A story inspired by Valiant charge's story. Join characters old and new as they set out to reclaim Equestria from the oppressive rule of Dainn Stonehoof. They will fight for Blood, for each other, and for honor.
Join characters old and new as they set out to reclaim Equestria from the oppressive rule of Dainn Stonehoof. They will fight for Blood, for each other, and for honor. When the day is done they will find a new life, will it be better or worse?
When Dainn took control of Equestria that was the darkest day for most. But as the old saying :
It is always darkest before the dawn.
This is how we brought about that dawn.
5 years into Dainn's rule
??? POV
‘Hello' ‘There they are.’ ‘Get up boy’ ‘They call to me’ ‘You need to find her' ‘I will, I will find her’ ‘Then get up’ ‘NOW’ In a dark dungeon light suddenly erupts from the doorway as a tall adult caribou dressed in leather armor entered carrying a small bowl. “Dinner time you little shit.” He said to the lone figure who sat slumped over motionless at the far side of the room a metal collar with spikes on the inside chained to the wall. “HEY! You hear me?” The caribou yelled walking over and kicking the foot of the prisoner. This appeared to wake the prisoner who only looked up at him with hate and disgust. “What got something to say?” The caribou mocked and like a bolt of lightning, the prisoner jumped at the caribou latching onto him and sinking his teeth into the caribou’s neck. After a quick yell of pain, the prisoner was thrown to the floor chuckling maniacally. “Little bastard! Starve down here!” The caribou cursed storming out of the cell slamming the door closed.
The prisoner chuckled pulling out a key and quickly found that it was not for the chain but for the door. He yelled in anger as moonlight filled the room from a small window. As the moonlight hit him it revealed him to be a young caribou himself probably no more than 20. Across his body were scars and markings he wore only a pair of torn pants muddied and disgusting on his head were two antlers that looked to be snapped off and trying to grow back with a mane in a tight braid running down the middle of his scalp. The prisoner’s yells out into the open night his voice booming like a war horn.
--- Elsewhere ---
In a large mead hall, a large group of caribou sat in almost complete silence only broken up by coughing or scraping of utensils. In the chief’s chair sat a caribou with large antlers, scars covering his face and his hair and coat gray with age. Next to him sat a very tall younger caribou resting his elbows on the table and his head on his hands his expression one of anger and concern his brown eyes seemed to burn red with anger but seemed to also be thinking so hard you could feel it.
“Something on your mind my son?” The older caribou asked.
“This place used to boom with the sounds of celebration each and every night…now we starve as the snow seeks to consume us.” The young caribou spoke with a deep growl of anger. “We are the Warborn clan why do we no fight Dainn’s rule?”
“My son our people are too few in number and some cannot even stand let alone swing a sword.” The chief spoke. “But when your time to lead comes, Ivor, you can march right into his throne room and face him in single combat.”
“I don’t wish for you to see Valhalla yet father,” Ivor said lightly smacking his father’s arm both giving a light chuckle.
The hall was soon disturbed by a banging on the main doors. Before any could answer it the doors flew open revealing a group mixed of caribou and ponies came in each having an evil laugh to each other and brandishing armor with the Stonehoof symbol on it. As they entered all eyes turned to them a few females ushered any children and young girls to the back as the adult females a protective line in front of them. The lead of the group, a pegasus, then spoke up. “Greetings Lord of the Warborn clan.”
“And the same to you, but why does the king’s army enter my hall?” The chief asked.
“We wish to take on food, drink, and…” He stopped eyeing one of the females. “Perhaps some ‘hospitality’ if you know what I mean?”
This broke Ivor's rage making him stand knocking over his chair. “We have NOTHING!” He spat out. “Our water is all but poison, our food runs low and what we do have is rotting or stale, now you dare try to and even suggest you touch any of our clan?!” Ivor screamed hopping the table and walking right up to the leader. “Either get out now or I will pull the FUCKING life out of you by hand.” The leader of the group laughed along with his men.
“One raider against six knights of his majesty's royal army? You Warborn must be known for your humor almost makes me forget that you just threatened me…almost, take them and burn this place with him in it.” The leader spoke turning to his men before turning back to look at Ivor with an evil smile. As he turned back he saw nothing but rage on Ivor's face before he was met with a boot into his chest sending him flying back into the rest of the group.
“SWORD!” Ivor yelled and one of the bystanders instantly threw a blade to him. Catching the sword he began fighting the remaining of the knights pushing them out the door. “I’m no raider, I am a warlord!” Ivor said as one of the group charged at him sword drawn but was immediately knocked down and a hoof stomped on his neck snapping it with a sickening crunch. The rest of the knights stood drawing weapons to fight each charging at the large caribou who quickly dispatched all of them save for the last one who had disappeared. “Where are you coward?” He called demanding the leader show himself.
“Over here…with a little something.” The leader said with a smile. Turning he saw the leader had a small child and a knife to the young calf's neck. Ivor stopped in his tracks. “Now…why don’t you be a good lad and surrender…or maybe you prefer this one’s blood on your hands.” He spoke pressing the knife into the young one’s neck more. “Well? What will it be?”
“I already told you what will happen,” Ivor said as one of his ears gave a brief twitch he quickly moved his head to the side as an arrow flew passed and hit the leader in the shoulder releasing the calf unharmed who quickly ran passed Ivor back to his mother who stood next to Ivor’s father still holding the bow the arrow had been fired from. Ivor turned giving his father a brief smile and nod before walking towards the down pegasus. “Bring me some chains!” He called dragging the leader by his mane to a large tree. As he was handed large chains he threw the knight against the tree and with the help of two other warriors help bind him to the tree with his back pressed against it. “Now to make good on my word.” Ivor then took out a knife from his belt and tearing off the armor of the pegasus making a shallow cut just below the chained up pegasus’s sternum, Ivor then dug his hand into the cut ignoring the cries and screams. What he did next shocked nearly every onlooker, slowly he pulled his hand back out a still connected and beating heart there and in the open. “You disrespected my home, clan, and people you die now,” Ivor said and yanked hard ripping the heart from its owner.
The pegasus looked on blood spilling from his chest and mouth as life faded from him. Ivor cast the heart aside and returned to his father who looked stone-faced at his child. “You acted on impulse, you went against your father’s wishes, and you let your emotions cloud your judgment…” Ivor rolled his eyes. “You acted as a chief should act…kneel…” He said shocking everyone but Ivor complied taking a knee his sword stabbed into the ground. “I Einar of the Warbon here by pass my right as chief to you, my son, Ivor, will you accept and lead our people as your own blood?”
“I will,” Ivor answered knowing exactly what his father was doing.
“Then I, Einar of the Warborn, your father here by name you: chief. Now rise and lead your people.” Einar smiled as his son rose.
They say a warlord values life. He would find peace with his worst enemy to ensure his people would be safe, he would grow a farm to feed 100 clans if there was nothing to eat, but in war…that is where the name is earned. They lead the charge and right now Ivor knew exactly where to lead his charge first.
“Gather everything we can, we make for Canterlot!” Ivor called and ever member of the clan who could hold a blade rushed and did as commanded.
“CHIEF!” A young bull called running over to him. “They have a caravan.” The young bull panted as he stopped in front of Ivor. Following the young bull to three large wagons pulled by a large woolly animal with huge tusks, two looked fairly normal but the last seemed to be a prison cart. Looking in the first two they found weapons, clothes, and a large amount of food.
“THE GODS SMILE ON US EVERYONE!” Ivor called as several other caribou came overtaking and passing out food to everyone as Ivor made his way to the last cart with two female caribou. Ivor took his sword and smashed the lock off the ripping the door open. What they saw in the wagon made each of their stomachs churn with disgust. Chained to each side of the wagon were a dozen female caribou and ponies of various races all and at the back were two earth pony mares who seemed to be set aside for a reason that they didn’t know. One had an orange-colored coat with a blonde name who was cradling and rocking a mare with a pink mane and coat who was sobbing and shaking. As Ivor stepped into the cart looking at all the prisoners each with a black collar around all their necks and lucky to have rags for clothes they returned his gaze looking in fear at the large bull. But the orange mare looked at him with anger and fire in her eyes. “Find the keys,” Ivor spoke in a low voice. “And bring them something to cover up with, and food.” Ivor then approached the orange mare and crouched down in front of her. They simply stared at each other before she spoke.
“Whatever you’re going to do leave them out of it, I’ll take it all.” She hissed in pure venom.
“I’m going to set you free.” He said plainly. “All I ask for is you and your friend’s names.”
She stared at him before sighing. “I’m Applejack, this is Pinkie Pie, everyone else here I don’t know.” After her answer, a female caribou walked in with several blankets and some fruit beginning to pass each out before throwing a key ring to Ivor who began unlocking the chains starting with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. “Thanks.” Applejack said rubbing her wrists Pinkie, however, didn’t move from her head buried in the other mare’s chest. “Pinkie? Piiiiinkie? We’re safe now.” But the mare wouldn’t move.
“Bring them into the hall sit them close to the fire, I need to get something,” Ivor said as several female Iron-tusk warriors helped them into the mead hall with AJ and Pinkie sat close to the fire Pinkie still not removing her head from her friend's chest. AJ was starting to get worried until her friend started to sniff, not in a sad way like she smelled something over the burn wood as her head shot up and started sniffing.
“Pinkie? What is it?” Applejack asked as she stood and turned on a heel turning to see Ivor holding a small cloth with a sort of small cake topped with icing sitting on it.
“This is a sweet roll,” Ivor said offering it to Pinkie. “Here you look like you could use it, my mother always made them for me when I was younger.” The pink mare looked at the pastry before ripping off a piece and quickly ate it. Pinkie's eyes shot open as she started devouring the rest of the cake. “Always cheered me up,” Ivor stated then suddenly was pulled into a bone-crushing hug.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Pinkie cried tears of joy. “My blood sugar was super low.” She said plainly. “Also I have to get the recipe for this thing.” She smiled holding up the sweet roll.
“Not a chance, it’s a family secret.” Ivor laughed patting her head. “Now everyone get some sleep we’ll make for the coast in the morning.”
As the newly crowned chief walked away the now liberated slaves huddled around the fire a rare luxury for them, soon all were falling asleep with Applejack and Pinkie one of the last two to be awake. “Can we trust them?” Pinkie asked the farm pony as he picked at the last of the sweet roll.
“We have to for now,” AJ answered. “But the second even one of them tries anything I’m gonna take one of those axes and get us all out of here.” She eyed them her gaze landed on Ivor sitting in the chief’s chair resting his head on his fist snoring. “Starting with him if I have to.” As the fire crackled and the wild blew outside the entire hall fell into a quiet sleep unaware of the storm that they would soon walk into.
Blood, sweat, and iron…this was all I knew as a child.
But when I became a adult I knew another thing…war.
The fort was under siege as the army approached. An young adult earth-pony ducked under the low wall as a boulder flew overhead crashing into a tower. She wore worn but strong dull silver armor of what was called a conqueror it along with the helmet, her build and height let her blend in with the men of the fort so long as she did not speak. But she feared the ones breaking in right now more than the ones who she fought along side her.
She saw “him” leading the army. Not is some chariot pulled by a large beast, not protected from all sides by elite guard, but leading his troops at the very front of the frontlines. He wore regal but battle damaged armor wearing a helmet that covered his face, a black cape with a golden sun on the back attached to his shoulders, she only saw him carrying a short gladius sword in his right hand and nothing in his off hand.
She grabbed her flail and shield and began to run towards the steps that lead down to the court yard. But she only got a few steps before 3 enemy knights cut her off each with swords and shield at the ready. The armor clad mare swung her flail crash into one of the knight’s head with a sickening crack, she the kicked one away who charged at her before bashing the third with her shield sending him into a wall with spikes impaling him, the last had fallen down the steps now surrounded by Stonehoof knights. Before anyone could act the fort gate exploded inward in a hail of splinters as the army began to step through but none attacked and she saw why, their leader. He stood with his arms our telling his army to hold and when he spoke the whole world listened.
“IRON BIT!!! I CHALLENGE YOU TO SINGLE COMBAT! THE WINNER TAKES THIS KEEP, ITS SOLDIERS, AND ALL IT HAS TO OFFER! WILL YOU SPARE THESE MEN?!” He boomed calling out the knight put in charge of the fort. His call out answered by a tall unicorn armored in heavy steel armor carrying a halberd with a sun design at the head.
“Well Shining this is a treat.” Iron spoke removing his helmet revealing a gray coat and white mane his face covered in a few scars. “Here looking for someone?” He mocked. “She cried for you almost every night, well when she wasn’t moaning like a whore.” Iron chuckled joined by a few others at the fort. They couldn’t see his face but Shining armor’s rage was felt like a roaring bonfire. “I’ll fight you and when I kill you I’ll keep you head as a little treat for her.” Iron smiled putting his helmet back on readying his halberd. Shining said nothing as the two circled each other for moment before Iron made a swing for the former captain of the royal guard. before the head came close he ducked out of the way charging at the keep captain. Shining tackled Iron to the ground ready to plunge his blade into the lawbringer's chest but was quickly thrown off by the downed knight.Once to their feet they clashed blades Iron looking to have the upper hand.
The conqueror looked on as did the rest of the keep and army the fight continued. But out of the corner of her eye she saw an archer reading his bow taking aim at Shining armor. As the fight continued the said archer had perfect aim on the rebel general but his vision was soon filled with stone then pitch black. The Conqueror looked at her handy work of the now unconscious archer.
Shining armor finally decided to put some effort into the fight and stabbed his sword into the ground grabbing Iron’s halberd by the pole as it came down. Holding it in place he balled up his left hand and delivered a punch that ended in a crunch as his fist slammed into Iron’s helmet. Iron’s helmet was caved in but Shining continued driving the unicorn to his knees but kept punching each made the sound of metal giving way and bones breaking. One he was on his knees Shining delivered a powerful knee to Iron’s jaw making him fall onto his back with a painful groan. As the former captain retrieved his sword Iron spit and sputtered trying to speak. “Blrhg…*cough*…please…blrph…mercy…” The still standing unicorn turned back to the one on the ground.
Holding his left fist forward with his thumb out and began to tilt it between thumbs-up and thumbs-down. He finally seemed to keep it at thumbs-up before quickly turning it to thumbs-down. With a might roar and a powerful slash Shining removed Iron’s head from his shoulders letting it roll toward the knights of the keep. As the excitement faded Shining removed his helmet revealing his face to be as it had been before the war but a few small scars near his lips and one on his eye brow as he handed his helmet to one of his soldiers he turned to all who had watched on. “I took an oath… as all you did… now I offer a choice… swear loyalty under me and the rule of Equestria… or be cut down.” As he finished none of the soldiers moved but one walked forward to him, the conqueror. “What is your choice?” He asked the tall knight that stood before him.
The conqueror looked at him then at the remaining keep before taking ahold of her helmet and removing it revealing herself to everyone making most gasp in shock before she spoke. “My name is Lucky Feet, I’ve served surrounded by enemies these past years… I want to fight alongside allies now, if you’ll have my services.” She finished looking at the former captain who looked at her for a minute before smiling and nodded.
“Welcome to the cause Lucky.” He said patting her shoulder.
After Lucky stepped forward many of the knights of the keep joined casting any Stonehoof armor or weapons aside and taking up new ones that seemed to have the symbols of each of the once Princesses of Equestria on them. For any that did not join they quickly found their heads on chopping blocks, but for right now Shining had Lucky show him to where they kept any slaves. “We keep most down here but some were shipped off just a few days ago I believe head for Canterlot, your wife among them… I’m sorry you couldn’t get here in time.” Shining hit the closest wall as they walked down a hallway cursing. As they entered the dungeon they saw highly overcrowded cells with species from caribou to pony and even a griffon or two.
“Let them all out and get them some proper clothes and food.” The former prince said as he quickly left the dungeon and headed up to one of the watchtowers. As he looked out over the land he saw Canterlot in the distance. “Cadance…please just hold on.” He begged to the air. He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of small hooves coming up behind him.
“Papa! Papa!” The little alicorn no more than 5&1/2 cried coming up and jumping into Shining’s arms for a hug. “Did you find mommy?” She asked as her father held her.
“No…not yet Flurry.” Her father replied looking like he was about to cry but was stopped by his daughter hugging his neck tight. “But when we do find her I’m never going let anything happen to you and her again.” Shining then gave his daughter a kiss on her head and headed back down his daughter still in his arms.
-Elsewhere-
A group of ten Caribou walked beside a large caged wagon while a large beast pulled it. In the cart were only two prisoners both not liking the other’s company but it was preferable to compared the one’s who were currently escorting them. One was the former princess of the Crystal Empire, Cadance, her coat and mane were dirty her horn removed along with her wings kept in sleeves to keep them weak and so the feathers would not grow back. The only clothing she had was a black collar and a wedding band on her finger. But her current cellmate was dirtier than what she really looked like, Chrysalis the former changeling queen, her horn cut off as well while her own bug like wings appeared to not have been put in sleeves but ripped off by hand, her attire did not differ much from Cadance's a black collar and what looked like a silver ring on her left ring finger.
“I will say this is humbling." Chrysalis said breaking the silence the two had kept for a majority of the ride.
“I’d say you deserve worse for all you’ve done…but I don’t think I can given what both of us went through.” Cadance said admiring her wedding ring. “So who’d you trick into getting married or is it just for show?”
Chrysalis chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you…” The former queen brought her ring up to look at it. “He’s kind, he’s handsome, and you couldn’t ask for a better king to my people.” Cadance smiled thinking maybe the changeling that almost ruined one of the happiest day of her life had found her own version of Shining armor. “Plus when he pulls his pants down you could play horseshoes on that damn thing.” Chrysalis said with a chuckle.
“Okay the first bit was wholesome and the second bit unnecessary.” Cadance replied before scooting over as close as the chains would let the two get. “But that doesn’t hurt to much.” She whispered making the two giggle.
“What's so funny skanks?” One of the caribou soldiers asked. Instead of an answer he simply got mean looks from the two. “Come on I haven’t had a good laugh in years.” He said trying to pour on charm but it only came off as sleaze.
“We were laughing about how our husbands make you all look hung like infants.” Chrysalis snapped back. This was not the smartest idea as the caribou made the cart stop.
“I’ll show you, little bitch, KEYS!” He yelled but the soldier who he yelled at didn’t move he only fell over an arrow sticking out the back of his skull. “AMBUSH! SPREAD OUT!” He yelled again but he soon realized the small squad was dead all around him and knights began to step out of the trees some peacekeepers, mostly wardens, but a centurion with wings coming out his back approached the lone caribou sword at the ready.
“So will you die fast or die slow?” The centurion asked the caribou who only growled pulling out a sword and charging at the knight. His momentum came to a sudden halt as he fell to the ground dead a gladius embedded in his head. The centurion walked over grabbing the sword handle and yanking it out. “He chose the fast way. Now search them all, find me the keys, anything of value is yours to keep, got it?” He ordered with his small group of about 20 replied with a booming. “YES SIR!” As they searched the body they found any bits first, weapons were next and last was anything else, in this case keys to the wagon and shackles. “Now ladies I could free you from the quagmire the both of you are in…but you see this little faction of mine does fight for free.”
“We are both of royal descent and will compensate you greatly when we are freed.” Chrysalis spoke putting on a smug grin.
“Oh the word of royalty…spit is worth more.” The centurion chuckled. “What about those shiny bands on your fingers…as a small down payment?”
“Not on your life.” Cadance spat with venom. “But what about this?” She asked brushing her hair away from her ear showing a very elegant and expensive gold earring with at least a dozen jewels in it.
The centurion getting a closer look at the jewel. “Well that could work…but say we return you to the gental-stallions who gave you those rings, what could they pay as a return fee?”
“Well my kingdom is made of crystal if that is of interest.” Cadance smiled knowing she had him hooked. “But great fearless leader of this small army what may we call you.”
“Oh forgive my manners, not a huge need for ‘em , I am Gaius ‘Invictus’ Gabinus and currently your savior…so ‘our hero’ works too.” Gaius unlocking the cage and moving to unlock the them.
“Well Sir Gaius I, Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire, humbly thank you and swear on my life to repay your kindness the moment I am able.” Cadance smiled rubbing her wrists and ankles as a peacekeeper brought her some pants and a tunics for the two now freed rulers.
“Careful I take life as payment.” Gaius chuckled at his off color joke even if the two did find it funny.
“Gaius!” A male peacekeeper ran up panting. “We’ve got a problem.”
“Calm down, what is it?" Gaius asked seeming somewhat concerned.
“Vikings, At least 10 ships full plus a war-beast.” The peacekeeper answered. “But they aren’t flying Stonehoof symbols or colors.”
“Doesn’t matter you’ve met one you’ve met them all.” Gaius said unfeeling. “We’ll set an ambush and wipe them out before they can even touch Equestrian soil.” Gaius finished looking down toward a cove where he saw the lights of ships moving closer. He felt like this encounter will be different, how? He wasn’t sure, but he just knew by the end of it he’d have caribou blood on his hands.
So feeling the spray of the water hit his face he didn't flinch he kept his eyes forward as the fleet entered the cove. Ivor looked into the cove his eyes caught movement on a large rock that jutted out from the land its peak easily ten feet above the water surface. Atop it, he spotted a winged warrior standing there, he was clad in regal-looking armor that looked to heavily detailed and five medallions on the chest, his face covered by a mask and helmet but any could tell he was watching as the ships slowly coming in. Ivor held up his hand signaling all the ships to come to a stop.
"Hail warrior!" Ivor called out looking up at knight.
"Keep your words and turn back caribou, go home!" The warrior called back. "Your people have already done enough to this land just go home and never come back!"
"We have no home, " Ivor yelled. "If we turn back now we'll only find snow and death."
"A fitting fate for such beasts as yourselves, but I'll offer an alternative." The warrior said before giving a quick motion with his hand. Seconds later an arrow from out of nowhere embedded itself into the headpiece of the ship next to where Ivor stood. "Move one inch closer to the shore and you won't find snow but you'll find death." Ivor looked at him for a moment then his people on the boats then back.
"Then can I persuade you to let our women and children ashore?" Ivor asked. The warrior was silent for a moment which began to worry Ivor. "As payment, we'll send every bit of gold we have." The warrior suddenly let out a laugh.
"You know as a griffin that seems appealing to me, " The warrior laughed. "But, after what I've seen your people do the things you do, your gold is worth less than crap to me." With another quick motion of his hand arrows began to fill the sky.
"SHIELDS UP!" Ivor yelled and all ships covered their heads as arrows began to pelt the ship and shields. "ROW!" He yelled as the ships began to move quickly. The arrows kept hitting them till the ship Ivor was on shook and groaned as it hit the shore. "TO BATTLE!" Ivor yelled once again jumping off the ship keeping his shield high as arrows continue to rain down. Many of the Warborn rushed onto the beach several being hit by arrows, but a small group had made it to the tree line where the arrows were being fired from and were able to it a more manageable fight. Ivor drew his sword and broke the arrows that had stuck into his shield with a clean slash before stepping out and being joined by a Raider, a Valkyrie, and Applejack who wielded a sword and shield. "TAKE THEM!" He yelled charging forward as a group of knights ran from the tree line but Ivor had his sights set on the leader.
The clash on the beach was vicious the knights attempting to push the Warborn back but the caribou wouldn't budge and neither would the knights. Many were dying but either side kept pushing. In the midst of battle, the warrior who called Ivor out walked toward the middle of it where Ivor was currently battling a Warden and a Peacekeeper. He saw the movements of the young chief he was experienced for sure but still fought to end the battle as quickly as possible, Ivor hit the Peacekeeper off her feet and grabbed the Warden by his head and delivering a loud headbutt making the knight fall as Ivor just shook it off ready to face the next opponent who stepped forward. That opponent was the warrior whom he spoke with.
"Do you have a name?" Ivor asked as he and the warrior circled each other.
"Gaius, I'll make sure to carve it into your chest," Gaius answered as he drew his blade.
"Come and try it." Ivor taunted.
In a flash, the two clashed swords sending sparks. Ivor had size and strength while Gaius had mobility and technique both seemed at a stalemate. Sword met shield as blade scraped armor and fist made contact with body. Ivor saw he'd have to end this quickly while he could and so with a mighty bellow he charged. Gaius was quickly knocked on his back with Ivor on top of him his shield pressed into the griffon's throat.
"Yield damn you!" Ivor yelled as Gaius struggled under the caribou's weight before rolling over and reaching for a dagger on his belt, raising it up to drive it into Ivor but was quickly stopped by a pair of hands gripping his wrist. Turning his head in confusion he saw a pink mare holding him back with all her might.
"What are you doing?" Gaius spat sounding a bit slurred.
"Please don't…" She said holding back a sob. "He saved me, he's a good person I promise."
"Yeah, the only good caribou is a dead one," Gaius said going back to drive the knife in but was suddenly thrown off by Ivor and the two were back on their feet in seconds.
"Your death isn't on my list right now, " Ivor started pointing his sword at Gaius. "But stand between me and ripping Dainn's head off and it will be." Gaius tilted his head, curious, he moved and grabbed his sword from where it fell. With a quick motion of his hand, his knights stopped any fight and Ivor did the same with his Vikings.
"If you are telling the truth, how can I believe you?" Gaius asked his sword held at his side but still ready.
"That pink mare and the blonde one there, " Ivor gestures to Pinkie and Applejack. "They are elements of harmony are they not? Now, why would a Stonehoof let two of those elements, symbols of hope, run around out of chains?" Ivor asked stabbing his sword into the ground leaning on it. Gaius stood silent before sheathing his dagger but kept his sword out stepping up to Ivor the tip against his throat.
"He's either mad or has one hell of a plan," Gaius answered.
"Well I'm both the key difference is I'm Warborn, not Stonehoof." Ivor smiled as Gaius lowered his sword slowly. "Now if I may? Greetings I am Ivor leader of the Warborn clan and you are." Ivor said extending his hand to shake.
"Gaius Gabinus leader of the Iron Talon." He answered shaking his hand quickly. "And as I recall you said if I didn't kill you you'd pay a hefty bit." Ivor nodded and sent a few soldiers onto one of the boats who quickly returned with a small chest. Ivor opened the chest revealing it fill with gold bars. "That it?" Gaius asked his voice gargled for a moment.
"We have at least ten more and as a bonus, if you join us on our campaign you may have every ounce of gold we find." Ivor offered.
"Won't your people need it?" Applejack spoke up having been quiet through the conversation.
"Gold is nearly useless as armor and weapons we use it for jewelry what we value is trade and bartering," Ivor explained. "So do we have an accord, great leader?" He asked the griffin who looked at him than the gold then back.
"Males and females sleep separately," Gaius informed him putting his sword away.
"We can abide by that," Ivor said sheathing his own blade. "But I suggest we find camp soon and I spy a perfect spot just up the hill." Ivor gestures making everyone look up the large hill to see a fortress surrounded by a small forest.
Gaius looked at him like he was stupid. "Oh yeah, great idea cock for brains, let's just storm a fort and get ourselves killed," Gaius yelled coughing a bit. "That place is called Gravethwaite It's run by some caribou raider named Ragnar."
"Ragnar huh?" Ivor said looking at the fort. "I know him and last I checked he was a coward and scared of a real fight." He picked up his sword and shield beginning to walk towards the fort a few Warborn following and even Applejack but she was quickly stopped by Ivor putting an arm out.
"Hey!" Applejack yelled. "Ah aim ta fight and you can't stop me!" She got in Ivor's face with the last syllable which was hard considering he was a foot or so taller than the farm mare. Ivor kept a stoic face for a second before bellowing out a laugh and motioned a warrior to come over.
"You're not meant for a sword, " Ivor told her taking two axes from the warrior. "You don't have the upper body for it, but you've got the legs to move quick so let the weight of these do the work," Ivor explained handing her the weapons which she took looking a little surprised. "What? Thought I'd deny you a chance at retribution?" He smiled turning to continue his march on the fort.
"HEY!" Gaius yelled catching up with Ivor. "You better not even think of making us stay here while you take on a whole fort asshole!"
"Figured you wouldn't listen to order from me so I didn't bother," Ivor told him. "But if you were curious on how to take on this fort it has two ways in and two ways out, I and my people will take the main entrance if yours will advance on the other."
Gaius looked at him then nodded. "Make ready, we take the fort!" Gaius called to his troops who began to make ready for battle. "And for the record, I wouldn't take orders from you." Gaius spat.
Gravethwaite
To Equestrians, before the fall it was just a clearing on a hill.
Now, it was a place of pain and agony.
In the great hall, dozens of Vikings and knights ate and drank as scared mares and cows shuffled around in chains each wearing collars most black and a few reds. At a throne sat a large caribou laughing and downing a drink as a blue mare stood near him holding a tray her eyes looking hollow of any feeling.
Meanwhile, at the main gate of the fort, several Vikings and knights kept guard making small talk. "Winter will be rough this year." A raider told a warden who agreed not really listening. Their conversation suddenly stopped when they heard a twig snap. Both of them turned towards the sound only to be greeted by a couple of hatchets to the face of each of them.
"Nice throw." A Valkyrie said as she, Applejack, and Ivor stepped out of the surrounding forest. Ivor nodded as he retrieved his hatchet as did Applejack.
"This place… it's a storage fort." Ivor said before giving an almost manic chuckle before charging the tall wooden gate knocking it open. On the other side, he came face to face with 30 or more soldiers all a little shocked to see the Warlord sword and shield ready. "So who dies first?" He asked before the soldiers charged at him. As he fought killing soldier after soldier he was joined by the rest of the warborn began to flood in quick to overrun the occupying warriors.
"Fall back!" A soldier yelled as what was left of them began to run towards another gate but we're cut off by Gaius and a few knights blocking their path.
"Now this is a choice die by Warborn or die by Iron Talon?" Gaius said giving his sword a spin in his hand. The group of soldiers looked between the two options before one screamed. "VALHALLA!" He charged at Gaius but was quickly run through by a halberd and pushed off. "Now everyone should take note of that one's bravery." Gaius chuckled.
With the two forces attacking from both sides they soon met in the middle. Ivor still had a huge smile on his face, albeit covered in blood. He didn't even bother addressing Gaius or anyone instead, he bolted towards a small building with a few crates and barrels outside of it. "What's got him all riled up?" Applejack asked the two groups. Both shrugged as she and Gaius followed him watching as he stood over a barrel. "What's in there?" Applejack asked.
"Something that makes all our gold look like dirt," Ivor answered taking the pommel of his sword and smashing the barrel open.
"More valuable than gold?" Gaius as moving to get a look. "This I gotta- really?" Gaius asked looking at the caribou.
"Of course," Ivor said pulling out...a potato. "These things are exactly what we came for!" Ivor cheered looking back to his clan. "WE HAVE FOOD! SEARCH THE REST OF THE BUILDING!" He yelled turning to look at the main hall and walking towards its front door. With Applejack and Gaius behind him, Ivor raised his hoof and kicked the doors in making everyone in the hall look to the intruders. "Knock, knock Ragnar!" Ivor called to the large caribou who had stood up from his seat.
"Warborn? What finally decided to come down from your little mountain?" Ranger mocked him moving to a large Dane ax.
"I'll give you one chance to surrender now Ragnar," Ivor told him as they both reached the open area in the middle of the room.
"Ha ignorant little shit." Ragnar laughed and in a quick motion swung his ax at the young warlord. Ivor raised his shield in an instant blocking the attack and retaliating with a sword slash Ragnar barely avoided.
"Gaius, Applejack, Ragnar is mine you both can have the rest," Ivor said returning to his own battle.
Gaius looked to one side of the room filled with caribou and stallions picking up weapons to fight. "All of you try not to die before I have my fun." He said with a snicker.
Soon the hall was filled with the sounds of blades meeting blades, warriors dropping dead, and war cries. Applejack took to the twin axes like a fish to water able to deal with her half of the hall while Gaius had no trouble what so ever aside from the sheer number of warriors he had to fight but that only slowed him down by a fraction. While they fought Ivor and Ragnar had their own dance of death each giving and receiving blows, nothing too deadly but enough to wound, Ivor charged with his shield pinning Ragnar to a large beam. Ivor was quickly shoved off but went back for strike only to be met with a blow to his nose from the pommel of Ragnar's ax making a sickening crunch.
"To Hel with this," Ranger said pushing past a few soldiers and running out a side door.
"Oh like Hel, not in this lifetime!" Ivor roared with anger giving chase. Once outside he saw Ragnar running towards the woods but Ivor was right behind him quickly grabbing a spear from the ground and lobbing it at Ragnar. It hit dead on...right into his spine above the waist. Ragnar fell to the ground screaming in pain the spear still there the tip sticking out the front of his stomach. Ivor approached the downed raider who was spitting up blood and trying to stand up but falling back to the light snow and mud on the ground. "Well, that's a pity, looks like I hit just the right spot," Ivor said darkly grabbing the spear handle making Ragnar's movements come to a hard stop with a shallow gasp.
"You crippled him." Ivor heard a voice turning to see Gaius walking up covered in blood spatter and wiping off his sword. "Now that's dark."
"Oh we're just getting started, my fine feathered friend," Ivor smirked driving the spear further until the head was deep in the ground. "We have a fort now and next we'll need information, and who better than the fort thane himself?" He gestured to the half-alive caribou still on the ground.
"Torture for information? I like your style branch head." Gaius smiled but before they could do anything a loud war cry made them look to see Applejack cutting down at least a dozen Stonehoof soldiers in seconds her hair and eyes looking wild as she went to one of the corpses and began hacking wildly at it.
"Girl's got a fire in her belly." Ivor chuckled calling a few Warborn over telling them to carry Ragnar back to the middle of the fort. Ivor himself approached the berserk farm mare who turned on a dime to meet him swinging her axes at him but was caught by the young chief who quickly wrapped in his arms as she thrashed about trying to get free. "Hey, hey calm down there killer you got 'em, you got 'em." He chuckled as she continued to try and break free but he wild movements began to slow until she seemed calm enough and dropped the axes. "There ya go," Ivor said softly and was about to let go when he felt her arms wrap around him in a tight hug. The caribou smiled adjusting his arms to put a hand on her upper back and the other gently pressing her head to his chest. He knew what came after a rage like that sorrow, regret, and realization. "Just let it out Applejack the first raid is always the hardest." He assured as soft sobs came from the farm mare.
After the groups had secured the fort and dealt with any loyalists they began taking stock and find suitable clothes for the slave. Ivor was helping with the food, Gaius was taking count of the gold and riches of the fort, while Pinkie and Applejack were passing out soup to the now-former slaves when Pinkie bumped into another mare passing out soup. "Oh sorry about- Cadance?" Pinkie yelled turning to see the former Princess dressed in simple leather pants and a blue tunic barring the Iron Talon symbol.
"Pinkie?" Cadance said the two quickly embraced in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you, are you okay, is anyone else with you?" The alicorn asked.
"Yeah, Applejack, the Warborn saved us about a week back." Pinkie answered as the two broke the hug. "What about you, anyone with you?"
"Uh yeah...an old enemy now made an ally," Cadance said a little sheepish.
"Oh, Cadance you wound me so." A voice spoke making them turn to see Chrysalis dressed similarly. "Though I suppose I deserve it." Chrysalis chuckled giving a blanket to a few mares.
"Wait she's here?!" Pinkie screamed grabbing a nearby knife and pointing at the changeling.
"Pinkie it's okay, she doesn't care for the caribou ether, she's on our side," Cadance said getting Pinkie to lower the blade.
"For the time we share an enemy so technically we're…" Chrysalis grumbled. "Friends." The word almost like poison to her. Hearing that made Pinkie relax before running up trying to hug her but quickly stopped by the former queen's hand. "No hugs though."
-lower levels-
In the dungeon of Gravethwaite, the two leaders of the attack had found something the could bond over...even if the activity was a bit morbid. Gaius and Ivor were currently interrogating the now crippled Ragnar, chained by his hands to a hook attached to the ceiling. The former holder of the fort was covered in gashes, cuts, and letting out little gargled sounds of pain.
"I don't think we'll get anything else out of him," Ivor told Gaius as he cleaned off a large knife.
"Still though we should finish him off," Gaius said cleaning off his own blade. "I'll do that little honor." With no disagreement from Ivor, he grabbed a mace from the wall winding up to bash Ragnar's head in.
*BANG*
"The Hel?" Ivor said looking farther down the hallway of dungeon. He saw a large iron door with a lot of locks and reinforced parts.
Gaius grabbed one of Ragnar's antlers making him look at the griffin. "What's behind that door?" He asked with a growl. Instead of an answer, he got a weak chuckle from the broken Raider.
"Even in Hel, they lock up the monsters." Ragnar wheezed.
Ivor walked over to the door and took a few keys from a hook and began examining the door then the keys. "Where is the key to this door?" He asked before something hit him in the face from the little window of the door.
"Looks like whatever's in there had the key," Gaius said picking up the key and unlocking the door.
Inside was a prison cell far more fortified than the others. The walls were solid stone with iron reinforcements, the window was ten feet off the ground and had several layers of iron bars in it, but the piece de resistance was the chain large spiked chain that connected to the wall and less than four feet of length connected to the cell's occupant by a very heavy looking collar which looked to have large barbs on the inside. He looked to be a young caribou maybe just seeing his 20s he was covered in markings, large healed over scars, along with mud and other filth. What shocked Ivor was the young bull's horns on their side of the tightly braided row down his scalp which appeared to be snapped off at the base with some attempt to regrow. The two observed the caribou dressed in only a pair of very dark and rotting pants, he stared at them occasionally twitching or swatting at the air near his head.
"Why are you down here?" Ivor asked but got no answer.
"Why did they put you in this cell." Gaius tried to get an answer but only got heavy breathing from the chained caribou.
"Tell us your name," Ivor demanded and stepped into the cell pointing at him with the hand still holding the keys. Seeing the keys the chained up caribou rushed the warlord but was yanked back by the chain going taut. Ivor saw what he was after and smirked. "Give me your name and swear loyalty under me and I'll set you free."The young caribou quickly dropped to his knees bowing to Ivor but didn't say a word. "Still need a name," Ivor told him.
The young caribou looked up to him then turned his head. He began drawing in the dirt hitting the ground when he finished.
"What does it say?" Gaius asked trying to read the symbols on the ground.
"Huh weird...it's not Norse," Ivor said crouching to read the symbols. "It looks like Juton."
"Can you read it?" Gaius asked.
"Yeah...looks like Vidar, is that your name?" Ivor asked getting a nod from the prisoner. "Alright let's get you free," Ivor said looking for the proper key, after finding it he unlocked the collar.
The instant Vidar heard the click of the collar he pushed off the ground a shoved Gaius out of the way running for the steps out of the dungeon. But stopped just short seeing the cell Ragnar was currently strung up in.
"Well hello, little bastard." Ranger spat in an almost chuckle coughing up blood. Vidar walked into the cell closing the door behind him. What followed were screams of pain agony along with a pair of stomach-turning snaps then Ragnar blubbering. "You bastard...YOU FUCKING LITTLE BASTARD when your father-argh!" Ranger was suddenly cut off before Gaius and Ivor heard a heavy but quiet pop then...silence. The two warriors approached the door looking in the small window.
"By the All-father." Ivor breathed seeing the short work that Vidar had done to what was now left of Ragnar. The Raider's body was more of a bloody mess than what they left, organs hanging out of his abdomen, bones almost pulled completely out of his chest, his face frozen in fear from his death, and on either side of his hanging body, laid the large antlers that once ornamented Ragnar's head.
"He did that...in less than a minute." Gaius breathed seeing the young caribou sitting in a corner of the cell covered like he had taken a literal blood bath, panting out of breath. "What is he?" Gaius asked awestruck.
"I don't know," Ivor answers watching as the young caribou seemed to drift off into sleep. The caribou chief wondering what kind of beast he just let out of its cage.
Canterlot used to be a lovely place but now it was just a reminder of the evil this world. What once was a lush mountainside was now fields of wooden spikes and defenses, the town once filled with smiling faces and laughter now had only chatter of females sold off or being abused, and at the height of it all was the castle that the chief of the Stonehoof clan had taken as his own. Dainn tore down the tapestries and artwork of the kingdom before and replaced them with scenes of his own victories or conquests. He broke statues of the two Princess who had lived in the castle before his claim to it and raised his own in their place.
The 'king' as he had come to call himself sat on the throne that once belonged to Celestia herself. He had a broken antler and scars across his face with a missing eye healed shut he wore basic armor with metal studs throughout and at his side sat a large Warhammer made of iron, wood, and bone barring his clan's symbol. With a bored expression on his face listening to a male Pegasus go on about...something he really wasn't listening and his tolerance had just run out.
"BE SILENT!" Dainn yelled stepping off the throne walking down its steps. "Make clear what you want now."
"A-apologies my lord, I simply request for more slaves for the guards at my keep." The Pegasus stuttered. "They are becoming...restless."
"That's all?" Dainn asked raising a brow, The Pegasus nodded. "Fine." The caribou answered turning to walk back to his throne.
"Oh thank you, my lord." The Pegasus sighed.
"But in return, I demand twice the payment for them or I will pull it out of your hide...personally." Dainn threatened sitting down. "Or will that be a problem?"
"N-no not at all sire." The Pegasus sputtered before quickly leaving.
As he left a group of caribou walked in all did not dare meet Dainn’s stare. There was silence until one of the soldiers cleared his throat. "Pardon me, my lord?" He said getting Dainn's attention.
"What is it?" Dainn groaned.
"Our scouts have returned with some troubling news." The soldier answered his voice trembling with fear. "Two of our keeps were lost in the last few days, one was a simple checkpoint the other was...was Gravethwaite." He blurted out.
"WHAT!" Dainn shouted his voice boomed out shaking the walls of the throne room. "And I assume you've come with some good news like it was burnt to the ground or what I had kept safe there was retrieved." He continued as he walked back down the steps grabbing the soldier by his throat, lifting him off the ground. "Or am I going to be very angry?"
"We would not come with just that troubling news my king." One of the other guards spoke up. "We have located it."
"Be more specific," Dainn demanded, beginning to choke the soldier he had held up.
"Yggdrasil, we found its branch." The soldier spat out.
"Truly? Well, then that counts for something." Dainn smiled dropping the soldier to the floor. "Any news on the other items I require?"
"Only rumors and here say, sir."
"Hmm, that is a shame…" Dainn sighed. "You three leave but he will stay," Dainn said pointing to the soldier on the ground. The other soldiers didn't dare argue as Dainn retrieved his hammer. "On your feet, you deserve that much."
"My-my lord, please have mercy?" The soldier sputtered.
"On. Your. Feet." Dainn growled. The soldier was up in seconds and made to draw his sword but was stopped by Dainn's hammer smashing into his stomach. The caribou had thrown it and was in front of his opponent before the hammer hit the ground bringing it up and right back down crushing the soldier's head on the ground splitting it apart like a melon. Sighing Dainn walked to the doors leaving the throne room. "Someone clean this up!" He yelled down the halls as he made his way towards one of the large towers of the castle.
In the tower resided a sight very few ever saw in Stonehoof culture. Two females free of collars, dressed in nice but simple clothes, and untouched by the king or his men. One was an older caribou cow who wore simple pants and a tunic bearing the symbol of Odin along with a black eye patch over her right eye. In her hair were beads and small bones along with a few rare jewels and a simple string necklace around her neck with a cheap copper bar in the middle. The other was a younger caribou cow who wore similar attire, save for the eye patch and necklace, both were moving about the room covered with pillows and a fire in the middle with shelves of herbs and plants growing on each wall. The two were soon pulled from their little world by the door to the room slammed open revealing Dainn himself.
"Why hello, my king how may I assist you?" The old cow asked not looking away from the plant she was tending to.
"Don't test me, woman," Dainn growled sitting in front of the fire in a huff. "I require your powers."
"And a tree requires water, sun, air, and so I require things." She chuckled handing a small bowl to the younger cow. "To your room, Sigyn, I must work." The young cow nodded walking to a door leading to a bedroom and closing it.
"You dare ask me for anything Helga?" Dainn said with another growl. "Or might I remind you how close your daughter is to coming of age?"
The caribou known as Helga gave a sinister chuckle. "And I'll remind you I don't respond to threats." She turned away from the shelves and walked to the fire opposite Dainn. "And if you want something you must give something, or didn't your mother teach you that?"
"She was a whore just like the rest," Dainn answered.
"Hmm well you're in luck my requests are few," Helga said grabbing a large bowl close to the fire holding a variety of bones. "I wish for my daughter to see more of this land, we shall journey to a place called Appleloosa, you will provide transportation and protection." She told the king sitting down.
"Is that all?" Dainn asked.
"No, one other thing, I will require the use of a forge before my daughter and I depart." She answered giving the bowl a good shake tossing the bones about. "For what reason, they are my own, now pick three." She said holding the bowl towards him. Dainn rolled his eyes and pushed a few around before picking out three looking like a femur, half a pelvis, and a rib. "Interesting choices, into the fire." She gestured and he threw them in beginning to crackle and break.
Helga watched the bones swaying her head side to side before going stiff at a particular snap of the bones. She watched the fire seeing scenes of battles and events to come she saw death, war, and caribou wrapped in flames standing victorious. She suddenly shook herself out of her trance as the bones became ash. Helga looked to Dainn who looked right back before she grabbed a small gourd and popped a cork off it taking a large swig. "The All-father has shown me three events that will come to pass and at its end, a caribou will be victorious." She panted. "Give me your hand." She said and Dainn obeyed with almost no hesitation.
"What must I look for," Dainn asked as she tied a cord around his wrist. "Tell me how I will have victory and you shall have what you ask."
"Oh I know I will, that's what this binding cord is for," Helga said as it gave a brief glow and tightened slightly around the king's wrist. "This will tighten till your hand falls off should you go back on your word."
"I will not break my world so speak of these events, NOW!" Dainn shouted.
"First will be a Valkyrie dripping crimson red on a blood moon night, she will come and her glaze will never leave Canterlot, the next will be a message delivered by the world serpent himself, you are fluent in Jotnar correct?" Helga explained the first two events as she stood walking towards a window.
"And the last? Tell me about the last event." Dainn said following her as she spoke.
"It was vague but you would be wise to fear a day where thunder and lightning dance in the noonday sun without a cloud to join them, that was all I saw and they will all come to pass none can be stopped." Helga finished as a raven landed on the window-seal right in front of her.
"And nothing more?" Dainn asked hoping for anything else.
"Odin is the lord of knowledge…" Helga said letting the raven climb onto her hand stroking its head. "It doesn't mean he shares it...even with those most devoted to him."
"One last thing, I've lost someone important to my plans can you find him?" Dainn asked trying to make eye contact.
"I have always found it strange why you kept that one female, what was her name again?" Helga smiled walking over to a work station the raven hopping onto a perch next to the table. "She was quite the striking beauty, oh what was that name?" Helga took herbs and other ingredients grinding them in a mortar.
"Silence woman and tell me if he can be found?" Dainn spat becoming irritated.
"Oh calm yourself I'm merely trying to recall her name...something with a C or was it an M?" Helga continued taking a match to the mixture causing it to smoke heavily as she breathed it in. She looked to the raven looking into its eye and it looked right back. In an instant, she saw the land from high above forests, mountains, and then she saw Gravethwaite. She saw caribou, ponies, and other races mingling in a quick swoop like movement she was looking into a barred window seeing Vidar the young adult caribou bull snoring softly in the cell covered in blood. Helga watched through the vision as Vidar opened one eye looking directly at her through whatever eyes she looked through before she was suddenly pulled back from the vision returning to her chambers.
"Well did you find him?" Dainn asked eagerly as she tried to catch her breath.
"He is still where you left him." She panted. "But you shouldn't bother looking for him, because he will come seeking you," Dainn looked a bit shocked before smiling and turning the leave but was stopped at the door by Helga speaking. "Reginleif."
"What did you say?" Dainn asked in a mix of shock and building anger.
"That was her name, wasn't it?" She asked already knowing the answer.
Dainn looked at her, pure anger burning in his eyes before grumbling out. "You will have access to a forge tomorrow then a day of rest before you are sent out."
"My thanks, your Majesty," Helga said as Dainn left slamming the door enough to knock a plant on the opposite wall off its shelf. As the plant hit the ground Sigyn peeked her head out of her room. "Come out child there is nothing to fear now."
"Is it true mother we will be leaving the city?" Sigyn asked as she began to pick up the remainder of the plant to move it to another pot. Helga gave her only a smile and nod. "So will I meet the one you saw in your visions?"
"You are training to be a seer as well little one, you tell me," Helga said sitting by the fire. Sigyn looked to the shelves before grabbing bits of various plants, roots, and powders before igniting them with a match and breathing in the smoke. Her visions were never as clear as her mother so instead of clear figures and images, she only saw shadows and clouded scenes at best. "Focus child, " she heard her mother. "Feel the spirits, listen to the ancient ones, they will guide your way." Her vision soon began to become clear she found herself in the middle of a grand castle surrounded by plants and the inhabitants of the castle when she heard a voice call to her she turned to see who it was but only saw a figure engulfed in golden light carrying a large curved blade. She tried to reach for the figure but was suddenly pulled back by an unknown force. "Anything?" Her mother asked.
"Yes and no, he spoke to me but I could not reach him he carried a large blade and was coated in golden light," Sigyn told her looking sad at how little she had seen.
"I've told you to seek a place between serenity and rage that is where you will find true focus," Helga explained. "If you can do that I have no doubt the All-father would show you everything you wish to see." Sigyn nodded to her mother in understanding. "Now go pack your things we leave in a few days."
"Right away." Sigyn said running into her room beginning to pack.
Helga whistled for the raven and it landed on her hand. "Now you, I have a special job for you." She quickly fed the bird some seeds getting light 'caws' in response. "Watch over the impossible one, he will need guidance in his destiny." Helga gave the raven some more seeds before it leaped off her hand and out the window. "Oh, gods in Asgard give me strength for I will need it." Helga sighed to herself watching as the raven flew away. Her vision had been clearer than she led on she had seen three things in her vision in every scene, a raven dripping red with blood, the sun and moon sharing one form, and a scarab made of gold. Even she didn't know what they meant but she knew that soon the lands would shake with the rumbling of battle and war, but at its end, she knew her daughter was going to inherit a better world and that was all she ever wanted and she would make sure it happened.
After taking Gravethwaite the two armies had settled in for the night making up beds and preparing for dinner. With all the food available for them the Warborn had taken to making a lot of it Pinkie pie and Applejack were helping the caribou, but what they found odd was that the males seemed to help just as much as the females. Applejack carried a platter of vegetables over to a pot that had a boiling stew in it that she dumped into the pot and grabbed a big spoon starting to stir it when Ivor came up tossing in a first full of spices.
"It's been a long time since my people have had some proper nourishment." Ivor smiled taking a whiff of the cooking stew.
"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you, why are so many fellas helping with the cooking and such?" Applejack asked as she stirred.
"Why shouldn't they?" Ivor asked giving her an odd look.
"Well, usually girls handle all the cooking and cleaning." Applejack answered.
"We are Warborn, no bull, cow, calf, or elder is above any other," Ivor explained. "We help each other as we help you."
"Why though?" She asked. "When Dainn enslaved us you freed us, why?"
Ivor looked at all his clan sitting around a large fire that had been built in the middle of the keep. "Because the warborn was formed by slaves and our most sacred laws say 'no creature shall be put into chains by another and no Warborn shall allow another to be left in chains under another', our ancestors lost their homes to war between two feuding nations," Ivor explained as he grabbed the spoon from Applejack and tasted the stew. "Captured and sold they knew only life in chains until one day a single Caribou killed his master when he tried to force himself on the caribou's wife, he freed himself and all he could but didn't stop there." Ivor continued as many began to approach to get food. "In less than a year, he gathered more than five thousand to aid him our clan had gone from simple farmers to warriors in less than a decade, a new life born of war."
"That's why you are called Warborn?" Applejack asked helping serve everyone who came up.
"Legend tells that the cries of a calf we're heard at the last battle before peace returned to our people," Ivor explained handing out bread. "That is why we all help where we can no matter what."
"I'd love to hear more stories about your people...if ya wouldn't mind?" Applejack asked.
"Of course not but those stories are best shared around a fire." Ivor smiled. "Come now, everyone let's share some of our stories with our allies." He called making his way to a bench in front of the fire Applejack sitting next to him as the few young calves gathered in front of him sitting on the ground. "Now what story to tell?" Ivor scratched his chin looking into the sky seeing the full moon and chuckled. "Well with the hunter's moon out how about a tale about the goddess of the hunt?" His question was answered with a few happy cheers from the young ones.
"Skaði, the huntress, she watches over all that hunt…"
Outside of an outpost, two hooded figures watched as various creatures were shoved into cages almost too small for them to even move. The larger of the two figures gave a growl of anger as the Stonehoof loyal soldiers harassed the beasts.
"She was raised by her father to respect the beasts they hunted because they provide for us and the land around them…"
As the dozen or so soldiers sat down to have supper laughing as the two female caribou rushed around trying to keep them happy. The two figures making their way to the cages of animals breaking the locks off as the smaller figure calmed a few more than angry predators.
"She is best known for her skills with a bow, able to shoot the wings of a fly right off while blindfolded and a hundred yards away…"
The large figure told the smaller one to lead the animals away. The smaller figure nodded and did as instructed while the larger figure pulled out a longbow knocking an arrow and taking aim at the group of caribou as one began to grope one of the cows. With a growl and a slow breath, he let the arrow fly.
"It's said that if a warrior pays respect to the animals and nature then Skaði would bless their aim to always...always be true…"
Each arrow hit its mark all that was left of the camp was empty cages a dying fire and the corpses of the Stonehoof soldiers each with the same killing blow. An arrow through their neck, death was instant. The two cows had grabbed what they could and runoff hoping that the freedom would last if even for just the night.
"Skaði would rarely associate with any gods of Asgard but rumor says she found love but no one could prove it, but they knew any associated with her would be protected from any harm…"
The smaller figure came out from hiding pulling her hood down to reveal a yellow-colored mare with a pink mane. "Shouldn't we help them?" She asked a bit unsure.
"They are free and can help themselves now." The larger figure said pulling his hood back to reveal a bull caribou a few healed cuts and scrapes on his face. "Are the animals okay?"
"Yes, they ran away as quickly as they could." The mare answered.
"Good, come, we should get back to camp." The caribou said grabbing a flaming log from the fire throwing it on the tents setting them on fire.
As the two returned to a small camp with a fire and a large tent set up the caribou hung up his hooded cloak and stripped off his shirt sitting on a log by the fire rolling his shoulders getting a few clicks. The mare came up behind him starting to rub his neck and shoulders getting an appreciative sigh from the caribou as she traced a few small healed scars. The mare stepped back for a moment to hang up her cloak revealing a pair of weak but slowly healing wings out of the back of her shirt before returning to the caribou. "Where will we go next?" The mare asked.
"I heard one of the soldiers say something about Gravethwaite, " The caribou answered. "We'll start there."
"What do you think we'll find?"
"Hopefully a place where we are Fluttershy and Vargar, not just spirits in the woods," Vargar answered.
"I'd like that too." Fluttershy smiled leaning down kissing the top of his head between his large antlers getting a chuckle from Vargar. "What?" She asked.
"You're trying something, you know what teasing there does." He smiled leaning his head back to look up at her. Fluttershy only smiled and turned walking to the tent going inside. Vargar smiled getting up from his seat and looking to the sky. "Whatever did I do to receive her kindness?" He asked.
Walking into the tent Vargar was greeted to Fluttershy finishing taking off her top revealing cloth bindings holding back her well-endowed chest. With a smile on his face, he approached the mare from behind wrapping her in a soft hug careful not to agitate her wings laying his head on her shoulder. "Why hello mister hunter." Fluttershy giggled moving her hand up gently grabbing one of his antlers.
"And hello to you little my hulder." The caribou said in a husky voice starting to rub from her stomach to her hips hooking his thumbs into her pants teasingly pulling at them. "May I?" Vargar asked giving her shoulder a small peck.
"Please," Fluttershy said with a shudder as Vargar kissed up her neck and his fingertips ghosted in and out of her pants. Vargar then moved his hands pulling the string of her pants letting them fall as Fluttershy kicked out of them and turned to face him. Fluttershy locked her hands behind his neck leaning up locking her lips with Vargar's both moaning as they deepened the kiss. As the two explored the body of the other Fluttershy let out a quick and loud 'eep' when she felt a pair of large hand grab her ample butt.
Vargar chuckled. "Sorry, hard to resist." He smiled but kept his hands where they were. The two quickly resumed the make-out session with Vargar picking up the yellow mare and letting her wrap her legs around his waist as he walked them over to the lone bed in the tent.
As he held her up Fluttershy made short work of his pants allowing them to drop revealing his large endowment, hard and pressing against her waiting marehood. Vargar gave a growling moan as she started to tease him as he pulled her bindings loose allowing her large breasts to become exposed to the slightly cool air. He laid her on the bed, her wings and hair splayed out with a few locks obscuring the right half of her face. Vargar had to take a moment looking at the beauty that laid beneath him, a shy yet beautiful face, large soft yet firm breasts with bit-sized inverted nipples, a slim stomach with a just a bit of fat give her a cute tummy, and a large beautiful butt attached to long firm and strong legs with thick thighs that had no flaw what so ever. Vargar thought here and now that if he could not worship his goddess of the hunt, then he would worship Fluttershy goddess of beauty and kindness.
Fluttershy allowed her lover to spread her legs wide and felt him slowly enter her making her moan as he hilted in the yellow mare. "B..b...big." Fluttershy sputtered a bit as Vargar buried his face in her neck and began slowly thrusting letting out growls each time. She felt how tense his muscles were and could tell he was holding back for her sake. "Vargar, " She said pulling his face to look at her. "It's okay, you don't need to hold back."
"Fluttershy if I let loose...I do know if I could stop." He panted trying not to give in.
"Well allow me to help with the decision to hold back." She smiled pulling herself from him before turning onto her hands and knees. Vargar's restraint started to break her tail swaying to and fro with her large ass teasing him as she looked back at the large caribou. The next few moments were a blur to them both as Fluttershy felt his weight on her back and him hilt inside her thrusting slow and hard, with a growl he pulled her hair just enough to make her look at him.
"You are a devilish little minx," Vargar grunted thrusting with each word. "And now you're going to deal with the animal you woke up."
Fluttershy giggled kissing him. "Well, I do have a way with thOSE!" She moaned as he began to pound into her faster and faster their bodies making slapping sounds as they connected. Panting, slapping, and moaning as the two made love when Fluttershy felt a hard smack on her right buttcheek causing it to ripple and jiggle like jello. She turned as Vargar brought his hand down again smacking her on her butt again making her eyes roll up in her head a bit.
"Var-Oh-Vargar don-OW stop or-OH MY I'll go OH SWEET STARS!!!" Fluttershy moaned with each smack to her large derriere until the final smack brought her to a toe-curling end. As she fell forward Vargar caught her by her breasts gently lowering her down as they panted Vargar slowly began to pull out.
"Oh no, you don't mister," Fluttershy said trying to catch her breath as she reached back grabbing one of his antlers pulling his face down for a tongue filled kiss.
Vargar was tempted to pull out but his hands quickly found the huge soft feel of Fluttershy's boobs and quickly began to play with them like a kid with a new toy. He teased her nipples relentlessly making them become erect and getting a loud cry of pleasure from the yellow mare, the sound spurred Vargar on making him pound harder making the bed whine against the force threatening to break it.
"Fluttershy, I'm cumming!" Vargar roared as his load emptied into his lover who let out a shaky breath at the feeling of being filled with his seed. Vargar rolled off of Fluttershy allowing the two to spoon and enjoy the afterglow but Vargar noticed Fluttershy seemed to be a bit tense. "Shy? Love?" He asked.
"I'm okay." She said her soft voice.
"Love, please, if you have a problem I'll listen." Vargar insisted wrapping his arms around her middle pulling her close.
"I'm fine my big buck." Fluttershy turned to face him caressing his cheek smiling.
Vargar gave a weak smile pulling her head to his chest. "You do know male caribou are bulls not bucks right?" He asked jokingly.
"Shut up and get some sleep you big old bull." She laughed giving him a light shove and pulled up the large fur blanket over two. Vargar chuckled and began to fall asleep gently stroking her mane as she followed him into sleep.
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She was in a cage just big enough for her to fit on her hands and knees a black collar around her neck and a wood bit crammed in her mouth. She was shivering due to the lack of clothes and the cold mud under her hands mixed with hay. She had lost count of the days, the only thing she knew was the caribou that tortured her day after day hit the side of the cage rousing her.
"Hey, little Flutterslut time for your evening show." He mocked her opening her cage and attached a heavy chain to her collar giving a hard pull making her fall face-first into the mud covering her top half in filth. "And you better hurry I got something special lined up tonight."
The caribou pulled her hard as she was forced to crawl on all fours hearing the sounds of soldiers laughing, animals making various noises, and the gut-wrenching sounds of females being raped close by. Those sounds were quickly replaced by a large group of maybe 20 caribou cheered as she was pulled and put into some stocks she had come to know all too well.
"Alright, boys why don't we finally let this little cunt feel something special, huh?" The caribou asked getting more cheers. Soon the cheers were drowned out by the huff and puff of a large war beast approaching behind her. She began to cry, she had seen one of the beasts and knew if the endowment of the beast didn't rip her in half it's weight would crush her. Fluttershy knew her life might end this very night, all she could do was pray to anyone listening for any kind of salvation.
Thankfully a voice called out stopping the events that were about to happen
"REBELS!"
The group of caribou quickly disbanded to go deal with the attackers. The head slaves who had put her in the stocks pushed the war beast away towards the battle before coming up to Fluttershy's ear and whispered. "When this is done we'll continue where we left off."
He ran to join the battle leaving her in the stocks. But she was not left for long before a tall figure crouched in front of her face. He was a caribou who wore simple armor carrying a sword and shield on his shoulders was a cloak made of a bear fur with the head as a hood. She was scared even more till he held a finger to his lips telling her to keep quiet.
The large caribou used his shield and bashed the lock off the stocks setting her free. He grabbed her hand and quickly pulled her to the cages holding an assortment of animals while the caribou seemed to be fighting at the bottom of the hill the camp sat on. He then cupped his hands around his mouth and let out a loud bellow that got the attention of the slavers at the bottom of the hill, but it also triggered something in all the caged animals. All of the beasts suddenly burst from the cages and charged down the hill as the slavers started up but came to a quick halt seeing all the animals stampeding towards them making them turn to try and escape. As the slavers were chased off the large caribou stood up and offered a hand to Fluttershy.
"Are you hurt?" He asked.
Fluttershy only crawled back and standing herself up with the help of a nearby crate. She wanted to thank him but for all, she knew her savior could quickly become her next captor.
"It's okay I understand, " He said pulling out a knife and offered her the handle. "Here take this and cut that shit off your neck." Fluttershy stepped close quickly grabbing the knife from the caribou as she pulled the collar out a bit to cut it off.
"My name is Vargar, what should I call you?" He asked leaning against a large cage.
Fluttershy stared daggers at him before deciding to answer. "Fluttershy." She spoke fast and just loud enough to hear.
"As in the element of kindness?" He asked surprised only getting a nod to confirm his question.
"Well, then I have a few questions for you." He stated, moving closer to her which spooked the yellow mare making her hold the knife as threatening as she could to get him to stop. "Okay I'll stay back, but tell me… with otters did you ever have a problem with them not eating shellfish?"
Fluttershy gave him an odd. "Uh… well, some of the younger ones often prefer small fish or plants but yeah sometimes they don't eat clams and crab because they can't crack into them."
"Oh, that is great, " Vargar sighed. "A few baby back home haven't been eating well and I was worried." Fluttershy seemed taken back by him sharing something that might have been quite personal.
"Now I'm going to try and help the other females so when you've freed yourself head west there's a camp full of rebels that should take you in." He told her walking into the now somewhat abandoned camp.
As he left her Fluttershy was able to free herself from her collar and quickly tossed it aside. But before she could take a step a screaming pain suddenly hit her thigh causing her to fall. She looked down to see what was the cause and found an arrow stuck in her.
"Naughty, naughty." The slaver from earlier taunted as he walked closer to the wounded mare.
"Oh and look at that you lost your collar, no problem I always keep a spare on me." He chuckled pulling out a black collar and moved to put it on her.
"Step away from her." A voice told him.
Looking to where the voice came from they both saw Vargar standing a few feet away. "Hold on my friend I'll let you have a turn once I've taught this bitch her place again."
As the slavery moved back to put the collar on he was stopped and thrown against a cage. Collecting himself he saw Vargar standing between him and Fluttershy. "Okay, okay I see...you want her, well I'm willing to sell let's say five-hundred gold?" He went on using the cage to stand back up. Vargar looked at him unfazed and walked closer.
"Okay...maybe three-hundred gold?" Vargar grabbed him by one of his antlers and threw him again close to a large pit.
"Alright, alright, alright fifty gold?" Vargar walked up to him and hoisted him up by his throat. "Anything, anything just don't kill me."
"I've got a better offer, " Vargar smirked looking in the pit. "I take her away from this and you try not to kick on the way down, it'll upset his stomach." He said and threw the slaves into the pit where he landed with a splash into waist-deep water.
The slaver was dazed for a moment but quickly came to after hearing a splashing sound. Turning slowly he was met with the huge scaly face of a prized creature of his, an albino dire crocodile, it made deep hissing growls as it moved closer and closer. "N-nice boy, good boy." He began to panic.
Up above Vargar walked over to Fluttershy as the quiet splashes quickly turned into loud screams of pain then silence only by the sound of crunching bones. Vargar looked over her leg before kneeling down and picking her up bridal style.
"Don't worry I've got you." He said as she began to fade out of consciousness her eyes slowly falling shut.
-+-+-+-+-
Fluttershy curled up around herself afraid to even peak open afraid that she was back in the cage waiting for the next caribou to come by and assault her.
"Fluttershy? Love?" She heard but only gripped her head thinking it was only her imagination tormenting her.
"Love, we need to get up and move." Vargar's voiced said to her in a soft tone.
Slowly opening her eyes she was met with the very same caribou who had saved her, treated her wounds, and shared a bed with many nights before. "Sorry, Vargar I didn't sleep well." She said sitting up.
"The dream again?" He asked only getting a nod from her.
Vargar took her hand and held it to his forehead. "Fluttershy I promise you that till I can no longer draw breath I will protect you and will never let you shed a tear of sorrow ever again." He said looking up at the yellow mare meeting her gaze.
"You...big...JERK!" Fluttershy shouted pouncing on him tackling him to the ground.
"Telling me I'll never cry and you go a pull on my heartstrings like that." She cried happy tears as she pounded on his chest, not trying to hurt him just getting her point across.
"Alright, alright I'm sorry." Varchar chuckled grabbing her wrists stopping her 'assault'. "Now come on a get ready."
Fluttershy gave him a quick peck on the lips and began getting ready as Vargar packed up camp.
A short distance away a lone figure watched the campsite clothed in beyond excellent camouflage for the area a mix of dead tree branches and white to go along with the land slowly entering the winter season. The figure quickly dropped to the forest floor not making a sound of any kind and quickly took off south to a place even the Stonehoof clan had yet to conquer a large swamp that held large stone formation at its center. His king would want to hear of these two and as soon as possible.
Vidar shot up from his position where he had fallen asleep in the cell still holding the hanging dead Ragnar. Sniffing the air, Vidar could smell fresh morning dew and could tell by the light it wasn't even sunrise yet. Looking around, he saw the door was open and he walked through, following the stairs out of the dungeon until he was standing just outside of the great hall, looking around almost lost.
'Find a weapon'
Vidar walked over to a small building and pushed the door open. Inside were a number of broken or rusty tools and weapons in large bins or thrown on the floor. Looking around the young caribou started throwing items around in search of something that he could use. He eventually found an old and rusty hatchet along with a large hunting knife duller than a spoon. As he turned to leave, a large figure blocked the door.
"You know, if you wanted a weapon, we would have gladly got you some better ones." The figure told him. "But I guess we should be properly introduced. You said your name was Vidar; well I'm Ivor."
Vidar held both weapons at the ready, knowing he couldn't trust just anyone. Ivor then gestured for him to follow as he walked down a pathway.
'Can't trust' 'Don't follow' 'Could be a trap'
Voices seemed to tell Vidar in his head, making him knock the back end of the hatchet into his head trying to stop them.
'Stop that NOW'
A fourth voice suddenly told him. While the other voices only yelled, cried, or screamed, this one it actually talked and soothed. Vidar stopped his assault on his own skull, hoping to hear the voice again.
'Go with him'
Vidar took a second and stepped out of the building, seeing the Warborn chief waiting on him. Slowly he approached Ivor, still very cautious of him.
"There we go." Ivor smiled. "Now come on we're getting you everything you need to join the warborn." The older caribou smiled leading him to a corner of the fort where they found several female caribou waiting alongside a large wooden tub.
Vidar looked at the gathering curiously before he felt the weapons he had just found taken by a large female caribou. Vidar was about to make a move for them but was stopped by another female wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Hey, don't worry you can have those back when we're done." She told him but he still struggled to get out of the female's grip. "You probably haven't had a bath in who knows how long." Vidar was quickly pulled over to the tub of clean steaming water.
"Make him squeaky clean girls," Ivor called, leaving the half-dozen females to their work.
Vidar suddenly had his pants ripped off of his legs and was thrown into the water. Almost instantly, the once clear water had turned a murky green where the young caribou had landed. When he surfaced he was met by several brushes and cloths that began cleaning him from head to hoof. At first, he fought the onslaught of cows cleaning him as they cleaned some of his fresher scars and bruises until one took a brush between his antlers and began scrubbing, getting a soft almost purr from the young caribou.
"When was the last time you even heard of a bath?" One of the cows asked, pulling his hair from his braid.
"Must have been a while, " another cow said, scrubbing Vidar's arm. "Some of these mud patches have plants growing from them."
"Forget the mud look at all of these." A third cow said, running a few fingers over the various scars and runes. "I can't even read half of these."
"We'll ask the chief later, " The first said, combing Vidar's hair and putting it back into its braided row. As the group finished up, the water that was once clear was now almost black with a much cleaner Vidar sitting in it. "Alright, we'll leave you to get dressed." The first cow said, putting a pair of pants and a sort of vest-like shirt next to the tub and left him to it.
Vidar hopped out of the tub and grabbed the clothes. Inspecting them, while they seemed a little on the big side, he could deal with that. He looked at the back of the shirt and saw a red raven in a swooping or attacking movement. Vidar had seen the symbol on the clothes of the female caribou who had helped clean him, he wondered what it meant.
'Follow the red raven'
As soon as he heard the voice from earlier Vidar put on the clothes, tightening it and rolling up the pant legs so they fit better. He soon walked out of the area where the tub was and followed the sounds of voices which led him to the center of the camp where he found the Warborn and Iron Talon sitting around a smoldering fire and finishing breakfast. As he walked amongst them looking as some exchanged old stories or sharpening weapons a few gave him a quick glance or a wave as if he was one of their own.
'Don't be fooled' 'They'll hurt you' 'Just like they did'
Vidar gave his head a hard shake, stopping the voices. He kept walking through the two groups until he saw Ivor looking over a map on a table along with Gaius. Vidar heard them talking, not really listening. He saw two bowls on the table with steam coming from them, as the two leaders talked, Vidar looked at them back and forth before snagging both bowls and walked to a rock nearby and sitting down. As the two continued to talk Vidar watched and quickly downed the contents of the bowls and went back to watching.
'We need to find her'
The deep voice in his head said, making him jump off the rock and started walking to the gate but stopped when a smell hit his nose. Sniffing the air he made his way back into the fort until he saw a large cauldron over a fire with something cooking in it. As he got close enough to look into it see it filled with a bubbling liquid that smelled of herbs and vegetables. He slowly started to reach into it but was stopped when a wooden spoon quickly smacked the back of his hand making him jump back, drop to all fours ready to pounce, and growled at who had struck him.
"Don't y'all go growl at me ya Lil shit." The unmistakable twang of Applejack told him as she went back to working on the stew. "If ya want some you're gonna wait like everyone else." She turned to see him still on all fours moving side to side, circling her. Watching him as she stirred the pot, Applejack just rolled her eyes as she kept to her own work.
'See they want to hurt us' 'Kill them all' 'Make them scream'
The voices screamed at him, but he didn't listen. He was outnumbered and lacking any kind of weapons; Vidar knew he couldn't win here. Vidar backed up, never looking away from her until he passed a small hut. He found himself at the wall of the fort, leaning on it trying to think of a move to make. After standing there for a bit he began to hear the sound of wood hitting wood and it piqued his curiosity making him head towards the sounds. Vidar found himself looking at a group of 14 young caribou, the youngest looking to be maybe 6 while the oldest looked to be just barely 16. They were training with wooden weapons while a few adults watched and gave pointers to the younger caribou.
"You can join them if you like." A familiar voice spoke behind him. Turning he saw Ivor and Gaius standing side by side.
"He should be itching to do something, " Gaius said, a little irritated. "He did eat both of our breakfasts."
"You're right. In exchange, why don't we give him a little training session?" Ivor smiled at the griffin.
"Hehe, anything to kick a little caribou ass." Gaius chuckled, giving Vidar a light shove on the shoulder towards the training area. But the young caribou shoved Gaius back a bit harder, further irritating the griffin. Gaius tried pushing him again, harder this time but got the same result. When he went for a third push Vidar jumped back from the push but jumped right back ramming his shoulder into Gaius's chest, making the centurion stumble back a bit.
"Okay lads. Keep a level head," Ivor said stepping between the two but was met with a glare from Gaius and a growl from Vidar who had dropped to all four like an animal ready to strike. "Well can't say I didn't try...just don't kill him." He said walking to a bench close by.
"No promises," Gaius growled, taking his sword and throwing it down, making the blade stab the ground.
"Wasn't talking to you." Ivor sighed sitting down to watch the two.
Gaius ran at Vidar but the young caribou was faster and jumped up, kicking the griffin right in the chest making Gaius stumble back as Vidar charged this time going to tackle his opponent. Gaius caught him and threw him into a nearby post, making a cracking sound as Vidar's ribs hit it. However, it didn't stop the young bull who was on his hooves again the second he hit the ground. It was Gaius's turn to charge, but Vidar springboarded off the post and over the griffin, landing a hard kick into Gaius's back getting some space between them. The young caribou ran at the griffin, grabbing a handful of dirt and throwing it in Gaius's face going to kick him. But the griffin's mask and helmet kept most of the dirt out of his eyes letting high grab Vidar's hoof and keep him in place bouncing on his free leg trying to keep his balance.
"Not bad kid," Gaius said before throwing the caribou into a rack of nearby logs, making them fall on him. "But not good enough." Gaius walked towards the pile and grabbed for Vidar but was met with a heavy blow to the side of his helmet, giving it a huge dent and knocking him away.
Vidar was standing now, holding the small log he had just hit Gaius with. Moving towards his downed opponent winding up and hitting him again knocking Gaius's helmet clean off. But as soon as he went to strike him again, Vidar's eyes met Gaius's and the color drained from the young caribou's face.
Gaius exhaled through the holes in his golden-orange beak. His feathers were a dull white with red tips. Along the right side of his face, over his cheek, was a massive burn mark. A ring of singed feathers and burnt flesh surrounded it, while tendrils of flesh and what appeared to be melted metal laced across it. Bits of the flesh were split apart, allowing others to see into his mouth through the scar.
Vidar dropped the log and started backing away as Gaius started to stand up, holding his hand to his face. Vidar dropped his head and turned to walk away, still in a state of shock.
"Hey, " Gaius called. "HEY!" He yelled but Vidar kept walking away. Gaius, now furious with the events that had just transpired and being ignored, grabbed his damaged helmet from the ground and hurled it right into the back of Vidar's head. With a heavy thunk, the young caribou stopped and slowly turned to look at the griffin. "Can't bear to look at what your people can do… HUH!?" Gaius yelled. Vidar only turned to walk away again, but before he could take more than a few steps he was grabbed by his braided hair and pulled around to look Gaius in the face.
"Take a good look, " Gaius growled. "This is what your people do and I'm one of the lucky ones." He said, his voice getting louder as he went on. "Look at me." He ordered but Vidar turned his head away. "LOOK AT ME!" He yelled, gripping his hair harder. "It doesn't heal, it doesn't scar-over, it just hurts… what am I saying your people probably live for the kind of pain I feel every Grover-damn day. Hell, you probably can't even imagine what this burn feels like. Who knows you, might even enjoy it, piece of low-life shit." Gaius finished, throwing Vidar aside to the ground and retrieving his helmet. The young caribou didn't move from his spot, thinking about what Gaius just said. The griffin walked away in the direction of the building he and his company had slept last night, picking up his sword as he left.
Ivor sighed and got up from his seat to follow Gaius but stopped and gave Vidar a pat on the shoulder. "You got fire kid… just try and add some ice to it." He said as he continued to go find Gaius, leaving a confused Vidar still sitting on the ground.
Ivor knocked on the door to the building and entered finding Gaius alone sitting on a bed trying to fix his helmet. Ivor walked over sitting on a bed across from him. "Damn, the kid put one Hel of a dent in that, " he said, trying to break the tension, only to get an annoyed glare instead. "Look I realize that my people have done terrible things and you have every right to be angry with all of us, " Ivor continued as Gaius looked away from his work for a moment at the caribou chief. "So let me try to make up for it. I was raised by a blacksmith, so if you let me, I'll fix your helmet."
Gaius looked at him for a moment, then his helmet and back again. "And I suppose all you want is for us is to be happy-go-lucky friends?" He asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"No, I want us to be comrades, " Ivor answered. "I’ll fix your helmet, and in exchange, you treat me and my clan as fellow soldiers as if of your own ranks, " He finished, holding his hand out for the helmet. "Deal?"
Gaius looked at his hand for a minute then sighed. "I don't like you, I don't think I ever will, and quite frankly you're an ass most of the time, " He told the caribou chief. "But I can tell by the way you speak and act that you would give your head to save a single person you care for so… deal." Gaius smirked, handing Ivor his helmet. "Just try not to fuck it up any more than it already is." With a smirk, Ivor took the helmet and led Gaius to the forge, which was already hot and ready to work.
"Lucky for us I can just melt down the metal and reforge it," Ivor said, beginning to take the helmet apart. As he worked Gaius stood in a dark corner, trying to hide his face while watching the chief work, putting the metal in a crucible. As the metal slowly reached liquid form, Ivor decided to try and lighten the mood.
"So how did you get such a pretty mark on your face?" Ivor chuckled, watching the flames.
"Cut myself preening. What happened to yours?" Gaius snapped back.
"Okay, sorry, calm down," Ivor said, not looking away from the fire. "You yelled at the kid that our people did it. I just wanted to hear the story from you rather than someone else." He said, working the bellows for more heat.
Gaius shook his head and rolled his eyes, letting Ivor work as the only sounds were fire crackling and the bellows working. After a few minutes, Ivor used some tongs and poured the metal into a mold so it could reharden when Gaius let out a long sigh. "I was a soldier turned mercenary, " he said, getting Ivor's attention.
"I didn't care what the job was as long as I got paid, " Gaius started. "I've killed, stolen, trained armies, I was even a bodyguard on a few jobs. Then he came to me…" He stopped for a second. "He was a commanding officer under Dainn on a campaign to a town called Appleloosa. He wanted me along with a hundred of my best." Gaius pushed off the wall and walked to the other side of the forge, inspecting some weapons. "I gave him my price and he said he would double it if we went along and didn't ask any questions or bat an eye at what they did. I let my greed control me and took his offer."
"We all have our weak moments," Ivor said, removing the ingot from its mold and dunking it in some ice water.
"Yeah mine got me this fucking shiner," Gaius said, pointing to the burnt part of his face.
"Just trying to sympathize, dick," Ivor grumbled, beginning to heat the metal and grabbing a hammer.
"You think your sympathy will help?" Gaius asked, his voice getting louder. "Fuck you and your sympathy, look at me I wasn't great looking before but now. Mirrors and cups break as soon as I enter the Grover-Damned building!" He continued as he growled and punched a hole in the wall. "Appleloosa was the only job I did for free. Instead, I got a scar and a wake-up call so pardon me if I'm coming off as a little touchy about the subject." The griffin centurion finished and turned to see Ivor looking at him. "Well? Got anything to say to that?"
Ivor only turned back and began to hammer out the metal. "I'm glad you got that out, " He said as he continued working. "Let's me in on the kind of warrior I'm fighting alongside."
Gaius was a little shocked at his words. "What is up with you?"
"Pardon?"
"Most caribou are kill first and ask questions later," Gaius said. "Yet you seem to look at a situation or person and try to figure it out. Why?"
Ivor chuckled and stopped working. "My father taught me how to fight and how to lead," Ivor removed his shirt to where it hung around his waist, revealing over a dozen tattoos and scars on his arms with a very detailed full back tattoo. "But my mother taught me smithing and how to survive. Both of what they taught tended to overlap." Ivor showed an almost untouched tattoo on his right arm and shoulder, on it was a tattoo of a female caribou's head and upper body wearing a helmet and long braided hair.
"Both told me two things. Father says 'Go into battle blind and don't return, but go into battle with open eyes and you'll see home again' and mother said 'Never be just fire or ice. Be both'. Neither phrase has ever led me astray" Ivor finished, pulling his shirt back up.
"So where are Mr. and Mrs. Viking?" Gaius asked, becoming more interested.
"Father came with us and mother she's… with our ancestors." Ivor answered with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Oh… sorry." Gaius said, feeling a little bad for asking.
"It's okay, it happened when I was young, " Ivor said, continuing to work on fixing the helmet. "A critical time for anyone, being young, impressionable, looking for a mentor or caregiver…" Ivor dragged on a little.
"I'm not apologizing to him," Gaius said. "Kid got his shots in, so I'm not apologizing for shit."
"Not asking you too," Ivor said, dunking the metal into a bucket of water with ice in it. "Instead, I want you to help me inspire him."
Gaius raised a brow at him. "I'm not following you…"
Ivor smiled. "He obviously holds no love for the Stonehoof, we saw what he did to Ragnar, now imagine what he'd do if he felt a want or need to help us fight them." He said, starting to shape the metal.
Gaius started scratching his chin thinking. "So treat him like a child needing to be taught rather than some dick who decided to pick a fight?" He asked getting an on the nose gesture from Ivor.
Gaius thought for a minute before sighing. "Fine, but I won't hesitate to knock the shit out of him."
"Didn't expect you to, " Ivor said. "I want you to train him, not father him. He's caribou, we'll treat him how we treat our own." Ivor finished, handing him the finished helmet with the fixed faceplate, but with a few runes carved and imprinted on it.
"The hell is this chicken scratch?" Gaius asked, a little pissed with the new addition to his helmet.
"That blow to the head should have killed you. These symbols mean protection, victory, and luck," Ivor explained, putting the tools away. "Consider it a way of saying 'you might not be caribou but we'll treat you like one', if that makes sense."
Gaius looked at the helmet. He took it and juggled it in his hands a bit then put it on. "Don't look too much into this cause I'd rather piss glass than be caribou, but thanks." He said, walking out of the forge and leaving the caribou chief to finish clean up.
--Meanwhile--
Shining Armor was in a large tent looking over a war map of the land. His mind was thinking as many steps ahead as he could. But a tug on his pant leg broke his train of thought and he instantly knew who it was.
"Papa?" Flurry asked, looking like she had just woken up.
"Hey, sweetheart, what are you doing?" Shining asked, picking her up.
"I had a dream, Mama was there." The young alicorn said, resting her head against her father's shoulder.
"Oh, baby we'll find her." He said, his voice cracking a bit trying to hide his sadness.
"I know, a pretty birdie told me so." Flurry said, making her father look at her quickly.
"Oh, did the birdie say anything else," Shining asked, humoring his daughter.
Flurry nodded her head. "It said that it would show me where Mama was and that I'd make new friends there." She then leaned towards the map and pointed to what was once a fort settled and a cliff over the sea. "Right here."
Shining looked at the location, Cirrus drop. He knew the location but the problem was that the only path that was trekkable went right past one of the strongest forts in the land, Gravethwaite. He couldn't risk any losses now, but even a chance to see his wife again… he didn't know what to do.
"Sir, " A voice spoke from the opening of the tent. Looking up, he saw Lucky now in a more feminine armor standing in attention. "The troops were wondering what our next move was."
Looking at Lucky then at the map, his daughter, and back at the map. He was lost at what to say or do, but a sound broke him from his thoughts; it was a soft 'book boop'. Shining looked to where he heard the sound. Near Cirrus drop was a large black raven looking at him.
"Pretty birdie." He heard Flurry say, pointing at the bird.
In a quick flap of its wings and it was out the opening of the tent and gone. Shining watched it fly away, then turned back to the map and sighed. "Tell them we make for Cirrus drop within the hour." Lucky nodded and turned to alert the camp. Shining looked at his daughter and smiled, thinking that most of the females in his life were smart and almost never wrong then why should his daughter be any different. He decided that come Hell or high-water, he would see his wife again and nothing would stop him.
When Equestria fell, its neighbors had two choices, join Dainn or try and fight back. One group fought back, and they now held what was now called The Border. In five short years, the group had done three things; they held a firm line against Dainn's army, erected a wall that spanned over nearly the entire border and almost a mile of stone thick, and last they became an unignorable thorn in Dainn's side. They were now the brightest beacon of hope in the land, and they planned to keep it that way.
-+ The Wall +-
A large force of caribou gathered at the one passage through the wall, a large arch with five iron gates and defenses both in front of and on top of the wall. The leader of the caribou stepped out from his tent; the leader was none other than Prince Blueblood dressed in a very formal royal army uniform carrying a sword that had an odd number of curves to it. Blueblood had gladly joined Dainn when he took over Equestria, and through a combination of brown-nosing and military success, he had quickly found a way into the king's inner circle. He had yet to disappoint him, which is why he was here now to conquer what no other has before.
"Lord Blueblood, we are ready to attack at your command." A caribou informed him.
"Splendid, we attack in one hour, " Blueblood said. "Should you do well, soldier, and I will personally see to your reward." He smiled, getting a chuckled from him as he ran off, informing the rest of the camp. As he left, Blueblood looked to the top of the wall seeing odd flashes of light in a pattern the fashes hitting his face making him shield his eyes before they stopped. The prince put on a stern expression before returning to his tent. Inside, his tent was very lavish with a few small tables, an armor stand, a personal cookpot, and even an actual bed. On that bed in a red collar and chained to one of the posts was the former showmare, Trixie, she still had her horn due to her entertaining skills, and as of this moment, she belongs to Blueblood, and he planned to keep it that way.
"Master, may I ask what is happening?" Trixie asked, crawling as far as she could towards the foot of the bed.
"We are at the wall, and in about an hour, an attack will happen," Blueblood answered, beginning to put on the armor from the stand. "And you are quite the curious one today; first where we're going, then why, and now you ask what." The prince smirked, slipping on the chainmail shirt.
"Well, master, you have said you kept me for three things." Trixie smiled, sitting back on her haunches with her hands between her legs.
"That I do, what were they again?" He asked, putting on the rest of his armor and the cover shirt with a Stonehoof symbol on it.
Trixie giggled, tilting her head up in mock thinking. "You enjoy my tricks and feats; you love how my tits and ass bounce when you fuck me into next week, and lastly, you adore how I hear every little piece of gossip and rumors from here to Yakyakistan and back again." The former showmare finished with a big smile on her face.
Blue blood approached her and cupped her face with his right hand. "Still one of the best lists I've ever heard." He said, kissing her briefly before grabbing a tower-kite shield near the foot of the bed and went to leave.
"Don't be gone long." Trixie all but sang as he turned and smiled one last time at the mare and left. ****************************************** The small army of caribou and traitors were sharpening weapons, putting on armor, or doing their pre-fight rituals and, for some that involved a hefty amount of assaulting females. Currently, a group of five caribou had shoved a lone mare to the ground laughing as she cried.
"Don't worry, " The caribou on top of her laughed. "It just hurts for a bit." He then moved to enter her as she cried and fought as best she could, but he was much larger and more powerful than her. She felt him pushing against her core and silently prayed for someone to save her. But it did not come; she felt the caribou hilt into her and closed her eyes, waiting for it to be over, but her eyes shot open, feeling herself flipped on top of her assaulter and a second caribou was on her going for her other hole.
"NO, please don't!" She cried, looking back at the caribou behind her but quickly received a slap making her yelp in pain.
"Just enjoy it, bitch." The second caribou growled as he shoved himself into her ass. ****************************************** Blueblood saw the event happening and simply turned and walked away, headed towards a fire near the edge of the camp where there was only a caribou cow getting drinks for some of the soldiers. The prince motioned for her to head back, once alone, Blueblood sat on a log and buried his face in his hands and let out a deep growl of frustration and anger. He would have continued his actions, but the sound of metal sliding against metal from behind him made him look up, seeing two blades that looked like hooks close to his throat.
"If you're going to do it, then do it." Blueblood sighed. "But give this to 'him' after you do." The blonde stallion said, holding up a piece of paper and gold medallion, which was quickly taken from him as the blades pulled away. "When you get done, tell him I'm here and waiting." He didn't get a response, but he knew he was alone and grabbed a mug and filled it with ale. "May the creators have mercy on them," Blueblood grumbled, downing the drink.
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As the stonehoof warriors began to move towards the wall, about a hundred yards from the gate they came a see a lone tall warrior dressed in an odd sort of clothing of orange pants and a robe-like shirt; he also carried a bronze staff, and even with a sapphire blue mask covering the lower half of his face it was evident that he was a dragon. The small army stopped in front of him, and one caribou stepped to meet him.
"Surrender." The caribou demanded.
The warrior raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You wish to surrender to me?" The dragon asked. "Very well, I accept."
The caribou only growled and brought his ax up for a swing but was quickly met with a jab in the stomach that pushed him back. Looking up, he saw the dragon had indeed hit him with his staff and assumed a very odd low stance. "Honestly, you should surrender; that way, just your pride's hurt." The dragon mocked.
"Ha, you may be a dragon, but you seem to blind." Another caribou from the army called out stepping forward. "We outnumber you."
"Yeah, about that…" The dragon said, scratching the back of his neck. The next thing the stonehoof knew, several massive fireballs came raining down, causing them to scatter or get crushed quickly, cutting the army's numbers in half. As they spread out, a group surrounded them, hundreds of dragons, and what looked like kirin all began to cut down the stonehoof warriors. The once large army quickly whittled down to around three dozen had formed a group of shields and were trying to keep the group of dragons and kirin at bay.
"Where the hell is Blueblood?" One of the stonehoof soldiers asked.
"Asshole probably ran off and left us for dead." A stallion yelled, taking a swing at a kirin.
The dragons and kirin began to move in and capture the remaining Stonehoof and taking them prisoner and making them kneel in a line. The dragon with the staff approached the front of the warriors and scanned them before approached on his left by a female dragon and a female kirin on his right. The kirin handed him a note and medallion before walking towards the rest of the army, who had begun going through the Stonehoof camp. The dragon with the staff nodded to the female before walking to the former encampment himself as the dragoness removed her helmet, revealing the Dragon Lord Ember herself as she walked to the captured soldiers.
"You all know what to look for," Ember shouted as kirin and dragons both began to inspect the necks of all the captured warriors pulling one out of line every so often.
-+-+-+-
Blueblood sat at the slowly dying fire and downed his tenth mug of ale almost entirely unaware of his surroundings. But as he went for another drink, he stopped and turned to see the tall dragon with a staff walking towards him. Unfazed by his presence Blueblood poured himself another glass and another in a separate mug.
"You know *burp* these caribou have one *hic* one thing over us Equestrians." He slurred. "I just *hic* just wish… ah, I don't know, here have a sip." The prince offered the cup to the dragon.
"You know it's okay to have one now and then, but you've knocked back half a barrel." The dragon said, taking the mug and having a seat next to the stallion.
"Oh, piss *burp* off it, Spike." Blueblood slurred out. "The shit I've seen or had to ignore, I need a few to deal with it all." The prince groaned, taking another gulp.
"You know Celestia wouldn't like seeing how much you're drinking or what about Trixie?" The dragon pulled down his mask, fully revealing Spike. "Besides, we need you on your toes."
"I know." Blueblood sighed, standing up. "Just keep Trixie safe, and I'll see what I can do once I get back to Canterlot."
"Just be careful. You're one of the only ones we have inside." Spike told him. "And don't worry, I'll make sure Trixie's safe."
"Thanks, oh, how's Rarity?" The prince asked.
"Three months along," Spike answered. "Well, time for the hard part, huh?"
"Good for you two, and make it a few ribs, a head wound, and maybe a limp," Blueblood said, psyching himself up for what the dragon was about to do. "Go easy on the face, please."
"I'll try," Spike said, standing up and giving his staff a spin. "No promises, though." In a quick flurry of attacks, he had left the prince with a bleeding head wound near his horn, two cracked ribs, and he was favoring his left leg. "You need a hand getting back or something?"
"No, if it even looks like you're helping me, this whole thing will be for nothing," Blueblood growled as he tried to ignore the pain. "I'll be in Canterlot in a week, by then I should have Dainn off your back for a month at least."
Spike nodded, tossing the medallion back to Blueblood. "No need, I've convinced Ember to go on the offensive, we'll be in Canterlot in a month, count on it." He said with a smirk.
"Then I'll see you there and ready to take heads." Blueblood smiled and began to make his way back to the main road for the long trek back to the royal city off in the distance.
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Back with Ember, they had taken roughly a dozen stallions, and about ten caribou pulled aside while the rest were still on their knees. The dragons and kirin had begun freeing any females from collars and bonds as they took all the weapons they could and throwing them into a pile as Spike returned, walking up to Ember and whispered in her ear about the conversation he had with Blueblood.
The female Dragon-Lord walked to the still kneeling warriors turned prisoners, scanning them before speaking. "I offer you all one chance; you can either join us and fight Dainn or face a coward's death."
One caribou burst out laughing. "Hahaha, under the rule of some gash?"
"No under a commander of an army," Ember said with a hefty dose of snark.
"Gash is still a gash, no matter what they say they are." He smirked.
"And all of you agree with his statement?" Ember asked the other prisoners. Those kneeling shouted in agreement save for one younger-looking caribou, and he was silent. "What about you?" She asked, standing over the young bull.
The bull looked to the other prisoners and then Ember then the ground. "I… I don't know another life, " He started. "But I don't want to die on my knees." He said, trying to find the words.
"Do you believe in Dainn's vision?" The voice of Spike called out, walking over to him.
"I only followed him because of the law." The young caribou said, confusing the two drakes. "But now I say damn him and DAMN THE LAW." The bull cheered.
The two smiled as they helped him up and led him to the group set aside. Ember then turned back to the females of the group and spoke. "I don't see a reason why we should take justice from you all when you've already had so much stripped away." She gestured to the pile of weapons on the ground. "You don't have to, but we'll let you have the option." She finished and stepped aside.
At first, none of the former slaves moved until one caribou cow slowly started walking forward and picking up a hatchet holding it with both hands. Her face bruised, and her lip busted and bleeding while her body sported scars that healed over along with a few fresh ones, but her face was unsure as she stood in front of one of the chained warriors as he smiled up at her wickedly. Then in a flash of rage, she brought the ax down with such a force nearly the entire head disappeared into his skull, and that was just the first swing, the next dozen or so were so fast and violent that it was hard to tell where the weapon struck or what it cut. Soon the rest of the former slaves took up other weapons and attacked other chained caribou.
But off to the side in a small patch of trees, an older caribou watched the events and now turned about to run to inform Dainn of what he had seen. But after a few steps, he was stopped by a female kirin dressed in a combination of bronze and studded leather armor with a gray scarf around her neck and her head wrapped in light leather, only revealing her piercing silver/white eyes. She wielded a pair of hook swords and stood in a ready position but also relaxed like she wasn't taking it seriously.
"Out of my way, slag." He growled, but she did not move or respond.
The kirin stayed silent and hooked the two curves of her swords and began spinning the combined blades above her head, causing the metal to make a hum almost singing as she walked closer. The old caribou watched, throwing his shield up as the kirin swung the blades upward. He heard a slicing sound and saw her grab the handle of the connected sword returning to her original position giving an odd 'eye-smile.' The caribou was confused for a moment then, nothing he saw a trickle of red then nothing.
The female kirin looked at the now two halves of the once whole caribou and gave a 'hmph' before walking in between the two halves back to join the army of kirin and dragons.
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Back in Blueblood's tent Trixie was free of her collar and getting dressed in her magician tux when Ember and Spike entered.
"Ember, Spike!" She cheered, running over to them and wrapping them in a hug. "What's been eight months? A year?"
"Ten months and six days, but who's counting?" Spike chuckled as he and Ember returned the hug. "How have things been?"
"As good as they can be." Trixie sighed. "But with my Blueblood to share a bed with helps me get through it." She smiled and led them over to a table to have a seat.
"Well, he's back on his way to Canterlot, and after we get information from Blueblood's spies, we'll be doing the same," Spike said, taking a seat. "I just hope he chose them well."
"We like to think he did." A voice called from the opening of the tent where a caribou entered with a few maps in his hands. "But I guess we'll have to prove ourselves." He said, rolling them out, showing the conquered Equestria.
"So, tell us what you can," Ember said, looking over the map.
"Blueblood mostly had us for intel rather than sabotage or anything, " The caribou explained. "Our first job was to try and find the element bearers; Princess Twilight is still in Ponyville a kind of cruel joke to live in fear in the place you call home, Rainbow Dash is drugged out of her skull and on the move to Cirrus drop along with a few others including the cutie mark crusaders."
"Wait, drugged?" Spike asked.
"Yes, apparently she's very… rebellious." He answered. "Our real concern is Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy; the first two got shipped over to our homelands about a week ago, and the third is missing."
"It makes my stomach churn to say this, but we have to forget them for now and focus on one's we know about right now," Trixie said, even looking a bit sick just thinking about what she said. "And with Ponyville the fortress it is now, we'll have to go for Rainbow Dash."
Spike looked over the map and sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration. "Hate to say it, but she's right."
"Don't worry Spike I'll send one of my best to keep an eye on Princess Twilight, along with as much gold as we can so he can ensure her safety." The caribou reassured him. "But if we are going for Rainbow Dash, we'll need to leave before sundown so we can get there when she does."
"Then, let's get packed and go," Spike said, hurrying out of the tent.
Ember sighed, knowing that all Spike wanted was to see Twilight again. She nodded to the caribou for him to tell the troops to pack up and move out. As Ember left, she saw a kirin walkout from some nearby woods and approach her and standing quietly.
"Congrats, my kinda kirin comrade. I'm going to put you in charge of our recently acquired soldiers." Ember stated. "And if even one of them thinks of stepping out of line… feminize him." She smiled, getting a raspy chuckle from the kirin as the two began helping pack up.
-+Elsewhere (a lot of these this chapter)+-
A closed wagon pulled by a large war-beast and guarded by a group of caribou moved along a path as snow began to fall in massive amounts. Inside were a dozen mares each chained to the walls with four at the front a yellow earth pony with red hair, an orange pegasus with purple hair, a white unicorn with a gray and white swirl hair, and last a blue pegasus with rainbow hair sat in the middle of the first three hugging them close. The rainbow-haired pegasus's eyes looked glazed over an almost unsettling dark color.
She looked devoid of emotion until the wagon came to a stop, and she heard the jiggling of keys. Looking at the door, she gave the orange pegasus a peck on her head before standing up. As it opened, she looked at the dozen caribou and spoke.
"Take me, and I won't fight." She said, stepping as close as the chain let her.
"Well, we could oblige if you take your medicine." The caribou who opened the door all but laughed holding a glass vial up. She nodded and was quickly unlocked; the mare took one last look at the others before the door closed, hiding the events that would soon follow.
1. I am alive. 2. I've had a lot on my plate in the past few months. 3. The next chapter is about 60-70% done just working on the flow. 4. I am currently working on a chapter for a She-ra fix, but that is apart of a bunch on one-shots, so it shouldn't take long. 5. Thank you all for being patient with me.
It was evening time a few miles from Cirrus drop where the Warborn and Iron Talon had set up camp. The Warborn had gathered near the west side of the field, and all looked to be praying. Ivor was the first to stand, and his father followed as they retrieved a large basin filled with a crimson liquid returning to the front of the praying caribou. Gaius looked on till curiosity got the best of him and approached the two doing his best not to disturb any caribou.
"Mind if I ask what you all are doing?" Gaius asked, looking in the large bowl.
"Tonight will be special, and we are preparing to attack," Einar answered as he called for all warriors fighting to line up.
"How so?" The griffin asked, taking a sniff of the bowl and quickly pulling back. "Oh good gods, what the hell is that? Smells like blood." He coughed, looking at the two as Einar chuckled.
"That's because it is blood." Ivor smiled, stepping to the front of the line.
Einar dipped the tips of his fingers into the blood and put five lines down Ivor's face from forehead to chin. Ivor then took his place next to his father and did the same to the caribou behind him and the next.
"Okay, I'll bite; why do you have a bowl of blood?" Gaius asked as the father and son continued the odd ritual.
"For the raid, we have a special someone guiding us tonight," Ivor said. "And she demands that those who fight to wear blood like a badge of honor."
"And who's she, if I may ask?" Gaius asked, looking around but not seeing anyone particularly important looking.
"Her." Ivor pointed into the quickly becoming night sky toward the fort. In the stars above was what looked like a crimson-colored winged female caribou made of stars and galaxies holding a spear in her left hand with the tip pointed at the fort, but what looked like her head was turned, and two blinding white stars seemed to look off away from the cliffside.
"What the… " Gaius trailed off. "What the fuck is that, and should we concerned?" He asked, sounding worried.
"The Blood Valkyrie," Ivor answered.
"She is an unnamed warrior who was said to have fought over ten-thousand warriors in a single night," Einar said. "When the sun emerged the next morning, she stood victorious with her spear."
"I thought Valkyries carried warriors that fell in battle to Valhalla?" Gaius asked.
"They do," Ivor answered. "But while most will train to be Valkyrie, some earn it like her."
"That's right," Einar confirmed. "When her fight ended, Sigrun herself came, offered her wings and a place alongside her and her sisters." The older caribou continued as other caribou began their pre-fight rituals. "She accepted but had the backbone to demand her place in the cosmos from the Allfather himself."
"So now she's a collection of stars and nebulas?" Gaius asked.
"So she can watch battles till the end of time." Ivor nodded. "Her spear points to slaughter while she looks toward a great battle in the future."
"She's looking towards Canterlot," Gaius said. "Your story happen to say when that great battle will happen?"
"Fraid not," Ivor said, turning to paint blood on the next warrior until he saw it was Applejack. "And I assume there is no deterring you from fighting?"
"Not a chance." The farm mare smirked.
Ivor smiles and paints a few lines and symbols on her face. "These marks will show that you have no fear and that you will not break." The mare smiled and walked off to join the other warriors waiting to move and attack. "Gaius, I might need your help tonight," Ivor said, leading the griffin aside.
"Hey, you keep your shit inline," Gaius said. "I'll have enough on my plate keeping my troops alive."
"It's the kid," Ivor said, nodding his head where Vidar paced back and forth like an animal in a cage. "He's been doing that for almost an hour."
"So what? Maybe he's hyped up for your whole Blood Valkyrie thing," Gaius said. "Besides, wouldn't you want some bloodthirsty warrior for this fight?"
"Not like him, " Ivor answered. "I can deal with blood fueled rage, but not when the one having it is already that much of an animal."
Gaius watched Vidar spin a newly acquired hatchet and a large knife in his hands, looking at the fort on the cliff. "I'll try to make sure he doesn't kill anyone he's not supposed to."
"That's all I ask, " Ivor smiled, patting Gaius on the back. "We move when the first star is visible." Gaius nodded and went to help his soldiers prepare to attack.
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Shining Armor stood before his soldiers as his daughter sat on a nearby log, kicking her feet back and forth. He had just marched his army halfway across Equestria on her vision of a dream, and now he was wondering if he was second-guessing himself. At the top of the hill was Cirrus drop, and the night was coming fast; if they didn't move soon, they would lose their chance to attack.
"Prince Shining!" A soldier shouted as he ran up the white stallion.
"What is it?" Shining asked, concerned.
"We captured a scout." The warrior smiled. "We thought you should question him."
Shining looked shocked and told the soldier to take him to the scout. He led to a large tent where a caribou dressed in Valkyrie armor and a helmet covering their head tied to a chair. The caribou was struggling against the ropes that held them down. Shining stepped in front of their prisoner, making them stop fighting. "So you wanna tell me what you know, or should we just break your bones one by one?" Shining asked.
"I know you, half-wits, better let me go, " The caribou spoke. "I mean none of you harm."
"Why should we believe you?" The Prince asked. "Your 'king' has taken our homes, our people, our very way of life, " Shining spoke, getting in the caribou's face. "Give me one good reason why I should let you go."
"King? I don't answer to a. . .oh pfft hahaha." The caribou laughed. "You assholes think I'm Stonehoof? Oh, that is, that is funny."
"And why is that?" The soldier who brought Shining armor asked, confused.
"Help me with my helmet." The caribou said, still giggling.
Shining grabbed the helmet and pulled it off, revealing a female caribou with short nubs of antlers, long hair that split into three braids at the middle of her back, and a healed scar across her lips from the bottom of her left nostril to the right side of her chin.
"Do I look like the kinda lass to fall in with Stonehoof?" The caribou cow asked.
Shining looked confused. "What are you?"
"Warborn sweetie, now you," She nodded to the soldier behind Shining. "Get me out of these, and I'll let you keep more than half your teeth." She smiled, gesturing to her bindings. The soldier looked to the prince, he nodded, and the soldier made quick work of the ropes. "Thank you, " She said, standing up and rubbing her wrists, giving the soldier a look. "Hmm, you're cute… too bad, my wife is the jealous type." She chuckled, grabbing her helmet, and started towards the tent opening.
"Wait," Shining told her before she got to the flap. "Could I persuade you into fighting with us?" He asked.
"Of course, " She nods, opening the tent. "This is the Warborn symbol; try not to kill any of us." She answered, showing a tattoo on her right upper arm of a red raven an attacking pose. She stepped out of the tent and grabbed her spear and shield that were nearby. She was beginning to leave the camp when a scream made the entire camp jump. Without hesitation, all the warriors ran towards the scream with Shining at the front in seconds and found himself where he had left his daughter, but she was gone.
"FLURRY!" The prince shouted rapidly, turning in circles, hoping for even a glance of his daughter.
"DADDY!" A scream came just beyond the trees. Shining sprinted through the forest to a road to see his daughter being carried into Cirrus Drop by a caribou. The stallion could do nothing but watch as the gate of the fort closed, and his daughter was gone.
Shining turned towards the army that had followed him and took a sword from the closest soldier.
"We! Move! NOW!" Shining yelled, starting to walk towards the fort, only stopping in front of the female Warborn. "I'm getting my daughter back, tell your chief, or whatever you have; he's welcome to help or stay the hell out of my way." He growled and continued towards the fort with his army close behind.
The Valkyrie pulled a hunting horn from her belt and gave it a mighty blow alerting all around for miles.
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Flurry kicked and screamed, trying to get free of the stallion as he carried her into the middle of the fort.
"LADS GATHER ROUND!" He yelled, throwing Flurry to the ground. "WE HAVE OURSELVES A LITTLE TREAT, AN ALICORN PRINCESS, AND ON THE YOUNG SIDE AT THAT!" He addressed the warriors of Cirrus drop. A caribou pair grabbed Flurry, putting a jagged black ring on her horn, an inhibitor ring.
"You know they say the smaller the fruit, the sweeter the juice, so I say we all have a taste." A savage-looking caribou laughed, starting to walk towards where Flurry was.
"You won't touch her." A voice called out. Everyone turned to see a caribou walking down from some steps. He stood as tall as Shining armor and carried a Dane ax on his shoulder; he was dressed in furs, pelts, and bore many scars across his face and chest. But his most prominent feature was his left arm looking attached gruesomely to his shoulder; it was tar-black with electric blue seeming to pulse through it.
"High commander, " The savage said, giving a small bow. "What's a little touch or bite on the little cutie?"
"Because Dainn wants a complete set, and if I let you and the rest have a turn, then I'll have to explain why instead of a Princess, I've delivered a corpse." The commander said, walking up to Flurry and used his left hand to tilt her face up. "But a little damage will be fine, dislocate her wing, and put her in a cage with a view." The savage chuckled, grabbed Flurry by her shoulder and wing, then he whispered in her ear.
"Make a wish."
With a deep popping sound and a scream, he pulled her out of its socket. With tears welling up in her eyes, they started dragging her to the other side of the fort that was little more than a stone bridge. Along the bridge were cages hanging over the sides with several mares hanging from inside them. The savage threw her in a cell at the end of the bridge and pushed it where it hung over the edge above a massive drop down to the water. As soon as she was locked up, the sound of a hunting horn tore through the air, alerting the entire fort.
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Shining's army had pushed catapults into range and ready to fire. Shining was advancing on the fort with about two dozen of his best and a few bridge launchers they rolled alongside them. As they reached the wall, Shining hit the device's lever, launching at the keep wall, creating a bridge. The former guard captain was halfway to the wall before anyone could blink. Once he reached the border, arrows began to fly from the front and behind, but he didn't care. He was going to find his daughter.
He found himself in at the wall when he heard footsteps behind him and saw a young caribou running straight at him, wielding a hatchet and hunting knife. He turned to fight, but the caribou used Shining's shoulder as a step up and made it to the top, where he pulled himself up and over. Confused, Shining shrugged it off as one of his soldiers handed a short ladder to him to scale the rest of the way up the wall.
"FLURRY!" Shining yelled as he reached the top of the wall. He quickly found himself surrounded by caribou and loyalist stallions ready to attack.
"Get out of my way," Shining growled, tightening his grip on his sword till his knuckles turned a burning shade of white.
"Or what?" One of them chuckled.
"Or this, " A voice said as dozen of caribou came over the wall and quickly began to overwhelm the stonehoof army. Shining stared in shock as the same species that took his home now fought against each other as he had fought them.
"Don't just stand there, kill somebody." The same voice said to Shining, making him turn to see a warlord bash another caribou with his shield. Shining was back to fighting in seconds, taking down various enemies and making his way down to the keep's courtyard when he noticed a raider watching over the battle. When their eyes met, the raider stepped through a close-by door where a bright flash followed. He ran to the door but saw that it was an empty room; before he could question it, he found himself tackled to the ground and wrestling with a stallion.
Elsewhere in the keep, Vidar was underground fighting. He was quick and agile, jumping off walls and swinging from rafters as he took down enemy after enemy. The young-adult caribou was more ferocious than usual; every hit either broke a bone or was a killing blow. The simple reason? All the voices in his head screamed at him one single thought:
'SHE IS HERE!'
Vidar made his way deeper and deeper into the dungeon and did not leave any alive in his wake.
Back up top, the Warborn, Iron Talon, and Equestrian knights were barely holding their own. Ivor and Gaius were standing with their backs to each other as warriors surrounded them.
"Love to hear any suggestions, branch brain," Gaius growled at the caribou.
"Workin' on it," Ivor growled back. Ivor began scanning the area, spotting a berserker currently fighting off any who came near. "HIM, THE BERSERKER!" Ivor yelled, causing the whole of the Warborn clan to focus their attention. The other armies followed suit and began pushing their way towards the mentioned caribou, who was starting to fly into a rage before spotting who he thought to be the Warborn chief, Einar.
Einar was old. He had seen nearly forty winters before his son was born and thirty more since he had lost his wife. But it did not matter to him if the gods allowed him to live that long, He would fight until Ragnarok and after that. Einar turned to face his next opponent, a Berserker.
Einar swung his ax at the charging warrior, who dodged it and went to bring his blades down on the older caribou. Einar rolled back to avoid the attack giving the two a moment to circle and size the other up before going In for another attack. The berserker charged and began to unleash a flurry of attacks upon the old former chief, Einar, while old had enough speed and knowledge to only receive a few cuts before slamming the pommel of the ax into the berserker's nose, making him back off. With his nose broken and pouring blood, the berserker roared in anger before charging again.
Einar let the warrior come at him and hoisted him up onto his shoulders. Grabbing the berserk's neck and hip, the old caribou gave a violent jerk downward, making a crunching and cracking snapping sound. The berserker roared in pain and continued to do so as Einar threw him to the ground. With the berserker felt with Einar turned to address the armies.
"YOUR CHIEF IS BEAT LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS AND SWEAR LOYALTY TO THE WARBORN!" Einar yelled. As the Stonehoof began to kneel, the berserker growled, giving a violent jerk making his spine snap back into place, and standing on shaking legs, he drew a knife charging at Einar, who had his back turned.
He planted the knife in Einar's back, causing him to gasp as he felt it hit his lung and scrape his heart. The old former chief fell to the ground catching himself on his knees.
"I THINK YOU MEANT TO SAY 'SWEAR LOYALTY TO THE STONEHOOF' YOU OLD FOOL!" The berserker yelled, letting out a chuckle.
"I would if I was chief," Einar growled back, fighting to try and stand back up. "But I'm not."
"Then who is?" The berserker asked.
"I am." The voice of Ivor said, stepping forth and helping his father to his feet. "And you have attacked my father, so now I'm going to rip your head off." Once, he passed off his father to some other Warborn, Ivor turned to face the berserker. If you looked into his eyes, all you would see was rage and blood lust.
Ivor charged at the berserker, tackling him to the ground, and began to bash his head in with his shield. The berserker tried to bring his knife up into Ivor's neck, but the young chief grabbed his wrist and broke it, making his enemy drop the blade and continued his assault. His shield was becoming stained red as his strikes continued until the berserker's face was red as bones were beginning to show and sputtered blood. As his strikes slowed till he stopped and took a breath, standing up, Ivor lifted the Berserker to his knees and stood behind him. Most would have gone with a quick snap, but Ivor said he would pull his head off, and he would hate to be a liar. So grabbing the kneeling caribou's antlers and a hoof on his shoulder, Ivor began to pull slowly, and what followed was screaming, cracking, popping, and ripping of flesh.
The armies looked on as one chief killed another, and with a roar, the berserker had his head removed and tossed aside. Ivor rolled his neck out with a crack. With their leader gone and the violent display over, the rest of the Stonehoof began to surrender, not wanting to join the fallen warrior.
Ivor walked over to Shining and spoke. "Find what you are looking for; I must attend to my father."
Shining nodded. "Search the area, find my daughter!" He called out as the armies began to search.
Even after all that had happened, everyone could tell that the night still had a lot in store. . .for everyone.
As the three forces sorted out the warriors who would defect and the ones who wouldn't, Shining never stopped looking for his daughter, searching every cell without any luck. His search came to a halt when he came across a young caribou in the lower dungeon slamming into a large steel door over and over again, trying to get in.
"Hey," Shining called, but the young bull continued his assault on the door that refused to budge. "Hey, kid!" He yelled again, trying to get him to stop but to no success.
"Don't bother," The voice of Gaius called as he and several other griffins walked up. "He's been like this since before we attacked."
"Any idea what he thinks in there?" Shining asked, watching as Vidar took another run at the door, only succeeding in rattling the door.
"For all I care, it's an empty room," Gaius said, walking to the door and shoving Vidar aside and taking out a key ring. "Hold on a second, kid." He groaned, fiddling with the lock before it clicked and the door swung open.
The smell was horrendous, a mixture of rotting corpses and waste. As the warriors entered the room, they noticed several bodies lying about, unmoving, and even a few in the later decomposition stages. Vidar ran in, sniffing the air and moving toward the center of the room with over two or three dozen females from changelings, ponies, griffins, and even hippogriffs all huddled together trying to keep warm. The most shocking part was surrounding the group was a moat of red, brown, and black with what looked like body parts floating in it. The trench made a sort of island that kept all females huddle up.
"If you had to describe Hell," Gaius said, looking around. He moved towards the moat where Vidar had stopped and appeared to be looking at a decapitated head floating in the viscera. "Find a plank or something," Gaius called. He watched Vidar poke the floating head with his hatchet; he seemed almost intrigued by it, like he didn't understand that it wasn't alive.
"Is there an alicorn among you?" Shining called as he ran up. "Her name is Flurry. She's only five, her coat's white like snow, and she's so smart for her age," He continued as a few shook their heads no. A few soldiers brought over a few long planks and made a few bridges so the enslaved females could walk across. Shining was starting to panic, first his wife, then his little girl both taken from him, and he was beginning to lose hope. He ran out of the dungeon straight to where the Stonehoof soldiers were being executed if they did not join the fight against Dainn. Shining stood in front of the three or four dozen, his face a mixture of rage, sorrow, and fear.
"ALRIGHT, YOU SICK FUCKS LISTEN UP," The former guard captain yelled. "YOU ALL TOOK MY DAUGHTER, AND I WANT HER BACK, NOW!" Walking up to the first caribou, he saw and looked them dead in the eye. "Where is she?" He asked. When the caribou didn't answer, Shining drew his sword and lopped his head clean off. "WHAT ABOUT YOU, HUH?" He yelled, grabbing a stallion and pulling him up.
"I-I-I, she-, they," The stallion babbled as Shining pointed his sword at his stomach.
"GETTING A LITTLE INPATIENT HERE, SPITFUCK!" Shining yelled. "TELL ME NOW, OR I SWEAR I WILL FEED YOU YOUR OWN HEART WHILE IT'S STILL BEATING!"
"NO, YOU WON'T!" A called-out a shock to many who were watching.
Dropping the stallion, Shining didn't turn toward the voice yet; instead, his entire demeanor changed. His body was rigid, almost in a state of shock and disbelief. "Say something else. . .please."
The owner of the voice spoke again. "I have seen you in a dozen situations and never once even break a sweat," They said, a bit of anger mixed with concern in their voice. "Now, in one of the most crucial situations of your life, you resort to slaying left and right like nobody's business," They continued speaking as their voice got closer until it was right behind him. "What do you have to say for yourself, Shining Armor?"
Turning slowly, Shining came face to face with someone he'd not seen in over a year, and he couldn't help but begin to shed tears. His wife, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza or Cadance. Shining grabbed her and pulled her in tight. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry; I tried to keep you both safe and. . .I'm a failure." He sobbed as his wife rubbed his back, soothing him.
"It's okay, we'll find her," Cadance said, trying not to cry herself. The two parents stood there for a minute, reassuring each other that they would find their daughter.
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Elsewhere in the captured fort, Applejack helped with the wounded and rescued. Looking around, she noticed Ivor was nowhere to be seen. Until she spotted a tent set up with everyone avoiding it like the plague, so naturally, she was curious and went to check it out. Moving the flap out of the way, she saw Ivor sitting on a stool, resting his chin on his hands, watching over his father as he laid on a small portable cot breathing hard, uneven, and coughing after almost every breath.
"I thought I said not to disturb us," Ivor said, turning toward the tent opening. "Oh, Lady Applejack, I didn't know it was you."
"How's he holding up?" She asked, stepping inside the tent.
"He might see morning if he's lucky," Ivor said, choking on his words. Hearing this, Applejack came up from behind and wrapped her arms around Ivor in a gentle hug.
"I know what it's like," She said with a caring tone. "I watched my folks like this too, can't say it doesn't hurt still." The two stood quietly for a moment before someone clearing their throat broke the moment. Turning, the two saw a caribou at the entrance of the tent.
"Chief, we need your help with a few of these prisoners." He said in a somber tone knowing the situation.
Ivor sighed, looking at his father, not wanting to leave him. Applejack patted him on the shoulder. "I'll watch him." She smiled at him, giving Ivor enough peace to get up and address the situation. As he left, Applejack heard a loud groan and turned to see Einar trying to sit up.
"Oh no, you don't, mister." Applejack said, gently pushing him back down. "You need to rest."
Einar gave a weak chuckle and cough before trying to sit up again. "I have heard the horns of Valhalla and know that the Valkyries come for me," The old caribou said, swinging his legs out to get ready to stand. "And I shall greet them with the sunrise as I have greeted it nearly every day of my life." He moved to stand but found Applejack pushing down on his shoulder, keeping him on the bed.
"Well, greet them both from in here cause I ain't letting you die on my watch." The blonde mare said, giving him a 'don't even try' look.
The old caribou only smiled and shocked her by bringing her hand on his shoulder to his cheek and looked her in the eye. "You remind me so much of my Hjordis." He said with a look of happiness mixed with sadness. "A lass who isn't afraid to speak her mind or tell someone no, a lady who shows passion in whatever she does, and a woman who knows how to keep a chief inline."
Applejack was a little taken back by what he said and sighed. "Y'all really gonna pull that card out on me, aren't ya?" Einar only chuckled, grabbing his ax and using it to support his weight as he pulled on a heavy fur cloak.
"I promise we'll return after only five minutes," Einar said, making his way out of the tent. Applejack was right behind him as they moved somewhat unnoticed through the fort as the former chief scanned for the best place to watch the sunrise. "This way, Miss Applejack." Einar motioned to an entryway that leads to what looked like a broken bridge overlooking the sea far below. As they walked to the edge, Einar took a deep breath and admired the view of the ocean, the stars, and the light beginning to peak over the horizon. He felt a warmth over him even as he smelt snow coming in the coming hours, but something felt odd to him, like tonight still had one last event before It was over.
As the temperature began to drop with a cold wind blowing, Applejack broke the calm silence. "Alright, I'm drawing the line at freezing; let's get back."
"As you command, Miss Applejack." Einar chuckled, turning to follow her back when a sound made his ear twitch. Turning back, he saw something in a cage hanging near the edge of the broken bridge. "Miss Applejack, come help me," Einar said, walking as close to the cell as he could with Applejack right behind him. Reaching with his ax, Einar hooked the head onto the cage and pulled it back over the bridge. On a closer look, he saw that it was a little white filly crying and nursing her wing that looked to be out of place.
Applejack moved to try and see her face to talk to her. "Hey, hey, it's okay. We're getting you out of here, sweetie." Moving to the lock, the farm mare took one of her axes and started to pry it open. After a few minutes of work, the lock snapped, and Applejack pulled the filly out, who immediately clung to her for comfort. "Poor thing is freezing." She said, stroking her mane.
"Here," Einar said, taking his cloak and wrapping it around her. "Let's get her to a doctor." Applejack nodded as they turned to go back. A caribou greeted them with a spear in hand.
"Good, I see you've found her." He said in a calm tone. "Would have hated to see the poor thing freeze to death."
"She needs a doctor quickly," Einar said as a coughing fit erupted from him.
"Looks like you do too," The caribou smirked. "Why don't you let me take the little one? I promise, she'll be in good hands." He offered, taking a few steps forward.
The filly gripped Applejack tighter as he approached. "I can handle her just fine." Applejack said, taking a step back.
"Aw, come on, I don't bite...hard." The caribou chuckled as he continued to approach.
Einar stepped in between the two making him stop in his tracks. The former chief readied his ax and took a firm stance.
"Miss Applejack...when I say, you take her and run, take her to a doctor, and no matter what you hear, don't look back." The old caribou said as the other caribou took his stance. Applejack took a better hold of the filly and got ready to move.
The two sized each other up, shifting their grips on their weapons; the only sounds were the wind and the distance waves. What broke their silence was a blur of purple that flew between them and signaled them.
"NOW!" Einar yelled, charging forward as the other caribou did the same with Applejack was right behind the older caribou as they got advanced. Aiming for the blonde mare with a large swing, his spear was caught by Einar's ax and knocked aside as Applejack rushed by. With their positions now reversed and Einar blocking him from going after her, the caribou found himself trapped between the end of the bridge and the former chief.
"I've never killed a chief before." The caribou mocked, spinning his spear.
"And you'll die without killing one." Einar spat back, bringing his ax up again. "But you'll have the honor to die by one." He smirked as the two locked weapons again. Both of these warriors knew one of them isn't walking away from this fight.
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Applejack rushed back into the middle of the fort like her life depended on it.
"Somebody help!" She screamed, alerting nearly the entire fort. An older female caribou rushed over and began to inspect the filly as Applejack sat her on a nearby bench before scanning the area. "IVOR!" She yelled for the young chief.
"Lady Applejack, what's wrong?" Ivor asked, running up to her.
"It's you, Pa. He needs help." She said, grabbing his hand pulling him in the direction of the bridge where Einar had been fighting. As they arrived, they saw Einar leaning against the railing of the bridge, panting as the other caribou lay dead on the ground with the older caribou's ax embedded in his skull, splitting it in half.
"Father!" Ivor called, running over as his father seemed to fight for air.
"Ivor, good to see you, my boy." Einar breathed out as he held his neck, which was pouring blood. "I was hoping you would see me off."
"See you off?" Ivor asked, confused. "We need to get you to help." He continued as he went to try and lift his father to his feet.
"Don't," Einar groaned, nodding down to his torso, which was littered with cuts and holes, all leaking blood along with a massive gash on his thigh almost to the bone. Ivor knew his father wouldn't last more than a few minutes, knew he should get help, knew he needed to stay calm and think, but most of all, he knew no matter what he did, his father was going to die here and now. "Don't cry, my son," Einar said, pulling him close for a hug which Ivor returned out of fear and sadness.
"I'm not crying." Ivor started to sob, trying to stay strong. Both caribou embraced each other as Ivor listened to his father's breathing and heart slow down until both were no more. Ivor shed tears as he moved to lay his father down on the ground and looked up to see Applejack standing there waiting along with a good amount of the Warborn also beginning to shed tears. Standing up, Ivor cleared his throat and retrieved his father's ax. "Gather all of our fallen and wood; we will give them a proper funeral." None of the Warborn stood still and set off to go and chop down trees.
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It had just passed midnight when the giant pyre was complete and ready to burn. Husbands laid down wives and vice versa; friends did the same, as did mothers, their sons, and daughters, and sons were putting fathers to rest. Ivor stood in front of the giant pile of cut-down trees and sticks. Walking up to him was Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry carrying a wreath of flowers, and Flurry had a large fur bundle in her arms. Shining spoke first.
"As a soldier and prince, I could have given your father many things for saving my daughter, but as a father, I couldn't have given him enough," Shining said as he and his wife placed the wreath near Einar's body.
"I wish I had known him more so we could have at least said thank you," Cadence added. Lastly, Fluffy stepped forward, handing the bundle of fur to Ivor, who knelt to eye level, took it, and unfolded it to find it to be his father's cloak.
"I think he'd want you to have it back, sir." Flurry said before wrapping her arms around his neck for a quick hug before returning to her parents.
Ivor stood again, placing his father's ax in Einar's lifeless hands, and turned to address the masses.
"My father had few requests for his funeral, and his only demand was a poem be said as the fire is lit," Ivor paused for a minute before taking a deep breath and speaking as several caribou lit the pyre.
"When tomorrow starts without me And I’m not here to see If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me
I wish you wouldn’t cry The Way you did today While thinking of the many things We did not get to say
I know how much you love me As much as I love you Each time that you think of me I know you will miss me too
When tomorrow starts without me Please try to understand That an angel came and called my name And took me by the hand
The angel said my place was ready In heaven far above And That I would have to leave behind All those I Dearly Love
But When I walked through Valhalla’s Gates I felt so much at home When Odin looked down and smiled at me From his golden throne
He said This Is Eternity And All I promised you Today for life on earth is done But Here it starts a new
I promise no tomorrow For today will always last And Since each day’s the exact same way There is no longing for the past
So When Tomorrow starts without me Do not think we’re apart For every time you think of me Remember, I’m right here in your heart,"
As he finished the poem, the fire had grown and consumed all who lay in it. It grew strong, rose high, and burned bright like a beacon calling out a guide for the lost souls.
The rest of the night was quiet, with families reunited, slaves set free, and silence to let the fallen have peace. Applejack was about to walk into her tent when she saw Ivor sitting at a bench, continuing to watch the fire as it burned. She knew the feelings he was going through and decided she needed to do something. So she approached him.
"Hey," She said.
"Hey." He said right back, not even looking at her.
"You wanna talk?" She asked, knowing the answer.
"No," He mumbled. "I think I want to be alone right now," Ivor said, still not looking at her. He heard her steps, but they only got closer as she took a seat right next to him.
"That's what you want, not what you need." Applejack said, joining his gaze at the fire.
Ivor looked at her and gave a weak smile before feeling something tickle his nose. He looked around and saw snow had begun to fall. To his knowledge, this was the first snow of the season, and it already looked like it was going to be a heavy one. With a sigh, he pulled his father's cloak out and wrapped it around them both. Applejack gave him an odd look before chuckling, scooting closer and leaning against him.
"Thank you, Lady Applejack." He said as he continued to watch the fire.
"Just Applejack, okay." She smiled, closing her eyes.
"Okay," He nodded. "Applejack."
As the two sat there and snow began to pile up, they didn't notice the movement of a lone figure just behind a cart watching and waiting, ready to strike.
The night had past and the morning had arrived with the sun fully risen; snow still trickled down as the last of the great funeral fire burned out slowly with only coals remaining. Most of the rebels slept peacefully, with few awake as guards to keep watch for any trouble. Among those still asleep were Ivor and Applejack, leaning against each other wrapped in the cloak that now belonged to Ivor, Both covered in snow.
Close by, a lone figure approached the two from behind their steps staggered a bit, but they were steady enough to get them a few feet away from the two resting on the bench. The figure drew a deep breath and took a firm hold on the knife gripped with both of their hands and lunged forward, looking to drive the blade into Ivor's back. But before the knife got close enough to touch him, Ivor almost jumped up, spun around, and grabbed the attacker by their wrist and held them at bay but was baffled by how little force was behind the strike. Looking at his attacker, he found it to be a blue mare with a rainbow mane who looked highly malnourished save for an oddly round belly and a near-crazed look in her eyes.
"What in sam hell is going on?" Applejack yelled, jumping up.
"I don't know," Ivor yelled back, still holding the mare back. "She just tried to attack me, doing a shit job of it too." He said before the rainbow-haired mare kicked him in the shin, he only responded with a quick 'ow.'
"Wait...Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked, getting a good look at the mare. "Dash, what are you doing?"
"Killing this limp dick fucker!" Rainbow Dash growled, trying to push the knife down harder, but it didn't move an inch as Ivor quickly pulled it from her hands and kept a hand on her to keep Rainbow at a distance.
"Rainbow, he's one of the Warborn," Applejack told her, taking Ivor's place and keeping the two separate.
"I heard caribou asshole!" Dash growled, trying to attack Ivor again, but Applejack stopped her.
"Don't bother," Ivor said, stepping forward a bit.
"You want her to kill you?" Applejack asked, confused.
"No, because she's gonna pass out." He said, pointing at the rainbow-haired mare who staggered back a bit with a stumble and would have hit the ground if Applejack hadn't caught her.
"Dash? DASH!?" The farm mare tried to wake her, but she only twitched as if she was having a seizure.
"Let's get her to a doctor," Ivor said, scooping the mare up and both making off to look for help.
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In Canterlot, Dainn was currently 'preoccupied' in his personal chambers.
He thrust hard into the former elder monarch of Equestria, Celestia, as she let out cries, whimpers, and moans of pain as the barbarian assaulted her from behind. Dainn grabbed her mane and pulled back hard so he could speak right into her ear.
"You know slut; when I get the other alicorn slags here, I'm going to toss you straight to my guards and let them have you until your heart stops beating." The barbarian king growled as he roughly groped her breasts and continued to plow into her.
Celestia was fading in and out of consciousness for some time now but had enough strength to clear her throat and speak.
"Maybe they can actually satisfy a mare, unlike their king." She snickered.
Dainn let out a growl and grabbed her throat, forced her into a prone position, redoubling his efforts at breaking the mattress they were on. He didn't care about either of their satisfactions now; he just wanted to make it hurt as he began to choke her slowly. The former princess of the sun started to struggle as her vision slowly filled with darkness as the Stonehoof chief tightened his grip.
"Useless, unworthy, sow," He growled as he delivered a few more powerful thrusts. "I will make you bear my children so that you can know that you brought forth a new generation of killers and rapists." Dainn gave one last hard and angry thrust releasing inside her. Celestia coughed as he let go of her throat and climbed off of her, and dressed himself in a pair of pants and an open shirt. After he finished, he grabbed her mane and dragged her towards the door leading to the hallway. Pushing the doors open and dropping her in the middle of the hallway, two guards grabbed her and dragged her towards the dungeon. As Dainn walked down the hall, another caribou jogged up behind him, getting his attention.
"My lord, I come bearing news." He called as Dainn never broke stride.
"Then speak, boy." The king said, turning down another hallway. "I've not eaten yet, and nothing will stop me from rectifying that."
"Well, there is terrible news but the good news out ways it," the caribou started before pulling out a few scrolls and began reading. "Our troops at the great wall failed again; Blueblood returned yesterday with a busted leg and a head wound; next is the loss of Cirrus drop, but the high commander says that Vidar was there and traveling with what he identified as the Warborn clan." He continued as Dainn continued on his path to the kitchen.
"I do not hear a lot of good news," Dainn said, reaching the door about to push it open.
"Well, first is that the expedition from the homeland has returned with the relic and just arrived; we have a report of discovery near Appleloosa, we think it might be what you're looking for," the caribou replied.
"Interesting," the king said. "I shall look into it later." He pushed open the door into the kitchen; sitting there, a much younger caribou greeted him and stuffed his face with various foods. The younger caribou was dressed in worn pants and a sleeveless shirt that showed dozens of tattoos from his fingers to the shoulders; His hair was cut into a blackish grey mohawk between two large antlers and a scar above his right eye, but other than that, not a scratch, and sitting beside him was a sword as tall as him. When he looked up from his food and saw Dainn standing there, he smiled and stood from his seat before falling to one knee and bowing his head in a sign of respect.
"And lastly, my lord, Uru has returned as well, my king." The other caribou said as a smirk formed on the king's face.
"Leave us," Dainn commanded and approached the warrior named Uru. Uru stood from his position and, at his full height, was over a head taller than the caribou king. "You've grown, boy."
Uru chuckled. "You said 'return to me a giant or return as ashes' if I remember correctly."
"That I did," Dainn said, walking around the mountain of a warrior to inspect him. "And you have arrived at the best of time, lad."
"I live to serve the Stonehoof, my lord," Uru said with a slight bow of his head. "How may I assist you?"
"My forces have been suffering as of late," Dainn started as he picked up a loaf of bread and broke it in half. "I want you to gather a force of our strongest and deal with the pestilence that has begun ravaging my new kingdom."
"Of course, sir," Uru answered. "I assume a reward will be presented to me at the end of this extermination?"
"Naturally, speak what you would like," Dainn answered, taking a large bite of bread. Uru thought for a moment scratching his chin.
"I think three things will suffice," Uru said, holding up three fingers. "I want a patch of land that starts at the mountains and reaches the sea; I'd like the title prince effective immediately," Uru spoke, still holding up one finger.
"Consider it done, prince Uru," Dainn said, taking another bite of bread and grabbing a piece of fish jerky. "What else?" He asked, continuing to try and scrounge up a half-decent breakfast.
"The witch's daughter," The taller caribou answered. "She is of breeding age, and I want her as mine."
Dainn thought for a moment, then nodded. "You may have her," he said. "But I need you to get someone for me first."
"Simply name them, and I will bring them to you, my king."
"The runt has been let out of his cage; I need him back in one," Dainn said.
"Vidar? HA!" Uru laughed, moving to pick up is Claymore. "He could barely hold a knife when I last saw him; getting him back will be like fetching water from a stream." Before he reached his sword, Dainn grabbed him and threw him against the wall, pointing a finger in his face with a stern expression.
"Do not take this task lightly," Dainn growled at him. "He is the one creature in this world who could ruin everything I have built, and my plan is coming to fruition, so try with all your incompetence not to cock it up."
Uru was quiet for a moment before kneeling to the ground again, hanging his head in shame. "Yes, my king, I apologize." He said as Dainn sighed before stepping away and grabbing Uru's blade.
"Never hang your head like that boy," The king said, offering the blade to him. "I will not have my own blood look so weak even in front of me." Dainn smiled.
Uru lifted his head and took his sword. "I will bring Vidar to you along with the heads of all the leaders of this little 'resistance' as well...father."
"Good lad," Dainn said, patting Uru's shoulder and walking out of the kitchen.
Outside in the hall was another caribou leaning against a column, picking at his fingernails with a knife. He was dressed in armor made of bones and leather with a skull over his face as a sort of mask. His axes looked to be carved out of bones and a kind of black steel; his arms, legs, midsection, and neck were covered in bandages that seemed dirty and gross but perfectly intact as if just put on. As Dainn stepped into the hall, the caribou quickly put his knife away and followed Dainn as he made his way towards the throne room.
"Lord Dainn, you're looking well," He began as the king didn't even address him. "I couldn't help but overhear you were speaking with brother Uru, and I was wondering if that offer was exclusive or if say one was to bring you Vidar instead?" Dainn stopped in his tracks and turned to face the caribou.
"And you think you can do better than Uru?" Dainn asked, raising a brow.
"Uru is a brute who believes that he can make a stone bleed," He replied. "I am 'bloodbath' Brandt the sword of this empire...failure is not in my vocabulary." Dainn walked up and looked him in the eye.
"I was there as your mother brought you into this world," He started. "You were so impatient that not only did you come two months early, you clawed your way out of her stomach, and she became your first kill." Dainn continued as he grabbed Brandt's wrist and ripped the bandages on his forearms, revealing more scars than the arm, some long healed, others still slowly leaking blood. "You are a creature of pain and blood; you seek death knowing it won't come, so you have no fear...and why you are so feared."
"I do not hear a no, my king," Brandt said as his off-hand began to twitch and tap against his left leg.
Dainn chuckled. "Bring Vidar to me, and you may have anything you like just short of the throne."
Brandt smiled, pulling his arm back, and rushed off to God's only know where. Dainn sighed and shook his head as he began making his way to the throne room again in hopes of seeing if the messenger from earlier was correct about what they had brought him. As he entered, he was greeted by a half-dozen caribou around a small cart with a tarp over it they had used to wheel something into the throne room.
"You all have me in a decent mood today, so let's see what you have," Dainn said as he approached the cart and threw the cover off.
What was beneath the cover was a small pedestal that held a display case with a crystal about a foot and a half long that glowed red hot at a pointed end. The crystal seemed to hum with energy, almost as if it may shatter the very case it sat it. Dainn smirked before snapping his fingers a few times, and two of his royal guards came in.
"Get these fine men food, drink, and all the pleasurable company they can handle; they have brought me one step closer to my goal," Dainn commanded as he removed the case and grabbed the crystal. He could feel the power he held; all the pieces were on the board. He only needed to play a little longer for them to fall into place.
Ivor and Applejack had dropped Rainbow off with a medical woman a few hours ago. Applejack was pacing back and forth outside a tent, waiting for any information as Ivor walked up with two steaming mugs.
"Here, drink this; it'll calm you down," Ivor said, offering her one of the mugs. Applejack took one and sipped the warm drink thanking the caribou chief. "She's special to you?" He asked.
"Probably my best friend," She said, staring at her drink. "We were one of the first of the elements to be captured because we refused to run." The farm mare walked to a bench and sat down, trying to gather her thoughts. "I tried to keep my ear to the ground so I could find a way to get us all back together, but…." She explained as Ivor sat down next to her.
"She'll be fine, I promise," Ivor said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Applejack smiled at him and was about to speak again when a loud commotion broke their moment. Looking over, they saw three mares stumble out from a tent scattering the contents outside as the group bolted towards Applejack and Ivor.
"Whoa, hey, where's the fire?" Applejack asked, jumping up to stop the trio. "Y'all acting like a bunch of- APPLEBLOOM?!" She yelled, now seeing that the three mares were the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Applejack!" The red-headed mare bolted towards her sister, both wrapping each other in a hug. The two soon began to chatter back and forth, asking and answering questions; their reunion was cut short by a loud banging of pots and pans hitting the snowing ground. Both turned to see what caused the racket and saw Vidar pulling himself from the small pile of junk he had knocked to the ground with him. The young caribou took a moment to gather himself until he saw Applebloom and made a dash for her before Ivor stepped in and caught him by the back of his neck.
"Simmer down, kid," Ivor said, yanking Vidar a bit. "Why are you bothering these fine young girls?" Vidar ignored his question, letting out a growl and trying to break the grip Ivor had on him.
"He's been giving Applebloom some weird looks all morning," Scootaloo said, stepping in front of Vidar and raising her fists, giving a few mock punches. "If he tries anything, I'll knock his teeth out," Vidar responded with a quick snarl, still trying to get away from Ivor.
"Maybe she has something he wants." Sweetie Belle suggested.
"Maybe," Ivor said with a heavy dose of curiosity. "Let's see." He said, loosening his grip on the young half-crazed caribou.
When Vidar felt the pressure on his neck, he dashed towards the Apple sisters but stopped in front of Applejack, who kept herself between the two as Applebloom hid behind her as Vidar kept moving, trying to look at the younger sister. Vidar eventually rolled to one side around the older sister and was right in front of Applebloom, looking right in her eyes, beginning to make her uncomfortable. If she backed up, he stepped closer; if she looked away, he'd try to look into her eyes again; cautiously, she extended a hand to shake, which only seemed to confuse the young caribou who quickly grabbed her wrist, inspecting both sides of her hand for anything he found unusual. Finally, instead of shaking her hand, he turned it palm side down and placed it in the middle of his forehead between his broken antlers.
"What do I do?" Applebloom asked the group as Vidar kneeled in front of her and seemed to become well and truly relaxed. All eyes quickly turned to Ivor, who shrugged, being at a loss for ideas.
"Not to break up… whatever the hell this is, but we have work to do," Gaius spoke as he walked up. Ivor agreed, and the two left to plan the next move for the armies.
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Across the camp, Shining Armour had woken up and was currently watching his wife and daughter sleep peacefully, a sight that he had not seen in years.
"You're staring, Shining," Cadance said, not bothering to open her eyes.
"And?" He asked, leaning over and kissing her forehead. But their moment was not meant to last as sounds of a scuffle outside filled their ears. "Can't have a single moment, can we?" He asked rhetorically, getting out of the bed.
"Maybe later, sweetie." Cadance chuckled, watching her husband put on his shirt and grab his sword before stepping out of the tent.
As he stepped out, he saw a young bull caribou and colt, both about twelve, wrestling on the ground as their peers watched and cheered on. In an instant, Shining could tell this wasn't good-spirited at all and went to step it. The former guard captain grabbed both of them by the scruff of their necks and pulled them apart; both had done some damage to the other, with the caribou sporting a busted lip and the colt getting the worst of it with a bleeding nose and a quickly swelling eye. The two fought to try and get back at each other, but Shining roughly knocked their heads together, disorienting both of them long enough for him to get some words out. "What in the name of Celestia are you two fighting about?"
"I'm teaching this bent horned bastard a lesson." The colt yelled, pointing at the caribou.
"So you attacked him? Why?" Shining asked.
"Because of what I am." The caribou answered, shaking Shining's grip. "He blames me for what his mother has chosen."
"What is he talking about?" Shining asked, confused.
"We can answer that." A voice called out. Looking to where the voice was coming from, and saw a large male caribou with a tall female caribou and a short unicorn mare. "The caribou is ours; Bluff, come here." The male called, and the young caribou didn't even hesitate to run to his mother, who grabbed his chin, giving him a quick once over before ruffling his hair with a chuckle.
"The other one is mine, Caspian come here right now and apologize young colt." The unicorn demanded.
"Like hell, I will," The colt yelled, breaking Shining's grip. "I don't care what you or anyone says. I will never apologize to these monsters for what they have done to us and our home!" Caspian then took off into the camp, disappearing into it.
"My deepest apologies, your Majesty; he has been this way since I escaped his father," The unicorn said, rubbing her temples in frustration. "He feels I betrayed him and Equestria by leaving his father, and well…." She explained, gesturing to the caribou couple and child as they joined her in front of Shining armor.
"You three are...something?" Shining asked, a little confused.
"Well…" The unicorn said with a blush. "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Phantasia. Call me Phan; this is Viggo and Thora; you've already met their son Bluff." Phan explained as the caribou gave a slight bow which Shining returned.
"We never meant to anger the child," Thora commented. "Freya chose us to share the burning fire that is our love and passion; who are we to resist her will?"
"The boy is just upset with such a significant change to the life he has known." Viggo stepped in. "I would be too."
"Well, we'll talk about this later; for now, we should find him before he wanders off too far," Shining said; all of them agreed and started towards where Caspian had runoff.
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Caspian hadn't stopped running until he was outside of the fort and making his way down a beaten path into some close by woods. The young colt was understandably unhappy; his mother and father had lived happily for years, and when Dainn took power, it seemed even better as far as he could tell; his dad smiled more, his parents didn't argue anymore, and his father talked about how Caspian might get a few more siblings in the future. He knew people only talked about having kids if they were happy together, right? Why did the Warborn have to come in and ruin it? As Caspian walked, he heard voices and decided to investigate what he came across was a gold mine for a young colt like himself.
He saw a tall yellow pegasus mare with a long flowing pink mane naked and bathing in a small pond. Her body was something out of a dream. Caspian couldn't help but stare as she used a bucket to rinse herself off of any suds and bend over to repeat the process. He heard her speaking but wasn't listening as he was too busy tracing the scars on her body with his eyes as they seemed to always lead him back to her plum hindquarters or generous breasts. The sound of someone wading through water stole his focus and made his eyes dart to see an equally naked caribou bull approach the mare and gently grab her waist, pulling her in for a kiss which the mare seemed more than happy to return. The two lovers seemed ready to go further, but the very sight reminded Caspian of his mother and the caribou she had chosen to do similar things with, and it made his blood boil.
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As Fluttershy began to kiss down Vargar's chest and soon stomach, intending to go lower when her lover suddenly stumbled away with loud 'OW,' holding the side of his head where a sharp pain had just hit him.
"The hell was that?" Vargar growled, scanning the area for what may have just attacked him.
"Are you okay?" The pegasus asked, rushing to check his head for any blood or injury.
"Yeah, but what-OW!" He cried again as another object hit him, causing him to stumble back again. "This is getting old real quick, whoever you are!" Varchar called out into the woods.
Caspian smiled from his hiding spot and made to grab another stone to throw but was cut short by a low growl behind him. Turning slowly, the colt was met with the face of a bear-like creature. The animal was twice the size of an average bear and had traits like a mountain lion, with almost pitch-black fur and breath that smells like blood and rotting flesh. The beast approached in a slow, stalling motion as Caspian crawled back in fear. With a loud snarl, the animal lunged, causing Caspian to try and run but slipped and began tumbling down the small hill and found himself in the pond where Fluttershy and Vargar had been bathing.
The pair had redressed slightly, with Vargar still shirtless and Fluttershy had only managed to put on her shirt. The two watched as the colt tried to stand but stumbled with a yelp of pain; the fall had broken Caspian's leg, so Vargar began to walk over to him when he heard something big coming down the hill. Looking up, he saw the beast and dashed to put himself between the colt and the creature. As the bear-like animal arrived at the water's edge, Vargar stood with his arms out, blocking its path.
"NO!" Vargar boomed, making the beast stop dead in his tracks. For a moment, the hunter and the animal locked eyes in an intense staring contest. Vargar tilted his head a bit and gave a command. "Flutters, get him out of here."
"Right." The pegasus nodded and walked over, helping Caspian to the other side of the pond. As they two put some distance between them and the standoff, Caspian spotted a dagger on the ground close to the clothes the two had yet to put on, making it seem like he tripped, grabbing it as he fell the hiding it in the back of his pants, and Fluttershy helped him up. "Come on; you can do it." She encouraged him as they continued towards a nearby campsite. Once at the camp, the yellow mare set him on a log and began to tend to his injuries; Caspian's eyes roamed over her scantily clad body as she worked since she was still only in a shirt.
He thought it unfair.
A caribou didn't deserve a mare like this.
He was so angry that even the thought of him looking at the mare made him want to end him. Fluttershy eventually grabbed the side of his face looking him over before giving a smile.
"I am so sorry." She said plainly,
"For wh-OW MOTHER BUCKING HORSE APPLES!!!" The colt screamed as she popped his leg back into place with her free hand.
"Language." She chimed as she worked on a splint for him. "Now, what are you doing out here by yourself?" She asked as she worked. Caspian mumbled about his mother and how she betrayed his father as they heard footsteps approaching, but instead of Vargar, they found Caspian's mother, Viggo, Thora, and Shining armor. Phan immediately ran and embraced her son, checking him over once or twice before doing something a little shocking to the group, and delivered a fierce slap to the side of his face, making them all cringe a little.
"Don't you dare run off like that again, do you hear me, mister?" She cried before embracing her son again with a sob.
"You gave her quite the scare boy," Viggo said, crouching down beside him. "And you're lucky just to get a slap; my mum would have knocked a few teeth out of my skull." He chuckled, trying to sympathize with the young colt, but Caspian only turned away.
"I wouldn't give him too much flack," The voice of Vargar called as he joined the group, his and Fluttershy's clothes being carried in the mouth of the beast that had just attacked a few moments ago. "This big boy here almost ate him." Vargar gestured to the animal as he grabbed Fluttershy's pants and tossed them to the mare, who hastily began putting them on to cover her decency.
"Still, though, he shouldn't have run off like that," Phan commented and began to help her son stand, who shrugged her off and began to walk away on his strength. As the rest save for Shining, Fluttershy, and Vargar, who stand behind.
"So I'm guessing you aren't with Stonehoof?" Shining asked, giving Vargar a questioning look.
"I'd rather be in Helheim with my back broken than be one of those pieces of shit," Vargar commented. "I'd say they treat females like animals, but they don't even treat them half right, and I'm not about treating them less than what they deserve."
Shining chuckled before nodding towards Fluttershy. "Thought you might be an animal lover considering the company you're keeping." Vargar followed his gaze to the yellow mare, who was now fully dressed and rubbing the belly of the animal as it lay on its back, making happy lowing and snorting noises. "What the hell is that anyway?" He asked curiously.
"Well, if you are who I think you are, you know the mare," Vargar jokes. "If you mean the animal that is a deep woods black banther, and it almost ate that kid a minute ago."
"And you're just going to keep it around?" Shining asked.
"If he wants to stick around," Vargar shrugged. "Besides, they're usually vegetarians unless they can't find anything."
"Right…." Shining said, a little unsure. "Well then, I just have to ask one last question; Will you fight with us to bring down Dainn?" Shining asked, this time speaking with absolute certainty.
Vargar thought for a second before Fluttershy spoke up for both of them. "Just show us where to sign up." She said, mustering up enough courage to be intimidating but still looked a little too cute to be so.
"Good," Shining said. "Gather your things. I know a few mares who will be ecstatic to see you, Ms. Shy." He told them as he began his way back to the fort.
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Back at the fort near the healing tent, Applejack and Applebloom sat together on a bench, just holding each other Vidar stood close by, leaning against a post and looking to be asleep. Still, the occasional sporadic twitch that jolted him awake suggested it wasn't coming easy.
"So, what do you think his deal is?" Applebloom asked her sister as her eyes drifted towards Vidar, who literally slapped himself awake before growling and tried again to return to sleep.
"I'm not sure," Applejack answered. "Ivor said they found him locked up tighter than that special bottle of Ma&Pa's wedding cider Granny kept in the cellar."
"He looks….sad," Applebloom said, not finding a better word to describe it.
"With the way he is acting, a good nap would probably do him wonders." Applejack commented as the young caribou seemed to jolt himself awake again.
"Might be a good idea." A deep voice said, making the two sisters jump as they turned to see Ivor. "I thought you might like to know that your friend is a little weak, but you can see her now." He said, gesturing to the tent which had the healer waiting by it to show them in. Applejack nodded before looking at her sister to see if she would follow, but the young mare just looked at Vidar before speaking.
"You go ahead. I think there is something I want to try." Applebloom said, getting a concerned look from her older sister.
"Just be careful, okay?" Applejack said as she and Ivor entered the tent to see several warriors and liberated slaves receiving treatment, some worse than others but all healing quickly.
As they neared the back of the tent, they saw Rainbow Dash being fed soup by an older female caribou who watched the two approach, giving a slight bow to Ivor before calling for an assistant to continue providing food for the mare who seemed only vaguely aware of her surroundings.
"She is weak but a fighter for sure." The healer spoke. "Severe dehydration and malnutrition, not one spot on her didn't have a bruise or injury, and I'm not even going to mention what was done to her sexually." The healer said in disgust as Applejack found a stool and sat down to her friend's side, holding her hand and trying to hold back tears as the blue pegasus gave a weak squeeze to the farm mare's hand, trying to show she knew it was her.
"She seemed weaker than most. Why is that?" Ivor asked, and the healer had him follow her to a section of the tent cut off from the rest by an extra thick tarp. In this section, he saw a single table with a funeral cloth draped over something small.
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"She had been force-fed almost a gallon of harlot's curse," She explains, holding up a vial with a bright red liquid in it. "She shouldn't have a single thought in her head besides getting her next dick, but we fixed that. What concerned me was that." She said, pointing to the table with the funeral cloth. "Harlot's curse would not affect that, maybe how she was thrown around, but when I looked it over, they should have been healthy as can be."
"Wait, are you saying that she was…. Pregnant." Ivor asked, confused.
"By my guess, due in about two weeks, maybe three." She answered. "But the child was stillborn when you brought her here; I didn't think much of it until I saw the rest." The healer continued to explain.
"What do you mean the rest?" Ivor asked, worry rushing to his face.
The healer moved past the table and pulled back a curtain, revealing a section of the tent reserved for any who died.
What Ivor saw drained all the color from his entire body and made him start to question some of his core beliefs. While he saw maybe five or six adults or elders dead with funeral cloths over their bodies, there were dozens upon dozens of cloths covering what appeared to be infant caribou, pony, and other species alike across numerous beds, and several more religious creatures had taken to praying over the poor souls.
"By our count so far, we have five warriors dead by injury, an elder couple dead from disease, and 42 stillborn infants each whose father fought under a Stonehoof crest or served in some way, all of which seemed to be fully developed and would be born healthy." The healer informed, closing the curtain before taking a flask from her hip and downing the whole thing. "No heart problem, brains fully formed, lungs perfectly fine, not a single issue that I can find, but yet they all died in the womb in an almost peaceful manner."
"How could the gods allow such a thing?" Ivor asked, trying to steady himself against a tent pole.
On a lone road in Equestria, a luxurious cart was being pulled by two giant war beasts and guarded by a dozen Stonehoof soldiers who all grumbled as the cold winds blew in their faces and snow came down by the bucket full. They headed towards a large camp near the town of Appaloosa per the king's order. Still, given that the former railroad that ran there was destroyed during the beginning of the Stonehoof attack, it would be at least another few days before they would see hide nor hair of the location. One of the unicorn soldiers finally spoke up to the commander who was leading the party.
"Commander, the storm is getting thicker by the second. Should we stop and make camp?" He asked, trying to keep his vision clear of the flurries that assaulted his face.
"No," The caribou commander spoke. "We can still see, and we keep going until we can't."
"We may have to stop anyway." A voice spoke, and another caribou pointed to several fallen trees that now blocked their path.
"Hm, get the axes and clear a path," The commander ordered before giving the driver a signal to stop. As the carriage came to a halt, a knocking came from the door that leads inside, making him walk over and slide the panel from the observation door, letting him see inside. "What do you want, witch?"
"Why have we stopped?" Helga asked as she stroked her sleeping daughter's hair while the both of them shared a heavy fur blanket.
"Fallen trees, we'll be on the move again in an hour tops." The commander answered.
"A wise leader would take this time to make a camp or face conditions that would make a frost giant shiver," Helga said with a smirk looking at him through the small sliding door. "But whoever said you were wise?"
The commander growled, slamming the door shut, and joined the group to see how long it would take to move the lumber.
"Mother?" The young cow mumbled as she stirred in her sleep.
"Yes, my child?" Helga answered. "What is it?"
"Are we almost there?"
"Almost my sweet, go back to sleep."
"Can you tell me a story?"
"Of course, Sigyn," Helga answered as she thought for a moment. "How about a story of home?" She asked, getting a murmur of approval from her child. Thinking for a moment, Helga let out a deep breath and began to remember the home she had left when she was a little more than her daughter's age.
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The land knew two seasons: cold and colder, but every so often, there was the rare occasion of sunny and almost warm. Helga recalled that it was on one of these days that she had met the bull who would be the only one to know her flesh and always have her heart. She remembered the fields, the village, and she remembered the mountain, the mountain that he came down from.
It was a day like any other. The various creatures of the village set at the base of the great Steel Mountain were thriving due to the legend of one of the founders performing a service for the Æsir and Vanir gods. Blacksmiths forged weapons so solid and sharp they were said to cut through anvils like air, harvests were always plentiful and lush, clothes were made of the softest and warmest pelts imaginable, the small village rarely knew strife. The life Helga knew was one of hard work, prayers to Odin, and love. Her father was a herdsman. He brought in mammoths for the village for work, fur, and occasionally tusks while her mother was….well she did it all: baked bread, sewed clothes, chopped wood, fixed problems around the house, and still had time to be a mother and wife to her family. Helga helped with the garden and took care of the mammoth offspring when needed. On this day, Helga was unlike today; she was young, beautiful, her coat was alive with dark brown chocolate color. She still possessed both her eyes tending to a few adolescent mammoths when there was a commotion in the middle of the village.
"Calm on Baasu, give me your hoof," Helga commanded a mammoth about twice her size. The young mammoth gave a defying trumpet, backing away from the caribou cow. "Oh, you big baby, come here!" She said, stomping towards the mammoth. As Helga continued to approach, another mammoth wrapped its trunk around her waist, pulling her back.
"Idaa! I'm busy; we'll play together later!" Helga cried, trying to wriggle free. As she tried harder, a third and larger mammoth came to her rescue, putting her down and acting as a buffer between Helga and Idaa. "Thank you, Bhuma, now Baasu, come here, or I call for Daud." She threatened, still approaching the young mammoth who plopped down laying on his belly when he heard the name. "That's a good wooly boy." She laughed, rubbing his head like a loving pet. As she began cleaning the beast's large foot when she heard dozens of villagers run by up the main path that led up the mountain, causing Helga to halt her work as one of the villagers stopped and called over to her.
"Wooly-woman! Come on!" The villager shouted. "Black-Tusk is coming down the mountain!" Helga ignored the unflattering nickname and quickly dropped her tools as she ran after the growing mob. They ran further up the mountain to a large stone totem that marked the first marker up the mountain path. Helga pushed her way through the crowd as best she could until she was a row or two behind the front and could see a small wagon pulled by a pair of large rams and led by a caribou that could be mistaken for a bear. As he came closer, everyone began to part and made a path for him to pull his cart through before he came to a stop near the middle of town, where there was a well. After he pulled the bucket up and started filling a few jugs, he turned and scanned the crowd before finally speaking.
"You all do know it's rude to stare, right?" The large caribou asked.
"It's just been a while, Tabor." One of the crowd said. "You don't usually come down from the peak for anything.
" Well, I had someone bug me to no end," Tabor answered, moving to the back of the wagon and opening the curtain. "Boy! Come on; you bothered me all night to-WOAH!" He cried as a young adult caribou jumped out of the wagon, securing a satchel across his chest, and was about to take off and explore the village until Tabor grabbed one of his antlers, stopping him in his tracks. "TAD I SWEAR- I'm leaving in three hours and be back at the marker before then," He scolded the caribou. The latter nodded to him as he let him go, and Tad took off. "AND STAY SAFE!"
Helga watched him run off and marvel at almost everything he saw. His action made Helga chuckle as he seemed to be encapsulated by a stall in the middle of the market selling carved wood figures. With the excitement over, Helga made to return to her chores and her day. After finishing cleaning mammoth toes, it can be time to milk some of the various mothers of the herd, but as she started on one of the females, a noise behind her made her stop and turn.
"GAH!" " AAH!" Helga screamed in surprise as well, as the person behind her did the same and jumped back a bit. It was the young caribou who had come down the mountain with Black-Tusk, who nearly dropped the journal and pencil he was holding.
"Give a girl a heart attack. Why don't you?" Helga exhaled, trying to calm her racing heart?
"Sorry, sorry, I was just curious and didn't want to disturb you." Tad gasped for air himself. "I wanted to see how such beasts are tamed."
"Well, first off, we don't tame our mammoth family members; we try for something more mutual, and second," Helga explained, standing from her stool. "If you're curious, then I'll teach you." She said, pushing him down onto the seat.
"What?!" Tad said in surprise as Helga guided his hands to the teats of the female mammoth. "I've never done anything like this before; I don't know how to even-." He tried to ramble.
"Just breathe and keep in mind that a gentle hand goes well with a steady one," Helga told him and began helping him with the initial motion. "There now, just keep that up until the bucket is full."
Tad kept up the motion for a few minutes, getting a few approving sounds from the giant beast. Soon the bucket came close to overflowing, and Helga replacing it, continued to watch Tad take to the chore as a fish takes to water. As he continued, the mammoth's trunk reached back and started petting Tad's head affectionately and making soft noises of appreciation.
"Hey," Tad laughed. "Hey, cut it out." He squirmed as the female mammoth tickled him. "What is she doing?"
"You're doing an outstanding job." Helga laughed as she grabbed a few cups from a cupboard. "She wants to let you know that, gives some insight to what kind of a husband you'll make." Helga suddenly stopped at what she had said without thinking.
"Oh yeah, I'd be a real catch," Tad snorted. "Built like a fishbone, lives on the peak of a mountain, and is a natural at milking mammoths." Helga snickered before handing him a cup full of fresh milk from the bucket.
"Smells like writing charcoal, hair needs to be brushed and likes long moonlit walks on the cold beach," Helga said, pulling up another stool. "Does that sound about right to you?"
"Oh yeah, I'll have to beat them off with a stick when you describe me like that." He chuckled, taking a drink from the cup. "Damn, that is good stuff." Helga nodded in agreement as the two began swapping stories and looking through some of Tad's journals full of drawings and notes. Time seemed to stop for the both of them like the entire world could just fall away, and they wouldn't notice.
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"Oi which!" A voice outside the carriage yelled as someone banged on the side.
Helga sighed and answered. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"We're making camp." One of the older caribou opened the door. "Let's go before I freeze to death." He snarled.
"Of course," Helga said. "Sigyn, get up, dear." She said to her daughter, who stood up still groggy from being half asleep—bundling her daughter in the blanket and pulling on an old cloak with a fur collar. Helga stepped off first and helped her daughter as the warrior began to lead them to a makeshift camp with several small-sized tents for the other warriors, with one large one that would be for Helga and Sigyn.
"Mother, I had a vision on the carriage." Sign spoke. Helga led her into the tent and set her down on a small bed that the soldiers prepared for her with her mothers not too far away. "Through steam and a beam of light, blood will flow from a bastard's sight."
"Hmm, strange indeed," Helga said, spotting a large brass tub that was steaming hot. "We'll talk about this after you bathe. I will be gathering my herbs from the carriage." Sigyn nodded as her mother left and grabbed the youngest of the caribou soldiers having his stand guard at the entrance of the tent, giving him strict orders not to let anyone but her pass him and not to let his eyes wander.
Sigyn looked at the young warrior who met her gaze before turning around, knowing that if he looked, the witch would flay him alive just to prove she wasn't joking. Sigyn walled to the tub before beginning to undress, revealing a body untouched by any but her mother and had not been known by any creature of either sex. Stepping into the tub, the female caribou began to wash herself of any grime she had on her and general hygiene. As she continued, she didn't notice a knife cutting a small hole in the tent about five feet away from her and the tub. On the other side of that hole, a stallion crouched and looked through the makeshift peephole and watched Sigyn with a creeping smile.
"Hey, come on, move." A caribou said, trying to shove him so he could get a look.
"Shut up, or you'll get us caught." The stallion replied, continuing to peep.
"You said I'd get to look too." The caribou growled before shoving the stallion away and looking through the hole just in time to see Sigyn take a bronze pitcher and pour it over her head. "By Freya, she is a prime piece." He muttered as he watched.
"Yeah, now move," The stallion said, shoving the caribou away. "My plan. I get to look longer." He snapped, putting his eye to the tear again. As soon as he looked through, an object met the stallion with a fearsome blow to his face that made him stumble back from the hole, clutching his eye and screaming in pain. The cries of pain alerted the rest of the Stonehoof, who quickly ran to his aid and found him on the ground, blood gushing from his right eye and black bruising on his face.
"What happened?" The commander asked before seeing the cut in the tent and began to get an idea. The commander walked to the entrance of Helga's tent, where the young bull that was guarding it was no longer there. Stepping inside, he found not only him but Helga and her daughter, the latter of whom was dressed in a thick robe and appeared to be attempting to read the palm of the male caribou's palm. At the same time, they sat cross-legged on the ground, and her mother brushed her hair with a Dane ax close by, with the back end having a spike that still dripped red with blood. The commander approached them before speaking. "Mind telling me why one of my soldiers now might be short of an eye?"
"Bastard looked where he shouldn't have," Helga answered simply without looking away from her task. "Anything to tell the bull, my child?"
Sigyn thought for a moment and traced the lines off his palm before speaking. "A golden sun shines on his future while his calling is to a city made of precious stones; he will suffer first though and see his heart broken before mended together again by a creature with as many faces as the sky has stars."
"What does that mean?" The young caribou asked.
"It means to get back to your post, or I shove my boot up your arse." The commander growled as he grabbed him by his antler and dragged him to the tent's opening. "And you," He pointed at Helga. "You're on thin ice as it is, Which." He warned as he walked out.
"He seems tense," Sigyn said, getting a laugh from Helga.
"He'll lighten up when he's dead," Helga said as she pulled her daughter's hair into a ponytail. "Which if my vision is correct should be….now."
Just as quickly as she spoke, they heard the sound of steel meeting flesh as the young caribou came running in with several arrows in his shoulder and one in his leg. He didn't address them, only turned to face what threat may come. Just behind him ran in three warriors, each in very odd armor. One was in armor that looked like it was made of plant reeds and wore a blank mask while carrying an odd-looking spear; the next was nearly double the size of the first warrior and had a large club with iron studs on it with a mask covering their face that looked like a beetle's face; the last was a tall warrior in armor that looked strong and light and looked to be made of material similar to gold while his helmet resembled a stag beetles pincers, he stood in the middle of the two other warriors; he carried a large curved blade over twelve feet in length on his shoulders. The tent had quickly become a powder keg, and the four warriors were made of sparks. Helga decided to splash some water on this before it got out of hand.
"Well, here I have royalty in my tent and no tea to serve." She said as she walked between the two groups. "King Thorax, would you please have a seat while I prepare some." The warrior in the gold armor stepped forward and removed his helmet, revealing the golden face of the one changeling now reformling Thorax. His face is the same as when he changed into a reformling but had a large scar through his left eyebrow. Handing off his weapon and helmet, Thorax stood before her and spoke.
"How….how do you know my name?"
"That is best discussed over tea, perhaps with milk as well." Helga smiled.
After a week of stay as Cirrus drop, the rebellion began to move on. They had made it to another keep that had been abandoned for some time and set up camp again, so the leaders decided this was a perfect time for training any who were willing and able to fight. Ivor, Shining, and Gaius all had their work cut out for them, given that most fighting in Equestria rarely escalated past a short brawl and only royal guards ever used weapons. Ivor gave insight into how his kind fought, Shining the training and discipline, and Gaius was working on getting the more squeamish over any hang-ups about drawing blood. All three agreed that he had the most challenging job currently.
"Okay… let's try this again." Gaius groaned lightly, thumping his head against the pommel of his sword. "As simple as I can make it, the sharp end goes into the other guy." He growled.
"But killing is wrong." An earth pony cried out.
"And what they do to your fellow ponies is just fine, I suppose!" Gaius snapped back before taking a deep breath. "Killing is wrong, yes.BUT in the form of defense or survival, it is acceptable."
"But we can't." A Pegasus called.
"Fine," Gaius muttered. "Then partner up and work on your swordplay; I need to get my head straight." He said, walking away and stopping out of sight. With a deep breath and a calm manner, Gaius found enough of his center to deliver a brutal punch to a brick wall, caving in the section he hit.
"Problem?" He heard the voice of Ivor speak. Turning to face him, he saw Shining with him.
"I can't have soldiers that put morals before their own lives or others." He answered, shaking out his hand and leaning against the wall. "I understand Equestrians haven't indeed fought in a few decades, but they must have some want to defend their homes, each other, a future something."
"We knew peace more than anything, aside from the occasional villain, we taught our children to love and accept." Shining explained. "To change that way of life in a few short days is asking a lot."
"We'll need more than a lot," Gaius said as the sound of a soldier running up with a worried look on his face. "Oh, what the fuck now?" He asked with a loud groan.
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The three commanders ran up to the crowd that had gathered near the middle of the training field.
"MOVE! OUT OF THE WAY!" Ivor yelled, pushing through them. In the middle of the group, they had found what the soldier had come and told them. On the ground, with a large gash where his neck met the shoulder and gushed blood, was Vidar, as a male unicorn tried to keep pressure on the wound, but the cloth he was using was already pouring blood.
The unicorn looked up with horror filling his eyes. He was looking to find the words or anything to explain himself, but he could only look back and forth between the three before he found his voice. "We-we we're training, and he-he came sprinting at me I-I-I thought he was going to kill me, he was like an animal he-" he tried babbling on before Gaius stopped him and kneeled to inspect the wound. The griffin shook his head, seeing the severity of the injury.
"He's got maybe five minutes—nothing we can do." Gaius made the unicorn move away and grabbed Vidar's hand, looking him in the eye. "I didn't think you were such a bad kid, but maybe next time around, you'll get a better chance at life." Vidar met his gaze as his eyes slowly rolled back, and his breathing slowed to a stop, and the hand Gaius held fell limp. With a heavy sigh, the griffin stood and looked at the unicorn and spoke.
"You took a life not because you wanted to, but because you felt you had to, there is no reason to feel guilt," Gaius explained. "But if you are feeling any, grab a shovel and give him a proper resting place; the rest of you learn from this and realize that anyone can take life at a moment's notice, so either fight or die." He finished and started to walk away.
"Nice speech," Ivor commented. "Sucks about the kid, though."
"Better by one of our own than one of the enemy," Gaius comments back.
"IVOR! GAIUS!" Shining yelled for them, making them turn and sprint back to the white unicorn who had begun helping lift Vidar.
The young caribou still laid on the ground with dried blood on his upper half, but the shocking part was the tattoos, brandings, and scars began to glow a bright electric blue as the gash on his neck closed shut and his eyes began to flutter open. With a groan, Vidar sat up, scratching his neck as if he had just woken up from a nap. Looking around confused, Vidar stood up and gathered his weapons, making his way back to the main camp.
"Okay, what. The. Fuck. Was that?" Gaius asked, looking for an answer.
"I don't believe it," Ivor gasped. "Heard about it, read about it, never thought it was real."
"Okay, look, I'm not in the mood to ask 'what' a hundred times today, so either tell us what that was, or I'm going to break your fucking nose," Gaius growled, his patience for the day running thin. "How the hell did he come back to life?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Ivor stated, making a vein bulge out under Gaius's helmet. "But that looked like Baldur's curse."
"Oh, of course," Shining said. "What is Baldur's curse?"
"Baldur is one of our gods," Ivor started. "of light, joy, purity, and the summer sun; an Oracle told his mother he'd die a needless death, so she put a spell on him to make him invulnerable to any and all injuries no matter how minor or serious."
"Wow, sounds helpful," Gaius remarked.
"It does, but he also couldn't feel anything else," Ivor continued. "Food had no taste, drink never quenched his thirst, and felt no love when he kissed his wife."
"Fuck that," Shining commented. "Rather feel all the pain in the world than not feel anything when I'm with my wife."
"Aw, how sweet." The voice of Cadence said as she and a group of others walked up carrying food. "And here I thought you only appreciated me for my brain." She joked, kissing her husband's cheek.
Gaius watched Vidar as he walked away, scratching his chin thinking about what Ivor had told them about this 'curse'.
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In another part of Equestria, a mare kept her eyes forward and tried not to let her emotions show as she gently stroked the hair of the caribou occupying her lap. Said caribou was Brandt, who seemed to be in deep thought as he looked up at the mare before speaking.
"Am I a bad creature?" He asked.
The mare didn't answer as she continued her task until Brandt sat up and stood.
"I do bad things, but am I bad?" He asked again before starting at a slow pace.
"If a bear takes a fish from a stream, is it wrong? Or if a bird takes twigs for a nest, is that?" He continued as he looked at the mare who didn't answer him. "Perhaps it is a fact of if one enjoys doing bad things, what do you think, my sweet?"
The mare tried to take a moment before her eyes began to stream tears, and she bawled out, crying in sadness and fear.
"Aw, there it is, all that coldness for nothing." Brandt cooed as he sat down behind her on the ground, wrapping her in his arms in what could be mistaken as a tender embrace. "Why so sad, my little moon pie?" He asked. "Could it be something you see?" Looking ahead, he addresses the scene in front of them.
As the two sat on a small hill, they watched as a small town burnt to the ground. Screams of pain and for help were heard like thunder; Stonehoof cut down any they came in contact with if they put up a fight; they were the lucky ones as any female captured was stripped and violated on the spot; some even pushed against burning rubble as they were raped violently. Some of the genuinely unlucky were made examples of and either hanged in plain sight or forced to watch as mothers, sisters, wives, daughters were all taken in front of them; some were even given a choice to violate them themselves if they preferred. The entire scene was something out of a horror show straight from a nightmare. Brandt pulled the mare closer and nuzzled against her neck with a sigh.
"Don't just love a warm fire-lit sky on cold winter nights?" He asked the mare as she continued to cry.
"You know what?" He started. "This puts me in the mood for a bit of a game." He spoke cheerfully as he pulled her to her feet and towards his tent. As they entered the mare, they saw several decorations such as lanterns and effigies, all made of bones and skulls; in the middle was a large butcher's block table with blood stains and deep cuts made into it. Brandt moved around the table and pulled out a large knife roll before addressing the mare.
"First a story," He started. "My grandfather was a weak man and let a woman rule his world, so much so that when my father challenged him, it was a slaughter," he chuckled. "And when my brothers and I were born, he wanted us to be stronger than forces of nature; my older brother was sent to train with highlanders and became like a mountain while I was sent to the caves of our homeland," he continued with a deep sigh. "It was there I learned the cruel truth of this world. Do you know what that is, little moon pie?" He asked but only got weeps from the poor mare.
"ANSWER ME!" He yelled full of fury, making the mare jump.
"What?" The mare barely whispered. This made Brandt smile wickedly and walk over, pulling her into a hug, rocking her a little, and running a hand through her hair before whispering right back.
"That in this cruel, sad, pain-filled world," he said, starting to rub her head more aggressively. "Everyone wants something, and if you want it, you take it." He growled the last part before spinning her around where her hands landed on the table in front of the knife roll. Taking a deep whiff of her hair, Brandt whispered again. "Open it."
Doing as instructed, the mare unclasped the buckle and rolled out the bag to see a large spread of over a dozen knives ranging from cleavers to small paring knives. All seemed to be bloodied, rusted, and crudely made. Looking over all of them filled the mare with fear as the terrifying caribou pressed into her from behind, looking over her shoulder. Still rocking and developing a sadistic smile on his face, Brandt stepped back and rushed around to the other side, palms on the table, looking right in her eyes.
"Pick one." He ordered.
The mare looked at him, and she saw a pair of eyes filled with a spark of something…evil. She slowly picked up a decent-sized hunting knife and held it up for him to inspect.
"Excellent choice." He smiled before grabbing his own from the bunch, a simple double-sided dagger. "Now the game is simple," He explained, walking back around to her. "You want something; I want something, the winner gets their prize, so what does the lady want?" He asked.
The mare took a moment before gripping the blade firmly and looking him in the eye. "I want to see you bleed; I want to see you gasping for breath; I want to stand over you and see you die." She said, mustering up all her courage.
Brandt chuckled, taking a few steps back and gripping his own blade. "Now that is something to want," he said, pulling his shirt off revealing his dirty bandaged torso; with a rolling crack of his neck, Brandt spoke again. "Well, if you win the game, you'll have just that, and I'll give you something that'll let you walk right of here as free as a bird." Twirling the blade in his hand, he motioned her to come at him.
The mare charged at him driving the blade deep into his gut and pulling up. Brandt's smile never faltered even as she twisted the knife, trying her best to do as much damage as she could. Letting out a laugh, Brandt pushed her back and slowly slid the knife out, and tossed it aside. The mare got her feet back under her and made for another knife but was stopped when the mad caribou pinned her to the table. She tried to fight, to roll away, kick him, anything she could, but it was all in vain. He was putting his weight on her, pinning her entire front to the table and her face pressed against half dry and gooey blood. Lowering his head down to her ear as she panted out, she felt his breath on her, then the wetness of his tongue sliding around the shell of her ear.
"You know," Brandt whispered. "You never asked what I wanted… moon pie." He breathed.
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Taking both her hands, putting one on top of the other and out in front of the mare, Brandt took his dagger, drove the blade through both of the back of her hands, pinning her in place as she screamed so loud it sounded like her lungs would pop.
"That's it, sweetie," he growled, grabbing the back of her dress and ripping it off, exposing her back and nearly falling off of her. "Let's make beautiful music that everyone can hear." Slowly kissing down her back and licking up the sweat that almost poured out of her in fear.
"You taste just like honey," he commented. "But I want something even better." He growled, reaching over her shoulder and grabbing a filet knife from the roll. She felt the blade edge meet the top of her left shoulder before the slicing pain ran down to her lower right rib, not cutting deep but enough for blood to begin pooling out. Her whimpering continued as she felt his tongue lick right down the laceration and heard him hum in approval. "An even sweeter filling." He remarked. "But I want that candy filling at your very center." With a deep growl, he grabbed what was left of her dress and ripped it off, and threw it away.
The mare still had her face pressed against the table, tears pouring out of her eyes so much she couldn't see anything. She felt his weight leave her for a moment before it returned once again, but nothing separated them now. His erection pushed at her entrance; she felt pain, sorrow, regret, rage, then felt him stop for a moment.
"You know my last playmate only lasted half an hour," Brandt said. "I hope you last longer." He laughed.
With no hesitation, he hilted himself in her, which received a shattering scream. Hard, rough, uncaring thrusts followed for what felt like hours. Each movement moved her hands, causing the blade to dig deeper, making her cry out each little cut. He kept on and kept on giving growls of pleasure and laughs until he slowed down to a crawl and the feeling of the blade returned to her other shoulder, and another cut followed, then another, and another, and another. So many came as he kept his pace until her back had a crisscross pattern that almost looked like mesh cloth. Seeing all the blood seemed to trigger something in the caribou, dropping the knife and with a hard thrust, Brandt grabbed the other side of the table and began to drive into her like an animal at the height of a rut cycle.
Dozens of more thrusts followed until, with a roar of pleasure, the caribou hilted himself again and released inside of the mare, whimpering for him not to. Panting, Brandt grabbed her mane and pulled it up, planting his mouth on her mouth in a rough open-mouth kiss he held till they both ran out of breath. Panting and chuckling, he put his ear to her back to check for a heartbeat and breathing. He found one, and his smile never seemed wider.
"Good for you, moon pie." He said, pulling out and grabbing a waterskin, pouring it over his head. "Now for the rough stuff." He teased, dropping the skin and returning to his playmate.
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It was midnight when Brandt emerged from his tent and was greeted by a caribou berserker with a pot in hand, offering it to him.
"How did we make out?" He asked, finishing putting his pants on.
"Several slaves and recruits." The berserker answered. "We also learn that the bug creatures are on the move."
"Interesting," He said, opening the lid to the pot. "I wonder what they taste like?" He smiled, looking inside before taking the dish.
"Shall I call for a cart, sir?" He asked Brandt.
"No need," Brandt smiled. "She is alive…for now." He then reentered the tent.
Filled with the smell of sweat, blood, and sex with the mare still pinned to the table, Brandt set the pot down and took off the lid, and grabbed a cup, filling it with what looked like broth. Looking to see the female fading into sleep, he offered it to her.
"Hungry?" He asked. "Careful though it is an acquired taste." He warned as the last thing she saw was an eyeball float to the top of the broth before she passed out.
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Back in the Warborn camp, Vidar shot awake in a panic seeing he was in the middle male warriors fast asleep. Shaking his head, the voices started up again.
'Kill'
'They don't want you.'
'Runaway'
They kept rambling, making the young caribou hold his head as he went for a walk to try and clear his head. Moving through the sleeping bodies, he found himself at the top of a tower looking over the edge. A high drop but not enough to kill, break something, but not kill. He lifted his foot, ready to take that step
'Do it!'
'Jump!'
'Make it end!'
when a voice stopped him.
"Please don't."
Turning, he found Applebloom with a large blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
"They said you already died today; that can't be good for someone." She reasoned, walking forward. "Is it nightmares?" She asked, offering a hand to him. Looking away defeated, that confirmed it. He reached for her hand and grasped it. He stepped off the edge, and she pulled him close into a hug. The feeling was almost foreign to him, but he embraced it nonetheless.
"Come on; you can sleep by me tonight." She offered and pulled him along back to where she had been sleeping. Vidar followed with no hesitation for the second time he could ever remember; one voice was louder than all the others.