> Fact or Fiction
>  by Mocha Star
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1) What Happened? Hunker down kid, this'll be a long one... (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Equestrian moon glowed like a silver eye over the forest. The small campfire where two ponies lay under the dull green canopy brighter and larger than any other place across the world she’d been to.  Even the grass here was greener and fresher. It reflected lightly off her polished, yet lightly scuffed, metallic limbs.

Another pony was with Pea; A young colt that was nearing the age of ten.  She thought back to how he looked the first day she saw him as a newborn.  Tiny, wrapped in an overly used and torn sheet that her mother had found, she said, hanging on a clothesline in a destroyed settlement years before.

’What a world to come into’. Pea Gravel, thought.

She looked across the low crackling flames to see him snuggled in a blanket similar to hers, only a third the size, to accommodate him and take less space in their travel equipment.

        "Auntie G?" his voice called out softly. Pea was somewhat surprised to find out he was awake at such a late hour.

        "Yeah, kiddo, you need something?" Pea asked.

        Tuff stuck his head out from under his blanket. His fur a deep crimson. His blue eyes and hair shone in the firelight. "I don't know if I need something or not,” he said firmly, “I'm just having trouble sleeping," he said as he laid his head on the grass between his forelegs. "I-I had that dream again," he hesitated.

        "Aww, come here, Tuff," Pea said gruffly. 

        Obediently, Tuff drug the blanket with his teeth over to Pea.  Tuff shimmied around their stocky saddle bags and made sure his blanket didn't get too close to the fire. 

He sat next to her and she helped him put the wool blanket over his slim shoulders. She looked at him with a sleepy expression.  "What, ya’ not gonna lay down?  You know my stories are long."

        "Actually, I was wondering, Auntie,” Tuff hesitated while he tried to find the words.

        Pea yawned. "Well, spit it out. If you take any longer I'll fall asleep." 

        "I don't know how to ask this,” Tuff turned his muzzle to the ground.  Pea sat up and the wool blanket slid off her back. The firelight glistened off her forelegs as she stretched her back and neck.  She looked at him and put one of her metal arms over his shoulder. The ends of her cybernetic legs had five actuated fingers that were attached to where the hoof wall would be, if they were normal. 

Tuff kept his eyes on the ground, he still wasn’t comfortable seeing working fingers on a pony, even if he had traveled across the lands and oceans with her.

        "Now listen here, Tuff Boulder, you can ask me anything. It's not like you're gonna ask me where babies come from, right?" she mused.
        
        Tuff was quiet for a moment. "What, um, what happened that made you lose your legs?" He had a worried look on his youthful face that she’d be upset at the question.

        Pea made a wry grin and pulled him closer to her. "Which ones? The front or the back legs?" Pea asked as she rubbed her steel knuckles in his hair. 

        "Auntie, I'm being serious," Tuff complained through a chuckle while in a playful noogie, "what happened to you?"

        Pea released her grip and sighed. "It's a terrible story," she rose her arms slowly in the fire light with a wild look. "I sold them to the Devil,” she grumbled, “so now I can kick anypony's ass!" She laughed aloud

        "Come on, I’m serious," Tuff said flatly.  Pea's face pouted to his response. "Did you lose them in a fight?" Tuff asked getting slightly excited at the prospect of the story. 

Pea groaned as she punched Tuff's shoulder playfully.

        "Ouch! Why'd you hit me?" Tuff complained.

        "That was a love tap and you know it," Pea snickered.

        "Stop playing games and tell me already!" Tuff shouted in frustration.

        Pea's smile faded.  She began to look into the fire with a vacant expression. Pea flexed the finger-like extremities on her foreleg, each making metallic whirrs. Then tears built up in Pea's eyes; Tuff almost regretted asking. She kept her gaze at the fire and flexed her fingers in and out of a fist.

        "You asked if I lost them in a fight?” she didn’t look to his response, “Well, that part is true." A tear rolled down her cheek, but her expression remained neutral. "The worst part though,” she blinked the tears out of her eyes, “is that I thought I could've won. I had it in my head that I could've conquered anything," she raised a metallic hand close to her face and chuckled dryly, "look how that turned out."

        "So you lost?" Tuff asked quietly.

        "In a way, yes, and in a way no.  I lost my legs, but actually, no,” she frowned, “nothing good came from it, from this," she growled at her clenched fists as she thrust them over the fire, waiting for feeling to make her scream.  A few seconds later she removed her hands and looked at them, with a sigh she placed them on the ground and inhaled deeply. “I don’t feel anything, not like I used to.
        
        Tuff leaned over and hugged Pea. She had been taken completely by surprise and it took her a few moments to pull back into reality from the loss and regain of her limbs. Tuff hugged her tight and she patted the top of his head lightly once she realized he was hugging her.

        "It's late Tuff; you should try and get to bed," Pea said softly.

        "I'll sleep here," Tuff said with a smile.  He still held onto her tightly, even as she protested.

        "Fine," Pea stifled a laugh as she wiped the tears from her face and muzzle. "But loosen your grip, eh? You're gonna break my ribs," she said feigning a wheeze.

        A few minutes passed and Pea heard the sound of Tuff’s breaths steady and his body slumped. She looked down at Tuff and tucked his blanket around him with a few pokes from her snout. When she was certain he’d be warm and comfortable she stood up to get more firewood. 

She had found a dead tree with perfect-sized branches to keep the fire going for a few more hours.  She clamped her cybernetic hand onto it and twisted violently. It splintered where she grabbed, and the rest landed heavily down onto the leaf covered ground. Spending several minutes, she broke it into smaller pieces before piling them on her back and returning to the campsite.

The fire, billowing once again, reflected in her eyes as she remembered her past.  The adventures, fights, and tales of glory -slightly embellished- that were told around fires, just like this one.  She reached to her side and into her saddlebag with her hand, removing a jar that was down to it’s last three pieces.
        
“Jade cactus fruit…  Once you’re gone, you’re gone… just like everything from back then.”

With a slight smile on her muzzle she opened the jar and shook it, dropping a single one of the green, prickly, sweet fruits onto the ground before her.  With a sigh, she leaned down and licked it from the dusty earth and swallowed it whole.  

“I’ll,” she yawned as the fruit began to work, “tell you a story in the morning, Tuff.”

…

Pea woke from her dream with a content sigh.  The colt had snuffed the embers of the fire with dirt while she slept.  She looked at his bright eyes and saddlebags, ready to go.  He leaned down and nipped her neck lightly causing her to nicker. “Okay, I’m up.  I’m,” she yawned as she forced herself up and bent her back, “up.”  

        “Yeah, now.  C’mon, let’s go!  And what about the story about your legs?  You told me you’d tell me and damned if you don’t do it.”  With a motion of her fingers, Pea flicked Tuff on his ear. “Ouch!  Fine, no dang swearing.”  He dodged the next strike, which would have been a whack on his mane.  After he stuck his tongue out he continued.

        “So?  You’re the only mare with legs with fingers and all that.”

        Pea slipped her vest on and buttoned it while sitting on her flank.  She patted her belly cleaner of grass and dirt as she cracked her neck. “I like the enthusiasm, but breakfast first, right?”

        “Yeah, cuz it’s the best meal of the day, but I’m ready to go now,” Tuff said with a smile before baring his crooked teeth and exposing his slight underbite.

        "That's my boy. All ready to go before breakfast," Pea yawed again," Speaking of breakfast, I'm gonna eat one of these oat packs… and so are you.  So, you want cinnamon with… Berry,” she hesitated, “or apple with cinnamon?"

        "I already ate, Auntie. Thanks anyway."

        "Huh, more for me I guess," she stuffed one bag worth of oats into her mouth, "let’s go, we’ve got a long way to go.”

        "Yep, so where are we headed?" Tuff asked as he followed Pea down a rough, unbeaten path.

        "Were gonna go, um... that way.  North East,"  she muttered, indicating the direction with her left metallic foreleg.

        Tuff hopped on his hooves, prancing through the exposed roots and soggy forest floor as they moved ahead. “Where my cousin lives?”

        “That’s what I think, anyway,” Pea truly smiled, “that’s what her letters said,” she finished hopping her rear.  Landing with the sound of something shuffling in her saddlebag.  “I feel dumb for leaving them next to the hatchet though,” she frowned.

        “It’s okay, Auntie Pea; we’re only ponies.

Pea was still chewing while the carbon tendons in her limbs pulled and pushed as she stood up. She hoisted the larger of the saddlebags onto her back and began walking through the trees. The two earth ponies were walking through the forest for some time until a strange tree came into view. It was a knobby looking tree with only two windows and horse head masks outside. Tuff had a skeptical look but Pea put on a smug smile and trotted to the door.

        "Wait, what if somepony dangerous lives there?" Tuff whispered loudly.

        "Pffft, what? You think there's gonna be some Voodoo magic pony in there that'll curse us? Come on, Tuff, your Auntie has seen enough to handle some woodland hermit," She said as she neared the door. She knocked loudly on it several times.

        "Who is making that noise?" A feminine voice called from inside the tree, "Are you a sales pony or some pesky boys?"

        Pea looked back at Tuff with squinting eyes full of confusion. "Did she just, rhyme?" 

        Suddenly the door opened and a zebra stood in the doorway. "Yes, and I do all the time."

        "Ah, hey there," Pea said, "me and my nephew are on our way somewhere and I was wondering if you could give us some directions?"

        "Of course, I know the way to many a place.  Is there somewhere you have in mind?  The look on your face says you have no time of a bind." The Zebra smiled.

        "Y-you're gonna keep talking like that, aren't you?" Tuff said apprehensively.  Pea just now noticed how close he had followed her to the stranger’s door.

        “We’re looking for Ponyville; a family member lives there.”

        “Ah, Ponyville is where you seek?  You may nearly see it if you peek, there, along the path that rocks do lie is where your destination resides.”

        "That's exactly where I'm trying to get to.  Care to tag along?”

        “I have no cause to go to town, and I can see from your… hooves on the ground that you are more than capable to trek, so I will wish you well, and perhaps to carry the little one on your back.”

        "It's Pea Gravel, and this is Tuff Bolder. Thanks so much, but we should get going," Pea said as she went for the path, "thanks again!"

        The zebra waved with a puzzled expression. "Her legs are made of metal? I hope by the goddesses and Celestia that she hasn’t dealt with the devil.”  Zecora shrugged and returned to her home, a boiling pot awaited her.

        Pea trotted at an energetic pace through the overhanging foliage along the path while Tuff began to have trouble keeping up behind her.  “Auntie, slow down,” he said loudly.  Silence befell the area in an eerie scene.  

        “...I think the Zebra was right, I’ll carry you.”

As they sped through the forest path nature began to ebb into existence again.  A bright light shown through the trees, and with that, Pea's heart lit up. She began galloping towards the edge of the forest, bursting out of the wood's borders with a flutter of leaves following her into the bright sunlight that made Tuff wince and tighten his grip around Pea’s neck.

        The sight of the valley ahead of them almost overwhelmed the travelers.  Pea’s knees buckled slightly as she slowed to a walked suddenly, entering a lush green field. The blue sky stretched above and clouds, with visible swirls, floated in loose patterns. Tuff jumped off Pea and gasped as he touched the ground.

        "The grass! It's the softest, greenest, tastiest thing thing I've ever felt!" He giggled as he rolled around in it, licking some grass into his mouth.  Pea was going to stop him from grazing, but stopped herself to let him enjoy himself.

Pea leaned down and nibbled some grass as well. Her senses tingled at how sweet it tasted and she chomped down on more of it while Tuff rolled around giggling.  In all their travels she’d grown tired of grazing on the poorly nourished flora of the world, but this grass was nearly ambrosia to her hindbrain.  Pea stopped grazing when her nose hit the dark brown soil.  She rose her head up and saw the sloping Equestrian mountains in the distance and a cluster of thatch roofed homes.

She motioned Tuff to follow and the two advanced for the pony town. Once details of the outlying houses could be seen, Pea lowered onto the grass like a predator preparing to strike. 

        Tuff cocked his head to the side, "Aren't we gonna go in?"

        "I can't," Pea sighed, "I'm afraid that they'll be too scared of me."

        "Why's that?  Oh," Tuff's voice trailed off when Pea rested her chin on her metallic forearm. Tuff shifted his weight around nervously between his forelegs, "So you want me to go in there, alone?"

        "Sweetie, it's probably the safest place on the planet.  I just need you find a dry place for us to stay awhile.  Ask for the inn, or an open room, or something.  We have a chance to sleep in a real bed, with real stuff.  Let’s not waste it until we find our cousin.

Pea smiled reassuringly and rustled his mane. "You'll be fine. Oh, and don't get into any fights.  You know most ponies in this land are wimps, okay?”

        "Why not? Fighting is how you fix problems," Tuff teased, knowing fighting was wrong.

        "Well, not always and certainly not this time, okay?  You don't need to fight these kind of ponies."

        "Okay,” Tuff hopped to Pea and hugged her tightly, after she nodded he let her go and told her he loved her then turned and began prancing towards the town.  “Get a place to sleep and no fighting,” he began to repeat as the distance between them grew.

        "I love you too, Tuff," Pea said as he left her.  Every few lengths he would look back and wave.  She'd wave back with a proud smile until he lost sight of her. After he was out of sight Pea ate her last Jade Cactus fruit, and slept the wait away.

        ...

        As Tuff walked through main street, he looked with wonder at the clean buildings and lovely ponies. Their smiles seemed contagious in the early morning sun. Near a fence, the sight of five fillies caught his attention. Two of them seemed to be picking on the other three. Tuff's curiosity took the better of him and he moved over to see what was happening.

        "Looks like the Blank Flanks aren't going to make it to the festival. Even though anypony who's important is going to be there!" said one of the bullies as she flicked her silver braided hair.

        "It ain't our fault," a yellow filly with a red bow in her hair said to the bullies, "Rarity’s got a cold’n she can't make us dresses."

        "Then why don't you make your own, oh that's right," a pink pony with a tiara on her head snarked, "you can’t make your own, and you're too poor to buy them yourself!" the bully tittered after she gave the insult.

        Tuff had heard enough.  He trotted over, with heavy steps, to the group of fillies and sat in the gap between them. All five stared at him with looks of bewilderment. He turned his head toward the pair of bullies and looked at them with his piercing blue eyes. 

        "Why are you making fun of these fillies?" he asked flatly.

        "What are you doing?" the bullies scolded in unison. The pink one walked toward Tuff with a smug smile and an air of false bravado. "I've never seen you before, are you Scootaloo’s new coltfriend?"

        "Nope, I don't know any of you.  But I know a female dog when I see one," Tuff folded his forelegs.  Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle snickered.

        "H-how dare you?!" The pink filly asked aghast, "How dare you talk to a lady like that?!"

        "I've seen ladies,” Tuff smirked, “and they smell better than a wet dog covered with perfume.”

        Diamond Tiara scoffed, gasped, then trembled with rage. "Do you know who I am?!" the filly screamed, "Do you know the ponies who answer my beck and call!?"

        "If you don’t know, how should I?"

        The pink filly fumed. Her face turned a lovely shade of angry red as she stamped around. Tuff grinned and chuckled at the sight of her tantrum.  With a few whispered words from Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara glared daggers at Tuff, turned, and stamped off down the road.

Tuff stood on all four hooves and bowed slightly to the trio he had defended. "Morning ladies, my name is Tuff. Tuff Bolder.  It’s nice to meet you."

        "’Tough’ is right," Apple Bloom said, "nopony back talks Diamond Tiara, but that was-"

        "That was awesome!" Scootaloo blurted, "What is a colt like you doing here?  Are you here to fight crimes and protect the meek?"

        "I'm looking for a place to sleep," Tuff said as he brushed himself off casually, "what are you three doing?"

        The unicorn filly answered for the group. "We're working on our Dragon Repellent Cutie Marks."

        Tuff looked around at the sky and the streets with admiration. "You're doing a good job at it. I haven't seen a single dragon since we got here."
        "Why are looking for a place to sleep?" Apple Bloom asked, “Don’t ya have a place ta lay yer head?”

        "No, we’re from out of town," Tuff said thoughtfully.

        "How far out of town?" The Sweetie Belle asked.

        “And who’s ‘we’?  I’ve only seen you, Tuff,” Scootaloo blushed lightly, “I mean, we’ve only seen you.”

        Tuff locked eyes with Scootaloo before looking to the others. "Have any of you been to the ocean?" Tuff asked the trio.

        "Not me," Apple Bloom replied, "but mah sister has been to Applewood, that's close to it... isn't it?"

        "I, guess?" Tuff shrugged. "So, what are your names? You know mine."

        The fillies eyes brightened and they lined up.

        "Sweetie Belle, " the unicorn announced.

        "Scootaloo, " the orange filly spread her tiny wings.

        "Apple Bloom, " the yellow filly stood proudly.

        "And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" they shouted in unison.

        "Huh … neat," Tuff said as he nodded and began to walk past them.

        “Wait a minute,” Sweetie shouted with a cracking voice before he finished passing and sending him hopping to the side in start, “why not stay with my sister?”

        “Because… she’s sick, you said earlier, right?” Tuff asked, continuing his path.

        “What about with me at the farm?” Apple Bloom added quickly before stumbling over her words.  “I-uh, Ah mean with mah family, that is.  We got a farm and we sell apples.”
        
        “Ah, that explains the name,” Tuff commented as he began to ignore the fillies, “wait, a farm?  Apples,” he slowed to a stop, “would you have two bedrooms open?  We can’t pay, but-”

        Scootaloo huffed loudly. “Who’s we?  Your fillyfriend?”

        Tuff inhaled sharply, his eyes pinned, and he shook his head quickly. “N-no, it’s my auntie!  She’s just...” he gulped, “different... and she needs a firm bed to lay in.”

        “Is she hurt?” Sweetie asked as Apple Bloom moved closer and nodded in concern.

        Tuff blinked at the fillies and slowly shook his head. “Not anymore.”

        The cutie mark crusaders looked between themselves then back to him.




        
        “Auntie, wake up, Auntie Pea?” Tuff asked the sleeping mare softly.

        “Why’s her legs gold?” Apple Bloom asked Sweetie.

        “I dunno, maybe it’s how nobility shows off where they’re from,” Sweetie guessed.

        With a speed none of the fillies had ever seen, Pea had grabbed Tuff by the back of his mane in one hand and was holding him in the air above them all as she stood tall on her hind legs while the other held a knife she’d drawn from her vest, ready to strike.

        “Auntie!  Let me go, sheesh,” Tuff whined as he dangled from her grasp, “you’re hurting me.”
        Pea gasped, and released him, stumbling back and onto her flank.  Her cybernetic limbs clicking as she sat in stunned silence and stared at the three fillies who were hugging in fear, looking at the knife that had been tossed into the ground before them.

        “Auntie, these are the Cutie Mark Crusaders… are you all okay?”

        The silence was broken only by a light gust of wind that blew through the grass and knocked the knife over, breaking the fillies from their stupor. “Are we okay?  Are you okay?!  What was that?”

        “That’s how she wakes up after she takes her sleepy fruit.  I’m fine, see.  She’d never hurt me, right Auntie Pea?”

        Pea shook her head quickly and cleared her throat.  She smiled and looked at Tuff. “I’d tear a dragon’s heart out before I’d let you get hurt, Tuff.”

        “Ugh, that story again?  I know about the dragon you killed already,” Tuff groaned in annoyance while the fillies snapped their attention to Pea in stunned silence, again. 

        “You killed a dragon?  That’s so cool!”

        “Was it an adult, or just a baby like Spike?”

        “I don’t think, they know who Spike is yet, Sweetie Belle.”

        “Ah dunno, girls, she looks tough enough to do it,” Scootaloo finished as a flapping sound came from overhead.  A pegaus wearing a full body robe and thick reading glasses landed nearby with saddlebags packed, and overflowing, with books and scrolls.

        “Hi, I’m here for the Literature Festival, do you know where I sign up?”

        The five looked amongst each other. “Um, excuse me, miss, but why do you think we’d know anything about that?”

        “Well, it’s going to be in this town and,” the pegasus poked the ground with a hoof in anxiety, “well, you’re the first ones I saw on my path into your town.”

        “Ah know!  It’s on the other side’a town by mah family’s farm!  Best apples in Equestria, can’t miss it.”

        “Thanks a lot,” the mare smiled and nodded as she opened her wings and took in a deep breath.  With a few flaps she took to a hover and looked to Pea. “My name’s A.K. Yearling, miss...” 

“Pea Gravel, and this’ Tuff Boulder,” Pea pointed to the lone colt.

“An honor, and if you happen to meet me in the festival I’d love to know about your limbs.  I bet there’s a great story I could write with that.” With that she flew up and off, dropping a small cookbook as she left, accidentally.

        Pea scoffed. “Damned pegasi and their ego,” the trio of fillies gasped, “Oh, your poor ears won’t bleed from my language, you’ll adjust after a couple days.  So,” she turned her attention to Tuff, “where’s our hotel?”

        “Ah, yeah, about that, Auntie…” Tuff said as the book landed on Pea’s head with a soft whack.

        …

        “A barn is good,” Pea said as she stepped inside the red barn on Sweet Apple Acres, “it’s better than a pile of leaves, right Tuff?”

        “Right,” he agreed.

        “Now, where’re all the adults?  I need to make sure that it’s okay we stay here before we unpack,” Pea said to Apple Bloom.

        “Right that way, at the farmhouse.  Granny and mah sister Applejack are there.  Mah brother, Big Mac, is in the orchard setting up for plantin’ a few new trees.”

        Pea nodded and took a lead while Apple Bloom and the other crusaders stood to the sides of Tuff. “So, ya hungry, Tuff?  Ah can get some apple snacks fer ya?”

        “I, think I’ll wait,” he hesitated to say.

        “You can eat, Tuff.  This isn’t like the old place; no pony will try to drug or poison you,” Pea reassured him with a weak smile.

        “Yeah, okay then,” he piped up, “I’d like to try some apple foods.”

        “Best ones in Equestria,” Scootaloo and Sweetie droned in unison.

        Apple Bloom grinned with pride. “What they said.”

> 1) What Happened? Hunker down kid, this'll be a long one (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"You called a girl what? I thought I told you not to get into trouble!"

"I didn't! Nopony came after me at all!" Tuff pleaded.

"Yet. What do you think her daddy's going to think about your little smart ass comment or her brother? She's bound to tell somepony what you said and they sure as hell not gonna like it!" Pea fumed.

"She's just some rich brat, Auntie! Rich ponies don't fight!"

"Doesn't matter. Rich or poor you should treat your kind with respect!" Pea finished. She let go of Tuff's ear and the colt promptly began rubbing it.

Part of the open barn doorway's light was blocked by the shadow of a large red stallion. Pea and Tuff looked up to see him, both assuming he was Big Mac due to his size. He leaned on the door frame with a piece of straw in his squared off mouth.

"Ya sure know how to talk to kids," he chuckled, "Mah names Big Macintosh. But most just call me Big Mac. So Ah hear that yall are...new in town?"

"Yes sir," Pea said. She brushed her mane to the side.

"Ah really didn't have much to say, just wanted to get acquainted. Somepony else wanted y'all's attention," He said and the Crusaders slid into view. Sweetie Bell was holding something aloft with her magic.

"Howdy!" Apple Bloom said,"Me an' mah friends brought a little something for ya!" the yellow filly motioned the little unicorn over.

"We baked you a pie!" Scootaloo declared,"I...er...we hope you two will like it!"

Big Mac chuckled to himself as he walked out of view with his heavy set hooves. The pie floated over to Pea and Tuff while the three fillies trotted toward the two guests.  They sat in a semicircle in front of the grey mare and the red colt while the pie landed in between. Pea eyed the pie suspiciously while her nephew eyed it hungrily. Pea brushed a hand on her vest before taking a slice. She bit it cautiously while the young ponies watched her intently. She chewed then swallowed the morsel.

"Very good! Did you three make this yourself?" Pea asked. Tuff took no time to stick his face in the pie pan.

"We had a little help from Granny Smith," Sweetie Belle admitted. The other two squinted at Tuff with puzzled squints.

"So Miss Gravel," Scootaloo looked up at the grey mare with bright eyes,"Where did you and Tuff come from? He said something about being across the ocean...but that's just not possible."

"Why not," Pea asked,"I've seen a lot of impossible things."

"Well...it's just not," Sweetie rubbed the back of her neck,"There isn't any land out there...at least nopony ever told us there was."

"That's silly!" Pea laughed,"Yous didn't think Equestria was the whole world...did you?" Her smile faded when she saw the almost hurt looks from the fillies.

"It's not our fault," Apple Bloom said,"Nopony ever told us there was," she pursed her lips,"Could you?"

"Do what?" Tuff asked from the pie pan.

"Tell us where you're from, your home town?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

Pea rested her chin on her steel knuckles. She looked at different things in the barn as she thought. She then pulled her legs under her torso on the straw,"My home town? Well, to be honest...I lived out in the middle of nowhere with my parents. We all lived in a mud brick house in a scrub desert. We loved that house," Her eyes began to water, "Oh, I'm sorry girls. It's just been such a long time since I thought about that..."

"Then why did you leave?" Applejack's voice could be heard from outside the barn,"If it was so nice, why are you here?"

Pea sighed,"Oh...we were run out of it. A big dragon drove us out and wrecked it."

"You have dragon problems out there?" Applejack asked with angst," Why don't you just yell at em’? It works here."

Tuff happened to look up from the pie pan when this was going on. He shrunk down when he saw the dark look in his aunt's eyes. She lifted herself up and her metal feet thudded against the ground as she walked outside the barn. The young ponies thought it was best to leave the mares to themselves.

Applejack was leaning on the barn wall with a less than impressed look as Pea moved into the open. The orange mare flinched slightly when she saw the same look that Tuff saw. 

"What's the matter? Did Ah strike a cord that Ah shouldn't?"

"Look lady. I'm appreciative that you let me and my nephew stay in your barn but if you want to fight me just ask."

"Beg your pardon?"

"You and these...Equestrians. You all live so sheltered. 'Yell at a dragon"? Are you trying to piss me off? Where I come from, dragons would rip you apart as much as look at you," Pea snarled. Applejack's once stone like face now had hints of fear on it.

"Me sheltered?" Applejack stood straight up. She looked Pea straight in the eyes,"Ah'll have you know, Ah've had my share of hardships. Ah've helped reform Discord, defeat Nightmare Moon, and dethrone King Sombra to name a few," Applejack smiled confidently.

"Heh, that's sweet,"Pea made a predatory grin,"Helping the kingdom, eh? Well Applejack, have you ever heard another pony scream in agony? Do you even know what the word 'famine' is?"

The orange mare's face went pale. Pea stamped a metal hoof into the dirt,"I doubt you ever had to watch another of your kind get eaten alive before you eyes. Has a 'farmer' like you had to kill another equine for food?" Applejack shrunk back from the stranger's words.

"Get out!" Applejack cried frantically,"Get out of my farm!"

Applejack stood breathing heavily after shouting at Pea. The stranger stared back at Applejack with eyes that made the hair on the back of Applejack's neck stand on edge. 

Pea drew her chin up and snorted,"Tuff, come on. We're leaving," The colt walked slowly out with their saddlebags in tow. They strapped their bags on and walked away from the barn. The three fillies looked out from it with shocked looks. 

Before leaving earshot Pea turned her head back,"Thanks for the pie, girls!" And then she and Tuff were gone. 

Apple Bloom was the first to look at her sister who was slumped against the wall shaking. The stranger's words still burned painfully in her mind. The yellow filly rushed over and untied the bow in her mane. She wiped the sweat from her sister's face and called for Big Mac. In moments the burly red stallion rushed over from the orchard.

"What's wrong?" Big Mac panted,"Where did those two go?"

Applejack threw her weight on her brother's forearm. She looked up Mac with wide eyes,"That...that mare...she scares me!"

Mac huffed,"Her? Scare you? Ah know she's got freaky legs but that ain't no reason to be scared of-"

"Those eyes! She looked at me with the same green eyes as a...a timber wolf!" Applejack cried.

Mac sat down and hugged his trembling sister,"There, there. She didn't hurt you did she?"

"No..."the orange mare sniffled,"What she said though… it can't be true can it? Ponies… killing each other… over food?"

Big Mac smiled comfortingly as Applejack rested her troubled head on his shoulder,"And...and dealing with famine! She must've thought we were some sort of rich family...she said herself that she mistook it for a plantation. She thought I was a slave for Celestia's sake!"

"Shhh....she was probably just trying to scare ya. You just need to calm yerself down," Big Mac said as he helped her to her hooves.

"T-thank ya, Mac. Ah need you to stay here, Ah'm gonna go tell Twilight about this Pea Gravel...she'll know what to do!"

Before Big Mac could even say good luck his sister was already racing down the road to Ponyville. He stood up slowly and watched his sister run off, praying that the things the stranger spoke of were just lies.



Applejack ran through the streets of Ponyville in the light of a sunset. Only a few ponies were out in the warm evening air and watched the orange mare run like a freight train. Applejack panted as her hooves pounded the ground on her way to Twilight's castle. Her head swam as she tried to keep her spirit up until she reached the door. Eventually she made it to the crystal structure and skid to a stop at the doorway. She stood out of breath and her knees shaking. 

Twilight opened the ornate door and gasped when she saw the cowpony," Applejack!? Come inside, tell me what happened."

Twilight led her tired friend inside to the parlor and to the cowpony's surprise, Zecora and A.K Yearling were inside too. The two mares sat at a table in the princess' parlor and had a mug of coffee between them. Twilight had Applejack sit down with the others while the princess sat at the head of the table.

"So tell me," Twilight said with concern,"What is the matter?"

Applejack shook her head and smiled meekly,"Ah...Ah don't really know. Apple Bloom met some colt today and asked if he and his aunt could stay at the barn. I wasn't too keen on the idea...then I saw her, she had...metal legs. Ah've never seen anything like it..."

"Neither have I," Yearling said,"Yet I saw her today, like you did. She's frightening if you provoke her, isn't she?"

"From what I've heard, dangerous would be a better word," Zecora said as she sipped calmly on her coffee.

Twilight looked over to Applejack with a comforting smile,"Come on Applejack, I'll talk to this...Pea Gravel alright. I'm the princess of friendship after all, aren't I? I'll see what's going on and sort it all out by tomorrow okay? Now, before I go looking for her, make sure you three don't tell anypony about her alright? I don't want the situation to get out of hoof."

The three mares nodded and the alicorn smiled weakly. She bid good night and made her way to the doorway. The mares were leaving the castle as Twilight lifted herself into the evening sky in search of the stranger. She circled the town several times until she found two ponies she didn't recognize in the town park. They were laying next to a tree well out of view from anypony on the ground but not from Twilight. She descended to the ground with little sound from her wings, and landed a few feet from the strangers silently. The colt was leaning against the mare in question, both dozing off in the coming night.

"You… the pony with the metal legs,"Twilight said in a half-commanding voice. Pea's eyes snapped open and gawked at the lavender alicorn, "Where are you from? I’ve never seen you before."

The mare lowered her face to the ground, "Your grace… I am but a humble earth pony looking for a place to keep my nephew safe. Is this task not in your liking?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "From what I heard, you didn't speak like that to the other ponies you met today. You scared my friend Applejack half to death!"

Being the mare she was, Pea tied to keep the 'humble subject' act going as long as possible. She had talked her way out of trouble many times and planned on it again. She didn't expect to hear that a farmer was friends with an alicorn, she sat up and looked with wonder.

"You're friends with a farmer? Isn't that… uncouth?"

"Not here it isn't," Twilight said with a smile,"Now, are you and your nephew going to sleep out here in the cold?"

Pea wasn't sure if she was being scolded or invited to something,"Is that alright with you?" she asked.

"Absolutely not," Twilight said promptly. Pea sunk down a bit,"You and your nephew can stay with me."

"Y-you mean it? Even after I scared your friend?" Pea asked in awe.

"She's a tough mare,"Twilight reached out a hoof to Pea,"Now, pick up your bags. We're going to my castle."

"Are you sure...I can't repay you in money," Pea said meekly,"I can work. Do you need any labor?"

Twilight sighed,"Perhaps, but you know what I'd rather be paid in?"

Pea kept her eyes on the princess as she put a sleeping Tuff and her saddle bags on her back. The grey mare made sure Tuff wouldn't fall off her back before she followed Twilight,"What would you rather be paid in...if I'm so bold as to ask."

Twilight began walking to the edge of the park,"You can tell me of your adventures from the outside world. No matter how happy or tragic, a mare like yourself is bound to have done some interesting things," Twilight said as Pea followed her.

"I suppose...but doesn't somepony like you know the events of the outside world?" Pea pried.

"Me? No, I don't. Discord or Celestia maybe, but not me," Twilight smiled sheepishly,"Oh, Pea? Have you ever teleported before?"

Pea grinned,"By my own will, no. I haven't had much experience with that kind of magic."

Twilight stopped her while her horn began to glow,"You can trust me. Besides, it doesn't hurt."


Before the grey mare knew it, she was in a glossy throne room with the lavender princess. A chandelier was overhead in the high ceiling and six chairs were set in a circle with a table at the center. Twilight began walking down a nearby hallway and Pea took a moment to follow her.

"Some place you got here,"Pea gawked at the gem-like walls,"You live here alone?"

"Yes, my friends come to visit a lot though. Now, I have a few guest rooms down this hall, you can take your pick."

Pea was bewildered that a princess invited her to a castle and was giving her a room. She followed the princess to a group of doors and opened the first to the left. Inside she found a dresser and a soft single bed. To the right was a door leading to a small bathroom. A window was at the far end with the moon's light showing through. She turned to thank the Princess but she was already half way down the hall.

"Once your done setting up, I'll be waiting in my room. It's in the hall past the throne room," Her voice echoed off the reflecting walls,"We have much to discuss."

Pea felt like she was in a dream as she entered the simple room. She was used to sleeping under the stars or under bridges, not under sheets. She lay Tuff on the bed and placed the blanket around him gently. She smiled as he subconsciously snuggled deeper in the covers. Pea placed their bags next to the dresser and went to the small bathroom. 

She looked into the mirror and saw her face was a bit grubbier than it should in the company of royalty. She fiddled with the faucet trying to figure out which knob was hot or cold but eventually just splashed water in her face. She saw the clear liquid fall back into the sink brown and looked over to the shower. She closed the door and opened the shower curtain. She fiddled with the shower knobs like the sink's, mostly due to the fact that she was more accustomed to bathing in rivers, not bathrooms.

After learning the mystic ways of modern plumbing, she took off her vest and lay it on the sink. She stepped in the shower on her hind legs and the hard rubber tips of her back legs kept her from slipping. Pea turned the water on and flinched as the warm water hit her bare torso. If anyone was with her in the room they would see the array of scars on the mare's back, and one that looked more like a brand of a compass rose on her chest. 

She found a soap bar and washed her mane in the relaxing shower of warm water. She looked to her feet and saw how brown the water was and smirked,"I was talking to all those ponies with this much dirt on me? No wonder none of those encounters ended well..."

Pea didn't realize how long she was in the artificial rain until it began to run cold. She squealed and threw the curtain open to escape the now icy water. She reached her metallic arm behind the curtain and shut the water off. One of the few times she was glad her arms couldn't feel anything. She shook her body like a dog out of a storm to dry off, she laughed sheepishly when she saw a towel hung on the door. She dried what was still wet on her body and slipped her vest back on, not bothering to button it. She checked on Tuff before heading off to Twilight.

She entered the throne room and found another hallway she didn't notice before. She went down it and found a door with a crack of light shining out beneath it. She pushed it open gently and found Twilight sitting in one of three cushy chairs next to a fire place with her muzzle in a big book, a sizable bed was at the other end of the room and the walls were covered in stuffed bookshelves. Pea expected that this was Twilight's private library and the fireplace was a magic one that didn't require a chimney. Twilight looked up from her book and giggled.

"So that's what took you so long, you washed up. You know, your mane is quite lovely when it isn't dirty."

"Thank you princess-"

"Please, call me Twilight," the alicorn interrupted. She gestured to another cushioned chair,"Come and sit. I want to talk to you."

Pea moved to the chair furthest from Twilight and sat up with her hands in her lap. She looked at Twilight's friendly smile,"So...what do you want to talk about?"

"You said you wanted your nephew to be safe, correct?' Pea nodded. "Well, I'll let him stay here and educate him if you like. From what Applejack told me, you two have it pretty rough out there. ‘Famine and ponies killing ponies’ you said?"

Pea was taken aback at the generosity of the princess. She leaned into the chair,"I can't thank you enough...what can I do to repay the offer?"

Twilight's smile faded. Her gaze went to Pea's torso,"Tell me what happened that made you lose your legs."

Pea sat quiet for a moment,"I can't say anything but the truth to you, Twilight. I owe you too much for a lie," Pea looked into the fire,"His...no...it's name is Volm."

"Volm? I've never heard of him,"Twilight said cautiously.

"No one did, he just swung in out of the blue. Tirek's Crusade stopped short and Belial just-"

Twilight stopped the mare,"Wait, wait...Tirek? My friends and I put him back into Tartarus! There's no way he can be fighting."

"He's not, in fact when news of his short time on the surface reached the rest of the centaurs like him, The Torrent as they call themselves, the prophet Belial rallied an army and searched for the gates of Tartarus-"

"Wait, wait...there's more like him? Do they all consume magic like he does?"

"Not really, but Tirek is worshiped like a god by them. Somehow he obtained a higher level of power then the rest did, and Belial is looking for it-"

"How did you get mixed up in a holy war, Pea?" Twilight asked bewildered. 

"Well...that 'higher level of power' is what I was looking for. If I found it, I could keep it from the grip of evil like Belial or others. It's not just him though, there's a dragon named Borox who's in league with him."

"And how does this...Volm fit in?" Twilight asked timidly.

"It found the power before everyone else. That thing...took everything from me," Pea said with a pale face.

"You still have your nephew, don't you?" Twilight said comfortingly.

"Yes...but the worst thing is...Volm separated me from my friends," Pea wiped a tear from her face,"I'm not sure if they are still alive or not."

"So what brings you here, is the 'Higher Power' you mentioned in Equestria?" Twilight was now sitting on the edge of her seat.

"A part of it maybe...but I really came here to speak with the Sun Goddess, or Celestia as you call her."

"Why?" Twilight asked wide eyed.

"Our kind is cannon fodder out there, food or slaves and what is she doing?" Pea gritted her teeth,"Sitting here playing princess."

"Pea, calm down. I'm sure she's doing something about the war-"

"No, I've only seen the sun out there,” Pea Gravel said with an edge,”Never her. If she wanted to protect her kind like she does here, why not everywhere else?"

"I'm not sure....but this story is getting confusing," Twilight groaned,"How did you learn about the 'Higher Power'?"

Pea's face softened up,"Oh, I was still back in a place known as Peron. My crew and I went to a harbor to get a boat after escaping a bunch of dragons and we got mixed up in a situation with pirates...that's where I met Rochi," Her face warmed up when she said his name.

"I take it you liked him?" Twilight giggled. She was glad the mood became brighter then talk of war and monsters.

"Like him? I love Rochi...he was a slave for the pirate captain Gumbo then, but when we came around his thirst for adventure came back and he left them. Turns out they were after 'The most beautiful' thing in the world', which is what Rochi went to sea to find."

Twilight rubbed her eyes sleepily. Her horn glowed and a stack of paper and pen poofed next to Pea. The grey mare blinked in surprise but Twilight yawned. She placed the paper and pen onto Pea's lap.

"That's some story, but I need to know the whole thing. You should just write it all down while you stay here."

Pea smiled sheepishly,"I'd love to, Twilight. But I'm...I can't write."

Twilight looked at her for a moment,"You see," Pea continued,"A nomad like me doesn't have space in her pack for books, I just keep the stories in my head."

Twilight got off her chair and headed for the bed,"I'm tired. I suppose I can teach you to write tomorrow and Tuff if he needs it. I'm off to bed, Pea Gravel. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, princess,"Pea said quietly as she got off the chair and headed for the door. 

Twilight slipped into her bed and Pea walked over to the guest rooms. Her heart was fluttering, I'm safe and so is Tuff, she thought,but what about them? I need to find them... 

Pea tread over to the room Tuff was in and moved to the center of the moonlit room. She lowered to the floor and sprawled comfortingly on the it. She felt tired mentally and physically, she welcomed sleep but was prepared for the big day tomorrow.


> 2) Strangers in Paradise (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The morning sun shone bright in the guest room in Twilight's castle. Pea rolled onto her back to look up at ceiling while she thought about her situation. She lifted herself up and wandered into the throne room, following the smell of freshly made breakfast. The scent of things she had never eaten led her to the sight of Tuff, Twilight and Yearling sitting at the main table with a breakfast fit for a princess. Tuff had a pile of muffins and candied fruits in front of him as he chugged his third glass of orange juice. Twilight and Yearling had never seen a young colt eat so much.

"He can sure pack in in, can't he?" Pea chuckled as she sat at the other end of the table.

"Ah, Good morning! Did you rest well?" Twilight said as she sipped on a mug of coffee,"Funny, I found you on the floor instead of a bed."

"Yeah, I slept pretty good," Pea eyed Yearling who was eating a doughnut quietly,"What's she doing here?"

"Twilight told me you were going to write of your life in the outside world, being an author I couldn't help but offer my assistance." Yearling smiled.

"But I told her already, I can't write. I can barely read,"Pea said scanning the breakfast banquet,"How am I going to write a whole book?"

"Tell you what, you tell me and I will write it for you," Yearling offered," That can't be hard, can it?"

"You'd really do that?" Pea asked. She rubbed her shoulder sheepishly,"Even then....all books need a name don't they? What would you call mine?"

"The title can come later, right now you need to eat up," Twilight butted in,"We have a few things we need to do today."

Pea grabbed a muffin and took a bite,"What kind of things, if I'm so bold as to ask?"

"If you're staying here a while, which I'm sure you are, you need to meet some of the locals," Twilight mused.

Pea half choked when she heard this,"I've already tried that, you know where that went."

"True, but be a bit more...gentle this time. Yearling will be with you to make the ponies here a bit more...accepting of you," Twilight said. 

She noticed that most of the food was gone now, thanks to a certain colt, and used her pink cloud of magic to move the dishes to the kitchen. Yearling thanked Twilight for the food and headed for the front door with a satchel in tow. Meanwhile Pea and Tuff stared at the spaces that were once occupied by plates and tea cups.

"Now Tuff," Twilight said,"Have you ever gone to school?"

He thought about the question for a moment,"School?"

"Oh dear..." Twilight said worriedly.

Yearling called from down the hall,"Pea Gravel, aren't you coming with me?" 

"Sure, give me a sec!" Pea called. She looked over to Twilight,"Now look here, I appreciate you wanting to teach him but...I don't think a school room environment would be best for him."

"Why? Is he shy or have problems with bigger children?"

"No, he'll be fine. I'm more worried about the other kids," Pea looked to the colt,"Now look here, you be nice to Princess Twilight and do whatever she tell you, got it?," And with that Pea trotted off to meet up with Yearling.

Twilight looked at Tuff's youthful face for a moment. She wondered how a young colt like him could be so dangerous.

"Tuff, have you ever been in a fight with another colt?"

"No, I did have to help Auntie fight a big armored pig though. He had blood all over his axe, it was so cool!" Tuff smiled at the princess.

Twilight laughed nervously,"Well, umm...that's...wonderful! Let's change the subject, alright?"

"Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

"Do you know how to read or write at all?"

"Nope," Tuff said with a cocky smile,"I never had time for it."

"Figures," Twilight said under her breath,"Well today is your lucky day, Tuff."



Yearling seemed nervous walking next to the cyber mare. In fact, everypony on the streets they passed gave odd looks. Pea noticed how unsettled she was and offered to buy her a drink.

"We just ate," Yearling protested,"And besides, why would you buy me just a drink?"

Pea smacked her forehead,"I'm sorry, let me be more specific. Would you like a hard cider?"

"No, I don't drink alcohol...much" Yearling blushed slightly.

"Well let's get a little and talk about our book," Pea grinned.

"I do know a place outside of town...and I suppose a drink or two wouldn't hurt."

"Alright, lead the way!"

Yearling led Pea down a road leading to the far end of town, there the houses became less packed together and eventually no houses at all. The two mares were in the field outside of the town and a small crowd of ponies followed at a safe distance. Yearling looked behind them and noticed the curious ponies with cameras. The more Yearling thought about it, the more the crowd looked like an mob from a monster movie.

"Ummm...I think we're being followed."

"It's not an angry mob is it?" Pea asked without turning her head.

"I think so, should we do something about them?" Yearling asked.

"Well unless you have a pair of wings...oh," Pea looked at Yearling's wings as if they just appeared there. She looked at the pegasus with a wry smile,"You think you can lift me up?"

"Umm...I suppose, why?" Yearling asked.

"Why not?" Pea grinned wryly.

Yearling sighed and shook her head with a smile,"Well, we need a running start."

She spread her wings out and sprinted forward. Pea threw her head back and laughed as her cyber legs pounded the dirt after the tanned mare. The crowd behind them began running in pursuit and came about twenty feet behind the two mares. Pea looked at the Pegasus who was breathing heavily.

"Is this as fast as you can go?' Pea called over the rushing air.

"Corse not! It's just been awhile!"

Yearling jumped on Pea's back and locked her forearms under the cyber mare's. Yearling pumped her wings and sent them into the air, the ground and the crowd shrank under them as they climbed into the sky. Pea held onto Yearling's hooves tight as she tried not to look at the ground.

"You know, I thought you'd be a little heavier," Yearling chuckled.

"Hey, you calling me fat?" Pea looked up at her with a sour look.

"No, don't be silly!" Yearling said.

"Well...now what?" Pea looked back down at the ground. She had never really been this high up and giggled at how the ponies looked like ants.
"Hey, is that who I think it is?" Yearling peered off into the oncoming distance. Pea looked in the same direction and saw a trace of a rainbow line in the sky.

"Funny, I thought rainbows made an arc, not a straight line."

"That's not a real rainbow. That's the trail Rainbow Dash leaves behind when she flies, I wonder if she's coming over here."

"Well I can see why they call her that," Pea said as she saw the blue pegasus fly in arcs and loops. She began flying toward the mares and Yearling began descending.

"Hey! Where are we going?" Pea said covering her eyes.

"I can't carry you forever, Pea. Besides I was meaning to talk to Dash today," Yearling said as they grew closer to the ground.

They landed and Pea sat with her arms folded while Rainbow Dash followed up at the rear. The blue pegasus trotted up to the other mares and smiled to Yearling. Dash then cast a sour look to Pea.

"Daring Do...er...I mean A.K Yearling, I'm so glad you're here!" She glared at the cyber mare,"I see you caught the freak."

"Hey," Pea cast a similar look back at Dash,"I have skin and blood just like you. If anypony here is a freak it'd be you, I've never seen anything with a mane like yours."

Rainbow Dash ignored the cyber mare,"We've been looking for her all night. You know she scared Applejack to death and that colt of her's got Diamond Tiara's dad pretty upset."

"Dash, I don't think you understand," Yearling sighed," Pea Gravel here is a very...interesting mare once you get to know her. Oh, and she was staying the night at Twilight's."

Rainbow Dash shook her head,"No way! I asked Twilight about that mare and she said that she already looked for her..."

Yearling knew Rainbow Dash was hard to convince,"You've got the wrong idea about her. If it makes you feel better, she and I are writing a book soon! Isn't that exciting?"

Rainbow Dash was shocked,"B-but...you write...you are Daring Do! How can you write something else...let alone with her?"

Pea stood up which caused Dash to inch back,"Kid, I've got plenty of stories if you're willing to listen."

Rainbow Dash was dumbfounded, completely flabbergasted. Her favorite author...no, her idol was sticking her neck out for a complete stranger and a rather unsettling one at that. Dash's knees buckled and she fell on her haunches. She looked from Daring Do (Pea didn't know Yearling and Daring were the same mare...yet) to the cyber mare with her jaw hung open.

Pea closed it with a smirk on her face,"You better keep that mouth of yours closed, something may crawl in and eat your brain."

"Thanks lady," Rainbow Dash smacked Pea's hoof away from her face,"But you need to leave. Equestria isn't meant for somepony like you."

The grey mare pulled her metallic fingers in and out of a fist,"Well then...why don't you make me?"

Dash made a cocky laugh as she stood up into an aggressive position,"So you want to do this the hard way?"

"Show me what you got," Pea Gravel said flatly.

Yearling looked from one mare to the other,"Hey, nopony is in the wrong here! What are you two doing?"

Pea's emerald eyes were now almost mint in color and met Yearling's in a cold stare,"I'm showing this punk how we 'outsiders' handle our problems."

In a flash the blue pegasus rocketed to Pea with a hoof ready to swing at the cyber mare's face. Pea watched as Dash swooped toward her and felt the impact of Dash's swing on her jaw. Pea staggered back and Rainbow stood on her hind hooves rubbing the one she swung with. 

"Heh heh, a little taste of Dash Fu a bit much for-"

Dash didn't even see the cyber mare spring back at her. Her boastful words and the rest of her hot air was forced out as Pea rammed a metal fist into the pegasus' diaphragm. Dash fell like a split tree on the ground gasping for breath. Yearling had a grimace on her face while the cyan pegasus lay sprawled out. Rainbow Dash looked up at the cyber mare with wide eyes as her attacker had a hand ready to pull her up. She began breathing normally again and accepted the cyber mares assistance up. She stood breathing hard for a moment and looked at Pea from head to toe. She stood smiling as if nothing happened even with the trickle of blood running off her lip. 

Pea wiped some blood off her muzzle,"You got some arm there, if you swung any harder and I might've lost a tooth!"

Yearling looked to the cyan pegasus,"Are you alright? No broken bones?"

"She'll be fine," Pea Gravel answered,"I hit her diaphragm with about fifty psi. She's probably hit the ground harder than that from a flight crash."

"Is that all you can do?" Dash asked. On the outside she still looked ready for a fight, but she was screaming at herself from the inside.

Pea twiddled her fingers again,"I don't want to have to dig my fit back out of another chest alright?"

Dash backed away from her with a pale face. Yearling stopped her,"Dash, don't go! Just stay for a moment, please," She looked over at Pea with an icy look before stamping to her face to face.

"If you want that book written you're going to have to be more tolerant with others," She whispered severely,"No more scaring and fighting with ponies, alright?"

Pea clenched her face up as she was about to counter Yearling's threat but sighed in stead. She looked over Yearling's shoulder to Dash who was waiting nervously. Pea rolled her eyes and groaned before trudging over to the pegasus.

The cyber mare rubbed the back of her neck,"Look...I'm sorry, alright? I shouldn't have been so quick to violence, can you forgive me Rainbow Smash...er Dash?"

"Only if you let me help out on the new book," Rainbow Dash said quickly,"I've helped Daring Do before, I could help you too! As long as there's no more punching."

"You recovered pretty quick, Rainbow Dash," complimented Yearling,"I hope we can all get along now," she glared at Pea.

"Wait, isn't Daring Do a character in Yearling's books?" Pea asked,"Wait...is she," The cyber mare pointed to the tan pegasus,"Is she...Daring Do?" She looked to Dash who nodded.

"You got me," Yearling smiled bashfully,"You haven't even read my books and you know. The Daring Do books are my personal adventures here in Equestria hunting rare and important treasures. From what Twilight told me you were looking for treasure too, and with some war going on every waking moment...that must be such an adventure."

Rainbow Dash was dumbfounded, completely flabbergasted...again. Her idol, Daring Do, was putting this stranger on a pedestal like Dash had done for the ruby eyed pegasus. Rainbow fainted and landed on the grass face first. Pea and Daring looked at her with wide eyes.

"You know, I think a drink can wait. Let's just hang out here in the field, what do you think Yearli-...I mean Daring Do?"

"I...I suppose?" She replied and Pea promptly lay on her back in the grassy field. Daring looked around in the empty field, she saw the mountains, forest and Ponyville all comfortably away in the distance. She lay on her legs near Pea while Dash lay unconscious near by.

Daring reached into the satchel she had carried with her and pulled out a notebook with a pen clipped to it. She opened it and Pea held her torso in a crunch to see the book. It was blank for the most part, a few scribbles on the first page. Daring held the pen in her mouth and looked closely at Pea. The cyber mare felt almost embarrassed under the writer's keen eye.

Daring made notes of the way Pea's mane reflected the sunlight like the orange of a morning sunrise, how her torso fur on closer inspection hid a well toned muscled core, the metallic legs had a plated look and seemed to be designed for more than just helping a pony walk again. Out of her vest's v neck a hint of her circular brand could be seen and then Daring's eyes went to the mare's flank, Pea pulled her tail over her flank's bare skin.

"Hey missy," Pea shouted,"We’re not writing a smut book!"

"Really, Pea?" Daring Do asked with a groan,"I was looking at your cutie mark, not your butt!"

"For you, I'll take that excuse," Pea moved her tail to reveal her cutie mark. It was a sandstone colored heart with a cracked center and a compass behind it. Daring made a note of it and looked with worry at the cyber mare.

"Why do you have a broken heart for a cutie mark?" She asked.

Pea lay down again on her back. She folded her arms behind her head and looked up at the slow rolling clouds in the sky. Dash had regained consciousness at this point but kept her head low and watched the two adventuring mares through the short grass.

"Rocks are beautiful, yet I have a heart of stone," Pea said mostly to herself,"I've been forced by chance or maybe fate to be a wanderer, the crack is from my first kill. Or...or from how much of a bitch I became...I was an alright kid before then but after...."

Daring was writing down everything Pea said,"Go on, tell me what happened," She encouraged.

"She was a Carnahorse. I was eleven years old. She kidnapped me when I was in the mountains and was going to eat me...I'll never forget those green eyes. They looked just like mine..."

"How did you escape?" Daring asked mesmerized.

Pea sighed as a breeze flowed over the lush grassy field. The mares who listened to the cyber mare were whisked away with Pea's words. They felt as if they were with her as she described the dry heat of the pine forest that covered the low mountains. She also told her about the beast carrying her. As the name suggests, they are equines that eat meat. Unlike other horses though, they're built like tanks and have a three toed hoof like ancient horses.

They saw Pea as a young mare, no more than a filly. She was hog-tied across a big stick attached to a large leather backpack on a husky looking yellow carnahorse. The 'carnahorse' carried Pea up a mountain path to a shabby log cabin. Pea kept quiet because far more dangerous creatures then ponies like her captor lived up here. They arrived at the cabin and the husky yellow mare placed the stick Pea was tied to over two wood tripods that were on either side of an ashy pit. Pea inhaled sharply when she saw bones peaking out of the old coals.

The grey filly looked around desperately at the complete mess around the cabin to try and find a way to escape. The carnahorse was busy with a few small sticks and a ball of cotton for the beginning of a cooking fire. Pea waited until the captor had moved to the other end of the house before she attempted an escape. The rope that had kept Pea on the stick hadn't been very well tied and after some careful wiggling the filly was free of the binding cords. Her captor hadn't seen her escape, but something kept the filly there. A strange kind of hunger she had never felt before.

"She thought she had me tied up pretty good when she left me in her fire pit," Pea's voice was dry as she retold the event,"I got out of the rope and found her not to far from the house at a big tree stump. She was so busy swinging that ax splitting wood she never saw me sneak up behind her. I kicked out her leg and she staggered, dropping the ax. For my age the ax was heavy, but something inside made me stronger...like her.

I took my chance and held it ready to swing, she stood on her hind legs looking at me with false confidence. I remembered what she said about ponies like me, how we were weak and meant as food for creatures like her. I swung it and it sunk into the side of her face and her blood splattered against mine, she still wasn't dead though. 

I looked at her with the same cold green eyes she looked at me with when she when she told me I was just food, a fluke of existence. I had split wood before but when I looked down at the sputtering mess of that carnahorse I couldn't help but laugh in her face. I lifted the splitting ax over my head and swung down at her thick neck, it stuck in and I had to kick it free before swinging again. Oh, the look in her eyes was...something I'd rather die than have in mine," Pea fell silent as Daring scribbled the remaining words onto the page with watery eyes.

Dash's voice broke the silence, "But...how did you get there, weren't your parents looking for you?"

"No kid, a dragon named Wiktet came in and smashed my house. Actually this  whole 'carnahorse' thing is a bit after that. Once our house was gone, Wiktet grabbed my mother and ripped only one her wings off like a doll's arm. My padre and I tried to find shelter and keep her from getting sick. A whole winter passed while we lived in a cave close to the mountains. My mom was healed from injury but being stuck on the ground made her mind very sick, she always kept her eyes in the sky after that. We managed to find a small village with a doctor of sorts and when we told him about her condition he prescribed a kind of fruit called Jade Cactus Fruit."

Daring Do and Rainbow Dash gazed at the powerful looking mare. They way she was speaking, it seemed as if this was the first time she had told anypony about this...the first time she had anypony who would really care.

"Once she had been eating a small piece for every meal for a while her mind recovered...slightly," Pea Gravel continued,"Only four months had passed and she took bigger and bigger doses each time. One night after seeing a flock of birds fly overhead she stuffed a hoof-ful of the fruits into her mouth. Padre and I woke up to the sounds of her strangled, foam clogged breathing. Padre tied to help but she kept convulsing and then every muscle went limp... "

Dash held her hooves over her mouth in shock. Daring stared at Pea with her mouth slacked open. Pea pulled her neck up and rested her head over her hand. The pegasi were silent in shock and remorse, Pea had a small smile as her closed eyes held back a tear or two.

"How can you smile?" Rainbow Dash asked frantically, "You watched your mother die… in ...in such a horrible way too. Is that funny to you?"

"Not at all. I'm smiling because I'd rather remember the mother that raised me then the one I saw die. If she saw me sulking over something as common as death after so many years she'd never forgive me. But a pony like me has seen a lot of it...caused a lot of it," She sat up and looked at Dash's shocked magenta eyes with a soft and almost worn down look, "Living as long as I have through the things I've brought on myself, smiling is one of the only ways I have left to not go crazy. Besides, it takes more muscles in your face to frown."

Daring Do made a shaky breath and the cyber mare looked over to the writer, "Is that all true?" The tanned pegasus asked, "Did you really see all of that while you were so young?"

"I wouldn't lie to you, or anypony here for that matter. You all are so sincere and innocent, I'd feel like I would be cheating you if I wasn't honest," Pea smiled. She motioned Rainbow Dash to sit closer and the pegasus was hesitant for a moment, "Come on Dashie, I won't bite."

Dash got up from her spot in the grass and walked over to sit with the adventuring mares. Pea moved her hind legs into a criss-cross position and had her fore-hooves on her knees. She looked at the two pegasi like a school teacher would while reading a story to her class.

"You've got more room in that notebook right?" Pea asked pointing  to the book in front of Daring.

"Do you have more of your story to tell?" She asked ready to write.

"You bet your ass I do!" and Pea began where the event in the mountains had left off.

> 2) Strangers in Paradise (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	She told them of how she began wandering from town to town. As Pea talked and talked, Daring and Rainbow Dash were pulled into the story more and more. The tales of struggling for survival and the idea that you were only worth a piece silver for the opponent in the battlefield. Hours passed and the three mares didn't notice the time go by, the clouds and the sun rolled west in the sky. Daring found it hard to keep up with writing down everything the cyber mare was telling but she scribbled and scraped her pen across the paper to preserve the words that flowed into her ears. Pea was so wrapped up in talking that when somepony came in from behind to tap her shoulder she swung a fist behind her along with a startled look.

Tuff ducked his head easily and stared at his startled Aunt with a grumpy face. Pea drew her fist back and folded her arms across her chest. Tuff did the same.

"The hell are you doing?" Pea said through her teeth,"I thought you were learning or something."

"You've been out all day Auntie. I had to listen to Twilight yammer about boring history and this 'chemistry' thing," Tuff frowned.

Daring Do looked up at the sunset,"Oh road apples! It is late," She scrambled her to her hooves and shoved the notebook into her satchel,"I'm going off to Dash's place to write the rough draft of this. I'll let you know as soon as I'm done," She said excitedly. She had the light of a fresh idea burning in her eyes,"Come on Rainbow Dash, we don't have a moment to lose!"

The two pegasi took off into the air and the two earth ponies watched them fly off, "So what did you do today, Auntie?" Tuff asked.

"I told them some of the things I did when I was younger. Man, I'm hungry! Let's go back to Twilight's," Pea said happily after she had stood up,"I got about to the Morton part."

"The Pig knight who you fought for?" Tuff asked as they walked back towards town.

"He was one ugly son of a sow. That fort was almost as ugly as he was," Pea laughed.


They walked through the outlying streets as not to frighten any of the ponies enjoying the warm evening air. They arrived to Twilight's castle and found the aroma of several tantalizing dishes came from behind the door. They walked down the main hall following the trail of sweet air through corridor after corridor until they found a large room with Twilight and five other mares sitting at a long table with an array of food they were dining on. A white unicorn looked over to the two earth ponies with a mildly disgusted look.

"Ah, Twilight? Your...guests are here."

"Is that the pony who beat up Rainbow Dash?" A pink pony said popping up next to Pea.

The cyber mare inched away from the hyper pony," 'Beat up' isn't the term I'd use. I would go for...a small lesson is self defense."

"There's a seat fer the both of ya," Applejack said flatly," Come on over an' eat up, before it get's cold."

Tuff accepted quickly and hopped on his seat, looking at all of the food before him. There were cakes, pies, sandwiches, smaller pies, cupcakes, fresh fruit and other foods Tuff couldn't recognize. He dumped a hefty portion of everything his side of the table. Pea walked over to her seat next to the ravenous colt and looked at each of the mares. She stopped at Dash who kept her gaze from the cyber pony.

"Hey Rainbow Dash? Where did Yearling go off to?" Pea asked.

"She's at my cloud house writing your book," The cyan mare answered with a bite of cake,"She might have come over to eat but when she's excited about a story, she gets really excited about it. I don't think we're gonna see her for awhile."

"Oh no, what about the festival?" Twilight groaned,"This is the first festival I've organized and one of the panel guests won’t be there? It's in a few months and writing a whole book will surely take longer then that," She had a half wilted look," At least I still have the other Authors from Canterlot..."

"So umm...how long are you two planning on staying in Ponyville?" A shy yellow pegasus asked from across the table from Pea.

"I'm not sure," Pea Gravel said eyeing the array of food," I've been looking for a safe place to raise Tuff and this is the closest to perfection I've found."

The pink mare popped up next to the cyber pony again,"Oh! So you two are going to LIVE here?"

"If you all are willing to put up with me, I'd be grateful if I could stay," Applejack and Rainbow Dash cringed when Pea said this.

Pea became quiet as the six mares went back to chatting, what about she didn't know. She thought about how much Daring Do became enveloped in Pea's past stories. Even Rainbow Dash seemed enthralled by them. Would a book about me be accepted in a place like this?  She asked herself. Pea wasn't sure. 
Several minutes passed and Pea ate a few bites of food, she was to worried about how a book about her might ruin Tuff's chance at a healthy, normal life. She sighed as the six mares around her just smiled as if nothing was wrong and envied it.  

Quite suddenly Daring flew into the room panting. She had a pith helmet on and sweat beads on her face. Pea jumped off her chair and rushed next to the pegasus.

"Daring, you alright? You look like something's after you!"

"Look at this," she wheezed as she pulled something out of her satchel,"I've never seen anything like it before!"

She held in her hoof a glossy, almost marble like gem. It was teardrop shaped and dark turquoise with milky swirls around it. Daring looked up at Pea with a confident smile,"Ahuizotl...he's gone crazy over this thing. Take care of it...please." Then she feinted onto the floor.

Pea saw a bruise looking spot on her chest. Her mind snapped into action. She put the gem into her vest before she looked to the six shocked mares.

"She's got internal bleeding. Damn it...alright ladies, I'm going to need all of your help," she pointed to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, "You two, get her to a hospital now. You, fancy unicorn, watch Tuff for me and stay in here. You, jumpy and Applejack, make sure this Ahuizotl guy doesn't get inside the castle. You, princess, brief me on Ahuizotl."  Pea commanded and each mare looked to Twilight.

"Well...don't stare at me, do what she says!" Twilight said in a tizzy,"This all seems really dangerous!"

With that each mare went off  to their task. Fluttershy and Dash lifted Daring gingerly and flew out the door. Pinkie pulled a ninja suit from nowhere and somersaulted out the door. Rarity and Tuff sat at the table with nervous faces. Twilight teleported herself and Pea to the front door of the castle.

"Pea, we've dealt with Ahuizotl before, but...he's never been so violent..." The princess said.

"How big is this guy?" Pea asked flatly.

"He's much taller than a pony," Twilight recalled,"He's got arms like a gorilla's and a long mouth full of sharp teeth, I've never seen a pony fight him and win before...you're not...you're not fighting him are you?"

"That's the plan, sugarcube," Pea said grimly. 

"Well, how are you going to find him?" Twilight asked desperately. 

"I'm going to need a bird's eye view, fly up and do a perimeter check. Teleport back to me if you do or don't find anything."

Twilight's heart was pounding. This was all so sudden and yet this mysterious mare kept her head cool while something was thirsty for blood. She flew skyward and her head was swimming in different emotions as she scanned the now dark lit land. She flew almost six hundred feet up and found a slew of torch fires in the Everfree forest. She poofed back to Pea who was ridged with a cold look that hid red hot anger.

"I found several torches in the Everfree forest-"

Pea butted in,"Take me there, now."

"Like...carry you?" Twilight asked sheepishly.

"And drop me in there, you got a problem?" Pea's cold eyes pierced Twilight's.

"N-no...alright, let's go," Twilight stammered. She fluttered her wings and lifted up Pea in a cloud of magic. They teleported in the air close  to the forest and a low din could be heard. Twilight was breathing quickly and had trouble keeping her elevation.   

"Shhh,relax. It's easy," Pea encouraged,"Just fly close by and drop me right in. You've played ring toss haven't you?"

"Y-yes, but I don't see h-how it helps here!" Twilight panicked.

"Just pretend that I'm the ring and the gap in the trees is the goal. The prize you win is your town's safety."

"I'm  not sure that made me feel any better, but...okay," Twilight nodded. 

She flew the cyber payload over and saw a gap in the trees where torch light leaked out. Twilight looked to Pea with frantic eyes but Pea just looked up at her and nodded. Twilight bit her lip hard as she let go of the mare. She watched with awe as Pea waved back to her as the grey mare fell to earth.

Pea grabbed the top branches of the nearest tree with all four limbs. She moved her hands and feet one after another silently as she made her descent. She saw the big blue beast that was named Ahuizotl, he fit the description the princess gave her. She made her way to the the branched just out of view. There were several tribal looking ponies and a variety of bruiser ponies as well. They all held torches as they looked at Ahuizotl.

"Treasure hunters!  Stallions of Fortune! The greatest treasure in Equestria is in that town. I want it and will pay any price to whoever brings it back to me!" He shouted and the stallions cheered.

Pea saw an unnatural look in his small eyes. She had seen that look before, it was on Gumbo when he talked about the 'most beautiful thing in the world', it was on Borox when he was dominating on the battlefield, and it was on Belial as he hunted for the gates of Tartarus. Pea knew that a look of greed like this led to lives being smashed like grapes for that beast's wine. She readied herself for a surprise attack on the blue ape like monster.

The crowd began to rush to the edge of the forest and Pea took her chance. She jumped off the tree and slammed her hind hooves into Ahuizotl's shoulder blades. He coughed as he slammed onto the ground. He spun around and grabbed Pea with a meaty hand. His eyes had the look of murder in them, as did Pea's. The ape's crowd stopped dead in their tracks and watched the brewing fight.

"What are you, a PONY doing to stop me getting the King's Tear?" He hissed.

"I don't give a damn what is or who you think you are," Pea barked,"There are innocent ponies out there and I won't let you get that mcguffin even if that means killing you."

"And how will-" Ahuizotl smirked but stopped short. 

Pea squeezed both fore-hooves on his thumb and bent it back in a nasty direction. The ape screamed and dropped Pea. She landed like a cat on the ground and wasting no time tackling the ape's legs and pulled his ankles in awful positions. Ahuizotl squealed and grabbed an ankle with his free hand. Pea stood on her hind hooves ready to strike again. Out from the ape's back his tail ending in a fist whacked Pea in the gut. She grabbed it only for a moment then looked into Ahuizotl's eyes.

"What did you do to Daring Do?" She asked coldly.

"She tried to take the King's Tear. I stopped her with a mace to the chest!" He cackled wickedly,"She'll only have a few hours to live! The mace had a contact poison from the dreaded Red Ring Octopus, I shall be finally rid of her by morning!" Despite his injuries Ahuizotl coughed up a laugh.

Pea pulled her arm into a twenty five degree angle at her side and stomped on her hind legs up to the blue ape. He swung his tail again but his fist was caught by Pea's free hand. He squirmed as her metallic fingers wrapped around his tail's fist and the crunching of his finger bones was audible. She moved next to his long torso and her coiled arm sprung out. It nearly sunk into Ahuizotl's chest and Pea strained to pull her fist out of the crater she made in his ribs. He coughed up blood on the ground and the look of murder was gone. He curled up as his damages would allow and rose a hand up to Pea in desperation.

"P-please...spare me! I'm but a gold hungry fool,"His plea were silenced when Pea's hind hoof pushed his bottom jaw to the ground causing him to piratically kneel. He tried to push Pea off his jaw but she stood like a rock against his struggle. Pea's grim face curled up into a smile.

"You think just because you're bigger and stronger than ponies that you can just take whatever you want. I'll tell you what. The pigs and Gnolls I've fought would kick your candy ass for breakfast, these days they tuck their tails and run when I walk into town. You though...you tried to kill one of these ponies here. They were nothing but nice to me so I'll do them a favor..."

Ahuizotl growled in denial at the mare's words. She slid her hands between the ape's teeth on his top jaw and pushed up slightly. He pulled back and screamed as the mare used her mechanical limbs to lift the ape's top jaw. The higher she lifted the more the sides of the ape's jaw ground in a unnatural way until there was a loud crack and the ape went limp. Pea stepped to the side and Ahuizotl's jaws smacked together, completely out of alignment. His once berserk eyes had rolled back into his head leaving them blank and lifeless. 
Pea rolled her shoulders and cast a frightening glare at the torch bearing crowd. The ape's followers were completely dumbfounded. They had never seen such brutality in their lives and whimpered as Pea walked over to them. She had a grim smile on her face.

"Alright boys, I'm going to need you to busy yourselves and bury our poor friend who has passed on. Better make it snappy, or I'll make your necks go 'snappy'," she said with a twisted grin. With the torch light it made her look even more dangerous.

The stallions ran in a mindless mob around the ape and frantically dug a trench next to the dead monster with their bare hooves. Pea sighed and walked to the edge of the forest. She emerged into the field outside and found Twilight waiting for her. The princess sprung next to Pea with a barrage of questions.

"What happened? I heard a lot of screaming, are you alright? Is Ahuizotl still in there? Is he coming out?"

Pea held a hand to quiet the alicorn. She looked at the purple mare with a tired but pleased look,"You and your friends won't have to worry about Ahuizotl ever again. Before I go lay down, tell me about Daring Do. Is she alright?"

"Yes, the doctor said she came in just in time," Twilight said reassuringly," If she was any later a poison would have stopped her heart!"

Pea began walking back to town,"How many times have I walked to this damn town?"



Pea's mind was half asleep as she made her way for the town. Twilight teleported them both back to the castle in the guest room Pea had slept in the night before. The grey mare glanced around for a moment before flopped onto the bed. Twilight wondered what made the mare so tired, but didn't want to ask. She left the room and gathered her friends back up.They all sat outside Pea's room in the hallway. Twilight seemed the most shaken up of the troupe.

Applejack comforted the  princess,"We got Daring Do safe with the doctor. Did that mare tell you what happened with that ape fellah?"

"No, she didn't tell me, she seemed so tired. Is her nephew alright?" Twilight asked. Tuff jumped out behind Rarity.

"Here lady, is Auntie G alright?" he asked.

"She's just sleepy, like the rest of us. We'll talk in the morning," Twilight assured the group of ponies.

They dispersed back to their houses with few words to each other, each shaken up by the sudden events. Twilight made her way back to her room with a head full of one thought, what did Pea do in that forest? She groggily opened her bedroom door and slumped to the bed and fell into a fitful sleep.


She awoke the next morning oddly refreshed. Twilight walked to the guest room with a tray of breakfast in tow ready to surprise Pea. She swung the door open to find an empty room. She checked the room next door and found Tuff snoring. Twilight left the food in Tuff's room and searched the rest of the first floor in search of the grey mare. She spent almost an hour looking around before checking Pea's room again. She went inside and found something she didn't notice before, There was a small piece of paper tucked into the blanket with a cross inside a circle. She slapped her forehead in response. 

Of course! Pea had left the night before to visit Daring in the hospital, and since Pea can't write she made a red cross symbol on a note. Tuff was behind Twilight when she found it. Beside startling her he found out where his aunt was. Twilight asked if they should go and see what they could do. Tuff shook his head, he told her that it was best to leave Pea alone at a potential death bed. 

A few days had passed and Twilight found out that Pea refused to leave Daring's bedside until she got better. As Daring heath returned to her she immediately decided to begin writing Pea's book again. Every morning a nurse would come into the hospital room with a syringe she injected into Daring's arm and a cup of syrup she had the pegasus drink. The shot was an anti-venom and the syrup was for keeping the antivenom in check. It was Red Ring Octopus venom they were dealing with after all.

While Pea stayed at the hospital with Daring Tuff stayed at Twilight's castle. She was so excited about having a pupil of her own, much the opposite of how Tuff was feeling. Almost two weeks had passed since the event and Daring was released from the hospital. 

Pea greeted Daring Do as she left the building and the tan pegasus was desperate to get some fresh air.They left the grounds and Daring Do decided they should sit in a reclusive spot in the park on a tree covered hill, so Pea didn't gather any unwanted attention. Pea had brought Daring Do's satchel along for the trip, along with her own saddle bag. The park had a few ponies and foals playing in it's confined fields completely oblivious to the stranger that sat among the trees. The two mares sat enjoying the sun and silence for a while. Daring Do broke the silence.

She kept looking out at the park,"Pea, what did you do to Ahuizotl?"

"Excuse me," the grey mare snorted,"What makes you think I did anything?"

"He is one of the most persistent creatures I know," Daring Do lamented,"That night he had a look in his eyes I've never seen before, he'd never just give up. It doesn't help that I know what or somewhat of your...abilities."

Pea smashed a fist into the dirt,"I got rid of him, alright? He's been after you since day one of your treasure hunts and now he's gone. I thought you'd be grateful." Pea spat at the grass.

"Is he locked up somewhere or did...did you kill him?" Daring asked quietly. 

Pea gritted her teeth,"And why is it so bad that I killed someone who was a danger for everyone else?"

"After all you said about Equestria...how perfect or innocent it is..." Daring hugged herself remorsefully,"You bring something like murder into it. I thought you knew better...maybe you're just some brute from a warring kingdom after all."

Pea grabbed Daring's shoulder to make the mare look at her,"Look, what I did may have...was wrong. Once I saw your injury-"

Daring smacked her hand away,"I don't need your pity! I only decided to write you a book is...is because I needed to make more money! I need it and ponies are suckers for things they don't understand."

Pea grabbed Daring by the shoulders and slammed her weight onto a tree. The grey mare was on her hind legs and held Daring against the tree with a vice grip around her slim torso. Daring had a panicked look only for a moment. She looked at the furious mare with a wry smile. 

"You...you were going to use me?" Pea fumed under her breath,"I was going to be a means to your end for money?"

"So, what are you going to do this time? Hit me, break my nose?" Daring wheezed out of the vice grip.

Pea's arm was shaking.The mare's weight was a fraction to her words. Pea Gravel hopelessly gritted her teeth,"Just...just shut your mouth! I've been bought and used all my goddamn life, I will not allow that to happen again. What's wrong with killing that bastard ape anyway?"

Daring placed a hoof onto Pea's gripping arm,"This is a place of caring souls and shelter from the cold. Bringing a thing like murder in here will taint that, do you want this place to end up like where you're from?"

Pea let go of Daring and the tan mare slumped against the tree. She sat and looked up to see Pea Gravel shivering. The cyber mare's knees buckled and her weight toppled to the ground. Her green eyes stared out wide and afraid.

"All those ponies… they… they saw me," She pulled up her hands to her face, "You were right! I murdered him… and… I enjoyed it," her lip quivered.

Daring rubbed a bruise on her neck, "So you're sorry?"

"W-what? Of course I'm sorry!" She lay on her back nearly sobbing. She held her hands in the air to look at the palms as if the blood was still there. Her face twitched and flinched as she held back a barrage of tears,"It's these arms...these things! Before I lost them I had to think my way out of fights I knew I couldn't win… but now… "She pulled her arms back to her chest,"I'm just like them… a monster..."

Pea curled into a ball and shivered. Daring had never thought that a mere like Pea Gravel would cry, not like this. The tan pegasus scooted over and ran a hoof through Pea's mane. Pea looked up with watery eyes.

"Pea, if you're truly sorry… well… I'm not sure there's anything we could do," She smiled. Daring placed a hoof on either side of Pea's head and pulled the grey mare to her chest. Pea was shocked and blinked in disbelief. 

"Shh, if you need to let anything out, go ahead," Daring said hugging Pea.

The cyber mare wrapped her arms around Daring's waist and hugged tight. The pegasus patted her head gingerly as Pea Gravel let out choked sobs. For her recklessness here, for the pain out there. It had been awhile since she had cried like that and it calmed her nerves to let out what was bottled up. How much time passed there the two mares didn't know, but neither cared. Pea had only hugged a handful of ponies in her life, she felt safer in Daring's arms than any other. Eventually, Pea pulled herself into a sitting position up next to Daring.

"Thanks… I needed that," the grey mare sniffled.

"I'm sorry I lashed out at you," Daring Do sighed,"I… I was scared. For you and of you a bit. When I said I was going to use you to make money… you know I didn't mean it right? But we've put that in the past, so no hard feelings?" Daring smiled with a hoof around Pea's shoulder.

"Yeah, no hard feelings," She sat for a moment with Daring's arm over her shoulder,"Oh, oh I meant to tell you," Pea said wiping the wetness from her face with her vest, "That thing you found, it's called the King's Tear. The ape mentioned something about it being an invaluable treasure...have you heard of it?"

Daring Do leaned on Pea looking up through the tree leaves,"The King's Tear huh? Very poetic sounding," she sighed. Pea looked down at the tanned mare leaning on her, the cyber mare blushed slightly.

"I heard of it," Pea said,"It's something Volm is looking for, something I'm looking for." With this information Pea seemed suddenly euphoric. She stood up and held Daring into the air, "I got it before he did! I got it, not him! Can you believe it?" She laughed.

Daring couldn't help but  laugh along with Pea's spastic joy. Pea spun in a circle with Daring Do like holding a child and once she became dizzy she set Daring back on the ground. Pea's head bobbled as the world spun around her. Daring laughed again.

"You're a crazy, crazy mare Pea Gravel! It's refreshing in such a calm place like this," Daring Do giggled.

"And you're not too bad yourself,"Pea smiled. She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out Daring Do's book. She tossed it to the tan pegasus and then a pen,"Now, we've got a book to finish. Let's get to writing!"




It was the night before the Literature Festival. Daring Do and Rainbow Dash sat in Rarity's boutique picking different dresses for the festivities. Next to the door was Daring satchel with a thick, newly bound copy of Pea's book. While Daring was having her hair fixed up into a bun a knock came at the door. Dash got up to answer it and once she opened the door Pea was standing outside with a sheepish smile.

"Are you here to try out for a dress?" Rarity called from inside.

Pea eyed the cyan pegasus,"I dunno. What do you think Smash, would I look good in a dress?"

"If it was made of sheet metal," Dash joked,"Come on. I think getting a dress for you will be an ...interesting job."

Rarity looked up from behind Daring's mane,"Oh goodness! I'm certainly glad you came here, I'd simply die if you went to the festival with that on," She cried pointing to Pea's worn vest.

The grey mare chuckled, "Yeah… some ponies would find it rather silly huh?"

Rarity proceeded to look over at all of the other dresses she had out in case one ripped or got dirty. They all were beautifully colorful and ornate, each a work of art. Rarity and Dash piratically had to drag her over to them to see what she looked like in them. They went through most if not all of them, each making Pea feel less and less comfortable. When Daring saw her being stuffed into and pulled out of dresses she couldn't help but laugh, Pea wrinkled her face at the mare in response. After what felt like forever they had gone through every dress Rarity had in the mare's size and bigger. The cyber mare simply didn't feel fit to wear such beautiful things.

"Umm...Miss Rarity?" The cyber mare asked putting a hefty necklace back into a drawer,"Do you have something… perhaps more, I don't know… humble?"

Rarity giggled,"Well, I suppose. A while back Zecora came in asked me if I could make her another cloak-"

"Could you?!" Pea asked excitedly.

"But it's so simple...alright, I'll do it," She trudged over to her fabrics and reached behind a stuffed shelf case. She pulled out a dark green fabric that looked like it had never been rolled out. She drug it over to her work bench and began making the stencils necessary for the cloak.


Daring was in a dark blue dress when she walked up to Pea, "Do you think this one looks good on me?" she asked.

"You look… daring!" Pea smirked. The pegasus chuckled.

Rainbow Dash's voice called over from the door,"Hey, what's this?"

Daring scrambled over to the mare and snatched her bag that contained the novel,"Hey, no peeking!"

"Peeking at what?" Dash with a puzzled tone.

Pea waved a hoof for the mares to walk back over into the main room. Daring held the shoulder strap in her teeth keeping the contents away from Rainbow Dash. Pea grabbed the bag when she had the chance and pulled the book out. She and Dash stared at how simple the brown and red bound book looked. Pea handed it over to Rainbow Dash who blinked in disbelief.

"Go ahead, read it."

"Pea! I wanted you to see it bound first," Daring said.

"She wanted to help, so I'll let her by listening to what she has to say about it."

Dash took the novel and held it as if it were gold. Pea smiled back at the pegasus as she lifted the cover to see the first page. Dash cocked her head to the side when she saw there was no title. 

Pea smacked her forehead,"We forgot to name it!" 

"You know...I had an idea if you two want to hear it," Dash said quietly. Pea and Daring leaned forward with their ears tuned in. Dash put the  book safely under her wing,"Pea, you told me that there was so much out there a pony couldn't control...that creatures like us are at the bottom. Since this book is probably going to have a lot of that...how about Forces?"

Pea and Daring gasped,"That's a great idea!"

Dash stood in a proud position,"Of coarse it's a good idea, I thought of it!"

The night wasn't getting any younger and a tired look came over the two mares involved with the book's creation. Dash thanked the two mares very much, and Rarity. The unicorn was too busy muttering over the silliness of Pea's cloak request to pay much attention as Rainbow Dash exited the boutique. Once Rainbow left Pea slumped onto the floor with heavy eyelids, Daring with an equal fatigue lay as gracefully as she could without ruining the blue dress she had on.


Rainbow held the mysterious novel in her arms as she pumped her wings through the night sky. She raced through air currents and clouds on her way back to her home, the perfect place to read the book she had waited almost two months for. She slowed her pace once the door of her house was in view, once next to it she threw it open and kicked it closed on her way to her room.

Not very many ponies knew of her book collection. It was in her 'sports' room on shelves hidden by various banners of sports teams or wonderbolt members, but in the center of that literature was her very own LazyBuck recliner. Dash flew into the room full of dart boards, pool tables and hidden books and landed on the wide cushioned chair. She took a moment to catch her breath after the race home.

For some reason she couldn't calm down. She vaguely remembered the things Pea Gravel said in the field outside Ponyville, but to see it all and more there in black and white, the mare felt nervous about reading it. She tried settling herself more comfortably into the chair. Dash lifted the cover and turned to the first page with text.


For anypony with a thirst of freedom and a will to pay the price.



Rainbow Dash's grip on the book slacked,"Price? What price does freedom cost?"


> 3) A Book called 'Forces' (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash sat in her LazyBuck chair being anything but comfortable. In her hidden study she had only a single lamp illuminating the book in front of her. It was written by A.K Yearling (or Daring Do as she prefers out of formal events) along with the short tempered mare Pea Gravel about the journey the stranger had from a dismal childhood to when she arrived on Equestria's shores.

The title page had nothing except the authors names; A.K. Yearling and Boatswain. Dash was puzzled of the seemingly random name. She soon realized it was just a pen name like Daring's. She flipped to the first page and began reading the book she had waited two months to hear about.






Hello, my name is Pea Gravel. This may seem strange but the world you know of cupcakes, rainbows, princesses, even friendship is noting but a dream for ponies like me who don't live alongside with you. If you'll let me, I'll explain it the way I lived through it and maybe you'll appreciate the world you live in a bit more when you put down this book.

I was born like everypony, into poverty. My father, orange hair and red fur with a face that shown the labor he did to feed my mother and I. She was a pegasus, a rare thing to find as a free pony, and he was an Earth pony like me. Both were nomads until they met each other, my mother's fair grey fur and platinum mane caught his eye and the fact she had wings meant her children could. Sadly it didn't but what came out of it was a little grey filly with a grey coat and an orange mane...me.

Having a family to care for was no easy task in the world we lived in. Both were from the desert which was full of things similar to diamond dogs (but scrawnier and in larger packs) , deadly scorpions, and worse of all Carnahorses. Now for you kids at home, yes a Carnahorse is exactly what it sounds like. It's a pony that can only eat meat. With all of these dangers and a brewing territory dispute with the Ridge Dogs  and the Sand Boars, my father needed to find a place as close to safety as we could get.

We found a rancher in the Sand Boars territory who was willing to let a family of ponies stay and work. Now again for the kids who don't know, a ranch (out here at least) is a farm-like place but with livestock. Along with barley or wheat they raised practically brain dead horses, pigs and cows for carnivorous buyers. Unfortunately, ponies who couldn't keep up with feeding and tending the herds were turned into glue, food and leather while their bones were sold to the Coyotes who made art from any bones they could find.  My father didn't want this this to happen to me so he made a deal with the rancher pig, he does the whole family's share of labor while my mother and I clean the pig's house and cook. The pig accepted happily.

I know what you're thinking,"Pea Gravel! That's a horrible trade, what happens when your father can't work anymore?"
The truth is, my father would rather work out in the fields under sweltering heat then fight the Ridge Dogs. These diamond dogs have a massive, well organized pack. All they would do with a pony is eat it or 'play' with it awhile, the Sand Boars on the other hand are a much more lenient to other hooved creatures. This band of wealthy pig landlords would rather pay ponies to work for them until their use is out, then eat them or 'play' with them.

I was about eight when I started noticing differences with my parents. My father became thinner and sun bleached while my mother came back to our house on the ranch later and later from the Pig's house. The later she came home, the more silver she came back with.  This was a reoccurring thing and at the time I thought nothing of it, the only thing that kept the two going was the stories dad would tell late at night. They were of fantastic things like wish granting fairies and ponies who could slay dragons, tales of hope for the pitiful things we were. I became fascinated with things outside the norm and I was often caught daydreaming when I should have been scrubbing or dusting, but I
wasn't the only one. He often told stories to the sore ponies and cows that worked with him and his stories gave as sense of hope...and sometimes purpose.

One night not too soon after I turned eleven everything changed. The desert air was hot for the time of night while all of the tired ponies, bulls and whatever else unfortunate enough to be stuck in the ranch all slept dreamless, except me. I lay wide awake between my parents on our dirt floor with a single wool blanket over the three of us. I stared at the mud brick ceiling with a sense of unknown fear. I tossed and turned for a while until I decided to go to the glassless window night sky and gaze at the stars. I got a wood crate to help me reach the windowsill and poked my head out the window. My heart froze and my eyes blinked in disbelief at what I saw slinking through the other ranch houses. It was a dragon. Each pueblo was thin and about two stories tall, the dragon was crawling and shoulders almost met two thirds up.

I would later come to know that this dragon's name was Wiktet. His body was long and a rust red color with porcupine quills running down his wavy back but no wings like the ones I heard of in stories. His teeth jutted out to make his mouth look like it was in a permanent smile. Wiktet slithered through the ranch houses like a snake through a gopher tunnel. He peered his pale yellow eyes into the mud brick houses with a hungry look. He licked his lips as his arm carefully into a window and shuffled his talons through the room while the small grey filly watched. His eyes lit up when he grabbed something, he pulled his tawny arm back out and held a labor worn pony between his talons. Wiktet licked the sleepy pony who cringed from the unnatural touch. She opened her eyes for only moment before the dragon  shoved her neck back with a push of his thumb, causing the mare to go limp. I couldn't believe what I saw but what came next was just as shocking.

The pig rancher hobbled his fat girth down the path that ran along the fronts of the pueblo houses. Wiktet crawled out to meet him and his massive size dwarfed the fat pig. I saw an almost...mutual look between them. 

"Gracias, cerdo," the dragon drooled,"Your workers have a...sabor especial."

"De nada, Jefe," The pig looked around in the darkness nervously,"I have a favor to ask of you if you'll listen," the rancher said through his fat.

"For a few bites, I may take it. What does my little cerdo want?" Wiktet hissed.

"I have this one familia in a pueblo," The pig pointed to my house and I ducked out of view,"The Padre in there fills my workers heads with stories full of azúcar y mentiras, sugar and lies. If he keeps going they might get ideas."

The dragon wheezed an awful laugh,"You want me to eat some caballitos?"

I could hear the dirt scrape against his belly and claws as he crawled closer. I had to think fast, I ran over to my parents and shook them awake.

"Mamma! Padre! Wake up!" I cried.

"Eh, what is it pequeño? My Padre asked groggily. He saw how frightened I looked and held me close in his arms,"You just had a bad dream, Pea. Come back to bed-" His eyes shot open when he saw the talons of Wiktet's hand slip through the window.




 


Rainbow Dash left the book open on her lap and leaned back into her cushioned chair. She remembered Pea Gravel, or Boatswain now, telling her about this part of the story. Dash leaned forward and fluttered her wings, her stomach felt sick when she thought about what happened to Pea's mother. That pegasus was 'clipped' for life, she went crazy being stuck on the ground. Dash turned a few pages and found a part where Pea was wandering alone away from the ranch. She ended up in the mountains as the weather began to drop.

Dash found where Pea wrote of her...'encounter' with the carnahorse. The pegasus grimaced at the daunting paragraph telling of the meat-eating-horse's untimely end. Rainbow Dash skipped past that part and found a paragraph a little ahead and found it much less relenting.





...the snow was heavy on the other side of the mountains. Nowadays I know the reason the desert I spent my young life in was so dry and relentless, it was in a rain shadow of these mountains. From what supplies I took from the carnahorse's cottage I was fed little for several weeks. In the pine forest that covered this side of the mountain I spent many sickened nights only being kept warm by leather and wool coats I took from the cottage.

I about a month I reached the foot of the mountain range and found a thick pine forest with trees I had never seen. These trees had leaves much bigger than pine needles. I gazed at the forest and embraced the sight of the most green I had ever seen. I walked through it, it's cold wet ground feeling alien on my hooves. As I walked I found a ridge that led to a small cliff face. I heard the sounds of clanging metal and the occasional grunt of anger.

I crept to the ridge and saw thirty feet down in a rocky clearing a pony I could only describe as stretched. In her suit of dark iron armor I could see she had long legs, a long snout, long ears and a long tail. She even had backwards facing horns sticking through her helm. From my point of view I thought the set of tan bat wings on her back was a cape. The long armored pony had a group of bandits attacking her from all sides.

The group consisted of four rams with spears and a massive pig with a heavy flail. All of them had thick leather hide armor with occasional pieces of iron as protection. But the part that frightened my young self the most is that they seemed to be having fun as they were attacking the pony from all sides with a sword in both forehooves. I was amazed by how quickly she moved with all of that armor. One of the rams threw a spear but missed the pony, unfortunately it hit some loose dirt I was leaning on and I rolled down the cliff. Both sides watched me roll down the hill with amusement.

I landed right in front of the pig. He looked from me to the armored pony. He kicked me in the ribs then used one of his forefeet to keep me on the ground. The armored pony looked at me through her visor with shocked pink eyes. With the pig's hoof on my back I could barely breath.

"Heh heh heh, wacha gonna do now?" The pig snickered with the mace's handle in his mouth.

"Ya fat swine!" the mare's muffled voice called through the helm,"I'll slash the fat off your damned bones!" It was an accent I had never heard in the desert.

"Pit down yer swords...and yer armor too an' I let 'er go," The pig licked his lips,"I bet yer a squishy 'un under all dat armor!"

The mare was standing on her hind hooves and stamped a foot closer,"I'll warn you only once...get off."

The pig leaned more on to me and I cried out in pain under his crushing strength. He laughed only for a moment. The armored mare's wings rocketed her toward the pig, she readied her swords as the pig simple brain tried to register what was happening. 

He didn't have long. The mare's swords dug deep into his adam's apple and as she pulled the two apart his wide neck split open gushing blood out onto me and the ground. His weapon fell to the earth and I scrambled to get out of the way of his falling body. He landed with a wet thud and his ram followers scattered. I sat panting and afraid while the pony looked at me through the visor.

"Is the wee filly injured?" She asked with her accented voice.

"A-a little. That bastard was heavy on my back. But...thanks for saving me, Miss," I responded. I rubbed the thick blood off my jacket.

"What a mouth on such a young lass," She said sheathing her swords. She walked over to a large rock and lifted a large pack from behind it and placed it between her wings. She looked back to me for a moment,"Oi, there's a river over yonder. If you don't want some wolves or worse chasin' ya, I'd suggest you wash the blood off of you," She sniffed the air,"Actually you need it any way. I kin smell you from here."

I felt a little offended at this. I looked down at my hooves and saw not the skin tone hooves I have, but mud crusted nubs. I pulled some of my mane in view and saw it was matted and had bits of sticks in it. I glared at the mare, I knew I was a bit dirty, she didn't have to be so blunt about it.

The mare was walking away to a thicket of trees and I rushed up to her to follow. My chest ached from the pig's attack but I didn't want the armored mare to know it really hurt. She stared straight ahead as if I wasn't next to her.

"So yer followin' me now?" she asked.

"I-is that a problem?" I asked as bravely as I could. I could sense a smile from her inside that helmet.

I followed her for a little and listened to the sound of cicadas and singing birds. The armored mare broke the silence,"Do you have a name, lass?"

"Pea Gravel, miss," I said meekly.

"Tsk! Ya don’t have tah call me Miss. If you're going tah be formal say 'mam," Her voice grated,"And I have a name too, Alia Bufordox."

I giggled when I heard her name,"Bufordox? What kind of name is that?"

"S'a traditional name for Dragon Ponies like myself," She replied flatly.

"Dragon pony?" I asked vacantly.

"Are ya that stupid lass?" Alia groaned,"Look at me wings! They aren't a-covered in feathers are they?" She said lifting her bat-like wings.

"Is that all that makes you a dragon?" I asked.

"When we stop at the river I'll show ya. I'd rather not carry this here armor unless it's on me back."

After a small walk through the pine and leafy trees I heard the sound of moving water. Once out of the woods I saw a small river, up until then it was the biggest body of water I had ever seen. I threw off the leather coats on my back and rushed to the river. Jumping into the shallows the cold water felt amazing on my grubby skin. I rolled around and dunked my head under the water while Alia moved to the shore undoing some of the leather straps on her armor. I had figured out a strange form of the doggy paddle until I looked over at Alia. I trotted to shore with a soaking coat of fur.

Alia was undoing the leather under her chin and I realized something terrifying at the time. Alia had fingers like a dragon's. She slid her horned helm but the streamline horns stayed on her head. Alia held the thick iron helm in her hands and looked at me with her pink iris eyes which complimented her burgundy mane that flowed out between the horns. She had very smooth skin that almost looked like fish scales in the tree dappled light and a scar ran across her muzzle cheek to cheek. Alia lay her helm next to the rest of her armor and stretched her arms and wings out with a yawn.

"So you really are a hybrid!" I exclaimed.

"What a daft lass, did my wings really not give it away?" She groaned.

I sat near her examining her alien appearance, she didn't take it to well.

"Am I funny lookin' to ya?" She growled.

"No, just different," I smiled.

"Pea was it?" She asked picking her sharp teeth with a claw, "I've got to say, either you're the bravest wee pony I met or the stupidest."

"Why?" I asked whimsically.

"Cuz most ponies turn tail and run at the sight of me. Ya see...most ponies think I'm some sort of monster or something cus my father was a dragon," Alia said.

"I don't think you're scary. I've seen a real dragon and you're nothing like him."

Alia threw her head back and laughed loudly,"Really? Ah, what kind of dragon did ya see lass?"

"He was long and reddish black. He had creepy yellow eyes and porcupine quills on his back," I recalled with a chill.

Alia's face grew serious,"Did he have wings?"

"No, that's the weird part! All of the dragons I've heard about have wings like you."

"That's no good. From what ya told me, that one sounds like the Lamb Cruncher, Wiktet. He's one of Borox's cronies," Alia said with a frown.

"Borox? Who's that?"

"Ah child, you lived under a rock didn't you? Borox also known as the Serpent Father or The Bloody Bastard by non followers, is teh head of some cult for wingless dragons," Her wings twitched,"I could never imagine being stuck to the ground like an 'earth crawler'...no offence."

"S'alright Alia," I smiled.

There was a silence between the two of us for a moment. Alia looked around impatiently,"You washed up, why are ya still here?"

"I want to follow you," I said bluntly.

"Come again?" Alia itched the inside of her ear.

"I want you to teach me to fight like you did back there," I asked with bright eyes,"Could you?"

Alia bit her lip. She folded her arms and scanned my size for a moment,"You? You learning to fight like me? Don't make me laugh."

"What have you got to lose?" I asked.

"Well...yer a pony. Ponies aren't the fighting type," She grumbled, "Most of the things out there would eat ya alive!"

"I escaped a dragon and killed a carnahorse," I said flatly.

"Bullshit you did. I've seen carnahorses, their as tenacious as a mule is stubborn. There's no way in heaven or hell a filly would kill one."

"So you don't believe me?" I asked.

"Hell no I don't. Don't go trying to swell your story to make it sound better, that's not how it works out here," She piratically scolded.

I stood up on my hooves,"Alright, I'll fight you for it."

Alia rolled on the ground laughing. She whooped and hollered while I stood with a uneasy glare. Her fits of laughter subsided and she sat up and looked at me with an amused look.

"Oh lassie, you'd really fight me even knowin' I'm a mercenary that's killed more creatures then ya have teeth? Even knowin' I'm a carnivore?" She grinned devilishly.

"Yes," I said simply. 

She got up and walked over to a nearby tree. She broke off two staff-like branches and tossed one to me. The stick landed in front of me and I looked from Alia to the staff.  She held her staff in her mouth and walked back to her sitting spot on the shore. She sat down and smiled with the stick between her teeth.

"Alright, I'll go easy on ya. Just try to land a hit on me," She grinned.

I picked up the staff with my jaw and looked at how Alia was sitting. She sat like a cat would waiting for her prey to come closer. I shifted my hooves around looking for a vulnerable spot while her hot pink eyes stared me down. I took my chances for her left side. I jolted off the ground and had my staff mid swing but something blocked my strike. Her wing was splayed out like a shield and I was swept away like a dust bunny.  Rolling back, I went for the other side. This time a smack in the face from her tail. Targeting the center. Crack on the head with a staff. I put my staff in my fore hooves and stood on my hind ones, this made Alia's eyebrow raise a little. I went in for a downward strike and was blocked by her staff. Strike, block, strike, block, kick...

She spat her staff out when my hind hoof went towards the base of her jaw. She headbutted me and I went sprawling back. I was about to push myself up when a stick poked my throat. I looked up and Alia had an annoyed look as she stood over me.

"Look lass, it's been fun an' all but I've got things to do. So if ya don't mind, kindly bugger off."

I've been told my eyes turn a mint green when I'm especially angry. This was one of those times,"There's only one way to use your mouth in a fight," I growled and bit the staff at my throat. Somehow I pulled it out of her grip and made a full 360 turn before cracking it hard on her muzzle. 

I stared wrathfully up at her breathing heavily. Alia stared down at me with a shocked look and a nose dripping blood. She held a hand up to her nose and sat down blinking wide eyed.

"Never in my life have I seen a pony with such pain tolerance and… and drive for combat. Ya didn't even notice the blood dripping from your forehead did you?" She asked breathlessly. She held a hand up to block the streams of blood from her nose.

I dropped the stick and placed a hoof on my forehead then held my now blood covered hoof in front of my face. Now that I thought about it, my whole forehead was feeling warm and wet now. My adrenaline had subsided and I sat across from the dragon pony my head aching from Alia's strike. We sat in a few moments of pained silence.

"Alright, I'll teach you what I know...or at least some of it," She said with a grin behind her hand.

I hugged the dragon pony. She seemed shocked and shoved me off her torso.

"I'm your mentor not yer mum! Don't go huggin’ me like that!" She scowled.

"Sorry… so what's my first job?" I asked excitedly.

"First up, we both need to wash off again. Can't walk around like some blood covered cannibals, eh?" Alia chuckled.

We both went over to the river and dunked our heads into the cool water. The flow if it felt amazing on my head that now felt like it was split in two, thankfully it wasn't. 

Alia smiled wryly. She pointed to her stack of armor and chainmail,"First I need ya to sort me armor inta two piles. One that the armor isn't cracked or rusted and one that is. Then once you're done with that take the grindin' stone out from the bag an' sharpen my swords."

I jumped to the task while Alia slipped into the river and let the cold water relax her sore muscles. I had sharpened farm tools before but never swords. A few hours passed and I scanned and checked Alia's armor while she swam through the river bend. It was almost dark and I stopped working to get a fire started. Alia saw me make a small flame started with some flint and tinder I stole from the carnahorse. The dragon pony jumped out of the river and shook the water off her mane onto the fire. I was about to protest but I remembered that I was under her lead now.

"Ya can't make a fire here you idiot!" She hissed a whisper.

"Why not? Fire scares off animals, right?"

"Yeah but not Ridge Dogs, fire would be a beacon to 'em," She looked over at her armor which still looked like one stack,"I thought I told you to put the good and bad armor in two piles."

"I did, all of your armor is beat up," I sighed as I scattered the ingredients for the fire,"You're going to have to find a real good blacksmith or pay for a whole new set."

Alia lumbered over to her belongings and cursed under her breath. She pulled out a blanket and bagged up her armor. The dragon pony tied a rope at the end of the bag, flapping her wings she settled the bag on a thick branch on a tree above and tied the rope to secure it. Alia lay on a branch adjacent to the burdened one and called down to me.

"I don't think ya want to sleep down there, some Dogs may come by."

"Could you help me up there?" I called back.

"I'm already laying down, come up here yourself."  

I muttered under my breath as I hoisted my belongings onto my back and tried climbing the tree. It took awhile but I managed to get a decent height. Even though made it up about twenty feet, Alia was still higher up. I grumbled as I used the jackets to make a makeshift rope to tie myself to the branch with a wool blanket for warmth. Once secured, I tried to sleep.

"Ya not used to sleepin' in trees?" Alia asked sleepily.

"No, not really...it's weird," I groaned.

I heard her chuckle before I fell into a dreamless sleep.


> 3) A Book Called Forces (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


In the days that followed we went toward Alia's manor. She wore her armor almost the entire time, even sleeping in it. For 'safety' she said. At first I thought the idea of a settlement run by a mercenary was silly but it would be my home for some time. The fact that a settlement run by a pony, even a hybrid, was impossible to me.From what she told me it was in an old river basin and was the first farm to get the spring thaw's rain. Now I knew she was crazy, a pony having such a good spot for a manor?

We walked through the pine forest and eventually the mountains were behind us like a pack of monolithic giants. The land away from those towers of rock was patched green and flat . A dirt road led us away from the mountains to some mounds in the distance. The rocks were the only landmarks in the tall dry grass, save the occasional tree which grew in patches. The mounds in the distance was a town with windmills and was full of griffons. They called it Breeze because of the powerful air current that plowed overhead; they used the town as a rest stop for fliers, merchants and messengers.

Alia told me her manor wasn't to far past the town. I asked her why she didn't fly over to the manor in stead of walking, she pointed to the cracked suit of armor and I smiled dumbly. As we went through Breeze, I got a lot of grimaces and dirty looks from the griffons and even ponies. Almost every pony I saw had a collar or a bridle on their muzzles. A few had a blank glossy stare like some washed up fish, I knew for a fact those ponies were the… 'livestock' kind.

A three week journey came to an end and Alia's manor was in view. It had large wood structure at the center and a few small fields with an orchard next to it. The closer we got, the more detail I could see. The manor house had a simple but strong looking design and a few smaller houses around it in a grid pattern. On the east side were the small fields and on the west side was the orchard.

I felt a little sick when I saw her workers, they were slaves like the ponies in town. I saw four mules in her field with heavy plows in tow with that fish-like stare. Alia lead me to one of the smaller houses that had a hefty brick chimney. Going around the corner I saw it was a blacksmith shop. There was a barrel chested sand yellow stallion behind an anvil pounding on a piece of metal with a hammer. Behind him hung several metal things such as ax heads, pitch fork heads, sword blades, all decently made. Alia took off her helm and waited for him to look up.

Eventually he did and I saw a forge and time worn face of an older stallion with a graying ginger mane. He put down his hammer and wiped soot from his face,"Afternoon Lady Bufordox," His voice was gruff," I'm glad to see you back, is there anything I can do for you today?"

"Aye, Smelter. I need ya to repair my armor. It's been cracked since last time I was here."

"Oh dear. I'll do what I can but you've really gone and banged it up… if your lordship permits, we don't have very much coal left for this kind of thing… my apologies."

"Oh shut it. Just tell me what else the manor is running low on."

Smelter shifted his weight,"Well… there's flour, salt, coal, iron, lumber and wheat seeds." The blacksmith muttered. 

"Wheat seeds? Flour? I've got a whole wheat field out there," Alia fumed.

"Bad season last year. Didn't rain for a whole four months...dried the whole thing up. I'm surprised the apple orchard is still alive." Smelter smiled.

"I understand that but why are Sammy and his brothers still tilling the field?" Alia groaned.

"While you were gone I planted barley. Those mules wanted ale so bad they've been tending the fields even with the drought we've had."

"Alright, alright. There's a few things I need to catch up on," Alia said hurriedly,"Pea, help me get this armor off. I miss my bed in the big house and I'm rather worn out."


Undoing her armor straps was rather easy and once she left Smelter went to work. I leaned on the framework of the shop while Smelter heated up the forge. It was a few moments before he decided to chat.

"So, your name's Pea Gravel?" Smelter asked eyeing a forearm piece.

"Yes sir," I said quietly.

"No reason to call me sir, I'm a slave. You don't seem like your… how would the best way sound… owned."

"I guess not, Alia called me her 'squire' on the way out here," I said bashfully.

"Squire huh?" He said holding the armor close to the forge with tongs to heat it up,"You're a lucky one. The best a slave like us here can get is stuff to call our own. Or just have an owner like Master Bufordox, she's very kind despite her… jaded attitude."

"Us? How many slaves are out here?" I asked with a grimace.

"Well...there's me, Jimmy and his three brothers, Sweet Summer, and Dew Berry. Sometimes critters looking for work stop by during harvest time with the mercenaries Alia hired to keep us safe when she's gone," He chatted while merging the crack in the armor,"Come to think of it, I think you'd like Dew Berry. She's about the same age as you… I think..."

"Where is she," I asked tentatively.

"She's the housemaid and Alia's personal cook. I'm pretty sure lil' Dew would be in the Big House making something for the mistress to eat. Don't bother waiting here or anything, I'm going to be just working on this until curfew so go ahead."

"Okay… see you later Smelter!" I giggled as I headed for the Big House.

"One more thing," He called before I went too far, "The well is beside the big house, you should wash up before going inside."

I took his advice and found a small well near the big house. I fished out the bucket inside to wash the dirt and grime off me. After that I went for the inside of the house. The door was unlocked and the 'receiving' room had an ornate carpet under a rafter filled ceiling. There were a few doors and the one at the far end had tantalizing smells coming from it.

I followed the wafting odor to a brick layed kitchen. Dried vegetables hung from the ceiling along with pots and pans. There was a long table at the center covered in a cook's mess. A young red mare with a sky blue mane chopping turnips. She had a deep blue patterned bandanna keeping her long straight hair from her face as she worked.

"Food's not going to be done for another few hours Sweets," She didn't even look up from her work,"No snacks either, you'll spoil your appetite," She said in a collected voice.

"Ummm… I'm not Sweets. I'm Pea Gravel, Alia's squire," I said.

I saw her teal eyes when her face shot up,"You? Alia told me you were some kind of natural born fighter."

"Yeah… and?"

"Well, ponies are more… domestic creatures," The red mare said,"Ponies are born to work, not fight."

"I've worked on a ranch. I hated it," I grumbled.

"A pony not wanting to serve is like a bee avoiding flowers. It's plain silly," the mare huffed.

"Okay, I take it you're one of the newer 'helpers' around for this time of year then?"

"No, I'm Dew Berry. They’re tending the orchard," She glared at me, "So were you after something?"

"Food, I'm starving," I giggled greedily.

"Absolutely not. Just because you're a squire doesn't mean you can eat before the rest of us. The soup should be done in about two hours."

"Gaaah! Two hours?" I cried, "What have you got to eat that isn't soup?"

"You could go for an apple outside," Dew went back to chopping turnips,"If you want to help you could put bit of ginger into the pot," She nodded to a fire spit with a cauldron over it at the far end of the kitchen,"Spices are in the pantry cabinet near the cauldron."

"Tsk, nah. I think I'll pass," I said turning to leave. Once I was facing the main door again a wiz then a thud was heard from my right ear. I looked and saw the knife Dew was using stuck in the wood door frame. I spun my head in her direction.  

"What the hell...are you out of your goddamn mind?!" I shouted.

"Sorry… I thought I saw a fly. My bad," She smirked and put the vegetables on a plate to put in the pot.

"You bet your bad," I grumbled.

Later that day Alia showed me to my cabin. It was small and quaint but dry. She let me place my things inside but had devilish smile.

"Kiss your old self good bye," she grinned,"Tomorrow we start training." 

In the days that followed Dew and I became more… mutual, we both were in our thirteenth year now. In a open part of the orchard Alia began training me how to use a sword. We used some of the spare lumber to make wooden paddles we used to batter one another. Once sword practice was over I had to do laps around the manor, fields and all. My daily schedule became an organized hell.

-Wake up at the crack of dawn and scarf down what was left over from the day before or cook something myself. Alia and I were the only one's up then.

-Ten laps around the Big House.

-Multiple exercises that would 'bulk me up like a mule', according to Alia.

-Once the sun had been out for awhile we would start sword practice. Every week we switched weapon types; axes, spears, maces, that sort of thing. She told me to use everything that wasn't nailed to the ground to win.

-At noon I was granted a break, after a run of coarse. Every ten laps meant an hour of break time, so I pushed myself to twenty laps around the manor property.

-At break time I lay under a tree or inside depending on how hot it was. Here Dew would bring me a cool rag for my head and some apples. I felt bad, I was so exhausted most of the time I couldn't even thank her. She didn't seem to mind.

-After break time I tilled the fields or tended garden and orchard. Here I got to spend time with Sweet Summer. She was a ditzy green mare with a blonde mane and a sun hat on every day. Her nectarine eyes seemed paranoid somehow and she always talked about and issue with the weather, even if it was a pleasant day outside.

-Once it grew dark dinner came around and I wolfed down my rations. I was allowed three hours of a 'night break' before curfew at eight. Here I got to spend more time with Dew. She always was ready to listen to what I had to say, even if it was a smart ass remark. She'd just throw another right back. Occasionally if I had the remaining energy, I would tell on of my father's stories about grand adventure and larger than life ponies being heroes, Dew found them unlikely but entertaining.

-Curfew hit and I crashed into sleep until the grueling cycle continued. 

This went on for two years. In the later part of the first year I had to wear Alia's armor in every exercise, let's just say I'm more of a leather kinda gal.


One night  while small clouds of fireflies droned through the hot night air, Dew visited my cabin. I was laying on my straw filled knapsack drained of the day's work and seemed a bit surprised when she came in. In the two years of my training she had slimmed out and… puffed up in certain places. I felt a bit awkward being as muscular as most fit stallions while she was becoming well endowed .

"Pea, do you have a moment?" she asked quietly.

"Sure bud, come on inside," I said sitting up. I hung my hind legs over the edge of the bed and patted a spot next to me. Dew walked over and sat down slowly.

"You seem bummed out Dew, what's wrong?" I asked worriedly.  

"I overheard Master Bufordox talking with a shady looking griffon. He told her about a raiding mission being funded by the Sand Boars to get a foothold on this side of the mountains...she's bringing you with her."

"That's great!" I slapped her on the back,"My first mercenary job, this'll be a cakewalk!"

Dew had a solemn look,"Didn't you hear me? I said 'Sand Boars', as in the ones you lived under and parents died because of. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

I sat in thought, "I don't have anything against them, just the one at the ranch. Once I see his flab of a face I'm going to make it a pancake," Dew groaned at me, "What? You don't believe me?"

"Oh I do it's just that...we're only fifteen and I've seen you pull a plow almost as good as Jimmy. All I can do is cook and clean...and a bit of sewing."   

"Hey, I can't sew shit and I'd probably burn a salad if I was cooking," I smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks Pea, but you're not the least bit worried about the mission?" Dew sighed.

"Nah, I'll be fine. You better make me a good victory meal though," I smirked.

Dew seemed amazed at my lack of worry at the upcoming event. She bade me goodnight and went back to the big house. I knew it was nine because all of the porch lamps on the cabins were dimmed out, curfew time. I lay back on my straw bed looking up at the ceiling in thought. "What's going to happen?", I asked myself,"Am I going to survive this or was Alia right, am I just going to get eaten alive out there?"

A knock came from the door.

"It's curfew Dew," I whispered,"You'll get in trouble if you're out here."

"Aye, she would," Alia's voice came from behind the door, "But she's not here. It's just ol' Alia."

I scrambled to the door and opened it for her,"Yes ma'am'? What can I do for you?"

"I came to tell ya about a job opportunity. I've talked with a client about a fort this side of the mountains that a certain fort that a Sand Boar noble has his eyes on. Interested?"

"When do we start?" I asked brashly.

"We set off tomorrow. Get some rest, that's the last bed you're going to sleep on for a while." Alia yawned.

"Alright, see you tomorrow," I said. Alia nodded and walked through the hot summer night back to the big house. I went back to my bed and now seemed much more tired. 



The next morning, or before dawn, Alia drug me out of bed. She was in her full suit of armor that was freshly polished. I stared groggily at her and she tossed something heavy at me. It landed on my lap and I saw a set studded leather armor. I blinked with disbelief at it.

"I've been meaning to give this to you, but now you need it," Alia said.

"So we're leaving?" I asked.

Alia nodded, "Put it on, I'll wait outside for you. I got one of the mules already packed up with supplies."

The dragon pony left my cabin and I began putting on my new armor. It felt confining on me but not so much I couldn't fight in it. I left my cabin with a dizzy head. I was really going to do this. I saw Alia standing nearby with one of the mules who had several packs, bags, spears and swords. He had a bridle in his squared off mouth. I met up with them and we set off with the sun rising behind us. Before we were too far away I turned to look at the manor again and found a surprise. There was Dew Berry, Smelter, Sweet Summer and the other three mules all waving to me. I felt a swell of pride and a bit of sadness. I had to make it, for my mentor and for them.

I looked back at Alia, "So how much are we getting paid for this?" I asked.

"What a greedy pig ya are," Alia chuckled, "If you survive theirs forty pieces of silver waiting for you. There's also a twenty gold piece award for the commanding dog in the fort. He's a gnoll from the south."

"A gnoll?" I asked vacantly.

"You know what a Diamond Dog is right?" Alia sighed.

"Yeah, it's like a dog but they walk on two legs and talk like us."

"Eeeh...close enough. Well a gnoll is like one of them but bigger and heartless. I'd rather fight fifty Dimoders then a big gnoll like the one in that fort."

I cringed. Something that makes Alia intimidated? That's no good, but I can't disobey her. She already signed up for the job and I'm her squire.

"How far away is the fort?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Its close to the mountains about  a hundred and sixty miles north west from Breeze. It'll be a good long hike," She chuckled.


It took about three days of no conversation to reach the rendezvous camp where the rest of the mercenaries we were going to work with. It was a massive camp with a thousand mercenaries. Alia had her mule set up a tent while she led me to the center of the camp to confirm we were fighting. We walked through the makeshift alleys with several angry eyes looking back on us. I saw goats, caribou, pigs, and a few minotaurs and griffons. The only ponies I saw were several carnahorses that smiled at me with their razor teeth. We reached the center tent that had two minotaur guards. They were ready to stop us from entering but a learned voice called from inside.

"Ahh, Bufordox. You've come at last! Come in, come in!"

The guards stepped away and we entered. Inside there was a large pig with a purple robe trimmed in gold. He sat on an immensely cushy green pillow with several ponies fanning him. In his hoof he had a goblet of wine and a elated grin on his face.

"You haven't changed a bit, Bufordox. Tell me, who's your little friend? Is she your slave or are you just being unnecessarily kind to me?' He asked eyeing me.

"Nay, she's not a slave. This pony is my squire," The pig half choked on his wine hearing this, "Her name is Pea Gravel."

"Good afternoon your Excellency," I bowed,"I'll be honored to aid in the capture of the admirable fortress you've set your ever so keen eyes on." I said humbly. Alia raised an eyebrow at my smooth talking.

"How wonderful! You've taught your pet well. I think it's fascinating a pony can speak so eloquently!" The pig chortled.

"Your lordship, when do we begin the siege?" Alia asked.

"The siege itself has already been afoot for several weeks, I called upon your services because the whole thing may go out of hoof. Now that you're here we can start our assault upon that mutt infested fortress. I wouldn't want to begin without my favorite dragon pony!" The pig smirked after a sip of wine,"Now if you want to socialize with the rabble be my guest. With the skill of that damned gnoll I don't believe most of them will survive."

With that we nodded and left the pig to his drinking. Being in a mercenary camp made me feel uncomfortable but I had to tough it out for Alia, for everyone at the manor, for Dew.



  


It was now mid morning in Ponyville and Rainbow Dash was in an exhausted sleep. The half open book lay in her lap as she rested her head back. At her door a familiar voice called inside the house.

"Rainbow Dash? It's me, Daring Do. Are you awake?"


Outside Daring Do stood on the cloud porch. She looked down to earth where Pea Gravel waited patiently.

"Daring the festival is about to start, just go inside and get the book. I don't think she'll mind," Pea called.

Daring shrugged and went inside. She eventually found the sleeping mare with the book in her lap. The tan pegasus took the book silently and quickly left the house. She swooped down to the ground to meet up with the cyber mare.

"Did she finish it?" Pea asked.

"I don't think so, she was asleep in a big chair-"

"You don't think she found it boring do you?" Pea blurted.

"No, she doesn't read too many books. She pretty excited about this one," Daring smiled,"Come on, we've got to get to Rarity's and get all dressed up for the festival."

	
> 4) This isn't what I Wanted (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The noon sun shone brightly over the Ponyville Literature Festival, the first of it's kind. A bit thirsty from the summer heat Tuff Bolder wandered the tent filled park. Among the stretched tarps were a variety of ponies; Rich, poor, smart and not-so-smart. Each tent he passed by advertised some author's newest book or additions to a series. The colt didn't much care for books, even with Twilight's tutoring he could barely read. He passed a mellow drama series about a misbegotten fictional princess and yawned. When he opened his eyes the orange filly Scootaloo was standing in front of him, alone.

"Uuuh...where are your friends?" Tuff asked puzzled.

"Looking at some kids books. Not me! I found one so much more… awesome!" Scootaloo grinned slyly.

"Like what?" Tuff blinked.

"Well...uum," the filly looked around at the other ponies nervously,"Promise you won't tell anypony I saw it?"

"What book is it?" The colt sniffed nonchalantly.

"It's back in the grown ups spot… it's called Forces," Scootaloo said quietly.

"That's the book Auntie… er… Boatswain is writing. I know her pretty well," Tuff nodded but was interrupted.

"Really?!" Scootaloo gasped with amazement,"There's a lot of ponies looking at it!"

"I don't see why they find it amazing… I've done some cool things too..." Tuff huffed.

"Like what?" The filly asked bright eyed.

"I… I… saved a princess and beat up a dragon!" The colt puffed out his chest.

"Really? Wow… you must be really strong!" Scootaloo beamed.

"Yeah," Tuff brushed off his arm casually, "I might have to write a book about my adventures."

A familiar voice came from behind him, "Quit it Bluff. I won't have you making an ass of yourself."

"Aaw...what?" Tuff groaned, "I thought you were showing off your booky thing."

Standing behind the colt was Tuff's aunt with a tired look. She was wearing the cloak Rarity made her and her mane was tied back away from her face. The long fabric covered her metallic legs easily. Tuff scuffed the grass below with his hoof.

Pea rose an eyebrow, "I am… or was. I'm just taking a breather and found you telling tall tales to Scoots here," Pea put on a maternal look, "And that she was in a part she's not old enough for."

Scootaloo stiffened,"N...No way! I was b-back here, I didn't see anything about Forces!"

"Mmhm, I'd buy that for a dollar. I can't be gone for long," She glared at Tuff then at Scootaloo, "Stay outta that part of the Fest. Tuff, you keep her from it too."

She drew close to Tuff and spoke in a harsh whisper, "Remember, Pea Gravel isn't real here. She lives in a book, your Boatswain's nephew as long as we're here now. Okay?"

The colt nodded with a bead of sweat on his brow.

Pea turned and walked briskly back to the 'Grown Ups' side of the Book Festival with an annoyed look. Scootaloo groaned once the grey mare was out of earshot.

"Come on! This isn't fair!" Scootaloo pouted.

"Why? She told us and you not to go back there,"The colt snorted.

"But it's such a cool story!" Scootaloo buzzed,"I skipped through a bit but once Pea Gravel got into that Ridge Dog fortress it got CRAZY!"

"Yeah I know, a big gnoll was killing Count Dobervitch's mercenaries left and right, blah blah." Tuff turned and began walking.

"That was so… hey! Where are you going?" Scootaloo called after him.

"It's boring here, I'm going somewhere else," Tuff said sourly.

"But books aren't boring, well… some aren't," Scootaloo said as she trotted up beside Tuff.

Tuff ignored her. He kept walking as Scootaloo followed. They made it through a few alleys of tents before bumping into Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. They seemed surprised to see Tuff.

"Well lookie here, it's Tuff!" The farmer filly giggled.

"We haven't seen much of you since we met you at Sweet Apple Acres. Whatcha been doing?" The young unicorn asked.

"Bleh...Twilight's been 'tutoring' me. Reading, writing and some other stuff like that."

Hearing this the three fillies giggled playfully. Tuff took a defensive air.

"What's so funny?" He squinted.

"You're a little old to be learning to read aren't you?" Scootaloo snickered.

"Aren't you a little old to not be able to fly?" Tuff asked harshly.

The fillies' smiles faded. Scootaloo seemed shocked and became teary eyed. She took off running away from the quiet festival. Sweetie Bell ran after the hurt pegasus and Applebloom gave Tuff a look of disbelief before she followed her friends. The colt stood angry for a moment… then crestfallen. He slumped like a wilted flower.

"What did I say… why did I say that?"

He couldn't muster the courage to face them so he wandered back to find his Aunt and ask for advice. He eventually found the way by looking for odd looking ponies reading odd books. Ponies who read tragedies or extremely violent ones. He eventually found the tent and even in his saddened state he was surprised.

Standing behind a counter was 'Boatswain' and A.K. Yearling with business pony smiles as curious ponies looked at copies of the grey mare's book. Tuff remembered about something involving Twilight copying the words from the original to more paper, she was ready to teach him but he was an earth pony… he'd have to use a printing machine for the same results. 

In small clusters ponies noses were stuffed into the book copies as they sat near 'Boatswain's' tent. Tuff navigated through them and silently moved behind the two mares.

"Auntie… I think I messed up," Tuff whimpered.

Pea spun around, "You bet you did. I thought I told you not to be back here," She paused, "Where's your friend?"

"That's just it… I think I hurt her feelings. Real bad..." Tuff slouched to the ground.

Pea knelt beside the colt, "What did you say?"

Tuff rubbed his shoulder, "I was talking with Scoots and her friends. When I told them Twilight was teaching me to read they laughed at me… said I was too old to be a beginner."

"Ahh...I'm sure they didn't mean anything bad by it," Pea said reassuringly.

Tuff leaned on his aunt, hiding his face in her cloak, "Then I said Scoots was too old to not know how to fly."

Yearling gasped, "Tuff! That's a horrible thing to say to a young pegasus!"

"I know, but… but how can I fix it? I hurt all of them."

Pea stroked the colt's mane with a heavy hand, "Tuff you're going to have to apologize. It may be… well tough but I know you can do it. Your names Tuff Bolder, live up to it!"

Tuff stood up timidly, "Okay...I'll try."

Pea stood up as well, "There's my little stallion! Go on now, before they get too far away."

Tuff scampered off through the crowd, feeling more confident with his aunt's reassurance. Navigating through the alleys of tents and out into the open space of the park, the air grew sour somehow. He looked around at the open field and trees in desperation. His eye caught a sea green shape sitting in a tree whistling like a songbird. The eerie whistle grew louder as Tuff trotted up to it.

It looked like a pony but instead of hooves it had hands and feet like a monkey, even the tail was a monkey's. The fact that it had six fingers on each hand and foot. It's head had wide ears and a bald scalp, it's eyes were closed. It sat upright like a cat sitting on a branch ten feet up the tree. Tuff reached the base and looked up at the stranger. It continued whistling, eyes closed.

"Excuse me," Tuff called, "Have you seen three fillies run by here?"

The stranger stopped whistling, keeping it's eyes closed it sighed, "Why?" It's voice was male with a sound of sour carelessness.

"Well… I made one upset and I need to apologize," Tuff replied,"Can you please help me?"

"It'd be may you but yes. Yes I can," He reached behind his back.

A blue green hand like his slid out of the ground like a groundhog a few feet away from Tuff. It pointed to a hill in the distance with a faint sign of a tree house, "Your little friends went that way, now run along Tuff."

"Thanks mister," Tuff smiled as he started off,"Wait...how do you know my-"

He turned around to see that the whistling stranger was gone. Tuff shuddered and headed for the tree house in search of the fillies. In the park a small breeze blew over the festival. It did little more then flip pages much to the reader's dismay. It glided gently through the tents, a feint cheery whistle could be heard. Pea stood with Daring in their tent rather bored of how slow the day was going. The breeze finally crept to them with the whistle in tow.

Yearling gazed at the ponies reading the paper backs of their new book. It had already sold twelve copies in a few hours, much to Pea Gravel's surprise.  

The tan pegasus sighed happily, "This is one of my favorite parts of being an author, seeing everypony so happy with my work. Say, you see that unicorn mare in the suit?" Yearling pointed to a very official looking white mare with a bun in her blonde mane.

"Yeah, is she a mortician or something?" Pea grimaced.

Yearling giggled, "No silly, she's a famous book critic. She's given honest reviews on all of the books she's made articles about...some not so nice, but fair. She even wrote a review on my first Daring Do novel."

"Did she like it?" Pea asked.

"I'm famous aren't I?" Yearling laughed.

"So if she liked your stuff… then maybe she'll like mine?" A greedy smile crept on the grey mare.

Yearling nodded childishly. The two mares held their breath as they watched the mare flip through a copy, her eyes went from word to word behind a small pair of reading glasses. She stopped at a point near the end of the book and a small, almost undetectable smile was on her lips. Pea and Yearling sighed with relief. In a moment she was walking to the tent.

"Excuse me ladies," Her educated voice said,"My name is Golden Word and I have a question or two for you about your most recent novel. Do you have a moment to spare?"

Pea grinned, "All the time you need, mam'."

"Splendid!" Said the suited mare,"Now, I have been looking through your book. The title Forces fits in with the struggle you portray in the novel. I do have a comment though..."

"Go right ahead, The Boatswain is ready for what you say," Pea said proudly.

"The idea of ponies like us being well...on the bottom of the food chain. It's a frightful thought, and the idea of pigs being smarter than ponies is outrageous...not to mention all of these other things; 'Humans', 'Gnolls' and the like. It's very uncouth... "

Pea and Yearling looked to each other hopelessly. Golden straightened her suit collar, "...But not unwanted. You've brought up something few other books I've seen do. Not the violence part, that's a genre of it's own. Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes Miss Golden?" Yearling asked.

"The ending. The protagonist, after defeating the gnoll creature, is known by many to be a fighting pony...but that's it. It just stopped."

"Are you requesting a sequel?" Pea asked smoothly.

"If there is more I'd like to read it, I'm wondering where Pea Gravel will end up in the world you made," Golden smiled.

Hearing her name like that made Pea's stomach churn. She kept a smile on her face but felt a sinking feeling. How will I end up? she asked herself, Will I end it with me showing up here?

"Thank you very much, Miss Golden," Yearling's voice broke Pea's trance," If somepony like you want's more, then there's no reason not to write it."

"Excellent," Golden said turning away,"I'm looking forward to it."

Once she was out of sight the mares celebrated. Pea wrapped her arms around Daring and hugged tight, both were giggling like school fillies. Some of the readers looked up at the two but then returned to their books.

Pea released Daring and sighed,"We did it! Forces is a hit!"

Daring was elated as much as her friend,"It's great! I know this sounds funny but when you were hugging me I felt something poking my chest, do you have a necklace on?"

Pea smacked her forehead,"I knew I forgot something!" She reached in her cloak and slid a simple necklace with a blue gem of her and into her hand. Daring gasped when she saw it.

"It's that gem, The Tear of the King! You're wearing it?" She asked bright eyed.

"No, you are," Pea said as she slid the necklace over the pegasus' head, "You look great with it."

"Pea… that's so sweet! Even though this gem has had some bad history..." Daring smiled meekly.

Pea bumped Daring's shoulder playfully,"Then make some good history for it."

Daring looked at the small crowd around them, "Okay, Miss Gavel. Sweet Celestia I'm hungry! What do you say about some food?"

"Just sit tight, I'll get us some," Pea crinkled her nose, "I hope it's any good out here."

"Alright, I'll hold the fort then," Daring Do giggled.

Pea couldn't help but smile at her. The grey mare said goodbye and set off in search of food. She followed different scents of cooked goods for some time, but couldn't find them. She eventually found a pretzel stand that was less than busy. It almost looked empty but she heard ponies at work inside, walking up to the counter she found a platter with one little pretzel and a note with a goofy font ; "Free mini pretzels!"

She picked it up gingerly with her mouth and munched down the whole thing. It tasted wonderful...for a moment. Time seemed to slow with noises and smells blurring. She wobbled for a second then her sight went black.  Rubbing her eyes, she fought to regain sight. First came hearing and smell. The air was still and cold with a sour smell. A faint whistle could be heard when her sight finally came too.

Around her was cavern walls glittering with gems. They shown because of an oil lamp, sitting in the far reaches of the lantern was a sea green figure.

The grey mare froze when she saw the blue green stranger. The stranger smiled and leaned back on the rock he was sitting on. Instead of falling he disappeared and slid up in front of Pea's counter. He stood in front Pea for a moment, a dark blue shadow.

The stranger's eyes opened, revealing the small amber pinpricks of irises. He smiled slyly, "Did you enjoy the snack I left you… Pea Gravel?"

Pea's shock turned to rage. Her green eyes turned mint with a wrathful blaze at the stranger,"You...you motherfucker. How did you get here? Where did you take me?"

The stranger winced playfully, "Tsk! Such a mouth on you," He slid his seven fingered hand on the gem encrusted wall, "So you've got some attention with your little biography I see. Have you mentioned me yet?" The stranger's voice dripped like a corrosive poison in the still air.

> 4) This isn't What I Wanted (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pea was shaking. Every muscle in her body and every carbon fiber tendon strained and tensed. She wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and tear his head off. Relief herself by ripping out his still beating black heart. The stranger smiled up at her with crooked, wedge teeth as if nothing was wrong.

"Hmmm...I can tell you aren't too happy to see me," He mused, "I wonder why..."

"Volm… how did you get here?" Pea gritted her teeth.

"It's easy really, just slip the princesses awareness and poof! A paradise island! You did it too," He looked up at the lack of light dreamily.

"I came here to keep my nephew safe, you're probably here to rape mares or eat children," Pea spat at the creature's demonic smile.

"Only the naughty ones," Volm chuckled, "Speaking of children, I saw yours. Tuff was it?"

Pea lurched forward and grabbed his neck, Smashing him against the wall. She fumed,"If you touched him I'll rip your fucking guts out!"

Volm smiled besides the bone crunching strength of Pea's cybernetic hands. The mare squeezed tighter still, a few veins bulged on his head and neck but not a single note of pain shown on Volm's face. Pea's thought became clouded with rage to the creature.

"Quite the sadist these days," Volm wheezed, "Don't stress your pretty little head, I helped him find his filly friends. That's all," He looked from Pea's tensed arms to her eyes, "It must suck hard, not being able to kill me. I don't think you can do it yet," His smile was still plastered on his face.

Pea threw him to the ground. Her weight toppled him over and she sat a top of his chest, fists clenched in deadly steel bludgeons. Volm rose a hand up casually ,"Calm down lady, I didn't even bring a condom!"

The mare had enough. Her left fist swung down and cratered into the creature's face, knocking out several teeth. He licked his lips with a dark blue tongue as inky black blood oozed from his mouth. He was about to make another remark but a fist kept his mouth from moving again. Each blow lifted the mare's spirit disturbingly. The mare kept swinging her fist's into Volm's head, inky splats covered the ground and Pea Gravel. She kept battering as Volm's head again and again. All too soon, it turned into wet black mush and her fists hit rock. She stopped eventually while the blue green creature's legs twitched the last bit of life out of the still warm corpse. 

She leaned back, breathing heavily. She looked down at her hands stained by Volm's blood, her cloak was ruined by the black ooze. Her breath was uneven and timid. In her euphoric state she didn't notice that the world was still frozen in time. Pea's shoulders shivered with a sick pleasure. Her mint eyes were fixed on the tranquil cavern space. Her cybernetic fingers twitched randomly, unable to detect what the mare wanted to do with them. Minutes, hours passed? She couldn't tell. The fact that he was dead, smashed into mush left the mare with a unequaled elation.  Her breath steadied and she finally looked around carefully at where she was.

"I need to find a way out of here, I just hope he didn't take me out of Equestria..." She stood up shakily and grabbed the lantern handle with her jaw. Pea began tracking down the cavern in hopes it would lead to the surface. Noticing the incline motivated the mare, she tread on through the darkness of the cave.

"What did he want? If someone like him can sneak in this kingdom, then maybe others have..." 

Pea's thought's spiraled dangerously as she ventured alone. Around a corner ahead, a hint of light could be seen. She moved cautiously around the corner, she shrunk back. An opening in the cave was where the sun's light was coming from, but was it a trap? Pea shook her head, Volm was dead, his tricks were all but gone. She marched to the exit way, squinting her eyes in the sudden bright light. Once her eyes adjusted she found a dry desert mountain range overlooking a small town. She blinked in surprise,"Is this some kind of joke?"

She scaled down the rocky outcropping easily with her cyber fingers, she decided it'd be best to explore the town and see if she could find a way back. Off the rocks she made her way to the town and a sigh came into view; "Appleloosa"

"Sounds like an Equine town," Pea smiled to herself,"I guess he didn't drag me too far… for once he did something generous."

Pea was near the town and as a cowpony walked by she realized how much of herself was stained. She knew it was blood, but he didn't.

"Say there missy, did y’all just strike oil?" He asked with a booming voice.

Pea felt relieved,"Yessir Ah did!" the mare said with a convincing Applejack impression, "Ah need tah tell mah friends in Ponyville the good news, it there a way Ah can contact 'em?"

"Sure is," He pointed down the wide main street to a small building, "Ya can get a train ticket. It's a very reliable thing, I'd say you'd be there by tomarrah."

Pea nodded a thank you and made her way to the building casually. She saw a few ponies waiting for a train. Realizing she had no money on her she decided to bum a ride on the next train. The grey mare sat out of view next to the ticket post and waited like the others for the next train. The sun lowered over the mountains she scaled down earlier. 

"A proper tomb," she thought to herself, "I still can't believe he's really gone… and I did it..."

The sun left a parade of orange and purple across the clouds in the sky as it finally sank behind the mountains, letting the blanket of night cast over the sky. A faint train whistle could be heard and all of the passengers-to-be stood up for the train. In the commotion of the conductor calling, steam hissing and ponies moving; Pea crept silently to the top of the caboose car. It had roofing that was easy to grip onto and few prying eyes. Crawling over to the front edge she locked her forefingers in a clamp over the roof's edge.

The train's whistle blew and the vessel trudged off into the night. Once at full speed, the wind from it flew around Pea. Her hands didn't release their grip and for once… she felt relaxed. She thought up wild plans and ideas;

"Now that he's gone, I can look for the others. Tuff will be safe here and he's got the princess to look after him. Everyone's going to be so excited! I know, what if I brought my friends here, then we wouldn't have to fight for food and noooo holy wars," The idea felt like a message on Pea's stressed mind. She became so comfortable  she began to fall asleep.

She awoke a few hours later with a late night sky above her and the train was still racing down it's course. Her confused mind was calmed by the idea of seeing Tuff and her Ponyville friends again. With Twilight's castle towering over the quaint huts the train approached the town quickly without signs of slowing. As the train rattled on the grey mare realized she had to jump off the train. She targeted a grassy knoll with a tree next to the station and released her grip on the caboose roof. She flew off to the right and hit the ground, rolling back several feet she stopped in front of the tree. 

She looked down at her brown and black stained cloak,"Rarity is going to have a cow when she sees what I've done with this," she chuckled to herself.

She looked around at the quiet night in Ponyville with the castle looming over the roof tops. She slipped the hood over her head and walked quickly through the streets, avoiding lit windows and open doors. She wasn't really sure where she was going, Twilight's maybe? She continued walking and she came to a street corner, around it Pea spotted the sight of a panicked golden pegasus with a deep red colt next to her. They were looking, searching for someone. Pea walked out in front of them, the now stained cloak and hood made a menacing look.

They stared wide eyed at her for a moment, then she threw back her hood. Both Daring and Tuff rushed to Pea and hugged the grey mare tightly. All three were happy, though one felt more comforted then the others.

"Did you miss me?" Pea joked.

"Of course we did!" Daring Do said still hugging Pea, "We didn't know where you were, we looked everywhere!"

Tuff sniffled, "I thought you had forgotten me!"

Pea knelt down and hugged the colt,"I'd never forget you, ever. You can always count on your Auntie G."

Daring Do shed a tear at the sweet sight,"It's getting late...well it's been late and I'm sure we're all tired."

Pea and Tuff simultaneously yawned in agreement. Daring laughed,"Well then, let's get you two back to the Castle."

Tuff looked extremely tired, stressed from several hours away from his aunt. Pea waited for him to catch up then lifted him onto her back and after a few steps he was snoring quietly. The two mares walked through the remainder of the streets until they were faced with the castle's doors. Daring stepped forward and knocked.

Twilight answered the door after a moment or so of waiting,"Ah Daring Do, you're back!" She looked over at Pea with an elated smile,"And you found our Boatswain! Come in, both...er all three of you." Twilight corrected herself when she was the sleeping colt.

Daring Do and Pea followed Twilight inside and the princess led them to her guest rooms Pea had used before. The princess looked at the two sleepy mares,"Pea, you take Tuff in this one over here," She motioned to the left door with a nod," And Daring you can stay in this other one if you like," She blinked sleepily,"I'm very tired too, so until tomorrow… or later today, goodnight!"

Daring Do placed a wing over Pea's shoulder before the grey mare could work her way to the guest room. Pea looked to the pegasus with puzzled eyes. The cyber mare noticed that the tan pegasus was wearing nothing except the sea blue necklace that Pea had given her earlier.

"Yes Daring?" She paused thoughtfully for a moment,"You're probably wondering what happened to me, eh?"

"And how you got your new cloak so filthy!" Daring Do teased. 

Pea grinned,"I was just playing in the dirt! Let me put Tuff here to bed then I'll catch up with you in your room, okay?"

Daring Do yawned and nodded. She went left for her room and Pea went right for her's. Pea pushed the door open gently and made her way for the cushy bed. She pulled up next to it like a train at a station.
"Choo choo," She whispered playfully as she rolled Tuff of her back carefully. Once on the bed Pea pulled up the blanket up to his little chin.

"Night, little bolder," Pea said placing a kiss on the top of his head. Before leaving the room she looked back on him one more time, she smiled at how peacefully he slept. 

She closed the bedroom door behind her and tip toed across the all to Daring's room. Her eyes lit up when she saw the cyber mare, patting a part of the bed next to her she smiled. She opened her's and found Daring, sitting on her legs, at the head of the bed. The air seemed comforting and still with a small lamp warmly lighting the room. 

"Take that off before you sit here," Daring said, "You've gotta tell me what happened to you today."

Pea slid off her cloak and left it on the floor, it was already dirty anyway. Pea walked to the foot of the bed and rolled the covers on her back over. Pea sighed at how relaxing it felt, Daring looked at her intently, "Well?"

"Oh, oh right!" Pea rubbed her forehead,"I was looking for some food for us to eat and I got mixed up with this mare transporting oil-"

Daring scoffed,"Don't lie to me. I know what that is on your knuckles."

Pea shot a look at her hands, a faint stain of black was still there. Pea looked up at Daring with shocked eyes,"W-what do you mean? This is crude oil Daring, nothing more!"

Daring looked hurt,"It's blood. I may have not seen as much as you but I know what it smells like, and it's not crude oil. I could smell it off your cloak and now a bit from you," She leaned over the grey mare solemnly, "Who was it?"

Pea shoved her back in her old spot on the bed, "Quit being so uptight. We've got nothing to worry about."

Daring Do seemed confused,"Why, what's not to worry about?"

Pea folded her arms behind her head, "Someone's gone that was a BIG problem," she giggled.

"Like Ahuizotl?" Daring asked grimly.

"Worse than him," Pea waved a hand,"He's the reason for these."

Daring gasped,"You mean..."

Pea smiled, "Yep, Volm."

The pegasus grimaced, "If he's gone that means you can go back out there and look for your friends?"

Pea sat up exhilarated,"I know! I was planning on leaving in a few days, maybe less. Tuff's safe here so all I have to do is find them."

Daring was crestfallen. She stammered,"Oh… well I, um… I"

Pea leaned closer to her, "What? Aren't you happy? He's gone… that's a good thing!"

Daring patted the cyber mare's arm gently, "I know, I know. It's just that..."

Pea scooted up next to the pegasus and put an arm over her shoulder, "Just what? You can tell me, can't you?"

"Well, I was going back to my cottage this week and..." Daring's word were choked up with crushed tears," I was hoping you… and Tuff could come stay with me..."

Pea's hand shrunk back to it's owner,"Stay… with you?" 

"It'd be great!" Daring looked over with desperation,"We'll finish writing your book, it's out of the way so ponies won't be frightened of your metal legs," her gaze almost begged Pea,"I have plenty of books we could read to Tuff and there's places near there he could explore and play in."

Pea was wide eyed and shaking. Here was a mare willing to share her home with her and her nephew, no questions asked. This mare who was opening her heart towards a foreigner. The mare who she had killed once for and who help her story become known. 
On the other hand, the friends she had known for over twelve years and had killed countless times for, were missing still and she needed to find them, or at least give a proper burial to what would be left of them. Pea Gravel's heart was being tugged in two directions.

Pea's fingers twitched. Daring came over and tried to comfort the torn mare. Daring saw the look of utter confusion and guilt in Pea's emerald green eyes, the pegasus wasn't sure what to do. Pea sat like that for several moments until, with a shaky hand, she reached into an interior pocket of her vest and pulled out a small green fruit. Her favorite narcotic, Jade Cactus Fruit. Daring blinked in puzzlement as she watched Pea slip it into her mouth and chew softly. Her shocked eyes became much, much more relaxed. Her entire body slacked and her head flopped lazily on Daring's lap.

Her green eyes were half closed and her tongue stuck out through a ditzy smile, "I'll entertain your offer. You know how my day went, fly girl. How was yours?"

Daring's face went a little red, "Minus looking for you? There were a few more book-smart ponies that came by and talked about our book and the money we could make off it. About two hours after you left for grub I grabbed Rainbow Dash and put her in charge of sales. I checked on her around the fest's closing time… and she had to have Twilight make more copies!"

Pea raised an eyebrow,"But we had like… two hundred of them. No way we sold them all!"

Daring poked Pea's muzzle, "Yes way! We made over four thousand bits!"

Pea rubbed her hands together greedily, "Heh heh heh, we sure made a bundle! Think of the new typewriter we could get you."

"Or an upgrade for your metal parts?" Daring offered, "Or should we visit a mechanic to spruce them up?"

Pea held out a hand daintily, "I suppose. It's been awhile since I've seen anypony with skills for this kind of stuff. I've probably mangled up the carbon fiber muscle it 'em by now..."

Daring thought about the way her friend's legs worked. She was about to ask but heard a quiet snore from the mare, who lay passed out on her lap. Daring wasn't sure if she should leave Pea there and use her for a pillow or chance waking the cyber's much needed rest to lay down herself. She sat for a moment stroking the grey mare's sun-set orange mane thinking of how her life had been flipped upside down by this very strange mare.

Daring Do's heart was conflicted as well. With Ahuizotl gone, treasure hunting in Equestria just wouldn't be the same. From what Pea Gravel had told her, there was a whole world of adventure out there. Her mind toyed with the idea of all the ancient civilizations nopony ever heard of, forgetting the consequences. A closer look at Pea Gravel though, made her reconsider. Would she end up like her?

She laughed to herself, "How did I end up with you, Pea?"

> 5) How Did I Get Caught Up With You? (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The pegasus gently moved out from under Pea and lay at the head of the bed. Before laying down she put part of the bed's covers over her friend and then fell asleep herself, hopeful of Pea wanting to stay. While one mare went into a troubled sleep the other slept like a rock sinks in water.


The next morning Pea awoke to her nephew jumping on top of her rather suddenly, "Wake up, wake up!" he cried, "Somepony came to the castle and she really wants to meet you!"

Pea rolled Tuff off her chest, "Do you have to crush my ribs every morning, little bolder?"

Daring woke up groggily, "Wha-? What's going on?" she yawned.

"Twilight said somepony called Celestia is here to visit Pea Gravel!" Tuff declared proudly. The two mares gasped.

Daring got off the bed hurriedly and grabbed a metal forearm,"Come on! If the princess, not one of the little ones...the big one wants to meet you, you have to hurry!"

Tuff took the other arm and they both sat Pea up. She pulled her hands away and made a grumpy morning thank you to the assistants. She made her way for the door and Tuff called after her, "She's in the six-chair room with Twilight. I think there's some breakfast ready."

Pea rolled her eyes and trudged through the halls to the main room where the princess were waiting. Seeing the fabled 'Sun Goddess' for the first time snapped Pea to her senses. Twilight sat next to this massive and elegant alicorn as if she had known her for years. Pea on the other hand stood gawking several feet away.

"Come and sit with us," Celestia's charming voice blanketed the air, "There is breakfast waiting here and we have much to talk about."

Deja vu, Pea thought.

She walked forward and the morning sun's rays reflected off of Pea's legs, causing the sun princess to half flinch in surprise. The cyber mare took a seat at the table and found a small but filling breakfast awaiting her, it wasn't as extravagant as her first breakfast at Twilight's. Pea targeted a wonderful smelling bowl of oatmeal with daintily sliced fruits on top of the morning soup, Celestia sipped a mug of coffee tensely. For how pleasant of a morning it was something felt tension between the royal and the foreigner.

"So I've heard that you've made a name for yourself, Boatswain," Celestia said.

Pea half choked on an apple slice, "Oh, so you've read the book A.K. Yearling and I wrote?" She found a glass of orange juice nearby and sipped it, "Did it deem tolerable, your highness?"

Celestia chuckled,"I've read it. It's an interesting book, but I'm not to fond of the hoof-full of violent stories some ponies write."

Pea leaned forward in her chair, "My apologies, princess." 

"No need," the alicorn smiled. She looked over to Twilight, "I hope you don't mind, faithful student, but I need a word with Miss Gravel… alone."

"Alright Celestia, I'll be in my room studying if you two need anything," and with that the lavender alicorn left.

Celestia's maternal look turned icy. Her magic aura glowed atop her long horn and before Pea knew it they were on the mountain that looked over Canterlot. The sudden thin mountain air lashed Pea's lungs, the alicorn seemed unaffected. The grey mare looked around at the snowy area so high above the rest of the land, and somehow Celestia's stare was as colder than the air biting Pea.

“I welcomed you to my land with wings wide open,” Celestia said with a troubled brow,” not a cross word between us.”

Pea didn’t know how to react. If did this alicorn know about her background or was she just paranoid?.

“I haven't any idea of what your talking about, your highness," Pea said numbly.

"Do not play ignorant with me," The sun princess glared, "I know of what hunts you out there. I will have none of that, you should never have come here." 

"So you do know what's going on out there," Pea spat.

Celestia smiled, "Indeed.I've been a ruler for far too long to be careless.”

"Have you done anything about them?" Pea dug her fingers in the snow,”Equines like us?”

Celestia stood silent for a moment, "I'm doing what's right, leaving it alone. It’s best to not get involved."

Pea snapped. She lurched forward and grabbed the alicorn's collar, "Ponies like you and I are dying out there!" She shouted, "Plague and war is eating our kind alive...how can you do nothing?!" 

Celestia looked down at her, "Ponies like you are dying. You cling to hate and anger, why are you patronizing me?" 

Her aura grabbed Pea and flung her away in the snow. The mare rolled several feet then shot up to her feet, Celestia had a cold smile on her regal face. Pea gritted her teeth and clenched her fists into the snow.

The princess laughed, "Oh, you plan on fighting me? Don't do that to yourself."

Pea sprung forward with a fist ready for a swing. Her blood boiled as her jump neared her to the 'Goddess'. Inches away from her regal face Pea's dangerous fist was caught with a yellow cloud of magic. Pea moved her other fist but it too became snared, then her feet locked to the ground against her will. 

Celestia looked at the angry statue of a mare with a entertained malice, "So this is what a pony must be like to survive out in the world, a blood thirsty mongrel? How disgusting."

Pea strained her body to move but it was locked stiff, she watched as Celestia paced around her, "Now this is a mess, what will I do with you? You've made some friends and removing you would cause an issue, but a pony of your kind would have some valid excuse to become absent. 'Ran away because you didn't belong here' would suffice."

"You pretentious bitch!" Pea shouted, "You have godly powers and yet you keep a few ponies safe while the rest lay in fear… how do you sleep at night?"

"I've grown accustomed to it," Celestia shrugged, "Since you'll be destroyed in a moment I suppose I could tell you why I'm so liberal of the foreign ponies. I made a deal when I received the crown."

"A deal?" Pea asked furiously," A deal with who?!" 

"Tztalm, the king of Tartarus," Celestia said simply.

Pea was awed at the princess's mistake,"A deal… with the Devil?"

"Indeed. I can't let you live though, Land-crawler," A yellow cloud encased Pea and crushed her limbs against her body. Celestia stood only a few inches away from her victim.

The seemingly innocent cloud pushed against Pea's body like the pressure of the blackest pits in the ocean. The mare could barely breath with the pressure and her body quivered in pain. Celestia had a face of stone as she performed the dirty deed. Pea's right arm inched against from the cloud's force with all of the mare's might. This strength surprised Celestia so much that her grip slipped only once, much to her regret.

Without the cloud, Pea pounced on Celestia like a hungry wolf. With her legs locked around Celestia's neck Pea rammed a fist into her nose. The alicorn reared and thrashed to get the cyber mare off of her but to no avail. Pea curled with her torso, lifting Celestia over her head and smashing her white face into the now reddened snow. Pea crouched next to the trembling princess with small rivers of blood coming from her nose.

"Been awhile since ya got a real nose bleed, eh?" Pea smirked.

Celestia's wing sprung out and smashed into Pea. She jumped up and jabbed her horn at Pea, barely missing. Celestia swung her horn-ended head skillfully like a fencer while Pea was pushed back, only her forearms as shields. On her hind legs Pea blocked the stabs from the now furious alicorn, the grey mare was pushed back on the snowy peak. This went on for some time until Pea noticed the alicorn was showing signs of fatigue in her jabs. The cyber mare side-stepped and the horn sailed past her, she took advantage with a downward ax-kick to the alicorn's temple. The princess stumbled forward a foot or so and then collapsed.

"Funny thing," Pea said popped her neck, "Where I'm from, ponies call you a god," She knelt next to the dazed alicorn's head with a vicious smile,"I did too, at one point. I can't call you that now...gods don't bleed."

Pea was about to make the finishing blow but a speck in the distant sky stopped her. There was a resounding boom then a midnight blue alicorn rocketed like an arrow toward Pea. The mare had a fraction of a second to react and instead of being impaled she was sliced over the shoulder. The midnight blue alicorn flicked her head and Pea knocked the mare to the ground. She stood closer to Celestia with a dangerous look to the cyber mare.

"Sister, is this foreigner an assassin?" Luna's commanding voice asked.

"No, but she knows of the Deal, Luna," Celestia choked.

"I see, she's a fire that must be quenched?" Luna asked. Her sister numbly nodded.

Pea stood on her fore-hooves with fists ready for the next contender. The midnight princess accepted her challenge. Her dark blue aura produced a halberd with a crescent shaped blade, it began twirling in place as Luna stared down the earth pony. 

Pea smirked, "Hardly fair, isn't it? Or are you just scared of me?"

She ducked as the blade swung over her head. Luna stood in place as her weapon became locked in a deadly dance on the snow with Pea. The mare ducked and blocked as the blade was gripped in its master's cloud of magic, whirling through the air with it's sharp edge. Pea noticed a pattern in the attacks, with the way it was spinning around it could be slingshot Pea's strike back. Once the handle was placed just right, she grabbed it. It swung just the way she thought it would and she went flying at Luna, who was taken by complete surprise.

Her head was knocked back by a kick to the jaw followed by another. Luna staggered back and swung downward with her horn as an executioner would swing an ax. Pea held against the blow with both hands grabbing the blue spear. Her metallic limbs strained against the force of Luna's.

"Surrender, pony! If you do not I will have to use force!" Luna shouted.

The horn was being pushed until it was level with her neck. Luna expected the mare to plead and beg but a devilish gleam shown in Pea's emerald eyes instead. Without warning she leaned back only half a foot and swung her arm's along Luna's downward strike, causing Luna to smash face first into the ground like her sister had.

Pea looked at the pair with bloody noses. Luna grabbed Pea with her magic and forced Pea back several feet as she stood to her regal height. The frosty mountain air whipped around the three fighters. Pea rolled her shoulders and began walking back to finish her fight. Just then, almost in a divinely placed pattern another unexpected fighter entered.

A small black cloud burst ten feet above the ground and a figure in dark wrappings dropped out of it, facing Pea. His size matched that of an alicorn but far more dangerous looking. Once it stood up the shape was unmistakable, it was a centaur. An assassin from The Torrent.

His face was hidden by a bronze mask with many tiny holes under a dark hood. At either side of his horse torso was a long curved sword in it's black scabbard. On his back was a hefty crossbow. Along with back facing bull horns sticking out on the sides of his head, his maroon skin shown out under the black wrappings on him. He seemed taken back that someone was on the mountain top, he turned to the princesses.

He shouted in a foreign tongue and pulled a crossbow aimed to them. Pea took no time on interfering on the shot. In a fraction of a second she jumped on his back and yanked one of his arms causing him to miss fire. He reached behind and grappled the mare with a vice grip. The assassin threw Pea in front of him and reared back, his fore-hooves hammered Pea's torso with his body weight, cracking her ribs. The assassin trampled over the injured mare as he ran to the two alicorns. 

Luna was up and ready, however Celestia's head wound kept her from a stable getaway. Celestia attempted to fly into the air but the centaur had a grappling rope and latched it to her ankle skillfully. She crash landed like a clipped bird while her sister circled the assassin in the air. He reloaded his crossbow and aimed for Luna, she dived at him, horn ready for blood. The crossbow's bolt fired and dug deep into her chest and a moment later she cried out crashing to the ground. She struggled as her life blood oozed into the snow. She looked up to see the shadow of the centaur blocking out the mid-morning sun.

"Lord Tirek protects, Lord Tirek punishes," The assassin chanted as he drew a curved sword from a sheath strapped to the side of his horse torso. He continued chanting as he readied his sword for an executioner's swing.

While this was going on Pea staggered over with Luna's halberd. As the centaur rose his sword, Pea rose the weapon. Luna winced but no blow came. The centaur cried out, dropping his sword as Pea's swing chopped his back legs off at the knee. His body slumped back and he looked at Pea. His gaze was cut short when the crescent blade became lodged in his horse torso, he pawed at the blade as blood gushed out. Pea ran it further into him as she pushed him to the ground. He grabbed his sword and swung at Pea, she blocked it by pulling up one of his front legs as a meat shield.

The centaur's hands shivered at the sight of his only remaining hoof. Pea pulled out the halberd and  without a word threw the fight's  last swing, ending with the masked head dropping away from it's body. The princesses looked in awe at the grizzly sight, Pea took a deep breath and smiled at them. The grey mare staggered and then fell backwards, fainting from her crushed ribs. She lay in the snow, the adrenaline ebbing away and the frigid air biting her skin as she fell into unconsciousness.   



It was dark and warm, Pea sat in a empty field. Pea knew it was a dream inside her unconscious state so she enjoyed the peaceful scenery, her cyber limbs were gone, the sight of her skin-toned hooves again fascinated her. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she noticed she was atop a hill in a warm, flat island. The hill was steep and high above the field where small campfires was crackling, Pea's nerves calmed even further as she remembered that the campfire was her friend's. She sat in the warm grass listening to the sound of the breeze and her friend's laughter. She saw the faint look of tents and the few hundred members of her old mercenary band, The Breakneck Bevy. She was so lost in the nostalgia that the soft sound of hoof-steps made her ears shoot up.

In the dim night light she saw him, Rochi. His light brown fur shown in the moonlight around his well toned muscles. Instead of a mane to flow in the wind he had a dark green bandanna over the top of his shaved head. Rochi's teal eyes shown like the tropical waters he sailed through his whole life and his cutie mark was an anchor with a simple crown above it. On his left ear was a hoop ring like Pea had, as a sign that they were slaves to no one. Rochi seemed hesitant, standing before Pea Gravel in the moonlight.

"I'm sorry, I just came up to check on you," His voice though usually brash, sounded sweet tonight,"I'll… I'll be going back to camp now."

"Hang on!" Pea said, reaching out a hoof for him, "Won't you stay, just for a while?"

"If you insist," He smiled. Rochi walked over and sat next to Pea,"Lovely night isn't it?"

Pea scooted closer to him,"Mmhm, lovely."

Rochi looked up at the moon, "It's not the night that's the only thing lovely," He chuckled,"I once heard a legend that's there's a mare on the moon. She fought the sun goddess and was banished there," He sighed, "I wonder how somepony could do that."

"Stories are stories Rochi. I know plenty where they are simply used to teach foals morals and to scare them to bed," Pea yawned.

"Did I bore you with just that?" Rochi joked.

Pea yawned again, "No, it's just that...I feel like I haven't seen you in awhile."

Rochi looked confused, "I had the sentry shift before you. You saw me an hour ago."

Pea sighed, "It's a long story...more like a dream..."

"We've got time," The sailing stallion said intently,"Don't worry, I won't fall asleep on you from boredom," He nuzzled her cheek.

Pea punched his shoulder playfully, "You big meanie! Alright I'll tell you..."
> 5) How Did I Get Caught Up With You (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mare's mind went a bit fuzzy. It was a dream...right?

"I had a dream that I went to The Sun Goddess's Garden. It was just like the stories, a true paradise! I met all of these colorful ponies, each one so nice. There was this author named A.K Yearling, or her alter ego Daring Do and a tomboy pegasus called Rainbow Dash, those mares were great. I even met one mare named Applejack, she owned her own farm. A pony owning a farm!" Pea words painted a picture for Rochi. One not to different then one he kept close to him. What she didn't say was how she got there, how she lost her limbs...almost nothing besides the moments she was in Equestria.

" 'Jack' in a girl's name?" Rochi rolled his eyes, "Only you'd come up with something like that. So go on, What was she like?"

"To be honest, I was afraid to be around her," Pea grimaced, "I saw a bit of myself in her when we… argued. You know how I can get sometimes..."

"Yeah, a real cutthroat killer!" Rochi made a mock snarl, "The Great and Dreaded Gravel, warrior and farmer!"

Pea shoved him into the grass, "Shut up you!"

Rochi sat back up with a pair of puppy dog eyes, "Awww, did ya have to push me? I think I bruised a little."

"Quit moping, sugar cheeks," Pea stuck her tongue out, "Anyways...oh yeah! I met the Sun Goddesses herself too!"

Rochi looked intently on the mare next to him,"Sooo… what was she like?" 

"She seemed nice at first, but she called me a Land-crawler like any other noble we've met. She wanted me thrown out because I wasn't born there and taught their ways… she even tried to kill me," Pea went quiet.

"That's a nightmare, not a dream," Rochi said comfortingly, "You shouldn't trouble yourself over those," He nuzzled Pea's cheek.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Pea giggled.

"You looked a bit chilly," Rochi smiled.

Pea rolled away from him and lay on her back, staring up at the sky. Rochi followed and Rolled up next to her.

"Look at those stars," Pea sighed, "They're beautiful...have you ever wanted to know what it'd be like?"

"Hm?" The stallion asked, "Sorry, I was too busy looking at the star next to me."

Pea rolled her eyes, "You're impossible sometimes, you know that?"

"Bah! Everyone is," Rochi waved a hoof in the air, "Anyways, you were talking about… being up there with the stars?"

"Yeah," Pea pointed at a cluster of stars, "There's the Discord constellation you showed me. and over there is the Three Goddesses," Pea looked up at that night sky as if it were the first time.

Rochi chuckled,"You're learning. You missed the Ox King in the west and the Windigo up there to the north," He said pointing to each constellation, "Don't worry, I'll make a sailor out of you yet."

Pea sighed happily, cuddling up next to the sailor. Rochi rose an eyebrow, "You seem happy tonight. Like, really happy. You didn't eat one of those Jade Cactus Fruits did you?"

Pea rolled her eyes again, "No, Rochi. I'm not doing the jade, alright?"

Rochi scratched his head,"Are you… you know… aroused?"

Pea gasped dramatically, "Why sailor, I do believe you're trying to seduce me!"

"Hey, don't be hating me for asking," Rochi shrugged.

Pea's heart was beating fast, it felt warm all throughout her body and in her well missed legs. Even if it was a dream here, it felt so real. It could feel even more real with a single question. Pea hadn't really been one for sex, she was too busy trying to keep her and her friends from all sorts of dangers… but right here… right now...

She didn't even have time react. Rochi just grabbed her and kissed her square on the lips, she wrapped her forearms around his neck and held tight. After so long, a simple kiss like this...melted all of the rigid defenses she had built up over the years. When Rochi pulled away Pea almost magnetically put her head to his chest.

Pea's face was bright red, "Oh… my god. Rochi you have no idea how good that made me feel."

"I bet I do," Rochi said suavely. He held Pea close to him, looking back up at the sky Rochi smiled,"We've been through some pretty tough shit, haven't we?"

Pea sighed,"Yeah, but soon that will all be behind us," She said dreamily.

"How soon?" Rochi asked bluntly, "Did you have a dream about it?"

Pea thought about what Rochi asked. Dreaming of paradise wasn't to big on her mind, just making sure her and her crew can get by. After being in Equestria, however, the wish to take them there bloomed. 

She nuzzled her favorite sailor, "It's more of a wish… actually."

"I thought I was the superstitious nut job," Rochi teased,"Now miss down-to-earth is talking about wishes?"

"Yeah… for all of us to be away from the fighting, the hunger. Just to live in peace… all of us together," She sighed happily.

"Now I know you're doing drugs," Rochi groaned,"The Pea Gravel I know would get bored of a peaceful life. You realize what that means, a job with bosses and taxes to pay," Rochi's mellow voice hardly sounded threatening in his rant,"After a life of wandering and mercenary work, you'd want to be a farmer or a fisherpony?"

Pea pursed her lip. She remembered the reason Rochi went rogue with Pea and her crew, for rising above tyrannical rule. To become a just leader for others of his species, not to be ruled by something that forces work and never does any. How could a stallion of his type ever want to become a simple farmer, no king was a farmer.

"Never mind, sorry I said something stupid..."Pea said timidly.

"It's okay, wishes are wishes. If you work hard enough… and don't die along the way, I'm sure you'll make it," Rochi said reassuringly.

The two ponies lay together in the grass, held in a lover's embrace. For Pea, this moment felt like it lasted forever and she loved every minute of it. They were locked together for how long the mare didn't know but she did nothing to stop it. She closed her eyes, completely absorbed in the moment.


Suddenly a slimy feeling rubbed against Pea's cheek, "Ahhh… like a fine wine your taste has heightened with age," a strange voice said.

Pea froze. Her euphoria was shattered in an instant, her whole body went into utter shock, completely petrified. Her eyes darted frantically around to see the wind, island, camp and night sky were gone. Instead she had a cast surrounding her broken ribs as she sat in a ridged hospital bed. The worst thing of all, the heart stopping detail that made Pea's heart skip a beat...

The blue green head of Volm stared Pea from where she dreamed Rochi was. 

The mare was at a loss of words, she could only stifle a half gasp as she tried to breath. Pea tried to move but a wave of pain came from her torso, the cast over her chest restricted her movements to barely sitting up. Volm sat up on the next to her of the bed, wiping off his lips with a six fingered hand. His body looked bigger than the last time she saw him, with more veins and muscle. Pea was furious, violated, petrified and afraid; only faced with this blue-green devil did she feel so helpless.

Volm stared back at the near flat-lining mare with a vicious stare from his demonic eyes. He sat there, waiting for a response from her. The mare was so panicked by seeing him and more the fact having her mind violated by him, it took Pea several minutes to calm down enough to talk.

She opened her mouth to speak,"How… w-why… what are you-"

"I know what you're thinking; 'How can you be alive? I thought I killed you!'" the monster mocked,"Well I'll just tell you one thing," Volm placed his alien hands near Pea's quivering torso and leaned his face dangerously near hers, "I've crawled too long to get where I am now! I will never let my ambition be stopped by a pathetic cunt like you… dear Pea Gravel."

Pea gasped out a few words,"B… but… I… I saw you-"

"-Die?" Volm finished for her,"I just let you… express your feelings," he snickered as he returned to the foot of the bed, "I came here for something else besides an invitation into your fantasies," Volm's voice hissed.

"You were in my dream?" Pea tried to wrap her head around the idea, "That's...how could you do that?"

Volm placed a hand to his chest dramatically, "Honestly, dearest road pebble. Would you think I'm anything less than that? Besides, we both know you enjoyed it! Even if I had to look like your little boy-toy to get some," Volm's acid voice cackled.

"What do you want, you bastard?" Pea seethed.

Volm scratched behind his ear as a dog would, looking up with a wicked smile,"Can you calm down?" Volm yawned, "You'll have a heart attack if you don't breath."

Pea bared her teeth then spat at the blue-green beast,"Fuck you." 

"Now then, I came to tell you about something important," Volm said with a friendly smile, ignoring the mare's angry words. His eyes looked a bit more like a regular pony's at this point.

"Obviously, or you would've gone and probed someone else," Pea folded her arms defensively.

Volm rubbed his alien hands together, "Belial is getting desperate to find Tartarus. That centaur you met, you know him, the one that tried to assassinate the royal bimbos. Since you three were at his drop point though, he didn't have enough time to react and you wrecked that scrub. Oh and the whole princesses wanting you dead, don't worry about that anymore."

Pea was aghast,"Are you… helping me?"

"You… or more specifically, Daring Do, has something that I want," Volm said casually.

"The Tear of the King?" Pea asked venomously.

"Hit the nail on the head, sugar stuff. If you give me that I'll make sure Belial and his subordinates will never see or touch this land and anything in it," He held out a hand, "Do we have a deal?"

"You're kidding," Pea stared at the hand,"I don't even belong here, what makes you think I have any say in this country's affairs? Not in a million years."

Volm's hand retracted, "You can understand the weight of the situation out there, the princesses would just send someone… or somepony to go do it for them. I talked with Celestia while you were out, she had a plan ship you out, hopefully to never come back."

Pea rolled her eyes, "I figured it, but a royal pardon and your sketchy protection really doesn't move me. I'm still saying no."

"I know I've done some… bad things but really Pea, must you ignore my generosity?" Volm cooed.

"Generosity?!" Pea shouted, even though it spiked a fireball of pain through her torso, "You are everything but trustworthy and generous! You took away my friends, my lifestyle," she held her palms out, "My legs..."

Volm growled under his breath. He shook his head and looked back up at the mare,"But look at your new ones! You're much stronger than other ponies, even ones out there. You had the Dragon King Borox after you and I kept you and your crew safe from them-"

"-by scattering them to the wind," Pea finished.

Volm was becoming impatient, "You're so stupid. Fuggin' ponies... Look," He rubbed his forehead, "I hate Belial and that dragon prick just as much as you do. Once I have that blue gem your marefriend is wearing I'll be able to wipe them out."

"Then what? What will you do then?" Pea asked, afraid to know the answer.

"I'll make the whole world like Equestria if you want! Just say yes," Volm said happily, his hand re-extended for a closed deal.

"What are you-" Pea asked, dazed.

"Are you taking the fucking deal or not?" Volm barked,"You ponies and all your empty questions..."

"What is it then, why should I trust you?" Pea barked back," How do I know you're not lying?"

"I have made deals of my own. Though I look and act the evil part, my intentions are good… for a price," Volm said dryly.

"Of course, everything has a price," Pea glared at the blue demon, "Tell you what, I'll give you the stone after I find my whole crew. Alive."

A vein bulged on Volm's forehead, "I can't promise that they’re all alive, pebble. But if that's the way you want it, I'll even sweeten the deal with this," The hand he had extended clenched tightly, his nails drawing blood from his hand. His fingers uncurled and a shiny black, tangerine sized pearl lay in his gouged palm. Volm's inky black blood dripped on the medical bed Pea lay on like thick black syrup.

"The hell is that?" Pea grimaced.

A string stretched out of it as Volm dropped the pearl. Pea was quick to catch it and examined the disturbing object. Volm wiped his bloodied hand on his chest leaving black streaks,"It's a kind of… homing thing. It will help guide you to your friends, in the order you met them. The place where that friend is, a bit of white will point the way on it, the closer you get the whiter it gets. It's simple enough for something as menial as you, pebble."


Pea was hesitant, why had he simply shown up and offer so much help? She remembered his promise to anything that decided to fight him,'You'll walk away different then you walked in', hence her cyber legs. Though he was a complete monster and horridly cruel, he was a beast of his word.

"What will you do with Equestria? While I'm gone," She asked, still catching her breath.

Volm had a straight face for once,"I won't touch a hair on anypony's head. I won't corrupt, deceive or manipulate anything or anyone here. I will be the watchdog of this land, you have my word as a bastard of nature."

Pea hesitantly looked at him, "I won't shake your hand, Volm. Never."

"Belial's ships travel further and further out on the sea each day," Volm itched his chin, "They may stumble across Equestria, or your friends. Just think of all the fun they'd have here, dominating these little whelps."

Pea's body shivered, "I won't make a deal. I'll never trust you."

"I already gave you a compass and my word, what more do you want?" Volm seethed.

"My legs back," Pea said bluntly.

The blue green demon thought about this. He itched his chin, "Perhaps… so what do I get?"

"I'll let you stay out of sight and out of mind here, unless somepony is in extreme danger," Pea commanded.

Volm cackled, "Even when you have no position, you still make demands," He shrugged,"Fine, come back with all of your friends alive, and I'll give you your legs back. Then you can live all peaceful and shit here."

Pea nodded simply. Volm rolled his eyes in disgust at the deal he agreed to.

The demon slapped on a business-like smile, "Glad we could come to an agreement! See you when you come back," Volm vanished in a wisp of steam. Pea sat in a numb state of mind at what just happened, a strange feeling of waking up coursed through the mare's body. Her mind was becoming clear and unclouded, sitting up awkwardly she hid her face in her palms.

"That bastard… what can I do to kill that thing?" She asked herself. Pea sat still aside from the faint sound of hoofsteps outside the infirmary.
	

> 6) Departing is Such Sour Joy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cyber mare Pea Gravel sat in her hospital bed dazed and confused with her face hidden in her palms. The horrific image and feeling of Volm still burned to her, she tried looking at her surroundings. Not to her surprise, It seemed like some kind of military infirmary but nopony else was in it. It was rather a dimly lit room with flickering light fixtures in the ceiling. The clean, white stone-brick wall lined the long room with deep yellow curtains separating each bed. There must have been room for dozens of soldiers in there. Pea saw a little light coming from the wall, which turned out to be a door, thick and metal. Her chest still ached from being trampled by the centaur, so she decided just waiting for somepony to show up would be the best.

She heard the sound of hooves against stone and quiet voices;

"Princess," A dainty voice said. Probably a doctor or a nurse, "What will we do with her? She's committed treason to the crown, correct?" 

Celestia's voice spoke quietly, "In a way, but I wasn't thinking clearly earlier. I must speak to her… alone, nurse," The door opened slightly. Pea tensed up.

"Wait, Your Highness! She could still be dangerous!" The other voice cried.

"Nonsense, she saved us from being assassinated by that thing," Celestia said warmly and she stepped inside the room where Pea lay. The head wound Pea's foot had left was gone, by healing magic most likely. 

"Morning, Your Highness," Pea said flatly.

"Evening actually. I came here with some news for you. Due to your… unique situation and you crime against me and my sister I've come to a conclusion. Instead of an execution you will have no choice but to go back to your homeland," Celestia said. Pea scowled at this but the princess continued,"Another thing, a creature from your homeland told me that you had experience in fighting centaurs, is this true?"

"In small numbers, yes," Pea sighed, "If I'm so bold to ask, what did the 'creature' look like?" Pea cringed because she already knew the answer.

Celestia pursed her lip in thought, "I suppose a… blue monkey of sorts. His presence felt to have a strong type chaos magic, like the kind Discord has. I take it you know him?"

"I wish I didn't," Pea groaned, "When you want me out of here?"

Celestia straightened up proudly, "I may have been quick to judge you and that's my mistake. Since you were rather… jaded but gentle with my subjects, I've been gracious enough to let you live.."

Pea chuckled,"Before you were trying to stab me and calling me names, now you're kicking me out?"

"You're a ludicrous mare, very unpredictable," Celestia looked at Pea, recalling how she held her own against both princesses, "I don't want any more beasts inside Equestria, those centaurs or you."

Pea laughed a bit, "Their leader must have spent months to get just a small view of Equestria, that's probably why only one showed up on a empty mountain top. You know as well as I that he's going to try again, closer next time."

Celestia rejected the warning, "The blue creature, Volm, said he'd aid us if more arrived. He may have a dysfunctional magic but his heart is in the right place," Celestia said with mild interest.

"Okay, so how long till I get out of this?" Pea asked, pointing to her cast.

"Right now if you so chose," Celestia's horn glowed.

"Do it, I'm sick of this shit," Pea nodded to the princess.

In a flash, the Pea felt like nothing happened to her ribs. She ripped the cast off with her cyber hands easily and hopped off the bed. Pea looked at Celestia with a fake smile before she went for the door,"Thanks, I'll get out of your hair now."

Celestia followed her out the door, "You're not taking your nephew with you."

Pea stopped, "What?" She hissed.

Celestia looked down at her like Pea was some unwanted beetle, "He'll be far safer, if not happier in my kingdom. What can you offer him out there? Being dinner, catching the plague?"

Pea leaned against the hall's wall. She didn't mind being kicked out, she practically expected it to happen sooner or later. The idea of having Tuff Bolder living in Equestria looked like a sour promise, good in the long run but leaving painful scars. Pea didn't want Tuff to be subjected to labor or starvation, the idea of 'high school woes' seemed much more conquerable. Celestia watched Pea's clenched, thoughtful face as the cyber mare tried to decide how she was going to plan this out.

"You have no choice, besides, my pupil is celebrating in your favor tonight. I trust you'll enjoy your last little taste of Equestria tonight," Celestia said. 


Pea's eyes were blinded by the flash of teleportation magic, once they could see again she looked at her surroundings. With a late afternoon sky above she looked at the building before her, the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres. Pea cursed under her breath, not particularly wanting to meet Applejack again. From inside, the sounds of a music and laughter met the grey mare's ears. She walked quietly to the door, nervous of who was inside.

"Ahm, goin' to the barn for another barrel of cider," a familiar voice called from inside,"Be right back!" 
Before Pea could react the door swung open with Applejack waltzing out, bumping the cyber mare to the side,"Sorry, sugar-cube" Applejack said without stopping,"Didn't see ya there."

Pea groaned and walked inside, finding Twilight and her friends drinking cider and dancing in the main room of the farm house. Balloons and confetti filled the air and Pinkie Pie hopped around wildly to the beat of the quick music, the other mares did their best to follow. Along with the team of six, Spike and Daring Do were present. The adventuress' eyes lit up when she noticed Pea.

Daring Do walked up beside Pea Gravel holding a mug of cider, "You finally showed up!" Pea could see a buzzed look in Daring's eyes, "You were gone all day since you met Celestia."

Pea smiled at the celebration,"Sorry, business stuff. Sooo… what's this party about, or are you all just trying to get drunk?"

Daring scoffed, "Haven't you been keeping track of the days? It's been three months today since you first showed up in Ponyville," She leaned up closer, "I've heard some rumors about you from the villagers, they think of you as some kind of elusive celebrity! Isn't that great?"

Pea blushed slightly, "Really," She shook back into a serious mode, "That's great but I have to tell you something-"

She was interrupted by a mug of cider shoved in front of her face. Applejack smirked behind it,"If you want to be in the party, ya gotta be all social. I hope you fighter ponies can handle mah famous cider,"

Pea took it gingerly, examining it, she said; "You drink apple juice at parties?" 

Daring and Applejack stifled a giggle. Pea shrugged and took a big swig of it, the burning sensation of alcohol catching her by surprise. She coughed with wide eyes as the two mares laughed.

"Come on, iron pony," Applejack laughed, "Get over here an' party with us!"

Pea didn't resist being dragged over to the rest of the mares while music blared. They danced in debauchery as mug after mug of cider was drunk. Pea, now ready for the hard cider, chugged mugs of it with the cheers of the other mares. Big Mac walked in unnoticed and drug a buzzed Spike out of the house, not wanting him caught up in something he was too young for. As the night went by, the music track became less and less rambunctious and the mare's dancing subsided. Pea sat on the floor with Daring Do and Rainbow Dash propped up on her, the rest were strewn about on the floor giggling to themselves.

The radio that blared music before now had some late night talk show airing. It had a bubbly mare's voice and a suave older stallion's both talking about current, tediously menial, events. The drunk mares tuned in to the radio, listening intently.

"...I'm more of a book pony myself," The mare said, "Once I find a real page turner, I can't put it down until it's done, duh! What about you?"

"Well, I'm more interested in...alternative novels then the usual cutesy fairy kind of things," The stallion's voice said through the fuzz of the speakers, "Such as...as...Oh! That new book that A.K. Yearling helped write, do you remember it?"

Pea tuned into the conversation as well. Over the radio the mare was audibly disdained,"Eeeh, that one? It's got… you know… death and stuff. It's gross! Not to mention how bad the language is, I mean come on! Just cuz some mare puts a 'bitch' or something in her story doesn't make it any more edgy," she grumbled, "Go on, I need some more to drink."

"It's only natural," the stallion defended as the sound of pouring liquid was heard,"Fights happen a lot and death is something everypony has to deal with, I think books like that one put a different spin on that we're used to. Oh, thank you," The stallion paused, drinking some kind of alcohol.
"Ahhh, delicious," He continued, "Back to what I was saying: Looking at Yearling's other works, I think it's great that she’s going into different styles in her writing. Could you imagine Daring Do wielding a sword and fighting roving bandits?"

Pea smiled proudly, tuning out the rest of the conversation having heard enough. Twilight and her friends began chatting, about what Pea didn't know, nor cared. She lay out on the floor on her belly as Daring was talking to Rainbow Dash. Pea wanted to say to her 'So I guess I am kinda famous, eh?'
But saying that may bring up the dreaded news of her departure. Pea decided it would be best to sit and wait instead and not disrupt the fun night the mares were having.

Pinkie Pie rolled up to Pea with a bubbly grin,"So I heard that you talked with Celestia, like all day. Did you fight her and her sister in a brawl on some desolate place only to be interrupted by some awful monster?" She blinked contently as if guessing the truth exactly was common.

Pea rubbed her eyes,"N… no, what are you talking about? That's crazy talk," Pea said hiccuped.

Daring Do looked at Pea,"What were you doing then, hmmm?"

The rest of the partying mares looked over eager to hear the gossip. Pea groaned at being the center of this kind of attention. She was about to tell of her plan but the reason of the party, her, made the mare hesitant. Pea put a finger to her lip,"It's a secret."

"Come on," the mares insisted ,"You can tell us!"

Pea nudged Daring Do and Rainbow Dash off her so she could see all seven faces clearly, or as clearly as she could. She drummed her fingers on the ground thinking of how she should put the words together.

Fluttershy spoke up, "It's not something bad, is it?"

Pea waved her hand at these words like annoying flies, "No, no...did I ever tell you all about my friends, from my home?"

Rainbow Dash rose a hoof up, "Oh! Oh! The book you and Daring Do wrote had somepony named Dew Berry, she's one of them right?" 

Pea was about to respond but was interrupted by Daring Do, "Yes, that's it! The other three besides Dew are boys. Oza, Joe and Rochi."

"She told me a bit about Rochi,-" Twilight said. 

Daring butted in, "-that he was very close to Pea Gravel," a hint of jealousy was in the pegasus' voice.

"Then that leaves Oza and Joe," Pea said happily. It looked like their names brought good memories to her troubled mind,"Oza is a dragon, kinda like Spike. Oh, he had the funniest way of speaking," Pea giggled.

"Well some baby dragons have a hard time talking, it's only natural," Fluttershy defended.

"No, not like that. I meant he was like Spike as in he was friends with ponies, not a baby. He was a teenage dragon when we all were together, he stood almost three heads taller than me," Pea spaced out dreamily then blinked back to reality,"Oh… sorry. Say, save you all ever seen a clown fish?"

"Yeah, did Oza's scales look like a clown fish's?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Yep, he had blue eyes and a blue mouth too, even his blood was blue," Pea recalled with a grimace, "Besides making a good campfire he was an amazing healer, I'd be dead a dozen times over if not for him. He'd always tell me,'Now pony needs to stop being reckless when she fights, Oza grows tired of seeing red on her', " Pea mimicked in a deeper voice.

Rarity chuckled, "Mmhm, Oza sounds like a riot, now you mentioned a 'Joe'?"

"Joe, right. That big lug was our muscle. One of the bigger mules I've seen," She looked more happy reminiscing her old friends then drinking all of that cider by a mile, "It was hard finding him at night because his coat was such a dark blue and his mane was almost black, but you could hear him a mile away," She rose an eyebrow and looked wryly at them, "Dew really liked him, you know really, really."

Twilight looked puzzled, "Is… Joe Tuff's father? I thought mules were… you know… sterile."

Pea looked sad all of a sudden, "His biological father, no. This traces back to Dew and her first owner, the one before Alia."

"So it is bad," Fluttershy said quietly.

"The pony that Alia bought Dew from was a carnahorse," Pea recalled,"His name was Black Berry and he's the kind of thing you'd need to watch out for… poor Dew..."

"She was a slave to one of those?" Daring gasped,"Don't tell me that he's Tuff's..."

Pea nodded sadly,"It was a god damn coincidence that we met again.. .it was the worst for Dew… Tuff doesn't know about this though, I don't think I'll ever tell him," She saw the cheerless faces of the once gleeful mares, "I'm sorry girls. I didn't want to you know it like this, but… I'm leaving to go find them," The small weight of Volm's pearl felt like a ton of woeful bricks, "I have a ship waiting for me in Horseshoe Harbor," she lied.

The mares grew quiet, the sudden weight of the information taking a few moments to be absorbed. Each of the six mares sat quietly, some more shocked then others. Rainbow Dash straightened up, "So I take it you're going back out there alone?"

Pea was about to say something but the moment Applejack's green eyes caught Pea's, she stopped. Applejack gave a venomous look, "Just who do ya think you are? Everypony 'ere has been nothing but nice to you an', after all the bad things you said about your home, you're going back?"

"I have to. I can't just leave them," Pea pleaded.

'If you have to go, let us go with you," Twilight offered," I'm sure we can help, right girls?" Twilight's friends hesitated an answer ,"Well… I'm sure we could try," Twilight encouraged.

Rainbow Dash stood up,"Come on, let us go with you! Nopony can run a ship on their own anyway, you have to have some help," Rainbow Dash made a very good point, a painfully important one. She looked Pea down with a confident look.

Pea put a fist to her temple,"Ladies, I can't thank you enough for wanting to help me," She paused,"But if anypony here has remotely enough experience it'd be Daring Do here," Pea pointed to the surprised pegasus, "But I couldn't." 

Twilight became edgy,"So an alicorn isn't good enough for you?"

Pea smacked her forehead, "No, it's just that a princess isn't meant for this kind of work. If you die, who will replace you?"

"What if Daring Do dies," Applejack asked,"Or you do?"

Pea made a predatory smile that sent chills up the other mare's spines, "I stopped worrying about death a long time ago, Applejack."

Rainbow Dash butted in again. "We've been on a pirate ship before, we've dealt with buccaneer ponies."

"Did you leave the Dead Ring," Pea asked, knowing the answer, "You have know of it, the edge of Equestria's ocean."

Twilight looked puzzled, "Dead Ring?"

Pea sighed, "It's a giant, no enormous still ring of water as a border for your ocean. There's some magic making it do that, it never moves and no wind ever blows. Not to mention the schools of sea monsters that breed there."

The Equestrian mares were aghast. They each trusted Pea, in a way, for what she said. But a dead water border around Equestria? How could they not know about it? Besides these warnings, the thirst for the quest still clung to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow stamped a hoof, "I still don't see why we couldn't go with you. Give me one good reason we couldn't."

Pea stood up, being taller than Rainbow Dash the cyber mare's pissed off stare became more intense. Pea smiled coldly, "You're a sporty chick right? So that means you've seen an accident or two, seen a pony get injured… bleed?"

Rainbow Dash felt a lump in her throat. Her friends looked up at her and Pea with extreme concern, causing Rainbow Dash not wanting to look sheepish. She stepped closer to Pea Gravel with her neck erect proudly, "Yeah, I've seen some serious cuts and broken bones. I've had them too!"

Pea bared her teeth in a smile, "So have you killed anyone, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow fought back a growing fear, "No, I've never had the reason to!"

"Don't give me that bullshit," Pea cast a glare to the rest of the mares, "None of you! You couldn't kill another if your life depended on it. Out there you wouldn't last a week, maybe."

Rarity huffed, "Where did this barbarism come from?"

Pea punched the floor with a growl ,"I'm done with this, thanks girls but I'm leaving. Keep an eye on Tuff, only if 'land-crawlers' can fit into your agenda," She stormed outward to the door, ignoring the mare's pleads for her to stay. She had only a few feet left to being outside then Twilight appeared in a flash before her, blocking the path.

"What's the meaning of all this?!" Twilight cried angrily, "After our support and generosity you choose to abandon us and trust us with your nephew? We offer to help you in your journey and you turn away, why?"

"Twilight, I'm sure you'd understand if you were in my place," Pea said flatly, her face devoid of remorse, "If your five friends were in danger and you were the only one who could save them, would you want anypony else getting hurt while you tried?"

Twilight's anger subsided. She understood, though she didn't want to. Twilight stepped aside and let Pea walk into the night air, leaving the seven mares in a cheerless, shocked state. None of the mares were sure what to do or say, neither did the one walking outside.

Pea knew her nephew was still at the farm, where else could he go? She searched the area, the weight of saying goodbye to Tuff felt like a wrecking ball on her esteem. She heard the sound of children's laughter from inside the barn. She peeked inside to find Tuff and the Cutie Mark Crusaders playing in the hay while Big Mac and Spike snored nearby. Pea opened the door quietly, Tuff looked up bright eyed at his aunt. Her angry attitude melted away looking at the foals.

"Pea Gravel!" The three fillies cheered. The four children rushed up to Pea and each hugged a metallic leg.

"So you were gone with Celestia all day, was she nice?" Tuff asked.

Pea chuckled, "The nicest in the world. You tired, Tuff?"

"No, not at all," the colt yawned.

Pea's stomach churned for the moment she'd deliver the news to her nephew. The three ponies walked through the quiet night on the path back to Ponyville, only the sounds of crickets and frogs were heard. Pea bit her lip when she looked down at the colt.

"Tuff, I need to tell you something..." Pea's voice trailed off at the worried looks from the fillies.

"What auntie, are we moving again?" Tuff asked.

"No, I just..." Pea looked glanced at Big Mac, who was now awake. Under a watchful eye Pea continued,"I'm going to go back… out there," Pea winced, thinking Tuff would begin crying.

"How long will you be gone?" The colt asked rather calmly.

"I'm not sure," Pea was a bit surprised, "...I'll come back in at least eighteen months weather I find my crew or not, to check up on you," Pea smiled reassuringly.

"That's...an  while. You said 'I'," He looked at her with a goofy smile,"You're not taking me?"

"Well, this place is real nice. You have some real friends here, Tuff," Pea felt like she was being drug down by the children's worried looks.

Sweetie Belle looked over at Tuff, "So...you're alright with her going away for awhile?"

Tuff nodded,"Yeah. It's been a long time since I've seen mom and pops, Auntie will bring them back safe. Right Auntie?"

Pea sighed with relief, "I was so worried you'd be upset with me," Pea leaned over and kissed the top of the colt's head, "That's my Tuff Bolder!" 

Pea slid out from their grip and hugged her nephew tight. With one last kiss on his forehead, she turned and walked out into the darkness of the evening. Tuff waved at her until she was out of sight,"Come back soon..."

Tuff's lip began quivering. Scootaloo looked at him with surprise,"Hey, are you okay?" She asked.

Tuff held back a lonely tear and nodded. Eighteen months? How long was that going to feel like?


Pea didn't want to ride a train, she didn't want to be involved with anyone else on her quest. In the dark of the dying night, she grabbed her belongings from Twilight's house hurriedly and headed east to Horseshoe Bay. With a few provisions, medicine, and mess kit in her pack she moved through the empty streets for what felt like the last time. Pea didn't look back as the town dwindled away and the Everfree Forest enveloped her. The sound of Pea walking was quiet in the night air, passing tree after tree Pea's mind and body were tearing at each other. She couldn't have anypony to drag her down in her quest, nopony was going to get in her way, even benevolent ones.

Pea's eyes felt dry but alert as she moved through the Everfree Forest, a small smile crept onto her face. Though the little life she built up here had been shattered, she was beginning to miss violence and the thrill of the hunt, now it wasn't to far away. The trip felt like a blur to the grey mare, she didn't even notice the sun rise as she exited the other side of the forest. Pea walked and walked, her artificial legs carrying her with unnatural endurance. Towns came and went as she traveled east, she became more and more excited the further she went. The environment changed many times in her trek back to the coast and eventually she arrived to Horseshoe Harbor.

The town was a large, busy port with a tropical wet mist in the air. All of the buildings and ponies looked tough and used to the sea air. Pea walked down the market streets with a proud grace as many eyes watched her, she was beginning to enjoy it. Pea neared the harbor and looked out at all of the ships anchored. She sat on the dock as sailors carried crates and packages to and from the ships tied down. Pea's green eyes met a Carrack ship near the end of the dock, It was painted in a dull green and had the bustling of crew members on deck. Only a ship ready to leave would be so busy.

"There's the one," Pea said to herself, "I'll just drop in and say hello."

She began walking to the green ship, avoiding sailors carrying crates she made it to the ship. A ramp connected the carrack's deck to the dock while supplies went in and off the ship. Not to Pea's surprise five armed pirates came down the ramp to meet her. There were rough, tough looking pirate ponies with scars and cutlasses. The ringleader, a dull orange unicorn, stepped forward.

"Pardon me fer blockin' yer path, miss," The unicorn grinned with yellowed teeth,"But me an' me mates couldn't help but notice that you were looking at our captain's ship."

Pea rose an eyebrow, "And what's wrong with looking, maybe I was going to hire you. Is this how you treat potential clients?"

The pirate squinted his eyes, "We're pirates miss, don't work for nopony."

Pea smiled, "Well then, sorry to bother you. I'll just take my leave, have a nice day fellas!"

The pirates were puzzled at the seemingly random encounter, shrugged, and went back on the ship. Pea waited on a bench further up the dock until it was dark, eagerly biding her time. As the sun set some lamps were lit on the docked ships, shedding faint light on the dock's planks. Like a panther's shadow, the cyber mare crept expertly to and on the deck of the green ship, completely undetected. She pulled herself onto the deck and past a sleeping guard, tip-toeing over to a stack of crates. Once hidden she controlled her breathing in the sea air of the dark harbor night. She crammed herself further behind a crate stack out of sight and waited, dozing off finally. 

After an hour of napping a single off centered creek in the flooring shot her back to her senses. Her heart raced, every little creak sounded like it could compromise her plan. In the quiet ambiance of the ship she feared being found, she could get to where she needed without a crew's labor. Eventually she settled down and dozed back into a light sleep. At the crack of dawn, the rock of a ship at sea woke Pea up. It had been so long since she was on a boat her sea legs were getting rusty, she'd have time to get back into the swing of things. After stealing an apple from the crate she hid behind, the mare decided it was best to wait and plan how she was going to take over the ship.

She heard the hustle of hoof steps on the top deck, some kind of meeting was going on. She peered around a corner at the crew of pirates. She counted about thirty crew members along with the captain and the first mate she met on the dock.

The captain, a young looking orange unicorn with a navy blue cloak, was standing with his first mate at the helm of the ship. The captain was rambling on about being the leader of the toughest pirate crew in Equestria and how they were off to raid some islands to the south east. Pea looked to see how far the coast was, to her delight the land of Equestria was only a faint black line on the horizon. She pulled herself on top of the crate she was hiding behind and bit down loudly on the shiny red apple. The pirates looked to her with shock, not expecting a stowaway like her.

"Morning fellas!" Pea said cheerfully, "I'm in need of service. Could you big, strong pirates help a poor mare like me?"

The first mate stomped on the deck with a wrathful look, "I told ya, we're PIRATES! Don't work for nopony 'cept the captain!"

The young looking unicorn stood proudly ,"Indeed, you're right. Now, boys, capture that mare and bring her here!"

The big crew of pirates turned with dreadful smirks. Pea got off the crate and waited until a pirate drew a sword to her neck. Through his teeth he chuckled,"Come on quietly, missy!" Through the handle in his jaws. In no time, Pea quickly grabbed his sword and wit the other hand smashed the half eaten apple into the pirate's eye. 

The pirate reared back and howled in pain, before he knew it Pea had a sword to his throat. He blinked in horror but his eyes became permanently open, once Pea lopped his head clean off. His torso landed on the deck with a thud and his shocked head rolled a bit, leaving a trail of red. The rest of the pirates looked at Pea with petrified looks, she wiped the pirates blood off the sword with the owner's body. She looked up casually,"Now, I'm taking over this ship. Whoever want's to follow this one to Davy Jones, step forward."

The pirates, being from Equestria, weren't used to such brutality. Some dropped their swords with slacked jaws and others scooted away from the deadly mare. The captain however, was unfazed.

"You call yourselves pirates?" He mocked, "Being scared of a mare?!"

The first mate leaned over with a worried look, "Captn'...she may not be a real mare...what if she's some evil spirit?"

Pea caught onto the sailor's superstition, she had a wild look in her eyes as she stepped to the crew.She kicked the corpse out of her way and the once deadly looking sailors now shank back like frightened foals. 
Pea put on a predatory smile, "That's right! I'm a demon from another land, I've had my fill on Equestria and now want to go back home," With a false mask of danger on her face, Pea felt sick looking at her victim.


The captain looked to his terrified crew, "Yes, yes. We'll take you...let us put the dead to rest first." Pea held onto the stolen cutlass in her teeth as the crew carried their comrade for a burial at sea. The saddened crew listened their captain give a hurried yet eloquent funeral speech, all the while Pea readied two of the four lifeboats and turned a loaded deck cannon to the mourning crew. One yelled in surprise at the cannon barrel pointed at all of them, Pea leaned over the primed cannon with a wick lighter in one hand and a cutlass in the other.

"What's wrong with you!?" The first mate screamed, "Is one not enough for you?"

"Sure," Pea had her deadly mint eyes fixed on the crew,"But not really. Now, get of my boat."

The pirates looked to each other in horrified confusion, frozen in place. Pea nonchalantly waved the lighter over the cannon wick and it began sparking. Before all of them could jump over board Pea smothered the wick, chucking as she watched the pirates jumping overboard in a blaze of confusion and terror. They shouted and cried in the water, almost landing on top them two lifeboats fell into the water.

Pea called down to them, "If you all paddle back now, you can make it back to mommy's before dinner!"

The pirates had no choice as to get into cramped lifeboats and watch their ship being taken, sailing in a direction they were avoiding.

Pea wasted no time in searching the Captain's Room for a map for reassurance in her navigating. Plowing through stacks of paper she found it in a shelf, along with a bottle of fermented Pineapples called 'Sourbite'. She nodded thoughtfully at the strange drink. Going back outside she put her bottle on top of the map and went below deck looking for a hammock.

It was noon now, Pea lay dozing in a hammock tied to either side of the lamp posts on the poop deck with a half empty bottle of Sourbite held to her chest and the cutlass sheathed at her side. The tropical sun beamed down warmly on the lone pony along with her new ship. Pea smiled to herself, "Damn, that was easier then I thought!"


Far into the cargo hold, inside a crate, two frightened souls hid. They were worried about the pirates, or lack thereof, on the ship.

> 7) Row, Row your Boat...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		In Equestria though Twilight and her friends were slightly shaken up after the strange mare left, the rest of their quaint little world went on as if nothing happened. Rainbow Dash, almost the day after the stranger left, said she had unexpected business in Cloudsdale. Daring Do returned to her quieter alter ego and left for her home in the forest. Now several days, if not weeks went by as Pea's stolen ship sailed east

Breaking waves on the sea the doomed ship creaked under only one pony's weight, the original crew thrown out single-handed by the cyber mare. She'd spend her days practicing on walking upright on her hind legs, at first her hind legs jutted out stiffly and awkwardly marching up and down the deck. Finding the ship's armory she picked out several flint locks and a pair of cutlasses to practice with. 

The firearms were equestrian made, not meant for fingers. They took some getting used to with it's pressure sensitive trigger at the handle and other models were shot via biting down on a mouth guard. She'd lineup spare hats on the railing posts and hone her targeting. After all, she had a ship's worth of gunpowder and shot for just one mare. If not shooting, she'd practice swinging cutlasses at dummies she made out of wood scraps from the ship.

Pea tried one sword, one in each hand and even three. One in each metal hand while the third was tight in her jaws slashing skillfully at her wooden targets. She preferred three swords, she figured it would confuse and intimidate the enemy with a mare walking with two swords and biting another down. The pirate's armory was much different than what she was accustomed to, her original training was more about broadsword swinging and dodging arrows. The black powder firearms that the pirates had were a menace but in short supply out in 'The Wild', as she now called it.

During the evenings, she'd make sure the boat was on course before cooking dinner. Though there were enough rations to feed a crew of thirty five for almost six months, portions seemed to be slimming when she tapped into the food stash. She paid no mind, she couldn't eat all of this food anyway. She didn't even plan on seeing the boat docking out there, Pea expected it to be sunk inside or near the edge of the Dead Ring. After a salty vegan meal she sat at the helm, checking every now and again on the ship's direction. Pea had a compass in her sight at all times next to her 'Ink Pearl' as she called it.

As the days of sea travel went by, she had become dangerously skilled using three swords. She had fashioned a double sheath that fitted on the her lower back while the third sword was on a sheath strapped to her torso, within her mouth's reach. Within a month the edge of the Dead Ring could be seen. It's waters were grey and the sky a lifeless blue. The sea currents weakened and the wind faded the closer the ship got to the dismal waters. Pea sat at the captain's cabin thinking about how she was going to get across. Checking the deck she found that one dinghy was still aboard.
The tiny ship had a large blanket sized sail, also enough room for one pony and four crates of supplies. What she'd be using though, were the two oars on either side of the boat. Going back into the hull of the pirate ship, she hauled two food crates up. She didn't bother to check inside them since every other crate she tapped into had pristine produce inside. Later one for guns and powder and lastly one with any valuables she could scrounge on the ship. The valuables crate had blankets and traveling supplies she'd need for her journey on land as well as salable loot.

Lowering the dinghy into the water via crane, the small water vessel landed gracefully. Pea strapped up her leather jacket, tightened up her makeshift sword holsters and jumped to the dingy on the water. It dipped slightly from her weight but bobbed safely in the near mirror waters. She kicked off from the ship and rowed the dinghy out into the Dead Ring. After a few hours she had to rearrange the crates so the weight didn't dip the boat over, once that was done she made a makeshift canvas tent from the sail. She'd have to worry about the sun out here, not rain or storms. There was no wind blowing on the dead ring, making a trip across it almost more deadly than a barren desert. 

The water was unearthly clear. Anyone afraid of what lurks in the deep would die of shock looking down into the Dead Ring's waters. Schools of fish of every size swarmed through the still water, feeding of each other in a cruel food chain hierarchy. Some looked more like sharks or whales, while others looked like giant spiky squids. The ones that made small hills of displaced water when they neared the surface looked like horribly massive lobsters with gaping maws that swallowed pods of whales whole. If Pea ever got bored of careful rowing she'd watch the underwater circus of fish.

From experience and the way the horizon looked, she only had another day of travel. She sighed with relief. She laid back relaxing as much as she could under her canvas tent. She felt oddly calm drifting over a carnivorous spawning pool, maybe because she was that much closer to where she wanted to be. She would've drifted off in a nap but a small sound from the crates woke her up.

Without warning, Rainbow Dash threw open the crate lid,"Ahh! Finally out of that thing!" Pea held her breath in horror as she watched the lid fly into the air and splash in the water. Time seemed to freeze, then movement in the water kicked up little waves on the surface. Rainbow Dash looked around, "What's wrong?"

Pea grabbed the oars frantically, "ohshit! ohshit! ohshit! ohshit! Go! Go! Go!" She made the oars row at a near speed boat pace.

Daring Do peeked out of same crate Rainbow Dash was hiding in, "What's going on?"

"No time!" Pea shouted,"Grab the mast and haul ass with your wings, now!"

The still water began to churn around where the lid landed. Sharks swarmed around it and soon bigger fish began eating the sharks. The two pegasi held onto the dinghy mast as flapped their wings in a panic. They were confused more than terrified. A shark jumping out of the water over them, nicking their wings, made the two Equestrians fly for their lives. Soon a feeding frenzy trailed behind the speeding dingy with fish of many sizes bumping, biting and almost flopping into the boat. Pea shouted for more speed when the sun's light was blocked out. One of the giant lobsters reared out of the water and began heading back to the bloody waves. The mares held their breath waiting for the impact, luckily it landed far enough behind where a wave lifted into the air on a wall of water. It had biting fish falling out of it trying to get to the boat. 

The wave took them to edge of the Dead Ring, a flow of sea monster blood followed them as they drifted dumbstruck into the now blue water of the 'Wild's' ocean. The fish weren't keen on leaving the Dead Ring, so it was just the three mares panting in the dingy. Rainbow Dash looked to the other two mares and began laughing from her first brush with death. Daring Do snickered and too, then began laughing. Pea had a heavy scowl on her face. The two mares relieved laughter died quickly, seeing they escaped one big monster only find something just as scary glaring at them.

"Oh come on," Rainbow Dash cooed, "What's the m-"

Pea smacked both mares in the face,"I thought I told you, no one follows me! Do you idiots speak English?"

Daring Do glared, "You would've been eaten if we didn't rescue you back there!"

"That whole mess would've never happened if dumbass over here didn't throw the lid to my food in the ocean and woke all that shit up!" Pea shouted.

Rainbow Dash looked hurt, "We...we came to help you, why are you acting like this?" she said rubbing her cheek.

Pea clenched her fists to her face,"Cuz you two are gonna die out there! That's why!"

Daring Do folded her arms, "Who says we will, there's only one way to find out something."

Pea turned around, facing the front of the ship, "This is just great, fan-fucking-tastic..."

The two Equestrians looked at the alien ocean. The clouds were in shapes and patterns competently unknown to Rainbow Dash. She began panicking,"Daring Do?! What's wrong with the clouds, they're not… swirly! The sky isn't blue...it's not our blue!"

Pea scoffed, "I can tell you two will just love it out here," The two mares glared at her sarcastic comment," If you want to survive you'll have to listen to me from now on," Pea said looking out on the horizon.

Daring Do wiped the sweat off Rainbow Dash's brow, "Yes Captain? What do you want us to do first?"

Pea pointed to the horizon,"Move my boat that way with oars or wings, I don't care."

Rainbow Dash eventually got used to the environment's differences and helped Daring Do push the boat forward. The boat moved through the water with ease from the horsepower pushing it. The comforting feeling of Equestria was slipping away the further they went, a new feeling called dread fell onto Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was still looking at the strange clouds with awe while Daring Do attempted conversation with the silent cyber mare. 
"Sooo...where is our first stop, Captain?" Daring asked with a forced smile.

Pea was silent for a while. When she finally spoke both Equestrians listened, "You do realize that you hid in what was supposed to be half of my rations? So that means what was for one is now split with three. Not to mention that, once we could get to a harbor, you could be snatched up just because you two look pretty."

Rainbow Dash scowled, "Thanks, I always wanted to be called pretty by somepony."

Pea sighed,"Will red or leather collars look best on you two..."

Daring's attention snapped to Pea, "Excuse me?"

"I have a reputation out there, some things fear me. It's best you act like my slaves then friends… in public that is." Pea said without looking back at the other mares.

"Why can't we just be friends?" Rainbow Dash asked, now regretting the idea of venturing out here.

"I didn't have 'friends' out there, only trusted battle partners and slaves. Besides, if your my 'property' you're less likely to be taken… just saying," Pea almost smiled.


The rest of that day was held in silence. Once the sun had set Pea took the oars and told the now exhausted mares to sleep under the canvas tent. They fell into a quick but fitful sleep. Pea rowed with a worried heart, she liked these two. Now she had something to defend while jumping back into the frying pan...



The two equestrians woke to see sea gulls flying overhead. They peeked under the canvas to see a small island with a handful of palm trees. Pea was making a pile of food she had found on the white sand beach. Once she saw them she waved them over.

"The best coconuts are at the tops of the trees, could you two lovely ladies go and pick some?" She asked.

Daring Do flew compliantly, Rainbow Dash yawned. The picked well over a dozen coconuts and loaded them onto the dingy. Pea carried two dead green lizards along with their finds. The Equestrians eyed the lizards with a grimace. 

Pea smirked, "I'm leaving some more food for you two, I'll eat these." She smiled, holding up her prizes.

Daring Do stuck her tongue out in disgust,"You'll eat those?"

Pea tossed the lizards  into the food crate and grabbed the oars ,"It's alright, fly girl. I've eaten worse."



The three mares made the final checks for leaks or breaks in the hull before setting they off again, dead east. With the two pegasi sitting under the canvas tarp at the front of the boat, Pea took up the oars. The words of Pea's carnivorous habit burned in Daring Do's mind. She didn't really eat other creatures like a wolf or the carnahorses she had been told about, right? She recalled that of what Pea had told her, not anyone else. When writing Forces they only reached where Pea Gravel and her friend Dew Berry were fully on their own.

Daring Do looked over to the silent rowing mare, "Pea...I think there's some details you need to tell Rainbow Dash," Daring Do requested quietly, "You know… about the natives out there."

"They're just bigger, meaner versions of what lives in Equestria," Rainbow Dash said confidently,"Don't tell me...there's other stuff too?" Pea rowed silently, ignoring either of her followers. Daring decided it would be best if she didn't pry at Pea right now, however Rainbow Dash... "Tell me!" Rainbow Dash's shout echoed off the open ocean, "Tell me what I have to deal with out there," She cried.

Pea looked up coldly,"The hierarchy out there isn't who's the biggest or strongest, it's who's the best at stabbing everyone else's back. The most cunning bastard can have killed an army, but he may never need pick up a sword. I'm the only one you could trust out there, past the little horse land on the coast. After that… we're on our own."


The rest of the evening and the following morning was grimly quiet. Eventually there was a black line the distant shore ahead. The masts of large ships could be seen riddled throughout the waters near the land. Daring Do looked in amazement, there was a whole world of undiscovered cultures and relics out there. She'd become the greatest treasure huntress Equestria ever knew. Rainbow Dash was getting fed up wit Pea's warnings, she was beginning to think the whole thing like a Fisherman's story, It gets more amazing each time one tells it. Rainbow Dash was becoming excited to see a new world full of excitingly different ponies.

Daring Do turned to look at Pea, "So how long have you been away from here?"

Pea pursed her lips in thought, "About five years, ever since I took in Tuff," she got a bit teary eyed thinking about the colt.

Rainbow Dash fluttered up into the air, "Alright! This is going to be awesome!"

Pea groaned and went to the crate full of loot. She pulled out a black overcoat for herself and two cloaks for the Equestrians. They looked at the drab clothes with disdain, "If you don't want to get mugged, put these on," Pea commanded.

The distant line was growing into view and the bigger ships were becoming more detailed. Showing out from the mid morning sky, ships shown like trees on the water. When the three mares were suited up Pea pulled out a telescope from the crate of loot and peered out at the distant ships. She nearly dropped the spyglass at what she saw: Torrent Ships.

Daring Do and Rainbow Dash could see them now as well. Each Torrent ship was at least five decks high and had twelve masts holding up dozens of deep maroon canvas sails. The decks were made of black painted timber and had plates of brass bolted onto them, becoming discolored from their time in seawater. Though no cannons were aboard, an absurd amount of sickly yellow torches were lit. The mares saw arrows lit with these flames fly off one of these ships and strike another ship. The target was a ship like the one Pea stole, but this one shot up in flames seconds after being hit by the evil yellow fire arrows.

Pea rubbed her forehead, "We need to play it safe, I had no idea the Torrent would be this far west..."

"What would they do to us?" Rainbow Dash asked timidly.

The cyborg mare smirked, "We're bound to meet one...why don't you ask yourself?"

The small dingy brought little attention to any ships that sailed by. Once buildings were in view on the shore Pea maneuvered the boat through a maze of docked ships. Their massive size loomed over them like forests. The dock of the Sea port they were headed to was packed with all kinds of movement. Low buildings were behind a busy stone walkway on the port where merchant tents and workers filled the space. Ships were being loaded and unloaded with supplies or biped creatures in armor. Rainbow Dash and Daring Do saw that not everything was a pony, in fact almost none were. The only ones they saw were carrying most of the cargo. Pea scanned the dock for something, the Equestrians didn't know what.

"Tell me if you see a snake with arms," She said.

Rainbow Dash cleaned out her ears, "Excuse me?"

"Serpent folk, their very rich merchants around here," Pea gestured over to the weapons crate,"I can't just show anybody black powder guns here, their worth their weight in gold," She looked out to the crowd on the port, "They also know a lot about… 'current events'."

Daring Do spotted on the dock a long purple robed figure. The robes figure had a large crocodile standing on it's hind legs next to it. The figure's back was turned but when it looked out to the harbor it's face was a snake’s. Daring pointed, "Is that one?"

Pea smiled a trouble maker's smile,"Yep, we're going to tie the boat at the port. Just keep quiet and follow my lead."

Rainbow Dash's eyes lit up, "We're gonna sell stuff to get gold?"

Pea sighed, "Just keep quiet, okay?"

The boat drifted next to some other small ships tied to the dock. Theirs was next to a stone staircase that went from where everyone was walking down into the water next to them. Pea lifted the heaviest crate, the loot one, and told the Equestrians to carry the others. The two pegasi did their best to lift up the crates, while Pea went up the stairs without stress the pegasi strained to fly with their cargo. 

As the three mares walked, they received some odd looks. Pea dropped her crate in front of the Serpent, and her two out-of-breath followers dropped theirs. Pea straightened up and looked to the shady merchant with a dignified aurora. 
The croc guard made a move to shove Pea away but the Serpent stopped him,"You, horsssse. What have you brought to sssell? Or are you interested in… live merchandise?"

Pea shook her head, "I just came from the Dead Ring, looting ships. I believe I have something you'd be interested in." 

The Serpent scowled,"The Dead Ring only bringsss death. Don't bring such talk to me," He said waving a hand away. Pea took the lid off and tossed a flint-lock to him. He pulled away as if the thing was toxic. He peered at it, picked it up and examined it. Then a wicked smile crept across his green scaly face,"I am lissstening. Do you have anything elssse to sssell me?"

Pea pushed the crate to him, it slid and he gawked at the contents. Inside were two small barrels of gunpowder and nineteen other flint locks. Along with those were five cutlasses, polished to a chrome like shine. The Serpent put the gun Pea tossed him in the crate and folded his hands,"What'sss your price?"

Pea sat back and looked at what the serpent had with him. Five slaves (all mares), ornate rugs, some jewels and a tight locked chest. (probably his gold) Pea pulled the weapon crate back to her and the Serpent almost pawed the air to reach it again.

Pea looked back to her friends, "Me and my gal's need some information. Do you know where I can find some centaurs around here?"

The serpent frowned,"Theresss an inn jussst down there," He pointed further inland to the buildings,"They go there after patrolling the docksss."

“No, no. Not the thugs they have,” Pea smirked,”I’m talking big fish.”

The serpent looked to his guards for half a moment,”How big of a fisssh are you looking for, horssse?”

Pea Gravel leaned closer to him,”The biggest, Belial.”

The serpent cringed,”That bassstard. He’s killed business for me and my egg-brothers,” He scowled. Next to him his crocodile guards popped their knuckles,”Why are you looking for him?”

“It’s just me, Pea Gravel from the Breakneck Bevy. Now are you going to buy some of these guns or not?”

With a timid face and a shaky hand to a bag of gold he gulped,”I’ll buy three off of you. Don’t sssay you did busniess with me though…”  

Pea made the exchange and put the lid back on the weapons and drug it away, "Thank you, I'll be off now. Come on girls."

The serpent fumed while the three mares headed for the inn. When they reached the entrance Pea mover herself and Rainbow Dash aside and nodded Daring Do to go inside. Pea knew Daring was talented in using words to get around conflicts, "I need you to find a centaur wearing brass armor or a hood with an 'x' on it. Tell him your master needs to speak with a Torrent member."

Daring Do gulped,"...alright captain."

Daring Do walked inside to find a loud commotion of bipeds drinking and eating. Their jarring size and looks intimidated the adventuress, almost more than the late Ahuizotl. Daring Do's stomach churned when she saw the handed creatures were eating meat. They were ape like, at least some of them were. Others were more like the bipeds from Equestria but they were much more grizzled.
The  pair of centaurs at the bar stood out from the sea's rabble. Their size above the other humanoids stuck them out like black and red spotlights. Their maroon skin matched the color of the sails she saw earlier. Over their heads were black hoods with their bull horns poking out underneath. On both hoods was a red oval above at the center with a black 'x' and a dot on each corner. The two centaurs held pints of ale and drunk it rather calmly. Holstered on their backs  were pairs of curved swords, each bigger than a pony.

She approached one and cleared her throat polity. Their sunken in yellow eyes and sharp white teeth looked down at her with a grimace,"Ech… Leave us little hoofed one. I am in no need for comfort," The centaur's voice matched his size and the accent was heavy on 'h' sounds.

Daring Do stood regardless, "I'm sorry sirs, my master needs you at once."

The centaurs looked to each other and whispered to one another. They nodded and told Daring Do to led them to her master. On they way out they shoved any drunkard out of their way, even stepping on one. They ducked out of the exit way and Daring Do showed them Pea Gravel. If she didn't have her cyborg arms they would've 'confiscated' a lying slave but this metal legged pony was no normal creature. She even sat up like a biped on the crates she had brought.

"Your slave told us that you needed something," One centaur said flatly, "Speak your mind."

Pea tapped her metal fingers together, "I have some merchandise I believe your Arms Dealer would be interested in," She smiled wickedly, "Interested?"

The left centaur pointed to the crate Pea sat on, "Possibly, show us the goods. Make it quick now."

Pea carefully showed them the inside. The sabers could be seen, under them were a few flintlock pistols and a little powder keg,"Beautiful no?"

The right centaur grabbed the crate from Pea and dug his hand inside the crate,"Good. We'll be leaving now."

Pea bowed her head, "Mighty Torrent warriors, do I receive no pay for these weapons?"

The centaurs began walking down the stone street,"You get shit, dirt whore," And they disappeared into the crowd. 

Pea smiled wickedly, the two Torrent members walk away. The two Equestrians were confused and still shaken up by the appearance of the centaurs. The two walked away and the whole street moved around them and trying to not touch the ground the centaurs walked on. A few yards down they stopped and left the crate on the ground, examining the tiny guns.

Daring Do glowered at Pea, "What was that all about? You're going to just let them walk away with those?"

Pea smiled and opened her jacket. The rest of the pistols and swords were hidden there. She looked like a walking armory with the swords she already had and the extra weaponry. Lighting a match that went with the package she looked at the tiny flame, "It's a shame how some gunpowder just… leaks." 
The two Equestrians slowly caught onto what Pea's plan was. Daring Do and Rainbow Dash watched the match fall onto the ground where a trail of grainy black powder was hidden on the brick street. It ignited and sparked down to the source where two unsuspecting targets sat. The keg left in the crate exploded with a centaur reaching to pick it up again.

There was a loud explosion and cries from the crowd. Both centaurs had shrapnel sticking out of them. One centaur flopped over with his torso missing, spilling his extra guts onto the pavement. The other was missing the arm closest to the crate. His face was numb, paralyzed from the force of the blast and three pistols were stabbed into his torso. They both lay dead in the street while most of the crowd panicked and tried to leave the street. 

The Equestrians looked at Pea while the cyber mare tried to keep herself from laughing, "I guess that deal ended with a bang, am I right?" she giggled. Watching them at a distance was the serpent, now with a posse of reptile bipeds of all sizes. Their silted eyes locked on the three mares.


The trio of mares escaped through the commotion.  Pea now carried the loot crate while Daring Do carried the food. The Equestrians were culture shocked, walking through the dirty streets filled with the sick or downtrodden. Filthy hands and hoofs alike reached out for a piece of silver or a sliver of food. Rainbow Dash went close to one. The malnourished pony hid under a burlap cloak. 
Pea pulled the pegasus away from the beggar and Rainbow Dash promptly protested,"Why can't I help this pony out?"

Pea flipped up the beggar's hood.  Her skin was yellowed and lumpy. Her eyes were caked shut and her teeth hid a sandpaper tongue. Rainbow Dash sprung back in horror and Pea sighed, "Being gracious to the poor is kind, but not worth getting leprosy yourself. Sorry you had to see that Dash."

The further they got from the harbor the more run down the city looked. Every now and again they'd avoid eye contact with patrolling Torrent warriors in the slums. 

They saw a street brawl between several creatures. Some looked like the ‘humans’ Pea Gravel had told them about while others were much more ape like. When asked, Pea Gravel said the uglier ones were things called ‘orcs’.
Eventually they reached the outside of the city and a bleak dry scrub land lay before them. Pea pulled out the 'Inky Pearl' and saw a white glow pointing forward. That's where Dew was, the first stop. Pea smiled back to the Equestrians.

"Alright ladies, hope you like camping! We're in!"

> 8) Happy Campers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Before leaving the slums, Pea made sacks for any supplies they were carrying in the cumbersome crates. The blankets fit the bill nicely. Pea dished out the cargo between the three of them with a bit more for herself. They still had many weapons and several pounds of silver. Among other items were rope, matches, a grind stone, compass, spyglass, a few small pans to cook with and extra clothing. They had enough food until they reached Breeze, but water they lacked. Only three gallons in canteens. Daring Do and Rainbow Dash would've traded that money for more food or water, but they'd manage...hopefully.

The slums of the port city became further and further away. Rainbow Dash and Daring Do looked at the scrub land around them, a dismal road led them away from the city. Pea Gravel walked in the lead while the other mares walked further back. The noon sun was much more intense then in Equestria, no pegasus made clouds were in the sky to shelter them. The air was surprisingly dry and flies buzzed around the mares, darting around their faces. They Pea swat big flies away with her tail if they landed to long, the Equestrians copied, never having to deal with horse flies before.
Rainbow Dash shrugged of her pack and cloak. Pea and Daring looked to her while she took off into the air,"I'll try and make a cloud for us to walk under!" She called down to them. Pea rolled her eyes and let Rainbow Dash mill about in the air.

To Rainbow Dash's disbelief, the air wasn't making clouds like it did in Equestria, it just fanned around when she flew. It felt thin and intangible to the weather pony. She fluttered back to the ground, more tired then she ever was and picked her pack back up in defeat. Daring Do grabbed her cloak and the trio set off again, the sun beating down on them. 

Pea called back without looking at either of the Equestrians,"So how did you two end up on that boat?"

Rainbow Dash smiled meekly,"Well...I was following you anyway, left a message saying I was visiting in Cloudsdale back home. I met up with Daring Do near by the dock where you hijacked that ship and we followed you aboard."

Pea didn't respond, at least verbally she didn't. Daring Do cleared her throat polity,"You know, I was like you at one point..." The cyber mare stopped dead in her tracks and looked with an annoyed glower. Daring continued,"I used to think I could do everything on my own. Rainbow Dash helped me realize that you need somepony to watch your back sometimes.

Pea grimaced and spat at the ground,"Sorry, my mouth was getting dry. Let's get out of the sun, okay?"

More time passed and the dry land did little for the mares. Pea's pace was cut down two-thirds from how slow the Equestrians were going. She looked back and saw they ere showing sighs of dehydration. There was only so much water to drink. She took the canteen from her cargo load and the trio stopped. Pea told the Equestrians to sit for awhile and they nearly collapsed with relief. She tossed them the canteen and set off to make them a make-shift tent.

Daring Do had been in similar situations before and knew water was precious, she only drank enough to stop her head from spinning. Rainbow Dash guzzled it greedily, spilling some on the cracked dirt. Pea Gravel stuck her swords into the dirt and had a blanket corner tied to each sword grip. It provided a low but sheltering spot of shade. Pea waved them to go under it and rest. Rainbow Dash crawled under the mock tent and sighed, released from the sun's rays. Daring Do stayed outside and sat next to it, she patted the ground next to her for Pea to sit.

"So, fly girl, I take it you've hiked before," Pea asked playfully as she sat down. Her arms were resting on her knees unnaturally for an equine. She sat like a biped would. 


"I have. Equestria has some unforgiving environments too, you know!" Daring Do said sipping more water from their canteen,"I've never dealt with sun like this though, can I at least take my cloak off?"

Pea took off her navy coat with all the pistols inside and put it in her bag,"It's probably a good idea, just remember to cover up when in public."

Rainbow Dash inched to them under the shade,"Why's that? Dose it get colder where we're going?"

Pea snickered,"Kinda. I just...well clothes out here aren't like in Equestria. Back there you'd wear them to be formal or 'cuz you like to. Out here...it's just a inter-species thing to cover up your stuff," Rainbow Dash looked at her with a blank look. Pea sighed,"I your case it'd be to cover up your marehood."

"Why's that a problem, I mean it's normal right?" Rainbow Dash asked naively.

Pea felt like she was telling a small child about the wonders of puberty,"Well let's just say we don't want someone looking somewhere their not welcome, okay?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged off this, the concepts of covering ones privets up alien to her. Daring Do fanned her wings to keep cool,"So...what kind of things live out here?"

Pea rubbed her chin with a metal finger in thought,"Ummm...some coyotes, the Diamond dogs of the scrub lands. We're about four days away from Breeze."

Daring Do's eyes lit up,"That's the trading city you lived near, isn't it? We're visiting your old home?"

Pea sighed,"Yeah. Alia isn't there anymore. I didn't get to tell you what happened to her...did I?"

Daring Do reached over to pat Pea's hand for comfort but the cyber mare pulled away,"Don't touch me!" Daring Do looked almost pained my this but Pea softened up,"My arms are made of metal, I've been walking in the sun all day. They'd scald you." Daring Do laughed awkwardly. Pea's gaze went to the east where the faint black line of mountains were and smiled.


Almost a half hour passed of the trio resting and eating. Daring Do was the only one awake in the noon sun. Looking around at the land, six dots to the west caught her eye. She looked over at Pea and Dash who were both napping. Daring Do fumbled out the spyglass from a pack and looked to the shapes in the distance. She gasped in horror.

"Girls, girls wake up!" Daring whispered harshly. She punched Pea's shoulder and shook at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash looked up groggily,"Ahh...five more minuets..."

Pea was bleary eyed for a moment, but a moment too long. The Equestrians pulled back in terror as two arrows hit Pea. One landing in her gut above the hip and the other caught in the exposed workings of her elbow. Pea dropped, clenching the arrow in her stomach. Rainbow Dash panicked and tried to fly away while Daring Do was close to the three swords, watching the shapes with wide eyes.

Rainbow Dash was only five feet in the air before three arrows whizzed by her. She flew higher up in the air until her blue skin matched the sky she hid in. Daring Do looked to Pea and their cargo, there's no way she could carry them. She was even to drained to carry Pea, a lump formed in her throat when she grabbed one of the cutlasses with timid jaws. Her whole body was shaking, not knowing what would happen next.

The shapes were now in view. There were five monitor lizard looking bipeds in loin cloths armed with machetes or bows. At the head of the attack was a snake with arms holding a knife in each hand, in fact he had a bandier of knives on a leather sleeve of armor around his slithering body. The pack of lizards approached Daring Do, weapons pointing at the scared little mare.

"Your massster cheated my father out of a deal,"The snake hissed,"Now you all ssshall pay for it!"

Daring Do's eyes darted to each lizard, a terrified heart beat in her chest. The snake saw how frighted she was and smiled wickedly,"Ussse your claws, not swordsss. We'll bring her back to port to sssell."

Then a monitor lizard sauntered up to Daring Do. She swung the sword in her jaws but her target simply grabbed the blade and wretched it from her grip. The others circled Pea Gravel, one grabbing a metal limb for himself. They held her up and she just hung there, panting and bleeding. Daring Do's neck was grabbed by her assaulter and watched as the Serpent slithered up to Pea.

The snake trailed a finger around the gut shot arrow,"Ssso thisss is the famousss 'Hellion', the warring pony that'sss killed a dragon? My father's ssight is truly fading..." 

Pea strained her neck up to look at the snake,"That's me. If you try anything with my girls I'll rip you a new one," She spat blood at the serpent.

He wrapped his tail around her injured waist and ripped her from the lizard's grip. He threw her to the ground, a puff of dirt and rocks moved from the impact. Daring Do bit her lip, not wanting to see Pea lose like this. The Serpent flicked his tail and the four lizards ponced on Pea Gravel. They swung their fists mercilessly at her injured body and blocked her from Daring's view.

The serpent slithered up and caressed Daring's face,"You'd fetch a good priccce," His long forked tongue licked the side of Daring Do's cheek. She winched which made the serpent even more wicked looking. Daring Do tried to break from the lizard's grip but to no avail. She quivered when the serpent's had began trailing across her sweaty torso, he hissed with fiendish delight.

Daring Do clenched her eyes to try and evade the Serpent's gaze. She half opened them and saw a lizard that had piled on Pea was now laying on the ground, dead. The Serpent groped around Daring's thighs and suddenly his claws dug into her skin from trauma. Daring's eyes, as well as the lizard's that was holding her, looked in terror at the serpent's head. Pea had jumped out from the pile and now had a grip on the snake. One hand clenched around the top jaw, the other crossed against his neck and grabbing the lower one. The armed snake flailed and twisted to get her off. He was a few feet away from Daring Do who was still held up against her will when everyone present heard a bone shattering crack.

The snake's body flopped over dead, twitching and gurgling. His head was twisted backwards with rolled over eyes staring out into space. Pea rose up on her back feet, the detached bottom jaw of the snake in her hand. Her face was shadowed by the sun but the mint irises of her eyes smoldered at surviving lizards. The lizards inched back, not knowing what to do with their leader dead. Pea's gaze went to the one holding Daring do and the lizard faltered a bit.

Pea coughed up a mouthful of blood,"Drop her...now." Her legs seemed to be locked standing.

The lizard looked at her injuries and how she was still alive, they thought it best to turn tail and run. They didn't bother taking their dead back with them and left their would-be victims in the dust. Pea's legs loosed up and she fell on her back with a puff of dirt. Daring Do kicked the dead lizards away and came close to the injured mare.

Pea's face was bruised and suffered a broken nose. Her torso looked bruised too under the leather vest she always wore. The arrow protruding from her abdomen, a little above the hip, oozed out little rivers of dark blood. The cyber mare looked broken and practically dead from the lizard's beating. Despite her injuries she smiled up at Daring Do and patted her shoulder, leaving a hand print of blood on the mare's sweaty shoulder.

"I saw you pick up that sword," Pea coughed,"Good job, fly girl."

"Don't waste your energy," Daring Do said trying to shade her beaten friend,"It's the least I could do."

Pea smiled and slowly slipped back into an unconscious sleep. Awhile later, a guilty Rainbow Dash flew quietly and landed near the others. Daring Do had did the best she could of cleaning off Pea, she knew a bit of first aid out in the wild. What she didn't know is how to fix an arrow wound.


Rainbow Dash slowly crept closer,"I...I'm sorry...I was so afraid I r-ran off...Is she okay?"

Daring Do sighed sadly,"Now she is, we still have to get there arrows out of her," she shivered,"She broke that snake's neck like a twig...but all of that adrenaline pumped a lot of blood out of her."

Rainbow Dash rubbed her tear streaked face,"She was right...when danger came around I...I just ran away. I'm nothing like you two, I'm a coward!"

Daring to look at her with a reassuring smile,"No, you're not a coward. You just got surprised is all, don't beat yourself up. All we can do is trust Pea Gravel now"

Daring put her cloak back on and began tying a bandage around Pea's wound. To her horror it was sunk all the way through and and iron spade stuck out as an exit wound though her back. The sun was beginning to become low in the sky and dread fell upon the Equestrians. Night was an inherently scary thing in their home, what abominations roamed out here at night? Rainbow Dash tried to shake Pea awake but the mare was out cold. 

Rainbow Dash grimaced,"Why're you doing that? She's tough as nails isn't she?"

"Maybe, but she's still mortal like us," Daring Do shifted two of the tree bags until the weight rested on her back,"There's no hope waiting out here so we'll just have carry Pea Gravel and our gear."

She loaded one bags and the tent onto Rainbow Dash. She put the swords and blankets along with he bag and curled her hooves under Pea's arms,"I'm gonna lift her on your back, okay Dash?"

The sun was beginning to set now, Rainbow Dash nodded in the dying light. Daring lifted Pea over onto Rainbow Dash's back. She was landing belly down and Daring Do did her best to not irritate the wound. Now the two were loaded up and ready to walk again. Daring Do looked at the black pearl necklace on Pea Gravel, remembering what the thing lead to. They followed the shining point like a compass rose and headed out into the oncoming night.

The moon began to rise, it too looked different. The craters were fainter and smaller, no shames resembling an alicorn at all. The chilled night air was graced by the occasional howl echoing through the emptiness. The Equestrians' teeth were chattering from fear and the frosty air. In the distance they occasionally spotted shapes lurking about and their eyes reflected the moon's light like a cat's. Their trek through the night was strenuously intimidating to the two mares. Rainbow Dash tried talking with Daring Do, it might calm them down.

"So, you spent more time with her then anypony else," Rainbow Dash said quietly,"Do you know what we got into?"

Daring Do was still shaken up from the serpent's exploring hands,"Adventure right?"

"I got an idea since we're carrying her. We'll just sneak on another boat and go back to Equestria, it's not to late," Rainbow Dash said waveringly.

Daring Do looked at Pea then at Dash. A swell of fearlessness came over the adventuress,"She's trying to save her friends, no matter what happens to her. Wouldn't you do the same for your friends?"

Rainbow Dash thought about this,"Yeah, yeah you're right. Where are her's though?"

The tanned pegasus, as well as the cyan one, were growing tired. Daring yawned,"Pea has this pearl, she got it from...somepony she knows and it's like a compass to them."

Rainbow Dash smiled,"Oh, that was nice of them!"


There was much of Pea Gravel's story that Daring Do didn't write. Either because of they simply didn't get that far and of her new 'adventure'. She looked at the frightened look on Rainbow Dash's face, not sure if she should tell why Pea was known as the Hellion out here. It'd be a crime to keep important details in the dark, no matter how morbid to Dash they were.

"Do you remember how Pea's book ended?" Daring asked finally.

"Yeah, she and Alia captured the castle and went back home...right?" Rainbow Dash said.

"Well...that's not exactly how it went. They did capture the castle but it wasn't a happy trip home," Daring began,"Her natural equine nature was conflicting with her abilities to fight. Alia saw this as weakness. I bet you don't know how a 'branding' works according to Pea, do you?"

Rainbow Dash gulped timidly and Daring continued,"It can work on other creatures but it's brainwashing for ponies. They'd either tattoo or brand with an iron an insignia on your cutie mark. It could be a sharpened sword, broken skull or any other kind of violent imagery. As I'm sure you know from experience, changing a cutie mark can mess with a pony's head. Out here it's a way to toughen up our fragile race..."

"Sweet Celestia..." Rainbow Dash breathed,"If that's the truth...then what happened to Pea? She told us that when she killed in self defense that's when she got her cutie mark."

Daring Do bit her lip,"We changed it a bit. She really got her cutie mark when she was very young. It was a compass with a gold pointer then. As a child many were envious of her, one destined for fortune."

Rainbow Dash blinked numbly,"Then why is there a sandstone heart on there now and why's there a crack in it?"

"She's branded to have a heart of stone," Daring said softly,"I'm not sure if the breaking is from rage or trying to love again...it could be either."

Rainbow Dash's stomach churned painfully,"Forcing somepony to change their cutie marks? I've been to that equality place but...making a pony something nopony should ever be...killers?"

Daring scanned the chilly desert night,"It's the cold hard truth. Once Pea had a heart of stone, she would throw herself at her enemies in fights and not care who lived or died. I'm honestly surprised she didn't kill us on the dingy."

Pea groaned,"Ahhh...where the hell are we?"

"Ah, your awake!" Rainbow Dash forced back a smile,"No that you're up you can help us out," Dash stopped and carefully helped her to the ground. Pea lay on her back with a drained look to her. Her skin toned muzzle was pale from blood loss, perhaps poison form the arrow?

Pea patted the ground,"Okay ladies, get a campfire started," She looked at the arrow and chuckled to herself.

"Uhhh...where?" Daring Do asked. A tumble weed rolled past her in the dry scrub-land. There were patched of dead grass and some bushes all around. Everyone an awhile there was a dried up old tree, perfect fire wood.

Pea rubbed her face,"Just get the biggest bushes you can find and dig a hole in the ground."

Rainbow Dash flew up and in a matter of seconds, brought back a bushel of fuel for fire. Daring Do dug a small pit in the still-warm earth and the cyan pony stuffed some sticks in. Daring got the ever so convenient matches and lit one, she dropped it and the dry stick smoked. After a little air was added it swelled up into a small fire. The two pegsi sat proudly at their fire.

Pea grabbed the arrow shaft sticking out of her and snapped it off. She tossed it into the fire and blinked tiredly at the Equestrians,"Have either of you cauterized a wound?"

Both of them shook their heads. Pea groaned,"Alright, I'll do it myself. Get the fire going as well as you can." She commanded while trying to sit up. She unwrapped the bandages around her waist,"Who did these?" Daring Do raised a hoof and Pea smiled proudly,"Thanks doc!" She took off the bloodied bandages and looked back to her friends who were getting out dried food for a simple supper.

"You two should probably eat later, this could get gross. For you two at least," Pea looked to her left elbow that had another arrow in it. She groaned and with her other had attempted to unhinge a part of her arm at the shoulder. Her face tightened in pain from the arrow still in her abdomen,"Nope, nope...that son of a bitch gotta get out first!"

She broke off most of the arrow in her left arm and tossing the arrow into the fire. Though her right arm was stiff she used it to hold her torso up. Pea grabbed a rope from their bags and bit down on it. The Equestrians were greatly confused at what was going on. Pea's free had grabbed at the arrow head sticking out of her back, it wasn't far out enough. She bit down hard on the rope and pushed the broken end of the arrow  further inside. She grunted in pain and yanked it out from the arrow head's end. She panted and tossed the rest of the arrow into fire. The wound bled out dark blood until it began pumping cherry red liquid out instead. There was a lack of color in the cyber mare's face and she moved with little energy.

Pea was sweating now as she used her unfeeling hand to grab the coals of the fire. She held them in her had for awhile and pulled out glowing red fingers. Pea bit down again and clenched up. She put a scalding hot finger on each end of the wound, cauterizing it. Her flesh sizzled from the heat for only a painful moment. The ordeal looked painfully impossible to a normal pony, but Pea acted as if it was as common as a scrapped knee. The two Equestrians were sickened by the field surgery but it had to be done.

Pea sat up now, looking less strained,"Alright ladies...you can eat now, I'll just be fixing this."

Daring Do ate and apple that was from the ship they rode in on. Rainbow Dash watched Pea preform a crude mechanic's surgery. The cyber mare reached for the metal panel on her arm as before but it opened now. Among a dark black mass of wires that looked like muscle was a large brass ring. Pea spun the ring like a bottle lid, after a little turning everypony heard a wizz-click and Pea's right side arm dropped off at the shoulder. 
Where the arm met Pea's body looked like a metal circle where the base of the arm should be. It looked like a complex mess if pistons and cords but they all retracted when the arm fell off. Pea sat cross-legged at the fire and put the detached arm in her lap. She pulled a cord inside it and the arm failed at bending back and forth. Pea crinkled her nose.

"Can you fix it?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Pea rubbed her sore hip scar,"I dunno. The enchantment they came with is starting to wear off."

"Encantment?" Rainbow Dash asked,"I thought things like those were only science fiction."

Daring nodded,"We decided not to mention about where she got them from, didn't we?"

Pea winced when she smiled,"There's this part of the world we live in, overrun with dragons. Further east the more human the creatures look, until you get to the Trenches," Pea saw the puzzlement on Rainbow Dash's face so the cyber mare continued as she fiddled with her dismembered arm," I take it you haven't met a human yet. Don't worry Dash, they're not as bad as they look at first...most of them. Actually their a lot like us, the way we ponies behave and a similar sense of purpose."

Rainbow Dash sat still, shaken by the day's events,"Soo...we're out here for eighteen months then? It's going to take that long to find your friends?"

Pea found a clicking pulley in the arm and messed with it for a bit,"I'm not sure."

	 
> 9) On another note: Tuff's School Life and Equestria Now
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several days passed after Pea Gravel left. Almost as unexpectedly as Pea had gone Daring Do went back to her cabin with a heavy heart and Rainbow Dash said she was off to visit family in Cloudsdale, to spend some time with family. As the summer grew older and fall was drawing near, the house Pea was going to have was bestowed to the lonely colt. It was small and lonely but strongly built, just like how he felt. As Tuff Boulder lived on his own, he didn't mind the fact that he had to start go to school along with the Crusaders, he rather enjoyed it. 
Off and on again some bullies made fun because of his lack of cutie mark, "What assholes," He'd often think to himself but never became violent.

Day in and day out he had a smile slapped on his face so not worry anypony else. Twilight and her friends felt pity for him but weren't sure what to do besides the occasional visit and meal, since he hadn't gotten the hang of cooking for himself yet. The Crusaders would visit him,  ebbing away his loneliness.

One day in at the school house, as all of the foals were enjoying recess, Tuff sat in his usual spot of next to a tree in the playground. He dozed off in the shade as the late summer air blew gently through the yellow leaves above his head. A cherry red pegasus colt, almost a junior high student, walked nearby with his little troupe of groupies, including Diamond Tiara. The pink filly pointed in Tuff's direction,"There he is, Fleet Wing! That's the one!"

Tuff opened one blue eye tiredly. He saw the cherry red junior high school colt with a proud, smug grin as he lead his little troupe up to Tuff. Tuff yawned as the foals drew a semi-circle around him, blocking off all exits. Fleet Wing smiled looked down at the deep red colt, Fleet's body blocking the sun from Tuff's eyes.

"So, you're the pony who's supposed to be from across the sea?" Fleet's hoarse voice questioned.

Tuff yawned in the shade, "Hi everypony. Am I being invited to a party or something?"

"Only if the pinata is your face!" Diamond Tiara said with a weasel's grin. Fleet Wing and the others laughed while Tuff sat stone faced.

Tuff rubbed his chin, "Last time I checked, there wasn't any candy in my head."

Fleet scowled at how unfazed Tuff was. The Junior stepped forward with a malicious grin, "I heard your names Tuff Bolder. Are you as tough as your name?"

The deep red colt rolled his eyes at the challenger, "You want to fight me?"

The troupe became incited, the tension of a fight began building. Fleet Wing scuffed his hooves in the dirt, "Me fight you? This'll be a piece of cake!"

"You're dead meat!" A foal shouted in the slow building crowd, "Kick his butt, Fleet!" shouted another. Tuff stood up and the bystanders almost cheered, this skinny colt was going to get beat to next Sunday.

Fleet stepped up to Tuff, only a foot apart and two feet difference in height. The group began chanting, and the Junior took the first swing. Tuff's wheeled around after the stinging force of Fleet's punch and the junior took no time to go for another strike. The audience was in an uproar, the first school yard fight in Ponyville since anypony could recall. Fleet wing became relentless in his strikes against his smaller opponent, Tuff ducked and dodged the best he could. Fleet was hitting Tuff around like a rag doll. Now the entire class of Ponyville School watched in a shouting ring at the brawl between the two colts. 

Tuff's nose dripped blood and his vision was blocked by a black eye. The strikes from Fleet were becoming more rough. Fleet Wing knocked him to the ground and kicked at his ribs. While the bystanders either cheered or watched in disbelief, Tuff did something unexpected. While Fleet grinned to the crowd Tuff inched back up. Fleet flexed his wings and grinned proudly to the crowd. Tuff's head was aching, throbbing with pain. Three teeth on the left side of his mouth were loose among other injuries. His limbs shook when he tried to stand.

Fleet Wing turned to look at the beaten colt, "You're standing back up?"

"Yeah, are you going to try to knock me down again?" Tuff spat out a loose tooth.

Fleet wavered, "You're not hurt?"

Tuff wiped away blood dripping from his broken nose,"Nah, I've seen worse," The crowd of fillies was speechless. The way Tuff looked, any other child his age would be squealing in pain or running of to their mother. Tuff's small stature was rigid as he looked at Fleet Wing, "Are you going to finish what you started?"

Fleet tried to keep a chilled look, "Beating you up, yeah I am!"

Tuff shook his head, "No. Fighting is only half the job, you need to finish me, if you want to keep going." The concept of killing flew over the children's heads completely.

Cheerilee looked out from inside the schoolhouse, she had seen fights before at her school. The look she saw from Tuff though, it stunned her.In fact she was more worried for Fleet Wing then Tuff. She ran out to the mob,"Alright, move kids! Break it up!"

The bystanders scattered and Fleet had a guilty look when Cheerilee walked closer. She looked down at the two colts with a demoting glower, "Alright boys, who started it?"

Fleet Wing blurted, "I didn't! I was just walking along and he dared me to a fight, I couldn't say no in front of all my friends..."

Cheerilee looked to Tuff, "Is this true?" She asked.

Tuff wiggled a loose tooth with his tongue, "Sure, teach. I'll take the sheep's blame."

Cheerilee blinked in surprise. The days Tuff had gone to school there he was always quiet, now he was talking like a pony much older then a colt. The school teacher glared severely at Fleet Wing, "You better run back home before I tell your father you were fighting a colt five years younger than you!" Fleet shifted his hooves nervously. Cheerilee stamped,"Now Fleet Wing!"

The pegasus flew quickly into the air. Cheerilee knelt next to Tuff, "Oh you poor dear! Let's get you cleaned up,okay?" 

She led him inside the schoolhouse and produced a first aid kit from behind her desk. She told Tuff to sit up on her desk while she wiped away the blood off him. When she wiped over dark purple spots on his head and chest he winched only slightly. She bandaged Tuff up as well as she could, "You took quite the beating out there," she said.

Tuff didn't respond. He just stared off into space. Cheerilee thought about the strange colt. He did decent in his classes but only had three friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who didn't have many friends anyway. He was only ten and lived on his own like a stallion in college. She looked at the battered clot, "Tuff, is there something bothering you?"

Tuff touched his black eye tenderly, "If a fight broke out like this one back home… somepony would've been eaten."

Cheerilee's eyes widened, "Really now? I don't think your Aunt would be very happy about that."

Tuff smiled a broken tooth smile, "Nah, she's eaten meat before."

The teacher shook off the gruesome comment, "A-alright Tuff, the school day is over. Go on home now… and please try to stay out of trouble?"

Tuff nodded and hopped off the desk. He trotted out the school house without saying a word.







Meanwhile, Discord was in a state of deep thought. He sat in Fluttershy's cottage, his usual quirky self was deflated in puzzling thought. He lay on the couch in her living room like a wet blanket trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle. Flutteshy floated in with a tray of tea to try to cheer the mishmash creature up.

Fluttershy set the tray on a little table and sat near Discord, "Dose Discord have a tummy ache? A sore throat?"

Discord sighed, "No Fluttershy. I just… well there's someone in Equestria I've never met before. He's different..."

Fluttershy sipped tea, "You're different and are wonderful company. I think this mystery pony… er… thing could be a new friend."

Discord shrugged, "Perhaps… but I can't find him. I could find anypony anywhere easy, he's just slipping under my radar," Discord said as his eyes blinked like radar screens.

Fluttershy giggled, "Maybe it's like hide and seek, just a big game?"

Discord sat up and took a tea cup. The tea pot sprouted wings and flew up to his cup and poured for him, after the little cup was filled the pot promptly landed. Discord took a swig,"A big game of hide and seek, eh? This'll be fun!" He hopped up and a detective's suit flashed onto him, "Let's round the ol' gang and find this mystery character!"

Fluttershy made a sheepish face, "We can gather up everypony except Rainbow Dash."

Discord raised an eyebrow, "Why? Is she busy with something?" He asked taking out a note pad to write clues on.

Fluttershy poured herself more tea, "No, no. She's off in Cloudsdale. Family business is what the note said."

Discord pouted,"It just won't be the same with a part of the team missing," A light bulb glimmered above his head, "I know! I'll dress up as Rainbow Dash!"

Fluttershy grimaced, "Ummm… I don't think blue and rainbow are your colors."

Discord grumbled and snapped his fingers. Before Fluttershy could respond they disappeared from the cottage. They were now on a forest path with Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. They all looked around with confused looks until they saw Discord. He had a magnifying glass the size of a beach ball in his paw and paced around.

"What in tarnation are we doin' out here?" Applejack asked.

"On a case," Discord said puffing bubbles out of a pipe, "We're after a mystery character."

"Got any clues?" Pinkie asked now wearing a similar plaid coat and hat.

Discord took out his note pad,"Well, I know that he's not from here. He hasn't made any contact with the Ponies of Equestria aaaand… he's got... Oh! Chaos magic!? Wonderful!"

The others weren't as happy to hear that piece of evidence. Discord floated around the trees looking with his magnifying glass. The mares couldn't help but follow along. They wandered quite a ways around for an hour or two, with no clue to be found. Rarity said the whole thing was ridiculous and said she was going home. She went only a few feet before a headless mouth appeared in the dark of the trees ahead of her. She yelped and darted back to her friends. They looked in surprise and a bit of fear at the smiling mouth. 

"So you're looking for me? Am I that interesting?" the mouth chirped.

Rarity had a disgusted look on her face,"What is a… a mouth doing floating in the forest?"	

Pinkie scoffed, "Smiling, that's what!"

Discord folded his arms, "Fiddlesticks. That wasn't much of a hide n' seek..."

"Sorry, just wanted to meet you all," The mouth chuckled politely, "The names Volm."

The mares wavered, "Pea Gravel told us about you!" Twilight cried.

The mouth vanished, the teeth turning into butterflies. A pair of yellow eyes and another mouth popped up in another spot behind them. Discord clapped his asymmetrical hands together ,"He's got my eyes! How delightful!"

The faceless apparition seemed to nod. He looked to the ponies, "Oh? And what, pray tell, did she say about me?"

"Horrible things," Twilight barked, "You're the reason she has those metal arms. She also said that you separated her from her friends!"

The eyes of the face welled up with tears and vanished again. Next to Fluttershy a blue green pony looking body materialized. It was curled up and it's face was hidden from view. "...I have done some bad things… but hasn't everypony?" Volm said, "With those new limbs she's stronger than she ever was before and what she called 'friends' were merely meat shields when she was fighting."

The crew drew away from him. Volm uncurled to reveal his monkey looking prowess. Unlike how Pea had seen him, he now looked more like he fit in Equestria. His teeth were flat and white, his skin was smooth and devoid of muscular depth, his once sunken eyes under a thick brow where replaced with two big and friendly yellow eyes. He looked at them like a scolded puppy.
"I will admit I've been bad, but I'm no killer. You've met Pea Gravel, she's killed a hundred things!"

Applejack looked at the stranger thoroughly. She could tell if someone was lying or telling the truth, but he was difficult to read. She didn't trust Pea Gravel anyway, even if this thing had been evil at one point He couldn't possibly be as bad as she was, right? She took his word was easy,"Yep, I reckon he's trust worthy."

Twilight looked to Applejack in shock, "Applejack! What are you talking about? Pea said that he's evil! Tirek and Sombra evil!"

Applejack rolled her eyes, "An' how are ya'll sure that metal legged freak isn't evil. She was talking about nothin' else but fightin' an' killin' and then leaves her kid here and takes off in a night without a proper goodbye. Dose that sound like a 'good pony'?"

The mares looked to each other for guidance. Discord seemed to be all aboard for this stranger being safe. He already learned to be careful about his friends, Tirek showed him that. Even if this 'Volm' was bad, being in Equestria probably healed his ways and treating him as a friend would only seal him into recovery.

Volm sighed, "Truth be told, once I came here...I didn't have any friends," He held up his six fingered hands and wagged his tail, "I thought ponies would be afraid of me..."

Fluttershy smiled sweetly, "Don't worry, Mister V. Everypony… er… thing is made different but is special in their own way."

Volm smiled and hugged Fluttershy, "Thank you, little yellow horse!" She looked a bit shocked at first but hugged back.

Twilight and Rarity were still unsure of Volm. Neither had never seen him before but the way Pea mentioned him to Twilight, he seemed like a force to reckon with. They all saw something completely different in the creature in front of them through; a lost pup instead of a ravenous wolf.

Rarity glowered at him, "So… Mister V, being a part of this 'immigration' that seems to be going on, how long do you plan on staying?"

Volm itched his ear like a dog, "Not sure. I suppose I'm just passing through at the moment."

Rarity asked Discord if he could take her back to her boutique due to the fact that she was in the middle of a dress. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie wanted to stay with the newcomer while Twilight left for Celestia's castle. Applejack walked through the woods proudly back to her orchard, glad to be rid of that pesky cyber.

Discord materialized a picnic for Fluttershy, Pinkie, Volm and himself. Fluttershy sat on a lounge chair while Pinkie and Volm sat at a picnic table, each had a tall cool glass of lemonade for them. Discord was wearing an apron and grilling flowers for them. 

Pinkie stretched Volm's wide mouth,"Wooah, your skin is so funny!"

Fluttershy sipped on some lemonade given by the chaos spirit,"Soo Mister V...what exactly are you? I've never seen a creature like you before," She looked at him with a hawk's eye.

Volm inched the pink mare away from him, "I think I'm the only one of my kind… I'm all alone."

Pinkie smiled, "Don't worry, you've got us!" 

Volm blushed, "You all just met me… not to mention that you've heard bad rumors about me..."

Discord walked over with platters of veggie burgers, "Well Volm, I think we all should get acquainted. Hmmm… what's a good conversation topic… Oh, what's your favorite color?"

"CAKE!" Pinkie shouted.

Volm smiled, "I don't think cake is even a color. Mine though...hmm...probably a sunset orange."

Fluttershy smiled, "Oh, that's a lovely color. Mine, if you don't mind me saying, would be blue… o-or green."

The four talked and chatted for awhile, growing a fondness for the new comer's surprising charm.  Fluttershy saw Discord and Volm were getting along very well. They both did random feats of magic with their chaos powers, all in good fun of course. Fluttershy smiled at the possibility that Discord was making a new friend like she met Tree Huger. She found Volm mysterious, like any stranger would be. Pinkie thought he was 'a real swell guy'.

It was noon now and Discord poofed Pinkie and Fluttershy back to their homes with a wave, "So Volm, how much of Equestria have you seen?"

"Uhh...not much, why?" Volm asked.

Discord turned to Volm, "Let's go sight seeing! How's that sound?" he said donning a Hawaiian shirt and shades.

Volm chuckled, putting on a similar shirt and aviators, "Alright Discord, lead the way!"


Volm and Discord floated around Equestria, Discord giving the newcomer a grand tour. They posed in front of monuments and played childish pranks on the unsuspecting tourists. Trying all kinds of foods they went from one corner to another. From Applewood to Horseshoe Bay and in between, they playfully terrorized the Equestrians. Using the classic 'chocolate rain cloud', making inanimate things walk or fly and one of Volm's; making ponies float like balloons for a short time. After a crazy day, they wafted into Discord's house in through the random void around his home. They walked in with suitcases and tan lines, chuckling all the way.

Volm set down his suitcase, "Remember when you painted Spike's statue at the Crystal Palace to look like cheese? That was classic!"

Discord grinned,"What about when you made all the buildings in Appeloosa into actual apples? That was a real hoot!"

With Discord as a trusted friend, Volm got to chat with the Equestrian Princesses and other royals that came and went. He found Luna interesting since she could walk through dreams like him. He found Celestia fascinating since she had such a great power from the sun. Volm became favored by anypony who met him, saying he was a fun loving critter, a real party player like Pinkie Pie. Whenever Tuff saw him, which was very rare, they met with uneven eyes. One didn't trust the other.


Celestia, Discord, Luna and Volm were in the Sun Princess' throne room relaxing as they usually did. Volm looked across the throne room to see all of the royal guards. There were droves of them ever since the centaur incident. Volm found their frowning expressions annoying.

"Your Highness Celestia, are you very worried about centaurs trying to come back?" He asked worriedly.

The Equestrians looked at him with confused glances. Luna lowered her brow,"Yes. More of what they may do to our subjects than us, per say."

Volm made a prideful smile,"Spoken like a true monarch. I must ask though...if it isn't too much to pry into..." He gathered the four of them closer,"Do you know anything about them, their leader?"

Celestia sighed, "We had good relations with the Centaur's kingdom at one point long ago. Tirek found something though, before he became king..."

Volm lifted his ears forward, "Go on, what was it?"

"You're aware of the Father of Kings… Tztalm?" Discord said in a hushed tone.

Luna shushed the chaos spirit, "We shouldn't speak of this where there are other ears to listen. Let's go somewhere else."

The four beings vanished from the throne room and were now in some dreamlike mist, Luna's magical void. Now that they were alone the three Equestrians talked among themselves, debating if they should let Volm in on this secret. Volm sat quietly and waited.

After a while Discord turned to Volm, "Do you promise to not tell anyone what we're about to tell you?"

Volm made an 'X' on his chest,"Cross my heart and hope to die."

Celestia sighed and began to recite their long kept secret,"One thousand years ago, Equestria had an incident with Nightmare Moon, a bout of power between my sister and I. A thousand years before that Tirek and his brother Scorpan migrated here, in Equestria. The great ocean that separates us from their homeland didn't exist yet.  Scorpan was willing and happy to accept our ways, but Tirek had the blood of a warrior, not a mild mannered farmer. My sister and I did our best to save our kingdom… remove him from our lands..."

Volm leaned forward intently,"Then what happened?"

"He nearly killed us," Luna said with a shaky voice,"Scorpan died to keep us safe, which made his brother go berserk at Scorpan's death. Tirek decimated miles of land, burning cities and mountains alike. My sister and I were running out of options… we had no choice..."

Volm was biting his lip, "Yes, yes? No choice but what?"

"To make a deal," Luna said solemnly," A deal with something not of this world, or theirs. A curse was placed here, making the deadly ocean ring around Equestria."

Volm was aghast, "Curse? Equestria is beautiful, how is it cursed?"

"It’s a finicky border. It’s kept most things out," Celestia said, "It's keeping our little ponies safe. You're obviously qualified, since you're a newcomer and haven't died."

Volm gulped, "You're killed if you're not good enough?"

Luna nodded,"This is true. We believe we can trust you and your powers similar to Discord's. It may prove...beneficial."

Volm wobbled, "This..this is quite an honor, your majesties!"

Celestia giggled, "He's humble too. I think you'll fit in wonderfully here." 







Almost a month after Pea left Tuff was on his way to school, just an average morning. The weather was turning to early winter and the pegasi were busy in the air making snow clouds. Tuff walked down the dirt paths through Ponyville to school. He was looking at nothing in particular, then an orange filly caught his attention. It was Scootaloo nearby the school house and her face was soaked with tears. She was sitting out in the yard with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, they tried to cheer up the crying pegasus.

Tuff came closer, "Hey Scoots, are you okay?"

Scootaloo wiped some tears from her eyes, "H… hey Tuff. I'm just worried… that's all."

Tuff sat next to them, "Worried about what?"

Apple Bloom sighed, "Ah heard it from mah sister. Rainbow Dash is gone!"

Tuff cocked his head to the side, "Gone? What do you mean gone?"

"She means that Rainbow Dash isn't here, in Equestria," Sweetie Belle said,"Discord and his new friend looked all over for her. No one can find her!"

Tuff bit his lip, "Do you think… she followed my aunt?"

The three fillies gasped, "Sweet Celestia, no!"




Meanwhile at Twilight's castle, the five friends were in an uproar. They were debating about attempting to go find Rainbow Dash in the supposedly dangerous world. None of them knew where to start, there were no records of any kind Twilight could find about the 'outside'. This debate caught the attention of the princesses. Celestia and Luna flew over to the Ponyville castle to amend the situation. When they reached the door, Volm was there. His arms stretched across the doorway, blocking entry.

Celestia narrowed her eyes, "Volm, what are you doing here? I thought you were busy."

"Making flying trees with Discord can wait. I… I can't let you in there,"Volm stuttered.

"What reason do you have?" Luna asked.

"The mares inside and the one missing are very famous correct?" The princesses nodded to Volm's question, "What do you think would happen if everypony heard about this? You know that word would get out right, rumors of kidnapping and more about that centaur incident could be made. It'd be chaos… the bad kind, not the entertaining one."

Luna pursed her lips, "Do… Do you think Rainbow Dash is out with that cyber mare?"

Volm nodded vigorously, "No other place she could be. Trust me your Highness, both of you, Rainbow Dash is in good hands. Figuratively and literally. She'll be back soon and she'll be fine, I promise!"

Celestia smiled, "Alright. I will go inside and tell Twilight and the others that there's nothing to be afraid of. I even heard that A.K. Yearling has gone too," she had a look that needed reassurance, "So Rainbow Dash is in good care, correct?"

Volm side stepped and opened the door for the white alicorn, "Only here would be safer, your Highness."

Celestia, followed by Luna went inside and told the mares what was going on. A worried look came over all of them. Celestia reassured that Rainbow Dash would be fine and there was nothing to worry about. She said it was going to be an exciting adventure for Rainbow Dash, a story to tell all of her friends at home about. Once everypony calmed down the princesses bid good bye and left as they came.
Volm was outside waiting. When he saw the two princesses he bowed low and smiled, "I couldn't have handled it better myself, your Excellencies!" The princesses smiled and said good bye to the blue-green creature and began flying back to Canterlot. Volm vanished from view with his heart racing.

Volm was now sitting on Rainbow Dash's roof. He rested with his arms behind his head, "What is this place doing to me… I feel… wholesome? Happy?"
> 10) The Hellion is Back!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daring Do, Pea Gravel and Rainbow Dash were a month's journey into the 'Wild'. They were now on the east of the mountains Pea had climbed as a child to reach greener pastures. While on a ridge overlooking a cliff above a pine forest, the three rested next to a campfire. The two Equestrians were adapted to the change in weather, even the air tasted different to them. Rainbow Dash was using a grindstone like Pea had shown her a few days before and busied herself with sharpening Pea's swords. Daring Do used the spyglass to look out into the forest to see if there was anything interesting to see.

Pea lay against a tree, feeling tense and distant. She was locked in a dream she couldn't wake from, more of a memory then anything else...







When Pea was eighteen rumor of the dragon Wicktet was going around. He was being a menace to anything that had the misfortune of meeting him. Pea ran from Alia one night to try and kill the dragon in a lust for revenge. Armed with only leather armor and a broad sword she followed the dragon's tracks to kill the beast. If Alia didn't follow Pea out into the wild, the mare would've been eaten. 

Pea could remember vividly what happened; Through a pine forest she ran, finding into a cave where Wicktet was sleeping. She crept on the slumbering beast, his size clogging up the cavern and his hot rancid breath filling the rest. Pea took up her sword and gouged one of his eyes out. This woke him up quickly with a screech and his mighty black talons scraped the cave to cut her. Pea moved quicker in the cave then the dragon but it didn't matter, her sword clanged and chipped when she tried to cut the dragon's scaly hide.

With an unseen force he threw her out of the cave where Alia waited. When I looked at her I only saw disappointment to me. Wicktet crawled out of the cave to finish me off. When he saw Alia he cackled loudly. Apparently we were in some sort of dragon haven, upon hearing Wicktet several other dragons came to see what the commotion was about. One of these dragons was (at the time and still to this day) one of the biggest dragons she had ever seen

The dragon was built like a scaly, dust yellow tank. The thick skin of this dragon was covered in scars and like Wicktet he had the deep scars of lost wings on his back. His horns were once shaped like a bull's, only the left one remained while the other was broken off. The same side of the broken horn his face was missing. His interlocking teeth shown out against his deep red gums, his eye socket  was deep and black.  This giant beast stood thirty feet at the shoulder and was sixty feet long, nearly three times bigger then the dragon Pea was trying to kill. Wicktet turned his rust red head to look at the beast. He called it, "Sidzo," 

Sidzo's voice was like listening to a prop plane take off. He demanded to know where Wicktet lost his eye from, when Wicktet pointed at me. Sidzo suddenly went into a fit of rage. The other dragons fled through the forest as Sidzo grabbed Wicktet. The yellow dragon said he was weak, unfit for living. Alia grabbed Pea and tried to drag her along, but the grey mare demanded to see the fight.

Sidzo had his massive bear-like hands around Wicktet's snaky body, his quills breaking instead of stabbing. The mighty yellow dragon began growling in a strange octave, his eyes (both the live one and the socket) began glowing white and vascular lights glowed from under the dragon's skin. Wicktet squirmed and squealed but Sidzo's grip was stronger. Pea saw the rusty red dragon's body begin to swell and shake. After a gurgling shriek explode into a mess of bones and guts. Sidzo reared up on his hind legs, making a shadow that blocked out the sun for Pea and his single eye fixed onto Pea Gravel. 

"You do this?" Sidso's voice bellowed.

Pea screamed back, "Yeah I did and I'll take your eye too if you mess with me!"


His maw opened and began to glow. Alia grabbed Pea Gravel as best as she could, thinking she could out run dragon's breath. But this blast was different. Instead of a plume of fire, a concentrated line of energy beamed out of the dragon's maw. It sounded like lightning but looked like a spear of blue-white energy that was shot at Alia.

Pea felt a wave of heat and looked to her left. The sound of the blast made her ears ring and her sight go blurry. What once was the proud warrior Alia Bufordox trying to save her squire was now a smoky, blood stained hole in the ground. Pea stopped and looked at the hole, Pea Gravel was still processing the impact. The part nearest to Alia on Pea Gravel were scorched black from being near the beam. Sidzo laughed like a roll of thunder and walked back into the forest he came from. His footsteps shaking the ground. Pea grabbed her sword and rushed to the walking mountain, not entirely to avenge her mentor but in a blind sense of retaliation. The dragon simply swung his tail lightly and the impact nearly crippled her. His tail smashed into her and knocked her to a tree.

Then… blackness...

She woke up days later under a hollowed out tree. Her bones were mended and burns were gone. She lay on a pile of leaves, next to her was her armor all folded and mended. A few feet away was some kind of hot glowing rock with a pan sitting on it. On the pan was an omelet and she was the only one here...as far as she knew. She bit the omelet and slurped it in her mouth, now blowing on her tongue and teary eyed from how hot it was. She stopped when she heard footsteps outside. From where she lay she looked out of the hollowed opening where daylight shown in.

A mild toned voice called from outside,"Is broken pony awake?" 'He' paused, "Oza guess not," Then the sound of metal scraping could be heard.

Pea inched to the opening to see the healing stranger. Sitting on a tree stump was a dragon. A teenage one, about seven feet tall and shaped like a human. On his legs were baggy blue pants held up by a belt with many pockets and bags. He had tawny arms and a defined but thin torso covered in a white-orange clown fish pattern of scales. His hands had three fingers and a thumb while his bare feet had four toes, they all looked slightly webbed.  Instead of ears he had fish like fins and spiraling stubs for horns on top of his head. Even his tail that stuck out from the back of his pants looked paddle-like. He had the look of something that belonged in the water, but the ocean was hundreds of miles away… what was he doing here?
The dragon's vibrant blue eyes were fixed on Pea's sword which now was bent and had dents in it. She watched the dragon bite the sword like a corn-cob, his pearly teeth gnawing against it. On the top of his head, if front of the horns, was a bruised divot in the dragon's skull.

Pea stayed out of view inside the tree hollow. Her stomach grumbled slightly and the dragon looked up. His were were a snake's eyes painted blue, their slits stared at the hollow. Pea shrank back and the dragon stood up, "Ahhh… Pony awake now," He sniffed, "And ate omelet too. Damn."

His long arm reached into the hollow and his fingers grabbed Pea by the scruff of her neck. She threw her arms and legs around and tried to bite the dragon. His long arm kept her from everything else but open air. He held her aloft aye level, "Looks good. Oza can eat now."

Pea screamed, "EAT ME?!"

Oza nodded, "Yes. Oza like meat," He paused, "Dose Oza like meat?"

Pea glared at Oza, ”Then why were you trying eat my sword? And why did you heal me?"

Oza rotated so that part of his back was visible. It had two deep gashes where wings once were, a common but dishonoring injury among defeated dragons. He smiled, "Oza good healer. Wings only lost… day ago… week ago? Oza can't put lost wings back though..."

"So you just healed my cuz your a nice little dragon?" Pea scoffed. 

Oza itched his chin in thought. He smiled like a eureka hit him, "Did pony try and fight Sidzo?" he said changing the subject.

"You're goddamn right I did! He.. he killed Alia..."Pea's voice trailed off. Perhaps it was the stone heart she was branded with but loss didn't hurt as much as Pea thought it should. She just felt… upset.

Oza crinkled his muzzle, "Oza not know an Alia. But Oza not liked Sidzo, Oza hates Sidzo. Oza has good plan, pony want to listen?"

"My names Pea Gravel and do you always talk like this?" Pea snorted.

Oza smiled a shark toothed smile,"Yes, Oza talk about Oza like others talk about him, Pea Gravel," He itched his back with his free hand, "If Oza puts Pea Gravel down, will she run away?"

"Nooo, I'd never," Pea said dryly.

Oza giggled and dropped Pea to the ground. She bolted off into the woods. Oza  groaned, rolling his eyes. He snapped his long fingers and Pea materialized back in front of him, "Pony said she wouldn't run. Oza not like liars."  Pea saw a rare look in Oza's eyes when he said that. The look of a hidden beast not to tamper with.

She sat on her haunches and thought talking her way out would be best, "...So you had an idea earlier?"

Oza slapped his forehead, "Oh yeah! Oza remember now. It actually about memories..." He looked out blankly, "Oza have none."

Pea folded her forearms, "Oza doesn't, eh? How's it you remember to do that magic thing, Sidzo or even your own name?"

Oza pointed to the concave segment in his skull,"Oza hit head pretty hard on something. Out sleeping for days then wake up with these pants and belt. Oza knows some magic from somewhere and knows his name," the dragon shrugged.

Pea rose an eyebrow, "Soooo… you want help in killing him?"

Oza slapped his knee,"Yes! Oza love help!"

The dragon stood up and grabbed the hot rock from inside the hollow. He licked it with his long blue tongue. The rock cooled off then he put it in a belt pocket. He began walking off, Pea grabbed her gear and ran up next to Oza through the pine trees.

"What was that thing?" Pea asked.

Oza patted the pocket he put it in, "Oza's lucky magic rock."

"Adorable. So you're not gonna eat me then?" Pea retorted.

"Nah… Oza not hungry anymore," He kept walking but looked around, "Dose Pea Gravel know where Sidzo is?"

"No, but if you want me to help you I need to pick up my friend first," Pea said. She wondered how Dew Berry would react to the sudden and unfitting death of Alia.

"Oza can help, is friend heavy?" the dragon asked.

Pea giggled, "No, she's actually really light."


They walked to the manor where Pea had lived for years. The residents hid when they saw Oza, Dew tried to come out only because of Pea Gravel. Alia's slaves took the news of her death well, but not heartlessly. Before Pea left they built a memorial for her in the middle of their little community. Pea and Oza stayed for a few days to allow Dew to recover from the impact. Then a little sudden for Dew, she was carried off willingly with Pea and Oza.


That was the beginning of the Breakneck Bevy… Pea's mercenary band.







Pea sat up groggily. The campfire was doused but the embers were still smoldering. The two Equestrians were quiet, looking out into the pine forest they were headed for. Pea moved over to the ledge they sat on to see. Down below was something Pea didn't really want to see. It was a war party. Almost six hundred humanoids were down there. Their skin ranged from tan to brown-ish grey, their knee length arms held crude axes and shields. Some wore animal skins on their heads; wolf, bear, pony and others. They were gathered around waiting for something, the three mares didn't know what though. Rainbow Dash was low to the ground and shaking.

"Pea… what are those things?" She whispered frantically.

Pea took the spy glass from Daring Do and aimed for a closer look,"Orcs," she said,"A war party of orcs."

Daring Do was wide eyed ,"Are you going to fight them?"

Pea groaned softly, "There's one me and almost six hundred of them. I may be able to trick two drunk centaurs but I can't fight a war party on my own… without having to worry about you two."

Daring Do flexed her wings, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Pea motioned her to be quiet, "Don't start that again. Has the campfire been doused for awhile?"

Daring looked to the fire pit,"Well… a few minutes. I was afraid if they'd see the smoke and follow it."

Pea looked out to the orcs again, "If they saw it they'd already be here by now."


This eased the Equestrians slightly. The din of the war party could be heard all the way up to where they were. Images and memories of her life before flashed in Pea's mind again...







Pea Gravel was strutting in her new armor along a road between two wheat fields, with Dew Berry was at her left and the dragon Oza at her right. Oza was dragging a cart with all of their supplies behind him via his paddle tail. Pea had gotten much better pay in mercenary battles with a dragon at her side and now she could afford actual good food for Dew Berry to cook. Besides spending money on her friends, she spent money on herself getting all the good stuff.
Pea's new armor was mostly padded leather but it had a solid steel breastplate that barely constricted Pea's movements. It had a scaled neck guard that had leather covering the throat. The helm covered her head save the visor and her jaw. The visor looked like a grill grate and her jaw was exposed so she could hold her sword. Sheathed at her side was a expertly crafted sword whose hilt was specially designed to be a partial face guard and not slip in a pony's jaws.

A pack of orcs ran out of the wheat fields to them. The orcs were a foot taller than Oza, twice as tall as Pea. This was Pea's world now, one where she was knee high or smaller...and she loved it. Dew knew that she stood no chance against them but stood firm nevertheless. Pea drew her sword with a cold look under her helmet while Oza popped his knuckles. The dozen orcs waved their weapons as they charged. Their drooling maws and muscular bodies would deter their usual prey but It would have to take a lot more to kill this new and upgraded Pea Gravel, not some little pack of filthy orcs. 


The first orc that approached Pea Gravel got a height adjustment. Her new sword sliced through the orc's knee joint easily and his torso toppled to the ground. Oza flexed his fingers and parried the club strikes expertly. Any orc unlucky to get caught in the dragon's talons was met with digging claws that pierced the brain. Dew stood back and watched Pea cut through the orcs with only getting kicked five times (a new record low) and Oza was only stabbed in the arm, easy fix.


It didn't phase Pea that being attacked on average was a common thing. The trio began walking again as if the pile of dead orcs was never there. Pea loved feeling strong and after being beaten for so long, she was tired of being weak and embraced the change. Dew still thought of their old master, Alia Bufordox, who had been dead for some time now… oddly though Pea thought it was one of the best parts of her life so far.







"Hey! Hey!" Rainbow Dash yelled to Pea, "Earth to bare butt!"

Pea shook off her flashback, "Yeah, what is it?"

The Equestrians pointed down,"They’re leaving now," Daring Do said, "Would they find us if we flew down there?" Pea rolled her eyes. Daring blushed a little with embarrassment,"Oh...oops! We can wait until they leave, is that okay?"

Pea twiddled her metal fingers, "Where the hell is that pearl pointing...Dew's not in Torrent territory is she?"

Rainbow Dash gulped, "Torrent? Like those centaurs you blew up?"

Pea yawned, "Yep. 'Sept the ones in their homeland are a lot more hostile to anything else but them. And they don't even like each other all that much..."

Daring Do looked out on the horizon, "How long until we make it there?"

Pea rolled onto her back,"Maybe three weeks or so… maybe four?"

'Three weeks of more walking?" Rainbow Dash cried, "This is crazy!"

Pea smiled, "Yeah. The dragon's have pretty big territories to themselves, were probably in one right now. They're the reason everything is so far apart and dry."

"Borox?" Daring Do asked,"You told me about him. He's a king to wingless dragons, right?"

"Yep," Pea gritted her teeth,"That bastard can burn in hell wit the rest of his dragon scum."

"Do you have a beef with dragons?" Daring Do asked.

Pea rubbed her face remembering Oza, "Just… just the bad ones."


The trio traveled on. Going through the pine forest below Daring Do, Rainbow Dash and Pea Gravel walked along a worn path through the trees. The pines loomed overhead dizzily and the ground was thick with underbrush. As they walked, a shape followed them. He was so well hidden in the brush that the ponies couldn't smell or hear him, let alone see him. It was an Orc scout, looking for food to bring back to his camp. His reddish grey skin was painted with mud and leaves. Holstered at his side was a foot long rusty dagger ready to cut down the ponies a third his size. 
From the side, his long arm reached out and grabbed Rainbow Dash. She squealed in with his hand wrapping around her torso. Now in full view he cackled maliciously, his head was topped with matted black hair and belt with pouches and knives was on his waist and a loin cloth covered his hominid package.


Pea Gravel spun around to see the orc with a hateful glare. The cyber mare stood on her hind legs, her hands at her sword hilts. Daring Do looked to the two armed creatures, sensing a battle. The orc had a longer face than a human, he smiled with crooked and mismatched teeth. Drool dripped from his lip onto Rainbow Dash's head.

"Doun't come hany closer 'ellion," The orc jabbered in a oafish voice,"We's thought yous was dead, 'ellion. But yous ain't doh..." He held his knife to Rainbow Dash's neck,"I think the ol' chiefy would loike a visit with ya an' dis priddy likle ting."

Daring Do knew she had to be as much help as possible to their 'guide', even if that meant getting hurt. The stature of the orc was daunting and his smell and butchering of english made Daring sick.

Pea Gravel popped her neck, "I'll only say this once you ass-faced twat wad, put the pony down."

The orc grinned and licked the cyan mare's terrified face with a wide slimy tongue,"Or wut? Yous gonna 'urt me?"

The orc didn't see Daring Do move into a flanking position. Pea winked and Daring Do bolted with all her strength into the orc's back. Her impact left her head ringing but the orc flopped heavily on his gut and ate a face full of dirt. Rainbow Dash crawled away from the orc to Daring Do and shivered with horror from his touch. Daring Do hugged the terrified pegasus, too dazed to move any way else.

The orc spat dirt and curses at the ground as he pushed himself back up and Pea Gravel took no time to gloat. She drew her swords and chopped on the orc's arm at the elbow. The orc howled and swung his knife at Pea's ankles, to his horror they were made of steel and not flesh. Pea Gravel stomped on his hand with the knife and broke all of the bones in it, bringing the orc to tears. He fell belly down again trying to keep his arm from bleeding with a broken hand.

Pea dropped her swords and with one hand grabbed a handful of matted hair to lift up the orc's head. It was almost as big as a pumpkin. With her free hand she grabbed the orc's bottom jaw and held it open like a fisherman hold's his catch. The orc whimpered a butchered plea for mercy.

Pea's hot mint eyes burned into the orc's dull optics. She pulled his face closer, "You tell your boss or any other snot nosed monkey bitches that I'm back."

The orc nodded desperately,"Yesh, yesh! I'll thell thlem evertyhing!" His speech impeded further by the metal hand holding his jaw and tongue.

The metal fist that held the orc's jaw let go. It curled into a fist and Pea smiled wickedly," Oh, and tell them that the two ponies I'm with… nothing touches them." 
Her fist rammed into the orc's face. It punched again and again, crunching his pronounced nose and the occasional tooth. The orc shook his head like a wet dog to throw Pea off. Still gripping his hair Pea took her free hand and ripped one of the orc's ears off. She then let go, throwing it after the orc as he hopped up and scampered off into the woods cursing and yelling.

Rainbow Dash was shivering from the unclean feeling still on her face. Daring Do patted her mane comfortingly,"Pea Gravel… was all that really… really necessary? You could've just broke his nose and let him go."

Pea wiped the orc's blood off on some bush leaves, "Orcs are hard to scare. You need to be more violent than them...if Dash wasn't here I'd send a orc with crutches over there but I think he got the message."

Daring Do looked in the direction where the orc ran, "Do you think he'll bring more to kill us?"

Pea still stood on her hind legs. She had her hands at her hips and breathed deeply, "Maybe. He didn't look to high ranking anyway. He's probably gonna get mobbed by the other orcs in his camp, lose all his stuff and probably die."

"That's so… cruel," Rainbow Dash whimpered.

"Yeah and the sky is blue ,"Pea Gravel said dryly," It's just the way things work, fly girl," She looked up into the air. There was less sunlight coming from in between the tree tops, "Alright girls, let's move out."

Daring helped Rainbow Dash stand up. They grabbed what supplies she dropped as did the cyber mare. They began walking again, Rainbow Dash had a burning question," You never mentioned the Breakneck Bevy to me. Is that some group of mercenaries?"

Pea was walking on all fours again. She had a glassed look,"Yeah, my mercenaries. I had about two hundred core units at the band's peak, that's when Rochi was with us."

Daring Do remembered things only she had heard from Pea, things about Rochi. She said that he was unlike many ponies she met. Whoever listened to him didn't see a pony or a sailor, they saw a leader. Daring Do was a little jealous that a pony like that had Pea to himself. Being out here  conflicted Daring Do's thoughts on Pea Gravel, though. The cyber mare had every opportunity to be violent and she did and it made Daring Do's peaceful nature ill.

"Pea? What was Rochi like… for the Breakneck Bevy?" Daring Do asked.

Pea still seemed to be recovering from the little encounter but slowly looked normal again, "What was Rochi for the Bevy? He was… no is a damn good tactician, any plan he made I did my all to bring into effect. No matter if we were up against orcs, humans, centaurs or dragons he always had a plan."

"He sounds great," Rainbow Dash said weakly, "Can't wait to meet him."

"We'll meet him soon enough, I promise," Pea said.

> 11) Six Weeks in (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Six weeks. That's how long since Rainbow Dash had been away from home. Darning Do was used to being out on the road but now the cyan mare was growing homesick. Being out in the 'Wild' they had seen things more grotesque than anything in Equestria; farms struck with famine, small colonies abandoned from plague infestations, hiding horrific flesh eating beasts and fields before and after battles.

The trio was now in a humid grassland, walking over the ruins of a battlefield. Rainbow Dash was physically sick from the sight and smell of aged carnage. Even Daring Do was repulsed by the decrepit bodies strewn about on the filthy field. Crows and vultures flew in the sky in droves, while opportunistic wild dogs picked at the bodies. There were more carrion eaters though, ones that made the dogs scamper and birds circle away; A Vulture Dog.

Vulture Dogs were some kind of mammal long ago that was like the little dogs running away, as Pea Gravel told the Equestrians, but with all of the carnage being a common thing they evolved into burly quadrupeds whose jaws became shaped like a snapping beak. They peeled armor of of human bodies by using their front paws and their beak as a wedge, happily gorging on the meaty contents. The trio of ponies avoided the carrion eating hot spots as they walked but in the distance stood another carrion eater, one Pea Gravel snarled at the sight of.

Rainbow Dash asked what it was. The cyber mare told her that it was a creation of Volm, called Lepuerics. Their bodies shaped like a stocky bears with equally stocky necks and a jaw that could swallow an ox whole. At the very front of it's head was it's eyes, small soulless beads that seemed to pick the most opportune target. It's skin was a sickly olive color that covered vascular muscles and scars. It's paws had eight or more little toes on it, it changed for each foot. Pea also said that a bite from these, if you survive the initial physical trauma, caused all sorts of diseases like it's go-to poison Leprosy. Leaving a battle field felt like walking in and out of a nightmare for the Equestrians but Pea Gravel said it was common to for ones such as herself.



Rainbow Dash felt uncomfortable almost every waking moment. She always looked behind her shoulder and could barely sleep from unknown fear. Daring Do felt similar. In Equestria she thought of Pea Gravel as some mysterious and amazing mare but know that she saw Pea act 'normally' Daring wasn't so sure anymore.


They camped in a savanna. They had just entered it and the environment changed from dry to muggy rather quickly. Scattered around in clusters were very bulbous, short trees and tall grass. The three mares made a bed of grass at the base of one of these trees and enjoyed a well deserved rest.  Dishing out rations to Rainbow Dash and Daring Do, Pea Gravel ate something else. She had been eating meat for a good part of their trip so far, anything from lizards, rabbits or birds. She didn't let her Equestrian company see how the skinning and gutting process worked, just cooked meat.


The black pearl that Pea had was more white than ever; they were close to their first mission, finding Dew Berry.


Daring Do began resorting to eating the grass around them to conserve food,"So… tell me, or us," she said while chewing uncomfortably, "Tell us about Joe, Dew Berry's guy?"

Pea took a big bite out of a rabbit’s haunch, "Like what?"

Rainbow Dash tried some grass too. She spat it out from it's bitter taste, "Bleh...," she got back on track, "You know, what was he like. Was he cute with Dew Berry?"

Pea snickered, "I really don't like the word 'cute'...anyway, something about ol' Joe, eh?" The Equestrians nodded.

Pea thought back to the time she found with Joe, then told part of the tale;





. The Breakneck Bevy was growing in number now, a hundred mercenaries with a staff of sixty to feed or repair armor,  they were mostly ponies or other smaller creatures who were either so angry they'd fight anything their leader pointed at or were too stupid to know better. Marching down a road they found Joe on the side in a field, pulling a farmer's plow. The farmer was either drunk or just plain hateful because when Pea Gravel saw him he was whipping Joe's back even though the mule was going at a good pace. Dew screamed at the farmer to stop but he just flipped the bird and went back to his business. Pea offered to buy Joe right off the farmer for thirty pieces of silver, weather that was a good or bad deal is debatable. 
She remembered how he followed almost blindly to Dew Berry but he did have his own principles. He never fought, maybe shoving things out of the way to move somewhere but he never killed anything. Pea Gravel supposed that is what attracted Dew to him to start with. 

Oza healed what he could on the mule and Joe happily agreed to join the Breakneck Bevy. Being around Dew Berry though he acted like a big dopey goof, around everyone else he was stern and one-worded. In campaigns he had taken arrows to shield his friends and was sometimes called 'Sponge' by the other mercenaries in the Bevy. Joe was approachable by anyone but watched over Dew Berry like a guard dog.

When Pea was alone with those two she'd hear Dew say, "You've got such a watchful eye I bet you could look after… a foal or two?"

Joe would force a smile, "Dew Berry, I'm a mule. I can't make no kids."

Dew would snuggle closer to him, "I know… you'd be a very good father though, my Joesy~!"


The memory shattered when she remembered Black Berry. Like Pea Gravel and Dew Berry had changed since the days of Alia, Black Berry had changed too...became insane and a rouge. He was the bastard child of a carnahorse and a pony, aka a meat eating mule-ish thing. He wasn't a normal mule in any way. Black Berry was the darkest shade of purple imaginable with beat red irises, his bald head and shark teeth stuck out like stars in a night sky. a thing that made him different than other mules is that he could spread his seed to mares of his choosing and he relished it. This cannibalistic rapist was a problem to roving traders and villagers because he was fast, strong, hungry and usually was satisfied if it smelled like a female...no matter what species. 


The Bevy's camp was dark and quiet in a warm spring night in a lakeside forest. Black Berry crept through the tents like a lustful shadow. Silently breaking the night guard's spines so they flopped unnoticed he sought a specific mare. He hungered for the infamously beautiful mare of the Breakneck Bevy; Dew Berry. His red eyes stuck out in the dark while he licked his lips in anticipation. Finding the right tent, he peered inside. There was Dew Berry, sleeping soundly under the comforting arm of her lover. Black Berry lifted his husky body inside through the tent flap and simply looked down at his target. His look could send chills up even the most stable minded spines.

Joe awoke to the feeling of drool dripping on him. He looked up in horror to see Black Berry. The dark carnahorse shoved Joe away from Dew and stood over his prize like a show dog. Joe's body shook with sudden adrenaline and rage. He bolted to strike Black Berry. Black Berry however, maneuvered so that he toppled Joe over on his broad back. Winded he gasped for breath. Him surviving wasn't on Black Berry's plans.
The carnahorse put both of his fore-hooves on either side of Joe's head and twisted. Joe's neck bent disgustingly, paralyzing him from the jaw down. He looked with hopeless, tear filled eyes at Dew Berry. She just woke up to be knocked upside the head. Black Berry lifted his prize on his back and looked back to Joe before he left, "Thanks for the sweet meat!"


The next morning the Bevy was in an uproar. Oza had repaired Joe's neck but it would take days if not weeks for Oza's magic to course though Joe's muscles to get them working again. The fact that Dew Berry was kidnapped as well threw the Bevy into a violent mob. Pea did her best to try organizing her comrades but they were to angered to be stopped. They combed the surrounding forest for four days, over and over again. Some used their spears to pole the lake's bottom in case she was drowned. The Bevy's griffons searched the trees in case she was hung or stuffed into a bear bag for later. While the hunt was going on Joe was immeasurably depressed. He couldn't get up to find the love of his life, he had to sit with stiff muscles and joints for weeks. Every time a search party walked by he jumped the gun to ask if they found her and they all sadly said no. If there was one thing Joe hated, it was being helpless.
Eventually one group found Dew Berry, or a mare that looked like her, they weren't sure. Written crudely into the dirt next to her was,'Sweet meat for grabs'.


They carried her back to the camp, delivering her to Pea Gravel's tent before anyone else in case it wasn't who they were looking for. Pea felt a mixture of rage, disgust and sadness seeing the state her best friend was in. Dew now had matted hair, bruised and dirty skin, small but painful looking bite marks on her neck as well as her flank and an all too distinguishable smell of sex still on her. She had been left out in the woods for four days and was unconscious from fatigue.

Pea called in Oza to see what he could do. He cleaned up the unconscious mare and healed her wounds, but Oza sensed something that made him cringe. He looked to Pea Gravel who was just as troubled. Oza sighed, trying to think on how to word the news, "Dew Berry is… she's… she's pregnant..."

The grey mare became even more furious ,"Can you stop it? Get rid of the monster in her before it grows?"

Oza shook his head, "To early. Baby is not big enough to even see."

Neither knew how to break the news to Joe. Oza decided to get up and talk to Joe. As Oza walked across the camp any members of the Bevy that saw him knew that something was wrong. Once Oza entered Joe's tent, the mule was anxious to hear any news, "Did you find her? Is she alright?"

Oza sat cross-legged in front of him. Oza was hesitant in his words,"Shit… Oza not sure how to tell Joe this… ummm..."

Joe had a look of disbelief,"Don't tell me she's d-dead?"

Oza shook his head vigorously,"No, no, no, no! Dew Berry is alive and breathing. Red pony is resting in Pea Gravel’s tent."

Joe took an edge in his voice, "Then let me see her."

Oza folded his hands over his muzzle,"Well… she's not alone in tent."

Joe was growing impatient, "Right, Gravel is in there with her, why wouldn't she?"

Oza shook his head slowly,"No exactly. Joe… Dew Berry has… a, um...baby..."

Joe's heart skipped a beat. His face went pale and his stiff body fell to it's side. Oza cocked his head against Joe's chest to see if he was still breathing. Oza used some of his magic to calm Joe's nerves in case he may die of a heart attack. Joe to a gasping breath then shaky ones, "My Berry… is going to have a foal?"

Oza stood up and turned to the tent flap, "This is true. Oza will bring Dew Berry to this tent to be with Joe. Oza be back."

He walked briskly back to Pea's tent and picked up the sleeping red mare gingerly. Pea jumped over to him, "So how did he take it?"

Oza laughed nervously, "Joe's not dead, so Joe took it well. At least that what Oza thinks." Pea sighed with relief.


Oza cradled Dew in his arms as he walked back to Joe's tent. Bevy members gathered around to see if Dew was alright. All too loudly they cheered to see her alive. Oza held a finger to his lips and shushed the cheering mob,"Shhh! Dew is sleeping!"

The Bevy members shut up and let Oza pass. Now he was back in Joe's tent with Dew Berry still asleep in his arms. Joe never looked happier in his life seeing her again. Oza lay her gently next to Joe who looked as if he was beaming. He couldn't move well but he forced a forearm over her as shelter. Oza wiped a happy tear from his eye and smiled as he went back outside. He found the ponies and ect. of the Bevy all around the tent, curious to know what was going on inside. Oza shooed them away from the tent like a broom sweeps dirt. 

There was a meeting about finding and killing Black Berry. Word of what happened to Dew Berry got around and they demanded revenge, that or handing the bastard over to Joe so the mule could pummel him into a mush. Their want to kill Black Berry wasn't a new one, lot's of local farmers and merchants wanted his head on a pike. The reason why he was so loathed and hunted is because he was an expert at avoiding his hunters. He was known for biting off faces of those who got too close though...
Pea agreed that they should go after Black Berry. She sentenced him to be split open after pulling his limbs of, trampled, then tied to a tree for the vultures to pick off of. The Bevy relished that plan.

Dew woke up that day but was so traumatized that she wouldn't talk or see anyone, except Joe. In the following weeks Joe's body began working normally and Dew Berry opened back up again, but a different mare. She was more conserved now, hesitant of strangers and friends alike. While the Breakneck Bevy suited up to hunt down the carnahorse, a few stayed behind with the damaged couple. Either because they didn't want to see them hurt or they were afraid of being hurt themselves.

Joe took the idea of Dew having a foal that wasn't his rather well. He was determined to raise the foal like his own, no matter how much of a beat it was. Dew, however wasn't as upbeat about the child as Joe was but she eventually accepted the idea.





"Woah..." Rainbow Dash said, "You didn't lie about Black Berry..."

"He gives me the creeps," Daring Do cringed.

The trio sat quietly in their little camp next to a tree again. The Savannah was quiet… too quiet...

Some large birds flew overhead, they seemed to by fleeing from something. Pea grabbed her swords, ready for the surprise. Meanwhile Daring Do and Rainbow Dash turned, unsure of what was coming. Through the rustling of the grass was heavy breathing and thudding of paws. Pea Gravel commanded the mares to jump, all too much of a close call. Sprinting out of the grass, skimming their hooves,  a Lepueric pounced at Pea Gravel. 

The cyber mare side stepped and the gnarly beast smashed into the tree they rested next to. The Lepueric was even more repulsive up close, it's skin was warty and wrinkled. The smell of rotting flesh emanated from it's gaping maw. The Equestrians flew up a safe distance and watched as Pea squared off the monstrosity. Pea stood like a human, armed with threes swords and a wild glare in her eyes as the Lepueric snarled ferociously. They circled each other like two predators butting heads. The monster sprung forward with an open mouth full of bone crunching teeth. Pea and the Lepueric were locked in a dance of death, one struck while the other dodged. Rainbow Dash could see that this was no ordinary creature they were dealing with, it was warped… demonic.


Pea's foot slipped only once, but it was enough. The Lepueric's jaws clamped onto her leg. She viciously stabbed at the creature's neck but it still held on. It's dark, almost purple, blood poured onto the ground from the wounds Pea sliced into it's neck. The Lepric bucked and kicked like a rodeo bull with the cyber mare in its mighty jaws, not afraid to smack it's head against the tree or the ground to smother Pea Gravel. Pea showed no signs of fear, only an cruel drive to win. The two Equestrians were unsure of how long the fight was going to take or who would win.

Pea looked up at them for a fraction of a second and tossed a sword over to them, Daring caught it. Pea took the sword out of her jaw and stabbed with one in each hand. Daring was unsure of what to do. Before she could figure out a straightway Rainbow Dash took the sword and bolted down to the monster. She flew around the Lepueric, slashing and swinging like an angry horsefly.  The beast paid little attention to Rainbow Dash, like an ox to a fly.

Daring Do flew around to the Lepueric's eyes and kicked her hooves into the shiny black orbs. The beast opened it maw to snap at Daring Do. Rainbow Dash saw this and tackled Daring out of the way just in time as the clamping jaws shut loudly behind her. One of it's teeth nicked Rainbow Dash's hoof and made a little scratch.

Pea was freed now, and rolled under the Lepuric's belly. With both swords she sunk them into the monster's flesh under it's rib cage. It reared up to swat at her. With the Lepueric standing on it's rear legs Pea had ample opportunity to slide down it's abdomen like pirates slide down canvas sails. It screeched unnaturally as it's body was split open. Pea dropped to the ground with the entrails and organs falling after her. The beast flopped to it's side and kicked around, pushing out the last of it's energy.

Pea took one of their blankets and wiped off the dark blood from her. She seemed rather calm for just fighting a monster like one of those. The trio was breathing heavy now, relieved that the creature was dead. Pea looked over to the pegasi and gave them a thumbs-up.

"You know what girls?" She looked over at the disemboweled Lepueric, "Maybe you two really do have the guts to kick with me!"

> 12) Six Weeks in (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Six weeks had passed since Rainbow Dash and Daring Do had disappeared along with the mysterious cyber mare. Life in Equestria had been going smoothly and winter had come as easily as it ever did. Tuff Boulder was getting used living alone, in fact he was turning twelve that winter. Instead of his usual quiet self he had become a bit of a trouble maker. Something inside him just felt restless without doing anything. The Crusaders would either see first hand or hear about Tuff Boulder being caught poking around somepony else's yard or shoplifting. He'd get a scolding from the adult who found him but the worst thing was just being thrown out of the store.

While Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle found all this acceptable, Scootaloo found it exciting. She'd often want to follow along with Tuff's petty crime endeavors but her conscience held her back...for awhile.

During one meeting at the Crusader's tree house, the girls chatted about what they wanted for Hearth's Warming Eve. Tuff spoke little, he too busy counting up Bits that mysteriously showed up in his jacket. When asked what he wanted, he just shrugged with a casual look.

Applebloom put a hoof to her chin, "Oh come on now, ya'lls gotta want something."

Tuff stacked his bits, "If I can't buy it myself, I don't want it."

Sweetie Belle encouraged the colt, "But Hearths Warming is about coming together and sharing what we have, you're not going to spend it alone are you?"

Tuff groaned, "If you want to get me something, go ahead."

Scootaloo smirked, "We will, all three of us."

Tuff froze internally, "Now I have to get three presents..."



Later that day Tuff went to Sugarcube Corner. He wasn't planning on buying any candy, he just wanted some advice. Pinkie Pie knew a lot about presents, right? She'd help him out with this. He walked in from the frosty air outside to the warm interior of the bakery. Pinkie waved at him,"Heya! How're you doing today?" 

"I'm okay, I just… just need some help," Tuff said, "The Cutiemark Crusaders told me they're getting me something for Hearth's Warming… I don't really have enough money for a present of all three of them..." 

"They're getting you presents? That's great!" Pinkie Pie cried.

Tuff groaned, "But I can't give them presents back… not without making some money..."

Pinkie Pie nodded, "Maybe you don't have to buy a present. Just make them something that means a lot to them."

Tuff bit his lip, "I'm no good at making things, picking up 'lost' things maybe..."

Pinkie Pie smiled,"You don't have to have a craftpony's cutie mark to make something, just do it. They'll love it cus' you made it for them," She stuffed a cupcake in her mouth, Cupcake?"

Tuff took Pinkie's advice with a lifted heart, "Thank you, Pinkie! I'll see you later!" He said then bolted through the door, off on an adventure to build something for the Crusaders.

Pinkie scrunched her nose,"He didn't even want a cupcake… oh well."

Pinkie went back to standing behind the counter awaiting customers. After a short time Volm suddenly popped in across the counter from her. He was wearing a yellow coat and a wry grin. Pinkie took his sudden appearance well, he had done this 'popping in' thing quite a bit in the last few days.

"Hey sugar cube," Volm said as he leaned over the counter, "I heard that Tuff's planning on making something for his filly friends,".

"Yep, we were just talking about that," She leaned up to him and whispered," But it's supposed to be s super-secret-nopony-know-surprise."

Volm chuckled, "Oh I see. I'd love to help out if you'd like, let's talk over a cupcake," He pointed to a dozen of cupcakes that who's icing was sculpted into stars. Pinkie noticed that Volm had a gold watch and at least four rings on his pointing hand. Volm saw her gaze, "You like? I found a jewelry store in Saddle-Arabia with good deals, I practically made off like a thief there."

Pinkie picked up the cupcakes Volm picked and placed their try on the counter, "Twenty bits," she chirped.

Volm reached behind her ear and somehow money was in his hand, "Would you look at that? You didn't leave money in your mane again, did you?"

Pinkie took the money, "No silly, I only put extra cookies in my mane...or use it of I can't find a mop," Pinkie said as counted out the bits,"Umm...you only owed me twenty. This is a lot more than-"

Volm held up his hand, "Keep the change, I insist," Volm tossed a cupcake into his mouth, "Mmm, you make some damn good cupcakes!" He covered his mouth quickly, "Oh! Sorry, I mean Dadgum good cupcakes."

Pinkie laughed and Volm looked a bit embarrassed. They chatted about how Volm was planing on getting everypony[/in Ponyville a present for Hearth's Warming Eve. Volm said that money was no object to him and meant to be shared. In fact some of the money was coming from a few friends of his, for out of town.

Pinkie rose an eyebrow, "You said nobody really liked you from where you're from. How come you didn't tell us about your only friends?"

Volm drummed his fingers on his chin thinking, "Well… they're quite shy. I'm really the only one they know besides each other. I'd introduce you but they're still hiding."

Pinkie Pie looked around the room, "You're right, I can't see them anywhere. What's their names?"

Volm leaned back, as if to recall a distant memory, "The smaller ones' name is Friday and the midnight blue ones' name is Wednesday."

Pinkie giggled, "They sound like fun, when do you think they'll come out?"

Volm shrugged, "Dunno. Maybe today, maybe next week. They don't adapt to change very well."

Pinkie put on a cynical look, "How about I throw a 'Welcome-To-Ponyville' party? It could just be a liddle widdle one, not a super duper big one."

Volm seemed hesitant, "I'll talk to them about it. Anyways I've got to get going, thanks for the cupcake Pinkie." And with a wave he vanished.







Fluttershy was warm and cozy inside her little cabin snuggled up in a big green sweater. She sipped on some freshly brewed tea and looked out at the show covered ground. She had a full day of not doing anything planned, all to herself to get some ol' R&R. She had been thinking about Rainbow Dash's well being for the past few days, she hoped to Celestia she was alright. With a sigh she pulled the sweater neck over her muzzle and dozed off.

Meanwhile Angel Bunny was tromping through the snow and was being a general nuisance to the winter birds. Next on his list was throwing some snow in the chicken coop behind Fluttershy's house. He rolled up a big snow ball and readied to toss it in the door. When he looked in through the chickens were silent save a minute cluck...something else was there besides the chickens. Angel Bunny dropped his snowball which startled a chicken. The thing turned around...

Angel Bunny fled terrified to the safety of Fluttershy's cabin. He hopped on top of Fluttershy wit his snow drenched feet, waking the pegasus abruptly. 

"What is it Angel Bunny?" Fluttershy asked grumpily. She would rather be sleeping still instead of this. Angel Bunny hopped and pointed to the back yard, a look of desperation was in his eyes. Fluttershy became on edge slightly, she could tell something was going on and not just some prank.  Fluttershy  got off her sofa,"Tell me what's going on, Angel."

The rabbit walked around in a circle clucking, "The Chickens..." Angel nodded. He then stretched his body up and hunched over, holding his hands out like he was going to grab something. Fluttershy inhaled sharply ,"Is something after the chickens?" Angel nodded quickly and tugged on Fluttershy's sweater sleeve. Not sure how dangerous the situation was Fluttershy dashed to her coop, expecting the worse.

Angel Bunny didn't even get near the coop. Fluttershy Peeked inside and found a peculiar sight. What looked like a big black blanket sat in the center of the coop. It had weird 'arms ' they looked like hands hidden under a black cloth. Whatever it was, it holding a sleeping chicken. Where one would expect a face to be, or at least a head, was a white mask that had two holes with big, scared blue eyes. The figure stared at Fluttershy, both equally frightened to see each other.

"Umm...Hello?" Fluttershy asked. 

The figure shrank back making a small, "Ahh." Sounding like it didn't know how to speak.

Fluttershy motioned it to come out with a welcoming smile,"C-come on...don't be shy now..." The mask shook its head. Fluttershy knew she could become friends with the stranger, if she could scold a dragon this shouldn't be very much trouble should it?

"It's much warmer inside..." Fluttershy insisted, "I have some tea inside too… i-if you're interested." The masked figure cocked it's head to the side. Fluttershy's eyes lit up, "Are you hungry? I have some nice tea cakes inside too!"

The mask looked down to the sleeping chicken. It looked sad parting with the bird but put the chicken back in her nest. Fluttershy backed out of the entrance and the figure slid out of the coop. Fluttershy was taken back by it's size. The mask would be well over the top of Celestia's horn. The mask's big blue eyes blinked at Fluttershy and brought her back to her senses. She led the figure to her back door and it slid in with no trouble.

Inside it's head scraped the ceiling. The figure crouched down to about Big Mac's height and just looked at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy shuffled her hooves nervously,"My name is Fluttershy, Mr. Mask. C-Can you tell me yours?" The masked figure shook its head, pointing to it's mask. Fluttershy was confused, "You can't speak?" It nodded sadly. 

Fluttershy heard a growl coming from the figure's stomach. "O-oh, right!" her eyes darted around nervously, "I'll just grab you some food. B-be right back." With that she went quickly to her kitchen.

The figure 'sat' down on the floor, it looking like a big black blanket spread on the floor with someone at the center. It sat patiently waiting, not a sound came from it. Angel Bunny was hiding behind the sofa peeking at it. The mask's blue eyes caught the rabbit and stared. Angel quickly shrunk back into hiding.

The black figure extended a hand and a carrot slid out of it. Angel blinked in disbelief at the sight. The figure nodded and more carrots came from it's hand. Soon they overflowed and fell to the floor. Angel Bunny ran to the feast and began gobbling up the carrots. The mask watched the rabbit intently until Fluttershy came in with a tray of newly heated tea next to some little cakes.

She smiled, "I knew you weren't bad! I'm so glad you and Angel are getting along… but where did all of these carrots some from?" The figure held out it's hand again, motioning of the little cakes Fluttershy was holding, "Oh dear, how rude of me. Here you go."

The figure took the tray and with another hand, daintily picked up one with it's large fingers. It held the small cake up to it's eyes and examined it. From under the bottom of the mask a sliver of a mouth opened from the blackness of it's body.  It put the cake carefully in it's mouth and chewed it. The eyes seemed to light up and it quickly, but with some manners, ate the rest of the cakes.

"Goodness! You sure do eat a lot," Fluttershy admired. She looked to Angel Bunny, who was stuffed from carrots but still a dozen were around him. The masked figure decided to relieve him from all of those extra carrots. Fluttershy offered tea but the mask looked puzzled seeing the tea cup.

Fluttershy put one near it and took up her own, "You drink it, like this,"She lifted it up and carefully sipped it, "Now you try."

The masked figure picked up the tea cup as if it could explode any second. Fluttershy made the dainty sipping motion again for it. The mask brought the tea cup to it's mouth carefully. Fluttershy nodded proudly, "That's it, now sip carefully. It's hot."

The big blue eyes looked from Fluttershy to the cup. Without warning it stuffed the cup it its' mouth. Fluttershy bit her lip, "Close enough, Mr.Mask."


The blanket of a creature looked a bit guilty for eating Fluttershy's tea cup. It extended an arm out to her and a cup exactly like hers was in it's big hand. She picked it up gratefully, "Why thank you! I would still like to know your name… if that's alright with you?"

The figure slumped. Looking around it noticed a calendar on the wall. The figure got up and slid silently over to the calendar then brought it over to Fluttershy. It's index finger was pointed to the day 'Wednesday'. Fluttershy cocked her head to the side, “Is your birthday this Wednesday?"

The figure shook its head. Tapping the word again saying,"ah ah!"

Fluttershy made a goofy smile, "Oh silly me! That's your name, I'm sorry Wednesday."

The figure seemed to beam. It put the calendar back where it found it. A knock came to the door and Wednesday shrunk into a corner hiding. Fluttershy trotted up to the door and answered it. To her surprise it was Volm.

"Hello Mr.V, what can I help you with?" she asked.

Volm rubbed his hands together for warmth, "I'm looking for a friend of mine, perhaps he came by?"

Fluttershy's eyes widened, "W-what's your friend's name?"

Volm blew into his cupped hands for warmth,"Well...I can't find Wednesday."

Fluttershy called back inside, "Mr.Mask...Wednesday...somepony's here to see you!"

Wednesday slid into view, he seemed happily relieved to see Volm. Wednesday hugged Fluttershy and slid out the door into the snow outside. 

Fluttershy felt saddened to see Wednesday go so fast, "E-excuse me, will I get to see you again?"

Wednesday turned and nodded happily. Volm looked back as well, "Of course," he said, "Every day if you like." Volm nodded a thank you and began walking off, trailed by the eerily tall Wednesday. 

Fluttershy waved a goodbye to them and went back inside, baffled at what just happened. She moved to her sofa, looking over at Angel Bunny she smiled. The rabbit was fast asleep. Fluttershy couldn't get the visual of those big blue eyes out of her head...she had to tell somepony… but who?

> 13) Control Yourself (part 1)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It had been a few days since the encounter with the nightmarish Lepuric monster. It was early evening, the moon was just peeking into view. Under the dying sunlight the equine trio was grazing on the edge of the savanna. Daring Do had eaten wild grass on occasion but Rainbow Dash was still getting used to it, it's coarseness harsher than her normally domestic diet. The strange pearl Pea Gravel had been wearing around her neck was nearly white now, they were very close to Dew Berry. On the horizon was a range of hills, daunting and dead tree covered. The whole world felt dry and dying, it felt alien to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash pulled her head up from eating grass, "This is wrong… it should be winter by now."

Daring Do looked up to, "You're right, it feels to hot and dry for being winter."

Pea Gravel looked up too with a patch of grass still being chewed, "You don't think Equestria is in the same climate as out here, do you?"

Rainbow Dash grimaced, "I don't know, it just feels wrong."

Pea Gravel almost laughed, "Aww, dose the little foal feel homesick?"

"Excuse me?" Daring Do asked bitterly.

Pea pointed up at the moon, "See that?"

Rainbow Dash was growing impatient, "Yes. It's the moon, genius. What about it?"

Pea Gravel rolled her eyes, "Look closer at it."

Rainbow Dash groaned and looked up at the moon. It was smaller than the one she was familiar with, it looked so far away The unicorn pattern on it was faint. It's light was much less powerful and just seemed to hang there, lonely. It was eerie in the night sky, adding to the list of things to be afraid of.

Rainbow Dash went pale, "...W-what's going on?! Why is the moon different?!"

Pea Gravel rubbed her neck muscles, "'Cuz it's far, far away. How's it feel to be lonely?"

Rainbow Dash couldn't think of any words she knew to say. She decided to use some of Pea Gravel's, "Bullshit I'm lonely!!"

Daring Do was taken back, "Look what you did Pea Gravel, now she's going to be swearing like… like you!"

Pea shrugged, "So what? They're just words."

Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches in disbelief. She winced and pulled one of her hind hooves back and held it, "I have Daring Do… we'll get through this soon..."

Daring Do was heated, "What's wrong with you?"

Pea yawned, "How does it feel, being away from your oh-so-powerful 'goddesses'?"

Daring Do was bitter now, "I didn't need them. I can handle myself."

"I bet you can," Pea Gravel spat, "You're just like the rest, in denial. I've seen too many of my kind die because they were dependent… being lonely gives you an edge," Pea's angry tone wore off,"If you're alone you have no one to lose..."

Rainbow Dash rubbed her damaged hoof, "If you're so strong then, why did you come out here for your 'friends'?"

Pea Gravel rolled the pearl in her hand, "I've grown… humble. You're all shaken up from being away from your friends for a few weeks, I haven't seen mine in ten years,"  Pea Gravel peered over and saw a bit of Rainbow Dash's hoof, there was a wound of some kind. It looked dangerously infected. She walked over and reached for it, "Dash let me see your hoof," She said.

Rainbow Dash shoved her away, "NO! I'm tired of you babying me, you've been treating me like I can't handle myself!" She shouted.

Pea made a face much like an annoyed parent would to their teenage daughter, "You don't know everything yet, and until you do I will baby you."

Dash stomped a fore-hoof, "You're such a jerk! All we did was go out of our way to help you and all you've been doing is treating us like dumb little kids! I'm sick of it!"

Daring Do had been listening to both sides of the argument. She felt the same way Rainbow Dash felt, not as explosively though. She looked over to their cyber enhanced guide and she looked pissed. Daring Do knew that Pea Gravel may be more 'physical' now so she decided to stop it before it got out of hand, "...Pea Gravel, you need to calm down. Everyone's tired and sore, probably needing more sleep too. Let's just make up and go to bed alright?"

A clanging thud made both the Equestrians jump. They looked down to see a sword was dropped in front of Rainbow Dash. Looking up at Pea Gravel, they saw her standing up on two legs. In her right was another sword.

"What's the big idea?" Dash demanded, "Why'd you toss a sword to me?"

"You don't want to be a kid? Pick it up," Pea said flatly.

Daring Do pulled the sword away from the cyan pegasus, "What the hell is wrong with you Pea Gravel, she's just a kid!"

Dash yanked the sword away from her, "Am not!" and placed it in her mouth. She stood up and crouched like a cat ready to strike.

Pea Gravel shook her head, "No, no. Look at the way you have your hooves placed, you've left both sides completely unguarded." Dash rearranged herself so that way she was now crouching at an angle. Pea grimaced, "Close enough."

Daring Do jumped in between them, smoldering at Pea Gravel who looked flatly back. Daring knew that Pea could easily beat her, maybe kill her but she refused to see that happen to Dash, "I don't what you're trying to pull here, but stop it. If you want to train her to use a sword that's fine, but do it when your anger has sobered!"

Pea pushed her aside,"If you want to get hurt, just ask," she had glossed over eyes as she looked to Dash,"Take your first strike."

Rainbow Dash bolted forward and twisted her neck to slash the cutlass. It met with Pea Gravel's almost instantly. Dash staggered back, the vibrations from the sword ringing in her head. Pea Gravel popped her neck, "Again."

Rainbow Dash sprung in again, at the left this time. She swung wildly and Pea blocked the blade with either her metal forearms or her own cutlass. Dash tried to  reel her neck back and forced with all her might at Pea's sword, in hopes to disarm her. The cutlass flew out of Pea's hand and stuck into the dirt a yard away. Dash took a moment to admire what she did...amateur mistake.

All the air from her lungs was forced out with a kick to the ribs. The cutlass fell from her mouth and she rolled across the dusty ground. She turned to her back and gasped for breath. Pea Gravel's silhouette jumped and stood over Dash menacingly. Dash gasped when a metal fist slammed into the ground inches from her face, another was winding up. Daring Do had seen enough, she flew towards the two fighters and threw all of her strength into a punch to Pea's jaw.

Pea Gravel was knocked back. Daring took no time to lock her hind legs around Pea's arms at her elbows to hold her back. Pea had a venomous look as she glared up at Daring Do, "Do it, hit me. I know you want to."

Daring had a hoof locked back ready to punch. She was shaking, "Stop it! What did she do to you?!" 

Pea licked the inside of her jaw where Daring Do punched her, "She hasn't adapted to being a 'foreigner', Miss Equestria," She spat a glob of blood to the side.

Daring's hoof whacked into Pea's face again, "Is that good?" Another punch, "Is that adapted enough for you?"

Pea curled her torso until her fore legs met Daring Do's chest. She wrapped her legs around the pegasus’s' chest and yanked Daring Do off. Before Daring Daring Do could react she was now on bottom, with a metal hand on either side of her face. She looked hopelessly at Pea Gravel who had a fiery grin, "Almost, fly girl. Almost..."

Rainbow Dash finally sat up, rubbing her chest, "Damn! That hurt!"

The pearl from Volm dangled on it's string over Daring Do's head. While Pea looked up at Dash, the adventuress snatched the pearl and hid it in her hat. Almost immediately  the fire of violence died in Pea's body. She chuckled and rolled her eyes, "Stop complaining, baby face!" she looked down at Daring Do, "You alright?"

Daring Do fumed, "No! Not until you promise me you can control yourself goddammit!"

Pea got up and sat at a distance from the two pegasus. She had a new look on her, one of guilt. She gulped nervously,"I don't remember what happened for the last two minutes or so...I'll take the first watch again, you two can go to sleep if you can. I-I...I didn't hurt either of you...did I?"

Daring Do knew it had to be because of that pearl. She brushed herself off, "No we're fine, just a little bruised. Nothing tough girls like us can't handle, right Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash scowled at Pea Gravel,"Right...bruises.."


Pea continued to sit away from the Equestrians into the night. She had several ideals biting at her; being compassionate or efficient in her quest. She was growing tired of the slow pace Rainbow Dash had however something made her guilty about it. She sat with her back to them, hugging her knees and looking out into the night. Inside her mind visions of her band of mercenaries berated her. She remembered she would pick up any equine willing to fight against the odds, and any other creature who shared the same ideals. Pea Gravel was the leader up until Rochi stepped in, running alongside her comrades. She did her best to keep them together, keeping them fed and alive.





The Bevy had traveled a long way, all the way to the coast. Here there were very few centaurs but several human kingdoms. These men and women didn't particularly like the idea of talking horses running around. While the Bevy was strong, Pea Gravel (for the most part) wouldn't lead her comrades into battles they knew they had no chance winning any loot from. The fact that the humans had lots of steel and things called 'guns' made almost every fight a sure loss. Not to mention that Dew Berry was well into her pregnancy, no one wanted her getting hurt.

Away from the bulk of the humans was a tropical area of land, the Bevy was lounging under palm trees while Pea sat with Oza on a cliff edge, looking out at the ocean. Oza stared lovingly at the deep blue. Pea Gravel noticed his gaze, "You could just jump in, you know?"

The dragon shook his head, "Oza thanks little horse, but no. Once Oza dip toe in ocean again, he's never coming back out," He chuckled, "Besides, Oza's best friends can't breathe underwater like him."

Pea Gravel laughed along, "I dunno about that. You'd probably sink like a rock," Her voice trailed off when she noticed a ship with a black flag out on the water, "Oza you see that?"

Oza's sharp eyes looked out, "Pirate ship, what dose Pea want to do with it?"

Pea strained her eyes to see,"Loot. What do you see on the boat?"

Oza scanned the boat as it slowly sailed out on the blue waters. After a few moments her counted off, "Lots of humans… a few ponies and griffons. They wear collars, slaves Oza bets."

Pea popped her neck, "Wanna do some 'financial liberating'?"

Oza laughed, "If Pea Gravel insists," He looked out to the mass of lounging mercenaries, "Bevy! Get suited up, Pea Gravel found next fight."

The Bevy slowly got up and strapped on their iron plate armor, or the occasional padded leather. Behind most of the mercenaries sat the cooks and squires. Here Joe tended to Dew Berry's every need, the mare was still a little embarrassed about being waited on. She was used to being the server her whole life. The two ponies watched the mercenaries, wondering what crazy thing Pea was up to now.
While the ponies had swords in their jaws the griffons held crossbows in their talons. They all looked over to see Pea Gravel and Oza standing at the cliff edge. The pirate ship was nearing the shore close by the cliff, most likely to find supplies. Pea Gravel's plan was to ambush the pirates once their scouting party got to the shore. If they were a good crew the Bevy could use the scouts as ransom, if the ship ran off they could just steal the scout's dingy boat to follow the main ship.

Hiding in the brush Pea Gravel and a dozen archers awaited the scouting party. Their bows and crossbows notched and ready in the smothering tropical heat. Finally the dinghy was pulled up on shore by four ponies in collars. Still in the boat were two other ponies and five humans, all looking like born and bred sailors. The humans got out and stretched, their swords glistening in the sun. Pea Gravel made a silent nod to her archers. They fired and three humans and a pony dropped dead, arrows buried in their chests. The remaining two humans threw their arms into the air, with terrified faces they turned to where the arrows came from.

Pea Gravel sauntered out of hiding with a smug face for the ages. Behind her walked a chunk of the Bevy, not to big to be noticed by the main ship but big enough to be scary. The five ponies followed their master's' example except one, he had a tan brown coat and a fierce set of azure eyes. He stared straight at Pea Gravel whom in turn glared back.

"Alright sea dogs, bring us to your ship's loot and no one else is gonna get shot!" Pea Gravel announced.

The lone stallion hopped off the dinghy, "You and what army?"

Pea Gravel and her mercenaries laughed, "This one dumbass!" She shouted with laughter.

The stallion popped his neck, "I, Rochi, challenge you to a duel. Winner keeps all."

One of the pirates looked up from groveling, "Shut up you stupid horse! You are in no position to trade off Gumbo's gold!"

Rochi glowered at the pirate, "Make me," the pirate looked from the stallion to the Bevy. Rochi spat at him,"That's what I thought."

Pea smirked, "Pretty ballsy for a slave, don't you think fellas?"

Rochi puffed up his chest, "What? You afraid of a whip beaten slave?"

Pea shook her head with a chuckle, "Alright, pick up that sword over there and we'll start this."


The Bevy made a big circle around the two duelers. The ship slaves were there too, not sure who to root for. The Breakneck Bevy however, howled and whooped for their leader. Pea Gravel and Rochi circled each other, eyes fixed on the others'. They had a sword each ready to swing, waiting for the right opportunity. There was a mass of tension between them. Once Rochi made the first step everyone was in an uproar.

If Pea Gravel hadn't parried at the precise moment, there would have been a blade stuck in her face. She blinked while Rochi put on a smug grin like one Pea had earlier. She kicked with her fore hooves and knocked Rochi back a few feet. He caught himself and stuck blades with Pea again. They swung and slashed at each other, when one hit an arm the other hit a leg. It was a fiercely close battle and Pea Gravel grew tired of how it wasn't getting them anywhere.

She backed up a bit and tensed up, powering for a disarming strike. Rochi eyes her like a hungry hawk. Pea lashed out and her blade hit Rochi's sword hilt, missing his cheek by an inch. The sword flew out of his grip and her rolled his jaw in attempt to ease the twanging pain of getting a sword smacked out of your mouth. At this time Pea held her sword point up to his throat. He blinked wide eyed.

Pea had a confident smile, "Looks like I still get what I want, Rochi."

Before anyone saw it coming, Rochi struck out. He maneuvered his hooves to pull Pea's sword away from her. Now with a sword he elbowed her in the nose and while she fell sat on her chest. Locking his legs around her arms so she was basically tied up, Pea Gravel landed heavily on her back. The Bevy gasped as Rochi now held Pea's sword to her throat.

Rochi made a suave grin, "I'm not going to lose here, not now. Say your prayers!"

Pea knew that he was about to drive her sword through her neck, she saw it coming. What she didn't see coming was Oza's knee to Rochi's head. With a loud thwack Rochi rolled across the ground out cold. Pea Gravel breathed heavily, half from shock half from relief.

She looked up to Oza with a crinkled nose, "I had it under control," The Bevy sighed with relief at the fact that Pea was still alive. The grey mare folded her forearms, "You… you didn't need to do that."

Joe walked in carrying Dew Berry carefully on his back chuckled, "From what I saw, looks like you were under something alright."

Oza rubbed his knee, "Oza didn't expect to see Joe and Dew Berry out today. They missed the show!" He groaned, "That Rochi pony had rock hard skull. Hurt Oza's knee."

Pea punched his leg as she got up,"Aww shaddup ya big baby! I've got a ship to capture!"


Pea forced the two surviving pirates into the boat and the slaves to row while she and three other mercenaries hid behind them. The Bevy awaited their return while the dingy boat slowly trailed toward the ship. On the beach Dew Berry talked to Oza from on top of Joe's back.

"What's she doing this time?" Dew Berry asked a bit worried.

"Spotted pirates the earlier," Oza fluffed out his baggy pants, "Oza saw that there weren't too many aboard and Pea Gravel wanted some extra loot. Something about a… Captain Gumbo on that boat." 

Joe rolled his eyes, "That crazy girl, she's gonna get herself killed one of these days."

Dew lightly knocked him between the ears, "Don't talk like that, who's gonna save your hide if she's gone?"

Joe pouted, "You… alright darlin'?"

Dew Berry fanned herself dramatically, "...Maybe, depending on the weather."



On the dingy Pea's heart was racing. She had never boarded a ship to take it over before. The two griffons and pony along with her hid behind the two pirates with daggers poking their back for safekeeping. Once close enough to the ship, ropes were flung over the side to climb. Pea nodded to the mare next to her and they pushed the pirates into the water. Pea and her pony comrade scaled up the ropes as fast as they could while the two griffons flew up. Jumping on the deck they saw a dozen crew hands look in complete surprise.

"Give 'em hell!" Pea Gravel shouted and the mercenaries charged at the pirates.

> 13) Control Yourself (part 2)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Pea was full of adrenaline and vigor as she attacked the oncoming pirates. Instead of the twelve ones on the deck, at least fifty poured out from below deck and they mobbed the four Bevy members. Every swing that met flesh and bone just made her want to go further. The Bevy mare fighting along with the griffons had killed two pirates before she met a painful end and a mouthful of steel. Pea Gravel had a Pirate pinned to the mast with a sword trough his gut when a griffon flew next to her.

"Boss!" the griffon cried, "Their captain's coming!"

Pea looked to where he pointed but had to shut her eyes. A ringing bang from a flintlock shot through the air in the direction the ex-griffon pointed. The flying lead ball turned the griffon's head into a mush of grey matter and feathers and threw his body onto the deck. Pea wiped the blood from her face she saw the captain.

He was human...almost. His eyes and nose were wide set on his muscular head, the nose between had a very large bridge to it. His stature was twice the size the other pirates on the ship. His skin was darker and had far more scars over his brawny arms. Wearing a loose pair of slacks, a wide brimmed black hat and a bandoleer with nine more pistols, he looked the part of a pirate captain. Dropping the gun he had shot he pulled out two more.

He grinned with oddly well kept teeth, "So there's a horse up risin'?" his voice was deep and sounded educated,"Looks like I have to put the animals in their place," Both pistols fired off in a cloud of smoke and a loud bang. 
Pea Gravel dropped from pain, both forelegs had been shot at the ankle. She was used to broken bones but this was rather new. Pea Gravel realized this man was a more brutal type, no prisoners. She took a dead pirate's sword and ran at the captain with only her hind legs to carry her. 

Pea realized that this human was almost as tall as Oza when she ran closer to him. Pea swung her sword to gut the human but the sword only got stuck. Pea was shocked and tried to fidget the blade out but the point was stuck in his gut, he didn't seem to care. With his meaty hands he grabbed Pea Gravel's neck and yanked her away from the sword. He looked down to the sword in his gut to the mare.

"Yer a cheeky liddle bitch aren't ya?" He dropped her to the deck. Pea landed heavily on the wood planks and the captain took no time to gawk. He stomped on Pea's back leg with all of his weight. Pea let out a scream of pain while the captain chortled, "You don't fuck with Captain Gumbo!"

The last Bevy griffon on the deck charged in rage at Gumbo. Gumbo pulled out another pistol and waited until she was a yard away before firing a lead ball into the griffon's shoulder. The griffon landed onto Gumbo's chest and was stupefied from the shattered bones in her body. Gumbo held her up by the arm whose shoulder had been shot. The griffon screeched painfully.

"Better keep quiet or I may want some chicken tonight," Gumbo said coldly, "Now I'm going to need to ask you, pretty bird, a question."

The griffon was clawing at his hand, "I'll never talk!"

Her defiance was cut short from a swift headbutt from Gumbo. The griffon's eyes rolled around while the pirate sighed angrily, "I'm only going to ask you once, where are the rest of you?"

Pea tried to pull herself up, "I-its just us. Only these three are with me."

Gumbo stepped on one of her fore hooves like one would stomp a beetle, "I didn't ask you, I asked the bird," He glowered at the damaged griffon, "I don't have to get the information from you, that grey one is still kicking so you're expendable."

The griffon looked desperately from Pea Gravel to Gumbo for several moments,"Well… um… there's… there's about a hundred of us… o-over there on the beach."

Pea Gravel cursed under her breath and laid back, this was a horribly awful idea. Gumbo looked over to the beach where the dinghy had landed earlier and smiled. With his free hand he pulled out another flintlock and blasted the griffon's head off her shoulders and dropped her next to Pea. 

He spat down,"There, you'll have company while me and the boys go a'lookin for your little friends."

Pea pushed herself up despite her injuries. There was murder in her now mint green eyes looking up at Gumbo, "Fuck you, monkey bastard!"

Gumbo kicked her face like a football, "Watch yer mouth, if you keep that up you'll end up talking like a sailor!" He sauntered over to where the dingy boats were being lowered. 

The pirates left the ship virtually empty while Pea lay beaten and furious. One crew hand sat on the railing of the deck, assuming Pea was dead.The pirate ship sailed closer to the shore and what was left of the pirate crew hopped onto dingy boats to row to the shore. Pea lay unable to move, was this how her comrades die? To some dirty pirate crew...no she'd never let that happen. She pushed herself up again and limped over to the railing. The pirate turned around with a surprised look.

"Do ya never die?" he cried, "You're the mostest stubborn ting I've ever seen!"

Pea Gravel tried to push him off with her forehead but in her state a child could push harder. The pirate held her back with a hand and laughed. Pea growled but there was really nothing she could do.

Suddenly there were gunshots coming from the beach, and pony screams. Some of the mercenaries ran to meet the pirates but the gunshots pierced the ponies' armor, leather and iron. Pea looked over to see the pirates advancing on the beach and the Bevy running for cover in the palm forest. On the far right, near the cliff, stood Rochi over a mound of sand. He shouted at the pirates who walked over with malicious grins. A few ponies watched as the pirates circled Rochi.

Rochi called out to them, "Looks like it's just you an' me friends!"

Gumbo took off his hat to reveal a green bandanna, "Gotta hand it to ya horse, you've always been trouble but this is ludicrous!"

Rochi made a smug grin, "I'll make a bet with you, Captin'."

Gumbo and the pirates laughed and the few Bevy ponies gulped nervously. Gumbo put his hat back onto his head, "Name you're stakes, little horse."

"If I can take a shot to the chest from one of your guns, I get all your gold, "Rochi's voice echoed on the beach,"And your bandanna!"

Gumbo folded his arms with a cynical look, "Alright, what does ol' captain Gumbo get if he wins?"

Rochi bit his lip,"I'll lead you to where the Bevy is hiding, the ponies that attacked you."

Gumbo smiled, "Even when you're trying to be free you're still a loyal slave, that's why I love you ponies," He pulled out his last flintlock, "You've got yourself a deal, Mr. Rochi."

Rochi tensed up and pulled his chin to the air. Gumbo clicked the gun's hammer lock and squinted. There was a flash and a shattering bang that echoed across the air. Everyone held their breath to see the results. Rochi was still standing, shivering but standing. A gaping crater of flesh showed on his chest, a mocking look in his eyes.

"Looks like your loot and bandanna are mine," Rochi coughed. Gumbo was dumbfounded, he had been shooting little equine shaped things all afternoon and now it didn't seem to work.

"Whas 'e always like that?' one pirate asked.

"Maybe he's a'cursed, a sea devil possessed him!" said another.

Gombo threw his gun on the sand, "This is a load of bullshit! There ain't no way in heaven or hell that didn't kill you!"

Rochi's limbs shivered but held firm, "My bandanna and my gold. Now."

Gumbo took off his hat and began untying the bandanna. He slid it off sadly and held it out, the sun now showing on his ratty auburn hair, "Good bye, Sharlene..." he whispered to the green fabric. With a teary eye he tossed it over to Rochi, "There! You have my lucky Shar-...bandanna. Now I'll go get your fuggin gold," He huffed.

"Oh, and bring back the mercenaries who went on your boat too!" Rochi called after them.

When the pirates turned and began rowing back a part of the sand mound Rochi stood on shifted, a a pair of orange talons around Rochi's hooves and a muzzle stuck out from the sand, "Are pirates gone? Can Oza come out now?" Oza asked.

Rochi coughed, "No not yet, keep using that healing magic...we don't want me dying before they come back." 

The pirates rowed back to their boat and climbed aboard. Pea was panting from the pain and tropical heat, she lay on the deck limply. The pirate crew were talking among themselves until Gumbo climbed aboard. They all stood crestfallen, not about their dead crew members but how their captain lost an unfair bet.

"Sorry about your bandanna, Captin',"One pirate said.

"We can just leave, right. We don't need to haul back our loot over der, do we?" asked another.

Gumbo put his hat to his chest, "No lads, a bets a bet. We're pirates with dignity an' self respect," he said proudly. His crew members nodded with their old clothes and rotted teeth. Gumbo scowled at Pea Gravel, "I suppose she's the one little horse was after. Gather up the loot and toss her with it, we leave when the gold dose."

The pirates and their slaves went below deck to gather up the chests and crates of gold. Gumbo sat on the deck smoking a pipe with a furiously defeated look. Pea blinked tiredly, "Rochi...he beat you too huh?"

Gumbo puffed out smoke as he watched his gold being loaded away,"Mark my words, horse. That pony ain't nothing but trouble. He's been trying to kill me for weeks now."

The loot had been loaded up on two dingy boats. They were dangerously low in the water and Gumbo bid one last farewell to his gold. He walked over to Pea and tossed her into the ocean next to the boats. With three damaged legs, she almost drowned treading water to get inside the little boats. She hauled herself painfully into one and panted, looking up she saw the pirates looking down at her.

Gumbo blew a bone whistle and the pirates and their slaves scrambled to get the ship moving. Gumbo glared down as the sails unfurled, "This ain't over, I'll get you little shits back one way or another!"

Pea looked at the boats. Several chests burdened the two boats that were tied together. She bit an oar and paddled her way to the shore. It drained her but she knew safety was at the end of the ordeal. Once in the shallow water ten Bevy members rushed out to meet her. They drug the two heavy boats onto the sand quickly, seeing Pea's condition. Two gently lifted Pea Gravel out of the boat while the rest unloaded the crated gleefully. The bigger stallion put his leader on his back and the three ponies walked through the palms back up to the cliff top.

Pea Gravel was carried back to their camp where the rest of the Bevy waited. They called for Oza who ran to meet them.

Oza was taken back, "This is new record Pea Gravel, two fractured bones and busted joint. How that happen?"

Pea groaned, "Get me some booze and a floor mat, I've had a long afternoon."

Oza picked up the grey mare and held her under his striped arm. He nodded to the mercenary that carried her, "Thanks Rocky, Oza will take it from here," He glanced at the tents where the rest of the Bevy crowded around something, "Why don't you meet Rochi, he's a clever pony."

Pea groaned, "He's here? Does anyone remember the fact he tried to kill me?"

Oza shrugged, "Yes, he did get Breakneck Bevy lots of money though. Did Pea Gravel see it?"

The two mercenaries that helped Pea Gravel back to camp grinned devilishly, "We've gotta go back and help the other guys to carry the gold here boss, be right back!" and they ran the way came.

Oza strutted back into the bulk of the camp to put Pea Gravel in her tent. Under Oza's arm, Pea Gravel saw Rochi talking with the Bevy members. He was wearing Gumbo's green bandanna like a trophy. They were all amazed at whatever he was saying but Pea was to hurt and tired to listen. Some of the mercenaries looked back at her with worried looks at whether she would kick the bucket or not. Finally Oza reached Pea Gravel's tent and he slipped inside.

Setting Pea Gravel down on a barrel to sit on, handing her a piece of leather to bite down on he set off to work. She bit hard as he tried as quickly as he could pinch out the lead balls embedded in her forearms. Once he pulled them out he tossed them over his shoulder he went to his satchel belt. Opening one of the pockets he pulled out a bottle that fit into his hands nicely (about the size of a small wine bottle) and had a yellow label with a suave red caricature of a devil.

He set the boiling water pot on the ground and held a bottle of rum up to Pea Gravel's lips, "Oza prescribes some new pain killer. Drink."

Pea chugged it greedily since it tasted like rum. After a third burned down her throat she made a hoarse cough and pulled away. She nodded, "Damn, Othla," she slurred, "Tlhat's some stlrong ssstuff. Why didn you give me some of dat earlier?"

"So Oza knows how hurt Pea is. Oza can't heal her without knowing that," He re-corked the bottle and chuckled, "Doctors call this kind 'Devil Brew'. Now let Oza clean up those wounds."

While the dragon swabbed and cleaned the wounds while Pea sat, now with numbed body and mind. She yawned while Oza held his hand over the gunshot wounds. A thin layer of skin regrew and the bone fragments gravitated back into shape. They were still broken and needed time to mend, but this was far better than having them pulled out and the bone just healing awkwardly. Oza set his sights on Pea's hind leg. It was bent gruesomely at the knee.

Oza took a deep breath, "Hold still Pea."

Pea turned her head lazily to him,"Whazzat?" but her knee was already popped back into socket. She laughed oafishly, "I like dis ssstuff. I didn't feel a thing."

Oza quickly put some wrappings around her knee and went up to her face, "Say Ahhh," the dragon said. Pea said 'Ahh' and opened her mouth about half way. The side of her mouth that Gumbo kicked looked dislocated. Oza shook his head and popped Pea's jaw back into place. Pea blinked lazily and Oza smiled, "Wow, this potion is great."

Pea rolled her jaw, "Yeah, can I have sum more?" she smiled with a bit of dribble out of the corner of her mouth.

Oza flicked her nose, "Absolutely not. It would stop Pea's heart and fry her brain."

Pea began spitting, "Ick! You gave me poison!"

Oza pulled her face forward,"If Pea has too much of anything it's poison," He blew a small lick of blue fire on his thumb. It caught and looked like a match. He held his thumb near Pea's face,"Keep eyes open, Oza is checking for concussion," Pea's eyes dilated correctly and Oza sighed with relief, "Alright, Pea Gravel is clear. She can walk on legs but Oza suggests only if she needs to. Lay down so Pea Gravel's body heals itself."

Pea slid off the barrel and limped over to her floor mat, "Thanks Oza. See you tomorrow." 

Oza waved and closed the tent flaps, "Goodnight, Boss Pea Gravel."


Pea slept until it was later in the evening. She lay on her back just staring into space, the 'Devil Brew's' effects only just wearing off. The sound of hoof steps came around the tent and stopped at the door, "Can I come in?" Rochi's voice asked.

Pea grimaced, "Sure, I may bash your head in though."

Rochi walked through the tent flaps with his neck heavy with gold necklaces, "Is that any way to talk to your financial backer?"

Pea sighed, "What are you talking about, it's your gold not ours." She gawked at the shiny gold dropped next to her.

"It's mine to give," Rochi said,"If you'll let me join you."

"What?" Pea snorted, "Join me? You were trying to kill me earlier today!"

Rochi rose an eyebrow, "And who was shooting arrows in my direction?"

Pea turned up her nose, "Fair point. Alright… Rochi, what experience do you have?"

"Pardon?" Rochi asked cynically, "I didn't know I had to be interviewed to join rouge mercenaries."

"It's a tradition in the Breakneck Bevy… starting today," Pea smirked, "You should've asked earlier."

Rochi laughed, "Alright, alright. My Experiences?" He sat on the ground near Pea Gravel's bed mat, "I had been an astrologer's apprentice/slave since I was a foal. The city I was from had many humans and I'm not very used to my own kind, tragic huh?"

Pea eyed the gold in front of her, "Mmhmm, right. Tragic, very tragic."

Rochi rolled his eyes and continued, "As pirates always do, they steal things. I was one of those. It was on Gumbo's ship I realized my dream."

Pea looked up from the gold, "Dream?"

Rochi nodded,"I wanted...no knew I was to make myself a king. I had seen so much pain and injustice, I knew I could sort it out if I had the power."

Pea eyed him, "So where do my mercenaries and I fit in?"

"Knowing Gumbo, you should've been dead your first step on that ship," Rochi said,"You're something else Pea Gravel, with you next to me nothing can stop us."

Pea blushed slightly, "My, my. I do believe you're trying to seduce me!"

Rochi made a goofy grin, "So is it a deal? May I join your crew?"

Pea extended her hoof and Rochi shook it. Pea tried to keep a serious face but only smiled,"We'll see, green horn. We'll see."








Pea Gravel had her back to Rainbow Dash and Daring Do as they slept next to a campfire they had made. Pea looked down at her metal hand,"We'll see, green horn...we'll see..."

> 14) Hello, Dew Berry
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		Pea Gravel was sitting away from her camp drowsily. The early morning sky barely lit up the hilly expanse around her. Behind her the two Equestrians were sleeping soundly, huddled together for extra warmth. Pea looked around sleepily, not expecting to find anything. The thought of the night before still rung in her head, blaring with guilt. She tried to shake it off for a little comfort. It did little but warm herself up in the crisp morning air. Her ears flicked up when she heard the faint sound of soft hooves against the ground.

"Hand em' over," a feminine voice whispered behind Pea Gravel. The grey mare felt the cold point of steel on her neck and froze. "Your food and money, now," The voice demanded.

"Let's not be hasty now..." Pea said casually.

"Give me it now or I'll cut you," the voice  growled.

"Easy, easy," Pea Gravel said. She turned around to see a pony wearing a burlap cloak with a dagger in her red hoof, her face was hidden from view. Pea eyed the dagger pointed at her nose, "I don't have any money, and what little food I have is for my slaves."

The pony grunted with disapproval, "Don't think you can fool me. You're wearing plate armor on your legs, that's expensive stuff."

Pea nodded slowly, "Right… you caught me..."

The pony gritted her teeth. Before she could say anything Pea bit the dagger blade and ripped it away from the mare. The cloaked mare lunged at Pea Gravel and swung at her face. Pea flung the knife away and smacked the mare's hidden face with the back of her metal hand. The two rolled on the ground in a flurry of kicks and punches like a pair of alley cats at each other's throats.

The commotion woke Rainbow Dash up, followed by Daring Do. While Daring put her hat on, Rainbow Dash snapped into action. The cyan mare bolted to the tussle and threw her weight into the cloaked pony. Rainbow knocked her away from Pea Gravel and held a hoof out to help the cyber mare up. Pea accepted wordlessly and both of the mares looked to the cloaked pony. She was laying on the ground writhing from the impact.

"Who is that?" Daring Do asked.

Rainbow sauntered over and tore the hood off. She saw the mare's face; a pair of big blue eyes that were desperate,  with a set of clenched teeth and a sky blue mane. Rainbow Dash smirked, "Some red and blue pony. What should we do with her Pea Gravel?"

Pea walked over to see the mare's face. There was a moment where she looked, another where she realized. Rainbow Dash was astonished to see the jaded mare kneel down and wipe tears away from her face. The red mare inched away from Pea Gravel, clenching her side.

"Guilty, freak?" The red mare spat.

Pea Gravel forced out a whimper through a choked smile, "...k-kinda...do y-you recognize me?"

The mare grimaced, "I've met lots of ponies, you're no different. Just beat and kick a desperate mare cuz she's trying to survive."

Pea inhaled sharply, her face was quivering from joy and sadness. Rainbow Dash leaned over to the cyber mare, "Uhhh… Pea, what's the matter with you?"

Pea Gravel held her metallic hand out to the red mare, "...I know I… I look a little different… b-but it's still me..." The red mare looked at Pea like she was crazy. Pea Gravel took one of the red mare's hooves in her hands, "Dew Berry, it's me! It's Pea Gravel!"

The red mare, Dew Berry, blinked. She was shocked, "Wha… how? I thought you had… had died!" She dived at Pea Gravel and hugged her old friend tightly.

Pea Gravel hugged tight back. She didn't say anything, she just kept crying happy tears at seeing her friend after ten long years. To her, the world opened up and hope flooded back to her. Dew Berry was equally emotional, she nuzzled into Pea Gravel's shoulder while joyful tears flowed down her face. In silent embrace they ignored the world around them and the bruised left by each other. The Equestrians looked to the tender sight with mixed feelings.

Daring Do walked up to Rainbow Dash, "She's Dew Berry? I'd imagine she'd be taller," A smile on her face crept up from the tenderness that the jaded mare was showing.

Rainbow Dash shrugged, "I dunno, this means we're one step closer to getting back home," she was not as excited as the other mares, for reasons unknown.

Daring Do moved more into Dash's view, "She just found her friend alive, you're more worried about getting back home? Don't you care about Pea Gravel?"

Rainbow Dash sighed like a whole different pony, "I'm sorry if I'm not being sentimental. While you three are being all soppy I'll pack up."

Daring Do was a little taken back at Rainbow Dash's harshness. While the cyan pegasus trotted away, Daring Do tapped Pea Gravel's shoulder. She slowly pulled away from Dew Berry, "Oh… sorry, sorry. Daring Do, let me introduce you and," She saw that Rainbow Dash was out of earshot,"...er Rainbow Dash to my best friend. This is Dew Berry."

Dew Berry stood with wobbly knees and shook Daring Do's hoof, "Sorry about the mix-up. I've been going through some hard times and well… I didn't even recognize Pea."

Daring Do shook her head with a smile, "Don't strain yourself, I saw that you gave and got a beating earlier," She giggled, "You're not hurt are you?"

"Never better," Dew Berry smiled while Pea rubbed her face where the red mare's hoof hit the hardest, "I think Pea is okay too," Dew Berry laughed.

Dew Berry looked over to Rainbow Dash and their gear ,"Pea Gravel… where's Tuff? He's supposed to be with you."

Pea Gravel smiled proudly, "He's in a very safe place, it's name is called Equestria!"

"Equestria?" Dew Berry gasped,"That place was just a myth right? It's a real place?"

"Yes it is," Daring Do confirmed,"Rainbow Dash and I are living proof. Your son is very safe, don't worry about him."


Carrying their gear, the two Equestrians followed Pea Gravel and her re-found comrade. The four mares walked through the dried looking ground and dusty hills, the sun rising behind them. As they walked trees became more frequent and showing signs of Autumn. Dew was leading them to a farmland where she had taken refuge.  Pea was abuzz with questions, as well as her friend.

"Where have you been?" Dew Berry asked, "I've seen some of the Bevy members from time to time, even Oza. Where did you go off to?"

"You've seen Oza?" Pea asked amazed, "How is the old lizard?"

"He's been looking for you," Dew Berry said, "He was the only one strong enough to handle himself after the Bevy was broken up," She shook off the heavy memory, "He's going to be so happy to see you when he comes back."

"What about Rochi?" Pea blurted, "Wouldn't my mercenaries follow him after me?"

"He's gone too," Dew Berry lowered her voice, "I haven't heard from him in a long time. Last I heard he was off hunting… you know who."

In her mind, Pea was unsure of how to relay the news of their group's mortal enemy's new location. She decided to switch the subject, "That blue bastard won't stand a chance with our Rochi after him, "I know he can do anything, just you wait," She beamed. Pea smiled a bright smile, one that hadn't been on her face in years. She relayed the story of her in Equestria to her friend, even some of the local stories and legends of magic and friendship. Dew Berry wasn't sure if these stories were fact or fiction, but she didn't care. She was just amazed and relieved to finally see her best friend again.


Dew Berry was still shaken up by reuniting with her old friend, "I-It's a bit much to take in at once...if only Joe was here to see you..."

Pea Gravel's eyes widened, "What did you say?"

Dew Berry shrank a bit, her happiness wore off to show her loneliness, "He… he died five years ago. We couldn't go back to a farm life after meeting you, so we took off on our own. He helped me and I helped him… then..."

Pea Gravel grabbed Dew Berry's cloak collar desperately, "Then what? Tell me goddammit!"

"We came across some centaurs… they were part of the Torrent," Dew Berry was choked up again. This time from a horrific memory, "I… I can't tell you Pea, this is such a happy moment..."

Pea Gravel's green eyes burned an angry mint color, "What happened to Joe?"

Dew Berry shoved Pea Gravel away with a crestfallen look, "They executed him, alright? Happy?"

Dew Berry's push barely moved the cyber mare, "How did he die?" she asked flatly.

"He didn't want to work for them… so… so they wanted to make an example for everypony else," Dew wept, "They gutted him, Pea Gravel! He gutted him like a butcher's pig!" She collapsed again from remembering the sight she was forced to watch. 

Daring Do looked at Pea Gravel, she had a murderous look in those green eyes. Daring Do had seen this look when a few lizards attacked her and Rainbow Dash and when the abominable Lepuric attacked all three of them, it was a look that would make any right thinking fighter think twice. She looked down to her weeping friend who meekly looked up at the grey mare.

"Dew Berry," Pea Gravel said gravely, "Where is 'He'?"

"I don't know! It's been a whole two years," Dew Berry shouted, "They could be anywhere!"

"A name," Pea Gravel gritted her teeth.

Dew Berry was to shaken up to think quickly, "He… his name… his name w-was N… Naditabirus. He's a disciple of Tirek, like Belial."

Daring Do was timid to ask the cyber mare, "P-Pea Gravel… what are you planning on?"

Pea Gravel popped her neck,"I'm gonna gut that mother fucker, just like he did to Joe. If you want to sightsee, stay here with Dew Berry. I'm going after him."

Dew Berry wiped away the tears that were in her eyes, "Wait a second, have you lost your mind? You're gonna leave me after ten damned years? Where are you going, you don't even know where they live!"

"I won't watch you run off again," Daring Do shook her head defiantly, "No way in hell! We came to help you, we're going to finish that to the end!"

Without looking to the other mares Pea Gravel called to them,"Get your shit  together then. We're off to the Centaur's kingdom."


Rainbow Dash hurried up next to the cyber mare, she didn't stop while Rainbow tried to talk to her, "Hold on a second, what about your friends Oza and Rochi?"

Pea Gravel glared at her, "They've taken care of themselves before, they can wait."

Rainbow Dash landed in front of Pea Gravel, "'They can wait'? Are you hearing yourself?" 

Pea Gravel shook her head with a grim smile, "Don't tell me you're trying to stop me are you?"

"No I'm not, you just need to slow down!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "Just think for a second!"

"I have," Pea Gravel growled, "And that Naditabastard needs to die. I'm going to kill his ass with or without you!"

Rainbow Dash tried to keep calm. 'Knocking some sense' into a mare like Pea Gravel was pointless,"If we found Oza and Rochi first, we'd have them to help you avenge Joe. He's their friend too you know!" Rainbow Dash wasn't sure how Pea Gravel would react so she kept on yelling, "When you kill that Nati guy then maybe you could help us too by killing Belial, remember? That guy's trying to get in my home, Tuff's out there and my friends are too."

Pea Gravel stood there breathing heavily, glowering at Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus was intimidated by the mare before her because of what she knew what she could do to someone. Rainbow Dash still stood though, "Pea Gravel, are you still going?"

Pea Gravel reached into her pack and rummaged around a bit. She fished out a jar and took out one of the small green fruits inside, "Give me a second," She growled. Pea tossed one of the fruits into her mouth and chewed while putting the jar back in her pack. In seconds her anger and bitterness melted away and was now giggling like a drunkard, "Whut where we doin'?"

"Never mind," Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her shoulder, "Let's find a place to sleep, okay?"

Daring Do grabbed her gear and Rainbow's and met up with them, "Dew Berry?" She asked, "Do you know of a place we could stay the night?"

Dew Berry trotted up to the front of the group, "Sure thing, I'll show you to the farm I work in."


The hills the four mares were walking through grew less dry, now bearing trees and tough grass. Behind them was a expanse of hills that led to a savanna they had encountered a monster in. Ahead of them the world looked almost...civilized.

At the rear of the party a fatigued Rainbow Dash groaned, "How much further to your place?"

Dew Berry looked back, "No no, sweetie it's a human's place, not mine. They're… nice, once you get to know them."

Pea Gravel smiled grimly, "You want me to help you 'inherit' that farm?"

"You haven't changed a bit," Dew shook her head, "We're tied to the land, the lord of the keep would have us killed if we tried to leave..." she suddenly became quiet.

"Can he regrow torn off heads?" Pea asked with a wild look, "I doubt it."

"It sounds like living with humans is tough… how have you managed it?" Daring Do asked.

"We don't live with them," Dew Berry to the others, "We just do farm work and they provide some protection. It's a very simple system when you think about it."

"When do you think we'll see Oza again?" Pea Gravel asked, "We need to find him."

"I'm not sure," Dew Berry said solemnly, "I just hope you can find him."


If Pea wasn't as high as a kite she'd keep talking, but the effects of the Jade Cactus Fruit were powerful and suppressing. The four mares became silent as they continued through the green hills. The trees and grass showed that summer was coming to an end in 'The Wild', Autumn was coming and with it all of it's harvest bounty. Through the yellowing leaves, the faint outline of several houses and large fields came into view with a large square building at the center.

The fortress had a keep it it's center three stories of brick and stone, matching the walls that surrounded it. Around the walls was the farmland; here stretched fields of corn, wheat, some gourds and apple orchards with farmers and ponies tending the fields and orchard trees. Ponies pulling plows with a human keeping the plows straight or simply whipping the ponies into 'shape'. As the four mares walked through the dirt paths that led through farmer's huts, Rainbow Dash noticed that there were very few unicorns and pegasus, for what reasons she didn't know. In fact the equines in she saw were much bigger than any she had seen, bigger than even the Saddle Arabians. As they traveled further, she felt like a very little pony.

"Which house is yours?" Daring Do asked.

Dew Berry smiled sheepishly as they approached an empty looking wooden hut, "Here it is."

Pea Gravel and the two pegasi followed Dew Berry as she opened the door to her hut. The interior was simple looking at best. There was a stone fireplace with a large face for cooking, a dirt floor, a window across from the door, dried plants and vegetables hug on the ceiling's rafters, and a few chests with Dew's belongings. Built near the fireplace was a set of walls with a door.

Rainbow Dash wasn't expecting such a plain house, "Umm...nice place you got here."

"That's very kind of you," She looked at the bedroom door with a worried face,"Girls… someone's here..." The door was half open and the house was quiet.

The drug's effects began wearing off on Pea Gravel, "What do you mean?" she whispered, "What would you have to steal?"

"I made sure to close that door, I checked twice" Dew Berry looked frightened. Negative thoughts and worse case scenarios rung in her head, "Not many of the villagers like us here, we've gotten several threats" she gasped, "Maybe someone's trying to murder Wheat Biscuit while he's sleeping!"

Daring Do shook her head, "Who's Wheat Biscuit?"

Dew Berry blushed with embarrassment, "I… I've been lonely okay? I needed someone!"


A low noise came from the room, almost a yawn. Pea Gravel dropped her gear, grabbing a sword she bolted to the door. She shouted as she jumped into the room and held her sword up to the first thing in front of her. Her adrenaline slowed and she took in her candle lit surroundings, the room was small and cramped with a large bed at the other end of the door. 
On it was this 'Wheat Biscuit', a handsome looking orange farm pony. He slept peacefully, Dew Berry's light blue bandanna was tied around his gold mane.  She didn't realize that Dew Berry would be with other stallions after Joe, even though she knew Dew needed somepony to live with...it made her sick to her stomach. 

Pea Gravel nodded and left the bedroom quickly. She stumbled out of the bedroom and shut the door behind her. The other mares stared at her with worried looks, "Was there a murder in there?" Dew Berry gasped,"Did you get him?"

Pea Gravel glared at her old friend,"Who's that candy ass faggot in there?"

"Wha..." Dew Berry looked a little guilty, "I'm lonely out here, Pea Gravel! You expect me to live alone happily, while you have my son?"

"I'm not saying you should be lonely but," She looked back to the door, "He's such a...cream-puff."

Dew Berry stamped her hoof, "You have a lot of damn gall Pea Gravel, telling me how to pick my men. What about Rochi, eh? Where's he?"


Before Pea could lash back a little sound came from the door.  The four mares looked to see a little red-orange colt with a gold mane, he looked about five or six years old. Pea Gravel looked closer at the timid little foal and saw that his eyes were the very same blue eyes as Dew Berry's and Tuff's. The colt looked to Dew Berry with a sheepish look.

"Mamma, who're they?"  the colt asked.

Dew Berry bit her lip, "Come inside, mommy need to talk with one of her friends outside."

"Okay!" The colt chirped.

Dew Berry smiled as she watched the colt trot inside. She saw the heated glare from her grey furred friend, "Who's kid is that Dew?" Pea Gravel asked quietly.

"You and I are coming outside," Dew Berry huffed angrily. The two mares walked out of earshot and the red mare let out what she had to say,"I don't see why you're have a problem with me having a new family. I was so lonely without Joe… Wheat… he filled the gap," She smiled like a love-struck foal, "Before I knew it I had a home with a stallion who provides and protects me and our son."

"How can you sleep at night?" Pea Gravel punched the ground, "Joe's probably rolling in his grave while you're getting rutted by some pretty boy farmer!"

Daring Do and Rainbow Dash knew that the talk between them was only going to get worse. The two mares set their packs against the wall of the hut and sat next to the fireplace, safe from the barrage of shouts between the mares. The little red-orange colt looked at the two Equestrians as if he had never seen ponies with wings before. They smiled awkwardly, as the two mares argued with each other outside.

Meanwhile outside, the two mares continued shouting at one another, "'Rutting me'?" Dew Berry asked with a venomous scowl, "What are you trying to get at? Are you trying to say I'm some whore who would just ride any boy's cock for a place to sleep?"

"At least, I've been trying to get the Bevy back together!" Pea Gravel snorted, "You've been playing mother dearest with some limp dick dirt digging land crawler."

Dew Berry glared, "'Land Crawler'? Are you serious? That's what holier-than-thou warlords call ponies like us. What happened to you, you're no better than those Centaurs who've been marauding the countryside," Her body shook with disbelief and anger. She had no idea reuniting with her old friend would be this strenuous.

"I've been trying to get us back together," Pea Gravel said with half a smile, "I wanted to take all of you back to Equestria where we could just grow old together and not worry about wars or monsters..."

"You can't be serious," Dew Berry shook her head, "I have a family now, I can't just leave them!"

Pea Gravel groaned, "Fine! We'll take them  too."

Dew Berry folded her arms with a frown, "Why didn't you mention that earlier, could've saved us a lot of grief."

"So you'll come with me?" Pea Gravel asked as if their argument never happened, "You'll ride off with me one last time?"

"I'll have to talk to Wheat Biscuit," Dew Berry put a hoof to her chin and pondered, "And get an apology from you."

Pea Gravel lifted Dew high into the air with glee,"Alright!"

Dew Berry frowned and Pea put her back down, "I'm still mad at you. I'll go talk to Biscuit, you wait here."

The cyber mare sat on her haunches quickly while Dew Berry went back inside to the sleeping stallion. She sat for awhile just waiting, not sure how long Dew would be in there. Thoughts of her relaxing with what was left of her former crew on some Equestrian beach made her smile, even if she had to be around these two strangers. Thinking more she wondered how Tuff would react to his new found step brother, would he be okay with it or be bitter to him.

Pea Gravel grew wide eyed thinking about Oza and Rochi. The orange and white dragon was older now, he was on the edge of being a teenager when she met him. As they fought in the Breakneck Bevy together he had become bigger and sometimes walked on all fours like an adult dragon. Had ten years pushed him into adulthood? Would he even remember her or would he just eat her?

What about Rochi? He had wanted to make a kingdom of his own, a road like that is a dangerous one. He may have already become wealthy and powerful already and not need Pea Gravel or care to see her, or he may have died on the way to a throne. Dew Berry had mentioned that he was hunting Volm, had he made it to Equestria too? If not… how would Dew Berry react to hearing about him in the same area as her son?

Pea pawed at her head as these negative thoughts burned into her brain. In the doorway was Wheat Biscuit and the colt, they may have been there for a while but she hadn't noticed. Pea Gravel pulled away from them in surprise. Now getting a better look he was a large equine, almost as big as Celestia. He was no Joe but being a horse his stature was enough. Pea internally groaned at the idea of Dew Berry only being interested in larger stallions.

"Hold on there friend," he smiled, "Can't have my girl's best friend be afraid of me. My name's Wheat Biscuit, but Dew probably already told ya that."

Pea Gravel nodded hesitantly, "Yeah… she did mention a new boy in her life."

"You mean Cardinal?" Wheat Biscuit motioned to the small colt, "He's our pride and joy."

Pea Gravel forced a smile to them, "Can I talk to you for a moment… alone?"

"Of course," Wheat Biscuit nodded, "Cardinal, head back inside okay?"

Once the colt went inside Pea Gravel kept herself from pummeling the farm horse, "I have an offer for you..."


> 15) Hearth's Warming Eve
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was Hearth's Warming Eve in Ponyville. The Ponyville Elementary was putting on a pageant dramatically retelling the story of the three pony tribes, The Cutie Mark Crusaders had leading roles and took up every moment of performing. Sweetie Bell subtly waved to Rarity and the rest in the audience while Apple Bloom got a wink from her sister. Not having Rainbow Dash there to see her onstage, Scootaloo felt crushed. In a few rows behind Twilight and the others sat Tuff Boulder wearing a blue jacket. He smiled and it lit Scootaloo's spirit up just enough.

After the show, Twilight and the others waited outside for the Crusaders. There was a light blanket of snow on the land under the moonlight creating a friendly glow. Twilight watched all of the school fillies walked out with their parents, each was bundled up in some sort of winter wear. Once the Crusaders came out Applejack hugged her little sister while Rarity praised Sweetie Bell's craftsmanship on her show dress. Scootaloo looked around in the winter night and sure enough, Tuff Boulder came out with something hidden in his jacket.

"Hey there Tuff," Scootaloo chirped, "Whacha got there?"

Tuff had a bashful look, "It's a present… for you and the Crusaders."

Scootaloo gasped, "Oh, we got you something too! Come on to the tree house tomorrow and we'll show you."

Tuff patted the hidden present, "I guess we'll just exchange tomorrow then?"

Scootaloo was about to nod when a surprise came from down the road. The mare Lily was running up to them. She had an amazed look on her face, "Come on! Hurry, you'll miss it!" She cried.

"Miss what, Lily?" Twilight asked.

"It's that Volm guy," Lily pointed back at Ponyville,"He's got some friends with him and...and..." she she stuttered, something either amazed or traumatized her.

"Spit it out!" Applejack said worriedly ,"Is something wrong or not?"

Lily stood there gasping for a few moments, "It's… it's about Stellar Eclipse, you need to see this!" She said wide eyed and turned back to Ponyville.


Applejack looked to the others, "Does a 'Stellar Eclipse' ring any bells for y'all?"

Fluttershy thought back,"He was the stallion with wheels strapped to him, "She gasped," Do you think something awful happened?!"

"We should go anyway," Twilight said sternly, "Maybe something is wrong," The rest nodded and ran along with her to the town.


While they ran the short distance to main Ponyville Applejack became skeptical, "Lily mentioned 'tall thingies'. What you yall think she meant 'bout that?"

Fluttershy's ears perked up, "Oh! Maybe it's Wednesday."

"Is he that mask wearing blanket chap you told us about?" Rarity asked.

Fluttershy nodded, "Yes. I saw him give dozens of carrots to Angel Bunny right out of his hand… maybe he can do that with other things too?"

"We're about to find out," Twilight said as they turned a corner to the town hall. There they saw everypony living in Ponyville all in a state of wonder. At the front were all sorts of ponies who looked sick or crippled, from crutches to wheelchairs and even some broken wings. Volm and two masked figures stood on a stage overlooking them. Standing next to Volm with a beaming smile was the crippled stallion Stellar Eclipse. Twilight was shocked to see what was different about him.  Stumbling forward to get a better look, the change was unmistakable. 

His once crippled back legs were gone; replaced.

They were metal, all the way to the hips. The design was remarkably familiar, almost too familiar. The thighs were connected to a brass looking ring on the hips, while being covered in a plate of metal. The rest of the leg was bare bones with the mechanisms to move it. The stallion beamed like a pony born anew while Volm had an arm over his shoulder with a similar smile.

Volm called out like one of the Flim Flam brothers, "What you see is true, this stallion can walk again! Show em' Stellar."

The jubilant pegasus strutted on the little stage, his mechanical legs moving as smoothly as any natural ones. The ponies marveled at the exposed mechanics, the dark muscle looking wires curling and uncurling every step. Applejack had seen shows like this in the past, may con-artists had come along to try to take advantage of the quaint town. Even though her eyes told her otherwise she told herself the metal legs had to be fake. Applejack marched through the crowd and looked Volm in the eye from on the ground.

"Alright mister," She frowned, "Is this some sort of scam? How's this possibly happening?"

"Why so rough, Applejack?" Volm seemed taken back, "My friends and I have given a cripple the gift of walking again. Is that so wrong?"

"Not at all," Applejack said, a little embarrassed at her bluntness, "It's just that we've had so many no good con-artists here… Ah'm a bit uneasy about this whole thing."

Stellar laughed happily, "It's no scam Applejack! These are real mechanical legs, not a costume or stage magic."

Applejack scowled cynically, "Alright… prove it."

Volm looked to Stellar Eclipse, "May I?" Stellar nodded vigorously.


The large plate of metal over the thigh and flank was unlatched revealing a ball and socket joint with some extra 'tendons' attaching the thigh to the hip. Twisting a ring around the fake muscle the leg came loose. Wednesday lifted the detached leg up for all to see while Stellar Eclipse was using Volm to keep him standing. Applejack felt a little sick seeing a missing leg on a pony, but believed them undoubtedly now.


Sliding up from Friday's palm in an otherworldly way, a fat apple made of gold manifested. Applejack gasped with wonder and the apple was placed on top of her hat. She slid it down, catching it she simply gawked at it.


"Now you believe?" Volm folded his arms, "I can fix anypony or improve them. All they have to do is ask."

Twilight frowned understandingly, "What do you mean...improve?"

"I mean that I could make ponies stronger, your highness," Volm bowed, "If you don't mind, I'll see to it that the rest of whoever needs prosthesis."

Several ponies in wheelchairs raised their hooves in the air to be picked. Volm had them come forward in a line to write their name on a list, so he could work on them later. The list grew longer and the crowd slowly dwindled as the cold winter night drug on. Twilight wasn't sure how to react to ponies signing away their names on a list like that, even if it meant they'd get better. She had a gut feeling that this could be bad.

The crowd was gone after about an hour, ending with Stellar Eclipse flying away. Twilight, the Crusaders and her friends watched the last of the ponies leave before talking with the blue green creature. They made their way forward and Friday made his way to them. Friday's height blocked out the street lights as he stood over them, his purple eyes were borderline dangerous. His eyes twitched and blinked, scanning the ponies eerily.

"Easy Friday, their just friends," Volm said warmly. The towering figure slid to the side and Volm walked up to Twilight with a happy grin.

"That was really something!" Pinkie Pie said.

Volm grinned, "Thank you, Pinkie Pie. Now I do have one present, it's a very special one..." He nodded the two masked figures over," Understand that I'd only give this special gift to my best friends, you ponies," Volm said with a sheepish smile.

"No problem," Twilight giggled, "Just doing our job."

Volm looked around and whispered, "My friends here can grant one wish. Just one though."

The mares and fillies gasped, a wish? They talked among themselves about what to wish for, but nothing quite came to mind. Sweetie Belle noticed that Scootaloo wasn't in their circle. She looked out to see the orange filly quietly sniffling away from the rest.

"Scootaloo?" She asked, "What's wrong?" The rest of the ponies turned to look.

"I… I have a wish..."Scootaloo was holding back tears.

Volm hopped over and smiled to the filly, "Just name it, we'll give it to you."

Scootaloo looked up to Volm with a pensive look,"I… I wish… I wish Rainbow Dash was back..."

The smile on Volm's face faded. Twilight, her friends and the other two crusaders were very happy to hear Scootaloo's wish. Volm however, had a melancholy look. He sighed and bit his thumb. Scootaloo held her breath to hear the answer.

Volm shook his head sorrowfully, "I'm sorry, little one, that's a wish we can't grant..."

Scootaloo was crushed, "W-what?! What do you mean you can't?! Why can't you bring Rainbow Dash home?!" She cried out.

Volm sat on the snowy ground and sighed, "She's simply too far away. They can't reach her, I'm sorry. You do understand… don't you?"

Scootaloo was completely aghast. The thought of her idol being too far away for a wish was too much for the little filly to handle. She broke down and began to cry. Friday pulled away, not knowing how to react while Applebloom and Sweetie Bell rushed to their friend. The two fillies hugged Scootaloo tight, trying to calm her down. Volm rubbed his neck in thought. Volm's cheery looks were fading, a very annoyed and almost worried look was on his face.

"Well, if everypony's been accounted for we'll get going," Volm stood up, "It's been a long night. Come on fellas, it's bedtime."

Scootaloo fluttered over to Volm and hugged his chest, "Wait! This isn't fair, why can't I get my wish?"

Volm patted her back, "What else do you want?" He gingerly placed her on the ground.

"Can we at least see her?" Applejack asked. The rest of the ponies nodded in agreement.

Volm looked to the masked figures. Wednesday bent down made a snow ball, throwing it up into the air the snow expanded. It made something similar to a screen and the ponies gazed into it. The image was a bit fuzzy but what was there was real. Rainbow Dash and Daring Do were sneaking around in some dark library. Her eyes were so much different than what they were used to, her eyes looked jaded like the cyber mare's.

Volm clenched his teeth. Snapping his fingers he said, "Wednesday! Friday! Let's go."

To the ponies surprise, the image disappeared. The two masked figures slid over to his side but the ponies were far from done seeing their friend. The strange trio waved to Scootaloo and then vanished into thin air before anypony could grab them. 




Volm and his subordinates were now miles outside of Ponyville. Being out of ponies' view made him shiver with relief. In the dark snowy night a twisted light returned to his eyes. When he popped his knuckles his subordinates flinched, "Such a whiny brat, she almost ruined everything… snotty bitch!"

After his verbal outburst he reared his back with a deep breath. He began walking through the fields that surrounded Ponyville as if nothing happened. He began to talk to himself, "Oh dear, I promised Pea Gravel I wouldn't mess with anything while I was here," He spat on the ground and the snow sizzled, "Ah fuck that. Imagine the look on her face..." He wasn't going anywhere, just walking. His cold eyes darted up to the moon. It's silver glow started to light up the snowy field brightly, so much that it was suspicious.
"Luna," Volm grimaced. 

A winged figure flew from the moon, Luna glided down to the ground near Volm. She could tell he was out of sorts,"What is this? Does something trouble you Volm? You look frightful."

Volm rolled his neck, shaking away his ill mood, "My apologies your Highness. Tonight has put a toll on my strength."

Luna nodded understandingly, "I see," She then looked critically at him, "It was a foolish notion to bring those 'friends' of yours without informing my sister and I. We do not have an official 'immigration' system. Your friends may be an… issue."

"They bring no ill will, Princess Luna," Volm pleaded, "Don't send them away please? Did you not see how happy your subjects were when they saw their wishes being granted? Don't you want your ponies to be in high spirits?"

"It's always on my mind," Luna squinted, "To me however, they seemed happy enough before."

"...please forgive me, they had no home," Volm gestured the masked figures, "...This was the last place they could go..."

"'Had no home' you say?" Luna asked, "Were they hunted by someone?"

"Yes, anyone who saw them grew delirious with envy," Volm said sadly, "They had been forced to give up immeasurable wealth to their captors..."

Luna smiled,"So you brought them here to keep them safe, that is truly kind of you," She spread her wings,"I was worried about you for a moment, I see that I was mistaken," She looked warmly to the blue green stranger,"Volm… is the rest of your evening open? My sister and I… well the palace is hosting a ball for the holiday..."

Volm pulled on his jacket collar, "My goodness, you're inviting me to the royal castle? I-I'm flattered!"

"So you'll join us?" Luna asked brightly.

"My apologies Princess… I cannot," Volm sighed sadly,"We are very tired..."

"I understand," Luna put on a mock look of despair, "If you had gone though, I'd get to see you dance."

Volm looked bashful, "P-Princess Luna, why are you being so informal? I'm not royalty."

"No, but we have something in common. You and I, we've seen many things," Her friendly look turned into a suspicious one, "To be truthful, I have tried to enter your dreams before..." Volm looked at her unfazed. Luna frowned and continued, "...But I cannot. You have built a wall that even I cannot pass, why is that?"

Volm rubbed his arm, "I have things… things I don't want others to find..."

"I was correct," Luna grinned, "You do have something to hide!"

"No, no… not like that..." The blue green creature looked pitiful, "I don't want anyone to get hurt… that's all..."

"I see," Luna spread her wings, "My condolences. As I mentioned earlier, will you be joining us at the palace?"

"It would be an honor, your majesty," Volm bowed. Luna nodded and took off into the sky. Volm waved after her, "Goodnight, Your Highness!" Once she was a speck in moon's light Volm snarled, Seemed like she was on to me for a sec, guess spending a thousand years on the moon makes you as stupid as a rock, He thought to himself.

Volm turned to his subordinates,"I suppose since it's a ball… you'll need dates to bring," The masked figures looked to each other and shrugged, not really sure how to react. Volm rolled his eyes, "Just go 'pick up' some mares."

As if to say,'Ohhh, okay,' the two masked figures nodded. With a small bow to Volm their black forms turned and headed off. They slid along the ground like giant shadows on their way to commit a malicious deed.

Wednesday arrived in Cloudsdale, his dark shape standing out against the stark white clouds. He stood nearby an area congested with traffic, watching the pegasi fly along. His keen eyes searched out ponies with features that were 'attractive'. One mare that flew by had aquamarine fur and her yellow mane was fixed back. Wednesday waved to the mare to catch her attention.

She stopped flying and landed, "Who me?"

Wednesday nodded and waved for her to come over. She shrugged and trotted over,"Yeah, fella? Did you want something?" Wednesday held a hand out. The mare rose an eyebrow at this, not sure how to take it. Quite to her surprise, red and green candies began spawning from his palm. She looked up at him,"Oh wow! These are all for me?"

Wednesday nodded vigorously. The mare popped one in her mouth and almost squealed with delight, "I've never had candies like these! They're… great..." her voice trailed off. 
Her knees buckled and her vision began to fail her. Before she blacked out completely Wednesday pulled her under his arm and disappeared beneath the cloud city, unseen by the rest of the pegsi. Through a few scattered snow clouds, his figure sailed to earth quickly. Landing on a forest floor, he causing a great gust of wind out from under him. He looked around in the dark night to get his bearings and slid against the ground back the way he came. His figure sailed across the ground like a buzzard's shadow; silent and foreshadowing of what's to come.




Volm was sitting in a tree far outside Ponyville, his eyes glinted like a demonic owl's. The blue green creature sat patiently waiting until his subordinates began sliding into view. Once they were nearby he dropped out of the tree like a cat. The dark trio met up at the base of the tree. Volm grumbled,"Alright, let's see what you caught."

Wednesday lifted his unconscious mare up for Volm to see. He squinted, "I can manage. Friday, show me yours," Friday shifted nervously, keeping his catch hidden behind his back. Volm's stony glare altered, a vein bulged in his neck and forehead, "Show me her, Friday. Now."

Friday hesitantly pulled his catch out from behind his back. He held a pegasus in each hands who were far more than unconscious. Both were dead but only recently though, the trip back was fatal for them. Both faces fixed in gruesomely mortified looks. On one the forehead was caved in at the base of her mane and fresh red blood trailed from her face down to her neck. The other had a nastily bruised neck from being rung like a wet towel. Friday gently put the still warm corpses on the snowy ground between him and his master.

Volm kicked the bodies out of his way, "Come here. Now."

Though he was much shorter than the masked figure, Volm's blood freezing glare commanded Friday to crouch to his level. Friday was in a cold sweat as he was now looking Volm in the eye. The blue green monster grabbed the side of Friday's head, "We needed live ones you fucking idiot!" He used his free hand to bash Friday upside the head several times, "Keep this up and you'll ruin everything," Volm growled.  

Friday was making pitiful whimpering sounds under the beast's gaze. Volm wasn't sure what to do with the pony's corpse. He looked from Wednesday who hid his catch out of the taller one's sight.  The blue green creature shoved Friday aside. Volm thought how the ponies he was living among were acting tonight, it was a night of 'being thankful' and 'loving one another'. He looked at his subordinates, he could tell they were starving for a meal. One that had a precious price to it.

Volm itched his chin devilishly, "Wait a second. Mares disappear sometimes, don't they?" Friday nodded maliciously. Volm made a twisted grin,"Then I suppose there's a Hearth's Warming dinner waiting for you boys. I'll take yours, Wednesday and you can dig in."

Wednesday gingerly handed his catch to his master, who tossed her over his back like a sack of potatoes. Volm went further into the forest in Canterlot's direction and called back to them, "Make sure you two clean up afterwards. Don't want anypony finding out about this."

Friday eyed the two dead mares hungrily. Wednesday wasn't as keen on eating, but his natural instincts got the better of him. Out from under their masks a slit of a mouth opened, taking in the smell of still warm meat. Friday's little mouth began to open wider and wider. It was a gaping maw with wedge teeth and a massive lumpy tongue. His tawny arms grabbed a mare and his jaws ripped off a hind limb. The equine's flesh was easily torn by his jaw's interlocking teeth. Friday leaned his head back and chewed the leg, savoring the taste of red meat. The sound of chewing and his pleasured grunts were spine chilling. Crimson rivers dripped out of the corners of his hideous maw.

Wednesday nipped some meat of the pegasus' back and his blue eyes shrank to tiny dots. His mouth opened up like the Friday's and began biting off strips of meat off the other pegasus. Friday didn't want his counterpart to eat anymore then him so he too, dived in and bit away. The two dark figures ripped and bit at the corpses like starved dogs, blood splattering up on their alabaster white masks and snow. In a matter of seconds, by yanking out guts and scooping out the brains hidden away,  the once graceful looking mares were now nothing more then bloodied bones. The gnawed pony framework lay in the blood melted snow, however the masked beasts were far from satisfied. The bones could be eaten too, the two monstrous figures chewed the blood covered skeletons greedily. Seeing as this would be their only 'real' meal in a long time the two monstrosities relished every drop of blood and every morsel of flesh, down to the bone marrow.


Meanwhile, Volm was playing in the forest. The unconscious mare Wednesday caught was laying on her back over a bed of pine leaves. Volm pawed her unconscious and warm body, not concerned of the consequences. His teeth were locked into a terrifying smile. He placed his six fingered hand over her temple, "Let's change your mind up a bit… I'm not one to cut corners," He cackled. He explored her mind like an open book,"Oh ho! Your name's Lightning Dust, what a cutie… and in the Wonderbolt reserve? Impressive. You'll fit the bill nicely..." 

Volm's magic was strange; unnatural. Through his touch on her head, dark energy was being channeled. He began to hum with the flow like a conductor music. Inside the mare's brain Volm had tiny lines weaving through her mentality; rewiring it. The invisible fibers twisted through her brain and body locking onto thoughts and muscles, a process that was far from painless. The pegasus' eyes shot open and saw the beast.

Now wide awake, Lightning Dust could feel the strings and wires burrowing and searching throughout her body and mind. If she could open her mouth, Lightning Dust would scream… but Volm already took care of that. She still struggled, she kicked and beat her wing but it was useless. Her body began working against her and slowly she could move less and less of herself. The last thing she did consciously was see Volm while her vision blacked out. Lighting Dust lay limp.

Lightning Dust was now a very different mare. He morphed her into nothing more than an autonomous puppet. Once his gruesome task was done he pulled his hand away from her head and her body lay still. She went back to looking asleep, in a way. Volm scooted away from Lightning Dust,"Dust honey, wake up," he said sweetly.

Lightning Dust sat up like one waking up from a long nap,"Oh man, I had a great nap," She looked around at the forest, "Wh… what? I thought we were in Cloudsdale. How'd we get here?"

Volm reached over and helped her stand up, "You fell asleep earlier. Princess Luna invited us to Canterlot, remember?"

Lightning Dust giggled, "Oh right, right! How could I forget?"

Volm looked behind his shoulder, "Hang on, gotta check on the boys. Be right back."

Lightning Dust sighed happily, "Oh those two. Make sure they didn't make a mess of themselves at the ball."

Volm headed back to the figures, "You bet, sugarcube," Volm was walking back to his subordinates with a wicked grin. 

He found them licking blood off the ground. The blue green creature looked to Wednesday, "You, you did a good job. She's perfect," Wednesday's eyes returned to their big friendly shape and Friday growled at him. Volm butted in, "You should learn a thing or two from your younger brother. Get that blood off you, we're leaving."

As Volm turned to leave, Friday used his large tongue to lick the last of blood off himself, Wednesday wiped himself off in the snow. Friday scooped up the equine's bones and tossed them into his mouth, his appetite still not quenched. They both trailed behind Volm, awaiting what to do next.


Volm returned to Lightning Dust in the forest, "Alright, let's go. The Princesses are waiting!"

Lightning Dust looked at herself, "I don't have a dress for the ball...are you sure they'd be okay with that?"

"That's not a problem for me," Volm waved his hand. Wednesday swept over and lay his hands on Lightning Dust. Magically a sparkling dress of gold materialized onto her. 

Friday lay his hands on Volm's shoulders and two piece suit that matched her dress appeared on him,"Happy Hearth's Warming honey!" he smiled.

Lightning Dust giggled and kissed Volm on his lips, "Thanks V!"

Volm touched his face numbly, expecting her to act the way he intended but wasn't prepared for it. He thought about what his plans were for this mare and he shivered. Shaking off his shock he took up Lightning Dust's hoof, "Let's go."



Before she knew it, Lightning Dust and Volm were in front of The Canterlot Palace. Wednesday and Friday were behind her and Volm, looking polished and clean. Walking inside were ponies of all prestige, along with some rich or powerful figures from Equestria's neighboring kingdoms. They saw ponies, griffons even a yak or two.  Volm and Lightning Dust began walking inside, heads held high. Inside there were droves of ponies dancing to a slow waltz, their dresses and tails sweeping the stone floor to the swaying music.

Through a crowd of ponies they saw the four princesses standing on a stairwell, looking over the event. Luna looked across the plaza to see the strange group of four entering. She nudged Celestia and the two princesses waved at the pair. Twilight only looked for a moment, she was too busy looking at the crowd.

"Is something wrong?" Cadence asked her sister in law, "Who are you looking for?"

"My friends from here but especially Moondancer," Twilight hid her nervousness, "She promised she'd be here..."

Celestia made a reassuring smile, "I'm sure she'll turn up," She leaned over to her sister, "Do you see that mare with Volm? It would seems she's his-"

"-Significant other?" Luna finished, seeing how Lightning Dust looked up at Volm as they walked, "It certainly looks like it."

Cadence was puzzled, "I've never seen them together before. I guess our new citizen has a liking to athletic mares."

Twilight waved to ponies in the slow dancing crowd so the alicorns didn't look suspicious whispering to each other, "Should we be worried about those tall mask wearing creatures, I saw them in Ponyville. What if they end up like the Smooze..."

"Don't worry,"Luna chuckled, "They're harmless, Volm promised me."

Marching through the crowd, Volm and his party sauntered up to the staircase and all four bowed to the Princesses, "As promised, Princess Luna, I'm here."

Luna nodded knowingly ,"I see, and you have brought a mare to dance with?"

Lightning Dust blushed, "Well...we're more than dancing partners..."

Twilight widened her eyes,"D-don't tell me… Lightning Dust… you're dating-"

"Yep, for more than a month now," Lightning Dust said happily. She covered her mouth quickly, "Oops! I shouldn't have been so loud. We wanted to keep it down, you know, about us."

Volm shrugged, "I didn't want anypony prying in on my little Dusty, you know, since I'm not...'normal looking'."

"You don't need to be so shy about it," Cadence smiled, "I wish the best of luck to you two love birds."

Volm and Lightning Dust bowed to the princess. Turning back to the crowd, Volm took up one of Dust's hooves and they joined the waltzing ponies. Hand in hoof, the two danced close to one another. Lightning Dust's amber eyes gazed up at the yellow pair gazing back. Something hen her mind registered that this was as great, or ever greater then flying sky high with the Wonderbolts. Some looked in surprise or resentment to see a pony dancing with this stranger, others were envious that he was dancing with just her.

While close to Volm, Lightning Dust sighed, "I know this sounds kinda dumb… but even after we've been dating for what seems like forever, but I still feel like I just met you."

Volm gave her a twirl, "I get that a lot."

"So… um,"Lightning Dust tensed up shyly,"Can we… you know.. .let other ponies know about us? I'm dying to tell some of my friends about you!"


Later, Lightning Dust chatted with some ponies she knew at by the refreshments. Volm leaned against a wall out of direct view with his subordinates on either side. Lightning Dust was talking away about the 'times' she had spent with Volm, a fishing trip where a shark hit their boat, romantic picnics, hiking in Equestria's mountains, sightseeing some of the major cities and more. Volm hid a wicked smile under glass of cider, his plan to cement Equestrian sympathy was coming along nicely.

The night drug on slowly but nicely, Lightning Dust introduced Volm to her friends and even some  Spitfire and the Wonderbolts. The Wonderbolts didn't find Volm's non-equine figure too daunting, they shook his hand and chatted like he was one of their own. Meeting other ponies and griffons at the ball, Volm made acquaintances from one side of Equestria to the other. Even the yaks seemed to enjoy his company. Through the night, much was drunk and many friends were made but as all things do, the party came to an end.

It was very late when the tired guests began marching out of the castle. On leaving the castle, Volm asked Lightning Dust to stay with Friday and Wednesday. She did so but with a puppy look as if time away from him was torture. Waving back to her Volm ran off to the Wonderbolts who were a ways ahead.

Spitfire was the first to see him coming,"Hey, Volm. Whacha doin'?"

Volm was catching his breath in winter air, "Good, I know it's a bit abrupt to ask you and your team anything, since we just met and all..."

Spitfire chuckled, "Cut to the chase, kid."

Volm gulped nervously, "It's… er… well… it's Lightning Dust's birthday in two weeks, I was wondering if you and your team could help me out?"

"Like what?" one of the uniformed pegsi asked.

"Could you let her in on a flight routine with you?" Volm asked, "I know it's kind of a big favor to ask, if you need to be payed I can provide."

"You don't need to pay us to fly with her, she's been cleaning up her act since she first entered," Spitfire said with a smile, "I think Lightning Dust could keep up with us. Right guys?"

The rest of the Wonderbolts with her nodded. Volm took up one of Spitfire's hooves, "Oh thank you! Thank you!" He kissed her hoof and ran off down the snowy road. Spitfire chuckled to herself and motioned the rest of the Wonderbolts to take off into the sky.

Volm came back to Lightning Dust and his subordinates with a tired look. Lightning Dust ran up to him and clung to his chest, "I saw you talking with Spitfire… did I do something wrong?"

Volm patted her head, "No, I just needed to ask them something."

The mare looked up with a pouting lip,"You're not telling me, are you?"

Volm smiled sweetly and put an arm over her shoulder, "You'll find out later, let's go home okay?"

> 16) One More for the Road
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Inside a little farmhouse, a debate on weather Dew Berry and her new family should follow Pea Gravel was taking place. The promise of living in Equestria was tempting but the road was dangerous. On top of the things to deal with, Pea Gravel still wanted to look for Oza and Rochi, a task that may take up several weeks. Cardinal's parents said he wasn't quite old enough to deal with life on the road. To the contrary, Tuff Bolder had been wandering with Pea Gravel since he was about three. Daring Do was willing to help the family back, if she needed. Pea Gravel rejected that since there was danger everywhere, they might as well stay as a group. 

The ponies were all inside the farm hut talking or arguing. Rainbow Dash had grown tired of the talk, "Alright, are we leaving or not?"

"It's a possibility," Wheat Biscuit pursed his lips, "But I'm needed for the harvest, could we at least wait until then?"

"Good idea," Dew Berry nodded, "We could stock up some extra food and supplies for the trip. What do you think, Pea Gravel?"

"Fine," Pea Gravel sighed, "You need me to plow?"

"If you want," Wheat Biscuit chuckled, "You look tough enough for it."


Daring Do watched the ponies talk and talk. Being out here, she'd begun to miss reading books or studying artifacts. The farm was owned by a fortress nearby, maybe they had a library with interesting books or documents. She was didn't like the idea of going out in the fort alone though, she had no idea if it would be safe or not. She decided to ask Pea Gravel," Umm...can I ask you something?"

"What?" Pea Gravel asked sourly.

"Would there be anything wrong with me going into the fort and look for a library?" Daring Do smiled, "It's been awhile since I read a good book."

The cyber mare rubbed her face tiredly, "Places with books are kinda only for humans out here. They'd see you as a piece of farm equipment really, unless you met one who likes ponies a lot," Pea Gravel shrugged, "If you're careful and sneaky you could probably get in. You're an adventuress right? It should be a piece of cake."

"I'm not sure," Dew Berry pondered, "I've only seen the library once or twice, it's in the hold at the center of the fortress. You know, where the lord of the fort lives." 

"I've gone incognito before," Daring Do straightened up her signature hat with a grin,"I'm sure I could manage."

"That's good to hear," Pea Gravel chuckled, "At least be back in one piece, okay?"

Daring Do nodded with a childish grin and waved as she went out the front door. Rainbow Dash wasn't sure if she should follow her or not, "Do you guys need me here?" She asked.

"Nah," Pea Gravel waved at her while still looking at the couple, "Just try not to die, okay?"

Rainbow Dash groaned and went after Daring Do. Following her up the dirt path through the fields, she felt somewhat relived. Daring smiled brightly when she saw her.

"I don't think they have any Daring Do books in there," The adventuress giggled.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes,"Oh stop it," She looked at the guards men standing on the ramparts on the walls and in front of the gate. With a sly grin she looked over to Daring Do, "Wanna just fly over? I think if were fast enough they won't see us."

Daring Do spread her wings, “Try to keep up!"


They both took to the sky in a quick burst. In the fields farmers watched in amazement as the flying horses flew overhead. Up in the air, the two mares looked down at the fortress. At the center was the biggest building and several smaller ones cramped between it and the walls. They quickly made their descent, avoiding the sentries' looks. They landed in a garden next to the keep. 

It was rather green for autumn, and greener than anyplace they had seen on their trip. There were bushes of flowers and trees with little apples growing on them. The walls around the keep's garden felt suffocating how confined the place looked, Daring Do wondered how anyone could stand living in such tight spaces. Tending some flowers was a human girl, wearing a dress similar to what Rarity would make. Next to her was a silver unicorn, a very frail and downtrodden look was on his face.His mane was a pale lavender, almost white and his cutie mark was a cup on a tray. Adding to his appearance was that he wore a tight leather collar around his neck with a loop for a leash. 

The mares tried to hide from them by crouching behind a bush, but Rainbow Dash's mane stuck out like a sore thumb. The little girl kept sitting on the ground looking at the flowers and petting the unicorn, the unicorn himself however was looking at something else. The Equestrians were still very new to humans and not exactly fans of how they war mongered the land. Getting a good look at the human she was only inches taller than the ponies, same with the unicorn. The two mares knew if they were to be found, nothing good would come of it.

The unicorn looked over at them through the brush. His sad opal eyes were fixed on them. He did nothing to warn the girl of their presence, he just stared. His almost envious look made Rainbow Dash's skin crawl. A shout from inside the keep perked up the girl's head. She said something back in a language the mares didn't understand. Getting up she led the unicorn over to a loop on the wall surrounding the garden. She tied a leash to his collar and went inside, once she was gone he lay on the ground like a tired dog.

Rainbow Dash and Daring Do looked to each other and silently debated about confronting him. Eventually they agreed and stealthily made their way near him.

"Don't bother," he said sadly,"I know you're there."

"It's not you you're worried about," Rainbow Dash whispered harshly, "It's the monkeys."

The unicorn sighed, "They're having lunch right about now. They won't be over here for hours."

Rainbow Dash poked her head out of a flower bush next to him, "Then why don't you escape?"

"Escape?" The unicorn tugged weakly at the leash, "I'm no more than a pet here. A house cat can't live in the fields with wolves."

Rainbow Dash grinned at Daring Do, "Get a load of this guy, he's a poet like you."

Daring Do looked at the pitiful unicorn. Her heart grew heavy, living the life she had the idea of being leashed and kept in a stone box was torture to her. Almost without thinking, she bit the rope leash and it split with ease. Both Rainbow Dash and the Unicorn looked at the cut rope with wide eyes. Daring Do took one of the unicorn's front legs and held it tight.

"Help me pick him up," She commanded, "If we both lift we can fly him out of here."

Rainbow Dash would've retaliated but she too saw what Daring Do saw, and knew she had to do something, "Alright. I'm not sure how the monkeys are gonna react to this..."

She took up the stunned unicorn's leg and both pegasi hoisted him into the air. Flying higher and higher they passed over the keep's walls. Their speed would've been many times faster if they hadn't stolen the unicorn but the hopeful look in his eyes reminded them why they did it. Suddenly an arrow whizzed past the trio. Looking down several guards were pointing up and shouting. Realizing that they had been found they beat their wings faster to reach the farmhouse. Dodging arrows they knew they had to warn everyone else that the time to leave was now.

Pea Gravel was sitting outside of the house with a very glazed look, she slowly noticed the two Equestrians flying toward her. She blinked and they crashed into her, causing all four of the ponies to roll back in a tangled pile.  Daring Do and Rainbow Dash hopped off, their hearts still racing from the impending chase. Laying awkwardly on top of the cyber mare, was the unicorn who was still very confused. Pea Gravel looked up at him, giggling like a child.

"Say...girls," Pea said with a hazy grin, "Who's the nice looking unicorn ya brought?"

The unicorn quickly got off of her,"Oh...s-sorry ma’am," He apologized with his head low, "I didn't mean t-to...land on you..."

"Did you steal someone's pet?" Pea asked getting up,"He's got the collar and everything."

The unicorn bit his lip, "I belonged to the lord of the keep's daughter… as a pet… these two b-beautiful mares rescued me from that horrid prison."

Pea nodded, "Girls, was anyone following you?" She asked ignoring the unicorn's fancy words.

Rainbow Dash rubbed her neck nervously, " Heh heh… about that..." To everyone's alarm came a distant shout from a mass of guards. That alone answered Pea Gravel's question.

Pea Gravel sauntered inside the farmhouse, "Hey Dew Berry, there's some nice fellas wanting to kill us heading this way," She said grabbing her things.

"WHAT?!" Dew Berry shrieked as she threw her look outside. She panicked back inside, gathering up what little food and supplies they had. Wheat Biscuit watched her buzz around the house, Cardinal too was confused. 

The farm horse went over to Pea Gravel, "What's going on?"

Pea Gravel was busy strapping her packs back on,"Oh we're just in a little trouble. How fast can you run?"

"Er...why?" He asked.

Pea Gravel rolled her eyes, "Just come outside."


Outside the farmhouse everyone was present and unpleasantly surprised. Pea Gravel checked that everypony in their party, adding one, was carrying at least something. She shielded her eyes from the sun with a hand and looked over to the oncoming guards. Without flinching an arrow bounced off her forearm, she smacked her lips in annoyance. Dew Berry lifted Cardinal on her back and took off without needing to be told, she had been in places like this before with that grey mare.

"Alright guys!" She called, "Let's get out of here!"

With the Equestrians at the front and their newest member near the rear, her party made a beeline down the road away from the mass of guards. Kicking up dirt and racing through the autumn air, most of Pea Gravel's party was relying on pure desperation to keep their legs pounding.   It was clear who owned that unicorn wanted him back very badly, the ones chasing the party were beyond persistent. Several arrows whizzed by, in front of and behind the equines. No longer were the humans on foot, but riding horses of their own. There were even some hounds and diamond dogs running alongside them.  The chase now became more intense and Pea Gravel grinned, revealing the heart pounding chase.

"Just how special was that unicorn?" Wheat Biscuit shouted.

"I am the lord's pet," The unicron wheezed, "Or at least I was..."

"Damn it! Now we're really in for it!" The horse cursed.

A little light blinked in Pea Gravel's mind and ran up closer to Wheat Biscuit, "I've got an idea," She called to him, "I need to jump on your back!"

"Wha… alright," He said, "Don't fall off, okay?"

She jumped up on the horse's back like a cat. Using her back legs to grip tight on him so she could face the guards, she fished through her bag. Finding what she searched for, she pulled out one of the flintlock pistols. The horse was puzzled and terrified by the alien looking thing. Pea Gravel loaded up one after another, because of how unstable the ride was lots of gunpowder and even a few of the pistols themselves fell off. Eventually she had ten shots ready to fire. 

She looked back at the horse, "Get ready, this'll be loud!"

She did her best to aim at the guards on horseback and took the shot. A ear ringing blast came from the lead spitting gun with a cloud of smoke and sparks, it missed but startled the target. Wheat Biscuit whinnied in primal fear while Pea Gravel took another shot. The second blast sent a led ball screaming towards a lead diamond dog's cranium. It made a meaty crater that killed the canine instantly, causing his body to tumble forwards. His drop was so quick, the horsemen behind him had no time to react and their steeds tripped over the carcass. Horse and rider went rolling, causing pandemonium in their ranks.

Pea Gravel fired off the rest of the flint locks at the mess of on comers with an itchy trigger finger. If the led shots hit their targets in the leg, head or chest it didn't matter. All of the wounds were gruesome and lethal.  As Pea Gravel and her party ran further and further away the guards fell behind, out of fear or of pain. As the runaway equines thundered off, the cyber mare whooped like a maniac at the quickly shrinking figures.


The party slowed down by the time they reached the forest far from the keep. Dew Berry collapsed on the ground panting, Rainbow Dash was exhausted but kept a strong demeanor,  Daring Do was still buzzing with excitement after a real chase and Wheat Biscuit dropped to his knees in a cold sweat. Pea Gravel hopped of the horse and smiled, twirling a pistol with her finger.

"That was a hell of a time," She chuckled as she sauntered between the tired equines, "I'm really liking this 'gun' thing!"

Dew Berry was exhausted and furious. She glared at the proud grey mare, "What the hell was all of that?!" She shouted, "I thought we made a goddamn plan!" Wheat Biscuit coughed to get his lover's attention. She looked at Cardinal and chuckled nervously, "Oh, sorry. Cover your ears dear, mommy's having a grown up talk." The colt covered his large ears happily, not understanding why he had to.
Dew Berry glared back at Pea Gravel, "Like I was saying; I thought we had a plan to leave at least a month from now, "Dew Berry continued, "Not today!"

Pea Gravel had a guilty look and pointed at the Equestrians, "I didn't do it, they stole a unicorn!"

"Oh really?" Dew Berry asked sourly ,"Blaming your screw up on a couple of kids, real mature Pea."

Rainbow Dash stamped a hoof, "Hey we've got ears too ya know!"

Daring Do folded her arms, "And were not kids."

Dew Berry blinked at them while Pea Gravel stuck her tongue out tauntingly at Dew Berry. Wheat Biscuit kept his look away from the mares as not to get involved, his son mirrored his example. Dew Berry sighed angrily but she did cool down.

"Where is that damn unicorn anyway?" Dew Berry asked.

Out from behind a tree, the unicorn's timid head poked out, "I… I'm right here."

"Come out dipshit," Pea Gravel jeered, “No one's gonna bite… well Dew might."

The unicorn slowly came out and made his way over to the equines. He sat distantly, the closest to him was Daring Do. Pea Gravel made a head count while rummaging through her pack again. Taking out a canteen she guzzled down the contents.

"We should really get going," She suggested, "We don't know if those guys are still after us or not."

Dew Berry scoffed, "Why are you so worried to meet them, miss mercenary? Got rusty over the years?"

Pea Gravel smiled grimly, "No. I'm more worried about you guys."

"I know you two love to chat," Wheat Biscuit butted in, " But like Pea Gravel said, we can't stay here."

Dew Berry nodded sourly. It was agreed that the party would rest up and eat what they could before they set off again. Dew Berry napped next to her large lover with Cardinal on top while Pea Gravel set to sharpening the swords she had been carrying. The Equestrians were keen on talking to the unicorn the liberated but he was very internal about how he spoke.

"So… can we know your name?" Rainbow Dash asked,"It's kinda important if you're gonna be with us."

The unicorn sighed heavily. He brushed away some of his pale curly mane, "I was always known as 'The Unicorn' there...I never had a name," He looked bashful, "I belong to you two now so you may name me if you wish," Both mares pulled away with grimaces. The unicorn was mortified ,"Oh no! Don't tell me you do not want me, I beg you!"

Daring Do was the first to speak, "It's not that we don't want you… it's..."

The Unicorn looked crushed, "Oh please, tell me what I have done. I shall never do it again, master."

"That," Daring Do said sourly, "That obedient...slave talk. We don't own you, we freed you."

The unicorn had a blank look on his face, "B-but… how shall I repay you, I owe my life to you!"

Rainbow Dash smiled cattily, "I dunno… what are you willing to do?"

The unicorn bowed his face into the grass,"Anything."

Rainbow Dash patted his head, "Hmm… I always wanted a towel boy..."

"Dash!" Pea Gravel called, "Have some decorum. He could be a butler right?"



The group of tired equines rested in the autumn trees. As the day's light dwindled, the first of many winter breezes blew by. The long road to the end of their quest now only grew more dangerous...

> 17) Winter's First Bite
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was now early winter in 'The Wild'. The wind grew colder and the equines did their best to keep warm. Daring Do gave the eerie pearl back to Pea Gravel to guide them to their next target, the dragon Oza. The pearl pointed roughly south east, a land between Torrent lands and the red terror Borox's Kingdom. This would be dangerous territory, everypony would have to be on their guard at all times. For reasons unknown to Rainbow Dash and Daring Do, Pea Gravel never mentioned the pearl to Dew Berry or even let her see the strange stone.

After a few chilly days through more woodland, the few wool blankets weren't enough to keep everypony warm. The unicorn, who still had no name, gave Daring Do and Rainbow Dash what he could for warmth. He had spent several nights freezing by the campfire. Cardinal barely walked, his father refused to let him out of a blanket over his back for warmth. What they had simply wasn't enough, they needed more. One day Pea Gravel had an idea but to the average herbivore it was unthinkable. 

While the party rested for lunch, which was spent having the Equestrians (Rainbow Dash mostly) how to forage for food when it was scarce. As the mares tromped around in  dead leaves looking for berries and bark, Pea Gravel said she'd look in another direction. When Wheat Biscuit asked why she was bringing a pistol with her and not swords, she ignored him. She walked off, in guilt of her planned deed.

She wandered through the brown forest landscape, the pistol hidden in her leather jacket felt like it was burning her skin. Eventually she found a spring in a little clearing.  She pounced next to it and drunk deeply from the frigid water. It bit at her mouth and throat, she sat back coughing the mouthful out. The sound of a chuckle made her jump. Across the spring was an elk. Her size and graceful figure was breath taking. Pea Gravel was only a third her size and yet the elk still had a skeptical eye to the mare.

"Silly pony,"The elk playfully giggled,"To used to drinking from a trough?"

"You're a strange deer,"Pea Gravel smirked,"Most ones I've seen act like chickens."

"They may thought you were a hunter of some kind," the deer said casually and drank from the spring. Pulling her head back up she smacked her lips,"Ah, you get used to it if you keep your nose in it."

Pea Gravel sadly nodded. She kept her gaze away from the elk. The large but nimble elk hopped next to Pea Gravel. Pea Gravel kept her head low the closer she got. The elk frowned with a worried look on her face,"Oh dear, are you alright? You seem upset!"

Pea Gravel sighed, the steam from her mouth trailed into the air and disappeared,"I...I need something...but..."

"But nothing," The elk said warmly,"Just tell me what you need."

Pea Gravel knew what she was after, but it pained her to ask. She could just do the job right then and there...but that would be murder. Pea Gravel had killed many creatures through self defense or because of how evil they were...but very few, very guilty murders. She looked at the elk, her brown pelt soft and elegant. The elk's face was very close to Pea's, the mare could feel the hot breath on her face.

"You're not looking for berries or bark, are you?" The elk asked sadly. Pea Gravel’s lip quivered while she shook her head. The elk tried to comfort her by licking the side of her face. Pea Gravel gently pushed the elks head away. The elk became very worried,"Did you lose someone?"

Pea Gravel took in a shaky breath to explain herself,"I...we, my group of travelers and I...what we have to wear isn't enough. I'm afraid that when it get colder we may freeze."

The elk stood frozen looking at the sad mare. She gulped down the lump in her throat,"If you were a hunter looking for a prize to mount, I'd be dead already," She knelt down next to Pea Gravel and put her face close to the mare's,"You...you really do need my fur don't you?"

Pea Gravel nodded,"Yes. Don't worry, I have something less painful than a blade or an arrow," She said pulling out the pistol.

The elk gazed wide eyed at the contraption, as if seeing a fine work of art at a museum. She blinked away a tear,"It really won't hurt?"

Pea Gravel shook her head,"No, just open your mouth and bite down on this," the mare instructed. 

The elk bit her teeth around the barrel not sure what would happen. She blinked at Pea with terrified but willing eyes. The mare lay her free hand against the elk's cheek, stroking it gently. The mare's heart pounding in her chest. As she squeezed her eyes shut, she squeezed the trigger.




The rest of the part was startled by the echoing sound of a gunshot. They knew it was Pea Gravel, but didn't know if she was in danger or not. They each stood still and listened, the only sound now was a slight breeze and the occasional bird. If Pea Was fighting something, they would've heard it.

Several hours later, the sun was beginning to set. Pea Gravel's group was wondering if they should go looking for her. As if to answer their question, a figure came slowly walking into view. It was Pea Gravel, with a tired look and crudely made fur coats over her back. The rest of the equines welcomed her back, asking her if she was alright. She told them she had a tussle with a bear at a watering hole, having to use a pistol she took the fur for coats.

She had started tanning the hide, but that process would take a few days. Pea Gravel sighed as she started a campfire, the rest of them admiring how soft the fur was. She wiped away the few tears that crept out. While the rest were ready to eat dinner, she retired to bed early. When putting her pistol back into her pack, she held it as if being close to it too long would burn her alive. Finally laying down, her back was to the group.

After almost an hour the sun was down and the temperature dropped. Pea Gravel's layered vest kept her torso warm, but she was still shivering. A dismal voice came from behind her,"You had the look of...a crushed mare earlier, grey warrior" the unicorn said,"Y-you're beginning to look like me."

Pea Gravel buried her face in her arms,"I'm no warrior," she mumbled,"I'm a killer. A stone cold killer."

The unicorn sighed,"Would a killer travel with such company? Would she be on such a noble quest?" His confidence in talking with her was growing.

Pea Gravel rolled over to look at him,"Noble? What do you know about my job out here?"

The unicorn pursed his lips,"Ah, do you believe that the rest of your band stays silent during the hours we walk on the road? The rainbow headed pegasus told me that you seek your friends to bring them to a safer place," He glanced at Dew Berry next to the campfire,"My condolences for your friend Joe's loss. May he rest in peace."

Pea Gravel ground her teeth,"Why this holier-than-thou speech? Are you pitying me?"

The unicorn shrank back a little,"N-no...I'm afraid of what's inside you. Being a creature connected to the astral plane...I can sense things...see things..."

"So is that why the humans kept you?" Pea Gravel asked,"You decipher what's inside a soul?"

The unicorn was silent for a moment,"You are correct. With that you now understand why my own spirit is so low and heavy."

"You're seen the darkness and greed in souls?" Pea Gravel asked cattily,"So tell me, O fortune teller. What do you see in me?"

The unicorn's opal eyes looked deeply into the emerald eyes of the mare's. He was silent like a stature of what felt far too long. He blinked as he looked away,"N-nothing...I must be tired..."

Pea Gravel's hand gripped around the unicorn's horn,"I'm sorry, what was that?"

The unicorn's face looked pained, he was able to see into Pea Gravel's mind. She saw herself through his eyes and it wasn't a pretty picture. Surrounding them was a void of blackness, at the center was the Pea Gravel the unicorn saw. She was looked tormented, searching for the familiar light of those she loved. They saw some memories as well, of Pea Gravel cutting through ranks of warriors she was paid to kill. Sometimes she was cold and indifferent, other times she relished driving a sword into the black heat of an enemy with a deranged joy. 

Pea Gravel blinked back into reality, both silent from what they saw. The unicorn became more timid again next to the mare, now knowing just how many ways she could kill another equine. He stumbled up and bowed his head low,"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Mistress. I'll be going back with the others now. Pleasant dreams."


Pea Gravel lightly groaned as the unicorn walked away,"Ain't that a fucking hoot, 'pleasant dreams'?"
Her mind was far from calm. Reaching into her pack she pulled out the jar of drugged fruit. She looked with a mortified look at the jar, it had only one fruit left. Her mouth watered as she gingerly placed it into her mouth. It's hallucinogenic effects numbing her. Despite what had happened that night, she smiled.  




The next few Days, they grew closer and closer to the disputed land. As the equines marched through the resting woodland, the dark watery eyes of the elk burned in Pea Gravel's mind. She had final tanned the leather and the rest of the mares in the party accepted the fur as coats. Rainbow Dash and Daring Do weren't as accepting of wearing another animal's skin, but the cold wind was unforgiving. When Pea Gravel saw her friends warm and happy in their new coats made her feel less guilty, the meat was probably put to good use by some wolves anyway. Spending several days with Dew Berry's new family, their...dullness grated on the stressed grey mare. Wheat Biscuit was overly friendly and Cardinal was plain annoying when he wasn't asleep.

The landscape was beginning to change. It was going from fields and woodlands to much dryer hills with scattered gnarled trees. With a low range of mountains ahead of them, the vast border between the two powerful empires had a majestic and solemn atmosphere. The group had to tread carefully so they wouldn't attract attention. After a day of traveling in the cold dry landscape, Dew Berry became paranoid.

"Pea Gravel," she said to her friend as they rested on the sun side of a hill,"How do you know that Oza's out here? He really could be anywhere!" Her speech was frighted and rapid,"I haven't seen him in almost eight years and you haven't seen him it ten, so even if we do find him will he recognize us?"

Pea Gravel patted her back reassuringly,"He has to be here. He's had beef with the red terror for years and he's probably a grade-A ass kicker by now. A real dragon beating  badass. Don't worry about it."



A few day's later, they hid behind a rather large tree while a thick snowstorm hit the plane. The snow didn't stop falling, it just slowed down. They wandered through the flurries of snow until the light of campfires bleed through. They stopped and saw a camp in the snowy distance. It was a Torrent camp. The red and black canvas showed off like a beacon in the overcast light, the biggest tent being almost the size of a circus tent. The group was unsure of going to it, it was in their way but a camp like that would be impossible to sneak through.

They cautiously made a wide arc around it, several hundred yards away. As they walked over the crest of a hill, something caught Dew Berry's eye. Pea Gravel looked to her friend and found a hopelessly furious face.

"Dew, what is it?" Wheat Biscuit asked.

"He's there...it's him..." She gritted her teeth,"Naditabirus."

Pea Gravel strained to see the infamous centaur. Walking around the camp were centaurs and minotaurs of varying sizes, wrapped up in scaled armor and fur. Looking toward the biggest tent, she found him. He was the largest centaur she had seen so far, he could look at a mid sized dragon in the eyes. Compared to what Rainbow Dash told her about Tirek, Naditabirus' stature was pocket change. His stature was large from his height to his body's girth. It was apparent he relished the perks of being a high priest. 
Over his chest was a breastplate detailed to look like chiseled muscle he never had, along with a belt around his human waist with a rounded piece for his horse's chest. Over his back was a blood red cape and hood hiding his face from view, His horns and curly beard stuck out into view along with two tusks on his bottom jaw. He sat on a large chair with several captives lined up at his hooves.

He used the feared spell of eating magic, a reserved and fine art for his kind, onto his captives. Eating the ponies magic his arms grew redder and his black pelt grew a more youthful sheen. If the captives were humans, griffons or anything else he'd levitate them up and stuff them in his hungry maw. Apparently magic wasn't enough to satisfy this centaur. He shooed the captives away, and retired to his tent. The warriors who stood and watched eagerly scooped up the defenseless captives and drug them away, their fate grim and sealed.

"I'd love to see his pretentious head roll off those blood red shoulders,"Dew Berry huffed out a cloud of steam,"...but we can't we've got a job to do. Even if we wanted to fight him we couldn't...he's too strong."
While Dew Berry talked, Pea Gravel instantly set to work loading up a pair of flint locks. Dew Berry gawked at Pea,"What the hell are you doing?!"

Pea Gravel strapped on her trio of sword and stuffed the pistols into her vest,"I'll be right back."

Before anyone could stop her, she kicked up snow and galloped off toward the camp. Her friends would shout after her, but their cries would alarm the hundreds of centaur warriors before they would reach Pea Gravel. They huddled down, not sure what else what to do but pray to whoever was listening for safety.


Meanwhile, Pea Gravel's heart pounded like never before. Her innate sense to end things crept out from the back of her mind, this kill would mean something, help someone. It wouldn't be like the elk, this would be different, it's fate not survival. She used the darkness of the overcast clouds to her advantage, sneaking from tent to tent, avoiding sight and campfire light, she eventually made her way to the central tent. She squeezed under a loose flap of canvas and rolled inside.

The interior was nothing short of an art gallery. Statues and gold looted from unknown places littered the floor. At the center was a fire pit warming up the fat bastard. He was sitting pleasurably, smoking from a wagon sized hookah and reading through some scrolls. Draped onto his horse torso was a curvaceous female centaur half his size, she was messaging his back and shoulders with some kind of aromatic ointment. Pea Gravel crept along the dark edge of the tent searching for the best angle to strike.

She finally got a good position. She rolled her shoulders like a lioness watching a fat deer, licking her lips for the kill. She took a sword in each hand and her mouth and ran like a shadow. She used the centaur concubine as a step up, jumping onto her head and kicking away, she sailed to Naditabirus' shoulders. She drove one sword into his right shoulder, causing him to cry out in surprise and pain. The next attack was to his ear, which was sliced off easily. He threw his meaty left hand to try and grab her, but she chopped off  the thumb. He gripped his wrist and shouted in agony as his blood spurted out. Pea Gravel stood in front of him with a wicked grin, dropping her swords she replaced them with pistols. One blanked out but the other, it's lead spit gouged into the centaur's left eye.

"What the fucking hell was that?!" He roared,"My goddamn eye!"

Pea Gravel spat at the bleeding beast,"That's for the mule Joe."

Having heard the shout, three minotaurs came inside the tent to see what happened. Their jaws dropped when they saw how much the little pony sliced up their leader. Naditabirus clenched his eye socket,"Don't just stand there! Kill her!!"

Pea Gravel took up her swords and raced to the guards, a hungry light in her eye. One with a club hit her in the ribs, but his head rolled for that. The next one had a blade of steel slide between his ribs and poke out the other side. The last one's neck was slashed open, his life blood spraying onto the mare's face. Hopping over the corpses, she bolted out of the tent.

Her body raced through the tents, Naditabirus shouting behind her. She felt more then excited, she felt alive. Naditabirus wasn't dead but he'd remember her, and why she did that to his pompous body. She felt as much euphoria as any of her jade cactus fruits running through the tents, causing havoc as much as she could. She knocked over brazens that burned tent canvas, kicked over unaware Torrents and even hacked her way through a warrior or two.

She reached the edge of the camp and was now running out into the thick snow. It was peacefully quiet, save for the shouts coming from the camp behind her. She had reached halfway between the camp and her friends when suddenly a thunderous sound shook the frosty air. She looked behind her only to see a pillar of orange light bolting to her like a spear. The magic blast hit her hard on the back. It's effects were wicked, her muscles stopped moving, her skin burned and she could barely breath. The impact sent her rolling into the snow, burning and paralyzed.

The thunder of hooves came from the camps direction. She couldn't see anything, her face was stuck looking up at the sky but she knew...she fucked up.



> 18) Captured!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Torrent camp was in an uproar. Healers rushed to their leader's tent to treat his wounds. Each healer was tending to a wound or humming some ancient charm to calm his nerves. They ranged from fellow centaurs to the brown pelted gargoyles that had lived symbiotically with centaurs for centuries. However Naditabirus was far from calmed. His hand had a thick bandage over where his thumb once was, his missing ear hole, another over the gash in his shoulder and over his missing eye. His free fist was clenched in rage and his blood boiled. Not only was he attacked by some 'assassin' but it was a pony. Among all of the disgraceful things to happen to one of his prestige, that was the worst.

Other warriors scoured the area where Naditabirus shot a beam of magic. Two found the paralyzed mare, her body was very cold and nearly frost bitten. Knowing that Naditabirus would want to punish her himself, they took her chilled body back. She slowly came back into consciousness, her body was still in too much shock to fight back. Upon arriving near the big tent the smell of incense filled the air.

When the two centaurs walked in with Pea Gravel, Naditabirus swung his arm knocking most of the healers away. Hoisting his mass up to a standing position, he pointed at the two centaurs with his injured hand. A furious scowl on his one eyed face, "What is that rabid beast doing back in my tent?!" He roared.

"F-forgive us your holiness..." One of the centaurs gulped, "We… we found her and… and thought that you'd want to punish her yourself..."

A twisted grin came across Naditabirus' wide face, “Ahhh… you two are very wise. Bring the little bitch here."

The two centaurs placed the still mare before Naditabirus. They quickly stepped back, as well as everyone else inside the tent. Naditabirus picked up Pea Gravel in his hands, his fingers easily wrapping around her. All the anger of being disfigured by such an insignificant creature funneled into his hands which constricted the mare. She cried out as the powerful hands cracked her ribs. A spittle of blood came out of her screaming mouth. 
Naditabirus chuckled menacingly as he tried to squeeze the life out of her. Naditabirus threw her back to the ground. He rose to his full height and with an enraged growl, stomped on the mare with his fore hooves. The ground rumbled with the force he was pounding at the ground. He cursed with each stamp on the grey mare. It was such a sight it made his subordinates cringe as they watched.

Finally, he stepped back with his chest heaving. He looked down at his dirty work with a relieved laugh. Everyone else in the tent laughed too, though they were more frightened then relived. Naditabirus looked down at his dirty work. To his horror the mare was still breathing. He faltered when she slowly pulled her face out of the dirt. He gasped when she took in a shaking breath.

A bloody smile was on her face, "Is that all the fight ya got, fatty?"

Naditabirus shook his head in disbelief, "This is impossible! How could such a measly worm of a mammal survive that?

Pea Gravel rose to her feet, standing proud like a warhorse. Naditabirus rose up his hands, as if in defeat. To the mare's surprise, two orange beams of magic light cascaded onto her. This magic smothered her more so than the physical attacks from his heavy hooves. While holding up her twitching body with magic, Naditabirus called for a steel cage to encase the mare. While some of his subordinates went off to bring one and Naditabirus chuckled evilly seeing the mare finally in agony.

The cage was brought, it's sides layers of riveted steel plates and bars. It looked more like a barrel for demons then a cage for captives. The top was unlatched and Pea Gravel was placed inside. The only vents were grape sized holes on the lid. Naditabirus cackled hearing the sound of Pea Gravel pound against the sides of the cage like a wild animal. He picked up the barrel shaped cage in his hands and shook it around like a child shakes a present. Pea Gravel tossed and tumbled inside, banging her head and metal limbs against the steel.

Dropping it carelessly Naditabirus went back to sitting down, now a casual grin on his face. He yawned and waved the mages and healers to return, "Put this grey demon away. I expect it dead," The two centaurs nodded and quickly left the massive tent. Naditabirus leaned his neck back and sighed, "A pony doing this to me… the world must be turning upside down these days. Next people will tell me ponies are queens in castles," He spat at the thought.

The two centaurs who were carrying Pea Gravel's cage, held the cage as if it was a thing of evil. Not wanting to be near it any longer they dropped it off at the first gargoyle they passed. She was tanning a horse hide and to her surprise a metal cage almost as big as her fell in the snow next to her tent.

"Got some more leather for you," one of the centaurs said, "Watch out, she's a fighter."

They turned and left quickly, glad to be rid of the grey mare. The gargoyle who was already fluffy had a wool parka over her. She looked at the steel cage with a worried eye, hearing a low groan from inside it she threw her hands up in the air. 

"This is ridiculous," she said, "I work my fingers to the bone to feed those brutes and they drop some monster in a cage to me. What am I supposed to do with it?" 

"You could let me out," Pea Gravel said quietly.

"Ah, it speaks," the gargoyle chuckled, "And what did you do so horrible that they put you in such a cage?"

Pea Gravel’s laugh was a painful one, "I slashed up that Natibastard. I bet you heard him squeal."

"I heard a roar that hurt my ears," The gargoyle huffed. She went back to tanning the hide stretched out on it's rack before her, "If that was a squeal to you, no wonder they want you dead. You must be a demon sent to torment him."

"Oh yeah," Pea Gravel agreed, "I'm a furious demon. Since I've been satisfied from slashing up his 'holiness', you should let me go."

"Oh really?" The gargoyle pulled up her parka up over her neck,"They'd hang me if I let you go," She stepped back to look at her work. She stretched with a yawn, "Ahh… it's getting late. Tell you what, if you survive a winter night out here, demon, then I'll let you go in the morning. If you're dead, then I'll just thaw out your body for tomorrow."

Pea Gravel punched the side of the cage. The gargoyle chuckled and went inside her tent. Trapped inside the cold metal cage, Pea Gravel stared into space. She had no idea how many bone were broken on her, she didn't have too many to spare anyway. She sighed sadly, she knew there was no way she could break out of the cage in her condition. She didn't know if she'd die in there or not. She nodded her forehead against the cage in defeat, regretting the whole ordeal.




The equines that had been traveling with Pea Gravel were becoming restless. She had been gone for hours with no response besides loud noises and centaurs patrolling the space between them. Daring Do became restless. She was pacing back and forth while the other equines bundled up to keep warm. Making a fire would catch attention so they just buried themselves in the thick snow.

Night had fallen and the air became cold, even inside the snow shelter. Daring Do was bouncing her knee while she sat, Rainbow Dash kept her gaze outside. Dew Berry's family huddled together, the little mule Cardinal fast asleep between his parents. Like the Equestrians, the red mare too, was beginning to worry. Her friend never took this long to end a grudge. The unicorn saw the anxiousness in the equines around him and added to the fear, purely by accident.

"Do you think she was captured?" He mumbled.

Daring Do laughed nervously, "No way! That stubborn girl would never be caught by those guys… right?"

The others kept their gazes to the floor. None of them were as strong or a skilled as the missing member, a rescue mission may be suicide. Rainbow Dash sighed, looking back to the group she hugged herself with a chill, "I've got a bad feeling, like a gut feeling. I think something awful happened to her."

"She can't be dead," Wheat Biscuit said, "She's too much of a brute to die in a place like this. Right honey?"

Dew Berry nodded, "Did she ever tell you what happened to another infamous creature we had a grudge with, because of me?"

Daring Do wet her dry lips,"Black Berry?"

Dew Berry clenched her face as if the name physically bludgeoned her, "You know… what he did right?"

"He's Tuff Boulder's dad," Rainbow Dash said.

Dew Berry looked back to that event so long ago, at least twelve years ago. She told them the battle report one of the mercenaries gave her, Pea Gravel was too 'emotional' to recall. Rainbow Dash and Daring Do listened intently on the story, knowing well that it would be a gruesome one...





Pea Gravel and her hunting party combed the untamed woods. Each pony wearing some kind of padded leather armor and swords, accompanied by their griffon archers they were a formidable force. The second in command, a owl looking griffon, kept a sharp eye on his leader's back so she could focus on what's in front of her. The other mercenaries shuddered when catching a glance of Pea Gravel's mint colored eyes burning for revenge. When they found a set of hoof tracks, the size confirmed that it was him, Black Berry.

Deeper and deeper into the woods they went, the trees becoming taller and the light dimmer. Strange noises came from the darkness and treetops, whoops and calls that made one's skin crawl. Hunting any Carnahorse was deadly business since they had three dull claws instead of full hooves, but also simply how voracious they could be. The average pony stands around three or four feet tall at the shoulder, while mules and horses stand five. Stories of Carnahorses tell that they can swallow a pony in their jaws and bite the head off cows. Very few things interfere with these massive carnivores, save bigger ones. As with all brutish things the bigger they are, the more stupid they are.
Black Berry was a big Carnahorse.


The troupe's second clue was a mess of rib cages that belonged to dozens of deer and even cattle. They were picked clean, stark white framework of the creature's past victims. The Bevy tread carefully, not where the meat eating horse would emerge. Through the underbrush they heard the sound of a animal in pain. They took a hiding spot behind several bushes and looked to find their target...and an orc.

The primitive looking hominid had it's back to a tree, a club firmly gripped in its hands. Black Berry's size still looked massive, even to such a muscular humanoid. The great equine was snapping his jaws at his prey, playing with it like some demented cat. When his head was close it was whacked by the club. The thudding sound paused Black Berry. Who blinked in annoyance at the terrified orc. The orc took the opportunity to sprint to the side and run past Black Berry. He was heading away from the Bevy, thankfully not towards them.


A guttural laugh came from the massive equine as he turned his bulk around. His three toed hooves thudded against the ground as he rumbled up to the fleeing orc. His prey looked back once, but that was too much. Black Berry's jaws opened wide and snapped over most of the orc's torso. Skidding to a stop, Black Berry held his squirming prey up in his jaw like a prize. The muscles on the sides of his head flexed and the orc began flailing around, a wicked crunching sound and wailing came from it. Black Berry shook his head violently, breaking any of the bones that were still in one piece.  Once the orc stopped moving, he dropped the carcass. It landed wetly on the forest floor with a flop. Black Berry didn't eat it though, he simply walked away from it. He lay down on a large pile of leaves and moss and closed his dark red eyes.

Pea Gravel gave a silent signal to her dazed archers. Snapping out of what they had witnessed, the griffons attached rope to their arrows and tied the other end to a tree near by. They were set up in a semi circle around him. They waited for their signal with their grappling arrows notched and aimed. The rest pulled out their swords ready for the fight. Pea Gravel looked to each of her fellow mercenaries and motioned forward. The arrows flew to their target, digging deep with their barbs. Black Berry woke with a start, looking around at the ropes stuck to him. He pushed his mass up to it's feet with a dull growl.

Pea Gravel and her Bevy members sprinted to the dark colored equine, all shouting, "For Dew Berry!"
Black Berry turned to look, tugging at a grappling arrow in his neck. The ponies rushed towards him and more arrows pelted his sides. He bucked his back legs, kicking a pony high up in the air. He tugged at the arrows that tied him to the trees around him to get free while the ponies circled around him, not sure where to strike. Pea Gravel was at the rear, running fast she leaped up onto Black Berry's back. She drove her sword deep in his neck, with nothing else to hold onto, she kept the handle in her mouth while the dark equine stomped and bucked wildly.

Another Bevy member threw his sword to Pea Gravel, who just barely caught it. Holding onto her own sword with her hooves and the new one in her mouth, she slashed at the top of his neck madly, carving chunks out of his hide. Black Berry rose to his full height, kicking up at the air with growls of pain. The arrows that anchored him to trees either snapped or were ripped out. He thundered deeper into the woods, stomping on the mercenaries in his way. Pea Gravel held on as the mighty equine thundered away.

As he ran, he smashed into trees to get Pea Gravel off. Her leg was caught between one or two but she still held on and still cut away at his neck and back. Dark red shone out against his deep purple fur. He wasn't showing any signs of stopping. Pea Gravel thought fast, she remembered something she had bought recently; a jade cactus fruit. They were apparently some of the best depressant drug in the area. She took up one in a hoof and the other gripped around the sword hilt. Black Berry's mouth was agape, funneling air into his lungs. Though the ride was bumpy she managed to throw it into the back of his mouth.

He did a strange side step and his body stopped running and went into the air. He landed heavily on his side with Pea's back legs stuck under him. She pawed at the ground to get out from under him but his bulk was to much to move.With a growl he quickly rose to his feet. Now freed, Pea reached for the sword she had been slashing. Though the mercenary was fast, Black Berry's mouth was faster. His jaws snapped above her back knees and he hoisted her into the air.

"Whaf thid you phut in my mouf?" He asked with a venomous voice, mouth full of legs.

"Why should I tell you?" Pea spat as she dangled from his jaw.

Black Berry threw his neck down to whack her against the ground, "Thell me!"

Pea Gravel smiled wickedly, "It's an evil poison, given to me by a witch! If you kill me now you'll never be cured!"

The carnahorse growled, not sure if he should believe the small grey mare. His head became light, the drug's effects tickling his small cranium. Black Berry stomped at the ground in denial. He bit down hard on her legs and dropped her. Huge tooth marks were left in her legs. She wouldn't be walking a while after this, some of her tendons were severed. Oza would have his work cut out for him when she got back. 

"Fix it or I'll step on you," He growled.

Pea Gravel his her pain with a smirk, "You'll have to come here, big boy."


Black Berry grimaced with his shark teeth then knelt down. His body a horse shaped mountain compared to Pea Gravel. His breathing was affected by the drug too, his little brain was just a vulnerable as Pea Gravel's. Body weight didn't matter to the jade cactus fruit. Pea Gravel forced herself into a sitting position and glared at the carnahorse.

"If you want me to get it, I have to get into your mouth," She blinked away a pained tear, "If you bite me I'll put more in and you'll be cursed."

"What kind of curse?" Black Berry snorted.

"You'll become a normal horse," Pea smiled grimly, "You'll eat grass and shrink. I think you may even end up in a farm..."

Black Berry growled viciously, "You're lying!"

Pea Gravel shook her head, "Nope. If you want to be a farm horse, kill me. If you don't let me in your mouth so I can get it."

Black Berry growled at her, dishonored to be ordered around by something like her. He reluctantly lay his head to the ground and opened his toothy maw wide. To Pea's luck she was now in a blind spot. She carefully picked up her sword and tenderly went up the the beast's maw. Her knees were on his tongue, his jaw flinched at the taste of the blood coming from them.

"Hey now!" She said almost sweetly, "You promised."

She had the sword in one of her hooves while the other helped hold her up. She positioned the sword tip so it would slide into the base of his skull. She smiled, "Aaalmost....just a little further..."

Putting the other hoof at the pummel she drove the sword into the back of the carnahorse's throat. The sword pushed through flesh until it became stuck in the base of his neck. His jaws snapped down on Pea's back legs, on the same spot as before, and thrashed his head around. Pea Gravel was tossed and turned inside his mouth but still kept pushing the sword forward. Black Berry's body thrashed and twitched, it's connection severed to his tiny brain. His jaws became locked on biting her legs and even though he stopped thrashing, his jaw was still shut. With a final gurgle his body stopped moving.





Dew Berry sighed. The memory was still a prideful one, how her friend killed who wronged her. She looked back at the Equestrians, "And you know how the Bevy found her?"

"Did they help her out of his jaws?" Daring Do asked.

Dew Berry laughed, "By the time they had tracked Black Berry's body down, she was already on her way back. No one really knows if she cut her way out or pushed his mouth open. Either way sounds likely to me."

Rainbow Dash grunted, "That's a great story, but Black Berry was one guy. There's Celestia knows how many centaurs in that camp."

"Fine, fine," Dew Berry groaned, "What would you do?"

Rainbow Dash folded her forearms, "I don't know! Something else besides this!"

Daring Do looked over to Rainbow Dash with a calming smile, "Rainbow Dash, the only pony in our party who could pull off a rescue like this would be her. She's fine, don't worry. She's probably going incognito or had a tussle with a guard or two."

"Why can't you save her?" Rainbow Dash barked, "You’re Daring Do, you can do anything! We flew in and save that unicorn, why can't we do the same here?"

"I'm not what she is," Daring Do said with a twinge of sorrow in her voice, "I can't pull off what she can. The unicorn was in a little fort of little people. This is completely different," She sat over next to the cyan mare and put a comforting arm over her shoulder, "We can't do anything else but hope. Hope and believe she's fine."

> 19) Red on Rainbow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash kept her gaze away from Daring Do. The pith helmet wearing mare sighed and moved back over to where the rest were huddled together. Rainbow Dash turned her back to them and hugged her chest tightly.  

Living out here was terrible, this 'great adventure' she expected to have was becoming a whole new kind of nightmare. She was in a constant state of anxiousness, never knowing what the next moment would bring. If they ran out of rations they would eat the grass they walked on, grass! Winter was so much different than it was back home, it really felt as if everything was dead. Not to mention that their 'guide' was as unstable as a leaky tank of propane at a bonfire. Though Rainbow Dash was intimidated and even afraid of Pea Gravel at times, she respected her. This strange mare seemed to carry the weight of the moon over her shoulders with the dark night trying to drag her away. 

Rainbow Dash felt a warm drip run down her face, she realized she was crying. Pea Gravel never backed down from keeping her and Daring Do safe, even eating less rations and taking extra night shifts so they would feel the least bit more comfortable. When Pea Gravel fought with the cyan pegasus, it was to help her become a better fighter, not to beat her into submission. This strange, short fused, cyber legged grey mare was in trouble and Rainbow Dash felt she had a debt to pay.

Rainbow Dash pulled the fur coat over her body tighter. Pea Gravel had made an impromptu little strap so it would hold on tight. Wearing such a thing churned her stomach. The creatures out here, even ponies, were fine with wearing another's skin for warmth and protection. Though Rainbow Dash preferred being nude she couldn't help but feel exposed without something on.


Rainbow Dash looked over to the others. They were dozing off to sleep, they'd all be out shortly. The unicorn wasn't in their huddle, he sitting outside of their cramped snow dug-out as their watchman. Rainbow Dash plotted what to bring on her rescue mission and how she was going to get past him. Seeing that the rest were asleep, she crept over to their bags and pulled out one of Pea Gravel's flintlocks. She had watched how to load it, kind of. Without fingers it would be very difficult. 

She tried to funnel the gunpowder into the barrel in vain. Spilling a hoof-ful on the ground she internally panicked. Scuffing some snow over it, she sat in thought. She wasn't sure if it was the best idea but she decided to have the unicorn help. She gathered up the gun and ammo along with one of the fur coats for warmth. She went outside and shivered. It was much colder in the open air and once she looked around her breath was taken away.

The night sky was still so different out here. The clouds were gone and the moon was a sliver in the sky. It felt so...empty. What light it shed glimmered dimly over the expanse of snow. Near to the entrance was the nameless unicorn, still as a statue. Rainbow Dash was afraid he was frozen, she whispered to him. His gaze went over to her tiredly, steam coming from his nostrils showed he was still breathing.

"I see you're awake," He said without turning, "There's no wind tonight. That's an omen...of ill tidings."

"Omen? Gah… never mind" Rainbow Dash whispered, "I need your help."

"I'm happy to," His calm voice responded, "What is it?"

Rainbow Dash rushed over to him. She shoved the gun up at his face, "Load this."

The unicorn blinked at it. He cocked his head to the side, "This is a dangerous weapon. What reason do you have to wield it?"

Rainbow Dash groaned, "I'm gonna go rescue Pea Gravel and I need something to defend myself."

The unicorn shook his head,"Not with that you're not."

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, "Why not? Don't think I can hit anything with it?"

"It is too loud," He said simply, "You will have a whole battalion to deal with."

"Then what should I use, my hooves?" Rainbow Dash huffed.

"No, that's suicide," He pulled out a steel dagger from under his blanket, "If you need to take a life, use this. It's quiet… as long as you are."

Rainbow Dash stared at the blade. It seemed alien to her, most things out here did. The dagger had a guard on in so it could be gripped by hoofed creatures. She set the pistol down and took the dagger. While she inspected it, the Unicorn hid the pistol under his blanket. 

"How do I use it?" She asked. Not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

"That depends," The unicorn said coldly, "I've used it more than once for the same reasons. It's best if you thrust it here," He placed a hoof over his neck.

A chill went up the mare's spine,"It… it won't hurt them too long will it?"

"There's an old saying I've heard, 'You can't scream with two mouths'," The unicorn sighed. He gazed out at the still winter night, "You're really going to do it...go after her?"

Rainbow Dash hugged herself, "I… I have to. Nopony else will."

The unicorn smiled slightly, "You're a very loyal mare, diving head first into the beast's belly," He looked back to her, "I beg of you, be careful."

Rainbow Dash hugged the unicorn, "Thanks, I really mean it."

He patted her back, "I'm simply repaying the debt I owe you and your friend."

Rainbow Dash hugged him tighter and pulled away. She spread her wings, the fur pelt sliding between them on her back. She made a running start and glided close to the ground. With one look back she saw that he was waving to her. She pulled her gaze away and targeted the camp. Their campfires shown against the snow brightly. Flying closer she saw a handful of minotaur guards looking out into the empty fields. She stopped flapping her wings and glided to a halt. She looked for a guard that was asleep or a gap in their watch. She inched closer through the cold snow. Thankfully it was a dark night or else her rainbow mane would show out.

Perhaps the unicorn's charm really did work, none of the guards were looking in her direction. She crept closer and closer into the small town of tents. Avoiding the campfire light and prying eyes of the burly inhabitants, she thought back to home. She remembered sneaking into the hospital to get her Daring Do book and how the chase went down. It seemed like a mild game of tag to what she was surrounded by. Passing by different tents she felt the warmth from inside thaw the cold. There she saw all sorts of things;

In some were the servants and slaves (defined by their collars) sharpening swords and polishing armor. There was a set of long tent with a din of a hungry crowd and odd smelling food, probably meat. Some creatures, who resembled a inscription of Scorpan, were fluttering around with crates and baskets. Some tents had small shrines with a bronze or gold figure vaguely resembling Tirek. Vaguely because of how majestic it's details were. In these tents were groups of Centaurs, minotaurs, gargoyles and any other creature owned by them kneeling and mumbling prayers to the statuette.

After what seemed like forever, she passed by an odd looking barrel. It was completely made of metal with a deadbolt across the lid. Whatever was kept in there must be dangerous...or tried to kill an important centaur. Rainbow Dash slowly inched up to the barrel and tapped the side.

"Hello?" She whispered, "Is anyone in there?"

"Somepony is," A very tired voice groaned from within the barrel.

A wave of relief went through Rainbow Dash. She smiled as she opened the deadbolt, "Looks like I found a can of peas, eh?"

"Very funny," Pea Gravel groaned as she stood up to get out. Every movement she made, she winced in pain. Rainbow Dash had never seen her so damaged before.

Pea Gravel wobbled on her hooves one free. She looked down to see Rainbow Dash's tracks, "Come on, we gotta get going."

The pegasus shook her head, "Don't walk, I'll carry you. I can fly out of here in no time."

She fluttered up over Pea Gravel and hooked her arms under the metal ones. Pea winced again but nodded for Rainbow Dash to take off. The rainbow maned pegasus pumped her wings until the two were airborne. Her renowned speed back home struck again and they flew off, away from the camp. Rainbow Dash was exhilarated, she did what the others said was impossible, even Daring Do.

The closer they got to the dugout, the more dread gripped Pea Gravel's gut. Rather suddenly she pulled downward and sent both of them to the ground. They crashed and tumbled in the snow several yards away from the dugout. Rainbow Dash was surprised and frustrated at the mare she had just saved.

"Hey! I just got you-" her rant was cut short by Pea Gravel covering her mouth. She tried to protest but the cyber mare's emerald eyes were locked onto the dugout.

"Did you cover your tracks?" She asked coldly. Rainbow Dash shook her head. Pea Gravel pulled her hand away from Rainbow Dash's face and cursed, "Thank's for getting me out… but you may have led them to our team."

What Pea Gravel said was true, a horse sized centaur came out of the dugout. His dress was similar to the assassin that tried to kill Celestia. He had Dew Berry and Cardinal under one arm and a leash to Wheat Biscuit with the other. His face was hidden behind a brass mask that only had a few holes to see out of, leaving a chilling look to anything that saw him.

Another, dressed in black and masked, held up Daring Do like a new kitten. Admiring how fine her features were despite her squirming to escape. The unicorn wasn't where he was before, he was laying on the ground a few feet away. What they did see was a limp silver shape, weather he was alive or not they didn't know. Rainbow Dash was overcome with guilt and rage, she had compromised the whole team… just like they said she would.

She took the dagger and slipped it on, it fit like a glove over her hoof. Pea Gravel couldn't stop her as she flew out towards the centaurs. She aimed for the one holding her idol, she aimed straight for the neck. Without thinking she rammed into him, thrusting the blade deep under his mask. He dropped Daring Do from the impact and reeled back, with Rainbow Dash now out of control. He tried to grab him, but he had begun to lose too much blood.

Once Rainbow Dash realized what happened, he was dead on the ground. Daring Do was surprised and terrified. Rainbow Dash, however, was completely mortified. She had killed another being. She had killed out of anger, it felt as if the flower of her innocence had wilted… or grew thorns, she couldn't tell.

The other centaur dropped his prisoners and drew a sword from his side, it's length longer than Rainbow Dash entirely. He smacked her over the head with the flat of his blade. She dropped unconscious immediately. Daring Do rushed to her side, checking if she was alright, the centaur grabbed one of her wings and yanked her away. She screamed and struggled to get back to her friend, only to be knocked unconscious as well.

He plucked Rainbow Dash up and set her over his back, along with Daring Do. Wheat Biscuit put his son over his back as well and nodded for Dew Berry to comply, know they were defeated. Dew Berry didn't move, she glared up at the centaur dressed in black. She had a look of burning hope.

"You may have gotten us now, but just you wait," She said with a smile, "The Hellion will hunt you down and tear your head off, I promise."

One of the centaur's front legs swiftly kicked the red mare. She was knocked back with a nasty bruise. The centaur growled at her, "Don't speak of that demon, or karma will tear your head off."

He yanked her up and held her in the crook of his arm tightly. He picked up their packs and bags easily with the other hand, now looking like a pack mule. Walking back to the camp, wheat biscuit followed. He passed Pea Gravel only by a yard or so, it amazed her that she remained unseen. She had lost too much energy trying to survive the winter night, too many broken bones to fight. She lay low, scarred at what she had seen. Was it her fault that Rainbow Dash had the skill to do that, to kill?


> 20) When Lightning Hits the Ground...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a fresh winter's morning in Equestria. Next to a little hotel on a street in Cloudsdale, was Lightning Dust's apartment. It wasn't too big or too small, just right for a single. However, she wasn't alone. Right next to her in bed was her boyfriend Volm. That's what her brain told her at least.

She sat up in bed to look at her room, it was full of sports gear and posters of famous wonderbolts. Though it was a wonderful day outside, she felt like something was going to happen. She wasn't sure what.  She turned to the Volm and shook his shoulder lightly.

"V, honey. Wake up," She said gently.


Volm sat up with a big yawn. His stretching arm reached over to her and tickled her chin, "Morning, did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Lightning Dust sighed, "I just… I just feel a little funny, I guess."

Volm chuckled and lay back down again. He gazing up at her with a wry smile, "Everyone feels funny after their first go. Are you embarrassed?"

Lightning Dust shook her head, "It's not that. I feel like I'm forgetting something..."

Volm snapped his fingers, "I know! It's your birthday today!"

Lightning Dust gasped, "Oh my gosh! Really?" She hopped out of bed and paced the room, "I don't have anything planned, I didn't even tell anypony!"

Volm got out of bed and walked over to the panicked pegasus. When he stroked his hand across her face, her troubled look melted away. She tensed up and had a blushed smile.  Volm's warm smile made her nerves go null, "Don't worry, I've got a whole event planned. Just for you."

Lightning Dust hugged Volm's neck tightly, "Oh thank you! You're the best!"



Later that day, Volm led her to the Cloudsdale Stadium. As they walked down the cloud streets, Volm got some sour looks. Being a creature of unknown origin, the fact his wingless body could stand on clouds was unnerving to any pegasus. When the couple approached the Stadium. it's size scaled up into the city's skyline. The stands were in a ring that opened out to the ground below. Lightning Dust's mind was abuzz about what could be planned.  Going into the stadium they saw the WonderBolts soaring into all kinds of maneuvers and stunts. Lightning Dust giggled with joy.

"You had the WonderBolts put on a show for me?" She said with a bubbly voice.

Volm shook his head, "Nope, better. Follow me."


They went up a few sets of stairs to a sky-box. There was a few ponies speaking into microphones about the stunts and next to them was Spitfire. Her eyes lit up when she saw the couple. She trotted over with something draped over her back.

"Hey, you made it!" She smiled, "So Lightning Dust, you ready?"

Lightning Dust leaned over to Volm, "V, what's this about?"

Volm picked up the fabric draped over Spitfire's back. It was a WonderBolt uniform. He held it up so she could see it, "You like?"

"Er… is that Spitfire's new uniform?" Lightning Dust asked sheepishly.

Spitfire laughed, "It's been awhile since I've fit that size. It's yours, Lightning Dust."

Lightning Dust was in a tizzy, "Y-you mean it? I'm really a WonderBolt?"

Spitfire smirked, "We'll see. Your friend here suggested we have you in an aerial maneuver. It'll be a basic one since you're joining in today," She headed for the exit, "Slip on your uniform and meet me at the locker room. We'll talk about where you'll be placed in."

Lightning Dust waited until Spitfire left before she kissed Volm, "You really did this for me? You're the best V!"

She began to put on her uniform, Volm helped her fit in all of those tight spots. Once fully fitted, Volm took a step back. He gazed at her, now looking like a real first-class WonderBolt. The spandex uniform making her one naked body much more alluring.

"I'll be in the stands babe," Volm smiled, "Go kick some ass."

She waved to him and left the sky-box. While she went off, he slowly went down the stairwells and to the stands. There were so many cheering ponies in the stadium, so many eyes to witness. So many eyes to witness.

Instead of sitting in the stands, Volm hopped he wandered the empty concession halls. The kind, cheery face he wore for the Equestrians faded. His twisted demeanor crawled back out as he sat and waited. Whistling the time away, filling the air with a cold melodic sound.

He had suggested to Spitfire earlier that Lightning Dust should do a Sonic Rainboom, or something close to it. Since she wasn't Rainbow Dash, she couldn't produce a full rainbow...or could she? That was the ploy he used. It was a short time before he heard the distant cheer of the crowd he licked his lips in anticipation. He whistled the wait away, it was a cold and haunting sound.


In the stadium, Spitfire, Lightning Dust and the WonderBolt's finest circled around. The crowd's cheering was almost too much attention was addicting to Lightning Dust She liked the idea of getting used to this. The announcer called off their names and they flew high into the air. The finale of the stunt show began. The crowd was captivated by the tight turns and sweeping arcs the pegasi made. Once Lightning Dust flew the highest in the air, the announcer declared that she'd perform a Sonic Rainboom. That was Volm's queue.

He lifted his hand in an almost spider-like manner, the tiny magic threads he put in Lightning Dust's body were being tugged ever so slightly.

"Three..." The announcer cried.

"Two..." Lightning Dust and the crowd breathed.

"One..." Volm hissed.


Lightning Dust's height in the air dropped as she took a deep dive downward. She speed down at an incredible speed, creating a cone of air in front of her. The crown held their breath in anticipation. Lightning Dust's heart was going a million miles an hour, half from excitement and from nervousness. She was careening downward, building up more and more speed. She was going so incredibly fast the signature cone of air formed before her. Her eyes watered and her cheeks were blown open from the air speed. The crow was cheering for the pegasus as she spiraled to the end of the dangerous stunt.

Then, all too suddenly, Lightning Dust's wings mysteriously and painfully locked up to her body. She didn't realize until she lost all control of her dive. Up in the stadium ponies were shoved aside as Volm ran out to the first row of seats. It was a blur to everypony else that he ran out and dived down after her. Nopony if this was part of the show or not, it sent a wave of unease in the crowd. Volm's body rocketed down to where Lightning Dust was falling with an unnatural speed. He was so fast in fact, he landed moments before she did. His landing wasn't a graceful one though. With his hind legs hitting the ground first, his legs bent in unusual angles. He bit his lip in pain, but smiled at his filthy deed.

Lightning Dust wasn't so lucky.

The graceful mare was bent and broken. Her limbs and wings were scrambled and blood drained from her ears and mouth. Volm sat and quickly snapped his legs back into socket, a sight half as gruesome as the one next to him. He stood back up and sauntered over to his weakened victim. She was barely conscious, her eyes blinked with a hopeful light at seeing him. 

The blue green creature trailed a finger across her chin, her body's wounds mending themselves miraculously. In almost no time at all, her horrendous injuries were gone. She only had a broken bone or two besides a few aches. She sat up to look at herself in amazement. She looked up with bright eyes to her 'lover'. He had a different look than what she was used to, it was icy and dark. His eyes felt razor sharp staring back at her.

"V… Volm?" She asked terrified, "What's wrong?"

"You won't remember any of this," His corrosive hiss scraped the pegasus' ears, "But what you'll do for me is immeasurable,".





The details after that are fuzzy. Some of the Wonderbolts dived down after Volm, what they found was a painful sight for them. There he was, the pegasus' lover bent over her. Her frail and limp body cradled in his trembling arms. The Wonderbolts were unsure if they should approach them or not.


Weeks later Lightning Dust woke up in a hospital bed. The last thing she remembered was Hearth's Warming Eve before she 'met' Wednesday. A nurse saw her sit up and rushed off to tell a doctor. When he was led to Lightning Dust's bed she was looking around with a very confused look.

"Lightning Dust, how are you feeling?" The Doctor asked.

"A little sore, what happened?" She asked back with a light groan.

The Doctor and nurse looked at each other with concern. The Doctor sighed, "Nurse, inform him," He looked back to Lightning Dust,"You really don't member what happened?"

"No, not at all. Did I get in trouble?" Lightning Dust gasped.

The doctor chuckled, "No, miss. You're suffering from amnesia most likely. What do you remember?"

Lightning Dust told him all she did. There were stories from the academy and records she tried to break. The Doctor took note of everything she said. After she was done he had a puzzled look.

"Is that all, no significant other?" The Doctor asked.

"You mean a coltfriend? Not since before the academy!" Lightning Dust was becoming worried, "What day is it?"

"It's a few days into spring, however your memory only recalls to this winter," The doctor said with a troubled look," Volm may not take you not remembering him very well."

"Volm? That monkey looking guy?" Lightning Dust asked, "I… I was dating him?"

"For several months apparently," The Doctor answered, "You're in no position to get out of bed yet. Just lay down and rest, I'll be back shortly."

He turned to leave. Lightning Dust Sat up to grab his attention but something grabbed hers. What she tried to do was slide out of bed, to her horror her hind legs remained motionless. Her scream of shock could be heard throughout the hospital.


In an office not to far from her room, her doctor and Volm sat together discussing the matters at hand. The mask of sadness and dismay on the blue-green creature's face was a flawless show. The doctor was very concerned, partly from her paralyzed condition and how crushed the creature before him looked.

The medical pony took off his glasses sadly, "I'm very sorry to inform you, Lightning Dust has no memory of you. Thankfully she isn't mentally traumatized by her injuries but from what I was told it's a miracle she's alive."
Volm nodded sadly with a small smile. The Doctor continued, "What you did, diving after her like that, won't be gone unnoticed. It's a tragedy she doesn't remember you. Should we try to reintroduce you to her?"

Volm sighed heavily with teary eyes, "N… no. I believe it's fate that she doesn't remember me. All I can do is hope she lives a happier life from now on."

"Don't we all?" The medical pony said clinically, "With her back legs being rendered useless it's almost assured she'd going to be living a very, very difficult life. Even if the damage isn't permanent the recovery could take months or even years!"

Volm perked up a little bit, "Doctor, are you aware of Stellar Eclipse?"

"The crippled pegasus?" He asked, "Yes I am. I heard you had some… prosthesis replacing his rear legs."

Volm twiddled his fingers, "Well… I could do the same for her. It's the least I could do for such a beautiful mare."

The Doctor glared at him, "How do I know your medical skills are one hundred percent reliable? What if an error occurs during the operation?"

Volm straightened up and smiled, "I'll give you my word, from one man to another."







It was in the middle of spring when Lightning Dust's cybernetic legs finally became second nature to her. Her friends in Cloudsdale were in shock and awe at seeing her again, along with her new attachments. She had gained a odd type of popularity from them and with the addition of Stellar Eclipse, now ponies all across Equestria were talking about the possibility of these new metallic legs. So much so, it was a piece of discussion between Celestia and other government leaders.

Volm's fame grew in an underground sense, but the process for these cyber implants was anything but professional. A few days before the operation Volm had been talking with the Flim-Flam brothers and any other mechanically inclined pony he could find. In careful security he taught them the way to turn parts for weather machines and other contraptions into working limbs. 
These ponies took to this advance in technology like moths to a flame. With a few friends working at the royal guard, the operation had a good source of materials. This underground process was lacking one thing though… customers. The process of connecting the cyber parts to the body was a difficult one. To his fiendish delight there was a decent amount of physically degraded ponies in Equestria. It was an expensive operation, of course, but Flim-Flam and other mechanics accepted the money. Volm had no use for it. 

Several weeks had passed. Lightning Dust became a personal trainer of sorts, helping newer cybers to walk again and perform regular tasks. Celestia and Luna were no less than impressed at the medical and technical advances Volm had brought to their country.  It wasn't uncommon for him to be seen with the two princesses, chatting away like old friends over cups of the finest tea.

As they looked over the balcony in the Canterlot Castle, the powerful trio sat in the late spring sun, "So tell me, your highness," Volm said to the midnight princess, however he was interrupted.

"No need to be so formal, dear Volm. You may simply call me Luna," The midnight blue princess cooed.

Volm fanned himself lightly, "If you insist. As I was saying, why do you two refer yourselves as princesses? Wouldn't Queens be a more fitting title, judging from the powerful hold you have over the land."

Celestia had an ego that glowed like the sun, "We prefer 'princess' over 'queen' for very good reasons. The ponies here are… naive. 'Princess' sounds more approachable and friendly then a queen. Since they only official queen here is Chrysalis, ponies really don't like the sound of that title."

Volm nodded respectively, "Your subject's heads are in your hooves, your grace. It's no wonder you've kept your kingdom under control for such an amazingly long time."

Celestia chuckled maternally, "You flatter me, Volm. Oh, and please call me by name. I deem you've risen up in the social ranks, besides catching my sister's eye," Celestia grinned. Luna glowered at her and tried to hide a blush at the same time.

Volm laughed at their sisterly attitude. Looking out at the open he took in a deep breath of fresh air, "When do you think that mare will come back. Pea Gravel, was it?"

"Oh her," Luna huffed, "We all need Rainbow Dash back. Not to mention our libraries will get stale without miss Daring Do," She grumbled still remembering how Pea Gravel had fought her,”I suppose she could come back too…”

"Goodness," Volm said with a grin,"So that fight on the mountaintop did happen. If I'm so bold to ask...what did become of that centaur's body?'

Celestia had a tired look on her regal features, "That thing? My kingdom is far too fragile for things like him to running about," Volm leaned closer and Luna had a worried look on her.

“But sister,”Luna said,”Was he not already dead?”

Celestia sighed,”Well...I just didn’t want him to be a threat anymore. Even in death.”

> 21) Into The Holy City
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The morning after Rainbow Dash and Daring Do were captured was a painful blur. The two mares were brought before Natadibirus as the camp was packing up. Among the hustling of the many workers taking down the large tents and hoisting crates onto wagons, many of the workers looked whenever they got the chance at the two mares. Their Equestrian bodies angelic and exotic to the average eye. The 'luckiest' of the Torrent members there were the several pairs of guards around the two mares. With ropes tied around their wings and legs, it was certain the two mares couldn't escape.

Natadibirus was beyond impressed at the two mares. With a makeshift eye patch and an injured hand in hidden in his robe, he did his best to look as intimidating and regal as possible. Daring Do had to speak for herself and Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus was mortified and barely moved, let alone respond to anything.

Natadibirus straightened his back so his portly belly would show less, "Due to your… unique appearance I  will have this caravan personally take us back to The Holy City of Dondurahl. I will have you meet The Prophet. I believe he will find you two as interesting as I."

"Why are you taking us as captives? What have we done to you?" Daring Do asked sternly, "Have we trespassed?”

"In a way.... yes," Natabirus grinned, "However, as rouge equines you have no rights," Daring Do glared at him, a heated look in her magenta eyes. Natabirus frowned, "If you need more clarification, my sweet, you're my property."

"You can't own another life!" Daring Do cried, "That's beyond inhumane! It's disgusting!"

The large centaur snapped his fingers. Another, smaller centaur hidden under black robes rushed up to his side. Natabirus whispered in the cloaked centaur's ear. With a subtle nod, the cloaked one rushed off again. Natabirus gazed up at the bleak sky, "I'll only speak peacefully this once. The three farming equines, remember them?"

Daring Do tugged at her ropes, "What have you done with them?!"

The guards and Natabirus chuckled. With a sleazy grin the fat centaur stroked his curly beard, "Nothing… yet. If you don't want them dead just cooperate."

Daring Do looked to Rainbow Dash, the poor young mare was in a contagious state of shock. The adventuress  thought of Dew Berry and her family. She didn't want anything horrible to happen to them too. Her mind went back to Equestria, was she missed? Technically she didn't even exist there. A writer's torch can be passed on to another...


"Take me instead," Daring Do said with a pain in her chest, "Take me to Dondurahl! Don't take her or the farm ponies… just me."

Nataibirus laughed mockingly. The guards chuckled nervously at this outburst. The fat centaur wiped the wetness from his one eye, "That, my dear, is brave but impossible. I own you now. All five of you."

As he said this, the cloaked centaur came back. He had what looked like reins in his hand. He went over to the motionless Rainbow Dash and untied her rope binding. The cyan mare didn't even blink. The cloaked centaur put a silver bridle in her mouth and strapped it over her head. Next he put an decorative saddle who's strap went over her wings. It made Daring Do sick with sadness to see such a proud mare bound up like that, with no resistance.

`The bridle came next to Daring Do. The centaur took off her hat and put the saddle over her back. Daring Do stood there, holding back tears. She had never felt so helpless, so bound. As the silver bridle slid into her trembling mouth a sense of dread fell upon her. Would she really become a slave… never to know freedom again?

"Now you look beautiful," Natibirus said with a clap of his meaty hands, "Guards, put these two in my personal wagon. We don't want them to chip a hoof on the way there."



It was noon when the small town of a camp was on the move. Natabirus and his wagons were at the center, protected by the horde surrounding him. They marched away from the mountains that led to Borox's domain, away from Pea Gravel and hope. In the loud crowd was a wagon pulled by twelve oxen near Natabirus. It's bus-size draping canvas sheltered Daring Do and Rainbow Dash. They had been told they could read whatever they liked, touch whatever loot they found. They were two birds in that caravan. Two sad birds tied down and kept in an insultingly large cage. There were scrolls and books around them inside, some in a language they could understand. However Daring Do was to crushed to read and Rainbow Dash was still in a pseudo-coma. When ever she could, Daring Do looked out to see Dew Berry, Wheat Biscuit, Cardinal, any of them. She caught sight of the farm horse once, he was pulling a small wagon with a look of defeat on his face.


Later that evening, the caravan stopped. They didn't as stationary as when the mares first found the Torrent camp, they mostly slept under wagon leantos. Also in a way alien to Daring Do and Rainbow Dash; sleeping standing up with only a coat for shelter. Natabirus had a tent though, it was cramped for him but with all of the guards around it you'd assume he was a king. 
Daring Do looked out the front flap of the centaur's and saw the bitter land. There was a low din of snoring or shuffling of the camp sleeping. Thankfully Wheat Biscuit was near where the tent full of loot was stationed. On the ground was muddy snow, cold and wet where Wheat Biscuit was sleeping. Beyond them was the rest of the plain and the low mountains behind them. Across the white expanse was a tall shape on the horizon. It looked like a tower of some sort.
Daring Do leaned further out of the tent where the cold air bit at her, the bridle felt heavy in her mouth as she tried to whisper, "Psst! Wheat Biscuit, are you awake?"

The farm horse lifted his head slowly, "Daring Do? Who put a bridle on your face?"

The adventuress grimaced, "That's what this thing is called? What a dirty word..." She shivered from the cold, "It's freezing out here, how can you stand it?'

Wheat Biscuit sighed sadly, "I… I have to, for her. For my son. They're somewhere here, I know it."

"Why not go look for them?" Daring Do asked, "They're your family."

Wheat Biscuit leaned a little to show his back. It was covered in fresh marks from a cruel whip. Daring Do gasped when she saw it and the farm horse sighed again, "I've been whipped before, I'm used to it. These whips they have here though… they're terrible. It's almost as if they had a vine of thorns instead of leather."

Daring Do began to feel helpless, she could escape but at what cost. The only ponies she knew were captured along with her or lost. She wished Wheat Biscuit a goodnight with a heavy heart and went back into her warm tent. The shelter from the cold was almost as painful as the icy air outside.

Halfway into the next day, a great black tower came into view. In front of it was an expansive wall. Behind that wall was the city of Dondurahl. The closer the caravan got to the city, the more helpless Daring Do felt. It was ridiculous, an adventuress like her being afraid. The slowly recuperating look on Rainbow Dash's face and the intimidating tower were both stabbing pains to the pegasus.

The tall sandstone walls had massive bricks, their weight impossible to guess. Banners on top of the wall's spires matched the Torrent's mark. An x with a dot above and below it. With Natabirus' caravan approaching the main gates opened up like a gargantuan animal's mouth. The daunting size of everything made Daring Do feel even smaller than she already felt. She held Rainbow Dash close, not sure how the cyan mare would react. The caravan they were caught in the middle of walked through the streets like a parade, with Natabirus waving to the citizens. The creatures who lived there matched the caravan, however in that crowd of citizens Daring Do saw more people than she had seen the whole journey.

Quite unexpectedly, an orange cloud of magic wrapped around Daring Do and Rainbow Dash, Natabirus' magic yanked them out of the wagon and out into midair for all to see. The mares looked with shocked faces and the crowd gawked at them in amazement. In a short time, the parade was over. The Torrent guards coming home shoved straggling citizens away for more space. Once the streets cleared Natabirus took a few hand picked centaurs in black cloaks and headed for the tower that was at the center of the city. Using an extra cloak, he bagged up the two mares so it looked like he was holding a large money bag.

From inside the fabric, Daring Do got a fuzzy look at the tower.It was strikingly black against the adobe and sandstone city around it. The tall tower's spires were built to look, at one point, like the building was made of black flames. Time had worn away a few of the sharp edges and dusted the pure black stone work. Though the city was old, the spire seemed ancient.

Two heavily armored centaurs saw Natabirus approaching and keeled in his presence. From inside the bag, Daring Do listened to their conversation.

"Your holiness, you have returned?" One guard asked.

Narabirus had a smug look on his face, "I have, now let me pass. I have important business with The Prophet."

The heavy plate armor clanked against itself as the two guards rose up and opened the tall door for the equally tall centaur. Inside the tower was cool and dark, lit by few torches. Before them was a hall with a tall ceiling and had an empty feeling to it. At the far end was what was at one time a throne, but now was an altar. The altar had several alien colored candles and an ornate triangle, Tirek's insignia. A figure in a black cloak was kneeling before and his low mumbling prayers echoed the quiet room.

Natabirus' usual headstrong attitude shrank into submissive. The cloaked centaurs on either side of him kept very still so not to disturb their leader.

The figure's voice came from across the hall. It was eerily angelic and warm, "Natabirus...you've returned. You know it is our custom to worship when the sun is highest in the sky and yet you have interrupted me."

Natabirus broke into a cold sweat. He fumbled the bagged mares in his hands, "A thousand pardons your Holiness, the news I bear clouded my mind."

The figure across the hall stood up, his size matching Natabirus'. This centaur's horns however, where bent out and back like a goats. Unlike Natabirus' ram horns. The figure turned around and it was certain who it was; Belial.


The cloak only covered his back, his chest and forelegs were exposed as well as his face. His cherry red skin was well kept and his muscles looked like chiseled marble. His pelt had a black sheen over it and glossy hooves. His face was beardless, showing off his squared off features. His eyes had a hypnotizing glow to them and his long hair was tied back into a ponytail that reached behind his shoulders.

With hands held out Belial smiled, "No need to be distressed friend. The Lord won't be ashamed of an esteemed centaur like you or I missing a worship, for the right reasons."

Natabirus reverted out of his panic attack, "Oh, oh yes. You're very wise Prophet Belial. Very wise indeed."


Belial pulled the cloak over his bare chest, "I expect you have an report to give me, I shall be in the floors above. Once you have cleaned the filth off of you you may meet me."

Natabirus handed the two mares over to one of the centaurs next to him, "Take these two two to the Bathhouse and clean them up. On second thought, pamper them like show horses. That's what they are anyway."

The cloaked centaur looked from the bag to Natabirus as the massive centaur rushed off for the pleasures of civilized life. With the two Equestrians in two the cloaked centaurs went to the tower's bath house.

It was a building very close to the tower, with skylights and a very clean looking walls and floors. There were several humans working there as well as ponies, both grooming the richer folk that lived in Dondurahl. When Daring Do and Rainbow Dash were brought inside and showed to the bath house workers, everyone was amazed. With the command of Natabirus' personal guard, they mares would be groomed for free. They were meeting the lone leader of the Torrent, they must be cared for.

For the first time in what felt forever, Daring Do had a bath. At first being lead with the bridle in her mouth made her feel like a piece of meat to look at but once it was taken off it felt amazing. Almost a dozen humans and ponies led the two Equestrians to a large stone bath. They were lowered into the shallow warm water by pairs of human hands. Bringing soaps and fragrant oils as other humans gently scrubbed the dirt away from Daring Do and Rainbow Dash, the cyan mare began acting less like a vegetable and more like herself. With a gentle hand scrubbing her hair and another her belly, Rainbow Dash giggled like a child.

After am mesmerizing bath, they were picked up like small children and taken to what looked like a small garden under a skylight. They were put on tables and dried off with the utmost care. Once dry, their clean manes looked frizzy. 

When one person was brushing a mare's hair another was polishing her hooves. At this point Rainbow Dash spoke for the first time since that terrible night, "Did I die and go to heaven?"

Daring Do openly laughed, along with several of the bathhouse workers. The adventuress smiled, "Were in a better place right now."

Rainbow Dash looked tiredly around as a woman braided her hair, "Where are we… are we back home?"

"No… but it's not bad," Darin Do sighed, "It's called Dondurahl, a city of the Torrent."

If Rainbow Dash had more energy she'd panic, "What? Those guys tried to kill us… this can't be a place they live."

Daring Do cooed as a hand itched behind her ear, "It's...it's better than out there. Besides  their soldiers they're quite civilized."

The fair woman braiding Rainbow Dash's hair was amazed, "My miss, your mane is the most beautiful I've ever seen! Did you use a silk dye for these vibrant colors?"

Rainbow Dash giggled sheepishly, "N-no, they're natural." The bathhouse workers laughed.

> 22) Dinner with the Prophet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash didn't care if she was in the Torrent Capital, the way she was feeling she might as well have died an gone to heaven. After the mesmerizing bath they were messaged and their hooves manicured to perfection. It felt to good to be true, being pampered like Rarity in her fantasies. The feeling of a human hand gingerly messaging her was wonderful. All to shortly, a cloaked centaur quietly stepped in. 
The Bathhouse workers became very sheepish around him, when he motioned for the Equestrians to come with him, the workers rushed the two pegasi over to him. As he led them out, the workers put the silver bridles back on the two mares. The dream ended with Natabirus and several centaurs in black cloaks greeted them in the cold street. The giant centaur had a large and ornamental cloak on him trimmed with fur, polished horns and a freshly curled beard he looked like he was dressed up for a wedding, not for a battle report.

Under a grey afternoon sky Natabirus and his goons walked up to the Tower with their heads held high. The mares' reigns were pulled gingerly but firmly by the pompous centaurs. Going inside the tower the mares were still amazed at how dark it looked yet they could see perfectly fine. On either sides of the grand hall were doors leading to mysterious rooms. The largest one near the alter was were Natabirus headed. It led to a staircase that was made in hell. The stairs were unfairly steep for a pony, and the mares dared not fly here.

The climb up was a cruel one. The centaurs snickered at how Rainbow Dash was coming short of breath on a measly staircase. Daring Do was used to physical endurance tests and had to be strong for Rainbow Dash. Neither of them knew what awaited them. They neared the top and two cloaked centaurs ran ahead. When Rainbow Dash and Daring Do saw the door the centaurs ran to open, it looked like any average door besides it's size. The centaurs opened it and a blinding light stuck their eyes.  Once their eyes adjusted the room looked like it belonged to an astronomer or a philosopher. The roof was far above the mares and even the smaller centaurs. The whole room was built for something much larger then a pony.

There was an opening to a balcony where the sun's light was coming from. The room was so high up that a bit of frost clung to the walls. At the center of the room was Belial. His lower torso lay like a resting horse while his hands rested on his legs, his back was to the door. Natabirus kept a noble demeanor while the cloaked centaurs faltered.  Rainbow Dash gazed at confusion at the naked centaur in the frigid room, Daring Do's senses went to a full alert.

Natabirus coughed polity,"Your Holieness, I have the battle reports here and I-"

"Leave them here," Belial said flatly.

Natabirus seemed shocked,"But...but you've only trust a report spoken by us..."

Belial's calm voice was oddly warm,"I'm not going to speak to you today. Leave the reports and the mares here."

"Wha...this i-is most irregular," Natabirus stuttered.


Belial's sigh was one of pure disappointment,"If you're going to question my word, look into a mirror. A centaur of your prestige reviving wounds like that irks me. Go back into the streets and talk to the tavern whores, thug. I'm sure they've missed you and your purse."

Natabirus gritted his teeth savagely,"As you wish, your Holiness."

He left the scrolls on the ground and closed the door quietly. The only sound was the gentile flow of air from outside and the beating of the frighted mares' hearts. The two mares felt helplessly tiny there, the scrolls beside them as big as rolled carpets. Belial's gaze was fixed outside, not looking over to his visitors. Several silent moments passed. He stood up, his size was foreboding. With a wave of his hand a table materialized up behind him, he turned and the mares saw his face,"Come sit."

"But these...things are keeping our wings from opening up,"Rainbow Dash complained.

Belial tilted his head to the side. The mares looked down at themselves and at each other, no bridles or saddles. Belial was using magic, a kind they've never seen before. The large scrolls behind them fluttered up like giant paper birds and soared over to where Belial was sitting. A pen fit for his giant hands floated from a desk into his grip. He sat focused on the battle reports before him. His memorizing eyes read the scrolls, a disapproving glare in them.

Belial didn't look up. He waved his non writing hand and before the mares knew it the were pulled up by an unseen force onto the table top before him. Being on such a giant space they felt like little dolls or chess pieces. He kept looking and making notes on the scrolls, never looking up at them.

"Where is Dew Berry and her family," Rainbow Dash shouted, breaking the silence,"They've done nothing to harm any of you, none of us have."

Belial moved a pinched set of fingers sideways like a zipper, before Rainbow Dash knew it she couldn't open her lips. She rubbed fretfully at her face and Daring Do tried her best to look civil. The adventuress wanted this discussion to go as smoothly as possible.


Several more silent moments passed again before the giant centaur spoke"Calm yourself, your friends are not in peril," Belial said as he read the scrolls," I have personally had them to stay in the tower's stables. All three of them are quiet safe."

The mares kept quiet, not sure if was a wise idea to talk to someone they've heard such terrible rumors about. They sat on the table, feeling small and with a dwindling candle of hope.

"You've come as dignitaries," Belial smiled,"You're here to beg my armies not to continue our assault." The mares looked at each other with confused looks. Belial continued,"I trust my son has slain one of your royal figureheads?"

Daring Do pursed her lips,"We're....we're not dignitaries. We're actually here mostly by accident."

Belial smooth and calm face flinched slightly,"Pardon me...then what exactly are you two Equestrians doing here?"

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in the air. Belial made a 'unzipping' motion and the mare gasped for breath,"We're here to help a...friend of ours," Rainbow Dash said. She wan't sure if she should give out Pea Gravel's name.

Belial put a thoughtful hand on his chin. He scanned the two mares for several moments. His hypnotic yellow eyes went to Rainbow Dash,"You, rainbow haired one. I see in your thoughts memories of the One True God; Tirek."

"Excuse me?" Daring Do said,"One True God?"

Belial folded his hands,"You have not heard of our faith? Only the noble of heart and strong of will have been smiled on by the Lord. His teachings lead the weak to strength, through hard work and faith any creature can become a true hero to their piers."

This introduction to Torrent faith rubbed Rainbow Dash the wrong way,"You mean to tell me that Tirek is a hero to you? He's a noble leader and a god?"

Daring Do pulled the cyan mare closer to her,"It may not be a good idea to get this guy mad," she hissed,"We don't know if we talk about that centaur around him..."

Belial took Rainbow Dash's words to heart,"You speak ill of my Lord. Your naive age I will let be used an excuse, for now. Why do you have such angst to our faith?"

Even tough Daring Do tried to keep a hoof over Rainbow Dash's mouth the cyan mare shouted her heart out,"He's no god! My friends and I kicked his ass and sent him crying back to Tartarus!"

There was a bone chilling silence. Belial had his eyes closed but it felt like a vacuum before a storm. A vein bulged in neck,"Then tell me, little one, who is your god?"

Daring Do knew it was too late to get out of this debate, religion was one of the most tender topics anywhere with anyone. Rainbow Dash had a half confident look on her face,"The only divine thing I've ever seen is Princess Celestia and Luna. If me and my friends were here with them, we'd send you crawling to your 'god' in Tartarus!"

Daring Do almost smacked the cyan mare,"What have you done?"

They both looked at Belial. His hands griped the edge of the table, his arms shaking slightly. The mares could hear his uneven breathing. Rainbow Dash knew what she said was the truth, even if that meant getting hurt she'd stick to her word.

"Celestia you say?" Belial asked as if the word cut his mouth,"Celestia....the Sun Goddess>..."

"She can raise the sun and even the moon," Rainbow Dash scoffed," What can your-"

Belial's eyes opened. His yellow pin pricks stabbed at the cyan mare,"You dare to say that fraud's name in my Lord's house? You have the gall to even think of overpowering my God in the wells of combat?" His calmness became a volcano.

Daring Do wanted to stop this before it got ugly,"Please forgive my friend, your holiness. She's young and dose not understand when to keep her mouth shut."

Belial suddenly became very calm, like magma freshly hardened in a tundra. He exhaled with a small smile "You… you mentioned Tartarus? You...you and your friends transformed to defeat him?"

“Wait, how did you know that?” Rainbow Dash glared, "You’ve never been there before!"

"Simple, I read your mind. It’s very clouded,” Belial’s face showed an ounce of humor,”But that is not important at the moment. Your… goddess… she'd always be ready to protect you?" His face then twisted into a small evil smile, "Save you if you were in danger? Move you out of harm's way?"

"Absolutely, she'd be there in a heart beat!" Rainbow Dash said with a tear of fear and pride,"She'd never turn her back on us!"

Belial held his hands open and the two mares gravitated to them. They pawed at the table's surface but the pull was far too strong. They landed in his palms, hands that could easily wrap around a tree. He cupped his massive hands and stood up. With a powerful and prideful strut he went out to the open faced balcony. The mares could see out and below. It was a ledge so far up a look down would make a pegasus dizzy.

Belial took a huge breath in of the icy air. He shouted out to the sky in a voice so powerful it echoed across the city below and to the mountains beyond,"Sun Goddess Celestia! In my hand I have one of your champions, the pegasus Rainbow Dash! If you value the mare's life strike me down with your almighty power, show a non-believer your true divinity!"

Rainbow Dash and Daring Do looked up to the sky. It was grey with some parting clouds. Above the tower the wall of cloud cleared slightly. Seeing this made Rainbow Dash's heart skip a beat. She believed that her princess would save her, fly in and take her back home. Her eyes welled up with hopeful tears. Daring Do was very afraid. She wanted to see the princess fly in and save the day as well but she knew, somehow, that nobody was coming.

Belial's face glowed with a smile like the sun he was challenging,"So be it!" He shouted again in the ear ringing voice,"Hold these words true, Sun Goddess, The Torrent is coming for you!"

He looked down at the two mares,"You two will tell me the way to her garden, Equestria. If you do not I will have to use force."



Belial had a icy grin,"Or what? Will you take it from me, murder me in my sleep and steal it back? Will you call upon your 'almighty Sun Goddess' and have her drive a lance of fire through my heart?" His body contained a small chuckle,"You've lived a lie, know a lie. It's time you learn your place in this world, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash shook with rage, she wanted to hurt him. She wanted to save the day hooves singing but she knew it, she knew she'd lose. That fact alone was crushing to her. Daring Do was too shocked to say anything. She just stared at her floating heart, praying it would be alright. 







Nearly two thousand years ago an old kingdom had once strong ties with Equestira, an ally far away. It's king was a tense but benevolent ruler, unfortunately fueling his son's hunger for power. As the prince grew her began to resent his father. The king went off to Equestria to mend some political damage the prince caused...

When he came back he was ambushed. Murdered by an all to familiar centaur.

With the king dead, the centaur known as Tirek abandoned his homeland in search of power and magic. Upon his journey he had found an object who's power is corrosive to the imagination. Few disciples followed Tirek to where his mind had set, the Equine Kingdom. 

History's details can be warped and muted over time, even over exaggerated. What little Tirek's disciples had seen made them flee from their powerful leader. A strange cataclysmic event occurred and the world opened up, gushing water from ancient underground reservoirs. Rain storms screamed over the land, an unequaled storm raged over the land. Great oceans filled with monstrous beasts circled the kingdom and her neighboring territories. Equestria was now isolated...but not forever.


Tirek's home had gone into a state of ruin. The centaurs and gargoyles that lived side by side with them grew wild, they lost most cultural reason. When Tireks' disciples finally returned, they found their kinsmen worshiping pagan gods and idols. The enlightened few however, listened to the disciples. The roots of the Torrent's religion was born.
> 23) Break Down
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Far from the Torrent City, far from the paradise of Equestria, in the middle of nowhere was the nameless unicorn and Pea Gravel. The Torrent centaurs took all of their supplies; food, supplies, weapons, guns. After the fact the mare had been sitting for several days, refusing food and water. She just stared out to where the caravan had headed almost a week ago. The unicorn sat nearby, his foreleg mending painfully and the bash to his head clearing up. He tried to find the greenest grass in that dry prairie, even though winter was nearly over the land was still bare. He watched her with worried eyes, wondering what to do with her. He could read her before but she seemed insecure now, not stone cold determined like before.

The mare herself listened. Listened to the sounds in her mind and the ones around her. She'd sometimes catch wind of the unicorn talking to himself at the late hours of the night, maybe he was more crazy than she was. She was lost in herself, she felt complete and utter humiliation realizing what she had guided Rainbow Dash into. She imagined them cold and afraid in some rusted cage surrounded by hungry centaurs, she was unable to make herself get up and find out.

In times when there was nothing to do, or nothing she could think of, she'd tinker with her limbs. The unicorn would see her sitting on her haunches with an arm detached, tightening the carbon fibrous muscle hidden inside the arm. She'd do this for hours, tinker with one arm then reattach it. She'd clench her fist to test it then repeat the process with her other arm and legs.

"Warrior, why are you so sad?" The unicorn croaked one afternoon. There was a long silence. The unicorn looked at her, just staring out into space sadly. He turned to leave her be but a small sound came from her mouth. It was followed by words.

Pea Gravel answered him as well as herself, "It's all my fault. It's all my fault...."

"What is?" He asked.

"This, this whole goddamn mess!" Pea Gravel spun her head to stare at him," If I never met those ponies... never go to Equestria… they'd never get fucked over like they had… I'd still have Tuff..."

"And Dew Berry would be living out the rest of her days as a farmer's unhappy wife, that Ahuizotl beast would still be roaming around Equestria," The unicorn said flatly,"And I would still be a pet."

Pea Gravel tensed up. She had a grimace on her troubled face,"Alright.... so what should I do then? If I go chasing them, I'll get them into bigger trouble," She hit her forehead, "...or get sidetracked and go on another fucking rampage!"

"Why must you be so vulgar to a companion?" The unicorn croaked again, "I've done nothing to you."

Pea Gravel's eyes turned mint, "Done Nothing? You… you… you're a fucking mind reader! It pisses me off how you can just dig out what I don't want to say!"

"Dose it?" He smiled weakly, "Did the Equestrian mares not have a similar effect?"

The cyber mare blinked. She thought back to Twilight and Applejack, they were just so humbling somehow. She couldn't live with herself if she lied to such innocent creatures. All the mare wanted was to save her friends, retire in Equestria till they died old and happy. It seemed the universe, god, fate, the devil or something big didn't agree with her. She remembered the deal she made with Volm.

Pea Gravel hit herself again, "I left them too! That bastard is there, why did I leave them!" She hit herself more. So hard so that the unicorn rushed to stop her. He put a hoof over her arm and tried to hold it so she wouldn't do it again. Pea Struggled for a moment then collapsed hopelessly. She looked at her hand and saw fresh blood on the knuckle.


Pea Gravel's shoulders began to shiver as she stared at the hand. She stared with helpless eyes while tears flowed out from her face. The unicorn stoked her vest-covered back gently to ease her.

"What am I?" Pea Gravel choked, "All I do is hurt. I hurt and take..." She closed her eyes, " What good am I if I can't save anyone? I lose my friends, I’ve fucked Rainbow Dash over… what am I?" The cold winter wind whipped around them. The fur coats and a small will to live the only thing keeping them from freezing. 


Another silent day passed after that. Pea Gravel stayed still while the winter died around her. As she sat she heard the unicorn talking to himself, this time she listened in.

"What do you mean keep going?" He asked in a tone very different than his normal one, "You promised once I transformed that I'd never have to deal with stuff like this again," He was silent for several moments. Pea Gravel caught a peek of him while not looking suspicious. He seemed to be listening for something, as if there was a small whisper on the wind.

"Yes, as far as I can sense they are... I realize that but you don't need to get so angry," He flinched as if a sound cut his ear,"D-don't worry. I'll make sure it gets to you… yes, yes I know," After that he stopped. An hour went by and he dropped some fresher grass next to Pea Gravel.

"Do you..." Pea Gravel was hesitant, "Do you talk to yourself sometimes?"

"Feeling better I see," The unicorn chuckled, "Not me, only crazy ponies would do that."

"We've been sitting for too long," Pea Gravel stood up with some strain to her limbs,"We really should get going."

The unicorn stood up as well, "Are we going after them to Dogdurhal?"

Pea Gravel smiled weakly, "I may have another idea."

The unicorn rose an eyebrow but followed anyway. Since the Torrent had taken all of their supplies they just walked off with what they had on their backs. Instead of going in the same direction as the caravan went, they went slightly north. Less dragons there but more of the rouge beasts lived. As the pair walked Pea Gravel's mind slowly repelled it's previous depression. The conversation she heard the Unicorn have made her think. He obviously wasn't talking to himself… but to who?

The nameless unicorn had begun to act strange. As he and Pea Gravel neared the northern border of the heart of the Torrent empire, he became restless. The landscape became more wooded with very tall pines. Pea walked with her usual fearless, confident gaze and the Unicorn looked around with worried eyes. The forest before them was  one that would seem haunted. There was an eerie atmosphere to it. Near the edge inside the forest she found a stack of mossy rocks so hidden by plants it had a small tree growing from it's base. Close to this was a wide broken-in path, it looked like no one had traveled on it in weeks.

The pair of equines were very close before the Unicorn stopped, "Warrior… why are we going in this place? Doghdural is to the south."

Pea Gravel smiled, "I have a feeling I'll meet some old friends who may help."

She entered the dark woods and the Unicorn reluctantly followed. There was the faint call of crows in the forest along with other, more unnatural, howls. When the Unicorn looked from side to side he caught the glint of sharp eyes and hunched figures in the dark. He knew they weren't alone there.

Pea Gravel sighed carelessly, "Unicorn, have you ever heard of a Lepuric?"

The Unicorn grimaced, "Those abominations from the dark corners of the earth? I have heard… too many stories to know fact from fiction."

"Then you've heard of how they are born correct?" The cyber mare cooed.

The Unicorn gulped, "Possessing a stillborn child, summoned by necromancers, brought by demons… I couldn't tell you which one."

"There's something I do know for sure," Pea Gravel grinned, "They can always contact their master, no matter how far away they are apart."

"How disturbing!" The unicorn shivered, "Do they all have that same monstrous look?"

A strange bird whistle was heard. Pea Gravel glanced around,"They can become what they eat, so I'm told."

The forest became dark, huge trees blocked most of the sunlight. The Unicorn began to sweat. In the underbrush further on they smelled wood smoke. As they went through the dense path they soon came to a thick, almost fort-like log cabin. There were barrels filled with coal outside the thick front door and many freshly carved spear-length sticks. There was smoke from a very hot fire coming from the far side of the house. It was apparent a black-smith lived here, one she had met only a handful of times. Pea Gravel had a skeptical look on her face.

"You wait here," She whispered, "I'm going to see who's over there."

"You must have lost your mind," The unicorn hissed, "Orcs can forge steel, how do know it's something we can trust?!"

Pea Gravel smiled grimly,"That's what I'm here for."

She carefully approached the house,"Hello? Dose a Gunter still live here?"

There was a clanging sound, like someone who tripped and fell. From out behind the house ran a tawny old human. His skin was a dull tan and had little burn marks over his arms. In his strong hands was a rod of iron with a red hot tip. His head only had a grey beard, what little hair on his head he had stood on end. His faded blue eyes had the look of a delusional maniac. He tried to snarl with his five teeth.

"Who are you?" He called, "Are you some bandit to steal my swords? A demon that wants my soul? Speak! Speak!"

Pea Gravel sat on her haunches and held up her metal hands,"I don't want any trouble Gunter… I want a sword."

The old blacksmith squinted, his right eye drifted lazily,"How did yew know I was a blacksmith, eh? Are you some kind of sorceress to tempt me?"

"I met you a couple years ago," Pea Gravel said calmly, "You made some swords for my mercenaries. The Breakneck Bevy."

Gunter grinned with his tooth deprived mouth,"Butter my chicken and call me a sailor, why didn't you say so? I love those folks!" He blinked lazily recalling some memories,"Funny, where are those fellas? Don't tell me they kicked the bucket," He saw a solemn look cross Pea Gravel’s face, “Now… how long has it been since you've seen me?"

Pea Gravel chuckled, "Almost thirteen years now," Pea Gravel said. She remembered back to when she had hired him out to make fifty swords for her crew. He looked much less crazy than he did before, he even had hair. He had four younger men with him who had a similar nose like he did. (Human siblings seemed to share that) Those four other blacksmiths with made swords that almost never broke. She felt some pity looking at the man now, crazy and alone.

Gunter itched his beard, "You can come inside," He looked at the still hot poker like it was just given to him, "I'll… I'll put this back."

He disappeared behind the house with a waddle. Pea Gravel waved over to the unicorn. He rushed to her like a lost puppy. Pea Gravel opened the heavy door and was hit with a wall of smells, mostly unclean ones. The old man lived out here all alone so he never thought tidying up his home was important. They were now standing in a large room filled with arms and armor all sharpened and polished. The floor was covered in dirt and soot but not a piece of weaponry was found on the ground. Swords, axes, maces, war-hammers and other weapons were arranged in neat racks along the walls. There were even barrels filled with unfinished steel or iron blades. The armor there ranged from full plate sets to bits and pieces, all set on makeshift mannequins or shelves. Lighting the room was several large candles well away from any metal it could drip wax on.

"He likes metal, doesn't he?" The unicorn asked.

Pea Gravel laughed. There was a staircase on the far wall and a door built under it, Gunter waddled out from behind the door. His right eye drifted as he spoke,"Ah, you brought a fella with ya. Don't get too swanky, it ain't polite," He nodded for them to follow,"I've got some food a-cookin!"

They followed through the door and found the 'workplace' on the other side of the house, it was an open air veranda. There were a few stone ovens there but the still hot forge was producing an unrelenting heat. Gunter walked near the hot bed of coals as if they weren't there. He scratched his head in confusion,"What kind of sword did you want?"

Pea Gravel sighed, "If you don't mind, could we talk about that over dinner? We haven't eaten a good meal in several days."

Gunter nodded and went over to one of the stone ovens, "I've got this potato pie thing, it's still cooking."

The unicorn smelled the air, it had a charcoal scent, "Umm...Gunter...I smell food burning..."

The old man looked inside the stove, "Oh you wanted it golden brown, eh? Don't like your food cooked proper?" He shrugged and grabbing a pair of forge tongs, pulled out the earthenware pan the food was roasting in. When he pulled it out he grumbled, "Fiddlesticks! I don't have a table for you folks to eat at, no visitors in eight years and all..."

"Don't worry about that," Pea Gravel said, "We'll just eat out of the pan."

Gunter kept his gaze away from her,"...'an only one spoon." 

"Gunter you're impossible!" Pea Gravel chuckled.

"You popped up uninvited," Gunter said as he took the burnt pie inside, "At least ya should've talked to my dealer in Dongdurrhal."

"Dogdurhal," The unicorn corrected.

"Potato tomato," Gunter huffed, "Anyways if I knew ahead of time I'd get some decent food. Can't just eat potato pie."

Handing the hot plate to Pea Gravel, Gunter wobbled around moving some empty barrels into a makeshift table set. Pea placed the pie at the center barrel and sat causally, the Unicorn followed her example. From a pocket in his apron, Gunter pulled out a brass spoon. It too was polished and clean like the swords around them. He dug the spoon into the pie and upturned it so it'd cool faster.

"So...d o you live here, with no one?" The unicorn asked.

"Yep, my sons and brothers lived out here with me awhile ago," Gunter said with a peppy tone, "Then the blue nasty ate 'em."
> 24) Inside a Haunted Forest...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was night time over the dense forest. The early spring night had a chorus of sounds from crickets to hellish howls. Outside the small log fort gnarled shadowy figures eyes the house, taking the smells of two newcomers. The cold night air brought an unnatural mist that made the dense forest look even more menacing. Inside however, the odd trio was sitting on barrels eating the half burnt potato pie. Gunter was eating with a spoon, Pea Gravel was eating with her hands and the Unicorn levitated bits to his mouth.

"It's pretty good," Pea Gravel said ignoring the charred chunks,"Do you have any other grub?"

The old blacksmith cackled,"Nope! I traded two swords for all the potatoes I could carry, been eating em fer about a week now..." He eyed the spoonful of mush,"It's awful..." 

"So old man,"Pea Gravel wiped her messy hand on her vest,"What exactly lives out here besides you?"

Gunter stroked his messy beard,"Well the neighbor was killed by orcs a year ago, he lived some five miles away. Nice fella. He had a big family with about eight kids, all loud and ate a lot" He rose his arms up into the air,"I saw the house fire right up above the tree tops, them orcs are sure clever! Now other then them...eh, got some deer I get once an' while, rabbits too. Wolves, bears and other nasties live here, like any forest of course," he rattled on.

The Unicorn had been thinking hard about what Gunter had said earlier,"Mister Gunter...you mentioned a thing earlier...a 'blue nasty'."

The old man squinted his eyes at the unicorn. He flung the last bit of potato pie in the silver equine's face, while the unicorn sat there blinking Gunter grabbed the earthenware patter,"Don't talk about that damned thing, it'll bring bad luck." 

The unicorn watched as Gunter barricaded the doors and windows to his home as if the process was clockwork. He told them the two ponies could sleep upstairs in the rooms that used to belong to his family. The second floor was a hallway with four doors and the staircase, it seemed smaller on the inside of this log fort then the outside. Being led to the spare rooms, they were impossibly dusty. It was obvious Gunter hadn't even touched the doors in years, let alone clean the rooms. The beds were at most masses of straw with a dusty sheet over them. The Unicorn nearly gagged from the amount of dust kicked up by just the door opening. Pea Gravel ran up to the bed and flopped onto it, a mushroom cloud of dust bunnies and dust flew up into the air.

"Now you two better get some sleep," Gunter chuckled," Imma putting ya to work tomorrow."

"Oh no...what kind of work?" The unicorn asked helplessly.

The old man's lazy eye drifted again,"We'll find out. Night y'all!"

The Unicorn refused to sleep alone. He went in the same room as Pea Gravel and rolled up on the floor. Pea Gravel looked down at him from on top the bed. She thought it'd be best to leave him alone for now so she rolled back onto the middle of the bed. On the other side of the room was a window that was covered with a board, blocking the dappled moonlight. Several minuets went by as the two ponies listened to the forest, it was filled with all sorts of sounds. So much clamor was outside that the Unicorn felt it impossible to sleep. He slowly stood up to look at Pea Gravel, she was splayed out and snoring.

He carefully went out of the room looking for Gunter. He heard some mumbling from downstairs and followed. Looking down from the top of the staircase he saw the old man. Gunter was sitting on the floor, staring at front of the main door with an ax held tightly to him. He was gently rocking and mumbling to himself. The unicorn heard bits of words, something about the moon and little white creatures with yellow eyes. The Unicorn wasn't sure if he should talk to him or not. He carefully went back to the room where Pea Gravel was sleeping in, as he lay down to sleep the mare watched him with a half open eye.



The next morning the Unicorn woke up to an almost silent forest. There were only the sounds of birds singing and the occasional chop of wood. He groggily went down stairs with bags under his eyes. The windows were open as well as the doors, letting all the sun's rays inside the house. He went out front and found Pea Gravel chopping wood, standing up like a human as she chopped. She had a decent pile already and it wasn't even ten in the morning. She barely noticed him until he moved into her line of sight.

"Morning lazy bones!" She chirped," Glad you're finally with us."

The unicorn rubbed his eyes,"How can you be so cheerful? We've lost our party, we're in a haunted forest with a crazy old man and most likely have centaurs looking for us."

Pea Gravel rested the wood ax on her shoulder and wiped some sweat from her brow,"I dunno. I kinda like it here!"

"You're not worried?" The unicorn asked with surprise.

"Of course I'm worried," Pea Gravel rolled her eyes,"I'm just in a better mood today, that's all."

The Unicorn's stomach grumbled,"I'll see if Gunter will let me make breakfast."

Pea waved as he headed back inside,"Make sure you don't forget the potatoes!" The unicorn groaned. Pea Gravel was about to go back to work when she looked back to him,"Hey! Thanks for taking care of me last week...I appreciate it."

The Unicorn smiled to her,"It's no problem."


In the armory Gunter was polishing a large brass tinted breast plate. It looked like something a centaur would wear. When he looked closer at the weaponry in the room again, he noticed that most of it was centaurian design. He carefully went up to the senile old man.

"Gunter, do you make armor for someone?" He asked.

Gunter breathed on the breast plate and wiped the fog away,"Sure do, a couple nice fellas come in once a month or so. They're centaurs. Only folks who are crazy enough to come out here and buy my wares."

The unicorn grimaced,"We've had some problems with them recently. Will they some to this place soon?"

Gunter went to the armor up next to the freshly polished one,"Eh, everyone has problems little guy. I think they're awful rich, they've practically thrown money at me for my swords."

"If you have access so much wealth, why why do live like this?" The unicorn asked confused.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Gunter huffed as he itched his ear like a dog,"I'm perfectly and totally fine."

The unicorn rolled his eyes,"Fine. Could you tell me why you live out here alone? That part is the one that confuses me."

For a moment the old man was still. He shook his head and began polishing vigorously. The unicorn asked again but the old man ignored him. The unicorn sighed and went back outside where Pea Gravel was. The sun lit up the forest enough to where it almost looked bright. He sat and watched Pea Gravel finish chopping wood. After a few swings he noticed something in the distance behind her. It was hidden behind a tree but it's shape and color was unmistakable, blue-grey and humanoid with long arms. He saw part of it's face too, a toothy grin from one side of it's head to the other. it's eight finger hand waved to him.

He jumped up in a panic,"Pea Gravel look! There's something out there!"

Pea Gravel swung her head where he pointed. The unicorn was in a cold sweat as his hoof pointed to the distant tree. Pea Gravel strained her eyes to see. She turned with a frown on her face,"You're seeing things. There's nothing over there, I'd smell it. You probably just need some more sleep. you've been very stressed lately."

The unicorn slumped back down,"Y-you are right. I'll...I'll be up in the bedroom if you need anything." He got up on wobbly knees and trotted back inside. Pea Gravle watched him with skeptical eyes.


Pea Gravel stacked up all of the wood she chopped. While she was doing that Gunter stepped outside and yawned.

"Didn't get much sleep old man?" Pea joked.

"None, too busy watching the door," Gunter said casually," I saw one of them white critters with the yellow eyes scampering around. It was scratching at the door so I let him outside, later him an' his friends knocked. I couldn't let them in."

Pea Gravel stopped and folded her arms," What is with those things and you anyway? You keep talking about them."

"Oh they're terrible! They smudge my polished works and put dirt in my forge, real mischievous bastards," Gunter said with a few waves of his arms,"That's not why I hate 'em though...they're the nasties' eyes and ears."

Pea Gravel thought of Volm when he mentioned that name," Go on, have you seen him?" She asked intently.

The old man yawned again."He's never come too close, not much further then that there tree," He pointed to the same tree the unicorn pointed at,"The things absolutely terrible! It's a-taken over my mine in the back woods, Pea Gravel. It ate my poor little brother."

"I'm sorry for him," Pea Gravel said sympathetically," Losing a family member is always hard." 

Gunter spat with a grin," It's all good, I hated that prick. Always took me fer granted."

Pea Gravel couldn't help but laugh. She took one of the uncut wood pieces and sat on it. Gunter leaned on the door frame, knowing she was done with chit-chat and onto business. The old man put some strange leaves he had in apron pocket and chewed on them.

" So Gunter, about my sword..."

" Finally!" The old man grinned as he clapped,"How much money ya got on ya. I need to know what kind of sword quality I should make."

Pea Gravel rubbed her neck," You see...I don't really-"

Gunter frowned,"Ain't got no money, eh? Ya got that pauper's disease. From bein' a wealthy mercenary to a beggar, pitiful."

Pea Gravel gritted her teeth,"I can do you a favor. I can work."

The old man cackled," I was going to have you do that anyway. This ain't no charity I'm runnin' around here!" He spat out chewed leaf juice,"What kind of favors?"

Pea Gravel was quiet for a moment. She couldn't tell i he was being perverted or serious. She was well aware of men who sometimes had sex with mares, she found it unnatural but 'to each his own'. She fixed up her short mane.

" What kind of favors are you looking for, Gunter?" She asked cattily.

The old man grinned. Pea Gravel internally puked at his look. He spat again," I wan't you to kill the big nasty."

The cyber mare sighed with relief," Whew! That'll be easy."

Gunter shook his head," Still as stupid as I first met you. I'm an old bastard and old for a reason, Pea Gravel." 

He wen't back inside to sharpen his armory. His words rung in her head for awhile. She looked out at the forest again. She saw the tall pine trees and dappled sunlight over the under brush. Occasionally a deer would walk by cautiously. She was lulled by the sound of the forest song birds and spring bugs. A hint of blue snapped her back into focus. When she looked closer her blood froze. It was the same apparition that the unicorn saw, it too waved at her. Pea Gravel was full of terror and hatred at the thing, it had the same demonic grin has the blue demon that had tormented her. She stood up and stomped inside the house.

"Gunter!" She shouted. The old man nearly fell off a barrel he was sitting on,"Gunter I need a sword that'll kill centaurs. One that will kill demons."

"Ah so you saw it, eh?" He nodded," So are you looking for a broad sword like the ones I made for your folks?"

Pea Gravel punched her palm," No. The big bitch needs a big sword."
	 
> 25) What makes a Red Cloak?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Inside the ancient tower of Dogdurhal, Rainbow Dash and Daring Do sat looking out from a terrace. After their first encounter with the High Priest Belial, the two mares barely saw him. He usually stayed up in the highest reaches of the tower. It had been a few days since they had arrived and the feeling of being trapped was agony for both of them. The safety for Dew Berry and her family was always on their mind, even Pea Gravel who they hadn't seen in weeks. Luckily Dew Berry, Wheat Biscuit and Cardinal were kept as workers for the tower's gardens. The two Equestrians met with the family whenever they could. When outside, they heard whispered rumors of another centaur coming, a 'red cloak'.  Neither Rainbow Dash or Daring Do knew what that meant, they just knew it was important. 

It was bitter sweet living there. They wore clean white linen (or were forced to) and bathed every day. The food they ate was fit for a princess, specially made for an equine. They even flew around the big tower but they felt watched by sharp eyes while they were in the air. Having such a feeling drained the fun of flying away. Almost out of boredom Daring Do ventured around the tower and asked around for a library. She was told to go to the subterranean levels of the tower. It seemed to go down into the earth as it went up into the sky. 

The halls she walked through could so huge Natabirus could walk through. These giant halls, or more appropriately tunnels, were poorly lit with a torch every few yards or so. It created a very empty and dark atmosphere. There were the occasional set of stone doors built for her size, over them were words she couldn't read carved into the rock. Eventually she came to a fork in the road. There were three halls before her, the furthest to the right had the hint of light further down it while the middle was dark. The left one made her cringe; heat radiated out of it. I just felt evil. Taking the lit path she found a robed centaur, a very pale one who looked like he had read every book written. He sat on the stone floor reading a scroll from candle light.

"I was told a library was down here," Daring Do told him. She was used to being in caves to the confines didn't bother her.  That's what a robed centaur called it, but it was too deep underground to be comfortable.

The centaur wheezed a laugh,"Library? Bah! Don't use such a demeaning word, The Torrent owns many lexicons, not a simple bookshelf."

He slowly rose up on rickety joints. He was around the size of Celestia, it seemed only a few of the Torrent were giants. 

It was many levels under the surface, the stone should be cold but it was warm to the touch. This centaur who seemed to live there carried a torch and guided her. After all, under Belial's direct orders the centaurs were obligated to serve the two rare equines unless it meant helping them escape. He led her down the tunnel he sat outside of. It was a short walk to the opening of the most expansive cave the adventuress had ever seen. It held a library equally labyrinthine. It was full of pitch dark halls and tall shelves out reaching the torch light. There were scrolls and tomes centuries old here, documenting thousands of different things. Daring Do noticed a pattern as she was guided through, tomes with a red binding were about centaurs known as 'red cloaks'. She smiled at the though of Twilight finding this place; that mare wold be gone for months and still have a mountain of unread books.

"What is a red cloak?" Daring Do asked her guide.

The old centaur's wrinkly face smiled with pride,"They are the finest of our faith. The Red Cloaks stand as knights for the high priest," He eyed her,"You plan on taking some of these tomes above?"

Daring Do frowned,"No, I wouldn't know what to do with them," She looked over her shoulder," So their the elite of the Torrent's army?"

The Centaur pursed his chapped lips," In mass, yes they are. There are a select few held higher than even a red cloak, sadly most die on their day of glory."

"Would they be priests along side Belial?" Daring Do asked.

"They wear robes of white," The old creature said dreamily," They prove themselves to be worthy and charge directly at the enemy, knowing well they will never come back. In some tongues they are known as 'Berserkers'." 

Their words echoed in the empty place. Daring Do shivered," Let's go back. I miss the sun."

The centaur grumbled and lead her back through the maze of books. When they arrived to the entrance Daring Do rushed off. A thought ran through her mind and she stopped,"Hey, what's in that tunnel? The one that's hot?"

She saw a twisted look of fear from the old centaur. It looked like he just heard a hungry wolf's call,"Never go there!" He called to her,"It's the shadow of us!"



Rainbow Dash was running around in the gardens with Cardinal while the foal's parent's watched. The gardens looked like they were fit of a king, the new coming spring was pushing the flowers into full bloom. The amount of green made Rainbow Dash feel at home. She saw Daring Do trot out into the lush garden, the adventuress looked as if she saw a ghost. Rainbow Dash gave Cardinal a playful shove and told the foal she'd be back. She went over to her friend.

"Daring Do what's wrong?" The cyan mare asked,"You look awful!"

Daring Do caught her breath,"There's something....s-something down under ground."

Rainbow Dash's face went grim,"Like what, come on. You have to tell me."

Daring Do buckled to the ground whimpering. Rainbow Dash was shocked to see the adventuress act so childish. She knelt beside the tan pegasus,"Come on, what's down there?"

Daring Do's lip quivered,"The air down there....it was saturated with anger. There's something locked up down there...a centaur."

"What?" Rainbow Dash gasped,"You're acting crazy. Belial is a monster and you didn't even flinch! What's with this other thing?"

Daring Do locked her terrified eyes up at Dash's," I...I saw it! It's all deformed and... it looked like it was boiling under it's skin!" She wrapped her arms around Rainbow Dash and sobbed,"Rainbow Dash, I'm scared!"

Rainbow Dash hugged Daring Do back,"It's okay, don't worry. We'll get out of here."


That night the two Equines bade their friends goodnight and were escorted back up the tower to their rooms. They slept in a room high above the ground with a terrace overlooking the city. The room itself was roomy for a centaur but huge to a pony. The build looked as if the room could swallow up the two mares at any moment as they lay in their silken beds. Daring Do lay in a fitful sleep while Rainbow Dash sat wide awake. She stared outside at the warm spring evening. The waxing moon cast a silver veil of light on the city. The cyan pegasus walked slowly to the terrace. She had one thought in her mind; escape.

If she could fly fast enough she could make it out of sight. She could go find Pea Gravel and they both could save the captives. It seemed like a foolproof plan with her speed in mind. She fiddled with the saddle straps that kept her wings tight to her body. They eventually came undone and slid to the ground with a jingle. She euphorically spread her wings, it felt amazing to have them out again. She fluttered them to refresh the muscle. She knew if she got caught she would be punished, to what extent she didn't know. She thought of what Pea Gravel would do in her situation.

"Fuck it," Rainbow Dash spat,"I'm doing it."

"Wait!" a voice called beside her,"I'm going too!"

Daring Do had slapped on her pith helmet and had a smile hungry for adventure. Rainbow Dash grinned widely. She rolled her shoulders as she spread her wings wide. With one mighty push they rocketed out the open air window and out into the sky. There was a moment of free fall where she caught her breath. She flapped her wings again and flew higher up into the air, far above the dark city below. From the tower behind she noticed several griffons begging to follow her. She grinned triumphantly as she out flew them. She embraced the feeling of rushing air over her body again, she missed it. She felt like the griffons would never catch her, and with Daring Do at her side she was home free.

From out below flew four griffons, all dressed in black. They had nets tightly gripped in their sharp talons. Rainbow Dash wheeled over to the nearest one and punched him on the side of his beak. It made a pleasing crack as he spiraled back to earth. The remaining three circled her. A new feeling surged through the mare. She recalled whenever her friends wanted to fix something Rainbow Dash would always say; 'The hard way.' This was one of those times.

Another flew in from behind, her net outstretched to trap Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare rolled up into the air, just barely grazing the top of the oncoming griffon's head. The griffon had no time to react as Rainbow Dash kicked downward onto the griffons back. This griffon too fell down to earth. The remaining two rushed her at the same time.

She dodged as flipped mid air, enough to make a wonderbolt jealous. She was beginning to enjoy fighting. One of the griffons managed to scratch her arm, the mare bit her lip in pain as three little gashes welled up with blood. That griffon got two kicks to the gut. With another scratch to her side she took the remaining griffon's net. Quickly evading him she tangled up his wings.

She waved to the griffons as they rained down on the sleeping city. With surges of adrenaline still pumping in Rainbow Dash's blood, she sped forward to the wall at the edge of the city. It felt amazing to fly so fast.

She passed the wall.

Rainbow Dash whooped with joy and soared like an eagle. She had made it, she was going to find Pea Gravel and save her friends! Rainbow Dash giggled with relief as Dogdurhal began to shrink behind her. She slowed her pace to conserve energy, her heated mood dwindled down as well. Daring Do glided as well, both flying over and underr one another. She gazed at the plains below, they had begun to turn green with the coming of spring. She saw little herds of deer grazing in the night. She looked up at he clear sky above her, it was blanketed with stars and the beautiful crescent moon, even if she didn't recognize it.

Rainbow Dash was gliding now, her wings catching soft warm air currents. As she flew she felt as if something was following her. She looked behind her and saw that Daring Do was gone. The black tower she had been locked up in was all that was behind her. A cold feeling gripped her and she pumped her wings harder and harder but the tower still remained close behind her. She felt fatigue covering her like a lead blanket. Her wings gave out and she began spiraling downward. The prairie below her raced up to her with terrifying speed. She cried out in anger and fear, hoping this nightmare would just end. She covered her eyes before impact.



Rainbow Dash woke up with a start in her bed. 


She looked around her and saw she had never left the tower, she had been dreaming. The scratches left by the griffons never happened and the saddle was still strapped to her. She wanted to scream, her mind was playing games with her just like the cruel world around her. She glanced at the terrace overlooking the city. Almost constantly a griffon or a gargoyle flew past the opening. She punched the bed spread in anguish. She sat for several moments almost sobbing. This whole 'adventure' was awful. 

She got off her bed and sadly wandered over to the balcony. She gazed out and looked at the sleeping city, it seemed so peaceful for housing the most powerful centaurs in the world. Her sharp eyes caught moment down below, something big and quiet was moving. She wiped her tears away and looked far down to see a centaur walking though the streets silently. A huge red cape billowed behind his already three story tall body. He had what looked like a pole with a hammer head at one end holstered on his side, his face was hidden by a bronze colored mask with small slits for sight.

He moved up through the streets and into the courtyard. Unlike any one else she saw, Rainbow Dash saw him open the tower's front doors like he owned the place. She had a hunch that this red cloaked stranger was headed for a secret meeting with the prophet.

She carefully crept to the door of her room. It was unlocked. Rainbow Dash looked back over to Daring Do, the tan mare was in a uncharacteristically upset sleep. The great adventuress she had grown up idolizing was beginning to fade. Fading into a fearful mare. The cyan mare slowly opened the door. There was no one in sight. She remembered vaguely the path up to the prophet's room. She sneaked through the many halls that climbed up. When a pair of guards neared she clung up to the tall ceiling. Their torches barely reached up to the tall walls.  Soon after them she saw the vising centaur come from the same way they left, they sounded like a parade compared to him. Once he had walked past and was far enough ahead Rainbow Dash began following. After what seemed like hours, hours of entertaining sneaking, she finally reached the staircase leading up to the room.

She was very close to the tall door. From the lower levels came a rumble, like a massive creature running. She went back up to the ceiling and not a moment too soon. Natabirus ran up the stair case, gasping for breath. A wave of cologne scented air followed him. Rainbow Dash held her nose from the strong scent and shadowed him a safe distance away. He came to the door and stopped for a moment to catch his breath. He politely opened the large door. As the massive doorway began to close Rainbow Dash rushed as fast as she could to make it up to the door way. There was a gap underneath, almost big enough for her to crawl comfortably under, that she used to watch what was going on.

At the far end was the opening where she saw another centaur besides Belial and Natabirus, equal in size. His horns stuck out from under his hood faced forward like a bull's and battle scarred arms folded over his wide chest. His face was gaunt and shown how many times it had been broken and smashed, his left eye was scarred shut and his other didn't look very good either. Rainbow Dash looked at the stranger's cloak again. It wasn't fabric at all, it was dragon hide!

"Your Holiness," Natabirus said still short of breath," You have summoned me?"

Belial was looking over a set of scrolls and parchments, some tiny for his scale. He looked up from them with tired eyes," Indeed. I have a favor to ask of you and your ties with our merchant force. I'm sure you'll be compliant?"

Natabirus nodded slowly," If it's funds you need then I can organize a donation rally or raise taxes. With myself money is no object."

"This may be done. There has been something as of late that has caught my attention. A new source of magic has made the beast underneath the fort restless," Belial said calmly to Natabirus," The gems you confiscated from your captives. Bring them here."

Natabirus looked sick. He reluctantly reached into a pocket of his coat and pulled out a small bag.  Belial used his magic to snatch it, Natabirus looked physically harmed to see it go. The bag floated up in front of Belail. Two gems slipped out and levitated for the three giants to see. Rainbow Dash recognized the gems even though they were so far away, one was a blue one given to Daring Do and the other one was a black pear that Pea Gravel carried around.

The stranger was amazed," Is that it?" His voice was warm like tar.

Belial smiled warmly," Indeed it is, Anokeen. The Tear of The King is ours."

Natabirus folded his hands," My apologies for not recognizing such a relic. We have reason to celebrate this night, do we not?"

Belial held his eyes closed for a moment, as if he was listening for something. His flushed red skin became redder," If the scriptures are correct..." 

His fingers danced and sparks of magic shot from his hand. He made a gripping motion and the tear shaped gem began to glow a piercing blue. Natabirus became terrified while Anokeen grinned with sadistic enthusiasm. Suddenly waves of energy shot from the rock. It caused paper to fly in whirlwinds and cloaks to billow in the magic wind. Anokeen's dragon pulled away as far as she could without leaving the tower.  The winds coming from it holed with unearthly screeches. Even as far away as Rainbow Dash was she felt the winds rush past her under the door.  Belial's body shivered and he stopped applying magic to the gem, the hurricane of force echoed away leaving silence.

Belail snatched the stone out from the air and held it in his palm, it's blue aura still lighting up the room. He sighed with pleasure," Truly this is the stone that Tirek had found so long ago! This is the source of his power!"

Anokeen stepped closer so he could look into his master's palm," Indeed it is a powerful stone...but was there not supposed to be contained by an enchanted chain for its weilder?"

Belial closed his palm,"Yes, the Carmino. That is why I have summoned you here, Anokeen. You will lead a siege to the last remaining bastion of that filthy sun worshiping cult. They have had the Carmino Chain for generations," His magic brought back all of the papers he had been looking over. The three centaurs looked at the plans

Rainbow Dash shivered at the words Belial said; " Precisely. When we reunite the two pieces then," He clenched his hand on the tiny rock," At that moment my sons, at that moment... We can open the gates of Tartarus and finally release the god Tirek from his prison."

Anokeen levitated the other rock, the pearl. He gazed at it," The smaller one, Your Holiness. There is something about this gem that is familiar."

Belial clenched his fist," That's from the blue demon, its magic is like no other. Damn! We must to be quick about our actions now. It's a thorn in my side that he's involved again."




Rainbow Dash was already halfway down the tower before she realized it. She was running so fast she was barely touching the ground, she had to tell Daring Do. They needed to escape!

Rainbow Dash was catching her breath as she opened her room door. Her body was shaking from anxiety as she went up to her fellow Equestiran. She shook Daring Do awake and perhaps a little to hard.

Daring Do awoke with a start," What is it?" She asked groggily," Did something happen?"

Rainbow Dash was still in a state of shock," That thing that Pea Gravel gave you, the blue rock thing..."

Daring Do's inner senses began kicking in," Yes, what about it? Is it so important we should risk our lives trying to steal it back?"

"No no no," Rainbow Dash blurted," It's a...a kind of magic rock..."

" Well that isn't a surprise," the adventuress sighed," What kind of magic?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide," Evil! It's some kind of weapon! Tirek found it and that's how he got to equestria, now these guys have it...they want to get Tirek out of Tartarus!"

Daring Do sat up," Whoa, whoa, wait. Equestria is miles upon miles away from here. On top of that is that ocean of sea monsters. How will they get over that?"

Rainbow Dash was pacing now," They aren't leaving yet, they need to find some kind of chain for it or something..."

"So what?" Daring Do asked.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the tan mare's shoulders," So? That's when we escape! We at least get away from Belial and these centaur goons!"

Daring Do bit her lip," What about Dew Berry and her son?"

"We'll figure something out," Rainbow Dash huffed," The point is we need to figure out a way to escape!"

"What if they catch us?" Daring Do asked.

Rainbow Dash had enough of the depressed way her idol had been talking," What? What happened to the great Daring Do, why did she leave this sissy in her place?"

Daring Do pulled back defensively," I'm trying to be rational here. The stakes are already set way to high out here...if we get caught we can't help Pea Gravel find her friends..."

Rainbow Dash made a reassuring smile," She's probably grouping up with them now, planning a way to storm in and kill every on of these centaurs. What we need is to be ready for the best opportunity, right Daring Do?"

Daring Do's eyes were rekindled with hope. She took Rainbow Dash's hoof in hers and grinned," Your right! We can do this."
	
> 26) A Job Well Done
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a few hours before dawn in the chilled forest.  The night birds were singing their last songs and the midnight creatures crawled back to their hovels before morning came to the forest. From the blacksmith's cabin, the muffled sounds of a conversation were heard. Only two voices were speaking; Pea Gravel and Gunter's.

"What do I need to do with this sword?" The cyber mare asked. Between the two as they sat on barrels was an array of weapons strewn about on the floor. Some broad swords, curved swords, axes and long swords. One sword stuck out, it was a slightly curving single sided blade that was as long as Pea Gravel was standing on her rear legs.

Gunter shook his head. "These all are what I show to customers, not what I sell," he smirked, "Knowin' your history, imma be needin' strong metal to make a sword that'll hold itself together for you."

The mare scowled. "You said you had a mine back further in the woods, right?" she asked in a deeper tone.

"Don't tell me you plan on goin' back there?" the old man said with a squint. "It's suicide, Ah tell ya!  The trek alone..." he trailed off.

Pea Gravel looked down at her hands, "I need a weapon that's as dangerous as I am.  Now, can you do that with metal from your mine?”

Gunter chuckled dryly. "Fine. I'll give you a sword on loan. It'll be the same design as the one yer lookin’ at so your hands will get used to it," he reached down and picked up the one she was asking about, “it’s far lower quality but it might keep you alive ‘til ya get back.”

He turned the handle toward her and she grasped it, her fingers firmly gripping.  She began to examine it, feel its balance, and slowly wave it, the light of a candle shone beautifully in it’s polished veneer.  Gunter had begun picking up his displayed weapons from across the floor with reckless abandon, hobbling to a workbench and laying them quickly, gently, across the table.

“So,” Pea started as she stood tall and swung the sword hard once, listening to it silently slice through the air,” will this really survive long enough to get me there?”

"Ahh, maybe," Gunter hooted, "but you'll still do it." He put the last weapon away before turning back around. “You’re a tough one, so once you get me the ore; I'll begin working on your sword. After that you'll have to do a couple mercenary jobs to pay off the debt," he said turning around to look at her.

Gunter cringed when he saw her standing unnaturally tall, like a human. He scoffed then turned to leave.  Alone, the grey mare stood there in the armory breathing lightly. Her heart beating hard in her chest. She was becoming antsy, like something inside was getting hungry at the thought of spilling blood again.

She shook her head, clearing it of her impending bloodlust. She lowered the sword and walked, still upright, to the stairs.  She navigated them with an ease one wouldn’t expect before she stumbled, landing on all fours, the blade still clenched in her fist.  She continued up the stairs to the rooms on all fours.

She found the Unicorn curled up in a ball in the center of the room, on the floor. He looked so peaceful; like a small child sleeping. She sighed contently and stepped into the room.  Setting the blade on the floor she approached him.

Laying a hand on his shoulder, she gingerly shook him awake. "Come on, we've got a big day ahead. Up an' at em."

The still unnamed unicorn lifted his head and yawned slightly, covering his mouth with his hoof before looking up at Pea Gravel. "It is so early, can't I sleep just a bit longer?"

Pea Gravel hooked a hand underneath his armpit and lifted him to his hooves. "Nope, we've got places to be, grab your saddle bags, too."

The Unicorn stretched like a cat, a pleasurable groan escaped him as well as a couple pops from his back. "Oh alright, where are we going?"

Pea smirked. "An outpost for supplies; I'm sick of those damn potatoes," she laughed and turned to walk away, “take a few to do your business, I’ll give you a minute and I’ll see you,” she turned her head and glared at him, “soon.”  

A chill went through the unicorn as her look pierced into his very soul.  He nodded quickly, exhaling shakily as she left, having picked up the sword with her mouth on her way out.

She returned downstairs to the armory to see a gift set on the floor, where her sword was.  There was now a hoop sheath for the blade, the belt was tightened roughly to her size. 

Standing on her rear legs again with the new sheath in her hands she smiled at the gesture.  As she slipped the belt over her torso like a bandoleer, sheathing the sword. It felt smooth and easy to work with.  

I can get used to this, just have to be careful to not cut myself while taking it in and out.

She heard wood creaking and saw the unicorn coming down the stairs. He had a look of confusion. "What's the sword for?"

Pea Gravel sighed. "The outpost. Let's go."

The unicorn bit his lip. "Shouldn't we pack up some food, water?  How long will we be gone?"

Pea Gravel returned to her four leg stance and walked to the front door. “Just a day or so. You can eat grass, you baby," she said in a scolding tone.

She pushed the door open with her nose and looked into the still dark forest, the colors of dawn on the horizon. 

Pea Gravel was in the lead with the unicorn trailing behind, careful to avoid branches snapping back and thorn bushes as the mare began a steady trot into the forest.

"Where is this outpost?" the unicorn whispered, so not to alert any predators that might be lurking.

"I talked to Gunter before we left," she whispered back, "he said it was back out in the plains a ways, we might have passed it on our way here,” she finished without looking back.

"P-Pea Gravel, we might have company," the unicorn stammered in a hoarse whisper as he heard noises trailing them.

"Just keep walking and don’t look back. We're getting close to the edge of the forest, if they follow us there, they'll have some company."

The unicorn swallowed the lump in his throat and looked ahead, focusing on the silhouette of her frame. The further they went the denser the forest became. The unicorn noticed this with a frightful look. "Shouldn't the forest be clearing if we're going out of the forest?"

Pea Gravel was silent. She kept walking as if the Unicorn wasn't talking. He asked again. "Warrior, where are we going?"

Without looking back Pea Gravel answered in a hiss. "Quiet, he'll hear you."

The unicorn gulped hard. The ground underneath them became rocky and barren, the trees began to clear and it began to lighten up. They walked into a clearing that was the remnants of a quarry. 

The unicorn scrunched in face in fear.  "Why are we here?" he hissed, "This isn’t ‘out of the forest’.”

In the middle of the quarry was a deep, dark mining cave. Pea Gravel stood up on her hind legs and readied her loaned sword. The unicorn looked up at her in disbelief. "Are you really going in there!?"

The mare nodded wordlessly, a grin forming on her muzzle. The unicorns knees began to tremble. "Then, I will follow.  You, didn't bring a torch..." he hesitated.

Pea Gravel smirked at his remark. She tightened her fist around the grip and began to move to the cave's mouth. The Unicorn swallowed his fear and followed behind.

The cave was deep with rooms carved and dug out; making it look like a maze. As the two walked the air became thick with dust, there was a smell that putrid and stale. 

“Hey, I brought a light, dumbass.  Light your horn,” she said flatly.  She could hear him wince.  The unicorn's horn lit up like a blue lamp, illuminating their path until it dissipated several meters ahead. 

Pea Gravel held a very grim expression, she knew something was living in these mines. The minimal light showed how the tunnels had been 'lived in' as they trotted deeper in. There were piles of bones and dried hides piled by walls in various rooms; the meat that remained was what was creating the stench.  Some fresher than others.

They were now deep in the mine. Here, ore that was left behind by the miners shown in the unicorns light, ready for harvest. If they had a pickaxe they could mine some and be on their way, but the foreboding feeling of being watched was too much.  Quickly she grabbed ore that was strewn across the ground and began to shove it into the unicorn’s saddlebags.

The Unicorn was nothing short of terrified, his heartbeat was nearly audible in the silence and the light from his horn began to wane. Pea Gravel though, was ready.

From ahead of them to the right, in a darkened room came a low croaking growl, like an enormous bullfrog: The tell tale sign that a Lepuric was near. The tunnel before them was tall and wide, perfect for combat. 

In the faint light they both saw the beast. It had a haunting resemblance to Volm.  Unlike him it was huge and a grey-ish red. It could easily eat an ox whole with its wedge tooth smile. Two black, soulless orbs where eyes should have been stared out at them from the very front of the muzzle, most of it's body hidden in darkness.

It's veins underneath it's thick throbbed with each of its heartbeats. It sat crouched, ready to pounce at any moment with its monkey-like arms, that ended in at least three fingers, each with a talon as long as her new blade; ready to grab its prey.

Pea Gravel withdrew her sword silently. "I need you to get back," she said quietly as she exhaled to the unicorn.

Before the unicorn could react the Lepuric's talons dug into the ground.  It lunged it's body forward as the unicorn's light gave out from his primal fear. His natural instincts kicked in and he ran for his life, hooves pounding against the stone ground. 

He ran and he ran, completely dumb with fright and blind. Pea Gravel shouted for him to come back so she could see but it was too late, he was already gone and so was chance of light.

The deathly pigmented beast was in an intense battle with the cyber mare. It was pitch dark in the cave but Pea Gravel knew where it was, she could see it's eyes dimly glowing in the darkness, the smell of it’s body, and the sounds it made.  Odd gurgling and rumbling, the stretching of it’s tendons were like rubber bands, that was in addition to the stomps, growls, and steps it made as it attacked her.

She had less then a second to hear it's eight talon paw swipe before it would hit the ground next to her. The lepuric tried to take up as much space as possible with it's long reaching arms, even though fighting blind Pea felt the thrill of battle, the bloodlust.  She ducked and swiped the blade, feeling the resistance of flesh being rendered.

It felt amazing how much reach the blade gave her and she grinned as she had heard a few fingers drop to the ground.  By now her eyes could partially see what was going on.

How can I see in such a dark place? 

The thought distracted her just enough so that one of the lepuric's paws violently gripped the mare's leg. She was swung around like a baseball bat, hitting the cavern wall. The pain was like a refreshing rain, it had been awhile since something had hurt her that bad.  

She took the sword's grip in both hands and drove the long blade into the beast's wrist. It exploded out from the other side and Pea Gravel saw her chance. 

She grabbed the extended blade and twisted the sword.  The beast squealed in an ear piercing scream and howl as Pea was released from its grip.  She used her strength to swing with the sword and fall to the ground with force; severing the beasts hand and tearing it’s muscles asunder. 

She crouched on the floor, ready for another round of beatings. The Lepuric looked at it's hand calmly. The artery was squirting out blood while the heavy hand was attached still with only a bit of skin and muscle. It looked at her with it's soulless black eyes.

"So it is true," a child's voice said.

Pea Gravel looked around, trying to find the voices owner. "Who said that?" she growled, “more for me to fight?"

"It's only you and me," the voice of an innocent young girl said, "he has told me so much about you.”

Pea Gravel looked at the Lepuric. It's maw was curled up in a twisted, toothy, disjointed smile, but the voice didn't come from it's mouth.  There was a child’s giggle. "I'm talking to you in your mind, silly pony."

The voice laughed again. Pea Gravel's lust for battle burned and became even hotter. She knew that voice wasn't the monster's, it took that voice from an innocent, like the rumors had whispered during her travels.

"I can give you happy thoughts," the voice said.  A flash of the child was shown to Pea Gravel. She was a little human and was running through a farm field of wheat with a yellow dog. 

The mare's stomach churned painfully. The voice rang sweetly in her head again. "I can also give you bad ones..." 

Pea Gravel's knees wobbled at the next flash. The dog's body was ripped apart, it’s flesh filleted in uneven patches.  It’s organs were holding it, tied in place of a scare crow. Her focus was turned to the girl, standing in front of the dog’s body, looking at her, and holding a doll.

"I met her brothers; Able, Cameron, Wilfred, Roy. His lovely mother, Mary. Her big strong father, Carl and, her little baby sister..."

Pea Gravel shook with anger. "You bastard.”

In her surprised state she wasn't prepared for what was about to happen. The monster's other hand grabbed the mare and pinned her to the ground with crushing force. She growled in pain as her sword dropped out of reach into the darkness. 

She beat at the massive hand with her own, even going as far as to bite it, but it held firm. The mouth slid open and a long slimy tongue trailed out with ropes of drool dangling from it.  

Pea Gravel tried to push the tongue away, but it moved like a python around her neck. She gazed furiously at the soulless eyes as the girl’s voice spoke innocently again, "Why are you fighting? For a sword? What good will a weapon do for you except cause more pain?"

Pea Gravel's mental gears were in overdrive. How was she going to get out of this? She looked up at the lepuric's jaw, it was within arm's reach. She lunged her arm forward and grabbed a tooth in the monster's maw firmly. 

It couldn’t bite down since its tongue was in the way but its muscles tightened around Pea Gravel. Her face began to darken from the lack of air and exertion but she did it; she pulled the tooth free. It had a trail of flesh and veins anchoring it but she yanked it back to her quickly stabbing and cutting a chunk off the tongue around her neck sending spurts of blood to her body.

The tongue coiled back up into the monster's mouth as it released her. She rushed over to her sword and picked it up. The Lepuric arched it's back and bared it's teeth in a gurgling scream and howl combination. Pea Gravel was up on two legs and rushed the beast.

It tried to sweep her with it's stumpy arm and she jumped over the blind swipe easily. 

She arched back, the sword tip brushing her tail just before she swung forward and drove the sword’s blade between its eyes at the tip of its muzzle, splitting it’s face in twain.  

It thrashed around and bucked like a rodeo bull. Pea Gravel pulled the sword out with some difficulty and fell back onto the ground, ready to continue fighting, she was near the wall of the cave and she played that to her advantage.  Feigning a limp she took two steps to her left.  The Lepuric grinned and lowered its head to charge the injured mare.

Its rumbling growl echoed in the cave as it launched its body forward. The top of it's head rammed into her like a freight train; faster than she could move away.  She instinctively swung at it's still ducked head, missing widely. 

The pain racked her body as she was slammed into the wall with such force there was an echoed rumble further down the mines.  The Lepuric pulled its head back to look at its victory.

Pea planted her rear hooves against the ground and jumped up on the monster's head, scrambling to the top as quickly as she could she readied her sword.  

With one hand on the grip and the other on the pommel she forced the sword point into the base of its skull.  It threw her off, she hit the floor rolling, losing her balance and falling onto her tail with a yelp.

The Lepuric squealed and shivered with pain as paralysis took over it's body. It arched over itself until its head hit the ground behind it, then it collapsed limply. Pea Gravel stood for a moment watching it. Her sword gripped tightly in her hand.

The girl’s voice echoed. "I am but a part of his plan, you can't stop him..." 

"Stop it.  Stop talking," Pea Gravel said desperately.

"We are all intertwined in this web of life and fate..."

Pea Gravel stepped up to the limp beast. It's body was dying but the brain was still working, independently of the rest of its form. She took an executioner's stance and stomped at it's neck.

"Your lot in life is to suffer, Pea Gravel. That is your purpose. Just like the little girl’s family who lived their whole lives; just to be eaten, just like your friend Joe. You are made to suffer..."

Pea Gravel raised her leg and stomped at the meaty neck, covering herself in rotten, stinking blood. There was a crevasse of flesh torn away but she kept stomping, "Stop it! Just stop!"

The voice was now very weak and faint, "Stop what?  Telling the truth? You cannot escape your fate, Pea Gravel.  You, can't, escape..."

Pea Gravel's arms and legs were now still. The monster before was dead; mentally and physically. 

	Finally.

Her chest heaved with pained breaths, her body was shaking from the exertion and pain that was making itself known. 

The deed was done, she could now get her sword. With a blank expression she put her sword back in her sheath and turned to a wall, hoping she could follow it out of the mines. She took to her four hooves again since it was easier on her body.

Hours longer than it took the two of them to get so and she was nearly exhausted when she smelled the fresh air of the surface.

The pinprick of light gave her a personal rush as she left the wall and began a fast trot to escape the darkness.

Once she was out the unicorn rushed up to her with very worried eyes and had her lean on him for support.  She didn’t have it in her to fight the unicorn at the moment, she just wanted to get back with the ore. He carried her on his back, the whole way one thought remained in her clouded mind; Is this really my fate?

> 27) Princess' Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It was a warm spring evening in Canterlot; the ponies moved from store to store on the well cared for cobblestone streets. There was an air of carelessness and contentment in the fortified town.  In the Princess' castle, however, there was anything but the joyful bliss the ponies outside felt.

Princesses Celestia, Cadence, and Luna were talking with Twilight Sparkle and Volm in the throne room. The topic was about the missing mares that had accompanied Pea Gravel. 

While Twilight wanted to begin a search party since Rainbow Dash had left; Volm was more concerned with what would happen when they returned.

"We have no idea what she has been through," Twilight pleaded," She may be sick or in danger, why haven't you lifted a hoof to help?" she asked openly to the princess council.

Celestia sighed, letting her regal smile fade. "It's best we wait. Pea Gravel told me she'd be gone for eighteen months. It's been almost six now, and we can’t locate them outside our borders."

"But, that's so long," Cadence added in Twilight’s defense, "Shouldn't we, at the very least, try to contact her?"

The two sisters were quiet for a moment... The blue creature slid up between Cadence and Twilight," You must realize, your Highness, that it is nearly impossible. What we should do is prepare for when they return."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked confused, "Like throw a party? This is serious!"

Volm frowned. "I am very serious. When they come back do you have any idea what might be following them?" Cadence and Twilight gulped, afraid to answer. Volm stood up and began pacing, "Princess Twilight, I don't think you realize what sending your subject out there will entail."

Twilight frowned back, "I don't care, my friend is missing! What's so wrong with me trying to find her?"

"Nothing. There's nothing wrong with that," Volm said compliantly, "It's just that there are some things your 'scouts' wouldn't be able to handle out there."

"Then I'll go myself," Twilight said standing up, "If I bring the rest of my friends then the Elements of Harmony will protect us."

Cadence and the celestial sisters gave the lilac mare disappointed glances. Volm hid a smile, "That's very brave, Princess Twilight. Foolish, naive, and poorly thought out, but brave." 

He fixed his gaze to Twilight, "What the mare Pea Gravel said is true, there are all sorts of dangerous things that would swallow up your little ponies without a thought or challenge. It's simply irrational to endanger them so."

"If it's so dangerous why don't you go find them?" Twilight asked with an pointing hoof at him.

The other princesses looked to Volm for his answer. He was in the spotlight and it wasn't a comfortable one, "It's possible I can send one of my subordinates. Friday is much quicker then Wednesday and a better swimmer," Volm said casually," When shall he depart?"

"Tonight," Twilight said firmly, "Pea Gravel can continue on her quest but Rainbow Dash and Daring Do will come home."

Volm nodded respectfully, "As you wish. I will see myself out to tell him..."

Celestia straightened up her and returned her regal posture. "Why are you not going along with him?"

Volm stopped. A tiny thought, a plan formed in his mind. It made him sigh happily," I must stay in case a foreign threat comes. It'd be terrible to have your royal guard find some centaur scouting parties..." He backed away with a bow and vanished in a wisp of smoke.

Twilight looked up at her mentor with teary eyes. "How did all of this happen?  It can't get any worse can it?"

Celestia glared at the empty space in the table between them." It's Pea Gravel’s fault. If she hadn't shown up then Rainbow Dash would never have ran away on this foolish adventure beyond our safe borders."

Twilight took a moment to absorb that while silence took the room.













Once alone she felt different entirely. There was a strange feeling in her chest, a hot and angry feeling. She thought about that grey mare, Pea Gravel. When that mare came she was nothing but mystery and a short fuse. 

Even though she seemed dangerous, Pea Gravel acted very friendly toward Twilight. Even though Twilight was a princess Pea had never met, she was very open. Oddly open… as if to sucker her into something. 

As far as anypony knew, Volm hadn't done anything violent; sure he was sketchy looking and his tar black friends didn't help, but anyone would look suspicious if they were a being from a whole different world. Unlike Pea Gravel he hadn't murdered anyone. 

Ahuizotl, as word eventually got around, was dead and buried.

Her thoughts were churning in her mind as she walked through her castle. Spike had greeted her but she was too lost in her thoughts to pay attention to him past a nod. After some time she had arrived to her bedroom. 

On the nightstand was a copy of Pea Gravel's book 'Forces'. She sighed looking at it. Very few ponies talked about the book in recent days.  She, and they, were more concerned with rumors of the missing ponies.  

In her mind she saw Pea Gravel's face. Her smile stoic and her eyes like a calm timberwolf's, the image of her strange metal limbs added to her picture.  She was tough, nice, and cared for Tough.  Yet she terrified everypony that got close to her.  Was she worth the energy to be a friend?

Twilight was the Princess of Friendship for Celestia's sake, of course she wanted to keep a friend. Even if that friend was a stone cold killer... but something in her heart stopped her, something new. Twilight put a hoof to her chest with a pained look and wet eyes, she was certain this was something similar to what Moon Dancer felt when they reunited; Betrayal. 





It was a clear spring night and Luna was perched on top of tower, lost in thought. Volm hadn't been seen since he had left the meeting between the four princesses and the night princess was beginning worry. She had been skeptical of Volm since she had heard about him. 

Even though he had a charming personality and had been more than generous with his wealth, there was something familiar about him.

Luna heard a small scraping, like a squirrel, on shingles behind her. She turned to look and saw Volm sitting there on the tower roof behind her, a grin was on his face from ear to ear. Luna grimaced at the eerie sight.

"What is it you want?" She asked.

"Oh, just did some reading," Volm said breathing in the warm night air, “it's a lovely night for it."

"If that is all then leave me be," Luna turned back to her watching the sky,  “I am quite busy with my own personal affairs."

Volm looked up at the sky. Volm stayed at a comfortable distance but continued talking. “Amazing isn't it?  So Majestically lonely… up there."

Luna's spine tingled. “Volm. Everypony knows I am the only one who has ever been banished to the moon."

"That would be nice to believe. "The blue creature chuckled, "but, we know better, don't we?"

Luna looked back to Volm. He had eyes glossy with tears. The princess rose an eyebrow, "You are attempting to gain pity from me?"

"Remember them?" Volm asked tenderly, "the flowing figures of smoke up on the dark side of the moon?"

Luna's eyes widened slightly. “Rarity had been consumed in the past by the same thing that consumed me a thousand years ago; beings that granted power to those who have hit their absolute lowest that had the lust for power they fed on. 

“Not a hoof to pull you out of the dark hole you are in but a heavy hoof to break through the bedrock and drag you to tartarus. They turn you into a monster, a nightmare.”

"They give you so much… but take more," Volm shivered in his blue skin.

"I suppose you are aware of my past as Nightmare Moon?" Luna asked quietly.

"Aware? I've lived it," Volm said quietly. He pursed his lips, "Excuse me your Highness… I'm rambling. I'll leave you," He began to back away, "Thank you for your time."

"Stop!" Luna commanded loudly," I-I mean wait. I was depressed from the admiration my sister and the shadow she cast on me," She glanced around as if afraid to ask, “what made you need their help."

Volm was silent for a moment.  Luna knew she had struck a cord or hit some repressed nerve. The blue creature rose on his back legs as he looked up at the night sky, a chilling sight to behold.

"You look up at this… expanse every night. You have been up there. Doesn't that make you feel trapped, now that your hooves have touched soil again? You are a carbon based equine living in this atmosphere atop a thin layer of rock on this insignificant blue speck inside the infinite sea of space..." 

He clenched his hands tightly, "Before I became this I was nothing, less than nothing! I was property, a minuscule cog in the cruel wheel of Fate. Now..."

Luna was afraid and curious at the same moment. “Now? What does fate have in store for you?"

Volm closed his eyes and smiled, "Nothing. Fate has nothing for me because I changed that."

Luna took a careful step closer. “Changed?"

"Yes, princess,” Volm said as he sat back down, "just as you and your sister paid a price for Equestria, I too, have made a deal."

"What was it?" Luna asked, now very worried.

Volm's lower torso began to whips away and his body faded into smoke. A whisper left his lips before he completely vanished, "Freedom." 


Luna stared at the now empty space in astonishment. She breathed that word. “Freedom',” over and over again until it tasted like honey on her tongue. 

Looking up at the moon she felt the eeriness of how empty it really was up there. The Nightmare kin were gone, purified by the Elements of Harmony. A stray thought in her mind crept forward; What if they some were still dark, still corrupting creatures. 

Perhaps what Volm had visited corrupted the ones Luna knew in the first place. She thought about how Volm looked and how he acted when he spoke.

He had been charming and docile whenever he spoke, smiled like the sun and had a welcoming attitude around the ponies of Equestria. 

When he spoke of them... she saw something. She saw a piece of Nightmare Moon and something more haunting. She had embraced their dark power for her own reasons, this newcomer seemed to be on a linear path.

Luna's head raced with questions and worries. After a moment she sighed and bottled up those thoughts. She would handle them all by her lonesome, just as she always had. With a tired eye she looked back up into space, smiling at the beauty of it. 





Cadence sighed with relief being back in the Crystal Empire. She trotted through the castle halls, up to her bedroom.  Shining Armor must be getting to bed by now. She approached her bedroom door with a giggle, the sound of her husband's snoring was loud from even there. 

She carefully opened the door and went inside. Setting her royal regalia aside she slowly went to her side of the bed. So not to wake her husband she slipped in bed.

Shining eyes half opened groggily. "Hello there. I was wondering where you went."

Cadence climbed into bed and laid on her side to face Shining Armor. "I was talking with the other princesses. You know that guy I told you about, remember?"

"Yeah, that Volm?" Shining Armor recalled with a yawn, “what about him?"

"Well, Twilight had called all of us to the Canterlot Castle to arrange a search party for Rainbow Dash," Cadence said softly, "I'm not sure if it's going to happen..."

Shining Armor sat up with a worried look, "She really did run away with that mare?  What's going to happen?"

"Volm said one of those tall friends of his is going to go out there and find them," Cadence said cautiously, "have you ever seen them?"

Shining lay back down, fully awake now.  “No I haven't. I've heard that they are like nothing from Equestria."

Cadence nodded," That's what I've heard too. I hope they aren't as much trouble as her," she huffed thinking of Pea Gravel.

"Pea Gravel?" Shining Armor asked, "Twilight told me that that mare was just misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?" Cadence turned away with a snort. "Sure. That mare is nothing but trouble and I hope for Rainbow Dash's sake that Friday finds them soon."

Shining Armor was confused. His wife was the princess of love in a land of tolerance, yet here she was talking about the mare Pea Gravel like some kind of criminal. Shining Armor sighed and tried to go back to sleep. A seed of worry took root in the proud unicorn's heart.





Celestia lay awake in bed. She gazed up at the ceiling, feeling lonely. Distant buried memories floated into her consciousness. The alicorn was well over a thousand years old and it was difficult retaining so much to remember in one head, but somethings never leave. She closed her eyes and remembered. 

Though a fuzzy memory, she remembered when she was an only child.  She was walking alongside her parents in the short grass they grazed upon outside their cottage, the sun moved on its own and the world was so simple. 

She remembered her parents; a unicorn and a pegasi, the forbidden union.  As the three walked they saw Humans were guarding a caravan.

The caravan stopped and a human in shining armor came out, followed by two others.

A flash of what changed everything stabbed her chest. The soldiers that shouted in their human language, her parents shouting back.  The fear she felt, and finally the humans drawing their swords and pointing at her.  

That was where her memory ended, but she smiled.  Whatever may have happened must have ended well because she felt the warmth of the sun inside her at that moment.
> 28) Blood Sickness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The unicorn remembered helping the Pea away from the cave after she’d collapsed in the sunlight. It looked like she was covered in deep red ink, not blood. He had heard stories about how Lepurics can kill you even after they die, Pea's reactions validated his fears.

Pea woke up in a state of panic, saying that her skin burned like it was on fire. She smacked and scratched at her chest and neck where the lepuric’s blood had congealed until he got her to a babbling creek. 

When she saw the water she pounced to it and splashed water onto her skin. She picked up handfulls of moss and scrubbed at the blood, trying to get it off to no avail. The moss quickly wilted and turned brown from being in contact.

Two days had passed in the log house. Pea lay in bed with a fever and the unicorn stayed by her side to help feed her and keep her clean. 

She groaned and smiled, looking at him. "Have you eaten today?" her voice cracked.

"You need it more than I do," he said, "I'm still young and I’m used to hunger. You need your rest, Pea," he commented with a knowing look.

Pea sighed, "Shit. I'm getting old, aren't I?"

The unicorn chuckled, "You're still as active as most broncos in their prime, saying you're 'old' is poppycock."

Pea looked down at her arms that lay across her belly. She weakly pulled them up and looked closely at the exposed coiling inside. The blood from the Lepuric was still moist and was gumming up the joints in her limbs. She wiggled her fingers with difficulty. The unicorn gazed at her artificial body parts with curiosity.

“Hey Sparky, can you do something for me?”

“Sparky?” he asked curiously.

“Yeah, you left me in the dark like a spark,” she mused as his expression fell.

“My first name is Sparky?” he said plainly, “Fine, it’ll work, I guess.  Mother called me Light before I was sold, so I guess it works,” he said looking up in memory.

"Can you do a favor for me?" Pea asked.

"Anything, just name it."

Pea lifted her left arm out. With her right hand she found a latch around her armpit, she opened it and began twisting a rod inside. There was a clicking sound, like resetting a clock, until the metal arm fell to the floor. The Unicorn stared dumbly at her unattached limb. He looked up to see she was now focused on her legs. 

There were rings halfway up her thigh very similar to barrel rings. They had vertical notches she un-clipped them like locks on a suitcase. It was tedious but she finished one leg then stopped. She stared at her right leg and bit her lip.

"It's been awhile since I've taken off my back legs..." She said quietly, "I hate it.”

She twisted the metal part of her leg and tightened her whole body from the shock wave of pain. After sliding it off Sparky saw why; where her natural thigh ended was a cap full of holes and recoiled cords. 

There was a plug at the center which he realized was her femur, outfitted to being the anchor for her prosthetic legs. She repeated the process with her left leg. Once done, she rolled the two legs off the bed, they landed with a loud clatter of metallic noise.  

"I need you to wash these for me," Peal croaked, "Make sure every bit of gunk and crap is cleaned out of them."

The Unicorn cocked his head to the side. "What about your right arm? Surely it needs treatment also?"

Pea pulled her only limb close to her. "When you’re done with the others come back for this one."

"But we're safe here," The Unicorn chuckled, "what are you so worried about?"

The mare's eyes burned back at him, "I'm keeping it!"

The Unicorn was terrified to see her that angry and shied away. With a nod he levitated the three limbs up and quickly carried them out of their room behind him. Pea calmed down once he was gone and laid back comfortably. 

Sparky rushed downstairs, on his way out he saw Gunter carrying dust coated bags over his shoulder and a pickaxe. Sparky noticed that the crazy look in his eyes was now something different… almost lifeless.

Shaking this off the equine darted off with the limbs in a magical tow. He kept his quick pace, not wanting to be alone too long he headed to the same creek where Pea washed herself. After two days the place she was had been stained, where lush green grass had been was a dead brown spot. 

Using his magic he levitated some water from the creek.The water soon became rusty from the lepuric blood.

He grimaced and tossed the water to the side, away from the stream. There was a big splash and a faint hiss from droplets of the tainted water hitting the foliage nearby. 

He continued the process until the water had cleaned the limbs to the dull metal they might have been before he met her. 

He began his return back to the cabin, his mind in a tizzy. He knew just being around that thing was appalling, touching it's blood was dangerous, but what about Gunter? That mine had Lepuric blood soaking into the rock and it's body still lay there ready to rot. 

What kind of damage would it do to the rock. What about the metal in that mine? The Unicorn was lost in thought. 

If he had been paying attention to his surroundings he would've smelled the stranger quicker.

With a rustle of nearby brush, Sparky’s ears perked up in surprise. There was a humanoid figure behind it. The figure stood up, towering over the unicorn at almost eight feet tall. The limbs were long and powerful like an ape's, even the face was more primal than a man's with a pronounced lower jaw. 

His red-tan skin had chalky white markings over his chest, arms, and face. His head and back was covered with many pelts and feathers. This was no ordinary orc, but an orc shaman. 

The Unicorn had finally met an orc; or it finally found him.

"Horn horse, whose legs are those?" the orc asked in a shirt grumbling voice as he gestured the metal arm and legs.

Sparky's knees trembled at the orcs imposing stature. He lowered the mechanical limbs and his horn glowed brighter. "D-don't take another step closer. Th-these belong to m-my mistress."

"Don't try us. Old man in the house of wood will die."  The ape-like beast’s words were slurred by massive black rotted teeth. "You and metal horse, be food for orcs."

Sparky’'s ears picked up the quiet footsteps of more feet. He glanced to his sides and saw more orckind surrounding him in a large circle. The shaman raised a hand to point at the small equine. The rattling of tiny bones jingled ominously on his wrist. 

The shaman's sunken grey eyes bore into Sparky's. "The old man will die after three times the sun has set. When he dead, we will take his house. If you are there, we skin you. If you leave, we find you."

Sparky’s features trembled with fear from the shaman's threat. 

He heard the gruff laughs from the other orcs surrounding him. He drew Pea's dismembered parts closer to him. 

The shaman bared his teeth. "Run, little horse. We will be watching, waiting."

Sparky turned and he fled, weaving through the orcs that surrounded him without impediment, careful not to drop his cargo. His hooves beat against the detritus covered ground as he galloped back to safety.





Pea was restless. 

Her eyes grew heavy and she drifted to sleep, she didn't want to dream, so she remembered. 

At first it was blurry. 

Nothing more than smeared colors, birds, and a landscape she couldn’t identify. The birds soon became black, eventually becoming vultures. 

She was standing was a hill as an old smell came back to her nostrils. It was one she hadn't encountered for years but could never forget. It was the smell of a battlefield a day after, the stench was a banquet of death and spent gunpowder.

A grunt came from behind her. "Come back to camp, the fight is done."

She looked back and saw Rochi. His right foreleg was in a splint. In his aqua eyes was an icy look as he asked her. "You really can't leave it, can you?"

"I-I was just getting some fresh air," Pea had said.

"I'll be damned if this filth is fresh air," Rochi said before he spat to the brown grass they stood in as he limped up to her. 

She noticed his armor, small iron plates tied together over tough leather, it had been stained with blood.  A green bandana was tied around his bald head covering a head wound.

Looking out at the field he coughed as his face pained from the stench. "That's quite a new smell, isn't it?"

"The smoke," Pea inhaled, "the smoke from the guns you've been making."

Rochi laughed and smiled grimly. "Yes, it's amazing, isn't it?  Almost makes the air bearable."

"Not when the other side was using them too,"Pea said quietly, "the same ones you made."

Rochi grinned, showing what teeth had left. "We are mercenaries, Pea, what do you expect me to do to get a profit?"

Pea swallowed hard. "I've cut down many men; many equines like us. But those rifles you've made..."

"What the fuck am I supposed to do?" Rochi hopped and stamped with his good hoof for effect, "our trade is death,” he said loudly, “we're paid to kill, Gravel. I'm trying to make so  we don't have to run into the pits of tartarus with of a mouth of swords, can't you understand that?"

"Then they'll just spit lead at us then, what after that?" Pea glared at the stallion, "We’ll be weighed down with armor so thick that a bullet won’t break, just so a bigger gun will be made to break it."

Rochi's anger ebbed. "Yes, but it's progress. Do you think that the world will be stuck like this forever?  Sticks and stones with some magic to hurl them at each other? Someone's bound to change something,"

"Yeah, like that centaur, Belial," Pea grimaced, "he and his cult are the reason this whole damn war started."

Rochi limped closer to Pea. "He may have started it, but I, we, will end it."





Pea snapped awake as she listened.

The sound of hooves against wood grew closer.  She relaxed to see Sparky in the doorway, the look on his face however, was anything but calming. He had an anxious look in his shifting opal eyes. 

"You look worried," Pea mused, "I've been asleep for what, two days?"

"T-three," Sparky said, "three days.”

"No wonder I'm so hungry," she chuckled.  She used her arm to prop herself up. "So, how's the sword and Gunter doing?"

"That is what I came to tell you, after I was aware you were awake," He gulped nervously, "your sword is finished, but the blacksmith, Gunter, is dead."

Pea sat up in shock. "What?!  Did something kill him?  Who did it?!"

Sparky took a reflexive step back. "H-he didn't eat or drink for three days… Once your sword was complete, he went for a walk, came back, and just dropped over dead."

"Come on," Pea said moving her body, pointing her limb stubs at him, "I've got to get to the bottom of this, hook me back up."
> 29) Broken Chains
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It had been almost a week since Daring Do had first gone down to the subterranean tunnels where a giant library was hidden. Since then she had ventured back there several times looking for information.

The central tower's gardens were like a maze.  Despite being in a city of warriors, the place seemed very calm and organized. The flowers that were in bloom hid thorns behind their bright leaves.  Their sweet scent covered the area, following the breeze up to Daring Do and Rainbow Dash’s noses.

They were perched on the railing of the balcony to their room, watching the city from on high, unafraid of the potential of falling even with their wings bound.

“So, Daring Do, what’s the plan to get us outta here?”

“I’ve been in the library a dozen times and besides a ton of lore about Torrent heroes; I found some plans of the city," Daring Do said, "maps, Rainbow Dash,” she clarified before Rainbow could ask, “seeing those gave me some ideas."

"Great," Rainbow Dash sighed, "we now know about a bunch of blueprints and legends. How is this going to help?"

“I have a plan, but the others are gonna be here in a little bit for social time.  It was really smart of you,” Daring Do said looking to the pegasus next to her, a length away, “agreeing to give them ‘information’ for knowing our friends are safe.”

“Yeah, I know,” she beamed and puffed her chest, “Rainbow Dash is awesome, you can say it.”

Daring rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Let’s just wait until they get here.  I’ll be honest, though,” Daring said looking out over the city, trying to follow Rainbow’s gaze, “this city is really pretty.  But I wouldn’t want to even vacation here.”

They shared a laugh and sat in silence like cats, their tails swaying in the breeze as they absorbed the spring sun into their coats.





        The guards opened the door to the mares’ suite and walked the chained ponies and horse into the room.  “You have an hour to reacquaint yourselves,” one of the taller centaurs stated before he left.  The chains were heavy and strong but didn’t impede their movement enough to stop them from all embracing each other.

“Wheat Biscuit?!  I haven’t seen you in days, how’re you and Cardinal?” Dew asked as she finally had time and energy to react to her family that was recently chained to each other just outside the door.

“Dew, I’ve missed you so much.  Never have we been apart so long,” the stallion horse said looking down and nuzzling his mate.

“Momma, you were only gone a little bit.  Dad said you were coming back, you’re back, so it’s okay now.”

The mood became more somber as Rainbow and Daring Do approached them.  

“Ah, the pegasi,” Dewberry said wiping her eyes clear.  “You’re the ones who got us back together?  Thank you, but I know that friends of Pea Gravel are more than they seem.  What’s the plan?”

"Are you thinking about an escape?" Wheat Biscuit asked with a grimace.

"Exactly,” Daring Do said while waving the group closer, "There're some tunnels that run out like web under the city.  If the charts I’ve read are accurate then there's an opening just outside of this center place around the tower to the east. Once I get there I can get-"

    "Wait, wait, wait," Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches and folded her forelegs, tipping and falling over before scrambling to her hooves again.  “I meant to do that,” she said fighting a blush by beginning to pace and getting back on track. "You're telling us only you’re escaping?  How is that fair!?"

Daring Do sighed heavily.  She looked to Rainbow with a soft expression. “If only one of us gets out they can get help, maybe find Pea and the other’s won’t be hurt, just punished. If we all get out and one of us gets caught we'll all get in trouble.  Big trouble."
 
Dew Berry shook her head. "So that's it then?  You're just going to run off and 'get help'? What happens if you get caught?  What will happen to us when they notice you're gone?"

    Daring Do looked up to the sky. “I've been chased before, I'll be fine. I doubt they'll do anything to you. If they wanted information or anything they would've already tried to get it."

    Rainbow Dash looked upset. "This is ridiculous. You sound like Pea Gravel and we all know you're not the tank that she is."

    Daring Do frowned. "If we all went they’d slow us down," she gestured to the earth ponies, "no offense but it may be near impossible for them to keep up when we fly away from the city."

"We're all in this together," Wheat Biscuit added in a gruff tone,  “since winter is over we will have a better chance back out there. Splitting up is out of the question."  He looked down to his family. "We can't do that, not again."

    The Adventuress reared and folded her forelegs and winked at Rainbow Dash when she didn’t fall over.  “In that case, I may have to change the plan a little..."

They huddled closer while Daring Do whispered her plan to them. The equines believed their words wouldn't be heard in such a quiet place.

        The guards took and separated them again, leaving the earth ponies as a group and taking the pegasi to their meal room.

        They each stole a bit of food as rations for their escape, hiding what they could, where they could.





Over the next four days they hid all they food they could.  Daring Do scouted the potential path out while Dew Berry and Wheat learned the patrols and routs of the guards.

The final evening their plan was ready.  They waited until the moon was waxing in the sky, Daring Do stood out on the balcony. Warm updrafts of spring air blew around the open space. Rainbow Dash walked up beside her and looked out as well. The city stretched out below them, now menacing instead of mysterious.

The two mares were silent for several moments, the daunting future loomed ahead of them. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak but stopped as Daring Do inhaled sharply.

"I've had lots of adventures, seen lots of ponies," Daring Do said staring into the horizon, “but before we go, I need to say something."

Rainbow Dash held her breath. "Yeah?  What’s on your mind?"

"Do you remember the night we were captured? In the snow?"

        Rainbow winced. “Yeah, not the most awesome moment of my life, but, what can ya do?” she shrugged, nervously glancing at her idol.

Daring Do looked over and softened her expression. Rainbow Dash, promise me you'll never, no matter what, kill. Please."

Rainbow gulped. She crossed her forelegs and lowered her chin.  “The day I do that is the day I stop being me, and that’d hurt the world more than Discord ever could,” she said calmly.

An air of confidence filled the area as they looked to each other and nodded.  Spreading their wings they hovered in the air, grinned, and took off, flapping several times and coasting down the spire they were roomed in.  “Let’s find some earth ponies and get traveling,” Daring Do whispered loudly to a grinning Rainbow Dash.

        The rendezvous spot was a grouping of lavender bushes to the south east of the gardens, praying silently to Celestia that the others would meet them, the pegasi flew low, landing and running between bushes and hedges as they made their way.

   With a momentary feeling of fear the mares both spotted a pony’s tail near the bushes, however the mare it belonged to took a step out and her cutie mark shown who she was.  With a relieved sigh the pegasi snuck to the bushes.

        “We’re all here?”  Daring asked as she rounded the bushes and took count.

        “Yeah, seems so.  I have all the food I could grab and sneak, plus what my family has,” Wheat Biscuit stated quietly and moving his hips and the saddle bags he had fashioned and tied to himself.

        “Well, let’s blow this haysicle stand,” Rainbow said cracking her neck and looking to the heavy metal grate that led to their exit via sewer.  

        She flew to it, gripped it with her ankles, and tugged several times.  She tried flapping heavily and, as a last resort in her frustration, biting the bars.

        “Miss Dash,” Wheat said as he turned around, “move.”  

        With a swift kick from his left leg the grate creaked and rusty dust rained from the piping. 

        Rainbow frowned as she pushed the grate open and gestured for the others to enter.  She gave Wheat a slap on his flank when he passed her.

        “Miss Dash!?” Dew hissed.

        “What?  It means good job.”

        “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your hooves away from my stallion’s flank.”

        “Rainbow,” Daring whispered as she passed, “keep it under your tail.”

        “Mommy,” Cardinal asked, “what’s that mean?”

        Dew narrowed her eyes, glancing between the pegasi. “I’ll tell you while we escape.”

        Inside the tunnel was dark, wet, and dank.  As they trotted ahead in silence they passed under rain grates that cast broken moonlight onto their bodies.  The sound of water dripping was the only other constant in their trek.

"So, are there any turns we have to worry about or is it a straight shot?" Rainbow asked

"For a bit it'll be easy," Daring Do replied, “once we get under the Main District it'll get… messy."

    "You said this was going to be an irrigation tunnel," Dew Berry asked disgusted, “why would rain water get messy?"

"From what I could find, it looked like the city grew faster than the architects could build in advance for," Daring shrugged, “I'm just assuming that it's going to get difficult to navigate as well as walk through."

    "So most of these tunnels may be abandoned?" Wheat Biscuit asked, ducking his head under a pipe that the ponies didn’t notice.

"Doesn't it sound exciting?" Daring asked with sarcasm.

As they moved in further they could see what Daring had meant. The smooth stonework was slowly replaced with more spotty stones until it became slip-shot brick and mortar. 

Daring's mental map guided them through the more worn down tunnels with relative ease until they began seeing tributary tunnels that had caved in ages ago and were under poor repair; mostly to keep them functioning at a minimum. 

The walkway began to degrade every several steps until the equines were fetlock deep in chilly water.  

Daring Do sheepishly shrugged at the frustrated glares from the rest. “I thought it’d be warmer, at least.”

As the group moved on the water level rose up to their knees. 

Cardinal had been put on his father's back earlier and now sat proudly like a ship's captain overlooking troubled waters as they descended into the waters and central city.

"So, this is it..." Daring said almost under her breath.

"What is it?" Rainbow Dash asked, “Are we close to the exit?"

"No, but I remember a route from here," the adventuress said with a glimmer in her eye; as if she was in the light of discovery.

"Well where have you been leading us then?" Dew Berry asked impatiently after nearly slipping under the foul smelling water.

"When I was looking through those records and maps I saw this anomaly in the tunnels," Daring Do replied with confidence, “it looked like an amphitheater or something."

The rest were about to ask but what she was talking about before they stopped before what they saw. The tunnel they exited opened into a grand room on par with a palace throne room in size; The ceiling rose to a great height, arcing like a dome with a grate at the top that let a slow and steady flow of water into the chamber.  

The sound of the water cascaded around the room, reverberating into a cacophony of relaxing waves and ripples.

. Daring Do fluttered her wings and hovered over the water like a butterfly, skimming the surface ahead of the others and looked at the walls and the spaced out torches that lined them.

She went up higher and felt around on the walls. She laughed and grabbed something from the wall and flew low, holding it between her muzzle and a torch.

With a soft blow a magic crystal sparkled to life and sent a small wave of fire into the torch, igniting it with a large flash and sending a magic flame between all the torches in the lower room.

“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Daring mumbled as she rejoined the others.

The fire shed light on the grand room. What was shown was nothing less than disturbing.

From corner to corner, piled up on each other were statues. Each one was a gargoyle, chiseled into horrified, agonizing positions with expressions that danced in the shadows of the fire.

The equines shrank away from the scene. "Daring Do? What is this place?"Dew Berry  asked breathlessly.

"I didn't believe it when I read it,” Daring said as she flew towards a statue by the group, “I only thought gargoyles were a myth since there were none in Equestria,” she told them as she caressed the grim face of a stature, “but now I know I was wrong," she looked back to the rest. 

"We're looking at one of the modification rooms; where gargoyles were pumped full of raw mana, by the hundreds. It was so long ago that the legend of gargoyles turning into stone in the sunlight was made… but it wasn't sunlight that did this to them.”

"It was magic, wasn't it?" Dew Berry asked, “just like how the centaurs can eat magic, they forced these poor creatures to do the same?"

    "Yes,” Daring said as she turned to another stone creature, “we need to get moving though, I'll explain everything else I uncovered on the way."

The others followed Daring Do around the chamber on a risen stone walkway and down another tunnel; away from the haunting place. 

Rainbow Dash was right behind the adventuress as they returned to darker tunnels with a burning question she had wanted to ask.

"Daring Do, that thing you saw in the cave under the tower, was it-"

"Yes," Daring Do said with a shiver, “it was a Gargoyle. I found only one record of him and he's the only one that survived."


> 30) Back on Track 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Original chapter by Barnside





Spark was hiding. For several hours he was hidden away in the strong house of the blacksmith. It was the dead of night and terrible sounds rang out through out the air as if drawn to the carnage. How it happened he wasn't sure but what he did know is that it was caused by Pea Gravel...






They had reattached her metal limbs and went down to see what had happened to the sword smith. His body looked as if it had been worked and starved to death. In his hands was a grind stone and the sword he promised Pea Gravel. The sword was far different that the one he had loaned her. It's metal was a deep red, the hellish color of old blood. From what the to equines could tell he had worked the last of his energy into sharpening the blade.

The mare approached the sword like a moth to flame, a hungry look in her eye. Spark only looked in disbelief at her. When she griped it in her hand she stood up on her rear legs. Her look in the candle light was a chilling one as she gazed at her new blade.

Rattling came outside along with whoops of hungry orcs. The mare's face twisted into a smile.

"Pea Gravel! Don't go," Spark pleaded," A whole troupe of orcs is behind that door, even you won't stand a chance! If we run through the back we may outrun them."

The mare walked over to the door on two legs, her legs awkwardly bent and pulled to walk in such a way. Without a glance back she laughed to herself.

And she left through the door. 


Outside it was different. Almost forty orcs were around the house, some on the roof overlooking the doorway. Each one had the look of a wild animal in his small mahogany eyes. The nightmarish shaman stood ahead of the rest and scoffed at the sight of a single mare standing against them. The powerful humanoids were drooling with anticipation. Pea Gravel simply held her sword up for a swing.

They took the bait.


At first four of the burly fighters ran to her, axes swinging in the air madly as their bare feet pounded the earth. The mare tensed. Some kind of energy was soaking into her, slowly at first. She felt an energy coming from the sword; a sensation of thirst. Though she was almost a third the size of these brutes this new blade leveled the playing field. Time seemed to stand still as the first opponent made it in range. With a mighty swing her sword's hungry edge reached out. The orc doubled over as the bulk of the strike buried itself into his abdomen. When she tried to pull her blade out of the choking body a tangle of entrails and crimson rivers followed. The fight didn't stop there, instead it gave the rest a fervent vigor to kill the mare even more. 

A strike came from an ax blade to her left. She drew her sword up to block the attack. Catching the weight of a blow that could break bones, her arms gave way. She rolled over to the ground. Quickly another tried to chop at her leg, his ax head bounced off with a twang. A look of disbelief was in his small eyes. In retaliation the mare drove her long blade up into the attacker's inner thigh. Pea Gravel gave it an extra twist before yanking the plug out of the fatal blood gushing wound. 

Springing to her feet, she narrowly dodging another swing. More from the pack stormed toward her, all howling with animal rage. Pea Gravel shouted back at them, her cry like a siren's. She ran head long at them with only one thing repeating in her mind;

More!





As Spark hid inside, he cringed and flinched at every blow, whether it was from Pea Gravel or to her. He could hear the sound of slashing and ripping flesh. Cries of pain from beasts alien to a beating. It went of for several minuets, then eventually it went quiet. He swallowed a lump in his throat and with all the courage in his frail body, half opened the door to witness the carnage. He gasped.

Butchered bodies lay strewn about. Pools of blood shown out in the moonlight. At the far end of it was Pea Gravel. In the dark he couldn't see her eyes, most of her face was distorted by the lack of light. What did show was her mouth, gasping for breath. Drips of sweat and blood dripped off the sides of her freckled cheeks as she panted. Her arms were visibly shaking as they held for dear life to the hilt as if she'd be carried away by a flood if she let go.

Though he knew it was foolish the Unicorn left the house and approached the mare. He carefully stepped over severed limbs and bodies. He was now closer enough to see the rest of her face. Her eyes were wide open, staring out with pinprick pupils.

"Pea Gravel," He said timidly," We have to leave, this place is killing you!"

She panted for a while, barely blinking. She choked her breath," R-remember to remind me...never use this sword unless we're in real danger...this can't happen again..."

Spark nodded. He moved closer to the mare to help her up. She avoided his helping hoof," Grab what you can," She panted," We're leaving now."

He rushed back inside, happy to leave such a dreadful place. Once inside he found their old saddle bags and scrounged for supplies. While he found what food and supplies he could, he noticed Pea Gravel come inside the house. She had some of fire wood from outside. He saw her go out back to where the forge was. After a few seconds of grunting and sounds of shoveling her heard another sound. Fire crackling.

The mare quickly walked back into the house in her human style of walking. She hoisted the Unicorn up and walked out through the front door for the last time. The plume of smoke billowed up through the dense canopy of the forest. Luckily it wasn't a dry spring or the whole forest would catch on fire.

The Unicorn looked up at Pea Gravel as she walked away from the pyre," Shouldn't we have at least buried Barsom? He worked to death on that sword."

Pea Gravel had a glossed over look," He's a blacksmith, been working with fire all his life. It's only fair his is ended by it."

There was a few moments where the only sound was the log house being eaten by flames. Spark sighed," I's the one who should be carrying you. You just killed a drove of those monsters..."

The mare was silent.

Spark had an uneasy look when seeing her new sword in her other hand," Please don't tell me you actually want to keep that sword," He grimaced," There's an evil aura on it."

Before he knew it the sword's edge was on his throat. He whimpered," A-alright, no need to be violent again!"


With a quick pace the mare kept walking. After awhile she dropped the Unicorn who was happy to be on his hooves again. It was a long trek through the woods, even more difficult through the night. The Unicorn was smothered in fear, from behind him if more company came, and in front of him. The Unicorn remembered when he looked into her mind last. He had seen something in her, something that shouldn't be inside a pony. With this new sword what ever that was now had a way to come out. Despite being her friend and wanting to help her anyway he could, his fear of her only grew.

It was dawn before they made it out of the forest. A plume of smoke rose up into the sky above the treeline behind them. In the light of the rising sun Spark saw the mare in a new light. The way she walked away from such a dark place with her head held high, it was almost like a painting.



They had exited the forest a very different way from what they had entered.  Instead of a prairie there were far more hills and sparse pods of green trees. Pea Gravel had wrapped up the sword in her own blanket, not wanting the blade to touch her skin when she strapped it over her back. She went berserk from just her cyber arms touching it, she had no idea what would happen if it touched her skin.
Elated to be away from the confining forest, the two equines eventually found a road, on which they found a cross road sign. They were written in a language neither of the two could read. One was pointed in the general direction of Dogdurhal and the other was in the opposite direction. Pea began heading following the sign leading to the Centaur City. 

Spark gulped down a lump in his throat," This is the way, isn't it?"

" Sure is,"Pea drew in a deep breath," What an amazing day for a walk."

"I don't mean to be negative but...won't we be exposed in such a city?" Spark said.

The mare huffed," You might but that's what I'm here for."



After a long day of walking, a town came into view. Spark had been through this country before, it was mostly filled with humans and this Unicorn wasn't to fond of their race. As the town grew closer it looked like a merchant town that had unwelcome company. Near the entrance several guards lay dead. Inside the equines were in what looked like a ghost town. The windows were shut tight save one broken into. Spark saw the problem the town was having when it walked by. A pair of  humanoid dogs, much like the ones in Equestria but far worse. They weren't the only ones in the pack.

"Gravel," Spark hissed to his companion," They look like trouble..."

Pea Gravel smiled,"Are you going to save the village?"

"Well...they do need help," Spark bit his lip. Some of the dogs waltzed through the streets and kicked people who were in their way.

"Rainbow Dash and Daring Do need us too," Pea said flatly," Want to stop and help these poor people?"

Spark was caught in a moral cross roads. Pea just nodded," That's what I thought. Leave em' behind and keep your priorities straight."


For a day and a night they walked. The roads became cobblestone instead of dirt and more travelers passed by. Their nights were spent next to campfires where Pea would spend hours at a time sharpening her new blade. After two days they were now passing by farms. Horses and oxen worked with humans in the field while centaurs armed with spears watched over them.

The farms became denser until they became tall villages on either side of the road. In the distance Dogdurhal could be seen.

"Where do you think they are being kept?" Spark asked.

"If I know Belial, fought that bastard for years, he probably has them locked up in a cage like birds," Pea Gravel popped her neck," If they've played their cards right they hopefully haven't tried to escape."

"Why's that?" Spark asked.

"I did some spy work for Rochi years ago in this city to get some information. It should've been impossible to find me but they were waiting behind a corner on my way out. I barely escaped by the skin of my teeth."

"So they should stay locked up?" Spark asked.

"They're more of trophies or captive guests than prisoners, happened to me once. Only once though," She cringed.

Spark gulped," What happens if they try to escape?"

Pea sighed heavily," They'll regret it."




	
> 31) Bloody Friday
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		Original chapter by Barnside





Over in Equestria, something was brewing. After his council with the princesses Volm had brought his subordinate Friday out to a secluded part of Everfree. Volm's sadistic plan was advancing even faster than he hoped. The demon looked at his anxious servant. Friday's blue eyes shifted around as he waited for his orders.

Volm's yellow teeth shown through a slim smile," Friday, you've been very patient in this place. All your waiting will be rewarded soon, don't worry."
The masked creature nodded anxiously. Volm folded his hands," Now I have a job for you. The princesses wanted to go find their lost sheep who's out in the big bad world. I kept telling them over and over that they need to be worried about forces reaching here, not sending forces out there. It seems, however, they are to naive or proud to listen. This is where you come in..."


He spoke his evil plan in a whisper only Friday could hear. The demon's word's made the creature ungulate with vigor like a mad dog being held back. The plan was brief and simple but brutal. When Volm was done he sat back with a nod for Friday to go. The beast's hidden mouth growled with pleasure and turned round, racing off to complete his deed. As the beast slid across the ground like a speeding slug, Volm disappeared  with a cackle.







Spring had treated Fluttershy's cottage well. It was the greenest it had been in years and the woodland creatures were beyond satisfied. The yellow Pegasus herself was inside having a nice brunch with her odd friend, Discord. Along with them was Fluttershy's Eco conscious friend Tree Hugger. The chaos spirit was chatting away with the tow mares until a they heard the door knock.

"I'll get it!" Discord said smoothly and wafted over to the door like a leaf on the breeze. Behind the door was none other than Volm, dressed in a banana yellow Hawaiian shirt and the warm friendly face everyone knew.
"What a surprise," Discord said," Oh Fluttershy dear, our friend Volm is here!"

"Please come in," Fluttershy called," We're having brunch and there's plenty left."

Volm smiled," I came by to say hello but brunch sounds fine too."

Discord led the guest inside. Fluttershy looked like she hadn't seen Volm in years," Won't you sit down? Discord will get you a chair."

While he conjured a chair for the blue stranger Tree Hugger stared with a hazy awed expression," Like, whoa. I've heard so much about you, Mister V, but I've never met you before. Have I?"

Volm chuckled," Please, call me Volm. We're all friends here. I take it you are Tree Hugger, yes?"

The green mare gasped," Are you like a mind reader?"

Volm leaned forward with a suave look," Yes I am."

Tree Hugger was antsy," Okay, what am I thinking of right now?"

" Well it is not something polite to talk about at the table," Volm rose an eye brow.

Tree Hugger's cheeks turned beat red while the guest chuckled. Fluttershy coughed loudly to get the group's attention,"Any way, so what have you been up to, any news on Lightning Dust?"

"Ah yes, her. She's been doing fine," Volm said as he politely ate one of the sandwiches," The winter months were tough adjusting to but she got the hang of it. The joints always had trouble working in the cold."

"I can imagine," Discord said," So what about your...friends? What are they up to?"

"You mean Wednesday and Friday?" Volm said wiping a few crumbs off his lips," Well, Wednesday is very shy, I bet he's hiding in some dusty library or something. As for Friday, I'm never sure what that rascal is up to..."




 
Friday had followed an eastward train track for most of the day. His humanoid shape slithered on the trail rails as fast as any train. It knew where it was going, steered by a supernatural compass to it's prey. As he pushed onward the land became rocky and the trees grew sparsely with sickly sizes. In the distance ahead he saw a train. 
He was catching up to it quickly. He pushed his bulk into a burst of speed and smashed into the caboose of the train. The car rocked and the rear door busted from the mass of tar that flooded the back and doorway.

The caboose engineer was completely aghast at the sight. She went into the main cars looking for the conductor. She came back with him and the conductor gasped
.
The engineer was piratically in tears," This is awful! This poor creature crashed into the train and now he's smashed to bits!"

The conductor patted the engineer's back," I know, it's not your fault. Accidents sometimes just happen."

"Look at him, he went ker-splat! like an egg to a wall!" The engineer cried.


They were about to go back into the train when a part of Friday moved. They both spun their heads in surprise. They saw the creature peel itself off of the floor. They were naively relived to see that he survived.

"Thank Celestia he's alright!" the train engineer said with delight.

Friday awkwardly reformed back into a humanoid shape. His mask looked over to the two ponies. Their happy expressions became grim when seeing his icy blue eyes. Before they could flee the beast pounced onto them, covering them like a tar blanket. Arms formed from the creature's body and pulled one of them, the conductor, up to his mask. The stallion was petrified.

Friday's maw snapped onto the stallion's neck. His teeth cut deep and he shook and pulled at his prey while it squirmed for it's life. The sound of half of the conductor's torso being slowly torn off made the other pony retch. Friday shoved the rest of the torn pony into his maw and grabbed the next. The engineer wailed in terror.

Friday didn't want the rest of his prey on the train to get suspicious. He wrapped a hand around the pony's waist and another at her shoulders. He shoved his thumb up into the mare's moth to clog her screaming. The creature's hands twisted the mare's body into an unnatural, almost knotted shape. There was a crunch and the engineer twitched instead of squirmed. The creature kept twisting and pulling the pony into the ground with inhuman force till the corpse sifted through his fingers. He dropped the body and looked to the train. He didn't need to eat this one, a feast awaited him.


He sprung quickly to the caboose door, disproportionate limbs pulled him forward. They easily buckled from his force. The passengers were caught off guard and began screaming. There were petrafied stallions, mares holding their young and griffons with their peaks wide open in shock. Some tried to escape by the windows or the doors leading to another car. What magic Friday had was used to seal the windows and lock the doors, trapping his prey into large cans. 

The mares and stallions fled to the door and banged on it but Friday was to fast. His massive maw devoured three or four ponies at a time, half chewing them down into bloody, bony pulp. His momentum was much like the train he was rampaging in. He burst through the door leading to the next car, crushing any equine as he squeezed through the door. He mowed down the passengers by the dozens as he barreled forward. Any living thing that moved was stomped, crushed, thrown against a wall or devoured.

The beast plowed through the locked doors of the train cars, only leaving splatters of blood on the walls and mutilated corpses. Some of his victims were still alive after he had left, not without taking most of their body with them. By the time he had gotten to the train engine his body was starting to bulge from the flesh he had wolfed down. The engineer at the helm of the train didn't see anything more than a hand that wrapped around his face with crushing force.

The train slowed down with no one to feed it coal. As the train came closer to it's destination it became sluggish. It was approaching a the Griffon Gorge train station like a moving morgue. The sun was beginning to set, draping dying red light upon the scene. Inside one of the cars however, there was much movement.


Friday's body, now more lethargic from his gorging, was twitching oddly. His blood stained mouth had bits of skin and meat stuck between the teeth. His body heaved with troubled breathing. Strange croaking and gagging sounds came from the back of his throat. His tar like skin morphed as if something was squirming inside of him. Soon he began to convulse and throw his weight around as if he was in a seizure. 

From his sides hidden fingers could be seen trying to claw their way out of his body. The thrashing of his bloated body turned to the body itself being destroyed. An arm, vaguely human and disturbingly thin and vascular, burst out from the belly. It was wet with bloody fluid and fleshy in color. Friday croaked in pain as this new arm flailed and clawed with it's six fingers ant his pitch black body. Soon another arm burst out. The two hands gripped at his skin and took a handful of the stretchy stuff. The two arms tore open a hole between them. A face was seen in the opening. This was the birth of a lepuric. Friday looked different than most of his kin, his shoulders were far broader and his interlocking teeth tapered into boar-like tusks at the sides of his mouth. 

The new creature pulled itself out of it's old body like a hellish pupa molting. The black cloak like figure became limp and lifeless as the blue eyes in the mask faded. The cloak body fell onto the new creature like a heavy blanket. The lepuric squirmed under the wight of it's old body, now only half as big as it was. It thrashed around desperately shaking the blanket off it's back.

Once free the misshapen monster struggled on it new legs. On the front of it's head was milky blue eyes, soulless and dull. It's body was drenched in moistness and fluid much like it's old form. It's mouth opened with tiny teeth lining it's jaws. Ropes of fluid arched from the open maw. A small, squeaking croak came first from it's mouth. The croak turned into a vague noise that mimicked laughter. 

The Lepuric began slashing at it's old body. It was throwing ribbons of the old skin with such vigor the train car rocked. It now looked like the masked figure was part of the massacre, not the root of it. When the walls were spattered with both black tar and blood the Lepuric stopped. It looked to it's old face, the alabaster mask. It put one of it's paws over the dish sized mask and smashed it. The beast's appetite was still unsatisfied. It prowled into the other cars picking at the corpses like a vulture. Friday's new body began to bulk up as he picked from the corpses, smelling around for the youngest. 

As he picked around he shook his drooling head. He had a goal, a reward far more scrumptious than a simple train. He went to the car doors and slipped through them, his old form had already bust them wide open. Before he left he circled back to the outside of one of the cars. Rearing up on his hind legs he easily looked over the roof of the train car. He put his clawed paws on the side of it. He pulled back and threw his weight into the side of the car. The metal walls bent like tin from his strength. Another blow and the car had a hole broken into it. He hissed with laughter at the massacre he staged.

Ahead of him was the mountain range which kept the griffons up and away from outsiders. The Lepuric bounded down the gorge. Once close to a rock face he jumped up like a cat. His claws ground at the stone for a moment but soon anchored. He began climbing up the cliff face, his prize a mountain's distance away.



Night fell over the Griffon's home. The moon that rose was large and hung low in the sky with eerie clouds drifting by. A warm dry breeze rattled the rafters and old timber of the mountain town. Some of the owl faced griffons stayed awake but were a small number compared to the rest asleep. The rest were curled up in their nests, cuddling with their kin and eggs. On the edge of the town, far from the torches that dimly lit the streets, a six fingered hand reached over the lip of the cliff.

The beast pulled his weight up and over the rim, exhausted from the high cliffs he climbed. He held his mouth open, his long lumpy tongue tasting the air like a snake's. In the nearest shack he smelled something wonderful; eggs.

Despite weighing almost a ton, Friday's feet padded against the ground softer than a song bird's. Safe from light and any prying eyes he weaved between huts in his search. Finally he poked his face inside the blanket covered door of one of the shacks. Inside was a sleeping pair of griffons keeping their eggs warm beneath them. Friday slipped inside the shack with ease. What little light came in through the windows or door was blocked by Friday. Sitting down, the lepuric reached his paws to the sleeping griffons. His great hands easily wrapped around most of their bodies. He lifted them quickly, before they realized they were awake his forearms flexed with power.

The pair of griffons' bodies were crushed like grapes. Friday let them down gently so not to make a sound. Underneath the pair was hidden three eggs. Friday's milky blue eyes shone with gluttony. He delicately picked up the eggs, covering them in their parent's blood. One by one he lay them on his tongue, chewing them to savor the flavor of youth.

This is what Friday had been waiting for...


As he ate the unhatched chicks, a surge of power flooded through him. It had been ages since the flesh of such innocents had been on his lips. All reason and caution was lost. He reared up, the shack's timber and thatch utterly destroyed. He began running. He went to the next hut, tearing down the building with ease. The family woke with a start as did the rest of the town. Friday saw no eggs in this hut, just some more heads to squeeze in his hands.

The griffons woke in a chaotic panic. The sound of griffons screeching and beastly, guttural roars filled the air. Several took to the skies in an instant. Friday saw some fledglings flying for almost the first time. Like a giant wild cat, Friday jumped high into the air. His swiping arms easily bringing down several of them at a time. They fell to the ground like leaves, crushed under Friday's feet as he went up for another leap.  Like some wild nightmare, the beast ravaged the town. He tore through houses, swiped at flyers overhead and smashed those guarding their eggs. His flesh colored skin became stained with blood, gore and bits of bone stuck on his teeth.

After a few nightmarish moments a flock of griffons formed. A burning light for revenge was in their eyes, the Griffons had dealt with foes before. For centuries they were a proud race, never before had there been such a molesting of their pride. The flock of furious griffons swooped down upon the beast. In this mass of griffons was one Rainbow Dash knew well: Gilda.

It was a thrashing mess of blood and feathers. Friday bucked like a rodeo bull at the racking claws on his back. His mouth snapped up like a bear trap and tore anything close to shreds. He reared up and landed like a chopped tree on his back, pulverizing any griffon still clinging to his back.

The resistance thinned. Their fighting force was downed a dozen in seconds. The survivors fled for their lives, ready to carry any crippled victims. One of the last fighters was Gilda. She and a few of the towns fastest or most powerful griffons stayed to fight. Friday let out a bellowing roar that rumbled like an engine.

"We'll keep this monster at bay, " One of the Griffon's called to those fleeing," Fly as fast as you-"

His shouts were cut short by a long piece of timber thrown at him. It impaled him to the ground like a nail. The rest of the fighters made a charge forward at the beast.

Friday's milky blue eyes scanned the oncoming attackers. He noticed Gilda above the others. He saw in her mind memories of Ponies that had to do with Volm's plan. Friday dug at the ground like a bull with a tremendous growl.

The hulking beast lunged face forward into the mass of Griffons. His jaws snapped over three of them at once. Dropping them like spoiled meat he began bucking and swiping at the rest as the orbited him. His heavy hands literally smashed an Griffon they made contact with.

Every time Gilda attacked Friday, the beast seemed not to notice. Friday was occupied with the others more than her. One by one the militia was  slaughtered. Before Gilda knew it she was the only breathing Griffon left in miles. She stared at her surroundings with horror, her eyes shoeing how much this night had traumatized her. She flew to earth and landed clumsily, her senses drained.

She stopped moving. Her mind telling her to run away like the rest but her body was frozen. She stood like a cat ready to jump in the air but her muscles were locked stiff. She looked to her side and saw Friday moving toward her with a grin that could spoil milk.

Gilda looked up and saw the monster, it easily took up her field of view standing in front of her. Gilda's body shook with terror, waiting for the end. The beast crouched and stared at her face to face with his milky blue eyes.

"What is your name?" Friday asked, his voice was disturbingly sweet and kind. The voice sounded in Gilda's head.

Gilda's beak twitched to move but only choked breaths came out. A claw from Friday's index finger quickly came up and poked Gilda's neck. It's sharp point making a red trickle in the griffon's white feathers.

"Your name?" Friday asked again.

"G-g-gild-da," she forced out.

Friday's mouth hissed," What a pretty name. A perfect stamp for such a pretty creature."

Gilda whimpered,"W-why did y-you do-"

Friday's claw nudged up again," Ah ah, no questions. You must deliver a message for me."

Gilda nodded," Anyth-thing"

Friday's lips curled up," Go tell the little Sun Princess we're coming. From far across the sea in a land she's abandoned, we're coming."
He pulled his claw away from Gilda's throat. Sitting back up he looked down at her. She was still frozen in fear. Friday piratically unhinged his jaw and bellowed into Gilda's face like a clap of thunder.

He body panicked and jumped up into the air away from him. She flapped her wings fitfully and flew away numbly into the night, leaving the massacre behind her.
> 32)Hail to the Chief of Police
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkie Pie was keeping shop at Sugar Cube corner. It was late at night and she was about to close up shop. She began turning off the lights and headed to the door to lock it up. She nearly jumped out of her skin when it burst open.

Gilda, covered in gashes and blood, stumbled through the doorway. Pinkie blinked at disbelief at the sight. She stared at the griffon. Gilda's back heaved up and down with strained shaky breath.

"Gilda, what are you doing here?" Pinkie asked with a raised eyebrow," Are you here to sell some of those things you baked in the Griffon Kingdom?"

Gilda was silent.

Pinkie stepped a little closer, her smile fading. Gilda rolled herself over, showing a fatal wound on her neck. Her eyes were bloodshot and watery. Pinkie stared at her, not sure what to say or do.

Gilda's beak opened slightly. She rose and hand and timidly motioned Pinkie to come closer. The pink mare walked all the way up until her ear was right up next to Gilda. The griffon put a hand on Pinkie's cheek.

"Tell everyone," Gilda croaked," Something horrible happened in the Griffon Kingdom...nopony's safe."

Pinkie pulled back. She laughed nervously,"This...this is a joke right, you're prankin' me right? Is this payback for all of those pranks you thought I did to you?" She asked desperately.

Gilda gasped for breath," It told me...t-the border, the border C-Celestia made..." Her hand slipped away from Pinkie's face,"...didn't work..."

Pinkie grabbed Gilda's shoulders," Stop messing around Gilda! This isn't funny!"

Gilda's eyes became dull. Pinkie began shaking. One of her friends was dying on her doorstep and she couldn't believe it.

"No, no no no..." Pinkie panicked," This can't be happening, this can't be happening!" She stepped away from Gilda," I, I can fix this! I'll go get help, don't worry Gilda! I'll get help!"

Pinkie bolted out of the doorway, blinking away tears. She raced to Twilight's castle as fast as her legs could carry her. She nearly ran into the door once she reached it. Though it was late she pounded on the door and hollered. When there was no answer she did it again, louder.

A very frumpy looking Twilight answered the door. She looked tiredly at Pinkie," What's going on, Pinkie?"

Pinkie Pie bit her lip," Twilight, I need your help with something..."

"Can't it wait until morning?" Twilight sighed.

"It's Gilda, she just showed up at Sugar Cube Corner," Pinkie blurted," She's hurt  really, really bad. She needs our help, now!"

Twilight rubbed some sleep from her eyes. Her horn glowed and both her and Pinkie teleported to the shop's front door in a flash. 

Twilight yawned," This better not be a... prank..." Her voice trailed off when she saw Gilda.

Gilda was still laying on the floor in the doorway. Her body was still, her eyes still looking out into space. Twilight rushed to Gilda's side.

"Gilda! Gilda, are you alright?" Twilight cried," Gilda answer me, please!"

Both Twilight and Pinkie Pie looked at Gilda. They had never seen anyone looking like how their broken friend looked. They had never seen a dead face before.

Twilight had a letter sent to Celestia of the news. Within the hour help was sent. Among a dozen Lunar guard ponies was Volm. The blue creature was wearing a dull brown jacket that made him look like a detective. The guards made a parameter around the area while Volm saw to the mares. They were sitting outside, not sure how to handle the situation. Volm had blankets to keep them warm from shock and conjured hot-chocolate.

"Are you alright?" Volm asked Pinkie Pie gently," I know how you two must feel..."

Twilight blew at her mug," Y-you can save her right? Gilda will be okay?"

Volm looked at them with a sigh," I'll try my best princess, I'll try my best."

He left them and headed for the door. He looked behind him and waved. From out of the darkness of the street came Wednesday. The figure slid over to the shop and followed Volm inside, holding something long under his arm. The two mares sat in dread waiting. Though it was only a few minuets, for Pinkie and Twilight it seemed forever.


Volm and Wednesday came out. Pinkie Pie and Twilight's hearts skipped a beat when they came out. The mares looked for Gilda to be walking out along with them, fit as a fiddle.

She did come out, not as they imagined though. Wednesday was pushing a gurney. On top of the bed was a dark bag filled with something. Pinkie Pie jumped in front of the gurney and blocked Wednesday. Her eyes were full of tears as she looked at Volm.

"What happened to Gilda?" She shouted," What's wrong with her!?"

Volm walked up to her as Wednesday walked around her, carrying away Gilda. Volm put his hands over Pinkie Pie's shoulders," I don't really know how to tell you this..."

"Tell me!" Pinkie cried," I'm not a foal, don't leave me in the dark!"

Volm sighed," Your friend Gilda, she's..." He pursed his lips as if to calculate his words," She's dead. I hope I'm not right about what killed her..."

Pinkie Pie pulled herself away," No! No this isn't right, this isn't fair!"

" Pinkie listen!" Volm said grabbing her again," We have to be on the lookout now, or else more griffons, maybe even ponies will end up like Gilda."

Pinkie lay her head on Volm's chest. Her shoulders began to shiver. Volm hugged her gently as she began to sob.

"Volm? What do we do now?" Twilight asked.

Volm patted Pinkie's shoulder," Now? Now we take Gilda's body to a hospital.  As of tomorrow, we go find whatever did this and put it to justice."

Pinkie Pie was limp and crying in Volm's  arms. With one hand he reached into his pocket," Here Pinkie, eat this. It will help you calm down, okay?'

Pinkie held her mouth open in acceptance. Volm placed a green fruit on her tongue and closed her quivering lips gently. She chewed softly and swallowed between sniffles. After a few seconds she looked droopy and sleepy. She turned into jelly in the blue creature's arms. Volm stood up on his hind legs and hoisted Pinkie up to get a better grip on her.

"What did you do to her?" Twilight asked with worry.

"Not to worry princess," Volm chirped," I gave her a natural sedative. She'll be out for awhile, it'll help her cope until the trauma has passed," He shifted Pinkie Pies weight as if he was holding an infant," Now what I need you to do, princess, is get some rest. The Lunar Guard will escort you home and see to your needs."
He began walking down the street Wednesday went down.

"Wait!" Twilight pleaded.

Volm turned," Yes, your highness? What else do you need?"

Twilight shivered," Who did that to Gildia," she gulped down a lump in throat," who k-killed her?"

Volm sighed," Something from across the sea. The way the lacerations looked from what I saw; it was a Lepuric. It may be too late for the Griffon Kingdom."





The next evening, out in Sweet Apple Acres, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their friend Tuff were galloping between apple trees in a game of tag. The four young equines were playing under the watchful eye of Applejack as she checked her orchard. The children didn't notice it but Applejack did, a deflated Pinkie Pie slowly walked through the Sweet Apple Acres gate. Applejack ran to see what was wrong.

Tuff slowed to see what was going on. He couldn't hear what the mares were saying but he knew something was wrong. Apple Bloom came up beside him," Is somethin' wrong with Pinkie Pie?"

Sweetie Bell eyed the pair as well," Hey, she looks pretty sad. Wonder what happened."

They saw Applejack take her hat off in shock. She hugged her friend tightly who gave a weak hug back. The young equines looked to each other for advice. When the two mares went inside the farmhouse they backed away.

"Did we forget Pinkie Pie's birthday again?" Scootaloo asked.

"No, that's not for months!" Apple Bloom said,"Besides, she was the saddest shade of pink I've ever seen."

"Should we go see what's wrong?" Tuff asked.

Before any of them could agree a puff of smoke appeared near the door. It was Volm. He wore something similar to a royal guard vest and a very solemn expression. He sighed deeply and then knocked on the door.

Big Mac opened the door with a stony look on his face. The Crusaders couldn't hear a word between them. Volm backed away after he was done talking and left as quickly as he came. Big Mac looked around outside," Fillies, get back inside," He called with a worried tone.

The foals ran to the house, just as confused as Big Mac. Once inside they couldn't help but ask about what the Volm had said.

"Adult businesses," Big Mac said," Just, play inside for a while, alright?"

The foals nodded, waving to him as they headed upstairs to Apple Bloom's  room. Tuff, however, stayed up a the top of the staircase out of eyesight.

"...startin' a what now?" he heard Applejack say.

"A curfew," Big Mac said dryly.

"Why in the hay would we need that?" Granny Smith grumbled," Even when the ol Timber Wolves were at their worst, we didn't have somthin' like that."

There was a silence, "It's different now," Pinkies voice said sadly," There's something... something awful out there. It k-killed Gilda" Tuff heard the once happy mare begin to sob.

Tuff backed away from the stairs. A look of denial was on his young face. If only his aunt was here, she'd have a plan. He looked behind him where the Crusaders waited out of sight. He was sure they'd be hysterical if they heard the news. He listened back to the adults.

"There's something else told me," Big Mac sighed," He's setting up something tomorrow, a group of some nature at the train station."

"He's taking guards out to Griffon Stone?" Applejack gasped," What if that...thing is still out there?"

"He said he'd fight it best he could," The farm pony said," He's plenty strong, even we don't know what he can do."

"Hopefully he's taking the Lunar guard," Grandma Smith sniffed," They're better at fightin' things anyway."

Tuff shook his head. In his few years he had seen plenty of battles, witnessed Pea Gravel defend him life and limb. Nopony here seemed like the kind that could stand up to a full fledged monster, one that kills.





The foals had spent the night at the farm house. Applejack and Big Mac woke up the Crusaders at near the crack of dawn. The three fillies were groggy and irritable from being awake at such an hour but Tuff sprung up like a spring flower. After a small breakfast the Crusaders followed Applejack and Big Mac with heavy hooves. They made their way to the train station to see who was leaving.

When they got near the station, they saw crowds of ponies. Parents were hugging their strong sons and brave daughters while stern faced ponies walked in the train. The crowd was so dense the Crusaders climbed up on Big Mac to get a better view. Ponies by the dozens were going on the trains.

"What's going on?" Apple Bloom asked, the commotion worrying her.

"Did something bad happen?" Sweetie Bell pried at the red farm pony.

Big Mac nodded. The train was nearly full and whistles began blowing. The conductor called for the last to board for Canterlot. Ponies waved as the train engine blared and steam blew. The train rolled away building up speed leaving Ponyville far behind. A unicorn wearing a royal crest on his vest began shouting for ponies to quiet down. His horn glowed and a large translucent screen appeared above his head.

"A message from Canterlot will be broadcast," He called.

Tuff Boulder shook his head," No, the world is a scary place again..." 






Where the unicorn was broadcasting from was the royal palace. Up at the balcony where Celestia had given so many proud and happy speeches, she now stood solemn and with a heavy heart. Out below was all of Canterlot and the rest of Equestira was watching, hoping for answers to this pandemonium. At Celestia's sides were Luna and Twilight. Volm stood on his hind legs at the far left, brandishing a polished royal armored vest.

Celestia opened her mouth to speak but was lost for words. All she could do was look in disbelief. She cleared her throat.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, I have gathered you all , and reach out to those to far away today. Two nights ago, there was a tragedy in our neighbor's land. We have confirmed reports and eyewitness accounts of..."

When she paused to calculate her words everypony in Equestria held their breath.

"We have eyewitness accounts of what happened in Griffon Stone. As of today only five of the entire Griffon Stone populace are still alive. What happened however, is something of a nature that has never happened in our country. A monster, unlike any other we've recorded in Equestiran history, went on a rampage. It attacked many griffons and still roams the area. We don't know if there is only one, as far as we know there may be dozens."

Murmurs of confusion swept through the many crowds. Celestia straightened up with regal prowess to regain attention," This atrocity will not go unpunished! We stand in a new light.  I have spoken with Volm who had personally taken the responsibility of this operation, he vows to see it finished."

She nodded for Volm to step forward. He bowed to her and stepped up to the balcony, looking out at the crowds like the chief of police.

"Citizens, friends, family, it is my honor and privilege to serve you as the newly inducted Chief of Defense," Volm said in a booming voice," I have traveled many lands and many kingdoms. Yours, your beautiful land Equestria has welcomed me with open arms. However from beyond the sea an enemy has made it to your shores. The fact that such a beast has come only means one thing; more will come, many more."

"As I speak, valiant volunteers from all corners of this nation are coming here to be the next generation of defense. With the knowledge I posses I will bring technology that surpasses what they have out there. With the addition of our Princesses and the Royal Guard, we will beat back this new threat. Together we will fight!"

	
> A Crappy Mistake
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Rainbow Dash followed Daring Do at a distant hover while Dew Berry and her family trailed behind, all in a single file line.

        “Well?  It’s been forever and it smells like someone over there ate chili,” Rainbow grumbled, “are we there yet?”

        “Rainbow, I swear,” Daring sighed and nearly placed a hoof on her face but the muck was a constant reminder, “we don’t know how much farther, just that it’s ahead.  A ‘grate that opens to our freedom’, the map implied.  So, just hover and stay clean while the rest of us are up to our barrels in centaur waste.”

        “Hey, this much awesome doesn’t get covered in… that.”
        
        As if the fates hadn’t planned it better a fresh load of muck from one of the overhead buildings emptied from a drain above her and showered her with an unknown, but massive, amount of still warm centaur waste.

        Rainbow fell to her belly with a splat as the pipe drained itself, finishing with several quiet splotch sounds as the others stared in awe at the moving lump.

        “Daddy, I don’t wanna be awesome anymore,” Cardinal said stepping back behind his father.

        The others stifled a laugh through pursed lips as Rainbows wings were the first to reappear, coated brown, green, and a slimy white.  The rest of her quickly followed as she stood.

        “Oh no…  Everypony run!” Daring screamed as she flapped her wings and took flight further down the pipe.  It was a second too late for the earth ponies and horse who turned and made it one stride before Rainbow began to shake like a soaked Saint Bernard, clearing as much of her body as she could.

        With a retching scream, Rainbow flapped her wings and sent muck flying across the tunnel and across the ponies she was supposed to be helping as she blindly flew ahead and up, screaming and scampering until she found a grate on the ceiling.  

        Shoving it open she flew up and out of their sight, into the city above.

        “Oh no,” Daring whispered to herself.  She quickly flew, skimming the surface of the mess they were trudging through before she pulled up and shot through the porthole after the confused and panicking blue mare.

        She surfaced through the same porthole as rainbow and her blood ran cold as she barely had time to look around a towel, dark red yet as soft as cotton, twice the size of her covered her body.

        She felt her body being slammed against the floor and a violent punch to her rear left leg.  She grunted to herself as she felt yet another fracture.  Her attention was more focused on where she was and where Rainbow was.

        Amidst the guttural shouts and grunts of the bath house they had entered, the heavy steam, the scent of male sex, and finally the quiet gurgling sound of a smaller creature being submerged, screaming.

        “Rainbow,” Daring whispered as she was lifted in the dark red and the sounds of the room were drowned out.

        …

        Rainbow gasped as her barrel was squeezed and held above the water.

        “Boys, she’s nearly clean and what a color?!  Perhaps we can have a little fun with her before we turn her in to the constables,” the male bellowed as he plunged her back under the water and shook her vigorously.  

        She screamed in fear and anger as she tried to get free, to no avail, and to not inhale too much water with it’s salty flavors.  She shut her eyes as she recognized one of the flavors from a stunt show she’d been to a couple years past and a stallion she’d never forget… and never see again, it seemed.

        She began to go slack and her mind foggy as she was lifted from the water and inhaled a deep breath of steamy, thick, hot air and coughed the foul water from her lungs.  
        
        “Ah, the pony doesn’t like the water,” the centaur said as he tossed her limp body to another.  She opened her wings but was caught before she could make an escape.

        “Oh-ho-ho, she’s a flier; a coward.  Let’s see what she’s like with one less wing,” he said as the room filled with laughter.  

        Rainbow gasped and turned to look at the creature's hand that wasted no time gripping her exposed right wing in his fingers…

        “Brothers!  More of them, below us!  I’ve seen their eyes, hurry and send the minions into the sewers, it seems we have a jailbreak… you know what that means,” the one said, sending groans through the room.

        “Give her to me, and the other.  Place them in the same towel and we’ll give these to the constables; next we’ll get back to the fun!”

        The room was awash with pleased murmurs and before Rainbow was placed in the towel she saw a male mounting another in the water she was just in.  Her stomach turned and she felt like vomitting just before she saw Daring Do’s body under her.

        She swallowed hard and let her body fall into the towel as a tear formed in her eye.

        “Daring, I’m so sorry,” she said softly as she and Daring were swung around violently in the bag, randomly brushing and bumping into objects as they were carried an unknown distance and to an unknown location.

        “It’s okay.  I remember the first time I was doused in another creature’s droppings.  You handled it like a crazed filly, but I still understand.  Um, can you move a bit, you really smell.”

        Rainbow chuckled as she was bumped into another object. “Yeah, I guess being awesome can stink sometimes.”

        Daring groaned. “If I could, even with my hooves still coated with filth; I’d facehoof.”

        

> A Ray of Hope
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        “So, my little ponies,” Belial said in his deep, rumbling voice as he stood tall, looking out a tower window.  His hands were folded behind his back, his tail swayed to the side, twitching instinctively at times at the insignificant flies that buzzed around his rear.

        “The five of you thought you could escape through the ancient sewers of the city?  Heh,” he chuckled and turned his head, glancing at them from the corner of his eye, a smirk crossed the side of his face, facing them.

        The pegasi were in wing restraints so tight they could barely stand, their hooves cuffed together and chained to one another while the family sat in a cage, hovering a meter from the surface of the table.

        “You smell worse than any plan I’ve ever heard of,” he chuckled again, “and technically, I’m also a general.”

        He returned his gaze out the window, his rear hooves scratching the floor lightly.

        “W-we’re sorry, sir, please, don’t hurt our son,” Wheat said softly.

        With a low grumbling growl, Belial turned his whole body around and glared at the caged family.

        “You have no more rights here,” he snarled, baring his fangs.
        
        The family recoiled and huddled together.

        “Hey, jerkface, pick on somepony your own size,” Rainbow shouted, her muzzle snarling at him.

        “And you,” he looked at her, “I offered you near royal treatment to stay, even as prisoners, and you escape like cowards?  Is this how you honor your sun goddess?”

        “She’s honored just by us living,” Daring spat before she gasped for air, the tight wing braces squeezed the air from her lungs.

        “Daring?!” Rainbow shouted, “Look, Belial, loosen the braces or I’ll-”

        “You’ll do what?” He asked looming over Rainbow, his red eyes glared at her. “You’ll swim through my shit and throw it at me like a retarded human?!” He slapped his hand to the left of the mares, yielding a gasp from Daring but no reaction from Rainbow.

        “What, are you gonna squish us?  We went from royalty to dog meat?  Is that how quickly everypony falls on your list?  We didn’t even hurt anypony!  First thing that happened when I was caught was one of your colt cuddlers tried to rip my wing off.”

        Belial closed his mouth and stood again, swallowing hard. “I can understand your point of view, pony.  I may seem like a monster, and in many ways I am, by your standards, however,” he turned to the caged equines, “I am also not a fool, controlled by my emotions.  I am older than you know,” he sighed.

        “In all my years I have sent more creatures to death, in glory of our gods and Tirek, than I have led into the chambers of Toghnal, the glorious afterlife.Even Anokeen has reminded me of this,” he turned to the window and returned his hands to his back.

“There is one truth you have to know about the world beyond the paradise you hail from.  That is that life and faith are equally meaningless in battle and war.  Much is going to happen over the next several months; little good to your kingdom, if all goes to his plan.  And there’s no stopping the train we’re on.”

“Trains?  War?  What’re you even talking about, you giant freak horse?”

“Miss Dishes, was it?”

Rainbow growled. “Rainbow Dash, don’t forget it.”

“You’re a loyal and respectable pony, I can tell.  Between the few of us in this room, can I ask you something?”

THe room fell silent as every equine eye was on Rainbow.  She looked around, between them, asking without words what to do.

“I’m the most honest pony you’ll ever meet,” she said firmly.  The memories of lies Daring had told, and wrote in her books was all she needed to know it was true.

        Belial turned to her and raised his hand.  A red glow covered Rainbow and lifted her into the air.

        “Take this,” he handed her the opal gem, now attached to a metal link necklace, “it’s the mares and I am no fool.  This is a guide; a beacon.  Wherever it may lead is to a place where the future may be changed.  
        
        “Rainbow Dish,” he clenched his hand and the binds fell from her body, clattering to the table, “I release you to the world and pray you make haste.  I am not kind, I am not nice, I am not a pony.  I do this for my people; to keep war at bay and blood from their hands and hooves.

        “I will punish your friends for their indiscretion and the longer you take, the worse off they will be.”

        “Bastard!  Let us all go!  You can let us all go and-”

        “Silence!” He bellowed so loudly that Rainbow’s ears rang, her right one especially. “I do as I please, this is my part of the world,” he spoke loudly, “and I will release you as a herald for my entire people.  Take this and leave,” he raised his other hand and a glow encompassed the cage.

        He slowly closed his hand and the cage began to bend into itself with a deep creaking sound.  The equines within huddled together and whimpered; Dew Berry cried into Wheat’s chest.

        “Okay!  Okay!  I agree, please, don’t kill them,” Rainbow shouted, reaching a hoof for the gem that was dangling from his fingernail.

        “A fine choice,” he said cancelling both spells.

        Rainbow opened her wings and broke her fall.

        Belial held the gem out. “The necklace is unbreakable, except by master mages and myself.  However, there is no reason to break the chain and remove the gem, is there?”

        “N-no,” Rainbow sneered at him.

        He tossed the gem to her and clasped his hands together in front of his belly.

        “...So, should I go now,” Rainbow asked as she put the necklace on.

        Belial stood in silence, staring at her.

        “Okay, I’m just gonna-”

        He swiped his hand at her, clutching her in his hand.  With a grunt, he turned to the open window, pulled his arm back.
        
        “I can fly myself,” Rainbow mumbled loudly, her words lost to him as he pitched her from the tower.

        With a high pitch whistle Rainbow sailed across the city, tumbling and spinning on all axis for a full fifteen seconds before she recovered.

        Opening her wings quickly to balance herself, she kept the momentum, using it to glide high, out of sight, and toward the cloud layer.

        “Bucking jerk,” Rainbow muttered as she looked back, “I’ll free my friends then beat you to a giant pulp and let Pea finish you off.”

        Rainbow flew into the clouds and coasted as she held the gem in her hoof, looking at it.  She moved it to her left and right until it flashed once.  She tested it a few times before she found the spot the gem maintained a shimmer.

        “That’s the way I guess.  Time to get this crap done and get home,” she said confidently as she turned and broke above the cloud layer, increasing her speed with a hopeful heart.

> Planning An Assault
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Spark and Pea looked at the city of Dogdurhal from a distance.  The large wall that surrounded it did a good job of keeping the city itself out of view, save for various signs of modern life such as rising smoke from chimneys or trade caravans of various races, entering and exiting in a slow but consistent flow.

        The morning was fresh with dew and newly hatched bugs swarming around them, some getting into Spark’s ears and making him yelp or shudder.

        “Stay still, fool,” Pea said firmly, “this is basic training for you.  If you move and get us caught, you’ll be caught.”

        Spark looked to her and cocked his head. “What do you mean… oh, I see.”

        “And I have no desire to tear an entire city apart to find close friends of mine, then to look for a cowardly unicorn.”

        “...Yes ma’am.”

        “Now, what do you see?” She asked, her eyes locked on the city that seemed to never sleep.

        “Uhm, a wall.  Smoke?”

        “A city of impermeable defence, the average size of a centaur is just a little larger than us-”

        “I thought they were all giants.”

        “-with a few elders or wealthy ones who have the time, means, and resources to learn to grow gigantic.  Those are the ones you want to avoid.  The main road goes halfway through the city, circles around the center, where the city hall, police, and courts are, then splinters out in several paths, none of the others leading straight to the center.”

        “How do you see this?  All I see is a wall and a gate.”

        “Easy, worm,” she said as she moved her shoulders, “it’s a city of antiquity.  Before the wall, they were simply like any other town.  As it grew the main streets couldn’t all lead directly to the center.  If, and when, they were raided or invaded they couldn’t just give a straight line to their most important assets.

        “So, the buildings would be built in the street paths, making the invaders have to go around buildings and into, or between, armed locals with the home advantage.  Over time the large ones would have needed a place to make their own, the safest place for the elite would have to be near the back of the wall, where we can’t see.  No main entrances or exits to be used, and no way for any creature to storm.”

        Spark snickered. “Yeah, who in their broken mind would wish to try and storm the home of a giant centaur?” Pea looked over to him, deadpan. “Oh.”

        “We are in no shape to mount an assault, regardless.  The rear is the ideal place to enter from and save our friends, but we will need a distraction and several allies to make it even close to the rear walls and survive.”

        “Survive?” He gulped, “what could be back there that even you are concerned about?”

        “I don’t know, and that’s why I won’t be taking any chances.  We travel to the Sun Kingdom in half an hour.  It’s a three week journey, but I think I see a way to save some energy.”

        He sighed and slumped to his belly, laying his chin on crossed forelimbs. “I wish I had your tenacity and insight, madam.”

        Without looked over to him, her gaze locked on the city, she spoke kindly to him. “You shall, before you know it.  I have a mission for you… it’ll delay our departure but it’ll work for us all in the long run.

        



        “You want me to what?!” He shouted at her from the wooded area they were now in, nearer to the traveling path.  Pea hushed him and glared at him as she adjusted her sword.

        “Go in, get me the stuff, come back here.  You used to be a slave of humans, they’re only a sixth human, so it’ll be a piece of cake,” she assured him and placed a hand on his neck, “you have to grow some balls, Spark, or you’ll never make it with me.  Do you want to find your own way?”

        Spark swallowed hard and looked down the path, cart and wagons being pulled by slave horses, ponies, and even a pair of wingless gryphons.  He licked his dry lips and blinked at the city gates that seemed to have a vertigo effect on him as he looked.

        “S-k?  Sp-rk?  Spark!” Pea shouted at him, snapping his out of his fearful reverie.

        “Huh?  I-ma’am, I don’t know…”

        “You can do it,” she said squeezing his flesh firmly to the point that he winced from the pinch, “I believe in you.  This is for way more than just us, right?” He nodded quickly and coughed dryly, turned, and began to stumble ahead.  “Hey Romeoats, you forgot the money,” she giggled.

        He stopped in place, his rear legs trembling he stood still. “H-help?”

        Pea sighed with a smile and trotted beside him, reached into her vest pocket, and produced a leather sack with cloth drawstrings and held it out to him.  He looked to the side at it, without turning his head.  He lit his horn, took it into his magic, then to his mouth, and began to trot ahead.

        Pea watched him and smiled. “He’s an adorable idiot, and he just might make it,” she said as she watched his trembling body, dropped tail, and flattened ears moved away from her and towards the looming city beyond.

        



> Starting a journey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Pea lay in the brush half exposed, waving at any caravans that paid her any attention.  She was beginning to grow concerned waiting for Spark to complete his shopping, especially as the random centaur minion would pass by.

        She had lined, counted, resorted, and even begun stacking a pile of dead leaves between her foreleg, using the dexterity of her fingers to the best of their usage.  A random naughty thought crossed her mind with the crossing memory of Rochi played through her mind.  She smirked at indulging the rare free time, ease to solitude with risk of being caught, and fantasy… just as a panting pony approached her.

        “Ah, I’m… I made it.  I did it, I shopped alone, in the city.  I did it,” Spark said proudly as he collapsed beside her pulling her back to earth with a puff of detrius around himself.  “Here, I have bits left, I didn’t barter prices.  I was so scared at first, Madam.”  

        Pea looked him over and noticed his bulging saddlebags, her smile returned. “Pass the pack while you regale me with your first shopping experience.”  

        He complied, albeit excitedly, and levitated the saddlebags to Pea while he lay down and began to tell her about what it was like shopping.  Pea opened the right pocket and begun removing items.

        ‘Rope; enough to make a couple harnesses and an extra fifty feet, magic so they stretch.  Check.  Flint.  Mortar and pestle, small.  Seasoning pouch with,’ she grinned and sniffed the closed cloth bag, ‘Stremmings spices.  They go with everything.  No more bland bread or boring grazing for a few weeks.

        ‘Wow, he even found some Twim Root!  I should have told him to find a spell… wait, he can’t read yet.  Some magic crackers would really help our journey.’

        “...and the market maiden was most kind!  She assisted me in finding the camping items and some of the non-perishable snacks you see at the bottom of the bag.”

        Pea moved to the other bag and her heartbeat slowed at what she saw.  Two medium jars of Jade Cactus Fruit.  She sniffled and looked to Spark who was looking intently at the ground and drawing the path he’d taken around the market area, not paying attention to Pea showing deep emotions.

        “...rest of the shoppers helped me with making a map.  I checked and checked again, but nothing was stolen from me.  They genuinely wanted to help.”

        “There are many good ponies in the world, Spark.”

        “Weren’t you listening?  The centaurs helped me, that’s what was so amazing!  I thought the small ones were going to foalnap me and nibble my entrails, but they have laws against stealing and they have to help those in need.  I asked her while we were shopping and she told me that the bigger the centaur the less they care about the smaller creatures.”

        Pea tapped her chin and looked over him and toward the city. “Well, that’s fortunate… Anyway,” she snapped her head to the latest caravan of two wagons, a cart covered with a leather tarp between them, to pass, now nearly a quarter mile away and no others coming anytime soon.  “Let’s catch a ride.  No point wearing ourselves out before we get to where we’re going.”

        With assistance from Spark the saddlebags were repacked and while Pea took a quick trot, he stayed behind to make certain the bags were tight on his body before galloping at full speed after her.

        “Ahoy,” she called as she approached the caravan from behind, galloping on all fours, “we wish to join you.  We can pay our way, offer protection, and need nothing but a rest for my friends’ soft hooves.”

        A stallion called her ahead to the front of one of the wagons being pulled. He was a black earth pony with a brown mane that reminded Pea of cinnamon bark.  “Female pony?  I thought you were another minion looking for freedom from this place,” he asked as he aided another stallion in pulling the wagon.  Both stallions looked her over.

        “Well,” Pea said softly, “I am most certainly more than capable of taking care of myself and my charge, but he is soft and isn’t used to long treks.  Isn’t that right, my Lord?”

        Spark stumbled as he caught up. “Lord?  Who on earth are you talking to?” he asked trying to catch his breath and peek around the cart to the ponies pulling.
        
        “Oh, my mistake, ‘Spark’,” she bowed her head slightly while keeping pace.  The stallions tried to crane their necks around to see behind them before huffing.  

        “What, you expect us to believe some royalty is traveling across the land with a cybermare?”

        “Ha! Don’t be absurd,” Pea shook her head as she chuckled. “He’s just some rich son of a plantation owner.  He’s, honestly, so wimpy he can’t go an hour without whining.  I’m willing to pay a quarter of my purse for him to ride silently to the Sun Kingdom.”

        “Ha!  Now it’s our turn to laugh.  We go no further than Becar to the west.”

        “Madam, my fetlocks are tensing, can we slow down and rest for a minute,” Spark whined as he slowed slightly.

        “Take me half way and I’ll pay you ten bits just to drag him behind the wagon!”

        Both stallions laughed heartily and the black one unhitched himself after an approving nod from his partner. “Name’s Gunner,” he said with a wink, “I’m the only one you talk with.  Any funny business and we kill the wuss and take all he has.  Anything you have.  Then we leave you with a quart of water and the blessing of whatever god you worship.”

        Pea grinned widely. “Name’s Rainbow Doo and I like your style.  We have a deal.  Hey, ‘Lordship’,” she called to Spark as the wagon slowed, “get in the wagon and don’t do anything stupid.  For example, don’t be yourself and we’ll do just fine.”  Gunner laughed and brought a hoof to Pea’s shoulder.

        “I have one more condition.  You have to run guard duty.  The charge is fixed at fifteen bits a week and you’re on your own for food and drinks.  You want from our caravan, you pay,” he licked his dry lips, “however you can.”

        “Don’t worry about that,” Spark chimed in as he caught up to Pea, “my father gave me enough to cover the trip.  I’ve never been to Sun Kingdom, and it’s a pilgrimage more than a trip.  My father always sai-”  

        “Gah, how far have you traveled with this pus sack?”

        “Sir?!  I am most certainly not a, whatever you called me,” Spark said, aghast with a haughty accent, playing his role very well that even Pea believed him.

        “Really?  Then why do I feel the need to pop you one?  Get in and shut up.  Miss, Rainbow, was it?  Payment now and you walk ahead of us.  We could use some good scenery on this forsaken trip.”

        Pea smiled through a disgusted feeling in her gut. “Fine.  You’re going to take a week off our journey just by carrying him  It’s worth it.  Just don’t touch, or I’ll break your leg and shove it up your plot after I lubricate it with the blood of your friend over there.”

        A second of silence befell the small group before the caravan stallions and Pea burst into laughter.  “Very well.  We have an accord.  Take the lead, mighty defiler.”

        Spark opened the door and climbed into the wagon, greeted by four mares and a filly who were playing cards.  “Hello.  I’m-”

        “We heard and don’t care.  Touch us and we’ll cut you into pieces and feed you to your marefriend out there,” one of the younger mares said in a deep, threatening voice as two others pulled daggers from sheathes on their legs.

        “Ah, uh, I-I’m sorry,” he whimpered and backed as far as he could away from them, curled into a small white ball, and looked away, not daring to make eye contact.

> Rainbow in the Sky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Rainbow soared west as she thought of a plan.  She wouldn’t fly straight to where the gem was guiding her, that’d be stupid and after the sewer…  She was done acting without thinking, for now.
        
        She slowed, landing on a cloud, and looked to the gem that was held firmly between her left hoof and her chest.  She turned until it’s glow brightened.  “Okay, wherever I’m going it’s that way and,” she sniffed the air and then down to her coat.  She dry heaved at the stench. “Oh Nightmare Moon that’s awful. 

        “Being covered in centaur poop is a new one.  And one story I won’t be sharing, now, to find a place to scrub my fur until it’s sparkling.”

        Rainbow peeked over the edge of the cloud and sighed.  Desert and rough roads as far as she could see.  Cacti and dead foliage decorated the landscape beneath her.  Not even a pony or human was in the area.

        “Okay, enough wasting time.  I’ve got a job to do and only I can do it.  Look out, random whatever you are, Rainbow Dash is gonna awesome all over you,” she shouted then winced. “That, sounded bad.”

        …

        She stayed above the cloud layer and, unadmittedly, began to feel alone.  No pegasi were in the sky.  No earth pony technology.  No Pinkie with balloons tied to her.  No unicorn dirigibles.  Not even birds of prey were out.

        She was alone and had too much time to think about Daring Do, Berry, and the others.  She had to find a way to free them without hurting them; but how?  She couldn’t fight them, that didn’t work.  

        “Maybe I can think like Twilight.  Okay, I’m an egghead.  I have to make a list and put every flap of my wings on it, then plan out every time I go pee and whatever, then…  Wow, being an egghead sucks!

        “Okay, better idea; I fly to wherever I’m going and play it by ear.  Yeah, that’s better.”

        Rainbow stayed above the cloud layer for another two hours before her stomach began cramping, from hunger.  She looked down to see nothing yet, just desert and cacti.  She wasn’t going to eat a cactus again, not since she was dared by Applejack years ago; before they were close friends.

        With a frown she lowered herself and began flying around a small cloud, forcing it tighter and tighter until it darkened.  “A drink is something,” she mumbled and thrust her head into the nimbus and slurped several times.
        
        “Dumb local clouds are nearly dry, even when wet.”

        With a buck the cloud dispersed and she took off in the direction the gem sparkled again.  
        
        The sun had begun to near the horizon as she glided on a warm current of air.  Her eyes began to droop, she began to waver, and the cloud layer beneath her was thick and grey.  Her left wing dipped and she took that as a cue to take a rest.  She landed on the top of a cloud and lay down, yawned, and quickly fell asleep.

        The feeling of weightlessness and the sound of rushing air stirred her awake. “Umhm.  Just, close the window, Tank, I need another hour or three…  Luna’s teats!” 

        She opened her wings and caught air as she neared the ground, an unfriendly cactus patch awaited her a mere fifty feet below.  She glided ahead and felt her heart racing as she looked around and grinned at the sight of a small herd of ponies galloping.  She turned after them and… lost them?

        “What the hay?  Where’d they go?  It’s a freakin’ desert!”  Rainbow looked around and huffed.  She couldn’t find any tracks, no markings, not a feather, hair, or drop of sweat could be found.  Okay, maybe she wasn’t looking that hard, but she felt like it.  She flew high to get a better view.

        “Okay, seriously… Hello?!” she shouted, her voice barely echoing in the distance against the flat savannah.

        She listened intently and began to feel crestfallen.  “Hello?” A reply came, meekly.

        “Fluttershy?!”  Rainbow turned to where the meek voice came from and flew down to it, a small bush.

        “N-no.  I’m sorry.  A-are you a raindeer?” the voice asked before another whispered, “I, uh, mean a raider?  A Robert?  Huh?  Smithy?  Stop it,” a young female voice whispered harshly, “are you a bad pony?”

        “Don’t ask that, of course it’ll say it’s a nice pony, then wham, we’re slaves again.  No one’s here!” a young male voice called out.

        “Yeah, sure.  C’mon sport, I’m on the run from centaurs and if you can help me… or tell me what’s that way,” she pointed in the direction she was flying.  The colors of dusk were fading, casting the land into a chilly evening.  “Then, I’ll be on my way.”

        A few seconds of hushed whispering. “Wait where you are.”

        “Yeah, like I even know where that is.  C’mon, kids.  I’ve got a world to save, can’t wait here forever.”

        There was a quiet giggle from the bush.  Rainbow leaned over, closer to it, just as something sharp pressed against the back of Rainbow’s neck.  “Stay still, and we’ll make sure you’re not a danger.  Move and you’re dinner for the dogs,” a young voice said.

        Rainbow folded her wings and landed onto her haunches. “Look, kid, I understand your scared, but really, I’m cool.  You don’t wanna get hurt messing with me, I’m a friend, honest.”

        “Oh, we’re sure of that.”

        Rainbow huffed and turned to look at the child, her blood ran cold.

        A tall Lepuric stood behind her, it’s talon pointed at her.  A broken toothed grin beset by a split jaw dripped yellow saliva.  It’s black orb eyes set in the center of its snout loomed as if looking at her, even without direct pupils.

        “You are the rainbow one,” the child’s voice suddenly echoed in her skull, sending a wave of pain through her cyan head.  Rainbow whined in pain. “You are from the safe lands beyond the seas…  We know of you,” the voice whispered sweetly, like a little girl asking for candy.

        “Gah, darn it… A-are you gonna try to kill me?  Emphasis on ‘try’?” Rainbow said confidently, opening her wings aggressively.

        “...No,” a young male voice chided, “you are not to die by our claws, hands, hooves, paws, or poison…  The master wishes it.”

        “Nay,” the female voice corrected as another Lepuric approached from the darkness, “it was commanded by the master.  However, while she can not die, it doesn’t mean we can’t feast on her legs,” the girl voice giggled mirthfully.

        “Nay, indeed,” the boy replied lowering into a lunge stance, “she would die without help from her kind,” he said calmly and knowingly, “then we will have failed in our directives.”

        “What are you two talking… thinking… ugh, what’s going on?” Rainbow asked, taking a step back.  She knew she was outmatched against them, even one on one.  She’d have to fly, soon.
        
        With a whoosh of sound the male voiced Lepuric slammed her to the ground with a meaty foot, it’s prehensile toes wiggling around her neck, sending a sickening stench across her and a nauseous feeling into her body.

        “Ugh, sick!  And I thought I smelled bad after the sewer,” Rainbow groaned, “look, you can’t handle me at my worst, just let me go before I mop the desert with ya.”

        “She is sure strong willed,” the boy said.

        “And not worth it, Smithy.  Come, let us hunt some prey that will scream before we eat them,” the girl giggled.

        “...You are correct, Silva, I prefer my meals to scream while I eat them, their flesh still wiggling as I tear it from their bodies, this one won’t wiggle as much, if at all.”

        With a joined laugh, the two Lepuric’s turned and vanished into the night, literally.

        “Okay, what the hay?  There’s gotta be some way to do anything in this place without getting covered in stink or into a fight with monsters.”

        Rainbow took straight off into the air, back to the cloud layer, and sighed once she was alone. A tear left her eye. “Fluttershy… what I wouldn’t give to be in the same city as you about now.  Why’d I have to get involved?  Because Daring Do was going to.  Whatever, big fillies don’t cry, and I have a mark to leave on this land as the most awesome mare here too,” he said wiping her face and taking flight. 

        “And I’m gonna show everything that ponies aren’t dinner, pushovers, and that this place needs more bathhouses and spas, because this place stinks to the top of Canterlot Mountain.”

There is only one o in Daring Do.


> Rainbow in the clouds
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Rainbow kept to the skies and clouds and stopped only when nature called for as long as she could.

        “It’s been two frickin’ days, mare!  C’mon… that city has to be close.  This dumb thing is blinking and everything is bucked up,” she screamed as she wiped with a cloud and took off again, rocketing faster than she had in hours, “the whole world sucks!  I just wanna go home and be cool again…  I miss being awesome,” she whimpered as her emotions began to swirl.

        “Oh, do you now?” a voice whispered in her ear.  She stopped suddenly and waited as the air from her flight rushed past her.  

        “Who was that?  Discord?!  Get out here and show yourself or I’ll-”

        “You’ll what, my dear?  Wipe me away?” Discord chuckled darkly as he slithered from her ear and into her mane. “Don’t pay attention to me… Fly, you fools.  If they notice me then we’re in a whole new world of trouble.”

        “Yeah, right.  Who could possibly know you’re even here, and why should I listen to you?  You’re supposed to be-”  A zipped appeared over her mouth and zipped shut, a lock appearing and securing it shut.

        “I said go, I’ll explain on the way, now go.”  

        Rainbow growled, used her hooves to push against the object covering her mouth, and even went into a freefall, using her wings to attempt to manipulate the lock.  Opening her wings she flew back into the sky and snorted in frustration.  She began a slow flight, with sagging shoulders and slow flaps, in the direction the gem pointed her.

        “That’s my little pony,” Discord said.  She felt him pat her head as his weight suddenly appeared on her back. “Now, the reason for this hide and don’t get found by the chaos sensing monsters that attacked you a couple days ago,” Rainbow turned to glare at him, “is because… oh, well, I suppose I just told you.”

        The zipper vanished and Rainbow shouted. “What the hay is your game this time?”

        “No,” Discord grumbled, “no games.  No fun.  No jokes.  This time, it’s personal.”

        “You sound like a badly written story.”
        
        “Can’t help that; it’s up to the author,” he shrugged, “if that were the case.  But, I digress, Rainbow Dash, this is personal.”

        “Why, did those freaky voiced things steal your plans?”  
        
        “No, those Lepurics are merely extensions of another, more sinister, Agent of Chaos.  Currently, that agent is taking over your home and has figured a way to block most of my own magic and, thus, fun.”

        “So?  What’s that gotta do with me?”

        “Simple, while he’s there, his magic has less effect here.  I’ll help you as I can and in exchange, you keep me entertained.  Now, before you use more language as colorful as your mane… which I love, by the way,” he said flying next to her, his wings flapping and his mane the colors of Rainbow Dash’s.

        “Yeah,” she rolled her eyes, “it’s one of a kind.  I’m not here to play your games.”

        Discord continued as though he weren’t interrupted. “All you have to do is keep doing what you’re doing.  Bathe in the waste of others, make water and chocolate rain on unsuspecting caravans below you,” Rainbow blushed and glanced back the way she came; a mobile dot indicated where her leavings had fallen, “and don’t forget to eat,” he said as a plate full of vegetables appeared in his paw.  He offered it to Rainbow who didn’t hesitate to fly to it and chomp, gobble, and scarf the succulent meal down her throat.

        She stopped and fell back onto a cloud Discord created for her.  “Okay, Dishturd,” Rainbow snarked, “I’ll play this game for a little bit; but you gotta promise to keep Fluttershy and my other friends in Equestria safe, and to get my friends here to safety.”

        “Choose one,” Discord replied as he sat on a cloud shaped beach chair with a crescent moon in his paw and a berry in his claw. “Here, or Equestria.”

        Rainbow looked between her choices and blinked.  As the option dawned on her she shook her head, slowly. “W-what? N-no way, Discord!  No way!  That’s not fair,” she growled as she rolled to her hooves then took to the air, hovering near him.

        “I can’t save them all; simply some.  I can save a couple from each group if you wish,” he said, juggling the moon and berry, “but you can’t save any of them if I do that.  Choose.”

        Rainbow looked, her eyes darting between the items being tossed around by the God of Chaos.  “The berry.  I choose my friends here.  I know that Twilight and the others can keep home safe from whatever you’re talking about,” Rainbow winced at her choice, “and if you lie to me, if they get hurt… I swear to everything that I’ll-”

        “Let me stop you there, Dashie,” Discord said as he leaned forward and popped the berry into his mouth, “I can help them, but this land is rife with danger.  To guarantee their safety is to guarantee their death by Lepurics, or worse.”

        “W-worse?  Fine, do what you have to and I’ll do the same.  How far to the place I’m being led to?”

        “Oh, it’s closer than you think,” Discord vanished, his chuckle remained for a moment before she was left in silence.

        “What a butt,” Rainbow said as she flapped and turned to fly away; and slammed, head first, into a minotaur.  Falling to a street floor she grunted in time with the minotaur she had impacted.  As her head ached and ears rang, she made out the sounds of different creatures talking and shouting words she didn’t understand.

        “Ugh,” she groaned moving her hooves under her and pushing herself up, “who installed a city in my path?” she asked looking around through her hazy vision.  A hand grabbed her from the back and her blood chilled, her heart began to race and her vision sharpened.  The last thing she did was inhaled deeply before beginning to thrash and shout unintelligible words until she was dropped.  The only word the humans and minotaurs knew was ‘Lepuric’.

        When Rainbow touched the ground she couldn’t open her wings out of fear, so she galloped ahead until she felt a tingle across her body.  She began to scream and thrash as her body was lifted into the air until she noticed the magic field around her.  Panting she looked back and frowned at a white unicorn she recognized.

        “You?!  What’re you… wait, where’s-” she paused to see Pea Gravel standing on all fours, in the crowd, with a puzzled look on her face. “P-Pea?  What the hay’s going on?”