From orphan to emperor

Chapter 1

the spark

Third-person pov

“Kill the men and take as many woman as you can!”

A royal guard could be heard yelling out over the screams of the humans trying to fight or run from the ponies of Equestria. For three thousand years, the humans of Equestria have been forced to be slaves to the ponies and other races. Among these humans was a mother and her son. A boy no older than fourteen ran with his mother but looked back at his father, and a few of the other men tried to buy them time to run. The boy lost sight of his father as his mother managed to run them into the forest.

“Scarlett AH!”

They didn’t stop running as a magic blast hit the woman, who let out a yell. Calling out to try and find her daughter. She fell to the ground, stunned, and the mother ran deeper into the forest, hoping to find a place to hide her son. She jumped into the creek nearby, hoping to hide their tracks.

“Buck it! Shoot them!”

A moment later, four arrows ripped through the mother's chest. She fell dead onto the boy’s body, and he fell, hitting his head on a rock. He passed out with two of the arrows in his chest. Not deep enough to kill but deep enough to make sure it would leave two nasty scars.

“Bucking horses they always have to run.”

The two pegasus guards above the trees flew off. They had no idea the boy was alive or how deep revenge would sink into his bones once he woke up. An hour passed with the boy still out cold. An older man walked through the forest, worried about the smoke he saw a few hours ago. The man walked out of the forest and walked up to the creek, following a small path. The man stopped when he saw the mother and son water running around the bodies. He looked down at the dead mother and son. He nodded his head and was about to move on but stopped when he saw movement on the boy’s chest. He looked at the bodies, and he saw small chest movements. He pulled off his long coat showing a long katana on his side. It had an ornate dragon-carved handle and a small red gem in the center. A horned demon face was carved where the guard should be. The sheath was a slick black and was scaled pattern.

He jumped into the water and grabbed the dead woman’s body. He pulled her off the boy and saw two shallow wounds on his chest. He had two six-inch wounds on his chest.

“Kid?”

The man leaned down and patted the boy's cheek. Some color came to the boy’s face, and he breathed a little more. The man looked back at the woman and sighed as he picked the boy up. He climbed out of the creek and laid him down on his coat. The boy's black hair was soaked, and his pale skin with almost white from the cold water. A reverse crescent moon-looking breath mark on his right shoulder. He nodded and looked down at the ragged pants and rope belt the boy had on.

“I’m sorry boy. Maybe if I had been here a few hours ago I could have helped.”

The man picked the boy up and started to walk back to his home.

Alexander pov two hours later

I opened my eyes and looked up at a stone roof. Not the dirt one I knew. I tried to move and stopped, and I grabbed my chest.

“I see you’re up.”

I jumped and looked over at the light. I saw a man with a sword sitting against the wall. I was scared as I looked at the man. He was old with grey hair tied back in a ponytail. He had a scar going over his face ending at the edge of his eye. I moved as far from the man as I could. I looked around and didn’t see my mom. “Where is my mom?” The man looked right at me. The look on his face was one I'd seen many times.

“The ponies got her son. You were the only person I found alive.”

I nodded my head and stood up, still holding my chest. “The village?”

“Gone and many were died. But, it looks like many of the ponies that attack were killed or wounded as well. So, they made them pay a price for that attack.”

I nodded and sat back down, still scared as I looked at the man. The man looked back at me and then nodded as he grabbed the handle of his katana.

“Boy take this.”

The man threw the katana over, and I missed grabbing it. It hit my chest, and I grabbed my chest again. I held the sword to my chest as a few more tears came to my eyes. “Why?” He stood up and set the iron sword on his side.

“Your coming with me to my village. It’s in a cave system and I live with a human friendly pack of diamond dogs.”

“How many other humans?”

“There are twenty of us with you.”

I nodded and stood up, holding the sword.

“Keep that sword close boy. I’ll be teaching you how to defend yourself from this world.”

“Okay.” He nodded, then turned away from me as he started to walk. I walked out behind him, stopping once I saw another cave farther down a path. He walked down the path, and I ran behind, scared that the ponies may still be around. I got beside him and then noticed a few scars under his sleeve.

“Relax boy I will not harm you. I know what it is like to live like that.”

I looked up at him and nodded as we walked into the cave. I looked around as we walked deeper into the cave lighted by crystals. I saw a large diamond dog with a woman talking with each other. I smiled as I walked into a large area and looked at the diamond dogs and humans walking around and talking to each other.

“Boy, what is your name?”

I looked back up at the man. “Alexander.” He smiled for the first time before he looked ahead again.

“You can call me Slasher.”

The third-person pov first year of training

“Way are we doing this?”

Alexander dropped the pick-ax from his hands and looked at Slasher. Slasher struck the stone and stopped to look at Alexander.

“You need to build up your body and we need to expand the village. Two problems one go, always try to do that when you can. Besides, remember you need to get stronger to protect yourself.”

He turned back and started to work again. Alexander sighed and nodded before he bent over and grabbed his pick-ax. Alexander started to work again, knowing his teacher was right. And he knew one day he would have to fight the ponies as his father had. But, unknown to even this boy, he would do more than face the ponies who had destroyed his home. This year Alexander would solely work on his body. Strengthening it, building a strong base for his future. Days were spent chipping away at the stone or cutting wood for the older dogs of the cave. Over that year, Alexander did gain muscle but had toned up more.

Second-year beginning of training

Slasher is working away at their now expanded cave room, setting up the training room he’d been making for Alexander. He’d made a hole in the roof letting in light and had set up a system to collect rainwater.

“What are you doing in here Slasher?”

Alexander walked in stone ax on his shoulder, wood under his arm. Slasher smiled as he looked back at Alexander.

“Finishing our new training room.”

Alexander looked at him for a second before Slasher walked over to the right wall and pulled on a rope. He revived the hole he’d made, lighting up the room by showing a set of homemade wooden swords, training dummies, and sets of stone weights. In the center of the room was a large pit with stones acting like guard reels. Inside the pit was some of the rainwater that had fallen this morning. Alexander looked stunned as he looked around at all the work Slasher had to have done to make this room.

“Is this what you were doing when I worked with the others young dogs?”

Slasher smiled as he looked at Alexander, then grabbed a wooden sword off the rack.

“Catch.”

Alexander dropped the wood to grab the wooden sword as Slasher grabbed another sword. Slasher grabbed another wooden sword and charged Alexander. Before Alexander knew it, Slasher slammed the butt of the sword handle into his stomach. Alexander dropped to the ground, dropping the ax and sword to the ground. Alexander grabbed his stomach, and dry heaved as he lay on the ground. Slasher nodded his head as he looked down at Alexander.

“It’s going to be a long year.”

Third-year of training

Alexander stood wooden sword in his hands as he looked at Slasher. Slasher had started to teach Alexander sword and knife combat. Alexander’s arms and chest were bruised up, proving how relentless Slasher was when fighting.

“You had enough for today boy?”

Slasher mockingly asked, trying to trick Alexander into attacking again. Alexander fell for it and charged Slasher's anger at being beat, again and again, boiled over. Slasher laughed and sidestepped and cracked Alexander across the back. Alexander fell face-first to the ground.

“That going to get you killed boy. Letting your anger make you charge in is a death senteance.”

Alexander looked up at Slasher, annoyed, but he knew he was right. If he kept charging in the blind, he would die. Alexander gripped his wooden sword handle tighters as he stood up.

“One more time.”

Slasher smiled, seeing that Alexander had regained some composure as he looked at him.

“Fine but don’t blame me when you can’t sleep right for the next month!”

Slasher and Alexander charged one another, ready to attack. Three months passed like this, and to Slasher’s amazement, Alexander had learned to predict each attack Slasher threw and how he would move or react to the counterattack. After nearly one hundred battles, Alexander had gained a skill Slasher had spent his life trying to master. Slashers and any of the diamond dogs warriors after only ten or twenty sparring matches. Slasher began to wonder if he had found a young prodigy swordsman. He had learned how to fight timber wolves and manticores. Slasher had to wonder what would happen as he got older and kept up on his training.

Fourth-year of training

Alexander stood in the center of the pit as rain fell around him. He stood at the ready, a well-used training sword in hand. At all four edges of the pit stood four of the largest diamond dogs of the cave. Behind them was the Alpha, a much older pitbull diamond dog, and Slasher stood. At fifteen, Alexander had become one of the strongest fighters in the caves. The alpha had chosen not to leave his pack to any of his sons as each had lost to Alexander in sparring matches. The Alpha respected the boy’s skills and learned to outfight anything in the forest. Slasher threw a rock into the air. Alexander lowered his stance more as the rock hit the water. All four dogs jumped at him, hammers and clubs at the ready as they fell onto Alexander. Moved forward and jumped in the water. Alexander struck the first dog in the chest with a forward thrust as he hit the water. Alexander sent him back into the sidewall of the pit. Alexander turned, moving fast as the largest dog swung his club down onto Alexander. Alexander moved closer and turned his sword as he moved under the strike. Alexander slammed the butt of the sword into the dog’s underjaw. His head flew back as Alexander turned and then struck the third dog in the ribs full force. Alexander dropped low as the last dog tried to hit him in the head, scared of the human in front of him. Alexander threw his wooden sword up and caught the dog's forearm, making him drop his club. Standing up straight, Alexander was about to finish the fight before the alpha yelled.

“Enough!”

Alexander stopped his sword an inch away from the dog’s face. Alexander lowered his sword and looked up as the alpha walked over to the side of the pit.

“You’ve won Alexander. Your the strongets in the whole of the westsern Everfree forest.”

Alexander smiled, then slid his wooden sword back onto his side as he looked at the Alpha.

“So, I guess I’ve gained everything I can here.”

Alexander grabbed a crack in the pit from his past fights. Alexander jumped and used his arm to throw himself up with his right arm. Slasher never did figure out what made Alexander so talented, but he knew he’d taught him everything he knew.

“Alexander, you’ve surpassed all of us. What will you do now?”

Alexander looked at his teacher, and a smile grew across his face.

“I think I’ll go and become the strongest fighter. Then I’m going to go and find the guards who killed my family.”

Slasher nodded as he knew this day would come, but the Alpha seemed to have a thought in mind. Slasher smiled at that, having expected it at some point.

“Well if your going to do that you’ll have to know how to read and write. Knowing how to get money will come with this.”

Slasher pulled out two letters from his long coat.

“One is a letter proving my freedom. Now as long as you can keep them thinking you're my son you can’t be sold or taken as a slave. That the old letter the new one is calling in a favor a noble owes me for saving his family back during the last human rebellion twenty years ago. Fancy pants is a great stallion he will honer the request inside but you have to listen to what he tells you to do like me. Other nobles won’t let you live in peace at first but once they realize their is a way to best you head on all you have to do is play the long game.”

Alexander nodded and took the two letters.

“We also have a gift for you.”

I looked back up and stopped as I looked at the new wooden sword. It had a sheath black with a bright cherry handle.

I took it and slid it under my rope belt on my side before I looked over and saw the sword Slasher had given me in the arms of the Alpha’s youngest daughter arms. I looked down at the small pup and walked over to her. I kneeled and reached out, and she moved back, still holding my sword. I laughed a little, then nodded as I stood back up. “I’ll leave tomorrow, but you're going to have to give me my sword.” She smiled before she held it out to me.

“Tomarrow.”

I nodded as I laughed, then kneeled again. I took my sword, put it on my side, and then patted her head. “You're a good girl Ruby.” She smiled, and her tail wagged behind her. I stood up, and she ran over to her father as the others climbed out of the pit. Two looked pissed off, and I rested my arm on my swords.

“Alexander, they won’t do anything.”

I looked over at Slasher and nodded as I walked out of the room. I moved back as a few kids and puppies ran by, and I laughed more as I looked around at the caves. We’d grown so much in these four years, and now we had fifty humans, and eighty diamond sogs. I walked into the center of the cave, smiling as I saw everyone moving around.

“Alexander!”

I looked to the Alpha’s oldest daughter, Diamond, running over. I was surprised when I saw her in new clothes, and she had on light blue jeans with ripped knees and a black shirt.

She jumped at me, and I sidestepped, making her miss her daily tackle hug. I smiled and grabbed her arm, stopping her from face-planting the stone wall. “Always doing the same expecting me to just go to the ground. Why are you my only friend again?” Diamond laughed before righting herself and pulling me into a hug. I patted her back, glad she didn’t let go this time. “Diamond, come on.”

“No, this is the first time you’ve let me hug you.”

I rolled my eyes and jabbed her in the side with two fingers. She jumped and grabbed her side as she looked at me.

“You! i’m going to!”

“I’m leaving.” She stopped as she looked at me and then looked at my side.

“W-what? Your leaving the cave?”

I nodded and crossed my arms as I looked at her. “I’ve gained all I can from staying here. I’m leaving tomarrow to find a stallion named Fancy Pants.” Her ears laid against her head, and I smirked and pinched her left her. She yelped and glared at me. I smiled at her, grabbed her head, and pressed our heads together. She blushed as she looked me in the eye. “I will come back after every now and then Diamond. My goals will be acheved and who knows maybe one day I’ll take you away with me tomorrow.” She shoved me away and ran off with her face and ears red. I laughed, glad to see that still worked as a way to get her away from me. I nodded a walked over to the cave mouth and out of the caves. I looked up at the night sky.

“Going now? You know they'll never forgive you for that lie.”

I looked back to the cave mouth and saw Slasher. A new set of real clothes and a leather shoulder bag were in his hand. A smile crossed his face as he looked at me.

"There are some bits in there. It's what everyone outside of this forest use to buy stuff. It should take you about two years to beat all the best fighters in this country. When you can talk it out and build up a power base as best as you can. Never stop training your production technique. If you do that and keep your body strong you'll never be defeated."

I nodded, and he threw the bag over to me. I grabbed it as he threw the clothes. I nodded before I looked back into the dark forest. "Well, best get get moving."