Planeswalker Chronicles

The first time she had passed through the Blind Eternities, Twilight had been in awe of the vastness and nature of the primordial Chaos. Now? Now she was too focused on killing Ral Zarek to care, and was currently locked in a struggle with him as they floated through the Chaos. "I'm going to kill you for what you did!"

"Dammit let go!" Ral grunted as he struggled to keep the surprisingly heavy creature from biting or clawing his throat out. "If we stay here too long, we'll both die!"

"Shut up and die!" Twilight screamed as the mad flapping of her wings sent them on a random course through the Eternities. "You won't trick me again!"

"I'm not lying!" Ral snapped back. "Remember what I said when we met?! Planeswalkers can't survive here forever!" He grunted in pain as he felt the Chaos starting to wearing on him, no doubt accelerated by Twilight's repeated attempts to blast him point blank with magic. "Dammit! It's starting!" Punching Twilight hard in the face to stun her at the cost of his fingers cracking, he planted his feet on her barrel and shoved her away before making a break for the nearest plane, hoping she would be consumed.

Twilight moaned in pain, finally feeling the Eternities eating away at her body, which wasn't regenerating. Spotting a nearby plane, she made for it, growling in anger at having to abandon the chase in order to avoid death as she passed through the divide and entered the plane. She materialized in the sky above a battle being waged by two vicious armies.

Whereas her arrival on Ravnica was accompanied by panicked screaming, now Twilight spread her wings and came in for a landing, not noticing the fighting stop as she came to rest in the middle of the battlefield in order to stare at her. While she focused on regenerating from the damage done to her by the Chaos, her ears twitched and picked up snippets of chatter.

"Where did it come from?"

"Can it really be?"

"A living dragon?"

She looked at both sides. On one was a massive number of warriors riding clearly feral horses, those blank, emotionless eyes were a dead giveaway; composed of humans, orcs, and goblins. Their armor was mainly red and had a certain wing motif to them, and many of them were archers. On the other side was humans and nagas with humanoid upper bodies decked mainly in black, with no cavalry among them. The living were a minority compared to the masses of undead though. The riders flew a red banner bearing a pair of white wings, while the naga led force flew a blue banner with a gold fang on it.

Twilight was broken from her concentration by a goblin that was either extremely brave or extremely stupid rushing at her and jumping on her back, trying to ride her. "Dragon pony is my steed!" She growled and bucked the creature from her back and sent it landing hard at her hooves. Pinning it down, she opened wide and bit into the goblin's throat, ripping it out and swallowing the flesh.

Twilight's fury was reignited as she had a few flashbacks of her time as a Simic lab rat. Grinding her teeth, she growled and drew upon large amounts of mana from the nearby mountains, her irises glowing red before the glow spread to the rest of her eyes and brightened. Her pupils and sclerae were consumed by the glow as Twilight focused her power, heedless of the armies beginning to converge on her, weapons raised and loosing battle cries. As her rage reached a boiling point along with her power, Twilight let the power loose along with a scream of fury that carried for miles.

The mountains that housed and protected the monasteries of the Jeskai Way were a tranquil place, where passion was tempered into the finest of blades through rigorous training and study that instilled cunning, control, and discipline. And Narset, the clan's khan, was the greatest of them. And yet all her training and discipline could not prepare her for the sight that she doubted went unnoticed by any of the clans: a massive explosion of red mana that scoured a large area of the plains. Before Narset could even ponder the nature of the spell, she was met by the enraged scream that seemed to have originated at ground zero. No doubt the spell's caster. Red mana did after all favor raw emotion over logic.

Deciding to investigate, Narset packed up some provisions and her staff, taking advantage of the confusion and talk the explosion and scream had stirred up to slip out undetected. Mounting up a horse, Narset rode for the explosion site, stopping only to rest and eat. The area was about a day's ride from the monastery, so she didn't need long to reach it. The battlefield had been wiped clean, yet it seemed the bodies hadn't been consumed by fire, but devoured. Finding that odd, Narset dismounted and kept hold of her staff in one hand and her horse's reins in the other as she looked around. Judging from the presence of massive numbers of horse bones and naga skeletons, the battle had been waged between the Mardu and Sultai. Question was, who had cast the spell? A third party from the Temur? Before she could ponder further, her horse reared in panic before Narset was tackled to the ground onto her front, the sheer weight of her assailant preventing her from countering.

"I've got questions," a female voice snarled in her ear. "And you're going to give me answers. And try to give me answers I like, I'm not in the best mood after having to adapt stronger stomach acids and put my livers through their paces to deal with the food poisoning eating those zombies gave me." Food poisoning? Adapting stronger stomach acids? Livers, plural? What sort of woman was this? "First question: what is the name of this realm?"

"Tarkir," Narset grunted as she tried to get some sort of leverage, which was stopped by her attacker putting more weight on her.

"Second question: What is the government and ruling body?"

"Tarkir is a war torn world," Narset answered even as in her mind she contemplated the absurdity that was the idea of one entity controlling an entire plane. "Controlled by five warrior clans that seek to rule the plane. Each is ruled by a khan, and I am one of those five khans."

"Tell me about these clans." Claws were positioned at her throat, ready to rip it out at a moment's notice. Narset remained calm on the outside, however. Thus far her answers seemed to satisfy this woman.

"The Mardu Horde rules the wastes. A clan of swift horses, and swifter tempers. My clan, the Jeskai Way, are masters of the mystic arts. Cunning, controlled, and disciplined. The Temur Frontier dominates the frozen tundra. Savage opponents with ferocious hearts. The Sultai Brood and their undead servants rule a decadent jungle empire. Ruthless serpents decked in stolen treasures. And the Abzan Houses are unstoppable desert warriors. Enduring, loyal, surprisingly hard to kill."

"What's your name?"

"I am called Narset."

"Last question, for all the points, give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now." This was the moment of truth. Narset's next words would determine if she lived or died. Thinking carefully, she finally spoke.

"I have answered your questions truthfully, and offered little resistance. You seem angry, lashing out at the world around you. I can help you channel and harness that anger."

"Last time I trusted a human, I got experimented on for six months. Why should I expect any better from you?"

"You could have killed me on sight, yet chose to restrain and question me. That alone demonstrates a willingness to trust that I am not like whoever caused you such hardship and pain. If you accompany me, I can train you in the ways of the Jeskai. You would not be the first to learn our ways on a quest for control over your anger. We are scholars on a neverending quest for enlightenment. All who seek to gain wisdom and better themselves are welcome among us, no matter who they are." Several tense seconds later, Narset felt the weight on her lift as her attacker got off of her. Standing, she turned and looked upon her for the first time. Her body was human for the most part, having all the familiar parts of a human woman's body, but she was covered in purple dragon scales. Her eyes were magenta with slitted pupils, and growing from her forehead was a spiral patterned horn nearly six inches long. Her fingers had wicked looking claws, and growing from her back was a pair of leathery dragon wings, and a long, muscular tail from the back of her waist. "Are you... a dragon?" Narset inquired, looking at this woman with awe.

Twilight shook her head. "No. Just grew the scales and wings as adaptations. My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I am called the ultimate life form. But first and foremost, I consider myself an Ungulan."

Narset nodded. "If you would be willing to journey with me to the Sage-Eye Stronghold, you can tell me more if you wish, and we can begin your training."

Twilight nodded. "Very well. Lead the way, Narset."

Narset retrieved and calmed her horse before taking a cloak from the saddlebag and passing it to Twilight. "We'll need to get you some clothes. You can't go walking through Tarkir in naught but your skin."

Twilight torched the cloak with a small fire stream, glaring at Narset. "I agreed to travel with you. Do not assume that means I trust you."

"Fair enough," Narset said as she mounted up. "I hope to change that, Twilight Sparkle."

"Just Twilight will do," Twilight said as she stared at the horse, making it whinny nervously.

Narset watched in fascination from her side of the campfire as Twilight ravenously tore into the bear that she had bested. Watching her fight the creature had been a wonder to behold. When it struck her with enough force to send her through a tree with many of her bones shattered and her neck at an unnatural angle, Narset thought Twilight had been killed. Imagine her shock when Twilight got up, the sound of bones resetting and mending coming from her body before she reached up and snapped her neck back into place. Twilight then fixed the bear with an angry glare and tackled it down a hill, biting and clawing at it as they fell, Narset following, in awe of Twilight's power. Was this the power of a dragon?

Twilight looked up at Narset and glared even as she tore off a chunk of meat and chewed it. "What? Killing it worked up my appetite," she growled after swallowing. Once Narset looked back at her own meal, Twilight tore another chunk of meat from the carcass. As she ate, Twilight's mind wandered. Initially she thought back to Ravnica and suppressed a shudder at the memories. But then her mind drifted to her home of Ungula. To the ponies she had left behind when she planeswalked for the first time. She wondered if the hydra had been slain and torn open to get her out of its stomach, only to find her missing. How many attended her funeral? Her friends certainly. The princesses, her parents, Shining Armor, Cadance... She bit deep into the carcass to suppress a sob, but it seemed to not go unnoticed by her companion.

"Are you alright?" Narset asked in concern, seeing Twilight bite into the bear attempting to quiet a sob, but Narset knew the physical signs and recognized the muffled sound.

"Why do you care, human?" Twilight asked curtly after swallowing the meat in her mouth.

"Because you're in pain, and I want to help," Narset said kindly.

"Personal matters! Leave it at that!" Twilight snapped.

"There's no need for hostility."

"I beg to differ." Twilight glared at Narset and stood after setting her meal down, the bear's blood coating much of her front and thighs, which made for a fearsome, rather intimidating sight as she started stalking around toward Narset. "See, my first impression of humans is that they're selfish, arrogant, cruel beasts with no redeeming qualities at all. I was locked up in a laboratory and experimented on by amoral researchers who wanted only to create the ultimate life form. Half the time I was fully awake and screaming in agony as my organs were messed with. Then there were the creatures I was made to fight and kill, the creatures I was made to eat. My species is naturally herbivorous. Do you have any idea just how traumatic it is to be forced to fight down my inborn instincts and eat meat? Oh it's easy now, but I was crying that first time. Then when they're done playing mad scientist with my body, they start talking about serious testing. I just snapped and killed them all at that point. I come from a peaceful species that abhors violence and killing." At this point she was looming over the nervous Narset with her wings spread and her eyes glowing red. "Because of humans, I don't think I deserve to identify with my own kind anymore. My own kind wouldn't even recognize me as I am now! There is plenty of need for hostility, Narset!" Twilight felt tears sting her cheeks as she ranted. "Humans turned me into a monster!" Her voice failed her as the emotional turmoil built up over the course of six months came crashing down on her, bringing her sobbing to her knees, face in her hands.

Narset wrapped her arms around the weeping mare and drew her into a comforting embrace, uncaring of the blood that was now staining her clothes. "You're in pain. And that pain is making you lash out at the world around you, humans in particular because they caused you that pain. But not all humans are like that. I promise there are good ones. Every species has good and bad in it. It's not fair to judge by the bad ones."

Twilight said nothing, instead wrapping her arms around Narset. She saw her companion in a new light. Looking at her not as Narset the human, but Narset the person. Even though she had attacked unprovoked, threatened, and been nothing but cold to her, Narset had patiently endured the abuse and shown her nothing but care and kindness. She found herself reminded of Fluttershy as she cried into Narset's shoulder.

How long she cried, Twilight couldn't say, but eventually she got all her frustration and sadness out of her system. Once she and Narset separated, Twilight levitated the bear carcass over to her and bit into it again after using some flames to heat up the meat. She felt a bit more comfortable sitting beside Narset now as she enjoyed her meal.

Narset watched Twilight eat in silence as she finished her own meal. She could only ponder what drove the dragon mare to consume such large amounts of food. She was contemplating asking her when she shivered even through her cloak. The cold of the Qal Sisma mountains was tough even at lower altitudes. It really made one respect the determination and skill of the Temur for surviving at higher elevations. Her shiver did not go unnoticed, and she flinched in surprise as Twilight's wing dexterously curled around her and drew her closer. Narset felt the cold retreat as her body was bathed in the heat that radiated from Twilight's core. "Thank you, Twilight."

"Yeah well, can't have my soon to be teacher freeze to death," Twilight answered dismissively after swallowing a lump of meat. The sound of loud crunching filled the air as she bit off some bone and chewed it. "Once we got to the colder region, I adapted for the weather, so I'm okay."

"May I ask how you adapt so quickly? And what requires you to eat so much?" Narset inquired as she leaned on Twilight and curled up to better retain her companion's warmth.

Twilight was silent as she pondered whether or not to tell Narset about her ordeals in detail. Ultimately, she decided to confide in her. "When I called myself an Ungulan, I wasn't referring to my species. I was referring to my homeworld. I'm not from Tarkir, you see. I was born on a plane called Ungula." She looked at the sky through the forest canopy and took in how different the stars were from her home. "I'm special though. I'm a planeswalker. Not sure of all the details, but I can travel between the worlds of the larger Multiverse at will. The first time I planeswalked, I landed on a world called Ravnica. Not long after I got my bearings, I was approached by a man named Ral Zarek. Misplaced trust got me handed to an organization called the Simic Combine on a silver platter. They experimented on me and turned me into what they termed the ultimate life form."

Narset gasped at the thought of anything so cruel being done to any sapient being. "What did they do?"

"Gave me backup organs first," Twilight said. "I've now got two hearts, three livers, three sets of kidneys, two pairs of lungs, and I adapted a redundant nervous system on my own. The Simic define the ultimate life form as one that can adapt its body to any kind of environment. But I exceeded expectations by being able to adapt to things that can hurt me. These adaptations and my accelerated healing ability need something to work with. So I eat a lot to store surplus biomass for them. It's packed together tightly, so I'm a lot heavier than I look."

"How did you find you find yourself on Tarkir?" Narset asked, in awe of the possibility that the visions she'd had of other worlds since her youth were not fictional, but other planes.

"Eventually I escaped containment in the Simic lab and killed all the researchers in a rage. The massacre didn't go unnoticed. I killed the humans that came to investigate. All but one. The one fought me briefly, and is the reason I look like a dragon, since I adapted to his blade and fire attacks. When he refused to tell me where to find Ral Zarek, I grew my wings and flame sacks before bursting out of the facility and out into the city. After cutting a swath through anyone that tried to stop me, I finally found Zarek and attacked him. He tried to paralyze me with a lightning spell, but it didn't work thanks to my extra nervous system, and I tackled him down a tunnel. As we fell, he tried to escape by planeswalking away. I followed him into the Blind Eternities, the primordial Chaos between planes, and we struggled as we floated around. Once we started dissolving in the Chaos, he got away and I had to abandon the chase. Tarkir was the closest plane I could find."

Narset gave Twilight's shoulder a squeeze of sympathy as she looked at her. "You've endured such hardship, Twilight. No one should have to suffer like you have."

Twilight was about to answer before pain erupted from her back and chest. Looking down, she saw a spear impaled through her torso. She barely had time to register this before angry battle cries came from behind her and Narset. Turning, she saw a group of five people charging them all together as Narset got to her feet and grabbed her staff, ready to fight.

"Kill the bear eater!" one of the attackers yelled as he attacked Twilight with a huge sword. Letting instinct take over, Twilight raised her right arm and blocked the blade, her eyes widening as it cut clean through her scales and severed her arm. As the blade cut through her chest, she jumped back to avoid getting cut in half, her stump slowly regenerating as she ripped the spear from her body and held it tightly. Eyes narrowing, she roared in rage and charged her attacker, knocking aside his blade and biting his throat out in one clean motion. As the body fell, Twilight charged another and breathed a jet of flame at her that set her cloak alight.

As the screaming woman was distracted, Twilight tripped one of the younger looking ones with her tail and skewered him on her stolen spear before grabbing his sword and cleaving the burning woman's head off. She felt weight on her back as one of the remaining two, a burly man, tried to pin and snap her neck. Turning the tables, she grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground before stomping on his skull hard enough to crush it like a melon. By this point, her arm had fully regenerated, and she turned her sights on the last assailant, charging him and tackling him to the ground. Dispensing with weapons she simply balled up her fists and started beating him, ignoring his pained screams and attempts to fight her off. She was so deep in her rage that she didn't notice when he stopped moving.

Narset stared in wide eyed horror at the carnage Twilight had created. She'd seen plenty of bloody killings, but Twilight was one of the more gruesome. No mercy. Just bloodrage and attack. She was still caught in the throes of Bloodfire's embrace as she beat the final attacker's corpse, her fists becoming more bloodstained with each blow. Until she finally leaned down and savagely bit into the body, starting to devour it. Getting a hold of herself, Narset rushed forward and threw her arms around Twilight from behind. "Stop! It's over, Twilight! You can stop now! Enough!"

Her words somehow got through, and Twilight stopped moving. Slowly, she sat up, truly looking at what she had done. Twilight looked down at her bloodied hands and felt tears sting her eyes again. "I've turned into an animal. A mindless, bloodthirsty beast!"

"You just need discipline, Twilight," Narset assured her as she moved in front of her and looked her in the eyes. "You're not used to a predator's survival instincts, are you? You only ever had the instinct to flee before. Now you have the urge to fight instead. I promise you'll be able to control yourself in time."

Twilight looked at Narset and did her best to wipe her tears without getting blood in her eyes. "You seem to have a knack for knowing what to say, Narset."

Narset chuckled and wiped Twilight's tears for her. "Being the khan of the Jeskai means that all my clan looks to me for guidance and wisdom. It's to be expected."

Twilight smiled a bit. It seemed that she had managed to find a human she'd be able to call a friend. Like Narset said, she couldn't judge all humans by a few bad ones. So she did her best to put Ral Zarek and the Simic out of her mind.