“The Traverser”
Chapter 6
After pledging my sword to the princess, I was informed that a week from that day the princess and her sister planned to confront Discord in the heart of his claimed territory. Now, as a seasoned warrior I believed it best to prepare for any foe I might face. So, for the next few days, I decided to train myself and really push my pony form to its limits. I had made a promise to Luna and I was not going to let her down like those in my past.
I gracefully trotted into the clearing maintaining my focus as I have thousands of times before combat. I had kept peacemaker on my side for some time but for this, I placed the blade out of the way. Surrounding me were three boulders the size of a small cottage. I approached the one to my left and held out my hoof to feel it. It was cold and familiar to me. It reminded me of my soul and what had become of it. It was firm yet flowing with signs of wear from rain over many years. At one time it might have been called a mountain but now it was simply holding on to its last span of time here.
“Perhaps I have nothing left within me as well…” I stood there breathing and thinking out loud.
I knew too well that despite whatever I desired that like this boulder my time to hold myself together was weathering. But now was not the time to daydream about a future yet to be. For now, I was going to beat down such thoughts and reduce them to rubble. The same way I was going to destroy these boulders.
With a clear mind, I brought back my hoof and exhaled bringing my hoof back toward the stone with great force. The boulder made a cracking sound and formed a large crevasse in front of me. On the opposite side, it was clear to see that the punch had blown through and left the stone half the size prior to my start.
“Well, I suppose I shouldn’t punch so hard when I fight Discord or I won’t be holding up to my non-destroying promise ha-ha. But, I think I will let it all out for a moment.” I jump back between the stones and focus sensing the life around me. There was no pony around me for miles. I sensed the village I had visited before believing it to be quite out of range. I then began to meditate imaging myself on top of each boulder. I opened my eyes and there atop each stone was surely a precise image of myself.
“Well now, it has been a while since you have called us, this body isn’t what we're used too, but we will make due in thoroughly kicking your flank.” The three replicas announced in unison grinning.
I cracked my neck and looked at them cautiously. “I see you all don’t care about putting your bits where your mouth is so why don’t we just do what we need too.” Around me, an aura begins to form. Its pitch black and seeping out of me slowly gathering around my form. “Let’s begin.”
At blinding speeds, I throw a punch at every boulder not once taking my mind off the ponies atop. The stones begin to disintegrate from the force unleashed in their path and the forest behind them takes the rest of the blow. Trees form holes and the landscape is ripped up creating three deep trenches into the everfree forest. The duplicates do not flinch but slowly fall towards the ground focusing on me.
As soon as they touch the ground, they vanish into thin air darting around me and preparing to strike. “I see you learned since last time.”
As I finish, from above a fake Silver attacks. I block the hoof creating harsh vibrations in the air. Like clockwork, the other two flank me on both sides. Pivoting under the first, I deliver a solid blow to his stomach and throw him towards the one on my left. Turning toward the unoccupied copy, I take a stance of defense and begin to trade blows. I realize that I have been too distracted and glance around looking for the others.
“Don’t forget me, Silver!” Says the doppelganger in front of me as he delivers a blow to my muzzle. I’m sent flying back and rolling through the dirt. I immediately try to come to my hooves but am assaulted on both sides being brutally kicked in the ribs.
“Grrrrrr, that freaking hurts!”I continue to struggle as the one who had punched me begins to buck me in the face repeatedly. I am dazed and see red streams coming from my face. “That’s it!”
I tense up and create a shockwave of air sending my copies backward. They quickly gain their ground reconvening to once again punish me. With not a moment to spare, I tightened my muscles jumping into the space behind my deadly pony counterparts. They crash into one another forming a very nice very vulnerable pony pile.
“My turn!” Before they can reorganize themselves, I focus all of my energy. My aura spikes and I face them with fierce eyes. From my hooves, a bolt of energy strikes forward and blasts the group of copies making them convulse and sizzle. An explosion occurs and a giant ball of smoke clouds my vision.
When the smoke clears, before me is the little green pony, Simon. His mane is slightly on fire and he appears to be unable to move. “Simon…”
The little pony coughs and shakes his head, “Silver… It's over for me, I have seen the pasture on the other side and its so beautiful…”
I tilt my head to the side and bop his to bring him to his senses. “Hey buddy, you ok?”
Simon looks at me for a moment and frowns. “Why did you hit me so hard!” The little pony stomps around me growling, panting, and sometimes crying.
I grit my teeth and look at him. “Excuse me, I think you broke my nose and one thing I would like to know is why didn’t you dodge!” I pinch his cheeks looking for answers.
After arguing for a while, we sat down for lunch and to talk about our coming battle. Simon began to eat a roasted apple and listen to my plan.
“It isn’t much, but I figured that I would confront Discord and gauge his power while the princesses work to ready their weapon. I will use witty conversation and casual displays of my strength to make him scared of me and rethink his ways!” I looked at Simon who was too entertained with consuming his apple to notice my monologuing.
The little green pony swallows and turns to me. “Isn’t this Discord supposed to be the embodiment of chaos or something. I bet he makes everything into a joke. Speaking of Jokes…”
I give Simon the death glare and squash an apple beside me. “I swear if you say anything about a pony with friend issues I will make you look like this apple.”
Simon grins and pops onto my shoulder. Ok…Ok, besides Mr. Silver Watch made a friend remember?”
I look at him with curious eyes. “That’s crazy Simon, you know I do not have any friends.”
“Come on, you have fought with Princess Luna countless times and even became her personal knight. You even had me heal her for goodness sake! What do you think that means?” The mini pony jumps down looking me in the eye.
I sigh and roll my eyes. “That just means I respect her as a warrior and believe her worthy of my blade.”
Simon trots up and kicks my hoof. “Gosh darn it Silver, why can’t you just say friend, it's obvious you at least show interest in her. For a two-thousand-year-old entity of death, you really need to work on expressing yourself.”
“Whatever Simon, you know why I do not allow myself to have friends. Either way, its time for sleep. Tomorrow we have a victory to achieve.” With that, Simon gave up and disappeared as I lay thinking about his words. “Did I let her in? Maybe I should distance myself once this confrontation is over.” As I thought, slowly sleep overtook me and I passed into slumber.
That night, something that almost never happened except in the most terrible of times occurred. I had a dream that was quite vivid and left me worried that it would soon be a reality at any moment.
I stood in a field very lush and tranquil. As I trotted through it, my mind wandered and I felt at peace. There were no clouds in the sky but a gentle breeze seemed to be blowing against me. I noticed how the wind blew the grass in a direction and turned around to see where it might lead. To my pleasure, there stood Princess Luna dressed in not her usual garb but a pure white dress. It looked slightly odd but from my chest, I had a warm feeling. I looked down to see what might have caused this and found that I too had changed my appearance. I now had a ceremonial looking suit on with peacemaker in its scabbard.
I walk up to Luna and bow respectfully. However, her peaceful face suddenly turns bitter and a fierce look comes about towards me.
“How dare you make me believe you were a good pony Silver, you have destroyed my ponies and this world with them.”
My mouth opens wide and I try to ask what she means. “Luna, what in the world do you mean, we beat discord and everyone is happy!”
Suddenly the sky turns red and the field becomes engulfed in flames. As I glance at Luna I notice that her own dress had been caught ablaze slowly engulfing her. “Luna! Quickly, put out the fire or you will not survive!”
The regal pony simply stares at me and begins to disappear in the fire. “No Silver Watch, you knew this would happen. There is nothing left to save anymore…”
I try to grab her but she simply vanishes. The once peaceful field had become a fiery monster. Yet another world had become engulfed in destruction. I look around but hear a slight laugh. One that is too familiar to be any others.
“Well, I guess you didn’t get the princess this time Silver Watch…” A dark figure from my past begins to say as I scream.
I awake from my nightmare sweating fiercely and panicking. “Luna!” I yell without thinking. I look around and realize that it was simply a nightmare a start breathing heavily. Its still very dark outside and my foot was extremely hot. I look down and realize that it had gotten close to the fire and it perhaps played a role in my night terror.
I sit up and think about the terrible event and I look around to see if anypony is around. Simon had not materialized and there were no creatures stirring. I then took a deep breath and walk into the clearing leaving Simon in peacemaker to rest. I look at the small patches of grass and recall the same feeling from before. Then came the tears…
“I can’t stand this anymore dammit. I just want a friend and somepony to protect. For so long, it’s been impossible to get close to anypony. Why must the one who has to destroy everything be me…” As the tears begin to fall more and more, I cannot help thinking of Luna and the way that she looked at me. “Why do I have to kill such wonderful souls…”
At some point, sleep overtook me once more as the tears began to dry. As embarrassing as it was to admit, this was not the first time I had balled like a foal. I just wish it would have been the last. The next morning would come soon enough, but as somepony might believe the rising sun brings a new day, to me it was just one more day I could attach myself to these ponies. One more day I could betray the trust of a certain princess. ( ߀��)