A Hardened Warrior

A/N: Thought I'd let you have this early, since the last one was a few hours late.

Chapter 14 - Everything Dies Part 2/3

Roderick had been led by the griffin to the office that the mayor had been working in for the past five years. His size was twice the other griffins, and he sat behind a desk with mounds of paper stacked upon. He briefly looked up, and cocked an eyebrow.

’He’s rather fat...’

Roderick giggled at the comment, leading to confusion for the griffin guards.

“Er... Sir, this is the... what’re ya called again?” coming from the same griffin as before.

“Human.”

“Right... this ‘human’ is the one who saved the others from the diamond dogs in the valleys, sir.”

His voice was deep, and thundering. Deeper than Big Macintosh’s, which shocked Roderick quite a bit. “Is that so? Just you?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your name?”

“Roderick.” The smaller, first griffin had left before the question was asked.

“Are you a soldier?”

“Yes.”

“Rank?”

“Captain, under Ecclesia’s rule. second to General Kendal.”

“And what, pray tell, is this... ‘Ecclessia’?”

“My kind’s capital.”

“And why are you here?”

“To help with anything physical.”

“Right... I’ll arrange something, thanks for stopping by... My name is Sigurd, by the way.”

’What did you do before all this?’

‘I fought the legions of Hexter.’

’Err...’

‘Orcs and dark elves.’

’Well... you don’t mind if I just hop in your mind and look do you?’

‘Just be careful... I prefer not to have something happen to me because you decided to play with my memories.’

No response came.

Roderick had been walking along the streets, looking around, while talking to Nightmare. He was also getting mixed reactions from the griffins. Smiles from the ones he’d saved, and glares from the ones who he didn’t. He stopped in at what he thought was a café. He was greeted by the griffin who ran the place, he was one of the ones that were in the net. There were two couples eating happily, same case.

“So, you came to the capital eh? Oh yea, I never introduced myself... name’s Grendle.”

“Yeah, looking for work. Mayor said he’ll arrange something.”

“Alright. Would ya like somethin’ t’eat?”

“Whad’ya serve?”

“Just about anything cheap.”

“Venison, please.”

“How would ya like it done?”

“Very cooked, brown in the middle.” Grendle was shocked, no one ever wanted their meat so dry and flavorless

“Alrighty then... It’ll be ready in a bit.” He stepped behind the counter and into what looked like a kitchen. A door was heard opening, and boxes moved, and a door closing. Then sizzling, like when bacon is put on a pan.

’You have a very... interesting world.

‘As do you.’

’Still, I thought I was ruthless when it came to being evil. Those ‘orcs’ were just...

‘Disgustingly despicable.’

’I was thinking morbid. But that works as well.’

Grendle came back out with a dry, and almost colorless deer steak. “Here ya go, never had to cook something so long.” To which Roderick took his helmet off to eat.

“Thanks.”

’I’m actually curious about what you would’ve done if you weren’t so righteous.’

‘Not sure, don’t want to think about it.’

Inside of the Ponyville Library, four of the six representatives of the Elements of Harmony, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash sat at a table. Twilight gathered the present elements in the library to speak with them about Roderick, and how they’ll keep watch for him. On the table they sat before, Spike placed many muffins and cookies for the girls to eat while they spoke.

“So Twi, ya think he ain't in Equestria anymore?”

“Yes, Applejack, none of the other towns said anything about a bipedal monster walking around, and if he went through the forest, he might’ve curved around and went to the north.”

“I hope he’s alright...”

“I hope so too, Fluttershy. For our sake, and his.”

“Well when he comes back, I’ll be ready to kick his flank!” Rainbow Dash struck her famous self-appraisal pose.

“Unless... he beat Nightmare.”

“Well yeah... but if Princess Luna couldn’t, I don’t think he could.”

“He’s trained to resist stuff, remember?”

“Ah agree with Rainbow, Ah don’t think even he could beat ‘er.”

“But that doesn’t mean he can’t. We have to hope, so how are we going to watch for him?”

“I can check while I’m on weather patrol.”

“Ah’ll do rounds on mah farm.”

“I can ask the animals if they see him. I’m sure they’d be happy to help.”

“Okay, now that that’s settled, let’s eat. I’m starving...”

“We told you not to starve yourself when you’re doing your egghead stuff, Twilight. It’s not healthy.” All she got in response were some mumbles that only Pinkie could translate, but she wasn’t there. “What was that?”

“I said... I can eat when I’m done.”

By the time the silence was over, Roderick had finished eating, picked up his helmet, and just before putting it on, he sneezed. Violently. Enough to scare Grendle when he was so far behind the counter, as if Roderick was going to blow the whole place down and snatch up all his piggies.

’Somepony’s talking about you...’

‘So it seems.’

’Who do you think it is?’

‘The only ponies I know by name.’

’The elements...’

‘If that’s what you prefer to call them, yes. They, and their princess, are the only who know my name.’

’Well then, they’re most likely plotting your downfall for when you return.’

‘Definitely.’

As he finished his last thought, he left the café, and a griffin came by and gave him a letter.

To the recipient of this letter,

Your services are desired by the mayor of Gryphus, the capital of the Griffin Dominion.

Sigurd.

’It seems he came up with something.’

‘Let’s see what it is.’

He began walking casually down the streets to the mayor’s office for whatever the mayor had arranged. But before that could happen, he was jumped, gagged, and bagged.

When he came to, he was chained to the wall, armor stripped from his body. Torture tools laid out before him, as if to intimidate him.

’I forgot to mention, griffins aren’t as kind as ponies.’

‘I noticed... but, I’m curious who-’ His thought was cut short as a rather large griffin came in.

“Ah, the human awakens. I’ve been informed by that annoying Princess Celestia~... that there was a two-legged monster in armor running around destroying everything. You’re wanted dead.” It was too dark to tell, but the voice sounded like Sigurd’s, it most likely was.

“So... she set a bounty on my head, eh?”

“Correct, now... I enjoy watching my prey scream, kick, and bleed. So, I had my servants arrange a bit of a collection of tools.”

“Can’t kill me.”

“Oh come now, Everything dies eventually.”

“But not at the hands of another.” Sigurd gave him a dead panned look.

“Are you saying you’re immortal?”

“Indeed.”

“Well... we’ll just have to test that, won’t we.”

’I prefer to not feel pain... so, I’m putting you in a subconscious state.’

‘Fine with me.’

And that’s what she did, as the ‘operation’ began, he felt nothing. But he saw what he was doing, the stabbing, the bones being cut through, the blood and skin falling off... but he felt nothing.

When he regained full consciousness, he was in a bag. There was a slight stinging pain in his stomach. And he heard the sound of wood grinding together and against the ground. He was in a wagon.

’You finally awaken.’

‘How long?’

’Three days, the pain would’ve put you in shock if I let you up early.’

‘Where are we?’

’Headed to Equestria... I suggest you get out of here quickly.’

As he moved, however, he noticed something on top of him. A box, seemingly like a chest, was thrown off him as he shook violently, getting his head out of the bag quickly. Next, his hands and arms, torso, and legs. He threw the chest hard enough that it spilled the contents. His armor and sword were there.

He put them on as quickly as possible, and slid out the back. And ran to Gryphus at a speed he’d never done before, he was going to get revenge. Sigurd was going to die.

’And what of Gryphus? They will revolt, and try to kill you themselves.’

‘Let’s see them follow me into the badlands.’

’Point taken...’

As he got to the gates, the guards had various reactions ranging from shock to confusion. He walked through without resistance.

‘Seems the bounty didn’t get out yet.’

’Want to grab something to eat first? You’re starving.’

As she thought it, he felt a rumble in his stomach. He had no money, however. He would have to steal... But Grendle had been right beside him, when he heard his stomach growl.

“Hey, hungry again?”

The voice startled Roderick, looking to his right put him to ease.

“Yes, and it seems I’ve no money to pay for food again.”

“That’s fine, it’s on me, where ya wanna eat?”

“Anywhere that has food...”

’How about the place to your right?...’

‘That will work.’

“Then how about this place?” He responded, as if hearing Nightmare speak.

“Why not.”

The two strolled in, ate a nice meal, Grendle paid, and they walked out. Into a lot of guards pointing sticks at him. Sigurd was standing before him. With a very pissed off look in his eyes.

A/N: This is not turning into a gorefic. Just so you know.