Tell it to a Deadman

A heavily-beaten boy was being dragged across the ground by his leg. His usual rounded white face now bruised, battered, and bloody. Dirt being matted in his black hair. Six men were accompanying him through through their journey. The largest of the group, being the one to drag him. Earlier, he tried to resist, but that only ended up his leg being twisted to a very odd angle that hurt him so. As well as losing his knife that his own sister gave him. But to add insult to injury, he had been beaten almost to the brink of unconsciousness.

Almost.

As he was being dragged across the ground, he took the risk of opening one of his now-blackened eyes. The one dragging him was big to say the least. His arms showed signs of over-weight, but muscle underneath. His face carried scars, with a angry complexion. The others were average, two had brown hair, one had a spiked mohawk, and the largest was bald. The big one had a sledgehammer tied to his back. The others carried things he'd seen protecting him most of his life, that shook him to the very core.

Guns.

Tears started welling in his eyes as he remembered his former home. Finally, after silently crying to himself. One of the other men spoke up.

"We got another one! Open up the damn gate!" the one with the mohawk yelled.

As he was being dragged, he noticed how many filthy looking guards there were, each of them carrying some form of a weapon. The boy had heard stories of places like these as his tears began to fall again. It wasn't until they brought him in and put a collar around his neck that they stopped. The next part scared him as they brought a hot-leaded branding iron with an enigma on it. He didn't even have time to register what was happening when the hot metal pressed against his hand, pain searing through his now scorching skin. as he looked at the new mark in his hand, he knew now that he could never be free again.

After realizing this, he looked at his captors, and with his bloodied hands he flipped them the bird. As the pain from the burn settled in, an immense burning sensation went up his entire right hand. All he could do was stand there and scream.

"Ahhhhhhhh!" he screamed in pain clutching his hand.

Tears falling from his eyes from the agony. As he looked down, he noticed how burned it really was, the flesh was an very sickly shade of dark red. But that was all the time he had to examine it as two giant, burly men grabbed him by his shoulders. Dragging him off.

He was dragged by different men, than the ones who captured him. He was leaving a trail in the mud as he was dragged into an area with many barred cells. His visioned blurred by tears and dirt. As he was thrown into an empty cell. All he did was cuddle up and cry until the darkness of his dreams took over. His dreams would be his only sanctuary for a short time to come.

Somewhere at Sweet apple acres...

"CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS APPLE PROTECTORS!!!" three little fillies yelled with joy.

Applejack was having a bug problem with the apples she bucked from the trees. When she first noticed a worm poking out of two of her apples, she figured she could ask her little sister and her friends for a little help, at least to keep them out of trouble. While she was scaring away little pesky worms, the three fillies were doing there best in trying to scare off the worms, and trying to save the apples. Scootaloo was picking up every apple she found and dunking them into an awaiting bucket atop of Applebloom's back. Every *THUNK* of an apple in the bucket earned a smile from Applebloom.

A little worm was slowly crawling to a nice, big, juicy red apple; only to be scared away by Sweetiebelle growling and putting on her best angry face. They continued this until all the apples were picked up. Soon after, they all looked to each others' backsides.

"Awwwwww..." they all cried in unison.

"What the hay! Were never going to get our cutiemarks." Scootaloo says with a pout, sitting her flank on the ground.

"Don't sweat it Scootaloo, I'm sure will get our cutiemarks soon." Little Sweetiebelle says while patting her friend on the back.

"Yeah, besides we can still ask ma sister fer help!" Applebloom exclaimed while helping Sweetiebelle pull Scootaloo back to her hooves.

At this, Scootaloo smiled and shook her head.

"You guys are right. Hey! Maybe we can go help Zecora!" The little filly says with a wide, excited smile.

"Yeah! You're right! Come on crusaders! Lets ask Zecora if we can help her with potion making!" Sweetiebelle shouts with glee.

"Wait! We already tried that remember? We almost started a forest fire!" Scootaloo remarked in a panic, waving her hooves in the air.

"Oh! uh...yeah, hehe. Well, maybe we can ask her if we can get any ingredients for her." Sweetiebelle said.

As her friends were talking about how to get their cutiemarks, Applebloom was becoming a bit worried about going into to the forest.

"Ah don't know girls, ma sister said that we can't go alone into the forest... even ta visit Zecora" Applebloom said interrupting her two friends while pawing the ground with her hoof.

"Why? Rainbow Dash would probably let me go in any time! Or are you chicken?" Scootaloo says with a sly smile.

Applebloom's face went to one of shock, then determination. No pony. Calls her. Chicken!

"I'm not a chicken! Lets go crusaders!" she yells while breaking out into a gallop down the path.

At this, the two young fillies gallop off after their friend on the path to the Everfree forest. But from across the farm, a certain orange earth pony was watching from the distance.

"Applebloom is gonna get the grounding of a life time fer this." the pony known as Applejack muttered under her breath as she started galloping off after her sister.

She overheard the whole thing. But no matter how many times she told her little sister, she knew she most likely wouldn't listen if it meant getting her mark.

She continued to gallop down the path only to stop at the entrance to her farm Sweet Apple Acres, and yell to a rather large red stallion coming out of the barn in a distance.

"Big Mac! I'm gonna go tail Crusaders ya think you can watch the farm fer a bit?" she yelled to her brother.

Big Mac only smiled and let out one of his very numerous "Eyup!"s.

At this, Applejack left the farm on the path to the Everfree forest.

Somewhere in the Everfree Forest

Darkness and pain. Those were my first feelings I felt as I finally regained consciousness.

"Goddamn..." I say to no one in particular.

I wait for my vision to adjust to the darkness, wondering if I had a concussion. I finally decide to pull off the glove on my right hand. As I do, I use my other hand to trace the symbol that was burned into my hand years ago.

'I can never escape...hah, if only Alice could see me now...' I think as I finally decide to cover up my scarred hand.

Alice... if only she knew, maybe then, she could have convinced our town that I was not to be feared or hated.

Years ago...

A boy sits in a small white room with no windows. A blonde-haired woman enters through a door with red cheeks as if she was crying.

"This is unfair and you know it..." she says after hanging her head low, she couldn't even look at the boy. "I tried to convince the mayor to switch the job, or at least wait for you to grow up a bit more, but he says he'll have none of it." she says on the verge of tears again.

"Whats going on? I thought it was a good thing I finally got a job?" The boy asked in concern, a frown coming to his face.

"Not with this job it isn't." she said shaking her head, her voice with no emotion. "Being a scavenger is one of the most dangerous, possibly worst jobs someone in town can ever imagine! I already talked to father, who's threatening to disown you!" she said, tears now falling from her eyes.

"I...I don't understand...?" the boy said, tears welling up in his eyes as well.

He didn't know what was going on. First he was drawn for the job title of "Scavenger", then was dragged away by some of the town guards. Even Lewis, one of his best friends, treated him like he was the plague. As he remembered the way Lewis's face contorted from one of comfort before the ceremony, to one of shock and fear. At the memory of this, the boy's tears finally started falling freely, as he hung his head low.

The woman embraced the little, now crying child. Rubbing his head and hair while whispering words of comfort into his ears. They were like that for the rest of the hour, until an armed guard came and took the woman away...

After remembering, I decided it would be a good time to go. I never was one for staying in one place for too long. Plus,with the memory and coupled by the fact that waiting in the dark with a concussion can be a real mood killer; I didn't even want to lay down. So with a sigh, I blindly stumble across the ground until I finally find the familiar shape of what seemed to be my duffel bag. As I reach it, a searing pain goes through my head.

"Hmm... so a new creature is in Equestria eh? I always wanted to be inside the mind of someone who can cause a lot of chaos!" A voice said.

I look around in panic.

'Who the hell said that!?' I can only wonder as I draw my revolver.

"Hello? Anybody there?" I ask aloud, hoping I could draw whoever said that out in the open.

Suddenly, giant red pupils emerge all over the darkness in a never ending sea.

"What? You thought that you could enter a new world and NOT have a god of chaos know you're here? For shame." the voice said, only to start laughing.

The eyes that were once staring at me in conviction, now turning into ones of glee. I pointed the gun at one of the eyes and pulled the trigger. But instead of the all-so-familiar sound of my revolver firing, I got a little poof of smoke and a small flag emerging from the barrel titled with the word "BANG!".

"Ha hahaha ha! You actually thought I would meet you in the real world!? Oh that is rich!" the voice stated going into another fit of laughter.

This guy is a clown. I. Hate. Clowns.

"What the hell are you!?" I yelled at the eyes with all the anger I could muster. Only hoping whatever the this thing was couldn't sense or smell my rising fear.

"Some one who can help you get home." the voice said again as the eyes finally went back to glaring at me.

"But only... if you help me. You see, I need you to lets say "Get rid of" somepony for me. You do stuff like that, right?" it asked

I will admit. I have.

But, when your just trying to survive, the lines between good & evil tend to blur into a dark or light shade of grey. I would have accepted if it meant getting me out of this nightmare right away, but instinct told me not to trust this guy.

"Why? Why should I help you?" I spit the last part at him, at least it sounded like a him.

"Because, I have already been more kinder to you on our first meeting, if you met somepony else I know; she would most likely have you thrown in a dungeon, never to see the light of day again." it said, a one fanged smile now appearing in the almost never ending wall of eyes.

"Fine. But one last question. Who are you?" I said, slowly reaching down to a concealed knife near my waist.

"Just call me... Discord." it said, taking a dramatic pause to add emphasis to his name.

"Alright Discord, I just have one thing to say, what did the man with a slit throat say to the bar keep?" I said, slowly sliding my knife from its belt.

"Ooooh! A joke! I love jokes! Let me guess. Hmmmm... Oh, I know! He said that I could incinerate you in an instant if you try pulling that knife I see in your left hand!" he said, the eyes still glaring, but this time, there was a hint of insanity in them.

I stopped pulling my knife when he said that.

'How could he know? Is he able to see in this pitch blackness?' I asked myself.

Whoever the hell this thing or guy was, he sure has a bit of skill to know when I'm drawing a weapon in darkness that even I couldn't see well in.

With a grunt, I decide to accept the deal.

For now.

"Fine, but if I decide I don't want to kill whoever you want dead, I'm coming for you." I stated with determination.

Even if I have to walk thousands of miles to find this guy, I'll do it. No one, and I mean NO ONE messes with a Dead-man. There is a reason people are terrified of us. We aren't trained guards, or bounty hunters. Hell, we're not even suppose to be human to some people, but that's what the Dead-lands do to you. It makes you a monster in the faces of people who are too cowardly to do what we do.

"Excellent! Oh and don't worry, you're still asleep. But after this you'll wake up. I suggest you get moving soon, the ruckus you caused is bound to get some unwanted attention! Ha ha!" Discord said, eyes now disappearing.

"Oh! One more thing, the one I want you to kill, her name is Celestia. Don't worry, you'll know her when you see her! Muhahaha!" he laughed menacingly.

"What the hell do you me-" before I could ask, the darkness around me seemed to get darker, and darker still.

Until I couldn't see or hear the eyes and voice anymore.

'What the hell have I gotten myself into?' was all I could think to myself before it felt like I was knocked out again.

Inside the Everfree Forest

"Uhhh... Applebloom? I think we're lost." Sweetiebelle said while looking left and right at the surrounding dense trees.

"We're not lost. We're just uhhh... tryin ta find the road to Zecora's!" Applebloom said with a little anxiety.

"Agh! Face it Applebloom we're lost! I knew this was a bad idea!" Scootaloo said while 'face-hoofing'.

"Wasn't this your idea Scootaloo?" Sweetiebelle said now annoyed.

"Hey! I wasn't the one who ran off!" Scootaloo exclaimed, now glaring at Applebloom.

"Well I wouldn't have done it if ya hadn't called me a chicken." Applebloom said annoyed while blushing at her own ignorance.

"Whatever, let's just go back okay?" Sweetiebelle said.

Before Scootaloo could agree with her friend, a distant howl, and a large *BOOM!* could be heard a little far up the trail.

"D-did you girls here that?" Scootaloo asked, now clearly shaking.

"I-it was kinda hard ta miss..." Applebloom said, shaking as much as her friend.

"Hey! Maybe if we find out what it was, we might get our cutiemarks!" Scootaloo exclaimed, all the fear disappearing from her face.

"I don't know... I thought I heard timber wolves right before that sound..." Sweetiebelle said still shaking from the noise.

"I agree with Sweetiebelle, I think we should go back." Applebloom said with a worried glance up the path ahead.

"Besides, I'm gettin a bad feelin from whatever happened up ahead, and Applejack always says to listen to that feelin." Applebloom remarked.

Scootaloo looked back and forth between her two best friends. Finally after a minute, she sighs in defeat.

"Okaaaaay..." she says with defeat while her eyes go towards the sky.

Right as all three turned around to leave, a long howl emanated all around the area.

"Uh oh!" all three exclaimed as four large wooden wolves erupted from the nearby bushes on their path.

The fillies were paralyzed in fear. Shivering from the size of the wolves. They stayed like that all until Applebloom built up the courage to find her voice.

"RUUUUUUUUUN!" she screamed as she sprinted in the direction of the sound that frightened all of them only moments before.

The others soon following and catching up. They sprinted for what seemed like minutes, not looking back until they finally came upon the origin of the loud explosion.

It was a crater. The mere size of it making the fillies feel incredibly small insecure. They only had a few seconds to examine the peculiar sight until the wooden beast caught up to them. Growling, almost drooling from the mouth. The fillies backed up more and more closer to the craters edge. They were scared. Usually one of their sisters would come and rescue them, but this time none could be seen.

Yet.

Right as the three young fillies were about to meet their, what was thought to be inevitable end, a loud whistle came from behind the wolves.

"Don't you DARE! Lay a single gosh darn claw on my sister and her friends you wolves!" a familiar country accented voice said behind the pack.

"APPLEJACK!" the three fillies yelled.

"Don't ya worry girls! I'm here now!" the farm pony yelled while getting ready for the fight of her life.

Several minutes ago

"Ooh! when I get my hooves on Applebloom! I'm gonna ground her fer a week! How many times do I have to tell that little filly that the Everfree Forest is dangerous!" she said clearly angry.

"*sigh* I just hope her and the girls are safe, I was sure Zecora's hut was back a little ways. But Applebloom has been here more then me." so with another sigh, Applejack continued to track down her little sister and her friends.

Until the moment she heard what was the sound of timber wolves, and a loud explosion that accompanied it.

"What in tarnation was that!?" Applejack exclaimed.

After stopping for a second to recollect what had just occurred, she galloped at a brisk pace. Praying to Celestia that her sister was safe.

But as she got deeper and further down the trail, she heard what sounded like bushes moving and then a loud

"RUUUUUUUUUUUN!" that sounded like the voice of her little sister.

"APPLEBLOOM!" Applejack yelled, now breaking into a sprint.

As she tracked down the wolves, she spotted her sister and her friends.

Present time...

Applejack got into a charging stance. Ready to charge the hungry wolves. She had to protect her little sister and her friends. Though, usually she had help from her friends. Rainbowdash would usually do most of the fighting, but since she wasn't here, she would have to do this her self.

The first wolf charged. AJ turned, and she bucked it in the jaw, sending it flying back. Another wolf began to charge.

As the wolf charged, Applejack repeated the same thing as before. But the wolves learned from their first mistake. As she got ready to kick another wolf, another one jumped and bit her side.

"Agh!" she yelped in pain as the she bucked the wolf off, falling to the ground in the process.

Blood was oozing from the painful bite wound. Applejack got up in pain. Her leg screaming in protest. The wolves got ready to charge again, but the stubborn farm pony wasn't going to let up. With a grunt of pain, she got ready for another assault. The wolves growling in anger that their meal was fighting back.

"Applebloom, you and your friends...run... NOW!" she yelled at her sister.

But her sister's back was facing away from her. So were the other crusaders as they were frozen in the spot by fear. But it wasn't the timber wolves, or the fact that Applejack was heavily bleeding. No, they were staring up at a tall monster that was directly in front of them. It emerged from the crater, it's eyes almost insect-like, with a big nose protruding from it's face where it's mouth should be.

It's skin was a sickly, dirty brown. It's limbs were like those of a monkey's, except longer and thicker. But what was most terrifying, was it was growling...

A few minutes before the battle

'Ow, well, that's one way to say goodbye...' I thought to myself.

The pain in my head was like someone hit me with a bat, and dragged me down a flight of stairs. I know the feeling because its happened before. Still...Ow.

I look around, every tilt of my head and neck sending pain down my body. I seemed to be in some kind of ditch. I try to rise, only to have my body convulse and fall to the ground.

Then, a sound I hope I wouldn't here at a time like this came from up top. The sound of wolves.

"Shit!" I yelled, the sound being muffled by my gas mask.

I forgot I had it on.

After 3 minutes of trying to get up and failing, I finally manage to get to my knees. I hear a commotion going on at the top. Then a sound I prayed were friendly. I heard growling, but what made me panic more was the whimpering of children.

'Dammit! Get up!' I thought to myself.

If I didn't get there in time... the outcome wouldn't be pretty. So, using all my strength, I manage to somehow get to my feet, but with extreme effort.

'I'm no use in a close fight' I thought while drawing my revolver, checking to see if all the chambers are loaded.

Satisfied after a few seconds, I start my difficult climb. Even though it was small climb, every single movement was like sprinting five miles. When I finally was able to see over the edge, I was shocked at what I saw.

Three little equine horses were huddled close enough for me to see clearly distinguished colors that made up there forms. The one on the right was white with a purple mane. There was one in the left who was yellow with a red mane, yellow coat, and had a bow in her hair; probably someone's pet. Finally there was the one on the left, she had a orange coat, purple mane, and... WINGS!?

I had to double take to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Unless they were mutated, I have never seen such... bright, I guess would be the word. I have never seen such brightly colored equines in my life, and one had wings! Wings! I mean; the fuck!?

They were backing up more and more, I was afraid they might fall over the edge on me. But they stopped just about nine inches away from the edge. It was here that I could hear how tired and scared they were.

'Must have been running for a while.' I thought.

What really surprised me was what happened next.

"APPLEJACK!" all three of them screamed in high pitched voices.

If it wasn't for the mask my jaw would have hit the ground. They talked. They. Fucking. Talked! Never have I seen such a sight as this.

'I wonder if this is what that psycho was talking about when he said "new world"...' I honestly was speechless.

I looked ahead of them, there was a larger orange equine with a blonde mane and a hat... Wow, she looked like a sheriff. Her mouth moved but I was too far away to tell what she was saying. All of a sudden, one of the wolves, which had brown fur I think, charged while she turned around. If she was like any of the horses I know, I knew what was going to happen next.

*THUMP* I watched as the orange horse's hind legs connected with one of the wolf's face. As the wolf landed, it got back up; a little dazed, but not out of the fight. Another wolf began to attack, but if these things are anything like ankle-biters...

They learn.

After the dazed one shook his head and recovered, he growled and barked at the others. Sadly I was right, another wolf charged from the side while the other one was attacking. I would have said something, but knowing that there are three little horses in front of me, I didn't want them to become these bastards next meal. As the wolf's jaw clenched around the horse's leg, I could only wince in pain at the memory when that happened to me once; it was very painful.

I couldn't take it anymore, I decided to get out of the ditch.

'strange, the edge seems almost circular.' I thought to myself as I used my strength to lift my body out of the ditch and on to my feet. The commotion I caused made all three of the little ones' turn their heads at me in complete and utter fear.

"Get behind me." I said, only praying that the muffling of my gas mask let the message be clear.

The little horses backed up in fear.

Damn, so much for asking.

With a sigh, I looked up and noticed the wolves, and the orange one's head all looking toward me. The wolves began to advance upon me. The little horses still haven't moved a muscle. Before I could move them out of the way, one of the wolves began to charge.

Time seemed to slow down. I analyzed my opportunities, and I went with the one I thought best. With one hand, I scoop and slide all three of the little ones aside, they screamed as I slid them out of danger. Then in one fluid motion; I raised my arm to the charging animal's head.

Too slow.

It tackled me to the ground. Before it could deliver a killing blow, I grabbed it's head trying to keep the jaws off me. These bastards wanna fight. Then I'm gonna give it to them!

I punch the hound in the face with the barrel of the gun with enough force that the familiar *CRACK* of a an unstoppable force hitting a hard place. The beast flew to my left, using my hands, I positioned myself, and leaped back to my feet. Raising my arm again, I cocked the hammer with a *click* then fired.

'Please don't be a fucking flag.' I prayed as the familiar *BANG!* of the gun rang in the air.

The one closest to the little ones head exploded into... what looked like wood.

'Kill first, wonder what the hell they are later.' I thought to myself cocking the hammer again.

Two charged at once, hoping to surprise me. I dodge to my right as one leaped right past me. The other jumped trying to pounce, but met the barrel of my gun to it's face. As the gun connected with the wooden face, I pulled the trigger. The result being the beast's entire head blowing into pieces. The final one I didn't see, jumped up and chomped down on my left arm.

With a grunt of pain, I swung the wolf up; the sudden inertia causing it to let go.

"Time to make fireworks!" I yelled as I aimed and fired.

The wolf took a shot straight to the stomach, the bullet cutting through it's wooden bark body like tissue paper. I fired again, this bullet hitting it near it's genitalia region. That had to hurt. As the body fell and made contact with the ground, it made a loud *CRACK!* as more wooden splinters came off the now dead wolf.

I turned to see two more wolves jumped out of some bushes. Growling at seeing their comrades fall so easily, both rush me; both of them moving left and right in the process so I couldn't get a good shot.

Unsheathing the hidden knife, I get ready for their assault. The first one tries to pounce. Spinning in a tornado like fashion, I twirl the blade so with a powerful thrust, it meets the throat of the attacking beast, lodging itself into the wooden skin. Letting go, I duck when the next one jumps over my head. Aiming the gun again, I let out two shots, each hitting the wolf in quick succession.

The final wolf that still had my knife in it's neck looked at it's fallen pack, then at me. With a angry bark and a growl; it jumps into the bushes, taking my knife with it.

"Oh come on!" I yelled in anger at the sight of the wooden beast running off with my knife.

After yelling at it and shaking my fist in the air for a few minutes, I turn around to see the orange horse standing protectively in front of the three little horses.

'Maybe a mother?' I wonder as she paws the ground and snorts out hot air.

Applejack couldn't believe her eyes. One minute, she thinks the monster is going to attack her little sister. The next, he saves them and defeats ALL of the timber wolves. She cringed when she used the word "defeat" when in truth it killed all but one. As it was growling in anger, she took the liberty to limp over in front of the crusaders as they were staring in shock, awe, and disgust.

Applebloom looked to her sister with an expression of worry.

"Sis! You're bleeding!" she said almost on the verge of tears.

"I'm al'right Applebloom, I'm just glad your safe." she said as she nuzzled her little sister weakly.

She turned back to the strange creature that saved them and took a defensive stance when it look at her. It may have saved them from the wolves, but that didn't mean it couldn't hurt them still.

As it looked at them, it said something that was complete an utter gibberish. As it tried to talk, Applejack stopped for a second to watch what it was doing.

"Beg yer pardon?" she asked with a look of confusion, trying her best to stay conscious.

'Man! I hate this stupid thing' I thought when the orange one spoke.

Since this stupid mask was muffling my voice; I might as well take it off. I just hope the air isn't toxic. As I reach, wincing in pain from the recent bite wound; I find the strap and start the process of removing the mask.

After a minute, I finally manage to take the stupid thing off. Feeling the wind and cool air on my sweaty face felt good. I looked at the orange creature, which was now in awe for some odd reason. Smiling I said

"I see you're bleeding, we should probably get you medical help." I say with a smirk as I point to her injury.

She stares at me for a minute; finally she collapses to the ground unconscious.

"APPLEJACK!" the little yellow one screamed in panic as she huddled close to the one named Applejack.

"Le-leave us alone!" the orange one yelled, almost on the verge of tears.

If I didn't do anything soon, the creature would most likely die...

"We need to get her some medical treatment, she passed out from the blood-loss; I know you don't trust me, but you three can't carry her by yourselves... besides, those things could still be out there." I say the last part looking around gripping the my gun.

As I looked back, they all seemed to be staring at me, most likely trying to decide if they should trust me or not.

"Fine. But if you even think of hurtin my sister, you'll be sorry!" the yellow one finally said, giving me a glare.

"Right, so where is the nearest town?" I ask as I approach Applejack's body.

Slowly, painfully slowly, I lift her body with ease over my shoulder, being careful not to bring any discomfort, should she wake up.

"Follow us! Ponyville isn't far from here! Hurry!" one of them said as all three started galloping in some direction.

'Sure hope the locals are friendly' I thought to myself as I started carefully jogging to catch up.

(Okay! Finally got the chapter out as I did this ALL at the local library. If there are any mistakes on grammar please let me know, also, I am sorry if it isn't as good as the first chapter... I think I could've done better. Anyway, laterz!