Friends Of The Exiled

Chapters

One dark and stormy night...
The Rude Awakening
A Long Road Ahead
The Journey Onward
Arrival
Daemons of the night

One dark and stormy night...

The soaked wagon wheel turned slowly in the thick mud as the rain hammered down dimly lit by the evening light. In the audible aching and creaking of wood, it came to a slow stop in the earth as it tilted. Joining in the groan, a raincoat clad Cinder clenched his teeth and flexed himself straining to pull it forward. He gave a frustrated grunt and snorted as he briefly looked back at the wheel from under the hood then forward as he yanked on the collar.

“Come on you miserable wagon! Move!” He yelled as he lowered his head and body while leaning away from the cart and digging his hooves deep into the mud. Tugging hard in jerks, the wagon moved bit by bit until the off center wheel is heard cracking followed by a snap as the rim splits from two spokes and the cart collapses down on the muddy trail. A steel helmet and several small items tumble out from under the tarp that covers it.

Cinder looking back at the cart quickly becomes angered and gives it a kick further shifting the cart into the mud on the broken wheel. Turning his head around, he strained as he untied himself from the cart. The poles dropped to the mud as he cursed to himself and then turning around to the cart, he drew a deep breath and sighed as he looked in close at the wheel.

Barely visible in the light he could see that the heavy rain washed away the grease on the wheel hub. Raising a hoof and digging into the wood, he could tell the water had soaked in deep and had swollen the end of the axle. “Of course. Only to me on a night like this...” He muttered as he looked around and noticed the items that fell from the cart. Picking each up with his teeth, he nudged under the tarp and placed them back inside while also feeling around and pulling at a lantern handle. Removing it from the cart, he gave it a gentle tap and shook it lightly as the fireflies danced around inside. Hanging it on the edge of the cart, he continued to look around to see the last item left still on the muddy ground was a helmet.

Cinder wrapped a hoof underneath the cowl and held it up to the light as the rain continued to pour washing off the mud that covered the headguard. As each splatter of rain hit the helm, ornate carvings and lines across the decorative metal reflect the light from the lantern. The crest once a brown lump slowly brightened to red crest standing tall although clumped together as spikes. Thinking briefly, Cinder looked at the helmet for a moment lost in thought unmoving in the night.

With a blink and a grunt, he quickly shoved the helmet under the tarp and pulled on a loose rope. Wrapping it around the hub he then tied it down and picked up the lantern. Raising it high, he looked around in the now dark night surrounded by the torrential downpour.

At the side of the road he noticed a rain soaked sign in the faint light. Slowly walking over careful to watch his step in the deep puddles, the peered up as the light became stronger to read the signs.

“Ponyville” He read aloud as he skipped from each word posted on the post. The next one down he squinted as he read it and his face contorted. “Southern Bogg. Bah.” He remembered the mess of the trail he had to work through before he made it this far only to be halted by the rain. Working further down the sign past the rest of the points of Canterlot and faraway destinations, he saw the last arrow post crudely carven and harder to read in the light. Leaning in, he made it out letter by letter.

“Grassy…glen…inn” he read. At the end of the arrow, he noticed the last inscription. “Three miles.” He stated as he pondered the situation. With a shake of the head Cinder knew It would be a walk, but there was no other choice. “So be it.” He growled in the rain. “Grassy glen for the night.”

Turning to look down the long rain soaked road, he moved onward into the night.

******************************************

Through the window pane a thunderbolt illuminated the room. Multiple beds are briefly seen spaced evenly from one another down the long room with many small ponies in each one. All are calm in the dark save two.

“Dizzy!” A voice hissed in the dark. “Cmon! Give me a hoof!” A voice from under a raincoat called from below a nearby window.

“You’re crazy!” Another voice whispered in the dark as it came closer to the first. Again as a thunderbolt streaked across the sky, the room illuminted again to show the two small fillies standing next to one another near a window. “This won’t work!” One continued as the light went dark.

“Just give me a boost! I’ll take it from there!” The other voice reassured in the dark room. With a grunt and a sound of strain, one small pony illuminated by the next thunderbolt made her way up the windowsill lifted by the other. Her shocked expression caught by the electric light froze her for a second before he compelled herself and reached up to pull the window open. Shifting over to a nearby furnace, the young one above held her footing there and the one below stepped back in the dark.

“It’s too far!” The voice back on the floor whispered. “You won’t make it! Besides, it’s started to rain! How are you supposed to see the sky!? There’s no way you can see the moon or the stars!”

“I have to try!” The pony at the window called back. “If you don’t see me in a few days, don’t worry about me! I can take care of myself!” Quickly she lowered a hoof. “Hand me up my carry bag!”

Before the one on the floor gave her the bag, she rustled around on a nearby floor moving an object nearby. Opening the bag, she scooped it in before tying it back up and handing up upward. “I added something to your carry bag! If it gets real dark, hit it against something hard!” She said as she lifted the bag high. The pony above reached down and pulled it up to the window sill. “Are you really sure you want to do this?” The young one at the floor asked one more time. “We can always wait until next week!” Her friend above gave a hard shake of the head determined to leave for the night.

“Celestia be with you then!” The pony from the floor called up to her. The small figure at the window raised a hoof, gave a small salute then pulled up on the window pane. Rain spattered in as she fought the wind and slipped under the wood pulling the bag out with her. Wiggling her way out, she let go of the bag as she lost her footing and slipped tumbling down the short wall until the soft wet earth broke her fall. Standing up from the mud and rain, she shook herself off and looked back up.

“No going back now” the small pony spoke as she leaned down and tightened the raincoat around her. Carefully searching for the trail, she grabbed her nearby bag and walked through the night away from the orphanage.

****************************************

Cinder as tired as he was peered up the road into the night as the light from the lantern had faded over time. Only a few of the fireflies were still lit to show what was left of the road. Before long, a faint light became stronger as he made his way forward. He noticed as he came upon the wooden landing of a small cottage the front door illuminated along with a small sign. The small green board clearly displayed the words he was hoping to see.

“The Grassy Glen.” He read as he gave a tired sigh in the rain. “One small favor fulfilled.” He drew a deep breath and pulled himself forward up the stairs to the door opening it. Wiping his hooves on the thick welcome mat as he entered, his head turned to see the room as he came in from the cold and the rain. The door shut behind him as the few ponies inside looked up to see the stranger entered. The moot calm lingered as one by one the interest dwindled and Cinder walked slowly to the main bar where the tender came over from a nearby till.

“Can I help you stranger?” The barpony asked leaning in and turning a head sideways in curiosity. He reached over to a nearby bar towel and started to clean the area in front of him.

Cinder placed his lantern on the floor and raised a hoof to the bar. With the other, he ran it under his hood across his mane and pulled back the hood to show his head and muzzle. His dark crimson coat is exposed and the lightly soaked black mane of his rain soaked hair sagged to one side. With a labored sigh he drew breath, turned towards the bartender and opened his eyes to look deep at him with eyes deep blue as the midnight sky.

“I need a room.” He flatly replied as he strained the water out from his mane with a hoof. The water creased across his neck and splattered on the floor. The dripping from his raincoat and the water from his mane left large pools of water on the ground below.

“None left.” The bartender stated as he leaned in further and looked down at the soaked wood floor. “Every room here is full tonight. Besides, pony folk don’t take kindly to strangers too much around here.” He pointed downwards. “And I don’t take kindly to strangers making a mess of my floor with that rainwater.”

With a quick look around, Cinder leaned his head a bit to look over the shoulder of the barpony to get a better look at a wet patch he saw on the nearby floor behind the bar. As a drop fell, he looked up at the crack in the ceiling where rainwater seeped in. A now irritated Cinder looked back at the pony in front of him.

“So” Cinder started. “The same rainwater that leaks through your roof onto your floor is somehow better then the rainwater that fell off from me?” He raised an eyebrow in question.

The barpony stopped wiping the bar as he continued. “That and the mud you dragged in.”

Cinder looked back behind him at the other hoofprints left on the floor which appeared no different from those left by him. At a nearby table, large clumps of mud could be seen on the hooves of another pony. It was quite obvious that he didn’t wipe his hooves at all when he came in.

As he turned back to the bar, he paused for a moment in thought. Leaning in as close as he could nearly muzzle to muzzle with the barpony, Cinder took a deep breath as his face twisted in visible anger and the tone of his voice grew coarse. “I’m getting the impression that I’m not wanted here.” He snorted as he edged closer to the bartender. “But I’m tired, I’m wet, I haven’t eaten in two days, and now I’m angry.” He turned a hoof downward and pounded on the bar with a knuckle that could be heard across the inn. “I don’t care if it’s a cot, a pile of hay or even a closet floor. I need a room…right…now.”

The bartender squinted mildly as he backed up a bit. “You don’t seem to get it even when I can’t make it any clearer that the likes of you aren’t wanted here.” He raised his head and gave a nod as he looked over him before he continued on. “In fact, I think it’s time for you to leave.” From behind, Cinder felt a hoof wrap around his right armpit and tug as a voice came from behind. “Lets go stranger.”

The bartender watched as the stranger slowly bared his teeth and growled at him. “You’re making a serious mistake, innkeeper.” The Crimson pony flexed up unmoving as the pony behind him pulled harder just as a long blade of cold steel pressed against his neck on his left side. “We don’t know who you are, but you’re gonna go whether you like it or not troublemaker.” The voice said just as the bartender started to give a thin smile.

Something in Cinder snapped as he yelled and dropped down to the floor. He quickly swung a left rear leg forward in a wide arc under the pony behind him with the blade causing him to fall on his back. Leaping upward to his right, he rammed his head into the ribs of the other assailant and took him to the ground. Just as Cinder stood to face the room, the bartender lept over the bar onto him and the two stumbled across the room with others at nearby tables starting to get up and approach the pair.

Both stallions fought one another in the wrestling as Cinder bucked hard throwing the bartender forward still grasping his raincoat. Tearing it off, his full figure is seen as the bartender landed nearby and the crimson stallion quickly looked around the room to see the group close in on him as he prepared for the next round. One pony nearby raised a hoof at his rear flank and pointed out the twin orange and yellow flames that adorned his flank. Through the center of it a perfectly diagonal healed scar is seen.

“Barkeep, you see that?” One pony said as he pointed to the scar. Still making his way to his hooves, the tender nodded as he looked around at all of the other ponies in the room. “I sure do! Cmon all, lets get him!”

One by one the crowd came at Cinder as he watched and timed his moves to prepare for each pony that came from all sides. The first jumped headlong just as he dove to the floor under him with another running headlong at this flank. Waiting for the right moment, another pony ran in from the opposite direction and Cinder turned to wrap his hooves around the head of the first pony then pulled him in the other direction towards the second throwing him over his shoulder. The pair collided and tumbled in a heap to the nearest wall. Another pony came from one side with a chair over his head with both hooves in motion ready to hit Cinder full force.

“Yahh!” He yelled as he aimed for the head of the stranger. Cinder quick to prepare, did an about face bringing his front hooves on the ground and kicked the on comer chest high with both rear hooves. The chair flew over his head just as the attacker flew back to the other side of the room.

Out of nowhere, a large glass bottle came crashing down on the head of Cinder just as he turned to look around. Searing pain and stars filled his head as he fought to stand as pony after pony tackled him and held him to the ground. Quickly blinking and regaining his bearing, the bartender stood over him still holding the broken bottle.

“I told you that you aren’t welcome here stranger!” The bartender angrily yelled as he pointed a hoof downward at the head of Cinder. “It’s bad enough getting drifters from the road these days, but that mark of yours is much worse!”

Cinder still dizzy struggled on the ground still held down by several of the ponies in the room. “All I wanted was a room! What kind of crime is that!?” He yelled back at him in his defense.

“Ha! We don’t serve to traitors! You may as well be a shadow to society. You’re nothing more then a branded outcast.” The bartender said as he shook his head and backed up. Looking to the others holding him down, he spoke to the group. “Throw him out. He’s bad for business.”

Restrained, Cinder fought the group as they held to him strong while picking him up. Still looking at the barkeep, he yelled back as he was drug to the door. “Your hospitality stinks, you know that?!”

One pony opened the door just as the group threw him outside into the still pouring rain of the night. The crimson pony stumbled a bit and fell to his stomach in the muddy road. As he raised his head to look back with disgusted face to the barkeep now standing in the doorway looking at him, he looked back angrily as he gave a soft snort.

“Can I get my raincoat and lantern back at least?” He grumbled. The tender looked behind him, pulled forward the coat with his teeth and spat it out on the doorstep. “Just go, and don’t come back stranger. I’ll be ready for you next time if you do.” The tender stated just as another pony behind him flung the lantern to the road landing on a lump of thick grass. As the ponies around him backed up, the barkeep slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Cinder momentarily lay in the wet mud as the rain continued to pour trying to control the pain from the stray bottle. Giving a tired sigh, he took a deep breath and groaned as he slowly stood up one leg at a time. Picking up the raincoat and flinging it over his back, he then picked up the lantern and gave it a gentle shake. Only a few of the fireflies left would stay lit. “Just enough to see the road until I get to the cart.” He muttered.

Holding the lantern in his mouth, Cinder started on his way back down the rain soaked dark road.

******************************

The small foal didn’t expect the weather to be so bad for this night. The cold and the wet rain could be felt with every hoof step through puddles and bramble. Plans to escape didn’t take this into account from the previous week and the rain made navigation difficult this night without being able to see the stars. Tree after tree appeared the same and the rain made footing slippery on the rocks and branches as she walked over them.

The walking seemed to last forever as she tried to find her way in the darkness of night. Many times she nearly ran into trees, but the thick roots gave them away giving her a chance to seek them out before running into them headlong. Stopping for a moment, she thought of the item her friend added to her bag just before she left. As she leaned over and reached into her bag, she felt a small round stone and pulled it out. Bringing it to eye level, she tried to make out the shape in the night before the cold became stronger from standing idle. Looking around quickly, she saw the dim reflection of a large boulder nearby. Walking in close, she stood up with rock in hoof aiming squarely at it then threw the rock at it as hard as she could. With a spark, the rock bounced off in an arc and began to glow a bright green midair as it landed with a thud illuminating the ground around it.

The small foal smiled as she walked over and scooped up the rock and held it close to marvel at. “Wow. This is one I owe you for Dizzy.” She said in mild amazement. Placing it in her mouth, she looked around in the newfound light to gain her bearing, decided on a direction and continued on.

More time passed as the small foal continued on tiring from the walk. Travel became easier and faster now that she could see her way, but the fatigue now wore on more then ever. Trees passed by, more uneven terrain was behind her, and fallen logs were long past over time. The rock she held slowly grew dimmer barely bright enough to see the rain around continue to pour and the hazards on the ground to step over. As she stepped around a tree, she noticed how the ground below became smooth with the lack of rocks and twigs around. Looking to her right and left, she knew it was well used from travel.

“A road!” She realized aloud with the dimly lit rock still in her mouth. Looking up and down the vacant patch, she barely made out a strange shape in one direction not too far off in the distance. Without any other idea on direction and the rock in her mouth going dark, she turned and approached the shape in question.

Coming close, she made out the planks and boards that lined the side. It was certainly a cart, but it listed too far to one side. Looking close at the wheel she made out the broken spoke and half of the wheel in deep mud.

The rock in her mouth now barely a glimmer of light flickered briefly before it went dark. Turning to one side, she spat it out. “So much for that.”

A shiver took hold and with the fatigue settling in, she knew there was no other option now but to stay with this wagon for the night until the storm passed. Feeling around for the tarp, she stepped up underneath the tarp and into the cart from the muddy road. Pushing aside the objects packed inside, she made room to lay down to rest. Cold and alone, she shivered in the night with the rain hammering down on the tarp above hoping that tomorrow wouldn’t be far to wait for.

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Cinder breathed heavily as he walked in the dark with the lantern growing very dim. Pausing for only a moment, he raised it to see a single firefly crawling on the edge of the glass trying to stay lit as the rain hammered down. Tapping it, he knew time was short before even that last one inside would go dark.Lowering it to the road, he forged on. The anger of being denied lodging from an inn filled his mind fueling his desire to keep moving.

“Rotten cowards.” He grumbled with the lantern handle still in his mouth. “I just wanted a room.”

Still thinking of the confrontation, he drew a quick breath and looked attentive as he made out the faint outline of an object in the road. It had to be the cart.

Moving a bit fater now, the rain and cold grew on him with each footstep in the muddy road. If nothing else, a dry place to sleep would be in the back out of the pouring rain.

Coming upon the cart, he made his way around to the rear and dug his head underneath the tarp raising his head up with the dim lantern. Expecting to find a spot to sleep, the lantern he brought in under the tarp was able to show the many belongings of his including the helmet he held earlier, the tools, the clothes, the spare wagon parts and one small foal which he noticed first just as the last few seconds of light from the lantern expired.

Cinder shook his head as he backed out of the cart with the dark lantern. Turning his head he spat it out to the road while cursing and hissing. “A foal!” He said in disbelief. “What is a foal doing here!?”

He paced in the road still out in the heavy rain. He couldn’t throw this young one out. The storm was bad and that was for certain. The inn wouldn’t even take him and that was three miles back. He was too tired even at this point to even think of it.

Cinder raised a hoof and smacked himself on the head. “What to do, what to do…” he said as a thunderbolt crossed the night sky. Looking up and giving a heavy sigh, he muttered a small prayer.

“Celestia, I hope this is your doing. I really don’t need this right now.” He spoke before he returned under the tarp and reluctantly reached in with a hoof. As his knuckle touched her side, he felt her shivering heavily. He leaned in with his nose along her coat and felt how cold she was. As he closed his eyes, he paused for a moment trying to decide. A filly this young shouldn’t be here to begin with. Why was it his business? How did this fall on him?

With a grunt of frustration, he nudged the tarp above him upward and pulled himself into the cart. If it was going to be a night here anyway, the unknown pony may as well join him. With the way he was rejected at the inn, Nopony else would have him for the night.

Cinder gingerly stepped in and curled around her in the cart. As he pulled the young one close, he could feel the small cold body begin to warm. The shivering slowed and eventually stopped. The young one went limp as she fell deeper in sleep pushing herself closer to him. Cinder wrapped a hoof around her under her front legs and lay his head further into the cart as the heavy rain continued to patter above the tarp.

With the heavy rain hammering down above the pair in the night, Cinder drifted off to sleep with the young one in his arms.

The Rude Awakening

With the first light that crept up slowly the next morning, dawn had broken with a calm arrival dimly illuminating the rocky and weather beaten road. Puddles dotted the landscape as leftovers from the previous night with the air held still and cold. The long storm was finally over.

In the center of this area was a cart still stuck in the mud with a broken wheel and in it lay a small filly uncomfortable by the hard wood she was stretched upon and the smell of an old tarp she lay under. With a groan of discontent, she stretched briefly before feeling the large heavy mass that gently pushed at her back as if alive. Thinking quickly, the little one realized that somehow in the dark, she was taken by the night watchman when she was so weary. While this pony was still asleep, she knew she had to get free and do it quickly if she would have a chance to get away.

Half terrified and half panicked, she bolted up as quickly as she could fumbling over herself as the rainjacket she wore became tangled in her hooves. Cinder, now alerted by the quick jolt groggily awoke confused as to what was happening.

“Hey, what th-“ he managed to mumble as a rear hoof from the filly came back full force in his face and landed him square in the nose. Barely awake, he cried out in pain as his head bounced backward and impacted the rear sideboard of the cart. “OW!” The young filly still trying to scramble out of the cart flopped onto the wet ground in a gasping frightened state. “You’re not going to get me!” She yelled as she fought to get up from the mud beneath the cart. “I’ll fight you tooth and hoof before you get the chance! I’m not going back!”

Cinder clenched his teeth groaning while he rubbed his nose against his upper arm as the pain pulsed. “I’m not in the mood to get any pony right now!” he shouted with a groggy and angered tone. The young one having heard this and quickly tiring in the thick mud as she was caught in the slicker paused for a few seconds to catch her breath and think as she looked back and saw the cart. As the seconds passed, memories from the previous night came into view. The storm, the darkness, the cold and then the warmth all came back to her. With a sigh of relief, she lay down on her side in the mud weary and tried to think of what to make of the situation as she looked back at the cart and the movement of the tarp that hung over it.

“That HURT you little heathen!” The voice called out from the back of the wagon as a hoof came into view. Stepping out to the ground as his head poked out, Cinder flung his head back and the canvas flipped over just as he placed another hoof down out from the back of the cart. Clearly angry, he stared at the small filly on the ground still bruised and scraped from the wounds gained by the night before with the small addition of a half moon impression on the tip of his nose. As tired as the small pony was looking at the large stallion, the sight was too much to bear. A smile grew over her face and she began to giggle.

“What is so funny?” Cinder grumbled as he blinked still trying to gain his bearings. Letting out a stout grunt, he leaned over and pulled at the tarp on the wagon to cover the miscellaneous belongings still left inside. Between a heavy breath or two, the small filly replied in relief. “Not only are you not the pony I thought you were, but you look like you had a far worse night then I did!” She couldn’t stifle the snicker that escaped from a clenched jaw.

Cinder remained silent as he broke his gaze and grabbed at a rope with his teeth. He pulled the corners of the tarp over the ends of the cart and tied it around to secure it. As he had done so, the large stallion removed the raincoat he had on from the night before revealing his coat and the scar of a cutie mark which the filly saw and quickly thought about with curiosity. Placing the coat in the cart, Cinder mumbled to himself as he slowly walked around the cart inspecting it. Regaining her composure, the little one dug her way through the mud and pulled herself to her feet. Dragging the coat, she slowly walked back to the cart to get a closer look at her acquaintance.

She watched in curiosity as the large pony untied one of the large wheels secured to the side of the cart and it fell loose to the ground with a thud. Turning around, Cinder wandered over to the side of the road and looked around as if searching for something. From her position, the filly continued to watch him with her gaze as he picked a large thick tree branch with his teeth that had likely fallen from the storm and kicked at a large rock rolling it back toward the cart. Moving it closer, he gave a swift hit causing it to roll near the broken wheel. He then sidestepped it and placed the end of the large broken branch under the axle and lay the center of the branch on top of the rock.

Cinder eyed the branch carefully and made small adjustments moving the rock little by little and then the branch little by little. As he stopped for a moment to look at the branch, he quickly turned and stepped back to the side of the road. The nearby filly curious of this scene slowly walked over to the tree branch, rose a hoof, and gave it a brief poke just as Cinder shouted back from the roadside with another large rock at his feet. “Don’t touch that! You’ll throw the balance off!”

She recoiled from the branch startled as Cinder picked up the rock and grunted working his way over back to the tree branch. Finding a nook in the end, he placed the heavy rock on the end and gently let the weight drop down lifting the other end of the cart a little. While Cinder turned to return to the side of the road, the little one looked over the contraption and understood what he was doing.

“Say, I get it! You need to get the wheel up, right?” Leaning down and lifting another rock by the roadside, Cinder grunted with a muffled reply with rock in mouth. “Yargh.” Raising his head over the branch, he placed the next rock on top of the other lowering both and lifting the cart higher. As he took a restful breath, he looked back behind him and scanned the side of the road until his eyes came across the small pony in front of him. With a quick thought, he came up with an idea.

“C’mere.” He spoke wearily as he lifted a hoof, waved it to himself, then pointed to the end of the tree branch. “Have a seat.”

Briefly looking at the branch, she shot a quick look at him. “Why?” The little one replied as she squinted her eyes at him with distrust.

Looking back at her with a tired face, he sighed a reply. “Just…sit there.” Taking a moment to pause, the filly looks down and gave a weary reply. “I don’t know, but you haven’t tied me up or turned me in yet so…I suppose so.” Walking slowly over to the branch, Cinder stepped in close and picked her up by the nape of the raincoat. Gently, he then placed her on both perched rocks. With a strained creak of the and the shift in weight, the cart rose twice the height in the air as the filly held on to the other end. “Stay.” Cinder ordered as he pointed at her with a mildly stern tone before he wandered back over to the end of the cart and dove under the tarp rummaging around. With a heave and a grunt, Cinder emerged with a hammer and spanner in mouth and returned to the side of the cart. Spitting them out to one side, he lifted the fallen wheel and inspected it.

“So…are you going to fix it or change it?” The voice called from the rock perch on the branch. The stallion looked over the wheel and after long pause gave a reply. “Change.” With that, he bent over on the ground, lifted the spanner and placed on the hub nut securing the broken wheel. With a quick jerk, it came loose and spun off onto the ground. “Think it’ll take long?” The little one said. After a grunt while yanking the splintered wheel from it’s hub, Cinder mumbled back. “Shouldn’t”. Placing his nose around the end of the broken wheel, he gave it a nudge and it fell from the hub to the ground.

Cinder turned and leaned down to pick up the spare wheel lying nearby. Grabbing a spoke with his teeth, he lifted it, placed it on the hub and using his head, gave it a push toward the cart. Reaching next to him, he clenched his teeth on the hub nut, placed it back on the hub, stepped back, lifted his hoof and swatted it causing it to spin on the lands. As he picked up the spanner with his mouth, he placed the end on the nut only to hear the voice behind him again. “Where are you going, anyway?” With a sigh, Cinder turned around, looked directly at her, and tipped his head toward one end of the road as he replied. “East.” Turning back to the cart, he bit the spanner and turned it on the hub securing the wheel. Spitting out the spanner to the ground, Cinder lifted the broken wheel from the ground and gingerly placed on the side of the cart where the good wheel was stored. “Done yet?” The young one shouted out in angst. Noticing her boredom of being stuck on a tree branch, he nodded. With a cry of glee, she left off the branch. “Finally!” As a result, the shift in weight caused the cart to come down on the ground with a soft thud in the still murky mud.

Picking up the tools nearby, the large stallion returned them to the rear of the cart and tucked his head under the cart again rummaging around. Curiously, the small filly approached the cart and after looking over the repair job, nodded in approval. “Not a bad job! Now it should be able to us both to the next town! I can even ride in back!” Her voice rang of happiness as the idea came out into the open.

Cinder smirked and scoffed. “Nope” he said as he walked by her to the front of the cart. As her expression turned from glee to shock, Cinder leaned down at the front of the cart to pick up the mud covered collar, tossed it up, and in one quick movement, jammed his nose through the center and slid it on. Turning back to the filly, he lifted his eyebrows, cocked his head and spoke out nearly mellow dramatically. “Bye.” Leaning forward, he yanked at the cart.

The filly had turned from shock to disgust instantly. “What!? How dare you! How dare you just use me and try to take off! What is it with you anyway!?” She quickly trotted over in front of the struggling stallion still fighting with the loaded cart with both wheels still caught in the water soaked rut. “Furthermore, you have no manners! Do you know that!?” The filly continued as Cinder continued to pull several times growing more and more angry as the filly continued to shout. “What is it with these short answers anyway!? Do you have something against me?”

Teeth bared, the stallion dug his hooves hard into the earth pulling the laden cart with all his might. Rocking back and forth, twisting, creaking and finally standing still, the cart barely moved enough to make way out of the ditch. At the top of her lungs, the filly gave out one more scream. “Are you even LISTENING TO ME!?”

In a flash, Cinder snapped. “NO! NO, I’M NOT!” He yelled at her. The young one before him recoiled from the outburst instantly shocked. Breathing deep, Cinder glared at her with fire in his eyes unloading the fury wound tight within him. “I have had more trouble in just one night between the locals here, you , and this old cart! Out all of the issues I’ve had to face over the last three months, you are NOT going to one of them! Period! Go wherever you need to go, but you are NOT going to be a problem for me! GOT THAT!?” Nearly nose to nose with her, he slowly regained his composure and sat down, drew a deep breath, and rested as he recovered from the strain.

Still stricken with fear, the young filly aghast from the outburst flopped to the ground as her face slowly twisted to agony with a sniffle. With a choke and a low wail, she dropped her head to her hooves and began to cry. Cinder, still tired as he was let out an exasperated groan of frustration as the little one wept beneath the still mud caked raincoat. He placed a hoof to his head as he grumbled to himself with mild despair. Taking the time to gather his thoughts, the stallion reluctantly came up with an idea. “Hey. “ He said low at first. Taking another deep breath, he spoke again louder. “Hey! How about a deal? Okay?”

The filly raised her head from the ground with a nose covered in mud. The sobbing subsided to a sniffle as she responded. “Okay. What kind of deal?” Cinder tilted his head to one side. “If you really want to travel with me, we need to get this cart out of the mud. Most of this stuff to too heavy to unload here, so that isn’t an option. Help me pull it out and you can come along, alright?” Quickly thinking, he added on a reservation as he raised his eyebrows and briefly pointed down the road. “This is only to the next town. I can’t have you around forever. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Brightening up a bit, the filly nodded with a final sniffle. “Okay.” Reaching over his shoulder, Cinder bit at a rope from the collar, held up a hoof, and leaned over dropping the rope draping it over the knuckle. The small filly standing up slowly meandered over and grabbed it with her teeth turning around and facing forward side by side with Cinder. Digging his hooves down and leaning forward, the stallion reared up. “On my mark, pull! Three, two, one…Now!” With a yank, Cinder dug his hooves into the soft ground leaving tracks as he tilted forward. The filly grabbing dirt one hoof at a time pedaled in the road, only to slide each hoof the mud. Looking over, cinder quickly shouted out. “Keep those hooves on the ground! You need all of the traction you can get!”

The filly balked as she fought the slippery ground. “I’m trying!” Finally pulling the rope taught, she leaned down with all four hooves in the mud and pulled forward in the same motion as Cinder. The creaking of wood could be heard as the cart shifted forward. “That’s it!” Cinder yelled with jubilance. “More!” The young filly now straining hard jerked forward as her raincoat flapped about and with a single motion, the coat flipped forward over head as a pair of wings shot out and started a furious buzz. Grunting hard, her front hooves lifted upward as she began to get airborne.

Barely catching a glimpse of her front legs lifting from the ground, Cinder shouted angrily as he turned. “I said keep-“ Looking over, he saw the whole picture of the small one nearly in the air by flight. The small wings beat furiously as she strained forward. His mindset quickly changed gears as he realized the new alteration. “More thrust! Harder!” Cinder tugged forward as the resistance of the cart decreased. The cart shifted hard as the wheels rose from the soft ground onto the solid path with both ponies pulling forward. The filly toppled over as the rope went slack causing her to land on her back and Cinder pulled up on the cart. The wheels were clearly out of the rut.

As he took a break to relax, Cinder turned his head over his shoulder to look down at the filly staring up to the sky. He glanced at her wings before speaking. “A Pegasi. Fancy that.” Leaning down, he grabbed her by the raincoat, picked her up, and set her down on all hooves. Picking up the loose rope, he flung it back on the collar around his neck. After having drawn a breath, Cinder grunted as he tugged forward pulling the cart and slowly continued his journey on the weather beaten path. With the passing of a few seconds, he looked around to see that the filly was nowhere in sight. Halting the cart, Cinder leaned to one side and back around the cart. As he watched, the little pony behind him had removed her raincoat and picked it up from the ground. “C’mon, I haven’t got all day.” He said as he lifted a hoof and motioned toward himself. ”I keep my word, but I don’t expect delays. Let’s get going.”

“Coming!” The filly ran up to and alongside the cart tossing the coat over the top of the tarp. Catching up to his flank, the pair ventured onward side by side traveling down the long and winding road ahead.

*********************************

‘It’s quiet. It’s just too quiet’ The young stallion prince thought to himself head in hoof as he sat in his throne. Dressed in his best flamboyant morning attire, he sat alone in the large hall decorated with tapestry and carpeting made by the finest craftsponies in all of Equestra. Waiting for his morning entourage to arrive, he waited, as usual before they would conduct the proceedings scheduled for the day. It never takes long, but that silence was the only time he could clearly think to himself with interference before the long day ahead. Still groggy from having to wake up earlier then scheduled, the prince drifted off slowly closing his eyes as the sleep slowly settled in. Tilting his head forward, he took a deep breath as the world slowly spun. His mind slowed away from the hurried pace required of him. He relaxed as peace settled in.

Before he had the chance to fully fall into sleep, the distant tap barely heard in the distance arose his defense and with a snort, he snapped awake. With a quick shake of his head and Adjusting himself, he sat upright in the the throne ready. As the echoes grew, the sound of hoof steps could be heard in the distance first as a quick jog followed by a full gallop. They came nearer as a figure illuminated by torchlight sped quickly toward the throne. The prince raised his head and focused on the figure as it came into view. The sound of panting quickly caught up to the hoofbeats as the figure came nearer. As the light sparkled off of the armor, the sight grew clear that this pony was none other than the lieutenant in service just below the captain of the palace guard.

“My liege!” The guard yelled as he ran toward the prince. “I have an urgent message to report from the eastern lands!” Quickly approaching the throne, the guard kneeled down before the prince panting heavily and lowering his head to the young stallion. The Prince slid out of the throne to his hooves and tapped the ground twice before raising a hoof into the air. “Arise. I wish to hear this report.”

“Prince Thorne, your majesty” The guard spouted between heavy breaths. “A messenger has arrived at the tower to report that a stallion with a scar through his cutie mark shaped of an anvil was seen at a lodge during the rains last night within the forests to the east.” Catching his breath with a gasp, the guard continued. “He was thrown out after being told that lodging was unavailable. After a scuffle, the innkeeper recognized the mark of shame as issued by your lordship. He reported it as quickly as possible.”

The prince returned to his throne, sat offset in the throne with a slight slump as he squinted with contempt in the dim light. Placing an arm on the armrest and perching his head on a hoof, he already knew the only pony that could be in the area that had such a description. The name escaped his lips sowly without a second thought. “Cinder.”

“Yes, your highness.” The guard continued. “We have a small number of ground troops nearby that can intervene and stop him before nightfall when he reaches the next town. With your command-“ The young prince raised a hoof to stop the guard mid sentence before bringing it to his chin and tapped it as he spoke. “Yes, yes. I suspected he would continue in that direction. This only confirms it.” The prince paused and spoke again lowering the hoof as he looked directly at the guard. “However, I have bigger plans. For now, that pony is not to be bothered, talked to or even looked at if you or any of your guards see him. Do I make myself clear?” The prince raised an eyebrow in question.

Mildly confused, the guard blinked twice before he could muster an answer. “But, my liege, he is a wanted pony! What he has done cannot be-“ Hearing this, the prince quickly shot up from his throne clearly angry as he took a step nearer to the guard. Pointing a hoof at him, he raised his tone. “You WILL do what I say if you wish to keep your stripes Captain!”

Shocked, the guard replied cautiously. “Y-yes your highness.” The guard wearily continued shaken by the outburst. “T-the other guards will be notified to stand down until further orders for action.” The prince turned as he spun around and sat back down in his throne still angry by the action of the guard. Speaking out, he shot a devilish look toward the guard. “…and ONLY by me.” He added as he raised a hoof and casually dismissed the guard. “Now carry on.” With a nod and a bow, the guard backed two steps before turning and ran in the opposite direction back down the hall.

“So, you decide to run, do you Cinder?” The prince said as he brought both hooves together and tapped them lightly against one another in front of his muzzle. “Everypony knows that crimes against the throne are dealt with the most severe of punishment. Only when he thinks he is free shall I make a move to tear him down for what he has done.” Nodding in agreement, he drew a long breath and stretched.

Taking a moment to pause from his thoughts, the young prince leaned to one side and reached a hoof over the armrest before finding the item of desire. Wrapping a hoof around it, he brought the long sheath with the jewel and gold adorned handle to his lap. Using both hooves to grasp both ends, he pulled them apart to reveal the blade from within. Looking at the gleam of metal, he mumbled to himself as he inspected the craftsmanship. “A tool to finish the job must be made of the finest quality indeed.” Swinging it outward, the prince raised the long blade upward eye level as she squinted and smiled with glee.

“This is the blade that will end your life Cinder Stormhoof.“ The prince said to himself aloud.

A Long Road Ahead

Dawn had passed into a full bright morning this day cool and clear. The few clouds that remained in the sky hung low drifting lazily by as if forgotten by the Pegasi that left them behind. Below on the saturated road walked two ponies side by side through the forest. In the still air, they remained silent for a short while until the little one finally decided to break the silence.

“Are you okay?” The small Pegasi asked cautiously, unsure of the reaction. Cinder, being deep in thought didn’t respond. The filly walked closer and spoke up a bit. “Mister, are…are you okay?” As he snapped out of it, he looked over to the filly. “Hmm? Ah...yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” Looking forward again, he took a deep breath and shook his neck to loosen the strain from the collar. The silence didn’t last long before she spoke up again. “Well…if I hurt you, I didn’t mean it.” The little one said apologetically. As if nothing more than a low mumble, Cinder gave a short reply she could barely hear. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Because…I really didn’t mean to hurt you. I just couldn’t let them get me.” She continued as the stallion gave a look of mild irritation. “If I can make it up to you-“ Leaning over, he looked directly at her and cut her off mid sentence. “I said don’t worry about it. I’ve been through worse.” Then, the night before at the inn crossed his mind as he thought about the question. “Much worse.”

Turning back, he continued to look down the road as he started to lose himself in thought again trying to figure out what do when they would reach the next town. As the silence barely settled in following the few seconds of tranquility between the leaves of the trees rustling and the few birds that would sing in the distance, the filly started up again.

“You know…we barely know each other. I don’t even know your name.” She said curiously. Before she had the chance to ask, he spoke up quickly before she had the chance to ask. “It’s Cinder. Alright?” With near admiration, the filly quickly piped up with even more curiosity. “Oh, Cinder! That’s an interesting name! I wonder if you do anything with fire? I mean it could explain a lot of things like cooking, making pottery, glassware, or maybe-“

“Blacksmith.” Cinder growled as he briefly looked over his shoulder and shot her an irritated look using one eye. Hoping she would stay quiet, Cinder sighed and continued to think of the town ahead just before the filly again interrupted to silence. “So…that must mean you make stuff like horseshoes and door hinges right? I mean, there’s always a need for that kind of stuff, right?” Taking a moment to think, Cinder wearily replied with repose. “Yes, along with other things.” Quickly sparking her interest, she continued on. “Like weapons and armor then?”

“Look” Cinder spoke up, as he turned to her and stopped the cart. “It’s just something I’m good at and…” Taking a few seconds to pause, he thought over his words and instead decided change the subject. “...and…what is your name anyway?” He asked reluctantly. Faced with the question, the filly sat and looked at the ground as her tone changed to remorse. “I…I don’t have a name.” The air hung still for a moment as Cinder puzzled by the answer thought it over before following up with a reply. “How is it that you don’t have a name?"

“Well, I sorta do, but I hate it.” She answered as her face turned to anger. “The others just called me ‘Pickens’ the whole time I’ve been at the orphanage.” She look up at him nearly in tears. “Do you know what it’s like to listen to others call out ‘Here comes easy Pickins!’ or ‘Chicken Pickens’ every day?” She shook her head as she continued with a stronger tone stifling a sniffle. “I swore that would get out of that awful place and never hear that name again. I’m never going back. I hated it there.”

“Why not just chose another name?” Cinder asked nonchalantly. “None of them are here now.”

With a moment of thinking, the filly brightened up and smiled at him. “Yeah! I was thinking of another name already. Back there when we were stuck, what was that you called me?” Cinder turned his head to one side and thought for a bit as he recalled the moment. Before long, it came back to him. “When I said ‘Thrust’?” The little filly nodded in agreement. “That’s it! It sounds powerful, and strong like a Pegasi should be!”

Cinder considered the thought and looked over at her wings. He spoke out as the words came to him. “Speaking of which, how come you’re not in flight school yet? Don’t the younger Pegasi start somewhere around your age? I mean, that would have taken you out of the orphanage.” Looking around behind her at her back, she lifted her wings and gave them a quick flap as the front half of her lifted in the air. Half off of the ground, she looked up quickly leapt into the air only to float back down to the ground. “I can’t fly yet. I have to do that first and then they decide when I’m ready.” With a nod, Cinder agreed as he chimed in. “More thrust would certainly get you into the air.”

“Thrust.” She stated puzzled. “What does that mean anyway?” Cinder looked off to one side and thought for a moment before turning back to answer. “It basically means to push. I’ve heard the Pegasi use it more often than any earth pony. It just made sense at the time to say.” He then looked up toward the sky and his eyes narrowed scanning the horizon with the sun looming overhead. A low murmur escaped his throat as he studied it. “Hmm.” Looking back down at the filly, he tilted his head back down the road. “The day grows short and I still plan to get to town by nightfall.” Standing back up, he briefly yanked on the collar and slowly pulled the cart up to walking speed as he continued down the road.

“Thrust.” The little one said again as she stood up and quickly caught up alongside Cinder. Trotting up beside him, she nodded with approval as she slowed to his speed. “Yeah, that’s a name I can get along with. What do you think?” The larger pony simply grumbled in agreement almost unconcerned over the idea. “Um-hmm.” The filly grew excited as she continued on going into detail as only to talk to herself. “Imagine that! Thrust! The wonder of the sky! Diving and turning unmatched by the others! Neee-ow!” Briefly bringing a small hoof up, she dove it down and drew a circle in the air as if practicing maneuvers. “I bet I could take care of the weather better than any of them up there just like in the stories I’ve heard about!” The little one nearly gleamed with pride.

“Of course.” Cinder chortled as he smiled faintly. “You and every other Pegasi I’ve met all have the same idea of flying faster and higher and longer than any other before you. It’s a fact as old as time itself exactly as long as the history of the Pegasi has existed if not longer.” Returning to a calm demeanor, he went on. “That’s just part of what they teach you in flight school when you get there, eventually. You can’t be too headstrong when you use what you learn. It can get you into more trouble then it’s worth.” Quickly becoming solemn, he paused before chewing on the final words. “I should know.”

“I think I can learn more when we get to town and find what Pegasi do at flight school. I might be able to ask one or two of the ponies when we get there.” As her words came forward, the older stallion realized something he should have asked before the trip had begun. As the question bothered him more and more, he had to ask to clear the doubt. “Thrust…” He said as he turned to her and spoke with a clear and concise tone. “Where are your parents?”

“I…” She slowed to a stop as Cinder watched and didn’t move while she looked down at the sandy road. Cinder slowed to a halt just in front of her as she scratched lines in the wet gravel and sand of the road. “I…actually can’t remember.” She poked in the dirt as she shook her head and looked up at Cinder sill looking back at her. “My whole life that I can remember I’ve lived at that terrible orphanage. I was really little when I went there."

Changing her tune, she paused before trying to change the subject and find more about him. “Ya know, several hours ago you didn’t even want to know me and now you have a lot of questions. Why the change?” She asked.

Cinder replied in a calm tone. “Simple. I have to know who you are if I travel with you. I have to be careful of what I do, and around who I do it with.” His voice then became more somber. "It's just a matter of trust. For me, it's not easy."

Hearing his answer, she answered back a bit confused. "I was at an orphanage. Where else would I have gone? I mean, since I've been with you, I haven't done anything wrong. Have I?" Her mood changed to curiosity as she thought about what he had in mind. "You seem to be a lot more nervous then other ponies I've met before..."

"Look." Cinder said grimly as he faced her intently and lightly shook his head. "You have no idea what it is to feel hunted like an animal. Watching your flank every day, being careful what you say or have everything end in a moment. Do you?"

Not expecting the answer, Thrust answered him as honest as could be. "I don't. Do you?"

The stallion remained silent as he held a long gaze at the filly before he finally broke away and pulled forward on the cart. As the creak of the wood passed her, the filly spoke up before Cinder reached out of earshot. "You...don't want me around you. Do you?" He could hear her sorrow without even looking back and stopped the cart again before she finished. "Because, If you don't like me..."

Cinder bowed his head as he groaned loudly. "Ugh! Just...come on. I said I would get you to town and I hold true to my words. Okay?" He looked back waiting for her to catch up.

With a sniffle, she stood up and nodded as she walked up to his side. Cinder pushed forward as he talked to the filly at his side. "It's just...a thing with me. Don't let it get to you." He returned his focus down the road. "There's just a lot of road to cover and too many things to worry about than history." He looked over to her and faintly smiled. "That's why they put it in books so we can think about it later, right?"

Moving forward, the filly smiled at him and nodded. She let the thought slip away left in the road the pair had already left behind as the day stretched on with the setting sun.

*****************************************************************

The midmorning sunlight bore bright through the stone arched window across the long table centered within. At the end the prince Thorne sat with anticipation tapping a hoof lightly on the table as he waited. The fireplace burned bright behind his chair and just as hot as the anger that grew within him. Finally at a boiling point, he could not tolerate the delay any longer.

Placing both hooves on the table he quickly stood upright he shouted out. “Butler! Where is my morning breakfast!?” A growl escaped his clenched teeth glaring down at the end of the table waiting for a response. A head quickly poked its way through the doors at the end of the hall and in a worried tone, the butler replied. “It’s coming master! The chef is just finishing the final touches!” He reassured with a nervous smile. It quickly faded as a small vase came flying towards him and before impact, the butler ducked in the door and closed it as the vase smashed into a thousand small shards as it hit the thick wood. The echo of a boom resonated across the hall before the prince yelled again!

“Tell him to hurry it up! I haven’t got all day!” Sitting back down in his chair, he slumped with a menacing look of disapproval as he let out a low growl. Nearly in unison, his stomach growled as he grumbled in anger. The morning having been filled with recommendations by the advisors took far longer than he had anticipated. As his frustration grew, the butler slowly opened the door again and used only his eyes to peer through the door as he spoke. “Your highness?” He asked nervously. “Were you expecting-“

“Yes! Now!” the prince roared as he stood up and grabbed at another vase in front of him. Leaning back, he threw it with all his might at the door just as a shadow pushed it’s way past the butler and outstretching a hoof, caught the vase midair nearly at the door. Slowly bringing it down, the hooded shadow appeared to look down at the vase in hoof and turned it over in examination. “My, fine caftsponies must have spent hours on such a fine piece.” Leaning toward the table, the husky voice took a step forward from the door and placed it near the edge of the table. “It would be a shame to destroy something so…valuable.”

The clear rage of the prince faded as his tone softened in question. “Who are you stranger? What is the meaning of this entry? “ He quickly stiffened up and he propped himself higher on the table edge and stood tall. “Speak up! Identify yourself or I shall call the guards!” He yelled at him. With a voice of reassurance, the shadow called back in a much friendlier tone. “I would surly hope as such that if any threat would come to you, that your guards would do their job to protect you as would I.”

Changing his focus, the prince looked past the mysterious character to the butler now cowering at the door edge. “You, butler! Tell me who is this figure that stands before me!?” The prince continued on. Slow to raise his head, he replied cautiously. “Y-you requested the services of this stallion, my liege. He is whom you requested to take care of…your problem, sire.” Watching carefully, he gulped in case another vase would come flying.

Silence fell over the room for a few brief seconds before the prince continued. “I find that strange. The lands you hail from are more then three days ride from here. You seem to have made it in two.” Contempt could be detected in his voice as the silence continued for another few brief seconds.

The shadow smiled as he calmly replied. “I work quickly…and move quickly. That is two traits my employers commonly seek. Are they not yours?” The shadow asked in a grimly comical tone. Seemingly satisfied with the answers, the prince sat at his seat again and waved the mystery character over and pointed a hoof at a nearby chair. “Come then. We have much to discuss and work to be done. I have sent for you to do a job that needs the skill of a professional.”

The hooded stallion slowly walked alongside the table edge as each hoof tapped the rocky concrete floor with each step. As he neared the prince, the empty chair nearby shot out slightly as it was kicked by the hoof of Thorne. Stopping just in front of it, the youthful ruler smiled as he outstretched a hoof to it. “Go ahead. Sit.” Before the mysterious character did so, he briefly looked around him, quickly glanced under the table, lightly kicked the chair himself, and finally outstretched a hoof to the top of the chair. As his arm was more viably seen when his knuckle wrapped around it, the arms were seen to be covered in wraps tied with a crossed lace down the center.

As he slowly sat in the chair and nearly settled, Thorne bolted forward dagger in hoof straight at his throat across the table. As he used one hoof to grab around the head of his guest coming nose to nose, his other held the knife steady across the robed throat of the stranger. The prince chuckled as he spoke softly in jest. “If you truly are who you claim you are, you wouldn’t have let your guard down so easily.” Barely lit by the window light, the stranger could be seen with a mild smirk as he shifted ever so slightly. Thorne, appearing ever so confident quickly lost it as his expression turned to shock when he felt the pinprick directly in the center of his stomach. The stranger shook his head. “It was never down for a moment.” He said as he slowly reached near the blade at his throat with the other hoof and pulled down slightly to expose the small scaled plates hidden underneath. Realizing the folly, the prince slowly backed away and sat down in his chair sheathing the dagger.

“So you must be him.” The prince chimed in with approval. Interrupting the moment, the stomach of the king growled again and Thorne changed from satisfied to angry. “Butler! My breakfast, NOW or it’s your HEAD!” As his echoes faded, the shuffling of hooves scampered down the edge of the table with a large silver domed plate that reflected with the beam of the sun as he ran past the window. Approaching the prince, he quickly slid it in front of him and lifted off the cloche to reveal a bed of alfalfa sprouts, seaweed, diced carrots, chopped radishes, turnip halves, and whole sweet beets adorned with rose petals around the edge.

In one quick motion, Thorne brought out the dagger in hoof and stabbed at a turnip half and bit off the end. Leaning back in his chair he stared lazily at the unfamiliar pony until he swallowed and continued his thoughts vocally. “Do you have the letter?” He chided raising an eyebrow. Shuffling below the table, the stranger lifted a hoof above and slid the half folded note forward to the plate where the prince leaned over, stabbed the center of it, and picked it up with the edge of the knife. Bringing it closer, he opened it and read through the note s it had been written.

“On to business then I suppose.” Thorne lazily spoke as he stabbed at a large red beet on the plate and lifted it to his mouth. Taking it in whole, he chewed at it for a moment as he brought the knife down on the table blade first embedding it into the wood near the plate. Lifting a hoof in the air, he began.

“Some moons ago, I had an issue with loyalty in my castle from a certain earth pony that would seek to have me removed from my throne. I had given him the chance to swear his allegiance to me, but instead he decided to run.” Picking up the knife from the table, Thorne jabbed at a long uncut carrot and brought it to his mouth slicing it in half and chewing as he continued on. “What he has done to my reputation and his capability to further damage it must be halted. He cannot be allowed to roam free while I work to establish my power in this region.” Finishing off the carrot, Thorne jabbed the knife in the center of the sprouts and spun it twirling it around the knife. Bringing it to his mouth, he bit at it whole as he placed the knife back on the table. Raising a hoof, he pointed at the stranger. “Of course, this is where you come in. I want him captured alive.” He then tapped the table in front of him. “You will bring him here, to me, in one piece and still breathing. We have some questions that need to be answered and…” Pausing to take the knife again, Thorne reached for a large round beet in the center of the plate and with a quick motion, jabbed at it directly in the center. The dark purple juice flowed from the knife as he lifted it and brought it to his mouth. As he brought the dripping beet to eye level, he smiled as he looked at and then turned his attention back to the stranger. “Let’s just say I have unfinished business that needs attending to.” Bringing it closer, Thorne turned his head and bit hard leaving a half moon shape in beet as he looked back to the unknown stallion.

“I see.” The stranger replied calmly. Unmoving in his stance, he remained motionless sitting upright in the chair as he paused before he spoke again. “You do have my standard fee, correct?” Leaning back as to stretch, Thorne raised both hooves in the air above his head as he briefly closed his eyes and yawned. “Ah yes. I thought you would get to that.” He said as his arms came down. Looking briefly down to one side of the chair, he produced a small pouch in hoof and tossed it up in the air twice landing in his hoof each time. The ring of bits could be heard as the coins bounced off of one another inside. Pitching it forward across the table, it landed and rolled in front of the stranger within reach. Looking down at the bag in front of him, the hooded stallion scooped an arm around the bag and pulled it off the table into his lap as Thorne continued on. “Half of the bits now for your trouble to get there and follow him, half when you return with what I have asked. Yes?”

The stranger nodded silently before he thought to check for any loose ends. “Anything else I should know before I go?” Thorne looked up to the ceiling and brought a hoof to his chin to tap it lightly. Only mere seconds later, he did think of one thing he had questioned long ago. Looking back at the stranger, his lips curled up as the idea seemed too good to pass up. “When you have him, tell him that time cannot erase many memories…especially ours.” With a deep rooted cackle, Thorne gave a hearty laugh as he leaned back in the chair and quickly brought both hooves together with a loud pop.

The stranger slowly stood from the chair and walked to the entry approaching the butler as he opened the door. The prince called from the end of the hall to gain his attention one last time. “Just remember, if you return empty hooved, you will leave with less then what you arrived.” Thorne drove his dagger into the table with a loud bang as it left a deep hole in front of him. The stranger raising his arm in front of his nose, had a long carrot in hoof with his knuckle wrapped around it. Running the long root past his nose to take in the smell, he quickly bit on the end and smiled as he chewed before he would reply. “Of course.” Turning to the butler, he pushed past him and continued down the corridor to make his exit for the one named Cinder.

The Journey Onward

The day became warmer as the sun had risen high by noon. From the earlier calm, the wind came with a gentle breeze drying the bare ground that ran along the road. Gravel separated and ground together as the wagon wheels traveled over it pulled by the stallion heading towards town with the filly that followed. From the silence, her voice broke the calm as her thoughts came to words in the open.

“I spy...” The little one said in a drawn out tone as she swiveled her head around to the trees at the side of the road then up to the sky and turned behind her before looking back over to Cinder. “...something...”

“I’m not going play that game.” He said dryly as he cut her off before she finished. Disappointed, she whined as she drooped her head. “Aww, c’mon. It’s boring out here...” Slowly looking off to the edge of the road, she noticed something scramble up the trunk of a tree and quickly regained her pace quickly looking back at him. “Something brown! I betcha can’t-“

“Squirrel.” Cinder quickly replied uninterested. “Now quit it. I’m too tired for games.”

Following up, Thrust snickered as she smiled and raised a hoof to quickly tap him on the shoulder. “Ha! Now it’s YOUR turn!”

Grumbling to himself and muttering under his breath he knew he shouldn’t have said anything, but the trip was already long and arduous. The silence can last only so long and his mind was clouded from the months that had passed. As he decided on what to do, a spark of creativity crossed his mind and with careful judgment, he decided to give it a try.

“Alright. I spy...” He said as he tilted his head slightly and looked down at her with one eye. A thin smile grew over his muzzle. As he heard him speak, Thrust bit her lower lip as she gleamed in anticipation excited that he would play along.

“...something...spherical.” Confused, the filly looked at him quizzically and her smile faded trying to see what he was talking about.

“Huh?” She raised an eyebrow as she stopped in the road. As the wagon passed her while she tried to think of what he meant, the turning wheel caught her attention and without a second thought, she ran back up next to Cinder and said what came to her mind.

“Maybe...the wagon wheel?” She tried with doubt clear in her voice.

The stallion lightly grunted. “Not quite. It’s round, but not spherical. Think of something more like like a ball, a pearl, or an orange.”

Turning her head in one direction after another around her the filly tried to see what the stallion was talking about, but couldn’t make sense of what he spoke. With a frustrated look, she blurted out in confusion. “But...there isn’t anything around like that!”

Without even looking at her, the stallion smiled wide as he said what he had on his mind all along. “It’s the moon.”

Having heard the answer, Thrust yelled out with contempt at him. “Hey! That’s not fair! You cheated! You can’t even see it from here!

“Maybe not, but it’s up there.” The stallion said so matter-of-factly. “You might not see it with your eyes, but I can see it with my mind.”

Unconvinced, the little one looked at him with contempt. “Oh yeah? Prove it! I bet you pull the legs of all the mares with that one!”

Taking her words to heart, Cinder looked up to the sky and squinted as he judged the distance of the sun to the ground. Glancing over to a tree off of the road further from others, he noticed the length of the shadow and knew which direction to point. Lifting a hoof briefly, he pointed up into the sky above Thrust.

“There.” He said as he quickly brought the hoof back down keeping in step with the cart. “By nightfall, you will see the moon rise from there. I can promise it.”

The amazement of Thrust is heard as she let out a small hoot of interest as she looked off in the direction. “Wow. You must be good at that sort of stuff.” She continued with mild amazement. “Alright, fine. If that’s the case…” The filly smiled again as she spoke up. “My turn then! I’ll get you this time! I spy...” Looking around her, she slowed in pace as she peered about searching for anything that would throw the old stallion off for his little trick. As her eyes fell on the flank of Cinder, her mind was settled and spoke again with haste. “...something thin and long.”

The stallion closed his eyes in jest as he played along with her. “Could it be…a nail?

“No” She said as she shook her head with a playful smile.

He briefly looked up to the sky to think before he tried again. “Rope maybe?”

Thrust giggled as she laughed and replied. “Nuh-uh. Try again!”

Cinder stretched his imagination and gave it another shot. “Well, I suppose a strand of hair then?”

Thrust blurt out knowing she had him on the riddle. “Not even close, silly! You’ll never get it!”

“Hmm.” His mind went blank stretching his thinking only to come up empty hooved.

The filly hopped in anticipation as she egged him on. “Give up yet? I’ve gotcha on this one!”

Cinder rolled his eyes before selling them on the filly. “Okay, I give in. What is it?”

“It’s your scar!” She said emphatically with a laugh. “I knew you wouldn’t-“

Her words drifted off as the smile on Cinder quickly faded and the slowed the cart to a stop. He chewed on his lip as he looked down at the ground. Thrust halted with him when she saw the pain show and turned to face him.

“Did I say something wrong?” She said apologetically noticing the quick change.

Cinder remained silent as he sat in the road. His eyes darted from one place to another looking around on still wet ground. Silently shaking his head, he replied low and calm. “No. We just need to get to town.”

The stallion exhaled slowly as he stood and drew another breath. Doing so caused his belly to rumble with a grumble. Trying to mask it he grunted hard and quickly yanked on the cart before he coughed and shook his head. “This cart is a bit more heavy than I recall.”

Thrust noticed the odd behavior and caught on after watching a bit of his acting. “A pony as big as you are having trouble with a cart? Naw.” She walked up and poked him in the stomach and heard as it groaned a bit again. Cinder defensively stepped to one side and raised an arm to block her from touching him again and scolded her. “Get off! Just...leave me alone.”

The filly caught on quickly as she watched him breathe hard and slump as he rested. “You had anything to eat in a while, huh?” The filly said with a hint of suspicion in her voice.

Cinder grit his teeth, but eased as he lowered his guard to the small pony. “I’ve skipped a meal to two.”

“Oh yeah? When was the last time you had anything to eat?” She sought an answer looking carefully at his face.

Feeling the pressure, Cinder flared up and turned to the filly with the heat in his frustration. “Three days, okay!? Just…leave me alone.” He looked back to the ground and stewed over his feelings.

Initially shocked by the outburst, Thrust sat to herself by Cinder while he remained quiet by the side of the road. As the minute passed by, she came to a decision over what to do with the moment at hand.

“Are you hungry?” She said clearly to the stallion. Calm as he was, Cinder couldn’t avoid a direct question so direct from somepony so near.

The still air held for a moment as he took a slow breath and finally replied with a nod. “Yes.” He backed out of the collar and raised an arm over his head to rub his neck where the strain ached the most.

“We can rest a while and eat if you’d like.” Thrust continued. Still in his sour mood, Cinder shook his head. “I’m fine for now. I just…”

The filly slowly came over to him and raised her small hoof to his arm, wrapped it around, and gave it a light tug before she spoke. “Oh, come on. Let’s have something to eat.” Looking down, the stallion saw as she tugged at his arm and headed to the side of the road to a small clearing nearby. “I have a few stale oat and molasses bars I took from the pantry before I was able to escape that place.”

Cinder settled beneath a large oak tree gently swaying in the light wind as the filly walked back to the rear of the cart. Pulling at one side, she pulled back the flap to expose a vacant area at the rear. Briefly crouching on the ground, her wings spread out and flapped twice as she leapt up to catch the edge and pull herself in. Thrust dug her head under the tarp and found her small carry bag from the night before. Biting down on the felt, she lifted it, turned back to the cart’s edge and jumped down to the ground.

The little Pegasus trotted back to the road side and placed the bag on the ground directly in front of the stallion. Pulling at the loose knot, she spread the cloth in the grass revealing the contents. Three dried oat and molasses bars, the note she had shown before, a small, hoof carved wooden pony, and a faded photograph that lay under it all. Thrust came around and lay down beside Cinder as she talked.

“It’s not much, but most of what is there was with me when I was found.” She reached out with a hoof and pulled the small wooden figurine toward herself and held it close. “It was the only toy I’ve had since I was little. I don’t know who it’s supposed to be.” Picking it up with her teeth, she reached forward and placed it back on the cloth. She then reached out with a hoof and nudged one of the oat bars to cinder revealing more of the picture on the bottom. Cinder reached down to pick up the bar and in one quick motion, he lifted it up into the air, bit into it whole, and inhaled the morsel chewing on it briefly before swallowing. The filly watched in mild amazement berifly before reaching for another bar and nudging it toward him. “You must be hungry! You can have more if you want.”

“I’ll pay you what I owe.” Cinder remarked as he leaned down and chomped down on the other bar ignoring the flavor of old oats.

“Pay?” The filly shook her head with a light hearted reply. “You don’t owe me anything. I didn’t pay for this so you shouldn’t either.” She then broke the last bar in half and pushed it to him. “If you’re still hungry-“

“No.” He said holding up a hoof and trying to swallow between words. “I thank you for what you’ve done already.”

Thrust smiled with a nod as she lifted one half of the last bar to her mouth and bit off half of it to eat. Noticing the picture in the cloth, Cinder looked at it covered in crumbs and in curiosity, reached for it. As he pulled it out from under the note, half it was shown to be torn off. In the picture was a single older mare standing with another pony outside in the green grass with a mysterious arm around her shoulders. Little more is seen then an old windmill in the background and the edge of a cottage nearby.

“I think that’s Madam Myrtle.” Thrust chimed in with a mouthful of oats. She swallowed it as she looked at the photo with Cinder. “I don’t know where she lives, but she must be somepony important to me. I don’t know who she is or where I can find her…” Her tone wavered with doubt as her head drooped.

The stallion quickly looked at her with both eyes and serious as could be, he calmly replied with confidence. “You will. You made it this far, just keep going.”

Cinder looked back at the photo and flipped it over. On the back were written two words. “Best wishes.” He mumbled as he turned it over again to study the picture. Shaking his head, he drew a blank on the image. “I wish I could tell you, but I have no idea who this pony is either.” His mind sat still for a brief moment until he looked to a shadow cast from a tree nearby. Noticing the length it was from earlier, he remembered

“Break time is over. We have to keep moving or we will be on the road in the dark.” Slowly standing, he took in a deep breath, stretched and started toward the cart. “We’ve stopped several times already and to make that time up, we have to quicken the pace. "If you want to keep up you’ll-“ Looking back behind him, he paused as he saw that the little filly was asleep in the sun.

Cinder let out moot grumble as he looked at her briefly and back to the cart. Looking towards the sun, he closed his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh before raising a hoof and rubbing his head hard with complaint. “Of all ponies in Equestra, why me Celestia?”

He quickly turned back around and picked up the small filly wrapping an arm around her torso and lifting her over his shoulder. Slow to stir and letting out a groan, he carried her back to the cart. “A promise is a promise.” He said as he walked to the rear with flap open. Carefully, lifting Thrust and lowering her in back, she moved slightly never waking as he pulled off the raincoat she wore earlier. Now dry from the sun, he gently placed it over her and watched as she stirred pulling the coat high over her head. Cinder chuckled at the sight before he turned back to her small cloth still on the ground. Quickly picking up each corner, he bit on the end and returned to the cart to place it next to her.

Cinder reached over the cart and pulled on the tarp to cover the small filly. Pulling it tight, he tied it down and checked the ropes before walking around the cart looking for wear. His mind still mulled over what he would have to do when he would arrive at the next town much like the one before it, and the one before that. The constant moving wore on hi and someday, he knew time would catch up and the guards would get him.

His nerves lit up as the thought of capture scared him as it did before. Trying to calm himself he closed his eyes and paced his thoughts imagining that the next town would be smaller, quieter, and nopony would ask questions. “At least for a while.” He spoke as he stepped into the collar and tugged freeing the wheels from the damp earth it had sunken into. Cinder inhaled and exhaled with his pace as his fear waned and the passing of time eased his mind as the cart moved forward into the aging afternoon.

********************************************************

‘Where is she!?’ Thorne thought to himself as he stomped heavily up each stair as he took himself to the upper bedroom chambers. ‘I told her to be downstairs before I had my breakfast!’ Reaching the upper landing, he quickened his pace as he focused on the last door of the hall and came nose to wood before he lifted a hoof and pounded on the thick door. “Merigold!” Each boom resonated down the half for every other pony to hear in the castle before a faint voice from within replied wearily.

“Go away, I’m still in bed.” A mare groggily wavered as the silence followed.

Thorne sneered as he again picked up a hoof and pounded on the door louder than before. “I told you last night to be down at that table before I would for this morning! I will not be defied!”

“And I told you no!” Angrier now, the voice replied sounding far more stern. “Now go away or I won’t come out at all today!”

The rage overtook the stallion as he shouted with rage and turned away from the door. Rearing up, he kicked at the door with both hooves splintering the wood and as each hit met the door with force, it buckled briefly before it split in two down the center nearly imploding into the room.

The peach coated unicorn with the golden mane in an unbrushed tangle quickly sat up from her bed wrapping her hooves around the sheets she slept under and pulled them up around her as she watched him first in shock then quickly to anger as she scolded him. “How dare you! This is MY room! Get out!”

“You will do what I say as this is MY castle!” His nostrils flared as he bared his teeth. “When I must meet with my morning council to deal with affairs, your presence will be made at my table afterward.” His clenched jaw eased and his anger diminished as he began walking toward the bed. “Your beauty soothes my troubled mind. The juices of my palette flow better and the food tastes twice as sweet...” He raised a hoof each on the side of the bed as he raised himself up and his voice soothed to her. “...when I have you by my side to look at.”

The mare leaned away from him as her face hardened in disapproval. “You and you alone is reason I do not wish to be down there. Your very name sickens me and I envy the day I am far, far away from you Thorne.” She slapped the bed as she went on. “If it wasn’t for your guards, I’d have already left.”

The stallion leaned in further to her side as he came closer and drew a long breath to smell her. Grinning, a devilish look came over him as he spoke barely loud enough to talk. “What we don’t do down there can be done up here in either your chambers or mine.” Without warning, her hoof came at his face broadside and shot it to one side as she gasped in disgust. “Leave me alone you spawn from the underworld!” She spat angrily as she slid out of the opposite side of the bed and around it to the door. Thorne rubbed his jaw with the side of a hoof and spun around to yell at her as she ran from the doorway. “You will regret that! Guards!”

As she ran through what was left of the damaged door, the remainder of one half barely hanging from a single hinge caught her foot as she tripped over it on the way out. Falling to the hallway floor, she tumbled to the ground just as she witnessed two armor clad ponies one dark and one light ascend the stairwell and run down the hall toward her. In a panic, she scrambled to her hooves as she turned away from them and bolted back to her room without watching as Thorne quickly stood upright and wrapped both hooves around her catching the unicorn in his grasp. Falling to the ground, Thorne and Merigold lay against one another with him tightly holding onto her as she struggled on the floor.

Thorne grunted holding her tight as the unicorn fought him. Quickly tiring, she stopped to breathe. The earth pony still clutched to her and smiled before he spoke. “Meri…we don’t have to play games. Just marry me and my wealth will also be yours.”

“You can keep your wealth Thorne!” She hissed at him encumbered by his weight. “All the bits in Equestra couldn’t buy me! I’ll never be with you!” Thorne leaned up as he pinned her arms down under his hooves. Glaring at her flat on the ground, he sneered in disagreement. “You will do as you’re told! You will be mine!”

“No!” She yelled as her horn began to glow, looking up to a nearby dresser, the unicorn focused her power on a small round jar perched close to the edge. As the rosy glow surrounded the jar, it slightly lifted and quickly flew in the direction of Thorne. Barely catching a glimpse of it, he reacted too slow to lift an arm to protect his head. Instead, it hit high in his ribcage and bounced to the floor. With a cry of pain, he folded over giving the mare the chance to get free as she pushed hard to roll over. Thorne landed on the ground just as Merigold drug herself out from under him and crawled under the nearby bed.

Thorne perched himself up on one arm as he lay on the floor and raised the other hoof and shook it in the air. “I will make you suffer if it’s the last thing I ever do you ungrateful mutton whithed bag of a draft mule! I will find the biggest crop I can find and leave your saddle back red raw!”

Marigold stood up over the bed and bared her teeth as she chided back at the stallion. “I will fight you tooth and hoof first! Your day will come soon enough when Cinder returns!”

Thorne smiled as he held an arm around his chest and stood on his hooves. A low snicker came from him before he burst out to a cackle. “Cinder! Ho! He hasn’t a chance!” Shaking his head, the pony limped closer on three legs as he smiled whimsically. “That old broken down equine won’t return here. Not after what he has done.” The smile on Thorne faded as he went on. “Nopony in this castle would defend him from the punishment that awaits. That is why he ran.”

“I don’t believe you! He wouldn’t do that!” She cried out to his defense. “He served my father for years and never once considered doing any harm! He would have died for him!”

“The court has already decided his fate in his absence. Being he wasn’t here to defend himself, he has already shown his guilt.” Thorne continued in a care free tone going on. “He has abandoned these lands, his reputation, and worst of all, you.”

The pain was too much to bear for Marigold. She shouted back at him as her face reflected the pain. “You lie! He served us well and meant more to us all then you ever will!”

“Yes, defend your old friend for his time is short and I already know where he is.” Thorne grinned mildly as he watched the unicorn react to his words. Pulling her in, he continued waiting to catch her with the bait. “I have already sent for a mercenary to capture him and have him returned here to be made an example of.” His smile grew with the plans he had in mind.

“You fiend!” Marigold shouted. “If you hurt him, I…I…” Her face dripped as she knew she was cornered.

Thorne leapt on the bed and extended his head to reach at her eye to eye as she stumbled for a response. Whispering, he waited for an answer. “You’ll what?”

The tears now flowed steadily as the mare broke down and buried her head in her arms on the bed. Gently raising a hoof, Thorne stroked her mane lightly as she cried to herself in the sheets. “There, there. I may make concessions if certain demands are met.” He beamed in excitement as he spoke. “If you marry me, I can leave him be so the two of you can see one another again.”

Without a reply, the mare continued to weep in the sheets without a reply.

“Uh, your highness?” A voice from the other side of the room started up as if from nowhere. One of the two ponies clad in armor stepped forward with the announcement. “Your defensive lessons are due to start soon. Will you attend as scheduled?” The guard inquired.

Thorne quickly glared at the guard and nodded before slowly looking back at the mare still head in arms on the sheets. “I’ll let you think it over. Plenty of time for things to come my dear.” Backstepping from the bed, Thorne turned and headed to the nearby door before remembering to remind the mare.

“Oh! And tonight, you WILL wear that blue dress that was crafted by some of the finest tailors I have in the castle. It just tickles my fancy.” Continuing on, he walked past the guards to return down the hall. Before descending the staircase, he shouted back to the pair of them at the door. “Find somepony to fix that door, now!” Thinking of the night ahead, A soft laughter followed Thorne as he traversed the stairwell down.

Arrival

The sun was past its peak in the sky. The day grew long as the light stretched the shadows long for the trees and the rocks along the road. Hours had passed as Cinder soldiered on through the day lugging the cart behind him as his stamina held strong. The first sign of populace he noticed was the occasional fruit peel or scrap of wood that lay by the roadside. Nearing the end of his journey he slowed as he came to a large sign and read it aloud.

“Sauntertown.” The word was poorly painted and flaked on the dried and rotting board. Below it, an addendum followed. “Bandits unwelcome. This means YOU!”

Cinder curled a lip as he grunted and disregarded the insult. The inhabitants may have posted the warning to scare off anypony with brazen acts in mind, but as he was just passing through his presence shouldn’t give any reason for them to fear.

He raised a rear leg and tapped the cart behind him twice before he raised his voice. “We’re here.” A light murmer and stirring is heard as the filly rustled beneath the tarp and poking her head out, she looked through the tarp weary from her slumber. She yawned wide while looking around and finnly focused on Cinder in front of her. She lazily thought of what he said before asking. “Here? Where’s here?”

Cinder tilted his head to the sign. She saw and studied it trying to read the crude lettering. Her eyes took their time to clear until they could focus and she then saw what she could make out.

“Sau-, Saunt-…” She read along carefully until her best effort came to her. “Sauntertune?”

“Close.” He followed up by raising a hoof and pointing at the sign. “Sauntertown. This place is between the middle valley and the coast.” Looking back at her in the cart, he casually went on. “It’s small, quiet, and simple. Not too many ponies pry into others business in these parts.” He nodded in agreement as he quietly muttered to himself. “It’s perfectly ideal.”

“What?” The filly asked rubbing an eye with a knuckle.

“I said it’s ideal. This place-“

With a pause, he thought of his scars for a few seconds before he continued.

“Pull my rainjacket out of the cart and toss it over me.” He quickly said as if addressed as an order. Reaching down, Thrust slowly pulled it up bit by bit until it hung over the side. Grabbing it with her mouth, she flung it over the stallion. As he pulled each corner over himself, she let him know what she had on her mind. “It’s a bit warm out, how come you need that?”

“Lets just call it insurance.” He stated bluntly as if searching for an answer.

“Anyway.” He went on as he pulled on the cart on the main road. “If you look at it, it’s quiet, small, and best of all simple to fit in.” The trees became more scattered as the view of the town came into view. “See how small it is?” Thrust, more awake now watched as the buildings in the distance slowly appeared as the trees gave way for her to view. The road gently curved and she was able to see more of the buildings and signs out front.

“This is so exciting. I’ve never been to a town before.” She said in awe while looking at the signs. The first building on the edge of town had a long pole painted white and red that wound up from the base to the top much like a peppermint stick. “I can read it! I can! It says..bar-bar-ber?”

“Yep.” Feeling good spirited, Cinder nodded as he decided to play along. Looking to the other side of the road, he looked at up another sign high above the door. “How about that one?”

The small filly squinted in the fading light of the street. “I think it says…fed. Wait! No…Feed! Yeah, Feed!” She shouted to Cinder once she figured out what it was meant for. “We can get food there, huh?”

“No, that’s for livestock when the farmers come to town to feed them later on.” Looking to his right, he pointed a nost a large sign with two words much longer then before. “This might be a tough one. How about that?”

“Ooh, I don’t know…” Her mind raced to pronounce the syllables as she tried to make out what it said. “Gen…gen-rel Stor-y?” Cinder smiled wider before he replied. “Close. It’s a general store. That’s where anypony can get supplies such as blankets, lamps, horse shoes, fishing poles…”

“Horseshoes?” She turned over a hoof and looked at the curved base. “Why would I need those?”

“When you travel long distances, you’ll be thankful you have them. The first time you do so without, you will regret it.” He replied with caution. “Sore feet will leave you lame. A lame horse can’t work. That’s a risk I can’t afford.”

“What about fishing poles?” She thought curiously. “What’s are those for?”

“There’s ponds and lakes of water across Equestria. When you toss a line out, fish will bite and it’s something to eat.” He looked a bit smug as he went on. “If you like fish that is.”

“I’ve never heard of ponies eating fish.” She wrinkled her nose. “I remember the smell one day when we

The stallion continued to walk through town as the few ponies out at the late hour paid little attention to him. Some had hats, some had coats and several went without anything on at all.

Cinder slowed the cart as he neared a large stable with a sign outside. The filly looked up and tried to read the letters out to the best of her ability.

“B-L-A-C-K…Bla-black…HEY!” She leaned down and poked him in the rump. “I bet that says blacksmith! That’s what you do, huh?”

The stallion nodded gently. “Yeah. I’m going to need a job while I’m here. I can provide services to make a living.” He stepped back out of the collar and leaned down as he walked around to the side of the cart. “As promised, I have also brought you to the closest town.” He then paused and held himself calm trying to find the right words as he gathered his thoughts. Thrust grew uneasy as he stood near her.

“I…” Cinder sighed heavily as he brought out what needed to be said. “I have to ask you to go.”

A look of hurt came over her at the words. “But, you don’t want to just leave me…” She shook her head. “You can’t. I know you can’t.”

The stallion hardened up as he tried to stick to the facts. “I don’t have much. Just old equipment and tools to earn what I do. I can’t pay you for more then what I’ve eaten on the road.” He brought his muzzle down on a rope and with his teeth, pulled it loose.

The filly whined in protest as he pulled the tarp over the wagon. “Thrust I don’t care about the food! Let me stay!”

He paused to look at the filly directly as he went on. “Listen, Thrust…you don’t want to be around a pony like me. It’s…too dangerous.”

The little one gasped before ducking under the tarp and hopped out of the back of the cart. She came over next to him with an exasperated look. “Why!?” She said nearly yelling.

“It just has to be.” Cinder replied with a somber tone. He thought of her unknown past and tried to focus on what was important. “If you can, try to find this Madam Myrtle. She might live close or live somewhere in the next town.”

“But…I can’t do this on my own. I need you. I don’t have any other friends around here.” She struggled to find an answer as the stallion waited for a legitimate reason.

“You wait a minute. You’ve set out on your own to accomplish this!” His eyebrows went up. “I didn’t want any part of this to begin with.”

“Well, yeah, but…” She paused and yawned drawing a few breaths before she decided if she would tell him how she really felt. “It’s…that I like you. You’ve been good to me and I know you’re a good pony because you cared for me by keeping me warm on that cold and rainy night.”

The stallion sat dumbstruck with mouth agape and a furrowed brow. He was torn on what to do and in frustration, let out a low grumble that quickly bellowed to a yell.

“Grr…AUGH!” Cinder bared his teeth and kicked cart jostling it over and scattering several items on the ground behind it. “No! No, you are NOT going to do this to me! I don’t have time for this, and..and…I have to get my equipment set up…and…” He paced to the front of the cart and shook his head going silent for a moment before tilting it as he came back to her. With wide eyes and flared nostrils, he briefly closed his eyes before he growled. “FINE.” He snorted in disagreement going on. ”I’ll help you find this Myrtle, but that’s it! Okay!? After that, NO MORE!” He picked up a hoof and waved it across in front of himself indicating it as the final straw saying it again. “No…more.”

“Okay.” Her eyes drooped as a little smile curled lightly but sweetly as she saw him ease up. It had taken the wind out of his sails as he watched her and found it hard to stay angry at one so young.

Cinder grit his teeth in angst as the little one came to his side and wrapped an arm around his lower leg. She leaned on it as she stumbled still not fully awake from the sleep earlier. With weak effort, she mumbled to him. “Thank you Cinder.”

Still in debate over whether he made the right decision, he gently shook her to keep the filly awake. “You’re going to make me regret this. I know it.” He said as she stumbled to keep on her hooves.

He poked at her back and tried to lift her by an arm off of him. “Come on then. If you’re going to stay here, you need somewhere to sleep.” Leading on to the stable door, he raised a hoof and pounded it on the door.

The steps inside came close with a grinding of gravel and stirring of loose hay. The latch inside lifted and as the old hinges creaked, a door swung inward. Slowly poking his head out, the nose of a pale white mule in a hole filled wicker hat greeted him.

The character squinted at him. “Yeah? Whadda ya want?”

“I’m the hired hoof you were looking for two days ago when I replied to your request by telegram.” The stallion pointed a hoof at the cart. “I’ve brought all of my tools and can start by tomorrow morning.”

The old mule looked him over. “Hmm, you’re bigger then I was expecting. The stall I have for you might not be big enough.”

Quickly following up, cinder pleaded his case. “I’ll take whatever you can give. I’ll bust my flank and hammer whatever is needed for your customers. No matter what, I’ll make it work.” “Well?”

The mule noticed the small horse on the ground and poked a nose around Cinder to get a better look at her. He quizzically looked back at the stallion. “What about that little one there? You didn’t say anything about her in the wire.” Thrust hid behind the leg of Cinder shy at the coarse frame of his muzzle.

“Yes, ah…time and funds were short.” He nervously swallowed trying to bridge the gap in the facts. “I had to get word out quickly or I wouldn’t arrive on schedule. Time lost is business lost, correct?” He cocked his head and raised his eyebrows for an answer.

The mule stood silent. He mulled over the details as he darted a look at each the pair.

“Alright. As long you take care of her with yer own bits, I think I can find room around here. The stall for you might also be a bit tight.” The mule squawked before backing up from the door. “Come on in then.”

The pair followed him in to the large stable. Just behind the door the mule had left a lantern on the ground. Picking it up by muzzle, he quickly trotted to the center of the room and hung it on a nail. The room was dimly illuminated by the light, but enough could seen to make out four walls.

“I have a single stall left in the corner for you.” The mule pointed off to a corner stall scatterd with debris within. “I’ve had to store some tools in there so you’ll need to share the space. As for the little on, there space in the loft.” He pointed up above him. “Being short on feed this time of year, it’ll work as a place to sleep. The stairwell is just off to the wall.” Hard to find in the light, a thin stairwell is seen in the other far corner of the stable leading up to the floor above.

“Right then.” Cinder started up. “I’ll unpack my belongings tonight if that’s alright so I’m ready for tomorrow.”

The mule nodded. “Fine with me. Lots to be done. I’ll let you know what to do when I’m up.” He tapped the lamp as he passed by while heading for the rear door. “You can keep the lamp in here tonight.”

“Thank you, sir.” Cinder quickly said just as the old mule reached the far door and pushed his way out.

“It’s kinda dirty in here.” Thrust said as she lazily poked around in the dirt.

“Don’t complain, it’s a roof over both our heads tonight.” Cinder relented. “I would have preferred to have been here then in that storm last night.”

Thrust sat in the center of the barn and settled down as if getting comfortable. Watching her, he walked up from behind and gave her a quick shove with his nose to get back up.

“If you’re tired, head up to the loft. I’ve got a lot of unpacking to do here and I’ll need the help of that mule for some of it later in the morning.”

“Oh…alright.” She stumbled up and slowly climbed the stairs upward. Reaching the top, she kicked at the loose hay and pushed it into a pile near the drop. Once she had enough, the filly lay upon it looking down over the edge as Cinder paced from the corner with the tools to other parts of the stable to clear out the stall for the night. Her eyes grew heavy as the slumber overtook her and before long, Cinder watched her from below as he saw her fast asleep.

“That filly just can’t know.” He said to himself as he lifted another object from the floor to carry it elsewhere. “I know I’m DEFINITLY going to regret this.”

*************************************

The sky above Equestria still lay scattered with few clouds in the warm light. The setting sun blazed a brilliant crimson from the horizon over the treetops and through the valley crevasses. Looking across the landscape, the stranger in saddle above the terrain scanned the ground with a map spread across the feathers of his mount held down by one hoof as the other wrapped tight around the reins. Large glass spectacle covered his eyes and the large cape on his flapped wildly in the wind. Noticing the road below, he read it to the map and traced it to the town the lay ahead. With a quick tug, the stranger pulled to one side as the Gryphon yelped and quickly tilted lining up with the road. The beak twisted as the Gryphon looked up at the rider on his with a single yellow eye.

“Hey! Don’t pull the line so hard!” The mount yelled into the wind. “I’m not some old plow horse!”

“You were veering off course again, Xerces!” The stranger snipped back. Reaching down past his beak with reins still in hoof, he pointed at the road below as the eye of the Gryphon followed. ”See the road? We don’t have much time before it gets dark. Follow that to the next town and once you see it we’ll land out of view. We can’t be seen for this one.”

“You’re the one with the map, boss. I’ve never been out this far before.” The Gryphon went on as the thought of the golden bits crossed his mind just had he did back at the castle. “Besides, I imagine we can get some good stuff to grub on later like roast mutton, or a few chickens, no?” His mouth watered in the wind leaving a quick trail of saliva to droop before quickly lapping it up and scraping the sides of his beak with a claw.

“You and food. Is that all you ever think of?” The stranger grumbled never losing focus as he studied the map and then looked up into the distance to the end of the road. “If it wasn’t for the fact you could fly I wouldn’t have to feed your endless appetite.” The stranger went on as he berated the Gryphon. “I should keep you on a strict diet of grains and roots. You need to lose some weight anyway. We might have already been there by now.”

The Gryphon stuck out a tongue as his face contorted. “Yuck. I can’t stand that pony fluff you like to eat. It’s like chewing on a lawn.”

The rider then let out a chuckle before he replied. “It’s not so bad from where I stand.”

Mere seconds later, the treeline gave way to the slanted rooftops and pointed tower that lay far in the distance. The rider stood tall in the saddle as he sharply yelled into the wind. “There! That must be Sauntertown!” He then quickly looked down over the shoulder around to the trees below and found a clearing nearby to the road. Tapping the Gryphon, he pointed down to the clearing.

“Take us down, I’ll leave the rest up to you.” He said as he quickly folded the map, tucked it into a nearby leather pouch, and leaned back wrapping both hooves around the horn as he prepared for the landing. Xerces nodded as he brought his wings out wide and lowered his arms and legs full length. Coming in low, the Gryphon lined up a long patch of green earth and touched the ground rear feet first and hopped forward to the front bouncing along until he slowed to a run and finally a slow walk. The stranger let go of the saddle and raising both hooves, lifted the goggles off.

“Can’t you land just a bit softer?” The stranger said as he shook his head and slowly slid off the saddle to the ground. The Gryphon ruffled his wings and tucked them in as he looked around to the pony. “If you want to fly, you can always ask the Pegasi for a pair of wings.”

“If only it was that simple.” He replied as he stood and leaned against the saddlebag on the Gryphon as he placed the goggles inside. “Anyway, I need you to stay out here. If you’re seen in town, you’ll raise too many questions and possibly scare several of the ponies there.” The pony said dryly with sincerity. “This is a recovery job. When I have what we need, we fly back, get the rest of the bits, and celebrate like usual.” The Gryphon lightly licked his chops. “Yes! We’ll celebrate all right boss!”

“But, until then…” He glared at him square in the eyes directing an order. “…you stay put. No fires, no noise, and most of all, no taking of livestock.”

Xerces went from elated to disgruntled in mere seconds. “What! No livestock!? But…what am I supposed much less DO out here? I don’t even know when you’ll be back.” He scowled as he waited for an answer.

Thinking for a moment, the pony looked down at the ground. The stranger then lowered his head, nipped at a tuft of grass and chewed on it as he rolled his eyes judging the texture. Swallowing it, he walked away from the Gryphon toward the road as he replied. “Try the grass, it’s pretty good here.”

“Why you…” Xerces started before he stifled his rant trying his best to do as the boss asked. He knew if he created trouble, then he risked his chance at getting the grand reward at end of every mission. He sat and sighed as he thought of the gluttonous offerings from the times gone by of whole pigs, goats, lambs, many smaller birds as appetizers. He remembered the cow that was offered once as a payment.

The Gryphon flopped down on the ground and mumbled in protest. This was always the worst part of every job having to wait. Having to stand by until the next move was made. The last few meals were scant as work dried up , but he knew the boss was paid in advance this time.

“If only I had a few of those bits…” He moaned while lying on the ground. Looking to the grass, he rolled his head over and ripped out a large chunk of the green that grew. Gnawing on it, the bitter taste of foliage insulted his palette and with disdain, he spat it out. He angrily clenched a claw and pounded the ground with frustration over what to do.

A spark of revelation then came over him and he quickly stood up. “Why should he have all of those bits before the job is done anyway?” He thought on as a plan started to form. “I could have something now and after were done! This is twice as good!”

He brightened up as he started to think of a plan. Xerces knew that the boss wouldn’t miss one bit or two which would be enough for something the size of a turkey. He spoke out with hope. “Come to think of it, I wouldn’t be breaking any of the rules! He only said he needed me out here…but I didn’t HAVE to be out here. Besides, there isn’t much to do.”

The idea of restlessness and boredom got the better of the Gryphon. Not being able to head into town as more commonly seen in the western lands, he tried to think of how to pass the time until the master would be back.

“It’s going to be a while knowing him...” He whispered as he debated with himself. Slowly, the Gryphon crawled to the edge of the road and peered around a tree down the dirt path as the light continued to fade. Just making out the silhouette of the cape flapping, he ducked back behind the tree and sat to think.

“Where could I go if not into town?” He pondered as he brought a claw to his chin and thought of the area. All he could remember was the landscape from the air. “A farm would be a danger. There wasn’t much to see around but the small town, the trees, and...”

As an image he remembered came to him, a light bulb went off over his head. “The water!”

His memory brought back the moment just before the quick descent for him to remember a small body of water nearby just outside of the town. It was small, but it was close by where he landed.

“Where there’s water there’s fish.” He said as he gleamed. “And where there’s fish…” He quickly stuck his tongue out and ran it along his beak.

He briefly looked to the treeline and saw that the sun had passed below the horizon. The sunlight no longer touched the tops as they had before. Time would be very short before the dark settled in. Turning around, he walked back to where he landed and placed a single claw into the still soft earth. Digging in deep, he pulled at the soil creating a series of lines and curves of crude lettering to form words. In a mere minute, he finished and stepped back to look at the inscription the ground.

GONE FISHING. – X

Thinking of the direction, he faced where he would go and created another three lines. He drew a single long one from the short note and two shorter ones at the end to form an arrow. As he finished, the thought of a still wriggling freshwater meal made the decision clear.

“Free meal, here I come!” He spouted in elation as he jumped over the words and ran headlong through the forest.

Daemons of the night

The night came quickly as the sky darkened to a deep blue and one by one, a twinkle of light pierced the atmosphere seen by all. The wind settled to a whisper and the air began to cool following the warm day left behind. No creature stirred at this late hour but the one pony on the road that neared the edge of town. He casually walked on nearing the sign that was seen by many before him. Scattered at the edge of the road was the waste of weary travelers.

He stopped to briefly look at the mess of an area. “Ugh, lazy is more like it.” He said with a sense of disgust. He quickly thrust out an arm and hit the post with his hoof breaking the fragile wood. The sign fell over and landed flat on the ground with a thud.

The stranger continued onward moving toward the edge of town as he neared the first building. At that moment, a single pony walking out from the barber shop door closing it behind him and locking it. Turning to look at the road, the pony saw the stranger step into the light of a nearby lamppost.

“What in Equestria…” The pony stated with a murmur as he looked at the caped pony in disbelief. Moving toward him, the pony raised a hoof to get his attention.

“Hey!” He said moving closer. “You! What are you doing out there so late? You could be eaten by Timberwolves, large bears, or worse!”

The stranger didn’t reply until the town resident came right next to him and went on. “Most travelers walk the road by day. It’s not safe out there alone.”

“I can manage” The stranger replied back bluntly. He shifted slightly to look at his inquisitor before asking another question. “Where can I get a room?”

Somewhat confused, the pony replied carefully. “Well, there’s the inn at the center of town. If you-”

Without warning, the stranger moved on walking past the town pony without a second thought.

“Strange one that is…” He said as he held a gaze shortly before returning to the barber shop to check if the front door remained locked.

The street was nearly a ghost town this late at night. Little else could be seen going on for this evening hour while he took his time to study each building and decide what to do.

“If the information from the prince is right, he should be here.” Looking to the ground a faint pair of wagon tracks trailed off in the road far to the other side of town. Rather than be seen walking straight down the middle, he traced off to the side and stepped up on the boardwalk in front of the buildings.

The stranger continued on as he looked through each window. Some curtains were pulled, others had little inside, there wasn’t much to see.

Then, he heard activity.

At the far end of town, nearly in the center of the main intersection was a large saloon still open. From where he stood, music played from a loud piano, a chattering of voices filled the air, and the light stretched far from the door to the center of the road.

The hooded stranger watched precariously about the street as he slowly wandered to the entryway of the old saloon. Taking his time to approach the door, he looked in through a large window with large lettering as advertisement. The stranger took a quick look at the ornate lettering carefully painted by a skilled professional.

"The Weathered Landing" He said as he squinted nearing the light. "Odd name." Poking his nose nearer to the window, he reached to peer inside and look around for a better look at the activity of the night.

The music suddenly went quiet as he adjusted to the light and the room came into view.

The decorations were of the typical décor that filled most out of the way saloons in Equestria. Lamps hung from the walls and all of the dark red curtains were drawn for the night. Pictures scattered the walls where they could be seen or were otherwise replaced with old farm tools no longer functional or rusted.

Two ponies stood behind the bar with one attending to a trio at one end and another wiping down a spill at the other. Off to one side in the center sat four other stallions around a round table each staring intently at cards as each took turns tossing bits to the center. To the furthest corner stood an old stallion changing the reel on the mute piano. As he placed the new one in, he pulled the end to another reel and closed the wooden door. Walking to the side the large musical box, he leaned against an exposed crank handle. Pushing hard, he turned it over several times before the piano once again came to life. New music started from the old organ, but a new tune was heard then from before.

The bartender still wiping up the mess quickly heard the new tune play and with a shout, he called to the old stallion.

“Dangit Toots, I told’ja not to play this one again!”

“But I like this one! Reminds me of home.” He said as he sat back down in his seat.

The bartender continued in protest with a slap of a hoof on the counter top. “Ya play it too much! It’s great tune and all, but’cha wear it out in that organ and in my head! Understand?”

“Bah.” The old stallion waved a hoof in disagreement as he slouched and reached to a nearby table to pick up a tankard of ale. “Music is the best medicine to calm my nerves and when you can, you use the best. This is second to none for me.” He leaned back in the chair lifting two legs off the ground and brought the worn wooden stein to his muzzle. With only a few seconds of time, he drained it to the bottom and banged it back down on the table.

The stranger broke his gaze from the window as he shifted his body away and moved to walk through the entrance. Appearing at the saloon doors, he raised a hoof to push at one and continued to watch about the room as he continued slowly to the bar.

The bartender in protest looked up from the soaked counted to see the unknown robed pony enter.

“Oh, hello!” He said brightening up and standing straight. “I do welcome you to the The Weathered Landing my friend. We serve the best drinks this side of the kingdom and service is second to none.”

A pair at the game table quickly chuckled at the mark as another hooted in jest. “You can’t be serious Spigot. This place has run dry more often a summer in the desert.”

“Mind you Grizzle, I ought to throw you out for the money you still owe me!” The bartender shook a hoof back at him. “I’ll call out the sheriff on you if you don’t make good on it!”

“Yeah, yeah. Give me another few hands and you’ll have it.” He grunted as he looked back at the cards in hoof.

“Not from where I stand.” Another pony from the game table remarked. “You haven’t made any ground tonight, Grizzle.”

“Hrmph.” The bartender scoffed as he quickly lost interest in the gamblers and returned focus to the stranger smiling again. As the pony closed in on the countertop, he perched himself on the nearest stool in front him directly across from the tender.

“Tonight we have an excellent selection of ciders from the west valley, a few ales brewed recently, and personally my favorite, a deep stout fine with a meal.” The bartender lit up even more as he went on. “If you’re hungry, we have a menu to with your drink sir.”

“What I need…” The stranger talked slowly and clearly to the bartender. “…is a blacksmith.”

Backing up a bit, the bartender relaxed with a hint of disappointment at the loss of business. “Hmm. Is that all?”

“Maybe.” The stranger said with debate as he leaned easy on the bar waiting for an answer.

Looking over his shoulder, the bartender shot a quick look to the exit of the saloon behind the stranger as he replied. “Look, I don’t want any trouble here. Just go back the way you came and I’ll forget about the whole thing.”

Leaning further into the bar, the stranger bared his teeth silently before he growled a reply. “I won’t.” Quickly lifting a hoof from the bar, the stranger wrapped an arm around the neck of the bartender and drug him in close. With a mean look in his eye, he asked again. “I said I need a blacksmith.”

Spigot scared stiff stuttered out an answer as he shook. “Ou-outside. Across th-the street. There’s an old mule that does a little work but, noth-nothing major.” The stranger let him go as he relaxed and sat back into the seat. A moment passed before he talked again. “What is his name?”

“Cl-Clank.” He said still trying to calm down. “I think he asked for hired help and sent out a telegram two days ago.” The bartender took a quick breath and let it out easy as he waited for the next question. “That’s all I know.

The stranger stayed silent as his brow furrowed while thinking. He knew he should keep watch on the old stable before tomorrow and then, make a move. It made the most sense.

“I want a room facing the road.” He said, almost demanding to the tender. Spigot turned to the wall behind him and facing several keys on a pegboard, lifted one and tossed it to the bar. Before it could hit the wood, the stranger moved fast as a whip and caught it midair in hoof. As the stranger then tilted to one side, coins are heard rustling as he shifted below the robe. Raising his hoof, he tilted it to the bar and dropped three bits. Each pinged as they danced briefly before settling flat in front of the bartender.

“Goodnight.” The stranger said before sliding out of the stool and seeking his way to the rooms above. To one side of the saloon ran a long cascading stairwell. Noticing the wear of the wood going up, he ascended the steps carefully feeling for the weak plank that might make sound. Reaching the top, he walked down the hallway briefly looking at the tag on the key. With a weathered red number on a white background, the old tag read of room three.

Reading off the numbers in the hall, the one door he sought stood close. Taking the key by teeth from his hoof, he slid it into the lock and turned the latch. The door swung wide with a creak.

Inside the room sat several bare necessities. The single dresser, crude lattice sheets on a thin railed bad, and a pair of lamps that sat cold and dark.

Walking in, he wrapped his foot around the door and kicked it shut with an audible light bang and latch of the doorknob. Opening the curtains wide, he noticed in the dim light a small chair close by in the room. Wrapping his arm around it, the stranger dragged to the window and turned it to face outside. He watched intently at the old stable while sitting down and settling in to see what may happen at the building doors that still lay wide open with light that that came from inside.

Several minutes passed as he looked intently to the entryway and the cart that sat outside of it. Before long, he watched as an old while mule and a deep crimson coated pony walk out to the cart. The pair lifted several items one by one until, as if by accident, a set of tongs fell from the mouth of the mule the ground in the light.

“Cinder.” The stranger muttered quietly to himself as he continued to observe the pair move load after load as the night wore on.

As the hour came to a close, the door to the stable cold be seen closing shut. Business was done for the night. The stranger having seen all he needed, closed the blinds and wandered to the bed hopping on top and relaxed as he let his guard down.

“Tomorrow.” He said quietly in the dark as the sleep settled in. “Tomorrow, we meet Cinder.”

************************************************

The night was quiet aside from the saloon up the street. Even with the band playing, it could barely be heard halfway across town as Cinder came in through the main door. The light of the lamp held dim to let the little one sleep, and as he lowered the last of the items from the cart to the floor, the old mule behind him followed close with a box and strap held tight by his mouth.

He came near to the center of the room and lay it close to the light. As he raised his head to look at Cinder, the mule squinted in the low light to focus on the old stallion.

“You have some good tools here.” He rambled as if half thinking and talking to the pony. “Looks better then most of the equipment I’ve seen others bring here in the past.”

“To make the best, you must use the best.” Cinder said casually without looking at the mule while digging through a box. As he saw that all was accounted for, he faced him and smiled.

“Thank you for your help tonight. I couldn’t have brought it all in myself.” He said sheepishly.

“It’s alright. I’ve been through worse with other smiths in the past.” The mule looked over the scattered items on the floor strewn about and shook his head. “Some of the things I see here are of good quality. You must have paid dearly for what you have.” He looked back at the pony curiously. “If you have such good tools, why aren’t you in the business for yourself?”

“I like to travel.” Cinder replied with a quick snap. He went on as the reasons why came to him. “In order to make a name for yourself, you need to spread a name. If you stay in one spot, you can’t be known by more than those that are close around you.” He lifted a hoof and slowly waved it. “You have to make it known far and wide if you want to go big.”

The mule pursed his lips before he nodded. “Yes. I suppose I can see that. Must a be a lot of work to travel that much though.”

The stallion tightened his face as he looked off to one side. “More then you know.”

“Well mister, I wish you luck.” The mule sidestepped the stallion as he kicked at the hay on the ground heading toward the rear exit. “If you need anything, let me know.”

“Thank you, I appreciate the work.” Cinder gently nodded to him as the mule progressed through the door and closed it behind him.

The stallion looked back around the room. A pile of hearth stones, bellows, a few tongs, several hammers, an old vice, the scraps of old projects and most important, the mighty anvil that lay on it’s side in the center of it all.

He knew it would take time to set everything up for work. The job had to start early the next morning and as promised to the mule, he said he would be ready.

Several items lay strewn on the old hay covered floor as Cinder didn’t have the time to sort it. He knew the mule had no idea what went where as it wasn’t his job to do so.

The stallion began to dig through one of the piles and search for the most critical of items to start shop work early in the morning. Grabbing at the scattered hammers with his teeth and pushing old metal aside, a hollow round bell clanked as it broke loose and rolled out from under several items facing upward with the nose protector splitting the two holes on either side.

He glanced at it briefly knowing full well that it was his old helmet.

“I should have thrown you away.” He grumbled as he took a long gaze at it. Breaking away, he moved on taking the tools to the other end of the shed and laying them near a wall. He returned to the pile and picked up another batch of tools as he quickly glanced at it, sparkling in the light of the lantern.

Cinder took the tools aside to the rest of them and came back to another pile closer to the the old helm on the floor. It was hard for him to stand close and not look at it with the gashes, bent metal and an odd hole or two in it from history not long ago.

In the late night hour, he felt the need to stop. Pain came over him as he thought of the helmet and what it meant. It was a link to what once was as far as he was concerned.

Looking down at it in the light, he grabbed at it and lifted it with both hooves to the light lantern.

It still bore the old scars of training, of wear, of repairs he did himself and worst of all, the night he wanted to forget.

He looked intently at the old neglected helm. It had been polished in the past, but recent neglect left it in the condition it was. Speckles of rust could be seen and attached plates were bent. Even the old chain hanging from it was missing a link or two.

The events from that night ran through his mind clear as a bell from that fateful evening four months ago.

It was cold for that day of the season. The fires of the castle were lit to keep those inside warm. Below in the lowest chambers one fire burned brighter then the others that belonged to the blacksmith where he toiled and sweat for two weeks straight. He worked on what was to be the most delicate and laboring of his projects. The mightly sword of his king.

He spent the hour’s earlier working to the finest detail as requested by his liege through many days earlier. With pride, he was to show it to him soon as he looked it over searching for the smallest of flaws. This was to be his finest work of art and his greatest achievement for his deity.

A pounding hoof hammered on the large oak door that provided entry to his shop. Laying the sword down, Cinder heartily shouted to those on the other side. “Welcome! Come in!”

The door swing wide as two guards entered through the stone arch. As each guard quickly posted to either side of the door, both snapped upright and stoic akin to stone statues. One quickly shouted as a figure stepped to the doorway. Cinder caught sight of the shadow and lowered himself to the ground in preparation of his king.

“All rise for king Helianthus of the western lands in Equestria!” The large decorative robe of the king followed him as he stepped into the chamber. His silver mane and golden coat stood out from the pompadour of his attire. With a warm smile, his eyes settled on Cinder still covered in sweat and grime behind the anvil. He smiled wide as he approached the pony. Behind him walked in his daughter Marigold followed by the prince of the castle Thorne. Entering with a sneer, he looked around in disgust as he began to gripe. “Ugh, I can’t stand the lower half of the castle. It needs to be filled to keep the vermin out.”

Marigold rolled her eyes shaking her head and continued walking further into the room. She looked at the rows of various weapons that lined the wall continuing her gaze as she looked to the far walls of the room. Several suits of pony armor lay perched on pedestals and decorated shields hung on the walls. Finally her eyes landed on Cinder whom still crouched on the floor for the king.

“Hello Cinder…” she said warmly as her eyes met his one from the side. As he looked at her from the floor, he quickly winked back as he snickered softly. She sat and quickly batted her eyelashes before the king came closer to the blacksmith.

“Ah yes, Cinder!” He king yelled with a hearty greeting as he lifted a hoof. “Please, arise from your hooves. I see you have been hard at work again. I do believe the progress is going well, is it not?”

Cinder nodded in agreement as he stood, held the sword up and turned it slowly admiring it. “My finest work my king. Nothing less than the very best my forge, my anvil and I can promise.” He lowered his head and with it perched in hoof, he provided the blade to the sovereign whom took it and and ran his eyes down from the tip to the hilt.

“Yes. Excellent work I dare say.” The kind backed upa step and with a deft swipe, unlatched the clasp that held his cape around his neck. As it fell to the ground, the golden pony grasped the blade tightly around the end with a knuckle and swung it wide in front of himself with fervor. “Ah ha!” He shouted enthusiastically in jest as he jumped back and swiped the sword in another arc. Quickly crossing it across his stern, he pulled back and twice thrusted the sword forward with a jab. “YAH!”

Cinder nodded with approval smiling and knocking both front hooves together for the spectacle. “Good show I do say my liege. Does it balance well?”

“Light as a feather and stronger then a dragon’s tooth I must admit!” The king looked wide eyed in admiration at the sword before he shifted his focus to Cinder. “Better yet, I challenge you a duel! What do you say!?” His expression went wild with elation as he dared the blacksmith to the challenge.

Cinder could only hold frozen for a moment. He was not used to training at an hour this late outside of the normal schedule set for the king. Before he waited too long, he shook himself loose and stood tall with pride to the kind word. “Your wish is my command my liege!” Quickly, the pony untied the leather robe he wore for crafting and lifted it off over his head. He reached for the nearest hook and threw it over landing securely on it with a flop. It lightly swayed as it draped down covered in soot.

The stallion looked across the room and sought the training rod he had used many times before. Standing upright in the furthest corner, he trotted over, lifted the wooden sword with a knuckle and spun it once feeling the weight in his hooves. Nodding in approval, he carried it back to the center of the room standing close to the king.

Cinder lowered the wooden rod to the ground and picked up a leather sheath laying nearby on the ground next to the anvil. “I would not want you to have an advantage on me hour highness.” Cinder said with a smile. The king laughed heartily. “You will need every advantage you can muster tonight! For I have trained well and will best you this time!”

Cinder briefly recalled the sessions he spent with the king in the past. Still not the most skilled with a blade, the king was gaining ground against the blacksmith in his efforts. Cinder would still take it easy on the old pony, but knew with the new sword, he would have to show his best.

The sheath was placed firmly over the new sword by cinder as the king hald fast to it. With a long length of leather strap, Cinder secured it to the hilt and tied it tight. He gave a quick tug to the sheath and once satisfied it would not come off, he looked to the king with a nod. “Alright my liege, we are now ready.”

“Can we get this over already?” Thorne yelled to the pair in the room in between his peeling nail from a hoof with his teeth. “I have more IMPORTANT things to do tonight such as file down my hooves.”

Marigold shook her head at Thorne in disagreement as she answered him. “You truly have no respect, do you?”

“You will witness the ability of your king to truly master this fine blade tonight Thorne!” Helianthus said angrily. “You will also show respect to my blacksmith. Few have mastered the tempering of steel he has.” The king then quickly swung the blade around with the sheath affixed to feel the weight and balance.

“Blacksmith! Your training is second to few and I challenge you! “ The king heartily shouted in jest. “I advise you to come at me with all that can for I am far more skilled then you! What say thou!?” Cinder grinned as he took part in the play the king brought about as part of the routine. He quickly donned his training helmet perched on a pedestal and spun the wooden sword before himself before pointing it directly at the king. “I do accept your challenge oh enlightened one. Let us duel this night for the grace and glory of Equestia!”

The king quickly shot forward with the sheathed blade directly at Cinder from across the room. “Yah!” Ducking the sword, Cinder rolled over on the ground beneath him and jumped to his feet with a skip backward. Helianthus watched his movement and shifted his weight to bring the sword down on him just as Cinder jumped aside.

“Quick you are tonight!” The king laughed. “Come now Cinder! Strike if you can!”

The blacksmith dodged each swipe of the sword as it flew through threw the air with a wide arc. The older aged king was slower then he, but to give him a good fight was the essence of life for him. Little else gave him the feeling of youth then to train with Cinder and the blacksmith was more then happy to oblige.

The pair danced about the room with the wooden sword swiping high over the head of the king just he ducked or the sheathed sword swinging low as Cinder leaped high above it. As the king quickly tired, Cinder decided to make his move. Ducking the sword of his master, he quickly brought the wooden rod up and slapped it upward over the head of the king. With a quick rollover, Cinder flipped onto his back and pulled the wooden sword in close to himself before he thrust it forward into the abdomen of his king to end the duel.

Instead of a dull thud as would normally follow a wooden strike, the tip of the rod had broken. The end of the rod split away revealing a long thin blade that pierced the chest of the king.

King Helianthus screamed out in pain with the blade diving in deep. His teeth and eyes clenched as he collapsed to the floor grunting loudly in pain holding his chest where he had been struck.

Cinder lay on the ground shocked. This was not part of the training. Nopony was to be hurt. He quickly shuffled over to the king still struggling with the pain as his daughter Marigold saw what had happened and fell to the side of her father in cries of agony. “No! Father, no!” She held up his head as he struggled to breathe holding him close before looking to Cinder.

The blacksmith dropped the wooden sword with the attached blade in disbelief. “But…it was a training sword! Nopony was to be injured!” He crawled close to the head of the king as he shook his head still aghast at the events that unfolded. “My king! Stay alive!”

The old stallion on the floor coughed as he struggled to focus on his daughter. He fought to swallow as she leaned her head in close to him. With a low murmur, the king spoke to her while she held him close to her ear. Then, as if with the passing of the wind, his head went limp in her arms.

“Murderer.” Thorne said slowly with macabre to all in the room. He lifted a hoof to Cinder and intently stared at him as he went on. “You knew exactly what you were doing when you deliberately attached a blade that training sword.” Thorne stepped closer. “You intended to overthrow our king to rule the western lands with his daughter.” As he stopped above the body of the king he shouted louder to all. “I see you for what you are, murderer! Justice will be served! Guards! Seize this pony!”

The guards still standing close by in the door to witness the action quickly moved forward and tackled Cinder as he stood.

“I protest!” The blacksmith yelled as he fought the guards. “My sword was tampered! I did not kill the king!”

“All those in the room tonight witnessed you do so Cinder.” Thorne said gravely. “Your punishment will be the most severe the law of pony will allow me. Justice will be done!” Following his words, Thorne quickly lifted a hoof and whisked it to the door as the guards fought to hold onto the pony while walking down the hall. His cries of protest resonated in the hallway as he was dragged by the pair to the dungeon hold below.

“I am innocent! I did no wrong! Let me go! Let me-“

A hoof from one of the guards came down hard across his muzzle in a flash of pain and stars in his head.

“The dungeon will never be good enough for an assassin!” One guard yelled at him. The other followed up as he was hit again from the other side. “Our lord and savior taken from us by a blacksmith!

“NO!” Cinder screamed in the dim light of the hall as he fought to get away as the pain kept coming with repeated blows and kicks. His head and body stung from the pain as he continued to plea to the pair. “NO! I WAS FRAMED! PLEASE, YOU HAVE TO-“

Cinder dropped the helm as it slipped from his hooves. It fell to the floor with a crash and with a ring of hollow metal, he snapped him from the memory causing him to swing an arm to fight off the guard that was no longer there.

The sweat covered him heavily. Shaking with quick gasps of air and a dry swallow left him awake with fear in the old barn. The nightmare was gone. Nopony was there after him tonight. At least, not now.

Cinder slowed his breathing as he looked up to the loft where the little Pegasi still lay sleeping. From what he remembered, she didn't move from where he last remembered her being. She likely didn't stir at all.

The stallion picked himself up and left the helm where it lay in the hay. Crawling into his small stall, he leaned against the weathered old wall as his senses returned to normal.

"This can't go on forever..." He mumbled to himself as the fatigue from the day settled in and he drifted off to a uneasy sleep for the night.