Gentler had stayed behind in Panthera while Fear, Acrid, and Faith headed to the temporary zebra command post about six miles from the city limits. All he had with him was his sword, Faith's Alicannon, and Acrid's magic. They couldn't have the zebras knowing the Abyssinians were behind Fear's actions after all. The young stallion held himself tall, with his two comrades following behind him in a tightly knit triangle, with Acrid on his right and Faith on his left. It wasn't long before they came on the encampment, as they could see the burning fire in the distance, the blackened smoke trailing high into the air.

The encampment was, in some ways, more modern than it should be. The fire pit for instance wasn't traditional. It was a pit filled to the brim with glowing orange stones that were transparent on the surface like gleaming glass but translucent and frizzy deeper into the core. They throbbed similarly to balefire bombs, but they were clearly made using a type of soul power. Not only that, but the heat they exuded was less heat, and more a sustained temperature that was consistent for yards around it, feeling like a Savannah. The orbs emitted living sparks that took the shapes of various animals and beasts when directed by one of the few zebras sitting around it, and the whole thing gave off charcoal black smoke. Fear made the logical deduction quickly that the smog was not due to exhaust, but acting as a locator signal for their tribe's presence. It was a polyfold zebra spell brought about by ritual.

The area around the fire pit, if it could be called that, was stylish and intense. Cabin tents of varying sizes were scattered in the perimeter, but the nylon and polyester fabrics had camo colors stained into them so they were difficult to see without a careful gaze. Set up around the perimeter was a wall made up of what appeared to be concrete and barbed wire, but Fear knew it wasn't nearly that simple. They would not set up such a permanent looking base, with lingering materials, for temporary use. The sole reason Fear knew it was temporary was because of how distant the encampment was, more or less impeccably matching the blast radius of a balefire bomb. The doors were wide open and welcoming, not expecting enemies, which was awkward and concerning because it meant they might not have any ill will.

Still, Fear knew what he'd seen in the Seer's Eye.

The three approached the opening and trudged on through, drawing closer to the center. Zebras, most with mohawks, were everywhere. Fear counted at least thirty souls in his vicinity, and they all had widely varying intentions. Some were preparing food for that night, some were intending to go out hunting, and many other actions from maintaining their water source, all the way to telling stories by the ritual fire as Fear called it in his mind.

Ripples of their presence rocked through the command post when finally noticed contained both surprise and horror. They were not attacked, but the foreign language surrounding them reached a crescendo. Fear didn't understand any of it, but he understood emotions and that was all he needed. His two companions, both a little xenophobic toward zebras for good reason, cringed and inched closer to Fear, sticking with him while he kept as calm as a cucumber, his eyes heavy set and suspicious.

About the time they reached the magical stones, which Fear could now hear crackling like real fire – probably a method to maintain comfort – the three zebras who'd been surrounding it had jolted off in a hurry. Meeting them was a gorgeous zebra mare coming out of her small tent. She was covered in golden jewelry, from limb rings to piercings, gems imprisoned in some of them. Her stripes were in the pattern of jagged, uneven lightning bolts, with dark marks around her eyes and her mane and tail were dreadlocks braided into a ponytail using crystalline baubles that Fear immediately guessed magnified her power. Seeing as they were different in appearance from the rest of what she had on. He wasn't sure if he was correct or not, but he wanted to overestimate rather than underestimate. Behind the mare was a second one, though her mane hung over her eyes giving her an air of invisibility and insignificance.

The two groups aligned with each other, with Fear puffing out his chest, and the mare ahead growling slightly.

“Nini Fearei Shatter kufanya hapa?”

Fear was certain he'd just heard his name spoken by this mare. But at the same time, he measured expectancy in neither tone nor emotional wavelength. So they knew who he was but didn't understand why he was here most likely? Seer? No. She'd have seen me coming otherwise I wouldn't be on her radar and she'd know nothing about me. I'm not that important. Fear's eyes widened imperceptibly as he fell back on his haunches and spread his forelegs out magnanimously, glancing from side to side. Acrid and Faith were sitting so close to them they were nearly touching Fear, who could feel every zebra in the encampment boxing them in with a zigzag pattern to close off openings. Hmm... Fear's thoughts continued. Not a Seer. But the only explanation is an umbran? It was merely a span of seconds but the deduction had come as if on the wind. The umbrans are the only ones I've seen who know my name, and they can portend destruction. Are the zebra and umbrans in it together? Why would they be working with one another? Some kind of deal perhaps? Fear spoke with a loud, booming voice, manipulating his vocal cords to make it spread. “I'm here in peace! Can anyone here translate basic Equestrian?”

The air grew humid and thick. Miasmic. It felt less like moisture and more like a vibrational tuning. But it was surrounding them.

Fear realized who was causing it immediately. His pals looked uncomfortable and were shifting and squirming, even Faith who knew what zebras were like in combat. He could feel the intention radiating off of the insignificant zebra, she was focusing on the air around them to translate words. Nyx had mentioned zebras capable of it. They focused on the meaning behind the words, rather than the words themselves, in order to touch the souls of others with the closest approximation to what was being said. “I said I'm here in peace. Thank you for bringing a translator.”

The mare ahead of him widened her eyes, they were violet in color Fear noticed. She appeared shocked Fear had so easily deduced he could speak clearly. But she did not reveal her hoof, even as her subordinates closed in, shutting off every single avenue of escape. She sat back on her haunches as well, placing a hoof against her chest. <Strange, unknown stallion. To what do we owe the pleasure of equine presence?>

Fear shifted uncomfortably for a second, his lips pulling back into an uncertain snarl. She was intentionally playing dumb. <My name is Fearei Shatter.> The zebra mare narrowed her eyes. Good, she gave away she can tell I'm playing dumb. Her emotions had shifted slightly. The wave had been almost non-existent but Fear had caught it. They could both tell the other was playing dumb. It was a small feedback loop that didn't have much of an end to it. Fear placed a hoof against his chest. <I'm here to speak with your leader. May I?>

The mare crossed her forelegs in an authoritarian manner. <I am her. My name is Zaya. This,> she gestured to the mare next to her, <is my translator Erza. We welcome you among our kind Fearei Shatter. I would wish to know the reason for your arrival. Surely the Abyssinians have no intent to trade equines as a peace treaty? The war has been over for over a century, nearly two.> There was a humorous lilt to Zaya's voice.

A small murmuring laugh ran through the crowd of zebras. They'd found that funny.

Fear shrugged his shoulders, holding his forelegs out again. <Yeah, it's time we all let bygones be bygones. I'm from the wasteland myself so I got to experience firsthoof the destruction the war wrought. I want no more of it. You know the feeling when you've had your favorite dessert taken away forever and you can never have it again? I don't want to put the Abyssinians through that.>

Zaya grimaced tightly, pulling her head back as if about to spit. The other zebras looked between themselves in worried confusion. <What is your aim, Fearei Shatter? You have not given your aim.>

Fear breathed in deep, and let out a torrential sigh. It echoed in the space the trio inhabited. He had to get ready to do something he'd never practiced before. Something he'd only theorized was possible. It had the potential for extreme repercussions. But if he could do it it'd keep them safe. <I can feel your intent to kill me, Zaya. I don't know why you're doing this, or why you feel I'm such a danger, I can only guess.> Not explicitly a lie, and it didn't give away that Fear was self-assured his guess was right. <I'm merely here for peace talks.> So much for not incriminating the Abyssinians. Too late for that though.

<I recommend you leave, while you still own your soul, Fearei Shatter.> Zaya said simply, with a nod. <I am a witch trained in the ways of soul combat. Your intentions will not give you power here. Please, mind your own business. You have two friends by your side who wish to see the next sunrise. I have no ill will toward ponies anymore. That all ceased when Princess Luna died.>

Fear considered his words, his eyes flicking to the side, blinking once, jaw hanging open. If only they knew what I knew. No point in revealing my hoof. <Sorry but this is my business. I don't want to see another wasteland in my time alive. So if you have to kill me then so be it. It's better to die a hero's death than a useless slave.> Fear spat on the ground in front of him, taunting the zebras with his act of disrespect. One zebra in the crowd stepped forward. Fear's telekinesis erupted from his horn with a 'shing' and latched onto Shaybna. The magic was a warm vanilla.

Sun or Moon

Acrid steeled himself, getting low to the ground.

Faith put a hoof through her Alicannon's grip.

Zaya snorted. <A hero's death? You? No. You are an enemy. Plain and simple. Useless and easily forgotten. No one will miss you. I gave you your chance. If you side with the Abyssinians then you must die as well. Goodbye, Fearei Shatter.> Zaya stomped a hoof on the ground.

The zebras surged forth like a wave.

Acrid froze up. He'd intended to make a dome of earth but now that it was actually happening...!

Faith brought her Alicannon off her back and intended to spin it around.

Fear glanced back at them. <Leave this to me guys.> Then latched onto them with his magic, before subsuming their bodies and equipment in shadows. By manipulating those bodies he sent them rocketing back to the entrance. He forced them up out of the ground just as he brought his sword around. There was a war cry. His.

Thirty zebras, about that. All trained in Fallen Caesar martial arts. Fear feinted, slipping into the shadows as two zebras came up to him, intending to buck his barrel in. He slid back slightly, and jumped out of the shadows. No time for hesitation or to check on the others. These are dangerous foes. <Traipse in to the void, waves of untold secrets carry you away into silence! Sleep!> Fear brought the sword down on the two hindlegs that connected with each other. The quartz connected with bone, the spell, constantly maintained, seeped into the two zebras.

They collapsed without any effort, their eyes going dull and lifeless, lolling about.

Fear used a pulse of telekinesis to shove his body up into the air, then another pulse to send him spinning vertically as a zebra passed under him, bringing the sword around in an arc and sweeping it through the air, the tip lightly grazing the quick thinking zebra's scalp just as he tried to grab onto Fear.

The painted warrior went sliding forward into the ground, conking into the two others.

Fear hit the ground on all fours and flourished, getting low to the ground.

Another warrior approached, leaping at Fear off his hindlegs, twisting in the air, and bringing his back hooves up, kicking them forward.

Meanwhile another warrior lunged at Fear, gliding across the ground, pivoting a forehoof, and spinning, bringing a tailblade around to slice Fear's hindlegs off.

Fear hyuped onto his forelegs, doing what amounted to a handstand, and leaned forward, bringing the sword around to catch the zebra's hooves.

The zebra who landed on the sword with his kicking hooves vaulted off vertically, soaring into the air, and came down on where Fear was.

Fear repeated the incantation as the zebra sweeping the tailblade for his hindlegs did a somersault as his head faced him, and vaulted in order to kick Fear in his exposed stomach. Fear fell forward and caught himself on a slope of telekinesis, twisting around and bringing the sword with him, nicking the groundbound zebra's hoof, then sweeping it up and catching the hoof of the one coming down from above.

Five down.

Fear spun as he got onto all fours and brought the sword back around, intending to slam it into the side of an approaching zebra's skull. The next warrior pulled back at the last second, then reached out to grab Fear's face in his forelegs.

The warrior's hooves met air as Fear dove into the shadows, attaching to his stomach, and twirling about to his back, popping out hindlegs first, wrapped his forelegs around the zebra's stomach, and used a pulse of telekinesis to send him tumbling forward, bringing the zebra up, around, then down skull first into the ground giving him a concussion.

Another pulse of telekinesis sent Fear spinning around the zebra's body like it was a pole, flinging himself around and letting go, flying hind hooves first toward another zebra's face.

That zebra brought his forelegs up to guard.

It was a feint.

Fear pushed himself to the ground onto his forelegs and surged up with his hindlegs, jabbing the warrior in the stomach, crushing ribs hard enough to make them crack. Fear fell into the shadows as two more zebras lunged at him from the sides. He came up from behind the zebra he'd just incapacitated the lungs of and wound his sword around, repeating the incantation, and swiping it across the scalps of the two who'd tried to grab him.

Eight down.

Fear leaped back as a zebra came at him from ahead, Zaya and Erza having moved to give them space, not daring use her powers for fear of harming her comrades, Fear could tell.

The warrior coming at Fear from ahead flew into a series of close combat swings and punches.

Fear ducked, weaved, and danced as he skittered over downed striped bodies.

The warrior pretended to jump in order to throw a knee in Fear's face.

Fear didn't fall for the bait and duck to the side, but instead brought a forehoof up with a raucous scream and slammed it into the zebra's throat, temporarily collapsing his larynx and sending him to the ground barely able to breathe. Fear slipped into the shadows again and rushed away from the scene, forcing the others to follow the primary threat.

Nine down.

Fear couldn't spend time breathing as he leaped out, sword coming to his defense as he pumped positive emotions into it, parrying a duo of zebra hooves. Another zebra tried to grab him from behind. Fear responded by leaning on his forelegs and kicking his hindlegs out, his small size aiding him and allowing him to get his tiny hindlegs through the space and slamming hard into striped chest, sending spittle flying and bones pressing into lungs.

One warrior coming at him tried to duck under his blade and get in close and personal while the other spent time harrying the emotional sword and provoking its attention.

Fear reacted easily, sliding to the side with a burst of telekinesis, and then using a second burst to shove the zebra coming at him into the ground, flattening him like a pancake.

In between moves Fear spoke the incantation in a rush, and brought the sword away from the provoker down to the zebra who'd just attacked him, and followed up by jabbing the butt of the handle into the second warrior's snout, skewing it. Fear felt another zebra come at him and twisted around, doing a backwards somersault and planting his hindlegs into his attacker's chest and sending the runner gliding over him and skidding across the dirt just as his blade finally touched the previous, then whipped around and pricked the point of it into the zebra he'd just countered.

Twelve down. About eighteen left.

Three zebra came at him at once, two from the sides and one from above. One tried to buck him, another tried to slice through his knees, and the other was bringing a hoof down onto where his skull was. Fear was panting hard, unable to quite go into the shadows very easily. He countered by punching himself into the air to the side with telekinesis, over the one trying to sweep him, tumbling as he did so, falling on top of the zebra with an 'oof,' and bringing the sword up to cascade the tip against incoming hoof, sending the unconscious body plummeting into earth and spinning it around to come down on the zebra to his right's head.

Fear rolled off the zebra who was flailing under him, spinning across the ground and pushing himself up with all four legs. The warrior tried to lunge at Fear. The young stallion feinted by pretending to meet him hoof for hoof, but flattened himself down with telekinesis at the last second, letting the zebra stumble over his prone body. He brought the sword to greet the warrior and send him into knock out land.

Fifteen taken care of. Fifteen left. It was easy to sense the souls still around now.

Fear was ready to take on more, huffing, puffing, and panting, his chest heaving. Yet no others were coming at him. The dirt was littered with passed out striped forms like logs caught in various positions. One was grasping at his throat trying to breathe, crawling across the ground. Two others were clutching their destroyed rib cages. The remaining fifteen were keeping their distance, trying to judge how to approach this menace. Fear knew what they were thinking.

We need to stop attacking first.

Something like that anyway. It was the agreed upon emotional intent within all of them. Fear merely spun his blade in circles, passing it from either side of him, before bringing it down next to his face and holding out a hoof.

<Come on shitlords there are a lot of you, one of me, and I don't have all day to play with you kiddies!>

The taunt seemed to get them moving. All fifteen of them were spiraling around Fear, slowly drawing closer like a kaleidoscope of striped enemies.

<Hah!> Fear barked. <I never thought I'd see the day when I was fighting a centuries old enemy! You know this might be war between us all for Abyssinia but we don't have to do this. Just give up!> Fear's breathing was growing a little ragged, but he still stayed standing.

Radiation was evolution, change, unregulated growth. It was poison of the highest order, and he was growing accustomed to the feeling he needed to summon to his sword by constantly spouting the words that brought the power out of his blade. Growing used to touching minds with poison.

<I said come on fuckers! Come get me!> Fear taunted one more time as he watched all fifteen in his mind's eye. <How about this? I'll close my eyes and you all can try to attack me that way!> Fear did as he'd promised, and let his eyes fall shut.

One zebra had enough, diverging from the group and launching at Fear.

Fear danced to the side and brought his sword tip around, slightly grazing the zebra and sending him to the ground in a crumpled heap of limbs.

<Got anymore for me you useless sacks of shit!?>

The striped enemy knew better than to approach Fear without a plan. Fear's eyes were still closed, but it made him even more dangerous. Now he could sense the location of souls, the ramification of intent, on a congenital level.

Four zebras approached in a cardinal fashion. Four more zebras approached from compass directions. They were slow, tentative. They were waiting for their opponent to make the first move.

<Meaningless!> Fear cried out, and swept the sword in a circle. Every zebra sneered. That was what Fear wanted, for them to let down their guard. They thought he was harmless if they didn't attack first.

Fear felt the first zebra lunge at him as his sword was on the opposite side. The warriors had pulled away to keep from being nicked but that didn't matter. The young stallion rolled under the one who had lunged at him, tripping him up unexpectedly and sending him face first into the ground. He brought his sword tip down onto the zebra's flanks, knocking him unconscious.

Eyes still closed.

Fourteen left.

Another zebra tried to jump on top of him while his sword was busy. Another slid forward to kick him while he was down.

Fear plunged into the shadows and let the two zebras collide with each other, then popped out a few inches away.

Two other zebras had expected it and attempted to attack him when he came up out of the shadows for air. Fear just sent himself into the air and brought his sword up above his body.

The striped foe coming down on top of him flailed, seeing himself about to be impaled.

Feint.

The young stallion shoved himself to the side and brought his sword with him, letting the tip barely slice the flesh of his attacker's barrel. Fear hit the ground on all fours, and brought the sword up in an arc and then down on the zebras who'd finally untangled themselves, knocking them out with one cut, then arching it around horizontally and touching the one who was caught under the fallen body.

Ten left.

Fear jumped forward, bringing a hoof around and lightly bapping the one who'd snuck up behind him in the face.

The zebra tried to grab it.

Fear grinned as hooves connected, and brought his other forehoof up, lunging forward, and slamming it into the crook of his 'legpit' then spun around until his back was against the warrior's stomach, and heaved, bringing the striped one up and then down into the ground on his back, a crack sounding out from the force of his spine hitting the ground. He brought the sword down on him, lightly touching the stomach.

Twenty-one out for the count.

The zebras attacking Fear were all growing incredibly wary. They didn't know how to fight this little one. They barely even knew his name. One was getting wet between the legs and ran off with his tail tucked away.

Eight remained.

Eyes kept closed.

<At least one of you knows when to give up! So. When do I get the honor of fighting Witch Zaya, hm? Is it only until all of you are knocked out like the rest!? None of you stand a chance, just give up! I've trained for this, and none of you have what it takes to take me down! Your will is shrinking, I can feel it. Save face, keep your dignity. Don't let a little pony knock you out. I haven't even killed any of you, just incapacitated!>

Fear's speech was having its desired impact. Another zebra wandered away, giving up silently.

Seven left.

Another's shaking legs finally got the best of him and he prostrated against the ground. <No! Please! Spare us! We didn't know!> Fear felt the intent. He hadn't wanted to kill the Abyssinians. Still, 'I was just following orders' was no excuse. The young stallion forced himself to calm down.

It might not be an excuse but most of these zebras haven't grown up like I did. They've been brainwashed by their culture, by their nationality. Fear twirled his sword again. <I'm not letting my guard down until each and every one of you is either unconscious or out of this damn compound!>

The one who'd prostrated himself ran off without another word, taking Fear's mercy.

Six more.

<You want a piece of this still!? Come get it! I don't have time for your dilly dallying!> Fear's voice was full of faux rage. He remembered Chrono Corona. The Abyssinians may or may not be innocent, but they didn't deserve the death these zebras intended for them. <How about we do this another way? Why don't you tell me why you're intending to kill the Abyssinians? Hm?>

<The satyr Seele,> one finally spoke, albeit calmly. Far more disciplined. <He wishes to see the Abyssinians suffer for what they did to the Storm King.>

Fear balked. <That's why you're going for them!? For revenge!? I'm giving you all one last chance. Give up or I'm taking the gloves off and you're dying!> It was a bluff.

Zaya approached. <For revenge, but also so that Seele will give us the technology we need to prosper.> Her voice was rhythmic, with a certain primal cadence. <I suppose you've earned that much information, Fearei Shatter.>

<You have no idea what you're up against. I'm not going to let you do whatever you want. I'm here to keep the peace. Even if you keep sending zebras I'll keep taking all of you down. Call off your lapdogs and I'll spare their lives!> Fear showed no ounce of uncertainty.

Zaya nodded once. <Fine. They may go. Leave the compound for now. Your fight is with me colt.> She paused. <And them.> The zebras collected around Fear, except for the passed out bodies, left.

Fear glanced as he felt a pair of presences enter his range. Acrid and Faith. His head bolted to look toward them. Their eyes were wide. Dull.

<Think fast, colt.> Zaya spoke.

Intent blasted across Fear's brain as he realized what had happened. He could feel the poison in their souls. Zaya had tainted them similarly to when Breiker had tainted his family.

Fear wove to the side as earth surged up to try and grab his hooves and pin him. He somersaulted as he felt something lash out from Zaya. Then he threw himself into the air as Faith's cannon fired at him. Fear twirled himself around in circles with telekinesis, fusing his sword to his body with shadows, then launched his body at his family as fast as he could.

Faith brought her cannon up like a pike to stab Fear as he came at them.

Fear shoved himself up.

Acrid sent a burst of rock to pierce Fear's belly.

Fear pushed himself higher.

<Though hearts are heavy and souls have stains, the fires of healing shall cleanse our pains!> Fear cried as he pulsed himself to the ground hard, his legs tremoring under him as he hit the ground, brought his sword out, and slashed the fire tipped spell across the backs of both his loved ones' necks.

Acrid and Faith, as they turned around, jerked in place, their jaws clenching up. Both froze, then a shuddering convulsion ran through them and they collapsed to the ground as the poison was slowly burned away from their souls.

Fear jumped forward, feeling Zaya trying to do something to his family, and pushed himself in the way of it.

He realized too late what it was.

Fear shoved himself to his left as something cold and burning opened its maw up wide to consume him. Something spiritual and grotesque, a presence of power more than a creature. The jaw clamped down on Fear's hindlegs.

There was a scream.

Zaya laughed maniacally. <I see now why you pushed them away from you! You should trust your friends more! Or not. It doesn't matter.>

Fear felt a poison inject into his body. He repeated the fire incantation and pressed it to his back as he hit the ground on his belly.

<Oh no you don't,> Zaya muttered as if declaring an oath. <You lose here and now.>

Fear felt the next poison flood into him within seconds. Starting at his right hind hoof. It gradually spread upward. He slammed his sword down into his leg, sending blossoming warmth funneling through it.

The searing cold and the chilling warmth met together in the hindleg like a curse and a cure colliding. The nerves were dying, everything inside and out, leaving the leg numb and dangling limply. But it ended just above the knee, near the hip.

Fear realized he had to end this quickly, and slipped into the shadows. All he needed was the right intent. Fear masked his soul with a silent illusion. A skilled feint. Not even thinking about it, just flowing into it like it was second nature, a tip from Drax. Zaya was none the wiser. He was going to get close to her and use the Solar Flare spell.

It was a dumb illusion, but Fear had nothing better in mind.

That would work well enough though. Zaya lashed out with her soul to try and grab Fear and yank him out of the shadows.

The two read each other like it was a game of Poker and both of them were obvious.

Fear's body slithered up next to Zaya and leaped out of the shadows. He brought his forelegs up, as if to successfully call on the power of the sun.

<No! Cursed interstellar spells!> Zaya brought up the electromagnetism of the earth to her call as she muttered a ritualistic spell under her breath, covering her face with a foreleg. Zaya's downfall was not that she was stupid, so much that she'd underestimated and overestimated Fear at the same time. While she had overestimated he could use the solar flare as quickly and powerfully as his illusory intent had dictated, she had underestimated his ability with illusions. That, and she had overestimated her own skill with her soul reading spell.

The shadow attached to Fear's body lunged out. Shade morphed into blade, and stabbed brutally into Zaya's shoulder. Blood blossomed.

Fear's eyes contracted. <On the fringes of birth and death, sealed in limbo, freeze!> He brought his forelegs forward, letting the spell surge through his sword and into the zebra witch.

The young stallion collapsed onto the ground on one side, catching his weight with three legs, the lame leg crumpling under him. He let out a long whistle of a breath as Zaya's own body fell like a lead weight, her soul magic, her physical capabilities, her ritualistic spells, everything sealed away temporarily.

Fear dared not collapse onto his side, his... permanently dead leg dangling under him. He recalled how the zebras in the alternate timeline had tried to assassinate him. He glared down at Zaya, tempted to kick her in the gut, stomp on her ribs and shatter them. She had taken something away from him for good! She took my leg! I can't move it! It's impossible! It's completely numb!! Fear's inner voice was panicked, but his face was set into a calm scowl. However... Fear knew.

There wasn't time to focus on that right now. There was an umbran here somewhere.

Fear walked on three legs, casting his vision about, staying close to Zaya.

Why can't I sense him? There is guaranteed an umbran around here somewhere. Unless it's off somewhere else? Where would an umbran go...? Hmm... umbrans are neither living nor dead, just an equine shaped mass of necromantic magical potential that feeds on despair. So... Fear's eyes widened and whipped around looking at nothing. It's probably masking its soul signature with the scent of death? The feeling of unfeeling? It'd make sense. After I killed two of them they wouldn't want to play around anymore. It's becoming a pattern. Fear glared at Zaya. <Where's your umbran friend, Zaya!? He's a danger to everyone, even us!> It sounded weird letting that come out of his mouth.

Umbrans, Fear thought. Aren't all dangers. But this one is. It's clearly manipulating things.

<Come out!> He shouted. <I know you're out there!>

Zaya groaned out. <Ex... saaaaa.> A series of coughs and spasms.

Fear grimaced. <Is that his name!?>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p7TUZcLlQQ

Exa, the umbran, wandered out of one of the tents, presence still stifled, and spoke. <You are indeed a threat to us, Fearei Shatter. It has been a long time since we have felt trepidation. Nonetheless, your friends are no longer here. And...> The umbran held up an item in his sickly telekinetic aura. A balefire bomb. He looked exactly like Petta, but a little more grisly, with more strands of seemingly peeled flesh. <I think I'm going to put a stop to you here, and now. And take your body for myself.>

Fear snarled, his sword coming back into his body. <Just try!> He watched the nuke carefully, with keen eyes. <You wanna blow us all to kingdom come with a damn balefire bomb?> It was a tear-shaped egg with water trickle-like flames surrounding it, a pulsating, glowing radioactive core at its center. <Hah, big scary necrodick thinks his threats affect me of all stallions. Go ahead, use the balefire bomb, turn us into zombies. I'll still come back and slap your limbo ass with my rotting cock, knock your razor teeth in until they're cutting up your guts, and make you shit them out you cowardly son of a bitch!>

Zaya looked at Fear with horror in her eyes, unable to lift her head. Truly afraid of the small colt now, not knowing what to expect, or what he was capable of. He seemed like a demigod in that one moment, unable to grasp the truth. Was Fear a demigod who could use interstellar spells like Exa had spoken of the Starlight Shredder, or was he merely a changeling? Was he both? None? Her shock was rampant on her face as she drooled on the ground from her paralysis.

It would've been funny if Fear had time for that.

The umbran was surprised by Fear's gall, the first hint of emotion other than sadism showing on that glowing turquoise face that looked like a flayed skull.

Only one chance for this. Fear let his eyes fall shut and called out. Omega Storm! I need you! Fear felt the presence in his mind filter from him, and shoot forward faster than light, as if it was moving space around her with its thought, rather than moving through it.

Fear's eyes glimmered. He leaned forward.

Exa looked curious, about to drop it. <Fine if that's how you want it I will.>

<On the fringes of birth and death!> Fear's image phased out as he switched places with his tulpa. One second he was a few yards away the next he was right up next to the umbran.

Exa rose up onto his hindlegs in surprise, whinnying as he dropped the volatile, activated balefire bomb.

The shadow attached to Fear's body slid out. <Sealed in limbo!> The blade glistened with a pale blue molten sheen as the tip slid into the falling balefire bomb, stabbing. <Freeze!> The emotion poured into the blade, and the spell scattered into the core.

It was unsure what had happened first, the bomb had activated or Fear had defused it. Either way, the young stallion didn't stop there. He let out a war cry. <Danger, scatter to shrapnel, explode!> And he brought the nuke, speared on the tip of his sword, up and down onto the ground, making the entire thing explode into pieces of egg splatter leaving only flames.

Exa lunged at Fear in frustration, intending to kill him with one touch.

Fear's image phased away from the umbran, back to where he was before, his tulpa taking his place, her body made of pure thought sliding right through the necromantic energy.

<You think you got me? You think you're the best!? Well I got news for you! You're nothing! Why not live your life a little more honorably huh!?> Fear floated his blade back to him and twirled it with a flourish, sweeping through the air in a figure eight, the cut creating a whistle sound.

Exa stomped on the ground like a petulant foal. <You horrendous little colt! Do you have any idea what you've done!?>

<I know exactly what I've done!>

<You're lucky you didn't kill those zebras, or I'd be raising them all from the dead to fight you with all their power! You would never beat them!> Exa grumbled. <But I guess I'll have to settle for feeding from them.>

Fear held his blade in the air vertically. <I got news for you Exa! I'm not going to give you the chance!>

Exa looked up at Fear with morbid curiosity.

<You're not the only one who's grown more powerful!> Fear called out with his soul, taking the mass of sleeping bodies, his family, and the zebras, and pulling from them. Siphoning their love. <There's a reason I bluffed about killing them!>

Zaya's gaze lingered on Fear with awe.

Exa snorted. <You think that's enough to kill me?>

The young stallion screamed as he felt the flood of love enter his body, and he filtered it into the sword. <Yes I do! What's better than concentrated despair? Concentrated love! Love will always overcome fear!> He slid his sword through the air, spinning it over him.

Exa couldn't keep up the bluff. He took a couple steps back.

Fear grimaced, holding the blade next to his face as the pinkest pink, bubbling, fizzing gaseous liquid poured from his mind into his sword, latching onto it. <You know what's better than a love powered sword, Exa!?> Fear enthused with a hiss.

Exa's voice stumbled. <W-what?>

<A love powered spell!> Fear charged at the umbran.

The umbran lashed out with his sickly power to try and catch one of the nearby zebras and kill them. Surely Fear cared too much about this life to let it be extinguished? Hostages were important for despair!

Fear's sword melted against him, into his shadow, and his form phased from where it was, appearing in front of the sickly aura.

Never before had the young stallion been so scared something wouldn't work, but even as his heart hammered in his chest he knew he had to try. Love is life! He pulled his sword free from his body and swirled it in the air, catching the necromantic energy...

And tainting it. Fear had thought for sure it would merely cut through. But he didn't let up. As his sword swung through the miasma he grit his teeth and anchored his hooves. His sword radiated an effervescent smoke of pink, constantly shifting, with a liquid shell surrounding the blade itself. It mixed with the necromantic energy, life and death swirling together. Fear leaped forward off of three hooves at Exa.

Exa was connected to the aura, lassoed by it. There was a loud scream. It wasn't Fear's as the umbran cowered away, seeing its death coming to it. Mortal just like all the others.

<Spreading spring, enormous love, heed my call, terror destruction!> Fear stabbed the umbran with his sword. The love spread like a virus, clinging to more and more territory, making Exa's flesh bubble and pop like a bulbous rash. It was constantly growing, climbing. Exa shrieked. He tried to pull himself off. Then tried to touch Fear to kill him.

Fear switched places with his tulpa, arriving on the whole other side, still holding onto his blade with telekinesis, funneling the spell into Exa.

There was a loud, agonizing screech like metal on metal, then a sound like fungus exploding and melting away into mold slime. All as Exa's body ruptured, completely rent apart by the love coursing through its body. All that was left was a sketchy looking orb of black and white light that flitted through the air before diving into Fear's blade, making it glow and creating a new rune.

Fear took a few moments to catch his breath as the battle... seemed to be over? He stumbled. He'd been using his tulpa a lot and it was leaving his mind a little fragmented like he hadn't experienced in a while. Not only that but his right hindleg was completely destroyed. Nerve-wise, it couldn't move. Just another scar. I'll take care of it later. There are more important things right now. Fear carefully limped over to Zaya.

<Witch Zaya. I'm giving you one single chance to give up here and now. I don't care what your reasoning for doing so is. But you've lost. There's no point to you also losing your life. The war of a couple centuries ago is over. And with it should also be the death of nationalistic ideals such as fighting to the death for a lost cause.>

Fear paused.

<I promise to protect you to the best of my ability, and try to find a way to help your people with whatever trouble they're having. Whatever reason made you latch onto the satyrs.> Fear shunked his blade into the ground next to him and leaned on it. <So. Do we have a truce?>

Erza stood in the background, looking at everything with an empty sense of wonder.

Zaya's voice came out low. <I surrender, Fearei Shatter. I didn't... never wanted to imagine Exa would try to use us.>

Fear knew it wasn't just that which was influencing her decision.

<Seele is a conqueror though,> Zaya continued. <You will not have an easy time. He has an umbran on his side as well. They are working together. Mercilessly. The umbrans wish to collect enough despair to destroy their barrier completely. I guess they are backstabbers though...>

Fear huffed and spun a hoof. <I figured. Don't worry about it right now. We have bigger fish to fry. Like I said I don't care about your reasons, how shallow or even how deep they are. I only care about your decision.> He sat on his haunches, though his lame leg was a little twisted up and splayed out to the side from his body without him noticing. It was a little... ugly.

==========================================================================================

Acrid and Faith were the first to wake up, about the same time. It'd started with groaning and proceeded to rubbing the back of their necks in pain from the slight cut in the skin. Hopefully it wouldn't scar, Fear thought. He was busy sitting in one of the tents with the other two. The place was moderately furnished, with things like sleeping bags, etc. It wasn't exactly thorough, given it was a temporary station, but there were some trinkets lying about from zebras who'd taken things from home. To remind them of their lives, of their families.

These zebras all have lives. They're just trying to survive. Fear's thoughts continued. The young stallion blew on a wooden mug of juicy apple and mint tea. He held it in his telekinesis. “It's good to see you two awake.”

Faith grumbled, “I feel like I took a caravan to the back of the head.”

Acrid quipped. “Same but...” it started as a quip but then it dragged off. “Actually I got nothing. Fear what happened?”

Fear took a little sip, closing his eyes. “I fought some zebras, lost a leg. Battled an umbran. Standard operating procedure with us. You know how it is.”

Faith snorted. “Nothing about this is natural... how'd you win?”

“I don't want to talk about it right now.” Fear sighed. “It's bad enough I've lost a leg.” It was as if it hadn't sunk in for the others yet. “I wanted to apologize for not trusting you two more. I should've kept you with me when we fought all those zebras. I just...”

Acrid waved a hoof. “You didn't want us getting in the way, right? It was a good idea. Faith and I couldn't take them on. We don't have the right skill sets for it.” It was an excuse, a way to cope and brush it off, a sort of sour tone, but it came out genuine.

Harrumph, Faith sounded out. “You don't know that for sure, Acrid!”

Fear set down his mug. “Either way. They were really skilled and once they determined me a threat they finally started acting serious. But even that wasn't enough.” The young stallion shrugged. “I'm... numb right now you guys. All I can do is apologize.”

Faith... finally nodded. “Don't worry about it Fear. A mare approached us soon after you shot us away from the main combat and fought with us. She didn't take any damage. She had all this electromagnetism surrounding her and she took a full brunt alicannon shot.” She slumped.

Fear could tell they were both dejected, mournful. He didn't know what to say, or how to help. How do you tell someone it's okay to be weak sometimes? Especially when we depend on each other as much as we do? “On the bright side your guys' love helped me defeat the umbran.”

“Ugh,” Acrid sighed. “That's not really that impressive.”

Fear shrugged and mumbled, bringing the mug back to his lips and drinking a little more despite how it burned his mouth like a fire. The mint was refreshing, and the apple juice gave it a sugary fruitiness. “I could always try to teach you the things I intend to teach Gentler.”

Faith considered it. “I'd like that, but... I don't think I want to move outside of my comfort zone, using my physical body for everything. Thank you though.”

Acrid wasn't certain either. “That's a lot of work. I don't think it'd even help. I'm not an up close fighter like you. I'm an area of effect and ranged attacker and defender.” He rolled his shoulders. “Still, you should do it Faith. At least learn shadow walking. It might help.”

“I will if you do, Acrid.” Faith responded.

“Fffffiiiiine,” the older stallion mumbled. “I guess I can try to learn it. It's one thing out of how many things in Fear's repertoire by this point? Might as well.”

And like that, the emotions had more or less returned to normal due to a simple suggestion. Maybe I was overthinking it. I suppose stabilizing emotions are as simple as offering to help sometimes. “I'll teach all three of you shadow walking if I can. I've also been considering how to teach an earth pony telekinesis. It seems like it'd be an extension of stickyhooves. I'm still thinking on it.”

Acrid and Faith looked between them. “Sheesh Fear,” Acrid stated. “You're really going all out on this teaching thing huh? What happened to taking it easy?”

“Haha!” Fear laughed. “I don't know. I just... wanna make sure you guys don't feel bad. You guys tell me often that weakness isn't a bad thing, but I just know how it feels so I don't want to put you through that if you guys don't have to be.”

Faith bat a hoof. “Fear it's fine. If we can't learn everything we're not going to be too bothered. We have our skills too after all. We're just sort of sulking, but we'll get over it. It's inevitable.”

Fear gave a tentative smile. “Are you two sure?”

“Positive,” Acrid responded. “You worry about you for now.”

Fear's anxiety always seemed to make the others feel better, one way or another. Oh well. If they stick to it I'm sure I can teach them with time and effort on both our parts. I wanna turn everyone around me into winners. I don't want there to ever be losers ever again, especially not my loved ones. I want us all to prosper together, and maybe teaching everyone magic is how to do it. I don't know. I'm not going to get too ahead of myself.

==========================================================================================

Maybe I'm being a little overdramatic? Fear had a distinct desire to hold a funeral for his dead leg. Sure it was just... numb. And he couldn't move it no matter how hard it tried. But it was difficult walking with only three hooves all the time. Such a languid, annoying experience having one trailing behind him constantly, sometimes clopping about as the hoof jostled against the ground like an ugly vestigial limb. That was the worst part, it was incredibly unattractive now. The others didn't seem to care and he didn't understand why. Upon asking them they'd said it was just another scar on his journey.

But it's a lost limb! Doesn't that mean anything? I'm technically disabled now! They told him that they felt for him, but they knew he'd get over it. He was clever enough to do anything. Why was he worrying so much? He'd gone through worse things.

It was mind blowing how uncaring they seemed about it. He knew they cared but... they just trusted him blindly! Expected him to get over it eventually, like it was no big deal. Would they feel the same if it happened to them? Likely not.

Ugh. This was just another thing the wasteland did, took away the ability to do things.

Zaya came into the tent, requesting Fear's attention. Erza was behind her. <What will you have us do? Admit to the King and Queen what our intentions were?>

Fear pushed his thoughts away for now. It was incredibly distracting but there was no time. <Yeah. Pretty much. They'll probably want to execute you.> Before the zebra mare could respond he continued. <But I'm not going to let them, even if I need to escort you out of Panthera. I'm not letting them kill everyone just willy nilly just because they did something wrong.> His forelegs stiffened, flexing slightly.

<You're a kind soul, Fearei Shatter. Maybe too kind.> Zaya looked off to the side, gnawing her lower lip.

<Forget about it. And just call me Fear. My full name is rough on the ears when it's constantly being repeated.> He waved a hoof around and put it down. <I don't suppose you can heal my leg?>

Zaya breathed in deep. <No. I'm sorry.>

<I didn't think so. What exactly did you do to it anyway?>

<I modified your soul. It was a poison that steals the use of certain functions. Your soul merely has forgotten, and can never remember, that it has a leg to use. It will occasionally have glimpses, and that will lead to phantom pains you will only be able to eventually overcome by remembering they aren't real.> Zaya sounded genuinely solemn about it.

Fear shuddered. <You were merciless huh?>

Zaya shrugged a shoulder. <Well it was either that, or try to explicitly kill you. But after you showed mercy to my soldiers I figured I owed you life, even if it was an incapacitated one. Despite what Exa told me about your brutality.> She looked off to the side. <Besides, even among zebras destroying a soul with our magic is looked down upon. It taints a soul's psyche forever. And I am a witch, not a warrior.>

Fear chose to omit that he'd destroyed a soul before. And realized that Zaya was having doubts about Exa from the start.

<Why do you refrain from speaking?> Zaya queried.

<Oh. Well I guess I can't hide that easily.> He blushed and tilted his chin against his chest. <I destroyed... part of a soul once. Timeline shenanigans.>

Zaya nodded once. <That is a terrible thing. But it must not have been the same way we are capable of it. That or you did not destroy all facets of their soul, just a specific segment that was tainted. When we destroy a soul, we destroy all facets.>

As in all timelines? How's that work? Does every timeline self of that pony just merely... fall dead? Well at least this means Breiker is in some way, shape, or form alive. <Is the taint similar to when a pony cannibalizes another pony?>

<Yes, Fear. It creates a constant, insatiable hunger from then on. Eternal. It is a poison. I suspect you could alleviate, though not cure, this poison to some degree with your sword, but you'd need a lot of magic, and it is only a theory.> Zaya held a hoof against her chest, before clicking it against the ground. <How did you like your tea by the way? I am sorry I could not make it for you, but I hope my guidance was... fruitful.> She grew a tentative smile.

<Yeah it was good. I haven't had tea before now. I should drink it more often. And you're right, using apple juice instead of water was just right for me. How'd you know I like sweet and fruity things?> Fear was curious, finding himself flowing perfectly into camaraderie.

<I read your soul. Nothing more. I honestly should've listened to what I read in the first place, instead of attacking you.> Zaya shook her head from side to side. <We should get going soon though. I will escort you. However before we go one of my soldiers is making a temporary splint for you, so your leg does not wander around.> She stood up and twisted around.

<Gee, thanks,> Fear spat sarcastically. <I know you mean well but it would've been cool if you could've, like, not done it in the first place.>

<We were enemies Fear. I did all I knew. I am sorry.>

<Yeah, yeah, I know. Sorry. I'm still bitter. And going to be for awhile.> Fear sighed. <By the way, what are zebra's morbid fascination with souls in the first place?>

Zaya grinned, waiting for Fear to follow her to the entrance to the tent where his friends were waiting. <I can only speak for myself. I have always been enthralled with the way souls greet a husk of a body when it is first born. I am in love with the... usual amnesia it undergoes, and I admire the way it seamlessly integrates with the brain at birth. How, unlike a parasite, it is unobtrusive and merges, fuses, and becomes a submissive partner to the brain itself. I try to fight the same way a soul would. But I cannot just be defensive all the time.>

Fear 'huh'ed. Well that was interesting. As Fear got his splint in place, fusing his leg erect temporarily, he asked Zaya to elaborate more on the threat that was this... Seele.

<Seele is the Satyr's new Storm King; although he is... different. He managed to get a black book, a book with dark magics inscribed in it, and used it to give himself an unalterable, yet undefeatable fate. His intent is to conquer Equestria, who stymied the satyr's efforts in the first place, and to steal its secrets. They have elemental technology, and have used their black book to create soul weapons, weapons that destroy a soul and the connections to the body in such a visceral way that the brain is ripped apart. They are in their country, working on a soul engine for a train they are building near Abyssinia's borders. They use the spirits to give it various enchantments, and to power it. It’s... grotesque. But we needed their technology.>

Fear realized that there were multiple reasons Zaya had finally given in. Part of it was trust. <So let me get this straight. While the wasteland has been suffering and scavenging for its war time bullshit, the satyrs have been slowly collecting power and researching their own bullshit in order to eventually invade everyone? With weapons that completely ignore armor and could kill any single creature that has a modicum of intelligence?>

Zaya grinned from ear to ear, lidding her eyes in an almost seductive manner, which for her, seeing as Fear wasn't used to zebras, was exotic. <Precisely. While the wasteland deals with its problems, all of us are constantly progressing and trying to find peace. With Princess Luna dead and gone, the zebras have shed their hatred of equines with time. The ones farthest away from the wasteland at least.> She gave a little shrug.

I can't hide Luna's presence from everyone. <Luna still exists... in dreams. She's watching over the night and pacifying the nightmares of others.>

Zaya glanced to Fear and murmured. <So it's true... how strange.>

<Huh?>

<Exa said Luna existed within the realm of dreams, and he was hoping to turn me into a hypnomancer so that I may be able to find her and take her out with my spell to read and find souls.> Zaya sounded uncomfortable. <I declined. I did not fully believe him, and I personally never believed Princess Luna was the threat we all saw her as. Startouched, Worldtouched, those words are meaningless to me. I do not believe souls can be tainted by interstellar or planetary forces. I do not believe in astrology. And even if I did, that is no reason to exterminate a species.>

<That's not all he told you, is it?>

Zaya nodded. <I do not trust umbrans as a rule. They are harbingers of despair. I had a feeling he was manipulating us, but I had no proof, and I did not want to forsake a potential friendship and be left with nothing, all for a gut feeling. I apologize for that. Though I can't say I would have done any differently if I had not seen your power and compassion Fear.>

<What about this Worldtouched thing you speak of? What's that? I've heard of the other but never that one.>

<Worldtouched,> Zaya explained, <is someone touched by the world, by a planet's motherly, kind, protecting nature. It is not necessarily touched by a planet, but it is someone who exudes love. If I was more superstitious, I would daresay you are Worldtouched, Fear. You wielded the love of my brethren and your family like it was second nature. Love is not normally a weapon, but a force of protection. It is a powerful form of magic, though it usually comes in the form of romance.> She shook her head. <The fact that you used a force of protection as a tool for destruction, against a force of destruction, leaves me in awe. You are... terrifying, Fear.>

Fear was left in silence for awhile, just mulling that around. <Well. Either way I worked to come this far. So don't get the wrong ideas. I'm not a monster. I'm just a hard worker.>

<I feel that in your soul as well, Fear. Do not think it is lost on me. Your determination is astounding. I do think you should have trusted your friends more, and kept them with you so I had not been able to attack them, but I do think they would have gotten in your way in this situation. My warriors would have likely used them as hostages if they weren't able to fend them off. There are many what ifs in the world, but I am glad it worked out how it did.>

More ideas to muse on. Fear decided it wasn't worth dwelling over. <Thanks. I'm trying not to think about it. I trusted my gut in that moment, and I'm glad I did. It might've been the wrong choice but I did it.> The two were on the path back to Panthera. <Let's focus on King Leo and Queen Lisa right now. Not on us. You seem like you'd make for a good friend though, Zaya.>

<I am more than willing to be friends with you, Fear. You have proven yourself in combat, and as an equine. Your display of compassion will never be lost on me, and it is inspiring.>

<Don't think too hard on it,> Fear responded. <I was merely lucky I didn't have to kill your warriors, and that I'd come up with a way to incapacitate others. Nothing more than the right place, at the right time.>

Zaya smiled. But you chose to do things the hard way, Fear, she thought.

<Besides,> Fear continued. <I knew I was dealing with an umbran and I couldn't give him a level up. It was all a tactical decision.>

Zaya didn't believe that for a second. It had just happened to work out. Fear was just being modest. Faith and Acrid just looked at Fear with a simper and a grin respectively. They weren't going to interrupt, though Acrid did consider making their movement faster with earth manipulation like he'd learned from those wrestlers. Fear had an awkward gait to his walk, given one leg shuffled along behind him and his body sagged like he had a limp. Along the way to Panthera, Fear asked, and was given, more of what Zaya was capable of. Calling upon the soul of the world through ritual in order to cast elemental abilities, like fire, heat, cold, water, wind, poison, cleansing. And other things. A lot similar to what Fear could do, but differently.

==========================================================================================

Lisa's lower lip trembled. Her brow furrowed. Leo slumped over, his elbows on his knees. Face in his hands. The tomcat was shaking, not in rage, but in relief and terror.

They had come days away from their unexpected end, just like the wasteland.

Zaya crossed her forelegs over each other and bowed her head. <I apologize, your majesties, for the trouble we have caused. And I hope that through Fear our two nations can relearn to coexist. If you must take it out on someone, please let it be me, and not my subordinates.>

Fear spoke up before the king and queen could, his face set in a perpetual scowl, standing behind and to the side of Zaya, with Erza behind him to his other side. <King Leo, Queen Lisa. I have already told you my side of the story. I would appreciate your mercy. The drought has made the zebras near Abyssinia desperate. The satyrs took advantage of it. You've heard it for yourself, and I can guarantee it's not a lie. And I'm not in on it. I wouldn't come this far just to get you all killed.>

There was silence for moments on end. King Leo's knees leaned inward toward each other, his body wobbling. The two were not used to such close calls. He'd dropped his scepter long ago upon learning what Fear had accomplished, all on his own. And the fact that they had pushed him to what could have certainly been his death. King Leo's voice cracked. <You said you have fought umbrans before, Fearei Shatter. Do you understand the magnitude of what you say?>

<Yes your majesty.> Fear confirmed with a nod.

<And you have lost the use of one of your legs. Yet you still wish to defend the zebras who have done this to you? You believe we can all just put this aside as easily as you have, and learn how to move past it? Has your life been in danger many times before?>

<Yes, your majesty.> Fear responded. <I have been through this many times. With raiders, with dragons, with changelings. In a way I am sure I have gone through it here, with you two as well.>

King Leo flinched visibly as if struck. Lisa's gaze skewed to the side. <Fearei Shatter. You are a wonder. To you it may seem like you haven't done much of anything at all, just been in our city for a few days. But to us it feels like you just one day popped up, shared your feelings with us, and then did the unthinkable after we had considered giving you over to the Enclave.> Leo looked up, his eyes were angry and tired. It was directed toward himself. Hooded eyes, lines under them. Some of his fur looked a little silver as if he'd aged a few years from learning how close he'd come to devastation, to being vaporized. <After all the Enclave has told us... to hear a wastelander defending an enemy. It is absurd.> Leo sat up, throwing his hands out. <I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't in front of me.> He leaned on his knees again. <Fear... we cannot normally let a potential fugitive go free. Examples must be made. But...>

Leo's lip trembled. <I think I already know where that would lead us. I cannot promise we will remain allies with the zebras, but we will not treat this as a declaration of war either. Your service to us has earned that much. Our champion's wishes should be upheld. Are you certain you have taken care of this threat... permanently? Fearei Shatter?>

<No.> Fear responded. <But I'm going to. I'm going after the satyrs next. They're not going to know what hit them. They're going to get their faces crushed into the ground. The zebras however, are taken care of. Seele is clearly a danger, and I do not think I can argue, nor negotiate with his passion no matter what I do. His heart is set, like King Solanum's was a few years ago.> He stiffened, standing up tall. <I appreciate you respecting my wishes. I know it must be hard. Forgiveness is a difficult aspect of life.>

King Leo couldn't help but smile forlornly. Queen Lisa merely closed her eyes, lower lip still quaking. <Fear,> Leo spoke, <your understanding is unnatural. I would suspect you were mentally damaged, if you did not seem so capable and... present. You are not even slightly bothered by your leg?>

<I am very bothered by my leg your majesty. Like, more than I can possibly explain. It's worse than my burn scar. I've literally lost the use of one of my appendages. I'm going to have to live around it, and I can no longer jump as well as I used to. It's going to impact my fighting style. Not only that but Zaya assures me I am going to experience phantom pains.> Fear squeezed his eyes shut and looked down at the ground. <There is no explanation for how infuriated I am. Nor how inconvenienced. This is going to be a terrible wound. But I've wounded others too. It is wrong of me to be hypocritical on that level. I imagine we have all done wrong by someone, and wished we'd done better. I'm not going to let myself do wrong by others anymore, even if I need to stake my life on it. I also don't like heavy emotions. You know?>

Queen Lisa spoke, finally. <Admirable. But unsustainable. However, you have earned our respect. Zaya, you may leave us. Fear. Please come here?>

Zaya didn't hesitate, turning around and proceeding out the door, followed by Erza, her face clouded by mane.

Fear watched them go, then put a hoof against his chest as if asking if they were sure, his face creased in concern, before walking up to the two thrones.

Standing between the two Abyssinians, standing tall under their glare even as his dead leg sagged behind him, Fear was surprised when Lisa stood up and sauntered over to him. “Hm??” His voice was confused on a whole other level.

Lisa knelt down, putting her paws on Fear's shoulders, and rubbed the cheek of her muzzle against the side of Fear's face like a la bise, but instead it was a double tap grind. The queen then pulled away, standing up. Fear just blinked numbly, not quite understanding what just happened, his jaw hanging open.

Leo stood up, made his way over to Fear, while Lisa sat back down. “You know enough about our customs, I do believe you understand what this is.”

Fear nodded dumbly as Leo bent over and rubbed cheeks with Fear, this time the untouched side. Their lips ground together similar to a side kiss, but Fear could tell chemicals were being left behind.

“Consider this our demonstration that we consider you one of us, Fearei Shatter,” King Leo spoke, before standing up and making his way back to his throne. “Do not let us down. And please, do come back eventually. Tell us how it went. Maybe give us a story. We've heard only good things about you and your party's presence in our city. Now... begone.”

Fear sat there, dazed. Before eventually nodding, doing everything in his power to not rub his cheeks clean with his hooves, and lethargically wandered out, hindleg dragging behind him, his hips occasionally waddling in order to get the hoof to plant against the ground like a lifeless cane.

How about that? Fear thought.

==========================================================================================

Dinner that night at the Stoic household had been even better than the times before it. Not so much because it was tastier, though in some ways it was! It was more because Fear had... not so much proven himself with a giant feat, it barely felt like he'd done anything at all, but because he'd come out of a fight with thirty plus zebras with barely any injuries.

Aside from his leg.

Fear devoured the sticky, clumpy, steamy moist rice, saturated in syrupy, tangy orange sauce that had a salty bite to it and bits of parsley for a bitter balance. It stuck to his teeth and gums, painting his tongue, the chicken stock mixed in with it giving it a meaty, broth-y flavor. He chomped, chewed, and swallowed chunks of chicken breast right alongside it, slathered in thick, fruity, sour and sweet lemon zesty sauce that had heady undertones, spiced with garlic. It had all been a meal of victory, or at least that was how he chose to see it.

Gentler listened to Fear tell the story of what'd happened during the mission while they waited for dessert to be brought out, Fear piping up that he'd help clean up the kitchen and do the dishes tonight. It surprised everyone, some tried to talk him out of it, but Fear was stubborn and determined. He swore an oath that he'd help with the after-dinner mess like usual.

Clairity literally pushed him down in his seat, and placed a plate of dessert in front of him, bopped him on the snout, and tutted in his face. “Just enjoy the meal Fear, you've done enough. Otherwise I'm going to dump this in your lap.” And with that the queen headed back to the kitchen to get everyone else's plates.

Fear finally relented, and dug in, too distracted to really fight, getting a little huffy but smiling all the while. They really wanted him to relax huh? The dessert was apparently called pumpkin cheesecake lasagna. It was sugary, melty, a little chewy. Filled with tangy cream cheese, milky cream, vanilla pudding, pumpkin puree and spices, with a soft graham cracker base, mixed with clingy caramel and crunchy pecans that snapped under teeth.

Gentler put a paw on Fear's shoulder. “Fear I'm proud of you. You've become the hero I always wanted to be, and I see only good things in your future. I believe in you. You've saved my hometown.”

Fear stared at Gentler for a moment, his fork dropping out of his telekinesis and clattering on his plate. Before after a few moments he picked it up and continued stuffing his face, throwing all sense of manner out to the wind.

Most Abyssinians would eventually know what Fear had done, and like usual Fear would proclaim that anyone who worked hard enough could do it. With all the sincerity of a pony who believed in the goodness inherent within all hearts.

That night, Luna couldn't help but compare Fear to Twilight one more time, complimenting him on being just as smart as her. Fear, as usual, didn't feel comfortable with it, but accepted it anyway. His stubborn will was finally giving in.

If everyone wants to see me in all this positive light, who am I to tell them otherwise? Whether they're wrong or not doesn't matter. And maybe... they're not wrong. I've been working really hard.

Saway was a mess of laughter, and Nyx congratulated Fear on convincing the Abyssinians to spare their enemy.

Fear wanted to think of himself as special, but he knew down that road laid ruin. Sure he'd attained something not many others could, and that made him great. But anyone could attain it too. He was sure of that. It wasn't something he was born with. He had just been lucky, and his hard work had given birth the opportunity to prove himself in successive ways. The zebras might not’ve been at their strongest from not fighting magic users for decades, but that was okay.

What experiences would his next journey, fighting the satyrs, provide him with?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl-2dKTJNDU

I intended for Fallen Caesar style to be a combination of krav maga, monkey style, and judo. But that ended up not working out because no matter what happened... Fear never gave an opening for me to exploit to show off what the zebras could do. Fear made the first move once so the krav maga aspects couldn't exactly be used against him, instead he was constantly reacting to their movements and letting them lead the dance until his final move. He was also too flexible and had shadow walking, so no matter how many limbs the zebras used, they were incapable of keeping up. And Fear ended up not only hitting pressure points in order to make his moves easier, but also used judo himself.

Gayvid asks Vivid Daylight: How do others see you?

Vivid Daylight: I'm seen as a stranger most often. It's irregular to be an equine in Abyssinia, but there are some of us around! You can always tell which ones aren't from here because... well. They have that air about them. My family more or less loves me. We sometimes get into arguments because I can't stick with a talent even though I do have a day job, but they accept me in the end. It just gets a little unnerving for them because they want what's best for me. As for siblings, I don't have any. I have a coltfriend, though he's an Abyssinian. I'll probably adopt if I have any children in the future. It'd be nice to see what's outside of Panthera. Maybe my real talent lies in traveling? I don't know. My boss sees me as a hard worker and while he doesn't pity me, he does sympathize with my efforts.

BR asks the squad: What tattoos would you get and why, if you could?

Fear: A snake and holly tattoo based on the cover of my old Tormented novel. In dark blue and pale blue ink, all of it winding around each other in an oriental design. There is a me out there who has gotten this tattoo while staying a few days in Friendship City. From what I understand the mare who does the art is very kind and likes to talk a lot while she works. Maybe I'll copy the me who got one and get it on my right foreleg when I go there in the future?

Faith: I do have a tattoo. It's on the inside of my right hind thigh. It's a little rose. I didn't put much thought into it, but the girls and I dared each other to all get something to remember the city by for whenever we left, and that was mine. I like nature, and I like a rose's thorns. It's a reminder to creatures who go down there not to mess with me, because if they patronize me they'll get bucked in the face.

Gentler: I've never been a big fan of tattoos. But if I had to get one? Hmm... I'd choose a school of fish all clumped together forming one giant fish. Stereotypical I know, but I feel like it represents the whole of Equus coming together and making one larger individual. Who said I couldn't be sappy?

Acrid: Uhh... I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I did almost get one years ago. A few friends and I were joking about showing our loyalty to Equestria by getting anti-zebra wartime tats. I ultimately chickened out. However... after seeing Fear, and hearing his response during our chats out in the wastes. I think I'd like to get a tattoo of a planet with a metal chain around it to represent unification. I'd probably get it on the side of my neck or the back. It'd represent my nature, my past, and it'd represent my future.

Amelio: A tattoo hmm...? I do not know. I did not think I would ever taint my body in such a way, I felt like my cutiemark was all the tattoo I ever needed. However, I would get one to mimic Fear's if I had to. One on my left foreleg of an eagle surrounded by white poppies. maybe carrying them. Success and peace equally, because for me: peace leads to success. And the poppies would lead to the eagle's flight.

Sim: I'd get a tattoo representing every single play I've done, but I don't actually need a permanent one. I can just transform my body to carry them. Though... in reality I'd never get a permanent one, not even a hidden one. I can't risk marring my body for when I'm on stage. My body is meant to convey a character, not myself. So I need to be clean whenever I'm up there in front of an audience.

Storm: Hmm... I'm not sure? Probably one of my son's face. Yes, that sound appropriate. I'd get his glowing eyes tattooed on me somewhere, maybe on my right shoulder, because he's my right hoof son. I'd probably also get one of Amelio's elliptical eyes on my left shoulder, because she's my closest daughter. I've seen my alternate son with Typhoon Tune and alternate daughter Linebreiker, both in the wasteland and in wartime Equestria. I'd probably get one of them too, for those of me who cared for him. But tattoos are very timeline specific things for me.