Iron Bastion

Nesti sprinted through the underbrush, snow falling heavily around her. Her coat already thoroughly soaked, chills setting through bones. flaming arrows flew through the air near her form as she rushed through the night. Tears rolled down her eyes as she pushed on. A bolt of flame finally found its mark in her shoulder, knocking her to the cold ground. A cry leaving her chest.

"I got one of them!" A twisted voice shouted with sick laughter. Sounds of shifting snow came crashing behind Nesti. Soon a hand gripped her arm to yank her from the snow. A metal covered stallion laughed, licking his lips as he looked over Nesti's body. "Oh, you'll earn me a pretty penny now won't you. Course I'll sample ya first." The stallion spoke. The other ones gave their own approval, voicing their want at a turn on her.

As the stallion reached for her already tattered clothes Nesti closed her eyes ready for what was about to come. Instead though the sounds of an axe splitting something cracked through the air and Nesti dropped to the freezing ground once more. Opening her eyes she gave a small scream at the now severed head of the stallion at her feet. The other men whirled around shouting for whoever threw the axe that now sat buried in a tree near Nesti to come out.

A red glow appeared off to her left as a hulking figure appeared from the tree line, it's eyes glowing with flames. The stallions raised their weapons in defiance to the new monster showing up. "Stop right theurghh!" One of the stallions began to shout before his head severed in half, blood spurting from the wound.

The other stallions gave outcries as the hulking monster tore through the deep snow like it wasn't there. It swept past them, taking one of the enemy with it. The cry of the stallion could be heard before a sickening crack silenced it. The rest of them tried to fight back launching magic and arrows at any noise they could but it did nothing as the hulking beast took them out one by one till the last one stood a little from Nesti. The stallion's eyes darted around trying to find the red glow in the dark forest before dropping his weapon, running away with a scream.

Nesti watched as his form disappeared into the darkness before a thud broke the air. The body then got tossed through the air to land near her making her yelp. She clamped a hand over her mouth as heavy footsteps stomped slowly in her direction. Once more the red glow appeared as the hulking monster stood in front of her. She watched in silent horror as it reached a hand out slowly towards her, expecting death to find her as well. To her shock it grasped the arrow shaft lodged into her shoulder, pulling it out quickly yet she felt no pain. Looking back she could see the wound closing quickly.

The form picked her up gently, cradling her in one arm as it began to walk slowly in a direction. "W-who are you?" She asked, looking closer to the body only to find a metal helmet covering the person's form.

"Bastion. I was sent to pick you up." A deep voice responded, a small puss of fogged breath came from the helmet showing life.

"Was it my father?" Nesti asked, taking note of the figure's accent. She could tell it wasn't a native speaking her people's tongue.

The helmet dipped in a nod before straightening out once more. They stopped for a moment as Bastion pulled a crossbow from his hip, pointing it slightly ahead of them. With a pull the bolt launched into the darkness, followed by the sounds of hitting something and someone gurgling a death noise. Bastion then continued forward, single handed loading the crossbow again.

As they moved through the snow Nesti peeked over to look at the body that lay in the snow, it's form topped backwards with the blot sticking slightly out of the eye socket. "Why are you here?" She asked, growing a little more comfortable with the person who saved her.

Bastion stayed silent making her wonder if she was pushing her luck until the gust of wind distracted her as light surrounded them. In the blink of an eye they appeared in the middle of a battle camp, fires and ponies moving all around. Bastion set her down as she noticed her father rushing towards her. As she was grasped by her father Bastion moved past. "My job is to make you all see the next morning." He replied

"Nesti dear! I'm so glad to see you still alive. When those damned Vestir separated us I thought I lost you." Her father cried out, clutching her into her dirty tunic. He planted kisses across her head as Nesti watched Bastion slowly walk away from them towards the deadmans land between her fathers camp and the enemy camp across the way on top of a hill. "Come dear, let's get you some warm clothes and a hot meal." Her father lightly pulled on her hand only to find her not budging. "Nesti?" He asked, turning to look at his daughter.

But Nesti had set her eyes to watch the mysterious figure walk into the field as her people rushed back to the camp. She watched as he removed a massive battle axe from his back, the blade sinking into the ground at his side as the enemy troops started to charge across the field after the fleeing soldiers. Nesti felt her father ease his tugging as they stood to watch the single figure face the wall of flesh crashing towards him.

Magic and arrows landed around him. Some even looked like they would land right on target but became knocked to the side at the last second. Dirt flew as Bastion stood loose with his arms hanging at his side. The enemy approached, howling their battle cries as they almost arrived on top of him. Only when they were a few yards away did he reach for the axe again. In a flash he swung the weapon, slicing a wave across the line of enemies. The fires around his form shifted the shadows on his body like a curling demon as his breathing was visible. Only when he let the axe fall once more blade first into the ground did the troops stumble, their bodies falling in half.

"Thank the guardians Celestia agreed to have him come to our aid." Nesti's father muttered as the enemy panicked, scrambling back to get away from the monster in the field. "If she didn't honor that ancient deal with our ancestors I don't believe we would live for much longer." He said, turning with one more tug on Nesti's arm.

This time she followed without a word, stealing glances at the slowly shrinking form of Bastion. When she woke the next morning to cheering she found Bastion still out in the field right where she had last spotted him. A wall of bodies stacked in front of him across the field.

"From there my tribe was able to get the enemy to surrender and our safety was secured. When I had the chance I rushed to that stallion and begged him to let me join him." Nesti finished, smiling while massaging a spot on her shoulder.

"Whoa..." Applebloom mumbled, a small bit of food falling out of her mouth.

The others just stared at the large mare in silence. The meal was already eaten and gone.

Waking back to the present Nesti shook her head. "Ah, apologies. I took too much time." She said, looking around at the stunned ponies around her.

Applejack leaned back in her chair as her thoughts collected themselves. She now had a better understanding of the type of stallion Bastion was. "Maybe I oughta have a chat with the fella." She thought to herself.

Alabaster took a cigarette as he scanned over the ballroom. His target moved somewhere in the sea of shifting fabrics, races, and shallow smiles. He scowled, flicking the half used cig to the ground, stomping out the embers as he made his way down the spiral stairs to the ground floor. Shifting a perfect smile as he adjusted his posture to fit the ideal image of a gentlecolt. Soon he stood in the crowd, snaking his way with no contact to any other person's body. "Where are you my little angel?" He thought, scanning over the bodies. His eyes landed on the mother of his target, noting a massive stallion that stood near the mare chatting happily with her. "Who is this brute?" He thought with a sneer, winding through the crowd closer.

"My you are just the charmer aren't you?" The mother teased, gently touching the arm of the massive stallion. "You wouldn't happen to be single would you?" She flirted, pressing closer to the figure.

Alabaster mentally vomited at the crude approach this mare had but knew he needed her to find his target. As he got closer almost within arm reach the figure responded in a voice that froze him slightly. "I'm taken by my work milady. But I would be open to chat if I met your daughter. I hear she's gaining a lot of attention from suitors." The massive stallion replied.

"Oh, of course. In fact I can see her over there." The mother replied, pointing through the crowd at a stunning mare laughing near the middle of the floor.

Alabaster began to move through the crowd quickly now that he knew where his target was. "Finally, now I can get this over with." He growled quietly. His target got closer and closer until he could almost touch her. Reaching a hand forward a large one shot out grasping his own making his gaze dart towards his right. The mysterious stallion stood there with a neutral expression, staring directly into his eyes. Yanking his hand away Alabaster, raised his fists in a discreet guarded stance. "It's quite rude to suddenly grab somepony without their consent, darling." He spoke in a clipped tone.

The stallion shifted closer to him with a small upturn of his lips. "One could say the same at reaching for an unprepared mare." His deep voice filled Alabaster's head.

Alabaster was about to give a retort when music suddenly struck up from the band. The floor cleared except for a few couples who started to dance. He quickly spotted his target among the dancers but his gaze once more landed on the massive stallion as they grabbed his hands. "What do you think you are doing?" He demanded, trying to wrench away.

"Dancing of course or are you not knowledgeable about the art?" The stallion challenged.

Furious Alabaster slammed a foot forward, forcing the stallion to take a step back. The beat of a drum filled the air as Alabaster took another step then another, driving this crude brute back as he took charge of the dance. His eyes flickered to his target, also dancing just off to his side. His target was stolen from him when suddenly the stallion took control from him with ease.

"Don't you know it's rude not to look at your partner?" The stallion teased, forcing the white partner to try and keep up. Soon the two stood in front of the band where without any warning the large stallion shouted to the band members "Strike up something fast! This is a party after all!"

The band whipped into an intense beat, the larger stallion dragging the man into a dance that forced him to use every stepping technique to keep up. "Who in the nine hells are you?" Alabaster questioned, getting angered by this brute's actions while also taking note of his annoyingly skilled movements.

Chuckling deeply the stallion replied "Bastion, Iron Bastion and the man who needs to see that girl have a fun night mister stalker." His smile and words stunning Alabaster briefly.

"Funny you say that. I was hired for the same reason." Alabaster said after controlling his twitching eye at this stallion's comment. "Though why my contractor didn't tell me they had a second one hired is beyond me." He complained.

Bastion chuckled as the two danced, directing Alabaster backwards till with a twirl Alabaster found himself joining hands with his target while Bastion took the stallion she had been dancing with away. A mysterious wink and knowing smile flickered on the larger stallions lips that made the young stallion bristle in annoyance that he was being played around. "Hello sir, I apologize if I don't keep up as well as your other partner did." His target apologize in advance.

Looking her over he could see bags under her eyes and a weak grip. "Nonsense angel, just follow my lead and you'll practically be flying." He soothed, putting on his most dashing smile he could muster. The two flowed across the floor until a little later the young mare needed to step away. Taking it as a cue Alabaster guided her outside towards the gardens. "The night is lovely isn't it?" He struck up a conversation.

The girl smiled as she looked up before coughing into her hand. When she pulled it away a small amount of blood was visible. A handkerchief was produced by Alabaster for her to clean herself. "My apologies...I haven't been my best for a long time. This is the most I've done in a day before." She apologized once more.

"Think nothing of it dear. You must have had a strange life before this night." He brushed off. The two talked in the cool air until the young mare's mother appeared once more looking for her daughter. Alabaster bid her farewell as the two walked away leaving him alone in the garden. Or as much as anyone else would know. "Just come out already." He ordered, turning his head towards Bastion's appearing form.

"Not bad, little one. You know how to handle the ladies." Bastion teased, chuckling as he stood near the white stallion.

Turning fully towards the massive stallion Alabaster frowned. "Just who are you exactly really?" He questioned.

Shrugging his shoulders Bastion walked past the inquiring figure further into the garden. "You'll just have to follow me and unravel that mystery yourself." He said over his shoulder as he slowly faded into the shadows.

"I can't explain why but that stallion drew me. So I followed him and even after so many years I have only learned a handful of nuggets about this man with a mountain left unknown." Alabaster finished up, sewing the last of the fabric together to finish the last dress.

"He seemed much like a moving statue when I met him. I didn't expect him to have such a playful side." Rarity replied before pausing. "What about that mare? What was the job really about that one?" She asked, leaning against the drawing table.

Wiping away small wrinkles on the dress the stallion hummed to himself. "What indeed was that job? What I can tell you without breaking my code is that she was someone who was meant to be happy when she left that party." He answered, patting the dress lightly as a soft look entered his eyes. "Since who knew how much longer she had to be happy." He spoke softly, almost too quiet for Rarity to hear.