Inner Demons

Alpharius was feeling weak and sick from turning part of his body into a claw, he hated transforming .The rain began to lighten up a bit and he was drained of energy, Alpharius found a dry spot and made a small campfire. Alpharius sat by the fire and watched it burn, he thought about the mare and what she said. How did she know my secret and who is this Order? He knew wouldn't find the answers in the forest, he needed to get home and research the Order and it's connection with his secret. A few hours passed and he began hearing wolves howling and before he knew it he was surrounded.

Alpharius jumped up ready to defend himself from the three timber wolves, he cast a bolt of magic at the wolves but they didn't retreat, a timber wolf lunged from the darkness and tackled Alpharius. Alpharius managed to get off the ground but not before being bitten, he ran into the woods and didn't look back. The timber wolves began their pursuit after him. He slid into a ditch to avoid them, the wolves caught up and they searched the area and gave up shortly after. Alpharius was injured badly he began to lose consciousness, as he began fading he saw a figure approach him.

Alpharius began to wake up, the first thing he felt was the agonizing headache and pain his chest. He looked around, he was in a cottage, he saw a small mirror and looked at it, there were bandages on his head and wrapped around his chest. The room only had a bed,nightstand and a bookshelf. Alpharius sat up and ignored the pain, He then walked to the small window and looked out "I'm still in the Everfree forest..." He said to himself quietly then he heard a sound, he got back into the bed as soon as he could. Alpharius laid in the bed and he was in agonizing pain, then the door opened.

The door opened slowly and a light blue pony walked in "You are one lucky pony, I thought you were gone for good. " He said as he walked to Alpharius. He looked at him confused. "What do you mean, what happened?" he sat up and the pain flared in his body."You have were attacked by timber wolves. I found you dying in a ditch, and yet you can kill a vampire with no problem." When Alpharius heard that, he knew that he saw what happened at his sisters grave. "Who are you and what were my injuries?" He said rubbing the back of his head."My name is Moon Chaser, you had a concussion, several broken ribs and internal bleeding. You've been out for almost a week now."

Alpharius froze up. "A week...I need to get home I can't stay here." Moon Chaser stared at Alpharius as if he was stupid. "You need to recover still." Alpharius got out of the bed. "I'll be fine, there is something really important I have to do." He said as he walked to the door. Moon Chaser stood in front of the doorway. "What is so important, do you need to take care of The Order, Star Dragon? I saw and heard everything that happened at that grave kid." Alpharius knew what he was talking about and he stopped walking to the door. "What do you want me to do?" Alpharius was scared that he would tell everyone about his secret, he knew that he needed to recover. "I want you to recover for another day and I'll let you go. Oh and you can call me Chaser." Alpharius nodded and sat on the bed. "I'll check up on you in a few hours." Chaser said before he left the room.

Alpharius looked at the  books on the shelf and one of them caught his eye. The book was titled "Ancient Relics and Artifacts". He looked through it and one item caught his eye "The Amulet of the Miasma." Alpharius began reading it,"The amulet of the Miasma is a dark and cruel relic that can destroy entire races and was created by Nightmare Moon, the Star Dragons tried to stop Nightmare Moon but failed. Many cults and groups that still worship Nightmare Moon are believed to still be searching this forgotten relic."

The Stallion tore the page out of the book and put it in his bag which was by the nightstand. Alpharius laid in the bed and dozed off without knowing it. He was woken up by the sound of Chaser entering. "How are you feeling?" He asked "Much better now thanks." Alpharius said as he began to stand up. "You should eat something before you leave." "Yeah it's probably a good idea." Alpharius said, he followed Chaser out of the room to a table with some food on it. Alpharius began eating and Chaser asked. "I want to help you with your mission." Alpharius looked up."Why do you want to help me?" He asked. "I've dealt with the Order before they took somepony very close to me and I want to help you bring them down." Alpharius thought for about the request.

"You can join me, I'll need some help for this." Chaser Smiled. "Thank you this means a lot to me and I won't let you down." Alpharius finished the food. "We should head out." Alpharius walked outside followed by Chaser. The two walked through the forest and then Alpharius noticed something. It was a mangled corpse,"They were attacked by timber wolves." Chaser said, Alpharius checked the tattered bag and found a note and read it."Your target is a mare named Riku, she knows about the Orders plans and must be taken care of, use caution she is very manipulative and deceiving." Chaser looked at Alpharius. "We need to find this Riku and fast." He nodded and began walking to Ponyville to find Riku.

The two made there way into Ponyville."Was there any description on what she looked like or where she would be?" Chaser asked. Alpharius showed the blood stained photo that came with the contract. They began searching the town. The two split up to try and track her down faster, the sun began to set and it got dark fast. Alpharius was walking down a road when felt a chill go down his spine, he felt paralyzed and he heard a voice come out of the shadows. "What is somepony like you doing out so late, you know it's dangerous out here at night." He looked over and it was Riku and she was approaching him."I could ask you the same thing. I need your help, what do you know about the Order?" Riku came close to him and looked into his eyes and noticed that the had a faint glow to them she stepped back. "I'll tell what I know about them but now here follow me." She walked into an alley and Alpharius followed her.

Riku opened a door that lead into a house Alpharius followed her inside."What do you want to know about them?" She asked, Alpharius showed her the contract. "You know something that they don't want anypony knowing about so what is it?" Riku snapped back at him "Don't have that tone with me kid, I was working and this one pony was talking about some plan to find a relic of great power so I asked him about and he said that he was with a group called the Order, that's all I know but why would they send somepony to kill me?" She said with some concern." I don't know why they would, but I need your help stopping them from finding that relic do you want to help?" She thought of the proposition. "Yes I will help you stop them. May I ask why you are trying to stop them?" She questioned. "I was attacked by one of them and she was trying to take me because of a secret I have, I can't really talk about it." Alpharius left the home and met back up with Moon Chaser. "Where have you been? I was looking all over for you." Chaser said. "I found Riku and she is going to help us." He said. Riku caught up with Alpharius and Chaser. "What is your name?" she said to Alpharius. "I'm Alpharius." He replied.Interesting name, and you are?" she said looking at Chaser. "I'm Moon Chaser it's good to meet you."