With a bright flash of light Miles appeared on a rocky surface along with the feeling of near weightlessness.
"Shit! We're on the moon!" Miles shouted in his head holding his breath. Looking at his arms Miles could see the cold taking effect and his body freezing.
"Hold on buddy!" Discord shouted.
With a snap of his fingers Miles disappeared and reappeared in a cold, dark, and snowy mountainous region. Taking a deep breath Miles checked his body for signs of damage, yet found none and assumed nothing substantial.
"Holy shit! I owe you big time!"
"You haven't ratted me out yet so we're even."
"Fair dues. Now what? Celestia doesn't want me, I'm banished from Equestria and I almost murdered the prince. If I'm seen I'm going to be killed."
"We'll deal with that later. We need to get you somewhere safe and warm before you freeze to death. Without my full power I can only offer so much, and that transport from the moon took a lot out of me. Now, where are we ?" Discord materialized in front of his human transport.
"I don't know, but its fucking cold." Miles grunted.
Looking around to see no civilization in sight, Miles grew depressed knowing he was once again....abandoned.
"You going to be ok? I know how you feel, well, to some degree."
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Lets get going. You get inside me and get some rest."
"Just call for me if you need anything."
"Thanks. Wait, just one thing."
"Go on."
"You called me buddy. Back on the moon. I thought I was just a means to stop Eris taking over. A tool so to speak."
"What can I say? You have been nice to me, which is something I haven't had in a long time. You willingly let me stay with you, knowing Celestia would most likely kill you if she found out, and to top it off, you haven't judged me for what I've done in the past, all I can say is that, you are my one and only friend that I have had since my kind died sum millions of years ago."
"Any time. We loners have to stick together, which I know defeats the object of being a loner, but the point still stands."
"Yeah I guess so, now lets get going."
"Which way?"
"Any way will do."
Trekking through the snow Miles pushed on hoping for a glimpse of civilization or other life but to no luck. The snow came hard as the night grew older, much to Miles' disliking.
"So bored! And cold. Can't feel my toes. Can't feel my fingers and I need to take a shit. This night just gets better and better."
Up in the distance a small cluster of trees came into view offering protection from the snowy and icy winds.
"Shelter, Yay!"
With a burst of energy Miles ran through the thick snow as fast as he could, be it fairly slow. Reaching the treeline Miles could see no signs of life, mainly dead bodies of rabbits and other small animals. Taking out his gun Miles slowly checked out the surroundings, spotting a small pack of wolves, about three of them in total.
*bang* *bang* *bang*
The three wolves that made the pack went down without a fight as bullets flew through their skulls.
"Discord wake up."
"What is it?"
"Food. Now come on out."
"How do you plan to cook this food?"
"Good point. You're able to set some sticks on fire if I get them, aren't you?"
"Get them first. I'll be out when you're done."
After a quick trip round the woods and back to the wolves, Miles had a large bundle of sticks to cook his food over.
"Here we go. These should get us through the night."
"You realize I don't need to eat food. Right?"
"It didn't occur to me, but eating should get your strength up quicker."
Lighting the fire and cooking the food Miles and Discord sat and talked away most of the night.
"What do you do for fun in my head, other than play video games and watch movies. Some of which I have never played or watched so I don't know how you get them."
"I get a copy from your world. The rift that brought you here is still there in essence. Things come in but not go out. I use that to get the stuff I want."
"Oh. So what are you on now?"
"I rescued Skyrim and saved Hyrule so I started Ratchet and Clank."
"Holy crap. I totally forgot about them! Damn, you better complete them all or I'm not going to let you live it down."
"I'm stuck on the third one where you have to play the video games as Quark."
"I'm not helping you, if you get Pokemon though I might battle you, but I need time to play it to build my team up."
"I'll wait for you to get it then. When you go to sleep, we can start."
Taking a bite out of the wolf steak Discord had so nicely made for them Miles showed a look of disgust.
"Whats wrong? Did I not remove all the fur?"
"Nope." Miles spat out a mouthful of fur leaving most of it still stuck to his tongue.
"Let me get that." Clicking his fingers the fur vanished and Miles resumed eating.
"I thought you had near infinite power, how could you get that wrong?"
"I don't have all my power yet, and when I do I don't have to worry about recharging, I have the capacity of a teenager of my species."
"So as an adult you get the unlimited power then?"
"Yeah, it sucked when we wanted something but we couldn't get it."
"At least you get powers. I only get mine because you're giving me some of yours. Speaking of which how did you know I got here if you were imprisoned, and how did you escape?"
"I knew you were here because when I was encased in stone I still had my thoughts about me, and some of my senses. It was just my physical abilities that were stopped and I had no use of most of my powers. As to how I got out, there was upheaval between you and Cadence, that released me."
"Why did she turn on me like that anyway? I thought we were friends."
"My guess is that Eris got to her. Like I said, she never does anything directly, always through cause and effect. I would bet she hoped Cadence would convince Celestia to kill you."
"Your sister is an ass. Why does she do this anyway? Why not just kill me herself?"
"She is like me. Her power is diminished and has to wait to recharge. But because she wasn't locked away she could be as powerful as me when she is ready. But it could be years or even decades before we're at full strength again."
"So I have to live knowing that at any moment I could be obliterated by your sister?"
"I wouldn't put it so bluntly but yes."
"I swear, when I get hold of her I'm going to rip her arm off and ram it up her arse."
"But it gets better."
"Explain."
"As your emotions are expressed through the glowing you do which is unavoidable, you aren't at full power either. When you changed into a fiery beast. That was nothing compared to your potential."
"Alright!"
"But there is a drawback."
"Such as?"
"As you develop so do your powers. But it is how you use them and how you go through life will determine your strength and what powers you have. If you embrace nothing but goodness you will gain hold of a power that only one being has ever held before. The power of the light. Care to take a guess who it is?"
"Celestia? She is the most powerful being other than you or Eris so it makes sense for it to be her."
"Spot on. But if you let hatred into your life you will be consumed. You won't own the powers. They will own you. This will sound cliche but the evil side is more powerful that the good side."
"What do I get if I embrace evil?"
"Other than ruling by Eris' side, you will achieve the power of darkness. It was so powerful that only one being wielded it. Legend tells of a being that was so evil it makes Eris look like a grade school bull compared to Satan himself."
"What happened to him or her?"
"The power was too strong for them to handle and they died. A massive explosion occurred.
you know it as the big bang."
"No way. That can't be true."
"Nothing in the universe knows for sure. But here is the most cliche bit of all. There is apparently another, even more powerful power."
"Ok there is a limit to the bullshit I can take. Stop the jokes now."
"This isn't a joke. This is a real legend that was passed down through the generations of my kind. It is simply known as 'The Power' and it is that strong it can destroy universes or basically turn you into a god. Not the real gods such as me and Celestia. I'm talking the one like Christianity believe. One snap of the fingers and bam you have a universe filled with intelligent life. Another snap of the fingers and its gone without a trace."
"You realize this sounds like a shitty movie or a crap book right?"
"Kind of. But it can't be helped."
"So how did these legends come to be? Someone must have been there to see it."
"I couldn't say. But I hope you make the right choices. I won't stop you no matter which way you go, But stay true to yourself."
"I bet you anything that Eris is somehow going to get all three powers."
"What makes you say that?"
"My sort of luck."
"One more thing about all this....."
"If you say I have to kill myself to kill her I'm not going to be happy."
"Nothing like that. Just know I'm always here to lend a hand if you should need it. I do care about you you know."
"I care about you too. But you realize my only friend is helping me down the path that will most likely lead to my death."
"Well, I got nothing. Sunrise will be in a few hours. you should go to sleep."
Settling down under a large tree Miles drifted off into his slumber only to be awoken by voices moments later.
"The sounds came from round here. Spread out and find the source." A voice came from the dark.
Instinctively Miles drew his knife and crouched in the shadows waiting for the source of the voice to show itself.
"Commander! Over here under the tree in the shadows!" Another voice came.
"Shit!"
Making a mad dash for edge of the wooded area Miles' path was blocked by a dark figure forcing him to take an alternate route.
"What are you going to do?" Discord panicked slightly.
"Same as always. Do something incredibly stupid and hope it pays off."
"What do you have in mind?"
"There is a rock ahead I can use to jump into the trees and attack from above. That should work."
"I hope for your sake these things don't fly."
Running as fast as he could Miles checked behind him seeing three large silhouettes close behind him. Jumping from the rock to a near tree branch and up to the higher levels. Climbing up the tree Miles sat on a large branch looking below at the ground.
Below him stood three silhouettes looking up at him.
"What now? Do we go after it?"
"No, we wait for it to come down."
Getting comfy on the branch Miles though to himself and discord "If I'm going to die, I might as well die comfortably."
"We're a good thirty feet higher than them. we'll be safe up here for now."
*Crack*
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes and I don't like where this is going."
"Well. Maybe they're friendly. Whats the worst that could happen other than some torture?"
"Screw you Discord."
As the branch broke Miles fell straight to the bottom of the tree and landed in front of the mysterious creatures. Barely conscious Miles lay on his back looking at the sky with one last sight before his departure into unconsciousness. Looking up at the stars a small object was falling after him.
"Crap." Miles mumbled with the last of his strength.
As Miles blacked out the kukri fell out of tree and landed between his legs just missing the crowned jewels.
*****
*beep* *beep* *beep*
"I'm at the hospital again? Can't I just not survive one of these accidents. Or at least get out of one uninjured?"
"Well look at this. He speaks." A deep voice came from Miles' right
"Who the fuck are you?" Miles asked without opening his eyes
"You do not address the king in that manner!" A female's voice shouted.
"Calm now Rune. That is no way to speak to our guest."
"But he was disrespectful your highness."
"Rune. That is enough."
Sitting up on the bed Miles tried to get back on his feet only to fall back onto the bed.
"Sorry your highness. I cannot bow just yet."
"Worry not. I know all about you."
"Sorry but I know nothing about you."
"To be expected. I am king Black-sun. Leader of the griffin colonies."
"I'm Miles. Thats it. Nothing special or anything about me."
"I hardly call being the defender of the Diamond of Peace nothing special."
"So you're the one who gave it to Celestia as a sign of good will?"
"Indeed I am. How is the diamond by the way?"
"Some diamond dogs are trying to take it. So are something called changelings whatever they are. But Celestia is worried sick it will get stolen and you would take it as a sign of disrespect and possibly cause troubles between Equestria and the griffin colonies."
"Thats good to hear. She respects our friendship that much she put you in charge of its defense."
"Not anymore."
"Why not?"
"I got banished."
"What?! Why?!"
"Long story. You're better off asking Celestia."
"You better not try anything while you're here. Celestia won't do anything but my guards will have no problem taking you out."
"Don't worry. A little warning though. Don't piss me off."
"Is that a threat?!"
"No. It's an actual warning. Don't piss me off. I lose control and do things I normally wouldn't do."
"I'll have someone keep an eye on you then. What do you plan to do now then?"
"I don't know. I'll probably just travel the world. Try and get back to mine. Something."
"Well Celestia told me before you got your job you wanted to be a royal guard. How would you like to be a guard for me? We use the same currency as Equestria so you don't lose anything you already have and you get housing free. All you have to do is patrol the city making sure everything is safe and as it should be."
"Why do you use the same currency?"
"We exchange favors between lands. They raise the sun and moon and we use their currency. It also gave us the opportunity to go to Equestria should we need to."
"Not a bad trade."
"What do you say? We'll get you suited in armor and get you somewhere to live. But tonight you will stay in one the castle's spare rooms."
"I accept. But there are a few things that I need first."
"Sure thing. What do you need?"
"I need to get my transport and my sword."
"Ah yes. Your bike, as Celestia called it."
"Did she tell you everything about me?"
"Pretty much. She wanted me to be aware of your capabilities for if I should ever need your assistance."
"Then she told you about the fact I'm a meat eater. Don't worry, if you don't eat meat I can stick to fruits." Miles' voice fell at the thought.
"Yes. She mentioned that. Would you like to grab a bite to eat? We have bacon."
"Bacon? As in from a pig?"
"Indeed we do."
"Which way to the food?"
"Miss meat that much did you?"
"Most of my diet was meat. I haven't eaten any in a month. Well, yesterday I ate some wolves."
"Wolves? Really?"
"Tastes nice if you manage to get all the fur off." Miles grinned at the shot at Discord.
Walking through the hallways Miles and King Black-sun entered a medium sized room with a small table in the center.
"Nice room." Miles admired a bears head mounted on the wall.
"Thank you. It is my private dining room for when I have special guests."
"I can't say I'm that special. Here I may be but on my world, Earth, there are seven billion of us. And I'm one of the weaker ones."
"You're one of the weaker ones? What are the strong ones like? Do they weight lift with mountains?"
"I only got this strong since I came here."
"Do you know why?"
"I think it might just be a reaction to all the magical energy in the world."
"Could be."
Taking a seat on an old, dark brown oak chair Miles browsed through a menu placed in front of him by a griffon in a chef's hat.
"What will you be having your majesty?"
"I will have some wolf if we have any. If not I shall have the manticore steak please."
"Excellent choice your majesty. And what will you be having sir?"
"Well, I shall have bacon. With a side of bacon. Another side of bacon, and another. And for desert, bacon please. Oh, and some bread please."
"Er..a fine choice sir. Will that be all for the food?"
"Yes thank you." King Black-sun handed back the menus.
"What would you like to drink your highness?"
"I shall have some water please."
"And for you sir?"
"What do you have?"
"We have berry juices, tea, coffee, some soda and some water."
"Could I have berry juice please?"
"Yes sir. Your orders will be here shortly."
"Thank you." Miles and the king answered simultaneously.
As the chef left the room King Black-sun turned the conversation to Miles and his life.
"I though you were a carnivore? Why would you go for the berry juice?"
"I'm an omnivore. I eat both fruit and veg as well as meat. But since I had to cut meat out of my diet I have had to get as many nutrients from berries and such whenever I get the chance or I wold get seriously ill."
"Interesting. You get more and more complicated by the minute."
"Aha. Humans do that. We're awkward beings."
"I can see. I can also see Celestia didn't edit the truth when talking about you."
"What do you mean?"
"She said you were polite and well mannered. She wasn't wrong."
"Thank you. I can say the same about you. You say thank you and please when talking to others and your staff but on my world it is just expected of them. For instance, on my world, a chef would take the order and they wouldn't get a thank you or a please or any respect at all. I admit there are a few rulers that are nice and do have manners but most don't."
"I say. They see their position of power as a symbolic gesture indicating that they are better than everyone else?"
"Exactly."
"Well that isn't fair. I admit I have to be dominant and show that I'm in charge from time to time but I converse with everyday citizens when I go out for a walk or for a fly. I like to go down to the market and have a browse on the weekends. I even like to go down to a bar every now and then. I don't see myself as better than anyone else."
"And that's good. There need to be more rulers like you."
"It works well. My subjects respect me and I respect them. And it is peaceful for the most part."
"For the most part?"
"There are always going to be the odd few that do what they want and it causes grieve and stress for the others and it gives griffons a bad name."
"Ah. A few bad apples spoils the bunch sort of thing."
"Precisely."
At that moment the doors swung open with a trolley carrying two large trays pushed by the chef that took the orders.
"For the king, we have some wolf ribs and wolf steak."
"Aha. Thank you."
"And for sir, we have bacon. Lots and lots of bacon."
"Thank you."
Miles took a bite out of the bacon sandwich he had made whilst the chef looked on waiting for Miles' sign of satisfaction.
"Damn. This is great. Thank you." Miles said with half a mouth full of food.
"Thank you. I'm glad to know it is to your liking."
"This wolf is fantastic. Great job." The king praised the chef.
"Thank you your majesty."
As the chef left once more the king returned the conversation to Equestria.
"I know this is a sore subject but I need to know why you were banished. I have to keep my subjects safe."
"I....I....."
"Is something wrong? You can talk about anything if you need to."
"Can...can I go to my room please?"
"What about your lunch?"
"I'm not very hungry anymore."
"If you wish." King Black-sun saw the sorrow in Miles' eyes. "Guard. Could you escort Miles to his room please. And make sure if he wants anything he gets it." The king's tone was that of sympathy and understanding.
"Yes your majesty."
As Miles and the guard left the room king Black-sun called after them. "Miles."
"Hmm?"
"Don't be afraid to talk to me if you need to. I am here for you. Just you and me and no-one else has to know anything thats been said."
"Thanks. You too."
As Miles left the room king Black-sun slouched with his head in his hands/claws.
"Poor kid." He mumbled to himself. "Guard!"
"Yes your majesty?"
"Get me a quill and paper please. I need to write a letter."
"Right away sir."
*In Miles' room thirty minutes later*
"Stay calm Miles. Stay calm." Miles repeated over and over taking in deep breathes.
"This isn't good for you. You need to let the stress out."
"On what?! I can't attack someone because I'll end up killing them! If I let my stress out any other way I'll end up destroying everything around me!"
"I've numbed your hand. Punch the wall."
"But the powers will make me end up destroying it."
"I'll stop giving you powers in that arm for a minute. Anything that happens is your strength now."
"Right then. This should be fun." Throwing a punch at the wall Miles' hand disappeared inside it.
"Relieving some stress?" King Black-sun stood by the door.
"Oh, erm, sorry about this. I'll pay for repairs." Miles pulled his arm out of the wall.
"Don't worry. Sit down for a moment please."
"Sure. Whats going on?"
"I wrote a letter to Celestia."
"Oh."
"She told me everything. Right up to where she sent you away."
"And now you're here to do the same thing."
"No. I'm here to talk. I know what today is to you."
"Then you know I'm not going to be in the best mood."
"I understand. It isn't easy losing your parents. Especially at such a young age."
"I wish I could get the one who did it. How I would make him suffer."
"Normally I would say revenge is never the answer. But I hope you get them one day. Just make sure you give them one for me."
"Ha. Oh how I wish I could have gotten here sooner. Instead of waiting through years of meaningless existence."
"You like it here then?"
"Other than being thrown away again because Celestia didn't want me, yeah. I love it here."
"Ah..."
"What?"
"come down to my throne room in five minutes ok?"
"Why?"
"Just come. Someone needs to see you."
"If I must."
"Who do you think it is?" Discord asked.
"Beats me. Probably another doctor to check me out."
*five minutes later*
"May I enter?" Miles knocked on the door.
"Yes you can enter the throne room Miles." King Black-sun answered
"Thank you."
Entering the room Miles noticed his stuff in the corner next to the door including his IPod, motorbike, sword, kukri, pistol plus ammo and backpack with the money still inside.
"How did you get these here so quick?"
"It wasn't king Black-sun that brought them here." A familiar voice came from behind.
"Celestia?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Celestia's head hung low.
"What are you doing here." Miles clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.
"I know I'm the last pony you would want to see here...."
"Ya think?"
"Please, just listen to her." Twilight and the gang appeared from behind Celestia followed closely by Luna.
"Speak."
"I'm sorry for what I did. I truly am. I know I could never pay you back. Not with the hurt I caused you."
"You know nothing of what you caused me. You abandoned me when I needed you most. You're no better than those back on my world."
"Thou dare talk to my sister that way?!" Luna boomed. "After all she has done for you, given you a home! Given you a life here! Given you money for you to spend on what you wanted! Gave you an education free of charge in the top school in Canterlot! Given...." Luna was stopped by a dark red hand grabbing her mouth.
"Now you listen and you listen good! I'm grateful for what I was given but I was in need and she cast me aside just like everyone else did! When I needed her to be there for me she wasn't even though I would have been there in a heartbeat for her! And you can have everything you gave me back. The sword, the bike and the kukri. The gold I earned stays with me. So does my IPod and my bag."
"How dare you grab my face in such a manner! You insolent, foul, meat eating beast! I can see why you weren't wanted!" Luna emphasized 'beast' making Miles hang his head in shame.
The rest of the group looked on with dropped jaws as Luna shouted at their friend. King Black-sun moved to put a claw on Miles' shoulder but was stopped by a thundering voice.
"THOU HAVE MAKE A MOCKERY OF YOURSELF! YOU ARE MY SISTER BUT I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR BEHAVIOR!" Everyone's attention was drawn to Celestia hovering in mid-air with a blinding white glow along with fiery white eyes.
"Sister I..I..I...I accept any punishment you give me." Luna lowered her head.
Turning back to face Miles the group recoiled as Miles' form was that of fire once again. As Luna saw the fiery form she knew it was too late. Grabbing her by the neck and bringing Luna's head to his face Miles leaned in close staring into her eyes and spoke:
"Any punishment?"