Guardian of Harmony - The Unsettled Task

The smell of fire, burning buildings and burned flesh filled the air. Confused and without knowing what was going on Ember found himself in Ponyville. Ponies were running in all directions, yelling to flee. Small fillies that have been separated from their parents were crying in fear, way too afraid to leave their current position. Then Ember finally saw a pony he knew: Fluttershy that was leading a small pack of the poor fillies, she has been able to gather around. Soon other ponies he was calling friends appeared. All of them injured, blood soaked many parts of their fur, their manes shown signs of burns: even Applejack’s hat was full of holes and its natural color was gone for good.

Ember called after them, but no sound went out of him which is why he ran towards them. What was going on? Rainbow Dash turned around and yelled something to her companions, but before they could do something a dark silhouette jumped out of the fire directly in front of them. Right away the guardian recognized who it was. He started to run as fast as possible, but it seemed like he was not moving at all: the creature that was dwelling in him stood in front of his friends roaring a battle cry. The injured ponies were too slow to avoid its attacks. With one might hit of his arm the fiend hit Fluttershy and Rarity, breaking their necks and throwing them away like they would weight nothing. It started to stomp the small fillies, which were watching the bloody corpses of the two mares with their big eyes.

Ember could not stand that sight. He was running and running but he remained at his place. The other mares tried to do something, but the fillies were already dead and became small bloody remains, leaving no trace of their former form. His double laughed like an insane sadistic creature and grabbed Pinkie Pie at her tail, using her as a living weapon against the others. It did not even bother if he hit the ponies or not, after few swings the always happy Pinkie was only dead meat in the claws of a ruthless beast. Rainbow Dash was furious and started to attack him without any sense and logic, while tears were running down her cheek. The lifeless remains of Pinkie have been thrown away, landing not far from Ember with a disgusting splash on the ground.

He fought against his belly that was rebelling since he saw the red eyed fiend. The blue Pegasus Pony attacked again, but that creature was faster than her and with both hands he grabbed her wings. His double laughed again and ripped one wing out, the other followed right away. Rainbow Dash was crying out of pain but she has been silenced after he has grabbed her head with his claws: he started to end her life with a mighty pressure. The sound of her breaking skull went through the air, while her blood was flowing through his fully closed hands. AJ charged at him while Twilight seemed to have a mental breakdown. With one kick Applejack came back at her side, still alive but unable to move: the ground started to become red of her blood.

With his sadistic laughter the double move towards the remaining ponies, taking his time while enjoying the spectacle in their eyes and body language. After he reached them, he looked at the ponies like a child that have found something interesting on the ground. Applejack tried to move away, Twilight got up and tried to run, but an energy field immobilized her: with his finger the creature made her fly back to him a bit above his head. That intention was clearly: she had to see what was about to happen. His already bloody, dragon like feet has been put on AJ’s head; he did not even bother to look at the pony below him. His attention belonged to the lavender pony that was trying to close her eyes but he did not allow it with his sick magic.

Then he started to crush her head, the way the dying pony was yelling in agony, mixed up with the sound of the breaking bone made Twilight puke what in the end amused the dark creature. Finally the torture ended and the head crushed under his feet, some limbs were still moving a bit.

Ember could feel that tears of anger ran down his cheek. He cursed himself because he did nothing to stop him from killing them, while he was so close and yet so far. The other Ember suddenly turned around to him. Their eyes crossed each other, oh how he wished that he could kill him with his eyes! Once more the dark creature laughed and said:

• I told you that something like Friendship does not exist. If such thing would exist why did you not stop me then?

The double lifted his arms, his hands closed like they would hold something and then he started to slowly move his arms away from each other. Twilight suddenly yelled, an unseen energy started to shred her skin till her body has been ripped in two parts, which felt down on the ground to join up with her dead friends.

• Oh my poor guardian… you were not able to protect your friends from their gruesome fate. But don’t worry! They were not the first and not the last individuals that you have failed my dear friend.

Darkness started to shroud the world around him. The only noticeable thing was the blaze of his fiery eyes and the deep red eyes of the abomination, which were now in front of him. A metallic sound went through the air, something hit his leg and with an incredible pain in his heart Ember noticed, that it was the crown that belonged to Luna.

• You have failed them all Guardian of Harmony.

They eyes disappeared and Ember could hear the dying ponies in his head. Before he completely vanished in the growing darkness he heard Luna’s weak voice:

• We all trusted you… I trusted you.

Ember woke up with a damped gasp, his eyes open widely while his chest was going up and down in a very unnatural way.

• It was only a dream… - He thought and let out a long sigh. Still a bit confused he looked around and remembered where he was now. The guardian was sitting on the ground of a rather small room, which was filled with toys and any other kind of stuff that belonged to Sugar Heart. Her parents had to leave Ponyville for a week, because they would participate in some kind of contest; sadly they received only two tickets to a place that was far away, and they could not afford buying an extra one for their child. One day while he was enjoying the wonderful carrot soup the parents asked him if he would be willing to take care of Sugar Heart. With great joy he accepted but right away he warned them that he could not cook, Cheery Beery and her husband Butterscotch chuckled at that statement and left enough food for two weeks. Since then he was watching over the small filly that was already allowed to run like every healthy child should do.

• I still can’t believe that a half year has passed since I left the Underground. – Thought Ember and looked down on his knees, where he found the sleeping Sugar Heart. He was reading her one of the stories she has personally prepared before her parents left Ponyville. It seemed that both of them fell asleep in the same time. Ember chuckled silently and with the help of his magic he moved the sleeping filly to her bed. Gently he placed Sugar Heart in it covered her with a quilt and as usual he placed her old teddy bear next to her:

• That teddy belonged to my mommy while she was a filly you know. - He recalled this small memory and tryed not to chuckle.

Once he was sure that everything was okay, he decided to leave the room as quiet as his body allowed it. Sadly the wooden floor that was never working together with him woke the sleeping filly.

• Ember?

• I am here little one. – He came back to the bed with a long sigh he performed in his mind. He sat down on the ground: eye contact with a child was apparently very important. – Everything is okay you can go back to sleep.

• I miss my parents Ember.

• That is normal Sugar Heart. We all miss the ponies we love if they are gone for a longer time.

• Do you miss somepony?

• I miss many things… - Thought Ember and then he answered: - No I do not miss anypony.

• Why?

• Because I have friends like you little one. – He patted her gently. – You parents will come back in no time I am sure of it.

While he was saying that he levitated her teddy bear into her hooves, she smiled hugged her toy and closed her eyes. He got up and was about to turn around but then he felt that she touched his leg:

• Could you please stay here with me?

• Of course. – He sat down on the ground next to her bed. – You better find some sleep now; you have to go to the school tomorrow.

• Okay. – She laughed happily after he tickled her nose. - Good night big brother.

Like somebody has casted a spell on him, that would turn him into stone, he remained motionless after he heard her calling him big brother. The shock faded right away after his heart started to beat again, and with a wonderful feeling in his chest he closed his eyes what made her room darker:

• Good night little sister.

While Sugar Heart was already in the land of dreams Ember was thinking of the nightmare that was haunting him. Automatically he touched his heart, where one of the crystals went through the skin. A slight purple shine appeared at the touched place.

Besides the events that occurred a half year ago, nothing unusual happened. After the miasma has taken control of his body, it caused only destruction through the city of Ponyville: gladly it did not kill anybo... anypony. Right away he helped the ponies in the rebuilding of their homes, and in no time the citizens of Ponyville started their normal lives again. Thanks to Princes Celestia and her younger sister Princess Luna the ponies did not blame him for his destructive wake; it even seemed that they have finally accepted him for what he was.

On the behalf of the rulers of Equestria the ponies intended to build a house for him, but he refused that kind offer with a simple explanation:

• I am not ready for a life like that. Besides that I do want to fall asleep under the open sky.

Ember knew that he was not responsible for the deeds of the monster, that was dwelling in him but in the beginning he could not forgive himself for it. The sight of the injured Princesses, their blood on his claws, the destroyed buildings…

He turned around and looked at Sugar Heart that was smiling while she was sleeping. If it would not be for the ponies he would probably never leave the guilt behind him. Even if he still has his problems with fitting into this world, their support and friendship helped him to cure old wounds.  Besides that he has found some purpose in this foreign world, and nearly always he helped those who needed help: regardless if it was simple like to help an old mare to get her groceries or to heal things medicine could not handle.

He was a Guardian. A Guardian with purpose and a place he could call home. A Guardian that was no longer alone. A Guardian that would give his life for everything he has received, without a second thought.

I am your guardian the protector of your heart, the hand holding your face as the tears start. I am your guardian the protector of your soul, the hug you feel every night as your dreams take flight. I am your guardian the friend you hold dear, the warm feeling inside you when I am near.

• Hmmm that should work…

Ember continued to create other shorter poems, but eventually he followed Sugar Heart into the land of dreams.