After a slow paced travel of unexpected silence, me and my wacky companions finally left the forest. As much as I would've loved to go deeply into detail about how happy I was to leave that super dangerous place, there were other things crossing my mind.
And for good reason too, its certainly not everyday that you could be sober and see what I was currently seeing.
A good distance in front of me was a town, but not just any normal looking town.
The blasted place was swarming with ponies so brightly colored, that I was certain I would die of epilepsy if I made the mistake of running through it.
Dear Sozin, they were on the ground, in the air, in their homes. Speaking of their homes, the majority were made of more hay and cotton than actual house-making materials. I seriously wouldn't want to be here during a tornado... or any natural disaster for that matter.
To sum it all into a brief point, this was far from what I imagined their civilization would look like. But then again, I never pictured myself speaking with sentient ponies either.
I glanced over at my escorts who were all keeping a watchful eye on me. Did they really think I would be able to attack a place that looked like something you'd see by drinking desert cactus juice? Actually, why did they bring me in the first place if they didnt trust me!?
Sigh
"So, wont they all freak out if I just casually walk in?" I asked while pointing at the town. They simply stared back at me in uncertainty.
Ok, this needed a change of pace.
"Erherm, sorry I haven't introduced myself correctly yet, have I? My name is Kurama Li Feng, it is my pleasure to meet you all." I said with a polite bow.
Their expressions slightly softened at my display of hospitality and one by one they began to introduce themselves as well.
"Kurama!? That's the funniest name I've ever heard!!" laughed "Pinkeh"as she rolled on the ground.
Her fit of laughter was met by a glaring look from the purple alicorn. "Pinkeh" then abruptly ceased her laughter and turned towards me.
"My names Pinkie pie! Nice to meet you!" she boomed with a wide smile. She was so random, hyper, and blunt, plus negativity appeared to be nonexistent no matter how deeply you delved into her bright blue eyes. Without a doubt, she was the most positive individual ive ever met.
"Um.. My name is Fluttershy.." timidly interrupted the yellow pony. "Thank you for saving me.."
I turned to look at her. She was averting her gaze and trembling slightly, also her voice was so fragile that my ears nearly couldn't make out what she said. I guess she was still too shy to talk to me directly.
I shook my head in disagreement before answering. "Don't mention it, I couldn't just stay back and watch an innocent creature get hurt." I said with a kind tone.
As she heard my reasoning, a small smile formed itself across her face.
"I can relate." she added with a much more comfortable expression. She was a very pleasant individual. I could already tell by her personality that she would never do so much as hurt a fly.
The purple alicorn appeared to be next as she trotted over to me.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle! It is also my pleasure to meet you.. 'Kurama' was it?" she asked.
I nodded and shook the hoof which she had extended.
"Now that we've got that out of the way... what sort of magic was that!? Was it dragon magic? How did you learn it? Where did you come from? Do you have a vertebrae?? How many-," I interrupted her merciless bombardment of questions with my finger.
"We can go over that later, I have a lot of questions I want to ask about you too," I said as her expression sunk. She was mostly composed but now I knew she had a rude thirst for knowledge. Lets just hope that things wont get out of hand.
Her cyan friend then zipped into the air and dashed towards me, her velocity being way too exaggerated for those small fragile-looking wings of hers. After a series of air stunts, she came to a skillful halt directly in front of me.
"Im Rainbow Dash, the fastest, most AWESOME mare in all Equestria!" she boasted into my face while intensely throwing her front hooves up into the air. She was a formidable contender for first place, but she still lost in narcissism to good ol' Flamie.
"I see, nice to meet you Ms. Fastest mare," I flattered while extending my hand out. She shook it with an arrogant smirk on her face. She may get annoying after a while, but even I had to admit that she had every right to boast. She was the fastest creature I had met so far. It actually sort of unnerved me how she could manage that speed without a need for eye protection.
My train of thought was interrupted by a tug at the back of my pants. I looked down towards a white colored pony.
"Dear me, this fabric! Where did you get such a beautiful white silk? And this cape! It simply compliments all movement!" she praised.
"Oh uuh, thanks. I just bought it at some rundown shop, haha," I nervously answered.
She gave me a baffled look as she further inspected it.
"Why this is simply divine!"
After a couple more moments of investigating my clothing, she snapped out of her trance and gazed at me apologetically.
"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Rarity." she said with a friendly smile which I returned. For a creature that went around naked, she was oddly enticed by clothing. Also her hair was tended to carefully, who knew how long she spent in the mirror fixing it every morning.
"Do you mind if I took this back with me? I'd just adore the chance to add some creative features to it!" she requested.
"Normally I'd say yes.. buuut its sort of the only piece of clothing I have," I replied.
She gasped loudly at my answer.
"Oh you poor thing! Lets go whip something up for you right this instant!" she pestered. It seems she was as overly dramatic as she was generous.
"No, no that's quite alright." I assured.
Before she could further insist, the orange pony with a fedora put a hoof to her mouth.
"Rarity! Whats ta' say he wont jus' burn all yer fancy fabric to the ground!?" she barked.
I rolled my eyes and deadpanned at her. She was brutally honest when it came to sharing her doubts towards others. But she should learn to give others a chance before immediately labeling them as trouble.
"Oh COME OON Applejack! He's a good guy!" argued Rainbow Dash. "If it wasn't for him, Fluttershy would be swimming in Hydra stomach juice by now!" she finished.
"I dun know. Just keep im' away from MAH' Apples!" replied Applejack while pointing a hoof in my direction.
I tried my best to put on an innocent smile as she made her rude accusations.
"Who me? Burn? pfft, why would you say such a mean thing? Even after I risked my own behind to save you and your friends from that scary monster?" I said with a hint of fake sadness.
My teasing words seemed to have struck her way deeper than I ever imagined it would as she averted her gaze towards the ground in guilt. I looked on in confusion while she pondered something, surely a counter statement, right?
She looked back up towards me and trotted over in a slow heart-felt manner.
"Yer right... sorry fer mah' rudeness. Mah name's Applejack, if ya ever need sum nice ripe apples jus' give me a holler." she said extending her hoof.
I was caught off guard by her sudden change in attitude, like... wow, that was quick, too quick, but it appeared to be a good thing. I nodded and shook her hoof.
"Apples huh? It would indeed be nice to have one once in a while, thank you Applejack," I responded. She tipped her fedora and moved aside. My eyebrow soon raised at the two alicorns that were making their way towards me.
"My name is princess Celestia"
"And my name is princess Luna"
I gave them a bit of a confused look.
"Princess..?"
Twilight took notice of my puzzled expression and rushed to lean into my ear.
"They're the ones who rule all of Equestria!" she sharply whispered.
My eyes widened at the realization. These two were the ones who ruled everything here!? I swiftly turned towards them and bowed down.
"My apologies for the small scuffle we had earlier, your highnesses," I bewailed while nervously sweating.
I've had my fair share of lessons to know NEVER to anger the royal family back at home. I wasn't sure how the royal family took care of things here, but better safe than executed am I right?
I glanced back up at them in anticipation for the worst. However, they both had troubled expressions upon their muzzles . Luna put a hoof on my shoulder and beckoned me to get up, which I did.
"There is no need to bow, after all it was our exaggerated jump to conclusions that began the mess," she said. I was completely baffled by her kindness. I was convinced that all royalty was snot-nosed and spoiled like it was in my nation.
I scratched my head and awkwardly shifted my gaze to the side. Then I looked back at them and smiled as I extended both hands.
"Truce?" I asked.
"Truce." they simultaneously responded while extending their own hoofs. The two princesses shot me a heart-warming smile as we shook hoofs and hands. With that, we got the introductions out of the way.
I found it strange though, every single one of them had their own unique and charming personalities, it was also my first time meeting others who were this true to themselves and their surroundings.
Back in my home, society was plagued by distrust, greed, and intolerance of others. No one could truly be themselves for everything was just an endless pool of deception, a deception which I was given a front row seat to experience. But these bunch were just so bright and... accepting of who they were.
It was blindingly so, radiantly so, beautifully so. They were so happy and sappy that it made me cringe.
However, I felt like I could learn a thing or two from them, I also wondered if I could even be that way at all. If I just looked in front of me more often, would I be able to move forward at the speed in which they seemed to be able to? I glanced down at my markings and gave them a slight rub. In truth, ever since I remembered my past, I have been craving for revenge.
And to not be consumed by it, up until now I had been trying my damnedest to convince myself that I was fine with how things turned out. But that was a foolish mindset to begin with wasn't it? How could I be fine with having my world turned completely upside down and brutally stomped on, crushed along with my naïve take on reality? Then having it firmly gashed apart and spat on by my so called "Family and Friends"?
Heh.
That was the part that irked me the most. Their horrific, disgusting grins as they watched my horrendous execution. The delight which was present on their wretched expressions when they first took sight of my broken self. Just recalling that maniacal look in their wide empty eyes churned my stomach, but not as much as their eager chant to bring forth my absurd demise. That part definitely took the cake.
I shook the thoughts out of my head and clenched my fist. I was still alive, and that alone was their biggest mistake, that they failed in truly killing me.
Twilight then let out a loud gasp which assisted in snapping me out of my daze.
"WE FORGOT ABOUT THE TREE OF HARMONY!!" she panicked. Everyone, except me and the princesses, turned towards her in mutually shocked realization.
Tree of Harmony? Do they mean you?
Hah, surely you jest! Don't you dare compare me to those foolish Elements of Harmony!
What are the Elements of Harmony?
Do not pester me regarding such trivial subjects when you can simply ask the alicorns, brat!
I took his sweet, loving advice as I shifted towards Twilight.
"What's the Tree of Harmony?" I asked.
"No time to explain!" she answered.
"Princess Celestia and princess Luna! What happened regarding that second Tree of Harmony!?" She questioned impatiently, her friends also looking on intently in anticipation for an answer.
"About that.." began Celestia. "...we are unsure as to what happened, but the Tree disappeared as swiftly as it came," she finished.
The six looked on with staggered expressions.
S-... should I tell them?
Why do you insist on involving yourself with me to this degree? You and your actions are nothing for which I should waste my concern.
You're quite the smooth sailor aren't you?
Your annoying sense of humor is ESPECIALLY unbecoming.
I pouted and directed my attention back to Twilight. I guess ill just tell them, its not like the voice jerk gave a spark whether I told them or the world from the looks of it.
"Eehmm, I sort of... broke it." I hesitantly admitted.
They all dropped their jaws in shock and stared at me in silence.
"You.... BROKE IT!?" yelled Twilight.
"Well, not 'broke'... more like fused with it." I corrected. They were all having trouble comprehending what I was trying to get across.
"What do you mean?" asked Luna.
"I suppose you girls wouldn't know what the Flame of Life is right?" I clarified.
They all steadily shook their heads with Celestia being the only exception.
"Did you say the Flame of Life!?" she asked a bit out of tone. I turned to her and deliberately nodded. She then placed a hoof to her chin and began to think to herself.
"Before Luna was born, my mother used to tell me tales and lullabies regarding The Flame of Life. She always took great precaution in warning me that when the time comes, I was be the one to fuse with it to ensure it did not fall into the wrong hoof." she explained.
I deeply regarded what she said. Was this jerk really that important? I once again directed my attention towards her and her bewildered subjects.
"Well whatever the case, you can rest assured that it isn't in the wrong... hoofs." I responded.
"Well DUH silly! That's because you don't HAVE hoofs!!" snickered Pinkie. I rolled my eyes at her inconsiderate joke and corrected myself.
"Hands. It isn't in the wrong hands".
Twilight then cupped up my left hand with her hoofs.
"Hmm, so you call these strange things hands? Interesting.... woah what are these?" she questioned.
"Those are called knuckles," I answered in irritation.
"What are they for?" she asked while closely examining them.
"Beats me."
I then turned and looked towards Ponyville.
"So are we just going to go in?" I asked, changing the subject. They looked at each other as they finally pondered over what it is that we should do.
"OH, OH!! You can come stay with m-"
"No thanks." I interrupted before she could finish. Im not sure i'd be allowed to sleep at night with Pinkie as my roommate.
I looked towards the other five, they all shrugged which told me that their homes were all off limits.
"You can come stay at the royal palace Kurama," suggested Celestia. Everyone, me included, snapped our necks towards her in shock.
"Are you sure??" asked both me and Twilight in unison.
"Yes. I am not sure how my citizens would react to something like Kurama, which is why I will keep his existence limited to the castles chambers until the appropriate time presents itself."
They all seemed quite fine with her reasoning after thinking it over amongst themselves.
"Awesome! So where is this palace?" I asked.
"It resides in the capitol of Equestria, formally known as Canterlot," replied Luna.
"Ok, so how do we get there?"
"Me and my sister shall take you there ourselves." answered Celestia as she unfurled her wings.
"Wait, we're flying there?"
The sisters nodded, Celestia motioning me to sit on her back. This felt like something out of a grand epic. Still, I wasn't going to pass up this chance to ride a freaking flying steed!
I sat on her back, surprised at the fact that my weight didn't faze her one bit.
"Well then Kurama, i'll come and visit you tomorrow!" said Twilight.
"Oh I know, i'll bake you a 'welcome to the vulnerable and easily-ignitable insides of the royal palace cake'!!" enthusiastically added Pinkie Pie.
Quite the sarcastic little pink shit, wasn't she? Excuse my language by the way.
"I'll show ya some of my trophies!!" bragged Rainbow Dash.
"Ima bring ya' sum of granny Smiths apple tarts!" chimed in Applejack.
"I for one, will be bringing all the equipment I need to ensure you NEVER have to wear the same outfit EVER again, darling!" dramatically declared Rarity.
"..And ill introduce you to angel!" softly spoke Fluttershy.
I gazed at them with a puzzled expression, just what in the emperors name were they planning?
"Why?" I asked.
To this, they simply looked at each other and happily nodded.
"Because youre our friend silly!" excitedly beamed Pinkie Pie.
I remained silent, finding it a bit hard to believe. They've just met me and already thought of me as a friend? Hah! It had to be some sort of lie. But.. no matter how hard I looked into their warm expressions, I couldn't find a shred of deceit.
Something must have been wrong with me. For some reason I felt like it wouldn't be a bad thing to trust individuals like.. them. That I wouldn't have minded if they came tommorow and drove me crazy with their non-stop chattering. I then quickly shook the thought out of my head, their sappiness must've been contagious or something.
A wide, slightly forced grin formed itself across my face as I began to wave goodbye, it was hard to accustom myself to all this cheerfulness. It was just too different a change from where I used to live.
"I'll be looking forward to it!" I politely replied.
With that, Celestia took into the air, almost making me fall off. Once we were pretty high up, I glanced down at Twilight and the others who were waving and seeing me off.
With a thrilling burst of speed, me, Celestia, and Luna began our flight towards my new residence. I deeply inhaled some of the fresh, high altitude air, my spirit being weirdly at an all time high.
I didn't know why, but I felt like maybe, just maybe.. fate hadn't yet abandoned me.