-Scare Tactics-

        The cold fog drifted around the arid landscape, the air thick and hard to breath. The sound of dripping water drifted through the air and bounced against Rainbow Dash’s ears.

        She didn’t remember how she had gotten to the strange place, her mind felt sluggish and clouded, she could barely even think. Her eyes drifted around the fog, trying to find some sort of landmark to lock onto. Her legs shook despite her efforts to remain still, and her breath was quickening.

        There was something very wrong about the quiet of the strange place, her eyes darted faster and faster around her. Then she froze, a sound like grating stones permeated the air, the low growl of a predator.

        Rainbow Dash’s limbs froze in fear, every muscle locked as she tried to locate the sound after it had stopped. Her heart was beating in her chest like a mad drummer, too fast and too loud. She jumped when the sound came again, joined by a second deeper one.

        Voices, just audible whispers, drifted through the air like the ever present fog, being heard over the growls. She couldn’t even hear what they were saying. Snarls echoed through the fog, the sound of some beast issuing a challenge.

        The voices rose, only just, and she began to make out words in them.

        “This one...cold...die like the other...”

        “Beast...deadly genes...regret...fear...”

        The voices went on, becoming more and more frequent. They rose up from the air around her, urgent to be heard in their obscure warnings. The urgency increased, the snarls turned to roars of rage.

        The ground vibrated around her feet. She looked down at the tracks she stood upon. Had those been there before? The sound of a train whistle, loud and getting louder.

        The vibrations were getting more and more intense, the whistle sounded again. She turned to look down the tracks, a train was pushing it’s way through the fog at a pace that could have put her to shame.

        She was frozen, stuck to the tracks as the train approached. Her own body was working against her, she couldn’t move from the unwavering path of the metal battering ram hurtling toward her. The whistle sounded again.

        The train filled her vision, she couldn’t look away.

---

        Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, not even caring that the sunlight burned into her retinas. She wouldn’t dare return to the nightmare, even as the details started to fade. She let out a shaky breath, and jumped at the sound of the train whistle.

        “We’re almost at our stop, Rainbow Dash.” A deep voice told her, originating from just behind and above her. A gentle hoof rested on her shoulder.

        She was laying down across the seat, facing out toward the rest of the car. Her head rested on something soft and thick. The train car stretched out before her, and the light of the late afternoon sun flowed into the windows of the car.

        She lifted her head from the pillow it rested on, and turned to look at the rest of the car. Her head had been resting on a folded cloak. It rested neatly folded on top of Coalback’s knees, who sat in a reclined position. His back was straight, his wings folded against his sides. He almost seemed natural in the position, somehow.

        Her head had been laying across his legs, supported by the soft fabric of his now slightly crumpled cloak. His greenish eyes were trained on her, watching with concern.

        “Are you okay, it looked like you were having...” He paused for a moment to find his words. “an intense dream.” He finished, trying to emulate her type of speech. She smiled, a mask of confidence falling over her inner fear.

        “Please! I’m fine, it was just a stupid dream.” She looked around, as if another topic would be hidden amongst the decorum of the nearly empty train car. “So, uh, how long was I out?” She asked finally settling on something generic to change the topic.

        “About an hour. The train is ahead of schedule, and we will be in Ponyville momentarily.” He said, copying the train conductor’s words. She chuckled at that, bringing a small smile from Coalback himself.

        She hopped off the seat and did a few stretches, making sure she didn’t get a cramp from sitting so long. Coalback unfolded his cloak and draped it over himself again, pulling up the hood once they began to near the station.

        Rainbow Dash jumped up, hovering with her wings as she pulled down her lightweight travel bag. It had been packed for her, the other WonderBolt Trainees had left her stuff for her. Coalback looked out the window, his head never moving as the other ponies gathered their things.

        “Get your bag, Coalback. I want off this train as soon as we pull in.” She said, drawing his gaze away from the window, the train station slowly pulling up beside the train as it came to a stop.

        Coalback stood and leaned up on his hind hooves, pulling the bag he had brought with him down. His height allowed him to take it without having to stretch nearly at all. He came back down, the bag’s handle clutched in his strange teeth.

        Rainbow turned around, seeing the rest of her friends already moving toward the doors on the station side of the train. She trotted over to meet with them, bringing herself into the conversation as she did. Coalback followed, his tall bulk a reassuring presence behind them.

        They exited as soon as the train doors opened, walking onto the wood platform. The small, familiar buildings of ponyville surrounded them. It felt like home.

        Coalback exited shortly after them, putting his bag on the ground. His motions seemed more carefully measured than usual, and she was still looking toward him when a new voice called.

        “You six! Hold it right there!” The voice was male, but not particularly intimidating. Although with the way the voice seemed to be toned, it was meant to be.

        She turned toward the new voice, as well as the rest of her friends. The voice originated from a unicorn stallion, his purple mane blowing in the light breeze contrasting with the blue of his coat. He approached them with his eyes narrowed, his mouth twisted into some sort of satisfied smirk. The rest of his body was concealed in a black cloak.

        Behind him, four others walked. Another unicorn followed near the front of the group, his hood folded strangely over his horn. Two bulkier forms walked just behind him, eagles claws digging at the dirt as they walked. And behind them all, a huge hulk of mass towered.

        The strange and varied group approached with confidence in their steps. The six of them took a short step back, realizing they had been pinned between the approaching group and the train.

        “Surrender yourselves and the Elements!” The leading unicorn commanded, his voice dripping with venom. “Or we burn this town to the ground, and you six with it!” His ultimatum presented, he paused. His eyes dragged hungrily over the mares, like a hungry pony in a buffet line.

        Rainbow Dash had recovered first, and was about to put the stallion in his place. But Coalback’s voice cut through the air with the subtlety of a charging elephant.

        “Girls, inside the station. Now.” His voice was loud and commanding, putting the girls into motion toward the station before they registered an argument against it.

        “I find your proposal interesting,” Coalback said, approaching the lead stallion whom stood several paces in front of his companions. “Allow me to make a counteroffer.”

        Coalback moved so fast that there was a crack like a bullwhip as he connected with the other stallion. His right hoof extended into a locked and extended position, as the stallion simply left the ground. His single strike had launched the stallion over his companions and onto the ground behind them.

        Coalback’s hoof returned to the ground, he squared his stance. His wings moved forward under the cloak, pulling it off in a swift motion to let it fall to the ground. His armor gleamed in the late afternoon sun, throwing stray rays of light onto the ground around him. He had replaced the helmet on his head inside the train, fully encasing himself inside the intricate metal.

        The group reacted only a moment later, the griffons throwing back their own cloaks and bringing to bear some sort of crossbow. The other unicorn threw back his hood, wielding his orange horn with precision as it charged up with a fiery red aura. The last of them stood still, perhaps he was confident in his compatriots.

        They fired in synchronisation, the magical strike followed shortly by a barrage of crossbow bolts. Coalback pulled a shield covered wing in front of him, waiting the short moment for the strikes to hit. Rather than connecting with a violent explosion, the magic simply washed off him like water.

         To a normal pony, the magical blast might have been deadly, but Coalback had a few more tricks than that. If anyone had been listening carefully, they would have heard Coalback’s mumblings just before it hit. But he had no time to recover as the fast flying bolts quickly followed.

        He couldn’t simply wait for them, he had to move fast. He could feel adrenaline in his veins as he moved, sharpening his senses and speeding his actions. His wing changed position, the first bolt connecting with the metal shield and embedding in it. His other wing shot up and slapped the next bolt from the air. He began his advance, the griffons already reloaded and the unicorn preparing another magical attack.

        He barely registered his surroundings now, the power of the Wolf filling his limbs and narrowing his perception to only what was necessary. The next bolts flew toward him, he deflected the first off his helmet. The second imbedded in his chest plate, but not going through fully.

        Coalback reached the unicorn first, his throat vibrated with the roar that escaped it. He connected with him, not even bothering to allow him to retaliate. His wings spread wide as he put his full weight into the strike. He could feel his hoof connect with the orange pony’s neck, vaguely. The neck snapped instantly, the unrestrained magic that he had been gathering spreading forth in a ribbon-like explosion of light.

        Coalback continued his momentum, using it to knock the crossbow from the nearest griffon’s grip. It reacted almost as fast as it happened, the griffon reaching out to scrape it’s talon’s on Coalback’s helmet.

        He ducked under, bringing his wing forward to connect with the griffon’s stomach. The other griffon threw away his crossbow, opting for a club at his side. Coalback could feel the change before it even happened, his instincts taking over as he rolled.

        The heavy club impacted the ground where he had been only a moment before. The other griffon was faster however, it tackled Coalback in the middle of his roll. They struggled on the ground, talons and wings flying in a blur. The other Griffon prowled around them, waiting for his companion to finish off the pony clad in metal.

        Coalback had the advantage, in his armor he was heavier than the griffon and was able to use his greater weight in his leverage. He rolled on top of the heap, the griffon’s exposed neck just in front of his head. In an instant he was on it, the clasp holding closed the armor’s muzzle-like front broke as he opened his mouth wide.

        The metal acted as his teeth did, ripping flesh and tearing meat. He clamped his teeth down on the powerful neck in front of him, and he felt the carotid artery burst under his tongue. The griffon’s blood flowed into his mouth, he tasted the life draining from the griffon under him.

The tables had turned in just moments, and he was now down to one griffon and the other hooded group member. He rose from the tangle of limbs, blood dripping from the dying griffon’s throat and his own mouth. The second griffon, looked at him with horror in his eyes. He clutched at his club like it was a raft in this, the river of chaos.

        “P-paholainen!” He yelled, his native tongue stuttering in his panic. Coalback didn’t let him say anything else.

        A knife protruded from the griffon’s throat, he threw it fast enough to pierce through to the back. Blood dripped from his beak and neck as he choked.

        The other of the group was staring at Coalback, but it’s cloaked figure revealed nothing. Coalback stood in a crouched position, ready to attack or run should he need to. The griffon fell over, his last gurgling breath coming out slowly.

The staredown went on for what seemed like hours to him, he didn’t dare move. With as much bulk as the thing had, it could probably flatten him in a moment’s notice. It rolled it’s shoulders, the cloak coming undone at the front and falling around it. It’s over all shape was very near to a minotaur's, Coalback could remember pictures of minotaurs from school.

        But this thing was nothing like those pictures. It was bipedal, with legs like a bull’s, bent back and ending in a split hoof-like shape. It’s skin was some sort of leathery padding, resembling a shaved bear more than a lizard. The most jarring difference was the head, it was tall and split down the middle by a vertically opening beak. It’s compound eyes stared forward at him, no emotion at all in their fragmented gaze.

        It was the strangest thing Coalback had ever seen, and he had seen some strange things. It opened it’s beak, the head practically splitting in two as it did, and let out a long hiss. Inside the mouth of the thing he could clearly see the two large rows of teeth. They moved on their own, reminding him of an eal. A pharyngeal jaw, if he remembered correctly.

        It jumped forward, the sudden speed surprising on the hulking thing. Coalback jumped out of the way, but the creature clipped his side as he went. And the creature just kept coming, swinging at him with it’s long muscular arms. Coalback was clipped again, his helmet being ripped free from his head.

        He couldn’t afford to be stunned by the blow, his mind raced as it fought the blunt trauma. Coalback reached under his wing, attaching a knife to his hoof and drawing it quickly. The creature lunged forward, a hiss leaving it’s beak as it opened wide. Coalback swung his arm, trying to land a blow of his own.

        The creatures beak closed down on his arm, Coalback’s hoof disappearing into its maw. The beak closed forcefully onto his arm, bending the metal around it. Coalback screamed, his arm being crushed by the beak of the hulking creature.

        It reared up, pulling Coalback with him into an arc. Its arm grabbed onto his back leg, dangling him in between its mouth and its arm. Teeth dug into Coalback’s arm, pulling on it with their own movement as the beak held his arm immobile. He could feel the creature slowly pulling, it was going to rip him in half if it succeeded.

        Coalback struggled, ramming the still attached knife into the throat of the thing holding him. It jerked, the knife sliding up into the roof of it’s mouth. Coalback could feel pulsing greymatter through his knife, and kept pushing it. He wrapped his other arm around the creatures head, like an alligator it lacked the strength to force it’s beak open.

        It redoubled its efforts to rip Coalback in half, but it was already too late. Coalback shredded bone and brain as he struggled within the creatures grasp. He felt a surge of his own strength, forcing the knife up and through the thing’s scull. The brain coming out in chunks after it, the creature jerked on last time and dropped onto it’s back.

        The creature was dead, and Coalback could feel his veins burning with rage. But he didn’t care. He pulled and struck at the still closed beak of the creature, he snarled and grunted as he struggled to get free. He eventually pried it open wide enough to slide his blood covered arm from the creatures beak, and fall to the ground next to it.

        Rage filled him, he could feel it driving him forward. He wanted, needed, to rip apart the bodies with his teeth. Drink the blood, gorge on the raw meat. Another growl cut through the air, he felt his eyes burning in the fiery hatred that filled him. He rose back to his hooves, ready to tear into the creature’s warm meat.

        Something rammed into his chest, halting his progress. He looked down, a growl crawling from his throat as he did.

        “Coalback, stop!” Rainbow’s voice called, he paused. He had not expected the tone in her voice. It was scared, desperate. “Calm down, Coalback! It’s okay, I’m here, you’re safe now!” Her hooves were wrapped around his neck and her face was pressed into his shoulder. There was something he was supposed to remember, it had to do with that voice.

        “Calm...” Coalback said, simultaneously feeling the burning of rage subsiding in his veins. “Safe...” He brought his head down, resting it on her shoulder, and let out a long breath. Oxytocin leaking into his blood, counteracting the adrenaline and Wolf’s blood in him.

        “Coalback?” Rainbow’s voice cracked, she was shaking slightly.

        “I’m okay, I just sort of...lost it there, for a second.” He had to force out the words, but he felt the buzz of adrenaline dying off with every word. And in that moment he remembered where he was, in the middle of a bloodbath at a busy train station.

        He stood straight again, eyes searching the ponies around him. He just had to wait, they would know what he was. Then they would get their weapons. Did ponies have guns? He was shaking now, rapidly looking from pony to pony. He felt his limbs tighten, preparing to run as fast as he could.

        “He just saved those ponies!” Someone yelled, their voice followed by the cheering of all the ponies present.

        Coalback balked, he had never been cheered for his...killing, before. Rainbow looked up at him.

        “That was amazing, Coalback. They just fell over when you got to them!” She said, the fear gone from her voice. “Are you okay?” She asked, not sure how much of the blood on him was his own.

        “I’m fine...why are they cheering?” He was completely confused, he was sure that his actions would have simply driven him onto the path that he was all too familiar with.

        “Those jerks have been terrorizing the town for the past week!” A pony cheered, his voice carrying over the crowd as he pushed through it to see better.

        Coalback looked over the ponies, their faces mixes of disgust and happiness. He must have done something right, as much as he doubted it.

        His ears perked suddenly, there had been five of them.

        He turned around, searching for the fifth stallion. His eyes rolled over him, just a few meters from the body of the beast he had killed. He pulled himself from Rainbow’s embrace and walked over to him.

        He put a hoof on the stallion’s neck, feeling for a pulse. He smiled slightly, still alive.

        “He’s alive.” He called, looking over his shoulder to Rainbow Dash. “Maybe we can get some answers from him.” He had switched directly back to his authoritative voice, not letting doubt seed it. “Someone clean up this mess!”

---

        The stallion was tied to a chair, his body in an upright position that looked slightly uncomfortable. His horn was in a clamp that Twilight had quickly put on him, explaining that it would render his magic useless. The basement below the library was well lit, and the walls covered in clearly labeled drawers. The floor had been cleared, a table set up in the center.

        Coalback had placed a small burner on top of the table, a hose leading away from it to the wall where the gas came in from. On the floor beside the empty chair was his smashed helmet, a useless lump of metal now. He walked slowly around to the unconscious stallion in the other chair, and spat in his ear.

        “GAH!! Why would you do that?” The stallion woke suddenly, rubbing his ear on his shoulder to try and rid himself of the intruding saliva. He stopped suddenly, his eyes opening wide.

        The six mares stood around the table, their faces set in scowls as they stared down at the stallion. He swallowed loudly, realizing his new predicament. Coalback walked calmly to the other chair at the table, across from the stallion.

        He had yet to clean himself of the blood on his muzzle and arms, his armor and fur stained crimson. He sat in the chair, taking his time before talking.

        “This is how this works; I ask a question, you answer it. If you lie to me, I will take the answers I need. Is this clear?” Coalbacks words came out calmly, matter-of-fact in every syllable. Several of the mares around him grew several shades paler, even taking a step back. The stallion swallowed again, a look of defiance overtaking his features.

        “I’m not afraid of you!” He spat, but before he could follow up Coalback moved. His hoof shot forward and pulled the stallion across the table, chair and all.

        “YOU STINK OF FEAR!” He yelled, his voice echoing in the small room. He let the stallion fall back into his previous position before continuing. “Perhaps you require some convincing, as to how serious I am. Twilight, light the burner, please.” He turned to the other mares.

        “You should leave, things are about to get...messy.” He said, three of the mares left. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie removed themselves from the room. But Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash stayed. Their gazes never wavered, Coalback nodded to them.

        Twilight lifted a flint spark lighter in her magic, turning on the gas as she worked it. The fire burst to life, collecting into a blue cone above the metal. Coalback pulled out one of the knives from under his wing, and placed it over the cone. He watched the fire shape itself around the sharp metal for a moment before turning back to the stallion.

        “Where I come from, terrorism is an act of war, and one of the more...punished...crimes.” He said, almost nonchalantly as he held the dagger over the flame. He reached up with his free hoof, pulling off the chest plate that still had a bolt stuck in it.

        He revealed his chest, pointing to a spot on it before speaking. “Do you see this tattoo?” He asked, the stallion looked.

        On the right side of his chest was a circle of scarred flesh, and in the center was a black mark. The mark had a ‘Y’ shape, but the line split it down the middle. Like the arms of a cross had been pushed upward. Above it was another tattooed symbol, this one an angular ‘n’ shape, similar shapes had been cut around the symbol in concentric circles leaving neat scars. It spread out into a complete ring of twelve, another half ring surrounding that one.

        “The center symbol is given to members of my blood when they reach adulthood. The others are given for each successful hunt, but I have repurposed them. Every one of these symbols in a circle represents a significant death that I have caused, I will never forget a single one.” Coalback motioned toward the circle of scars, there were eighteen of them.

He then brought his hoof over to the arm holding the knife, he pried off the mangled metal. His arm was revealed, it was covered in small cuts from where the teeth had sliced through the metal. The knife attached to his hoof was glowing a dull red now.

“Now that I am in another country, I feel it is time to start again.” His voice grew a tone darker, he moved his now unimpeded arm away from the flame. The knife glowed white hot, he pressed it against the left side of his chest.

It smoked, burning hair and flesh as he pressed it to himself. He grimaced, but did not move. His arm started to move, carving out a new symbol on his chest. The knife moved up and down, creating an ‘M’ shape with outer lines that were too long for a normal letter. When that symbol was done, he pulled away the knife and let the blood from his chest flow out slowly.

He moved the knife up, starting another symbol. Twilight had looked away, trying to block the nausea that she felt. Applejack stared in horror, her knees shaking slightly. Rainbow stood stock still, her mouth open in shock.

The stallion was in pure horror, his hooves shook, his head beaded with sweat, and every hair on his body stood on end. Coalback began carving the angular ‘n’s into his chest, two of them. By now the smell of burning fur, and searing flesh had permeated the room like a heavy cloud.

Coalback placed the still hot knife on the table, twisting his wrist to let it fall on the table. His chest had three new burned cuts in it, the knife had not fully cauterized them and they bled slowly.

“I do not need to ask you for the information I want, that is a formality. I do it out of courtesy, not because it is your privilege of choice.” His voice was low, his words laced with menace. “You will answer my questions, or I will rip them from your skull.” The stallion whimpered, the new smell of piss and sweat joining the cloud of foul smells.

“What is your name?” Coalback said, his first question coming out in a calm voice.

        “W-what?” The stallion stammered, he flinched as Coalback growled at him.

        “‘What’ is a rather strange name, even for a pony.” Coalback began tapping his hoof on the table.

        “R-Regal! M-my n-name is R-Regal Th-Thunder!” He said, stammering out the words quickly.

“Who are you working for, Regal?” Coalback’s voice had returned to a calm tone.

“T-t-th-they are from the south. B-b-but they don’t have a name!” He said, his voice rising in panic as he started to speak.

“Are there more of those things? The thing that walked on two legs.” Coalback said, his voice still equally calm.

“Y-yes! They have an army! There are hundreds of them!” He whimpered as Coalback’s stare intensified. “Their hive is to the south, they listen to their master only!”

“Who is their master?”

“I-I don’t know! I’ve never been told his name! B-but...there is war coming.” His voice changed suddenly, his body relaxing in calm. His pupils dilated, the blackness nearly overtaking his large eyes. “A war is coming, and our master shall receive his revenge.”

“Who is your master, Regal? Or am I still talking to Regal?” Coalback asked, his eyes narrowing. The stallion smiled, and when he spoke his voice had changed.

“My my, you are a clever one aren’t you. I had no idea you were strong and smart.” His voice was very different and held a mocking tone.

“Discord?” Twilight gasped, her voice low and surprised. But the stallion continued.

“A war is coming demon, and you stand in a position to profit from it.” The stallion’s smile widened until it looked almost painful.

“Who are you, what are your goals with this war?” Coalback said, his voice growing darker as he spoke.

“I want justice!” The voice snarled, the smile dropping in an instant. “I am the rightful ruler, the eldest of the royals! But when I took my proper seat of power I was betrayed!” The stallion foamed at the mouth, spittle flying across the table. “All of you damned ponies will suffer, you and your princesses!”

Coalback would have asked more, but the stallion jerked. His chest crushed itself with a sickening sound of breaking ribs and ripping muscles. The stallion had imploded as the presence that had overtaken him vanished. The three ponies stared in horror at the suddenly dead stallion.

“What in tarnation...?” Applejack said, looking in shock at the body still tied to the chair.

“How did-?” Twilight started, looking toward Coalback in the hopes that he had the answers to her questions.

“I should have foreseen this, I should have set up a circle around him. Then perhaps we could have kept him alive.” Coalback tapped the table as he thought.

“What are you talking about? What happened?!” Rainbow spoke up.

“An outside force, some demon or spirit, took his body. When it left, the body was drained of its magical energy. The vacuum caused the implosion.” He stated. “Greater forces are at play here, greater than originally estimated.”

“What do you mean? Did the princesses talk to you about this?” Twilight asked, in response Coalback nodded.

“She feared that there were ponies planning an attack of some sort. She said something about a spy network, but I did not ask about that.” He looked toward them. “These terrorists may not be the last, but from what the princesses told me this town should be clean of them. It’s too small for that, so they were outsiders.”

“Okay...okay.” Twilight said, thinking. “We should inform Princess Celestia of this, she will know what to do. We’ll have to help clean those...bodies...from the road.” She gulped, and turned toward the door. “I’ll go write her a letter, I’m sure I’ll have a response by the end of the day.” She left, the three ponies remained.

“Ah should go too.” Applejack said, her voice sounding a bit shaky. “Ah need tah check on tha farm. Y’all stop by sometime, Ah can get yah some apples for yer trouble, Coalback.” She nodded to the two of them, before taking her leave.

Coalback sat, staring at the body of the former terrorist. Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“Are you okay, Coalback? You were getting pretty scary, for a minute there.” Her voice shook, much to her annoyance.

“I’m fine, but the fact that there is terrorism spreading into a small town like this...it is frightening. And where there is one, there are many. This won’t be the first of attacks, and if their master knows who I am, then the attacks will only be more fierce.” Coalback turned to her, his face still covered in blood from the fight.

“But yes, I am fine. The cuts have already stopped bleeding.” He indicated his arms and chest.

“Good...um. Come on, you can stay at my house. Can you fly right now?” Her words were awkward in her mouth, but she had to do something for him.

“Yes.” He said, getting up from the chair. He gathered the pieces of armor he had taken off, and replaced a few where he could. The helmet remained off, completely destroyed during the fight. Then he gathered up the dead stallion, tossing the body over his back.

“What are you doing?” Rainbow asked, surprised he would even think to touch the corpse.

“There are a few things I need to do first...” Coalback’s trailed off, his thoughts overtaking him as he solemnly walked up the stairs.