Author's Notes:

So I'm finally back with the next chapter of The Fabled Warrior. The reason I haven't updated this story or any story is simple; school is taken almost all my time just to sit around and write. It's like I finish an assignment or test, and I turn around, there's another test or some extended assignment. But I guess that's college for you.

Well, I do hope you like this chapter. I'll get working on the next one as soon as school isn't breathing down my neck. So always: comment, like, follow, share and tell. See you all in the next update of The Fabled Warrior.

Road to Heave
Xavier's POV

The train whistle bellowed in the air as the Equestria Friendship Express rested in Ponyville station. Ponies were saying goodbye to loved ones as they got onto the train or ones saying hello to those getting off the train. I stepped off the train onto the station grounds. In front of me was the town of Ponyville. It all looked the same, not a brick out of place. I looked at the ponies around me hugging loved one's goodbye or welcoming them home. I blinked my eyes as I watched them.

I turned to watch as my lovers, friends, and family stepped off the train next to me. They all began to stretch as they worked the knots and knicks out of their bodies after the train ride over here from Cantlerlot.

"It's great to be home, right Xavier." Said Applejack

"Yeah, it feels nice."

I smiled as we began to make our way into Ponyville. Twilight and Applejack stood close to me as we walked. Ponies stopped and looked as we made our way through town. I could see the were whispering as he walked by them. We finally reached the library, and Twilight opened the door. She ushered everypony inside, and that's when the smell or paper and ink hit my nose. All too familiar scent for me. I looked at the rows of books as I rubbed my fingers over them. All perfectly organized just the way Twilight likes them.

I knew I was home, but something didn't feel right about the library. Sure I knew I was safe from Kozama, for now. But I still felt like I was in his hell. That I never left it. I felt trapped and stuck in it and that I would never escape it. I looked back at the group as they smiled at me.

"Everything is still the same," I said

"Just like the day, we left it for Canterlot." Said Twilight

Soon a gentle knock came to the door. Twilight opened it and on the other side was Lyra, Bon Bon, and Moon Star. Moon didn't waste any time running up and using her wings to fly into my arms. I caught her before she could hit the floor of the library, she was still working on flying using her wings. She wrapped her arms around me and began to cry. I couldn't hold back my tears as well as I held my loving daughter once again.

"Daddy, you're home." Said Moon

'Yes, daddy's home. Daddy's finally home," I said

After getting the tears out of my system, I wiped my eyes as well as my daughters before turning back to see Lyra and Bon Bon. I didn't get to say anything as Lyra ran up and hugged me tightly. I could feel my shirt getting damp from her tears. I looped my free hand around her as I rubbed her back.

"I'm glad you're back." Said Lyra

"Yeah, I'm glad to be back," I said

Lyra pulled herself away as she wiped her eyes as Bon Bon up next and gave me a quick hug.

"I'm glad as well." Said Bon Bon

"Thanks, you two," I said

They smiled at me as I put my daughter back down on the ground. The second I let go of her, she hugged my leg. She held my leg tight like I was going to vanish again. Twilight walked up and pried our daughter off my leg. She pulled her up and nuzzled her nose across hers.

"You have nothing to worry about, dear, your father isn't going anywhere, anytime soon." Said Twilight

"That's right," I said

I ruffled up her mane as she laughed. I smiled when I heard Moon's wonderful laugh fill my ears. A beautiful sound that I thought I would never hear again.

"Well, I wish I could stay around, but I need to return home and get ready for work tomorrow." Rainbow flew up and hugged me. "I'm happy to have you back, buddy." She smiled at me before flying out the open door.

"I have to head off as well. Bye Xavier, come by Sugar Cube Corner sometime." Said Pinkie

She turned and bounced out the door and off to Sugar Cube Corner.

"I wish I could stay, but I have candies to make. Come anytime, and I'll treat you to some." Said Bon Bon

Lyra nodded as the two of them left the library together.

"I'm also going to be heading out. I need to look over some of my research. I'll see you all around." Said Natasha

She walked out of the open door as well. All that remained in the library was my harem, my brother, and Chi. Chi decided to head off back down to the basement with White Claw following close behind her. White Claw stopped to give me a peek on the cheek. Rarity said she was heading back to her home to check on the boutique. She told me to stop by anytime. Fluttershy said she needed to check on her animal friends and told me to come over sometime.

"Partner how about we go over tah the farm. I know my family would love tah see you again." Said Applejack

"Ok," I said

I ruffled my daughter's mane and followed Applejack out of the house and down to Applejack's farm.

***

Apple trees once again surrounded me as I walked with Applejack down the dirt road to her home. The apples looked ripe for the picking as they sat on their trees. I stopped as I reached up and grabbed one of the red fruits. Applejack stopped as she turned to look at me. I rolled the red fruit in my hand. I brought it to my mouth and took a bite of it. The sweet flavor hit my tongue as I chewed. But something seemed off about the apple. It didn't taste as sweet as I remembered it.

"You still like it?" Asked Applejack

I looked over at her as I swallowed the apple, "Yeah, the same as I remember it." I paused as I looked back at the bitten red fruit, "But something seems different."

"What?" Asked Applejack

"I don't know, the sweet flavor the apple just seems off. Like it wasn't as sweet as I remembered," I said

Applejack blinked her eyes as I continued to look at the apple. I felt her gentle touch on my shoulder. I looked over at me. She looked at me before wrapping her hands around me. I could feel her nuzzling my neck. I could feel the warmth of her muzzle and breath.

"You're going to be ok. Ya hear me, partner, your goin' tah be ok." Said Applejack

Ok, a word I've heard ever since Celestia came and saved me. But in truth, I wasn't going to be ok. I knew it from the second I looked at myself in the mirror. The reflection looking back was not me. Scares running up my body like I just came back from war. A scar running across my left eye. A left eye filled with darkness and a pupil of red. Sure I could see out of it, but it was always a reminder of my torture. The look was enough to tell me; I was never going to be ok. No matter who said it, I was never going to ok.

Applejack stopped and took my left hand and kept leading me to her house. I could feel her fuzzy warm fur as she wrapped her hand tight around mine. I knew she had a fear that I would disappear if she let go. She only looked back at me to make sure I was still behind her.

It didn't take long for us to reach the house. It looked just like I remember it. Even the barn looked the same. Applejack continued to pull me towards the house. She pushed open the door and called out to her family. I could feel the peaceful nature of farmhouse as I entered it. Felt nice to feel a cozy home again, after being in a stone cold cell for so long.

I looked around and then heard something coming towards me. It sounded like it was running from the heavy sounds coming from the floor. I looked and saw something coming towards us. I blinked my eyes and left them widened as I watched a Chimera coming towards me. It's long claws outstretched seeking to kill me. I felt my body stiffen up and sweat starting to roll down my face. My breathing started to get quicker as the Chimera screamed at me. I couldn't move, and suddenly the Chimera took in its arms. It cried as it began to crush me. I screamed with all my might as I tried to break free form its grasp. I continued to struggle to break free from the grip of the Chimera. I could faintly hear a voice, but all my mind could think about was escaping the Chimera's grasp. I could feel something in me wanting to get out of me. But it all ended when I hit the hardwood floor.

I started to catch my breath before I felt something wrap around me from behind. I began to panic again but stopped when I felt a soft fuzzy muzzle rubbing itself across my neck in a loving manner. I looked back and saw Applejack holding me tight. I then turned back to see that there wasn't a Chimera anymore, but Big Mac. He was rubbing the back of his neck of he looked down at me.

"I sent you that letter for a reason, Mac. Ya should have known that Xavier has PTSD." Said Applejack

She wasn't lying about the PTSD. One the third day back to Canterlot, after everypony assured me that I was one hundred percent safe from Kozama, a local therapist looked over me. He asked me questions about the torture and my time with Kozama. I told him everything, let's say I don't think he had ever expected what I told him. He then told all my friends and me that I had the worst case of PTSD he had ever seen. He said that anything could trigger me and cause me to have an episode. Just another thing to add to the pile of reasons I was never going to be ok.

"Sorry Applejack." Said Mac

"Don't apologize tah me, apologize tah Xavier." Applejack

Big Mac looked down at me as I looked up at him, "Sorry partner."

"No problem Mac," I said

Big Mac got down on the floor, so I didn't have to strain my neck.

"I want to thank you for watching over Moon Star. I'm not sure how I can repay you," I said

"Please Xavier, ya don't have to repay us. Your family and that's enough for us tah watch over your daughter. I'm just glad tah see your ok. I hope tah see that smile on Moon Star's face again. I don't want to see her depressed again." Said Mac

"Yeah," I said

Applejack kept nuzzling my neck as Mac, and I talked for a while. Applejack only left me for a minute to get some food. Mac kept me company. Applejack soon came back with a plate with a few apple based products. She put the plate in my lap before moving back behind me and continue to keep me calm, even though I finished my episode minutes ago.

I took one of the apple fritters and bit into it. The taste of sweet treat hit my tongue like a freight train. A taste I dreamt of getting one more bite of when I was locked in a cage eating whatever Kozama gave Sin and me. But like the apple I had, it tasted different, not as sweet or savory as I remember it. But I pushed past that thought as I gorged myself on the apple treats. I finished them in a minute of Applejack putting the plate in my lap. I watched as Big Mac got up this time and came back with another plate full. I took the plate and began to eat.

"Welcome back Xavier." Said Mac

***

I spent the rest of the day walking Ponyville and spending time with my harem or friends. After spending time with Applejack, she led me from her farm to Rarity's boutique. She eyed everypony that walked by us. It was nice to see nothing changed since the time I disappeared. I visited Rarity's shop and she happily just let me sit and watch her make dresses. She was still as beautiful and elegant as the day I laid eyes on her. She would stop, walk over to me, sit on her bed, and lean her head against my shoulder. She would hum a tune as she rubbed her hands across mine. After that, she led me to see Fluttershy, who smiled as she brought her animal friends over to see me.

The animals seemed to sense my pain as they came up and let me pet them. Harry sat behind me, allowing me to lean on him. He also kept his eyes open watching the landscape. Even Angel Bunny, the devil bunny to my brother, curled up in my lap and kept me calm. Fluttershy sat next to me just leaning her head against my shoulder.

After spending enough time with her, she led me off to Sugar Cube Corner. She handed me off to Pinkie Pie, who served me sweets. Her cooking and flavor came out in every cupcake that I stuffed in my face. But like the apple I ate and the apple fritters, it felt different. Like something was missing. But what was strange was that Pinkie was acting completely average, and that's hard to say when you can't even tell what's normal for Pinkie Pie.

She walked around the shop and smiled at me. She didn't bounce or pop out of something. Hell, she wasn't even breaking reality itself. She was acting like a typical mare. Strange, but I understood her reasoning. After I was full of Pinkie's assortment of Cupcakes, it was getting late. She walked me off to the library. We stopped at the door, and she hugged me. I returned it before she broke it. The next thing took me by complete surprise. She pressed her lips against mine in a sweet kiss. It lasted for a short period before she broke it.

She smiled at me before walking back to Sugar Cube Corner waving back at me as she left. I smiled as I waved back at me. I stepped into the library to see Twilight on the couch with a book in her hands. She peeked over the book to look at me. She smiled at me as she closed the book. She placed it down on her desk and walked over to me. She locked the library and took my hand as she led me to our room. She used her magic to turn out the lights of the library.

***

Fire's lit filled the night sky, illuminating the area in an orange glow. The smell of smoke filled the air and chocked out Luna's beautiful night sky. Flames engulfed buildings in a blaze of orange. Nothing was safe from the fire, and no building untouched by the blaze. There I stood in the middle of town looking at the flames. I blinked my eyes, and that's when they appeared. Bodies, bodies all over the place. I looked around and saw pony bodies covering every square inch on Ponyville. Some even had both Solar and Lunar Guard uniforms covering their bodies. I then felt something dripping onto the ground. I pulled up my left arm to see it was a massive black blade made of skin with pulsing red veins. I watched as blood rolled down the edge of the weapon. It dropped down into a puddle of blood.

"Killer, that's what I made you into."

I turned to see Dr. Kozama looking at something. He turned towards me and in his hands was the head of Twilight. A wicked smile came across his face as he grabbed the mouth of Twilight.

"Why Xavier, why did you kill us?" Said Kozama

He laughed as he tossed Twilight's head to the ground. I watched as it rolled over to me. It stopped at my feet. I looked down at it as it rolled over to speak.

"Why Xavier, why?" Asked Twilight

"No, I don't kill," I said

I backed up until I hit something. I turned to see Kozama smiling at me.

"Oh, so you think you're not a killer." Said Kozama

"Yes," I said

"But what about all those poor Chimeras you killed. You knew for a fact that they were still living, but you outright killed them." Said Kozama

"I had no choice," I said

Kozama laughed as he snapped his fingers and images appeared around me. I watched as I tore through Ponyville killing all of the citizens. I watched as I slaughtered my harem. No guard was a match for me as I tore them limb from limb. I watched as a few begged me for mercy, but I didn't give it as I gutted them. I tore out their internal organs, laughing like a crazy man the whole time.

"No, no, no!!!" I screamed

"Oh yes, Xavier' you're a killer. That's what I made you into." Said Kozama

More images appeared of my killing ponies, griffons, Sphinx, and everything else of Eques. I grabbed my head as the images kept pouring into my mind.

"NO!!!!" I screamed

Soon it all stopped. I was standing alone in pitch blackness, but in the blink of an eye, I was once again back in the infernal torture chair. I tried to break free from the restraints but I couldn't. Soon I heard the sound of hoof steps coming towards me. I watched as Kozama appeared out of the darkness. He leaned down to look at me as he gave me a wicked smile.

"You think you can escape me; you're lying to yourself. You can never escape me. I'll always be near you, like a disease you can't cure. You will never escape my hell, but no worries, I brought you company." He said

He snapped his fingers as a red light started to flick on revealing the dead bodies of all the images I saw, but somewhere just heads. Nails kept them to the wall. I began to try to break free of my restraints as their lifeless eyes looked at me. I soon watched as their mouths began to move.

"Why?"

The lifeless bodies kept repeating that same word. I struggled as it seemed the bodies were growing closer and closer to me. I screamed, but I could only hear them continue to say the same word, why. I blinked and right in front of me was my daughter. Her lifeless eyes were staring holes into my soul. I felt Kozama hands grab my eyelids as he forced them open.

"You can't escape your fate." I watched out of the darkness came a figure. "You can't escape what you will become." A blade appeared out of the darkness. I struggled to break free or turn away, hell even scream, but nothing was working. "You will become what they fear." The figure pulled the blade back. "You. Will. Become. A. Killer!" The blade went forward and smashed into my daughter's chest. Blood splashed up on me from the impact. I wanted to scream, but nothing would come out.

I watched as the figure walked forward revealing the character to be me. I watched as the other me took the head of my daughter and tore it off. I felt my world falling around me as I looked at the head of my beloved ten-year-old daughter. The other me turned the head towards me before tossing it onto my lap. I freaked out as the head sat in my lap. I wanted to run, to escape, but I couldn't.

I watched in horror as the head turned itself to look up at me. My daughter's lifeless eyes were looking up at me.

"Why father, why did you kill me?" She asked

"Why Xavier, why did you kill us?"

I looked around me as heads of every creature sat around me repeating the same phrase. The closet to me where my lovers and friends.

"Why Xavier, why did you kill us?"

"You can't escape your fate. You will be a killer, that is your fate."

I spotted Kozama before he snapped his fingers and flashes of me killing appeared as bodies began to rain from the sky. The heads kept repeating the same phrase with no end in sight. Then it was over, and I looked up to see Kozama's smiling face.

"Killer."

I roared with all my anger and broke free from my binds and summon created the blade out of my left arm. I rushed forward and stabbed Kozama. But as I relaxed, I saw it wasn't Kozama but Applejack.

"Why Xavier?"

"No, no, no, no no!!!" I screamed

***

I jumped up in bed as I started to breathe in quick bursts. Cold sweat was running down my face. I looked around and saw I was in Twilight's room. Moonlight was streaming in through the window. I looked over to see Twilight to the right of me, and Barb to the left. I grabbed my face as I could still feel myself shaking out of control. I could still hear Kozama's words echoing in my head.

"You're a killer."

I pulled the covers off myself as I snuck myself into the bathroom. I closed the door and turned on the faucet. I cupped my hands as I collected the water before splashing it against my face. I looked up at the reflection. The haunting dream still fresh in my mind. I decided to see if I could create the blade in my nightmare. I lifted my left arm and looked at it. I tried to figure out if it was possible for me to transform my arm into the black blade I saw. But nothing happened as I looked at my arm. I flexed my fingers as I kept thinking of how I could get it to transform but stopped when I decided I didn't want to know if it was true.

I looked back at the mirror as I stared at my reflection. Am I truly a killer. I looked down at my hands as vid images of my nightmare returned. I held the sink as the images all played back of me killing ponies outright with no remorse, with no compansion. I could hear them begging for me to stop, but I don't. I took another look at myself, and I saw the other me, the killer me. He stared at me before producing a wicked, demented grin.

"You'll kill them all."

I cupped up more water before splashing it on my face. I looked again, and it was just me. I turned off the water as I dried my face off. I don't want to hurt anypony or kill them. I sighed as I knew that I might do that if I stayed in Ponyville. I know what I have to do. I snapped off the light of the bathroom and slowly opened the door. I slipped out and started to open the drawers to find some of my clothing. I grabbed some clothes and went downstairs. I found my old backpack and filled it with my clothes, a little food, and some water. I zipped it up as I threw on my boots and grabbed the zip-up jacket that Rarity made for me. I then looked at Twilight's desk. I walked over and grabbed a spare piece of paper and began to write out a message. I rolled it up and tied with the string nearby. I grabbed my bag and opened up the door and stepped into the brisk night air.

I locked up the library and began my way towards the only place worthy of me, the Everfree Forest. But I turned back one last time to look at the library as well as the quiet town of Ponyville. I'll miss all of you. I began my trek to the Ever Forest, and didn't turn back once to look at the home I was giving up.

***

A small fire crackled as I watched the flames consume the wood that I threw on the fire. I watched the fire dance as it devoured the wood. I sighed as I pulled my legs closer to my chest.

"You've been quiet, Crystal."

"You know this isn't right, Xavier. You're not a killer, and you would never think about harming anypony or creature of Eques for that matter."

"Please Crystal, don't try to change my mind about this. I know I wouldn't hurt them, but I don't want to take a chance. I know their all trying to hope that the Xavier they all know and love is still inside me, but he isn't. That Xavier died the second, I entered Kozama's funhouse. Now I'm just a shell of that Xavier, who at any moment, could snap."

Crystal didn't respond to my response. I sighed as I looked back at the fire. I picked up another stick when I heard something snap around me. I perked up as I began to look around me. Soon I saw something emerging from the shadows, a figure. I felt my heart starting to race in my chest as sweat began to roll down my face. But it wasn't anypony I knew as the figure stepped into the light.

The figure was about my height and wearing a brown cloak that covered his whole body. Next to him stood another cloaked figure about the size of Flame. I looked at the two strangers as I tried to think of a way to defend myself from them. But I was weaponless, and I hadn't been able to use my Fabled Powers, so I was utterly at these two strangers mercy.

"Xavier Young." Said the tall one

"Who wants to know?" I asked

"I'm Dagger, and this is my Fable partner, Smelt."

"Fable," I murmured under my breath.

The small stranger removed his hood to show he was, in fact, a Fable, more specifically, a Fable Cat. He had a black coat with a red line going down the middle of his face. Under his eyes were two silver lines that circled his head, resting right under his eyes. He had colored eyes. He had one entire ear, and the other was just half of an ear. Above his good ear was a black flame with a silver center.

"Nice to meet you." Said Smelt

"But how?" I asked

"Easy, we live on this planet." Said Smelt

"Ok, but what do you want with me and, how do you know my name?" I asked

"Because I've been watching you. I've been observing your time here on Equestria fighting against Pandora and his followers. It was I who led the ponies to save you. And now I'm here to save you once again." Said Dagger

"Save me," I stated

"Yes, I'm here to help you once again get back on your feet. To become the hero that will fight against the darkness of Pandora." Said Dagger

I huffed as I looked at Dagger, "I'm not a hero anymore."

"Not right now, but I can make you one, once again. If you follow me, I'll help you return to a normal life. I can get you out of the hell that Kozama has trapped you inside." Said Dagger

I looked at him as the fire continued to burn away at the wood. He could help me get back on my feet. Help me escape hell. Maybe he could make it, so I don't hurt those I love. I looked at Dagger as he stretched out his arm to me.

"Take my arm, and I will lead you to salvation." He said

I looked at his hand before I reached out with mine and took his hand. He helped me up to my feet as I grabbed my pack. He nodded to Smelt, who put out the fire, before gesturing to the forest before us.

"The road to salvation is a long one, are you ready, Xavier?" Asked Dagger

I turned back to look where Ponyville sat. I then looked back at Dagger; I nodded before Dagger nodded as well. Soon the three of us began our trek through the Everfree Forest, as I sought out salvation from hell.