From the ashes

Cold stone jolted straight up in his bed with a cold sweat, he looked around and calmed down seeing that he was still in his bedroom. There was a knock at his door and it cracked open to reveal a dark purple coated, black maned, earth mare with a cutie mark depicting multiple flowers. The mare opened the door the rest of the way and approached Cold with a kind smile.

“Ah, Sweetie, I see you are awake.” Her kind expression became one of concern at the sight of Cold stone. “Are you alright? Did you have a bad nightmare?”

“Not really, it was weird though.” Cold stone got out of bed with a thoughtful look. “But I'm fine mama, I don’t really remember much of it.” Cold said with a reassuring smile. Cold's mother giggled and turned around to leave, before she did, she turned her head to look at Cold stone.

“Well alright then. Once you are ready, breakfast is ready.” With that, the mare left Cold alone in his room.

‘He’s losing a lot of blood! Where in Tartarus is the nurse!?’ Cold stone jumped at a gruff voice that echoed from the window of his room. Trotting up and looking out, there was nopony out this early and the young colt was confused. Cold shrugged it off and walked out of his room to see his family in the main room, all enjoying their breakfast.

“Good morning kiddo, how’d you sleep last night?” A middle aged stallion with a dark blue coat, white main and beard, and a map as a cutie map said.

“I slept well last night, right now, i’m really hungry.” Cold stone took a seat next to a small filly with a light purple coat, and gray mane. The filly hugged Cold with all her strength, which wasn’t much, but made Cold smile non the less.

‘This poor bastard is lucky to be alive. Any higher, then it would have pierced his lung.’ The same gruff voice echoed through the room, making Cold stiffen up in surprise. His family looked at him like he grew two heads, none of them seemed to hear the voice like Cold did.

“Big brother? Are you ok?” Cold's young sister said with evident worry in her voice. Cold stone just smiled at his sister and rubbed her head with a hoof.

“It's alright C̷̨̰̣̍o̸̧͙̣͓̮̖̼̺̠͓͔̣̬̖̓̎̃̉̒̾̊͑͘l̶̨̨̤̱͈̥͍͈̤̺̀͌̓͠v̴̛̛̲̊̒͆͌̽̅͒̃̍͌̿e̶̠̗̟̩̣͌͐͘͠ŕ̷͕̞̐͑̆̔̑̚͝͝͠ ̷͔̖̫̖̗̫̪̭̰̤̮̎̅͊̐͝͝l̶̟̟͈̦̥͎̔͑̌̈́̔̏̅͋͌͂̉͘̕͘͝e̵̛͈͓͇̟͚̲̎́̚͜͜͜a̷̢͔͙̥̳̖͚͇͉͖̟̭͋̍̊̃̌̀̅͝ͅf̶̢̛̟͕̟̟̺̯͍͕̪̮̺͓̰̾̐͛̀̐͑̊̃̄̔͐̌, I thought i heard something.” Cold stone said with a little laugh.

His sister, and parents, didn’t push the subject any further and they all started to eat their breakfast. As he ate, Cold looked around at his family with a warm smile, just being here with them was all he needed in-

“Big brother…” Cold stone's sister's voice brought him out of his thoughts as he looked over at his now crying sister. His mood suddenly dampened at the sight and he moved in to hug her, but the young filly pushed him back with great force.

“C̷̨̰̣̍o̸̧͙̣͓̮̖̼̺̠͓͔̣̬̖̓̎̃̉̒̾̊͑͘l̶̨̨̤̱͈̥͍͈̤̺̀͌̓͠v̴̛̛̲̊̒͆͌̽̅͒̃̍͌̿e̶̠̗̟̩̣͌͐͘͠ŕ̷͕̞̐͑̆̔̑̚͝͝͠ ̷͔̖̫̖̗̫̪̭̰̤̮̎̅͊̐͝͝l̶̟̟͈̦̥͎̔͑̌̈́̔̏̅͋͌͂̉͘̕͘͝e̵̛͈͓͇̟͚̲̎́̚͜͜͜a̷̢͔͙̥̳̖͚͇͉͖̟̭͋̍̊̃̌̀̅͝ͅf̶̢̛̟͕̟̟̺̯͍͕̪̮̺͓̰̾̐͛̀̐͑̊̃̄̔͐̌ what’s wrong?!” Cold stone worrying asked with a sad expression. He looked towards his parents, only to find them giving Cold an

absolute death glare.

“Why brother, Why didn’t you save us!?!?” Cold stone’s sister yelled at him with such anger that it made Cold recoil from it. The walls of his home suddenly caught on fire, widows shattered, and wooden beams crashing down.

“What are you talking about?! What’s going on?!” Cold stone asked with panic in his voice. He got back on his hooves and back away, only to stop when a dark and sinister laugh rang out behind Cold.

Turning around, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates when he saw a creature made of black smoke, giving him an unnaturally wide smile. Something told him to turn around and the sight made him nearly break down in hysteria. His parents were crushed under broken and burning beams, both of them still wailing in agony as their flesh started to burn. His sister was the worst of it, her body was burned black, bone exposed to the open and half of the skin on her face was missing with exposed muscle showing.

“YOU COULD OF SAVED US, WHY, WHY, W̷̢̽H̵̨̛̤̺͉͇̳͍̳̝͉̺̼̥͕́̐̈́̋̔̓̋̔ͅÝ̴̢̧̨̢̘̳̳̠͓͍̠͎͓͙̝͛̆͒̓̎̆͠Y̵̡̠̣̰͚͖̯͎̥͕̝̚͜Y̸̛̺͈̹͚̿̽̋̃̈͑Ȳ̶͔̣̦̩͇̮̼̝͉͎̻̟̻͂͒͊̿͘ͅY̷̢̧̝͍̖̭͚͖̦͙̦͖̆̇̏̊̈̂̉͗͑Ẏ̴̨̛̪̟̹̂́̐̾̋͑̆̓̾̃͘ͅY̷̡̡̡̹̫̩̞͓̞̱̰̎!!” Cold’s sister started to fall apart as the flames consumed her body.

Cold was hyperventilating and fell to the ground, holding the sides of his head whale crying as the flames came closer.

“ Why can't it not be like before…why…”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cold stone shot up in his bed with a yell, he wrapped his forelegs around his head in a protective manner as he curled into a ball and wept.

“Sister please, I’m sorry! P-Please don’t go! I’m sorry I wasn't there!” Cold stone screamed repeatedly, with sorrow and pain heavy in his voice. During his hyperventilating, he didn’t notice a yellow pegasus mare trying to talk with him, her word being lost to Cold's hysteria.

The only sound that he could hear was a constant ringing and an annoying beaming rhythm that hurt his ears. 3 ponies in white coats rushed into his room and tried to restrain the frantic stallion, his strength making it hard to do so. Finally, one pony took out a syringe with a clear liquid in it, and stuck it into Cold's neck and pushed the plunger. Cold stone started to calm down, and eventually laid fully on his hospital bed, muttering the same phrase as he passed out.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celestia- 1st person

“Dear sister, is something the matter?” Luna asked me with a curious tone.

“Yes Luna, apparently our little reforment got himself into trouble.” I replied with a sigh. I rubbed the side of the temple to try and stop a headache from starting as I set a letter down with my magic.

“What KIND of trouble?” Luna said in an angered tone.

“Calm yourself Luna, he actually saved the town from being destroyed by a manticore. But he didn’t come out unscaved.” I said as I got up from my bed and walked past my sister to the kitchen, Luna followed me as well.

“Is he alright?” Luna asked with curiosity with a hint of worry. We soon arrived in the kitchen and I asked a royal chef to prepare myself and Luna our favorite tea.

“Fortunately yes, but I got a letter from Twilight not too long ago saying that he was having a ‘freak out episode’ as she put it. I don’t know what that particularly means, but I’m waiting for an update soon.” I said as Luna and I sat at the dining hall table.

“Well that is unfortunate.” Luna said sadly. “But about that manticore, why would it go that far out of the Everfree?” Luna asked nopony in particular.

“I don’t know for certain, but the corpse we collected had some sort of black substance that resembled tar, coated around its skin. I had it sent to our best researchers and scholars for examination, you never know what can come out of that forest.” I said with some spite in my voice.

A waiter came with a silver platter that had a gold tea set on it, they set it down and Luna and I took a cup, poured our tea, and discussed other random topics.

‘If I think what I think it is, then finding Sombra won’t be too hard.’ I grimly thought to myself.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fluttershy- 3rd person

It was night time from what Fluttershy saw from the Cold stone hospital room, the stallion in question still sleeping in his bed, tossing and turning while murmuring something. Her friends were with her as well, all of them having expressions of worry and discomfort, and Fluttershy was the most beat up about it.

How could she just sit there and let her guest get beat up like that? He was hurt because she wasn’t brave enough as usual. Tears started to form in the corners of Fluttershy's eyes as she berated herself, but a hoof touching her shoulder made her look over to see Rainbow dash with a concerned face.

“Yo Flutters, you alright?” Rainbow dash asked, Fluttershy stayed quiet for a minute until she shook her head.

“No, It’s because of me that Mister stone is..is…” Fluttershy started to choke up before she covered her face with her hooves and silently cried into them.

“Hey you did nothing wrong, besides, dark and gloomy others are fine now.” Rainbow dash said with a unsure smile.

“I-I just s-sat there in fear w-while he had to s-save me. For that, he’s like that because of me.” Fluttershy said between sobs. Rainbow dash was about to try and comfort the mare again when a light groaning sound came from Cold stone.

“Ugh…Where am I?” Cold stone tried to look around, but Fluttershy flew into and hugged him with tears coming down her face. Cold stoned looked to be bewildered, even with the bandages covering his upper face, and he noticed Fluttershy’s friends in front of him.

“P-please don’t do that EVER again! You worried me sick!” Fluttershy sobbed out. She felt Cold Stone grab her shoulders and pull her away from himself, which saddened Fluttershy a little.

“What's going on? Why am I still alive?” Cold stone spoke with heavy confusion in his voice. Fluttershy was bewildered by what he said, maybe because he doesn’t know what a hospital is…yeah. Twilight walked to the side of Cold's bed with a slightly disturbed expression.

“After you…killed…that manticore, you were sent to the hospital. They said not to move for at least 4 days in your condition.” Twilight said with a synaptic look.

“That's not what I meant.” Cold stone moved his body back, with a little trouble, much to the disapproval of Fluttershy. “Why didn’t you finish me off while you had the chance, then I wouldn't be your problem anymore…” The room was in dead silence for a solid minute before Rainbow dash gave a light chuckle.

“I think that manticor knocked him around a little too hard.” Rainbow dash patted Applejack's shoulder. ”He thinks we would kill him, real funny man.” The silence in the room instantly got rid of Rainbow dash’s joking attitude.

Everyone then gasped when Fluttershy suddenly slapped Cold Stone on the cheek with her hoof. She looked at the stunned Cold stone with a furious face as tears continued to rush down her face.

“How…How dare you say things like that! We thought you were going to die! I thought I wouldn't be able to help you anymore, and when you finally wake up, you say we should have killed you?!” Fluttershy shouted into his face. Cold stone moved his head back to look at the pissed off Fluttershy, then hung his head low with an audible ‘tch’.

“I got defeated by some mere animal, I obviously ran my course. Even then, you know about the type of things I do…so why help me?” Cold stone said at a low volume to where most the elements, except Fluttershy, barely heard.

“W-what are you say, you’re not making any se-” Fluttershy was interrupted when Cold Stone started to laugh, which surprised her and the elements.

“I don’t understand any of you damn idiots. You all think of me as some crazed murder and yet you still chosed to save my life.” Tears soak the bandages as his voice got choked up a little. “E-ever since I got stuck here, I’ve felt as if I am nothing more than some clueless foal wandering in the dark.” Cold stone took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he sat in silence.

All Fluttershy could do right now was to wrap her forelegs around Cold stone and hug him. Cold Stone let out an audible gasp at the sudden contact and even tried to pry the pegasus off himself, to no avail. Cold stone was about to voice his protest his complaints when Twilight walked up to the pair with a kind smile.

“While it is true we know about what you did, It doesn't change the fact that we see you have the ability to change for the better.” Twilight said as Pinkie Pie appeared on the opposite side of Colds bed.

“Besides, who knows what that meanie Sombra did to you, now that you’re with us, It’s probably the reason that you are feeling happy now!” Pinkie giggled at the shocked face of cold. Rainbow dash flew just above Cold, nearly hitting the ceiling.

“You’re a scary dude to be honest. But I can tell you are a cool pony at heart, not as cool as me of course, but still cool.” Rainbow dash flew back beside Applejack, who took this chance to speak for herself.

“Mr. Stone, you got to be one of the most stuborn stallions I've ever met. That stubbornness is what makes you strong, but it’s alright to have a friend or two to help you out once in a while.” Applejack tipped her hat as rarity took center stage.

“Darling, It is true you did do some…unsavory…things in your past. But being here gives you a chance to start anew and explore things that are new to you.” Rarity smiled as the room went silent.

Fluttershy was still clinging to the stallion, and slightly jolted when she felt Cold embraced her in his own tight hud. Cold's hooves removed themselves from Fluttershy, she looked up to see Cold removing the bandages from his face. She and her friends slightly winced at the sight of his scared face, which had a sad smile present on it.

“You all are the first ponies I met that I can’t figure out.” Cold looked into Fluttershy’s eyes with an intense gaze. “Do you really not believe that somepony like me deserves death for the things he's done?”

“...No…” Fluttershy simply answered.

Cold stone continued to silently stare into Fluttershy’s eyes, her face heating up at the awkward silence.

“I’ll choose to believe you…''Cold stone stated with a genuine smile. He suddenly let out a hiss of pain and sank himself back into a lying position, the sudden action worrying the shy mare.

“You shouldn’t move around too much, you’ll break your stitches.” Fluttershy said, putting her hooves back onto the floor.

“You don’t need to worry, I’ve been through worse.” Cold stone averted his gaze away from Fluttershy with a little pout. Fluttershy and Cold started to bicker back and forth with each other, Fluttershy’s friends lightly laughed at the scene in front of them.

Although Fluttershy or anypony else didn’t notice, a certain fashionista noticed a faint blush on Cold Stone's face. The discovery making her gasp and squee internally as she realized something.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zomca- 1st person

I sat upon my throne as I looked down on my un-dead slaves working to finish my poison. Ever since I rid myself of that boot licker of a colt, I have been flourishing with my latest plan to retake my power.

Though I have to give credit to my ex-servant, the plan he made had some promise to it, I was just greatly improving on it. My concoction works like a virus, takes over the host and connects to me in a sort of a hive mind, quite brilliant if i say so.

“Master, Progress is 89 percent complete and our force increases by the day. Are there any other tasks I should carry out?” A sudden voice Interrupted me from behind. I sighed in annoyance as I turned my head to the left to see my newest servant.

He was a head taller than my old servant. Rotted black fur covered most of his body except for his right foreleg and half of his face. His hair was replaced by vines, roots, and other kinds of foliage, a long scorpion tail on his lower back, and the same position covering his body like the rest of my servants.

“Make sure those pathetic low lives work harder, I want to get this done as quickly as possible for the main event~” I said with an evil smile. My servant nodded as he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Unlike my last attempt, this servant doesn’t get held back by pain or emotion. Barely makes any noise, faster than the blink of an eye, stronger than any creature you will find, and the most loyal monstrosity I had the pleasure of making. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss Black Ivory at least a bit, but I think that’s the striped one’s morality seeping through.

“Soon, the land of Manehatten will be mine, and eventually, all of Equestria.” I said to myself, my cackling laughter echoing throughout the wood walls of my temporary castle.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been two days since Cold had woken up, despite the short time frame, a lot has happened since then.

Applejack came early in the morning to give cold payment for helping on the farm. He tried to decline the offer, but Applejack made the excuse of him deserving it after saving the town, so Cold reluctantly took the bits and the farm mare was on her way.

Rarity arrived a couple hours after Applejack left, she had saddle bags on that had a slight bulge in the bottom. The cause of it was a brand new cape that was made of white silk with a solid purple lining, there was also a matching blindfold in addition which he wore almost instantly. Cold tried to pay for it with the bit Applejack gave him, but Rarity declined them and said that it was a gift. Before she left, she said ‘Good luck with Fluttershy darling’, then winked and left, leaving a confused Cold stone.

Pinkie pie and rainbow dash came by and set up a mini party for Cold in celebration for a good recovery. This was also the time both mares discovered Cold's obsession with mint, when he found out that pinkie brought leftover mint ice cream from the last party. Rainbow Dash begged for Cold to teach her how to fight like he did, which he declined several times. A satisfied Pinkie pie and a disappointed Rainbow dash left and let Cold get a good night's sleep.

The second day, Cold stone was able to move around again but not without an aching pain. Twilight also came around this time catching the stallion on his hooves. She expectantly freaked out and almost opened some of Cold’s stitches trying to put him back into bed. After that, she explained that she came by to start his reading a mouth writing lesson, which excited the stallion a bit. She called out to somepony named Spike, and a small drake with a large stack of books waddled in, this was also the first time Cold met or even seen a dragon. So most of the session was Cold just asking questions about dragons, Spike providing fake answers with false pride, but was deflated by twilight correcting them.

Fluttershy met with Cold at the end of the day, bringing some homemade tea that was somehow still warm, and a couple of breath mints provided by Pinkie Pie. They conversed mostly about their daily lives, until Fluttershy brought up a point.

“I’ve noticed recently, why don’t you have a Cutie mark?” The question made Cold spit out some of his tea, making Fluttershy fluster in panic. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you.” She said with her hooves waving in front of her dismissively.

“It’s alright, I just cover it up so nopony would see.” Cold stone set his tea cup down onto the table next to him. Fluttershy went from panic to confusion at the stallion's explanation.

“What do you mean by that?” Fluttershy asked with her head tilted to the side.

“When I started working for Sombra, he said to cover it up so it would be harder for others to recognize me…or something.” Cold rolled his eyes, which weren’t covered up, and let out a light chuckle.

Fluttershy took a closer look at Cold's flank, which had an image partly covered up by smeared navy blue fur paint. There was a muffled coughing sound that made Fluttershy look up to see a slightly flustered Cold stone looking at her.

“I-I’m sorry!!!” Fluttershy apologized loudly, her face red as a tomato from embarrassment and after a while, Cold was able to calm the mare down. The rest of their meeting was short and ended in Fluttershy rushing out of Cold's room with the excuse of feeding her animals.

Cold stone smiled when the pegasus left, she was the only one that he could feel comfortable around. At some points, she reminded Cold Stone of his mother with how kind she is.

Once again, that weird warm feeling that spread out through his body appeared at the thought of Fluttershy.

“Why do I feel this way about her?” Cold asked himself with clear confusion in his voice. He put a hoof to his beating heart as he contemplated in silence. He figured he needs to ask Twilight about that the next time he sees her.