Savage sat among the wreckage of Alla's former home, waiting for his witness to arrive. In front of him was an ornate puzzle box, black edged in silver. About the size of a steamer trunk, it bore no lock nor a place for a key. Only one could open it, him. The opening was important, the opening being witnessed even more so.

"I have had enough of things done in silence. This should be seen. Both as a warning and as a declaring of intent." Savage muttered to the destroyed living room.

Hearing the unlocking and relocking of the backdoor Savage looked up as a slender mare of pale coat and red mane walked in, glasses framing her thin face. Upon seeing Savage she tensed.

"Why do I feel that I am the fly and you, the spider?" The mare asked.

"Good to see you too, Anotha." Savage replied.

"Jack told us about you, but I never believed. Not truly."

Savage smiled, his sharp teeth glittering. "Quite. Anotha you are here for two purposes. The first we'll deal with now and the second we'll get to. First you're here to bear witness to me opening and taking what's in this box."

"Why me? You never liked me much, even as Jack, so Why?"

Savage sighed. Looking down the large stallion was silent a moment, looking for words for a language he had long become unfamiliar with. When next he spoke his voice was quiet and slow.

"Alla loves you, loves you as her sister. So when you see her next, please answer her questions. When I open this box, all other boxes like it will open. The one that took Alla, has a similar, but different box from the one in front of me, as do two others. I can not fight him without what is in here. But there is a price.
Once I do this, none of these boxes will ever lock again. Inside are tools so terrible they must never be wielded but can not be destroyed. Secrets that are best left unsaid but can't be forgotten. Power, that was never meant to be used, but can never be put down."

He paused, a faraway look in his eye, again searching for those unfamiliar words, before continuing.

"When these boxes open those that own them will take what is inside, or walk away and leave the contents for any that find it. That is the choice these boxes force their bearers to make."

"But why would anypony do such a thing?"

"Power has consequences, in both the setting down and the picking up. It has been our burden, for these boxes are not hard to open for the one that they were made." he looked down and took a key from his pocket.

"It is the consequences to be faced that kept them closed. I do this for Alla, as all is for Alla."

The key slotted into the top of the box, the click echoing in that quiet destroyed room. Anotha watched as the sides shifted and an opening appeared. Savage's eyes glinted in insane joy as he reached to retrieve what was inside.

However it was another sound that caught Anotha's immediate attention. Her eyes widened as she heard a pounding on the door begin, shaking she looked fearfully to Savage. Anotha's breath caught as Savage held a pair of Fingerless gauntlets. They were woven of a glimmering fabric and had four spikes that ran down the middle of the length. The Knuckles and palms where plated with an oddly gleaming metal, the pounding on the door was soon forgotten as she realized what the metal was.

"That's Orichalium!!!!!"

"Indeed it is, now for your other purpose, you are indeed the fly, but not for this spider, but to lure in two flies, that think themselves spiders."

She turned as she recognized the voices of the two stallions that had brutalized her husband and his family, that had taken Alla, their indistinct muttering heard through the door. Her ears shrinking back, she let out a soft whine, looking for a way out. Savage's deep voice echoed into the room, drawing her attention back.

"My own opinions on you notwithstanding, you've always done everything to earn Alla's love. I think you a bit controlling towards your husband, Runa, but that works for the two of you. When those two came the first time, the wounds were on Alla's family primarily, but further insight revealed one thing to me."

Gesturing around the Room, Savage continued, Their was more than Alla and her family here. Somepony else was here too. Somepony that did their best to defend their family. Somepony that was bound and tossed aside. Somepony that was not with the Rounds in intensive care.

Anotha's breath caught, shaking she rubbed her wrists, which drew Savage's attention.

Gesturing to her wrists and hands, Savage continued. "Your wrist are heavily bruised and there is blood underneath your fingernails,"

Savage's piercing gaze next examined her face. "You missed some blood, just under your lip too. When they entered, you fought alongside the Rounds, You drew blood with tooth and claw to protect your family."

Savage Smiled nastily. "I think that rather deserves a reward, don't you?"

Anotha teared up, "A lot of good it did, I drew blood, but they bound my wrists, and ankles, forcing me to watch as they hurt them. I still hear the bellows and screams when I sleep." Falling to her knees, her hands hiding her face as she sobbed.

Her tears were silenced by a low dangerous growl. "And inflicting that on YOU deserves RETRIBUTION.

Anotha shook her head. Nothing that she had done deserved either reward or retribution. She knew he was likely to kill her, but told the truth anyway. Still crying, she confessed. "Savage, I was not the one that called for help. When my family was being tortured I ran as soon as I got free. Then I hid. If you had not sent that letter to me and called me here, I might still be hiding. I am a coward. I do not deserve to be thought of as anything but."

Anotha once again began sobbing on the ground, but stopped as a shadow loomed over her. Savage looked down upon her, then extended his hand. She took it only to be hauled to her feet.

Let me get this straight, you believe that because you ran from those you were powerless before and then hid until you could be sure of who to trust, that makes you a Coward? Savage shook his head, a dark chuckle echoing out into the room. His incredulous dark amusement further drying Anotha's tears.

Your actions in no way mark you as a Coward, the mark you as out of your depth. You tried to defend your family, when it was clear that you couldn't do that, you removed yourself. Those actions mark you as intelligent and fierce. You are no coward Anotha Round. Smiling as he heard the splintering of the door, he placed Anotha behind him.

Placing the gauntlets on his hands, Savage uttered. "Get behind me, do not interfere. Only I can fight what is about to come through that door."

Hating herself, she placed Savage between her and the sound of the breaking lock. Anotha watched as a Pegasi, and an Earth Pony entered into the room. The Pegasi was whip thin, with strong large wings. His black coat and white mane giving him a sinister look. The Earth Pony was only 3 inches shorter the savage and twice as broad. The two thugs growled as they saw Savage.

Savage smiled and drew in power, as the five spikes running down the length drove themselves deep into Savage's flesh, the Orachalium plating glowing red for a moment, Anotha smelling and hearing the sizzle of burning flesh.

Savage smiled and laughed, "Holy Buck!!!!! Is it my Birthday? He sends the two ponies I HATE the most to hurt one of the ones Alla loves. It's almost like he WANTS you to die!"

Without a word, the two stallions struck. The pegasi flapped his wings, kicking up dust around Savage, allowing the Earth Pony to land a right cross to Savage's face. A rumbling laugh was heard from Savage as he spat blood on the ground.

"Come now Brutal, I expected better from somepony that got so little from getting so big, and Pretty when I get over there I'm going to feed you your wings for being such disappointment."

Brutal then threw a low blow to Savage's Midsection, which Savage caught. Jerking the arm upward Savage over rotated the wrist, shattering it. A center blow to the outside of the arm, shattered the elbow. Twisting the still held arm, the shoulder was torn asunder, a contemptuous follow up blow broke the clavicle. Brutal fell to the floor crying.

Laughing maniacally Savage mocked the fallen Earth Pony, "What's the matter Brutal? To busy going ass to mouth with Pretty to train properly? I mean, we all know you lost the ability to please a mare a long time ago.

Savage raised his eyes and Pretty had less then a second to regret his life choices before Savage grabbed the thinner Stallion. Spinning Pretty around, Savage placed one hand underneath the Pegasi's chin then struck where the skull meets the neck. Anotha heard the crunch of Pretty's neck being crushed from across the room.

Discarding the broken Pegasi, Savage Sighed regretfully. "Huh, that was over before I had time to enjoy myself much. I honestly thought you two would put on a better showing then this. Let me guess, this has never happened before, Right? You're both usually better than this? I'm sure you tell that to all those you've disappointed over the years."

Glancing to Anotha, Savage apologized sincerely. "I'm so sorry dear, I did promise them punished, and I wanted to truly destroy them, but well..." He gesture to the two thugs, disappointment clear upon his face.

Apparently, neither had any staying power, absolutely no skill whatsoever.Then Savage's face brightened.

"Would you be happy with torture, after all I did promise Pretty here a meal of his own wings. It wouldn't be right to go back on my word. I could probably make them into a sandwich, that's what things like these request after disappointing a lady right? Don't worry though, like any real Stallion, I will be making my own sandwich to help make up for everything being over to soon. I am so sorry for the disappointment."

He looked down upon the two again. "I really thought you'd both have more stamina, I had no idea the two of you would only be a one and done, damn!"

Anotha couldn't help but smile, then laugh at the absurdity enacted in front of her.

"You know what, Savage? I think I'm just gonna go, I have to get back to teaching Ancient Equestrian tomorrow and I have a whole bunch of lesson plans I have to get through."

Moving to the door, She stepped over the crippled pegasi, almost stumbling as she heard Savage's goodbye.

"Alright, I really do apologize. I truly thought this would last longer. Hey, I just figured what you guys must feel all the time!"

Walking out the door, into the bright Ponyville sun and to her first restful sleep in days. In fact, knowing that ones such as Savage existed and that he looked after her and the Rounds, Anotha doubted she would ever have bad dreams again.

"It's hard to be scared of Timberwolves when NIGHTMARE MOON protects your family." Anotha thought.

Despite herself, Anotha could not help smiling and laughing as, behind her, the screaming began as she walked out into the bright Ponyville day.

Author's Note

Alright this has been reworked and re-edited. I hope this reads better than it did before. We are now looking at the last of the old chapter's that needed to be reworked. We are all now in the final eight chapters. Afterwards this story will be well and thoroughly done. I hope that everyone will enjoy what I have in store.