//------------------------------// // II // Story: Baen of Equestria // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// Baen clutched his battle axe handle in his mouth, the worn and frayed dark brown hand grip barely registered on his tongue as he faced down his foe. His eyes narrowed as the blade of the battle axe glinted in what light came from the hole in the ceiling. A deep booming voice laughed in mirth, “You merely prolong your inevitable death Barbarian,” it’s mirth vanished, “Yet you still stand in our way.” Baen grit his teeth on the handle, “And I always will.” The voice’s tone cut through him with a sickening calmness, “So be it.” Baen was then engulfed in fire. He screamed. * Baen’s eyes snapped open with a loud yell of fury as he tackled the shape above him to the ground and pressed his foreleg to its throat. The shape below him gagged as Baen’s vision cleared, the shape he was currently upon was a mare he had never seen before. She had a white coat and pink hair done up in a bun, her cutie mark was a red cross and she even wore a white hat. Baen quickly glanced around and noticed his armor was hanging from an open door by a series of hooks. Baen’s eyes narrowed slightly but he eased off the mare. She began to cough and gag as Baen rushed to his armor and donned it quickly, but he froze. “Where is the necklace…” Nurse Redheart gasped slightly for breath, “What?” Baen reeled on her with gritted teeth, “The necklace that I wore. WHERE IS IT.” Redheart backed against the wall, “I-I-I.” Baen yelled in annoyance, “UGH! Fine,” he turned from her and looked for his axe, “Where are you….” Nurse Redheart found her eyes traveling along the young stallion as she gave him a once over. When her eyes fell on his flank, she blushed slightly. Baen took no notice as he strapped his axe onto his back. Glancing at the blushing mare he raised an eyebrow, “What? You’ve never seen a warrior before?” Nurse Redheart bit her lip slightly as she averted her eyes out of embarrassment and fear, “N-no.” Baen smirked slightly at her reaction but became stone faced, “Thank you for your healing cleric mare,” he turned, “but now if you’ll excuse me.” Baen then leapt out the window and landed on his four hooves with ease before rushing off. Redheart blinked a few times, “Cleric Mare….,” she then pouted angrily before sticking her head out the window yelling, “I HAVE A NAME YOU KNOW!!!” * Baen skidded to a halt and looked at his surroundings in utter shock, “What in the?!” Buildings towered above him, some three floors, others two or one. But what shocked him the most was the way they were crafted, it was unlike anything he had seen before. It was the perfect marriage of stone, tile, hay, and brick work. Though these building were new, they bled an aura of familiarity. Surprisingly, this is what caused Baen to snap his head around and take in his surroundings with fear and slight aggression. A pony lugging a cart of noise makers passed behind him and one of them was set off. Leaping a few feet in the air in surprise, Baen whirled around and yanked his axe off. Within its unsheathing moment, it arced through the air and sliced the cart and the noise makers in half. The pony backed away as Baen poked one with his hoof, “What are these….things?” The pony ran away causing Baen to yell after him with an air of victory, “That’s right, RUN HOME TO YOUR MOTHER,” he raised his fore hoof, “Unless you want more of this Noise Merchant!” “HEY!” Baen looked around for the source of the voice only for the voice to answer in an annoyed tone, “Up here dodo brain.” Baen glanced up at a glaring cyan mare with a rainbow mane who pointed at him, “Nopony wrecks wagons in this town but ME!” Baen was confused at the statement as the mare lowered her hoof and sighed, “Man that sounded better in my head.” Baen rolled his eyes and turned away and started walking. The mare then flew in front of him and landed in his way, “HEY! Don’t turn your back on me!” “Why not?” he smirked, “I have to get downwind from your breath somehow.” The mare breathed into her hoof quickly but then shook her head with a growl, “Alright that’s it! It’s go time!” Baen sighed, “Listen Rainbow Mare-“ “RAINBOW DASH!” Baen waved his hoof, “Yeah that’s astounding, I don’t make it a habit of fighting with mares unless I have to,” he glanced around at the assembled crowd of onlookers, “besides, fighting with me is the last thing you want t-“ Dash socked him in the muzzle causing Baen to stumble back in shock which she smiled smugly at, “There’s more where that came from! Come on! What are you a-“ A shing was heard as the front of Rainbow’s mane fluttered to the ground causing her to widen her eyes and her pupil’s to shrink as Baen finished for her, “coward,” his eyes blazed with the fire of passion for a battle as his axe clicked back onto his back, “Never.” Rainbow Dash regardless of her fear, stood firm and scraped her hoof on the dirt which Baen mirrored, “Come to me then Rainbow Dash, let’s see what you’re made of!” Both ponies charged each other with cries of the coming struggle. * Twilight walked side by side with her friends as she finished explaining herself, “And so I brought him back to the clinic just so he’ll be looked after until he wakes up.” Applejack was skeptical of this pony known as Baen, “Are ya sure he’s alright? From the sound of things he might be a hoofull, a fella like that bein pulled outta his element? It’s one of those things that could drive anypony nuts.” Pinkie Pie nodded, “Well it would make sense. There ARE a lot of nuts out there. Walnuts, hazel nuts, acorns and my favorite, chocolate covered peanuts!” Fluttershy smiled, “Those are always good.” Rarity still stared in awe at the tear drop shaped ruby that levitated in front of her, “Do you suppose he’ll like that I put this on much more sturdier support,” the thin silver chain glinted in the light, “It’s just that a gem as….beautiful as this should be on something much stronger than that garish piece of string.” Applejack chuckled, “Ahm sure he’ll love it.” Fluttershy scanned the skies, “It’s a shame that we couldn’t find Rainbow Dash,” she smiled slightly, “I bet she would think meeting a real live warrior would be-“ All the other mares spoke in unison, “Awesome?” Fluttershy giggled, “Yes.” They shared a good natured laugh but they stopped when they noticed local guard ponies cleaning up the street in of the hospital. Nurse Redheart was frantically retelling the events to the guards in question to which Twilight lost all expression. “What in Equestria?” Applejack glanced at her, “Well….at least he’s awake.” All of a sudden Vinyl Scratch ran to Twilight almost out of breath, “Twilight you got to come see this!” Twilight raised an eyebrow, “What it is Vinyl?” “Rainbow Dash is fighting a stallion in armor and an axe in the town market,” she jumped in place, “It’s so bucking cool!” All the mares immediately hauled flank toward the market. * Rainbow Dash bucked the stallion in the barrel and a ding was heard as Baen fell flat on his back. Rainbow hopped in place waving her hind hooves in the air. “OW OW OW OW!” Baen laughed, “Am I to hard for you princess,” he smiled mischievously, “Do you want me to remove my armor then?” Rainbow sputtered slightly, “A-as if!” Baen looked to the side and hurled a piece of wood at Rainbow as he surged forward like a bullet. Rainbow was taken off guard by the wood and dodged it. But Baen picked up his speed and barreled into her, knocking her a few feet away. She skidded to a stop at the Ponyville fountain and shook the stars from her vision; she glanced at the stallion in surprise. Baen gave her the same smug smile she had given him, that did it “YOU’RE TOAST!” Rainbow zoomed at him at full speed and- *CLANG!* “Though this was a nice warm up,” he pulled the flat of his axe off her face, “that’s all it was. A warm up.” Rainbow made a sound reminiscent of a mouse squeak before dropping to the ground like a sack of potatoes, her eyes spinning in their sockets. Baen snorted and looked around at some of the spectators who weren’t too pleased with how the fight proceeded and concluded. Some stallions stepped forward to which Baen responded with his axe being drawn. “Come on then you spineless foals,” he stepped forward causing the stallion to back away slightly, “Show me a real challenge. Or are all ponies in this age as soft as pillows?!” An aura of magic engulfed him and yanked him off the ground with a startled ‘meep!’ Baen turned to stare into the fiery eyes of the alicorn known as Twilight Sparkle, “Ah, Miss Twilight, what a pleasant surprise!” Twilight growled at him as her nose pressed against his, his resolve crumbling slightly. Applejack fanned Rainbow’s face, “Dash? Say something consarn it!” “Mommy I don’t wanna wear the dress,” Dash slurred. Pinkie Pie checked Dash’s eyes, “I think her brains have been scrambled!” Twilight dropped Baen hard, “Why did you attack my friend Baen!” Baen raised his hooves, “Hey in my defence,” he pointed at Dash, “She started it.” Twilight’s growl was border lining on animalistic causing Baen to cringe back, “You just can’t attack ponies on the street like this is some sort of arena of kombat!” Baen blinked a few times in puzzlement, “Why?” Twilight’s left eyelid twitched, “WHY?!?! Because that’s not how things are done! We settle disputes with words,” she gestured around at the damages, “Not wanton destruction and displays of bravado to boost someponies ego!” Baen stood up, “I’ll have you know it’s not for the purpose of ego,” he turned his nose up at her, “It was for the thrill.” Twilight was on the brink of a breakdown but tried to calm herself, “Listen, was there a reason she attacked you?” Baen gestured to the cart behind him, “Because I slew the noise cart.” “Well ponies don’t slew,” she facehoofed, “SLAY, things here.” Baen glanced around at the town, “No wonder these ponies are soft.” Applejack stomped over to him, “Who are ya callin soft!? Just who in the hay do you think you are talking like you’re so high and mighty?” Baen shrugged, “A stallion who has slain beast that would make you have nightmares.” Applejack kept her mouth shut as Baen looked at them all in turn and nodded. “Just as I thought,” he pointed at each of them, “The fire is there, but it’s low and flickering. How disappointing.” Baen trotted away from the scene as Twilight perused him. Pinkie Pie tapped her chin then slammed a hoof on the ground, “Well it’s settled, and I’m going to throw Baen a part so epic he’ll cry!” Rarity raised an eyebrow, “But why would you want to make him cry?” Pinkie laughed, “No silly, cry in awe and happiness!” Rainbow Dash and gave a loopy smile, “Did anyone see his flank? Man that was toned.” The mares in the crowd and checking on Rainbow blushed but smiled. * Within Canterlot Castle that night, Celestia was reading the latest letter that Twilight had sent yesterday for the two hundredth time. It was greatly intriguing to say the least, a pony of old frozen in stone only to be awakened in the present time. This indeed needed a follow up as soon as possible, Luna had been informed and read the letter when it had first arrived and insisted they leave immediately after the stallion awoke. Celestia put down the letter when a guard entered calmly. “Your majesty,” the guard stated, “I bring news of a disturbance in Ponyville.” Celestia stood, “What happened?” The guard cleared his throat, “A stallion wielding an axe garbed in armor attacked the mare known as Rainbow Dash this afternoon.” Celestia sighed, “Ready my carriage and inform Luna that we depart for Ponyville in the morning.”