The Stallion Without A Mark

The stallion without a mark

Many wonder what happens after they die, while heroes wonder if death will ever show itself to them. The first day of classes for the newly recruited offense guards started tomorrow. I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling.

My body ached from the tensions that occurred today. Things didn’t go so well in my sleep. The vision of blood staining my mane and coat haunted my thoughts as waited for a sleepy feeling. Things seemed out of reach more than ever. I had successfully defended Equestria by defeated a dragon today and still didn’t get my cutie mark. Could it be that I have no talent? No, that’s impossible. Every pony in Equestria receives it sooner or later. Could this have something to do with that zebra from years ago?

She was the first pony I met when I escaped. What did she mean with those rhymes of hers? She seemed to know a lot about me. I remember one of her riddles. “You will never find your mark until you die. And your mother, she will cry!” Then things started coming into the light. I had a mother now! How could this be? She knew I would be adopted my some pony and I was. But how did she know? Was she psychic? Or was this all coincidental?

I tossed and turned in bed struggling to put the pieces together with very little success. The next mourning, I awoke with the sun shining on me. It landed right on my closed eyes. Pealing them open, I still felt tired but I shook off this feeling as I walked down the hall towards the palace entrance. Mother stopped me from behind. She had just exited from the throne room. I’m guessing she was lifting the sun.

“Leaving to royal guard classes without saying goodbye?” she teased knowing I would get embarrassed by this question. I turned my head and said goodbye rather quickly. I then tried to walk off but she wanted a better fare well. I felt her grab my white tail with magic and slowly pull me over to her. “Mother, your embarrassing me!” I said.

she pulled me close to her for a hug. “Oh, come on.” She said holding me tightly. “You can do better than a simple goodbye.” Call me a mama’s colt if you want but it sure felt nice for her to love me so much. I took off towards the training grounds located outside of the city. The day was going great and I learned a lot about how to defend myself and when to attack.

The ex- captain, whose name I learned was Chief was there as an instructor. He hovered over almost every pony, telling them their form was incorrect or they were off balanced. He only told me to be corrigible though. The day was coming to an end when Aunt Luna arrived. She glided down and landed in front of Chief.

“Sir, we request that thou and five of thy men venture to Everfree Forest!” she said in the booming voice. “The stone of gallop was found in a cave earlier yesterday while the dragon was attacking!”

The Chief stared at her with wide eyes. He accepted this final mission before he retired. There was something about him and that stone.

She saw me and said in the still booming voice “Take Titan, our nephew with thee for support. We think he will be a good addition to thy team.”

As she finished, every pony around me giggled at her actually calling me her nephew. After she flew off, I turned to the team. “All right, knock it off.” I commanded. “Line up so we can decide who will be coming.”

They all lined up while Chief and I inspected and judged them. We chose the ones that didn’t have injuries and looked like they were eager to join in for this mission. Me, Chief and five offensive guards geared up with weapons and supplies and headed out towards the Everfree Forest.

“So” I said to the Chief. “This will be your last mission?”

“Yep.” He replied. “I’ve always had it out for that stone. It’s the one thing that I’ve been searching for all the while I’ve been in the forces. Legend has it that Discord himself wore it as a necklace. There’s nothing about it containing special powers like the elements of harmony but they say it was made with some crystal like substance that can’t be found anywhere in Equestria, so it is worth at least ten fortunes!”

I hadn’t any care for the stone. All I cared for was being able to return to the Everfree forest and possibly confronting that zebra, Zecora. We traveled on hoof for miles before finally reaching the outskirts of the forest. Dark fog wafted from the trees as though the forest was haunted.

“All right men.” I yelled to provide morale for the troops. “This is it. We’re going to get in, find the stone and get out.”

We entered slowly. The mud stuck to our hooves like glue. Sounds of who knows what surrounded all seven of us. Every step I took felt like I was about to walk into a trap. Every pony stayed in close proximity of each other. Chief yelled to the troops “Remember, stay together. No wondering off. You’re in the jungle. It’s no time for fun and games. You need to be like an animal or bleed out!”

we finally reached the old hut I had visited when I was younger.

“I need to go visit an old friend. You don’t mind, do you?” I asked the captain and he wanted to check it out to. Before entering, he told his troops to remain outside.

The inside of the hut had lots more potions and brews on the shelves now. Zecora had her face turned away from us but oddly enough, she knew it was me.

“Hello again Titan, long time no see. It’s been too long, wouldn’t you agree?” She said as she turned to face me.

“How do you know my name?” I asked her a little taken back.

“Oh, that does not matter. Let me tell you something, your life is about to get much sadder.”

I became so irritated that I just wanted to leave but I needed answers that I believed she could give me. “How do you know so much about me?” I asked.

She drew a sigh and prepared to explain. “In the forest, a cherry grows. I had eaten it, and visions arose. That fruit contains a weird spell. To understand why would put you in a nutshell. I ate it, and then I saw you, I could not understand how I knew. I saw your future, it was very dark, for Discords bite is words than his bark!”

Once I heard my father’s name, my body tensed up so quickly even Chief noticed it. “Hey, kiddo, you alright?” He asked me with concern. I told him I was fine. I looked at her and said “Let me get this straight. You ate a cherry and saw my future?” she shook her head and said something else. “Also, I see your troops, and it would appear that they just made a whoops!”

Chief ran out and saw the entire squad had wondered off. Moments later, when I came out to see what was wrong, we heard the echoing of our team screaming in the distance. “Let’s go!” Chief yelled and I followed suit. The cries died down but something else was wrong. I felt the grown beneath my hooves shake and rumble. We jumped over logs and ducked under tree branches to reach our crew but it was too late. We reached the location where the screams were. I looked around at the horrible sight.

It was a three hundred and sixty degree clearing. It was the same as when I was here all those years ago. The only difference was that there was blood splattered everywhere. The rock troll stood there, blood leaking from its putrid lips. Blood dripped from the trees, stained the grass and could be seen everywhere! Chief lost his lunch as he realized all his stallions were gone and dead.

Then he returned to his fearless self and charged at the beast! He pulled out the lance he had and tried to attack but the monster slapped him clear across the platform and into a tree. “Chief!” I yelled but it was no good. He was knocked out cold. As the monster came closer to me, I saw the eye that I had stabbed all those years ago. If I timed it right, I could blind him by stabbing the other eye. He came at me with his hand raised up to crush me and, just like old times, I dodged it.

Pulling out my lance and Running up his hand and arm, I told myself “This time, you’re not getting away!” I jumped at his good eye, lance in mouth and stabbed it. I held on as blood coated my mane. I yanked and pulled the lance free. Landing on the bloodied ground, I saw him holding his eye unable to see. I waited for him to remove his hand so I had a clear shot. I threw my lance as soon as he let go of his face and it went clear through!

Blood poured to the soil of the ground as I stood there. He collapsed and landed in the pool of his own blood. I ran over to Chief and asked if he was alright.

“Chief… Chief, wake up!” Putting my ear to his chest, I heard no heartbeat. Silence entered my being as I sat there holding Chief in my arms. Fate had met him just before retirement. I began to feel the tears of battle slip through my eyes and slide past the blood drops on my cheeks. He never even got to see the stone of gallop. As though I forgot where I was, I screamed at the top of my lungs. Pain could be felt on my chest even though I wasn’t injured. It felt like I couldn’t move but I had to… I had a mission to finish. Chief and the squad didn’t die for me to return empty handed. I picked up Chief and threw his corpse on my back while saying “Come on, buddy. you’ve got a funeral to catch.”

I spotted the cave where a shimmering light could plainly be spotted. Entering, I felt tense. I got closer and closer to the stone. As I stumbled on some rocks, It began to shine clearly now. It was a blue spherical orb that sat on a small pedestal. I put it in my bag and began to head out.

I galloped away from the cave. I didn’t stop galloping until I reached the Canterlot gates. As soon as I returned, ponies stared at me with Chief on my back. I didn’t care.

I guess you could say, I was nuts at that point. Word arrived to princess Celestia that I had returned from my mission and that I was walking through town bloodied and crying with a dead warrior on my back. She flew to my location, which just so happened to be central stallion road. As she landed, her horn lit up and we were teleported to the throne room.

I lay Chief down and turned to mother trembling. My mane was ruined with blood. My coat was barely visible due to all the blood splattered on it and what was worse is the fact that I just couldn’t stop crying. I reached into my bag and gave her the stone. Aunt Luna walked up to me and asked what happened.

I began to explain the horrific incident in detail. Afterword’s, I left. Drops of blood followed my trail Is I headed to my room. For the second time in a week, I vomited. After my shower, I went straight to bed. Once again, nightmares were the only thing that ran through my sleep.

The next day, I attended Chief’s funeral. His family showed up as they thanked me for at least returning him home. I had never cried so much in my life. After that, I attended the funeral for the five soldiers that were murdered by the rock troll. The day seemed like the saddest day of my life. Tears had been running down my cold, sad face the entire day. The next morning was even worse as I visited Chief’s grave. Imbedded on it was a quote he once said years ago. “Stay strong through the fires and never give in.”

as I stood there in the grave yard, mother came up to me. “You performed commendably. I believe… No pony could have pulled off the stunts you have. I’m… I’m so proud of you.” I turned around and asked her “What happened when you die?” She just stood there, almost as if she didn’t hear it. Then she finally said “You are the son of Discord. Your body was made to last forever so long as no serious injuries that could kill you were inflicted. You’re like me. We don’t die, so I don’t know what happens to the soul when it leaved the hosts body… I think it would be best… If you took leave for a while. Perhaps a weak or two… Twilight misses you. She says so in her letters. I’m sure you want to go there to visit her and relax for a while.”

I accepted the offer. I needed to clear my mind of all the negative feelings and thoughts that ran in circles within my head. The next morning, I got on the train headed to Ponyville. The princess arranged for my own personal car so I could be left alone in peace for the trip. As I arrived, I began to feel like the place was familiar. When I exited the dock, I felt like I had stepped into the past. The town was the one I was in when I left for Canterlot years ago!

As I stumbled through the town looking for the library, memories surfaced of me meeting the five fillies that were in the general facility. I couldn’t remember their names that well but they might still be here. I found the library and knocked on the door. As Twilight answered, I felt like walking away, mainly because she would know something was up.

“Hello? Oh titan!” she said as she came up for a hug but I couldn’t hide my frown. she brought me in and asked what was wrong. “I received word from Princess Celestia that you were coming. I thought you would be happy to see me… Did something happen?” I just stared at the floor. I couldn’t help but start shedding tears as I remembered what occurred in the Everfree Forest. She used a memory spell to see what I was remembering and gasped at the gory memory. “Oh… Oh dear Celestia! What happened?” I explained things to her and she started thinking about who would be able to cheer me up from my horrendous experiences. “Ah! I got it! Pinkie Pie can help.” I snapped out of the memory of Chief and into the one from years ago.

“Pinkie pie?” I asked “The one with the straight, pink hair?” Twilight laughed and said it was anything but straight. I heard something that sounded funny. "Who!" I turned to see an owl. He sat on a perch looking at me. "Who... Me?" I asked the owl. Twilight introduced him as Owlowiscious. I giggled as she told me she had just met him three days ago. We exited the library and headed to Pinkie’s bakery. Twilight had whipped the tear lines off my eyes and told me not to cry at all while In Ponyville, mainly because that wasn’t what I was here for. We entered the bakery and Mr. and Ms. Cake greeted us. “We’re here to see Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said. We were led to the kitchen where I saw this pink, cotton candy like manned mare baking muffins. She turned, saw me and gave one big GASP and tackled me for a bear hug!

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! It’s you! I missed you good old nameless one!” she was literally squeezing the life out of me. Twilight finally pulled her off and asked what the big idea was. Pinkie looked at me and said “He helped me a long time ago! When I was all sad and depressed, he told me about laughter! And then I got the idea about the party that I threw for my parents and then I got my cutie mark!”

I got up and admitted this but I didn’t know I had helped her that much. While Pinkie blabbed her head off, Twilight offered me a party. “Oh, no. Please, I don’t like parties.” I said nervously. Pinkie, however insisted, so later on today, I was supposed to have a party. Pinkie asked Twilight and I to pass out the invitations. We left the bakery with Pinkie still smiling and waving goodbye. Twilight and I walked around for a bit until coming to the carousel boutique. Outside, she asked if I knew a mare by the name of Rarity.

Of course I did and she told me to wait here for a moment. A little while later, the most ravishing and familiar looking pony exited the boutique. Twilight walked out with her and asked if she remembered me. “Oh, no name, It is you! My word, you haven’t changed a bit! A lot more scars here and there but you look the same as you ever looked.” I smiled and told her to call me Titan. “It’s been a long time." I said. "I’ve been waiting to say this forever. Thank you so much for the gem you gave me. I was able to buy tickets to go to Canterlot with the bits I got from trading it in.”

“Well how much did you get for it?” She asked questionably.

“I got five thousand bits!”

“Oh… that’s all?" She asked. "I think you could have gotten a lot more!”

we all laughed and enjoyed talking about past memories. We gave Rarity her invitation and after a while, me and Twilight left. We were walking through a garden when a cyan Pegasus flew down and startled me. “You!” she yelled as she landed. “I remember you. You’re no name! The cheap guy who doesn’t know anything about loyalty. Id recognizes that face anywhere!” Twilight quickly stopped the rainbow manned mare and told her I was the son of Princess Celestia. After realizing what she had just done, she starred at me. “Wait… So the guy who slayed the dragon and recovered the long sought stone of gallop was you?!”

I quickly became uneasy as I remembered the memories of that day. She just kept going on about how she heard of me and my accomplishments. I shook off the feeling of regret and asked if we could continue. We gave Rainbow Dash her invitation and said good bye to her, which she was still reveling in the fact that she met some pony like me.

We headed to this farm next. Memories of the orange pony flashed into my mind. As twilight knocked on the door, I remembered how mean I must have been to her. She answered and saw my face. We both just stared at each other for a moment before she came outside to properly greet me. “Well, this is a sight for sore eyes. Never thought I’d meet you again.” She said.

I apologized and introduced myself. “My name is titan.”

She smiled and said “You finally got yourself a name huh... But No cutie mark I see. That must mean you’re the son of Princess Celestia right?"

I shook my head and gave her the invitation. She guaranteed me she would be there. “You know” she said. “You taught me an important lesson that day, about honesty. I just wanted to thank you for that.”

We talked a bit but then I had to leave. We still had one invitation to distribute. We came up to this cottage at the edge of town where Fluttershy lived. I remembered her well. I mean, how could I forget the kindness she gave me? I walked up to her with Twilight following close behind.

When she saw me, she looked like she was going to pounce on me the way Pinkie did. “No name! It’s you.” She said tenderly. I smiled as she walked up to me. I decided to thank to her for helping me when I was depressed. “Your welcome.” She said. “We all become unhappy from time to time.” I began to feel a lot better about being here. I gave Fluttershy the invitation and she told me she would definitely be there.

As we returned to Pinkies, we could hear music coming from the door. She popped her pink head out telling us she was almost done. The others started coming from all different directions.

We had all been talking for about five minutes when Pinkie opened the door and said she was ready. As we entered the party room, everything was chock full of party favors. Balloons filled the ceiling and deserts could be found at any table. Music was playing, and every pony started partying when we got in. Rarity and Twilight was at the punch boil sipping on some drinks. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were dancing to the music and Fluttershy was talking to Pinkie Pie about something. I was eating some cupcakes, while nonchalantly eavesdropping on their conversations.

“You mean to tell me he met you shortly after you got your cutie mark?” Pinkie Pie asked. Then she started going around the room asking every pony how they knew me and she got relatively the same answer. Every pony had met me shortly after or before they got their cutie mark. They all crowded around me and Pinkie Pie said “you and all of us had been friends with each other for years without even knowing it! Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

I giggled and said “because it just goes to show that friends are connected no matter how far apart they are.”

As the party ended, I went to my room now able to have a much clearer head than I did yesterday. The moon was up and I stared at it on the balcony of Twilight’s tree house library. The shine it sent to me reminded me of when I met those fillies all those years ago. All seven of us were connected in some way. At the time, things seemed so much better. But then, I always felt better when I was with friends. I went to bed thinking about how I was going to try and keep a positive attitude about life, no matter what tragedy may befall my life in future events.