Alpha's Sojourn

Alpha dreamt the dreams of gods. He was standing before a sea of minotaurs each broken at the knee bowing to their god king. Though he longed to explore the dream world more, his mind shifted to a familiar sight he had replayed many times during his imprisonment.

Alpha had just placed the twisted black crown atop Chrysalis' head. Her emerald mane matched nicely with the green accents of the headpiece, unfortunately her white coat did not. He marveled for a second at her delicate transparent wings with awe.

"Are you done checking me out or can we get the tour started already?"

"What oh sorry, my mind was lost there for a second."

"That seems to happen a lot doesn't it."

"And what tour? You never mentioned anything about any tour before."

"Oh shoot, did I leave that part out again," Chrysalis mumbled to herself, "well as Carbon's daughter it's my duty to give the grand tour to all the newcomers in town."

"And here I thought you just wanted to spend more time with me."

"Blegh. As if I'd rather be strapped down, and have all the hairs in my mane be plucked out one by one rather than spend more time with you."

"Well if that's you final offer I guess I'll just be on my way, and tell the higher ups that the Changeling-Minotaur alliance is off then."

"WAIT! WHAT? NO DON'T GO. I-I mean don't go. Please? I'm sorry for what I said we don't usually get many visitors this far out, and I would love to give you the grand tour." Alpha could see the pleading look in her eyes.

"Alright sure, but only if we stop for lunch first."

The two walked as Chrysalis pointed out small shops she enjoyed frequenting, as well as some of the changelings that happened to cross their path. Alpha simply followed behind her noting the changelings' white coat seemed to be a universal trait, and not just something that only a few had, a stark contrast to his own deep brown coat to be sure.

Chrysalis' voice had become distant, and the illusion began to fade. Alpha could now clearly see the wires, and tape that held his dream together. A voice was beginning to permeate his foggy state.

A pair of heavy black eyelids creaked open, the sight that greeted him was not a pretty one. A wrinkled, pale green mare shrieking at the top of her lungs.

"Eeek a monster, quickly Big Macintosh call the guards." The green prune yelled in the direction of the barn.

"Eeek an insensitive bitch," came his retort, "doesn't feel too good now does it?"

"W-what did you say?"

"I didn't stutter grandma."

THWACK. A worn walker met the top of his head.

"What was that for?"

"Respect yer elders ya wipper-snapper."

"I am your elder you crazy old woman. I was ruling a kingdom before this place was a pit-stop for traveling cocottes. So hold you tongue woman." By this time Alpha had stood to his full height towering over the the diminutive mare. The old mare didn't so much as flinch she simply spat to the side, and adjusted her glasses.

"That all you got sonny 'cause iffin that's all ah expect to be paid fer all those apples you ate as well as fer the damage ya caused on you way here." She said pointing a hoof to a trail of destruction caused by Alpha.

"Well that sucks because I'm fresh out of money." And he had been for the last millennium or so.

"In that case you can either work it off, and judging from the look a ya, ya probly wouldn't be any good at that either. On the other hoof I could get mah grandson to beat it outta ya."

"Bring him on lady, I can take him."

"BIG MAC WE'VE GOT A COLT HERE WHO REFUSES TA PAY!"

Alpha barely had a second to look before a streak of scarlet bounded out from between the trees, and sucker bucked him straight in the jaw. The immense speed, and weight behind the kick sent Alpha reeling. He could feel tendons snap, muscles tear, and his jaw pop out of place. The red draft horse stood there with a smirk on his face as the pitch black giant fell to the ground obviously in pain. By this time the elderly green mare had retreated a fair distance from the beast, and her grandson

However the smirk soon vanished from his face, as well as most of his blood, as the beast got up, and popped its jaw back into place without so much as a second thought.

"That actually kind of tickled a little you know that. Now if you'll please allow me to repay the favor." Without pause Alpha balled one of his massive hands into a fist, cocked his arm, and delivered a devastating blow to the work horse's sternum. The red stallion flew a few feet through the air before skidding a to a stop in the soft earth.

"What that all you got big boy," taunted Alpha.

"Not even close."

The crimson draft horse broke into a full speed gallop, and charged Alpha once more.

"No dice kid. Fool me once, and all that." Alpha I as he turned to the side dodging the stallions attack. "Olé."

Again the stallion charged, but as Alpha turned to dodge, the crimson colt spun on his forehooves transferring all of the momentum to his hindhooves, and into the chest of the black beast, delivering a stelar blow which sent him tumbling backwards.

"Okay now I'm pissed."

"What need a diaper?" Retorted the stallion.

"That does it," spat a now infuriated Alpha.

Reaching a massive hand across to the stallions yoke Alpha pulled him into the air, and began to spin furiously, golden chains creating a brilliant whirlpool around them. Alpha looked into the stallions dazed eyes, and held out just a little longer. He himself was beginning to feel the effects of this strategy, and was close to losing his last meal himself. With an abrupt stop Alpha placed the work horse onto the ground before the golden chains could whip around, and knock him to the floor.

Alpha stared, and laughed heartily as the scarlet stallion deposited the contents of his stomach onto the ground before collapsing. Alpha noticed the elderly mare trot over to her grandson, and begin to suffer from a shallow, wheezing cough. Now she began to step closer, and closer still coughing...no wait she wasn't coughing she was laughing. He saw her barely suppressing a fit of giggles.

"Ah gotta hand it ta ya youngin' ya really know how to treat an old mare to a good show. And you managed ta not kill anypony that's always a plus."

"Wait you had me against your grandson in a fight to the death for your own sick amusement?"

"Well when ya put it that way it does sound a might bad, but whoever said it was a fight ta the death I was gonna step in after I got mah fill."

"You sure I didn't kill what's his face?"

"Who? Big Macintosh. Nah he'll be fine he's suffered worse."

"You sure, he doesn't seem to be moving."

"Little pansy's just takin a nap in a puddle of his own puke."

"Well if thats the case, am I free to go?"

"Sure you've paid yer debt you're free ta go."

"Don't suppose I could get a helping hoof?" Asked Alpha struggling against his binds.

"Sorry ah've got an injured grandson ta look after."

"Fair enough I suppose. Now if you'll excuse me, I've several hours of struggling to get to."

Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged awkward glances as they sat across from their four closest friends.

"So you see that's the reason we were in that compromising position." Twilight calmly explained the events of last night to the rest of the group.

"So you expect us to believe that some sort of shadow monster attacked Zecora, and as the two of you were tracking it, it saw you, and you reflexively teleported to Fluttershy's cottage. You do realize how ludicrous that story sounds right?" Asked a skeptical Rarity.

"I'm actually pretty sure that they're not lyin'," stated Applejack, "mah truth thing works both ways, and hard as this is to swallow it's not like it's any weirder than anything we've ever faced before."

"Wait you can tell when anypony else is lying?" Asked a bewildered Rainbow Dash.

"Yep sure can."

"So that's why we can never beat you at cards isn't it."

"W-well um...Ah wouldn't say that exactly. R-really i-it's a lot more lahk..."

"So you do cheat at cards." Stated a now infuriated Rainbow.

"I'm no cheater. I'm just really good at callin'ponies bluffs is all."

"Riiiight."

"So Pinkie what's up with you?" Asked Twilight eager to change the subject.

Pinkie who had been suspiciously quiet this entire time had her hair deflated, and a maniacal grin plastered across her face.

"Absolutely nothing Twilight Sparkle. Why do you ask?" She said perfectly flatly.

"You just seem a bit off today. Is everything alright?"

"Everything is perfectly alright. Twilight Sparkle I have simply taken my medication to stop the voices in my head, and I shall continue to take my medication for the foreseeable future Twilight Sparkle." This twisted pink pony stated before turning her head and winking at the wall.

"Oookay. Now is everypony here satisfied that Fluttershy and I aren't in a relationship."

"W-wait we aren't. I thought we were I'm sorry Twilight."

"Uh sorry Fluttershy but I just don't feel that way about you or mares in general. So anyways back to the subject at hoof. The giant shadow monster that attacked Zecora, and took up residence in the Everfree forest. "

"So what pray tell would be the best course of action in this situation."

"Well I believe that the first thing we should do is-"

"Write a letter to Princess Celestia." Said every mare at the table save for Twilight.

"Uh yeah. How'd you guys know that?"

"You're very predictable darling. Hasn't anypony ever told you that." Said Rarity nonchalantly.

"Look y'all are missin' tha point there's a giant, violent monster out in the Everfree, an we're the only one's who can do anything about it. So now lets stop bickerin' get tha Elements, and take care uh this problem before anypony else gets hurt." Stated the Element of Honesty

"Wait what about Zecora?" Asked the rainbow maned pegasus.

"What about Zecora. She has been taken care of as best she can with what Twi and Shy could, and we should trust that their medical skills cand send Zecora on her road to recovery. There's really nothing more we can do for her now let's go."

With that the six were off to the library to gather the Elements of Harmony. Which had been moved to the library due to the fact that they were better to have on hoof as opposed to locked in a vault only Celestia could open.

Chitin was traveling down the path of carnage for the past half hour, and could see flakes of gold here, and there. He was intrigued by the shiny metal, it was cold to the touch, colder than gold should have been. When he held it, it seemed to draw the very heat from his body. Disregarding the small fortune around him Chitin pressed on.

After what seemed like an eternity Chitin saw a different path of destruction that seemed to merge with the first but this one had tufts of black and white fur dotting its length. Perhaps a pair of ponies, or maybe a zebra, nah that was dumb who had ever heard of a zebra in Equestria.  Shaking the ridiculous thoughts from his mind Chitin pressed on. With fatigue now bearing down upon him Chitin took a small break on a fallen log.

Why's this thing so sticky, Chitin thought, I should really make sure that this isn't going to try and kill me the next time I blink. Considering where i am it probably would. Hoping gracefully from his seat Chitin searched the perimeter of the log. Until he saw it, there was definitely a face, and a sign of struggle. There was a large chunk missing from half of the fallen tree, and what he dared call its face was broken, and torn. What kind of idiot gets into a fight with a tree. Resin that had been leaking from its wounds had hardened into stalactites hanging from the splintered ends of the tree's damage.

Poor tree Chitin thought to himself. Best not to linger if whatever did this to the tree came back, it could definitely do a quick job of taking me out. And so he was off, the fear of what may leap from the forest at any time combined with the several very real pairs of eyes staring at him from behind the blanket of trees gave him the renewed brio that he so desperately needed.

The creature's trail had become noticeably less noticeable, but still discernable from the rest of the forest. With some difficulty Chitin had continued to follow the trail, mostly by following the occasional speck of gold on a stray rock, or exposed tree root. An eternity later, and Chitin found himself in a clearing that held a single hollowed out tree which had several windows, and several strange masks lining the outside. He stayed clear of the house because he could feel a live presence within and didn't wish to provoke any hostility.

The trail he had been following now led to the front door of the home, but several fractures, and scratches on the outside told him that the creature hadn't gone inside. Instead it led off into the woods mirrored by a set of hooves. Before Chitin left however he picked up the slightest scent of pain, regret, and surprisingly enough love and friendship.

Following the carved earth Chitin eventually met a pair of bubbling pools of grayish goo, and a fractured tree. Seeing as there was nothing more for him here he continued on towards a less distinct path in the earth. This trail, Chitin noted, had many more gold flakes lining its path.

The sun was beginning to dip low into the sky, and Chitin was still no nearer to catching his prey. He was ready to lay down and rest until he found a depression in the ground. This depression was large enough that the creature that created it could've easily caused the damage he had seen earlier. He lit up his horn in an attempt to try, and pick up some of its emotions, but found that he could not. He found nothing, no creature was incapable of producing emotion so why were there no emotions to be found of this monster. The only thing he had found were the fear and anxiety of a pair of ponies along with twin puddles of urine. A faint magical residue also hung in the air, but Chitin wasn't experienced enough to know what it was. Being unable to discern anything else, Chitin continued on.

The path carved by the monster had become shallower, and splattered with the golden flakes. Only a moron could miss the amount of metallic spalls on the ground, a true genius would disregard it for it would only slow him down. There eventually came a camp which the monster had attempted to cross unnoticed by the looks of it, but it looked like it had then been spotted, and went to the center of the camp. Charging his horn once more Chitin began to feel the ambient emotions in the air. He could taste melancholy mixed with a twinge of rage and regret. Again the monster's emotions eluded him only the taste of pony danced on his tongue.

The monster and the pony had not been here too long ago, and he could see the newly churned earth. With a lone shaky step Chitin continued his journey, knowing that soon he would meet his prey. The going was quicker, as the trees around him had begun to thin, and a flurry of emotions were carried on the wind. When the trees had finally cleared Chitin could see large rust colored barn in the distance. What really amazed him was the fact that the monster's trail had ended on one side of barbed wire fence, and continued on the other without so much as a smudge on the wire.

After the fence the monster's trail became much messier, and more destructive. The trail, now easily discernable, led Chitin to an apple orchard of all things, half eaten apples were strewn about at best at worst, pulp formed small puddles of apple-y carnage. The monster's scent, or lack there of, was unmistakable at this point it left a sort of void in places it had spent a long time in. The other emotions were that of anger, not surprising, embarrassment, shame, disgust, and laughter.

In the distance Chitin could hear a pair of voices, and a torrent of green flame enveloped him transforming him into a powder blue unicorn mare with a crimson mane, red eyes, and a gold five pointed star adorning his flank. He was now stargazer amateur astrologist, and vagrant pony.

"Howdy youngin', you wander in from the forest?" Asked an old viridian mare.

"O-of course not that would be crazy, somepony wandering around the Everfree all by herself. I was just walking along the outside of your property looking for...the..."

"Entrance?" Offered the elderly mare.

"Yes the, entrance that's exactly what I was looking for. Because I was looking to...buy some," Chitin looked around and saw innumerable trees laden with fat, rosy apples,"apples?" The last word was more of a question than a statement.

"Well why didn't 'cha say so. We've got more apples than you could shake a stick at miss...um what did ya say yer name was again."

"Stargazer." The name tasted strange on his tongue, he hadn't used this form in quite some time.

"Well miss Stargazer I think you'll find that we have some of the greatest apples in Equestria here at Sweet Apple Acres, and as always the first one is on the house." The aged mare said proudly, as she plucked a fresh, fat apple from a low hanging branch, and inserting it into "Stargazer"'s mouth.

"T-thank you," Chitin said coughing up a few chunks of apple that had failed to go down. He looked at the face of the mare, her joy and pride were worth more to him than some inedible chunk of plant matter. "Although as you can see I've forgotten my saddle bags, and I am without bits at the moment. So if you'll excuse me I must be on my way."

"Alright youngster be careful 'cause there are monsters out there tonight." The mare said, a stoic mask replacing the jovial attitude she held earlier.

With that Chitin left the farm, and continued down the trail, the monster had carved.

"Hmm these flecks of gold appear to be enchanted captain." Stated the changeling with the green flare on its flank, known as Jast.

"Very good Jast can you tell the size of the beast be the indentations in the ground?" Asked the changeling with a pair of soulless tarry pits for eyes, known as Sec.

"Unfortunately I cannot. The boulders the mark was dragging distort any attempt I make at judging its size."

"Now let us continue on," said the changeling with a green bubble on its flank while lightning up its horn.

"Caan what in the name of the Ageless Queen do you think you're doing?" Asked Sec.

"I am simply gathering the gold so theat it may be analyzed at a further time. Plus a little off the record compensation can be expected from time to time."

"The Queen could have you hanged you do understand this don't you?"

"I do, but this gold will be long smelted before anyling here has a chance to say anything."  Caan said with a smirk.

"Thay what is our current position, and what is the nearest settlement?" Sec barked, now sick of Caan.

Looking to the afternoon sky Thay contemplated the question for a brief spell. "It is approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, we are several miles to the south of the former castle of the royal pony sisters, the nearest settlement would be Ponyville about half a days trek north-east. Is there anything more commander?"

"No that will be all Thay. Come now let us continue tracking this creature. I wish to be back at the hive before nightfall."

So the Cult of Skaro wandered the Everfree passing all of the markers that Chitin had passed earlier that day, each lost in their own thoughts. Sec's mind was occupied with the creature that had lain in the cave for so long, nothing could have survived that long without so much as a drop of water, but all evidence had suggested that that had been the case. Caan's thoughts were filled with the idea of treasure hidden by this creature, what could be so valuable that it would take it along. Jast only saw their prey as a worthy foe, after felling so many enemies on the field of battle, the sport of blood had lost its appeal. Thay held the most innocent of all thoughts, those to see the world beyond the Hive or service to simply see the world with no ties to anyling just the wind at his back and the road before him.

The sun had fallen, and the trees cleared abruptly. Before them sat a large fallen tree that looked too strange to have been natural.

"Caan what in the name of the Queen is that thing?"

"It appears to be a tree commander." Said Caan nonchalantly whilst admiring a hole in his hoof that had half filled in with gold.

"I can tell that much, what sets it apart from the rest of the forest?"

"You are correct commander this tree is not natural. It appears to be a broken wooden golem. From minotaur lands no less I haven't seen one of these...ever the most recent one I've seen was made of iron. From what I've heard these things haven't been been made for a few centuries at least."

"Can you tell me anything else about it?"

"Yes this makers mark I've only seen it one other place," Caan said pointing to the pair of crossed hammers over an anvil, "and that was on the royal seal of one of Queen Chrysalis' oldest correspondence letters."

"Alright lets get going theres nothing more for----- ROAR"

Behind them a manticore ripped through the dense foliage slamming its tail against all but one, Jast.

"Jast take care of that thing quickly we must press on." Called Sec.

...

Not five minutes after the main group had departed down the path of the beast had Jast returned, splotches of crimson paste marring his otherwise shining black chitinous armor.