//------------------------------// // The Beast and a Pure Heart // Story: The Guardian // by InsaneBatPony //------------------------------// 1 The giant sat back in the barn where he was supposed to be and held the black box in the palm of his hand. His breaths were slow and deep as he stared at the one thing he possessed from his home. He gripped it hard and slipped the box back into the metal container in his thigh and laid his head back against the wall staring at the ceiling. He looked at the ground and placed one of his claws on the ground and began to etch something in the dirt. When he was done he got up and left the barn. He made sure none were around to follow him before he left. He tried to be quiet when he left the barn but his massive boots made it hard to be stealthy in this situation. With every step the ground gave a little and vibrated possibly alerting any around the area that he was moving. He decided to run, not caring any longer. He ran through the Apple family’s field breaking through trees and scattering their crops this way and that as he ran back to the forest. 2 Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom were walking back to Sweet Apple Acres with a quickness in their steps. Sweetie belle was the most nervous of the group because she had not been able to see her giant protector since they brought him back to Sweet Apple Acres. She looked all around her as she thought about what could be going on and why all of them had to be present to visit the giant. She looked up and saw the sign for the Apple family farm in the distance. Her nervousness could only grow at that point. As the group neared they saw the barn door had been open and Big Mac and Granny Smith looking inside. “Where have you been?” Big Mac said. “What you talkin bout big brother and why is the barn door open?” Applejack replied. “Seems the big fella left in a hurry.” Granny Smith said, slowly turning to face them. “He did what!?” Applejack yelled, running into the barn, the others following closely behind. The barn was empty and all that remained were the tools used on the farm. “He also wrecked part of the fields.” Big Mac chimed in. Applejack fell to her knees. “It was a mistake, it was all a mistake." she whispered, the others still able to hear. "Bringing that monster here!” she bellowed. Sweetie Belle pressed through the group reaching the front and walked deeper into the barn. She found where the giant had been sitting as it was outlined by indentations in the dirt. She looked around and saw an etching nearby. “Hey, everyone! He left us a message.” Sweetie Belle called. “What does it say, Sweetie?” Rarity asked. “Monster.” “Leave it be.” Applejack said, getting up. “That’s what he is and he’ll always be.” “Applejack, please…It can apparently communicate with us, in our language. Maybe it's not what you think it is!” Twilight started. “No, Twilight! Ah can’t take it anymore! Ah never wanted that thing here! It’s only caused trouble for us and now its destroyed mah farm! That thing can go back to wherever it came from and stay out of mah mane forever!” She turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “As fer you three, stay away from that thing and don’t you dare go after it! Understood!” Scootaloo and Applebloom nodded slowly, disappointment written on their faces. “No.” Sweetie Belle said, sternly. “What did ya say?” “I said, NO!” Sweetie Belle bellowed, before running out of the barn and out onto the farm. “Wait!” Rarity called too late. Sweetie Belle was already gone and out of their reach. Sweetie Belle ran as fast as her small legs could carry her. She followed the giant's foot prints into the forest where they had first met. She left all fears and restrictions behind to find her friend. 3 The giant walked through the vast numbers of flora that made the Everfree Forest and kept walking. Dictionary function activated… Please enter search term… ‘Monster’ Definition Found… Displaying… Fiend, Brute, Demon, Devil, Miscreant ‘Is that what I am?’ Question not recognized…Please enter new search term ‘Who am I?’ Searching…Searching…Searching…Found…Displaying Code Name: Volos…Class: Prototype …Designation: Weapon… Place of Origin: Earth…Living Relatives: None… ‘Search year 3125’ Searching…Searching…Searching Record not found Volos shut down his search and let out low pitch of frustration and kicked a tree nearly snapping it in two at its base. He kept walking until he happened upon a small pond with crystal blue water. Volos got to his knees and looked at his reflection, his face obscured by the dark grey cloth around his nose and mouth. He untied the cloth and set it to his side. He looked again at his reflection seeing nothing but a black metal skull, devoid of facial features and expressions. He stared at his reflection and a new face flashed in his mind. A young man, deep brown eyes, dark hair, tanned skin and a smile across his face. Volos shook his head clearing the image from his brain. He grabbed the cloth tied it around his face once more and turned to leave the pond. He stopped when the ground began to shake. Volos planted his feet and looked around. He saw a three headed creature walking quickly to the pond. Initiating scan… Scanning…Scanning… Found… Designation: Hydra…Origin: Greek…Existence: Disproven…Revising…Existence: Proven Volos growled and fast walked to the hydra. The Hydra stopped mid-step and roared at Volos, who stood unmoving. He took a fighting stance. 4 Applejack had stormed off into her house and left the others there dumbfounded. “I’ll send a letter to the Princess about all of this, maybe she can help us out.” Twilight said, breaking the silence. “Yes, you do that and I will go after Sweetie Belle. She can be stubborn when she wants to be.” Rarity said plainly. “The rest of you, help the Apples clean up the mess and when I’m done I’ll come back to help out.” Twilight finished. 5 Sweetie Belle had been running with blurry vision for the better part of ten-minutes because of tears in her eyes. She did not want to lose what she considered a friend so quickly. They had not been able to spend much time together and she was not willing to let their friendship go that easily. She slowed down and stopped under a tree to rest, sweat streaming down her face. Her breaths were quick and shallow. She also felt thirsty. She looked around trying to find a source of water within her view with no such luck. She started to walk in a random direction hoping to find some source of drinkable water. She had been walking for quite a while when she heard a small stream nearby. Instinctively she ran for it. She climbed over downed trees and shrubs until she saw its blue water gleaming in the sun light. She went over quickly and shoved her face into the stream. Her head rocketed out of the water as she entered a coughing fit after nearly inhaling water. She sat on her haunches and panted and relaxed a little as the water cooled her fur and skin. “Where could it have gone?” she wondered aloud, to herself. Sweetie belle got up walked along the stream’s edge thinking that it would lead her somewhere where she might be able to find the giant. She continued to follow the stream until she saw a shadow on the ground that kept increasing in size and a massive head slammed into the river and was lodged on the banks. Sweetie Belle was knocked back by the force of the impact and checked herself for any injuries. She looked at the head quickly and saw that it was a Hydra’s head. Blood was seeping into the river making the water turn red. A short time later it slowly slid down into the stream and was carried away. She stumbled back while her instincts told her to turn tail and run away from the gruesome scene. She told them otherwise and walked in the direction that she thought it had come from. She walked through the trees and brush only to be welcomed by an ear shattering roar coming from a Hydra. She ducked down behind a bush and peeked out slowly. She saw the giant standing in front of the Hydra, his entire body covered in red blood. The hydra roared and attacked again. The hydra’s remaining two heads lunged at Volos. Volos jumped and swiped up at one of the heads while dodging the other. The hydra roared in pain as Volos’ claws impaled and scraped out flesh from its neck. The Hydra swiped at Volos with one of its claws while he was in midair. Volos was hit in the legs and fell over making a large indent in the ground. He got up and staggered around for a moment before regaining his footing. 6 Damage sustained…Body resiliency 78%... ‘Initiate program Beta’ Warning…Program Beta unadvised… ‘Backdoor Code: Blood Rivers’ ….. …Initiating Program Beta…. Volos’ body seized and would not move. His eyes went dark and for a second. His heart began to increase its beating speed while his lungs increased their rate of expanding and contracting. Volos’ eyes re-lit with a sickly yellow hue. His head reeled back and a gargling roar escaped his throat. The Hydra quickly lunged one of its heads at him. Volos grabbed it with his clawed hands on the jaw bones of the Hydra. The hydra kept pushing, trying to overwhelm Volos with strength. Volos clamped down on its upper and lower jaw and flipped the Hydra’s head to the side and began to extend his arms to their full wingspan. The Hydra tried to pull back to get his head out of Volos’ grip. Volos only tightened his grip at the new resistance. Volos’ arms began to smoke and spark from the strain of Program Beta. Warning…Warning…Warning…. Muscular overload detected…Terminate Program Beta… ‘Release safety restraints’ Acknowledged…Releasing Now… Volos’ arms popped and snapped loudly. Volos’ roared again and pulled harder, the veins and modified muscle tissue bleeding. Volos’ ignored the pain coursing through his arms and pulled with all the strength he could muster. The hydra’s head was ripped apart. The jaw bones were thrown away and all that remained was the flopping skull and the blood that poured from it. 8 Sweetie turned her head away just before the Hydra’s head was destroyed. She cowered behind the bush and cried profusely. She had never seen this side of the giant that she knew as her friend. She squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears with her hoofs trying not to hear the roars of the Hydra and the giant. She curled up into the ground hoping that she was far away enough not to be hurt in the commotion. She did not know how long she was there curled in her tiny little ball. She felt warmth on her body and chanced opening her eyes. She saw Rarity hovering over body and with her hooves wrapped tightly around her small frame. A loud thud and a loud cry rang from where the giant and the hydra were fighting causing Sweetie belle to snap her eyes shut again. Now there was only silence and the birds began chirping again and sweetie could hear the stream again. She pushed up on Rarity to signal her to get off. Rarity slowly stood up and allowed Sweetie Belle to get back to her feet. "How did you find me?" Sweetie asked. “Not important. We need to go. Quickly, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity urged. “But…I want to bring him back with us.” Sweetie said sadly. “Absolutely not!” Rarity said sternly. “Look at what your ‘friend’ has just done. He is a monster. Applejack was right.” Sweetie Belle defiantly turned and quickly hopped out of the bush to be greeted by the sight of the giant standing on the body of the Hydra. Blood dripped from his clawed hands, the black cloth around his face was gone, and in his mouth was a long cylindrical object that fed back down into the body of the Hydra. The giant spit it out quickly and hopped onto the ground. Sweetie belle ran out to where the giant was and latched onto his leg without hesitation. Rarity ran out after her. Sweetie belle looked up to see that the giant’s eyes were back to their original red and that his arms hung limply at his side. Rarity ran up and pried her from the giant’s leg with her magic and slowly began to back up. The giant’s breath was heavy and ragged. His arms sparked and dripped crimson. He tried to move his arms and they responded to a certain point until they fell back at his sides. The giant fell down to his knees and his body slumped. His chest and lungs began to convulse and he coughed up blood. “He’s hurt! Rarity put me down!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “Bu…No I can’t do that.” “Rarity, please!” Sweetie begged. Rarity dropped Sweetie Belle to the ground after finishing an internal debate. Sweetie Belle ran over to his side and climbed onto his legs. She looked at his arms and noticed small blue lights appearing and disappearing. The giant groaned in pain and then would whine with relief. His arms stopped bleeding and he was able to move them more and more as the blue lights flashed. She watched his chest stop convulsing and slow down slightly. Sweetie Belle jumped and grabbed his neck squeezing it as tightly as she could. The giant was looking at what he could see of Sweetie Belle’s body and raised his arms slowly and placed one palm on her back and the other on her head and tightened his arms a little so he didn't crush her. After a few moments he set her down on the grass again. Sweetie belle looked down and made a face. “Ewww! You got me covered in red stuff!” she wailed while trying to wipe it off with her hoof. The giant picked her up again and carried her to the small pond and set her in it, immersing her for a no more than couple seconds, still holding her. Rarity stood more than a little surprised at the sight of a creature that ripped a Hydra apart could hug her little sister with such caring and then wash her fur. She watched as the giant lifted her from the pond and placed her on the ground. He went and stepped into the pond as well. The pond turned red almost instantly and the giant stepped out, dripping water onto Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle hopped around trying to dry herself off, laughing. The giant sat down and Sweetie Belle jumped onto his legs and pointed up to his neck. He lifted her to the back of his neck and she sat there how she did when they were in the forest together. The giant stood up and Sweetie Belle pointed to Rarity. “Go, save me from that vile creature!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “What! What vile crea…AH!” Rarity screamed as the giant neared very quickly. Rarity started running. “Sweetie Belle this is not funny! You stop this right this instant!” she yelled behind her. “Halt! She is not evil. That white Unicorn is my sister.” Sweetie Belle said stifling a giggle. The giant stopped and so did Rarity. “Young lady, we are going to have one serious talk about this little prank! Do you hear me missy!?” “Yes, Rarity. I’m Sorry. Can you let me down please?” Sweetie said, sadly. The giant lifted her off of his neck and placed her on the ground. Rarity trotted up to Sweetie Belle with an angry look on her face and relaxed. She looked at Sweetie Belle. “Does it have a name?” Rarity asked, somewhat nonchalantly. Sweetie looked up her sister. “I don’t know. If it does, it never told me.” Rarity looked at the giant and gave him a once over. “Do you have name?” The giant stood silently. “Well?” “Do you have one?” Sweetie Belle asked after her sister. The giant bent down and scratched into the dirt like he did in the barn. Sweetie Belle and Rarity watched in anticipation and amazement that the giant could communicate in their language. When he finished he stood up straight and took a slow step back allowing them to look. ‘My name is Volos’ “How do you pronounce that?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Vo, with a long O sound and Los, also with a long O.” Rarity stated. “Vo…los…Volos.” “That’s right Sweetie. What gender are you?” Rarity asked Volos. He scratched into the dirt again. ‘Male’ “I see. Sweetie Belle you trust him then don’t you?” Sweetie belle looked at Rarity in confusion before realizing what she had asked. “Of course I do!” “Well then, we can’t leave him here, can we?” Sweetie Belle’s eyes beamed with excitement and a smile shown on her face. She shook her head from side to side quickly. “What should we do with him? I’m sure twilight will want to talk to him or do whatever it is that she does. Applejack’s gone crazy and refuses to hear any word about him. Pinkie Pie’s is in the middle of town and I don’t think Ponyville is ready to see such a being, especially with all of um…that showing. Fluttershy might be willing, but she’s terrified of him after everything that’s happened. I don’t know what we can do.” Rarity said thoughtfully. “What about our house?” Sweetie Belle “NO!" she bellowed, losing her composure. "I mean no, that’s not possible. I guess he will just need to stay out here somewhere until we can figure something out. Is that alright with you?” she asked Volos. Volos nodded. “Alright then, I suppose we should be heading home Sweetie.” “O.K.” she said disappointedly. “Can he walk with us at least to the edge of the forest? You don’t know what else might be walking around.” Sweetie said deviously, so as to worry her sister. “Very well. Volos, shall accompany us to the road to Ponyville.” Rarity stated proudly, trying to hide her fear of “other things” in the forest. 8 Volos, Rarity and sweetie belle had made it to the road that lead back to Ponyville. Volos set Sweetie belle on the ground by Rarity. “We’ll come and find you once we have something sorted out. Please, if I may, don’t wonder off too far.” Rarity said. Volos nodded his agreement. “Come along Sweetie, you and I have a lot to talk about.” Volos watched for a little while as they left, his eyes never leaving them until they were almost completely out of sight. ‘Add file’ Command acknowledged…Please enter file name ‘Unicorns’ File added…Please enter information ‘Subject: Rarity…Species: Unicorn…Designation: Unknown’ Information added ‘Add new information’ Acknowledged…Please enter information… ‘Subject: Sweetie Belle…Species: Unicorn…Designation: Friend…Additional Information: Protect’ Information added…File information saved Volos looked down the road once more and turned to go back into the Everfree Forest.