Chapter 4: Debts

Star made his through the thick forest that seemed to engulf him and completely shielded anything inside from the sun light beaming down. The wind blew causing the trees to sway back and fourth as if they was coming alive to dance in the wind. Countless dark green leaves detached themselves and flowed down from the large towering trees like rain, covering the path Star Lane was walking on. After sometime, he came up to a large sparkling river that seemed to flow endlessly into the far distance. Star trotted down to the river bed, knelt down, and took a long refreshing drink.

He wiped his mouth with his hoof and looked up at a lone rabbit that stared at him from the other side of the river. The two made eye contact that seemed like a life time. Neither of the two broke the long stare down until the rabbit eventually was the one to give up and sprinted away into a near by bush. Star looked down and noticed his reflection in the water that was clear as the day time sky.

"I've got to find a way to fix this."

He got up and trotted down the side of the river, following it until he reached the treeline of the heavily thick forest. He ventured out from the forest and trotted through a tall meadow. He only managed to get about half way through the meadow when he heard a growling sound. Star looked down at his stomach and heard that it growling at him in despair once again. Star remember that he actually hadn't ate anything since he had came to this world. He had to find some food soon or he wasn't going to make it much further.

He scouted around and noticed some bushes near by that appeared to have bright blue berries growing on them. He licked his lips in delight as berries was one of his favorites. He quickly trotted over and picked a berry and began to chew it up. The tasty juices gushed out of the fruit releasing a wave of sweetness over his taste buds. He swallowed the sweet berry and started to pick more off the bush. In the midst of his snack he noticed something near another set of bushes that had berries on them as well.

He got low keeping his eyes on the bushes up and slowly crept towards them. He got no more than five feet away from the bushes when he noticed a small white filly with a ice blue mane holding a basket in her mouth that contained a bunch of the berries Star Lane was eating. He loosened up when he slowly approached the filly, trying his best to not scare her.

"Excuse me, little filly?" he slowly poked his head around the bush. The little filly gave a loud Yelp, jumping in the air and landing right on her bottom. "My apologies, I didn't mean to scare you," the little filly frantically tried to pick up the berries she had spilled, trying to not make eye contact.

"Here let me help you with those," Star Lane knelt down and picked up some berries and placed them in the filly's basket. She had stopped for a moment to look at Star Lane with her ice blue eyes and scooted back against the bush. Star Lane gave a small smile and chuckled. "I promise I'm not going to hurt you," he noticed a near by white flower and trotted over and picked it out of the ground with his mouth and trotted back over to the distraught filly and gently placed it in her mane. "There, now you look even more like a princess," he gave her another warm welcoming smile. The filly reached up with her small hoof and gave the white delicate flower a gentle touch and a smile began to form on her face.

"There, it's always nice to see a little filly smile instead of having a scared frown," he said as he began to stand back up. "What is your name little one?" The filly hesitated for a few moments, but gave the flower another gentle touch and smiled at Star Lane warmly. "My name is Snow Cream," she said as she slowly got off her bottom and stood up. "Well, it is nice to meet you Snow Cream. My name is Star Lane," Star gave the young filly a bow which gave her such a thrill "Are you some sort of prince?" She asked with a tone of excitement. Star Lane chuckled and rubbed his mane with his hoof. "Well, not exactly. I'm not any sort of royalty, but I actually serve under two princesses," Snow Cream's eyes light up with pure excitement. "Oh wow! That is amazing!" Star Lane looked around, remembering that he really wasn't sure where he was going exactly.

"You wouldn't happen to know where the nearest town would be? I am sort of lost at the moment."

Snow Cream smiled and nodded her head. "My village isn't too far from here, I'd be happy to take you there," she walked over to her basket and picked the last couple of berries and placed them in her basket. She looked back at Star Lane and pointed to the dark purple armor that he was wearing. "What is that symbol on your chest?" Star Lane looked down, noticing she was referring to his armor. "This is a crescent moon. It is a symbol of one of the princesses I mentioned. Her name is Princess Luna." Snow Cream let out a awe of amazement. " Could you tell me some stories of these princesses?" She looked up at him with a smile. Star Lane returned the smile and rubbed the top of her mane. " I would be delighted to. Come on, let's head out," Snow Cream nodded and picked up her basket with her mouth. Star Lane lowered his head and place it underneath Snow Cream, lifting her up and putting her on Star Lane's back. The little filly giggled and the went on there way.

***

"Oh wow! So they are actually sisters?"

"Yes, they are and they both look after everypony and protect them through out the land of Equestria."

"Wow! I never would have thought that....." She stopped mid sentence and got really quiet. Star Lane looked back at her, wondering what kept her silent. "Snow Cream? Are you alright?" he asked, somewhat concerned. Snow Cream didn't say anything and pointed at smoke raising towards the sky. "That smoke...it's coming from my village.." She said in horror. Star lane looked up into the sky and seen a long trail of black smoke bellowing above. He narrowed his eyes and his ears perked up. " Snow Cream, hold on tight," he said in a serious low tone. Snow Cream was somewhat surprised from his tone, it wasn't the same welcoming, happy voice from before. She didn't say a word and tightly gripped around Star Lane's neck and he quickly sprinted towards the smoke, causing her basket full of berries to fall and be left behind.

***
"No! Please!" a neon green mare shrieked. A dark grey stallion with his white mane blowing back in the wind picked up the mare by her light purple mane and lifted her to were they both at eye level.

"Now now, what did I tell you last time when we came back next time and you didn't have our money?" he slung the mare to the ground and kicked her in the stomach. "I remember telling you clearly that your little shop was going to burn along with the rest of this shit hole," he then kicked her once again. "I also remember telling you that it wasn't going to be pleasant what I was going to do to you and everypony here if you all didn't come up with Storm Barrage's money," he stepped over the battered mare and raised his front right hoof that was completely metal with blue bright lines running throughout his hoof. A compartment opened up on one side of his hoof and three small rockets lifted out and was pointed directly at the on looking crowd of ponies. The rockets launched from the hoof and flew towards the crowd. The ponies frantically scattered as the rockets hit two buildings and struck the large bell hanging from the bell tower, causing the large bell to come crashing down.

"This is way too easy," he chuckled.

A young Pegasus peered around the corner of one of the homes with his mother, looking at the stallion destroying more homes. he gritted his teeth together as his wings expanded out. "Smoke Cloud no, he is too strong!" the mare yelled at him. He quickly dashed out towards the stallion flying towards him as fast as he could. The stallion turned around and saw a light grey stallion flying towards him. The stallion smirked and stood on his back hoofs and held back his front right hoof and swung his hoof connecting with the Pegasus's chest, dropping him to the floor. The stallion stood over him and stomped down on his wings crippling both of them. The young Pegasus shrieked out a ear piercing yell as tears began to roll down his face.

"Did you seriously think you had any chance against me?" he stomped on his wings again, grinding them into the dirt. "I'll give you credit kid, you really have a huge pair on you to think to try to take me on. I kind of respect the effort, but I can't respect such a foolish Pegasus to run straight into a fight, just to throw his life away," a long blade unsheathed from the side of his metal hoof and held the blade to young Pegasus's neck. "I want you all to see what happens when you try to stand up to me. You are just throwing you own life away just like this young fool here! Let him be an example before any of you ever attempt something like this again!" he yelled out, drawing the blade back ready to pierce the Pegasus's throat. The on looking crowd look horrified, some covering all of the young foals's eyes.

The young Pegasus gave out a faint cough. " Y-y-you won't get away with this forever. One day you are going to pay for what you have done to us," the stallion smirked and chuckled. "Oh really? Do you really think that anypony here is going to save you? That's a laugh! None of these scared fools wouldn't dare to even think about crossing me. Now you are going to learn what happens when you challenge me!" The stallion thrust the blade forward towards the Pegasus. He closed his eyes waiting for his inevitable fate, but seconds had passed and didn't feel anything. he slowly opened his eyes to see a navy blue stallion with a jet black mane, standing on his two back hooves holding back the blade with his armored front hoof.

"Snow Cream get to safety," he said, with a somewhat stern tone. She quickly unwrapped her front hooves around his neck and sprinted to the crowd of ponies. Star Lane locked eyes with dark grey stallion with the most meanest glare. The stallion chuckled, "Well kid, looks like you get to live one more day," Star Lane raised the blade even higher until Star Lane's hoof and the blade were both above their heads.

"No, he is going to live a long happy life, and not ever worry about evil ponies like you to come and hurt him, or anypony else."

The stallion smirked, "Heh, that's a big statement. I haven't seen you around here before. You must be lost stranger, this doesn't concern you."

Star Lane shoved the blade away, causing the stallion the stumble back. "It does, when innocent ponies are being hurt, it is my duty to protect them. If I didn't, I wouldn't be worthy to wear this crescent moon on my chest."

"Well, crest or no crest, you are going to die either way!" The stallion dashed forward, thrusting his blade towards Star Lane. He quickly kept stepping back and swaying side to side, avoiding the thrusts. "Hold still!" The stallion yelled out in annoyance. Star Lane's backed touched a stone wall and quickly ducked, causing the blade to be lodged into the brick. Star Lane threw his front right hoof into the stallion's chest, knocking the stallion backwards and landed on his back. He quickly got back and spit off to the side. "You know, I must admit that I am somewhat excited for a real fight. The ponies here have tasted my blade many times and not one has been able to put up as much of a fight as you have," he shot Star lane a sly smirk.

Star Lane's ears perked straight up from hearing those words of the stallion admitting to slaying innocent ponies. He narrowed his eyes at the pony and stood up on his hind hooves, setting himself in a combat stance. "You are pretty good at hoof to hoof combat, but lets see you fend off against something like this!" The stallion raised his metallic hoof and the bottom opened up, revealing the barrel of a gun. The gun began to eject rounds down range towards Star lane as he quickly got on all four hooves and quickly dart left with the sound of bullets hitting the ground close behind him, kicking up dirt. Star Lane quickly leaped and dived through a window of one of the homes, protecting himself from the rounds bouncing off of the stone wall.

"Oh, you are just going to hide now? it's a little too late for that? Come out and show yourself coward!" There was no response, just a quiet tension filled the air as the crowd of ponies looked on. "I said come out!" Again, there was no response. "If you don't show yourself, I'll kill the kid!" The stallion turned around and turned his gun towards the Pegasus still lying on the ground. "You got till the count of three!" The stallion yelled furiously.

"Three!"

"Two!" He walked over and shoved the barrel of the gun into the Pegasus's face.

"One!"

Suddenly, Star Lane leap off the roof of the building he dived into, down on top of the stallion. Star Lane landed on top of the stallion pinning him down into the ground and released a fury of punches into the stallions face. The metal hoof quickly released two small prongs with electricity flowing between the two. He quickly rammed the prongs into Star lane's armor, causing a massive jolt of electricity to flow through Star Lane's body.

"Agggghhh!" Star Lane yelled and was kicked off of the stallion. Star Lane tried to get up, but his muscles were weak from the high jolt of electricity. The other stallion got up, spitting a large wade of blood from his mouth. "Ya know, you are really starting to piss me off now. At first it was fun, but now you really are going to die," he slowly trotted over and kicked Star Lane in the face. "It's not really a fair fight now is it with this armor now is it? Why don't we get rid of it," he removed the armor plate covering Star Lane's torso. "There, much better," the stallion delivered a swift brutal kick to Star Lane's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "You like that? It's only a small taste of what I am going to do to you," He unsheathed his blade and slashed Star Lane's back over and over again.

Star Lane released a grunt every time he felt the blade run across his back. The blood from the wounds began to run down his back and started to turn parts of his navy blue coat a dark red. The stallion smirked and yet again, delivered another hard swift kick to Star Lane's chest. The crowd looked on in shock and horrified at the beating Star Lane was getting. Snow Cream began to tear up as she watched Star Lane being kicked and beaten over and over again.

"Oh no, you don't even get to die right here on my now. I am just getting started with you!" He pulled his hoof back in a clear display of him about to thrust his blade into Star Lane. Suddenly, a large brown muscular stallion sprinted towards the stallion, throwing his entire weight into him. The stallion went flying into the opposite direction and slammed into the dirt. The dark brown quickly tried to help Star Lane up.

"I've got you," Star Lane was still some what weak from the beating he had just endured, but me managed to get up on all four hooves. "Are you ok?" Star Lane looked up at the large brown stallion with a light green mane that had a concerned look. Star Lane nodded then quickly realized the stallion was charging straight at the brown stallion. "Watch out!" Star Lane shoved the brown stallion out of the way and felt every inch of the blade pierce through his shoulder, coming out of his back. Star Lane let out a yell as a burning sensation tore through his shoulder and back. The base of the stallions hoof touched Star Lane's shoulder and the blade was lodged deep in the stone brick. The two were face to face looking into each other's eyes. Star Lane could see the crimson red in his eyes that burned with the intensity of the sun.

"You idiot, you could have just let me skew that big dumb idiot, but you just had to be the hero. Now you are pinned up against the wall with no where to go," Star Lane grunted and gritted his teeth. "I am not going to let anypony get hurt as long as I'm around!" He yelled out, then proceeded to head butt the stallion multiple times until blood began to run down Star Lane's forehead. Head butt after head butt the stallion became weaker and weaker until Star Lane delivered one final blow, knocking out the stallion and falling backwards causing Star Lane to be pulled on top of him.

The brown stallion rushed and managed to break off the blade from the hoof and pulled Star Lane off top of him. He noticed that Star Lane began to pant heavily and drift in and out on conciseness. The brown stallion carefully worked Star Lane onto his back, walking by the knocked out stallion, but not before delivering a swift kick to his head with his back leg.

"Quick, somepony get nurse Love Heart!" He yelled out. Two ponies rushed over to help. "You two help Smoke Cloud, I'll help this one," they both nodded and went over to assisted the Pegasus laying on the ground. The brown stallion quickly made his way to a house that was destroyed in the chaos and gentle set Star Lane on a long wooden table. The crowd poured into the room observing Star Lane bleeding on the table. Ponies stood in the door way, but was quickly pushed aside by a smaller baby blue unicorn mare with a long cotton candy pink mane. "Let me through! Excuse me, I need through!" She yelled out. She made her way to the front and began to frantically examined his wounds.

"Cross Bound!" The brown stallion that helped Star Lane to the table perked up his ears. I need some thread, a needle, some alcohol, cotton swabs, gauzes and bandages right away!" The stallion nodded and made his way out the door to get the supplies. Snow Cream made her way to the front, going in between other ponies legs to get a look at the scene. She gasped in horror as she saw Star Lane laying on the table with blood dripping off the end of the table, landing in a puddle of blood.

"Star Lane...."

Author's Note

I am so very sorry it has been so long since I released a chapter. I have been moving into a new house and it has been absolute hell getting things packed up and moved. We are finally settled into our new so I will be able to release new chapters a lot more often now. Once again I am very sorry and I hope you enjoy.

If you see any errors please let me know and I'll fix them right away. c: