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                Challengers of  the World!                 
                     -by Candle_Jack-                      
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            Chapter 1 - Start of the Adventure!            
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Chapter 1 - Start of the Adventure!
Challengers of the World!
It was night in the city of Canterlot, capital of Equestria, Luna having just raised the moon, and then setting off on her duties to monitor the dreams of her subjects. Many of the ponies were preparing to go to sleep for the night, and all seemed well.
However, not every being in the Cliffside city was preparing for bed. 3 figures were making their way toward Canterlot Castle, home of the Princesses. The one in front, a Pegasus with a Dark grey coat, who wore Black armor that obscured his cutie mark and a helmet with four large spikes that started midway up his forehead and ended halfway down his helmet. He also had odd wings that appeared to be made from metallic feathers, and a small pair of fangs emerging from the corners of his mouth. He appeared to be leading them. The second figure, a Griffin, had his head feathers slicked back and gelled up, and was wearing a Dark Green suit giving him the appearance of a Businessman. The final Figure was a Teenage Dragon, with a Deranged looking grin on his face. His Scales were a very dark violet, almost completely black; and he had dark Emerald Green spines running from the top of his forehead almost all the way to the end of his sharp spaded tail.
As the figures made their way toward the Castle Gardens, they silently avoided any ponies that may have still been awake. When they reached the entrance to the Garden’s Statue area, they hid behind the statues as the Pegasus hurled two knife-like objects from his wing at the two Stallions standing guard at the entrance. The objects pierced their throats, blocking their windpipes and severing their neck arteries, as well as paralyzing them, they both crumpled to the ground in a heap, choking and bleeding to death, with one trying to call for help as the Figures entered the section. They swiftly made their way to their target, the Centerpiece of the collection, the statue of Discord. The Griffin examined the Statue for a few seconds, and began to speak in a well-mannered voice.
“So this is the All-Powerful Discord, hmm?”
“Is he really still alive in there?” the Griffin asked as read the Inscription on the plaque, and poked the bottom of the statue. The Dragon let out a quiet laugh.
“Who cares? Look at him! He looks freaking ridiculous!” He said as he let out another laugh.
“I care you moronic simpleton!” the Griffin yelled
“Why you little-“
“Quiet! I don’t want to deal with anymore guards, and you two are going to attract the whole lot of them, just shut and grab the statue so we can get out of here!” the Pegasus shouted. Motioning to the statues as 4 more figures appeared from the bushes behind them.
“Stop right there, Criminal Scum!”
All three of them turned and saw a group of four guards standing across from them; a small smile appeared on the Dragons face.
“How dull” the Griffin stated with a bored face.
“Well well well, if it isn’t fresh meat, let me handle these dumbasses!” the Dragon said.
“Go ahead, it’ll give me a nice show” Said the Griffin as he stepped back and pulled a Cigar from his pocket and put it in his beak, preparing to light it. “Just make it quick, will you?”
“By order of the Royal Guard, Come with us immediately, or we will use force!”
“Well?” the Dragon asked, Motioning to the Guards. The Pegasus sighed.
“Go ahead.” he said.
“I will not give you another warning! Stand down or we will use force!” the Guard shouted again, the anger in his voice obvious. The Dragon let out another laugh.
“Hell yeah! You guys better make this fun for me! Cuz you’re all gonna die!” he said as he lowered into a Combat stance.
“You’re going wish you hadn’t said that!” Shouted one of the Guards as he drew his spear and charged at the dragon, attempting to stab him. The Dragon simply stood still waited until the Guard had nearly reached him, then grabbed the Guard’s spear out of the air mid-thrust, yanked it towards him and delivered a bone crushing punch to the Guard’s face as he released the spear, sending the guard flying into a nearby statue and nearly shattering the statue itself. The guard was lying on the ground with blood dripping from his mouth. As the guards stared on in fear; He licked his lips and asked.
“Who’s next?”
“S-stay in Formation! We still have a chance!” The leader stuttered as he tried to rally his soldiers.
“I’m afraid your formation is going to do you much good.” He said as he began to inhale a large amount of air.
“W-What’s he doing?” one asked. The leader looked on in horror and realized what he was preparing to do.
“We need to get out of the w-“
“Too late!” the Dragon shouted as an enormous stream of orange-white flame burst from his mouth and engulfed the area the guards were standing in with fire. He maintained the stream of fire for about ten seconds, and then slowly ended it, and admired his handy-work. The ground was heavily burned, and 3 small piles of ashes were sitting on the scorched earth, the Dragon let out a small chuckle, which quickly grew to maniacal laughter.
“Ahahahaha!! That was fucking sweet! Did you see the looks on their Faces? Priceless, fucking priceless! Ahahahahaha!” he laughed on for about 15 seconds, before being interrupted by the Griffin.
“Yes, yes, we all know how ecstatic you get after killing someone; can we just grab this damn statue and get the hell out of here?”
“Yeah, yeah, man, you’re such a killjoy, I’ve got it.” He said as he lifted Discord’s Statue up over his shoulder and took off in the air and quickly flew out of sight. The Pegasus watched him fly away, and looked over to the Griffin.
“Do you have the fake evidence?” he asked.
“I’ve got it right here.” He said as he produced a torn piece of dark brown cloth with and odd wheel symbol with pointed spokes printed on it.
“Good, plant it here and let’s get going” He said as he took off after the Dragon.
“Heh heh heh, good luck catching us now.” The Griffin said as he placed the cloth in the spot where Discord once was and then took after his teammates.
Malachite was having an overall bad day. First had been that Incident with the Chocolate cake, and then there were the Negotiations with the Griffin Empire, and then his reassignment to the Gardens.
‘I can’t believe I got reassigned to guard the Gardens, that’s crap work.’ He thought as he made his rounds through the Statue gardens, a large frown evident on his face as he shined his flashlight spell over the statues around the garden, looking for intruders, until he found a burned area in the ground.
‘What could that be?’ He thought as he quickly sprinted over to the burnt ground. He saw three small piles of ash that had nearly blown away under the night breeze, He nearly gagged at the thought of what they might have been, he then looked to his left at the statue behind the area to see that it had collapsed, he looked down and saw another guard lying on the ground in a small puddle of blood, he quickly rushed over and bent down next to the Pegasus to see if he was alive.
“Darn it, what happened to you, what the heck happened?” he said as he tried to wake him, he heard a small groan coming from the Pegasus. He coughed up some blood and managed sputter out a few words.
“They, took the statue, they, the-uhhh“ His eyes rolled back into his head as he collapsed. Life leaving his body as Malachite turned towards the Burned ground and levitated a small piece of fabric from the area up to his face with his magic.
Far away in the frontier town of Appleloosa, The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, and many of the ponies were already awake, eager to tend to their apple orchards and go about their daily lives, and celebrate the travelers that recently helped their town deal with a gang of bandits.
In fact, one member of said group was just now awaking in the town’s inn, an off-white unicorn with a messy bright red mane with a crimson stripe running through its center and a cutie mark resembling a Falling Star. He groggily lifted himself out of bed and opened the blinds, and recoiled at the sunlight before readying himself for the day; he levitated a gold clasp with a Maroon 5-point star crest and used it to secure a dark red Magician cape around his neck and over his back. He then put metal Bracers on his forelegs with each an ovular smooth cut sapphire in the center. His gaze lingered on the clasp for a few seconds before he walked back into the room towards the other bed shook the occupant lightly.
“Wake up Tenna.” He said in a calm voice. She began to stir and stuck her head out from under her blanket, revealing a nearly black carapace, two half-close, large blue eyes and a jagged horn poking up from under a puffy dull grey-blue mane that covered the left side of her face, with a few small holes scattered throughout it. The Changeling muttered something along the lines of-
“No, I don’t want to get out of bed yet, Starfury.” before rolling over to her side and crawling back under the blanket. Starfury tapped his hoof impatiently for a few seconds before a small smirk appeared on his face.
“Fine, have it your way then.” He activated his magic and a magenta glow appeared around his horn before Tenna was teleported out of her bed and appeared with a flash next to Starfury, for a brief second, he could see a look of shock on her face, before she landed on her face with a thud. She quickly stood up and gave Starfury a small glare, and then she looked at the third bed in their room and looked back at him with a confused look.
“Where’s Thunderhorn?” She asked with a hint of annoyance and fear in her voice.
“I think he said he was going to the Saloon early.” Starfury answered with a grin, which was quickly replaced with look of dread. Tenna visibly gulped.
“Did you say the Saloon?” She nervously asked.
Meanwhile, during the Changeling-Unicorn realization Thunderhorn was going about his day, he was a Minotaur, with a grey-blue coat and long brown hair and beard, he was wearing a hide cloak, with a leather strap running across his chest, which was used to keep a large war hammer with a very large head. He was busy gulping down an entire barrel of cider next to a Mare in a drinking competition; a small crowd had gathered around and began cheering.
“CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG!” They cheered. Thunderhorn began to overtake his competitor. He finished his ninth barrel and threw it to the ground, shattering it into many wood splinters.
“ANOTHER!” He bellowed, and he received another barrel that he quickly began to chug down, his competitor, a mare with a pale red mane and a light green coat, and a cutie mark of a peach pie, aptly named Peachy Sweet, began to grow nervous, she was falling behind.
“ANOTHER!” He shouted as he threw another barrel, with it striking the far wall.
“Careful! Don’t smash my barrels!” The Bartender screamed as Peachy finished her ninth barrel.
“ANOTHER!” She shouted, tossing it aside, she knew she would lose, but she wasn’t going to give up. She never received her barrel and the whole bar grew silent, with everyone staring at the Bartender.
“Uhhh, we seem to be out of barrels, Peachy.” The Bartender, Foamy Mug, a Stallion with a brown coat and a curly white mane, his cutie mark being a mug filled with white foam, said with a sheepish smile.
“Well get some more than!” She shouted at him, she did not like having her contests interrupted, and she wanted to beat this newcomer Minotaur.
“That’s just it, we’re all out, No more Cider for three days.” He said nervously.
“AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!” the crowd dispersed and went back to their duties and only Peachy and Thunderhorn remained in the bar, they looked into each others eyes for a few seconds before shaking hand and hoof.
“Yah hold your cider well for a newcomer, and yah saved our town, y’all might as well be a part of the Apple family, as far as I’m concerned.” She said with a smile on her face.
“The Thunderhorn appreciates this gesture of kindness and accepts the honor of kinship with you.” He said with a grin just as a familiar white Unicorn Crashed through the Doors of the Bar, with a gray Pegasus, Screaming unintelligible gibberish, the only understandable words being-
“MUST! STOP! HARM! THUNDERHORN! BAR!” As the Pegasus mare leaped into action and tackled Thunderhorn to the ground while yelling about Thunderhorn being drunk. The whole bar was silent for at least a minute. Thunderhorn let out a small grunt and pushed the Pegasus off of him. Peachy was dumbfounded. Foamy, who had hid behind the counter when they crashed in, slowly poked his head out.
“The Thunderhorn is not Drunk, guys” The Starfury’s jaw dropped, The Pegasus stared at him in shock.
“But we heard you drinking!” He yelled.
“How are you not drunk?” He asked, Peachy, who had managed to regain her composure, stepped forward.
“How did y’all know he was drinking?” She asked suspiciously.
“Well, you see.” As he began to tell them what happened.
“I think he said he was going to the Saloon early.” Starfury answered with a grin, which was quickly replaced with look of dread. Tenna visibly gulped.
“Did you say the Saloon?” She nervously asked. Starfury gulped.
“Yes.”
“I-it can’t be that bad right, he’s a full grown Minotaur, he can control himself, right?” She asked as she stroked her mane nervously.
“NO! Don’t you remember the last time we let him drink; we’re still in Debt from that! We have to stop him before he hurts someone! Let’s go, and don’t forget your disguise!” He said as he galloped out the door full speed and made his way to the saloon, completely forgetting he could Teleport. A flash of green energy enveloped Tenna, and a Gray Pegasus was standing where she once was, she quickly Galloped out the door, and then flew after Starfury.
As they approached the Saloon, they heard cheering coming from within, They seemed to be Cheering ‘CHUG CHUG CHUG’ repeatedly, they then heard a voice yell ‘ANOTHER’, and recognized it as Thunderhorn’s, they both shuddered and heightened their pace, before crashing through the door, Tenna tackled Thunderhorn. Starfury screamed in his Gibberish.
“So, y’all thought he was going to go crazy with Cider?” Peachy said, barely able to contain her laughter. Thunderhorn stood back while drinking a mug of Cider.
“What’s so funny?” The Gray Pegasus asked.
“Our Cider doesn’t have any alcohol in it! If it did, no one would ever get anything done!” She said as she started rolling on the floor laughing. Thunderhorn spat the cider from his mug all over Starfury.
“WHAT! NO ALCOHOL! Man, Thunderhorn wanted to get drunk…” He pouted. Starfury let out a small chuckle.
“Well, there’s one Crisis averted, let’s go Thunderhorn, Braeburn said he wanted to meet us at the Train Station before we left, do have all your stuff?” Starfury asked.
“Of course the Thunderhorn has his Belongings! What do you take him for, some kind of Idiot!?” Thunderhorn yelled. Tenna Face-hoofed at his Stupidity before making her way out of the door. Peachy said her goodbyes to Thunderhorn and went to go help Foamy clean up the mess in the bar, Starfury and Thunderhorn Stepped outside of the Saloon and caught up with Tenna, who was heading to the Train station.
“So what exactly is cider, anyway?” Tenna asked. Thunderhorn was busy drinking from a canteen filled with cider, quietly grumbling about it being non-alcoholic. Starfury looked over to him and sighed.
“It’s a drink made from crushed apples, it’s a very popular.” He explained to her. Thunderhorn let out an aggravated grunt.
“And it’s much better with alcohol in it.” He said.
“It sounds gross, how can you drink that?” She said, a little shaken. They continued walking until a small tan colored colt, wearing a dusty hat, carrying a large stack of newspapers approached them.
“Do y’all want a copy ‘O’ the Appleloosa Inquirer? It’s got an article about dah robbery of dah Canterlot Gardens.” He said while holding up a newspaper with a picture of an Investigation. Starfury levitated a paper in front of him.
“What exactly was stolen? Was it anything important?” he asked the Paper Colt.
“It says something ‘bout a Discurd? Dorscid? Ah don’t remember, why don’t y’all check it out, s’only two bits.” Starfury levitated two bits out of his bags and gave them to the Colt, who put them in his hat and scampered off to sell more papers. They started walking again, Starfury scanned the Article for a few moments, and then looked up slowly.
“What does it say?” Tenna asked nervously.
“Yeah! What does is say? The Thunderhorn is curious about these robbers.” He asked while tapping his hoof and crossing his arms.
“It says Discord was stolen from the Castle.” Starfury said shakily, a small shiver running down his spine at the thought of what someone could do if they got their hands on Discord’s powers.
Tenna gasped and covered her mouth with her hooves; Thunderhorn shuddered, and tensed up.
“D-discord, T-the Discord! The Discord who just so happens to be the god of Chaos!” Tenna shouted, clearly afraid of him. Thunderhorn just shook his head and kept grabbing the handle of his Hammer.
“Yes, that Discord, It says there was some strange Fabric found at the site, with some sort of Wheel symbol, maybe we could find out who stole him, and stop them before anything bad happens? I mean, we stop bad guys all the time.” Starfury said nervously. At that Thunderhorn lost all traces of fear, and pumped his fist into the air. Tenna still looked unsure.
“YEAH! We could find those wimps who stole that piece of stone and teach’em lesson, Thunderhorn Style! Discord may be a god, but his Robbers surely aren’t!” He shouted with Enthusiasm. Tenna still seemed unsure.
“Are you stupid? These guys were able to steal him from the Castle, the most heavily guarded place in Equestria; they’re not just some common Bandits!” She yelled, clearly not approving of Thunderhorn’s plan.
“True, but remember, we’ve taken down some pretty powerful stuff before, like those Cockatrices?” Starfury said.
“Or that Manticore!” Thunderhorn added, with a hopeful expression. Tenna looked down for a few seconds and thought.
‘Maybe we should stop them, Thunderhorn has been saying I need to believe in myself more, maybe this is a chance to improve my self-esteem?’ She looked up and met their gaze, they had hopeful expressions, Tenna’s eyes darted left and right, she looked down and sighed.
“Ok.” She said reluctantly
“YES” Starfury and Thunderhorn shouted in Unison.
“Alright, well, I guess our first stop would have to be Ponyville, Princess Celestia’s student is supposed to live there, she’s probably been asked to research the symbol, she may be able to help us figure out who’s behind the theft, and we’ll be able to pick up supplies there.”
“Alright! First stop, Ponyville, here we come!” Thunderhorn yelled with delight.
“Yeah…” Tenna cheered weakly.
“Well it’s a good thing that’s where y’all are headed, the next Train to Ponyville’s right in front O’ your eyes.” A newcomer stated, wearing a Vest and Hat. Starfury jumped.
“Whoa! How long have you been there, Braeburn!?” He asked nervously.
“Jes since ya said y’all are headin’ to Ponyville, Mah cousin lives over that way, in Sweet Apple Acres. Iffin ya need to talk to Celestia’s student, go see Applejack, she’s a friend O’ hers, an’ be sure to tell her Ah sent ya.” He said with a warm smile as he hoofed them three Train tickets to Ponyville. Starfury Brightened up. Thunderhorn jumped in excitement.
“Thanks Braeburn!”
“Yes, the Thunderhorn thanks you for the aid, Braeburn, and, to be sure, you said Sweet Apple Acres, right?” He said while shifting around excitedly.
“Why yes she does, Best apples in all O’ Equestria, no Doubt ‘bout that.” He said. Thunderhorn must’ve jumped up at least ten feet in excitement before he started skipping around and muttering something about best Cider in the world. Braeburn gave him a strange look before turning to Starfury.
“Does he always do that?” Starfury nodded.
“Well alright, hope to see y’all again sometime, yer always welcome in Appleloosa!” He reared up on his hind legs and waved his forelegs when he said ‘Appleloosa.’
“Thanks again Braeburn.” Starfury said as he boarded the Train, followed by Tenna and Thunderhorn.
“Yes, the Thunderhorn gives his thanks!” he said as pounded his chest with his fist as he took his seat. Tenna just looked down at the floor of the Train from her seat.
‘What have I gotten myself into?’ She quietly thought.