Nomad

The hillside was steep, rocky even, but nothing Malik couldn't handle. Besides, if he kept with teleportation to get places, he'd lose shape. Something he just couldn't afford. The sun greeted him as always with a warm blanket that magnified his fatigue as sweat ran off his forehead and back. The hill seemed to continue on in a monotonous pattern, teasing him with mile after mile of unreached land. It was only after he passed the large boulder with a daisy poking it's head out from underneath for the nth time that he realized he hadn't really covered any ground. Confused, he looked to his surroundings, and sure enough, he was at the base of the hill once more.

"Curious."

He tried teleportation, but that only succeeded in bringing him 20 yards up the hill  before stumbling on a rock that protruded jaggedly from the earth, and losing the gained land with a blur of spinning scenery. Malik lay on the grass looking up at the sky. The clouds passed lazily, but once reaching the hill, they almost turned completely, going the opposite direction. So flying would do him no good apparently.

Malik studied the hill for any sign that might suggest a curse or enchantment of some kind. The only curious feature was that nothing adorned the hill. Not animals, not trees, not clouds above nor birds. Only clear blue sky slightly darker than that of the surrounding area. It was then that he noticed a small colt staring at him from a nearby tree. The mane was a mess of a lilac color and his small frame took on a light gray hue. When the boy noticed Malik had discovered him, he stumbled backwards and turned to run. But Malik was faster and before the colt had turned completely, he was waiting patiently to intercept his escape. The small colt screeched and reared onto his back, gasping heavily from being startled.

"I apologize, it was not my intention to frighten you. I was only hoping you could inform me about this mountain." Malik smiled softly, hoping a friendly demeanor would aid him.

The colt huffed before walking off silently.

Malik sighed but did not press the boy further. Once the boy was out of sight, he cast a side-long glance to the unscalable hill and decided it would be best to set camp for the night here without going further. Besides, he had no plans on leaving the mystery of this hill unturned.

The menial task of gathering kindling took him a good hour before he found wood dry enough to burn, and once he returned to his pack, he found that same colt as before trying desperately to open his pack. The sight reminded him of his incident in Ponyville several weeks ago. He laughed, before asking the boy what he thought he was doing. The colt, startled by Malik's stealthy approach for a second time, jumped and quickly ran off.

"Hmmm. It would seem I have more than one mystery to decipher." He chuckled heartily before getting back to work setting his camp, which consisted only of a bedroll and a decent sized campfire.

It grew dark quickly and without much warning, and Malik could only be grateful for his fire as with the sun, the temperature dropped drastically as well. He did not eat, nor had he much of an appetite, so he saved the last of his bread and cheese for later. He took a single swallow from his water-skin, wiping a hoof across his chin to dry any drops that escaped. The fire began to die in it's luminance and Malik decided it was a good time to turn in. Fishing out his new cloak he bought in the last town, (a small one by the name of Spring's End) he curled into a ball on his bedroll and let his eyes drift closed. Before drifting off though, Malik almost mindlessly cast a spell around himself that would protect from the cold as well as alert him if there was danger anywhere nearby. It was a custom made spell he was quite proud of. It was perfect for when he was not able to sleep at an inn. Feeling satisfyingly safe, sleep accepted him into its own realm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a cry piercing the still night air that awoke Malik. He sat up groggily and rubbed vigorously at his crusted eyes. It was still very much dark and smoke rose steadily from glowing embers. He gauged he'd been asleep for only 3 or 4 hours. Still half asleep, he looked around him to see if he could see the source of the shrill yell. It did not take long before he was able to pin it on none other than the lilac maned colt from the previous day. Except that he was now joined by three other creatures that he guessed could only harbor ill intent. The young pony ran straight for him at full gallop. He then halted before using Malik as a living shield from his pursuers.

"Please mister, help me!"

Malik was slightly taken aback by this situation, but figured he could not just leave a child for dead. An image flashed at the back of his thoughts and he pressed a hoof to the claw hanging from his neck.

"Give pony to us, maybe we let you live then." Loud and annoying. When Malik could make out who the others were, he wished they were not what they were. Perhaps the only race he despised more than the changelings were the diamond dogs. He openly despised such filth.

"Pony stole from us. Give him over if not want to die."

The colt pressed further into Malik's back and shivered. "I think not." Sometimes Malik wondered where he inherited such kindness towards ponies, surely not from his kin.

The foremost diamond dog then pulled out from a sheath on his back a long sword. "Maybe reconsider?" His two companions, both slightly smaller than their leader followed suit, drawing swords of similar sizes and laughed. A crude and very much annoying sound. "Maybe just want to die..." A gurgle of a cry came from the leader's left. The other two gasped when they looked to their companion and saw a pebble sized hole burrowed through his forehead and making a tunnel clean through to the other side. The dog fell flat on its face with a claw clamped on his forehead. The two remaining dogs growled and turned back to face Malik before charging him.

It was to his advantage that it was night, the dark concealing his projectile. A small smile remained hidden from his attackers and Malik's horn began to glow eerily in the night light. The second dog's death was more brutal than his friend's. It was almost comical how easily the top half could be twisted away from the lower. Not a single sound escaped the lips of the second dog that fell in two heaps on the ground.

The remainder faltered slightly in his charge, but continued strong, letting loose a crude war cry before folding underneath the weight of a large boulder. Quite a useful attribute of dragon magic was that the object being controlled or manipulated did not beacon with a noticeable aura. Magic could be used stealthily.

At this point, Malik's face was contorted into a grimace, nose wrinkled in disgust from the stench of blood that now permeated the air. He did not enjoy killing, even when he thought it necessary, he would rather settle matters peacefully. He knew full well the legends that beheld dragons as vicious and vile creatures. While not entirely false, he disagreed with the views of his kin. Perhaps that is why he has survived so long.

When the weight did not leave the small of his back, he slowly turned to behold the colt. Up close, it was more noticeable the scars and open wounds that adorned his small frame.

"Would you like to tell me what that was all about?" His tone was careful and kind.

"D-did you kill them?" The colt peeked around Malik to confirm his own question.

Malik sighed, "Yes. Now let's start with your name."

"Charcoal..."

It would definitely explain the black stick that was stamped on either side of his flanks. "Well it is a pleasure to meet you Charcoal. My name is Soulfire. Now, why were those diamond dogs chasing you?"

It was apparent that Charcoal only just then remembered he was carrying a bundle. "Food." He said simply and held up the bundle. Malik accepted it in his magical grasp and undid the cloth. It was a pleasant sight indeed. Various fruits, breads, and even some meat. Now, being a pony now and all, Malik was unable to just walk into a town and simply order a steak. It had been a while since he last sank his teeth into tender meat. And while he would never partake of pony meat (he'd grown much too fond of them in all honesty), this appeared to be venison. Something he would lust after greedily, but deer hadn't shown themselves much when he was on the road. Malik eyed the pony suspiciously and drifted the bag of food back to him.

"I take it you have no family to take care of you?"

The colt's quiet demeanor and fallen face where answer enough.

"Stealing from the Diamond Dogs is dangerous. What if I wasn't here to protect you hmm? You would be either dead or on their menu if not working as a slave." Slavery. He despised such an act with gusto.

"I-I don't care anymore!" Charcoal suddenly shouted. Glistening tears were welling behind his azure eyes. "My dad disappeared up that damn hill, and my family was torn apart by those dogs! I-"

"What can you tell me about that hill?" Malik cut in.

"I-I don't know anything. Just that one day it appeared out of nowhere and when my dad tried to climb it, he disappeared."

Malik stared down at the boy in wonderment. 'How was this boy's father able to scale the hill and not I? Why was I sent to the base every time?'

"Did you try to go up it?"

"Yes, many times, but I couldn't get to the top for some reason."

"And what race of pony was your father?"

"Pegasus. Though I guess I inherited my mother's earth pony genes."

"I wonder..." Malik quickly started picking up his things and returning them to his pack, everything suddenly a-light with a scarlet glow. The moment he was finished, he took stance and concentrated on his horn. His horn slowly started to retract into his head, and he groaned in pain. It was one of the reasons he chose magic over flight most of the time. After finishing, his wings sprang from his back and he flapped them twice in testing.

Malik gave a soft chuckle at the boy who regarded him with genuine shock. "Don't tell anyone alright?" He punched the colt with a hoof in his shoulder playfully. The boy nodded silently, apparently still trying to grasp what just occurred. Malik turned to take off, but he felt a hoof on his hind leg.

"Please, let me come too!"

"Out of the question."

"Please! Please! I have to find my dad!" Tears immediately sprang into action, moistening the boy's face with salty water. He latched himself onto Malik's leg and no amount of shaking would detach him.

"I-I may not be able to protect you if something goes wrong." He was throwing excuses around now.

"It's not like I have much to live for! My whole family is gone and I've been here alone for 3 years now!" The crying intensified and the colt's grip tightened. "Please! This is my only chance to find my dad!"

"..."

"I-I p-promise I-I won't g-get in the w-way." He stuttered, his crying softening to quiet sobs.

"Do you have a house or someplace you stay?"

"Y-ya. I have a tent."

"Can you take me there?"

"Mmhmm." The colt looked up into Malik’s eyes. The boy's azure eyes sparked with maybe the only hope he kept in reserve. Malik truly felt sorry for the young lad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Perhaps the next half hour to 45 minutes was spent wandering around trees and brush and rock until a small cave, the entrance barely large enough for Malik's frame, appeared around a bend.

"You live in a tent in a cave?"

"It helps to keep me hidden from the diamond dogs and vicious animals."

"I see." In the dim moonlight, he could see a small trickle of a stream run down the rocks and collect in a little bowl carved out of the stone surface. 'At least he knows to camp near water.'

"Listen, we will rest until dawn then head out. Eat what you can from what you stole today, you'll need the energy." Charcoal nodded silently in agreement.

A meal of sorts was eaten within 20 minutes, charcoal showing Malik how he collected water in his single wooden cup. Malik also noted that the boy partook of the meat without hesitation. And he wondered if living so long without society had muddled his morals as a pony. Afterwards, charcoal crawled into his sleeping bag, which appeared to be thick and cushioned, while Malik took position against a wall with his pack beside him. He guessed they wouldn't have long, an hour at most, before the sun sneaks over the mountain, but he would sleep when he can. He drew out his pipe and, after lighting it, drew a long breath before letting it out with a sigh. He looked to the sleeping colt and let his mind wander, the images in his vision twisting until he saw a separate reality. Colors blended and smeared, and lights danced around his vision. His hoof drifted up and against the claw around his neck. A small dragon, still larger than a pony by 2 or 3 times, was lying next to him, breathing noisily in its serene slumber. It shifted a few times, but it finally lifted its eyelids and Malik gazed into its large eyes. Sparkling emeralds winked back at him, regarding him with a sense of trust and love. Malik stretched out his hoof, but never made contact with the dragon as the image blurred then faded, replaced by another image. The same dragon appeared but the eyes that beheld him were fearful. They looked straight through him as if he was a ghost and tears proceeded to well in the dragon’s eyes. The dragon looked around frantically before a howling screech tore the silence. Blackness gripped Malik and he was sent spiraling into an abyss. Again colors clashed and burst in front of him and his eyes were forced open, his cheeks wet with salty tears.

The sun stretched its rays down through the small crevices and holes in the cave ceiling, rousing him further from his sleep. Malik could feel something moving around on his tongue, and when he stuck it out, he found a slightly chewed piece of wood. Confused, he searched around him until he found his pipe lying in the dirt, missing the mouthpiece.

He swore and scooped it up with his magic, placing it in his pack. It would be the last time he allowed himself to sleep with his pipe in use.

With this settled, he finally recalled where he was and why he was here. The boy colt was gone, and so was a considerable amount of the food and supplies that were there the night before.

Malik scrambled to his hooves and grabbed his pack before taking one last sidelong glance at the cave and heading out through the small entrance.

It wasn't too difficult, but it did take him longer than he'd hoped to navigate his way back to the hill from yesterday. As expected he caught sight of Charcoal leaning against a tree, his back to Malik, and an obviously over packed sack, bursting with the goods that used to in the cave.

"You're up early." Malik stated plainly, walking up beside the colt, and sitting down to relieve his back of the weight from his pack. To his amusement, Charcoal started with a yelp of surprise. He'd obviously gotten here perhaps hours earlier and then sized off.

"I knew you would try to sneak out without me, so I woke up early so I could get here before you." He nonchalantly stuffed a peach that had rolled out, back into his bulging cloth.

"I don't think you'll be needing much of that. I hope to be back by nightfall. And I would like to clarify that I am going on a hunch and nothing more. I would hope you do not have your hopes too high."

Charcoal lowered his head for a slight moment, then lifted it, his new expression surprising Malik. It seemed the boy would not be taking his advice, but instead his features contained nothing but hope, determination, and resolve. “Maybe you're wrong, but you’re the only hope I've had, so I'm going to put my faith in you."

"You're an idiot child!...” Charcoal cringed at the sudden outburst, but Malik smiled as he lowered his head close to the colt’s. “But you have guts and you're not so far off from how I was as a child. I feel you'll do just fine in this world." He placed a hoof on Charcoal's head, and messed with his mane. "Well now. Shall we be off?"

Charcoal nodded in affirmation then stood up, rising to a total height of up to Malik's upper chest.

Malik pulled a rope from his pack and, with his horn gone, skillfully and firmly secured his pack to his back using his teeth. When finished, he wiggled around and jumped a few times to ensure he would not lose it in flight. He then tested his wings to make sure they had full movement around his pack. Once satisfied, he leaped into to the air, being suspended with his wings flapping up and down in a monotone rhythm.

"I won't have my magic, so I will just have to carry you in my arms."

"Um. Ok." Charcoal waited patiently as Malik proceeded to drift towards him and, once above him, scooped him up. Hefting him into a comfortable position, Malik took off, gaining speed and altitude as they neared the hill. Without falter, they rammed headlong into an invisible wall that seemed to reject them entrance.

Malik shook the disorientation from his brain as he tried to regain his composure before trying again, but this time going in slower. The invisible wall seemed to give way a small amount, and he pushed more firmly. Now it seemed less like a wall and more like a thick and viscous liquid. It seemed to gradually accept him though as he pushed towards it slowly. He actually feared that charcoal would not be allowed admittance but, sure enough, he was sinking into the same invisible substance as he. He smirked down at the colt who had a look of unadulterated horror, as if he was being eaten up and would cease to exist.

"Don't fight it." Malik called down. However he did not sway Charcoal's feelings about the current situation, who continued to thrash around in his arms. Malik tried to get a better grip on him, but they were suddenly sucked inwards and torn apart. Malik scrambled to catch Charcoal's outstretched hoof, but missed it several times by mere inches as they were drifting further apart. Now it felt as if they had been sucked into a giant tornado and no amount of effort would do any good. Malik would have tried magic, but the strain from the forceful winds blowing around him was too much for him to concentrate enough. Feeling utterly helpless and thinking this was indeed a bad idea, he said a final goodbye to the world and a half-hearted apology to Charcoal for failing him before he closed his eyes and blacked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Malik came to, he was no longer being stretched and ripped apart by wind, but lying on a bed of soft cloud. He groaned and stretched, then panicked when his pack was no longer secured to his back. He searched around him but found nothing. At all. As far as he could see, it was an endless range of clouds taking on the hue of an August sunset, where the sky is painted with Reds, oranges and yellows. The clouds however did not appear to be regular clouds you see drifting lazily in the sky on a cool summer morning. No, these appeared to be almost solid, meaning non-pegasi could still roam and. Not fall to their deaths. They did not move either, or at least that he could tell. The air was dry and the soft wind that blew chilled him, causing a shiver to momentarily run up then down his spine.

Malik stood and tested the "ground" more thoroughly; changing form to gain his horn, and even still, it supported his weight. Now he only needed to find Charcoal and his pack, which he now knew would be safe sitting on these pseudo clouds. He expected the cloud ground to continue endlessly as the hill had, but to his pleasant surprise, he found it ended with a large gate. And lucky for him, his pack was found along the way, however splintered on the side, and everything inside was relatively unharmed. However there was no sign of his travel companion. What shocked him even more was not the fact that there was a large silver gate in the middle of a field of clouds, but what was beyond it. A very large, very old-fashioned (compared to what he knew to be modern) town. Complete with a castle that sat slightly suspended above the rest of the buildings and surrounded by stone turrets. Several of them looking to have taken damage over time. Something caught his attention to the side and he noticed a large guard, not pony, but Minotaur, with dull iron armor and a tall halberd. However, no skin or fur was attached to the beast. It was a skeleton left standing for a purpose he could only guess to be a guard. His gaze once more fell upon the gate and saw that it had large gilded letters in bold with the words:

Welcome to Laputa.