An Unexpected Life

by alejin


Chapter 12, Growing Up, Ghosts of the Past

Steel’s Diary P.O.V.

Day - - - -

Since the day I found out I’m a “human” I don’t know why but I feel more at peace, even though I will never see anyone like me, thanks to Mr Onyx words, I can keep going, we visited Mr Jilt a lot and I answered many of his questions, he is a good gryphin, many things have changed, many creatures in the city know about me now, some still ask some questions but it’s all cool, I befriended some minotaurs and gryphins in the city but sometimes playing with them can be hard, after all, my strengh it’s nothing compared to theirs but I’m more agile than them. . . I can say I have a good life here, I don’t even need to use a mask anymore, at least not in this city. All of them accepted me as I am.

Day - - -

We manage to get a lot of fishes today, these past months Mr Onyx tought me many amazing things about survival, fishing, which plants are safe and which ones are poisonus, what to do if I found myself in the forest at night, how to make a bonfire, etc. I don’t know what I would have done if he wouldn’t had found me that night, probably I’d be dead by now.

The Winter finally came, I have to admit watching the pegasi flying and making snow was very cool, still I didn’t let them see me, I kept hide in the cave, now that I think about it, why Onyx lives in a cave? Is he hidding? It is for the strong walls? or it’s cheaper? I don’t really care, It’s confortable and that’s what matters, by the way, Mrs Margaret gave me more clothes, she told me one of her friends was a skilled fashionista and man! She really is, I loved them, they are like the ones I already have but without the odd sun symbol in the shoulders, I didn’t want it anymore, it was a symbol of my past life, the one I want to forget.

Day - - - -

“Wow! I can’t believe it’s been one year since Mr Onyx found me, Mrs Margaret was right, he is cranky but he is a good old Minotaur, Today Mr Onyx took an awesome decition, He decided to train me, since weeks, many minotaurs and gryphins have been asking him if he is interested in selling me, It’s not odd since I’m technically property but I scares me what they want with me, he always send them away, he told me I needed to be stronger and to know how to defend my self, that and the fact if I’m stronger, I would be of more help when we go out hunting, we will start to train next week, during Winter, he said he has a special training for me during the cold.”

Day - - - -

Mr Onyx isn’t going any easy on me, his punches hurt so much but I know it is for the best, this Winter is very tough, I hope we manage as we did last year, I didn’t let the pegasi to see me again, I guess I really don’t want to return to my old life, still. .. Mr Guilt words still make echo in my head, I hope he is not right, I don’t want to go to Equestria, I wonder what plans Mr Onyx has for me during the next Winter.

Day - - - -

I must admit it, when he forced me to take off my clothes and stay in the snow for at least five minutes per day and said it was for my body to train and get used to cold enviroments, I thought he was crazy, the first days were horrible and I got sick a few times but little by little I lasted more time and I must say, one week before the Winter ended, I could stand being naked in the snow for at least 20 minutes, he may be reckless but he does now what he is doing, I hope to get to the hour next year.

Day - - - -

Today is the last day of Winter, those pegasi surely will come later, I must be sure well hidden, I saw something weird today, I saw Mr Onyx reading some scrolls, he seemed a little sad while reading, it was so strange, he is very tought and never showed me any sign of sadness but today. . .I wanted to ask him what was going on but I didn’t, I know it’s not my place, after all, I still a mere roomate and assistant to him, but still, I wonder what is written in those scrolls.

Day - - - -

Mrs Margaret invited me today to her cabin to have some tea and cookies, she really is a nice minotaur, she treats me very well, like the mother I never had. . .or at least like the mother I believe I never had, when she saw the state of my clothes, she almost fainted, I told her it was for the training, without saying a word, she took me to the market and made her friend to make new meassures, 1 week later, she gave me the new clothes and new sneakers (that’s how she called my shoes) I was glad, the one I had were already torn and tight. Sometimes she ask me weird questions like what was Mr Onyx doing at the last day of the Winter, knowing I could trust her, I told her about the scrolls he was reading, she sighed and thanked me for telling her, that left me even more confused.

Day - - - -

My third Winter with Mr Onyx and it was awesome, now I can last up to 1 hour without clothes in the snow, Mr Onyx is a genius, now he is telling me I need to train my body to take hight temperaturas as well, we hunted more to have money to afford the usage of saunas in the City’s spa, as with the cold, the first days were horrible but after some weeks, my body started to get used to hot as well, Mr Onyx really surprise me, even with all that fur, he can stand high temperatures with ease, I wonder if he was some kind of soldier during his young days and once again, in the last day of the Winter, I saw him reading that scroll, still with a sad face present”

Day - - - -

Today was not a really a good day, Mrs Margaret caught me saying some words Mr Onyx like to say when he is angry, the expresión in her face was priceless but immediately she took me to her bathroom and washed my mouth with soap, it tasted horrible, she told me she would do that everytime she’d hear me “swear” that was strange, I didn’t know those words were bad, still, they sound so cool.

Day - - - -

Wow, this axe I bought is so cool! I will finally be able to train with a real axe instead a woode one, the movements Mr Onyx tought me are awesome, he definitely had to be a soldier when he was young, some day I will ask him, I always wondered why he tought me to wield an axe, I always thought swords were more my style but hey! Who am I to question him? Anyway, he told me now he will teach me how to use and throw knives and make smoke bombs, he also said he will teach me Minus Martial arts, since my shape is almost as same as him, this style is perfect for me. I’m so excited!

Day - - - -

Mr Onyx is very inteligent, who would say one could make smoke bombs from things one can find in the forest and stores, they are really effective, when that Chimera cornered me, it saved my life, damn! Sometimes it really sucks to be little, I want to be big and strong as Mr Onyx.

Day - - - -

After some months of training, I finally am getting this throwing knives thing, my accurace has improve a lot, Mr Onyx says my final test will be very soon, In a couple of years if I’m lucky, he says if I pass, I will no longer be an assistant, I will be his partner, I can’t fail, I just can’t!

Day - - - -

These past months I’ve been hearing Mr Onyx coughing, it’s strange, he rarely get sick, maybe it’s for the age, he is not that young after all, even so, he still can hunt better than me, guess the experience helps him a lot, I’m not really surprised to be honest, after living with him for more than 4 years, I know him enough to know how tough he really is.

Day - - - -

Today I told Mrs Margaret about Mr Onyx condition, the cougins are getting worst, still he shows no signs of weakness, Mrs Margaret looked at me for some seconds and hugged me tightly, she was crying, it made me feel sad, why was she crying? Both of them know something I don’t? I need to know, when I’m oficially Mr Onyx partner, I will ask him what is going on.

Day - - - -

I finally did it! It took me five years of training but finally did it! I beat a Manticore by myself! I was so scared but in the end it wasn’t that hard, my agility was my victory card again, but still, the bastard managed to scratch my face and some other parts, they didn’t hurt so much but they will leave some nice scars, well, not that they are my first scars, I don’t really mind them, they are like trophies to me.

Wow! Mr Onyx training really paid off, I will never be as strong as a minotaur but I can jump very high, run very fast, I even have some muscles, I may not be as tall as him but still this is awesome compared of how I was 5 years ago, I wonder If I can get taller, I surely hope so. these years had been awesome, I hope to continue like this forever, with Mr Onyx, Mrs Margaret, Mr Jilt and all my Pals in the market.

END OF P.O.V.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A now 16 years old Steel was delivering some meat to Mr Jilt, as always, the day was nice, he greeted everycreature he encounter and they greeted back, some minotaurs, gryphins and zebras girls even winked at him, he blushed hard and chuckled, it was nice to be know as an individual instead as a pet.

When he reached Mr Jilt’s stand, there was 2 minotaurs talking with him but he immediately noticed this wasn’t a nice conversation:

“Tell us! Where is he? We know he is hidding around here!”

“I don’t know, he only comes here to deliver meat, It’s been months since the last time I saw him”

The minotaur grabed Mr Jilt’s neck and said:

“You are lying! If you don’t tell me I’ll. . .”

At that moment the minotaur was interrupted when he felt an axe a few inches from his neck.

“Or you’ll what? I don’t know who you are but I recomend you to stop talking Mr Jilt like that or I’ll finally will know how Minotaur’s meat taste like”

Even with his partner already pointing the source of the voice, he knew it would not be wise being reckless, he let go Mr Jilt’s neck and said:

“Ok, Ok, no need to be hostile, see? I let him go”

“Good!”

Steel removed the axe from his neck and backed off in case they tried something stupid, when the minotaur finally saw him, with widened eyes, he said:

“What the Tartarus are you?”

“I don’t have to answer that!”

“It should be wise to show me some respect freak”

“Hahahahahahaha, you don’t scare me old man, and who are you calling freak? FREAK!”

The minotaur’s eyes widened even more while his anger increased, he was about to take his axe to kill this creature but decided to back off. Now was not the time to attract attention.

“When I’m done with my bussiness here, I promise I will kill you next time I see you, let’s go Brillian Axe”

“Yes Bright Guts!” – his partner responded.

Both minotaurs exited the hut and started to leave the city, Steel and Mr Jilt saw them, once they were out of sight, Steel asked:

“Who were they and what they wanted?”

“Those two were the Axe Twins, two low life treasure hunters very well know in Minus and Gryphonia”

“What they wanted with you?”

“They are looking for Onyx”

“What? Mr Onyx, but why?”

Mr Jilt eyes widened in surprise.

“He never told you?”

“Told me what?”

(Sigh) “That cranky old minotaur, he knows he doesn’t have much ti. . .”

“You can stop there old gryphin ” another voice interrupted him, when then turned around, they saw Mrs Margaret entering the hut.

“Margaret? Why are you here? Don’t tell me. . .”

“Yes, they came to see me too and I’m sure they will visit every creature who knows him, sheesh, it’s been years since the last treasure hunter came after him”

Steel was so confused by this moment, noticing this, Margaret said:

“He never told you, did he? That cranky bastard, (sigh) well, take a sit, I think it’s time for you to know a few things, I’m sorry I’m the one telling you but I believe you deserve to know now”

"Ok Mrs Margaret but. . . is it safe to let those two finding Mr Onyx?"

"Nah, don't worry, they are not the first who cames looking for him, probably they also heard the rumors, they probably will ask some questions and after not getting what they want, they will leave and if not. . . trust me, Onyx will be fine, he is perfectely capable of dealing with those two"

Steel noded and alonside Mr Jilt, he sat on the floor, ready to listen.

“First of all, I’m sure you already deduced Onyx is somekind of warrior or soldier, aren’t you?”

“Yes, he is too skilled to be a regular citizen”

“That’s right! let me tell you, he was a soldier and a bodyguard, but not any bodyguard, he was in charge of protecting the most important minotaur of all Minus nobelity, Mr Fortune Wish”

“Mr Fortune Wish?”

“Yes, he was good minotaur, loved and respected by everycreature, he did his best to help the needed ones, he and his daughter Nice Treasure were the pride of the Capital City, you may not believe this, but Mr Fortune found Onyx as a little boy, not remembering who he was, Mr Fortune had the gift to see the potential of every creature and he immediately knew Onyx was special so he took him under his arm and welcomed into his house”

“Mr. . .Onyx have amnesia. . as me?”

“Yes, It’s kinda funny if you think about it, I always wondered why he decided to take care of you, I never really bought that debt and convenience relationship he kepts repeating. . . but when he finally told me about your amnesia, at that moment I knew that was the main reason, He saw part of himself reflected in you.”

“Wow! So you think. . .”

“Yes Sweetie, I can’t be sure of many things but I’m sure he likes you and cares for you and I hope you noticed this, I mean please, you been living with him for almost 6 years, I think it’s enough time to notice someone cares for you”

Steel blushed a little, not beliving how oblivious he was, Margaret and Guilt chuckled a little.

“Continuing with the story, Onyx never bothered to find out who he was, all he cared was to become stronger to protect his master and her daughter whom he started to get along pretty well, even though their relationship was mistress and servant, they became childhood friends and of course that friendship became love in the incoming years, when he was 20, he was amazing, no royal guard could compare to him, his skills were beyond normal, he was just a natural.” (giggle)

“Why did you giggle Mrs Margaret?”

“For nothing dear, I was just thinking how right they were”

“Uh?”

“That’s a story for other time, now, being at that moment 20 years old, he finally asked Mr. Fortune for Treasure’s hand in marriage, no one can imagine his surprise when he gave him his blessings, he always expected a big No, he and Treasure even were already planning to elope.”

By this moment, Margaret was already sharing some tears and Jilt had a sad face.

“That was another good point of Mr Fortune, he never cared for social status, normally, nobles forcé their sons or daughters to marry someone they don’t love in order to gain more power, but he, he let his daughter to marry the one she trully loved”

Steel smiled at this, he wasn’t that good about the love topic, until now, he never found any creature he could hit on, the minotaurs and gryphins weren’t ugly but. . . he didn’t want to admit it, but he still had the ponies in his mind. stupid past life, he thought.

“For many years, they had a good life, their love was strong and after finally trying for so long, they had the baby they wanted so much, it seemed everything would always be alright! But. . .”

“But. . . what? Mrs Margaret?”

“I don’t know if you know but there are 8 powerfull artifacts, created centuries ago by an gifted sage”

“The Sage Metalbrook’s 8 items?”

“Yes. . . how you. .”

“Mr Jilt mentioned them a long time ago and I read a little about them”

“I see, ok. . . Mr Fortune was not only famous for being the nice guy he was, he also was the descendant of Strong Will, the last minotaur who wielded the “Lightning Axe” one of the 8 items”

“Wow!”

(giggle) “yes, that’s the word I’d use, you see, many nobles thought his family knew the location of this ítem and with a war between gryphonia and Equestria at that moment, this weapon would be a great help”

“Are those weapons that amazing?”

“No one knows, it’s true Strong Will was a legendary knight but the books doesn’t say it was thanks to the artifact, besides, the legend says they are weapons that work by will power, if you have a (giggle) strong will, the weapon will be awesome but if is weak, well, you will have just another axe, but no one will ever know since all of them have been lost for centuries and I think it’s for the best, what would many greed creatures would do with that power”

“Interesting”

“Anyway, the King of that moment questioned Mr Fortune about the artifact but he told him he didn’t know anything, his ancestor never told any family member about it, the King and many nobles, furious imprisoned him for betrayal, Onyx tried to oppose but Mr Fortune told him to stay back, he asked him to take care of his daughter and grandson, reluctant, he accepted and there. . . is when everything went to Tartarus”

“What. . .happened later, why you. .”

“One week after Mr Fortune was imprisoned, a group of mercenaries traspassed his mansión to Access to the family’s secret archives, the plan was simple, retrieve the information and kill any wittness in the process, once inside, they proceded to search every corner, unfortanely they were heard by little Strong Hope, Onyx’s 4 year old son who woke up and alongside his mother, proceded to see what was happening, when they arrived at Mr Fortune's Library, they saw the bad guys, both of them screamed and alerted the guards, Onyx who was watching outside heard the screams and with every guard available, they entered the house, when they arrived at the Library but it was too late. ”

Steel didn’t want to hear the next part but he prepared himself for the obvious.

“His family. . . was gone and there they were, the murderers of his family, one minotaur was even smiking while he had some scrolls in his hands”

“We have what we came looking for, stupid woman, she thought I would spare her son life If she told me the location of these maps” – he said.

What a bastard! – Steel thought. Margaret continued:

“Feeling more angry than ever, Onyx and his guards attacked the mercenaries, they were out numbered but still put on a great fight, they were winning but then, he saw the leader lighting a torch, he then noticed the room smeled weird, it was the smell of oil, Onyx knewing what was he trying to do, he tried to stop him but he didn’t act on time, the mercenary drop the torch on the ground, The room started to catch on fire, the mercenary thinking it was his chance to escape, proceded to run to the window but before he could go out, a huge axe were stuck in his back, when he turned around, he saw Onyx behind him, with murderous eyes, he then closed his eyes and died, Onyx took the scrolls from him and exited the mansión, it was too late to save the mansión or his family’s corpses”

Steel didn’t know what to say by the moment, he was angry but most of all. . . sad, he motioned Margaret to continue.

“When everythings was over, there were burned corpses everywhere, they managed to capture some mercenaries but they were killed while in custody, damn nobles, when Mr Fortune knew about what happened, he had a heart attack and died in the hospital that same day but not before having a little conversation with Onyx”

“Onyx became depressed and cranky since that day, he honored Mr Fortune last wish and donate all his money to charity, he wasn’t interested in the money, he only took some bits and left the Capital city forever, after all, his life was in danger too, many thoughts he knew something about the artifact since he was part of that family, he traveled from country to country, until he finally came here, I and Juilt befriended with him and we have been friends since then but trust me, it took many years until he finally tell us this story, it’s not something he loves to tell”

Steel, finding his voice again, said:

“So. . . he lost everything for only that, some stupid scrolls to find a stupid artifact that maybe does nothing?”

“Exactly, it was cruel and he even was chased for some time, fortunately, the war ended soon after that incident and those nobles stopped looking for him, but even today, there are still stupid treasure hunters who thinks he knows the location of that artifact.”

“I see. . but he should know I mean. . .what happened with the maps and instructions to find this Axe?”

“Well. . . Onyx told us that Mr Fortune before dying, told him to burn them, he already had lost everything for those stupid scrolls, he didn’t want any other creature to have the same fate and Onyx did it.”

“Really?. . well, what a waste, If that axe is really powerful, I’d use it to take revenge on those nobles”

Margaret looked at Steel with sorrow eyes.

“You think Onyx didn’t want to do that? He wanted so much to kill the nobles who ordered that barbaric thing but he couldn’t, he promised his father in law he would never be taken by the revenge feeling, he didn’t want his “son” to carry the burden of having that artifact and besides, in the hands of someone with hatred in his heart, it would be dangerous, Onyx understood and promised him he would never take revenge, Mr Fortune died in peace after hearing that.”

She then aproached and hugged Steel.

“And that’s for you too my sweet human, never let the anger take the better of you, in the end, vengance leaves you with nothing”

Steel returned the hug, he wasn’t so fond to hugs but it was Mrs Margaret, she was an exception, after that tender moment, the three of them exited the hut to have some Bruch at her home, they were planing to invite Onyx, when they arrived at the cabin, they noticed smoke comming from the forest.

“Oh no, the forest is on fire!” Jilt said.

“No, I don’t think so, the smoke is not that big to be a fire, and besides for the angle, it seems the smoke is coming from. . . OH NO!”

Steel proceded to run as fast as he could, Margaret and Jilt behind him, while running he was just thinking.

“Please no! please no! please no!”