Breaking The Rules
=Trixie=
The eating area was, quite simply, a fire pit with some rocks to sit on. Above the pit was a roasted pegasus, wings stretched out so they'd cook better. It was glazed a golden brown and covered in some kind of unknown spice, and while I was completely nauseated by the sight, my other half's tongue was hanging out of it's mouth.
"Trixie.... are you okay?"
"Quiettryingnottothinkaboutcannibalismplease."
"Um...."
"Oh, urgk.... they're eating a pegasus. At least they had the decency to kill him first... oh.... oh that's just nasty! They're fighting over who gets to eat the brain!" I simply sat on a rock with my paw under my chin while the rest gorged themselves and got drunk on piss water. Not literally piss water, but some kind of terrible slag they had the audacity to call booze.
At the same time, I was struggling between not digging in myself, but also not LOOKING like I was avoiding it. Well, until the dog from before bumped into me again. I recognized him as this body's friend, who tends to tease, but is at the same time worried about the old mutt.
"No hungry? Me eat?" He asked. I simply nodded, then browsed through the dog's memories for anything else I could find. He's a grandfather to seven pups, three of which died. His mate, not really wife since they didn't have marriage in this den, more like if you did well you could pick a female and rut her for a night till you're satisfied, but in truth they all belonged to the Alpha.... besides the point, she didn't like the conditions very much, so she got fed to the captive dragon, who privately apologized. He didn't like what position he was in, but it's either that or die from hunger. Alright. I know what I'm going to do, as soon as they're all passed out.
'Yes. That, do.' The dog piped up from the back of my mind.
'Hmm?'
'Free, dragon. Is, kind. Friend. I, old.'
'You WANT me to let the dragon out and rip this place apart?'
'So, tired. No, pain more. Me, quick die.'
'You really have given up on life, haven't you?'
'......... Yes. Save.... pups....'
'Don't you worry about that. Once your alpha has kicked the bucket, everyone who doesn't fight is going to go to Marble Pillars so they can teach some old dogs new tricks.'
'Then.... me, peace.'
"Trixie?"
"Oh, huh? Gilda?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah.... I..." A single tear fell from my eye. I mean, I have someone in my head that wants to just die and get it over with, but at the same time is happy because we're taking care of his people once the oppressor is out of the way. "Yeah.... I'm good."
I walked through the corridors until I came across the dragon's prison chamber. Then, I saw him. All chained up, the skin on his wings completely missing, and one of his eyes torn out. Only had half his teeth, had been de-clawed, and large scars all over his.... or rather, her body where the scales had grown over top and were jutting out at odd angles. She was laying alone, in the dark, head on her claws and weeping. I searched the dog's memories. His name, Muro, and the dragon, Nalia.
"Nalia." My voice was gruff and low.
"Muro?" Her voice, despite being a rather large dragon, was quiet. It was soft, and almost silken. Like she was blessing the air itself when she spoke.
"Yes, but, not just him." I could finally stop using the broken speech that the rest of the dogs did, as there were none around.
"Who?"
"Don't worry about that right now. Right now...... how'd you like to have an alpha for dinner?"
"Do not jest Muro...... I know that... how did you get the keys?" She asked as she saw me twirling the key ring around a claw.
"I told you, it's not just Muro in here. They all got drunk to celebrate turning back the 'Griffin Pirates, while I stayed sober, so nobody questioned me when I slipped out and didn't give the alpha any message. Muro wants to help you. So does Griffin, and so do I, but to do that, we're going to need your help as well."
"I've heard tales of Dragonbane and his cursed crew. What would you have of me?" I climbed up on her back, up to her neck, and unlocked the giant collar that restrained her, followed by the muzzle that kept her from opening her mouth more than half way and biting off her restraints which, after it was removed, was exactly what she did.
"Just follow my lead."
=Gilda=
"Alright Gilda, I'm ready on my end. Time to say hello again." Trixie said finally.
"You heard the lady! Descend! Prepare the ground troops!" I yelled to the rest of the crew, despite the fact that they were already prepared. Steelhorn brought the ship down, out of the clouds again, just like the first time. Several dogs on top of the hill who were inspecting the remains of their artillery began running for the shelter of the warren, only to be picked off by our sharpshooters. We disembarked and landed near the entrance of the cave, and looking in, we could see that the door was still closed.
"Second Sight, send a message up to the ship. Tell Trixie we're ready on our end." I told my rider.
"Got it." He closed his eyes, his horn glowed, and then it faded. "She says she's starting now."
=Trixie=
"Nalia, it's time. Let's go." She began slowly creeping through the tunnels, trying not to make much sound, while I rode on her back. When we arrived at the door, the dogs began backing up fearfully, and others demanded to know what was happening.
"Leader say Pirates back. Let dragon have. Open door."
"When enemy come, close door and hide, no open."
"You question alpha? You die when come. You, open door." Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a convincing argument when you have to speak in broken Equestrian? It took everything I had to not start speaking normally, but then that would have blown my cover. After thinking about it for a little, they finally decided to open it. The dogs began cranking the large, spoke wheels that opened and shut the door, and as they did, the massive iron slabs began sliding outwards, a crack of light appearing at the end of the tunnel. The dogs all looked surprised to see Gilda and the rest standing right there, with sinister smirks on their faces. The guards didn't have time to react before they were gunned down, their leather and studded armor being no match for the rifles and bows. Realizing what happened, they turned to begin fighting, as well as close the gate again, but it was too late. Nalia torched the dogs by the wheels, as well as all along the pathways overlooking the gully where the crew would enter. Nobody flanking fire on our watch. Nalia then began burning the other dogs on the ground and smashing them, clearing the way for the crew, but not before a shot came from below, passed right through her stream of fire, and hit me in the neck.
'It.... it wasn't supposed to be this way. It was supposed to be a quick death, peaceful, not bleeding out, laying on the dirt. I'm.... sorry.'
'No, care. Just.... WIN!' For the next couple minutes, nothing but silence as his vital essence slowly drained out. Finally, right at the end... 'At least, I, no, die, alone. You, here......' At that, he passed on. I could no longer feel his presence in my mind, nor sense his body. While the battle raged on below, I sat on board the ship and wept.
=Gilda=
"MURO!" The red dragon raged as it's rider took an arrow to the neck. It began throwing fire all over the dogs who were fighting, as well as those who had taken to trying to close the gate. Slowly, the iron slabs started moving inwards again, which would trap half of us inside and lock the rest out. The wounded dragon couldn't keep up, so instead of burning them, it ran and wedged itself between the doors as the dogs strained to close them. She looked straight at me with her one eye.
"GO! I will hold the door!" She boomed as the rest of our forces slipped inside, running the hounds down as they tried to fight as they fled. That was when the alpha came.
"What is the meaning of...... YOU." He glared right at me. His dogs winced and backed away, our forces pulling back as well in order to stay out of the alpha's reach. To say he was angry would be an understatement. His face was bright red, even through the fur, and he had smoke coming from his ears. "I will KILL you!"
"Fat chance Fido." I slung my bow over my back and drew my short sword and shield, both the new 'bug zapper' design Grif had come up with, which Second Sight would keep charged from my back as he gave support. "Ignis." I felt the blade hum in my claws, the shield as well, as I flapped my wings to take a bipedal stance, with my back hunched over so my rider could still see, and to give better balance. My opponent was wielding a very large club, made with a steel head but a wooden handle. Shock wouldn't work well on it, so, I figured I'd be a little creative with the shield. "Ignis." I said again. The sword buzzed with electricity, while the shield heated up, with my rubber gloves protecting me from both zaps and burns.
"No more talk. Fight!"
"I couldn't agree more!" We dove at one another, me leading with my shield, the sword held back in stabbing position, while he did a wide, overhead swing with his club towards my shield, and a punch towards my blade arm. His club connected, and at that moment, I stabbed, only for him to grab the blade in his empty paw and pull it from me, cutting himself in the process.
'Not yet.'
He brought his leg forward and kicked me in the stomach, causing me to double over before bringing his club up to my beak. I felt a crack as I was flung onto my back, dropping the shield.
'Fuck. They're a LOT tougher... that's a broken jaw for sure. There. My shield, it's on the ground.... come on, closer, closer.... now!'
"Ignis..." My rider said as the dog stood over the shield. All the magic I had been pouring into it released at once, making my shield into a flaming landmine. It sent a pillar of flame straight up between his legs, right into his testicles. He began howling in pain. Now it's time for me to use what I learned from Grif about molecular theory. He was standing there, clutching his jewels, with my sword opposite. The unicorn lifted it with telekinesis. The blade skidded across the ground, then lifted up of it's own accord and stabbed him in the back, followed by an "Ignis" from my rider, which sent a bolt of lightning straight from his horn to my blade, right through the heart.
All the other dogs stood there, watching as their leader, slightly shocked and singed, fell over onto his back, driving the blade just sticking out of his back all the way in. If he wasn't dead when the bolt hit him, he is now. I picked myself up, and feeling my jaw, realized it was indeed broken, but not too badly. Most of the pain came from the fact that it was also dislocated. My rider looked quite smug, having finished off the alpha on his own with the setup I gave him. All the other hounds just looked stunned. I motioned to the back line, where a medic pony came forward, her horn glowing and both hooves on my jaw, snapping it back into place and healing it at the same time. I opened and closed it experimentally a couple times, nodded a quick thanks, then turned to face the crowd.
"Listen up! You've LOST. Your alpha is dead, and we killed him. Your captive dragon has been set free, and unless you all want to become lunch, I suggest you listen closely. For the past who knows how long, you've been at war with Marble Pillars. No longer. With your leader's death, the war is over, and this warren is done. You're all going to come with us. We're going to bring you to your enemy's doorstep so they can re-educate you on how to be proper diamond dogs. You will finally have peace and prosperity. No more slaves, no more hunger or fear. Anyone who wants this kind of life can follow us, those who don't want redemption can instead pay for their crimes with their lives." I turned back to the crew. "Round em up boys. You know the drill."
At that point, it was pretty easy. They had all been afraid of their alpha, and did what he wanted out of fear. Now that we put him six feet under ground, they didn't fear him anymore. They feared us. And when we told them we weren't gonna hurt them, but give them better lives, still under the guidance of their own kind.... well....... they MAY have thrown a bit of a party while they marched, following our ship back to civilization. They were quite nervous standing in the gateway of their former enemies, but when they were welcomed openly, given food, medical treatment and such, by both Marble Pillars and our crew, their trepidation vanished, just like that. Some cried. Some danced. Some hugged their families. Nalia was brought with, marching alongside the dogs so she could keep her one eye on them, and on reaching our destination, she was given medical treatment as well..... as for Trixie.....
=Trixie=
"Nalia?"
"Hmm?"
"It's.... me. You don't know the voice but, I'm the one who was with Muro."
"I see......"
"I did something bad, in taking his freedom away..... and at the end of it all, you know what he did?" Another tear fell from my face. "He thanked me. I took control of his body, and he thanked me for giving him the strength to do what he had always been afraid to, he thanked me for giving his death meaning by freeing his people, and he thanked me for being next to him, in his mind, when he died so he wasn't alone. I took everything away from him, and he fucking thanked me. Am..... am I a horrible person?"
"It sounds as though you gave him a lot more than you took away. To answer your question, yes. You are a horrible pony, but at the same time, you are far less horrible than those who did.. this..." She showed all her wounds. "To me. At one point, I was starving, and the alpha fed to me Muro's family. The other option would have been to starve to death, and I truly regretted what I did. And he forgave me. Tell me. Do you regret doing what you did?"
"I don't regret saving all of you, but I do regret the way I did it. I never want to do that again......"
"Then, I'm sure he forgives you as well. I have lived a long time, and I know we must sometimes do things we do not like, things that we hate, and we know are wrong, just to keep living. Allow them to haunt you, so that you will never forget, and never fall to corruption. One who kills for a good reason, but regrets it, will never kill for a bad reason."
".... Thank.... you."
"Now go, I am sure you have other things that require your attention, one of which is rest. You and Muro have had a long day, and he is resting while you still linger in the waking world."
=Griffin=
Laying in bed, I was going over a new way to use a couple spells I knew, but couldn't test it out while I was in bed. It was also one of those things I just wanted to try myself, as I can't have Gilda running off to try every new thing I come up with. After all, she's got a ship to run. It was at this point that Trixie came bursting in, walked right up to my bed, and put her head on my chest.
"Never again Grif. We won the fight, only lost a couple of our own, hardly killed any of the dogs, gained a new ally, as well as freed the entire pack, as well as their slaves, many of which have already expressed their desire to join the crew. This was a huge success, and I never want to do what I did ever again. When you become captain again, please don't make me....."
I rubbed her head with my claw. "I won't Trix. I won't......" I don't know what happened inside her head, I don't think I ever will, and I'm not sure I even want to know, but if it tore her up this much, I can't make her do it again. She took someone else's mind, and made their body her plaything. She had access to every aspect of their being, and probably saw a good portion of their life, only to have them die and be ripped away. You become so intimately familiar with the one you dominate, you could almost call them your friend, and knowing that you've given them a death sentence is more than most can take. After all, Trixie is still a pony. An incredibly violent, angry pony, but a pony none the less, and this time we pushed her past where she was ready and able to go. I don't know if she'll ever feel the same afterwards. She'll recover, and get back to normal, but inside she'll always be a little bit different from now on. She'll have that sense of longing for the one she took, and empty spot in her heart that she can never fill.
First? Great chapter.
Not sure if Trixie adopted Griffin's way of speaking or if it was a mistake. Nalia says that yes she's a horrible pony but it's up to you.
I'm glad you didn't have Muro screaming bloody murder in her mind the whole time, that would have completely shattered her psyche.
Good job
-Sturrn
A good resolution, now to see if any of the crew questions the opening of the door/how they got a saboteur in the fortress.
1327192 No. That's on purpose. Trixie speaks with human mannerisms. The dragon used the specific 'pony talk'.
1327212 The crew knows better than to ask about that shit.
Also, in case anyone was wondering why the fight seemed short. It was just a quick trading of blows and a conclusion. That's how fights NORMALLY are. Each fighter gives their opening attack, they clash, and keep going till one gets tired or makes a mistake, which the other then capitalizes on to kill them. The kind of 'For three days atop the mountain they fought, the ground shook as they grappled' garbage people usually throw out there just doesn't happen. And the reason is, if they are truly matched in strength and skill, it doesn't matter how much endurance you have, if they're skilled enough to not die within the first twenty seconds, then you'll wear each other out within five minutes. The only 'long' battles are battles of sheer numbers, or sieges.
Awww Yes.
1327192
She Seems To Have.
1327192, you will daww at my sig \/th05.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/262/5/7/snuggle_time_by_erinkarsath-d5favl2.png I made a statement, so I have to do this. BABALITY
And if you want a link to brony music, click this<sig
1327317 The average duel between samurai was no more than a few seconds.
Awesome chapter. I feel bad for Trixie. The thought of what she went through is just horrible.
Great now I am all sad about what just happened. So now trixie is going to be haunted by the death of muro. Griffin has new spells to test and now they took control of another group of dogs. Now I wonder what else is going to happen in the crazy little brain of yours. Hopefully it is something delightfully funny, violent, or sad. See you soon Yuki Harima-out!
Man, poor Trix. That has to be some serious shit....
I swear, in this sea of amazing fan fiction I almost completely forget how big of dick canon Trixie is.
1327317 I'm not sure what you guys mean by "pony talk". I haven't really seen a difference between the way ponies and humans talk, but okay.
Great chapter, but I still think there had to be another way, one that didn't involve doing something so horrible. I know it's just fiction, but I've actually grown to care for these characters, and want to see them succeed.
wow......
1327679 Saying everypony instead of everyone. That's what pony talk is.
1327317 I'm now curious how many fights you've been in and/or why you are so observant of them. Most people don't understand or realize what you've just stated. Regardless of how you've come to the information, this is true.
1327621
I think Nalia is more likely to stay at Marble Pillars. They've already got a few dragons there, and a one-eyed flightless dragon would probably be more of a drain on the Griffin Pirates' resources than a help.
1327621 Don't they have Shimmer already?
1328106 I wouldn't really call them fights as much as one person beating the stuffing out of another one. If if it's a complete curb stomping and the loser didn't land a single hit on the winner, the winner is STILL exhausted. I've seen plenty, and been in a couple. Most of them, I'd just run away, and the other person would chase me. By the time they caught up they'd be too tired to do more than give me one or two lousy hits to the face, and I'd be too tired to feel them, at which point I'd just kick em and be done with it. And that's only if they caught me. Most of the time I'd run through a crowd, and they'd run INTO the crowd, who would then be mad at them for not looking where they were going, and suddenly, instead of me being their opponent, now it's the captain of the football team, who's in full gear. Yes, I fight dirty. Thankfully, I haven't had to put up with that for years now.
1327317 But I can fight for 3 days atop a mountain! It's no different than when me and my brother went without sleep for 2 days straight, shoveling snow almost nonstop after the big snowstorms last year.
Of course, we're mutants from NJ, altered by the ambient radioactive waste and chemical spills.
I knew that roasted pegasus... one of my best and oldest friends.
And now I shall activate a wormhole weapon upon this accursed world. NOPONY CAN BEAT A WORMHOLE WEAPON!!
poor Trixie
The only way to truly fight your enemy, to know every last weakness and every last strength, is to befriend them. And then, the only way to truly fight your enemy is to be cold enough to kill your friend.
I have no other words.
1328381
(first 2 sentences)That is very true.
You fight/fought very differently from myself. Personally I preferred to end that sort of "stuff" because I didn't feel like anyone that would bully me or my friends, as it sounds like you were, deserved my time. Sadly this resulted in multiple arrests - when they would go after my friends instead of me - many hospital trips(both, not as often myself as I really don't like hospitals) and lots of scars. I learned very quickly how to efficiently fight, that is, to maximize what my offensive actions did. I feel obligated to add that I never got anything on my record for these fights, because those who arrested me agreed with what I was doing but were arresting me for the other persons safety. There is no such thing as fighting dirty, only victor(s) and those defeated.
Also I have no idea what you are like physically, unless you truly inserted yourself in this 'fic.
But to give you an idea I'm 169cm/5'6" and weigh 98kg/216 lbs "dry" (proud to say there is very little fat on that)
So I was the "football captain" amongst or for my friends.
YAS! You used my quote didn't you? Don't worry, I wont tell
also, poor Trixie
1327621
he sayed that the dragon who means no harm would not been killed by his wrath
only the one who seek harm to other would die
she is save, he sayed it to spike as well remember?
1329272 During my 'bullied' time, I was a string bean.
1330864 Yeah, being "light" most certainly would not be conducive to my style or method of fighting. It would be to yours 'cause light=light or quick movements that could be done for awhile because your light. <--That doesn't want to make sense, so example: For myself I could not move quickly through a crowd unless I didn't care that I may start a fight, where you would've been able to quickly "flow" through that same crowd.
1330908 Anyways. Enough about what kind of fights we got into (or avoided) at school. Time for poni.
1331071 да
Oh, you were talking about school...
huh.
1331102 Sometimes on the street, was usually at school. Still was bloody. The fact that it was in an institution of learning no less and the faculty did jack about it...... that's the city I live in.
1331127 Ah, I fought something similar to 75/25 when I was still a school goer. Where I grew up the "institution of learning" probably wouldn't bat a eye if you killed the guy, that was simply the place I grew up in. You live in the States correct? Actually I think you said you were Canadian so...huh, didn't think that would happen in that country.
I rhymed - so happy
1331147 I am Canadian. It happens here, just less often.
1331170 Ah, lots of Canadians on this site. Not a bad thing.
Curiosity: Why have you responded so consistently to me? Curious due to a number of other commentors that haven't been answered or is it that many of their comments are more of a non-respond able sort of comment? (They aren't really the type that can be responded to)
*Curiosity: At your discretion to respond to.*
1331212 Mostly because they don't say things that are open ended enough for a discussion, or direct enough to warrant answering. Also, just in case anyone is wondering....... I will NOT stop picking on Trixie. She's literally this story's punching bag. In fact, there's gonna be insight later in that the universe hates her almost as much as it hates Grif. (Ex, any NORMAL town, upon Trixie claiming to have defeated an ursa major, would just 'yeah, whatever' Ponyville is full of enough crazy to have someone try and make her prove it.) She's one of those people everything just goes wrong for by twists of fate, which is part of why she's with Grif's crew, because things actually started going right.
1331234 Very methodical of you, smart thing to considering how many notifications you probably get from your stories. Regardless you are a very interesting individual in the real world thanks to your past, unusual observational skills and the fact that you learn quickly. <--All that is from my experiences with people, most make you look like Einstein combined with Benjamin Franklin, and other famous inventors, levels of "smart."
The overall (background/ambient?) feel of your stories feels odd. Hard to describe and the word doesn't have translation.
... i want moar...
Omagerd...
you just twisted mah heart a little on tha inside...
1328554
Now you're thinking with portals.
1327317
My dad occasionally comments about this fact when watching movies. Just look at an average boxing match to see how a real fight looks like. If someone doesn't make a mistake, both combatants would just collapse from exhaustion.
An odd grey mole thing pokes his head out of the dirt and looks around the burned, scorched, abandoned mine. After making sure the coast was clear, he crawled out dragging a clock with his tail.
1334394 it's called living the dream...i read a part of it and stopped
1333616 I don't think you can use these particular wormholes as portals... unless you're heading to 'oblivion'. I'm thinking wormhole weapon "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars"-style.
As in, things can can make solar systems go bye-bye in a few minutes.
If the only way to break the mind rape is to die, then what if you were to invoke cardiac arrest and revive them?
'At least, I, no, die, alone. You, here......' At that, he passed on. I could no longer feel his presence in my mind, nor sense his body. While the battle raged on below, I sat on board the ship and wept. I cried so hard right here ....didn't help that If everyone cared by Nickleback was playing on Pandora :(
2005640 I heard Cynder from Spyro.
1333616 Wrong rodent, I know, but I just have to do this.
The mole crawls out of his hole, and starts scampering in a seemingly random direction. "I'm late!"he says."I'm late for a very important date!"
Poor Muro... Also,
Okay, he had chemicals that could melt the door, explosives to blow up the door, yet they did mind control...
2358018 Sorry to nitpick, but, rabbits, being lagomorphs, are actually more closely related to ponies than, say, rats.
Come to think, this goes a fair way towards explaining Angel Bunny's level of sapience. Thank you for this interesting thought.
Ego separaro i think would counter the domination... or se abdicare... Edo Liberaro (emancipate)
These chapters about Griffin's "Ego dominus" spell should be required reading at one of the groups I found here the other day, just to show its members what crap like that would really be like... Sadly, knowing their tastes, it probably won't be.
So true, so true.
Well that was an incredibly Black take on mental manipulation AKA mind rape. Use this spell at your own Peril indeed. I personally thought it was really good. no one should ever have ultimate dominion over another without Supreme consequences no matter how good your intentions are.
I honestly feel really bad for Trixie because for the rest of her life she will have to live with what she did to that Diamond dog orders or not.