Breinstorm always had a melodic, syrupy warmth to her voice that echoed and reverberated in creatures' heads, seeping into the cracks and gunking up the thoughts and works. It was always a pleasure to hear, and the mare could often keep her composure in even the worst circumstances, even when being eaten alive by her anxieties. She was currently with her young son in an old, cluttered bunker full of old supplies and trash that needed to be taken out one day – today was not that day. They were holed up, with Fear laying on the bottom half of one of many bunk beds. Storm had spent a few long, grueling hours searching through the Seer's Eye for a way to get some radaway that would be sure fire, using tips and tricks to speed up her searching and increase her prowess.

“Honey. I need to leave for a little while but you'll be okay while I'm gone won't you? I need to go out and get the medicine that will protect you.” She'd already given him some Rad-X that happened to be in the bunker to slow the spread, but it wouldn't be enough to actually cure it. Still, it'd stymie it until she could get back.

Fear was feverish, his stomach nauseous, barely hanging on to consciousness as he shuddered and heaved, his eyes lidded, sweat drenching his entire form. “N-no Mommy. Please. Stay with me.” He reached out for her, scared more than could be.

“Be brave for me Fear. Be the little Fearshatter I know you can be. I've made you as comfortable as I can, I love you so much, and I know you'll be okay. I want to protect you to the ends of Equus, but to do that I need to leave.” Storm brushed a hoof through her son's mane, getting really up close to the pale foal.

“P-please at least sing me my song first?”

Storm nodded once, smiling brightly, and turning her head to the side. The lyrics to Wanderer's Lullaby flowed out from her gut like she'd taken singing lessons far back, ringing in the air with a sort of sloppiness from years spent neglecting the skill. Still, her voice could calm a storm, with a latent thunderous energy behind it that could deafen a hellhound.

Fear was quickly slipping into rest, his shaking, swaying body stilling as sweat dribbled down his face. The last thing he remembered as consciousness left him was his mother leaving the bunker for Celestia knows where.

Fading in and out of consciousness was a horrible, surreal thing. You never knew when you were going to collapse for the final time, but at the same time you could hardly tell you were even alive. Everything was so bleary and off the walls. It was like lingering in zero-g, unable to do anything without pushing yourself off something else. Fear wanted to move, but he hardly had the strength. He wanted his mother. Wanted her presence. But she promised she'd be back soon, and she was always right. She was always strong, and always succeeded.

When he finally awakened, fully aware and not just dipping in and out, he felt so much better, yet exhausted. Storm was gently petting through his mane, singing the song again as he recovered his strength. His eyes teared up to the brim, his breath hitching in his throat as a smile spread across his face. Storm was his angel. He let out a cute sigh of bliss, closing his eyes. “Mommy?”

“Yes sweetie?” Storm had a superior, victorious grin on her face. Having beaten back the odds simply because of her scrying capabilities. Fate could get fucked.

“Thanks.” Fear's voice was full of gratitude and worship.

“Anytime, my little Nightlight.”

Fear eyed the glimmering pendant around Mommy's neck as he drifted off into sleep again so he could heal the rest of his energy.

==========================================================================================

“That was a sweet story, little Nightlight.” Faith gave Fear a teasing wink. “Your mother took really good care of you, didn't she?”

“Yeah, she was the best. Coddled me a lot. I miss her a lot, but... I don't really... miss her, you know? Not anymore. I mean I miss her but it's like? I'm not obsessed anymore. It's nice to just live my life without her now, because I can do that. I don't need her anymore.”

“That's a sign of growing up, Fearei. I'd say you're doing rather well overcoming your demons.”

“Thanks.” Fear blushed faintly and pressed his muzzle into the mattress.

“Anyways, I have to go now. I'll bring you up some dinner so you don't have to spend more energy around the others. I'm sure they'll understand.”

“Thanks again, Faith. You're a real friend.”

“Anytime Fear.” And with that Faith slipped out, pulling the door shut behind her with a hoof.

Silence reigned over the room once more as Fear thought about his past. It'd been awhile since he'd spent time recalling growing up with his mother, all the times spent learning with her and being protected by her. Honestly it wasn't that exciting, looking back on it. But it had been special to him. Developmental. It'd given him the love he'd needed for long enough, and given him time to grow until he could make it on his own. I was so shy back then Fear thought to himself. Or was it that I was just in some kind of catatonia? He only knew that word due to his Tormented novel.

Sim came in awhile later levitating a plate with a slice of pumpkin pie and a strange, onyx-colored ring in his magic. “Hey there son, how you feeling?”

“Hmm...” Fear leaned his head to one side. “Much better to be honest. It's nice to have some time alone to really... register everything that's happened, you know? To really understand that I have such a big family now and to come to terms with it.”

Sim gave a fatherly nod and sat down on the bed next to Fear, setting the plate closeby and holding the ring up. “Do you know what this is, Fear?”

“Huh? No. Is it a wedding ring?” He'd heard of those! There was one in his novel.

Sim laughed gaily. “No, Fear, silly. It's a magic inhibitor. It's made from hivestone. Back before the war most of them were made from it before they were developed technologically.”

Fear sat up and floated the slice to his lips. “What's hivestone?” Fear then took a huge bite of it, not recognizing the food but not caring. His face lit up to Tartarus and back as his eyes dilated, all from the taste. He munched and nommed, his teeth crumbling crust and smearing the meat of it everywhere, his tongue flicking around. “Wow, this is delicious,” Fear shouted through a mouthful of food.

“Hahaha, yes it is Fear. And hivestone is a naturally occurring rock formation found around Equestria, especially on the outskirts. It emits a wavelength that jams almost all forms of magic in its vicinity. The largest masses release an aura, but the smallest chunks will only negate magic within it. This ring for instance, only magic that goes through the hole becomes nullified.”

Fear continued chewing voraciously and then swallowed. “That's pretty neat. What are we going to use it for?” He took another fervent bite out of the pie, already almost finished with it.

Sim grinned slyly. “Well, in case we come across a unicorn on our journey tomorrow, we're going to use it on them. Simple, right?”

Fear was a little surprised as he finished chewing and gulped down the food. “So we're leaving tomorrow night?”

“Yes, Fear. Indeed. So you better get some actual rest soon. We'll be leaving first thing so we can gather information.”

“Alright Dad, I'll see you later.” Fear finished stuffing his face full of pie and hoofed over the plate.

Sim grabbed the plate in his turquoise ether. “By the way, Faith will be sleeping with you tonight.”

Fear's ears perked up. “With me? Or in the same room as me?”

Sim gave Fear an unamused, scolding glare. “You know which, Fear.”

Then Fear realized there must not've been enough rooms to house all of them so they needed to share. He looked away. “Yeah, sure, thanks.”

Sim left the room, but not before whispering to Fear. “Good night, sweet dreams.”

“Sweet dreams, Dad,” Fear replied right back. And with that Fear cozied up on the bed with his plush, seeping into sleep.

==========================================================================================

Returning to the castle courtyard was becoming a calming ritual that Fear couldn't get enough of. It felt like a breath of fresh air after a lifetime spent breathing nothing but pollution. It brought his senses back into gear and rendered him docile and peaceful, unafraid of anything that could come at him. It was difficult to ever get worked up when he knew he was coming back to a portion of his family every night. Come to think of it, Fear's family was growing very rapidly lately.

Fear approached the throne room, everything melting into place around him as he glanced ahead to Saway and Amelio having a chat. They both noticed his presence first – first Amelio then Saway when she saw her glancing toward him – then both trot up to him.

“Fearei!” Amelio was as excited and tired as ever.

“Colt!” Saway just as militaristic. She felt like what Fear would imagine a sergeant to be like.

Fear bounded toward them with a smile on his face, as if he were hopping into the afterlife with a settled heart. “Meels! Saway! Good to see you!”

Amelio chided Fear. “Remember not to sleep too much, you do not want to become obsessed with me.” Despite the chastising tone, there was also a teasing inflection.

“Hah, whatever. You know I have more will than that!” He bat a hoof at her, shaking his head.

Amelio just giggled sweetly as Saway looked at them bemusedly.

“So how are you doing, colt?”

“Well I met one of my grandparents.” Fear gave a little shrug of his shoulders.

“Oh?” Amelio queried. “Only one? What happened?” She sounded a little concerned.

“Yeah. Grandpa Jack's been kidnapped or whatever by some ponies. We're going into town tomorrow night to figure out what on Equus is going on.”

Amelio was a little worried, but overall she had a serene air about her. “Well, if anypony can do it, it is you. Be careful, I want to see you back soon enough.”

Fear nodded once, firmly. “Oh by the way, apparently we also have a couple aunts and an uncle now. Chirpy Chatter's the uncle. Rose Touch and Aromirage are the aunts.”

“What? Really?” Amelio cocked her head to the side. “I have not heard of them, but I might be able to visit them in their dreams.”

Fear shrugged a shoulder. “They were probably born sometime after you last saw your grandparents.” Truth be told, that's exactly what had happened. Jack and Emu had realized they wanted more kids, not only to take care of and enjoy, but also to take over the farm since they were getting on in years. Fear lifted a hoof nonchalantly. “Anyways, they're really nice, though Chirp's kind of a dick sometimes. He doesn't mean to, it's just... he doesn't think.”

Saway swatted Fear upside the head, causing the colt to wince. “Be nice, colt. You hardly think before you act and speak either.”

“Yeah but I don't...”

“Yeah, you have hurt others. Give him a break,” Saway insisted.

Fear sighed. “Fiiiiiine. You're right. I'll look past it.” It was hard to do though! “They're overall nice anyway. They have bright futures and they look like they're happy for the most part.”

Amelio's expression was pure happiness and relief, lifting a hoof up and holding it against her chest. It eased Fear's heart and reminded him of everything he loved about his sister. He wasn't sure if he was romantically attached or just platonically, or maybe it was a bit of both? “That is how the world should be in the end. Everypony happy and not having to suffer.”

Saway's eyes spun in an arc. “No. You're kids so you wouldn't understand, but everypony needs to go through some sort of difficulty in order to grow and become strong. Otherwise they become soft or don't fully develop their morals.”

Fear was about to say something but Saway cut him off.

“No. There's a time and a place for everything, and so long as our difficulties don't break us, they make us better.”

Fear shook his head wildly, then slumped. “Actually, I don't really know to be honest. But I just know I'm lucky to be the me that was able to repair himself.”

Saway nodded a couple times. “The scars will last forever, not everypony can go through the kind of therapy you experienced, colt. Still, difficulties shape us. They give nutrients to our soil and are akin to the sun's rays. They are one source of our life.”

Amelio was ever the good filly, being non-argumentative, just thinking on what her elders had to say and either dismissing it or accepting it. She didn't have any counters, clearly.

Fear was still uncertain. “I do agree difficulty has its place but... I wanna see a pony grow up smoothly.”

Saway grinned to one ear. “Some would compare difficulties to rocky or tainted soil. Unable to grow anything good. I don't. I think it's rich. A few problems bring ponies to their peak.”

Fear had no contradiction, so he just dropped it. “By the way, I saw your sword Saway.”

“Oh? What'd you think, colt?”

Fear tilted his head from side to side and pursed his lips. “It's very... interesting. I can sort of feel Princess Luna and both of you in it. Not the soul, but your emotions, your personalities. It's a strange sensation, like some kind of...”

Saway's eyes lidded. “Like an AI?”

Fear gave a confirmative nod. “Yeah, exactly. Like some kind of robot. It feels real, even if I know it's not. But I'm gonna treat it like it's real, because you guys did say it could lash out if not taken care of properly.”

Amelio grinned from ear to ear. “That is a good idea.”

==========================================================================================

“According to my ongoing research within the bubbles, Contingent is looking into a way to cure radiation and taint so plants can be regrown in the wasteland. However, it is strange, I still cannot access his dreams. I know he's sleeping, but there seems to be something blocking my vision.” Luna was thrown for a loop. “The same goes for some of his minions. He might have taken your grandfather in an attempt to meet those ends. Viewing your grandfather's dreams show he is not being treated horribly, though they clearly do not respect him. I cannot say why, as Pep has not met Contingent in person.” Luna shook her head as she briefed the colt. “It is a mystery, one I am sure you will be able to solve in the waking world. Still, his minions do have faith in him, and seem swayed by his confidence and will.”

Fear was sitting quietly, listening intently, feeling a sort of prickly danger creep up his spine, leaving him shuddering and with goosebumps forming along his flesh, tickling the back of his neck. Something was very wrong about all of this. There was far more going on, he could tell. Or was it just his imagination or paranoia? He couldn't discern. “Alright, thank you Princess. I appreciate it.” Fear's voice was tense and on edge, his teeth grinding together in worry, almost gnashing.

“The world really has fallen apart, has it not, Fearei?” Luna's inflection was sorrowful and resigned, her feelings a maelstrom of negativity.

“Yeah, sure it has. But it's just going to make us stronger when we get through it. Don't abandon us yet, we still got a lot more strength to show you. Life's gonna be a close call but we're gonna win.” Fear gave her a reassuring smile that prodded Luna's lips into curling upward.

“Just... be careful Fear. It seems this Contingent wants to do a lot of good, though I do not know how I feel about organized crime of any sort.”

Fear gave a firm nod. “Sure thing, Princess, thank you.” He then glanced off to the side. “Say, Princess, do you think it's necessary to go through hard times in order to grow?”

Luna considered it silently, closing her eyes for a moment as she dwelled. “I honestly do not know, Fear. I do not know what is right. But that is what wisdom does, it shows you how much you don't know. It shows you all sorts of uncertainty.”

“Then what good is experience?” Fear blurted out.

Luna opened her eyes, a kind smile spread across her face. “Let me finish, Fear. I may not know what is right, but I do have advice. It doesn't matter whether it is right that we must face difficulties, what matters in the end is how we respond to the cards we are dealt. What matters is how we face life with our mortality and limited powers. I was always weaker than my sister, often couldn't keep up in our learnings with my teacher Starswirl. I realized I handled things the wrong way, and I have continued doing so out of that weakness. Yet I am still getting more chances to improve.” Luna's eyes contracted as she stared at Fear. “I do not regret the past any longer, and I think that is something we all must learn in order to become powerful, no matter what our past consists of, in order to move on to the future with heads held high.” She put a hoof on Fear's shoulder. “If you had to go through everything all over again in order to attain what you currently have, would you?”

Fear adopted a faraway look to his eyes. He thought about his mother, the family he hurt, the ponies he killed, Crate, Angel, everypony he'd met that he regretfully couldn't remember with clarity, Amelio, Sim, Freiya, the ponies in Stable 47, Faith, Emulae, the annoying Chirpy, the sagely Rose, and the shy Mirage. All of them flashed through his mind in the span of moments as his jaw hung open and the memories penetrated his soul. He was lax for awhile before stiffening visibly. “Well, to be honest, no. Not yet. I'd rather not have killed anypony in that family.”

Luna just smiled. “You'll get there eventually. When you finally have closure perhaps, or maybe when you have learned to fully forgive yourself. You are still struggling to overcome. You are nearly there, just a little bit further.

Fear's head fell and rose. “But to be honest... changing any of it seems like it'd change everything. And I don't know if I want that.” He stared at the ground.

“Indeed. All you need to do is think about it and you'll succeed.” Luna then paused. “Fearei, there is somepony I would like you to meet,a close friend of mine for probably 1,200 years.”

Fear's face contorted in confusion. “What? Who?” Who else could there be that he could meet?

“His name is Nyx.” Though not many knew it was not his full name. Luna turned around to face the empty space around her. “Nyx, you can come out!”

A portal filled with swirling purple and black shadows emerged from nothingness, out stepping the golden and yellow pony Amelio saw the first time she met Luna. Fear was impressed with his wizened visage, the slitted draconic pupils rendering him curious, the sheer presence holding him down. Nyx seemed so aged, his mane and tail a mess of hair. The cutie mark on his flanks was also strange, a single dot with two rings surrounding it in a pulsation pattern. It was the symbol for Hypnos, not that Fear knew.

“Nyx, this is Fearei, the one I told you about. Fearei, this is Nyx. He was around before the time of Starswirl the Bearded. He is an empath like you.”

Fear was dumbstruck as he gazed at the exhausted pony. “Wait what? He's an...?”

“Yes.” Nyx's voice was calm and flowed like a river. It gushed against Fear's mind and left him feeling almost crippled with peace. It had a gentle lull to it that drowned the colt in an emotionless state, leaving him feeling at one with the world and so over it at the same time, like he just wanted to be the pony's friend no matter what. “It's a pleasure to meet the colt who has received such accolades and benevolent judgment from Princess Luna. I have heard much about you.”

Fear could instantly tell that the shadows, the monsters in the dark, and every nightmare imaginable rested at Nyx's beck and call, as well as fled from him, as if he had mastered them. His aura did not stretch forever, but it stretched far and wide. Fear wouldn't be surprised if the nightmares had tried to escape from under his hoof.

“Nyx was an empath who became tired of conflict in this world,” Luna began, “he tried his best to bring peace to ponies, making friends with many different species, including dragons and thestrals.”

Huh, Fear thought, Faith would probably like him.

The ancient stallion had a drained countenance. “I was always very adamant toward them that I spoke only for myself and nopony else though. And that I wouldn't be able to be around forever.”

Luna grinned wearily. “He was also adept at manipulating dreams, and taught me a few tips and tricks while I was Nightmare Moon. He prefers to remain private and undisclosed however, often hiding in the shadows.”

Fear's eyes jolted to Luna. “When you were Nightmare Moon?” Then back to Nyx. He had been told stories of the nightmare by Luna a couple times. “But that would... that would mean.”

Nyx looked away. “Yes, I live on the moon. As a mass of lingering emotions more than anything else. I exist most prominently within dreams.”

Fear blinked rapidly, trying to wrap his head around such an existence.

“I created what you know in your time as a spell matrix in order to achieve a long range teleport to the moon. I wanted to get away from everyone and just live in peace, away from every emotion on Equus. I am sure with you experiencing the pain of the wasteland you've wished for that on numerous occasions.”

Fear nodded dumbly.

“Unfortunately for me, a group of ponies eventually built one of those structures on the moon. A stable.”

Fear's mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to process, tried to come to grips with what he was hearing. “That's pretty c-cool. But I don't know if you should have ran away.”

Nyx's face took on a lopsided smile. “I know that Fear, but I was reaching the end of my life. It was time to entrust the future to everypony else. Besides, heroes were starting to rise up around Equestria and... it was just my time to go Fearei.”

Fear's expression was a little sorrowful, bottom lip protruding and eyes gazing emptily. “Well, at least you were there to keep Princess Luna company I suppose,” he stated with a tentative smile and a light shrug of a shoulder.

Nyx smiled broadly. “That's the spirit.”

==========================================================================================

Dryfield was an interesting yet unassuming town. It had once been a rather large hotel with little twists and turns, brick bridges and metallic staircases leading to upper levels, with balconies and an old water tower combined with mill to pump more refreshing liquid from underground, much like a larger town might have, luckily for this place.

On the outskirts of this hotel, with its attached shop and sky wagon garage for travelers, was a small field of old faded pull wagons scattered about from ponies who'd come from far off after hearing about news of potential prosperity, with a few pony-made landfills and trenches on the borders for protection.

It was one step away from being taken over and made into raider territory, yet so many steps away at the same time. It could make a final stand, yet it was so vulnerable. Much like the equine body, it just took the right contact in order to shatter it to pieces, otherwise it'd keep going til kingdom come.

The bar Fear, Sim, and Faith had gone to had once been the hotel's check-in, with kegs put behind the counter and shot glasses from the wasteland plus the hotel rooms filling shoddy cabinets, recently made out of dead wood. It was amazing the nails still held to this day.

Overall, Dryfield was a wonder and a scummy rotting place all in one, with a solitary road traversing through it.

Scavver's Tavern was busy, bustling with ponies just shooting the breeze and gossiping about nothing and everything, from the state of their houses to the future of the town and everything in between. It was a place for information like all fables with such places, and Sim was busy interrogating ponies about the recent transition from civilized ponies to outright thugs working for some higher up. He was having a difficult time getting any information, even with Faith helping him out by keeping the mood light and assuring others that things were fine. Everything was fine. Nothing could be better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvIy2jIl_GI

Fear was busy sitting at one of the downtrodden tables next to the latest equine of interest, grilling him on various topics and technicalities, including his set of weapons that were encrusted with gems of all types brimming with the scent of o-zone, giving him an almost rejuvenating aroma, masking whatever was natural to him. The thing was, he wasn't equine at all. He was vastly different from any creature Fear had ever met, or maybe would ever meet. He was a cat. A bipedal, talking tabby with exotic, dangerous stripes and a tail that just didn't quit. He was clad in old, muted clothing that had a few rips and tatters from close calls, and a little cloak that wrapped around his neck and draped down to his feet, which were covered in a pair of greaves beset with jewels of the highest caliber, as were the plated gauntlets covering his paws. He gave Fear the impression of a world weary traveler who had given up everything for the sake of a dream, but what kind of dream could possibly exist in the wasteland? Then again, Amelio had a dream once upon a time. The cat had a plaintive countenance that left Fear wondering just what he'd given up.

“So, Gentler, you're from Abyssinia huh? Tell me about it. This is the first I've heard of it.” Fear was leaning on the table with an 'elbow,' head in a hoof, staring at the cat with renewed interest. His pronunciation of the Abyssinian's name was a little unusual, the first part of it less like 'generation' and more like 'again.'

Gentler took a swig of his shot, his eyes lidded, whiskers on his face quivering. He looked rather beat up and gamey. Slightly wrecked and somehow titillating, with a latent energy that told Fear: this is a cat who could beat my shit up. Which just left him more alluring to befriend. “Colt, why don't you go bother someone else?” He had an aloof tone to his voice, having seen too much and not wanting to be bothered.

“Come on, be a pal. I just want to learn more about the world. Surely you can appreciate that!” Fear didn't dare reach toward the Abyssinian, not wanting to piss him off. He knew under the table, resting beneath the cat's legs, was a saddlebag like he'd never seen before. It was actually just a backpack, but Fear had still never seen that type in his life! It also had a strange seal on the back with a faded flag with a green crystal on it. Fear assumed it was the flag of Abyssinia but he couldn't be sure.

Gentler glanced at Fear with a raised eyebrow, setting his drink down. Fear could tell he was amused, and maybe a little curious as well, even if he didn't show it. Besides, the colt had on his pair of saddlebags, the sheathed lunar sword connected to his saddlebags, and a beat up-looking Garand. But the most invigorating part of his ensemble were his eyes and the screw necklace. It spoke volumes about the kind of pony he was. That he was just as strange as this Abyssinian. It probably helped that, just as Sim had left Amelio's saddlebags at the house, Fear had left his plushie there too in the care of his uncle and aunts. “Fine.” It was abrupt and a little rude. “What exactly do you want to know?”

Fear put both forelegs on the table and leaned forward, waggling his eyebrows. “Well you know... for instance, the history of Abyssinia, why I've never heard about it, what those gloves you have are, what you're doing here, what your goals are. Stuff like that?”

The cat considered it, his tail giving a flick. “As for my country, we specialized in magically enchanted gems. Decades ago we reverse-engineered artifacts like the Misfortune Malachite, learned how they ticked with the help of some of Equestria's finest. We learned how to imbue them with spells and make them greater than they ever were before, and how to generate certain effects with artifacts.”

Fear was in awe, his jaw hanging open. “Wow! That's pretty cool. What's the Misfortune Malachite? It sounds dangerous.”

Gentler lidded his eyes, sipping his drink. “It's a cursed artifact that causes whoever wields it to experience untold misfortune and bad luck. It is the downfall of everyone who lets it get near them. Back a long time ago some said it was just baseless superstition but... well. Even the Storm King found out the hard way you don't screw with unknown forces.”

Fear was leaning forward, tail wagging rapidly. “Who's the Storm King!?” He liked kings, sort of!

“Before the Great War between Zebrica and Equestria started, as things were reaching a boil, Abyssinia was attacked by a satyr known as the Storm King. A white-furred, horned menace that conquered all in his path and had a hunger for power the likes of which not many creatures saw in their lifetime. We were easily outnumbered and outgunned by their technology, learning a harsh lesson about the meaning of battle. We reached out for anyone who'd listen to our plight, searching for help from anyone, and ended up getting the aid of Princess Celestia. With her and a detachment of her knights our land was freed. She pursued the Storm King who had been betrayed by one of his commanders and as it was going on Celestia took him down and had him sent to Tartarus despite his attempts to sway others.”

Gentler finished off his drink, slamming it down on the table.

“They say taking the Malachite with him and keeping it close to his breast was the reason he'd been ultimately betrayed and defeated. After that our treasures were returned to us and ponies occupied our land in case of zebra attack while we finally got our butts into gear and started researching ways to become stronger. We were safe from the eventual balefire bombs while we harnessed the power of gems. The first beneficiary of that technology was a unicorn by the name of Tempest Shadow, who was given greater control and channeling ability over her magic. As thanks for our assistance, even though she was more of an experiment, she vowed to protect us.”

The colt recalled his vision of himself in that palace of crystals that felt so long ago now. It seemed they could do just about anything. Fear was in wonder for a time. “Well, what about you? What's your story? Why are you here in Equestria? Why would you ever come here?”

An impish, cat-like grin played across the Abyssinian's face. “Mh, about that. I was a naive kitten long ago, looking to see how I could repay Equestria for helping us in the past by bringing it back to its former glory. No idea how I was going to do it, but I wanted to try. It was a one-way trip, and I eventually gave up and just settled down.”

Fear frowned deeply, reaching forward and putting a hoof on Gentler's arm. “That's sad, I'm sorry. We don't deserve outside aid to be honest.”

“Maybe not, but you got it anyway.”

After a moment, Fear queried further. “What was it like growing up?”

Gentler's slitted, lemon yellow eyes rolled back, as if scanning his brain for the information. “Eh.” His voice was leery and cynical, with a hint of worldliness to it. “I was mainly raised by my mother.”

Fear grinned and yapped, “hey, me too!”

Gentler's smile only increased in intensity, his eyes having an otherness to them that made Fear wary. “I had a bunch of brothers and sisters. My father was a scout for our king and he was often away on missions, but I admired the importance of everything he did for the kingdom. He was a hero in my eyes, just like everycat who had come before him, and even Tempest Shadow, whatever happened to her. All my siblings went off to do their own thing.”

“Do you wish you could see them again someday?”

An obscure, secluding haze settled over Gentler's eyes. So far away, he looked like he wasn't even in the same universe anymore. “I mean, maybe. If I got a chance. But I'm still trying to figure out how best to help my new home.”

Fear was impressed. “You're devoted, huh?”

“I... I guess you could say that.”

A few moments later Sim and Faith came up. “Alright, come on Fear. We're headed to an institute about half a day's walk away. We'll get there by daybreak if we leave now. That's where this boss we're looking for is.” Sim's voice was a bit of a rumble with how frustrated he was at having to go through any of this.

Fear looked to Sim, then to Gentler. “Hey, I gotta go now but, Gentler, would you like to come with us? You might feel more fulfilled if you do.”

Gentler raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Go where? What could a colt like you possibly be doing?”

Fear beamed. “We're going to go save my grandfather from a mob boss or some shit!” He was super happy!

The Abyssinian gazed long and hard at Fear. “Sure, if you're feeling up for a fight.”

“A fight?”

Sim groaned. “Come on Fear, we don't have time for this.”

Fear waved a hoof at his father. “No, no Dad, we totally do. Besides, the more the merrier. So you want a fight huh? I guess I can abide by that.”

Gentler pushed his chair out with one fell swoop, yanked up his backpack, and swept it around him, slipping it onto his back, arms through the straps. “Sounds good, colt. Come on then. We're wasting moonlight.”

Fear quickly hopped after the cat with unadulterated enthusiasm pumping through his body. Couldn't be that bad right? “You've seen the moon before?”

Gentler confirmed that with a sour nod. “Yeah, the clouds don't extend to everywhere.”

Sim followed after Fear. “Come on, Fear, listen to me. This isn't a good idea.”

Faith was uncertain. “He seems to be trying to judge your son's character, Simmy.”

Sim glared at Faith. “I figured that much, but we don't have time for it. Besides, Fear could get seriously hurt. He's hardly ready for a one-on-one fight like this.”

Fear met Gentler outside, both of them getting low to the ground in a fighting stance, with the colt speaking up. “So, you want a fight huh? Let's do it.”

Gentler extended a hand. “Come at me, Fearei. Let's see what you're made of.”

Fear unsheathed his sword deftly with telekinesis and held it in the air, charging ferociously at Gentler with a battle cry.

Gentler casually stepped to the side, punched once. The sword came up and blocked it, barely quivering in the air. He punched again, this time going for a sideways uppercut at the colt's face. The sword twisted around and blocked that too.

Fear transformed his right forehoof into a blade and rammed it into Gentler's abdomen.

Gentler spun to the side, one of his legs sweeping up into a roundhouse and aiming for Fear's side. The sword twisted around and blocked the foot, sliding under it and shoving it into the air, sending Gentler off balance.

The Abyssinian did no more than jump back on one foot, then lurch forward in a series of swings, all ricocheting off the sword, until with the final hit in the combo the gauntlets glistened and a magical nullification field surrounded it, slamming into the sword and causing the telekinesis surrounding it to fizzle out. It fell to the ground.

Fear's eyes went wide as he felt the follow-up spin kick coming. He ducked under it. The Abyssinian hopped up, continuing the spin and bringing his other leg down on top of Fear's skull as he landed on the previous foot. The greave thudded when it connected.

Spittle flew from Fear's mouth, nearly biting his tongue from the shock of being struck. His mind reeled and everything went numb.

Gentler followed it up with a hook right for the side of Fear's head. Fear responded just barely by forming a mound of carapace on his cheek as the fist connected. The chitin cracked apart on contact.

Despite the armor, Fear's body fell to the ground like a ship's anchor from the force of the punch, collapsing in a heap.

Faith quickly raced over to Fear as he groaned in the dirt, unable to get up, the carapace receding.

Gentler had a keen look to his eyes. “Looks like I win colt. You really should learn to fight better.”

Fear complained. “You used magic!”

Gentler grinned, one of his canines sparkling. “You should have used more magic, colt. Your enemies aren't going to hold back. At the rate things were going I could have ended that fight long ago.”

Fear huffed, getting up, his cheek swollen, a lump forming on the back of his head under his mane. “That hurt.”

“Gonna cry about it, colt?”

Sim was about to step up but Fear held a foreleg out. “No... I'm just frustrated. I thought I was making so much progress in my training.”

Faith gently stroked through Fear's mane. “You are honey, you're still young though. You have to work harder at it.”

Gentler crossed his arms over his chest, cloak billowing. “The mare's right, colt. You have a lot of work to do before you're capable in melee. But, nonetheless. I'll go with you. Someone needs to watch your back.”

Fear smiled despite the pain he was in, his jaw aching and head brimming with agony. His brain felt like it'd become engorged and was now threatening to spill out of his skull. “Well. Welcome aboard.” He uttered bitterly with a hint of enthusiasm.

Author's Note

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S22HL5sYX1c