Like Iron
Peace, appeared impossible, the freezing grip of death itself elusive. Such peace would be a luxury. As desired as it might be, but one must endure the pain, must survive. The effort it took Orion to open his eyes was strenuous. He could see out of a stone doorway, a mare speaking with a light blue unicorn guard. They were unicorns. Orion’s legs barely moved; they only slid across the floor grinding his iron shackles against the cold stone floor. The mare walked into the room and sat in front of him. It was Dawn, the mare from the keep that had discovered he was an earth pony.
“How?” Orion whispered.
“Try not to move too much. It took some time to stop the bleeding. It’s remarkable you’re still alive Orion,” Dawn said as she took a wet rag from a bucket and cleaned his wounds.
“Remarkable isn’t the word for it. This thing, is downright unnatural! A monster like this needs to be put down,” The guard said insultingly toward Orion.
“Orion is no more a monster than you are captain,” Dawn said as she wrapped a bandage around Orion’s shoulder.
Orion winced as Dawn pulled the bandage around him. It sounds as if these guards wanted to execute him since they dragged his unconscious pile back from the woods. Did Dawn talk them out of it? Orion was unsure if Dawn had actually believed him or not before, now it seems she clearly does, if not she’s just merciful. If only the same could be said for so many others. Although he is not entirely sure he believes himself either, especially if this is where it gets him.
The Captain leaned his head down face to face with Orion before saying, “I am a soldier, I live to fight, to kill. We are not the same, you fight like an animal; Unmerciful and voracious for the next kill! Real soldiers fight with order, skill, and honor. None of which a savage thing like you possesses.”
“…and yet, this savage lives,” Orion cleverly replied through the pain.
“You’d do well Captain, to know not to ever underestimate your enemies,” a voice said with confidence from the doorway.
“King Bullion! Mi’lord, this is the earth pony we captured from the woods,” the Captain said after turning around to see him.
“Captain Dusk, would you mind stepping away from your captive then. We wouldn’t want this savage choking you to death with the very chains that bind him.” King Bullion said as he entered the room.
Captain Dusk nervously coughed then stepped aside to allow the king through. King bullion was a relatively normal stallion like any other, just with fancier clothes. His crown was a simple jewel studded ring resting atop his head. He knew approaching Orion could be dangerous though he showed no fear yet stayed just out of reach.
“Dusk?” Orion whispered.
“My brother,” Dawn said.
“Brother,” Orion said quietly resting his head on the rough stone floor.
“So this is your savage animal Captain? If this mess truly is as wild and dangerous as you say he is then he may be of some use to me,” Bullion said.
“My King I must protest,” Captain Dusk said with respect.
“Your sister made quite the effort to belay his execution, claiming he has no direct allegiance. Is this true earth pony?” The King inquired.
“I have allegiance only to myself,” Orion grunted.
“You will serve me unless you want to be dumped off the nearest cliff, you will live serving my orders and I will be your new King. I suggest you take the offer,” The King said.
“I have no king but myself,” Orion declared.
“Nothing like you could ever be king,” Dusk replied angrily.
“Who’s to stop me?” Orion questioned.
“Oh I have someone already in mind. Captain?!” King Bullion said.
“Sir,” Dusk responded.
“I want this door locked at all times and guards posted in the hall. Dawn may continue to help him recover. Once he is physically able, I want him unshackled and well fed. Give him something other than these rags to wear and bring him to my court when adequate,” King Bullion ordered.
“It shall be done,” Dusk responded.
“I recommend you behave earth pony, we wouldn’t want you to take a tragic drop from the company of my castle,” Bullion said before walking out.
“Wouldn’t be the first time, Orion said, returning Dusk’s glare.
“What happened Orion, where is Starswirl?” Dawn asked.
“The others were fine the last I saw them, I don’t know now. I was betrayed and attacked by someone and had to flee. I couldn’t warn the others, I want to find them,” Orion said.
“Can you walk?” Dusk asked.
“I can,” Orion replied.
“You shouldn’t!” Dawn snapped at Orion.
Dusk unshackled Orion anyway and he painfully stood up on his hooves.
“You’re a strong one Orion, like iron, I’ll give you that,” Dusk said.
“Since neither of you are going to listen to me I suppose I’ll find something suitable for Orion to wear,” Dawn said before leaving the room.
“Walk with me, and do not stray. Most of the guards here do not know of the king’s orders and would likely expect a commendation for killing you,” Dusk said.
Orion followed alongside the Captain as they proceeded through the castle, receiving odd glares from the other guards.
“I have your sister to thank,” Orion said as they walked.
“That you do, and that is what worries me,” Dusk replied.
“I can understand how that only increases your resentment of me,” Orion said.
“It’s not that I hate you Orion, it’s that she fancies you that I worry about,” Dusk said as they continued down an empty corridor.
“What she does is of her own accord Captain, I have little to do with it,” Orion said honestly.
“I suppose you wouldn’t know. What she told the king to convince him to spare you was most influential. She told us you said something similar,” Dusk explained.
The two ponies stopped outside a large double door with a guard posted on either side. They waited there a moment until Dawn came down the hall with a new cloak for Orion.
Dawn handed the hooded cloak to Orion saying, “Here, this one matches you perfectly.”
The cloak was dark blue with swirling gold trim along the edges and the inside was a smooth black liner.
“This is very nice, your king must have some plans for me already,” Orion said as he put the new cloak on.
The guards at the door took notice of his many scars and wounds across his shiny black coat, looked at one another, yet said nothing.
“Those who serve under the King directly consider it an honor. It’s only proper we look good doing it,” Dusk said before opening the door.
Through the doors was a small hall with a dining table and fireplace. On the table was plenty of food to eat, just not nearly as much as there had been at the guild castle. King Bullion waited for the three ponies to enter and sit down.
“Go on then, eat,” The King said waving his hoof out over the table of food.
Orion took some bread and potato soup and ate modestly as the King watched.
“If I might ask, what is it you have in mind for me to do all of this for an earth pony?” Orion asked as he ate.
“You are my gamble. Dawn here has convinced me you are trustworthy enough to fight for a worthy cause. Now that I had heard of your ferocity in a fight I wish to fight fire with fire. Have you heard of a group calling themselves a guild lead by a red stallion by the name of Marcus?” Bullion asked.
“I’ve been acquainted, one of his own tried to kill me and so I ended up here,” Orion said.
“Then we have some common ground. You see, it is no guild, just a band of savage murderers. Not too long ago they raided a heavily guarded vault killing my guards mercilessly. The vault contained very powerful magical artifacts from the ancient era of our lands,” The King said.
“Artifacts from the ancient era?” Orion questioned.
“Indeed, my kind was entrusted with their protection long ago. Very few know of their existence or origin, and we’ve managed to keep the recent raid a secret from the main populace,” The king explained.
“How do I fit in all of this?” Orion asked.
Dusk leaned in to take some bread as he said, “You will accompany me and some of the finest soldiers in our garrison to kill their ring leader and retrieve the artifact.”
King Bullion stood up and walked over to the fireplace saying, “There is more to it than that. I do not believe a word you say about bringing the world to balance, about some creatures, or ever that our kinds may be at peace. However, if you manage this then you will certainly earn some credibility to your claims. I want to believe you Orion, I just can’t allow myself to through better judgment. So I will gamble and entrust you with this.”
The King reached behind the mantle of the fireplace and pulled out a cloth wrapped package. He carried it over and unraveled it out on the table in front of Orion, being careful not to touch it. The sword itself had a blackening shine to it, and has a horsehead pommel, a very fine and skillful blade.
“Be careful! Do not touch it unless you are sure to accept it. This is the blade of wrath, it will only accept those it deems capable of such things. It can drive a creature mad just holding it, turning them into a merciless killer without purpose or regret,” The king said seriously.
“This must be one of the artifacts you spoke of. Why do you need me, why not have your Captain wield it?” Orion asked.
“All of my soldiers are trained and far too disciplined, this sword demands someone more… unpredictable,” Bullion explained.
“If you can trust someone like me with such a powerful weapon, then I will take your word against Marcus and his guild of Marauders,” Orion said as he touched the hilt of the sword.
Orion immediately felt a sense of adrenaline, and power flow from this weapon. The feeling was surprising and overwhelming. He did not expect this, his fears and hatred grew within him. A fire of rage grew hotter with confidence as he suddenly became aware of so many possible ways to kill everyone here and escape the castle. Yet the feeling just barely remained distant but grew ever closer until Dawn touched him on the shoulder.
“Orion?” She asked.
Orion immediately let go of the hilt and said, “I’m going to need a sheath for this.”
The King smiled and said, “Make it so.”
The three ponies, Dusk, Dawn, and Orion left the King’s dining hall and had a sheath brought to Orion. He unraveled the sword from the cloth, feeling its influential power as he sheathed it on his left side. He breathed a sigh of relief after he let it go again.
“Does it hurt?” Dusk asked.
“It isn’t that it hurts, more like a fear of harming those around you. I recommend you keep a sharp eye on me, I do not want to be controlled by this thing,” Orion replied.
“I already am,” Dusk replied.
“I should be heading back to the keep with the next guard shift. You look good with that cloak Orion, bye,” Dawn said, glancing quickly between Orion and her brother before leaving.
Dusk simply sighed in frustration and waved Orion to follow him to where a team of four other armored unicorns were waiting for them. They all looked at Orion, some angrily, all questionably. They said nothing as disciplined soldiers; that King Bullion was right about. However Orion wondered why Starswirl and so many other Unicorns wanted this King dethroned. Unless King Bullion is so desperate enough to use him to get these artifacts back, and he didn’t realize until just now that with the powers these things hold. Perhaps they were the origin of his corruption. Orion decided he would not mention this, but it may be unwise to give King Bullion back such power.