//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14:Who are you working for 
// Story: Hearthfire The Sands Of Time 
// by Predman1227 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 14:Who Are You Working For


Theran Razorblade

He had no idea how many he had killed now. After putting the Doctor out of his misery Theran had lost control of his conscious mind. It was like his body was running, fighting and killing on its own. He didn’t think about it he just did it. Every guard he saw had their throats cut out by his blades or limbs broken by his dog like strength. He didn’t hear their screams he didn’t even seem to think of them as threats more like flies buzzing around his face. He didn’t even know where he was going. His mind was running on pure animal instinct and rage. “Kill” A voice in his mind said. “Kill them all, drink their blood, saver every scream and spas tick twitch.” He liked that idea. 

A Pegasus came at him with a spear and aimed right for his neck. Moving to the side was as easy as breathing and the spear wielding pony flew passed him but not before Theran broke his wings. With a well placed whack with his out stretched foreleg the Pegasus’s fragile wings caved in and he fell to the floor, skidding to a stop. He turned and approached the pathetic little pony trying so hard to crawl. Theran was mostly walking on two legs, which seemed to invoke terror into the guards that saw him. The pony on the ground had rolled onto his side and had pulled out a crossbow. He fired at Theran and hit him but the bolt bounced off his armour. The broken Pegasus’s face went pale with horror and he tried to crawl once more but Theran stomped his hoof down on the Pegasus’s tail, stopping him from going anywhere. Without control of his actions Theran gripped the Pegasus’s white mane and pull him up on his knees. He paid no heed to the guard’s screams of panic as he slowly slit his throat wide open. There was so much blood he could smell its thick stench in the air. He enjoyed its irony aroma till his ear twitched.

Something large and heavy slammed into him and pined him to the wall. He also banged his head off the wall and his helm made a loud dinging sound. Theran suddenly came to his senses and blinked rapidly. Where the hell was he, why was he covered in blood and who was pining him to this wall. He glared over his right shoulder found it was a big Earth pony. Theran growled and planted his hooves on the wall. Even though the pony on him was bigger he sure as hell wasn’t stronger when Theran pushed off the wall and they staggered back. The Earth pony put his back into it and tried to pin Theran again but this time when he tried Theran put his back legs on the wall. He flipped over the big pony and tried to stab his flank but the big guy was having none of it. He bucked Theran hard in the chest making him smash into the other wall. Theran felt a rib or two crack under the blow and he lay there wheezing. “Fuck I hate…cracked…ribs!” He gasped in pain. 

The big guy who was bigger than Big B spun around and snarled at him. “You’re gunna pay for wat ya did to me friends.” He growled. 

“Oh fucking do it already you big…headed twat!” Theran shouted, he was in so much pain he guessed a little head crushing wouldn’t hurt.

The Earth pony reared up and got ready to crush Theran’s head, when a massive spear came out of nowhere and impaled the pony to the rock wall. Theran looked on wide eyed as he realised it wasn’t a spear but an arrow, a freaking big arrow. “Ponies…” A deep feminine voice rumbled. “You all spend too much time talking about what you’re going to do instead of doing it.” From the shadows the pony, dragon hybrid came into view and she was wielding a massive bow that looked to be made of bone.

Theran sat up and hugged his sides as his ribs slowly healed. “Nice of you to join in…miss…I still don’t know your name.”

The hybrid huffed. “If you manage to survive this I may tell you my name.”

Theran tried not to laugh. His ribs hurt too much at the moment. “Well then…that shouldn’t be too hard.” He coughed and more pain bit through his ribs.

The hybrid tilted her head to the side as he looked at him and said. “You appear to be injured.” She snorted. “Guess you won’t learn my name after all.” She extended her claws and moved closer.

Theran’s eyes widened in surprise as he put a hoof up to halt her. “Hay hold on one bloody second! What do you think you’re doing?!”

She stopped and rolled her eyes. “You are only going to slow me down so I’m going to put you out of your misery like you did the old one.”

How did she know that? It didn’t matter right know and he stood up. “No no no I’m fine really, really I’m fine.” He thumped his own chest and winced, as his healed ribs still felt tender. “See all good, no need to chop my head off.” Theran didn’t want know what that felt like in his long list of things no living thing should feel more than once.

The hybrid narrowed her firry yellow eyes at him for a moment, then after that she retracted her claws. “Let us move then.” And she walked on her hind legs down the tunnel alone.

Theran lingered for a moment as he looked back the way he came from and all he saw was all the bodies he had left in his wake. He had let his blood rage get to him and when he inhaled the strong smell of blood he shuddered. Not with joy this time but disgust. The voice in his head tickled his inner mind and he shook it off. That wasn’t him he refused to believe it, he wasn’t going to let the monster inside get to him. He turned around and followed after the hybrid. He caught up with her but he couldn’t walk beside her. She was so big she took up all the passing space and half the time she had to crawl in the lower tunnels. There wasn’t much in the way of conversation as they walked through tunnel after tunnel in silence. He hated the silence, hatted having to think. Horrifying images of all those guards he had killed came back to him and he shook his head in an attempt to clear it. “Fuck off.” He whispered to himself but the hybrid seemed to have heard him.

She looked over her shoulder at him and asked. “Something bothering you wolf pony?”

He didn’t like being called “wolf pony” and he replied. “No I’m fine and dinny call me wolf pony. Makes me sound like a bloody dog.”

The hybrid huffed. “Suit yourself then.”

Theran snorted at that. “Didny think you were the caring type.” He stated.

“I’m not.” Was all she said and they continued in silence after that. They went through a few more tunnels till the hybrid stopped and sniffed the air. “Ponies up ahead and one of them I recognise.” She curled her lips into a toothy snarl. “He has the sent of a villager.”

That must be Big B and if he was up there so was Tim. “I’m going in.” Theran stated and began to walk forward.

The hybrid put up her arm in front of him making him stopped and he glared at her. She was glaring back to. “You do realise it’s a trap do you not?”

Theran snorted. “I’m aware it’s a trap, it’s why I’m going up.”

She looked puzzled as she asked. “But you’ll be killed.” There was no hint of concern in her voice just plain fact.

Theran pushed her arm away and said as he walked passed. “Better me than you. Attack when I give the signal.” She just stared at him dumb found as he trotted up the tunnel and went into an open chamber. There was nothing it was completely empty but his nose said differently. There was something in here and it was hiding, he could smell it. If he had his horn he could dispel whatever magic maybe being used. His horn however was still growing back, he could feel it now starting to pock through the slot in his helmet. With no other options he slowly not bothering to be careful, moved into the middle of the chamber. He stopped and glanced around him. It was so producible, after a second he shouted. “Well then what are you waiting for show yourself?!”

There was only silence after Theran’s voice stopped echoing through the chamber. It was dead quiet except for the blowing wind outside but then out of thin air a horde of the buggers magically appeared with spears, spark sticks, swords and crossbows all aimed at him. The one figure Theran recognised instantly was Big B himself. He had another pony right beside him an Earth pony who looked to be wearing heavier armour and had no hood. His mane was black with white streaks, his coat was a dull grey and his eyes were bright green, though his left eye was pure white with a scar going down his face. Everything about the way he looked screamed leader to Theran and he wanted a word with him. Big B however made that every hard when he grinned at Theran and said in a smug tone. “Well, well Mr Razorblade you’re more resilient than I first thought you to be.” He gestured to all the blood that was still dripping off Theran’s armour. “I thought you were just some big head in armour but it seems I was wrong and now YOU have cost me a lot of bits mate.”

Theran smirked under his helmet not caring about all the weapons pointing at him. “Nnnawww what a shame, I’ll be sure to pay you back in lets say…100 years or so?”

Big B’s smug look didn’t change as he spoke again. “If only you had such time but then again this really isn’t about that.” He looked at the pony with the scar. “Gorta you can take it from here.”

Gorta gave Big B a look that told Theran he didn’t really like the smug pony. Gorta stepped up and nodded to some of his men and three of them restrained Theran. One behind him made Theran sit while the other two grabbed his forearms and held them to ether side of him. Gorta moved up and ripped Theran’s helmet off, letting it clatter to the floor. He glared with his one eye into Theran’s and said in a low angry growl. “I see you got a lot of blood on ya ma pony’s blood.” His expression turned into a scowl as he spat. “How many?”

Theran made a scowl of his own. “I’m guessing not enough for all the ponies you’ve killed.” He then asked. “What sort of operation is this, are you slavers?”

Gorta snorted and pulled back from Theran’s face. He curled his lip and stated. “We prefer the term collectors and no we’re not slavers per say but what dose it matter you’ll be dead soon.”

He pulled out a dagger and Theran questioned him. “I thought I was valuable? Wouldn’t your boss be mad that you scored off a good find?”

Gorta contained his anger now being all business like. “You would be but ah figure you’re not worth the trouble. Hell you’ve cost me more than that damn keren and she was harder to catch than you.” He chuckled. “And besides we still got the bug brat, her changing abilities will make her very useful.”

Theran snarled at him. “You keep your fucking hooves off her you filth!”

Gorta just chuckled some more as he pointed the dagger at Theran for a moment then offered it to Big B. His pink eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the blade. “Um mate ha um what are you doing?” He seemed rather nervure and Theran saw a bead of sweat trickle down his face.

Gorta kept his serious face as he insisted with the dagger. “You pointed him out to us hell you even helped with his capture but he is your catch and because you’re still here, you are responsible for what has happened today. So you’ll be the one to solve this problem.”

Big B still gob smacked took the dagger in his right fore-hoof and Gorta stood back. Big B slowly approached Theran and in all that time Theran was giving Big B a death glare. He stopped a few inches in front of him and held the dagger over the unprotected side of his stomach.  Big B looked Theran in the eye and said. “You know you brought this on your…”

“Just bloody do it already.” Theran stated, cutting Big B off.

He shoved the dagger in Theran’s abdomen and he grunted in pain. It cut deep into his muscle and he waited for that cold trickily feeling when Big B pulled it out. He waited and waited but it never came.

Theran started to chuckle softly for a few seconds then it turned slowly into a load and long laugh. Big B’s eyes widened in confusion and he backed off. Gorta also looked confused, as were all his men. They were looking at each other in awkward silence as Theran continued to laugh. Gorta seemed to be angry when he snarled. “How can you be laughing?” He stormed up to the hysterical Theran and gripped the back of his mane. He glared into Theran’s eyes, his expression full of rage. “What’s so damn funny?!”

“He missed.” Theran whispered.

Gorta didn’t seem to hear him. “What did you say?” He asked threateningly.

Theran laughed some more and then he said. “He missed my vital organs. Which has given me enough time to heal.” Theran felt his horn fully form and it completed itself with a flash of blue. “Oh…you just fucked up mate.” 

Gorta’s eyes twitched as Theran’s horn came to life and he created a shock wave that sent everyone flying. Gorta, Big B and all the other ponies fell over or went into a wall while Theran was standing exactly where he was. While they fought to regain their thoughts Theran closed his eyes and focused. He drew upon his darkest power and he felt the energy around him. Ponies that had cuts and were bleeding started screaming when they realised their blood was being sapped out of them. All that blood and the blood that was already on Theran was absorbed into his stab wound and he could feel his power grow. The surviving ponies stared in horror as they watched Theran. Watched how a red mist surrounded him, no it was more like steam coming off of him. Theran’s horn was now glowing with a mix of blue and red and his power swirled around him like an angry ghost. He opened his eyes and they burned a deep red. Theran’s point of view had changed, instead of seeing normally everything was a stormy black and the pony hunters that were still alive appeared as pulsing white silo wets.

Their mages blasted magic at Theran. They threw fire, lightening and ice at him but nothing touched him. It was all destroyed by the swirling mass of red mist that wrapped around him like a cocoon. The mass then exploded away from Theran and he darted forward with mind numbing speed. His hoof blades were extended and he went for the first mage closest to him. He stabbed the mage twice in the head and kneed her once in the chin then quickly moved on to the next cutting them down. They seemed to move slower to Theran like time had slowed down. While he cut down the mages the Pegasi lined up their crossbows and fired. Theran’s red mass formed a solid wall and the bolts bounced off, clattering to the floor. Theran swung his forelegs a few times and bits of the mass flew away, formed into spikes and impaled some of the archers. Every time Theran used his red mass it got smaller and if he kept this rate of use up he would run out and start using his own life blood. Undeterred the remaining archers reloaded and went to fire once more when the hybrid appeared. All the archers and any other pony near turned as she let out a blood-chilling roar and carved into them with teeth and claws. This allowed Theran to deal with other things like Gorta who came at him with a double sword in his mouth. Theran tried to impale him with his red mass but it bounced off him and that’s when Theran realised he had a force field. One of the surviving mages was using her magic to protect him. Theran’s blood magic couldn’t hurt him nor could he physically hurt him ether.

Gorta swung his neck to the right and Theran had to step back to avoid being cut in two. Theran tried to attack him but like he had predicted his physical attacks had no effect. They banged their heads together and glared at each other. “You can’t touch me with your dark magic monster. NOW STAY STILL SO I CAN KILL YOU!!!”

He pushed Theran and scored a cut on his stomach as he staggered back. The cloth of his under clothing hung raged off of him and he could see the new gash. It bled for a few seconds and then the blood was sucked back in and the wound closed. Gorta looked at Theran in disbelief as he did his half smile and said in a calm voice. “If only you could.” 

He eyed the mage and she was hiding behind Gorta, well out of reach. If He could kill her or at least wound her he will be able to hurt Gorta. But when Theran tried throwing blood spikes at the mage they were blocked by Gorta. Theran had to back off when Gorta started swinging his head. The duel blade was close to gutting him when he bumped into another pony and when he turned it was Psymon. The bastard still had Theran’s sword had he tried to stab him with it. Theran simply parried the blade and took it out his mouth. He smacked the hilt of his sword in Psymon’s face and he staggered back right into the hybrid. Her razor sharp tail tip severed his head in one fluid motion and she went back to killing the rest of the hunters.   

“Ta for that.” Theran said with a mocking salute and brought his attention back just in time to Gorta as he charged head long at him. Head butted Theran in the chest and dented his already dented chest plate. The impact also sent Theran’s sword flying out his hoof and it vanished in a pile of body parts. “Oh come on!” Theran grunted as Gorta’s blade hit his chest plate. The impact hurt but left no damage. Theran gripped the ends of Gorta’s blade and twisted to the point Gorta had to let go or risk getting his neck broken. He fell over and Theran threw the blade like a spear at the mage. It grazed her left cheek but the surprise alone made she drop her magic on Gorta and Theran moved in. He stabbed him in the gaps of his shoulder guards a few times as he began to stand. Gorta punched Theran in the face. The blow was hard enough to knock one of his teeth out so he responded by grabbing Gorta’s foreleg and slashed under the joint severing his tendon. Gorta collapsed again and Theran brought his attention to the mage. She was completely still, a part from her shaking. She had her hood up but her mask was down and he saw the terror on her young face. Her cheek was bleeding from the edge of Gorta’s blade and Theran got a sense of deja vu. His vision had gone back to normal and he could see her features. She looked almost like Violet but her eyes were blue and her mane that stuck down over her face was ginger. The scar on her cheek mostly reminded him of Violet and the situation she was in. He was considering what to do to her. He seemed frozen in indecision when he heard the sound of a large bow being pulled back. He spun around and the hybrid was pulling her bow back and was aiming at the mage. “No!”

Theran threw what was left of his red mass and used it to catch the massive arrow. The mage shook her head and came to her senses. Her horn glowed and she was gone in a flash of blue. The hybrid growled loudly as she stormed up to him. “You should have let me kill her.” She growled. “They all need to die they deserve to die.”

Theran stood tall and glared up at her. “She wasn’t attacking she…she was scared.” He pocked her in the chest. “I don’t kill those who surrender.”

“A pointless excursive.” The hybrid stated and Theran took offence to that but instead of objecting he looked behind her and saw all the bodies. She had killed them all, there was nothing left of them, just limbs, guts and forever staring heads. The last of his blood magic was gone and he felt exhausted. Blood magic takes a lot out of you and even a guy like Theran needs time to recover.

Gorta who was struggling on the rocky floor interrupted Theran’s thoughts. Theran scowled and stood on him. Gorta howled in pain and spat at Theran’s hooves. “Fucking monster! Well what are you waiting for huh!? KILL ME!!”

Theran pressed down on Gorta’s wound and he howled again in pain. “There’s time for that later.” He twisted is hoof and inflicted more pain. “But right now you’re going to tell me this. Who are you working for?”

Gorta started laughing, his laughter mixed with his grunts of agony. “You think am gunna tell you just because you asked.” 

Theran bent down low and hovered his hoof blade inches from Gorta’s throat. “I’m getting more than pissed off right now so why don’t you tell me and I’ll make it quick?”

Gorta smiled and said almost in a whisper. “Sorry mate but I got this one.” Then Theran heard a loud crunch come from Gorta’s mouth.

Purple foam bubbled out between his lips and Theran realised what he had done. “No you son of a nag no!” But it was too late. Gorta was already dead the moment he bit down on his fake tooth and swallowed the Night’s death, which is also a highly toxic chemical from the plane Nightshade. Theran stood and threw his fore-hooves up in frustration. “Great now what?” There was some moaning and that’s when Theran noticed there were cages in here. They must have been cloaked too and in one of them lay a skinny dark blue figure with wings. When Theran took a closer look he realised it was Tim and he was still alive. With the use of his magic Theran unlocked the cage door and checked Tim over. He had bruises and maybe a few cracked ribs but a part from that he looked like he would make it. He was about to lift him out when the moaning started again and it wasn’t coming from Tim.

Big B lay on the ground with his head bleeding. The hybrid picked Big B up by the throat, pressed him to the wall and drew her other hand back for a killing swipe. “Wait dinny kill him!” Theran yelled and she stopped. “I need to talk to him first.” While she held Big B on the wall Theran walked over to a pile of body parts and pushed his hoof through it. It squelched and made slimy sounds as he dug his hoof in and felt around. He finally found a familiar hilt and with a tug he pulled his sword out of the pile. Blood and bits of meat clung to the blade and he had to wipe or shake it off before sliding it home back in his waiting sheath. He then went on all fours and sighed. Even though his hip joints were more Wolven, which allowed him to walk on two legs, still hurt his back after a while. 

He then walked up to Big B as he was still being held to the wall by his throat. Theran looked up at Big B, not amused and he stated in a flat tone. “I’m done playing games B. You tell me what I want to know and I’ll let you live. You got that?”

Big B stared at the hybrid with fear in his eyes then looked at Theran. “Please they used me, just let me go I make it worth your…” The hybrid growled and tightened her grip around his throat. Big B gasped for a moment till Theran gave her a look and she stopped choking him. He gasped, coughed and sputtered. “What do you what from me?!”

“Simple,” Theran said flatly. “Who is your employer?”

Big B glanced in one direction and made a nevus grin. “Why he used to be Gorta but you killed him so I guess I got no...”

The hybrid tightened her grip again and Theran sighed. “Fine have it your way.” Theran took a step forward and gripped the hilt of his sword.

Big B waved his forelegs around and tried to say something and the hybrid let him speak. He gasped for air and said. “I don’t know, I don’t know!”

Theran raised an eyebrow at that. “You don’t know?”

Big B nodded franticly as sweat ran down his face. “As far as I know Gorta was my only boss, he got me to point at ponies that looked different and in return he’d pay me. I don’t know his boss I just do as I’m told, please I’m begging you don’t kill me!”

Theran sighed and slid his half pulled sword back in its sheath. “Fine whatever.” He said dully and went over to Tim’s cage. He levitated Tim out and planted him and his back. He was heavier than he first thought but Theran could handle it. He walked for the exit, stopping just of a moment to pick up his helmet and clip it to his belt. He then slowly went passed and Big B stuttered after him.

“So you…you’re not going to kill me…can…can I go now?”

Theran looked back at Big B and dully looked at his hope filled pink eyes. “I said I wouldn’t kill you.” He then looked at the hybrid. “I said nothing about her.” Then he turned and walked out the exit. Big B’s screams didn’t last long.

It was freezing when he emerged from the mine but the sun was on the horizon and its beams of light fended off the bitter cold. It was a new day but Theran didn’t know which, he had given up long ago on keeping track of the days. Tim moaned quietly on his back and Theran wondered how he was going to tell him about the Doctor. Should he be honest or should he lie? Ether way seemed depressing but his thoughts were interrupted when the hybrid came out. She stood on her hind legs, stretched her wings and breathed deeply. She exhaled with a low rumble and sighed. “Oh how I missed the feeling of free air.” She said softly. Her mane blew in the wind and she went back on all fours. There was something truly beautiful about her hidden under her rage and hate. She slowly approached Theran, blood still dripping off her muzzle but when she stopped close to him she made an effort to wipe some of it off. She smiled at him. “I have to admit, I didn’t think you would make it.” As Theran pondered his response to that the hybrid held a small pink gem in her left hand. She pressed it to the horn lock on her unicorn horn and it flashed with a bright pink light. She then slid the lock off and let it sink into the snow. “That’s better.” She sighed.

“Thanks I guess?” Theran finally said but not entirely sure how to take that.

“And I…appreciated you aiding in my escape.” There was a hint of pride there so it must have been hard for her to say that.

Theran gave her his half smile and asked. “You still haven’t told me your name. That was the deal remember I make it out and…”

“Sheath Scale.” She said elegantly, interrupting him. “My name is Sheath Scale.” She gestured to Theran and waited.

Theran smiled fully this time. “Theran Razorblade. What are you going to do Sheath Scale now that you’re free?”

She smiled. “Do what I’ve always done.” She tapped her bow. “Killing dragons.”

Theran huffed cheerfully at that. “Explains the bow. Where did you get it?” he asked.

Sheath Scale’s smile faded and she stood on her hind legs, towering over him. “I know you think that we are now friends but we are not. We have used one another to serve our own peruse and it shall stay that way.”

“Guess this goodbye then?” Theran asked, looking up at her.

“Indeed it dose, farewell Theran Razorblade, we will not meet again.” She spread her mighty wings and with powerful flaps she shot up into the sky and Theran watched her for as long as he could. Her white body soon blended with the clouds and she was gone.

He was still smiling as he said to himself. “We’ll see Dragon slayer, we’ll see.”

Tim made some moaning sounds on Theran’s back and that’s when he looked down and saw the town. There were groups of lights moving around the edges of town and Theran guess they were search parties. Ponies must have noticed the Doctor and Tim were missing and whatever the hunters must have done at… “The Inn!” Through all this madness he hadn’t really thought about the danger Haze and Violet were in. He wasted no more time looking down at the town. He turned and ran as fast as he could with Tim on his back and made his way to the inn.

The tall mountains cast shadows around him making it freezing as he trotted the path back to town. Tim started to moan and fidget on Theran’s back and without warning he slid off. Theran slid to a stop, snow building up around his hooves and went back to him. Tim was awake and was trying to sit up in the snow. “Wha…what’s going on?” He suddenly pressed his hoof to his left eye. “Ahh my eye…it’s burning!” 

Theran stood beside him and tried to calm him. “Hay Tim keep it down will ya.” He whispered.

Tim opened his other eye and looked at him. “Mr Razorblade? You’re…you’re ok? But I thought you were my…”

“Shut it Tim.” Theran hissed in a whisper again. “The hunters might still be around.” He noticed Tim was still holding his hoof to his left eye and he asked. “What’s wrong with you’re eye Tim?”

Tim screwed his face up in pain as he said in a pained voice. “My eye it keeps burning.” He looked around as if he was looking for something. “Where is uncle Joe?”

Theran ignored his question and instead asked. “Let me see your eye.” Tim let him. When he removed his hoof Theran immediately noticed the blood, it was weeping out of his still closed eye-lid. “Tim I need you to open it.”

Tim protested. “I can’t it hurts so…”

Theran cut him off. “Tim if you don’t open your eye I can’t see what’s wrong, now open it.” 

Tim clenched his teeth and slowly with effort he opened his eye. Theran inhaled slowly and his eyes widened ever so slightly. Tim frowned at Theran. “What, did I open it? What’s wrong with my eye?” 

“Eye?” Theran thought. “What eye?” Tim’s left eye was completely gone all that was left was a bloody dark void staring back at him.

Tim with his one eye stared in confusion at Theran’s concerned face. “What, why are you looking at me like that?”

Theran swallowed slowly to clear the lump in his throat. “Tim I don’t want to alarm you but…your eye is…gone.”

His eye widened in shock and surprise. He sounded like he was going to cry. “What…but how is that…” His expression changed into horror as if he had just remembered something. “Oh gods he cut my eye out!”

Theran was confused. “Who, who cut your eye out?”

Tim was sobbing now at this point. “One of the ponies…he had your sword…oh gods.” Tim tried to stand but only fell over when his ribs flared up. “AAAAHHHAAA!!!!...Where is uncle Joe…I need him?”

Theran was speechless. Tim was scared for life now and the realisation that it was his sword that did it. Theran didn’t want to say it, he couldn’t say it not now, not like this. But when he thought he had no other choice someone shouted. “Oye you!” Theran stood up on his hind legs and turned so fast some of the ponies he now saw approaching jump out of their skins. His sword was half drawn and he eyed the ponies in front of him. They all had lights, some had fire torches and some were using light spells. Only when Theran realised they were the villagers from the town did he sheath his sword. He went back down on all fours but no one seemed to relax and when they saw Tim one of them had a go at Theran. 

“Did you do this to him you puck ass dog?!” A unicorn male stomped up to Theran and his horn was glowing red. “Cause if you did I’ll fry you till there’s nothing left even for the buzzers to pick off!” 

Theran stood his ground and eyed the old unicorn who was a jet black with a silver mane and gold eyes. Theran curled one side of his upper lip and said. “You just try it mate see how it ends cause I’m really not in the mood for this shit.”

The old stallion growled and his horn was building up a fireball till a mare shouted. “Blazer cool off!” Blazer Theran had to admit wasn’t a bad name for a guy who obviously used pyromancy, stood there for a moment till his fire magic faded and he stood back. A unicorn mare with a brown and white coat, mint coloured mane and blue eyes. She also had a fur jacket and red scarf. She pushed her way up to them with a embarrassed smile. “Forgive ma husband for his rudeness, we’ve all been stressed out lately looking for…” When her eyes fell on Tim they widened with shock. “Oh by the sun goddess’s tail feathers Tim your eye!”

Tim looked up at her as she rushed over to him. “Misses Everfree…what are you doing out here?”

Misses Everfree sat down beside him and looked over his brutalized eye. “Looking for you and Doctor Joe of course and some guy named Mr Razorblade.” She cupped her hooves under his chin. “Oh you poor boy, look at what they did to him Blaze.” 

Blazer looked hard at Tim’s eye then he looked at Theran. “So you’re the one ma daughter was talking about?”

Theran looked at him in confusion. “Do I know your daughter?”

Blazer raised an eyebrow at him. “Yeah considering she works at the inn and she’s the one who helped you and your family.”

Lilly was Blazer’s daughter? Well that was interesting. Theran looked beyond the party of ponies and said. “I really should get back there, I’ve been gone for too long.”

Blazer nodded. “You do what ya have to do, we got Tim here all safe and sound.”

Theran gave Blazer a respectable nod back and then ran for the town. On the way he picked up Violet’s painkillers with a note attached to it and preceded to the inn. There were ponies outside armed with rusty old swords and pickaxes and looked to be guarding the place. Theran approached them and they eyed him. Then they seemed to recognise him and nodded at the doors for him to go in. Theran did just that thinking nothing of it. As he opened the doors and stepped in his eyes widened in shock at the mess in front of him. The place was almost completely wrecked. Tables and chairs were broken everywhere. Glass had been swept to the side, a massive scorch mark was on the floor near the stairs and the stairs themselves had what looked like the imprint of a pony. After taking it all in did he notice there was only one table left standing and sat at it was Lilly sleeping. Even from the door he could see the cuts on her bare back and her charred curly mane. Theran slowly approached her and she didn’t wake up. He decided to let her be and looked up to the room level. He teleported up, shook off his dizziness and went to his room door, only there was no door. It had been completely kicked off its hinges and inside was no better. His sable-bag was on the floor with all his stuff spread about the place. There also looked to have been a struggle. The window had also been smashed and from the lack of glass something or someone went out of it. The question was where was Violet and Haze? “Yoy.” 

Theran spun around when he heard a tiny voice and saw nothing. “Who’s there?” Theran asked, glancing from side to side.

A small big winged bug thing fluttered up to his and made him jump out of his skin. He yelled at it and it yelled back till it started coughing. “OH boy your breath stinks like rotten dog wrapped in cheese.”

Theran just stared at the thing. Till he said slowly. “You’re…you’re so…small?”

The little pony bug rolled its eyes at him. “Oh no am a dragon named Roopered.”

Theran was confused. “Your name is Roopered?”

“NO!!” The little bug pony yelled. “Me name is Marven and am a breezy.”

Theran was at a lose. “A what?”

Marven let out a “big” sigh and got to the point. “Never mind. Look am guessin from your hideous face, big ear, sharp teeth and red mane you’re Theran right?”

Theran blinked in confusion, he hated being confused. “Yeah I’m Theran?”

Marven pointed at the hallway. “Your friends are waiting for ya in me and me friend’s room. Try and be quiet, Ricky is in a bad mood.”

In Theran’s mind he put away the fact he had just met the world’s smallest horse and went back out into the hallway. Marven had shown him where they were and when he pushed the door it opened softly. The room inside was smaller than his and only had a signal bed beside the window where a giant Earth pony in full barding lay snoring. But when he had recovered from seeing that his eyes fell upon the two ponies that made his heart stop. Little Summer Haze was sleeping on a sofa with Violet snuggled up to her. Seeing them here alive and still together left a warm feeling of joy and relief wash through his body. Upon entering the room Violet was the first to wake and when she saw him standing there with a stupid smile on his face, her violet coloured eyes lit up in surprise and joy. “Theran?” She said in a whisper.

Theran let out a little chuckle as he sat down beside the sofa and kept on smiling. “Yeah it’s me.” He whispered also.

“You’re back, oh it’s so good you’re back.” She said in a tired voice. She looked worn-out and beat up. Her lower lip was split and the tips of her frizzled mane looked charred.

Theran didn’t know what to say really. He just sat there still smiling till he found his voice again. “You look uh…you look um…”

She made a soft giggle as she touched his hoof. He made an effort not to blush. “I know I look terrible.”

“Coat’s a lot whiter though.” He pointed out.

“Thanks for noticing.” Violet said. She was also blushing.

Theran looked at Haze who was still sleeping. There was something about the way she snored that made him smile just a bit longer till he remembered what he and they had been through. “What happened here Vi?”

Violet’s smile faded as she looked to be recalling the event that happened here. “Two black hooded ponies came in while me, Haze and Lilly were at the bar bit.”

“What were you doing at the bar?” Theran asked in confusion.

Violet looked at Haze. “Haze couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t ether so I let her look around. We were at the bar having fun really when they showed up and things got…” She paused as she bit her upper lip.

Theran tried to comfort her by putting his hoof on her own. “It’s ok Vi, take your time.”

Violet let out a single tear that made Theran’s heart feel heavy. “They came in and just attacked us…I fought one while the other went after Haze.” She put her hoof to her mouth as she relived the moments. “I was so scared of what they would do to Haze if I…if I hadn’t…”

Theran hushed her. “It’s ok Vi you’ve said enough.” He leaned back and shook his head. What was he doing why was he…
He shook his head again and asked. “Where did they go?”

Violet looked puzzled at him shaking his head but she answered his question. “One escaped but the other a Unicorn me and Lilly managed to capture.”

Theran’s eyes widened at that. “You have one, here?”

“Yes.” Violet confirmed. “She is a right bitch but I broke her horn.”

“Did you gag her?” Theran asked flatly.

Violet frowned. “I guess so, Lilly and some others who came after helped tie her up and put her in the basement.”

Theran got up but before he could leave, Haze made a little moan and her big adorable green eyes opened slowly. Her groggy eyes fixed on him and she gave him a weak little smile. “Theran…you’re back.” Her voice sounded sore and swollen.

Theran hesitated for a moment till he gave in and when back to sitting next to the sofa. He lowered his head to her level and said. “Hay there pip, how you feeling?”

She booped his nose and Theran was a little surprised. “My throat hurts but now that you’re here I don’t care anymore.” She smiled at him some more. “I knew you would come back to us, I just knew it.”

Theran had to crack a half smile at her. There was no winning a straight face contest with a cute face like that. “Guess am just too soft when it comes to cuteness.” Haze smiled till her eyes fluttered shut and she was asleep again. Theran looked at Violet and felt something nagging at the back of his mind. “Oh Vi I just remembered.” He pulled out the bottle of painkillers from behind his chest plate and offered it to her. “I got the painkillers.”

Her face was a mix of gratitude and grief as she took the bottle. “Thank you Theran these are going to help.” She then frowned. “ What happened to Tim and the doctor? Are they alright cause after they showed up no pony around had seen them?”

Theran’s smile was gone in an instant and he looked away. “Tim he’s ah…he’s ok. The doctor uh…not so much.”

Violet’s face was now a mix of shock and disbelief. “No, not the Doc. What happened?”

Theran ignored her question and got up. “I’m going to pay our special gust a visit and get to the bottom of this madness.” Before he left Violet said to him.

“Theran Lilly knows.”

Theran looked back in confusion. “Knows what?”

“Haze and us, see saw her looking like.” She looked at Haze. “This.”

Theran didn’t say a word. He just left and closed the door behind him and when he was outside he almost walked right into Lilly. “Oh uh Lilly uh how long have been standing th…”

“Long enough.” She stated plainly. “Ya’ll got some explaining to do an where the hell is Tim?”

Theran gave her a hard look. She had a scorch mark on her chest and her nose was bloody. “You need to get that cleaned up and put something on that burn before it gets infected.”

He tried to walk passed her but she threw up a yellow force field and stopped him in his tracks. She looked rather pissed. “You lied to me about them being ya family. Are they ya family cause last ah checked Changelings don’t have families are ya changelings? Answer me!?”
Theran calmly unsheathed his sword and put its tip to the barrier. It slid through with ease and Lilly’s spell fizzled out and died. She looked at him in utter shock and fear. “Please am sorry just don’t…”

Theran interrupted her. “Relax Lilly I’m not gunna hurt you.” He slid his sword back in its sheath and gave her a dull look. “I’m not a changeling, Violet is not a changeling ether just has a bad backgrond. Haze is a changeling but not the type you’re thinking of in fact she might be the first of her kind. A blend of pony and bug, and I’m her guardian sort of.”

Lilly blinked in confusion as she processed all this. “So…ya’ll not a family?”

Theran huffed at that. “No, no we’re not.” He looked at the floor. “Tim is with your parents.”

Lilly’s eyes quickly widened at Tim’s name. “He is, is he ok?”

Theran cleared his throat as he told her the news. “Tim is badly hurt and…” He paused as he relived the Doctor’s death, how his blade had pushed through his heart. “The Doctor is dead.”

Lilly looked as if she was finding it hard to accept this. “No he…not Joe no not Joe he can’t be…”

Theran put his hoof on her shoulder and comforted her. “Lilly I need you to go to him. I want you to tell him, it can’t be me I can’t.”

Lilly looked as if she was ready to burst into tears but she held her resolve. “Ok I’lla go to him, tell um that…that…” 

She didn’t finish and turned away. She walked down the stairs while Theran teleported down to ground level. He didn’t watch her go, he had another thing on his mind. It wasn’t hard to find the basement since a forest green Unicorn in shabby brown leather armour was guarding one lone door. Theran approached this Unicorn and she straightened up, eyeing him for anything that might cause trouble. “Sorry friend but no pony is allowed down there just now.” She said in a polite manner, which Theran was thankful for.


Theran made his own effort to be nice. “And your name would be?” He asked.

“Merry-Weather but my friends call me Merry.” She fiddled with a strap on her leather barding for a moment before saying. “And again no pony is allowed down there.”

“I see that but that prisoner down there might have important info that I would very much like to have.” Theran was trying to stay pleasant. 

Merry shook her head. “Sorry but I can’t let you down there, not unless Lilly says otherwise.”

Theran tightened his lip just a little in irritation. “Look I’m the…father of the child that nag down there tried to steal.” He gave her a knowing penetrating glare one only a real father could make. “I want to know why and it is my right to…ask the one who tried to take her. You getting me so far?”

Merry seemed to mull it over. She bit her lower lip, frowned and glanced from the door back to Theran who waited for her to say something. She finally gave in and to be honest Theran was expecting more resistance than this. “Ok I’ll let you in but not for long, cause Lilly is my friend and She’d be mad at me if she finds out I let you in. Also to be honest any friend of heir’s is a friend of mine.” She opened the door for him and said lastly. “ Look I don’t know what ya gunna do but please whatever do just don’t kill her. We got enough trouble as it is.”

Theran nodded and went inside. “No promises.” Theran muttered under his breath and she didn’t seem to hear him. Once through the door Theran only had to go down a gloomy set of stairs and he was in the basement. It was dark but there was a small window so he was able to see just fine. There was the sound of a single drip of water that filled up the otherwise silent room. There were boxes, bottles, food sacks and other things. In the middle of the room asleep with all legs tide to a chair was a dehooded hunter. She was indeed a Unicorn but her horn was completely destroyed and was nothing more than a bloody jagged stump. Her coat was a cream blue and her short mane was a darker shade of the same colour.

Theran walked up to her and stopped at 2 meters so he was still in the shadows. He could hear her breathing softly as her chin rested on her chest. Just as Violet had said they had gagged her so if she had the fake tooth she wouldn’t be able to bit down on it. “Quite the operation you had going.” Theran said loudly and made her wake with a fright. Her red eyes flickered open and she glanced around till her eyes fixed on Theran’s glowing ones. The terror was readable in her expression and deep breathing as Theran continued to talk. “You had a plan, you waited till we were separate and I must say your friends did a bang up job getting the drop on me. But you, I guess an injured Earth pony mare and a half-breed filly was too much for you.” Theran stepped into the light and revelled his face. “And now I’m gunna ask you the same thing I asked your late leader but first lets have a look at your teeth.”

Theran extended his right hoof blade and the mare started to squirm and moan as she tried to make it hard for him. But Theran was in no mood for games. He gripped the back of her mane with his magic and pulled her head back on the chair hard. She grunted and whined so Theran thumped her chest to shut her up. Now that she was still and quiet Theran pushed up her upper lip with his hoof and started checking her teeth. Her teeth looked as if they had seen better days and it didn’t take him long to find one tooth that was pure white with a purple centre. He stuck the tip of his blade under the tooth and the came out with little effort. He used his magic to float the fake tooth up and hover it over her nose. “Night-shade tooth. You know this stuff can kill ya right?” Theran asked in a mock tone. “This here tells me you’re will is weak which means this willny take too long.” 

Theran placed the tooth on the ground and slowly crushed it under his hoof. He retracted his hoof blade and backed up a bit, letting her mane go. She was still breathing heavily, glaring at him in anger but there was also fear in her eyes. Theran narrowed his eyes at her and said solemnly. “Look I’ve had a long night dealing with the shit you and your friends caused for me and I’m really not in the mood for your games. So why not be nice for five small minutes in your short pathetic life and I might just maybe let you leave here with all your teeth intact.” He used his magic to untie the gag around her mouth and asked. “Who are you working for?”

She flexed her jaw for a moment then said. “Piss off dog face.”

Theran sighed long and heavy as he closed his eyes and shook his head. His voice was calm and unfortunate at the same time as he said. “Ponies like you never learn these days.” He opened his eyes again and gave her a hard glare. “Just so you know you were warned.” He started walking on all fours around the chair slowly, as if she was his prey. She looked or tried to look at him but the ropes restricted her movement. “I’m going to ask you questions and you’re going to answer them truthfully and without hesitation. If you resist or I think you’re lying it willny end well for you.” He stopped in front of her again and started his interrogation. “Who are you working for?”

She scowled at him and snarled. “Jog on you son of a…” She didn’t get a chance to finish her retort.

Theran grabbed the back of her mane again and pulled her head back. He was right up beside her now. He extended his hoof blade again and jammed in under one of her real teeth. He put his hoof on her throat and squeezed to muffle her screams. It took some prying but eventually her tooth came out root and all. He hovered it over her face and said. “Every time you lie or you waste my time I take a tooth.” He then hovered the tooth over to a nearby crate and set it there so she could see it. He made her look at it and said. “Now just picture in your mind your teeth slowly starting to line up right on that crate one step at a time.” He released her and she gasped in a lung full of air. “Now I’ll ask again. Who are you working for?”

She spat out the blood building up in her mouth and sneered. “Go to hell!”

Again Theran sighed and repeated, pulling her head back and removing another tooth. She screamed and shook in the chair as the tooth came out and was placed with the first. Theran flicked the dripping blood off his blade and tried a little humour to lighten the mood. “You know I’m probably doing you a favour getting rid of these teeth. Have you seen them they’re rotten to hell so go on keep resisting.” He let her go once more and stood back to watch her. She was panting heavily, blood dripping off her chin. He could see the pain in her twitching eyes and with each inhale. Theran walked around her again, eyeing her every flinch. “One more time…” He asked, “Who are you working for?”

She swallowed the blood in her mouth with a shiver and said in a pained voice. “I…I don’t know…I…” Theran gripped her mane and pulled her head back and she screamed. “Wait please don’t, don’t, do AAAAAHHH!!!!!” Theran pried out another tooth and he didn’t bother catching this one, he just let it fly off in the room somewhere. He let her go and she shouted in torment at him. “I said I don’t know! Why do you keep…”

Theran covered her mouth and hovered his dripping blade near her left eye. “I dinny believe you!” Theran snarled. “Not for a second.” His blade inched closer to her eye. “Your friends took a young boy’s eye out today. His name is Tim.” He stuck the blade in her eye. “And this is for him.”

She screamed in muffled agony as Theran twisted the blade in her eye and slowly pulled it out of its socket. He let her go once more and she shook her head. The chair bounced and rocked with her struggling and Theran had to hold it to stop her falling. Eventually she stopped struggling and started to cry, her tears mixing with her blood and running down her cheeks. “PLEASE STOP!!!??” She pleaded and sobbed. “The pain aahhhaa please stop please I’ll talk, I’ll talk just please stop hurting me AAAHHHaaa!!!”

Theran had to control himself. He was breathing heavily as his anger built up but he had to tone it down or risk killing her. He flicked her eye away and leaned on the chair. He said quietly in her ear. “That could have been avoided if you cooperated sooner. Now who are you working for?”

She answered immediately with quick sobs. “Her name, her name I don’t know her name but I’ve seen her once maybe twice.”

Theran raised an eyebrow at that. “So your employer is a she huh? Now we’re getting somewhere. What is she a Unicorn, Pegasus, Earth pony…?”

“None!” She blurted out “She’s none of them I don’t know I I I I…”

Theran stopped her. “Slow down what are you taking about what do you mean she’s none?”

She started slowly shaking her head. “I….she’s something new I don’t know but she ante anything I’ve seen before. Her skin is like scales, her front hooves are claws and she has a lizard tail.”

“You better not be lying.” Theran threatened.

She snapped her head to the side and gazed at him with her fear stricken eye. “No please I’m telling the truth she is not a pony.”

Theran narrowed his eyes at her in confusion. “Then what is she?”

She began to cry louder. “Please I’ve told you all I…”

Theran grabbed the back of her mane once more and put pressure on her throat. “I’m getting tired of this fucking game! What is she?!”

She gasped and kept on crying. “Please stop I really don’t know she…she’s a monster a pony lizard monster AAAAHHHAA PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE!!!”

Theran let her go and allowed her to cry. He paced around the room, collecting his thoughts. Not a pony and nothing she had ever seen before. What did it all mean? Theran wasn’t sure so he wanted more answers. “Tell me more about your employer? Where is she staging her operation, where are your orders coming from?”

She shook her head. “No.”

Theran slowly approached her. “No?” He asked, his anger started to build again.

She shakily looked at him, fear and terror completely overwhelming her mind. “No more questions please I can’t…”

Theran pulled her head back once more and she started to scream. “Ever heard of blood magic huh? Want to see what I did to your friends?” He cut her just above her left fore-hoof and let it bleed. “How bout I give you a demonstration.”

His horn was about to glow when a startled voice yelled. “Mr Razorblade?!” Theran looked up to see that Merry had come down and was staring at him in horror. “What are you doing to her?!”

Theran glared at her. “What am I doing? What are you doing down here you’re supposed to be guarding the door?”

Merry was having none of that. “Oh no you didn’t just say that to me Mr, I do what ah gotta do. Now let her go and come upstairs.” Theran hesitated for a moment and she yelled at him again. “Let her go now!”

Theran let her go and left her as a sobbing wreck. They went back up and Theran rounded on the guard. “What the hell do you think you’re doing I was interrogating her?!”

Merry closed the door and she glared at him. “Intimidating and roughing her up a bit I understand but what you was doing down there, that was some freaky shit.”

Theran growled at her. “That nag is getting what she deserves.”

She shook her head. “No not like that, what you was doing down there was just pure evil.” Theran was about to retort when she pointed to the bar. “Lilly’s boss is here and he is none too happy about what happened last night.”

Theran rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. “Oh boo whoo he’s got problems so do I.”

Merry started whispering angrily at him“Yeah but he’s gone and dragged her back here from ah dun know.”

Theran growled again. “Why is it suddenly my problem that her boss is an ass? I’m sure she can handle it.”

Merry shook her head in anger. “That’s not fair on Lilly you caused this for her.”

Theran was taken aback by this. “Me?! What did I do? It’s not like I asked these thugs to mess up the place and I wasn’t even here when that happened.” Theran clenched his teeth in annoyance. “Fine whatever I’ll see to all your problems. Not like I got anything better to do.”

Only after turning away from Merry did he actually care to hear Lilly arguing with her boss. The poor teenager had been through a lot even though Theran had had a rougher night but she was mortal, he was not that was the difference. Lilly’s boss was a Pegasus with a brown coat, black mane and blue eyes. He was also giving Lilly a mouth full. “How in the royalty of Terrato’s back side am I supposed to pay for all this damage?!” He yelled at her, waving his hooves in all directions. “I’m very disappointed in you Lilly!”

Lilly retorted angrily. “Ya think ah had a choice? Those goons came in here an just started tearing up the place and ah was knocked out for a short time so ah had no control. Ya can’t blame me for that.”

Theran was closer now when Lilly’s boss yelled some more. “That’s no excuse Lilly, I pay you to mange the costumers and keep the place in order.” He then gestured around him. “Seems you failed the keeping order bit.”

Theran was ever closer now when Lilly objected. “Ya expect too much Mr Yollital, am only one pony. Ah wasn’t even supposed to be here last night ah was filling in…”

Her boss cut her off. “I’ve had enough of your excuses Lilly, you were here and that makes you…”

“Yo!” Theran cut in and Lilly’s boss jumped when he saw him. Lilly looked at him funny and he wasn’t sure what she was thinking about him now but that didn’t matter. Theran gave her boss a threatening glare. “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked Lilly’s boss coldly.

Mr Yollital was taken aback by Theran’s question and he sounded surprised. “I beg your pardon but I’m the owner of this place and this little nag here was tasked with…”

Theran slammed his blood stianed hoof on the bar hard enough to leave an imprint and he glared hatefully at the Pegasus. “I dinny give a damn what you think you’re the owner of!” Theran’s temper had cracked now, all the stress, the nature of this situation, his fatigue and getting the crap beat out of him had all become too much. This Pegasus this runt who blamed anyone for his misfortune wasn’t helping Theran’s temper one bit. He continued to snarl at Mr Yollital. “You don’t get to treat her like this and expect no pony to care. Cause I for one do!”  He didn’t know why he was even bothering. No matter what he dose there’s always someone somewhere getting treated like dirt. He guessed he couldn’t stand seeing it happen in front of him.

Mr Yollital looked confused which just pissed Theran off even more. He narrowed his eyes at him and that’s when he recognised him. “Wait you’re that Unicorn everypony’s been talking about.” He frowned at Theran. “You’re the one who caused this mess. You’re the one who’s going to cost me hundreds in damage repair!”

“I’m about to damage your face.” Theran thought and he was just about to conceder doing just that when his ear twitched and he heard a smashing sound like glass come from below them. “What the…?”

Theran spun around and bolted for basement. Merry had a look of disbelief on her face when Theran shoved passed her and smashed through the door. He ran down the stairs or more like jumped down and when he entered the room his eyes went wide with shock, horror and rage. The Unicorn was dead. She had a crossbow bolt sticking out the back of her skull and was pocking out her forehead. Theran tracked where the bolt came from and he saw a hole smashed in the small window and peering through it, with an empty crossbow was a white Earth pony in black leather barding. “Oh you got to be fucking kidding me!”


Writer’s note:

Thank you for reading chapter 14

I just wanted to credit Visiden Visidane for the creation of Sheath Scale for he is the owner of the character.
He is also the writer of the fan-fic Upheaval which is what I base my story’s universe on.
Thanks again for reading, more will be on its way.