Friendship's Gate: Tales of the Pony Coast

Chapters

Prologue: Leaving Home
Prologue 2: Leaving Home
Chapter One: Ambush
The Ponies You Meet On The Road

Prologue: Leaving Home

Now where to begin, perhaps something about the abyss and how it looks back?
Nah.
Having been inspired by Pony Ages: Origins by Omegapony11, I have started the next Bioware title to become a FIMfiction with the we all know and love with the classic Baldur’s Gate series. I am doing my best to graft together the Baldur’s Gate series and MLP: FIM together which in some cases is harder than it looks (mostly the pony puns). Though I don’t want to give anything right away, besides the explanation for the title it is a playoff of the Baldur’s Gate expansion pack, BG: Tales of the Sword Coast, so I could stick Pony in the title.

Note that while I have created a few characters all respective characters and settings either below to My Little Pony: FIM owned by Hasbro or to Baldur’s Gate Series to Bioware or Wizard’s of the Coast entertainment.

Prologue: Leaving Home

“When shadows descend upon the lands, our divine ladies will walk alongside us as equals.
The Lady of Murder shall perish, but in her doom she shall spawn a score of mortal fillies and colts. Chaos will be sown from their cantering.
In the Year of the Barn…”
-Excerpt from the Prophecies of Celestia.

Nestled atop the cliffs that rise from the Pony Coast the fortress of Bridlekeep houses the finest collections of books and knowledge throughout Equestria. Strict and secluded, it is a place of study and isolation from the dangers and quarrels that are daily life in the lands of Equestria. Bridlekeep is also home for one Twilight Sparkle, who has lived there ever since she was a newborn filly under the guardianship of Gorion, Bridlekeep’s wisest sage as his ward. Under his tutelage she has learned of the oldest of lore and the most magnificent of magic. It is true Gorion has always spoken true with Twilight on all matters, except for one thing: Twilight’s parentage.

As of late clouds have appeared on the horizon, with rumors and tales finding their way even into the libraries of Bridlekeep, with word of a shortage of diamonds throughout the troubled Pony Coast. The blame for this shortage being hot potatoed between the magnificent, port city of Friendship’s Gate and its rival Amania, further south. At first thinking herself and Bridlekeep beyond the political struggles of the outside world, Twilight has been surprised by Gorion’s command to his ward to lift her head out of her books and make preparations to leave Bridlekeep. Heeding Gorion’s words, the young unicorn has found herself at the Bridlekeep Inn.

It is here that her journey will begin, which will turn out to be a most unexpected and unplanned journey beyond Twilight’s own imagination.

“Welcome! My old tavern’s as clean as a unicorn’s ar-“

“Winclomp! I know how clean your tavern is! I helped you clean yesterday!” the lavender pony said as she trotted to the brown and balding innkeeper of the Bridlekeep Inn. Leaning over the bartable separating himself from Twilight, the innkeeper’s mischevious grin refused to leave his face even under Twilight’s no-nonsese stare. Even before Winclomp began speaking, Twilight mentally prepared herself what came next.

“Oh right…thanks again for that little Twilight Sparkle…so! Come to visit ye old pal Winclomp have ye? Now don’t forget the 5000 gold bit entrance fee as per local custom”

“Oh Winclomp” Twilight’s eyes made a long, slow roll across the room “Your always such a big kidder, your jokes seem to get funnier the more I hear them…perhaps less often than usual…less and less so…”

“Haw! You got me Twilight Sparkle!” his large, brown coat shaking with barely contained mirth of a pony that didn’t get out of a chair counting coins very often, “Your always a sight for sore eyes, all these monks here have all their flanks up tight but your always welcome here! Gorion did good raising you I think. So is there anything you be needing? Room? Drink? Sword?”

Trying not to let her already strained smile slip any more than it had, the young mage concentrated on her horn, soon magical energies lighting it brightly. Almost immediately a piece of paper floated up from her saddlebags to the proprietor of the Inn which he eyed thoughtfully while Twilight spoke “Gorion has instructed me to gather up supplies for a journey!” the lavender unicorn’s face a mix of excitement and uncertainty, her voice and speech becoming higher and more rapid paced as Twilight continued “I mean it’s the first time I’ve ever been out of Bridlekeep, I think since I was a baby and even then I can’t remember back that far, so I had no idea what I need. I mean I’ve read hundreds of books describing what a hard and violent place it’s like outside of Bridlekeep but they never explained what I would need! So after a detailed search through several of Polo Stamp's guides I have come up with this bullet list which I am more than sure will cover what I will need!” Twilight finished her monologue with a sharp inhaling of air, slightly purple in the face.

Looking over the list Winclomp’s gaze narrowed with every line, after a minute he turns back to Twilight, asking her, “So…how much did Gorion give ye to fleece me?”

“Oh about 100 gold bits!” Twilight says cheerfully, levitating a bag of coins onto the bar, Winclomp’s ears perk up at the sound of gold hitting his table but he suddenly frowns and shakes his head “If ye be wanting half the loot on this list ye will be needing more gold bits then this!”

“W-what? But I need everything on the list how else will I survive out there in the unforgiving wilderness?” Twilight’s eyes going wide, rubbing her hooves together nervously.

“Don’t worry young one! Here I will get ye a few of the things on this here list, then you can use them to go around Bridlekeep and see if ye can scrounge up some more gold bits with odd jobs and the like!”
“Really? Thanks Winclomp!”

“Not a thing at all, think of this as me going away present to ye, after all Ye-Know-Who will miss you terribly…”

“Yes, yes I know but there is nothing I can do!” the mage giving a guilty look “ Just give my hopes that I-Know-Who will be safe and happy while I am gone, ok?”

“Ye have yourself a bargain, Miss Twilight!”

After Winclomp disappears into the back of the Inn, Twilight’s eyes wander over the common room of the Inn glancing to a green, robed monk, the monk stands off to the side in one corner of the room. The monks of Bridlekeep tend to the everyday maintenance and caring of Bridlekeep’s libraries, and have always been helpful to Twilight’s inquisitive nature. Trotting over to the monk hoping to practice what she learned from “Polo’s Guide for Idle Conversation With The Peasantry”, she opens her mouth to speak but the unicorn is interrupted when the monk suddenly snaps his head up from under his robes shouting out “IF YOU WISH TO PAUSE THE GAME YOU CAN SELECT THE MENU IN THE CORNER TO THE…the…the...oh” looking around bleary eyed, the monk shakes his head and trots out the door, mumbling to himself “…got to get more sleep and less studying the holy manuals…” Bewildered for a moment she shakes herself of it as Winclomp returns pulling out a small cart of objects “Here we are Little Sparkle!”

Ten minutes later the lavender unicorn wears a purple mage’s robe with black highlights that match her mane perfectly, covering from neck to flank, a light enchantment provided by Twilight caused her cutie mark to appear on the cloth above the flank. This mage’s robe would provide slightly more protection than an ordinary robe and Twilight knew some enchantments that would allow her to change the color if she ever wanted or needed to. Reaching into the cart, Twilight’s magic revealed a fighting quarterstaff that with careful application of her powers Twilight found she responded with her magic, as well as the small set of sharp looking daggers that uncomfortably reminded the filly that she would be facing dangers beyond her imagination outside of the walls of Bridlekeep.

When Twilight moved to the rest of the contents of the cart which included everything from magical healing potions to camping gear Winclomp held up a hoof “This equipment is a lot more expensive than just a new set of clothes and a stick! I know a few ponies around here could use some help with chores and errands. Whatever you can bring back we will call it even, what ye say?”

Twilight smothered the grimace of annoyance on her face, pouting just a little “If at most I am only going to get a few coins more why have me run all over Bridlekeep?”.

Winclomp shakes his head, giving a wry smile “I was thinking it would be a right good chance to say goodbye to your home…”

“Ah, that would be a good reason…” Twilight says looking slightly embarrassed, face dropping down and rubbing her hind legs against one another “Alright, Winclomp, I’ll be back soon don’t sell any of it while I am running around! Please!”

“Don’t ye worry…well…only worry if some fancy, schmancy noblemen offers me a pair of gold pantaloons!”

For Twilight it turns out the young unicorn didn’t have to go far to find someone in need of her help, coming face to face with her magical peer, Moon Dancer, the blue maned unicorn racing over to Twilight and taking her by the shoulders “Twilight! There you are! I need your help! I’ve lost my copy of ‘A History of Equestria’ and I can’t seem to find it anywhere!”

“Calm down Moon Dancer!” using her magic to teleport herself a foot away from the frantic blue and white pony, Twilight gave Moon Dancer a hard stare, “Have you looked where you usually lose things? In your saddlebags? Under your pillow? Next to your breakfast oats?”

“YES!” Moon Dancer cries hopping from hoof to hoof, looking around nervously “You know I can’t stand that annoying clomp and clamp of hooves on old wood floors so I took the book somewhere on the grounds to read! Oh please help me Twilight Sparkle! I have to find it soon or else…”

“Hmmm” hums the lavender pony, rubbing her chin with a hoof “Well I could help you look for it, but I have to leave with Gorion very soon, so I’ll be running around quite quickly and it would be a lot of work making use of my deduction skills…”

“Oh! I have this gem I could give to you as payment! Winclomp may pay you something for it! Please Twilight! I don’t want the monks yelling at me again, remember what happened when I took that one-of-a-kind copy of ancient Minaturven cooking recipes to read in the bath and the steam made the words run off…”

“Alright, Moon Dancer I will see if I can find it but don’t get your hopes u-“

“Oh! Thank you! Thank you, Twilight! I’ll be back in a short while; I have a hoof job appointment to keep! Shouldn’t take long! Bye!” Moon Dancer races off, leaving Twilight in a choking dust cloud of kicked up dust and dirt.

“What? That’s why she needed to find it so soon? Grr…Twilight sometimes your just a little too trusting of someponies…”

Fortunately, Twilight knew where she could most likely find the errant book in question, and it was only a short walk away. Along the northern wall of Bridlekeep to the cow stables she found Drippy and Moorelia. With a coat of dark blue and grey, Drippy had a rain cloud cutie mark on his flank, a symbol of his ability to care for others…so much so he breaks out in crying fits over the tiniest thing whether it is sad or happy. Only the cows like Moorelia never minded his company, Twilight thought because they liked to be listened to by anyone. Arriving at the cow stables Twilight saw Moorealia didn’t appear to be in one of her famous talking moods by the green complexion of her face or the thermometers stuck between her lips as she lay in a pile of hay. “Oh-h, O-h Twi-twilight! Its ter-r-r-bile! *Sob*” Drippy moaned out when he saw her coming.

“What seems to be the problem, Drippy?” coming to a halt at the edge of the puddle of tears that was quickly becoming a small pond around the earth pony’s feet.

“I-it’s *sob and snort* Moorelia! Sh-she’s come down with a te-terible cold! Or maybe it’s her allergies…b-but either way j-just look how aw-aw-awful Moorelia is!” Drippy said with a trembling lip, ca gush of tears soaking into his handkerchief, Moorelia for her part manages a ragged “Moo…I think…it was something…I ate dearie…moo-ooooh”

“That’s terrible” Twilight said, frowning and moving through the puddle to pat a comforting hoof on Drippy’s shoulder “Have you called the High Cleric? Shouldn’t he have a spell that could cure her sickness?”

“Ahuh” Drippy manages to say between sobs “B-but he-he’s away at a bronyvention of his order in Saddledeep! He-he won’t be back for a few days and-and just look at Moorelia! Wh-what- *sob*“

Before Drippy could soak Twilight in geyser of tears, she quickly places a hood on his mouth, the mage moving fast to cheer him up “Ah! Uuuh…wait! Doesn’t Mule have a healing potion?”

Drippy’s eyes widen, nodding throughfully, “Th-that’s right! I remember hearing him say his parents in Barngost sent him a p-package of sickness potions because the sea air makes him s-sea sick! Oh-oh-oh Twilight! Could y-you m-m-maybe…?”

“Not a problem Drippy…just PLEASE…stop crying…”

“*Sniff* D-deal! Oh! I am so happy I-I could j-just-“

“PLEASE! No. Crying. Period! Though you could help me too” Twilight dips her head towards the cow stables, “I know Moon Dancer often leaves some of her things here and I think she may have left a book here…if it hasn’t been washed away that is”.

“She d-did! Its-it’s right there in the hay” pointing to a pile of hay that was surprisingly dry, though from the way Drippy was going Twilight wasn’t too sure how long that would be. Using her magic Twilight concentrates on the pile of hay, and in a few moments ‘The History of Equestria’ rises up from the pile of hay with only a few pieces of hay stuck in the pages. Lifting the book into her saddle bags the lavender pony turns back to Drippy and Moorelia, “Well I guess I’ll be right back with that potion for Moorelia, just please Drippy don’t go anywhere right now…like into the library”

“*Sniff sniff* You got it Twilight! Just h-hurry back soon I-I don’t know h-how l-long I can s-stand to-to see Moorelia l-like th-this…it’s just so-so te-terrible! I mean-“

Twilight was already off heading down the eastern outer wall before Drippy could finish his sentence.

It didn’t take long for her to find Mule; as usual he was not far from the gate to Bridlekeep, as far away from the sea air breeze as he could be, and sleeping on duty rather than keeping watch at his post. Finding him wasn’t the problem though; Twilight was always a little scared to talk to Mule because while he was just a regular earth pony and not one of the real, terrible, marauding mules he had a gruff personality that often ended with the guard pony getting his sword stuck into things standing close to him after a temper tantrum. The pony was lounging at the top of one of the stairways leading up to the wall next to the only gateway in or out of Bridlekeep, somehow managing to get comfy enough to fall asleep even though he was covered from nose to tail in full plate mail armor.

“M-mister Mule…guard-sir…could y-you wake up a moment…please?” Twilight managed to say between clenched teeth, creeping up the steps to the sleeping Mule. Suddenly, Mule made a loud, nasty snort in his sleep, angry and mean enough to shatter Twilight’s nerves and make her scramble back a few steps downward. After a few minutes of Mule not charging down after her, Twilight managed again to crawl back up the stair, this time using her magic to levitate her quarterstaff slowly and carefully toward Mule as he slept.

“Easy, Twilight…remember to concentrate…just a soft tap on the...shoulder should get his attention...” using her horn magic Twilight pushes a sliver of magical power into the levitation spell to just tap Mule but instead of tapping Mule on the shoulder her quarterstaff slams forward into Mule’s nose!

“THE HAY??” Mule growls as he jumps up from his sleeping position, his long sword in his mouth and hoof rubbing at his bruised and red nose glaring around with payback in mind.

“Eep” Twilight tries to duck down the stairway again but that tiny eep and movement catches Mule’s attention, before Twilight can make a dash for it, Mule is on top of her his eyes two barrels of blood shot anger, his voice coming out like a dragon’s roar and making Twilight slip down a few more steps.
“WHY DID YOU JUST HIT ME?”

“I...I...I…”

“I WHAT? Answer me before I-“

“Mule! Stop frightening the poor filly this instant!” a new voice enters Twilight’s ears, looking down a wave of relief washes over Twilight as a yellow coated unicorn with the cutie mark of a pair of quills on his flank trots up the stone stairway, Editor! Her transmutation magic teacher!

“Bu-but Editor! She hit me for no good reason and-“

“This is Twilight Sparkle, has she ever before had reason to attack you without any reason? Instead of shouting at her why don’t you ask her kindly? “

“Humph” snorting, Mule turns from Editor to Twilight; while he narrows his eyes Mule takes his sword out of his mouth and begins to roll the handle between his hooves. “Alright what is it that you want girlie?

Letting out an inner sigh, Twilight is relieved that Editor is one person Mule is afraid of, an incident a few years ago occurred when Mule was throwing a tantrum, Editor polymorphed Mule into a chicken for an entire day. Coughing to clear her throat, Twilight does her best to offer a smile while looking Mule in his terrifying eyes “I-I came to ask you for one of your healing potions. M-moorealia is sick and Drippy is flooding the stables. I was wondering if there was anything you could need done to part with one of your healing potions?”

“Hmmm, so you want one of these?” Mule asks, pointing with his snout to a potion hanging on his belt.

“Y-yes. I need one of them, please.”

“You’re wondering if I need anything done so I could give you one of these?” Mule asks a grin on his face as he cocks his head to one side.

“Yes, that’s what I am asking…um Mr. Mule”.

“Well let me think a moment if I need anything done…hmmm…Oh! I know…oh wait, NOPE! I don’t! Hah!” Mule shouts rearing back on hind legs and laughing loudly enough to cause a flock of nesting geese just inside the walls of Bridlekeep to take flight.

To take flight right through where Mule is laughing his flank off, crashing into the guard pony and making him lose his balance “Wow! No…no…NO!” he shouts falling backward and sending his sword flying out of his hooves and down just outside of the twenty foot walls of Bridlekeep. All three ponies look over the wall’s edge to see it land blade first in the dirt down below, out of hoof’s reach.

“Oh no…” Mule mutters, sounding nervous and unsure for the first time “If Gate Keeper sees me without my sword he’ll have me pulling book shipments from the gate all the way to the inner sanctum libraries for a month!”

“Oh really? That would be unfortunate for you…but luckily we have here a fine student of Bridlekeep’s best teachers of the magical arts, who as you have noticed is very adept at levitating spells.” Editor says a smug look on his face as he waves a hoof at Twilight Sparkle.

Mule’s face falls as he looks between his sword and Twilight, stuttering “But…but…but…”

“Well that turned out rather fortunate for me.” Twilight Sparkle ponders as she leaves the Bridlekeep Inn, a new saddlebag of holding on her flank carrying all the supplies on her bullet list from earlier.

It was a simple job to levitate Mule’s sword back to him, and under Editor’s gaze he even muttered a ‘thank you’ as he handed over one of his potions, managing to find himself busy with guarding the wall. Editor bid her good luck in her journey with Gorion and soon she was handing the cure sickness potion to Drippy but luckily Twilight was already cantering off before he could soak her new robes in a shower of tears and thanks, even passing a few gold coins to her between sobs! True to her word, Moon Dancer was back in front of the Bridlekeep Inn, squeezing the air out of Twilight for finding her book and rewarding Twilight with a Moonstone gem, which to Winclomp covered the rest she owed him for the supplies. Wishing her safety, Twilight was out the door before he could get her to comment on another joke when a pegasi, a unicorn, and an earth pony walked into his inn…

Soon Twilight found herself walking through the inner courtyard, a peaceful area of Bridlekeep filled with beautiful flower gardens and ponds surrounding the inner sanctum and library, a massive marble stone keep that rose above the inner and outer walls that surrounded the keep. It was here on the front steps of the keep that Gorion had told Twilight to meet him, Twilight was about to turn the corner to the front doors of the keep when she heard a familiar voice call out her name.

“Twilight Sparkle! Twilight! Hey it’s me Spike! Don’t leave yet!”

“Don’t worry Spike I’m still here…” sighing as she turned around to watch the purple and green scaled, baby dragon speed through flowerbeds and stone ponds to get to her, waving his arms and only tripping twice on his way over.

“Twilight! I couldn’t believe it when Winclomp told me the news! You’re going on a journey with Gorion that’s amazing! Look Twilight I need to tell you something important and its-“

“Oh, I get it Spike, your jealous of me that I’m going out of Bridlekeep! I know you’ve always wanted to get out of these walls. Well, if you want I could talk to Gorion and see if-“

“No, that’s not it at all! Stop treating me like I’m a little baby dragon!” The little baby dragon crossing his arms over his chest and looking a little wounded in his pride.

“Spike your only a few-“

“I know how old I am, I can count with my fingers and tail, but if you don’t want to hear what I have to say now, fine I can tell you when you get back from your oh so exciting and fun journey! Good day!” turning around Spike storms off the way he came, kicking up water and flowers as he goes.

“Oh Spike, someday you’re going to have to learn to act more grown up” shaking her head Twilight turns the corner to see Gorion waiting for her on the steps of the keep.

“Well my child, I was afraid I would become a fine, aged statue before you arrived” Gorion jokes giving Twilight a smile which for a moment she can see is filled with pride, joy, and sadness. With a white mane and dusty brown coat that reminds Twilight of the paper she would find in books written centuries past, Gorion reminds her every bit of a scholar from the traveling robes he wears to his cutie mark of a golden book, its pages open and shining golden rays of light outward.

“Don’t worry, I am sure one of the monks would put you somewhere nice in the shade” Twilight says with a soft smile, trotting up the steps to Gorion showing off her new saddlebags of holding. “I have everything and anything we might possibly need for a journey!”

Gorion chuckles and neighs, looking over the contents as Twilight pulls out her list, “That’s all well and good, I hope you are ready to leave as soon as possible, I’m afraid we are more vulnerable the longer we stay at Bridlekeep” .

“I’m sure I have everything we could need…exactly what Polo said we should need, but this is Bridlekeep, what could possibly harm us here?” Twilight asks, hiding back her own immense curiosity as she studies Gorion’s face for any emotions.

“While it is a fine fortress of solitude, even a finely woven pony fly net will let a single pony fly past it. No we must leave here for we risk our safety and that of those around us” Gorion says, alarming Twilight as his face become graver and pony serious with every word.

“I’m…” Twilight begins to say, stopping for a moment before taking in a deep breath and holding her head high “I’m ready for whatever is out there!”

“Good, listen carefully. If we are ever separated, it is imperative you make your way to the Friendly Hoof Inn. There you will meet two friends of mine, they have long been so and you can trust them. “

Without another word, Gorion turns down the steps of Birdlekeep, Twilight turns to follow but pauses for just one moment to look up at what has been her home ever since she could remember. Silently hoping to see Bridlekeep again soon she turns to follow her adoptive father out into the world and whatever awaits for her.

Prologue 2: Leaving Home

Now where to begin, perhaps something about the abyss and how it looks back?

Nah.

Having been inspired by Pony Ages: Origins by Omegapony11, I have started the next Bioware title to become a FIMfiction, the classic Baldur’s Gate series. I am doing my best to graft together the Baldur’s Gate series and MLP: FIM together which in some cases is harder than it looks (mostly the pony puns). Though I don’t want to give anything right away, besides the explanation for the title it is a playoff of the Baldur’s Gate expansion pack, BG: Tales of the Sword Coast, so I could stick Pony in the title.

Note that while I have created a few characters all respective characters and settings either below to My Little Pony: FIM owned by Hasbro or to Baldur’s Gate Series to Bioware or Wizards of the Coast entertainment.

-Excerpt from the Prophecies of Celestia.

There comes a time when everypony knows that they are going to die, whether from sickness or mortal wounds in mortal combat or being digested, slowly by a dragon. Red Mane, on the other hoof was doing everything in his power to deny this acceptance through sheer will and running faster than death. Running through the building, adrenaline pumped through his veins and despite wearing full plate mail armor the red manned pony had been keeping the chase up for well over an hour but it was also a fact that he had nowhere to run. Racing through the Iron Stable building Red Mane learned that every door was locked and every window was fitted with iron bars, as it was at one such window which he had desperately tried to pry open, a hoof wrapped in iron smashed into his face splitting skin on his face and his sword into pieces.

Spitting the broken weapon from his mouth, Red Mane dodged another blow aimed for his skull, which instead harmlessly punched a hole in the wooden floor, and fled for his life. No matter where he went in the seemingly deserted building The Monster followed him, howling its amused and hungry laughter. The laughter was the worse, the demonic chuckle echoed in every room and hallway; it was like The Monster was everywhere at once. Fatigue and the sickening cry of the beast were taking its toll on Red Mane, especially because he knew this chase wasn’t an honorable battle…no…It was a hunt…and the monster enjoyed every bit of Red Mane’s terror.

Mouthing prayers to the Divine Goddesses, Red Mane turned a corner, ducking just as a spiked, iron hoof smashed into the space where his head had been a moment before.

“Hahaha, it will be over soon, don’t run from what is your destiny!” growled the monstrosity, its voice filled with a conviction that Red Mane believed spoke no lie, but truth of his destiny. Before the monstrosity could turn the corner, Red Mane had already bolted back down the corridor to the stairway, climbing up the next floor and he did not stop there, climbing skywards. Quickly losing count of how far he had gone Red Mane paused to catch his breath, shaking off a coat of sweat from exhaustion and terror.

“Nothing was making sense tonight, there had been a dozen other mercenaries that had answered the advertisement for hired hooves, but why me?” Red Mane mumbled, thinking back to earlier when a servant had told him one of the company bosses had wanted to interview Red Mane personally. Lead off from the rest of the herd, Red Mane had been drinking a cup of apple cider when he felt a shadow cover him. Looking up he had seen the iron covered hide of the monstrosity and bolted away, soon being cornered It had spoken to him in riddles about dead goddesses and blood. It, the hired hoof still was not sure if it was a pony even though its form vaguely resembled one, had been very insistent on the blood part.

Moving to continue the adrenaline in Red Mane’s veins drain away, his hooves felt like they were made of stone and his armor now weighed down on his body. Struggling forward he moved toward a small stairway that looked like it lead to the rooftop. Inching to the bottom step, Red Mane crawled on his belly, muscles straining to take a single step. Then something occurred to Red Mane, freezing him in place at the bottom of this last stairway, finally realizing that he hadn’t heard the creature’s laugh or sensed its presence for minutes.

‘Where-?’

The bottom stair on the floor below him creaked.
Red Mane flew up the stairway; panic and madness took hold of his mind, if he had to escape he would jump off the building if he had to! He wouldn’t, couldn’t let that MONSTER get ahold on his mane. Topping the stairway Red Mane collides with the last barrier for his the last hope for freedom: a wooden door. Pushing on it Red Mane soon found that the door wouldn’t a budge an inch, it was locked!

“Nowhere to run now my little pony”

“N-no! No! Stay back!” Red Mane shouted, eyes darting away from The Monster as it lumbered, slowly and purposely up the stairs towards him. Heart racing, Red Mane did the only that that made sense to his panicking mind, using his entire body he slammed into the doorway again and again until a satisfying cracking of wood forced the doorway free. Red Mane’s eager momentum carried him out into the rain of the dark and stormy night in Friendship’s Gate. Collapsing onto the wet, stone rooftop Red Mane’s strength left, reducing him to crawl across the rooftop, the wind blowing the door shut again,

“Heh…hehahaha! Your mine.” The Monster’s sinister laughter cutting through the thunder and rain of the night , turning Red Mane caught full sight of the monstrosity as rather than pushing open the door it used one of its iron hooves smash the wooden doorway into splinters. Its bulk so large it had to stoop down to get through. Caught fully in the light from inside of the building Red Mane saw his constant pursuer in full light, wishing to the goddesses that this was just a nightmare with every step it took toward him. Red Mane’s hunter had no weapon, because its entire body from head to flank was covered in a dark metallic armor that protruded dangerously sharp spikes along the shoulders and vambraces, even its hooves were covered in gauntlets. The Armored Figure’s face was covered by a demonic, smiling skull helmet, but behind the helmet Red Mane sensed rather then saw a sadistic smile. Facing his worst fears he wanted to run, so he did, scrambled on his battered limbs towards the rooftop edge; if he had to he would jump...better then let this thing get ahold of him. His plans were thwarted as Red Mane discovered iron fencing along the roof edge, tipped with spikes. The revelation that there was no escape finally cracked his sanity, tears streaming down his face he pushed on the fencing desperately with his hooves. Red Mane cried out “P-please! N-no you can’t do this

“Hahaha…” the Armored Figure laughed, shaking his head while pointing a hoof to Red Mane “You will go first, and I will be the last” laughing again as he strode towards Red Mane like a unstoppable avalanche of death.

Red Mane didn’t even know what he was talking about, he looked frantically around the rooftop between him and the Armored Figure for an escape, his mind reasoned there had to be some other way, but instead his eyes fell onto his doomsayer’s cutie mark…and everything made sense. He felt a sudden wave of understanding and calm wash over him that lasted for only a moment, but finally this night’s plot made sense. The Armored Figure’s hoof ploughed Red Mane across the face sending him to the floor in agony and rupturing blood.

Red Mane couldn’t move, his senses scrambled by the excruciating pain, but he didn’t have to as the Armored Figure bent down and wrapped both of its iron covered hooves around his neck, then slammed Red Mane through the metal fence to dangle in midair. Gagging, Red Mane choked, the Armored Figure’s demonically strong grip clamped on his neck, which was the only thing keeping Red Mane from falling. Mind racing and vision blurring Red Mane tried to plea “Please! I-I know who you want…there are others I can show you! Ple-ahgrugh”.

The Armored Figure continued to laugh manically, crushing Red Mane’s windpipe slowly, out of options he weakly beat against the maniac’s arms and looked into this murderer’s face. Red Mane’s eyes fell deeper into the Armored Figure’s soulless eyes, the doomed pony stared into the abyss and death stared back into Red Mane’s soul. Letting out a death gurgle, Red Mane’s own eyes shot open wide as his neck snapped underneath the crushing pressure, his mouth hanging uselessly open. The Armored Figure took in and enjoyed the sight of life going out of Red Mane’s eyes, savoring every moment. Sarehavok, howled into the night sky in bloodlust before Red Mane’s corpse was heaved over the side plunging into the darkness below.

Red Mane would be the first of many.

Prologue: Leaving Home

“I can’t believe your going away, Twilight” Spike said from the tabletop, lunch was over and the Bridlekeep guards who had swarmed the Bridlekeep Inn were long gone, leaving Spike to clean up the leftovers. “Gee, I think Mule took a bite of his plate…”

“Honestly, I can’t believe it either, Spike. I have never been out of Bridlekeep, at least not since I was a little filly…” Twilight replied, clopping her back hooves nervously. Twilight looked back and forth between Spike and the saddlebags of holding hanging next to Winclomp, the Innkeeper, as the latter stuffed Twilight’s equipment into the magical saddlebags. She had ordered from the old earth pony camping equipment, survival gear, healing potions, the latest maps and more that several guides such as ‘So Your Going On a Journey: Here Is How Not To Be Eaten By a Ogre’ had recommended her. The young mage was determined that he journey would go by the book; she already wore the recommended apprentice mage’s robes. Her unicorn magic shifted their color from dull brown to purple and black to match her mane, the same magic allowed for her cutie mark to appear on her flank. Concealed pockets of minor holding contained her quarterstaff and several daggers. Her bulleted list told her everything was prepared for a journey…she just wasn’t so sure if she was ready in spirit.

“Oh, it’s not so bad little Twilight Sparkle. I mean I haven’t been out of Bridlekeep in a few years, but I’m sure that flesh eating ghoul has been caught. O’ course I never heard they buried it neither…” Winclomp commented while stuffing a tent pole into Twilight’s saddlebags.

“G-ghoul?” Twilight asked, shivers crawling up her flank. Her fear of the undead or semi-undead was almost as bad as snakes or even alligators!

“Hehehawhaw, oh no worries lass, there haven’t ever been ghouls in these parts.” Winclomp laughed, a joking grin plastered over his face, which grew wider as he continued “No, worse we get here be wolves, bears, and…pony-eating parasprites”

“Para-whatsit?” Spike asked, hopping down from the table carrying a stack of plates. For a moment the plates teeter and totter before a magical glow shifts them into a straight position in Spike’s claws, Twilight’s horn settles as a lavender glow disappears.

“Careful ye little lizard.” Winclomp eyes Spike as he closes the flaps to Twilight’s saddlebags, his gaze slowly turning back to the young filly “Aye, mark my words Twilight Sparkle, saw ‘em carry off a pony into the trees and-“

“Now I know your lying!” Spike interrupted in a outburst of laughter “I think they would consider you a main course meal, well unless they were smart enough to know you were too heavy to carry off…” Spike said between chuckles of laughter, ducking into the back kitchen with his load of plates. Winclomp snorts loudly, his flank livid as he places the saddlebag onto Twilight’s back.

“I’m sure whatever is out there, parasprites or not, Gorion will be able to handle them” Twilight says quickly to diffuse Winclomp’s anger. “It’s just that Gorion…hasn’t told me why we’re leaving Bridlekeep. I mean I am sure he has a good reason for it, he always does but…” Twilight’s voice trails off with a sigh, she REALLY wasn’t sure about leaving Bridlekeep. Its safety and books were all she ever needed or wanted in Equestria. Adventure…from what she read in her books wasn’t safe and didn’t leave much time available for reading. The unicorn mage was sure she could handle whatever the Pony Coast threw at her, but it was Gorion not seeing fit to trust her with why they were leaving that bothered her the most. What secrets would he keep from his apprentice and adoptive daughter?

“Oh, don’t fret about it, young one” Winclomp comforts, moving his heavy bulk around the Inn bar to place a hoof on her shoulder “Gorion’s got a good head on his shoulders, I don’t say that about most ponies. Wherever you go the Bridlekeep Inn will always have a room open ‘fer you!”

“Thanks, Winclomp” Twilight smiles softly at the older stallion.

“I mean after all, with your magic to help the Inn is always spotless. Spike’s good but he can be a lazy one, and whenever you put your horn to shine, my ole tavern’s always as clean as a unicorn’s ar-“

“Twilight Sparkle!”

Both ponies look to see the doors to the Inn fly open as a particularly older unicorn passes through them. Compared to Winclomp’s dark, brown mane this new pony’s is much brighter, almost like flame. Twilight’s smile grew just a tad wider as her teacher, Fire Mane, strode up to her. “Teacher!”
Despite being at the pony age where he constantly needed his staff to move around Fire Mane’s mane still looked as if he was alight with fire from his youth. Some of his other students often commented that he probably had a stash of flame-dye mane potions. One of Bridlekeep’s most powerful mages was also well known for his…fiery temper when he heard any of these rumors.

“Twilight Sparkle! I can’t believe the words that have reached my ears! Gorion is taking my star pupil away from me? You’re the only one who listens to what I have to say! You don’t blow up my classroom with every other spell!”

“Now, now Fire Mane” Twilight says, blushing at the praise from her teacher, “Moon Dancer is as good at magic as I am. I’m nothing special…”

“Bah! Moon Dancer is what I prefer to classify as an ‘air head’. I am afraid it’s a terminal illness that I can do nothing to help! You though, I could have you doing transport spells between here and Friendship’s Gate in another year of studying…”

“Duh, Twilight’s going to be better than Element Master one day!” Spike adds on to the praise, popping up onto the bar table.

“Please, Element Master is the most powerful wizard in Equestria! I’m sure I will be a competent mage, but Element Master is on a whole another level… I just hope this journey won’t interfere with my studies” Twilight rushes to say worried that their hopes were a little too high at the thought of being comparable to the great and powerful Element Master.

“Ah, yes. Be careful, rumors that bandits are thicker than a swarm of parasprites on the Pony Coast these days. War may even erupt between Friendship’s Gate and Amania.”

“War?” Twilight’s ears perked up at that, from her books she knew well of the rivalry between the two powers on the Pony Coast, but she hadn’t heard anything about a war.

“Aye, a unnatural diamond shortage in the Amania mine” Winclomp chimes in, as Innkeeper he knew more about rumors true and false then anyone in Bridlekeep. “Folks in Amania are blaming Friendship’s Gate ‘fer sabotage while Friendship’s Gate is blaming Amania ‘fer all these bandits. Terrible ’fer business is what I think on this mess.”

‘War? Bandits? Parasprites? What is Gorion thinking about going on a journey with all this craziness going on?’ Twilight began to think but quickly quashed such thoughts, she had the utmost faith in her adoptive father…yes, there had to be an important reason why Gorion wanted to travel. Whatever it was she would find out and-

“Anyway, my soon-to-be-gone pupil, the truth of the matter is on my way to see you I did see Gorion, and he bides you to come quickly. A storm is on the horizon and he wishes to make departure, post-haste!”

“Gosh! Look at the time; I really should be going then. I didn’t think I’d be here this long…well I don’t want to keep Gorion waiting so…” Twilight says between lifting her saddlebags onto her haunches and taking several steps towards the doors before turning to the two ponies (and dragon) that had been the closest thing to a family in Bridlekeep outside of Gorion “I’m sure I won’t be gone very long, maybe a fortnight at most, but still take care everyone…”

“Hehe, ye don’t have to worry about me, worse comes to worse, Spike here burns down my Inn. Again.”

“Hey! That was years ago and I had a nightmare…” Spike glares at Winclomp.

“Twilight Sparkle” Fire Mane interrupts Winclomp before he can open his mouth, taking a step towards his former student with a soft smile “I have given you all the words of magic and ancient lore that I know of, what comes next will be up to you but know that you won’t do it alone…I know you won’t be for long” finishing his cryptic speech with a wink.

‘Don’t worry Fire Mane; I’m sure Gorion will be there every step of the way to keep me safe” Twilight thinks, inclining her head in respect to her former teacher. Turning to Spike she sees the young dragon twists his tail in his fingers, looking away from Twilight. Before Twilight can say her goodbye Spike suddenly straightens up and bounces over and onto Twilight’s back, declaring for all to hear “What kind of…uh…employee of the Bridlekeep Inn would I be if I…I…uh…didn’t…see Twilight off to the gates? Huh? A bad one! So, Winclomp I’ll be back later to finish the dishes and my chores, yea that’s right!”

“Spiiike, you know you can’t weasel out of your chores just like that and-“ Twilight starts off before Winclomp inclines his eyes upward and raises a unoffending hoof.

“Oh, nonono its fine with me!” Winclomp interrupts a grin on his face and a wink to Spike before returning behind his bar “Since we don’t give those little chocolates on pillows, the Bridlekeep Inn comes with a personal send-away-er! Think nothing of the service at the Bridlekeep Inn, aye?”
“Very well, come along Spike you can say goodbye to Gorion. I am supposed to meet him in front of the inner sanctum.” Twilight says, with one last nod to Fire Mane and Winclomp. Twilight pushes open the doors to the Bridlekeep Inn with Spike hanging onto her mane. Though Twilight could not see it, Spike’s eyes speak of something heavy on his mind.

Soon Twilight found herself walking through the inner courtyard, a peaceful area of Bridlekeep. Filled with beautiful flower gardens and ponds surrounding the inner sanctum and library, a massive marble stone keep rising above the inner and outer walls that surrounded the keep of Bridlekeep. It was here on the front steps of the keep that Gorion had told his young ward to meet him, and Twilight was about to turn the corner to the front doors of the keep when Spike finally spoke up.

“H-hey Twilight, stop for a moment I need to talk to you really quickly before you see Gorion” hopping down from Twilight’s backside, he turns to face her, once again twisting his tail between his fingers. “Twilight…I couldn’t believe it when Winclomp told me the news… you’re going on a journey with Gorion…I mean that’s amazing but, look Twilight I need to tell you something important and its-“

“Oh, I get it Spike” Twilight interrupts, a knowing smile on her face, a smug look as if she had figured out exactly what the purple dragon wanted to say “Your jealous of me that I’m leaving Bridlekeep. I know you’ve always wanted to get out of these walls. Well, if you want I could talk to Gorion and see if-“

“No, that’s not it at all! Stop treating me like I’m a little baby dragon!” The little baby dragon crosses his arms over his chest and looking a little wounded in his pride.

“Spike your only a few-“

“I know how old I am, I can count with my fingers and tail, but if you’re not going to take me serious…then what I have to say can wait. I can tell you when you get back from your oh so exciting and fun journey! Good day!” Spike turns back toward the Bridlekeep Inn, steam billowing from his ears as he tramples the garden flowers.

“Oh Spike, someday you’re going to have to learn to act more grown up” Twilight sighs, shaking her head and thinking she had her young dragon friend figured out. Turning the corner thoughts of Spike are put aside as her adoptive father comes into view, Gorion waiting for her on the steps of the keep.

“Well my child, I was afraid I would become a fine, aged statue before you arrived” Gorion jokes upon her arrival giving Twilight a smile, which for a moment she can see is filled with pride, joy, and sadness. Gorion’s white mane and dusty brown coat more than often reminded Twilight of the paper she would find in books written centuries past, including his cutie mark of a golden book, its pages open and shining golden rays of light outward.

“Don’t worry; I am sure one of the monks would put you somewhere nice in the shade” Twilight jokes with a soft smile, trotting up the steps to Gorion and nuzzling his neck softly. Any onlooker could see that Twilight adored her adoptive father. “I have everything and anything we might possibly need for a journey!”

Gorion neighs, “That’s all well and good, I hope you are ready to leave as soon as possible. I’m afraid we are more vulnerable the longer we stay at Bridlekeep” .

“I’m sure I have everything we could need…exactly what my books said we should need, but this is Bridlekeep, what could possibly harm us here?” Twilight asks, hiding back her own immense curiosity as she studies Gorion’s face for any emotions or clues.

“While it is a fine fortress of solitude, even a finely woven pony fly net will let a single pony fly past it. No we must leave here for we risk our safety and that of those around us” Gorion replies, his face become graver and pony serious with every word, alarming Twilight.

“I’m…” Twilight begins to say, stopping for a moment before taking in a deep breath and holding her head high “I’m ready for whatever is out there!”

“Good my child, listen carefully. If we are ever separated, it is imperative you make your way to the Friendly Hoof Inn. There you will meet two friends of mine, they have long been so and you can trust them. “

Without another word, Gorion turns down the steps of Birdlekeep, Twilight turns to follow but pauses for just one moment. Looking up at what has been her home ever since she could remember. Silently hoping to see Bridlekeep again soon she turns to follow her adoptive father out into the world and whatever awaits for her.

Chapter One: Ambush

The storm began no sooner than when the last rays of sunlight slipped under the horizon. Twilight Sparkle and her adoptive father Gorion were soon wet, but thankfully not drenched. Even so, every clap of thunder and brilliant flash of lightning made Twilight’s heart skip a beat. The fact that the traveling pair were walking through the forest rather than the main road away from Bridlekeep irked Twilight’s sensibility. Immediately after they had left the sight of Bridlekeep Gorion had ordered Twilight to duck into the forest, Gorion casted aside her own barrage of questions with a few short reassurances that he knew what he was doing.

Not even quoting what she had read in several volumes on the dangers of hazardous weather conditions, that all conclusively stated that one should not stand under a tree during a lightning storm would change Gorion’s mind. “Do not worry; a little lightning is the least of our worries tonight, my dear. Let’s hurry and find shelter soon, the night can only get worse” he reassured Twilight as they picked their way down from the hills surrounding Bridlekeep. The inescapable feeling that whoever was chasing her adoptive father was powerful enough to make him worry continued to gnaw at her insides, though she was determined to protect Gorion, Twilight wanted to know what was going on. Seeming to notice Twilight’s conflicted emotions the older pony gave her a comforting smile.

It did nothing to comfort her. If anything it did the opposite.

“Gorion, you mentioned that Bridlekeep was no longer safe…you had enemies. Who are they?” Twilight asked hesitantly as the pair came to an open clearing in the woods. Gorion did not miss a step as he crossed into the open clearing, which was actually occupied by a series of stones arrayed in interlocking circles, some monument from Equestria’s long forgotten past. Normally, Gorion would have been captivated by anything older then himself; his attraction to artifacts matched the young mage’s own love of books.

Gorion didn’t give the stones a moment’s notice; looking to Twilight instead he spoke reassuringly once again “I’ll explain everything when there is time”. Turning his attention back to his front, Twilight made to ask him one more time, but Gorion suddenly stopped in his tracks, holding a hoof up to signal to Twilight to stop. The older unicorn’s eyes scanned the dark woods on the other side of the clearing, and for a moment Twilight thought that Gorion had found nothing when he relaxed and let out a soft sigh.

“Were in an ambush.”

Those words ran through Twilight’s mind, her veins suddenly freezing over in fear at the importance of her adoptive father’s words. The voice that came next was not Gorion’s and its owner’s words sent a chill up Twilight’s flank as dark figures stepped into view.

“How very perceptive…for an old man”

That voice! It was deep, and was laced with sweet promises of bloodshed…and for a moment Twilight’s head swam with thoughts of unleashing sweet, sweet murder… The group that stepped out from the tree line shocked those thoughts from her, the one who had spoke…he looked like a armored monstrosity of twisted dark iron and he stood not much shorter than the two monsters that stood to either side of him. At least she knew what they were, and Twilight’s textbook mind took some comfort as she recalled everything she knew about ogres…

“This dah git ye want smashed?”

“Dun’t forget smushed! Hahaha!”

Standing close to ten feet tall, their skin was a off color that reminded Twilight of what a pony would throw up if they had baked-bads poisoning. They also stood on two legs! Two! In their upright positions they both were covered in a badly stitched mesh of fur and leather, but besides the twisted facial features and large crooked teeth as they grinned, she worried about the large clubs they smacked into their palms like they were eager for a fight.

“Quiet! You imbeciles!” the Armored Pony growled, looking away from Twilight and Gorion as he focused his bone chilling gaze from one ogre to the other, and both ogres cringed taking a step back and screwing their mouths shut. Snorting his disgust, his anger disappeared as he turned back toward the traveling pair; from under his skull-like helmet Twilight could see an ecstatic grin on his face, especially when he focused on Twilight. The Armored figure spoke again, doing so offer he offered a hoof towards Gorion, but Gorion rebuffed him with a narrowing of his eyes “You know why I’m here. Hand over your ward and no one will be hurt. If you resist it shall be a waste of your life…”

Twilight gasped, the Armored Pony wasn’t after Gorion…he was after HER!! She was so shocked she couldn’t begin to think of what she should ask Gorion or this mysterious monster but she snapped back to attention as Gorion spoke, using his horn to levitate the dagger from his belt as he did so. “You are a fool if you believe I would trust your benevolence! Stand aside and I promise you and your lackeys will be unhurt.”

Even as Gorion’s horn flared with crackling, magical energies the Armored Pony threw back his head to the sky and laughed, stamping one hoof into the ground before turning back to Gorion, an eager grin on his face. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Old Man. Kill them!”

The Armored Pony pulled a MASSIVE looking broadsword from his belt, Twilight was amazing he could lift it like it was a toothpick in his mouth, but she soon had other things on her mind as the two ogres were eager to carry out their master’s orders. Clubs raised they roared their bloodlust as they charged toward Twilight and Gorion, but Gorion was not about to let them get any closer to his ward. Raising his horn and shouting a string of archaic syllables, magical energy wrapped around Gorion’s horn for a moment before exploding outward as the spell took form!

The first ogre was flung backward as dozens of small, red magical missiles shot out from Gorion’s horn to impact all over the ogre’s body, burning its skin and opening wounds all over its massive frame. “Raaarrrggh” it shouted in pain, impacting on the ground several feet away with an earthshaking thud as its face sizzled and melted from a magic missile’s direct impact. The second ogee did not fare much better, almost in hoof’s reach of Gorion it was stopped by a blasting thunderbolt that struck it directly in the chest. This close Twilight could see the electrical energy flood through the ogre’s body and the smoke of its burnt, meager body hair but instead of falling backward this ogre simple slumped to its knees-still quite dead.

“Twilight! Look out! Run child and don’t look back!” Gorion suddenly shouted before preparing another spell. Twilight had been so distracted by the ogres that she had failed to see that the Armored Pony had another companion or minion in his group: a short, filly, unicorn bedecked in what looked like black silk and chainmail armor. She had been standing in the shadows of the ogres all along, and she had been casting her own spell. A spell that conjured a flaming arrow that flew through the air to hit Twilight square in her left shoulder. Twilight gasped and screamed in pain as the arrow stuck with its red hot, metallic tip sinking into her as it burned her robes and flesh. “Go, Twilight! Go now and do not look back!” she heard her mentor’s voice shout again as his spell flew across the open glade, a golden orb exploding in the air at the mysterious unicorn’s head, causing the enemy magic caster to drop dead asleep to the ground.

What could she do? Twilight took a hesitant step backward, the movement causing the wound to flare up and send waves of pain coursing through her skull. Tears filled the young mage’s eyes as she saw her mentor meet the Armored Pony’s sudden charge towards them, sending wave after wave of magical missiles at the monster who just seemed to shrug it off and laugh in bloodlust as he swung his gigantic sword. What could Twilight Sparkle do?

No matter how fast Twilight Sparkle’s mind scrambled to think of what she could do, there was only one option and she did it.

She obeyed her adoptive father’s wishes and ran into the forest, the stream of tears from her eyes mixed with the droplets of rain that fell from the dark sky. As the darkness of the night swallowed her, Twilight heard a loud yell of pain from far behind her only for it to be drowned out by thunder.

Twilight Sparkle was drowning in blood and darkness, it was pulling her in. The forest floor had given way to this pit of blood and death, covering her in the spilt life energy of those who had died in the forest. It flowed from the animals, those killed recently by bandits, those killed in conflicts lost to history, and from Twilight’s adoptive father. She screamed out Gorion’s name as she tried to climb up the side of the pit, but her hooves kept slipping on the red soaked walls.

“Twilight Sparkle.”

The young unicorn’s hopes suddenly flared as she heard that familiar voice! Gorion! He was alive and he was coming to save her! To take her back to Bridlekeep, give her a bath, make a nice dinner, tell her of his adventures through Equestria as she slowly fell to sleep. The wound in her shoulder suddenly burst from under skin as she used every muscle in her body to push up the side of the pit. She cried happy tears as she saw a familiar outline appear above the lip of the pit.

“Twilight Sparkle…” said the voice

“Gorion!” Twilight cried out, reaching a hoof towards the outline.

“Twilight Sparkle…your just like your mother.”

The outline of Gorion’s twisted and changed, first becoming the outline of the bloodthirsty Armored Pony then changing again to a mysterious and dark shape of a female alicorn, and finally a long and mismatched body shape that looked to be a mesh of different animals. It was absolutely chaotic, reforming constantly between this last shape and a shapeless mass. All she could see from the outline were its eyes; yellow with red pupils-one the size of a small saucer the other the size of a pinprick. The outline seemed to grin and reach toward Twilight, but she screamed, pushing away from the not-Gorion and falling backward into the blood pit, its words echoing over and over.

“Your Mother. Your Mother. Your Mother. Your Mother. Your Mother.”

Then Twilight heard her name and woke up.

The Ponies You Meet On The Road

FG:TPC- The Ponies You Meet On The Road
by King of Malta
“Twilight! Wake up! Wake up! Please, please wake up!”

“I don’t know about this one. She looks like she is in Dead-town to me. I say we check her pockets for anything useful.”

“Nonsense. Her breathing is just fine, see? Now, Spike be a dear and prop her mouth open just a tad. Ah there we go, this will make everything all better.”

If Twilight’s mind had not been so numb she would have thought to herself how interesting it was as her senses one by one came back to life from the void of nothing she had been before. Such a internal monologue would have followed as thus:

‘Spike? Is that you? I can’t see or feel or do anything! I don’t know what’s going on. Wait, she thinks I’m dead? Granted I’ve never been in a state of mind…or lack of…like this before I’m ninety-percent certain I’m alive just…not well. Besides it would be quite impossible to take any of my things, their all enchanted to-Oh My! That feels great! I mean it feels like magical energy flowing through every cell of my body. I wonder if she used Charmluck’s spell of Cure Wounds or possibly Swifthoove’s spell of Up-and-At-Them? Well, given the time it would take to cast both AND that she would need a channeling device for-oh wait. I can feel again! I can smell and…someone needs a bath.’

Though in this case, Twilight for the first time in her life thoughtlessly opened her eyes and sat up. As her vision returned she opened her mouth to speak-only for Spike to slam her into the ground again with a surprisingly powerful hug.

“T-t-wilight I-I thought you were dead! I…I followed you and…I followed you and saw what happened.” The baby dragon’s words and his hug grew tighter, Twilight could feel as his gaze looked off guiltily “I saw…you hurt and Gorion…Gorion…”
“Dead, Spike. Gorion’s dead, Spike. I know.”

Twilight’s body froze, the memories of last night flooding into her mind, but the warmth of Spike quickly melted her body and soul. Returning the hug a single tear slipped out and down her snout…soon followed by another and another. The damn had burst inside of her and she couldn’t…no, she didn’t want to stop as her grief poured into the world. She pushed away the pain deep inside of herself, relieving the baby dragon of his instead.

For as long as she had been alive it was Gorion that lead her. He had always been there when she needed help with a bully or got in way over her head with a her studies. As she grew, so did he, his body getting older, and Twilight had easily pushed away any thought that Gorion would one day no longer be in her life. He had told her often enough that it would look strange for a mare of her age to be accompanied by a old stallion like himself. He always pushed her to make friends, joking as he asked her what she would do on a road with no friendly company. She had always told herself that Gorion would be there for her, he was too powerful and too big of a person in her life to fall down.

Yet here she was. Alone…except for…

“Rarity, a pleasure to meet you Twilight Sparkle though I do wish it was under more desirable circumstances,” the other Unicorn says as she flicks back her purple mane and offers a pleasant smile which turns to a dark frown as she continues “I mean a green dress! I would under more desirable circumstances never be caught dead in this old thing but, the lovely violet silk ensemble l wore just the other day was ruined. My…dear, dear, dear, and dear…acquaintance here was a tad brutish in dispatching some bandits and one of them spilt all his blood over my dress! It was…the worst…possible thing! I mean-“

“Yea, yea, yea. You’re lucky you didn’t end up dead in that dress,” Rarity’s rainbow manned partner interrupted, flexing her wings from underneath studded leather armor. Turning to Twilight she winks “Your lucky too that ole Rainbow Dash found you lying by the road. Your dragon friend here passed riiiight by you. He seemed distracted.”

Rainbow Dash tilts and nods her head in Spike’s direction, and from the corner of her eye she can see him staring intently toward Rarity with a dopeish grin on his face. For her part Rarity doesn’t seem to notice Spike’s gaze, only staring daggers at Rainbow Dash and preparing to say something else but, Twilight interrupts her as she weakly attempts to stand on all her hooves.

“Now darling, you shouldn’t do that so soon. Here take this” Rarity says with concern on her face her horn glowing with magic, she lifts a blue potion bottle from saddle bags neatly laid out on the ground behind her.

“A healing potion? N-no I’m fine. The one I believe you gave me earlier was enough.” Twilight replies with a shake of her head.

“Now, now. Take it. I have plenty and you’re in more need then either I or Rainbow.”

“Hey! It will take us forever to get to Amania if you keep on giving away our healing potions to every single egghead in trouble” Rainbow Dash snorts, flapping her wings and hovering off the ground several feet. The twin short swords in her belt are easily noticeable.

“Wait. You two are going to Amania?” Twilight asks tilting her head as she looks between the two, her eyes narrowing as several thoughts spring into her head.

“Yeah were going to Amania. Someone has to figure out this whole iron and gem shortage before the whole Pony Coast goes to Nightmare’s Moon.” Rainbow Dash shouts waving her arms out.

“Yes. You see our employers…a respectable guild of concerned merchants…are concerned as to the root of this iron and gem shortage.” Rarity interrupts Rainbow Dash before she can continue ranting on.

“Wait, gems are in shortage too?” Twilight asks flexing her legs and finding most of her strength has returned to her. She might need it if these two turn out to be bandits or worse…

“Yea, ponies just say its iron but, the bandits have also been hitting magical gem caravans heading to Friendship’s Gate all of a sudden. No magical gems and a war between Friendship’s Gate and Amania means our bosses can’t sell them at high prices to Saddledeep, they can’t create new magical spells or weapons, and can’t feed their precious dragons to-“

“So you see Twilght,” Rarity says throwing a serious glance at Rainbow Dash that means ‘Shut Up’ in three living and four dead languages “We should part ways soon if we are to solve this crisis in good time but, I have an…iiiideeeaa! Why don’t you come with us to Amania?”

“Wha-“Rainbow Dash begins to say before Twilight cuts her off.

“What? Why me? A stranger you just met on the road?”

“Ah yes a stranger that we met and SAVED on the road. Who should owe us a debt of gratitude? After all, if we don’t stop Friendship’s Gate and Amania going to war its likely you and everyone elsse on the Pony Coast will be affected in the most terrible ways. What else do you have on your schedule that could be more important than that?”

“I can think of one thing…” Twilight says looking off into the forest from where she had run from last night.

“Wha-what are they doing to Gorion’s c-corpse?”

“Eating him. I hate, hate, and hate gibberlings.” Rainbow Dash answers Spike’s question before flying off into the sky overhead, both her short swords draw in her hooves.

Twilight Sparkle is stunned by the sight before her. Hoping to bury her mentor’s body so that his soul may find peace in the afterlife she is instead met by a writhing and howling horde of fur and flesh. Stepping into the clearing she had just been to hours ago was hard enough for Twilight as Gorion’s last moments from last night played over and over endlessly in her mind. To see a dozen filthy, gibbering, howling, monstrous, blue and black furred beasts tearing at the flesh of Gorion and the two dead Ogres broke something precious within Twilight. Even Spike on her back cringes and hides behind her mane, never thinking that his first sights of the world outside Bridlekeep would be anything like this.

“TWILIGHT! SPIKE! Please darlings, SNAP OUT OF IT. They’ve noticed that they are entertaining company NOW.” Rarity shouts to both of them while waving a floating dagger surrounding by her own magical energy before pointing back at the gibberlings. Half of their numbers have turned their beady, red, and hungry eyes toward the two ponies and baby dragon. They break off from the feast, stepping over each other as they howl out in a primal hunger. Most of them don’t have any weapons to speak of just their blood encrusted claws but, three do have small daggers and one swings the torn off leg of Gorion as they charge.

“Spike,” Twilight whispers as the sight of Gorion’s leg jolts her out of her near fatal paralyzation. With an almost unnerving sense of calm her mind begins to concentrate on a certain spell while her mouth moves on “Roast them.”

Twilight releases her spell at the gibberlings a ball of energy forms at the tip of her horn and shoots outward turning from pure energy into a ball of black and brownish liquid which explodes at the feet of the charging gibberlings. Immediately their charge disintegrates as they slip and slide in the grease, practically wallowing in the grease as they try to use one another to get out of the area affected by the spell. Before they can though Spike inhales and then exhales, a spout of green flame leaping several yard to ignite the entire pile of gibberlings into an inferno of roasting flesh. Unknown to Twilight the screams of the gibberlings’s agony brings feelings of relief also, carnal emotions of excitement and thrilled pleasure she knows is sick and depraved.

‘It is almost like sweet music’ she thinks to herself as her eyes begin to tunnel vision fixed on the gibberling’s deaths. She is suddenly shaken out of her trance when she hears Spike call out to her, his voice somehow sounding like it is far away instead of right behind her.

“Twilight! Snap out of it! There are more of those things!” Spike says urgently, shaking Twilight’s mane in his claws. Twilight comes back to the world like a suffocating fog has been lifted from her mind; she shakes her head for clarity surprised to find tears rolling down her cheek. She ponders what were the tears for, tears of joy or sadness at what she had done?

“Don’t worry dear, Rainbow and I have them.” Rarity calls trotting around the finally silent patch of green fire with her horn blazing with built up magic. As the fires die down Twilight can finally see that Rainbow Dash hadn’t been lazy all this time. Of the remaining gibberlings three dead from multiple stab wounds from which Rainbow Dash had delivered as she hovers above and zipping around the gibberlings.

“Nyah, nyah. Got no wings. Can’t catch me” Rainbow Dash taunts them as she literally flies circles around their heads.

“No need to be such a showboat. Let us end this little party.” Rarity says as she releases her magic, the light blue of her magical energy becoming a sickly green as she releases three of the same spells in quick succession toward the remaining three gibberlings. The magic strikes each one directly and the effects are immediate as they stagger and croak weakly as if drained of life. Twilight can even see patches of their dirty black fur become white before they topple over dead as a dead gibberling.

“Where is the fun in killing them instantly with magic? That has no style or coolness.” Rainbow Dash says to Rarity as she drops back to the ground, rolling her eyes as she begins to push around the remaining gibberling corpses.

“Oh yes, you certainly are the one to be giving types in style with that ugly, leather pigskin while looting those hideous things.” Rarity retorts, rolling her eyes and turning away from her companion. “Twilight do you see what I have to put up with? I deserve more elegant company then this…Twilight?”

“She’s with Gorion.” Spike answers her, walking to Rarity’s side as he points to Twilight.
Kneeling beside her mentor Twilight takes in fully the gashes and chunks of missing meat from his corpse. She thought it would have been impossible but, the gibberlings had yet to touch Gorion’s face which despite the damage to his body makes Gorion looks as if he was simply sleeping. Her gorge rises in her throat not from the sight of Gorion but, remembering the feelings of pleasure and excitement at killing the gibberlings. ‘Gorion would be ashamed of me if he knew what I was feeling and thinking’.

“Spike…Rarity…Rainbow Dash,” Twilight finally says after several minutes of silent vigilance. All three turn to Twilight, even Rainbow Dash holding her tongue as she sees the sadness in Twilight as the Unicorn turns to them. “I think…I know… Gorion wanted to stop this. To stop war from breaking out between Friendship’s Gate and Amania. I’ll go with you to Amania on two conditions: we go to the Friendly Hoof Inn to meet Gorion’s friends he was to meet with after we bring Spike back to Bridlekeep.”

“What!? Twilight no I’m not leaving you.” Spike cries out running over to Twilight and hugging her tightly.

“I’m serious Spike. Your too young and the world outside Bridlekeep is too dangerous for you.”

“I’m serious about staying too. Twilight, if this war happens Bridlekeep will be caught in the middle and if I don’t help and you all fail I’ll spend a thousand years feeling guilty I couldn’t stop it from happening.”

“He is right,” Rarity chimes in pointing in the direction of Bridlekeep “The war would be terrible and I do believe Bridlekeep has a policy of not letting anyone entry unless they have a priceless book and a policy of death to anyone who steals from their library”

“Ah. Heh. You saw those in my bags.” Spike says blushing red.

“Spiiiike! You didn’t steal books did you? Why?” Twilight says shocked that Spike would break such a rule.

“Well, they weren’t anything big or important just…spell books for you…so you could continue to study your magic…” Spike says to his feet as he looks down away from Twilight’s accusing gaze.

“Spike…” Twilight softens immediately, giving Spike n affectionate nuzzle. “Alright. Fine you want to come to our possible doom? Okay. Just…stay behind me when we fight and stay away from any tavern bars.”

“Really? Thanks Twilight!” Spike latches onto Twilight again. She sighs and turns toward Rarity and Rainbow Dash. “Do you agree to my other condition? We head to the Friendly Arm Inn first?”

“Well, it would give me a chance to get new clothes and clean my dirty ones.”

“Your part of the party now. I’ll watch your back and keep my hooves off your purse the entire time!”

Confident that they will stick to their word and not try to kill her or Spike she turns back to Gorion using her magic to gently lift his body to prepare a grave. As Gorion’s corpse moves a pouch trapped underneath his corpse and untouched by the gibberlings falls off to the ground. Twilight curiously picks up the pouch with her magic and opens its contents to reveal a simple piece of paper.

“From the prophecies of Starswirl the Bearded?”