He limped, as much as he could until he had found salvation. A river to heal. He estimated he had lost almost a quarter of his blood based on his lack of mobility, and dizziness in his eyes. The horses didn't follow him luckily, but they all appeared to be so small for horses, until he realized it. "Really? Ponies..." Then he pondered more, "Colorful, intelligent, talking ponies, who most likely built a society. Hmm, very strange, to bad Daemos can't talk to me right now!" Aldon called out loudly to attempt to bait the demon into revealing himself and explain what was going on, but he was a no show. Very strange considering his recent antics. Something was very wrong. His magic was so weak and damaged him whenever he tried to use it, and on top of that he was now injured and without Daemos to assist in the healing process.
"Water is water though, might as well use it to help clean off the blood and disinfect." He aggravatingly clenched his fist, "what am I going to do?" He paused and continued, "I don't know if I can trust them, but living out in the forest forever would be so lonely and could possibly drive me insane, yet I could have a good chance of not dying again. "This is going to be a long few days I have a feeling." He said this as he slowly lowered his body into the moving river to dry off and float down it.
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Meanwhile, in Ponyville-
Twilight squeled at the information. "A new species, in the Everfree, let's go!" the rest of the group however held her back as she tried to leave the castle.
"Twilight, ah know ya' want to go, but ya' need to understand, the Everfree is dangerous, especially without a full party to accompany you." Applejack knew her friend's lust for knowledge, but going into the Everfree without a relative plan and plenty of protection was pretty much suicide.
"Well, I can take anything that tries to get us in that forest." Rainbow Dash practiced her karate moves, while hoof pumping in the air. Of course everyone but Fluttershy seemed to facepalm while Rainbow Dash simply asked, "What?"
Everyone had however noticed Fluttershy and Rarity was the one to speak up, "What's the matter dear, are your critters lgiht on clothing, or perhaps your wardrobe needs updating, or.."
Fluttershy shook her head at each response and sighed, "The crusaders told me what it looked like. A hairless ape. They said it was extremely wounded and had scars plastered all over it. I just can't believe someone would abuse an animal like that. They said they looked just like whip marks."
Everyone paused and took a stance on it. Pinkie simply smiled in a nonchalant manner and suggested finding it and giving it a welcome to Ponyville party. Or perhaps a welcome to the world party. Always the parties, from which everyone simply sighed, while Pinkie continued to smile, but sheepishly after the fact.
"So what are we going to do exactly; i mean we need to stop the dear from continuing to wear dreadful clothing. Sweetie told me that it wore torn up combat pants, and were simply horrible."
"No, we should find it before it hurts anypony. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are already on their way to discuss this matter as well as the 'fire in the sky.' However, I think the two are connected somehow." Twilight's calm input gave everyone a ponder. Except for Pinkie who was still discussing party plans.
"So this 'fire in the sky,' what did Princess Celestia say about it?" Rarity's question went heard for sure as Twilight shook her head.
"She told me it could give relevance to a string of events that could change Equestria forever, or it could be an undocumented phenomena. And if what the Cutie Mark crusaders said is true, this 'ape' could possibly be out for revenge for wrong-doings done to it. And to defeat timber wolves with severe injuries raises multiple alarming bells." She paused to say another thing that would raise further questions, "and Sweetie Belle told me of how it looked at her, with curiosity and neutral emotion, yet it helped them to escape the forest. I don't know about you ponies, but to me I think it's definitely intelligent. A simple beast wouldn't help out of no where, or have curiosity peaking inside of it."
Fluttershy shook her head in question, "but then why did it run away? I would think it would know we were friendly. I truly wished to help it after seeing such an amount of blood. It leaked out in a pure line in the bushes when I saw it."
"It probably doesn't trust anything right now, and we don't know if it was abused by ponies at all, it could of been another species."
Fluttershy pondered on that and realized that Twilight's statement gave her past commitment of blaming ponies no true value. Twilight continued, "either way, we should try to find it, just to make sure that it won't try to hurt anypony. Something that could kill an Alpha and carry a manticore is something scary on its own."
"So is that why the princesses are coming?" rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes with full guard formations. Both Solar and Lunar guards." The group seemed wide eyed at this, why so many troops? "I know, but considering the fact that we'll be venturing into the Everfree, and that it could be dangerous, the princesses opted for the better approach of more protection."
After more minutes of discussing and Pinkie playing, but still somehow listening, Carriages landed outside of the Friendship Castle of crystal, and out of them came several guards and the two princesses. After introductinos and calm sentiments and explanations, the group srt out for the Everfree to apprehend the creature as to learn it's reason for revealing itself.
The CMC however charged in the way of the formation leaving town to push out their feelings on the subject. All three of them seemingly spoke simultaneously, " Why are you guys bringing so many troops." They gasped at realization, "you're not going to kill it are you? It did nothing wrong; it even saved us and Snuggles."
Celestia looked at the small ponies and spoke with elegance and authority, but with calm grace as well, "it's alright my litte ponies. The creature will not be harmed. We just need to inspect it and make sure no wrong doings have been done to a new species in Equestria."
"On top of that, the forest of Everfree is not the safest of places. Thy wished for more protection against foul beasts." Luna said this in addition, to which the crusaders nodded their head, if with a little hesitation.
Before they could even ask, Applejack, and Rarity both said no, to which Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dash. Peer pressure pounded in and she inadvertently said no as well. "But why?" Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash, whilst the other two skulked around and headed back home, for their grounding punishments that were just handed out to them, Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo that 'peer pressure' is annoying, but it was dangerous for her to venture into the forest.
"I know but," Scootaloo couldn't finish as Rainbow Dash talked over her.
"Look, I know you may think I can be awesome all the time and save you, but the Everfree is one place that you should know I personally don't go for a fight--usually."
Scootaloo understood, but still had a sad face, from which she also sulked away with Applebloom and Sweetie. Of course, while Rainbow felt kind of bad, the other two knew they had to say that and felt no guilt or regret. "Ok, now that that is taken care of, do we wish to set off?" Everyone nodded at Celestia's question and the group ventured closer to the Everfree, only to hear shrieks and multiple ponies running out of the brush in a fright.
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Aldon knew he had heard something. He managed to venture far enough to see a clearing in the forest, but such clearing was nothing but a campsite, until Aldon realized ti was a campsite. Sadly the previously pony occupied site was abandoned, but they had definitely left in a hurry, which granted Aldon provisions of food and containers. Oddly enough some of the containers were shaped for humans to use, while ponies definitely were the ones to carry them.
Sadly though, Aldon had figured out why there was an abandoned camp site as another one of the mutated lions roamed around the outskirts of it, while simply giving Aldon a quick glare and walking away. "These ponies are very strange, but why would they camp in the woods of all things? This isn't exactly the safest place." He asked himself this, until he had approached a very saddening scene. Two ponies lied injured, and possibly dying. One was charcoal black, with a white mane, while the other was a gold with a luscious blue mane. The charcoal seemed to be male, while the gold seemed to be female. The female, by the looks of it, eyed Aldon with fear in her eyes , until he calmed her and spoke, which for an odd reason gave the calming effect he had hoped for. "Shh, it's alright. Which way is your town?"
While she was calmer, she still held fear, as she had no idea what Aldon wanted with them. Aldon however observed the scene more. Tents were strewn and destroyed, a makeshift grill was thrown over, while fire logs were thrown about. He looekd down at the two sprawled out, until he realized they were a couple. The male pony, had much worse injuries than the female, and on top of that, she seemed to look over at him, only to have a tear roll down her eyes. "Is he..." she sniffled.
Aldon instinctively went down to feel for a pulse,. There was definitely a pulse, but to be sure, he listened for a beat. "He is alive, but I don't know for how much longer. His heart is faint, and he might die without medical care."
She nodded and looked at Aldon only to see the scars and slightly hesitate her eyes, but mustered up the courage and told him, "Town is uh," She rolled over and pointed to the left of Aldon, towards the cottage, "that way."
Aldon nodded as he slowly eased the male over his neck and his back, nestling him on his left shoulder and letting him hand there. He secured him down with his left arm, while Aldon pulled over the female on his right shoulder, in the same direction and fasion, facing backwards. "Try to relax, I'll get you guys there as quickly as I can." The female nodded.
"Thank you. You--can--call me--Caring Heart." Aldon nodded while quizzically at the odd name, until he discovered that she had dozed off and he continued on. Eventually finding a path to lead out of the forest. Of course, he wished to simply drop off the two, but what came next is not what he had planned for.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The ponies could not calm down; they were hysterical. They kept crying for two of their own most likely being killed. 'Caring Heart,' and 'Hard Hat.' They had recently been engaged and were on their way to set up new business opportunities in Ponyville. When suddenly, at the break of dawn a monster attacked them. In such a frantic escape they couldn't see it at all, but knew from the screams of Hard Hat, that the two were gone.
A mix of colors, names, manes, and types were the pony group, but either way Celestia and Luna were stricken with sadness that two fellow ponies were killed.
"What shall we do Sister?"
"Well, Luna, I think we should at least retrieve the bodies and prepare burial." She slammed her hoof down, "damn forest kills everypony."
The guards simply stood at attention, with some trying to calm down the frantic ponies. However everyone stopped to look at the brush of the forest when rustling was heard.
"It's coming to finish the job! Everypony run!" Without hesitation, everypony of the group ran towards ponyville in complete fear. Celestia, Luna, the Mane Six, and the guards stood at attention for the coming animal. However everyone had a look of slight anger on them. Even Fluttershy was mad, which if not for the situation, many would find odd.
That was until Aldon stepped through the brush, with two ponies slung over his shoulders, definitely matching the description.
"You!" Luna yelled, "You hurt our subjects!"
"No, no, no." Aldon tried to defuse the situation, but realized he had two unconcious ponies slung over his shoulders. "I can explain."
"Explain how you have my little ponies slung over your shoulder. Most likely bringing them to your lair to eat them." Celestia, Luna and the guards all held aggressive stances, with the two princesses upping the magic, and sending aura around their horns.
Aldon sighed and slowly began walking to the side, towards a few guards, to which they somehow managed to point spears using their mouths, or suprisingly to Aldon, magical aura, and slowly put down both of the ponies. One guard tried to jab at Aldon with the spear at him, to which he turned in anger and with his bare right hand broke the tip off of the spear. He then, to let out steam chucked it as far as he could into the forest, letting the artificial wind pick up with his throw.
The guard stood fearful and slowly pissed to the ground, but Aldon held his anger firm. "So, you wish to start confrontation?"
The two princesses were thrown off by it, until a hostile stance was taken, fists up, and legs planted on the ground adamantly. "You will come with us and answer for the crimes you are suspected of."
Aldon still held his stance, but with apprehension as his body was still relatively weak. While he was able to snap the spear, it took a lot out of him: it was simply a scare tactic, but it had no effect. He couldn't let the ponies know this, or he would lose before it even started. He still wished to avoid this as first contact, but it looked like no choice. He had been wrongly accused in the past: tortured, whipped, even put into slavery, on a whim of the nobility and upper class. When he would pick up a woman's bag if it fell and try to give it back, he would be beaten; when he would walk in front of nobility, he would be put on trial, and sentenced to prison or torture. They would smile at his suffering. But, his child self was long gone, now he had the power to stop that, and again he was accused, but this time he would fight back.
"I did not harm any of the ponies," Aldon calmly, yet with anger in his tone said.
"If thou did not hurt them, then why don't thou surrender peacefully and come with us? You only point out your guilt with aggression." Luna and Celestia readied at his next words.
"I will not be accused of wrong doings anymore." Fluttershy now understood. She wished to stop this, but battle was already going to start.
With the next words battle began, "if you will not come with us quietly, we will need to use force." Treated like some criminal, or an animal. Given no chance to react, Aldon was hit with a barrage of magic from the Two princesses. The mane six gasped, and Fluttershy was taken back. He may not surrender, but so much force could kill him.
Aldon took the brunt of it. It was powerful and even slightly burned his skin, but he would not surrender until he had to; perhaps if he could fight long enough he could tire the two out and escape. His enemies were two larger ponies. Almost the size of a horse, but both were a mixture of pegasus and unicorn. And in fact there was a similar mixture of a pony behind them, but this one didn't hold as much leadership authority and elegance to their stances. Aldon was a little apprehensive with hurting females, as he could tell by the feminine voices and features they were so, however with that attack, he knew they could most likely hold up. Aldon slowly let the dust settle from their attack and with a shadow dwarfing the ponies, emerged from it. However, they couldn't tell he was exhausted, and also running out of time before he hit him.
Aldon took position as guards surrounded him, and with his own weight, plowed through their spears and bodies, taking a few stabs as he did so, until he reached the two princesses. With held back power behind each fist, he directed punches at the two princesses simultaneously. That was until he figured out, their magic was more than it seemed as his hands were engulfed in it. Before he could reach their muzzles, they stopped and were forced back. That was until, with a powerful kick, Luna sent Aldon flying back into a tree trunk.
With not nearly enough recovery time, the trip's after effects sprawled up again and blood poured out of his mouth, weakening his body even further. His breathing became erratic, and the princesses knew he was on the ropes. "Stay down, animal, for if thou don't, we shall exercise even more punishment." Luna's words struck true as his face contorted into more anger. But he realized just as he had stood up it was a ploy. Yet, even with some anger to fuel the fire, it was still so weak. He knelt and placed a fist on the ground to steady himself as he breathed heavily.
Something was preventing his power from emerging: his magic from coming out, but he didn't know what. The first time he had gotten his magic, he didn't know what gave it to him. The guards surrounded Aldon and pointed their spears at him. "Give up animal."
"You have lost. The princesses are too powerful for you."
The ponies were a majority male, but to Aldon's surprise a lot were also female. And to a second recount, even more seemed female than male. However their message was clear, yet he didn't want to. He wasn't done yet and he slowly gathered strength and with a fell swoop, sent the ponies flying with the raising of his body and contact with the spears. However, more cuts and stabs were inflicted on him in the process. His pants were even more shredded, and his naked upper body was shown to have multiple cuts and punctures, slowly leaking blood.
Before he could act, more magic was flung at him, but this time only by Luna, who seemed keen to face Aldon alone. Celestia didn't seem to mind at all. However the guards were also on Luna's side in the fight as they slowly regained their posture as Aldon received the magic hit. However as he took the hit, he noticed all of the other 6 ponies looks. They were mixed, of curiosity, apprehension, anger, and even one had a caring look in her eye, but towards himself?
Fluttershy was indeed caring, and was saddened to see the hairless ape suffer so much. She wanted to stop it so much, but her fear and shyness of interfering was causing her to stand firm on her hoofs.
While it wasn't proven, Luna seemed sure it was Aldon as she shouted, "if thou doesn't wish to come with us, we shall pass judgement now."
The guards braced their spears as Aldon began to quickly scatter up and charge for Luna. She was indeed vulnerable while she was charging her magic, but before any further fighting could ensue, a yellow mare, with a pink mane interfered. Fluttershy had indeed stood between the two and stood adamantly to stop it. That is when in a brief second.
"Please stop this. Look at him, haven't you done enough. Stop harming hi---" What came next reminded how Aldon got his power.
A spear lodged itself into Fluttershy's underside as she stood up to try and exact her protectionist means. Her speech was cut short and everyone gave gasps as she fell down, breathing raggedly. Aldon had plastered over eyes as he saw the spear lodged into her. "She was just..."
All of her friends ran to her side, giving different looks at Aldon's face as he stared at the mare, who wished for his safety. A kind deed he was rarely given, and yet she was on the brink of death because of it.
"Fluttershy!" All of them screamed as she looked to her friends in idel conciousness.
"No, no, no. Please no." Twilight begged her friend as tears swelled up. The spear had indeed came from an ignorant guard. However Aldon didn't know who it was, only that someone trying to help him was practically dead besides him. Celestia slowly approached with a mix of emotions: anger at the thrower, sadness for Fluttershy, and curioisity at Aldon's face and another presence of magic.
"Twilight, please, you and the rest of the elemnts tend to Fluttershy. Rush her to the hospital. We shall deal with him, and the guard responsible." Celestia's words struck true as Applejack hoisted the injured Fluttershy over her back, sadly with the spear still lodged. They all ran towards Ponyville, leaving the others behind, to get their friend to the hospital as quickly as possible.
Celestia was a mere foot away from Aldon, as she looked him over, while the guard who threw the spear was apprehended by his peers, with a sorry and guilt ridden face on him. A tear fell off of his face, and Celestia saw this, "please, stop this and come with us now."
"She--she helped me, and what did she get?" Celestia painfully took in Aldon's words. "You hurt your own; when ALL! SHE! WAS! TRYING! TO! DO! WAS STOP THE FIGHTING!"
Rage Ensued
Rage is what Aldon felt. He felt the fire spark back into him in full force. His wounds camoured and sparked into fury. Blood dripping to the floor sizzled as the rest of the guards took defensive stances, and Celestia tried one last itme. "Please, don't cont..."
"You hurt an innocent without second thought. She was trying to help and she was repaid with a betrayal and a spear in the gut!" Everyone saw the new side of him as flames erupted around him and Celestia jumped back.
"I'll make you all pay!" He smashed his fist into the ground creating an earthquake and cracks in the crust. A pond would form where his fist impacted, given some time. However flames evaporated everything within a foot of contact.
His veins popped out, and fire engulfed him as rage consumed Aldon. His sanity was slowly losing to the madness of anger multiplied. The guards started to inch in as he slowly began to scream into the sky, with a darker, raspier, and more demonic voice.
"Stay back. He is in a state of rage. He most likely can't control his actions." The guards, both solar and lunar heeded Celestia's words and stepped back.
"We need to stop him, before he grows out of control." Luna nodded and both of them lit up their horns.
"We shall use all of our power. Sister, you need to do so as well." Celestia nodded and with a singular push the magic intertwined and a beam of blended aura struck the fire, only to slowly be dissolved as it pierced.
"I'll, stop all of this violence. The fire shall consume all and rebirth them in tranquility. Tranquility of death." The magic couldn't pierce the fire, startling and scaring both Luna and Celestia. The fire was literally a dense object, able to repel powerful magical and physical attacks, as flying spears melted and even evaporated before their eyes.
He slowly began to approach the two, until without warning, everything died out and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious and blood leaking. They knew what had happened, his loss of blood had rendered him useless. He was heavily injured, but the two now saw his body brimming with magical power. But they magic was definitely different than theirs, more refined, more dense, and more powerful to be sure.
Medical attention was needed for the creature as the guards; Luna, and Celestia reorganized their composure and overlooked the situation. "Guards! Take the creature to the ponyville hospital and make sure he doesn't do anything. As for the guard, he'll be punished for attempted murder."
With Luna's second input, the guards got to it, and both of them sighed, while Celestia spoke, "Sister, I don't even think Tirek could've taken that things magic."
"It's otherworldly sister, and I believe now the 'fire in the sky' has been answered." Both of them understood this. A message, but was it good or bad; that would be figured out soon.