//------------------------------// // Chapter One-Awakening of the Edge // Story: Blazblue:Beyond the Boundary // by steel soul //------------------------------// “Fewh...Ah think that that should just about do it.” There was a soft creak of rust against metal as Applebloom turned the faucet off, stopping the flow of water pouring into the bucket before it overflowed. The little filly, with practiced ease, placed the bucket upon her back, balancing it precariously as she made her way away from the barn. Every now and then, sun yellow filly would feel drops of water splash onto her back, making the little mare shiver slightly. It was at times like this that she believed a horn would have been good right about now. Still, an ‘Earth ponies hard work is the most honest’ her big sister would say. Applebloom smiled at the saying before her gaze shifted upwards. She could see, as she neared it, a little house perched within a oddly shaped apple tree. A sigh of relief, finally being able to near her destination. She knocked upon the door after making her way up the ramp, her voice booming with her thick country accent as she called out: “Scootaloo! Sweetie Belle! ah’m back! And ah got the water!” There was a pregnant pause before a voice, rather boyish is tone, rang from the tree house in response. “Whats the password?” Applebloom deadpanned. She placed a hoof under her chin in deep thought before answering as best she could. “Icecream and maple syrup taste better than Ah expected.” Another pause before a orange furred and magenta maned filly stuck her head out the window beside the door. “That was last weeks password Applebloom! Whats this weeks?” The new filly would say. “Aw! Comeon Scootaloo! Why do we have ta have a new password every week!?” Applebloom shouted, glaring up at Scootaloo. “Because,” The orange said looking away in a huff. “Its our secret club! And a secret club has to have a secret password every week! Just like in my spy comics!” “Will you two shut up!” Another voice half squeaked, half yelled from further inside the home. “Somepony is hurt and you two are arguing about a stupid password!” “Its not stupid Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo defended. “Its awesome! Besides, what if shes not really Applebloom but a changeling! Or a spy! Or a spying changeling!!” “Who gonna spy on us?!”  Sweetie Belle yelled. “Somepony is hurt Scootaloo! Just let her in already!” Scootaloo huffed before pulling head back through the window. There was a reluctant turn of the lock before the door to the treehouse opened with a resounding squeak, allowing Applebloom access inside. Now that Applebloom was within the little treehouse, she would shoot a glare at Scootaloo before gently sliding the bucket of water off her back, allowing Sweetie Belle access to the contents within. Sweetie dipped the rag she held in her hooves within the bucket, letting it soak up as much water as it could muster before pulling away and ringing any access out. She would then quickly make her way to the other side of the room, where upon a bed of hay, their charge would be laying. Though most of the stallion’s body was covered in the cloth that he wore; his grayish, platinum like fur was not lost upon the fillies. As was his white and wild spiky mane that sat upon the top of his head. But most noticeable to the three of them, was the long ruby red jacket the pony was doned in, its intricate design a marvel to the little mares. Never had they seen clothing quite like his. Even Sweetie, whose sister was quite the fashionista, believed that nothing quite like it was seen in all of Equestria. The stallion breathed steadily as he laid upon the treehouse floor, his chest rising and falling every few seconds. “Hows his fever looking Sweetie?” Applebloom asked as she watched the little white filly dab  the rag upon his forehead. The stallion shifted his body slightly in response to the little mares actions, but did little else. “Too bad we couldn’t get that wicked looking sword here as well.” Scootaloo lamented. “That thing looked freakin sweet!” “Yeah…” Applebloom mused, though she didn’t sound nearly as impressed as Scootaloo. “You really think it belongs to him?” “How can it not!” Scootaloo said with almost a squeak within her voice. “I bet hes some super awesome super hero! I mean look at his getup!” She pulled at his sleeve, obviously in awe. “I think his health is a bit more important than rather or not he's a silly super hero.” Sweetie interjected. “Maybe we should get somepony to take him to the hospital. I mean he doesn’t seem to be-” Sweetie Belle yelped as she instantly fell upon her rump. Dropping the wet rag, she scooted away from the stallion as fast as she could. To her surprise, the stallion had opened one piercing emerald eye and shifted his head to face her as she pushed herself against the wall on the far side. Applebloom and Scootaloo both joined their friend as well, all three staring in awe and fear as the stallion did little else but stare at the little three little mares as they quivered in fear. Some time had passed for the four ponies, each one staring at one another in complete silence. And then the stallion spoke. “What the hell…” HIs words seemed to release the floodgate, Sweetie Belle being the most adventures at the time, quickly made her way toward the stallion. The little white filly half spoken/half squeaked, her voice making the stallions ears fold back in response. “Y-You're awake!” Picking up the wet rag soon after and placing it upon the stallions head, she would ask. “How are you doing? You're not hurt anywhere are you?” The stallion blinked up at the filly before shaking his head weakly. “No...Not really.” He said, rubbing a hoof against his throat.  “I do wanna know why the hell am I sleeping here though, and why there are...ah...three beastkins around me...” Sweetie raised an eyebrow. “Beastkins? Whats a beastkin?” “There...ah…Umm…” He placed a hoof to his head. “I don’t remember…” “Well...we're not a beastkin anyway. We're ponies” Sweetie looked towards the other two fillies making their way beside him, both just as wary as she was. “We found you, not too far away from here out in the apple filed, hunched over some type large weapon. You looked really out of it so we brought you here, into our clubhouse.” “You carried me?” He asked, a bit of disbelief within his tone. “I find that hard to believe, even if three of you did so.” Applebloom spoke next, her country accent a bit more tolerable to him and his poor sensitive ears. “Nope. Y’all may have been barely conscience but y’all were still able to be walked here with our little help. You were really heavy though.” “I see...” He said looking away. Scootaloo pushed her snout towards the older ponies glaring at him as well as poking his chest. “Ok! now that you're awake, I’ve got a few questions for you. First things first; are you a super hero?” The gray stallion blinked at the orange filly before looking to the other two with a raised eyebrow. “What the hell is she going on about anyway?” Applebloom quickly swatted her friend away with a wave of her tail. “Don’t mind her. Shes been reading too many Daring Do books lately.” “Hey!” Scootaloo cried in anger The stallion closed his eye before opening it once again. “Well...In any case, I guess i should thank you...Uh” “I’m Sweetie Belle!” “Applebloom!” “You can call me Scootaloo!” “And we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Sweetie Belle made her way to the forefront. “Whats your name?” After the stallion had recovered from the sudden attack on his eardrums, he began to answer. “My name is...is…” He paused as he pressed a hoof to his forehead. “Its...ah…” A worried frown came onto all three fillies features as they leaned in a little towards him. “Whats wrong?” All three asked, each on the edge of their seats. “Its...Ragna…” He finally relented his left hoof pressing against his had. “Yeah...Ragna…” Scootaloo repeated the name. “Rrrrraagnaaaa...Thats an odd name.” “I think its nice!” Sweetie Belle mused, shooting a glare towards Scootaloo. She repeated the name over and over, rolling the R sound with her tongue as she did so. Sweetie giggled. “Its really nice to meet you.” “Yeah! Its nice to meet you Mr. Ragna.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Ragna interrupted. “Just Ragna is fine. None of that Mr. stuff. Makes me feel weird putting Mr. on there.” Applebloom nodded. “Will do M-I mean Ragna!” Ragna sighed before slowly sitting up, helped by the three fillies. His eyes fell to his body and limbs, slowly flexing each part. “So...you ah...You said that you're a pony? Am I a pony too?” All three fillies looked between each other with confused faces before looking back at Ragna. “M-Ragna…” Applebloom began. “Don’t y’all know that y’all are a pony?” Ragna looked at his left forehoof, staring intently at it. “I...I didn’t know. I don’t remember much of anything right now.” Sweetie Belle gasped. “Oh my goodness! Do you think you have amnesia?” “Well considering I don’t remember being a pony...I can guess thats a pretty good bet.” Ragna responded. “Hell...All I can remember is my name right now.” Ragna closed his eyes for a moment, gather his thoughts as best he could. “I...Don’t remember…” “Do you at least remember about air and water? Do you remember how to breath?” Sweetie asked. “Don’t think I would be able to talk to you if I didn’t know how to breath kid…” He said, shifting to stand up on his four hooves. He began to wobble a bit but soon found his footing. He slowly began to take one step forward at a time as he tested his balance. “I think I know how to walk too...Geez this feels weird though...and...I can’t really feel my right arm...or open my right eye for that matter.” “Well...what about your family?” Applebloom inquired as she trotted around with him. “Do ya remember them at least?” “Can’t even remember if I had any…” Ragna said stopping as he went to sit back on his hunches. He lifted his right hoof, rubbing the covering that wrapped around it. “Not even your home...or your friends?” Scootaloo asked, her ears drooping a little. Ragna responded no once again before looking out the window. “I just don’t know…” “Hey!” Sweetie gasped. “Lets take him to Ponyville!!” “Ponyville?” Ragna asked, looking towards the little filly with a raised eyebrow. “Oh! Yeah! Its a big town!” Applebloom agreed. “Lots ‘O ponies pass that way to get to Canterlot! Maybe one of them might know who he is!” “You really think so?” Ragna inquired, getting up on his two four hooves. “Its worth a shot.” Scootaloo mused. “We might even get our cutie marks by helping you!” Ragna decided to ignore the fact that they were trying to get some cutie named Mark for the moment. “Well...It beats just sitting around doing nothing.” “Sweet!” Scootaloo cheered. “Then follow us! We can get your wicked weapon and lead you back to the town no problem!” “And maybe find out who you are!” Sweetie Belle added. “Well what are we waiting for!?” Applebloom yelled. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Helpers! YAY!” The three fillies screamed before dashing out of the tree house. “H-Hey! Wait for me!” Ragna called out after them. “Geez...I wonder if I made the right choice on this one…” ~ The crater within the applegrove was quiet for quite some time, nary a soul to be found besides the occasional fruit bat flying about. The peace was soon disrupted as several Iron clad unicorn stallions appeared with a flash of light, as well as a few of the same armored colored stallions flying from the sky. And then there was Luna. Her midnight dark fur and star flowing mane bellowing in the gentle blow of the wind as she landed gracefully among her guards. Her gaze fell to the crater noticing a lack of any object. “Captain.” A black stallion made his way beside her, saluting. “There seems to be nothing within.” “Yes ma'am! I see that ma’am!” “In that case...Whatever it was that was brought here is running about.” Luna turned to face the stallion. “Send you stallions out and search the area. We must find him before trouble arises! Anything with this much amount of Discords magic can only spell trouble for the citizens of Equestria!”