Gjallarsong

by BlackRoseRaven

Verse Four

Verse Four:
~BlackRoseRaven

Princess Celestia sat at the head of the council table, her features stony. Valthrudnir sat opposite her, looking at her with triumph... but was that a hint of a plea in his eyes, as he constantly twirled a tarot card between his fingers?
Not that she cared. The dragon could get down on his knees and beg, and it wouldn't make any difference to her. She didn't care that every pony on this council had been coerced, confused, or convinced that going along with Valthrudnir's schemes, allowing him to run his grisly experiments and protocols on living, breathing ponies, was the only way to win this war.
She didn't think they'd really be winning the war, however: turning ponies into machines and monsters... she would be inviting the destruction of her own people. Maybe they couldn't see that: maybe they had all gotten so scared of the griffins that they forgot there was more to winning this war than whoever had the bigger stick.
She wasn't going to give her approval to this project. She knew that the council could still go ahead with it, and that the senate could decide either way: she would leave it in the hooves of her people to choose their fate. But she would be damned before she would go along with turning her own ponies into abominations built solely for the purpose of killing others.
“I will not back this project. And I will speak out against it when you bring it before the senate.” Celestia said quietly, drawing her eyes slowly over the ponies in front of her before she turned her gaze to Valthrudnir. “And you can mock, deride, and argue with me all you want, but I am not going to simply sit back and allow this to happen.”
The two looked at each other steadily, until Valthrudnir finally stopped spinning the card between his fingers. He looked at it for a few moments, then calmly placed it face down on the tabletop as he said softly: “I would like to request a private audience, Princess Celestia.”
Celestia narrowed her eyes slightly, but after a moment, she gave a brief nod, gesturing to the other councilors that they could leave. Her generals and advisers seemed all too eager to, but maybe that was just her being... oversensitive right now. Not that she could blame any of them for wanting to get out of the line of fire...
Celestia turned her cold eyes towards Valthrudnir, sizing him up with her gaze, but he remained silent, a finger resting on top of the tarot card he had placed face-down on the table, his eyes only moving away from her to flick over his shoulder at the sound of the door clicking shut with the last pony's leaving. Then he grimaced a bit before sliding the tarot card across the table towards her with a single ivory digit, saying quietly: “Your card.”
Celestia frowned as the dragon sat back and tented his fingers, and then the mare looked down at the tarot card for a few moments before she finally sighed softly, her horn glowing and lifting it in front of her. She studied it silently for a few moments, her own face on the card, but her features cold, and hard; in the image, she sat back on her throne, built on top of cages filled with ponies... “I don't see how this is me.”
“Celestia, you are the one always complaining about how my servants are so mechanical, how I seem so opposed to free will. But I think there we're very much the same.” Valthrudnir said pettishly, and Celestia frowned darkly at him. “Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad quality... apart from your hypocrisy, of course.”
“Valthrudnir, you and I are nothing-”
“No matter how many times you say it, it makes it no less true, Celestia.” Valthrudnir interrupted, glaring at her as he slammed a hand down on the table, leaning aggressively towards her. “I always considered you more intelligent than the rest of these insects, so why don't you at least try and offer me some rationalizations instead of simply bleating constantly that you and I are 'different.'”
The two glared at each other as the silence spiraled out between them, before Celestia slowly closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. And finally, the mare looked up before saying quietly: “I'm like any parent, Valthrudnir. I want my children to make their own decisions, and understand the consequences of their actions. To grow up, and find their own paths, and be themselves. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stand idly by and let them make choices that will result in catastrophe.”
“They are not your children, and you are not their mother. And furthermore, they are not foals or babies to be tucked in and coddled. That is precisely part of the reason why your country ended up in this mess in the first place, and furthermore, why you and your ponies appear to be so weak and pathetic.” Valthrudnir replied icily, and Celestia narrowed her amethyst eyes dangerously. “Of course, that hasn't stopped you from sending your own reprobate son to the ore mines, where he can happily make as many bad decisions as he wants out of the sight of his overbearing mother.”
“Thesis was stripped of his privileges by the military council. I had no say in the matter.” Celestia said coldly, leaning aggressively forwards as her eyes burned into the dragon's amber gaze. “I will ask you to stop bringing up my son-”
“Where it's inconvenient for you to face the truth?” Valthrudnir sneered at her, snorting derisively. “Nonsense. The moment you spoke to the council and told them you expected them to reach an 'informed and fair decision,' you sealed your son's fate, just as you had planned from the beginning of this fiasco. Not just to make your precious little prince safe, but in order to punish me for daring to overstep your ungainly quadrupedal reach.”
Celestia took a slow breath as she closed her eyes, her entire body going still, not even seeming to breathe for a few long moments... and then her eyes snapped open as she suddenly leaned forwards, slamming both front hooves down on the table hard enough to crack the surface as she shouted: “And maybe if just once you'd act like a father instead of a coward and a bully we wouldn't be here in the first place! He is not your science experiment, he is your son!”
Valthrudnir visibly flinched, and then he gritted his teeth before leaning forwards and hissing under his breath, even as a slight flush crawled up from under his collar: “All I did was provide... necessary materials for-”
“Oh, will you just once pull your head out of either the ground or your ass, wherever you've buried it, and admit that you care about him?” Celestia snapped, her mane sparking as it twisted around her angrily with a life of its own. “None of this is about... the nation, or the ponies, or even your ego or mine! This is about Thesis, it always has been, and there is no way in Tartarus I'm going to simply let you waltz into your son's life with... whatever sick intentions you have for him.”
There was silence for a few moments as Valthrudnir sat back, watching with contempt as Celestia slowly regained her composure... and perhaps the slightest bit of guilt, as no matter how angry and patronizing he looked... his eyes refused to remain steadily on her.
Finally, as Celestia looked up at him after a few minutes, again much calmer and quieter, the dragon's gaze dropped... and surprisingly, he softened grudgingly, murmuring: “This is not about that. I am aware that... I am a genius and it is... hard for you... mere mortals to understand the machinations of your betters at times. Furthermore, we had an agreement, did we not? We do not speak about... that.”
Valthrudnir shifted and looked away, and Celestia gazed at him for a few moments before she sighed softly, then said quietly: “You can't have it both ways. I understand you have trouble understanding that, but that's not how this is going to work, Valthrudnir. If you want to be involved in Thesis' life, you will be involved in every aspect. It's not as if he doesn't know already, in some part of him. And...”
Celestia shifted and looked away for a moment, before she said softly: “I can put up with you talking about my people as if they're inferior to you. But I don't like it when you speak to me as if I am, too. Hide whatever you want, and be as... rude and derisive as you feel you have to... but don't talk down to me when we're alone like this. Treat me like an equal, Valthrudnir. Or I'll ignore you.”
Valthrudnir snorted, and then he said moodily: “I don't see what that would accomplish, when you intend to ignore me anyway.”
The ivory mare only looked up with a wry smile, saying quietly: “I intend not to move on my stance until you give me a better reason than 'because I said so,' that's all.”
The two looked at each other for a few long moments... and then Valthrudnir finally nodded shortly before he muttered: “Very well. I will... indulge your need for meritless debate. But I will not sugarcoat things for you, any more than I will treat you like the rest of your preening staff does.”
“I would never expect you to. I've gotten too used to having you around to keep me humble.” Celestia replied softly, and Valthrudnir rolled his eyes... but his fingers awkwardly tugged at his suit jacket, straightening out invisible wrinkles before the mare asked: “Why are you insisting on this? And can you promise me that this has nothing to do with Thesis?”
Valthrudnir opened his mouth... and then he ground his teeth together before finally muttering: “It doesn't work like that, Celestia. I can certainly tell you whatever you want to hear, but you know as well as I do that when a machine is made up of ten thousand different parts, those parts all, to some extent, effect one another. But my current plans do not directly involve Thesis. Is that enough?”
Celestia looked quietly for a few moments at Valthrudnir... and then she gave a soft sigh and a hesitant nod. “For now. But the idea of... of making ponies into monsters-”
“Since I am trying to do something for you, perhaps in the spirit of compromise, you can do something for me, and cease immediately assuming I want to turn your ponies into 'monsters.'” Valthrudnir said pettishly, scowling at the mare. “By definition monsters serve no purpose. You know that my intent is far greater than to build monsters, Celestia. I, like you, desire to craft an empire of order, where everything has its place.”
“Yes, Valthrudnir. But what you still have to learn is that you don't have to change things to make them fit. You just have to figure out where the different parts work best together.” Celestia replied softly, and Valthrudnir rolled his eyes and grumbled to himself. “I don't want my country... to change.”
“Everything changes, Celestia. Not even I can stop from that from happening.” Valthrudnir muttered, looking down and moodily flicking a finger to create a tiny dragon of ice. The small, frosty figure growled silently, stalking back and forth... before Valthrudnir frowned slightly as there was a hum of magic, and then a tiny mare of golden light stepped forwards to join the dragon, fearlessly nuzzling the icy construct.
The frosty dragon headbutted the tiny horse of light, but then obligingly lowered its head when the mare pawed at its face, visibly relenting. Valthrudnir snorted at this, then scowled as he looked up at Celestia, and she smiled faintly at him before asking quietly: “Would you want me to change too, Valthrudnir?”
“I...” Valthrudnir halted, and then he glanced away as he reached up and tugged at his collar before smoothing it out around his neck, muttering: “That is not the point up for debate. And I have no intention of... simply designing war constructs. When I say upgrades, that is what I mean: it is not as if ponies have not already dabbled in transformative and evolutionary magic. All I wish to do is provide it in a wider, safer means. To regulate it by methods that are far superior to dabbling with alchemy and crystals.”
Celestia looked down, chewing on her lower lip before she murmured: “Necromancy has always been forbidden in Equestria. So have other forms of dangerous magic... not because they are inherently evil, because... the temptation to use them for evil or selfish ends is too great. Imagine if we taught every unicorn how to bind spirits, or speak with the dead...”
“I doubt it would be an issue if you taught them not to abuse their powers, as you do most of your unicorn mages... not that all of them are capable of listening, but your ponies are not...” Valthrudnir shifted a little, then he scowled down at the sight of the two magical constructs as they frolicked over the tabletop together. “For lack of a decent metaphor, they are mostly... 'good.'”
The mare chuckled softly, then she smiled a little before saying: “Careful, Valthrudnir. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
Valthrudnir only gave the mare a sour smile, then he shook his head shortly before continuing grouchily: “Hiding these things away will not prevent your ponies from sticking their noses into them, anyway. In fact, it will only encourage the ones who question you or wish to make designs against you to seek such abilities out.
“Regulation and control, Celestia. You're always telling me how smart your ponies are: well, here's your chance to prove that they can actually learn, that they are not the savage little fleshsacks that I believe they are.” Valthrudnir said distastefully as he gestured towards the mare with one hand. “If they truly aren't driven by their base instincts and primal desires, they'll learn to adapt and accept one another. And I, of course, will strictly punish anyone who attempts to cheat the system.”
Celestia shifted a little, biting her lip for a moment... and then she grimaced a bit as Valthrudnir said pointedly: “You had no qualms with me using the bodies of dead prisoners and volunteers for my experiments. Not to mention the occasional living test subject...”
“You had compelling arguments in those cases.” Celestia muttered, looking away for a moment before she sighed softly and shook her head slowly. “What about your drones, and your machines? Why are you so intent on transforming ponies?”
“I do not desire to transform them. Merely to make them... better. I am a crafter, a creator. Your ponies are weak and flawed. I can remove those flaws and weaknesses.” Valthrudnir replied steadily, and Celestia looked up at him with a frown before the dragon looked down at the frolicking constructs on the table... and then he sighed softly and pushed himself out of his seat, striding calmly over to Celestia and settling his large hands gently on her shoulders, squeezing slowly into them.
The Princess of the Sun lowered her head as the dragon massaged her shoulders: his grip was gentle, his movements almost hesitant. She loved that about him, though: he was so domineering, so strong, exuded such arrogance and power... but he always had a ten foot bubble of personal space around him, because he was scared of contact, and scared of getting close to anyone.
But all the same, he struggled to touch her. To make contact. To 'lower himself to the physical,' as he put it... and she smiled faintly before she murmured softly: “You're not playing fair.”
“I have never considered you a game.” Valthrudnir said quietly, and Celestia looked over her shoulder at him with the faintest blush as her smile widened. He gazed back at her for a few moments, then, for just a single second, he gave a smile that was real, and honest, even if it was hesitant and tiny and boyish. It made his handsome features look... better, somehow. It left him bare to her for a moment, and to the soul that she thought she...
Valthrudnir glanced hurriedly away, and then he cleared his throat before squeezing into her shoulders and muttering: “You... this is the most logical next step, in any event. The borders of Equestria will not remain secure even beneath the scrutiny of our airships forever. The griffins have already begun production on weapons of their own, and do not shirk at using far crueler designs than those I wish to implement upon your soldiers. I understand you fear losing your culture... but would you truly be willing to sacrifice your entire nation, simply to protect an ideology that has already been fractured by this war?”
Celestia looked down silently for a few moments, biting her lip... and then she looked silently at the constructs on the table, as both toys looked up at her, the mare of light and the dragon of ice side-by-side and gazing at her with a silent plea in their eyes.
Finally, Celestia smiled faintly, and then she lowered her head before murmuring: “Volunteers only. Rational adults. I have to confirm every candidate personally, and I want no more than a single unit to begin with for a trial period of one month. We... will revisit your plans after that, if they... if I am satisfied they are still ponies, and... the project will not cause harm to Equestria.”
Valthrudnir nodded, straightening slightly behind the mare as his amber eyes gleamed with both relief and a darker amusement... and perhaps the smallest glimmer of guilt, as he murmured softly: “You have my guarantee, Celestia... that this will only lead to better things.
“A better future, for all of us.”

Thesis sighed quietly as he dragged his hooves tiredly through the miner's barracks, covered in dirt and grime. He scowled a little as he made his way towards his room, shaking himself briefly out as he reflected that he had been an idiot to ever think that being a Royal Guard had been hard work. That was nothing compared to working in the ore mines, where there was the constant threat of large, heavy rocks falling on your head, no breaks, the stink of chemicals and steam, the possibly-poisonous fumes and the angry ponies angrily hacking away at the walls with large, sharp objects.
At least when griffins ambushed you, you could punch them in the beak. Even as strong as he was, he couldn't punch his way through a chunk of rock.
On the bright side, Red Sky had signed up for patrol duties around the ore mines. She stopped in when she could, and they would chat and relax during the forty or so minutes of free time he had before he generally fell asleep until his shift. She was a safe beacon in what was otherwise an ocean of hatred and contempt for him.
The Royal Guard who worked here hated him because he had been disgracefully and dishonorably discharged. His fellow workers hated him because he was the Prince of Equestria, and felt that he got special treatment because he had his own room and sometimes got time off work when he was called to Canterlot.
Not that he was ever called to Canterlot for good reasons. He was always called for duties at the Royal Court, or tutoring, or to be yelled at by someone. Or, as had happened just a few weeks ago, he had been called to help evaluate the first of Valthrudnir's Dogmatists.
They had admittedly made Thesis more than a little uncomfortable, as he had studied these things that Valthrudnir referred to as 'cybernetically enhanced; genetically superior.' One of them had his limbs completely removed, replaced by steel and circuitry: another had a body plated in metal, and glowing glass eyes. And the last had somehow been the worst: there were no visible changes on the outside of the earth pony's body apart from the marks of surgery, but he had been capable of moving objects with his mind and reading the thoughts of ponies around him, displaying a psychic capacity rarely seen even in talented unicorns.
Thesis shivered a little as he headed towards the door of his room: maybe it was weird for him to be so judgmental, but those ponies... something had simply been... off about them. And the fact that Celestia had approved this...
He knew the war was going badly. He knew that the griffins were pushing hard from every angle, and that the other nations were beginning to pick sides, as the conflict spilled over their borders into other lands. He knew that there were rumors that the griffins hadn't just started recruiting prisoners and bribing criminals with amnesty and wealth to join their cause in the goal of demolishing Equestria, they had started to reach out to the dragons, encouraging them to turn on the ponies they had an uneasy alliance with.
Dragons were greedy, and the griffins valued strength, not treasure and wealth: Thesis knew it was only a matter of time before the dragons realized that the ponies were vulnerable. Thesis knew that years ago, Celestia and the sister she so rarely spoke of had forced an uneasy alliance with ponykind by proving the strength of the united nation to the dragons... or, in simpler words, after the dragons had ravaged one too many villages in search of easy prey and sparkly objects, Equestria had responded by annihilating dozens of dragon aeries, bringing down several dragon patriarchs, capturing eggs, and scattering juveniles into the wild.
Dragons could certainly grow to immense sizes, and become almost unstoppable goliaths, that was true. But dragons took many years to grow to such strength and sizes, and in the past, young dragons had been hunted for easy sport by ponies, severely reducing their numbers and forcing the dragons into agreeing to an alliance. The pride of dragons was great... but the need to survive was always greater.
The griffins had never been very good at hosting other races in their lands... but if they had decided that they hated Equestria enough to stop seeing dragons as trophies that would bring honor to an entire flock, and instead as possible weapons in the war...
Thesis shook his head as he reached up to grasp the doorhandle... and then he frowned as he heard a shout from behind him, the stallion glancing over his shoulder before he winced a bit as he saw the pit boss heading towards him, which likely meant he was about to be yelled at for some screwup or another that had been blamed on him and he had no choice but to-
“Diamond dogs!” shouted the pit boss, and Thesis' eyes widened, feeling his whole body snap awake as he spun towards the stallion, realizing just how panicked he looked. “Diamond dogs! They're coming up from below! They're killing everyone!”
“I'll keep them busy, you send word to the Royal Guard!” Thesis said sharply, and then he broke into a sprint, throwing off his tiredness as he rushed out of the barracks without waiting for a response. And the moment he hit the gravel outside, he could see soldiers hurrying towards the mouth of the mine, as miners and civilian personnel hurried away.
They had been attacked by desperate and greedy diamond dogs before... but Thesis could already tell this was different. The packs were usually weak and unorganized, or more interested in stealing ore and gemstones than attacking the miners...
But how the hell could the griffin army sneak a pack of diamond dogs this deep into their borders?
Thesis swore under his breath as he leapt into the mouth of the mine, joining several Royal Guard as they hurried down the tunnel. He fell immediately back into old habits, looking back and forth for an officer, and upon seeing none, he leapt to the lead himself, shouting: “Engagement is secondary, evacuation is priority!”
For once, the soldiers didn't mock him or ignore him, acknowledging him with a chorus of 'sir!' Thesis was rather surprised by it, but he didn't question it as he instead focused ahead, heading straight for the main shaft: even if the tunnels made the echoing yells and scraping and barking distort and seem to come from all around, that was the place where the diamond dogs could do the most damage, and it was where his gut told him the enemy was waiting.
And almost the moment they began to descend the ramping shaft, the stallion saw that he was right on all counts: the first diamond dog he spotted was ignoring the gemstones completely, instead chasing after a pony with a grin on his face beneath the modified griffin helm he was wearing. He slashed outwards... and Thesis saw the diamond dog was wearing some kind of metal claw, a moment before the pony went down with a scream and a spray of blood from his hind leg.
The diamond dog began to pounce... and Thesis put on a burst of speed before leaping up and twisting his body around to slam both rear hooves into the face of the diamond dog, shattering his jaw and sending him hurtling limply through the air to crash into the wall with a tremendous bang. Thesis landed a moment later on the other side of the pony, ordering without looking back at the soldiers behind him: “Move in pairs and watch the walls and floor. Escort as many ponies as you can out of here, while I-”
“I smell you, mud pony!” roared a voice, and Thesis looked up in shock as the entire tunnel went silent before it began to shake with the steps of the giant that emerged from the darkness at the end of the shaft. And Thesis swore before he looked quickly back and forth, then gritted his teeth and ran forwards into a section that had been widened out by all the mining.
Kindynas laughed loudly as he strode forwards, grinning ferociously. Metal gauntlets sparked against the ground as Kindynas pulled himself along like a gorilla on his massive arms. The stallion narrowed his eyes as they drew sharply over the gigantic diamond dog, as he did his best to repress a shiver: there wasn't a single sign of any lasting damage on the giant, even though he should have been crippled, perhaps permanently, from what Thesis had done to him...
The diamond dog straightened... was he bigger? His muscles were bulging, his rubbery hide taut over his enormous frame, his metal-sheathed front paws slamming together in front of him and sending up a visible pulse of malicious magic. The gauntlets looked immensely heavy, and were clearly shaped like a dragon's claws... and they weren't the only new additions to the diamond dog, Thesis noted.
Ragged clothing had been replaced by metal and mesh; plated armor looked almost as if it had been fused to his legs, although it didn't seem to hinder the giant's mobility in the slightest. Thesis could only hope that the monster of a diamond dog hadn't gotten any smarter...
Kindynas laughed loudly... and Thesis grimaced as he realized that the diamond dog's teeth had all been replaced with interlocking steel fangs. But at least that meant... “So I see you had some work done. How do your arms feel?”
“You talk all you want, pony. Talk is all you have.” Kindynas mocked, holding up a bloodstained claw and grinning savagely. “You are too weak to kill. You are prey. You will only ever be prey, mud pony.”
Thesis glanced back and forth... and noted that the other diamond dogs in the tunnel were all watching them, fixated on the sight of their alpha. The stallion decided to use this to his advantage, turning pointedly away from Kindynas and saying boldly to the nearest diamond dog: “So did your boss tell you how I made him cry like a little kitten?”
The diamond dogs looked at each other uncertainly, and Kindynas snarled, punching a gauntlet into the ground as he snapped: “Lying mudwalker! Because lies are all you-”
“Hey, you said that I'm all talk, so I'm just all-talking. Doubt you'd get so defensive if it wasn't true, though.” Thesis said calmly, barely giving Kindynas a glance as he flicked a hoof in a dismissive, patronizing gesture. “Anyway, like I was saying, this little bitch – if you'll excuse the pun, since... you know, you're dogs and all-”
Kindynas leapt at Thesis' back, and the stallion sharply sidestepped, moving like liquid out of the way of the diamond dog, who crashed unceremoniously into the ground on his face. He snarled as he scrabbled for his paws, and Thesis simply smiled indulgently, stepping towards another diamond dog and saying pointedly: “See that? That right there. That's how it started, too.”
Kindynas roared and charged straight at Thesis, and the stallion waited until Kindynas suddenly swept both claws out to the side, trying to cut off any hope of escape. But instead of trying to dodge around the giant, Thesis leapt forwards and kicked off Kindynas' face, sending the giant of a diamond dog staggering stupidly before he tripped and landed with a tremendous bang on top of the unfortunate, much smaller diamond dog Thesis had approached.
There was a series of yelps and whimpers as the smaller dog scrambled wildly at the ground... before Kindynas snatched up the diamond dog by the neck, roaring as he leapt to his paws and spun around, flinging the smaller canine like a wet sack. Thesis' eyes widened, but his reflexes barely saved him, the stallion leaping backwards as the dog crunched into the ground where he had been standing only a moment before, bouncing limply over him as Kindynas shouted: “Fight me! Stand and fight me, mud pony! I will crush you!”
The diamond dogs added their own barking and snarling, the sound echoing through the cavern as Thesis glanced back and forth quickly... but he was less concerned with the diamond dogs – most of which had backed quite a distance off after what had happened to the one unfortunate enough to accidentally get in their alpha's way – and instead he was looking for the ponies. Ponies, he saw, who for the most part were being smart enough to sneak away while they had the chance, or were being rescued by the Royal Guard-
A metal claw slammed down, and Thesis barely managed to duck out of the way before he brought his forelegs up almost too late as Kindynas turned the punch into a hard swing of one brawny forearm.
It was like being hit by a tree trunk, Thesis flying backwards through the air to crash painfully down on his back with a gasp before he quickly rolled backwards over the uneven, stony floor to catch himself on his hooves, grimacing a bit as his forelegs wobbled beneath him. He had forgotten how damn strong the giant was... and it seemed like all the extra weight of that metal plate wasn't slowing him down at all...
Kindynas grinned, licking his lips as he turned towards Thesis and growled: “Not so cocky now, are you, mud pony? Oh no. You won't run away this time.”
“I didn't run away last time, either. I broke every bone in your body and left you for dead.” Thesis replied calmly, raising his head high and glaring back at Kindynas, as the giant of a diamond dog reared his head back slightly in surprise. “Maybe you're the one who shouldn't press his luck.”
The two looked at each other for a few long moments... and then Kindynas snarled, a low growl building in his throat as his hackles raised and his body loomed aggressively forwards. Thesis, meanwhile, set himself as his ivory eyes locked on the giant: he allowed himself to forget about everything else in the area, the stallion taking a slow breath as he focused on Kindynas, and only Kindynas.
“Tiny, do us all a favor and roll over and play dead again. That's how you survived the last fight, after all.” Thesis taunted, and Kindynas snarled before charging forwards with a roar... and the stallion gave a wry smile as his sharp eyes studied the giant, watching his movements before he leapt backwards as Kindynas swept both claws down towards him.
They smashed into the ground, before the diamond dog yanked himself forwards, jaw opening wide to try and deliver a crushing bite-
One of Thesis' hooves smashed into his jaw in a savage counterattack, knocking the diamond dog sprawling onto his side with a roar of pain before the giant quickly rolled over... only to be knocked staggering again as Thesis agilely slipped forwards and spun around so he could deliver a crushing kick up under the diamond dog's jaw.
Thesis moved like lightning, spinning himself back forwards once more so he could leap at the diamond dog and begin slamming precise, concentrated blows into Kindynas' kidneys and solar plexus, gritting his teeth as he poured all the strength he dared into every blow. He knew he had to take Kindynas down fast and hard... and in his mind, a cold and logical voice told him that the only way he could make sure that Kindynas stayed down was to kill him.
The diamond dog roared and plunged a claw straight down at Thesis, and the stallion barely managed to sidestep in time, wincing as he was splattered by rocky shrapnel as the giant's claw plunged into the ground like a blade through rotten wood. And then the diamond dog turned with a snarl, lashing his claw upwards in a spray of gravel and dirt as his claw tore through the ground and swung towards Thesis.
The stallion barely ducked under the claw as he was pelted by debris, clenching his eyes shut and jumping forwards through the cloud of dust on instinct. He landed beside Kindynas... then howled in agony as the giant diamond dog slammed an elbow down into the middle of his back, knocking Thesis sprawling before his eyes bulged in agony as a claw wrapped around his skull and began to crush it like a tomato, steel talons ripping gouges through his scalp.
Kindynas laughed loudly as he lifted the stallion up in front of him like a trophy, holding him at head level as he roared: “Look at your prince now, little ponies! First we'll kill you, then we'll kill the feather dusters! The crows will feast on hoof-meat and chicken-cats!”
The diamond dog grinned widely as Thesis grabbed at his hand and wrist, struggling wildly... before the stallion suddenly swung both legs forwards, then pendulumed his entire body backwards to kick as hard as he could into the giant's muzzle, Kindynas' head snapping back in a gout of blood as he howled in misery and fell heavily on his ass.
The giant slammed Thesis face-first into the floor in reflex, then roared in fury and slung the pony across the room, the stallion crashing back-first into a rocky wall with a howl of agony before he collapsed to the ground. Kindynas glared at the prone body of the pony, before he began to smile... and then his eyes widened, bloody muzzle wrinkling up in shock as Thesis slowly rose his head, glaring through his crimson-stained mane at the giant diamond dog as he said contemptibly: “Guess old dogs... really can't learn new tricks.”
Kindynas snarled in fury, then lunged forwards to all fours, charging straight at Thesis as the stallion shakily began to pick himself up. The diamond dog's teeth bared in a grin of victory as he saw the weakness, smelled the blood of the wounded stallion, before he pounced-
Thesis ducked and swung both front legs up, catching Kindynas by the face as his body twisted and he flung the giant past him into the wall. Kindynas' face crunched into the hard stone with enough force to punch a hole into the side of the passage, the diamond dog's entire body going limp as he fell on his knees with a heavy thud.
Thesis looked at the diamond dog for a moment, then he shook his head slowly, forcing himself to remain strong and upright in spite of how dazed he felt. He scowled over the diamond dogs as they stared in horror at the sight of him, before they whimpered, dropping their heads when Thesis shouted: “Either lay down and play dead, or get out of my sight!”
The diamond dogs chose the latter option, turning to skitter away down the tunnel, chased by a burst of heckles and triumphant shouts from other ponies. And Thesis began to smile as he looked up, saw them gazing at him with awe, calling out to him with congratulations, and pride, and a warning...
Thesis' eyes widened, and he looked over his shoulder too late as Kindynas shoved himself away from the wall and spun around, raking a claw across Thesis' side and sending him flying. He crashed to the ground with a gasp of agony, grabbing at the bloody slashes through his body before he snarled and rolled onto his stomach, forcing himself back to his hooves as Kindynas growled: “I am done playing with you, mud pony...”
“My name is Thesis, Tiny.” the stallion replied coldly, glaring at the diamond dog: his muzzle was broken, his face a mask of blood, metal teeth jagged and loose in his jaws... and yet still, this titan refused to stop moving. Refused to stop attacking, refused to surrender, refused to... to... “Why are you doing this?”
Kindynas stopped... then he sneered at the pony, leaning forwards and growling: “As if I need a reason, mud pony. You are nothing but food to me. You are weak, and I am strong. And I will not live in tunnels, or serve chickens for much longer.”
“Those chickens have you wrapped around their talons, from what I see. I'm guessing they put you back together after I broke you like an egg, after all. And now here you are, doing their dirty work for them.” Thesis retorted, aiming to keep the giant talking. His head was dizzy, and his body was in agony, and he needed time to concentrate again, to make himself focus through the pain...
Surprisingly, Kindynas only laughed at him instead of taking the bait this time, before he bared his broken teeth in a wide grin and mocked: “And what about you, mud pony? At least I am not merely a pawn, a toy! I will eat the chickens when they cross me... and you? You are a puppet, and when the ponies have tired of you, they will cut your strings!”
Thesis gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing, his body trembling as Kindynas grinned widely and spread his arms wide, asking contemptibly: “Your kind thinks I am a beast. But at least to be a beast is to have a mind, to be feared, to be strong! What do they think of you, puppet?”
The stallion shouted wordlessly, charging forwards... and realizing too late to stop that he had just made a tremendous error of judgment. Yet there was no way he could stop now, either, as he rushed towards the waiting diamond dog, who watched his approach with gleaming eyes before the giant suddenly leapt forwards, roaring and punching a claw down-
Thesis caught the diamond dog's wrist and redirected the attack, sending the diamond dog's fist crashing into the ground. Kindynas snarled in frustration at this, swinging his other claw out... and Thesis moved like lightning as he slipped to the side and shoved it down as well, the giant's hand burying through the stony earth and leaving the diamond dog staring stupidly for a moment before Thesis began to slam hoof after hoof back and forth across his face, bloodying his features and knocking metal teeth from his jaw as Kindynas howled in fury... but with both his claws stuck in the ground, he couldn't get the leverage he needed to yank himself backwards even as his tiny legs strained to pull himself away.
Thesis focused his strikes, smashing away at the jaw of the diamond dog before he suddenly brought a savage double haymaker down with both hooves, and Kindynas howled in misery as his jaw snapped loudly, blood and metal teeth flying from his muzzle before his head snapped up and he twisted himself suddenly sideways, putting all his weight onto one claw and letting himself rip the other out of the earth.
He slashed outwards, but Thesis had already dodged nimbly backwards, the stallion shouting: “Come on! Come get me, Tiny!”
Kindynas roared and lunged towards Thesis, grabbing at him wildly... and Thesis ducked under the attack before he flung himself between the diamond dog's legs, then spun around and leapt up onto his back. The giant snarled in frustration, huge arms swinging back and forth as he staggered sideways as Thesis slammed savage punches into the back of his neck, before the stallion cursed and quickly kicked off when the giant flung himself backwards to crash down on his back, very nearly crushing the stallion.
Thesis landed a few feet away as Kindynas rolled over, then scrambled towards the pony, leaping at him and clawing wildly in the direction of the stallion. Thesis swore and backpedaled, his eyes blazing before he flung himself backwards when Kindynas tried to clap his claws into him from either side, landing on his back with a grunt.
The stallion's legs scissored upwards around the diamond dog's neck, and Kindynas' head snapped back in reflex before he roared in frustration as the stallion came with him, throwing vicious hook after hook into Kindynas' eyes. The giant stumbled on all fours, shaking himself back and forth to try and dislodge the stallion before he suddenly reached up and seized him around the body in one large claw, yanking him free and flinging him away.
Thesis gracefully twisted his body in midair, landing and skidding to a halt near a rack of mining equipment set into the wall. He gritted his teeth as Kindynas charged straight at him, before he suddenly leapt upwards as the diamond dog pounced-
One massive claw shot out, smashing through the shelf as the diamond dog caught himself before he could hit the wall, while his other brawny arm swung out like a club, smashing Thesis out of the air and knocking him to the ground. He bounced away with a gasp of agony, flopping onto his stomach as Kindynas grinned as much as his broken jaw would allow.
The giant seized a pickaxe in one claw, ripping it away from the rack like a toy before he stepped forwards and swung this viciously down. Thesis barely rolled out of the way in time to avoid it, and Kindynas snarled as the tool lodged in the rocky earth before the stallion leapt up and slammed a hoof across the diamond dog's face.
Kindynas howled in misery as his already-broken jaw was visibly wrenched to the side by the force of the blow, losing his grip on the weapon and half-shielding himself with his other forelimb, and Thesis took the chance to leap up and seize the giant by the head, before shoving down as fiercely as he could.
Kindynas dropped both brawny arms beneath him to catch himself, shattering the handle of the pickaxe... and then he howled in agony as the other end of the pickaxe blade tore through one of his enormous biceps. He yanked himself backwards, the tool tearing free of the stone as his arm twitched at his side, and without thinking, Thesis leapt up and seized the broken end of the pickaxe handle before he yanked down with all his strength and all his weight.
The diamond dog's bicep was ripped in half, much of the flesh and muscle scooped out of his arm in a spray of crimson and flesh. Kindynas cried out in misery as he staggered backwards, clutching at his devastated arm for a moment, before his blazing eyes locked on the pony before him clutching the broken, bloody pickaxe.
He leapt forwards with an incoherent roar, reaching his working claw out... and Thesis roared back as he swung the pickaxe around, piercing through the diamond dog's palm and dragging his claw to the side to hammer into wall of the tunnel, where it spasmed uselessly, pinned by the pickaxe.
The diamond dog's head snapped back with another incoherent, miserable wail, foaming at the jaws as his eyes rolled wildly in his head, and Thesis drove forwards, hoof after hoof pounding savagely into the giant's body. And all Kindynas could do was twist back and forth, uselessly trying to yank his paw free from the wall as his other arm spasmed at his side, his head snapping back and forth before his whole body arched when Thesis buried a hoof to the ankle into the soft spot of his solar plexus.
All the air whooshed out of the diamond dog's lungs, and his body spasmed helplessly, his muscles twitching, blood and drool dripping from his jaw before Thesis punched savagely upwards with all the strength he could muster into the diamond dog's throat. Kindynas' eyes bulged as he gave silent, choking barks as his throat was crushed, his body spasming, his eyes rolling in his head as Thesis stumbled backwards, breathing hard and snarling in fury up at the diamond dog.
Kindynas glared back, broken jaw working spasmodically, eyes full of pain and fear and disbelief... and raw, endless hate. And even as the diamond dog slowly fell to his knees, even as he gave hacking coughs and gasps, even as his gigantic body began to fail under the wounds, the pain, the lack of oxygen... it was hate that Thesis saw in his eyes. It was raw, fearless, endless hate that burned into Thesis' very soul, until the diamond dog's eyes finally rolled closed as he collapsed on his face with a tremendous bang.
Thesis breathed hard in and out, lowering his head and staring down at Kindynas as the diamond dog lay before him, beaten and broken.... and then he shivered a little as he reached up and rubbed slowly at his face, chilled to the core. He had never seen such malice, not even in Valthrudnir's eyes. Such raw, furious contempt. Such disgust, such loathing, such a deep and dark abyss...
Thesis shivered as he looked down at his own hoof, then he looked back at Kindynas, and at what he had done to the diamond dog. He trembled for a moment as he stared at this... monster in front of him. This beast, who he knew without a doubt would not stop until he killed him, and everything that was important to him. This monster, whom Thesis knew would devastate, annihilate, murder anything that got in his way, purely for the pleasure of doing so...
He had to kill him. He should kill him.
But Kindynas was helpless as he was now, wasn't he? They could imprison him. They could make him pay for his crimes. Princess Celestia always said to never kill without reason...
No. There was plenty of reason to exterminate this kind of threat. He had granted mercy before and the diamond dog had come back stronger and crueler. This attack on the mines was on his hooves. Was a continuation of his own failures.
Thesis slowly began to reach towards the diamond dog, his eyes narrowing and his features tightening... and then he blinked in surprise when someone grasped his shoulder.
Thesis turned towards a Royal Guard, who was looking at him with clear worry as he said hesitantly: “Sir, maybe... we should take care of the prisoner. You look like you need medical attention.”
“Do I? I...” Thesis looked at himself for a moment, rubbing a hoof slowly along his breast before he shivered a little as he realized that... yes. He ached. He ached, and he was bleeding, wasn't he? But he had been so focused on...
Thesis trembled again and looked down. He had seen such hatred in Kindynas. But how much of that hatred, that killer instinct, burned in him, too? He had been about to kill in cold blood. And worse, he had justified the execution in his own mind, like he had any right...
The stallion reached back and touched the claw marks in his side: by far the worst damage done, but with his not-pony body, he was already starting to heal. A few hours, and he'd be out of danger... but until then, maybe.. maybe the pain, and the blood loss, and the adrenaline was all making him think differently from usual. Maybe he was just... confused.
He shook himself out briefly, then he forced a smile to the soldier nervously surveying him before he said quietly: “Have two soldiers...” He stopped, then looked up as he realized more ponies had gathered, and the stallion cleared his throat. Yes, he wasn't processing information as quickly. Blood loss and confusion as a result of the aftermath of adrenaline shock. That was all. “I want two soldiers here. Chain Kindynas down if you can until we can make preparations to move the prisoner. The rest of you, fan out through the mines. Priority is still search and rescue.”
“Sir!” came the response from the Royal Guard, along with salutes and confirmation from the miners who had been brave enough to stay behind. Thesis thought for a moment about saying something about escorting the civilians out... but then he only let his head drop as he closed his eyes, feeling a wave of weariness pass over him. Yes, he was wounded and his body had almost forgotten what it was like to fight so hard. And besides... he was technically a civilian too.
The stallion turned and made his way slowly back towards the mouth of the tunnel, breathing quietly through his jaws as he assessed himself mentally. He felt that logical, cold part of his mind taking over, trying to both estimate how much strength he had left and explain to himself why he felt so weak, and so confused. Trying to rationalize the fact he had been about to murder someone.
It wouldn't have been murder. It would have been an execution, yes, but Kindynas was an enemy, and a killer, and a threat to Equestria. There were exceptions to every rule. That was a logical truth, because simplified and generic rules could not be applicable in every specific situation.
Thesis' brow furrowed as he clenched his eyes shut hard enough to make himself see stars, and then he shook his head hurriedly. That was just the confusion talking. The blood loss. The logical part of himself and... the cold part of himself. The terrible part of him that was never, would never, could never be a pony...
A voice called out to him, and Thesis was stirred from his thoughts as he looked up in surprise... before smiling briefly as Red Sky shot towards him and landed in front of him, staring over him with disbelief before she gave a trembling smile and said weakly: “Every time something happens... you just have to throw yourself into the middle of it and come out the other side looking like mulch, don't you?”
“Well, better me than a real pony, I guess.” Thesis said before he could stop himself... and then he chuckled quietly and lowered his head when the Wonderbolt frowned at him, the stallion murmuring: “Sorry. I'm... feeling pretty sorry for myself right now. Having my face beaten in always puts me in a bad mood.”
“Reminds me of when we first met. Let's get you to medical.” Red Sky said quietly, reaching up and pushing back her goggles before she turned around and gestured at him with one wing. “Come on. Lean on me. You're shaking like a leaf.”
“Physiological reaction. I can still walk.” Thesis murmured after a moment, shaking his head briefly, but all the same, he kept close to the mare as they headed towards the exit of the mine. Even through the fog that was trying to take over his brain, Thesis noted that Red Sky kept looking at him worriedly... and finally, the stallion caught her eye and smiled as they crossed the gravel yard towards the barracks, murmuring: “I'm fine. Fewer bones broken this time around. Less internal damage. Fewer flesh wounds, severity... arguable.”
“You realize you've bled so much from your head that your mane has turned almost completely red, right?” Red Sky hesitated, then leaned in and murmured: “And you're... doing that thing you do when you get really sad or upset. Thesis, don't... numb out.”
Thesis looked over at the mare for a moment... and then he nodded slowly as he took a breath before he said suddenly, not even aware of what he was saying until it was spoken: “It's easier, though. It's so much easier than caring, and... it's so hard to be a pony.”
Red Sky looked at the stallion for a few moments, and then she smiled faintly before saying quietly: “Welcome to life, Thesis.”
Thesis smiled back after a moment, looking down and nodding almost ashamedly before he murmured quietly: “Yeah. I... I almost killed him. Tiny... the diamond dog. The same one who killed my unit. I beat him. And then I was going to murder him, even though I had... already stopped him.”
“But you didn't. Because you're a good person, Thesis. Because you are a pony, and you know that good ponies, with honor and integrity... they don't kill without a good reason for it.” Red Sky replied pointedly, her intense eyes locked on the stallion's. “I know you're a pony, Thesis, even if sometimes you forget that. And I know you're a good pony.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then Thesis laughed quietly as he looked ahead, smiling faintly as he mumbled: “Come on, I need to get to medical. Otherwise I'm going to throw up or cry from how nice you're being to me, and I don't know which would be worse.”
Red Sky sighed and shook her head slowly, but she gave a small smile and nodded all the same as she accompanied Thesis towards the barracks and the medical station, doing what she could to help the stumbling, beaten, but never-slowing pony on his way.