A Knight and His Armor: Chapter 1 [PiE]

>The soft dirt sinks beneath your heavy boots as you walk down empty road.

>Fog forms as your heavy breath escapes your helmet’s visor, distorting your vision slightly.

>The weight from your armor was starting to get to you; you’ve been walking for hours now without rest.

>Fire rages across rooftops while bodies layer the floors.

>Men, women, children, stallions, mares, foals: There were no exceptions in this battle.

>You look down at your companion and shake your head.

>“It looks like we’re too late. This place is already in ruins and I doubt there’s a single living soul here,” you say with a disheartened sigh.

>Shining Armor looks around with an irate expression.

>“Whoever is responsible for this has to stopped. This is the third village within a month that’s been attacked.”

>Crossing your arms, you take a deep breath and nod.

>It would be easier said than done to find these guys, especially since you’ve never seen them.

>Every time you made it to a town that has sent a distress signal, it was already too late.

>It would be a lot faster if you could teleport, but due to your size, Shining wasn’t able to take you both.

>Sending him alone to hold them off was a suicide mission.

>A wood board cracks, gearing your attention to the small house next to you.

>Instinctively, you draw your blade and raise your shield, turning towards the source of the noise.

>Shining’s horn begins to glow, ready to strike. A mare’s head pokes out from behind the building.

“Keep your guard up, this could be a trap,” you whisper to Shining. He rolls his eyes and snorts.

>“You think I don’t know that?”

>You give him a deathly glare and turn back to the mare.

"Come out, everything is alright now. We were sent to help."

>The mare cautiously peeks and steps out from behind the structure.

>She looks around, mainly eyeing the sky.

>"I-is it gone?" she stutters, slowly making her way to you.

>Her mane looks charred and her coat is in a complete mess.

>Sheathing your sword, you throw a glance at Shining who looks just as confused as you.

"Is what gone?"

>She takes one more look around the sky and returns her gaze to you.

>"The dragon."

>Your heart sinks at the creature's name.

>Dragons were rare and they never trailed into human and pony territory.

>They knew better than to start trouble with the two; it would only lead to problems.

>The mare's eyelids close as she loses concious and falls to the ground.

>Shining's horn ceases it's glow as he jumps forward and catches her in his forelegs.

>He looks up at you with a concerned look.

>"If a dragon is really attacking these towns, then we have a serious problem on our hands."

>Lifting the visor from your helmet, you scratch your chin.

"Yes, and if we don't take care of it quickly, it'll keep up these attacks."

>You look down at the mare in Shining's forelegs.

>She's still breathing; it seems shock is what got to her.

"You should have a problem getting her back to a safe place?"

>He carefully lays her down on the ground and glares at you.

>"Why do I have to be the one to carry her back? Are your arms and legs broken or something?"

>You sigh and point at his horn.

"You can teleport. It'd make it easier and faster for you to get her there."

>His face turns red from embarrassment.

>"I can only go so far with it."

>Cover your face with your hand, you groan at his insolence.

"And you'd still cover more ground than me in no time. All you have to do is get her to nearest town. I'm not asking for much."

>Shining grumbles as he takes the mare and places her on his back.

>His horn gives off it shiny aura before he disappears with a pop.

>You take a seat down on a pile of planks and hang your head.

>He's a good soldier, but he's much too stubborn.

>Ever since the portal to Equestria was found, the ponies have been flowing in nonstop.

>It was strange: You had not expected humans and ponies to cooperate so easily with each other.

>They came right in and made peace immediately.

>Since then you've been working alongside them as brother's in arms.

>... or hooves.

>Whatever, you get the idea.

>Scanning the area, something catches your attention.

>A herd of sheep continue to graze not too far off from the town border.

>When a dragon usually attacks an area, they have a tendency to take the livestock for feeding as well.

>Why were these sheep still here then?

>Your heart sinks as a giant shadow over overlaps the small town.

>Slowly, you turn your head to look at the source of the blackout.

>A giant dragon that was easily the size of a castle flies overhead, staring directly at you.

>Its red scales gleam in the sunlight, giving its menacing crimison shade added flare.

>You sit still, hoping it doesn't notice you and moves on.

>Dragons aren't entirely smart.

>If something remains immobile, it'll loose interest rather quickly.

>You're only one man: Going against a full grown dragon was just a stupid idea.

>Its head cocks as it gazes down on you, trying to figure out what you are.

>Sweat slowly rolls down your face as you continue this staring contest.

>You can feel your heart drop down to your stomach as a familiar pop erupts behind you.

>"She's going to be—"

>Shining's words are cut short once he notices the situtation.

>The dragon rears it's head back and lets out a might roar the echoes throughout the valleys.

>Springing into action, you start running to the closest piece of shelter possible.

"Run!" you scream as Shining stares at the dragon in shock.

>He shakes his head and catches up with you as the dragon jumps up and spreads its wings.

>The dragon's mouth slowly opens, aiming directly for both you and Shining.

>Grabbing the stallion, you throw yourselves behind a building for cover.

>Flames spew all angles, emitting a massive wave of heat around you.

>The fires stop for a moment as the dragon roars, shaking the very foundation of the building you were using for cover.

"You have some impeccable timing," you joke, closing your visor as you pull out your blade.

>Shining watches as you stand back up and unlatch your kite-shield from your back with a look of horror on his face.

>"You can't be serious?! You're going to try and fight that thing?"

"What else am I going to do? Run away? That thing can cross mountain in the time span it takes me to walk down the road. And besides, they have a high resistance to magic," you say with a shrug.

>Shining stands up gives you a bewildered look.

>"You're insane! We can't die! Not like this!" he yells, stomping his hoof down on the ground.

"Listen, I know you have a wife, so I'll understand if you want to back out from this. There's no poin—"

>Something lifts you up and throws you against the wall.

>Shining's horn glows as he brings his face to yours, with a grin plastered on his lips.

>"And live with the burden knowing that one of my brothers died before me? I don't think so. If you're going to fight, so am I."

>A smirk works its way onto your face as his magical grip loosens.

>You put out your fist and bump his hoof.

"We live as warriors, we die as heroes."

>You stand back up and take a deep breath.

>This was going to be on hell of a fight.