A Hardened Warrior

Chapter 12 - New Friends

Having woken up from his nap, Roderick stands up, and opens his eyes. He had moved in his sleep, apparently. Or he just didn’t remember anything after the wyrm... Nah. Sleepwalking.

‘Hey. You.’

’Hmm?’

‘Know where we are?’

’Sorry, I never visited the Dominion much. Nature can change things in a thousand years anyways.’

‘Great... I’m going in blind, how many cities do you know of?’

’Gryphus is most likely the only one standing.’

‘Which direction?’

’West.’

‘Towards the sun, got it.’

’Other way. It’s morning.’

‘...’

Roderick began walking west, for how long, he didn’t care. He began sleep walking. Sure, he fell a lot, and he was impaled many more times, but he kept moving on. He even fell off a small cliff, which was the final mark to make him pay attention. Because he had apparently marched on for 3 days... And passed through the entire Dominion with no encounter of the griffins. Or animals for that matter. Only carnivorous plants. Big ones.

He’d lost almost all of his soldierlike habits, except the ration eating. He never ate more than two servings. However, only to savour the delicious foods, since he was immortal, and hadn’t a need to eat anymore. But it also kept him healthy and fit as well. He was quite intimidating with multiple holes in his armor, and dents, and strange voices.

When he was going back through the dominion, he noticed the griffins flying into coves, followed by a chorus of howls, Screams, and a roar. Much like that of a dragon...

“Draaaaaaaagon~”

’Roderick... don’t you dare. I get hurt when you get hurt.’

But he would have none of it. Brandishing his weapon, and using Nightmare’s spell to fix his armor, he sprinted to where he heard the dragon. Sure enough, standing over cowering human/dog hybrids and griffins trapped in nets. Big as the last one, but darker. A dark purple, and looked almost feminine.

’Seems like the ways of the diamond dogs haven’t changed.’

‘What’dya mean? And what are Diamond Dogs?’

’Diamond dogs are those hounds cowering before that dragon. They’re slavers, quite bothersome when they have nets. They feed gems to the dragons so they don’t get eaten. When they run out of gems. They offer griffins. And ponies. And they’re own weakest members.’

‘Cowards...’

’Very much so. I may be evil, but not entirely cruel. I hate to see things like these. Call me a hypocrite, but I’m not one for sacrifices and slavery. Only tyranny.’

‘You’re asking me to save them?’

’I’m doing no such thing, but it would be nice. Besides, we could perhaps rally them together and have them as an army...'

‘You’re not getting control of me.’

Before she could respond, he charged off the behead the dragon. But the dragon saw him coming. But had no idea what kind of power such a small, insignificant being like him could hold.

“And by the fires of my ancestors, what are you?” Definitely female.

Roderick stopped so fast that he fell, tumbled, and had enough built up dirt to make a home of it. He stood up just as quick.

“YOU CAN SPEAK?!” While pointing an armored finger at the gargantuan beast.

The dragon wasn’t amused. Of course her kind could speak, who didn’t know that? But he did look like a mighty fine appetizer compared to the usual Griffin she had. Or gems for that matter. Sapphires and Onyxes were getting bland. But they kept her alive. Without another moment’s notice, she snapped him up, and swallowed.

’Not again... why must you make me endure such misery?’

“YEEEEARGHHH~” Much like the last time, he cut open the stomach, seeing as the insides were nice and tender, compared to the scaly skin on the outside. The stomach and lungs cut so very easily.

The dragon, just like the last one, roared in anger and pain. before choking on its own blood, and dropping to the ground. Glowing brightly for a moment, before the light shifted into the ground, and sprouting golden-yellow flowers. The petals looked like fire when bunched together.

When Roderick slowly crawled out of the beast’s mouth and stood up, the diamond dogs scattered. Leaving him, and some even more scared griffins than before. They’re pupils became pinpricks at the sight of him coming closer, others just closed their eyes and waited for death to come. The only noises next, were those of metal hitting rope and rock, confusion followed by rejoice, and grunts coming from the human.

“From this day forward, you are free. I will right the wrongs in this kingdom.” The griffins all looked towards each other in more confusion at his ‘voice’. “Would one of you kindly point us to the lair of those hounds?”

“I will.” A female griffin with a stern voice walked forward. “Thanks for saving us, you’re pretty cool for a monster, ya dig?”

“Er...”

’She said you’re awe inspiring.’

“Ah, thank you, let’s be off then.”

’Funny...’

‘what is?’

’You’ve had more contact with these mortals and their modern slang, and yet, I know more of it than you.’

‘hush.’

“Yeah, sure” She began walking towards the north. “Name’s Jinrai. Means thunder.”

“Yin rei... interesting name.” He began following her. “So, tell me about those hounds.”

“You mean the diamond dogs? They’re weaklings, using nets to catch us and force us into the mines to dig and pull carts full of gems. But recently, the gems haven’t been showing up, so they fed us and some ponies to the dragons.”

“I see... not too different from what I’ve seen back home.”

“What’cha mean?”

“Orcs. They enslave my brethren, and eat them as well. I don’t know why, but they like the taste. I was once a slave, before Kendal came and slaughtered the beasts. They didn’t stand a chance. A single troop crushed dozens in a matter of minutes.”

“Wow... Sounds like a tough one.”

“He was.”

“Was?”

“I’m not sure if he’s still alive. I became one of his two captains, and we went into Encablossa’s soul, with three squads of soldiers. They all died when we came here, and I couldn’t find him or Regnier in the field we arrived in.”

“Who’s Encablossa? And Regnier?”

“Encablossa is the god of the darkness, sworn enemy of the creatures born under Nible, the goddess of light’s rule. He is, by all definition, a monster. Reignier is a servant of the Ancient heart, the heart of Encablossa. But when it was destroyed, he became mortal. He charged in with us to destroy the god.”

“Wow. Anyways, we’re here. See that cave?”

“Yes.”

“They’re hidden in there. They have lights for the slaves to see where they’re going, but they dig real fast, and rely on hearing to find you. That armor will give away your spot.”

“I’ll best them. I’m not taking this armor off.”

“Alright... but please stay alive, we need a hero like you. See ya ‘round.” With that, she flew off into the now night sky. They had walked for a decent while, the better part of twenty minutes.

He set off into the cave, clanking armor and weapon, ready to fight anything that tried him. He was not expecting, a head on assault. A spear was thrust near his head, caught his shoulder and broke in half. The shock could be seen even with it’s helmet so far on it’s head. But only lasted a short while, before it rolled off.

The other dogs had surrounded him, charging from all directions, hitting him with all they had. They left only dents and scratches. But when he returned fire, he killed them, his sword sharp enough to cut through bone with ease, managed to kill at least three with a simple wide swing.

Before long, however, the only thing left were corpses, and a man standing tall. He had slaughtered them, twenty or thirty in number. But he set off to go deeper into the cave. To find the captives, and to free them.

’Sometimes... I’m curious what it would be like to fight you in close range.’

‘messy.’

’So it seems... Thank you.’

‘This is not for you. This is for them, and myself.’

Before long, he found the holding cells, abandoned. With large amounts of ponies and griffins in shackles, lying unconscious. He allowed a small smile to creep upon his face. He clanged the flat edge of his sword against the metal bars, awakening the creatures inside with a start.

“Wha- WHAT ARE YOU?!” Was seemingly the favored response of the captives.

“Silence. You are free now.” Was all Roderick said, before breaking the locks on each of the cells. But they stayed inside, afraid of what he might do to them if they get caught. Until one of them walked up to him. An orange filly with a green mane.

“Thank you.”

A/N: Whew, all this in one sitting... two hours. I think I can keep this up. Definitely.

Btw, in the show: Rainbow Dash mentions a bullet. guns in Equestria...