Deja Vu - A Unicorn's Story

Chapters

-1- The Feeling You've Been There Before
-2- What Flames Have Broken
-3- Intentions Pure, Motives Uncertain
-4- Night Watch
-5- We're Under Attack!

-1- The Feeling You've Been There Before

It is said somewhere in creation there exists a place of perfect randomness, between planes and worlds, linking them all together and yet unrelated entirely to their existence. The places mere perception constantly shifted, from a vacant car lot, to a thriving world of sentient ferrets, even it's place on the timeline was in constant flux. This time, it was simple, but maddening. A lavish, carpeted hallway that might have stretched to eternity, both sides lined with simplistic wood panel doors. This is where we meet our equine hero, Kaostrife.

“How long has it been?”

A reptile crawled out from the stallion’s embroidered hood, perching itself against his face. As stallions went, Kaostrife was quite tall, standing a full head and shoulders above most. His white and red robes were iconic of his order, one of the last existing groups of magic users in Equestria dubbed "The Coven".

“Since you last asked? Or since we arrived?” The creature dragged a claw down his muzzle, speaking with a cooing noise.

“Both I guess. You're so good with time.”

“Mhm, that's the dragon in me, darling. Seventeen minutes and twelve days, two hours, forty two minutes. You really should worry less, handsome.” A few drops of blood streamed down the stallion's cheek painting a red line along his pearl white coat, he winced away but bore an unsurprised expression. Kaostrife was accustomed to his familiars eccentricities, he gave her a subtle roll of his eyes.

“Hey, what was that for?”

“I'm oh so sorry my love,” she stated with a look of sarcasm. “I just can't help myself sometimes. Oh what I would do if I had just a few moments as a mare.” The familiar swooned, clambering atop her master's head and laying flat along the unicorn's dark hazel mane.

“ I am happy I found you, Sora.” The stallion replied, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. “But I worry we may not find our way home. We don't know how to get back.” Seeming pleased with the job she'd done, Sora slid down to his withers and nestled in. Sora didn't have the short, squat build most dragons of her age were known for having. Instead she had a long, snakelike body that she used to slither about the folds of her master's garments, only coming out when absolutely necessary.

“We'll figure something out, I'm sure an opportunity will present itself, this is pandemonium after all.”

“Maybe we should try another door?”

“You remember what happened last time, Kaostrife.” She scolded, reptilian brows furrowed with disapproval. Kaostrife reached up and gave his draconic companion a quick pet. It arched towards his hoof affectionately.

"It was nice to see Equestria before the great wars, even if briefly. Us ponies had no idea how good we had it." The unicorn reflected for a moment as he journeyed down the eternal hallway, it's repetitious nature almost mind numbing at this point. He was merely a colt when the wars between his species and the griffons had begun, as such most of his magic lessons were in the Equestrian Army. Through hardship and combat he'd become a formidable magic user, it was likely the reason he was one of the last to survive.

"It wasn't home though, right?" Sora's question went unanswered, their last dimensional trip had left the stallion frustrated, being offered a brief glimpse of what used to be.

“Let's go then.” Stopping on his next right step he turned and opened the door to his immediate left. Blinding white light erupted from within, forcing the two to squint as their vision readjusted.

“Oh, how climactic.” Sora purred, perking with attention as they stepped through. It was another, completely identical, valley of doors. The tiny dragons features dipped, displaying her disappointment.

“Oh dear, maybe next time, hon.” She piped quietly, slipping back into the hood of Kaostrife’s robes to resume her nap.

-2- What Flames Have Broken

Two griffin sat across a table from one another, a lantern between them casting dim light about the room. A crew quarter within a swaying boat, the only other features the room possessed was a double layered bunk bed, and a small port window that constantly gave a low howl as the wind passed through it.
Gedrick scraped the last few morsels of food from his bowl. Most of a suit of full plate sat on the table between him and his comrade Gailic.

Gedrick was young as griffons went, he'd been too young to participate in the major wars over the past decade. Since the battles ended, most of the military split off into mercenary groups like this one. Being a soldier was the only life many of them knew, it gave them a place to life and kept them and their families fed.

“This food tastes great!” Gedrick exclaimed, licking the bottom of his bowl.

“I'm pretty sure turtle feet would taste better than that trash.” Gailic retorted, shaking his head. Gailic was a seasoned veteran, he'd been in the initial push into Equestria. Being on the front lines he'd seen first hand what horror magic could bring, he'd lost most of his friends and comrades to the Equestrians. His no nonsense demeanor and prejudice reflected it.

“You saying you tasted some turtle, kye?” Gailic reached over and snatched his bowl, then lobbed it out the nearby shipside window. After a moment of shared silence they heard the distinct plop of the dish hitting the water.

“You know what I meant.” Gedric's eyes followed his bowl to the window and now simply stared, wearing an dumbstruck expression.

“That was my favorite bowl, you-you fluffy feathered flank eater!” The insult was met by a flat, unimpressed gaze. “What's with you saying 'kye' now anyhow, you aren't even from Anchortown.”

“Yeah well, I kinda' like the expression, sounds cool n' all.” Gedrick sighed audibly as he was met by the same apathetic look, he picked up one of the vambraces, looking it over. “You know, I think armor actually hurts more'n helps against that demon.”

“I know what you mean.” Gailic responded, staring off to the side. “ He's only used magic against our men, beyond the elemental that was summoned.”

“Yeah, proof that he's a demon, or has dealings with em'. But I'm betting the first. I saw 'im once.” Gedrick said as he briefly met Gailic's gaze, his voice going quiet as a whisper. “ Came outta my tent because I heard fighting an’ there he was, tearing through our ranks like some filly blowing away the seeds of a dandelion. Then we went all freaky like, turnin' into a big black dragon-thing!” He stuttered as he spoke, clearly distressed with the imagery in his mind.

“How did you survive? Unscathed?” Gailic's attention moved to his distraught friend, he'd been placed in charge of Gedric and a few other griffon with his promotion. He and Gedric were all that had survived in their squad.“ I was told he rarely left survivors.”

“He was running from us, cleared enough troops to make his way out. We didn't know where he was headed then, we do now, eh kye?”

“We know it, doesn't mean a lot, just another ambush, he slaughtered the last... Dozen now? Just can't seem to kill the bastard.” Gailic spit with resentment.

“I dunno, I hear the leaders are both showing up this time. An you know them, they're crazy with anti-demon voodoo.” Gedrick set the vambrace down, looking towards the ship-side window.

“Were you in the underground coven raid at Manehatten?”

“Neh, just after.”

“We could have killed him then, we took the place over, captured the demon and cleansed the other heretics we found within. He managed to defeat one of our leaders, the female one.” Gedrick looked over with disbelief, his eyes widened in awe. “ She was being patched up in the same medical ward I was in, most of her plumage was burned off but she was alive. I figure she'll live forever just driven by hatred alone.”

“I say if we can catch him once, we can do it again. Just gotta surprise him.”

“The Broken Flame will destroy that damn demon.” Gailic raised a burn scarred claw into the air, a look of vengeance in his eyes.

“And I'm going to find a new bowl.”

-3- Intentions Pure, Motives Uncertain

“Darling your shivers worry me, perhaps some minor magic to ward off the cold?” Kaostrife trudged through the frozen lands, a white oasis before him. He was huddled deep within a heavy, traveler's cloak and several layers of clothes, his coat fluffed out as he fought to keep his teeth from chattering. While his robes matched his coat and were mostly white, the rim of his hood and his hoof cuffs had the deep crimson embroidered pattern of his order. The stallion was huddled so far within his hood, only the very tip of his silver horn was visible. “You know I only have the best of intentions for you, my sweet.” Sora hid within the heat of his hood, she was quite small for her age and while she was nearly entirely black, her scales along her belly and wingspan had dark purple accents. Kaostrife's dragon companion was coiled about the crest of his neck, pressing her muzzle against his cheek.

“If I use magic they'll be able to track me more easily.”

“I know dear, I just don't want you becoming a permanent popsicle. Half your purpose in this relationship is heat.”

“It has to be close now, we've been traveling south for days. This place is colder than the Yakyakistan mountains.” Kaostrife paused for a moment, remembering the last place they'd attempted to stop. “The village...”

“Don't let it bother you, dear. Some people just don't understand. You know better then to take it to heart.”

“I suppose I should be used to being chased out of towns. Nopony wants to risk breaking the law by helping a magic user.”

"Flirting with the village leader probably wasn't the smartest idea either." Sora chastised, her tone light with amusement.

"She started it, kept tugging on my tail." He defended with a huff, he had a bit of a history getting into trouble due to one mare or another, one that Sora was all too willing to remind him of.

“She wasn't right for you anyhow, I didn't like her at all.” Kaostrife grinned a bit at this, knowing there hadn't been a single pony Sora approved of. “What was she like, dear?”

“Hmm, who?”

“The mare you named me after.”

“Oh...” He considered his words briefly. “She was wonderful and loyal, if sometimes a bit paranoid.”

“She wasn't enough for you, was she?”

“What do you mean? She was beautiful.” Sora's embrace about his neck flexed, the tiny dragon breathing smoke into his ears as she spoke. “ You know as well as I that it takes more then a nice body to heat your blood. That's why you cheated on her, isn't it?” He grimaced at his familiar striking a cord, eventually giving a sigh as his gaze drifted southward. “I'm sorry love, I know it's a touchy subject.”

“Maestra was different, we didn't-”

“Didn't you?”

“We did, but it wasn't romantic. It was a very difficult time, she caught me when I was vulnerable.”

“ You know we're mentally linked, you don't have to use the stage lines on me.” Sora teased, rolling her eyes.

“ I had a spell backfire that gave me draconic scales for a couple weeks, apparently that was extremely... “Interesting” to her.” He gave an innocent shrug, but couldn't disguise his amused grin. “It's all in the past, but in fairness, I did love her.”

“I know you did, sweety.” Sora suddenly snapped her head back, eyes wide open and nostrils flared.

“What is it?” Kaostrife gave her a troubled eye, but before she responded he'd seen what drew her attention.

“I smell smoke.” In the distance large pillars of smoke announced the presence of a war party. “That much smoke, there must be thousands of them. What are they doing here?” Nova spoke in concerned whispers. “Oh no...”

“They're surrounding the portal entry.”

-4- Night Watch

The flames about the camp seemed to live against the night sky, lighting up the numerous posted banners depicting a severed torch, the insignia of the Broken Flame. They were within the Crystal Mountains, being directly between the Crystal Empire and Griffon territory, this land had seen much of the battle over the past few years.

After a decade long war, they had formed peace, but only under one law, that all magic was forbidden. Many groups such as this one solely hunted down the last remaining magic users in Equestria, trying to bring them to justice. There was a restless quiet, the soldiers were tense with the anticipation of the upcoming battle.

“You ready for the attack, kye?” Gedrick smirked, fiddling with his issued longbow.

“Cut the kye crap, and yeah I'm ready.” The two were standing in a makeshift watch tower. Every now and then Gedrick would eye the horizon, although it did little good, it was snowing lightly which made visibility poor. “I hate night watch, but it's likely this demon will hit us at night.” Gailic stared intently towards the west.

“Wouldn't he be coming from the north?”

“He'll probably see our flames on the way here and look for a different way to attack, we have the place surrounded so he'll look for the weakest point in our defense and try to just push through.”

“Ye think so eh?”

“It's what I would do, even so he's going to have a hell of a time getting through this, this has to be nearly a battalion of troops.” Gailic peered briefly back across the fortifications.

“Yep, I told you, and we got two commanders here.”

“Any idea why here? I can't see anything special about this area.”

“Well, the commanders have been keeping it quiet, but rumors say it's a ritual ground of some sort. Probably the sort that the demon needs to make some evil ritual.”

“ I wonder what it does.” Gailic scratched his bald head thoughtfully. “Probably summons more demons, or possibly empowers him somehow.”

“Prolly both, kye.” Gedrick fished at his bill with a talon, his bow leaning against the side of the tower.

“Just keep watching that horizon if we're lucky we'll see him coming.”

“Darn right we'd be lucky, ky-”

“Stop saying kye!” An explosion rocked the side of the watch tower, sending the two sprawling to the floor. Gedrick was the first to his claws, making his way quickly to the window that faced back across the camp. Alarm horns sounded off in all corners of the camp, it had begun.

“He's out there.” Gailic pointed south of the camp, cut out against the night sky against the sea of tundra they could see a flame wrapped silhouette overlooking their camp. “ Something's not right.” The seasoned warrior stared south of the camp at their attacker intently, a look of concern growing on his face. “ This demon has always used ambushes, guerrilla tactics. He would never take a fight in the open field unless...” He spun around, quickly slinging up his bow before beginning to descend the ladder out of the watch tower.

“What's going on, Gale?” Gedrick followed suit, quickly collecting his effects as he tailed his comrade.

“It's a damn trap, and they're headed straight into it.”

“So where are we going?” Gailic dropped down the last few feet of the ladder, looking back at the portal they were entrenched around.

“ To stop the actual attack.”

-5- We're Under Attack!

Marching side by side in perfect unison, the regiment of Broken Flame soldiers approached their attacker. Snow crushed underfoot and the metallic scraping of armor could be heard from miles as the military formation gradually encroached. They were heavy infantry, clad in dark green full plate and each carrying a spear and a tower shield. Their shields were painted with the icon of the Broken Flame and had unmistakable runes to protect them from magical attacks, these soldiers were armed for one role, snuffing out magic users.

Leading the group from the center of the front line, a tall obsidian feathered griffon was calling out battle commands with booming squawks. Instead of full plate, he was only garbed in the traditional black leather outfits that their high ranking hunters wore. His was laden with jewelry, ostentatious necklaces and pendants lined his attire to show his personal wealth. This was common among higher ranking griffon officers to show their personal and military success, typically the larger and more lavish their display was the higher rank they were within the organization.

As they approached charging distance, looks of uncertainty were shared through the ranks. Kaostrife, their sizable unicorn target, simply loomed back at them. The stallion was seemingly unfazed by the massive force heading towards him.

“Shield bearers, forward rank.” The griffon commander instructed, looking back across his troops briefly. Their heavy armor left ranks, reforming to a long row of shields to protect the front of their formation.

“Forward, march.” He called, watching his opponent in the distance. He had still refused to budge, awaiting his fate as they trudged towards him. The forward shield rank moved closer step by step, their near synchronized footsteps filling the silence of the night. Then abruptly, they all stopped, their shields having bumped into something they couldn't see. All at once, the runes on the griffon soldier's shields activated, glowing brightly as they pulsed a wave of dispelling magic. Briefly the frame of a large magic wall could be seen with rapidly spreading cracks before it shattered into nothing. When the wall dispersed, there was nothing but empty tundra before them, the stallion was nowhere to be seen.

“A child's illusion!?” The commander’s cheek twitched with rage as he quickly looked back towards the base. They had been fooled, and most of their fortifications were now unmanned. “ Fall back to the barricades, slaughter that heretic!”

Elemental energies wreathed about Kaostrife and his horn, surging chaotically as the unicorn molded it to his whim, he galloped through the encampment lobbing flames into tents as he passed.

“Keep moving my love, don't let them circle about you.” Nova's voice came from beneath his robes, a spot she frequently hid in during combat.

“Doing... My best.” Drawing forth fiery energies from the well he'd created about him, his horn waving about like a musical conductor rather than writing spells. His eyes drifted shut, the brief isolation from the physical world allowing him to focus purely on the magic about him. He was always just the vessel, finding moments of control and not allowing the magic to consume him was an art he was forever a novice of.

“Q-queen Celestia?” Vivid imagery of the former princess flashed through his mind as he drifted away from consciousness. The former princess had taken the role of queen and was one of the most prominent trainers in the Equestrian Army Unicorn Battalion. Despite initial reluctance, when the war began her unparalleled knowledge of magic forced her into the role of preparing them for combat. Throughout the training, he saw her pain, her reluctance to teach them to use their magic in such a way. He remembered her turning aside to wipe her cheeks with a hoof, no doubt clearing tears before the trainees could witness them. She knew it was necessary for them to learn to protect themselves and other ponies, that did little to ease the heartache of what was to come.

Drawing up enough power he molded a gargantuan molten sphere, with an exaggerated nod the unicorn hurled the incendiary creation towards a larger tent, one of the few still standing in the fortification. The flame orb screamed through the night sky, the small sun casting illumination throughout the camp. The spell approached the tent at menacing speed and abruptly dissipated, leaving only the fading sparkle of white dust behind.

The tent's fold opened, a near completely bald female griffon stepped out from within, fully clad in black leather. Burn scars were visible on what little skin was exposed on her face and neck, the hunter peered out at Kaostrife with softly radiating crimson eyes. Her hatred was so strong it could be felt in the air as her eyes narrowed at the stallion.

“Halt heretic, and prepare yourself for demise. You will not be so lucky this time.” She said softly, turning back briefly to close her tent. Kaostrife slid to a halt, kicking up the snow in front of him.