Perseverance. If one thing I have learned to live with is that I was never one for perseverance for I lacked the drive to pursue such motivation in life. The day I woke among the ponies of this world I felt... foreign and afraid, not of them but of myself. I could hardly call fathom the strength I may wield behind my sword, the durability of my armor, of a flame that yearned to burn brighter than the sun itself. In its essence, the First Flame burned inside me, wanting to set the world ablaze.
The creatures of the Abyss came for Canterlot, their corruption seeping through the cracks, to bring the peaceful nation down without sense or reason. In time, I learned that one does not simply push aside fear in favor of perseverance, It is a term used to measure one's resolve, to accept the burden of their mistakes, of the toughest choices and fears, and continue regardless toward a world without conflict. I was a coward, and that alone made me stronger.
And that alone, set the Abyss on fire
While a fire brought a much more solid and foreboding glow around the small camp set amongst the ancient ruins. W sat with her back flush against a slanted slab of stone while her strained leg remained slightly propped up with a blanket. All eyes were focused solely on the newest addition to the fire, a lone ruined knight who seemed to be enraptured by the flames.
"It is true that the man you saw that day was I - however, time has clearly fluctuated," His helmet tilted toward Sora. "For all of us." He put his forehooves together. "When I arrived, the events of this world's show had yet to transpire, so I had no direction, my body was... human, but that was a long time ago, I am content with this form, it has certain charms, especially for a Hollow, though I do not believe I am such."
"Sorta like how I'm not sure I'm even Infected," W replied for the first time since Astra. "No Merchant?"
Kaid, or Cinder in Equestria, shook his head. "Sadly I have not heard his voice in all this time, though my foe was indeed an acolyte of the Abyss, thankfully it wasn't severe otherwise Equestria would be a pale imitation today."
"Spectacular," W huffed, rolling her eyes a moment. "Well then, guess I can catch you up on the latest shafting I've been given." Before anyone could interject, W remarked with a wave of her hand and pitch dripping with venom. "I've been shot at, stabbed, sliced, burned, restrained, had my name run through the mud, called a monster, been manipulated, forced to run and hide in forests for days on end - Oh, did I mention how the Merchant's twisted a handful of significant idols in Equestria into being my mortal enemies? Or what about how they sent You to detain or kill me? Sorry, guess I missed the part where I'm supposed to just tuck that under the rug."
Even with only a single reply, W left them all speechless. Astra could feel all her potent emotions that were hidden so well. The Sarkaz's aura was spiked with jadedness and scorn, eyes burning hotter than the fire between them. Not once had W taken her eyes off of Cinder, she didn't trust him, and Astra could feel it, regardless of her Seer abilities.
"I... cannot dispute your claims," Cinder sighed, bowing his head. "You do not trust me, I would act no differently in your place, you have suffered great injustice and that I unforgivable, I apologize for my actions, W."
"..." She kept her silence, looking down at her leg. "...do you know who The Dealer is? If so, then you can stay, otherwise, get lost."
"W..." Sora tried to speak out but a metal hoof held him back.
"You need not worry, Sora, she has every right to distrust me," Much as he wanted to say otherwise, Sora knew what it meant to keep the truth from W's ear, she took it like a slap to the face. "As for The Dealer... yes, I have met him myself."
This notion spiked a series of gasps from the group. "Seriously? T-that's great, right!?" Sora grinned, seeing W's face lightened a little.
"What's his deal then? How would he know about the Merchant, about us?" She motioned to the group before Cinder spoke, tapping a hoof to the ground.
"His name is Gambit, a Dealer and mischievous character who can offer anyone a wealth of knowledge and power for a price," Cinder shook his head, almost out of reluctance. "If we wish to find the reason for our existence in this world... we would need something of value that he wants, he will not cooperate otherwise."
"Crap..." W slumped back, Sora sharing in her posture
"We don't exactly have our pockets lined with treasures." He sighed while Astra blinked widely, looking to Cinder expectantly. "Astra?"
"I might have something," Without another word Astra trotted toward their belongings, fiddling with the bags diligently, then she gasped, pulling something out with her hooves. "I-I found this before I met W, w-will this work?"
Displayed before the group was a crystal the size of a human hand. It was pitch black and retained many small splits of white across its polished surface, even for a raw mineral. W picked it up from the filly's muzzle, inspecting it. "What the hell is this?" She weighed it with both hands. "Heavy too,"
"I have never seen an ore like this, perhaps it may be of value to Gambit, we can only hope," Cinder proclaimed, looking at W directly, fiery eyes greeting concealed ones evenly. "I have lived a long and fruitful life in this world, regardless of my body or transgressions brought about by the Merchant, so, for one last venture, allow me to help you see to the end of this manipulator."
"'Last venture'?" Sora muttered, eyes curved in worry for the old knight who shared a chuckle, patting the Prince's shoulder.
"Ahem, I may have... seriously grown to accustom to speaking with this vocabulary, I just want a vacation," Despite his age, Cinder's tone of voice came off as Irish to W, the sound making her smirk slightly while the Lord sighed. "And I want a damn drink but noooo, can't have booze in the armory they say, tch."
"Hahahaha... Oh My God, we have fucking Irishman helping us, this is rich," W snickered, Sora sharing a small chuckle while Astra smiled, seeing W offer her the crystal again, W winked at the skeptical look on the filly's face. "It is yours, kid, better you than me."
"Does this mean you accept my offer?" Cinder inquired to the nonchalant 'eh' and shrug from the woman, her tail pointed toward his throat.
"Keep up your end and we'll see if I don't bury you in a shallow grave by the morning... or night or... what the hell is the time anyway, I can't see shit," Her arms threw themselves up at the dark ceiling, unable to tell where the sun or moon were.
Later that day/night, W remained by the fire, not that she could move anywhere else in her condition. The silverette winced while attempting to adjust her spot, already missing the ability to walk like a normal human being. "Dammit..." It was a pain but rather her than her friends.
"You okay?" Sora asked but saw her blunt stare, causing him to chuckle lightly. "Sorry, dumb question-" His face lit up, however, "-here, I can help."
"How...?" She tensed a little before seeing him move to sit by her injured leg, cupping her ankle with his right while resting his left on her injury, again, making the girl bite her cheek. "A-ah... easy there."
"Sorry, just try to relax," Closing his aqua eyes to focus, a gradual, pale gold shimmer enveloping her leg with a strange, soothing warmth. At first, her pain remained as it were gradually easing to a mild throbbing sensation until Sora opened his now heavy eyes, appearing to be quite drowsy. "Hah... t-there... done..."
Completely taken back, W bent her knee and felt nothing but a dull pulse in her leg, whatever he did just healed her injury in a span of seconds. "Healing Hands..." It was one of the few tricks an Aasimar had or atleast the ones aligned with Good/Neutral. Then she quirked a skeptical brow. "And it never occurred to you to use it before because..." Then she gasped, seeing the ravenette struggle to hold himself upright without her hands pressed to his firm chest, keeping him stable. "H-hey, you good?"
"Y-yeah, it takes... alot from me, more than flying," He managed a weak smile while wiping the sweat from his brow. "I'm useless though, can't do much but heal minor injuries like your leg, even then I'm completely tapped out."
"Useless?" That wasn't a word she's associate with Sora, given what he is, what things he's capable of if anyone had a minimal amount of tricks it was her. Explosives and a so-and-so Arts she couldn't even use properly.
"When that Thing took Astra I barely could keep up, I... even tried to stop you," His eyes were cast to the fire again, not wanting to look her in the eyes. "When Cliffheart chased us I couldn't help without being spotted and identified, and back at Hard Rock my swords couldn't so much as put a dent in the obsidian without your help, and now with Cinder here you... don't need-"
"Shut up," Sora jolted from her fist jabbing him in the stomach, seeing her tail come dangerously close to his eyes. "Don't you dare say that to my face," Never before had he heard her voice get so serious, not without a level of sarcasm or dark humor that is. W sat up straight, lifting his face by the chin so that he could face her directly, face scrunched up angrily. "You still helped me get Astra back, and besides, those gashes you left on that dumb rock helped weaken it, otherwise I doubt my explosives would've done much more than burn my clothing off."
"R-really...?" It was hard to believe, or maybe he just felt this way because it had always really been him and his unique abilities. Cinder didn't stick out unless absolutely necessary so W and Astra were the first like him to exhibit unique abilities publically.
Letting his face go, W leaned back, smiling up at the roofed forest. "You seriously worry too much - if I'm honest... wish I knew you before this," His eyes widened at her honest look skyward, a small smile played at her lips. "Cheesy as it sounds, I'm glad I did."
He was speechless. "I, um..."
"W?" Shaking both from their moment was none other than Astra, her sleepy gaze lost to a pang of worry.
"Hey, kid, what's up? Bad dream again?" W replied on reflex, Astra's dreams were often filled with nightmares so W took it upon herself to ensure Astra told someone, most of the time it was the merc. One nod was all W needed before waving her over while Sora sat beside the pair, body attempting to recover from his healing ability. "Hit me."
Astra looked around, snuggled up against W's side while the woman's arm wrapped around her protectively. "I... think something followed me to Equestria," That froze them both immediately, a drum of doom resounding in the humans' hearts. Both gave each other a small glance, allowing the filly to continue. "They were big... scary, those wolves I-I think..." Her eyes rose to them in panic. "I-I brought them here, I... I led them t-t-to..."
"Hey, shh," Hugging Astra close to her side, W stroked her mane while placing one hand on her grenade launcher instinctively. "It's alright, whatever it is we'll take 'em down, just like the Infected, no sweat." Reassuring the shy filly wasn't easy, without her memory completely filled in left Astra conflicted and confused constantly. "It's okay..."
"I just want to know where she came from, then maybe we could help more," Sora whispered in W's ear, herself nodding.
"Whatever it is we'll find out soon enough, for all we know, they'll be tracking her like the Infected are to me."
"Or that Necromancer was to me." Sora reinforced the possibility. The Merchant had sent the Forsaken after Astra before, what's to say these 'Wolves' won't follow? No matter what, neither of them would let harm come to the filly again, nor would the knight who listened in from afar, his hoof resting upon his sword.
To Be Continued...