The Natural Instinct

by D-Cal Tailor

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Shining Armor, Violence, Twilight Sparkle, Profanity, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Death, Alternate Universe, Romance, Drama, Original Character
Length: 2596

A young deer is thrown into a life changing situation. A village of mythical creatures are being threatened by their past tyrannical King, only the deer can save them now.

Hackberry, a young white-tailed deer, is thrown into a life changing, and endangering, situation between a mythical village of creatures and their past tyrannical King. Hackberry has the key, the only decision he can make now is stepping through the Everfree door.

Whether it be by vengeance, or justice. He must look deep within himself and his bloodline, to finally finish off what his ancestors couldn't.

Published 2021-05-31 01:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-06-06 05:39:32 UTC

Prologue

No matter how much you run, whether it be from your nightmares, yourself, or even your problems. It is impossible to leave all of that behind as if it never happened. It never existed you presume, leaving it all in the past, you believe that it’ll be burned. Turning to dust as if it were paper burning in the fireplace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Stop running! You can’t just leave the village behind, you can’t abandon us!” Yelling out a scared creature, it panting from the long run that it made, chasing the deer down. The deer stopped; turned around to look at the out-of-breath creature. He huffed and backed away from it, staring in disbelief at the creature. He was amazed that it was able to keep up with him, but in the same sense, was on defense. If this one single creature was able to keep up, the whole village could have followed.

“I said to leave me alone! Why can’t you just understand that I do not care, I am doing this for myself and only for myself! You Grifix can have your tyrant King, but leave us deer out of your problems, alright!? Now leave me be!” The deer said with a deep and booming voice, stomping his hoof onto the ground where some vines, bushes, and other specs of nature block off himself from the still out of breath Grifix. He huffed and turned to leave until the Grifix cried out one word that stopped the deer in his tracks. A word he never thought he would hear again. He looked down at his hooves, looking at the marking on the bottom of his front left hoof.

The vines, bushes, branches, and other pieces of nature all slipped away back into the dense dark forest of Everfree. The deer looked at the Grifix, glaring through its chest. He turned his head to look across the river that was behind him, sighing at the thought of his home being burned. The one word that the Grifix could have said to change his entire perspective.

“Right...then you have to promise me that he makes it out alive. Promise me that even if I die, he will be safe. I will help you and the village with the tyrant. Elswyth, Nairn, and I will fight back. Just...you just make sure that Willow will survive with him.”

“I will Lockehart, I promise you that he will live. There are some trees over to the North that would provide some good protection from Umbra and his minions. They won’t get found there.”

“Thank you...now, for me to summon Elswyth and Nairn here I have to be left alone. Concentration is important, allowing me to connect with them.” The Grifix nodded at Lockeharts words and turned away, leaving him to himself by the riverbank. He walked to the river's water to look at his reflection. Closing his eyes, remembering his beloved Willow. He knew she was going to be safe, away from the violence and death. He opened his eyes to find Willow's reflection in the crystal clear water, staring back at him. He could only smile at the reflection of his lovely wife.

“Do not worry sweetheart, I said to you long ago that I would provide the best life possible for you. Now, there is an extra with us, I still uphold my promise. I extend that promise to no longer be only for you, but for him as well. I love you, I will always be your beloved.” He closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath, and opened them to look at the water's reflection. No longer looking at Willow's reflection but his own. He lifted his head to look out at the path he was to take just before the Grifixs words. Lockehart turned to trot back from where he was running from, back to the Grifix Village. To end the tyrant King from his reign and set things right. No more death, no more violence, and no more fear.

“So do you have a plan Lockehart?” asked the no longer out of breath Grifix, walking with the deer when he passed her.

“I do, but that all depends on how the village will react to my idea. Especially with that tyrannical KIng Umbra in the castle. He will try and break apart our grouping so to ask a question myself. Do you have a plan for some Grifix who will be unseen?”

“Well...I might not be able to come up with some kind of plan, but, I do believe that I have someone in mind that has some kind of idea.”

“Good, bring him along then. We are going to need as many Grifix as possible if we want to take the village back.”

“So many are terrified about death. The King isn’t exactly too keen when dealing with a revolt against him. He won’t give up easily Lockehart, you of all deer understand that. Elswyth and Nairn have seen his wrath even.”

Lockehart just looked at the frightened Grifix. Indeed he knew how powerful King Umbra was, some would say that he holds more power than the previous Queens, there is a definite certain outcome to Umbra's reign though. There will never be another King to rule over the Grifix Village. He nodded and reassured the Grifix, looking back up and straight ahead with his head held high. Staring directly towards the burning Grifix Village. A metaphorical fire that sparked the moment that tyrant king came into rule. There has been enough death, fright, and dismissive moral, from both sides of the spectrum. The deer and the Grifix have to rekindle their relationship to defeat Umbra. Bringing peace to all of Everfree.

“We are going to end this Celia, once and for all. We are going to restore Everfree.”

“You think so Lockehart? Umbra is powerful, he has many guards who have been manipulated. What if we…”

Lockehart looked at the Grifix, understanding her fears. He sighed and pulled her close to him in an embracing hug. He knew of Umbras strength, but willpower and heart are far stronger. The Grifix stayed still in Lockeharts hold, feeling safe in the deer's hooves. She may have had some doubt fill her mind, but she knew deep down that they would take back Everfree, but most importantly, the Grifix Village.

Unbroken

"Mahogany!"

I woke up with a jolt when I heard my mother's voice calling my name. I knew what today was so purposely sleeping in was, in theory, a tremendous idea. Knowing my mother, however, it's an impossible task. The whole "winter wrap up" thing is just silly, scraping up snow, cleaning out the cold powder in places, planting flowers in the snow. I never understood it and I still don't get it. Even if I lived in Ponyville for all my childhood, which I have and still do, it's never going to click. Why not just let the snowmelt? It isn't going anywhere and no pony is using it so there's no purpose.

"Mmmm...mom I don't want to get up though...it's cold out there and warm in bed. Can't I just skip winter wrap up this time?" I plead, still under the covers, encapsulating myself in a warm embrace.

"No Mahogany! Now come downstairs and eat something, it's well past noon and many ponies are needing help. Plus I'm helping the hospital again so I'm taking you to Twilight's library."

"Twilight's library!?" I sat up instantly hearing that I get to go to the library in the center of Ponyville. It's always busy there because it was previously Princess Twilight's home until she moved into the castle in Canterlot. It's more so a gallery now with a library included. Several rooms were sealed up so the visitors wouldn't mess with items and such when browsing, a shame but understandable. Some would've been happy to see things like Twilight's old bed or her magic experiments table. None of these reasons are why I like going though, there's a small room behind the history books that were never sealed away. Soundproof, cool from the draft, the walls are smooth to lean against, and the cracks above the room are just big enough to allow light to shine in but still have a dim aesthetic to let you just relax.

I hop out of bed within a flash and put a scarf on, trotting downstairs to meet my mom. Then the smell of coffee, warm and inviting, the best coffee in Ponyville. That's when the thought crossed my mind. "Mom only makes coffee when something happens because it calms her...and me."

"Mom?...Is something wrong? You only-"

"Sit down sweetie, there's something you and I need to talk about."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight walked through Canterlot in hopes of finding her brother, Shining Armor, having been told he was gone from his post. Furious, but puzzled with something that a guard had told her some few hours ago. She could feel the eyes of ponies all falling on her; she knew how "unofficial" she looked as she walked through the crowds of Canterlot. Usually, a guard or one of her personal advisors would go out and seek whoever she was looking for, but this circumstance was far different from any others that she had to meet up with Shining. It was fairly easy to find Shining because she knew where he would be, just getting to him was the problem given the traffic on the ground and the traffic on the air. A large pride fest, the biggest in Equestrian history, made the center of Canterlot near impossible to navigate through. That was when she accidentally bumped into a white pony, nearly knocking both her and them to the ground.

"Oh, my apologies I...Shining?" Asked a surprised and confused Twilight. Looking at her brother with his legs out to support himself from the sudden bump. His eyes meeting hers, the rainbow flag paint on his cheek and rainbow ribbons tied in his mane and tail. Twilight simply just shook her head and snickered to herself seeing him as so.

"T-Twilight I-um, I can explain?"

"No time Shining", cutting him off from his sentence, "I need you for something we have to discuss privately. Sorry to pull you from the fun and celebration but it's urgent and serious enough for me to come out and get you. Now come on!"

She turned and started to make her way back to the castle with Shining following close behind. Wiping off the paint and pulling out the ribbons from his mane and tail, Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her stumbling brother. He just looked back and snickered with her, finally getting himself situated and more professional-looking.

"You could have kept your look Shining, no one in the castle would judge. You know that right?"

"Well yeah, but if there's a serious situation to take care of then it's better to look presentable in front of the Harmony Table."

"Ah...yeah, about that. We aren't going to the Harmony Table. This is a one on one discussion."

"So I did all that for nothing?" Shining asked a nodding Twilight. "Well, that happened I suppose."

Twilight sighed and they both eventually made it to the castle steps. Walking up them, she was able to get a good view of Canterlot and the festival below. Her face, smile, eyes, all changing expression within the clap of a hoof. Her face turned slightly pale at the sight of all the ponies present.

"Twilight?", Asking Shining as he stopped and put a hoof to her shoulder, "What's wrong Twilight? Your face has gone slightly pale. We can discuss this matter here if it's that serious, there are no ponies around eavesdropping on us."

"Right...right, we can discuss it here. Um, I think there's a power here in Equestria that has an undivine potential. One of Ponyville's undercover guards sent back a message regarding a deer and unicorn. He didn't specify the deers' name but the unicorn's name he was able to catch, somepony named "Angel Mist". I understand you may just point out that I'm probably paranoid but this isn't a pony being recalled back to. Neither I nor you, know what deer are truly capable of. This unnamed deer may be a force we won't be able to handle, anything is possible given that Discord and Cozy Glow exist after all."

"Twilight, it's going to be alright. I understand your worry but you can't let every single letter you receive back just run you into the ground. Being prepared is good, yes, however...over preparing is a thing. If this "threat" was anything substantial then we wouldn't be getting letters, it would call a meeting and more."

"Right..you're right. I'm worrying too much. I'll try to relax and sit through it. Can you at least send a second undercover to Ponyville? Two sets of eyes on this deer would be better than just the one."

"Of course, if it'll get you to calm your nerves, I'll send a second to Ponyville. You must promise me that this won't get to your head, okay?"

Twilight just nodded and hugged her brother, she understood his words and frankly he was right. She smiled and started back up the stairs as Shining went in the opposite direction, going back to the Pride Month Festival. She made her way into the castle heading straight to the throne room to resume looking over the letters that were sent to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was strange seeing my mom cry, never once has she cried about anything. Even in her stories of being a nurse in Canterlot, no tears were ever shed. Watching her break down during the conversion was heartbreaking. Holding the mug of coffee with her magic, keeping her eyes to the table while occasionally glancing at me, dried tear marks below her eyes, a sight I never wish to see again.

"Mom. I know I'm not your biological son. You're a unicorn and I'm a deer, but that doesn't matter. To me, you're my mother. You've cared for me and gave me a place to live. Providing food, water, shelter, frankly, you're my real mother. No mom leaves their kid in the woods under a mahogany tree, that's not a mom."

Her eyes glanced up, catching my eyes while she let go of the mug. Drying her eyes from the tears that were once there. There was a pause between us both, no moving or speaking, just looking at each other. It's like time stood still but just for us, sitting there across from each other just gazing. Both of our eyes filled with love.

"I just needed to get that off my chest. Hearing you call me mom for so long; guardian even, I just felt guilty that it wasn't a real connection. I just-"

"No", cutting her off mid sentence, "It is a real connection. I never knew my "real" mom, honestly I could care less at this point. You've done everything for me, you are my real mother. I don't care if I'm a deer and you're a unicorn, that motherly love doesn't change."

"Well, you are right about that sweetie. I do feel better after saying all this now. Though I am sorry for making you watch."

"It's alright mom, you needed it to be heard."

I got up and gave her a hug, a big warm hug, she deserved it after everything she's been through and has done for me.