February 28,
“Hired by who?” I asked.
“I am sorry, but we cannot say. It is against our contract.” he answered.
I risked a glance toward town to make sure no one was near. He noticed.
“Do not worry about your friends. We will not harm them so long as they do not interfere.” at least he has honor.
“Thank you.” I was honestly grateful, “You have honor... except for the whole sneak attack thing.”
“I had hoped to end this quick as to cause you no unnecessary suffering.” that was actually rather kind of him... in a weird kind of way, “Forgive me, but we must continue. Thank you for your understanding. There are few who do.”
All four of us dropped into our fighting stances. The alpha struck first. I easily parried his thrust, but the kick from his pack mate that followed found it's mark, sending me into the fist of the third. They attacked as a unit exploiting my weaknesses. Their team work was admirable, or at least it would have been if it wasn't kicking my ass.
I had enough. I erupted in a blast of chaos flame sent in every direction. To my surprise and utter horror it shifted around them as charms they wore on their necks glowed. They were prepared.
This was not looking good for me. I tried summoning Philomena but was never even given time to raise my paw.
They charged again. I conjured a steel wall like I did with manticore but it faded and vanished as the lycans approached
Fire was useless, my sword was useless, my chaos magic was useless. Essentially, I was fucked, but I wasn't one to give up.
I continued striking and parrying with Piercing Light to no avail. With a powerful kick the alpha sent me flying into a tree and everything went black.
This was not the black of unconsciousness. I was somewhere that was all black. It reminded me of those anime shows where the hero is in a bind and suddenly he's mysteriously taken to a vision world and a mysterious voice suddenly...
“Greeting, Shirotora,”
speaks... seriously?
“I've been watching you for some time now. I feel it is time we spoke.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Ah, where are my manners,” a being appeared... a VERY familiar being, “I am Prince Discord.”
Holy fuck nuggets...
I was staring at the spirit of chaos and disharmony himself!
“What the hell are you doing here?” I said threateningly.
“Calm yourself, young warrior. I am not the Discord you are familiar with but a portion of his essence he encased in his sword before his mind shattered.”
“His sword? Piercing Light belongs to Discord? You're the one who saved Equestria? But Luna said he was killed.” I said
“No, she said I was consumed, and I was. It broke my mind and drove me mad, and poor Luna was forced to seal me, her own husband, in stone.”
My head was about one more reveal away from total mental meltdown, “Husband? You and Luna were..?” he nodded, “OK I’ve had enough mind fuck for now. Why am I here?”
“So I can tell you a little story. A story that took place thirteen thousand years ago. A story about the first human to come to Equestria.”
Meltdown Commencing
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Sato found himself in a very different place then the orchard he was just in. last thing he remembered was speaking to Richard a man from England.
Now he was in a strange room looking... at...a..., “RRYYYUUUUU” (Ryu is Japanese for dragon)
Discord was startled by this strange creature that appeared and started screaming in his bedroom, “Calm down strange one. I will not harm you.”
“What is that, husband?” Luna said woken by the screaming.
“Do not worry yourself, Luna.” Discord reassured her, “I will see to it.”
“You speak English.” Sato was shocked by this, and confused by the winged, horned, horse behind him.
“You speak Equestrian.” Discord was equally surprised, “I am called Discord. By what shall I address you?” he asked.
“I am Sato.” Being friends with an English merchant left his with a firm grasp of the English language, “It is an honor to meet you, Great Dragon Discord.” he gave a deep bow.
“The honor is mine, though I am no dragon....”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“Thus began a friendship that would last for the whole of Sato's life.”
I wondered how it could have been thirteen hundred years ago that a Japanese man had an English friend but decided to just say 'magic' and move on.
“So did Luna and Celestia knew what I was from the get go?” I asked.
“No, you were different from Sato, but once you made your claim to them the knew.” said Discord
“How am I different?” I asked.
“Sato came as a human, you as a tiger. He had no magic, you are powerful with it.” he said, “It was he, being a bladesmith, who created the weapon you now wield. It is a tool of great honor among his people, but this you know. What you do not know is how he made it.”
I thought of what he meant. I know the basic process of making a katana, but he made it sound like this was unique. Before I came to a conclusion Discord answered for me.
“I gave him my magic to create the katana. Using it he empowered it to take on the most noble trait of the wielder, but it must be unlocked. I will give you the knowledge of how to preform this technique.” he held out his paw and knowledge flooded my mind. My first thought was... are you kidding me?
“Dude, that's just ridiculous.” I said.
He smiled, “It was not my doing. The chaos magic, as you and I know, does have a curtain humor about it.”
his expression became serious, “Something is coming Shiro. Something evil. An old friend of mine, a dragon seer named Laalia, told me of a vision she had. She foresaw a shadow, hidden among death, shall spread across Equestria.
“She also saw a single light, a creature who is not of this world and yet no longer of his own, who will stand against the shadow. Alas she knew not which will prevail.”
“Hold up.” I said, “What you're telling me is that there is a prophecy of me saving the world? That's kinda cliche ain't it.” not to mention quite terrifying. I mean me fight some super evil thing. I’m getting my ass handed to me by a few mutts.
“It is the reason for the swords existence, and its name. I had Sato make Piercing Light for this purpose. The energy for this spell is fading. Forgive me for placing this responsibility on your shoulders, Shirotora.”
My world went white and my body slammed against the ground at the base of the tree.
I stood shakily.
“Give up and I will end it quick.” the alpha said, “I do not enjoy causing undue pain.”
“Sorry, I’m kinda stubborn, and possibly a masochist.”
They charged again, but I had a plan. I held up my palm and flashed a blinding light. In hind sight I could have killed the alpha while he was blind but I wasn't thinking about that at the time. Instead I retreated to a slightly elevated area. I wanted them to see this. Why? Cause it was going to be friggin awesome.
Step one, infuse it with my spirit. I held Piercing Light out to my side and channeled my chaos fire into it. They looked up at me and charged again. Step two, cry out your need... this was the bad ass part.
I gave them a look of pure determination and called, “BANKAI!” I know right.
Clang, clang, clang.
The sound echoed as the three wolves strikes landed on what was the most bad ass armor you could ever see. I looked like I was wearing a gundam made of blades. How awesome is that?
They jumped back to reassess their enemy, looking for weaknesses. They charged again, one of them jumping on my back latching onto my arms and legs.
With a flex of my back, a dozen blades diced him to pieces. One down, two to go.
Gray Fang and his partner charged again, using their speed to try getting around me. They thought this armor would slow me. They were wrong. It was light as a feather. I launched myself at the beta and ran him through with a Baraka-like blade from my right arm. Gray Fang's sword bounced off a shield on my left.
“Remarkable,” he said, “a sword that becomes a near impenetrable suit of armor. That is the Piercing Light is it not? It has slayed many of my kind. There is no shame in falling to that blade.”
“A blade is nothing without the hand to wield it.” I said, “I fight to protect others. That makes me strong.”
“I have threatened none but you. I even gave you my word they wouldn't be harmed.” he said.
“If you were to kill me who would protect them?” he understood what I meant.
“You are a true warrior. I am honored to die by your blade.” he said.
I released my armor and returned it to its blade form.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I held my sword at the ready, “My name is Shirotora, protector of Ponyville, and chaos mage.”
He gave me a warm smile and readied himself, “I am Gray Fang, last of the Winter Moon Clan.”
We charged.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“Once again we've finished in record time.” Mayor Mare addressed the citizens of Ponyville.
Jynx ignored her to ask Dash, “Have you seen Shiro? Big Mac said he went on his break and never came back.”
“Nope, not since he went out of town to eat his lunch, why?” Dash answered.
“I just have a bad feeling.” replied Jynx.
“You're worried about Shiro?” the rainbow pegasus laughed, “I doubt even an ursa would be able to hurt him.”
Jynx laughed too, “You're right I’m sure he's OOF” a gray blur slammed into her before she could finish.
“Oops, heh heh, sorry.” said Derpy as she climbed off the buried unicorn.
“You two alright.” Dash managed to say from her back through the fits of laughter.
“Oh, Jynx, there you are.” said the clumsy mailmare, “Shiro's fighting somepony outside of town!”
“What where?” Jynx said.
“Come on” the Gray pegasus took off with the two sisters following close.
They found the tiger on a hill, bloody. He was fighting an equally bloody werewolf.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The sound of metal striking metal resonated with each attack and parry. We were both cut up pretty bad. Jynx was going to kill me when... oh shit.
Jynx, Dash, and Derpy crested the hill approaching our fight. They were going to try to help
“Stay out of this!” I said. They stopped.
“Are you OK?” Jynx asked.
“Peachy.” I answered.
“Please, miss. He will not be able to fight to his fullest potential if he must worry about his loved ones.” Gray Fang told her.
She glared at him, “What? You son of a...”
“Please, my last wish is to die at the sword of a worthy opponent. Shirotora may be that opponent. Let him fight to his fullest.”
“So that's why you do this, despite being as honorable as you are.” I said. He nodded, “Do as he says. Stay out of this no matter what happens. I'd ask you to leave but I know you won't.”
“If you die on me, I’ll kill you.” she said in tears. It was crushing me to see her that worried
“Let's finish this quick.” I readied myself for one more charge as he did the same with a nod.
His short sword was much faster then my long sword. I needed a way to open him up and negate his speed advantage... lightbulb.
We charged putting everything we had into this moment. He thrust his weapon at my throat as I aimed for his stomach. Just before his blade ended my I whipped Piercing Light's saya from behind my back and into his wrist forcing it up and away.
We stared into each others eyes. I saw in his an undying gratitude as he pulled himself off my sword and fell into the snow.
I cleaned and returned my katana to it's saya and knelt beside the dying warrior.
“You fought well.” I said.
“As did you.” came is reply.
He put his short sword into its scabbard and held it out to me, “This is the sword of the alphas of the Winter Moon clan. As we are no more I wish for you to have it as well as all I possess. I only ask that you give me a warriors farewell.”
“I will.” I said as his life faded away.
As per his last wishes I removed his amulet and belt (it had several pouches). I put him and his companions in a row and stood back.
Jynx watched on, Dash and Derpy had left, “What are you doing? He tried to kill you. Why do what he wants?”
“It's hard to explain.” I said, “In my world honor is all but dead, but him. He was honorable. It was a strange kind of honor to me, but it was honor.” I held up my paws and released a whirlwind of silver fire, consuming the three lycans until all that was left was dust.
I turned toward home... and met with darkness.