Chapter 3: Welcome to Ponyville.
It was Paladin's final day in Canterlot. He sat at his desk wondering what to do. "Hmm, I've done everything the princesses asked me to do.” He scratched his head and began to pace back and forth. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. “Oh, I know! I need to get myself a new saddlebag and some quills and paper. I won't need any books 'cause I'll be staying in a library."
The guard stationed outside Paladin's room poked his head around the door. "You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of madness."
Paladin turned to him. "I've been running around in worlds created with Discord's mind. I wouldn't be surprised if I was just that little bit crazy."
The guard smirked. "Touché."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin trotted down Canterlot’s streets looking from side to side, questing for a store that would sell the items he required, but wouldn't be too expensive. "I still don't quite understand why I'm getting all of this. Ah well, best not overstay my welcome. Now cheap saddlebags, cheap saddlebags. Ah hello." Paladin trotted over to a store, sitting on the street corner.
It was old and run down, like a patch of dirt on an otherwise clean coat. The sign on the said ‘The Pariah’s Outpost’. The windows were dusty and and covered in grime, making it impossible to see inside. The paint had faded and now the bare wooden boards lay exposed to the elements. “You’re going in there?” Paladin turned around and looked at the pony who had said this. “Really, nopony goes in there anymore.” He said sneering.
“Well then, you don't have very good taste, do you?” Paladin turned back, chuckling at the pony’s expression.
A small bell rang as he entered the store. A thin layer of dust sat on the everything in the room. The wooden shelves were warped, as though they had been laying in the sun for years. This was impossible, considering the windows didn’t allow any light through and the only source of light was a few flickering candles. Paladins eyes were drawn to item in particular. A white saddlebag, with a single blue stripe running down the centre. "Ah, yup 'ow can I 'elp you?" Paladin spun.
“How did you do-” He stopped mid sentence and his jaw hung open. The shopkeeper smiled. He was a blue unicorn, and Paladin recognised his cutie mark. It was the magical symbol for knowledge. But the most shocking thing were his eyes. They were constantly changing colour, flickering from red to blue to yellow and on and on, constantly changing. He shut his mouth and continued. "Ah, yeah, hi. I would like to purchase this bag, and some quills and parchment if you have any. I’m Paladin Amor, by the way." The shopkeeper nodded and shook his hoof.
"I’m Pariah Farcry. Alright then, 'ow much parchment would you like?"
"Five sheets please."
"And quills?"
"Ah, two please."
"Alright, along with the saddlebag it comes to twenty bits."
Paladin nodded and handed over the money. As he walked outside he placed the quills and parchment in his bag and slung the bag across his back.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The shopkeeper watched Paladin leave. He walked around the counter and into the back room. “So, Paladin Amor. It’s been awhile since I heard that name. And now, it will be awhile before I do again.” The low light from the candles flickered, throwing his face into shadow. His eyes closed and thought back.
Six Months after Discords defeat
Celestia stood before him, and boy was she angry. Her voice boomed out and her eyes burned with fury. “Not only do you break into the library, but you have meddled with forces beyond your control!”
“I did what was necessary. If I hadn't acted, then that pony would have died!”
“And the world would be better if he had. Your actions will have consequences not even I can foresee. That pony should have died. You shall suffer for your interference.”
“What? I save a pony’s life and I'm being punished?”
“Yes. I curse you Pariah Farcry. You shall see magic in all its forms, and no pony will love you as your eyes shall forever change colour. I will also imprison a windingo in your mind, to drive you insane. I banish you now Pariah Farcry.” Lightning split the sky with a thunderous roar. “Never again will you know happiness.”
Her horn flared and there was darkness.
He woke to find a voice screaming in his head, pleading for Paladin Amor.
His eyes flickered open. “Curse you Celestia, you will regret this.”
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin was trotting back up Mane street when he saw a jacket hanging in the window. It was a dark blue and would complement his mane perfectly. He walked up to the window and glanced at the price tag. "Gah, really that much?" he exclaimed scrambling back. The jacket's price tag placed it at almost a hundred bits. "I don't want to spend nearly that much. Even though it’s well under the amount that those two gave me I don't want spend one hundred and twenty of their bits."
The shopkeeper came out to see what Paladin was doing.Upon seeing the object of Paladin's affection, he smiled broadly, eager for a chance to sell his one of his most expensives items. "Oh, you saw the price of the jacket. Yes, exquisite isn't it? Hoof stitched, my finest silk. I don't know why you’re reacting so badly, you easily have a hundred bits in that saddlebag of yours."
Paladin shook his head. "Technically it's not my money. It belongs to the princesses. They gave it to me, but I'm not sure I can spend it."
The shopkeeper looked shocked. "You know the princesses? Personally?" Paladin nodded. "Well then that price is much too high. For you I will charge only thirty bits."
Paladin stood there, a ridiculous look plastered on his face. At one mention of the princesses, this shopkeeper had dropped the price to a third of its original. Though he was not greedy, this was an opportunity too good to give up. He didn’t object as the shopkeeper waved his hoof, motioning him inside.
The inside of the shop was even more extravagant than the jacket. It was white walled, but it radiated expensiveness. Similar jackets and dresses were on display, and Paladin could tell even without looking at the price tag that they would equal or be even higher in price than the one he had selected. The shopkeeper took the jacket of the display and took it to the front counter. Paladin quickly withdrew the 30 bits from his saddle bag, took the jacket from the shopkeeper and handed over the bits with a smile.
As he left Paladin looked up at the sky and checked the position of the sun. "Well, I best get to the train station. I do have a train to catch, after all." He started walking back up Mane street. He passed several extravagant shops and saw the pony’s in them pointing and whispering at him. Ignoring it, he kept walking.
But as he passed several more shops, he received the same punishment. He looked behind him and saw the royal guard duck behind a statue. He strode over to the statue. “Any particular reason you're hiding behind a statue and why you've been following me? I don’t appreciate it.” The guard stepped out from behind the statue.
“I’ve been instructed by the princesses to follow you, make sure you don’t get into too much trouble.”
“I have seen things that would turn your mane white and send you crying for your mother, I don't need a personal guard.”
The guards voice turned harsh. “I’ve fought things that would kill you ten times over easily. You claim to have seen such things, and to have been in worlds created by Discord's mind, but not many ponies believe it.”
Paladin turned. “Fine, don't believe me. I don’t lie to anypony, I’ve never had the time or the patience. If you don’t believe me, well... I better get going.” Paladin galloped off, leaving the guard standing there, trying to come up with an explanation.
Paladin galloped on, shaking the tears out of his eyes. Nopony believed him, except for the princesses.
“Who cares what everypony thinks?”
“I do.”
“But why?”
Paladin looked up at his mother. “Because without my friends I’m nothing.”
“You’re nothing?”
“Yes. I don’t know, I just feel like, I don’t exist.”
“It’s ok, Paladin. You will always exist, with or without your friends.”
Paladin looked up at the train station. How did I get here? Oh well. It was a medium sized building devoid of furniture, except for a few desks where ponies were buying tickets. A large, ornamental clock hung above the desk, silently ticking the day away. Paladin put his bag on the ground and ruffled through it.
"Now, where is that time table." The timetable floated out of his saddlebag. It floated up, suspended in Paladin’s magic, and Paladin looked at it. He ran a hoof down it and then glanced at the clock to confirm it. "Next train to Ponyville, twenty minutes from now." He quickly trotted over to one of the desks. “One ticket to Ponyville please.”
“That’ll be five bits please.” They traded the money and ticket and Paladin walked onto the platform, before sitting on one the benches that were placed evenly down the platform.
The platform around him was almost deserted. Only a few other ponies were on the platform, clearly waiting for the same train as him. Fifteen minutes had past and he was growing tired. He stood quickly and began to stretch. The whistle of the train echoed through the tunnel and across the platform. Paladin walked to the edge of the platform in anticipation.
Suddenly the other ponies on the platform gasped, and began to bow. Paladin turned around, already knowing what he would see. Sure enough, both princesses were descending, a royal guard on either side. Paladin immediately went to bow. "On your feet Paladin, we have several gifts for you before you depart." Paladin stood up as Celestia approached him. "First, I give you this." It was a chest plate, similar to that which the royal guards wore, only the same blue as his mane. "Don't worry about carrying it, it can shrink as you command it." She demonstrated, closing her eyes and channeling her energy into the plate as it shrank down to a much more manageable size. She placed it his saddle bag.
"Next, I give you some advice. I read your note and I know you’re shy, but the ponies in Ponyville love making new friends. Don't worry about your shyness, you will overcome it." Paladin nodded. "Finally I need you to give this note to Twilight Sparkle, who will be waiting for you at the station in Ponyville."
Celestia stepped back and Luna stepped forward. "I only have two gifts for you. The first is an apology. I am sorry I hit you over the head so hard." Luna smiled bashfully, blushing at the admission of guilt. " The second is this mirror. It is an ancient artifact, kept in our family,created before we defeated Discord. It ‘s magical and is connected to every mirror in the world. If you ever need help, just speak to this mirror, and whoever is closer, myself or my sister, to another mirror, will hear your words." Luna placed the mirror in his bag and stepped back.
"Remember Paladin, have fun." The sisters said in unison as Paladin stepped on the train. He turned and nodded. "Thank you for everything!" he shouted as the train pulled away, belching a thick cloud of smoke as it chugged into the distance.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Twilight Sparkle was getting bored. The train was ten minutes late and she had already been waiting for twenty. "Agh, I have better things to be doing than sitting here waiting for a late train."
Spike, on the other hand couldn't be more excited "Come on, Twilight, cheer up. A new pony is coming to town! This’ll be fun.”
Spike looked down the rails again. "Hold on, I think I see something." This got Twilight's attention. The train broke the horizon, framed by the setting sun. It was belching a thick cloud of smoke and was closing the distance between the platform and it with great strides. She stood up and walked onto the platform.
Half a minute later, the train pulled in. Paladin looked out of the window as the train pulled in. "Now I'm looking for a purple unicorn..." Paladin jaw dropped "I don't believe it. It the pony from the Grand Galloping Gala. Why is she ... Oh no, she's the one I'm supposed to be meeting."
The train came to a stop. Twilight stood up, eager to meet the new pony. She watched as several other ponies jumped off, but none of them were the one she was supposed to be meeting.
The conductor tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me sir, but the train has stopped. This is the last stop, so unless you are willing to take the train..." Paladin shook his head. "No I'm getting off." He grabbed his saddlebag and walked off the train, onto the platform.
Twilight looked around. "Still no sign of the unicorn, do you see him Spike?"
Spike shook his head. "Nope, wait there he is." Spike pointed to the pony that had just jumped off of the train.
Twilight couldn't believe her eyes. He was one of the ponies she'd seen at the Grand Galloping Gala.
He was the one pony that had looked like he wasn't having any fun. He stood in the corner a sad smile etched on his face. He had been talking to her brother before, but now he just looked sad. Only later that night when Fluttershy had burst in and screamed, "You will love me!" did he smile, and even then it was only a small one.
Twilight approached him. "Hi, you must be Paladin." Paladin nodded uncertainly before handing her a note. She read it quickly before nodding. "Um, ok let's go." Twilight was at a loss for words. This pony was as shy, if not more than Fluttershy. Yet everything about him suggested a fearless warrior. She shook her in disbelief.
The sun had set and the moon was rising, but even though it was early, there was nopony to be seen."Ah, Twilight." His voice was deep, but it had a scared quality, similar to Fluttershy’s.
She turned to him. "Yes Paladin?"
"Just curious, but where is everypony? It’s still early, shouldn’t somepony be around?"
Twilight looked around. "I don't know." Paladin gazed around, looking for other signs of life. Suddenly a excited pink pony burst out out of a small barrel, which was much too small to even contain her.
"Oooohhhh." She gasped. “You're new here, aren’t you?’
“Yes, Pinkie Pie, he is. He’s the new pony I told you about, Paladin meet Pinkie Pie.”
Paladin’s jaw hung open. “How did she-” He was cut off by Pinkie.
“Ooh, you have a fight scene next. You better head over to the town square.”
PINKIE!!
“What?”
You’re not supposed to have a copy of the story!
“But, it’s more fun this way.”
Agh. Look, You’re not even supposed to be in this scene. There’s a reason we have the fourth wall, so stop breaking it! Follow the script!
“Fine.”
Pinkie jumped out of the barrel, and hung a good 3 hooves in the air. Paladin waved a hoof underneath her no ensure no trickery. Suddenly the she flew off. "Twilight, did that earth pony just, like, fly?"
Twilight shook her head, repressing the urge to facehoof. "No, that was Pinkie Pie. Everything she does ignores the laws of physics."
Paladin looked around. "Still no sign of anypony...Wait I think a see something over there." He saw a pony run past him, down what appeared to be main street.
Paladin began to walk in the direction the pony had been going but Spike jumped in front of him. "Shouldn't we go to the library first?" Both of the ponies shook their heads. "Well alright then."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Pariah staggered towards Ponyville. After Paladin had left, Pariah had followed from a distance, the windingo in his head screaming to be released. Over the years, Pariah had gained control over the creature, but the close proximity to Paladin had set it off.
He had taken the same train as Paladin and had hidden from view, barely keeping the windingo in check.
Finally, it had been too much. The windingo took control of his limbs and walked into Ponyville.
Inside his head, Pariah struggled against it. “Let Me Out!!”
“No, you can’t-”
“I want out!”
Pariah’s defences fell, and the windingo leapt from his mind.
A chill wind blew through the town, and mist began to flow from Pariah’s fallen body. It formed the body of a white unicorn, and began to hunt.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin walked down the street and saw the pony run into what looked like the town square. He followed, but he was looking at the stores and houses that lay on either side of the worn cobblestone streets. They weren't nearly as extravagant as those in Canterlot, but they looked a lot warmer and welcoming. He entered the town square and there in front of him sat a large crowd, watching in silence a blue unicorn in utter scorning silence. "You didn't believe before, but this time Trixie tells the truth. I, the great and powerful Trixie have defeated a windingo!"
"Not you again." Twilight moaned.
Paladin raised an eyebrow. "You now her?"
Twilight nodded "Yes, she showed up a while ago claiming that she defeated an Ursa Major."
Paladin laughed a little too loud. Trixie, hearing the chuckle turned to him with disdain dripping from her voice. "You doubt the Great and Powerful Trixie?!" Paladin shook his head, but Trixie ignored it. "Well, alright then, show the Great and Powerful Trixie what you can do!"
Before Paladin could respond a new pony ran into the square breathlessly, panting and raising his hoof. Trixie turned , Paladin completely forgotten. "Yes, what do you want to tell Trixie?"
"You say you defeated a windingo?"
"Yes, do you doubt Trixie as well?"
"No, it's just there's a windigo walking down Mane street." The murmurs of disbelief rippled outwards, like those from a pebble dropped in a lake.
But those murmurs stopped instantly when a large, white unicorn stepped into the square. Almost everypony in the crowd screamed as from its hooves sprung thick ice, brutally chilling everything it touched. Behind it was the frozen form of the town.
Everypony began to flee except for Paladin, Spike, Twilight and Trixie. Paladin turned to Spike and Twilight. "Get everypony out of here, right now, no arguments." Without waiting for a response Paladin took a step forward. At that moment a low wind blew through, throwing his mane back so it ran like blue fire down his back. His cutie mark, a silver shield, shone in the moonlight. Spike had listened and was already gone but Twilight stayed and went to argue. Paladin turned "I said no arguments, you won’t be strong enough, now go!"
Twilight stood still, shock plastered on her face. “Not strong enough? I’ve beaten-”
She was cut short by Paladin, slapping her. “I don’t care what you’ve fought, I’ve faced worse and I can take this.” As Twilight turned, Paladin whispered. “I won’t let you get hurt.”
Paladin lay his saddlebag on the ground and opened it, removing the armor and attached note. The note read:
Dear Paladin,
This is the Armor of the Night. It acts much in the same way as normal armor, only it makes you immune to the effects of all other magic. Use it well.
Princess Celestia.
Paladin closed the note and enlarged the armor. As he slipped it on he noticed that Trixie was still standing there, mouth open wide, frozen in terror (not ice). "Well Trixie, aren't you going to fight back?!" Trixie stopped staring and looked at him with shocked terror before turning tail and running off.
Paladin shook his head "That would be about right" He said, his voice dripping sarcasm. He was now the only pony in the town square. He looked around. On any other day this square would have been beautiful. Today, not so much. He turned back to face the windingo. "Where did you come from? I've never heard of a windigo coming here of all places. Come to think of it I've barely heard anything about windingos at all. The only thing I know is that you are all cold and hate."
The windigo snorted, sending another wave of cold across the town. "How to beat you? How to beat you?" Paladin was at a loss. There’s almost no information on windingos and what information there was wasn't really helpful in this situation.
The ice crept closer, but when it got within a hoof of Paladin it stopped. The windingo snorted, clearly not expecting this. Another wave of ice approached, but once again, when it reached around a hoof in distance from Paladin it stopped. The windingo narrowed its eyes. It clearly wasn't expecting someone to stand against it and most definitely wasn't expecting to see a creature immune to its icy attack.
It snorted again. Even if this pony was immune to its magic, there was no way it could stop a physical attack. It began to charge, and Paladin began to charge in return. The two combatants entered combat and the epic fight began.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Twilight was crying as she entered the library. “Not strong enough, and then he slaps me! I’ll show him.” She wiped away the tears and began to search for the books on windingos.
“Aha, I found it.” She looked down at the page, which provided a detailed description on how to beat a windingo.
She put it in her saddlebag and ran outside, determined to prove Paladin wrong.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin’s right hoof slammed into the windingo’s left. A resounding crack echoed through the empty streets. Both of them slid back. That was the fourteenth time that’s happened, I can’t keep this up. Paladin was panting. The ice made coordinated movement impossible, and Paladin was exhausted.
Every shield he raised, the windingo broke. Every ice attack the windingo used, Paladin avoided. Had the his adversary not been an untiring, ruthless thing, they would have been perfectly matched.
Twilight’s excited voice echoed through the streets. “I know how to beat it!” Paladin spun, his eyes widening in horror. “Twilight, I told you to leave for a reason!" Paladin’s desperate voice cut through the silence that had once again fallen.
An inpony chuckle escaped from the windingo’s lips. A pony, a stupid one at that, that wasn’t immune to its powers and didn’t realise how dangerous it was. It manipulated the ice, sending it on a direct path to Twilight.
Paladin galloped towards Twilight. The ice was closing fast, and Paladin began to cry, knowing he would be too late. Even so, his determination meant he kept running, slowly closing the distance.
The windigo saw his attempt and raced towards Twilight as well. Twilight watched as both Paladin and the windigo galloping towards her. But she only realized the danger she was in when she felt the icy bite in her hooves.
Twilight looked down and saw the ice creeping up her legs. She tried to bust the chilling onslaught with her magic but the ice seemed impervious to it. She looked up. The windingo had overtaken Paladin and was closing quickly.
Twilight watched the whole scene as it if in slow motion. The windingo, closing the distance in great bounds. Paladin, slipping and sliding but determined none the less. But Twilight could see he was too late. The windigo landed in front of her, blocking her view of Paladin. It's white eyes looked deep into her and then darkness swallowed her.
Paladin watched as the horrible creature land in front of Twilight. Its form shimmered for a second before covering her. "No! Twilight!!" The ice around her hooves cracked and she stepped forward. "Twilight? Oh dear Celestia..." The creature, for Twilight was no longer in control, looked up. Where her normal eyes had been, a pair of glowing orbs looked out.
Paladin skidded to a halt. The windingo studied him for a moment. “T-T-This o-o-ones m-m-mine.” It managed to stutter out. “S-She h-has g-great m-magic.” A grotesque smile formed on its lips. “But magic doesn’t work on you. I guess, I’ll just have to hit you.”
It leapt forward, and collided with Paladin, sending him tumbling backwards. He rolled over and over, whacking his head on the steel-hard ground each time. He slid to a stop next to his saddlebag. By Celestia that hurt. Is-Is that the mirror Luna gave me?
Paladin crawled over to it. “Hey, anypony there? I have a serious prob-” The mirror shattered, smashed by Twilight’s hoof. Oh come on! I’m gonna be in so much trouble.
The windingo raised a hoof, and Paladin waited for the end, too weak to raise a shield.
But the end didn't come. Paladin opened his eyes. It had turned around and was looking at the new threat, that had just landed. Luna looked at It. "Out of here, NOW!"
The windingo cocked its head. "Why? This body is mine." Luna looked at it, her eyes furious. "No, she's not yours!"
“But, I took control of her, she’s mine.” It whined.
The look on Luna’s face would have scared an Ursa into submission. “You will leave Twilight Sparkle’s body this instant!”
The enraged windingo narrowed its eyes. "Fine, but if I can't have her, no one can." Mist rose off Twilight's body. The mist gathered together and took the form of the unicorn. As it raised its head, paladin pulled himself towards it and Luns leapt at it. Time slowed down, and as they raced towards it, the windigo slashed its horn across Twilight's prone body before dissipating.
The mist slid along the ground and formed around Paladin’s body, before recoiling and disappearing.
Paladin slid forward to Twilight's side. He looked up at Luna his eyes full of desperation.'"Why aren't you helping her?" Luna looked at him sadly. "I don't think I can. A wound inflicted by a windigo is basically a death sentence. Almost no magic can heal it. There's only one spell that could heal her and it was in only one book that was taken from the royal library several years ago."
Paladin climbed to his hooves and trotted slowly towards where Twilight had been initially. Laying on the ground was her saddlebag. He opened it and looked inside. "What was the book the book called?" Luna looked at him strangely, curious as to why he cared. "It was called 'The Strange and Dangerous creatures of the Mountain' but it doesn't matter now."
Paladin laughed softly. "I can't believe it."
Luna walked over. "What are you talking about?" She looked down. "I don't believe it, it's the book!" Paladin nodded. "It appears, Twilight took the book and never returned it She must have kept it in the library." Paladin flicked through till he found the section on windingos. "Well here's the spell, hmm it says we need two alicorns but we don't have time to wait for your sister, so I suppose we'll have to take the risk."
Luna looked at him. "What risk?"
"Well we need two Alicorns, but we only have one. It says here, if performed by somepony with magic less than that of a royal Alicorn, once the spell is completed, they fall into a coma for three days, then suffer a quote unquote ‘Painful and instantaneous death.’ I’m willing to take that risk however, if means saving another's life."
Paladin raced back over to Twilight's prone body. Her condition had deteriorated substantially. Blood was oozing out of the fresh cut in her side. "Come on Luna, hurry up!" Luna scrambled back over "Ok, Let's do this." Both of them closed their eyes and their horns flared. Luna's was her usual color, but instead of Paladin's normal dark blue, his burned with an light blue, icy fire.
Slowly, but surely, the spell worked it's magic. The wound in Twilight's side slowly closed over, all damage to her body was undone and the blood she had lost was replaced. As they cast the spell the ice beneath their hooves cracked, and all across the town it began to melt. Paladin dropped to his knees, as the spell had taken quite a lot from him. Luna on the other hand, didn't look nearly as tired, but the spell had still drained her substantially.
Slowly Twilight opened her eyes. She had a pounding headache, and an unusual feeling in her side. She climbed unsteadily to her hooves. All around her was melting ice and. "Princess Luna! I see you arrived as quickly as you could." Luna nodded, still tired from such a large spell. Twilight looked down at Paladin. "What happened?"
Paladin looked up and told her everything that had occurred. Twilight looked at him guiltily "Sorry about that. I know you told me not to come back but..." Paladin shook his head. "It's alright."
Twilight sighed. She knew she wouldn't win this argument. "Oh, Paladin I don't think I actually got to say it yet but... Welcome to Ponyville."