//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: The lonely road // Story: Unearthed: Curse Of The Undying // by Talion The DARKandBRIGHT //------------------------------// Details *Thoughts* ~Mental speaking~ "Normal speaking" ~"Mental and normal speaking"~ Songs ... (Radio static)... INNOCENCE AND INSTINCT "Monsters are not animals. Monsters are people, and that is what's truly scary about them." ..."Vulture, Cujo 5-1 checking in. Flight of two F35s, orbiting west, twenty miles, at Angels twelve. Ordinance to follow: Four lazer Mavericks, Two HARMs, Twenty five GBU12s, Six hundred rounds a piece. 0+40 Time on Station. Ready for tasking." ..."Cujo 5-1, this is Vulture. Solid copy on all. /Break/ Cujo 5-1, push in on target package Whiskey Hotel 01, at map grid: 257798. You are clear to proceed with "Hammerdown". Awaiting authorization till target approach. How copy?" ..."Vulture, solid copy. Pushing east to target package Whiskey Hotel 01, at map grid: 257798. Proceeding with "Hammerdown"." ..."Two minutes till weapons release." /Break/ ..."This is Cujo 5-1 to any friendly units in the area. "Hammerdown" is in effect. I repeat: "Hammerdown" is in effect. If you can receive this transmission, you are in a hardened high-value structure. Deploy green flares on the roof of this structure to indicate that you are still combat effective. We will abort our mission on direct visual contact with this counter-sign." ..."Ninety seconds till weapons release." ..."This is Cujo 5-1 to any friendly units in the area. "Hammerdown" is in effect. I repeat: "Hammerdown" is in effect. If you can receive this transmission, you are in a hardened high-value structure. Deploy green flares on the roof of this structure to indicate that you are still combat effective. We will abort our mission on direct visual contact with this counter-sign." ..."One minute till weapons release." ..."This is Cujo 5-1 to any friendly units in the area. "Hammerdown" is in effect. I repeat: "Hammerdown" is in effect. If you can receive this transmission, you are in a hardened high-value structure. Deploy green flares on the roof of this structure to indicate that you are still combat effective. We will abort our mission on direct visual contact with this counter-sign." ..."Thirty seconds till weapons release." ..."Stand by." ..."Vulture to Cujo 5-1, Target package Whiskey Hotel 01 has been authorized. Go to town." ..."Roger. Passing IP Buick... Stand by." ..."Bombs away, bombs away." "...Payload successfully delivered to target package Whiskey Hotel 01. Target is cleared. I say again: Target is cleared. Exiting east pass IP Buick. Ready for further tasking." I quickly opened my eyes as I woke up from another dream. I steadied my breathing as I tried to calm myself down. They were getting more and more frequent. Maybe it was because of the time I spent with the Hoof's. Or maybe it was just this world. *I need to stop sleeping. The war is over. Forget the past.* I told myself as I leaned up into a sitting position against a tree I had taken shelter under. It was early morning with the sun still under the horizon. The sky was filled with dark clouds, so It would most likely rain later in the day. I had arrived in the White Tail Woods, last night, after over a week of traveling west across vast plains that separate this forest from the Everfree. After the long trek, even if I didn't need to, I had desided to rest and somehow fell asleep. "Rest is for the living." I said to myself. I looked over to my left, to see Iron Hoof's guitar lying next to my sword. I reached over, picked up the instrument and set it down on my lap. Even though it was a gift from Iron Hoof, I still saw it as his. My hands brushed across the strings as I made sure it was turned. I then closed my eyes and smiled as I begun to play a short song to take my mind off dreams of war and death. I let out a sigh and opened my eyes as the music faded and looked up to the tree canopy above me. I saw many of the forest's inhabitants waking up for the morning. Some of them seemed to have been watching me as I played. The animals of Equestria were strange. While wild animals back home would usually run away in encountering any human beings, these animals seem to watch me in curiosity without fear. Some would even approach me to investigate up close themselves. It was almost as if they were sentient. But upon further investigation into their minds, I discovered that they were still just animals. They have just never seen a human before. I placed the guitar back next to my sword, before getting up and stretching. I then leaned down and picked up my sword and guitar, then strapped them both onto my back. I looked around for a bit before turning west and started walking. The White Tail Woods were quite different from the Everfree forest in terms of look and hostility. This place wasn't attempting to deceive my eyes at every corner I turn. It was actually quite a beautiful forest. Especially during this season, as the leaves fell around me. I haven't even encountered any ponies or hostile animals for days now. I was beginning to wonder if the Everfree forest was cursed, since it harbored many dangerous creatures and felt more enchanted than White Tail Woods. But it's no matter to concern myself over right now. What did concern me was figuring out how to keep myself hidden and unknown to ponykind. I suppose I would just have to start traveling during the night to reduce the chances of someone seeing me. But that could wait until I came near any type of pony settlement. So for now, I can travel freely. As I continued my journey through the woods, it was coming up on midday when I came across a road. There were no sign or sound of ponies, so I chose to investigate it. It went northwest from southeast and has definitely been used recently. But seeing as there was no one traveling it at this time, I desided to follow the road heading northwest. Now I probably could have made much more time on the road, but the chances of encountering ponies on the way was extremely high. So for now, I would be patient and use the cover provided off to the side of the road to stay hidden. After about seven hours of following the road, I started to see smoke a few miles up ahead. Seeing this, I lept up to the top of a tree, using its branches to get a better look at where it was coming from. As I looked in the direction of the smoke, I saw a town of some kind. The smoke was coming from the many chimneys on the rooftops of homes and other structures. It was less than six miles away, so I should be able to make it there before sunset. Dropping down from the eighty-seven foot tall tree, I made my way towards the town. I was probably halfway there when it started to rain. I let out a sigh before cloaking my body in shadows as I entered my wraith form. But this time I also masked myself so others would not be able to see, hear, touch or feel my presence. I continued up the road as rain fell around and through me. While in this form, I felt nothing. Even as I passed through objects and people, I moved through them as if they weren't there. Or I wasn't. Eventually, I made it to the town. It was a medium medieval styled town with structures made of wood, stone, clay and hay. As I stood in front of its wood gated entrance, I looked to my left to a sign nailed onto the wall of the gate. Welcome To Vingrid. There were two guardsponies outside the gate standing watch. One was an earth pony, while the other was a unicorn. They both wore medium chain steel plated armor, with a spear in each of there hands. There helmets had red feather like manes, similar to their own manes. I walked passed them into Vingrid and came to a stop in the middle of the street. Even though it was raining, there were still all sorts of ponies outside. Most of them were probably heading home from work for the day. I chuckled to myself as I watched the ponies around me. There were so many in such a wide variety of colors, it was almost disorienting. The whole town was bustling with activity, as ponies went about their daily lives. I even saw a large group of kids coming out of a school house and rushing home. From the looks of this town, I guess it was a lumber town. Evident of the large lumber mill near the gates. Probably one of the main importers of wood in this part of Equestria. I walked through the crowds of ponies, down the main road, towards a tavern. The Black Oak Inn. I walked through the door into a large well lit room, with a large roaring fire place at the end of the room. There were many round and square tables with groups of ponies eating, drinking, gambling and laughing, as they enjoyed themselves to the company of family and friends. I looked towards the end of the tavern and saw a lone unoccupied corner table near a window. It was slightly covered by the shadow of staircase leading to the inn's rooms on the second floor. Seeing as it was a good place to sit and observe the rest of the room, I walked over to the table and sat down, still cloaked from the ponies in the room. I had chosen to come here on my way westward, to see what I can learn about these lands. This way I can know what to expect while on my travels. From here I will make my way northwest towards the Smoky Mountains and then continuing westward from there. After about an hour of listening in on conversations, I concluded that I would have to search for information on the west, somewhere else. None of the ponies in this inn seemed to be travelers. The majority of the ponies around the room lived in this town and seldom travel away from Vingrid. A small town, I concluded. I had been hoping to find at least a few ponies who have traveled west. I suppose I'll need to look elsewhere. But I had desided to stay for a few minutes longer before leaving. When I was about ready to leave, I noticed an older looking pegasus stallion walking with a cane while being helped by a waitress as she guided him over to my table. "Here you are Mr. Mahgauve. You just take a seat and I will fix you up a nice hot meal." The waitress said to, the now identified stallion, Mahgauve. I studied him as he sat down. He wore a thick dark blue coat, that he set down on the bench chair next to him before sitting down. Underneath, he wore a green and black longsleave button up shirt with a small black t-shirt underneath it. On his legs, he wore a pair of long dark green winter pants His fur was a light cyan color. He also had a white colored mane and tail and his eyes were pale. *He's blind.* I thought to myself. When he sat himself down, he looked straight in my direction and tilted his head in confusion for a second. It was almost as if he could really see me. He sat there, not saying anything for a few moments before turning his head to the side and sneezing. "Ah. Hay fever?" I asked him, revealing myself only to him. "Ya." He answered with a small smile, before quickly turning in my direction with a startled look on his face. "Oh uh... I'm sorry. I didn't realize another pony had seated himself at my table." Mahgauve said to me. "I'm sorry for startling you sir. I can leave if you want me to." I told him. "No, that's quite alright. I would actually prefer some company if you don't mind staying." He told me. "Alright then. I am Drust. Talion Drust. Pleasure to meet you." I said and extended my hand over the table. "Dauntless Mahgauve. The pleasures all mine Talion." He reached over and shook my gloved hand. "You come here often Dauntless?" I asked. He laughed a little before answering. "Often, would be an understatement. Yes. I come here almost every day when I can. They have good food, music and every once in awhile some good company to talk to." "So you must know many folks around here, Mahgauve." I commented. "For those who I grew up with, yes. But unfortunately much of the younger generation tend to keep their distance from an old war stallion like me." He replied. "War stallion?" I asked him. "Yes... I was a captain back during the war with Saddle Arabia, almost thirty years ago. I was one of the youngest under my rank, but I proved capable of handling the responsibility." He explained. "Well, thank you for your service, Captain Mahgauve." I thanked him. "Please, call me Dauntless." He said. I smiled. "As you wish, Dauntless." "So your not from around here are you, Talion? He asked. "What gives you that impression?" I asked him. "Well, because if you were from around here, you would more than likely have already known of me. Most everypony knows each other here." He answered. *Small town.* I thought as he continued. Plus you're sitting at my personal table, yet didn't know it until just now, I assume." He answered with a smug smile. I chuckled before replying. "You assume correct, Dauntless. I have only just arrived in Vingrid a few hours ago." "Well, allow me to be the first to welcome you to my town, Talion. You here to stay or are you just passing through?" He welcomed me before asking. "Thank you and I'm just passing through. I thought I'd come here to see about acquiring some information for my journey." I answered. "A traveler huh. Its been awhile since any traveling pony has passed through here. Where are you off to?" He asked. "The Smoky Mountains. From there westward, to the undiscovered lands." I answered. "The Smoky Mountains? Are you serious?" He asked me a little concerned. "Quite." I answered. "Do you have a death wish, Talion? He asked. "Would I sound crazy if I answered yes to that question? I asked him, with a smile. "I don't know if you seek death, or are just insane!" He stated. "Would it be unreasonable to suggest I was both?" I asked him with an even bigger smile. "I-... I don't know how to respond to that." He said. I laughed for a bit. "I jest Dauntless. But, yes. I do seek to travel to the Smoky Mountains and the unexplored west." I told him. He leaned back in his chair before speaking. "Well still, you are either very brave or very foolish to seek adventure in those lands. And don't say you are both." "I don't suppose you can tell me anything about those lands?" I asked him. He chuckled before answering. "Well, if you're so bent on exploring those lands, I suppose I could lend you some information. What do you want to know?" "What can you tell me about the Smoky Mountains?" I asked him. "Well, the mountain range used to be the home of many dragons many years ago. It technical still is. Although not many dragons have chosen to live there since the old dragon tyrant Bahamut ruled those lands, it still is the second largest dragon homeland, beside the dragon Badlands to the southeast." The mountain range itself, although covered in a constant thick layer of smoke, is not volcanic." He finished explaining to me. "Bahamut. Who was he?" I asked him. "You haven't heard of him? What are they teaching you young ponies these days? He asked. I chuckled before replying. "I'm not that young Dauntless. But tell me about this old tyrant, Bahamut." He let out a sigh before starting. "Well let me see... It was somewhere around, oh... five hundred years ago when he ruled the west. He was a giant black dragon. A really giant, giant dragon. They say that he was over twice the size of a full adult dragon and his greed was tenfold of that. Bahamut is said to have been so gready, nothing was ever enough for him to take. He not only stole from other race's, but from his own kind too. He forced his rule and will on everyone and everything... He wanted it all. He needed it all. So one day, he left his lands to go on a conquest of Equestria and it's neighbors. No army formed against Bahamut, could stop him. He enslaved everyone who stood up against him. But when the nation's of Equestria realized the threat Bahamut posed to all of them, they put aside their differences and united. And together, they defeated the mad dragon king. Everyone he had enslaved, were finally set free, but the damage done to everyone, was so great. The war had cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. Many nations were left in ruin. Some of them are still trying to recover even today. But Princess Celestia has been leading the recovery effort of Equestria and it's neighbors eversince." He let out a sigh as he finished. "And the Smoky Mountains was where he was defeated?" I asked him. He noded before explaining. "When Bahamut was finally struck down by a final blow from Celestia, he fell into the mountain range and it collapsed over him, becoming his grave. No one really knows where the smoke comes from though. Most believe it is a curse left behind by Bahamut, as a reminder of his terrible rule." I thought about this new information for a bit before speaking again. "What happened to the dragons after Bahamut was defeated?" He let out a long sigh before answering. "We... drove them from our lands, along with every nation in Equestria. They were responsible for Bahamut's rise to power. While some of them had fought against Bahamut, the majority of the dragons willing served him. No nation or race, has ever forgiven the dragons since." "Why? Why would a race as prideful as the dragons, serve Bahamut?" I asked him. "While many believe that the dragon race is lawless, unjust and uncivilized, they do have some form of order. In their case, might equals right. And Bahamut was the mightiest of them all. In size, strength, greed and power." He answered. "So everyone blames the choices of a few dragons on the whole race? Now that is unjustice." I said. "Wait, you're defending the dragons?" He asked me. "No, I am not. But nor am I condoning the treatment of their race. You treat someone like an animal long enough, sooner or later they will start acting like one. And eventually lash out." I told him. I have seen it happen before. When the Germans lost WWI, they were treated harshly for a war they did not start. Eventually they lashed out and this time, starting a war themselves. I do not condone their actions, but I know what lead to them. Dauntless looked down as he thought for a moment, but before he could say anything else the waitress from earlier came over with a tray of food. It looked like bread, cheese, a small bowl of fruit and some vegetable salad. "Sorry for the wait Mr. Mahgauve. Here's your meal." She said, placing the wood tray in front of him. "Ah, thank you Mirra. This is my friend, Talion Drust." He said gestured in my direction, before speaking to me. "Can I get you anything Talion?" I stayed silent as the waitress Mirra, looked across the table in confusion. "Mr. Mahgauve, are you feeling alright?" She asked, sounding a little concerned, as she looked back to him. "What do you mean? Of course I'm fine. I just want to get something for my friend here." He told her. She looked a little worried as she spoke. "Mr. Mahgauve, there's no one else sitting at this table. You've been seated alone since you got here." "W-What? But-... I-I... Talion?" He stuttered before calling my name, but I stayed silent and hidden. "Mr. Mahgauve, are you okay?" She asked. "I don't know." He said with a shocked and confused look on his face. "Are you going to be alright?" She asked him. "Y-Ya... Ya, I'll be fine." He told her. She didn't look convinced, but didn't say anything else and went back to work, leaving us alone again. Dauntless, just sat there motionless for a bit. "It felt and sounded so real." He said to himself. "That's because it was, Dauntless." I said, revealing myself to him again. He almost jumped out of his seat at hearing the sound of my voice again. "My god. I've finally done it. I've gone mad." I laughed at his response. "No Dauntless, you are quite sane. So take comfort in knowing that the world is still crazier than you are." He had his mouth hanging open as he tried to comprehend what was happening. "What are you?" "No one of consequence." I answered. "Are you dead? A ghost?" He asked me. "Yes and no." I said. He tilted his head in confusion. "Who are you Talion? What is it you want from me?" I let out a sigh before answering. "Who and what I am is inconsequential. What I want however, you have already freely given to me." I told him. Hearing this, he started to shake in fear. "You need not fear me Dauntless. I am your friend, as you said." I told him. He seemed to have calmed down a little before speaking. "If I have already given you what you wanted, why are you still here?" "Because there is still something I need to ask you." I replied. He looked confused again. "What?" "I want to know why you fought, Dauntless... Why did you go to war?" I asked. He looked a little uncertain and confused, but answered my question, after looking down and letting out a sigh. "When I was young, me and my brother had joined the Equestrian army, as it had been our dream to serve. We worked together, trained together and fought together... But we did not die together." He paused for a moment before continuing. "We both were committed to our duty, to protect the people of Equestria. But neither of us truly knew why we wanted so badly to serve. One day though, I learned why. We both had been a part of an escort protecting a group of envoys on our way to Saddle Arabia. We were going to negotiate the ceasing of all hostile activities between our two kingdom's. All we wanted was peace. But they gave us war." He looked down again, as a few tears fell from his eyes. "When my brother died in my arms, I finally knew why I fought." He looked back up to me before finishing. "I fought for the innocent... For my brother... For peace. Weather I served Equestria or not, that is what I fought for." He breathed back his tears, as he sat awaiting my response. "Why did you ask me these things, Talion? Why?" I let out another sigh before answering. "Because I was a soldier too, Dauntless... And I know what it means to lose someone. I know what its like to sacrifice everything for your country, only for the people you fought to protect to treat you like a criminal." I told him. He sat still as I continued. "You fought for peace Dauntless. And dedicated your whole life to pursue it. Even though others will never understand that, I want you to know, I do." His eyes started tearing up again as he spoke. "Thank you, Talion." "No, thank you Dauntless, for showing me that I am not alone in this world. That the road I travel has been shared. I am sorry to have opened old wounds, Dauntless. But I needed to know what you stand for before I gave you a parting gift." I told him. "You don't need to give me anything, Talion. Having someone to talk to is a gift of its own." He said with a smile. "Well as much as I have enjoyed talking with you Dauntless, it is time for me to move on. Thank you for answering my questions. I hope for you the best, Dauntless." I said as I stood up from my seat. "It was my pleasure, Talion. Thank you for providing me with your company. I wish you luck for wherever your journey takes you." He said to me as he reached out his hand. I grabbed his hand and shook it, while sending a surge of energy through him. "Goodbye Dauntless." I said. "Goodbye Talion. And be safe out there." He said. As I started to walk away, I stopped and turned to look back at him. "Oh, and you might want to blink a few times." I told him before cloaking myself from him and walking towards the door. "Blink?" I heard him ask. When I reached the door, I turned and saw him standing up and looking around with wide eyes, which were now a bright blue. Mirra, noticed Dauntless standing up and rushed over to him. "Mr. Mahgauve? Whats wrong?" She asked approaching him before gasping when she saw his eyes were no longer pale. "I-I can see! I can see again!" He shouted in excitement and disbelief. His sudden outburst started drawing everyone's attention to him. I smiled before turning towards the door and passing through it. I let out a sigh as I stepped back out onto the busy streets of Vingrid. After looking around, I desided to explore the rest of the town. As I wandered the streets of the town, most of the ponies around had desided to head home for the night, leaving Vingrid dark and quite. I took a seat on a bench in the market place, as I thought about the information I had learned from Dauntless Mahgauve. Among these thoughts were, how I should appear to people, if I have to, as to keep my identity hidden. My thoughts drifted to Iron Hoof. When we had first met he called me a knight. That gave me an idea for how I shall appear to others. So I came up with a new appearance for myself. As I started the design in my head, I leaned back and watched the rain fall. "HELP!" I stood up suddenly when I heard someone shout in the distance. I looked up to a rooftop before flashing up to it and started running towards the direction of the scream. As I leaped across rooftops, I heard class break and boxes getting knocked over ahead of me. I jumped over a few more roofs before coming to a stop over a dark alleyway. I looked down and saw what looked like two zebras, one male, the other female, surrounded by six pony thugs. Four of them were in armor. "Why don't you all just go back to where you came from!?" One of the guards asked the zebras. "Our lands were destroyed. There is no where for us to go." The male zebra told them. "You two should have just left when we told you to." Another guard said. "We'll leave right now then!" The male zebra told them. "Oh, its to late for that. No, we're going to make sure you're gone permanently this time." The first guard said as he pulled out his sword. Seeing enough of this, I lept down from the roof changing into my armor and forming a polaxe in my hands. *Time to start a legend.* I thought to myself. As the guard approached the zebras, raising his sword, I stepped in between them and as soon as the guard swung his sword, I caught it with my left hand, while holding my polaxe in my right. The guard just stood still in shock. Before he could try to withdraw his sword though, I revealed myself to all of them. The guards all stepped back in fear as dark mist formed in front of them to reveal me. ~"I don't like the effect you're having on these people."~ I said to them in a deep dark voice and they started to tremble. I applied pressure to the sword I held until it shattered and fell to the ground. I then held my polaxe in both hands as I approached them, but instead of fleeing for their lives, they raised their weapons towards me. But I chose to attack first. I slashed my axe downward onto the first pony, knocking his sword out of his hands, then thrusting the spear tip of my weapon into his side. He screamed and fell down backwards. Two of the other guards and one of the thugs attempted to overwhelm me with their attacks. But their swords just bounced off my armor. I then raised my polaxe up over my right shoulder, before swinging it sideways through them. All three were cutdown as I cleaved through their weak armor. The last two guards were backing away in fear, before dropping their weapons and running out of the alley and screaming for help. As they ran away, I turned my attention back to the first pony I had stabbed in the side. He was laying on his back, pressing his hands against his wound as he stared up at me in dread. I slowly walked over to him and he started to panic. Before he could scream, I reached down, grabbed him by his neck and lifted him into the air. He struggled as I held him in the air by his throat. His struggling came to a halt as blue fire traveled from my arm, up to his head. He was about to scream when I forced my will into his mind. ~Show me your mind... Show me your master.~ I learned his name was Duel Edge. He and his friends were Vingrid guards. As I searched through his memories, I saw him and his friends watching the two zebras from earlier. They were talking about ways to get rid of them. I then saw them making threats to the zebra couple and pushing them around. Upon further investigation into his mind, I learned he and his friends have done this many times before. Even killed people who were not ponies. As I continued my search, I learned that there were more guards in Vingrid who were corrupt like him. While their small group would go out and murder foreigners, the officers would cover up the incident. I now had all the identities of the murderers. This murder spree comes to an end now. After leaving his mind I threw him to the ground and turned my head to the side and looked towards the zebra couple. They both looked the same. Besides gender, they both had the same white and black fur color and they both wore brown robes and coats. I then looked at the female zebra and saw she was pregnant. *It seems to becoming a habit of mine. Saving unborn children.* I thought to myself, before speaking to them. ~"Come with me and do not fall behind."~ They both nodded as they stared at me in fear. I then turned around and grabbed the guards shirt collar and started to drag him out of the alley, kicking and screaming. As I reached the end of the alleyway, I sensed that the zebra couple had not moved from their position. Without turning my head, I spoke. ~"I'm waiting."~ They quickly started to follow me out of the alley towards the town center. I then walked in front of the market place towards a center street sign, where I threw Duel Edge at it and formed a chain around his wrists. I tied the end to the sign post. I then turned around and waited, while the two zebras were standing off to the side and waited for something to happen. "W-What are you doing and why are we here?" The male zebra asked me. Without looking at them, I answered. ~"Holding a trial and waiting for the rest of the guilty to arrive. You two are my witnesses."~ They stayed silent and continued to stare at me in curiosity and fear. It didn't take long for the two guards who fled to return with the rest of their group. ~"Good. They all came."~ I said. Five earth ponies, two pegasus and four unicorns. Yep. There all here. Some of the civilians around us came out of their homes to see what the commotion was all about. When the guards finally stood in front of us, they pulled out their swords and spears and pointed them at me, before one of them spoke. "I am sergeant Shield Gate. You have attacked and killed our fellow guards and have taken one hostage. I order you to drop your weapons and release our guard or we will use force to subdue you." I just stood still in response. Shield Gate then noded to his men and the unicorns stepped forward, charging up their horns. I still didn't move as Shield Gate spoke again. "I say again: Drop your weapons and release your hostage." When I did not respond, he looked back to his men and raised his hand. "On him." The four unicorns then cast their magic and a colorful bubble appeared around me, but nothing else happened. The unicorns seemed to be struggling to do something though. I laughed on the inside as I realized that their magic was useless against me. I had thought, even hoped a little, that magic would be able to affect me. But it would seem whatever their trying to do wasn't working. It was strange though, I could see what looked like transparent colorful strings leading from their horns to me. I could actually feel the magical energy flowing through them. I smiled as an idea came to me. A weakness of theirs I can use. I raised my left hand and sent an ark of my power through the magical links. The effect was instant. When my power connected to the magic, it used the link like a power cord and traveled directly to the unicorns. Everyone could visibly see the energy as it struck the unicorn's horns and all four of them fell to their knees while grabbing their heads as they screamed in pain. As soon as they fell, the rest of the guards attempted to charge at me, but I raised my hand and threw blue glowing chain links at all of them, that formed from my hand. The chains wrapped around all of the guards hands and feet, forcing them all to drop their weapons. ~"On your knees!"~ I commanded and they all quickly obeyed. I then raised my polaxe and stabbed its shaft into the ground and tied the chain links to it. Turning around, I approached Duel Edge while drawing my sword. He screamed for help as he struggled in his chains. I then lifted him up and moved him foward onto his knees in front of the rest of his friends. They were all attempting to pull my polaxe down with their chains, while some of the civilians who had been spectating, were panicking. ~"SILENCE!"~ I shouted. Everyone froze and fell silent. I could see more town guards coming up the street along with what looked like a commanding officer, if his golden armor is any indication of his rank. So I waited until they pushed passed the crowd, before I spoke. ~"Stop."~ I told them and they halted their charge, right behind the murderers. ~"These soldiers are murderers, who have been killing foreigners for almost seven years. Tonight, they had just attempted to murder these people."~ I said before gesturing to the two zebras and their unborn. "It's liying captain! Stop it!" One of the murderers said. I then lowered my sword to Duel Edge, right above his throat. ~"Tell them. Now."~ I told him, but he didn't answer so I spoke again. ~"Tell them what you have done and I will be merciful... In how I kill you."~ I started applying preassure to his sholder. He screamed in pain and the guards tried to approach again, but stopped when I growled and my eyes glowed red through the visor of my helmet. ~"Tell them. Now. I won't say it again."~ I said to Duel Edge and squeezed harder. "We did it!" He finally screamed. ~"Tell them what you and your friends have done."~ I told him as I stopped squeezing his shoulder. "Duel Edge, don't!" Shield Gate, shouted as he continued to pull on his chains. Duel Edge, breathed in before speaking again. "W-We would find the foreigners and harass them for a bit. Then, if they didn't leave Vingrid, we would kill them and hide the bodies in the forest while Shield Gate would cover up the incident." He spilled out the truth as he cried. "We were going to do the same to them tonight." He pointed to the zebra couple. I spoke to the zebras as I faced the crowd. ~"Tell them what they did."~ It took a moment before the male zebra spoke. "W-We w-were just passing through Vingrid to get supplies, when they started to harass us at the market. They wanted us to leave today, but we had only just arrived s-so we choose to stay. But we had a hard time finding an inn to stay at and they found us still here." He paused for a moment before continuing. "They took us to an alley and were going to kill us, but then he appeared and saved us." He pointed at me as he finished telling the crowd. I then looked towards the captain. ~"Your soldiers are sworn to protect and serve, yet these one's,"~ I pointed with my sword to the murderers in chains. ~"Have abused their power to prey on those who they deem lesser than themselves."~ I tilted my head forward as I looked down at the captain. ~"How do you find them?"~ When I asked him, he turned around and looked at Shield Gate. "Is this true sergeant? Did you do all this?" He asked sternly. Shield Gate was looking down, but looked back up with his face covered in rage as he answered. "Yes we did it! The zebras and every other race that come into our lands are infecting our kingdom with their cultures! And since no one was willing to do anything about it, I was! We all were!" He shouted at his captain, who promptly punched him in the face when he finished. The captain then turned back to face me. "They are guilty, stranger." He said and stepped forward. "But I ask that you would allow me to deliver their sentence, Sir knight." I then lifted Duel Edge and threw him with his friends. ~"Because they are your soldiers, captain, I will allow you to sentence them."~ I then raised my hand and the chains holding the ponies, retracted back into my polaxe. I then pulled it out of the ground after I put my sword back in its scabbard. As soon as my chains vanished, the captain motioned for his men to arrest the murderers. As they were carried away, the captain approached me. "Thank you Sir knight, for exposing these murderers. On behalf of my town, I would like to express my gratitude." He held out his hand for me to shake. I took it and shook his hand. ~"Your people put their trust in you and your men to protect them from monsters like those murderers, captain. If you want to hold on to that trust, make sure they pay for what they've done."~ He looked at me with curiosity and noded before speaking again. "What are you, knight?" ~"I am the judge, jury and executioner to all those who prey on the weak and innocent."~ I told him before turning to face the zebras. They both stared at me in awe, as they slowly approached me. "Thank you, so much Sir. Knight. Thank you for saving us." The male zebra said to me. I noded my head to them before walking away from the staring crowd. "Wait! Who are you? What's your name?" The female zebra asked me. I stopped and looked back to them. I looked behind them and saw that Dauntless Mahgauve, was among the crowd watching me, with a smile. I then looked back to the zebras and finally answered. ~"No one of consequence."~ I told them and disappeared.