Chapter 1 - A Forest Stroll

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Onyx was a warhorse, His master, and master's relatives, preferred heavy powerful horses over the faster more agile ones. As such his ancestry is that of draft horse lineage. A Percheron more specifically, bred over generations for the battlefield. He was a prime specimen, black with just a little white on the top of his head going down partway down his muzzle and some white feathering around the hooves. Tail and mane are silvery white, with the mane being cropped close.

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Not a bad summer day, Onyx thought to himself. He was taking Sir Marcus south at a leisurely pace, so most likely to his friends at the neighboring castle a few hours away still. The sparse woods blocking enough of the sun and a nice breeze blowing through keep him cool. The path was well trodden upon, but that was to be expected as it is a busy enough road from the south to the north.

Upon rounding the latest bend we came across one of clearings on the side of the road. Usually used for travelers to camp for the night, sometimes merchants sell wares from their wagons while resting. Today however, there were just a knight and his horse sitting there taking a break it looked like.

"Hail, fellow knight," the one in the clearing stated as he stood up giving his name that I did not hear all the way. I heard Marcus return the greeting. They continued talking to each other as me and the other stallion just stared at each other until we both gave a simple snort.

All the while thinking to myself that this is one sad looking stallion to be used by a knight. It is under weight and much too small to be used as a warhorse. From the looks of him, he would make a nice steed for a boy or young squire though.

Onyx watched the other knight walk over and hand Sir Marcus a lance as he felt himself being tugged to turn and walk to the other end of the clearing. Damn, I should have paid attention to the knights he thought. It seems we are about to have a small joust. He almost feel sorry for the other knight and horse knowing this was not going to turn out well for them. Even knowing that he and Marcus would easily win, was no reason to pass up an opportunity to have a joust. Sir Marcus just loved to joust. He could not blame him though as he loved them just as much. Though admittedly not as fun as a joust at a tournament, these friendly roadside jousts do add some excitement to the day.

Standing at the end of the clearing and looking back he saw the knight laying some small logs in a row as a makeshift list. After a few minutes the knight was upon his horse at the other end. He felt Sir Marcus shift upon his back, letting him know he had his lance raised and to charge once he sees the other knight do the same. He did not have to wait but a few moments until the signal was given.

He started to trot and quickly ramped up to a gallop, the other steed doing the same. As they approached the other knight, Sir Marcus bellows a warning as the other knight started to laugh. Almost about to collide, as he heard the one word he did not expect. Sir Marcus had shouted, "Attack!" An instant later he felt the collision and watched as the other knight fell to the ground. Knowing what was to be done next, he immediately turned and stomped his hoof into the knight. He was being forcefully turned back to the road but not before giving a kick at the other stallion. His back hoof missed its mark as the other stallion was able to jump back just in time. Making it back onto the dirt path he heard voices and felt the sharp stab of something in his rear flank. Having no time to worry about that he started back north.

Running through the sparse woods, he knew that was a trap set by marauding highwaymen. Either to try to steal him, slay him, slay Marcus, slay both of them, capture Sir Marcus for ransom, extort money, or whatever their plain was. The arrows keep flying past us every now and then. He could tell Sir Marcus Insverdire has been injured due to the unchivalrous actions of knight and his men. Those same men were now in pursuit of them both.

Only thinking one thought was on his mind as he increased his gallop back to Marcus's own lands. He must get him to safety away from these men. As a steed this was one of his duties, but Marcus was his friend and that's what was pushing him to gallop faster. His friend had taken at least one arrow, he could feel the blood upon back. He did not know when but suspected it was shortly after or before running that other knight to the ground. Marcus had not said anything since that time, and was leaning forward heavily in the saddle.

Letting a thought trail to his own pains he took note of what injuries he felt. Hmm, I have taken another arrow to my right rear leg, and at least one has grazed my left side leaving a gash. The ones in my flank are painful though nothing more than just annoyances since they are not very deep. Disregarding my pain I kept running, I must save him if possible.

He has been galloping more than he normally would have by now, entering the thick and hilly part of the forest. This change signals he was getting closer and closer to Sir Marcus's own lands.

I must be more tired than I thought; the air ahead of me on the road is shimmering, and looks somewhat strange. I cannot place it, like a shimmering watery mist somewhat similar to the outer spray edges of a waterfall. It does not make much sense. I see no rain falling from the sky and all the low lying fog has burned off hours ago. The area on the path ahead is just so out of place and strange looking. I want to stop, or go around, but there is no room for me to easily do this unless I walk very slowly in this part of the forest. As for stopping, I cannot, until I know the highwaymen are no longer chasing. Though the sounds are getting farther away, I still dare not slow. Looks like I will be running through this strange mist before me. With that final thought, I lowered my head and charged into the strange air I saw on the path laid out before me.

Suddenly all traces of light vanished as he was plunged into a black void of nothingness. Strange sensations came rushing to his mind. He felt like his head was swimming. The air was cold but burned to breathe. My entire body tingled with a pin prick feeling. Hooves no longer felt like they were pounding on treaded forest path and emitted a sound like a hollow echo. After the a few moments the air felt to be getting warmer.

Almost as fast as the void and those feelings came they are gone; he heard a loud snap accompanied by the feel of an extremely sharp pain in his right foreleg. It is a feeling he had never felt, it is worse than anything felt before. That was something to be said, though he was still young, he had his fair share of battle wounds. Head starting to spin from the pain caused his orientation to falter. He was falling.

I do not fall!! I am Onyx of Thakmanu, war steed of the honorable Sir Marcus Insverdire, this does not happen, he shouted.

With wild realization the source of his most immediate pain and the noise just heard came flying into his mind. His right foreleg had been broken if not more. Onyx’s fall came to an abrupt stop as he was slammed into a tree causing a sharp pain in his side. He cursed at the tree as he crumbled into a heap at the base of the tree with his vision fading rapidly to black.

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He awoke with a startle. The pain, it was almost unbearable. What happened? As he tried to recall his last visions. He Looked to the tree and gave a gruff snort. With his defiance given to his latest opponent he tried to block the pain and get back to what he needed to do, his master came first.

Where is Sir Marcus?

Frantically, he looked around in the area he could see from his position on his side near the tree. He was not able to spot him. Marcus must have been thrown into the brush or out of his viewing area when the vile tree attacked him. It might have happened when he felt that weird tingly burning sensation just before the crash but he was unsure. Only sure he was not visible nor could I hear any sounds of him. Even if I had seen him there would have been nothing I could have been able to do. A Horse with only three working legs was of no use in this land.

I have failed him. I failed my master, my friend, my duty. I was not able to get him safe from the battle. I am not worthy of being called his war steed.

Reigning in his tears and hatred of himself while trying to block the pain of his injuries, He started to think of their times in the past. He had been a great knight, a great master, a great partner in battle, and an even greater friend. He would miss the tournaments. Nothing compared to the thrill of running the list and the clash of lance against armor. The look upon those lesser steeds, as he carried his friend with glee and determination. The cheers of those in the stands given to Marcus and him when standing victorious at the end. Those days would be no more. He knew he would probably not survive long enough to see the moon rise tomorrow; his wounds to great, and even if he did his friend was gone.

He lay there, berating himself as he finally noticed there have been no sounds or signs of the pursuit he was fleeing from. Unless found, only a few things can happen. He would be found by a human and slain due to his injuries. If lucky they will find a way to tend to his injuries, doubtful considering it is a severe leg injury, but then he would have to serve a new master. He knew few could be as great as his old friend. Very few other humans at tournaments and battles were as great, unfortunately they all had steeds that are in the same league as him and would have no true need of him. He would end up being a just training horse or breeding stallion, neither of which interested him.

Of course, the wildlife could find him and the natural food chain take its course. At least he knew any predator that finds him would dine upon a great feast. The final fate he had thought of was by far the worse, he could starve. A process that would take about a week, maybe two, depending on if his injuries did not take him by tomorrow night, as there is water nearby that he can drag himself to.

Listening once again for those he ran from. Expecting to hear their triumphant cheers break the silence as they finally catch up and claim victory over his fallen master. But the sounds do not come. The only sounds he heard come forth was the sound of the small stream flowing slowly over rocks with a nice burbling sound, along with those of the birds and a few small woodland creatures.

The system shock is subsiding and pain is filtering in. About six of his seven years alive have been spent in constant training as a warhorse allowing him to ignore most pain for a while but this pain is surpassing that training. He thought back to his early days in training. The intentional cuts and stabs, all small shallow and where no permanent damage would be given by the stable hands and his master. All to make him used to minor pains and able to continue doing what he was meant to do. He used to hate that back then, but now he saw it was time well spent or he would be unable to even think. This pain though has been creeping from the back of his mind is forcing his attention on it and no longer able to suppress it. With it sinking in he starts to take stock of his overall condition.

His armor was a mess. It's dented and the chainmail is even torn in a few places. His right foreleg is producing most of the excruciating pain he is feeling. Trying to look at it he sees some blood, not too much, but his view is limited and it is still trickling slowly down his foreleg. Looking back at his right rear flank seeing there are still two arrows protruding however, the shafts have been broken and the bleeding from those appears to have stopped for now. Nothing that has not happened before, I have been hit with arrows several times. They will just be a slight annoyance of pain unless the actual shaft is moved around. Too bad he did not have on all his armour he thought. Had he been fully armoured, part of his armor having been left in that large bag situated behind the saddle, the arrows would not be sticking in his flank at all.

He was lying on his left side but could feel a gash just under where the armour on that side stops. Right where an arrow grazed his side during the escape but that is of minor concern. Even Sir Marcus would have probably only rinsed it with water and Marcus treated him better than his own son.

I will miss Sir Marcus. I only hope he is found before the wildlife does, for a proper burial.

There is a sharp pain in his side that has him concerned, it is not bleeding very much from what he can tell, and he does not think anything major was injured internally. But the feeling of his armor having been punctured and the inwardly dented and fractured metal is piercing his hide was unmistakable. Assuming it must have been a protrusion from the tree or something on the ground when he fell that caused it what the best guess he had as its cause.

Internally laughing as it made him think of that time a amateur knight dropped his lance and he got speared. The looks on the stable hands as if they were going to murder him in retribution. But my friend did not even bring charges to bear upon discovering my injury was not life threatening.

Pulling himself away from his thoughts of the past and back to the current situation. He was quite positive he had broken or fractured a rib or three. Due to his slight trouble of breathing he feared one might have damaged a lung, especially when he tried to take a deep breath.

Looking to the stream about ten feet away, he started to shimmy over to it while still on his left side. Unfortunately this did not working well but he was slowly getting over there. This little venture hurt like hell, and almost caused him to pass out when he accidentally tried to move his right foreleg With a frown upon his face he wondered how much of a mess he was making to the already damaged armour, let alone aggravating these some of the cuts.

Cursing in my head about how exhausting that little distance was. I mean really it took 20 minutes to finally get to this stream. I hope it taste alright.

Looking over at the stream he is thankful it is at least nice and calm here, not very deep and the bank is just a shallow slope to lay his head on. After his inspection of the water he swings his head to the edge and takes a drink. A smirk on his muzzle as at least one thing has gone alright today, that being the water tasted nice and was cool and refreshing. Lying there glad his effort to get over here was worth it he takes a look around where he can at the new location.

Something seems off to him as he looks around. He should be able to figure out where he is, as the part of the forest he was supposed to be in was very familiar to him. Before the leg breaking he was in the thick part of the forest with lots of hills on the south border of Sir Marcus's lands. It was a very dense part of the forest, and he was on the only heavy traveled path cutting through that part and slopes on each. But where he was flat, not real hills anywhere near him or the path. Slightly worried he wondered just where he was.

It was just past mid-morning when the events happened but it seems he lost consciousness for longer than he assumed. The sun was into early afternoon now, probably only three hours of daylight left he assumed. Assuming he is injured more than he thought he starts to think back to that shimmering watery mist from earlier. After a few minutes he decides that it must have just been from the pain or sweat dripping into his eyes. Either way, he would not be able to do anything but lay here and try to block the pain.

After some time he can feel all his energy draining away as he lays there. His breathing is slightly harder now, but that is probably due to the injuries and lack of energy. The pain is still there and it's not going anywhere.

Damn, I hurt. My Eyes cannot even focus right anymore.

Letting the pain and fatigue take hold again he decides there is no use in trying to fight it. Falling back into unconsciousness.

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Chapter 2 - The Beast in the Orchard

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Three young fillies were cutting through the apple orchards to the park, when the small white unicorn with green eyes sporting a mane and tail of pale purple and light pink just stops.

"Sweetie Bell why ya look like ya saw a ghost", said the gold eyed, blonde coated filly with a red mane containing a dark pink bow in it.

"I don't know Apple Bloom, my horn just started feeling weird", stated Sweetie Bell. "It is nothing like when Rarity tries to show me how to levitate things.“ Sweetie Bell gives a yelp and rubs her horn. At the same time, the orchard seemed to flash with an orange glow, for a brief instant that caught their attention.

They all looked at each other and yell, “Cutie Mark Crusader Strange Light Investigators...GO!” And gallop off in the direction they saw the light.

As they get closer to where they saw it they hear the sound of labored breathing. Laughing, the orange pegasus filly with magenta colored mane and tail, purple eyes and small wings points at Apple Bloom and says "It sounds like your sister after she gets into one of those races with Rainbow Dash.

"Does not!" yells Apple Bloom, "Its way to deep and loud. Even Big Mac doesn't sound like that Scootaloo" sticking her tongue out at the offender.

As the two fillies continue to go back and forth with their meaningless banter they slowly creep up with what's making the noise. With a high pitched shriek they ready themselves to gallop away. However, the fact of the thing is not moving brings Sweetie's voice up.

"H-hey look, it's wearing armor like a guard?!", Sweetie Bell yells.

They stop and actually look at what they were about to run from. It's a massive black beast. It looks like a pony but to a size they have never even imagined a pony could be. It is black as midnight, with white feathering of the coat near the hooves. As they approach closer to the large pony’s head laying by the stream to see if it is awake, they can see some white on it’s forehead under the short cropped silvery white mane.

Scootaloo speaks up as she starts pointing at various parts of the big pony, "I think we need to go get somepony, look at the blood and its coat is all scuffed up and armour is all messy." I don't know what this is exactly but it is injured."

"Let's get Fluttershy, she's good with big creatures," Apple Bloom says. With one last glance back at the big pony she looked to her friends and they took off east to Fluttershy's house.

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The clearing around Fluttershy’s home was as tranquil as ever. Sun shining down into the area, birds singing in the trees while squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, and other small critters hopped about happily in the afternoon sun. The tranquility was soon interrupted by the sounds of six sets of hooves pounding on hard packed earth. It had taken almost fifteen minutes for the three fillies arrive. As they crossed over the small bridge on the path leading to Fluttershy’s home they start to yell her name. Suddenly a yellow pegasus mare with long flowing pink mane and tail landed in front of them. Trying to avoid crashing into her, they tumbled over each other as they slid to a stop.

“Umm, hi girls," she says quietly, "what can I help you with?" while looking at them with one of her large azure eyes, the other hidden behind her mane.

All at once they start talking, until Sweetie Bell puts a hoof in each of their mouths to quiet them.

Speaking fast Sweetie Bell starts saying, "We found a creature! It looks like a pony but bigger and we’re not sure if it's a pony or not, but it's injured."

"And we know you are good with all types of animals Fluttershy," Scootaloo yelled.

"It is not that far away, it's just west of here on the parks south side", exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Oh, ah am gonna get mah sister... see yall there" and with that Apple Bloom gallops off.

Listening to what was said Fluttershy tells them "Wait here", as she walks into her house. After a few minutes pass by she returned from inside her house with a little pouch. "Ok take me to it girls" she says with a quiet and calm voice.

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Lying there, conciseness is slow to return to Onyx. His mind foggy and he is unable to open his eyes. The sounds of the stream and forest are muffled. He can hear voices, but unable to make them out. They must be far away. Trying to lift his head to get a drink he finds he is unable.

Trying to think through the pain and the haze, he comes up with that he has been injured far worse than he thought. The voices are closer. He is trying to listen but his body will not heed his commands. A voice gets really close but he is still unable to get his body to focus on the words, move, or open his eyes. Struggling to stay conscious he gives a small neigh and snort, as he drifts back into sleep.

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Bursting out of the trees and into the clearing but staying far away, the two CMC members point and say “Here it is,” simultaneously. In the clearing marking the end of the apple orchard and next to the stream lays the large black pony like creature. Fluttershy freezes in her tracks upon seeing it, just as Apple Bloom and her sister are coming up from behind.

"Hey Fluttershy how are... w-what in tarnation is that!!" the orange mare with blonde mane and tail tied back in loose ponytails, as she comes up next to her stunned friend.

"I-I-I I don't know Applejack. It looks like a big pony almost, but look at that size," she says while ducking behind her friend.

"Apple Bloom, go tell Big Mac ta get here n’bring ropes an then ya come right back" Applejack tells her sister. Looking at Scootaloo she says "go in get Twilight, then go to the hospital an get a doctor an a nurse. An if ya see Rainbow Dash tell her to get all the clouds on the south side of town gone, but don't go looking for her ya here!" with that both CMC members are gone.

Looking up she sees some of the ponies from the nearby park have noticed the commotion and have gathered pointing and muttering, but staying far away. Applejack starts to walk up to the large creature with Fluttershy in tow. "Well ain't this somethin, it's like a guards armour but the armour is so much more covering and intricate" upon getting closer she gasps.

"Look at these injuries, where's that doctor." she states.

Looking down on the what can only be called a 'big pony', she sees a small pool of blood under his forelegs and upper chest that still slowly growing. The foreleg itself is a mangled mess. The skin is pierced and torn in a couple places with blood still slowly seeping out. Many cuts, mostly small, all down the right side and underbelly. A moderate deep piercing wound on the side and shafts of wood sticking out of his rear flank. "Ah don't even want to think of the side he is laying on" Applejack says.

Fluttershy is unable to do more than nod slowly with tears in her eyes.

Looking up she sees his ears twitch as if trying to locate the voices. Running up to his head Fluttershy ask "Can you hear me, it will be ok, you are going to be ok" She sees his eyelids twitch but remain closed, and a neighing sound with a soft snort, then only the slow heavily labored breathing. She looks back at Applejack with worried eyes.

Applejack lost in her thoughts gives a slight smile to try and reassure her. Thinking to herself that he might be in a life threatening situation unless we get those wounds patched up. Where could these wounds like this come from? Hell, where did he come from?" she hears Apple Bloom coming up and looks over with a worried face.

"Applejack, Applejack!, he's on his way, he had to go get ropes, Ah told him lots an lots of them as many as he could get, " shouted Apple Bloom while running up.

Minutes later several equines came galloping into the clearing. The first was a lavender unicorn mare with straight dark purple mane and tail that each contained a streak of purple and pink in it. Upon her back rode a small light purple scaled dragon, little green spikes lined down it’s spine. Following them was a brown unicorn stallion with dark brown mane and wearing a lab coat, and a white mare with pale pink mane and tail carrying a bag with a bandage roll threatening to spill out.

Before anypony can even start to guess what they are looking at the doctor starts shouting orders. Instructing the lavender unicorn mare to removed the armor with her magic, another unicorn assisting due to the size and weight of what has been deemed the 'big pony'.

"Twilight Sparkle, I don't know exactly what this is, but I am going to assume it's similar to us. I am just going to guess on a sedative amount" the doctor states to the lavender unicorn mare.

Applejack interrupts saying "sedative what for?", "It is already passed out by the looks of it."

Looking up grimly, "True, but we need to do some stuff here and I don't want a beast this large waking up on me. Plus we will then need to get it to the hospital." The doctor continues on "I am not sure what this is, but it looks like a pony. A super massive pony but a pony none the less. Until I know for sure if it's a sapient pony or some beast that just looks like one it will get medical care at the hospital."

Twilight interjects with "Just do it, don't waste time, we don't want it to die on us!" while turning to Spike asking him to take a note and send it immediately about this asking if the princess has ever heard of a pony like this. Tell her it is injured and that we are working on getting it treated." Walking over to Applejack, "Do you have any idea what this is? I have never seen anything like it even in my studies."

Approaching the commotion, a large red stallion rounds the trees at the end. Standing there with the ropes he was told to bring, he sees just why. His eyes widen and his jaw slight drops. One of the larger and stronger ones in town, he has always just taken it for granted that when he shows up it is because he is needed for some heavy lifting. Seeing a shape of a pony like creature much, much larger than he is, he just does not know what to do.

Applejack sees the red stallion showing up, "hey Big Mac over here", as she waves for him to come over. He is just standing there. Applejack repeats, "hey Big Mac, get over here".

As he is turning she hears him say "Nope". With that Big Mac disappears back around the tree line where he had come from.

Applejack is stunned, along with everyone else around. Was Big Mac scared? She wondered. She had never seen her brother do something like that before. Nopony has. Turning to Apple Bloom she tells her to go get him and make him come back.

"Yes sis," replied Apple Bloom as she takes off after him, with Scootaloo close behind.

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Running up to her big brother, Apple Bloom asked, "What's wrong, we need you there?"

Stopping and looking down, "I know what they want and I am not going to try to pull that thing," he replies.

"So you are just going to leave!" yelled Apple Bloom.

"Eeeyup" as he starts to trot.

"Well Ah cannot believe it, mah big brother running away too scared to help just cause the pony is bigger than him" cries Apple Bloom.

"Nope," he says with a smile, "just come with me," as he continues his trot to the barn.

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The small purple dragon that has been hanging around Twilight, gets a awkward look to his face like he is going to puke, then suddenly belches a small flame as a scroll pops out. He turns and hands it to Twilight. Looking at Fluttershy and Applejack, Twilight reads the letter. "The princess does not know, but she will be here tomorrow. Until then we are to treat it as a pony and citizen of Equestria" putting her hoof to her chin she starts to think. "Even with magic, which I don't sense any active spell, I don't know of any spell that can be used to make yourself this big" she says quietly to herself with that she feels a tapping on her leg and looks down to see Sweetie Bell.

"Yes, Sweetie Belle" says Twilight.

"Umm, I don't know if it was magic or not but my horn felt weird before we saw a flash of orange that lead us to him" she says while looking at her feet.

"I didn't think you were doing magic yet, what do you mean your horn felt weird?" Twilight asked with a puzzled look.

Looking up she puffs out her chest and says "Rarity's been trying to teach me levitation" with a big smile.

Twilight looks down smiling, "Oh, that's nice but what about your horn and the orange light?"

"See right before we saw an orange light flash over here where we found him my horn was feeling weird." she stammered. "I don't know it was not like when I try to use magic it was like something else was trying to use my horn, and right when the flash happened it hurt for a second," she looked up at Twilight with slight worry in her expression .

"Hmm, I don't know, I will have to look into it. But don't worry it is not anything wrong with your horn" Twilight stated matter of factly, At the same time she did a slight check with her magic to make sure her horn was actually ok.

Twilight starts going over stuff in her mind, trying to remember about references to cases where magic was forcibly pulled from a unicorn. She remembers having seen some and will have to make sure to review them when she gets back home.

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"Finally" said the doctor while turning to Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy. "We have removed two arrows, disinfected all visible wounds, and are finishing the bandaging so we can transport him to the hospital." tapping his clipboard, he starts saying "I think a specialized unicorn medical team from the big hospital in Canterlot will need to be called in for assistance if you can send a letter to get home notified for me Twilight."

Twilight turns to inform Spike to send another letter this time informing the princess as to the request the doctor asked.

"How ya figure its foreleg got damaged that badly" asked Applejack.

"Well based on its size and weight, I can only imagine it was at a full gallop when it happened. That might also account for most of the other injuries. You can also see he hit that tree over there and apparently dragged himself over to the water."

"Most the injuries?" questioned Twilight

"Well the arrows in his rear flank didn't come from the tree." added the doctor.

"Yea, Ah figured he looked to be some sort of guard pony." Applejack mused."Would not even want to imagine what he was guarding though."

Quietly speaking Fluttershy asks, "How do you plan on moving him and I don't think he will fit in the hospital."

With that they hear Apple Bloom and Scootaloo announcing they have come back with Big Mac.

"An here Ah thought ya chickened out, but instead ya went and got our two largest flat wagons," Applejack says to her brother "Ah knew you were not really running off chicken."

"Eeeyup" was all Big Mac said.

Twilight looked at the 'big pony' then back at the carts with a quick glance to Big Mac. "I don't think that is going to work, we are going to need several unicorns just to lift him." What will be best is several unicorns lift him into two wagons. Then Applejack and Big Mac will pull them, but with a couple of the other unicorns helping to supporting most the weight."

After some modifications, the two wagons are hooked together by Applejack and Big Mac. With some slight struggling and lots of caution, the doctor and nurse lead the unicorns in levitating and positioning the 'big pony' onto the flat wagons. The armour that was removed finds itself being put near the back of the now elongated wagon.

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Two hours later they are finally back at the hospital. A rather large makeshift room is in the process of being completed on the side of the hospital; big enough that it will accommodate the new patient and any medical equipment needed. During transport of the 'big pony', the three little fillies of the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided that he needed a better name. After a little arguing they came up with the name Ash and told all the other ponies, who readily agreed on that as his new name until they could figure out his real one. All of the ponies that were involved in the transport have been outside awaiting word on the final condition of Ash.

"Whew that was heavy an hard work" Applejack huffed. "Hey Twilight did the doctor get the size and weight of this big, err Ash fellow here yet?"

Knowing the interior door to the hospital has not been finished yet she responds with, "I don't know, we can ask one of the nurses next time we see them."

Almost as if called, a nurse exits the room to go back to the main part of the hospital. "Not sure if you want to really know, but he is about 18 hooves at his withers and just over 2100 lbs" the passing nurse injected.

As the nurse trots away both of them are just standing there with jaws partly open. After a few moments they snap back and look at each other.

"Hey, Twi... she said withers right? Not top of the head like normal?" questioned Applejack.

"Well, being unable to stand they cannot get a full height measurement. Only from a hoof on a foreleg to the top of the withers while lying down," answered Twilight.

"How tall are ya Twi?" quizzed Applejack.

Twilight responded with "You know I am about as tall as you, around 3'5" or so," while raising an eyebrow to give a quizzical look of why she is asking.

Noticing Twilight's expression, Applejack starts talking again. "Well, Big Mac is about one foot taller than Ah am, and Princess Celestia is almost a foot taller than him." Twilight’s eyes start to go wide as she continues, "an the nurse just said was he’s about six foot at only his withers, so..." she stops mid sentence waiting for her friend to catch up as she notices Twilight starting to take some notes.

Looking up at her friend she tells her, "Oh sorry AJ, I was just writing this down so I could report to the princess later." Giving a chuckle "Did you ever think your flats wagons would end up being the majority part of a hospital bed?" she finishes with a grin.

"Well, no, an Ah do expect them back at some point," she stated rather loudly as the doctor passed by hurriedly. "I have to get back to the farm." announced Applejack. "See you here tomorrow morning with the princess." Waving as she walked away.

Walking back to her house Twilight was trying to remember what books she saw those forced magic pull cases from. Mentally adding in that she needed to send another update letter to the princess about this magic pull question and the concern of Ash's actual size. She can hardly believe the actual size of him how that she has numbers to go with what she already saw. How can his body even support that weight, she wonders as she enters her home.

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The next day Ponyville was abuzz with rumors of the 'big pony' now being called Ash by more people.

Twilight waited outside the hospital for the princesses to show up, along with Applejack. Her friends Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had pegasus business in Cloudsdale the rest of the week. Her white unicorn friend, Rarity might show up just to see but probably not she thought and her shockingly pink friend Pinkie Pie, well who knows with that mare. She chucked slightly at that last thought glad nopony heard.

Outside she heard the familiar sounds of the royal chariot landing. Approaching her now was a tall regal white mare with both a unicorn horn and pegasus wings. Her mane and tail long with a multitude of colors, seeming flowing despite the lack of a breeze. Next to her was a slightly smaller a dark yet equally regal mare also with horn and wings. Just like the white one she stands next to, her own main and tail sparkling like the night sky, seemed to move on its own.

"Hello, Twilight Sparkle" announced the white regal mare. A nod from the other was given towards her.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, welcome welcome, I am so glad you came" she excitedly said as she took them Ash's hospital room.

"Let me get the doctor" as she bolted through the newly made door into the hospital.

Looking around the room the two princesses saw that while it was constructed with haste, it was still completely within reason for a hospital room. It lacked the finishing touches, but it contained all the equipment, some sitting for visitors off to the side, a wash station, it even had an area to bathe at in the back. Almost good enough to be considered a permanent new addition to the hospital. With a nod to each other they agreed the town had done well in accommodating the new patient.

Now onto the main reason they are here, the two princesses approached the magically coma induced Ash.

"Wow sister" stated Luna, "We- I have never seen a pony so, so large."

"You are correct my sister with We, for I never have in all my time never even heard in legends of a pony this large." Looking as if she’s gone into deep thought, she starts to speak again. "The overall shape looks to be of an equine from Saddle Arabia descent, I will have to inquire about that possibility to their ambassadors when we return." with a nod to her sister, who nods back.

The door suddenly opened and in came Twilight with the doctor in tow.

"What is the patient's status?" queried princess Celestia.

"Gr-gre-greetings Princess Celestia and Princess Luna", stammered the doctor with a slight bow. "Ash, as people have named him for now, has extensive injuries and as such is in a magically induced coma for the time. Small puncture wounds to the right rear flank from arrows, multiple cuts and bruises along the right side and underbelly along with a moderate puncture wound on the right side." turning the page he continues, "Two cracked ribs and three broken ones, the right lung was damaged from the broken ribs but not too badly, and most other major organs were spared, all of those will heal."

Letting out a long sigh, he turns to show them the x-ray of his right foreleg. "As you can see, the bones are completely shattered and it has been ripped from its socket in the shoulder, tearing all the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. I have sent a request to the national hospital in Canterlot for a specialized unicorn surgery team to try and fix this," he says as he turns back.

"Very well, I will see they arrive immediately", states princess Celestia. The guard at the door gives a knowing nod as he turns and heads out. You can hear his wings spread as he launches into the air.

Fidgeting the doctor pulls out two more x-rays and puts them on the viewer.

"We here at the hospital are not sure but we think he might be a pony that was afflicted with some defect at birth." The doctor went on "putting his size away he is almost exactly like us ponies except for four major points." pointing to the shoulder of the forelegs he points out the motion range is very limited, "but we are not sure if it's a defect or not since all the bones and muscles are there just not shaped like we expect." Going to the next one, "the neck is also lacking range of motion considerably that we have, and the vocal cords are underdeveloped. His cranium is also shaped like those from Saddle Arabia or the Zebra Nation, so most likely from equine ancestry of them," turning the viewers off, he turns back to the princesses and Twilight.

The princesses talk to each other off to the side and then come walking back a few minutes later.

"Doctor, do you think magical surgery would work to restore his range of motion in this legs and neck?" queried princess Celestia.

"I-I am not sure, With a skilled enough team I believe it can be done." Tapping his clipboard "Yes, I think it can be, and with time the ligaments will stretch properly with the new alignments and shapes of the joints. But princesses, that would be a very, very complicated procedure, and would severely risk the patient's life." the doctor informed.

"Even if he has been this way all his life, and it appears it was some defect. I am sure he would love to be able to have the proper mobility," went on Twilight.

"Agreed, my student, Princess Luna and I will assist with the surgery including his vocal cords" stated Princess Celestia.

"With our knowledge and magical skill assisting, we will help this young stallion, and find out where he came from", proclaimed Princess Luna.

Looking to the princesses, "I still, even with a bone defect, don't see how he got so large. He makes many of the creatures in the Everfree Forest look small." Looking at Ash, "Where could he have even been hidden, and somepony or ponies have to know him, he had armour on," exclaimed a perplexed looking Twilight.

The princesses stared wide eyed at Twilight, at the same times asking "He had on armour? Let us see it."

Twilight lead the princesses through the door to the outside from his room and pointed with her hoof.

"That is some intricate armour, almost like the type worn back in the founding days of Equestria, and it is clearly intended for battle and not ceremony," informed Princess Luna.

"Indeed it is, however I have never seen its design. It covers much more and would restrict some movement," stated princess Celestia. "I wonder if we have never heard of him and his ailment because he is not from, or did not grow up in Equestria" she asked mostly to herself.

"Oh, that could easily be, but why come here all the sudden?" wondered Princess Luna.

"He might be on a journey to travel back to where his family was originally from or where he has relatives." thought Twilight.

"Very perceptive Twilight, which is a very reasonable answer." smiled princess Celestia.

Walking back inside Twilight asks "doctor when the patient would be ready for surgery."

"The other wounds are healed enough and that leg needs healed as fast as I can get that request through" he hurriedly said.

Looking over to the doctor, "Tomorrow we will return, with the medical team. The surgery will be conducted in the late morning" announced Princess Celestia as she and Luna left with Twilight close behind levitating a quill and parchment.

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Two Months Later

Waking up to the smell of pancakes, a white unicorn stallion with a mane and tail of three shades of blue, stretches, before getting out of bed. Looking back at the bed wishing his wife Princess Cadence was here with him. He arrived late last night at the request of his sister. Leaving the room to go downstairs he leaves the bed unmade just to mess with her. As he walks down the stairs he sees his sister doing what she is usually doing, head in a book. Even though she lives in a library in a tree, he still is amused by how much she loves her books. "Hey Twily, what are you doing reading this early," he asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh nothing, I was just going over mythical creatures and coming up with nothing." Twilight said as she levitated the book back to its spot on the self. Coming up to her brother she looks at him and ask, "What if he really ends up not being a type of pony?" her eyes sad. "I mean the princesses changed some of the bone structure, and we are not sure if he is even sentient anymore. Knowing what we know now after those surgeries were finished and the information from the other two kingdoms, did we do the right thing?”

He looked down at his sister and put is his foreleg over her back. "It will be ok Twily," a slight smile coming to his face. "This is Equestria, and the princesses will make sure they can make up to Ash any wrong doings they have done and make sure his life, whether sapient or not, is comfortable" as he gave her a quick hug.

"If you say so," she said meekly. Upon hearing Spike in the kitchen, they made their way to the wonderful smell of pancakes.

Upon entering, Shining quickly moved to a chair at the table that was pushed up against the wall and helped himself to some apple juice. As Twilight joined him she grabbed some plates and condiments from cupboards with her magic and set them on the table. Twilight was just starting to drink her own apple juice when Shining asked, “So do you have a special somepony yet?” Almost immediately her drink was spit across the room as she was taken by surprise at the sudden question.

“N-N-no I do not, where did that question come from?” she stammered.

“Oh well, I thought you might have or at least have your eye on somepony’” he replied with a smirk noticing her slight blushing as she looked away. “Ahah!, so their is somepony you are interested in. Who is the lucky stallion, or is it a lucky mare?” Spike was laughing uncontrollably over at the stove almost causing the food to burn.

Twilight looked over at Spike with daggers in her eyes, but it did little to stop him. “Well, if there was somepony I was interested in I would not tell you. You would just go all big brother Captain of the Guard on them.”

Seeing right through her obvious lie about not having somepony she was interested in he let it drop as Spike was bringing breakfast over and she was busy doing a quick wipe up of the juice she spit all over the floor.

Everypony was starting to eat when Spike noticed a few gems on the table. “Oh thanks Shining. I knew you would hook a me up with some sweet tasty gems,” picking them up and quickly eating them before the lavender mare could stop him.

“Spike!, remember you are on a sweets diet. If you want to have any cupcakes or cake while helping with Pinkie later, you cannot have any more gems until tonight,” a stern look coming from the lavender mare.

Pouting, the small purple dragon replied, “I know I know, But the gems from the Crystal Empire have a unique taste. I was going to help Rarity go gem hunting but she put that off and then Pinkie asked for me to help. Do you know what she has me helping her with?” putting the last gem down for later.

“No Idea, you should have asked. I am sure you will have fun though,” she answered with while they all finished eating with minor small talk.

“Always great to have home cooked pancakes,” Shining stated as he patted his belly. “I mean the castle chefs are great but its not the same. As they all started to clean up breakfast he started to tell them a story about how Cadence tried to make him some homemade pancakes recently and how she failed in spectacular fashion. With everypony laughing at the story he went on with a proud smile, “She is a good cook but certain foods like pancakes or waffles elude her.”

With food in their bellies and the kitchen cleaned up Spike spoke up, "So are you both excited to see what he looks like when he's not all bandaged up?" the little dragon excitedly asked.

"Well Spike, seeing him is why I invited my brother," remarked Twilight as she put the last plate away and moved into the main area.

They exit the library leaving Spike to tidy up the rest of the home and make their way to the hospital. Talking along the way, as they get closer. It has been about two weeks since Twilight was last there for to do a report on the progress.

"I am most intrigued to actually see Ash, but I wish to see his armour you said he wore first." Shining stated as the hospital was in view now.

"Most certainly, it is outside the door that enters his room," Twilight said.

Slowing his pace, Twilight looks back and sees an almost shocked look on Shining's face. "YOU LEFT A STALLIONS ARMOUR OUTSIDE!! FOR TWO MONTHS!?" shouted her brother.

"Well yes and no," stammered Twilight. "It is outside but Rarity made us put a roof over it and it has two walls for the direction the wind comes from so rain would not get on it," she informed him. Looking down, "It was just too big to have inside," she said quietly.

"Very well, as long as it was not completely exposed" her brother said grimly.

Walking up to where the armour was stored, Shining's eyes sparkled with fascination. Smiling to herself, Twilight was reminded of how he used to look when getting presents on his birthday. "I take it you like what you see" she laughingly said motioning to his wide eyes and large grin.

"Oh most definitely, this is a work of art" Shining said as he leaned down. His expression darkened somewhat "This is not ceremonial armour at all; this is full blown frontline battle armour. Better than anything we have," he informed Twilight.

Motioning her to look closer and inspect it with him, he starts pointing out various areas. "See all this, it's been repaired repeatedly. This is well used, but has also been extremely cared for." The excited look returned to his eyes. "I am taking this with me when I leave, it needs to get repaired and returned to him." Continuing, "It is not useable at the moment without repairs anyways, such as that hole there as the metal punctured and the sharp edges going inward would cause injury," he said as he pulled back.

Pointing to the doors for Twilight to lead the way, they go into the room housing Ash. Looking around they see a nurse look up. Twilight and the nurse start to laugh at the expression on Shining's face. He was just standing there in awe of Ash. Twilight put her hoof up to his chin and closed his mouth, causing him to come out of his stupor.

"Wow, I read the reports, and I saw that armour outside, but this is still, wow." Shining Armor exclaimed as they all walked up next to Ash.

Leaning close, his eyes going over every detail, as if he was inspecting a soldier before a parade. Shining Armor makes numerous grunts like cataloging information. "Defiantly some sort of warrior pony," he finally remarks. "Most of the scars here are from battles, lots of them." he face turning from passive to a smile. "This here must be some sort of front line veteran, or at least was. Based on that armour outside he might even be some sort of troop leader."

"But where and how could you not have heard of him," questioned Twilight.

"Defiantly he is not from Equestria." answered Shining Armor. "We only have minor skirmishes with the Diamond Dogs, Zebras or Griffons on rare occasions," looking proud of himself of that statement. "I am willing to bet he has seen more battles then any or almost any of even our most seasoned veteran guards." Looking partially puzzled, "Still, you are right Twily. I don't even know of kingdoms doing much more than skirmishes, and especially not enough to get the battle wounds like Ash here," he remarked flatly.

Twilight looks at her brother with somewhat frightful eyes, "Do you think we made a mistake bringing him here?" "Do you think he will be dangerous to us?" she questioned.

"If he is a seasoned vet like I believe, then no." quipped Shining. "Unless he believes he is being attacked and needs to defend himself, then most likely he might just seem gruff, but not dangerous or threatening." he smiled to her.

They finally hear the nurse shuffling her hooves on the ground behind them and turn to ask some questions.

"So how are his injuries and surgeries healing" asked Twilight.

"Well, Miss Sparkle, as you know he's been in a magically induced coma for about two months now, to aid the healing process. All of his initial injuries have healed, including that mangled foreleg he had." Smiling happily, "but that is to be expected since he has had constant care and healing magic of the specialized doctors, ensuring rapid recovery." Looking down and nervous she starts talking more but at a quieter tone. "Unfortunately as you also know this is not a pony, but it was not until they were partly through working on the neck that they realized it." The nurse's eyes looking at the ground almost ashamed.

"Yes, I heard from the princess that by the time they realized that it was not some bone deformation, it was basically too late to stop." said Twilight. "But, the princesses were adamant that even though it was not a pony like we are he was still equine in nature and should have the same capabilities as any other equine. While they did change him, they did not remove anything," though Twilight was still unsure even after she said that.

Shining spoke up, "While what happened might have been bad, regardless, all previous mobility remains and now he will have more in his forelegs, neck and I hear slight changes to his rear hips after they realized what they did." a stern look upon his face as he continued "Still that does not make up for the fact he was changed without being informed and while I see he is some sort of warrior or guard, we are not sure Ash is even sentient and not some trained animal." Sighing, "The changes we made might make him not able to function properly if his mind cannot grasp the new mobility as it is greatly enhanced," Shining stated as he fell silent.

"At least if he does not realize he will be able to move his forelegs in more ways, he will still be able to live just like before." a slight smile across Twilights face. "And even more comfortably according to the princesses as past damage that no doubt left lingering pains was repaired also in those joints." a still slightly dull look in her eyes.

They turn to leave and see Applejack and two other mares at the door. One is a white unicorn with long curling dark purple mane and tail, the other being a cyan pegasus with a wind whipped mane and tail that look like the colors of a rainbow. All three overheard what was said and stand at the door with looks of disbelief. Twilight bringing a hoof to her head and sighing. Only a few ponies have ever seen Ash, while bearers of the elements have all seen him, even fewer knew of the mistake done to him in surgery. Walking towards the door, Twilight just held up a hoof to stop them from speaking.

"Come with me back to my house and I will explain everything," remarked Twilight.

With that Twilight leads Shining Armor and her friends, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash back to her house at a slow pace. Nopony speaking a word the entire trip back. Twilight spent this time thinking of how to explain this to her friends. She knew it was going to have to happen at some point but she was not ready to do it yet. Now it has been forced to happen.

A little bit later they are all back at Twilight residence at the library. She puts the closed sign up on the door after they are all inside.

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The lavender unicorn quickly started lighting a few more candles to brighten the main room of her home. Coming back to the center she floated various pillows and blankets into a circle for the others to sit on. She had sent Spike to the kitchen to get tea and snacks prepared. As her friends all settled into place she explained what happened during the surgery the Princesses and surgery team performed two months earlier.

The room was deathly quiet as she finished the story. Tea that had been sipped now sat to the side untouched along with snacks that were provided during the telling. All eyes in the room were focused on Twilight and Shining Armor. The orange earth pony had a look of disgust in her angry eyes. The cyan pegasus was banging her fist on the floor in frustration, while the white unicorn looked shocked to the core. All due to the information they just received.

Vehemently Applejack shouted, "So ya mean the best doctors in the land AND the princesses did not realize this was not a pony until it was too late an they just CHANGED who he was!?“ She spat.

Flaring her wings, "That's like just coming up and cutting my wings off while I am sleeping and hoping I am ok with it!" yelled the pegasus.

The white unicorn just sat there in silence with an appalled look.

"Come on Rarity, say something," prodded Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"I-I just do not know what to say. You are both right and this was wrong," said Rarity with a mix of anger and concern in her voice.

Twilight didn't know how to respond right away. Her friends were right, her mentor, Princess Celestia made a grave mistake. An error though, that no one had foreseen. With that realization she looks at her friends with determination.

"You are right, the princess made a grave mistake." she said sternly causing everyone to just stare as she continued on. "She is going to do everything she can to make it up to Ash also," almost begging in her eyes and voice "Please don't blame her though. All evidence pointed to a pony with some weird bone and growth deformation." Softness in her voice, "Even upon review of the x-rays and surgical plan it still looks that way." A confused look in her eyes "It was not until they really got into the surgery on the middle and lower neck that it was evident that while what they were doing was helping massively with mobility, that all the changes they did so far were actual changes not fixing a defect." The other faces start to soften as she continues on. "The princess and the doctors were appalled at what they had done and realized, but it was too late to stop they had to finish or it would have been more damaging to Ash." the unicorn’s voice dropping to a slightly sad tone as she quietly finished.

"So let me get this straight, Ash has lost nothing right?" Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded and said "Yes, all his original mobility will be there."

"An now, he will be able to move his forelegs like us, an his neck like we can?" inquired Applejack.

"Yes, but it's so much more than Ash had before, also slightly more in his rear legs" Twilight stated.

"Well ah still don't like it, but as long as it was just like if granny could get that hip replacement, and increased mobility then Ah reckon Ah can forgive the princesses for this, as long as Ash does." said Applejack.

Both Rarity and Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.

Twilight was sitting there with a frown, drawing a circle with her hoof on the floor, Shining Armor gave her mane a quick tussle.

"It is time to tell them Twilight," her brother informed.

The others had quizzical looks in their eyes as they waited for Twilight to continue.

"Ash might not be sentient." she announced to almost horrified faces. "There is the possibility he is just some sort of beast from some other nation used for work."

"How ever do you know that darling, he's been unconscious this entire time," exclaimed Rarity.

Shining put up a hoof and interjected before anypony else. "His vocal cords and the muscles in the jaw. When the princesses saw them in the surgery they knew right away that they were normal and not some deformation." Continuing on, "they showed only slight ability to make grunts and neighs," he explained. "Also when they started working on his undamaged left foreleg they were able to get a really good look at it since it was not completely shattered like the right. That is also how they realized it was not a bone defect," he finished.

"Now Wait just a darn minute," anger creeping in Applejacks voice. "Not only did ya go an change parts of Ash, but we might have done it to a creature that won't be able to understand what happened to him? Her voice no longer trying to contain the anger she felt.

"No, not exactly" chimed in Twilight. "The changes could be for the better, seeing as how he appears to be some sort of warrior or guard, there has to be some intelligence," looking saddened "However that could just be the same kind of intelligence that one of our pets have," she sighed and looked away.

"On the other hand, he might be just as intelligent as us but just no ability to speak." Twilight said with a slightly more cheerful tone, "That is why we are going to teach him, if he is able to learn." she smiled.

"One last thing, he is being taken out of the magic coma in two days, the princesses want all of us to be there," Twilight informed then pointed to Rarity and Applejack. "Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell are invited also since they are the ones who found Ash."

"Ah know mah sis will want to come. So count her in, but what about Big Mac." Applejack went on, "He seems a might curious about Ash. Figure it is because he is seeing a stallion much larger than him, can he come?" asked Applejack.

Twilight looked up "Of course he can, I can make an exception for him" a very slight almost unnoticeable flushing of her cheeks for just a brief instant.

Looking to the cyan pegasus, "You have been very quiet Rainbow Dash." stated Twilight.

"Yeah, I have nothing to say, this is so not cool what happened," as she swats at a book lying nearby.

For the rest of the afternoon they all just sat around talking about random stuff, Spike having joined in. Eventually they all left both sad and excited for what is to become in two days. Twilight went to bed early that night, her mind still coming to terms with all the information she had told the others.

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

Today is the day Twilight thought. Once out of the magic coma he should waken within an hour or two. Trotting towards the hospital with Spike on her back, Twilight was lost in her own thoughts. Paper, check... Ink, check... Quills, check... Spike to record, check... smiling now that she knows after the third time going over her mental list that her saddlebags have all the stuff she will need. During this short trip Spike spent most his time asking about getting gems sent from the Crystal Empire to him from Shining. After the short trot they have finally arrived at the Hospital.

The doctor removed the spell and machine keeping Ash in his coma just a little while ago. Ash's room is packed, not full, but more full than normal. Being this is the day he is to awake finally though it is to be expected. Looking around Twilight sees Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Big Mac, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, the doctor and two nurses.

Now they are in a waiting game. It has been slightly more than hour now and everyone is just mulling around. No one in Ash's field of view and he is strapped down as a precaution. They don't want to frighten him with everyone in his view right away. About this time Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom started shuffling in their hooves.

"Hey Twilight," said the little filly Apple Bloom. "Ah know this is not a young colt, where is his cutie mark at?"

Looking unsure if she should answer, Applejack stepped in. "Well sis, Ash here is not a pony, we don't know what he is or if he is even able to get a cutie mark. He might be like a donkey or mule and not able to get one," she explained then holds up her hoof indicating no more questions.

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Chapter 3 - New Stable

View Online

Waking thoughts slowly started to assemble in his head. Filtering into these thoughts were dull pains from almost everywhere on his body. Lying there he was trying to remember why he might felt this way. That is right, I was injured in the forest and fell unconscious, he remembers after a couple of minutes. Letting his mind fully clear he starts to hear noises around him not normally associated with being in the forest. Voices with a slight echo to them, hooves upon hard surface like a stone courtyard, and somewhat stifled, dry air.

With his mind now mostly clear and alert he opens his eyes to see he is in a structure. It is very well lit, like sunlight, unlike the flickering light of torches normally used in stables. The walls are a sort of off white color with matching ceiling and some brown trim around the edges where he can see. Out of the corner of his eye he sees some shapes painted upon the wall but is unable to see them well enough to tell what they are.

Well this is an unfamiliar type of stable. It is nothing like those dingy stone and rough hewn wood stables I am used to he remarked in his head. Guess I should look to see how bad my leg is. Instantly he finds he is unable to lift his head or try to get up, something is holding him down. Starting to panic he keeps trying to get up, thrashing his legs and snorting. He can hear one of the voices is getting closer and louder telling him to stop his movements. A higher pitched voice is also calling to him, telling him he is ok and just strapped down to prevent more injuries.

Coming to the realization that it is probably for the best, I stop my thrashing and try to calm myself. As I look out of the corner of my eye to the direction I hear a voice from, a brown baby pony comes into view. I laugh to myself wondering why such a small pony is in the same stable as me. They usually keep the smaller ones separate in the stables so they don't get accidentally injured by the adults on accident. As I look for the voice still, I notice it appears to be coming from this small pony that someone put a sheet or shirt maybe on him.

As he gets more into my view I look closer and notice he has a horn. What? I think to myself, a horn. Did I eat something bad in the forest? It has a horn, and it is talking to me, maybe I am still dreaming. What is it saying anyways. This must be some trickery or joke by whomever seems to own me now.

"Excuse me, Sir, Can you look to me," the small pony is asking.

I look at him and give a small snort. Hopefully the stable hand gets this show over with soon. I feel like I have been asleep for a while and need to stretch. Also I want to check my injuries and how well they patched me up.

The small brown pony keeps talking, "Alright sir, my name is Doctor ..... now that I have your attention let ...... with ..... happened."

Well I guess this stable hand calling himself Doctor something. I didn't quite hear what his name was. So far he does not seem to realize that while yes I can understand most things spoken to me, I do not understand all words. Oh well, I will keep letting him go as I hope being let up will be at the end. There is still this weird underlying echo I am hearing whenever he talks though.

The doctor has been telling me something about cutting me up to fix some bones, my that foreleg is all better after they remade it or some strange thing like that, and a few other things I didn't quite get. I think he even mentioned something about Merlin and magic stuff at one point. Guess that should be expected as the stable master seems to have dressed his pony up as a mythical unicorn. Regardless, the part I understood and needed to know was that I am ok, but to take it easy for a while once they let me up soon.

The doctor has now moved out of my site but I am still curious as to the voices all around. Not sure what they are saying but it does seem to be about me I think. Am I that big a deal to this stable? Oh no, don't tell me I am to be the new warhorse of some rookie knight. Not that I would do any less than the best I can, I still don't wish that to be the case. Time to dwell on that later as I feel the straps being undone finally.

The doctor now in my sight again informs me that I can try to get up now but to slide forward first as I am not on the ground for some reason. Alright, time to get up. I slide like I was told and slowly my hooves move out over the edge. It is only about one foot off the ground, I don't see why I needed warning. Anyways, it feels good to be on my hooves again. I still ache all over, but the sensation of being upright with my hooves being on the ground feels good.

I close my eyes and take a minute to feel out the pains in my body again. Rear right flank, does not feel too bad, the gash I felt in my side seems gone. I can breathe pretty good and the ribs just feel slightly sore. My right foreleg feels kind of painful but in a throbbing dull way, but well last time I looked at it I am not surprised. More surprised that it is still there and useable, at least it was able to be fixed. I was worried about that when I was at the stream in the forest. Not sure why but my neck kind of hurts and is stiff. Don't remember really hurting it, but I have been on my side for a while apparently and I was kind of out of it after my leg break so who knows. The top of my head though feels like I was struck with a mace, dull pain radiates from it. Seems as though most of the aches I have are from laying down for an extended period of time. All in all even if this stable master is kind of weird he does know how to patch up a horse.

After my mental stock of my body, I reopen my eyes and turn around. I should have stayed facing the wall. Before me is a bunch of crazy colored small ponies and a fat red colt. You know what, I think I have actually died. This must be some faire loving stable hand or a circus family or, you know what I don't know. I think my brain just set its self on fire and jumped out of my ear. That was my last thought as everything went black and I felt myself falling, falling again.

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All the ponies in the room stand around gasping at what just happened. This had not been what they expected when they came in the room today. Ash had just woken up and they were hoping and expecting to meet and greet him properly. They certainly did not expect to see him faint and crash to the ground right after seeing them. The doctor and nurse in the room run over to start checking on him.

"He sure was big," said Apple Bloom breaking the silence.

Big Mac looked over to his little sister and said, "Eeeyup," before becoming silent again.

Walking closer to the doctor, Twilight asked, "Is he ok?" with the concerned expression shared by most in the room.

Standing up and backing away the doctor states, "Looks to be he just fainted, and his impact to the ground will just leave a little soreness. Nothing to be really worried about," as he smiles at everypony present.

They all wait patiently for Ash to wake up... again. Some commenting on his size, one seemed to comment on his looks even with being that big.

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Ugghh, what was that. The fog in his mind lifting. Oh yeah, that's right, some stable hand has me in his crazy world. Lifting an eye partly open before reclosing it, he confirms it was indeed not a dream. Ok Onyx, this is just your mind playing tricks on you, these are really humans and my brain is just seeing them as ponies. Otherwise they would be talking to you with the neighs and snorts like normal if they were really fellow equines.

Opening his eyes fully again he sees the others in the room seem to get excited. One of the really small ones comes running up to your face. Must be a young stable boy, though in the pony form it has a blonde coat and red mane. I should listen to what they are saying before I try to stand up again.

"Hey, umm mister Ash, are ya ok?" she screeched in my face.

I was wrong in assuming this was a stable boy as it appears to be a stable lass. Just what I needed a little girl being hyper right next to my ears.

I give a small snort in reply. Seems they have renamed me to Ash. It was not unexpected to be renamed. It was trained into me that if I was ever sold or captured in battle that a new name was usually given by the new master. Even my dad had been renamed a couple times. I guess it is not too bad of a name, not as good as my old one though. Times like this I wish I could speak in the human language so I could tell them my true name. My snort earlier did get her to back up at least. Could have been the fact that I started to get to my feet again though.

Getting a good look at them all now, I am starting to wonder if this is all stable hands and new masters or are some actual ponies? Also why are they so colorful? I will still keep thinking of them as humans, and that my brain is just making them appear as ponies. Maybe I have some sort of brain damage, I mean my head does feel like it was struck with a mace. I should probably place equine terms to them until my brain gets sorted out. As I finish the decision in my head a lavender colored unicorn mare slowly steps forward and seems to be asking me questions. Not sure why I am envisioning a lizard like creature next her instead of another pony, must be some scribe as it does have parchment and a writing quill.

"Ash, I am glad you have awoken and are responding to your new name. I am Twilight Sparkle," the lavender unicorn states.

So I was right, I am called Ash now and this person or pony is Twilight Sparksomething.

Twilight ask another question, "So how are you feeling?, any pains or anything?"

I give a snort and neigh in reply, really do they expect any other answer I think to myself. I see her turn to her assistant and say something. Whatever it was he starts scribbling on the paper.

"Are you able to understand me?" Twilight asks me.

I nod my head and give a neigh. Maybe this is to see how much training I have had in the past

"Are you able to speak to me? she asks next.

What, speak to you? Sure I can speak to you I sarcastically think. I give her a loud snort and a few neighs and a final soft snort that any other horse would know as my full name of Onyx of Thakmanu. There you go little girl decipher that. Based on the reaction I see in her face I am sure she did not understand it. However in the group of ponies a few feet behind Twilight I noticed a yellow cream colored pony with pink flowing hair that seems to have understood it partly. She does not speak up but moves behind the others a little more as she sees me looking her way.

After talking to her assistant, Twilight looks back to me and says, "It appears that you cannot speak, but can at least listen." She keeps on talking to me "There is nothing we can do here today. You will go with Applejack tonight, and I will see you again tomorrow." she finishes as she points to a orange coated pony with a hat of some type on.

I give a nod and a soft snort in acknowledgement. I got most the words that time. So I am assuming that this Twilight is my new owner and Applejack is the stable master. Until otherwise told I am going to do my duty as such. I heard my new name being called again and look at Twilight.

Twilight starts pointing to the others and says "Ok Ash, let me introduce you to all my friends." with a smile.

After a couple of minutes she finishes introducing me to all her friends. I guess she really is my new master. I will probably forget some of those names she just told me and might take a few times for them to sink in. To be honest I didn't understand what she even said on a few of them. After some quiet talking amongst themselves, they started waving and saying goodbyes to each other and most exit the room. Remaining behind is this Applejack I am supposed to follow, that little one that came screeching in my face when I woke back up, and that fat red colt. Hmm, maybe he is not fat but stocky red colt how that I see him better. Almost like a draft horse baby. By now Applejack has walked up to me.

"Ah know Ash is not yer true name, but Ah hope you like well it enough," she says.

A yell comes from across the room "Ah helped come up with it," emitted from who I now know to be Apple Bloom. This caused a chuckle from the other two still here.

I give a soft neigh in response.

"Time for us to go home Ash, Ah hope ya are up for a walk," Applejack said while smiling up at me.

I follow her as she exits the door that the others left from. Letting my eyes adjust to the natural light, I see it is mid afternoon. I never did see how they had that room illuminated. The land around is nice and grassy mostly flatland. I see some fields in the distance and some sort of town nearby. Guess where ever I am is doing well for itself. Not paying too much attention to what the three ahead of me are saying I just slowly follow them while looking around.

We seem to be following a path on the outskirts of town. I have only seen a couple of others and they instantly stopped and stared when they saw me. It was sort of unnerving. It was after seeing these others that I started to notice that most of those I have seen had a mark on their upper rear legs. I wonder if that is some kind of thing like a coat of arms on a shield or pennant or something similar.

After about 30 minutes I see we are approaching a nice wide path cutting through some apple orchards. Much, much bigger than the ones on Sir Marcus's lands. Maybe this place won't be totally bad if they are supporting an orchard like this. After my brain stops seeing everyone as a pony at least.

I hear and see one of the small fillies from before along with another running up to those ahead of me. The new orange one seems to be excited to see me as it keeps staring and smiling at me. Not sure what was said, but Applejack seemed to kill her spirit. Was not for long though, as I see the two new arrivals and Apple Bloom take off into the orchard yelling something about a crusade. Sounds like it might get fun around here soon. I wonder where my armour went anyways, I will need that if any crusading is going to happen.

In the distance I see a large red structure, guessing it is the stables for my new home. I will be glad to get there. They told me I was under for two months or something like that. Hard to believe really but I sure feel like it. I ache all over with tired muscles. I feel like I was training all day but all we have done is walk for just a little while. Much different than the aches when I woke up. Those seemed to be just from being laid up for so long. Well that is other than the pain in my head and this slight burning sensation I have started to notice on my back near my spine. That stable hand or doctor as he called himself was not joking when he told me to take it easy for a while. Get to the stable and time for sleep I say.

We finally get up to the building after a short period of time. It is an interesting looking stable to say the least to what I am familiar with. Also, my eyes must be playing tricks on me. Everything seems to be too small. I start to panic, snorting blinking my eyes. How can I be a proper warhorse if my vision is giving me false sizes. I hear Applejack telling me to calm down. I try to listen and eventually feel her, well, nuzzle my leg. Strange thing for a human to rub their face on my leg like a horse would do. It does calm me down however. I need to stop panicking about stuff that does not make too much sense right now. I just woke up from a long sleep after horrendous injuries. My brain just needs time to catch up is all.

Being more calm, Applejack leads me over near a table and informs me to stay. So stay I shall do. I see Big Mac over with some water cleaning himself off some. I kind of want to call him Fat Mac but since he would not be able to understand horse speak it would not be very fun. Applejack went into a smaller section jutting out from the side of the big red building. So I start to look around. I see a pig in a pen, some gardens, a small well, other common farm stuff, and apple trees surrounding everything. What I do not see is a fenced in pasture area though. Sure there is some fence around the orchards but I did not even see a pasture area. Looks like it is a nice farm my new master has. Stable hands seem nice enough so far too. I am taken from my thoughts as Applejack returns with plates of food. Curiously though, they are in her mouth and on her back. I will add that to my list of brain needs fixed to understand.

A new elderly pony shows up. To make my brain feel better I decided just refer to what I see and sort it out later I determine. Well this new elderly mare is lime green with grey mane. She must be well up in her years. Come to think of it, this Big Mac lad and that brown unicorn doctor guy, are the only males I have seen. Oh please don't tell me I have been downgraded to a breeding stallion. Especially since I heard something about crusading from those fillies that ran off.

The older mare speaks up to me, "So you are this new Ash guy that will be staying with us. Remember to mind yer manners around here." she says as she seats herself at the table.

I give a soft neigh and nod my head in to show her I understand for the most part.

"Ash ya can come on over here the foods ready," Applejack tells me.

I walk over to where they are confused. I have never ate next to my old master or stable hands when they are at a table. I guess this is something new. They point me over to a spot next to Big Mac. I laugh as I think about how they call him that. Maybe he has big parents like me and they expect him to grow up big and strong. Anyways, looking down I see some hay, kind of trampled though. Well, it is better than nothing and I am very hungry. I bend down and start to eat some, and yeah kind of old and not that good tasting as I had imagined. I hear the others laughing so I look up. They have puzzled looks on them as they point and laugh at what I am doing. No idea why they are doing this though.

"Sugarcube, what are ya doing?" Applejack ask me as she is pointing at the hay hanging out of my mouth.

Guess I have new nickname now too. Still not sure what she is talking about though. I finish what is in my mouth and bend down to get some more, hoping tomorrow they have new fresh hay to eat. Suddenly the tone changes though, causing me to stop my decent for more.

"Ash, stop," Applejack said sternly.

I look up at her, not knowing what I did wrong.

"Why are ya eating the seat?" she ask with a questioning look. "Your food is on that plate there on the table." she says while pointing at a pile of various vegetables and apples in front of where I am standing.

I still don't get it. I tried once to eat from an outside table and got the whip for it. My dad just laughed at me saying you never eat from a humans table no matter how enticing those apple slices they left on it are. I continue to look at her, then the pile in front of me pm the table and then the hay I was eating.

She points at it again, "Go ahead Sugarcube, it is for ya to eat."

Not falling for that trick, I swat at the plate with my hoof. After a few tries I get it to spill off onto the hay I was eating. Big Mac mumbled something to Applejack I think, or the other mare, but it was too low for me to hear as I continued to eat the new vegetables and the old hay on the ground. After a few minutes I looked up to see Big Mac had left, and the elderly mare was on her way back to the building leaving only Applejack with me.

She seemed sad when she spoke to me next. "Ash, why did ya spill that on the ground? Why did ya then eat it from the ground and that old hay that was a seat?" she asked in a quiet voice.

How does she expect me to answer, I just blink at her and give a snort. Seemed to be answer enough for her.

"It's getting late let me show ya to where ya will be sleeping for a while," she tells me as she gets up and goes to the large door on the building.

I follow her into the building. It is quite impressive for a stable. Even better that I am the only one here at moment. I dawned on me that I might be the only one stabled here. She points to a section in the corner that is thick with hay on the ground covered in a few blankets.

"That is where ya can lay down for sleep. Ah don't think it will, but If it gets cold ya can use the blankets from over here," she tells me as she points to some thicker blankets hanging up over one of the stall walls. "Other than that, Ah have to get going to town before it's too late, and Ah will see ya the morning," she says as she closes the door.

They talk too fast here, and expect me to know all the words I am thinking. I got enough though. I am to stay here until morning and my stall is that one in the corner. I am glad to have been shown it early as I am kind of tired from that walk and sort of sore.

As I get in my stall I am slightly surprised at its size and how comfortable it is. From what I have seen my new master is decent and the stable master is friendly. I just hope their knight skills are up to par also. My last thought was to hope this headache goes away while I sleep tonight and with thank I let myself drift into dreams.

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Applejack let out a sigh as she looked at the barn door she just closed. Thinking of the stuff she needs to tell Twilight as she sets off for Ponyville. A little while later she is standing outside of the Library where Twilight lives. As it is late in day the libraries public hours are over with so she knocks on the door and waits.

"Coming," she hears Spike say. Opening the door, "Oh hey Applejack, what's up?" the little purple dragon ask.

"Is Twi around?" she asks softly.

"Sure is, come on in," he cheerfully says as he opens the door for her to come in. "Hey Twilight, Applejack is here to see you," he shouts as he closed the door behind Applejack and wanders off.

"Be up in a minute AJ," Twilight yells from the basement laboratory.

Looking around the library she sees Twilight has been in research mode again. Books strewn everywhere, parchment laying all over the floor near where she writes. Passing all of that she sets up two pillows in the middle of the room and goes and gets two cups of tea from the kitchen. Just as she is returning and sitting down an exasperated Twilight makes it up the stairs.

"What happened to ya Twi?" Applejack asks.

Laughing she responds, "Oh nothing much. I was testing a new spell and well it didn't work," with a grin. "So what brings you here this late in the day? she asks while pulling out a checklist for slumber parties.

"Figured Ah should let ya know some information about Ash before you come tomorrow," she quickly says watching as the checklist disappears back into the drawer it came from.

Twilight's interest perks up as she floats writing materials to her.

With a sigh Applejack begins to speak, "Remember when ya said ya were not sure if he was sentient or just trainable like our pets?" she asks as Twilight nods. "Well, right now Ah am leaning towards the trainable like a pet," she finishes with flatly.

Twilight is unable to speak as she hangs her head low. After a few moments she looks up and ask, "How did you come up with that?"

"Well Twi, he followed us the entire way not saying a thing. Snorting or neighing so far for him at least. When we got to the farm Ah told him to stay put while Ah went into the house to get Granny an the food," she pauses before continuing. "While Ah was in there Big Mac was washing up, an he said that Ash didn't even move more than his neck to look around."

Twilight spoke up, "So you said stay like you would to a dog or a guard and he did just that, with no snorting or neighing, and then stayed there unmoving like he was cemented in place?" she asked as scribbling on her paper.

"Exactly Twi, an that's not the worse part. Ah pointed for him to sit next to Mac at the table outside for his food an he ate the old hay we use to sit on," Applejack exclaimed to a now furiously scribbling Twilight. "Ah tried to get him to stop an eat the food we put on a plate for him, but he only awkwardly pawed at it a few times an eventually got it on the ground. Where he ate it from an the rest of the old hay seat," she finished looking slightly angry at herself for allowing that.

Stopping her writing Twilight replied, "I see why you think that. I have to agree with you on this point." After thinking for a few moments and taking a deep breath she continued. "I do not want to give up yet, it just me be how it was wherever he lived. I mean think about it, would Wynona listen to a new person instantly?" she quizzed.

"Well no," Applejack answered.

"Exactly, but Ash did. Remember my brother said me might be like a soldier. So he might be listening and following what you say like it is an order. He might be thinking he is even a prisoner," Twilight excitedly said. "I have to tell the princess, I really think he is sentient now," she said while settling down. "Oh, and remember he used to have very limited mobility in his forelegs and probably does not realize how they can move now," she said getting excited again. "However, I will wait until after I meet him again tomorrow," she relented.

"Glad ya are so confident Twi, but don't be too caught up in it to make a wrong judgment tomorrow," Applejack said with slight sternness. "Ah have to get back so Ah can get some sleep, see ya around lunch time then?" asked Applejack.

"Sure thing AJ, have a safe trip home," Twilight said as she closed the door.

Walking up to her own room, Twilight thought to herself how exciting this is going to be. She just needs to get him talking. Too bad that spell didn't work. It would have allowed him to talk right away. Laying in her bed looking at the ceiling a thought comes to her. "Flashcards with pictures!" she yells to the room almost waking Spike up. “That is it, I can make cards of things in the morning and lay them all out and have him pick the one I am talking about.” With a smile she pulls the covers up and allows herself to fall asleep.

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Author's Notes:

I hope you had some enjoyment of this chapter and thank you for taking your time to read this. Tell your friends about it too

I should probably submit this to a group or something so people can actually find it. No idea what group it would even work at though.

While most of this was written before my hand was broken, the rest (mostly editing and modifying) was done during my time with out power. Typing with my off hand was preferable to staring at propane turkey cooker for hours.

This chapter was brought to you by: an Ancient Dell D600, and its 3 batteries. Being able to charge said batteries at my Aunt's helped too. I am sort of surprised it even turned on still. I don't think I have used that thing in like 4 years.

Again HUGE Thank You to Fat1thatyoulove for being my editor.
You should still totally check out his long running series.

Awakening of Ash

by Topaz Moon

Chapter 1 - A Forest Stroll

Chapter 2 - The Beast in the Orchard

Chapter 3 - New Stable