The Scent: Darker Paths

Chapter Six

I could only watch with pity as Twilight was desperately trying to talk to her mentor. Sadly, nobles kept interrupting with petty or inconsequential shit about how honoured they were or what problems they had. Poor Twilight’s once gleeful expression quickly morphed to one of boredom and sadness.

Luna fared no better as the ponies either looked down their noses at her or outright ignored her. Eventually, Twilight and Luna skulked away from Celestia, both realizing that it was pointless as they were both either ignored or bored to death with the visitor’s accomplishments. The mares snickered quietly at the pregnant Alicorn gorging herself at the buffet table. The blue Alicorn eyes watered as I realized that the nobles were bullying her discreetly. Groaning, I realized what I was going to do despite my protests.

Gently clasping the blue Alicorns hand I led her away from the crowd down the stairs and outside as she surprisingly followed me without complaint. Reaching my target’s stall I chucked a good handful of bits into the bucket as I grabbed an assortment of treats from the mare’s cart.

I dragged the stupid bitch to a more quiet and peaceful spot away from the crowds as ponies starting to gather around the farmers stand.

“What are you doing?” she questioned as I shoved the pie into her hands.

“Just eat the fucking food and don’t speak to me,” I spat as she sneered in response. I actually choked when her sneer morphed into a moan as she tore into the pie. Her mouth was soon coated in a thick layer of jam and pastry as she happily devoured the snacks in front of her. God I hoped that Applejack didn’t find out that I swiped the bits from some noble.

The stupid bitch had her coin purse near the bursting point on her hips no less, it had been an easy snatch.

It was funny, the annoying bitch that only hours ago I had been chewing out for being a coward was now getting my help. Twilight though to my gratitude had followed Luna and me outside to see what was going on. I took the mare aside, telling her that now would be a great opportunity to talk about astronomy or some bullshit with the fat bitch behind me. Twilight’s eyes lit up as she excitedly struck up a conversation with the blue balloon.

I know that if Florenza, Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash had caught me doing what I did, they would wonder why I even lifted a finger to help either of them. To be honest, no matter how much I despised someone, no matter how much of a bastard they are, I hated bullies even more. Those two were, despite their status and power, were most likely bullied a lot. It also would help me in gaining their favor which was another good reason for helping. If I could gain their trust, then I could use them eventually when I would openly demand rights for the stallions of Equestria. It may have been silly of me considering I wasn’t good at politics, let alone debating, But I could not allow a place like this, with so much potential to be ruined by petty ignorance, racism and sexism.

With this in mind I decided that helping out the others could strongly benefit me in the long run. Rarity was in the process of sulking over a drooling retard of a stallion, playing who’s the biggest whore with ten other males. It was kind of funny to watch the fashion bitch get worked up over not getting her prince charming. But as much as I wanted to happy slap the bitch and tell her to grow up I instead opted to silently watch and laugh at her misfortune.

Third Person

Florenza hugged her friend one last time. “Te vere pronto?”

“Te lo prometo, mi amiga.” Novia said with a smile, kissing her friend’s cheek before curtsying and heading out on her way.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen her...” She murmured to herself, sitting down near a table as she caught one last glance of Novia’s white-silver mane. “And she still reminds me so much of him... It’s like talking to a carbon copy of him except as a girl,” Florenza sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose as she tried to keep her feelings in cheek before feeling a soft, warm hand on her shoulder.

“Why hello there” the soft voice spoke as the startled mare squeaked. Turning around she smiled politely as the stallion flashed her a dazzling smile. “May I just say that you look absolutely stunning?” he complimented the mare as she awkwardly smiled at him.

“Um... thank you..?” Florenza replied shyly as the stallion puffed out his chest.

“Prince Blueblood, nephew of Princesses Celestia,” he pompously announced thrusting an arm around the mare as she tensed up. “ Why don't we get more acquainted?” he grinned, his eyes silently undressing the poor mare as she pushed away.

Florenza awkwardly shuffled away. “Can you please let me go? I have a colt friend.” She explained quietly. The pastel white stallion snorted in disgust as he held her tighter.

“Come now, you should be honoured that I would allow you to join my herd,” He spoke as he started to none to gently drag her out of the public eye.

“I don’t want to join your herd, Prince Blueblood. I already have a colt friend who I love and could never bear the thought of cheating on him. I'm sorry that I can’t reciprocate your feelings, but I... I need to go.” She said politely as she tried to pull away with more force.

“Now listen here you bitch, you will do as you are told or I will force you!” He hissed, his face turning a blotchy red as he grabbed her forcefully by the neck.

Florenza choked out a gasp as the stallion easily lifted her off the ground, staring angrily into her scared blue eyes. “help!” She cried out. The stallion snarled, slamming his fist into her gut as she grunted. A couple of nearby stallions heard her cry, but cowered in fear at the idea of crossing paths with Prince Blueblood. Though he himself was a male, he had far more rights than most males and even mares given his royal status. No one would help the mare.

She slumped in his grip, eyes fluttering as everything became a dark blur. “... help” Florenza whispered quietly. The pressure on her throat disappeared as the stallion recoiled crying out in pain.

First Person

“Get your fucking hands off of her, scum!” I snarled bending down to pull the shaken mare to her feet as the stallion growled.

“How dare you attack me! Guards, arrest him!” he squealed indignity. I grinned, slowly twisting my neck as a sharp crack resounded. In mere seconds I crossed the field my hands slamming into his gut before delving an uppercut to his jaw. The stallion stumbled backwards as his horn glowed a bright yellow flames spewing from the tip as I nimbly dodged. Sadly a few loose strands licked at the sides of my right arm as I hissed in pain.

“I will have your head beast,” he sneered as blood trickled from his mouth, his suit crumpled as his hair lay in a mess.

“I will kill you, you little fuck” I snapped as once again I sprang forward. Yelping the stallion teleported behind me his hand snaking out, as he put me in a choke hold. Growling, I slammed my elbow into his gut, forcing the wind out of him as I flung him over my shoulder. Getting on top of him, I took a sick delight in smashing his head down on the hard concrete as he cried out in pain. Blood splattered my form as the rapist to be gurgled on his own blood. my fist into his jaw once again sending teeth flying as guards started to swarm to the area.

I was yanked off the the little bitch as a guard helped the stallion to his feet.

“I want both of them hanged, but not before I have had my way with that slut,” He roared as the guards nodded. I screamed in rage as I managed to break free of the hold the two guards had on me as I placed myself in front of the guards. Lightning danced up and down my arms as I snarled at them.

Dash landed beside me her face sneering at the uppity prince as Fluttershy and the others rushed to the scene. Blood soaked me as I stood menacingly before the ponies. The looks of fear and uncertainty were apparent in everyone's faces even my friends as they nervously looked at me. Only Dash stood proud her nostrils flaring as she clenched her fists.

Celestia appeared at the back the crowd parting silently for her as her nephew continued to cry out for my head. She stopped her eyes glaring at me as I stepped forward matching her glare as others gasped.

“You attacked my nephew” she stated her nephew smirking as he cowered behind her.

“That little shit attacked my friend” I spat as my arm flare up the light blinding as pain set in.

“He is a prince” she declared as if that was a good enough excuse.

“He’s a rapist” I retorted, caring little if I was upsetting the bitch as I was more than ready to fight her.

Florenza shakily stood up, wrapping her arms around me as she buried her face in my shoulder. “P-please Lachlan... stop!” She begged, grunting slightly from the electricity. I gave her a gentle push moving her away from me and out of harms reach if one of the fucktards decided to attack.

“Sister” Luna cried her form plowing through the crowd as they moved out the way in terror rather than respect. “I saw what our Nephew did and he was in the wrong. It would set a poor example to our subjects, for us to take sides solely because of blood. But I agree that the human needs to be punished. I would suggest the whip” she finished her eyes showing no emotion as Celestia nodded.

“You are right sister the whip is a great idea twenty lashes, each should suffice” she replied neutrally.

“NO, I will take all of them!” I declared the gasps of ponies resounding as Florenza cried out in protest. “What say you princess” I replied giving her an arrogant smirk as her face momentarily twisted into a sneer.

Florenza pulled him close. “No! Absolutely not! If anyone should be punished it’s that brute!” She screamed. “He almost killed me because I wouldn’t join his herd!” she cried as I gave her a quick cuddle.

“I want to kill him” she hissed quietly as I nodded

“Trust me I will kill him, but not now” I whispered my breath tickling her as her ear flickered. She looked at me with a look of sorrow as she sobbed. Fluttershy engulfed her in a hug her face streaming with tears as she watched me stand proud and fearless before solar tyrant.

“Sister the mare has done nothing to warrant a lashing I think we should accept the humans deal” she implored Celestia turning to look at her with a dangerous look, as the smaller sister retreated slight.

“Very well Luna I will be lenient , forty lashes will be given to the human at dawn” she announces her eyes showing a malicious, as she escorted her badly beaten nephew away. The little bitch smirked at me as he eyed up Fluttershy and Florenza with lust. I would kill him that was certain but when would be decided later.

Florenza screamed out in protest as I was dragged away, Twilight and applejack holding Rainbow Dash back as she cried out in anger. Applejack gave me a look of sorrow as Florenza continued to sob. Even Rarity was touched with my choice as she went to help Fluttershy control the distraught beige mare.

“Please he is just a foal” Fluttershy begged with the Luna as she ignored her pleas giving me a look of neutrality as I nodded. She was a piece of shit and I would have to begin with happily killed her along with the prince. By saving florenza as well as removing her punishment she had at least taken herself of the kill list.

“Good night” one of the guards laughed throwing me face first into a disgusting prison cell as I spat at one of them. The mare gave me a solid kick as I crashed against a wall.

“maybe we should get some use out of him before the flogging” she whispered as the other laughed shaking her head as she dragged her comrade away. I was soon left alone to my thoughts. Realising that tomorrow was going to be a painful experience, I wanted to get as much sleep as possible as I settled down on the hard floor.

Sleep came graciously as my body numbed to the pain off the hard floor. My last thoughts were of the satisfaction of protecting my friends and kicking the shite out of a uppity prick, The people of Scotland would be proud!

“Lachlan D Goudie” the officer before me barked her voice deep as I nodded. Why they needed me to give them my full name, when all I was getting was a flogging was beyond me.

“You have been charged with assaulting a prince and disrupting the peace. Your crime is punishable by death in most cases, but by the good will of the princesses you are sentenced to forty lashes” she finished, my head and hands were trapped in a pillory as the crowd around me booed and some even had the gall to throw shit at me.

“The girls stood at the front there faces grim as Florenza sobbed quietly. The more who read the charges nodded to another more behind her as a soft click was heard.

“I would normally just use a standard whip but from what i have heard you are too tough for that. Instead I am going to use a toy that I have been dying to use,” she cackled as she showed me the whip. My mouth went dry as I took in the monstrosity of a weapon. Pitch black, the weapon was lined with silver meat hook like spikes that glowed in the early sun as I gulped. the two princesses watched the affair from a balcony with the prince who to my delight had bandages and a very bruised face.

“I think that it is only fair that I get to use this toy for what you did” the mare hissed as I rolled my eyes

“Yeah about as fair as a man with nitro-glycerine injected buttock’s entering an arse kicking contest” I replied as the mare hissed not understanding the joke. I silently thanked Yahtzee for the joke, as it helped to stem a margin of the fear and nervousness I felt as I tried not to shake. I was terrified and wanted nothing more than to plead for mercy. But I kept a stiff upper lip and bit my lip as I prepared.

“The charged will now receive his punishment of forty lashes” the more announced as a hushed silence fell over the stadium. The world around me went deathly quiet, the ponies watched with attend smiles as I waited, time moving agonisingly slow as I closed my eyes. My shirt was torn in half as the cold nip of an autumn breeze struck my now bare back.

CRACK

I nearly screamed as pain exploded up the upper half of my back my hands jerking violently as I was given little time to recover before the whip struck again. there was a brief pause before it struck. My back shivered violently as the whip got lodged in my back the more tore it free.

“Two”

CRACK

Only three into it and already tears sprung from my eyes as I muffled a small whimper. the whip came down again and again as tears sprung down my check dripping to the ground as the pain blinded me. Warm liquid poured down my back as I begged for the pain to end. Florenza screamed for it to stop as Fluttershy muffled her cries with her mouth holding her close as ponies cheered at my pain.

CRACK

“Ten”

CRACK

“Eleven”

By this point my back was on fire as It felt like liquid fire had replaced my blood. Red encased my vision as I tried to stay conscious if I fainted they woke me up and restarted. I had bitten deep into my lip half way through the fourteenth hit as blood pooled in my mouth as I gagged on my own blood. My teeth creaked as I clenched with enough force to crack bone trying to somehow allot the pain if only slightly.

CRACK

“Twenty two”

At this point I could no longer describe the pain and do it justice as I screamed in pain the crowd roaring in approval as my pain sent them into a blood frenzy. They cried out for the mare holding the whip to hit harder or target a specific part of my back, as the mare drank in the crowds enthusiasm like a monstrous, twisted mosquito. my body was growing numb but still could not relieve the pain of the whip. My body was shaking violently as every crack sent me deeper into the coils of insanity

CRACK

“Thirty three”

CRACK

“Thirty four”

I had long since lost the ability to coherently think or rationalize as all I could do was scream like a beaten animal, little more than a lifeless husk as the whip came down again and again until suddenly it stopped.

Florenza tore towards the stage as I tried to warn her protect her from the horrors of the whip as I feel to the ground. The others quickly joined her side as I continued to try and warn them of the whip that would soon strike them.

“Lachlan its over you survived” she sobbed, my mind unable to comprehend her words as I continued to flail about my mouth opened in a silent scream. The word pain was all my lips could mime as the light of day faded I fell into a blissful state of unconscious.

Not even my dreams were safe from the agony as I was plagued by the excruciating torture of the whip as faceless crowds laughed at my suffering and strife.

Third person

“Let this be a lesson to any that would challenge a prince’s command” Blueblood pompously stated as he retreated from the balcony a smug grin on his face as he pictured himself breaking the two mares that dared to care for the beast. He would have his men track down the two and kill the beast and bring the two too him.

“Life is good” he chuckled as Celestia looked at the stallion with disdain. She had needed to set an example for the crowd. Even though she had hated to do it with the human she needed her little ponies to remember their place in society especially the stallions.

Luna looked at the pitiful sight with a mixture of feelings, respect and fear for the human for taking a lashing that would have killed anything else, admiration for him defending his mate and lastly lust for the sheer will and power he displayed both at the gala and at the stands.

“He survived thank Faust” Luna smiled relived, gently caressing her stomach gently as the unborn foal responded to his mothers touch by kicking.

Down at the stands Florenza sobbed as she clutched the comatosed human. Rainbow Dash having been sent to get a medic Fluttershy used her jumper to steam the torrents of blood that ran down the young man's back. His back was a mess with bits of bone visible to the naked eye as pieces of flesh and muscle lay scattered around the blood covered stone.

Twilight was pouring every bit of magic she had trying to keep the human from bleeding out as she cursed the mare for using such a cruel weapon on the human. The whip had been designed to prevent the use of pain numbing potions and spells as well as scar removal. She could just heal the worse of the damage and no more suffice to say the human would bare scars for the rest of his life.

“They will pay” Florenza snarled her face alight as a dark aura surrounded her person.

Rainbow Dash had returned with a medic and was livid. she had always been slightly brash but now she knew that joining Lachlan's side had been a good decision. Those princesses were monsters, she now understood why Twilight got so worked up about disappointing them.

“Monsters” Dash whispered as the mare who had committed the atrocity stood laughing from across the court. all she knew was that Princess Celestia would pay for what she did. Her sister was less guilty but in no way innocent.

The medics dragged the limp form of the human away as the rainbow mare fumed silently.