A story not of heroes trying to save the world, but of heroes trying to save themselves from it.
In a world without harmony, a group of ponies will fight not to save this world, but to earn entry to the one safe haven left in it. Canterlot.
Sex tag: One chapter will/does prominently feature a brothel. Although it is never out right stated what it is or what goes on there, the implications are heavy enough to know what it is if you're teen+ like the story is rated for. Plus some jokes probably fall under this.
Gore tag: Light gore, although the punctuation to most fights that happen will be a bit heavier. Hopefully nothing that would make you sick, since gore isn't really in my taste either.
There was once a time when a pony could walk though a town at noon and not hear his own hoof falls in the dust. Once, everypony would welcome a stranger with open hooves, share what they had even when what they had amounted to very little. Not any more though. Greed born from despair, the fear of lies and betrayal, caused ponies to only look out for their own.
Epic Journey had, of course, known this was the way for sometime now, but it never stopped him from trying to ask for assistance in every town he went to. Whether out of habit, desperation, or hope, not even he was certain any more. Perhaps all three were to blame. But this was it, his last chance to ask before he stepped into the lair of the beast, so he knew he had to take it, even if he already knew what the reply would be.
Stilling himself in the center of the small town, he called out for the final time in this place, "Hail citizens of Low Hill! My name is Epic Journey, and I am on an important mission. A mission to slay the Cave Beast said to dwell near here. I am looking for a place to rest or any supplies you can spare. I do not expect your hospitality for free, of course, and will give you what I can." Which was not much he noted to himself. "And, in addition, I can offer anypony that will step up and join me... guaranteed passage into the city of Canterlot!"
After his speech was over, as usual, ponies of all colors could be barely seen peering out behind curtains or cracked doors, but no effort was displayed to do any more that. Resigned to go on alone, Epic picked up one of his dirty white hooves, but before he could place it back down the town's clock tower began to ring. Seven rings, to be precise, not even close to the actual time.
As odd as the disturbance was, what happened after was even more bizarre. From out of the belfry jumped out a pony, not a pegasus pony, but winged nonetheless. And on the those large leathery wings the pony circled a few times, causing Epic to wrap the hilt of his sword in a telekinetic sheath.
But then, in a rather small feminine voice, the pony from above spoke, "Look at all you! So terrified of a stranger that you don't even come out from your homes to see if what he promises is real! Are you all so broke that you cower from this knight as your foals cower from the night?"
Swinging down and landing nearby to white unicorn the nearly black bat pony added, more to him than the town, "I was never proud of this town, not with the way I was treated even before all this, but now I am outright ashamed. What does it say about you when the town's local monster has more of a conscious than the town?"
Turning now with an extended hoof, she spoke low enough so it was clear this part was meant only for him, "Hello, Epic Journey. My name is Ashed Leads, and if you'll accept my help, I'll gladly offer it."
"Hello," he offered back, not once his telekinetic grip fading. "I wasn't actually expecting anypony to accept, but the offer is still extended. Forgive me if I don't immediately throw out my hoof in trust, not with the way this world works."
Setting her hoof back, she giggled in agreement, while glancing around the town. The stillness that held the curtains and doors before Epic had trotted into town had returned. Now it was a ghost town save for a white unicorn and a thestral who's purple fur could be confused with a starless night's sky. And for a while it stayed that way, neither party knowing how to proceed now they had another, until finally Epic gestured that they leave with a jostle of his head, before immediately following his own advice.
With each hour that passed the wind slowly began to pick up, and Epic kept glancing back at his new found companion. Each time he was awarded with a ever decreasing smile, until finally he was only awarded with a blank stare. This was mostly because every time he glanced back Ashed Leads could see the unicorn was still ever ready to draw his blade, but was partly because she realized that if the wind didn't start dieing down soon it meant they were going to be heading straight into a storm. It wasn't until she was nearly blown over that she decided to break the awkward silence.
"Okay, you seem really determined to get to where you're going, but it's about to storm pretty hard, so I think we need to find some shelter pretty fast," the mare had to all but shout to be heard.
Ahead of her Epic stopped as if to contemplate something. "How hard?" He inquired.
"Look, I'm barely standing back here. It's going to be at least that bad, not to mention it's going get really dark when it hits. Combine that with the sheets of rain and we aren't going to be able to see our hooves in front of our faces."
"Hmmm. Then we should pick up the pace. If we can get to the Cave Beast's lair it will at least be shelter."
"No, no, no. What ever this Cave Beast is, if it's going to storm bad, then it's going to be home for sure. We really don't want to get there exhausted, particularly not it we get caught in the rain before we can get all the way there." Folding out her wings, she added, "Which will be likely since we're headed directly into the storm system."
"Then what do you suggest?" He replied, his horn's aura noticeably dipping in intensity.
"Well," She began. "It's a bit out of the way, but there's a wrecked wagon a little ways from here. I've used it as shelter before when the town ponies were particularly angsty."
Nodding his head, Epic motioned for her lead them to it. Her smile returned at that, and the pair immediately broke course.
Lightning flashed overhead as the two reached the wreckage, Epic's face showing just how much he found the word suitable. Ashed Leads on the other hoof, was practically ecstatic. Motioning with her hoof for him to follow, she crouched down and crawled through the opening where the back of the wagon had sunk into the ground some years ago.
Epic's umcomfortability could be heard in his voice, "Are you sure this is safe? Looks to me like it'll sinking all the way in if this storm is half what you predicted."
"It's fine," she replied, none of the same worry in her voice. "This old thing has been here since before the whole Rebalance happened. Probably hit a rock half a meter or so down. The only thing really wrong with it are a few holes were the water will get through, but those can be mostly avoided. Besides a little wet is better than a lot."
The bat pony was answered with something whooshing overhead, as each hole was covered all at once. Interested to see what had happened she crawled back outside and saw Epic pinning down a tarp with what ever available rocks his telekinesis could grab.
"There, my shelter complementing your shelter. Together making some sort of super hovel." Epic stated, accompanied by a single short laugh. Then taking a look at his companion as if to gauge some hidden thing he added. "I'd wager such a luxury is rare for both of us."
"Right," the mare said dejectedly, before perking back up. "Hey, what about food? There are plenty of berry around here that are all edible, and we have a little time before the rain hits."
"That's not a terrible idea. My rations are being spread a little thin already."
His companion didn't notice, as she was to busy trying to find food already, but the stallion glanced at his saddle bags, then checked, as if to reconfirm, she had brought no worldly possessions with her at all.
The rain did not wait long before coming down, paired with another crack of thunder. This immediately caused Ashed to seek shelter, but did not seem to detour Epic from his rounds, at least, not as fast. When he did seek shelter his mane was already matted against his body and he was carrying a bundle of twigs and branches. Setting those aside for a moment he also dug a small bundle of berries and a few pieces of bread out of his saddle bags and added them to the much larger pile that had already been made. Epic then split the pile as evenly as he cared to, which the two began to eat to the sound of the storm outside.
Ashed was finished long before Epic, however he had set aside some of his food and had started to make a fire pit. Finally drawing his blade he struck flint against it, trying to land the sparks in some tender he levitated was well.
"So, Ashed Leads. How does some pony become a... whatever the politically correct term for bat pony is?" The swordspony asked in between breathing life into his fire.
Replying first with an odd look Ashed told her story: "How does one become a thestral? Let me tell you now it's not a pretty story. It usually happens in the dead of night to young girls who don't know any better. A stallion whispering sweet nothings and promising the world to her approaches. Taken aback by his charm she does nothing as he draws ever closer, closer, until he begins to kiss her neck, and she falls into his open hoofs. And when she wakes the next morning she's a changed mare, and she knows her life will never be the same."
"Just like how unicorn foals are made too." She added with a roll of her eyes. "Thestralism is a rare recessive gene. I was born a thestral, to a pair of very loving pegasi parents."
"Oh. I didn't mean anything by it. I've never met a thestral before, and they have a bit of a social stigma to them. As, of course you must know..." The stallion fumbled for a moment before adding, "I just want to be sure there's no reason to treat you different than any pony else."
For a time the two when back to eating, of warming themselves, or anything other than talking. Besides the storm outside was already making enough noise for both of them.
The thestral let out a yawn, and capitalizing on the broken silence spoke, "Epic, do you mind calling me Ashley? It's was what my parent's used to call me, and it would be nice to hear it again sometimes."
"No problem, Ashley." Preforming a last check an organization of his things the stallion moved to claim one side of the wagon. "I recommend getting some sleep. Tomorrow might be more than you bargained for."
"What about the fire?"
"Don't worry. My flank might not have a picture of a roaring flame, but I know enough magic to make a healthy flame," Epic replied with an mysterious tone.
As Epic's hooves splashed away in the mud Ashley couldn't help but grin at luck at being able to fly. The storm had really made a mess of the landscape, but the two companions had slept through it like foals. Despite the good night's sleep, though, the stallion had reasonably been upset at the loss of his tarp that was stolen by the storm during the night. The mare had been impressed that the fire had actually burnt all through the night.
But now they had more important duties, namely to find a cave that only one of them vaguely knew where was. Suffice it to say that the search was not going well.
"Gee, I sure miss when the pegasi would manually work storms. This whole thing about building them up and shooting them off is sure frustrating." The earth bound pony grumbled.
"Eh, my parents were weather ponies." The sky dweller remarked. "So honestly storms have always been a gray area for me."
"I suppose that's how you knew which way the storm was coming from yesterday?"
"Yep. Bit more difficult to do it with out feathers, but it doesn't hurt to know the storms almost always blow in from that way- Hey! Would the cave look like a big black spot on the side of a hill" Ashley switched topic as her body spun in the direction of the spot.
Epic climbed over the next hill to get a better look before confirming for her. "Uh huh. The thing that looks exactly like a cave entrance is definitely a cave entrance. Let's hope it's the only one around."
As the two drew nearer to the cave Ashley landed to walk along side her partner, as he drew his sword from it's scabbard. It was obvious that the entrance itself held no immediate thread, but the pair entered cautiously anyway. The cave turned after only a few meters in, so the ambient light was quickly consumed by the hungry walls.
"Good thing your here," Epic whispered to the faint outline of Ashley. "Since you can see in the dark you can guide us without the need of light that would easily give us away."
He stopped when she stopped. "WOW! You think just because I look like a bat I can see in the dark. That is so rude!"
"I- What? Can't thestrals see in the dark? They're nocturnal right?"
"Hello, it's the middle of the day. I'm not nocturnal."
"I just I was taught..." The unicorn trailed for a bit before changing his mind. "You know what, I'll just provide us with some light."
"FLAMETOUNGE!"
And on cue flames began to lick off of Epic's sword as the enchantment illuminated their surroundings all to fast. The cave widened as it slopped and twisted around walls of rough stone. Save for the occasional natural pillar, the ceiling and floor were bare of their respective formations giving the place an unnatural emptiness. The uncomfortable glances they both shared told one another that they both felt like something else should have taken the missing stone's place but neither could place just what was missing.
Soon the cave began to grow taller as well, eventually causing the light they carried to no longer dance on any surface but the floor. Ashley was ahead of Epic by about a third of the flame's radius so he couldn't seem to grab her attention without making a sound. with a resigned sigh he began to call for her, slightly increasing his volume each time.
"Ashley... Ashley. Ashley! ASHED!"
The final call got the attention of more than one creature in the area as the black of the ceiling descended on the party. Being just bats, they avoided Epic's flaming sword as he gently waved it around. The pony beating her similar wings to drive them off however, just seemed to be drawing their attention. Her shrieking like, well, a startled bat probably didn't help her case. Quickly enough Epic fending the little creatures off of her as well, helping her up with a satirical look.
"They're just bats. I'm surprised you freaked out so bad."
"Not like I knew what they were! They took me by surprise." The bat pony caught her breath before adding. "Not that you calling to me helped, you sort of caused it."
"My apologies, I was just going to suggest hugging a wall, so as not to get lost." He moved his blade towards the one on his left until it came in view. "Besides, now maybe you'll walk with me instead of ahead of me since you now how easy it is to be ambushed in situations like these, and I can get your attention when needed."
With a nicker Ashley began to walk along side her companion. Time was easily lost in the cave, the trek a long one with measured slowness. Eventually Ashley had Epic strike the wall with his blade to mark the distance she said they had travelled. It had happened well over a while a go for the second time before they reached a offshoot tunnel that caused Epic to immediately drop his enchantment.
Before Ashley could complain, she noticed way he suddenly became so worried: At the end of this tunnel was a light. A soft orange like that of an actual torch. After Epic started creeping forward so did she, until the both could see the source. A hollow that could reasonably be assumed to be a bed room, torches on the walk and a rough stone desk and all.
"What kind of monster were you sent after, Epic." Ashley whispered from closer to the bed-slab she was moving towards. It had a strangely colorful quilt, that when she noticed what it was made from, quickly made her back-petal and gag.
"I don't rightly know," He had found a pile of miscellaneous bones, pony bones included. "The kind capable of rending armor and crushing house supports like they were paper and twig. The kind that burrows and catches it's prey off guard and forces them into the open if they manage to get somewhere safe."
"What can do that? It sounds eerily intelligent."
"I'll tell the ponahs what howls in the night. What howls in the night is dogs."
Spinning to face the entrance caused his hooves to audibly grate on the stone Epic prepared his sword against his mysterious foe. The mystery wasn't held long as the large two legged blue gray dog stepped into the light of the room. The torch light flickered on the stained claws and scarred body of the behemoth, but fell flat on it's eyes, long having lost any humanity.
"It has been much time since ponahs brought themselves here. Dog is happy it does no have to dig through mud for next hunt."
Epic did not reply as the Diamond Dog began to circle, but merely began to turn with his foe. Ashley had reasonably flown as high a she could. A height that would be out of reach as long as the Diamond Dog was a terrible jumper.
"Dog wonder though, why dinner has come. Surely ponah no want to be eaten."
"My name is Epic-"
"Dog sees the mouth move, but no words come out. Dinner thinks Dog hears. This dog no hears. This Dog sees. This Dog feels. This Dog tastes the dinner ponah."
It circled a few more times before before lunging at the stallion with an uppercut. Epic quickly jumped back and to the side in a flanking position, getting a clean swipe on the Dog's shoulder. But no damage was done, despite Epic's intentions. His surprise didn't distract him from the Dog's heavy back hand though as he jumped to the side and rolled. His opponent's little legs did have enough power to launch him fast and far, which meant Epic was out ranged.
The Dog didn't seem to notice this advantage as it went back into circling it's prey. At least that's what it seemed to do before just as fast it left it's feint to loose a slash at Epic. Unable to block knowing the Dog could tear through his blade like it was air the Epic dove between the beast's legs as another dodge. However, being a unicorn his blade could stay in place, something else the Dog failed to realise as it turned again to Epic, as the sword reared and delivered a mighty blow to the forearm of the Dog. The most powerful swing the unicorn could muster, and it barely penetrated the hide of his opponent.
Grasping for the sword the was already flying away, the Diamond Dog let out a laugh, finding it a perfect time to taunt his meal. "The swordponah's blade is to light to do more than sting this Dog. Dog will win by not dieing, same can no be said for ponah."
It did nothing to hamper Epic's resolve though, as stallion and behemoth once again dove into the fray, and Ashley watched on. While her partner battled she had done nothing but moved a few times, and called out a few encouragements that fell on seemingly deaf ears, and a few insults that fell on actually deaf ears. She wasn't sure how long Epic could last, but the Dog certainly didn't seem to be slowing down, and any opening it left was the arms, a place Epic had shown he could do very little with, even as he was kicked across the stone floor to land a second swing on the wound on the hand.
Ashley figured she should do something to cause an opening, but having no combat prowess she knew of no solution we quick to come to her. But then she though of the bats and how Epic didn't flinch at them, but the surprise they gave her momentarily crippled her. Taking that into heart she dove on the Diamond Dog, with poor results. It immediately seized her tail and flung her into a wall, causing her head to hit it with a loud thud.
"Giant bat ... can ... this dog?"
Ashley could barely make out a few of the words over the ringing in her ears. But through her wavering vision she could see Epic backing away from the Dog. He was going the wrong way!
"Dog live with ... no surprise ... head."
What was Epic doing? He had said something but she didn't hear it.
"... after unicorn."
Ashley was hurt and she knew it. She needed to brace herself up against the wall, close her eyes, focus. Epic knew it to, and had been mulling over a decision. When the Dog spoke that last sentence and turned to him he let of a sigh knowing he wouldn't need to make it.
"So silly swordponah no run? Is he stupid? He knows little sword cannot do real harm to Dog?"
Epic smiled in response. Right outside of the Dog's view was his sword, no longer a longsword, the blade was now the whole width of the hilt, having spilt itself in half and moving impossibly to the sides to allow a much larger blade to sprout out. This time when Epic dodged and the Dog left itself open, the weight of the much larger blade tore through the wounded arm, severing it in a single hard slash that ended with the blade slicing the floor underneath.
Letting out a howl, the Dog grasped it's stub, and in that second of distraction the blade lifted again and with a heavy whoosh, decapitated the creature known as the Cave Beast. The wounded mare saw, though motion sickness glasses, this stage of the triumph, as well as Epic's blade returning to normal, and him galloping over to her.
She missed a second though drifting in to him saying, "Come on now, there you are. I'm no doctor, but I think you've got a little concussion. I can't get you help anytime soon so let's hope it's the the kind you can sleep off and just wake up feeling terrible."
Not comforting but not something she could argue. She quickly found herself on the bed slab, quilt missing, then sometime latter still on the slab, indeed filling terrible.
"You alive?"
"Not if you keep speaking so loud." The newly woken pony shouted back.
"Nope. This is punishment for being a fool. I didn't realise you couldn't fight, but when I did I was glad you didn't try and get killed. But I defiantly didn't realise you wouldn't know I was herding him to get a chance to cast Greatsword without him seeing it. When he hit you- damn it, Ashley!- if he would have went for the kill I would have had to let him in order to get a clean shot." Epic was visibly shaking as he berated his companion. "It was stupid and don't do it a again!"
She had already started crying at the part where he yelled her name. No sorry, just all the different sobs of upsetting a friend, knowing your life almost ended, and general pain she was still under, and a little more.
"Why was he like that though! Diamond Dogs are rough, but they're supposed to be down right gentle when push comes to shove!"
Accepting the deflection, Epic explained his theory, "He was hunted long before he started killing ponies. Like I said, I'm no doctor, but some of these bullet wounds look like they they where made even perhaps before the Rebalancing occurred. He was hunted so ponies could make something out of that tough hide he was so proud of, that's probably why he made that pony quilt, out of irony. It's sick what some ponies do to others. If you treat a creature like a monster long enough it's bound to become one."
He shared a significant glance with his companion before she asked, "Couldn't we have helped him though?"
"You can't help everyone Ashley. He was to far gone. Believe me, I would love to be able to fix things without killing anypony, but he was killing others had a bounty on his head. Even if we could have fixed him, he would have to live with that on his conscious and it would drive him to ruin in some other way." He paused long enough that he could have easily have finished before adding in one last though. "It pains me to say it, but killing him was an act of kindness to both him and the world."
o/\o/\o
It was sad really, and brown stallion pacing the room really didn't understand why these poor ponies made the decision they did so often. It was simple really. He would show up, offer them safely and community, and they would either accept or deny his help. They denied so often though, and that was a shame. Without others to watch your back, Equestria could be so cruel.
So once again he asked the Father. "No."
And he asked the Mother. "No."
He knew better than to ask the filly. Without her parents she would never accept.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
One shot from his revolver for each square between the eyes, no pain. One of his three companions shuffled uncomfortably. This cause the brown stallion to round on the younger one.
"Do you have a problem with this?"
"Well, Fatal Draw, sir, I don't understand really."
"What is there not to understand. I offered them food, family, safety! And they refused my help. Tsk, tsk. They would have stayed here, ever in danger of starvation, or bandits, or worse. I would be torture, and eventually death. By killing now I've done them a kindness, they won't have to suffer anymore. I would have done the same thing to you if you would have refused my help."
"But, even the filly. We could have-"
"Could have what? Killed her parents in front of her? Forced her to come with us against her will? That's sick. It's exactly what I was trying to stop. Now come on, we have three graves to dig. One final kindness."