The Stallion Without A Mark

by Art Inspired

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Zecora, Sad, Main 6, Princess Luna, Original Character, Tragedy, Gore, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 18486

a pony with no name and no cutie mark runs away from home in serch of his destiny.

The tales of heroes resemble running water. It passes by either being noticed or ignored. I was born without parents. The stallion who adopted me never gave me a name and never let me call him my father. I was basically a slave for the farmer. One day, I escaped. I ran as far as my hooves might take me. This is my story. This is who I am and this is the search I endured to achieve the one thing I never had; The mark that describes every ponies destiny and main talent. Who am I...? Just call me no name.

*Written before I actually knew what I was fully doing.

Published 2012-07-14 11:24:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-08-31 02:03:21 UTC

No name... No mark

The stallion without a mark

The tales of heroes is like the running water. It passes by either being noticed or ignored. Destiny and fate can be the same or they can be opposites. The tale you are about to embark on is about who I am and what I am. I was born in front of a farmer’s door step. He said I just appeared there as a baby. I had no mother, nor did I have a father. The farmer who took me in instructed me to never call him my father. His name was Jack. He never gave me a name and always worked me to the bone. He was kind enough, however, to do me a favor. When I was just a young colt, I had seen my reflection in the mirror. This made my head throb with pain and I didn't know why. once he found out that mirrors could harm me, he got rid of them all.

Day in and day out, I did all the farming while he stood there and watched. I hated him and I hated the life fate had given me, so I ran away. In my room, if you could call it a room, I packed some water and food in my bag. I didn’t know what kind of life I would live, but anything could be better than this. I ran with great enthusiasm for myself. For eighteen years I had worked for him with no more that a thank you and now I was free! Running up to a pond to get a drink, I repeated over and over that I was free from slavery! I looked at myself in the water. I had a brown coat, and a pure white mane. My eyes were dark yellow and unforgiving. Even though I should feel happy, I felt mad at myself. I’m not like other ponies. I had never found my destiny. My cutie mark had never revealed itself yet. I was what you might call a blank flank.

The more I looked at myself, the worse my headache grew, until I couldn’t take it anymore and stomped my hooves in the water. Rubbing my eyes to get myself together, I looked up to see a forest. A warning sign was posted In front.

it read “The Everfree Forest is one that should not be investigated. You have been warned.”

Ignoring the sign, I ventured into this forest with little regard for my wellbeing. Smoke like fog lofted on the ground and sounds of Timberwolves howled in the distance. Through the trees, I saw a hut with masks on the outside walls. Entering, I found a zebra about my age mixing brews together in a cauldron. I hesitated before introducing myself.

“Hello. I’m searching for… I guess my destiny.”

She stopped and stared. “Hello, my name is Zecora, and welcome to my land. Sorry for the mess, I'm sure you can understand."

She walked up to me, and looked me up and down. Walking in circles, she said “what a unique pony I see. No cutie mark? Now how could this be?”

I lowered my head in dissatisfaction while she continued.

“Prophecies I have had. Some, to me are very bad. Your fate intertwined with destiny. Pressure will bring out the best in thee. You will never find your mark until you die. And your mother, she will cry!”

I giggled at the last statement. “I don’t have a mother” I began to speak, but I was interrupted by her.

“Nor a father, I know. The visions in my head, I wish I could show. Before you leave, I have a gift, in case any danger may shift. Many future events I have seen. This weapon will help but the fight will not be clean.”

She walked up to the corner farthest from me and grabbed a wooden lance that was sharpened to both tips. She walked up to me with it in her mouth and gave me it. I left with the weapon, and headed to the left. Not ten minutes later, I found myself in a clearing. The trees disappeared in a three hundred and sixty degree circle around me. It was big enough to fit at least twenty ponies in it. In front of me was a giant mound of rubble.

I stared at it wondering how the circle was made and why there were so many rocks in front of it. Suddenly, I felt the ground shake around me. The rubble of rocks moved and lifted itself from the ground. It was a giant Rock Troll that had been using the clearing of trees as a hunting ground! It stared at me with giant, blood red eyes. Looking around, I considered my chances of escape, but this was very unlikely. He was probably able to run much faster than me, so this was a do or die conflict!

His left rocky hand lifted into the sky and came hurdling down to where I was standing. I dodged it in the nick of time. With the lance still in my mouth, I ran up and onto his hand. I felt him raise it as he noticed what I was doing. I ran up to his shoulder, took one end If the lance and jabbed it into him… Dumb idea considering he was made of hard rocks. The lance got stuck and I had to yank it out but It wouldn’t budge, so I broke that end off with my hoof. Swatting me off his deformed body, I landed hard on the grassy dirt with the lance still in my mouth. What was I going to do? Was I to run? Was I to die? He looked at me once again, and then i realized what I had to do! His eyes were probably the weakest point of his body.

He raised his other hand to try the same thing. You’d probably think he would’ve learned by now that this attack wasn’t going to work any time soon. I dodged it again and ran up to his shoulder. I only had one shot, so I had to make this count. I took the still sharp side of my lance and thrust it deep into his eye! Blood sprayed out as he screamed in pain. I jumped off smiling but failed to make a graceful landing. He took off with the spear still in his eye. Huffing and panting, I wondered if that feat might have earned me my cutie mark. I checked to see but it was still blank. I gave a sigh of disappointment and continued with my journey. Exiting the forest, I came upon a farm. Memories of hard work and pain filled my head as I looked at this gloomy place. Gray clouds filled the sky and it seemed to me that I was meant to visit this place but for what purpose, I did not know. A pink pony was moving rocks in the distance. She seemed rather sad at this job. I walked up to her and asked for a name.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

“I’m Pinkie Pie” she said sadly.

“Why so glum?” I asked.

“My family wants me to move the rocks... But that’s not really why I’m so sad… You see, their always depressed. They never smile and never laugh. I just want to do something to make them feel happy, even for one minute.”

I brought myself down so I could talk face to face with this pony. “You know, I heard of something known as a party once. It’s usually held to celebrate something like a birthday or a special occasion. Maybe that might work.”

She looked at the rocks and said “I don’t know how to throw one of those…”

I looked around at this colorless landscape and said “It’ll come to you. I’m not sure how or when but it will come. After all, laughter is one of life’s best past times.”

I left her to think about what I said. About ten minutes later, I heard something. The gray clouds were filled with a round rainbow filled with color! I didn’t pay much attention to it, but I knew it meant something very good just happened. I stumbled upon a small land scape filled with little critters everywhere. I heard some small and soft voice coming from a nearby tree. I checked to see who it was and saw a butter yellow Pegasus with a pink mane trying to calm the animals. After she did, I saw her get her own cutie mark! I was a bit jealous but not too concerned. I decided to leave her be and continue towards my destination, wherever it was.

The Pegasus heard me step on a branch. Soon after the crunching sound, I heard her give a scared shriek of fear. I ignored it and kept moving. She saw me walking away and for some reason that I cannot fathom, followed me. I heard the clomping of her hooves in the grass, so I stopped. She became frightened and hid in some bushes. I turned to look at her and saw her flank still sticking out of the shrub. Rolling my eyes, I kept walking. “If this scared filly wished to follow me, then let her” I thought. I came up to a small pond and decided to sit for a while. The Pegasus still followed me. She walked up to me and began poking me on my back. I still ignored her.

“Umm, Mr., are you alright?” She asked kindly.

I hesitated for a moment but decided to answer. “No… Not in the least bit.”

She came up next to me and asked me for a name. I looked at her and told her I had no such thing.

“How can you not have a name… And you still haven’t gotten your cutie mark?”

She seemed concerned. I stared at the water, and said “I guess… You can call me no name.”

She looked at me while I frowned. For a moment, I fell silent. The sound of silence always seemed to sooth me. The Pegasus grabbed hold of my arm and hugged it. While she tenderly held onto me, she said “I’ve found that a hug can make anything better.”

She was so kind to me even though I tried to push her away. Finally I said “Kindness is something that can make any pony feels better. It sometimes is good to know there are such kind ponies like you in this world.”

I left her with the animals to play together. I wondered around the lands and a cyan Pegasus flew right above my head. She stopped in midflight, swooped down to my location and landed with amazing balance.

“Have you seen a filly with pink hair?” She asked. She had a rainbow mane that shined in the light. I didn’t answer at first.

“She’s a weak flyer, and is extremely shy.” She stated.

I told her that the friend she was seeking was up ahead. She thanked me and stopped, turned back to me and asked “What’s your name?”

“No name” I told her.

“That’s a strange name. You mean to say you don’t have a name?” She asked.

“Yes, and I don’t have a cutie mark either.” I said knowing she would ask about it.

She looked at my flank with wide eyes. “But how is that even possible? No name AND no cutie mark?”

I laughed a bit and said “I get that reaction a lot.”

“Well, if you need any help finding your destiny, your good friend Rainbow Dash is here! That’s me.”
I looked at her with a confused look on my face. “Friend… What’s that?”

She looked at me as if I said something bad. “You don’t know what a friend is? A friend is some pony who helps you and cares about you and makes you happy. Get the picture? Always be loyal to your friends and they will be loyal to you!”

I hadn’t heard about loyalty in a long time. I looked at her with a frown. “I have never had a friend, nor do I intend to. You should catch up with your friend before she wonders too far away.”

I was anything but loyal. I had run away and bit the hand that once fed me. Loyalty wasn’t my strong point.
Rainbow Dash flew up and stopped me in my tracks. “Now you wait just a minute! Loyalty is the thing that keeps friends close together. I don’t know who you think you are, but I know I’m going to stay loyal to my friends new and old.”

She strut past me with her head held high and finished this statement. “You should do the same.”

Feeling sadder than ever, I now knew what she meant... But it was also clear that she knew this better than any pony.

I walked to a mountain that seemed to have a trail leading around it. I decided to travel up the mountain. After a minute or so, I came across a young unicorn with a well groomed coat and mane. She was using her magic to lift a whole heap of diamonds, jewels, emeralds and other shiny gems down the mountain but was struggling under the weight. I walked up to her and asked her if I could help. She saw I had a bag big enough to fit some of the diamonds in it and carry them down. She put some of them in my bag, and thanked me for the help.

“By the way, I didn’t catch your name.” She said smiling.

“No name.” I said gloomily.

“You mean to tell me you haven’t a name or a cutie make? I feel bad for you.”

I sighed and said “Don’t be. I’m work on getting my mark. I don’t need sympathy.”

She frowned at this statement but continued with small talk.

“It really is quite generous of you to help me with this.” She said. “I’m using them in costumes for a play and if you hadn’t come along, I might not have had the time to put it all together.”

I looked at her as we got into town. “Generosity is just common curiously taken to the next degree. I didn’t have to do this, but I felt compelled to do so. What kind of a mare would I be if I simply walked right by you when it was obvious you needed help.”

We arrived at her house and I gave her my load of diamonds. I was about to leave when she turned to me and said “wait! I wish to reward you for your time.”

I tried to tell her it wasn’t necessary but she didn’t listen. Bringing a few bits over, she said “here you go. There isn’t much, but it will help.” I refused and bid her goodbye. Just before leaving, I asked for her name. “Rarity.” She said.

I began to walk out when she magically lifted my bag and slipped an emerald in it without me noticing. I walked away from the city only to find myself in an apple orchard. Trees with ripe red and green apples surrounded me. I stopped to take a rest and picked up an apple to eat. The light shined through the leaves in the trees, and I began to feel rather sleepy. I laid my back down against the tree behind me and fell into a deep slumber.

The next morning I was rudely awakened by some young, orange filly hugging me by the waist! “Big Mac, Big Mac, I missed you!” She yelled as I sat up. She looked at my eyes with glee but after seeing I wasn’t the pony she thought I was, she shrieked and bounced off.

“Who in tarnation are you supposed to be?” She asked in terror.

I decided not to answer and laid back down to resume my nap. She became annoyed and said “Don’t ignore me!”

"I'm not. Im just laying here listening to some silly filly."

She became even more irritated and said “Don’t lie! You’re ignoring me, and that’s rude!”

“It’s no picnic waking up to some pony hugging you either.”

She sensed I was depressed about something more serious and asked for my name.

I looked at her and said “No name… And before you ask, I don’t know why I don’t have a cutie mark yet.”

She seemed calmer now. She walked up to me and asked why I didn’t have a name. “That’s because I never had a mother or father.” I stated harshly.

She accused me of lying once again but seeing me dart a look of anger at her, she knew I was being truthful.

“You know” I began. “Honesty is one of the things that makes me who I am. I’ve never lied in my life. If any pony lies, then they don’t understand what it is to be a respectable pony to others and themselves... Tell me, whats your name?"

She smiled and said "Applejack."

I looked at her and said "Your all right."

I got up and left her knowing she knew what I meant.

Strolling into town, I became very hungry. Looking in the bag to my left, I saw It was empty but looking in my right bag, I saw the gem rarity had left me. I smiled and traded it in for a total of five thousand bits! I got a five star meal and a new bag. I was passing by the train station and saw a sign that said the train was going to Canterlot. I had never been there and to get a ride would only take a fraction of my money. I decided to go but got the last class train car. First class was too pricy.

As I exited the station, I couldn’t help but to drop my jaw at the rich and lavish city. Stores on every corner and fancy ponies in all directions! They were far better looking than me by miles. I decided to get myself cleaned up. I entered a salon and ordered the works. You would not believe the wondrous treatment they gave me. It was pure heaven as they spiffed me up. As I exited, I felt like a new stallion! My coat almost seemed to glow in the sunlight. My mane was softer than a cloud, and it felt like I was accepted by society. I checked how much money I had left. It was Just enough for some meals and a trip through the palace. As I entered, the guards seemed to give me looks of suspicion. I decided to look at the garden and found a young, purple mane and coat filly reading a book.

“Well hi.” She said happily noticing my presence. “It’s Nice to see a new face around here.”

I smiled and asked what this young girl was doing.

“I’m practicing my magic for the princess.” She said. “I’m trying to levitate that stick over there and attach it to that tree.” she pointer to a tree with a missing branch. She put the book down and made her horn glow. The branch glowed to and levitated up to the tree but it wouldn’t reattach itself. It fell to the ground and she pouted.

“What did I do wrong?” She asked herself.

“Maybe you’re trying too hard.” I suggested. “There’s a saying… Work smarter, not harder!”

She smiled and said “Maybe your right. I’ll try it again.” Once again the horn and the branch glowed. The branch went up to the tree and attached itself perfectly this time! She cheered and thanked me for the advice.

I smiled and said “I’m no unicorn but I know that magic is easier than it looks. If you focus long enough, you can perform any spell without any trouble.”

She smiled and asked for my name and for the sixth time in a week, I told a young filly that I had no name and no cutie mark. She smiled and said “I bet Princess Celestia can help you with this!” It’s not like I had a choice as she begged me to see her.

I entered the throne room and stood in awe of how beautiful and magnificent the room was. Giant pillars ascending to the roof stood side by side. A red carpet led strait to the throne of the princess, and a giant stained glass window of the sun and the moon could plainly be seen behind the throne! Princess Celestia sat on her throne looking peaceful and serene. The young filly walked up to her while I stood about three yards away.

“Princess Celestia!” the young pony said.

“Ah, Twilight Sparkle, How’s my new student doing?” the princess greeted.

“This pony, he hasn’t a name and what’s worse is he doesn’t have a cutie mark!”

The princess looked at me and ceased smiling. Her eyes were beginning to curl onto the look of anger and disappointment.

“Do you think you could help him out?” Twilight asked.

“Go to your room Twilight.” She said sternly.

“Huh?” Twilight asked looking confused.

“Do as I say, please.” The princess said not daring to take her eyes off me.

“… Ok. But, please help him.” Twilight said as she entered a door to the right of me.

The princess looked furious. Had I done something wrong? And if I did, then what did I do?

She stood up and slowly walked towards me. Her head lowered itself to my mane and smelled it. Then, she backed away from me and screamed at the top of her lungs “GUARDS!!!”

They entered and circled around me with sharp spears pointed at my neck! I didn’t dare speak as sweat formed on my head. Princess Celestia circled me and her guards while chanting something that I didn’t understand at all.

“And so, the son will come to you bearing the name of nothingness and missing his mark. Hair of white and the smell of chaos, He is my son and will act as my body when the time comes… I would recognize that smell anywhere!” She had made a complete circle around us and the guards moved from left to right letting her enter the circle. "You never should have entered this place." She continued. "You think I would be so idiotic as to not recognize who you are?”

By then, I was shaking. I didn’t know what she was saying as this odd turn of events unfolded before me. She walked to the left and opened the door that could be found directly across from the one Twilight had entered.

“Follow me.” She commanded.

I didn’t move an inch until one of the guards said “MOVE” in a threatening voice.

I crept up to the door and was followed by the guards. “Leave us.” The princess ordered and they left. As I walked down the dim stares that were only lit with candles, I could feel the back hairs of my mane stand up as it became colder and gloomier. The princess didn’t speak a word as we ventured deep down the circular stares. We came to a door and she opened it with her magic. I felt a cold shiver all over my body as I entered and the door was shut behind us. It was a dungeon with a sword siting on a shelf. I turned to Celestia and got the worst look she had given me thus far. Her horn lit up and I saw the sword pass by my now glistening with sweat face.

“You are charged with the possible power to destroy this world. Punishable by death.” She stated coldly. “Are there any last words you wish to say?”

I couldn’t find the courage to speak. Thoughts ran through my head like “I’m innocent. I’ve don’t nothing to deserve this. What are you talking about? Please spare me your highness!” But nothing came out. I was choked up. Silence was my one and only answer at the time.

“So be it” she said frowning and staring into my worried eyes. “I’m sorry it had to be like this… But if I let you live, it could mean the end for us all!”

Tears shed from my eyes as she prepared to take my life by putting the sharp tip up to my chest. It pricked me and some drops of blood dripped from my chest and onto the cold cement floor. Finally, I don’t know why but I accepted my fate by saying “If this is what you wish, princess, then let my life be yours for the taking.”

Her mouth dropped ajar and hesitated on allowing the sword from entering my shivering body. “You aren’t going to fight back, my subject?”

“Why try” I began. “I have traveled far and wide in search for my destiny but now… I know I have no destiny. My fate is to die here... For reasons I have no idea what they could be. But they must be legit if you must perform the deed.”

The sword shook and she considered my predicament.

She decided to put the sword down and question me. “Who… Is your father?”

With tears still running down my face and mixing in with the drops of blood on the floor, I said “I haven’t one.”

“Who… Are your parents?”

“I was adopted by a farmer named Jack…" I said as I remembered the painful days on the farm. "He put me to work in the fields. He never loved me. So I ran away from home in search for my cutie mark… But I never found it. Please your majesty, I mean you no harm… I am truly sorry.”

She then began to cry as well. The tears ran slowly down her face as she began to apologize. “I am sorry… I had no idea. I thought you knew who you were… I thought you were the bringer of destruction! I thought… oh, I am such a fool to think this.”

She walked up to me and wrapped her arms around my body.

“I… oh… I don’t know what had gotten into me." She continued. "I should have known something wasn't right when you hadn’t tried to escape. Please… Oh, please forgive me!”

The feeling of her apologize to me was indescribable. “I forgive you. But why was I supposed to die?”
I asked as I looked into her eyes.

“I’ll explain later… so, you’ve never had a mother?” she asked with concern.

“No… I haven’t… I bet it would be nice to have one.”

She stroked my white mane to try and calm me. As the next few words left her mouth, I couldn’t help but start to cry even harder.

“Would… would you like it if I adopted you?”

The words seemed to repeat in my head like a broken record player. Tears left my eyes, and though I tried, they wouldn’t stop. Finally, I was able to conjure the one single word that seemed like it would never leave my lips. “Yes!”

We had been in that dungeon for what seemed like hours. Emotions ran its toll, and it felt great to exit the darkness.

As light hit my face, I could barely walk. We had been under there sobbing so much; I needed to adjust to the brightness of the throne room once again. Following the princess, I found my mind reeling with questions that would have to wait till tomorrow. She led me to my own room that was just down the hall from hers. It was a big room with a balcony. The bed looked so elegant and the room had its own bathroom. I was going to need some time before even getting use to this.

I turned to her and said in a trembling and quirky voice “Thank you princess, thank you!”

She stopped me by putting her hoof to my lips and said sweetly “Call me mom or mother from now on.”

My new life

The stallion without a mark

Sleep for heroes are never blissful whether it be dreaming sleep or dying sleep. I awoke in the room that was to be mine for years to come. The world seemed to stop and watched as I awoke, sunlight beaming upon my coat from the window. “Where am I?” I thought out loud as I looked around and whipped my watery eyes. “Whose room is this? Oh, it’s mine… That’s right. Adopted.” Staggering out of bed, I saw a mirror on my new shelf.

Forgetting what they do to me, I walked up to it and judge myself critically. “Hmm… You look like you could use a shower… And just how much did you whine last… nigh- ache… AH!!!”

Pain and dizziness coursed through me even worse than normal! I backed up and tried to close my eyes but this almost made me black out in pain as the room felt like it was melting! There was only one thing I could do to stop the pain in my head. I walked back to the mirror and forcefully punched it with my hoof. The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the palace. Princess Celestia must have heard it and came to my room. I was in the bathroom splashing water on my face to try and settle my nerves when she came in.

“Hello… Are you alright my new son?” She asked in a worried voice.

“I’m all right… I need to warn you about something” I said as I returned to the room. “Mirrors give me headaches. They always have. Anything that reflects my image does this. Please, don’t put any mirrors in this room.”

She smiled at me even though this sounded absurd. We exited the room and walked to the garden to sit for a moment.

“The First order of business for today...” She said. “We need to name you. Let’s see.”

I stared at the ground and thought hard about this and asked “Can that be the last order of business?”

She looked at me with a smirk that told me my answer was no. “What do you think… about Titan?” She asked.

I had heard of this name before. The meaning when put into name reference was defender. I liked the sound of it and it suited me. “I like this name!” I said with a bit of enthusiasm.

“Titan it is.” The princess said. “So, Titan, when is your birthday?”

I caught myself staring at the grass again as she asked me this. I hadn’t ever celebrated my birthday because it just wasn’t important to me or Jack, the abusive farmer I use to live with. Finally, I told her that I did not know.

“How can you not know your own birthday my son?” She sighed. “Well, I guess it would be the day he made you… which is July twenty fourth, only a month away.”

This caught my attention rather stunningly. “Who made me on that day?” I asked.

She just looked at me… And then the ground. “Your father… I guess it’s time to show you who you really are.”

We left the garden and headed to the Canterlot sculpture garden located outside the palace. So many sculptures representing so many things could be found here. The princess came up to one sculpture that seemed to be… Singing… Or at least looked like singing. We stood there staring at it.

“This creature is called a Draconequus.” She began. “His name is Discord and this creature is your father… Over a millennium ago; He was the ruler of Equestria. He brought destruction and chaos to the land. In his moment of glory, when he was creating you, me and my sister used the elements of harmony to imprison him like this. He was singing at the time and didn’t realize he was being turned to stone mainly because he was sending you into the future… Do you remember the poem I recited when we first met?”

I scanned my head to remember it, and said “And so, the son will come to you bearing the name of nothingness and missing his mark. Hair of white and the smell of chaos, He is my son and will act as my body when the time comes.”

She shook her head yes to let me know I was correct. “Those words were the last thing he said before becoming… This.”

I looked at my father, rage boiling within my chest. This is who gave me life but one thing I didn't understand was the last phrase of the poem. I asked her what it meant and she said “You were supposed to be nothing more than a vessel for him. He would need a new body, so he sent you to this time frame when he thought you would be most useful.”

So... This was who I am… son of Discord and the vessel he intended to use as a new body! Was that my fate? Was it my destiny? To be kicked out of the body I had been using for years now by my father?

The truth hurt, and as I stared at this creature known as Discord, I couldn’t help but feel that he was watching me, even though his eyes were shut. The princess wrapped her hoof around me for comfort. “Don’t be afraid.” She said with a smile. “He can’t harm you. I won’t let him touch you.”

I felt compelled to run but pressure kept me from doing so. The world stopped spinning it seemed as truth and vague depressions settled into my being. I asked to be left alone for a moment and the princess understood. “Just don’t stay here too long, otherwise I might worry about you, young Titan.”

She left me with the statue of my father. The image of what seemed could be the one thing that made my world stand still and stare back at me was right here. The deformed body seemed to mock me with its looks of singing. He was the image of death it would seem and this, in turn left me questioning my existence. “Was I made with a mind, or did that part develop on its own? Would he ever return to this world to seek out my body only to take it away? Who would protect me when and if the time came?” the questions would not be answered for years to come. Some answers would reveal themselves at the appropriate time and some would bring me to my knees begging for lies rather than honesty but for now, I could do nothing but wrap the air I sat in with enigmas.

Returning to the walls of the palace, I met the princess in the entrance hall. She stared at me smiling. “Let’s go out for breakfast. What do you say?” She asked, as if I had to answer.

We stopped by this nice little dining area where breakfast was still being served. People all over Canterlot stared with their mouths open as we passed them by. News reporters quickly jumped on the story but the princess told them to leave her and me in private for now. We were seated almost immediately because of who she was. “I’ll have some salad.” She said to the waiter.

“And for your… uh, date?” The waiter asked almost making her cough on the sip of water she was taking.

“Date… Oh, no, no, no! This is my son!”

“Be-, but-, be-, beg your pardon?” The waited asked looking very surprised. “When did this happen???”

The princess smiled and said it was none of his concern and asked him if he was going to take my order.

“Uh, yes, of course, your majesty!” he said almost bowing before her.

The press crowded around the entrance as we ate, and the waiter came out ready to explain what he learned. We finished our meal, and were heading out when the press backed up from the entrance to let us exit. They were all asking questions but not daring to crowd us as Princess Celestia was there next to me. She raised her right hoof to signal them to stop and told them the information they so desperately wanted to hear.

“I understand this is a confusing and odd occurrence in today’s life but this is the truth. The stallion with me today… Is in fact my adopted son, Titan!” The press was taking notes while I just stood there embarrassed beyond all comprehendible reason.

“I did this.” She continued. “Because he showed extraordinary possibilities as a knight and a son. My decisions have meaning behind them as all my decisions always have. This one is no different than the rest. Treat my son with as much respect as you have towards me for being royal blooded… Oh, and no pictures.”

Her horn lit up and all the pictures they had taken disintegrated with in the films, jamming the cameras, which disabled them from being able to take any more photos of me and Princess Celestia. We walked off to the palace with the press still following us. It was really uncomfortable but at the same time, very flattering. The doors shut and I got some peace and quiet for a few minutes, that is until Twilight came galloping towards my direction. “Titan, Titan, is it true? Did Princess Celestia really adopt you?” She asked when she finally reached me. The princess answered for me and smiled at Twilight. “But don’t worry; You are still my most promising student yet.” She said happily.

A month had passed, and the news was everywhere by now about who I was and questions left unanswered. I knew why she had broken the cameras that day. If the streets were filled with my image in the paper, I would never be able to leave the palace because everywhere I would go, I’d see myself and collapse due to overwhelming headaches. She instructed that no pony was to take my picture. I would walk the streets and every pony would be happy to see me. The descriptions in the papers were very detailed but I was a unique looking pony.

You couldn’t miss me considering I had no cutie mark. Every once in a while some pony would try and steal a snapshot of me, only to be stopped by another pony who had great respect for me. Things were turning out to be pretty good. I had a home, a mother, which I finally got use to calling her mother my now and a friend, Twilight. We would play in the garden when she wasn’t studying. Despite the fact that I was Discord's son, I didn’t feel any powerful magic in my body. Mother decided to do a test on my mind to see if anything had developed but it said I was just as normal as any other earth pony.

Today marked my birthday. I was now nineteen. My mother summoned me to the throne room where she was signing papers and approving applications but as soon as I entered, she seemed to stop what she was doing almost immediately.

“You wanted to see me, mother?” I asked curiously.

“Yes.” She began. “Do you know what day it is?”

I searched my skull for the answer to this question. “Isn’t it the twenty fourth? Oh!”

She smiled and said “That’s right. It’s your first birthday here. I’ve decided to let you have whatever you want on this day, so long as it’s logical, of course.”

I hadn’t really been thinking about what I wanted lately. Sure I wanted my cutie mark but then, I hadn’t had much time with mother lately. She was always so busy with work; She never had that much time to spend with me. “Would it be all right” I began slowly “If you spent the day with me… As mother and son?”

She giggled at the request and said “That’s all you wish for? No party, no gifts?”

“You’ve given me so much." I said modestly. "I don’t think I could accept anymore. If I do, I think my heart will be fit to explode with happiness. All I want now is just one day with you. We could go and have breakfast together, or see the Wonderbolts perform at the Canterlot coliseum.”

She got up and walked over to me and said she couldn’t think of a better present for me to have. We spent the entire day together. We did so many exciting things like go to an amusement park and saw the Wonderbolts. I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun! When we got back, I asked her if we could do this every birthday, which she agreed to full heartedly.

Seven long and enjoyable years had passed since I first came to Canterlot. My friend, Twilight had become Princess Celestia’s favored student, and I was her best friend but now, she had to go to some town called Ponyville. It was a little depressing seeing her leave but I knew I would see her again soon enough.

That day was like, the loneliest of days to me. I didn’t know where mother ran off to and the castle seemed so empty! I must have walked through exploring every single room twenty times before the night had come. I fell asleep in the throne room waiting for mother to come. I was next to the golden throne, when a blue manned mare came into the room. She bid mother goodbye as she was about to raise the moon for the first time in years, that is until she spotted me.

She walked up to me and proceeded to sniff my mane. Jumping back and staring at me like I had committed the worst crime she said “Foul beast! Thou art not welcome here this day!” her booming voice woke me up in an instant. Imagine you’re waking up to the scariest thing you can think of. Got it? Good. Now take that thing and make it ten times as frightening than you imagined. That’s what I was staring at.

Her horn lit up with blue light as she telekinetically lifted my body up and said “Thou art the son of Discord! Thou shall die thin night!” and with that said, she threw me out the stained glass window with the force that almost broke my back! I fell into the raining night. Glass floated around me. Some pieces were launched into my back from the impact.

I had no idea what was going on. I hit the garden ground hard and felt my leg break as it hit the grass. Princess Luna followed as she glided down to my location. “This is thou day of death!” She said as she lifted me up to a tree and broke off a thick branch from it. It slammed onto my throat as I let out a shriek for help. I couldn’t breathe as she strangled me. She looked into my eyes with a smile that told me she was enjoying my torture.

“Now, our subject.” She said in the same ruthless voice. “Thou will DIE!!!” as she said this, laughter echoed throughout the night sky. I felt myself shed tears of pain and sadness. I was able to choke out the one word that I could think of. “please.” My voice sounded shriveled and weak. She looked at me now angrier than ever. her eyes were harsh and the way she judged me was painful to even think about.

“Please?” She asked. “Why should we spare thou? Thy will not be worthy of sweet life! It would be a crime if we let you live! We will strangle the life out of thou, son of Discord!”

I felt myself fading into darkness. My vision blurred as if I was drowning. The world spun around me as I tried to beg for forgiveness from this mare but it was pointless as I fainted from lack of oxygen.

Then, by a miracle on my behalf, Princess Celestia entered the throne room to find the shattered window. She ran up to it, looked down and saw her sister strangling me. She flew down to us and ordered her sister to cease and desist. “Do not worry, sister” Princess Luna said. “We know what we are doing. This is the son of Discord!”

Celestia used her magic to furtively push her sister down and grabbed me. Holding me in her arms, she yelled at Luna “What were you thinking?”

Luna simple got back up and said in the same booming voice “Tis the son of Discord? Did thou not hear us thy first time?”

Princess Celestia then teleported us all to the medical wing that was inside the palace. They took me and started to heal my wounds immediately. She looked at her sister and said “You idiot! That was my son!”

Luna stood with her mouth open unable to process this bit of information. “Thou have gotten married in our absence?” She asked, voice still booming.

“No! He was adopted” she screamed in frustration for her sister. “Yes, he is the son of Discord but he is harmless! No such magic had ever been exalted from his being! I, to, almost killed him for the same reason but he proved to be kind hearted. So I took him under my wing hoping to help him receive his cutie mark and live a safe life. And now, you almost murdered him. You almost murdered my SON!”

Tears left Luna’s eyes as she realized her horrid mistake. She apologized many times towards mother but she would still need to apologize to me. Meanwhile, I had sharp stained glass sticking into my back. Blood poured onto the medical bed I lay on. My leg was now broken in three different locations. Still passed out, I dreamed of nightmares. The worst kind was one with Princess Luna.

The incident replayed in my mind. The choking, the agony of feeling my soul slip from my body, there was only one thing that pulled me out of the chaos my memories played in my mind. That was the voice of Princess Celestia, my mother. She was calling my name. In the darkness, I could hear her beckoning me to return to reality but where was I to go? Black nothingness surrounded me and it felt like I would never find a way out.

Three weeks passed and I was still asleep. Slowly, my eyes opened. The light poured into the medical room from a window found to my right. Mother walked in right when I was starting to see more clearly.

“I’m so sorry.” She said in a weak and sobbing voice. “I should have known better than to not inform Luna about you. The thought completely slipped my mind. Please forgive me.”

I tried to speak and it hurt when the words left my throat. “It’s… All right… Mother. I... Forgive you!”

Days of healing and victories

The stallion without a mark

Everyone has wounds that heal over time but for heroes, wounds never fully heal. I lay in bed. The time I spent sleeping seemed like a mere day to me but it had actually been a month since Luna attacked me. Mother had visited me every day. I had been in a coma for all this time.

A week ago, I awoke to forgive mother but for Princess Luna, things are going to take time. Nightmares plagued my sleep. I hadn’t one happy dream while I was in the medical room. Things seemed out of place. In that month I became very skinny. My left leg hurt as the nurse helped me eat. I guess, the dreams got to me, because who worse at a time like this would come into the room but Princess Luna. Once I saw her, the heart monitor went faster with the beats. the nurse had let her in knowing she was not a threat thanks to mother. As she entered, I saw she had been crying but then, I also thought she had come to finish the job.

Once she saw my face of pure fright, she exited with a whimper. About an hour later, mother came in to see if I was alright. I told her I felt horrible and asked her if she could use magic to heal me but that wasn’t possible as the body was incapable of receiving help with magic. She said my body needed to heal on its own. Two weeks passed and mother had been happy that I was making a good recovery. I began to wonder why that mare attacked me. Mother explained the incident.

“It was my fault she attacked you. I hadn’t informed her about you and once she saw you and smelled your father’s scent, she thought she needed to eliminate a threat… She is my sister and your aunt. She had been trapped on the moon for a thousand years. She was justly freed and brought into the light by the elements of harmony. When we got home… well, you get the picture.”

The time I spent in the medical room, now that I was awake, was passing by so slowly that it drove me crazy. Every day I waited for mother to visit me. I would lay in bed staring at the white wall in front of me thinking about my life. it was torture to be so bored all that time!

The nurse came in and said I could be on my hooves now. I felt weak getting up. Mother stood there smiling with confidence in her eyes for me. As I got up, my leg felt like it was going to fall clean off.

Three days of exercising went by and they cut the cast that had been on my leg. It looked so weird. My brown leg was shriveled! It barely felt attached to my body and a scar ran up to my knee. That wasn’t the only scar I had though. As they took off the bandages on my back, cuts from gashes of glass Were in mixed order all down my back.

as I lowered my head knowing I looked horrid, mother said the opposite. “I think it makes you look strong. No pony will mess with the knight who has cuts and scars like those!”

I got back to exercising. It had been two weeks since they took off the cast and bandages. I gotta say it felt great to be outside again.

While I was doing some pushups one morning, Princess Luna passed by the garden where I was preparing myself to try out for the royal guard service in which, by the way, Only the best of the best got into those ranks. Sworn to protect and serve the royal blood family with their lives. I felt compelled to try that. I had always been a warrior. Sure, I got my butt kicked by a girl almost two months ago but I also defeated a rock troll in the Everfree Forest. I was telling mother about it when Luna came walking up to me. I stopped and turned around. She was looking down on me with a worried face. I wasn’t afraid of her any more though. I think mother thought I was going to run but instead I faced her down. “Who do you think you are?” I asked with rage in my eyes. “Attacking me like that. I hadn’t done anything to you.”

She backed up slowly and mumbled something I didn’t understand. With this newly found anger in my veins, I stared down the princess of the night. She was the one thing that every pony in Equestria feared and I made her tremble! “Attack first and think later? Is this your method of redemption?” I heard her say the same thing I said when she was choking me to death. “Please.” This threw me off the edge as a let out a scream of anger! Mother looked at me feeling a little uneasy. As for Princess Luna, she bowed before me and said “Please, we beg thee for forgiveness son of Princess Celestia. We didn’t know.”

I settled myself down to return to the level headed stallion I was moments ago. “I’ll need some time to think about forgiving you." I stated less loudly. "Remember, you pushed me out of a window, broke my leg, cut up my back, landed me in the medic room and choked me so hard, I went into a mini coma!” With that I left the garden still aggravated. Princess Luna sat there thinking about what I said. Her sister, princess Celestia said “I think that went well. He lost his temper, but he said he would think about it… That’s something.”

Three days of training hoof to hoof combat had really paid off. I was a quick learner and I was determined. I had become stronger than any other pony in the recruiting lines. My weapon comprehension skills were even better. My special finisher was disarming the other pony with my lance, which happened to be my favorite weapon. Every time I held it in my mouth, memories of that rock troll surfaced in my mind. If I can beat something as sinister as that monster, then I could beat any of these other ponies easy.

Tryouts for the guardian squad were first and then the next day was my day to shine; The day tryouts for the offense squad. I was psyched! I sat on my balcony gazing at the moon, when she came in. The blue shine of her mane glowed as she came to me. “What do you want, Princess Luna?” I asked harshly.

She Just walked up to me while I had my back turned. I didn’t expect to get a hug… But then, that’s Luna for you; Unpredictable. Her hooves crossed in front of my chest and for a moment, things were calm. “We… wanted to apologize once more for our behavior." She said. "Do you accept?”

her voice seemed to be so gentle. It was as if she had completely changed. I would venture to think mother had something to do with this but decided to ignore the small bits of information.

“I accept your apology” I said softly. “But… You must do me a favor.” Her head dipped down to mine to where it looked like her head was upside down and said “Anything. Just as long as we can be friends!” I giggled at her and said “Come see me try out for the offense squad in two days.” She pulled me tight and gave a sigh of happiness. Before she left, I said to her “Goodnight… Aunt Luna.” Her smile was wider that any pony I had ever seen. “Good night... Titan.” She said. I curled up to my bed and fell into a wonderful dream. For the first time ever, I dreamed of me and Aunt Luna being friends.

Two days passed and Luna had gone to bed extra early in the morning of the preceding day to be well rested for the tryouts. It was held in the Canterlot coliseum. There were five events that tested speed, strength, accuracy, stamina and fighting spirit. Only one was allowed to win the title of the new royal offensive guard. They held it ever once a year. All the ponies looked tough but as I entered the tryout grounds, they all stared at me knowing I was going to be one tough opponent. The scars on my leg and back really made me stand out to the crowd. I looked around to see Aunt Luna and saw her sitting not in the crowd but with mother on two throne chairs at the end of the turning curve for the track race. We all gathered to hear the rules.

The race was to be fair and clean. No pony is to cross past their line. We were to gallop five miles. In other words twenty laps. Any flyers had their wings tied and if a unicorn used magic, it was automatic disqualification for him. We all took our places. Once the ring of the bell went off, they all ran as fast as they could, while I paced myself. Some of them double lapped me while I jogged for my fourth lap. After that, I took off. I galloped past the others that had doubled me and cleared the remaining laps with little effort! The other ponies that had worn themselves out were baffled by how I came in first place.

Next up was the test of strength. For this, we were to throw weights as far as we could with our mouths. Each pony was allowed three spins before tossing it in a direct location. If you missed the mark; you got a score of zero. I threw mine first and it landed two hundred and nineteen feet, six inches away! The others didn’t come close.

Next was accuracy. They had a target that you had to hit with a lance. This was easy for me because I did this all the time. Needless to say, I took that one by the horns.

After that was stamina. This one was a bit tricky. What they did was they put weights on your back. It started with ten pounds. Then it escalated to twenty and so on until you couldn’t take any more. I lasted up to one hundred and twenty pounds, while the others only got up to ninety or one hundred.

I had done it. It was the final test; Fighting spirit. Considering I won all the preceding matches, I was the one to face the captain of the royal offensive guards himself! All I had to do was hold him off for ten minutes and I was cleared to join. If I failed, no pony joined that day! Pressure was seeping into my mane as I saw the captain. He had a buzz cut for a mane and a tanned coat. His green eyes looked at me inspecting my build. He was a lot more cut up than me, that's for sure. We each chose a weapon. He chose the same weapon as me; a double edged lance. We introduced ourselves before the fight.

“So you’re the princesses adopted son... Titan, right?” He asked in a moderately deep voice. It wasn’t mean but it wasn’t nice either. “Yep.” I said smiling. “I’m not just going to hold my own for ten minutes, I’m going to beat you!” He laughed at this remark of confidence. “Don’t get cocky. I’m not the leader for nothing.”

The bell rang and he came charging at me, lance extended. I dodged and kicked his side. He swung the lance at my face but I blocked with my own. We were caught in a close quarter’s combat situation. Every attack I dealt was either blocked or dodged and vise versa. Then it happened. His lance came down to the ground and I dodged by jumping back. His weapon was caught and he was open for my special finishing move where I disarm him. While he was struggling to yank the lance out of the ground, I jumped up and landed on it, forcing him to spit it out. I kicked him away from it and pointed my lance tip at his nose, just barely close enough to barely touch his face.

I had beaten the royal captain of the offensive guard with two minutes to spare! Everyone was cheering me on. Never had this happened. I was brought up to the stand where mother and Aunt Luna were sitting. The captain himself came up to congratulate me for my victory. “For defeating me in battle.” He said. “I hereby dub you the new leader of the offensive guard!” I didn’t expect this rank. It wasn’t in the rule book that if you defeat the captain, you become the captain. I turned to him and asked why he made the decision. “I’m getting too old for this action and you’re just what these forces need. A smart, young and strong leader!” mother and Aunt Luna congratulated me on the amazing feat but the final battle was not over.

As if fate would be so disagreeable, a dragon had surfaced itself in Canterlot. He flew above the coliseum and his shadow marked my first order of guard duty. As the dragon lowered itself to the coliseum, every pony shrieked in fear and scrambled. I yelled at the captain to get me the sharpest single tipped lance to use in battle. I didn’t know what was running through my head at the moment. Maybe it was the rush of being the new leader or maybe it was the fact that my loved ones were in serious danger but I had to stop the monster from terrorizing this event. I took my lance in my mouth and galloped towards the menace.

He spotted me and spit fire at me. I heaved to the left to avoid being barbequed and stopped to face the monstrosity. “Hey.” I screamed at the dragon. “Why don’t you come down to my level so I can show you what I can really do!”

he came down and landed on the grass. His giant hand lifted up and I had the greatest deja vu feeling in my life! It brought me back to when the rock troll tried to smash me. I dodged the dragon’s claw and ran up to its head. He looked under his hand to see I wasn’t there. I stood on top looking over the coliseum. Every pony was waiting to see what I was going to do.

I grabbed hold of its left horn and yelled to it in a mocking voice “I’m up here!”

he started flying up towards the sky swinging its head vigorously. Just when he jolted it up with full power, I let go, sending me high into the clouds. In the air, I let go of the lance and slid the unsharpened tip as far as I could to the end of my mouth without letting it slide in. securing the lance tightly with my teeth, aimed for the dead center of its head and came thrusting down. As the spear slid straight through its skull and into its brain, blood came gushing out, spraying me! His entire scaly body stopped moving as he started to fall down to the ground. I could feel myself falling to. The wind slapped my face and for a moment, I once again stared death in the face. This made it the third time I thought my fate was sealed.

Princess Celestia became worried as the dragon fell to the coliseum grounds. As it landed, dirt surrounded the dragon causing things to be very difficult to see. She called out my name praying that I was alright. “Titan, where are you?”

I yelled from in the sky that I was alright.

As I floated, she gazed at me asking how I was doing that. “I don’t know.” I said cheerfully. Then, a shadow flew above me. She glided down with me next to her. Princess Luna had saved my life. I tried to embrace her with a hug but stopped myself and remembered what was on my coat, so instead I simply told her that I fully accepted her apology. Every pony crowded around me and honored what I had just performed, though they didn’t dare touch me due to my blood tainted coat. The captain came up to me with his jaw dropped as far as it would go without falling off.

“That… You… You just…” I interrupted knowing he wasn’t going to be able to cough up the words. “I defeated a dragon.” And then it hit me… I really did defeat a dragon. “I defeated a dragon!” I couldn’t help saying this until we got back to the palace.

Mother commanded me to take a shower to get the blood off of my coat and mane. I entered my bathroom. The water poured from the shower as I got in. blood seeped off my coat. I hadn’t realized how revolting it really was until I saw the thick red liquid poor down my hooves and into the drain. The feeling made me sick to my stomach as I realized I had the creatures insides all over my body! I puked then and there. Sometimes, in the moment of glory and conquest, you forget what you’re really doing.

The blood was thick and hard to get off. I spent at least an hour in there shampooing my coat and mane. It was as if it would never come off.

As I exited the shower, my body felt tired and tense. I needed to rest but I had to see the reaction on mother’s face for my success. I entered the throne room and she was staring at the newly designed stained glass. I walked up to her and asked for her reaction. She turned to face me and embraced a hug. As we shared this moment, I said “I will always protect you and Aunt Luna.” She looked at my sheik and fragrant mane and said “So long as you are here, there is nothing that can hurt me.”

Fallen comrades and old friends

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.

The End

The stallion without a mark

Everyone sacrifices something they hold dear to their hearts. Heroes sacrifice anything to maintain peace in the world.

A week passed quickly as I stayed in Ponyville. Every pony here has helped me smile again. Today, I’m returning to Canterlot to try and resume my duty as captain of the royal offense guard. My friends all met me at the train station to see me off.

“Now, Titan” Rarity said. “Do try and be more level headed with your work and don’t overdo things.”

“Always remember to smile!” Pinkie Pie instructed.

“Never accept anything less than the truth.” Applejack said. “Even at times when it hurts to know things, well, you just can’t go around lying to yourself.”

“Be kind towards others.” Fluttershy suggested.

“Stay loyal to every pony in your life.” Rainbow Dash commanded.

Finally, the last one to give me advice was Twilight. It was short advice, but it seemed to mean a lot to me. “Never forget... Friendship is magic.”

As I boarded the train to head home, I looked out the window to see them waving goodbye to me. The time I spent with those six were the best. They really helped me straighten things out. I would still get depressed at times but I feel better about myself now.

Two months passed by and I felt myself being more active. Mother threw a grand galloping gala a month after my return. I was assigned as a guard to make sure everything was alright. I guess you might say I failed at this assignment as six ponies came by and crashed the party! I never found out who they were, but they must have been pretty brave to do something like that. Now, I find the palace quite peaceful. No major catastrophe and no such disturbance in the way things have been. As captain of the offensive guard, I was to report in with the captain of the defensive guard. The big difference between them and us was that when we were in a crisis, they brought up force fields with magic while we regulated ponies that were visiting. He was located outside of town in a tent. They were currently digging for some metals. I entered his camp and greeted the captain. “Shining Armor; it is with great pleasure to be seeing you again after all this time sir.”

Shining Armor was Twilight’s big brother. He was in the forces long before me and didn’t exactly stay in friendly boundaries with me. I got his letter telling me to report my duties for the last two months, but I had nothing to report. “Good. Then everything is ship shape?” he asked smiling, and I agreed.

I was headed out when he beckoned me to relax with him for a moment. I agreed and sat in one of the chairs.

“So, how long have we known each other? Years right?” he asked. “I just wanna make sure that you’re not trying anything with my sister.” He didn’t like beating around the bush. I told him that I would never do that and that she and I were just friends but then, he said something rather offensive. “I just wanna make sure my Twilight isn’t getting too close with a monster like yourself.”

“What do you mean by monster?” I asked sharply.

“You know, you killed two beasts; one was a dragon... and I remember using a spell to look into your thoughts one day while you were guarding the throne room. You looked a little sad. I thought that if I knew what the problem was, I might be able to help, but instead I hear your thoughts saying your Discord’s son!”

One of my worst secrets had been discovered. He continued. “I confronted both the princesses on that day and they claimed they knew, but I’m more cautious than that. If you ever stop being loyal to the guard, I will take you down!” I stood up and left. The brother of Twilight, my best friend just threatened to kill me...

I walked into the city thinking about my world and said “I wanna go to the beach.” Two days later I got my wish as I asked mother if we could go. “I think that’s a marvelous idea!” she said. We went to Indian hooves beach located some miles away from Manehatten. The sun shined on the sand and water rushing up to the shore only to retreat put a sense of calm feelings through my being. It would be the last time I ever felt calm again in my life. I stood there starring out at the ocean with mother by my side.

The wind felt nice slowly whipping my mane as we stood there. I turned my head and asked “Am I a monster?”

She didn’t answer for a moment. “You… you are a being… of greet power. I am not going to call you a monster but you are as powerful as one.”

The next week in the castle turned out to be the week my life spiraled downward.

DAY 1: first sign of disturbances.

I awoke to find myself upset with my life. Things became frustrating, but I pushed through the day.

DAY 2: aggravation.

Some ponies made an error and I got mad. I yelled at them for a long time, but the error wasn’t as bad as I made it seem.

DAY 3: pushing loved ones back.

Princess Luna passed by me and said good night as she entered the throne room. I didn’t respond. She stopped in front of the door and returned to my location. She asked if everything was alright. I told her to leave me alone and walked off.

DAY 4: considering options.

I’ve been getting aggravated over the smallest little things now. I’m beginning to wonder why I loved this place so much. I’m thinking about running away.

DAY 5: the wrong choices.

I awoke early. Anger streamed through my body as I looked around my room. I decided to run away as I finally reached my breaking point! Where was going to go, I didn’t know. Why I was running, I don’t remember. I gathered my bags and prepared to leave. As I got the first ride to the oasis plains, the farthest location from Canterlot, I still felt angry. As I exited the train, I ran into moth… No, Princess Celestia outside the station standing in the sand. “What do you think you're dong?” she asked me. I walked by her and said “I’m running away Celestia. I have no use for your love anymore.” She just stood there and stared at me as I headed out into the burning dessert.

THE FINAL DAY: Discord returns.

I had been in the desert all night. The days were hot, and the nights were freezing. I was so tired, but my anger just stayed at its peak. I couldn’t get a level head no matter how much I tried. Then, I felt a wave of pain rush through my bones. The agony of it nearly made me pass out! I awoke to the sight of what appeared to be a left leg of a dragon, and the right leg of a horse. I stood to see my worst nightmare before my eyes. “Oh, what’s wrong my son?” he said. The voice brought fear inside of my body. I couldn’t feel my legs as I hesitated to run for shelter from Discord, my father.

“… No, you can’t be here! You can’t be alive!” I said staggering to my fear and trembling before him.

“Oh, but I am. I just awoke and I am currently proud of you my son. Running away from home, abandoning the people who gave you everything, and throwing away your self-confidence only to wander into a barren desert to be either burned alive by the sun Celestia rises during the day or be froze to death by the moon Princess Luna brings forth every night. What a tragic end for such a noble hero.”

I backed away knowing what he wanted. He continued. “I have a few questions for you, my son.”

I told him I had a few questions myself.

“Oh, why don’t you go first? I do love a good and depressing Q&A.” he said.

“Why is it that I always have headaches when I see myself in the mirror?”

“Oh, that’s easy, you see, our minds are connected. It’s like an invisible string of thought is tied around our heads. But here’s the thing, it’s a one way receiver. I see, hear, feel, smell, and even taste everything you do. I truly hate the fact that my plan for a new body was oh so ruined by those princesses but what I hate more is the face that has developed because of the mind you have created. Whenever I see it, I just get so angry that I have to make you stop looking at yourself… in fact.” As the next words were said, I began to get a headache from him.

“I feel very angry staring at you right now!”

I screamed as the headache continued, after five minutes, It dissipated.

“Fun fact about the string of thought.” he continued. “If you disconnect or cut it, both of us die, but if I kill you, I still remain alive! It’s not very fair, but then, life never is fair! Now it’s my turn. When you said I'm going to keep a positive attitude about life, no matter what tragedy may befall my life in future events during that night you were in ponyville... did you?"

"No."

When you began to get mad, did you ever try to laugh?”

“No.”

“When you ran away and bit the hand that fed you for the second time in a row, did you stay loyal?”

“No.”

“Were you kind to anypony in the palace before you left?”

“No.”

“You took things like food and water from the palace and ran away with them… is that generous?”

“No.”

“And the last question, did you keep your friends in your heart?”

“…No.”

“That means you have abandoned the main elements of harmony: Honesty, loyalty, laughter, generosity, kindness, and the magic of friendship. You have become everything I had hoped for in a son!”

As the truth set in, my coat and mane changed from its brown and white colors to gray and bleached. My mind felt empty. Everything I was faded into nothingness and was replaced with everything I wasn’t.

“Well, my test proved successful. Warp the mind into something the pony isn’t and you have the polar opposite. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some elements to steal. Goodbye, for now.”

He teleported to who knows where as I stood in the sand. I walked in the same direction I was heading before Discord showed himself to me. As I trot through the desolated heat in search for shelter, feeling depressed and helpless, I came to a secluded and abandoned town. Sand coated the insides of the buildings and everything was bleak orange. I found a saloon where some seats were placed in front of a bar. As I sat down, I yelled “Waiter… some water please…” No answer.

Call me crazy, but I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched; and I was. Discord reappeared before me. Mind you, he had been away for some time. He just popped up from behind the bar and offered me a glass of water. I drank it and laid my head down to rest once more.

“Why so glum?” he asked me. “I mean, you should be happy! You’re going to help me in the destruction of Ponyville!”

I scoffed at this statement and claimed “I would never do that… that’s where my friends live.”

“Oh, did I say you were going to… No, no… I plan on putting you in a dark place known as the subconscious of your own mind!”

His paw rose up from the counter and cast a heavy spell upon my being. It was like falling into some void. Darkness surrounded me, and from that point on… I lost my control.

Now, my body belongs to Discord. This new mind he gave me is forming an identity. Lust for blood and rueful intentions clouded his eyes. He wasn’t me… He was his own pony.

“So… what is your name?” Discord asked the newly minded pony.

“M-my… name is… Noname!”

The two left the deserted town in a flash of light and teleported to the Canterlot entrance grounds. Celestia looked over her balcony observing the mayhem taking place on her world. She saw them walking up to the castle and ordered the guards to protect the area.

Noname and Discord approached, both smiling intensively. Dark thoughts were streaming through their minds.

“Now, Noname… I usually use chocolate, but what would you like to rain down upon this town?”

Noname snickered and said “blood.”

(Drip) … (Drip)

Droplets of red blood fell from the heavens and landed upon the stallion and the Draconequus painting them with the colors of demons.

“I’ll leave this to you.” Discord said before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Not only did the fiend implant a new mind inside my body, but power as well. Four sharp lances of black magically appeared floating in circles around Noname, each sharper than a dragons tooth. Guards bordered the entry way, but were immediately sent flying to the far side of town by a chaotic force push. One pony stood his ground though. Shining Armor, holding his lance stood up to the demonic monster that invaded and controlled my body.

“So it has come to this.” He said, blood streaming through his blue mane and white coat. “I trusted you, and you let me down by running away! Now you hurt your fellow guardians… This is not the way of a warrior! Siding with chaos driven villains will get you nowhere, fast!”

Noname chuckled, some blood spilling into his mouth as he did. “You misunderstand. I am NOT Titan… My name is Noname… and this day is mine… ALL days are mine, and this day, you die!!!”

He lunged at the unicorn, lances extended. Blow after blow was deflected by Shining Armor. Few scrapes were left, and in the heat of this moment, all I could see was a friend defending his home.

As he was knocked to a building wall, shining armor looked into the blood thirsty eyes of Noname. The four lances dug into the walls of the building merely touching his body. The last lance, Shining Armor's floated above the fiend’s body ready to strike the fatal blow, but something stopped him.

“Titan!”

Celestia, in all her glory appeared before him, a force field stopped the blood from hitting her. Noname let the blue maned unicorn free and faced the princess, my mother.

“I see… You’re not my son!”

“Your son is dead!”

Celestia gulped, but still looked as furious as the first time we met. The rage in her eyes couldn’t compare with any other. As she approached Noname, the sword she once pointed at me, leaving a faint scar in my chest exited its home and pointed at Noname.

“You have a choice… Give back my son, or die.”

Noname responded with attacks, but was hurled to a light post. As his body knocked it over, he grunted in pain. Getting to his feet, he saw the princess inch closer towards him. The sword was just about to enter his body when he dodged it. He rolled onto his back and felt himself be lifted and pinned to the wall. Concrete surfacing dug into his back, making things unbearable. Blood seeped into his eyes and for everything to end like this would be the worst case scenario for me. Mother walked to him, sword extended. With one final threat, she pointed it at his chest. Right then and there, I knew I needed to break free… but how?

“Do you remember your first birthday?” mother asked Noname.

“I don’t know what you’re yapping about!”

“I’m talking to my son! Now shut it!” With that, her magic cast a silencing spell on his consciousness; shutting only him up. I however would be able to speak if I broke free from this prison.

“I took you to that restaurant…” my mother reminded me. “And then, there was the dragon… you slayed it knowing it was a threat… and how could you forget the funerals? Is it just me, or is all of our memories together sad?”

“Yeah…” I said. My conscious mind was beginning to surface. Now, my coat and mane began to return to normal! My grey mane turned pure white with blood streaks running through it, of course. I felt my soul take charge of my body and push Noname out. Soon, I had my body back.

Celestia asked me “Is it you, Titan?”

I smiled and said “Yeah… it’s me!”

The rain stopped, and Celestia brought me back to the palace. Nothing had changed in the time I was gone. The room I left was still as messy as it was when i left. As I showered, I thought I would never get this amount of blood out. Eventually, I was as clean as ever and ready to return to my post… that is, until Discord grabbed my mind and sucked me out of reality. Celestia entered my room and saw me jolting my head vigorously while gripping it with my hooves. She held me close and asked me what was wrong. Before I could tell her to run, Discord pulled her into the void as well.

We stood there, in the darkness of empty space. No life, sound or light. Discord laughed at me and appeared out of thin air before us.

“Now look at what you did… giving Celestia the cure of harmony. Now I’m trapped in my prison!” His voice became ironically sarcastic. “Doomed to stay here forever, or so you think!”

I remembered that my body is now an empty shell! He could warp in if he wanted and take over!

“I’ll simply do what I planned to do all this time… I mean the only way for you to stop this from happening is if i kill you! So, let’s see that. It would be worth seeing you perish before your mother!”

A lance appeared above his shoulder, pointed itself at Celestia and waited.

“I mean, if you’re truly loyal, which I doubt you are, you’ll put yourself in front of her and save her, not only saving her, but the rest of Equestria as well. You and I are connected. If you die, I can’t get into your body… the decision is yours. Either way, I’ll enjoy watching one of you perish.

As it threw itself toward Celestia, I had no choice but to think fast. If my destiny and fate were intertwined, then this would be it… this would be my resting place.

Just before it hit mother, I jumped in front of it to save her. It sank right through my body, spraying Celestia’s left shoulder with my blood. She caught me and collapsed to her knees while yelling “NO!”

All the darkness withered away, and Discord was nowhere to be seen. We were in my room, alone. The spear was gone, but the wound remained. Once again, blood coated my body, but this time… it was my own. Pain coursed through me, ceasing my every sense and clutching my life with death’s grip.

My hoof raised itself and I felt Celestia grab it with hers. She looked into my eyes, fighting the tears that were beginning to emerge. I smiled, despite the pain I felt, I still knew this was my last moments alive… I had fulfilled my destiny.

“We… sure had some good times, huh?” I asked her, trying to lighten the situation. She just stared down at me. Her lips trembled almost as much as my hoof she held. “Hey, don’t you… go crying on my.”

“But… you’re dying… YOU HAVE A HOLE IN YOUR CHEST!”

I looked down and joked “I’ve had worse.”

“Stop that… Just STOP IT!”

I looked back at her and coughed a bit of blood up. As it slithered down my chin, I said “I did this… to protect you and the city… It’s… not like I did it for myself… It’s just what I expected to happen… I knew I was going to die someday.”

“But not today… not like this!” she argued.

“Heh, like I have a choice… all you need to know… is that I had a good life.”

Her tears finally left her face as I said this. They dripped upon my cheeks and slid down to the floor.

“You took me in… even though you knew who I really was… You protected me… helped me when I need it most… Without you, I’d be nothing.”

My final words would stay within her mind for as long as she lived.

“I love you… mother.”

She shivered a moment after hearing this and replied “I… love you too, Titan.”

As my eyes closed, I embraced the full effect of death. I felt the last breath of life leave my lungs and my hoof she was holding slipped out of her grasp, landed on the tiled floor and laid motionless… after that… everything went black.

Shortly after my death, my cutie mare showed itself to my mother… a golden shield with a banner running across it that said Equestria was the mark I had been trying to achieve all these years.