Author's Note

Changed the sequence between the guards and Storm Breaker near the end for added story thread.

Chp 11: Beast Vs. Beasts (edited)

Lurking within the dim luminescence of an expansive ballroom, its enclosure of marble walls and column segments bathed in cold afternoon light from the wall-sized windows was a single pony and his cello. Above him, depictions of several painted historical figures, their anatomy forever frozen in poses of joy and sorrow littering the upward surface. As the stallion sat in the middle of the empty ballroom in an oak chair, his wing stroking the bow gently over the cello’s catgut strings, his lonely symphony bounced off the room’s walls.

Bitter confusion and sympathy flowed from the stallion’s heart, through his wing, and out the notes he played, the mare he’d met not but a month ago plaguing his mind still. It was in his nature to abide by the rule of leisure- to not care for anything other than himself. That had been the way of a pony like himself and, arguably, every noble in Canterlot.

However, despite her active drunkenness at the time, he couldn’t stop his aching heart from thinking about the freed sorrow she poured out that fateful night.

The rumors, the incident, none of those things reflected what she really was. To the stallion, mares were open books to read- it's how he worked his seductive ways -and the savage mare was no exception. And to him, no monster or big bad pony was sitting less than two feet from him, only a broken soul who knew no rest. Pain practically rode the alcohol-soaked breath of her words, and the stallion couldn’t help but relate. Many restless nights under Luna’s pale moon, his stomach caved in by hunger, and countless days trying to get by flowed through his mind.

Through luck and skill, he established his notoriety with his fashion. Yet it felt so empty, the lying, cheating, and adultery overshadowing what was once a passion, now a cover for his drug-like addictions.

“I wonder if she feels something similar.” He whispered, continuing his mellow tune.

Iron Hoof’s plan was of no concern to him, the reason for his participation coming from a lack of excitement in his life. What did it hurt to help a friend and score another mare? Well, it’d be soon before the savage mare visited him- the stallion was sure of it. But was he able to face her with this newfound sense of care?

The stallion sighed, looking at the detailed tilted floor, “It’d be best to get it over quickly. The plan and that brute.” He said.

Knock Knock!

Halting the harmonious humming of his cello and placing it on the stand next to him, the stallion stood up and faced the door leading to a hallway, resting the bow on the chair. “You may enter!” He said, adjusting his suit’s collar. Creaking open inwardly, the pearly white door gave way to a mare dressed in a maid's outfit poking her head into the room.

“Master Trotselot, I apologize for interrupting your practice, but your speech for the Cloverhoof Foal’s Hospital charity event is due a six.” She apologized, opening the door fully, “Do you wish for me to ready a chariot in the meantime?”

Trotselot nodded, “That would be good.” He replied. Upon the maid returning the gesture, the stallion’s pleasant smile dropped as he turned to the windows, gazing at the clouds beyond the transparent barriers. To Tartarus with these sentiments. It was probably the weather making him feel this way…right?

Even the thundering clouds rumbled in uncertainty.

The warrior released an earth-shaking roar of pain masked by anger, the rotting corpse of a rocky lizard clamping its jaws onto her foreleg.

She gritted her teeth, tensing the muscles in her injured leg and raising the limb- causing the monster’s body to swing forward -and brought it down on its stomach. This action had the fortunate effect of forcing the rocky lizard to release the warrior’s leg, to which she punted it straight into the wall of a random building.

Panting heavily, the exhausted warrior took a moment to catch her fleeting breath before continuing her charge.

Around her, the royal guards stationed in Ponyville fought off the invading Everfree creatures to little effect, neither gaining the upper hoof on the other. It didn’t matter; she needed to worry about getting to the town hall. But the cuts and bites she suffered- including the most recent - from her charge made it hard for the gigantic mare to move without spikes of pain shooting throughout her body.

A growl from behind alerted the warrior, spinning around while retrieving an abandoned, bloody spear resting in the snow nearby and chucking it at a large wooden dog.

Unfortunately, the spear did little to hurt the oversized, rotting mutt as it snarled fiercely. The warrior recovered from her shock as it started to rush toward her- their drooling maw opened wide in mindless hunger -digging her hooves into the ground and bracing herself.

And like a boulder twice her size and barreling down a steep hill, the warrior had enough time to prevent her neck from shattering by tilting it to the right, allowing the beast to tackle her head-on. She groaned and grunted from the strain of the wooden mutt pushing her several feet, barely able to hold on. Despite its attempts to trample the oversized pony, the beast let out a pained whimper due to the warrior- practically -stabbing her hooves into its sides.

In a split second, its world was turned upside down as its pony-like opponent picked it up with tremendous effort and shoulder-threw it onto the earth behind herself.

The warrior wasted no time and began bashing against the wooden mutt’s skull repeatedly, punch after punch until there was little ‘face’ left. A burning flame scorched the inside of her flesh, and every muscle screamed out for a lick of rest, but the warrior ignored the pain to pick up her dropped sword behind the wooden mutt’s corpse.

“Damn, these things!” She groaned, “There’s more annoying than the ponies, and that’s saying something.” Spinning around, the warrior took off once more. “It shouldn’t be too far- just a little more!” She shouted over the carnage.

Luckily, her hopeful words proved truthful as town hall slowly grew with every approaching hoof step in its direction.

At its doors and around the entrance, a mix of townsfolk and the royal guards sent to escort the warrior clashed with more rotting creatures- many of their numbers had some form of injury on them. Included in the ongoing stand-off was Applejack, who- along with a large, red earth stallion -held the doors open to let ponies into the town hall; the pink annoyance and lush unicorn doing their best to aid in the fight.

Apparently, they, too, noticed the warrior as Applejack waved to her with obscured shouting, the pink one copying her apple-farming friend while shooting off a blue cannon filled with tiny strips of colorful paper.

But as the warrior grew closer and closer to safety, the wall of creatures also increased in density, hiding the snow they trampled on. The warrior tightened her bite on the sword’s handle with a wicked grin forming across her muzzle, reeling her head back as some creatures realized her presence. Unfortunately, their decaying minds were too slow to process a wide swing of the warrior’s sword, resulting in several rotting body parts flying in all directions. A manic laugh bursted out of the excited warrior’s mouth, the rush of adrenaline kicking in as the number of bodies piled up alongside her wounds from their bites and scratches. By the end of her spree, the warrior’s cow print coat turned a mixture of green, gold, and crimson with bits of stone and twigs stuck in matted places.

Applejack watched from afar in horror and relief at the warrior’s arrival just as the latter chucked the upper half of a manticore dangerously close to her right, smashing in support holding up the awning above her. “Come on!” She yelled, motioning to the pony-flooded entrance with a hoof. The warrior didn’t respond but made a B-line straight to the town hall nonetheless.

Another searing pain shot through the warriors unexpectedly, but going by the sensation of teeth placement: it was another wooden mutt.

Metaphorically biting the leather strap, she pushed past the pain and anything blocking her path, trampling the shorter creatures under her hooves. The warrior dodged, ducked, swung, and kicked as much as her body would allow her to do. With the entrance less than a few feet away, she leaped off the ground, landing haphazardly on the foyer and crash-landing inside- rolling across the floor.

Witnessing the sudden scene of gore, the injured ponies receiving aid and seeking shelter inside the town hall all screamed in terror. The combination of smeared blood types from the warrior’s body creating a trail, the aforementioned blood-covered warrior, and a rotting wooden mutt wasn’t a welcoming sight for the shaken townsfolk. Luckily, before the wooden mutt could cause any harm, the warrior recovered quickly and stabbed its bark hide through the chest, causing it to squirm and whimper until it fell limp.

That didn’t stop the now scrambling ponies from showing their terror as they backed away from her as the warrior dropped to her knees. Blood- her blood -dripped from her wounds and nostrils, and the warrior’s body was nearing to give out.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” She bellowed, sick of the shrieking stabbing her aching head. Clearly, the task her slavers gave her didn’t amount to her usual activities.

At the sound of the warrior’s command, everypony instantly fell silent out of fear of the blood-cover pony's following action if they were to anger her. The door behind her stole the attention away from her, Applejack and the big stallion retreating inside along with the remaining survivors as the former barricaded the entrance with long wooden boards and nails.

Whipping the sweat off her forehead, Applejack chuckled impassively, “Talk about a close one.” She muttered, turning to the kneeling warrior, “Woo-wee! That was some mighty fine work ya did, if a bit…messy.” She awkwardly praised. The apple farmer was about to walk over to the warrior’s side to check on her before one of the royal guards came up and roughly snatched the mighty mare’s armor by the collar with his wings.

Pulling her up to face him directly, the guard had a deep scowl adorning his features, “You damn freak! You were supposed to stick with the element of honesty and your handler; where did you go?!” He shouted angrily.

“Not my fault you idiots stayed behind to safeguard this place like cowards while I did your jobs.” She taunted, a jolt of pain causing her to wince.

Growling, the guard reeled back a hoof to strike the warrior, but he’d been beaten to the punch as she swiftly pulled back her head and slammed it in the middle of his muzzle. Blood spewed from the guard's nostrils, crying out in pain as he hit the floor, accompanied by a round of shocked gasps. Rising onto her hooves weakly, the pitifulness of her current state was all but drowned out by the almost sadistic grin that grew on her muzzle, a heavy sense of dread filling the guard’s body.

“Do your job right this time,” She spat, “I dare you~.” The warrior glared.

Halting any chance of a brawl breaking out, the additional guards ready to join, Olive Branch appeared, using his magic to hold down the guard while pointing a hoof at the warrior. “Alright, that’s enough!” He stated.

A look of surprise appeared on the guard and the warrior, “M-Mr. Branch/Old coot?” They said.

“Yeah, it’s me!” He exasperated, turning to the guard, “And as long as I’m here, nopony is doing anything to anypony until this shit-show’s been dealt with. Now get your flank off the floor like you’re about to service somepony and act like a proper member of the royal guard!” He scolded. The guard flinched at his raised voice, standing up and at attention in a flash, the warrior chuckling at the guard's expense. “What in all of Equestria are you laughing about?!” Olive Branch turned his sights on the warrior.

In turn, the warrior gave an equally displeasing look to match the old stallion's foul mood, “Huh? You got something to say?” She sarcastically asked with a raised brow.

Olive Branch huffed, “As a matter of fact: yes, I do.” He pointed a hoof to the pegasus guard, “He had a point; where did your happy ass run off to?”

“Losing your memory already, huh?” The warrior said with snide confusion, “You were there with me and the farmer.” She added.

“WELL, APPARENTLY NOT!” The old stallion shouted, making her ears fold against her head, “When we got attacked, I was getting chased by a pack of timberwolves before I could even call out your name, and you forgot about me!” He raised his forelegs in ire, “I’ve run around this town for the past thirty minutes trying not to become puppy chow.”

The warrior reeled back from the reveal, a faint pang of guilt stabbing her heart, “Y-You should’ve come to me for help, idiot!” She retorted weakly.

“Really? The way you’re acting this afternoon, I thought you’d do worse to me than the wolves!” He said, his words seemingly echoing through the still air. Immediately, a look of regret crossed his face as a hint of hurt crossed the warrior’s eye. Olive Branch took a deep breath, diverting his gaze, “Storm Breaker, I…”

Everypony watching in the background waited with baited breath at the silence generated between the two, waiting to see what would happen next. Breaking that silence after what felt like hours, the warrior scoffed, sheathed her sword, and turned away from Olive Branch, stepping towards the door of the town hall-turned-hospital, confusing and scaring everypony. And as she inched closer, her hoof reached under her armor shortly before returning with a small bag and a box of matches. But as she was about to come face-to-face with the double doors, the five escorting guards blocked her path- including the pegasus guard -and their spears aimed at her chest.

“Halt!” The frontmost guard, a grizzled unicorn, said, “You’ve already escaped our sight once before. We won’t make the same mistake! Turn back, and the punishment for your misdeeds won’t be as harsh.” He demanded.

Olive Branch, caught off guard by the sudden intrusion of the guards, turned to them, "What do you think you're doing?! Stand down." He shouted, weakly stomping a hoof. "There about over a hundred ravenous undead animals outside just waiting to tear everypony in here to ribbons and you're doing this now?" He questioned incredulously.

The frontmost unicorn guard looked to the elder pony with scorn, "You're the one that needs to stand down, sir." He spat, pulling back his spear to rest it's blunt end on the ground. "For all we know, the creature's you refer to weren't the only ones hurting ponies outside. You said it yourself; you were ran off and were unable to watch her- how can you say nopony was hurt by her, hm?" He asked in a righteous tone, smirking when Olive Branch faltered.

However, Applejack stepped up next to the old stallion, "Hold on for ah sec! I was just a head of her the whole time and she didn't hurt a soul- quite the opposite, in fact." She retorted.

With a scoff, the unicorn guard returned his spear to point at the warrior, "Is that so? how...do I know if you looked back?" He said with false confidence, only to be met with a deadpan from the element of honesty and Olive Branch. The guard rolled his eyes, "Eh, screw it! I didn't gather my most trusted allies and throw myself into this shit hole town to play back and forth with a senile old stallion and a hick." He focused back on the warrior, "Those bits will be mine when I'm done; all I have to do it rough you up a little! It will be far easier than finding an excuse to hurt you." He said, grinning menacingly at her, the apple farmer and Olive Branch confused at his words.

Due to her eerie silence, the surrounding guards smirked at thinking they’d scared the warrior, being the best of the royal guard- the unicorn even having been nominated for the next captain. But their bravo was instantly smoldered when the warrior’s hoof shot forward, gripping the unicorn's face tightly and lifting him in the air in a muffled yelp, dropping his spear. Without thinking, in panic, the guards rushed to save their leader by thrusting their spears.

Every pony watching- namely Olive Branch and Applejack -looked on in horror for the warrior and guards as the latter pierced the mare’s protection.

Luckily, or unfortunately, the warrior was visibly unaffected, her armor taking most of the piercing damage from fully stabbing her flesh. The unicorn in her hoof thrashed around in her grip while smacking her foreleg, his screams muffled. In one motion, the warrior raised the unicorn guard higher before throwing her head-holding hoof to the floor as the spears got dislodged, a loud crash resonating in the high-ceiling room as the unicorn’s head sank below the broken floorboards.

The guards looked on in despair at the unmoving unicorn, fearing the worst. “What in hades are you bitching about? Like you could ever hurt me in the first place.” She said, “And don’t worry, his stupid helmet protected him… sadly.” She added, the last part with a whisper.

“S-Storm Breaker, what are you doing?!” Olive Branch said, quickly rushing to the unconscious unicorn's side. “Look, I’m sorry I said that. It came out in the moment! I was worried about you after what I told you on the train- scared your anger would get you killed.” Olive Branch’s face became strained and pale, but a weak smile grazed his lips, “Let’s just sit down and rest. It’ll be a while, but reinforcements will be here soon.” He suggested.

Looking down near his midsection at something that caught her eye: a crimson stain soaked the bandages wrapped around him, the smell of rotted copper reaching her nose. Did he truly care for her that much? It was almost comical how stupid it sounded. Even almost doing something she knew she would regret after the purple unicorn’s departure, her threats to the alicorns, and her general attitude, he still showed some kindness. What drove him to fret over somepony like her? Stupidity or something more? She just attacked his comrades, and he’s bleeding heavily. Nothing this stallion did made sense to her, and his never-ending outgoingness toward her was an anomaly she could never wrap her head around.

“I forgot about him due to my anger, abandoned him, and he still thought of my safety.” The warrior thought with an inward chuckle.

Wordlessly, the warrior used her now-freed hoof to unravel the string holding the small bag closed, revealing the contents to be a bundle of various dried herbs and medicinal plants. Olive Branch looked confused at the herbal object, but the warrior opened the matchbox and lit one of the red-tipped sticks. Thank the goddess Olive Branch taught her how to use them while teaching her how to make a fire without sticks.

“Wait!” Olive Branch said but doubled over in pain, clutching his bandaged wound. Using his magic earlier must’ve drained a lot of his energy.

Taking a few more steps closer to the blocked doors being mercilessly bashed upon by the outside dangers, the warrior rested a hoof against the wooden board. “Hey, old coot,” She called out, Olive Branch’s head raising to meet the back of hers. “If you don’t believe me to be the monster I am, I won’t lie; prepare to stop me in about an hour. Your pitiful reinforcements won’t be here in time, and these ponies won’t last a minute if this holds up.” Turning her head to where her exposed eye met Olive Branch’s gaze, she bit down on the match she pulled out and threw it at the old stallion.

The old stallion followed as the match fell to the floor but returned with a confused look. “I…don’t understand.” He replied.

“Don’t get me wrong. I still hate every pathetic excuse of a mule here, and those damn alicorns will have a few choice words from me.” The warrior turned away, “I’m only doing this for…you...and for the ponies I still need to prove myself to. So, if you trust me, use that match on this-” She motioned to the bundle of herbs, “-and I’ll buy some time.”

Throughout my life, I did countless things that would make any of these ponies weep at the mere mention of them. When it comes to monsters, I am not an exception, without a doubt. But I’m not afraid of it, for I have embraced the visage of an unfeeling beast all my life on the battlefield, or I have become simply numb to it. Storm Breaker: a dead mare walking with a kill count in the hundreds of thousands, whose entire existence was paved, sculpted in blood and bone.

That is who I am.

But, recently, I felt that cover crack and slip like a melting glacier in the scolding heat. Call it weakness or a change of heart, I could give two shits…no, in truth, it's agonizing to feel this way.

These damned ponies treated me like trash, and those alicorns are nothing but snakes, apart from the old coot. He’s the only exception to this hell of a paradise I find myself trapped in, a light created by one of my lifelong enemies' race. At this point, I find it hard to go against him due to the sheer hospitality he’s shown me. I know not all ponies are terrible, but those were few and far between, and these newer ponies are far too disconnected from what I have known for me to like. It just so happens he was one of them, and I was stuck with it. Funny, huh? I’ve grown so pathetic that the smallest amount of kindness fucks with my head; has it been that long since I’ve seen my comrades or any pony I call a friend?

No matter, with my inner thoughts running rampant, the old coot reluctantly took the match in his magic and- although weakly -ran the red tip over the floorboards. With a tiny orange flame atop, the lit match levitated over until it was above the bundle of herbs I bought from the marketplace earlier today before leaving Canterlot.

…What?

I paid with the useless gold coins Luna rewards me with, alright? I’m not some petty thief! It was a pain in the flank trying to buy the supplies from the cowardly vendors as it was.

Anyway, the lit match set the bundle of herbs in my hoof ablaze, the heat not bothering me that much- the pain would come very soon. In a single motion, I opened my mouth wide as I threw the burning herbs between my agape jaws. Good thing the old coot and worthless guards were the only ones shocked- my position blocking everything from the ponies behind me -I couldn't have another round of eye-rolling gasps. The effect was immediate- the flames quickly scalding my mouth’s roof with its unbearable heat. And as much as I wanted to spit it out and quell the pain making my eye water, I held it in while I breathed the smoke into my lungs.

Either this would kill me with how much time I went without using it, or the coot and alicorn’s lackeys would end me before it could.

Whichever outcome, it’d be like killing two birds with one stone- I make it up to Olive Branch, do something good for once in this life, and I can finally see my comrades.

Then…everything went black.

Olive Branch watched in terror at the sight before him, weak and barely able to keep himself upright- the doctors who finished patching ponies up coming over to help him freeze up. Sure, it was shocking to see Storm Breaker throw a wad of burning foliage into her mouth, but this was a whole different…thing.

It started with her eye rolling back into her skull while painful moans escaped her trembling lips, veins snaking across her strained barrel as if seeking release. Olive Branch became tempted to stand and rush to the agonizing mare's aid despite his own pain but stopped when her muscles inflated to grotesque proportions as if ready to break out from under her skin. Blood burst forth from her nostrils, painting her snarling muzzle in a macabre display of flowing crimson. Then, a thunderous roar erupted from her throat, shaking the very foundation of the town hall and temporarily deafening all within its walls.

Spinning in place, Storm Breaker pulled her hindlegs in and bucked at the front entrance.

In an explosion of wooden shrapnel and animalistic cries of surprise and pain, the entrance and its frame were reduced to almost nothing in the face of her attack.

Because of this, the rotting creatures of the Everfree, once banging on the door, flew back from the sudden force, some of the smaller ones receiving injuries. The outside beast recovered from their daze, only stopping when they felt an unusual presence step out from the ruined entryway.

“Vanguard…mystic…art…” Growled Storm Breaker, stepping over a pile of broken boards and into the now-cleared foyer. Pulling out her sword, she slowly stomped down the stairs, foam frothing in the corners of her mouth as the unusual energy reached the Olive Branch.

The warrior mare concluded her trek near the foot of the short stairs, raising her head high with the sword held tightly between her teeth. In the passing seconds of silence and the icy wind’s howling around the beast-trapped warrior, a surge of strange energy exploded outward in all directions, striking Olive Branch and recovering ponies like a wave of pure heat that seemed to warp the air around the warrior. Even the beasts looked aware of this, their snarling intensifying as they backed away.

In all the years of Olive Branche's service, he’d fought countless foes in the name of the crown, ranging from common thrives to the vilest villains. Due to this, there wasn’t much left to surprise the old stallion, earning his reputation of a laid-back pony who drinks a bit. But…this. The natural magic emanating from the warrior wasn’t even anything he recognized, at least, common earth pony magic. No, this is more ancient than that.

Only three ponies Olive Branch knew had a similar magical aura: Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Magic held exclusively to ponies of olden times.

Magic…that was in its most untamed form.

“MOUNTAIN MARE!!!”

There wasn’t a street ahead after that.