The Power of the King

Live.

Suzaku continued to run through the forest that he would soon know as Everfree. After locating a nearby town from atop his hill-tree, he decided to make his way toward it. He hoped it was Britannian-controlled territory. His status as a Knight of the Round made him well known even in other countries.

Live.

He instinctively jumped over a log, narrowly avoiding a clumsy fall. Such a fall would mean death. He had to live.

He wasn't even sure what planet he was on anymore. The flora he observed were certainly odd, but nothing compared to the newly-discovered fauna. The first beast he found was some sort of reptile from what he'd seen. He wasn't able to look at its head. He had to live after all.

That beast was of no immediate danger to him. He knew that, instinctively. His current pursuer, however, was different. The manticore wanted to eat him. The manticore could sting him and eat him. He knew that, instinctively. So, he ran. He had to live.

Live.

He dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the manticore's stinger.

Live.

He dropped to the ground, allowing the manticore to pounce over him. He ran to the side, putting more distance between them.

Live.

Live.

Live.

He managed to escape the manticore. He couldn't fight it because he had to live. Fighting it would be death.

Safe for now, he ran to where he knew the town was. He had to get out of this forest because he had to live.

He had to because of that man. Because of that demon named Lelouch. That stain on the history of humanity.

He used to be his best friend. Now, he despised him. He despised Lelouch and everything he believed.

But right now, he had to figure out what was going on. Hatred would get him nowhere. He had to go to the town he had seen.

That town turned out to be nothing more than a small settlement from the soldier's perspective. Still, it was his best chance.

Suzaku, after entering the town, went straight from relief to confusion. Perhaps confusion isn't the correct phrase.

His brain melted.

"What do you think it is?" whispered a young mare.

"I don't know," her friend responded, "but it just looked at Silver Wares and froze."

"How long has it been standing there?"

"Ten minutes," another pony responded, "and when you think about it, doesn't it look sort of like that dragon the princess has around all the time?"

"No, it doesn't have any scales or spines. It's more like one of those Diamond Dogs that kidnapped Ms. Rarity a while back, if anything."

"Maybe one lost all of its hair?"

"I don't think so. Dogs don't have manes, especially ones so big and curly. No snout either."

"Maybe a minotaur, like Mr. Iron Will?"

"No snout."

"Yeah, the flat face is a bit creepy."

As this went on, a pony who had just been selling her wares in the market decided that enough was enough. It was time to take action.

"Well howdy there partner," an orange mare greeted. "I'm Applejack. I take it ya'll are new to Ponyville. I don't think none of us have seen anypony... err, anybody like you before. If'n ya'll don't mind my asking, what are you?"

Silence.

"Er... Hello?"

The thing was still staring into the distance.

"Can you, uh, hear me?"

Silence.

"I... I'm gonna go get Twilight."