"...did you just talk?" I asked, already knowing the answer. But it couldn't be true, could it? This was a completely different world, after all.
"Of course! You dare insult the Great and Powerful Trixie by insinuating that she, unlike any other pony, can't talk?" A growl obvious in her voice.
Oh fuck, first contact and she's, it sounds like a she, pissed. Quick, defuse the situa-
"Holy shit you're on fire!" I yelled, pointing to the strange, almost royal blue colored flame on her chest.
For a moment, her eyes widened, and she looked back at her body. Suddenly, the fire flared red and she turned towards me, pure anger in her eyes.
"You dare to make a fool out of the Great and Powerful Trixie by falsely panicking her?" Her voice suddenly turned icy, and I swear the fire actually turned a darker shade. "How about a taste of your own medicine, then?"
Now let's be clear. I thought the shit it the fan when that thug pulled a knife. If shit hit the fan back then, then when I met death, the fan met a mountain of shit, when I got thrown into another would said mountain shit itself in a fan factory, and when I found myself to be In a world full of talking ponies, the fans began ritual shit-icide.
That said, this took the cake in today's shit-storm.
The flame flowed into her hat a bit, and my clothes caught on fire. Not the blue flame on her chest, just a normal, spontaneous orange flame that sent me into a panic. And then the flame turned into a snake. Yes, a fucking fiery snake, coiled around my body ready to strangle the life out of me.
Naturally, I did what any sane dead 19 year old would do: scream like a little girl, throw the snake off as fast as possible until it started chasing me, and repeatedly cry "FUCKING SHIT!"
Then, as if I hadn't been fucked with enough, it stopped. It just fucking stopped. The fire snake disappeared, all the flames which trailed it, hell even I couldn't move. I forced myself to turn towards the blue pony, fear in my eyes, and she was laughing her ass off.
From this day forward, I vowed revenge. And to check the weed before I smoke it. I turned around, and just walked, not looking back in the least. Rather face a city of talking ponies than spend another minute with the 'Great and Powerful Bitchy'. I heard her "hmph", and the cart creaking as we went opposite ways. A few minutes later and the town was nearly in front of me.
There was a fence surrounding the town, just a small wooden one, but enough to tell that strangers were not welcome uninvited. I walked along the fence for a time, admiring the rustic feel to it, before I finally reached the gate, flanked by two ponies in golden armor.
They both had identical colored eyes, and rectangular muzzles. Their coats were both pure white, and their golden armor covered most of their bodies. On top of their helmets were two identical blue plumes, I couldn't tell of it was their mane color or just the helmet. And they were exactly the same height. Whether they were twin or not crossed my mind for a moment, then I ventured forward, and shouted "Hey!" To get their attention.
They jumped, and took to position facing me, probably judging whether I was a threat or not. I raises my hands open in the universal sign of peace, and to my relief they relaxed. I was in front of the gate now, and about to walk through, when two hooves shot out in front of me. I jumped back, and asked "Hey, what gives?"
The guard on the left answered. "We're sorry..."
"Roy. Just call me Roy."
"Right. We're sorry Roy, but due to recently discovered threats from the badlands, we cannot allow any non-ponies into our town without a permit or a verified pony companion."
Well, shit. "How would I get a permit?" I asked.
"You would have to go through an interrogation process, then an investigation on your background, and finally a quick doctor's che-
"Thanksanywaysgottogoseeya!" I yelled as I booked it the hell out of there. An interrogation process? I could handle that. A background investigation? Easy, no background on this planet. A doctor's check-up? Hell fucking no. I'd rather die a hundred more times than go to a doctor's appointment. I was running still, but now I noticed something. I wasn't tired. Usually by this point, I'd be out of breath to the point of puking. But no, I was still running, not even really tired, and going hella fast too. Eventually I stopped, back to where I woke up on the plains, only Trixie's cart was heading closer to the desert.
I wasn't winded at all, hell I felt ready for a marathon. Maybe it was the fact I was a wraith now?
"How observant. In fact, you are correct." I whipped around, and came face to face with Death, old man edition.
"Damn! Did you have to sneak up on me like that?" I asked.
He gave a short chuckle, but quickly became serious once more. "I had nearly forgotten something, though you will need it soon I believe." He then pulled out what appeared to be a black stick from his pants pocket, and presented it to me.
The first thing to stick out to me was that it was covered in runes, similar to his scythe. They seemed to shine, but at the same time cover themselves in shadows, the effect making it looked like it had a heartbeat, becoming visible and obscured in rhythm. Next was the strange hole in one end, which looked like a void more than a hole the way no light seemed to escape it. Lastly, I noted how it looked just the right size to be carried in my hands to provide grip, not big enough to make it slip, and not small enough that I'd dig into myself with my fingers. Lastly, and this should probably have been noted first, was the distinct lack of any use to it.
"What is it?" I asked, a little hesitant since the last time I trusted him he threw me into another world.
"This," he gestured, "is your wraith dagger. It is able to kill any supernatural creature, as well as acts as a conduit for your new power. When you wish to use it, simply state 'wraith dagger, activate'. With time, though, you will not need to do this, instead simply will it to activate."
I gave him a look that clearly stated 'You're kidding', sighed, and took the "dagger", saying "Fine, fine, if ponies can talk, snakes of fire can materialize for no fucking reason, and fires can burn on thing's chests without them even seeing them, I guess a piece of black whatever can be a mystic dagger."
He raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing. I took the dagger, and nothing happened. It felt kinda warm in my hand, but other than that, it was a completely plain piece of…whatever the hell it’s made of. “So, I just say Wraith Dagger, Activate-
A jolt of pain shot threw my arm, and suddenly I felt heat burning, pulsing, boiling within me. A vein burst out of the back of wrist and into the dagger, and by instinct I knew what to do. I let the heat within me flow down my arm, into the dagger, and in a flash a dark blade shot out of the other end of dagger, facing the ground, inaudibly humming with power.
The warmth faded, but a measure of it remained, not enough to overwhelm, but just to remind that it was there. I marveled at the weapon I was now holding in a reverse grip, though physically nothing about it changed except for the blade. It was just a bit wider than a piece of paper, and about six inches long. It also shifted color in the light, varying from dark grey to pure black. And it was sharp. Sharper than sharp. Damn, I think I might cut my eyes from staring at this thing it was that fucking sharp. I gave it a few test swings, and it cut through the air like it wasn’t even there. I reversed the grip, holding it like a knife, and it still felt just…right, like it was meant to be held by me.
That got me thinking, but before I tested my theory, I turned back to Death, and asked, “Hey, do you think you can tell me real quick what those flames in the pony-horse things’ chests were real quick?”
He gave an annoyed look, and said “Those were the souls of the ponies you saw. Had you stopped to think for even a moment, or even tried to consume one, you would have figured that out. The darker one’s soul, the darker their persona, and vice versa. The rest, I shall leave you to figure out. Also, find some excuse to travel about, your duties shall become clear as you do.” He then began walking away.
“Hey wait!” I called out to him, but I blinked, and he was gone. “Damn, well, I’ll give props for the exit.” I muttered to myself. I went back to studying my blade, and wondered how I was supposed to deactivate it. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, however, my vein retracted from the hilt and back into my wrist, and the dagger returned to its dormant state. The heat faded as well, but not completely, I could still feel it if I tried real hard.
“Now back to my first problem,” I began as I put the dagger in my pocket, though my stomach interjected, and growled at me to change my priorities. “Scratch that, my newest problem; food. Supposedly, I consume souls, so I guess I just gotta find some animal, and…how do I eat a soul? Meh, I’ll figure it out when I get there.” I began walking towards the desert, maybe I’ll find a lizard or something, can’t really go to town, didn’t particularly feel like exploring much. But I did feel like thinking about these new abilities, such as what their extents were, what else I could do, what that warmth was, etc.
About an hour of walking past by, and I was well into the desert now, completely oblivious to the new environment. My thoughts had turned on me, and were now wondering by what unholy means could a blue pony make a fire spontaneously appear, turn it into a snake, and then make it disappear. It just didn’t make sense to me; things don’t just appear out of nowhere. And then there’s the feeling like I’m missing something, a major fact which is just escaping my grasp. I sighed, and pushed my hand against my head to cool it from the morning hea-
Heat.
There was no heat.
The fires she made had no heat.
I slapped myself for my stupidity. It was all an illusion! There was no fire, no fire-snake, it was all a trick she pulled on me, and I fell for it! How could I have been so stupid! Oh, she’s so going to get it when next I see her…that’s her cart just a little ways away. Oh, this is gonna be good! I took off in a sprint at it, deciding to have some fun with my new strength and get to her faster.
Blinded by the thoughts of what I was going to do to that blue devil-spawn once I got my hands on her, I didn’t notice the strange figures surrounding her cart until I was about ten feet away. Needless to say, it made me reconsider things a bit. Right in front of me, circling the cart, were three giant scorpions. Fuck. Quick, think of something! Come on, you gotta have something to kill those things…damn, I’m an idiot.
I grabbed the dagger out of my pocket, and muttered “Wraith Dagger, Activate.” A twinge of pain shot through my wrist as the vein popped out, but I didn’t feel anything other than that. Must get easier over time. “Hey fuckheads, over here!” I yelled at them.
Two of them turned, and began running towards me, while the third one…dug underground? I’ll worry later, giant scorpions heading for me right now. I jumped at the first one, landing on its back, and swung my dagger at a joint in its tail. It hissed as green and copper blood shot out of its severed tail. I let myself fall backwards, and at the last second turned, reversed my grip on my dagger, grabbed its side, and cut along its underbelly. One down, two to go.
The second one’s stinger shot out at me, and I jumped up and over the first scorpion’s corpse, landing behind it. The stinger cut through the scorpion, and nearly got me, but reached its limit just inches away from my chest. And, as luck would have it, it seems it was stuck too. Perfect. I jumped forward once more and ran along its tail, intending to the same thing to this one as the last, but its claws shot out at me, nearly cutting off my head. I ducked down, and clung to its tail now, as it unstuck its tail from the corpse, and began to swing it about. Just fucking perfect, wait…this was perfect, to test out an idea I had, that is. I let go of my dagger, and it started hanging from the vein from my wrist. Well, floating would be more precise, it was just holding position in the air, instead of just going limp like on a rope.
I felt the heat in my chest start flowing into my arm as well. That heat must be whatever ‘power’ Death had talked about before, so I needed to act quickly. I flung my arm in the direction of the scorpion’s head, and the dagger shot forward, impaling itself exactly where I wanted it to. Me gusta. The scorpion shook a bit more, then went limp. That’s two down, one to go. I pulled my arm back and the dagger flew back into my hand. Oh, I can do so much with this when I get the chance. Now where is that last bastard?
The ground shook underneath me, and I got my answer. I rolled forward, narrowly avoiding its gaping maw as it exploded from the dirt. I ran forward, trying to get out of the immediate danger zone, but its tail shot right in front of me, and I was cornered. Turning around, I stared right into its glinting black eyes, and jumped right at it. Its claws shot out, trying to grab me out of the air, but I front flipped over them, and pushed off of them even higher into the air. I was right over the sucker now, a good ten feet above it, and I knew exactly what to do. I threw the dagger down at it, before dive-bombing towards the thing. The dagger pierced the shell, causing it to hiss in pain, and with a yell I kicked right into where my dagger pierced with the back of my leg, cracking the whole thing in half.
Dust shot up all around us, and I jumped off of the dead scorpion, and back onto the desert ground, adrenaline still pumping through me. Remembering who it was I just saved, a plan formed within my mind which would let me get into that city, and get back at her at the same time. I began walking towards the cart, and probably the cowering blue pony within. I could hear sobbing within it, and a strange hunger began to well up inside me as I got closer. I reached the entrance, and saw her cowering within, the blue flame that was her soul tinged with yellow, which probably meant fear.
Our eyes met, and for a moment she seemed to calm, then she suddenly yelled and pointed a hoof behind me. I turned, and saw one last scorpion charging towards us. It was still a ways away, but fatigue was threatening to overwhelm me, and I knew I couldn’t take another one so soon. And there was the hunger, now intense, drawing my attention to the desert brown soul of the scorpion, still charging at us. Without thinking, I closed my eyes and opened my mouth, and felt warmth entering me, filling me with what I could only call liquid pleasure. By the end of it, I opened my eyes to the strangest sight. Right in front of me, as if about to sting, was the skeleton of the scorpion that was charging not moments prior.
‘I just consumed its soul.’ I thought. I still felt a bit of hunger, but it was nowhere near the intensity of before. I turned back to Trixie, and now saw that she was cowering from me, rather than the scorpions. A little spark of mischief rose from me, and I gave her my best serial murderer smile, before saying “Your turn, little pony.” and began reaching my hands into the cart.
She whimpered as I wrapped my hands around her body and pulled her out of the cart, all the while giving her the crazy murderer look. I pulled her up to eye height, no longer tired at all thanks to the recent meal, and said “I’m only going to hurt you if you don’t answer my questions, got that? Good, first question; are you a ‘verified pony’”
She nodded, still shaking in fear. “Good. Next, tell me why you were in this desert, rather than in the city. And remember, tell the truth, or else.” She’s not gonna be any good to me if she was, let’s say, banished from the city due to disrupting the peace with boasting, right?
She stuttered, fear obvious in her voice “I-I was t-t-traveling to the n-next town over, c-cutting through the b-b-badlands to get th-there sooner. A-already did all the t-tricks I know h-here.”
A magician? Well, that’ll work for what I needed. I set her back down on her hooves, taking that pity on her at least, before saying “Now listen closely. I need to” crap. Why did I need to get into the city anyways? I could just rough it out here all I wanted, didn’t need real food, so what need did I have to stay in a city? Get to know the inhabitants? Help people? Or better yet…he did say find an excuse to travel “Allow me to rephrase this. I’ll make you this deal. From now on I’ll be part of your show, and travel with you across…”
“Equestria?” she offered.
“Yeah, that’s what I meant.” I covered quickly. “I’ll travel with you across Equestria, and in return provide protection from beasts like those scorpions. Deal?” I asked her, stretching my hand out towards her. ‘And this way, I’ll have plenty of time to exact my revenge on her.’ I thought to myself, snickering inwardly.
As I spoke I could almost see the fear disappear from her, and she somehow grabbed my hand with her hoof and said “Deal.” We both visibly relaxed after that, and she continued, “Well, now that you are in the employ of the Great and Powerful Trixie, she must know your name.”
“Roy,” I said, and with a little thought, added “my name’s Roy the Wraith.”