The Creature dove into the center of the pack of Diamond Dogs, swinging a serrated staff through the air.
The first Diamond Dog was cleaved at the midsection.
Another came from behind, but lost a head for his attempt.
Twilight covered Squeaks eyes to shield her from the gore.
Two more Diamond dogs fell pray to the creatures amazing grace with the weapon. It was as if the weapon and its master were one being.
The Diamond Dog king was the last left standing. He stumbled back as he pleaded with the monster before him.
Twilight opened her eyes to see what it was.
It was a tall cloaked figure who walked on two legs.
It couldn't be.
"Please! Let me live! I-I didn't do anything wrong. We were just having fun, we didn't-"
The kings please were cut short by the staff. The creature plunged it straight through his head.
The Diamond Dog king lay dead in the sands of the desert.
The creature began to walk towards her and Squeak.
"It's ok, sweetheart. i'll protect you!" Twilight yelled.
"There's nothing she needs protection from." The voice said helping Twilight to their feet.
The voice was all too familiar. One that was burned into her mind since she first heard it.
The figure pulled his hood back.
Cole.
Twilight jumped up, Horn aglow. "Stay back! Don't touch her."
He stopped and looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.
"It's ok." He said. "I promise I wont hurt you." He threw the staff to the ground and inched forward.
Twilight's horn faded and she accepted the help up.
Cole got a look at the little filly who was curled up between Twilights forelegs.
He recognized two ponies in one. She had the pink hair of the pony whom he held captive all those years ago.
And she had the same color coat of the Pony who defeated him.
Woodwind. This must be his child.
"And what's your name?" He asked, helping the tiny pony to her hooves.
"Uhmm, i'm Squeak." She said as she hid behind her mane.
Twilight step forward, trying to separate him from the child.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle. She said. "And what in the world are you still doing alive?" She demanded
"Easy." He said. "When me and Woodwind tumbled off the cliff, we landed in the water. Pretty simple, right?" he shrugged and continued the story.
"I floated down river for miles and miles. I eventually stopped drifted upon a shore right outside these desert lands. I stayed here training. Plotting my revenge against you all." He said.
Twilight glowered at him at the word, "Revenge"
"But as the years passed, I found myself not angry at Woodwind, but angry with myself. He had been my oldest friend and I turned my back on him. I betrayed him. I could never forgive myself." He finished hanging his head low.
Twilight looked him over. "So what? You're just done fighting us?" She asked.
"Thats what i'm saying." He said kneeling so he was eye level with her. "I promise you that i just want to live the rest of my life in peace and quite out here." He told her.
She could read the sincerity in his eyes like a book. There was no lie in them.
He was being honest.
"You know my daddy?" Squeak asked leaning up at the man.
Cole smiled at her. "Yes I did. He was the most noble soldier i ever had the pleasure of meeting. You should be proud of you father."
"Oh, I am!" She said fluttering her tiny wings with glee.
Cole laughed. "God you are just the cutest thing I've ever seen." he smiled, patting her on the head.
He stood suddenly when he heard a familiar voice call out to his friend and daughter.
"I'll take my leave now." He said "Take care." He stood and strode off into the haze of the morning heat.
"Squeak? Twilight?" He yelled again. Still no answer.
He had been walking for about twenty minutes now, the morning sun beating down on the desert like a drum.
Woodwind was exhausted. He spent the entire night in the cave of power and almost lost his mind. His emotional levels were off the charts. He just wanted to cave in on himself and let the world evaporate around him.
But he had a job to do.
He closed his eyes and kept walking, which is when he tripped over the dog carcass.
He saw a burn mark on its chest; obviously a magic blast, and he saw the paw prints on almost every square inch of the body. Obviously trampled.
He knew he was getting close. He called their names again.
"Squeak? Twilight?"
He heard a faint little voice off in the distance call to him.
He bolted to her.
Nothing would make him happier than to hold his daughter in his arms. To know that she was safe.
He needed her now more than anything.
But something caused him to stop.
A figure stood and walked off into the mist. It was not on four legs.
It walked on two.
Woodwind stood perplexed as he watched it disappear into the haze of he desert. Was it mearly a mirage?
Or something much more?
He saw Squeak bound out of the haze and slammed into him.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy! I missed you!" She yelled, nuzzling him.
He held his daughter close. As close as he could. "Squeak. My little Squeak!" He said beginning to cry again.
Twilight came trotting over. "Do you have it?" She asked.
Woodwind lifted his wing to reveal the beautiful flower tucked beneath. Squeak stared at it in awe.
"Good, you did it!" Twilight continued. "Now, lets go home. Fluttershy's still waiting."