My Wrath Is Finally...Goneby ProjectBluesChaptersArrivalA Desire For Rest...Rest Comes At LastArrival'My wrath is finally...gone' Were a few of the words he could remember saying. Afterwards there was a new found feeling of peace. As this new feeling took hold he looked back on the last 12,500 years... So much anger...so much needless death. And far too many tears shed. Too many faces that have simply been wiped from existence. So many battles fought, both won and lost. Far too many fools running around with more power than they deserve. However all these things he's experienced, all these things he's lived through, they all began to fade away. His rage was gone, his ever moving anger had finally subsided and he was finally free to rest...but he felt strange. All his life he had known fighting, battle after battle. While each battle was for a great purpose, for it all to be over now...it was...disappointing. He chucked to himself as the throught crossed his mind, even after the fight of his very existence, he still thought the same. He opened his eyes and looked towards the light he was moving towards. He felt a strange energy course through him as the light engulf him, it was incredibly similar to the mantra that once had enpowered him. So a new thought crossed his mind, maybe he wasn't about to pass on just yet... "We must do this more often sister." Luna said happily before she drank more of her tea. Celestia nodded and smiled. "I agree wholeheartedly." She nodded to herself and let the feeling of the soft blanket they were laying on fill a part of her mind. Today was a rather quiet day. Aside from the usual high-and-mighty rich pony, nothing else was happening. It was a calm and quiet day...and that put Celestia on edge. Its not she didn't welcome slow days like this but whenever they came there was a rather annoying constant. Something evil or curse and sometimes both would come crawling out of the woodwork. "Sister? Are you alright?" The concern in Luna's voice snapped Celestia out of her guarded expression and made her look at her navy blue sister. "I'm sorry Luna, I'm fine really. Its just...you know how days like this go, everything is fine and dandy until...BOOM! Evil monster from dark place numder three hundred and twelve!" Celestia waved her forelegs in the air and made a small snarling sound. Luna giggled lightly. "Yes that does seem to be the norm doesn't it? Well here's an idea, what if today, instead of an evil monster or some cursed spirit for Tartarus, its somepony or something nice and sweet?" Luna put on her best sweet-looking face. Celestia caught a laugh in her throat and chuckled lightly instead. "That would be something wouldn't it? An old pharaoh is awakened after thousands of years and he's only looking for a friend. How does that sound?" "Incredibly unrealistic." The alicorn sisters couldn't hold in their laughter and bellowed out in happy laughing fits. After a short while both sisters tried to recompose themselves while still giggling inbetween breathes. "And do you know what the icing on the normal-to-strange day cake?" Celestia breathed slowly and looked at her sister. Luna wiped away a tear caused by her recent laughing fit and answered between laughing. "What, heehee, would that be dear sister?" "Its bound to happen near Ponyvile." The sound of the royal sisters laughter could be heard all throughout the Canterlot Castle halls. Hearing thier happy laughter gave all the guards, maids, butlers and the like a feeling of bliss. Today was a good day. This was odd by his standards. There was no earth breaking explosion of power, no climbing an unnecessarily long tower out of Naraka. As a matter of fact the most strenuous part of his current experience was getting his eyes used to the sun's light and vibrant colors around him. Its actually quite refreshing, not destroying everything in site by simply waking up. Instead he had been blinded by a bright but welcoming light and when he opened his eyes he was…where ever he was now… There were a few things he noticed immediately was that his body had drastically changed. He was no longer well…human, he was more horse like now but he sure didn't look like one. He was fairly tall that much he could tell, the fur that covered him was a khaki brown and he still had his dirty gold full arm gauntlets on his front forelegs. He took a look at his body and he retained his combed back spiky white hair or mane and he had a equal spiky tail. On both sides of the upper part of his back legs there was a star with eight diamonds, each with different colors that he assumed represented the eight generals. He also retained the many markings on his previous body, the only major change besides in species was that he didn't feel like he was made of stone anymore. He assumed he was more organic than before. He thought that he should've been a bit more bothered by this but it just felt somewhat…natural. He could walk without too much problem and he was enjoying the view. It was then that he realized that he didn't know if his voice or eyes were the same. Eyes could wait though. "…the grass feels nice…" He looked around and sighed. "I wonder where it is I am this time…" He looked at the trees and poked at the grass with a hoof. He noticed a road and shrugged. "Well I've got nothing better to do." He began down the road and thought about what could have happened. "Should we be doing this?" "Are you questions this now? We're almost there." "Ah ain't seen her in a real long time! Ah bet she's been mighty lonely out here all alone." Today was another day of the cutiemark crusaders looking for new ways to get their cutiemarks. Today's escapade was less dangerous than usual so they hadn't bothered to tell any pony that they were going into the Everfree to see Zecora. "When were you here last?" Scootaloo asked and looked around the forest cautiously. "About a month ago. Ah feel sorta bad fee not com in' by much…" Applebloom kicked at the ground a bit and sighed. "Ah miss her." Sweetie Belle was going back and forth on whether or not to go home and just sighed. "Well…we're going to see her now right?" Applebloom brightened up immediately. "Yes we are!" Applebloom picked up her pace. "Hey wait up!" Scootaloo and Sweetie both ran up behind her. Applebloom turned back and called out to them before bumping into something strong and sturdy. Before she could fall back a large hoof reached around and caught her. "Woah…are you okay?" Applebloom looked up at the pony who caught her. He was big and tough looking. But…when she looked into his somewhat dark red eyes she saw a kindness that could match a mother's. "Uh…yeah…I-I'm alright…" The tall stallion put her up on her hooves. "Thats good, but what are you doing here in this forest al by yourself." "Oh well…uh…you see…" Applebloom blushed and looked at the ground in shame. "If you're going somewhere I can go with you." Applebloom, Sweetie and Scootaloo all looked at the large stallion. "You seemed to be in a rush so I can take you where you want to go." Scootaloo jumped forward. "Really? B-but why? Normal older ponies tell us to stay out of Everfree…" 'Older ponies? Must be a difference in terms...' The stallion look at them. "Well…lets just say I'm a little more flexible. I won't tell you to go back so long as I go with you, regardless of how well you know this forest, danger is still danger." The three fillies smiled to each other and jumped for joy. The stallion watched them and felt a warmth move through him. 'Ah…this must be what its like…to play with children…Mithra…I hope you are happy…' "Mister?" Sweetie called up to the stallion lost in thought. "Huh? Yes what is it?" "I don't mean to be rude but…I haven't seen any pony as tall as you in Ponyville before, who are you?" He scratched his chin and nodded. "Sorry that was a bit rude of me. My name is Asura." "The three of you sure do get into more trouble than children should…" Asura and the Crusaders had been walking for a short time and Asura had becoming pleasantly aware, shocking him completely, that these three fillies loved to talk. Their excitement was very refreshing and made him feel very welcome. "Yeah looking back we're not the best behaved…" Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head and chuckled dryly. "I think its admirable to have so much drive for one thing. To put everything that you are into find what you can do, I bet your families are proud of you." Asura looked down and the files walking around him. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom looked at Scootaloo and she sighed. "I don't exactly…have one…" Asura didn't waste a motion. He brought a hoof up and rubbed her head softly, Scootaloo looked up at him and was trapped by the kind smile on his face. "Even if you never knew them…know this. Every parent, both mother and father, love their children more than life itself, even if they don't admit it." Scootaloo blinked at him and smiled happily. A hoof lifted her up and dumped her on Asura's back. "I should know I have a daughter you know. She's a bit older than the three of you but she's strong of heart and a bit of a troublemaker. It might be my fault…I sort of…spoiled her." Scootaloo and Sweetie laughed together at Asura's bashfulness and Applebloom ran a bit ahead. "Zecora's hut!" She ran over and knocked on the door a few times. Asura stopped behind Applebloom and watch the door open and reveal what looked like a zebra with a mohawk. "Ah Applebloom so good to see you again. I had thought you think my company mundane." Applebloom hugged Zecora and shook her head. "Never! Ah've just been a bit busy thats all." Zecora smiled and looked up at Asura's he was a head and a half taller than her. "Hello there stranger. I must thank you for keeping these fillies safe from danger." "No thanks necessary, I simply did what I thought right." Asura's smiled at Scootaloo and she happily buzzed her wings a bit. "My name is Asura. It's nice to meet you Zecora." "It is nice to meet you as well. But where you come from could you tell?" Zecora tilted her head and a playful smiled built on her face. "I am…new in the area. But I haven't gone into town yet." Asura didn't want to give away too much until he knew what kind of dangers were in this world. "Then can I show you around town!?" Scootaloo shouted happily and quickly clamped her hoofs over her mouth. "I-I mean…uh…" Asura chuckled and nodded. "I'd appreciate it Scootaloo." She smiled widely and Applebloom looked from Zecora to Asura. "Does this mean I have to go?" "I can tell Applejack you're here with Zecora but you know she won't be happy." Sweetie Belle trotted over to Applebloom. "I think we should go home now anyway…Rarity's bound to be mad right now…" Applebloom thought about the earful she'd get if they found out. "Um…Zecora?" "Worry not little one. Now that I know that I am in your thought I won't be alone." Zecora smiled and hugged Applebloom lightly. "Would you calm down Rarity? I'm sure they're just off somewhere playing in town." Twilight said for the fifth time in the past few minutes. She, Spike and Rarity were walking toward the Boutique as Rarity rambled on about Sweetie Belle. "But what if she's hurt? What is she's been pony napped? What if-" "She's being carried by a very large stallion with golden legs?" Spike breathed out from Twilight's back. Rarity turned to Spike vision and blink furiously. Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo were all riding on top of a rather large stallion with golden forelegs and markings all over his body. The stallion look to be as tall as Celestia or even taller and seemed to be conversing with the three fillies as they walked. Twilight noticed something completely different. The stallion was bursting with power, the likes of which she had never seen before. She didn't even need to try and sense it because he was simply expelling it naturally. Before she could speak Rarity darted over to the stallion an stopped in front of him. "Unhoof my sister you brute!" Her horn flared with her magic glow and the stallion looked at her and blinked. "What?" Rarity's eyes seemed to get more angry with every passing moment. But Asura just couldn't see her as much of a threat to even consider he was being threatened at all. She was so…small. Not in size but in power. Asura noticed this about many of the ponies he saw while walking around 'Ponyville', they were all very weak compared to him. And there was no sadness. Asura looked past a fuming Rarity and looked around the town once again. No one was bowing in respect. There were no Mantra shines. There was no corruption as far as he could see. This place, no, this world…was a new kind of peace. Asura's smiled lightly and turned to the fillies. "I think she's talking about one of you." Sweetie swallowed hard and moved to jumped off Asura's back before he raised a hoof and pulled her down softly. He put her dow band Rarity scooped her up in both forelegs and glared at Asura. "Your sister loves you very much it seems…" Asura chuckled and Sweetie Belle pulled out of Rarity's hold. "I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I am new to this area so I asked them to show me around." Twilight shook out of her mental shock and trotted over slowly. "Um sir?" Asura's ear perked up immediately and he looked at Twilight with a look of sadness. His heart squeezed itself tight when he heard her voice. "SIr? Are you okay?" Her voice…it was Durga… "Sir I-" Twilight froze and watched as tears began to roll down the face of the stallion before her. "I-I'm sorry…I…you sound just like my…late wife…" Asura blinked and the tears stopped. When was it that he last felt so at peace that his emotions were so…fragile. "Oh? Oh! I'm so sorry I…well I just…what's your name sir?" Twilight felt her heart being to break as she looked at the stallion. "HIs name is Asura." Scootaloo called out from the top of his head, she reached down and touched his snout. "Are you okay?" "Yes…I am fine." Asura smiled peacefully and Scootaloo smiled. "It is as she said, I am Asura." "Its nice to meet you Mr. Asura…I'm sorry about you wife…" Twilight put a hoof to her chest. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, I am the Princess of Friendship." 'Princess of…Friendship? Would figure a candy colored place would have candy colored tendencies.' Asura nodded and looked at Rarity who had calm down and was poking at his gauntlets. "These are very well made. Expert craftsmanship! What pony made these?" "Thank you for you kind words. These are less armor and more my power put into form. When I channel my power I create these gauntlets to fight with. But…now it just feel natural to have them…" Asura lifted his hoof and inspected the golden armor. "Power? Do you mean your magic?" Twilight asked as she inspected his hoof alongside him. "…I just might…" Asura put his hoof down and looked at Twilight. "I have come to a decision…what I ail tell you is not something that is easily believed and I would like it for any important figures to be present as well." Twilight blinked and thought for a moment. "Does it have anything to do with this 'power'?" "Yes, and everything about who I am." Author's Note I know its everywhere but this is as crackfic as it gets. A Desire For Rest...... Celestia just stared silently. Before her was a stallion that was so tall he reached the top of her horn. All over his body were strange marks and her sun glowed off the golden gauntlets on his forelegs. When Twilight sent her a letter explaining somepony important wanted to speak to her she expected anything but…him. And Luna’s piecing glare wasn’t helping calm her down. Sometime earlier… “Okay I sent a letter to Celestia. She’s the princess of the sun and one of the four leaders of Equestria…that’s where you are by the way.” Twilight and the others had chosen to sit down at the park as to get Asura out of the middle of the street. “So before she writes back do you have any questions?” To any pony looking at him they would think Asura wasn’t listening. He had his head raised up and was looking at the lush greenery around them. He would look down every now and then and prod at a blade of grass softly. “This…Celestia. How does she rule?” “Rule? Well she’s kind hearted and patient. She’s stern but understanding and um…” Twilight tapped a hoof on her chin. She wasn’t thinking anything other than he hadn’t been listening to her. “Why do you ask?” “…do you want the truth?” Twilight swallowed and nodded. “In the world I was from nearly every leader thought themselves a god.” Asura clenched his teeth as thoughts of Deus and Chakravartin filled his mind. “They were fools that thought themselves above life. Who were too weak to do anything for themselves.” The air around Asura became rather warm. “If this princess of the sun was anything l them...I would not have let it be. Gods that only take are not necessary. But…” His building rage turned into a smile and he look at Scootaloo who was now sitting by his side. “All of you are so...happy. Honestly I…hope to speak with Celestia on…peaceful terms…” Asura nudged Scootaloo with his hoof and she lean into him happily. Twilight shook off the sheer force of his now subsided rage, “What did you do…to the ones you’ve met before?” “…in time.” Asura’s eyes stayed focused on Scootaloo. Her simple smile and fragile frame…it remind him of the girl he met. This didn’t go unnoticed. “I um…” Rarity spoke up. “I noticed that little Scootaloo has become rather…attached to you…” She looked around him and saw Applebloom swinging from his tail and Sweetie was asleep on his head. “As are the others…” “I uh…I do have a daughter of my own. Maybe that is why?” Asura put Applebloom down and smiled at her. “I had forgotten…what it was like.” “What do you mean?” Rarity tilted her head. “Hearing children. To hear them laugh and play without fear of the ground and sky…” Asura’s eyes reflected a cold sadness. One that reflected to Twilight that Asura had seen many terrible things. “So…what was your daughter like?” Twilight asked trying to lighten his mood. Simply getting slightly mad made the air around them hot, she feared what his sadness could do. “She was strong…she went through much pain but never gave up hope I would find her. I spoiled her, she and her mother were so precious to me…but all I was good at was…punching things.” Asura’s looked at his hoof and chuckled dryly. “As a matter of fact…that’s why I’m here now…” “What do you mean? Or is that a part of your story?” Asura’s smile told her everything. “Right, but it sounds like you care for your daughter a lot. Where is she?” “…I left her behind…you see I sacrificed my life to see her and the world safe. But it seems another of Yasha’s useless lectures were useful…” “Yasha? Lectures? What lecture? And who is Yasha?” “Yasha was my…brother. Brother-in-law, I married his sister Durga. Yasha was the type to think about everything, as a matter of fact I used to hate that about him…but maybe I was jealous…” Asura looked into the sky. “But he told me that energy cannot be destroyed only transferred…so I guess I transferred…” “I…I have so many questions…” Spike, who had been leaning up against Asura felt a familiar sensation. “Urp!” He burped out a quick fire that became a letter and Twilight grabbed it with her magic. “Dear Twilight, Luna and I have a bit of time tomorrow, stop by and bring this guest with you. I look forward to meeting him.” Back at Canterlot Castle… “Did I do something wrong?” Asura looked over to Rarity who had chosen to stand beside him as to help other ponies get used to his size and build. “No not at all darling. Luna is just being…cautious…” Asura looked around at the guards that had surrounded himself and all those that had come with him to Canterlot. Spike and the Crusaders, who had snuck aboard, were on Asura’s back. Twilight and the one he knew as Applejack now was standing in front of him. Rarity and a Pegasus called Rainbow Dash were at his sides, Rainbow had been asking him many questions about his battles. A timid yellow Pegasus named Fluttershy and a pink ball of energy called Pinkie Pie brought up the rear. They had entered the castle without much incident but the moment this Princess Luna saw him she called for the guards. “Cautious…right. I just hope I handle it better than the last time I was surrounded suddenly by guards…” Asura coughed out as a whisper. “Luna please call off the guards.” Twilight pleaded again. “I know he looks big and rather…rugged…no offence.” Asura clicked his tongue in disapproval but nodded. “But I promise he means no harm.” Twilight was trying very hard to believe her own words right now. “Ah think he’s might fine myself Princesses. He looks a bit sturdy but ah can see it, those are the eyes o a stallion who’s got a dern good heart.” Applejack pitched in but Luna seemed to ignore them and continued to glare at Asura. “Does she always glare at newcomers?” Asura looked at Rainbow Dash and watched her shrug. “She’s not normally this…hostile. But you have to admit you do look kind tough, plus you’ve done lots of fighting I bet you’re super strong!” Rainbow let her wings flap happily. Luna’s glare got harder and Asura’s temper began to rise. “I have done nothing to your world. Is this-,” He glared at the guards that had taken a slight step towards his side where Rarity was and made them back up more than a few feet. “-how you greet those who come to your doors?” It might have been what he said. It might have been the fact that he was right. It could have been that as he said those words the room got hotter. Whatever it was she knew one thing. This stallion named Asura had done no wrong. “Luna!” She called out forcefully and snapped her sister out of her glare. “Guards you are dismissed.” The guards looked at her in shock and she narrowed her eyes. They were gone in a matter of seconds. Celestia walked off her throne and over to Twilight. “Hello Twilight I’m sorry I was so…unfocused…” She then walked past her and looked up at the strong looking stallion before her. “I am greatly sorry for what has happened.” She began to bow and a gentle yet strong hoof stopped her. “Don’t, I despise nothing more than being bowed too…” Asura’s voice was calm but held a strength to it. Celestia stood straight and looked into the gentle red eyes that bore back into hers. “I…I am Princess Celestia, the Princess of the Sun. The rather rude navy blue pony over there is Luna, my sister, the Princess of the Moon.” Luna’s ear flopped to the sides of her head and she walked over slowly. “I am…sorry. I saw you and well…you do have a rather intimidating presence about you…” Luna stood up straight and looked into Asura’s eyes. “Sorry. I would like to begin immediately. I have spent my patience for the day.” Asura looked towards the door and at a few guards who had peeked inside. He snarled at them and they ran scared. “Very well, I assume what you have to say will take time?” Celestia tried to calm him down by speaking in her normally motherly tone. “It will…and it will not be a happy tale. Leave now if death of the innocent bothers you, for I will spare no detail.” Asura looked at Fluttershy in particular, she had been keeping a distance from him and he could feel her timid spirit. Fluttershy picked up on this. “I-I…I want to hear it…” He then looked at the children on his back. He simply chuckled when he saw the steel in their eyes. “Very well…it all began when I began my training with my former mentor Augus.” Though Asura and company had arrived at Canterlot rather early in the morning, half of his terrible story took him until sunset to tell. And none in attendance had been mentally prepared for the kind of pain…the kind of hate…that he felt from being betrayed and then beaten into oblivion. Loss after loss, deadly fight after deadly fight. They needed time to absorb this much of his story. Celestia knew this well. “…S-sir Asura…I-I believe we would all do well…to retire for today and pick up tomorrow…” Her eyes were faintly red from tears she had shed, and she was not the only one. Asura looked around him and every one of the ponies that had been listening were shaking, crying or both. He sighed and nodded. “Tomorrow then… Where will we stay? I do not want to take the train ride here and back.” “W-worry not…I will have rooms ready for you…excuse me…” Celestia and Luna walked out of the throne room with blank but sad expressions. Asura looked on his back and at Scootaloo who had been crying into the back of his mane. Spike had gotten down and was hugging Twilight for dear life, much like Applebloom and Sweetie. The six older ponies that had been a wall and kept their protective distance were now much closer to him. Each sobbing or trying not to cry. But in the rainbow colored one’s case… “Those…those….those jerks! He fights for their peace and protects the world! What do they do in return! Betray him! And not only that but they k-,” Rainbow choked on her words and pounded an angry hoof into the floor. “Why would anypony do that?!” Fluttershy was curled up into Asura’s foreleg weeping and mumbling incoherently. Rarity and Applejack stayed strong and held their sisters. Twilight did the same with Spike while whispering that she’d never leave. Pinkie Pie’s one lively mane was now flat and near colorless, she was sniffing hard and kept pulling napkins from…somewhere. “They were fools…each of them.” Asura said softly and rubbed Fluttershy’s head with his hoof carefully. “Y-yes well…they certainly sound the part but...” Rarity looked at him. “Was it truly necessary? For you to…” “I do not pretend to be pure of heart. Because in my heart I knew what had to be done…no matter how ‘wrong’ it may be. I will say it once more…gods that only take…are never needed.” Asura looked at Rarity and then the rest of them. “Think ill of me if you wish, I will not blame you.” “But you did nothing wrong!” Fluttershy shouted and cried into his side. “All you did was give and give! And they took advantage of that! Of you!” Fluttershy sobbed until a strong force wrapped around her. She looked up and Asura had a foreleg around her, and a thankful smile on him face. “Thank you.” Asura said simply. Fluttershy and the girls nodded and smiled back at him. A short time later two guards came in and told them rooms were ready for them. The guards also said that Celestia and Luna deeply and truly apologize for leaving so suddenly. “Can you imagine it?” Luna said softly. The two of them were on the balcony that over looked a good portion of their kingdom. “Living with all of that? The lies, the pain, the betrayals…and still fighting…” “The both of us have a clear idea…” Celestia said dryly and sighed. “But his anger is…unmatched. But that was only a portion of why he kept fighting…” “Yes…he fought to protect his daughter. To save her and the world she was born on. Even if it meant fighting every single one of his previous comrades…” Luna shivered slightly. “He has been through much…” “Yes…yes he has. And we are not even done with his story yet…” Rest Comes At LastWhen the guard came to tell the visitors that their rooms were ready they each decided on who would room with who. Twilight insisted on Asura rooming with her and Spike because she had may questions that couldn't wait. Rarity and Applejack voted on keep an eye on the CMC. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie all decided to room up so they could chat a bit. Asura, Spike and Twilight entered a room and closed the doors behind them. "Sorry about insisting like that, but I have so many questions about your world!" Twilight couldn't help but bounce slightly. "…its…its nothing…" Asura hadn't looked Twilight in the eye since they arrived in the room and both her and Spike were starting to worry. "Um…Asura? What's wrong?" Twilight inched closer and Asura raised his head slowly and sighed. "Forgive me…whenever I listen to you speak, I think of my wife…you sound…and feel just like her…but…you're not her at all." Asura turned to her and smiled with sadness echoing in his eyes. "Again, forgive me." Twilight smiled warmly and shook her head. “There’s no need to apologize. I’m sorry for your loss however. I bet she was wonderful.” Asura smiled brightly and a faint blush came over him. “Yes she was, she was so kind, yet stern. I spoiled my daughter and she would always berate me for it…but our love was true…then…” Spike was content on listening but upon hearing him speak about his wife a certain part of Asura’s story came to mind. “…Sergei…” Asura bit back a fit of anger trying to surface. “Yes…I doubt it was in Deus’ plan to have her killed but…that doesn’t matter now…” Spike waddled over and poked Asura’s foreleg, the tall stallion looked down, “We’re they always like that? I mean were they all so…cruel?” Asura thought for a moment and laid on the carpet beneath him. “Not all of they. Sergei wasn’t as…insane…but when our battles with the Gohma his mind began to fall apart. Kalrow and Wyzen never changed but I hardly knew either of them.” Asura stopped and closed his eyes. “Yasha…” Twilight trotted over and laid down beside Asura, “Your brother-in-law? …he also betrayed you right? But why, when he knew they’d need your daughter’s power and that it would harm her?” Spike crossed his arms. “And what about his sister? Why would he work with Sergei after that?” “Yasha was a fool at the time, always thinking too hard. Never living the moment or actually seeing what was truly in front of him. As for why…he knew…but chose to do nothing because he wondered if what they doing was ‘right’…just thinking about it…” The temperature in the room began to rise and Twilight looked at Asura worried hoping he would calm down. Thankfully he did, Asura seemed to be conscious of the fact that his anger indeed had an affect on the area around him. Twilight smiled. “You seem to be in control of your anger. Before you made it sound like you had no control at all.” Asura shook his head. “I didn’t, my rage was untamed. It kept me alive but I refuse to let my rage control me again.” “Speaking of being alive.” Spike spoke up. “Twelve thousand years of being… ya know, and then another five hundred? How’d you come back the first time not to mention the second?” Asura chuckled. “I was just...angry…” Twilight and Spike looked at each other with worried expressions. Asura yawned slightly. “It has been some time since I’ve last consciously slept. I’ll give you more answers tomorrow, Twilight.” Twilight nodded and climbed into the guest bed. “Sleeping on the floor Spike?” Spike looked at Asura and climbed into bed with Twilight. With the lights in the room put out, silence crept over the room. A moment earlier with Applejack, Rarity and the CMC. “Ah can’ believe yall would jus up an follow us like that!” Applejack firmly berated Applebloom and her two friends. “What were ya thinkin?” “Well we foun’ Mr. Asura so we wanted to know about ‘im too…” Applebloom looked down. “We didn’t mean to cause any trouble or anything, were just wanted to know about him…” Sweetie Belle stated and looked at Scootaloo who was looking at the door. Rarity picked up on Scootaloo’s anxiousness. “Scootaloo? Darling what ever is the matter? Are you worried about Asura?” Scootaloo nodded and looked up at Rarity. “But I’m not too sure why…” Rarity rubbed her chin. “Now that I think about it…he does seem to give off a very…comfortable vibe. Like he’ll be there to protect you should anything go wrong.” “Well ah reckon he does. If anyone takes a good look at ‘im that’s what they’ll see.” Applejack offered as she began tucking Applebloom into bed. “Its sort of like that…” Scootaloo sighed. “But its more…like…like…I can depend on him…that he can help me find something I lost…I don’t know…I’m tired.” Scootaloo pulled herself on the bed alongside Sweetie Belle and laid down with her eyes shut. “Ah reckon you all could use a bit o’ sleep. Us included.” Applejack smiled at Rarity as the two found their own places to sleep. In Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy’s room. Rainbow paced back and forth in front one of the guest beds. “Grr…how could they…that’s not right at all…how anypony can …” Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other. Pinkie Pie hopped in front of her. “What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong? I’ll tell you alright! How can anypony just do that to somepony! First they make him fight that Vilinter thing!” Fluttershy raised her hoof. “Vlitra…” “Yeah that thing! Then they just up and dump him off in that underworld thing because they needed an excuse to act all high and mighty!” Rainbow walked past Pinkie and continued her pacing. “Then when he wakes up and fights to protect a village what do they do? They put him against a giant fat thing and k-,” Rainbow shivered, “Sent him back to…what was it called?” “Um…its called Naraka…” Fluttershy spoke up again. “Yeah that!” Rainbow Dash threw her hooves in the air. “But he did find that nice girl when he woke up from his 500 hundred year nap! He said she looked and even acted like his daughter too!” Pinkie Pie hopped around her and smiled. “Yeah but the way he looked when he talk about her makes me think something bad happened…” Rainbow thought for a moment. “Maybe things get better? …or they m-might get worse…” Fluttershy’s eyes dilated at the fear of something bad happening to the little girl Asura met. “Don’t worry! Maybe it won’t be so bad…right?” Pinkie stopped hopping and looked at the floor beneath her. The night passed and upon morning Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were met with a disappointing surprise. Big Mac had come for them to bring them back to Ponyville, apparently hearing from somepony that they were seen on the train tailing after Twilight and her friends. After the four of them left Luna, Celestia, Twilight and her friends and Asura gathered in the throne room. Celestia took a head count and nodded. “Shall we continue your tale Asura?” Asura nodded. “I left off waking up and dealing with Kalrow right?” Pinkie nodded quickly and munched away at her popcorn. Asura sighed and closed his eyes. “…after crashing back on the planet I met with my previous master Augus…” Rainbow blinked. “Oh yeah…he was on the bad guy’s side…” “Not necessarily…you see Augus lived for battle. All he wanted to do was fight, no matter who or what it was. He just didn’t care, what drove him was his lust for fighting strong opponents, regardless of gender, age, or connection…” Asura opened his eyes. “And after talking with him…we fought…” Twilight wondered for a moment what it would be like to fight the person that taught you in the past and shivered. Asura continued. “It proved to be another devastating battle. We tore the moon and planet apart somewhat.” Luna swallowed upon hearing that he had harmed the moon in some way during his battle. “I won by cutting him with the broken piece of his own sword…but I didn’t get away unfazed…” He looked at his forelegs and chuckled. “Old fool made me lose them a second time.” Luna and Celestia looked at each other and back at Asura. “Is something funny Asura?” Asura looked up at Celestia and smiled. “No but…it’s strange that even though I said I wasn’t like him…that I wasn’t fighting for the sake of fighting…in another time he was right…” He sighed and his eyes took on a familiar sadness. “Then the Gohma appeared…a large number of them. I took Augus’ broken blade but before I left the girl came to me to check on me. But I left her behind to fight…she was rather mad at me when I left.” Rarity giggled. “I would be too if I was left behind.” Asura nodded. “Yes but I did what needed to be done. After another battle I entered a quick sleep. Recovering from my wounds I think. But I awoke quickly and met the girl again.” Asura suddenly stopped and gritted his teeth. “She wanted to help me get my arms fixed…so we went back her village and…” His anger began to slither out of his conscious guard. All in attendance back away slightly as his body began to heat up. “Olga…she attacked the village…at first it was just ground troops…but she didn’t stop. She didn’t stop!” The floor cracked slightly from under his hooves as he fought back his rage. “In a weak attempt to destroy me she….she…” Asura’s anger slowly subsided as he sat on his haunches. Twilight blinked and slowly walked over to Asura. “A-Asura?” Her eyes grew to the size of dish plates. “No…she didn’t…” Celestia and Luna trotted over to Asura and were shocked by the sight Twilight bore witness to. Asura was crying. “I couldn’t save one girl…I watched and could do nothing!” Asura’s tear streamed freely. “I found her dead…and it was then that all that had built inside me…was finally let out.” He closed his eyes and his tear stopped. “I let the anger loose and turned into a beast. A monster fueled by my rage, my sorrow and my regret…” Fluttershy and Rarity cried relentlessly and Rainbow tried her hardest to fight her own. Pinkie’s popcorn was drenched in her tears and Applejack had her hat to her heart crying. Luna, Celestia and Twilight all cried for Asura’s pain. Simply feeling it through his aura, as if they had seen it themselves. Twilight’s friends all came closer and watch Asura look to the ceiling with a sorrowful look in his eyes. “I destroyed things…I don’t remember the details but I was so filled with rage…it took a blast from the orbital Karma cannon to stop me…and even then I did not stop. I’m not sure how but Sergei met his end.” Asura closed his eyes and smiled. “Then Yasha stopped being a fool…” Luna blinked. “Yasha was the man that betrayed you, his sister and his niece correct? Why are you so at peace when you speak of him?” Asura sighed. “It’s difficult…Yasha was always my rival. We fought and fought but we were close nevertheless. He was always my brother.” He shook his head. “Regardless…Yasha and myself took to the skies and went after Deus to put a stop to their foolish plans once and for all. Fighting Deus was no small feat. He was strong and relentless, but together we beat him and saved Mithra from more pain…then Vlitra finally showed its true power…” Rainbow gawked openly. “Seriously! But what happened the first time you fought it?” Asura looked at the flying Rainbow. “I told you. I was unable to destroy it the first time. Only halt it. But this time I settled things. After Mithra woke up, Yasha and I headed out and fought Vlitra. We would have lost if not for her, she prayed for our safety and gave us strength to fight and win.” Celestia smiled. “So you defeated the monster living in the planet and stopped the Gohma correct?” “No…” Asura looked down and sighed. Luna scoffed. “What more could there be? You defeated your enemies and save your daughter and the planet!” Asura nodded. “We too thought it was over…for a time…but I had forgotten something important…” Fluttershy thought for a moment and her eyes widened. “The spider?” Asura nodded. “Yes. After coming back to Mithra we thought everything was settled but Olga came from under our noses and took Mithra hostage. However before she could do anything that spider appeared and did away this her himself. He called my daughter his ‘perfect vessel’ and took over her body. It seems I was being helped repeated by it, and only then did we realize the spider was a being known as Chakravartin. The creator of the universe we lived in, along with the planets and ourselves.” All in attendance stared at him then at each other. Luna took the unspoken bullet. “D-does that mean…” Asura shook his head. “No just my universe. I do not think he had anything to do with this place.” After a round of relief he continued. “He told me that he had done everything in search for an heir of sorts to take over as the creator. All the pain and fights were just a test…it still sounds foolish now.” Celestia coughed inwardly and turned her attention back to Asura. “I was less fuel with rage and more focused then and barely did nothing. But after Yasha place the Mantra Reactor and…gave me the power I needed to save Mithra…I went and fought Chakravartin for one last time…” Asura looked back at the mark on his flank. “I won…at the cost of my life…I will not bore you with the unnecessary details…” Celestia placed a comforting hoof on Asura’s shoulder and he looked at her with his red eye hiding a deep pain. “Thank you Asura…for sharing your tale with us…” Luna nodded and put a hoof to her chest. “After your long battles and restless life, you deserve as much rest as you could possibly want. That is if you wish to settle down?” Asura looked to the roof of the chamber and closed his eyes. “For so long I fought, with myself…against others…and now that there is nothing left…I do not know…” Pinkie’s hair puffed up as she bounced over to Asura, “Then trying different things! There must be something besides fighting that you enjoy, right?” Asura looked at the energetic pony beside him and thought. “I do not remember…it’s been a long time since I last did anything but fight…” Twilight and her friends looked at each other and swapped worried expressions. “However…I think…it is time I tried…” Author's Note Okay from this point on I have no ideas at all. I know at some point he'll fight some dragons but that's it.
Arrival'My wrath is finally...gone' Were a few of the words he could remember saying. Afterwards there was a new found feeling of peace. As this new feeling took hold he looked back on the last 12,500 years... So much anger...so much needless death. And far too many tears shed. Too many faces that have simply been wiped from existence. So many battles fought, both won and lost. Far too many fools running around with more power than they deserve. However all these things he's experienced, all these things he's lived through, they all began to fade away. His rage was gone, his ever moving anger had finally subsided and he was finally free to rest...but he felt strange. All his life he had known fighting, battle after battle. While each battle was for a great purpose, for it all to be over now...it was...disappointing. He chucked to himself as the throught crossed his mind, even after the fight of his very existence, he still thought the same. He opened his eyes and looked towards the light he was moving towards. He felt a strange energy course through him as the light engulf him, it was incredibly similar to the mantra that once had enpowered him. So a new thought crossed his mind, maybe he wasn't about to pass on just yet... "We must do this more often sister." Luna said happily before she drank more of her tea. Celestia nodded and smiled. "I agree wholeheartedly." She nodded to herself and let the feeling of the soft blanket they were laying on fill a part of her mind. Today was a rather quiet day. Aside from the usual high-and-mighty rich pony, nothing else was happening. It was a calm and quiet day...and that put Celestia on edge. Its not she didn't welcome slow days like this but whenever they came there was a rather annoying constant. Something evil or curse and sometimes both would come crawling out of the woodwork. "Sister? Are you alright?" The concern in Luna's voice snapped Celestia out of her guarded expression and made her look at her navy blue sister. "I'm sorry Luna, I'm fine really. Its just...you know how days like this go, everything is fine and dandy until...BOOM! Evil monster from dark place numder three hundred and twelve!" Celestia waved her forelegs in the air and made a small snarling sound. Luna giggled lightly. "Yes that does seem to be the norm doesn't it? Well here's an idea, what if today, instead of an evil monster or some cursed spirit for Tartarus, its somepony or something nice and sweet?" Luna put on her best sweet-looking face. Celestia caught a laugh in her throat and chuckled lightly instead. "That would be something wouldn't it? An old pharaoh is awakened after thousands of years and he's only looking for a friend. How does that sound?" "Incredibly unrealistic." The alicorn sisters couldn't hold in their laughter and bellowed out in happy laughing fits. After a short while both sisters tried to recompose themselves while still giggling inbetween breathes. "And do you know what the icing on the normal-to-strange day cake?" Celestia breathed slowly and looked at her sister. Luna wiped away a tear caused by her recent laughing fit and answered between laughing. "What, heehee, would that be dear sister?" "Its bound to happen near Ponyvile." The sound of the royal sisters laughter could be heard all throughout the Canterlot Castle halls. Hearing thier happy laughter gave all the guards, maids, butlers and the like a feeling of bliss. Today was a good day. This was odd by his standards. There was no earth breaking explosion of power, no climbing an unnecessarily long tower out of Naraka. As a matter of fact the most strenuous part of his current experience was getting his eyes used to the sun's light and vibrant colors around him. Its actually quite refreshing, not destroying everything in site by simply waking up. Instead he had been blinded by a bright but welcoming light and when he opened his eyes he was…where ever he was now… There were a few things he noticed immediately was that his body had drastically changed. He was no longer well…human, he was more horse like now but he sure didn't look like one. He was fairly tall that much he could tell, the fur that covered him was a khaki brown and he still had his dirty gold full arm gauntlets on his front forelegs. He took a look at his body and he retained his combed back spiky white hair or mane and he had a equal spiky tail. On both sides of the upper part of his back legs there was a star with eight diamonds, each with different colors that he assumed represented the eight generals. He also retained the many markings on his previous body, the only major change besides in species was that he didn't feel like he was made of stone anymore. He assumed he was more organic than before. He thought that he should've been a bit more bothered by this but it just felt somewhat…natural. He could walk without too much problem and he was enjoying the view. It was then that he realized that he didn't know if his voice or eyes were the same. Eyes could wait though. "…the grass feels nice…" He looked around and sighed. "I wonder where it is I am this time…" He looked at the trees and poked at the grass with a hoof. He noticed a road and shrugged. "Well I've got nothing better to do." He began down the road and thought about what could have happened. "Should we be doing this?" "Are you questions this now? We're almost there." "Ah ain't seen her in a real long time! Ah bet she's been mighty lonely out here all alone." Today was another day of the cutiemark crusaders looking for new ways to get their cutiemarks. Today's escapade was less dangerous than usual so they hadn't bothered to tell any pony that they were going into the Everfree to see Zecora. "When were you here last?" Scootaloo asked and looked around the forest cautiously. "About a month ago. Ah feel sorta bad fee not com in' by much…" Applebloom kicked at the ground a bit and sighed. "Ah miss her." Sweetie Belle was going back and forth on whether or not to go home and just sighed. "Well…we're going to see her now right?" Applebloom brightened up immediately. "Yes we are!" Applebloom picked up her pace. "Hey wait up!" Scootaloo and Sweetie both ran up behind her. Applebloom turned back and called out to them before bumping into something strong and sturdy. Before she could fall back a large hoof reached around and caught her. "Woah…are you okay?" Applebloom looked up at the pony who caught her. He was big and tough looking. But…when she looked into his somewhat dark red eyes she saw a kindness that could match a mother's. "Uh…yeah…I-I'm alright…" The tall stallion put her up on her hooves. "Thats good, but what are you doing here in this forest al by yourself." "Oh well…uh…you see…" Applebloom blushed and looked at the ground in shame. "If you're going somewhere I can go with you." Applebloom, Sweetie and Scootaloo all looked at the large stallion. "You seemed to be in a rush so I can take you where you want to go." Scootaloo jumped forward. "Really? B-but why? Normal older ponies tell us to stay out of Everfree…" 'Older ponies? Must be a difference in terms...' The stallion look at them. "Well…lets just say I'm a little more flexible. I won't tell you to go back so long as I go with you, regardless of how well you know this forest, danger is still danger." The three fillies smiled to each other and jumped for joy. The stallion watched them and felt a warmth move through him. 'Ah…this must be what its like…to play with children…Mithra…I hope you are happy…' "Mister?" Sweetie called up to the stallion lost in thought. "Huh? Yes what is it?" "I don't mean to be rude but…I haven't seen any pony as tall as you in Ponyville before, who are you?" He scratched his chin and nodded. "Sorry that was a bit rude of me. My name is Asura." "The three of you sure do get into more trouble than children should…" Asura and the Crusaders had been walking for a short time and Asura had becoming pleasantly aware, shocking him completely, that these three fillies loved to talk. Their excitement was very refreshing and made him feel very welcome. "Yeah looking back we're not the best behaved…" Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head and chuckled dryly. "I think its admirable to have so much drive for one thing. To put everything that you are into find what you can do, I bet your families are proud of you." Asura looked down and the files walking around him. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom looked at Scootaloo and she sighed. "I don't exactly…have one…" Asura didn't waste a motion. He brought a hoof up and rubbed her head softly, Scootaloo looked up at him and was trapped by the kind smile on his face. "Even if you never knew them…know this. Every parent, both mother and father, love their children more than life itself, even if they don't admit it." Scootaloo blinked at him and smiled happily. A hoof lifted her up and dumped her on Asura's back. "I should know I have a daughter you know. She's a bit older than the three of you but she's strong of heart and a bit of a troublemaker. It might be my fault…I sort of…spoiled her." Scootaloo and Sweetie laughed together at Asura's bashfulness and Applebloom ran a bit ahead. "Zecora's hut!" She ran over and knocked on the door a few times. Asura stopped behind Applebloom and watch the door open and reveal what looked like a zebra with a mohawk. "Ah Applebloom so good to see you again. I had thought you think my company mundane." Applebloom hugged Zecora and shook her head. "Never! Ah've just been a bit busy thats all." Zecora smiled and looked up at Asura's he was a head and a half taller than her. "Hello there stranger. I must thank you for keeping these fillies safe from danger." "No thanks necessary, I simply did what I thought right." Asura's smiled at Scootaloo and she happily buzzed her wings a bit. "My name is Asura. It's nice to meet you Zecora." "It is nice to meet you as well. But where you come from could you tell?" Zecora tilted her head and a playful smiled built on her face. "I am…new in the area. But I haven't gone into town yet." Asura didn't want to give away too much until he knew what kind of dangers were in this world. "Then can I show you around town!?" Scootaloo shouted happily and quickly clamped her hoofs over her mouth. "I-I mean…uh…" Asura chuckled and nodded. "I'd appreciate it Scootaloo." She smiled widely and Applebloom looked from Zecora to Asura. "Does this mean I have to go?" "I can tell Applejack you're here with Zecora but you know she won't be happy." Sweetie Belle trotted over to Applebloom. "I think we should go home now anyway…Rarity's bound to be mad right now…" Applebloom thought about the earful she'd get if they found out. "Um…Zecora?" "Worry not little one. Now that I know that I am in your thought I won't be alone." Zecora smiled and hugged Applebloom lightly. "Would you calm down Rarity? I'm sure they're just off somewhere playing in town." Twilight said for the fifth time in the past few minutes. She, Spike and Rarity were walking toward the Boutique as Rarity rambled on about Sweetie Belle. "But what if she's hurt? What is she's been pony napped? What if-" "She's being carried by a very large stallion with golden legs?" Spike breathed out from Twilight's back. Rarity turned to Spike vision and blink furiously. Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo were all riding on top of a rather large stallion with golden forelegs and markings all over his body. The stallion look to be as tall as Celestia or even taller and seemed to be conversing with the three fillies as they walked. Twilight noticed something completely different. The stallion was bursting with power, the likes of which she had never seen before. She didn't even need to try and sense it because he was simply expelling it naturally. Before she could speak Rarity darted over to the stallion an stopped in front of him. "Unhoof my sister you brute!" Her horn flared with her magic glow and the stallion looked at her and blinked. "What?" Rarity's eyes seemed to get more angry with every passing moment. But Asura just couldn't see her as much of a threat to even consider he was being threatened at all. She was so…small. Not in size but in power. Asura noticed this about many of the ponies he saw while walking around 'Ponyville', they were all very weak compared to him. And there was no sadness. Asura looked past a fuming Rarity and looked around the town once again. No one was bowing in respect. There were no Mantra shines. There was no corruption as far as he could see. This place, no, this world…was a new kind of peace. Asura's smiled lightly and turned to the fillies. "I think she's talking about one of you." Sweetie swallowed hard and moved to jumped off Asura's back before he raised a hoof and pulled her down softly. He put her dow band Rarity scooped her up in both forelegs and glared at Asura. "Your sister loves you very much it seems…" Asura chuckled and Sweetie Belle pulled out of Rarity's hold. "I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I am new to this area so I asked them to show me around." Twilight shook out of her mental shock and trotted over slowly. "Um sir?" Asura's ear perked up immediately and he looked at Twilight with a look of sadness. His heart squeezed itself tight when he heard her voice. "SIr? Are you okay?" Her voice…it was Durga… "Sir I-" Twilight froze and watched as tears began to roll down the face of the stallion before her. "I-I'm sorry…I…you sound just like my…late wife…" Asura blinked and the tears stopped. When was it that he last felt so at peace that his emotions were so…fragile. "Oh? Oh! I'm so sorry I…well I just…what's your name sir?" Twilight felt her heart being to break as she looked at the stallion. "HIs name is Asura." Scootaloo called out from the top of his head, she reached down and touched his snout. "Are you okay?" "Yes…I am fine." Asura smiled peacefully and Scootaloo smiled. "It is as she said, I am Asura." "Its nice to meet you Mr. Asura…I'm sorry about you wife…" Twilight put a hoof to her chest. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, I am the Princess of Friendship." 'Princess of…Friendship? Would figure a candy colored place would have candy colored tendencies.' Asura nodded and looked at Rarity who had calm down and was poking at his gauntlets. "These are very well made. Expert craftsmanship! What pony made these?" "Thank you for you kind words. These are less armor and more my power put into form. When I channel my power I create these gauntlets to fight with. But…now it just feel natural to have them…" Asura lifted his hoof and inspected the golden armor. "Power? Do you mean your magic?" Twilight asked as she inspected his hoof alongside him. "…I just might…" Asura put his hoof down and looked at Twilight. "I have come to a decision…what I ail tell you is not something that is easily believed and I would like it for any important figures to be present as well." Twilight blinked and thought for a moment. "Does it have anything to do with this 'power'?" "Yes, and everything about who I am." Author's Note I know its everywhere but this is as crackfic as it gets.
A Desire For Rest...... Celestia just stared silently. Before her was a stallion that was so tall he reached the top of her horn. All over his body were strange marks and her sun glowed off the golden gauntlets on his forelegs. When Twilight sent her a letter explaining somepony important wanted to speak to her she expected anything but…him. And Luna’s piecing glare wasn’t helping calm her down. Sometime earlier… “Okay I sent a letter to Celestia. She’s the princess of the sun and one of the four leaders of Equestria…that’s where you are by the way.” Twilight and the others had chosen to sit down at the park as to get Asura out of the middle of the street. “So before she writes back do you have any questions?” To any pony looking at him they would think Asura wasn’t listening. He had his head raised up and was looking at the lush greenery around them. He would look down every now and then and prod at a blade of grass softly. “This…Celestia. How does she rule?” “Rule? Well she’s kind hearted and patient. She’s stern but understanding and um…” Twilight tapped a hoof on her chin. She wasn’t thinking anything other than he hadn’t been listening to her. “Why do you ask?” “…do you want the truth?” Twilight swallowed and nodded. “In the world I was from nearly every leader thought themselves a god.” Asura clenched his teeth as thoughts of Deus and Chakravartin filled his mind. “They were fools that thought themselves above life. Who were too weak to do anything for themselves.” The air around Asura became rather warm. “If this princess of the sun was anything l them...I would not have let it be. Gods that only take are not necessary. But…” His building rage turned into a smile and he look at Scootaloo who was now sitting by his side. “All of you are so...happy. Honestly I…hope to speak with Celestia on…peaceful terms…” Asura nudged Scootaloo with his hoof and she lean into him happily. Twilight shook off the sheer force of his now subsided rage, “What did you do…to the ones you’ve met before?” “…in time.” Asura’s eyes stayed focused on Scootaloo. Her simple smile and fragile frame…it remind him of the girl he met. This didn’t go unnoticed. “I um…” Rarity spoke up. “I noticed that little Scootaloo has become rather…attached to you…” She looked around him and saw Applebloom swinging from his tail and Sweetie was asleep on his head. “As are the others…” “I uh…I do have a daughter of my own. Maybe that is why?” Asura put Applebloom down and smiled at her. “I had forgotten…what it was like.” “What do you mean?” Rarity tilted her head. “Hearing children. To hear them laugh and play without fear of the ground and sky…” Asura’s eyes reflected a cold sadness. One that reflected to Twilight that Asura had seen many terrible things. “So…what was your daughter like?” Twilight asked trying to lighten his mood. Simply getting slightly mad made the air around them hot, she feared what his sadness could do. “She was strong…she went through much pain but never gave up hope I would find her. I spoiled her, she and her mother were so precious to me…but all I was good at was…punching things.” Asura’s looked at his hoof and chuckled dryly. “As a matter of fact…that’s why I’m here now…” “What do you mean? Or is that a part of your story?” Asura’s smile told her everything. “Right, but it sounds like you care for your daughter a lot. Where is she?” “…I left her behind…you see I sacrificed my life to see her and the world safe. But it seems another of Yasha’s useless lectures were useful…” “Yasha? Lectures? What lecture? And who is Yasha?” “Yasha was my…brother. Brother-in-law, I married his sister Durga. Yasha was the type to think about everything, as a matter of fact I used to hate that about him…but maybe I was jealous…” Asura looked into the sky. “But he told me that energy cannot be destroyed only transferred…so I guess I transferred…” “I…I have so many questions…” Spike, who had been leaning up against Asura felt a familiar sensation. “Urp!” He burped out a quick fire that became a letter and Twilight grabbed it with her magic. “Dear Twilight, Luna and I have a bit of time tomorrow, stop by and bring this guest with you. I look forward to meeting him.” Back at Canterlot Castle… “Did I do something wrong?” Asura looked over to Rarity who had chosen to stand beside him as to help other ponies get used to his size and build. “No not at all darling. Luna is just being…cautious…” Asura looked around at the guards that had surrounded himself and all those that had come with him to Canterlot. Spike and the Crusaders, who had snuck aboard, were on Asura’s back. Twilight and the one he knew as Applejack now was standing in front of him. Rarity and a Pegasus called Rainbow Dash were at his sides, Rainbow had been asking him many questions about his battles. A timid yellow Pegasus named Fluttershy and a pink ball of energy called Pinkie Pie brought up the rear. They had entered the castle without much incident but the moment this Princess Luna saw him she called for the guards. “Cautious…right. I just hope I handle it better than the last time I was surrounded suddenly by guards…” Asura coughed out as a whisper. “Luna please call off the guards.” Twilight pleaded again. “I know he looks big and rather…rugged…no offence.” Asura clicked his tongue in disapproval but nodded. “But I promise he means no harm.” Twilight was trying very hard to believe her own words right now. “Ah think he’s might fine myself Princesses. He looks a bit sturdy but ah can see it, those are the eyes o a stallion who’s got a dern good heart.” Applejack pitched in but Luna seemed to ignore them and continued to glare at Asura. “Does she always glare at newcomers?” Asura looked at Rainbow Dash and watched her shrug. “She’s not normally this…hostile. But you have to admit you do look kind tough, plus you’ve done lots of fighting I bet you’re super strong!” Rainbow let her wings flap happily. Luna’s glare got harder and Asura’s temper began to rise. “I have done nothing to your world. Is this-,” He glared at the guards that had taken a slight step towards his side where Rarity was and made them back up more than a few feet. “-how you greet those who come to your doors?” It might have been what he said. It might have been the fact that he was right. It could have been that as he said those words the room got hotter. Whatever it was she knew one thing. This stallion named Asura had done no wrong. “Luna!” She called out forcefully and snapped her sister out of her glare. “Guards you are dismissed.” The guards looked at her in shock and she narrowed her eyes. They were gone in a matter of seconds. Celestia walked off her throne and over to Twilight. “Hello Twilight I’m sorry I was so…unfocused…” She then walked past her and looked up at the strong looking stallion before her. “I am greatly sorry for what has happened.” She began to bow and a gentle yet strong hoof stopped her. “Don’t, I despise nothing more than being bowed too…” Asura’s voice was calm but held a strength to it. Celestia stood straight and looked into the gentle red eyes that bore back into hers. “I…I am Princess Celestia, the Princess of the Sun. The rather rude navy blue pony over there is Luna, my sister, the Princess of the Moon.” Luna’s ear flopped to the sides of her head and she walked over slowly. “I am…sorry. I saw you and well…you do have a rather intimidating presence about you…” Luna stood up straight and looked into Asura’s eyes. “Sorry. I would like to begin immediately. I have spent my patience for the day.” Asura looked towards the door and at a few guards who had peeked inside. He snarled at them and they ran scared. “Very well, I assume what you have to say will take time?” Celestia tried to calm him down by speaking in her normally motherly tone. “It will…and it will not be a happy tale. Leave now if death of the innocent bothers you, for I will spare no detail.” Asura looked at Fluttershy in particular, she had been keeping a distance from him and he could feel her timid spirit. Fluttershy picked up on this. “I-I…I want to hear it…” He then looked at the children on his back. He simply chuckled when he saw the steel in their eyes. “Very well…it all began when I began my training with my former mentor Augus.” Though Asura and company had arrived at Canterlot rather early in the morning, half of his terrible story took him until sunset to tell. And none in attendance had been mentally prepared for the kind of pain…the kind of hate…that he felt from being betrayed and then beaten into oblivion. Loss after loss, deadly fight after deadly fight. They needed time to absorb this much of his story. Celestia knew this well. “…S-sir Asura…I-I believe we would all do well…to retire for today and pick up tomorrow…” Her eyes were faintly red from tears she had shed, and she was not the only one. Asura looked around him and every one of the ponies that had been listening were shaking, crying or both. He sighed and nodded. “Tomorrow then… Where will we stay? I do not want to take the train ride here and back.” “W-worry not…I will have rooms ready for you…excuse me…” Celestia and Luna walked out of the throne room with blank but sad expressions. Asura looked on his back and at Scootaloo who had been crying into the back of his mane. Spike had gotten down and was hugging Twilight for dear life, much like Applebloom and Sweetie. The six older ponies that had been a wall and kept their protective distance were now much closer to him. Each sobbing or trying not to cry. But in the rainbow colored one’s case… “Those…those….those jerks! He fights for their peace and protects the world! What do they do in return! Betray him! And not only that but they k-,” Rainbow choked on her words and pounded an angry hoof into the floor. “Why would anypony do that?!” Fluttershy was curled up into Asura’s foreleg weeping and mumbling incoherently. Rarity and Applejack stayed strong and held their sisters. Twilight did the same with Spike while whispering that she’d never leave. Pinkie Pie’s one lively mane was now flat and near colorless, she was sniffing hard and kept pulling napkins from…somewhere. “They were fools…each of them.” Asura said softly and rubbed Fluttershy’s head with his hoof carefully. “Y-yes well…they certainly sound the part but...” Rarity looked at him. “Was it truly necessary? For you to…” “I do not pretend to be pure of heart. Because in my heart I knew what had to be done…no matter how ‘wrong’ it may be. I will say it once more…gods that only take…are never needed.” Asura looked at Rarity and then the rest of them. “Think ill of me if you wish, I will not blame you.” “But you did nothing wrong!” Fluttershy shouted and cried into his side. “All you did was give and give! And they took advantage of that! Of you!” Fluttershy sobbed until a strong force wrapped around her. She looked up and Asura had a foreleg around her, and a thankful smile on him face. “Thank you.” Asura said simply. Fluttershy and the girls nodded and smiled back at him. A short time later two guards came in and told them rooms were ready for them. The guards also said that Celestia and Luna deeply and truly apologize for leaving so suddenly. “Can you imagine it?” Luna said softly. The two of them were on the balcony that over looked a good portion of their kingdom. “Living with all of that? The lies, the pain, the betrayals…and still fighting…” “The both of us have a clear idea…” Celestia said dryly and sighed. “But his anger is…unmatched. But that was only a portion of why he kept fighting…” “Yes…he fought to protect his daughter. To save her and the world she was born on. Even if it meant fighting every single one of his previous comrades…” Luna shivered slightly. “He has been through much…” “Yes…yes he has. And we are not even done with his story yet…”
Rest Comes At LastWhen the guard came to tell the visitors that their rooms were ready they each decided on who would room with who. Twilight insisted on Asura rooming with her and Spike because she had may questions that couldn't wait. Rarity and Applejack voted on keep an eye on the CMC. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie all decided to room up so they could chat a bit. Asura, Spike and Twilight entered a room and closed the doors behind them. "Sorry about insisting like that, but I have so many questions about your world!" Twilight couldn't help but bounce slightly. "…its…its nothing…" Asura hadn't looked Twilight in the eye since they arrived in the room and both her and Spike were starting to worry. "Um…Asura? What's wrong?" Twilight inched closer and Asura raised his head slowly and sighed. "Forgive me…whenever I listen to you speak, I think of my wife…you sound…and feel just like her…but…you're not her at all." Asura turned to her and smiled with sadness echoing in his eyes. "Again, forgive me." Twilight smiled warmly and shook her head. “There’s no need to apologize. I’m sorry for your loss however. I bet she was wonderful.” Asura smiled brightly and a faint blush came over him. “Yes she was, she was so kind, yet stern. I spoiled my daughter and she would always berate me for it…but our love was true…then…” Spike was content on listening but upon hearing him speak about his wife a certain part of Asura’s story came to mind. “…Sergei…” Asura bit back a fit of anger trying to surface. “Yes…I doubt it was in Deus’ plan to have her killed but…that doesn’t matter now…” Spike waddled over and poked Asura’s foreleg, the tall stallion looked down, “We’re they always like that? I mean were they all so…cruel?” Asura thought for a moment and laid on the carpet beneath him. “Not all of they. Sergei wasn’t as…insane…but when our battles with the Gohma his mind began to fall apart. Kalrow and Wyzen never changed but I hardly knew either of them.” Asura stopped and closed his eyes. “Yasha…” Twilight trotted over and laid down beside Asura, “Your brother-in-law? …he also betrayed you right? But why, when he knew they’d need your daughter’s power and that it would harm her?” Spike crossed his arms. “And what about his sister? Why would he work with Sergei after that?” “Yasha was a fool at the time, always thinking too hard. Never living the moment or actually seeing what was truly in front of him. As for why…he knew…but chose to do nothing because he wondered if what they doing was ‘right’…just thinking about it…” The temperature in the room began to rise and Twilight looked at Asura worried hoping he would calm down. Thankfully he did, Asura seemed to be conscious of the fact that his anger indeed had an affect on the area around him. Twilight smiled. “You seem to be in control of your anger. Before you made it sound like you had no control at all.” Asura shook his head. “I didn’t, my rage was untamed. It kept me alive but I refuse to let my rage control me again.” “Speaking of being alive.” Spike spoke up. “Twelve thousand years of being… ya know, and then another five hundred? How’d you come back the first time not to mention the second?” Asura chuckled. “I was just...angry…” Twilight and Spike looked at each other with worried expressions. Asura yawned slightly. “It has been some time since I’ve last consciously slept. I’ll give you more answers tomorrow, Twilight.” Twilight nodded and climbed into the guest bed. “Sleeping on the floor Spike?” Spike looked at Asura and climbed into bed with Twilight. With the lights in the room put out, silence crept over the room. A moment earlier with Applejack, Rarity and the CMC. “Ah can’ believe yall would jus up an follow us like that!” Applejack firmly berated Applebloom and her two friends. “What were ya thinkin?” “Well we foun’ Mr. Asura so we wanted to know about ‘im too…” Applebloom looked down. “We didn’t mean to cause any trouble or anything, were just wanted to know about him…” Sweetie Belle stated and looked at Scootaloo who was looking at the door. Rarity picked up on Scootaloo’s anxiousness. “Scootaloo? Darling what ever is the matter? Are you worried about Asura?” Scootaloo nodded and looked up at Rarity. “But I’m not too sure why…” Rarity rubbed her chin. “Now that I think about it…he does seem to give off a very…comfortable vibe. Like he’ll be there to protect you should anything go wrong.” “Well ah reckon he does. If anyone takes a good look at ‘im that’s what they’ll see.” Applejack offered as she began tucking Applebloom into bed. “Its sort of like that…” Scootaloo sighed. “But its more…like…like…I can depend on him…that he can help me find something I lost…I don’t know…I’m tired.” Scootaloo pulled herself on the bed alongside Sweetie Belle and laid down with her eyes shut. “Ah reckon you all could use a bit o’ sleep. Us included.” Applejack smiled at Rarity as the two found their own places to sleep. In Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy’s room. Rainbow paced back and forth in front one of the guest beds. “Grr…how could they…that’s not right at all…how anypony can …” Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other. Pinkie Pie hopped in front of her. “What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong? I’ll tell you alright! How can anypony just do that to somepony! First they make him fight that Vilinter thing!” Fluttershy raised her hoof. “Vlitra…” “Yeah that thing! Then they just up and dump him off in that underworld thing because they needed an excuse to act all high and mighty!” Rainbow walked past Pinkie and continued her pacing. “Then when he wakes up and fights to protect a village what do they do? They put him against a giant fat thing and k-,” Rainbow shivered, “Sent him back to…what was it called?” “Um…its called Naraka…” Fluttershy spoke up again. “Yeah that!” Rainbow Dash threw her hooves in the air. “But he did find that nice girl when he woke up from his 500 hundred year nap! He said she looked and even acted like his daughter too!” Pinkie Pie hopped around her and smiled. “Yeah but the way he looked when he talk about her makes me think something bad happened…” Rainbow thought for a moment. “Maybe things get better? …or they m-might get worse…” Fluttershy’s eyes dilated at the fear of something bad happening to the little girl Asura met. “Don’t worry! Maybe it won’t be so bad…right?” Pinkie stopped hopping and looked at the floor beneath her. The night passed and upon morning Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were met with a disappointing surprise. Big Mac had come for them to bring them back to Ponyville, apparently hearing from somepony that they were seen on the train tailing after Twilight and her friends. After the four of them left Luna, Celestia, Twilight and her friends and Asura gathered in the throne room. Celestia took a head count and nodded. “Shall we continue your tale Asura?” Asura nodded. “I left off waking up and dealing with Kalrow right?” Pinkie nodded quickly and munched away at her popcorn. Asura sighed and closed his eyes. “…after crashing back on the planet I met with my previous master Augus…” Rainbow blinked. “Oh yeah…he was on the bad guy’s side…” “Not necessarily…you see Augus lived for battle. All he wanted to do was fight, no matter who or what it was. He just didn’t care, what drove him was his lust for fighting strong opponents, regardless of gender, age, or connection…” Asura opened his eyes. “And after talking with him…we fought…” Twilight wondered for a moment what it would be like to fight the person that taught you in the past and shivered. Asura continued. “It proved to be another devastating battle. We tore the moon and planet apart somewhat.” Luna swallowed upon hearing that he had harmed the moon in some way during his battle. “I won by cutting him with the broken piece of his own sword…but I didn’t get away unfazed…” He looked at his forelegs and chuckled. “Old fool made me lose them a second time.” Luna and Celestia looked at each other and back at Asura. “Is something funny Asura?” Asura looked up at Celestia and smiled. “No but…it’s strange that even though I said I wasn’t like him…that I wasn’t fighting for the sake of fighting…in another time he was right…” He sighed and his eyes took on a familiar sadness. “Then the Gohma appeared…a large number of them. I took Augus’ broken blade but before I left the girl came to me to check on me. But I left her behind to fight…she was rather mad at me when I left.” Rarity giggled. “I would be too if I was left behind.” Asura nodded. “Yes but I did what needed to be done. After another battle I entered a quick sleep. Recovering from my wounds I think. But I awoke quickly and met the girl again.” Asura suddenly stopped and gritted his teeth. “She wanted to help me get my arms fixed…so we went back her village and…” His anger began to slither out of his conscious guard. All in attendance back away slightly as his body began to heat up. “Olga…she attacked the village…at first it was just ground troops…but she didn’t stop. She didn’t stop!” The floor cracked slightly from under his hooves as he fought back his rage. “In a weak attempt to destroy me she….she…” Asura’s anger slowly subsided as he sat on his haunches. Twilight blinked and slowly walked over to Asura. “A-Asura?” Her eyes grew to the size of dish plates. “No…she didn’t…” Celestia and Luna trotted over to Asura and were shocked by the sight Twilight bore witness to. Asura was crying. “I couldn’t save one girl…I watched and could do nothing!” Asura’s tear streamed freely. “I found her dead…and it was then that all that had built inside me…was finally let out.” He closed his eyes and his tear stopped. “I let the anger loose and turned into a beast. A monster fueled by my rage, my sorrow and my regret…” Fluttershy and Rarity cried relentlessly and Rainbow tried her hardest to fight her own. Pinkie’s popcorn was drenched in her tears and Applejack had her hat to her heart crying. Luna, Celestia and Twilight all cried for Asura’s pain. Simply feeling it through his aura, as if they had seen it themselves. Twilight’s friends all came closer and watch Asura look to the ceiling with a sorrowful look in his eyes. “I destroyed things…I don’t remember the details but I was so filled with rage…it took a blast from the orbital Karma cannon to stop me…and even then I did not stop. I’m not sure how but Sergei met his end.” Asura closed his eyes and smiled. “Then Yasha stopped being a fool…” Luna blinked. “Yasha was the man that betrayed you, his sister and his niece correct? Why are you so at peace when you speak of him?” Asura sighed. “It’s difficult…Yasha was always my rival. We fought and fought but we were close nevertheless. He was always my brother.” He shook his head. “Regardless…Yasha and myself took to the skies and went after Deus to put a stop to their foolish plans once and for all. Fighting Deus was no small feat. He was strong and relentless, but together we beat him and saved Mithra from more pain…then Vlitra finally showed its true power…” Rainbow gawked openly. “Seriously! But what happened the first time you fought it?” Asura looked at the flying Rainbow. “I told you. I was unable to destroy it the first time. Only halt it. But this time I settled things. After Mithra woke up, Yasha and I headed out and fought Vlitra. We would have lost if not for her, she prayed for our safety and gave us strength to fight and win.” Celestia smiled. “So you defeated the monster living in the planet and stopped the Gohma correct?” “No…” Asura looked down and sighed. Luna scoffed. “What more could there be? You defeated your enemies and save your daughter and the planet!” Asura nodded. “We too thought it was over…for a time…but I had forgotten something important…” Fluttershy thought for a moment and her eyes widened. “The spider?” Asura nodded. “Yes. After coming back to Mithra we thought everything was settled but Olga came from under our noses and took Mithra hostage. However before she could do anything that spider appeared and did away this her himself. He called my daughter his ‘perfect vessel’ and took over her body. It seems I was being helped repeated by it, and only then did we realize the spider was a being known as Chakravartin. The creator of the universe we lived in, along with the planets and ourselves.” All in attendance stared at him then at each other. Luna took the unspoken bullet. “D-does that mean…” Asura shook his head. “No just my universe. I do not think he had anything to do with this place.” After a round of relief he continued. “He told me that he had done everything in search for an heir of sorts to take over as the creator. All the pain and fights were just a test…it still sounds foolish now.” Celestia coughed inwardly and turned her attention back to Asura. “I was less fuel with rage and more focused then and barely did nothing. But after Yasha place the Mantra Reactor and…gave me the power I needed to save Mithra…I went and fought Chakravartin for one last time…” Asura looked back at the mark on his flank. “I won…at the cost of my life…I will not bore you with the unnecessary details…” Celestia placed a comforting hoof on Asura’s shoulder and he looked at her with his red eye hiding a deep pain. “Thank you Asura…for sharing your tale with us…” Luna nodded and put a hoof to her chest. “After your long battles and restless life, you deserve as much rest as you could possibly want. That is if you wish to settle down?” Asura looked to the roof of the chamber and closed his eyes. “For so long I fought, with myself…against others…and now that there is nothing left…I do not know…” Pinkie’s hair puffed up as she bounced over to Asura, “Then trying different things! There must be something besides fighting that you enjoy, right?” Asura looked at the energetic pony beside him and thought. “I do not remember…it’s been a long time since I last did anything but fight…” Twilight and her friends looked at each other and swapped worried expressions. “However…I think…it is time I tried…” Author's Note Okay from this point on I have no ideas at all. I know at some point he'll fight some dragons but that's it.
