Applejack lifted her prize from the portal with all the strength and grace she did a haystack.

Rough and strong.

The blob of white flew from her maw, sailing silently through the air before rolling across the stone tiles. Fluttershy and Link moved out of the objects trajectory, the former doing so with a small ‘eep’ as she quickly flew into the wings of the latter. Said warrior looked at the canary pegasus in his arms curiously as she shivered against him.

“Geez Applejack.” Rainbow Dash muttered at the display. “Eager much?” The cowpony hade a sharp reply ready at the end of her tongue, muzzle already moving to do so.

She was silenced by a pounding migraine.

Her jaw and eyes opened wide as the dull throb overtook her senses. She pulled a hoof to her head, lightly knocking her Stetson hat from it. Her legs slowly lowered her form to the ground, careful with jostling her pounding brain.

“Oh, are you okay Applejack?” Twilight asked carefully as she trotted closer, raising a hoof to her clearly pained friend.

“Ah’m fine.” The pony spoke through gritted teeth, though the truth was clearly the opposite. “Just a rough poundin’ in my head. Feels like Ah ran head first into a barn’s side door.”

“Here, let me see if I can fix that.” Without waiting for a response, the lavender unicorn let her horn begin to glow, carefully lowering her head towards the orange mare. But a rough hoof stopped and cut her concentration.

“Don’t worry none ‘bout me Twi’.” Applejack spoke as she lowered her hoof to the stone floor. “Ah’ve felt worse. Give me a couple oh minutes and Ah’ll be fresh as mornin’s new dew.” Though tentative, the unicorn slowly backed away at her friend’s request.

“Are you sure, dear?” Rarity offered gently. “I can attest from prior experience how useful that spell is. It’s quite the saving grace after long hours of work.” But once more the offer of aid was cut off.

“Nah, don’t fret none ‘bout me.” The cowpony returned, giving her head one last good shake before standing her tallest on all four hooves again. “Sides, Ah’m mighty more curious ‘bout what Ah caught in the fishin’ hole.” Even though she was  an Earth Pony with no magic to give, her words seemed to cast a spell over the worried mares that surrounded her.

“This is how… I came through?” Gandalf questioned with a voice that conveyed confusion and shock in equal amounts, though his face remained as unreadable beneath the grey beard as ever.

“Indeed so, wizard.” Princess Celestia confirmed. “But if it offers any comfort, Twilight was far more careful with pulling you from the device.” One cowpony offered a sideways glance towards the royal alicorn, but wisely spoke no words.

“No, no it’s not that. Rather…” The Gray Wizard began, pulling his staff close as his weight pushed onto it. “I am altogether confused and curious of this art of magic. It is none that have seen in any realm of Middle Earth nor across The Western Seas.” The alabaster alicorn at his side understood only half the terms her tall guest spoke.

“Speakin’ honestly Gandalf,” Applejack spoke as she shuffled closer on her hooves. “There ain’t a pony here who can tell ya the way Discord’s magic likes ta’ work. He’s just… a great big pile o’ chaos an’ mystery.” More than one head nodded in agreement to the mare’s words.

“I do not doubt you at all young one.” Gandalf spoke kindly, “But that halts little the curiosity of my mind.” If sworn to honesty, as she always was, Applejack would swear on the grave of every Apple Family Member that Twilight Sparkle’s eyes gleamed with boundless joy. Celestia however, was quick to act before the sponge that was the unicorn’s mind began to question the wizard.

“If it is alright with you Applejack, I think it would be best to free the soul you have conjured.” The cowpony gave the princess a glance before looking towards the object far across the hall. She winced slightly as his head turned too quickly.

“Yeah, tha’ be a darn good idea.” Without another word, but with a kind smile, the princess walked towards the mist covered form, prone and still. Only the dissipating mist on top of the solid figure beneath swayed in the air. For not the first time, Celestia thanked the stars no longer above that the mist appeared so much gentler than the cold black tendrils of Discord’s twisted art. It was small, but it made the act slightly less distasteful on her moral pallet.

“Need a hoof, AJ?” Rainbow Dash questioned behind the solar ruler, earning a motion of her head. She saw the familiar cyan pegasus hovering in the air, looking down on the Stetson wearing mare beneath, fore hoof to her head in pain.

“Well… maybe, yeah.” That earned a quick retort from her friend.

“Really? That’s it?” The shock was as evident on her voice as the rainbow mane on her head. “No arguing about how fine you are? No screaming that you’re A-Okay?”

“Nah, not righ’ now.” The fore hoof drew slow circles across her temple as she spoke. “Pardon me RD, but this throbbin’ is worse than buckin’ a tree the wrong way.”

“Okay, alright.” Dash turned her taunts into concern with almost practiced ease. “You just chill, me and the rest of the gals will wake this bad colt of yours up.” The smirk of pride was impossible to miss, on the pegasus and on the earth pony.

“Thanks girl.”

“Um, girls?” The new voice drew the two, and the voyeuristic princess back towards the mist covered figure.

Or at least… the once mist covered figure.

Above the newly revealed creature stood the meek canary mare and the green-clad Hylian, one hiding behind her mane and the other crossing his arms with a satisfied smile. The alabaster alicorn, orange earth pony, cyan pegasus, and the rest of the hall residents collective looked back with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.

“I-I’m sorry.” Fluttershy shot out without and reason. “I-I didn’t mean to reveal so much, b-but seeing how far he flew, oh I just thought he might have felt some pain.” Link beside her simply nodded in agreement, lips frozen in their upward facing position.

“Nothing has been ailed young Fluttershy.” Princess Luna spoke as she approached. “We are all simply… stunned by the speed at which you performed your task.” Small nods were given around in agreement.

“O-Oh, okay, I’m sorry.” With a controlled sigh, the lunar princess approached the figure on the ground.

He was of similar size to that of Link, though far less clothed than the Hero of Time. Robes similar to those of Gandalf, but far brighter than the dull gray of the wizard’s own. The hair of his mane was solid black, tied into a knot atop his head. Other than that, there was little else to describe about him. His face was young and unmarred, robes clean and white, mane sleek and well cared for.

That was until her eyes fell on the blade.

It appeared as nothing spectacular. A solid jet black sheath with a carefully detailed grasp and guard. Golden hues were wrapped beneath the dark cloth of hilt, coiling upwards towards a golden encrusted guard. The blade itself was hidden from view, but somehow, Luna just knew it would vary greatly than even the silver of Gandalf’s blade. From that small object, she felt an aura hard to describe.

“He looks kinda… plain.” Applejack spoke on approach. “Not tha’ I find tha’ wrong her nothin’, just not what Ah, expected.”

“Indeed.” Celestia spoke beside her sister. “Though to be honest, he still is one of a few in men in Equestria now. At least I presume him to be a man, if I can take the similarities between him and… Kratos.” The invoked a shiver in the dark alicorn, but tears in the canary pegasus. A leathered glove from Link helped to quell the growing tears.

“Well… we mustn't wait too long now.” The princesses of the sun spoke with faux joy, hoping to avert the imaginings of her ponies away from the obvious nightmare. “Let us prepare ourselves.”

“For what princess?” Twilight Sparkle asked as she trotted next to her mentor.

“Why to wake him up of course.” Celestia returned with a kind voice. “The reactions we’ve received so far have been… less than pleasant.”

“I offer my apologies again for my threatening nature.” Gandalf offered the ruler. “Waking as a stranger in a strange land is… not a common experience to me.” The alabaster alicorn smiled pleasantly to the Gray Wizard before speaking.

“And I did not expect it to be one.” She quickly countered the apology. “However, though the reaction is normal and likely, I still wish for my subjects to be safe from harm.”

“Oh, but…” Fluttershy went silent again as the gaze of the alabaster alicorn fell on her.

“What is it Fluts?” The cyan pegasus asked as she hovered over to her friend. “Something ya need to tell us?” With all the hesitance that lived in her name, the canary pegasus peaked her muzzle out from her pink mane before speaking.

“He’s already awake.”

And Twilight thought only Pinkie Pie could confuse her this much.

“Fluttershy, that’s not-“ But her retort died in her throat.

The man was awake.

His chest was breathing, he arms moving, and eyelids fluttering as if trapped in some dream. He wasn’t mobile, he wasn’t scared, but he was more awake than either Fawkes or Gandalf before him.

“Tha’… tha’ ain’t possible.” Applejack’s words came out more as a stuttered gasp than a determined statement. “The princess didn’ even use her magic yet.”

“W-Well… we didn’t have to do that to wake up Link…” The pegasus looked up the green-clad hero she mentioned. Again he spoke nothing in return, but only nodded in response. “We weren’t, um, gentle, but… but we didn’t use any magic to wake him up. I-I’m sorry, but I don’t know why.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for darling.” An alabaster unicorn spoke on approach. “It’s just… not what we were prepared for, not that there is much that we can do to prepare for all of this.”

“Maybe we should-“ Celestia cut herself off.

The man was beginning to rise from the floor.

His thin fingers pushed against the cold stone floor, helping him rise to his feet and off the harsh surface of stone. His eyes remained shut, however, as his other hand held his forehead. A small grimace marred his features, a fact only the emotionally sensitive pony noticed.

“Are you alright?” The voice spoke through the fog that was his mind. It seemed, far off, but quickly approaching. His feet seemed determined to send him back to the floor he rose from, but he fought the urge, pushing a hand forward to brace himself on a nearby object.

It impacted something, holding him steady, but he could even through his haze something was different.

His muscles didn’t feel old or tired. They felt young and free. His reflexes weren’t slow or calculated. They were instant and gratifying. It was as if he wholly felt younger, spryer, youthful.

“Excuse me.” A new voice spoke, but far closer and clearer than the one before it.

“Please remove your paw from my snout.”

Now he was confused.

Fighting the fog in his mind, the man lowered his hand and opened his eyes. Fuzzy shapes and colorful images danced through his vision for a moment, quickly giving rise to the very real fear he may have impaired his vision. Trading his sight for his body, he wasn’t yet sure it was a trade he was willing to make. But the images slowly came into focus, carefully taking shape into structures he could see the detail in. And the first thing he saw did little clear his confusion.

His hand was pressed against the snout of a unicorn.

No, his hand as pressed against the snout of a unicorn with a rainbow mane and wings.

“I am not home, am I?” He asked himself more than the creature he still had his hand upon.

“I’ll ask once more.” The unicorn with wings spoke to him, “Remove your hand from my body.”

“I apologize again your majesty.” The man spoke with a deep bow before Princess Celestia. “I was confused to my location and situation and meant no disrespect to you in any way. I humbly ask again for your forgiveness.”

“It has been granted several times over.” The alicorn replied easily, a cheerful smile once more upon her features. “The only thing I ask for at the moment is your name.” Raising from his bow the man looked the princess of the sun in the eye before answering.

“They call me Samurai Jack.” And that was it. No grand title, no earned feats. Just a name and occupation. Princess Celestia could tell already she would like this man.

“Well, Samurai Jack,” she replied with his name, storing it deep in her memory. “Allow me to introduce the other members of the hall.” With a wave of her wing, the ponies came into better view, no longer hiding behind one another or moving around his foreign presence.

“These are the Elements of Harmony, plus my co-ruling sister, Princess Luna.” The dark alicorn gave a regal bow of her head and crossing of her fore hooves, wings expanding outward as she did so. Jack replied with a bow of his own.

“Next is my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” The lavender unicorn approached the samurai with a look caught between caution and curiosity. For what she was careful of, Jack could not imagine.

“A pleasure to meet you.” She spoke with an outstretched hoof. Looking at it with his own expression of curiosity, Jack slowly extended his hand outwards, wrapping it around the lavender appendage. He felt the mare shake it before returning it to the ground. It was odd, and maybe a part of aged paranoia on his part, but she sounded… cold.

“Next are Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.” Said pegasus and earth pony barreled towards him. The samurai had enough peace of mind to only step back and not to reveal his blade to the equine creatures. However, unlike the mare before them, the two only eyed him curiously before giving a nod to one another and running back, leaving behind a very confused Jack. The princess, however, continued on as if nothing happened.

“After them are Fluttershy and Rarity.” The two mares walked towards him with far more grace, and caution, then the three ponies that preceded them.

“It is a pleasure to meet you darling.” The unicorn spoke with an outstretched hoof that Jack quickly took hold of. “I do hope we become well acquainted in the future.”

“Thank you Mrs. Rarity, I feel the same.” The unicorn gave a small nod of her head, satisfied with the conversation. The pegasus, however, only continued to play with her hooves, unwilling to look up to taller figure before her.

“I apologize, have I offended you?”

“W-What? No, oh, I’m sorry.” The pegasus meekly said behind the long strands of her mane. “I-I’m just not… um, very good with, oh, meeting new p-ponies. I-I mean men, or people, o-or, oh….” She stammered over her words as her hooves played with one another. Her blush was starting to consume her.

“It is quite alright Mrs. Fluttershy.” The samurai spoke kindly to the mare. “It is my privilege to meet you.” He gave a low bow to the mare, to which Fluttershy gave a hesitant bow of her own. Satisfied, the mare trotted back to her group of friends.

Before the princess could introduce the next pony in line, the mare took it upon herself to speak before spoken to.

“Well Ah might be the last, but Ah’m still just as proud ta meet ya partner.” Applejack spoke loud and true to the tall man, hoof extended outwards as she ignored the dull throb of her brain. “The name’s Applejack.” With a soft smile, the samurai gripped the hoof with his own appendage, giving a small shake of the hand/hoof unison.

“It is a please to meet you Mrs. Apple.” The cowpony continued to smile.

“It’s Applejack.”

“I know, and that is what I called you, Mrs. Apple.” The samurai only continued to smile as he took of the ending of her name.

“No Jack, mah name is Applejack.” She was still smiling, but her teeth were grating themselves.

“And that is what I am calling you, Apple.”

‘By Celestia, he was worse that Pinkie Pie!’ Applejack thought.

The mare felt the throb in her brain begin to grow again. As kindly as she could, she turned away from the white-garbed man, putting her hoof to her mind with slow circular massages to her temple,  although It didn’t help much.

“You… are surprisingly calm with this…” Princess Celestia noted with an air of caution. It was not as if she hoped for reactions similar to those of Gandalf or Fawkes, but… acting as if nothing serious had changed felt… odd. Jack turned and gave his full attention to the alabaster monarch.

“I have little reason to be angered or frightened.” The samurai began to explain. “This is now far from the first time I have been sent to foreign worlds and meeting alien creatures. Though it is first time I have not been attacked or threatened after doing so.” It was clear from expression alone just how many questions his words had created in the mind of the princess. The celestial ruler wished to ask every one of them, but instead found her wisdom before she could. She settled with asking the robed warrior one.

“Have you… died before?” Even with her regal tone, she asked the question tentatively. Those words were not known for inspiring joyful memories in others.

“No, I have not.” Before she could speak again, Jack continued. “If your curiosity resides in how this has happened to me before, please allow me to explain.” With a soft smile and notion of her head, the alabaster alicorn beckoned him to continue.

“I was born in a land old with history and tradition…” The samurai began to explain. He recalled his early memories of his family, of his father and mother, rulers of the feudal era. He explained the training of his childhood with tools and weapons from lands near and far. His tone grew dark as he recalled the rebirthing of the great evil of Aku, the Shape Shifting Master of Darkness.

With barely constrained anger, Jack told of this monster’s wrath. Destroying his kingdom with hardly any trouble. The evil had taken his family, his home, his friends, and nearly every aspect of his life. It was only at what he believed to be his final moments that he found the sword he now carried, imbued with the power and strength to rid the world of the monster.

They met in a clash in the creature’s home, blow for blow to one another. Aku was strong, agile, and above all else, deceitful. Jack… Jack was determined with a will that had not existed in a warrior for since his father’s days of glory. The battle had slowly come to a conclusion, the dark demon battered and weakened beneath the might of his blade.

But before the final blow was struck, Aku drove open a portal in time, flinging the helpless samurai into its depths.

“From there I emerged into a land, as I am told, thousands of years older than my own. There now existed tools I had never seen, buildings that clawed at the sky, and apathy for life the likes of which I had never dreamed to imagine.” The samurai lowered his head respectfully as his tale finished. He was only partially aware of the crowd that had slowly formed around him.

“You have my sympathies and regrets for your kingdom Samurai Jack.” Celestia spoke to the warrior, lowering her head in tandem with his. “I understand well the fear of losing your home, but I hope never to experience the pain of watching go.”

“And neither do I wish for others to.” Jack added. “You spoke earlier that a demon was plotting such action against your kingdom?” The princess of the sun raised her head before giving a slow nod in confirmation. “And his presence is why I have been drawn here as well?”

“It is.”

“Then you have my blade and loyalty, Princess Celestia.”

Jack fell to both of his knees, lowering his head to the floor before the alabaster alicorn. A relieved smile drew itself across the muzzle of the celestial ruler looking down upon the white robbed warrior. Around him, the other ponies gave their own sighs and expressions of relief and joy. The other warriors as well seemed pleasantly relieved, Link and Gandalf each expressing a pull of their lips. Only Fawkes and Pinkie Pie were absent from the display, still happily chatting at the far side of the room.

“Rise, Samurai Jack.” Celestia spoke to the man. He did so with a grace she was sure he carried into battle as well. “I thank you not only as a ruler, but as a friend for your assistance.”

“Um, Samurai Jack?” Twilight asked the white-garbed man, earning his attention. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, about where you came from?”

“Is this really a proper time for that Twilight?” Rarity questioned her friend. “He did just tell us the greater portion of his past.”

“Gotta agree with Rare’ on this.” Applejack backed up the unicorn. “It ain’t proper manners to ask questions like that.”

“I have no objection to the questions Mrs. Apple.” Though his words and tone were kind, the cowpony only grew aggravated in return.

“For pony’s sake, mah’ name is Applejack, not just Apple and not Mrs, I ain’t a married mare.”

“My apologies,” Jack began, “It was improper of me to assume you were wed Ms. Apple.”

“Gah!” The cowpony near shouted in defeated. She raised a hoof to her head to quell a slowly growing throb.

“I… I just have one question I want to ask, if that’s alright with you.” The lavender mare spoke again, addressing the samurai as she did.

“Certainly Ms. Sparkle.” Dash snickered behind the violet mare, but made no comment.

“Right, so, did have ponies like us back home?” The lavender unicorn asked, her visage painted with that of a curious scholar. “It’s a quick theory, but you seem oddly relaxed by us. Gandalf and Link weren’t exactly… knowledgeable of ponies.”

“No, not those with speech at least. There were steeds in my land indeed, but none could speak with the same language as my people. Though I have met many strange creatures with the ability to speak, including dogs.”

“Talkin’ dogs?” Applejack questioned Jack, hoof still to her head for the minor throbbing within it. “Now hold on a minute. That righ’ there is jus’ crazy talk. Who’d ever believe there be talkin’ dogs?”

“About as much I believe in talking horses.” Gandalf noted calmly behind the cowpony, earning him a quick glare from the orange mare. The aged wizard merely grinned in response, pushing his pointed gray hat over his eyes.

“I speak the truth to you, I swear.” The samurai quickly addressed Applejack. “I meant no insult by my words and I apologize if I have offended you Ms. Apple.”

“AppleJACK,” the mare responded curtly to the break in her name once more, “And rest yer’ head partner. I ain’t offended bout nothin’ but mah name. Just find that hard ta believe is all. Ya see, I got my own dog back home, loyal as Dash over there.” She spoke with a motion of her hoof. The pegasus was not pleased.

“Great, so I’m like a dog, AJ?” The cowpony didn’t miss a beat with her rebuttal.

“In more ways than ya know RD.” It was more than clear to even the four new beings in Equestria that the flared wings of the pegasus were for far more than show. Thankfully, her friend eased her quickly rising anger.

“Calm down Rainbow.” Twilight spoke to the cyan mare. “This is not the time or place to start an argument. You as well Applejack.” The grin on the cowpony’s muzzle quickly vanished under the unicorn’s words.

“By the way,” the unicorn continued as she trotted slowly to the Element of Loyalty, “Why aren’t you tired, or woozy, or… anything?” The question flew over the cowpony’s head, mane, and hat.

“Wha’ are ya talkin’ abou’ Twilight?” Applejack questioned with a tilt of her head. “Ah’m a bit stressed, but ah’ll blame that on Discord and this her varmit mockin’ mah name.” The samurai quickly held up his hands in defense.

“Please Mrs. Apple, I mean no disrespect to you.”

“Agh!” Applejack half-yelled half-grunted as the man continued to speak only half her name. The unicorn heard Dash snickering behind her. The cowpony put her fore-hooves to her head, rubbing her noggin in slow steady circles.

“So, um,” the unicorn began to venture again. “Headache?”

“Yeah, and I nasty one at tha’.” She spoke without looking up the her magically tuned friend. “Tha’ easy ta tell?”

“I’m sorry to say yes,” Twilight admitted. “But it does raise an interesting question though.”

“And what might that be?” The lavender mare turned to see the tall form of the Gray Wizard looking down at her, a smile not far from the kindness of her mentor accompanying his soft gaze. Were she alone, she might have cursed. If she wasn’t sure before, she was sure now.

She had pulled out something close to her mentor.

“Well, of the three of us that have used the portal thus far, there have been varying degrees of symptoms afterwards.” Twilight began, “Pinkie Pie had an altered sense of equilibrium for a only a few moments before she recovered. I had nearly all of my energy taken from my body, despite producing now discernable magical or physical activities. Now Applejack is experiencing intense migraines, though I admit I’m hesitant to blame that solely on the portal alone.”

“And what of us Twilight Sparkle?” The lunar princess asked as she approached. “We…” She took a slow breath. “I have also used the portal, but not a trace of weariness nor pain haunts my form.”

“I… I don’t know.” The unicorn softly admitted, “But if I had to guess, I’d say that it is because you are an alicorn, not to mention immortal.”

“Immortal?” Several sets of eyes turned to the samurai, who now looked to Luna with an expression none could decipher. “I truly hate to impose upon your discussion Mrs. Sparkle, but I cannot say that is a valid reason.” Those words earned the attention of more than the present group.

“And why would you say this, Master Jack?” Rarity ventured forth as she trotted close to the cowpony, already extending well-manicured hoof around the orange coat of her friend. “Call me rude for assuming, but you do not appear to be the intellectual type.”

“No, I am not.” He quickly agreed. “I have been trained and taught how to fight since my childhood. I have learned only enough to read and write. However,” Jack spoke before the ponies could interject. “I have been forced to face many creature and beings that were immortal as well. With all that I am, and all that I have been, I can assure, that being immortal has little to do with your highness’s protection.”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t follow that.” Twilight spoke first. “What do your previous accomplishments disprove about my theory?”

Jack’s return was as cold as the steel he held.

“Even immortals can die.”

The breath froze in the throat of far more than one pony in the room.

Suddenly, Luna felt very nervous around this well trained and honest warrior.

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Dash quickly spoke up, swooping up to face height with the white garbed man. Jack took a visible step back in shock. “Are you threatening the princesses? That’s just beyond uncool dude! Don’t think we won’t buck you the hay out of here if you keep that up!” Her snout was against his nose before he had time to respond.

“I apologize again.” Jack spoke as he stepped back, taking a deep bow towards the group around him. “I did mean for my words to carry any pain or insult. I… simply did not wish for you to venture down a false path, not when I have knowledge that can help.”

“It… is… alright.” The princess of the moon slowly spoke to the man. “I have just… not heard of those feats before.” Though her words were careful and strong, her hooves to visible trots back. Jack spoke nothing of the action.

The tension, however, was cut off by the pony best known for distractions.

“So you’re a strong MA-A-A-AN, aren’t you?” An exuberant pink pony asked, hopping up and down in front of Jack. “I doubt you're as strong as Fawkes though, he’s a Super Mutant! He can tear steel in two! I bet he can twist that sword into a cute little ribbon. Would you wear a ribbon like that?”

Jack’s face flushed lightly.

“Pinkie!” Rarity scolded. “Darling, it is not polite to insult things on one pony’s character.”

“But he isn’t a pony, he’s a MA-A-A-AN.” The unicorn swiftly put a hoof to her snout.

“Uh…” He stammered as he gripped his blade with both hands, holding it close to his from. “I would appreciate it if you did not attempt such a thing.”

“Why not? They not hard to make and that one is so small. I bet some pony can make one longer, wider, faster, and stronger than that lickety split!”

“I apologize, but I must doubt your words.” Within the boundaries of only Pinkie’s logic, that seemed ruder than her own words.

“Really? Why?”

“Because this blade was crafted by my people, then blessed by the gods. It contains the power to destroy only evil in the world.”

A low whistle followed his words.

“So… that is blade that allowed you… to… slay immortals?” Princess Luna asked hesitantly, still several hooves away from the white-garbed warrior. Jack turned his attention to her.

“Yes, but I feel that I must explain. The beings that I was forced to slay were neither kind nor generous. They were cruel things that flourished under the tyranny and pain of others. I have never lifted my blade willingly against someone in need, and even if I did, this blade could not wound them.” Those words inspired the academic in a certain unicorn.

“Wait, so your sword reacts differently depending on the target?” Twilight asked as she let her lavender eyes fall on the hidden blade, concealed within its black sheath.

“Yes. I can cause no pain to those innocent or just.”

“That’s amazing!” The lilac mare cheered, her eyes not moving away from the blade. “A substance that reacts with magical senses. It’s easy to create something that reacts to magic, but no pony has ever discovered a method for situational reactions quite like that. Inventing tools that can judge moral and ethical parameters as opposed to strictly matrixes of energy is nothing short of an old mare’s tale. With further study, I’m sure we could-”

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash near screamed into the unicorn’s ear, earning a startled twist from the mare. “Geez, you lost it again.” Twilight blushed under the words, knowing full well what they meant.

“Look,” the cyan pegasus started, addressing the group around them. “Jack’s cool and all, I get that, but don’t we have more important things to worry about? I mean, like, let’s say, getting a few more super soldiers out of that thing?” She finished with her hoof aimed at the alabaster portal in the room.

“Then, uh,” A few eyes turned to see the green behemoth standing tall above the crowd, tiny eyes looking towards the floating mare. “Maybe you should find the next warrior, um, Crash.”

Right message, wrong name.

“Crash?!” The pegasus fumed as she flew to the face of the Super Mutant. To his credit, unlike last time a pony appeared in front of him, Fawkes did not fall down. “The name is Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria. Don’t you forget that.”

“My apologies.” The green giant spoke calmly in return, “I am still… unfamiliar with many of your names.”

“Yeah, well… second warning.”  Dash could hear Twilight giggling beneath her.

“Fawkes is correct though.” Attention diverted to the alabaster princess, form regal as her voice while speaking. “Introductions are important, but questions will have to wait until later. We do not know when Discord will make his move again, or in what method he will attempt to attack us. Without the Elements, we need warriors such as you Jack,” Celestia addressed the samurai as she spoke, “And you Link, Gandalf, Fawkes.” With each name, she turned attention to the warrior, looking every one of them in the eye as she did so.

“I have already sworn my blade to you princess.” Jack spoke as he bowed. “I will follow your command and judgment.”

“And I as well.” Fawkes spoke, pounding his monstrous hand against his tattered chest.

“I sought for harmony where I hail from, and I will do so here.” Gandalf agreed. “However,” The pause caught the attention of many of the ponies and warriors. “Know that I follow no king, queen, or monarchy. I seek only for order, not power.”

“And you will see no such ambitions from I, my sister, or any of our subjects, wizard.” Celestia spoke in return. “My kingdom thrives on the harmony of all and it is threatened by the chaos of Discord. All I ask is for your assistance in defeating this cruel foe.”

“Then you have it.” The Gray Wizard smiled with his words.

“Must we ask thou, Sir Link?” Luna questioned as she turned her attention to green clad warrior. The mute Hylian smiled in response, nodding his head towards the princess. “We will assume you agree.” He smiled brighter in return.

“Then let’s continue.” Princess Celestia spoke. “Rainbow Dash,” The pegasus gave the alicorn her full attention. “Do you wish to go next?” The cyan pegasus flared her wings as she summoned a proud smile. Oh, she was ready. She was ready, prepared, and eager to give this magical portal a try. She opened her muzzle and spoke her agreement.

“Um, may I go next?”

All eyes turned to Fluttershy, who the swiftly curled into a ball beneath her long mane.

“Oh, um... I don’t have to. You can go Dash. I’m sorry.”

“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.” The cyan pegasus spoke back. “Youwanna try, Fluts?” Clearly, the shock was not shared alone. More than one face looked at her with wide eyes and open jaw.

“Oh, um, yes. I-I do.” When only expressions of shock met her gaze, she quickly began to second guess herself. “B-But maybe I shouldn’t. You can go Rainbow. You’re, um, braver than me. You’d be-” She was quickly silenced by her brash friend.

“No way Fluttershy,” Dash spoke, landing on the stone floor mid sentence. “There’s no way I’m letting you back out of that. I’ve known you for… like ever, so I know how rare you volunteering for something like this is.” She looked down at her cowering friend with the kindest smile she could muster. “I’ve got all the time in the world. You can go ahead.”

“Yeah Fluttershy!” The only pink pony in the room spoke. “You volunteering surprised me. ME! I love surprises, so I want to see what you do with yours.” The party pony embraced her skittish friend for endearment, nuzzling the canary pegasus close. Fluttershy blushed madly.

“O-Okay, I will.” Pinkie Pie didn’t let go. “I will, I will, I promise.” She knew before puffy mane of Pinkie Pie left her field of vision that she spoke the sacred word.

“Pinkie Promise?”

“What’s a…Pinkie Promise?” While a select few groaned at what was coming next, several of the ponies, and all of the warriors, were curious of the same question.

“Oh that’s easy!” The pony bounced over to Fawkes. With her equine strength, the pink mare jumped onto the Super Mutant’s shoulder, looking him square in the eye. Holding up her hooves, she began the rhythmic phrase.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Confusion swiftly followed.

“What’s a cupcake?” Pinkie’s eyes almost rolled out of her sockets. Her jaw dropped wide and it was clear to more than just the green giant what was coming next.

“We can ask such questions later.” Princess Luna spoke commandingly, picking the pink Earth Pony up in a dark blue embrace. Jack, Gandalf, and Fawkes were enraptured at the display. Wisely though, they remained silent. “Ms. Fluttershy.” The canary pegasus stood at attention, meekly so.

“If thou desires to use The Portal of Souls, we request though do so now.” Fluttershy have a nervous look to her levitated friend, thinking it wise to wait for her first. However, seeing the mare spinning in midair, giggling with joy at the lack of gravity, the pegasus knew her pink friend would be alright. Timidly as ever, she trotted over to the portal’s side.

“The Portal of Souls?” She heard Celestia question. Luna’s answer followed quickly.

“A name feels required for a device of such power.” The lunar princess explained. “And such a name explains it’s purpose well enough.”

With just one more hoof step, Fluttershy found herself before the newly dubbed white portal. She bit her lower lip in a nervous habit, already feeling her legs beginning to push against one another.

‘What should I feel?’ The pegasus asked in the sanctuary of her mind. ‘I… I can’t be afraid, or timid, or shy. I have to be strong, for my friends… but I don’t want to bring a mean pony through here… or frighten them… or scare them... or worry them.’ The doubts piled quickly into her mind, shown physically by her clenched eyes.

‘I don’t want a mean pony, or a cruel pony, I… I want a kind pony.’ That unspoken declaration gave the confidence to the canary coated mare.

‘I want… I need a pony who hates fighting.’

With a short breath, Fluttershy dipped her head into the gate.

“Dad?”

The question left his mouth almost in time with the large figure diving into the water. He watched with something close to fear as the ripples ceased across his entrance, flames still flying across the sinking ships.

He pushed himself to his feet, moving as fast as he could to the shore’s side. His large green eyes could see nothing beneath the murky depths of the water, reflecting only the carnage of the battle behind him. He looked for his father, instead he saw The Green Death.

He saw the dragon the size of a fleet of ships roaring across the shore, bellowing his flames with his cries. He saw his friends flying around the creature on their own steeds of the sky, doing little to it aside from causing an annoyance. The battle was hopeless. Their defeat was inevitable, but he couldn’t focus, not on that, not yet. He needed to rescue his friend.

“Dad! Dad!” He was shouting it into the water with all of his might. But nothing came. No shout in return nor figure in the distance. He was saved and left alone in the hopeless battle against the giant. He looked, searched, desperately for something, anything that would give him the means to save his father.

In the end, he didn’t need one.

An explosion of water broke the only variably calm water in front of him, carrying two figures of size more than double his own. One was the familiar hulk of his father, adorned still in his fur coat and thick beard. The other was the friend he first tried to save. A friend he had known for less time than anyone else he had ever met. A friend that spoke a language he could not understand. A friend with wings wide, scales black, and fire that made the very air cry in fear.

Toothless the Night Fury.

The slim dragon jumped to the rocky shore, dropping his father, the Viking king, safely on the boulder he stood on. Those familiar sharp green eyes looked to him, looking with a determination they both shared. He shook his head towards the towering creature above them. He knew what it meant almost without a thought.

“You got it bud.” The small Viking child didn’t hesitate to run up the short climb, eagerly jumping on to the back of his faithful friend. His hands quickly began to move across the buckles on his friend’s saddle, clipping and tightening them with practiced ease. He kept his eyes high as he did so, looking over every detail of the dragon he could name.

“Hiccup!” His hand froze as he felt a large hand grasp his own, holding him steady and to the ground. His eyes fell onto the familiar orbs of his father.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Stoick the Vast, King of the Vikings, spoke with more honesty than almost anything else he had said in his lifetime. The words gave his son pause. “For everything.” There was a lot to apologize for.

“Yeah, me too.” Hiccup agreed with little hesitation.

“You don’t have to go up there.” He older figure spoke with a motion of his head. His son, however, couldn’t repress the ironic statement drifting to his lips.

“We’re Vikings. It’s an occupational hazard.” The smile split his lips hesitantly, but he saw the same expression dance across his father’s. Stoic placed both of his muscled hands across his son thin arms holding them with the strength of centuries.

“I’m proud to call you my son.” Hiccup would never be able to deny it. The words of his father gave him more happiness than he ever thought possible. He wasn’t the fishbone son, the traitor spawn, not even the shame of the clan.

He was Hiccup Haddock, son of Stoick the Vast.

“Thanks dad.” It was time to go.

Leaning close to his friend’s sleek body, he waited for his friend to respond. Toothless quickly repeated the action of his rider, crouching his legs as he lowered himself to the stone shore. Then all at once he pushed.

All at once the two flew as one.

The wind rushed past them with ferocity Hiccup missed after every flight. The thrill of the ascent, rushing towards the heavens, climbing closer to the domain of Valhalla, it was a feeling indescribable. He wished he could cheer, throw his arms forward with the excitement that usually came with the feeling. But he was not doing this for fun or practice.

Now… now he was doing this fight.

“Alright Toothless.” He spoke close to his ride’s ear fin. “Let’s strike it with lightning.” The Night Fury gave a quick bob of its head before dashing into the sky with all its might. This time, the speed of the ascent forced a smile across the small Viking’s lips.

They quickly lost themselves in the clouds, hidden in the mighty formless structures of the sky. It was wear the ferocity of the Night Fury was at its worst, and it was wear the duo of Earth and Sky were at their strongest. Slowly, the climb slowed as Toothless fanned his black wings, catching the rushing air in their grasp. Hiccup moved his boot along the saddle’s side, forcing the fin to collapse.

They were moving as one.

Their ascent turned into a dive, Dragon and Viking now descending towards the mighty Tyrant of the Dragon Hive. Adrenaline rushed through their veins as the wind and clouds rushed past them. It burned the skin on Hiccup’s face, but only dried the slightly parted mouth of Toothless. When the target came into view, the Night Fury began to breathe. It’s cry slowly filled the sky as it rushed against the wind, pocketing the combustible gas within its lungs.

The Vikings beneath them all gave small cries as they scattered and fell, the familiar sound bringing nothing but destruction to them in the past. But the eyes of the rider and dragon were on a different target all together.

For a brief moment, panic flooded Hiccup’s face as he saw the Green Death sucking in one of the dragon’s he had freed. The blonde haired “Valkyrie” on its back more than obvious to him. Fortunately, he and his faithful friend already had a way to save her.

They grew closer to the beat, faster and faster, their velocity increasing with every second of their drop. When Toothless flew within arrow’s reach, he unleashed the fire from his gut.

The fireball erupted across the monster’s face.

With a shriek of pain, it stumbled backwards, the prey it was only seconds away from capturing now free. Nearly. The dragon was free. It’s rider was free falling to the ground.

“Think fast buddy!” Hiccup called as he flipped the switch on his foot again. The Night Fury stilled once more before shooting backwards towards the Tyrant. No flames grew in its lungs this time, however. Their aim was to save a life now, not end one.

The falling mess of the Viking woman was easy to spot.

Toothless flew as true as an arrow towards the falling form, legs already extending towards her. All Hiccup saw was their flight towards her then over her.

“Did you get her?”

He watched his friend’s head disappear for a moment, looking towards his belly for a moment before looking back up. He held that same adorable toothless smile that so earned his name. Hiccup chuckled as he lowered himself back onto his friend.

The duo approached the ground with surprising speed, just as easily stopping before it. With practices ease, Hiccup flicked his foot within its holster to adjust Toothless’s tail fin. He watched his draconic friend flip the Viking girl around. When her feet began to run across the stones, Toothless let ago, then he and the son of the Viking King were back into the air.

Everything was ready.

“That thing’s got wings.” He absently noted as he and his faithful friend flew above it. A plan quickly started to weave itself into his mind.

“Okay, let’s see if it can use them!”

Hiccup gave a pull on the harness and a flick of his foot, aiming Toothless towards the Green Death. Just as before, the Viking and Dragon sped towards the Tyrant of the Dragon Hive, preparing another ball of flames. The wing was just as harsh as before, ripping across the skin of the human as he clung and guided his faithful friend.  The Night Fury released his flames across his one time ruler, letting the fire devour its hide.

Begin

The force pushed the Green Death to the ground.

“You think that did it?” Hiccup questioned as he looked behind him, searching for the giant of a dragon.

With a body as large as the island, it wasn’t hard to miss.

“Well, it can fly.” He exchanged a nervous smile to his dragon, Toothless giving him one in return.

And so the chase began.

They flew low and close to the sea, thinking in unison with one another. They weaved through the rocky structures of natural design, large arcs of solid stone that would cease the flight of any other creature in the sky. The pursuing behemoth smashed through the stone without even a pause. Toothless had his speed. Hiccup had his mind. The Green Death had its size.

For every arc or boulder the duo had to spin or dive through or around, the massive Tyrant smashed to oblivion. The agility of the Night Fury was quickly losing to the endurance of the Green Death. It was a battle Hiccup saw their defeat it in.

But he was a Viking. Vikings don’t admit defeat.

His eyes looked high as another ancient arc was sent to its unnatural demise, the dust nearly covering his vision. He saw the clouds above growing dark, collecting the angry bolts of Thor above.  The idea was like a thunder strike.

“Okay Toothless,” The Viking child began. “Time to disappear!” With a click of his boot, the Night Fury eagerly began its ascent.

The climb was as quick as ever, the wind rushing past their bodies as the clouds grew closer to them. Unfortunately, so too did the Green Death gain distance upon them. The sound of his massive jaws chomping behind them forced the Night Fury to beat his wings ever faster, and for Hiccup to think ever quicker. It served it’s purpose well when a familiar hiss began to sound behind him.

“Here it comes!” His foot smashed the pad, forcing Toothless to veer right. A pillar of flames erupted past them a moment later.

Their climb continued into the clouds, darkening ever faster as the battle continued to go on. Hiccup looked around himself briefly, mind buzzing with activity. The idea was growing quickly in his mind, and he had no intention of stopping it.

“Alright buddy, let’s play hard to get.” Toothless gave a snort of approval.

The Green Death opened its jaws again, snapping forward to taste the human and betraying dragon. It missed again. But now when it searched, looking for its morsel size prey, it found nothing.

Nothing but dark ominous clouds surrounded it.

“Toothless.” Hiccup whispered quietly as they glided around the blind dragon. “We’re going to ground. Aim for the wings.” The Viking could feel the dragon smile at the idea.

Toothless quickly began to circle with increasing speed, his jaw collecting the gas of the air again. The low whistle of his blast grew hidden in the high mist, more threatening than the Green Death itself. Satisfied, Toothless pushed his body right, to which Hiccup eagerly complied.

The Night Fury dove towards the Tyrant of the Dragon Hive unseen, unleashing an explosion of fire across its wing.

The beast howled in anger as the fire tore through its sensitive webbing.

The duo gave a silent cheer.

Their assault turned relentless, unleashing fireball after explosion of flame one after the other. The effects rippled through the clouds like lightening, dangerous and fast. The Green Death could not find the two, by sight or smell. Yet the balls of fire continued to rip through it, tearing apart the body built from centuries ago, fed by the livestock of generations.

Its anger quickly became known.

With a mighty roar, The Green Death began to spray it’s deadly flames again. However, it was no longer the controlled pillar of destruction. It flailed madly in the air, desperate to cover every inch of the sky with the thick flames. The clouds slowly began to dissipate under the intense heat.

“Watch out!” Hiccup cried as the flames licked the back of Toothless’s tail. The dragon was unharmed, as the Viking knew he would be. The artificial tail fin, however, was already smoldering by the time he turned around to check on it.

“Okay, time’s up.” He positioned himself on the Night Fury again, leaning towards the creature of their collective bane. “Let’s see if this works.” They turned their turn into a dive, falling over the Tyrant of the Dragon Hive with all the ease they did stationary pillars of the sea.

“C’mon, is that the best you can do?” Hiccup taunted as they flew into its vision, smile and confidence brimming from his form. Toothless eagerly cried in agreement mocking the dragon in tongues no human could understand.

The Green Death, however, did.

Its wide eyes only gave birth to a loud roar as it quickly began to give chase to the duo. It dove after the black scales of the Night Fury, eager to sink it’s large fangs into the thick hide of its strongest soldier. Loud resounding chomps of its jaw filled the two with all the adrenaline they would ever need.

“Stay with it buddy, we’re good.” Hiccup spoke the words for the two of them, both already aware of the failing tailfin behind them. “Just a little bit longer.” The clouds continued to rush past them,

“Hold Toothless…” He knew it was coming. It had to be coming. It was too predictable until now. Chomp, fire, chomp, fire, chomp, and chomp. The fire had to come. They’re a clear target for it. No blind spot, smoldering flames to smell, it was impossible for it not to spray fire. It had to. It had to.

Hiccup heard it suck in breath.

“Now!”

Toothless quickly rolled in mid air, looking back into the face of his long time oppressor. With more eagerness than any other action in his life, the Night Fury launched a ball of fire into the open jaws of the Green Death, causing the combustible gas within to ignite.

Pain erupted through the Tyrant of the Dragon Hive, choking of flames, smoke, and gas within its lungs and no air to bring relief. The pain was quickly forgotten, however, to a new emotion. Its name was panic, and it came with the quickly approaching object.  Once through the clouds, it was impossible to miss.

The ground.

The Green Death opened its wings as fast as it could, aiming to slow its descent to the hard surface below. But the webbing wasn’t strong enough. The small tears that had formed beneath the fierce balls of flames of Toothless expanded into gaps across the leathery material. In the end, the Tyrant of the Dragon Hive was left in a free fall.

Toothless rolled himself into a ball, deftly dodging the descending form of the one time ruling dragon, letting the monster fall to its demise.

And so it did.

The body erupted into a pillar of flames.

But it wasn’t over yet. The pillar grew quickly behind Toothless and Hiccup, now swiftly moving through the rocky spines of the gigantic monster. Explosions ripped through the thick scales beneath them, searing the skin of Hiccup with every wave. But they were almost through, almost done.

But then, like the final challenge to dragon training, the large boulder of a tail rose from the corpse of The Green Death. Hiccup kicked the pedal on his foot ready to swerve and avoid the final obstacle.

The useless tail fin flew off into the flames.

Hiccup looked up worryingly to see the massive stone tail before them.

“No.”

The tail was fast approaching.

There was no way to avoid it.

“No!”

They hit the clubbed tail together.

Hiccup saw only darkness.

End

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