//------------------------------// // The End...And The beginning... // Story: A Hero's Tale // by steel soul //------------------------------// World…Unknown… Place…Unknown… Time…Unknown… I awoke with a stirring, though I had fervently wished I had not. I could feel my body scream in protest to the pain. It felt as though I was all but beaten to death, at least that’s what my mind was tell me. I could feel I procured more than just a few cracked or broken bones. I would have loved to say I had been through worse than this but…I would be downright lying if I had said such a thing. I felt so weak…so spent… As much as I just wanted to end myself just to stop the pain that coursed though my body, I could not. I needed to get up. I needed to stop that monster. Slowly and as gently as I could, I try to lift myself up, but it was to no avail. My body seemed to deny every request of movement I threw its way. I was, however, able to slowly I turn my head to the side, catching a glimpse of what I was there for. Of what I and others like me had been here to do. That mass of dark energy lay a few meters in front of me, the same mass of energy that we was tasked with destroying. Fighting against every one of my rational senses I reach out a hand toward the darkness a spark of electricity began to form around my palm, gathering together into a small mass of all the lightning magic I could summon. All I needed to do was just need to disrupt it…If I can do that…then… My eyes widened as I felt something grab ahold to the back of my head and, in that same instant, felt my face greet the rocky floor over, and over, and over again until I was picked up, none to gently mind you, by my hair. How I stayed conscience was beyond my reasonable thought process. Though any who knew me knew that pain wasn’t all that new to me. I barely managed to open my eyes when I found myself face to face with my torturer. Silver, beautiful fur surrounded his body. Long, flowing silky white hair ran down the length of his back, reaching to his knees. His tail swished back and forth behind him and his long ears stood straight up, barely moving. He had the built that others could only dream of, almost female if one were to just catch a glimpse of him. The tatted black robe that hung off his body did little to leave anything to the imagination. His foxlike muzzle held a coy smile upon it as he stared into my eyes, his own belaying the smile he presently held. “Ah…So here you all little hero…Been wondering where you went to after…Well…You know…I decimated the ship…” I barely opened my mouth to speak when I felt his hand tighten his grip on my hair threating to be pull out from my skull. “Now now…The grown-ups are talking child.” He said with a chuckle in his voice. “Tell me…Little one…How it feels to fight against a god? It must be quite troublesome, am I right? Tell me it’s troublesome.” I stayed silent, not because he told me to, but because I couldn’t tell rather or not I could talk at all. With a chuckle he forced my head to turn, and my eyes widened at what I saw. Bodies of others lay scattered, broken, or torn lay before my eyes. Some of them I knew personally. Others I didn’t. All of them were comrades…My comrades…they were…were… “You see this…THIS is what happens when you fight against fate!!” He laughed. “But look at you Little Kazuki! The last survivor on this dying, world besides myself. Well that’s no surprise though…You were trained by the best after all!” He forced my head to turn back to the mass of dark energy building nearby. “Look…its almost complete…can you believe it? After all these years…I can finally have the world I wanted…yes…The world I have dreamed of!” He pushed me till I was down on my knees, and forced me to keep my eyes open as the mass of darkness began to grow. “Yes…I can finally be…with my Eve…” He chuckled at first but then it grew into nerve wrecking laughter. “Together, we will destroy all who stands against to us!!” I cursed myself for being so weak. I couldn’t do anything. I felt so helpless and my…My palm…It still had the energy…it was small but it was there. With one last hope of turning the tide I looked at the fox-being out of the corner of my eye and spoke in a low voice three words. He turned to face ma with a raised eye brow not hearing what I had said. “What is it…Do you wish to join me in my dream world as well? It’s much too late for that little-!?” I rammed my clawed hand into his chest digging it as deep as I could before pulling away, his blood splattering upon the ground as I did so. Awkwardly, I began to make my way toward the mass of energy, the magic I had built up still sparking within my right hand. I could hear him throw curses and threats towards me as loud as he could as he doubled over in pain, but I paid him little mind, So determined to finish what I had come here to do. With raised palm, releasing the last of what little energy I had left into one final attack. “Y-You fool!!” The silver fox screamed behind me. “DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!??!!” I turned to face him, though I fell as I did so, my body finally giving in to the injures I had sustained. I found my self smiling finally, as I let my deeds answer for me. The energy behind me began expanding without remorse or signs of stopping, threatening to consume all that was in its grasp. My last thoughts turned to that of someone in the distance, her gentle laughter making me smile a sad and regretful smile. ‘…I…I’m so sorry…I won’t be able to live my life after all…’ ~ World…Equestira Place…Outskirts of the Everfree Time…Early Moring The morning dew dripped lazily from the treetops, and the song birds chirped happily from their nest. Little critters ran this way and that way busily doing what they do best, scurrying about. It was a normal day in the plains of Equestria. At least one would think it was… In the river, not too far from the Everfree Forest, was a brown furred figure, its lower body submerged while its upper body rested on the rocky gravel. He was, for the being was most certainly a male, unconscious. His body was covered with cuts and bruises and a trail of blood had trickled down his forehead and nose, drying in the heat of the sun to cake his fur in a red nasty mess. He had been dressed in a black no-sleeve shirt, with tan pants, both of which looked no better than their owner, being torn and tattered to the point of disrepair. All and all, the poor being had looked as though he had been through the gates of Tartarus and back again. It was then that one would hear a cheerful little ditty coming not too far away from the strange being. The voice in itself belonged to a pink maned pony with butter-yellow fur with three little butterfly’s adorning on each side of her flank. She happily trudged a cart full of clothes, having just washed them not to long ago up river humming a happy little tune as she did so. It only took a quick look for her to see the strange creature and for her to, just as quickly, dive in a nearby patch of bushes with a freighted squeak. The bushes shook violently as her eyes peered from an opening to view what had caused her to flee. They blinked twice before, trying to register what it was that she was looking at. After about five minutes she would pop her head out to see if she could get a better look at the being. To her surprise she could see that not only was it not moving but it seem to have been hurt somehow. Or possibly worse… “Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!” She stammered, quickly moving toward the creature. “What do I do!?” She quickly wrapped her fore hooves under his arms and slowly began to pull the rest of his body out of the water, praying to the heavens above that she was not causing more damage to the poor creature. It took her about a full five minutes to finish her task before she finally felt it was safe enough for her to move to his side. The shy little pony twisted him so that he could face upwards, and despite the urgency of the situation, she could not help but study and be amazed by the look of the strange creature’s face. The same brown hair covered his face, along with what she had suspected was his mane. Despite the blood that had caked the left side of his face she could tell that he looked feline in origin, complete with a pink button nose and animal like muzzle. She looked down his body finding, to both her shock and horror, his chest unmoving. She pressed her ear against his mouth. Nothing… “N-No…Please wake up!” She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply, and lowered herself, pressing her lips against his own, letting her breath fill his lungs. After she did so she would rise up and begin pressing down on his chest with her fore hooves repeatedly. He didn’t stir… “C-Come on Fluttershy! You can do this!” She said quietly to herself, trying to give herself a boost of confidence. She repeated her past actions, ending with her once again pressing her hooves into his chest. Nothing again… “Please…for me…” She said as tears began to form at the corner of her eyes. She did it once more. And was rewarded by a fit of coughs and a sputter of red colored water escaped his mouth. When it did she almost squealed with delight, but quickly corrected herself. “N-No time for praising yourself Fluttershy! I have to get him back to my cottage!” She ran to her cart and dumped the contents out there of. She quickly pulled it to where the creature was and quickly (but not too much so) loaded the poor thing onto the cart. She then began a fast yet careful trek to her little cottage on the hill. “Don’t worry. Just hang on. I promise to save you.” Fluttershy thought she had whispered it to herself, but as she trekked along to her home the creature’s ears would flick ever so lightly in response to the mare’s voice. ~ World…Equestira Place…Lone Little Cottage Time…Evening It was early evening by the time Fluttershy had gotten herself cleaned up after the long night with the strange creature. She had did her best for him, working around the clock and making sure he was as comfortable as possible during his sleep. By the time she felt she could allow him to rest on his own the mare had become a mess. After a quick hop into her shower and a light grooming she was able to look somewhat like her normal self again, though the bags under her eyes was a testament to her strenuous night. Making sure that she, herself, was taken care of, Fluttershy would peak into the strange beings room, finding him resting peacefully within the bed, the slow, shallow breathing he produced the only indication that he was having a somewhat peaceful rest Fluttershy closed the door to the room she had left the strange creature in before making her way down to her living room. As she adorned her saddlebags, the shy mare could not help but mull over the poor creature that lay upstairs. Fluttershy had dressed and cleaned his wounds as best she could after removing his torn clothes. Much to her embarrassment, as well, as she found out that the being was in fact a male due to what he had between his legs. The demure yellow pegasus was still quite worried about him, and she did not want to leave the creature by his lonesome the way she was doing, but she couldn’t look after him on her own. His injuries were sure to be more severe then she could even fathom if the ones she could see were any indication. She was sure he would need an expert to look him over when all was said and done. She had decided to acquire Twilight Sparkle’s help in the matter. Hopefully she might even know what this creature was due to her knowing so much about odd things. Fluttershy turned to a nearby little white bunny relaxing comfortably upon her couch, giving it gentle smile as she did so. “Angel, momma’s going to be right back. I need you to look after our guest until I do.” The bunny blinked once before turning his back to her, folding his arms and holding his head up high in defiance to her request. “Please Angel.” Fluttershy begged. “I don’t want to leave him without someone to watch him.” The bunny held his pose, though he couldn’t help but lower his ears a bit. “I’ll make that extra special carrot cake you like.” Fluttershy said in a gentle singsong voice. That got the bunny’s attention. He looked toward the yellow pegasus and nodded with a bright smile. Fluttershy nuzzled the bunny muttering a thankyou before making her way out of her cottage and towards her town. Ponyville. She never really liked being out in crowds, and despite knowing most of everypony within Ponyville, she would never really come out during early afternoon unless it was for something she really needed. Ponies would say wave or say hello to the mare, but she could barely give them a second glance, her destination the only focus within her mind It took little time for her to reach her destination, a large hollowed tree made into a lovely little home/library. The sign, Books and Branches, hung just above the door, swaying gently in the cool evening breeze. Fluttershy gulped as she placed a hoof upon the door and gently pushed it open. The jingle of the bell announcing her presence as she entered. “H-hello? Twilight? Are you here?” The demure Pegasus would call out, looking around the room as she did so A lavender hoof waved from behind an overly large book whose title read ‘Princess 101: A Study Guide’. A cute but distracted grunt came from behind the tome as the hoof singled for her to come over. Fluttershy slowly made her way around till she was behind a lavender pegasus like herself with a deep purple mane and a pink streak running along it. A picture of what looked like a big purple star sat upon her flanks, much like Fluttershy’s picture of the three butterflies. Fluttershy meekly tapped upon her, and spoke in a low and gentle voice. “Um, Twilight, if it’s ok with you, I mean if you’re not busy, I…I really need you to come over quickly to my house.” She shuffled her hoof on the ground as she added. “It’s really important…” The pegasus named Twilight took a quick look behind her toward Fluttershy as she spoke allowing the yellow pegasus catch sight of the horn that grew from the top of her head. “Well I am a little busy Fluttershy. Studying up on Princess Posture and Techniques and all that…but I can take a bit of time away from the books. Anything to help out my friends.” The mares warm smile would turn into a concerned frown. “Fluttershy? Have you been up all night?” Fluttershy looked away as she spoke. “Well…Yes Twilight…the thing is…I found this creature I never seen before by my cottage. He was hurt, very badly. Angel is watching him right now and I took care of him as best I could, but I really don’t know how to treat him beyond what I had done.” She looked towards her friend. “I was wondering if you could come over and see him right quick. Maybe you have some information about his spices.” Twilight placed a hoof to her chin. “Well…I could. It shouldn’t be too much trouble.” She smiled. “Besides, this creature has to be really something to have you stumped as to what it could be.” Closing the book, Twilight set it aside and adorned her saddle bag, filling it with many books about animals and medical practices. “Right then, show me the way to this strange creature Fluttershy.” ~ World…Equestira Place…Fluttershy’s Cottage Time…Late Evening “What the hey even is that?!” Where the only words that came out of the winged unicorn’s mouth after staring straight at the sleeping creature for about ten full minutes. Before Fluttershy could even answer the question, Twilight would quickly levitated a book in front of her and began to flip through the pages. “It can’t be that…or this…It’s defiantly not a Diamond Dog…too feline in appearance.” She took a second look at the creature lying motionless in the bed. “I’m sorry Fluttershy I just don’t know…This…This isn’t a creature I’ve ever seen or even read about within Equestrian Lore.” The yellow mare just shook her head. “I don’t care what he is Twilight…I’m just worried that he might be more hurt then what I can see.” Twilight tapped a hoof to her chin before widening her eyes, her ears popping straight up as she spoke. “Hey! I can use my magic to see if he has any internal wounds!” “Y-you can do that?” Fluttershy asked, a bit of hope in her voice “Well…not per say. You see, I’ll use a little of my healing magic to see if any damage to bones or anything else. Maybe even patch up anything that looks life threating.” The mare would look away, scratching the back of her head. “Mind you, I can’t heal him all the way or I risk damaging something far greater then I can fix but it can help…Maybe…” Fluttershy smiled lightly. “Well…anything to make him more comfortable would be more then appreciated Twilight.” “Right! Stand back.” With a glow of her horn Twilight began to encroach around the creature in a pale purple glow. She had enveloped him all of two seconds before she instantly released the spell her eyes widening by degrees. “I-Impossible!!” “T-Twilight?!” Fluttershy gripped her friend as she stared wide eyed between him and her friend. “W-what’s wrong?! Is it that bad? Is he okay?!” Twilight raised a shaky hoof to the unconscious being, her tone barely a whisper but still quite loud enough for the butter yellow mare to hear. “H-His body…I-its healing its self! He’s using magic!”