"You called my master?" said Spitfire kneeling head bowed. Her golden hair flowing over her shoulders, the goggles on her brow keeping it out of her face. They were all she had to remember her old life as Captain of the Wonderbolts. She was in the throne room. The stone floors felt icy through her boots and the entire room was slanted at a 30 degree angle.
"Did I now?" replied Discord scratching his beard in thought "Surely I must have then if you have come such as you have, correct?" He was obviously referring to the tanned leather armor Spitfire wore. It was fairly standard among soldiers, but Spitfire's was far from ordinary.
"Correct" answered Spitfire standing up and looking at Discord a fire in her eyes He was wearing the crown of Princess Celestia on his head. The gold clashed with his silvery hair. He had on a custom tailored tan suit and pants and black dress shoes. His eyes were the most striking part of his features. His right eye was green, but his left eye was purple.
"Oh come now Spitfire" said Discord making a very sad face "Surely you aren't still mad at me for banishing your Princess are you? She was so dreadfully boring" He snapped his fingers and the room changed into a rainforest. "I feel like I've made Equestria more fun since I took power don't you think?"
"I'm not sure how to answer that" replied Spitfire looking around for the door It seemed to have vanished with the rest of the room "I'm still trying to remember what Equestria was like before you took over" She could hear the faint drizzle of rain from just a few yards away.
"Ah yes those were dark times indeed. Everything so dreadfully boring. So simple and tedious, life was back then." said Discord flexing the fingers on his hands. "Ponies running everywhere going along with their repetitive lives. I'm sure you are all much more happy as human beings don't you think?"
"I don't remember being a pony at all, so I couldn't say for sure" answered Spitfire scratching her head in fake confusion "Did you need anything else?" In fact she did remember back to when she was a pony. At times she felt a twang of longing for the wings she once had.
"Yes I called you here to tell you to track a man down for me" said Discord with a sigh "Seriously how could you have forgotten the reason I called you down here?" She could tell by the look on his face Discord wanted her to try and defend herself.
"Who is it you want me to track?" asked Spitfire choosing to ignore Discord's jest She decided it would probably be better to stay silent than try and beat his silver tongue.
"A young wonderer" said Discord a little disappointed. Snapping his fingers he flipped the room upside down. Spitfire was now standing on the ceiling, yet curiously she didn't fall to the floor. "He is causing a disruption in my gloriously wonderful chaos. I want you to find him"
"I will Master" said Spitfire obediently "What shall I do once I find him?" Never before had she been sent on a tracking mission, with only one target.
"Oh I don't know?" started Discord stroking his beard "Killing him is an option, but it's no fun if he dies to fast. Torture is a possibility, but it always takes so much time..."
"Do you want me to decide?" suggested Spitfire interrupting Discord's rambling
"Why not!" cried Discord laughing "Do with him what you will, just try to have fun will you?"
"You can count on me" said Spitfire nodding in answer
"You keep saying that" said Discord with a coy smile He made a square with his hands. The door appeared shimmering into life once more behind Spitfire "I'd hope it means what you think it means"
Spitfire opened the door stepped through, closing it behind her. She was outside the castle now right side up again. She began to walk towards her home. Canterlot was in ruins. Buildings were floating, upside down, or just left alone and split in half. The roads were all fragmented, some parts moving around or spinning. Spitfire climbed on a floating bridge and sat down waiting for it to float her to her home downtown.
She flexed her fingers on her right hand getting the ghostly feeling of a hoof once again. To think it had been nearly 12 years since Discord had taken power. Things were much different now. Spitfire wouldn't call it evil exactly though, much more like a bad child's fantasy. Everything was so much more difficult and confusing.
Of course Discord himself was evil, Spitfire was sure of this. He had banished Princess Celestia when he took power. It made her cringe just thinking about having to serve him, but there was nothing Spitfire could do about it. If she could she would stand against him, but alone she was certain she would lose. Shining Armor had once told her that sometimes you must bide your time, throwing your life away will solve nothing.
"You must live, to fight another day" he had said "You are Equestria's last hope"
Shining Armor was the Captain of the Royal Guard, at the time Discord attacked. He had been Spitfire's friend for sometime before that though. When Discord had sent out the spell to erase everyone's memories, Shining Armor had shielded her from the worst of it. She didn't know if Discord knew of his his actions, but soon afterwards he turned all of the royal guard to stone. Now he uses them as statues to lively up the castle grounds.
Spitfire wondered just what this young traveler could have done to get Discord's attention. Every couple of years some brave soul would stand up and try to oppose him. It always ended up in more bloodshed, but that was usually delt with by the Elements of Disharmony. She began to wonder just what Discord was planning...
It was coming on late afternoon as he walked into town. He had been traveling for 10 days now. It was hot outside with the coming of another summer breeze, brought by the chaotic weather patterns. Even so he wore his trenchcoat that covered his entire body and a long brimmed hat. The hat covered his eyes from view, leaving his identity a mystery. The way he wanted it.
As he walked down the street his gloved hands in his pockets, he caught the glance of many a passerby. Their faces were a mix of sorrow and disinterest. The same as every other person he'd met. He kept walking, his trenchcoat blowing with the summer breeze. He stopped as he heard a commotion coming from the tavern on his left. He ducked inside the tavern his hand on his hat.
Once inside he looked around. It was rather still inside a tavern in this part of Equestria. There were a few tables with a couple people silently drinking their brew, but none seemed to be enjoying any of it. Soon he found what he was looking for. Two men were arguing over at the counter.
He walked up to the counter to the left of the two men arguing and rested his arms on the wood.
"I told you already no money no food" yelled the man behind the counter He had an apron on over his white shirt and his black hair was thinning on top. He slammed his fist down on the counter as he said "Now get out"
"Let him have something to eat" said the Drifter firmly not meeting the innkeepers eyes
"He has no money" said the tavern keep crossing his arms "No money no food"
The stranger reached a hand into his trenchcoat pocket and pulled out about 15 bits. He laid them on the table and replied "Will this cover it?"
"Uh yes absolutely" said the tavern keeper rubbing his eyes in disbelief He quickly took up the coins in his hands scared that he would lose them. "I will bring you both the best I have right away" Then he ran off into the back room leaving the stranger alone with the other man.
"Ya didn have ta do that" said the man turning to face the Drifter
"I was hungry anyways" replied the traveler "Besides the way you look, you shouldn't be turning down a free meal"
"You're right" said the man "I should be grateful for your kindness"
"Tell me what is your name" asked the Drifter
The man ran a hand through his blonde hair "Mah name's Big Macintosh"
"I've been traveling for sometime" said the Drifter "What has been going on around here? Why are all the others so sunken inward?"
"It's been like this for sometime now" answered Big Mac with a frown "Ever since Lord Discord took power, Equestria's been different. He's done somethin to the Elements of Harmony. All they do now is wreck anarchy all cross Equestria."
"Here you gentlemen are" said the other man laying trays of food out in front of the Drifter and Mac "Call if you need anything else"
"Seems friendly now don't he?" said Mac with a weak smile as the innkeeper walked into the back once more.
"You would be surprised, to find he's worse off than you are" said the Drifter changing the subject before Mac could respond "So your from the Apple Family then?"
"Eeyup" said Big Mac closing his eyes "Me and mah sis Applebloom are all that are left now."
"It must be difficult to work all of your orchard with only the two of you" said the Drifter putting a hand on Big Mac's shoulder in sympathy
"I gotta be strong" said Big Mac giving the Drifter a look of determination "If we're getin through this I have ta be strong for my lil sis"
"Said like a true man" nodded the Drifter finishing his meal and standing up "Alright that settles it. I'm going to help you out"
"What?" cried Big Mac "How ya gonna do that?"
"I noticed a group of soldiers coming from the east on my way into town" said the Drifter
"Ya but how will that help?" started Big Mac standing up as well "they're probably just here ta steal our harvest again"
"I'm going to make sure they never reach your orchard" said the Drifter starting out the door hand on his hat
"Wait I don't even know ya'lls name!" called Mac
"I'm know as the Drifter" said the man stepping out the door
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Applejack took a bite out of a juicy looking apple, as she relaxed on the top of her wagon. It had been awhile since she'd been to her orchard. She wondered if that old Granny Smith was still laying where she'd cracked her skull open. Applejack laughed at that memory. She tossed the half eaten apple over the edge of the cart she was laying on, and yawned. She'd take a little nap before they got there.
Applejack liked her position as the Element of Dishonesty. It gave her a sense of power, over others. Though she enjoyed telling the lies themselves. She could tell them all they wanted to hear and then walk away leaving them to face their own problems. Once she had promised to stop bandits from raiding a village when she was the one who was raiding the village.
Applejack was just about to pull her Stetson over her eyes when the cart made a sudden stop. She sat up and placed the Stetson back on her blonde hair, the ponytail hanging out the back over her right shoulder. The black armor she was wearing glinted eerily in the sun as she hopped to the ground and took hold of the nearest soldier she could find.
"Why did we stop moving?" yelled Applejack angrily into the mans face
"There is a man sitting in the middle of the road" said the soldier trying to wriggle out of Applejacks grasp. She merely grabbed the man by his collar and lifted him off his feet.
"Why didn't you just run him over then?" asked Applejack as if this was the obvious choice.
"We tried to" said the man grabbing Applejack's hand and trying to wrench himself free from her iron grip "But the wagon won't budge. It's as if it's been frozen in place"
"Magic huh?" said Applejack throwing the man to the ground rather harshly "Tell our mages to get to the front of the convoy. I want to see this man for myself"
Applejack reached inside of her cart and grabbed the handle of her hammer. It was over 9 feet long and made of solid steel, with the head being a good 3 feet wide. The head of the hammer was stained red with the blood of some idiot beggars from their previous stop. She had promised to end their suffering, she had forgot to mention it involved their lives ending as well.
As she approached the front of the convoy, Applejack expected to see the bodies of her more worthless soldiers lying in the road. Possibly a blood stained mage intent on getting some kind of petty revenge. You know something fun, a little bit of amusement in this dull countryside. Applejack was greeted with a cloaked figure in a hat, sitting with his legs and arms crossed in the middle of the road.
He looked up as she approached, but said nothing. Staying oddly resolute despite her ominous presence. Usually when she approached their was unmistakable look of terror on peoples faces.
"Who are you?" asked Applejack curiously, noticing no marking or symbol on his clothing for identification.
"Does that really matter?" replied the man with a laugh "You're going to try and kill me anyway"
"I'll kill ya when I feel like it" said Applejack cracking her knuckles "But I'd like ta know the name of my opponent when I do"
"You may call me Drifter then" replied Drifter getting to his feet and looking past Applejack. He then reached inside of his trenchcoat and pulled out a rather odd looking rifle. It was a dark brown made out of some kind of bronze or brass, and looked to have a gear on one side. It had an unusually long thick barrel for normal gun.
He raised it in one hand and his finger tugged at the trigger. Applejack stepped to the right as he fired a succession of three shots. She was opening her mouth to make a crude remark when the sound of bodies hitting the dirt echoed from behind her.
Turning to look behind her, she sighed as she saw the three mages she had requested be sent to aid her, lying dead. The shots hadn't been random after all. They were expertly aimed as well, each one going straight through their heart. She turned back to face the Drifter and tightened her grip on her hammer.
"You must be Applejack" replied Drifter spinning the gun on his index finger "The Element of Dishonesty. I've heard a lot about you"
"And yet I know so very little about you" said Applejack sarcasm thick on her voice "Do you want me to tell me about yourself?"
"No" said Drifter "I'd like you to promise me something"
"You've got to be kidding me?!" Applejack replied hysterically laughing "I ain't promising you anything. I'm the Element of Dishonesty for Discord's sake!"
"Applejack you were once the Element of Honesty" said Drifter in a serious tone
"I thought I was the liar here" laughed Applejack again. Swinging her hammer with a ease only achieved from strength unimaginable, she added "Now out of my way. I need to pay my family a visit"
"I can't let you do that" said Drifter leveling his gun at Applejack's head "I don't want to hurt you but I will if I must"
"You think you can stop me?" asked Applejack a smile growing on her face "you and what army? I don't see any soldiers anywhere"
"What makes you think I need an army?" said Drifter in a casual tone
"Please I could crush a twig like you in one blow" replied Applejack flexing her fingers around the handle of her hammer
"I'd like to see you try" said Drifter putting his gun back inside his trenchcoat "I'll even stand still and let you hit me"
"Your funeral" said Applejack with a smile raising her hammer above her head with both hands. She brought it down hard on top of the man's head. A huge smack sounded and a cloud of dust showered out from underneath of her swing, but to her surprise he was alive. He had raised up his right arm and blocked the hammer by positioning his arm right under the head.
"Now it's my turn" he replied with a sneer. His fist came back and launched forward with all the force of a cannon. It caught Applejack in the chest, sending her reeling backwards. She dug her feet into the ground and stood her ground once more, as the Drifter fiddled with his glove.
"I thought you said you'd stand still" said Applejack angrily. She had seriously misjudged this man's abilities. There was a massive dent in her armor where he had punched it. Not only did he block her swing, but he did so in a way she'd never seen before. Just who is this guy?
"I lied" laughed Drifter "I thought you'd like a demonstration of my abilities before the 'fun' begins as you put it?"
"I'd still like to know your name" said Applejack getting serious. A crowd of her men had gathered behind her and was watching with awe. She wanted to remind them why she was their leader. "Before I kill you, you know"
"If you can" said Drifter slamming his fists together, a shockwave resonating from the collision. He made a combat stance, his feet spaced to allow easy movement.
Applejack charged him with her hammer again, this time going for an upward swing aimed at his left side. Drifter dropped into a crouch and shot his foot out trying to trip the charging Applejack. She stepped over it pulling her swing short and quickly changing it into a sideways swing from the right.
Drifter braced himself and caught it once more with his arm right under the head. He aimed another punch at Applejack's chest, but she caught his fist before it could land properly.
"That ain't gonna work again" mocked Applejack tightening her grip on the Drifter's fist. She wouldn't let this guy make a fool of her.
"You sure about that?" asked Drifter taking a step forward and grabbing Applejack's arm with his other hand. He ducked and turned throwing her over him, getting her to release his arm. She hit the ground on her back and sprang to her feet, rounding back on her adversary.
Applejack growled in anger. Never before had she fought someone with this much skill. Up until now Applejack had been far above the skill level of all of her opponents. This man could finally be the challenge she was waiting for.
"You fight well" said Applejack setting her hammer down on the ground "But it's time for me to stop playing around" She raised a hand and undid the straps to her armor. Her armor snapped off and fell to the ground. It hit the ground with a thud and left a crater where it landed.
"Weighted armor?" asked Drifter impressed a little "You were wearing weighted armor all this time?"
She was wearing normal clothes now. A long sleeved white shirt with a leather vest, Blue jeans with cowboy boots, and leather gloves. She picked up the hammer in one hand and threw it spinning high into the air. It was up nearly forty feet in the air when Applejack launched herself into the sky and grabbed it in both hands.
She was clearly mush faster than she was before. He judged it at about four times faster, but he wasn't sure enough to bet his life on it.
"Not often I get to fight with all my strength" said Applejack plummeting down on top of him "you should consider yourself honored to see my true power"
Drifter jumped out of the way to what he thought was a safe distance, but when Applejack hit the ground with her hammer the shock wave of the impact sent him spiraling. He stood back up his ears ringing. Where she had come crashing to earth there was a massive hole, the ground fissured and broken.
"Is that really your true power?" said Drifter with a mischievous smile. The force of the shockwave had blown his hat off revealing his face. He had rusty orange hair and a bandage around his eyes. He aimed his sightless gaze straight at Applejack.
"How can you even fight?" asked Applejack taken aback slightly from this new revelation. This man had been fighting all this time and he was blind! She understood that her lord Discord was the Lord of Disorder and Chaos so she was used to stuff like this, but this was just ridiculous.
"I'm honored that you will fight me with all you've got" said Drifter grabbing his trenhcoat and throwing it aside. He was wearing a tan leather jacket and red undershirt, with baggy cotton gray pants and brown leather boots. There were three metal rods on a sash going across his chest. Applejack could also see he was wearing reinforced leather gloves. "So I will do you the honor of showing some of mine"
"The honor is all mine" lied Applejack with a chuckle. She'd break this guy in half, blind or not.
Then he did something she didn't expect. He took the rods and linked them together, to form a kind of staff. Then he attached the rifle to one end, a long crooked blade emerging form the gun. He twirled it expertly in one hand and positioned himself in a fighting stance. The new scythe he had created held behind him in a ready to use position.
She had expected him to try and keep his distance like he had done before, but he was in front of her in a flash. She rose her hammer up to block the horizontal slash from the scythe, catching the blade on her hammer's long handle. The force behind the swing had been tremendous, almost knocking Applejack off her feet. Then she saw his finger strain the trigger of the rifle, and ducked out of the way as a bullet fired from the scythe.
She didn't have time to think as he was on her again. He was launching a vicious assault of horizontal slashes and vertical chops, stopping once awhile to fire another round in her direction. If Applejack didn't do something fast to get back on the offensive she was done for. Seeing an opening she planted her foot and put all her strength into a diagonal swing, trying to catch her adversary off guard.
Applejack expect to feel the familiar cracking of bones, but instead felt a jarring sensation in her arms as the hammer came to a sudden and unexpected stop. Her eyes widened with awe as she realized that Drifter had caught her hammer in one hand. He tightened his grip and ripped it from her hands, letting her fall to the ground.
"How did you...?" stumbled Applejack retreating slowly her body shaking in fear "You shouldn't be able to do that?"
"You lie to yourself, Applejack. This is not your true power" said Drifter with a venom in his voice. He had a irritated expression on his face as he added "and I hate liers" With that he raised up his scythe and brought it down hard, sinking the blade through Applejack's stomach and into the ground beneath.
He turned back to the soldiers who were watching and bellowed "If you don't want to be next, I suggest you run back to the hole you crawled out of" As they sprinted away in terror he yelled "Tell Discord his reign of chaos is over"
___________________________________________________________________
Spitfire couldn't believe her eyes. This single man had defeated one of the Elements of Disharmony! Not only that, but he did it without even a single scratch on him. Whoever this man really was, this Drifter, he was strong. Applejack wasn't the brightest fighter only relying on her strength, but she was feared and respected among Discord's army.
Spitfire leaned back against the tree she was laying in. The branch creaked a little under her in response. At the outset Spitfire had expected this young wanderer to be a little wet under the ears, probably some idiot trying to get some kind of revenge; But with this new information, she wasn't sure that was the right decision.
She came to a conclusion as she leaped from the tree, to the ground. She would find out as much as she could from this Drifter. She waited as he turned and retrieved his scythe from Applejack's body. He wiped the blood off it and broke it back apart tucking each part away and putting on his trenchcoat and hat once more.
The next thing he did surprised her. He leaned down and laid his hand on Applejack. Spitfire saw a faint glow of blue and the blood flowing out of Applejack stopped and reversed. He then picked her up and walked off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
"What the hell?" asked Spitfire scratching her head in confusion "Why did he heal her? Isn't she his enemy?" She kept to the shadows as Spitfire followed them. She was determined to find out what he was doing.