Resting back on the makeshift bed in the middle of the main room Kurai stared at the ceiling while Solaire was comforting Ratchet in the other room. It was simply too much to take, he was a fugitive and now he has a bounty on his head. All because of the corrupt government, he already contemplated on telling Luna as soon as he fell asleep but telling her where he was would be a huge risk. Too huge a risk actually. If he and Solaire took on the duke the town would be destroyed or a distress signal would be sent out to other corrupt politicians. If they did not, the town would suffer in the process. But if he told Luna of his whereabouts, no doubt the mane six would follow. And if they do follow, he would have to deal with that stubborn cowgirl who without a doubt might be wondering where her sister is. After seeing his tin catalyst missing he put two and two together, Applebloom must be hunting him down like an obsessed schoolgirl. His thoughts were interrupted by Solaire walking in without a word and sitting down on a chair next to Kurai. “How is she?”
“She will be fine, a little shaken but fine.” Adjusting himself on the chair. “Can you believe this? Higher ups seeing themselves as more important and superior to people they were meant to protect. This is no better than Lordran, at least back home we had no guilt in slaying creatures.” Unsheathing his sword the sun warrior inspected it, it has been a long time ever since he actually had to kill anything with it. A layer of ageing rust settled on the edges of the blade, though titanite increased the weapons strength it did not protect its durability.
Getting up off of the bed Kurai opened his pouch, bringing out another pouch full of some kind of dust. “Here, repair powder. Been saving this up after every time loop, figured it might come in handy.” Solaire nodded in appreciation before tossing the golden powder in the air above him, the powder slowly settled onto his armour and sword repairing it the second it made contact. Solaire stood still for a moment. “You ok?” In reply Solaire reeled back and let out an almighty sneeze, getting a laugh out of Kurai to which his friend followed in the laughter. The sound of metal dropping nearby broke them out of their laughing fit. “What was that?!”
Solaire and Kurai both raised their blades at the direction of the sound, the sun warrior stepping forward and speaking first. “Come out and there shall be none harmed this night!” Another clink of metal.
“Step back friend, I’ll handle this. You did enough for today.” Kurai interjected, walking towards the sound. “Come out now!” He bellowed at the darkness, which in reply got something he did not expect. A giggle. Having enough of waiting the stone and iron clad knight stepped forward ready to strike, a black figure jumped forward giving him a surprise to which he fell back with the figure on top of him. “Agh! Enemy attack!” He panicked.
“No, silly.” A voice replied under a mask, southern and feminine. The figure sat up to let Kurai himself sit up before removing his helmet.
“Applebloom?”
Solaire dropped his sword at seeing what he thought was a fifteen year old pony. “Well well… this is awkward. I’ll leave you two alone.” He chuckled, picking up his sword and walking into the next room as Applebloom hugged the still shocked knight. “Don’t be too loud ok?”
Sitting back in front of him on the floor Applebloom removed the mask to show her face, still the same as he last saw her only a little more mature looking. Seeing that added with her slightly human body snapped him out of it. “Let me guess, transformation spell backfire?” She nodded. “And now you’re stuck having a ponies head on a hybrid body?” She nodded again, Kurai face palmed. “This is what happens when someone inexperienced uses a catalyst or spells in general, what were you thinking?! You could have been killed by the spell or by the journey it took you to get here! Your family must be worried sick about you!” Applebloom looked down in guilt, her amber eyes staring at the shrapnel coated floor.
“I just missed you.” Needless to say that shut Kurai up, to which she hugged him good measure. Mumbling through the hug he pushed her away, breathing heavily.
“Why do you like me this much? We barely even got to know each other and you’re legally still underage!” He yelled, all Applebloom in reply did was give him another hug which again resulted in him pulling away.
“Because you showed me the way to live life. You may not have told me directly, but you were hintin’ on it.” She smiled, handing him his tin catalyst. “And no matter how you try, you’ll never shake me off. I’m old enough technically anyway, and if I do cancel the ageing spell I’ll just revert back to how old I would be if I didn’t use the spell. So, how have you been?”
Rubbing the temple of his head Kurai mumbled incoherently thinking of a reply, as much as he wanted to kick her out, he did appreciate her going this far just for him. So the least he can do for now is at least show her respect for that. “Well, I’m fine. But my friend and I are dealing with some unsavoury customers, corrupt higher ups and such. Tomorrow him and I plan to head into the town and liberate it before your sister and her friends show up, but you know you can’t come with us. The risk is too high and I can’t bear to be responsible for another innocent death.” Applebloom frowned at being told how high the risk for her is.
“I got all the way here didn’t I? Im comin’ with you and I aint takin’ no for an answer!” Granted, she did sneak in without being detected, traversed a whole section of the continent on her own and used a catalyst without proper training.
Sighing he placed his head in his hands, groaning in frustration. “Fine! Now please just, find someplace to sleep.”
Applebloom shrugged. “I aint tired, slept half the day before comin’ here.” This did give Kurai an idea, if she wanted to go alongside him into the town she needs to at least master a weapon. She could not sleep and he did not want to sleep.
Getting up he opened his pouch and looked through it, inspecting the many items it held. He ruled out all the ultra greatswords, greataxes and greathammers as too heavy for her and organised them into a separate slot. “So, which kind of weapon do you think suits you? And don’t think I’ll go easy on you with the training. We have to get you knowing the basics by tomorrow morning!”
-----------------------------
The moons light softly caresses the pristine white castle walls and shone through the stained glass windows, the beams dispersing at the connections between the stained glass colours. Celestia and Luna sat on their respective thrones with Discord sitting on his made out of cotton candy floating nearby, occasionally taking a bite out of it. Twilight and her friends patiently waited for Celestia to start speaking once their luggage has been taken to their rooms. “I apologise for bringing you all here on such short notice.” Celestia began. “But it has come to our attention that another major threat has appeared in Equestria, bigger than, uh, Discord. No offence.”
“None taken!” The god of chaos replied before drinking a cup of chocolate milk before spitting it out. “Wait! something that is even more dangerous than me?!”
Fluttershy flew up to Discord and patted his lions paw. “Don’t be like that. You’re not a monster anymore right?” As always her words patched up his wounded pride.
Celestia cleared her throat and looked to her sister. “Now, what my younger sister will show you may be a little much. But,” Looking back to the mane six. “I believe you all can handle the vision.” She finished, giving Luna a nod to what she has to do. The princess of the moon focused her power causing the moonlight to bend and refract into a large portal displaying the Everfree swamp. “What you see here is happening at this moment.” She added.
The swamp bog bubbles and exhumes fog, a large bubble reaches the top followed by an object bobbing on the surface. The thin blanket of mud clears off to show a skull with glowing white eyes, the lower jaw cracking open to let out a roar. In reaction to the roar multiple more skulls this time of ponies rose to the top, cracking into shape along with the skeletal bodies rising. As soon as they settled on the top the skeletons and skulls converged to the first skull that rose, slowly piecing together a body. Just then the vision cut off, the moon beams returning to their natural state.
“What is that thing?!” Twilight exclaimed after the vision ended. This beast was unlike anything she has seen before, the chattering sound of teeth was audible from Fluttershy as she hid behind Rarity who was closest to her. “Wait, the skull shape, a human skull.” Celestia nodded.
“Another fragment of Kurais world, Twilight do you have any idea of what this one would be?” She asked her student who nodded, taking a look in her saddlebag and levitating a large book.
Opening the book she flipped through the pages for anything resembling the skull with the others looking over her shoulder to get a look. “What the hay is takin’ so long Twi?” Applejack impatiently asked. “This thing could be on the move now and probably-“ She paused, the sudden realisation hitting her.” HEADIN’ FOR PONYVILLE! Applebloom’s still at the farm! Of all times for me to let her handle herself on her own!” The rest of what she was saying was incomprehensible through panicked rambles to which Discord placed a talon on her muzzle.
“I can teleport there and make sure she is ok.” He reassured her with a calm tone.
Taking a few deep breaths the element of honesty calmed down while still a little shaky, looking up to Discord with a nod. “Thanks, I really appreciate it…”
The next few minutes after Discord had disappeared into a door he somehow opened in the air were grating, the silence only being broken by Twilight still flicking through the pages. Rarity was chatting to a guard next to the main door with Fluttershy sitting next to a trembling Applejack. All Pinkie seemed to do for the past few minutes was play tic-tac-toe with Rainbow Dash with her winning a consecutive 9 games. “Gotcha!” Rainbow exclaimed about to finally beat the bouncing pink pony at the game, which got interrupted by Discord appearing with a flash wearing a concerned expression. The flash caused the pegasus to miss her mark and fill the wrong square, to which Pinkie took as an advantage and filled in the final square to make a row. “H-hey! No fair!”
“No backsies.” Pinkie replied sticking out her tongue.
“Well…” Discord began. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” All attention in the room was turned to him as he cleared his throat. “Alright, good news first I guess. Ponyville and the farm are safe. The bad news is… Applebloom is gone.” Applejack screamed in frustration.
While the drama was going on behind her, Twilight had found the right page she was looking for. “I bet she’s gone lookin’ for that damn Kurai!” The orange earth pony screamed out! “When I find him I’m gonna-!”
“Going to what?” Celestia interrupted. “I understand you have concerns but going so far as to actually blame it all on him is a bit extreme.” She spoke sternly as Luna stifled a chuckle. “Sister, what is so funny you can’t hold back your laughter in this situation?”
“It’s that Applebloom actually has followed our otherworldly friend, but for a reason you may not expect.”
“What is the darn reason then?!” Applejack screamed at the chuckling Luna, who looked over to Discord who shared the secret, giving her a nod to tell them.
“Well you see,” She began. “she is in love with him.” Some stood there with mouths agape or just put two and two together with a look of understanding and slight disturbance, the room silent for a good six seconds before a thump was heard. Applejack had fainted.