A Dust Filled World

Twilight opened the door only to see Filthy Rich.

"Miss Sparkle." Filthy Rich said with a natural look on his face.

"Actually, you can just call me Twi-" Twilight didn't get to finish before getting shoved aside.

Twilight looked annoyed. A random pony knocks on her door, then interrupts her?

She looked outside to the sight of about two dozen of royal guards. She guessed this was about Dust and the incident with Spoiled rich. She walked to the couch and sat down. As she did so, she was startled by the sound of Dust teleporting in Spike and the cmc. A quick listen told her they were upstairs. Dust knew something would happen if Filthy Rich saw him and wanted to get the four of them out of harm's way and try to stay hidden himself.

"So, Mr. Rich, why are you here?" Twilight asked while taking a sip of her tea.

Filthy rich glanced outside with a stern expression. Twilight looked where he was looking. The group of Royal Guards.

"Well, we are looking for the monster residing here in Ponyville. Some of the towns folk reported a monster near and even in the town. We have also got another report recently. Mere Minutes ago from one of the Guard’s Scouts. That the monster killed 12 pony hunters, brutally. Immediately, that monster must be taken into custody and brought before the princesses. We have also heard that you have been with the monster. Do you have anything to say, Miss Sparkle?" Filthy rich Said with an authority tone. His tone made it seem as though he was the leader of guard and not just a simple businesspony.

Twilight looked upstairs then outside, sweat dripping down her forehead. She wiped her forehead with her hoof.

"Well, Dus- ,I mean, the monster and I have been spotted but I have nothing to do with him." Twilight explained, nearly slipping up.

Filthy Rich had an amused expression plastered on his face. He saw her near slip up. Even her quick glance upstairs.

"Well then Miss sparkle, you wouldn't mind if a few guards and I explored the upper level of your home, would you?" Filthy Rich’s face was that of a smug colt who just got his friend in trouble for something the colt himself did.

Twilight knew she couldn’t get out of this. Reluctantly, she nodded. Filthy Rich called out to 5 guards. 4 Pegasi and 1 unicorn. They began to walk upstairs until Twilight, in a desperate attempt to stop them despite knowing she couldn’t really stop them, teleported upstairs in front of them.

"Hey! Move aside, Miss Sparkle!" The unicorn exclaimed.

Filthy rich shouted at them to detain her and the other ponies that were in the house. Spike, hearing that Twilight was getting detained, ran up and tried to scratch the unicorn. His claws barely missed the guard's eye. One of the Pegasi dove and kicked the baby dragon away, sending Spike colliding into Scootaloo.

"Ow! What did you do that for?" Spike grumbled in pain from the kick.

"Yea! Leave us alone you big jerks!" Scootaloo and Applebloom shouted at the pegasus guard, who just laughed at the dragon and the two fillies.

The last 2 guards walked up to Scootaloo, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Spike, ready to detain them as well. This is, until one of the guards started to glow with an ethereal blue aura. Then, in a split second, the Pegasus was thrown out the window. Dust, with his iconic red and cyan eyes, emerged from his hiding spot and started to laugh. It was so unsettling, it even made Scootaloo shiver.

"IT'S THE MONSTER GET HIM" Filthy Rich shouted at the guards.

The unicorn charged at the monster, whipped around and bucked him in the gut. This actually hurt Dust. He stumbled back in pain. He looked at the guard that bucked him and chuckled to himself. Dust looked at the other ponies in the room. Going by their attire, he assumed that they were Royal Guards. Trained to fight and protect. This explains why the attack hurt. A brief wave of nostalgia washed over Dust. Undyne. Papyrus’s ambition to become a member of the Royal Guard under King Asgore. It made him smile until he donned a more serious expression.

"Heh. Congrats. You're the first person to actually damage me in any way. You want some hay?" Dust Taunted the guard.

At the insult the unicorn growled. He rushed at Dust intending to kill. He grabbed his sword with his magic and started to slash at dust. Dust seeing the sword only reminded him of the human. The countless Genocides they caused. That he had to suffer through till his mind broke. The reason he became what he is. It pissed him off. Dust grabbed the sword mid air and punched the guard in the side, forcing air out the guard’s lungs. Twilight, Spike, and the cmc all watched from a distance as Dust fought.

"Wow Twilight. I didn’t know he knew how to fight!" Spike exclaimed to Twilight.

"Yea. Fighting with the guard isn’t necessarily easy. But, I think this is the beginning. Spike I want you and the cmc to get our friends. Bring them here." Twilight commanded Spike.

Hearing the command that Twilight gave, they all nodded as Twilight teleported them to Sweet Apple Acres to get Applejack. After sending them away, Twilight, seeing Dust fighting, decided to help.

After getting teleported, Spike and the cmc looked around for Applejack. Apple Bloom, being more familiar with things, looked at the trees and followed the appleless trees like a guide to where Applejack would be. She told them to follow her, and after running through the apple trees, they could see applejack bucking her last tree.

"Well, that’s the last of ‘em." Applejack said as she wiped her brow.

Applejack turned around to head back to the barn, only to stop as she saw Spike, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom running toward her.

"Woah there, you four! Spike, Scootaloo, Sweetie belle and Apple Bloom, what happened? Y’all look more worried than a rabbit in the Everfree." Applejack said, making her way over to the barn.

While they walked, they explained what was currently happening at Twilight's house. When asked why the Royal Guard was there, they reluctantly told her that Dust had killed the 12 pony hunters. Applejack was disgusted by that. She knew little about Dust, having barely spent time with him. But she knew he was a good fella deep down. She wanted to try and help him kill his habit of killing ponies. Else he gets banished or killed by the princesses. Other than that, she wanted to help him, despite everything in her telling her not too. Moreover, she wanted to help Twilight. Nopony was hurting her family on her watch.

"Well, if we’re gonna help them, we better hightail it out Sweet Apple Acres and go get the others!" Applejack exclaimed, running towards Rarity’s.

Spike told Scootaloo to get Pinkie, Apple Bloom to get Fluttershy, and Sweetie Belle to somehow get Rainbow Dash.

After gathering everypony, they all rushed to Twilight's house. They heard a loud banging and the sight of some of the guards getting snuffed out. All of them were shocked, but had to help their friends.

"Twi, we're here! Where are ya?" Applejack shouted in the crowd of ponies.

"Over here!" Twilight shouted back.
All of them rushed to Twilight who all but clung on to Dust. The sight made pinkie giggle, leaving the others confused. Rainbow dash was about to say something until she saw a hoof barrel towards Twilight. Jumping in, she took the hit, getting knocked to the ground.

"RAINBOW!" The rest of the mane 6 shouted in unison.

Twilight ran to her injured friend.

Rainbow with a bruise on her cheek, blood dripping from her mouth, looked up to see an armored pegasus. She was clearly a guard. But she had a badge on her helmet that Rainbow didn't recognize. Looking to her friends, they didn’t know what the badge meant. Except for Twilight of course.

"That's the commander." Twilight whispered under her hoof.

Before Twilight could warn Rainbow, a hoof connected to Twilight’s muzzle, sending her back into the wall with a mighty thud. Applejack had enough and grabbed her lasso from Pinkie's mane. Rarity, while not much of a fighter, used her magic to conjure up gem-like spears. Fluttershy hid behind the walls of the kitchen in fear.

Rainbow dash, now furious, rushed the commander and tried her best to strike the armored Pegasus. Only to get hit again. Kicked in the cheek and sent to the ground. Pinkie appeared behind the commanding pegasus and shot her Party Cannon, filled with rock candy.

She got a direct shot, knocking the commander back a few feet. The commander looked around and found Fluttershy’s tail poking out from behind the wall.

With a viscous smirk, the commander rushed over and snatched Fluttershy by the tail. Using Fluttershy as a club, she swung Fluttershy into Pinkie and sent them barreling into the wall. She then looked at Twilight and charged again, intending to bash her skull in and finish what she started. She was 2 hoofs away from getting to Twilight. But then got stopped by a lasso.

“Yer turn!” Applejack said behind her rope.

With a yank, Applejack dragged the commander back. Swinging around like a top, Applejack jumped and slammed into the ground, slamming the commander into the ground with incredible force. The Commander got up and charged Applejack. She didn’t get far till Rarity jumped in. With her gem-like spears, Rarity slashed, stabbed and twirled them. Rarity was able to get some hits in, till she was bucked in the chest by the commander.

“You did well. But you have some improvements to make.” The commander said.

Pulling back her wings, the commander charged magic of her own. And with a mighty slap, sent a powerful gust of wind Rarity’s way. Rarity was thrown back into Applejack, sending the two into the ground. The commander looked over to Twilight and walked up to her, only to be grabbed by the tail. Looking back, she was greeted by the smile of Dust.

"So, you must be the commander of this group?" Dust said through gritted teeth, ready to explode after seeing the one sided massacre.

"I am, monster. Now, release my tail." The pegasus commander said.

"What's your name?" Dust asked.

"What's it to you?” The commander said. Then she rolled her eyes. “ Well. since you're gonna die, I see no harm in telling you. Name's Aris Scimitar, the co commander of the solar guard. A-."

Before Aris could continue, she got punched in the gut, then in the muzzle, dazeing her. Then, in a blue aura, she was thrown at a building.

"Wowie! You're super duper uber strong!" Pinkie exclaimed while bouncing.

With blinding speed, Aris Shot out of the building ready to deliver a devastating blow to Dust. However, she was not afforded the luxury of feeling her hooves connected with Dust. Instead, she was greeted by nothing but air. She looked to the side, only to get hit in the muzzle again. She covered her muzzle with one of her hooves.

"I gotta hoof it to you, you hit hard. Not bad, monster. I’m actually getting excited!" Aris said.

"Heh! Not so bad yourself." Dust smiled getting ready to attack.

In a blink of an eye dust appeared over Aris, a bone in hand. Swinging down, he intended to strike her, only for Aris to dodge it. Spinning on her front hooves, she wheeled around and bucked Dust’s side. He let out a groan and teleported above her. With both hands grasped together, he swung down and nailed Ari’s right in the head. Aris was dazed but shook it off. Extending her wings revealed sharp wing blades. Aris, with speed rivaling Rainbow dash, rushed Dust. She managed to get a few slashes in before Dust grabbed her wing and slammed her to the ground, breaking a few wing bones. Dust kicked her away and charged a Gaster Blaster and fired it at Aris. The blast kicked up dust. Dust believed he had killed her, only to see she was still standing. Aris had used her own Pegasus magic and used her wings to create a wind-like barrier around herself. Dust gritted his teeth and looked to the girls.

"Girls! Get Out Of Here!" Dust commanded.

Twilight wanted to protest but she knew they couldn't do anything. Twilight told the girls to leave Golden Oak Library. They nodded and ran. multiple guards tried to stop them only to get brought down by a storm of bones, pinning them to the ground. Dust was trying to protect them while they escaped. Dust looked back where Aris was, She was gone.

"Think Fast!" Aris shouted.

Dust dodged her attack. He grabbed her hoof and slammed her onto the ground, She could do nothing but shout in pain. She extended her wings again and slashed Dust’s face. She managed to get back only to bump in Dust who had teleported behind her. He kicked her side and sent her to the wall. She screamed in pain. She rushed Dust and head-butted him in the stomach and whipped around, punching Dust in the chin.

Then as she tried to fly away to get distance between them, he grabbed her back hoofs and snapped them in half. The scream of pain and the snapping of bones echoed in Ponyville. He Flung her into the air and wielding a bone like a baseball bat, swung at her. Another loud crack sounded as a few of Aris’s ribs were broken. She was launched back into the wall with a sickening slam as she slumped down against the wall. All the guard's looked to their commander in shock.

"Guards! Fall Back!" Aris shouted, blood trickling down her chin and onto the floor.

They didn't have to think twice. All of them ran away to Canterlot. Bodies of their fallen allies in tow. The two unicorns that helped Aris, were carrying Aris on their back. Dust, not caring about them, ran in the direction the others ran to. Towards Sugarcube Corner.

Twilight, hearing footsteps, looked back to see dust. She smiled and ran to Dust. The other ponies nursed their wounds as they watched in confusion, wondering why twilight was running away. Looking further ahead, they saw Dust making his way over. Twilight jumped and hugged Dust. Dust doing the same. The other 5 ponies walked to the two. Smirks Plastered all over their faces.

"Well Twi, seems yer a bit too happy to see him?" Applejack said, trying to stifle a chuckle.

Twilight realised what she was doing and quickly let go. Her face was as red as a Big Mac’s.

"I-I Its not what it looks like! It’s not like I-.” before Twilight could continue, she got interrupted by Rainbow Dash.

"Awww! you love him, don't you Twilight?" Rainbow dash and pinkie teasingly asked with large smiles on their muzzles.

Dust looked at Pinkie and Rainbow with his red and cyan eyes. This made them shut up. Dust walked up to Rainbow dash, an inquisitive look on his face as he bent down and whispered in her ear.

“Is it ok If I train you and Scootaloo?" Dust asked.

"What? Train? I don't need training!" Rainbow said with an upset look.

"You got fucked up twice. By me and that Aris chick. Are you sure you don’t want to be trained by me?" Dust smirked.

Rainbow dash was confused, and a little worried about being trained by Dust, but she sighed and nodded.

"Fine. When does the training begin?" Rainbow dash asked.

"Tommorow morning. I’ll bring Scootaloo." Dust said.

Rainbow Dash agreed to the date and flew back to her house to prepare. The rest of the ponies went back to their respective homes to rest and heal. Spike, Twilight, and Dust went back to Golden Oak Library. Dust and Twilight didn't talk for the entire walk. Both of them just blushed under the awkward silence and the memory of what Twilight had just done.

Twilight opened the door only to see Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom eating junk food on the couch. the cmc turned around to see the blushing pony and skeleton.

"Wait a gosh darn minute. How can skeletons blush? They don't have any blood? And why are y'all blushing?" Apple Bloom questioned.

“Well, he is bleeding, so maybe skeletons do have blood?” Sweetie Belle argued.

Dust groaned and looked to Scootaloo.

"Scootaloo, I'll be training you tomorrow morning make sure to be prepared." Dust said to Scootaloo.

Twilight was shocked. When was this idea brought about? and Scootaloo? She doesn't have a horn. Although, Ari’s was a Pegasus and seems to wield some kind of Pegasus magic she didn’t know about. But Dust was no Pegasus. How exactly was he going to train her?

"Wait, Dust, how do you plan on teaching scootaloo magic or whatever you're going to teach her? And also, when did you decide to start teaching a filly how to fight?" Twilight questioned Dust.

"I decided to train her for the next time something happens and she needs to defend herself. Because there will come a day when she needs to protect herself." Dust said as he looked at the still blushing mare.

"Anyway it's getting late, You girls should go back to your sisters." Dust said to the 2 fillies.

"Aw! Can’t we do a sleepover?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pleaded.

Dust told the two they would need permission from their sisters. They asked if Dust could ask. He agreed and teleported to Rarity. The teleportation scared rarity so much that she dropped her stuff. Only to catch it with her magic. Then Dust went to Applejack. She was startled too, but not as much as Rarity. He eventually teleported back and said they both agreed. They cheered and began to plan things out. As they began to have their fun, something clicked with Dust.

“Hey. Where were you two this whole time during the fight?” Dust asked.

“Under the covers in Twilight’s bed.” Apple Bloom proclaimed.

Dust just stared at them before nodding.

“Alrighty then. You three try not to stay up too late.” Dust said as he walked upstairs.

The crusaders all gave each other a high hoof and began to have their sleepover together. Until about four hours later when they fell asleep on the floor under the cover of their pillow fort.