Author's Note

Hey, friends! I got an update for you. Its rather short compared to the last two, but with how I planned it out, it'd take way too long to write, and It'd be way too long to read. So I split up into parts that'll be put out God knows when. I wanted to get it out ASAP, because I feel bad for taking so long.
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Well, I've wasted enough of your time, you can go ahead now. Tell me what you guys think when you're finished :D!
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OH! Side note! Jay didn't proofread this one and most likely won't for the rest of the fic. So mistakes will probably be more common and fic itself will be a little rougher around the edges. My thanks do still go out to him for the first one though, and he really is a cool dude, so do check him out with that link I put in the description.

Ch. 2 - Two Tiles Back (Part 1)

A long time ago, back before the great pyres of the sun turned their wrath upon earth, we used to be Gods. We had tamed everything from the seas to the stars. We had even nearly unlocked the secret of life itself… but now? Now we are just mongrels tussling over the last scraps of what once was.

What never will be again.

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I sat on the fine guest bed in Fluttershy’s cottage, staring blankly at the cream colored wall across from me. There were shelves that held knick knacks and a couple of tablets with incoherent scribbles on their faces. I was not looking at them though, just staring. Lost in thought.

After I’d awoken from what little sleep I had gotten, I was hit with reality. I am no longer on my own world. I knew that already, but it never quite came to mind. Always creeping in the back, like a wolf readying to pounce on its unsuspecting, and blissfully unaware prey. Last night, the beast pounced. Since then I had been stuck. Staring at this wall. Unmoving.

Throughout the night, I had heard the rustling of animals as they skittered about cottage. At one point a snake slithered underneath the door and coiled itself around one of my now bare legs. It moved fairly little, but was still around my calf at this moment. I had never even flinched. I just stared at the wall. Unmoving. If I was breathing, it could not be heard.

I was wearing only my trousers, because the earthen blanket above this cottage kept it rather warm. Since I last saw it, my beard had come to be a little unkempt, and my scraggly hair came down to my eyes. After wearing armor for the past couple of days, my shoulders had grown accustomed to the weight. Now it felt as if I was lighter than air.

’I’m all alone,’ I thought to myself. ’I’m all alone, in a magical world of talking ponies, and I need to unify them.’ It then occurred to me how ridiculous this all is. I also then realized that I will never be able to have children. Never be able to have a family. No continuation of my bloodline. All of my future, taken from me by some curséd sorcerer’s water. I wasn’t even sure how to feel. In short, I guess you could say that I didn’t. I didn’t want to feel. So I stared... at a cream colored wall… unmoving. Numb to sensory.

’I just ran from war and now I’m being told that I need to start one? What irony. I have time though. So maybe… maybe I can take a year or ten before I begin. I don’t know when Hell will descend upon this world though. Maybe I’ll just know when to act. I know one thing for sure though. I’m not going to start just yet. I can’t. I won’t. Just a year. That's all I need.’

I blinked and it was morning. There was sunlight coming through the window, the sound of birds chirping, and most attention grabbing of all, knocking on the door. Along with a knocking came gentle words from Fluttershy.

“Uhm, Mister Corrick? It’s about six thirty, and I cooked breakfast. If you’re hungry, that is. If not, I’m sure I can save it for later.” She spoke, softly. If I hadn’t been awake, I wouldn’t have heard her.

To her words, I looked at the door, before standing up and inhaling deeply. “I’ll be right out. Thank you, Miss Fluttershy.” I said as I stretched, forgetting my troubles for now.

The next thirty minutes was spent donning all my armor once more. I might not need it, but it made me feel safe. Without it, I was vulnerable, and any attack at any moment could see me perish. Besides, I’m visiting royalty today, it’s bad taste not to dress for the occasion. I tightened my belt and checked my gauntlets and vambraces to make sure they were fastened properly. The snake had moved up to my neck and was wrapped comfortably underneath my coif.

With all of my gear properly on, I grabbed my sword and sheathed it on my belt. My dagger was already on my belt, hanging on my right hip. I looked into a mirror and placed my helm upon my head. The sweet weight it, along with my mail coif, brought filled me with pleasure of the purest form. I always enjoyed putting my armor on.

I gave myself a quick nod and turned for the door. I opened it and stepped out into the hallway. The wooden floor creaked with my weight. Fluttershy’s cottage had a nice, natury musk about it. One that I could appreciate. The hallway was quite narrow, but I managed to fit, so long as I didn’t move my torso too much. This little house was very modest. Not very much furniture, not too much room, but just enough of everything for it to feel homely.

I took a left, walking down the creaky stairs and into the kitchen. I was instantly gratified by the pleasant smell of whatever the yellow mare had cooked for breakfast. Speaking of her, she sat in a chair opposite of a plate full of some sort of brown discs, staring at the empty one of her own. It seems I may have been a little late to breakfast. I looked once more to the food, before realizing that I simply wasn’t hungry. I felt no desire for sustenance. Almost the opposite, actually. I felt full.

“Good Morning, Miss Fluttershy.” I said. “I must thank you in your efforts to make breakfast, but I’m not very hungry right now. I wish not to be late to this gathering at a station.”

She looked at me, smiling. “Oh, I suppose that's fine. I’m ready to leave, if you want to.” She stated, as she stood up and put her saddlebags across her flanks.

“Well, let us be off.” I said. I preemptively walked to the door through the living room, before she stopped me.

“Wait! Can I just say goodbye bunny, Angel? It’ll take a second. If you don’t mind, of course.” She asked quietly, sounding almost afraid to ask.

“I don’t mind at all, but that does bring up something I needed to talk to you about.” She stopped on her way out of the room and looked towards me. “Last night, a snake came into my room and wrapped itself around my leg, and recently moved up to my neck. I didn’t really want to remove it and it didn’t want to leave, so currently it’s still around my neck.”

She looked to me with surprise. “Oh,” she said, “Is it a small, green snake?”

“Why yes, I believe so.”

“That’s kind of funny, because he usually prefers to keep to himself. He’s not bothering you, is he?” I shook my head no. She thought a little. “Well, I guess if he wants to come with us, I don’t mind.” The snake wriggled a little bit in excitement. I guess he doesn’t mind tagging along.

While Fluttershy went to say her goodbyes to her bunny and do some final checks to make sure everything was ready, I stepped outside and into the nice, warm air. The weather out was just as perfect as yesterday. How lucky. Were I not about to travel to another city, I’d spend all day just enjoying this glorious weather. The snake even noticed, as slithered up through my coif and out my right eye slit.

It turned back to look into my other eye slit. Somehow, it was smiling in an oddly cute way. I raised my gauntleted hand up to pet it. Of course I wasn't sure that the snake would appreciate it, but it seemed to be enthused.

The clicking of the door behind me warranted my attention. Turning around I saw Fluttershy. It seemed she had also grabbed a coat on her way out. A rather odd looking coat, clearly woven of a thick yarn material, with a hood attached. It was somewhat oversized and sagged just a tad. She had a smile on her face, but it quickly turned to a concerned frown.

“I forgot to tell you that it’ll get kinda chilly on the way there. If you want, I could get a blanket or something for you to keep warm.” The snake slithered its way back into my helmet.

“Miss Fluttershy, you’re too kind, but I think I shall be fine. I’m rather used to the cold at this point.” She blushed slightly, and nodded in understanding. “Are you ready to leave?” She nodded once more. “Absolutely sure that there are no more rabbits awaiting your goodbyes?” I grinned as she giggled a little, before nodding one final time. “Then let us be off!” I exclaimed with vigor, suddenly excited for what lies ahead in our assumedly long journey to this Canterlot. Traveling is what I thought about doing once I got home. Time to see if it fits me.

The walk to this so-called training station was rather short. Much shorter than the walk to Twilights. The station was in another part of town that was closer. Fluttershy and I passed the fifteen-ish minute walk with idle chatter. Apparently she’s actually from a city called Cloudsdale. She said it was about two hundred miles to the east, over the everfree. Interesting. I might see about visiting over my period of rest.

Arriving to the training station, almost everyone was there except Rainbow. She didn’t seem like the type of person to be early anyways. I looked around for some sort of trainer or someone who looked like they were experienced adventurers. The whole training station sounded like a good idea. Training people how to trek the roads and what dangers might lie within.

Fluttershy approached Twilight to chat, while I continued to survey my surroundings. We were on a raised wooden platform, with a small hut that had a large window in the side. Surprisingly, the only people here where the five ponies and lizard thing before me. Even then, I didn't see any course for physical training. Perhaps it was only informational training, taught out of the hut?

I began to walk over to the hut. The old wood I walked on creaked with my weight. I had taken two steps before, out the corner of my eye, I saw something approaching. Fast. I had not time to react as a surprisingly gentle but forceful shove made me lose balance and fall, destroying the wood beneath me as I crashed through the weak material. The ground beneath that was a mere couple of feet below the wooden level, but splinters do not make for a soft landing. Subsequently the wind had been knocked out of me and I struggled to breathe, being so disoriented.

“Holy cow!” Came Spike’s voice.

“Oh my!” Exclaimed Rarity.

“Sir Corrick, are you okay!?” Twilight asked. All three happened in rapid succession, if not simultaneously.

“OoooooOooh. What’s it like down there? I always secretly wondered. Are there lizards? Creepy, icky lizards with poison? Oh! What about treasure is there any sort of lo-” I stopped paying attention to spoken words at that point. The pink ones obnoxiousness was making me dizzy. Well, more so than I already was.

I grunted and rolled over onto my belly before pushing myself up. “Ooaaaah…” I groaned once more before coughing, trying to get air back into my lungs. Gasping and rasping I clawed my way to standing up, now in a two foot deep hole, my beautiful white and yellow surcoat now covered in debris, and a few spots on my left side surely to be bruised. I looked up to the rainbow maned mare who was looking guiltily away and rubbing the back of her neck.

“Are you okay Mister Corrick?” Asked Fluttershy.

“I shall be fine. I’ve taken worse falls.” I replied with curt assurity. I never took my eyes of Rainbow though, and she never stopped looking at a particularly interesting spot on the wood.

“Rainbow!” Rarity yelled. “What on Equus made you do that?” There's that word again. I guess Equus is their equivalent of Earth? I’m the Prince of Equus. This entire world… It's my right, given to me by the Goddess presiding. Well, not yet. I don’t feel like going through the trouble of securing that right.

“I’m sorry, okay?” She finally looked up and saw me staring into her eyes. “It was an accident!” The air around my neck had become chilly. I had more of a cold rage than I thought.

“Some accident.” I quietly remarked. Her ears flattened back and she looked away to the floor again.

“It was only meant to be a friendly shove! I swear it! Please, I’m really sorry.” She rubbed her neck again. I had lost any anger I had previously had. I’m not one to hold grudges, anyways.

“I forgive you. I’m not paying for the damages though. After all, it really wasn’t as painful as it looked.” I climbed out of the hole, stretched, and brushed the debris from my clothing. It was only a gentle push after all. Perhaps Rainbow is more of the type to play rough, despite her rather fabulous mane colors.

“Wh- Really? That's it? Okay. I’ll pay.” Rainbow looked at me relieved. My cold rage hadn’t left me though. It didn’t feel like it had, but I also didn’t feel angry. My neck was just so cold. It hit me, then. I quickly pulled off my helmet, much to the surprise of the group of ponies around me, and set it down. I payed them no mind however, as I reached up underneath my my coif and pulled the bloody, squished remains of the snake. It’s head had been completely crushed. Holding it I could also tell that its spine had been broken in many places, along with it’s body splitting open like one would expect when getting crushed. The blood dripped down my arm after covering my hand.

“What is th- SWEET CELESTIA!!!” Rarity shrieked.

“Oh my.” Said Twilight softly.

Fluttershy said nothing, but teared up and looked away. It crushed my heart to see her saddened. It was a terrible idea to bring the damn snake. Spike threw up in his mouth at the sight, and Twilight tried to block his vision. I clenched my fist around the mangled corpse and threw it as off the platform. Blood flecks landed everywhere underneath the flight path. A damn shame, too. I was somewhat fond of the thing.

“C-Corrick-” Twilight began, but was interrupted by a distant rumble. The rumble was accompanied by a loud whistling, coming from the north. Turning toward the noise I saw a gargantuan worm-beast coming straight at us at a ferocious speed. Everyone seemed to be frozen in fear, and I won’t lie, so was I. I slowly took a step back before looking toward the sword on my hip. No way in hell was I going to fight this thing. I looked back to the group of ponies. They were staring at me, like I had done something strange.

“We need to run. I can’t kill that thing. We need to help evacuate the village too. Rainb-” I was going to start giving orders but Rainbow came up and gave a friendly jab at my side, rolling her eyes all the while.

“Relax, bud. That's the train.” She pointed in the direction of the beast.

“That's the train? I giant worm-beast is going to train us for traveling?” I asked, dumbfounded beyond all belief.

“Train us for traveling- what?” Rainbow said, easily as dumbfounded as I, if not more so.

“Sir Corrick, have you never seen a train before? You know, the locomotive *machine* built buy ponies for transport?” Twilight questioned. I had no idea but the thing was already here. It had stopped with high pitched screeching and loud hisses. I saw darkness at the corners of my sight, and a weight on my shoulders.

It vanished suddenly however, as I felt something on my side. It was Fluttershy nuzzling my side. I was stunned, but comforted more than anything. I reached over and patted her on the head, and scratched behind her ears. I forgot what had been covering my arm at that point, and so now Fluttershy had some blood smeared behind her ears. I looked over to the Twilight, who immediately understood. With a flash of her horn the blood on Fluttershy and I was gone. Twilight, however, had gone wide eyed.

The squeaking of a rusty door came from the train, and a short, beige pony with a handsomely thick mustache and a blue uniform trotted out and set down a stool for passengers to board. He then looked at a small circular trinket in his hoof, before shoving it back into his coat.

“All aboard!” He yelled. Waving us over. “Come on ponies, we’re ahead of schedule and I wanna keep it that way!”

The group started towards the train, spike carry the hefty load of luggage, but I was a bit more hesitant. Fluttershy, still at my side nudged my side, before softly saying, “Come on, Mr. Corrick. We can’t keep the train waiting.”

I loosened up and followed behind the yellow mare after replacing my helm atop my head, carefully avoiding the hole in the flooring. The uniformed stallion stared at it, before mumbling to himself about how this place had become so run down. It was my turn to climb aboard the locomotive, and I looked to the stallion, who in return gave me a funny look. He then rolled his eyes and motioned for me to hurry up. The stool was definitely not going to hold my weight so I kicked it out of the way and just stepped onto the train, which wasn’t even that high off of the ground to begin with.

Inside the train was rows upon rows of lavishly cushioned seats that definitely wouldn’t fit someone of my stature. I contemplated my options before I just chose a seat nearest the group and sat facing the aisle, taking up two seats but giving me enough room sit comfortably. The entire group had already gotten out entertainment resources for the trip. Fluttershy and Twilight had opted to read books. Fluttershy a bestiary of some sort, and I didn't even want know what Twilight was reading. All I. know is that the pictures in the bestiary were fun to look at.

No one seemed to be shaken up about the recent snake incident. If they were, they were really good at hiding it. It really did seem as if the had just forgotten about it. I guess its for the better though. I don't want to explain why I had a snake under my coif or have Fluttershy be upset in anyway really. If they don't ask, I won't tell.

The train started to move. Slowly at first, but it gradually got faster and faster. It was amazing. A machine, built by hu- ponies, that could move many at a great speed without any horses. I looked out of a window and was stunned to see the world passing by so quick. It almost made sick, looking out of that window. Something just made me feel queasy. I stopped peering out of that glass surface and went back to looking at the animal pictures from over Fluttershy’s shoulder.

A solid amount of time had passed, ever so slowly. Fluttershy had stopped reading her book and was now idly conversing with Twilight and Rarity, while Pinkie was talking spikes ear off a booth over. Rainbow and Applejack were playing some sort of game near a window, each had been pointing to something every now and again. I couldn’t guess the game so I stopped watching them after a couple of rounds.

The rhythmic bumps and train noises were soothing, and made me feel a little tired. I tried to fight it, but eventually, sleep took hold of me and I rested my head against the window behind me, closed my eyes, and went into what would hopefully be a nothingness, and a lack of dreams. I didn’t want to be reminded of what hell looks like in dream form.