The Silent Guardian
Chapter 2
Dante
NightWatcher awoke in a bleak room. It was 50 shades of silver, and the sheets were white. Aside from the cushy mattress, the room was increasingly dull. He pulled back the covers, and stretched. He rubbed his face, and sat up.
"Well, once again I find myself stuck in a place unknown to me." He grabbed his boots and slipped then on. He pinned on his cape, and donned his hat. Making his way to he door, he pressed on the keypad. It opened, and Lyra stood outside.
"Hey! You're awake!" She said with a big smile. Night stared at her. He looked up and down the hallway, then back to her.
"How long have you been outside here?"
"Oh, I was waiting for you all night!" She still had a big smile.
"So did you get any sleep?"
"Yeah. I slept outside on that bench." He looked towards the bench.
"That looks uncomfortable."
"Nah, I didn't mind it much. I'm supposed to be sort of guarding/escorting you. So I figured I should sleep outside your room." She stepped aside. "The commander wants to have a talk with you. She's in the cafeteria." He walked out of the room, closed the door, and followed Lyra.
XXXX
He passed too many trees to count. Here a tree, there a tree. It wasn't all nice and cleared out either. Annoying brambles and humble bushes grew among the trees, making travel in this massive forest even more annoying. The tall person, very annoyed with his situation, sat down on a fallen tree.
"I'm lost. And in a damn forest. One moment I'm having the time of my life, then next this." Dante glanced upwards. The sky was blocked by mostly tree branches, but some light shone through. "I can't even tell if that's daylight or moonlight." He sighed, and stood back up. The white haired person shrugged. "Oh well. If I head in one direction I'll eventually run into something." He begun to walk foreword, not knowing where he was heading. It wasn't before long that he caught the attention of a few little forest explores. They had hidden themselves behind a tree, observing Dante.
"What in the hay is that?" The first one said, with a confused look.
"Maybe it's some kind of undiscovered animal? Did you here it talk?" The second one said, almost bouncing.
"Yeah! Maybe our special talent is discovering new animals!" The third said with glee.
"Oh! We could be the Cutie Mark Animal Discoverers!" The first chimed in, smiling. As they conversed, Dante paused.
"I assume the Cutie Mark Stalkers was taken?" He said with a smirk. "For something so small you're annoyingly loud. I couldn't hear myself think." As he said this, the three fell from behind their ex-protective tree.
"Hey! You don't have to be rude about it!" Applebloom said, getting on her hooves. The other two followed suit.
"Whatever then. At least I've found something in this godforsaken wood." Dante turned to them. Expecting little children, he instead found three little ponies. "Oh...well, whatever you are, I think I need some help."
"What do you mean, are you lost? Don't you live here?" Scootaloo said. Sweetiebell knocked her on the head.
"Of course he- you are a he right?" Sweetie asked Dante, who nodded. "Of course he doesn't you dolt! Just look at what he's wearing. He fits in here like a manticore in Canterlot!" The three bickered among themselves for a while. Dante sighed, and broke it up.
"Ok, can you just show me the way out of here? You can get back to your arguing then." As he said this, their disposition changed.
"You know, maybe we'll get our cutie marks in rescuing, not animal discovery!" Applebloom said
"Alright!" Scootaloo said, jumping up. "We could be the Cutie Mark Rescue Team!" They high fived and begun to run to the left.
"'Cmon! It's this way!" Sweetiebell shouted back. Dante waited for a moment.
"Shit, what have I gotten myself into this time." He asked himself before heading off into the three fillies direction.
XXXX
"So," Derpy began, munching on a breakfast muffin. "You're human? I can't say it's the first we've met creatures like yourself." She sat in a table, across from NightWatcher and Lyra. The cafeteria was busy with breakfast. PiB ponies were too focused on getting their first meal of the day to pay attention to the foreign presence.
"You can say I'm human. But on the matter of the others you've met, can you tell me their names? I many be aquatinted with them." He grabbed for a coffee that was offered to him earlier. Taking a drink, he enjoyed it. "Mmm, it's been a while since I've had coffee. The last place I was in didn't have it at all." As he talked, Derpy pulled up a clipboard.
"I only got a glance at a few of the others, save for two. There's Nestis, who was a fully armored mech. Then Maelstrom, who was until recently fighting on out side." Night put the cup down at these words.
"You've met Maelstrom? He's one I know. We've worked together before. Back when the war was in full swing."
"You mean the Paradox War?" Lyra interjected. He sharply looked at her.
"Yeah, thats what we'd called it. Tell me, who else have you met?" He said, looking concerned. Derpy looked back at the list.
"There's this guy Ino that came back with us after a mission, and then this guy called Blazeclaw." Night stood up.
"No way! Blaze? If he's here, someone really screwed up."
"And that's not all. I only read off the friendlies to you." She said sternly. Night slowly sat back down.
"Who?"
"One was called Cursed Orthanik. The other, Alice." An eerie silence fell among them.
"Alice. Which means DeathShadow could very well gain access here."
"Blazeclaw did mention somepony called DeathShadow. Is he here?" Lyra asked.
"No, we all would have felt it. His evil is a dark void that consumes all. Everything evil and dark in this world would awaken and get out of control. Let's just hope he never gets here. But there's more pressing matters we need to attend to." He said, taking a drink of his coffee and sitting back down. Derpy raised an eyebrow.
"And what may that be?" She asked.
"Listen. I'm here solely because someone wanted to toy with me and Dante, the other that is stuck here. He is called GearMaster. He is ruthless, and will not stop until he rebuilds his empire. And it looks like he's set his sights on...where exactly are we?" He asked.
"Equestria. The empire of the Princesses of the Sun and Moon." Lyra spoke up.
"Thanks." NightWatcher continued. "He will try to take this place, and force all of you under his tyrannical rule. Tell me, is there any place where he might set up?" The two ponies thought for a moment.
"The Ruin Castle in the Everfree?" Lyra asked. Derpy nodded.
"No, that may be a challenge. Even I wouldn't attempt to reconstruct that place. Maybe...Fortuna Evanesce? It's a large, abandoned city in the wastelands. But if so...the Princess Twilight is heading right for him!" Derpy stomped a hoof on the table. "She has no idea what she's up against!" The grey pegasi had a look of fear.
"But doesn't she have Shimmering Blade and Charon with her? I think they'd stand a chance and managed to get out safely." The teal mare said, attempting to calm Derpy.
"Unless they both pull some powerful magic out of their plots, and exceed far what Quin expected, they don't stand a chance." Derpy stood up. NightWatcher finished his coffee, and calmly stood up.
"Well, what're we waiting for? We need to get to your capital, what was it, Canterlot?" Both mares stared at him.
"I think I should assemble some Spartans to handle the situation."
"Listen to me. If Nestis and Ino are in Canterlot, then we could used their help. They don't sound like your average fighters. We should get them first." He stated. Derpy sighed.
"Fine, well go to Canterlot. Well have to walk though, our transportation is shot. Technical errors and all. Get some supplies ready Lyra, and assemble a team. You're coming too." As the pegasi said this, Lyra had another big smile.
"Alright!! Leave it to me ma'am, I'll make sure we have everything we need!" She took off, and left the two in he cafeteria.
"You better be something good. If you use me, you'll regret it." She turned around, and left. Night sat back down, and drummed his fingers.
"This is just weird. One moment I'm fighting an old enemy, the next here." He scratched his head, and got up once more. "I want some more coffee. They brew it nicely." He took his cup, and took a moment to locate the coffee machines. He eventually saw a brewing machine, which was not too far away. A curt smile flashed on his face, and he approached the machine. As he walked to it, a pony had the same desire. They bumped into each other, the equine recoiling more than Night.
"Oh, sorry about that." He apologized to the pony, who was a mare. She looked up at him with a face of discontent.
"Seheb, wohin du gehst du dumme kuh!" She spat at him, being a red mare with a short white mane.
"Hey! I'm not a cow, and you're the one who ran into me." He retorted. The mare's expression went from anger to bewilderment.
"You can understand?" She asked, her accent showing. NightWatcher nodded.
"Yeah, it's been a while since I've heard anyone use German." He took the last few steps to the coffee machine and pressed the cup to a lever, allowing the device to release it's caffeinated brew.
"I'm sorry about ze outburst. I'm just angry at somepony, and my Germaney roots show when I'm distressed."
"Germaney? Such a cleaver play on words. So, do they have names in Germaney?" He stopped the machine, and took the cup with his desired amount away from it.
"Sorry. It's Dread Harivelle. And yours would be?" She asked, holding out a hoof. He smiled, and took the coffee in his other hand.
"NightWatcher." He replied, accepting her hoof. "So I can assume, like the other two I've met, I'm not the first bipedal being you've come across." Dread shook her head.
"Zat is correct. Z'ere were others such as yourself." She stepped up to the machine and drew a cup in which to have her own drink reside in. "It's been an odd few months, zat is for sure."
"I've heard about it. So I'm due to visit your capital city Canterlot, so I'm told." He said, the mare's coffee pouring into her cup. Night took a sip of his own, and savored it.
"Yes, Lyra told me a minute ago. Me and a few other ponies will be part of an escort, which will accompanied you to the city. Z'ere you will meet the princesses, and will determine if you are truly on our side, and not some infiltrator." She took her cup, and drank the beverage. Night smiled.
"You're commander seems convinced that I'm going to wreak havoc or something. Might I ask, who're you mad at?" He said, walking to a nearby empty table. She followed, and grunted.
"Just a friend." She said with a scrunched face.
"Just a friend?" He pryed. She looked at him.
"Yeah. Just a..." She looked away. "Alright, more z'an a friend, damn you." They both sat at the empty table.
"So, mind telling me more about this so called "friend"?"
"It's just zat, well, we've been arguing. I've been wanting to talk about serious stuff, but zey have been avoiding it." They both sipped at the same time.
"Well, I'm not perfect with advice, but maybe they think you're moving too fast?" Night said, attempting to solve the mare's problem.
"Well, maybe."
"How long have you two been together?" He asked.
"It'll be two years next Wednesday." She blushed. He whistled.
"That's a long while. You aren't moving fast, they're just worried." He said with a smile. Dread's mood lightened significantly, and the two sat there and talked for a long while.
XXXX
Dante, following the three Crusaders, exited the Everfree Forest after an hour of trekking through the brush. They found themselves at a dirt road.
"See! I told you this was the right way!" Applebloom said, casting a triumphant glance at Sweetiebell.
"I'm sorry, I really thought that following that river would take us past the town." She said. Scootaloo snickered.
"Yea, that's the last time I take directions from you!" Said the little orange filly.
"Hey, you were no better. If I'm not mistaken, you lead us to a swamp." Dante said, stepping up to Sweetie's defense. As the group walked down the road, the old cabin came into view.
"Look!" Sweetie shouted. "A house!"
"I think it's more of a cabin." Apple looks said.
"It looks like no pony lives there." Scootaloo sneered.
"It doesn't matter if anything lives there." Dante shrugged. "I'm out of that forest." He started to walk away, heading down a separate road.
"Wait!"
"Don't go!"
"We didn't get our cutie marks yet!" The voices of the three fillies slowly faded as he walked away.
"Damn, I thought I would never get away from those pestering colorful...horse...things." He struggled, attempting to comprehend what they are. As he walked down the dirt road, something stalked him. It kept to the trees, following not too far.
"Ah. This creature looks like it'll put up good sport. I got tired of these ponies weeks ago, curse this job master gave me. At last something interesting walked by." It talked to itself, jumping from tree to tree. It had a body of full armor, which was a dark tint of steel. Gold-brown lines were formed on the edges of plates, and also used for design. On it's armored shoulder, a circle with two broadswords crossed laid in the same gold-brown color. It had steel wings, which allowed it to so easily move throughout the treetops. "I can almost hear that red creature's heartbeat. I need...to...kill!" It shouted the last word, breaking from its cover and striking at Dante. It unsheathed a sword, and swung it downwards. By now, Dante heard and already reacted. He drew Rebellion, and deflected the steel assailant's blade.
"Oh, so no dinner first? I like to have a good meal before I kill anything." Dante said, smiling. The attacker grunted.
"Cheeky little bastard! I won't have a creature like you insult me!" It pulled it's sword back, and slashed at him again. The white haired defender ducked, letting the blade pass over his head.
"Whoops! Missed me." He taunted. The assailant swung downward again, and Dante back stepped, swiftly dogging the swing. The attacker's sword stuck into the ground, and it lost footing. Falling to the ground, it landed face-first. It looked up, only to find itself looking into the barrel of Ebony.
"Any last words? Maybe you can tell me what your are." He said, voice void of emotion. The defeated assailant groaned.
"I'm a knight for my master, sent on a mission to kill any strong looking creatures. I've been picking off these ponies for weeks, but then I came across you." It said.
"Master? It wouldn't happen to be that guy GearMaster I ran into a while ago would it?" As Dante spoke, the thing laughed.
"GearMaster? I'm not some mindless unit produced by ignorant working bots. My master is SteamMaster."
"Fair enough." He began to pull back on the trigger. The steel fellow panicked.
"No! I can help you! I have information!" It said in desperation. "You need me! There's so much you don't know-" His voice was cut off by a loud gunshot, followed by the piercing sound of punctured metal. The strange steel assailant feel quiet, and collapsed. Dante spun around Ebony before putting her back in the holster.
"I don't need help. All I need to do is head towards that city." He said, pointing at one in the distance, which was on a mountainside. "I'll find out where I'm at there. I don't need the help of some Master's puppet." He walked away from the crippled body, which was slowly disintegrating. He laughed.
"Just another day in paradise." Dante kept walking, paying no mind to the few passerby ponies that were giving him strange and surprised looks.
XXXX
"Ok, your escort detail will be comprised of two Spartans and one agent. I would send more, but we're short staffed at the moment, missing two Spartans and a Head Director already. We can't afford more than three." Derpy briefed NightWatcher. Three ponies stood behind the grey pegasus. She turned around to list them off.
"There's Lyra Heartstrings, whom you're already acquainted with." She pointed at the green unicorn, who smiled and waved. "Then there's Dread Harivelle, our close-quarters specialist. Lastly we have Lancer, a born leader. She will be in charge of the operation." The third mare was a baby blue earth pony with a dark red mane. She stepped forward and offered a hoof.
"Hello Mr. Watcher." She said. Night smiled, accepting it.
"That's not my last name, just call me Night." He said with a smile. The mare took a step back, falling back into line with her fellow ponies.
"These three will accompany you to Canterlot. You leave in a few minutes. Dismissed, and good luck." Derpy nodded, and left them. Lancer lead them to the lift, which took them to the old cabin above. They left the faux building, and stepped out to the road. NightWatcher stretched.
"Ah! It feels good to be outside." He exclaimed. Lyra smiled.
"You were only in Headquarters for a night." The green mare laughed. Dread shot a glare Lyra.
"Oi! You need to keep a good demeanor. You don't want zhem to zink we're fool, do you?" The crimson mare snapped. Lyra blushed.
"Sorry. I'm just excited I get to go to Canterlot." The mare trotted in place.
"Well, the sooner we get moving, the sooner we'll get there." Lancer said, beginning to walk in the direction of the city. The rest followed her, and took down the same road Dante traveled earlier.
XXXX
The group passed bland scenery, only trees lining the road. A spare few passerby were seen, most avoiding eye contact from NightWatcher but greeting the ponies.
"Afraid much? It's not like I'm going to eat anyone." The tall person said with a smirk. Lyra turned to him.
"What do you eat?" She asked with a look of curiosity.
"Oh, you know, fruits and vegetables. Oh, and meats." Dread jumped, and took a few steps away from him.
"You mean to tell me you eat animals? What cruel beasts would do such a zing?" She said in a raised tone.
"Don't worry, if it's that much of a problem I'll just cut it outta my diet for a while. Maybe. Who knows, I might crave a steak one day." He teased. Dread kept her distance while Lyra and Night laughed. As they progressed down the trail, they came across a large pile of black ash. The group halted, staring at it.
"What is zat?" Dread asked. Lancer shrugged.
"Beats me. Lyra, take a sample of it. It doesn't look like any ordinary ash pile." After she finished her sentence, Lyra already had a vial out, levitating it with her magic. Taking a scoop of it, she put a stopper in the glass. She retrieved the vial, storing it in a saddle bag. "Such an odd substance." NightWatcher stepped forward, feeling the pile.
"It's cold. And real grainy. Almost feels like metal. Too weird." He stood up. "Let's keep moving. I don't wanna attract any unwanted travelers." The group continued to move, heading for Canterlot.