> The New Guardians of Equestria > by TankCop > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 - Hope > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -The New Guardains of Equestria- It’s was another normal day in Ponyville until the unexpected happened. “RUN FOR YOU LIVES CERBERUS IS LOOSE AGAIN! AAHHHH!!!” The little Ponies scattered all over the place as the mighty dark three headed dog kicks and bites into their homes. “Isn’t there any Pony that can save us?” A scared little filly said as she covered her head with her hooves in fear. “I will!” Off the side of the village appeared an Equestrian solider in full shining armor. A large Earth Pony stallion with a red colored coat of fur and a thick brown colored mane, with an half eaten apple cutie mark on his flank appears from over the horizon. “Who are you?” A mare asked. “The name is Appleseed, Equestrian Royal Guard.” Appleseed said as he flings his spear at the beast striking it in the shoulder. With a snarl of pain and rage Cerberus spins around and roars as he charges towards earth pony. Appleseed smiles as he also makes a hard gallop toward the giant dog beast. Just seconds before Cerberus was able to bite Appleseed’s head off he makes a mighty leap into the air and jumps right over Cerberus and onto his back. Then giving Cerberus a hard buck to the back of one of his heads he sends the mighty beast to tumble into a near by river. “Seems that pup’s all washed up!” Appleseed said sounding quite cocky as the other Ponies all laughed. Just as the Ponies start to celebrate Appleseed’s victory Cerberus leaps out of the water and lands in the middle of a circle of ponies causing them all to fall to the ground as Cerberus shacks the ground with his landing. Before Appleseed can get his bearings Cerberus takes him by his tail and tosses him into a large pile of boulders. He lands hard into the boulders making all the mares and colts think he’s dead. “Oh Celestia help us! Who will save us now, all is lost!” A random Pony cries out. As Cerberus goes back to wrecking more homes many of the ponies try to remove the rubble from where Appleseed fell but they are unable to move the heavy bolders. As the Ponies try to dig him out they hear the rubble being shoved away from the inside of the pile as Appleseed emerges from it shacking off the dust on himself much to the shock of all the Ponies watching he had not a single mark on him nor was his armor even damaged. Appleseed looks over at Cerberus and glares. “I am ending this now you beast!” Appleseed takes hold of another spear holding it in his mouth as he rushes at full speed towards Cerberus. Appleseed leaps from a large rock and jumps high into the air taking the spear out of his mouth placing it into his hooves and screams. “BACK TO TARTARUS WITH YOU DEMON!!” Appleseed lands onto Cerberus’s back and rams the spear through the back of one of Cerberus’s heads. Cerberus lets out a loud cry of pain as he falls to the ground dead to the cheers of all the Ponies in town. “Three cheers for Appleseed, the hero of Ponyville! Appleseed! Appleseed! Appleseed….” Quickly however the crowds started to vanish as Appleseed’s armor also disappeared like mist as Appleseed opened his eyes from this dream world and comes back into reality. “APPLESEED! APPLESEED GET YOUR LAZY FLANK OUT OF BED OR I WILL BUCK YOU OUT OF IT MYSELF!” Shouted Appleseed’s aunt Gingersnaps, a brown colored older mare with a greyish yellow mane, as she gives the still groggy stallion a harsh look. “Come along now you need to get up and help with the plowing in the fields. Then I need you to take the first season’s supply of apple cider into the towns open market with me for sale.” Gingersnaps said as she leaves Appleseed to crawl of out bed as he shacks his tiredness off as he looks over at the old and fading poster he had in his room of the former Equestrian Royal Guards and thinks of his dream again with a sigh before he gets his plow neck brace on then heads out to do his daily field work with the rest of his relatives. As Appleseed goes about his daily chores of plowing the family fields he thinks back to his dream once again and of his desire to become some thing more than a simple farm pony like all the rest of his family have been for generations before him. It used to be not so uncommon for a strong male of his age to want to join the military for chance at adventure and a better life beyond the farm. However those days where now only the stuff of distant dreams. Over 180 years ago all of Equestria was consumed in a great war with the Changelings that lasted for over 30 years. An uncountable number of Ponies lost their lives in the near endless conflict. Many lands where devistated and lost to time. As a further consequence of that war all the Alicorns where killed, but in the end the Ponies were the victors, but many still wonder at what cost? If things were not bad enough already the other races finding out the Alicorns were no more dissolved all treaties and promises made with the now weaken Ponies and nearly all of them made a play for power to take what lands they could for their own desires. The Griffons, once a weaken race themselves swept in and like a dark plague took over more than 70% of the lands once under the rule of the ponies fast becoming the dominate force in Equestria. Now 150 years after the Griffons take over of the lands they rule over all those under them with an iron tailon. By their laws of the land, all Unicorns, Pegasus, and Earth Pony were to follow the rule and law of the Mighty Griffon Empire and serve them as their subjects. “Appleseed stop your day dreaming over there and take off that plow for a second I need you over here for a moment.” Aunt Gingersnaps said as she waves him over to next field. Appleseed takes a deep sigh then takes off his plow hooks from his neck brace and follows his aunt over to see what she needed. “So what’s the trouble over here Aunty?” Appleseed looks as Gingersnaps points to a top of a small boulder that was blocking her own plow. “I hit this while tilling my part of the field can you be a dear and take care of it. Don’t worry Appleseed I looked around and no one’s watching us.” What no other Pony but Appleseed’s aunt Gingersnaps knew was that Appleseed was far different from any other Earth Pony. “All right Aunty back away.” Appleseed raises his hoof into the air then brings it down onto the top of the boulder and slams his hoof right into it as if it was just a freshly baked pie. He then yanks his hoof up as the ground around them shacks a little as the boulder that was about 3 times their own size was yanked out of the ground leaving a large hole in its wake. “Golly I guess that boulder was larger than I expected. Take that over behind the barn and we can have you shatter it after we get back from selling our cider at the market.” Gingersnaps said taking another look around to make sure the coast was still clear. “Sure thing Aunty.” Appleseed said as he now with both hooves carried the huge boulder out of sight as if it was just a shack of flower and places it behind the barn. It was the time of the day when the sun reached its highest point the sky when Appleseed and Gingersnaps made their trip into Ponyvilles open market. Ponyville itself has not changed so much in the last 180 years. The schoolhouse was still there for the little fillies and foals to learn. However the education was taught by Griffons now and very little beyond how to best serve the interests and desires of the Griffon Empire was taught to them. What use to be Sugar Cube Corner was now a bar frequented by Griffon military men then any Ponies these days. It’s easy to say nothing sweets has come out of there in a very long time. Ponyville town hall was made into the main office for the Griffon Governor and his staff who would be finding the best way to get more gold and other resources out of these already over taxed and hard working Ponies. Other locations like Fluttershy’s cottage and Rarity’s Shop were wipped out in the war all that remained of those places was just shattered buildings that over time have slowly faded into the landscape. “Alright here we are let’s get set up.” Gingersnaps said as she took out her folded up banner that proclaimed, ~Fresh Apple Cider Sold Here~, but before she could set them up her cider stand the old green pony was tapped behind her shoulder by an old looking male Griffon along with two guards next to him wearing heavy looking golden armor. “Miss Gingersnaps. I am sorry ma’am but I am afraid you and your nephew will not be able to set up your cart here today, nor any other day in the foreseeable future.” The Griffon said smugly adjusting his golden glasses as he looks over his scroll he was holding. “What?! But that can’t be I paid for this lot over a month ago and have been putting produce out here each weekend since then.” Gingersnaps said as she snaps back at the old Griffon. “I am sorry miss Gingersnaps but you have not been made aware of the incress in the price of these lots it’s now an extra ten bits for each weekend and that means you own us 20 bits plus delinquent fee’s for not paying those incresses that comes to 60 bits.” Gingersnaps were taken a back by this. “But I can’t afford that. We are barely making enough to live during the winter season with all the extra taxes you Griffons place upon us.” The old Griffon glares at her before forcefully shoving her onto her own cart knocking over and breaking some of the Cider jugs on the ground. “Then I can see to it that you and your nephew make up those lost bits by ether working you both in the mines over the winter season or having us finally takes position of your farm!” Appleseed couldn't take any more of this as he shoves the old Griffon away from his aunt being sure not to use too much of his amazing strength but enough so that the old Griffon landed into a tomato stand causing quite the mess. Appleseed reaches down to make sure his aunt was unharmed. “Hey Aunty are you alright?” The Griffon soldiers go to help the old Griffon up much to his humiliation of all the laughing Ponies around him covered in smashed tomatoes. “ARREST THAT FILTHY MUD PONY! I WANT TO SEE HIM IN CHAINS!” He screams in rage pointing right at Appleseed. Gingersnaps reaches for her nephews head to face her. “Appleseed run! Get out of here. You can’t let them catch you and find out what you can really do. GO NOW!” Appleseed looks over and see’s the soldiers approaching. Taking two cider jugs from the cart he tosses them at the soldiers, shattering on their helmets causing them to fly blindly into random food stands giving him the time he needed to rush out of the market place and makes a run into the town and into an empty building to hide in until the night arrived. As the night came the town was placed into a lock down as the Griffon soldiers were going from house to house and abandon building to abandon building looking to track down Appleseed, but he knew this town well from his days as a young foal playing hide and seek in the abandoned ruins with the other young Ponies. However it was starting to getting harder to keep hidding, but Appelseed knew there was still one place left he could hid out until the dawn would come so he headed right to the former castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Appleseed pushes open the massive doors of the old castle, they make a very eerie creeking sound as they open. Even as a kid this place was to spooky for any of the foals to get to close to. To them it seemed like a haunted place and so out of place among all the wood homes and business around it. It has stood up well even after 180 year of neglect. Appleseed takes some flint out of his traveling pouch and lights a touch and carriers it as he wonders down the massive hallways with the only sound he was hearing was his own hoofs tapping aganst the ground. After some time exploring the mostly empty rooms Appleseed comes upon a room that appeared to be some kind of large meeting hall. The room seemed to be in a state of ruin. All the chairs where smashed, what seems to use to be a large crystal table in the center was also destroyed as if it was blown apart by some large explosion. Appleseed sighed and then said to himself. “Damn it all. Why did I have to go and shove that old bastard bird brain like that? Aunty always told me to not make a scene. Why can’t things be different? Why do we Ponies have to be treated like slaves? It just isn’t fair!” Appleseed said smashing his hoof into a wall in the room that crumbles to reveal a secret room. As the dust cleared Appleseed wonders inside to take a look around and sees something that gets his attention right away. It was a dusty painting on the side of a crumbling part of the wall it showed six mares coming together as if to unify their powers. At first Appleseed didn’t know why this image seemed so familure then it came to him. This was the from the stories that were told to him by his aunt Gingersnaps as a bed time story of the six mares that protected Equestria from all harm. Many of their tales have been lost to time yet all who tell of them remember them as great heroes. “I tell yeah girls if there was ever a time that Equestria needed you its right now.” Appleseed said as he touches the image of Twilight Sparkle and then the image suddenly starts to glow. Appleseed backs away as a beam of light shots out from the image on the stone and the image of a purlpe Alicorn female appears in front of him. She looks up as if she could see Appleseed in the room and smiles at him. “Greetings, I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. If you are seeing this image of me then we have failed to stop the Changeling take over of the land or I have died. If that is the case then it passes you brave Pony to seek out the Elements of Harmony that have been hidden acrossed the lands of Equestria by my trusted friends. Once you have found all 6 elements you must bring them to the chamber of Hope in the Royal Place of Canterlot and give them to ether Princess Luna or Princess Celestia. For only with the six elements and the power of an Alicorn can the chamber of Hope be opened and the great power inside can be realased to save Equestria from darkness.” The image of Twilight Sparkle then vanishes as Appleseed is left alone again with just the light of his torch and his shocked face in the room. “My gosh! Everything Aunty told me was true. The six mares, the legend of the elements, all of its was all real.” Just then the silence of the moment was broken by a voice from the crumbled wall opening. “Indeed it was all true. Now that we know the elements still exist we shall be sure to keep our eyes out for them as well.” Said the Griffon Governor of Ponyville dressed in a thick black suit with gold trimmings along with six Griffon soldiers all holding spears with gold tips on them. “You were all following me? For how long?” Appleseed demanded to know. “None of that matters now. I should thank you for finding this very important message for us. The Elements of Haromy has been King Grover the seventh over whelming desire to find and posses for so long. He will shower me with gold for this information.” The Griffon Governor said with a grin. Appleseed glares. “Why do you need them so badly? Don’t you already control enough? All you greedy birds ever care about is filling your own pockets with bits!” “That is indeed true young Pony but with this so called great power we can finally control all of Equestrai as our great King desires. However that will not be something you will be around to see. Guards kill him!” The Griffon Governor commands as the soldiers rush at Appleseed. Appleseed manages to dodge the first rush of the Griffon soldiers spears but it was not long until he was cut by a few of the spears as they didn’t let up attacking him, drawing blood as they sliced into him. By now Appleseed no longer cared if they know about his specail abilities anymore as he grabs the chunk of wall with the image of the mares on it then tosses it at the soldiers knocking all of them onto the ground as well as breaks out a side of the wall to the outside of the castle and having it crumble into pieces as it hit the ground. “How did you do that? Just what kind of Earth Pony are you?” The Griffon Governor asked as he shock in fear on the ground just barly able to avoid the hit himself. “My name is Appleseed and I won’t let you greedy birds take anything else from us.” With that Appleseed leaps out of the opening in the wall and slams hard onto the ground outside. Then not seeming to even have felt the hit makes a run back to his family farm. As the dawning suns light was just starting to come out over the hills Appleseed knocks the doors of his family farm house open as he sees Gingersnaps making tea. Not seeming to be fazed at all by his sudden return unlike him who was in a panic with small streams of blood coming out of the spear wonds. “Aunty we need to go right now. We have to pack all we can and get out of her before……Hey are you even listening to me this is serious Aunty we have to leave I am sure the Griffon soldiers will be here any minute!” Gingersnaps sip her tea than sets it down and looks up at him from her chair. “I know they're coming. I knew this day would come when you would have to leave. I knew you were destined for great things one day Appleseed. I have something I need to give you before you go and I have something important to tell you.” Gingersnaps said getting off her chair and then she moves a desk away from the wall and then Appleseed sees her remove a plank of wood and takes out a very old looking box. From inside the box Gingersnaps takes out a gold necklace with a orange apple looking gemstone. “I knew the moment you came back here as you are the time had come. This has been in the care of our family since the days of the Changling war.” Gingersnaps said as she held the necklace in her hoof and handed it to Appleseed. “What do you mean the time has come? What is that thing Aunty?” The confused colt asked taking the necklace in his own hoove. Gingersnaps then looked Appleseed in the eyes. “Appleseed you’re a decent of one of the mares of Harmony. Your great, great, great grandmother was Applejack and she had this, the Element of Honesty. I was told by my mother and her mother before her to keep it secret and safe. You have to take it with you and leave the farm never to come back. The Griffons will be here soon to look for you and I am sure take ownership of the farm as well. We can’t allow them to have this element. Pleae protect it with your life. Its more important then you can understand.” Appleseed could amlost feel the elements magic all over his body as he held it. As if it was almost talking to him in some way that he didn’t yet understand. “Aunty please, I am not ready for this. I am not right for this. I am no hero I am just some dumb farm Pony!” Appleseed said feeling like a house was just dropped on top of him with all that he was just told to him. Gingersnaps rubbed her hoof over her nervous nephews face. “Nether was Applejack when she was given the element but she managed and you will as well. Now you must go and don’t look back. I will manage here alone and buy you some time to get away. Just go and know my love will always go with you.” Appleseed places the Element of Honesty into his’s saddle pack along with some dried food for his long trip and then he kisses and hugs Gingersnaps with tears in his eyes as he turns to look back at his aunt one last time and then heads out of the farm and towards the woods just moments before the Griffons swarm in and take Gingersnaps into custody. The Griffon Governor looks around and growls in anger finding out he was too late to stop Appleseed from getting away. “Damn it all he got away. Send a message to every Griffon garison I want the face of this Appleseed posted on every wanted poster every where. We will search for this Appleseed and find him no matter how long it takes.” The Griffon Governor said as he had his soldiers take Gingersnaps and have her arrested her for treason to the Empire. Appleseed looks back at the farm one last time before rushing out of sight as he made an promise to himself. “I swear Aunty I will keep the Element of Honesty safe and I will find a way to free you. I will make all this right. I swear it.” > Chapter 2 - Tribe > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The rain fall was heavy outside the opening to the cave that Appleseed took refuge in after evading the Griffon soldiers for over a week now. The denseness of the Everfree Forest was perfect cover for hiding out in when you don’t want to be found. However it provided little to no food that could sustain him for a long stretch of time and his supplies were near their end with just one days food left remaining. Appleseed was getting desperate as he shivered in the cave and reflected on his position and what he planned to do next. “Aaaah-CHOOOOO!!! Darn it all I wish I had packed a blanket before I made a run out of the farm.” Appleseed said covering himself with his thick arms as he failed to keep trying to make a fire. “Celestia Damn it! Why am I such a failure at everything I do?” He said smashing a small rock he was using as a pillow making it crumble into small pebbles. Appleseed lets out a hard sigh as he gives up on making a fire happen in this damp cave and then does his best to get some rest on the hard stone and mud covered ground that was a very far cry from the soft bed and warm blanket of his now lost home. As the dawn of the next day breaks Appleseed wakes not to the sound of a roster as he was use to back on the farm but another kind of shocking event as he felt his front and hinge hooves were bound with thick tree vines as he looked around he also found four stone tipped arrowhead spears pointing right at his head from above him and also to his added shock these spears were in the hooves of four war painted Zebra’s. “Umm…Morning Y’all. What’s for breakfest? Oh Celestia tell me it’s not me!?” Appleseed said nervously. “Be silent Pony. What are you doing in our land?” One of the Zebra’s said shoving the spear right up to Appleseed’s neck in a very aggressive manner. Appleseed glares at the Zebra he knew he could snap out of those vines holding him down and fling these Zebra’s a mile into the air if he wanted but he thinks they might have food and shelter something he deeply needed so he would for now take the weak Pony position. “I am just a lost Colt trying to find a place to stay. Please I am so hungry and tired. I will do what I can to work for my meal please.” Appleseed didn’t think it would be a good idea to share the fact that he was being hunted by the Griffon Empire right now. The four Zebra talked it over and then decided. “We will take you back to the tribe to be judged by the Chief he will decide what to do with you.” One of the Zebra’s places a blindfold over Appleseed’s eyes and then cut away the vine bonds around his hooves but as Appleseed gets up he feels a vine leash is placed over his neck and with one of them pulling the leash the other three walk between and behind him as they lead him out of the cave with one of them also carrying the saddle bag containing the Element of Honesty in it. Appleseed was marched for what seems to him like hours being pulled thought thick bramble bushes & tripping face first onto the ground when he would trip over a unseen rock or tree root. All the while listening to the laughing of the Zebra’s that was not making this any less hard on him to deal with. After an hour of endless marching Appleseed was sure by now that he was being pulled in circles and being lead down the same path a few times by Zebra’s to be sure he wouldn’t know the true way to their tribe. Finally Appleseed could start to hear the voices of other Zebra’s around him and the sounds of other kinds of activities like a hammer being used at a forge and sounds of farming activites going on as he was stopped and the blindfold was removed from his eyes. He winks a few times to get his eyes to focus in the light and he looks up to see before him sitting on a what looked like a throne made up of some very large animal bones, was a strong and older looking Zebra, on his face was the painted skull of a Manticore and large colored bird feathers on top of it. Incense sticks of all kinds were burned around him giving him a very ominous appearance. One of the Zebra warriors forces Appleseed to kneel before the Chief as he addresses him. “Chief Thunder Rain we found this Pony hiding in a cave on the boarders of our land.” “What is your purpose here Pony? Why have you come into our lands?” Chief Thunder Rain said looking down at him from his throne. Appleseed did his best to put up a worried appearance seeming to be more timid then he really was as he spoke. “Oh mighty Chief Thunder Rain I am just a simple farming Pony that got lost on his way while traveling to Appaloosa where I have family that can help me out.” Appleseed was honest as to where he was headed. Appleseed was always told to go there by his Aunt Gingersnaps in case anything should happen at the family farm and they had to leave then they should always head to Appaloosa where the rest of his family members lived at. “Ha hardly a simple farm Pony is what we have here Chief Thunder Rain here look at what I found in his saddle bag.” A Zebra Warrior said handing it over to the Chief. Chief Thunder Rain looks inside and with a surprised look on his face takes out the Element of Honesty and shoves it in front of Appleseed’s face. “No simple farming Pony carries such riches with him. Are you some kind of runaway thief? Have you come here to steal our treasures as well? Maybe you’re a fugitive from the Griffons too?” “NO! Sir I am not a thief that’s a family airlum. Please I didn’t steal anything nor do I intend too.” Appleseed pleaded but it seems to fall on deaf ears. “Enough! Take this Pony and place him into a cage. I will decide his fate later.” Chief Thunder Rain said as he took off his Manticore head piece to show a middle age looking Zebra with a few scares over his face from past wounds. “You heard the Chief move along Pony!” A Zebra Warrior said as he tugs on his vine leash and pulls him out of the Chief’s hut. When Appleseed got outside and was able to see it was made out of the trunk of a massive hollowed out tree. As Appleseed was being pulled to his cell he was able to take notice of the Zebra’s village. There was very little to any constructed buildings there. Most of the village’s living spaces consisted of mud huts or tents with a few living inside trees that had candles outside of them. As he passed the Zebra’s he noticed there was two kinds of looks he was getting as he passed by them. One was of great fear and worry. Appleseed was well built for his age and did strike quite the pose yet he didn’t think his appearance alone would cause such fear. The other look he was getting was that of anger and discust. Some of them would yell insults at him while the rest would toss rocks or rotten veggies at him. Now these feeling he really didn’t understand? He didn’t do anything to offend them. He didn’t think sleeping in a cave was enough to arouse this kind of hate so he wondered what else could be the cause of all this rage? The Zebra warrior arrived at Appleseed’s cage where he would be spending his time in, it was a cage made out of thick wood bars tied with tree roots around each cross point. “In you go Pony.” The Zebra Warrior said shoving Appleseed inside after taking off his vine leash. Appleseed takes a look around the cage. It was small but gave him enough room to move around in. He knew it would take no effort at all snap this cage like a tooth pick yet he had to figure out what was the reason with all the negativity with all the Zebra towards him here. So he settles down for a good nap and waits for what would develop next. Meanwhile deep in the far southern region of Equestria in the deserts known as the Bad Lands where no vegetation has grown above ground in over hundreds years. A place so devoid of life that there is not even water of any kind to be found here. There is little to no life on this hellish place that can reach temperatures of over 120 degrees on average. However it is not what is above but what is below the land that is the focus of attention. For miles deep below the unforgiving land above is the underground domain of the Diamond Dogs. They have over the many years carved out vast areas of this underground world of theirs and made it into a thriving kingdom to call their own. Inside the very walls all over glitters with the shimmer and shine of diamonds and all manner of gem stones. There are underground rivers they would use for their drinking water and even found a way to grow some of their own food underground as well. It might not be the greatest life but in this kind of environment it’s the best anyone could ask for. One of the Diamond Dogs rushes toward what looks like a small triangle shaped temple built right out of the rock and runs up towards a throne where a cloaked figure sits upon it only barely visible in the dim candle lights. “You summon me Mistress?” The small Diamond Dog said as he kneels before the cloaked female figure keeping his gaze down so not to look into her face. The cloaked figure raises her head and speaks in a deep and imposing voice. “I have felt an awakening. Some Pony has been chosen to seek out Elements of Harmony.” “Mistress shall I gather the troops to hunt this Pony down?” The Diamond Dog asked trying to keep from being so nervous. “Not yet. I will go myself to find out why this Pony has been choose and to test him as well.” The cloaked figure said as she expands into a very large and thick cloud of dark smoke and flies out of the room right through the Diamond Dog. The Diamond Dog hears an evil laughter going through him as she passes throught him and leaves the caves out of sight. Back at the Zebra’s tribe Appleseed was awakened by the sudden sound of the Zebra Warrior that was guarding him falling onto the ground with a sudden thud. A bowl of green colored soup was on the ground next to him. “Never fails to trick these guards with a warm meal. Come on let’s get you out of there.” Appleseed looks up from the ground to see a very attractive female Zebra. Her mane was a mix of black and white, it was long and hanged low to just above the top of her front legs. She had an overly happy smile almost wicked look on her face. “Hello my name is Penda. Now come on let’s get moving.” Penda said as she removes the lock from the gate using the guards key. “Woo! Hold up now. I don’t want to be in anymore trouble then I already am here. If I go with you and the guard wakes I will get in a lot of trouble to be sure.” Appleseed said holding the cage closed from the inside. Penda sighed. “The sleep position will keep that guard in dream land for hours. Don’t worry I will have you back here before he wakes none the wiser. Besides we won’t be gone to long and I got you some food where we are going too.” The mention of food made Appleseed’s stomach give off a roar that would cause a Manticore to run in fear. “Well just as long as we are back in time.” Appleseed said licking his lips causing Penda to giggle. As the two wondered off into the woods Appleseed thought now would be the best time to get some information as this is the first Zebra he’s met that hasn’t yet wanted to pelt him with rocks or call him a monster. “So what is with all your people and their hate for me? I’ve never even been here before and for some reason I am seen like some kind of hated criminal?” Appleseed said keeping pace with Penda as they head out of the villages and back into the Everfree Forest. “It’s not you, its Ponies in general that they hate and fear. You see it happened a long time ago just after the great war with the Changelings had ended. As I was told as a child by my teachers that after the war our race decided to side with the Ponies when the Griffons started to take over. As a result of that we were made an example of what happens to those that oppose the Griffon Empire. Our homeland was wiped out and we were forced to wonder the Everfree Forest for decades after with no place to call home. There’s very little of our race left just a few hundreds of us remain.” Penda said as she wandered through the forest. Appleseed was stunned. “That’s horrible! I didn’t know that they never told us this in school?” Penda stop and stares back at Appleseed angrly for a moment. “Would you want to be reminded of your race nearly wiping out another just cause of their loyalties to you?” Appleseed looks down not saying another word about it. Penda sighs then rubs the side of Appleseed’s face soft and gently. “Hey I am sorry to snap at you like that. I am not like the others or my father. I don’t harbor any hate for you or your kind. I happen to like Ponies. Now come on we are nearly there.” Appleseed blushes through his red coat as she touched him he was a stud that’s to be sure but never had any mare touched him like that before. “Oh who’s your dad?” Appleseed inquired. “Oh you already met him he’s the tough moody guy in charge.” “WHAT! YOUR DAD IS CHIEF THUNDER RAIN?!” Appleseed shouted very worried if he got caught now. “Oh yes he is always over protective of me too. It’s very annoying. So I take the chance to get free of him and my personal body guards when I can. But don’t worry he’s really a nice guy on the inside he just cares and worries for his tribe is all. Now we are here.” Penda moves some hanging vines out of the way to show an open grove with a most lovely waterfall, around the waterfall was all manner of different colored glowing plants that reflected off the water making the whole place look like something out of a dream. Near by the waterfall was a tree stump and on that stump was a jug full of some kind of fruit juice as well as a bowl of fruits and veggies. Appleseed rushes over to it and just dives right in his hunger over riding his manners at the moment. Penda giggles as she goes over and joins him and enjoys the food as well. “So tell me about yourself. We don’t get a lot of visitors here at the village. How did you come to this place and don’t give me that lie you told my dad ether. I want the real story.” Penda said munching some corn. Appleseed finishes devouring an entire watermelon then wipes his mouth and goes into his tale thus far. “Well it all started like this….” As Appleseed regales Penda with his amazing tale, not far away a pack of Timber Wolves were resting in a field when they heard a sound of approaching laughter. Then suddenly a dark cloud with glowing red eyes was before them and spoke. “Hmmm yes these will do well for my test. HAHAHAHA!” The dark cloud swirled around them then flies out of sight leaving the 4 Timber Wolves now with red glowing eyes as they all got up off the ground and started to run at top speed towards Appleseed and Penda’s location. Back at the waterfall Appleseed had finished with his story leaving Penda feeling quite sad as well as a bit confused. “That’s so awful to hear about you loseing your home and your Aunt. I am so sorry for your loss Appleseed. Yet I can’t believe you’re really that strong. I mean that’s not possible to do those things you said it would be like you’re some kind of super Pony or something?” “I am not sure what I am I was born like this and I’ve just got stronger as I grew up. Please don’t tell anyone else about this please I don’t want anyone to see me any different than any normal Stallion.” Appleseed said looking nervous he’s never told anyone about his real abilities yet for some reason he feels he could trust this female Zebra more than any other. “Don’t worry your secrets safe with me even if I think it’s still all bull.” Penda said with a smirk. “So what about you? What’s your life story?” Appleseed asked. “Oh…Umm there’s really nothing special about me I just your normal over pampered and rebellious Chief’s daughter.” Penda said looking down trying to avoid the topic. Appleseed was about to ask more but them he hears something, he takes a look at the top of the waterfall then leaps right at Penda tacking her and moving her out of the way just as one of the large Timer Wolves jumps and lands right on top of the stump in front of them where Penda had just been sitting. “You okay?” Appleseed said as he looked down at Penda as he was ontop of her. “Yes I am good now please get off of me your heavy!” Penda said blushing as was Appleseed too as he gets off her and then glares as three more Timber Wolves growl and come out of the forest around them and start to slowly approach them their sharp wood teeth and claws looking ready to tear and slash. “This is not right Timber Wolves never come into this area something wrong here?” Penda said as she goes to stand next to Appleseed. “Stay back I will handle them.” Appleseed grabs a tree branch next to him on the ground and rushes at the first Timber Wolf and letting out a loud yell breaks it over the Wolfs head causing the branch and the Wolf to shatter into splinters. Penda watches with amazement. “That kind of strength is not possible. He was not lying he really is that strong!” Just then another of the Timber Wolfs comes up from behind Penda and growl at her then takes a lung at her intending to rip her apart! Appleseed looks over as the Timber Wolf lungs at Penda from a far with the other Wolf on top of him keeping him from getting to her in time. “PENDA LOOK OUT! MOVE!” Appleseed smashes both his hooves over sides of the Timber Wolfs face making the wood beast crumble dead over him in a small wood pile. As Appleseed comes out of the pile and rushed over to save Penda he stops suddenly seeing she didn’t need any kind of saving at all. Penda had her hooves pointed at the Timber Wolf her eyes were glowing a pure white color as the Timber Wolf was hovering in the air unable to move. Penda looks intensely at the Wolf then moves her hooves wide to the side and the Timber Wolf was ripped apart and then falls to pieces to the ground in front of her. Appleseed was stunned as he approaches her. “Now it’s your turn to tell me the truth because you’re no normal rebellious Chief’s daughter that’s for sure.” The last Timer Wolf makes a run for it out of sight as Penda sits on the now cleared tree stump and looks down at the ground. “Your right. I am no normal Zebra as you have just seen. You see my dad is the Chief and my mom was a Unicorn Pony.” Appleseed looked confused. “But you told me before that all your kind hated Ponies?” “It was long before I was born. As a young Zebra before my father founded our tribe we were nomadic moving from place to place keeping out of the reach of the Griffons and others that wanted to take what our people had. It was in those days my father came upon a young female Unicorn that was being hunted by the Griffons. They wanted to take off her horn and make her into a slave for her crimes aganst them. My father felt pity for her and took her into the clan despite the out cries of the other Zebras. The clan soon found out she was a very powerful Unicorn. She could do amazing thing no other Unicorn could do. However after she and my Father fell in love and started to have me something unforeseen happen. As I was growing inside my mother she became weaker not just in her powers but her life force grew less and less as well. Just a few minutes after I was born, so I am told by my father, my mother passed away. It seems that all her powers must have transferred to me. I am the cross breed of a Zebra and a Unicorn. I don’t even know what I really am?” Penda said looking about ready to cry. Appleseed goes right up to her and gives her a comforting side hug. “You’re Penda the daughter of a Zebra and a Unicorn that loved each other and love you very much. You are not reasonable for what happen to your mother. I am sure she wanted only the best for you and your father. There’s also nothing wrong with being different like me. My Aunt always told me that we are gifted with this special ability so we can help others and it’s our duty not to find out why but what we can do to help others with them.” Appleseed said as Penda made eye contact with him looking about ready to say something back to him when they hear cries and screaming coming from the Zebra’s village. “That came from the village. Come on we have to hurry!” Penda said breaking out of Appleseed’s grip as she and Appleseed rush back to see what’s going on. As the two enter the village they see it’s under attack by a giant four headed Hydra. The giant beast was roaring out of all its heads as it proceeded to trample over huts while crushing and eating villagers in it rampage. The Zebra warriors did all they could to fight the Hydra but it was having very little to no effect on the beast only resulting in more of them getting killed. All the Zebra were too busy to notice that all four of the Hydra’s heads had glowing red eyes just like the Timber Wolves did. “This doesn’t make any senses we have lived here on this land for years not once as any forest beast come here?” Penda said in horror. “We have to stop that beast. The only way is to do it together. I have an idea Penda but I will need your help.” Appleseed said as he takes her over to her father’s Tree hut that was the tallest place in the village. Appleseed and Penda got to the top of the Tree Hut and then look over and see the Hydra lay to waste all things around it from above. “Now listen Penda I want you to toss me onto one of that things heads I will distract it and give you the time you need to take it down.” Penda looks at Appleseed like he was crazy. “That’s madness are you even sure you can distract that thing long enough?” “Not one hundred percent sure no, but I won’t just stand by and let your people get hurt ether. Now toss me!” Appleseed said with a large gulp as he ready’s himself. Penda’s eye glow white again as she uses her strange magic to lift Appleseed into the air and give him a mighty push sending Appleseed fly right at the Hydra landing on top of one of its heads. Appleseed grips the beasts head tight with one hoof and starts to pound at it hard with the other one. Causing the Hydra to shack its head wildly around causing Appleseed to get bucked all about. “Woo-nelly! Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea?” Appleseed said hanging on for dear life as he keeps hammering hard at the Hydra and avoiding the snapping sharp teeth of the other heads trying to bite him off. Penda rushes back down the tree to the ground level and looks around seeing a large broken tree near by with sharp edges on it. Then she gets an idea. She focuses at the tree and with her eyes now glowing intensely white she starts to lift the heavy tree into the air. Appleseed was doing his best to beat his hooves at the Hydra’s many heads while avoiding getting eaten by them at the same time but the Hydra was getting closer to him with each attack. “Penda if you’re going to do something do it soon!” “Appleseed when I say now jump off…NOW!” With that Appleseed gives the Hydra a last might hit right into one of the beasts eyes then leaps off hitting the ground then making a run for it. As the Hydra cries out having one of its eyes blooding Penda takes the open moment and with all her magical might flings the broken tree at the Hydra. The tree rips right through the center of the hydra making the monster cry out in great pain for a moment before falling to the ground dead. The red glow leaving its eyes as it let out its last breath. From a distance in the shadows of some trees outside the village the cloaked figure from he Diamond Dog’s temple watched on with deep interest. “Well this was an unexpected outcome. I will have to keep a watchful eye on those two in the future.” Then cloaked figure again turns into a dark cloud and leaves back into the direction of the Bad Lands. All the Zebra’s cheered and gathered around Penda and Appleseed declaring them both as heroes. Chief Thunder Rain and his remaining warriors come over and escort Appleseed and Penda into his Tree Hut for a talk. “I want to apologize to you Appleseed. I was wrong to accuse you of any wrong doing. You’re not our enemy. No Pony really is our enemy. It was our own fear and ignorance that caused us to show you such hate and for that I am deeply sorry.” Chief Thunder Rain said feeling very humbled right now. “You’re free to go. I will provide you with as much food and drink as you need for your journey. I will even provide a guide to help you to Appaloosa and this belongs to you as well.” Chief Thunder Rain motions for one of his Warriors to hand Appleseed back his saddle bag that had the Element of Honesty still inside it. Penda then steps forward. “Father if I may I wish to join Appleseed on his journey?” Both Appleseed and the Chief where stunned silent at this. “My daughter why would you want to do this?” The Chief inquired. “Father I feel what happen with the Hydra was not some random event. I believe that the beast was being controlled by some form of dark magic? I could feel something within it as I did with the Timber Wolves back at the waterfall. Something very powerful and evil is behind this and I will not let what happen here go unanswered for. Please father let me go with Appleseed on his travels. Think of this as my test of womanhood if you wish I am of the age now to take up the challenge where I must prove that I can one day be worthy to take up the mantle of Chief someday.” The Chief was quite for a moment then nods. “Very well my child. I grant you approval to travel with this Stallion. Appleseed I leave my daughter in your care watch after her and keep her safe.” Appleseed bows. “I will do my best Sir. I give you my word.” Later that evening as Appleseed and Penda get all the supplies they can carry the villagers all gathered to sees them off as they look at each other. “So I guess this is the start of some great adventure isn’t it Appleseed?” Penda said with a smile. “I guess it is Penda. I guess it is.” Appleseed said smiling back.