My eyes were shut tight as the loud crack of the lashing whip sounded, and I stifled a scream as it connected, almost directly across this time, with my back. I clenched my teeth and groaned, but toughed it out. I'd been through worse. Oh so much worse. I stumbled as the whip lashed again, striking me in the head this time, as the tip shot ahead of me, and struck the flank of the pony in front of me. I stumbled, and fell, knowing that my life was about to get a whole lot worse.

“Get up, Whiplash!” A mocking, yet sneering voice barked, as the whip practically wrapped around my throat, and pulled me to my feet. It unraveled, and retreated. I coughed up some blood, and resumed moving. I burned with hatred, remembering for the umpteenth time my nickname of 'Whiplash'. Nopony knew my true name, and I was no exception. My parents had die din the third resistance, slaughtered by his men. They never even got to give me a name. So I was simply called Blank for many of my younger years, until after somehow earning more lashings than Anypony else in this wretched settlement, I had been named Whiplash, for being able to not only earn the most, but also survive the most.

Even my superiors commented on my constitution, and my tolerance for pain. It always gave me some sort of smug satisfaction when one of them spoke to me in a tone that didn't demand something. A compliment. I'd had so few of those in my life that I cherished each and every one.

“Pick up the pace, you lazy slacks! He's wanting this shipment delivered pronto!” Hopelock shouted to the line of chained ponies pulling the massive cart across the Everfree plains. I glanced up, and spotted a river off in the distance, and past it, I saw the one place that i wished I could go to. The castle of the pony sisters, a safe haven for those seeking refuge from him. I yearned so much to try and get there, to use my magic to break the chains binding me, and charge for the warmth and sanctuary of the resistances walls. But I knew I couldn't. Ponies were forbidden to look at the place, and I realized that too late.

“Eyes forward!” Hopelock snapped, and the whip lashed across my back, and magic yanked my head forward. None of this was fair! How could we be treated like this? Who could possibly cause such pain and agony with so little care? What thing? I glared my head in the opposite direction from the inviting castle, and spotted it. It was a truly law-of-nature defying place. The upside down towers, the green fire, the floating rocks, and the throne in the middle, surrounded by bat-winged ponies. It was miles away, and I'd only ever been close to the place ONCE in my whole life. But that was enough for me.

His seat of power. It was forever etched into my mind, a reminder of the fact that any resistance was futile. He was essentially a god, and nopony who had tried to stand up to him had lived for very long. That is, if you don't count being reduced to a mindless zombie-like shell of your former self as being alive. I know I don't. I heard a cry of pain from behind me. It was from a filly. I didn't look. Such an image might spawn me to act, which would only end with me being killed, or worse.

I ignored it, despite the cries slowly dying down to a dull gurgle, and then disappearing under the sound of hooves on soil. A single tear rolled down my cheek, and I have to fight to keep from screaming with rage. Another innocent lost... Because nopony wanted to act. I wanted to... But I knew that alone I would be utterly useless. I closed my eyes once again, as the whip cracked above my head, and struck home.

<><><><><>

“Are you sure your OK?” Spike asked nervously. It was nearing evening, and Twilight was still digging through her books.

“I'm fine, Spike. I'm just making sure I've covered all of my bases before I take off.” Twilight said, double checking her notes for the eighth time, and comparing them to the book floating in front of her.

“Twilight, you've been digging through these books for hours now. Shouldn't you stop for a rest?” Spike persisted. It was clear to him that Twilight was rattled, and more then a little curious.

“I'll be fine. I've just got to compare this last thing, and then I'm off.” Twilight assured, smiling slightly. Spike didn't look or even remotely feel convinced, but knew it was fruitless to argue with the obsessive Unicorn. Finally, after almost ten more minutes in silence, Twilight humphed in affirmation. “Alright, I think I've gotten all I can for now Ill check more later.” With that said, twilight headed for the door. Spike watched her go, concern growing more and more evident in his expression.

Twilight continued down the streets, taking in the sights as she went to the local hospital. She was hoping to get an audience with the newly arrived green stallion, and if not that, then at least ask the nurses about him. Who knows, maybe they'd have dug up some good information while she was researching the magical phenomenon. Soon the two story white building came into view. She entered through the front doors, and went to the front counter.

“Hello, miss Twilight. How can I help you?” The mare behind the counter asked.

“Hello. I was wondering If I could see a patient, if hes well enough.” Twilight said.

“What's his name?” The mare asked.

“I actually don't know. He's the one that fell out of the sky, if all evidence is to be believed.” Twilight said, adding a skeptical tone onto the last part of her sentence.

“Green coat and brown mane?” The mare asked, a hit of surprise in her voice.

“Yes, please.” Twilight affirmed.

The mare flipped through a few sheets of paper, making a light humming tone as she went. Finally, she made an 'Aha', and looked to Twilight.

“Sorry, dear. I'm afraid he isn't well enough. He isn't even conscious.” The mare said, a hint of pity entering her voice. Twilight winced.

'Oh... Well, OK. When he's well, just let him know that I was looking for him.” Twilight settled with that response after a moment. The mare nodded, a warm smile crossing her features.

“Of course.”

<><><><><>

The green stallion slowly creaked open his eyes. Light was the first thing he was aware of. Bright light. He let his eyes adjust, and cycled through his memories while he did so. OK, there had been a battle, biggest one in history if he recalled. Two sides, chaos and freedom, fighting it out for dominion over the ponies. He paused and took a moment to remember his name. As soon a sit came to him, a whole slew of other memories struck him. Whiplash, that was his name, and it haunted him. The many lashes of the whip... And those eyes... Oh mercy those horrible eyes, yellow with red iris' and pupils, digging into ones very soul.

Whiplash had only ever seen them once, and the image was still burned vividly into his memory. He shuddered, and focused back on his surroundings. He was in a bed, in a brightly lit, clean room with the bottom half of the walls being white, and the upper half green. Medical supplies(at least, Whiplash assumed as such, based on the red cross above his door) littered a series of counters and tables along the edge of the room. He tried to move, only to realize that his neck was restrained. A spike of fear wet through him.

“Hello?” He croaked. His voice was quiet, but loud enough he hoped for somepony to hear. He waited for some form of reply, but got none. His sense of nervousness began to grow. He tried to focus his magic, but came up empty hoofed. Not even a shimmer from his horn. He lay still, and listened. After what felt like ages, his ears perked up at the familiar sound of talking. The voices were drawing closer. Soon, he was able to pick out words amongst the sentences.

“...His condition is improving, we just need...”

“But what about...”

“...Should be fine.”

The door suddenly opened, and three ponies walked in. all three were wearing white coats with red crosses on the front. “So, does he need- Oh, you're awake!” the lead pony, a tan stallion with a black main said in surprise. A white mare with a red mane smiled warmly. “Hello.” Whiplash slowly nodded.

“Hi... Where am I?” Whiplash asked cautiously.

“The Ponyville hospital.” The tan stallion said. Hospital? What the hay was a hospital? Whiplash felt a spike of panic, but forced it down quickly.

“Ok... Um, what's a hospital?”

The three ponies stared at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion. Finally, the until now silent pony, a mare with a yellow coat and a pink mane spoke. “Well... A hospital is a place of healing, and recovery. Wounds are treated, as are all other manners of ailments.” She said softly. Whiplash visibly relaxed to this. He sighed with relief. Then he began to wonder; Ponyville? Where was that? He hadn't seen it on any maps.

“Uh, where exactly is Ponyville?” he asked, hating himself slightly for likely sounding like a total moron.

“Ponyville is just off of the Everfree forest.” The tan stallion said after a moment.

“Everfree forest? Don't you mean plains?” Whiplash asked.

“No, I mean the forest. It hasn't been a plain for over eight hundred years.” The stallion said. “Now, ma yi have your name?”

“W... Whiplash.” Whiplash said quietly. The stallion nodded as he took a seat next to Whiplash on a stool he hadn't noticed.

“Right, Whiplash... I'm going to ask you a few routine questions. All I want are honest answers. Is that OK?” Whiplash slowly nodded as his response. The stallion cleared his throat. “First off... What is the last thing that you remember?” The stallion asked.

“I... I was running from something. There was a battle going on, and I got caught in the crossfire. An explosion hit me, and now I'm here. It's all fuzzy, so I couldn't tell you much more than that.” Whiplash explained.

“Hmmm... Alright. What's your hometown?” The stallion asked.

“Hometown?” Whiplash echoed. He thought for a moment, and finally decided to proclaim he didn't have one. “I... I don't have a home...” He finally uttered.

“Ok... Any relatives we can contact?” The stallion asked?

“None that are alive.” Whiplash said.

This carried on for quite some time. Finally, it ended with the stallion telling him that the towns librarian, Twilight sparkle had requested to see him when he was well and able to move. They brought him some food, which he happily ate, even if he was in too rotten of a state to bring it to himself. Being fed by unicorn controlled spoon, he was finally left to get some rest. With a mind and body that were both physically and emotionally wrecked, he retreated inside of his thoughts, which soon dissolved around him into the peaceful silence and trance of sleep.