//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: Virtuous Desperado 
// by Dumakey93 
//------------------------------//

My head hurt, as I groggily reached out in the darkness for something to hold. I wasn’t awake, nor was I dreaming, it was more like I was reaching out to an illusion within the darkness. I reached to my face to rub my eyes, slightly scraping my right eye socket with a fingernail. I felt a huge burning sensation from the touch, as I remembered that I lost my eye not long ago. I knew that keeping the wound open might lead to some infection, so I covered it by ripping a sections of my sleeves, and tied them around my head. Upon doing this, I stroked the right side of my face, as I felt deep grooves and skin that felt like leather. 

It seemed that my face had been in some tough times, but as long as I was alive, I swore to carry on. The only problem was that I had no sense of direction, which I hated so much. It was one thing to get lost in a dark forest, but it was a different thing entirely for there to be no landmarks anywhere. It was then that I realized the severity of my wounds, and my disadvantages against magic creatures.

I was without any magical powers, which I wrongly assumed were supposed to be permanent. I had run dry of any otherworldly help, and I had lost almost all of my equipment. I still had holes, tears, and patches, in which were once reliable clothes. I had only a large knife to defend myself with, which still was stained with the blood of some timberwolves. I groped around my head, as I felt open wounds and the warm sensations of blood running down my body. My body seemed to be in horrible shape, but it seemed that the only severe injury I had now, were that two of my right fingers were literally hanging by the skin. 

It seemed like a mixed blessing, that I did not see myself in my current state, but I still needed to protect Celestia’s student. I needed to ignore my wounds, and protect her, even if it killed me. I had no clue why it had seemed so instinctual to protect weaklings, as I had normally brushed them aside as I went along my way. Perhaps, in all the death I had caused, there was still some form of good inside me. 

The darkness that surrounded me did not bring me sadness, nor was I happy to be alone again. I had been alone most of my life, and wanted no companions or company. For if I were to let anyone see who I was, or what I’ve done, they would push me away. Deep in thought, I hardly noticed a tiny spot of light from the corner of my eye. I knew that sitting and moping about my past would only lead to regret, so I began to throw away my worries. As the light grew, I sensed a powerful force that headed towards me. I had no real way to defend myself, as the force grew in intensity as my legs began to tremble. 

I was intimidated for the first time in my life, to the point where I knew that fighting against whatever was coming, would only lead to my death. I didn’t care for such a fate, as I stood tall and breathed deeply. I managed to calm myself a little, as the light soon began to blind me. I tried to cover my eye, as the light grew in intensity.


As the light tapered off, I found myself on the ground, with no sign of my equipment with me. I sat up slowly, as I examined myself again. My ribs were still sore from the beating I took, and my right eye was still missing, no surprise there. My clothes were more rags than actual clothes, as I spotted holes and tears all across my body. I was missing everything, even my knives that I kept in my boots for safe-keeping. I was truly out on my own, with no idea where I was.

I looked around and saw myself surrounded by white snow, as the wind began to whip at my face. I stood up, and stumbled across the white landscape. I dragged myself several hours across the snow, until my legs suddenly collapsed. I figured that it was only natural, since frostbite would probably take my extremities from me first. There was no way to stop the cold from rushing across my body and making me shiver for every breath I took. The only hope I had now, was if someone were to discover my body in the frozen landscape...