Warning there is a small section of gore toward the end of this chapter. Please read at your own risk.... (It's not that bad but I feel like I just need to get it out there)
Me and the Doctor followed a dusty dirt road that stretched over the rolling hills. After a full day of trotting down the road we set up a camp. The night sky was devoid of any stars and the moon was full and bright.
"That's impossible....." The doctor was looking around for something in the sky. "There must be other planets around... Or at least one star."
"Doctor. Luna controls the night sky and if she isn't happy or is focused on something else, she just raises the moon. Nothing more... Nothing less." I replied.
"There is no way one creature can control everything in the universe." He was starting to get agitated. "Not even the Time Lords had that kind of power."
I raised a brow. "Look Doctor, this place might not function like your universe. Luna and Celestia control the sun and moon. It's that simple."
The Doctor raised a hoof to protest then stopped. He put it under his chin and looked at the ground. "I suppose it's possible. There is something wrong here. I can feel it."
I pulled a blanket over my body and rested my head on a pile of dirt. "Well Doctor, if there is something wrong then we'll fix it. Good night."
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Morning came quicker than I expected. Sun beams shot through the blanket and made my body extremely warm. When I was fully awake, I was covered in sweat and dirt.
I'd kill for a shower.... or at the very least a river.
I looked to where the Doctor slept, but he was gone.
"Doctor?" I whispered. "Doctor are you around?"
A twig snapped and I jumped out from under the blanket.
"Ah good to see your awake." The Doctor stepped out from behind a little bush. His mane and tail were stuck to his body almost as if...
"Doctor did you take a bath?"
He smiled. "Why yes I did. Now about the trip..."
"Uh Doctor I would like to get a little bit cleaned up to."
"Ah. Right... Follow me."
We went through a small forest and came to the banks of a river. After cleaning off we set off on the trail to find the next neutral town. We couldn't have been far from it now. The journey was long and silent as we followed the trail. The rolling hills flattened out into a small forest. The tress gave shade and we were grateful for it. As we pushed along the trail I noticed something in the dirt path. I stuck my hoof out in front of the Doctor.
"Doctor did you n..."
The Doctor cut me off. "Yes."
There were hoof prints everywhere in this trail. There were so many indentations that the trail was no longer smooth. They all faced the same direction we were heading. Finally the Doctor broke the silence.
"Do you think they set up a trap up the road?"
I thought for a second. "No. If they did that then they would cover their tracks. Unless they are really stupid."
"What say you? Push on or stay here?" The Doctor asked.
I smiled. "Only one option for me."
"Good."
We continued down the path ready for anything we could encounter. In the distance there was a thin trail of black smoke.
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"Why?"
"I-I don't know Doctor. I just..... don't know."
"War is the same in every universe."
We stood at the entrance of what used to be a town. Everything was charred and blackened by a fire. We started trotting through the town and every where, there was something that made me sick. Burned bodies, the smell of rotting flesh and burnt wood made me nauseous. By the look on the Doctor's face he didn't fair much better. We arrived in the town center and saw the worst of the attack. Stallions were lying in pools of dried blood, blindfolded, and their hooves tied up. They were publicly executed.
"There are no rules in war."
The Doctor stomped a hoof. "This shouldn't happen!"
"Just because it shouldn't doesn't mean it won't." I replied coldly.
BANG
The Doctor hit the floor and I jumped to see where the sound was coming from. I scanned the area and I couldn't see and visible pony figure.
"Doctor I think it's safe." I said while trotting away from him.
He didn't move.
"Doctor? Are you okay?" I asked.
"Shh."
I raised a brow and did as he said. He tapped his hoof on the ground and put his ear directly down.
"Oh that's brilliant!" He jumped up and smiled.
"What is it Doctor?"
"There is an underground tunnel system. If you can use your magic to trace it then we might find survivors.I think that bang was from a survivor!" The Doctor said happily.
I smiled and quickly drummed up some magic to scan the ground. When it found a hollow spot I centered my magic and blew a hole open. The top layer of dirt fell into a hole. There was silence until the Doctor stuck his head inside.
"Kill him!"
I grabbed the Doctor's tail and pulled his head out of the hole. Spears shot out of the hole.
"That's why you don't go poking your head in places you shouldn't." I said.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "You'd be surprised."
I advanced to the hole. "Hello?"
"Just leave us alone! We won't come out you bastards! We'll fight to the death!"
I used my magic to scan the tunnel. There were about 20 full grown ponies and a couple foals around the hole. I found a spot where nopony was standing and busted a second hole. I jumped in as soon as the tunnel collapsed. The dust and dirt made sure the ponies inside didn't see me. I used my magic to bring my armor out of my bag and quickly slipped it on. When the dust settled I stood tall and looked at the ponies at the hole.
I really hope Lumber's stories did get around Equestria. If not, then I'm dead.
The sun light glistened of my black armor and I waited for the ponies to react. All their eyes studied me. One set of eyes went wide and I knew I was safe.
"It's him! The warrior in black! He is back!" A mare yelled.
The spears came down and ponies surrounded me. The Doctor looked in the hole and looked at me funny.
"Oi! How come they didn't try and kill you?" He asked.
I just smiled back. "Everyone this is my friend. He calls himself the Doctor."
We shook hooves with everyone and I patched up the holes in the ground. We followed them to a large room and sat there while they got the other survivors. There were only a few stallions. Most of the ponies were mares, fillys, or colts.
"What happened here?" I asked while everypony gathered around.
A stallion stepped forward. "Celestia's soldiers marched into the town late last night. They were searching for you."
"She knows I'm back and that means her power is at stake. I'm so sorry for what I've caused and I promise to make things right."
Suddenly there was a loud crash.
"For the Empire!"
The ponies started backing away. "They found us!"
I stood up and trotted to the hallway. "No more!"
Celestia's soldiers rounded a corner and held their position. The looked at my armor and I could see the hatred on their face.
"I am going to give you one chance to leave this place unharmed." I said in a low grumble.
"By order of Princess of the Solar Empire we will take you into custody or kill you!" A single guard yelled.
"Try me."
The guards shot bolts of magic, but I quickly put up a shield. They tried to collapse the roof over my head, but my magic was stronger and it held the roof up. One guard charged at me with his spear at the ready. I stood still and waited. When his spear made contact with my armor, the spear head snapped and stuck into the wall. He looked up at me with complete fear. I didn't budge. He slowly backed away, but his commander yelled.
"Kill him!"
He stood on his hind legs and tried to hit me. I used my magic to freeze him in place.
"I'm only going to say it one more time. Leave or die."
The commander laughed. "You are foolish! Giving orders to us when you are the one out numbered. Stallions.... Charge!"
Row after row of his soldiers came at me. the short hallway made it impossible for them to spread out and attack. They were sitting ducks. I threw the guard I froze at them and charged my magic. I set a field of magic in front of me. It surrounded the hall way and trapped the soldiers. A box of magical walls formed around the soldiers. They were trapped and I slowly started closing the box.
"Surrender. Or your stallions will die." I said.
The faces on the stallions inside quickly changed from anger and hate, to pure fear.
The commander didn't budge. "Do it."
The stallions inside looked back.
"They're expendable."
They looked at each other then at me. The stunning fact sunk in, They were going to die.
"Please don't kill us!"
"I don't want to die."
"I have a family!"
They we pleading, crying, and begging not to die.
"All of you shut up!" The commander yelled. "Die with some honor!"
Our eyes were locked and neither of us blinked. Finally I came up with an idea. I teleported next to the commander and locked him inside a magical box. He tried to use his magic to break it, but nothing happened.
"Stallions of the Solar Empire. Do you surrender?" I asked.
"Yes." They said in unison.
"Commander. Do you surrender?" I asked.
He scoffed. "I would never surrender."
Just what I wanted you to say.
"So be it."
The box started shrinking and the commander started to panic. I could feel his heart rate increase, but he didn't show it. Finally the walls started touching him and forcing him to become smaller. He crouched and got low but it only bought him a couple extra seconds. The walls were upon him again and there was no where to run. I started applying pressure and I could hear him start to squirm. Finally I put on full pressure and box started closing faster. Soon the commander started screaming and I could her the bones snapping. Blood started to fill the box as it became tighter. The soldiers watched in horror as the box was almost half the commanders size. There was no more screaming, but bones snapping filled the hallway with noise. Finally the box was to small for its contents and I set it aside. I released the soldiers and pointed a hoof to the exit. They couldn't get out fast enough. Just before they were out of ear shout I yelled.
"The Warrior lets you live today."
I was glad that I separated myself from the towns ponies using a magical barrier. I sent the box away and lowered the barrier. Everypony started cheering and celebrating.
"Hear my words!" I yelled. "Spread the story across Equestria. The Warrior is back!"