Sorry that took so long. Took me forever to figure out why I had writer's block with A Favor Returned. I had it because I had not been writing this and so I was not balanced. More than half of this was written in the last hour (I had to stop for a few things) so it really isn't too long. Anywho, enjoy. : )
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Chapter 3
What happened to come next a few hours later into the afternoon was a visit from Fluttershy who came inquiring after my health. She was relieved to discover that not only had I awoken, but I did not seem to have a concussion. She asked Twilight had asked me, and I told her (the questions, not my answers. That would have taken all afternoon to repeat).
“So what will you do now?” She asked.
“Just wait, I suppose. I can't really go anywhere, and I'm not even sure how I came to be in your world in the first place! Even if I did my magic doesn't work in the black heart of Everfree forest. I'd only be going back to a death of being eaten alive by Bloody Hooves!” Fluttershy blinked a few times, looking confused.
“Bloody Hooves?” Fluttershy's eyes became wide. “They sound scary!” I nodded and explained what they were and how they had become what they had.
“Rather a fitting thing, given that your people are eating us in our world!” One of the ponies watching me declared.
“The Bloody Hooves have done far more damage to your kind than they have to ours, and we'll probably wipe them out completely in the next thirty years or so. If there are as many Humans in your Reality as there are in mine, your whole world is dead even if you all work together against them, and from what I've been told, the Griffons have joined them!”
“The Humans of this Reality have never used any of the weapons you've described, and our world has been fighting them for the last ten years. If they were capable of conquering us, they'd have done so by now!”
“Not if they're using you as food as Twilight Sparkle claimed. It would not be smart for them to kill you all off through conquest as that would defeat the purpose of coming here in the first place. It would be far better for them to raid you from time to time and take only what they need when they need it until your nation was weak enough for them to just stroll on in and take you all with hardly a fight.”
“I had suspected the same thing.”
All three ponies in the room (two earth and Fluttershy) suddenly knelt as princess Celestia, looking very serious, came through the door and approached the bed I laid on. I made no move to bow, but I saluted. Celestia studied me a moment, and then told the other ponies to leave. The earth ponies objected, of course, but Fluttershy left instantly. For the earth ponies Celestia gave them a reassuring smile and informed them that she was more than capable of handling a single Human should he prove to be hostile. Still not comfortable leaving Celestia alone, the two trod out. Now that we were alone, Celestia studied me again, not speaking. Her eyes landed on my staff several times, making me wonder if she suspected as to what it truly was, but when she spoke again she made no mention of it. “Judging from the letter that Twilight Sparkle sent me briefly summarizing your story, I don't think that introductions between us are necessary, though my student noted several times that you stopped several times when you told her of the occasions in which you used magic, which makes me suspect that you're deliberately hiding something about it. None of the Humans that we've dealt with showed any signs of being able to use it, which makes me wonder what, besides your diet and disposition towards us, makes you so special.” I said nothing in reply and she nodded. “I cannot read minds, but your face reveals plenty. Go ahead and keep your secret for now if you wish. In the meantime, perhaps you might be willing to help me.”
I raised an eyebrow, wondering why she would simply decide to trust me right off the bat like that given the state of things in her kingdom. “We have as of yet been unable to determine where they predatory Humans are entering our world from. We know that it is somewhere in Everfree Forest, but as of recent anypony that goes inside it almost never comes out again.”
“Which is how you've determined that they're getting in through the forest?” I asked. She nodded. “Why trust me? As far as you know, we've only just met today. For all you know, I could simply be trying to fool you so I can infiltrate your society and learn your weaknesses.”
“Because if you were, you would not have brought that up, and because you chose to run when you were attacked by the Ponyville citizens rather than try to fight them.”
Though the princess's logic had a few holes in it, I agreed to give her all the information I could, but warned her that things that were one way in my world might be very different here. In truth I was rather surprised that there was a pathway connecting our (or rather, their) worlds when Humanity had been banished to the Echo Dimension (as Celestia had explained to me while we spoke) rather than going voluntarily. Apparently the old war with the Dragon race had occurred here as well, but in this reality it had been the Ponies and Dragons that had allied against Humanity, who's numbers had skyrocketed to being more than five times their combined population at the time. **
At first they had used tactics that they were using now: raids and small skirmishes on several fronts to spread out what small military forces the ponies had so as to weaken them overall. At first the Dragons could have cared less about this happening, but then they also began invading Dragon territory as well and retaliated in kind, but it seemed no matter how many they killed, more kept coming, and eventually raids turned into outright war, again with most of it focused on their (militarily speaking) weaker enemies, the ponies.
After much discussion with the elders of the Dragon race Celestia's father convinced them to join with them against the Humans. The Dragons gathered their numbers and began fighting back directly, forcing the Humans to retreat time and time again. About a hundred of the Dragons total had been slain before the Alicorn king said that they'd done enough, and then, with nearly every Unicorn that could be found along with Celestia and Luna's mother and uncle helping, they transported the vast majority of the Human population into the Echo Dimension, leaving only a few hundred behind, which the Dragons and ponies finished off.
“My father was the one that forged the gateway with the help of our mother. It was his hope that one day Humans would become more civilized and we could welcome them back, but he was very, very wrong, and it was his downfall.” Apparently, around the same time in my reality that my magician ancestor had gone to Mythica and was turned to stone, her father, (his name was Mantle) decided to go to Earth in person to see if they had changed, and they killed him. After that both her uncle and her mother forbade anypony to go near the passage, and the exact location of it was forgotten as the ages went by. Now Humans were coming into Mythica, and with the information on how her father had died, I now knew how they had gotten in: his horn.
I explained to Celestia how the gateway in my reality worked and she was dismayed that her father's remains were being used in such a way. “But that would explain why-”
Her sentence was interrupted by the sound of a scream coming from outside. Celestia used her magic to raise the curtains, and gasped at what she (and now myself as well) saw: Ponyville was under attack.
I followed Celestia out of the patient wing, but she stopped me at the door, saying that not only was I injured, but I stood a good chance of getting hurt by ponies if I went outside the infirmary. I felt frustrated that I was being benched, but agreed with her logic and sat down on a couch in reception room. I may be stuck in here, but if any of those fanged Humans come in here looking for trouble, they'll find more than they can handle!
Fluttershy had apparently gone home, but the guard-ponies had not, and they quickly took up positions on either side of the infirmary door as if expecting me to try escaping. As if I'd have anywhere to go! I frowned and went to the couch and sat, looking out of one of the windows. A few figures ran by carrying torches in hand. One of them stopped outside the window and looked inside. It apparently saw me, because the figure asked in a thick English accent why I was resting when the raid had just begun. I did not answer and she asked if I was injured. I still did not answer and she went to the door where the two ponies reacted first in fear, then attacked. The female had not expected an ambush, and was also surprised but quickly reacted and defended herself with a long knife that she pulled from a high boot and swiped at the two ponies. One of them was nicked on a front knee, and the other received a long slash to his face. Both of them whinnied at the pain and struck the female's arms with their hoofs. Little ponies or not, their legs were still powerful, and Humans (back home, anyway) rarely got struck by a hoof and walked away unhurt. She was no exception and she screamed when her blade arm was hit and apparently broken as well and cradled it with her other hand.
“Why do you just sit there?!” She yelled at me as her knife clattered to the floor. “Are you stupid?!”
“No.” I finally answered. “I just think they've got you handled well enough without my help.”
“They've got me-” Her face was stunned up until she was cracked in the head, and then she fell to the floor, a little bit of blood trickling from the side of her head where she'd been struck. The pony that had jumped to kick her landed easily enough, and then they pushed the Human outside the doors and shut them. Meanwhile more screams and of fear and pain and harsh laughter rang through the town and reached our windows.
A bright burst of light outside blinded me, and I assumed every other being in the town, and then Celestia's voice, sounding fierce, boomed, warning the raiders that if they did not cease their attack now, she would would destroy them. Laughter met her warning and another three Humans ran by the infirmary chasing a pony that looked like one of Applebloom's children, who tripped over the downed Human (She should have been watching her front rather than her pursuers) my guards had killed and tumbled to the ground. The three surrounded her and tossed a net over her. The filly struggled, but the three converged on her and tossed another net over the first and then tackled her to the ground. She struggled, but they were too heavy, and her movements were already constricted.
I looked at my guards, who stood with grim faces, watching the proceedings.
“Will you be saving her?” I asked, no longer sitting, and walking towards the door.
“Twilight told us to keep an eye on you and make sure that you do not go anywhere.”
“And would Twilight approve of you letting an innocent girl be taken to be eaten alive? If you won't lift a hoof to help, than I will. Step aside.” The two shifted to stand closer together to block me. Meanwhile outside the three had bound the filly's legs and were dragging her away. She called for help, but no one came. In the background I could hear voices calling for the raiders to get out because they were being slaughtered. The abductors began to run, still dragging their captive. I narrowed my eyes at my guards. “Move. Now.” They shook their heads. “Fine. Don't move.” I tightened my grip on my staff and teleported outside, much to the shock of the two ponies. “Hey!” I yelled at the three dragging the pony away. They looked behind them and stopped.
“You're not part of our town...” One of them observed. “Where'd you come from?”
“You are going to let that girl go.” I declared, ignoring the question. Meanwhile the two ponies ran out of the building and stood behind me.
“And why would we do that?” The same one asked.
“We payed good money to get the rights to raid this area! Bugger off!” The eldest of them declared.
“The rights? You're killing sentient beings!”
“Oh great, another bleeding-heart Hippy!” The third groaned, spitting on the ground. “Why don't you people wake up?! Gaea is running out of animals; this world may be the only chance we have at survival!”
“I'm not from Gaea.” I replied. “I'm from Earth, and if you won't release her, then I'll just have to take her back myself.” They dropped the net and drew the same type of long knife the woman had drawn from her boot.
“You and what army, pal?” One of them taunted. Without another word I teleported forward, laid a hand on the filly, and then teleported back into the infirmary, lifted my hand from her side, and then teleported back outside.
“What in the Netherworld?!” The youngest gasped. “That was magic! How did you-” I smirked for a second, then frowned at them and pointed my left index finger at them.
“Burn.” The one on the far left had his pants burst into flames and screamed, his arms flailing around while his hands slapped at the tongues of fire that raced up to his shirt. His companions also screamed and tried to put him out the same way he had, only to have the fire jump to them as well. They panicked and ran away from me, still burning, and threw themselves into a fountain. The flames were quenched, (because I let them be) and the three men climbed out and ran for the edge of town, never looking back.
I lowered my empty hand and turned to the two stunned ponies behind me. “Are you going to go untie that filly, or are you going to leave that to me as well?”
Celestia made good her threat of killing the raiders, and when the raid finally ended there was a Human body-count of fifteen, including the one that my guards had slain.
When she returned to the infirmary after the many thanks her people gave her the guards told her in exaggerated detail what I'd done. The filly I'd saved did not thank me, but given my similarity to the ones that had taken her I did not hold it against her. She left shortly after the raid ended and ran to find her family and see if they had also survived. Once the guards had finished their version of the story she asked them once more to leave, and to leave the building this time.
“I thank you for your efforts, Jacob. What you've done helps me believe your story a bit more, and if not for the deep-seeded distrust for Humans I'm sure that her family would have thanked you as well. As it is, I'm sure you understand.” I nodded. “It seems that even Ponyville is now coming under attack, and I am sad to say that our military forces are spread too thinly already.”
“Meaning that either they'll have to fend for themselves, or you'll have to order an evacuation.” She nodded.
“I fear that some of my little ponies will not want to leave their homes, and several of our army's newest recruits will want to return to protect it, which, as far as our fighting forces are concerned, I cannot allow.”
“What would you have me do, your majesty?”
I had a feeling that she would never ask me for help directly for political reasons, which meant if I wanted to help, which I did, I'd have to volunteer. This could be an illusion caused from touching the black spire, or it could have been 'the test' to prove my worth, or it could be real. Test or not, illusion or not, not helping them would have gone against the grain for me, so what else could I do?
Celestia smiled.
“I appreciate your willingness to help, but it won't be that simple. As I am sure you are very much aware, the ponies don't trust you. Even if you swore loyalty to me in front of the entire village, this likely would have little effect, and you would still be resented, if not openly mistreated. Perhaps something more...dramatic would be in order.”
“Dramatic? You mean dangerous.” She nodded.
“Recently one of our soldiers was taken captive while she was on a scouting mission. It seems that Humans have been setting up a base of operations here in our world to coordinate raids against us and the Dragon kin within the Griffon kingdom's borders. My sister, whom is at the moment in charge of finding ways to prevent more Humans from journeying from the Everfree forest to the Griffon kingdom has her hooves full and cannot spare any of the soldiers assigned to her. I cannot send any soldiers either because the Griffons in tandem with what Humans are already here have been making advances into our lands and we may at any time be forced to go into battle with them.
“Even if I could spare anypony, they'd never get close enough to the base without also being captured or killed. But you...” I saw where she was going with it. But me, also a Human, could easily stroll in unchallenged and try to find out if the captured soldier was still alive, and perhaps even rescue it. I'll probably have to leave my staff behind though, so I don't draw attention to myself. Costume will also be an issue if none of the ones here from the dead will fit me.
“Understood. Who was taken and what color are they?”
“I believe you are already familiar with her. Her name is Rainbow Dash.”
__ __ __ __ __
The three men that Jacob had chased off were being punished for lying to cover their ineptitude. It had been their job to capture a female pony this time around, and they'd failed.
Each team of three was supposed to capture one filly or mare, since last time they'd captured several stallions and colts. Though not every village was going to use this tactic, their town, the town of Boarborn,e was famous for its methods of raising cattle and other types of herd animals, and if the method of animal-raising worked on regular horses it stood to reason that the same would work here as well with these animals. So rather than eating every Pony or Dragon (mainly their eggs) that they found, they instead took them back home to Gaea with the intention of breeding them.
Unlike most of the rest of their world, which was quickly running out of food being that the carnivorous Human (with some minor exceptions to foods such as bread) could only eat meat, Boarborne was not starving, and they were now in fact one of the richest towns in the world because of their animal-breeding and raising methods. However, their hungry neighboring towns were beginning to look at them in a way that made them nervous, and so the citizens saw that it was time to expand their business.
“I swear it as the Maker's own truth!” One of them screamed as he dangled by a rope tied around his ankles over blazing coals. “We were attacked by a Hippy using magic!” The man was lowered closer to the coals and the heat shriveled his eyebrows and made his skin tighten as yet still more sweat poured across his skin and dropped to the glowing coals below. The hiss the drops of moisture created were brief and gave no respite from the searing heat the seemed to penetrate his entire being. His two friends had been similarly dealt with, and one of them was in critical condition from all the moisture he'd lost. Each of them said the same thing, which made their elder wonder if it really could be true, though everything he knew screamed otherwise. Humans had never, in all their long history, been able to use magic. Certainly they had achieved some incredible things, such as killing that Alicorn that whose horn had proved to be the key to unlocking the gateway between their worlds, as his granddaughter had discovered (he was rather proud of her for figuring that out), but magic had never been one of.
“Do you think I was born yesterday, you young fool? I'm nearly at the end of my life at the age of thirty six. Humans can't use magic! If we could, we would not be in as much trouble as our world is!”
“Let him down, granddad. We know that it's been nearly two thousand years since our people were sent to this world. It's possible that any Humans left behind could have been enslaved and changed by the pony royalty. They seem to be more powerful than the Unicorns are. Who knows what they are capable of?”
“Very well.” The elder signaled with a hand to have the man released. He spout various thanks at the elder's granddaughter, who waved them away. “Jackylin, shouldn't you be with your father planning the next raid? We can only push the ponies so far before they get fully involved and our efforts will go from raids to wars. Once that happens we won't be getting as much out of this world. The King will be using every pony and Dragon killed for food rather than thinking of taking prisoners.”
“I know. This is why we need to gain more political allies within the Griffon nation. Once the king steps in with the army our part in this place will be greatly reduced. If we can arrange the king's demise, however, then-” The elder quickly placed a hand over Jackylin's mouth.
“Shh! What you speak of could get you killed, and the rest of us too!” Jackylin sighed. He was right, of course. The king would not tolerate such words. Or even rumor of them. IF he thought for even a minute that Boarborne held potential traitors, he would burn the entire place down. After taking everything of value from it first, of course. This made planning his demise rather difficult as she had to do most of it by herself. There were a few others she trusted, her grandfather being one, but he would have no part of it other than being her grandfather.
A Human that can use magic just might speed things up though if I can bring him over to my way of thinking. All the armies in the world can't stop a Gaea-quake or a tornado!
Jackylin was called by her father to inspect their latest catch from their latest raid. She had already done so once today, so she found it a bit odd that she was being told to do so again, but did as she was told. Their most recent raid had not gone very well due to one of the Ponies' leaders arriving. They had lost more than half of those that had gone in, and most of them had family that would miss them. Even though they all went into towns, villages, and Dragon dens mentally prepared for the possibility that they might not come back out again from it, it never made it any easier when it was someone that you knew that did not come back and you were.
Jackylin strode past a Griffon that was tearing into a side of beef on a small table and stopped outside of a cage. Inside the cage were several of the Pony race huddling as close to one another as they could get, and a small number of them stared defiantly at her from the other side of the bars. One of which was what they presumed to be a scout from the Pony army. It was a blue Pegasus with a Rainbow lightning bolt mark on its flank. She had been captured a week or so ago around the same time a white Unicorn had been taken. Full of fire, the blue one was, and it had cost two townsfolk a broken arm each and three cracked ribs for another to clip her wings and bind her legs so she would not be able to escape. The third one had also lost two fingers to a bite. Jackylin sneered at her, but could not help feeling a grudging respect for the mare. It would be difficult to break that one. We might have to simply kill her. An alpha of either gender can lead the herd to defiance. Sentient or not, the result will likely be much the same.
“She's still refusing any food we offer her, and the others are doing the same.” One of the townsfolk with a broken arm stated from a desk that had been set up next to the holding cages. At the moment the other cages were empty. “Most of the ones huddling in the middle will likely give in a few days, but she's another matter. We'll see.”
“We don't have time for our normal methods. Full war is already on with the Dragons and the Fire Fang tribe is fully committed already. It won't be long before their neighbors join in as well. If it goes badly for them our king will step in and take control of our operations here and join them. You know his methods: kill the strong, and the weak will fall in line. That may work in most cases- heck, we use it for our animals- but he has never actually been in combat himself. He'll throw our lives away like a cattail plant its seeds.
“If that female is unwilling to submit in three days, kill her.”