Indomitable

Chapters

Chp. 1 - Lost
Bonus Chp. - The Fighting Steel Age
Chp. 2 - Metal beats Rock
Chp. 4 - Venator
Chp. 5 - Our Way
Chp. 6 - Bone and Steel
Bonus Chp. - Water Dance
Chp. 7 - Thunder and "GLBLBBLGLGB!"
Chp. 8 - Flawed...
Chp. 9 - ...But Unbreakable
Chp. 10 - Found
Chp. 11 - Egg Hunt
Chp. 12 - Thundercrash
Chp. 13 - Budding
Chp. 14 - Promise
Chp. 15 - Fly You Fools
Chp. 16 - MAZE of Confusion
Chp. 18 - Black Wolf's Rage
Bonus Chp. - Woes
Chp. 19 - Homecoming
Chp. 20 - Strength of the Soul
Chp. 21 - One Step Forward, Another Back
Chp. 22 - Tempered
Chp. 23 - Journey's End
Chp. 24 - Bloodstained Sand
Chp. 25 - Secluded Valley
Chp. 26 - The Spirit is Indomitable
Minisode - Whole World
Special Assignment - Effigy of the Lost
Chp. 3 - In the Shadow of the Tower
Chp. 17 - Maiden of the Lake

Chp. 1 - Lost

I remember...the sound of waves gliding onto the pure white sand. The warmth that radiated down on the horizon of the crystal blue water at my feet. The brush of wind to my cheeks while I watched the endless horizon curve past my view. I wasn't alone, I remembered that I was with a person I never knew -- Except they weren't a person... an equine? A cartoonish pony?

Her hair a soft lilac, reaching down to her shoulders, with messy locks that covered her left eye; eyes the same shade of purple but contained wonder and kindness, and a smile, radiating like the sun.

In my hand, which was fluffier than I recalled, held onto a glimmering ruby, the face reflecting a shadow of my own

"AHH, the light, it burns!" I hissed, the sunlight piercing through my window as a shadow blocked out half of it, leaving me to wince with my eyes closed for a second, that, and I was upside-down

"You need a better alarm, I swear this is the fifth time this week?" A soft, but stern voice scalded me from above, and once my eyes got a good look, I saw the girl with white hair standing above me with a frown. She wore black clothing for the most part, that being shorts and a t-shirt, but tied to her body was a white apron, a red bow-tie resting above her chest, it matched her crimson eyes well

"Moooorning...sis..." I yawned, waving upside-down, seeing her move away from the light outside and towards my door, sighing as she did. "It's...uhh, Wednesday? Right?"

"Tuesday. Get up and stop lazing around or you'll miss breakfast." I immediately perked up at that, hearing the door shut and the faint whiff of pancakes in the distance, beckoning me to their sweet, syrupy call

I should get up, my head hurts from sitting like this for so long.

Pancakes are a sweet nectar that shan't be wasted!

I sat with a huge smile on my face, devouring the plate of the panned goods with all my strength. We owned, well, our parents own a local cafe-slash-bar. It was small but almost everyone in town came here through-out the day. I sat in one of the many tables, peering towards the counter my sister worked at.

"Great as always, sis!" I gave my thumbs up of approval, seeing her smile sheepishly at my compliment. She was the one running the joint until our parents returned, she had more smarts than me so it made sense, I'm...intelligent...sometimes, maybe? Possibly?

*Ding*

"What's up, Zen, Summer!?"

The buzzer went, and to our eyes stood a familiar, tomboyish face. Taka, a tomboy with wild, warm-black hair and green eyes. Wearing a sleeveless, white jacket with black lines down the sides, with a blue shirt underneath, black cargo shorts and basic black and blue running shoes to boot, she did have a handbag with her, but I think its as far as her 'girlish' taste will go.

"Hellw~!" I waved with food still in my mouth, as Summer smiled with a small wave to her friend, then Taka pointed to her with a wink

"One Iced-tea coming up." Without missing a beat, my sister went to prep Taka's drink, just as she she sat down before me and my now empty plate with a smile

"You're the girl, Summer!" Taka thanked, looking to me. "Late sleeper as always I see?"

"Guilty until proven otherwise." I defended. Late-night hunting a Raging Brachydios in Monster Hunter World had a certain... aura about it, the need to hunt something so dangerous, that or my insomnia

"He did." I felt a knife strike my back, my trust dwindling into dust

"Forget I said anything..." Taka only laughed, patting my shoulder with a small punch afterwards

"Busted and I expected you to be all grown up by now?" She gave me a playful pout, seeing my twitching smile at her comment, so her expression turned sly as she leaned across the table to look at me daringly. "Oh? You gonna break? Do it. Do it. Do it."

"Iced-tea." I was saved, and Taka pulled the reins back to grasp her tea happily with a salute

"You escape, for now, soldier." I did the same, quickly rolling my eyes to drink my normal, hot tea. Taka slowly sat back on her chair, pushing the front legs off the ground to look at my sister lazily. "Anyways, came here to see if you're up for a shop around town, Summer? Found some deals that would be stupid not to take advantage of."

"Hmm, sure, but it's your fault if I miss out on any customers when we're gone." Summer warned her, seeing the look of uneasiness wash over the overly cool Taka, her teeth clenched together in a smile

"Sure..." She breathed, noting my deadpan expression, but I was smirking. "What? Feelin' left out?"

"Oh, no-no-no... I've got a deal on a Pokemon game I need to rob first," I replied, then grinned. "All you'll be doing is spending money on that weird manga you keep trying to finish, and you call me girly." I snagged her, seeing her face turn a new shade of red, eyes the size of pins. "What was it again...hmm...oh!" Slamming my fist into my open palm, I gave a glow of fake realization. "The one about that cute couple and the romantic genre around it!"

"Wait, seriously?" Summer looked as though Taka was someone else since I watched her face burn hot enough to probably cook a pancake on. In that same frame, I jumped to my right, avoiding the punch from Taka as she yelled out with unbound fury

"Zee~eee~en!!!" Quickly grabbing my jacket I sprinted past Taka and out the door of the cafe, hearing her scream from behind me. "GET BACK HERE YOU JACKASS!!!"

"Seeya later, Zen~!" I heard my sister follow after with a sweet voice, in contrast, the she-demon screaming down the house

"Don't-need-to-outrun-the-bear-just-outrun-your-friends! Also, seeya, sis!" I yelled back, dashing into the summer sunlight that stretched across the town, the heat building in my shoes with each forceful slam of my boots on the white slabs

I continued on my way through the calm streets of Town, it's nice, I like the place alot, got brilliant views of the sunrise and set, the beach in the distance, the mountain forests and even a small village resting near the edge of an extinct volcano.

Walking by a large, elevated block, I grazed my hand across the white wall as I passed, feeling the heat radiate off the concrete to my fingers, but while I mindlessly walked down the straight path ahead, something in my right eye shadowed the sun briefly, the rays illuminating the outline of someone as the passed by. I felt my pupils shrink slightly, my sensations had dulled at the sight of what I could only describe as a pure white light clothing the person, a long, golden scarf traced over their eyes and flowing down their back.

Her lips moved, and my body froze. Spinning to face her, I found only several tiny specks of light floating before me.

"What the...?" This was strange, and I was feeling uneasy as my hand reached for one of the glowing motes, I immediately withdrew my hand as I floated upward. I chuckled slightly, must have just been some kind of flower, but that only bothered me more. What flower looks like a sun?

Then, all the lights slowly danced around me in a gentle flurry, leaving smaller motes of light to conceal my vision. I had no idea what was happening or how to really escape these things, but by then, my eyes were engulfed in bright, white light. I have a feeling I shouldn't have woken up this morning...

. . .

．．．Ｗａｋｅｕｐ．．．

．．．Ｙｏｕｍｕｓｔｄｏ．．．．ｗｈａｔＩｌａｃｋ．．．

．．．Ｇｏ．．．ＷａｋｅＵｐ．．．

"Who said that?" Again, I asked my reflection as my head sat against a tree, facing the shimmers within the water. That voice was accompanied by those wisps, and while atleast twenty or so minutes have passed since my... ahem, episode, something any rational human being would do given the events that led to them waking up inside a dense forest while facing the fact their body was no longer their body. I was mostly freaked out by the fact I had a large, metal spike jutting from the backs of my palms and one poked from my chest. "Well, on the bright side I got a wicked backhand now."

I had become a literal Lucario from Pokemon. Something my reflected shared was my bafflement.

"This is strange... why am I here? Those wisps blinded me, then a voice, and 'poof' now I'm here." I motioned to the world, still dumbfounded by my arrival

I had no freakin' idea where I was, I knew from how bright the world was that it was clearly another world, especially given my form. Looking down at my palm, I held onto the only item I had when I arrived, a shiny, blood-red ruby sat perfectly in my paw... hand, whatever. Despite my predicament, this gemstone, I remember... that dream, I vividly recalled seeing this jewel in a palm just like mine now. Creeping in the back of my head, I came to the conclusion that voice had something to play in that too.

"But why?" I was exasperated, and deep down I was worried, of my life now gone from my reach, the loss of my human body, and left without an explanation. Squinting back at my toothy reflection a sigh escaped me. "What am I doing here...?" Guess I haven't got any other choice, best find my way out of here...

Stretching back to my feet, I took in the world and followed the clearings that pointed... er, I want to say East but from how dense this forest was I had a hard time telling where. "Hold up, brain, I'm Lucario, Lucario is fast." I liked Lucario, probably the only reason I'm into Pokemon as a whole, with that being said, I know for a fact he has a move called 'Quick Attack', so maybe I could try that out. "Of course I'm praying on my body being the tutorial for this test run... welp, ain't getting anywhere talking to myself!"

It brought a small chuckle to me. If I were being honest, this wasn't so bad, I mean, when's a chance like this ever going to come around again? Being a Pokemon in a strange new world that from how the visuals depicted themselves was clearly not Pokemon but something familiar. With a toothy grin, I bent down, paws to the ground while imagining a man awaiting to fire a gun.

Strange, but when I broke off the ground, I felt... faster. My breath caught in my throat with a laugh, a smile creeping onto my face as I dived through the forest, my feet instinctively latched onto the trunk of a tree, bouncing off the bark as I dived onto another, flying upward to spin my far more agile body up and higher than the trees, the light I basked myself in added to my blissful laugh at the sea of green that surrounded me. "Woooohoooo!!"

I dived back into the foliage, my senses sharp, I surprisingly landed on my feet, continuing my sprint through the forest at high speeds that I could have never reached back home, my heart was racing, and this feeling in my muscles, how I felt stronger, faster. I felt free! Tress turned to blurs, a flurry of leaves pulled with the outline of silver that flowed over me. My body moved to adjust to landings, but I could feel it, each movement made, how I just... knew how to adjust my propulsion accordingly. Was this Aura, Lucario's specialty at play? I could sense the world, maybe that's it?

With a graceful twirl, I landed on a branch and sat down, catching my breath with a mischievous chuckle to myself. Holding my paws out I took a second to place the ruby next to me carefully, then focused on my hands. Lucario could create 'Aura Sphere', shouldn't be too difficult, a Hunter of digital monsters such as myself has to be focused in the heat of battles.

Standing up on the large branch I held my paws back against my right hip. With a 'HA' I shot both my paws out like a claw... nothing came out. I deflated. Of course, when does anything actually work out for me on the first try?

Stomping my foot I held a fist high. "I will not be defeated! I am Lucario, Lucario is best -- next to Eevee -- but still top tier!"

I sat myself back down and closed my eyes, keeping my breathing silent while I listened to the world. Despite its otherworldly nature, there was something that crawled along my back since I got here, I know Lucario can see with Aura, so if that's what I was sensing, perhaps I can learn to tap into myself. I'm stuck in this body for the remainder of my time here, no one was coming to save me, nor did I have any idea where civilization was. Granted, I had the body of a Pokemon I know well, I just have to put all the knowledge I have together, both gaming and basic human survival if I'm to survive for long.

My thoughts carried me away, I had been sat by the tree for a lengthy amount of time, it was so sudden, I was worried, how my sister and Taka would react to my sudden vanishing act. "Please be okay... I'll be a bit late coming home." With a sigh, I gained no real experience with my silent meditation but I could definitely sense my surroundings with far better clarity than a human.

"Alright... alright, get ahold of yourself, Zen, it's you from here on out." Assuring myself, I took my first new steps into the thick of the woods, uncertain of my location, but I'll reach the end of this maze somehow

~---~

This world was teeming with life. The odd pair of birds flew by, with a butterfly landing on my nose at one point as I strolled through the lush, mysterious emerald forest, the sights and sounds snapped in every direction. My world had turned from a summer's day to a Springtime wonderland ripped from a fairy tale. How did I know it was Spring instead of Summer? Easy, certain flora hadn't bloomed yet, meaning it was around March, April is when the more frequent showers would start. Around me were young animals alongside their adult counterparts. I got bored alot somedays so facts just sank into my memory.

"Who knew it would come in handy?" I shrugged, hopping over a downed log that had my ears perk up with a blink. "Huh, interesting."

The new clearing offered me a clear view of an old campsite, the holes that remained surrounding disturbed dirt, alongside soot ringed by stones, what baffled me was that whoever did set-up camp here left a bag behind. Taking note of my surroundings I shrugged and sat down. 'Finders Keepers'

I flicked the rucksack open, pouring out the contents before my legs. To my delighted smirk, I immediately picked up a small hatchet, a bit rusty but judging by how sturdy the ash handle was it had some use left. Setting it aside, I now had the means to start a fire with a tinderbox, even some whetstones, cool-cool. Last was a sack filled with, and I could not stress this enough, chunks of gold! Making a 'cha-ching' sound with my tongue I happily sat those back in the sack, the only thing left was a small, red scarf, torn but almost untouched, alongside some thread.

Picking up the thread I took a second to rummage around the campsite, finding an Almond Willow tree that I promptly stripped of a few branches with the ax-head, providing me with the material I needed. Wrapping it around a stone roughly the size similar to the ruby I tied the branches around the stone, popping the stone out while using my claws to poke a hole either side of the cone's edge. Shakily, my claws threaded the holes, slotting in the ruby while I tugged the thread through, tieing it around my neck loosely.

I had some skills in DIY thanks to school and just my own improvisation. Smiling down at the cradled gemstone, I picked up the red cloth and wrapped it around my neck into a 'V', adding a layer to my fur while just looking a little less bare. With a nod to myself, I grabbed the hatchet and continued on my merry way. The sun wasn't setting yet, but I had to find someplace to hunker down.

"I should find a tall tree, keep from being attacked during the night, also be a good vantage po--"

???

My head immediately swung to my right. Something's coming and it was very angry.

Keeping my eyes glued to the lack of light that graced the trees twenty feet from me near a rocky out-cove. I should start running, but better to know what I'm being stalked by.

*Pow-Pow-Pow-Pow-Pow-POW!*

I did the only thing logically and dived to a nearby branch, ruby in-toe while the earth shook under me. A shadow crashed into the pervious tree, bringing it down with ease. Through the dust and dirt, I came to eye-level with the beast of the forest. Shaking off shattered bark was a large, bipedal creature that resembled a T-Rex only shorter, coated in thick armor-like rock. It had a large crown structure atop its skull, Its body covered in rigid plates of armored hide that tore through the trees, the tail thick enough to sever another as it turned with glowing red eyes, roaring once to reveal peg-shaped teeth.

"That's an oddly familiar creature," I gulped, seeing it sniff the air for a moment before slamming its head into the earth, sending a wave of rocks against the tree. I yelped, rolling down onto the grass as it turned to me again, snorting angrily. It's... a Barroh? Here? Don't tell me I'm in Monster Hunter!?

I stood up straight. "Know what, you own this place -- I'll see myself out!" My legs forgot about fatigue and dove through the bushes, hearing them trample under a feral roar

I sprinted down a hill, diving behind trees in hopes to shake this Wyvern from my tail, but it wasn't giving up, trees flew past me, forcing me up onto a branch, leaping up and around another trunk to continue through the endless grove that stretched on for miles, the thunderous steps closing in. "Quick Attack! Quick Attack!" For once my pleading worked, energy surged through my lower muscles and I shot upward like a bullet, avoiding the bone-pulverizing skull that tore deep roots high

The thicket cushioned my landings, the spring of the foliage adding to my momentum forward while the Barroth continued its pursuit. Even as I am now, I can't fight this thing, not with only speed, besides, if it's as deadly as its Monster Hunter counterpart this would be similar to fighting a bull in a cage. I very much doubt a rusty ax will dent that hide of Its.

I turned back to the way ahead, seeing my path had diverged, leaving a large ravine between me and safety, the shadow loomed again, trees crushed and thrown around me as I took note of my immediate escape. I could risk jumping or try and kite the Barroth off the edge, but if I screw up I'll end up dying before ever really doing much in this world.

Grumbling under my breath I sped up, placing a paw to the gemstone hidden under my scarf. Here goes...

Bending at the knees my body flew over the head of the armored Wyvern, latching onto a flexible branch that I used to bounce atop the Barroth's head, flicking myself across the trees to land against another, jumping to the next as the monster toppled the previous one over at ramming speed. Swinging around the thick log I sat atop a branch just as the entirety of gravity swayed under me, the tree starting to topple toward the jagged maw of the earth.

Running up the length I flew through branches and leaves, feeling butterflies rise in my stomach just as the dark grey jaws opened wide under me, Clenching my cheeks I cried out while taking a leap of faith, closing my eyes as I slammed into stone, my body slowly sliding downward in a daze. Instinctively my claws latched to the earth, legs dangling over the lip of the earth's scar. With a heave, I found myself safely across the gap, the monster I've fought so many times before roaring angrily with beady eyes.

"Don't...*huff* ever... *huff* mess with *huff* a Lucario." My breathless warning sent across the monster snarled and slowly turned its gaze back to the woods, finally losing interest in me as I fell back to the grass, sighing under the sunlight

"What a start to a new world adventure, huh?"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Never done a crossover before, think this might work, we'll see, mixing two of my favorite games into one, atleast elements of them that is. Lucario and Eevee are my favorites so it was between them for Zen's transformation. If you want to see any specific monsters, by all means, ask away! I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter.

Chp. 2 - Metal beats Rock
Zen's journey has been insightful, and with his tricks and stupid luck paying off he may just find what he's looking for.

Bonus Chp. - The Fighting Steel Age

Author's Note

This isn't much, but with the surprising amount of notifications I received following this upload, I'm generally thankful that you liked the first chapter. So here's a little something until chapter two drops next Friday. Enjoy~!

Bonus Chp. - The Fighting Steel Age

I have it with sleeping in trees. Sleeping in ditches, being hunted time-and-time again by what I could imagine was a sadist's idea of 'fun' for mythology.

I have a neighbor, he's friendly when he's not angry, he's a hydra so that's cool. These wooden wolves too, a whole pact of them south of my location, imagine my surprise to find them to also not be friendly.

"I'm a Lucario, I thrive on being the apex, this is nothing!" I countered the world's challenge to my survival. I rubbed a paw over my chin. "Now, how do I go about this...?"

My eyes continued to survey the tree that sat with thick trunks that curved like a spider, it was off the ground by several meters too, and the area was out of the territories of both the wood wolves and Hydra. I had only a rusty hatchet, a few whetstones and my medical, slash, food supply all tucked into an old bag. This wouldn't be easy, but if I'm to leave this forest, which was hellbent on keeping me in, I needed a place that screamed 'safe' or at the very least 'please don't hurt me'.

I gazed to my paws, an idea dinged. "I'm Lucario... yeah, this can work." From there I lit the firepit next to me and got to work with some bark and charcoal

~---~

"Quick~Attack~!" My sing-song struck the tree, carving through the trunk with ease as I gave it a quick kick to spin and join the others in a pile, the stumps left after my excessive use of the ability. Turning my head to the foliage still attached a swung my hatchet around and dashed between the fallen trees, clean, silver strokes of the blade shaved them, leaving me with two primary construction materials as I backhand another wood wolf from pouncing me. "Oh! Good," My paw clamped around the dazed wood wolf. I hummed happily. "A volunteer! I needed firewood!"

I swore I watched as the other wood wolves stand by the bushes, their glowing eyes vanishing from sight.

"Rock Smash! Rock Smash! Rock Smash! Rock Smash!!" Fist of stone broke its breatharian, my paws growing numb from the contact they made with the walls of this cave and its minerals I stood up and pain erupted from my forehead striking the roof of the cave. "Grah! Mother Fuuuu--"

Gathering the stone and other useful items I trekked back through the woods, finding the start of my home already in motion. I used a bunch of Almond Willow branches as a form of suspension cord for the thatch roof, beneath it was the cured rectangle that made up the floor of my hut. I sat my bag down then grabbed the hatchet, seeing the final floor log between my legs as I continued to file the rough bark of the oak, exposing the wood below.

By now I had learned to control aura through mediation, I had a better grasp of my surroundings, and I could even sense the auras of animals clearly, it made hunting easier and kept my senses on alert, though I doubt the wood wolves want a piece of me since I keep using them as firewood, I'm sure there's an omen about me spreading around the labyrinth of a forest, at least that's what the Owl said, but he sees a lot of things that I struggle to understand.

My face hit the wood, crying. "Oh my God, my only companion on a fortnight basis is a God-Damn owl..." I felt it, my hope was fleeting

I swear this hatchet is made of adamantine or something.

Once more I flicked away the discarded wood chips, seeing the rough but firm housing joint that, with a little kick or two, slotted right into place. Grabbing a small stick that sat in a poorly made clay pot I scooped up a glob of Pine sap, carefully lining the two split logs and the joint with the glue, while it wasn't the most elegant process, nor was it fun trying to get it out of fur, the last three walls held so I'm assuming I haven't just built a death trap, though the wood wolves would disagree.

"You know I can sense you!" I called, setting the stick down while flexing my claws to crane my head slowly, a creepy grin adorning my muzzle. "Who's next?" The eyes immediately vanished

I crept slowly, my face to the mud as I inched my way under a fallen tree, each snap or crunch had my ears slap down on my head while my eyes froze on the target.

I was experimenting today, but my project needs... enhancement. I crawled my way through mud and grass to reach the skeletal treasure, bones of all shapes and sizes, curved and thick lay in abundance around me that I could honestly mistake them for white mounds of sand at first glance. Want to know what the 'But' is?

Stay calm, Zen, you're just an everyday Lucario looking for a few bones... I eased my mind, sweat dripping at the snort next to me, the scaly head resting nearby. ...From the lair of a hydra that really doesn't like you...

My efforts would provide me with a better means of utility until I learned Metal Claw and got a handle on my aura. This was the only place with bones big enough for the job, and I really don't want to know where they came from. I stopped dead in my tracks, noting the tail that swept closer to the creature's body.

Long gashes tore into the scales, while thin, white bones littered the ground under me, a pungent smell left behind. This isn't the hydra's... these injuries are...

I turned my head, immediately flipping backward at the sight of two heads leering defensively. With a soft growl, the Hydra pulled itself to its feet, the four heads snarled, bearing their teeth. But those eyes weren't on me, rather, I wasn't their concern. Another growl, far stronger had me ever-so-slowly sink into the large bush to my right. Towering over the Hydra was the Barroth, and now that I could see the left eye was scarred, a clean, while line scored the scales. Hehehe... I hope he's not mad at me...

My eyes flattened. "I guess I injured it during my escape a week ago, great, I always wanted a monster to have a vendetta against me." My snark was interrupted by the Hydra's combined roar, two head lunging for the wyvern, throwing an array of bones to obscure it. Through dust the tail swung low, the club smacking the heads aside, forcing the Hydra to pivot, using its own tail to swipe the Barroth's thick armor, with a mere scratch it bellowed steam and charged, slamming that earthen crown into the exposed torso

A shuddering crack resounded, and two head snapped back, biting into the crown to pull the Barroth away, it held firm with both feet, pushing the Hydra against a nearby wall of earth, pulling away to the left and smashing the tail across their necks again, two of the heads collided while the others let out a terrible cry. The Barroth watched as the Hydra slithered away.

With a terrible cry, the Brute Wyvern thundered toward the bush I previously vacated, his enormous mouth wide open and his one good eye glinting with hatred. By now, I had grabbed a few of the discarded bones thanks to that Hydra tossing them and was making sure to take the long way back. "Oooh hell no!"

"There! Done!" I laughed, throwing the bone-saw aside, picking up the last piece of wood and some thread, effortlessly tieing the material between the long frame. Pushing it up the top slapped against the entry to my hut. "How the latter was the hardest part I will never know -- Point is, I'm done -- I should stop talking to myself."

Throwing the tools and remaining scraps of wood under the leaning tree, I carefully climbed the latter and pushed the tarp away. Stepping inside I had a small space for a bed to my left, a desk, and stool at the foot of the bed that stretched to cover the back wall, leaving me with a small rectangular space to pace in. It was homely and off the ground.

The bed was just some furs and other comfy materials I could scrounge up, I was no expert, and after spending nearly three weeks constructing this deathtrap I'd take a bed of dirt if I could sleep safely. Dropping my bag I turned them jumped onto the bed, feeling not even a single groan of the hut as I smiled, sinking into the comfort of the furs. "Know something... this was worth it..."

Slumber soon took ahold of me.

To Be Continued...

Chp. 2 - Metal beats Rock

The sun beamed down on the meander, twisted trees created natural bridges through-out its length, meanwhile, a deer grazed by the bank, absentmindedly taking a drink as the forests many sounds echoed far and wide.

"Such a peaceful creature," I sighed, shrugging with plenty of fake woe in my voice. "Sadly, you are made of meat." A toothy grin stretched over my face, hatchet sat at the base of the tree as I readied one of my new moves that had made hunting such a breeze. Metal Claw...

~---~

It has been... two months, question mark? Since I got to this world, and still no dice on civilization, this forest might as well blanket the earth. If we're being honest I half expected to have gone insane, but I was so used to talking to myself back home that I kept myself preoccupied, say what you will but time spent in one's own company can be really insightful.

Speaking of insight, I happen to finally have a use for the stuff I learned in school, most notably, woodworking... and maybe a game... about blocks -besides the point -- point is, it took me around three weeks but I had a place to hunker down after exploring the forest at greater lengths. I'd use a treehouse as my base of operations, keeping tabs on specific landmarks as my map written out on bark with charcoal, and so far I had the lay of the land.

In the end, my little home was merely a hut built into a leaning tree, the thick branches act like a cage to hold it all together soundly, and while my tools were limited to stone I did have the body of what is basically a ninja wolf so I managed. It was a small box home, kept a draft out, I even had candles... though Paraffin wax was far easier to create than Beewax... for obvious reasons.

It didn’t take me long to realize that I had to find either a way out of this maze of a forest or be prepared to face the Fall and Winter once Summer passed, it would be a pain and with a monster from another game I knew lurking in the woods I dared not to imagine what else I could run into out here, it's a big place after all.

I would spend my days traveling, expanding on my maps, gathering firewood, food, water, occasional tinkering for quality of life adjustments, like pitfall traps and training my body in the unlikely event I run into that Barroth again. So far my time in this world has been anything but adventurous, dangers aside, I did find the change of pace to the normality of life refreshing.

Eventually, another day arrived, and I found myself a new landmark.

"--I walk this empty street, on the boulevard of broken dreams, where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one and I walk alone--" My, ahem, beautiful voicals aside my hunting had come up short, though now I made up for my shortage of fruits. I grimaced. "No more berries unless it's confirmed a raspberry, ugh..."

Pushing through some low-bearing trees I broke through another treeline and found myself in a rather spacious field of flowers, my eyes practically widened at the colorful sight. There was a pond across the way, hills divided up the land filled with reds, blues, pinks, yellows, and many others that I couldn't accurately describe by name. Again, despite my predicament, places like this, it really made me remember how fun it is to explore in a new world.

Strolling through the field I picked a lavender, popping it and few others into my bag for later use, there were an abundance of common daisies so I picked those, while not my forte, I had some idea of the medicinal uses of these flowers, it turned into a poultice it can help heal wounds, that part would be trial and error given my... limited knowledge, but hey! I had the time now. Combined this flower with the Butterfly Weed I randomly stumbled across It'd make for a good health kit.

My picking of colorful flowers continued as I found myself pulled into the relaxing normality of the task, the sun was shining down so I wasn't bothered, and there were no definitive tracks of any predators nearby. "Today is certainly nice... wonder if there's a place like this out there, beyond the walls of this forest?" My ears folded. "Man I'm lonely, hehehe."

Self-loathing aside, my ears twitched upright again. something was running this way in a hurry. Standing upright I turned my attention to whatever deer or Timberwolf stormed my way. Yes, there are in-fact wolves made of wood, so I called them Timberwolves... I feel as though I've seen them before though? Observations for later, the target was moving faster and by the time I crawled my way up the hill to investigate I was immediately blindsided by a fast-moving grey object.

"Grah!" Both me and the entity yelled from the impact, tumbling down into the field in a heap. I hit the grass, flower petals dancing in the air as I laid on my back, the weight of the being pushed up against my chest, it too had fur from the sensation. Rubbing my forehead I blinked and peered down at my chest spike, thankfully, the entity missed impalement, not that it was sharp but I certainly wouldn't like to have found out

From the shape and size of the being, it was an equine, although unlike any I've seen before. Grey fur covered its body, with a mane and tail a smooth shade of lilac, although both were messy in style, the bangs over its face covered the left eye, the other still shut in pain, poking out from its lips was a small fang too. Their ears were pointed, and a single, leathery wing sat draped across my side. Carefully, the being stirred as I continued to stare with fascination.

It wore a bag too, with a sky-blue hood with a white outline and arrow-like designs down the middle hugged against its neck, it also doubled a small cape.

"I'd appreciate it if you weren't atop me..." I was talking to myself, but the equine blinked, revealing a familiar, lilac eye. Said eye locked to me and immediately pushed itself off my body. Despite the sudden tackle, my nose caught the scent of a very common aroma, only then did I realize that this equine was actually bleeding. "Something injured it..."

"...w-What are you?" It. Spoke. The equine, and from the voice it was clearly female, spoke to me with both shock and worry. From her posture I'd say something had her spooked, my appearance probably didn't help given I was always frowning

"Sorry, my appearance has the magical effect of making others feel I'm always upset, my gift to the world." I waved my paw wide, observing the deep laceration to her front leg, a clean-cut, damage was definitely a blade so it wasn't me. "You're hurt."

Her head tilted, eyebrow raised. "Is that the only thing you can say?"

I'm a genuine idiot. Facepalming I grumbled odd curses under my breath. Pokemon can't talk you dumbass, but Lucario on the other hand...

Staring back at the equine, I kept a solid leer to her eye, focusing on my aura and thoughts on her own, her's was a flickering blue flame, sweet. Here goes everything I suppose. "You're injured, what happened?"

Her eyes snapped wide, head flicking in every direction. "What? How! Who said... that..." Her eyes slowly peer back to my toothy grin as I resisted the urge to hug her, I finally had someone to talk to!! I'm not alone anymore -- wow I'm maniacally sad, although seeing her freak out was kind of funny. "Did you...?"

"I can speak by projecting my thoughts onto yours, surprise~" I waved, then shifted my expression to a far more serious tone. "Your leg, it's bleeding badly, let me see." She glanced to her leg, then offered a weak smile

"Heh, usually I'm more careful, guess I've gotten sloppy today." She chuckled halfheartedly, even watching as I grabbed her front-hoof in my paw. "What are you?"

I didn't look up as I flicked my bag open and grabbed a few leaves of a fluffy lamb's ear, what an odd name, wrapping them around the deep cut tightly as her face contorted in pain. "I'm a Lucario, my kind are called Pokemon but I doubt you've seen any quite like me. Sadly, when we speak anything that isn't us can only hear us talk with our names," I tied it up, seeing the leaves work overtime to stop the bleeding. "This is bad, I can't treat this injury right now, come on, I'll--."

Her eyes shot open with fright. "Hey, look out!" She alerted me as I grabbed her quickly, diving forward with my bag as a large plume of dust swept over the area. Setting her down I glared back at the last thing I wanted to see. The dust cleared and a single, scarlet eye burned into my own, the Barroth was back, an aura of malicious joy seeping from its soul.

The Barroth was covered in deep scars this time, the once impregnatable armor broken, leaving white abrasions over its form. Something did all this to it? Don't tell me it wasn't the only Monster from World to show up in this place? If so, I was in deep trouble now. I went to push the equine back, but my leg bumped up against her body, now lying on the ground completely passed out.

"Dammit blood, stay in her body!" I cursed, realizing this Barroth was already letting off steam for its big charge-up attack. "Now or never I guess!"

Scrambling to my feet, I, without so much as thinking, threw my paw forward, seeing a radiate light leave my claws, slamming a small, light-blue orb into the Barroth's side, the impact throwing it to the ground in a heap. I... did it, an Aura Sphere! Took a near-dying equine to motivate my body into forming the attack but now I had my escape.

With a surge of unparalleled speed, I dove down, pulling the bat-like equine close before taking off at the speed of sound, the thunderous crash of the Barroth's feet closing in for our second chase. Breaking left of the treeline, I sat the equine down, hastily adjusting the bandages before I took off to the right of the tree line, running out into the open with my arms high. If anything I'm its target now.

"Come and get me." The Barroth obliged, turning just millimeters from where I left her, releasing an ear-splitting roar as it charged. Rolling to my right I effortlessly led it into a tree, seeing it bring it down with ease while leaving its weakened body exposed. "Metal Claw!" What? Saying them out-loud sounds cool

With an iron fist, I drove the sharp digits downward, tearing through the armor with ease, my left spun through the monster's side. Jumping backward I avoided a hip check, harnessing my strength into my fists again for a bronze hue to overtake the appendages, "Rock Smash". Sprinting under a headbutt I swung up with a right cross, quickly followed by a left hook, seeing the Barroth stumble sharply to its left, myself spinning once into the air, palm held out. "Force Palm."

The crackling energy rocketed through the Barroth, but I froze from the lumbering swing of its tail, having missed my chance to paralyze it. Bracing I was forced into the ground by the limb, my arms threatening to break as I gasped, flipping onto my knees. Dodging another charge I decided to give it taste of its own medicine. Shaking my head I motioned for the monster to charge again, my paws shimmering with a silver glint in the sunlight.

Between us, a pregnant pause broke, that bloodshot eye coupled with a snarl, while I breathed heavily from my mouth, holding my form. Aura was an extension of the soul, that's how Lucario can do more without the need to attack at all, I could feel the animalistic hunger radiating from this monster, the rage, and desperation on needing to win. Faintly, that female equine was fighting for her life, blood loss wasn't a kind way to go, so I can't exactly keel over now.

The sound of a kettle fumed from the monster, hunched over for a towering charge, I had one shot at this and it was going to hurt either way. The skull threw itself against me in seconds, and my once stern posture was broken into a struggle to hold back the beast, my feet digging through the soil as my claws strained against an unstoppable force.

Grinding my teeth together, I did everything I could to pull its strength into my own, despite hearing what sounded like metal groan when faced with several tons of rocky scales. Stomping once, that groan burrowed my foot deep through rock.

"C-Counter!!" I snarled, the silver gleam flickering once while my body tensed, the pressure once exerted in staying alive now flew from my fur, my scarlet eyes reflecting my cunning grin

Twisting my lock on the Barroth's crown, I stomped to my right, pulling back with an effortless heave, crashing the body of the Wyvern up against the trees, bringing the wall down atop it. It cried out having it’s own attack rebound.

Pinned and left without the energy to escape I held my hands together, focusing hard on my aura in producing the effect I needed. With a flash of light, the Aura Sphere conjured itself under my breathless laugh. "I win." For that split second, I put the fear of God into the monster's eye

Night draped over the land, the glow of candles inside my humble abode providing me with a clear view of my guest, who still slept through all the chaos of today. She was going to be alright, however, her recovery solely depended on her ability to gather her strength. But after so many weeks I finally found someone, sure, not a Pokemon or human, but atleast she seemed nice enough to talk to.

"Ugh..." My ears flicked up, moving away from my new detailing of the flower meadow. The equine's eyes fluttered open weakly, a hoof to her forehead as she sat up in my small bed. "W-What? Where did--"

"I took care of the Barroth, the monster that attacked us." Her head turned to me swiftly, face contorting in hostility so I casually raised my paws. "You passed out from blood loss, but your injury should heal just fine."

Her eyes darted to her foreleg, seeing the more secure lamb's ear in place, With her guard down, she offered me a genuine look of relief. "T-Thank you, I honestly wasn't expecting to find anypony out, especially somepony like you." I did a little bow and sat back down before her. "Is this place yours?"

I grinned, nodding to the hut. "I've been lost in this place for little over two months, mapping and surviving without much hassle now, back then... ouch," I winced at the memories of my first few attempts to building after so long, it ended as well as you expect a novice to act in practice. "I'm Zen, sorry for the lack of introduction."

“Huh?” She turned back to me. “O-oh, I’m Yui.”

“Well, Yui, happy to meet you,” I stuck out a paw, and with some slight hesitation she returned the shake. With a clap, I motioned to her. "Tell me, where exactly am I? What I mean is," She stopped opening her mouth at my paw. "This world, the forest. You see, I'm... not what you would call a local."

She blinked, having not expected that question. "Well, first, can I ask what it is you've healed me with? I don't think I've seen this method before," She pointed curiously at her bandaged leg. That was a fair trade

"I was out in that field collecting medicinal herbs and mapping down locations. The substance I had time to gride into a poultice aids in healing wounds, the leaves are a natural bandage too, add in a few stitches under it all and 'boom', a rookie's medical skills at its finest," I explained simply, her eyes aglow with fascination, a small smile crossing her muzzle

"You are definitely unique, in a good way of course." She quickly rephrased at my curious brow. Sitting upright Yui watched as I handed her a small cup. Taking a whiff she smiled. "Jasmine tea."

"Good to keep any infections from popping up," I answered, then took a sip from my own with a sigh. "Or because I love tea, win-win I say."

After a good few seconds to enjoy our drinks, Yui cleared her throat. "So, before I tell you, where exactly did you come from if not the Everfree Forest?"

Was that the name of this place? Wait. "The Everfree... oh." I blinked, rubbing a paw over my face for a moment. Now I see why she looks familiar, she's a pony, a Bat-Pony from My Little Pony. "Now the colors and animals make sense..." I paused. "Hope none of my hunts were actually sentient, if so, uh, hehe, oops?"

"So you know this place?" Yui inquired to my nod

"Yeah, this place is Equestria, right?" She nodded and I sat deeper into my stool with a looooong sip of tea. I replied, “How could I go about convincing you I'm from an entirely different world?”

Yui processed, then shrugged, “Tell me you're from another world.”

I looked up at my Bat-Pony companion, not sure how to respond. "I'm... from another world? In a body that's not my own?"

A simple nod and smile. "If I'm being honest that's pretty cool, though it's not the most perplexing thing in Equestria. Discord is a thing."

"Ah, yes, wonder if he's involved somehow, he usually is..." I replied with a tired sigh. "Sorry, today's been a drag, between beating the Barroth into the ground, taking its hide for later use, and everything leading up toward today, that... was kind of underwhelming."

Yui rolled her eyes. "Welcome to Equestria -- Ack." Her forehoof came down quickly at her dramatic wave

I snorted humorously. "Try to keep you bubbling excitement from undoing my hard work." Clearing my throat I continued. "So, where is the nearest town in this forest?"

After recovering from the sharp pain Yui hummed, looking as though she was missing something. Casually I held up her own bag, handing it over. "Perfect, thanks," She fished through the bag with her only wing, then flicked out the holy grail of this world, a perfectly detailed map! Unfolding it on the bed I now realized how large this place was

She pointed to a rough spot on the map. "We're more than likely here, flower meadows like the one we met in tend to grow closer to the center, far away from anypony and the magic in this sector is stronger that way." That made sense, too bad Barroth came about to nearly ruining the place. Her hoof guided my eyes to the edge of the forest miles and miles away. "While Dodge City would seem closer getting there means going through the same territory that... thing came from, Ponyville's your best bet, just North-West of here actually."

Finally, I was actually investigating that section now, those mountains definitely match with what I caught of glimpse of a fortnight ago. "That's great, you've just saved my sanity!" I praised her happily, looking over all my bark sketches of landmarks. I was happy, but... all of this now had no merit. It was rather disheartening. "I've been here, memorized the locations I've been, so... it's kind of a letdown that it was for nothing."

Yui sat up with a confused brow raised. "You serious? Look at all of this!" She motioned to my work. "All of this was you, right? I'm impressed anypo — er, one could live out here, the Everfree is wild and untamed, only a crazy person could survive out here."

That did make me chuckle. "Guess my insanity saved me," She nodded, then froze unexpectedly

"N-Not that I think you're insane or anything!" Now she was deeply confused since I burst into a fit of laughter

Wiping a tear from my eye I grinned. "Thanks, I needed that, but calling me insane is par-for-the-course," Humor aside, I did look to her solemnly. "Yui, you said 'Thing' that attacked you... a Barroth bludgeons things to death, you had a deep laceration." Her eyes slowly lifted to the doorway, sighing shakily

"I... don't know what it was, something large, dark fur with eyes, just like yours," Yui detailed wary of the doorway as though the night might snatch her. Putting my paw on her shoulder I kept my eyes to her own. She sighed. "It shot these strange, sharp bones, they tore into trees like paper, and into my leg."

Oh no... "Nargacuga, the Swift Wyvern," I can hear someone calling me a nerd right now. The name alone had myself on edge. "It's a flying wyvern covered in pitch-black fur. It is extremely agile, especially on the ground, moving with explosive bursts of speed." Yui's own ears folded back with worry. "I'll be honest, if a master hunter was a monster, I'd say Nargacuga fits the bill."

"That's... a little concerning," Yui gulped, holding the fur cover closer to her, don't think she realizes it's real fur but now's not the time

"Aye, it is... but don't worry, it won't come near, I've rubbed an assortment of scents over the area to keep almost anything at bay, and even if it does show itself I'll be sure to give it one troubling time swallowing me," My fake confidence did lift her spirits, thankfully. "They also hate fire, that I can make no problem."

While having her company is great and all, once she's healed up we'll be going our separate ways again. Standing up I shuffled my supplies together on a workbench, sighing. "Despite the situation, I'm glad we got to chat, haven't had a conversation in a while, atleast with someone else." My resting frown returned. "So, why are you out here?"

"That's easy, I'm... a bit of a treasure hunter," She admitted proudly. "There's not one mystery left unturned on my travels!" The look on her face suggested she was thinking. "My pack here is filled with trinkets and relics, there's some I've sent back home to be studied so I'm always on the move."

I smiled, "Sounds like fun, I'll admit, treasure hunting is my thing too back home," A slight lie since it was games but hey, couldn't hurt to relate given her raised expression of wonder. "I've gone on journeys to some of the darkest tombs and discovered mysteries that had myself and my friends boggled for weeks, lots of fun it is."

Yui sat forward with a bright smile. "I know, right!? The adventure, the traps, and puzzles too! Crossing dangerous regions and meeting, let's say, odd ponies, I live for adventure, it's as simple as that, just like Daring Doo." She sounds like the Indiana Jones of this world, both this Doo person and Yui.

She had quite the life. I'd be lying if something about it didn't stir my conscience. Again, I am just another gamer... just that... What had been a struggle for me was resolved in only a few sentences and a piece of paper. I did appreciate her kindness but that wasn't enough to make me feel the work around me didn't just amount to nothing. I've gone through alot to strive in this world, nothing was ever resolved with magic and friendship, Nargacuga was out there, hunting.

Finding this to be the end of our little conversation I realized it was getting late, given the Moon fully risen above the trees. I wanted to talk more, but I've got to makes some... preparations, "Get some rest, I've got some work to do anyhow." I shrugged, moving for the latter just beyond the tarp

"Hey, Zen?" Turning back around I saw both lilac eyes looking back to me with a comforting smile. "You're pretty cool in your own way, today is proof of that, if you want, let's make a deal."

My face lifted a little, both at her offer and words, though it takes more than a few kind words to make me believe them completely. "And that would be?"

She sat up again. "You help me find the treasure I'm after, and I'll split the rewards with you, and also help you out of the Everfree, in return, you help me with my recovery and overall protection," Now it was her turn to be sheepish. "I can handle myself but... if that Nar. ga. cuga shows itself again..."

Butchering its name. I sighed. "Well alright," I moved closer to kneel before her, paw held out. I had my chance, but I also now had someone who I could commune with. "Then let this be the start of a good partnership, Yui."

"Really!?" She accepted my handshake with both hooves, her eyes lighting up. "Awesome! It's a deal!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Just encase you might wonder, yes, Zen can use more than four moves, do I care that breaks the rules of the Pokemon universe? Not really, it makes things more fun. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter.

Chp. 3 - In the Shadow of the Tower
Time moves on, and while both Zen and Yui grow to enjoy each other's company, a new shadow looms over them.

Chp. 4 - Venator

The abyss was dark, consuming us in a matter of seconds, and all we could do was scream. The wind flew past me as the purple lights ceased their descent into the abyss below.

Without a moment to lose, I poured all my concentration into Quick Attack, latching onto the flightless Yui as my paws slid across a fragment of what remained of the top floor. I jumped to another section of rock, hopping from it to my left, using the rock's rotation to leap to another piece. Diving over the platform my feet slid along the black walls of the gorge, the actual bottom of the pit coming into view. With a final leap of faith, my right paw latched itself around a narrow strip of rubble, swinging us around and into a narrow corridor, avoiding the collision with the debris with a sharp tumble onto the ground.

We were still alive! And my feet were on fire!

"Ugh... why is it always a trap, why can't ponies just build a nice, comfortable entrance from time-to-time?" Yui whined, laying atop me with her muzzle brushed up against my snout

"Thus, we may never know," The world seemed to spin for a moment, purple lighting on dark walls greeted me. Taking a moment to relax I blinked at the one-winged mare. "You good?"

Yui blinked, then immediately pushed herself off of me while trying to avoid looking at me. Must have realized who she landed on. "I-I'm fine, t-thank you, Zen."

Saluting jokingly I stretched. "Not. A. Problem." Sauntering over to Yui, I recreated my aura ball to light our feet, the purple torches that were surprisingly lit gave us a clear sight of our route. "This place looks straight out of a fantasy dungeon."

"Not a pony has set foot in this place in centuries, yet it looks completely untouched... guess we have that doorway to thank," Yui murmured, pulling out her journal. I sat closer to her, illuminating the pages. "This tower supposedly houses some of the archives from Grogar's rein, but no tale ever spoke of a place like this, must have never been found..."

"Or the ponies that did never came out..." Again, I received a jab to the side. "Ehehehe, sorry, force of habit."

This archive of Grogar's hardly looks to have received visitors. The darkened chambers of these hallowed halls stretched ahead of us, I could sense it, an aura of abandonment and sorrow. It felt more like a cold, derelict tomb than an archive. I would have led the way if not for a wing stopping me. Turning my head, I saw Yui pull out my own medical supplies.

My brow raised curiously. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"Your paw," She pointed out the thin cut along my palm since the Barroth-Duster didn't cover the inside of my paw I guess using that debris to swing us around actually cut my skin. Yui sat closer to me, holding out my paw

"Suprised you know how to do this?" I broke the silence, seeing her smile softly while focusing on rubbing the ground-up Butterfly Weed roots into my cut, myself wincing at the stinging sensation

"Good thing I had an excellent teacher." She replied, myself squirming a little timidly while I watched the eager treasure hunter apply the bandage tightly. "There! All better."

My smile came back. "I appreciate it, shall we?" With an agreeable nod, the two of us delved into the darkness. Without really thinking I just thought to her. "I'm quite fortunate to have met you."

I saw her jolt a little with her head turned to me. "Really? Why's that?"

With a shrug, I gave a smirk. "'Cause, I'd never had so much fun exploring before, that's all."

While I couldn't see it, her voice reflected her kindness. "Yeah, ditto."

I laughed a little. "No, Lucario."

Our venture into the forgotten catacombs led to two main paths, but the right is a dead end. The left was a twisted trail leading downwards and soon we found ourselves among a hallway filled with rooms. We rummaged the remains of murky rooms, finding only basic equipment for potion brewing, some old books detailing some useful mixtures that I decided to steal for myself, had many good recipes. Of course, I couldn't read them, it had pictures I can read pictures, though I did find a flask of phosphorous, very useful.

Each step into this dark labyrinth of an archive echoed, low hums of the earth followed by ambient dripping and the scurry of smaller animals continued to play the melody between us. Finally, we made it what was likely the final room. Black-Iron caged a stairway, the torches had gone out a long ago. The stairway was broken, rusted metal lay bear on the many steps.

"Wonder what lurks in the dark below...?" I murmured in Poke-speak as to not freak Yui out. She shared a nervous look with me, but her resolved kicked in, pulling her hood tightly before pushing the metal gate open

Once inside, she used me as a step to light the torches on our right, giving us a clear view of the passage below. There was only a large pair of stone doors, braces of iron held shut while I lit the final torch. Strange writing is all over it, somehow untouched by time and the elements.

"It says..." Yui's voice trailed off, an echo behind us making me jump. She gulped down her courage. "...'Finish what I started'..."

"I have a feeling that isn't paint..." I gulped, grabbing the handle with Yui, with some effort, we heard the moan of hinges as the door was pulled back, revealing a well-illuminated arena ahead. "Wonder what the test was?"

"Much as I don't want to find out, we've come this far already." Yui lamented and guided me inside, a chill ran its way over me, and I swore something watched us

Inside, the grand chamber of this dark citadel had widened. A ribcage of metal and stone looped the outside of the room, facing dark, jagged walls infused to the earth, vines snaked down from above, all while leaving a large, resonating crystal alone, acting as a perpetual light source, the icy glow gave me no warmth though, bathing us in a chilling blue light, the shadows curved wickedly like thorns. In the very center, a large, checkered floor remained, statues of armored ponies dotting the stage.

"What is this place...?" I asked, observing the statues carefully, their almost mannequins-like presence gave me chills. "Guh, I hate mannequins..."

Yui, on the other hand, was fascinated by them, taking in their positions and muttering incoherent nonsense that I had to tune out for a moment, my arms crossed. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, waving a hoof at the statues. "Zen, don't you get it? This is the test!"

"How so?" I motioned inquisitively. She pushed me off the stage, then pointed with her wing to the back of the room. "Huh?" The final doorway was dead ahead, but only opened high enough for an infant to squeeze through

Her eyes sparkled. "This chamber is the final puzzle, a giant game of chess!" While she was thrilled by this, I had my head tilted

"I don't know how to play chess, work away." I sat back, but Yui frowned, pointed a hoof at a pillar next to us, again, with chicken scratch written in crimson. "Why is it always warning in someone's internal life-juice? They kind-of need that."

Again, we grimaced and Yui translated. "'I lost. Tried again. Lost. More and more, I lost more and more, mind is fuzzy, always itchy, like gravel on fur'" She took a moment, then sighed heavily, that look in her eyes... I regret wanting to know now. "...'Everything is lucid, everypony dust, my bones... are so... itchy'... Luna's Mercy...!"

"So if we lose this game we lose our sanity... and ourselves," I had to voice it. "What the hell kind-of joker made this asylum?"

I'd tell Yui not to proceed with the game, but given our lack of exits, I doubt I could scale the chasm out of here with both of us, in the end, we had to move forward. With an anxious nod, Yui stepped forward, observing the game that was already in motion for years, whoever it was that started this game, we'd be the ones to finish it. Once more, I left this in her capable hooves. If she lost... well, it was a good run I guess...

The unseen Player moved a black statue, a Rook, by three spaces, the last one to stand. The stone abraded the checkered floor, coming to face us. Yui pondered for a moment, clearly debating her first move carefully. She had to call out her move to advance a piece, and I was left biting my nails with each win and loss of another piece when one was claimed the statue shattered.

In a short time, Yui now had both the Player's Bishops, seven of its Pawns, one Knight, one of the Player's Rooks and now she was close to taking out the King. The Player proved itself an expert of the game, even before we had shown up; having gotten rid of six of Yui's Pawns, both her Rooks, the Queen, and both Bishops.

In short; Yui was losing, clearly, the person that wrote the message tried their damn best to win, but it ultimately led to this.

However, Yui's poker face was still invisible to read, and that glare she wore was far from giving in. I may not understand chess, but the keyword in my mind was, she 'WAS' losing.

Yui tapped her wing to her chin, clearly enthralled in the game. With a command she removed the final Black Pawn with her Knight, the pony raised its sword between its teeth, then drove the blade in a downward thrust, dust showered the stage.

The Player proceeded to advance with its Queen, Yui followed quickly with another white piece to clear the final Black Knight. Again, Yui advanced a piece to stare down another. I didn't understand it all, but that move, it claimed the Black Queen, she had very little remaining of her forces but from her gratified smile, she had done it by a hair.

With a bow of her wing, Yui clicked her tongue, "Checkmate." The prominent 'T' resulted in the King falling apart, completely cornered with the minimum number of pieces she had left, "I-I actually did it! Hahaha!"

"Oh thank God you're awesome!" I praised, hugging her thankfully for another shot at living. Of course, she returned it warmly before we inspected the damage. "Don't think the catacombs insurance is gonna cover this..."

That made her giggle. "True, especially after we claim the treasure beyond that doorway, I can feel the riches from here!" Her cute squeal was only deflated by the fact the passage to the final door was narrow and looked as though I'd just about squeeze through with this spike poking out of my chest. Tapping my leg Yui skipped ahead. "Come on, no time to waste groveling in a dark room!"

At her first step, my aura was overloaded by a new wave of emotions, it nearly shook me down to my knees, the world was a crawl with red wisps as malice and death hung in the air. My eyes shot wide, and I barely had the time to react at all. "Get down!" I yanked Yui behind one of the chess pieces, my paw over her muzzle while I held her close

My heart sank into my stomach, while Yui sat uncomfortably close to me I didn't care, from out the corner of the old statue, the red glare traced across the stage, eyes like pins scoured the ominous room. Black scales, black fur, and nightmarish red eyes moved with grace over the stage. Its feral appearance had us shaking while edging around the statue to hide, moving with as close to silent as possible.

It was enraged too, those traces of crimson danced with the eyes. I held my breath, hearing the tail rattled above us as it looped its most powerful weapon around the equine stone. I could even see the razor thorns within the bushy tail. Nargacuga had tracked us.

Removing my paw, Yui exhaled silently. "Don't speak, we need to move, now," My thoughts projected, Yui looked from Nargacuga, who was sniffing a statue, then to the doorway. "That's our best bet, it could probably tear those doors down if we tried to close them." Our only option was to press to the heart of this archive

I sighed, frozen to the wall, "Yui, do you trust me?" I needed to know, while the tail moved, I shifted away from the edge, seeing the glare snap our way, a low snarl escaped Nargacuga as it stalked toward our statue

To my terror, Yui moved to face me, hidden under her hood, I saw her right eye stare back at me with complete confidence, she took me seriously. "I'd trust you with my life." That was a little much and made me feel odd, but a good answer

I pulled her around the statue, carefully lifting her as I narrowly broke past Nargacuga's tail and behind the White Knight. The second I did, Nargacuga's tail whipped forward, demolishing the statue we previously sat behind

It hissed, seeing as we moved on and continued its search, brushing aside the rubble to inspect it. We let out our restrained breaths, then I moved to set Yui under me, my back just hidden behind the Knight's form. With a toothy grin, I carefully procured an Aura Sphere and tossed it against one of the many supports of the chamber, the 'whoosh' and 'bang' reverberated, the Swift Wyvern roared, lunging at the pillar to inspect it, snarling at the dust.

"Go, run," I whispered/yelled for the Bat-Pony, she booked it for the narrow passage, making it off the stage and toward the small space between it and the entry. the Wyvern noticed and whipped its tail around, the spines thankfully missed and sunk clean into stone, while I grabbed my hatchet and tossed it toward the monster. "Yeet!"

It winced, having met an ax-head to the temple, its head colliding with the ground for a moment, now its attention focused solely on me. With a warcry, I ran to avoid a spinning lunge of its bladed-wing, which divided the Knight in-two. Gulping I focused on my legs. "Quick Attack!" My body went into overdrive, leaping far above the tail that swung round like a mace. Stuck, my feet pressed to the crystal, breaking down at blinding velocity with my right arm folded. "Metal Claw!"

The stage broke apart, the force crashed against Nargacuga's skull tremendously. My surprise morphed painfully, eyes snapped open, a cold sensation ran over my right forearm, tossing me against a pillar with a strained yelp. I-It dodged!?

Nargacuga howled again, diving backward with a flick of that tail, I winced and rolled away, spikes snapped sharply across the stone, followed by a slam of that tail to push me off the stage. Rolling with the tumble I dug my claws into dirt, then lunged myself, meeting the Wyvern halfway, maw wide with sickle claws poised. I only have two moves that could work... one of them I doubt I could use and might end up hurting me... the other will only work one time!

Those claws were drawing closer, and my time was short, I had to go all out, whatever it takes to keep her safe, to live! With a growl, I leered back at the Wyvern. "Close... Combat!!" My bloodied forearm hummed with sharp, glassy, crimson light, blinding Nargacuga as my fist connected with its jaw, with a satisfying 'crrrack' the unbreakable wave of energy passed through me, launching the Wyvern across the chamber and into the remaining statues

I winced, feeling as though my muscles just tore from the impact, I plummeted to the floor, a wave of blue light leaked from my body, my defense and special defense were down. Gritting my teeth I limped as fast as I could toward the narrow corridor, seeing the faint sight of a hoof waving on the other end.

"Come on, Zen, hurry!" Desperation laced her voice, and I cried out as I threw myself into the gap, a curved moon carving above my head as I squeezed my way through, hearing the roars and scratching close behind me, cause the walls to tremble against my fur.

My body scrambled to the end, seeing the light of day piercing through with the shadow of a hoof. "I got you!"

I didn't hesitate to take her hoof.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I really am not good at chess, my friend helped me with this so... yeah. I did enjoy writing both the creepy nature of this archive and the puzzle, as well as the skirmish with Nargacuga. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter.

Chp. 5 - Our Way
Now at the heart of the archive, trapped by Nargacuga, the duo find that they are not alone.

Chp. 5 - Our Way

A/N: I just wanted to say that it's awesome that so many of you like this story, I'm honestly surprised, thanks for reading and enjoy!

Nrgh, everything feels a little sore. But it's not every day you fight a Nargacuga as a Lucario in My Little Pony.

"Zen!" A surprised voice sounded

"That's my name..." Blinking, I tore my gaze to the friendly Bat-Pony beside me, a look of hope in her eyes, as well as tears. I then asked with a raised brow. "What happened?"

She took a moment to wipe her eyes. "Nothing, you just passed out one I pulled you inside, and... your wounds were... they..." I put a paw on her shoulder, seeing her flinch. "It was amazing though..." Her eyes lit up wondrously. "Y-Your body started to glow a pale blue with water droplets! And your worse wounds healed immediately! Even my own scrapes our gone!"

Strange. I don't recall Luacrio knowing a move that heals him too, there's Heal Pulse but I haven't unlocked that yet, did it affect me too in this world? It explains why her own injury had recovered so quickly, "I have no idea, then again, I can't list all of Lucario's abilities off the bat," I elaborated, grinning. "My recovery aside, thanks for the bandages though."

Yui nodded with a soft smile. "I'm just glad you're okay." Again, I felt weird, but I'm usually always odd when people really care for me. Turning around, I took in the impressive room that sat before us, a far cry from the catacombs

It was a medium-sized library, everything looked a little dusty but remained furrowly intact. To my eyes sat rows of colorful and bleak covers, a medium-sized table sat in the middle where a few stacks sat between old pages and dried up ink-pots. A balcony skimmed the top half of the shelves, a small ladder leading up but was toppled over and piled with literature also. Despite the messy state, the back sat a large throne, decorated with wood and worn leather and velvet that something had taken a few bites out of.

"The place used to be a throne room? Interesting renovation." I pointed out, Yui already inspecting the walls of knowledge with keen interest, I got up, rubbing my tender bandages as I too decided to take a nosy at the books, despite being unable to read a single letter. "So, what is it you're looking for?"

"All of this!" Yui exclaimed brightly. "I needed proof that such a place existed, and since the way is clear other ponies can take extra precaution to retrieve the rest!" The treasure hunter explained, smirking devilishly. "Doesn't mean we can't... sign, a few books out for ourselves."

That made me chuckle. "A treasure hunter at your core..." It's kind of cute if I'm honest...

She gave a hum in agreement then went back to gasping and happily humming like a child, examining the literature as I sat down on the rugged carpet, deciding to get some work done while we were trapped in here thanks to Nargacuga. Retrieving a small bowl and a rounded stone I used to gride up the materials I needed.

Picking out a batch of Daisies and Butterfly Weed roots I broke them up and focused on meshing them into a new, hopefully, more refined paste once I added some honey, the sweet scent attracting a new pair of watchful eyes as I silently worked, though a playful smile crossed my lips. This lacked proper care, as I'd need to prepare the herbs a little more before mixing but this was emergency medication if needed.

"Find all the books you needed?" I inquired, seeing the Bat-Pony jump then quickly turn to continue her work

"N-Not yet! Keep up the good work." Hmm, aye, sir

I was just about done with my work, having made enough to do a major wound or two, while not a perfect remedy it still did the trick. By then, Yui looked ready herself. Question was, how were we getting out if not past Nargacuga? I frowned, I need some input... "Hey, Yui! Need some advice on taking down--" Her wing pushed to my muzzle

"Z-Zen, over there," Her hoof jabbed in the direction of the throne... which was no longer vacant.

Sat comfortably was another pony, white fur coated it, with long, golden locks for 'Her' mane and tail, with two long locks falling to the sides of her face, she also had a prominent cow-lick. But what held my gaze moreover, was not only the vortex-like charm around her neck but the golden cloth that covered her eyes and seemed to flow elegantly in the air.

"We meet again, Zen." Her voice was very motherly, and her aura... it felt like heat from the sun

With a blunt gaze, I moved a step forward. Focusing, I used aura to project my thoughts onto both mares. "So, who are you?"

Her smile didn't waver. "I understand you feel uneasy, but I do mean you no harm, my name is Trinity, Goddes of Virtue."

. . . Oh

"WAIT WHAT!?" "WAIT WHAT!?" Both of us blurted out, earning a soft chuckle from Trinity

This... this is, a, um, I... haven't got an elegant response. I mean... wow, it's... yeah, wow. Rubbing my ears I tried to keep myself composed. "S-Sorry, I... I need a minute."

"I second that," Yui squeaked out as I fell into deep contemplation

Okay. So there's a Goddess, as in, the very entities people either believed or refused to believe in sitting before us as a pony. But the name, 'Trinity', I don't recall a Goddess named that, or is this stretching past the standard knowledge humanity has? She could also be an enemy masking themselves as a good guy, but that's without evidence too. Hrm, this is alot to take in.

She offered a welcoming smile, "Your distrust is not misplaced. That is usually how most would react given your situation, and it's not everyday one meets a divine being so your reactions are also understandable. It isn't often I see those outside my circle," She continued, raising a hoof to me. "I do apologize for your less-than preferable summon, or the fact you hadn't been given a choice," Her smile fell a little. "I wish I could have asked you but my time was so scarce, even as we commune now my time is very short."

That perked my ears and eyes. "It was you..." The one I passed before everything went fuzzy and distorted!

Trinity bowed her head, the last thing I'd ever expect a God to do. "I cannot undo my work, all I can is offer my guidance, and my most sincerest apologizes Zen." She was even apologizing right off the bat... wow

Despite the situation, I didn't need a look from Yui to invoke my response. I bashfully rubbed my nape. "I-It's fine... honestly just seeing a Goddes has me a little shellshocked, and... even one bowing to me," Her head rose, a curious expression across her lips. I grinned confidently. "Hey, I actually had a blast, despite running into monsters from Monster Hunter, I'll certainly have some stories to share back home, right? So no harm no foul."

Finally, her smile returned and it had me feeling all fuzzy inside. I made a Goddes smile, eeeee~! "Hmm, you are quite the character, aren't you?" Trinity mused, then hopped off the chair, trotting down to us. Her golden cloth rose a little. "You need not bow, Yui, I may be a deity but I always disliked having those before me bow, it can be so embarrassing..." Was the Goddes... bashful? Seriously?

My eyes then locked to the nervous mare beside me. "You were bowing -- Wait, is that why you didn't stop jabbing my side?"

Her eyes glanced between us. "N-No, maybe, yes, w-what else was I supposed to do!?"

I rolled my eyes. "Uh, ever heard of 'respect is earned not given'? Sure she's a Goddess but that doesn't automatically earn my respect, though all that stuff a minute ago definitely earned it tenfold," I countered

Yui rolled her eyes. "I can't tell if you're acting realistic or idiotic."

My eyes widened with my toothy smile. "I'm a Lucario your argument is invalid."

"What does that even mean!?" Her hooves waved angrily

I went to argue again but we both paused and blinked like fish at the sight of the powerful being softly laughing, covering her mouth with part of her cloth. "S-Sorry, I-I just haven't seen such antics i-in so l-long, hehehe -- no, stop laughing, stop laughing you're a G-Goddess, ahh!" She was just as weird as us...

Now we couldn't contain our laughter at her bumbling mess, and that only made her worse. "You're not h-h-helping~!"

"Neither are you, what the hell!?" I chuckled

~---~

After a minute or so the calm down, we got back on track. "Well, since I am the one who brought you to this world, I'll answer some of your questions if that will suffice?"

Me and Yui shared a concise nod, and so I finally, after all this time got my chance at some golden information. "I'll ask the obvious, why am I here?"

Trinity nodded. "This world, as you may know, has had more than one visitor from another world all across their timeline, dating back as far as Grogar's rein, while some were purposefully summoned, others were exposed to rifts in space and time, this is a common anomaly across the Multiverse as no Universe is ever completely stable," Trinity explained as I sat down with my legs crossed

"Well that's good, I'd hate to be told 'oh, you're the fabled hero of this world, and yadda-yadda-yadda'," I mused, with Trinity agreeing with me, sitting down herself alongside Yui who was taking notes for us

"It definitely lines up with your explanation of how you got here, you were chosen by Trinity, but for what in particular?" Yui asked away

"Temporal Rifts typically form due to a disturbance to the flow of time in a Universe, sometimes there are entities within that world that cause them but not of their own accord, I'll give you a hint, it's the latter." Trinity smiled knowingly, my brow furrowed

Together, me and Yui gasped. "Discord!" "Discord!"

Her solemn sigh was all too clear a picture. "While Discord's intentions can be seen as villainous, his methods unorthodox, misguided, and even dangerous, his presence in this world is paramount, without him, the balance of this world would collapse, the downside, his chaotic magic tends to disturb time, especially when he drags others from worlds in an attempt to speed along his imprisonment," Trinity's explanation lined up with what I've seen in fandoms, I could imagine my presence is causing that same problem now, aw well. "Anyway, as for your question, Yui, it is due to the Rifts' new manifestations."

"Come again?" I blinked, not particularly liking where this was going. I feel responsible for something

"As you've seen, this 'Barroth' and 'Nargacuga' are manifestations of monsters from a game of your homeworld, the rifts have started to manifest themselves in these forms due to your arrival, I had intended on your involvement to simply return order until Discord's eventual escape and reformation, as to keep said rifts from completely derailing the timeline, however, they too have began to fight against my plans, this is why I had no time to explain until now." That was bad, very bad

"Wait, if I do get involved in events, won't that only mess this world up more-so?" Now for the prime question of them all

Trinity finally relaxed. "No, what you know of this world and where you are now are completely divergent paths, their events line up, but any exterior interference won't cause any parallels if that's your concern?" I nodded, with Trinity smiling softly. "I made the right choice with you."

Yui then groaned. "Great... so Discord 'HAS' to be free to help balance things out... forgive me if I'm not one hundred percent on that." To offer my aid I patted her shoulder, holding a thumb up

"Won't be too bad, I promise," That atleast assured her

"Thanks, moving on, why is Zen this... Pokemon? Wasn't he human before? Why not a pony or something similar?" That was a good question, wonder why that never occurred to me? I've been alone for too long

"That's simple, in order to combat these new formations you needed two things, one, that Ruby you wear is what seals the rift manifestations, you probably haven't realized it, but when you defeated that Barroth red wisps flew into the crystal, containing that rift," Noooow the crystal makes sense! Here I thought she just chose my favorite color and gem as an apology gift

"I have a magic keystone? ...Cool." I approved with a thumbs up to her

"Your favorite color is red, so I knew you would," Again I gawked, Trinity giggled, then put her hooves together. "As for your body, something akin to this world's ether was required for your body to exist here, and so, I gave you the form of a powerful creature with the capable abilities to combat these rifts, while making sure you would like it."

"I most certainly do, though I miss not being able to speak properly, but aura thoughts are a good substitute." Shrugging, I had gotten used to communicating with Yui this way that I hadn't really been affected too much. Then I sighed fakely. "A shame, my talents in singing will now be lost to me... I feel... so weak..."

The Bat-Pony's ears perked up, "You sing?" Yui seemed interested, but I gave her my reply

"Lucario." She blushed sheepishly

"Oh, right, sorry..." Scribbling down a new note, she flicked the quill toward Trinity. "Continue."

She nodded, cloth dancing around to motion my way. "Right, I suppose my final explanation would be... why I chose you?"

Now I was full of nerves. I know I joked of the whole 'hero' thing, but this generally had my curiosity, why did she choose me? Did I resonate with this world better than some? My, ahem, 'Kindness' she spoke of? Or was it simple by chance, that I happened to be her only option or that I was just some lucky stranger? All of this made it harder to come to terms with overall.

Am I... really the right choice...? Can I really be trusted with this responsibility?

Neither I think noticed, but my right paw was trembling... just like... back then... No, stop thinking about that! It wasn't...

"There were many that say my methods of handling the role of a deity are both unprofessional and a breach of 'traditions' we have," Her hoof was raised to her concealed eyes. "With a single look into my eyes I can completely reshape a person's virtue, be it moral compass or their very life, I could pave it all, without them, I can see a person's virtue either way, how they'll grow, their experiences, even how they'll die..." Her smile remained but an aura of sorrow washed over me. "I'm one of the few Gods that understands that price of our omnipotence, the heartache that coils into a deep, empty pit, that is why many Gods are scorned by mortals for their heartless acts, when in reality..." Her head lifted to us, to me. "We've simply suffered a fate we'd neither wish on others or to endure sometimes... some, just lock it all away."

Why did that feel... like her aura was wrapping around my own...?

"Trinity, I'm... sorry to hear that." Yui apologized, earning a soft pat on the head from the Goddess

"You are very kind under that adventurous spirit, it suits you," Trinity praised, then turned her head toward me. "So while Gods may see my actions as unorthodox, those I have met, and others who I've guided down their paths I have never once regretted my actions, nor have I forcibly altered their fates, hence the cloth," Her hoof pressed to her chest. "I may hold such power, but I'd never use it to strip someone of their right to live, I merely watch over them, become a guide to their lives, and offer a hand if need be."

"Then... what about... me?" My question was immediately answered, doubt laced my voice that Yui tilted her head at since Trinity was the only one to understand my Poke-Speech

"You were the first person I met in that colorful town, your aura wasn't completely pure, but your actions through life, despite the shaken road you've made, you were content, you offered aid to those before your own needs, cared for your friends and family, and when I met you, you were smiling." Trinity left me in silence. "Why would I need any other reason?"

My eyes wavered, trying to hold it together. I've been alone for over two months, only for a few days have I met Yui and she's been an irreplaceable friend, and now I'm sitting in some dungeon with a monster prowling outside while talking with a Goddess. What the hell is my life right now? How long have I waited for someone to say... 'they need me', again?

"I'll do it," I lifted my head proudly. "I'll close the rifts, whatever form they take, be it a Brute, Flying, Fanged Wyverns, or even Elder Dragons, I won't hesitate." I meant it, even if it sounded like quite a cliche, I had already made a splash in this world, time to follow through with it

Trinity seemed pleased by this, though I didn't quite catch any expression from Yui.

Trinity returned from the throne, trotting down with a few items suspended around her cloth, "Before I leave, here's something for you both, after all, you both did clear quite the trails to get here," That mirthless expression perked us up

"Treasure from a Goddess~!" Yui squealed with bright lilac eyes, her tail was even wagging

This made the Goddess hold in a laugh. "I can already hear Death berating me once I return..." Holy hell she said that so casually... "I do hope these will aid you both on your paths, wherever they may lead."

Yui was first, unfolding her cloth she revealed a set of tools I'd expect for a treasure hunter. New silver bracers attached themselves to her legs, alongside a black choker necklace. A brand new compass housed in a black box, a map of Equestria and beyond. She was enraptured in bliss, twirling to show off her new style. "Thank you so much, Miss Trinity~!"

She smiled warmly, "Hmm, I'm glad you approve, that armor is made of a precious metal an old friend offered me, Argium, lightest metal known-to-man, but with the hardness of Chromium." Trinity soon turned to me, unfolding the last of her golden veil to reveal a hardback book

The cover was marron with gold lettering in... Japanese, even English beneath it! "I-I can read this! Awesome!" Yui just looked like a fish when she read over the chicken scratch

"Now I understand how you feel..."

While I flicked through the pages, Trinity advised me on the contents. "A listing of a number of Lucario's abilities, ones that require... TMs? And similar recorded skills, while learning them yourself may take some time I doubt this would be an issue with you," I shook my head rapidly, smiling with each entry. "Practise is a merit of wisdom, I included a number of of those books you gathered in the translations to save you some trouble."

"Thank you, Trinity, for everything..." I bowed my head, feeling a little guilty. "I wish I could repay you better... but I suppose closing those rifts will be my promise to you."

She seemed happy with that answer. "If you two ever need me, hold onto that ruby and say my name, I may be unable to answer though, the work of a Goddess of my title comes with many workloads."

"I understand, no abuse of power and all that." I replied, seeing her body beginning to flicker a little with those familiar motes of light. Her aura was starting to fade away. I almost wanted to reach out to stop her. "Goodbye, Trinity."

Her head shook slowly. "No need for 'Goodbyes', our virtues will cross again someday." In a flash of dazzling lights her aura left this world enveloped in a warm radiance

~---~

Now stood only a single challenge.

"How do we fight this thing?" Yui inquired sternly, sitting down before her simplistic drawing of the previous chamber. I tapped a claw to my chin, processing through the memories of this monster quickly, I'll say this, atleast it isn't a Yian Garuga

"Narga focuses on quick, precise attacks, and can strike from any point of its body, mainly its bladed wings and its spiked tail. Its head can be used for biting. Its bladed wings will almost certainly tear you in half. Its tail tip is extremely dangerous since it seems to be enraged it'll flick those spines out like daggers. Nargacuga also has extremely strong muscles that let it jump long distances and tall heights at high speed." Breaking down the fight I chuckled. "He's nature's best assassin, good thing he isn't a Blinking Narga otherwise we'd have to deal with teleportation, somehow, and poison."

We had our preparations, all we needed to do was take down this manifestation. I've beaten Nargacuga plenty of times, although I had a longsword last time, and I was having second thoughts, my first was... 'Ow'.

"Guess this is it, you ready?" My inquiry met silence, I turned around and saw Yui spacing out. "You there, Space Cadet?"

"U-uh, um, huh?" My lips pressed into a thin line, Yui smiled weakly. "S-Sorry, I... after what it's done to both of us, I'm just a little nervous," Her wing waved out quickly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm more than capable given past ventures into traps, dangers, and the occasional hydra, but this is... unlike any of those."

My brow raised, "Why's this different?"

Now she was slumped, looking down at her hooves. "I... have someone I want to protect."

I wasn't expecting that. Rubbing my cheeks to clear the heat, I placed a paw on her shoulder. "You've gotten us this far, I've just been doing the heavy lifting, I'm more of a hands-on kind of guy, you actually use your head in these situations, so I'm sure you'll come up with a plan as I distract Nargacuga." My pep-talk raised her spirits, but her aura was still sorrowful, was there more to this? "Can I count on you?"

Not a moment of hesitation, that confidence had sky-rocketed. "I've got your back, Zen."

I held my fist out, smiling with confidence I stole from the spiritful Bat-Pony. "Then let the Sapphire Star light our way!" That brought a small red hue to my cheeks

Her own cheeks were pink but we both totally had a bit of chuunibyou in us, "And let no pony block our path!"

Her wing curled and bumped to my fist.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Conversation heavy but now Zen has his answers, question is, can he follow through with his promise? And what's bugging Yui? Find out next time, I hope you enjoyed!

Chp. 6 - Bone and Steel
Zen and Yui must face the Swift Wyvern if they wish to see daylight again.

Chp. 6 - Bone and Steel

It was time to escape, but one problem remained. Nargacuga.

Or the lack of its presence. "Where did it go?" My thoughts were hushed too, I had a hard time trying to pinpoint exactly where its aura was. It had been moving frequently and it was messing with my aura sense, strokes of red smog resonated with each of my heartbeats. I dropped it immediately. "Yui, stand back."

"Right, are you sure this will work?" I met her gaze with a toothy smile

"I got this." I moved onto the stage, my head craned toward my right where scarlet reflected off my own. Nargacuga lunged from the metal ribs, left wing-blade curved to strike my neck. Rolling forward I narrowly missed my haircut, Nargacuga slid across the ground, claws swung its body around to face me once more. This hunt ends now.

A low growl seethed from its fangs, Nargacuga and I circled, eyes locked while we flexed our claws, awaiting each other's next move. This thing wasn't a stranger to Hunters, it knew I wasn't some easy prey, it wouldn't take me lightly, hopefully I can use that to buy Yui some time. Its ear twitched, I ducked, another lunge followed by a slam of that extending tail to kick up a dust cloud. I raised my arms for Quick Guard, the might of that spined tail slamming against the white dome.

With a quick burst of speed, I slid under another lunge of that tail, the spines lodging the tail to the floor. My Metal Claw gleamed against the onyx coat, driving both fists through the scales followed suddenly with a Force Palm to crack the blade. Narga roared, plucking his tail free to swipe me back, using its maw that smacked up against an Aura Sphere, erupting in its face. I hopped to my left, Nargacuga dived back with its front legs, the tail swiping my side, slamming me into the stage.

Nargacuga ran hastily to the back of the chamber, tail poised to fire a burst of sharp projectiles that forced a yelp from Yui, her body hidden behind a support column. It scrambled again to stand over me, swiping with both sets of claws to clash with my Metal Claw again, we broke apart, the tail swept low so I leapt high into the air, concentrating hard enough to conjure two Aura Spheres. Both erupted on contact but did little more than irritate the Wyvern.

Yui then waved from the balcony, "I'm ready!" My grin returned

Landing I decided to try out one of the new moves from that tome of Trinity's. Nargacuga pounced as I concentrated on feeling the cool air around us, despite the heat I produced I felt the fuzzy sensation in my paws, how the hits I endured tickled my nerves. Exhaling a breath of static air, my fur standing a little on end. Ducking under Nargacuga's body, my left fist struck upward with a snap and pop. With a sharp crash, my fist slammed a wave of lightning against its ribcage. I just learned Thunder Punch!

This drove Narga's lunge off course, colliding head-first with the column as static chained it down. From above a dark shadow descended with a silver back-leg raised. My jaw unhinged as Narga's head lifted slightly, only to have it impact the ground with a painful 'slap' from Yui's heel, a silver crescent left behind for a mere second. She flipped back down beside me, running away to hide as I shook off my stupor, palms silver while my body soared across the chamber.

I delt a serious blow to the Wyvern, breaking off one of those blades, causing it to tumble back to the dirt as I launched a brick at the tail, snapping a few spines with Rock Smash. With what remained of Quick Attack I ducked and dived into his scales, breaking down the armor with kicks and punches that withered the once fearsome hunter into a furious, but weakened killer.

With a deafening roar, he spun, tossing me out from its side. I recovered only to feel a cool knife slide against my shoulder, the pinecone tail slammed down atop me as pain rocked my body, a single spine having cut deep into my shoulder. Wincing I painfully used Counter, my hands flipping my body up and around, my shin slammed into Nargacuga's maw, breaking several fangs while sending it on a crash course with one of the stage's pillars.

The face scraped the side, tail coiling around the stone to twist and crush it, the eyes narrowed through the debris. Holding my shoulder to check the bleeding, I hastily leapt high onto the balcony above, avoiding another barrage of spines. That was when I happened again, my wound felt fuzzy and less like fire. Peering to my bloodied shoulder, I watched miraculously as tiny water droplets glowed against my fur, the blood faded and the gash had all but vanished. I had Life Dew this whole time!? Now my recovery time makes sense... huh.

This was great, now I didn't need to be so careful! Nargacuga bounced from the far wall, then to the large crystal, spinning while it slid onto the balcony with me, tail thrusting forward to prod me, I ran low, latching my arms around the retracting tail. Nargacuga flexed upward, throwing me high enough to clench both fists, one a furious red the other a buzzing yellow. Combined with my Barroth-Dusters, my fists threw themselves against the Wyvern's back, seeing the ring of red and yellow burst from below.

I recoiled with a cry, the knuckle dusters broke while my right paw twitched from some tearing beneath my skin. I overdid it, so as I landed my palm radiated with blue droplets again, the pain quickly faded by the twitch remained. Guess I can only still heal around twenty-five percent across my body, but I can still move! "Yui, take this and throw it on my mark!" I tossed an item her way

Her wing caught it in time, a beat of sweat falling down my face, "Wait, what are you planning to do with-- Watch out!" She yelled, my reflexes forced me down, a claw pinned me down between curved nails while the smell of rotten meat reeked from the Wyvern's tongue. "Zen!"

I couldn't focus on communicating, pushing back the jaws with my eyes slammed shut, the stench could very well knock me out. Please, Yui, I need you to hurry, I can't get this guy a breath mint!

"Hey, ugly!" I felt the stench lift away. "Get your own Lucario!" Something then shattered, glass falling atop me with a loud hiss of smoke

Nargacuga whined angrily, the paw immediately retracted as I cracked an eye open, the blinding light to my right, while toward the left Nargacuga pawed away at his eyes, dazed and confused by the flash. That flask I found was phosphorus, so when exposed to oxygen it ignites in a blinding spark until there's nothing left to burn. It was used in grenades during World War Two, still very handy today.

"Thanks, Yui, bought me the time I needed!" I growled happily, my body refracting the glow of the crystal above. It was time for a Counterattack.

Fully enraged, Nargacuga jumped far and wide in great bursts of speed toward me, firing many more needles with each backflip and a sharp flick of its tail. With Quick Attack it was all white blurs that I had no issue avoid, dashing through the lines, blowing some away as I mimicked Nargacuga, bouncing off available objects to chase it down. I purposefully let my body crash into objects, building up the strength I held back. Nargacuga ran along the right wall, myself in hot pursuit, diving into a roll to skim past a flurry of bone-needles.

The eyes locked to a certain mare, body lurching upward to devour her, so I quickly slid to the ground, kicking up my hatchet then with a strike of my heel the tool crossed the gap, striking Nargacuga into fighting me again. What would I do without you, Hatchet?

It landed in the center again, tail swung high, decapitating the last of the four pillars, obscuring my view. Pushing against my body's wishes I sailed across the debris, pin-balling up and over another low-bearing lunge of the tail, my paw pressed against the fur to spin myself up and over its head a final time. Win, with one blow straight to the head!

Nargacuga saw this, snarled then snapped its neck toward my arms. I had anticipated this, that bloodlust oozing from his aura. With a slight turn, my foot pushed down the snout, twisting me into a lumbering twirl with my right arm wide. All the energy I channeled through Counter forced its way to my paw's spike, the vicious backhand 'crracked' against Nargacuga's jaw, breaking it and the neck with the force to shatter the ground that the body carved its way through.

The body slumped against the remains of a pillar, a final, strained roar escaped, and the eyes lost their glow. Each lungful of air was met with pain but I didn't frown, instead, the sweet sensation washed over my wounds and I fell to my knees in relief. There, with a faint shine, were a few traces of red that entered underneath my scarf, and that aura that overloaded my own ceased to be.

"Y-You did it!" Before I could allow her to continue I pushed a claw to her muzzle

"'We' did it, what an ax-kick though, you've been holding out on me?" I laughed, seeing her giggle sheepishly at the memory. Tracing my eyes over the remains of the battle-torn arena, I noted the long shard of its wing-blade protruding from the ground. I could use tha--

A hoof pressed to my chest, "You can gather your resources later, you need to rest up," Her eyes locked to mine as I went to proclaim, but they narrowed, a wing pushed to my muzzle. "Don't make me tie you down."

I reluctantly complied, "There's a joke there somewhere..." My sarcasm went unnoticed by Yui while she worked on applying a new set of bandages, my wounds from the first encounter having healed from the excessive use of Life Dew, though I did really need to sleep now, guess that's the price of power... "I could have done this, no need to work on my behalf."

She didn't face me, carefully applying the last of my Lamb's Ear. "But I want to, you're always there helping me where I lack," That had me snort a laugh, earning a dumbfounded look from her

My eyes rolled, "Really? Where 'you' lack? I may be quite sociable, not that it's obvious, but my talents are wasted... while you're out here striving to become a legend yourself." I waved casually. "If anything, what I'm doing is the least I can do to repay your information on this world and where I can find a town."

Yui didn't seem convinced, "You say that, but..." She turned her head back to the bag, putting away what remained. "I'm a one-winged Bat-Pony... that... had me falling behind... and the pressures being forced on me like it was some kind of honor... I hated it... the burden of being unable to choose my destiny... that's why I ran away..."

"..." No reply so she continued, and I grew more aware of her standing in this world

"When Princess Luna returned, the Night Guard became far more prominent again, and so did the need for other members over time... that ultimately meant I was... expected to join, my Dad did, my brother too... even though I lacked a wing they both were so... pushy, so insistent and I hated it," Her anger was evident, both in her expression and voice, her aura was drowning in confusion and spite. "I had my own talent, my personal goal... and they never listened... I want to explore, meet so many ponies and discover the past left forgotten... I even got to meet you... and a Goddess for Luna's sake!"

She was distraught, and my arm finched around my shoulder when I tried to tap her. How can I even remotely relate to this? I've had probably the opposite upbringing, I had an awesome family, my best friends far and wide, and Yui... she had no one but herself now until she met me. 'Magic of Friendship', what utter bollocks

Yui's muzzle shifted under the hood, feeling my paw push it away to stroke her mane, I didn't say a word, nor did I need to. With my eyes closed, I focused all of my spirit on hers, the resonating flame that flickered toward another. Her flame danced in darkness, all that she was came flooding out, pressing up against my soul as I opened my eyes. Her head sat against my shoulder, her body shuddering as I wrapped my arm around her waist, patting her back gently.

We had beaten Nargacuga and claimed the secrets of a Tambelon archive, and even met with the Goddess of Virtue, Trinity. Now we sat alone in these catacombs, as I gingerly embraced the troubled treasure hunter.

I liked this ending, it was nice.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

What a fight, and now the duo are free to move on to Ponyville, but the road is never that easy. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter.

Chp. 7 - Thunder and "GLBLBBLGLGB!"
The Duo find themselves in familiar grounds, within the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters they will be met with a new chain of events.

Bonus Chp. - Water Dance

"I said I'm fine..."

"No, you're not, relying on that healing constantly will have adverse effects."

"Since when did you know so much about magic?"

*Thwack*

"Ah! Okay-Okay, you win!" I gently rubbed the lump on my forehead as I sat rigidly before Yui, her hooves moving carefully to replace my bandaged wounds, some lingered from our battle with Narga roughly a day ago. We made steady progress but this forest has been adamant about not letting us out

For the longest time, we sat in silence, I had to sit awkwardly as she mimicked my medical work though she was by far more accustomed to it. After a second to check she sat back with a sigh. "Well, on the bright side your body is healing faster, even without that 'Life Dew', you should be back to one hundred percent in a day or two."

I nodded then picked out some dry branches I had. "I'll start a fire then, doubt we'll get much farther with the sun this low." I saw her nod while tugging her hood closer for a second. "Say, why do you always keep your hood up?"

Her head bobbed. "Huh?" She put a hoof to her chin before replying. "I just prefer it that way, when I'm around a lot of ponies I can get really flustered, but when I wear this I feel confident, and sort-of like the real me." Her voice was very lost in those words, shaking her head. "Sorry, not really the best answer."

"No-No, you do you," I returned to the fire, carefully placing the materials away from the trees. "Want to see if there's a spring nearby, could use a refill?"

Now her smile was back. "Leave it to me, be back in a few." With a bounce, she hopped up and over a fallen log and out of sight

~---~

"Hey! Zen! Come see this!" Her voice carried through the trees and without a moment to lose I grabbed my hatchet and propelled off the trees, crossing through the thicket in a matter of seconds toward the blue flame

"Yui, what's up?" I came to a stop, just as a blue cloth blinded me, a small trinket falling from a hidden pocket. I grumbled through the fabric before I tore it off, finding it to be Yui's hood, this was immediately followed by a splash. Ah yes, I to love no explanation as to this outcome...

From where I stood my feet were before a bank overlooking a large pool of steamy water, and from how damp the air was I assumed it was a natural hot spring, there were a few other pools with a river leading off in the direction we strolled. Must be an active fault nearby, otherwise, I'd be seeing a lot more cooked fish right about now.

"Ah! Hahaha, this is amazing~!" Yui flew out from the water, smiling blissfully as the last rays of sunlight painted quite the sight of her mane flowing through the air with the droplets. "Zen?"

"H-huh, uh, y-yeah?" I quickly recovered and used her hood to purposefully cover my redden face as I noticed the item from before. Plucking off the edge of the spring, I noted that housed in a brass cage was a strange, multicolored crystal, an imperfect sphere that was about the size of a golf-ball. The light wasn't refracting through it, these colors were directly infused into the stone. "What's this?"

"Aah! I forgot about that!" Yui swam up to the edge, looking moderately panicked with her hoof swaying back and forth. "Don't worry about it, gimmie-gimmie-gimmie!"

My sly smile formed. "Oh, is it that important?" Her head vigorously nodded, and I looked to it with a keen eye. "You know I swear I've seen this before... but where?"

"Not important! What are you, a dragon?" She huffed, I just chuckled

"Lucario."

"Don't you 'Lucario' me, dummy, hand over my gemstone," Her hoof continued to prod between us. I knelt down, setting it back on her hood

"What is it? I've never heard of an ore that looks like hardened rainbows?" Now that my teasing was over she smirked and immediately pulled me under, my yelp drowned out as I sunk into the warmth of the spring

My body soon sat down at the bottom, my legs crossed with my arms as I narrowed my eyes in a deep sense of concentration.

...You know something, this is a new feeling... should have seen this coming, well played... Bubbles ejected from my mouth and I dove back up to meet the laughing Bat-Pony, her amusement soon transferred to me as the two of us played off the incident with ease, though sadly my bandages had become damp so they'll need replacing later

For a few minutes we either floated or sat by the edge of the hot spring, the first real, warm bath I have gotten since arriving in Equestria, and I had to admit it was worth the long wait, all those weeks of back-breaking labor, the catacombs, and two monsters suddenly meant so little in the face of just feeling clean and stress-free.

"It's a gift from my grandad," Yui broke the silence, her body floating as she kept her eyes to the sky. "The gemstone was his last major discovery as an archeologist, and the only mystery left unsolved in his career, he's the reason I am who I am, he was my hero... and I wanted to be an even greater explorer," Her smile grew with pride. "I do this for a living, so money is a necessity, but I primarily do this as he would, the ponies of the past can't tell their stories, and some are lost forever, so I want to find them, to give their memory a sense of value again, that's why that archive was my goal."

Her ideals were certainly ambitious. "If I ever meet him, I'll be sure to tell him you're the best explorer there is," That made her sink, her muzzle beneath the water, words muffled by water. "I mean it, and... to be frank, I'm glad it was you I ran into first," I smiled earnestly at the flustered Bat-Pony. "Thank you for being my friend."

Yui nodded sheepishly beneath the water, so with a concealed paw, I flicked a tiny aura sphere her way, letting it erupt under the water, spraying her face with a wave as I burst into a fit of laughter. "Haha, now we're even!"

"Grah, now you've asked for it!!" She bellowed, grinning cunningly as her hooves swept a wave toward me, but I dived, appearing to the left. "I'm not done yet! You're not the only one with special moves..." Yui went full chuunibyou, laughing maniacally. "Behold the forces of nature at my disposal! Dark Wave!"

Her wing tore through the water, creating a larger wave than the previous, so with both paws, I pushed them under the water, pulling them upward and apart, a large mound of water dividing the rouge wave to either side. When the steam cleared Yui was gone. Where did she...? My tail swished. With a Quick Attack I spiraled downward, the strong current pulled the sneaky Bat-Pony into view as she threw her head above the torrent, in time for my left-palm strike, a narrow wall of water drenching her again.

Spitting the warm water out she dove backward, her tail and hooves kicking three consecutive waves that I had no momentum to avoid, each drowning me in time for her laugh to cross the gap.

This game continued until nightfall, suffice to say we were furrowly cleaned. I totally won, by the way, don't let anything she says fool you.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Just a short, but sweet chapter during the duo's travels. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 7 - Thunder and "GLBLBBLGLGB!"

How. Big, Is. This. FOREST!?!

I am convinced we've passed that same Skeletor tree twice now, and I could hear it laughing maniacally.

"I'm to assume maps in this world measure distance in greater numbers?" I drawled, a map held in my paw for Yui to read as we walked. Her brow was furrowed seriously at the detailed map Trinity gave her, to our surprise, if we had a destination in mind all we needed to do was say where and a gold trail would snake along the parchment. So far we have been going for two days since Nargacuga's fall

Without lifting an eye to me she spoke, "Yeah, in terms of kilometers are worlds vary in measurement, so about one kilometer for your world is approximately... triple that...? I'm not the best at math but its sort of around that margin."

"What the hell Hasbro? Who designed your maps, a sadist?" It might not be like that in the show, but this world is if that show was its own reality entirely so anything could change

Why was I alone again? Turning my eyes back to the frozen Bat-Pony, I saw her lilac eye widen, mouth ajar. "...Z-Zen...?" My head tilted, dumbfounded

"What?" She shook her head, pointing to me, specifically my throat

A Hoff rubbed her eyes, "Speak," Now she was confusing me greatly, but I shrugged and replied in Poke-Speak

"It's over Anakan I have the high ground." I think her head is smoking, and not in a good way. She blinked, trotted to a tree, then proceeded to plant her forehead firmly against said tree with a solid 'thunk'. "Am I... missing something?"

"You... I... I can... hear you..." Her body turned back to me, just as my own realization sunk in. Her muzzle soon stretched into an anxious smile. "I can actually hear you!"

What? The Hell? Happened?

~---~

After our immediate freakout, as I quickly deduced it must have happened when I reached out for her aura with mine to reassure her, that ultimately made a soul-bond, that's my term for it, where our souls are linked, so I no longer had to focus my thoughts with my aura for her to hear me. "I see no cons to this, now I finally speak again! Woohoo~!!" I pumped a fist to the sky

Yui giggled, legs tapping against a log. "This is amazing, guess we never have to worry about communication for now on." I agreed, smiling triumphantly at this revelation

"Wish I could have done this from the beginning, would have made it easier to concentrate," I shrugged, adjusting my new tool with some Almond Willow. It was a large shard of Narga's bladed-wing, I sharpened and fashioned it into a dagger both for carving and everyday use. With my knuckle-dusters totaled this was a good substitute. "Maybe once we arrive in Ponyville I can learn to harness my aura even further?"

"Y-Yeah... that would be great," Huh? Her aura changed

As we continued on our untamed path, Yui looked to be lost in thoughts that were bitter and dishearted, I didn't want to pry, but with my aura sensing, it was hard to ignore. Besides, I sure she'll understand if I asked. "Hey, Yui, something on your mind?"

She blinked, facing forward to hide her face. "Of course! Just trying to piece together what's next on my list," I heard her scoff at that, as though to berate herself

I shrugged, "Well, I've got rift monsters to take care of so that's next on my list, probably train to learn some new moves, ooo! I could learn Hyper Beam! Hahaha, all shall bow before my unrivaled power!" My devilish laugh raised her spirits a little. With a paw, I grabbed her head and tilted from side-to-side. "And of course, I have an awesome treasure hunter and friend until then!"

Her posture shifted, "What?" She blinked

Mmm, this was a little awkward to ask... and my was I getting flustered about it? "I... um, well, if, um you want... we could, erm, s-stay a team for a little longer, you know, cause... we make a great duo, and, you're like a total badass," Zen, may we talk later upon your wonderous response, perhaps we dig a hole and never return?

Yui pouted, moving at a steadier pace, "S-Stop flattering me...It won't get you anywhere, you know..."

I paused, scratching my cheek before smiling with a shrug as I kept pace just behind her

"For the record, I was only telling the truth." I added, earning a smile from over her shoulder

"Hmm... well, if you insist. It's just been a while since someone's complemented in the way you do," Yui elaborated, that was until her eyes caught sight of the remains of a pathway, looks like we found something

Without much warning Yui sped off, her wing flapping for me impatiently. "Come on, hurry your butt over here!"

I didn't really think about it before, but there's something kind of cute about Yui... but in a different way... I kept that thought to myself

*ROooooAAR!*

Immediately the suspense of discovery had to be postponed, one look to Yui and I took off in a blur of blue and black. Whatever that was, I had a funny feeling I recognized the roar's owner, and I prayed it was my former thought over the latter. No more poison... no more poison... for the love of all that is Monster Hunter no more poison...

I ran through an old entry into a ruined castle, cutting past old bookshelves and furniture, ducking under a pillar as I found my way through the hallways and out into the grand throne room, though the magenta glass ceiling was shattered, alongside the large, stained windows. Several other doorways covered the walls, with the main entrance ahead of me.

Inside, huddled behind one of the thrones were three small ponies. And from their distinctive size, number, and orange, white, and yellow coats I could immediately tell it was the CMC. They were trembling out of fright as somepony protected them. That pony... wasn't a pony, and I froze in the shadows.

It was another Pokemon! A quadruped, frog-like Pokémon. It had light blue skin, white hands, and a dark blue stripe from the center of its oval head to its nose. Its eyes, which have yellow sclerae, black irises, and white pupils, protrude vertically from its head due to their size. A large mane of bubbles formed along its chest and back, the starter from Kalos, Froakie.

Well I'll be... guess I'm not the only person sent here... Static buzzed in my head, then a lightbulb. Oh My God I'm not the only human here!!

"Merry, behind you!" The orange pony, Scootaloo cried out. From above a shadow descended sharply, and the Froakie had almost no time to react

The monster was another Fanged Wyvern, the face resembled that of a Colubrid in appearance with grayish blue scales covering its slim squirrel-like shape. On its back are patches of white fur as well as a bushy tail covered in rows of spikes. Its front limbs also have a few spikes. The Flying Thunder Wyvern, Tobi-Kadachi honed in on its prey.

|Dammit!| The... female, Froakie's eyes widened in fright

All eyes were now on Tobi, arm-wings raised with sparks of static coursing through its fur. To all the watchful eyes, my body soared from the wall, paws coming together with a thin, white light between my fists. Time for a new move! I broke apart my fists, the light expanded with a resounding crash against Tobi's jaw, breaking its fangs as the Wyvern spiraled down onto the floor, writhing in pain while I took the vanguard

With a confident snort, I spun the aura staff around in my paws, holding it against my back for another attack, a little burst of wind from my body for dramatic effect. New Move! Bone Rush!

|No way! Another Pokemon!?| The Froakie gaped at me, I casually waved to her

|Sorry to drop in, hope you don't mind some help?| She didn't respond, instead, she blinked and slowly nodded, hopping backward as Tobi roared, the white fur standing on end with a surge of static electricity |You protect them, I'll handle the Tobi-Kadachi!| Yes, I said that in a strong Italian accent

|Ugh... of course you also say it like that...| Don't diss the Tobi-Kadachi! Ignoring her reply said monster hurdled toward us with a spin through the air

Taking a step back I avoided an electrical tail, attacking myself with an upward strike, smacking Tobi in the ribs, I rolled under a claw swipe, breaking a few claws with a single stroke of the powerful bo-staff. Tobi growled, the snake-head coiled around and bit down on the polearm, pushing me back with its overwhelming weight, with my right-hand free I fired an aura sphere, knocking Tobi aside for a downward strike to the tail that attempted to hit me.

I swung left, rolling from the sideways jaw clamp, followed by a sharp twirl of Tobi's, another roll and I avoided being struck with the electrified tail. My staff claws spun the staff rapidly, tossing it across Tobi's back as I dived over another chomp, grabbing the staff to swing backward, stunning Tobi in place for a Force Palm to ripple a shockwave through the Fanged Wyvern, paralyzing it.

"Seriously? You 'DEAL' paralysis..." I sighed, smirking with the bo-staff spinning above my head like a pair of helicopter blades. "Never change, Tobi." Bringing it down the velocity was enough to imbed the staff in the mandibles, sending Tobi flying across the throne room

|Head's up!| From my side, a small gathering of bubbles flew past me, splashing the Wyvern with bubbles that evaporated the moment it released a surge of energy. Tobi pounced onto a nearby wall, rubbing his coat against the stone to recharge

I took a single step and immediately swayed, losing Bone Rush as I held my head. W-What the... why am I dizzy... and numb? I haven't been paralyzed at all? Checking my body over I saw no issue, so with a quick Life Dew, I felt rejuvenated but still wobbly. Is it fatigue? Gotta end this fast

"Zen, duck!" Doing as instructed, Tobi flew right over me, but something sent it off course, the way I came in I saw the grinning Yui, her wing balancing another flask of the finite amount of phosphorus we gathered. "Next time don't start without me!"

My thumb raised as I grew Metal Claw again, Wolverine, eat your heart out. The Fanged Wyvern swept left and right with its jaws wide, my claws sliced across his shoulder blade and stomach, right through the bushy tail with a powerful lunge of silver. I swung my claws down, spinning my body back around to charged blindly toward his flank. That same tail sweeper, crashing against an invisible force on my arms.

Tobi curved elegantly, fangs grazing my tail, followed in-toe by the claws slicing across my chest spike, yet the strain was little more than a sting. It followed by leaping over me, slamming down and spinning that tail around, the electricity coursing over my thigh and inflicting me with the first stage of Paralysis, the next would stun me completely if I wasn't careful.

My ears flicked and I dove back from an overhead slam of the tail, waves of crackling thunder tickled my face. From behind, Merry launched another Bubble Beam, while Yui readied another small flask of phosphorus, more than likely the last. Flipping to my feet the eyes of Tobi dilated, with an impressive, curved backflip the stream of bubbles missed. It took off over me, snarling at the rest.

This time, Yui covered her eyes and tossed the flask, the impact blinded Tobi immediately, claws millimeters from the group as it whined. In sync, both girls slammed a foot and hoof against its snout, breaking another fang while it lost its overcharge.

Perfectly timed, I came soaring overhead, feet pressed to the thrones with scarlet paws. Breaking off the furniture, Tobi swiped just below my feet, both digging into the floor as my left hook connected with Tobi-s head, feeling bone shatter while the strain on my arm wasn't nearly as bad now. The shockwave pulled Tobi away, his body colliding with the wall as it crashed through the inner wall, bricks, and debris burying the Wyvern for good. The clap of wind was all that remained as silence took over, say for a few bricks that came loose.

Seconds passed, a hum from beneath my scarf, and Tobi-Kadachi manifestation refused to move. I sighed, sitting down "Man, that was a total rush." Guess I have Merry to thank for weakening it prior to our arrival, otherwise, I'd be exhausted. The three fillies came out of hiding to stand with Merry, immediately flooding her with worries and hopeful smiles. "Seems they're fine."

Yui smiled. "That's good, how are you?" I raised a thumb and winked, "Good, guess we do make a great team." That smile was all I needed to see. Crossing my legs, I watched the four converse

"Are you okay!?" "Anything broken!?" "What was that thing!?"

|Alright-Alright, I get it, everything's fine now!| Merry pushed them back gently, sighing when she looked at me with a confused frown. |So, you're human too, huh?|

|Yep| I popped the 'P'

She gave me a once-over then scoffed. |Why did you get the cool Pokemon right off the bat? What kind of system is this!?| She growled, but I laughed, shaking my head

She waved, "No need for the introduction," Her head bowed. "Nice to meet you, and before you ask, yes, I can understand Zen perfectly, sorry I can't do the same for you."

Merry waved her hand, |Eh, it's fine, nice to meet ya!|I relayed it to the rest. That's when the CMC flocked me, Merry snorted, |Have fun~|

Sweetie was first, inspecting my spikes. "You look so cool! Are you like Merry? And what's with all that strange energy you used?"

Scootaloo was childishly copying my moves. "You fired explosions from your paws and used light as a staff! So Awesome!" She squealed

Applebloom put a hoof to her chin, clearly studying me. "You'r' not a' Diamond Dog, are ya'?" I shook my head, her eyes beaming. "You can understand us!?" Another nod

All three smiled widely, and I immediately covered my ears, Merry did the same and I felt sorry for Yui. "HE'S A LIGHT-BENDING NINJA DOG!!!"

"Ah, ears-ears-ears, you jerk, why didn't you warn me of the ears!" Yui pitifully punched my cheek as I tried to contain my laughter

Merry just pouted, eyes flat, |Oh sure, call him something awesome, but 'Me'? I get called 'Bubble Frog' are you kidding me?| Now I was rolling on the floor, crying

With the events of Tobi behind us, all five of us got more squinted, while I shared my thoughts with them all which, admittedly, was a little difficult, but I found it strange how calm they were with the corpse of a monster literally a few steps behind them, the same monster that I carved for a few scales and fur for later use. Merry then told me some great news, there were others like us here, in Ponyville!

She neglected to inform me of their names, only saying that the others were three Eevees, one hadn't evolved, another was a Glaceon, the other an Umbreon. There was a Shiny Kirlia too. All of them knew each other, while Merry happened to be traveling in Koyoto at the time of her arrival in Equestria, her experience with this colorful land was vague at best but the others helped her out.

|--So in the end, we've dealt with a few monsters ourselves, though the worst was an Azure Rathalos, what a pain he was, and don't get me started on Great Girros!| Merry recounted the number of small-time monsters they had faced, my ruby never triggered after their defeats so they must have been a result of the rifts, pulling them into this world too

I was very pleased to hear the Azure Rathalos suffered a painful death. I hate him, and anything with the name of 'Rathalos', they can all burn in the fiery pits of the twelve layers of Hell

|Meanwhile, I've been tasked with closing the rifts by defeating manifestations they take on, in particular, monsters from Monster Hunter| I recounted mine and Yui's adventure, but left out the whole 'Goddess of Virtue' thing. |We've faced a Barroth, a Nargacuga, and now a Tobi-Kadachi|

"Hey, what's this stuff?" Our conversation went on hold, all heads swung to Scootaloo, her muzzle wrinkled up in disgust at the strange, bubbly substances against a wall

My blood went cold, and my mouth was ajar at the six-foot-wide laceration she pointed too. I've never seen anything like this... no, I have, but where...?

Her hoof motioned to a large, smoldering gash, a strange, yellow liquid embedded in the wounds, and upon closer inspection, I immediately slapped her hoof away. "Ow! What was that for!?"

Ignoring her my heartrate ticked faster, "Don't touch it," I warned them, my nose filled with sulfur. "It's sulphuric acid..." My paw rubbed some off, and I immediately felt it irritate my skin, flicking the droplets off I tisked. Of course, the girls gasped and glared at me for doing that, "Thankfully a diluted substance."

"Well, gee, thanks for the free heart attack..." Yui deadpanned

"Then why'd you rub your paw into it?" Applebloom asked, clearly confused. My eyes looked to Merry, then Yui as both gave me a confident nod

I sighed slowly, "Whatever left this track is what riled up that To -- the Flying Thunder Wyvern... and from the state of these large footprints..." My ears flattened. From the direction of the tracks, and the state of which this Tobi Kadachi was left in this was another powerful Wyvern. "It's heading straight for Ponyville, and has already gained ground."

"No way! B-but no pony knows we're out here! They'll be taken by surprise!" Sweetie gasped, while I furrowed my brow, the looks of fear plastered on the kids' faces made my anger simmer

"We may have won this bout, but this is far from over," Standing tall, I procured my Narga-dagger from the ground. "I promise, I'll do everything I can to stop this monster."

|Hey! Who died and made you leader?| The Froakie snapped, hopping up and onto my shoulder with a sly smile.|You'll need all the help you can get, 'Fellow Nerd'!|

I nodded, |I never would have made it this far without it, ain't that right, Yui?| My smirk was met with her own nod under a hood, her hoof ruffling Sweetie's mane soothingly

Yui looked to me seriously, "Go! I'll take care of these three--"

"Which means stick by her, understand?" Merry warned the trio, all three nodding without question as I projected her thoughts -- I was starting to get the hang of this

"--You two focus on the monster, once they're safe I'll come back you up." While I appreciated her spirit, something ached in my soul, the faint trace of bliss I sensed from the corrosive substance made my skin crawl

|Alright, Merry, next stop--!| My body immediately created an updraft of silver wind, bending at the knees while Merry stuck to me with her bubbles. |--Ponyville!|

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Another Pokemon and the first ponies Zen's seen since Yui, but the pursuit of danger has yet to pass. Ponyville is now in trouble. To indicate that Pokemon are talking it will be like this; |My name is Zen| instead of using quotation marks.

Also, the corrosive substance as far as I'm aware doesn't actually break metal down more-so it weakens it. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 8 - Flawed...
Led by Merry, Zen must find a way to save the town from the enraged Monster's corrosive path.

Chp. 8 - Flawed...

|Take a left, there's the pathway!|

My living SAT-NAV pointed, with an arm bent around a trunk I redirected myself onto a dirt road, finally kicking up more dust with a clear shot toward the exit. This was it, the first open glade since I got to this world, too bad it was going to be destroyed if I didn't do something.

Light crept through the thinning trees, and I immediately flew out of the treeline and past a cottage to my left. Coming up and over the hill, I finally had a view of the town built for many events to come. It was larger than most towns, but thanks to Merry I should have no issue navigating the streets. Peeling my eyes from the colorful view, I rushed toward the large plume of dust that rose among the maze of homes.

|The others better be there...| Merry was agitated but worry damped my aura, and the growing tsunami of terror was building. I had to hurry! Come on, faster!

Buildings and ponies blurred, my eyesight filled with white flames and blue coloration, my movements were precise, ducking and weaving over objects without breaking a sweat. |We're here!| Merry leapt off my shoulder, and I came to a stop, clearing away the dust while ponies ran for their homes. The epicenter of this rage was before us.

Gashes scored the road and houses, some hissing under the corrosive substance. Ahead, a roar bellowed with a howl. A large Timberwolf was suddenly swung toward us, body littered with large gashes that continued to eat away at the bark.

The Alpha Timberwolf snarled ahead of me, pawing away at the ground while several smaller wolves came into view from alleyways and a ruined house. I gulped, watching the pack surround the monster that sent a shiver down me. Can I fight Nargacuga again?

The body of a T-Rex with large, scaly protrusions lining its back. The body gleamed a variety of emerald and blue shades, with dark grey spikes and horns. Its large, broad tail covered in sulfur yellow crystals. Two beady, dark red eyes glowered back at the pack. The monster merely curved the tail around, biting down on the crystals as the jaws tore away the hardened sulfur, risen to cover half the monster's face was a large, dull-blue, katana-like blade.

The Sulfuric Cutting Wyvern, Acidic Glavenus roared.

The Alpha challenged it, sending forth several Timberwolves to intercept. With a low spin, the blade swiped the air, blowing the wolves away. With one leg it bent back around, tail crushing another Timberwolf. One pounced, biting into the scales so Acidic simply spun back around, decapitating another while throwing the Timberwolf off. It sliced across the right, then to the left as I rolled away from the rainfall of wood. A powerful thrust shattered another, leaving on the Alpha to face the monster.

With a final push, the Timberwolf lunged with all means of attack. Acidic curved the blade, then spun with the elegance of a swordsman, in a single, horizontal slash, the Alpha Timberwolf came crashing down, Acidic flexing out its tail in the end. Now, the head sniffed and eyes locked solely to mine while I raised a stance, Bone Rush active. The acid quickly reformed across the tail-blade, the monster didn't so much as a roar, instead, I only felt interest crawl through its eyes.

"You want a real fight..." I spun my bo-staff around in both hands, holding it back while Merry moved to the rooftops. "Come and get me."

The second I spoke the serrated monster curved the tail-edge, driving it forward into where I was last seen. Under it my staff struck the edge of the tail, immediately deflecting off the surface, with a swing I lunged up, striking along its back with consistent strikes, seeing my staff chip away at scales with ease. The tail pried itself free, pulling away for an attack, only for several blobs of white frubbles to trap Acidic's feet.

With a combination I conjured just now, I threw the bo-staff high, cracking both my fists together, lightning crackled in my left, and the chilling air froze around my right. With a one-two punch, the elements tore Acidic free but left a sizable gash for lightning to fry while ice turned the exposed skin black. Acidic roared, immediately spinning once, raining sulfuric slag in a wide arc. I grabbed the aura staff and performed a feint, parrying the thick tail while shaving a number of the crystals.

The weight of that tail, not to mention the acid, we could be in trouble...

I went for the attack but Acidic side-stepped, lunging with a chomp that locked with my staff, his weight downing me to my knees, those eyes narrowed with unrivaled concentration. The tail swiping once at the buildings as a trail of bubbles struck his back. Releasing me, Acidic clamped down on its tail, sparks flying while I panicked and immediately erected Protect.

In a manner unlike any monster, Acidic tore across the street, the tail carved through walls and scored the earth with the remains of the sulphuric crystals. Now, his gleaming blade swished in a hasty 'X' behind it, knocking Merry away. I gasped, diving to my right as the whole body turned, smashing the tail down, then with an almost immediate reaction, the blade crashed down to my left, grazing my forearm.

That immediately triggered a number of negative thoughts to build, and with a sharp red wind, my Special Attack rose as I grinned, lunging as a blur of black and blue with my staff in-toe. I slid under its jump that ended in a powerful slam, I blocked the three-sixty slant, driving the point of my staff into its thigh, lunging up and over the tail to spin the staff with a powerful crunch, snapping one of the large spikes adorning its back. Acidic fell over and into a pile of purple spikes that plunged through the scales, poisoning the Wyvern.

|If there's one upside to being this, I'm the perfect trapper!| Merry called over, firing another stream of bubbles into the downed monster as I discarded the Bone Rush in favor of straight palm strike to the underbelly, followed with a Quick Attack/Metal Claw combo that tore into the emerald plating of the rising Glavenous, I then saw the panic in Merry's eyes, |Watch it!|

My guard was up but the resulting impact smashed me through a window, that was immediately followed by the tail-edge carving through the foundations, dividing the home as I leapt out the window in time for Acidic to slam its forehead into the building, leaving that tail open. My metal claws carved into the weaker scales, the limb flailed to shake me off but I remained long enough for a scarlet kick to the limb seeing cracks web across the bone.

That cost me almost instantly as Acidic bit down on my left leg, thrashing me to the ground before kicking me through the dirt, blood was spat in seconds and even with Life Dew, I was still bleeding. Dammit, should have... seen that.

Despite my healing, my vision doubled for a moment as that numbness from before came back with twice the nauseating sensation. I swayed slightly, just as something cut off Acidic's attack with an attack, it looked like a purplish-black ball that erupted the second Glavenus sliced it in half. Patting my cheeks, I felt the strange, sickly feeling fade as a new entity stood beside me.

|Are you hurt? We came as soon as the chaos began| It was a deep yet smooth voice of an Umbreon, the rings on its head glowed a little

I held a thumb up, then noted the hailstorm that now blanketed Acidic, while the acid did melt the growing snow, some flakes clung to the scales, slowing its movements enough for a brown blur to collide with its jaw several times. The whole pack was here! An Eevee with a matching red scarf, and a Glaceon with a rather bemused expression, all of which turned to me.

|Hate to break this but I doubt my ice will keep that thing down for long...| A huff from the Glaceon, she then tapped a paw to Umbreon. |How's he anyway?|

|A number of cuts, but other than that he's fine, seems he and Merry know each other| The Froakie in-question kept up her hit-and-run tactics, using Quick Attack to dodge the swing of the tail. |Are you still able to fight?|

I nodded, coughing a little. From there, Glavenus peered my way, clearly bored of fighting Merry as it lunged with a horizontal arc, the Eevees scattered and I drew Bone Rush to counter the attack, diving to my right to avoid its follow-up vertical slant

It poised the tail down, flicking up as I passed under the legs, vaulting over its body to fire two consecutive Aura Spheres, both of which paired with Shadow Ball and a sharp gust of ice shards. Just then, the acid grew back with its leer and I jumped, sulfur splashing across the road and onto debris, Merry acted immediately and doused the acid in water to dilute the effects.

Glavenus bit down on the empty air, missing Glaceon who simply vanished, appearing a second later to crack her back leg against its underbelly, followed by Eevee's Iron Tail that diverted the acidic blade from Umbreon who shot another sphere of darkness, stunning the monster. I quickly dove for Glaceon, raised my staff to block a downward thrust that burned my paws. Grunting I ran while carving the tail above me, pushing up with a spin to imbed my staff into Acidic's foot.

It growled, digging the tail-edge through the mud for a wave of corrosive dirt to blind us, using my aura I watched the wave of slag sail through the dust, I slammed my staff to my left, crossing by the monster as both of us turned and poised our weapons, repeating the action immediately with the same burst of spiritual energy and sulphuric acid. Despite the raging aura that spilled from Glavenus, its movements had slowed considerably, and it was panting.

It's near its limit, now's our chance!

I raised my Special Attack, alongside the sound of clapping hands as a new wave of power flurried deep in my bones. I dropped the aura staff and sprinted toward the beast, the tail slashing a wall of ice and Frubbles from its sight, though a few locked its foot in place while Eevee's tail mimicked the upward slash of Glavenus, spraying acid into the cracks in its armor. Roaring angrily I was overwhelmed by the rage as the tail came twisting round, spearing me in the chest.

|Lucario!!|

|Heh... Counter| My eyes glowed, and while the acid singed my fur, I held it centimeters from piercing my chest, as the silver light built, turning a sickly yellow as my claws sunk into the crystals, tugging the monster free of the frubbles as I held in my gut and braced against the overpowering body that I threw straight through the remains of a building, burning the monster in its own corrosive rubble.

Slowly, I sat on my knee as blood continued to drip from wounds, and that numb feeling spread to my arms, was the corrosive substance poisoning me? I could use some real medicine if my Life Dew doesn't work. I sighed, noting a new group of ponies approaching, one of which I smiled cheekily to.

"Sorry I can't jump with joy, I'm a little sore," I pressed my thoughts to Yui, seeing her sigh herself, and while I wanted to finally come face-to-face with the Mane Six something else swam in the sea of blue flames. "Yui... I... think something's wrong."

"What?" She ran toward me, and my eyes immediately dilated, as though I used Quick Attack, reality moved with a snail's pace, and my heart thumped in my throat

"𝐘𝐮𝐢, 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧!!"

My throat tore through the groups of ponies and Pokemon, my arms reached forward as the building's form washed over us with grey and yellow, a deafening cry was heard as I threw Yui away, and a horrific burning impression tore through my body.

I landed face-first in the ground, coughing up blood violently while I clutched my side, using Life Dew to at least slow the blood that poured from the wound, my bones were made of steel, but my skin had no such power, nor have I learned how. I bit back a pained cry, hearing the battle continue with the enraged Glavenous that tore apart the street, as I could only feel something cold force my feet further into the mud.

My eyes fell to the ponies aiding Yui, that Glaceon sat next to her, she was alive but with a large gash across her right leg, I... wasn't fast enough, why didn't I see it? If not for Glaceon, would she have... died?

Another wave of dust threw me into the street again, rubble struck me as I flinched, seeing the jaws of Glavenous snap mere millimeters from my snout as Umbreon bit down on its shin with a shadowy set of jaws, the monster flinched and turned to shake him off.

Was I... going to die...? Would they die too...? Just like...

My vision clouded and all I could focus on was that tail, how it already reproduced the crystals, my ears rung with the hiss of corrosion in the dirt, despite the attacks it kept trudging toward me, towering over my paralyzed body. They were doing what I swore I'd do for those girls, for Merry, and now... I'm just in the way... when it really counts, when my life's really on the line... I was terrified to die.

I was so sure I had gotten stronger since coming here, the speed, strength, agility, foresight with aura, but compared to this single monster, I'm... still too weak. My legs were trembling and my body wouldn't move. I heard Acidic grunt, turning to continue attacking the group that pestered it. But if they kept this up... they'll die before Glavenous would.

I can't just sit here, If I didn't move, Merry would... all of them would die! All because of me! Useless bastard! Your resolve breaks once and there's nothing left, is that it!? The power to defeat monsters with your bare hands and this is all you've got!?

A dark shadow soon enveloped me, and I lost all focus in my eyes.

Tears stung my eyes, Why... can't I save anyone...?

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I think Zen has met his match. Acidic Glavenous ain't playin' around! Also, this will be the only time someone swears as I really don't want to add a tag simply for 'ONE' word. Still, a cliffhanger for quite the sorrowful chapter ahead, I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 9 - ...But Unbreakable
Zen's life flashes before him, and he recounts his regrets, but will this be the end or only another step forward?

Chp. 9 - ...But Unbreakable

"I don't get it." Zen blinked

"How can you 'not' get it?" A female voice asked, dumbfounded

"How can its bones be made of steel? Wouldn't that like... make him a statue? At the very least metal detectors would become a pain," Zen insisted, tapping a finger to the phone

It showed a picture of the Aura Pokemon, Lucario, and his wiki page that Zen's best friend insisted on showing him. Pokemon wasn't really his thing, but recently he had asked his friends on the big craze and so here he was, walking aimlessly through-out town with her glued to his side.

Rika was a redhead with gold eyes that make the sun blush. her hair fell to her lower back and would constantly whip Zen in the face when she turned, though this was just about every day since childhood, and the two couldn't be more opposite. Zen was, for lack of a better word, blunt and antisocial, while Rika shared a more upbeat and charismatic personality, despite this, the two were close enough to be confused for siblings, and those that believed otherwise were given the middle-finger salute.

With a smile and sigh, Rika scrolled. "With these bones, he could swing Bone Rush with a PSI of roughly 56000!" Her eyes glimmered with stars as always

Zen rolled his eyes but smirked. "You got that from a, very debatable, source of information," Rika froze mid-rebuttal, eyes wide as Zen patted her back down off her toes. "And your opinion is quite bias, you love Lucario."

"I... can't... revoke that..." She body deflated, Zen merely shoved his hands into his pockets

"Still sounds like a ton of fun, I'll give it a try later," That was met with a bone-crushing hug. "P-please, need breath!"

Her smile grew, "You're the best! Oh-oh-oh, pick--MMPH!" A hand planted itself on her mouth. Zen gazed back at her

Zen sighed, running a hand through his white hair, "Once I finish my hunts against Arch-Tempered Xeno'jiiva," He smiled. "Want in?"

She licked his hand, forcing him to remove it. "Knew you needed me," She stuck her tongue out. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to smile for the world as I crush your speed record."

Zen flattened his gaze. "Oh hardy-har, that's a laugh."

Rika ran ahead, giggling in a way that meant she was either hiding something or had something planned, and with an irate groan from Zen he knew it to be both. "What are you -- Rika, watch where you're stepping -- planning, you look awfully like that cat that swallowed a pigeon--"

"Canary." Rika corrected

He waved her off. "Not the point, point is -- Hey, watch it! Rika!!" Zen's focus snapped, his hand reaching out for her to stop walking backward

Her gaze swung left, and realization took too long to worm its way into her mind, as Zen's chest burned to pump strength into his legs. He dashed forward, reaching out to Rika while the blare of metal beast roared between them, his sight solely on the girl as white and red flashed in his eyes, melting away into black.

~---~

Everything was numb again. Zen came to quite quickly despite feeling as though the world used him as a basketball. His eyes immediately scanned the white walls of a hospital room. Almost frantically he gave his body a once over, noting the several bandages wrapped around mainly his right side, thankfully, he was still able to stand, though with a degree of effort to primarily balance on his left.

"W...what happened, Rika... where..." His answer came from the door opening, revealing a typical nurse who just blinked at his miraculous recovery. Slowly, Zen went from confused to a steady, hardened glare, his chest twisting. "What. Happened?"

"Please sit, let me at least ensure everything is okay first." He compiled to her demands, despite wearing a scowl

The nurse took a moment to give Zen a check-up, then sternly gave him the news, and watched as his eyes shook, while his expression shattered.

~---~

"Rika!" Zen came bursting through the open door, pushing off the nurse that tried to stop him from reaching her side

They had suffered a near-fatal crash, while Zen was badly wounded he would make a steady recovery, though they had no idea how he survived with average body type. Rika, on the other hand, was not as fortunate. The nurse gave him the details, several shattered bones, internal bleeding, all of which were irreparable, the fact she was alive now was again by some herculean leap in logic.

"Zen..." Summer blinked, watching her brother place his hands on the railing of Rika's bed

"Rika.." Hazily, gold met silver once more. "Please, you can fight this, alright!? Don't give up now... don't die on me!"

"...Zen... I'm sorry..." Her voice rasped, her frown struggling to move. "If I had been more careful, then you..."

"Don't say that! I don't regret it, jumping in to save you!" Tears built in his eyes, his knuckles white. "You idiot, you always bump into everything when you do that... it bloody annoys me how many times I have to apologize for you!" He snapped. "But I don't care... it was always fun seeing the looks on their faces."

His eyes quickly met hers again, "I'd never like doing that if you weren't so stubborn to be my friend... I am who I am now because of you, don't you see!? So please... please don't leave me..." He bowed his head, voice cracking on the last phrase

No one could tell what either one was thinking, all of them held back their emotions for them both, trying their hardest to keep a sense of peace for the terminal girl who's life softly ticked away. With a great deal of pain, Rika endured it all for them, for her hand to gently cup Zen's cheek, lifting his head to see her smile and a familiar, brilliant warmth in her eyes.

"...You'll be okay, I... know you're an amazing person, you'll be the happiest person in the world... I've seen it... there's... no room for doubt... not in that future," Tears fell down her arm, and Zen's voice broke under his tears. "Move forward... regret nothing... and smile."

Rika's smile remained, eyes lifting to the ceiling. "Keep smiling through tears..." Summer finally broke down, hands over her mouth, Taka buried her head against someone else's shoulder, "For a life without joy... in times of sorrow... is no... fun..."

The light flickered from her eyes, but beneath the mask... stood a toothy smile.

[Zen's POV]

"...ze... please we need y... Zen!!"

My paw reached to ruffle the lilac mane that was draped over my snout, ticking it. Yui blinked, clearly surprised as her eyes blinked away tears. "Heh... sorry... lost... thoughts... all good."

I sat up, noting that Acidic Glavenus was still going on a complete rampage, and now Glaceon and Eevee were resting behind a purple barrier erected by a unicorn of the same color. Some of the pegasi were trying to either distract or attack the monster but his blue-tinted tail came too close to severing a limb. It wasn't going to stop, now on its last legs, a Glavenus or any kind won't ever come out of an enraged state.

Yui's gaze drifted between us and the monster. "This is by far the worst we've seen, I'm... not sure how to beat it," Her eyes met mine and I just 'booped' her nose, seeing her blush a little at my chuckle, though it was hoarse. "I'm glad you're okay, but this--"

"I know... I'll go clean this up, like always," I murmured, pushing up quickly while slapping myself across the face with Life Dew, it didn't relieve the pain but no more bleeding. "Keep the Eevees safe, right now..." I flexed my claws. "I'm very angry."

I tuned out anything that protested or made noise, instead, my aura flowed greatly and with enough intensity to visible leak from my body, a light blue wave of my emotions spilled, and from the mass of etheral energy came a set of blue swords, they only lasted a second but now my very bones felt stronger and combined with my own dark thoughts that too increased my Special Attack.

If only I had noticed the glare of crimson under my scarf. "𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡!!"

The Umbreon suddenly crashed against Glavenus' tail-edge, causing the cracks to worsen while he seemed to suffer the recoil, landing in a heap of stone and thatch. The Wyvern turned to face him, tail curved toward its face for an overhead slash. All anyone heard was the clap of thunder that broke apart the road. My staff slammed into Acidic's jawbone, spinning the staff up and over the head for a clank, vaulting over a thrust of the tail while bringing the aura staff crashing down, gouging out its left eye.

Crossing my staff through its neck I slid under its legs, avoiding its sweeping blade. I spun around, firing an aura sphere to blind it, immediately entering Quick Attack as my body ricocheted off the buildings, hacking away at the scales with a hyper Bone Rush. Glavenus roared, stomping on one foot to flip its body down, slamming me back into the ground as I struggled to hold back the weight of the tail, feeling a hot liquid spit from my gashes. Hot-white sparks flew, even while water and ice struck the monster's hide.

Snarling, I dug my feet through the soil, pushing up with my staff to rush forward, skating my staff over the tail-edge, pushing the blade to my right Glavenus lost its footing while I slapped the staff to my back, channeling a powerful palm-heel strike to the link of the tail. Bone broke, Acidic screeched while rolling across the ground, the large katana-blade embedded beside me.

Rushing the recovering Wyvern I impelled the staff forward, prodding his scales with each concussive strike like a hammer to an anvil, clank after clank broke through the scaly armor. Holding my staff firm, I derailed its acidic tail away, the pool of sulfur missed completely, I snorted, repeating the action a second later to its follow-up slam. The acid froze, my fist collided with its open maw, breaking a number of teeth while freezing its mouth shut.

A literal torrent of ice collided with a large supersonic wave of water, both disorientating and locking the Glavenus in place as frubbles glopped together by the toes. The brute Wyvern struggled to free itself, even swinging acid franticly to melt it away, my nostrils filled with a putrid smell of the acid, but I was still venting, and yet I held a toothy grin. This was starting to get me fired up!

I jumped from its sweeping attack, bubbling scores of acid seeped into the soil. My feet held onto the roof, my staff reappearing. Finally, its eye locked with mine again interest had turned to desperation, buried in its remaining eye was the deepest level of a roaring fire. Despite what it's done, it too was starting to resemble its counterpart, metaphorically of course. But enough analyzing...

"𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐭, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰!"

I blinked away, the tail lodged in the house's roof. My paw pressed to the ground, my body soaring across the space at breakneck speeds. The blade dislodged, debris masking the murderous aura of the attack, or tried to. Raising my left paw I erected Quick Guard, seeing the tail shatter the weak shield but it missed, tumbling under the dripping limb my legs screamed, going faster than I've gone to date. Sliding my legs booted forth a large rock, weakening the knees and bringing the head lower for me to run up the side of.

It flung its head back, launching me high as I fired two aura spheres, seeing blue light break apart the horns, exposing the weakened head beneath. From below, that Eevee was sprinting through its careless stomping, tail a solid grey. Clearly, we had the right idea, my staff in-paw I drove it down with both my feet, pushing every ounce of power I had built up for a final blow.

Acidic Glavenus roared with its tail poised to the gathering of ponies. A silver comet struck with the uppercut of steel. Both forces met with a tremendous collision, breaking the sound barrier between the mandible and skull of the Wyvern. The combined effort left the monster reeling in agony, its roar died in its throat with a strained moan before it slowly slumped against the rubble it caused, I landed with my staff spun out of existence, the Eevee landed perfectly atop my head with a cute little 'oofh'.

Each hot lungful of air was worth it, seeing the damage left in the wake of this rampage, while said cause lay behind us, motionless while the remnants of that sulphuric acid dripped onto the dirt under it. Not how I imagined my arrival to Ponyville, but certainly rememberable.

The Eevee bounced off my head, just as the others gathered close, and Yui pushed past the purple egghead herself, Twilight, who was eyeing both the monster and me with awe. My breathing was ragged and hoarse, and I felt a wave of displeasurable sickness course through me. "I... think it did more damage than I realized... the acid I mean..."

My thoughts were starting to blur as everyone gasped at my coughing, my paw lifted to reveal a stain of crimson as I wiped my muzzle, smiling weakly. |Oh... that's unfortunate...| Today had finally taken its toll on me, as many voices cried out, but it was blurs and smudges as my body refused to move, all I wanted... was to sleep... yeah... I'll... talk later... buddy...

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

What a showdown with one of my favorite monsters! Also, the backstory had me feeling sad too. I hope you enjoyed as we move on to more lighthearted stuff, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 10 - Found
Zen, after a hard-fought battle with Acidic Glavenus, wakes up.

Chp. 10 - Found

𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘵

𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦

𝘕𝘰𝘸, 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦...

My bed feels so soft... ahh. My tail swished a little at the warmth, as I reached to pull the cover closer to me. My brow raised, Strange, very leathery... oh wait, this her wing, ain't it?

"Gah!!" Yep, her indeed. Blinking I awoke to peer my head over the side of a small bed, finding the perplexed and startled Bat-Pony staring up at me, her face completely red. "You wake up... after three days... and you do that to me?"

"Sorry, though, your fault for draping your wing over me, I'm very grabby in my sleep," I smiled, immediately wincing at her lunge onto my still tender injuries as Yui muzzle buried itself into my shoulder, hooves holding me tighter as I let my own blush bloom while wrapping an arm around her gently. "I think I deserve a smack to the head."

I felt Yui hold on dearly, "You do, and so much more," Her voice cut in. "But not right now..."

|H-Hey! He's awake!| A voice broke out that had us separate quickly, both of us unable to face the other as I spotted another Pokemon, the only missing one from the fight, the Shiny Kirlia, and a dude. His leafy arm waved between us,|Um... was I--|

"NO!!" We yelled, obviously Yui just guessed what he was doing. That had him hold his arms up in defense, then several bodies knocked him flying into a wall

I was once more greeted by all Eevees and Merry, alongside the soft yellow pegasus, basically Veterinarian, Fluttershy. The Egg-head and main student of the Princess, Twilight Sparkle, and last, the Tomboy that would be too much for me to handle alongside Taka, Rainbow Dash. The others were probably busy or something, or still downstairs since this was a small room.

"Ah, you're awake, that's a relief!" Twilight started, stepping forward. "After the incident with that monster your pet here suffered many lacerations and poisoning due to a toxin in his bloodstream, that was only made worse by the sulphuric fumes that creature spilled," She smiled knowingly. "Luckily, Fluttershy was able to remove the poison and patch him up, so a few extra days of rest and he should be back to normal."

|Did I just get called your 'Pet'? Am I offended? I think I should be offended| I deflated, Yui trying not to answer me but she did respond

Yui didn't like the sound of it either, "He's not my pet, Miss Sparkle, more of a travel companion who's kept me safe for a while now," Yui smiled happily to me. "I'm just glad you and your friends could help him, so thank you, truly."

|Welcome to the club of, 'we're all just dumb animals to this sadist', we have meetings on Wendsdays| Merry chuckled half-heartedly, earning a flick of that Umbreon's tail. |Hey! Don't act like it doesn't still bother you!|

|It's... grating, but she's not heartless... I think?| If the calm and collective one was unsure then I'm shocked they survived this long. Trinity, I'd like to go back to the Everfree

𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦!

My gaze flattened. Have you been here this entire time?

...𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦...

We'll talk later. I sighed, pinching my nose before tapping Yui's shoulder. |Maybe we should try my aura telepathy, I'm not playing the 'dumb animal' card with this pony| My bluntness was apparent, and Yui looked more than happy to agree

"Sure, but I think one of them wants to talk to you." Her hoof pointed to the Eevee, her eyes looking up at me warily

|Sup?|

|The sky, you?|

Haha, a woman of humor, I shrugged, |I've been better, thank you for the support before, a really good set of moves you got|

My smile remained, |Well, nice to... to...| Thoughts came crashing down like stars

The world lost focus for a second while I stared down at the little Eevee, her paw waiting with a smile, her eyes closed. But I saw instead a pale hand reaching out to me, wearing a signature outfit I awoke to almost every morning during the summer days I lazied in bed. The scarlet of her eyes met with the contrast of white hair, just like mine. Just like... it can't be...

I slowly gulped, mouth ajar. |...y-you're here...| Her eyes opened, head craned to one side as the others watched our interaction. |...Sunny...| Her eyes finally twitched, ears folded back

|Wait, but how...?| I didn't stop moving, nor did I care to. My arms reached down to wrap the puffy Eevee tightly in my arms as I smiled with a newfound lightness to my chest

I chuckled slightly, |I love you ...big sis| Her soft gasp was all I needed as her paws curled around me gingerly

|Zen? Zen, i-it's you!? How did--| She started to examine me, clearly dumbfounded by my new appearance as I was

I was laughing, spinning once as I saw the looks of shellshock on the other Pokemon, say for Merry who scratched her head at the scene. |It's me! That's my name! Hahahaha, Summer, Taka, Kazu, Asher, you guys got dragged into this mess too!|

|Not sure how I feel about you saying that...| Taka did a half chuckle, rubbing her nape. |Of all places, of course, you'd end up stuck here with us, you asshole|

By then the five of us were in a group hug as the ponies and Froakie watched the scene with levels of interest and smiles as we laughed. I was so scared I'd never been able to tell them what happened to me, or if I'd ever be back, now... I really don't have any regrets... I had my family back, that's all I cared about. |I love you guys...|

Taka scoffed and broke the hug. |We know, dummy, it's you we're talking about| We all gave her a look, and I held in my squeal of joy at her embarrassed smile. |I-I'm glad you're okay|

|We all are| Summer added, sitting beside me while my smile turned devilish

|I will bite you again, and it will paralyze you| She jabbed a paw at me

"Sorry to interrupt, but what the heck are they sayin' Flutters?" Rainbow asked from afar, Yui just kept a warm smile but something else festered, was it sorrow? I couldn't place in time for Fluttershy's answer

"Um, Zen, the new one, he's apparently Summer's younger brother," Her meek reply brought a dampening silence

I nudged Taka, her ear leaned in. |Think the cat's out...?|

|Give it a minute|

"WHAT!?!"

"Ah, sensitive ears, why, every time!" Yui scowled at primarily Twilight as said Egg-head looked about ready to blow a fuse

"--But this isn't biologically possible!" Again, for the uncounted time those words left Twilight's mouth as we sat around the main floor of her Libary, I'd love to browse her wares but I can't read Equish yet, though Yui has given me a few pointers on our travel. Twilight's magic levitated notes on the others, something I still wasn't given proper confirmation about as Yui was to answer twenty questions. "The DNA of these five is completely redundant due to the evolution properties throwing data through loops with its ever-evolving code! And now I'm trying to piece together how 'He' is related in some logical way to Summer!"

Fluttershy rubbed the back of her head, "Um, Twilight, Z-Zen asked if you... uh, understand how biology works in general." That earned me a glare while I mindlessly rubbed Yui's back, her hooves running circles over her temples, Rainbow just snorted a laugh at my remark

"Twilight, for the last time, I can't tell you how they're related but you can clearly tell from earlier they both a connection," Thank you, Yui! Even Summer looked to sigh as Yui stared unimpressed at the mare

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "No use trying to tell her that, she's not stopping now -- Besides, Twilight's been testing these five for months now and still can barely make heads or tail of any of them, say for maybe the Eevees before two evolved." She motioned to Taka and Kazu. She crossed her hooves. "And after what happened in Spring, yeesh."

|What happened in Spring?| My question traveled through Fluttershy while Taka broke from her stupor and refused to meet my inquisitive gaze, while Kazu looked rather happy, both their auras bounced in tangent as I tried to formulate an answer

Twilight groaned irritably. "Those two--" Her hoof jabbed to the Glaceon and Umbreon. "Happened." That didn't... "Springtime is mating season for many animals, and both Summer and Taka had gone into heat, and the latter couldn't exactly quarantine herself, resulted in Taka having an egg."

I blinked, with Yui sharing a blank look with me. Taka just hid her face behind her ears, but she couldn't stop smiling while Kazu looked just as pleased. |You two...|

Taka snapped, |Oh for all that is holy! Yes, we banged okay! Reeeeal good time it was, happy!?|

Kazu merely morphed into a shadow and slipped into another. |I'll... just move over here...|

|Oh no...| Asher face-palmed

I snorted, |About time|

|What's that mean!?| The floor started to crystalize with ice

My claw pointed crudely at her. |You realize that we had to watch in agony until you two finally decided to hook up? And it took being sent to another world to do so, and you entering heat too| I smiled happily for them anyhow, |Still, can I see the egg? Please-Please-Pleeeease!|

Taka just shook her head in her paw, |Sure, just... you know, be careful, and no picking it up, otherwise you'll be praying that Glavenus cut your head off| That deathly glare, a mother's protective instincts at work, Taka adapts fast it seems. She pouted though, lost in thought, |I've been on edge since Twilight went and examined it without my knowledge so... kind-of want to hurt her|

That had the rest tense up, even Yui flinched at my sudden silence. |What?|

Taka pressed it, glaring at the rambling Twilight who looked to be prepping some new material. |Oh, you heard me, bud. That demon over there hasn't stopped prodding us for DNA and experiments in vain to figure out our biology and stuff! To top it off, trying to keep the stupid timeline in-check has been the biggest pain, so imagine when I'm trying to help keep things in order this broad goes and nicks MY kid!|

My eyes slowly transitioned to Summer, who frowned. |It was annoying always being tested when just about anything popped up, thanks to Asher though I've been fine| Said Kirlia smiled sheepishly at my sister upon seeing her signature closed-eyes smile, the expression could warm the hearts of Gods themselves. |Again, thank you|

He shook his head, |N-Not a problem, anytime, really|

I still didn't really tune it all in. Something... like a pin or coin dropped, sort of like a... 'ping' in a dark, empty room. I could barely hear Yui's muffled worry, and Fluttershy looked to Rainbow with as much concern. My hands felt fuzzy, and not because of the bandages, no... this was... familiar... like when Rika was finally laid to rest... it was this emotion I had only felt the urge to act on once... and the sensation was very... primal.

"--Yui?" Said Bat-Pony looked to Twilight quickly. "You think I could get some samples from Zen? It won't take long but we've only documented five cases and to see a new and highly adapted form is just too foolish to pass up."

While she was eager, Yui didn't share that sentiment, "Twilight, I don't think that's a good idea," She held out her hoof, "I understand, but you keep referring to me like I'm Zen's master when in reality he's my closest friend," Her hoof wrapped around my paw, snapping me back to reality a little, gently squeezing it. "I would have died long before I reached Ponyville, but I had Zen, he taught me so many new things, trusted me, and me in return. So no, you can't have anything on him," Her voice was strict. "If you do, you have to ask Zen."

Twilight huffed a little, "But this could be the greatest discovery in Equestrian history! I've read your documentation after we patched Zen up, you of all ponies should know the value of such information, just the documents alone on these five are near endless troves of priceless knowledge into the animal kingdom as a whole! So--!"

"Don't you dare yell at her...!" I growled, and while the process of projecting my thoughts across everyone gave me a headache, I didn't care, I had heard quite enough

Their heads all swayed to the walls. "Who's saying that?" Rainbow inquired, Asher pointed his arm from the place on Rainbow's lap, her gaze met me. Steadily, her hoof raised. "T-Twilight...?" She jabbed it quickly my way

"Telepathy..!" Fluttershy gaped in shellshock, while Twilight looked at me with that... stupid expression

"You know... I've really hate being angry... never solves anything... never brought me anything but grief, but you... you're special you little runt..." I held in my temper, but cracks had formed subconsciously, and there wasn't much I could do.

Twilight barely formed a sentence. My eyes widened in mocked surprise. "What? Surprised the 'Animal' has something to say, well listen up, wretch," I glowered. "Do you have any idea what I've been through up 'till now? Any guesses?" No reply. "No, you don't."

I stood up, moving in slow strides due to my injured body. "Ever since I came to this damn world I have been surviving in complete isolation for months without any real direction or way out of a forest that was intent on keeping me trapped. I've have suffered countless injuries, A Barroth nearly crushed me. A Nargacuga near sliced me to ribbons. A Tobi-Kadachi had me reeling from static shocks. And now an Acidic Glavenus came so close to melting my face off. But you know what hurts more?"

My paws clenched. "I didn't know if I'd ever see my best friends again... my own big sister's smile..." I grit my teeth. "I couldn't even so much as tell them I was okay... and that... hurt me so much that I wanted to scream...!"

Now, I towered over Twilight seeing her aura tremble at my own. "And I was so happy to hold them again, and now I realize... while I've been getting by on my own, helping out this world and its people... you made them your little experiments... you, dared to take my best friend's kid from her without her consent! You, stupid, little, rat!" My throat gargled the words I forced into her mind, and in turn, all of theirs. Bloodlust seeped into my next line, "Don't you look away from me...!"

My claw pointed to her. "You dare come near them again, Taka's egg, or Yui, and so help me," I leaned closer with repulse in my eyes. "No Elements, no Princess will save you. Pluck even a hair and I'll kill you."

Now utterly terrified of me, I turned and made a B-line for the door, ignoring my body's protest.

With a fake smile and wave kept my eyes to her. "It was not nice meeting you, I pray we never see each other again." I flung the door open, then paused, feeling tired and a need to get away. "For someone who's trying to learn about 'Friendship', you are by far the furthest from it."

"Zen--!" I shut the door and made my way into town. Sorry, Yui... I... don't feel great right now...

Today I found what I lost. But I too late to stop the damage. Just like always.

[Yui's POV]

Fantastic. Great. Superb, things just went from bad to ugly... I rubbed my muzzle at the distasteful air

It had only been fifteen minutes since Zen left, and in that time I hadn't said a word, and from the words exchanged between the Pokemon I could assume they weren't too sure how to handle this themselves. Twilight was, for lack of a better word, distraught, and while I could see that Zen had maybe gone too far, I didn't know him or what could have triggered such an outburst, all I felt was grief in every word he projected.

"I have to ask, how's that guy even related to you?" Rainbow raised a brow to the Eevee, and she shook her head, clearly lost herself. "Still, guess this explains how you guys are so smart."

"I didn't believe myself," Fluttershy worked on keeping Twilight calm again, with Spike handing over a cup of tea for the shaken mare. "I thought you were from the Everfree?"

Taka started speaking, pointing a paw to the door. "She said 'we didn't have a choice, it was either we kept quiet or run the risk of being locked up somewhere for experimentation, this was the safer option'," Fluttershy frowned softly. "Lying isn't any better, but I guess I understand."

"But I would -- No pony would do that!" Twilight snapped, still trying to regain her composure. "I... the five of you have driven me up the wall and back for months, you shouldn't even exist!" Her eyes met Summer's. "Why didn't you just try and communicate before, we could have worked something out instead of all of... this!"

All five yelled their names bitterly. With Taka speaking to Fluttershy. "i..."

"What did she say, Flutters?" Rainbow insisted, rubbing the top of Asher's head gently

With apprehension, she translated. "She said, 'We've tried countless times, you've been so strung up on gathering data on us that we grew fearful of far worse tests, I'm sorry, but the hard truth is that Zen was right, and you should try and find a way to fix this before he grows to completely disregard your life entirely' -- He wouldn't really do that?" Sadly, all of them received a solemn shake from the Glaceon

With a sniff, Twilight turned to me. "Yui, what exactly have you two been through?"

My head craned to Spike, gently lowering my voice. "Spike, do you mind getting me a drink, this might take a while?"

"Of course, honestly I just rather stay out of it." I smiled, good call on his part

I replied. "It's actually quite the adventure, believe it or not, think of it as something from a Daring Doo book."

~---~

"And that's how it is," I concluded

Expressions of all kinds were shared. I recalled our meeting after the Barroth, to his hut in the Everfree, the tower and the battle with the Nargacuga, of course, I left out the Goddess as that was for another time. The rest was pretty easy to recount, eventually meeting Merry and the fillies before Zen ran off to aid the town in the fight against the Wyvern, Acidic Glavenus. There were questions, many counts of speculation on what else Zen as a Lucario could do, as well as what their world was like.

"That's. Awesome!" Rainbow was clearly enraptured by the tale. "You two sound like you were ripped straight out of a Daring Do novel! Kinda lame you only found books down there, but the rest is super cool!"

Fluttershy looked a little worried. "I wish Zen would be more careful, that venom was very dangerous that I had to ask Summer for help in curing him,"

"I share that sentiment, Fluttershy, he's a dummy..."

"Ee~ve~ee!" Summer hopped up on the table, nuzzling my muzzle with a smile

"She said, 'I can't really express my gratitude, even if I could speak, so thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for taking care of my brother." Fluttershy shared the same soft look as Summer, and I tucked my hood down a little to hide my bashful face

"Hey, it's fine, we've been looking out for each other this whole time, so I should be thanking him," I laughed, the Eevee doing the same with Kazu resting a paw on my hoof, bowing his head once. I reached over and scratched behind his ear, seeing him sigh. "Your welcome."

"Yui," All attention rose to Twilight, looking far less obstructed from the world. "I-I'm sorry for what I've said, and... to all of you... I never meant to hurt any of you..." She bit her lip, shame plastered her face. "I was tasked by Princess Celestia in learning the value of Friendship, and I realize now... that this extends beyond Ponies, Dragons, Therstrals, Griffons and others... I should value its worth in all living creatures, based not on their background or species, but on who they are... there's nothing more valuable than that."

Her friends shared in her words, Fluttershy nuzzled Merry, while Rainbow bumped a hoof with Asher's leafy hand. While I was surrounded by the three Eevees. This feeling again, it was pressed against my chest, just like when Zen became my partner, I had a companion in over two years, and now... I had more. "Friendship is not magic, nor is it easy to dispute as such. Friendship is a boundless quality that I could never put a price on, it's simply a feeling of never needing to be alone anymore." It was something Zen needed most of all

"Everypony," I sat up, moving past the Eevees while tugging my hood closer to my forehead. "I'll be back soon. I still have a deal to fulfill"

[Zen's POV]

I was alone on a hilltop that faced the Everfree, even had a nice tree planted perfectly at the top. After a little expiration of the town, I decided it best to meditate on everything, having learned that, surprise, this entire world's calendar is utterly screwed up. Turns out four months is a month in this world, four months in a year, and now I realize how the show's events lined up so... inconsistently. "What a messed up world I find myself in. Thanks, Discord."

Trinity's veil rose with her frown toward Discord.

“Eh, hehehe... Sorry,” The chaos spirit said, defensively. “Don't look at me, I'm just doing my duty as a vestige of chaos!”

I pulled my scarf up, revealing the scarlet face of the ruby again, did it grow since I last looked at it? Holding it to eye-level, I sighed and closed my paw around its cool frame, shutting my eyes. "Trinity... I... I could really use some advice."

"Your friends are here, I suppose that's on your mind?" I blinked and nearly fell back from the lack of tree behind me... or anything for that matter. I was just staring into a white void, with Trinity sat down in her human form.

A white waistcoat with gold cuffs, a leather thread of some kind wrapped around her waist, hanging strands off to her left. Her crystal vortex hung around her neck against her collarbone. Her trousers were poofy and reached her shins before strange, brown boots wrapped in black thread guarded her lower legs and feet.

I took a quick look at myself, smiling widely at the sight of familiar digits wiggling as another set ran through my white locks. "Oh, how I've missed having real hands!" My smile eventually faltered. "It'd be better if the circumstances were different, but I appreciate the effort." I stared down at the abyss. "So, about them being here? How?"

Trinity looked to the white world thoughtfully. "It's an event that can trigger when a person is sent to another world when that rift is forced open, there's a chance those tied closely to that person can be dragged along, of course, the bond can be as close or as distant, and it can also be a sense of kindred ideals, I've heard of an entire classroom being sent to another world, while another summoned four heroes to theirs, the results vary depending on the circumstances," Trinity smiled sadly. "I never intended on them ending up here."

My head shook. "No, you had no idea what the criteria were and you were against the clock, plus, they seem happy, Taka and Kazu are together so I won my bet with Asher, only now the British shut-in can't pay up." He was from across the seas, so that explains how he got here

I realized it, she wasn't smiling either. "So you found out what happened to them." Of course, she knew already

"Yeah." I drawled, feeling pain in my chest

"And you regret it? Not being able to save them?" Again, my head bowed. "Just as you feel you were unable to save Rika?"

That brought my attention back, Trinity then waved her hand, displaying a new setting, a black void, and broken shards of glass that enveloped us like a hallway, all of the reflections... were memories, my memories. "I told you, I refuse to alter one's fate, but my powers can peer into another life, both their past, present, and future without any control, such is why I wear my veil, for if I revealed my eyes, what I've seen will be projected onto you."

I saw the memory of Rika, all of them, her smile, laugh, her stubborn refusal to cry, even... her smile at the very end. Trinity huffed happily. "She looks so peaceful, not many can experience death without a single regret or fear."

My smile was heavy. "She was always better than me in every way, wonder how she'd have faired in my boots?" I kept my eyes to the memories. "I... saw that memory when fighting Glavenus, was that you?"

"You were beginning to lose yourself in that lingering guilt, all I did was visualize it for you, again, my apologies," My fist balled up. "You can hit me if you want, I am here to listen to you, that includes taking in your frustrations,"

My hands fell apart. "S-Sorry... I... I wasn't always so cheery, every day I had to force a smile for her, I... I bet it was obvious when we met,"

Wiping a few tears, a toothy grin shook on my lips. "I just can't smile for real anymore."

Trinity was suddenly a lot closer. "You should know something, here," Her hand gently cupped my cheek, and a golden hue spread across my face, and one of the reflections took a new form. Now, it looked up at me, my tears streaming down my face in a dimly lit hospital room

My eyes widened. "Is this...!"

"Zen... I hope you won't be mad at me... guess I should have listened, huh? The first time you called me your friend I... was really happy, because I got to see your smile. You were always so blunt, giving me lectures on my stupid behavior, but you always smiled through it with me, even when I wanted to cry,"

"Don't you see? The reason I could smile, that I could smile now... despite... all of this pain... is because of you... because I loved seeing you smile when I was down, it made me stronger, so... I know..."

The image faded, and I muttered out the words for her. "...You'll be okay..."

"Hmm, I'm proud of your growth, many rifts remain but I'm sure you'll prevail with a smile, and don't forget you have others to lean on." I blinked and Trinity was gone, and I was sat against the tree, facing Yui who looked out of breath

"Zen... you're crying," Her hoof wiped them away for me. With my back to the tree, I sighed

"Rika... she was the closest friend I had," My mouth ran without thought or consideration, and it was painful. "If not for her I'd never know Taka, Kazu, Asher, my relationship with my sister wouldn't be as strong as it is now... she made me better."

My voice started to tremble, "I-I-I thought that if I just smiled like she did, kept to the promise we made t-then maybe, maybe she wouldn't be gone, that... that I don't have to let her go..." I couldn't hold my head high anymore. "But she's gone... she's gone and I'm afraid... afraid that I'll forget her."

A hoof brushed against my shoulder. "I'm sorry, I never knew her but... I think she'd be happy with how you turned out." That smile again...

I immediately buried my face in her chest, breaking down with a shiver. Rika, I was scared to move on, to trust someone with the same level of kindness between us, it scared me that I wouldn't be able to save someone again, my failure haunted me, manipulated me into thinking I had moved on. It hurts because I won't ever see your smile again, so I'll just have to smile twice as much for both of us, for real this time.

Yui held me close, not needing to say a word as nearly two years of anguish was finally let go.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Just when things were starting to look up, this was two chapters but I made it one long, sorrowful chapter. May I also say thank you as we reached over 1000 views, not much to some but to me its a milestone and a half. As always, I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, and seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 11 - Egg Hunt
Rock. Rock deflects attacks. Rock hurts. Do not let birb have Rock. Encase of Rock you smaller Rock.

Chp. 11 - Egg Hunt

Day two since my freedom from the Everfree's grasp, and I'll say it now I have never felt better. The ponies in this town are nice, some even thanked me for taking care of Acidic Glavenous though they did think I was much like my friends, that's fine, at least they aren't coming at me with any needles or chains. The sun bathed me in warmth, and beside me was my good friend Kazu, as he did his best to keep me still.

|You shouldn't get too excited, it hasn't even hatched yet| He attempted to we'll my excitement but I was still giddy over his and Taka's relationship from yesterday. With a curious brow, his eyes met mine. |I suppose this still has to do with your fondness for kids?|

|It pays to know if its healthy and I'm the Lucario for the job! That, and I can't wait to see an even tinier Eevee, it's gonna be so cute~!| I gushed, clapping my paws happily, then I chuckled. |I'm surprised it's actually been more than two months, guess time flies when you're surviving in a forest hellbent on your suffering|

Kazu's ears folded. |I'm sorry we never knew, none of us considered you had been dragged here along with us| That made me scratch my cheek

|Yeah... that kinda my fault| Now it was my turn to look ashamed. |I sort of got dragged here by a Goddess wanting me to close rifts that manifest into monsters from Monster Hunter| I revealed the slightly larger gemstone. |Turns out there's a chance those connected to me in a certain way could inadvertently be dragged along, so if anyone's to blame, it's me, sorry|

He didn't speak for a moment, sighing while wrapping his tail around my paw. |...If the roles were reversed I believe things would have played out differently| He pulled his tail back, looking ahead with a content expression. |But this world isn't bad, sure, we've been tested on for months by Twilight, but bar those small hiccups are time here has been worthwhile... I even mustered the courage to be where I am now with Taka| He blushed a little, unusual for someone of his down-to-earth nature. |I can't say it's all bad, I certainly don't mind my life here|

I was glad, the last thing I wanted was for them to have been put through hell while I, albeit, have been through a few rings myself, have been enjoying my time here, especially now with Yui. |Well, that makes two of us, buddy!| I ruffled his head, the two of us passing by Sugarcube Corner, and -- Oh My God it's made of candy! My face dropped with apprehension. Probably not edible

|You know, you seemed awfully charmed this morning when I came to visit your hotel room| While his eyes kept themselves forward, I shifted a little under his knowing smile. Oh no. |Anything happen yesterday after your outburst?|

I blew a raspberry. |Pfft, whaaaaat, noooo, nothing in particular! Just some reassurance of one's life|

With a single laugh, Kazu moved closer to whisper as I leaned down. |When your friend, Yui, left. You were watching her--| Oh no. |--and with great interest might I add| He pulled away, seeing my face slowly pale, he didn't face me, turning around dramatically. |I believe you were... enraptured|

Having dealt with worse from Taka, I stood my ground, crossing my arms while suppressing the blood in my cheeks. |She's my best friend, and the one that usually has the plan forward, so I look to her for guidance|

|Ooo, I see, and what 'guidance' did you find in those... swaying hips, hmm?| That nailed the coffin. my face lit up as I robotically moved to tighten my arms around my chest in vain to stop my heart from racing

Frantically I swung them out in protest. |No-no! I wasn't looking at her... um, you know... her in that way|

|Certainly| Kazu nodded, but that look, he had me on the end of a noose, had fallen for the classic blunder

I closed my eyes, still retaining a crimson glow. |I gazed -- Glanced in that direction, maybe| Opening my eyes I slowly exhaled. |But I wasn't staring, or really seen anything, really...|

Kazu nodded simply |Of course| He wasn't convinced, so I returned a glare, pointing a claw down at the cunning Umbreon

|I hate you| Once more I crossed my arms with a pout. |You're a bad person|

Our banter eventually cut off as I stopped and stared ahead to what looked to be quite the commotion ahead. Kazu stopped to as something large came jogging out into the crossroads, being an extra meter taller than me. The creature had the body structure of a large raptor covered in light brown scales and had the face that greatly resembled a Dodo. Though it is mostly covered in scales, it also had colorful feathers on its head and arms.

|A Kulu Ya Ku? Seriously? After like... a wyvern with a corrosive katana tail?| A little underwhelming if I'm being honest but still a pain in the ass if left unchecked. Both of us tilted our heads to copy the Kulu that did the same, the three of us baffled by each other's appearance

Immediately, Kazu's black coat turned ghostly white while I heard glass shatter. I blinked, then immediately did the same, my eyes wide as I too heard glass break in my head. The Kulu shambled off into the next street with a squawk, nestled between its claws was a large, white egg with black and blue wisps across the shell.

|IT HAS THE EGG!?!| Our combined horror attracted a familiar face over, tears in her eyes

"I-I-I'm so so sorry K-Kazu! I-I couldn't stop it from stealing your egg!" Fluttershy wept, her aura trembled with sorrow and fury that I dared not get between if the situation was different

|No, it's fine, Fluttershy... I... we need to get it back, now| Kazu was the one I took a step away from, pulling the teary-eyed Fluttershy back, feeling my own anger seeth at just the sight of the crying mare alone, this Kulu gone a messed with the wrong pony and Eevee. Kazu is not a man of violence, in fact, it's the dynamic of him and Taka being yin and yang, but now, oh no, this Kulu up and poked a Rajang. |Zen... mind helping me retrieve my kid?|

I nodded immediately, both with the intent to hunt this beast down for daring to harm something so pure and wholesome, and the other to avoid Kazu's parental instincts, unfortunately, being overshadowed by all his unyielding rage.

~---~

Kulu took its time terrorizing the town's market street, sniffing away at some fruits while clutching onto the egg it had stolen. |BANZAI!!| My warcry startled the Bird Wyvern into looking up at the perfect time for my dropkick, smacking the beak in the opposite direction and into a Shadow Ball, the dark miasma clouding the Kulu's senses as it squawked out of fright

I entered a Quick Attack, kicking and punching its sides to force its hold on the egg to weaken, yet all the Kulu did was peck at my feet as I dived over its form, landing on the roof with Kazu, himself showering the wyvern in a veil of shadows. Sensing out hostility the Kulu took off down the street, using the stalls as cover. A lightbulb flashed above my head. |Ah-hah! Thanks, Pinkie|

The appearance of the pink pony was met with a wide smile and nod. "Get that meanie for taking Taka's baby," By then her leg twitched. "Aah, twitchy leg, something bad's about to happen!"

|Kazu, let's combine!| Not wanting to wait any longer he jumped into my waiting paws, my feet breaking apart the tiles as we soared over Fluttershy. With a spin I harnessed the energy build into the Swords Dance, a Shadow Ball chomped between Kazu's teeth. |Umbreon Impact!|

With a clap of sound, my paw threw the ball of fluff toward the retreating Kulu. In a matter of seconds, Kazu collided with the Kulu's back, a deafening crack followed by a plume of darkness enveloped its vertebrae while the Eevee stumbled backward, rubbing his forehead. The Wyvern lost its hold on the egg, tossing it higher than its claws could reach. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Kazu gasped, while I zoomed past them in a blink of an eye.

Breaking apart the ground under us, I leapt far above the Kulu, my paws latching around the egg in time for our rough landing. |Safe!| I held the egg proudly, patting it between my chest spike and shoulder. |Alright little guy or gal, you sit tight, Uncle Zen's got this|

Just then, I came face-to-face with the Kulu's greatest weapon. A Rock. The Big Bird flew across the road, slamming the stone where I once stood, that being only two feet away, I just kept a neutral face of concern, picking up a small stone before I channeled some aura into my foot. Clearing my throat at the bird's approach I coughed out, |Rock Smash| Kicking the stone it collided with the larger stone as it once more fumbled to catch it, only for the rock to crumble at its feet

The Kulu wasn't done, however, striking with its beak again in a manner akin to a chicken which I quite easily parried with a Force Palm to the beak, seeing its head feathers fly off from the shockwave, knocking the bird over. Rolling over it bounced back to avoid a tackle from Kazu, which immediately followed with another Shadow Ball, this was deflected by yet another Rock.

Rock in claw the Kulu pounced, smacking the Umbreon back while swiping with its tail to shatter a nearby stall that Pinkie and Fulltershy watched from, Pinkie giving us... very useful advice I'd give new players of Monster Hunter... why does this feel oddly familiar? Kulu pounced me this time, slamming the rock down and repeating the slam a consecutive amount of times, eyes locked to the egg I cradled in one arm. I could feel the life inside, it wasn't scared at all, I'd say it was more irritated it had been disturbed. I feel ya, buddy...

Sliding under the slam I clenched my fist and retaliated with an icy fist to its face again, half freezing the Kulu's beak in a flash. Flicking the frost off I decided it best to finish this charade. Focusing my aura into my palm again, I kept my eyes closed while I let my soul fuel my attack, and yet, something strange was flowing with my own. Blinking, I tore my eyes from the Kulu that tried to run away, only for the two ponies and Pokemon to block its path.

Nestled in my arm, a soft, hazel light traveled to my free paw, infusing my bright blue sphere with a hint of brown at its center. I grinned, happily accepting this borrowed power. |Alright little guy or gal, all together now| Folded my arm, I pushed out the excess energy completely. |Double Aura Sphere!|

The blast pushed me back, as a smaller mote of hazel encircled my attack for a moment, colliding with the rock in Kulu's claws as it somehow kept the attack at bay. This struggle had me dumbfounded for a moment until the bird cried, the rock broke away and the blast collided with its chest, burning into the scales with enough force to send the body of the oversized KFC flying into the same stall it broke, burying it in planks and a tarp.

With the Wyvern dead, a small red mote fluttered into my scarf, and while the ponies gathered round to thank both the ponies, myself, and Kazu, I giggled, patting the egg softly. |You and I are gonna be a great team when you grow up| With only an aura I felt its excitement

|We made it back alive!| I bellowed into the library, seeing Yui drop her book while taking a breath

"...you are the worst alarm clock ever, of all time." She sighed, then frowned with surprise at mine and Kazu's dirted appearance. "What in Equestria happened to you two?"

I and Kazu winced, sharing a quick glance, |Eh, stuff, helped Fluttershy with a... bird problem, yeah, Big Bird, big rock, the usual|

Yui had the face of, 'no you didn't' but thankfully didn't press it. From the kitchen came Spike, Summer, and of course, Taka, who's eyes locked to the egg in my paws. |Everything alright, nothing wrong or life-threatening or--| Kazu put a paw over her mouth

|It's fine, Zen gave me and Fluttershy the 'All Clear'| We saw Taka's body relax, nodding as he removed his paw

I grinned, |It's aura is intense, it even siphoned into mine, definitely will evolve into a Sylveon when it's older| I assured the Glaceon who sat beside Kazu and Spike, himself preparing lunch who grumbled knowing he had two more to prepare, poor drake

Taka's head titled. |How can you tell?|

My smile grew with a sly look. |'Cause, it will be the opposite of you, duh|

*Shiiing!*

A large blade of ice pinned itself to the wall next to me, and I clicked my claws. |Ha, see, point proven!| Her body soon started to glow a pale blue, and the two other Eevees facepalmed

|Please save your bickering for later...| Summer sighed, but rolled her eyes. |Though it has been too long since you two had a personal spat|

Taka complied and waved a paw at me. |Alright, Nurse Joy, hand 'em over| A little saddened I leaned close to the egg

|...Don't worry, next time you and I go monster hunting...| Patting the egg a final time, I felt again the bubbling excitement from within the shell

[???]

In the depths of the Everfree, a pack of Timberwolves snarled at the fresh hunt they had, snapping and barking at one another, wondering which would take the first bite. Due to their in-fighting, the wolves failed to hear the deep, long snarl from the brush ahead. What baffled one's curiosity was not the presence of a large shadow overhead, but rather the strange, buzzing insect that twinkled a yellow and blue on a leaf, and the many more that gather behind the brush like motes of blue light.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

With the hardware issue resolved here's Friday's chapter! (Thank you, admins) What a fun chapter to write, that bird is my bane after the Final Fantasy event. However, something looms on the horizon, but what? I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 12 - Thundercrash
It was a dark, gloomy day in Ponyville, with Zen taking the time to rework his relationship with Twilight as Yui is tortured by the others. Meanwhile, a storm brews at the edge of Ponyville.

Chp. 12 - Thundercrash

|I really don't want to go in there| Of all the numerous attempts on my life over the months I've been stuck in the magical land of Equestria, none, and I mean none of those times can compare to what awaited me next. After Yui's insistence, I was. moderately, dragged by my sister and Yui to face the front of Twilight's Libary

|Zen Amadeus| Oh no, she used my full name like Mom does, eyeing me critically. |Understand, I'm not pleased with how Twilight used us in her little experiments, but she, along with her friends, have taken considerable care of us and now that our predicament is open they've started treating us with just as much respect, but with the added awareness of our sentience|

I sighed, pinching my nose. |I get that, but... you know I hate...| She giggled, hopping up into my arms with a cute smile

|I know you're protective, but you know we can take care of ourselves| Summer leaned in to pat my head softly, kinda odd given the size difference between us, but just as always, she had my nerves relaxed again. |You've been through alot, Zen, so please, just give her a chance, as we have|

"Even though I'm only getting part of this conversation, just so you know I'm not entirely satisfied with Twilight's actions, but she's shown remorse for what she's done, give her a chance," Even Yui was on board, patting my leg with her wing, then proceeded to shove me forward, Summer hopping down next to me. "Now go and make up with her."

|I feel that should be her first, but fine, for you guys atleast| Giving in to their peer pressure I pushing the door open and bit the inside of my cheek. This would take some time, and I don't fully trust this chick at all, but if they're willing to hear her out I'll be neutral and do the same. After all, these ponies can be too forgiving at times

|Ah-hah! So you finally showed up!| I have made a terrible mistake. Swiftly turning on my heel I was met with the door, my paw sliding down the surface as I tried to refrain from groaning loudly. Swinging back around I spotted the smug grin written on Taka's face... as she was wearing a small, Glaceon-sized blazer in the style of a certain lawyer. |We can get this underway!|

|You seem oddly happy for the girl who hated this chick as much as I?| My mirthless tone was not lost, and she merely dusted the blazer with a paw

With a sparkle in her eye she added,|Well you see I thought given the situation and the fact it's you on the chopping block, as usual, I decided to dig down memory lane and requested this little piece from Rarity, and now, I am both stylish, and ready to taunt you mercilessly| While the others only ever heard her name, she was laughing maniacally

Leaning down to my sister I put a paw between us. |She's isn't carrying a child anymore so I can punch her, right?| My smile fell at the sight of her stern gaze. |Fiiine, let's get this over with -- Let the record show, I'm doing this solely for Yui's reputation as a Treasurer Hunter!| A paw raised I sat down with my legs cross next to the grateful smile under a light-blue hood

Sitting ahead of me was the first person, or pony, to have ever struck a cord the wrong way in so long, I don't think I've felt this unperturbed for another in months. But now here I am attempting to hear out her 'sorry', as though words will always share the same sentimental as actions. I understand that in most cases words are an impacting creation of any living thing but when it involves my friends and family, and one at fault had hurt them, that was a large bridge to cross and mere words aren't what I was looking for.

"Zen...?" Her voice withdrew my contemplation. Holding my frown, I began

"Where should we start, eh?" My callous tone had her flinch, and a nudge to my side realigned my thoughts. "Okay, right-right, I could categorize every little detail for your listening pleasure but I lack the time and care, so let me be blunt, I don't like you, what you did to my family... that's not something kind words can solve."

"...Of course." She murmured

"So, lay it on me," I motioned for her to take the stage, the rest listening with intensity thickening between us, a line that I swore not even the Monsters I've faced could compare

With a heavy breath, Twilight answered. "I will be truthful, that was my intention, to try and formulate my apology through words, even though your actions before made me aware you may not listen, I understand that," She spoke softly, carefully treading with her words. "I will say I'm sorry, but, I also was given clarity on your... mentality toward those you love." I froze in my spot

Not a word or thought slipped by, and I felt all eyes were on me. "It was Summer who told me, albeit shakily,"

|I can't write well with paws| She patted them together, but I was still letting the words sink in

"She told me about someone you trusted deeply, and who changed you--"

"Stop," I kept my thoughts like my words low, eyes closed. "Just... don't. Maybe in time I can talk about this, I know recently I let go of the guilt but that's still not enough to make it easier to talk of," I leveled my scarlet gaze with her. "I'm alright with others knowing, just... sensitive about Rika."

With a clear nod from the unicorn, she continued. The social minefield safely evaded our little meeting continued, and man did I ever appreciate the lengths Spike goes to for the best cup of tea this side of Equestria, how I've missed the sweet nectar of pancakes but this, hehe, does put a smile on my face.

*Rumble... Rumble...*

|Oh great, the rain, typical| Taka interrupted bitterly, eyes drawn to the dark clouds rolling in. |Didn't Dash say somethin' about it Not raining today? Ugh, wet coat is not fun coat|

My sister raised her paw. |I too agree with this, what a pain|

It wasn't raining? A thunderstorm? Strange, it was sunny on the way over unless the weather's schedule changes frequently? No that's not right, Taka just said there was no rain today, so she would have expected the thunderstorm without making a remark. My brow deepened considerably at the news, and I felt it, something stirring in my chest told me this was wrong, very wrong.

"Zen?" Yui's eyes saw mine and reflected my growing worry, her own darkening under her hood. "What is it? Zen, is something..."

"Stay inside," I got up with haste toward the doorway, feeling the earth tremble from the same, eerie disturbance, my aura was flaring like crazy, so much so it was a little nauseating. There was an aura nearby and a powerful one, something raging with the might of that storm brewing overhead. I shot a paw back, staring down at the one-winged pony. "Not this time, keep them here too."

Yui stood her ground, snorting. "As if I'm going to let you go it alone, we've handled situations like this before."

|Not another Monster, come oooon, the last one was only a day ago!| Taka cried out while flopping onto her back

There wasn't time for this. "Yui, please!" My raised attitude caught her by surprise, I guess my head's still not quite as it is right now. "I... I don't want to see you get hurt."

Her eyes swam with emotions that changed to frequently to pinpoint, but the chaos and confusion in her soul was apparent. Lifting a hoof, she tapped my leg. "And I don't want to see the same thing happen to you; We're a team... partners," Again with those big eyes, defiant and... I couldn't look away at all, it was as though her own aura overshadowed mine

Smiling warily I bumped my fist to her awaiting wing, that confident smirk made my body flow with energy, without a word the two of us were off into the howling wind, and the sounds of panic and discord throughout Ponyville. There was an energy in the air, a tingling sensation in the back of my neck, shivers flowing across my fur, whatever it was, it howled like the hurricane above, ferocious and approaching with hatred.

By the time we arrived at the scene, ponies were running back to their homes or simply in a panic to find anything to hide in or below. Yui stood by, her hoof rubbing the dirt under her, at the large footprints that sank into the soil. "Something big by the depth of the prints... and very close." Ominous warning aside I found something of glowing interest on a nearby stand.

Plucking from a fruit stand I found a small bug with a vibrant blue abdomen, my arm's fur standing on end from the buzz I received, the bug flying off into the sky only to be greeted by several more. Strange, luminescent bugs dotted the dark skies like fireflies, all gathering to the next street over, it was then my heart sank as I motioned for Yui to follow closely. It couldn't be...

"It's... standing right behind us, ain't it?" We immediately bounced forward, Yui staying behind me as the Monster snorted sharply, standing proudly only a few meters away, and the very air in my throat buzzed as those bugs gathered in swarms behind the beast's fur.

It was a quadrupedal monster with superficially lupine features. It had highly developed limbs, sharp fangs, and claws. Its forelegs are extremely powerful and could land one brutal blow if I got too close. Despite its hulking size, this creature was extremely agile and is able to perform many impressive maneuvers. The spikes on its body fanned upward, as though to gather the bugs, bolts of blue lightning crashing down around it, the Monster unleashing the howl of an apex.

I faced down the Thunder Wolf Wyvern...

"Zinogre... Yui-!" My cry alerted the wyvern into lunging with a flip as I grabbed the mare and dove for the roof above, bolts of lightning rippled through the earth as it slowly wiggled off its back, the thunderbugs gathering in clusters. "Go and help any ponies still evacuating the area, don't let anyone get close!" I hadn't the time to argue risks with her now, not while the heavens tore apart, unleashing pure power that slammed into buildings and roads under a mighty howl

The once grey day turned to a pale orange under roaring flames, myself leaping down to drawing my Bone Rush, grasping the staff hesitantly as the sensory appendages on my head stuck out, a light blue outline radiating across my fur. "I'm shutting your rift down," Spinning the staff to rest behind me, I channeled an Aura Sphere into my left paw. "Come get me."

Complying, the fanged wyvern pressed its right paw down, performing a helix spin through the air as I flew back from the tail, lobbing the energy blast to knock Zinogre back to the ground, he howled again and now the plates on his back rose with a massive current of lightning striking his form, he had gained enough power already? Two could play that game, lifting a paw I allowed my aura to dip into my anger, four swords aligned my form and my strength soared, alongside a flurry of white light as I flew past the monster, striking fast with my bo-staff.

The sudden backlash forced Zinogre into flipping its backend left, then right, discharging four spheres of lightning that pulled me away from another attack, while one struck my shoulder, the lightning singeing my fur. Spinning myself I dove over a frantic charge, the backswing of my staff clipped his mandible, diverting his course into a flaming building that it promptly demolished. I am so sorry for the workers that have to fix this place after me. Through the rubble, I heard a roar, then a paw carve into the ground, a torrent of thunder tearing across both the pavement and me as my Quick Guard shattered under my fall.

"Ow... okay, that's new." Or I just have short-term memory for his move-set. Rolling back onto my feet I kicked up my staff and flung it like a spear, the polearm bouncing off his horns as I raised a fistful of ice to shatter against the imposing monster, the wave of frost blinding its right side for multiple kicks to the head, my body diving over a claw swipe as I retaliated with a resounded Force Palm to the jaw, hearing a crack and the creature tumble into a wall with a pained whine

In streaks of light blue strobes, Zinogre wailed from the sudden, sporadic attacks that I just stared dumbly at, flexing my hands since I hadn't actually retaliated yet. "Wait... that aura--" With a powerful backflip, Taka's Iron Tail swiped under the wyvern's chin, disorientating the beast for me while she sat down next to me with a smirk. |Taka! I appreciate the help, but--| Her tail whipped up to me, eyes colder than her ice

|If you think for a second I'm sitting this one out while my best friend gets himself hurt then your dead wrong| She growled, turning around as I pressed my fists together, ice frosting over my claws. |Summer's worried too, but you and I both know ice is far more effective against It|

I couldn't rebuttal that, with a half-chuckle, the storm struck down on Zinogre, the Thunderbugs overcharging its body once more. |Fair, then let's do it|

Zinogre lunged high, body plummeting to unleash a torrent of lightning at our dodge, rolling onto its hindlegs and repeating the rolling-slam against me, then to Taka, herself diving off a nearby wall and over the thunder puppy, unleashing a hail of ice shards to chip away at the scales and fur. With a paw to the floor, it performed a helix spin, smashing the ground with a wave of electricity that forced me to guard, only then for the body to tower over me, paw curved.

|Oh no--| The paw burrowed against mine, shattering the frost while my muscles strained from the tingling sensation attacking my nerves. My body's steel bones were the only reason I was alive. Twisting at the hip to my left, paws sharp with silver as I grabbed Zinogre by the horn and threw the snarling beast through the ground. |Twin Sphere| Diving back with a twirl over the swoop of the tail both aura blasts blinded the wyvern, its body doubling over in the ground as a cursed howl from the storm nipped at my fur

The frost gathered in numerous spots across Zinogre, slowing its movements. He refused to relent, howling heavily while the lightning continued to rain from the heavens, striking buildings and tear apart the ground, the flames that continued to burn only made me more uncomfortable, my paws shifting away from any large flames. Not the time for this, Zen, focus, if you don't find a way to put this Wyvern down this town's gonna be razed.

|Double team!| Taka's suggestion was well received with a smile between us, Zinogre snarled, head low, and horns poised. At the point between safety and those horns we parted to either side, Metal Claw and an Iron tail crashing into its shins, bringing the beast to a pained stop as we hopped up and over a sudden spin, the two of us diving back down with our attacks in unison, both metal appendages breaking two of its scaly flaps, releasing a static shock and several Thunderbugs that zapped us.

Zinogre swiped at Taka, her body conjuring ice spikes to assault the limb while she blurred from my vision, forelimbs, and forehead crashing against the wyvern and effortlessly evading the stray bolts of lightning it summoned from above. Taking this advantage I rolled away from a short charge, performing a handstand over the tail and brining down both arms for a Cross Chop to the nape, locking Zinogre in place for a resounding crack atop its skull from Taka's Extreme kick and my Bone staff connecting to a horn, tossing the Wyvern into some of the flaming wreckage.

|Don't let him recover!| I waved, rushing with the staff behind me while the Glaceon galloped next to me, the air surrounding her growing increasingly colder. Zinogre shook his head, whining from the loss of the horn, but within those electric blue eyes, rage boiled over and a low, malicious growl gurgled in its throat

[Yui's POV]

That lightning from overhead has caused far more chaos than I could possibly imagine. And Zen... he knew what these monsters were capable of, so just how deadly can they get? Are their ones that could raze the whole country? Could their bodies block out the sun? Turn sunny days into the night? "Not the time for this, Yui, focus." Scolding my rampant thoughts, I galloped to a group of evacuating Ponies, homes razed as Unicorns fought back the fires with Pegasi, Rainbow Dash among them

Wrapping the lower half of my cloak across my muzzle I pushed forward, the glaring heat and ash blown by the wind made it difficult to see, but I managed to reach a small alleyway, pairs of frightened eyes watching me. Waving my wing I ushered them forward. "Come on, the wind's blowing South, so you need to head North, but do not go East, that's where the monster is!" I beckoned them out, standing between foals and the roaring flames several meters behind me.

Many ran in the direction I yelled them to go, others moving slowly as to avoid the flames and working Ponies. I just hope Zen can handle this alone... "Hey, Yui!" I jumped, spotting Twilight dashing toward me, or until my ears flicked to the snap and sputter of wood and flames

"Head's up!" I dived, tackling her backward as a mound of flaming thatch landed behind me, singeing my tail. Meanwhile, Twilight watched me with grateful eyes as I clambered off her. "You okay?"

"Yeah -- Hold on, I thought you were with Zen?" She pointed a hoof at me

"Kir...!" Something jumped in atop my back, startling me

Behind Twilight, a large torrent of water struck the flames, smothering them with wet towels too. Standing atop me was Asher, multiples of him tossing wet blankets with some telekinetic power onto the flames, aiding to clear the air of smoke and hazards, while Merry shot from a nearby building, spilling charred wood now drenched as she guided tow Ponies out, coughing while she dusted her palms off.

"T-Thank you!" The stallion said before stepping away from the fire, Merry just smiled and bowed her head, muscles relaxing as she... she glowed!?

In a flurry of white and shimmers of a rainbow in between, her body grew in length, when the mote of light broke apart again, the flames on the roofs and some stalls were drowned out by a downpour from a completely isolated sector of the storm above, the rain forcing many to cheer with the relief they had the storm on their side now, even while the lightning continued at an alarming rate.

"Froa... kie!" Merry looked pleased. Her frame still retaining a light blue but with a dark blue marking on her head, forming a three-pointed mark down her upper back. Merry's eyes protrude slightly from the top of her head and each has a backward-facing spike above it. The bubbles were now a scarf, her hands dark blue and circular fingers and toes. "Frogadier!" Merry lifted her hands with a bright smile

"Woah...!" That was... amazing!! How did she do that? Was that what some of them went through!? So cool! Twilight on the other hoof dragged one down her face, a clear expression of exasperation

"Great! Fantastic...!" Beside me, Merry shrugged, patting the mare on the back. "Don't patronize me."

"Come on, girls -- and Asher," He narrowed his eyes at me when I hid my smile. "We're not done yet, and there's still plenty of chaos to sort out."

"Right, I already have the rest of my friends doing what they can to stem the spread of the fires, but with all these lightning strikes we can't keep it up for long." Twilight murmured, while Merry tapped out snouts, smiling smugly before pointing to the rainfall, then to herself. "What about it -- Don't tell me you can control the weather too!?" She looked as though she was on the verge of an aneurism, while Merry shrugged a nod

"Twi," She looked to me, as I tried not to look at her with a dumb smile. "My closest friend is a bipedal wolf with soul powers and has fought a moving boulder, what is basically a ninja panther, a wolf-snake-squirrel, a monster with a corrosive tail, and now a giant wolf that can conjure a lightning storm."

Her jaw unhinged for a moment but didn't look to have an answer as Merry shut it for her.

*....Rumble... Rumble!!*

Vibrations tore across the town, and in the distance, a blinding torrent of light broke through the black smoke and storms, transforming the vast darkness into light. A roar unlike any other rippling through my ears and I felt an odd mixture of fear and a rush of adrenaline at the faint familiarity of the howl.

[Zen's POV]

With a deafening warcry, bolts tore into the earth, Taka ducking and rolling to evade the stray bolts as I deflected them with my bo staff, swatting those that strayed my path toward the overcharged wyvern. Zinogre snarled, slamming its paw to discharge a wall of lightning, I swung through the blue current, the shadow flung over me as a tail swiped my back, throwing me aside as a hail of ice shards struck the appendage, my feet bouncing off the wall and back into the fray, swiping left then dragging the tip of the staff in a spiral across the mid-section and over the chin.

Landing my arms reached high, the impact of jaws clamped down on the staff that hissed under the strain, my knees bent to try and stabilize my footing, even as Zinogre dragged himself forward, my heels digging further into the ground as I cried out in rage to hold steady, even as the abrasion of the rock dug into my feet. This wyvern wasn't backing down for a moment, even with our advantage of ice not once had it given us time to press any advantage, even while it was exhausted. However, it had very little Thunderbugs now, so this was the last of its charged state.

I let my aura dissolve the staff, my paws to the ground quickly to slide under its stomach and away from the feet as I felt the swipe of its arm over me. Pushing back with my paws I lunged high. From below a wave of lightning tore apart the ground, Zinogre's tail swatting me from the air, Quick Guard shattered. The force tossing me back, thankfully, under Taka's massive hail of snow, the harsh wind and combined snowfall were brief but it smothered some of the flames and slowed Zinogre down further, our combined ailments proving to be too much strain for the wyvern.

|Get in there, idiot!|Her metallic tail swung from the left, catching my feet with a surge in my velocity coned with a black and white veil, it was a push but I simultaneously activated Nasty Plot and Quick Attack, while both my fists overflowed with a scarlet light, my vision was slowing and details became detailed, from the subtle shades of yellow and blue along Zinogre's coat to the faint buzz of Thunderbugs dancing across its white mane, weaving between locks

|...Heh, Close Combat!| Reality sped up and my right hook collided with its jaw, diverting the horn and claws that now dug through the soil in vain to slow its tumble, my fist twisting the skin and muscle to allow my fist to sink further into the cheek. One more hit and it's through! The left eye lost its spark, and the pupil locked to mine, the eyelid narrowed

He howled once again, and my whole body rocketed with electricity, the bolts ejected my arm, throwing me across the dirt and into the side of a stall now lay to ruins. From across a large plank, I caught the glimpse of Zinogre coming to face a large wall of ice, the strain on Taka's face was evident of this as blue bolts dug through the ice that continuously formed between us, I'd move, but my arms twitched slightly so movement was slow.

*Crunch-crack-crack*

|Grah!!| No!! The claw swipe tore a wave of lightning through the ice, and in turn, across Taka's small frame that collided with a stall, her ice wall having disintegrated under Zinogre's superior strength. She wasn't getting up, and she wasn't moving, I could smell the putrid stench of blood from here, through ash and dust

A pin dropped, the echo rebound in my head a few times as I froze, peering down at my paws that trembled ceaselessly under the rolling thunder and the low growls of the wyvern, it made bile trickle through my throat, and now I lowered my head, just as Zinogre turned to retaliate. My palms starting to bleed under my knuckles. My heartbeat raced in my ears, and I hated it, how copper tickled my tongue from me accidentally biting my cheek. This mutt... this Goddamn mutt...!

There was something building in my throat, like copper but far less bitter, with a tingly sensation or warmth of a hot drink. A rising tide swaying in my stomach as Zinogre body slam missed me, having already leapt high above its form, higher than even Zinogre could leap, the view was dark, and all color dissolved into black and white, the only consistent tone was that of a spark of blue snaking across my muzzle with a highlight of purple. Motes of those two colors crackling across the sky as the formed around my fangs, the wind screaming in my ears.

"𝙷𝚢𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚖!!" To encompass Zinogre's own deafening cry mine tore from my throat, as a downpour of pure energy rippled through the sky, slamming down atop the monster with a hum that electrified the air, from any unaware, it may have been a dragon's cry that drowned out Zinogre's, dirt and stone tore and jagged from the impact as I landed, the last ghosts of my attack whisked away from my bared teeth. |And stay|

A loud, almost sorrowful rumble tore apart the clouds, the sunlight piercing through to illuminate Zinogre, body smoked and fur singed from the attack, his body lying stomach up. The tongue hung out of its shredded snout, not a sound or sign of life remained in its body, and from the faint glow under my neck, its rift had, in turn, been closed. Taking in rather heavy and uneven breaths, someone's fingers snapped me back to reality, and to the severity a couple of meters away.

|Taka!| I shoved through dust and debris, throwing aside a few planks and stones to reveal the small, light-blue Pokemon underneath, the rotten stench of blood that dripped from her forehead scared me into reading my paws, concentrating all my strength to stand for her. |Come on, Taka, you're like, the strongest person ever, so get up... come on you asshole, get up!|

Life Dew dripped across her forehead, my left paw flicking the droplets of life onto her frame, scratches, and bruises softly fading back to a normal, smooth texture on her fur. This will work, it will work! Biting my lip, I noted her aura remained, albeit with a flicker.

*Boop*

I retracted my snout, her tail having poked it as she cracked an eye open, smirking weakly. |Why do you keep calling out your attacks?| This was enough for me to chuckle with relief flooding my breath, the two of us slumped against the wall of a house, hearing voices and hooves approaching as I flicked her temple. |Ack! Okay, yeah... I deserved that|

|Now we're even| I muttered, closing my eyes to finally earn some rest. |To answer your question, it sounds cool, no?|

|For an anime-obsessed guy like you? Sure| She muttered

|Slice-of-Life-Romance-lover-says-what?| That earned a flick of her tail, her head slumped against my stomach as I slumped against the wall further

|Touche|

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

They should be grateful it wasn't Stygian Zinogre I threw at them or one of the other Zinogre types, yikes. Also had Merry evolve since they can sometimes just happen at random. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate all the support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 13 - Budding
Zen and Yui spend some time going around Ponyville.

Chp. 13 - Budding

|So, we're in agreement then?| Hearing this, I took a long sip of my tea, setting the cup down before my sister who was sitting with me in the library, the two of us have finally struck an agreement after the course of events involving Zinogre yesterday, about the state of both my task and their wellbeing

|Yeah, I will tell them, just need to round them first, knowing Taka she's with her egg, don't know where Kazu or Asher would be...| With a nod and smile, Summer sat back, stretching out a yawn. |I'm surprised you actually decided to agree with me on this? Given the numerous attempts on my life|

She chuckled, |You make it sound like we do it to be mean|

I nodded, |It's grating at times, yes, I feel as though you don't trust me is all| My answer made her pause, her paw pointed at me

|You're my little brother, of course, I'm worried, but... you wouldn't quit unless you yourself decided to, so I'll support you however I can| Summer put her paws on the table, sighing with a small smile, tail flicking toward the shelves. |Come on, there are some books I'm sure you'll enjoy|

That made me snort, |If it's more history I might just throw myself through the window| I saw her deadpan stare, even while bobbing up onto a stool

|We're residents in a world full of magic, unknown history, and much more, brushing up on our knowledge past the show is paramount| Says the egghead who lives with an egghead

Shrugging and sitting down with Trinity's book I scoured the listings of TMs and HMs, the movesets labeled with their properties and effects while instructing me on how to master them, the Hyper Beam I conjured was unleashed due to uncontrollable rage and my instinct to protect Taka, but not every move would work that way guarantee. Sat in the sunlight, Summer propped a book up to cover her head, tail swaying back and forth cutely. All was right with this messed up world I found myself in.

*Knock-Knock-Knock*

And the good news just keeps on coming. Summer skipped off toward the door as I adjusted my scarf anxiously. From the doorway came a surprised 'oh' from my sister, clearly as surprised as I was nervous, why? Well, it was obvious.

|Yui? What's up?| Despite not being able to understand her, Yui looked to have a good guess herself as I fumbled around for my rucksack

"O-oh, hi, Summer, I, uh, um... is Zen here?" Someone's trembling just as I was, don't blame her given her... not so subtle request earlier today

|Ready to go, Yui?| I walked over. Summer's eyes continued to dart between us, trying with difficulty to understand the situation. |Try not to blow a fuse, Sunny|

|Yeah...| She trailed off

From under her hood, the one-winged bat-pony smiled nervously, a bag on her back also. "Yep, got everything I need, except you of course."

I gave Summer a nod, the Eevee's head darting slowly as the gears looked to clime in her head, ears straight. |Right, I'll be back later I suppose|

|I am lost, but okay... have fun on your date| That had me nearly trip over my own foot as I groaned, facepalming

|I hate you so much| I shut the door behind us, wiping the sweat off my forehead. "Okay, that was awkward as hell."

"I... kinda expected that." And on that, we agree on Yui, watching her sheepishly rub her foreleg. "Sorry if my request for today was a little... erm, out of context?"

With a shrug, I nudge her head. "Don't worry about it, let's just finally enjoy a day without a monster looming on the horizon."

After much tribulation, I had acquired the books I found interesting, and as per mine and Yui's agreement once she handed over the lost books to an official within the book store she was compensated accordingly, much to my surprise a small place like this book trade would have business partners with the government. Beforehand we did some window shopping, and even with our new-found wealth we were too much alike, myself buying supplies such as herbs and medicinal supplies alongside a few tools and trinkets for the road, Yui did the same, restocking what she lost and making repairs to tools. In the end, our day out had gone well so far, and in pleasant company.

Yui was over on the other half of the store by the time I found her, browsing in a section that did draw a few prying eyes, though the sight of a bipedal wolf was enough to steer their gazes in the opposite direction. Yui was in... a spicy section, shall we say?

Yui was smiling, "Yay, they have it." She happily held out the book for me to read the title of, a hard-cover of maroon red with gold writing, fancy and bold too, and with what I've learned so far of Equestrian writing it roughly said

"'Stallion With Two Souls'... huh, think I heard of that before?" Where though, and why did I feel like a reference to something? The other book in her hoof was actually held with the cover facing away from me. "And the other?"

With her hoof tightened to her head, Yui's face flushed a little, quickly strolling past me to buy the book as I ghosted her. It's -- I, well... um, I really shouldn't tell."

"It's smut." I pointed out bluntly, just as Yui handed the books over to pay for them. She didn't speak other than to thank the stallion as I did the same with my books, once we left the store with a wave to the guy, Yui immediately grabbed my scarf, face turning red again

"Why would you just say that so abruptly!? A-and how did you--" Prying her off my scarf I rolled my eyes, pointing to my eyes

"The section you picked it from was... erm, 'Heavy Romance', and I was kinda surprised you just waltz right down that section, a number of shoppers were too," I replied with a smug grin, seeing her face slowly turn up in temperature

Yui let out a high-pitched whimper that bugged my ears, then she covered her face with her hood, burying her face into the fabric as she seemed visibly smaller after I blinked, chuckling a little at her reaction. Yui's got a thing for smut, never thought I'd see the day.

"You know, your depth perception sucks, surprised the rest of the novels didn't tip you off." For a Treasure Hunter, I thought that'd be obvious

"Nu-huh." She shook her body side-to-side, planting her head against my torso in a vain attempt to hide herself from the world

"Are you going to stop using me as a shield?" She shook her head, and I resisted the urge to glance in fear of others watching us. "...Okay, fine, shall we go someplace else?"

"Uh-huh." Her head bobbed up and down against my fur, and with my arm around her head, I tugged her along, only letting her collide with a lamppost to get her to walk straight, but not once did she let go of me. As odd and embarrassing as this was, she was too adorable to be left for the world to swallow her whole.

The walk wasn't far, just until we were far enough away from the shop and from people as I set her down on a bench overlooking Ponyville from a risen plot of land, it was a nice view, but Yui was still unable to tug her hood down.

With a stare, I smirked, "Yui, you can return from the azure lands now."

"Nope. I think I'll stay in here forever until history forgets about me." Doubtful. With my right paw, I threw the hood back, revealing the puppy-dog eyes that soon turned mortified. "Let me hide...~"

"Now you're being dramatic, so what if you like smut -- I'm into romance but you don't see me preaching my love to every girl I walk by, not that anyone could understand me," You see this? Books can be dangerous

"I-It's just I think it adds a certain level of realism is all... but w-what if he thinks I like this stuff!? W-W-What if I'm given, ugh, recommendations!?" Yui waved her hooves frantically, as though swatting away the images

Again I pinched my nose. "Yui, again, stop overthinking this. Judging someone based on what they read is literally like 'judging a book by its cover', I mean for God's sake I'm a perfect example!" I preached, her eyes lifting to me. "I mean sure, I've got all these great powers and the months I've spent here have been amazing! But... without this form, these gifts..." I looked away, "I'm... not much of anything, I'm a shut-in at times, and utterly ordinary, heck, I'm fine with normality," That then lifted a small smile. "That's why you're amazing because your life is never normal, it's filled with experiences unlike any other."

Her eyes widened a little, and her expression was starting to come around. "I... that's true I guess? But you don't have to be abnormal to be amazing, you know," Wait what? "I like you the way you are, so don't change because you feel pressured to, okay?" Now it was me left uncertain of what to say, so instead, I cleared my throat

"Not the point," I stopped her from continuing. "Point is, you like the book and you have your reasons, end of story -- No pun intended."

Her wing them patted her bag. "I also got a gift too... for my brother."

Interesting, "Why's that?"

Her smile softened. "I want... to go home, for a few days that is..." Wonder why? The times she brought up her family I was under the impression she felt unwelcomed due to her brother and father's demanding of her involvement with the Royal Guard? "Sure, things... haven't been the smoothest, but seeing you and your friends, your sister interact after being months apart, I realized that if I spent so long hooked on the past I might end of regretting it someday," She sat upright, eyes brimming with determination. "So my next journey is to visit them!"

I nudged her, "Heh, guess I was good for something after all," Shame... soon we'd be parting ways... I'll be on the road alone again, without Yui's banter, joy for treasure, or just her smile. Holding a poker face I continued matter-of-factly. "And since you've been such a big girl today, I... got us something for the occasion."

The moment came crashing down, Yui puffed out her cheeks. "Stop acting like I went to the doctor's or something!"

"Never gonna happen -- now here," I fished around in my backpack, having abandoned Yui immediately after being given my cut to find a place selling these, and fresh might I add... lots of bloody Bits for these so here's to my observation on our journey through the Everfree

I saw the look of confusion warp and widen into surprise as I held out a small box, opening it to reveal the still partially warm chocolate-chip cookies from a bakery nearby, half had strawberries mixed in while the other half were just chocolate. Hers cost me, being made of rare imported ingredients from what Pinkie told me, don't know how she can understand me but I'm convinced she's a Forth Dimensional being at this point.

"Oh, My Gosh...! Strawberry-Chip-Cookies! I heard these's are expensive to buy from Sugarcube Corner! But how!? When!? Where!?" Holding back the box from her drooling expression I held a neutral but relaxed face

"I told you before, I'm glad it was you I ran into when I first got here," Exhaling through my nose I continued. "So a gift for my best friend, so... here, I guess."

"But... but they cost a fortune!!" She blinked between me and the box. "You didn't have to..."

I'm not doing this back-and-forth BS with her. "...Usually when refusing a gift one doesn't typically latch onto said gift like a leech."

Yui blinked, having noticed her vice-like grip before chuckling nervously. "Hehe, hunger?"

"Sure," I handed the box to her as she flicked the box open with bright crimson eyes, already picking one out to bite down half in a single chomp. Her cheeks flushed as she squealed at the taste, a visible shiver running up her back

"These are sooooo good~! I wish I had some milk though!" Maybe if she didn't devour them she'll have some left. Taking out one of the strawberry ones, I snapped it in half, savoring the taste. "Mmm~! I haven't tasted anything so amazing in years!"

I nodded with her, my body shivering at the sweetness, how long has it been since I've tried something so unbelievably sweet? And with someone no less? "They certainly were worth the wait... but maybe a little too late -- Jesus, Pinkie is beyond amazing."

"Agreed!" Yui munched another before her expression brightened. "Oh-oh-oh, we should bake our own sometime! Put your skill in cooking and my keen sixth sense for fine details together I bet we'd create something even Pinkie herself would find surprising!"

That... didn't sound like a bad idea. I certainly haven't done baking in a while, not that I'm bad but a little rusty, doubt we could outmatch Pinkie but hey if there's a chance I wouldn't mind at all.

"If we have time... sure," I didn't see an issue with that, but I did snag the box from Yui before she could eat anymore. "Not to be that guy, and I will be, try not to give yourself a stomach ache like last time."

Her face froze while stammered a blush. "I-I thought you forgot about that!?"

"Nope." I smiled slyly, her hooves desperately trying to take back the box as cartoonish tears fell from her eyes. "Not going through that mess again... and the Timberwolves, ouch."

"Come on, Zen, I'm super duper sorry~! I'll be careful, promise~!"

I patted my chest, looking to her while deadpanning. "Aura, remember?" She froze, then continued to complain

"Waaaah... you jerrrk...!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Another sweet chapter between the duo as decisions meet with uncertainty. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 14 - Promise
Zen feels the ruby drawing him toward his next destination, but before he can answer, he and Yui share a final adventure, both uncertain of what lies ahead.

Chp. 14 - Promise

My feet stood a few inches from the water, a thick mist hung low to the floor of the forest that chirped and reverberated off itself mysteriously. Dark red walls lined a sharp incline from the deep body of water that sloshed against the bank.

"Where... am I?" My voice didn't echo at all, almost suppressed by the ambient sounds that swished around me, and a strange, soothing melody played in tune with the wind as I stared into the forgotten architecture looming over me. "What is this place...?"

The chorus struck with a twang of harp strings, even though no other person was present, but they vibrated inside my chest, pulling at my soul as a sweet, angelic voice followed the tune, humming and singing in tangent with the forest's orchestra.

Words are born into air

And quickly fade out in the wind

But they find their way inside you

Where they live on forevermore

When the skies are dark and full of rain

Look inside you heart

A light, so warm and all aglow

Shining just like the sun

You can see. just how much you've grown, how strong you are

A love will open up to you

And it starts from the day that you

First heard those words

My eyes finally fixed to a small island across the from the bank, sat there in complete isolation was a small, pink pony with her eyes closed, but younger I think, with a long, white mane that faded into shades of pink and yellow down to the tips, a light blue bow pinned to the left side of her mane.

As she finished humming the song that had simply enchanted me on the spot, her eyelids fluttered, revealing a set of big, bright blue eyes, at first they were startled by me, as though they had never laid eyes on a person before, then she smiled, the mist overtaking her and me.

I reminisced on the dream that refused to vanish from my subconscious, it was vivid, even now as I watched ponies go about their day, I could still hear the song play in my eardrums. That dream... it was similar somehow... maybe it's linked to the ruby? Is it trying to lead me toward the next objective? This constant line of questions yielded no results say for a gut feeling. Maybe it's time to get everything ready to leave, got to plan accordingly, let the others know too, especially if by the end of this I can send them home again, hopefully with Taka's kid too. I smirked, Trinity could probably sort that issue out, hopefully.

"Oh, Zen!" Drawing me away from endless questioning, my one-winged companion skipped up to me, adjusting her hood sheepishly. Yui was fidgeting slightly, strange, but this is Equestria, nothing I've seen has remotely resembled 'normal'. "Listen-Listen-Listen, I found a place that looked like it might not have been dug up -- Back in that ruined castle," Interesting, I then waved my paw

"Aaaand..." She held a mirthless smile

"'And', the problem is, there's an alarming number of not-so-dusty traps in my way, even when I tried to sneak past the final leg of the chamber this... golem became active."

That did tickle my interest, "Sounds like a classic treasure hunt," I grinned giddily. "I'm sold!"

"Really!? Oh, that's such a relief..." Yui visibly relaxed a little

"Lead the way, my friend." I stepped aside and bowed jokingly as she passed, the two of us could handle a few traps no problem. Yui then walked with three legs, her left hoof holding up her journal while the wing flicked the pages. The detailings of a doorway with interesting runes carved into stone, then there were the translated details and other points of interest Yui had jotted down

"Buried under a mound of rock I spotted a black obelisk," Yui explained, flicking the page to suits of pony armor. "I managed to uncover a hidden door leading to a room filled with these very unwelcoming suits of armor, they'd attack if we were to touch them, but I didn't until 'after' that golem appeared and I accidentally stumbled into one."

"How charming," I added, although, Yui's aura was very peculiar today, swaying emotions and a clouded mind, must be alot on her mind but the emotional aspect is comparable to that of anxiety. Tapping her shoulder I saw her eye through her hood, mane covering the left again. "Yui, you okay?"

Suddenly, Yui became ridged again, immediately avoiding eye contact. "Ah, yeah, just... w-well, have alot to think about -- Next adventure, new ruins to explore," Yui was clearly having a mental breakdown. "Really, I'm fine! I just wanted to conquer on last spelunking adventure t-together."

"Uhh, sure... gives me something else to rub in Taka's face," Petty but that is our life. I'll refrain from pushing the subject for now, but something's bugging Yui, and I have a bad feeling it's me

"Let me in!! LET ME IIIIIIN!!" My paws frantically pounded on the door, squeezing through the gap as Yui pushed it flush up against the wall, my back sliding down the cool, rugged surface as my chest heaved, my fur crawled and I twitched at every minuscule sound made. "Grah feels like they're all over me! There's none left right!?"

Yui herself held a hoof close to her muzzle, cheeks puffed out to stifle her giggling as she cleared her throat. "Y-yes, they're all gone... pfft, I-I didn't take you for a guy to be afraid of spiders." My cheeks crawled with a hot flush as I did my best to calm down, glaring daggers at the mare

"They're nothing more then hellspawn that crawl about in your blindspots, up your back and bite you in your sleep... ugh, no-no, bad thoughts." I shivered. My ear twitched, so I jabbed a claw her way. "Stop laughing!"

"I-I'm not... hehehe, s-sorry," Yui shook her head, coughing once. "Right, let's move on," I second that

We were standing in an abandoned chapel of some kind, the stone a light grey with large, stained windows brimming with blue light coming from somewhere, I sensed the familiar presence of magic, whatever the case it brightened the large space ahead. Tilted floors of intricate patterns scuffed by metal and time. The culprits standing before us.

Ancient royal armor, cracked and rusted in spots, revealing a black emptiness underneath, shambled across in slow strides, hooves dragging across the tiles as their hollow forms slumped with each trot forward, some passed us and barely acknowledged our presence.

"Over there," Yui poked her hoof through the crowd to a blank wall to our far right. "The doorway is hidden between those two pillars."

I was willing to strike them down, but I've never dealt with creatures made of just magic, for all I know they could easily reassemble. A hoof tapped my stomach, and I noted Yui's slumped body. "Just follow me," She murmured, eyes and ears flicking to the predetermined routes of the vacant suits of armor. Without a word, I stuck close to her tail and carefully ghosted her movements.

We waited a moment for two Knights to pass by, their slow, rattling movements echoed down the halls, but they didn't care for our intrusion at all, jogging past them, we moved to the left to avoid another, my paw snatching my tail away from the ankle of a Knight. A hoof pressed to my stomach again, and my foot slipped, I caught myself with Yui under me, her head just below my chin as we stared up at three motionless Knights inches from our snouts. Holding my breath momentarily, their heads craned to observe their surroundings.

Yet my heart sank at the sight of one Knight now staring back at us, a pair of white eyes glowering from within the helmet. My blood ran cold as I felt Yui tense under me, if that thing decided to attack us we'd end up with more than a dozen of these cursed suits atop us.

"If we moved now, it might agro, and that includes the other, twenty or so Knights around us, not good," My voice tickled Yui's ear, her head slowly nodding, but she titled back, eye locked to mine

"Hold me closer," She requested, and I blinked, feeling a little conflicted as the stomps of the Knight increased with each second. "Do it, hurry."

"R-Right." Sucking in my embarrassment I pulled Yui against my chest, her muzzle tickling my neck as I refrained from gulping, She shuffled about in my arms, and from within her bag, her wing flicked out a light-blue opal inscribed with a crescent moon. I didn't protest as she dropped the opal and crushed it under a hoof, the dust glimmering under us

My ear flicked at her warm voice. "Antumbra." The shattered opal reacted, and a strange, silvery veil encompassed us both, and my jaw unhinged slightly as our bodies became almost entirely translucent, say for a faint, silver outline of our body and facial features

Slowly, the Knight began to shamble mere inches from us, forcing my heart rate to soar as I balled my fist up, only for Yui to gently break it apart with her hoof, a silvery smile on her muzzle. Instead, we watched with our breaths held as the eyes drew uncomfortably close to my snout. "Somehow, fighting spiders doesn't sound so bad." Yui could only nod carefully

The Knight turned, hooves dragging its form away, the other two diverging. There was an opening and immediately we broke into a mad dash for the smooth surface. Our bodies collided with the wall as we released a heavy breath. That strange, silver veil fizzled into nothingness before my very eyes. "What was..."

"Magic," Yui answered simply, dusting her hoof off with a sly smile. "Unicorns think they're the only ones that manifest magic?" I just blinked dumbly, Yui brushing a hoof over her hood. "My findings were veeeery fortuitous, from old summoning spells to catalyst magic, the world of Equestria has many forgotten forms of magic, the one I just used is connected to the primal source of Moon Magic."

Again, I just blinked. "You used a concealment spell..." Yui nodded, tapping her hoof against the stone bricks, eyes squinted. "...You're amazing..."

"Huh? You say somethin'?" Her concentrated look passed over me, and I merely rolled my eyes at her obliviousness

"Lucario." She slowly turned back to poking many stone bricks that slid back into the blank canvass, muttering 'Rock' and 'Stone' over-and-over until a low click and grind of the bricks rattled within the walls.

The illusion of a wall dissolved, bricks folded backward, revealing a black iron door before us. I, of course, made an 'Ooooh' in awe. Slowly, Yui placed her hoof to the door, hearing the loud groan and snap of the rusted bolts moving. The next lair of this undiscovered chamber revealed itself, and a wave of isolation poured down onto my aura.

Standing center-stage in a large, box-shaped room was the massive, stone-trick golem, a sapphire core for an eye and joint between the cubic waist and pillar-carved legs. A dark-blue flame hissing across its ancient, mossy form. The very arms themselves were built like clubs or the very pillars ripped from the base.

"Let me guess..." I poked a paw toward the looming golem. "Big guy?" Yui nodded, both our heads tilted to the hallway shadowed behind it. "And there's the goods."

"Let's stay focused," Yui muttered, then that same level of sorrow washed over her, my ears picking up on her sigh. "Sorry, I'm not much help..."

A slightly chuckle left my lips, "Don't worry about it," Ruffling her hood against her mane I saw her blink as I took it upon myself to approach the immovable guardian, a thumb raised back to her. "I'm your sword in this case,"

Reacting immediately to my intrusion, the golem's body curved back slightly, left arm folded back and in a flash, the tiles underneath my feet shattered, my eyes bulged for a moment at how sudden the assault was. Diving down both feet kicked up-off the top as I landed behind it, So this thing's faster than it looks, keeping that tabbed...

"Bone Rush!" Raising my voice the golem's left arm narrowly skimmed the aura staff with cracks of sapphire through the joints, the club swung through the empty air, a torrent of wind tearing up into the ceiling. I flanked the lumbering golem, striking across the backs of the knees, hastily tracing the slant again with a twirl, snapping my staff across the edge of the torso, the strike chipping the large guardian as it swung both arms down to crush me so I slid between the legs, swiping both feet again

Pressing my paw to the floor I allowed a wave of chilling ice to ripple across the tiles, freezing the legs in place momentarily, the torso swaying in vain to free itself. While certainly quick to attack it still had to drag all that weight around on two stubby legs, that gave me the agility advantage. Abruptly, the golem's flames flickered and gathered prominently around both arms, the second I got within a few feet of it, the body pivoted on the sapphire orb connected at the waist

The entire torso spun around like a whirlwind of stone, the updraft created a funnel of blue flames and I immediately recoiled from the burns that scorched my fur. That was unexpected so I never thought to raise a barrier but now I'm starting to see why Lucarios are weak to fire, holy... grah, that smarts!

"Zen!" Yui was worried, and I don't blame her, no monster I've faced has utilized my weakness, I'd be lying if I said this wasn't worrying, but I may have an inkling of an idea toward its weakness

"Yui! How's this thing moving around!?" I glanced sharply while avoiding another two thrusts of those arms, noting her somewhat perplexed expression. "Like... its power source, what kind of magic is it -- Do you know!?"

"I, um, m-maybe?" I looked to her with a fearful expression, seeing her scour her journal. "Give me a minute!" Her wing flicking through page-after-page was very indicative of that

The golem slowly stomped his way toward her, her eyes too fixed on her notes to realize. Discarding my staff I smacked both fists off each other, a crackling flurry of ice crystals and bolts of blue lightning and I flew across the chamber's floor. With a kick and spin, I drove my right hook first, followed immediately by the left backhand, the two arcs of elemental currents froze behind the golem, sparks of electricity breaking the ice apart as I backed away from a spinning club-strike.

"Not gonna lie Rocky you stepped in the wrong ring!!" I froze mid-Aura-Sphere summon. "Yeah, that makes sense," Conjuring two I bounced both to blindside the golem, a plume of smoke and chips of stone blown away by another powerful cyclone of those arms, the dust and debris blinding me slightly

"Zen! Got it!" With a bright smile, Yui ran across the chamber toward the hallway. "The orbs are a form of construct summon magic, those orbs are meant to work autonomously for centuries," To emphasize she punched her hooves forward. "Strike the central orb and that should reduce it to rubble again!"

"You're the best, Yui!" I flashed a grin and slid across the floor, spinning on my heel as my right heel dug into the floor, my arms low, the shadows starting to bubble and drip a dark purple smog. Time for my new hat trick. "Shadow Claw!" Hunching over my claws grew larger, a veil of dark purple and grey coating my paws as I dived forward with a malice grin

Responding, the golem charged toward us, shaking the ground with each quaking step. I held my body low, sucking in a breath as I observed the right arm bending backward, each second was critical to my next move, if I messed this up I might need more than Life Dew to pry me from the walls. Exhaling, the arm swung low, tearing apart the ground as my left claw sunk through the stone, my body bending up and around the base of the club.

Pushing downward I curved my body so that my right claw tore across the orb's face, and I felt the magic pull at the intrusion of the phantom paw. This very attack forced the golem into a state of sporadic twitches, the magic crackling across the weathered stone, and my chance was lighting up before me. Stomping down with my left, I bent my body to the side, lifting my right leg back as a pure white aura gathered at the sole of my foot.

"Mega... Kick!!" The sharp strike shattered the orb, and the form the construct took was reduced to dust particles, pulverizing by the time the remains landed in the ground or wall, the last clap of an impact reverberating around us while I lowered my leg again, flexing my toes. "Nailed it."

"Remind me never to be on the receiving end of any of your attacks," Yui remarked, her wing curved to me as I reciprocated with a fist bump to the leathery appendage

"Duly noted."

"This tome of Trinity's is... amazing!" I gushed over the pages with glee. "So many types are at my disposal, even fire, and fire is my weakness!" The irony isn't lost on me, however, I did deflate. "Sucks the skills won't transfer when I'm back home, hrm... maybe Trinity could help with that?" Is that abusing a God's blessing? Maybe? I see no harm in asking next time

Yui stuck close to my right as we delved further into the empty halls in search of treasure.

"You were amazing with or without those abilities, I should know, they've saved my flank numerous times." Yui complimented forcing me to scratch the back of my head

"You think so? Thanks, same to you," Her head bobbed

"Sure," Hmm... again with that aura, maybe I should ask her-- "Oh, hey! Look-Look!" Her eye brighten ahead of us, and I caught on to why, sitting alone at the end of the hall was a small, red chest with brass plating decorating the box

I sat down with my legs cross, Yui sitting before the lid with a furrowed brow. "Hmm, the chest's lid is trapped..." At that moment, I shuffled away to sit behind the Bat-Pony

"For the love God, tell me it's not a Mimic?" That memory will forever haunt me in my nightmares

"No, it's just got a basic trap rigged to it, so it shouldn't be a big deal." Her nonchalant tone clearly meant she's dealt with far worse, and I'm inclined to take her word for it. My pat to her back caused her to jump, losing that stoic expression

"Well then, I'll leave this to the Treasure Hunter," My assurance met a silent nod, her focus returned, a lockpick between her teeth with a tool twisting with gentle flicks of her wing, clicks of varying tensions rattled within the confines of the mechanism

"I've worked with many elaborate traps and types of locking mechanisms before and at times I can tell what kind of adjustments to make at a glance, that's my gift or one of them I suppose..." To add to this claim I anxiously glanced at her flank to notice the lack of a mark the ponies had, I'm sure Bat-Ponies could earn them, and I imagined Yui's would be something akin to her treasure hunting profession. "Even without a mark, I have... a sort-of sense for exploration, and the skills I've picked up over the time I've spent on the road has taught me many things, even if received my mark someday, that won't change who I am now,"

I just... wow, I knew her passion for this line of work was already amazing, and her abilities over the time we've spent together has been... enrapturing to observe, but this was... really something to hear. "I... I'm--" A click and my mouth shut itself with a faint flicker of embarrassment, What am I saying...? Why was I...?

Her expression brightened again. "Ah-hah! Done!"

"Always a good day when the chest doesn't decide to loot you." The remark earned me a jab to my side as her smile grew, hooves fishing into the chest like a child

"Hm-hm-hm, kind of treasure are you? A weapon or accessory, maybe..." Her cute smile was met with her hoof procuring what looked like a pristine, silver ring with an amethyst center infused to the metal, the gem filling the middle of the ring beautifully. "Amazing...!"

"That looks extremely rare..." I too awed at the sight of the treasure, strange how it was the only thing to be held within the chest, but if something like this had two rooms of guardians than it must be valuable

"I already explained what I love about my job, but this always gives me butterflies," She smiled gently. "I feel like I'm part of an adventure book." We infiltrated ancient ruins, passed a chamber filled with old guards and fought a guardian of this treasure, I'll admit, there was something far more exciting about this than having to face down terrifying beasts all the time, and with a spunky partner

"Hmm, cute for an adventurer..." Why did I just say that out loud...? To Yui of all people -- Ponies -- doesn't matter!?

"Huh, what did you say?" Now I had her complete attention. Turning to avoid her eyes catching my mortified expression I waved my arm

"Nothing of concern! Another one of my morbid quips you hate for some reason!" Please work. Please work. Please work!

Her pout mingled with a smile. "You humans are weird?"

"Hey there kettle, pot calling to say your black." If my deadpan look wasn't a dead giveaway then that certainly was as her eye blink, a hoof to her chin

"Okay, yeah that's fair." That was when her lips curled into a sly grin, hoof nudging my chest. "As you say, 'Level with me', what else am I besides, 'Cute'?" Oh right... bat sense of hearing

Slapping a paw to my face I dragged it down with a pout. "Since when did you grow immune to being flustered?"

"I didn't, I wear a hood." She admitted, and I noted a lighter shade on her own face, then she giggled. "You know what, Zen? You're pretty cute yourself when you get all flustered like that." At that moment, Yui broke into a fit of laughter as I continued to fall into my pout, arms crossed

"Karma is my life apparently... " I grunted, noting that a separate hall led its way toward a light breeze, huh, must be a nearby entry into this place from the Everfree

"Here," I turned back to see the ring flying through the air as I quickly snatched it before hitting the ground. "I don't exactly have a necklace or claws to put it on, so you have it, a token of our bond." Yui winked, trotting toward the entry beside us as I examined the ring then peered to her

"I mean, you are the one who both found and collected this, you should keep it." I tried to offer it back, but Yui shook her head, pushing my claws closed to hold it tightly

"Yeah, but I don't really need it. You take it, seriously." She insisted, "...as a goodbye gift too..." Now that I heard

"What was that?" I held out the ring a slowly placed it on the rightfully named digit, noting it felt... right, even if my chest started to swell with her storm of emotions that started to gather

"Nothing, I just... wanted to give you a gift for e-everything..." She slowly made her way down the hall, the flora and earth already starting to chip away at this place from the outside as grass overtook stone in places. This had to stop, I need to know what's wrong

With a calm expression, I stopped moving. "Yui... what's wrong?" She stopped too, refusing to face me. "You've been like this for a few days now... I didn't want to pry because I felt that was out of line but... I'm worried--"

"You shouldn't be, I don't want to talk about it." Her voice raised a little, head shaking slowly

"But I--"

"Just... stop, otherwise you'll wish that golem slapped you into a wall." Ouch, this was a new side to Yui, she's usually more open. And I used to be a severe introvert with anger issues. Books and covers. This pool of emotions, guilt, anger... loneliness -- Dammit, am I really this big of an idiot? No wonder she's angry. "Let's go back already--"

"This about me going back to my world, isn't it?" Again, her body went rigid, and a silent gasp was all I needed to come to my conclusion. With a hurtful face for my ignorance, I continued with a heavy heart. "I... never even asked you how you felt about it... heh, some friend I am. I get it now, I--"

"How can you get it!?" She spun right around, and... was crying, I... made her cry. Now that pit in my chest only constricted. "You'll be home with your family and friends again! And how I feel... the time I spent with you will just disappear!" She bit her lip. "Call me selfish, but... I'm so scared! Because I'll lose someone very important to me."

Not everything in the world was as easy as mine. I had a loving family, my amazing sister, three irreplaceable friends. Yui ran from her home, was ridiculed for her lack of a second wing, felt like an outcast before her own brother and dad, and has been alone for ages. When I leave, when its all over, Yui will be right back where she started.

"I ran away two years ago... they wouldn't let me pursue anything other than their stupid 'Lunar Guard', and all the taunting was just... aggravating! Sure, I've had fun but... it's just me," Her head was low, hood hiding her eyes as tears dripped to the ground. I wanted to say something... but what? What can I say right now, what should I say? "Then I met you, you helped me, laughed with me, comforted me... I... I don't want you to go away..."

Biting my own lip, I stepped forward, arm reaching out for her, I needed to tell her, she had the right to know. "Yui... I, I... w-wait!" She ran for the outside, and I felt my back slide against the icy surface of the hall, paw covering my eyes as I tried to remain calm. Go after her you idiot, find her before she falls from your reach too! I punched the wall. "I need to reach her... for good this time." Painfully, I heaved myself off the wall and slowly shambled my way out of the overgrown hallway

It didn't take long to find her; Sitting by a crumbled support that overlooked a bank facing a lake, concealed by the treeline and shadow of this ancient relic. Yui shifted at my footsteps, tucking her hood down while trying to make herself as small as possible. "Just leave me alone, please... I don't want you to see me like this!" Her head turned away, even while I sat down with a small smile, hiding away my guilt easily

"I don't care if you're crying, I'm right here--" She shoved my paw away, trotting up toward the rim of the lake. She turned to face me, distraught and tightening her wing to her hood

"...I'm a mess..." Doubtful

"Hardly," I stepped closer but Yui once again pulled away, facing the water and her scowling reflection

"I am! And you won't be here for long... because there are all those rifts out there you need to fix..." She scratched her hoof with the other. "I'm just a liability and I hate that! It's like everything I ever try to build in my life is torn away the moment I have it... I get so lost, angry that I'm powerless to do anything!"

I rolled my eyes. "That's not true, you think I got here, made it this far alone without your help?" I asked, but she refused to look at me

"I threw a few trinkets and one spell... I hardly call that 'help'?" Yui muttered back with venom. "How can I possibly do anything against monsters with the power over nature, who... who can conjure storms and level buildings!?" She slumped, tucking her legs closer to her body. "I'm useless to you..."

That was enough for me. Frowning myself I peered at her reflection. "Shut up." My callous response caught her by surprise, and I finally made eye-contact with her

"What?" I didn't relent at her perplexed face, kneeling beside her

"Just shut up, you're talking nonsense!" I waved my arms out like it were obvious. "Look, hear me out -- You are too good a person to feel this way about yourself," Her eyes hardly looked convinced, but I tugged her head back to look at me directly. "I know that better than anyone else, and you should know that too."

With an honest smile, I patted her shoulder, "You have more courage and a bigger heart than you know," I motioned to the world. "You weren't gifted with powers or advantages, but you never let that stop you, there wasn't a person alive that could derail your ambitions or tell you 'you can't'. That's what makes you powerful." Now her expression was changing, perplexed but... dumbfounded with each word I spoke, and that only grew, and it was all true, every word

I then added with a claw poking at her chest. "And besides you're like a hundred times cooler than me," That got a single laugh from her. "You see? You know yourself it's true!" With her sat before me I continued softly, tugging her hood down to let her mane free. "You're smart, fast, you can see things no normal person could, and you're beautiful," That last part froze her expression, eyes flooding with too many emotions to finely pinpoint. "You're kind, that... that's what makes you... you, Yui."

Here we go and breathe. "Yui, if I can, by some leap in logic, I'll do everything I can to ask Trinity to allow you to come back with me," Her eyes hesitated at that with shock. "And... if that's out of the basket... then I'll ask her to send my friends home, Taka's kid too, and I'll stay here."

"...w-why...?" Her voice was shaken, and I didn't blame her, considering this now and with more clarity was alot to bare, but I didn't care right now, this was my promise to my partner, to Yui

I chuckled. "It's a whole 'nother world teeming with magic, mythical beasts and so many wondrous places to explore! It's everything anyone with a thrill for adventure could dream of..." I scratched my cheek. "And now, a world without you doesn't feel as exciting, without my partner... my sense of adventure wouldn't feel as complete."

For a far too lengthy pause, I just... couldn't look away, her lilac eyes remained in focus, even as I felt the details of her face freeze in the frame. My heart was still pounding away in my chest, had any sense of logic clouded my mind I may have tripped over my words or questioned my motive, but, I didn't care, this was the undeniable truth, and I won't just fake ignorance this time.

Gently, Yui leaned in, her head tilted forward. And for a second, a sweet taste unlike any I could place rested against my lips. With a faint breath, she leaned back, eyes heavy, then they widened as mine remained frozen in shock. "I... I um, t-that... that's wasn't what I was... uh, t-trying to--" Her hoof tugged my scarf hard, my muzzle brushing against hers, eyes soft with a hint of mirthful ire

She rolled them, "...Just, shut up... you jerk..."

"What?" I blinked, and once again though with more tenderness her lips pressed to mine without any warning, and I... closed my eyes for that moment, a delightful shiver coursing down my spine as I let my right arm rest around her back. The two of us pulled away, and... I remember... that dream months prior to the events that turned my life completely on its head. I smiled warmly. "...I'm fine with this..."

She giggled. "That's good to know," Her voice whispered faintly

At her action, little by little I leaned in, second-guessing lost to the sweetness that pressed to my lips again. Her own pushed back just as forceful, I raised my free paw to her cheek, holding it as we angled ourselves to push deeper into the action. It was certainly an experience I had never felt before, following Yui's inexperience with my own movements as we fell deeper into the kiss. Our faces were burning but I didn't care, this was too blissful to give up.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

The longest chapter to date and perfect since the story topped 100 likes, which is a first for my projects, probably because I never finish them -- Besides the point, thank you, and I'm really happy you're all enjoying my little adventure! Still, this was a chapter I had planned for a while. I really hope the ending was enjoyable and the payoff was good for all of you, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 15 - Fly You Fools
Zen speaks among the Counsel of the Pokemon, as visitors arrive with the sole purpose of acquiring Zen and Yui.

A/N: The song, in the beginning, is this here:

Chp. 15 - Fly You Fools

[No POV]

Among the pristine halls of the capital of Equestria, Canternlot. One of the Royal Guards, and right-hoof of Captain Armor, moved at a steady pace through the halls, passing patrols with a somewhat wary step as she neared the throne room with a report sent directly from Ponyville, she hadn't any clue why such an urgent message was required but after reading... and re-re-rereading the letter the oddity became far more apparent as she shoved one of the large doors wide, thankfully there were no meetings taking place before the two sisters.

"C-Captain -- ahem, sir!" She adjusted her posture while levitating the scroll out from her saddlebag, the Captain moving away from the Princesses to address his companion, and while she was composed, the far more frazzled state of her honeycomb mane was evident. "Sorry to interrupt but this is urgent -- and no, it's not to do with nobles, thank goodness..." The last part Shining Armor picked up on with a smile

"I see, thank you, Topaz," He undid the already broken seal, the two sisters watching the interaction in silence as Armor's expression slowly creased with a critical eye to every word, and Topaz herself whistled silently at what she knew wouldn't bode well. "Another attack? Were there any injuries?"

"None, surprisingly given the storm and the fires, but those creatures I heard rumors of living there helped... I think?" Her brow raised, then she shrugged. "I dunno, report never mentioned them."

Armor sighed with relief but turned to face the Princesses. "Princess Celestia, my sister mentioned those 'Creatures' before, right?"

Celestia smiled fondly at the many letters she received of their arrival. "That she has, rather fascinating creatures from the Everfree, and their abilities and biology are unlike any in recorded history, perhaps the first of their kind as she's stated in... hmm, 'dramatic fashion'?" That knowing smile eased the tension in the room as Luna pipped up

"I have also investigated their dreams, very peculiar too, most depict bipedal beings roughly our size, sort of similar to monkeys... but other than that everything was relatively within the confines of the Dream Realm." The creatures, 'Pokemon', were very abnormal but from Twilight's reports the sisters agreed they were more akin to a blessing than a danger to Ponykind, say for one Twilight called 'Taka' as she had a tendency to lose her temper often

Celestia then realized something else. "Shining?" He and Topaz brought their eyes to the monarch again. "There is one, in particular, that has my dear student in a bind in terms of her findings, to be blunt, this new Pokemon hasn't gotten off on a good hoof with your sister." That immediately raised red flags in Armor's eyes

"What? Is Twily okay!?" Celestia raised a hoof to calm him

"She's fine what I mean is that the two haven't seen eye-to-eye as this one has the ability to project the thoughts of himself and others, enabling speech, and after a dispute over her methods in gathering information from the other Pokemon this one warned her rather aggressively, of course, she has since then seen his reasons and the two are slowly mending their relationship," This news was a mixed bag of emotions for Armor, he was glad his sister was unharmed, but the way it sounded this Pokemon was indeed more than a prone to acts of aggression. "I too have received reports of dangerous monsters invading Ponyville, and these Pokemon have done nothing but act as guardians."

Armor's stoic face lightened. "What are you implying Princess?" This time, Luna spoke up, while Topaz stood back, enjoying the latest drama in the world outside of Canternlot

"We wish to have an audience so-to-speak, with this Pokemon capable of telepathy, perhaps we can then determine their origins and reasons for defending our subjects so diligently," Celestia agreed with her sister

"But under no circumstances are any of our guards to act without giving a proper reason to them, which is why I wished to know if you would allow Topaz to handle the summons?" This request forced the daydreaming mare out of her stupor as she flicked her head back and forth, then poked a hoof at her chestplate

"M-Me? Are you sure, Princess?" She had no issue with this but... this seemed a little important, something up Captain Armor's street

"If the Princesses hold as much confidence in you as I do," Armor turned to pat her shoulder with a stern smile. "Then you should go, after all, I know better than anypony else how you hate dealing with noble idiots all the time."

Topaz grinned sheepishly, scratching her neck. "You have a way with words, Captain... it's true, okay then!" She bowed her head. "I'll get together a few guards myself and proceed to Ponyville immediately!"

Celestia smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you, Topaz, I wish you luck. I will also inform Twilight of this summons." Then she turned her gaze to Armor. "Shining Armor, tell me, how have the investigations in the Badlands come along?" This next topic brought the mood back to a solemn stance, and Armor looked almost... disturbed

With a disappointed sigh, he rubbed his mane. "Fruitless, Princess; We still cannot identify what has caused so much destruction at the edges of the Badlands, and it's growing by the day, soon it may very well disrupt the ecosystem in the surrounding forests and jungles," His eyes then lit up. "Oh, there was one discovery made by the Night Guard during one of their patrols!"

"Really?" This was a hopeful update, with the increase in rifts lately, she wouldn't be surprised if whatever caused this destruction came from one of them. "And what was this discovery?"

He paused for a moment. "It's... well, among some charred earth within the Badlands, they noticed a dark shadow soar high above the rare few clouds that passed over the area so they lost sight of whatever it was, but they recovered a single, almost rubbery scale."

"The dragons?" Luna blinked, and her sister nodded at the perplexing news. "The dragons are an unruly bunch, but this level of chaos is unlike the Dragon Lord."

"That's the thing, Princess Luna," Their eyes met the Captain's again. "The scale, it was overflowing with an energy unlike any we've seen."

I sat up, the glare of sunlight through my window greeted me back to my hotel room, the thoughts of yesterday were a blur for a second, then I put a hand over my muzzle, feeling fuzzy at the memory, and somewhat anxious at the new experience. Guess you win this bet, Rika, you witch. Chuffing once I licked my sweet lips and hopped out of bed, hearing the commotion in the kitchen to my left

Making my way into the kitchen I spotted Yui already ahead of the game, doing my job for me. "You know, keep this up and I'll start feeling useless," My pride was on the line here. Yui turned to me, smirking with a laugh while her wing effortlessly worked on two mugs of coffee. "Someone's in a good mood?"

"Hmm, just had a good dream I suppose," She replied evenly, but her visible eye gave it all away as she spun around, pink dusting her cheeks. "Yesterday too..."

"I see," Stretching to pop my limbs I leaned back on a chair for a moment of clarity. "I've got to talk with the others about... something that's come up, nothing bad for once, what fortune!" My sarcastic sigh was paired with hers of relief. But my eyes flashed to our belongings, my smile wavering. "Yui, mind packing our stuff for the road when you get a chance?"

She turned, brow raised. "Why's that? Thought you'd atleast want a day or two more with your friends?" Her wing rubbed her chin. "Taka was going to show me something but neglected to tell Fluttershy what exactly..." Yeah, that's Taka in a nutshell, and if she planning something it's gonna hurt me, it always does.

Sitting upright I shrugged. "Just a gut feeling, trust me, better to be packed and ready for whatever life throws at us!"

Her expression considered it a moment then nodded. "Yeah, that's true, our track record isn't what some ponies may call 'normal'." We chuckled at that, then my brow creased. "What now?"

I mindlessly strolled over to grab my mug of coffee with a nod. "Hrm, nothing... my dream was weeeeird, something about... Bagel Goose? Beetlejuice? I think? What an odd name for the B52 Bomber?"

That excited a single chuff from the Bat-Pony. "Another horrid name for a monster?" Her deadpan tone was illuminating

I jabbed a finger back at her. "Hey, 'Thunder Puppy' is a good name, admit it!" She didn't admit it. "Look, that's all I got for Zinogre, and don't get me started on Barroth being Mud Pupper, Kulu is Big Bird, and Nargacuga is Eyes-Glow, what more do you want from me?"

Yui shook her head, murmuring under a breath, "...Humans..."

Finally arriving at Fluttershy's, I skimmed around the back to spot a few small animals gathered around the trees or the fence, however, four stuck out to me, five if we include the egg. The gang was gathered under a large oak tree that provided shade from the glaring sunlight with Taka resting at the base of the tree, body curled around the egg as her gaze drifted toward me as I hopped the fence.

|I made it for once!| I waved, drawing all eyes to me

|Yeah, the twenty-minute delay is very enlightening of that| The taller, and far scarier-looking Merry grumbled, arms folded

I poked a finger her way. |Aren't you supposed to be a ninja-frog or something?| She growled under her bubble scarf

|'Aren't you supposed to be a ninja-wolf or something'- that's you| She did a very horrible impression but that was a fair jab. Crossing my legs Kazu and Summer sighed as I spotted Asher appear from Fluttershy's cottage

|Oh, great, everyone's here, so we can start now?| He inquired and we all unanimously nodded. He sat between Summer and me, the Eevee sitting upright, that's when Taka's head rose with her paw

|Let the Council of the Pokemon commence!| She declared, while Asher's brow raised

|Isn't that a little derivative?| Asher's valid remark was met with her tail flicking our way

|You're exactly right! The downside is I wanted to call it the Gathering of the Eevees but Summer said that's 'Too segregating since two of us aren't Eevees'| To emphasize the quotations she flicked her paws, resting her right atop her egg

To pull us away from the title, Summer raised her paw, |Okay, so I think we should address--| Then I raised a sheepish one myself, forcing her eyes to slowly pan to mine. |What's wrong, Zen?|

My eyes rolled. |I'm being serious this time...!| I whined, clearing my throat. |Okay, this is... Okay, not easy bringing this up, give me a sec| The events involving me and Yui was... personal, but it was the matters beforehand

|Take your time, we're listening| Can always rely on Kazu's calm and steady approach to these topics, even Taka remained silent, eyes wandering with curiosity

|Right, I should probably start with my business with all these rifts and the monster manifestations...| Time to tell them everything, between the rifts and eventual way home, and... my choice -- no, the promise I made to Yui

[Zen's POV]

|Look at my bestie, putting the moves on the adorable treasure hunter!|Taka's cooing nature and swaying on my shoulder was enough to force my paw to cover my eyes, wishing this would hurry up and end. Was I happy? Yes, was I happy Taka knew? No, because now this was a thing...

|Please stop...| I pleaded for her, the others walking next to us as they left Taka to torment me, though Summer smiled warmly

|I am happy for you, but you and I know Taka's needed this out of her system| Summer was right, again

|You did tease her alot| Merry blunted stated, arms behind her head as we strolled through Ponyville, a few wondering why I was being tormented by the energized Taka who swayed on my shoulder still, nuzzling my cheek

|Face it, buddy, until you leave I'm stuck to you like glue!| Taka was very adamant about this, enough to excite a blunt brow raise from me

|Didn't take you as the cheating type, especially since he's right there| I pointed down at the Umbreon strolling to my right, ear flicked up to listen closely as we both heard Taka stutter, falling off my shoulder, flustered with a wave of her paw

|What! No-No, I wouldn't... you... you just played me...| Her exhausted stare met our knowing smirks as I high-fived his tail. With a huff, her head spun toward the girls, |You both are jerks, I hate you both|

|All's fair in love and war, right?| I inquired, Kazu nodding as his tail whipped behind my legs to flick Taka's flank, exciting a yelp from her, facing tingeing red with fury

|Yes, especially if seeing her cute flustered face is involved| Our combined laugh forced her eyes away from us, muttering incoherently under her breath as Merry patronized her by patting her back without so much as trying to hide a smug smirk

"There you six are!" A familiar voice followed by a gallop to our sides drew our attention, it was Twilight, a very frazzled Twilight who looked as though she just threw herself out a window from her bed. There was a letter rolled up in her magic as her eyes darted to me. "Zen, this is really, really bad!"

"I'm gonna wave that flag -- What could possibly be more terrifying than large monsters capable of razing a town?" That was when the scroll was slapped into my face, my claws peeling the note off as I held it down to Summer since my understanding of this language was still rather vague, her eyes narrowed, and then her ears folded back with a startled frown

|It's bad, this is stating that the Princesses have ordered the Royal Guard to retrieve you in particular, due to your ability to communicate| Okay, that could, maybe, possibly be a slight scab on the nose

|Holy Hell they're quick!| Our dread increased as we spun around to find several armored ponies walking the streets, primarily from the direction of the train station. The one leading the golden-clad ponies was more-than-likely their commanding officer. A mare with a peachy coat and honeycomb mane and tail sticking out at odd angles, revealing a set of smooth, orange eyes. Our immediate response was to act calm and allow them to approach, but if they tried to cut off the escape routes we were to flee or scare them away, at least that's the hasty plan I relayed to them without Twilight's knowledge

"Hi, you must be Twilight Sparkle, correct?" The easy-going mare inquired as Twilight nodded with a welcoming smile

"Yes, I-I assume you're the ponies sent to find Zen then?" Twilight asked in turn as the mare's eyes looked to us with awe, even some of the guards were fascinated by our appearances. "I'll introduce them. From the far left there's Asher, then Summer, followed by Merry and Taka. The tallest one is Zen, the 'wolf' I'm sure the Princesses briefed you on, and beside him is Kazu."

"So you're the Po-ke-mon--" Why do they always butcher the words? "-- Princess Celestia was talking about, the one that nearly had my Captain send a squad after you?" I'm sorry, what? Blinking, I just nodded, seeing her squeal a little. "This is awesome! Okay-Okay, focus..." She raised a hoof to me. "I'm Topaz Cut, right-hoof of Captain Armor, nice to meet you." Being gracious I shook her hoof, holding a passive smile, but I was praying my quick aura thought was passed along in time, turns out long-distance telepathy is possible but it takes considerably deeper levels of concentration

"Zen, nice to meet you," My answer caught her by surprise but nonetheless her aura was enough not to worry, they weren't here for anything more than what they've said. Rubbing my chin I asked, "So what does the Princess want with me?"

She shrugged, "She wanted to talk with you, about the rest of them and you were capable of direct communication, but that's me paraphrasing, it'll be good if you can come with us immediately but if you want to say goodbye and stuff we can wait," She leaned closer with her hoof raised to her mouth. "They got really bored on the train, I swear, one more 'Eye spy' and I'll be held accountable for throwing one of them out a window."

I did the same, flashing a fanged smile. "Duly noted." Turning back around I smiled sadly at my family, more than friends that was for sure, even Merry I could count among us given her less than fortunate arrival with us. |Guess this is goodbye for now, huh?|

Summer rolled her eyes with mirth, |You'll be back, you always had a habit of never truly staying gone for long| I feel like that was a jab. Kneeling next to her she hopped up to nuzzle my cheek. |You better come back in one piece though| Her voice was softer that time as I hugged her tightly, I was almost afraid this might be the last time I do, so I'll treasure it

|Love you, sis| I smiled warmly as her paws held my sides firmly

|Love you too| She whispered

Pulling away Taka jumped onto my shoulder a whipped me with her tail. |Don't get yourself killed, I need someone to get my jokes| We bumped fist to paw, and she hopped off. |Good luck and all that, dummy|

|I feel you need more luck than me right now, what with raising a kid and all| My remark had her hum, nodding toward Kazu who bowed his head as did I, shaking his paw

|You keep them safe -- Not that I doubt your capabilities| He chuckled at that, smiling

|I know you'd do the same, I'll look out for them all| I could always rely on Kazu, he's a humble man but never push his buttons and expect to walk away intact. Leaning over to drag the shiny Kirlia over, I saw his nervous eyes train to mine

|Stick with Summer for me, alright?| This was a far more worrisome request of mine to the nervous Asher, his eyes darting between me and her, cheeks dipping into the pink anxiously as I smiled. |I know, but I trust you bud|

|R-Really?| He almost squeaked as I patted his back

|'Course I do, you're a good person, and once you evolve into a Gallade you'll be hundreds of times stronger, count on it| I raised a supportive thumb, and that nervous aura of his flowed fiercer than before

He curled his leaf-like arms, eyes hardened, |You can count on me!| A nod and I turned to Merry, herself standing before me as we stared intensely at one another

Merry was new to our little band of misfits, but she was a good fit, sort of the jack-of-all-trades, calm, stern, mischievous, and kind under a layer of blunt honesty. We both smirked, bumping fists without a word, I'll certainly miss fighting with a fellow ninja Pokemon, but duty calls and all that. We'll have to duel next time we meet.

I stood up abruptly, clapping my paws together. "Ah, my companion is here!" All eyes were drawn to a nearby roof, Yui sitting up atop the thatch with both our bags, smiling from under her hood with a wave

"Hey, guys, sorry for the abrupt send-off but we must be on our way!" She totally rehearsed that line, that was when the royal guard took note of my words, with Topaz's expression faltering, head craned to one side

"W-wait what?" Her confusion is expected of course, even while Yui tossed my bag down for me to effortlessly slip on one arm as I swung it around to rest on my right

"Much as I'd like to meet your monarchy for a spot of tea and cake my schedule is kinda tight, erm, sorry about that, maybe we can take a rain check?" I suggested with an optimistic smile, moving with my elbows hugged to my sides my arms held outward as I strolled with my back to the wall with a slight slant

Again, Topaz and her guards looked among themselves, herself stepping past the facepalms and smirks arising from the group, Twilight looked ready to blow a blood vessel as I bent at the knees and jumped atop the roof, surprising the ponies while I lifted Yui up bridal style as she blinked, but giggled under her hood as I stated loud and proud with a slight accent.

"Gentlemen, ladies, and milady," I bowed at the last part, waving one arm high to the lot. "Remember this as the day you almost caught, Fighting Steel Lucario!!" With a gust of wind and many silver wisps gathered at my feet I sped off down the line of roofs, thatch brushing past with every footstep taken away from the guards

"Hey, w-wait, you can't -- GET BACK HERE!?!" No can do, Topaz, hope she sends my regards to Celestia

The wind flew across my face, scarf blowing in the light of day as I flew across the open air, landing upon the dirt road out of town. Farewell Ponyville, but we're going on an adventure! As my toothy grin grew with the heartbeat in my chest, the thrill of running from the law, Yui laughed against my chest, thankfully she angled herself under my spike as she leaned forward to kiss my cheek gently through the rush of the wind.

"Think that was a good idea?" She asked, but her expression clearly enjoyed it as much as I

"Nope! But the world awaits and we can't afford to waste a second of it!" I concluded, dashing over the meadows and toward the horizon stretching endlessly into the blue sky, my feet leaving the ground as we flew across the glade. Yui nuzzled my neck, eyes closed with the brightest smile I've seen to date

"Hehehe, good answer! Now let's go, my Guardian!" Her hoof shot outward while her hood blew down, freeing her mane

"Aye, Milady!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Thus we are back on the road with the duo, the reference at the end was obvious but another not so much. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 16 - MAZE of Confusion
Yui's sense of adventure leads to a discovery unlike any other the duo have come to witness.

Chp. 16 - MAZE of Confusion

"Right, so if I'm reading this map correction, which I probably am not, we should head left at the next crossroad." I stated with my claw poking at the indication on the map, then a hoof from over my shoulder turning the map around

"Right, and you were holding it upside down," Yui giggled from over my back, having decided to use me to rest her hooves for a bit. I certainly didn't mind carrying her, she was light and it's free hugs so a win-win. What I didn't like was how I've been reading Equestria on the wrong angle this whole time

"You neglected to tell this an hour ago, why...?" My brow furrowed at her smile that looked like the cat that swallowed the Canary

"Because it's cute watching you do this sort of stuff," I immediately turned my gaze back to the road, even as her muzzle nuzzled my cheek. "It is! You look like a foal discovering the world for the first time, I honestly feel kinda jealous you get that experience at your age... huh."

Keeping my eyes closed for a moment I folded the map. "I can never if those comments of yours are an insult or compliment, your tone of voice lacks change between sarcasm and amusement." No response, guess I was -- Then Yui bounced off my back. "Yah! Warning, Yui, warning when you use my body as a trampoline!"

"There's something over here, come on!" She was ignoring me in favor of her giddy curiosity that put a cat to shame. If she wasn't so enrapturing when she was like this I'd have grown to be bitter at it, but I followed too, logic overwritten with the discovery Yui made. "Hurry your butt, it's just through these trees!"

"You say 'these trees'..." My arms waved to the whole of the forest. "There. Are. Many Trees!" She dived through a bush and I sighed and followed her trail to an opening in said forest

I came to stop beside her as we faced a large pond with water unlike any I've seen. We approached the bank and stared down at the sparkling liquid, and found it to be a perfect mirror, we couldn't see the bottom but our faces were perfectly refracted off the still water, I bent down and scooped up some in my paw to drink, and like eighty percent of Earth, it was water, fresh too.

"It's a pond, a mirror-like pond, but a pond no less, Yui." But that didn't diminish her attitude, humming at the discovery while jotting something in her journal, a new page with a rough drawing already manifesting of the pond. "What are you...?"

"This is part of my journey, remember? I want to discover the lost history of Equestria, find treasures and things no other pony has laid eyes on, this happens to pique that sense of mine so it must be unique." Yui didn't sound upset by my lack of belief, but I wasn't going to question her skill, its what made her so endearing to me

The moment, much like the rippling water, was ruined.

"Hold on," She stood up again. "I need a stick to test something," I tried to call her back but she was gone by the time something in my own reflection distorted. Oh, fantastic...

*Splash!*

"-I LIIIIVE!!" Someone tackled me the second the water spat them back, the two of us rolling away from the water's edge

The two of us pushed off the other, and I came to view... my eyes shot open with my somewhat ajar mouth. It was another human, but, they were still 'human', how is that fair Trinity? He had snow-white hair, some of the curly, messy locks concealing his left eye, leaving the sharpened orange iris to stare back, dumbfounded by my appearance too, but this energy I was receiving was warning me on every level to not take my gaze off this guy, especially since he withdrew a black longsword with a chilling, white glow, cracks of the same energy dotting the blade.

I took a once-over on his appearance, a reddish-purple scarf with black lines like scales across the whole length. A sleeveless, black jacket with gold trim for the lack of sleeves and the zipper. Under that was a grey striped T-Shirt. His belt housed the scabbard and a few pouches, a pair of charcoal cargo pants, and some armor plating for his thighs, knees, and shins, matching some steel-toe boots, boiled leather. This guy was equipped for a fight.

"Who the hell... a Lucario?" His gaze hardened like his creepy smile. "No idea how I'm here, but... could be fun to relieve a little stress," He swung his sword around to emphasize some kind of superiority, this guy seems full of himself, good, I have an advantage of concentration at least. Then he lowered his guard, waving a hand out, "Oh, by the way, this isn't anything against you or your race just that the prospect of fighting a damn Pokemon is just too good to pass up, you know how it is... probably... maybe -- I don't know, I just drowned, again, and today's been a wash..." He rambled on-and-on

Is he for real? "Yui, might want to sit this one out,"

"Oh believe me, last thing I'm planning on doing his becoming a kabab." That's fair. "Also, hah, never doubt a Treasure Hunter's sense!" Again, very fair

The strain between us grew, and without a word my aura stretched and condensed between my paw, the polearm grazing the dirt while the boy lost his smile, and his aura flared considerably, just how intense can one person make there's? I believe the saying, 'blink you might miss it' comes to mind as we crossed staff and blade, both sliding to where the other once stood. Turning back around I struck down with my staff, his blade diverting it.

Spinning from that point I lunged again so he blocked, and his body vanished into the darkness, and I felt his boot connect to my back a moment later. Flipping back around I enhanced my aura sense and ducked under his cross-slice, then two over-arm slants of his sword. His body miraculously ricocheted off the air itself, slicing horizontally across my metal spike that left my chest grazed, then back and forth twice more in rapid succession, luckily I blocked them all.

Retaliating I fired a single Aura Sphere into the ground, blindsiding him as I spun through the air, my staff clanking against his risen sword as his feet dug into the ground, with a grunt he shoved me back, a strange ripple in the air erupting from his palm, he missed as I dived over his form, channeling a bronze light into my left palm as it embedded itself in his back, tossing the boy across the grass while his blade sunk through the ground to whip him back around.

His left index and middle fingers bent against his thumb, and from seemingly nowhere a sonic bomb rippled the water and shook the trees as I was thrown up against a trunk, another blast of compressed sound rung in my ears as I raised my arms for Protect, holding my ground that tore apart under the constant flicks of just his fingers. What is this guy?

Grinding my teeth together I let my aura dip into a soft pink, and my hearing was swallowed by the melody of my heartbeat, it was a strain to use Protect and Calm Mind, but the more I soothed my spirit, the stronger and far less strained I became, four times... five...

*Shiiing-Shiiing*

I blinked, my translucent shield shattered under the force of an upward strike, followed by multiple downward, horizontal slants of his sword that leveled several trees in his wake. Had I have moved any slower I may have been just like the logs. He tapped the sword to his neck, chuckling as I balled up my fists. "I'm aware of what 'Calm Mind' does, Poke-Mutt," He just lightly rested his sword on a tree stump, cracking his own knuckles. "I've had a Lucario in my team before."

With no time to use Sword Dance I raised my fists in time for his assault. First was a right and left hook respectively. He bent on his left and swung with the right leg as I flipped back onto my paws and dived back, ducking under his fists as mine connected with his stomach twice, pressing my back to the ground I booted him high into the air, launching after him before he could recover. His right hand bent backward and his fingers created another sonic blast to intercept my jump, his foot colliding with my crossed arms as he flipped off them, grabbing my right arm as He leveled himself above me, fingers bent again while his feet pressed to my back.

Oh no...

The air sang a deafening tune as my face was driven into the ground in a heartbeat, his feet pressed to my back while his arm held mine from moving. The tension in the air clouded us both, and I could hear him panting himself, now I could chuckle, much to the jolt of his surprise against my spine. "Counter." My left fist was still free and lined with a moonlit silver.

The resulting concussion of his own power caused a strange, white light to crackle across his clothing, much to his irate expression as he cracked his neck. "Alright... now that was fun," He waved with his hand as I spat the dirt from my mouth, adjusting my scarf.

I doubt I could, this wasn't like fighting monsters, he was thinking of his own accord, and had some strange ability that masked his aura from my own, not to mention his punches were like steel too. Wherever he came from I was at the disadvantage here. Grunting, I rubbed the water droplets onto my body as the bruises and gash patched themselves.

I and the teen stared at one another, unable to say a word as we merely observed the other. Every rational thought I had was... irrational now, the very idea of another person, let alone a human, being here without so much as a tail nor snout had me simultaneously perplexed and irritated that I somehow get stuck with this form, though I am not complaining, merely stating that the situation we've been placed in seemed to favor the new individual.

We pointed. "Just who the hell are you?" "Just who the hell are you?"

The boy blinked, head swishing around, then his eyes dawned a familiar sense of realization. "Ah, right, Lucario can do the whole, 'zippy-zap telepathy-thing'," His lips pressed to a fine line. "Mmm, this doesn't explain the weird quadruple hiding behind that tree?" How did he -- My body shuffled to conceal the peaking eyes of the massively curious mare behind me, that made the boy's brow raise. "Smart, because I don't do 'surprises', and that one was eyeing me something shocking..."

"Leave her out of this," I held a nervous grin, but there was something about his aura that rubbed me in a way no other to date has. This... distortion surrounding his blue flame, a dark, faint shimmer of purple in a black smog, it was unlike anything I've seen... corruption? Demonic even? Whatever it was, I could feel it stare back at my own, and from how we examined one another, the boy looked to be housing deep thoughts of uncertainty himself

His eyes soon rolled, and he slapped his dark sword back into the scabbard, frown remaining present as he examined the mirror-like pool next to us. "So I fell into a pond and ended up someplace else? Straaaange... think it can get me back?" Was he... talking to me or himself? I didn't say anything as he blew a raspberry. "Fan *BEEP*ing tasti -- Did this world just *BEEP*ing censor me? I-It did it again!?" He was now boiling with immediate rage, and I held back a snort, but his ear twitched under his hair. "Oi, Poke-Mutt, don't mock the man capable of grinding your snout into the ground." He snorted. "Already made that example no more than two minutes ago."

Oh, a wiseass, fantastic, as though Taka wasn't enough in my life. "Real mature, aren't you, white--" My throat froze at the tip of a sword, my paw immediately flexing as a spark of bronze tickled my claws. But that look in his eyes, it made me tremble where so many monsters have failed before, just... what is he? Not human, that was certain

"I *BEEP*ing dare you to finish that nickname, go on, I'll count the last gargled breaths you take." He challenged me, then my heart plummeted at the tapping of hooves. His exasperated look froze my blood. "Oh here we go..."

"If you don't want to be kicked right back through that lake, back off, now..." That level of fierceness in Yui's eyes was, for lack of a better word, hot. Kinda wish it didn't come around when a blade was dancing between our throats as the look in the boy's eyes swayed lazily, and again, he twisted his head away with a grunt

"Yeah? I know the pony... bat... thing, just talked, so what?" He was taking this rather mellowly, and he hadn't heard of Equestria given his reaction, so was he apart of an entirely different world? Well, he certainly wasn't from my Earth, I don't think that sword's street-legal. "And that's my problem how?" He glanced back at us. "Don't look at me like I'm the crazy one, you're a human-turned-Lucario, and... she, I think, happens to be sentient and with a soul that would make even Blondie jealous," He slowly smirked, lowering his blade from us. "I like you, you bite back unlike most I meet."

I and Yui sighed with relief, and once more the sword was sheathed, his arms folded while he sat down with his legs crossed. "So... where the Hell am I? And if you tell me I'm stuck in the Pokemon world I'll take my chances feeding myself to a Beowolf or... dare I say it, endure the obnoxious ramblings of Ruby," He visibly shook at that, paling. "Ugh, on second thought, death by Grimm would be more investing."

Hold on... Grimm? As in, Remnant Grimm? Ruby... with a Rose!?

My eyes widened. "He's... from the RWBY universe?" He blinked at me, unable to understand Poke-speech, but Yui did share the same look

"What's 'RWBY', isn't it with a 'U'?" I shook my head, then pointed to our mystery swordsman who continued to tap his finger to his bicep impatiently

"Right, sorry," I spoke to them both through aura-telepathy. "He's not from my Earth, he's from a world that's actually a... well, let's call it a book, in my world, but he was never apart of it." His smirk returned almost pleased by that

"A world without me, which means no annoying 'family issues', sounds like paradise." He snorted a laugh, sitting back with his arms holding him up. "Yeah, the name 'RWBY' is my... ugh, little sister's team... I'm part of Team MAZE, which I'm guessing doesn't exist?" I nodded, and he rolled his eyes. "Figures, welp, if that isn't Multiverse Theory I don't know what is, then again, Echo, you're from the Nightmare Realm, right?" Again he paused to speak to... another person in his head? And I thought I had issues. He blinked. "Right, yeah, this is common for me so I'm not all that fussed."

He tapped a hand to his chest. "I'm not overly keen on explaining everything, that, and I don't care, so let me make this simple for you. Echo is a being that resides in my body, you've probably used that 'Aura' of yours and sensed some distortion?" I nodded vigorously, and he put his hand up. "Chill, yeah, that's a common sign of what she is, a Nightmare, I'm her Host," He put his hand out. "Zorah, pleasure and all that."

Yui raised a brow. "You don't have a surname?" That was a good question

"If you're related to Ruby and Yang wouldn't you either have Xiao Long or Rose as your--" His fingers clamped my muzzle shut, and he shot a glare my way again

"Don't... ever, say that," He let go slowly, eyes cold, almost devoid of empathy. "I abandoned that God-forsaken name long ago, it's just Zorah." There was a large, bubbling sea of hatred festered to life again, and... grief? I... I felt my ears fold back as Yui looked to me and put her hoof on my lap comfortingly

"Oh... I, sorry," He seemed to understand what I was implying. I didn't need to say it, but he chuffed bitterly

"...that's a microcosm, but yeah," Soon after the tension broke under his hands clapping with sarcasm. "Now! You are...?" He twisted his hand slowly as we both shook our heads, again, manners are slipping

"Name's Zen," I patted Yui on the head as she smiled under her hood, breaking from her daydream

"Yui, and I appreciate the compliment earlier, even if you were trying to harm my partner." That subtle, venomous tone caused a proper laugh to flow from Zorah's throat

"Haha, pony, you and my best friend would get along like a house on fire!" He tapped the pommel of his black sword, thinking with a whimsical expression. "Not a bad place, teeming with magic too, and you're the first real challenge I've gotten in a while, goes to show, never mess with a Lucario with more than four abilities at his disposal."

I grinned with a beat of pride. "I certainly wouldn't say fighting a person with an unbreakable sword and nearly impenetrable aura wouldn't be fun, that's certain." He looked to take that with quite a boost to his morale. My guess, he's the kind to boast about his talents, and from what I had a taste of, he had the skill to back it all up, a scary combination given how sharp he is alongside an unknown partner called 'Echo'

*Zwoosh-Thud!*

Someone else just flew from the lake's reflective surface, and Zorah's expression lit up without turning instantly like us to inspect it. "Haha, wondered when you'd show up! I didn't exactly resurface, did I -- Aaaand the hugging." The new arrival tackled Zorah as I and Yui looked from each other to the friend of Zorah's

Sporting combat equipment like a Hunter from Monster Hunter, I think it looked like the Kirin armor with subtle adjustments to the shirt and shorts. The girl hugging Zorah tightly was a Wolf Faunus by the appearance of both fluffy, bluish-white ears and a small tail. The girl had a peachy complexion and was about two or three inches shorter than him. Her messy bluish-white hair reached her shoulders, with the bangs down the sides of her face and resting between or above her pale blue eyes.

"As you can tell I'm not dead, and you know better than anyone else that drowning doesn't work for me," Finally blinking the girl pushed herself off of him, pouting angrily as she waved her hands in expressions akin to sign language, a faint tint of pink on her cheeks. Zorah scratched the back of his head, and was... nervous? "You know as well as I do that the trees have it in for me. Have you climbed trees for months in the frigid snow before? I doubt that considerably."

Her expressions sharpened, then stopped as she turned to us, myself and Yui on the fence about this new arrival, what surprised me was how her expression lit up with stars in her eyes, mouth ajar while Zorah tried to hide a sly smile mouthing, 'Have Fun' to me. The second after and the blue and white mass slammed into me with a hug to rival my sister's, the girl humming happily as I was swung side to side gently.

I blinked, then smiled. "Well, it's been a while since I've gotten a hug like this, I am perfectly fine with the events unfolding." My response caused her to freeze then her smile grew as she nuzzled my cheek, making me stifle a laugh. "Hehehe, compared to Zorah's welcoming arrival this is much better."

"So it would seem..." Was... is Yui getting jealous? I craned my head to view her, and there was a faint trace of ire in her expression, but it came out as more of a cute pout under her hood that I would gush over if not for the girl still hugging me. To avoid any unnecessary backlash I tapped the girl's shoulder, and she looked to where I was pointing, the antisocial treasure hunter blinked. "Wait, what are you -- Gah!!"

Zorah answered with a facepalm while I and Yui were hugged by the cute Wolf Faunus. "Meet Azure, my partner who loves the Pokemon Lucario, how lucky for you," He grumbled, but within his distorted soul I sensed a faint glimmer of amusement at the sight, and the same could be said for Azure here, only hers was like a raging fire. "Azure, I know you're on Cloud Nine but for all that is wrong with Remnant, let the human-turned-Lucario and Bat-Pony-Girl, go."

To emphasize, he pried the girl from us, and I chuckled at the sight of Yui's tomato-red face, as I only felt really happy for the hug received, this girl radiates with kindness, a perfect contrast to tall, dark, and broody beside her. He raised his hands slowly, eyes flattened without care for the silent complaints of Azure. "Azure, there is no number that can quantify the number of [BEEP]s I do not give," He paused as she leaned closer. "'Because', the longer we stay in another world the more likely we are to rip apart time and space, or cause some other universal collapse, who knows, take your pick -- And yes, this world censors things; Why? I really don't know and I hate it."

Now that I observed their auras together, I couldn't refrain from smiling, and from Yui's head against my arm I'd say she realizes it too, even if the two partners before us haven't. Amongst the swirling torrent of emotions, I could pick up on a faint, warm feeling that bounced between them. From Zorah's smug yet amused smile, and Azure's swishing tail and challenging grin, it was obvious they were close, even if they haven't realized how much so.

Zorah was the first to stand up, pulling Azure up with a hand. "Now then, we should head back, knowing Myst she's gonna be going on some warpath to find us, and Eros... eh, I doubt it, probably acting damage control for Myst." Azure looked to agree with a deadpan nod, Zorah waved to me once, while Azure held up a note to me, and I smiled, nodding. "Nice chat and all, and sorry about the whole... trying to stab you thing."

"Thank you, I'm sorry if Zorah is... temperamental," That was one way to put it. Of course, this message was between us, and judging by the look on the white-haired boy's face, he was clearly aware of that but decided to cross his arms and wait. "He's been through alot in his life, but despite that, he's a kindhearted person, even if his outward appearance makes him out to be a devil."

"A rather specific word?" Her ears flattened a hurt smile on her face. Zorah raised a brow at me, frown deepening as Yui anxiously kept her eyes between the three of us. To be called a 'Devil', either he used to be a horrible person, which I doubt, or just like me years ago, he wasn't seen as 'normal', that his way of thinking and acting was a subject of ridicule, yeah, that looked to be the case

"People call him that, he loves it... but... I just want him to be happy, he of all people I know deserves it," This inkling of sorrow was overshadowed by a rise of pride and that familiar kindness that encompassed her soul. "I know we've only just met, and we may not see each other again, but I--" I held my paw up

"I understand, I... have parts to my past I've struggled to let go of, if not for Yui I'd have died long before now," My eyes lingered on the mare trying to examine Zorah's sword, himself holding the scabbard high above her reach as he grinned much to the treasure hunter's dismay. "She's everything to me, and I think the same could be said for you to Zorah," My reply made her eyes widen with a faint flicker of embarrassment. "I appreciate you telling me, maybe someday you can tell him yourself."

"I hope, someday, I will tell him with my voice." Her eyes were unwavered like a certain treasure hunter, guess the four of us are similar in a few ways. That was when Zorah grabbed Azure's hand and tugged her toward the lake's edge, giving us a final wave

"'Till the next time around!" Azure bowed with him, then Zorah pulled the girl close and dived back into the lake with a radiant splash, their bodies vanishing without a figure or shadow to be seen. I think I'm gonna perform some serious water quality tests before I start gathering water from now on

The two of us just lingered on our own reflections, I didn't know what to think or feel about the encounter; Shocked that there's many more worlds and variants between them? Happy I got to meet two new individuals with interesting backgrounds? Sorry for whatever transpired for Zorah? Whatever feeling I wanted to work on, what matters most is that for a different as we may be, it was good to know that we're not alone in terms of adversity. All of us were trying to achieve our goals, be it to become a Huntsman or to stop all of reality from falling apart. What? It can vary?

Yui then nudged my side. "Come on, let's get back on the road," She trotted over to retrieve our bags. "Won't make it to Smokey Mountain dilly-dallying."

Finally, my eyes left the pool of water. "Says the one who wanted to investigate in the first place," My mirth caused her to trip herself up, tugging her hood closer

"I'm a Treasure Hunter... that's sorta my thing..." She murmured shyly, even as I hugged her softly

"It's why you're awesome, remember?" I added, seeing her eye elude mine slightly

"You know it," Her muzzle turned my way to nuzzle off mine with a sweet smile

[Zorah's POV]

Feels good not to be on magical ground anymore, just the amount I get pumped into my veins on a daily basis is enough. And the saturation and colors in that world, blah! Don't know how that idiot can stand living for a day in that world, and a talking... bat... pony thing? There is no one alive that can explain that to me.

"Zorah!" Ooooh... great it's Red. She came jogging up to myself and Azure, the rest of the class watching from afar as I tried desperately to forget whatever just happened in that lake, though Azure looked ready to burst with the information of multiversal existences beyond Remnant. "You guys have been gone for nearly an hour, where--"

I slapped my hand over her lips, hushing her with venom in my voice. "Red, if I could so much as contemplate the very extent to what I witnessed, where I've been, and who nearly gave me a thrashing I might very well be convinced I'm high," I smiled sarcastically with wide eyes. "So! If you don't mind I'm going to go and drown myself in something else that isn't a lake! Good day!"

I didn't look back, merely rolling my eyes at the cold, hard stare behind the Professor's helmet as I grumbled, ruffling my hair. Then Echo decided to chime in at the worst of times, knowing fully well I hated that emotion, aura sensing Pokemon with a fiery passion. "Should we--" Not. A. Word. "About what?" Exactly...

My life is a joke of which I must play.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

A sudden crossover it seems, though more talking than fighting, sorry. As though Pokemon, and Monsters and Ponies weren't enough, right? Zorah and Azure come from another project of mine, RWBY: Indomitable, guess where I got the name for this story from :facehoof:

I hope you enjoyed, and thank you for the continued support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 17 - Maiden of the Lake
Upon the road to the Smokey Mountain region, Zen's ruby draws him to a strange but familiar location, where the duo makes a massive discovery.

Chp. 18 - Black Wolf's Rage

Okay, let's recap my day so far.

One, I have discovered an ancient red temple has been transported to Equestria. Two, a genuine monster was also warped to Equestria and has since gained the ability to turn into a pony and back. Three, I... found something unpleasant residing in this temple. And four, Yian Garuga, the craziest wyvern to have ever walked the Old and New Worlds is a manifestation. On the plus side, I feel fantastic today!

"I am not feeling fantastic today!" My complaint came as three flaming spits collided with the wall behind me as I ran across its face, a spined tail digging across the stone as I leapt up and over Yian, soaring high to distract it long enough for Yui to pull Mira by her tail into one of the hallways, the monster trying to pull herself free to transform again. Territorial monsters, honestly...

Soaring into view between them and the Yian, I alerted both to my presence the second my shadow bounced from the walls to the ground. I kept my eyes straight, but my body was shaking from the volatile nature of this monster, so I gnashed my teeth, Bone Rush drew to my side. The eyes of the Yian twitched, a bubbling frenzy tempered its emotions, while the girls spectated from afar, I would appreciate back-up but this monster was always the most violent, I'd be an even bigger idiot to allow them to fight.

"Graaaaah!!" My staff craned upward to meet the exposed side of the Yian's head, immediately smashing against the thick skull, creating a sharp tug on the wind while sparks flew from the collision, yet, the weaker scales couldn't absorb the blow, as the sharp end slit an arc of white from the Yian's eye, while the other broke a fang, tossing the head against the side of the wall and well away from the girls.

I didn't hesitate, moving without rational thought I grabbed a large rock, quickly spinning to slap my heel off the stone as the orange hue enveloped the projectile, striking Yian across the chin, all that did was make it scream with an unbearable loud roar. Dazed, I spun my staff around, channeling the swords above my ears as my muscles hardened, while the scarlet energy whipped with the brush of wind gathering around me.

The screeching tantrum of the Yian drove my feet into overdrive, Quick Attack propelling me under the legs then back up for a rounded smack of the polearm, followed by an overhead strike to the wings, bringing the wyvern back down on its claws while I gathered an abundance of lighting between my fingers.

"Thunder Punch!" I took off toward the Wyvern without a second to lose. I had to keep them safe, but am I going to be able to hold out long enough to think of a plan? My fist struck the swipe of the tail, the purple and gold collision creating two interesting rings as the impact pushed us back momentarily. I forgot, Yian's immune to thunder! Alright then, let's try this combo!

Bracing I harnessed a silver hue across my forearms, standing my ground even as I felt my skin roast under a flaming ball that struck my arms, singeing my fur. Through the fire and pain, Yian swooped with both pairs of talons, and I stomped once, extinguishing the embers. With a cross-chop, Reversal unleashed a silver torrent of the flames, blinding Yian as it screeched. Through the cracks I dived, aiming my right arm for its wing.

Aiming the Metal Claw at an angle, the three blades snagged to the base of the limb, pulling me into flight just as it finished pulling off a backflip to toss rocks. I did everything I could to stay balanced, hooking my left claw around the neck while prying the right free of the scales. Yian thrashed through the air, having me near double back off the monster in a heartbeat.

With a grunt, I shoved both claws against the base of the jaw, hearing the sickening split of muscle as I pulled back, two Aura Sphere's embedding themselves in the wyvern's face. Disorientated, it threw me off, flapping haphazardly into a pillar, toppling it over while burning itself under the rubble with a strained howl. Breaking into a sprint, I had already depleted alot of stamina healing Mira, and using one of my trump cards might not guarantee me the win, there was also the matter of escaping this place too before any more water floods this chamber.

"Here!" Reacting to Yui's word I snatched a red waterskin from the air, smiling happily as I spat the cork out and doused myself in a red powder, the twinkling particles stuck to my fur, and what thoughts of fear that pumped into my adrenaline suddenly maxed out. A little concoction Yui helped me make before we left Ponyville, it was a natural strength enhancer, and unlike drugs, this one had almost no drawbacks other than feeling exhausted once your body ceases production of adrenaline.

Yian reeled back, spitting a large fire blast to divert my course into its waiting chin slam, three consecutive slams forced my body down as Protect chipped under the force of the chin. Rolling aside as the spined tail dug through the earth my eyes snapped toward my left, opportunity rising in my chest.

With an ear-splitting scream that shook the chamber, it rammed its head into a chunk of the pillar, splitting it more and more with each whip of its mandible. I kept low and in a criss-cross pattern, sliding under a spin of the body and the tail as I found a spot to strike beneath the wing with a Force-Palm, seeing the buzz of static excite a sporadic twitch in the wyvern. With two hops I landed between the spines on its back, sinking my polearm through a seam between two scales.

The violent swaying of Yian tore at my muscles while some of the spines rubbed and poked at my body, grazing my skin with each violent toss and turn. This time I had been thrown between evading rocks, another waterskin, this one tinged orange. I mentally thanked Yui and didn't hesitate to douce the monster in a black substance, most splashing against its jaws as they clamped around my left arm, burying me into the ground with a single thrust.

The crazed eye of this bird loomed, and I erected the transparent barrier between us as it snapped at the air, neck stretched back as the flames erupted from its crooked beak.

*Blam!*

Yian wheezed, falling to its side due to the backblast of its own attack blowing up in its face. The powder was an oily substance akin to gunpowder that we used to light fires with damp sticks. One thing Equestria was great for, it had a natural substance for just about everything. With the monster rasping on the ground, I snatched it up by the neck, folding my right back with a familiar, crimson glow as the eye widened.

With a resounding snap of bone and scale, Yian's body tumbled across the chamber, sprawling out against the ground as I lowered my paw, seeing only split skin from punching scales directly. Slowly, Yian growled, sliding back to its feet, even that wasn't enough. And the remaining eye, as the head moved, I felt the incredible amounts of bloodlust accumulated in the scarlet eye with a red contrail.

No matter how hard I fight, this monster could easily endure it all to the last bone broken. Unlike any manifestation, this was by far the most aggressive, and I nearly out of energy. Adjusting my stance, I continued to pant heavily, even while the energy gathering between my claws was dim. "Come on, Zen, you can do this, you can still win, there's still a chance!"

With a powerful lunge, I slapped both my paws together to extend forth Bone Rush once more, driving the end of the staff past the slam of the chin, crossing it through the underside of Yian's wing, kicking back off its stomach to leap over the sweep of the wing, avoiding the tail's slam in the process. Coming down with a slant, I planned to blind it entirely, without its sight we could turn the tides in a heartbeat!

A glint of silver faded in the light, my face contorted with horror at the sight of aura shards falling from my paws.

Yian... just closed its eye, the thick skin and scales surrounded the forehead broke the staff, leaving not so much as a blemish. Yian twirled angrily, snarling as its backend swung low, the tail slammed into my chest, forcing him to cough while the chest spike absorbed the poison while my elbows shoved my feet back under me.

Rolling under a pecking charge, my head-feeler-things were swept up by the potent tail. Dashing for the large pond I jumped high and landed straight atop the lopsided pillar, my feet anxiously gripping the stone. The talons suddenly carved through the wall above me, showering dust in an attempt to poison me with the tail but I jumped and kicked the wyvern back, it only recoiled sharply with both feet pinned with my polearm again. A few prods cutting my forearms in the process.

Of all monsters, it had my feet trembling to hold it back under a battle of raw strength. I had two kinds of strength enhancements and it was overpowering me with sheer will power! The only thing to stare back was a single glowering eye, the other still bleeding profusely. My feet were shifting back, so with a twist at the hips I threw Yian against the jagged wall as I dived away, but not before the tail snapping in accordance, whipping back to slice through my shoulder.

"Grah, Mira!" I felt her eyes on me. "I need you to hit Yian with everything you got!"

She looked hesitant, almost conflicted to get involved as I started to lose altitude. "Hurry!!"

"O-Okay!" There was a flurry of bubbles past Yui, and soon the familiar sight of the enraged leviathan greeted us with a roar. With two Aura Spheres beneath me, I threw myself back for a perfect angle on both Mira and the dazed flapping of Yian who was still in position

There was a pregnant pause, then the high-pitched wail of the Mizutsune as she produced a high-pressured stream of water that hurdled itself into Yian with resounding success, slapping the monster back against the wall as I spun myself upside down, reeling my head back with a familiar tickle building in my stomach, tracing up my throat like a hot sensation, the wisps of ultraviolet gathering.

"Hyper Beam!" My voice was lost in the blinding flash cannon of energy that tore into the ceiling above Yian with a visible tremble in the temple as some loose rock and dust fell around us, high above Yian the section of the ceiling came crashing down atop its wings, its scream cut out from the boulders as it struck the pillar, adding that to the earthfall plummeting into the water

There was a rumble underneath me as I slid down across Mira's back, bubbles sticking to me as we watched with miraculous success at the water level within the pond receding out a large hole in the wall, we had breached the blockade with the combined might of a wyvern and two tons of concrete and earth, with the added risk of burying ourselves alive.

"Haha, that's another one down!" My aching body was tackled by Yui who threw me into a spin against Mira's scaly form, her head coming down to nuzzle us both with a soft growl of affection. Despite the unbearable pain across my body, I was still finding it within me to laugh, slumping against the monster as her soapy bubbles managed to clean off some of the grime

"And you told me you were useless days ago, bah, perish the thought!" I threw my arm up, then winced from the sharp reminder. "Nope, can't do that now!"

"Dummy..." Yui sighed, and from Mira's expression she was worried too. Slapping my paw down my muzzle I let Life Dew take care of most of my minor wounds, closing my eyes with the last of my strength receding much like the dam now unclogged, and a fresh breath of wind passing through the ancient remains of a forgotten era. "Come on, let's get you patched up, 'Lucario'."

"You love the name, don't deny it."

"Ah, sweet, visible land not of stone, how I've missed you!" I fell flat against the warmth of the grass, the sun had risen again, meaning we were up all night within the temple. Rolling around to face Yui and Mira I crossed my arms behind my head. "Been a while since I performed an all-nighter," Although having been through the closest consideration of events that could resemble a rollercoaster, I doubt I would have gotten a wink of sleep...

Sitting upright, it was clear what the atmosphere was, sorrow. Much as it has been fun meeting and helping Mira, she was finally free to go about her life in this world either forever or until the day the rift that tore the temple through time and space takes her back. The river that was once dry and barren now flowed seamlessly to wherever the horizon led it and Mira whined from the edge itself, head low while Yui petted her head, earning a nuzzle from the adorable monster.

I can't imagine being torn from her natural home has been easy, whatever is at the center of all these rifts to the Monster Hunter world I'll figure it out, even if it takes dozens of monsters, because if innocent creatures like her are being pulled into this, whole temples and civilizations too, there might not be much of either world left.

Yui tried not to frown, keeping a smile under her hood. "Don't be upset, you're free to travel the vastness of Equestria!" Despite the short amount of time, I could feel the sadness aching in her heart. "Besides, maybe one day we'll meet again, I'm certain."

"I second that," I waved my paw, linking the other around Yui's neck as we sat beside Mira, my paw patting her nose. "Take care of yourself, Mira, and don't for a second hesitate, and who knows, maybe we can explore another temple again or fight a monster?" She nodded with bubbling anticipation, her nose pressing back against my palm as I closed my eyes. "...Goodbye."

With a happy roar to the bright-blue sky she dived back into the water, bubbles and water droplets painting an aroura of rainbows around us as she swam full-speed-ahead down the meandering river, her body sweeping up and down to the curvature of the world, and further from our sight. We should really get back on the road, so I sighed leaned down to rest my head atop Yui's as we sat for a little while longer.

A slight chuckle escaped my lips. "We're lost again, aren't we?"

Yui's head slumped. "Yep, totally, absolutely."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Since this wasn't as long as the previous, here's it very early! Much as I love this monster, time for it to find a home in this new world. As for homes, one's just around the corner. I hope you enjoyed, thank you for all the support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 19 - Homecoming
Blackrock Hollow, one of two settlements populated primarily with Bat Ponies, and Yui's home. Anxiety and unexpected encounters lay ahead.

Bonus Chp. - Woes

The sky awoke in the void above, dotting the sky with fireflies millions of miles away. My arms rested behind my head as I continued to look up at the endless abyss, that fateful question of 'Are we alone?' didn't surface, instead, I thought of the one truth that made my heart tick faster, 'Out there, beyond this universe, there are millions of billions of other worlds, all with a view similar to this'. Out there, worlds of fiction came to life like Equestria, and I wondered, who else knew this truth? Did they stare up as I do sometimes? If so, hi, a pleasure to be sharing the same alluding concept person of another dimension.

The forest dense, and diverse. The canopy was all aglow by the crackle and snap of the fire beside me, Yui's practice at cooking so far hasn't been too bad, a little lengthy but teaching her was fun, she's a natural to learning new skills that cater to her job, and so far I haven't died of food poisoning. Meanwhile, I allowed the ambient sounds of insects to fill my ears while a light rustle of the leaves danced in the corners of my eyes. I needed this.

So much has happened in the space of two days, the discovery of the temple, how another monster was pulled into this world. I knew people could be accidentally pulled along by these rifts, but for entire structures? This must be a result of whatever's caused the manifestations, whichever rift is at the core of it all, that one needed to be closed.

But what was it that waited for me at the end? A powerful monster? An Elder Dragon or God forgive, a Black Dragon? Would it all work out or would I fail? What about my friends and sister? Will I stay and them too or vice versa? Would I stay or go? Yui, what of her? I made a promise but will the ruby -- the world -- allow that? Could I maintain that promise, or will she too slip from my fingers?

"You've been staring intensely up at the stars for twenty minutes now, you're gonna set fire to the sky?" Yui's amused expression became the centerpiece among the stars, and I lifted a small smile, but she waved a wooden spoon before my nose. "Don't act like I haven't noticed your brooding, what do you take me for, an amateur?"

"If I did I doubt our relationship would be as it is," I replied simply, seeing her face freeze, then allow a half-lidded smile. "Sorry, just... alot to think about."

"Oh, believe me!" She huffed, flopping down with her head against mine though her body faced the opposite way. "I'll be home tomorrow... hurray..." She and I chuckled

"Try not to overdo the excitement," She shoved me for that. Enough about my problems for now. "Tell me, since you haven't, what am I expecting when I see your family?"

I heard her purse her lips, hoof rising to tap to her chin. "Well my Mom, Violet Rose is like... 'Super Mom', she and my Dad were both apart of the Night Guard, which mind you, wasn't as big as it is now until Princess Luna's return -- Not the point. My Mom... well, it's really hard for anyone to hate her, she's got this... way with everyone, be it Bat, Pony, Dragon, Griffon, she understands you as though she's known you her whole life, and if you ever did cross her, haha, you're funeral!" Yui chuckled, noting that my claw poked at her forehead

"Reminds me of another sharp Bat I know," Unable to see it, I did feel her aura sway and hear her shuffle around. "She sounds like the kind of pony that if my Mom ever met her, the two would be immediate best friends."

"You serious? Sounds like a nightmare," Yui grimaced as I felt a cold shiver run down me, and she looked to suffer the same fate. "Shall I move on?"

"Yep." Out answers were just as sharp as that chill. With a clear throat, Yui ran a hoof through her mane

"My Grandad, Grey F Rose," The way her voice let the words rolls, and the swelling of pride in her voice, this was the pony that turned Yui into who she was. "If there was someone I'd respect over Princess Luna, it was him, he was, and will always be, the greatest pony I know," Her voice told me she was smiling with big eyes. "He's alot like you. Kind, fierce in the face of danger, always the optimist, he'd say when the going gets tough, or things seem their bleakest, 'You're afraid, aren't you? Good, let that push you to try and try again, if you fall, then crawl, but don't ever tell me it ain't possible'."

"I like this guy, sounds like alot of fun." I snorted a laugh, and Yui giggled too

"You know it, he gave me that rainbow stone before I ran away, and the last thing he told me was this, 'I...'," I heard Yui's voice snag on the word, but she pushed through. "'I know you're upset, you want things to be as they were, don't you? But life isn't always going to remain in limbo, if you can't find happiness with what you got then go out there, delve into the darkest corners of this world, explore to the ends of the earth, because out there, with no direction is when you'll find it because you make it yourself from nowhere'." She chuckled hoarsely. "He... never made sense back then, but with my life as a Treasure Hunter I get it."

Yui then sighed heavily, and the tone shifted again.

"My Dad, Caleb Fox -- And yes, it's an odd name for a pony, 'Zen'," I lowered my paw at her smug reply. "Yeah, so he was the Captain of the Night Guard, retired after something to do with this 'Shadow Realm' or something, he never liked bragging. Veeeery modest for a Bat-Pony and for good reason, he's seen too many like him fall into some gloomy retirements after leaving the Guard, but he never stopped helping others, and... my Mom was the reason he's still, you know, my Dad and all."

"Understandable," I nodded, then she sighed, hoof subconsciously moving between her's and my head. "Yui?"

"He... never talked to me about my talents... always said, 'wasting your time on a life that may end in futility is no life at all', so what? I'm expected to follow in his shadow for it? Buck that!" Wow, first time I heard her... well, Pony-Swear I guess, probably trying to avoid that censor Zorah was struck with, odd, guess thoughts don't count toward it? "I never listened so... he stopped caring, sure, he was still my Dad but... but I..."

"Hey, you can stop if you want?" I rubbed her hoof in my paw, but she tightened her hold, sighing through grit teeth

"My Brother... Vega Rose, FYI, I took up my Dad's last name," Keeping that nugget of information. "Yeah so... he was..." She sniffed. "...the greatest big brother I could ask for..." Oh no, I don't like where this is starting...

"He was smart, confident, brave, and about all else... he was there for me when others picked on me for my lack of second wing, he'd give them a stare that would turn even that Acidic Glavenus to stone! I swear, he was scary sometimes, but he always cared for me," Her heart beating was indicative of that, she still cares, but the rage, it was starting to burn. "Then he went to training to join the Night Guard, that was an annoying time, but he left me one thing, a backbone, who knew it'd come back to bite him on the flank."

Yui trembled with spite. "He came back... with this stupid, smug persona, like the brother I knew just got thrown away for this... stupid, obsessive imposter," She held my paw tighter. "I swear, it was like some colt in awe over a hero or knight in shining armor, going on about how great the Guard is and such, good for him, then... then he... started suggesting I join, make use of my talented eye as a scout or something... heh... a scout, are you kidding me?"

I refused to open my mouth, finally, Yui was venting, and I swore the fire was being outshined in terms of heat. "I refused, saying I wanted to follow in our Grandad's hoofsteps, he... he got so angry, if not for Mom I'm sure we'd have thrown hooves, but, he kept weighing it down on me, saying I'm 'Just wasting my life', or that I'm, 'Going to end up miserable', but the straw, that final straw... 'Do you want to end up like Grandad, risking your life for some pointless glory?'... he... of all ponies said that to me," Yui's voice was low for a moment

"That was the first time I ever struck another pony, and I hit him really hard, broke his nose," ... "I lost it, I wanted to tear out every fiber of his hypocritical, smug attitude and smash it across his face like a hot iron," I sat up, my eyes finally drawn from the stars as my chest tightened

Tears were streaming down her face, but her hoof covered the right for her, teeth knitted together as she hiccuped. Pulling her up I wrapped my arms around her tightly without a word, again, no reason was needed. My life was so far from hers, but that didn't mean I didn't feel it too, the resentment to kindness, the feeling you lost a part of your life, Rika... she changed me, and for Yui it was her Grandad, so to hear any line of malice thrown to them is a crime worse than any.

Allowing her this moment, I decided to lighten the mood. "You okay?" She pulled away to nod, wiping her cheeks with a small smile

"I'm a mess again." That earned her a flick on the forehead. "Ow!"

"No, you're not," She opened her mouth but I held out my thumb and index as she paled. "Want to add anything?"

"Only that I'm the sexiest mare you could have by your side?" She was quick to retort, wiggling her eyebrows as I flattened my stare, but my cheeks were starting to turn pink. "Aw, so cute~"

"The soup's starting to burn," Glass shattered, and Yui panic-dived to the fire, spoon in-wing. "Hmph, I am not cute." My mutter went over her ears, but she finally looked to be better. Great, here's hoping her brother isn't waiting in... um... "Yui, dumb question, what's your home called?"

"Blackrock Hollow," Oh my God that sounds like an awesome place to live. "There's only Blackrock aaaaand, Hollow Shades? Yeah, that place; Only two settlements comprised of nearly all Bat-Ponies."

"Cool, also, food smells good, you've improved from what I can smell." This visibly made her face scrunch up as it would when she's in 'Treasure Hunter Mode'. And after that last comment I'm surprised she's not flustered herself -- Lightbulb, I am not apologizing for this. Ahem, "You know," I kept my voice low as I slithered up behind her to observe her work, not a bad soup given the bare essentials we could forage for. "I still have yet to keep my word from the temple."

"Huh?" Her face went ajar, turning away from the pod as I kept my face very close to hers, a small smile plastering my face. I gave it a moment to sink in as she let out an audible squeak, her face rising from the neck up in a shade of scarlet, both eyes now visible with a timid shake. "I-I-I, um, ah, um, y-you -- mmfgh." Too easy, as always. Her eyes kept themselves to mine, soon growing heavy as her hooves pulled me closer to deepen the electrified kiss as I closed my eyes too

We could keep this going for five minutes, the soup wasn't going to burn anyway.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I wasn't expecting this to be so long but I really couldn't stop; The backstory and emotions, and of course these two together for fluffy moments. I hope you enjoyed, thank you for all the support, seeya in the next chapter later this week!

Chp. 19 - Homecoming

"I can do this..." Yui paced to my right, myself sat upon a rock with one arm bent on my knee, the palm housing my chin

"Then let's go." I replied

"I can't do this..." She paced to my left

"Then let's give it some more time." I'd be lying if I said this wasn't already long enough

"No, no... I, I have to go!" She paced back, the ground under her hooves curving downward

Breathing through my nose and out again, I reached forward and pulled Yui to look at me, her eyes clouded with uncertainty under her hood. "Yui, you're a person, or pony in your case, I can't live without, so let me be frank with you," I sighed. "If I spend one more hour on this rock I'm going to cave my forehead in with it."

Yui slumped in my paws, ears flat. "I... I'm sorry, but this..." She waved her hoof to the hill, beyond it, the large spires of rock that stretched far and pierced the clouds. "This is my home, and I just ran away from it, my family, my..." She found her head buried against the side of my chest. "I'm conflicted about so many different things and it hurts, it's just... I... I, grah! I can't even get the right words!"

"You think I'm optimistic without a sense of realism?" She lifted her head to my confident smile. "Sure, helps when your life is a complete mess, heh, I mean, look at me, a human in the body of a Lucario wandering a world filled with -- sorry, sidetracked; Look, I'm horrible with words so punch me if this sounds stupid or cheesy. My point is, I'm confident in this because I'm confident in you, in what you want to do," I shook her shoulders gently. "You can do this because I believe in Yui who believes in me."

She sniffed, wiping her right eye. "Yeah, that was cheesy," But she chuckled, displaying that cute, fanged smile. "But it's sweet, thanks," She turned, adjusting her hood. "I'm ready... time to go home!"

Thank Trinity! "Right behind you!"

"Huh, that's not good..." We made it to the top of the hill before diving behind a large boulder, our eyes glued to the entrance to this subterranean society. The large gash in the mountain was quite the entry. A large, ominous wall of basalt with a solid gate made of ash, guards situated at the front and the ramparts above, overlooking the glade ahead of them cautiously. "Are there usually guards here?"

Yui shook her head. "Not this many, and over there," She pointed to a golden sun banner next to the silver moon. "Princess Celestia's Royal Guard is here... they've never been here unless it was serious." I have an inkling this is on us but that was probably nerves talking. "Hmm, what I don't like is the ones currently stationed here..."

"Why's that?" She spun around, expression deadpanned as her back slid down the stone surface

"...My brother's stupid division is here," I held a mirthless smirk and she waved her hooves out. "Need I remind you he's one of three reasons I ran away, and the primary source," I put my paws up in defeat -- Wait, 'Three', but who's the third. She already turned around before I could make a remark. "This might not go well for you, no offense but even if its the Royal Guard, my kind are... less open to the idea of communing with ponies other than us,"

"You make it sound like you're all a bunch of racists?" I added flatly next to her, and her wing slapped the back of my head

"Not all of us, there are some dotted about the city but that's over years of trust-building, unlike ponies we aren't always so 'goody-goody' with everyone we meet," Yui laminated for me, and now I understood why me showing up when the security seems tight might not roll over well, especially since I don't have any passport with me. "Don't worry, I can handle things from here."

"You sure?" Not that I don't have faith in her, I mean, I literally just said I did not five minutes ago, but it was clear as day she was drowning in uncertainty, probably scenarios of all kinds rummaging through her head. She flipped around and pecked my cheek

"I've been faced with more attempts on my life than my brother could ever dream of, a reunion is a walk in a... minefield, yeah, I got this." Did she assure herself or me?

"I'll join you once I get their patterns and rotations mapped," I saluted her, and she hummed a laugh and grabbed her bag, trotting up the hill and to the road meeting the gateway, I just slumped back down and put my head in my paws. "Okay, Zen, you've played many stealth-related games, a little spying can't be too hard," I paused, then face-palmed. "Why didn't we buy another moon opal? Yui could have used that spell of hers!"

My eyes slithered up the stone and sighed as the gateway opened, Yui having already strolled inside. "Too late now... fantastic." Spying it is! I slid down the boulder. Luuuuurk.

[Yui's POV]

Traversing the cobblestone road further into the tunnel, the faint bustle of my home lay just beyond my reach, and my chest continued to flutter, butterflies gathering in my stomach, I'd say I felt ill but that was my nerves. I felt it, trotting down this road again, hearing my hooves clop against the cave, echoing all around me as I ran in the opposite direction toward the sunlight, it was... it is painful to remember, a bittersweet memory. I had both lost and gained so much from leaving, and now, I had made up my mind, to see my parents again, and... even my brother.

I stopped just before the turn, facing some of the stalactites, droplets bouncing into the river below. "I can do this, you're an adult, Yui." My face deadpanned. Yes, an adult who has a habit of talking to herself, sweet Luna it's been rough.

Once round the bend, my legs kicked off toward the stone wall that overlooks the large, snaking road leading down into the hollowed caverns underneath Smokey Mountain, the light I had missed returning in all its orangy-gold glory. High above, and weaving between large, natural spires of stone that rose from the ground to the mountain above, large, radiant crystals infused with the magic of the stars, casting the very same night high above the city.

At the base of this wall-mounted road was the basalt obelisk gateway leading to the entry plaza. This square was lined with patches of grass, flowers, and a pond. Three main roads branching through large, elegant archways of redwood. Walls of cream-colored stone and roofs made of red tile make up the bulk of the civilization, say for the few streets where buildings were elevated onto higher plots of land, creating streets and markets like ravines.

Trees dotting the streets that I couldn't observe entirely. There was a clear divide between the sectors too. The East gate takes you directly to the residential district, to the West, the industrial, and barracks of the Night Guard. Toward the North you'll find the central business district, what a place it was too.

"I'm home... heh," Adjusting my hood and my bag, I took off down the road, the closer I get, the brighter I could smile

Despite the fact that I feel like every fiber of being is being condensed down into a black hole of despair and anxiety, there was still so much more to encompass that now. Strolling down one of the valley streets, small-time vendors, cafes, and bars dotted the many levels, Bat-Ponies by the dozens flying and walking past me, laughing and chatting at bar stands with food or enjoying the pleasant atmosphere of the underground city's vibrance that radiated off every corner of the streets. Banners and streamers linked from one end to the other for color and flare, advertisements varying among the other.

That was when my eyes locked to a small booth to my right, so with ease, I crossed through the hustle of Bats to the stall, an assortment of materials one would find random or useless at first glance under the blue and purple tarp, but in reality, this was a gold mine for myself and others of the arcane. The sign above written in bold curls and silver, 'The Looking-Glass', if I wasn't aware of this stall I'd have rolled my eyes at first sight.

"Always an eye for the unusual, this is simply wonderful to see again!" No... it can't be? My ears shot up as my eyes widened under the hood at the familiar Bat before me, and my smile only grew. Dark-grey coat with bed-ridden, silver hair, eyes concealed by a pair of round, opaque glasses. He smiled, sipping at his coffee for a second. "I welcome you back, my student."

"Professor Star! I-I, what are you doing here!?" I gawked, and he motioned with a walking cane to the contents of the store, then I found the end of the stick poking my nose

"It is simple, very simple! For while I am not working I spend my time managing small businesses and the like," He zipped across to the left to adjust some in their displays. "Yes, the pursuit of knowledge and teaching is my talent but so it the need to observe the finer details underneath, and what can and cannot be explained by simple science and logic!" He zoomed the other way to greet me again, and I tried not to giggle, he was hyperactive, and his lessons always taught you to keep up with his eccentric nature. "Please, stick around, tell me about your ventures outside the city!"

I kept my smile but shook my head. "Sorry, maybe another time, Professor, I... I came here to handle something important," Despite this, he smiled and sighed, sitting down on the steps just off the side of the stand, motioning for me to come closer

"Your family has always been a strange bunch, I-I-i remember the time someone turned your brother's mane pink and he never noticed!" That brought a laugh to us both, but he continued. "I-I didn't know what to say or do so I just... left the classroom to laugh, oh, you two were always worth teaching for!"

"Hehe, yeah, and you made studying... enjoyable," I rubbed my left forehoof against the other. "Thank you, Professor, for everything."

His cane hopped me on the head. "Now-now, we are both grown adults, no need to refer to me as your superior." Even so, I smiled, bowing my head

"I know that Professor," My eye then flicked toward the stand, and to a peculiar collection of opals. "But before I head on, mind if I buy some items? I've learned another old spell I wanted to try out."

With a gentle nod, he appeared right back where he started, motioning to the collection with the cane as I face hoofed. Oh, sweet Luna, I could have used a cloaking spell on Zen before -- grah, you idiot, Yui! Meanwhile, my Professor had been standing there, watching as I had this internal conflict, realizing this I pulled my hood closer to obstruct my face, and he chuckled

"You haven't changed much from the filly I knew," I blinked, pulling it up slightly, himself leaning forward to tap a wing to his nose. "And that isn't a bad thing, my student." His cane nudged a moon opal toward me, himself whistling while placing his hidden gaze anywhere else. And who said teachers were boring again?

Alright, take this street then left and... huh? Freezing mid-stride, I poked my head down a dark alley concealed from the buildings above by bridges and fabric, all with a strange, emerald green tone and white marking dotting the cloth. Painted across the walls were the same symbols, and my smile grew mischievously as I cleared my throat. "Don't try it, Maine, sneaking up on a poor, innocent mare."

A smooth chuckle to my right and from the darkness a light flickered to life, bathing us in a mystical green hue, the Unicorn smirking to me from atop a railing and staircase that led to the unknown beneath the streets. This 'toll' standing firm with bits and other trinkets scattered across supply crates and a bar-stand. The crowd outside this dark and foreboding light was now muffled.

The unicorn had navy fur and a short, black mane with a goatee. His blue eyes constantly shined an irreverent temperament, a smirk ever-so consistent. There was a black bandana around his forehead and much like the markings on the walls, he wore a jade cutout of the symbol as a necklace. One of the few ponies living here, and not many trust him or his intentions; Me? Well, he's a fraction of the reason I'm as good as I am.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't the little Fox, how's the outside world been treat'n ya?" His magic juggled around a green coin with the came marking in his green magic field. I leaned against the table with a smug smile

"'Bout as fruitful and as dangerous as parents would tell their foals," My smile warmed up. "I'm happy to see you again, Maine," His hoof ruffled my hood and mane

"Yeah, well the feelin's mutual, kid, looks like you've gotten yourself a sharp outlook, and a sharp tongue, though that's a given." He nodded to my appearance, hooves out wide. "Welcome back to the fray, kid, ready to play?" His magic held out the coin to me. And the offer was tempting, his, ahem, 'Game', happens to be... controversial to those that know of it, he runs it all, the magical technology, the rules, and everyone respects him for it, but there have been instances that things get... unpleasant, but despite the warnings, I still went to watch, that's when he and I actually chatted.

He found it odd in how I always snuck in, but himself and those that frequently gathered down below were more than willing to keep me around, and... they were the closest thing to friends I had, teaching me some tricks and of the game, from using my head instead of a hoof, making use of my one wing more effectively, and overall, Maine offered me a taste of the magic that he said, 'Those snobs up in Canterlot wouldn't be so high if magic were equal, so I intend on observing the eventual crossfire', my Moon Magic came from him.

Shaking my head I pushed the coin back. "Not today, visiting for a day or two with a friend," He sat back on the crate to listen as I winked, not that he can tell. "Don't worry, I have quite a few stories to share myself, Equestria's a crazy place if you know where to look."

That piqued his interest, a smirk growing with slit eyes. "Oh? Does the Fox have some tales for my age? Ha, come on, then, give ol' Maine something to share around a table or two?" He sat against the table expectantly, but I hummed, adjusting my hood

"Sorry, good sir, but the tales of monsters with acidic tails and ones capable of conjuring lightning storms will have to wait for another day," I waved jokingly, seeing his eyes glimmer with anticipation as he looked to me with an irate expression, then put his hooves up

"Alright, kid, keep your secrets," Then his magic flicked the coin for my hoof to panicky fumble for in the air, making him laugh at my glare. "There's the kid I know, stop by for a game when you need, some of these rusty idiots would have their jaws on the table at your return."

"I'll keep that in mind, seeya!" I nodded with a hoof-bump and trotted back into the flood of the streets, hearing him continue to play with the coins in his magic, the one now placed in my hoof refracting an emerald hue onto my eyes. Zen would love that place, hopefully, he can join me soon... because my next destination isn't one I'm looking forward to. Zen... I'm going to be selfish and borrow some of your stupid courage right now.

There it is... my home. A detached house compared to the rest, it stood two-stories tall and kept in a fine state year-after-year. From the outside it looks cozy. It has been built with the same design as the rest of the buildings. Tall, squared windows allow enough light to enter the home and have been added to the house in a mostly asymmetric way.

From memory I could recall it having your average rooms, only there were three bedrooms. Walking up the street I felt ghostly visages of my past going back and forth, heading through the alleyways to find Maine or explore the market only a few streets away. Passing a lamppost I took in the details further.

The building is fairly square in shape. The house is fully surrounded by a patio. The second floor is the same size as the first, but the front of it hangs over the edge of the floor below, creating an overhang on one side and a balcony on the other. The roof is low, triangular, while the rest of the surrounding area was a gorgeous garden, including various trees and flowers.

Shifting toward the white fence my heart froze at the sight of ponies moving inside, familiar shapes that no amount of years could remove. They were just a few feet away, a doorway separating us as I stepped up onto the patio, a heavy feeling resting on my chest. This was it, just... had to knock on the door... the same I left without another word...

"You're always like this! What else are you going to do in your life, huh!? Waste it out there, without making anything of yourself!?" Vega bellowed in my face, this was almost the norm, and with both our parents still working we were alone without the parental restraints pulling us apart, and tonight was the final straw

"Oh, I'm making nothing of myself?" I motioned to myself, scoffing. "Says the idiot who acts more like a stuck-up noble from Canterlot because he has some fancy, shiny armor, and muscles, oh, well done on becoming an idol, you self-absorbed blood-sucker!" He looked shocked by the racist insult like I care

"I make a difference, for our kind, for Equestria! To serve next to Princess Luna is the highest of honors, something you could be if you just--"

"Just what, huh!?" I snapped, shoving my hoof against his chest. "Just give up on the skills I have, the passions I have!? Becoming a mindless, hoof-kissing lunatic like you!? Waste my years cooped up in some shiny castle up on a mountain when I could be exploring the world, discovering Equestria's lost secrets and rebuilding a world forgotten by Ponykind!?" My blood was seething, and my throat was hoarse from yelling

His brow twitched, and he finally put his hoof down. "Do you want to end up like Grandad, risking your life for some... pointless glory?" That line had my breath catch as I froze in my pace, staring back at my brother who just continued to yell despite his ignorance in his words, but it was all white noise to me, the bangs of my mane covering both my eyes

"...how dare you..." My murmur shut him, alongside the sharp crack of my hoof against his muzzle that threw him against a small table, knocking both himself and the small piece of furniture over in shock as his nose ran with blood. He didn't dare speak, tears flooding my eyes as they left no trace other than scorn for the pony below me. "Dad doesn't so much as say 'hello' to me... Grandad acted more like my Dad at the very end... and you find it in your heart to use his name mockingly?"

"I--"

"Shut up!!" I threw back the small table he picked up, still cradling his broken, bloodied nose. "Don't you ever say that about him; Mom and Grandad are all I have left! You want to take my Mom from me too when she gets back!?" I shoved my hoof against his chest again. "Convince her to send me off to your stupid Princess like a good little slave!?" I stomped toward the door, grabbing my empty bag. "I'd rather die than give a single ounce of my energy toward serving her... don't ever call me your sister again... we're not siblings... we haven't been for a long time..." My voice broke while I swung the door back. "Goodbye... Vega."

"No, where... where are you -- Wait, Yui!" By the time he figured it out, I had ran from my home, tears streaming down my face by the time I found the cynical Maine, from there, I got together some supplies and ran from Blackrock Hollow

I hesitated, my hoof removing itself from the door as I stepped back. That night was the last time I ran through this door, from my old life. What would have happened? Would we still be fighting? Would I stop fighting it and join the Night Guard? There was no reason to question that now, even if that's still his intentions I don't plan on turning my back now, I have a life I'm proud of, and with Zen, we've saved lives and fought monsters that would otherwise threaten Equestria. Hmph, where was the 'Honorable Night Guard' when they attacked Ponyville?

Stopping at the lip of the step, I took one look behind me, imagining Zen standing with that dumb smile of his, holding a thumb up to assure me everything was okay, that alone was enough for me to smile at. Again, I hesitated, hoof inching away from the door's wooden detailing.

Ultimately, my hoof reached out.

*Knock-Knock... Knock*

I bit my lip, feeling my bones root to the ground as I heard the hoof-steps behind the door, each made me tremble like my heart, and even with words and sentences of what I should say, it all ended as a jumbled mess. The handle was pulled and the door swayed back in tandem with my hood.

To greet me was a light grey mare with a long, beautiful violet mane, the tail just as amazing. Under her bangs, my eyes reflected off of her own, scarlet orbs as they blinked, taking in my probably nervous expression as I begged my lips to move, to say something, anything! But I couldn't, no matter how many times I thought of it, what to say or do, it all fell apart under one, simple fact. What can I say? What words can even begin to make up for two years, vanishing off the face of Equestria?

The older mare... my Mom's eyes widened for a brief moment, but her muzzle remained shut, taking in my posture and my rouge-like aesthetic, I probably look like a mess. Slowly, I tried to register the tiny, motherly smile crossing her face. "Look at me..." I did as I was told, lifting my eyes to see her hoof press to my cheek, and I felt no inch of my body move, my heart had skipped a beat. "...You've gotten so much bigger..."

Dammit... my legs caught up to me as I embraced my Mom without question, her own hooves pulling me in closer as I buried my face into her shoulder. Sniffing back the tears I smiled, pulling away. "I'm sorry I took so long to come back..." Her hoof reached up to tap against my forehead, herself holding in a laugh

"Don't you start apologizing now," She hugged me again, stroking my mane. "You're home, my little filly is home and that's all I care about." She bent her neck back momentarily. "One second -- Hey, Caleb, get your butt over here!" That made me giggle as I heard more hoof steps approach, and I almost shrunk back out the door if not for two moves pushing me into the surroundings I had almost forgotten the look of. "It's okay, I promise." Reassuring as Zen, that's what kept me here, the assurance of my choices, if not for Zen I'd never have considered this

Stepping in from the hallway to the back left of the house, a stallion with a matching coat and tint of leathery wings. He wore a blue scarf too, just roughly hiding a long scar to the left side of his neck and cheek. His mane was a messy ash-grey, eyes a cool lilac coloration. He wore a rather stoic expression, it almost never changed but right now, I saw the faintest of surprise overcome the fixed frown, contorted to wonder as I stood still, scratching the back of my head.

Keeping my eyes adverted a held a sheepish smile. "Uh... hi," I breathed. "I'm... sure you have alot to say to me, huh?" I heard hooves pick up and soon I was pulled back into a tight hug as I just stared ahead in shock.

I didn't know if I should return it or just stand there or even yell. Why, why was it now he cared? I was so scared and alone that I only had Mom and my Grandad... they were the only ones who gave me a chance... so why? "I..."

His hoof patted my head. "...there is no excuse someone like me has... because I let my own feelings cloud what I desired most in my life..." His hold grew, and so did the beating in my heart, I bit my lip to hold back the gates. "...I should have supported you..."

A tear broke free, "I was so scared, I... after Grandad... after he..." I couldn't even say it, hearing Zen say all those things back in the Everfree I... I wish he was still here... "I just felt so alone..."

"I know... I hate how it took losing you for it to finally sink through my thick skull," I heard him chuckle as he pulled away, facing my Mom. "Your Mother helped hammer the last nail in."

"And let me tell you, not the first time I've had to do that," She huffed with a sly smile. Both then hugged me together as I relaxed, those feelings before melting at the stupidity of my worry, but justified in some way until now. It would take alot more to undo all the sour memories, but this was one I wouldn't let bitter under the past

"Hey," ... "What's going on -- Y-Yui?" Pulling away from my parents I faced the final pony, and undoubtedly the most I felt conflicted about, this is what I get for not thinking ahead to get Zen inside the city but I guess he would have told me this was my issue to face alone, and I will

My brother stood, same grey fur only his eyes were our Mom's, his mane was a dark purple, spiked up while his tail remained combed. He was wearing the silver and midnight blue armor I have grown to dislike, he wore it so proudly too. From the expression he wasn't expecting me, completely flabbergasted for a mere moment before the sternness in his face returned.

If I wasn't so quick to observe I'd have missed him flap his wings to make a B-line for me, his hooves picking me up into a hug as his smile returned, and despite everything I did too, laughing in his hug after he finished his spin through the air, setting us down. "So, the little rouge decided to return home,"

"Aw, did someone miss me tormenting him?" I cooed, ruffling his mane and ruining the style completely. I swore my Mom wiped a bead of sweat from her brow as our Dad sighed, I don't blame them. Both of us took a step back as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully

"You've grown so much, hardly the 'little flower' I remember," From his tone it wasn't a bad thing as he waved his hoof. "It doesn't matter if you've changed, you're still my sister." Now that I had to hold back on a foul memory of. "Still, what brought you back?"

"That I think we all would like to hear," Dad replied evenly, or until all our ears flicked toward the sound of a hoof knocking on the vacant front door. "Yes, come in?"

Turning we saw -- "You!" "You?"

It was the mare, Topaz Cut, right-hoof of Captain Armor of the Royal Guard. She looked ragged though, or until she spotted me with a bright glint of anger in her eyes as I shuffled back with a nervous laugh. "Hello again, sorry I didn't give an introduction but we were on a tight schedule." I held a toothy smile as she stomped toward us. "You're not still hung up on the whole, running away thing...?"

"Ah-hah! Told the Captain I might find you both here!" She grinned with a mad look in her eye, then frowned as she looked around my home. "Uh... well, found one of you -- Hold on, I had something to say to you both but one's good enough!"

"You!" She started to recite, "... do you and that... smart, smug... irritating friend of yours understand how hard it was to explain to the Princesses," She stood before me, stomping her hoof angrily like a child throwing a tantrum. "You know? The two monarchs of Equestria? Why I couldn't so much as complete a simple escort!?" She was inches from my own muzzle as I smiled happily

"Nope because by then we were probably miles from Ponyville, sorry~" I waved, my family, watching me with eyes wanting more answers, but then Topaz sighed, standing back. "Just for the record, Zen isn't here right now so you're out of luck if you expect me to rat him out."

To her grumble she nodded. "Yeah, I expect as much, you both ran the last time, no, I'm working here with the Night Guard, more specifically with him." She poked a hoof at my brother, oh great...

"Why are you here anyway?" Vega asked

She rubbed a hoof down her muzzle bitterly, then gulped at the sight of my brother's impatient hoof-tapping. "Uh, right! Yeah, sorry, I... weeeee may have a small, big, massive problem, ehehehe..."

Whatever tension that had built popped with her notion. Before a voice could prod for more information, the answer bellowed like a warhorn across Blackrock. A scream that stretched like a while with a banshee's wail added in, there was just no other way to describe such a horrific noise that pierced our eardrums. Topaz shook her head, rubbing her left ear.

"And it's very close,"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Quite a lot for this chapter, also, I hate describing cities and towns so I apologize if it's not great. I hope you enjoyed, thank you for all the support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 20 - Strength of the Soul
Blackrock Hollow is in peril, and only two have the power to prevent its destruction.

Chp. 20 - Strength of the Soul

Why do these things always happen? Guess Zen's just a magnet for these rifts, that can be a good thing, makes it easier to track them down, what isn't is having them show up at the most inconvenient of times.

Myself, Topaz, and my family ran out to investigate 'what' exactly Topaz meant, and from the sound of the monster it was furious, unlike any I've heard before, I could feel it's rage. Along the streets we could see smoke rose from houses, and the atmosphere turned to dark tone, the cries of battle and fear raging on with a rhythm of flashy eruptions that were drawing closer. The indications were the explosions; Wood and stone were thrown into the air, some knocking a few Night and Royal Guard ponies from the air.

"This is bad, how could something like this slip through the gate?" Mom murmured, and from my parents' expressions, this was completely unexpected. With a heavy sigh, my Dad looked to Topaz

"Topaz, was it?" She turned to his attention. "What exactly broke through the line? There is no reason to act rash without atleast knowing what the threat is."

She nodded, rubbing her chin. "I didn't get much of a look before I ran to the barracks, then all the way over here to inform Vega, but it was big, probably the size of the Princesses put together, as for attacks--" Another explosion erupted from the corner of the street. "Fire, lots of fire."

"What about our forces? Did they weaken it?" Vega inquired, but from the pained look on Topaz's face I think the answer was obvious

"They... it just swatted them like flies, I've never seen such power, not in whatever it was." The disgruntled look was shared, whatever it was, we'd see it soon enough if we lingered any longer

Dad closed his eyes as though to envision the monster, but I had no time for any of this, we needed to get out of here, and I need to find Zen, I can imagine he heard the noise or his ruby went crazy. Another roar of the beast and the smoke blew across the street, blinding us with rubble and ash for a moment. "Everypony get back!" Vega's hoof pushed me back, and the shadow loomed with a familiar snarl.

"No way..." I must be light-headed or delirious, but from the smell of ash and distant carnage created by the monster, there was little room for doubt or misinterpretation. Through the plume of smoke and embers, a single, bright-red eye blazed through the darkness

A large thresh of the wings dispersed the smoke, the flames hummed to the strong coloration of purple, the gradient of the wings lime-green with moss, the same could be said for the spined tail. There was a noticeable scar through the left eye-socket, leaving behind the right, glowering eye with a red contrail. The left ear was also missing. It was him, Yian Garuga, the very same one from the temple

"Oh come on! Zen and Mira dropped two tons of water and rock on you!?" Filling in for Zen's absence and the fact this thing made my ears bleed one too many times, all eyes were drawn to the monster now stomping toward us. My eyes shot back to my family, and panic boiled in my chest. "You need to go -- W-wait, don't just--!"

My brother the idiot lunged through the air, the tail missing him as he spun back around, a sword snagged between his teeth as he nose-dived, there was a streak of silver, and my brother landed at the monster's side. His expression morphed with horror as the shards of his sword clattered to the ground, and Yian bent down to stare directly at him, snarling like a crocodile.

Without a second to spare, Vega flew back, but the jaws clamped down on his armored leg, thrashing him down into the ground before us, talons plucking at the ground under it as it roared once more, charging toward us as Topaz helped Vega to his hooves alongside my parents. This monster would be on us in seconds, guess there's no choice...

From under my cloak, I threw a moon opal to the ground and crushed it, bringing the dust closer to my muzzle. "Meditor." The particles flew off my hoof, the words reacting to the pale-blue dust as it expanded into a small cloud of mist, a second later, and Yian's head buried itself in an abandoned house opposite our own, the bricks and tiles collapsing atop its frame for the time being. "What? Zen's not the only one with tricks you know."

"Amazing, you can use magic!?" Topaz grinned out of her stupor but I wasn't smiling, pulling my brother forward with a glare

"Are you an idiot? A basic sword can't so much as scratch its scales, you'd know this if you didn't run in before I said anything!" No response and I pushed him back, seeing the wyvern slowly shaking the stone off its body. "We need to run, this thing's even angrier than the last time I encountered it, and believe me, that time it was alot less volatile."

"Yui, just what exactly is this monster?" Dad faced me evenly and I finally broke a small smile

"Dad, if I told you, one, it would take too long, and two, you wouldn't believe me." His hoof on my shoulder tightened, and no trace of humor was left on his face, I don't think there ever is

"Try me."

The moment shattered under a hail of bricks and wood, and in a heartbeat a tail swept across the street, throwing all of us back. The contrail swaying back and forth before it solely landed on me, a gurgling growl emanating from its throat. This is bad, I could try another reflect spell but that won't keep it disorientated for -- "That's it! Everyone, cover your eyes, quick!" I had little time to ensure they listened as I withdrew a small flask from my bag

Covering my eyes from the white material housed inside the bottle I smashed it across Yian's face, feeling some of the air around me heat up spontaneously followed by the pained cry of the monster as it stumbled back, knocking into lampposts and walls trying to rub its eyes under its wings. Knew ordering some white phosphorous was a smart investment, thank you Everfree tower.

"Okay, I'm out of party tricks, let's move!" I helped my brother to his hooves as we quickly ran down the street toward a small courtyard that created an intersection between streets, if we took the right we'd make a B-line for the market and in turn the majority of the Guard ponies. Course, we have a very angry bird on our tails too

"You were always a quick thinker," Mom ruffled my mane as we ran, exciting a chuckle from me

"I learned from the best," Having a Mom as a master alchemist would lead to a few tips and tricks being picked up. My ears twitched again, and I pulled my brother to a stop as a shadow collided with the way forward. Yian swept the street we needed to take, rising high to fire a startling barrage of fire blasts to littering the courtyard, decimating benches, the road, and a tree in the process. Since when could he do that!?

"Okay, that hurt," Topaz groaned next to me, the two of us at the frontline of this monster's carnage as it slowly stalked toward us, fire licking its teeth, the wings twitching with uncontrollable frenzy. I couldn't properly form a single line of thought as it threw itself toward us, chin raised high as the large underside barreled down with a large gust of hot wind

"...yeet!!" The snap and electrified crackle in the air slammed against Yian's face, a pair of black feet sinking against the scaly face with a sharp, crimson splash of energy, tossing the crazed bird across the pavement and into another wall with a howl. "Made it, with an awesome entrance to boot might I add!"

"You again -- well, I guess it's a good thing you are here," Topaz sighed, dropping her anger for our abrupt runaway for the time being

Despite the severity of the situation, seeing the familiar black and blue wolf standing over me was a comforting sight. Helping Topaz sit upright, Zen knelt down with a toothy grin, bobbing a thumb back at the downed monster. "How come two tons of rock and water didn't stop him?"

My hooves waved outward with a scoff. "That's what I said! But clearly it needs more than that," Shaking my head I smiled. "How'd crossing the gate go?"

Zen shrugged. "They left the door open so I just walked right through," Of course he did. His smile dropped, ears standing on end. "Get your family and get going, I don't know how but the manifestation's taken on a new form, but it's the same Yian," Zen revealed the ruby to me. "I... I didn't even check to see if its essence was stored, and now its turned into a Dead-Eye Yian Garuga."

My expression deadpanned. "Seriously? Who comes up with these names?"

"File a complaint to Capcom later, you need to go," He motioned to my family, the three of them watching us curiously, but now Yian was recovering, coughing up dust. Not to mention Topaz looked to still be processing mine and Zen's one-sided conversation, having not said anything for a good minute. "Yui... please."

My hoof shoved itself against his chest, pushing the ruby against his fur. "I handled myself just fine alone before you swooped in, thank you very much," Standing tall I pushed my muzzle against his. "Do I look like some Princess in need of saving? I saved your sorry hide a few times too," Pulling back I held my wing up. "Mira isn't here to give you an advantage, so let me help you."

In a direct confrontation, I'm useless, especially since this creature is by far the most volatile, but I can still try in my own way. The look in Zen's eyes, he always overthinks everything at times like this, about me, himself, others, and what the monster is capable of, it was endearing, with a solemn sigh, he held out his fist, smiling with a glint of challenge in his eyes, one that I happily mimicked, curling the tip of my wing to bounce off his fist.

"You win, and I've got a plan," I followed his mirthful eyes toward the corner of the buildings to our right, there, a large water tower used for emergencies such as, oh I don't know, a town burning. But one look at the untouched tower atop the elevated land, roughly twenty feet higher than us, I realized exactly what Zen had in mind. "Think you can give Yian a good soak for me?"

This was good but again, "But last time you dropped a ton of water and it's still standing, what makes you certain this time?" But the only answer received was him lifting me high and throwing me to the left, rolling back himself to evade a chin slam from the monster

"This time's different; I'm counting on you, Yui!" Again with his confidence, it was almost unfair sometimes, how he can be so confident despite the pressing danger. When this is over, I'm going to tell him... I will tell him!

[Zen's POV]

Not exactly the way I wanted to -- Ack -- Be meeting -- Dammit! -- Yui's -- Son of a! -- Parents! The third chin slam against Protect shattered the barrier, performing a handstand I swung both legs around with a bronze glow, the double Brick-Break blindsiding Yian across the glowing eye as I hopped over the sweep of the hazardous tail of his. One drop of that poison and I'm dead for sure.

Flying back I lobbed two Aura Spheres before it could use that flaming barrage, landing I slapped my paws together and withdrew Bone Rush, spinning it to face the wind pressure building around Yian's form for within seconds of preparation the ground under the monster broke apart to its blinding hurdle toward me, With a quick Swords Dance I blocked the charge with the staff, wincing as I was dragged along for the ride, my feet digging across the cobblestone road.

The strength behind this hypercharge of its... I can't hold it back for long. Yian's red-eye brightened at my struggle, the groan of my steel-like bones became more audible with each stomp of its powerful legs. Grinding my teeth down hard, I pushed with all the strength I could muster, my perception of the world stretching and fading into obscurity with every fiber of strength in my body. With a flutter of the wind, Yian screeched, landing in a heap on the floor as my body ricocheted off of the buildings at a speed exceeding any Quick Att -- No... this was... Extreme Speed! "Haha, my turn!"

I could barely track the word, my aura made it visible but all smudges as I focused, bouncing off and over many objects as the details slowly catered to my new velocity, like a person freezing time, my perception was a crawl, Yian was confused, eye unable to keep track of my sharp stops and starts. At this speed, I can take out that tail. The last drop of fine lines written in aura burst to life and my feet burned a streak of blue flames from point A to B.

One left cross with the polearm, landing I shot across the right, then spun back around to create a zig-zag down its spine, followed by twirling the staff across the tail, seeing the scales break under the force. Landing, my arm moved like a blur, thrusting the endpoint against every visible weakness I could exploit, chips and webbing across the scales and skin spreading for a final twirl in both hands, lobbing the staff across the underside of the chin so hard it shattered, ending the Extreme Speed with a glorious hail of blue shards and a ring of sound through the air.

Wasn't expect that. I ran to my right, evading the hypercharge again, but the stomp of those talons forced me to cross my arms, the translucent barrier diverting the wyvern's course into another tree that it simply splintered as the tail skewered the ground, hoisting the body back around to slam into me while my paws threw an Aura Sphere to trip up the erratic bird before it could leave the square.

Yian's body snapped back through the air, teeth glowing marigold and orange; I flipped off my right foot, evading the hail of flaming attacks as the burnt up the square. His body twirling to my back and he repeated the action, layering the surrounding field in my weakness as it slammed back into the ground, fanning the flames with both wings as Yian flipped backward, Quick Guard deflecting the potent poison from touching me but it didn't prevent my body from slide through the flames.

Through the fire and flames another low-bearing swing of the tail forced me back, another two Aura spheres bounced right off its face, the jaws snapping down to peck at my feet, then Yian whipped its tail around, the spines throwing me into a wing that clotheslined me. I rolled under another chin-slam, my right fist shrouded by darkness as my left glazed over with frost.

A helix flip to avoid the tail I brought both arms down in a cross-chop over its back, a large arc of ice and ghostly ectoplasm forcing the Yian down for my feet to press down on the snout, its eye resting on mine as a purplish-white glow hissed between my jaws. To counter, flames gathering between teeth as we roared, a torrent of flames against the thunderous cry of Dragon Pulse as both energies reacted dangerously, the resulting impact throwing us both across the cobblestone, my fur singed and Yian's body gashed and bleeding.

With a tremor in my legs, I forced myself back into a jog, Metal Claw tearing through the flames as Yian dove into a backspin, the tail scraping with my claws as I lunged, slicing across the softer underbelly, stepping aside as it landed, sweeping again with the tail while bringing its nose down to peck at my locked claws, each jab pushing me away. It brought the nose down, then swung back sharply, the tail shattering the claws, and in turn, scratching my right shoulder.

Like a heartbeat, my body succumbed to the effects of the Deadly Poison. A potent ailment only Dead-Eye and Dreadqueen Rathian have, and if its the same one as those two from the older generation use then I might not have any energy left to fight if I wait it out, aren't I immune to this stuff? Must be Monster Hunter's mechanic overriding Lucario's type immunities. Great, that's one more thing I'm not immune to. I doubled over at that moment, coughing up a sticky, purple substance as my vision swayed almost hypnotically to the contrail on Dead-Eye's face.

I could barely stand, this is bad, very bad. The poison won't kill me but I'm going to feel its effects if I don't act fast, though everything is becoming fuzzy I can still use two moves. Before Yian could exact its vengeance on me I held a pained grin and used Quick Attack to lob my body across the pavement, each bump was numb like pins and needles in places as I slid behind a burnt tree that had fallen over. Next, I felt nothing.

"I... have to... to rest... need to..." I lost my voice, my body slumping against the ground as my vision completely cut to darkness, the last thing I heard was a roar and flames

. . .

. . . . . .

"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘭..." Her voice again. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬... 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭... 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥..." A sigh, then a pleased hum. "𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

There was feeling again, and my eyes snapped open. I sat up, spotting many of the so-called 'Royal and Night Guards', the two divisions banning together to take on the crazed wyvern that left fire and chaos in its wake, swatting the flyers down like pests, while the flames battled the ones with magical barriers, forever caught in a deadlock while those who remained were disposed of with stomps and slams of Dead-Eye's body.

"Thanks for the pick-me-up, Trinity," The last of the pink glow faded and I was feeling good as new. Narrowing my eyes, I bent down with my fingers to the ground, legs bent for a sprint as the wind gathered in a pressurizing force, the glint in my eyes acquiring its own contrail. "I got a nice 'Rest', appreciate your compliance, Dead-Eye."

It was almost time, had to finish this now! Extreme Speed! With a brief blip through the air, both my feet caved the wyvern's snout in, the multitude of kicks followed with pushing Dead-Eye away from the ponies as I kicked off the nose, twirling through a hail of fire. He flapped back, spraying another bombardment to blanket the already charred area in more waves of embers. Up to my right, I saw the shadow begin to sway, and my time was down to the last few grains.

Pushing off the ground I slammed numerous fists and kicks into Yian's form, swinging my body around by its ear to land a nasty Aura Sphere between the spines and nape, hearing it wail as we fell from the sky, the head slamming into the concrete while I spun around, my right fist overflowing with a bright blue light that I felt connected to people freshly in my mind. Summer, Taka, Kazu, Asher, Merry, Mom, Dad, Trinity, and Yui, all of it amalgamate between both my fists.

End of the line, Yian Garuga, "...Return..."

Opening my eyes again, I smiled and bridged the gap between myself and the surge of flames bubbling from within Dead-Eye. My left cross brought Yian's head away from me and the ponies, the flames burning out. With the neck exposed, I stomped once and bent for the right hook, burying my fist through its neck with a satisfying crunch against my knuckle, the reverberating force casting the wyvern across the square, but it didn't stay down for long, but the wings fell limp, and it was panting.

Before it could so much as squawk, I poked my finger high comically. Yian's eye slit, and it roared--

*BOOSH!*

Everypony in the area winced as the water tower was dropped atop the wyvern not a moment too soon. The contents gushed from the wooden frame that splintered under Yian's spined body. With an icy mist exhaled from my mouth, I slammed my fists into the ground, the wave of frost snaking across the body of water before it could disperse, the result was a glacier of ice that imprisoned the Dead-Eye for good, the last of its cries forever frozen on its face as snow fell from the tips if the jagged glacier.

I held my scarf up, smiling as a few more motes of red joined with my ruby. There were cheers and applause behind me, but I focused on the Bat-Pony happily swinging her hooves over the edge of where the water tower previously stood, a prideful smile plastered across her face as she saluted me, and I reciprocated the action.

"Thank you, Zen." Her thoughts came through loud and clear

I merely rolled my eyes her way,"You dropped the water tower like a bad habit, so thank you." I chuckled, flopping back onto my haunches, stretching as the crowd continued their cheers

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

So, what happens when I give the crazy poisonous Dead-Eye the same fire barrage Scarred got in MHW? This nightmare apparently. I was kinda worried that using the potent poison would have been bad since there's almost no abilities Lucario has that heals status effects, then I remembered Rest and was thankful.

As for how long it takes for the effects of Rest to work I'd say roughly a minute, given the numbers distracting Yian (Because I doubt the Royal Guards would just do nothing) and the fact Zen's not conscious during that time so he's at greater risk, I gave Zen the benefit of the doubt. I hope you enjoyed, thanks for all the support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 21 - One Step Forward, Another Back
Blackrock's repairs after Yian's rampage roll by smoothly, but there is still tension that Zen must bite his tongue for between Yui and her brother.

Chp. 21 - One Step Forward, Another Back

"Little more to the right!" I shuffled my feet across the scaffold. "Hold it there for a moment," I did, pressing my claws against the pallet over my head, feeling the load lighten gradually. "Perfect, you can drop it now!" Lowering it down the scaffold, I handed the pallet down to the those of the Royal Guard, even without wings or magic they sure had the body strength of ten

Up above, the Bat who looked like your standard foreman of construction waved a hoof to me. "Nice work, lad! But you sure 'bout workin'? After all you've done?"

"I caused some of the damage during the fight, it's only right I help clean up my mess," I offered back, then flexed my right arm, patting the firm slim muscle. "I feel fine, maybe a little exhausted but still raring to go."

He nodded, handing a beam over to two more Bats to carry up the large wall of the house damaged by a previous fire blast. "We're indebted to ya lad and your lass, Yui, was it?" I nodded and he chuckled. "Luck favors Blackrock today, passing along you both!"

The damage Dead-Eye caused to Blackrock Hollow wasn't massive, but many buildings and roads were torn apart, and the square where I fought the Deviant was the worst, being burnt and uprooted almost entirely, not to mention the corpse was still being defrosted thanks in-part to Yui dropping gallons of water for me to use Ice Punch on. Had it not been for Rest I may not be standing so proudly. Had I forced Yui to run... there might not be a Blackrock anymore.

Wonder what Yui's doing now? "Hey, Zen was it?" Jumping from my stupor I spun my head down to see two Bats waving to me. "Mind giving some of us a hand offloading some more wooden beams, should be all we need to fix these houses in no time flat?"

"Sure, heads up!" I swung my legs up and over the scaffold, palms clapped together for the labor ahead. "Let's move it, people!"

[Yui's POV]

Back at my home, I could finally relax after the crazy course of the day's events, from arriving back home, facing my family again and more recently the fight with Yian Garuga, who was dead for sure this time. I dropped a water tower on it, I'd highly doubt anything could get up after that, let alone after being frozen in a glacier. I wanted to help out with the repairs myself but Zen was insistent on me spending time with my parents again, much as it was still bothering me that he wasn't back yet.

Sighing as I helped my Mom prepare dinner I kept my mind on Zen. "That idiot, he shouldn't be pushing himself," My dicing of the vegetables grew with precision under my irritation, I wasn't wearing my cloak so there wasn't much to hide my expression. "Perfectly healed or not I can't imagine he has any energy left by this point," "...idiot."

"Worrying over your friend will cut more than just the vegetables, sweetie," My Mom's remark made me drop the knife as I realized I had started digging into the chopping board. Holding my frown in a fine line she giggled. "I guess all that time away from home improved your cooking."

That made me smile bashfully, "I, um, n-not really... this skill is recent." I shuffled over to the pot to check the soup, using the same method Zen taught me before arriving here, and later thoughts of that night were quickly suppressed for the time being. Brushing my mane out of my left eye and behind my ear I added. "I've learned alot recently, medicinal herbs and how to use them, utilizing my wing more effectively..."

I heard the front door swing open and I immediately perked up, much to my Mom's soft hum, then my excitement dropped as it was just Dad and Vega, both looking a little drained from helping around Blackrock. Where is he? It's been like five hours? See if he's passed out somewhere it's his fault.

"How're the repairs around town going?" Mom asked them, both setting themselves down at the dining table, Vega looked more haggard than Dad, but his endurance would scare away dragons if he pushed himself

"Fine, given the extensive damage done by fires mostly, you'd expect it to take longer," He crossed his hooves. "But that Zen character's been darting back and forth with those crazy abilities of his, moving supplies and lending a hoof, or paw I suppose, to the repairs."

"Even though he was partially responsible, but yeah, he's still helping," Vega's remark made my stirring of the soup more furrow as I examined the rest of the pots to keep my mind away from anything negative. It's like he forgot it was me and Zen who both trashed the place and helped fill in for his useless flank

"I do hope he doesn't overwork himself, reminds me alot of you boys now that I think of it," That made me snort a laugh at my Mom's stern pout, a wing poking at the two paling Bats in the room. "You both better not exsert yourselves, I'll let today side given the circumstances, but honestly, learn from the past, Caleb, and Vega, don't go copying everything your Dad does," She smirked. "I'm not always around to say I told you so."

"Pfft, but it's worth it," I bumped my hoof to my Mom's as we giggled to the bemused boys behind us

We continued in silence for a few more minutes, everything was nearly ready, and I'm not sure how far Zen can go to send a thought my way, I'm not even sure how I managed to do it the last time, maybe he did it on instinct? He's gotten better with Aura over the weeks. Like all trains of thought, they come to an end when someone speaks to me directly.

"Yui, tell me," Vega began while I waved a hoof for him to continue. "Where exactly did you find that pet of yours, Zen?" My hoof froze over a pot, my ears twitched at the word. "From how Topaz reacted she certainly didn't like you both for something that happened in Ponyville, and those powers of its, he might very well be as dangerous as that monster that attacked us."

There was a tensed few seconds I stared down at the soup, my smile never faltered as I slowly moved back to lower the temperature of the soup, leaving it to simmer. "Vega, let me be straight with you; His name is Zen, he's not my 'Pet', and he has risked his life for me and dozens more against monsters just like the one you saw today," I put a hoof to my heart. "He's reckless, and idiot, and completely selfless... he might not care but I do, don't ever refer to him as another mindless animal around me again."

*Knock-Knock-Knock*

"...I'm sensing hostility, should I come back later oooor?" A muffled voice reached the door. Thank Luna. Stepping out of the kitchen I didn't hesitate to pull the door open to the sheepish expression on Zen's face. He went rigid, noting that I was pouting angrily at him. "Yep, I'm going back," My wing yanked him through by the tail

"Five hours. Five. Hours. Zen," Running a hoof down my muzzle I closed the door. "I get you can heal and stuff but I told you that doesn't work on stamina, and exserting yourself further, honestly," With a sigh I smiled and flicked his nose. "Come on, perfectly timed for dinner."

"Is that all he can say?" Vega pointed out and we both looked to one another then I motioned forward

"Right, well, nobody freak out, Zen's just gonna make it easier to communicate," At my assurance and the apprehension in the room, Zen cracked his fingers and closed his eyes for a moment, a faint wave of light blue enveloping those feeler-things on his head.

"There, everyone can hear me now, right?" Vega's head shot in every direction like a deer, my Dad merely raised a brow, does nothing phase that stallion, and my Mom... was now standing right in front of him, stars gathered in her eyes. "I'm having second thoughts..."

"You had a first thought?" I asked curiously with a nudge

"Yeah... 'oh fantastic' with a sarcastic drawl." He put his paw up with a stupid posh accent that had me stifle a chuckle

"Oh wow, perfect telepathy and translation into Equestrian!" She gushed over the ability a little more openly then I did when he first used it on me. "How does it work? With those things on the back of his head? Or is it magic?"

"Um... no, Aura, the energy produced by the soul," He stepped back and behind me while I tried to hold in an amused smile. "I'm using my aura to project my thoughts onto your own, so its a form of telepathy, it's how I used to speak with Yui before I made some weird magical-aura-thingy connection with her." He wiggled his paws at that, expression clearly stating he had no idea how he did that entirely

Mom leaned away, rubbing her chin. "Fascinating, a soul-bond, and a being capable of producing spiritual energy with ease, I've not heard of many sentient beings capable of such power..." Now she was starting to mutter to herself, so with a sigh and shake of my head I strolled back to keep the food from being overcooked as I dragged Zen along, himself looking between me and my Mom who was still falling down the rabbit hole

"Don't worry yourself, Zen," Dad spoke up, trotting over to shake Mom out of it. "Once she's starts contemplating there's almost no chance you can break it."

"And how do you--" We all winced as his hoof came swiping across Mom's cheek, her eyes blinking before she smiled

"Oh? Hehehe, blacked out for a second there, thanks, love!" She kissed his cheek before skipping back to us. I and Zen leaned close with a hoof and paw hiding out mouths

"Somehow alot of things about you make sense," He illuminated quietly. This closed off any rebuttal I could make, slumping

"Yep, welcome to my life." It is not a normal life but it is mine

[Zen's POV]

I feel really awkward still. You know Yui's parents are as she described them, her Mom is... scarily similar to mine, I could already imagine the destabilization of the country if both really put their minds together. Her Dad was... a completely different person, sure he was stoic and wasn't the kind of Bat-Pony to let his words describe himself more-so his actions, to which Yui's Mom happily recounted that I found very enjoyable. Both met within the Night Guard, and despite the polar opposite personalities both were great company.

Yui's brother, Vega was, in a word, respectful. He had a good story or two, and his reluctance to work alongside Topaz was apparently the biggest chain of events in his time up at Canterlot, turns out she's been the friend to help mellow him out, and it shows, no wonder they're working together for a joint operation, sadly he failed to mention anything about it. However, while I never made it obvious, there was simmering envy tipped toward me in particular, seems he doesn't like the fact I and Yui are so close, I'm praying he doesn't try to draw two-and-two together. Too much awkwardness for one day and this was about aiding Yui in healing her relations with her parents, which was working effortlessly.

"--it all happened in a flash, the Glavenus was tearing Ponyville apart, and yet a pack of small animals with powers that would make a Unicorn jealous swoop in to help Zen before the thing could lob his head off!" She elegantly described this point by drawing a hoof across her neck, my gaze flat at her chuckle

"You make it sound like I was completely helpless, I got swatted into a building to protect you," I jabbed my finger against her chest, seeing her stifle her laugh

"Which I'm grateful for, to you and to Taka," Yui slumped with a shiver. "I honestly felt my life flash before my eyes."

I took a sip of my drink, having met those flashing images plenty of times. "Be thankful it wasn't a normal Glavenus, they use fire instead of acid -- I'm weak to fire, remember?"

"You sound as though you've faced more than the monsters here in Equestria?" Violet announced, all eyes drawn to me as I let the list of names roll in my head like a track. FYI, no talky about the other world situation, the fewer headaches the better, just the stories of our adventures is enough

"Um, let's see. I've technically fought a whole roster of powerful monsters, but the ones in Equestria I've generally fought," I rubbed my chest gingerly. "Yian Garuga was by far the worst, fire and a potent poison that nearly killed me."

"And you're sure none of it is still in your system?" The look on Yui's face was sweet, and I know what she was implying, I thought I was fine after Nargacuga but its poison lingered in my body and nearly cost me fighting Acidic Glavenus, a mistake I don't intend on making again. Patting her hoof I held my thumb up with a comical wink

"Yes, certainly, absolutely." This whole idolization of me was starting to get a little embarrassing, so I cleared my throat and pointed to Yui. "So... you gonna talk about your magic powers or is this still a conversation to boost my ego?"

"I..." Yui lowered her hoof slowly, unable to make a counterpoint as Caleb spoke up

"In my years serving in the Guard I've only ever known one other caster who wasn't a Unicorn," His eyes reflected a great deal of earnest. "He did terrible things, using magic even Princess Celestia herself never knew of, and it always cost Equestria greatly," He unfolded his hooves, smiling gently. "But you are nothing like him, and your control over this 'Moom Magic' is fascinating."

What was this guy, a Necromancer, or something? Beside me, Yui was bubbling with glee at the compliment, clearly, the events of her past were thrown to the wind, and her Dad was supportive and meant every word, this was good, given all Yui#s been through she deserves it. Violet spoke up again with a motherly smile.

"Just hearing about your adventures is lovely, reminds me when I and your Father were younger... trying to save the world," He snorted at that, bumping a hoof to her shoulder

"You mean when we were trying to save it after we caused the problem?" That tidbit of information made us blink with surprise, and Violet's mouth hung open momentarily before shutting with a nervous smile

"You agreed with me about touching the cube." She crossed her hooves

"After I told you not to a dozen times..." He remained her, so she turned back to poke his muzzle

"But you and Red both agreed amongst yourselves, and you were the ones that found it to begin with..." I feel this was going to spiral out of control now

Thankfully, Vega cleared his throat. "They'll be doing this for a few minutes..." His eyes met ours. "I wanted to know, is that strange mist spell the only one you know?"

Yui shook her head. "Nope, I can mask myself and another from anyone's presence, and there's one more but I haven't had any real reason to use it given Zen's ability to be a one-wolf army." She smiled proudly at her talent in the arcane while I bowed

"Your words please me milady." She and I laughed after my horrid excuse for a posh, British accent, my ancestors would be ashamed

Vega chuckled himself, "Well, I thank you for taking care of my sister, she... can be a hooful," While he meant it, I too picked up on what he meant, and from how Yui's aura reacted to the term, 'Sister' it was still raw to her. "No one in the Night Guard can use magic outside of Princess Luna, and yours is similar toward her style, only with more breaking of opals than actual magic."

"The magic I use is connected to the primal source of Moon Magic, the same that the Princess uses," Yui elaborated, and that concentration on her face was back, almost like a teacher. So I rested my head on my paw and listened. "Before Princess Celestia and Luna were even born, the rulers prior to their rule held the wisdom and talents of the arcane, the power for all creatures across Equestria to harness magic from their primal sources,"

"Long ago, magic was a power anyone could use, it connected us fundamentally to the Earth and to magic itself. The history of that time is what I've been piecing together with breadcrumbs left behind, it's how I'm able to use Moon Magic because I copied the spells I found for later practice," Her expression said it all, wonder, pride, joy, the very qualities she portrayed as a Treasure Hunter, and I loved it. "Beings like Discord and Grogar have distorted Equestria over the centuries, and that era in our history has been lost ever since."

The two adults in the room were still going back and forth and hadn't realized the conversation had moved on. That being said, I wish it did for what Vega said next, "Amazing really, since the Night Guard is comprised of just us Bat-Ponies we're more accustom to infiltration and stealth over direct confrontation, so against Unicorns or other magical beings it's a pain," He grinned at the idea twinkling in his eyes. "Imagine having the same spells you use, and all you do it crush a moon opal and say a name, heh, we'd certainly be a force to be reckoned wi--"

"Not going to happen," Yui's answer was direct and immediate, finally drawing the two ex-Guards back to the chat, and the tension building. "I'm recovering lost magic that no other pony has seen in generations, you honestly believe it's a smart idea to just throw them to everyone willy-nilly?"

Vega scoffed, "You can control them--" She put her hoof up

"I've spent months practicing with dozens of Moon-type spells and only three I can safely use. The side-effects of using spells without proper training and control include, ahem; Magic exhaustion, magic feedback, deliriousness, fever, migraine, and sometimes, and this has happened to me once, a sickness that leaves you bedridden for three days, and yes I counted, the worst week of my life," Yui shuddered as I stared blankly at her

Compared to my moves which at first could cause muscles to tear or bones to fracture, Yui didn't have any form of healing like I have, alone she risked her well-bring to master just three spells alone, and I've just learned complete control in a matter of days. If my admiration for Yui wasn't already peaked it'd have grown higher, she... really is amazing. Heh, almost starting to feel a little unworthy to have the kind of relationship I have with her.

Vega grunted, clear animosity in his heart. But Yui knew better than any of us. Patting her chest she added. "I understand all of you are worried for me," Her only wing flapped. "I've been aware of my disadvantage for years, but I've taken risks time and again to make up for what I don't. I love you, but I'm a grown mare and capable of handling myself, so take my word, as an official Archeologist and explorer that I'm aware of the risks involved with this ancient magic and that I won't part with any of its knowledge so casually, not even to you, Zen."

I held my paws up. "I've got enough powers myself, you do you, Yui."

"That was very mature of you, Yui," Violet smiled, "Believe me, I too know of the dangers posed by relics of the past, so while my instincts are telling me to worry, as your Mother I trust you with all my heart."

"You aren't a little girl anymore, well, you are to me but -- hmm, you understand what I'm trying to say?" Her Dad was a little awkward about it but I think everyone got the message. That's what I'd like to say...

"...If this magic can help ponies across Equestria..." Vega started slowly, and I was reaching my tipping point with this guy, he's a straight asshole, full stop. "...keeping it to yourself is about the most selfish thing possible."

I was going to lose it, but I held the underside of the table with my claws, keeping my face as passive as possible. Yui... wasn't so keen on the same idea. "...here we go again, Vega, did anything I just say even remotely level with that thick skull of yours?" Her voice was cold and licked with venom. "I felt like I was dying for days after attempting one spell, and you want novices to try them? Are to dense?"

"We have the training and the appropriate measures to--" He was cut short by Yui's chuff morphing into a chuckle, then a full-blown laugh

"'You' have training? In what? Swinging a sword around in shiny armor?" She ridiculed. "Want to know how most villains appear through-out history? Power, they either crave it or are corrupted by it, that same corruption almost got to me but I was very lucky I didn't turn out like Discord or Nightmare Moon, and you think I'd ever trust ponies that have never used magic with spells as old as the Princesses? Seriously?"

With a huff, Yui stood up, "No, you know what? I'm done, I think I'll head off to bed," She was already making steady progress for the staircase. I wanted to stop her, but a felt a hoof press to my stomach, and there was the sadness that followed immediately after. Vega stood up from his chair and I realized why, so I bit my tongue and watched against my heart's reluctance

"So you're just going to run away again, seriously?" That forced Yui to stop, and rage shot back like an arrow plucked on a string. When she turned with a disinterested expression, Vega held a stern, and ashamed look toward her sister, I couldn't feel any trace of guilt on his part. "When things don't go your way you just run off, and you've said you've grown?"

"Yeah, which is clearly more than I can say for you," She fired back, stepping closer. "Unlike you, I've been pushing myself through Tartarus to get to where I am."

"Ah, yes, digging up dirt and finding cobwebs and old skeletons, hoarding ancient magic for yourself, yes, what an honor," He smiled smugly. "Me? I've been training day in and day out, put through back-breaking labor for the whole of Equestria while you went off and played explorer all day."

That alone stung inside Yui, and her rage started to boil like her face, twisted with disbelief and disgust. "'Back-breaking'? I nearly drowned no more than three days ago! Helped a monster that was being hunted by the same monster that attacked us today, you know, the one your compensation sword happened to shatter like a toothpick against! I've been there to help ponies fend off other monsters that would turn your so-called 'Night Guard' into mush!" Yui snapped, shoving her hoof against his chest

"Where were you when Ponyville was under attack multiple times by monsters? Where were you when Acidic Glavenus attacked; When a lightning storm conjured by Zinogre arrived? Where were you?" She stepped back, snorting with a scowl. "I'll tell you. Up in Canterlot, standing guard, following orders like a good little sheep doing nothing and getting praise for it while I spent months alone and risking every ounce of stupid luck I had."

"I am--" She slammed her hoof into the floorboards

"I'm not done!" She snapped callously. "I've been through so much in only two years, exploring caverns and forgotten ruins littered with traps, dangerous creatures, and curses that would give Discord a heart attack. I have recovered numerous pieces of history that you wouldn't even know about!" Clearing her throat, she recited masterfully. "The Royal Archive of Archeology and History ran by Doctor Steelhooves could easily recount my name for you if you don't believe me since we've frequently discussed the findings of my ventures, so don't talk to me about 'Labor' when you're a knight in shining armor who's never had his metal tested!"

There was a lengthy pause between them, a wave of simmering anger built and settled at the tipping point. Neither I nor her parents said a word. I understood why they refused to intervene, they had to let this end between them, one way or another. Inside of Vega was a hint of jealousy, primarily when Yui spoke of her achievements, and it was more prominent when it involved me. For Yui, it was spite, of all she's told me about him, and because he was the instigator for the majority of her anguish.

Compared to me and Summer, their relationship toward the other was completely messed up. Two years and this was all built up between in that absence. Finally, I felt eyes on me, and my expression remained neutral through-out. When one is lost for words, the next thing they'd do is go for the target's weaknesses.

Vega let out a hollow chuckle. "Tell me... Zen, what exactly is the extent of your abilities, huh?" Oh Jesus, here we go... if the roll of my eyes didn't make it obvious then I'm sure my disinterested face did

"I'm primarily a fighter, most of my abilities stem toward hand-to-hand combat, Aura is like magic if you want to be blunt," Was my straight answer, and that added to his scowl and scorn toward me. "Vega, don't say it..."

"Say what? That you've messed with Yui's head? That you could just as easily hide the fact your little fancy Aura tricks can mess with ponies' heads?" Was he serious? How far is this blind faith of his toward a monarch go? And if he's so jealous, why doesn't he admit it before he loses Yui forever?

"Are you that delusional? What the heck kind of excuse it that!?" Yui barked, but he swept his hoof back at me

"I'm not dumb!" Press 'X' for doubt. "--soul-bonds can occur naturally or by force by a possession-type entity, what's to say he hasn't just form that bond with you to use you, huh!?" If there was a cord hanging in the air, then it visibly snapped then and there

An empty, sad laugh escaped Yui's throat, her head sunk low, "...I can't believe it..." All our eyes were drawn to her, head low as I saw the ghost of a smile on her lips. "...I really wanted to try, I came back because I saw how much Zen missed his sister. When they reunited I... I wanted that, selfishly I wanted to feel that familial warmth too..." My heart broke at the sight of tears again, tapping to the floor. "...I wanted my big brother back, I'm an idiot...!"

She pulled her head up, a broken smile and tears too, if not for the warmth of a hoof rubbing my paw I'd have left this chair moments ago. Vega finally looked to Yui the same way I did, with pain and heartache for vastly different reasons. Yui stepped back, trying to wipe her eyes. "I hated this, crying when I shouldn't be... for a waste of space like you," She chuckled only once, but it came up more like a hiccup. "Shame on me, right?"

No words were spoken as Yui ran for the door, leaving behind her cloak as the deafening silence continued to crawl. Finally, that hoof left my paw, and I was greeted with a reassuring smile from Violet. Getting up, I bowed my head to her and moved past Caleb. Standing eye-to-eye with Vega, I let my scowl form, the feelings I harbored of a life I left behind resurfaced with only distaste for the pony beneath me.

"I have a sister, older one that is, she'd do anything for me, even if I hated it, even if we fell out with one another..." My voice was low but audible. "Yui is someone I will hold onto with every fiber of my being, she's saved me, been there when I needed her most... all those things should come from you too," I walked for the door, grabbing her cloak from the sofa. "From one brother to another, there's still a faint flicker of hope for you in her, you better hold onto that before your self-absorbed nature blinds you to that too."

"There's a forest park just east of here that overlooks the city," My eyes locked to Caleb's again. "She'll be there, make sure she's safe."

"Count on it, sir." With a wave, I took off with a crushing force of Extreme Speed, even if it hurts, it was worth it. I had one thing in mind that might help Yui, it might be the worst timing in the world, but how would I know? I never expected any of what's transpired in my life to go this way either. "Hold on, Yui, I'll catch up in no time." I have to admit, she moves pretty quickly

The locale Caleb mentioned was quite the sight, despite lack of sunlight, these trees weren't like the rest that were regulated by magic across the city, instead, I strolled through trees as tall as Pines, the bark a pale grey, the leaves dark green with a silvery sheen to them, like a silver grove. Following the dirt path up the hill, the view overlooked the majority of the city below lit up in a constant orange hue by lanterns with the aurora above. Unlike the night sky's ever-shifting tones, this one remained sparkling and all aglow.

Sat by the edge was the slumped form of the Bat-Pony I knew all too well. Slowing my approach I heard her sniff, a half-hearted chuckle leaving her lips. "You know I've gotten so used to telling who's who by their steps alone, yours in particular," Yui murmured as I stopped, holding onto her cloak tightly. "Heh, I really feel envious of your bond with Summer, you both can yell or berate the other and still be close, supportive, and I lost that, to pride and self-absorption, and for me... stubbornness, maybe..."

Much as I didn't want to, I frowned. "You're brother's an idiot, but not hopeless," I'm praying he takes my words to heart, for both their sakes. "Envying mine and Summer's bond I understand, but none of this is--"

"'My Fault'?" She refused to look at me, head shaking. "I've been second-guessing everything, what if I never left if I just... went along with it all, would that have been better? Would I and Dad be even closer? My brother the supportive sibling he once was? Would... would you and I... never have met?" That stung us both. "I... every time my mind reaches that point, the words, 'Would we have never met', now, it scares me, stupid as it sounds, I'm scared of never meeting you."

Finally, I sat down next to her, keeping her cloak behind me as she did the same with her eyes, hiding behind her mane with a pain-stricken smile. "You really wanted to meet my Grandad, I think that was the first time I considered the thought of going home... but then came the memories... of the night he..." Her head gently pressed itself to my arm. "I lost the one that supported me even more than my Mom, not that I blame her... and it was downhill from there... hehe," She was laughing hollowly, tears dripping down her chin. "I miss him... I miss how things were before but I don't know how I can fix it..."

I have sat and listened to it all. The fighting, the hatred and envy, the sadness and grief, all with a neutral outlook and calm mind much to the bleeding of my heart, I respected them all as just a background piece in a larger game I had no right to intervene in. Now, I understood and mulled over the details and the pieces, now... I knew what to say this time.

"You will figure this out, because... you are more than just a failure, if anything, it makes you just like me, faults in our lives that makeup who we are, and you," I pulled her chin to look at me directly, as my left pulled out her cloak to rest between us. "You are Yui Fox, the Treasure Hunter who isn't afraid to face down threats bigger than herself, who strives with a kind heart and smug attitude to reshape the history of Equestria with her own hooves, who has never been gifted with advantages but who built her own through the ridicule and heartache."

Her face was as I expected, confused, shocked, a wave of passion in endearing eyes. I've said it so many times but we both vastly different, I'm human and she's a pony, I had a great life and she's been through more than me. We've lost someone dear to us and changed because of it, and above all else, we, out of everyone else across two worlds, actually stumbled upon each other. And I couldn't be happier about it.

Her head bowed for a moment, perplexed. "I... you've been here for me, but... you still can say all these... things to me, no matter how bad things get, and when I do it I sound like a bumbling mess."

I pursed my lips, shrugging as I bashfully scratched the back of my neck. "I dunno, my mouth just works on auto when it's about the girl that I love," And that there was a perfect example. Yui's wears caught up a second later, her face slowly dipping back into the red as her face trembled at the words, trying to make some coherent sense

"I-I, um... you just, I'm just... aaaa... this is.. u-um..." Her hoof covered her mouth for a moment, then she buried her face in her cloak still resting in her hooves. "You... you chose now to say that, jerk!" I think the blush is starting to burn her cloak entirely

Chuckling at her embarrassment, she muttered something under the cloth, and I didn't quite catch it. "What was that?" I was praying it was what I thought I heard, a faint hope despite how stupid the timing is but, she was starting to regain her lost bliss, her aura brimming with more light than before with each passing second

I saw her eyes peek from under the blue cloth, a shaky smile on her face as the redness of her cheeks only increased. "I...I l-love you too..." Then she hid again with a whine, almost refusing to remove herself from the light-blue haven

Tugging it back, I smiled. "That wasn't so hard, right? Come on..." I pulled her chin up, trying to control my heartbeat from breaking my ribs

She kept her eyes low but was unable to remove that shaky smile on her face. I think if I ever recall any of this to my past, I'd chalk it up to a perplexing dream, the thoughts that swam in my head would never have occurred prior to my landing in this magical world. Does that mean I regret it, feeling the way I do for this girl with soft, lilac hair and endearing eyes of the same tone? The one that infected a dream by the ocean's waves long before arriving here?

My paw moved to rest on her cheek, and her eyes hid for a moment under her bangs, both shut softly as she and I drew closer, my own eyes shut to the glow of the world, feeling her breath brush against my lips.

Another push, and gingerly I kissed her, it wasn't with a need or a sense to overpower her own to effectively win in this little game. But soft, warm, and enough to set my soul ablaze brighter than before as I smiled through the gentle kiss. We pulled away, and my fingers remained in her mane, twirling a strand as we sat our foreheads against one another, softly smiling with a single laugh, a breath of relief as the woes of our lives were thrown away for a moment of serenity.

"Zen... I love you." "Yui... I love you."

No, I don't regret this feeling for the world.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Took them long enough to say it, am I right? My horrid humor aside, things are still heated between the siblings, lets hope a bridge can be made before it all falls away. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate all the support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 22 - Tempered
The ruby is calling to Zen once more, a final journey is imminent. Meanwhile, keeping his and Yui's relationship under wraps for a few days isn't as easy as they think.

Chp. 22 - Tempered

I was back again inside of the vast, blank canvass, no end or beginning in sight. And I was human again, which was a welcoming sight and sensation. Sitting with my hands propping me up, I faced Trinity in her human form, an easy-going smile forever plastered on her lips. "Hello again, Trinity, how's life?"

"Hmm, as complex as any God's role among the Multiverse I suppose," She giggled, leaning closer. "They say playing favorites is unbecoming of a God but when do I play by the rules, I like you like many others I've communed with outside the realm of Gods."

That notion alone felt touching, to even remotely speak with a divine being in such an informal manner was already alot, but to actually be liked by them puts all I know of Gods to shame, Trinity was as human as anyone else. "And I feel the same way, maybe I should pray to you?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Sweet at that is I find it strange when I'm prayed to, even now," Very well, guess it was time for the main topic still residing around my neck

"Trinity?" She sat down, legs crossed as I held out the ruby. "What exactly is the truth of this thing? I doubt it's to just house the essence of every manifestation," She lost her smile as my gaze lingered on the scarlet sheen. "I... it's shown me the way to the rifts, to Mira who was a monster pulled from another world too alongside a whole temple and... something else."

"I've seen," That lifted my gaze. "Watching your journey has offered me extensive insight into the abilities these chain of rifts possess, I am sorry you had to witness the darker side of that world's history," She kept her frown but she was anything but angry or irritated. "You and Yui have already done so much for both worlds, and the epicenter is near and growing, I can imagine the gemstone will lead you there in no time."

Trinity sat back for a moment, and with the flow of her golden scarf, the scenery changed, we sat within a long, white corridor aligned with many pillars stretching to crossroads and endless blank panels, between the glossy supports, paintings of colorful realms, some teeming with life, others barren wastelands and alternate times of many origins and works of fiction, the ceaseless chime of a clock passing by with a hum.

"Every aspect and thread of time exists among the Corridors, not many places exist within the linear timeline of the Multiverse, that's what makes alterations to worlds so moldable, and why rifts between them come and go like the sea," Trinity then reached forward, plucking a cherry-red thread from me and the ruby, another cord disappearing down two hallways. "These threads bind you, your friends and family, the ruby, and your world together."

"I see..." I said nothing more, taking it all in as carefully as I could. Trinity smiled again, though with a weight of sorrow

"If this ruby were to be destroyed, you would lose your connection to your home, to find it again among the centillion upon centillion of worlds would be nigh impossible, even with my help, I chose your world out of those with an almost minute chance of a rift within time-space occurring to reduce any lasting damage to both Equestria and your Earth by a grain of a chance," Trinity spoke simply and with a heavy dread that I to felt at times when I wondered the severity of the jewelry around my neck. "The power stored within the gemstone as of right now could reshape reality slightly if you so desired, but at the cost of the ruby's destruction."

I guess it was inevitable. Against all odds, I've gotten alot out of this 'rift-closing' business. I have awesome powers with a body unlike my human form, my closest friends are safe and happy, and now there's someone I couldn't live without. It was only right that one drawback came with all this unfair fortune. Am I afraid? Maybe a little, but that's natural, if I fail the whole of this world and Monster Hunter may suffer for it, billions across two worlds would suffer if I so much as lower an arm.

"I understand, Trinity," My head remained low, hand still clutched around the jewel tightly. "Just tell me one thing?"

She sat forward with eager anticipation. "Whatever you want to know, go ahead."

Waking up from my pleasant chat and with a new drive burning in my mind I blinked under the dark covers, the faint sign out the outside's glow brighter than it was at day, a strange phenomenon with the crystals Violet explained to me before, whatever time of day it is above ground seems to resonate with that of the crystals, magic if you're lazy and don't want the history lesson.

I couldn't exactly turn given the fuzzy and adorable Bat-Pony cuddling me like a pillow, her head resting under my arm as she slept with her mouth ajar, her mane all over the place, we were both a mess when we woke up, and this was the first proper bed in almost a week so it was well worth it. So... I'm in love with a Bat-Pony... man what a weird life I lead, I can imagine Rika cooing over how absolutely adorable it is and how much she'd probably taunt me for it. Taka would probably laugh then realize I'm serious, Asher and Kazu would be pleased, and Summer would just sigh and say 'finally' because apparently all siblings have that sixth sense, primarily sisters at times.

"You gonna keep staring at me or is this one of those, 'romantic' things?" To answer dumbly I blinked, seeing a pair of lilac eyes glow through the dark of the blankets with a sly smile. "Oh no, don't let me stop you," She waved a hoof lazily

"For someone who gets flustered easily, you sure do take to this quickly?" I remarked, nose poking against hers as she hummed

"Not my fault, you say all those silly... cheesy sentences like some cliche romantic novel..." She muttered but pressed back. "You're lucky I'm a sucker for compliments..."

She and I kissed again for a moment, each time felt like the first so that was a bonus, 'certain' thoughts kept at bay I pulled away, resting my head atop hers while Yui buried her muzzle into my neck. "Had a lovely chat with Trinity again..."

"Oh?" Her tone was curious and suggestive

"She was decent." I calmly added, she sighed

"So a boring chat then..." Like she wasn't thinking otherwise

"Moving on, she gave me some insight into the rifts, or atleast how the manifestations are appearing, there's an epicenter and its growing," I felt her lean back to eye me carefully. "I haven't had any images from the ruby, but... I feel it, we're nearing the end of this adventure, and... that scares me."

"I'm scared because it means that when it's all said and done if I can't stay here, or... or you can't come back with me; And I'll be human again without any powers, just ordinary-" Again, a pair of lips silenced me instead

"Shut up, you're talking nonsense," Words from my own mouth. Yui frowned then tapped my head with her hoof. "Cliche as this sounds, you don't need powers to be the Zen I know. You're strong, kind, reckless, and a hundred times cooler than me," Her smile warmed up. "And if we are separated, then I will still love you, because out there, I know you're still alive, and that I got to spend a fraction of my life with you, an unforgettable amount of time."

Yui shuffled over, sitting atop my abdomen while she stared down at me with a small smile, cheeks a deep red. "Try and top that, dummy," Given the fact she's sitting atop me I doubt I could with throwing her to the wall -- oh wait she meant with words. This girl... stupid, bloody body, of course, I've got all the traits that come with a body like this, fantastic

Holding my own smile, I sat forward. "No... I don't think I can," Yui then wrapped her hooves around me as she planted her lips firmly to mine, the force she applied knocked me back. We parted with a heavy, hot breath as the result led to my own cheeks tinging the same color. Ack, these strange feelings again, I can't even think straight...

With the sheets still covering us, we were alone in the dark, Yui pressed herself closer to look directly into my eyes and I couldn't look away from her soft expression. My arms locked around her waist, her mane fell down between us, as she moved her forehooves to rest at the sides of my head. Apprehension? Bliss? Desire? It was all swimming in my head, I'm certain the sane side of my brain is telling me off or to consider alternative solutions but I never did anything in my life without reason, how is this any different?

Her warm smile never left her face, but her voice trembled, "S-so... um, I think we-we're a little um, what's the word...?" Tilting my head forward to rest it against her own I sighed, myself thankful she said something

"Rash?" I earned a beaming look from her eyes

"Yeah, that," She quickly spun herself to lay beside me, both of us soon breaking into a soft chuckle. I think that given all that's transpired that was just enough, hearing her endearing laugh pushed aside my previous concerns. "Hey, n-not that I, you know, haven't thought of-"

"Ditto." She didn't need to say it, I'm a dude this stuff is somewhat out of my hands, I'm just glad I didn't have to sail the uncertainty alone. Deciding to break the tension some more I smiled devilishly as I brushed my lips to her ear. "You are rather sexy."

Yui immediately 'eeped' and tucked herself under the cover as I tried not to laugh too loudly into my paw, tears stinging my eyes at her reaction, followed strikingly quickly by her wing tickling my side, pinning me for her counterattack. "You think that's funny, you... you, dummy!" Her wing continued to pin my motions, spotting the toothy grin and crimson cheeks looming over me. "Don't mess with this one-winged hunter and expect me to go easy."

"I shall not fall to your devil trickery!" I proclaimed

Her hooves gestured toward herself, "Bring it you reference-spewing mutt."

Sometime later...

"Just down here... there!" Yui poked her wing toward the large stone walls incaging the barracks of Blackrock. Two watchtowers one before us and the other to the back right. And from just a quick scan of my aura, I could tell there were two main buildings while the grounds were filled with a combination of Night Guard and Royal Guard soldiers, either training or playing card games on some tables. "Alright, Topaz should be here,"

We approached the gate and as any trope would, two spears blocked our entry, the stern looks on the Unicorns faces solely fixed themselves to me. I wasn't in the mood to be dealing with formal invitations so I looked pleadingly to Yui, my lovely girlfriend sighed and pulled out her documentation. "I doubt this would fly but given the seal originated from the Royal Achelogical and History division it should be enough."

Both Guards nodded to the other and let Yui through, only for the spears to narrowly avoid taking my nose off. "Seriously..." Yui turned back to interject but then a gold aura overpowered the Unicorns', tossing the spears away

"Honestly, come on guys I told you to allow Yui and Zen access whenever they want, given how they solved a crisis we couldn't," Topaz didn't look so hot, her mane a mess and the dark circles under her eyes told us she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Even so, she managed a weak smile. "Nice of you to stop by, Heroes of Blackrock."

"Sorry Captain," They immediately saluted and retrieved their spears as we followed after Topaz who was already shambling back inside

"Thanks for that, Topaz," Yui bowed her head, but the Unicorn shook her hoof out

"Don't start, you both drove me up the wall with your stunt before... but," She lightened up. "You saved dozens of lives, so all's forgiven -- Now, mind making this quick my head's still spinning from reports coming in left and right," That brought her to a halt as she spun around and poked a hoof against Yui's chest. "Speaking of, where's you brother, that idiot should have to deal with this load too!?"

I and Yui eyed each other, Yui smiled and pulled her hood down to cover her embarrassed face, and I scratched my cheek. "We don't know, too busy with... plans, yeah, for our next venture." Please buy it, please buy it, please buy it!

Topaz sighed, running a hoof through her mane. "I'll use him as target practice later... so, Zen, what exactly do you two want?" I jogged around to stop her from entering the building to our right, holding out my palms. "Hold on, what--" Too late, I already cast the pink aura over her body as she went to protest, but her mouth shut itself and her eyes blinked wide awake. "Huh... I feel oddly rejuvenated, amazing,"

"I used Heal Pulse, should keep your morale from slipping for a while," It didn't do much for fatigue but atleast she probably doesn't feel icky. "As for what we want, it's about the Yian Garuga that attacked Blackrock, and... the rifts in general."

~---~

We explained everything we knew of the rifts to Topaz.

"I think I need coffee," Topaz rubbed her temples as she pushed aside her paperwork and scrolls to allow us a complete view of the Badlands on a map, detailing specified locations and I'm assuming troop movement and patrols. "Look, if this were anypony else I'd be saying things like, 'Classified' or, 'Only the Captain and I should know', but again, you two have history locking down these rifts where we've fallen short so if there's any chance you can solve this crisis so be it."

"You're the best!" I praised as Topaz smiled. "I was told there's an epicenter to the newer rifts manifesting as monsters, but nothing has come up to point me in the right direction."

Topaz nodded with a hoof to her chin, then she flicked a scroll open to read something. "Alright... look, things in the Badlands are alot like Ponyville, rifts popping left and right, monsters unlike any Equestria has seen, but the Badlands... only one monster has been sighted and consistently."

She unfurled a scroll, tapping a hoof to the page. "No pony has seen exactly what this creature is or where it goes, but at the edges of the Badlands the forests and jungles have been razed, fires expanded the wasteland while the shores were turned red with... everything it's killed, the water contained traces of energy unlike any we've seen before... and before I came for you both, one report listed the findings of a single scale, radiating with power that could rival over a dozen powerful Unicorns when examined."

The news was unsettling, a wyvern capable of so much... ecological destruction. Putting a paw over my muzzle I was afraid to say it, "...an Elder Dragon," THe girls looked to me as I lowered my arm. "Elder Dragons are capable of changing ecosystems simply by being there, some are given the name because no one can explain them, and others... because they are as the title entails, they are powerful."

"We've never faced one..." Yui murmured, and even Topaz sat back on her chair, tapping her forehead

"This is bad, Princess Luna is currently stationed in the Badlands with the majority of our troops, so tell me something?" I eyed Topaz, her voice, and expression dark. "Be straight with me, what's the Princess' chances against this creature?"

"Comparing this to the most powerful Elder Dragon I know..." I stared back just as earnest. "She'll probably win... but no one else will." Dread, thick and heavy as it slammed against us. The Princesses were powerful so I had no doubt they'd win, but the Guards? Nothing they have can possibly damage their scales, they weren't ready for a fight against a monster they've never seen before

Clicking my fingers I patted Yui's back. "Good thing you have yourselves a capable hunter of said Elder Dragons," I shrugged. "Sure, I fought them in a game but I know almost every Elder Dragon's weaknesses, moves, and even their origins if anything I'm the only one across Equestria that can so much as stand a chance at facing one."

"You always abandon caution..." Yui sighed, shaking her head. "But that's what got us this far, and besides, the more that can stand against this monster the fewer lives we'll lose."

"It's a longshot at best, but if this Elder is connected to the rift crisis then we owe it to everyone to try," I put my paw down before Topaz. "Take us to the Badlands, let me help save your Guard and together we can win."

Topaz was unsure for a long time, eyes glancing to me then to Yui, confusion and guilt ran through her veins, but also a fire that burnt at every word. "Okay..." She lifted her head, holding a hoof out to me. "I'll forward a report to the Princess, this time tomorrow the three of us are heading for the Badlands." That was easy

"You sure this isn't a little hasty?" Yui added, smiling with her brow raised. "Think the higher-ups might have your head for this."

Topaz scoffed, throwing her hoof across the desk to toss aside her notes. "Buck that! They can starve me in a cell but I'll be happy knowing I helped prevent a dark hour in Equestria's history from being stained with blood."

"Hold on, what about Vega?" Yui inquired, but Topaz blew a raspberry

"Screw him. He can sit here and do the paperwork he was 'assigned' to," That alone brought a hearty laugh to Yui as she held her sides as I joined in, the expression of seriousness on Topaz's face was priceless!

My body trembled with excitement, the end was drawing near but there was a sense of anticipation for the final battle that just had my heartbeat race, "Love it when motivational words come out! Like a real adventure!" I shook her hoof, and stood back, holding my arms out. "Alright ladies, I've waited a long time to say these words, perhaps the most important words ever spoken across Equestria!"

"Oh no..." Yui facepalmed, hiding behind her hood

"Yui, Topaz, we're going to save the world!!" Raising my fist to the ceiling I cackled like a madman with stars dancing around my head, all while both girls groaned bitterly at my triumphant words

"Dummy..." "I second that..."

Forcing Topaz into increasing labor work wasn't what I intended but the severity of it all was troubling, thankfully there's a railroad that would take us directly to the Badlands, so no more traveling my foot, though I wondered if I could get there faster with Extreme Speed? Questions for when the world isn't in peril.

Now, I had one last issue in need of resolving. The moment we were ready to leave for the barracks I had a small chat with Violet and Caleb, about a concern that wasn't going to just let go. If... if the worst does come to pass, I'd have done Trinity proud but one family remained fragmented, and I'll be damned if I let that remain before I leave Equestria behind, this may seem as though I'm treading in places I shouldn't, but for everything Yui's done for me, this was the least I could do.

"Right, so, promise not to hurt me?" I winced at the foot of her house, seeing her tap a hoof impatiently

"The more you say that the harder it'll be not to depending on what exactly you and my parents talked about." I sighed, close enough to a 'maybe'. Pushing the door open, I let Yui walk inside before I shut the door and moved around her, seeing her inquisitive face droop to a scornful frown. "I'm going to hurt you."

"Figures," I slumped against the table against the wall separating the dining stairway and hallway. Standing before Yui was her brother, and he too wasn't looking too chummy about the ordeal, hell, he threatened me when I told him he was, and I was being blunt, 'a genuine asshole who needed to pull the scabbard out his ass', but the second I said he'd lose Yui forever his tone shifted entirely

The deathly silence was unnerving, and I needed to break it and fast. CLapping my paws together I saw them both jump.

"Okay... I'd say this is an intervention but it's not, I just wanted to say that," I deadpanned, looking between the two siblings anxiously. "Look, I've seen both sides of this feud of yours, but one thing is baffling to me, Vega?" He looked up at me. "What happened? Yui told me you always looked out for her, defended her when others bullied or ridiculed her, but that changed the moment you came back from training with the Night Guard."

I held my paw up to Yui to keep her silent, our eyes all on Vega, and hidden in the hallway next to me were their parents. I had the weight of two worlds on my shoulders, but this to me comes first, selfishness be damned. Finally, after a pregnant pause, Vega spoke, "I... remember how Dad spoke of his and Mom's time in the Guard? All the fun but proud moments serving under a banner without a leader?" Yui nodded as Vega chuckled once. "I loved those stories... it what made me aspire to become a part it myself, to experience the same feelings, to fight with pride, and with those I could grow to call my friends, that hasn't changed."

He kept his head high, but his smile wavered. "I had a small team, we'd be assigned to the Guard under the same division, and I was their nominated captain of all things... then I saw how you've grown the time I was away training," He motioned to Yui with genuine pride in his eyes. "You were stronger, stood on your own hooves, you adopted some of my headstrong quirks too, and I was so happy for you..." He dipped his head. "But you... wanted to go down another road... to follow in Grandad's hoofsteps, to leave for the world beyond Blackrock... to leave me... and that scared me."

This was new, but again, no one spoke up, and Yui's expression was unreadable as I refused to look into her soul, "I wanted you and I to stand together, make each other strong, for Mom and Dad, for Blackrock -- Heck, Equestria itself! Heh, it's childish, but I wanted to show all of the ponies that put you down that together we were indomitable."

He lowered his hoof, "But you refused... and I got worried, angry, hurt... I thought you were leaving me behind... apart of me tells me that's still the case but I refuse to believe it now, I... seeing you run away the first time was confusing... and I was feeling all the wrong things toward the little sister that I believed fulfilled my fear's desires..." He wiped a hoof across his eyes. "When you ran away yesterday... I hated myself... I hated that all this time I've been hurting you day-after-day like some delusional pony, I even lashed out at the guy that convinced you to come home, who's been by your side when I should I have done that two years ago!"

Honesty. Pure honesty spilled from his words and in his tears, Yui wasn't moving and refused to drop the bemused expression of hers, but her wing was quivering gently. "I have... no right to call you my sister... hehe, you've grown so much that it hurts..." He couldn't wipe away his tears. "...I'm... I'm so sorry... everything I've done can't be taken back, but when you leave... I'll happy for you," He held his head high with a forced smile. "Because you're amazing--"

*Thump*

Yui's hoof knocked him across the forehead, snapping him from his ramblings as I smiled gently. Her eyes regained a glow I've seen since day one, and a tiny smile of gratitude as she chuckled, tilting her head. "You have no idea how much I want to beat the stupid out of you..." She reached around with just her right hoof, pulling his head down into her shoulder. "Thin ice, that's all you get because nothing you can say right now can undo what you've put me through, and I won't ever truly forgive you... but you're still my big brother, Vega."

His face was buried into her shoulder, both hooves around her tightly as she smiled warily, patting his back. "Cool it with the waterworks, bro, my fur's gonna get all itchy..."

"Sorry," His voice was hoarse as he pulled back, wiping his eyes. "Dammit... I feel like an idiot still."

Yui raised her hoof. "Want me to punch it out?" She quipped as both siblings finally shared a laugh again, and one long overdue. Lifting the page still tucked behind me, I grabbed a small quill from the table I sat against, and while their parents came to console the two, I finished the final lines I myself struggled to put into words, my heart ached at each word I wrote, but that meant they were the right ones to say

If we're to compare this to a friendship lesson of Twilight's. I learned something more, the bond between siblings is a brittle bridge that life and its design can test and weather, sometimes that bridge can be broken or even lost. However, that does not mean the two ends are forever out of reach, and with time, if both siblings tried, reaching out to temper the bridge, make it sturdy and stand the test of time again, then there is no force on Earth that could unmake it again.

How's that for a slice of life?

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Hope at last, but the final test of Zen's adventure draws near as the duo must say goodbye to the peaceful days in Blackrock. I hope you enjoyed, thanks for the continued support, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 24 - Journey's End
With supplies and Topaz in-toe, the trio embark on a long train ride to the middle of the Badlands to investigate Topaz's reports that may be connected to the root of rift surge.

Chp. 23 - Journey's End

"Are you sure you--"

"Yes!" I tried to stifle my laugh at Yui's exasperated tone. It was like a child leaving their parents for the first time, only in Yui's case I guess it technically was, and to... possibly fight a powerful wyvern created by rifts in the fabric of space -- Y-yeah, I'm a terrible partner. "Mom, for the--"

"Tenth!" I called out, ducking behind a crate to avoid the moon opal as I simultaneously picked up the large crate for the Royal Guard

"--Tenth time, I always check and triple check my supplies before I so much as leave to do anything!" She does it can be odd at times. "Besides, if I forget something I'll just come back and get it the next time I'm here, and that I promise."

"You better," I sat the crate down behind the train for the ponies, watching her father ruffle her mane. "Otherwise I will hunt you down myself."

"And believe me, he'd follow through with something that embarrassing," Violet remarked mockingly to the flat stare of the stallion beside her. She then wrapped Yui up in a tight hug, almost worried to let her go, but that was always apparent with parents, me and Summer had a hard time in the past when it came to leaving for school trips that lasted a week without Mom nearly causing a scene, Dad was... Dad, cringy-cool at the worst of times. "I'm so happy for you, you've become an amazing mare, one I know your Grandfather would be happy for."

Yui smiled warmly at that, hugging back. "Thanks, Mom, Dad," Now this was worth the countless near-death experiences. Now I see what Yui meant when she saw myself and Summer reunite, it wasn't a feeling you could ever describe. Yui then stepped back with a wary smile. "Oh, and tell Vega to stop slacking on his paperwork," Yui held a hoof to her chest. "Professionals have standards to uphold."

"Says the bat who was going googly-eyes at cave drawings!" I retorted, and her entire back was swung at my face, but it instead flew through the window of the train cart next to me. "You see this! Abusive relationship!"

"Bite me!" Yui huffed as her parents watched with amusement as I slit my eyes

"Save it for when we're behind closed doors, then we'll see." That got a fiery reaction from her expression as I doubled over with a laugh. For the record, and being completely serious here, we agreed neither of us is ready for anything 'Intimate', more-so I'm unsure of a relationship that far with a body like this, still alot to take into account given how I might be stuck like a Lucario for the rest of my life

"Zen, can I speak with you for a moment?" Violet waved her hoof to me, so after ensuring Topaz didn't need me for any heavy lifting, I hopped down the step and walked a good distance away from the suspicious Yui as she talked with Caleb. Now off to the side of the loading train, Violet smiled up at me. "I'm not going to go about the usual routine and just give it to you straight, you and my little girl are together, correct?"

I had a feeling one of them knew, but my reaction was a small chuff. "Yep, I see where Yui gets her blunt attitude at times from -- But yeah, we are, why?" I asked, somewhat unsure where she was going with this, could be good could be bad

Her expression warmed up, glancing back to Yui as she argued with her Dad about something as he held a cunning smirk, while Yui remained snarky. "I won't bore you with the details, but before me and Caleb were married I suppose the idea of having kids wasn't what I intended; I mean, if you saw who I was back then you'd understand my reluctance," She chuckled, but her smile remained. "Now? Well... to see the panic in Vega's eyes that night... and Yui was gone... I was so scared, that I had done very little to help her, and that by the time I tried to reach out she had already slipped away."

I frowned, "I can imagine, I... lost someone close to me, I almost gave up on everything," Those months were hard, but the thought of letting go of everything Rika did for me, that was far worse. "Violet, I... well, words alone aren't enough proof, but Yui is... amazing," I too watched her, everything about her was endearing. "She's smart, tenacious, kind... heh, it's kinda funny but in just the short time I spent with her... I... fell for her without a second thought."

Violet giggled beside me, and I scratched the back of my head sheepishly as she motioned for me to kneel, opening me up to a gentle, motherly hug. "You brought my little treasure hunter home, and she's happy, that's all I could ask of you, to keep making her smile," She pulled away, bumping a hoof to my heart while winking. "Don't worry, I find no pleasure in tormenting you with the 'Embarrassing Questions', not my style."

"Truly, you are a saint among these Bat-Ponies." I bowed my head graciously while she laughed heartfully, ruffling the top of my head

"Yep, I like you!" She stepped back as the last of the supplies were loaded in, all that was left were for the Guards to gather into the train carts, Topaz still listing things off, no longer exhausted given the coffee that floated next to her

"Thanks, you're awesome too, but I'll do my best for Yui, count on it." With that, she gave a thankful nod and we returned to the mare in question, her Dad looking satisfied with whatever made Yui grumble incoherently under her hood, adverting her eyes from mine, her aura was a mess that was certain

"Alright, everypony get your flanks on board! Next stop the Badlands!" There were a few choruses of child-like groans, enough to make Topaz's horn crackle with an abundance of magic. "Oi! You all bloody signed up for this the moment you strapped a helmet on, deal with it, ladies!" Shaking her head in her hoof she turned to us. "Royal Guard, ain't like it was, honestly."

"They have been lacking in recent years, perhaps I should make a few appearances..." Caleb hummed at the thought of torturing the Guards, only for Violet to wack him with her wing, smirking

"Oh? So I'm not allowed to have fun too?" Caleb raised his hooves in defense, and I felt a shiver from the sharp gaze of hers. Nope, glad I didn't arrive when they were still in the Guard, I'd be dead on the doorstep. "So, I guess this is goodbye for now?"

"Sadly, b-but I promise I'll be back next time, and it won't be another two years." Yui smiled awkwardly under her hood, but she was sad herself, homesick after two years I guess. She then wrapped her hooves around them both. "I love you, Mom, Dad."

The reciprocated it as I tried not to smile to noticeably. Caleb spoke first. "As do we, Yui."

"To the Moon and back!" Violet smiled, then a while broke them apart. Turning, all of us came to face a strangely familiar pony, he wore a bandana and had a stylish goatee and a peculiar emerald necklace with two snakes on it. With a sly smile, he walked up to Yui hand held out a hoof for her to bump with a bright smile

"I didn't think you were the kind to crawl out from the shadows for little ol' me?" Yui smirked, but the mysterious stallion only laughed

"As if, that stunt you pulled with that creature got all sorts talkin' 'bout ya, rumors and stories of dangerous monsters, rifts popping here and there with you being there to plug 'em up," His aura was hard to deduce, and the way he spoke kept any clear motive at bay, his eyes then flicked to me and widened with a smile. "Ah, and of course your friend here's made quite the splash himself, shame you won't be stickin' around, but once a hunter always a hunter, no use clippin' wings that were meant to fly."

"Hello... Yui, who's this annoyingly familiar guy?" I pointed, then she slid up next to him, looking to her curious parents warily

"Hehe, this is Maine, he's the one that taught me the cloak spell and started my magic fiasco, don't worry, he may sound cryptic but he's got a soft spot for me." His hoof pushed her head down

"Don't let that go to your head," He reprimed sternly, still smiling. "Shorty here's just another promising associate, and the folks that hang in the dark always stuck their necks out for her when others lacked," Then he dusted himself off, trotting away with a hoof waved back. "Catcha later, hunter, now we both have stories to share."

"Well that was something," Topaz murmured next to me, then yelled. "We're going you, idiots, hurry up!" She hopped into the doorway and waved us over

"Ah, right, sorry!" I panicked, waving to Yui's parents. "Pleasure meeting you both, look forward to next time -- Hurry up, Yui!" She ran up to me while the train slowly started to pull away, my claw yanking her into my arm while she waved back, hood flapping down

"Until next time!" Both gave a final wave to us, and the underground of Blackrock Hollow was soon behind us, the shadow of the mountain passing by as our final trial awaited in the Badlands beyond.

No, but seriously, why was that guy so Goddamn familiar!?

The subtle rumble and rock of the train kept things mellow for the long journey ahead. No more walking for miles lost or otherwise in this unfamiliar land, now it was a straight arrow to our destination, and what might eerily be our final stop. Too many variables remained, from the lack of concrete evidence to suggest what precisely has torn across the Badlands, be it and Elder Dragon or even a Black Dragon. My brow furrowed while I slumped in my seat, there was also the end, if I do win, will my gamble pay off? Will everyone walk away from this happy? That's my biggest worry and it was nagging at me.

A warm sensation then pressed to my side, and without reason, I felt my worries fade, even for the briefest of moments. "Ponies would often say that given our situation that things were moving too fast," I let her speak while my eyes fell to the outside world, the sky slowly cast in colors across the forests and mountains. "In some cases, they'd be right, and maybe it might feel that way... but I don't regret any choice I've made since meeting you, so you shouldn't have to feel that way either."

"No... I," Taking in a breath I leveled my uncertain gaze to her's through the faint reflection. "You being here's the only thing keeping me sane, it's not obvious given my-"

"-Overly optimistic." She answered for me with a fanged smirk

"-demeanor, but," My paws rubbed anxiously together. "I'm scared... for you, these Guards, everything but... what if I make a choice that only brings joy one side and pain on the other? It's not something that can be avoided but I wish it was, childish as that complaint is."

Yui moved gently, bringing her head to rest on my side while putting my arm around her, then she booped my nose. "You're right, there's no avoiding that outcome, I mean, heck, look at my decision making," She snorted softly, eyes half-lidded to my reflection. "No matter what happens, even... if we're worlds apart, I'll always be here-" She jabbed my heart. "-dummy, so... don't forget that. Life's bound to hurt even when we don't want it to, what matters is that you don't let it change you for the worst."

Eventually, her words broke a chuff from my throat, and I leaned down to rest my head on hers. "Since when did you become a fortune cookie?"

Yui's hoof flicked me, sticking her tongue out. "Since when did you worry all the time?" Touche. "Need I remind you we're going to meeting with the monarch my kind pray to and one I've scorned for many unpleasant things between myself and my family in the past," She sighed, shaking a hoof to her forehead. "Sometimes I wonder just how lucky one mare can get."

"You make a valid argument, my Treasure Hunter, I will say no more." I put my paw out as a mark of that vow, though a shambly one at best

If someone needed us then they'd have tried all for naught as my eyes grew heavy, staring out at the captivating sky, falling asleep with the adorable Bat-Pony in my arms.

I sat up, blinking as I realized I was asleep atop the train, and the land was just endless glades, no mountains nor forests to speak of, just a large, open expanse with the sunset casting the sky a series of oranges while a few clouds rolled by. Taking one long blink while flexing my human hands it was clearly a dream, you know, because the fact I was sleeping atop a mute train wasn't obvious. There was no wind nor the rumble of the train, everything was a strange silence.

"Ah, so I have found you," That's not Trinity. Shuffling on my butt to spot the voice, it came from a tall, dark mare, her mane was flowing in an unknown breeze, twinkling like stardust in a deep blue ocean. We were both silent, opting to stare into one another's eyes for a moment to spiritual guessing, she wasn't here to harm or threaten me, but instead, a faint curiosity struck

"Hello, stranger from my mind." I put a hand up to wave once. She blinked, surprised of course, then bowed her head

"Greetings... Zen, is it?" I nodded. With her hoof to her chest, I felt a wave of authority wash over me. "I am Princess Luna, and while we have never met formally I have observed your dreams with interest, particularly due to this form of yours, are you not one of these Pokemon?"

I sighed loudly, arms high. "Finally! Someone pronounces it right that isn't Yui!" Clearing my throat at her raised brow I grinned sheepishly. "Right, yes, sorry -- I'm actually a human from another world, the form is what I was given when I arrived here, same with the others. One's my sister, the others are my friends, it's just that I got lucky that I had an ability that allows me to communicate."

Luna looked to consider this wealth of knowledge carefully, rubbing a hoof to her chin. "It has been centuries since I've heard of a human appearing in Equestria, for what purpose were you summoned for?" So she was aware? That makes this easier without the whole twenty questions about the human race, that's just a minefield of failures with a hint of political spats

"A... well, bare with me here, a Goddess by the name of Trinity summoned me to help seal the rifts that had dramatically increased across Equestria," I replied truthfully, then frowned, a dark shadow overtaking the sky above as my mind wandered to many ideas for what abomination awaited us. "The one in the Badlands... I think it's the source, that's why I'm heading there now to help."

Again, surprise and dumbfounded expression crossed the Lunar Princess' features. "She was here, and spoke with you!?" I guess hearing her name wasn't exactly what Luna had intended to find out, but I saw a small, hopeful smile across her muzzle. "If she has summoned you here then this is a sign of hope... this creature has eluded in my sister and I, the longer we searched the more the world outside the Badlands was left... uninhabitable."

The Princess sat down, her eyes lost in despair as I was, she looked tired almost while letting out an exasperated sigh. "The closer we come the more I fear our subjects may pay for our incompetence," Her eyes hardened. "How many threats have I done nothing to prevent? How many have come and gone since my banishment I do not know."

"Everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story..." A single chuckle escaped me as I sat down next to the Princess, staring out into the horizon's unending curve. "In our eyes, we're the hero of our own lives, but to another, we're a villain, and another we're simply in the background. It's easy to feel guilty for our mistakes, to... lose yourself in grief and the fear of failure again," I cupped my hands. "But that's all... part of the journey to an uncertain end."

"...Your words... so much like my sister's... like Trinity's," That brought my eyes to her. "I have only heard her voice once, a time before my banishment, she wouldn't change a fate that was ultimately written by my own hooves, I asked why, and she left me with one sentence, 'Dream, not of what you are but what you want to be'."

I chuckled again, "What is it with wise figures and cryptic messages?" That too drew a small laugh from the monarch

"They can never just be straight to the point, can they?" She agreed, then eyed me earnestly. "Zen, what is it you know of this manifestation, and... can we defeat it?" Straight back to the point, though now with both our minds at ease this should be easier to handle

"I don't know, it feels vaguely familiar, from the drained landscape to the scale charged with energy, I should be able to identify it if I'm there, but the issue is location, where is it hiding?" That brought a small smile to the Princess

"Conveniently we may have uncovered its whereabouts, a section across the Badlands has been torn open over time, creating a large maze of valleys and underground caverns bigger than most castles, if anything as large as what the reports have stated would hide anywhere, it would be those valleys," So it tries to hide away in seclusion but why? What does a monster of its size need to hide from...?

My eyes snapped open slowly. "...It's not hiding... it's growing," Words like ice whispered from my lips, and the Princess slowly drew her own look of horror under the presumption. "These manifestations aren't all embodiments of the rifts, some have evolved to act more independently and follow the lifestyle of the monster, if this thing has been slowly and methodically stripping the land of energy then hiding away it could very well be trying to evolve exponentially!"

"That is a steep claim... but not unreasonable," Luna deflated. "I will await your arrival with haste, I fear a dark omen may be preparing to unleash itself," She stood up, then a grave emotion swelled in her heart as I stood up to level with her. "...What are we dealing with exactly?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, nothing I know about monsters is ringing any bells but it's more than likely an Elder Dragon," Her brow raised expectantly. "They're the class of Dragons that by merely existing can cause ecological changes, or are just unexplainable like a lightning horse -- Not the point, then... there's Black Dragons..."

"What is the difference?" She almost didn't want the answer by the sounds of it but if it meant preventing deaths it had to be done. With a heavy heart, I replied, dropping my upbeat attitude as I stepped back into the shoes of my apathetic personality, eyes sharper than a blade

"Black Dragons are the titles given to ancient monsters capable of annihilating the world," The sun darkened, and the sky lost all color under a dark shadow behind me, Luna was startled, stepping back from the pressing horror looming over my shoulder. A long, serpentine neck and tail swished and battered the train cart. A powerful thresh of its leathery wings turned the skies a dark crimson, a storm overtaking the land. Rigid, black scales lined its body with white spines aged and with a faint sheen from countless, unknown corpses melded to its own body. "If it's a Black Dragon, then Equestria will die."

Two eyes filled with scorn and bloodlust faced us, reeling its large head back, the inverted horns and enlarged bottom teeth giving us a clear visage of a harbinger of destruction as a blast of flames lit the world in a fiery inferno.

~---~

That attack snapped me out of my lucid dream, cutting off my first talk with one of the monarchs. I stared out the window again, Yui asleep in my arms as I felt a shudder at the idea of that monster waiting in the dark below. "Even if it's You," Yui snored softly against my side as I smiled faintly. "For her atleast... it's worth it."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

And so the end is approaching, but there are still so many variables that make the final monster elusive, is it the same monster Zen conjured in his dream? Or is it something else? Tensions are high as we press on, I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, and seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 24 - Bloodstained Sand
The border between the Badlands has been reached, but something is amiss for the soldiers and treasure hunters.

Chp. 24 - Bloodstained Sand

A new day was upon on us as we swept into the edge of the Badlands, the once vibrant world diverged with sharp contrast at the bordering cliffs that circled the wasteland, orange peaks against lush green to yellow grass and dead brushes swept by a light breeze. The train had come to a stop to make some repairs and adjustments with magic to accommodate for the rather rough terrain that may cover the tracks, that, and there was one other problem impeding our progress.

"Bone Rush!" I brought the vibrant staff across the boulder in an 'X', slicing the rubble to manageable chunks for the Guard to move. A rockslide had blocked the tracks and left us to labor work under the sun. Though in this time Yui took to a small tent set against the train to inspect the reports from Topaz, hopefully discovering any connections to the maybe Elder Dragon causing the energy fluctuations across the Badlands. "You guys are clear!" I raised a thumb, wiping the sweat from my brow

"You heard 'em, let's see some blood, sweat, and tears!" Topaz declared, using her magic to toss aside several large rocks, herself sweating and forcing her to take off her armor to accommodate, though she did wrap her hooves with bandages for protection. "Strange how the ground just kinda... breaks, you know?"

"..." I kept silent, following her eyes across the track, the rocks were large enough to have eroded from the cliffs but then there was the unset sand and rock not far from us, deep abrasions in the earth indicated something tore the land apart, maybe in a skirmish? Which begs the question of what exactly lives out here than could do that, or better yet, what two creatures do? "One sec."

Strolling over to the tent, pages, and notes, both reports, images, and Yui's own scribbles were a chaotic mess that only she could traverse. Her mane was unkempt due to the heat and continuous thought, her wing tapping to her chin. "-taking into account the density of magic residing in the average forest, the wildlife and general ecosystem this would lead those to assume that only a creature of massive size could accommodate such a large sum of magic and energy, but would have to make several trips. Then there's the fact not a single bloody pony has seen this thing for more than an idle glance, like, come on, how hard is it to spot a monster the size of Canterlot-!?"

"Um... what's up doc?" I waved to her frazzled state, Yui smiled weakly and smacked her forehead down into the edge of the table, groaning slash whining. "Didn't peg a treasure hunter for an ecology expert, you'd fit right in with the Guild."

Yui shrugged, running her hoof down a scroll. "Pays to have your hooves dipped into as many skills as possible when traveling Equestria, comparing your fights with Monsters, the Rifts, and their traits to the leading cause of the surge have been taxing but I will admit that the excitement more than overrides the headache." I see...

"Heal Pulse," I put my paw to her forehead, allowing the soothing pink aura to envelop her head as she sighed, leaning into my palm with a smile

"Thanks, Zen," She pushed up with her hooves and pecked me on the cheek, slumping back to her notes. "Now, much as I'd love to hear you compliment my skills, and possibly flirt with me, I think Topaz wants you," Her wing pointed to the right with her head stuffed into a book. It was an endearing sight but as she said, I was needed

"No rest for the wicked," Dusting my paws off I jogged back to the Unicorn's side. "You call?" Topaz sat atop one of the boulders, her magic aura lowering the telescope with a worried frown, her aura felt anxious, so did a few of the Guards who too were pointing and conversing about what lay beyond my sight. "Is something up?"

"Indirectly speaking... take a peek." She tossed me the scope and I extended it and took a quick view of the horizon, the orange and maroon sands bobbing like still waves in the glare of the sun. "To your right, see that dust cloud forming?" 'Tiss a big dust cloud, and it formed from seemingly nowhere

It... was moving? Don't tell me it's- "Well, the good news, it's not an Elder Dragon that goes by the name of Jhen Mohran, 'cause I lack the strength to so much as tickle it," I pursed my lips, tossing the scope away with a wide blink. "It's worse."

"What could be worse than an Elder?" Topaz asked me nervously, stepping off the boulder as the cloud became visible to the naked eye, but was then dispersed as it ceased its approach, but I felt it, a faint rumble beneath my feet as it did so. Did whatever that caused the dust cloud realize I could sense it's approach? That made my stomach twist

"Topaz, would you be a good friend and please get everyone to vacate the track, I sense great danger," I relayed slowly, taking a step back myself as I conjured several swords to bolster my strength, seeing this offensive skill she ran with her hoof waving. "Oh, and get the train rolling if you don't mind, I have a plan!"

"Everypony fall back! Come on, ladies, move it!" Immediately the crowd was armed and falling back, Yui just out the corner of my eye as the rumbling grew, then - silence. There wasn't even a breeze anymore, and only the murmur behind me reminded me I had company. I couldn't sense anything

"𝐁𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥." Trinity? What-? "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐡𝐦𝐩𝐡, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭."

The second her voice reached my ears I felt a sudden force puncture my soul, bloodlust, heated and raging beyond any other emotion. I yelped and dived back in time for the ground to open its maw, sand and debris scattered, inadvertently clearing the track as a roar so powerful shook the air around me. The shadow looming as I stood tall, drawing Bone Rush behind my back to face the new manifestation.

From the sandy rain a massive, black horn swept through the cloud, the right horn broken, severely warped, splitting into two smaller horns across dark blue scales stained with sand and blood. The monster possessed a pair of tuck-like fangs and a large, spiny neck frill. The tail ended in a heavy, studded club, the left point shorter and splintered. The legs were stocky and wide and the upper body was broad with thick, muscular wings. It's beady red eyes glazed with bloody fury if its roar wasn't already a cascade of rage for anything it gazed upon, myself its newest target.

The Deviant. The Massacre Demon. Bloodbath Diablos.

Diablos didn't so much as pivot before simply charging with tremendous speed, I raised Quick Guard, effectively diverting its path into the nearby cliff to my left as it horn swept through the rock, lunging back into a charge as the head curved, smacking me across the waist and high into the air before I crashed into the sand. When I recovered I had to roll as the horns narrowly skimmed the soles of my feet, the wing threshing up a wave of sand and wind.

Spinning I drove my staff through the thigh, lunging up and over a clockwise tail-swipe, spinning the bo-staff down with a powerful slant, followed by a Force Palm to the opposite thigh, flinching the Deviant long enough to disperse the staff and draw several frozen fists across is scales, splitting some of the fresh wounds as Diablos swung round, the maw gazing my face before diving headfirst in front of me, the tail swiping me away.

I ran, just as the dark wyvern flew from the earth, showering me in the sand as his roar stretched across the dunes, crashing into the sands to thrash his tail wide, almost catching me while I leapt over the appendage, firing two aura sphere that merely dispersed across his armored skull, digging his horn low to throw three massive boulders to obscure my view, the wings slicing through with minimal effort. The smaller stones pelting my Protect, the onyx horn battering against the crystal clear barrier between us, forcing me to my knee just to hold Diablos back.

It suddenly spun around, the tail decimating the shield and catching my side, throwing me face-first before I rolled to evade the tail and the rocks split from the earth under the sheer weight of the attack. This Deviant was far more vicious than most, even Yian didn't feel this crazy! All I could do was keep my distance and dive whenever Diablos would go for a high-velocity charge, and his wide swings with his massive club of a tail made advancing on his blindspots very hit-and-miss.

"Yui's abilities are useless without any real form of solid structures and I doubt any of the Guards' magic could penetrate Bloodbath's hide, even my attacks will take time to properly do effective damage before I pass out from exhaustion." It was a tough and almost unfair battle, and something told me deep down that was the intention

"𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩," Trinity declared while I and Diablos stumbled away from one another, the Deviant snarled as it took a second to brush its horns against the sand, crawling back beneath the earth as a golden aura hugged the outline of my body with a strange sensation that someone was holding me. Like Trinity had her arms wrapped around my shoulders and across my soul. "𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧."

"Haha, thanks a bunch, Trinity!" I held my thumb to the sky with a wink. "With an awesome Goddess like Trinity in my corner, this'll be a sinch!"

Trinity giggled and soon the demon emerged from the ground, charging with red lines pulsating across his scales, a roar caught between the wind. Alright, two can play Chicken. Drawing my left leg back I felt the sun's rays sizzle across my shin, licking my fur with roaring orange flames that were tipped gold, almost cooking the grains of sand under me. "Divine Blaze Kick!"

I leapt just shy of DIablos' skull for a snap-kick, my shin connecting to the large horn of his the second the torrent of wind and muscles connected with my foot. Our two outgoing kinetic forces clashed and a powerful shockwave shook the foundations of the wasteland. Landing just shy of the tail the body of Diablos crumbled to the ground with a wail, leaving himself exposed to an Extreme Speed-Retaliate combo. Like a ray of sunlight I bounced across the battlefield, striking Diablos in his weak points, each and every contact with the scales increasing the size of his wounds, but also the depths of the Deviant's fury, merely landing on his body burnt my feet.

"And for good measure," I took a step back and did a small run-up, performing a front flip with my right leg drawn high, a crimson glow turning tiger-orange. "Divine Mega Kick - Hyrah!"

There was a sudden spike in his corrupt heart, and the tail swung back, parrying my powerful blow. Diablos used the force applied to throw himself skyward, landing with a large plume of sand as the tail snaked through the cloud, almost taking me out with a slam, several boulders jutting from the ground between us. Silver and gold motes gathered around my hands the second I saw the horn prod through the dust, my paws bled but I caught the horn in my right, bending my left arm. "C-Counter!" I twisted my hold and slammed my fist against his fangs, shattering the left fang while disorientating the Deviant into backhanding me with his wing, my body tumbling through the dunes.

Flopping onto my back I gasped and produced two aura spheres to toss me away from the descending Deviant as it smashed through the ground in a corkscrew, thrashing up a sand tornado as it drilled into the ground, the pit sucking me closer to the eruption of sand as Diablos soared from the pitfall, landing several meters away while throwing me high like a ragdoll.

"I got sand in my everything," I wheezed, flipping upright through the air, drawing my maw back. "Dragon Pulse!" The solid cone of bluish-purple and white energy traversed the sky, crashing into Diablos in an effort to keep his attention away from the bustling train that slowly came back to life. While landing I was forced into a tactical retreat, the horns diving left and right in vein to gouge out my organs in a single swipe

Hastily I jumped, pressing my toes to the rim of his head before jolting off the boiling surface and down the length of the tail as I sped off a good twenty meters, finally clearing me enough space to work my magic, though this hit-and-run tactic would buy me a mere few seconds at most.

I released Life Dew into my paw, sighing at the cooling relief but I was struggling. Diablos was built with the sole purpose of being a tank, Bloodbath was that and so much more and I had no other offensive measures other than to get in close and break down his armor plating; Even with the heat both from the sunlight and his body were slowly draining my energy. With Trinity's help, I can win, but that meant using every trick I had.

Closing my eyes I put my paws together to channel my aura across my body, infused with the divine blessing I held a vastly superior reservoir of energy than ever before, now I get what Trinity's done. "Calm Mind. Nasty Plot. Swords Dance. Work Up. Bulk Up-" Still no strain, only the sensation of lightning racing to and from every bone in my body. "-Iron Defense. Agility. Laser Focus. Substitute." "

Upon opening my eyes, a nigh unbelievable amount of power blew away dust and debris before the Deviant. Tiny wisps formed as thin lines of dispersing energy conjured a rainbow aura over my body, every muscle and bone infused with unparalleled strength, my senses so sharp I could hear the cheers and yelling from afar. All of my skills brought to the height of their power.

Diablos itself trembling as it unleashing an almighty roar that forced me to cover my ears. The veins bulged and glowed through the thick skin and scales, beating like a drum as steam rose from across its whole body, the dried blood evaporating. He took a towering stance, shaking out his wings and digging on foot through the wasteland as a tumbleweed bounced between us.

The wyvern took the first move, charging full-throttle toward my meager frame with murderous intent. I steadied my breath, eyes sharp and refracting the rainbow light as I clenched my fists, the spectrum centering around my knuckles with a bolt of white lightning before the head came crashing down with a jagged flick of the forehead, splitting the earth and sending a wave of rock across the wasteland, my body vanishing as my body double took the blow, myself high above the Deviant, teeth bared and seething with a purple light that came crashing down in a funnel atop Bloodbath, a massive wave of sand rising high all around us.

Diablos roared, lunging from the right with his wings raised, I threw myself away from the drill0like dive, rock and debris kicked up with steam rising from the cracks in the sandstone below. From the earth, a jet of bloodied steam stung my nose, the whirlwind surrounding Diablos blowing me aside from the impact spanning the field. With both wings planted he roared, releasing all the built-up heat and evaporated blood in a searing explosion that nearly shattered my barrier.

Another frontal assault broke my shield, my body caught between the horns as I wrestled with the monster, our two auras clashing in a heated battle across the desert. I threw the head back, Metal Claw drawn to swipe at the left eye. Diablos reeled, bringing the left wing down for me to deflect, another backhand of the steel blades kept the right from doing the same. Then the horn plunged toward my throat, both sets of claws ringing while crossed with the rough bony protrusion.

Even as the groan of my steel bones resonated like a terrible chorus in my head I kept up the strained defense, my almost prismatic sheen beginning to dilute with every second that ticked in the wasteland hourglass. Bringing my body closer, I twisted my arms downward, diverting the horn from skewering me as I plunged both sets of claws between the scales lining Diablos' boiling mug, the hot, coppery-steam made me wish to vomit but I held strong, driving my right leg back on my toes, a bright, cherry light overtaking the digits.

A sudden, horizontal kick to the jaw shook the Deviant from my shattered claws, the red arc more than saving my thighs from the threat of the deformed pair of horns. Landing on all fours I dove upward, many shades of red enveloping my right fist that crossed over the shorter horns and straight into the massive spearhead, snapping the mutation like a twig while inadvertently spraining my own wrist in the process as the two of us tumbled across the waste, sand kicked and thrashed across the land in our scuffle, wings swiped and my punches were just as sharp, neither of us I think realized who was really winning as dust clouded my senses, even Aura Sense felt fuzzy.

Eventually, our bodies flew over a ridge, the mouth wide as it roared, the claws on the left wing coming down on my left forearm while an aura sphere was clutched angrily between my right, raising it to Diablos' throat in the crawl time seemed to sedate us to. The orb left my hand, crashing into the eyes of the demon, my forearm slashed yet I managed to level my feet against the snout of the Diablos, diving high above the metal face that cut almost instantly onto the scene, time suddenly resuming.

"I like trains."

Crashing onto the top of the train, Diablos was caught by the ram brace fixed to the head of the train, the velocity and many injuries I had purposely inflicted were enough to shatter bone and gouge out a large, red hole across the underbelly of the once-unstoppable force, the navy-blue wyvern tossed unceremoniously up and over my head, slamming into the train in a heap, flopping down two carts before the body was ultimately returned to sender, the red wisps flying from the wound to join with my ruby.

The last I saw of the Deviant was of its body sliding off the right-hand side of the train, back into the maroon sands it emerged from. "Oh Thank Heaven..." I sighed, shaking my head clean of sand. Flopping back on the train, the sound all but muffled and the gentle vibrations of the carts more than lulled me to sleep. "Oh... yeah, uwaaah, thanks for... top-up, Trinit... zzzz."

"𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧, 𝐙𝐞𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Surprise~! I couldn't help it, I just had to add one more skirmish before the big baddy! And who better than Bloodbath Diablos, the most terrifying Deviant and my favorite next to Hellblade Glavenus. I do hope this was a fun surprise.

So with that, now we move on to the final stage, I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, and seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 25 - Secluded Valley
After a boring trip through tons of sand, Zen and Yui arrive on the site of the Badlands investigation. Things go about as well as you'd expect with these two.

Chp. 25 - Secluded Valley

By the time daybreak arrived, the train had finally come to a complete stop in what I was about to comment it was more sand but the words died with my chipper mood like an anvil tied to my gut, more so than when Bloodbath Diablos had used me like a chew toy dragged through said sand. While helping Topaz's Guard unload the supplies we had brought I felt... cold. It was bloody warm don't get me wrong but the fact was that the energy in the area felt strained, thinned to a veil that a simple spell could break. The land had twisted and jutted from the wasteland, formed irregular horns of rock that tents and scaffold attached themselves to like magnets.

Ponies guarded and worked around the clock, inspect the tips of the spires now draped in a grey shredded fabric, like dead branches in the silent breeze. The ground slopped further down, entering through a large fissure in the earth. Many plateaus crossed the horizon, indicating at the valleys Princess Luna informed me of briefly. Actually, she should be--

"Ah, you have arrived safely I assume?" Her voice caused some of the workers to freeze as they bowed their head, even Yui looked nervous as she kept her head low out of respect. Luna shook her head, lifting her hoof. "Come now, formalities at a time like this can't be so formal -- Topaz, is it?" The unicorn in question slipped out of the cart, saluting the Princess

"Princess, I brought the supplies you requested and the... two that skipped out on the meeting a while ago and had an innocent Guard nearly have her head chewed off." She made it very perspicuous, clearly, she wasn't going to let us live that down

I flashed her a toothy grin. "Come oooon, we're buddies, and I said I was sorry." She just snorted and sat the last box down for another two ponies to pick up, that leer could freeze a soul I tell ya. "Pleasure to meet you in person, Princess -- As you can see we couldn't stick around for a meeting due to... complications."

Yui sighed. "We up and refused a summon from the monarchy, really starting to regret that now." It was fine, Luna didn't seem to care

Her eyes looked to gloss over that fact casually, "It is fine, speaking, technically, with you now is... interesting," Luna smiled then drew her attention to us. "Zen, and... Yui as I've been informed, while I explain the situation, do you three mind following me to the site, I'd rather avoid tempting fate at a time like this." She was stressed, the whole area felt uneasy and flooded with worry for whatever lay under our feet.

"I-I don't really know how much help I can be, P-Princess." Yui trembled like a leaf beside me, tucking her head further into her hood as we walked through the campsite, a number of eyes on me as we walked

"I have done my research while conducting this investigation personally while my sister maintains the political side of the situation, so I have looked into your work," I smiled as I heard Yui squeak slightly, and from the budding light in Luna's soul it was obvious she found it amusing too. "Your extensive work in the field, coupled with your findings in only two years is astounding, and the ability to harness the very same magic I learned long ago," Turning to look at the meek Bad-Pony with a smile she added, "I could not have asked for a better pair of hooves to accompany our research into this... darkness."

It was adorable watching Yui hide under her hood further due to the praise from the very monarch her kind respected most. Given all Yui's been through in her life, she deserved the respect and acknowledgment of her skill. Luna continued to lead us through the camp, these leathery shreds draped everywhere gave off a faint aura themselves, they're dead obviously, but no single shade of blue stayed consistent enough for me to properly compare.

"The energy around here is either weak or completely ambiguous," I voiced my concerns while we stopped before a large overhand marked with a table, notes, charts, etc. The kind of equipment and material used for meetings. The situation was bad enough but now even I started to have doubts "Fighting a Ratholos wouldn't be such a bad idea."

Luna nodded to a Night Guard, trotting back over to us with even eyes. "A field team recently reported signs of more devastation across the western jungles," She visibly paled. "Just... horrible, the land was either dead and barren, the animal life too, some of the lands had been scorched too."

Topaz mirrored Luna's appearance, mortified. "What kind of monster could do something so atrocious?"

"An Elder Dragon." Yui said it perfectly, and my heart shuddered -- Then my ears flicked to the new sensation in the air, faint under all this growing anxiety

Oh boy, I feel a great disturbance. Spinning around we were greeted by that of a unicorn with a blue mane and white coat, and he looked important seeing as Topaz was rigid on the spot, anxiety swelling as I noted the chiseled frown on his muzzle. He soon inspected me fully, grasping my appearance before meeting my eyes, Yui standing a little closer to me. "Hello there." He greeted as I smiled

"General Kenobi." I gave a wave of my paw as Topaz and Yui slapped a hoof to their muzzles and Shining Armor was left utterly perplexed. Either by my greeting or the fact I was already beaming my words into his mind, probably a little of both

"What?" Hrm, uncultured. Rolling my eyes I craned my head to Luna

"Luna, my disappointment is immeasurable and my day has been ruined," A solemn sigh and soon Captain took now as the time to make a rebuttal to my disrespect, meh, the whole 'earn it not give it' is kinda implied right now, so far, not feeling good vibes from this guy, though I'm not tempted to vibe-check him at all less I have an army chase me down with their pointy sticks and laser horns

"So you're one of the creatures I've received word of," Again with that ire, guess he also heard about mine and Egghead's not-so-subtle dispute. I really know how to make good impressions, don't I? Besides, he lost me when he said, 'creatures', what came next nailed in the coffin. His brow raised to Yui, "You're Yui Fox, his... hmm, owner?"

In response, Yui wore a faked smile, eyes wide while tapping her forehead with her wing. "Wow, you're right Zen, today has been ruined, completely," She stepped forward. "Captain, much as I'd love to correct you, and believe me when I say the choice words I have would most certainly hurt more than a blade," She prattled almost mockingly. "There are bigger things going on than some pointless suspicions just because Zen chewed your sister out for borderline mistreatment of his closest friends and older sister," I just blinked, even Luna and Topaz were left star-struck as she looked to me from behind her hood. "Ready to go, Zen?"

"My God I love you..." I murmured to her then nodded. "If you don't mind, Luna, we'll get to work."

"...Of course, I will brief Captain Armor of what you've informed me of." She gave a bow of her head as I did, leaving Shining completely caught out of the loop. Disrespecting the title of both a Royal Guard Captain, a Monarch, and my girlfriend just shut him down, yep, today's a fifty-fifty

"U-um, right so... yeah, they aren't... the most formal." Topaz just fell apart and I felt bad for her since she'd have to endure alot of ranting shortly

"Hold on -- You can't just -- Hey!" By then we had already made our way toward the valley pass. This place felt cold, and I hadn't the time for pointless drama with some side-character

As we traversed the valleys below, the sunlight barely reached us say for a dry wind passing through the many levels of the ravines. It was only I, Yui, Luna who had caught up with Topaz and a silent Shining Armor as I took a few steps forward and immediately stumbled back, a sudden rush of emptiness filling my chest. "Zen!" A hoof pushed against my lower back, keeping me steady while I put my paw to the ground, closing my eyes. "What is it?"

"What's wrong with him?" Topaz asked suddenly but I was too fixated on the land, searching far and wide across the levels of rock and dust for signs of life, anything that remained

I felt the feelers on my head rise as I sensed through aura, and... it was all grey, usually, things highlighted certain hues of blue to indicate both aura and life energy. With a grave look in my eyes as I met Yui's worried one, I shook my head. A dry lump tugged down my throat as I pointed ahead to the darker crevasses of the valley. "There's... nothing left, the ground, the air... everything is dead, lifeless husks."

"How can you be so sure?" Shining questioned, and while rising to my feet I turned, a shaken expression on my face that caught him and the Princess by surprise

"I can sense aura in life," Picking up a stone to emphasize my point, I crushed it gently, seeing it turn to dust in my paw. "It's been completely drained on purpose, even a Black Dragon can't do this, they destroy, sure, but there's always some form of energy left in the earth, like the life-force of the planet, but this... sucked dry in seconds."

"Something of considerable power can do this?" Luna was struggling to believe it, and I did too, I can't remember any monster capable of this feat... or is there? "Then perhaps I should show you this, maybe then you can piece together this mystery."

"With all due respect, I don't think I want to know." Yui gulped, but I stepped back and let her lead us, Yui's wing wrapped to my paw as we traversed the valley across its ledges, watching our step as edges crumbled to dust at the lip, the hiss of sand-falls dotting the cracks above. I don't know the length of time we walked, taking longer routes to avoid any unnecessary falls, but from Luna's careful steps its clear she's ensured a safe route down into the hollowed land

~---~

"Princess, what are we going to find down here?" Topaz requested, yet the ever-so-stoic monarch remained on course, directing us through a narrow crack in the wall, over a large, earthly bridge

"Princess Luna's been the only pony down here, guess we'll see firsthand," Shining added, the Lunar Princess nodding while the walls opened up into a massive cavern, the light of day beaming through a large hole in the ceiling

"We're here," Luna declared, my eyes noting the black, webbing-like vines cocooning the right side. Down here the energy was still present though far less than it was above ground. And the rocks surrounding us were wrapped in the same fabric that surrounded the many cliffsides down here

"Wow!" Yui awed while trotting over to one of the rocks with me, the two of us sharing a passive look of interest. She picked it in her hooves, feeling the material as I saw it semi-translucent face shimmer dully. "This texture, it's like... shedded skin, or maybe webbing? Both feel very similar."

No... I winced, a sharp presence subdued my own, another memory surfaced as I felt it, a sweatiness in my paws, how my heart trembled. This wasn't new, rather, I remember it because I've faced it before. "No way...!" I spun back around, seeing the trio watch as I inspected the earth again, my hand tracing the remnant energy stored up in the surface. "Energy absorption... the massive change to the ecosystem and the skin..." If there was a gong to sound the impending doom or a melody to accompany the realization it would summarize this horrible feeling. "We need to go, now!"

"Have you figured out the monster that--" I stopped Luna with my arm out

"No, this isn't just a monster, it's-!" Shining's head had turned to a mound of rock up high, his jaw dropped to the ground while his eyes remained pained and stained with terror, the very icy chill from his form resonated to us as our heads craned up gradually to meet his view. I and Yui jogged closer, the light seeping through the ceiling to illuminate the dead skin blanketing the back wall

The husk of a monster larger than any so-called dragon of Equestria slumped over the podium of rock, mouth agape as the skin peeled and curled in the wind, but the head remained recognizable to me, it wasn't obvious at first but this monster had the very capabilities needed not to just drain but harness the energy, to grow and mature. Large, hollowed horns with an almost extraterrestrial appearance.

"Xeno'Jiiva!!" My words felt heavy, and all eyes were on me while I struggled with the idea of a manifestation that could replicate its maturity into the one monster I hadn't fought yet because it was never released before I arrived in Equestria. "This is... it's already shedded its skin countless times here."

"Does this mean -- Zen...!?" I couldn't even make a simple acknowledgment to Yui as the harsh reality struck me across the face, my eyes locked to the now humming ruby in my paw, and the light grew brighter and brighter like a heartbeat resonating to the source

Luna grimaced, rubbing her chin. "As you suspected Captain, the situation has escalated exponentially, the source of the rifts is here." Her expression darkened like the sky above briefly by a cloud. "We must return to discuss this further." There was a unanimous agreement while Yui's comforting hoof rubbed my side, keeping a shaky smile on her lips

"Come on, we can figure this out together." Since when did she become the optimist? Confidence afloat in this sea of anxiety, we turned to make a hasty retreat back to the surface, staying far too long in the den of this Elder Dragon wasn't how I'd like my final moment in life to incorporate, it would certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime event though

The ruby, now tucked under my scarf, hummed against my fur and spike, my ears flared to its siren song. "Everyone move!!" My telepathic cry muffled out the scream of the wind as it threw us back, a deafening roar breaking apart a few of the rocky protrusions as a massive, dark figure soared from above, crashing through the floor with enough force to destabilize the region around us, the spined tail whisked back to swipe at our feet

"Everypony stand close now!" Luna rallied us together even as the harsh downdraft forced us back, and the echoes of that unearthly roar rocked the underground to its core. With a sharp ringing in my ears, the world flashed a veil of midnight blue as started scattered in the darkness. She had teleported us, snagging us from the threat of the beast lurking in the darkness

[Yui's POV]

Not much time passed since our abrupt exit from the valleys, and from whatever that monster was, an Elder Dragon... it really was a terrifying marvel, it did all this damage to the world, turning the forests outside the Badlands into empty husks of rock and shrubbery. Zen knew it by name, so there was a chance to beat it, right? I don't know, I don't think Zen knows either. He just... sat at the edge of the camp, alone, he passed on whatever he knew of this, 'Xeno'Jiiva' then left to recluse by himself, it was as if that spark in his eyes was snuffed out.

I wasn't just going to let this be his breaking point, Zen always fought headfirst, it didn't matter how dangerous or how scary the monster was, or how much he resented the choice he made, he followed through with every action to the end, willing to give up his old world, his real home... for me. I don't deserve all the time I've spent with him, but I wouldn't forsake any of it.

Finding a bipedal black and blue wolf wasn't as easy as one may think, but eventually, I narrowed down his location, watching the Badlands from up high on a ridge. I couldn't quite tell what his expression was, unlike him I'm no mind reader. His eyes were shut, and face all scrunched up with a sad frown. Those feelers of his weren't rising so it must have been a meditation form.

Stopping just behind him, I sighed. He already knew I was here before I spotted him. "In a game, I fought every monster countless times... I knew their moves, their weaknesses, and strengths, the strategies, everything..." His head dipped, "I know what's waiting down there... but I don't know -- I just..."

His words fell apart as my hoof rubbed his shoulder, brushing my mane from my left eye. I still said nothing, he needed to let it out, he knows I'll listen. "...I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength to do it... if everything will be okay," His voice broke, trying to maintain his composure with his fangs bear. "I don't want to lose anyone else, but I can't stop shaking."

There's no telling how long he burdened himself with this knowledge, selflessly doing what he could to support me when trying to recreate some form of bond between my brother, keep the shattered pieces I left that day together all while wearing that dorky smile of his. At the end of the world, I get it, Zen hasn't just forgotten who he was before, deep down, buried under the Zen I know is the cold, pessimistic person who I never met, a person who lost something dear to him as I had.

Supportive words were never my strong suit, it came out like a tangent or jumble of words without meaning. Just sitting here and listening isn't going to help him -- Luna above, he's breaking down in front of me and I'm just staring!? I don't need to think or make up some false illusion, we're at the very end, the epicenter for Trinity summoning Zen here, right now, what I say has to be real, feel real.

"...It's... okay to be scared," His head tilted gradually so I didn't force a smile. "I'm afraid that the moment you triumph over this impossible task, that Equestria is saved! That... you won't be there, and I... won't be able to reach you again, that scares me, selfishly I want to hold onto you, but I know that, even if you're gone that," I took his paw, placing it on my heart with a shaky smile. "-Right here... right here I know you'll still be here."

I tugged his paw in my hoof, locking my eyes with his. "You're Zen Amadeus, you never needed some new body or powers because you are already so smart, cunning, fast, strong in a way no monster, no stupid manifestation can replicate," It took time, my heart was racing, any sense of logic that attempted to divert my words with thought quickly dissolved. "Your soul can never be replicated. So get up," I pulled at his paw again, hardening my gaze as he continued to search mine. "Stand tall and don't ever look back." I kissed him gently, pulling away to see something spark in his eyes, flickering, and dancing in his irises

Looking down at our joint hoof and paw, he tightened around me, a feeling of revitalizing energy course to my leg like a heartbeat. "I'm still scared," A voice as strong as any armor rang in my ears hopefully. "But I'm not alone... anymore." That was the Zen I knew and loved. "Sorry for making you worry."

A snort broke from my nose, "Need I remind you of who's family dilemma you helped to solve?" His child-like grin returned and stupidly made my heart tick faster

"...Safi'Jiiva, The Red Dragon," That sounded ominous as heck. "If he wants a fight, then he picked the wrong world to mess with," Zen stood tall, proudly with his paw out to my hoof. "I have an idea... several in fact! But I need the expert eye of the greatest Treasure Hunter to accomplish it, think you know the pony?" I giggled, a smooth talker with cheesy lines to the end -- Screw it, I love it

"I may know her," I gave a wink, curling my wing for his fist to tap against. "What do you need, Partner?"

"Mind stealing a bunch of weapons and armor from the guards for me?" Oh? Another for criminal bingo, cool!

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

And the big reveal, it's the one and only, Safi'jiiva! There was a wide verity of Elder Dragons I could have placed here but I felt that since Safi revolves around energy manipulation to an extent similar to Lucario being an aura Pokemon that can sense and manipulate it too it was perfect! Plus, I've fought the beast numerous times to understand how it works.

The end is nigh Hunters and Trainers! I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, and seeya in the final chapter!

Chp. 26 - The Spirit is Indomitable
Safi'jiiva, the most powerful manifestation and the epicenter of the lesser surges now waits in the dead valleys. Zen must give all he's learned to save Equestria from this impending calamity, but how great will the cost be?

Chp. 26 - The Spirit is Indomitable

The tension was as thick as you could imagine, sure, it's easy to interpret how it feels but to be standing before this table, the crackling fire that kept out the cold, the rustle of paper, notes, and the odd clank of metal to the very idea of facing down what I could only describe as a force of nature incarnate. My heart was pounding, a slight chill to my chest as I almost clamped up from the nervousness, Yui didn't fare better but rather kept her eyes on the tarp before me, my paw patting the items beneath it.

"Gather around everypony, let's go over what we know," Luna began, all eyes and ears to her attention. "Upon investigation in the deepest cavern so far we... discovered the beast's lair, and in turn, came close enough to gauge just what exactly we're dealing with." She put her hoof on the table, circling an area of the cracked earth. "There was more of that material, as it turns out to be shedded skin, the creature having molted countless times."

A few murmured concerns, so Luna nodded toward Yui, causing her to bob her head out from under her hood, letting her mane free. "This gigantic monster has drained the life energy around, maturing with time, now, what was once called Xeno'Jiiva has become a fully formed Safi'jiiva," Yui summarized, frowning with a furrowed brow. "What I don't understand is how a manifestation could enact such similarities to what it's copied, is it because it's the prime rift?"

"We can't say for certain," Topaz added, running a hoof over her mane. "But as far as you've informed me that crystal you carry can seal the rift once the monster is destroyed, Zen?"

I gave a nod, still awaiting my turn to speak, my paw was growing impatient, just one flick and the cloth would be gone and my latest work unveiled.

"Our best option is to send a small team to observe and do recon, understand how this creatur--" I'm gonna stop you right there, Shining

"No need, I know what it does," I finally interrupted, seeing the ire in his eyes while I cleared my throat, despite not needing to vocalize my thoughts, guess it's just to keep up appearances. "Granted, I never fought Safi before landing in Equestria -- Look, he's an Elder Dragon, one that drained the energy of the surrounding land to both mature and speed up recovery exponentially, and has complete mastery over its abilities, had it been Xeno we may not have to take so many careful steps."

"Then how are we supposed to beat it?" One guard voiced the concerns in the air, so with a toothy grin I pulled the cover away with gusto

"Ahem, cue applause - With these!" Several weapons and armor sat on my end of the table, many awe and wide gazes locked to the inventions. "I hate metalwork, doesn't mean I can't work with the material," I shook my head with a shrug. "I'm no metalsmith, but I don't think I did too bad."

The first to the far right was a set of pony-sized armor, specifically for a the cute Bat-Pony beside me. It was a deep shade of purple with thick scales, jagged at the ends with a tint of green across the thorns. There was leg armor, a small breastplate shaped like a V from several smaller scales, and a smooth cap that would give her own ears a light purple tint as the helmet dipped to cover the brow and top of the snout. Beside it, a matching purple sword with a green, curved blade, the buckler a shade of purple with a curved, pink outline, jutting down like horns.

"Armor and weapons fashioned from the Deadeye Yian, thankfully I managed to sneak on a bunch of supplies so I could make a whole set! Probably the toughest material for thousands of miles too!" I prided myself, then moved on. "Next, we have these vambraces forged from Acidic Glavenus," Much like Yian's armor, they were thicker and dark green with a hint of blue to the rough surface. "A few punches with these will weaken even the toughest of scales."

Last were for me, a pair of bracers, a small chestplate, and shin guards. Light blue with tufts of white fur and yellow scales say for the white sheen on the breastplate, a hint of static still noticeable in the wavy fur. "For myself, Zinogre armor for a little something extra, just to be on the safe side when he decided to blow everything up."

"'Blow everything up'?" Yui raised her voice, startled as the rest so I nodded grimly

"Safi uses energy breath attacks, can overflow the ground with energy for explosions, and when he get really angry he'll unleash all the energy he has for one massive blast that could level a city block," That left quite the impression on the crowd, but I had a plan, while I never fought it I knew of its weaknesses to a degree, thank you, data miners. "Safi's one flaw, however, is his overuse of energy absorption -- We can use that against him, whittle him down by forcing him to drain all the remaining energy in the chamber."

"Aren't we supposed to not let him do that?" Topaz hummed, clearly unconvinced as I tapped my nose

"He speeds up his natural regeneration, meaning he exhausts himself faster." It was simple biology, he recovered his injuries, not his stamina, and he burns alot of energy to do it too. Now came the hard part, one that I knew had to be made but while I had my choices it was getting a certain, still not trusting me, pony to keep his mouth shut. "I won't risk everyone's lives against a threat they don't know, so... I'll only be taking three others with me."

"I'm not here to discredit any of you, but against a manifestation of an Elder Dragon that even I have never fought I can't risk gambling with lives when I'm not certain of your skills, and to be frank, we're out of time as it is." This was definite, Safi wasn't going to sit around in the Badlands, once his power is at its fullest it'll probably torch half the world before we could so much as breathe

"That's not your call to make," I didn't hide my aggravated sigh, the last thing I needed was more pointless drama. Shining stood his ground on the matter. "While yes, you may have the power to shut this rift it doesn't grant you permission to overrule those in charge, and don't think I'm not aware of that thief-" He jabbed a hoof at Yui. "-stealing the armor necessary for your upgrades--"

*Crash!*

"Watch your tongue, runt," The old me slipped out as my fist pried itself from the desk, frost dashed aside as my sharp eye glowered down at him. "I don't care what you think of me, but don't you dare call her a thief," Standing tall I grabbed the ruby under my scarf. "If you want to throw innocent lives to the slaughter go ahead, I'll wait," Leaning over the desk, I saw the faint trace of fear in his eyes. "You think you can stop me? Go ahead and try, because if killing you means I get to save billions of lives, so be it."

Gradually I stood back, feeling a hoof rub my thigh as I breathed heavily, letting the glow leave my eyes, I didn't even know I could do that. "Luna?" She hadn't looked away from me. "How'd you like to hunt an Elder Dragon?"

Even with the sour mood, she managed a small smile, "I would certainly relish the chance to test my combat prowess again," Luna agreed. "But who else would you request?"

I chuffed, motioning to two mares before us. "Duh, my adorable girlfriend and funny new Guard friend, with your permission to leave the Captain here to manage your responsibilities while we're gone?" Bet he didn't expect that, but we needed someone capable of keeping things afloat up here encase of emergencies, and despite the bad start between us, I know he's capable of this. "I designed these weapons specifically for you two anyway."

Yui blinked, cheeks still somewhat pink as she blew her mane. "Like I'd let you tag this alone," Her wing curled to bump against my arm. "We're in this to the end, both of us." I couldn't agree more, a part of me wants to refuse and keep her safely up on the surface, but I knew Yui too well, she'd not back down, even if I tied her up. Another reason I find her endearing I suppose, she's got spunk

"You sure 'bout adding me to the group?" Topaz ran a hoof to her chest, uncertain of her role in this. "I mean, it's not like I'm any different from let's say the Captain or one of the Night--" A small, lighthearted chuckle let my lips

"It was either you or Armor and trust me, we'd probably do more damage to each other than Safi." I heard his snort

"Something we agree on..." Aww, someone's all pouty

"Okay, that's fair." She put her hoof down, then slid it across to slowly steal the Glavenus bracers. "I'll be better off with a hit and run tactic if you don't mind?" I, in fact, did not. Yui had the most equipment due to her lack of mobility with only one wing, and Yian's armor was light to my surprise

This was it. I could feel it within the crystal, the unfathomable power I've collected and the source beneath our feet, if we fail, the whole world is doomed. Trinity entrusted me where so many could easily trump my skills, so I'll have to prove that I can uphold my promise to her, for everyone here and far.

~---~

It wouldn't be long now. While everyone prepared themselves for delving back into the earth, I sat alone by the entrance, the guards had vacated their posts, leaving me to sit before the ominous maw of the valleys. "From the otherworldly blue king came the red devil, emperor to all. From his crimson maw comes pure energy, unbridled yet concise, smashing all but the sturdiest asunder." I recited like an ancient tome

"Deviously cunning, and unexpectedly hostile, Safi'jiiva is the result of the otherworldly Xeno'jiiva shedding its infant appearance, and amassing strength. Huge in stature, Safi'jiiva boasts more than raw strength. Its ability to manipulate, and subsequently drain, the residual energies spread like lifeblood by the earth meant it doesn't focus on any one elemental capability. Rather, it condenses said bioenergy and uses it to fire high-intensity beams of raw power, searing the earth." If anything, Safi was impressive, just from a safe distance

"That was ominous, are you trying to psyche us out?" It was only Yui and her sarcastic humor as she wrapped her hooves around my shoulders, resting her head over my right. "This is it... maybe the last time..." I didn't want to say it, but I guess denying if my plan could fail would only trouble me further when I needed to focus

"I'm a human from Japan turned into a Lucario from Pokemon by a Goddess of Virtue in a world filled with talking, magical ponies fighting giant Wyverns," The summery drew a laugh from my lips before I turned to answer Yui's perplexed face. "Sorry, still can't over how stupid that sounds out loud, yet, I'm fine with that, this world's amazing, from the few places I've seen I feel like a lifetime has passed."

"Yui, even if I'm gone, every moment and the stupid things we've talked about, the battles we had to take," My smile grew sheepishly. "I won't forget it for a second, all because of you, the treasure hunter that never gave up on me or herself."

Yui sighed shakily, running a hoof over her eyes with a strained groan. "Dammit, why do you always say the corny, sappy, mushy stuff...?" That smile of hers didn't fade

"Part of my charming personality." I mused, earning a jab of her wing to the shoulder

"The end of the world and you're still giving stupid compliments." Yui ran her hoof over her mane, exasperated but otherwise elated. That expression and glint in her eye...

Screw it, "Come here," She squeaked as I angled her chin so that I could observe her surprised face as I kissed her passionately for what may be the last time, so I savored every second as her eyes closed while leaning in herself. If there were others watching I didn't care, I'd downright yell out how much I cared for her if that meant I could keep this memory alive for every waking moment. Deep down, I know she felt the same, we're both inexperienced and complete dolts when it came to this but this right here was enough, just a single moment alone together in the middle of nowhere

Armed and ready, I stepped into the large chamber once more, no sign of Safi'jiiva anywhere as we approached the lip of the massive, subterranean arena, the hollow remains of his skin still falling apart on the rocks above. I held my arm out the moment I felt his presence, Yui drew her sword with her mouth, the buckler snug against her right leg. Luna and Topaz to my left while the earth crumbled and made a hiss of dust, the light above flickered, then, the sun erupted with blue fire, massive boulders crashing into the ground around us.

The ceiling ignited at the black epicenter, focused plasma rained from the sky, igniting the cavern in a fierce, blue tone. The black object tore through the ground, a torrent of humid wind ripples with blue wisps while the ground crackled with remnants of its life energy. The black claws broke the ground it walked on, the seam between scales hissed a bright white as it absorbed what slithers of energy I could feel, now, the ground had turned completely grey.

The monster stood, towering over us all, red scales covered it head-to-toe, the ones lining the legs jutting out by the elbow, turning black like its feet. Behind the thick, powerful legs was a large tail, long spines tracing the vertebrae and along its back. Two large, leathery wings, rips, and tears at the tips between scaly radius. The chest remained low to the ground but hardened with more black spikes like a natural battering ram. The neck was long, reaching up to the angular snout with spikes lining the lower jaw and up toward the mass array of curved and twisted black horns. A pair of longhorns curved like a crown, multiple points jutting upward. The smallest and most horrific detail were the glowing, orange eyes that bore down on us with black pupils; As though to acknowledge us as nothing more than insects.

Towering over us, the epicenter of the white fissures that chipped away at the atmosphere around us, the pinnacle of the rifts manifestations stood between us and the end of this crisis to Equestria. With a flap of its wings, the dragon let out a roar unlike any other, a monster caged within a scaly body let out a cursed roar that wailed like a true dragon. Pure energy crackling across its scales, and for a brief moment, the wings shimmered like constellations.

It aura seethed with darkness, a dark red energy building across its hollow soul. The embodiment of energy bonded and mastered inside its body.

The Red Dragon, Safi'Jiiva.

No one spoke or uttered a word, so, finally managing to just swallow a lump in my throat, I blared my thoughts loud and clear, my teeth grit and my heart beating like drums. "Take him down."

It's pupils sharpened as a large beam of energy divided our team. Taking the lead with Bone Rush I plunged my staff through its right leg, tearing and weakening the scales as Yui copied me, though she had to block a small blast a second later, the force knocking her back while Luna unleashed a hail of magical bolts from above, some bounced off Safi's forehead as it craned its neck, splitting three consecutive bursts to try and tag her while I and Topaz flanked, swiping my staff across its weakened limbs that slashed at the ground, keeping us from prolonging any constant damage.

I dived under a claw swipe, lunging with the bo staff as it broke a claw, followed by a helicopter swing to the joint, the maw snapped my way, spiting a single blast with the tail swung down, creating a shockwave of energy to nearly roast Yui, her shield bracing the back leg as it kicked back. Regaining a footing I dived forward into a blur of color with extreme speed, vaulting across Safi's back to striking with consecutive ice and thunder punches that coated the wings and stunned his joints for Luna's magical impact to the forehead, bringing the body down as the front legs broke the stone, ripples of white energy rupturing the ground, blowing the trio away while Safi lurched up on his hind legs as I landed, focusing a thin beam of light to tear apart the ground in front of us.

Drawing Protect I took the blow for the girls as we were blown back by the massive explosion, a large, red claw swatting me across the ground while another thin beam blocked any forward advance, Safi swishing his tail while turning toward me. His maw curved then snapped at the air as Luna teleported us high. Letting go I propelled downward with my right foot forward, a scream of red energy building on impact with his weakened head thanks to the girls below as both were tossed away with a head drag. "Mega Kick!!"

He wailed on impact with the ground, the decayed earth under his back legs caving in, dragging his body through the earth partially while leaving himself exposed to our attacks. From magic to moves and swipes with hooves, his scales were broken and peeled away. The unstable energy inside of him was dwindling quickly due to the excessive attacks. With a roar, he flapped his wings and pried himself from the land, landing with two massive walls of energy to corral us for his next attack.

"Everypony to me!" Luna rallied as I slowly back away into a large, midnight blue shield moment before the powerful, white beam consumed the transparent dome, the blue flames licked the decaying earth, fanning many rocks and debris across the valley. Luna struggled to hold back the barrage, Safi looming closer, unrelenting as the maw drew closer with lumbering strides toward our helpless forms. "I-Its power is... unending"

"Come on, Princess!" Topaz clapped her hooves, Yui and I joining

"Give it all you got, Princess Luna!" Yui cheered, helping to keep her legs steady against the dying beam, Safi opting to fire constant, smaller blasts to conserve energy, but with the length of time, we'd be blown off the cliffside. Luna had to hold out until he was exhausted

"Keep it up, Luna!" I bellowed, siphoning some of my aura into her own, feeling her magic strain as new wisps entered its reservoir, keeping the webbed shield stable just an inch more. Stepping into the vanguard I brought my right arm back, bending at the knees. "Lower it on my mark!" She didn't make a reply under her stained concentration... three... two... one... The last blast rattled the dome. "Now!" The blue hue left us like parting leaves. "Counter!" The searing body of heat struck my fist, while my fur was singed and I wanted to cry out I conserved the energy and threw my fist right back at the closing maw, breaking several fangs as Safi screeched, stumbling to his right

Topaz took the lead, drawing a right hook across his leg, hoisting herself high to driving the jagged bracers through the weakened scales again, splintering their hardened shells for Yui to propel over her, rolling under a claw swipe, crushing a moon opal as she exited to the right of Safi. His gaze followed her, the tail swiping a wall of flames to keep me at bay. Yui stood with her back to a wall, taunting the Elder Dragon with her tongue sticking out as she muttered under her breath before diving away from his frantic charge into a large plume of mist.

His body jerked left, and his head collided with the back wall, dislodging a large rock from the wall as it collided with his neck, bringing the monster down for us. "Love you, Yui!" I gave her a wink as bone rush carved across the length of his body with a helix spin, swiping right I vaulted off the swing and over Safi's legs, smacking him across the wing membrane while performing a backward twirl, kicking the staff down with both feet to pierce the tail, taking a large chunk out of the scales.

Slowly, Safi rose back on all fours, only for my retaliate to break off a horn, sending him tumbling into the center of the arena. He snarled my way, flicking me back with his tail before crashing it back down, a flurry of explosive waves forcing me to grab Yui and dive from their destructive path. With his talon sunk into the ground, he immediately channeled the faint traces that even I couldn't detect from the earth, drawing white arcs of lightning across his body, repairing the cracks in his hide, patching his missing scales in seconds before stunning us with a terrible roar, craning his neck to the far right, casting with white flames.

"Everyone stay down!" Topaz cried as she dived with Luna ducking behind a spire of rock, a massive laser ripping across the cavern in a horizontal arc. Yui and I gulped then took cover as the molten plasma melted through the wall behind us, leaving it blackened while Safi roared once more, locking a pair of crimson eyes to me

"Oh God, he's woke." Shoving Yui behind the boulder, I immediately drew quick guard as the massive force of energy crashing into my arms. Taking off to the right I evaded another blast, then to the left while sliding under another. Even as the Princess and Topaz continued to chip away at his back legs, his eyes were fixated on me, drawing each breath attack to keep me steady. His left arm swiped forward so I countered with shadow claw, guarding against the imposing limb while his head came down, crashing against my torso to toss me back for a concentrated energy blast

With an erratic spin to my feet, I leapt high while the others flanked to avoid the blast. With Close Combat I managed to break through the cheekbone with a few swipes, though the jaws clamped around my feet, thrashing me through the air before I was felt my body heat up with agony as I was cooked from the waist down, then fired into the earth like a missile as even life dew struggled to alleviate me of the many burns I sustained.

As Safi lowered himself to the ground, he ignored the many cuts and impacts to sniff at my prone body, lips curling to reveal his teeth, a low growl leaving the gaps while a blue hue slowly gathered within. Oh, this gonna hurt... With a wince I snapped my left heel high, rock smash staggering the Elder Dragon before his blast could touch me, his scream then rattled the air as both Topaz and Yui sliced through his left eye, spitting blood and energy from the wound.

A pair of hooves hoisted me to my haunches, Topaz winking. "I thought you were tougher than this?" So did I, guess I was right to be cautious, I just never expected it to retaliate by roasting me between its teeth -- My eyes shot wide

"Topaz, move!" She didn't in time for the claw to smack across her flank, two large gashes split across her skin while Luna moved to catch her body as they both slid to a halt. As for Yui, my heart stopped beating as she stood there, taking a tail to face as the jagged tip sliced across her cheek, nearly shredding her hood and face completely if not for the Yian helmet, but I still saw her blood and body plummet to the ground in a heap before me, the sickening roar from Safi filled with glory.

My blood ran like fire, irony aside, I felt my eyes completely dilate, tunnel vision solely on Safi's leering gaze as my mentality broke under the intense stress that had accumulated over the coming days. With a furiously bright scarlet glow accompanied by many swords my power soared higher than ever before, a primal bloodlust clouding my mind as I merely blinked and found my fist embedded in Safi's mandible, my fists a constant shade of dark red as I drew every fist I could into his body as blue zipped past me, everything was detailed as my own perception crawled. I'll kill him, I'll tear him apart!! That poured a tremendous beat into my heart as I crashed through his body, obliterating the ground under me as I soared high again, bringing a powerful snap-kick to the throat, then a metal claw sunk through the scales, revealing my right arm to bring several red aura blasts atop his spines, breaking a few with consecutive blasts.

A single pulse scorched my back, followed by a sharp back kick to throw me far enough away for his massive blast of energy, I merely stripped the ground to keep myself stable, drawing my maw back with my own gathering of colorful wisps, the faint whiff of copper in the air only escalated the raw flow of pure energy into my throat. "𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐢... 𝐊ō𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐧!!"

Raw, unfiltered calamity ripped from my throat, atomizing the ground between me and Safi as our energy attacks collided in the middle the very earth itself growing unstable as I was blown back, Safi having flown high to evade the blast himself, but that wasn't why he moved. As my rage simmered slightly, clutching my heart as the storm passed I realized that the flow of energy from Safi had changed, instead of absorbing it, the pours in his body were expunging the excess, creating a downward draft of blue flames.

"Zen!" Luna cried out while adding Topaz behind a surviving rock. "You both must find safety, quickly!" True to her word, Yui wasn't safe from the blast, and either was I. Cursing out my actions later I ran for her form, plucking her with care for her bleeding head, tossing aside the shattered helmet as I ran for the nearest rock, the energy growing increasingly unbearable to so much as stand on, I could just barely pull off a quick attack in time, inches from the boulder as all sound cut off, even my own footsteps were mute under a heartbeat

High above, Safi raised his wings high, a single, sapphire star descending from his chest and for a brief moment, the ceiling lit up with the nightmarish sight of many cracks in space-time, infusing the energy that fell from the heavens themselves. With a roar, the light expanded and I nearly became blind under the sheer force of power that ripped across the cavern, setting the world ablaze under a furnace, the skin had all ignited, casting us in a hellscape unlike any I had witnessed before.

While the fires raged and even the rock I cowered behind fell apart I clutched Yui's petite frame, forcing myself to heal her as best I could. "Come on, Yui... you said we're in this together, so come on!" I was afraid, what other choices remained available to me now? Could I have chosen a better path or avoided this confrontation -- No, there's no evading this, everything led to this moment, I just wished I had the strength to see it through... "Please, Yui, I don't want to but..." She was still unresponsive, passed out from the impact

There's no other way now...

When the last embers died out and the heat released me from practically passing out, Safi'Jiiva cried out and retreated to flaming webbing, pushing through the old, withered material to a lower level, more than likely for a final confrontation. But Topaz and Yui were down, neither could fight anymore. Sadly, I gave Yui a final peck on the forehead before hearing Luna trot up behind me, "Luna... there's only one way," I muttered, seeing her look down at me as I brushed Yui's mane, my heal pulse dimming as her wounds closed up

She winced as the last flames were snuffed out, then with horror, her eyes widened as I passed Yui over to her with a shaky smile. "To protect them... and win," I begged her to agree, selfishly let me have this one final act of goodwill toward others. Her eyes were jammed shut, clearly, the idea of leaving an ally swelled in her chest as visible frustration crossed her muzzle, but ultimately, her features eased, and hurt eyes stared back into mine. "Please... Luna."

With a bow of her head, her magic lifted the two injured mares, the last claw ghosting through Yui's mane as the light gathered around Luna's horn and I smiled warmly. "Thank you for trusting me, Princess -- Huh?" Her hoof rested on my shoulder a moment, her magic was almost drained entirely, there wasn't going to be a second time

"...thank you, Zen, for that you've done for Equestria, and good luck," Did she know? Gratitude was the last thing I could see before their bodies vanished with a sparkle and pop, leaving me to face the hole ripped apart by Safi, his roar tore across the air

Alone, at the edge of salvation and destruction. Each step trembled, every breath was hot, tempered heartbeats racked in my chest as I leapt through the webbing's gap, soaring down into a massive, glowing cavern of gases, casting the jagged rocks with an emerald sea while I landed in the center surrounded by walls of stone, Safi now overflowing with an abundance of energy, the cracks split between scales, casting his wings in starlight with crimson eyes and a glowing chest. His rift grew increasingly critical with this unstable bioenergy.

Without a second to lose, I dived to my right, a large beam ripping across the battlefield, forcing me to dive under the powerful attack, only for a followup blast to toss me skyward, a large shadow looming before my body crashed against the ground, the leg hooked me between his claws tightly as I was tossed aside for the tail to give me whiplash, rolling into a strange deposit of green gas that smelled strange, similar to that of ga -- Oh.

Stepping further Safi lobbed three more blasts my way, all striking the back wall before reeling its gargantuan body back and lunging into a charge. I returned the action, sliding carefully between the long sweep of the head, tossing back an aura sphere to ignite the corner of the cavern in an emerald blaze, though I underestimated the blast radius as I was blown back into a steady roll, landing face down momentarily.

Standing slowly, I tugged the large ruby from my neck, seeing it had grown to fit my palm, a jagged oval shape now pressed between my claws as I held onto all I cherished. The people I've met, all my memories I poured into my mind while Safi roared, wings flung wide, blowing away the green fire as it rushed to the walls, casting us in its sickly glow, but my palm was completely crimson, the tick of a clock in my head as I reached for my own soul while my fist tightened.

All the energy of Barroth. Nargacuga. Tobi-Kadachi. Acidic Glavenus. Kulu-Ya-Ku. Zinogre. Deadeye Yian Garuga, Bloodbath Diablos. And even a faint trace from Mitsuzune. All these etheral energies were gathering between my fingers, enough power to reshape reality with my bare hands.

With heavy eyes to the approaching maw, I managed one last smile as my fist closed entirely and all sound escaped my ears

*Shatter!*

"...thank you..."

[Yui's POV]

I felt like I got slapped with a cannon across the side of my face. It was accurate since the last thing I saw was red and my head feeling dizzy before the craziness of the fight was muffled out. Groaning, my back lurched up off the bed to find Topaz sat beside me, herself sighing with relief, bandaged across her flank, Princess Luna wasn't here though, neither was -- I nearly shot from the bed.

"Wait-wait, you're still injured!" True to her word my head started to spin again while her hooves put me back against the bed, but I couldn't sit without knowing-- "It isn't over, the Princess got us out in time before things got messy, but Zen," She stopped as she noticed my worried expression, even Topaz couldn't manage a comforting smile. "I-I don't know if--"

"He'll beat that monster and win," There was no doubt about it, he wouldn't lose to some overgrown energy lizard. I know Zen, he can win! "He has too... he has too." But why did it mean that I had to let him go? I know he has to go home, and probably without me no matter how kind his promise was, it didn't mean this stupid hole in my chest didn't grow.

"Yui, does your cloak always do that?" The blank stupor on Topaz's face drew my eyes to the cloth nestled beside me, and to the object nestled between it and my hoof. How did -- It was the prismatic gem, a radiant sheen glossing the surface, refining the rough mineral to a polished tone. While shocked, I felt it deep within my soul, a thread that tugged on the opposite end, feeding through me from a place I couldn't reach

I smiled gently, clutching the rock in my hooves closer. "He totally knew what it was, that jerk." I was starting to tremble, this... this was it, a part of me knew it, heck, our whole journey had led to this end but now it was starting to sink in. I didn't want him to go, I... I don't want to be alone again, I'd selfishly leave this world if I can keep going on adventures with Zen. The stone hummed again, the purple sheen cast far brighter in my hooves as I closed my eyes.

[No POV]

While the fires were torn skyward with a ferocious wave of blue bioenergy released from Safi'Jiiva, it roared triumphantly as the growing blast eradicated the creature standing before it, a faint whiff of ash and charcoal mingling with the gasses in the lowest level of its nest. It stopped, the energy fluctuated in the region but not toward its unstable form, rather, the collective motes of light gathered and circulated around the dissipating smog, the fires blown back while Safi growled, eyes a sharp scarlet, but so were the smoke's, malice, and power resonating like a mirror.

Etherial specters began to form. One of Barroth, outline a solid bronze, then Nargacuga a faint lilac. Tobi-Kadachi an aquamarine. Acidic Glavenus dark green. Kulu Ya Ku tangerine. The powerful Zinogre cast in marigold. Deadeye Yian Garuga's fierce purple. Bloodbath Diablos tinted blood-red. And last, almost curled protectively was Mitsuzune, shaded a baby-blue.

The flames ignited with a roar of multicolored flames, banishing the revenants, ranges of shades rising in the tempo of the sparkling, purple sheen across Zen's body as it warped and changed gradually, certain points of his body evolving faster with a helix of gold ribbons encompassing his body, eyes cast a sharp orange as he clenched his fists, howling powerfully enough to impact the ground under him.

As the light shattered with a strange emblem bursting into flames. his cream fur became longer, his thighs slimmed down. More spikes developed on the back of his paws, which have turned crimson. Spikes also developed on both feet, which have become crimson too. His previously red eyes are now orange-colored. His aura-sensing appendages longer and two of them are tipped in crimson.

Zen's rounded shoulders also possess a spike each. The massive incline of power amplified his soul and aura, allowing him to draw the same bioenergy as Safi'Jiiva to an exponential extent that black markings appeared on his blue fur. The gamble paid off, a strange, almost irregularly accurate sense of time racing through his head, the very ceiling above an inferno of strange, blue lines that raced throughout Equestria, and one was directly fed into Safi's form, a twisted, blackened thread that needed to be severed for good.

"Alright, my turn." Drawing forth from the energized earth, a crystal white staff spun between his claws, locked behind him as Zen took a mere kick forward, then Safi reeling back as the edge slicing across his jaw, twirling down in a diagonal thrust through its chin and through one of its claws as it brought the leg back to swipe Zen, only to meet his immovable body, Zen backhanding the arm with a rising swing of the bo staff, forcing Safi back as two rapid aura spheres collided with its maw, redirecting a blast to the edge

Roaring, Safi plunged its front legs into the earth, webbing half the arena in unstable fissures that erupted like a ring outwards, forcing Zen to hoist himself high with his staff, vaulting over the second wave while drawing his right leg back, swirling embers erupting across the surface. "Blaze Kick!" At the 'K' his toes broke off a horn moments before the teeth could snag him from flight. With the added propulsion of the kick, Zen angled himself above the head, drawing his mouth back with etheral energy. "Dragon Pulse!" The second word was lost to a roar akin to Safi's as it wailed from the destructive downdraft of draconic energy, the surge blowing away the scorched ground under it.

Zen grunted as his feet touched the earth, blown away by a roar and thrash of the wings as Safi flew up high, drawing from the bioenergy to summon forth his devastating move again, knowing entirely that Zen had nowhere to hide, but he never intended to. Bringing his forearms close, he closed his eyes and felt the waves of Equestrian life energy weft and weave across his fur, gathering primarily in his arms for a critically charged Protect.

The sapphire star collided with the ground, incinerating the ground and leaving Zen intact say for the blast pushing him a few feet backward, the shield having tanked the explosive onslaught, much to Safi's startled anger, so it drew its head back, collecting more and more energy for a massive blast. Zen snapped out of his trance and did the same, only utilizing his own spiritual aura to enhance a growing comet between his paws, thought turned to raw strength.

Focus Blast seared the ground as it struck the beam ahead, creating a massive halo of destructive power between them. Safi, having grown hungry, drew what slithers of power remained trapped in the earth, his body cracking and glowing critical, however, whatever remained immediately was snatched from its claws. It glared back at the creature, finding it to be harness the same power Safi stole for itself. Many aura spheres circulated Zen, eyes ablaze with a blue contrail while snorting, taunting the Elder Dragon with two fingers motioning it to come forward.

Like a freight train, the Dragon lunged with its mouth wide, feet erupting geysers of bioenergy with every step while Zen took two steps back, a pungent gas filling his nose. The glare shadowed his own so Zen dived under a claw swipe, tossing an aura sphere to the ground under Safi'Jiiva, and the world was lit anew. A fountain of green fire scorched the weakened scales of the dragon, blowing it backward and onto its side for Zen solid Force Palm to the right-wing, then another to the back leg as the tail swiped round.

It caught Zen's foot in the wave of energy, allowing Safi the chance to rise, drawing a pinpoint laser across the ground to riddle Zen's Quick Guard, the shield breaking moments after the laser faded, a pair of jaws clamping down if not for his staff locking the two sets of jaws, Safi tugged him into the air as he thrashed and flailed to be rid of Zen's presence. The pupils slit themselves, and the unstable mass traveled up its throat, forcing Zen to swing himself up and around in time to avoid the direct blast that struck the ceiling, his feet surfing down the length of Safi's body, firing multiple smaller aura spheres as fast as he could materialize them.

With the spined tail poised it gave him the air time to draw an even distance between the two, hearing the tear of rock above as the whole roof was disturbed, off-loading tons of rock and debris atop the fighters that refused to quit, even as the sky was falling. Zen broke into a blurred sprint, drawing bronze fists and kicks to deflect or divert the meteor shower away or toward Safi'Jiiva, the dragon steamrolling through the debris with the intent to devour every ounce of life from the creature.

The azure flames licked Safi's tongue, a surge of plasma breached its mouth and stripped away the debris, hurdling toward Zen while he ran across the many descending mounds of stone while tucking in his arms. He narrowly slid between two sheets of earth, his left foot and Safi's head connecting as the last of the ceiling crashed to the floor, almost burying the two if not for the sharp impact creating enough kinetic energy to dispel any flying objects far across the underground.

Zen observed closely as Safi's body trembled, leg burrowed through the ground, unleashing a wave of energy, forcing him to bound over the wave, his cheek gazed by the tail's backswing, an arc shaving away at the ground. With his metal claws, Zen sliced straight down the dragon's midsection as the back leg nearly crushed him as he fled. He shot up into the air, kicking back off the claw while ducking under a pinpoint laser once more, using the blue flames as cover to gather an aura sphere imbed the blue orb against the joint of the tail, feeling the forceful snap of bone under the scales.

Performing a bow the claw shaved his ears while Zen performed a handstand, drawing both legs back to kick the leg off balance. Safi stumbled, then charged towards him, scratching its face across the area, followed by a backhand through the rugged floor, keeping Zen from advancing through the uprooted stone. Blinded by dust, he instantly conjured Ice Punch and struck the ground, creating a small shelf of ice to intercept several small blasts. Taking the cool surface up the arms tore the ice away, leaving Zen airborne for a massive, slant of shadow claw to carve through the already blinded eye, undoing the healed optical nerve and leaving Safi screaming in agony.

Yet Safi craned its neck around, blasting the sky with three, hazardous charges, which erupted into nine, throwing Zen into a pool of gases the two blown away by the highly flammable smog. Zen felt his feet tremble, even with Life Dew as a pick-me-up, the energy in the area was extinguished, and there was only so much either could do, so Zen had to end this, no matter the outcome, with one attack. Spinning on his heel, his eyes locked to Safi'Jiiva, now a towering beast soaring on tattered, burnt wings that struggled to hold him aloft.

It was do-or-die now, to win with one strike to Safi's center, straight through the soft-tissued chest. Time crawled while Zen dashed through the flames and decimated landscape, each footstep thundered while blue flames rained from up high, the embers barely passing as a burn while Zen pushed forward, lurching off his toes, a single, Bone Rush cradled between his fingers, the tip sharpened with the velocity, forming a cone of silver light as a sapphire star descended between Elder Dragon and Pokemon.

Zen's form was devoid of color, white overtook his vision, greys, and blacks providing what little shade that remained from the light that blinded both him and Safi'Jiiva. His heart, his very soul igniting across the tip of his staff.

"This is it!" Zen seethed, eyes locked to a slithering crack across the rough, white hide. "The last one!" He bore his fangs as he felt several threads untie themselves from Equestria's universe, slipping from his mentality as an invisible force cut the connection entirely. "It's over now -- This one's for you guys-"

"Finishing moooooove!" Zen landed on the chest, propelling off the scales and over Safi'Jiiva's attack. Drawing his bo staff high to convert every microscopic trace of energy, bio, or spiritual to the tip of the staff, his own irises fading between many shades of a rainbow. "GIGA. SUTAFFU. BUREKU -- 𝐑𝐫𝐫𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐡𝐡𝐡𝐡!!!"

The staff broke through the chest's thick skin with a resounding crash of seven colorful rings to disperse Safi'Jiiva's abundance of power. The tip of the staff pierced through the layers of flesh to rupture at the core, a ripple creasing in time as the tainted bind was severed entirely, discharging the contained temporal energy in a massive eruption of static and shatter akin to glass. Zen appeared out the otherwise of Safi'Jiiva as it roared up at the darkened world above, seeing its connection undone as it lost control of the extinction attack, landing in a heap of charred earth, body disintegrating into wisps of red before Zen, his staff releasing the built-up energy itself like a dying sun.

He too fell toward the earth, eyes heavy while the gazed up at the vanishing streams of time that lit up the world in its vibrancy, the tiny dots of his extinguished staff looked just like stars. With one final look, Zen saw his own thread break away from the stream and a sad smile crossed his face with a single tear

"Taka, Asher, Kazu, Merry... big sis, arigatō sayōnara."

The world was silent a moment before Zen realized, he was in the dark, no sense of a horizon say for the many white paths that glossed the void, stretching and forking endlessly, stretching beyond infinity. When he blinked, stepping forward once with a hitch in his throat, he realized he wasn't alone and in fact, Kazu, Merry, Asher, Taka who was actually cradling a child wrapped under a blanket in her arms, and his big sister, Summer, were all standing at the edge of a diverging path.

"Wai-" Again his voice snagged, his foot unable to reach them just a few feet down the glimmering road. All of them smiled, human once again just like Zen

"This isn't the first time we've separated, but that never gets easier, all of us have grown up together after all." Kazu sighed

"Excluding me, duh," Merry raised a hand, brushing the locks covering her right eye

"But even if we're far away," Summer stepped forward, able to reach out to Zen's shaky hand, cupping it between her own with a sisterly smile. "Our memories won't vanish, that connection won't ever fade."

"So you see, dummy," Taka chuffed, bowing her head as tears stung her face despite herself trying to hold it together, though the gentle hand from Kazu placed on her shoulder only broke her resolve further. "T-there's no reason to cry."

Zen sniffed, misty-eyed with a smile, "Yeah, my memories are right here," His voice broke, his own tears falling as he placed a hand on his heart, a blue flame flickering on the surface, comforting his hand gently. "Right here until the end."

"That's right, so we'll be best friends forever," Asher smiled through his own misty eyes, closing them tightly

Zen, with every ounce of strength he could muster reached out, clutching onto his sister tightly, burying his face into her shoulder. Even as he cried, the familiar softness of a hand patted his head, soothing him with a whisper. "It's okay, I'm right here."

Soon, the paths started to disappear, and one-by-one his closest friends vanished from his sight, Summer's body beginning to turn to silver light in his arms, his eyes wide with shock and heartache. "I should really be scolding you for doing something so reckless, and I really wanted to," Her voice whispered. "I know you would always want the best for people, you hated saying goodbye, ever since Rika's death."

He started shaking more, squeezing tightly to somehow prevent the inevitable. "It's okay to say goodbye, it doesn't have to be the end, I know it won't be, one day we'll meet again, I swear as your big sister." A promise, a vow that neither would dare break. "No matter what you chose, I love you, Zen... goodbye..."

Forcing through the tears a smile she slowly started to fade from his sight. "I-I love you too... S-summer," It was then he fell forward, the silver fireflies having scattered between his hands. "goodbye.... goodbye..."

For the briefest moment, alone in the dark another figure's hands wrapped around his shoulders tentatively, scarlet locks brushing to his cheek with a hint of strawberry, a small smile crossing their lips. Zen leaned back, at last, able to rest.

[Zen's POV]

I don't know how long I was out for, but judging by the fact I wasn't lying next to a rotting corpse or writhing in flames, either in another world or in the cavern, it was clear I was someplace... new? It looked cleaner than an inn, word of advice, go to three-star or below inns at your own risk. My body still ached all over from whatever happened, it was all still a blur. Just tasting a drop of the power within the earth was immeasurable and might be the reason I won.

And... saying goodbye, I made my choice but that didn't make it easy, but I know, I know I can still feel that thread between us. Yeah, that was something to still smile about, thanks Summer. Here’s hoping Taka appreciated me using a line from her favourite show. And Kazu, Asher, even Merry, I wish you guys a bright future.

"Z-Zen!" That was an assuring voice. Sitting upright I was immediately tackled back into the soft, poofy bed by a soft, cuddly girl as her hooves pushed off my chest, she almost poked herself with my chest spike again. Misty-eyed and with a new, white scar down her right cheek, seeing her warmhearted smile reminded me of my choice, and why I'm okay with the events that had unfolded. "You're okay!? Nothing out of place -- Or feeling like you might disappear!?" Her words came out in studders and she left no room for me to so much as open my mouth. "What happened to Safi'Jiiva? T-To--"

I don't think this is the solution for every issue, but I just faced down a massive Elder Dragon capable of annihilating the world to save said world, my friends and sister, and the girl I love, so by God I was gonna kiss her. No matter how many times, the tingling sensation in my spine, the way my heart raced a different kind of tempo would never get old. I savored this moment again with her, and she didn't pull away either, pushing further for a solid half a minute before air became a relative issue, parting with a heavy breath.

"I love you too, love," I chuckled. She sat back, blushing angrily but her eyes gave away her great concern, her desire to understand how I was here and not back in my human body in my questionably messy room. Guess it was time to tell. "Okay, okay, it was during that lucid dream I had with Trinity..."

"I understand, Trinity," My head remained low, hand still clutched around the jewel tightly. "Just tell me one thing?"

She sat forward with eager anticipation. "Whatever you want to know, go ahead."

"If I destroy the ruby, used it to reshape reality-" My eyes leveled with hers earnestly. "-Can I send my friends back home?" It was a vastly uncalculated gamble, and I'm not one for maths but I didn't need a number to know many variables were present. Trinity's scarf furrowed, telling me she was considering the crazy idea, her frown hadn't shifted

"It was never designed for that purpose, but it is a power unlike any you've seen," She brought a finger to tap against its surface. "Every manifestation is granted a certain amount of temporal energy, it is how they act as their counterparts, with this you could pull object through time if you focused hard enough," There was a 'but' somewhere. "But, at the cost, as I said, of the ruby itself, you might be able to send your friends back, summon forth a power if you needed it, but the maybes are hazy, the most likely outcome is that you would be separated from your homeworld, but even for me that's a guess."

Am I an idiot banking on cliches and other delusional hopes? Probably, but was it worth it, to see them safely back home? Most definitely. Tossing the ruby skyward and catching it, I made my choice more certain at this moment. "For them, it's worth the world and back."

Trinity once more, giggled while sitting back with a kind smile. "You remind me alot of another person I've met, he too would risk his own well being for those he cared dearly for -- Perhaps that also is why I trust your word when I say... choose carefully."

I gave her a serious nod, to be entrusted by a Goddess, that bared alot of weight and responsibility, "I will, it's what I discussed with them before I ran from my responsibilities."

"-In the end, I made my choice," I chuffed, "Guess I'll be a resident of Equestria a little longer now." A mixture of guilt and joy flooded us both, these 'what ifs' and 'maybes' would never fade with time, but I accept the fact that my actions cannot be undone. Ruffling her mane I held up a smile. "Don't worry, they can never get rid of me for long," Optimistically I laughed, though it may have been blinding the truth, who cares? "I'll find them again, one universe at a time if that's what it takes."

"You make light of an impossible situation," Yui answered under her breath, she too smiled warmly as I was pulled into a tighter hug. "Whatever it takes, we'll find another way." There was no need to say anymore, say for her next question. "Say, what did you do to my gemstone?" She plucked it from inside her cloak, holding out the now-familiar item to my eye

"It's a Mega Evolution keystone," I have literally no clue on how that got here but I can imagine it was a past summon must have left it here way back when. "I used the power stored in the Ruby to do two things; One, I created a Mega Stone to resonate with the keystone, our bond is what created the reaction," Leaving out the 'trainer' part for my own sanity. "Sadly it disappeared after the fight so it was a one-time thing, no more cool aura powers for this Lucario."

"And the second?" Yui asked, eager to write it all down in her notes as I tried not to laugh at her frazzled appearance mingled with the studious look on her face, it was cute no matter how hard she tried. "Come on, details."

"Chill, girl -- The second was simple, with all that temporal energy I made sure there was enough for both the stone and to send them back," I sighed, remembering that feeling of threads being cut, how their auras vanished farther than my hands could reach. "They should be home again, and Taka's got alot of explaining as to why she has a kid now." Gods can't save you from that one, Kazu, yikes

"I almost feel sorry for them, that's got to be hard to explain." Yui blushed slightly, then her ears flicked like mine to the door, finding a peculiar pony standing there with a smile. Trinity's golden veil continued to flow and without any long talks, she simply bowed her head

"I thank you, Zen, Yui," When her head rose, her body started to fade away, offering us a hoof to her heart. "I will do what I can, so please, enjoy your lives to the fullest, my friends." Without another word she was gone, leaving behind the tome she gave me when we met

"Well, that was fast." We blurted out

Now I raised my brow. My joints popped and my head was still fuzzy, yet allowing this question to go unanswered would be the biggest mistake. "Okay, important question -- Where the hell are we?"

"Canterlot, the Princess personally watched over us as we traveled back, whatever was decimated by Safi'Jiiva had most of its life-force restored, but some damage would remain," Yui reported, chuckling once. "You really did it though, you won."

"'We' won," I pulled her back in tightly, remembering how angry, how terrifying it was seeing her take that strike. "I'm glad you're okay..." I buried my face into her shoulder. "I lost control when it, when you-" Her hoof petted my head

"For you, it was worth a scar," With that, we sat there, I didn't want to move in some frightening probability that I'll blink and she'll be gone, that I'd have my old life back but without her there with me, that the dice roll of instrumental odds landed on snake eyes. "You know," Yui began, still holding onto me. "The Princesses wanted to finally chat with us once you were okay, that's been three days if we count the time it took to return from the Badlands."

My eyes remained on the tome sat by the door. "Do they now?" I hummed, flopping down into the bed with Yui in-toe.

"Na." She giggled, nuzzling my muzzle as we moved closer, my heartbeat still in my throat

It was over. The rifts were now under control, the Monsters no longer a threat, I had an uncertain road ahead of me beside Yui. This wasn't the end, more just another crossroads I had to make a choice by, from adventures to discovering a new way home that wasn't permanent. Treasures and gold, magic and action around every corner of this unknown world. I doubt things would grow quiet, which is fine by me, just maybe no more scary laser dragons.

"What happens now?" This was the definitive question, the next step was our own.

"Whatever we want." Yui hugged me tighter, a hum between her lips while my fingers played with her mane. "A hidden world of relics and treasure awaits, my Guardian."

I smiled, shutting my eyes to the rays of sunlight from the window, like the flicker of her lilac soul against my azure. I like the sound of that. "Aye-Aye, my Treasure Hunter."

"As long as I'm with you, I’d go to the ends of the earth."
"As long as I'm with you, I’d go to the ends of the earth."

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝

“I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often your greater dreams are something you will not achieve within your own lifetime. The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death.”

Author's Note

This was originally two chapters but I combined them to keep the tension going. But sadly we are at the end of Zen's crazy journey, filled with trials, tribulations, and some fuzzy moments in between. I really hope I did well for Safi'Jiiva as I skipped the first stage since it's possible to completely skip a phase if one of the two upper layers is drained entirely, or atleast it would have been very quick. P.S. Tomorrow I'm uploading a very small chapter, consider it an epilogue or bonus set after the final chapter.

I'll be honest, I'm sad to see this come to a close, primarily because of everyone who read Indomitable, all of you were offering positive comments for this intresting crossover of three large fanbases and even liked the references I snuck in here and there, it was always fun to check for another new string of comments every day :twilightblush:

Thank you, Hunters and Trainers, alike for reading and commenting, it was fun writing this shot-in-the-dark story for all of you. For you Hunters, good luck in facing Fatalis in October together. Stay awesome, I hope you enjoyed Indomitable, and until next time, peace!

Minisode - Whole World

In response to Veo Skride, enjoy~

"Forty... two... f-forty t-thr..."

I feel my blood is at war with my muscles, it has been a perilous struggle over what side should be taken, and quite frankly, I have had enough of it. With a defeated whine I slumped to the dirt, coughing a few times at the lack of breath I had. That made today's record consisting of forty-three push-ups, sixty-five sit-ups, and a light sprint between Ponyville and the other side of the Everfree, and now I wanted to die.

Something felt broken. Each lungful burned. Sitting upright I steadied my breaths with a small exercise, listening closely to my heartbeat as each inhale drew it back down steadily. "This is why I stuck to being a shut-in..." A meager complaint from a guy-turned-Lucario in the world of magical talking ponies fighting Wyverns from Monster Hunter... that sounded alot better vocally if I'm honest

"Ah-hah, found you!" The ever-so-confident voice drew my head around to find that I had an audience consisting of the treasure hunter herself, hood down to show off her giddy smile and spring in her step. Her aura was all aglow today, well, more than it was when she left on her little scouting mission without me.

Yui blinked or winked, always hard to tell, her lips forming a thin line. "Hrm, you overtaxed yourself, didn't you?" I physically twitched and turned my head with guilt, scratching my cheek. Yui huffed. "Do you want me to knock the sense into you or have your body collapse instead?"

"Is neither an option?" I earned a wack of her wing across my ears. "Ack, I get the point, sorry!" Sitting back I raised my paws close to my chest spike. "I got literally sucker-punched by a giant monkey spitting lightning and my arms are still dead." A tremble at the thought of those golden fists striking me made my soul scream. "No more monkeys, please."

After a shake of her head that bright expression returned, her fang poking out while she clopped her hooves together. "Moving on! I've achieved the last ingredient I needed for a... helpful drink, hehehe," I don't like the sound of this, usually I'm the crash-test dummy. It was hard not to agree when she looked at me with the brightest expression possible. "Alright, check this out!"

"I'm checking." I hummed, watching her closely, then I held out a thumb of approval. "Sexy figure as always."

I saw her immediately stiffen with a blush as I hummed a laugh under my breath, "Ahem!" She pulled out with her wing a vile filled with a dark red substance; Chugging the elixir in a single swig Yui remained motionless, smacking her lips for a moment as her fur jittered. "Perfect, now I can now lift the whole world with just my hooves!" The two appendages rose to exemplify her point, but I could still sense her rapid heartbeat

My expression creased, trying to evaluate how that was possible? I mean, magic is stupidly overpowered sometimes, but no offense to Yui, strength wasn't her strongest physical attribute. Lifting a finger I went to raise a counter-argument at her blissful smile. "Um, love, that's not really-" !?!

Not a word later this petite bat-pony held me in her hooves with ease, sitting down to balance herself but somehow, she managed to lift me, hooves hugging my waist as I sat close to her chest. Despite my size compared to her own she had succeeded in lifting me with her eyes closed, displaying that loveable smile of hers with a hum.

Hold up, she said the 'world', but I'm... "Oh..." Dammit, she played me, and it was working! A faint blush dusted my cheeks as I crossed my arms at her use of what I could assume was one of my Demondrugs. Her lilac eyes shining bright up at me without breaking a sweat as for the pink tint on her own cheeks as stars seemed to dance around her, "Well played, Treasure Hunter."

"Love yoooou~!" This Mare...

End.

Author's Note

Yeah so that little comic strip was too good to pass up, so here's a little something extra after the final chapter, as you can see, our duo is happily going about their lives in Equestria, also, I fear Rajang. I hope you enjoyed it!

Special Assignment - Effigy of the Lost

Surprise~! Indomitable is back for my favorite time of the year, what's life without a little horror. A personal favorite of mine, enjoy!

"It's white and gold," This was indisputable, even if you placed it under a different light the fabric still had the same, shimmering sheen that black wouldn't give off

"Zen, I love you, but if you say it's white and gold one more time I will slap you," To emphasize, her wing flicked off the side of my arm with a vicious sting. I retracted my arm, rubbing it gingerly. The ever-so-proud treasurer hunter puffed out her chest, under that hood I could see the small smile of fake sophistication. "The colors are clearly black and blue, that much is obvious, then again, you are a dude."

Oooh, sexist remarks now, classy, "I've never been one to insult your keen sight but for this I'll make an exception," My claw tapped the glass, "The last thing I'd expect you to understand is fashion," My claw flicked her rugged hood. "You've never even worn a dress, how would you know?"

Her aura flared with a growl, then she yanked my paw as we left the shop window, my smile growing while her frown deepened. "Let's go before I punch you through the window," Hmm, she's angry.

"To be fair, seeing you in a dress wouldn't be bad," My truthful comment saw her pace stagger slightly, her wing curled tighter around my paw. "Staaaaare..." As I followed through with my observation of her body which was now moving rigidly, her eye snapped to me with an anxious blush rising on her face, then her eye darted away

"L-l-let's just g-go fill in t-this request, o-okay?" Now her heart was beating wildly, so with a soft grin I leveled my eyes to the road ahead, satisfied to have taken her mind away from a rather tedious problem. Three months and my skills have only sharpened, haha

Returning to the edge of the Everfree forest was nostalgic, everything sorta began in the rather harsh and untamed wilderness through an emerald wall of vines and shrubs. My arrival, surviving for God knows how long, meeting Yui, oh yeah, that part was nice. However, pleasant adventuring was on hold as we returned to the small cottage stationed just outside its border, a wave of fear and despair smothering the vibrant home, it was almost sad to feel this amount of negativity.

We didn't knock on the door and instead ventured around back to come across the reason for all of the darker emotions. Many animals lay in the spacious garden, some were nestled together, creatures you'd never see sat so calmly next to their predators or animals bigger than themselves. From small birds, squirrels, rabbits and other docile creatures to the more surprising pair of Timberwolves curled up together, a beaver of all things repairing their bark with new branches and plant life.

"What the what?" Yui blinked, voicing my words exactly as the owner stepped out with a bunch of medical supplies. "Hey, um... Fluttershy isn't it?" Hearing her voice the shy pegasus almost dropped her supplies if I hadn't rushed in to catch them, keeping the yellow mare standing as she took in our appearances, then surprise flushed on her face

"Z-Zen, Yui, why are you here?" We looked at one another, myself shrugging while Yui withdrew the parchment from her bag, rolling it out on the grass

"You put in a request, remember? We were in town when we saw this, and Zen was getting... weird," I deadpanned at her use of the term 'weird'

I have, for the last several months, been experiencing strange feelings of aura pulling me toward instances where we've encountered monsters from Monster Hunter, not rift manifestations, but much like Mira, they were dragged here through tears in reality like I was, of course, this kept my Hunting prowess on high as one would appear here-and-there, this felt no different, only... something was off, very off.

Fluttershy gasped, then approached us with a sigh of relief. "I-I thought putting in the request wasn't going to w-work, ponies I asked didn't w-want to go into the E-Everfree," It was a crime to see such a sad look in her eyes, glossing over her injured guests. "These poor things were scared away from their homes, some were so frightened that they refuse to go back, even those two Timberwolves, they got hurt trying to escape." Upon hearing the term, one of the two wolves looked up at me, growling weakly. Fluttershy frowned. "He says he knows you?"

I blinked, then chuckled nervously at the emerald leer I received from the wolf. "Ah... hahaha, I may have... threatened their kind... by turning them into firewood?" My toothy smile only placed more looks of anger on my person, lifting my paws defensively I jabbed a claw at the wolf. "You guys never listened to me, so stop complaining!" It snarled but ultimately sat back down

"That's awful!" Fluttershy gasped, but Yui stepped in with a shrug

"Fluttershy, if you were trapped in an unknown forest teeming with hostile creatures, let's be frank, you wouldn't exactly have the time to be kind to a pack of terrifying wood wolves." Yui poked her hoof at the Timberwolves, then cleared her throat. "Moving past animal rights, what's up with the Everfree? Thought a Hyrda was the worst thing in that place?"

"Believe me it is..." I shivered, my neighbor was so rude

Fluttershy considered it a moment, overlooking some to the injured creatures solemnly. "I tried asking but none of them really know what it was, just that something big and scary started turning other animals against one another, t-they were too afraid of the infection to try and look."

"Hold on, 'Infection'?" Hearing this put me on high alert. Stepping past the two I reluctantly approached the two Timberwolves, the one from before snarling at me as I ignored it's empty, threatening aura to inspect the injured one, itself panting as the beaver kept doing its best to plug up the large wound in its wooden hide. Squinting, I watched the eyes of the injured wolf follow me, so I flashed a fanged smile. "Relax, much as your kind have probably started the 'legend of the lunatic blue wolf', I just want to help with whatever's going on." The first thing to know about Equestria, almost every animal can understand you, not all sentient creatures, but most

It too seemed reluctant as I pressed my paw to its side, spotting a faint, sickly pale substance dripping from the tips of some of the branches, it was rotting the wood, but it didn't degrade it, just... drained it? "Heal Pulse," Murmuring the words a soft, pink hue enveloped the Timberwolf, and to all the many onlookers' surprise, the large gash slowly repaired itself, saw for a few broken twigs but the more serious wounds were patched up. Yui just smiled gently, shaking her head at me.

"Never a dull moment, even if it were a monster if you thought it needed help you wouldn't hesitate," I turned my head from her, resisting the heat in my cheeks at her cute smile and compliment

"Yeah... I guess," Stepping back, I gave Fluttershy, who was smiling as brightly as Yui, a stern look, bringing the mood down as I felt it, a chill wash over my spine from the looming forest in the background. "Fluttershy, tell us everything about this 'Infection'," I hope I was wrong, but encase I wasn't I might need to prepare a few things

"A Dreadqueen Rathian?" Yui repeated those fabled words as I pushed through the Everfree alongside her, going well off the beaten path as we traced the claims of the animals to the source of this 'infection'. Beside me, Yui watched the forest warily. "Or the male variant? Are you sure?"

"Not really," I grunted, shoving aside a bush for Yui to hop by with a small 'thanks'. "Both are capable of producing a poison so deadly it could kill a Hunter in seconds if they're ill-prepared, even if I'm completely resistant to poison as a Lucario, I still suffered Yian Garuga's poison, which means I'm not as 'immune' as I thought," Which sucks but given all the crazy things I can do I guess this was the world's way of a handicap. "Again, I might be wrong, there are no forest fires so unless they really, really like using their poison attacks I think we'll be fortunate to avoid either of those flying nightmares."

Again, there were too many variables, just like with Safi'Jiiva, the signs are there but nothing concrete presented itself. I was starting to worry if bringing Yui along was a smart idea, even if she would argue otherwise, this wasn't as simple as a large, scary monster with powerful attacks, it was one with a slow-killing poison that turned monsters against one another. Suddenly, a hoof bumped to my side, nudging me forward against a tree as I stared down at the firm look under that blue hood.

"I may not have 'aura-sense' but I think I know you pretty well to know what you're thinking," Her smile appeared, and her hoof ushered me down to her level as so her hooves could place themselves on my shoulders comfortingly. "Look, yeah, I'm not built for fighting, think that's obvious given my lack of a second wing, but I'm not going to just tuck my tail between my legs and sit back as you risk your life, that'll never sit right with me, got that?" I nodded dumbly, it was stupid but I know she was right

Gently, she nuzzled my cheek before sitting back. "You're a dummy, but thank you," A small chuff escaped me

"I think I'm supposed to say that," She just giggled cutely and stepped back to offer me a curled wing-tip. How could I say no to her? Shrugging I reached forward to tap my knuckle off her extended appendage. "Right then, gang, let's go solve a mystery." At my grin she groaned, slapping a hoof to her forehead

"Again with these references..." She loved them

The world was, for lack of words, rotten. Under a tree I must have missed during my time here, was a massive cavern of foliage, a stream cutting through from the far left. We steadily approached from a slope, stepping into the subterranean world that forced us not to lose our lunch.

The wildlife became almost nonexistent as I took a step forward, Yui keeping close to my legs as I approached the first anomaly in this massive subterranean overhang. Nestled between two aged logs was the source of the pungent smell, tugging my scarf tightly I poked at the white, fluffy spores as the strange, fuzzy texture jiggled. "It feels like moss but... sticky," Yui then gaged at that assessment as I shared her sentiment. It even released a faint puff of pale green smoke or fog. "Okay, hundreds of times worse." I wheezed, waving my paw

"Well, this matches the mist in the area, maybe a new kind of spore?" While I'd love to agree with Yui on this explanation the environment felt off, everything about this place gave me chills I couldn't shake - no, it was far worse now that we've found the source, or atleast close to it. "Zen, watch out!"

Pivoting I rolled beside Yui as Timberwolf landed headfirst into the mud, struggling to lift itself off the ground as another galloped into view, slipping down the slope as it failed to reach us. Yui slowly stepped back with me, the two of us on edge as I noticed the same, white smog coating the Timberwolves. "They're infected by those spores?"

"Zen," Yui tugged at my leg, drawing me behind a large boulder as more wolves shambled onto the scene, spreading the spores through the air as they ran and stumbled about the forest, thickening the smog as a damp, moldy smell filled my nose. "Okay, I'm starting to believe you, this isn't normal, even by Equestrian standards."

No... not just that. My paw slowly ran just above my spike, even though it was gone, I felt it, this lingering phantom of my ruby, was it really still leading me here? But if so... to what? "Yui, I think I'm going crazy..." I say this as a Timberwolf headbutted a tree stump. "Well, more than these guys."

"At this point, I'm all ears," She murmured under her mask, eyeing me seriously as I pressed my back to the boulder rigidly

"I think a part of my shattered ruby led me here unintentionally just like the others," It was a ludicrous assumption, and one Yui and I couldn't argue about as the air was pulled from around us. The trails of greyish-green smog gathered toward whatever acted like a blackhole. Following the sucking sound, our heads poked out to inspect what was pulling all the vapor from the air, and what I saw made me gag. A large, black visage stood amongst the clouds, and while I couldn't properly point out the culprit Yui yelped as she latched to my body, the Timberwolves falling silent as the smog as well as their lives were drained at the touch

Kneeling down I pulled Yui closer to my chest as we braced the acrid wind, a faint stomping noise drawing near as the air finally ceased its suction, leaving us gasping for fresh air again while I braved my fears and edged closer to investigate what exactly was behind this mess. When I did I had to immediately plug my paw over Yui's muzzle as her hooves shoved themselves against my own, our eyes wide with horror as I felt the colors drain from me completely.

The second I turned the large, black head leaned in from the other side, rotten, black flesh clung to its head like a veil, those green spores gathered atop its serpentine-like head as a set of twin jaws opened wide, revealing many long fangs like a deep-sea fish. It let out a cursed roar as the creature rose to its full height, wings draped in black, webbed flesh and spores, spines lining its narrow build and jagged legs, sickle-like talons jutting from the wings and feet as it passed us without so much as a glance, the moss clearly blinding it to our presence. The tail swept by, spreading some of the toxic spores as parts bulged and made these grotesque, squishing sounds as it moved. All while the underside of the scales were coated in a thick layer of milky-white miasma.

After a near minute of shallow breaths between us, I felt Yui's eye lock to me as I did my best to mentally collect myself, afraid to move even an inch. "N-no way... how did..." Resting my head low I whispered out the words carefully, watching the monster walk away. "I-it's an Elder Dragon-" Yui's gasp caught in her throat. "-The Corpse Coat Dragon, the Variant Blackveil Vaal Hazak."

"No way, another one," Yui breathed, watching as it mindlessly observed the thicket surrounding the outside of the natural cavern. "Can we beat it? Or is this thing like... It?"

"No, compared to Safi, Vaal is weaker, and thankfully most of my moves can hurt him, the issue is the Miasma in the air," I motioned to the smog still clouding the sky. "The longer Vaal remains in the Everfree Forest the more likely the ecosystem will collapse, he's a literal plague, and that Miasma will infect any living creature, to which as you've seen, he'll use to drain the life right out of them."

Even without my aura, I could feel her trembling against my fur, obviously, that meant we were at risk but there was one positive. Smiling I nuzzled her forehead. "Relax, if we use these antidotes I cooked up," I pulled my bag between us, revealing the many creations I had concocted long before I met Yui. "Drink one of these blue ones if you start to feel very weak or sleepy, that'll clear up the Effluvium from your system, if not take one of these pills,"

"Okay," She nodded and took my bag for me, offering her own wary smile. "So glad my boyfriend's a nerd." If not for the situation I'd have probably blushed but right now we had a job to do. Yui returned to her stern expression, tugging her mask over her muzzle while adjusting her hood. "I'll provide the support-"

"-And leave the frontlines to me," My fist and her wing bumped and we broke apart. Elder Dragon or not, I'll take this monster down either way. "You know, if I had a Yen for every time the food in the fridge transformed into an abomination I'd have two Yen," I held up to fingers. "Which isn't alot but it's strange that it happened twice, right?"

"Your food turned into a walking, corpse wearing, mold-infested dragon?" Yui blinked at me as if I had two heads

"Hey, neglecting stock rotation can lead to some ugly manifestations themselves - Oh, it's starting to leave," The tail slipped out of the grove and into the Everfree while we were talking. "We should probably catch up."

"Yep!" She hopped on my back and I broke forth at the speed of sound

"Manchester Smash!" My yell drew the blind Elder around, only to have the Blaze Kick crash atop its scalp, discharging a small ring of flames across the open forest, setting some of the rotten coat ablaze as it let out an ear-raking roar that strained with a howl. Bringing its head down I leapt back to avoid the wave of grey effluvium, wrapping my right paw around a tree, lunging with a double serving of Ice and Thunder Punch, both brought across the narrow jaw as it reeled back, the tail swiping my legs as I was sent barreling through a tree with Protect

Vaal started to shamble back, unleashing a snaking wave of gases that I narrowly evaded, swinging like my ancestors across the branches surround the battlefield. With one swing I launched high above a narrow beam of effluvium, projecting several Aura Spheres to pelt his hide, accidentally discharging some of the building sacks of rotten air from the coat as it clouded the ground in a dull haze. Landing I withdrew a piece of flint and cracked it against a rock while running from one of his rapid charges, the massive dragon toppling several trees while a claw swiped after me.

The flint sparked across the rock I struck, setting a few dry leaves and twigs ablaze between us, the flames aiding to disperse some of the smog from the infected area. Vaal slowly stepped back, growling at the sight of the flames before stomping toward me, tearing across the forest with his maw wide, forcing me to twist around and draw my polearm, twirling the staff around to crack it against his outer jaw, diverting the overpowering beast away, however, the tail again swiped at me, slicing my right forearm while I slowly backpedaled.

Vaal stood tall, inspecting me from under its veil while I slowly poised my staff against my back, adjusting my scarf as I focused, delving into my arsenal that came to life across my body, color began to contrast the murky forest surrounding us, I couldn't allow him to continue moving through the Everfree, not while everything he touched could be rotted and consumed by his body, and if he came close to Ponyville it may cause complete chaos. "Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, Iron Defense-" It was straining my body but a few days of rest wouldn't be so bad, Yui's going to kill me. "-Work Up, Bulk Up, Agility!"

My toothy smile stretched under my scarf, Vaal unleashing another roar as he charged, clamping his teeth on air as I leapt over his spiny form, bringing my staff across his back, swinging the aura staff across his coat, tearing through the rubbery, moldy armor, my body blazing with that of the spectrum against his bleak infection. My foot pressed to one of the spores, bursting it as I flipped over the left-wing, splitting through the wrapped flesh to deliver a devastating Metal Claw to the side of his face as he turned, swiping me away at the exact moment. But the damage was done, the two of us stumbling backward.

I felt my own eyes light with contrails while the left side of Vaal's face was revealed, one large, vibrant orange eye piercing through the flesh, his snarl evident of his rising fury, that and his aura spiked tremendously. Casting away my staff I lunged into Quick Attack while he fired another lingering wall of effluvium to intercept. Bringing my right heel down I struck with a large rock through the gases, hearing it connect to the stampeding Elder as I gasped, moving to evade if not for the claw locking to my Quick Guard in time for his jaws to chomp down at my face, my scarf tugged down in time as I puffed out my cheeks.

"Dragon Pulse!" The blinding dark purple light struck the monster across the face, freeing my left hand, providing me with the chance to drop to my hands, performing a low-bearing swipe of its leg, followed by another Blaze Kick to the underside of its jaw, hearing it crack under the force of the flames. Rolling backward I ran to the left as he charged, tearing down another tree while the tail swept a cloud of effluvium in my wake, almost splashing me as I leapt for the trees, panting while my radiant aura slowly began to flicker. "Running out of energy fast, so's Vaal without much to drain..." Had we been in the Rotten Vale this might not be so evenly played, even so, this was an Elder Dragon

Then it happened. The spores across his body expanded, gathering the wasted effluvium into its body as those dark wings threshed the trees, closing in around his form while the smog circulated his body. "Yui, now!" Covering my eyes I heard something fly from the bushes and shatter onto the forest floor, resulting in a powerful flash that brought the Elder Dragon crashing down, the effluvium expelling into the earth and thankfully not across the whole untamed forest. "Nice, love!"

"Thank you, thank you!" I saw her hood bob back into the bushes to prepare for the next stage of my grand scheme, it was a longshot but given our track record, it might just be dumb and cartoonish enough to work.

"Alright, Vaal, this one's from the bestest friend across dimensions-!" Thanks for the idea, Taka! Taking a thunderous stomp off the tree, shattering the bark I brought my right arm back, clenching a fist that scorched with the remains of my enhancements, channeling the energy into my knuckle while a brilliant, silver sheen as three large blades expanded from my fist. "Giga... Metal... Claw!!"

Vaal recovered in time for my silver stroke to tear through his wings with blinding speed, the three scores shredded the wings while my left hand sunk into a nearby tree, wrapping myself back around to smash both my feet into his maw, diverting a stream of effluvium away from Yui, herself yelping before pulling a rope with her tail, triggering a small slingshot constructed in one of the trees hastily. The contents were splashed against the rotten dragon as the pungent smell filled my nose far better than the gases that started to affect my breathing.

"All aboard the Zen-Train!" I slid up to the treeline as Yui hopped onto my back, and with a great deal of stress on my body I took off running through the thicket, the bellowing howl of a dragon hot on our tails.

"Ahh!" I heard Yui yelp as I turned my head back for a second, immediately regretting that as the crooked fangs clamped at my tail, attempting to throw me into the trees while the massive body crashed and tore through vines and brush to catch us, a stream of effluvium tailing me as I sucked in my gut and escaped the forest floor

We zipped past greens and browns. I couldn't focus on anything but what was in front of my next foot as I hopped across the branches, feeling the trees quiver under a groan and crash that swiftly followed after every foot that vacated a branch. I had to stay focused, keep moving... until you win. The last time I went all out like that was against Bloodbath Diablos but that was with Trinity's aid, my body still can't endure so much stamina drain.

"Zen... Zen, stay awake!" My eyes were getting hazy, dammit, stay awake for her! If you fall asleep she'll- "Don't think about Vaal Hazak," Her soothing voice pierced my eardrums, feeling her body wrap closer to my body as I continued to evade the ever-so-rampant Elder. "Just listen to my voice, okay? Breathe, just breathe and listen to my heartbeat."

My hearing became muffled as I slipped into aura sense, feeling her heart against my back, despite the situation she wasn't losing control of her heartrate, in fact, it was beating with a soothing tempo that I could focus on. Escaping the etheral world, I dived down, evading a swipe of the claws while bending at the knees, lurching toward the trees like a bullet, ricocheting at the timing of her heart as the howls and crashing of Vaal's death essence grew faint.

"Meditor!" Yui's voice peeked, dispersing a blue haze into Vaal's face as he found himself inadvertently crashing through the trees to our right, wailing as his pursuit was sidelined by the treasure hunter's magic. "Haha, can't fight my flank!" She had me there

Flying from the trees I brought us to the halt at a massive gorge, Yui leaping off my back to retreat for the safety of the rocks, leaving me to face the collapsing tops of trees. I brought my right foot back, bending slightly with my left while I held my right fist down at my waist, bending my elbow while holding my left out, bent slightly so my fist faced the oncoming threat that burst from the treeline, spreading a massive wave of effluvium that I steeled myself through, even as it ate away at my protective aura.

Exhaling through my nose, I braced as the jaws of Vaal widened unnaturally, angling his head to snap me in two as his wings fanned wide to slow his velocity. Inverting the positions of my feet I brought my left fist back while expelling my right into a palm-heel strike. "Earthquake!" The force of the strike tore open the earth under us, a large slab of rock slamming into the exposed collarbone, breaking the scales and hooked spikes, some effluvium hacked up from Vaal as the very edge of the cliff was torn away, shifting under our feet, dipping backward.

Taking off from my stance I pounced over his snapping jaws, kicking the exposed eye with a final, blazing kick that set half his body on fire from the oil Yui sprung beforehand, the liquid beginning to cook his withered armor while I ran up the length of his rubbery flesh caught ablaze, bounding over the thresh of the tail as Vaal screeched, sailing over into the gorge. His wings stretched but I already tore through the flesh, allowing the airflow to travel through his thick wings.

His wailing came to a resounding halt as I winced, seeing his twin jaw snap wide just as the stalagmites sunk through its serpentine head and through the neck, protruding from several locations while the flames blew from the impact, dispersing across the ground and under his broken form as it lay there motionless.

Panting as I rolled away from the edge, I shook my head exasperatedly. "Thank heaven..."

"Yeah hahaha!" I was immediately tackled by the adorable mare in a blue hood as she hugged me tightly despite my aching body. "We did it!" She beamed above me in the sunlight, what a sight indeed

"I smell like I rolled in a graveyard." I gaged, flopping back to the ground with Yui sat atop me, sniffing her wing before she too paled

"Ugh, I think I need to bathe... in bleach and fire." Now that got a weak laugh out of me as I sipped on one of my antidotes for dear life, feeling the effects of the effluvium lessen with the ailment

"Hmm, sounds toasty," I smacked my lips then closed my eyes. "Yui... can we just stay like this for a bit, I think my legs have gone on strike."

She giggled softly, moving off my lower stomach to sit with her hoof ruffling the fur atop my head. "Sure, I don't mind at all..." My brow raised while my eyes remained shut, hearing her sniff. "Hrm, on second thought, can we go, this place reeks as bad as us."

"Hmm, fair enough, fancy a spot of tea?"

Her aura bounced at the suggestion, "Yeah, your treat, right?" Leech, I didn't need an aura to tell she smiled with her brows wiggling

A few days later...

"Hm-hm-hm-hm-hmm..." Tapping my paws to the small, round table I happily bobbed my head to the beat of the song I had memorized in my head, observing the cozy yet detailed cafe I sat in alone, the sun beaming in from the window as I mindlessly thought of Blackveil, what a creepy monster, I'd have loved to take some pictures but one, it was infecting the Everfree and two I lacked a camera which sucked, could've gotten some nice selfies as it roared

My ear twitched as I sensed the familiar aura approaching my table, herself breathless with her hood down, a blue rose pinned to her mane while she kept her bangs covering her left eye, just the addition of the rose looked beautiful as she rambled frantically. "S-Sorry, I got caught up with a request from Canterlot, and then I had to jot down my response for later, then I started mapping down locations and shopping for materials, then I - mmfph?"

I pulled Yui up to kiss her softly, hearing her squeak between our lips before I pulled away to see her face tint red, only now her nerves were eased while murmuring something along the lines of, 'every damn time', I'm surprised she never sees it coming after all this time. "It's okay, I wasn't waiting long, besides my mind was... elsewhere," Yeah, humming the Corpse Coat Dragon's theme is just something normal people do. "Just in time actually." Not long after she sat down did our afternoon tea arrive, leading to the start of a relaxing date with my girlfriend, yep, today is why I like Sundays

For the next two hours we couldn't stop ourselves from discussing our next venture in the magical world we called home.

End.

Author's Note

I love Vaal Hazak, my favorite Elder Dragon, even if he is easy to beat, just alot of fun and fascinating. Alright, that's me done with Indomitable for quite some time, I just couldn't pass up the chance to include this amazing Elder for a little match-up between the treasurer hunting duo.

I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, and Happy Halloween Hunters and Trainers alike! 🎃🎃^_^

Chp. 3 - In the Shadow of the Tower

Four days since I met Yui, that made it roughly ninety-six hours since my mental breakdown outside, far enough away as to not alert her and loud enough that any if not all the creatures of the Everfree got the memo to steer clear of my anguish.

My crippling insanity aside, due to Yui's injury out traveling took a little longer, not only that but traversing land I had yet to explore myself made it difficult to navigate, especially due to the number of dangerous wildlife that inhabited the area. Timberwolves, a Hydra nest, even a pair of Cockatrice which Yui promptly had me avoid due to the numerous statues of creatures that dotted their territory.

Despite still being miffed at how wasted my efforts were, Yui had been surprisingly nice company, while we rested and I replaced her bandages we'd talk about our worlds, the things the show never told me or Taka, who secretly loved the show, like, I never knew there was this guy called 'Grogar' who made Discord look like a chump in comparison, but who was sealed with the Shadow Realm. Like, damn, that's a story I got to look up sometime.

Yui, of course, was very intrigued about my world, despite the negatives of living in a world ruled by idiots, I told her of my culture, how I was living in Japan at the time and their traditions too, I didn't bring up my family though, not yet anyway.

Back on the non-existent road again, I found my mind wandering back to my failure of survival.

"Are you still upset? I told you, your time wasn't wasted, honest!" Again, easy for her to say she didn't spend two months in a forest only to realize civilization was next door in the direction you had last to check. With a nudge of her wing, she caught my attention. "If anything, you being out here did mean something."

"Oh yeah? What might that be other than believing I lost all hope only to lose an additional bit of hope I didn't know I still had?" My curious reply came. From my side, she smiled from under her hood

"I'd have been monster food if you weren't here, nor would I have company on this trip... which is honestly enough for me," Her tone of voice dropped a little at the end, eyes facing forward. "Not everyone finds my role as... appealing."

Now, why did that sound familiar? With a frown, I bent down and poked her temple. "So what? Doesn't matter if they like it, you have a pretty fun job, and you profit from it, I'd say that's a win. So stop frowning about it."

Her gaze lifted, a sly smile on her muzzle. "Oh? Practice what you preach comes to mind, hmm?" Now it was my turn to face forward with a poker face. "But thank you, glad someone sees it my way." She raised her wing, curling the tip a little like a fist. "No matter what I'm going to become the greatest treasure hunter just like Daring Doo, then we'll see who's laughing."

"Knock them all on their asses." I grinned, bumping my fist to her wing. The closest thing to a fist-bump in this world other than a hoof

Sitting by a fire, my eyes lost themselves in the moon, lacking Nightmare Moon's visage, must be after season one then, but how far are we into their timeline? While the embers crackled I felt something sit down next to me, handing over an apple as I sat down my whetstone and hatchet.

"Yui, has anyone else ever come to this world? Like me?" It had been plaguing my mind for some time, if monsters from Monster Hunter were here, did that mean so much distortion has forced the worlds to spill into each other? It was a wild theory but I could imagine having constant rifts between worlds would do such a thing

She swallowed a bite of her apple. "Actually, yeah," Her reply made my head tilt down to her. "While not common, people from other worlds have ended up here, some come-and-go, mostly to complete a task, the Princesses called this event 'The Wayward', so that's why your reveal as being from another world didn't really surprise me," She did smile happily though. "But I never thought I'd meet one in my life! Especially one with such cool powers!"

I chuckled once. "Hmph, thanks..." My head raised to the night. "So... others like me... wonder if we're the cause of Barroth and Nargacuga's arrival..?" Perhaps this ruby will lead to that answer, or that person will show themselves at some conveniently timed plot point. That aside, I did have one other question. "Say, Yui... what happened to your left wing?"

That had her shift a little, looking up at the stars as I did. "I... never had it... I was born with only one wing, so... here I am," Now I felt like an ass. I raised a paw but she shook her head. "It's fine... just, ponies thought that without my wing I'd be useless, I had alot of issues because of that... but I had my family... and my passion for treasure, so if I couldn't fly then I'll just have to work harder without it."

Despite the upset look in her eyes, that passion of hers didn't so much as flicker. I get that, I'm not much of anything, I have my talents but to everyone, they're wasted on insignificant hobbies. Moving down I sat back on my rug, pulling the handmade fur blanket over me as I pressed my eyes to the sky. "That's amazing... guess here's where our interests diverge."

Yui blinked, a curious frown forming, "Huh?"

"Nothing," I rolled over, resting my head in my paw. "Just... being the pessimist I am."

"...Okay, goodnight, Zen."

"Night..."

"Zen! Zen! Zen! Wake up!" Ugh... too early... gamer needs lazy 'Zs'... "Ooo, this ruby is pretty~!" I am awake!

Jolting up from my rest, I found that said ruby was still around my neck, as for the mischievous laughter of the Bat-Pony, she was... running around? From my spot I watched her jump with such incredible agility, landing with her wing acting like a claw to stabilize herself on precarious branches or swing across them with ease. With a corkscrew twirl through the air, she landed next to me with the biggest smile I've seen to date.

"My leg's all better now!" She happily snatched me into a big hug, careful to avoid my chest spike. The heat from her body radiated over me as I blinked against her fur, softly patting her back. "Thank you-Thank you-Thank you~!"

"Not. A. Problem," Came my reply once she pried herself off me, smiling sheepishly. While adorable, I had to tilt my head off to her side. "Huh, don't remember that being there?" I raised my claw and pointed

Breaking just above the treeline in the distance was black tiles curved upward into a spire, the remains of a pole snapped off the point. A tower was just out of our view. Inspecting this, Yui scrambled through her belongings, tossing various things that I had to catch and dodge. Pulling out a worn journal, she flipped through various pages and notes, stopping on one that shared a striking resemblance to the spire.

"This is it... it's a remnant of Tambelon!" Tambe-what? Yui's ecstatic jump was only flattened by my deep shrug

"What? I haven't a clue what that means," My perplexing question was met with a sigh, then Yui held up the journal

"While almost any history regarding Grogar was laced in fairy tales, some say that fragments of the capital city were scattered across Equestria after his banishment into the Shadow Realm," I nodded along, watching her brow crease in deep contemplation. "Issue is, the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters isn't far so how come no one ever discovered this place?"

I waved a paw. "Perhaps they never wanted anyone to dig up this guy's history?" It was logically on any ruler's part, to hide the past they don't want others to know about. Yui seemed to agree with me, packing up her things again. "Guess we move forward?"

Strapping her pack to her back, Yui pointed the way forward with her wing. "Onwards to the ruins, my Guardian!" Then she stopped in front of me, pointing with her wing. "I never asked, how is it you're so knowledgeable on... well, just about everything you've done since we met?"

Packing up my things I tapped a claw to my temple. "Despite my less-than-glamorous lifestyle I picked up on alot of survival tips from documentaries, essentially like someone's book on survival, and when I'm bored I always end up discovering some interesting facts about plant life, and overall beneficial facts for life," I explained to the best of my ability, then held up my hatchet. "Back in school I had quite the knack for woodworking, so that's also up my alley."

She chuckled a little. "Then it seems I struck gold when I ran into you."

"Call it luck or misfortune because despite those traits I'm a health hazard," I added dryly. Then I noticed her curious expression I've grown to see

"Think you could give me some pointers, could be handy on my next venture?" She requested, so with a bow and a bag on my back, I replied

"Sure, I don't mind." While our destination wasn't far, there were plenty of examples I could point out to Yui along the way, from types of flora to what made good firewood, shelter, and so-on. This was a nice break from our casual talks because teaching her this stuff felt my talents hadn't gone to waste just yet

It's a trap.

I lacked experience in the field, but many games have taught me that a simple-looking pathway to an ancient location of some description always led to traps, and since it belonged to the tyrant to end all tyrants I wasn't any less suspicious of the mossy ruins ahead.

The pathway traced between two green banks, old archways of cobblestone guided the way through, old, faded markings dotted them but I couldn't make a lick of sense to any of their warnings. Yui, on the other hand, was fixed on the path ahead, her steps were slow but methodical, ears twitching carefully to the sounds her hooves made while mouthing out the runes. This was a real treasure hunter a work.

Tailing her I casually walked while fishing through my bag, pulling out my newest invention that I cobbled together. They were knuckle-dusters made of Barroth hide, with a thread to tighten them to my paws, they sat against the spikes and with a quick flex they didn't budge, perfect. With a proud smile, I stepped forward. Why did my foot sink?

"Ahhhhh!!" I howled in fright

"Zen!!" Yui jumped, while I froze against the bank, several arrows pinned between my body while they crumbled into dust, my eyes blinked once with a shaky slump against the steep embankment, gulping once. With a wary sigh, Yui approached me. "You okay?"

"Define. O-Kay?" I coughed, pushing off the grass and back onto the stone, carefully avoiding the same spot I stood on

Yui took the lead again, kicking a stone across several stones, two of which sank and fired concealed arrows from within the grass banks. Whoever did this, I hope they're in hell. "Stick close, I've dealt with worse traps than these but they can be everywhere." With a wink, she continued to lay a path for us

Motioning for her to lead, I shuddered. "Right... um, yeah, I'll... just keep tinkering back here..." I need to stick close to Yui, I swear these sedimentaries have it out for me

"We made it!" Yui announced, finally, I didn't have to trigger any more traps by accident, of course, she steps on the stones they do nothing, I step on them, well, hah, turns out, I must have been the bane of rocks in a previous life! Yui turned to me anxiously. "You doing okay?"

I shakily raised a thumb. "No more rocks, please?" That got a mirthful smile from the Bat-Pony, who now stood with me before the entry to the tower's base

Much like any tyrant, the base was pitch black exterior with sharp, silver supports jutted up the sides, although now nature consumed them, webbings of vines coated the rusted metal, all that stood between the old, forgotten doorway was a large, cobblestone plaza, lined with old stone henges that would typically mark the sight of a burial ground, somehow, I doubt this Grogar was that kind. A large, red crystal ball was fixed in the center of the plaza.

"Must be the way to open the door." Yui hummed, trotting closer to inspect both the orb and the glyphs carved in a ring around the circumference before the archways. "It's a celestial calendar, surprised magic isn't involved."

My eyes darted to the doorway's crystal, then to the one Yui was inspecting. "Hold on... I've seen this before..." While Yui couldn't understand Pokemon, she didn't move but instead watched as I made a slow circle around the plaza, inspecting each of the archways that remained. "They're still standing... all the others have collapsed..." My eyes widened, then spun around to face the way we came, spotting another stone that was directly reflecting the sunlight. "Expect the ones with crystal balls!"

"From your expression, I guess you found something?" Yui inquired to my nod, so I motioned to the orb we passed under

"Around us, the orbs are all specifically placed in archways facing certain times on this calendar at different compass points, my guess is that the sun reflects off certain orbs to open that door," It was an old-fashioned lock. I frowned with a growl. "Problem is, I doubt we have the patience or time to wait for that day."

Yui clopped her hooves with a glimmer in her eye. "You're right, so how's about we cheat time?" Without questions, she dug into her own bag and retrieved a white crystal of her own, holding it in her mouth while redirecting the beam of light onto the central stone. Her gaze fell, as the sunlight pierced right through the crystal. "But how's that possible? Are the stones enchanted?"

Now it was my turn to look surprised. Pulling up my scarf I pulled the ruby from its little pouch, holding it between my fingers. Maybe this might...
I copied Yui's motions, angling the light as we gasped, seeing the red beam refract from my gemstone, piercing the central stone. "You did it!" Yui exclaimed, and I watched as the red beam shot upward into the East archway, sadly, nothing happened after that

"Get behind me," I asked, shuffling around to redirect the light elsewhere, my guess is my ruby somehow resonates with these crystals so if I keep moving and use the central stone to refract the beam's angle into the correct orb then we might just beat this little puzzle. Next was the South-East, this time, a new refracted stroke of light pierced the West orb, but that didn't work either

Again, I continued my rotation, this time striking the South-West orb, nothing happened, and the South orb was the prime stone that fed into the Central stone so maybe it's the North. Going with simple deduction, the streak of scarlet bounced sharply toward the Doorway's orb, from there, the beam diverged, two lines, one to the South-West, the other missed the East.

It was between the North-West and North-East. "My money's on the right."

"Then I call left." Yui chimed in. With a confident nod, I spun my ruby around a final time, carefully refracting the sunlight across the plaza

From the South, the beam shot the Central crystal, which bounced up and into the eye of the North-East orb, that then split itself into two lines, the first one struck the South-West, the other to the East. South-West linked with the West, then West connected the East. A single beam shot forth to the South-East crystal that fired the final shot to the North-West. From there, a beam ricocheted back to the Central crystal, finally ending once it reached the Doorway's orb. My head's spinning...

With the radiant red strokes of light finally in-place, the doorway released an old, winded roar, the light show ceased and the doorway opened its maw to us, a gust of wind released an acrid odour. The way forward was clear. "We did it." Yui smiled, holding out her curled wing-tip

I chuckled. "Damn right we did," I bumped it gently, grabbing my bag, the way was pitch black, but I had an idea. Concentrating, I focused my aura into my paw, a faint flicker of light crackling like a flame, before exploding outward into a small, blue sunspot on my paw. "Let's see what tomb we've just decided to desecrate."

She shuddered at that. "That's just creepy..."

"My humor in its entirety," With that I took the lead, peeking into the tower and finding nothing more than a staircase leading downward, the rest of the tower's spire simply stretched into darkness, but what deepened my confusion was the lack of... abandonment. Well someone's been renovating? Why is everything still relatively tidy?

"Tell me, experienced anything similar to this back home?" Yui asked from beside me, pulling her hood up, I just smiled toothily

"Best refrain from saying things like that around me, less you want to hear more of my morbid quips." That definitely had her paler than before, hesitantly shaking her head as I chuckled, the echo stretching deeper down the spiral staircase. With a blunt stare, I felt my foot twitch. "Okay, let the record show, this was your idea." I pointed crudely at her muzzle, booping her

Her face recoiled with a faint pink hue, then her head slumped to the left. "Why's that?"

Three. Two. One.

*Crack-Crack-Crack-Crack*

Yui gently moved to stand against my legs. "Don't tell me, the ground's about to cave in from under us?"

I didn't so much as blink. "Yep."

"Bottomless pit or lake at the bottom?" She asked meekly

I just yawned. "Most likely."

I now held her bridal style, the light of my aura flickered out with only an anxious yet solemn look on her face. "Bring it--"

Her sentence cut short and the very stone shattered under us. No staircase just a dark abyss reaching up to devour us with dots of purple lighting the way. My throat suddenly ceased its function from Yui's hooves latching around my neck, the two of us plummeting toward certain death while the last rays of light vanished with a looming shadow and scarlet eyes.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

From traps to puzzles then back to traps, yay. What comes next will be quite the adventure for the duo. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter.

Chp. 4 - Venator
Alive and in one piece, the duo must find a new way out of the Tower, whilst avoiding the traps laid before them.

Chp. 17 - Maiden of the Lake

The wayward path was a long, winding road into the unknown, I knew of Smokey Mountain, but the surrounding lands were a mystery, unknown and full of wonder. I was zipping left and right with eyes wider than any child, the very definition of an adventure stretched out before us through the lush emerald green of the forest, wildlife dancing all around us as strange, new plants took up my attention, the soft glows and perplexing formations of some trees called to me and my curiosity.

The road followed a stream, glistening with the splash of fish. I gasped and awed every couple of minutes, jotting stuff down in my own journal while pouncing between the branches of the roof above us, sliding down a tree twisted like a spiral. My aura expanded further, sensing the essence in... everything, only clearer, more diverse than simple wildlife and plant life, it was as though everything had a layer unseen that my experience with aura could now detect.

"This is amazing...!" I gushed, skipping past Yui as she giggled softly at my antics, but I merely held up examples of my discoveries to her amused expression. "There's magic, everywhere!"

Her brow raised mirthfully. "Didn't you already assume that when we met?" Is she serious?

Shaking my head quickly I waved my arms to the vibrance of the world. "The Everfree is the closest thing to my world than anything in Equestria, and the other I nearly got my head taken off by some Huntsman with an attitude; but seeing an Equestrian forest I... really am in a fantasy world..." It was still unreal to believe, had this been a dream, I'd vow to write down the details before they vanished, the feeling that swelled in my chest. "Life here is powerful, evolving by the day instead of years, there's a layer to reality beyond what I thought was possible," I lowered my arms contentedly, my aura shimmering across my body. "I can feel the magic... the... unknown." My smile brightened. "Is this how you feel all the time?"

Yui looked to dwell on my words. then shrugged a smile. "I suppose that's one way to look at it," She pulled me along with her wing, hoof patting her chest. "As for me magic is just... a feeling, it's in everything as you say, but I've just always felt that connection, so to you it's abnormal, to me it's the opposite."

I chuckled slightly, rubbing my neck. "Yeah... guess I should have thought of that." Her hoof tapped my leg

"Save some of that excitement for when we arrive back at my home, trust me, you're gonna love it!" She baited me along, and if it were any other person I wouldn't have been so inclined to fall for it

"Can I get a hint?" I cooed, but her hoof reached up to my leaning face, then 'booped' my snout

"Nope!" She giggled cruel, skipping further ahead as I remained in a deadpan state

"Stupid... conniving... cute... bat-pony." I could sake pride in seeing her aura flare at my words, too easy. With a hum, I jogged up beside her as we pressed further along our journey with the Royal Guard either furious or on our trail, but that made it increasingly exciting

Not long after, Yui joined in on the humming, her side pressed against my leg.

"I think we're going the wrong way," I deduced from the map and the surrounding forest, the mountains finally within the horizon... I think, could be more trees

"How would you know, you've never been here before?" Yui countered, brow furrowed at the parchment laid out before our camp, the sun beginning to descend, and the world around us slowly turned to bioluminescence, I'd be gushing over the nightlife but we needed a heading for the morning, and so far we've been... conflicted on our location. I believe we're on the left side of where Smokey Mountain should be, somewhere near 'White-Tail Woods', while Yui says its the opposite, setting us at 'Unicorn Range'.

"You haven't been this way for roughly two years," I reminded her, but that look in her eyes gave my heart chills

"Are you calling me a liar?" Her voice was dangerously low but immediately wallowed in despair. "...Ugh, you're right... I don't remember, happy?"

"No comment." I turned my head the second she replied, then the two of us flopped onto our backs with a heavy sigh, looking up at the colorful sky through the trees. The atmosphere soon lightened under our combined laughter. "We are so lost!"

"I know, right!?" Yui snorted, pulling at her hood gingerly out the corner of my eye. "...It's fine though..." The rest was lost under her breath

"What was that?" Craning my body to lean on my left arm, I faced the embarrassed mare inquisitively as her eye widened under the hood, face lighting up under the last rays of sunlight spectacularly

"I... I just.. l-like you being here... with me." And of course, she says something cute to make my heart skip. We were both foreign to this, but have I regretted it? Not one second.

My response was cut short by my own aura swaying in my chest, a faint hum from the ruby against my fur was... intoxicating, like an invisible thread tugging at my legs, tickling my ears with a faint peculiarity in the whispers. The more I stared, the stronger they became, thumping in my eardrums gently.

"Zen? You alright?" Yui caught on, trotting up behind me as I allowed the world through my aura to accelerate ahead of me, through the trees a brush that lay beyond my reach. When the finally locked to the pull of the ruby, my eyes flashed back to reality, blinking with a startled gaze. Worry crossed Yui's face. "Zen..."

"Grab your bag, follow me," Without another word I ran through the forest, hearing her hooves gallop behind me while grunting at how sudden I took off, I'd apologize after I discovered why I was inexpertly drawn to the ruby's whispers to 'go further', and 'you're almost there', these faint whispers in several tones and pitches were a little disturbing, but I couldn't bear the thought of ignoring them. "Yui?"

"I-I'm here, yeesh, thanks for the freak... out..." She too realized why I wasn't moving, the two of us stood before... it couldn't be...

The forest itself had given way to a large basin in the center of it all, the river capsizing down a steeper formation of stone that traced its way down into the plunge pool, to which stretched into the lake. There was a thin lip of grass outlining the lake, while maroon ruins dotted the sloshing crystal surface. Some were broken pillars, evidence of a bridge on the adjacent side of the basin, while the tips of a large building jutted from the water, wrapped in vines and aged by time.

"Red ruins... I don't recall anyone discovering them in this forest?" Yui's questioning of the forest confirmed my own suspicions, my feet edging closer to the lip

"Because... they're the same world as all the monster manifestations," I knew the rifts could pull entities through, but entire structures of the Ancient Civilization? That thought piled atop another, more gruesome truth, one that turned my stomach, a paw clasping my muzzle. Oh God... please don't tell me we'll find... no, it wasn't found in these ruins, calm down, Zen.

"You're turning green," I felt her warm hoof against my thigh, so I knelt down and laughed shakily, but she wasn't, concern overtook any semblance of joy. "Zen, did the ruby... lead you here?" I could only nod, then, her eye hardened. "Well, we both know what that means."

With our knowing smiles we bumped fist to wing and took a step back, sucking in a breath. With a light jog, we followed our instincts without question and dived over the edge, it didn't take long for the splash and cooling temperature of the water to hit my fur. Fully submerged, I swam down with Yui right next to me, her hoof poking down into the dark depths as I caught the faint outline of the forgotten temple. With a click of my claws I summoned a small Aura Sphere as we swam deeper, using one of the pillars to push ourselves further.

The place wasn't majorly deep as we reached the bottom, an old gateway leading down into the murky darkness left forgotten by both Equestria and Monster Hunter. Swimming closer to Yui, I grabbed her and pulled her into the darkness, the glow of my aura allowed us a faint look of what lied ahead, but I felt it, there was no pull, meaning there may be a point in this temple that hasn't been submerged yet, or... it was all submerged. It was an honest gamble.

Looking to Yui for advice, she turned to me with her cheeks puffed out. "Should we try going deeper? There might not be a pocket of air though? It's a gamble..." She creased her forehead, hoof swishing through the water to pull herself closer to me, then she nodded without a second to lose

Now or never I suppose. Pivoting my feet to rest against the lip of the entrance, my body angled to dive through the darkness and hopefully through the staircase where it should level out before jutting up again. I held Yui close and pressed my lips to hers, sharing our dwindling supply of air as she held on tightly, and the darkness enveloped us. The faint sound of air bubbles dripping from between our lips.

Aura Spheres don't fail me now!

The long, red tunnel flashed before my eyes as the water pressed harder to our bodies with every achieved acceleration, the sign we were running out of air apparent as she pressed her lips tighter to mine, More, I needed more speed! The burst of cyan light contained in smaller but tighter bursts, and I finally felt the mossy ground under me as I instantly changed direction and shot us forward with all I could muster. This was a gamble, and a risky one, but Yui's sure this is the right call, and if I can't be sure myself I'll be sure in her.

We can make it, I know we can! I can see it, the tunnel has an end but the water isn't defined, I can't concentrate but atleast there was a sign something was ahead. With the last ounce of aura I could spare our bodies shot through the face of the water, both of us sucking in a lungful of stale but otherwise, breathable air as we slapped down onto the stone floor of this mysterious temple, coughing as I sat with Yui on top of me.

"Y-You know somethin'?" She hacked, whipping her mane from her face. "We're really stupid sometimes."

"Yeah... just a bit." I chuffed with a smile as I felt my eyes slant. "You know, despite the need for air you were quite passionate with that kiss, even with the racing of the water and the life-threatening situation on our backs."

Her face was priceless, with her hood down and the fact her mane stuck to her face meant she couldn't hide away the crimson on her face while stuttering incoherent nonsense. "I-I uh, w-well, it just, um, that, a -- mmfgh!"

It wasn't much as I sat upright but I did kiss her gently as I winked. "Don't worry, I certainly didn't mind the motivation." Now she was hunched over in my lap as steam rose from her face, and she continued to mutter as I let the air dry us out

To say this place was as creepy as the tower back in the Everfree would be considered an understatement. There were no bloodied messages on the walls, no traps say for how when we left the entrance via water a door slid shut, thereby trapping us less we find a new way out, 'Thank you, humans, of the Ancient Civilization' is what I yelled to the empty halls around ten minutes ago. Thankfully, there were a number of these crystals built into the walls that reacted to our presence, subsequently lighting the way before shutting down once we were a good distance away.

Cobwebs and aged walls greeted us around every turn, there were no signs of any change, rooms left in rubble or vacant with minor furniture, books, and forms of writing or text were gone, remnants turned to dust over time and nothing more. From what I recall, those that survived the end of humanity back then destroyed all of their texts, those that did were placed in temples like this, guarded by monsters or something, the history of the games is very ambiguous.

"Amazing...!" But the humans of that time never took into account the expert eyes of a spelunking Bat-Pony. I kept up my aura sense to navigate while Yui worked on deciphering old murals that remained on large walls, her eyes widened with child-like fascination, akin to mine before we ventured into this sunken temple. "This is another universe's very history before my eyes! I can't read it at all, no language I've discovered before remotely resembles this!" Her sparkling eyes turned to me. "This... this is the greatest discovery known-to-pony!"

This was too much for me not to smile at. "It's Japanese," Her eyes adjusted again as I tapped a knuckle to some of the faded writing. "The people who made Monster Hunter are from my home country, Japan, and I happen to be half Japanese so it's expected that I know how to read it, and believe me, it's ooooold."

"This is still awesome!" She flung her journal open again, sitting down but wouldn't sit still. "Translate and I'll write what I can get!"

Right, ahem... "'--Legends and myths among the captivating Elder Dragons remain one of humankind's least-known mysteries, one, in particular, has come to light'," Now that I was reading this, the murals on the wall started to tell the story, this wasn't some large hallways of artistry left behind.

It was a warning.

"'Elder Dragons are unlike any creature in recorded history, their lifespans are generations old, their powers unknown and world-changing phenomenons when displayed at the height of their power. But there are none that can come close to the raw power of the Black Dragons'," Yui continued to write, and the murals displayed only one image surrounded by text

It stood with wings that spanned all the other murals on this side of the chamber, casting a dark shadow over them from how pieces of the wall were carved to envelop this monster in a dark shade under the crystals' light. The neck long with a head that roared into the sky, the sound splitting the pictures of clouds with bolts of lightning.

"'We have never seen it, nor have those that dared to venture into the rumors of its lair come back the same, it isn't hiding for it has no reason to, it doesn't venture far and wide, watching the kingdoms and villages because they pose no threat to its survival. No, this one waits, it listens to the world and its turning, how the balance between Monster and Human as both sides create and destroy'," I moved to the final line of text, and a name, jagged and left untouched by time. "'The moment the balance of this world is upset, then it will wait no longer. The Black Dragon, Fatalis'."

"Ooo, I got goosebumps," Yui shivered with a nervous smile as I to rubbed my arms as my paw left the name, it was as though the stone was colder than the rest. "So this 'Fatalis', what's it like since, you know, a company in your world created this whole other world?" For the record, I have explained to Yui that the monsters are from a game, and let me tell you, never am I going to do that again for as long as I live, explaining all the details of how digital games work is just... too much for me

"Fatalis is in a class of monsters called 'Black Dragons', and unlike any other class in the games, they are considered the kind that our unimaginably rare and could possibly end the world if they so wanted to, which Fatalis did to the people that created these places," I gestured to the maroon temple. "They... did something and Fatalis was the one who nearly ended humanity."

Now Yui was frowning, looking to the mural she sketched with worry. "Your kind sure likes to make some crazy stories, don't they? I can see where you get your sick taste in humor," I smiled, taking the compliment though knowing her it wasn't. Then she turned her eyes to me. "You... you don't think Fatalis would be one of the manifestations down the line?"

That made me hesitate. "I..." Feel another aura present. "...Think I just found something, come on!" I waved as I ran for the end of the hall, waiting for Yui as I kept my aura locked for the target. Good, don't need to answer her for now

I can hear... singing? The two of us stepped closer to the light of a new chamber, the sound of water running and the movement of whatever lay just beyond the archway. Hunching next to the pillar we peered inside and saw a far brighter chamber. The inside was partially coated in grass and flora, and a large pond braced the back end of the massive room, water running in from a flooded tunnel above, the pillars old and having collapsed down into the body of water. What sat curled at the lip of the water was what startled me.

This monster had a long, slender body. However, it is one of the few of its kind to have fur on its body. This dark purple fur covers its chest, underbelly, legs, and tail. Its scales are light-colored and resemble those of a fish. Its head has a long snout and is beautifully adorned by many fin-like appendages. The fins are pink with yellow markings, and they can also be seen on its back and tail. But it whimpered as it sang a rather solemn tune in the form of a low howl.

"A Mizutsune..." That dream, my ruby reacting. Another wyvern was down here. My claws tensed against the stone, and Yui looked ready for a fight but I... just stepped out into the open, my expression soft and... conflicted

"Zen... what are you doing!?" She whispered sharply to me but it was too late, the monster took note of my approach and... cowered, it bared its fangs at me, bubbles beginning to pop around its fur as I slowly stepped forward. It was afraid of me. That's when I saw it, along its side was a large, bloodied gash, the scales tore and clotted, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten infected. "Zen..."

"I know," I murmured, putting my paws up. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you, promise," Grabbing my knife I saw the fur ruffle, then die back down as I threw it back to Yui, holding my paws back to my chest. "You're hurt, but we can help you..." I motioned with my tail for Yui to follow slowly, the Mizutsune taking note of her approach, then it curled up tighter, head low as I came within meters of its fox-like head.

The ruby wanted me to close the rift, but this wasn't why I was called here. This monster was hurt, and it wasn't acting on the instinct of a fight yet to break out. Why would a manifestation be afraid of me? That made no sense, I haven't got it on its last legs, it can clearly still move but it didn't, it wasn't going to so long as we were here. If I had to kill it, then I guess I'm not going home any time soon, Trinity.

Finally, I could see my reflection in its bright blue eyes, all three of us were terrified in our own way. "It's okay, I won't hurt you." That looked to resound in its posture, the head lowered and the snout pressed to my open paws, and I gingerly stroked the offered nose as it let out another whimper, dammit this is alot to bear. Steadying my resolve I saw Yui approach, so I held out my paw for her hoof, and in moments hers made contact with the head as she sat down, yelping as the nose nuzzled her hooves.

"You stay with it here, I'll take a look at the injury," She nodded to me and I traced my paw down its cheek and across the mane, it felt really silky, probably the bubbles it produced, it was comforting to see them floating about as I moved over its tail and inspected the large gash

It had stopped bleeding, but it was still moist, and the cut looked to be due to a curved talon or claw, whatever it was could tear through dragon scale with ease, thankfully, the wound isn't deep, and with my fresh supplies from two days back I can treat this properly. Patting its rising stomach I winced. "Sorry, this is gonna hurt like a stick up the ass." No use sugarcoating this part

Setting my bag down, its tail moved to allow me some space to set out my supplies. rolls of bandages and tape, and several bottles of varying colors, and cloth, lots of it. This would take up the majority of my supplies but I had a neat trick that seemed perfect now. Flicking through the tome, I came to the page I needed, reading along with Trinity's words, or the Wikipedia's.

"'-The user emits a healing pulse which restores the target’s HP by up to half of its max HP, cannot affect the user' -- hrm, that sucks, but fine," Huffing, I sat the book down and closed my eyes, paws extended toward the torn flesh and skin as I kept silent, humming under my breath to allow the world to drift away from me. This isn't right... why am I here Trinity? Do I really have to kill this monster... heh, I don't know why I suddenly feel this way, maybe it was its crying that did that... or, that dream, the song that little pony was singing... I don't know...

No response, I guess reliance on a God is kind of selfish, if I always looked to Trinity for answers I'd be no different from some of those crazy religious people that demand compensation for their faith, some 'followers' they are. And from what Trinity has clearly displayed, she hates deciding the fates of those around her, so I guess aiding me so often would make her feel as though she was using me, but I honestly don't feel that way at all.

Opening my eyes, I smiled as the pink pulsating light faded, and the majority of the wound looked good as new, but now came the hard part. Popping the cork off one of the bottles my nose twitched under the strong scent as I dampened cloth in the substance, and proceeded to dab it into the fresh gash, this inevitably led to the Mizutsune howling at the pain, body twitching as I heard Yui soothe its cries, much as I hate doing this, infection would be a far worse fate than blood loss.

After giving most areas a good clean, I moved on to another medicinal liquid that wouldn't sting but would help the skin stay moist and keep water from softening new skin as it heals alongside the scales regrowth. After all of that it was just time to bandage the monster, luckily for us this one looked to be quite young so wrapping it up wasn't going to take long.

"There! Doc. Zen has done it again!" I presented the fresh bandaged monster to Yui, as the head swiveled around to lick the entirety of my right side as I shivered, Yui laughing her ass off until the Mizutsune copied the same, and I saw Yui resist the urge to gag as I chuckled too, the monster slithering across the ground using the soapy bubbles it created. This leviathan was really something. Then it threw us through another loop as it started to string like clothing in the wash.

To our bulging eyes, the body shrunk and vanished in a plume of bubbles, what came sliding out and into me was another pony. Pink in color with a long, white mane that faded into shades of pink and yellows down to the tips, a light blue bow pinned to the left side of her mane. She stopped humming to latch her hooves around my waist tightly, displaying large, blue eyes to us as I remained to gawk alongside Yui, the pony's head tilting curiously.

"Hi... thank you for helping me..." Her voice was gentle and pure to the core. "...I'm Mira..."

I'm going to have an aneurism.

"Okay-Okay, let me get this straight!" I held my arms wide, the pink pony called Mira bobbing left and right in my lap happily. "So you can turn between a deadly monster capable of bubbly destruction!?" She nodded and Yui kept laughing, hoof covering her mouth to try and hide it. "And back into a pony form since arriving here!?" She nodded again, and I felt another thread of my sanity snap like a guitar string

"So two humans from another dimension can come here and be fine! A monster comes to this world, a real one this time, and can turn from monster to pony at will! What -- Why -- How is that fair!? Does Trinity think I like sleeping like a wet dog from time-to-time or having moments when instinct takes over or something!? Like, seriously, I chased my tail before, not a good day..." I wasn't done. "And, and having a spike jutting from your chest -- Don't even get me started on how awkward that makes either sitting on your stomach, everyday life, and hugs!"

As for Mira, her story checks out, she is a legitimate monster from the Old World and a young one at that. The strange thing is, the exit is just a wall away from us. Turns out when Mira arrived she fled into the temple here as it got itself grounded in its new surroundings, the downside was, the tunnel she swam through collapsed, creating this large pond she's been living in since then, but she lacks the strength to break apart the barricade.

On the far wall, the slanted pillar lodged between two of them could be used as a battering ram to unseal the rock and debris underwater, but as I said, Mira tired but nothing worked, which means a great deal of force is needed to dislodge the concrete column.

"That was a fun day for me~" Yui giggled at my flat stare. "Oh please, you get cool superpowers, I'm a Bat with one wing, I think you got the better deal in life, dummy."

"You don't smell like a wet dog right now!" I countered, but she looked away, covering her muzzle to laugh. "Stop mocking me!"

"I-i pfft, nope, can't stop!" And she continued her laughter. What surprised me was the fact that Mira had slipped away from my lap without my notice, trotting up to one of the dark hallways with a nervous aura surrounding her

"Mira... you okay?" I called, seeing her shake her head slowly, that alone got us to calm down and notice her slight tremble at the sight of the darkness. This is strange, then again, everything so far has been and I'm trying my best to take it all in stride. I know what I said before about not relying on Trinity but I could seriously use her help in understanding this once we're out of this temple. "Do you hate the dark?"

Again she shook her head. "No... I hate what's down there," Her hoof poked into the darkness with another shiver. "A bad thing is down there." Now that was worrisome, Yui ruffled her mane as she looked to me expectantly. Another oddity was that shards of the crystal remained on the ground, but some looked to still be intact

"Did you smash the crystals or something else?" She didn't reply, but her head bowed and her aura swayed to one of guilt. "It's okay, just wondering, but... did what attack you come from here." That made it flare, rage, fear, anxiety, the whole lot that came with a fight and flight sense

She growled. "It's a jerk, always yelling and being grumpy... he said he'll 'tear me apart later' and was laughing creepily," She mumbled, then spat a small stream of bubbles from her mouth. "I hit him really hard and lost him in a hallway, he's been silent for a day now, I've been here for two." That was really helpful

"You certainly can hold your own, impressive," Yui patted her head, exciting her tail into wagging with a cute blush. She's like a kid. "Say, Zen, you think the monster that attacked her is why you're here too? Maybe it's the manifestation?"

"Maybe..." I rubbed my chin, then stepped into the hallway. "But before we can get around to breaking out of this temple or locating that monster; First things first. Mira?" She looked to me curiously. "Mind showing me what it is that's down here?"

"Luna's mercy," Yui turned green as she covered her nose at the sudden assault of what I could only describe as putrid. The hallway was long and winding, but the closer we got, the more nervous our monster-turned-pony became, she didn't say what she saw, only that it was scary and not even the crazy monster would come down here, that gave me no confidence in my stupidity. "You sure about this...?"

"Yui, I haven't been sure of anything this arriving in Equestria -- well, bar a few things," Adjusting my scarf to cover my mouth I held a thumb up, ruffling Mira's worried head. "I got this, kiddo, trust in Zen the Lucario." She looked a little at ease, and Yui held her close. "You got her covered?"

"I think we can handle anything that comes our way just fine," I knew they could. Turning around to the hallways left in darkness, say for some of the crystals flickering still, the indication of electrical wires still present, the steps I took only made the foul smell grow so I just pulled the scarf back down since it didn't do anything now, but man was this rotten

This hallway is massive, and it keeps turning, if not for my aura sense I'd not be able to tell if I was just walking in circles. Sadly everything was all details with no other color than white and blue, and grey, but thankfully, the exit was just up... up...

Oh my God...

Broken, rusted cords hung motionless from the massive ceiling, binds broken by force overtime. The very stench was almost unbearable to stand in, a looming shadow of sinew and metal draped over part of the cavern's wall to my right, turning the ground under it to a substance I'm glad my aura couldn't properly define.

"Yui... don't... don't come in here!" My voice trembled with horror unlike any I've felt in my life. The sheer magnitude of the word had no other meaning other than horror, pure, twisted, grotesque horror. There was encapsulating awe surrounding what putrid design lay motionless before my eyes, but that was faint compared the sick feeling that moved through my throat, my eyes stung with tears

"Zen! What is--" I heard her hooves and felt panic rise

"Stay back, and don't let Mira come in either!!" My voice thundered, and she slowed herself, voice soft, warm, something that graciously kept me from fainting

"O-Okay, okay... just tell me, is it bad?" I didn't answer, eyes unable to leave the nightmarish sight that if it moved even a faint millimeter I may very well have a heart attack, this was... already turning my chest icy, and a cold sweat licked my fur. "It is... isn't it?"

"...I..." Anxious to so much as gulp, I dug my heels back, finding the strength to keep moving back slowly from the acrid and still smell in the air

"Just come back, I'm right here," Yui's voice, sweet, gentle, soothing my every heartbeat, that's what kept my feet from sinking further into the ground as I craned around the wide bend, inch-by-inch my eyes lost sight of Its harrowing form, and I found Yui, hood down with both eyes clearly visible to mine as I collapsed against the wall, breathing shallowly

"W-where's... where's-" My own studdering question was answered by the sight of two bright blue eyes watching me a few feet away, worry crossing the irises. That calming notion allowed my body to do the next, most rational thing I could, exciting a squeak from Yui I wrapped her in a tight hug, burying my face against her chest as the memories etched themselves into my mind for as long as I was alive, I hope to Trinity Mira never ventured down this passage and just got scared

Her hooves gently wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me closer. "Shh, I got you, let's go back to the main chamber," I nodded without a word, sighing as I stuck close to Yui, and while it made it odd for her to walk straight, she held her hoof in my paw as we approached the ever-so-curious Mira. "Hey, ready to go back?" She eyed us carefully, then the hallway

"...You saw it too..." My heart trembled slightly, but she didn't look fearful, instead, I blinked as she jumped up to wrap her hooves around my neck, hugging me tightly as she too trembled. With only a pained smile between me and Yui, I knelt down for her to join in comforting the innocent monster who shook like a leaf in my arms. "...It was scary... very scary..."

"I know, but it's not coming back," My scarlet eyes passed a faint glance at the dark hallway. "It never will."

"And you got us here so there's nothing to be afraid of," Yui soothed, smirking. "We've taken on scary things before, haven't we?" This had Mira's eyes sway between us, and my racing heart finally found its calm rhythm again

"You know it, come on," I squeezed Mira tightly once more, but allowed her to stay wrapped around my neck as I carried her back. Despite her fierce outward appearance, she was mentally just a little girl who was lost and scared for a long time, now that we've found her, she had a reason to be clingy, we may be unorthodox, but I think myself and Yui pass as good friends to others, especially to Mira right now. "We've still got to unplug that hole, and I think I know the super-strong move we need to pull it off."

How do we go about unblocking this? We need to remove the middle pillar but both its size and angle it's wedged between the others might be a stretch far as my physical abilities, and there's no telling how much energy I may need to effectively demolish the concrete. The light tap of water droplets from above played on a loop while Yui told one of her many stories of adventure to Mira, just seeing the excitement on both their faces was enough to keep me motivated.

Running a paw down my black, head-feeler-things, I tried flicking through Trinity's tome for any moves Lucario could use that involve the removal of large objects, so far, Rock Smash and Dig were the only ones that looked capable of removing the pillar without bringing the remainder of the temple down atop us. But I needed the pillar to simultaneously break apart the blockage underwater, which meant I had to strike it at an angle to break a sizable piece. "Hmm... this is a tough one."

"Still nothing?" Yui stopped, much to the annoyed, cute pout on Mira's face

"Not out of ideas yet, you may have more experience in this field but I too can conjure some masterful ideas." I prided myself on that, then she poked her wing toward the ceiling

"Or you could use a condensed version of your Hyper Beam to cut through one of the edges of the pillar, thereby reducing the risk of shattering the pillar entirely," Yui stated as though it were so straightforward... and... it was

She had shut down any rebuttal I could conjure as I closed my mouth, then looked to her seriously, a hopeful flutter in my chest. "Has anyone ever told you how amazing you are?"

She smirked, turning back to Mira. "Not often but I've started to enjoy the compliments recently."

"I am so making out with you once we're out of this..." That private thought roused a high-pitch squeak from Yui, her face boiling as I scratched my own with my back to her, too easy. Mira just looked between us and shrugged, then her head flicked to one of the tunnels. Cracking my knuckles and giving my paw-spikes a sharpening off one another I prepared myself for the second Hyper Beam, trying to imagine a finer eruption of power from my mouth

My only issue was that amount of power it drained from me, unlike other moves, Hyper Beam, Close Combat, and Mega Kick all take an abundance of my stamina, I could probably do one of each before collapsing, or three with decreasing levels of power. But to squeeze it all into a fine point could very well use up all my stamina in one go. What's that saying Asher told me once? 'Balls deep no retreat'?

An essence of rage soon struck my soul.

"Brick Break!" My heel dislodged a maroon brick under me, and with a sharp kick of the same color, the projectile collided with the large shadow that swooped from a passageway clearly unseen in the shadows above us. The creature roared, the thin spine of the tail slicing through the wall above Yui and Mira as it slapped against a wall and adjusted its flight pattern toward me with a hasty amount of recklessness

I dived, sliding under both talons and tail as it too slid across the ground, snarling as the crystals embedded in the walls reacted to the creature's presence. "Of all monsters... why was it you?"

The striking purple coloration of its scales shone in the light, the scales producing large defensive spikes, and an extremely tough shell. Its beak was sharp and jagged with a wavy, silver mane like a goatee. Wings were small and leathery, flapping to adjust its angle. The tail was by far the toughest point of its body and reeked with a toxic mucus.

The Black Wolf Bird, Yian Garuga.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Quite a long chapter this one, but splitting wouldn't make sense and sure, this means the next might be short too but we'll see. I wanted to leave what Zen witnessed ambiguous, but let me know if you want an answer, for me, it's... chilling. But the tension has risen, and what was once a run-of-the-mill monster hunt as turned on its head. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 18 - Black Wolf's Rage
Zen is faced with the world's craziest bird and must defeat it while also keeping Yui and the Mizutsune-turned-pony safe.