A short time later Bolt and Twilight arrived at the edge of Equestria. This was a feat they achieved in a short time thanks to Bolt’s lightning speed. The air grew cold and stale as they stepped out of Celestia’s territory and into the Deadlands. The ground was harsh and cold and the skies were clouded and dark cursed by an eternal night. Darkness reigned supreme over the vast wasteland of dead trees and barren fields. It was like as if whatever this place was home to it was so foul that the surrounding landscape had been warped into a dark and deathly scar upon the earth’s surface. Bolt inhaled picking up a familiar scent as if he had tasted this particular brand of stale air before. Twilight felt a shiver run down her spine as he followed after the dragon. The sight that lay before them caused Twilight to gasp placing her hoof over her mouth. What lay before them was a dead deer. It’s corpse decomposing as maggots devour its festering flesh.
“Who would do this?” Twilight asked simply shocked while shivering.
Bolt examined the body and noticed how it had a large part of its throat torn out.
“I’ve seen this method of killing before. What color was the unicorn that took your magic?” The dragon inquired while Twilight collected her wits and answered.
“B..Black. Why do you ask?”
Bolt took a deep breath and had a small smile at the danger he knew awaited them.
“Well I’m excited! But I’d but as for you. You’d have been better off staying in your library.” Bolt told Twilight as he pressed onwards into the dark valley.
Before long the duo stumbled upon an abandoned village. It was comprised of decomposing wooden cabins that were in shambles. A lone figure was wandering the ramshackle town trotting about aimlessly. Twilight smiled and rushed over warmly greeting the lone stallion.
“Hello. I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Do you think you could tell us about this place?”
The Stallion was skinny and had dark rings under his eyes from lack of sleep. Startled he reared up flailing his front legs wildly. After taking a moment to calm himself he responded in an astonishment of anxiety.
“N..o….I cannot. Misstress…wouldn’t like that at all. She is not to be disturbed.”
“Who is your Mistress?” Twilight questioned.
“I’ll destroy you! Reward me greatly she will.” Said the sickly stallion as he picked up a nearby pitchfork from a bail of hay, he swung towards Twilight.
The Stallion was met with a swift punch from the dragon’s fist as he fell to the ground dropping the farming implement.
“Not today Skippy.” Bolt stated with a smug smile he’d gained from a chance to demonstrate his strength.
“Bolt! How did you?” Twilight asked trying to recompose herself.
“I’m not the fastest thing alive just because of my quick wit."
Twilight gave an annoyed sigh at the dragon’s shameless self-praise.
“If you spent half the time you use boosting your ego to study you’d make an impeccable royal guard.”
Bolt flipped Twilight his middle claw retorting.
“Your welcome. You have a dragon don’t you? We’re greedy and egoistical by nature. Why fight what you are?” He said abruptly pushing past the Princess.