//------------------------------// // Special beginnings, always begin with an end. // Story: Misery of the heart, Madness of the mind. // by theblarglknight //------------------------------// Humanity. What do you think when I say the word? I can tell you many things about humans. How they can be heroes that are worshiped for generations to come. Or how they can be evil war lords, that stop at nothing to leave pain, misery and death in their wake. How their greed, and obsessions to become god-like has lead to them creating machines of ingenuity, happiness, death, and destruction. But if I find myself even likely attracted to them in anyway, it would be their fear of death. I was once like them. I feared death, I didn't want to die. But when I did, I was offered a choice. On one side, I could go to the place where fear and pain are inevitable. To where I would live in eternal torment until the end of time. On the other hand, I could gain a job of value. A job that would not only make me immortal, the dream of most humans who fear death. But I would be able to watch humanity thrive and grow. Or decay and crumble. There was one point I would have said, "I would do anything to be immortal!" but now that I think about it, I didn't really understand the meaning of anything. Next thing I know, I'm sent spiraling through God's joke of some kind of water-slide, losing my sanity (and a few limbs) through the crazy contraption. When I landed on the other side, I was missing an arm, a head, and what looked like my lower half. But that's a story for another time. I am called Hatter. Mad Hatter. The name is as it suggest, though; I feel more insane then mad in actuality. I am what you humans have probably associated with "The Grim Reaper" in some cases, though I hardly have anything to do with the dead and the damned. Where was I going with this? Oh yes, I am in a bit of a predicament. Everyone who has ever formed language have told stories, though in the case of the platypus's tongue; aRK nIuCk BvoW! But let me tell you my story, from the beginning. No, not that beginning; don't want to have to explain the miracle of birth to you. Now then in the beginning... Equestria 755 A.D {Human conquest war} "Princesses!" A white royal guard in armor yelled as he ran to the regal sisters urgently. The two sisters sat on their thrones, though one would be a fool to not know the names of the two. The oldest and tallest one would be the Princess of the sun, Celestia. The smaller, bluish one of the two was her little sister; Princess Luna. Why do I describe them as that you may say? Well then shut it, this is the beginning of the end in my adventure. Or would it be the end to my beginning? Maybe it wouldn't be a beginning or ending at all! But back to before. "Yes royal guard, do you have news from the West?" Celestia asked urgently as she waited patiently for the guard to catch his breath. "Yes your majesties! The humans, they've conquered the Gryphon Capital! There's news that next is the land of the Diamond Dogs!" The guard explained with urgency, fear inevitable in his voice. "Impossible! How should thy humans already be finished with the Gryphons!? Just the other morn they be pushed back by the Gryphons superior tactics!" Luna shouted with panic stricken fear. "Calm my sister, we must keep level headed if we are to best the humans in this war." Celestia said soothingly calming her sister's panic. "Your majesties, I may have a proposition." A mysterious unicorn appeared from behind the guard. "Ah, hello there again Sir Ink Sword; I wish we could meet in times that weren't so dire." Celestia said to Ink Sword. "Yes your highness I wish so as well, but I have word to believe that a creature resembling a human has been seen somewhere along the Equestrian borders." "Where are you going with this if I might ask then? Everypony knows that most humans seen on the borders have mostly been spies." Celestia stated with uncertainty, though intrigued to what the unicorn had to say for himself. "That is true to a point your highness, but this human; ponies say he is mentally disturbed." "Then why does thou bring it up then? This human surely can't offer thy help to us, can he?" Luna asked with worry as to where this was all going. Celestia thought for around five to ten minutes before finally coming to a conclusion. "Send the some royal guards to retrieve this human, I wish to speak to him directly." Celestia ordered. "Are you sure that's wise your highness? What if this human is dangerous?" The royal messenger guard from before asked with uncertainty. "It is the only chance we have, send the guards." And with that, the meeting was ended. Bar at the edge of Equestrian borders. "And I said, laddy! If your going to stick your dick in something! Let it be yer wife! AH HA HA!" Every one in the bar laughed with delight at the human's joke. When he first entered, ponies and a few gryphons became tense, but an hour or two later; and the whole bar was laughing at his jokes. But there were only a few ponies who glared at the human with malicious hate in there eyes. "You know human, your alright. Where did you say you were from again?" The barkeep asked as he started cleaning another mug for more rounds. "Oh? I've been here and there. I'm more of a drifter." The human replied casually as he shrugged his shoulders in contempt. And here, is the main character of the story. Now, you might be thinking; "Gee mister Hatter! He sure ain't that mad now is he?" Well here is what I mean by beginnings. This human right here is special. Very special. It is he who shall die tonight, but also live forever. His name, is Jonathan Daylight. Catchy name, though Hatter still sounds better to me. But back to the story. "Is that right then? Well I suggest you leave into minotaur country, there is no telling what might happen with the rest of your kind on our humble doorstep." The barkeep replied solemnly to the human's answer. With a heavy sigh, the human looked back up to the barkeep's eyes; his own filled with regret and empathy. "I am sorry for my kind waging war, it's one of the reason why I travel without more of them. Humans may be smart, charismatic, even kind. But were also known for our barbaric and war stricken ways as well." With that, Jonathan paid the barkeep as he exited, but as soon as he stood up, the door across opened up to reveal five royal guards. "We are looking for a human, he is to come with us to meet thy Princesses. With, or without his own consent." The guard added lastly, glaring at Johnathan from across the room. "Oi! And why would the Princesses be askin for me, eh? I ain't done nothing wrong!" The human yelled across to the guards in annoyance. "Let's just get the stupid ape and drag'em to the Princesses! I'm tired of all this here talking!" One guard yelled before levitating a spear. Just like the first, the rest including the leader followed. Jonathan looked at them worriedly as he noticed the five spears pointed at his direction, but merely smirked as he drew a tiny dagger from his belt and pointed it at the guards. "Welp, you were the ones to attack first; so if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get lads." And with that, all hell broke loose inside the bar. One guard, using his magic; threw the spear across the room just in time for patrons and bystanders to get out of the way. As it came close enough to Jonathan, he merely side-stepped to the left to avoid; watching it harmlessly glide pass him and imbed itself into the wall behind the bar, to which to Jonathan's relief; the barkeep ducked and stayed low to the ground. As he looked back at the remaining guards he noticed the four with spears left get closer to him, surrounding him on all sides. "Well you lot sure fight fairly, why all the hostility to me? Don't think I ever was that much of a bother to you all." Jonathan stated with curiosity, hoping to bide his time until the next attack. "Ha! If it wasn't for the Princesses wanting you alive ape! We would've killed you for just being a public nuisance! You damn humans wage war with ALL of Equestria, then expect for you 'travelers' to just waltz right in and not get hanged for what your kind has done? Why, if I was in charge I would even hang them bloody other breeds too!" One guard shouted smugly with hate. At this a new raised up. "Human! You need any help?" A gryphon patron asked as he drew his sword and leaped to the Jonathan's side. "Thanks mate, I owe ya a pint after this." Jonathan said as he felt more confidence knowing one of them had a sword. "Count me into too human! We 'breeds' have to stick together as well." A scratchy voice yelled as a diamond dog jumped to his other side with mace in his hands. "We will warn you citizens, back down and let us take the human; or we will cut you down for breaking the law." Another smug guard barked at the trio in warning. "After that remark, I don't think so." The gryphon yelled as he broke into a defensive stance. "You ponies just stopped hating each other, if you think you can pick on other breeds because of that; well you are surely mistaken." The diamond dog said. "Yeah laddies, back off now and leave the people who want nothing to do with yer bloody war in piece will ya?" Jonathan yelled, flipping his dagger between his fingers. The leader merely growled as he yelled one final word. "ATTACK!" Two of the guards attacked the gryphon who merely started parrying each attack then striking. The leader threw his spear to the smug guard from before who attempted to throw his own spear at Jonathan; now containing a weapon, him and the other guard went to the diamond dog, who was merely ducking and weaving from their attacks. That only left the leader of the guards and the human. The captain pulled a hidden sword from before and gripped it in his magic. Charging at the human, he immediately started swinging for the weak points, to which Jonathan would dodge and deflect incoming blows with his dagger. The fight raged on for a few minutes before the Gryphon got the upper hand on a careless attack and severed the guards horn from his head. The guard screamed in immense pain before being knocked unconscious by a swift kick to his hornless head. Distracted by his comrade's pain, the captain didn't know what hit him until he turned back to the human; immediately taking a wine bottle to the face and being knocked out. "Two down, three to-" Jonathan was cut off as a scream pierced the air. Turning in shock, he noticed the diamond dog from earlier with two spears going through his chest, before said spears were pulled out with a might *SHLUURK!*. The gryphon blocked another attack from the last pony, ignoring the death of the dog, but before he could counter, a spear pierced his leg as another went through his side. Jonathan could only watch in shock and horror as the guard his acquaintance was fighting before smiled evilly, before plunging his spear through his eye socket. That was the final straw. Grabbing the captains sword, he charged at the group of guards with a sword in one hand an a dagger in the other. The two guards who saw to play unfair didn't know the human was upon them until it was too late. With a mighty yell, Jonathan plunged the dagger into the head of the first guard, dropping it immediately; he then turned and swung the sword down onto the second guard, severing his head. As Jonathan turned to the final guard, he noticed that he wasn't in the spot he thought he would be. But realizing to late, Jonathan let out a pent up scream of pain as he felt a spear puncture through his chest. "You damn dirty human." The guard who called him an ape earlier said. "Celestia's order be damned, I'll see to it that every human who crosses the border be executed for what you've done!" He yelled in rage. "And ponies call us the monsters..." Jonathan weakly whispered as the final guard raised a fallen spear and levitated it in front of his face. "I hope you burn in hell or whatever religion you humans follow." And with that, the spear launched and stabbed Johnathan right through the forehead. Yes that is right, not all stories end with happy endings now do they? But for now I think we will stop. This is merely the beginning for the human, but as I tell my story; well we won't be able to call him that for much longer now can we? With madness comes great responsibility, but also with great weight. Both a gift and a curse as many would say. Until next time dear listeners, and remember; I am always watching.