//------------------------------// // Justice and Questions // Story: DiE: Glarin Ungard the Berserker // by InsaneJustin //------------------------------// Twilight was busy explaining to Ace exactly how the crystals worked and what they did. Gust was just looking at all of the books around the library. He was uninterested in magic talk. “So as you can see, no matter how much energy you put into the crystal, it will never explode due to its intricate inner crystalline structure that I designed myself. It will simply last longer, the only drawback is also that no matter how much energy you put into it, it will never increase its power output.” “I see, so all these crystals do is double our natural strength? And it lasts longer the more magic we pump into it?” Twilight nodded her head in agreement. “Yup, it only doubles the users physical output, it’s a very simple yet complex crystal. Was there anything else you...” Twilight was interrupted mid sentence by Applejack and Rainbow Dash busting her door open in a bit of a panic. “Twilight! Somethin’s happening!” yelled Applejack “Yeah! Glarin has those guards tearing up the town and gathering every orange pegasi in town for some reason!” huffed Rainbow Dash “Darn near grabbed me too until they realized I wasn’t a pegasus.” Twilight looked over at Ace who simply shrugged in response. “An orange pegasus probably made him angry, so hes looking for him or her.” Twilight sighed in slight frustration. “If it isn’t one thing it’s the other. Lets go figure out whats going on girls.” They both nodded their heads and began leading Twilight, Ace, and Gust over to where Glarin was gathering them. Just outside the edge of town near his house. Three orange pegasi were already lined up and being restrained by some of the guards by the time Twilight arrived. She could see Glarin standing nearby with a large hammer slung over his shoulder with Spatzi sitting near him. “You sure it wasn’t one of these three?” Spatzi shook her head no after looking at the three of them. “No, it wasn’t one of them.” Glarin released a low growl and motioned for them to be released. Twilight cantered up next to Glarin to figure out what was going on. The three pegasi huffed after being released, but didn’t leave, they just hovered in the air watching. Hoping to figure out what all the commotion was about. “Glarin! What is going on here? Applejack and Rainbow Dash told me the guards your training are looking for an orange pegasi, and they are tearing up the town as they do so.” Glarin spoke without turning to look at Twilight. Instead he was looking over at another orange pegasi that was being brought over by two of his earth ponies. “Were looking for a criminal. The one who robbed Spatzi of her pride and my money...” Twilight got a look of shock on her face. “S-she was robbed? In Ponyville!?” Twilight looked over at the loud pegasus that was still being brought over by the two earth ponies. “I didn’t do anything! Unhoof me right now! I didn’t even get to finish my drink!” “W-what are you going to do once you find him Glarin?” asked Twilight as the pegasi kept yelling, grabbing everyones attention. “First, I’m going to judge him. Then I’m going to give him a few hammers. Then if hes still alive, I’m going to gut him. And if hes still ALIVE? I’M GOING TO STRANGLE HIM, WITH HIS OWN BLOODY ENTRAILS! AND IF HES STILL ALIVE AFTER THAT?! Hes free to go.” Glarin had ended his violent and loud outburst rather calmly, much to Twilights surprise. The flash of anger she saw on his face was now gone. As the two earth ponies dragged him closer Spatzi sat up, looking at him while getting an angry scowl on her face. “It was him! He was the one that bucked me to the dirt and took the money!” Twilight and everyone else felt a cold chill run down their spines the second she pointed him out. “You didn’t tell me, that he hit you...” The pegasi stopped yelling when he also felt the chill. He looked over and saw Spatzi standing next to the town’s well known Knight. He suddenly didn’t want to be here, or anywhere right now. He wanted to dig himself into a hole and hide until he was forgotten. He wanted to be a tree. Glarin walked up to the orange pegasi and glared at him. The most noticeable thing was that he didn’t look angry, his face looked rather calm. Yet the harshness within his voice told an entirely different story. “For your transgressions against the Ungard Clan and those under its protection and care, I sentence you to the total of six hammerings! To be carried out now!” The pegasi began to panic, the hammer Glarin was holding was by no means small. The hammers head was as big as his own head, if not bigger. “You got the wrong guy! I’ve never seen the little lying brat before in my life!” Glarin released a low growl and set the hammers head down upon the dirt. It made a solid audible thump as it hit the dirt. “Another hammering for lying.” “Come on kid! Tell him you never saw me before!” Spatzi started to shake before she frilled out her mane and looked up, yelling at him. “You even spit on me while I was down you jerk!” “Another 3 hammerings!” The orange pegasi’s panic was reaching new levels as Glarin added more hammerings to his sentence total. “Y-You little Crybaby brat!” The orange Pegasi’s breath caught within his throat as he said that. He turned his head to look at Glarin and the calm look he had before was completely gone. “I was trying to be civil about this, but you used such a vile word in front of royalty!” Glarins teeth were gritted and his neck muscles were visibly flexing and pulsing. “W-What vile word...?” said Twilight as Glarin approached the orange criminal. “Hold him still...” Growled Glarin, making the two earth ponies gulp and tighten their grips upon the orange Pegasi’s orange forehooves. “W-what happened to good ol’ equestrian justice?” Asked the orange pegasi with a whimper. Glarin just lifted the hammer up with his one hand and reared it back to swing it in a horizontal path straight into the law breakers gut. What happened next made everyone watching, cringe in pain. With a brutal sounding grunt from Glarin the hammer came full force into the pegasi’s gut. The force of the blow sent his lower body swinging back and upward as the two earth ponies held onto his forehooves. He went up so high he was almost upside down with his shoulders screaming in agony as they were pushed to the limit of their flexibility. His joints creaked and cracked as they kept him from going a full circle around. As his lower body fell back down toward the ground the contents of his stomach erupted from his mouth, causing his lower body to impact the falling mess. The only reason he was still up was because the earth ponies didn’t loosen their grip upon him at all. “One.” As Glarin reared the hammer back again Applejack spoke to Twilight with a hurried tone. “I’m all for punishing a dirty varment that robs fillies, but he’s gonna die!” Twilight didn’t need to be told a second time, but Rainbow decided to toss her 2 cents in as well. “Let him take another hammer first...” Rainbow had a scowl on her face. Probably because she herself also had a filly and a colt, So seeing a pony that would rob a child would receive no sympathy from her. Torn between stopping Glarin and letting that pony take another few hammers. Twilight erected a shield wall in front of the pony to soften his next hammer blow. She had been improving her shield spells with helpful hints from her brother. They had been sending letters back N forth over the last month. Perhaps a half powered shield spell with the hints from her brother would absorb some of the damage before breaking. With another vicious grunt Glarin began swinging the hammer again. Only this time a purple barrier appeared in front of the pegasi. Everyone watched as the hammer struck the purple shield. Instead of a solid sounding smack against glass that is commonly heard when objects strike a shield, this sounded more like it was hitting against mud with a glomp sound. Glarin was having none of it and kept pushing the hammer through. Instead of stopping to question what Twilight was doing, he simply added more force behind his swing at the sight of the shield. The shield spell bent inwards and rippled on contact with the hammer. After a brief moment the shield spell cracked and broke with the hammer being sent in a downward angle. Right into the orange pegasi’s stallion bits. Everone in the crowd cringed again except Rainbow and Glarin. Rainbow looked at Twilight and gave off a laugh as she looked over. “Nice one Twilight!” shouted Rainbow as she hoof pumped the air. Glarin turned to face Twilight as the Orange pegasi’s eyes rolled into the back of his head as he gargled in pain. “Why are you interrupting his hammerings Princess Twilight? Did you wish to pardon him for his crimes?” Glarin spoke the last sentence with a bit of hostility, much to Twilights shock. But she composed herself none the less. “If you keep hammering him Sir Glarin, he is likely to die.” Glarin just huffed. “I fail to see the problem with that, Princess.” Twilight sighed, she was going to tell Glarin something that she heard many years ago. Something that she thought she would never have to repeat. “The problem with that Sir Glarin, is that death is not a punishment. It is a release.” Glarin looked at Twilight for a brief moment before a small smile spread across his lips. “Who told you such dark words of wisdom?” Twilight looked up into the air with a thoughtful look on her face for a moment. “An old friend told me that many years ago.” Glarin let the hammers head thump against the ground as he looked at Twilight. He leaned against the hammer as he looked back at the pegasi who seemed to be slowly recovering from the last hit. “So what do you suggest we do with him?” asked Glarin as he glanced at the pegasi again. “He still has another 8 hammerings to go.” “I will take him into custody, and he will be hit with the full force of Equestrian law. He won’t see day light for a long time.” Glarin gave a sigh with a grumble. He motioned for the guards to release him and he fell to the floor with a groan. “Fine, take him out of my sight before I lose my patience with him.” Twilight lowered her head with a smile. Even though Glarin had a rough way of doing things, he still put his trust in her. She walked over to the orange pegasi and used her magic to get him standing upright. “Follow me, If you try anything, anything at all! I WILL let Glarin finish hammering.” She gave the orange pegasi a glare and he nodded his head. Happy that he was no longer going to be hit with that massive hammer. As they walked past Glarin the orange pegasi gave him a small smirk. This smirk pissed Glarin off beyond all measure all over again. The orange pegasi’s jaw soon came into contact with the back of Glarins fist, in the form of a spinning back fist with all of his weight behind it. Twilight turned around to thank Glarin once again for his cooperation. Instead she got to see first hoof how a pony jaw looks when it takes a shattering impact from a dwarven spinning back fist. With a bone crunching sound his lower jaw moved over a full 2 inches before it seemed to lose its solid form. His head then flew down into the ground, followed with another crunch as his head bounced off the dirt floor several times before he laid motionless upon the floor. “I apologize Princess Twilight, you took too long.” Twilight groaned as she would now have to carry this criminal in her magic, most likely to the hospital. Applejack ran up to Twilight and held up a hoof for her to stop. “Hang on a second sugar cube.” Applejack reached up and pulled out a solid white object from her mane. “What is that?” asked Twilight as she looked at it closer. It had some red on it. “It’s a tooth, it was one of the many that flew outta the varmints mouth. Ah only saw this one land in yer mane...” Twilights eye began to twitch. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After several annoying trips, letters, and hours later. Twilight had finally finished dealing with that orange pegasi. He was hoof cuffed to his hospital bed and would need to have his jaw wired shut for 4 months, then it would take another 5 months before he would be able to open his mouth wide enough to eat food again. But then he would need to get back most of his teeth to chew food normally again as well. Twilight made it clear to the doctors that she didn’t want him to receive any magical treatment, of any kind. Besides the bit needed to give his jaw and face shape again. Anything else he would have to pay for himself at a later date. Now she was on a different mission. One that involved Glarin and lots of questions. Hopefully some tests. Ones that she had been putting off for long enough. As she neared Glarins house, he was outside with all of the guards it seemed. As she neared she could hear him yelling something to them. “...When there’s a rumble in the floor, You must prepare for war! When living underground there are many things that can cause the floor to quake. None of them are good. Survival is a must, As you must think of yourself as the only line of defense that keeps your family, your loved ones, the weak and the innocent safe from harm...” Twilight silently cantered up behind Glarin as he continued to speak. All of the guards made no motion of having noticed her. Their faces still as stone as they listened to Glarin drone on. “...Because if you fall, who will destroy the threat? Sure you could depend upon your allies to finish the job. But its always better to inflict as much damage as possible before... wait...No that last part is a Berserker thing. What was the end of the warriors creed again?” Glarin seemed to be asking the question to himself more than anything. As he thought he turned around and saw Twilight just standing behind him. Which shocked him more than anything, causing him to kneel. “Princess Twilight, I apologize about my behavior earlier as well as the behavior of that orange pegasi. Using such a vile word in front of royalty, such a thing is unforgivable. I hope he wasn’t too much trouble after you took him.” Twilight scoffed with a light smile on her face. “No, he wasn’t much trouble after you shattered his jaw, broke part of his skull, and knocked most of his teeth out. He was quite docile. But please, stand and stop with the formalities, and I thought I told you before. I may be a princess, but that doesn’t mean I want my friends or anyone treating me differently because of it.” Glarin slowly rose to his feet as he looked at Twilight. “Well, what do you ask of me? I don’t think you came just to say hello.” Twilight nodded her head. “Indeed, I was hoping to ask you a few questions and hoping you would let me run some tests on things I’ve been curious about for quite some time now. I have my theories but I need to know for sure.” Glarin grumbled for a bit before responding. “Any questions you ask I’ll answer honestly, but these tests better not end up with me strapped to some strange magical machine in some kind of lab.” Twilight blushed as she stuttered out her response. “W-what about an u-underground one?” said Twilight as she mumbled something to herself while looking away, blush evident on her face. Glarin hummed in thought for a moment before shrugging. “As long as its underground I can handle it... Anyway, ask away with the questions 1st.” Twilight released a sigh “Alright then, what did he say that was so vile?” Glarin looked shocked when she said that. He even began to stutter for what Twilight thought was the 1st time since she had seen him. “I-I-I well... I don’t want to repeat what he said out loud but...” Glarin moved up and whispered into her ear causing her ear to twitch slightly at his hot breath. She then got a puzzled look on her face when he pulled away. “Crybaby isnt a...” Glarin held up a hand signaling her to stop as he shouted. “Noo! A Royal Lady shouldn’t sully her mouth with such vile words!” Twilight just continued to look at Glarin slightly confused until she decided to mentality check the, ‘it’s a culture thing’ box and leave it at that. “Alright then, next question. What exactly are you planning to do with that Manticore and Bear Fluttershy let you have?” “You mean Henry and Mr. Biggles Worth? Put them to work of course. I suppose I’ll have to feed them and other stuff as well.” Glarin thought about it for a minute and sighed. “ I’ll need to have the some of the hallways widened to allow them access to all the rooms and possibly add a secondary door for them to use...” “You’re going to give them free reign around your home and the ability to leave when ever they want?” “Of course, Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like they’re slaves or anything. I would never stand for anything being treated like a slave, weather it be an animal, man, or dwarf. Even one of the vile evil elves don’t deserve a fate like slavery.” Glarin seemed to spit the word elves out like it left a bad taste in his mouth. “Ook, next question then. Whats an elf? Whenever you mention anything about one you seem to cringe as you say the word.” Glarin crossed his arms and huffed. “Looks like you don’t have elves in this world, thats good. I would hate to meet one above ground. Wicked creatures they are. On the surface they would appear handsome or beautiful, but don’t let that fool you. Because they have the ability to transform into monstrous creatures with sharp claws and fangs dripping with dwarfs bane. They also enjoy shaving off a dwarves beard and body hair with their sharp claws while the unsuspecting dwarf sleeps.” “Thats, what? Are elves really that bad?” “Thats not even half of it! Back in the early days of existence the elves hunted us near extinction for no reason! They’re evil vile creatures with only death, destruction, and shaving on their minds I tell you!” “Thats... Have you ever meet an elf before?” “Once, in my younger days when I was still very much a fool. That evil troll spawn shaved me bald like a newborn human baby after I passed out drunk.” “But, you said before you’ve never been above ground, How did you meet him?” “Well it all started when we broke into a natural cave that exited out into a forest. Turns out an elven village was near the cave entrance and elves started to visit our city for trade or other such things. Most likely a cover up for any dastardly evil deeds they had planned.” “I see, please continue...” Twilight cocked an eyebrow as she listened to Glarin “Well I was just enjoying some of the best Dwarven Ale I’ve ever had. Fresh from the cask it was. Anyway, he came strolling up into the bar and sat next to me. A little too close for comfort I say. He introduced himself as Legolos. I thought him a woman at first. What with the long hair and lack of facial hair. He told Ragnar the barkeep he would have what I was having. Ragnar tried to talk him out of it, but he said any drink a dwarf could take, he could take twice as much. After such an insult I challenged him to a drinking contest!” “So what happened then? Did you win?” Glarin looked down to the ground with his shoulders slumped over. “I don’t know how he did it, but he started to out drink me. He was using Elven witchcraft I tell you! By the time I started seeing double he was still downing them like water! He even shouted at the top of his lungs that I was a weak livered milk drinker!” Twilight could suddenly feel a cold tingle in her spine. Glarin was becoming angry as he talked about his past. “I couldn’t stand for such an insult! So I ordered a mug of the strongest Dwarven Stout for both of us, A mug of Brogars famous Troll Sweat Stout. If the smell didn’t knock you down, the fact it had enough alcohol in it to knock several humans out and be used as a deadly explosive just might.” Glarin gritted his teeth and clenched his fist before throwing it up into the air. “That Evil elf! Somehow he downed the mug in a single shot! I had to do the same just to match him. After that I blacked out and woke up naked behind the bar. I was completely shaved, with all of my clothes missing! It was the most shameful walk home I ever had! I HATE ALL BLOODY ELVES!” Twilight just took a step back as he finished his story. After awhile he visibly calmed down and crossed his arms again. “Anymore questions Lady Twilight?” Twilight shook her head, deciding that a subject change would probably be best. “What do you plan to do with Spatzi?” Glarin just raised an eyebrow at the question and looked at the town. He had sent her back with two guards to pick everything up. “What do you mean, do with her? I put her to work already.” Said Glarin with a confused sounding tone. “Well I mean like, are you going to send her to school or anything?” Glarin rubbed his chin in thought for a moment. “What kind of trade schools does Ponyville offer?” Twilight furrowed her brow in confusion “Trade schools? She’s not old enough to go to a trade school yet. She would have to learn the basics of a general education first. And Ponyville only has one school. For any kind of higher education she would need to be sent abroad to a city like Manehatten, or Canterlot.” “So the school system in ponyville is weak then? There’s no warrior or Scholar programs? Or a trade school for learning things like becoming an Armor Smith or a Weapon Smith? Not even something like a basic trade school so she can figure out what she enjoys doing?” “Well no, but you can send her to a school so that she can get a basic education while she figures out what she wants to do.” “Pah! I turned out just fine without any basic educations!” Twilight raised an eyebrow as she looked Glarin over. She remembered all of the stupid things he has done, and probably will do. Also he still couldn’t read Equestrian. Nor did he show any interest in ever learning. “Yeah, shes going to school. I’m making sure of that.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glarin sat strapped into a chair inside Twilights basement in the Library. He had a Spaghetti strainer on his head along with all kinds of different lights and gizmos attached to it. Wires were heading out of it and back to the big machine in the middle of the room. Glarin looked around nervously as he weakly struggled against the straps holding him in place. “So Um, Princess Twilight. I haven’t angered you recently have I? I’m sure we can talk this out.” Twilight rolled her eyes as she flipped a switch causing her super computer to power on, making Glarin jump a little inside his seat. He was ok with the thing on his head, but when she strapped him into the chair for ‘his safety’ he began to become nervous. “You don’t have to kill me you know. I’m sure I can make it up to you. If you only give me the chance!” “For the last time Glarin, this isn’t going to hurt you. You might feel a slight tingle, But you should be fine.” The last part of her sentence is what worried him. Mostly because the tone of her voice sounded like she had no idea what might happen. “I’ll give you whatever you want!” Glarin thought for a brief moment “Except my money!” Twilight just groaned as she flipped another switch, making more lights come on with a big whirring noise. “Alright! I’ll give you some of my gems! Just don’t kill me!” Twilight just walked over to a part of the machine and pressed a red button. Causing a sheet of paper to start coming out filled with various bits of information. “There see, its already working. Do you feel anything?” Glarin just looked around the room a bit before he began to relax. “Not at all actually...” “Good, you calmed down. This heart rate seems normal for something of your size, blood pressure levels are normal, I think. The mineral content of your body is extremely high. The density of your bones is at least tree times that of your average pony. But that’s probably normal based on your lifestyle I suppose.” Glarin just continued to look at all of the different lights and things as Twilight continued to look the paper over. “What does this big contraption do exactly? If you don’t mind me askin.” Glarin just shifted in his seat best he could in an attempt to get more comfortable. “It does and tells me all kinds of things actually. From basic information about a ponies health to what’s going on inside of a ponies body. Basically, its using a constant scanning spell for everything and it prints out all the information out on this piece of paper as it does so.” Glarin just nodded his head as she spoke. “So, its not going to kill me then?” Twilight groaned loudly as she flung her head back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at Glarins house the guards who didn’t leave to get the mattress were busy doing their daily tasks that Glarin had set for all of them. “Why are we still mining? And what direction are we even supposed to go in?” asked Quick Hoof the Pegasus to no pony in particular. “Heck if I know, I guess we just keep going straight until we hit something or he tells us to stop. Only thing I know is that this mining business is quite a workout in itself. I don’t think I’ve ever used our gym equipment once.” Said Mojo the Unicorn “Tell me about it, I think the earth ponies are the only ones who can handle working in the mine all day and still hit up our gym afterwards. Aint that right Rocky!?” Yelled Gust Wind the pegasus. Gust had taken to working inside the armor just like Rocky was doing. If the armors were to be treated like the vests, then they would only take them off to sleep and bathe. “Hehe, you got that right. Us earth ponies were always good with the physical aspect of life.” As Rocky swung his Pick axe, large chunks of earth were falling away, more so then the others were capable of. “Earth ponies also seem to make good miners... Hey what kind of beds do you think Spatzi got for the mares?” “Pfft, knowing Sir Glarin, he probably gave her a few handfuls of bits and said to buy the cheapest available.” the other ponies let out a laugh. “I know right!? Man, cheap bed sheets are like sandpaper against your fur. Probably better to sleep without them.” They turned around at the sound of hooves coming down the tunnel. “Hey, you guys help us carry in and set up all the new mattress! Surprisingly he had everything on hand so we were able to get everything today.” “Oh, guess we get to find out what they get to sleep on.” Some of them snickered as they swing their pick axes one last time. “I bet sleeping on our rocks is better than a cheap mattress with cheap sandpaper sheets, haha!” All of the guards let out a laugh as they set their tools down and traveled out to help bring everything in. It seemed everyone was traveling out to see everything that was being brought in. The mares were heading outside, following or already outside looking at the two large covered wagons. Applejack sure was nice to let them borrow the wagons when she had no current need of them. As they were uncovering what they brought back, Spatzi just had a huge grin plastered across her face. The two guards that went with her to pick them up, had faces that looked somewhat annoyed. “Dude, you’ll never guess what Spatzi got for those mares, just guess.” Rocky flipped the tarp back as he looked at the mattresses. “Uhh, slightly better than the worst kind?” “Guess again.” One of the pegasi walked over rolling his eyes as he grabbed one of the mattresses with his teeth and tugged on it. It gave way far easier then he thought it would, and ended up falling backwards onto his flank with the mattress landing on top of him. “What the tartarus?” Exclaimed most of the ponies as they saw him fall. “Put too much strength in that tug or what Woo?” Woo just pushed the mattress off him and then shoved it up into the air, it then slowly drifted back down on top of his back. “I wasn’t expecting a cloud mattress, Is this one yours Spatzi?” All of the mares and guards looked to Spatzi who still had her huge grin on her face. “All 21 of them are Cloud Mattresses, he even included 1,200 thread count silk sheets and pillow covers! The pillows we got were also cloud pillows!” Every ponies jaw dropped simultaneously as they looked between the two wagons and Spatzis huge grin. “Does Glarin know about this?” All eyes turned to Spatzi. “Nope!” Spatzi just kept her grin on as the guards grumbled amongst themselves, making note to have Spatzi do all of their shopping from now on. Maybe they might get some real food for once.