Where am I? It doesn't feel like my bed. It feels more like I'm falling. But how could that be? Oh, it's that dream again. Yes, that has to be it. Just a dream that will end soon. I'll wake up safe and sound in my warm and cozy bed. Just as soon as I hit the ground and die. The same as last night, and the countless nights before. How long has it been now? Four, no five months. It's been so long I don't even get jolted awake from the sensation of falling.
*****
The quiet town of Ponyville awakens to the normal hustle and bustle of the morning market. Ponies set up their various carts and begin hawking their wares left and right. Others flit through the market place; some looking for something specific, whilst some look for nothing in particular. All in all it’s just another normal, bright and sunny morning in the small quiet town of Ponyville.
Nine ponies covered in leather armor and sporting various cruel weapons, gallop into town. The nice morning normality is shattered as they start destroying the town. They smash windows, upturn carts, set houses on fire, and cut down any who stand in their way. All fled before them, praying their princesses would save them from certain doom.
Their armor, their weapons, their tactics, everyone knew who they were; they had all heard the stories. As they slowly came to this realization, the ponies of Ponyville reached a new level of panic. The Zangolian Bandits had come to Ponyville. A gang of criminals from outside of Equestria’s borders, they had decimated every city and village from the western border on some mad campaign towards Canterlot.
The ponies were herded into the town square where they huddle together in fear. The leader of the bandits stepped forward and looked over the crowed of terrified civilians before him. All of the stallions were either dead or wounded; only the mares and children of Ponyville made up this crowd. He smiled at the sight, and then uttered the three words the town prayed he would not.
“Kill ‘em all!”
*****
What’s going on? I should have hit the ground by now. Why is it taking so long? The suspense is enough on its own to kill me. Oh well, whatever. Doesn't really matter does it? I just have to wait for this dream to end.
You're not dreaming this time!
Smith's eyes snapped open at the unexpected intrusion to his thoughts. It was then that it hit him. The chill air biting at his forelegs and hind legs, the wind rushing by his ears, the adrenaline coursing through his system, the burning of his lungs due to high altitudes, the various smells of something burning amongst the wind, all of it seemed real. A little too real. Then his mind finally registered what it was that was said to him. He opened his mouth to scream, but was unable to before slamming into the ground with tremendous force. The last thing he registered was the alarmed gasps of nearby onlookers before the darkness claimed him.
The bandit leader looked up from the mare he was about to kill, annoyed by the sudden explosion behind him for interrupting his fun. He slid his sword back into its sheath before trotting over to the crater that had formed from the impact. He was big and far more muscular than that of an average earth pony. A rather peculiar build for a unicorn, but one that made him even more intimidating. His Brown leather armor covered most of his body, leaving his ears and horn the only indicator that his coat was a bright shade of pink.
Zagart glared over the edge of the crater and was shocked to see whatever it was that had crashed was still in one piece. His horn lit up with an amber glow as he levitated it from the hole and was surprised further by the fact that it was breathing. Zagart pulled the black coated, earth pony stallion closer to get a better look. He was examining its face when its eyes popped open, causing him to flinch back reflexively. Some of his men noticed the slight flinch and snickered at their leader. Zagart snarled and angrily threw the stallion through the wall of a nearby building with all of his telekinetic might.
The bandits cheered at the sight and started to turn back to their own businesses when the sound of movement came from inside the building. Every head in attendance turned toward the hole in the wall as Smith stumbled out of it. He wasn’t very tall, standing a full head shorter than the average stallion, but was rather built. He had blue eyes and a short, ash-grey mane and tail whilst a rather shaggy beard adorned his face. An anvil and hammer graced his flank, symbolizing his talent as a blacksmith. He picked a pair of square-framed glasses from the ground and slid them on his face. Then pulled them back off and noticed the lenses were completely shattered and the frames bent all out of shape.
Smith then looked around and surveyed the area around him. There were several unicorns, pegasai, and regular ponies wearing leather armor and sporting various weapons. Behind them were many more colorful ponies of the varied races, clutched into several small groups and all quivering with fear. I must have scared them. Hopefully I will be able to explain what is going on, not that I really understand the situation myself. How in Equestria did I survive that fall? His mind began to wonder as he pondered his situation. It wasn't long before the large unicorn broke his train of thought.
"Ye ther, identify yerself, if ye can." he boomed, his voice deep and heavy with a northern accent. Zagart unsheathed his weapon and his band followed suit. They all rushed into formation completely surrounding Smith.
Smith raised his hooves in a peaceful manner before replying. "My name is Smith Ironforge. I fell, obviously, and I'm still not sure how I got here in the first place, wherever here is, or how I survived the fall. I mean you no harm, and I apologize for destroying part of your village mister..." he paused.
Zagart laughed around the hilt of his blade. "The name is Zagart, and this aint me village. Me and mine is bandits, we go wherever we want, and do whatever we like. This 'ere village was just the next 'n many that was 'bout to get burn to the ground."
For the second time, Smith was assaulted by the sudden rush of his senses. The smell of burning building and flesh, the screams of ponies as they ran around in abject terror or got trapped inside of a burning building. The hope he saw in their eyes as they looked at him. And lastly, the pain that radiated through his body from both of the collisions he had endured.
So that's why they're all scared, not because of me, but because of these bandits. "Well in that case, I take back what I said earlier, about not meaning you any harm." He took a defensive stance and stood firm, waiting for the enemy to strike first. Alright now, calm yourself Smith. They outnumber you, but you can still win. Just wait for your chance to steal one of their weapons, preferably that pole-arm. Still your breathing, hone your senses, you can do this. You may not be the hero type, but these villagers need you.
While Smith was lost in thought, Zagart and his men were practically rolling on the ground in laughter. "Would ye lookit what we got 'ere boys, this cocky little punk thinks he can take us. Us! The Infamous Zangolian Bandits! Yer either brave or a fool. Not that it matters, ye'll be ded soon enough."
As if on cue, the pegasus behind Smith lunged straight for him, bringing his glaive level with the back of his neck. In one swift movement, Smith spun left, grabbed the weapon just below the blade, and hurled the remnants of his glasses into the unsuspecting pegasus's face. The bandit released the weapon and screamed in pain as shards of glass punctured his eyes. Smith never stopped moving; he spun the weapon around and stabbed the pommel spike through the back of the bandit's head as he blindly stumbled by.
He retracted the weapon, pulling out the bandit’s eye as it sat impaled on the tip of the pommel spike, and spun it around again, left hoof a foot below the blade, right hoof a foot above the pommel spike, and hind hooves wide apart in a battle ready stance, brandishing the pole-arm menacingly.
The laughter died in the Bandit gangs' throats as one of their own lay dead on the ground before them, soaking in a rapidly spreading pool of his own blood. They growled with anger and tightened their grips on their weapons. Meanwhile the smell of blood washed over Smith and assaulted his senses. So much blood...looks delicious. NO! Calm yourself. Don't lose yourself to the madness within!
Oh why not?! Came a voice inside his head, this one different from the earlier one. The madness is powerful, and with it you could easily slaughter these infernal pests! You know you need it!
You’re not real, just a figment of my imagination. I am stronger than this. Just shut up and leave me alone. He replied in anger, gritting his teeth.
Just a figment eh? Is that what that psychiatrist told you? HA! Maybe I am, but if so, then you really are insane. Although, if I’m not real, then who committed all of those crimes? Instead of arguing my existence, should you not be allowing me to slaughter these whelps?
No I said! I won't succumb to it, or to you. There is no telling what would happen if I... His argument with himself was interrupted by the tell-tell 'click' of a crossbow. Smith could not react fast enough and the bolt slid rather easily into his chest. Whatever enchantment had been previously protecting him from harm was obviously gone as the bolt embedded itself deep into him. Smith didn't even get the time to register the pain before a mace, covered in a blue aura, flew in from the left and smashed him across the face. Blood filled his mouth and his pupils shrunk to pin pricks, the last thing he registered was the voice in his head’s malevolent laughter as his world went black again.
A wide grin broke across Smith's face. He turned the glaive over in his hoof and brought the pommel spike up to his face. He looked at the eyeball resting there for a moment before snatching it up and eating it.
"My turn," was all he said before snatching the bolt from his chest with his left hoof and tossing it into the air. He spun and slammed the glaive into the bottom of the bolt, propelling it with enough force for it to shoot right through the archers head. He laughed maniacally before charging to his left and straight at the mace wielder. The unicorn took a step back and readied himself while the circle of bandits surged toward the insane stallion.
The two immediately adjacent to the unicorn took up a defensive stance before her, the Earth pony on the right brandishing a daikatana, the pegasus on the left wielding a Kris-bladed katar. As Smith drew near the three ponies attacked in unison, obviously an organized team for them. The earth pony brought his weapon up then back down with surprising speed, the pegasus broke formation and dashed a quick crescent-shaped before coming right at Smith's side, and the unicorn willed her weapon down low and straight at his left hind hoof.
They were fast, precise, and well organized, but Smith never slowed his charge. He brought the glaive up to meet the daikatana, while stabbing the pommel spike into the small space between the blade and handle of the katar. He then deftly twisted his weapon, snatching the katar from the pegasus's mouth and driving the daikatana down and to the left to snap the mace in two. He laughed again as he spun right, slicing the earth pony's throat with the pommel spike, causing blood to spray all over his back, and bringing the blade up to meet the pegasus as she charged by, cutting her in half diagonally from the bottom of her abdomen to the tip of her flank. Guts and organs spilled across the ground as her two halves slammed into the ground.
Smith kept spinning and hurled the glaive at the unicorn, who was too petrified at the sight of her two best friends' deaths to even react as the weapon split her head right down the center, turning her into a fountain of blood and brain matter.
Smith reached down and grabbed the daikatana, he came up from his crouch and did a back flip over the earth pony and unicorn duo charging him from behind. Smith landed and darted forward, bringing his new weapon across horizontally as the ponies before him spun around. The unicorn levitated a shield to intercept the daikatana and he and his partner dashed forward, the earth pony with a kukri and the unicorn with his horn. Not that it mattered; the shield offered no resistance to the daikatana as it sliced clean through it and the two ponies behind it, spilling yet more blood and guts onto the gruesome battlefield.
Smith then reversed his grip on the weapon, turned to his right, and hurled it at the earth pony standing in front and to the right of Zagart. She was caught off guard by the uncommon projectile heading her way, but managed to recover her senses enough to dodge roll to the left, barely avoiding death.
Zagart was at a loss for words, he had just witnessed his entire group get slaughtered within mere seconds of each other. All that remained was him and his second in command, Nila. He looked upon the blood covered stallion before him and only one word came to mind, demon! Fear settled in as he watched it bend down and pick up the kukri in its right hoof, and the katar in its left. It brought the kukri up to its mouth and dragged its tongue along the side of the blade, gathering up the mixed blood of the ponies it had slain. DEMON! rang louder throughout his head as his fears heightened.
Nila fared no better than her boss as she watched the demon lick the blood from the katar next. Zagart took a deep breath to calm himself and levitated two crossbows beside him and tightening his teeth around his sword till his gums bled. The pain helping him to overcome his fear and take a step forward. The earth pony looked at him and he gave her a nod, then they both galloped full force toward the demon before them. Zagart fired his crossbows as Nila darted forward. The demon easily picked the bolts off with his weapons, but was unable to bring them back in time to defend against Nila's attack. She charged straight forward and spun on her front hooves, delivering a powerful buck to its chest with the satisfied sound of cracking bones. The demon flew backwards as Zagart dashed by Nila to deliver the finishing blow. He brought his weapon down towards the demon's throat just as it hit the ground, and just like that, it was gone.
Zagart's sword met only blood covered cobble stones as the demon appeared to just sink right into the blood. A moment later he heard Nila cry out in shock and pain and spun to see the demon, half emerged from the pool of blood, katar stabbed through Nila's chest. It twisted the weapon, causing her to cry out in pain again. It then released its hold on the weapon and reached up into her chest, digging around a little before pulling out her heart. He laughed maniacally again as he held the still beating heart before Nila’s eyes. Then, to everypony’s horror, he bit right into it, tearing off a huge chunk.
The demon turned to Zagart and laughed that maniacal laugh again, and then a sharp pain exploded in his side. He looked over to see the demon's right hoof sticking out of the pool of blood, piercing both of his lungs with the kukri it held. The demon retracted its hoof and Zagart fell over on his side, slowly suffocating. The demon dropped back down into the blood and reemerged next to Zagart. It looked him in the eye and laughed again, then slammed its hoof down onto his head, smashing it open and causing his brains to ooze out into the ever growing mixture of gore.
Smith fully emerged from the blood and looked around at the ponies gathered around. They were horrified at the display of carnage before them, but at the same time relieved that the bandits were gone and the village was safe. How could they be so wrong? Without warning, Smith flung the kukri toward the closest pony, a pegasus filly. The weapon would have stabbed the filly through her left eye had it not bounced off some unseen force that protected her. A lavender colored unicorn wearing heavy armour stepped forth from the crowd and took a defensive stance against Smith. He let out a horrifying shriek of anger before charging at the mare, not even slowing as he bent to snatch the katar from the earth pony’s chest. She brought the kukri up to block with her magic just as he went to stab her in the throat. Undeterred however, Smith just brought his free hoof over in a right hook to her jaw, causing her to drop the kukri and him to pick it out of the air.
Before he could bring either weapon against her though, an orange earth pony wearing leather darted forward and bucked him in the chest for the second time, breaking even more of his ribs. He was flying backwards again, but before he could ever touch the ground, a rainbow streak flew in from above and slammed into his gut. The cyan pegasus, wearing gilded leather, kicked off and flew back into the skies, sending him smashing into the ground once again.
Smith tried to stand, but never made it back to his feet before the next attack hit him in the form of a yellow pegasus wearing gilded leather and a white unicorn wearing heavy plate armour. They had dashed in from opposite sides, the pegasus with a flying kick to the right side of the head and the unicorn with a sweeping kick to his ankles from the left. He hit the ground hard but quickly found his footing and stood up, seemingly undisturbed by their attacks.
Then there was a bright flash of light. When it cleared and everypony could see again, their two alicorn rulers stood before them. The white one stood in front of him, the five who had attacked him earlier behind her. Behind him stood a shorter, dark purple one. He then turned and dashed straight at the one behind him, bringing his kukri up high. He didn't take two steps before a pink blur flew from the crowd and smashed him in the back of the head with what remained of the mace. For the third time in less than an hour, Smith's world was plunged into darkness.
For a fleeting second, Princess Luna thought she saw something in his eyes. The red turning ever so slightly to blue. But then his eyes rolled upwards and he slumped to the ground. Everypony stood staring at the unconscious stallion before them, all except one bouncy, pink pony wearing leather armour. Pinkie Pie was bouncing around him in circles humming a tune happily to herself, probably trying to come up with a song to sing about the demon she had slain. Twilight Sparkle magicked up Zagart's sword and rushed forward, intent on making sure the stallion stayed dead.
"Hold Twilight Sparkle!" Luna shouted, surprising everyone, and dashed forward to stand protectively before him.
Twilight skidded to a halt and stared incredulously at Luna. She then looked back to Celestia to see her as surprised as everypony else at Luna's outburst. The majestic alicorn strode forward to stand before her younger sister.
"What is it dear sister? Why do you protect this monster?" She inclined
Luna looked up at her older sister and tried to think of what to say. How to explain something like this? They're all convinced he is a monster, but for a second there I thought I saw something in his eyes. What was it...awareness? As if he was just now awakening from some terrible nightmare. Like me... Without even a word of explanation, Luna teleported away with a flash of light, taking the stallion with her. Celestia looked around at the villagers, and then with a flash of light, she too was gone.
