Ain't No Rest For The Wicked

by GatheringFriendship

Bonus Chapter: Ryku’s Mark

Bonus Chapter: Ryku’s Mark

~2 years ago in a modest house in Trottingham~

I sat in my room, staring at the ceiling. The candle on the stand near my bed flickered dimly. As I glanced around the room, I saw the furniture I’d seen hundreds of times before. The bookshelves against the far wall, the dresser next to the doorway, the pale yellow floor and dark red walls. The bed I was laying on was a dull orange color.

“Ugh, how long am I going to have to stay here? Elegant and Golden need to just get out of my way for once!”

I stood up and walked out into the living room. Golden sat on the recliner, reading the daily paper, and I could hear Elegant in the kitchen working on dinner.

“Well, looks like I slept in again... almost dinner time already...”

“Ruddy, you really shouldn’t wait until...” Dad stopped and glanced at the clock, like he’d done every other time I’d slept in. “...Four to wake up. You’re sleeping your days away!”

I glared at him. “I’ve told you, Golden! It’s Ryku now, and just leave me alone about sleeping already! I get plenty of rest and I can do what I want! Tell Elegant I’m going outside for a while...”

Golden was a - you guessed it - golden stallion with a silver mane and emerald eyes. His wife Elegant was a royal blue mare with a sky blue mane and frosty eyes. They weren’t the wealthiest ponies in Trottingham, but they - we - were happy, for the most part.

“Rud... I’m mean, ‘Ryku’... You really should call us Mom and Dad. After all, we did take you in after all that happened...”

I waved him off quickly and trotted outside. The streets of Trottingham were bustling with all sorts of different ponies. As I walked, I thought about the two unicorns that had been trying to pass as my mother and father for the past five years.

“I really should be nicer to Mr. and Mrs. Hoof... After what happened to Mom and Dad, they’ve been so nice to me...”

Suddenly, my mind was ablaze with thoughts of that particular event. Before long, I’d delved deep into a vivid flashback...

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

My old home was bright white with its fresh coat of paint. My actual Mom and Dad, Crimson and Flame Knuckles, were in their bedroom talking... well, arguing is a better word. Dad was a blood red stallion with a black mane and Mom was a light yellow mare with a mane that looked like it was on fire, with red, orange and yellow streaks. They both had golden eyes, just like me. I was nine at that point, and I didn’t really know what they were talking about, but I sat quietly at their door with it open a crack, listening. They were saying something about Dad owing money to some mean stallion... Mom seemed both scared and furious...

“What were you thinking?! All of our bits! All of them! All to that stupid habit of yours! Then you go out and try to borrow money that you know we could never pay back?! Have you bucking lost it?!” Mom was screaming at the top of her lungs at that point.

Immediately after she had finished speaking, I heard a loud slapping sound and Mom hit the floor. Dad’s voice followed. “Don’t question me, Crimson! I’ve always taken care of my family. I’ll get the money to pay them back! I just need more time!”

Mom picked herself up off the ground. “You don’t have any more time, Flame! If you would have come to me in the first place, I might have been about to help! The due date for the thousand bits was a week ago! This is the third time you’ve put us through this! Think about Ruddy. What would you do if something were to happen to him?” I could hear Mom sobbing loudly.

“I... I just... I don’t know what to do...” I could hear Dad’s quiet sniffles as he choked back his own tears. “I’ll figure this out... I always do...”

I ran away from the door then and down the stairs to the dining room. We had a fairly large house; the Knuckles family was a very wealthy family until recently.

I wasn’t sure what to think anymore. What they were talking about sounded serious, and they said it could even put me in danger. I hid under the dining room table, which had a tablecloth on it that reached the floor.

“What’s going to happen... Mommy said something about something happening to me... what’s going on?” I started whispering to myself.

Before I could think anymore, however, I heard the door to the kitchen crash open. I could feel the vibrations in the floor as three sets of hoof-steps walked into the room I was in. The leader yelled up the stairs.

“Time’s up, Flame! We’ve come to collect!” The strange voice called.

I barely heard my Dad’s near-silent response. “C-Coming...just a m-minute...” I then heard his hoof-steps as he descended the stairs.

“Time’s up! Ya have our money, or do we have to take it from you in other ways? This is the third time you’ve been late, Flame. Don’t disappoint me.” The leader said. His voice was followed by two snickers that sounded from either side of the table I was under.

“P-Please... j-just a little m-more time! I’ll g-get it for you, I s-swear!” Dad begged.

“The leader stallion laughed. “Wrong answer. Do it, boys.”

I heard a crashing sound and soon I saw smoke billowing under the table. I also heard a bunch of fighting going on in the room outside the cloth.

“You. Come with me. We’re taking care of Flame and whoever else is here today.” I heard the speaker turn before he continued. “...And you. Make sure no pony tries to stop all of this. Got it?”

“Yes sir, mister Heart.”

“Good. Let’s go, Flame.” The leader laughed.

Dad was frantic. “Please, Stone! I’ve been good to you! Give me one last chance! PLEASE!”

“No can do, Flame. You’ve used up my patience.” Stone said with a hint of anger in his voice.

The sound of dragging could be heard as Dad was dragged up the stairs. I could tell Dad was being muffled, but before he was out of earshot, I heard him get one thing out.

“RUDDY! If you can hear me, RUN! Get out of here NOW!” He wailed.

Hearing this, I darted out from my hiding spot and towards the exit of the house. I heard Stone say “Get after him!” But I wasn’t paying attention to him. Flames were rising quickly everywhere in the house as I made it out the kitchen door.

Not five minutes after I made it out of house, the lackey that had stayed behind followed. He jumped at me but I dodged him and made a break for it. He recovered and tackled me to the ground, pinning me. He had a short knife in his mouth, but he managed to speak around it.

“Sorry kid, but orders are orders. I don’t get paid with you still around. Say goodnight, I’ll make this quick!” He said with a sadistic tinge to his voice.

He got the knife into position to attack me. I was thinking that this was it, I was going to die here. Before that could happen, however, I heard something that changed everything.

A blood-curdling scream sounded from inside the house. It was Mom. I don’t know much of what happened after that, but I know this. Suddenly, the stallion that was on top of me was knocked out cold on the ground with little hoof prints imprinted into his forehead. My hooves carried me at an impossible speed as I dashed back into the flaming house and up the stairs. I got to my parents room and peeked inside.

“N-No...” I saw Mom and Dad on their bed, blood soaking the sheets and knives in both their throats. It was painfully obvious they were already gone. Stone and his other lackey stood, talking in the center of the room. “NOOOOOOOO!”

I bucked the door off its hinges and it slammed into the other hired help, knocking him clean out. After that, I finally got a clear look at Stone. He was a black pegasus stallion with dark grey eyes and a very light grey mane.

Stone’s eyes were wide only for an instant until he saw me. Then they grew even bigger. I could see my eyes reflecting in his, and they were glowing an angry red color. He backed away, but I was too quick. I head-butted him into a wall, and he had difficulty getting up. When he did, he flared his wings and pushed me backwards. It was at this point that the roof began caving in, and Stone took this chance to fly out the window and get away.

“Get back here!” I growled in a tone that made me sound like an adult stallion that was possessed by something. “Come back! I'll get you for what you did to my parents!”

I made a move to go after him, but stopped myself. The anger in me had reached a breaking point, but I had something that was more important to do that revenge. I turned to the bodies on the bed.

“Mom... Dad... Hold on, I’ll get you out of here...” I said aloud, knowing they couldn’t hear me.

I dragged them down the stairs and out of the house just before the entire thing collapsed from the raging flames. I heard a pop and saw a flash as I collapsed between the two of them and just laid there. The adrenaline in me had worn off, and then all the damage I’d actually done to myself was allowed to show itself. I couldn’t move to see what the flash was.

I’m not sure how long I just kinda laid there, but after what seemed like forever, I heard more hoof-steps. I figured Stone had come back to finish his job. I looked up. A golden stallion and a blue mare stood above me, smiling warmly. The stallion picked me up with his magic and laid me on his back.

“Hey, little guy. Can you tell us what happened here? Help is on it’s way to clean this place up... looks like you were the only survivor. Sorry to see that, bud... I’m Golden. This is my wife, Elegant. Want to come home with us? You... really don’t have a home here anymore...”

He turned his body in such a way as to allow me to see the remains of my house. All that was left was a smouldering pile of ash and soot. In front of it laid my parents. They lay motionless, their coats dulled and dirtied with blood.

I struggled to find words to say to them. “I-I’d like to go w-with you... The p-pony that did this... Dad c-called him S-Stone Heart...”

The couple froze at the name. “Not him... You are a very lucky colt. You have no idea what you have just survived. What’s your name?”

“Ruddy... Ruddy Knuckles...” I was starting to sob at that point, because the realization of the whole situation was finally kicking in.

“Nice to meet you, Ruddy. Hey, what’s your cutie mark stand for, bud?” Golden asked.

I hadn’t noticed before, but that must have been what that flash was. I turned to see a white fox that appeared to have nine tails on my flank. “I... I don’t know... I got it while fighting... or bringing my parents out of the house... I just... don’t know...”

Elegant stepped in at that point. “That’s alright, sweetie. Get some sleep. You must be exhausted.”

I WAS exhausted. I was slowly losing consciousness. The only thing on my mind as they walked away from the remains of my house; of my family, was Stone Heart. As I passed out, vengeance was grabbing hold of my mind...

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

“RUDDY! If you can hear me, RUN! Get out of here NOW!”

That was the line that played in my head over and over. That was the line that was the reason I changed my name. I figured, if I lose the name, I’ll lose the memory. It worked, for the most part, as I only ever had the nightmares occasionally after I changed it. The thing that still tugged at me and made me angry was not all the memories that were my burden, but the fact that the stallion that caused them all was still at large.

I ground my teeth together as the flashback ended. I see it every so often, but each time it gets more and more vivid. “I’ll get you yet... Stone... just wait and see!” I thought to myself.

I had walked all around town and was near the Hoof residence again. I walked in, and they turned to me, both eating in the living room.

“How was your walk, Ryku?” Golden said calmly.

“Fine, thanks.” I said with more venom than I had intended.

Elegant spoke next. “You seem tense. Did you have your flashback again?”

“That obvious, huh?” I sighed. “Yeah. Hey... Ele... I mean, Mom and Dad? I want to go out on my own. I want to find Stone... Will you let me do that? I have to put what’s happened in my past straight. I’ll never be able to move on if I don’t...”

Elegant and Golden gave uneasy glances towards each other. Finally, Elegant spoke. “If that’s really what you want... Yes. But try to visit once and awhile once you’re gone, okay? So we know you’re alright, that is.”

“Or at least send us a letter. At least do that much, alright?” Golden hesitated. “Come. Eat dinner and get some sleep. It’s nearing seven now. You want to leave soon, I’m guessing?”

I just simply nodded.

“Then we’ll see you off in the morning if you want.” Elegant smiled. “I love you, Ruddy...

Golden spoke up too. “Yes. We love you like you’re our own. Get some rest. We’ll... see you off in the morning...”

“Thank you both so much! I love you both too.” I could tell they were sad to see that I wanted to leave, but I was of the age to leave home anyway. I didn’t correct Elegant on the name because it really wasn’t the time to fret something like that.
I ate a quick dinner and then went into my room. I packed up everything I thought I’d need, then laid down on that same, dull orange bed.

“I’ll find you yet, Stone. I know you’re still out there. I’ll finally have closure for my parents when I find you...” With this last thought, I drifted off into a deep sleep.

(~~~~~~~~~)

I woke up with renewed determination for the mission I was about to embark on. I got up before ten in the morning and went down to find Golden and Elegant already up, and a huge breakfast made. We ate in silence and afterwards, I grabbed everything I’d packed up. Against what I wanted, Golden gave me a nice sum of bits totaling about three-hundred and Elegant gave me a journal to keep with me and write letters for them in. Besides that, I had a picture of my true family and a picture of my adopted family, a sketch I’d made of Stone Heart, and enough food to last me at least a few days. I gazed at my most prized and only possessions I had in the world before I placed them back into my saddlebags and strapped the bags onto my back.

The couple that stood in front of me were not strangers anymore to me. Quite the opposite. They were family to me as much as my true family.

“I... I love you, Mom and Dad... I’ll make sure to write to you whenever something big happens, okay?” I said, holding back some tears.

My mother was having a harder time keeping her tears at bay. “Please...stay safe, Rud...I mean... Ryku...” She gave me a strong hug.

“Please, Mom... to the two of you, I’ll always be Ruddy.” I let a few tears fall free as she pulled away from our embrace.

“We can’t change your mind... can we?” Golden asked, pulling me into his own hug.

I smiled. “No, not this time. I have to do this. I have to find him. For Flame. For Crimson. For me.” I stopped and looked at the both of them. “I’ll miss the two of you. You’ve been here for me whenever I’ve needed you. But this is something I have to do. If I don’t, I won’t be able to move on in my life. I’m sure I’ll get in some trouble before I’m done, but when I do find him and deal with him, you can bet I’ll come back home to you both. Thank you. For everything.” I had tears streaming down my face by the time I finished.

“We’ll miss you too!” They both exclaimed at once giving me one last warm embrace.

As they released, Elegant turned away, nearly wailing in sadness. Golden looked at me with both sadness and and pride. “You make sure you come home and visit from time to time if this mission of your’s takes longer than you hope, okay?”

“Of course. I love you both. Well... I better be off. Goodbye... I hope to see the two of you again sometime soon.” I walked out the door, but I heard them say one last thing as I began my journey.

They both looked at me and said in unison, “Come home soon, Ruddy.We love you.”

I waved at them with a big smile on my face and tears still in my eyes. Turning away and walking down the road, there was one thing on my mind. “Heh... It’s going to be a long time before I hear that name again... This isn’t goodbye forever. I’ll complete my mission and be back before you know it... I hope.”

With that thought in my mind and a long journey ahead of me, I took the first of many steps to finding Stone and avenging my family...

Comments

[Satin]

[12:11:29 AM] DemonRykuKyuubi: Whatcha think?
[12:11:37 AM] Satin: oh it's fantastic
[12:11:43 AM] DemonRykuKyuubi: interesting bit of Ryku's past?
[12:12:08 AM] Satin: oh def
[12:12:15 AM] Satin: very opposite end of Satin too
[12:12:25 AM] Satin: we're very night and day ponies
[12:12:35 AM] Satin: just opposite end of the spectrum, and I like it
[12:13:00 AM] DemonRykuKyuubi: I think it gives a chance of both an antagonist and a visit from the adoptive parents.
[12:13:08 AM] DemonRykuKyuubi: and yeah, exact opposites
[12:13:22 AM] Satin: it's like we planned it
[12:13:55 AM] DemonRykuKyuubi: Heh, and yet Satin is Ryku's only friend right now....HOW?
[12:14:51 AM] Satin: because, and I quote, "I like you"
[12:15:07 AM] DemonRykuKyuubi: Oh, right. That woiuld do it.

[Literature]

That was interesting.

[DevilsMessiah]

I like your parents. They're cool by my watch!

[Kronos Frostwind]

I get you for what you did to my parents!”
^
I'll

Grammar nazi... AWAY!