Fallen Kings and Beasts

Chapters

Chapter 1: Rebirth
Chapter 2: Cold Truths
Chapter 3: Battles and Discoveries

Chapter 1: Rebirth

POV: Santiago Alvarez

Sitting down on a chair near my kitchen countertop, I swigged down a large bottle of Tequila, I drunkenly threw it against one of the walls of my house. I was too intoxicated to even give a shit about the condition of my own house at this point.

“Damn lady . . .” Quickly grabbing my sixth bottle of Tequila, I easily popped the cap off with my thumb and jugged the whole thing down.

“Should have waited . . . and not rushed the . . . damn marriage! But nooooo . . . she wanted to marry early! Sent her to college . . . gave her 20k for tuition . . . AND SHE CAME BACK PREGNANT!” Raising the Tequila bottle up and smashing it onto my counter, shattering the bottle.

“Fuck it, I’ma roll up a blunt.” Pulling out a pre-made joint filled with hydro marijuana from my right pocket and a lighter, I lit the sucker up. Putting the joint in my lips, I took a large gulp of smoke, keeping the smoke in for a good ten seconds. I then exhaled the fumes from my mouth. A slight burning becoming apparent from the back of my throat. Repeating this process till my blunt was but a mere chode.

“Where’s the damn bong.” I sluggishly got up from my chair, nearly stumbling with each step I took. As I exited my kitchen, I stumbled onto the living room. Lo and behold, the rainbow themed bong was already prepared for me on the couch.

“Ah hell yeah!” With fuzzy vision, I leapt towards the couch. However, my face meet the hard tiled floor. Not deterred, my hands started to pull me closer towards the couch and past the glass table that my drunken ass barely noticed.

Once on the comfortable furniture, I lazily grabbed the bong and started to rip hard. My dumbass was soon dying from all the coughing as the burning from my throat was amplified tenfold.

When I was finished ~~dying~~ coughing, I sat up. Then my house started to rock, as if it where a ship.

“PIRATES! THE PIRATES ARE BACK!” I yelled as I rolled off the couch due to the swaying of the house.

POV: Third Person

A mentally deranged man was convulsing on the hard tiled floor in between a glass table and a leather couch. Spewing off on how the pirates where back. The man himself had a lean build, tan skin with black, medium long hair, a neatly trimmed beard which connected with an equally trimmed mustache, hazel eyes, a white long sleeve shirt on, blue jeans with a small tear on his left knee, and a pair of vans.

POV: Santiago Alvarez

I got on my feet sluggishly and slinked back onto the couch behind me. The swaying of the ship I was on lessened. Appreciating this change of pace, I took a look of my surroundings.

Other than everything seeming to be swaying on it’s own and being a bit blurred, I’d say this has been a normal day so far. As much as a normal day could be for a depressed fuck like me

I gazed at the glass table, taking note of a familiar picture. Me and a woman smiling together at some beach, both of us wearing typical wedding wear. The woman had light brown skin, curly hair that started off with brown and ended with blonde tips, blue eyes, and had nails that were polished sky blue. Her name was Sophia. My brain started to relive certain memories. Painful memories.

Instinctively, I scooped the picture up from the table and flung it across the room. I had trusted her, thought of her as a loyal, kind, honest, happy, generous, and smart woman.

Taking a glance at my reflection through the glass table. Anger swelled up deep inside my hardening heart.

“After everything I did for her . . .” Taking a pause to recollect my self as tears slowly poured from my eyes.

“Why? I saw it coming a mile away . . . yet . . .” Taking a pause to reflect onto the past. “here I am, waiting for my heart to slowly heal.”

I got up and stumbled onto my knees. I sobbed onto the table hard, tears pouring endlessly. I desperately needed to detach myself from these emotions, yet I couldn’t. I wished to move on but I simply couldn’t. I don’t know why, I could only dream as of now. I needed to adapt to this change, as heart breaking as it sounded, I needed to move on.

My eyes started to become heavy due to the deep thinking mentally tiring me out, though sleep at the moment was tempting, an ache started to spread through my body.

A loud knocking startled me, the aching stopping. Slowly, My arms pushed off of the table while I place my feet flat on the ground, pushing up with my legs.

I dumbly walked with my back in a hunched position. The knocking getting faster and louder as my feet sluggishly took their steps. With blurred vision, the entrance door was in sight. I lazily grabbed the round, golden doorknob and gave it a twist.

Instantly, a body slammed through door, busting a hinge off. My own weight tumbled backwards as when I fell, my head whipped on the floor hard.

CRACK

My world becoming even more fuzzy and distorted as a warm liquid began to pool around my head. I pulled my right hand up to the side of my head, placing my fingers on the liquid and bringing the appendages in front of my face.

Red liquid covered the tip of each finger as a familiar metallic smell tickled my nostrils. I placed my hand back down at my side, letting it fall fast on the tile. As my eyes got heavier, four black figures rushed over to me, pinning me down by my legs and arms.

My eyes went wide, I attempted to struggle but something had entered my left arm. Struggling to look up, I saw a large needle attached to syringe stuck into my forearm. A clear liquid being pushed out of the syringe and into my arm.

As this happened, I glanced over at the unsettling figures.

Each one wore black jackets with black sweatpants and black gloves. That wasn’t the unsettling thing though, it was on their faces. The one holding the syringe had a brown wrinkled face, who’s eye sockets were dark with the exception of dim yellow lights shining at the centers. Dead Eyes.

The one holding my left leg had a pale mask with a sickened grin that showed broken and bloodied teeth along with bulging bloodshot eyes, the right eye being noticeably larger than the left eye. Crooked Grin.

While the one holding down my right leg had a grey mask that showed an eerie emotionless face that had black beaded eyes and instead of a pair of lips there was a bloodied line, looking as if was a straight clean cut. Emotionless.

However, the one holding down my right terrified me the most. A bloodied face of black wolf who’s toothy grin reached impossible lengths, reaching up near the ears. Instead of having white eyeballs, it held red, bloodshot eyeballs with dirty gold colored eyes. Didn’t help with the fact a black liquid crusted around its maw. Bloody Wolf.

A wave of numbness washed over me was all the liquid had entered my system, making my vision even blurrier and sounds became muffled.

All the figures let go of me, while the one with the wolf mask took out what appeared to be a scalpel.

“Make . . . quick . . . Search . . . valuables . . . Intestines!” The Wolf seemed to bark out the order, while the others nodded and ran to other rooms of the house, out of vision. The wolf looked down at me and ripped off my shirt, staring at my abdomen.

He slowly crouch over me, and dug the scalpel into my skin. I could only star in terror as I slowly realized what he was doing in my drunken and drugged state. He wasted no time in opening up my body, making flaps. Blood poured out of my body as the Wolf cut my muscle out of the way, exposing what he had been looking for.

Pulling out what appeared to be a hunting knife, he started to cut at where my intestines started. Wasting no time, he had both my big intestine and small intestine crammed into an airtight bag. He stepped over my body and out of my sight.

The ache returned. As it came back, a distorted voice spoke.

”Rise up fallen king. For one seeks destruction upon your home. It is them who will fall. RISE! For it is you, who will bring back balance to Equus. Et mortuus est rex resurget!”

SNAP

I screeched in pain as I could feel every bone in my body twist and crack. My muscles burned and twitched as they grew expanded in size. My muscles felt as though they were being ripped. I could only scream something ripped through my face, forming some sort of body part slightly visible in front of me, accompanied by an intense itch all over my body. My legs cracked and contorted with my feet reshaping. As if I grew in muscle size, all my clothing got torn off of my form with my feet outgrowing my vans. With a finish touch, something sprouted our from behind me.

I opened my eyes, rejuvenated from the experience. My vision became clear than ever and my field of vision had gotten wider. Surprised by this, I attempted to slowly get up. I froze as I saw my hand.

It was covered in grey fur, being able to see the muscles under the fur, my fingers, looking thicker with muscle, had long black talon-like claws. I got up quickly, examining my body, nearly tumbling while getting use to the new stance I took on.

“What the hell . . . Huh?” I spoke, my voice sounding hoarse, gravely, deep, and my throat rumbled slightly with each noise made.

Crooked Smile entered the room, freezing at the sight of me.

Hunger . . . Undying hunger. Anger boiled within my blood. These intruders entered my territory. Unwanted smoke as I could say. My vision has been reddened as anger and hunger consumed me.

Lunging quickly, I gripped onto his throat, digging my claws into the flesh. I forcibly yanked back as the intruder fell to his knees, grasping at his torn throat, only able to make gargling noises with his own blood.

Upon hearing the commotion, Emotionless and Dead Eye ran into the room through a hallway. Both of them froze upon seeing the carnage.

Bolting like a mad man, I threw Dead Eye into a wall and pushed down Emotionless. I latched onto Emotionless’s mask with my right hand while holding his struggling body down with my left. Hooking into whatever I could, I slowly pulled back.

I thought I tore off his mask but it seemed I was wrong, because I did more. I was staring at an exposed brain, untouched tongue, and jaw. Without a moments notice, I opened my jaw as wide as I could and comped down on the brain. A tart yet creamy flavor caressed my tongue as the scrambled egg-like texture was swallowed.

“What the hell?!” A deep voice cried out with a shrill. I whipped my head to the left and saw Dead Eyes standing, aiming a pistol at me.

“Eat hot lead!” He screamed, time seemingly slowing down. Firing his pistol rapidly, the bullets passed through my torso like a heated blade would cut through butter. I dropped onto my knees, howling in pain. Dead eyes reloaded his gun quickly, and took aim at my head.

“Say goodnight, bastard!”

POV: Third Person
Dead Eye unloaded another round into the beast’s head. The anthropomorphic creature dropped on its back, laying limp with multiple holes on its bloodied face and torso. Dead Eye took off his mask, showing a white middle-aged man with hazel colored eyes, long black, graying hair. Throwing the mask down, the man pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. He lit the cig and turned around, studying his environment.

“Just what in the hell was THAT!?” Pulling up a trembling hand to place his lips around the cigarette. Dead Eye glanced behind him, looking at the beast then towards his downed partner. He gagged at the horrific sight, not wanting to look at it further. Quickly turning his head back in front of him, inhaling the smoke and then releasing it seconds after words. As this transpired, the bullet wounds began to close up near instantaneously. With that, the beast eyes open.

POV: Santiago Alvarez

“God damn it William, if you haven’t gone insane before this, you have now.” A voice spoke, presumably Dead Eye without a mask muffling his voice. My vision wasn’t blurred red when I opened my eyes. However, the voice slowly stirred an animalistic hunger dwelling within me. Red flashed my sight with only one thing on my mind. Hunger, hunger for blood.

I quietly got up and leapt at Dead Eye. He didn’t have his mask on as I only saw long, black graying hair from behind his head. I coiled back my left arm. landing behind Dead Eye, my arm plunged deep into his skull from the back. My claws passed through his skull and out from the front of his head easily, with hazel eyes impaled with my claws.

Pulling back my arm, I eyed the eyeballs before dumping them in my maw. Biting down, they popped as a cherry tomato would. The taste of pork formed a smile on my face.

CHUCHAK

BOOM

My right shoulder exploded into bloody mush, which caused my right arm to fall clean off. I roared in pain, holding the area that had been shot.

“Just what in the hell are you?!” Said a gruff voice. I turned around weakly, eyeing Wolf as he held a 12 gauge pump shotgun. A tingling sensation waved over my right shoulder. Near instantly, a new right arm sprouted out from where it had been before being blown off. Blood covered the new limb as I flexed. I could tell that the limb felt slightly stronger. As I tested the new limb, my whole body tingled, and felt new found energy within myself.

Wolf cocked his shotgun but it was too late. I zipped in front of him at impossible speeds for my immense size. I grabbed the barrel and slowly bent it.

“What freak of nature are you?!” The intruder scream, bolting towards the exit. Too damn slow. I grabbed the back of his neck and threw him where he was once standing. Not wasting a single single, I lashed at his abdomen multiple times, successfully exposing his intestines.

His screams echoed through the house.

“NO! Please! I have friends and family that need me! You can’t do this!”

“Should’ve thought of that before ripping me apart!” I roared. Wolf gasped as he heard me speak and brought his hand up to cover his head.

Without hesitation, I dug into my new meal. A sweet pork-like flavor assaulted my tongue as I ate the very chewy organ. The flavor was amazing, so amazing I solely focused on the meal and ignored the screaming. Chewing the big intestine thoroughly and swallowing the small intestine as if it were a long noodle.

Finishing up, I stood back on my feet. The red vision dissipating back normal. I looked down at the bodies I left behind. Realizing what I had done, fear and anxiety raced up from my back. Now taking ragged breaths, I looked down at my trembling hands. They had been soaked completely in blood. With fearful eyes, my eyes started to well up with tears. My heart threatening to burst through my chest. Taking small steps backwards, I slipped on blood and fell onto my haunches.

“I did th-this?” I asked myself in a low, shaky breath.

POV: Third Person

Unbeknownst to the human-turned-beast, a black swirling mass had formed meters behind Santiago on the ground. Long, black tendrils coming out as the form expanded.

POV: Santiago Alvarez

I reeled in shock when a black tendril wrapped around my torso with other appendages attaching themselves to my limbs. I helplessly flailed my limbs, attempting an escape. In a split second, I was encased in a black slime. It seemed as though I was falling further from the lights my house emitted.

A bright light flickered, I started calming down as my eyes got too heavy for me told. My once rapidly beating heart calmed down in mere seconds as I fell into a deep slumber. Shocked by this, I attempted to keep my eyes open but in vain. My brain slowly shut down as so did the rest of my body.

POV: Princess Celestia

A smooth wind brushed against my fur as I snuggled into warm sheets. Enjoying the little amount of sleep I would be getting for tonight before having to return to my royal duties. Slowly slipping into unconscious, my eyes grew heavier and heavier till my lids were mere millimeters apart.

CRACK

BOOM

I yelped, jumping on my hooves as the castle began to tremble. Teleporting outside of the castle, ponies were screaming and running on the streets of Canterlot in a panic. The sky turned blood red, winds picked up ferociously as ponies started to be lifted into the air, and lightning striking tall buildings. Just as it started, it ended, returning back to night.

POV: Santiago Alvarez

Awakening with a gasp, I widened my eyes in shock of what I saw. I laid on a pure white floor made of a marble-like stone. Slowly getting up, I sighed thankfully as I saw a normal human hand. Gasping again, my eyes traveled down at my abdomen, my hand lifted up my shirt, showing it to be ok and not sliced opened. Relieved, my eyes took more focus on my surrounds, showing a white void devoid of any life. My heart threatened to burst out of my chest.

I attempted to speak, only to meet a searing pain within my throat followed by an intense headache and blurred senses. Grasping the temples of my head, I gritted my teeth. The pain had slowly died down, restoring my senses, but leaving a slight burning in my throat. Slightly winded, I glanced around me, noticing a very large mirror standing several feet behind me.

Despite looking at the mirror, it had shown no reflection.

’What the? This has to be a dream. Yes! I must’ve knocked out or something. So what happened at the house was just a figment of my imagination and that’s why there’s no reflection!’ Smiling, I believed I would wake any second.

Any second.

Anxiety slowly racing up my body, I began to tap my feet on the floor repeatedly. A new realization was made.

’Aha, It must be a lucid dream!’ Smiling once again, I brought my right hand up in front of me, fully expecting a shot glass to be filled to the brim with Tequila. Just about any second right about now.

Shit. Nothing was happening now, and I could feel fear crawling up my back. I started to take trembling steps towards the mirror, fearing what would happen. Now standing in front of the mirror, the distance between me allowed to see the entirety of my body, I looked. As previously shown, or rather not shown, my reflection. I looked down at my hands, examining them in appreciation. I glanced back at the mirror. Only for bright, yellow eyes to glance back at me with a bloodied maw. Letting out a blood curling shriek, I jumped back and stumbled onto my ass. Shutting my eyes close and bringing my arms to cover my face. Trembling, I awaited for a vicious attack. Though it never came.

Slowly opening an eye, I lowered my arms. The mirror had now reflected my image. Confused and scared, I timidly got up, nearly falling in the process. Raising up my right arm, I held up my index finger on my limp hand. Slightly shaking, I touched the mirror with a finger tip. The mirror exploded as black goo oozed from the shattered reflection onto the ground, luckily not landing on me.

Nausea blanketed me as my senses dulled. Falling on the ground on my knees and palms, all my muscles twitched and convulsed. My neck had spasmed, thickening to an unnatural extent along with my skull seemingly stretching and expanding as my jaws seemingly extended. My teeth becoming sharp, stabbing into gums as they also shifted. My torso bulked as new warmth slowly crept upon my body. These massive changes couldn’t be confined into my clothing as all of the fabrics tore, even my shoes bursting open. Then my bones shifted, mostly the legs. New discomfort spread through the waist down, a new appendage sprouted from behind, moving subconsciously. The most discomforting feeling coming from my crotch. My testicles growing uncomfortably along with my penis growing to a massive size, especially at the base. My arms grew longer and bigger, the muscles twitching rapidly, bulking up. Hands cramping as the finger nails fell off, my fingers healing the spots for the nails had been. Fingers now growing thicker and longer along with something sprouting from the finger tips.

The nausea fading as I gasped for air. My eyes widened as they caught sight of my hands.

’This is no dream . . .’

“Th-This is Hell!” I said, too horrified to be surprised with my voice with my current form. I look at my now trembling hand. A memory racing across my mind.

Hunger . . . Undying hunger. Anger boiled within my blood. These intruders entered my territory. Unwanted smoke as I could say. My vision has been reddened as anger and hunger consumed me.

“N-no . . . That wasn’t me! I’m not a cold blooded murderer!” Tears slowly dripping. It wasn’t that I felt guilt over their deaths. It was how easily I killed them and had not showed mercy. The hunger . . . The anger . . . The instinct to kill. I fear losing control.

“What if I lost control again?! Would I be able to control myself again?! What if one of my friends or someone from the family saw me . . . like that?!” Another memory played throughout my mind.

“NO! Please! I have friends and family that need me! You can’t do this!”

“I have friends and family that need me.”

“Friends and family.”

Looking back down at my claws, I whimpered.

“How could I return like this? Or how could I return at all! I’m stuck in a white void for fuck sakes!” Slamming down two fists on the floor. My heart beating faster, my breaths becoming ragged, new strings of realizations struck me.

“Even if I managed to return, what could I do?! I’d be feared by everyone, caught by the government and experimented on! It shouldn’t take long to see the carnage I left behind at my house! Had they even found out what’s happened or are the cops still oblivious to what transpired?! What if-“

A long appendage wrapped around my waist. A long, black tendril erupted out of a swirling mass from the black goo.

“Huh?!”

‘I reeled in shock when a black tendril wrapped around my torso with other appendages attaching themselves to my limbs. I helplessly flailed my limbs, attempting an escape. In a split second, I was encased in a black slime. It seemed as though I was falling further from the lights my house emitted.‘

“I remember you, little shit.” I said with a snarl. Using my new physical additions, I quickly swiped at the tendril with my claws, easily cutting it. The severed tendril dropped from my waist and flailed wildly. I sprinted away, looking back to see the black substance expanding with more tendrils exploding out from it. I swiveled my head back in front of me, pushing more strength into my strides.

Feeling a tickle on my back, I jumped upwards. As I looked down, a tendril shot at where I had been. Landing on the tendril with my paws, my weight having caused the part I was on to be smeared on what was a clean, white land.

Bolting once again at top speeds, dodging and ducking under the black, whip-like appendages. I glanced back, noticing another tendril quickly catching up directly from behind me. As it neared, I jumped high again.

“Persistent pests!” Grumbling mid-air. At the peak of my height, a pain erupted from the in between my shoulder blades and out of the center of my chest. Hissing at the pain, I looked at down at the tendril out of my chest. The tendril then began to wrap around my torso. Lifting my arms, I had nearly sliced off the tendril with my claws before multiple tendrils wrapped around my wrists and arms.

Struggling, I had attempted to bite at the tendrils clamping my arms with more appendages coming as assistance.

“Fucking shit! What do you guys want now?!” Not expecting an answer, I continued to fight.

”Sleep little one.” A deep, gravely voice rumbled, causing me to become surprised. Using this it’s advantage, a much bigger tendril with purple thorns wrapped around my neck, constricting and stabbing my neck. A burning pain in my lungs becoming apparent as minutes passed. My vision became slightly red but was washed out by the lack of oxygen entering my lungs. My vision darkening by what felt like an hour of trying to gasp of air. Finally slipping into unconsciousness, the tendrils released me as my mind gave out.

POV: Third Person

A soft breeze rustled through the leaves of trees and bushes throughout a darkened forest. A family of three rabbits had come out of a bush and into a large clearing, scavenging for any food that was available. Successfully finding a blueberry bush, they had started to chow down on the available food source. Though as they ate, a black, slimy mass seeped out from the land near them.

Eventually forming a ball, the mass had started to spread across the grass, thinning overtime. The bunnies were oblivious to the bearing mass. Having finally taking notice of the black ooze, the bunnies quickly scurried off in the other directions.

The black goop now has formed a flat circle with a diameter of twenty feet, looking like an endless pit. A grey blur zoomed out of the wormhole, flying several feet in the air before impacting the ground. Revealing an anthropomorphic wolf.

POV: Santiago Alvarez

My eyes opened wide as wind brushed through my fur. Night blanketed the sky as I laid on my back. Slowly getting up on my feet, I examined my body along with my environment. My body was centered in the middle of a grass clearing surrounded by trees. While, unfortunately, my body hadn’t changed after leaving the void.

The void. The creature that threw me here. A dimension hopping creature? I’ve gone insane haven’t I? Though, as much as I wish that were true, the experience felt too real.

“No . . . This all real. The pain I felt couldn’t have been created in my imagination. This . . . is who I am.” I said somewhat accepting, studying my body more.

“That voice I heard as well.”

’Rise up fallen king. For one seeks destruction upon your home. It is them who will fall. RISE! For it is you, who will bring back balance to Equus. Et mortuus est rex resurget!’

“Fallen king? Equus? Just what in the hell does that possibly mean?” I said thinking, subconsciously walking, reaching towards an invisible fridge handle, and pulling on air.

Noticing my actions, I corrected myself and chuckled.

“The first night in a while that I’m sober, huh?” I said, almost amused.

“It was about time I stop mourning over . . . Sophia . . .” I uttered sentimentally.

“It wouldn’t have worked out anyway, gotta move on . . . even as much it pains me.” I spoke while sitting on the grass.

Removing Sophia off my mind, I recollected my memory of the voice. It was almost as if it had preformed some ritual on me, turning me into what I am now. As much as I’d like to disagree, it had saved me from those crooks. Such a pathetic death for a King, ain’t it. Chuckling once again, I laid on my back.

Gazing up, I took noticed of the bright stars, my eyes growing dog-tired the longer I stared.

“Such a beautiful sight, even during such inconvenient events.” I spoke once again before shutting my eyes close and putting my arms behind my head, acting as a pillow of some sort.

“What will tomorrow have in stock for me?” I softly whispered before entering slumber

Author's Note

Constructive criticism is appreciated as is pointing at any sort of grammatical or spelling errors I made while typing this. Looking for an editor in the mean time.

Chapter 2: Cold Truths

POV: Santiago Alvarez

A ferocious blizzard roared through the many spruce trees that littered the flat, snowy landscape, save for a few mountains here and there. Thankfully, my fur was able to protect me from the frigid temperatures. The wind grew unpredictable and the dense snow didn’t make it any easier. Walking through the dense snow produced crunch-like sounds, though barely audible through the roaring winds

“How long shall it take to look for this beast?” I sighed.

A musky scent mixed with a faint metallic smell had suddenly arose in my nostrils. Looking down, I noticed a tuft of bloodied fur on the ice. I crouched down and picked it up, having it held on the middle of my palm. Taking a few small sniffs told me that this was the beast’s scent. Once I got what I needed, a small energy rose up from my chest and grew in my maw.

“This will no longer be needed.” I spoke, with a ball of orange energy exited out from my lips as I gently blew it towards the fur. The energy engulfed the fur and then dispersed, revealing nothing on the palm of my hand. Dropping my right arm to my side, I lowered my nose to the ground, inhaling.

The scent was faint, but it held the same musky scent. It also helped as blood was barely visible on the snow leading northwest.

I had began walking, minutes going by quickly as the blizzard got worse. During certain points on my trip, I could see bits of tree and ground freezing block solid. Not wanting to freeze up, I jogged lightly so my body could produce heat, just enough to not ice in the sub zero temperature.

With the little amount of time that passed, not only had the odor of blood grown with each passing minute, but the snowstorm had dragged on, even becoming more unpredictable. The snow had now reached just over my paws, which had previously just covered the pads under my paws.

“I must be close.” I whispered out, muffled by the snowstorm. Coincidence or not, a beast’s roar echoed through the storm. My ears picking up rapid footsteps crunching the snow approaching me. Sensing the approaching danger, I knew the storm would be a problem but I only needed the blizzard to locate the creature as its mere presence created snow storms.

”Tempestas ruptor!” I bellowed, a shockwave erupting around me. The blizzard had died down temporarily, exposing the animal’s form.

The monster was the same height as me, having a most of its body covered in bloodied, white shaggy fur with the exception of its head having all flesh missing, showing off a deer’s skull with long antlers, its limbs being slender and long, lanky fingers adorning pitch black claws, and had large, black hooves.

“Thank the makers I’ve finally found you, weird looking windigo.” I said, annoyed by the fact I had to go through the blizzard AND other creatures. No one should wake up to getting thrashed around like a rag doll by several yeti.

The creature opened its jaws, letting out an ear piercing shrill. With speed seemingly impossible for its size, it rushed at me with open claws and took a strong swipe at me. I simply dodged to my left, and threw a right hook, hitting the right side of his jaw. He stumbled back several meters before coming to a stop, his fingers running over where my fist landed. Letting out a scream, the Windigo began another sprint towards me. It had just made a huge mistake without it even noticing.

Examining the creature, I took note of how its body was leaning forwards. Using this to my advantage, I quickly gripped both of its forearms, and yanked it towards me. Its already existing momentum added to my pull had caused the windigo to start tumbling towards me. I narrowly dodged the weight to my left, hearing the sound of wood being pierced. Turning around, I saw the windigo’s antlers stuck in a nearby spruce tree. With ease, it tore its antlers out of the wood and once again tried to rush me.

I ran at the beast, claws ready to tear. As I ran, the winds began to whistle through the trees and snow was starting to fall. My reserves didn’t have enough magic to preform another weather disruptor spell added to the fact that this windigo was persistent as Tartarus.

“I won’t make the mistake of letting you live!” Once within a two meter range,
I shifted my body weight on all fours. My change in running managed to catch the windigo off guard, making it stop for a moment before it stormed towards me again.

when only a few feet apart, the creature dived at me.

“Predictable as always, Windy!” I called out, opting to call it by my newly created nickname instead of calling it a creature.

I increased my speed till I was nearly under the now airborne windigo. I leapt under Windy and sprang my legs off the ground, bashing my head into the windigo’s gut. Windy became breathless, gasping desperately for air. The force of my strike had sent him several feet up.

Looking up, I saw Windy suspended in the air for only a moment before plummeting down. Rolling out of the way, Windy’s body hit the dense snow hard with his belly, knocking out the little amount of oxygen he regained while airborne.

The blizzard was at full strength again. Wasting no time, I jumped onto his shoulders.

CRACK

My weight having been to much on Windy’s shoulder blades caused them to crack and break, didn’t help that my claws were slowly digging into his flesh. He writhed about in pain, flailing his body to knock me off but to no avail. Without any other options, Windy began to throw his head back.

His antlers coming back at me, I managed to grab both of them at the middle. With slight strain, I started to pull the horns at opposing directs. Windy struggled harder and harder, but was unable to do anything.

“Ragh!” Letting out a strained grunt, my arms pulled and snapped the antlers in half. With the sharp ends of the antlers, I stabbed them into Windy’s arms. This elicited a painful shriek from the windigo.

My hands quickly wrapped around Windy’s head. It was not easy as Windy began to thrash harder, seemingly knowing what I was doing by the sounds of his howls.

“You . . .” Struggling to get a good grasp on Wendy’s bottom jaw, “will not . . .” finally getting grip with my left hand, “cause more . . .” my tight grasp keeping his head still, “Damage!” I yelled, quickly twisting his head diagonally, producing a loud-

CRUNCH

My eyes snapped opened, being blinded by sunlight. My ears stood up at attention, my eyes assaulted with bright light. I hissed in pain with the unbearable and unexpected change in lighting. My eyes slowly became used to the sun after the initial assault. I jumped onto my paws and transitioned into a low defensive stance. A new smell entered my nostrils.

“What the fuck is that smell!” I snarled out as my snout wrinkled in disgust. Gagging at the horrid smell, multiple bushes near me began to rustle.

My senses now going overdrive, I twisted my body and my head repeatedly towards the rustling. My whole body tensed as I stared at a specific bush, glowing green eyes staring back at me. Without warning, a weight descended onto my back, what painfully felt like claws digging into my skin. I turned my head in a pained frenzy, seeing a set of jaws coming down behind my neck.

I let out blood curdling howl. A blur exited the bush I was examining moments before, another set of jaws wrapping around my throat. I lifted my hands at the jaws and yanked both of them off my neck, though this caused chunks of flesh and fur to be torn off.

I threw the creatures in front of me, showing off the bizarre body of said being. Its body was shaped similarly to that of a wolf’s but that wasn’t the bizarre part. Its entire body composed of thick wooden twigs, small logs of wood, and leaves. Even after my life was flipped for the worse, I was still in disbelief at the wolves.

Both of the wolves jumped back onto their wooden paws, revealing the massive size they had. Their wooden heads reached just above my waistline. I lifted my right hand up, feeling my now healed throat. My ears flicked to my right, picking up multiple snarls in the distance northeast from me. The two wolves in front of me let out ear-piercing howls.

The distant wolves responded with their own howling, my ears picking up at least four more different howls afar. I began getting goosebumps, causing fur on my arms and neck to rise, as I heard the barks of the incoming pack. Panic raced through my mind as I thought of the damage a pack could do to me. Sure, I may have amazing healing abilities but I did not want to be ripped apart.

I quickly turned around, bolted out of the clearing. I heard the snap of wooden jaws where my ankles were moments ago. I began to run at speeds I couldn’t even dream of reaching throughout my life back home. The trees becoming blurred as I sprinted.

After what felt like minutes of running without fatigue, the putrid scent of the wolves vanished. Just before I could slow down, the ground below me gave out. I yelped out in surprise, flailing my limbs around for anything to stop my fall..

The dark abyss blanketed my vision, the only source of light coming from a large hole from where I fell. My backside smacked down hard into water which left a stinging pain on my back. Water had now entered through my nose and into my lungs. Now fully in control of my body, I propelled myself with my limbs to the surface of the water.

Breaking through the surface of the water, I opened my eyes wide open and coughed out water, frantically waving my limbs under water to keep afloat. After gaining several breaths, my eyes skimmed the entire area. My body floated in a large body of water in a cave.

Thankfully, I spotted a rocky surface. Swimming onto it, I crawled out of the water. I slowly got more oxygen in my lungs.

“Soy estúpido.” I said, slowly getting up onto my paws. My eyes got use to the darkness, showing off the stalactites and stalagmites. Its floor being rugged, and covered in dry blood splotches of blood.

Just what the hell happened here? My eyesight slowly adjusted to the dark setting, my nose sniffing the area out, and my ears swiveling around to catch any sound.

A distorted voice groaned, seemingly echoing from every direction around me. I sprung up in surprise, nearly stabbing my head with the stalactites.

Landing on my paws, I continued to look over the cavern. “Who’s there?!”

”I’m . . . alive? The elements failed? WHAT A JOYUS REVELATION! Ahahahahaha!” I kept on swiveling my ears in different directions, hoping to find the source of the mad laughter.

Saying that I was scared shitless was the understatement of my life, especially with my current predicament. Well actually second, my worst fear was when my mom had a chancla in hand. “Shut the fuck up psycho! Where are you!” I barked out, demanding for the mad laughter to end. It worked, being replaced by an eerie silence.

”You don’t remember me? Quite disappointing, seeing as you did take away my psychical facade.” Letting out a depressed sigh, it resumed its talk. ”Hmph! After going through your memories, You aren’t the Fenrir that killed me it seems.” If I hadn’t gone batshit crazy before, I was now.

“Holy shit . . . I’m insane. Didn’t think I’d turn out like Grandma Sofía.” I said nonchalantly, accepting my now unstable mind.

This provoked a response from the voice. ”You idiot. I am as real as it gets!”

My right arm rose to my face, to which I had no control over at this point, and punched my snout before it fell to my side. It was enough damage for blood to start gushing out. “Chinga tu madre!” I cursed out while putting pressure where it stung with my hands.

”Do you believe me now, foal?” The voice questioned. I answered through clenched teeth. “Asshole! I fuckin’ believe you now, but just how did you do that!?”

Waiting in irritation, I removed my hands off my now bloodied muzzle and opened my mouth to ask again, but was interrupted by a delayed answer.

”I’m in your mind, and you by no means are mentally strong. In basic terms, I have control over EVERYTHING you do. You’re only moving on your own because I have no reason to take control.” The voice said mockingly. First he injures me, now he’s saying I have a weak mind. The hell is a voice in my head to tell me that I’m mentally weak. Especially with what was going on back home and right now.

“Tough talk for a dead man!” He only chuckled at my response. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I ushered a question. “Hey, couldn’t you have informed me any other way without me getting hurt?”

”It’s funny to mess with confused beings.” I rolled my eyes, frustration slowly building up in me. “What ever, anyhow I’ve lost any reason to logic and got several questions for what the hell is happening to me, right now!”

”Ask away.”

Staring at nothing in particular, I began to formulate some questions in my mind.

“Just who the hell are you?”

”I’ve been called many things. A monster, a god, but my true name is Boreas.” A god? A monster? Just WHAT is Boreas.

“What are you?”

”I’ll will answer that in due time.” This was said in a firm tone through his distorted voice. Letting out a vexed groan at his reply, I followed up with a similar question.

“What am I?”

”You are a lycan of this world, not be confused with your worlds fictional werewolf or lycan.” He confirmed my suspicions of me being on another planet by the use of your world. ”A lycan on this world is similar to a werewolf on yours, with the exception of being human in the first place. Lycans on this planet have near perfect regenerative skills, as you already found that out the hard way, and are immortal when it comes to aging.” My jaw dropped open in shock. “IMMORTAL?!” I screamed out.

As if my chances of going back home and living normally didn’t seem nonexistent yesterday, they surely were now. Mierda. Next question.

“How exactly do you know of Earth?”

”I reside in your subconscious, which acts as a gate to your memories. If one were to pass that gate, like I have, they’d gain instant knowledge of where you lived and who you are, or were.”

“That’s. . . unnerving. Getting back on topic, earlier you said I wasn’t the same Fenrir that killed you. Who is this ’Fenrir’, how are you in my mind if your physically dead like you say, and what do you mean when you said You aren’t the Fenrir that killed me it seems earlier?”

”This may take a while, so I’d suggest that you make yourself comfortable.” I reluctantly sat on my hindquarters with my legs crossed and hunched forward as in deep listening.

”Fenrir was a lycan, such as yourself. However, he was also a warrior. He led his people into battle against the toughest of foes and remained undefeated for quite sometime. Then Discord happened. Discord, the chaotic god, ruled over a powerful nation called Equestria, causing unhappiness and unrest. Being the embodiment of chaos on disharmony, he grew bored of ruling Equestria. So he began to search, and found Fenrir with his comrades.” Boreas let out a small chuckle before continuing. ”They fought hard, but not hard enough. Angered by their unwillingness to let him do what he pleased and the threat they presented to him, he eradicated nearly all the lycans. Nearly, that is. He spared Fenrir and let him live. In reality, it was less of a mercy than it was a punishment. Forced to roam this world, knowing that he failed his people, he prepared himself to avenge them.” I only sat in silence, listening to each word. Losing family is hard, after all, I’ve lost both of my parents in ways I wished I didn’t, but to have your entire species wiped off the face of the planet? That’s something I couldn’t imagine myself recovering from.

”Several years had passed, and throughout all that time, Fenrir had been training his body for a rematch against Discord. Whether it was conditioning physically, mental, or magical, he was always improving himself. The day came, when he was ready to take on Discord. Clad in enchanted, iron armor with an enchanted sword, shield, and more equipment, Fenrir traveled to Equestria. Instead of seeing the lands for what they were, he saw Discord reality-manipulating powers being clearly used here. As far as he was concerned, Discord didn’t cause chaos on this scale. The ponies of the land were runnin-“ Ponies?

“Did you just say ponies?” I interrupted.

”Yes, ruled by ponies, hence why it’s called Equestria.” A land rules by ponies? If they rule over a land, it must show that they have at least low level sentience, right?

“These ponies have sentience right? If so, how comparable are they to humans?”

”Yes, the Equestrians are sentient. They are equal to human level intelligence from Earth.” A hopeful look crossed my face. This could possibly be good. I could possible communicate with the equines, and maybe live a somewhat normal life. It’s comforting know I’m not the only intelligent thing on this planet. I was afraid to be with this voice for the rest of my life.

”I wouldn’t count too much on meeting the ponies. From past experience, they don’t take exotic visitors all that well. Well, from as far as I can remember” Boreas stated, the words past experience echoing with a slightly bitter tone.

“When you’ve got individuals like Discord, I guess you have to be weary just in case.”

”Getting back on topic, Fenrir saw ponies galloping across the warped fields. Far off, two sister alicorn princesses, Celestia and Luna, fought against Discord. An alicorn being a combination of an earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn. Alicorns were much more than a combination of the three pony races, being evident enough as they had their own magic. This magic was naturally much more powerful than the magic a skilled unicorn possessed. If the alicorn magic was honed enough, it could move celestial bodies with ease; while it would take a group of powerful unicorns to move them with significant strain. Even if these two were the absolute best of the best when it came to magical prowess, they couldn’t hold a candle to Discord’s trickery and reality warping abilities.” Magic, reality warping, sentient ponies, and gods?! I’m at a lost for words, literally.

“Discord believed that he had already won the battle, little did he know that the sisters had something in store for him. Using the stones known as the Elements of Harmony, they imprisoned him in the form of a stone statue. After witnessing all this, Fenrir was still intent on obliterating Discord’s very soul. Fenrir lunged with a sword ready to come down onto the stone head of Discord, Princess Celestia barely managed to stop Fenrir in time and informed him of the consequences that destroying Discords statue would bring. Fenrir reluctantly gave up on destroying the vulnerable Discord. Princess Luna stopped Fenrir to ask several questions. These questions eventually led up to the reason why the lycans suddenly disappeared.”

"Out of pity, the two rulers offered Fenrir to live in Equestria. Fenrir, after having his species mopped out of existence, wanted to find a purpose. So he accepted their offer. The only catch was that he had to certain quests for them. The fighter in him was by no means angered by this. It offered a way to replace what was once gone. To none of the princesses surprise, he did these missions with high success, whether it was in combination with a certain branch of Equesria's military, or alone. While his last mission was successful in achieving its intended goal, it also created another problem. The mission was simple, all Fenrir had to do was locate, what was thought to be, a Windigo, that was causing trouble at a nearby village. Windigos are evil spirits that feed off hate and produce massive snowstorms. Celestia believed that he could easily locate, and if it got to the point, kill it. Luna though, believed that Fenrir should’ve been accompanied by at least one high level mage due to windigos being rather dangerous and mysterious creatures, and in case Fenrir was overwhelmed. Unknown to the two, their bickering fed the upcoming threat. Tired of their arguement, he walked to that village with only a small amount of magic contained within him. Fenrir arrived at the village, seeing snow blanket most of the small settlement. He informed the residents of his assistance, the ponies then directed him towards a disturbance nearby forest. Unfortunately, when entering the forest, a harsh blizzard started to form throughout it.” Sounds familiar, eerily comparable to what I dreamt about last night.

"Sorry to interrupt, but that sounded similar to a dream I had earlier." This made me think. Before I transformed, an ominous voice called out to me, naming me a fallen king. Coincidence or not, Fenrir was a king that lost his people. A fallen king.

"Based off your thoughts, you're smarter than I took you for." Ignoring his comment, I contemplated to who I was. It couldn't be possible. I can't be Fenrir yet, everything points to that. Didn't help that I'm a Lycan or that it felt very real, almost like reliving a memory.

"Maybe if you'd let me finish, I'd be able to shed some light on your current predicament." I lifted my head up towards the cavern's ceiling and released a sigh.

"Continue."

"The search was a long one, the only indication of where the windigo's whereabouts being based off the intensity of blizzard. After the many hours, he had found the creature. However, it was not a windigo, it was something far more powerful and ancient. The wendigo. The wendigo was a mere beast, yet had created the windigos. The creature had made the windigos through ponies that ventured too deep into its territory, infecting them with a cursed bite. The bite caused ponies to live on as evil spirits. Luckily for Fenrir, the wendigo was severely weakened, for it also fed primarily on hatred and no amount of animals could power the beast’s to its full power. Of course, Fenrir was oblivious not only to the existence of this creature but as well to the consequences that came with killing a wendigo. Not only would the Wendigo's body produce a massive explosion, its spirit would possess a nearby organic life form. Fenrir survived the explosion with just a minor scratch , after all, he's fought opponents many times, sometimes armies, and won. The wendigo's spirit successfully entered Fenrir's mind, but something phenomenal occurred. While wendigos are much stronger than most species, they don't have the same level of intelligence as the ponies do, only being as smart as the average dog. I bring this up in conjunction with Fenrir's possession simply because it created a new being, mentally."

"That's fascinating but what exactly are you trying to get at?"

"It was my rebirth." Jumping up in fear, the realization that an evil spirit was in me struck my well-being.

"Don't fret Santiago, I wish not to harm you, yet. Now calm down." My vision turned red, anger overwhelming my senses.

"You don't wish to harm me?! You already did earlier! I won’t fall for your lies, damn Duende, get out of my body, NOW!" Proceeding to scratch at my head, my seething anger began growing.

"I've lost it! How many more times will I break down! WHY! Why must life throw me here! Was Earth all a dream and my mind is just faltering?! ¡Maldita sea al infierno!" My muscles tensed up tightly, joints locking up, and my vision fading from red to black.

"No! I won't let you control me! This body is the last thing I have!" My limbs began shaking, painfully so.

"Sleep." My eyelids became cumbersome, darkness quickly enveloping my sight.

POV: Third Person

Santiago's body dropped onto the floor, laying unconscious. It remained still for several seconds before it starting to convulse violently. A white glob shot out of the Lycan's maw, landing a few meters ahead of Santiago. Said glob vibrated into the shape of a wolfs skull before hardening into bone. The lifeless head laid there for several moments. Suddenly, black mist formed under the skull which started elevating it into the air. The mist spread, forming a transparent body, identical to Santiago's Lycan body. The mist started to form a skeletal structure, followed by blue organs, blue muscles, tar black skin, and pitch black fur. The skull remained without flesh, eye sockets had now emitted small, icy blue eyes.

The creature stood still before letting out a yawn, stretching out its body. Bones popped into place, evoking a pleased groan.

"It is such a pleasure to have a physical form again." The voice of Boreas bouncing off the walls. Finished stretching, Boreas held his right hand open in front of his face, concentrating on his palm. The air around Boreas grew frigid, a small rigid ball of ice slowly formed at his palm. Releasing a distorted chuckle, he crushed the cold ice ball. “I’ve seemed to inherit from Fenrir’s body. Not only that, but I can feel my body producing the magic that’s necessary to sustain my abilities.” Examining his new fluffy, black coat, he reopened his right hand. He focused on the same previous point but instead of creating an ice ball, he crafted a flat sheet of ice. It acted as a mirror to which Boreas tried to view a reflection, but the cave was far too dark.

“Hmph! I can’t view my new form in such dark conditions. I swear to Grogar that there’s an exit nearby.” Boreas looked back, noticing the hole that Santiago fell through. Boreas let out another yawn, revealing a long and broad azure colored tongue.

“Such a shame, my every presence had begun to corrupt Santiago. An even bigger shame that he didn’t learn the rest of his past.” Looking back at Santiago’s body, Boreas stared his anatomy for a while.

“He’ll find out eventually, assuming the princesses are still alive. Besides, I doubt that Fenrir’s soul was erased. If the elements didn’t erase mine, he’s definitely still alive. I reckon once he regains a physical form, he’ll look for me.” Boreas turnt his body around and began walking towards the pool of water. His blue eyes briefly flashed. Thick ice quickly begun to engulf the surface of the water. Boreas retained a balanced walk over the slippery ice, his weight not putting any stress on the surface of the ice.

Once he reached the wall, Boreas quickly scaled up the rocky wall and onto to the grassy surface of the forest. The sky glowed a ghastly orange, to which Boreas quickly noticed this. “Odd.” Boreas muttered, pulling out the ice mirror and took a long look at his new figure. Satisfied with the results, he threw away the pseudo mirror.

Movement shuffled around the terrain around Boreas. Thick, thorny vines grew towards his ankles, Boreas barely noticed this and summoned an ice axe from his left hand, cutting the vines in half. More vines rapidly grew towards Boreas. Summoning another axe with his right, he chopped a tree trunk thick vine with ease.

“Impossible, the Everfree is out of control. The tree that the pillars planted kept it at bay, unless . . . it was destroyed.” Boreas sighed in annoyance. “What idiotic fool destroyed it, assuming it was destroyed by another sentient life form. The lands will soon be overrun if no one’s keeping it in check. I highly doubt that the Pillars of Equestria are still around, as they must still be limbo.” Boreas slashed down another vine. “Something in the air feels wrong. I’m able to sense a dark magic at the place called . . . Canterlot I believe. Yet, I sense another presence that’s much more malicious, almost terrifying.”

A long vine lunged from behind Boreas. He didn’t have enough time to react to the throned plant as it pierced through his torso. Boreas didn’t let out a pained sound, instead the entirety of the vine froze rock-solid. Putting his hand over the frozen vine, he pulled it out from in front. The frozen plant broke off, leaving a hole in the torso of Boreas. Instead of spewing warm red blood, the wound dripped a blue liquid, droplets falling to the ground and causing the grass it touched to freeze. The wound sealed itself up quickly.

“Amazing, not only has this body recognized the need for magic and has started producing it, I’ve also inherited the regeneration ability that a lycan possesses. If I still can transfer hatred into raw physical strength and magic, I’d be quite the powerhouse. Maybe even able to overthrow the princesses, or perhaps Discord.” A chilly breeze surrounded Boreas, a shockwave soon erupting from his chest. The burst of energy had only traveled a small area around him but froze nearby organ life into ice.

“No, I don’t have a reason to do that yet.” He then glanced at the hole from where he crawled out from. His eyes focused on the edge of the hole, ice forming at the rim of the sinkhole and slowly closing into the center. “Every since I’ve gained sentience, I’m much more sympathetic towards those I cause harm towards, or at least not as harsh. It was also the very least I could do. After all, without Santiago or Fenrir, I wouldn’t be standing right now.” To say that Boreas appreciated the Lycan was an understatement. To Boreas, Fenrir was like a creator. The same appreciation couldn’t be spoken for Fenrir or Santiago, since both were corrupted in some form.

Not thinking of the subject any further, Boreas took off sprinting while hacking off the vines that attempted to grab him. “That Magic feels all too wrong.” Letting out laughter, he increased his speed.

“Off to Canterlot it is!” The Wendigo yelled, ice quickly forming where Boreas paws once were.

Author's Note

Had to repost this chapter, I was experiencing a glitch since I had accidentally posted this chapter earlier. Anyhow, constructive criticism is much appreciated.

Chapter 3: Battles and Discoveries

POV: Santiago Alvarez

Muscles ached horribly as I held an iron sword with my disfigured hands. The left side of my eyesight was completely dark. Bloodied, torn apart lycan corpses littered the twisted reality around me. Mad laughter vibrated the very air around me.

SNAP

My already mutilated torso was struck by an invisible force, vision becoming blurred as I was hurled in the air and skidded next to several of my fallen brethren, dropping my sword in the process. Opening my tired eyes, a long, serpentine shaped figure covered me in it’s intimidating shadow .

The yellow tinted eyes and crazed red pupils were enough to indicate who it was. Discord’s face abruptly jumped in front of me, a sickening smile adorning his muzzle.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It’s truly a shame to see such a powerful warrior race fall rather pathetically.” A glass filled to the brim with a brown, milky substance popped into existence. Gripping it with a bloody talon, Discord lifted the beverage up to his lips and sipped. The glass cup was sucked up like water, leaving only the substance floating in the shape of a glass cup. Discord let out a refreshed sigh. He then threw the liquid at my torso.

BOOM

I was launched across the distorted landscape, losing all feeling from the middle of my torso and below. Lightheadedness washed over me. A thick paw gripped around my throat before lifting me up.

“You prideful bastards aren’t so sturdy after all. Get shook up and now you don’t have half the guts you use to have. Literally!” Discord exclaimed, bringing up a mirror in front of me with his talons. It now allowed me to get a clear look at my mangled body from the mid section of my torso and below, or rather lack of. Broken bones stuck out with exposed veins, marrow, and intestines slipping out of me. My muzzle was crooked and caked with dried blood. The left side of my face was completely destroyed, leaving my right eye the only one left. Pieces of flesh were seen missing from my body along with patches of fur, some areas even completely missing muscle which exposed bone.

“You’re a lost caused Fenrir! Too mentally retarded to grasp the very idea of my offer to you! All you had to do was stay out of Equestria, yet you follow what you were too prideful to give up land! Now you’ve just got me all flustered!” Discord childishly pouted.

“I can’t have the ponies fear me anymore than they did before this fiasco, otherwise they wouldn’t fight back due to fear of opposing me. Now THAT, is my definition of boring.” Discord brought his talon up to his chin, looking up at the purple sky in thought. Almost instantly, a grin flashed across his face

“Aha! I’ll just erase this event from their memory!” With a snap of his fingers, the dead bodies instantly vanished. My body had started its healing process.

Newfound strength boiled in me as my torso repaired itself back. I lashed at Discord’s manticore limb, cutting it clean off. I dropped to the ground quickly and threw a punch at Discord. My fist stopped mere centimeters in front of his shit-eating, an invisible force of energy had completely enveloped me and effectively stopped all movements. Discord waged one of his talons in front of me mockingly. Another force of energy sent me on my back.

“I would ask for a hand, but it seems I’ve already found one.” He joked. He picked up the paw and reattached it to his severed limb.

“Jokes aside, that snap was supposed to erase the entire Lycan race and their known existence. It seems you’re already developing a resistance to my chaos magic.” Discord eyed me curiously.

“I guess I’ll let you go, after all, why go through the trouble to end your miserable life anyways? You got nowhere to retreat to and no one to go to. It really goes to show how much of a clown you truly are, failing to protect your subjects.” Discord then started laughing hysterically.

“The expression on your mate’s face. Though I will admit, she was a tough one. If that wasn’t the purest form of mother’s rage I saw from her when I slaughtered your pups, I don’t know what is.” My expression remained the same due to the magic that bounded me, but my emotions thundered hatred. My heart started pounding with adrenaline.

Discord seemingly relished my invisible anger towards him due to his grin widening. “Don’t be such a Debbie Downer, be proud of the fact it took a god to destroy your primitive race. After all, you just might be the last lycan on this planet.”

My expression remained still. Discord let out a groan the a chuckle. “You really should’ve listened to the small minority, otherwise your people might still have been alive. Alright, alright. Begone.” He said, before my vision turned dark.

As if all the oxygen had been removed from my lungs, I awoke desperately gasping for air. Though It seemed slightly hard to breathe. The air was fucking cold. My eyes already began to adjust to the dark setting.

“What?” I muttered out, focusing on the thick, sheet of ice where the body of water I fell into once was. The entrance even blockaded with ice. “Great...”

POV: Third Person

Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap

Borea’s claws clicked amongst the marble flooring of Canterlot Castle as he walked. Boreas stopped in front of a pair of marble doors. Raising his left hand, he aimed his index finger at the doors. The air around him around grew cold as a marble sized ball of energy built up at the top of the finger. From the ball a beam shot out and unhinged the doors, causing them to be flung deep into said room.

Both doors smashed into a large, black blocks of crystal. In fact, the whole room had many black crystals coming out of the flooring.

“These are no normal crystals, they reek of malicious energy.” Boreas noted. His eyes examined the room and noticed the two seats up ahead. The one on the left had a blue lining on the edges that led to a small moon in its waning crescent phase, the one of the right was similar with the exceptions of it having a gold lining and a blazing sun. Next to the seats were curtains. The curtains closest to the individual seats had large decorative windows that signified who’s chambers they belonged to. The left had a winning crescent and the right had a blazing son.

“So both princesses are still alive, or at least before this happened.” Boreas said while looking at the crystals. While studying the crystals, Boreas noticed new decorative windows.

Most of the windows weren’t significant to him, adorning images of past events along with several new unknown ones. Only one that Boreas saw stood out personally to him. It was a lavender alicorn mare that wore a crown with a gem, surrounded by five other mares composing of the different pony tribes wearing necklaces with gems centered on it.

Boreas lightly chuckled, “It seems that the two princesses have passed on their precious elements, though how?” He stated out loud, pondering the possible reasons as for why this has occurred.

“The bearers are forever connected for as long as they live or remain pure. They both must still be alive if this throne room is anything to go off.” Glancing back to the two seats, he mentally stretched off a possibility.

“The seal must’ve been broken through the corruption of one of them. Luna always seemed jealous of Celestia through Fenrir’s eyes, him even able to sense a dark power ever so slowly boil within her. Even then, Celestial also emitted the ever so smallest amount of dark energy that could be traced.” Boreas turned his head back to the mirror.

“Speaking of corrupt energy, I’ve been sensing it ever since my reawakening. It being especially notable in this very room, almost like it’s lingering behind me. Those possessed ponies outside haven’t helped my case at all either.”

“Fool!” A voice erupted, echoing everywhere. Boreas twirled his head in an attempt to find the source of the voice

“Who goes there?! Reveal yourself!” Boreas yelled, leaping to the entrance of the room. Silence soon followed. Boreas viewed the room like a sniper. The evil presence was only magnified. A circular shadow manifested in the center of the throne room, forming into a physical form.

The royal attire. The green eyes. The red, curved horn. The black magic coursing all over him. It was the one, and only.

“King Sombra?!” Boreas exclaimed loudly. Sombra’s lips curled into a smile. “The deformed mutt recognizes the King? Not surprising considering how mighty my power is.” Boreas started back at the King.

“Anyhow, what are you doing here diamond dog?” Boreas let out a chuckle. Sombra looked on at the reformed wendigo in confusion. “What is so funny masked whelp?”

Boreas ceased his chuckles. “I am no diamond dog, you umbrum demon!” Sombra grew frustrated with the comment.

“I will not ask again! What are your intentions here?!” Sombra roared out, taking on a misty form where only his head was visible.

“I’ve come to find the source of malicious energy, however, I can conclude that my search is done.” Boreas stated.

“So what of my magic?” Sombra replied.

“I’ve come to find out what your intentions are. It’s already obvious that you’ve managed to take control of Canterlot and other nearby settlements, if the possessed ponies are anything to go by off of.”

“My intentions? What idiot would ask that?! After I’m done with Equestria, I’ll shall go after the other nations and take control of them as well, remaking this world in my own image of course.” Boreas boasted.

“I can’t let you continue on this path. This world will suffer and all life will suffer under your rule. For the well being of this planet, I won’t let you live!” Sombra rolled his eyes listening to what Boreas just said.

“I don’t have time to combat a deformity such as yourself, I need to remake this castle. GUARDS!” Two female pegasi and two male unicorns rushed from behind Boreas.

Without warning, Boreas turned, cocking his right fist and letting it loose onto a male unicorn. The fist connected into his cheek, sending the horned pony flying back into a wall. The very force of the punch struck hard enough for his body be buried into a small crater. Even though possessed, the three others stopped in pure shock and terror evident in their green tinted eyes. Their instincts told them to get out as quickly as they could, to which they did.

“What the?! Cadance! Shining Armor!” A pink alicorn teleported in and flew at Boreas, followed by a white unicorn galloping behind her. Both were obviously possessed, indicated by their green tinted eyes and dulled colors.

“Another alicorn? It would be an amazing sight if not for the current circumstances!”

Ice gauntlets formed around Boreas’s fists. He uppercutted the incoming alicorn, knocking her unconscious. Boreas bounded towards Shining with a gauntlet ready to explode forward. Before the punch could hit, the unicorn summoned a magical dome around himself. Though it wasn’t a direct hit on Shining, it managed to make the smallest crack visible to the average eye.

Boreas didn’t let up though. Instead, he replied back by sending out a flurry of punches, each punch causing the shield to crack further. Sombra’s hatred grew towards the whole ordeal, feeding Boreas more power. Within only a few seconds, the shield was nearly shattered. Shining Armor’s face was filled with strain as he tried his best to hold out. Pulling back a fist for one final strike, the punch rocketed forwards. The punch decimated the shield, discharging Shining’s horn and dazing him.

Boreas rushed to the unicorn and back-handed him with enough force to send him flying backwards.

“If you had let them kept most of their intelligence instead of controlling them like toys, they could have been somewhat of a challenge.” Boreas taunted.

“How?! A dog such as yourself shouldn’t be capable of outputting this amount of power!” Sombra yelled out in frustration and anger as Shining flew over him.

“For the last time demon, I’m not a dog, I am a wendigo!” With that said, Boreas began to charge a blue energy at the palms of his gauntlets. The sphere grew large, roughly the size of a basketball. Boreas began to concentrated. Soon, the ball began to compress, now the size of a shot put. He quickly flung the energy ball at Sombra. The King’s horn began cackle black energy. Said horn blasted the ground in front of him. Almost instantaneous, black crystals rose from the ground to protect Sombra. The blasts hit, cracking the summoned barriers.

“Cease your lying mutt! The last wendigo was killed off by long ago!” Sombra yelled. Boreas lunged at the crystal wall, throwing out a punch in the process. The wall easily collapsed, black dust flying up in the process.

“Gah!” Somber yelped with some dust getting in his eye. Shaking his head to rid of the particles in his eyes, Sombra looked back up with bloodshot eyes.

Through the thick of it all, beams of light shined through the debris. As it settled down, Boreas was seen on all fours with his mouth open. A large ball of blue energy rapidly formed in his maw. Sombra saw this and began to charge up his horn again. Without a second to spare, Boreas let loose of the magic that formed. Before anybody could react, the ball instantly hit King Sombra in the chest.

CRACK

Sombra’s body was sent flying, his body cackled with dark magic as he slammed into both the princesses thrones.

CRACK

The king screeched in pain. He stayed limp as his body slid off the throne and onto the floor.

“How?” Sombra weakly asked. No one answered. Boreas began a slow paced walk. “I think you have should realized by now that I’m just stronger than you.” Boreas replied, grabbing onto Sombra’s mane and lifting him up to his face. Rage boiled inside Sombra, his ego refusing to believe that he had been overpowered by a single individual.

“Impossible! You are just a masked, delusional mutt. Even the princesses had to team to take me down!”

Boreas laughed hysterically.

“Your ego is really something. In my opinion, I think they just wanted to rid you fast. For your sake as well, not that you’ll live long after this, I must inform you that there are beings more powerful than the princesses.“ Boreas taunted.

“Shut your trap stupid dog! What in Tartarus do you know?!”

“For the last time fiend, I am Boreas, the Wendigo!”

“There you go spewing all that nonsense! The wendigos were never sentient beings! Now let me show you a fate far worse than DEATH!” Sombra roared out, his voice distorting. His once limp body dissolved into a pitch black cloud. The black mist quickly surrounded and latched onto Boreas, eliciting screams of pain from said wendigo. The cloud soon unhooked itself from Boreas. Boreas knelt on one knee, gasping for air. Black crystal littered Boreas’s body, black energy cackling around him.

Boreas slowly stood up though clearly pained as he did. The black mist reformed back into King Sombra in peak physical condition.

“Damn! He held back his magic and I got beat for underestimating him. I was played like a fiddle.”

“Did you truly think I was done for after that? If so, you’ve got much to learn ever since your absence.”

Boreas raised his right arm up in front of him. Blue magic manifested into the size of a penny before it died out in a spark.

“Damn! Tell me what is this trickery?!” Boreas demanded.

“For claiming to be a wendigo, I’m surprised you don’t know the capabilities of my magic.”

“Answer the damn question warlock!”

“Don’t get too feisty, I could mutilate your body, you are nothing but a wild beast at my hooves peasant!” Sombra snarled.

“This Magic is known as Dark Magic, it serves as an additional pool of magic and has the ability to nullify magical ability, or connection, to magic. It not only severs the victim’s ability to produce or output magic, it as well significantly slows down regenerative ability.”

“Impossible, this form I’ve taken on has one of the best, if not the greatest, regenerative abilities without the use of magic!” Boreas stated.

“Hmph, wendigo were never known for their healing ability. Instead they were known for their insane strength and magical ability. Though, wendigos were thought to have the ability to change their appearance to better adapt to their environments.” Sombra thought out loud.

“You claim that your body can regenerate fast, yet your build doesn’t resemble anything that has impressive rejuvenation from this current era. The only thing that both matches your frame, and abilities, point to a lycan. But that can’t be possible, the lycans mysteriously disappeared after they challenged Discord. I presumed that they fled, but even then, I have no recollection of that battle, can’t remember anything from that day. Quite the anomaly.” Sombra said.

“Maybe if you survive long enough, I may tell you the fate of lycans.” Boreas replied.

Sombra step forward with a sadistic grin on his face with his horn glowing a bubbly, black, green, and purple magic. “You say that as if you have the slightest chance at beating me without your magic.”

“Who ever said I needed it!” Boreas roared, lunging at Sombra with open claws. Sombra’s horn let loose a flurry of blasts at Boreas, sending the wendigo flying back. Boreas landed hard on the throne rooms carpet. He groaned out in pain. A whirling sound became apparent as Boreas quickly recovered, noticing a charred spot on his chest.

Boreas rolled to his right, avoiding the dark magic that zapped where he previously was. Quickly getting to his feet, he tried jumping up. It was futile because he was soon after encased in a black energy.

“What!?”

Boreas was soon flung to his right into a marble wall. The impact itself made a small crater that kept Boreas in place. The black energy soon enveloped him again, forcefully pulling him out and repeating the process. With a total seven slams against the same wall, he was forcefully pulled out of the crater that Sombra constructed with him. Sombra brought Boreas in front of him, his sadistic grin gone, replaced with a flat expression and emotionless red, serpent-like eyes looked on at him. Sombra examined Boreas’ broken body, noticing his limp body with bones jutting out of his flesh.

“Hmph.” His body was then levitated up, his head nearly touching the ceiling before being abruptly slammed right down onto the floor.

“Worthless.” Sombra muttered, before spitting on him and returning to forming black crystals all over the castle throne room.

Suddenly, a grey furred hand struck from behind his head, causing him to be hurdled forward and into one of his black crystals, even breaking through it.

A grey lycan stood from where Sombra was once was, his right fist tightly balled. He looked down upon Boreas.

“Santiago...” Boreas weakly muttered.

“Dear mother of god, what happened to you?” Santiago asked. Boreas lifted his left arm up and pointed to a large singular crystal embedded into his chest.

“R-Remove... Now!”

Santiago firmly grasped onto the shard, pulling it out with ease. The area from which he had removed it from was bleeding profusely. To no surprise from him, the wound quickly healed.

“You must keep watch of his dark magic abilities, especially when he manifests into dark energy. Hold off, t-the dark king for now, at least till I heal and adapt to the dark magic.” Santiago gave a nod before zoning his attention onto the recovering Sombra. Boreas weakly pulled out shards that covered his body and began to think of what happened.

“After this is cleared up, I got a shit load of questions for you.” Santiago said.

“So be it.” Boreas replied. As Sombra fully recovered, Santiago dashed forward at blinding speeds. Santiago couldn’t keep up with his own movements before crashing into the king.

CRUNCH

“AIE!” Sombra cried out in pain as both as Santiago collided with him, crushing bone due to his weight. The pair rolled across the throne room. Both hit a wall with Santiago recovering before the mad king could. The lycan grabbed Sombra’s head and smashed it into the nearest wall.

“Fool! Are you trying to kill him?! Restrain yourself. After some thought, I decided that he could be a useful tool for later!” Boreas yelled out. Santiago glanced over to see 1/3 of the crystals gone and Boreas weakly standing. Sombra took advantage of this moment by biting Santiago’s hand and kicking him away.

“You view me as a potential tool?! I am far greater than the two of you combined! I’ve overcome hardships neither of you can even think of!” A large beam was shot at Santiago’s belly.

Santiago groaned as he staggered back. Sombra charged up a beam, now aiming at Boreas. While Boreas did remove most of the crystals from his body, the magical effects had yet to wear off. For now, he could only stand there weak and helpless.

“DIE!” But before the laser could be released, Santiago bull rushed Sombra. A massive magic explosion set off from Sombra, pushing the two away from each other. The throne room that was mostly intact was now nearly destroyed with some walls partially standing.

Santiago’s body was charred and skin was missing. However his body had healed seconds after. Fortunately for Boreas, he was far enough from the explosion that he didn’t suffer any serious injuries and was only pushed back a bit. Strangely though, Sombra’s body was unharmed, only having black magic visibly coursing through his body.

“I-I’ve been bested? By a-a pair of mutts?! My revival was fo-for nothing?” Sombra weakly cursed under his breath, picking up his head at the now approaching Santiago.

“So it must be true, y-you and the black one must be lycans. There is no other explanation... Dammit, it doesn’t matter. F-Finish me off... beast.” With that said, he knocked out unconscious. Santiago huffed before placing a hand on the pony.

Black Magic latched onto his hand and started rapidly coursing into his body. Santiago gasped as unfamiliar memories filled his mind. Anxiety, fear, hatred, helplessness and confusion mixed all at once. Visions of a grayish heliotrope pony with a light grayish arctic blue main filled his mind. The memory of a city made of crystal and a sort of fair played out repeatedly in his mind.

“NOOOO!” Santiago cries out, tears pouring from his eyes.

“What is happening to me?!” Santiago questioned out loud.

“Your mentally incapable of fending off dark magic. Persevere through it!” Boreas replied back.

Santiago only stared back before the whites of his eyes became green and his pupils red. His hand still remaining on Sombra. The more dark magic Santiago absorbed, the more Sombra’s appearance changed. His red, curved horn fell off as another, normal grey horn grew in its place. His once smoky mane and tail now formed into a black mane and tail. Purple wisps of magic leaked out of Sombra’s closed eyelids and into Santiago’s eyes. His grey fur now resembling smoke rather than physical fur. The transfer was now complete. Santiago pulled his hand back and stumbled back.

“So much anger! So much pain! So much strength! What the hell has happened to me?!” Santiago cried out.

“Do not fret, let me stop the pain and I’ll exorcise the magic.” Boreas said while manifesting ice gauntlets. He lunged forward and quickly punched Santiago’s temple. Santiago flew back, knocked out unconscious.

The distant sound of hooves rapidly pounding the floor echoed among the hallways.

‘I can’t risk losing Santiago as of right now.’ Boreas thought.

’As soon as I relocate you, I will expel this dark magic from you. After that, it shall be last time we interact for a while, I hope you don’t get into any serious trouble former human.’ Without sparing another second, Boreas enveloped himself and Santiago in a bright blue glow before vanishing.

POV: Santiago Alvarez

“Fenrir, don’t be so foolish as to challenge Discord, his power is beyond reality itself! If he truly wanted, he could remake the universe in his own image!” A Lycan worriedly yelled. The Lycan was 6’5, just shorter than the average 7 foot tall Lycan by 7 inches. He also had a slim frame along with long ears and dark orange fur, bearing a closer resemblance to a Fox than that of a wolf. Fenrir turned around to see a crowd of dozens Lycans behind the owner of the voice.

“Discord even proposed a deal that if we leave our lands he’ll spare the entirety of our race.” Fenrir huffed in annoyance.

“Reynard, the choice has been made. For the pride of our kind, we shall kill that demon!” Reynard retained his determined look, eyes locked onto Fenrir’s.

“I reject your choice, thousands will die today and you still remain ignorant of what lies ahead! Are you really willing to risk everything because of your dumb, stupid pride?!” Fenrir bolted in front of Reynard, blowing away clumps of grass and even chunks of wood from trees. Reynard stumbled back, his eyes widening in fear as he saw Fenrir’s eyes take on a blood red color and long, razor sharp teeth bared.

“Do not dare to question my choice, or the other commanders choice, this is for the sake of our future because I won’t believe a word that comes out of that serpent’s mouth! I’m more surprised that someone of your latent magical prowess refuses to fight! Yes, it is a risk, but as is taking up Discord’s offer.”

Reynard’s fear quickly turned into rage. He threw his left arm up in the air as it began glowing an orange color. Just besides Reynard, a firey portal opened up with a creature leaping out of it. It landed hard onto the ground, its presence alone heated the air around it as the grass it stood on burnt. The creature resembled that of a double-headed Dobermann with a long, red dragon-like tail. Its sharp claws slightly grew as its pitch-black eyes honed in on Fenrir. It quickly leapt at Fenrir. Swiftly acting, he grabbed the hellhound by its left head and threw it back from where it came.

“Reynard... This conversation is over.”

My eyes shot open, I laid down under a tree in a forest. Presumably the same one that I arrived on. The sun started to slowly rise, blinding my unaccustomed eyes. I hissed in pain.

“Where the hell am I?” I examined my surroundings, noticing that I laid under a single tree in the middle of an open field surrounded by forest. Almost instinctively, my right ear twitched to the sound of... crying mixed with barking? I couldn’t tell very well but I needed to find out if I wanted to get out of the forest. Quickly standing up, I sprinted towards the source of the sound.

‘Where the hell is Boreas?! I remember becoming pissed as fuck after touching that Sombra fellow. I got to thank that Duende, fucker knocked me out before I completely lost it. Talking about losing it, these damn dreams I keep having, they’re as if I’m reliving memories.’

Now entering the forest, I weaved in between trees and vegetation. The closer I got, my nose picked up the same disgusting Timberwolf scent. The crying became more defined, sounding it belong to a young female. I pumped my legs even harder against the grass for the possible chance of meeting sentient life, as the only life I’ve encountered so far has been Boreas, Timberwolves, and unconscious ponies.

Finally reaching the source, I skidded to a halt. Two Timberwolves surrounded a hole far too small for them to fit in, growling and barking at whatever was in it. The wood that made their body was cracked all over.

“Aw fuck, not these bastards again.” I thought. As I walked over towards them, my right paw stepped on a stick, breaking it and thus alerting the wolves to my presence. Both their eyes locked onto me as soon as they saw me. To my surprise, they howled and then ran off. The child-like crying inside the hole ceased into a soft sob.

I crouched down next to the hole. Something began slowly shuffling inside. My eyes locked onto the hole and my muscles tensed in the case that I need to defend myself.

That’s when she peeped her head out. My eyes widened as I fell back in disbelief.

It was a human child, about eight years old if I had to guess. She had light skin along with long hair reaching her lower backside, black hair roots that transition into a silver color. Her teary eyes, which held both a green and blue color, looked on at me with curiosity. She slowly crawled out, revealing a dirtied white dress that had long sleeves and that she was barefoot. As soon as she was done crawling out, another head popped out from the hole.

It was a boy, not much younger than the girl. His skin was tan, and his hair was maroon and just as long as the girl’s hair. His hazel eyes locked onto my eyes. He followed the girl’s actions, crawling out the hole. He was just about as dirty as the other kid. His sleek, black long sleeved shirt has chunks of dirt dried on it. His black, baggy sweatpants also shared the same condition. He was barefoot as well.

He rushed in front of the girl, seemingly defending her with his arms wide open. I still sat on the ground in shock and mouth wide open. I quickly shut my maw and composed myself.

The boy and girl eyed me with curiosity as I got up on my hind legs. I towered over both of them considerably, both barely reached up to my waist. Again I crouched to seem less intimidating.

“It’s ok, I’m not here to hurt either of you.” I spoke softly. The boy’s gaze on me slightly softened. He lowered his arms and walked up to me. I lifted my right arm and opened up my hand towards him. He put his small hand on my palm to which I loosely gripped it and rubbed his hand with my thumb.

“What are your names?” I asked the boy. He gave me a confused look as well as the girl who just walked behind him.

“Got no name then? How about I give you both one?” Both retained their confused expressions. I let go of the boy’s hand and pointed at him.

“Sebastian, s-e-b-a-s-t-i-a-n.”

I switched my finger pointing from Sebastian to the girl.

“Mia, m-i-a.” Both of them appeared to mouth their respective names.

“Hehe, I hope you guys don’t mind, I sorta came up with those name of the top of head. C’mon, let’s get out of this forest.” I picked up Sebastian and put him on my right shoulder. I did the same with Mia but on my left shoulder instead. looking around, I began to walk in a random direction.

Ten Minutes Later

Throughout this walking, I’ve began to reassess what has happened so far. The fact that I was nearly killed by four assailants and then ’saved’ is already bizarre enough. I can’t still shake the feeling that this is all twisted fever dream. None of what has transpired so far should be possible... yet it all feels to real. Why am I even here? The voice that seemingly brought me made it sound like I had a previous life here.

“The dreams I’m having might be much more than I thought.” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t extraordinary in anyway possible. Unless I had some mysterious past, I don’t see why this is happening. Maybe I was unfortunately entangled with something greater than myself.

“If amá and pápa are watching from the clouds, I wonder what they’re thinking of my situation. I’m still in shock of finding these two, I thought I’d be the only human her- er former human I mean.” I chuckled to myself.

As I took a glance at Sebastian and Mia, a slight breeze started to blow against me. As this occurred, both Sebastian and Mia eyed the ground. I stopped for a moment to look at the abundant amount roses that grazed the land. Sniffing the air around me, I caught the roses fragrant scent. The general environment had for sure changed. Instead of trees that had thorny vines wrapped around them, the trees surrounding me were much thicker, and taller with weeds growing on them, and farther apart from each other. While the other forest had swamps, this one seemed have none.

I had taken a step forward before hearing the sound of cracking followed by a light vibration. The vibration itself hadn’t emanated near us but I definitely felt it come from behind. I tried to pick up a scent but if there were any, the breeze most likely would’ve swept it away. The kids didn’t seem to pick up on it either.

“Better keep walking than find out what that was.” I muttered to myself. As I continued walking, the sound of running water alerted my ears straight ahead. Almost as if on cue, my throat began to feel dry. My legs automatically fastened my pace, careful as the terrain slowly got rocky. It wasn’t long before I finally saw a creek.

I rushed to it before putting the kids back on the ground. The water itself was the clearest water I’ve ever seen. Crouching down and cupping my hands, I greedily slurped up the water. After several more drinks I felt satisfied.

I feel back on my haunches as the kids mirrored my actions. I laughed at both of them since they drank up water faster than me.

“Poor kids, I wonder just how long y’all have been out there alone.” Again, I felt a stronger vibration as well as the distant sound of cracking. Just like last time the kids didn’t notice. Dread creeped on me. My instincts were telling me to get the hell out of there.

“It’s probably nothing.” I said standing up.

The ground beneath me began to shake violently, so violently that me and the kids lost footing and tripped. The sound of a nearby tree falling to the ground echoed nearby. I quickly got back onto my feet and bolted towards the kids. As my legs pounded against the grass and rocks, my ears caught the sound of something large leaping off the ground.

The area around me grew significantly darker than it was a second ago. With no time to spare I grabbed both kids and jumped, aiming at the other side of the creek.

I narrowly avoided being crushed as the thing that landed where I once stood was big enough to cause me to get launched further than expected just by the force of its landing. Whether it was for better or for worse, I landed perfectly on my feet. Quickly turning around, I caught a glimpse of what tried to squash me. My heart started pounding faster than it ever had before, anxiety rocketed throughout my body, and adrenaline started coursing through my veins.

“Dear mother of god, what the fuck is that!” I yelled out loud. The creature’s structure was eerily similar to that of a spider with the exception of its body being nearly covered with brown, greenish fur, it’s dozens of eyes, trunk-like fangs were the only parts not completely covered by thick fur, and it being taller than me by a foot or so.

I stayed glued to where I stood due to fear. My body trembled horribly. I looked down at the kids and they were startled, but if anything they stared curiously at the spider, no hint of fear at all.

I looked back towards the thing. As if fate rolled a fat middle finger towards me, the spider began to rush at me a terrifying speeds.

“HELL NO! FUCK THIS, I’M OUT!” I yelled, proceeding to scream my ass of while running away.

Author's Note

Quick questions, did y’all think this chapters pacing was too fast? Also, would you want shorter chapters that release much faster (2,000-3,000 words) or the longer chapters (4,000-5,000+)? Besides that, criticism is much appreciated.