A New War, A New Guardian

“W-well, you can add the Elements of Harmony to that list…” Fluttershy meekly smiled, petting his hair.

Rainbow huffed, crossing her arms. “I call for a five minute nap, then we go and kick some wolf butt!”

"And what purpose would that serve beyond antagonizing them further?" was his dry comment. "There's a big difference between 'kicking butt' and walking into a fight you may not walk away from," he deadpanned seriously.

“Pfft, we’ve faced worse!” The speedster pegasus puffed her chest out with a smirk.

“That is, until Fang destroyed the Tree of Harmony, the source of our power…” Rarity muttered, huffing with a profound ‘HUMF.’

"Yet did he harm you directly? Physically?" he sighed sleepily.

“N-no, he just destroyed the tree and let the Everfree forest grow in a matter of days after burning it all.” Fluttershy explained.

"Then, in all likelihood, there may well be a seed of it left or multiple seeds. The fact is, sometimes the old must be let go of to bring in something new," he sighed, his gaze meeting Fluttershy's. Unknown to him, his irises looked as if the golden bronze had 'blossomed' like a flower within the garnet-ruby of his irises. He blinked a few times, struggling to stay awake as her fingers dragged through his hair, though it wasn't long before he lost that fight.

With what limited magic they possessed, the ponies gently laid the human in Rock Hoof’s arms, the giant stallion walking along with the others as they returned to Canterlot. The human and gods were led to a large guest room, where the man finally woke.

–-—-–

Joseph Pólethèos' eyes snapped open as he sat up with a groan. "Urgh…." he groaned, as his head felt like someone had stuck it in a trash compactor, pounding painfully. "Hopefully they have toothpaste or something… I still taste that damn Draugr," he muttered hoarsely. He jolted, realizing with surprise that he wasn't alone in the room. That pink haired young woman with the wings and the Egyptian looking woman was sitting in the chairs nearby. He blinked, not realizing he was wearing naught more than boxers.

"If you're wondering where your clothes are, they are being cleaned and repaired," Somnabula commented airily. "Much has changed since we attempted to seal the Pony of Shadows," she sighed.

"I bet. Though the way that the 'Pony of Shadows' acted made me think of a magically charged Klyntar. That, along with the fact his sentience and the need for a host made me think of another," Joseph commented wryly.

Fluttershy turned to look at the other mare. “What happened to him anyway?”

“We couldn’t exactly do anything about him in our current situation, so we could only send some spies to watch him. Apparently, he’s headed west.”

"Hmmm. Too bad we didn't, pardon the pun, pick his brain for knowledge. I'd wager there are things both good and ill he may know. Though I'm pretty damn certain nobody would have been open to acting as a host for him… myself included," Joseph deadpanned in thought. He shivered slightly before his head tilted. "Though I have no idea where I can freshen up, 'cause I feel more grungy than a moss covered rock in a mud pit," he sighed before Fluttershy giggled.

"That sounds almost like something Applejack would say," she smiled.

"Who?" was the resident human's blank reply. He didn't realize that the door to his right, the mares' left, led to a rather opulent bathroom.

“Oh, Applejack? She’s with her family right now, they’re trying very hard to provide food for the town. Her family owns the apple orchard on the outskirts.” Fluttershy explained, watching as the human noticed the bathroom.

Joseph hummed as he took a deep breath. He tilted his head as he glanced around the room before rolling his shoulders.

"Hmmm. You think you'll need help freshening up?" he heard the Egyptian looking woman comment.

"I suppose. I do know my body's stiff and sore," Joseph sighed softly. He saw them trade looks, though he wasn't sure what they may have been considering.

“Would you like for us to draw you a bath?”

J

oseph blinked at Fluttershy's comment before he noticed the Egyptian looking mare covering her mouth with a very amused look as his ears twitched at her muffled giggles, unaware he was blushing. "Um… I guess. I mean… I've never bathed with anyone," he said shyly. Admittedly, that wasn't quite true, though Aphrodite's attendants as well as the Titaness herself had never commented on his scars even when fresh, nor had they been brought up to Kratos or Hades. These two, however, were even more in terms of strangers than her attendants.

He wasn't quite sure where Kratos was, unaware the elder Deity had merged with him, effectively marking him as his successor.

“Well, would you?” The Egyptian Pegasus asked, fluttering her long lashes as she had sat on the bed with him, softly smiling. “We could help you get properly cleaned~.”

"I suppose. I have little doubt you'd probably want a way to clear away the metaphorical grime of whatever void realm you were sealed with the skìa klanìa," Joseph sighed softly, noticing her eyebrow twitching upward at the subtle derision in his voice on the last two words.

"Um… sir…. what does that mean? ''Skya Kanea'?" Fluttershy said shyly, mispronouncing the phrase.

"That's 'skee-ah klee-anya', lass. It translates as 'shadow fart' in Ancient Greek," he commented with a small smirk. He saw their eyes widen at the insult to the Pony of Shadows.

He wasn't that surprised as they started giggling, though he didn't expect them to hug him whilst doing so. He saw the rosy haired Pegasus rear back after a moment.

"You do kind of stink," she commented with a small sneeze.

Rainbow chose that moment to step into the room, looking to the human. “Hey! I know you’re kinda against this, but we’re going after Fang. Equestria needs the Elements of Harmony back. Besides, if you’re as powerful as we saw, there’s no way Fang and his cronies will stand up to you.”

“R-Rainbow…” Fluttershy interjected, only squeaking as the other Pegasus gave her friend a determined look.

“Flutters, you know Equestria needs our help, and we can’t help without the Elements.”

"Based on the fact something or someone was able to summon Draugr and send them after you, there is someone spying on you. Whom it is, I don't know, but I despise those who betray others knowingly and deliberately, as would the Erinyes. Fortunately, they're far less bitchy than before," Joseph's tone was a controlled, slightly annoyed one. He didn't notice the very slight, momentary aura of crimson engulfing him at his Loyalty. "And I don't know what Elements you're referring to, but there's a big difference between a weapon and the one using it," he deadpanned dryly. "Besides, is it better to exhaust yourself to the point of being unable to do anything or take the opportunity to refuel and unwind when possible?" he commented, utterly unaware of his comment that reminded them of a certain apple farmer exhausting herself. "Trust me, if you run yourself to the point of burnout, you help nobody and harm yourself with needing recovery time. Found that out the hard way," he sighed.

Fluttershy blinked as the human used simple logic. "How did you know about..?" she started before pausing at his admission of finding out from his own experience.

“B-But what if Spike’s hurt? I need to know that he’s ok.” Twilight had stepped into the room, a pleading look in her eye. “Please?”

"Since I haven't seen 'Tre since waking up, I suspect he's familiarizing himself with everything. He has a talent for finding out shit better left hidden. So, if nothing else, calm down and unwind. You ain't gonna help anyone, whoever 'Spike' is or yourself if you exhaust yourself to the point of injuring yourself. Where do you think this scar came from, hmmm?" he commented with a sigh, his fingers trailing a scar running from his right pectoral near his collarbone to his sternum. He tilted his head, his fingers trailing over her forearm. "Unwind and relax while you can. If we don't find Spike, he will find us. I get this instinctive feeling of that. Better than that, I'd look into who the fuck summoned those Draugr on us. I wouldn't use that nor would 'Tre. That kind of Runic Magic leaves a stain not easy to hide. That, and it tends to be addictive. Trust me, the only thing I want to be addicted to is making good alcohol… or a damn cute woman," he commented.

Joseph suddenly felt numerous eyes on them, but it was as if they had just let him notice. With several vortexes of blue and yellow flame, four large black insectoid creatures stood before them. At the same time, several vases and chairs had disappeared, signifying where these creatures had hidden themselves.

One stepped forward, the creature’s large mandibles clicking as it spoke with a soft tone, her three long tongues lashing. “We have come to deliver a message to you… Son of the Spartan.”

Joseph's eyebrow twitched upward slightly. "Do I look intimidated, lass? What exactly does the Covenant want? Wouldn't shock me if the 'Changeling' race were Covenant members in disguise," he deadpanned, "I think I can handle this, old man," he thought, sensing Kratos shift warily in his mind. He carefully didn't say that Atreus, technically, was the real 'Son of the Spartan' nor did he say where he was, knowing the young archer turned trickster deity would find him.

“Covenant?” The Changeling clicked her mandibles again in curiosity. “There is no Covenant here… unless you refer to the pact our mother made with the Nahar Alphas.”

"Let's just say that I know of another race that look quite similar to your kind. Though I know little about politics of this world or its races," his tone was firm and cool. "And I'm assuming that what you're referring to has to do with what the grumbling mare," he deadpanned, flicking a thumb at Rainbow. He noted they seemed almost frozen before his head tilted. "And tell whoever the fuck is helping you paralyze them to drop it and show themselves," his tone was a deep growl as he drew Typhon's Bane back, the air condensing into a silvery white bolt as he half turned. His eyebrow twitched upward. "You're not Athena. More likely… Artemis?"

The huntress deity smirked a bit. "Correct," she commented nonchalantly. Her voice held the slightest echo to it.

“Oh? A Centaur?” The Changeling’s voice had changed, becoming older, sounding like a woman in her mid-thirties. “And one who thinks she’s a god? Pfft, silly Centaur, gods can't die.” The Changeling Queen sounded like she was smiling.

Then, a column of fire erupted from behind the group of Changelings, a much taller and more powerful Changeling stepping out. The Queen smirked, her long tongues lathering her mandibles. “I’ve had Centaur before, but I wonder if your meat will have a bit of tang to it. Maybe a bit of saltiness? Or perhaps… just bland?”

"Oh, that's not quite true… deities can die… but we don't stay deceased. Not unless we're tainted by an Elder Deity or Primordial," Artemis commented. "I just happened to be away from Greece at a certain time, unlike a certain deity," she commented.

"Unless someone takes their place, would be the only other way they remain put down, hence why the Nordic tales refer to the mess with the Aesir and Vanir as a 'cycle'. Not many notice that detail in what many know as 'myths', which obviously have a bit more truth than bullshit to them," Joseph deadpanned.

“Always with the loopholes, with your kin.” Queen Tah’kor sighed. “One can always expect you gremlins to pop back up, even if I’ve removed your heads and gnawed your bones.”

"The old man doesn't know that I saw a certain pain in the ass, self-serving 'wisdim' goddess several weeks before I left for Sparta," Joseph sighed.

Artemis blinked a couple of times before she started guffawing. "‘Wisdim’? Oh, Creator above! That is fucking hilarious!" she laughed. "Though Athena always did have a, pardon the pun, 'dim' view of wisdom that didn't come from her," she sighed.

"She's a pain in the ass. And for being a goddess of wisdom, she seems to have forgotten that one of the biggest ways of gaining wisdom is experience, so apparently, she has her head shoved up the ass of whichever deity brought her back and eating his shit, 'cause she couldn't stop burping up nonsense," Joseph deadpanned bluntly.