//------------------------------// // CH.1 A New Day // Story: Carpe Diem: Rise of the Sun // by BluePhoenyx //------------------------------// Authors note: This is a side story i'm doing for when I have writer's block. I will try to update it often if it gets good reviews. Sorry for any grammatical errors, I've edited it as best I can, i'm not perfect. His chains clinked against each other in the moonlight. The unicorn was shivering in the corner of his cell, fresh wounds forming puddles of blood beneath him and his breath wavered with each exhale. His golden yellow coat was matted with blood and littered with various types of scars with a chipped hoof on his left side. His mane, a deep brown, was wet with sweat and caked with blood. Chains were wrapped around each leg and one around his neck that was crushing his throat and scraping against it. He heard footsteps coming down from the hall that was just outside his cell, and with each step his anger grew. A shadow covered the only exit to his cell followed by a scraping of metal as a bowl of slop was slid into his prison. The pony couldn't see his visitor, the moon light was in the wrong position, but he knew who it was. “Eat up pony. You’ll need that energy for tomorrow.” A male voice said and laughed. The shadow then left. The pony ignored the mushed up…whatever it was and laid his head down, letting his horn scrap against a dent in the stone wall of his cell. He had been digging away at this dent for his entire imprisonment and had only made a 5 inch deep dent at most. The digging had caused his horn to chip in a few places and had become fairly dull as well. He looked up through the window that was a good 6 feet up and dreamed of what it would be like outside. He was so caught up in his dream that he barely noticed sun rise and the cheering that came with mid-day. He was dragged from his dreams when his captor approached his cell. The beast was half lion, half goat, with a serpentine tail. Its body and head were that of a lion, its right front legs were sort of bird like and ended in claws, but its back legs were goat hooves with large horns on top of its head. “Get up unicorn. “ The beast said, opening the door. The pony didn’t move what so ever. “Leave me be Chimera.” The pony said, turning away from it. The beast stormed inside and lifted his tail up; it had a whip like extension with a blade on it that ripped through the pony’s flesh as it came down on him. “Up pony!” the beast demanded. The pony lifted himself up and the beast used its claws to unlock him from his chains, except for the one around his neck. The Chimera dragged the chain with its tail and tugged the pony behind him. The pony followed down the hall and into an arena. It was a large, circular arena that was covered in sand. Slightly above the arena were stands where various creatures were sitting and cheering as the pony came out of the underground. The chain around his neck was released and a door closed behind him as the door on the opposite side of the arena. A terrible, loud screech came from the other side and a 6 foot tall beast came out. At first glance, it appeared to be a dragon but with only two legs the pony knew it was a cousin of the dragon. It had two great wings for arms and a large dragon like head with a long tail. The beast was a Wyvern and the pony knew it was either him, or the creature. The beast tried to fly up but a strong chain wrapped around its leg kept it from flying too high. His life as a Gladiator was filled with these sort of creatures. The pony was forced to battle these creatures and kill them, or be killed by them. His captures where a clan of Chimeras that ruled in a remote part of the world. They entertained other creatures, mostly Griffins with these sick little battles to the death. “Go get it pony!” said a voice from the crowd. Cheering ensued and the Wyvern landed back down. The pony shook his head and ran towards the Wyvern, better to get it over with. The creature roared and lifted its foot, slashing its claw at the pony. The pony dodged and rammed his horn into the Wyvern’s foot. The creature roared in pain and flapped its wings to keep upright, but fell over anyway. The cheering intensified and Wyvern roared and screeched as it scraped against the ground trying to get up. The pony stood on its chest and pointed his horn towards the beast’s throat the battle was quick, but the pony had gotten so good at winning that his captors were putting bigger and bigger opponents against him to make the fights longer. The chimera that brought the pony into the arena quieted the audience and stood on a pedestal overseeing the arena. “What do you say pony?” The chimera asked. The pony didn’t answer, anger was swelling within him and his breathing was getting heavy. The Wyvern was breathing hard as well and as their eyes met, the pony knew what they were both thinking. The Wyvern was riddled with as many scars as the pony had and it was obvious both creatures were near their breaking point. “Well?” The Chimera asked standing still. The pony leaped off the Wyvern’s chest and the beast stood up, roaring at the Chimera. The Chimera backed away in fear while the pony stomped on the chain holding the Wyvern down. He kept stomping until he noticed the lock to the chain around the Wyvern’s leg. He rushed towards it and used his horn to pick the lock. The chain fell and the Wyvern flew up into the sky, spitting fire out into the audience. The heavy chains fell on top of the pony, which didn’t have the strength to lift them off of him. “If he gets free…that will be enough.” The pony whispered to himself. He had never fought this Wyvern in the arena, but he knew the creature was as broken and longing for freedom as he was. The pony’s weakness overtook him and he fell unconscious as fires broke out all around him… The pony opened his eyes and was briefly blinded by the sun. Once he adjusted, he felt the soft grass beneath him, and could hear the small stream that wasn’t too far away. A frog croaked some distance away and a bird called out to its mate in a nearby tree. The pony smiled softly, surely he was dead. Oh well, if he was, at least he died and went somewhere beautiful. He sat up a bit and looked around. It had been so long since he felt grass or heard a bird sing, that his surroundings seemed alien to him. He knew he could eat the grass if he was hungry, but he worried that it wouldn’t taste like the slop he was fed in his prison. He also knew that he could drink the fresh water if he became thirsty, but it wouldn’t be murky or dense like the water he received back at the arena. He wondered why he should fear these things, he knew they were better for him and what he’d been dreaming for but something held him back. “You’re awake.” A voice said from behind him. The voice sounded like it was far away, yet nearby at the same time. He whirled around so fast he almost broke his neck. He saw they Wyvern, lying in the grass just feet away. Its long tail wrapped around its body and its wings were tucked in. If he lay still enough, and maybe hid his head a little, the creature looked like he could blend perfectly well in to the forest as a tree trunk or maybe large rock. “Oh, you died too eh? I’m sorry.” The pony apologized. The Wyvern laughed but didn’t move or even open his mouth. “We’re not dead unicorn, we escaped. After you collapsed, I picked you up and carried you here.” The Wyvern explained, again his mouth did not move. “We’re free? Hah! We’re free!” The pony yelled and started running around the clearing they were in, yelling and cheering. He jumped over logs and rocks and kicked his back legs up in excitement. The Wyvern laughed and watched the little pony run about. “Thank you Wyvern…” The pony finally said as he calmed down. His muscles ached and a couple of his wounds opened up, but those were small matters compared to freedom. “I must thank you, little unicorn. If you had not unchained me I would have been killed.” The Wyvern said and leaned his head down to look the pony in the eye. “Well, if it wasn’t for you carrying me out, I wouldn’t be free right now. I suppose we owe our freedom to each other.” The pony said. “I suppose we do. My name is Diem.” The pony replied. The Wyvern nodded. “My name is Freyr.” The Wyvern said and moved his wing, stretching it a little then using his tail to pick himself up. “So, little unicorn, what will you do with your freedom?” Freyr asked as his tail swept across the floor. “I’m not sure.” Diem replied. He thought for a moment, and then looked up. “I do have a question, how are you talking? Your lips aren’t even moving.” Diem knew it was an odd question but it was bothering him. “My language would only appear to be roars and growls to you, so I am translating it with my mind into your mind. I can do this with anyone I please.” Freyr replied and stretched his wings again. “That is amazing.” Diem said then smiled, for the first time in years, he smiled. It actually almost hurt to smile. The muscles had not been use in years and he couldn’t hold the smile for long before his jaw began to hurt. “Come Diem, I believe I know a land where you will be happy.” Freyr said, turning towards the west. “It is the least I can do, to repay you for my freedom.” “Dear friend, if anyone owes anyone here it’s me. You could have saved yourself and yet you took me with you.” Diem replied and followed alongside the giant reptile. “Well then, consider this a gift.” Freyr replied. “It is a land called Equestria, many ponies like you live there.” He explained “I’ve never heard of it. How do you know of such a place?” Diem asked. His stomach growled, forcing Freyr to stop. “Go ahead and eat. Before my capture, I would speak with the dragons that migrated to my lands. They talk a lot of Equestria and the ponies that live there. They say it’s a fairly pathetic place but of course the dragons are very prideful creatures.” Frery explained while Diem munched on the grass around him. He couldn’t remember the last time he tasted anything like grass. It was juicy and a little crunchy and very sweet. Once he had filled himself with it, he felt like he could gallop to Equestria no matter how far it was. “Right then!” Diem said and shook himself out. “We’re not going to find out what kind of place this is if we just sit here.” He reared up and then started galloping through the forest with Freyr close behind.