The Tales of Oathbound, The Mountain Hermit

While Twilight and Spike were on their way to meet the princess, Fluttershy was helping out a couple of squirrels move to their new home on the edge of the Everfree Forest. She wasn't really convinced of their security when they originally informed her of their plans, so she tried to help out in making it easy for them to hide in case there were any emergencies. No matter how she tried to convince them to go somewhere more hospitable than the edge of the most dangerous forest in Ponyville, they wouldn't budge.

"Here we are, Mr. & Mrs. Squirreliee. I hope you like it..."

And with that, the pair of squirrels moved forward a bit, eyeing their new home. One of them noticed a big pile of nuts on the base of one of the trees, which it dove into with wild abandon.

"Oh yes, I thought you would need those. I'm glad you like them."

A blush appeared on Fluttershy's face as the squirrel's climbed up to her shoulders and gave her a hug.

"I know, I'll miss you too. But don't worry, I'll try to come and see you as much as I can!"

As she started to go back towards her cottage near the edge of Ponyville, she eyed the skies with a hint of a smile on her face. Soon enough it faded as she noticed a black spot in the sky. A small cloud was slowly coming into view, a crack of thunder burning its image into her retina. Wasn't Rainbow Dash supposed to keep those kinds of clouds away? It was not the time for a storm, not for a long while! Fluttershy decided that she should seek out Rainbow and ask her to move that cloud away. She took to flight, eyeing around the village for any traces of the rainbow-maned pony. Soon enough she was distracted by the sound of multiple instruments being sounded at the same time. Investigating the source of the sound, she was scared by the sudden appearance of Pinkie Pie, who was hobbling around with a bunch of instruments strapped on to her. The pink pony looked at Fluttershy, who was hiding behind a barrel.

"Oh hey Fluttershy! Glad you could come and hear my musical! How'd you like it?" A little melody soon came out from the harmonica in Pinkie Pie's mouth.

"It was... beautiful." Fluttershy said, a bit scared to voice her opinion for the fear of upsetting Pinkie.

"YES! I knew my musical would go off the charts! You should come to the party I'm holding tonight! I think you would rock the dance floor!"

A bashful smile drew its way across Fluttershy's face, before she quickly told the pink musician that she likely won't be there, before quickly disappearing under the excuse of being late. Which was true enough after all, she still had to find Rainbow Dash.

While Fluttershy was still looking for Rainbow, Spike and Twilight got to the castle grounds where Shining Armor was doing a patrol. The stallion looked at the rapidly approaching purple unicorn and gave her a wave. As Twilight approached, she was not considering that she might bump into her brother, only that they had to reach the throne room with upmost haste. As Shining Armor asked what brings the pair to Canterlot, they crashed into him as the stallion did not try to move out of their way.

"Oww... Hey, Twilie, what gives?"

"Sorry, brother, no time to talk! Come on Spike!"

As the pair disappeared into the interior of the castle, Shining Armor scratched his head.

"What is so important that she can't even stop and say hello?"

Reaching the throne room, Twilight saw the princess on her throne, waiting for them to arrive. As they came before Princess Celestia, they bowed and voiced their greetings. Soon enough Twilight and Spike were told to stand up and tell all about what happened in Ponyville. When Twilight finished, the princess looked out of the window with a mix of worry and anticipation. As the princess stared out of the window, the pair thought that she must be thinking about how to best combat this threat. What the princess was about to say would surprise them harder than anything the day had brought, which was already quite something.

"I know this pony that you speak of. He was one of my top lieutenants. However, unfortunate circumstances made him go to live a life of self-imposed exile, though I pleaded him to stay. He felt what happened was his fault. But before he left, he told me that when the throne is in danger and I would need help, he would come and free Equestria from whatever great evil it was that would threaten the balance."

Descending from the throne, she motioned for Twilight and Spike to follow her.

"You are correct, he is very powerful. Many tried to cause havoc in the past to upset the balance of power in Equestria, but he dealt with them all. Indeed, he was also the captain of the guard before his exile - the predecessor of Shining Armor. And... He was also my friend."

Celestia used the word "was" a bit weakly. Twilight could understand that. Even after all this time she was sure that the sight of the princess would stir memories of good times in her friend's head. The thought of having to fight an old friend is a scary thought.

Reaching the balcony where the royal carriage was waiting, the princess motioned for the baby dragon and the unicorn to enter.

"We will reach Ponyville sooner this way. My sister will deal with things here in Canterlot while we deal with this. Won't you, Luna?" The princess said, looking at the deep blue alicorn who appeared so quietly as if to have been there all the time.

"I will, sister. Please be safe."

And with that, the carriage took off, rapidly receding into the distance in the direction of Ponyville. It was time for Luna to raise the moon as well. The darkness slowly outpaced the carriage.

"Princess, if I may..." Twilight said, looking at her teacher.

"Who is he?"

Looking at Twilight, Celestia said: "He calls himself Oathbound. When I first met him, he was a fearful earth pony who was completely lost in the world. I took pity on him and took him under my wing, before you."

Back in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was going through the clouds, trying to top her last record. She had arranged the clouds in such a manner that trying to fly through them would require extreme flexibility to fly through at such high speeds. The timer on her neck was swaying in the wind as she completed each part of her home-made course with precision and speed.

The timer rang as she came to the end. She had beaten her record by less than a second!

"Alright, enough stretching. Time to get serious!"

Zooming across the sky, she completed each part of her course so fast that she reckoned herself to be faster than lightning.

On the last part of her obstacle course however, she flew straight into Fluttershy.

As the two ponies finally cleared away the stars flying around their heads, Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy.

"What the hay, Fluttershy? That could have gotten my wing broken!"

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, please forgive me. I was looking for you and I didn't see you since you were so fast and-"

"Heh, yea I know I'm fast. Anyway, why were you looking for me?"

Pointing at the black cloud in the distance, Rainbow Dash had to squint to see it.

"Oh. Seems like I missed a cloud while I was sweeping them away. I'll get right to it!" And with that, the rainbow-maned pony disappeared in a streak of colors, heading towards the cloud.

A few minutes later she came back.

"Fluttershy, I saw the royal carriage! Princess Celestia is coming to Ponyville!"

"Oh my!"

"I know right!? Come on, we gotta get prepared!"

By the time the carriage reached the centre of town, everypony was assembled. As Twilight explained the situation to the townsfolk, they began preparations. Soon enough the town was like a fortress, pegasi keeping an eye on the sky while unicorn magic was used to illuminate the area and Twilight also created an invisible forcefield that only ponies of her choise could pass.

Hours went by as the town waited quietly, as if frozen in place by some mysterious circumstances. After the fourth hour, even Princess Celestia was asking for patrols to slow down a bit as to not wear them down.

Eventually the princess gave a dissatisfied sigh and started towards her carriage.

"Perhaps you can take care of things while I am gone, Twilight. The ponies of Canterlot would not want the sun to be raised without me around."

Suddenly, out of the sky, a startled Derpy Hooves appeared, coming towards the princess at top speed.

"Princess, wait!" Even as those words left the pegasus' lips, she came crashing down, hitting the royal carriage and a huge billow of smoke to arise. As it cleared, the carriage was wrecked into so many parts it would have been hard to see that it was once a royal carriage meant for the transportation of the Princess.

In the centre of it all was Derpy, who looked at the princess with a bad poker face, her eyes being ever part of her signature look.

"Eheh... Sorry, Princess."

"It's okay, Derpy. Now, you had something to tell me?"

With that, the pony sobered up instantly and lifted off to a height a couple of feet above the ground.

"Oh yea! I saw a stranger coming this way! He looked at me as soon as I came close to him..."

"Was there anything odd about this pony?"

"Well, nothing about HIM in particular... But he was flanked by 2 blue... things..."

Twilight raised an eyebrow at that. Blue things was not really a great clue to make any plans on.

"I didn't get close enough to see what they were. Once he looked at me, I flew straight over here. It was like he was staring into my soul..." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the flying part. More like crashed, she thought in her head.

With that, the Princess looked at the nearby hills, a mix of worry and anticipation on her regal features. Everypony's gaze followed.

More waiting.

Then, one of the magical lights created by the unicorns of the town flashed.

"I see him!" Rarity said, a distasteful look on her face. "And I sure wish I hadn't! Those clothes! Gold isn't in season!"

The stallion came into view. A gray pony with a mane of golden yellow mingling with crimson red. His tail was tied up in a rope-ish manner. A cloak of gold covered most of his features, but an amulet could be clearly seen, a big sapphire in the center of the jewelry. It seemed to glow with a light of its own. It took Twilight a moment to realize that it allowed the pony to use magic, despite not being a unicorn!

The 2 blue things soon proved to be far more dangerous than Derpy had made everypony think. They were axes, formed from magical energy, coruscating with barely contained power. The pony fixed his steel gaze on the residents, all whom flinched under his stare. All except the Mane 6 and the Princess. As they stepped forward, Oathbound raised his voice, seemingly reaching out clearly into everypony's ear, despite the distance.

"Creatures of darkness, stand back. I will not show you any mercy otherwise."

Twilight stepped forward a bit more and answered: "Lay down your weapons! We do not wish to fight! Surely there must be a way for a peaceful solution!"

"And what do you think for a servant of Princess Celestia to answer to that, demon!? I will not take orders from one of your kind!"

"An' who do you think you are, callin' Twilight a demon?" Applejack said, hefting a rock and bucking it in Oathbound's direction. The rock flied straight and true towards the newcomer, seeming to be so fast as to not give him any chance to react. But at the last second one of his axes levitated forward and slashed. The rock got split in two, the pieces missing the stallion by inches.

"Yea, what makes you think you can come to OUR town and insult MY friends?" Rainbow Dash said, flying up to her friends side, unimpressed by the feat the stallion just managed.

One at a time the members of the Mane 6 stepped up, each ready for a fight. Well, all except Fluttershy, who had to be encouraged to step up.

"This is the last line of defence? Then so shall it be!" Oathbound said, starting forward. He would soon be in for a surprise. The forcefield could hold a horde of rampaging buffalos at bay for hours. At the edge of the forcefield, Oathbound stopped.

"No forcefield like this shall stop my progress." With that, the axes were lifted above his head before coming down in a cross-pattern, causing the field to collapse. The townsfolk gasped.

It was at this time the Princess stepped forward.

"Stop this violent rampage right now, Oathbound. You came here to fulfill your promise, that you have done. Now lay down your arms!"

Oathbound looked at the alicorn. At first his face welled with happiness, then a stab of guilt. Finally hatred.

"A phantasm to remind me of my failure. A monument to my sins. A lie to make me flinch. It WILL NOT STOP ME!" And with that, he charged towards the alicorn, faster than anypony thought. Rainbow Dash tried to close the distance, but the amulet-wielding pony shouldered her aside. Withing a second he was within striking distance. A slash that should have cleaved the princess in two went out, but it did not connect. A shield of pure golden light appeared around the alicorn, spreading light around.

"If it is proof you need, then proof you shall have!" The princess bellowed in her Royal Canterlot voice before she mustered her magic, everypony looking at her horn which lit up with it's golden glow. What was the princess doing?

Eventually a distant light could be seen, rising from the horizon. The sun was being raised.

All looked upon the princess and the sun, awe in their faces. But none were more surprised than Oathbound, who looked at the princess mouth completely agape.

As the sun settled itself above Ponyville, the princess ceased using her magic as she lowered herself back to the ground. As she did so, the axes Oathbound used began to dissipate, quickly leaving behind nothing more than little wisps of magic, their source of power cut off. Soon even these faded into nothingness.

Oathbound lowered his head and kneeled before the princess, guilt visible on his face.

"My lady. I should have known..."

"It has been far too long, old friend." The alicorn said as she raised his chin so his eyes would meet hers.

"...Far too long." The sarcasm was so clear it was a surprise the princess paid no attention to the response.

A good hour went on as the princess and Twilight explained what happened here on their side. Eventually Oathbound nodded and looked in the direction of Canterlot.

"So it was a mistake..." Quickly turning his gaze away, he looked once more at the princess.

"My lady, I must ask for your forgiveness. I had no idea. I thought that by the time I would get here the darkness that comes from the Everfree Forest would have already taken the town."

"You know that I already have forgiven you, Oathbound." The princess answered simply.

Turning away from the townsfolk who had grouped up behind the princess, Oathbound went forward a few steps before speaking to the whole town.

"I apologize for the worry and fear I have caused. I shall trouble you no more. Farewell, Ponyvilleans."

As he started to walk forward, he was suddenly stopped by the princess' command.

"Wait, Oathbound.' Looking back at the princess, the stallion raised an eyebrow.

"There is a task for you that I would hope for you to complete. One that requires your expertise."

"Princess, I am not worthy of serving you, not after what happened all those years ago."

"Will you disobey my direct order then? Will you once again leave me when I am to give you a task of great importance?" Looking at the ground for a few seconds, Oathbound turned around and came back to stand in front of the princess. The Mane 6 also looked, interest in their faces.

"You have lived your self-imposed exile for far too long, Oathbound. It is time you returned to your own kind. You have much power and you still feel like you're responsible for what happened in the past. You might not think it to be so, but your face shows that you want to serve me once more. So I ask of you, my former Captain of the Guard, this: Will you keep these ponies safe for me?"

Many ponies looked at each other, confused at what they heard. It was as if the princess was asking Oathbound to protect them.

"My lady? I cannot do such a thing! If it were not for your intervention, these ponies would be dead!"

"Yet you know how much these ponies mean to me. This is why I ask this from you: Will you serve your princess once again as the Protector of Ponyville?"

A gasp went throughout the crowd. The princess was going to make this pony responsible of their safety!

"Princess, what the hay ar' ya thinkin!? Ah ain't lettin him protect a straw of hay, least of all the whole town!" Even as those words left Applejack's lips, Oathbound looked at the princess, thinking. He had no wish to abandon the princess once again. He knew, however, that he would never be able to do this duty in a satisfactory manner. But... he had to try.

"It is with a heavy heart that I accept your task, Princess Celestia. I just hope I can prove myself worthy..."

With that, the princess looked at Twilight Sparkle.

"Twilight, I need to go back to Canterlot, make Oathbound feel himself at home. And remember, he is not your enemy."

And so the princess took off, her bodyguard following her on swift wings.

The Mane 6 all looked at the gray stallion. He watched the princess leave before turning his gaze towards the townfolk.

"I do not like this as much as anypony. But the princess gave me this task and I shall not disrespect her wishes. I understand that none of you can trust me. But at least allow me to do my duty." Looking at Twilight, Oathbound added:

"I hope that we can start over, from a clean slate this time..."

WIth that, Oathbound walked in the direction of the Everfree Forest. None had the guts to say where he was going. They either reckoned that he knew where he was headed, or they thought that he didn't care.

Eventually, Fluttershy decided to separate from her friends. She had to make sure that Oathbound did not accidentally destroy Mr. & Mrs. Squirreliee's new home.

In the forest, trudging through the foliage far off the beaten path, Oathbound eventually came to sit down on a rotten log.

Tears started to fall down his eyes as he looked at his hooves.

What was the princess thinking, he thought.

"I failed her, yet she still wants me to be around? Why does she still think me worthy?"

Looking at his surroundings, the silence settled in, as if the forest would have realized who had just entered.

Several animals appeared and stared at the pony, while a pegasus snuck in silently so the earth pony wouldn't spot her.

Oathbound's voice began to spew words of it's own accord.

["Oh Princess Celestia, you know I failed you long ago,

And yet still you wish for me to stay.

Oh Princess Celestia, I wasn't there in your time of need,

And yet still you tell me that it's all okay.

Please tell me, Celestia, what justifies my actions then?

The past, it still keeps haunting me.

I failed her,

Yet serve her,

It's confusing to me right now, my reeling mind still forces me to see!

My failure!

Forever!

I'll always be to blame.

I can't blame,

None other,

Than me who should be chained!

The silent night! The darkened hall!

But it's my fault he got do his deed at all!

I tried my best! Was not the one!

You wished me to stay with you but I was long gone!

Forgive me, Celestia! For I cannot forgive myself, lest your trust in me falter to the core!

Give me one more chance and I won't fail - no, nevermore! Or else may my failure be my downfall."

Oath's axe appeared by his side and floated in front of him. He looked upon himself from the reflection, his red and gold mane contrasting his gray coat. He could see the past failures laughing in contempt at him, like dark images of himself. His face turned into a sneer as he kept staring at it before he dismissed the axe.

"My failure.

Forever.

I shall learn from my past.

If I fail,

My soul will,

To Tartarus be cast!

May the sun grant me strength...

To serve the princess again...

Or make sure my soul goes to TARTARUUUUUUUUS!"](http://youtu.be/scq5vCyxbdE?t=33s)

The stallion let the silence settle in once more as his singing had scattered the animals.

Oathbound gave a sigh and stood up, seeking to go back to town. The other pony showed herself, a yellow-skinned pegasus with a pink mane.

"Umm... I'm sorry if we treated you a bit roughly."

Looking at the pony, who was a bit startled by the attention the stallion showed towards her, he answered with defeat in his tone of voice:

"You really think that treatment was something I shouldn't have recieved? I deserve no less."

"I think you are being a bit too harsh on yourself. Let your past stay in the past." The mare looked back in the direction of the town. "It's something my friends taught me."

The stallion closed his eyes in thought. "She truly is sorry... And she's correct. But I can't forgive myself. Still, might as well just try."

"You have some great friends then. Something that I do not deserve myself." But then Oathbound looked at Fluttershy, realization in his eyes.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself in the midst of this melodrama. I apologize. My name is Oathbound, servant to the throne of Canterlot." He did a courtly bow as he introduced himself. Fluttershy did her best to imitate it, but it was not as easy as she thought.

"My name is Fluttershy." She smiled at Oathbound while adding: "Nice too meet you."

"Same to you. Well... I reckon I have wallowed in my own self-pity for long enough. I think it is time for me to go and repair some of the mental damage I have caused." Starting towards the town, Oathbound looked at Fluttershy, a bit expressionlessly. "Thank you. You have shown me that the princess was indeed correct."

"What... do you mean?" Smiling, Oathbound looked at the mare, who felt a bit more relaxed knowing that there was a kind pony beneath the rough exterior.

"That the power of kindness will never lose it's grip in the hearts of those seeking it."

Reaching the town, Twilight and her friends came to greet Fluttershy, Oathbound following behind.

"Oh Fluttershy, thank Celestia you are alright!" Applejack eyed Oathbound while the others talked to Fluttershy, suspicion in her face clear as the sun in the sky. Noticing this, Oathbound fixed his eyes on her.

"I am not here to harm anypony. Princess Celestia saw to that. And... Miss Fluttershy also helped in that regard."

"Well, somethin's changed 'bout ya, fer Fluttershy to trust ya. Just keep yer hooves clean and we'll all be Mister Tinker, a'ight?"

"I will do my best, miss...?"

"Name's Applejack. Pleasure to meet ya!" She said, shaking hooves with Oathbound.

"Pleasure?" The stallion said, confused.

"Ah trust mah friends and they ain't the kind to hang around the wrong kinds of friends, if ya know what ah mean. If yer fine with them, yer fine with me." Applejack replied.

Introductions went by quickly enough, with the seven ponies deciding to call Oathbound simply by the name Oath.

Soon enough life went to normal. Showing his compassion and dedication to doing his job right while keeping everypony safe, he quickly earned their respect. The princess soon recieved news of his successful adjusting to town life.