The Last of the Crocfolk

The Royal Palace, Canterlot - The Library

Twilight had been awake for three days trying to learn everything she could about the Crocfolk. The army meant to look for her former prisoner hadn't seen any sign of him. It was if he disappeared into thin air. She couldn't take her mind off of him, his powerful form and the unbridled rage in his eyes. That was a hatred she had never seen before.

Ever since she learned that he was the last of his species, Twilight had poured everything she could into learning more about the Crocfolk, and the horrible atrocities done to them. She had come to learn a great many terrible things.

There was an example of one battle where an army of Crocfolk warriors were defeated after one battle and the survivors were forced to fight each other to the death by their captors in exchange for their freedom. Another incident involved Pony generals wearing their skin or hunting them for sport. It was all so sickening to read. The door to the Library opened to reveal Spike, bringing in a tray of food as well as a pillow and blanket.

"Twilight, I don't care what you say, it's time for you to get some food and sleep!" Spike said sternly.

"I... I know you're right, Spike. I'm glad I have you here to help me stay healthy," Twilight said, rubbing her eyes. "This whole thing's been distracting me recently."

"Here's an idea: take a break from finding Leatherfoot and focus on your royal duties for now?" Spike asked. "The celebration is coming up and you need to personally greet Songbird Serenade when she arrives."

"Oh! Thank you for reminding me!" Twilight said. "But first, food and a nap."

*

A Few Hours Later

Twilight woke up feeling better than ever. Her belly was full and she felt more than well-rested. She felt like she was ready to tackle anything. She made her way to the main courtyard to meet with the rest of her friends, who all greeted her warmly.

"I see Spike finally dragged you out of the library, Twilight!" Pinkie said.

"Yeah, sorry about that. It's just that Leatherfoot's still out there somewhere and I just want to try to help him somehow," Twilight said.

"I'm sure the Royal Army will find him," Rarity said.

"Yeah, and when they do, we can take him somewhere where he can get the help he needs," Fluttershy said.

"But how can we help someone like him?" Rainbow asked "Our ancestors wiped out his people. That's not something he can just forgive."

"Still, I want to try to connect with him," Twilight said. "I can't focus on that right now as I have to arrange the party."

As the girls made their way to the city's center, Twilight noticed a series of dark clouds coming towards the city. She turned to Rainbow Dash.

"I thought the Weather Team cleared the skies of clouds for the celebration," Twilight said.

"They did! Must be a stray few we missed somehow!" Rainbow said.

"Aren't those clouds coming in kind of fast?" Applejack asked.

The clouds approaching them were indeed moving faster than normal. In seemingly no time at all, the clouds had covered the skies above the entire city. And from these clouds emerged several large battleships, all of which took up positions at points surrounding the city. The one that landed in the courtyard opened its interior with a small badger-like creature emerging with a speaker.

"Ponies of Equestria!" he called through the speaker. "We come on behalf on the fearsome, the powerful, the almighty... Storm King!"

A banner with an image of the Storm King descended from the ship. The small Storm Creature spoke again.

"And now, to deliver the evil, evil message is Commander Tempest and Captain Leatherfoot!" he called to them.

The mere mention of the name "Leatherfoot" caught Twilight's attention immediately. She was about to ask about him when she got her answer. Leatherfoot, dressed in the Storm King's armor, emerged from the ship alongside a Unicorn with a broken horn. And he didn't look happy to see them. The other three Princesses joined them and stood between the Storm King's forced and their citizens.

"Tempest, is it? How can we help you?" Celestia asked.

"And I see the missing Crocfolk we were looking for is with you," Luna said.

"I'm so glad you asked. We want your complete and total surrender," Tempest said.

"I urge you to choose not to surrender. My Blade thirsts for Pony blood," Leatherfoot said, licking his jaws.

Twilight took the opportunity to step forward and try to diffuse the situation. She put on her friendliest smile when she spoke.

"Wait, I'm sure we can work something out," Twilight said before turning to Leatherfoot. "Leatherfoot, I'd like to talk to you about how we can help you with what happened to your people."

Leatherfoot's eyes narrowed in anger. "What is there to talk about? You wish to talk about how my village was attacked and massacred by hunters, how I was sold as a gladiator-slave, and held captive by you? No, the time for forgiveness is over! The cold eyes of vengeance are upon you now!"

The armored Crocfolk took out his Blade and gave it a few threatening swings. The Royal Guard assembled and readied their weapons to fight the invaders. Leatherfoot smiled and readied for battle, his bloodlust plain to see. The other ships closed in and the rest of the invading army dropped down from the ships to begin their attack. Leatherfoot and Tempest began their own attacks.

Using strange crystal orbs, Tempest managed to petrify the Princesses while Leatherfoot was dealing with the Royal Guard with his Blade and strength. He cut down a great many of them with frightening brutality. One guard had both of his wings cut off and was trying to crawl away, only for Leatherfoot and stomp on his neck and kill him instantly. He laughs at them.

"Come at me, vermin! I'll show you all the true power of the Crocfolk!" Leatherfoot shouted.

"I hate to interrupt your playtime, but one of the Princesses the Storm King wants is getting away," Tempest said.

Sure enough, the purple Princess and her friends were making a getaway in the chaos. Leatherfoot turns to Tempest.

"Leave them to me! I'll retrieve the Storm King's prize!" Leatherfoot said. "And I'll kill her friends if they try to intervene."

Leatherfoot took off in the direction of Twilight and her friends. He had to cut through a few guards in his way, but they didn't hinder him at all. Like any predator, he had his eyes fixed on his prey and he wasn't going to lose them easily. He followed them to a bridge, where some of the Storm Guard had managed to box them in. Leatherfoot joined them with his weapon ready.

"You have nowhere left to go, Princess. The Storm King is eager to meet you," Leatherfoot said. "He didn't say unharmed, if that helps."

"Why are you doing this?" Rarity asked. "What did the Storm King promise you to make you work for him?"

"The destruction of your land and the resurrection of my people," Leatherfoot said. "Justice will finally be dealt to you hoved devils."

"You really think the Storm King will make good on his promise?!" Rainbow asked. "He's just using you!"

"No, his staff is able to perform this kind of power and I know he will make good on his promise," Leatherfoot said. "All I need to do is deliver him the Princesses."

"Leatherfoot, I know these words may mean nothing to you, but I'm sorry on behalf of Equestria for what happened to the Crocfolk," Twilight said.

"Your banal words mean nothing to me! Your kind have made themselves my enemies by starting our conflict, and I intend to finish it," Leatherfoot said. He and the other Storm Guards leapt towards them, weapons at the ready.

Twilight fired a beam at one of the soldiers, but the blast was deflected by the shield he was carrying and it hit the bridge underneath the Ponies' hooves. The bridge broke apart and sent them falling down to the river below. Leatherfoot watched as they were being swept away by the current.

"Sir, they're getting away!" one of the Storm soldiers shouted.

"No, they haven't," Leatherfoot said with a smile. "No one's faster than me in the water!"

With no hesitation, Leatherfoot dove headfirst into the water below, swinging his powerful tail to catch up to his fallen prey and her companions. From what he could see, he was rapidly catching up to his thrashing prey. They saw him as soon as he caught up.

"Nowhere left to go, Princess!" Leatherfoot said, wrapping his arms around Twilight.

"Twilight!" her friends shouted.

"Leatherfoot! This doesn't have to be this way!" Twilight shouted over the raging waters.

"If it means the rebirth of my people, then this is my only way! And I won't you and your followers get in my way!" Leatherfoot shouted back.

A hoof came from under the water and caught Leatherfoot on the side of his jaw. He let go of Twilight and was now facing an angry Rainbow Dash. And she was ready for a fight.

"We won't let you take Twilight!" Rainbow shouted.

"Then I guess I'll have to kill you," Leatherfoot said.

Leatherfoot grabbed one of Rainbow's wings in his jaws, breaking it and earning a pained scream from Rainbow. He dove under the water with Rainbow thrashing in his grip. There was no way she could hold her breath longer than Leatherfoot. He was watching Rainbow about to drown when he saw an orange shape in the water coming right towards him.

Applejack came at him when he wasn't looking and grappled him. She was kicking him over and over until he was forced to let Rainbow go, who made a beeline for the surface. Leatherfoot tried to bite down on Applejack, but she was holding his jaws at bay. He then switched to using his claws and dug them into her right leg. She winced in pain but managed to kick him away so she could surface. Leatherfoot surfaced again and began to go after the rest of the friends until he saw Twilight charging up her horn with magic.

"I'm sorry, Leatherfoot," Twilight said. Then she fired her magic beam at Leatherfoot.

He flew backwards a bit before he lost consciousness. He was awake just long enough to see Twilight approaching him.

"Damn... you... vermin!" he thought angrily.