//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: A Strange Beginning // Story: A Lost Hero // by Emerald Byte //------------------------------// Chapter 1: A strange beginning Celestia yawned on the balcony overlooking Equestria as the sun began to set on what had been a long day in. Celestia had been searching for the cause of the disturbance in the magic of Equestria she and her sister had been feeling the past few days, on top of her normal regal duties. “Rest sister i will watch the night,” Luna said as she landed behind Celestia and took her place at the telescope. As Celestia began to walk back inside of Canterlot Castle she sleepily replied to her sister“Thank you Luna, I do need some rest.” Night set over Equestria as Luna began her watch for any strange happenings that might be the cause of the magical disturbance. As Luna took her eye away from the telescope to gaze over Equestria she saw an explosion in the sky over Everfree Forest. Luna quickly trained in the telescope on the explosion to see a trail of smoke trail down towards the ground as she heard it crash a massive dust cloud rose from the site. Luna turned to two guards behind her “Prepare a chariot immediately,” as the guard ponies galloped off she turned back to gaze at the dust cloud, with concern filling her heart wondering if this was the cause of the disturbance she and her sister feared. *********** Luna arrived at the site of the crash shortly with two pegasus guards drawing her chariot. As she stepped off the chariot she saw the skid trail of whatever had landed from that explosion. At the end of the trail against a tree, she found something strange, it was a creature she had never seen before. Like a dragon it had two arms and two legs but it had no scales and wore strange clothing. The creature also had no fur except for that upon its head. The creature was unconscious and covered in cuts and burns, Luna looked in awe as the injuries seemed to glow a faint green and heal themselves right before her eyes. “Shackle this creature, we shall put it in the dungeon until it can be questioned,” Luna ordered to her two guards. Luna still had worry in her heart wondering what this creature was and what trouble it might bring, for she could feel the magic of Equestria avoiding this creature. After the guards loaded the shackled and unconscious creature onto the chariot, Luna spotted some sort of metal object sticking out of the ground and noticed the creature had some sort of satchel on his left side. “Confiscate that satchel and take that metal contraption too,” she commanded, as they prepared to leave back for Canterlot Castle. *********** Luna watched the creature in the dungeon as it lay unconscious watching, how the creatures face cringed in pain as the wounds healed themselves. Luna left two guards in watch of the creature with order to call for her when it was awake. Luna went to inform her sister of the creature but only to see her sister show concern for it when she saw it in such pain. “Sister why do you worry for this creature you must feel that the magic avoids it,” Luna said sternly to her sister. Celestia looked to Luna and replied calmly, “Yes but you too can feel sister that there is more to the disturbance than this creature,” Celestia sighed “and also why should I condemn this creature when we know nothing about it, you should open your heart more sister do not let fear cloud your judgement.” Celestia left her sister in the throne room as she went back to rest, knowing that everypony would be worried and full of questions the next day about the explosion and the crash in Everfree Forest. *********** Three days have passed since the capture of the creature, with no change in the daily routine of it lying on the floor healing. Luna departed to the dungeon to check on the creature once more to check on the creature and see if there was any changes. As she closed the door to the dungeon behind her she saw the creatures eyes open and it sat up and fall on its back as it attempted to stand. Luna edged closer as the creature looked around its surroundings and soon she and the creature locked eyes. Luna cleared her throat and spoke in her royal voice “Ahh, I see you're awake,” the creature seems startled but replies with a stern look on his face “who are you, and where am I”. Luna chuckled a little at the creatures attempt to be bold “O my, aren’t we demanding for a creature locked in a cell.” The creature is stunned with the incredible sound of authority in Luna’s voice and replies, “No, I’m sorry I wasn’t demanding I am just worried I don’t know how I got here I can’t remember hardly anything.” Luna steps forward into the light so the creature can see her and can instantly see the surprise in the creatures brown eyes behind it's glasses, “Tell me what you are creature and what you are doing here” Luna demands, the creature answers calmly and clearly but with surprise in his voice, “I am a human I don’t know how I got here I told you that I don’t even know where I am…”. Luna interrupts him with a yell, “Silence! You appeared when you fell from an explosion in the sky and I will know what you’re doing here and…”, “Enough!, can’t you see he knows nothing of why he is here Luna”, interrupts Celestia as she approaches from the dungeon door. “But how can you trust him so easily Celestia”, Luna replies as she swore she caught a glimpse of a green flash in the human's eyes. “Look at him and look at his eyes it is clear he is not lying dear sister. Now what is your name human?”, the boy looked at Celestia and Luna and in a confident tone replied “Kald, my name is Kald.” “Good” replied Celestia “now can you remember anything from before you awoke here?”, “Nothing” Kald says sadly, “all I can remember is that I’m a human and that my name is Kald other than that everything is a blur. Celestia and Luna turn away and talk amongst themselves for a short while until Celestia turns to face Kald, “We will find out something to do with you Kald I’m sorry but you must stay in here for now but here have some apples and water you must be hungry from sleeping for three days.” A pony clad in armor walks over and slides a bowl of apples and a bowl of water in the cell, Kald takes an apple and quickly takes a bite and starts to eat, “Thank you very much” he says between his bites as he continues to eat, “You're welcome”, said Celestia as she and Luna departed. Kald begins to think to himself as he eats, “Well this seems interesting, seems i’m in a world of ponies,” Kald chuckles a little to himself, “I better learn their ways if i am to make it by i guess,” as he smiles to himself. After his meal Kald slid the bowls back to the guard and laid down on the stone floor to get some actual sleep. *********** Awakening to the sound of his cell door opening Kald looks to see two guard ponies at his cell door, “Get up it's time to see the princess”, said one the guards’ while the other remained stern and silent. Kald obeyed quietly and got up and shuffled along next to the guards with his shackles on his wrists and ankles and was lead through a dungeon that eventually lead to a throne room where Celestia sat on her throne with Luna standing next to her and many other ponies in the hall all staring at him, Kald felt uneasy with all the gazing eyes of uncertainty. Celestia rose and spoke to crowd, “Citizens of Canterlot I bring before you the creature that was found four days ago after the explosion in the night sky, this creature is called a Human as he has proclaimed and has given us his name of which is Kald, I ask everypony what say you on the matter of how to deal with the Human?”. Kald thought to himself and carefully took notice how Celestia used “pony” in place of “body” in her word as he continued to listen so as to learn how to speak as they do. Luna glanced over at Kald and swore again that she saw the same green glow in his eyes as he listened to Celestia but only for an instant, it appeared as quickly as it vanished. There was a murmuring in the crowd as they all chattered amongst themselves until one pony stepped forward and with his nose held high proclaimed, “I think he should be eliminated, who knows what dangers he could cause after that massive explosion in the sky, it was felt all over Equestria I believe him to be too dangerous.” The muttering grew louder as the ponies grew more worrisome and then a female pony stepped forward, “You said his name was Kald correct, what does he have to say about the explosion, what is his story?” Kald raised his head to speak, “I don’t know anything about the explosion or of how I got here, but I promise you I mean no harm I want to know what happened and who I am as much as you do”. The female pony looked puzzled at what Kald has said, “You seem innocent enough to me human but how do we know we can trust you?”, “Yea!” the crowd roared in unison, as the murmuring of the crowd grew louder. Kald watched as the crowd of ponies argued amongst themselves over his fate and wondered if there would be anypony that would be on his side. At that moment Kald thought he saw something moving through the crowd, he couldn't see what it was but then suddenly amongst the commotion a voice yelled “Listen!”, silence fell over the room as a little white unicorn walked up to the front of the crowd and spoke in her little voice “You all wonder if we can trust him and want to try to make all these decisions why don’t we give the human a chance to prove himself?”, Kald was silent in awe at this display of bravery shown on his behalf. Celestia rose from her throne at the end of the child’s words and spoke “That is a terrific decision young one, the human will be sent to Ponyville under the supervision of Canterlot guard to provide help and service to the citizens of the town and prove his innocence through good behavior and community service”, Kald was relieved to hear that nothing bad would happen and that the one who seemed to be in charge at least saw fit to give him a chance. Kald looked at the unicorn filly and their eyes met and Kald smiled and slightly bowed to the child show his appreciation, and she smiled back at him as she withdrew back to the crowd. Celestia turned to Kald, “Do you have anything to say on this decision?”, Kald took a deep breath and spoke loud enough for everyone in the throne room to hear, “Thank you everypony, I hope to be able to repay you for your kindness and to exceed your expectations”, then Kald bowed and was lead back to his cell to await his ride to Ponyville where he would begin his community service to the ponies of the town. *********** Kald took a nap leaning against the wall of his cell till he was awakened by the familiar sound of the door opening, but this time a guard came in to unlock his shackles, “Follow them” said the guard as he pointed to two other gaurds with his hoof, Kald obeyed and walked with the two guards till they arrived outside at what seemed like a chariot that had two armored pegasi to draw it. Kald stepped onto the chariot as instructed along with his 2 guards and they were off, lifted into the sky by the pegasi, Kald grabbed onto the front of the chariot to stay aboard and in no time they landed just outside a bustling town of ponies, Kald and the guards stepped off the chariot and the pegasi took off flying back to Canterlot. Kald was lead into town and up onto a stage where a pony came up two a podium and spoke, “Hello everypony it is my pleasure to introduce to you all the creature that will be helping us around town from now on he is called a human and his name is Kald, I have been informed by princess Celestia that he is here to help us with whatever we need and is under the watch of Canterlot guard so please, everypony get acquainted with the human” The pony walked over to Kald and help out her hoof “Nice to meet you I am the mayor of Ponyville and am happy to make your acquaintance”, Kald shook her hoof and smiled, “Thank you I look forward to helping everypony”, “Good” said the mayor “I hope you find whatever you need here and make friends with everypony, I have your first assignment here and it is for you to go help Fluttershy with some animals, just return here when you’re done”, Kald thanked her and was lead off to do his first assignment. *********** Kald soon found himself standing outside what looked to be a house covered in grass with woodland critters all around, wondering what kind of pony Fluttershy was Kald nervously approached the door and knocked “Ms. Fluttershy I am here to help you with the critters for today,” he said and a very soft reply returned “O so soon I hadn’t expected any help for a little while sorry to make you… EEP!!!,” the pony had slammed the door shut with only a glance and was gone as quickly as she had appeared, Kald only was able to see the slightest flash of yellow and pink. A little disheartened at the reaction Kald knocked again, “Ms. Fluttershy? Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you I’m here to help,” Fluttershy quickly responded softly and with a quivering fear in her voice, “Umm no that’s ok I can handle it myself today no need for you to help it’s alright,” Kald was puzzled for a moment but quickly accepted that this would probably be the normal reaction to him. Kald then spoke again “Ms. Fluttershy if you would can you sign my task form then?”, in a flash Kald saw the door open the form disappear from his hand and the form back again floating in the air with a hastily scribbled Fluttershy on the line where it needed to be signed. Kald hung his head a little, saddened at his first attempt at helping somepony, “I’ll be leaving now Ms. Fluttershy, I’m sorry to have troubled you,” and with that said Kald turned around to the guards and started his walk back to town wondering if anyone would begin to accept him here. *********** When Kald arrived back in town he sat down at what appeared to be a Café but he felt so out of place with everyone staring at him, he imagined that it would be best to get used to it since he didn’t really belong here and knew that it would probably be this way for a while. Kald sat in silence at his table thinking of what to do since his assignment that was supposed to take all day turned into a disaster, Kald hung his head a little losing some of his confidence in making it in this place, but suddenly a yell broke the silence “Look up there!”, as a pony pointed to the roof of a building. Kald looked to see what appeared to be a little filly on the roof trying to get a scooter that was stuck in the roof but once the small filly had pulled it loose she began to fall, Kald quickly jumped up from his chair and ran as fast as he could towards where the small pony was falling two green rings appeared around each of his legs one at each of his ankles and another just below his knees. Kald jumped with his arms outstretched and caught the filly in the air and turned so that small pony stayed protected as he fell to the ground and slid up to and bumped the wall of the building, once stopped the rings around Kald’s legs vanished and as Kald unfolded his arms and released the filly he realized it was an orange pegasus filly. The small pegasus jumped out of his arms and looked back at him and smiled, “Thanks mister, I thought I was a goner there,” Kald looked back surprised but smiled back at the filly pegasus “No problem I was happy to help, but why aren’t you scared like the rest?”, the small pegasus just kept smiling and said “I saw you on the stage at town hall your name is Kald right you’re the human,” she held out her hoof and Kald grasped it with his hand and shook her hoof as the pegasus continued, “my name is Scootaloo it is nice to meet you,” Kald’s smile grew wider as his hand let go of her hoof, “It’s nice to meet you too, so what were you doing up there?” he asked. Scootaloo blushed a little embarrassed “Well I was doing tricks on my scooter when I lost control and it landed up on top of that house so I went to get it,” Kald looked at the pegasus impressed, “well that was brave of you to go up there by yourself but next time ask for help so that way you won’t hurt yourself,” he said as he stood up and dusted himself off, and at that time Kald noticed that everypony in the area was staring at him but this time not with fear but with astonishment and approval. A waitress pony trotted over to Kald and apologized for not coming to him when he was at the table, but Kald just smiled and told her it was alright, Kald understood that it would take time for everypony to get used to him. Kald then returned to his table waving at Scootaloo as she rode off on her scooter, the waitress brought him a cup of apple cider on the house as apologies for the way he was treated, he smiled and drank it happily and enjoyed ponies acknowledging him and greeting him instead of avoiding him and just staring at him with fear. As Kald sat at the table he wondered to himself what that was that happened to him that allowed him to jump that high, and why it seemed like what it was is important somehow. Kald strained to think of what it could be or why it was so important but to no avail. As the day neared to an end Kald saw the chariot which had carried him to Ponyville return and as he was lead back on the chariot he turned around to see some pony’s waving him off and smiling awaiting his return tomorrow, Kald smiled and thought to himself, “Maybe today wasn’t so bad” as he was carried back to Canterlot castle to await the next day to arrive. *********** Upon Kald’s return to Ponyville he was greeted by some eager pony’s and the mayor with his next assignment to help a pony named Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres collect some apples, the guards lead Kald down a road towards what appeared to be a giant barn and all around were apple trees. Kald soon say an orange pony with what looked like a faded yellow mane wearing a western style hat, “Hello Ms. AppleJack I am here to help you with the apples today,” Kald said waving and smiling. Applejack turned and bucked a tree to make all the apples fall off into a bucket and then trotted over to Kald, “Well sugarcube you don’t look like much but let’s see what ya can do,” as she pointed with her hoof to another apple tree, “Just give it a good kick and round up all the apples into a bucket,” Kald nodded and walked over to the tree. Kald brought his leg around the side ending with a good side kick to the tree, then almost immediately stumbled backwards and sat on the grass and held his foot “Ouch!”. Kald sat rubbing his throbbing foot as he turned to see Applejack laughing, “Well that’s a nice try sugarcube but I don’t think yer’ tough enough for the job,” Kald then saw a pile of junk next to the side of the barn and Applejack could have sworn she saw the boys brown eyes flash a light green color but dismissed it as an illusion brought on by the heat, “Hold on a second, I have an idea,” Kald said as he got up and walked over to the junk pile pulled out a sturdy board that used to belonged to a broken wagon. Applejack look confused, “What y’all gonna do with a piece of an ole’ cart?”, Kald smiled and looked back at her and just said “Watch”, Applejack thought she saw the green glow in his eyes again as he took off at the apple tree he tried to kick earlier and gave it a good smack with the board which seemed to have done the trick as the apples came falling down and he began to pick them up and put them in a bucket. “Good thinkin sugarcube” Applejack said walking over to Kald “but we have a lot to go,” Kald looked back to Applejack “Don’t worry i'm up to the task you can count on me,” as he smiled at his own confidence Kald walked with Applejack throughout the orchard helping knock down and round up apples. At the end of the job Applejack signed Kald’s task form and sent him on his way back to town, on the walk back Kald thought to himself, “Well it’s not that I’ve made friends of everyone but it seems like they trust me some and that’s a start,” when he arrived back at Town Hall the mayor gave Kald another assignment, he was to accompany a unicorn named Rarity on a dig to get some gems and do whatever else she needed. Kald took the task form with a smile, glad to meet another new pony; the guards lead Kald through town to a marvelous store called Carousel Boutique as Kald walked through the door he say a bag float through the air and land on the back of a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane. Kald was astonished and then realized his mouth was hanging open and quickly composed himself and realized there was more than just the pegasus in the room, there was also a small purple dragon with green spikes and a white unicorn with a purple mane, Kald was a little embarrassed at his reaction to seeing the pegasus, “Umm I am here to help and accompany Rarity on finding gems,” the white mare spoke, “O darling so you’re the one they sent to help us, hmm you're that human thing aren’t you eh I’m not sure what I can do with you,” the cyan pegasus turned to the mare, “O come on Rarity give the guy a break he is here to help after all,” Rarity sighed “O, I guess you're right Rainbow Dash, here carry these for me”, as she threw her bags to Kald to carry. Kald slung the bags over his shoulders “No problem Ms. Rarity, I’ll do what I can,” Rainbow Dash laughed “’Ms.’ Rarity o that’s rich” she said as she continued to laugh, Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash “What is so funny about that Rainbow Dash at least it seems he has some class,” Rarity turned to look at the dragon “Come on then Spike let’s get a move on, you too Rainbow Dash” she called as she walked past Kald and out the door along with Rainbow Dash and Spike following behind her, Kald proceeded to follow behind Spike with Rarity’s bags. Spike turned to look at Kald and narrowed his eyes “You better not be trying to move in on Rarity with all that fancy ‘Ms.’ stuff you got me,” Kald was surprised but replied with a smile, “Yea I got you, but don’t worry I’m not moving in on anyone I was just being polite,” Spike narrowed his eyes a little more, “I’ll be watching you,” he said as he turned back towards Rarity. Kald was at unease wondering if he had done something wrong and if he had offended the little dragon, but he couldn’t let that stop him he needed to be of some help. *********** The walk ended when the group was in a canyon, Rarity stepped forward and pointed her horn towards the ground and Kald could see it glow a light blue and as Rarity kept walking Kald soon saw gems through the ground, “Here” she pointed and Spike walked over and quickly began to dig up the gems, “Wow” Kald gasped, “How did you do that?” he asked Rarity who looked at him with puzzlement “What you haven’t ever seen magic before?” Kald look at her with amazement “No I haven’t do you think you could show me more later?” Rarity just chuckled “Well I don’t know about that but maybe sometime darling,” Spike walked over with his arms full of gems and placed them in the bags Kald carried glaring at him as he walked away. Rainbow Dash flew over to Kald “Don’t worry about him he just has a crush on Rarity”, she chuckled “Is that so,” Kald replied while he began to watch spike and could see it clearly as he watch how Spike acted around Rarity. Kald smiled and turned to Rainbow Dash “Thank you, that makes me feel better knowing that, I thought I had done something to offend him,” Rainbow Dash patted Kald on the back “Don’t mention it, your name is Kald right?” Kald nodded “well, I’m Rainbow Dash I hope you get used to stuff here,” Kald smiled at her “Thanks”, Rainbow Dash then flew up and trotted next to Rarity. As the gem collecting continued until finally all the bags were full of gems and Rarity smiled “O this is marvelous these gems are absolutely gorgeous, now let’s get them back to the shop”, as Rarity turned around to lead the way back, when suddenly, Wham! The two guards had been slammed into the side of the canyon and were unconscious, Kald quickly turned around only to see a black dragon a little taller than Kald. The dragon stood as tall as he could and glared at Rarity “Why look at all these gems you have gathered for me my little pony, I’ll be glad to take them now” the dragon smiled showing his teeth, Kald placed himself between the dragon and the rest of the group “Rainbow Dash, Spike, Rarity, get the guards and run I’ll hold him off,” the dragon laughed and slammed Kald into the side of the canyon with a single swipe of his tail “Puny creature how can you hope to stop me” said the dragon as he stepped forwards towards Rarity. Kald got up and yelled, “Leave them alone” and rammed his shoulder into the dragon as hard as he could knocking him over to the side, “Hurry and run!” yelled Kald back to the pony’s and Spike as the dragon slammed his tail down on Kald crashing him to the ground, “Your beginning to annoy me” growled the dragon as he removed his tail from over Kald and walked back to Rarity, “Now give me those gems pony!” he roared as he began to bring his claw down to slap Rarity aside but then Bam! The dragon looked shocked as Kald had gotten up and stopped his claw with nothing more than one arm, but on Kald’s arm there were two green rings glowing one at his wrist and one just below the elbow, Kald then looked up at the dragon and the dragon began to show confusion as Kald’s eyes were now glowing a light green. Kald yelled at the dragon, “I thought I told you, to leave them alone!” as he threw the dragons claw back making the dragon stumble, Kald made a fist with his right hand and as he did the small dark green rings of energy expanded outwards leaving his skin and slowly rotating around his arm, Kald pulled back his arm as if to throw a punch and as he did the rings began to spin faster, “Now, go back where you came from!” Kald yelled as he threw his fist forward making the rings rapidly expand even further outwards making a bolt of what seemed to be compressed air shoot out from his fist recoiling his arm back. The bolt hit the dragon on the side of the face flipping him over and landing him on the ground, the dragon quickly shuffled to get up and flew away, Kald breathing heavy felt relief that everyone was now safe but looked at his arm and saw the two rings and wondered what had he just done, what kind of power was this, it seemed different than magic to him, and why did it seem so familiar. Rainbow Dash rushed up and patted Kald on the back “That was amazing, how did you do that” the rings contracted and rested back on his skin, then faded away and Kald look back at her with his brown eyes, “I’m, not sure really” he said as he turned to see everyone alright and was surprised to realize his injuries were already healed. *********** Once they arrived back at the store and the gems were put away Rarity signed the task form and sent Kald out on an errand to go to Sugarcube Corner and get some sweets and then come the the library, but when Kald arrived at the store it seemed to be closed he tried knocking but got no answer. “I guess I should just head to the library then” Kald thought to himself as he walked to the library with his two recently awakened guards, but when he arrived it seemed like all the lights were off, Kald knocked “Hello?”, there was no answer but the door was unlocked, Kald figured there couldn’t be any harm in going in and waiting for Rarity since it was getting late so he opened the door and walked inside, “SURPRISE!!!” said a chorus of voices as the lights came on and Kald saw all kinds of party decorations and a cake on a table. Kald was speechless and wide eyed at what he was seeing then suddenly, “Hey how do you do my names’ Pinkie Pie what’s yours?” Kald looked at Pinkie Pie and stuttered to get his words together for the fast talking pony, “Kald, my name is Kald,” Pinkie Pie took his hand and shook it furiously “Well Kaldy Waldy I’m your new friend Pinkie Pie and this is your awesome thank you for saving Rarity and welcome to Ponyville party!” she said with such delight as she pushed him into the room in front of everpony and put her hoof around his neck. “Now let me introduce you to everpony of course you know Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Spike but that shy pony over by the table is Fluttershy and the purple pony over there by the books is Twilight and we are all your new friends” Kald looked around the room astonished, “Thank you everyone” is all he could say before Pinkie interrupted him, “Let’s get this party started” she yelled as she turned on the music and everone started dancing, Kald a little embarrassed edged his way to get some punch and once he had drank a little Pinkie came over. “Whatcha doin over here come on dance,” Kald blushed, “I don’t know how to dance” he said embarrassingly, Pinkie laughed, “Well sure you do silly just get out there and move to the beat don’t worry so much,” she said as she pushed Kald to the dance floor but before he knew it he was dancing with the rest of them and having fun all he had to do was let go and not worry so much and just follow the beat like Pinkie said, Kald soon threw his tattered green jacket into a corner to loosen up more for the party. The party went on and started to slow down and Kald went to get some more punch and turned around and was surprised to see Twilight, “O Kald good to meet you I know Pinkie introduced me already but I wanted to do it myself I am Twlight Sparkle,” Twilight extended her hoof to shake and Kald gladly accepted with a smile “Nice to meet you Twilight I’m Kald,” they both laughed at the second introduction of each other. Twilight got everyone to gather around cause she had an announcement, “Everyone I have good news I got a letter from Princess Celestia and Kald can stay here in the library with me and his guards are to be dismissed”, everyone cheered and congratulated Kald, and with that the party finally came to an end with the guards leaving to depart back to Canterlot. Twilight lead Kald to what seemed to be a recently acquired couch in the second floor of the Library, "You can sleep here" she said with a yawn as she climbed up to her bed near Spike. Kald was happy as he lay on the couch in the library, he looked around the library and at the left over party stuff and thought to himself “I finally fit in, somewhere I don’t even belong and I have friends, everything turned out great after all,” as he smirked thinking highly of himself and what he had accomplished, Kald slowly drifted off into a comfortable sleep.