Chapter 9: Questions and Sorrow

"Protect me? Explain now," I barely managed over my adrenaline rush.

The runner stood before me, surrounded by my friends, motionless and uncaring. He was within arms reach of me, I felt like ending it and striking him down with a fiery strike, but I needed answers.

"I said talk." I hissed, getting a reaction from his eyes.

He looked me over one more time and finally spoke, "You are Magi. The last Magi we will ever see for a long time. I was sent to protect you, keep you safe, until we knew you can hold your own, and continue the arts."

Every urge in my body told me to stop listening, to just end him right now, but I resisted.

"Who is we? And what do you mean? You're obviously trained in magic. I'm not the last?" I asked him.

I heard a small chuckle behind the ski masked man in front of me.

"The Order of Al'uon. The keepers of the Goddess's gift. And while I am considered a magi, you are a pure blood. The last untapped magi in Karkland. I am simply a half-blood, maybe still beyond you, but that will change in time," he stated simply.

Pure blood, the words ran through my mind. Someone born with the genes of the first Karklandic Magi's had, very rare but extremely powerful. I saw Twilight off to my side, her face in a sort of surprise and shock, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash seemed confused but didn't take their eyes off the stranger. I continued questioning him as my thoughts processed.

"That's impossible; there hasn't been a pure blood in two hundred years," I retorted.

"Until you were born Evan," he said.

My hands lit, my stomach tightened and I felt myself about to jump at him.

"HOW THE KRIFE DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?" I shouted, ready for anything to happen.

He just stood there calmly, making no movements, not caring that I was about to reduce him to ash.

"Because we sensed your birth. The power that magic influences exploded when you became of this world. And I was tasked with following and protecting you since." he explained.

It wasn't enough for me. I lurched at him; the inferno that was my hand stopped within inches of his face. My body was overwhelmed by anger and confusion.

"Tell...me...everything," I demanded.

He pushed my hand away from his face and let out a sigh before he started to speak.

"It was I that helped rescue you from Talaki's prison. I arranged for your family's refuge to Juno. And I was there the day the city fell, but after you were carried away all that happened was you. You saved yourself with a barrier spell far greater than I've seen before, and when I arrived in Equestria I easily found your power and tracked you down. If you really want everything then we will talk later. For now that's the sum of it. Any more questions?" he said.

I was numb. He was at Juno; he saw all of those people be murdered like animals; he most likely saw my family die right in front of me; he saw my face as I watched Tamra be turned to nothing as I broke into nothingness that day. I wanted to vomit. All of the memories flooded back in a instant. I grabbed the pendant around my neck and held it tight, resisting my sickness.

I regained myself on the outside, putting back on a facade as I was breaking down mentally again. I looked over again and I could tell Twilight knew, her eyes told it all, filled with sadness and wanting to help. But she couldn't, it was too much.

"Well..." I started, trying to figure the words I was saying, "I guess you answered my questions. What should I do with you now?"

He simply shrugged and said, "I built myself a shanty not to far away from the town you're staying in. I planned on staying there, no matter the circumstances."

I thought about it for awhile, letting this human who I've never seen before, but knew me my whole life, live so close to me. I decided I would take the upper hand.

"Fine. But I will have eyes on you. Including mine, I never trust a man behind a mask easily," I warned.

I could tell he formed a smirk as he joked, "Sorry, it is tradition. But I do have a few things for you."

He reached into his back pack and pulled out a pistol. I thought about throwing him to the ground but he held it out to me.

"You might need this, magic only has so much resources to rely on. Backups never hurt. And by the way, I could take you down with a single thought. You're not all powerful yet young magi," he said, a little threat hidden beneath truth.

I eyed him as I took the pistol and placed the holster on my side. It was an older model, almost looked to be clockwork era but it was engraved with power symbols of magic. I was about to ask him but he pulled something else out.

"And here's a holo..for updates on our home," he added.

I looked at the computer in his palm, with a click of the button it would open and reveal to me any answers I needed on what was happening back home. I took it hurriedly and placed it in my pocket.

"So what now?" I asked him, "Do you become my mentor or something? Because I can tell you I will not kri-"

He cut me off before I finished.

"Nothing like that. I am here to observe and protect. If you want lessons all you have to do is ask. Same with answers. You would not listen to me anyway, but for now, it's time to return home. It's been an eventful day and things have changed. Goodbye," he said as he made his way back through the forest.

Dash was about to pounce him, but I held her back by grabbing her tail with my mind.

"Hey! Are you just going to let him walk away!?" she asked hysterically.

I eyed him as he walked away and told her, "For now, yes. I will press him later, but as of now...I have some catching up to do."

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The train ride back to Ponyville was silent, except for Pinkie constantly talking and trying to interact with me. Twilight kept her at bay most of the time as I was on my newly acquired computer that sat in my lap, blaring to life as the projection screen hovered above the small console. My mind was thinking about two things at the time, the human who apparently is my guardian and has been following and protecting me my whole life, and what was I about to find as I searched for a specific city on the holo. I sighed heavily and heartbroken as I typed the words 'Juno, Avak District, Seventh Nation of Karkland. My emotions nearly made me collapse as I was greeted with images of horror and death.  My hands were shaking unintentionally as I saw the city had been reduced to nearly rubble, body bags were lined up on the street as the soldiers of the Seventh stood in disgust and horror. I read one headline that informed me that the survivors of the initial attack were rounded up and executed, one by one..on camera. My mental state finally pushed out of the inside and tears began flowing as I saw the bodies of good friends and neighbors layed out like they were worthless. The six ponies down the train car jumped up and were making their way over but I didn't let them as I stood up and almost ran to the next car, away from them. I looked around and saw it was empty and I broke down, letting everything flood out. My pendant dangled in front of me and I opened it, knowing full well it would only cause more pain. I scrolled through everything, from family trips to the lakes, to holiday photos, to me and my parents together in our new home in Juno. The next picture I stopped on and froze, it was my three sisters in a group, all hugging and smiling at me. Casey and her little self was to the right grinning with her almost full set of teeth, Sarah was to the left and her long blonde hair flowed like the ocean, and then Tamra was in the middle. Her dark brown eyes and black hair were the exact same as mine, showing her independence and strong will like nothing I've seen. I closed the pendant after that and thought to myself for a long time, very dark thoughts. Everything had been taken from me, all the people that I loved, the city that raised me, everything was gone.

I slipped my hand down to the holstered pistol at my side, closed my eyes, and whispered, "I should be with you all in the Void."

I felt my hand let go as Twilight entered the cart I was in, her face saddened at the state I was in.

"Hey Evan...do you want to talk?" she asked me.

I could tell she wanted me to spill everything but I pushed it back in.

"No thanks Twi...I'm fine. When we get back to Ponyville I'm going for a long walk okay?" I told her and left it at that.

I then got up and walked with her the train cart holding my five other friends, and knew that I was going to hurt them badly.

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As we disembarked the train my mind was blank, devoid of all emotion, but set on what I was doing. I turned to my friends and hugged all of them before returning to the library with Twilight. I opened the door and let her in. As I did, she paused and looked back.

"Still going for that walk?" she said unsure.

A nod was my only response.

"Well what time do you think you'll be back? It's been a crazy few days with everything and I think we need a good dinner and rest. I actually have some fish for you!" she said as she grinned slightly.

I actually smiled at that and answered, "I dunno Twi. I'm just going out, I'll be back when my body tells me I'm ready."

She trotted a hoof as I walked away but called out behind me, "Evan wait.."

I turned around to hear her.

"You know we all love you right? That I love you? And you can talk to any of us about anything.." she said.

A hint of sorrow crossed my face as she knew I was shattered.

"I know Twi..I love all of you too. Don't...don't ever forget that," I said as I finally walked away from my best friend, bent on doing something that I know would shatter her heart.

I walked though town like I did every other day, waving at my friends and smiling with the first fake smile I've done in awhile. They knew nothing was wrong, and I hoped none of them would be the one to find me. I passed by a light green unicorn who smiled at me greatly and waved.

"Hey Evan!" Lyra said as she approached me.

"Oh, hey Lyra. What's up?" I replied.

I didn't want to continue the conversation but I was not about leave my last impression as a jerk.

"Welllll I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go get a smoothie with me or something? You know kinda repay you for almost standing in your way at the wedding hehe.." she said nervously.

"Crap," I thought to myself, "Why now Lyra, why in the hell now?"

I had known she had a crush on me, mostly from the stares she hadn't thought I noticed in town, but also from Rarity who could hardly keep something like that a secret.

I gently smiled at her and replied, "Im sorry Lyra, but I'm going on a walk for awhile...maybe some other time okay?"

The lie hurt as it left my mouth.

She seemed disappointed but regained herself quickly and said, "Well can I come along wit-"

I couldn't let her continue as I cut her off and said not to, that it would not be for the best. She seemed hurt at that but I explained that I needed to clear my mind and that seemed to calm her. I said my goodbye and knew she was still looking at me until I made my way out of Ponyville and headed for a lone tree overlooking the pond outside of town.

I arrived at the solitary pine tree and sat down against it, looking over the beautiful scenery that it beheld. The breeze sent ripples though the large pond, causing tiny waves to wash gently onto the shore. Canterlot was in view and it was more amazing far away as it rose above the lush forest, overlooking all of Ponyville and the land around it. I closed my eyes and took in a heavy breath and took advantage of the many scents that came with it. I opened my eyes again and grabbed my pendant, opening it one last time. I scrolled through the pictures again, memories now pouring in, both the bad and good. I finished scrolling as I reached the last picture and it made my heart melt. It was the picture of me and Scootaloo, she was on top of my head smiling with the biggest grin I've ever seen, her eyes filled with joy beyond any measure. I looked at myself, the same could almost be said for me at that point as I smiled and closed the pendant. I had been a big brother once, and I became one again, but now this time I was ridding an innocent little filly of someone who loved her.

I drew the pistol from the holster and thought aloud, "I'm sorry everyone. I know what I'm about to do will cause more pain than anything you've experienced. But I can't go on anymore. I've tried but everything keeps coming back, the nightmares of what happened...keep coming back."

I teared up as I said my last confession and put the gun to my head, the cold metal sent a slight shiver in me.

"I'm sorry everyone. I'm sorry Twilight. I'm so sorry Scootaloo. I love you all very much...may you and the Goddess forgive me," I said.

And I pulled the trigger.