Maximo: Hearts and Hooves

It was a forest much like any other, the ravens cawed, the trees swayed, and a heavy darkness hung low and oppressive as if it had no end…

“We’ve searched for years now, maybe it’s time to give up?”

A fire cackled as if to spite the being who gave it life. It’s harsh flame only giving so much in terms of comfort and warmth.

“We have a kingdom to govern, a world to rebuild. I would like nothing else than to have my dearest friend at my side to see it through.”

The fire became a spit, as it licked at the dead flesh of a chicken headed drakeling. A cockatrice if he remembered correctly.

“You loved me once, and with that love you hung on each and every word I would speak. Will you not heed my words once more?”

Wolves of wood prowled the area, but left the being to his own devices. He walked as if he were Death itself, his skills with his blade were as deft as Death itself, and why would they believe otherwise when not even a day had passed since witnessing three of their own lose their very souls to him?

“It’s holy ground, you’re on your own this time Maximo.”

The words of his friends hung heavy upon him. How long had it been since his journey? Months? Years? His only clue a holy temple hidden amongst ruins of sand and fire. His only reward? A one way trip to a world not his own. To colorful to be the Underworld. Far too serene to be called Hell.

“Sophia…”

It was a name unlike any other. He had once died for that name...several times in fact. Traversed the lands of both the living and the dead in hopes of seeing the face to that name. An army of machine was destroyed and his soul sundered in the name of the woman he lost.

“Sophia…”

A resonance echoed throughout the forest. The once fearful wolves found something within the man they feared. The weakest of them had been first, as the light of fire withered, a soft glow of green and life poured from it as it laid beside the being. Both were content in allowing silence speak for eachother. The beaten warrior enjoyed his meal, his companion emitting the glow of life it’s kind came to depend on.

More and more wolves joined them as the warrior fell to the exhaustions of his very life. Night fell, the light of day followed, and as the wolves stirred, their companion was nowhere to be found.

Maximo left the sleeping wolves quietly and without incident so as to resume his aimless wandering in peace and without distraction. He needed to find civilization, his derailed quest depended on it. For where there was civilized society, there were experienced mages, and experienced mages meant finding his way home.

However the wandering swordsman had been shaken from his stupor at the sound of a loud scream followed by an impact of a mass of blue fur and rainbow hair.

“Hey! Let go! You want some too!?” A talking mass of blue fur and rainbow hair. Getting a good look at the strange creature, Maximo noted it’s equine like appearance. It had all the workings of a horse, but far too small to actually be able to mount. It’s eyes were vibrant and fiery, it had wings powerful enough to keep it airborne and the creature’s most prominent feature had been a cloud with a rainbow bolt of lightning upon it’s flank.

 “What are you?” Asked Maximo.

“Huh? You can talk!?” A mighty roar broke the pair from their curiosity and intrigue. Tumbling through wood and fern was a large lion like beast with the wings of a bat and the tail of a scorpion. A manticore if memory served maximo correctly.

“Hold that thought, whatever you are, I’m gonna teach the overgrown housecat NOT to mess with my friends!” The pegasus would have made good on her threat had a golden shield not flown past her, striking the beast square in it’s eyes. The shield returned to it’s owner as he rushed past the floating equine.

The manticore in a blind fury began to swipe madly, in the hopes of harming it’s desired target to no avail. Maximo bobbed and weaved through the haphazard swings as he fired a small round from his concealed wrist cannon.

The bullet ripped through the beast’s shoulder as it once again roared in pain, the opening gave Maximo the perfect opportunity to unsheathe his blade and carve a large X on the beast as he followed with a series of quick stabs into the beast’s exposed abdomen.

In one final attempt of defiance, the monster swung it’s stinger in an arc as it struck metal and cracked upon the impact.

“Hasn’t failed me yet.” Whispered Maximo as he jumped into the air and delivered a piercing strike into the monster’s head, halting it for good.

“Woah…”  Maximo turned to see the pegasus who had been awestruck at the deft display of swordsmanship. “That. Was. AWESOME!! Dude you have to teach me how to do that! Oh, uh...sorry. Name’s Rainbow Dash, Fastest flier in Equestria! Thanks for taking care of the manticore, but I probably could have handled it.”

“Maximo, it wasn’t a problem. I’ve fought worse. I’m guessing Equestria is the world I’m in?”

Inquired the swordsman.

“What? Aw man, egghead’s gonna have a field day...Look, Maximo, how bout I take ya to Ponyville. I can tell you how awesome I am, and you can tell me how you got here. That cool with you?”

“Sounds great Rainbow, sounds great.” Thus the two regaled the other with tales of greatness and heroism as they made their way out of the forest. Yet unbeknownst to the pair, a pack of living wood followed closely as they wished not to be separated from their new Alpha.