//------------------------------// // Report #5: Into The Fire, Part 1 // Story: My Little Pony: The Claymore Legacy // by MidnightRain //------------------------------// As I followed the path, I couldn't help but keep staring at my arm. I was still trying to figure out how my Youki was capable of being projected in such a way, as arcs of energy. It was weird, and not what I had in mind for my unique ability. It was too late for that, however. I had an ability, one that was extremely dangerous. I tore my vision, and thoughts, away from my newfound skill, as I saw Ponyville come into view. Five days. Five days I had been walking again. I sped up, going into a full sprint, before turning onto the main road, skidding into the turn. As soon as I could, I tore away from the edge of the village, speeding towards the center, where the library was. After about four minutes, I reached the door, pushing it open slowly. What I saw, was not what I expected, as I was tackled by a bubbly pink pony. Or, at least, would have been tackled, had I been standing in front of the door. Out of habit, I pushed the door open from the side, which caused the pink pony to rocket into the wall across the street. "Pinkie!" Twilight's disapproving voice sounded, and I suppressed a snicker. "You shouldn't tackle her like that!" I stepped from beside the door, and waved, smiling slyly. "Miss me?" I asked, careful to keep my arm hidden. I spotted an already familiar white pony, her purple mane giving her away. She opened her mouth to speak, when Pinkie Pie somehow was suddenly hanging in front of me. "What happened to the sleeve, huh, huh? Why's it all torn up?" She pulled a piece of paper from her mane, and looked over it, while everyone(Myself included) stared at her, puzzled. "What do you mean, dear?" Rarity asked, sounding ready to let loose a torrent of fashion advice. "Oh! So that's what happened! Okie dokie!" Pinkie Pie stuffed the paper back in her mane, and I couldn't help but wonder aloud. "Did you just do something completely unexpected and break the boundaries of reality?" I asked. "Yep!" "Well, shit." I stepped into the library, and rolled my eyes, watching Rarity summon her fainting couch and falling onto it. I thought she was going to get back up, but hell broke loose in that instant. Something crashed through the door, smashing it to smithereens. A giant fist rushed through, and slammed into me, sending myself flying. "Well, shit!" I shouted, slamming into a bookshelf. The shelf exploded, and I didn't hesitate. I channeled all of my Youki into my arms, thinking, Fuck, it's not like this can get any worse, right? Both of my arms exploded, looking like a pair of demonized gauntlets, but this time, instead of hook-like appendages, my arms were more streamlined, and a slender blade-like protrusion erupted from my wrists. I took a good look at my assailant, and grimaced. "I hope I don't Awaken completely..." I muttered, taking note of the lion-like Yoma, Rigaldo the Silver-Eyed Lion. "You're the girl Isley is interested in? Peh. Some Awakened state you've got. This'll be a-" Rigaldo was cut off, as my fist cut into his arm. In the next instant, he was gone, and I flew through the wall, and demolished yet another bookshelf. I winced, standing up quickly, when I was sent flying again. I swung my arm up, and purple blood spattered my figure, as I rose to my feet again. Rigaldo had a large gash across his gut, and a silver lance of energy jutting out of his heart. "Shit." Rigaldo swore, as I rushed him, slamming my fist into his leg. "Never again!" I shouted. I was going to say more, but I fell to the ground, and the shock was numbing the pain. "Why...why can't I stand anymore?" I asked, trying to sound furious. "Look at your legs, bitch." I looked down at my legs, and gagged at the sight. From the knees down, my legs were gone. Not just cut off, but completely gone, shredded to pieces. There was a massive pool of blood already, and it was still growing in size. I felt vomit trying to rise up my throat, but I fought it down. Now was not a time for weakness. I needed to be faster, which meant one thing: Forcing myself to Awaken further. But could I do it? I knew there was only one way to find out. "Fuck...my...life." I managed to sputter, pushing myself upright. My Youki was pulsating through my arms and legs, and I could feel my legs slowly regenerating. But I needed to buy some time. "Any last words, half-breed?" Rigaldo sneered. His massive arm rose up, ready to strike me down, his veins pulsing with his Youki. "Yes...What do you have planned?" I asked, watching my legs rebuild layer by layer. Seeing the naked bones was disturbing me, but I had to stay focused. Rigaldo laughed. "Why? So you can do something cliché and kill me after I tell you? I do happen to be intelligent." I smirked, and looked back at my legs. The muscles were regenerated, and all I needed to move were the tendons. I could regenerate my skin as I fought, but first, I needed the Silver-Eyed Lion asshat to get closer. "Really? But doesn't Isley still consider like a kid? He told me not to tell you, but he still mocks you behind your back. Him and all the Awakened's do." Rigaldo staggered comically, and got right in my face, snarling. "What!? You're lying. You have to be lying! Isley said he respected me now! I'm gonna kill you-augh!" He shouted in pain, as I drove my left arm into his chest, puncturing a lung. I could feel something drawing inside of me through the spot I stabbed him with my hand, but I didn't stop to ponder, standing up, screaming in pain at the sensation of my exposed muscles being forced to do work. "No...you...won't! Impaling Spikes!" I shouted, as I felt my hand expand and erupt into a complex lattice of spikes, which ripped Rigaldo's torso apart. He screamed, and my arm was no longer attached to my body. I went flying again, this time, through the open doorway, tumbling head over heels in the dirt. "Shit!" I shouted in pain, skidding to a stop, using my remaining arm as a brake. Charging forward, I drew my sword, and watched, as adrenaline made it seem like time had slowed down to a crawl. Rigaldo was bolting out of the library, charging just like a lion. He obliterated the door's frame, and I watched, taking note of the fact that his speed had dropped dramatically. I noticed that the ponies were buried underneath rubble, and Celestia was nowhere to be found. Had she fled at the first sign of battle, or was she not there when I had returned? Rigaldo swung at me, and I swung the sword down, enraged. He had injured the ponies who had rescued me, and that made me pissed. The sword flashed in the day's light, and a silver flash of light bolted out of the blade. Rigaldo's Youki vanished, as I felt reenergized. The so-called 'Lion King' collapsed, his head rolling on the ground. I sheathed the sword, and stood up straight, looking down at him coldly. "You have failed in your mission, Rigaldo. Today, I declare war against all Yoma, regular and Awoken alike. I will not rest, I will not surrender, until I have fulfilled this vow: I vow to protect Equestria against the Yoma; The Awakened Beings, the Abyssals, and all like them. Today, the War of Awakening begins!" I shouted, raising my fist. My Youki was dropping, and my knees buckled. "But maybe a quick nap wouldn't hurt." I said meekly, before falling face-first in the dirt, unconscious. Several Days Later... The first thing I could notice when I woke up, was that I heard a steady beeping. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but the smell of antiseptics gave it away instantly: A heart monitor. I jolted upright, and let out a scream of pain, as several blurred shapes rushed into the room. As my vision cleared, I was able to recognize the shapes as the same ponies who seemed so interested with me: Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Twilight was saying something, but my ears were ringing so much, I couldn't focus on what she was saying. "Hang on...I need to think." I said, as an excuse. When my ears stopped ringing, I looked over at the six. "What were you saying?" I asked, removing the medical instruments from me. "I was asking how you could be up like that! You shouldn't even be alive, and the blood stains are proof! I did the math, and the amount of blood you lost should have lead you to bleeding out!" Twilight ranted. Fluttershy cringed, hiding behind Rarity, and I couldn't help but smile. "Why in Celestia's mane are you smiling!? You should be dead! This entire situation just isn't possible!" I smiled more, and ripped off the last of the cords attached to me, pulling the spreadsheet on the bed to use as a makeshift robe. "I'm just tough to kill. Calm down, Twilight-san." I was going to continue speaking, when I realized that I had just used an honorific. "What? What does 'san' mean?" Twilight asked, sounding irritated. A familiar sounding voice rang from the entrance of the room. "It's a Japanese honorific. 'San' is a polite term, but why she would use it, I wouldn't know." It clicked in my head, as soon as the new pony stopped talking. "David...Tennant?" I asked, before face palming. "No, wait...The Doctor. Tenth, if I'm right." I leaned against the heart monitor, looking at the stallion with amusement. "How in the name of Zeus did you get here? Fall through the Void again?" He recoiled slightly, but cleared his throat. "Er...Yes. I am in fact, The Doctor. And yes, I did go through the Void again. But it was an accident, I swear! Wait. How did you even know about me?" I laughed, and replied humorously, "Back on my Earth, because I'm assuming you come from a parallel version, the concept of 'The Doctor' is a TV show. The show was called 'Doctor Who', and I'm going to have to ask this, so I know what I can, and cannot, say about you." I took a quick breath, before asking, stone cold serious, "Where's Rose Tyler?" The Doctor winced at the name, and I knew instantly: This Doctor was shortly after he lost Rose, letting her go to an alternate version of Earth, where she could live with her family. "So...it hasn't been very long since she left, has it?" I asked soothingly. "No. But right now, we need to focus on what exactly is causing you to adopt Japanese customs, and why they haven't fully developed yet." I nodded in agreement. "I'm also going to need some custom weapons." When I was given clearance to leave the hospital(Which didn't take long, because the staff was terrified of how I had looked when I was admitted), I was already drawing out schematics in my head for a semi-auto crossbow, a new sword that could be lighter and more evenly balanced, and a collapsable shield. My thoughts were disturbed by The Doctor, as he seemed to encircle me, looking curious. "Curious...So very curious." He looked up and down me, still circling me like a hawk. "Do you mind, Doctor?" I asked irritably. I reached behind my back for the sword, and instantly, The Doctor backed away. "Is your first response always violence?" he asked, sounding grumpy. He continued to observe me, this time from a safer distance. "Maybe." I started forward, looking around town. I thought I might have been in the western portion of Ponyville, but I honestly had no idea. The town was certainly confusing when you didn't take the time to memorize where everything was, which was surprising. After all, it was smaller than Rio Rancho! I wrapped my head in thought, and walked aimlessly for at least a good hour or so, when I finally bumped into a wall. I snapped out of my trance, reflecting only briefly on my thoughts. A crossbow would be effective for long distance, but the bolts would need to go faster than 3,246 meters per second, otherwise a Yoma could outpace the bolt. The bolt would also need a wire attached to the tail end so I can channel my Youki along the wire, and theoretically, if I'm right, control where the bolt ends up. I would need at least 10,000 meters of wire per bolt, for maximum range, but would that be too much? I need to know the maximum range of a crossbow before I can figure out the really advanced stuff... Looking up at the wall I ran into, I smiled, seeing a sign shaped like an anvil. Walking around to the front, my thoughts strayed from crossbows to blades, the ideas racing through my head as I pushed open the door. I need a blade that has the same effectiveness as a claymore, but it needs to be more along the lines of a long sword or a short sword. The materiel will need to be able to conduct Youki with next to no loss of energy, but I don't know what kinds of metals can transfer Youki effectively. The blacksmith was busy in the back hammering away, so when I spoke the first time, he didn't hear me, or the bell. "Hello? I'm here to borrow your forge." When I realized he didn't hear me, I spoke louder. "Oi! I need to borrow your tools!" I tapped my foot impatiently, when a critical detail finally dawned on me: I was still in the hospital robe, and it was a little short on me. I tugged down on the robe, and crossed my legs nervously. "I also need to borrow some fire-resistant cloth." I said, feeling embarrassed. The pony in the forge finally came out from the back of the shop, and nodded, not yet noticing I wasn't a pony. "What kind of metal you want used, and what kind of item you want?" he asked, finally looking up. "What in Celestia...You ain't a pony, are you?" His eyes were focused on my face, something of which I was thankful for. "Mind explaining who, and what you are, and why you want to use my forge?" The stallion narrowed his grey eyes at me. I noticed his coat seemed to be covered in black soot, but there were flecks of muddy brown showing. Remembering he asked me a question, I answered as honestly as possible. "My name is Tamora, and I am a Claymore, although in standard circumstances, I do not refer to myself as such. I am half-human, half-Yoma. I came to request-" The blacksmith cut me off with a wave of his hoof, nodding. "Alright, so you'd be the creature the Princess mentioned. Princess Celestia told me a funny-lookin' creature might stop by my shop soon, and I was told to tell you you've got full use of my forge. Feel free to make what'cha want. I won't charge a bit." He lifted the folding counter, and gestured for me to go behind the counter. "And I'll be sure to get you something that covers you better. Don't want a bad rap, eh?" He chuckled, and closed his eyes in what I hope was respect, as I walked past. Several hours later, I had a decent cloak wrapped around me, covering everyone but my head, and several new toys to play with: A longsword, made out of a unique metal that the ponies called 'Arcadium'. Apparently, it was very good at conducting any form of energy. A short sword, made from the same metal, a hunting knife, the blade forged to look like a lick of fire, and a full-metal pistol-grip crossbow. Everything had my ranking insignia engraved into it, and my reasoning for engraving the insignia was, 'why the hell not?' The crossbow was rather slim to begin with, but the limbs could fold back against the fore grip. The retention spring was a little larger than normal, to hold the 500 meter coil of carbon fiber wire. The stock was made to be detachable, and was concealing a short but deadly knife inside, in case of close-quarters combat. All together, the weapon weighed around twenty kilograms, so the weight would slow me down a little, but not enough to be worrisome, considering my strength. Walking out of the blacksmith's shop with my new arsenal in tow, I had just one objective now: It was time to test out my new toys.