A New Adventure

The doors to the throne room flew open as the freshly awakened Fury stormed in. The two sisters looked at their guest first with a bit of fright, but then to a look of relief. Luna began to tread down the steps and meet her brother, but Celestia stopped her, giving Fury a glaring look.

“Good morning brother, it is surprising to say the least to see you,” Celestia said, her hoof still on her sister's shoulder.

“Good morning sisters, I feel well rested and ready for action once again!” Fury said as he stopped just short of the stairs that led to the thrones.

“I see that my spell worked then?” Celestia asked, “Though I expected that you would sleep for at least a couple more days..”

“It seems that your spell worked a little quicker than you imagined,” Fury said as he sat, not taking care to bow or any other resemblance of courtesy for the crown.

Celestia glared at him, his disrespect for her growing, though in truth he was just as royal as she, but unlike her, he had decided long ago that he wasn’t fit to rule, and stepped down. Her eyes stared right into his mind, trying to see what he had come here for, after all, Fury hadn’t been around for the past six hundred years, they didn’t need him.

Fury took his gaze from the crown his father once wore and looked to his sister, Celestia, who currently looked like she could murder him where he stood.

“You want to know why, don't you..” he said as he turned away, “why I came back, after all I’ve done..”

“The thought has crossed my mind brother, you never liked staying at the castle,” Celestia said, her anger still brimming.

“Our mother came to me, while I was unconscious, and told me of what I am to do..”

“You lie… you and I both know that isn't possible, she's been gone for nearly a thousand years!” Celestia nearly yelled as she stood up, flaring her wings out.

“I do not, I was brought to a world between worlds, where she came to me… I am to protect the bearers of the stones, wherever or whatever they need..” He answered, not giving Celestia a reason to do something she'd regret.

Celestia grunted with disbelief as she began to turn her back, “what will you do then, now that you have this, almighty quest from our mother?” She asked with sarcasm.

Fury began to bite his lip, curving his tongue from spilling out harsh words. “I will return to our ancestral home in the empire, as she mentioned a power not unlike the gems within me, that I had to find… so home is the best place to start..”

Celestia waved her hoof, dismissing Fury. “Go brother, it's what you are good at, I will stay and keep the throne, do what you are good at and leave once again, show sister Luna the real Fury Flight, who leaves for danger and other, noble pursuits..”

Fury’s temper peaked as his blood began to boil, magic began flowing down his veins, creeping into his horn, his jaw clenched, trying to hold back the magical energy that wanted to burst forth and attack… if she only knew.

“Fury… my son.. You must carry on without us..” Galaxo said through gasps.

“Father… no, no no, I, I can help you, I swear!” Fury answered through tears.

“Not this time son… not.. This time…” his father answered as his life blood escaped through a gash in his chest. “You must return… take my throne… be the king I know you are…”

“Father… I'm no king… I'm just a soldier, a guardian…”

“Then aid your sisters at the throne… find the creator, learn her secret… become like a shadow in the night my son…” galaxo said as he took his last breath.

Fury looked back at his sister, magic brewing for an attack, but allowed himself to calm down. He took a deep breath, allowing the fragrances of the castle, lavender and daylily to enter his nostrils, their aroma calming him down, allowing for clear sight. He let his magic subside, it taking a toll leaving without casting it, slightly fatiguing him, but his strength was the least of his concerns.

“Sisters… without knowing who I am without the gems, how am I to be at your side, with untold powers… I must find who I am… I will return with the next full moon,” he said as he turned to leave, not glancing to see if Celestia even budged from his reason. As he walked down the foyer, he heard a voice clearing from behind him, and turned to see Luna with a hoof over her mouth.

“Brother, we will hold you to your word, that you will return on the next full moon, with a result of your findings, but if you return with no results, or fail to return at all… then we must and will declare you a threat to our kingdom, and will have you seized and held under contempt of our world, until either your death or the end of Equestria… whichever comes last…”

Fury nodded as he looked at Luna, nearly shocked that she had made the statement, but understood it nonetheless, if he couldn’t find a way to change, then imprisonment was the next best option. He turned back to his path and slowly walked out of the throne room, making his way to the ent of the main foyer leading to the Everfree Forest, and the rest of the world.

As he walked into the forest, the air began to change, from the peaceful environment of the castle to the uneasy stillness of the forest, as if at any second something would jump out of a brush patch or fall from a tree, attacking its victim. He stepped carefully through the forest, even though he had the magical ability to fight off nearly any creature that walked these woods, a reckless use of magic had its way of returning to its caster in this forest. He stepped down the path, letting himself get lost in the woods as he walked through its majestic scenery, though his gaze set upon the exit, hoping not to run into some of the forest’s predators, who had often tried to take the weary traveller for their next meal.

As he neared the edge of the forest, the small village of Tree Sap came into sight. The village was nearly apart of the forest, most of the ponies using it for their day to day lives, taking from it the ripe fruit from its trees, always leaving one to replace the tree when it died. The others in the village used crops to grow apples for cider that was nearly unbeatable in taste. He took his first steps from the forest and onto the road that ran through the village, greeting a few of the earth ponies that were on their day to day business, who waved and began to bow.

Fury made his way to the local tavern, feeling a thirst creeping into the back of his throat. As he reached the building, a yellow mare caught his eye, the earth pony running into the building in front of him, followed by a few stallions. He grinned as he walked in, knowing that the town was also known for the beauty of its mares, who were known across the kingdom. He opened the door and walked in, and as he did, the tavern went silent as the alicorn across the floor, so quiet that he could hear each hoofstep, each breath he took in perfect clarity.

He sat down at the last seat at the bar, unoccupied just as the next three seats to his left. As he set down, a mid aged mare set down a full cider in front of him, looking him deep in his eyes.

“We don’t see many alicorns here, in fact, you may be the first, so sweetie, you got a name?” the mare asked.

“Names Fury, Fury Flight,” he said as the room gasped, as many of them knew of the legendary warrior he was made out to be, but astonished that he was there.

“Alright love, first ones on me, then you got your own after,” she said as she left the cider and walked away, waiting on her other customers.

Fury nodded as he took the mug in his hoof and drank the cider, its sweet flavor catching his taste buds in a high. He finished off the cider, lightly clunking the wooden cup on the bar, signaling that he was wanting another. As the waitress returned, he placed a gold bit on the bar, watching her pouring more cider in his mug before walking away. As he took a savory sip of his newest cider, he felt another pony set beside him, and with a glance of his eye, seen it was the yellow mare he followed in. He smiled as he set his mug down looking to the mare, who smiled back.

“Hello, here for a drink?” he asked as he tossed a couple bits on the counter, where the tender poured two ciders and went back to her other customers.

“Sure, I could have one,” she answered as she took the mug and sipped the beverage.

“So, here to see me up close?” Fury asked, waiting for the answer they all gave, that they wanted to see the hero up close, then try to woo him.

“Actually, I just wanted to say that you look funny, I've never seen a pony with wings and a horn before,” she said as she giggled.

Fury nearly spit out his cider as he looked at the mare. “You’ve never heard of me, or of those like me?”

“Oh I've heard about the two rulers in the forest, and of the great hero of the war, but I've never seen any of you,” she said as she took another drink of the cider.

He took a drink of his own cider, before thinking of something to say, “so who’s the group with you?”

She giggled as she looked at him, her eyes meeting his, “why, you wanna train them to be great warriors hehe, though i think they would love it, I don’t think my father would appreciate his sons gone from the fields..”

Fury nodded, letting a small giggle escape his normally stoic expression. “So you and your brothers come here often?”

“Nope, only when important heros are in town..” she said as she winked, giggling a little.

Fury looked at the mare with confusion, “how could you know that i was going to arrive here?”

She began to laugh out loud as she answered, “It’s a joke silly, you really gotta get out more!” she said as she finished the cider before setting the cider back on the table before sneaking a peck on his cheek, “thanks for the cider, have fun!” she said as she ran for the door, followed by her three brothers, looking as if they were late for something.

Fury watched the door for a moment longer before finishing his cider and walking out of the tavern where the evening air cooled him and the sunset marveled him. He turned his nose to the north and began his travel to crystal empire, the yellow mare fully taking up his mind.