Chapter 1: Rage

We had been walking in silence for at least two hours, maybe three, I found that it was rather difficult to track time when both the sky is well hidden and my visor was essentially useless for anything but friend or foe identification via line of sight. Infirmary stayed a few good paces away from me, probably still nervous about the fact that I am a… what did she call it? Ghoul? But I digress. Though this gave me time to contemplate things again, primarily the flashback I had.

I had been so preoccupied thinking it over in my head that I hadn’t noticed her stop in front of me before my hoof landed on her white tail.

“Yeowch, Guardian what do you think you are doing?” She shouted as she jumped into the air and spun to face me.

I gave her a flat look from behind my visor, before looking past her to see a few wagons and camps set up, “Why did we stop?”

“I, I just, last time I saw them Daddy and Pop weren’t on the best terms, I guess I’m just nervous is all.” She replied as she fiddled with her tail.

“Don’t worry kid, I’ve got a good feeling.” I lied, to be truly honest I had no idea what was going on, a part of me just took control and tried to sooth her as best I could.

“Really, then why do you sound so deadpan?” She asked, to which I fixed my gaze upon her again, seemingly making her uncomfortable in doing so.

“Call it, intuition.” Was my final reply before I began navigating the broken streets.

While there was no radiation in the area, the missile had still done a massive amount of damage, makes me wonder what the Anti Magical Charge really did… Did it remove the magical radiation? Doesn’t matter. Infirmary caught up and trotted next to me while looking up expectantly towards my face.

“What, a piece of flesh peeling off?” I asked as I marched on.

“Canterlot Ghouls don’t degrade like that often, and you are covered in that fancy black armor, so no.” She replied as she began to look at me all over as if for the first time.

“Then what are you looking for?” I responded as I hoped up a pile of debris.

“What is the mark on your flank mean?” She asked, forcing my attention from her face to my armored flank to see a small blue shield with a crescent moon emblazoned on it so it was cradling a star, and two silver swords crossed behind the shield itself.

“Remember how I said I can’t remember anything? Yeah, there is your answer.” I replied, my gaze once again falling to the little filly.

She shrugged before following me up the steep pile without difficulty. Once up she turned away from my gaze and looked down to see a couple of ponies eyeing us both. Each of these ponies were wearing brown leather barding and simple clothes underneath.

“Mind tellin’ us who ya are strangers?” The buck on my right asked as I realized we were both dead in their sights.

“It’s okay, they can get us to Pops.” My little filly friend stated in a hushed tone, “I’m Infirmary and this here is Guardian, my Grandpa Pops runs this caravan and my Dad and I were coming to visit, but he died on the way here.” She stated to the two stallions as she tried to hold her complexion as to not come around as whiney.

“The kid needs family, her grandfather was the only family she could think of, so I escorted her here. I don’t suppose any of you would have an objection to us entering?” I asked, my low voice carrying further than I thought it would.

“What’s yer name little filly?” The one on my left asked this time.

“Infirmary, sir.” She said, though I noticed that her voice had become a little weaker than before. Of course it did, she just lost her father and had to bring him up again.

“Okay, you two are clear to pass in, and if you see something you like do keep in mind that this is a trading caravan.” The stallion on my right stated as they both parted to clear our way down the debris.

I hopped down and landed with a small clanking sound as Infirmary slid down and came to a halt next to me. We both shared a look before walking into the maze of wagons and ponies. As I looked around I saw that there were entire families that seemed happy enough to my view from outside, and I also noticed the wares. Grenade machine gun, 20mm auto turret, T-45d helmet, wait T-45d helmet, that uses a similar visor to mine! I had lost myself in thought as I stared at this one merchant mare’s cart, though to be more specific I had locked visors with the helmet in question.

“See somethin ya like stranger?” The cream coated mare who had a fancy for denim coveralls asked, bringing me out of my stupor.

“I’ll be back to look at that helmet in a bit, have to get Infirmary to her Grandfather first.” I absentmindedly said as I picked up my hooves and began walking again.

“He’s only two wagons away, that a way!” She pointed with a greasy hoof before turning back to her wagon and looking at the helmet.

I gave her a curt nod, though she probably didn't see it as I led Infirmary, this time, in the direction that the mare had pointed. Looking down at her I could see her apprehension about seeing her grandfather on her face, though I saw it mostly in her eyes. “Cheer up, it won’t be that bad will it? I mean, he’s part of this right, this looks nice enough?” I reassured by asking her questions to which she didn’t respond to.

We walked the rest of the way in silence as I made certain to steer clear of the odd two headed cows which would on occasion try to start up a conversation with me much to my surprise. Infirmary kept her head low and her eyes down, finding her hooves interesting as we walked into a small clearing of sorts. Surrounding this area were multiple covered wagons, around four or five, it was hard to tell from my angle. Infirmary looked up and began trying to see who was who as she began walking around. I stood where I was and watched, earning a couple of the merchants stares at my badly damaged grey armor and strange weapons.

Infirmary halted in front of a wagon with an older merchant, a large brimmed hat rested over his eyes as he snored softly. The little filly plopped down on her flank and waited until an elderly mare, I assume her grandmother, walked around from the other side of the wagon and saw her.

“Infirmary, that you?” The elderly pony asked as she walked up my small friend.

“Ma, good to see you.” Infirmary said, though she only hesitantly looked up to the other pony.

“Now I thought that Pop’s told ya an yer parents ta never show yer faces ‘round here again.” Ma asked as she looked down at the filly with harsh eyes.

I don’t know why, perhaps I just have a strong sense of honor or something else that will get me killed one day, but I marched forward at a reasonable pace before halting once I had placed myself next to my small, and now silently crying, friend. Ma looked over and up to me, strange I never noticed how large I was to other ponies until just now, before slamming her hoof against the cart.

“Pop, get up we have company.” Her voice, much like that of sandpaper, rang out and awoke the sleeping stallion.

“Huh, who is it Ma?” He asked, his gruff voice barely carrying over to us.

“Yer granddaughter and a merc.” Ma replied, though I sent a rather harsh stare towards her for calling me a merc of all things.

“Didn’t I tell Rusty ta never seek me out again?” He asked, a sour tone coming to his voice as he sat up and lifted the brim of his hat up.

“Mommy is dead, so is daddy.” Infirmary said before choking back a sob or two and looking down, refusing to meet their eyes.

I watched the old stallion get down off his cart and whisper to his wife before I looked down to my friend, “You know, you could stay with me, I don’t really know anything about, well, anything really, but I’d be willing to keep you in good company at least.” I said in a low tone, with much as emphasis on the word good as I could get through a low voice.

“R… really?” She began to hiccup as she met my gaze.

She started to move to me when a whip cracked the air next to her head, causing her to cry out and me to sit up with such speed that my head went numb for a moment as my mind reached for a pistol but didn’t draw it, yet.

“Explain, now.” I said, my voice emotionless and my eyes hidden as they darted to the corner of my vision where Infirmary lay holding her head. “Ten seconds.”

“Well, we accept her request to join us in our travels, but, we will raise her as we did her mother and hope to Luna that she will turn out better than her.” Pop said, levitating his whip into view as he coiled it.

“She needs comfort more than anything right now, not a slave driver.” I knew not where my words were coming from but it wasn’t long before a crowd of ponies had gathered to watch us stare each other down.

“Yeah, and jus’ wha do ya think ya ‘an do about it huh? Nothin’ that’s what!” He retorted to which a merely growled.

My vision became sharper and I could see more clearly than before, but the edges of said vision seemed to fade away. My grip on the pistol slid off as I slowly marched forward, my hooves hitting the ground with heavy thuds as I tried to make myself as streamline as possible.

“An’ jus’ what do ya think ya are suppose’ ta be?” He chuckled as the gathered ponies joined in.

At this point I was no longer thinking, at this point I was staring at him and only him through my cracked visor with only one intent, kill. I roared, I didn’t raise my legs like a normal pony before charging into battle, I roared and spread my wings, causing the now shattered locks to become airborne. A look of horror replaced the image of mockery as I began to circle him as a predator would do prey, my instincts taking complete control over me.

“Stop, Guardian please stop!” Infirmary pleaded, causing me to turn my head and meet her gaze.

One of her eyes was bloody, evidently hit by the whip and utterly destroyed, but her other eye forced a little calm back into me as my vision returned to normal.

“Please, they are what I have left.” She began crying, normal tears from her left eye, and blood from her right.

“Calm down Infirmary, you still have me.” I said in as soothing a tone as a deep guttural growl could be.

She didn’t reply before charging and hugging me, squeezing me as hard as she could through my armored body. I slipped my wings, which had a number of tears through them upon my first real look at them before placing my head in top of hers and humming.

“Let go of our granddaughter ya beast!” Pop shouted striking me with his whip, though only succeeding in scuffing a small spot on my armor.

“I promise I won’t harm them, but promise me that you’ll stay with me.” I said in a hushed whisper.

“I promise.” Infirmary replied as she let go of me.

I stood to my full height and turned to face the two that had drawn out my anger, “And just exactly what are you going to do about it, scumbag?” The last word echoed off the walls of the crumpled and ruined towers of the city.

Pop and Ma both took a step back, so I capitalized in their fear and let my torn wings spread out for all to see. My visor met their eyes and they merely stuttered before walking away, clearly knowing that they were of no match. What I didn’t realize until afterwards was that red flames were being spewed out the sides of my muzzle through small vents. The gathered ponies all walked away after a little time had passed, many were weary of me now as I stood unmoved, and though none could see, my eyes were wide at my revelation.

“Pardon me sir, but would ya like to take a look at tha' helmet now?” The merchant mare from before asked me, the only other pony aside from Infirmary to dare go near me.

“... Yeah, I’d like to.” I replied, only moving my head to look at her as I retracted my wings.

“Come on over when you like.” She cheerfully said as she walked away.

“I thought your grandfather ran these caravans?” I asked, not looking to my little friend.

“No, just his here, other merchants will often stop near their fellows if they can for added protection.” Infirmary stated as she trotted up to me and gave my armored form a hug. “Thank you for sticking up for me, this was a bad idea anyways.”

“Don’t mention it, it’s what I do.” I replied, a smile hidden behind my helmet as we both began to walk over to the merchant mare.

Footnote- Level Up

New Perk- Dragon Rage, You are a quarter Dragon, from this you have many attributes, but the most dominate is your unshackled fury. +20 to all combat skills and -20 to non combat skills when enraged.

Author's Note

So more secrets are brought up, and we are seeing a little structure, perhaps even his first quest which may get him on his way to discovering more about himself.

While the chapter got tense, I do feel as if Guardian is too powerful for a minor skirmish, but don't worry, I can confirm that you have seen everything, and I mean everything he can do. (That is a spoiler I will not keep secret as I don't want to make a Mary Sue character out of a Canterlot Ghoul, )

To come in Chapter 2 (Spoilers) A more detailed look at Guardians face, a possible friend, a definite foe, and perhaps another flashback.