Chapter 2 For the Fallen
Faelan could not believe it. Not only was he in a village of unknown allegiance, stranded who knows how far from any earth pony territory, but he had now sworn his life away to a pegasus so timid he thought he might break her if he shouted too loudly. He would have been better off had the yellow mare left him to die in that forest than suffer this humiliation. Wait a minute…the forest! Faelan had a comrade to save!
He was about to turn to go search for his fallen brother when out the corner of his eye he saw a rainbow streak heading towards him at breakneck speeds. He only just stepped out of the way to avoid his assailant, who came to a screeching stop. Faelan now got a good look at what he saw to be a cyan blue pegasus with an unkempt rainbow mane, staring daggers at him.
The mare snorted at him, “What’s the big idea, bub?! You looking for a fight, ‘cause nobody hurts MY friends!” It looked over the injured ponies from earlier before passing its gaze over the fainted Fluttershy. “What did you do Fluttershy?”
“Simmer down now, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack cried, “He didn’t do nothin’ to her. She just got scared is all.”
“Yeah right! And I guess he had nothing to do with those other ponies over there either?”
“Well…ughhh”
“That’s it! He’s mine!” And with that she charged headlong at him, her wings propelling her at unnatural speeds.
Faelan once again dodged the charge, but saw her sweep a turn that would break the back of most other pegasi. This pegasus is fast, he thought, she might have been able to rival General Hurricane back in the day. But she was reckless and untrained. Faelan anticipated the next charge and planted a hoof square into the mare’s jaw, sending her tumbling head over heels into the dirt. He moved with practiced efficiency, ready to finish the job when he heard a cry over his shoulder.
“Stop!”
Faelan turned to see Fluttershy, panting as if that shout required all of her strength to utter. He stood poised over the beaten mare but did not move a muscle as the yellow pony ran over to them.
“Please stop. I mean…she’s my friend, so if you could just please back up, if you don’t mind. Um…” she started to stammer as he stared back down at her, his full size now looming over her.
He had no choice. As much as he wished to give this pegasus what she and her kind deserved, he had given an oath; and Grey-Manes always fulfill their promises. “As you command, my lady,” he said, sarcasm dripping from the honorific. “However, perhaps you should tell your pegasus friend not to pick fights she cannot win. It’s much easier that way.”
At that point Rainbow Dash had recovered enough to be helped up. Spitting out a little blood, she looked to Fluttershy and gaped. “You know this madpony?” Then, turning her head to him, she puffed up her chest and declared, “And what do you mean fights I can’t win, huh?! I was just getting warmed up!”
Applejack just rolled her eyes at the bleeding pegasus. “His name’s Fay-line, or somthin’ fancy-like. And he…uh. What would ya call it? Swore an oath or somethin’ like to be Fluttershy’s bodyguard or somethin’?”
“I am Faelan,” he stated to Rainbow Dash. “I swore an oath in the presence of Stendarr to become Fluttershy’s huscarl, to protect her and all she owns in order to repay her mercy in saving my life. I am obligated to obey her commands until my oath is fulfilled. Including not tearing you apart, you filthy pegasus.”
“WHAT did you call me?!”
Applejack couldn’t believe her ears. “What in the hay ya go and say that fer?!”
It looked like they were about to come to blows again when at that moment the doors to the hospital burst open. There stood Twilight Sparkle, with a bruise on her face and her horn glowing with magical rage. Faelan could feel his runes glowing, beginning to absorb the magical aura. He could also feel the pain start to work throughout his body, slowing creeping up his spine. He might have to kill this one.
Faelan reached around and drew his battleaxe into his hooves and prepared to charge. Standing on his hind legs nearly brought him to twice the size of the ponies around him, but he moved with practiced stability. Drawing the ax to its zenith he let out his war cry and charged the lavender unicorn. He could feel the blood curdle in his veins as Twilight tried to weave a magical shield around him, each step he took bringing a deeper look of panic into her casting.
But before he could deliver the final blow he was hit in the side and thrown off balance. At the same time he felt the magic aura about him vanish, taking the feeling of pain along with it. Looking up he saw Fluttershy had pinned (well tried to pin) him to the ground. Turning his head he could see that the orange pony, Applejack, had put Twilight in a hold to keep her from casting.
“I’m sorry I had to do that…no. No, I’m not sorry! Twilight’s my friend and I can’t let you hurt her! I-I’m giving you an order n-n-not to hurt anypony in town….Please?” Fluttershy croaked, her courage wearing out under his piercing gaze. Not even the dragon from the smoking incident stood up so well to her assertive side. It was unnerving.
Twilight looked like she was in a nightmare. “Are you all CRAZY!” she blurted, “This fiend nearly broke my nose and tried to ponynap Dr. ER against his will. He nearly killed me, and you’re just letting him go?!”
“Listen to me Twi’,” Applejack told her while not loosening her hold on the pony, “Ah know it looks bad. But ya need to trust me on this one. He ain’t gonna hurt nopony iff’n ya don’t hurt him back.”
Twilight was flabbergasted. “How could you say that? Look what he did to Rainbow Dash.”
“Actually, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said while nervously rubbing the back of her neck, “I hate to admit, but I kinda came at him first.”
“Please, Twi’. As the Element of Honesty Ah’m askin’ ya to trust me on this.”
Twilight looked like she was about to snap until Faelan broke the silence. “Well, well…so there is a spine underneath all that mane of yours after all. Fine, as per my oath I will not kill anypony in this village unless attacked first.”
Moving Fluttershy off of him, Faelan pick himself up and harnessed his ax. Seeing the situation disarmed Applejack simultaneously released Twilight from her hold. Turning to face the lavender unicorn Faelan remarked, “Perhaps you should tell other ponies not to attack me first. It is becoming harder not to slaughter everypony I see with all these annoying interruptions.”
But just when Faelan thought he had moved past all this foolishness he turned to see that hyperactive pink earth pony from earlier coming towards them, accompanied by a white unicorn that looked as if she had spent all morning doing her hair. In the pit of his stomach Faelan felt that he was going to loath this pony from that moment on. With them coming into earshot, he could start to hear their conversation.
“Pinkie, what in Equestria could have you in such a state?”
“I’m telling you Rarity, this pony is super-duper mean and cranky. I don’t know if a single party will be enough to cheer him up! I just said hi to guy and went through aaaall the trouble of getting every pony in Ponyville to wish him to get well, and he just goes crazy! I mean, could you imagine a crazy pony running loose in town?”
Rarity rolled her eyes, “No dear, perish the thought.”
It was then that Rarity first caught sight of the new denizen of Ponyville.
“My…my word,” she exclaimed. She began to pace around him, starting to look him up and down. Of all the things that had happened that day this confused Faelan the most. All through the day his appearance had elicited reactions of anger or fear, but this pony seemed…puzzled. It was as if he were some problem she needed to fix. Out of all the things he had experienced this day this pony was the first to truly unnerve him.
Rarity, while still circling, began to mutter, “That hair…those braids...so crude, yet so exotic. But those,” she said pointing to the runes over his body, “those are simply garish! And I mean really, fur!” she exclaimed while running her hooves through the bear belt Faelan wore, “Fur was sooo last season. You my dear are a fashion Disaster! We simply must get you to the boutique before it is too late. And then a trip to the spa to get rid of those filthy marks from your coat…”
Faelan had been trying with all his will-power to not tear this sorry excuse for a porcelain pony to shreds. He knew he was still under oath not to harm any pony within the village, but this indignity was too great.
“Enough!” he shouted with such force that the white unicorn staggered as if reeling from a blow. “Listen here you pampered brat of a pony, I am not some doll for you to play dress-up with! This bear pelt came from a beast I slew myself with just my bare hooves! It symbolizes that I have the strength and ferocity of the bear spirit; that I am an unstoppable force of nature! And these marks are not for decoration. They are enchanted runes imbued directly into my skin. So take your fashion, your petty gossip and everything else your kind incessantly blathers on about and go home to your castle, while real ponies get something useful done!”
His tirade had left the six other ponies speechless. Looking around he saw that many of the villagers had started to avoid their general direction, many ducking into doors that were promptly shut tight. Let them be afraid, it wasn’t like he hadn’t had enough headaches that day.
Turning to Fluttershy, his face took on a new seriousness as he began, “Well, Lady Flutterhshy, it has been a joy to meet your companions while dodging their attacks, but I need your help with a matter I need to deal with this moment.”
“Oh, um…w-what do you need from m-me?”
“I need you to lead me back to the part of the forest where you found me.”
“Are ya plum loco!” Applejack yelled, “Don’t nopony go into the Everfree Forest! What in tarnation do ya need to go there fer?”
“I need to recover my fallen sword-brother so that I may give him a proper casting.”
“But, it’s extra-mega spooky and nasty in there!” Pinkie chimed in.
“Besides, who knows what could have happened to him by now?” Twilight began in her calculating manner. “The body may not be there anymore. There’s all manner of creatures in the forest. There is no need to risk anypony on a wild goose chase.”
Faelan was resolute. “It does not matter. I must honor my sword-brother by delivering his body properly to the halls of Annwn, even if I have to cut the remains out of an animal’s stomach myself.” Turning to Fluttershy he continued, “Due to my oath I cannot leave your side. But I AM going to find Gunther’s body. So you can either accompany me freely, or I will tie you to my back and carry you.”
Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils at this, but Fluttershy held up her hoof in protest. “Please, no more fighting. I can show you the way, if you think we will be safe. I mean, I know I’m good with animals, but…”
“Ain’t no problem, sugarcube,” Applejack reassured her. “Ah may not agree with everthin’ this pony says or does, but Ah can understand bein’ there fer family. Ah couldn’t imagine livin’ with mahself iff’n Ah let Granny Smith die in some unmarked grave in the middle of nowhere. Ah’m comin’ along.”
“If you and Applejack are going, then I’m going too. I can’t leave my friends hangin’,” Rainbow Dash put in.
“Well,” Rarity began, “I suppose I had already taken the day off for the picnic. And I haven’t had any large orders to fill lately. I, too, will accompany you, Fluttershy, as long as my hooves don’t get dirty.”
Twilight looked up and said, “Well, if you girls are going, then I guess I’m coming, too. It will be a great chance to get some questions I have answered,” she finished with a smile on her face.
“And I’ll bring the snacks!” Pinkie exclaimed with the typical bounce in her step.
With a sigh of resignation, Faelan turned to exit the village. “Lead the way,” he said to Fluttershy as they embarked on their journey.
It had been a rather silent journey to the Everfree forest. The girls had had a few light conversations, all while taking quick glances at their new acquaintance. Faelan would have let it go at that if it wasn’t for the purple unicorn blatantly staring at him. She kept looking him up and down, sometimes muttering to herself under her breath. It had gone on long enough for him to stand.
Turning to the little pony he snorted, “Well unicorn, what is it you want? Am I simply a puzzle for you to figure out, or simply your new plaything to poke and prod for answers like your kind is so fond of doing?”
Twilight staggered a bit from his blunt statements, but quickly recovered. Regaining her scholarly poise, she stated, “I am simply trying to study these enchantments. They’re some of the most intricate I’ve ever seen. But I am also pondering how this was done. No book I’ve ever read has detailed enchantments on living things before, much less on a living pony.”
Faelan simply scowled at her, but she continued unabashed, “I noticed what happened back in the hospital. What was it exactly? It didn’t look like any spell I’ve ever heard of.”
“That’s right! How did ya get out of the hospital so fast? Ya’ll were mighty beat up when me and Fluttershy brought ya in,” Applejack inquired.
“What you refer to, unicorn, is called the Feeding. All you need to know is that it allows me to heal myself of injuries quickly,” Faelan returned.
“But there has to be more to it than that,” Twilight pressed. “I saw you drink blood! And after I saw you did so your enchantments had glowed red while morphing over your whole body. It was like healing magic, but earth ponies can’t cast magic,” she said, her face furrowed in concentration. “What was the purpose of drinking the blood?”
Faelan scowled at the incessant persistence of this little unicorn. Gathering himself he replied, “If you insist on pestering me, then I will tell you. The Feeding is the devouring of the life force of another creature. These enchantments allow me to heal myself by feasting on a fallen quarry.”
The looks on the other ponies was one of utter horror. Twilight then remembered what Dr. ER had said about what they found while examining his body. She had a sinking feeling, but she had to ask, “I-I noticed th-th-those canines you have. They aren’t…normal for most ponies.”
“No…they were given to me along with the runes. They allow me to better tear and devour flesh, much how a wolf’s does.”
“*Gasp* Ya mean ya EAT ponies?” Applejack sputtered.
“Not entirely, no. In fact I have not fed on a pony in a very long time. The meat is not very tender.” It was at this he noticed that they had all taken a step away from him. “I have already given my word not to harm another pony unless attacked. Besides, that was a long time ago.”
Rarity threw him a stern look, “But that is utterly barbaric. Why in Celestia’s name would one WANT to do such a horrid thing?” She nearly wretched at the thought.
“It was necessary at the time. The ability to heal ourselves was needed to fight the war…”
“Wait, what war? There hasn’t been a war in Equestria in thousands of years! At least not in any of the books on Equestrian history I’ve read,” said Twilight.
“It was in my homeland…a very long time ago.”
“That was actually my next question. Where exactly do you come from? There’s no other pony nation I know of outside Equestria’s borders,” said Twilight, curiosity overcoming her fear for the moment.
“It is a land that no longer exists.” At this statement Faelan appeared to stare off into space, for a second oblivious to the world, as if lost in a tragic memory.
“Oh…I’m so sorry.”
“So am I.”
They had finally reached the forest’s edge. A silence had pervaded over the ponies once again following the end of the last conversation. It was Twilight who broke the silence, “I…I’ve also been meaning to ask. Why couldn’t my magic work on you?”
“The runes on my body also serve as a magic absorber. Any unicorn tries to use magic on me I simply absorb it into my body.”
“But earth ponies can’t use ethereal magic. The ramifications of an earth pony having raw magic flow throughout its body are untested! Farstrider’s Law of Magic Conservation states that magical energy cannot be destroyed, only converted to another form. How do you handle it?”
“I do not know how it works, but I know that the magic is released throughout my body. The only drawback is the pain it causes; the stronger the magic, the stronger the pain.”
“But why do you do it? What is the purpose?”
“It is to equal the playing field with you magic-wielding unicorns. Without your magic you’re about as formidable as a week-old foal.”
“That…that’s about the…war, isn’t it,” Fluttershy said, speaking for the first time that trip.
“Yes.”
“A-a-and that long knife you have? I noticed you seemed to hold it very close to you when I found you.”
“It is my family’s sword. It is the legacy of my people and my clan…it is all I have left of them.”
“Which reminds me…” Twilight began to say.
“Are you quite done, unicorn? I have done nothing but answer your inane questions this entire trip. Is there anyone else, anyone else at all that has something better?”
“Ooh, ooh, ooh, me! Pick me!” Pinkie Pie squealed with excitement.
“Oh by the gods…what is it?”
“What’s with the spooky-ooky cutie mark? It’s all red and scary, with sharp teeth and creepy eyes, like RAURGH! It’s kinda funny looking. I was thinking, ‘What kind of cutie mark could look so spooky?’ I mean, isn’t kind of silly to call it a cutie mark? What kind of special talent mnnph mgh…”
Rainbow Dash had placed a hoof over the hyperactive pony’s mouth. With as close to an apologetic look she could muster to this scary new stallion she chuckled, “Sorry about that. She tends to get that way sometimes.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Faelan said resignedly. “To answer your question, this cutie mark is the mark of Stendarr’s Chosen, warriors of legend in earth pony history. Those who have the mark are called Gullengrakr. All those that follow their path bear this mark.”
Twilight’s curiosity had again been peaked, but it was then that Fluttershy called out that they had reached the spot. The spot still smelled of death. The girls were having a hard to time not losing their stomachs, but Faelan did not even bat an eye. He had been in many battlefields among many fallen, both foe and friend alike. It was almost a welcomed return to something familiar.
The bodies of the fallen timber wolves still littered the ground. He noticed no stench came from their bodies, nor did they bleed. No wonder Feeding didn’t work, these creatures looked like they were animated by pure magic. Still no excuse, he thought, we had simply gotten sloppy.
There he was. Right where he last remembered laid the body of his fallen comrade. The body was still fairly fresh, but Faelan could see the discoloration of decay starting to set in. Looking up he saw a few vultures circling overhead, waiting for the coast to clear in order to feed on their new bounty. Shooing away a few flies he hefted the cold body onto his back. It felt a little awkward at first since the body had started to go stiff, but he managed to rest the stallion on his back. Gunther was nearly as large as he was; it would be a long walk back to the village.
Looking back to stop where they had made their stand, Faelan noticed his Gunther’s greatsword in the dirt. “You, kinsman,” he said pointing to Applejack, “Could you carry my brother’s sword for me?”
“Mah name is Applejack, fella, and why in the hay do ya want me to carry that fer?”
“It is customary for the fallen to be laid to rest with their weapons, so they are prepared for the hereafter. I wish for my sword-brother’s weapon to be held by one of our kin, but I cannot do it as I am already carrying his body. Will you do this for my comrade…Applejack?”
“Ah suppose it ain’t too much trouble. Besides, Ah’m probably the only pony here who could carry the dern thing.”
“Hey! I could lift that thing too, easy!” Rainbow Dash said with confidence. “Let me take that off your hooves AJ.”
“No!” Faelan cried. “I cannot allow you to desecrate Gunther’s memory in such a manner, pegasi!”
“Hey, bub, what’s your problem?! You got a thing against pegasi?”
Twilight saw the situation was beginning to deteriorate and put a hoof in. “Easy Rainbow Dash, I’m sure it simply has to do with the customs from where he’s from. We have no right to impede on their traditions.” A look of relief crossed her when the two combatants went their separate ways without a fight.
With his comrade in tow, Faelan and the other six began the march out of the forest. After a little ways Twilight once turned to Faelan and asked, “So…these traditions of yours? How do your people bury their dead? Any special ceremony…?”
“Do not patronize me, unicorn. There is no need for you to feign interest in our ways.”
Twilight was once again taken aback by the sheer bluntness of this pony. “That’s not it at all! I just wish to know more about you and your people. I meant no disrespect.”
“First of all, we do not bury those slain in battle. I will build a funeral pyre to see that my sword-brother is properly cast off to the hereafter. He was my companion for untold years; he deserves a warrior’s final rites. Secondly, do not think that I wish to know you or for you to know me. I simply wish to fulfill my debt and I will leave this village not a moment later.”
Silence again pervaded over the ensemble. It may have been the tension left from the earlier argument, but more likely was due to the girls’ struggles to keep their lunches down with the smell of the dead pony filling the air. Either way, it was a blessing to Faelan. Perhaps the gods were merciful after all.
It had taken most of the day, but the funeral pyre had finally been completed. Following the advice of his lady’s companions he had made the pyre along a lakeshore outside of the village. The purple unicorn had been overly-eager to help with the funeral rites, perhaps in her annoying search to learn more about him. It was starting to grow old.
Night had started to fall over the land when the ceremony was to begin. His lady, Fluttershy, was there so that he could keep an eye on her. However, so were all the ponies that had been clinging to them the entire day. The one named Twilight seemed to have quill and scroll ready, as if to document everything she was to see that night. The rest had stayed simply from having nothing better to do, and perhaps a bit of curiosity.
Faelan looked over the body of his fallen comrade. He had dosed the body to help with the smell and coloration, the ingredients provided by the same eager purple unicorn. Gunther laid dressed in his chainmail armor, scratches and missing links attesting to its use in battle. In his hooves were gripped about the greatsword he had taken into battle, an elegant piece of steel that had saved his life and those who had the honor to call him sword-brother. His was a face of peace that would feel pain, fear, and hunger no more. It was then that Faelan began to recite.
“Lo there do I see my father.
Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers.
Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning.
Lo they do call to me.
They bid me take my place among them.
In the halls of Annwyn,
Where the brave may live…forever.”
Taking the torch in his hoof, he lit the pyre and stepped back as the flames began to ascend. He simply stood there and watched as the flames began to lick at Gunther’s body. Flashes began to play in Faelan’s mind of the screams of comrades consumed in such flame, the din of battle piercing the silence of his inner thoughts. But there was no pain on Gunther’s face; no sign of suffering in that peaceful slumber. Looking on at his comrade, Faelan simply whispered, “Go now, my brother. I will see you soon.”
Gunther…Hilda…Unferth…The names went on and on. So many there had been. Now all had passed on, but him. For the first time that day, Faelan felt a chill. He truly was alone now.
Fluttershy and the others had remained silent to that point. The gravity of the scene before them was more than many of them had ever experienced. Twilight had been scribbling on her scroll for a time, but seemed to stop out of solemn respect for Faelan’s loss. Fluttershy still felt terrified of this supposed “protector” of hers, but she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him losing such a close friend.
Walking up to him, she tried to put a reassuring hoof on his shoulder, but he simply brushed it away with a scoff. This action took her by surprise and she recoiled at the act. But she had to try something. As the Element of Kindness it was her job to open up to any and all creatures. With as much sympathy as she could muster, she turned to him and said, “I…I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Faelan simply stared at her and said, “I have no need for your pity. He died a warrior. There was no shame in his passing. It is an honor that should be celebrated, to die with a sword in your hand.”
“But that’s so MESSED UP!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “I mean, I understand not getting all sappy about something, but you gotta be a little torn up about this.”
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight interjected, “Show a little curtsey.” Turning to Faelan, she continued, “I’m sorry about that. I have to ask, what was that chant earlier. It sounded almost like a prayer.”
“It is the Prayer of the Brave, a prayer for the dead who lived their lives with courage and honor. It calls to our ancestors, to tell them of our return.” A moment of silence past before he continued, “I wish to be alone now, if you will.”
Fluttershy and her friends agreed and left the scene behind them. Fluttershy said her goodbyes to her friends and had turned around to go back, when she thought she heard a faint noise. She couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like singing. Straining her ears she just got the notes of a baritone carried on the breeze. She started to hear the words, but couldn’t make out what they meant. Doing her best to listen it sounded like this,
“Gafflwn Dihenydd O’r fuddugol yn wiriol sydd,
Ni fydd neb yn ein drechu, Falch ydy ni I drochu,
Traed o flaen I’r Annwn, mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni.”
***
Author's Notes: There are two references in this piece. The first is the "prayer of death" scene from the movie The Thirteenth Warrior. To see the original scene. For the song at the end of the piece, it is a Welsh song made for the Halo: ODST live trailer here. See the lyrics and meaning of the words here. Again, credit to Defenastrator for proofreading the piece.