A Gamer In Equestria: Reborn

by The Dark Brony


Chapter 22 - Never Trust Your Shadow

-Craig’s POV-

As Craig fell back into his own Equestria he looked around himself in annoyance before he muttered “What the fuck Church.” seconds later he then looked up to see that he had landed in Canterlot, to be more specific the statue garden at the castle.

“What are you complaining about human?” A dark male voice sounded from behind him. A cold sensation surrounded the air sending chills down Craig’s back.

He then quickly looked up and slowly turned around before he asked curiously “who are you?” Craig only continued to look around only to find nobody around him before he added “better question.. where are you.”

From one of statutes, Craig saw the shadow below the stone object move and warp. It stopped, rising from the shadow was a dark figure similar to wolf’s including size. His fur was black and his eyes seemed to glow a crimson red. As his form ended he stood up straight with his chest puffed out. “I’m right here”

As Craig stared into his dark red eyes. His form was menacing enough. “Who are you?” I asked resting my right hand on the hilt of my sword.

“A Canis…” He quickly answered, taking a step back. His features were hard to tell due to the black fur that clung to his body.

Craig continued to keep my eyes fixed on the large Canis. “I meant your name.” I clarified whilst strengthening my grip on the sword.

“Faur’shadow… Now that I have answered your question. What is your name?”

Craig then looked towards Faur’shadow warily before he said “My names Craig” as he slowly began to move his hand away from his blade still keeping it in a weaker telekinetic grip.

“What are you doing here… We were not supposed to encounter, not at this very time?”

“What do you mean by not supposed to meet yet?” Craig asked in confusion

He turned his head to his left and quietly muttered to himself, ignoring the question he had been asked.

Craig then began to get more annoyed from the fact he was blatantly being ignored as he reached towards his Bolter Pistol before he admitted through gritted teeth, “Don’t push me, I’ve had an awful hour so don’t test me.”

His train of thought was interrupted by my gun being pointed directly at him. He looked back at Craig, seemingly unimpressed by his actions. “And he points a gun at me, do you see this...” He said to no one in particular. “We were not supposed to meet, that is all.”

Craig only sighed and put the gun back into it’s holster before he added with a sigh “I’m sorry... just a bit stressed over everything.”

He turned around and started to walk away. Going up to one of the statues he examined it with little emotion. “Is it because you were push out of a world with no reason by a friend” He grinned, still staring at the gray textured stone.

“Wait, how did you know that?”

“Are you that clueless?” He asked, his ear twitched as he directed his attention back towards me. “My name could be the answer!?” He pointed at himself with his paw.

“Faur’shadow?” Craig then began to think before he realised what the Cannis meant “Wait you're saying you're like my shadow, basically you’ve been following me.”

“I can be in anyone's shadow… but no, and no, I have not been following you.” He started to walk around me, circling me. “I can… Somewhat tell the future” He grinned.

I then smile and say “observing me through your gates, you have.”

“And mind set,” Faur’shadow explained.

“World’s best stalker.”

“So… Human, how was it that we meet now?”

“I got sent back from another reality by as you said a friend… Although i’m starting to question how friendly he actually is… although I expected to arrive in Ponyville, not Canterlot”

Faur’shadow hummed to himself. “Well, you're here now. What do you plan to do?”

“Honestly I have no idea. it’s still early so no need to head home yet... I guess I’ll just look around here for a bit”

“-How is elder?” He quickly asked, lifting his head higher.

“Elder? Who do you mean?”

His eyes widened, but soon returned to their normal size. “I’m sorry!” He chuckled, disregarding his mistake. “She must have changed her name. What I meant was, how is our leader?”

“Oh you mean Alpha. Don’t worry she’s doing fine.”

“Good!” He smiled. “Good.” He repeated, walking close to me as we ventured around the garden.

As we reached halfway through the gardens Craig stopped as he looked at two statues before he said “They look familiar.”

Craig then walked up to the first one and read what he assume to be the name of the person the statute was based off and read it out loud“Kirito, The Twin Blade Swordsman, The embodiment of courage.” He then look back at Faur’shadow and ask “So you know anything about this statue?”

“Yes, but only from my kinds archives. A tragic event took place before he became a hero.” He said with venom in his mouth.

“What did he do and why do you dislike him?” Craig asked curiously.

He thought for a moment, looking at the ground with searching eyes. “He stole my idea of colors” He laughed at his own hatred. “That... and many other things!” He chuckled.

Craig then looked back at the statue before he said “From what I remember black was his color scheme from the Manga and Anime back home…” The realisation then hit him as he realised exactly what this statue was of.

“He was a Displaced. He must have gone to a convention of some kind dressed as Kirito… but something seems off” He then looked at the statues features as he said “His face looks like I’ve seen it before but I can’t place it.”

“Another human?”

“Yeah” Craig admitted as he looked towards the other statue and added “This one looks like Asuna from the same setup but she’s a bit taller than I remember and she also looks familiar”

“And this means what?” He said looking unimpressed by the seemingly strange event.

“This either means they know each other or by strange coincidence they were tricked by the same guy… but why this reality and not one closely based around Sword Art Online?”

Faur’shadow dramatically coughed. “I have no idea!” He sarcastically said aloud.

“Am I missing something?” Craig asked hoping for a straight answer.

“No”

I then look at him in confusion then proceed to look at the other statue and read what it says “Asuna AKA The Berserk Healer, Embodiment of Compassion. Fell helping her son.”

“So what are your theories?” He chuckled, reading the written text as I was. “They some-how turned to stone for protecting this world, the stones are memorials in their honor, or they were turned to stone by travel and placed in this garden for entertainment!?” He laughed at the last option he gave. “I think the last!”

However Craig just muttered the first and last few words “Asuna… Fell defending her son” Over and over again until he realised something about the statues face that was extremely familiar.

He then reached for the compass in his pocket before he opened it looking at the picture on the inside as he noticed that his mother’s and the female’s statues faces looked almost identical before he muttered under his breath in surprise; “Mum...” He then looked at the other statue and said “And if that is my mum then that's Daniel… My younger brother… How the hell did this happen!?”

As Craig stood there lost in thought as he stared at the statues, he suddenly heard the flapping of wings behind him sharply followed by heavy breathing. “FAUR’SHAN!!!” Someone shouted from directly behind me as he fell to his knees and covered his ears as he could hear loud ringing in them.

The Black furred Canis next to me was suddenly lifted off the ground and thrown into a nearby tree by a bright white figure. As his body made contact with the tree the branches and stump cracked in two.

Craig suddenly turned towards Faur’Shadow, stunned by the scene in front of him before he asked himself in confusion. “What the hell?”

The black dog laid curled-up on the floor, laughing maniacally. His body twitched and rolled as his laughing fit became louder.

Craig then began to back away, the same chills that fell down my back from before reappearing. “Something's wrong with you... Very, very wrong!”

As he walked further backwards, his spine hit against the abnormally soft chest of Alpha. He then slowly turned around to find that her face was contorted to fierce anger and fury.

Alpha gently pushed me aside with her right wing, stepping closer to the insane dog. “How dare you make contact with this monster!” She yelled at me as if I were the cause of this strange situation.

She ignored my look of confusion and ran towards Faur’shadow with flaring nostrils. With each step she took the ground under her paws cracked and crumbled and the air did not hesitate to move out of Alpha’s path. Her hatred towards this one Canis was obvious and clear like glass.

“What are you on about Alpha!” I shouted, motioning my left hand at the curled up dog. “I arrived back and Faur’shadow found me, that's all!?”

But she did not listen to him as she rose on her hind legs and brought her forelegs down to crush Faur’shadow. But before his upper body could be crushed by the shear strength of alpha, his body morphed into the ground and disappeared from sight.

I then look at where he was a minute ago and then closed my eyes and broke the fourth wall and understand what’s gone on between them, before muttering under his breath “He’s a murderer...”

He then grabbed ahold of my sword and Bolter Pistol and then shouted in anger at the revelation “I’m going to stop you, you won’t hurt Alpha!” as he pushed off from the ground and landed next to her “I’m with you, he won’t kill anymore of your kind… I won’t allow it!”

As they both looked around Alpha opened her wings and from the inside of said wings, a light formed, drowning the surrounding area in white flash. A dark shadow moved across the ground with speed and swiftness, passing trees and branches with ease.

Craig then looked around to where he was and then take one shot predicting his movements a moment later the first bullet pierces his front two paws causing him to stop dead in his tracks.

He smiled at the crimson that seeped from his wound. He lifted them up and tore them away from ground. He placed his left paw on the soil and drew a large circle with a strange symbol inside with his own blood.

“Blood Magic” Craig muttered under his breath before sheathing his sword before he threw a fireball towards Faur’shadow that exploded covering the majority of the area in a thick layer of dirt and sand and in essence stopping him from completing his circle, before he taunted “No, bad dog.”

He was unfazed by the blast and angrily growled at me. But his unhappy emotion soon changed to a smile. He ran to the wall next to him and quickly drew another but instead of his left, he used his right paw. He tapped the blood circle with the tip of his claw. The circle glowed red and rising from the circle was a strangely shaped warhammer. The end of the hammer was made of a canis skull wrapped in barb wire, the handle was made of tree bark, and the streams of what I thought was string, was actually fur. He clench the war hammer with his teeth, turned around and charged us.

Alpha quickly stepped back with hesitation. She opened her wings and flew up towards the sky with fear. “Craig! Get away!” She was concerned for my well being and warned me.

“Why?” Craig asked curiously however seconds before impact he jumped back as the Warhammer smashed into the floor.

The spot where the warhammer had slammed down darkened the grass and sent a shock wave 10 meters away. The shockwave did hit Crag, but thankfully nothing happened other than getting pushed back by the blast.

The hammer emitted a dark energy with the color being dark purple, and chanting coming from the weapons skull. The dark pit of the eyes glowed purple with the sound of wisps yelling and screaming. He started to lift the Warhammer from the ground.

"Not this time!" Craig shouted as he clapped his hands together to form one of his ice spells, before a blue shard appeared in the palm of my right hand and quickly grew in size.

Craig then threw the ice shard towards Faur'shadow in hopes of him abandoning his weapon to dodge the oncoming projectile. Thankfully shi plan worked. The first effort he made to take the Warhammer with him failed due to it's shear size and weight. The second attempt ended in him letting go of the Warhammer, dropping from his mouth. He eventually fled, dodging my ice spell.

He watched the blue shard turn the surrounding ground into ice. He opened his mouth and a black sphere formed in front of his body. A static of yellow lightning moved across the black spheres surface. He aimed it towards Alpha.

Craig then turned his head to see what was about to happen before he said “I don’t think so.”

He then place two fingers on his forehead and said in a calm voice “Instant Transmission” and disappeared instantly before instantly reappearing in front of Alpha before he shouted “Kamehameha!” as a blue beam of pure energy collides with the oncoming attack.

The black orb that came into contact with the blue beam and absorbed the energy. The black sphere shrank as it absorbed said energy, it disappeared from sight like melting ice.

Craig then shouted in anger “I should have put a bullet in you the second I saw you!” he then stopped as he began to mutter “this is my fault for being too trusting.”

"Yes... Your fault for being too trusting" he grinned, giving off an evil stare.

I then close my eyes then telepathically say “Celestia evacuate Canterlot… get everypony to safety… me and Alpha will handle this threat just get everyone out of Canterlot.” I opened my eyes and found Faur'shadow leaping towards me with sharp claws and teeth pointed at my chest.

I thes shouted “I don’t think so Fus Ro Dah!” with that he begins to fly backward as he then shout “No more games!” as his hair then begin to change from black to blond and floats upwards defying gravity.

Craig’s body then begin to glow before he shout “Strun Bah Qo!” Seconds later a massive thunderstorm appears above us as lightning come crashing down towards Faur'Shadow.

He quickly morphed back into the ground with his shadow magic, trying his best to avoid the lightning. But the lightning eventually caught him and gave him a nasty shock. His body reappeared on the surface of the ground, motionless and still.

Craig then looked to Alpha as he placed his arm out in front of him before he pointed out “He’s playing dead to lure us in, don’t fall for it.”

"Do not worry" she lifted her paw up. "He's fooled me once, he shall not fool me again!"

Craig then felt a strange energy appear behind them that began to rapidly approach before he shouted “Alpha Move!” With that Craig push Alpha out the way as what felt like daggers burrowed themselves into his back piercing straight through his armour as he began to scream in agony and collapsed onto his knees. It was then he was forced backwards, as large yellow teeth took a bite out of his right shoulder.

"Remove your Daemed teeth from Craig!!" She bellowed. She shifted her right wing back and threw them vertically upward towards Faur'shadow, cutting him in half.

Both leg and torso fell on the floor with a thud. He was amazingly still alive, his left eye weirdly moved to look at mine. "Enjoy the bite... And thank you-" He coughed violently, black blood dripped from his muzzle. "For the clones..." He laughing maniacally once more before his skull was gradually crushed by the paw of Alpha. She repeated this motion over and over again, not stopping until there was mashed meat.

Craig then saw some figures appear behind Alpha and spluttered “Alpha... look out… behind you” before he slowly began to use his sword to steady himself as he began to try and stand up before he screamed “Even if I die today… At least… I know I died fighting for something I believed in.”

Craig then managed to smirk before he shouted “You shall not pass!” whilst smashing the tip of his sword into the ground sending a burst of white light outwards in a shockwave.

The black dogs vanished as the wave of light hit each one of the clones, causing them to dissipate and fade. Some even cowered at the large white shock wave tiring to retreat to safety, but the wave of light slowly caught up to them and killed them.

Seconds later my legs buckled as I dropped the sword and began to fall to the floor coughing up blood along with the oozing wound on the shoulder that left a puddle of blood appearing around my body.

"Cra-" She reached for me with her paw but quickly retracting it after spotting my gaping wound on my shoulder. She shuffled backwards, afraid to touch me.

“Alpha… what's… wrong?” Craig asked weakly, surprisingly this was the first time he had ever seen her so shocked.

She shakily nodded her head at the wound on my shoulder. "You're infected," She gasped.

“Infected… with… what?” Craig asked beginning to feel weaker and weaker.

She quickly backed up, creating distance between us. "Craig! I need to find Tel'den and have him aid you!"”

“Ok Please hurry… I don’t know how long i have before I…” At that very moment he fell flat on my face unconscious.


“He was infected with No.23.168666.2PV Virus a.k.a “Scar”. I was confronted by our leader, Alpha/Engel’a, who appeared to be in distress. I followed her to the gardens of canterlot in Sector No.75.12- Time Equestria 5. As we approached his motionless body, I scanned his wound and found virus No.23.2PV In his bloodstream and around him. The air was contaminated and appeared to have the scent of Canis-000.2, Faur’shadow. I ask our leader to stay 30 meters away from the contaminated area. She heeded my warning and told the others of this happening. Before I aided the human I disinfected the area before returning him to my home for proper treatment. The area was clean and I brought him here above No.75.12- Time Equestria 5. I managed to close his wounds with [CLASSIFIED] Technology I kept as a souvenir. His body managed to make a full recovery. I harvested some of his blood to make sure the virus could be reversed. I experimented on the blood sample and managed to create the vaccine. I examined the vaccine with my right I.B.E. to make sure it was not flawed or tampered with or even changed. I gave Him the vaccine by syringe. I hope the treatment he was given does not affect any organs that may bring danger to his heart.”


As Craig slowly began to regain his energy he began to attempt to open my eyes. However as much as he tried he couldn’t muster enough energy and just left himself wondering what he had done with his life to reach this point.

As this happened he began to get flashbacks to his life before all this happened… he saw my life at school, his bullies, teachers and all of the attempts at making friends. The scene then changed to that of my family, all of the meeting they’d had, all of the games they’d played, everything he had done with them before the scene changed to that of his brother and mum in stone. Which left him to think I’m not giving in yet. Powers don’t fail me now.

Whilst he was thinking about what was happening in his head h began te managed to somehow move his body slight only enough to click his fingers as he whispered almost inaudibly “Grand Healing” over and over again before adding “I’m not going to let him win… he’s not getting what he wants.”

He was then hit by another flashback this one much more vivid than before. In this one he was able to see the one thing that gave him hope, that being a still image that appeared in front of him. The photo from yesterday.

With that his eyes slowly began to weakly flutter open as he began to think you will not be alone Scootaloo, I made a promise and I intend to keep it.

Craig’s eyes then open fully as he slowly attempted to sit up as he saw that he was alone in what looks to be a hospital room.

As he continued to look around he began to mutter “no please no… don’t tell me I hallucinated all of that… That can’t have been a figment of my imagination, it just can’t.” Craig then look at his body as he saw that he was hooked up to numerous machines and resting against his chest was his own amulet along with Sasuke’s Magatama necklace.

He then slowly moved his shaking hands towards both tokens as he grabbed them slowly moving them towards them before he said almost smiling in realisation, “my tokens… if they’re still here then it wasn’t a dream… I really am in Equestria, It wasn't a lie.”

Craig then slowly turned his body and attempted to climb out of the bed he way lying in but failed to muster the strength to do so.

A minute later he tried once again as he thought Not a chance i’m giving in… not now, not ever. However before he could move much further his body once again buckled as he began to fall backwards and muttered in annoyance “no I’m not going to fail here.” He then quickly sat back up again before standing up his legs shaking before he placed his hand against the nearby wall to balance himself, his muscles feel like they were screaming begging him to stop and rest, but all he was thinking about was getting to his friends and his daughter.

However before he was able to get any further his body suddenly froze up as he began to collapse, his body falling forwards, but before he hit the ground multiple blue tendrils dug into the floor in front of him and acted like legs that carried him back to the bed and carefully placed him back down on it.

Craig could only smile before he said his voice sounding clearer “I guess you don’t want me moving yet as well do you Bii?” as he rested his hands behind his head and just lay there calmly.


-One hour later-

Time seemed to pass and shift slowly as he lay in the white and gray bed as he waited for someone to eventually open the door to the room he was in and explain to him what exactly was going on.

He then looked to the right of his bed as he saw a large monitor beside him as he heard faint beep and chirp sounds as thousands upon thousands of lines littered the small screen with multiple colors.

Craig then turned to his left as he found a glass of water sitting on the nightstand that laid at the side of his bed along with a remote about the size of an apple tablet next to the glass. He then slowly began to reach towards it as he try to pick it up before he muttered “And what is this for… I swear if this is a TV remote I’m gonna be annoyed.”

He then pressed a red button on the remote causing the screen to turn on as it slowly faded in on a loading screen. The background picture was a bunch of floating islands with fresh soil still stuck to the bottom of their surface, each island had its own little style ranging from forest to a normal plane. Two apps came up, one of the app icons had a silver heart with a pulse line behind it and the other was an uppercase "N" with a red background.

Craig then smiled as he began to think I’m guessing the heart is a heartbeat monitor and the other is probably to call a nurse… and those images on the background. What was it Paorach told me about his home what were they floating island? If those images are correct that likely means that I’m on the Canis homeworld.

He then remembered the fight he had participated in including his injuries before he quickly reached towards his shoulder as he realise that the bite had completely healed leaving him to think how long was I actually out for?

Three knocks then made themselves clear on the front steel door of the room, this caused Craig to look up in shock as he pulled himself back under the covers before he calmly said “come in.”

Just like in a star wars movie. The door sizzled as the compressed air in the room escaped the steel entrance. The door then slid open to reveal both Paorach and Tel'den, along with another Canis that Craig had never seen before.

Her size was smaller than Tech's and she seemed a lot more skinny than the rest of the Canis he had met. Her fur was dark, light, green and white. And part of her hair cover her right eye.

He then looked at them with a kind smile as he calmly asked “hi guys, how you doing?”

"Shouldn't we be askin ya that, lad?" Paorach commented.

Craig could only smirk at this as he responded by saying “Fair point… I’m feeling better now but keep getting flashbacks to my life.”

"That should be a common side effect from the long treatment you were given" Tech replied with the same monotone voice.

“Oh and it looks like I owe you lot now… Swings and roundabouts I guess,” Craig chuckled.

"Cool~" The female Canis cood. She walked towards me but was stopped in her tracks by Tel'den who reached his paw out in front of her.

"He is still infected," He calmly warned her.

“What do you mean by infected?”

"What he means lad is that ya have a very contagious virus known as "Scar"!" He briefly pointed out. He jumped off Tel'den's back and landed softly on the tips of his paws. "That's why w'he are stain back'er so we don't catch the disease!"

“If I ever find that monster Faur’Shadow again I will end him,” Craig admitted angrily through gritted teeth.

"W'he want em taken down as well lad. But he's just... Ya know, hard ta track cause he's literally ah shadow!" He places his hands on the side of his hips. "On th'e bright side, lad" he cheerfully smiled. "You're not an immortal, now are ya!?"

Craig then scratched his head curiously before he said “Who knows, although I don’t want to test it.”

Tel'den calmly walked to the side of my bed and placed his ear on my heart. "Do you feel any immeasurable pain on your chest or near your torso?" He asked still listening to the beating of my heart.

“Not that I know off… although it did hurt when I tried moving earlier. Although that could be because I tried to move after I woke up.”

He hummed to himself for a short moment. He lifted his head off my chest and lifted the right side of the cloth that covered his eyes. He looked at both of my eyes with his bionic eye examining each pupil. "Do you feel as though your mind, heart, or eyes are in agonizing pain?"

I just look at him and say “Nope, it was just my legs felt a bit weird when I tried moving… I’ll be honest with you, I feel fine… In fact I feel a lot stronger than ever before.”

“He’s not an immortal,” Tel’den quickly deduced, placing the white cloth back over his eyes.

Craig then faked a smile as he replied “shame,” I then looked at the female Canis before I said with a calming smile “I never did ask, what is your name miss?”

“Oh!” She cheerfully smiled back. “My name is Lef’chor, I use Sylvamancy” Her tail wagged back and forth.

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Lef’chor.” Craig admitted before he thought she better not screw me over like that bastard Faur’shadow. The monitor next to him beeped and one of the lines seemed to rise, however Tel’den looked at the monitor and neglected it as unimportant.

“...You can leave now,” He said to both Lef’chor and Paorach who quickly left the room without hesitation.

After they left the room, Craig looked to Tel’den curiously as he asked him “what's wrong? I feel like you're not telling me something.”

“I am not hiding anything from you Craig” He said, walking over to the tablet and placing his paw on its surface. He looked back at the black screen with millions of lines. “Do you hate Lef’chor?” He said examining the monitor.

“Not Lef’chor… Faur’shadow, he used me, he tricked me, I believed him and he threw it in my face,” Craig replied bitterly as he thought about Faur’shadow.

The monitor beeped louder. Tel’den looked down at the tablet on the bed. “Do not think one of us feels your pain Craig. Faur’shadow has done it to Alpha and the rest many times.”

“That's not what i’m worried about… He knew about my family, my brother and mum were statues. I feel like he’s going to hurt them to spite me.”

“That does not mean he will go after them,” He placed the tablet back down. “He prefers not to… It is hard to explain, Craig but trust me when I say this. He will not go after your family.”

“I hope your right.”

“...You will probably want to know what is so important about this ‘Scar’ Virus?” He asked, taking note of how the room was so empty.

“If you could… it’s best I know what i’m infected with.”

Tel’den sighed. “‘Scar’ is a virus that affects the brain, entire body, and its muscles. It is very contagious to all immortals and can be lethal if one is weak. It does not cause any physical damage such as destroying tissue or killing blood cells.”

“So you're saying I’m lucky I’m not immortal?”

“That could be one of saying it” He walked back over to the bed and tapped the tablet. “‘Scar’ can leave an immortal brain dead if weak, in the state you're in now. you should be able to live through it, but you would feel as if you wanted death to come and end you… That's how Alpha described it anyway, she said the pain in her body was unbearable.”

“Then why am I not feeling suicidal? If that was the case I should be wanting to die and not still be upbeat and happy.”

“Cause you're not an immortal or diete”

Craig then realised one fact of what he had been told before he said worry clear in his voice “We’ve got to warn Celestia and Luna of this specific curse he may use it on them.”

Craig then attempted to once again stand as he said “I’ve got to warn them.”

“And get them infected!” He pushed me back down on the bed. “You're still infected Craig. You will be for a while, you need to wait till the last ‘Scar’ cell in your body is destroyed, creatures who are not immortals are capable of spreading it to anyone!”

“But didn’t you tell me that you are immortal. why isn’t it affecting you?”

“I am technically an immortal, I was once mortal so it can not effect me and I have a ‘Layer shield’,” He tapped his ribcage where a small metal square with a blue stone lay implanted into his skin. “This keeps me from making contact with any disease or virus and spreading it. That's why Alpha called me to come and aid you.”

I need to be ready for when the War starts I need to be safe incase I go near an immortal, Craig thought before he looked at Tel’den and asked “Is it possible for you to set me something similar up?”

Tech clenched the device on his rib. “Do you wish to sound monotonous and have millions of wires fused into your vains!” He shook his head. “I did not make this, Craig I found it. You will need to wait till the last cell is destroyed” He walked towards the door. The door open, Tel’den stood in the doorway looking back at me. “If there is another option then I will notify you, but you must wait!” The door closed and once again I was alone.

“And I’ve got to hope that the war doesn’t start before I’m healed,” Craig muttered back under his breath.


-3 hours later-

As time passed Craig began to get bored and more frustrated as feeling slowly began to return to his entire body until he was able to walk around the room unhibited. However this did nothing to help his to curb his boredom.

He then sighed before he muttered under his breath “God I’m bored… there has to be something I can do?”

He then look around the room as he saw his sword resting against the wall and smiled before he reached out towards it then said “Might as well practice while I have time.”

Seconds later he quickly changed sword back into a guitar before he began to slowly perform an acoustic version of a song called Breakeven by The Script.

Once the song finished he smiled as he said “I guess that always cheers me up.”

The Iron door opened surprisingly fast before Lef’chor walked into the room as she was smiling silently.

“What's up?” Craig asked curiously.

“Tel’den wanted me to come get you” She added stepping away from the doorway, making room for me to leave the area. “But don't touch anything” she said.

“Yeah, yeah I know. I’m still infected.”

She nodded in understanding, I followed her through the white hallway. As we walked through the endless shaft I found a nearby window. Curiosity struck. I walked to the window and to my surprise, I found myself in space looking down at Equestria with multiple floating islands around us.

Craig then laughed and said “so I am on your homeworld.”

“Yep” She smiled. “Well” She thought. “This is actually Tech’s home- the one we are in now of course.”

“I guess it makes sense that I would be on the home of the Canis that is immune to the Scar virus i’m infected with.”

“Yea that’s Tech for ya… Now that I think about it… I’m surprised he hasn't kicked us out yet?”

“Why do you say that?”

“He… Doesn't like us touching anything without us having a glove or something?” She scowled at the imaginative Canis. “Plus he keeps it all to himself and doesn't like sharing his things!”

Craig only smiled at this before he replied, “that sounds a lot like how I used to be… maybe that's why he’s not kicked us out yet.”

“Could be?” We continued our walk down the white hallway. Lef’chor stopped and gasped. “Oh I forgot!” She shouted. She ran to one of the windows and pointed to one of the land masses that floated in space. “That’s my home. The one with the large tree!”

“Your home looks amazing! Much better than mine!” Craig admitted as he looked out in awe at both the floating islands and the planet below them.

“Thank you!” She excitedly smiled.

After a while we managed to reach the end of the hallway, in front of us was a 10 foot rectangular steel door which Lef’chor knocked on the door with her paw three times before she departed.

A few seconds later the door opened and in the doorway was Tel’den.

“You wanted to see me?” Craig asked curiously.

“Yes…” He entered the hallway and closed the door behind him. “You should be cured and healthy for now, so you are free to go” He said looking at the metal box that lay on his side.

“Thanks but there's something that's been bothering me”

“huh?”

“The treatment you used to help me… am I right in that it was developed for Canis.”

A moment of silence passed. “Yes... Are you worried for side effects of some sort or DNA change?”

“Well the DNA thing was worrying me after I looked at this” Craig then raised one of his hands and clenched it as a small set of claws appeared between them as he asked “Is that normal?”

Tech was taken aback by the black claws. “No…” He said in his usual monotone voice. “But… It should not progress, It may only be a side effect to the treatment. Listen!” He said putting my hand down. “If this worsens then I need you to come back, We may need to cure it… But for now you should be fine.”

“Thats a relief I was worried that the virus itself could be spread through a cut from them, but that shouldn't be a problem I guess.”

“No it should not. In two days I’m going to bring you back and cure this problem”

“Actually I don’t see this as a problem. I just needed to be sure it couldn’t be a danger to my life or that of those around me. I’d prefer to keep them if you don’t mind,” Craig requested.

“I do mind Craig, Alpha would have my head if she found you with our claw” He added with little worry.

“How about this if we clear it with Alpha and she says it’s fine i keep them and if she tells me to get rid of them you can remove them their and then… Deal?”

Tel’den’s head twitched and a small spark emerged from under the cloth that covered his eyes. “De-... Fine…”

“Are you okay?” Craig asked before adding “You looked as if something was wrong with your eye.”

“It is a glitch in my system I am used to thinking fast,” He added.

Crag could only smile at this before he said “at least you're not in any danger… That's all I was worried about.”

“That is fine… You may join the others now…” The door behind him opened and he entered without another word.

Blue light began to form around Craig before he found himself outside Tech’s home on the front lawn.

Craig then looked around him to find Paorach and Wolf sitting on the grass who seemed to be playing some sort of card game, with this he just smiled as he slowly walked over to them before he asked them calmly “You miss me?”

“Little?” Paorach added, placing down a card, showing Wolf who only observed the strange yet small stone with curiosity.

“It feels good me be outside… although feels strange to be in space, it’s a thing you’d get to see back on earth.”

“Yes… But this air is fresher than both Equis and Terra,” He placed down a stone card, revealing it to be a crystle.

“So what are you playing?” Craig asked curiously.

“Twenty-two ten Elements!” Paorach placed done another. “Although ah doubt it would be found on earth!”

“Mind telling me how it works might as well give it a go before I try to see Alpha.”

“Sure lad, It is ah game ov-”

“I would say similar to ‘Go Fish’?” Wolf placed down another card.

Paorach slowly motioned his head towards the neutral Canis. “Can ah have ah wee day were ya don’t ruin it!”

“So it doesn’t exist on Earth does it… To be fair I never really gambled or played back home so you might as well teach me anyway,” Craig admitted with a slight chuckle.

“Ok!” Paorach started jumping from his sitting position. “There are currently two hundred and twenty cards in th’e game. Each is ah element and all his its own properties such as water and fire. one can overpower th’e other if it is a certain element or iv it is strong enough. Higher card wins, you can place down any card you would like if ya wanted!” He said ending the explanation. “But right now!” He sat back down folding his legs. “Winner takes agreement. I’m bettin m’he ‘Pocket shard’ while Wolf er is willing to let m’he learn ‘White Wind’!”

“Which you will not learn!” Wolf said in a serious voice. placing down another rectangular stone card.

Once they continue to play i just watch and observe them as i slowly begin to grasp how the game works but I knew the real challenge would be actually playing the game. Paorach threw the slim stone cards at the ground angrily. He reached into the pouch strapped around his body and threw down the betting item. The ‘Pocket Shard’ was half crystal and the other half was a smooth white stone.

“Th’e next time I an’t hand’n ova somtin so pricy!” He sat down crossing his arms and legs, pouting over the lose of his item like a immature child.

Craig then placed his hands together before he said “I’m up for a game… but what do I have to bet?”

“Anything that is of value to you, or something that you will not part with? That is if you want, you do not have… to…” He stared at my hand for a moment, mouth gaping.

“Whats up buddy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost” Craig said before he then looked to where Wolf was looking at before he realised and sighed before saying “I’m guessing your going to ask about my hands,” as he held them up openly.

“Those are my claws?” He said, stunned by the exact color claw and shape as his own.

Paorach walked over and jumped at the sight of the claws that protruded out of my hand. “What th’e bloody hell!”

“No their not your claws… at least i don’t think they are. They were a side effect from the treatment I was given to cure me, Tel’den thinks I should get rid of them whilst I want to keep them… we agreed to let Alpha decide what happens.”

“Lad those are amazing! But also, those are Wolf’s claws. Ones with m’he eyes can obviously tell!” He looked back at the blue colored dog and brought his paw over to my hand were we examined each feature. “Look at th’e color and texture… Well… Tel’den’s done a bloody good job at making an exact replica!” He brought his hand up to his chin. “Did Tel’den say what kind treatment he used on ya!?”

“No he didn’t say.” Craig just looked back at his hands as he said “How did this happen… it makes no sense?” He then looked at Wolf and asked him “Did you have anything to do with the treatment… anything at all?”

“I never participated in any tests or treatments to aid in his healing abilities. Although he did harvest much of my blood 27 years ago?”

“Maybe a bit of your blood was used to allow the process to work effectively as he wasn’t sure about the difference between mine and canis blood… if that is the case that would explain why our claws are the same,” Craig suggested.

Both Paorach and Wolf were sceptical about the theory but Porach soon agreed. “It would make a lot ov sense why he would use your blood!” He told the Canis beside him. “Seeing as you are one ov th’e few that can actually heal at an abnormal rate!”

“I guess that would make sense?”

“I doubt there’s a better explanation,” Craig admitted.

Wolf walked back to his side of the game where a large stack of stone cards laid shuffled and mixed. “Anyway, shall we continue with the game. What are you willing to trade for?”

“I don’t have much stuff that's worth anything… well not anything that I’d want to risk.” Craig then tried to think of what he had on him before he admitted “I may not have anything to bet on me but how about this if I lose I will do a performance for however long you like, musical or even just demonstrating my magic in a show.”

Wolf tilted his head in confusion. “I do not understand. A show?”

“The only thing I have that I can bet is my time… unless you have a way to take memories.”

“Oh… ok, so… No bets?”

Paorach ran to my side and whispered into my ear. “Come on lad, Trade something and he might put in ‘White Wind’!”

Craig then looked at Paorach before he asked him “What even is White Wind?”

“White Wind is an Aeromancy spell that is used ta heal and cure the body of any abnormal effects, poisons, and the like. The only ones who know how to use it are Alpha and Wolf, buggers won't even share it because they say it's an ‘Ancient spell’.”

Craig’s eyes then began to focus as he reach towards my guitar but just before he griped it he stopped as he thought I can’t bet this, it’s a gift from Celestia and one of the last things I have from home.

Craig then thought about using one of his tokens as he remembered what Church did to him before he said “I guess I could bet this.” He then touched the back of his guitar as it turned back into a sword and Churches token appears on the opposite side. He then unattach it from his side and said calmly “I bet this” as he placed it down in front of Wolf.

Wolf examined the strange token, he smiled. “I will teach you a small portion of White Wind if you win!” He took the token and placed between us.

At this Craig could only smile before he said “you're on.” He then sat down in front of Wolf before he said “okay then let's play.”

After that they both started playing it took Craig some time to understand the full logic behind the game but after a while Craig finally managed to use the stone cards correctly. He was behind from the start but somehow soon started to catch up and soon seemed to have the upper hand as Wolf seemed to begin to panic on which cards to put on the field. Instead of him placing down cards quickly on instinct, he was rethinking his options.

At this Craig could only smile at Wolf as he said “You need to calm down… focus on what you have and think clearly. You can do this.”

Wolf nodded, but his stressed features did not change. If they were to make a guess on how long they had been playing this strange game. I’d say 40 minutes. Wolf, after the long silence, finally started to catch up to me. But as we drew the last cards in our hands- in Wolf’s situation, paws. The last score ended in a tie.

“What happens now… we’ve drawn?” Craig asked Wolf unsure of how they would proceed with their bets now.

Paorach walks in between us, grabs the charm and throws it towards Wolf. “Now that ya draw, ya each get what was offered!” He devilishly smiled at Wolf. “Which means ya teach em White Wind!”

“And you get to keep Churches Token.”

Wolf looked down at the token. “I am to guess so?”

Craig then smiled to Wolf before he said “Just be careful with it. The displaced use them to keep in contact with each other.”

“I will make sure it is always in perfect condition” He nodded. “Do you wish to learn the White Wind spell?” He asked.

“I guess we both better keep up with our side of the bets.”

“As you wish” He said backing away to make space for the spell.

Wolf then pushed himself away from the floor and stood on all fours with paws placed firmly on the floor. He closed his eyes and before a cold breeze blew around the group before small white particles surrounded his body that were swiftly absorbed into his fur and by extension his skin.

“That looked cool… but I need to get back home, if Alpha decides to take the claws away, come and get me,” Craig said before suddenly disappearing.


As soon as Craig landed back on equestrian soil he looked around to see that he had appeared back in the statue garden again. He then looked up to see the familiar shape of Churches Token falling towards him.

“I swear someone must want me to not forget that idiot,” Craig groaned as he caught the token before attaching it back to his side.

He then turned his head towards the statues once again before clenching his fists as he thought, They lied to me from the start, they both knew everything.

He then looked behind him before he saw Luna standing behind him as she said “So… you know the truth about Kirito and Asuna.”

“Yes I do… and i’m not happy about it, you should have said something, you of all ponies should know the feeling of being isolated from your own kind and yet you hid the fact I wasn’t the last of my kind here.”

“We… no I wanted to tell you the truth, but my sister told me it wasn’t safe to tell you about them, I’m sorry.”

“Luna, right now i need answers, and i feel like you have no idea how to tell me, the words I need to hear,” Craig admitted as he turned away as he added, “we both know only one other pony has the answers and can tell me.”

“I know you're right, it’s just the last thing I did to them before they were ‘stoned’ as you took to calling it was try to kill them both, I guess I still feel guilty about that,” Luna admitted solumnly.

“Trust me if my brother starts to hate you for that he’s becoming as bad as what he became,” Craig admitted as he walked away from Luna as small black wisps of energy began to appear from his neck.

As Luna saw this her eyes went wide before she muttered “that can’t be,” as Craig disappeared from view.


A few minutes later Craig walked towards the throne room checking as he saw that Celestia was in the room alone, that surprised him and left him to think why are there no guards with her? He however ignored this as he reached the door to the throne room as they were surrounded in a yellow glow before they opened.

“I assume you know the truth about the statue's origins now,” Celestia said almost sounding sad.

“I do… Princess, why did you lie to me?”

“What would you have done the day you arrived if you found out your mother and younger brother had been encased in stone and turned into statues?”

“Well considering my powers were mostly dormant at that time, at most froze your mane.” Craig admitted.

“And now?”

“Fighting between trying to keep my cool and punching you through a wall,” Craig admitted.

“And right now I deserve it,” Celestia chuckled. “But you deserve to know what happened.”

“I’m going to assume you're going to tell me?”

“I think that would be easier than trying to explain my reasoning.”

“Well, you better have had a good reason,” Craig replied

“I did, and I'll explain why, ” Celestia said before describing the events that unfolded over one-thousand years ago.

Once Celestia had finished explaining the events that had transpired she looked to Craig who just stared at her before he said: “I don’t completely forgive you for lying to me, so give me some space for a while.”

“Agreed,” Celestia replied as Craig walked out the room only for Celestia to see multiple black wisps of energy just like the ones Luna had saw before as he left the room. “No… he couldn’t be.”


Seconds after leaving the room Craig teleported back to his home in ponyville before he walked inside to find the house empty as he just walked up to his room before lying on his bed before falling to sleep, as black wisps of energy began to move toward his ears and into his head.