//------------------------------// // Forced Farewells // Story: Derpy Hooves: Dragon Slayer // by Yellowcardpony //------------------------------// Chapter 3: Forced Farewells Derpy awoke suddenly. She looked over at the lone window in the room to see if the sun was up yet. Through the smudged panes of glass she could tell it was still night. It must be around four am she thought. She always had a great sense of time and she felt like she had slept for a few hours. Sitting up in the dark she suddenly heard a creek from a floorboard in her kitchen. Balefren Vivid must have gotten up early and come inside, was her first thought. But her instincts warned her to be cautious. Although she had never had any trouble in Ponyville due to her feigned persona she was never one to let her guard down. Before she finished her thoughts a loud cracking sound came from the other room. It was the sound of metal striking wood, multiple times in rapid succession. On full alert, the pegasus leapt up from the bathtub she had been sleeping in and silently took flight into the living area. She hovered over the entrance to her bedroom, waiting and watching. There was one more crash from inside her room, and a stifled sound of someone muttering. A moment later a dark figure appeared in the doorway and stepped into the kitchen. It was still dark enough that no real detail could be made out. Derpy hesitated to strike, and remained hovering silently overhead. She watched and waited using the same trick she had played on Balefren earlier. The roof of her home was designed to be much higher than it appeared. A series of lower rafters gave the appearance that the ceiling as much lower than it actually was, allowing her the opportunity to go unnoticed up above. The dark figured moved into the middle of the room then stopping suddenly. The mysterious pony stood still for a moment before appearing to bend over to do something. Delphina slowly lowered herself down right behind the intruder. Not making a sound she mentally prepared herself. If they didn’t move and head out of the home in the next five seconds she was going to classify them as hostile and strike. If they up and left, then she would follow them into the night until she could confirm who it was. In her head she started to count, one… two… three… Before she got any further a bright light suddenly lit the room as the pony lit a torch at his hooves. Delphina winced at the sudden light and before she could react the pony spun around and kicked the torch at her. She flapped her wings to evade but was not quick enough, the torch glanced off one of her wings as she moved. As the light danced through the room she could see the intruder, the white and black stripes were a dead giveaway. It was a zebra she did not recognize, but she knew why they were here as she thought about her last run in with their tribes. The zebra kicked with a hoof that wore a steel boot. The boot had several sharpe blades protruding from it in three directions. Delphina did a barrel roll maneuver as she continued to soar up into the rafters narrowly avoiding the sharp blades. Without sparing a moment the zebra reared up on his hind legs firing off a few more kicking kicks in the air. Delphina came up to eye level with the rafters in her home. She retracted her hooves up as much as she could to dodge the next few attacks from below. The torch below rolled around on the floor creating a dancing display of shadow and light throughout the home. A glint of light caught Delphina’s eye on the beam of wood next to her. “I forgot about you,” she exclaimed as she took the finely crafted sword blade in her teeth. She had almost forgotten she had stored her blade up there for safe keeping. With the sword in teeth, Delphina gave one strong flap of her wings to turn herself around. With her back legs now pointing at the roof she kicked against the rafter and propelled herself straight down. The zebra on his hind legs was about to make another strike when he saw the Pegasus suddenly spin around and come right at him. Her sudden speed was so fast he did not have time to defend himself as the shining blade came at with him deadly accuracy. The blade hit its mark sliding directly into the zebra’s mouth and continuing to go through him. Delphina landed with a thud next to the assassin. She released the hilt of the sword that was now at the tip of the zebra’s lips. She spun and delivered a kick to his midsection knocking him to the ground. Moving cautiously she retrieved the torch from the corner where it had come to a rest. Carefully she kicked it over to the mortally wounded pony. Now fully in the lit the zebra lay making wheezing sounds as a small pool of blood was starting to exit his mouth and nose. “At this point, I guess it’s pointless to ask which tribe sent you,” Delphina said looking into the dying stallion’s eyes. He looked back his eyes with an expression of surprise and horror. “I imagine you didn’t think things would end like this.” With the adrenalin wearing off, Delphina started to calm down as she watched the would be assassin on the floor. “If I take it out, you will have roughly ten seconds before you pass out from blood loss. I’m sorry it had to be this way,” said Derpy as she smiled kindly. Bending down she took the sword hilt in her mouth. With one strong jerk she withdrew the sword and stepped back. With the sword removed, the trickle of blood, turned into a river as the life giving fluid emptied out onto the floor. True to her word the zebra started seeing fuzzy sparks in his clouded vision within a few seconds and an overpowering urge to sleep washed over him. With the deed done, Derpy turned and dropped the blood covered weapon into the kitchen sink. She tapped the faucet and water began to flow. The sound of the door latch moving suddenly caught her ear. She turned her attention to the front door, preparing to grab the sword from the sink. The door opened just a crack and a white head with light brown mane began to poke through. Derpy felt relieved as she recognized Balefren, the ruckus must have woken him up, she thought. Through the cracked door Balefren saw the grey pegasus standing by the kitchen sink. Seeing that she was also awake, he promptly pushed the door open the rest of the way and came inside. “Derpy, I’m not fully on board with all this, but I can’t sleep out in that ditch, its killing my back, can I lay down somewhere in…” His speech was stopped as his eyes cross the zebra lying in the corner surrounded by blood. Derpy tried to think of something to say besides the truth only to find her mouth hanging open without the words to say. With wide eyes Balefren looked at the slain stallion and then back to Delphina. A cold shiver ran up his spine again and fear overtook him at the gory sight. Without a word he back peddled through the door and closed it behind him. “Wait!” Derpy called after him. “This is madness,” Balefren said as he started to quickly trot down the walkway. In the distance he could see dawns first light starting to glow over the mountain tops. There were no doubts now in his mind how dangerous this mare was. “She thinks she can make me her servent?” he muttered. “Think again crazy pony!” he continued to stomp off down the path. Behind him he heard her voice calling his name. “Vivid! Come back,” Derpy called standing in the doorway of her home. “The necklace!” Balefren continued down the road as he tried to forget about what he had just seen, but as much as he wanted the images of the dead zebra where already transfixed in his mind. Maybe it wasn’t real? He thought. Maybe he was still dreaming. He took a moment to look back over his shoulder. He could see the pegasus in the distance still in front of her house. She wasn’t chasing him, but she was still calling out for him. “Leave me alone you crazy demon!” he yelled. At least she wasn’t chasing him, he thought. Wait, why wasn’t she chasing him? Suddenly he remembered the necklace and what had happened earlier, but it was too late. Before he could take another step, suddenly a paralyzing shock of pain shot through his body from the necklace through him all the way to his tail. With a scream of agony he fell to the dirt. Delphina watched from her doorstep as the unicorn in the distance stopped moving and collapsed. Now she could go retrieve him without turning it into a long drawn out race. The necklace not only stifled magic abilities, but it also did not allow itself to get too far from the one who placed it around someponies neck. Balefren lay on the ground unable to move. His entire body felt like it was being pricked by thousands of needles. Once again he found it so intense he was unable to breath. After a minute of fighting the torment he felt his vision starting to go black. He knew he was going to pass out again and he welcomed it over the effects of the necklace. By the time Delphina arrived the white unicorn appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Maybe keeping him is a bad idea, she thought. She looked down at his face as it rested sideways on the pile of rocks. His mouth hanging open and a small puddle of drool was touching down on the ground. “It’s been a while; let’s see if I can do this,” she said as she bent down and began to lift the unconscious stallion up. *** Balefren awoke suddenly coughing. Sitting up the unicorn spat out whatever was choking him. As his coughing fit subsided he rubbed his eyes as he looked around at his surroundings. He was in a dark little room, wooden beams and dirt mortar walls surrounded him. He was sitting in a pile of bedding that seemed to be shredded mattress of some sort. Next to him was what appeared to be a old wooden bed frame that was split in two halves. Next to that was a dresser that was overturned. Very confused the stallion tried to remember what had happened and how he came to be in this unfamiliar place. It took only a few seconds before he started to recall the night before. Trotting down the road as dawn approached and being struck down by the fiendish magic amulet around his neck. None of this accounted for how he came to be in this trashed room. Before he could reason anymore a clank of metal came from a neighboring room. The sounds continued as something was thrown about and knocked around. Next he heard the unmistakable sound of liquid being splashed around. Wait, this is Derpy’s house, he thought. He had not gotten a good look at it in the night, and the room wasn’t such a mess before, but it had to be. That meant the mare must have brought him back here, and she was undoubtedly doing something in the main room. Carefully Balefren Vivid got to his feet. Despite his curiosity he forced himself to move slow and cautious in an attempt not to make his presence known. One slow step after another he crept towards the doorway. After what seemed like forever he was close enough he could stick his head out. As Balefren’s head emerged into the living area a splash of water struck him from above. The torrent soaked his brown mane and flowed down his back and sides on its way to the floor. He stood in shock as the ice cold blast moved across his hide. “Good morning,” Derpy said candidly from above him as she held an empty bucket. Balefren gritted his teeth as he slowly glanced up at the pegasus. “I suppose this worked out, you being out like that I mean,” she added. “I…you…” Balefren muttered unable to focus through the sheer surprise of being drenched. “There are still some dry towels in the bathroom you can dry off,” Derpy offered pointing a hoof towards the little bathroom opposite of them. Without another word Balefren silently walked toward the bathroom soaking wet and feeling miserable. As he entered the bathroom he could still hear Derpy behind him talking. “With you out cold, it gave me time to clean up here." Clean up? Balefren thought to himself as he grabbed a rather large towel off of a single hook on the wall. The place was still a mess, what could she have possible been cleaning up? “Also don’t think you can sneak up on me,” Derpy commented as she flew back over to the kitchen sink and began to fill the bucket of water again. “You didn’t have to poor water on me,” Balefren muttered. “Look at it this way Vivid, now you won’t have to take a bath this morning,” she added as she poked her head into the bathroom. Balefren hung the towel back on the hook as he watched Derpy poke her head in. She smiled and gave a nod toward the other side of the bathroom, before disappearing back into the kitchen. Picking up on her que and not thinking the unicorn turned his head and looked over at the little bathtub. “Dear Celestia,” he cried as he gazed upon the lifeless zebra lying awkwardly in the tub. Startled he leapt out of the bathroom in a tizzy. “There is a dead pony in there!” he yelled at Delphina. “Best place for him,” Delphina replied somberly. “Although I think most of his blood drained onto my floor already, the tub will dispose of any that is left.” Balefren just stood speechless for a moment watching the grey Pegasus as she splashed another bucket of water across the floor washing away some lingering traces of red. The water flowed swiftly and drained through rather large gaps in the floor boards. “How can you be so camber about this?” he asked finding the words. “Oh Vivid, everyone dies, some in their sleep of old age, others of diseases or accidents, and sometimes from a sword through the head,” Delphina explained as she turned her attention to the white colt. Balefren just stood with an uneasy look on his face. “I’m sorry; I guess I’ve been around death enough that I just accept it, in all its forms." Balefren felt his stomach growing uneasy quickly. He could feel the beginning of a cold sweat beginning to cross his brow as he thought about how dismissive Delphina was about killing another pony. “Are you going to kill me?” Balefren asked with a shudder in his voice, as he realized he didn’t mean anything more to the mare then the cold body in the bathroom. Delphina dropped the bucket and gently glided down to the floor. Landing softly she tucked her wings away and slowly approached the frightened unicorn. “I am sorry, I guess I’m just un-sensitized to these things, you have to forgive me.” “Me…” Balefren spoke quietly as he fought the urge to throw up from fear. Derpy took a few more steps until she was face to face with the colt. Looking into his eyes, she said “No, but you have to promise to cooperate with me for the rest of my mission.” “What use could I be to you?” Balefren spoke with his voice crackling as he fought back tears. “Don’t lie to me Delphina.” “You will just have to see,” Derpy said smiling. “You’ll just have to trust me, you’re not dead yet,” she added trying to best to reassure him. “Alright,” Balefren said with a sniffle as he got control of his emotions. “I will come along, but can you promise not to kill anyone?” “What happened last night was not something I asked for, in fact it may have a result of your actions, I will say I have no intention on killing anypony but I can’t guarantee,” Delphina said. She watched Balefren frown unhappy at her explanation. “If it does happen, I can assure you I will not be the instigator of any fight that results in injury or death, is that good enough for you?” “I think I get what you are saying,” Balefren said. “Well it will have to do, it’s time to get moving we’ve stayed here too long, we have to be going,” Derpy said motioning toward a stack of saddle bags by the door. *** The sun shone brightly across a clear blue morning sky, bathing the land in its heating rays. Now all packed up the pair of ponies made their way into Ponyville one last time. Balefren had been instructed he was to carry two sets of the saddle bags and he was to only address Delphina as Derpy. Under no circumstances was he to do anything that may risk blowing her cover. Understanding the grey pegasus’ abilities he didn’t even want to think about what she would do if he were do something to expose her. Just a few things I need to wrap up in town, she had told him. Then they would be off into the lands of the wilds on a mission still kept secret from him. Balefren had accepted his fate as a temporary servant to the mysterious pony, but he was still very much concerned with what she had in store for him. He watched Derpy with a suspicious eye trying to discern as much as he could. As they crossed town, he watched Derpy skip and hop as she went, grinning all the while. She waved at passing ponies and stumbled around. Balefren trudged along behind her studying her mannerisms, the difference in her personality and movements where uncanny. It must have taken years of practice to truly be able to act like a completely different pony. He would have never guessed that the mare he met in the dark was the same pony. As they passed through town square they came to a little apartment house squeezed in-between two others. The place was identical to the rest of the homes in the area with the straw covered roofs, tan plaster walls and wooden support beams. Derpy came to a stop and landed on the doorstep. She rapped on the door with her hoof and turned quickly to look at Balefren. “Stand back a little more, and be quite,” she reminded. Just as fast she turned her attention back to the front door as the door latch clanked and it began to open. Balefren backed away some more and moved himself over enough that he still had a good view inside. He lifted a cautious ear trying his best to eavesdrop. In the doorway stood a small light purple unicorn filly with straggly blonde hair similar to Derpy’s. She hopped excited at seeing the grey mane at the door. “Aunt Derpy!” she cried as she jumped up and gave Derpy a hug. Balefren’s curiosity was peeked at this display. He watched on as another pony came into the doorway. It was a yellow unicorn with smooth flowing blue hair. She started talking to Derpy, but he could not make out what they were saying. He took a step forward to get closer, but was blocked as a large black stallion moved passed him hulling several large carts. “So I am going out of town for a while,” Derpy explained. “I won’t be able to watch Dinky any until I get back.” “Oh ok Derpy,” Lemon Hearts said. “We were going to Canterlot for the weekend anyway, I’m sure I can find some other pony to keep watch on her.” “Momma, I wanna go with Derpy,” Dinky said tugging on her mother’s apron. “I’m sorry Dink, aunty is going to be gone too long for you to go with,” the yellow unicorn explained. “We’re going to go to Canterlot to see your dad instead.” “I don’t want that, I wanna with Derpy!” Dinky begged with a tears starting to form in her eyes. “Derpy will come visit as soon as she gets back,” Lemon reassured. Derpy grinned innocently as she bent down and picked up the little violet filly. “I’m going someplace you can’t follow Dinky, but I hear your father has something special planned for you in Canterlot.” “Really?” Dinky exclaimed getting excited. Derpy gently sat the young pony down. Dinky turned back to her mother. “Is dad doing something special?” “Bet on it,” Lemon Hearts said winking to Derpy. “Thanks for stopping by to let me know, please be careful out there Derpy.” “Don’t worry, I’m always careful,” Derpy said as she turned stumbled over the doormat. “I’ll see you later Dinky!” “Bye bye Derpy,” Dinky called out from the doorway as her favorite foalsitter walked away. *** Balefren watched Derpy trot across the street and over to him. “What was that all about?” “Just some kid I foalsit for sometimes,” Derpy replied as she walked past the white unicorn not stopping. Balefren sprang to his feet and began to follow. “You know she looked a lot like you,” he commented. Derpy suddenly stopped in her tracks and gave him a sour look. “Or not,” Balefren corrected himself. Derpy looked ahead and began to walk again. “I have to keep up appearances with these ponies as much as I can, it’s important to my cover.” “So you don’t really care about them?” “Only as it relates to the success of my mission." “And what is that mission?” “That mission, is none of your concern, we have a new mission now.” “Ok what is that mission?” “That is need to know basis for you,” Derpy said grinning at the unicorns frustration. “So you won’t tell me anything?” he said trotting a bit louder. “Nope,” Derpy said shaking her head. “Nope you will tell me something? Or nope you won’t say anything?” Balefren tried to clarify. “Just follow me and do as I ask until we get out of town, then I’ll tell you more,” Derpy said looking back over her shoulder at the unicorn. “One last quick stop here,” she said standing in front of a little building on the corner, it had a red and blue roof with a little flag pole out front. The flag had an equestrian symbol and a symbol of a letter on it. “The post office?” Balefren questioned. “Yes, stay out here, I have to let them know, I won’t be able to do my weekend route,” Derpy explained as she went inside. Balefren stood outside for a moment, but his curisotiy got the better of him quickly. He made his way into the post office. He entered very casually, trying to be as nonchalant as he could. He made his way slowly around the little lobby acting like he was interested in the packaging and stamps displayed on shelves. Out of the corner of his eye she saw Derpy in the corner talking with a pony who must have been the Postmaster for the branch. “Alright, thanks for letting me know Derpy,” said the big brown stallion. “Glad to hear you already had someone standing by for the weekend routes!” Derpy said sounding excited. “Always do,” the stallion said rolling his eyes. “We seem to fall short or have some kind of problem on the weekends.” “Oky Oky” Derpy said acting oblivious to the Postmasters remarks. She turned around and spotted Balefren standing by a rack of packaging. Looking into his eyes she scowled quickly to show her displeasure of him coming inside. Taking the hint, the white unicorn, dropped everything he was doing and trotted about outside in a hurry. A moment later Derpy emerged. She trotted up alongside him, she encouraged him to keep walking on as she talked. “What are you doing?” she said cross. “I told you to wait outside.” “It’s not a big deal, I was just strolling around,” Balefren replied. “It is a big deal, I need to know I can trust you and that you’ll do as I say, if you don’t here, then how can I expect to you make it when we are out in the wilds. Things can be life and death out there and if you decide not to listen to me and just take strolls around you can get us both in big trouble,” said Delphina in a lecturing tone. “Ok sorry, I didn’t think of it that way,” Balefren apologized. In his head he was questioning the rationale behind comparing things in town to how he would act in a dangerous place like the wilds, but he decided it was not worth bringing up. “Ok, that’s all I need from this place, let’s get going,” Derpy said her voice returning to the calm and friendly tone. “Alright where are we going?” Balefren asked feeling a wave of excitement coming over him as he was about to find out what she had planned. “The Everfree forest,” Derpy said. Balefren frowned in disappointment. He knew of the Everfree forest, it was known as a mysterious and dangerous place, but nothing he feared. “I expected something more from all the talk and secrecy,” he said kicking a rock along the ground. “Well, if we make good time, we can make it through the Everfree forest before nightfall.” Derpy predicted. “Through the forest?” Balefren said thinking out loud. Derpy gave a small laugh as she replied. “Of course, you didn’t think I would need all this fanfare and extra help if I was just going into that little forest did you?” Balefren laughed nervously, “Well you had me thinking that for a moment.”