to hear a battlecry

The new stallion sat on his roost in an ominous peace. He pulled the strap holding the tooth to his back with his teeth, it came lose and plunged to the ground below. He slid his hood off revealing a mane crimson like his hoodie and gleaming silver eyes that burned with a cold fury.

“It’s B… B.. Bat-” the gang stuttered in unison.

“Battlecry,” the new stallion finished for them. Just like that the so called genuine gangsters were screaming and running around like a bunch of frightened fillies on Nightmare Night.

A smug grin washed across Battlecry’s face. He spread his large wings and leapt from his roost; he vanished before hitting the ground. He reappeared in front of the drudge who had been so keen on hurting Fluttershy.

“It’s not polite to pick on mares ya know,” Battlecry’s tone was light hearted, but he seemed disappointed in the stallion cowering before him. “But if you want to fight that badly, then perhaps I could be your opponent,” his tone was confident and menacing.

Both possible combatants knew who the winner would be. The drudge tried to escape only to once again meet Battlecry’s fearsome eyes. “I can’t have you running away on me or I wouldn’t get to have any fun.”

“I’m not afraid of you!”The drudge screamed as he charged forward with a blind headbutt, only to hit air. He didn’t even have time to comprehend what was happening before a hoof slammed into the back of his head with enough force to send him flying forward. He collided hard with a tree causing him to cough blood. Even as everything began to fade to black he felt a hellish pain coursing throughout his entire being. “So this is what it’s like to fight a storm blood,” he thought as he faded from consciousness.

Twilight watched in awe and horror as Battlecry vanished and reappeared, leaving scorch marks and unconscious ponies in his wake.

“Who is he?” Twilight thought aloud. She didn’t expect her friends to know, but asked more out of habit than curiosity.

“Come On they’ve only said my name a billion times,” Battlecry said, appearing in the middle of their group as he did. Fluttershy’s five friends tensed up. “Relax, I’d never even think to harm one of Fluttershy’s friends,” his tone had lost it’s unnerving malice.

“How do you know Fluttershy!?” Rainbow spat, still on edge.

“She has never told any of you about me?” His voice became sad, “Ouch Shyla I’m hurt.” He turned his attention towards Fluttershy.

“Shyla?” Rainbow made a strange face of disgust and confusion as she said the word.

“I’m sorry Battlecry, it just never came up,” Fluttershy mumbled as she tried to hide behind her mane.

“Fluttershy, you know him?” Rarity asked in disbelief as she surveyed Battlecry’s handy work.

“Yes,” Fluttershy peeped back.

“What I don’t get is how my existence just didn’t come up,” Battlecry sounded upset but out of having his feelings hurt rather than rage.

Fluttershy’s response was incomprehensible.

Battlecry let out a sigh, “Oh well, I guess it’s introduction time then. I’m Battlecry, Fluttershy’s older brother.”

The whole group was silent for a moment. It was Rainbow Dash who finally broke the silence by asking, “Fluttershy since when have you had a brother?”

“Always,” was the only word the yellow pegasus could manage to say.

“How come you never told me?” Rainbow felt insulted that she, Fluttershy’s oldest friend, knew nothing about this supposed brother.

“You never asked.” Fluttershy wished they’d stop asking her questions, she was running out of ways to dodge them.

Turning to Rainbow Dash, Battlecry asked, “So are you going to tell me who you are?” Battlecry seemed irritated that he was being ignored.

“I’m Rainbow Dash, fastest flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale, and only pony to ever perform the sonic rainboom.” Rainbow put on a confident face as she thought, “try to top that Mr. Hotshot.”

“A sonic rainboom? Impressive,” Battlecry stated with look of surprise on his face. Rainbow’s expression became arrogant. ”I knew he wouldn’t be able to top that; he may be tough but nopony is faster than me.”
“But I’ve got a better trick,” Battlecry said with a dubious grin forming around his mouth.

Rainbow was incredibly nervous now, but she wasn’t about to let anypony know that. “Oh yeah, prove it.”

“With pleasure.” Battlecry launched from the ground and grabbed a cloud. He compressed it into a small storm cloud. He went into a nosedive and enjoyed the cool wind lashing against him for a moment before increasing his speed. A cone began to form around him and right before breaking the sound barrier as he forced a jolt of lightning from the cloud. There was a loud boom, the ground shook, and Battlecry seemed to be replaced with a massive lightning bolt. Rainbow couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The mass of lightning was easily twice the speed of her sonic rainboom. After zooming around for a while the lightning bolt shot straight upward and exploded into a crackling electrical storm. Battlecry emerged unscathed from the storm that he had created and descended back to where the others were waiting.

Rainbow was in complete and utter shock. She didn’t want to accept that anypony was faster than her; she couldn’t accept it. She had to maintain her image. “I never said you could use props, that doesn’t count.”

“You never said that I couldn’t use props.” Battlecry knew his answer would annoy her, but it was refreshing to not be serious every once in awhile.

Rainbow glared at him and was about to open her mouth to speak, when Applejack stopped her by laying a hoof on her shoulder and shaking her head. “Just let it go Rainbow.”

Battlecry smiled contently after which Applejack had to stop Rainbow from charging at him. “Well, that was fun.” Battlecry spoke genuinely, “I can’t wait to get to know the rest of you.”

“Alright then, I suppose I will go next. I’m Rarity, I run the Carousel Boutique and make the finest dresses and suits in Ponyville. And if I may be so bold as to ask ,what is that outfit you are wearing made of? It looks simply dashing.”

Battlecry turned his head to look back admiringly at his jacket. “It’s made of steel silk, which is silk that has been treated with strong chemicals and magic to make it as hard as steel, yet still as comfortable as silk.”

“Ooh, how ever did you come into possession of it?” Rarity cooed.

Battlecry put on a proud smile. “I won it in a fighting tournament.”

Rarity wasn’t too enthused about how he admitted to getting it, or how happy he had been to disclose that information. She let out a fake laugh before continuing their conversation. “That’s interesting, do you think I could borrow it for a little while? I’d like to see if I can replicate the fabric.”

“What use could you have for it? It’s made for fighting, and no offence, but you don’t strike me as the fighting type.”

“Well, you’re right about that. I don’t much care for violence, but that fabric could make me famous. Imagine that I, Rarity, would be the only dressmaker in Equestria who could make tear proof dresses.”

“That is an interesting motive. We’ll have to talk more about it later.” The day had passed by quickly and the sun was setting. Everypony had decided it was safe to go out and went home if they weren’t already there. “It’s getting late, perhaps we should pick this back up tomorrow.” When everypony present had agreed, they all parted ways. All except Fluttershy and Battlecry...