm. He grunted in pain with the crushing strength of the Gnolls jaws dug deep into his beefy arm. With his free arm Mutcher pulled out a dagger and hacked away at the gnoll's neck until it let go. Of course, letting go meant the thing was long dead and it's jaw pried off from Mutcher's arm. His luck was thinning out though.

The other Gnoll grabbed his comrade's flail, skillfully sneaking behind Mutcher's back the Gnoll quickly wrapped the chain around Mutcher's wide neck. Though a naturally blue skinned creature, seeing a minotaur suffocate is a sickening sight. I had enough, with my sword ready to swing, I ran into the gore covered room with a vengeance.

The dead body of Mutcher was thrown at me, toppling me over. The dead weight of him nearly crushed me, only to be lifted by something worse. The Gnoll lifted me up by my hind leg with ease, holding me up head height. Without thinking I twisted my head violently to attempt a strike with my sword. He laughed his daunting laugh and ripped the sword away from me. Tossing it aside the gnoll laughed.

Now that I got a good look at him, his crooked teeth smiled through scarred lips. With one of his eyes gouged out and half an ear missing, I wondered what could do that to something like him. I darted my eyes to see if I had any comrades near by, feeling cold seeing that were the only two breathing creatures in the mass tomb.

"Who hired you, who's your boss?!" I shouted at him.

He blinked his one eye,"Buss?" His accent as heavy handed as his attacks,"Gut no buss. Gimbl iz own buss."

"Just wait till you meet mine," I threatened,"You'll shit yourself when you get cut down by her swords!"

Her cackled,"Oooh, liddle horsey iz scaring!" He used my leg as a handle, he hammered my body to the ground. My already injured head had a fracture now. He drooled looking at my bloodied head,"Oooh, iz Gimbl scaring horsey now?"

I coughed out a bit of blood to spit in his ugly face. He snarled and threw me into the nearby wall, how many rocks were going to hit me tonight? He thought I was dead, and at this point who wouldn't, and he shuffled around looting the corpses around the room. My body felt like it was falling apart. It twitched occasionally but not in a paralyzed way, thank god.

While 'Gimble' stuffed silver into his bags and pockets, I found a spiked steel hoof-gauntlet on a corpse nearby. I reached for it carefully, fitting loosely on my left hoof. I smiled grimly awaiting the Gnoll to come closer.

He hunched over some of the ponies near me, picking through the gore for trinkets. His ugly mass was about eight feet away and I felt a new surge of energy. I jumped on top of his head, jabbing out his only eye. He howled furiously and grabbed at me, luckily I was swifter then his paws could swipe. I backed away as he scraped and clawed the air and stone.

He stopped suddenly and sniffed at the air, I forgot about his nose! He had a hard time finding me among the others but he began following me blindly as I tried to avoid him. While moving, I tripped on a hatchet. A hatchet perfect for being thrown into Gnoll noses.

Standing up with the hatchet I threw it at the Gnoll's face. It must have been my lucky day since it now was sticking out of his snout. He thrashed around with rage and cursed at the top of his lungs. I found my sword from Alia in the mess and with a jump on his back, shoved the finishing blow though the Gnoll's spine. I stood on top of the muscular mound that was Gimble still holding my sword in my clenched jaws. Blood still pumped throughout my body, oozing from gashes and my fractured skull. I stood for awhile just breathing and stared at nothing. (I was told this by someone else, I don't remember it myself because my mind was fogged completely) Some ponies following Dren ran down the stairs and scrambled into the room. They were all aghast at the sight of several dozen dead ponies and me ridged in stance. Dren, who ran from the Gnolls at first sight, strutted up to me. He climbed over the Gnoll's head and stood a few feet away from me.

"Squire?" He asked,"Squire can you hear me?"

My sword practically moved on it's own, pointing itself at Dren's neck. He shrunk back away from me. My mint colored eyes pierced at the griffon,"Where's Bufordox?"

He pointed a shaky black talon upwards,"I-in the main hall...mam."

I sheathed my blade and walked with heavy hooves to the stairwell. Dren and his followers cleared out from my path. Once behind me they set off to the silver for their pockets. My mind slowly sobered up the further up I went in the stairwell. I walked into the hall to find the rest of the mercenaries I fought with in an uproar, shouting threats and curses. They were all in a tight packed ring like children looking at a school fight. Not wanting to be in the dark, I shoved my way in through the crowd to see. I wasn't happy with what I saw...

There was an armored diamond dog holding himself over a litter of pups. His mastiff looking head snarled at the ponies poking swords at him. At a closer look the chain mail he was wearing was soaked in his own blood, he would be dying any moment now. Across the ring, Alia pushed through the crowd. She looked at the diamond dog with cold eyes, the dog knew what would happen next when she stepped forward. The din of the mercenary crowd died down when Alia drew a sword, the dog made a small whimper. The dragon pony flicked the sword and the diamond dog's mastiff head dropped from his shoulders. His bloodied body dropped next to the litter of pups he was protecting, who only now realized what was going on.

Several clung to the still warm body, while one turned and growled at Alia. The lone pup scratched at the ground and bared her teeth at the dragon pony. Alia's face was a stature if indifference. I cringed when she whacked the pup over the head with the flat of her blade. The small dog rolled from the blow and lay grimly still. The mercenaries looked to Alia and the dragon pony popped her neck.

"Bag up the ones that don't fight you, kill the ones that bite," She looked over to my side. Dren moved to the front without me noticing. Alia made a glance to the still pup,"You, bird, will go an' find the other pups hidden in this hold. If I know anything about these mutts is that they hide their children like they hide the gems they chew on."

Dren nodded and darted off down a doorway in the grate hall's walls. Some of the mercenaries grabbed the live pups by the nape while others followed Dren. Soon it was just me, Alia and the two dead dogs. I had a look of disgust. Partly because I knew something like this was bound to happen but felt abhorrent to it.

Alia sheathed her sword and took off her helm,"Ya have to get them while their young," She said looking at the pup,"If ya wait too long they become savage. 'Tis a win-win deal, bein' young their appealing to buyers and an be trained."

I looked away from the dead dogs,"How many pups have you sold?"

"Personally? I've never sold one," She said flicking her mane,"I've brought more stock to merchants then I can count though."

The rest of that night was a blur. I remember a vague victory party and was credited for the death of two gnolls, shit ton of silver for me. There was a trip to the field medic who patched my cracked head up with the grace that only a unicorn mare could give. After that I remember Dobarvitch holding an auction. Since the fort was now his, all that was still in it that wasn't looted already, and was his to sell. There were pieces of armor, weapons, vases and jewels. After that there was a slave auction.

Even in my state, I was shocked. I'm not a mare who's never seen slaves but there were innocent prisoners of war up on the block. All of the fort's mates and pups were lined up and chained. I say all but I wouldn't know since we had so many hungry carnahorses in our midst. I saw absolute fear and confusion on the pup's faces and complete defeat on the females. Dobervitch pointed and auctioned them off like the tables and chairs he sold earlier at near the same cheap prices.

Alia did nothing but say proud things about me all the way back to her manor. Once back I was met with open arms and a hot meal. Sitting safely at the table, Dew Berry gave me special stew made just for me. Unlike the rip-roaring drunk celebration at the conquered fort, the one at Alia Bufordox's manor was much quieter. After the party, everypony went off to bed. As I lay, images of the blood I gave and shed burned into my mind. I thought of Alia as a social distant, but now I saw how really cold she truly was.

Forces pt.3

Forces

In what seemed a flash to me, years of mercenary work passed. With skirmish after skirmish under my belt, my knight trusted my council in job choice and strategy. She had shown me her maps and charts, my eyes now seeing the world mapped out. To our west was a deadly sea and stretches of dead water. To the south and north were frozen wastelands, east was kingdoms full of all sorts of nasty monsters. The Sand Boars, a group of nobles we often fought for, were part of a Ungulate prejudice collection of city-states, these ranges from equines, bovines, pigs and piratically any other hoofed animal. Though surrounded by herbivores like myself we had killed ponies, boars, diamond dogs, it didn't matter. Just as long as we got paid, I would take all but the most bastardy work. (You know, slaving runs and cold blooded murder.)

During the winter of my nineteenth year, I spent a day counting the silver I hadn't spent on necessities for a gift. My talented cooking friend Dew Berry was turning nineteen also that spring. Another day, sitting out in the frozen air Dew Berry stitched cute little fur caps while I was splitting wood. I had a saddlebag designed for carrying wood and with Dew's help I headed inside with some fire wood. Behind my back Dew put a rabbit fur cap on over my ears, she giggled like a child while I huffed playfully. Inside the main room of Bufordox Manor, I piled up some wood in the low fire. Even as I sat back on one of the canvas couches I admired at how the fire leaped up at it's new food.

I straightened the fur cap on my head and smiled over at Dew Berry,"Is there anything you can't do?"

Dew Berry laughed, sitting on the other end of the couch,"Ohh...swing a sword like you, Pea. You're as scary as the boogie man stories I've heard!"

I put a mock face of despair,"Oh, really? I'm beside myself with grief!"

Dew Berry laughed and I couldn't help but follow. She became a beautiful and curvaceous mare while I was muscular and had a boyishly short mane. It crossed my mind one and awhile at how I may have become a mare like her, quiet, shy and kind. I usually shrugged it off, thinking of this as just silly teenage thoughts.

In the comfort of the fire's warmth I fell asleep. Hours later I heard a knock at the door. I woke up rather sharply and looked around for Dew, she was nowhere to be found. I decided that she most likely went back to the kitchen for dinner, my internal clock told me it was night anyway.

I opened the front door and found a sparrow headed griffon bundled up in a dozen scarves. She held up a trembling talon and handed me a frosty note. Without warning I drug the griffon inside, the frail creature hobbled over to warm herself by the fire while I read the note:

To Alia Bufordox and Pea Gravel,

I, Terbirus Conduix of the Sand Boar Clan, am in need of services. There is a scourge in my lands, a blood red serpent. He had been extorting my citizens for decades but recently he's grown more voracious. He has consumed over fifty head of cattle and laid siege to one of my fortresses. I need the expertise of a dragon slayer and I will provide anything you request within my power in exchange of the execution of this beast. The dragon's name is Wiktet the Lamb Cruncher and for his death money is no object. Any who accept this offer come to the river port Ber Juan.

My jaw dropped. Wiktet...he was the reason I lost my 'home' on that ranch. I had waited ever since that night for an opportunity like this. The little sparrow griffon looked at me from next to the fire. I motioned the messenger to me to take a letter to Terbirus. She pulled out a blank sheet of coarse paper and a fine charcoal pencil for mt message.

"Dear Terbirus Conduix," I began,"I, the squire to Alia Bufordox, accept your job offer. We will go to your estate within the month and remove your infestation," I said with my head held high. I felt proud of myself sounding as educated as that noble, on paper that is. The sparrow scribbled away and quickly finished.

She held the paper to me with the pencil in the other hand,"Sign, please madam?" she asked in a frail voice.

I took the charcoal in my mouth with a fake look of confidence. I couldn't write, what should I sign with? Suddenly the idea hit me, I'd just sketch out my cutie mark on the bottom of the paper. After making my mark the sparrow griffon rolled the letter up and tied a yellow ribbon on it. She waved to me and briskly went out the front door to fly in the icy air. Dew Berry walked up the hall from the kitchen. She had to bump my shoulder to divert my gaze from the door.

"Come on Pea, dinner's ready," She glanced at the door,"Are you waiting for someone?"

I shook my head,"No, don't worry about it. I do have some new to announce at the table though."

Walking to the large table where I had eaten a thousand times before, I moved with a different strut. Alia sat at the head of the table with brass goblet of wine while the mules, blacksmith and gardener sat further down. I sat next to Alia, as I usually did. Dew and one of Alia's mules served the wonderful smelling dinner while everypony else waited. Once served a roasted vegetable or two I began a casual conversation with my knight while the others chatted about the weather.

"So, Mistress," I said cutting a piece off of a carrot,"A letter came in from another Sand Boar Noble tonight. He's offering a real big reward."

"Aye lass,"Alia said sipping wine,"Let's hear the job."

I thought for a moment about how to word it to my advantage, "How's your skill at dragon slaying?" I asked casually. Everypony else immediately went dead silent and Alia had a pained look on her face. I looked around desperately,"Is it something I said?

"I've never taken up dragon slaying," Alia said flatly with her eyes shut.

"Why? Are they too much for my knight?" I said in hope to compliment her...it didn't.

"I'm not going to kill another dragon, you wormy toad," Alia growled. Her dragon-like features seemed to stand out particularly more tonight,"Though I'm part dragon, I never lived them,"Alia put a claw to her forehead with a solemn look,"Do ya know why my surname is Bufordox?"

"Yes, it was your father's name correct?" I recalled.

"Aye, an' you know who was the only dragon I killed?" Alia sighed.

"No mam, you never told me about your career in dragon slaying," I said intently.

Alia pounded the table, knocking over her wine,"Then how the hell did you find out about it?" She shouted.

A lump formed in my throat,"I answered the letter that came in today. It was from Terbirus Conduix, he offered a job to kill a dragon for whatever price we set."

Alia slumped in her chair,"The dragon I killed was a blood hungry yellow one. The treasure hoarder and burns villages kind...."

I felt confused,"So? All dragon do that anyway, and this one deserves it. No, all dragons deserve to be hunted down."

Alia sighed,"That dragon's name was Bufordox, my father. He didn't recognize me, but I had to kill my father because of the kind of beast he was. I won't spill any more blood of my kind. "

I stood up, furious. I pointed a hoof at her,"Your kind? I've killed dozens of my kind in your name! Wiktet, he's the one with a price on his head! I want revenge for what he did to me!"

Alia looked off into space away from me. I stood there breathing heavily while she thought. She waved a hand at me,"Then go. I won't stop you, but you're not going to be my squire if you do."

Smelter, Sweet Summer, the mules and Dew Berry all looked at the two of us in despair. They neither wanted to go against their mistress or wanted me to leave. Dew Berry stood up, surprising everypony present. She stood trembling with a quivering lip.

"I-If she goes...I g-go too!" she stuttered.

Alia rose an eyebrow,"An' what are you gonna do, throw a salad at a dragon?"

Dew's nerves calmed down enough for her to speak,"No, but I'll do anything it takes to back up Pea Gravel!"

I had conflicted feelings about this, but with Dew Berry backing me up I looked confidently at Alia. The dragon pony was teary eyed as well as I did.

"So ya really are going, aren't you?" Alia asked, somewhat choked up.

"I am. Don't try to stop me, hypocrite," I said bluntly.

Alia covered her face with one hand and waved me away with another. It felt like she was shoving me away with that dainty wave. I knew she could have stopped me, possibly kill me. Another part of me felt like she should. The rest were silent while I headed for the main door, Dew looked back once then trotted up next to me. I had a stony face as I shoved the door open and stomped into the cold. Dew shivered when a flurry plowed by, I think I felt it, I was probably to shaken up to care. Dew followed me into my cabin and watched me pack a bag for supplies. She offered to help but I told her to pack her things too. She turned and left quickly. I reminded her that living out on the road, required clothes. Not just to keep warm but to cover other bits up, we didn't want someone peeking where they weren't invited.

Later I walked back outside in the icy wind with my leather armor strapped on and my iron sword at my side. I stood waiting for Dew, chuckling a bit to see her walking up bundled in a coat that ran down to her hooves and her face covered in a scarf. She had a knapsack and another coat which she draped over my back like a blanket. She put the fur cap she made back on my head, I suppose I dropped it on the way out.

I looked into the snowy night,"Ready Dew Berry?"

She looked up at me,"I...I guess. Looks like we don't really have a choice, do we?"

I laughed,"Nope! Let's go kill us a dragon!"

Walking out on the open plain, we eventually walked into Breeze. The little merchant town had only it's core residents living there, everything else migrated south already. Dew tailed me while I headed through the town, possibly for the last time. We were peeked at from the windows of a few houses, they were probably wondering who in their right mind would be traveling this time of year. I checked any shop for food to buy, but all the vendors were out of salable stock. It was simply too cold for more devilries to come in.

I grumbled curses under my breath as Breeze faded out of view behind us. Dew Berry and I walked in silence for hours, trudging through the cold. I could tell Dew was nervous, terrified even. I walked closer to her.

"Have you ever been this far from the manor before?" I asked.

She sighed sadly,"Yeah...ever since Alia bought me I...I never really wanted to go anywhere. She had taken me on some long trips though, so I can pull my own weight around. Don't worry about me not being able to defend myself, I'm no child."

"Alright bud, this'll be a cake walk then!" I smiled. Dew shrank away. I leaned over,"Something wrong?"

"I know we're friends...but you outrank me, always have. I suppose I'm...I'm your slave now?" Her words came out timidly through the scarf.

I straightened up and looked forward,"Alright, and as your master, I say you're free."

Dew tripped and face-planted into the snow. I stopped and looked to see if she was alright. Dew looked up at me with bright, awed eyes.

"I-I'm free?" She asked.

I helped her back up. punching her playfully I grinned,"You bet your ass you are!"

Dew laughed to herself. The taste of freedom was sweet for her,"Are we ever coming back to the manor?"

"You don't have to but I am," I shook off the cold as we walked,"That's home for me. I really don't know what I would do if I didn't work for Alia."

"Maybe we could be mercenaries," Dew giggled," I could cook up a poison and you could put it on your sword!"

The trip to the mountains was a surprisingly easy one. Almost three days passed to the foot hills and now Dew and I were at the pine forest on the mountain. We hiked up the dividing mass of rock for another two days and finally peaked over to the other side. We both stood in the this mountain top air and gazed at the desert below. The massive dry expanse before us looked much warmer then the peak we stood on. Happily trudging through the snow we made our way down the much rockier side of the mountain. With some more hiking, we made it to the foot of the mountains. The desert in front of us was dry but cold.

Rationing out the little food we had, we both trudged into the bleak expanse. Several days of wandering passed until we found a road. The broken down dirt path had a sign post with several blocks of wood pointing in different directions. To the right was a mining town, to the left was another town like Breeze. A sign above the mining's one said,'Ber Juan'. Remembering the notice, this town was the place to go. Dew followed me happily down the dusty road.

After a day, we made it to the mining town. Smelters were ablaze next to the clay houses in the small town. Ponies with picks ans shovels hurried around. Of corse, there were some other kinds of critters laboring away at the quarries with collars around their necks. Dew pointed out that some of the houses and smelters were newer looking then the others, some were complete ruined. Some ponies were building new walls over scorched ground. As we walked, I noticed worn down depressions in the dirt. Old dragon footprints.

Leaving the mining town, we saw more signs of Wiktet. There were scorched trenches and blackened bones. We avoided making campfires during the night and huddled together instead. After what felt like an eon or longer, a wide river came into view. Ber Juan's river. We followed the river bed for awhile and cresting over a hill we saw the city.

The closer we got, more burned the outer city looked. We saw buildings big and small surrounding a large, wall. This wall surrounded a church-like stronghold. The center Piece of Ber Juan was two massive towers with a more house shaped building holding the three structures together. I could tell that Dew was growing weary of the journey, but it was coming to an end shortly. Walking through what once were fields for farms or cattle, were now stamped flat or scorched beyond repair. We arrived at the surrounding buildings around the Stronghold, ruined buildings and ruined citizens were the majority of the bleak scenery. Once well inside the city, two guards approached us. One was a unicorn stallion with chain mail armor and a blue tunic. The other was something I had never seen before. It was in yellow-orange robes were padded like armor but ornate like a priest's robe that left little to the imagination of it's shape. I could only assume it was a magician like the unicorn next to it but it's anatomy was so...different.

It's face could be described as a hairless ape's but with a straight-as-aboard spine, also with much larger forehead and eyes. The ape's face looked down at me, I could only assume 'she', was some strange creature from the east. The unicorn stallion stepped forward.

"Who are you two?" The unicorn's voice barked.

"I am Pea Gravel, squire to Alia Bufordox. The dragon pony knight from over the mountains. I was heard a request of services about the dragon problem," I said eloquently.

The hairless ape and the unicorn looked to each other. The tall, weird thing waved the unicorn away and knelt down in front of me. I tried to look straight at it. Her skin was tanned, the mane (I guess?) was a dark brown brown, and her hazel eyes looked warmly at me. I wasn't sure if she was luring me or just being friendly. Dew shrank behind me to avoid the ape's vision. She smiled, her lips were painted purple as well as her eyelids.

"Hello Miss Gravel, my name is Sister Rochelle," She said extending a hand. I looked at the smooth skinned, five fingered, tan thing and placed a hoof on it. I was aware of 'shaking hooves' but hands worked too.

I wiped my hoof on my leather armor and looked at the 'Rochelle',"Hey there...Rochelle. You're here to take me to your master?"

Rochelle stood up to her lofty height and laughed again,"I see you really are used to this kind of work," She started walking down the rubble covered street and motioned us to follow,"This way, Lord Conduix has been eager to see you...even though Mistress Bufordox isn't present."

Dew crouched next to me as she led us through the streets. Rochelle held her hands together inside her enormous robe sleeves. I a little more noticeable then usual, since the varied creatures living in the city watched me and Dew walk down through the ruin. Among the masses, a hoof-full of things that looked similar to Rochelle watched too. I moved with more of a cocky trot and Dew did her best to keep up, avoiding eye contact with the watchers.

I looked up at Rochelle,"Sooo...Rochelle, what exactly are you?"

She seemed surprised and a little offended,"You've never seen a human before?"

"Nope, I'm glad too, bipeds are'mt my cup of tea," I said contorted.

She cleared her throat,"Umm...well, I...I understand. We're uncommon...out here, I'm really from out east."

I grinned,"I thought you were. All the weird things come out of there, right?"

Rochelle huffed lightly,"Yes, mam."

I was escorted to a tall, thick wall and through a oak tall door I was presented with the even bigger Cathedral. Rochelle led us through the doors of the Cathedral. Inside was a surprisingly small main hall, with small rugs in rows stretching from near the door all the way to the other side of the hall. At the end was a statue of a horse lit up by large brazens of fire. The statue itself was feminine, curvaceous and elegant. The details struck me as silly though. On the back were large wings, understandable. There was also a horn like a unicorn's on it's head though, odd combination. Our escort led us down the isle where we saw several creatures, mostly ponies, bowing on the carpets mumbling to themselves. Most of them wore similar robes as Rochelle did. Dew mustered up enough courage to look at the human.

"Uhh..R-Rochelle? What is this place?" she asked meekly.

"A church of the Sun Goddess. You see the statue of her down there?" Rochelle pointed a dainty finger at the smooth statue.

Despite the quiet I laughed,"You all worship a horse?"

Rochelle sighed a miffed sigh,"That's the way she's portrayed. I am but a member of the Sisterhood that watches over the Cathedral." We reached the alter before the statue with tall doors on either side of the hall. Rochelle smiled a almost fake smile,"I will go tell his Lordship that you're here. He'll be down shortly."

I sat on the floor and leaned on the alter, it felt warmed by the brazens on it. Dew had somewhat of a religious reverence and stayed a few feet away from the statue. I yawned, she sat waiting.

A little while later, a booming voice called from one of the doorways,"Ahh, my champion has come!"

I looked up to see Terbirus Conduix of the Sand Boar Clan. He was a boar, with four large tusks, a sun painted on his sloping forehead, grey blue eyes old and blind, draped over his back was large black cape with gold trim. The most surprising thing was that the oddly tall Rochelle only came up to his knee, Terbris was monstrously big. That sure explained why all the doors were so large. The floor shook slightly with every step he took, Dew nearly feinted when his massive head came close to us. His mass took my field of view and he had a voice to match.

"Greetings, favored champions," His voice sounded like one that would belong to a scholar's. One with oceans of wisdom," I'm sure you know my name by now, so I'll save the formalities for later. I have many wanderers who have answered the call of chivalry for my dear Ber Juan. It pleases me that someone as small as you two have traveled here," He looked at me with his failing eyes," I sense that you're a earth pony, one who is uniquely adept in combat. You've brought a...normal earth pony as well."

Dew's fear melted away. She looked somewhat comforted by his presence,"What kind of boar are you?" she asked,"I...we've never seen any pig so large."

Terbirus laughed warmly,"I, little one, am a Ermathian Boar. My forefathers were conquers and masters of the arcane. I have chosen a more...humble path of life. But that is not the centerpiece of your stay. I would like to know what you need for killing the dragon, as soon as possibly available."

I put a hoof to my chin with a scheming smile,"I need a sword. Enchanted by your finest mages to make it strong."

"Done," said Terbis hurriedly,"Anything else you require?"

I kept a straight face but the mind inside exploded from the possibilities,"How much gold can you pay me?"

The giant boar pursed his lip,"I promised as much as you could carry. Is there anything else?" He seemed timid asking me whatever else I wanted.

I looked out at the creatures bowed in prayer. I wasn't after them, I just needed to think. Out in the middle of the left side crowd I saw an aged but familiar face. I saw the pig that owned the ranch I lived on as a child. I remembered how hard he worked my father and took advantage of my mother, a wicked smile crept on my face.

"Him, that pig over there," I pointed,"He'll carry gold for me."

Terbirus looked up to see the pig I chose, the fat pig looked up with a confused look. He snorted loudly and the pig scrambled forward. He plastered his flabby face to the stone floor,"Your Lordship, you called for me?"

I folded my arms and grinned,"Hey, rancher! Remember me?"

He looked up to my face. His expression was blank,"lo siento , mam. I don't know your face."

I leaned forward,"Do you remember Paco Gravel or Nina?"

The pig froze. I saw sweat beads roll off his forehead,"No, no. I don't know who you are talking about."

Terbirus looked at me with a stern look on his massive head,"Do wish to own this rancher is servitude?" I nodded a resounding 'yes' and Terbirus looked at the pig,"It doesn't matter if you know her or not, your much more expendable then the gold I was going to offer."

The pig bawled in penance to Terbirus, he clung his dirty hooves to the giant boar's robe and pleaded for his life. Terbirus snorted again, angrier this time. The pig shrunk back and looked at me. He hung his flabby head low toward me,"Hola maestro..." he sighed defeated.

I looked over to Rochelle who stood patiently,"Hey monkey face, where are we going to sleep?"

Rochelle looked to her lord who shrugged,"I suppose..."Rochelle began,"You could sleep here in the stronghold. I'll send for our finest blacksmith for your sword."

Terbirus sighed,"I'll take my leave, my studies need attending. I shall be off with one last piece of information for you, Pea Gravel, Wicktet attacks about once or twice a month, usually when the moon is full," and with that he left back for the upper levels of the hold.

Rochelle said she'd lead us to the black smith that was close to a market, Dew and I could get some new supplies. Rochelle and Dew Berry walked ahead while I stared at the pig. He twitched nervously, not sure what I was going to do.

"Master...I don't see why you picked me as a slave. I'm fat and old, I can't do any work-" He stopped when I held up a hoof.

"I don't remember your name and I'm damn sure I don't want to learn it. If I'm not mistaken, being a mount is still a punishment for criminals or slaves right?"

The pig shrank back, now getting an idea of what was going on,"W-what are you going to do?"

I pulled a dagger from my bag. He squealed internally with wide eyes as I unsheathed the blade. I held it with a smile,"Alright, piggy. Be a good boy and stick out your tongue for master..."

Dew and Rochelle were down the street a ways before I caught up to them. The human didn't seem phased but Dew almost hurled. I sat on the pig's back while he had a makeshift bridle and reins tied on him with a scrap piece of leather tied his mouth shut. I rode up to Dew and the human, who I was now almost eye level with, due to the height boost. The streets inside the walls were pristine, the buildings untouched. The residents gave a variety of looks at me and those I was with. Rochelle led us to a busy market, and citizens avoided our path, particularly mine.

The market was full of amazing smelling food, wonderful sculptures, beautiful clothes, ornate rugs, fetching looking slaves, deadly shaped weapons and most of all, sly merchants. I grabbed a stick fried food out on a counter, the merchantmen was about to protest but he saw my sword and that I was riding another creature. We reached a more militarized themed part of the market, filled with weapons, armor and those who make or sell them. We approached another human looking similar to Rochelle was pounding a piece of red hot steel on an anvil in a armor shop. Rochelle waited until the loud clanging stopped before she talked to him.

"Marco, do you have a moment?" Rochelle asked.

Marco turned around. His tan skin was covered in soot from the forge and sleek from sweat. He was even taller then her, and had grossly defined muscles. Unlike Rochelle his head was completely bald save a sooty rag for a bandanna. He looked at Rochelle with hazel eyes like hers. They looked at each other with googly eyes but they both looked the same to me.

Rochelle hid a blush with her robe's collar,"Marco, his Lordship Cordiux hired this pony here to help out with Ber Juan's dragon problem..."

Marco's face swelled up like a balloon then burst into a fit of laughter, Rochelle joined in a little too. He was still giggling when he looked over at me,"So..he he...you are the great and powerful mercenary from across the mountains? It's too damn funny, a horse trying to kill a dragon! Come on Rochelle, tell me this is a joke!"

The look I made weakened his goofy smile,"Yeah it's me, fuck monkey. If you have a problem with me trying to kill it why don't you haul your faggot ass out there and kill it yourself?"

Rochelle and Marco looked at each other for a moment. The blacksmith smiled meekly,"Sorry, mam. We're just not used to ponies doing a...bigger thing's job," I scowled at this and he quickly used his bandanna to clean off his soot covered face,"So, you're here to get a sword? Well you came to the right place."

I drew out my sword to show him the size I was trained with, he took the piece of iron in his hands carefully. He tested its weight and sharpness then nodded,"Yes mam, you really do need a better sword. This one's going to the pits!"

Dew looked up at him,"What's wrong with it? It's been working for Pea for years."

Marco tried to act professional,"Well...I'm not sure how horses sharpen their swords but this is...very dull. I'll make you a fine sword though."

I grinned,"You better, you and your girlfriend's ass depends on it!"

Several days passed in Ber Juan. Due to my promise, I was treated like royalty. Servants listened to my every whim and fed me wonderful food. Dew kept quiet for those few days. Five weeks went by, no attacks, and I gained a few ponds from the gifts of food. Soon my new sword was presented to me, it's blade was polished to a blue grey shine. I could tell it was made in a hurry but it didn't seem like a faulty weapon. The hilt an pommel fit on either side of my face nicely, making a small guard for my head. At the hilt was a crest of a golden sun on both sides, I knew their Sun Goddess bullshit would creep in somewhere. The blade had a hilt made of dark wood and bands of gold. I made a sash around my leather armor for both my new and my old swords, better two then one right? Marco and a variety of other blacksmiths awaited my approval. I nodded proudly.

The next day, I will admit, I looked rather nervous...no scared shitless. I was in cow skin armor, riding out of the city on a tongueless pig. Dew used her new found freedom and stayed in the comfort of the Stronghold of Ber Juan. I decided to patrol the last few farms and wait for the dragon. That night was supposed to be a full moon. The air felt warmer, was spring already coming?

That evening, as the sun set over the horizon, I heard a awful sound. Over the ridge of sand dunes in the distance sprawled the dragon Wicktet. His body was in full momentum his tawny limbs sped his body across the desert while sparks flew out of his jagged maw. The ex-rancher pig I was riding squealed (well...like a pig) but I drove him onward. I heard the sound of alarm bells from Ber Juan's and what citizens were outside them swarmed to the safety of the mighty stone walls. Wicktet stamped the few crops that grew and coming close to the outlying city, belched flame on the already scorched buildings.

As I rode nearer, I noticed the look in his eyes. They weren't the malicious ones that haunted my childhood nightmares, these were completely thoughtless eyes of an angry animal. The rust red dragon dove his face into the streets scooping up the straggling runners and squelched them between his teeth. Formulating a plan, I jumped off the pig and kicked him. He went into a blind panic and squealed obnoxiously loud and Wicktet turned his head.

The dragon began following the pig though the crumbled streets while I looked for a suitable trap. To my luck, I found two massive pieces of stone (remains of an outer wall?) leaning against each other with only a piece of timber keeping them stable. I waited until the pig ran nearby until I tried to loosen the trunk. With all of the training I had gone through and strength I gained, it took almost every ounce of energy to move that trunk.

Wicktet was just where I wanted him, he stayed still while he pawed at the pork he caught. Unknown to him the boulders rolled and landed onto his long tail, crushing half of it under their weight. He roared and tried to lift the rocks off but they barely budged. He squirmed and trashed around trying to free himself. I climbed over one rock and jumped on his wingless shoulders. He didn't notice me so I used his back quills to get to his head. He felt me there but before he could do anything I gouged his eyes out with my sword. He thrashed his head around and threw me off.

The blistering heat me from his flames that he belched in desperation to kill me. Dodging his talons I slit the tendons at his wrists and his torso toppled to the ground. His neck still trashed about with his jaw snapping blindly in attempts to catch me. I strutted just out of reach and he smelled me, a smile crept across his lips. Being so close to him I saw that he really wasn't that big, only a little bigger then Terbris. That didn't make it any less frightening though.

The dragon hissed,"Sssssooo...the little runt who's madre I maimed and padre I burned. How are they, Pea?"

I drew my new sword with a vengeance and shouted at him,"You're in no spot to talk shit! You know how long I've been waiting to kill your bastard ass?!"

He cackled,"So their dead I take it. Good, you cretins don't deserve glorious deaths."

I stepped forward, well aware he could blanket me in flame,"Well, Lamb Cruncher, I don't think you deserve one either!"

He opened his jaw for a jet of flame but I jumped in his maw. He shook his head around more but I got a good footing from his teeth. The oncoming river of flame glowed from inside his throat and the heat singed my body. Before the floodgates opened again I thrust my sword up into his top plate. His body shivered and his mouth collapsed, probably more from shock then the actual strike. I pulled my sword out and crawled out of his mouth with his reeking drool and blood on my armor. Heat radiated from his maw and his blood sizzled. I stared at the dead dragon for almost ten minuets to see if he'd try to get up. The scaly corpse began cooling off so I headed back to the gates to tell the good news. From behind me a voice growled.

"You, Land-Crawler!" A distorted voice echoed from Wicktet's direction.

I turned with a wrathful stare,"What the fuck?! i thought you...were...dead..."

Wicktet was still limp, still looking dead. His eyes were now blue-white spotlights and similar light was coming from his mouth. Something was using his body as a puppet,"You have the gaul to attempt to slay one of my children?" the voice had a powerful sense of command to it.

I cocked my head to the side,"Who's this?"

"I am the Serpent Father, The Blood Dragon, King of the Rocites. My name is Grunebelfot Boraxutzar, in your simple tongue," the voice growled.

"Borox?" I asked stunned.

"If that's the name your feeble mind can comprehend, yes," the voice scoffed,"I don't take my children being slain lightly. I know where your 'home' is, Land Crawler. If you return there you shall find bones and ash. This is all," Then the light faded.

The embers from Wicktet's flames blew through the night air. I use the last of my energy to run to the castle. Running over rubble and pieces of timber I hammered on the front gates,"Dew! Dew, we need to leave, now!"

The gates opened and along with a multitude of citizens Rochelle and Dew greeted me. They ran around to praise me. I could only stand panting while Dew came up to congratulate me. Rochelle announced to the crowd that they'd hold a glorious feast for me, but I had more pressing matters.

I grabbed Dew by the shoulder,"We...have...have to go. Now, Dew!" I panted.

"Why? We're going to have a party, don't you want to rest?"

I drug Dew along weakly,"...Alia...everyone at the manor...their in danger!"

Dew looked to the crowd,"Ummm....sorry everyone but...we have to get home!"

Four tall stallions stepped forward,"You saved all of us, now you just leave?" One asked,"Let us at least help you back home!"

I blinked tiredly at Dew. She rolled her eyes and sighed,"Alright boys, carry Pea Gravel and I'll lead you up the mountains."

The crowd was confused. They were expecting a large celebration for their savior but now she was just leaving. The stallion's ringleader lifted me on his shoulders and leaving the city dazed, we headed to the mountains at a quick pace. The stallions were a little fast for Dew, so one just gave her a ride. They ran though the night and into the morning, covering a pleasing amount of ground. At mid-day my stamina returned to me and I ran on ahead with Dew. Two stayed with us to help out on the other side while the other pair went back home.

Almost without stopping, we scaled the mountain and over to the other side. The pace double when we went downhill and within a day we were at the foot of the mountain's pine forest. The run across the plains was a blur and all too late, we found the manor.

There was a acre of blackened earth where the manor once stood. The embers were days old, little smoke flowed up. When we came closer and tread solemnly through the ash the smell of burnt flesh hung in the air. At the center of the manor's foundations was a pile of bones, what was left of the manor staff. I even saw a skull with two horns sticking out the back.

I was speechless and crushed, though Alia was cold I had loved her like a mother. A carnivorous, bat-winged, sword swinging mother. Dew sat and cried, she didn't plan on coming back but never thought something like this could happen. The two stallions were unsure of what to do, one tried to comfort me but I nearly broke is nose from a punch. They staggered back and I went back to sitting and mourning silently.

Hours passed...the stallions already left and we sat in the light of a prairie sunset. Dew was sitting quietly and curled up. Without warning I lifted her up and began draggin her along the ground.

She kicked at me,"Pea?! What are you doing?"

I didn't look back at her but she knew what I was thinking,"We're going to kill whoever did this!"

Dew got up and blocked my path,"Pea, I know your stong but you can't go off and hunt dragons!"

"Why not, I already killed one didn't I?" I asked bitterly.

Dew stamped her hoof,"I don't want to be alone! If you go through with this you'll get yourself killed!"

No one was really that compassionate to me save my late parents. My bitter look melted away and I hugged Dew. She inhaled sharply from surprise.

"Maybe alone I'll get wrecked, but with my best friend I can handle anything!"

Dew pulled away and punched me,"Don't drag me into this, stupid!"

And that's where the story really kicks off...