Bound For Glory [PiE]

>You are the demigod, Anonymous.
>Your father deems it necessary for you to prove your worth to him, your rivals, and the world over.
>A quest you must embark upon to slay the hydra in the mountains separating the two nations of human and equine.
>Your Equestrian rivals also send a challenger for the glory of the kill.
>The goddess Celestia sends her chosen champion, the demigod known as Twilight Sparkle, to to out-do you.
>You are made aware of her significant power over you.
>However, her ability of flight is near useless in the high altitudes and cold temperatures of the snow-capped mountains.
>Her telekinesis should be weaker as well, but considering her skill and power, that's unlikely.

>You stand at the edge of the cloud city of the humans.
>You are dressed in a brilliant bronze chestplate and flowing crimson cloak.
>Your broadsword is sheathed on your back.
>The equine's equally impressive, but less heavenly city is separated by a large gap where the peak of the highest mountain down below points.
>Twilight Sparkle stands at the ready as well.
>She is dressed in nothing more than a purple cloak with her own insignia emblazoned on it.
>You superiors stand behind each of you.
>And with the ring of a massive gong of thunder from both sides, the two of you dive off the clouds to the Earth below.
>You each streamline your bodies to gain momentum as you race to hit the ground first.
>Twilight falls beyond the mountain range and out of sight.
>You continue your descent and, at the last possible second, flip yourself right-side-up and slam into the Earth in a kneeling position.
>The crust cracks and a small crater is formed.
>The shockwave kicking up dust and rocking the nearby landscape radiates out from your landing zone.
>A few moments later, the boom from Twilight's landing is heard as well.
>Picking yourself off the ground, you stare up into the sky, your eyes searching for a trail to the top.
>Plotting your route, you trudge off to make your kill before the purple witch snatches it from under you.

>Your armor and weapon does little to slow you down.
>After years of training with them and practically living your life in them, they have become one with you.
>The chestplate like a second skin by now and doesn't hinder your movement at all.
>The broadsword and extension of your arms to allow you to reach out and touch someone if need be.
>You never leave home without it and it's always on your back wherever you go.
>It's like a little puppy that feeds on the blood of your enemies.
>Kind of adorable, when you think about it.
>It has never done wrong by you and you keep it in top condition.
>You never know when an enemy will make himself known.
>Or when a monster needs slaying.

>You start out in a brisk run up the mountain.
>The trail you pick out winds to and fro and around the mountain as it climbs.
>Eventually, it becomes too steep to keep your pace.
>Heavy wind and snow make visibility next to none and ice makes your footing treacherous.
>The path quickly narrows.
>You find yourself hugging the wall as you go.
>Literally hugging it.
>You can't let harm come to your companion by letting it scrape against the jagged rock face.
>You come upon a small orchard of dead, withered trees.
>It's been hours, and you decide to take a small break.
>The snowflakes falls gently on your face as you look up the mountain.
>You really don't have much farther to go.
>The lair of the beast is within view from here.
>You haven't seen that pony Twilight since you leaped from the heavens.
>And you've been making great time.
>Now is the time to kick back for a few minutes.
>You'll need your strength for when you get to the top.

>The sound of hoof of rock catches you ears.
>You look around, but can't find nothing.
>Surrounded by cliffs on two sides, you turn your attention to up above.
>Twilight gets a running start for the gap separating the cliffs to the orchard where you sit.
>She jumps and gives one hard flap of her wings.
>The momentum carries her clear over the gap where she continues on her way.
>And now you're behind.
>You pick yourself up and push off, much more quickly now.
>There's no way you're going to let some miniature horse best you in a trial of strength, endurance, and courage.
>There's no time for planning as you slip through crevasses of solid ice and climb straight up and cliff you're physically allowed to.
>You occasionally spot Twilight hopping across the rock faces.
>Eye contact is made on several occasions, usually motivating a burst of strength and speed from each of you.

>Night starts to fall and if it wasn't dangerous enough to scale the mountainside during the day, it would be downright suicidal at night.
>Nevertheless, you push onward in an attempt to gain as much ground as possible over your adversary.
>Your final decision is made to find a hole in the rock face in which to camp for a few hours.
>A small fire is all you need to keep you warm enough for the night.
>Sleep only barely manages to come to you, and not nearly as long as you'd like.
>Thoughts of Twilight surpassing you haunt your mind as you lay in the dim light of your campfire.
>Come the morning, or at least you think it's morning, you're up and about and on your way once more.
>The foggy atmosphere and blistering cold winds make the climb difficult.
>You near the top, but you haven't seen Twilight since the night before.
>She better not have already-
>There!
>As you round the corner of a cliff face just beyond a crevasse from the hydra's lair, you spot Twilight coming around the other side, scooting along the inches-wide path.
>You're too late!
>Coming to the outside of the cave, Twilight looks it up and down before entering.
>You slam your fist on the cliff as you continue to make your way to the cave.
>Your only chance is if she fails to kill or find the hydra before you.

>It's been several minutes since Twilight entered the Hydra's cave.
>Peering inside reveals nothing.
>It's pitch black and the lack of sun does nothing to help your eyesight.
>Striking a torch, you hold it out before you and slowly make your way inside.
>The jagged and spiked rock formations on the cave floor and walls make it difficult to move quickly in this dim light.
>Except for the dripping of water to the ground, there's not a sound to be heard.
>You definitely should have heard something by now.
>The cave is deep and branches off into many more caverns.
>You could easily get lost in here, but you will eventually find your way.
>Picking a random path, you start marching, climbing over the spiked rocks.
>A deep roar is then heard from deep within the cave.
>It sounds close by.
>The sound of smaller explosions accents the roar.
>It sounds like your two adversaries have already engaged each other in battle.
>You dial in on where the commotion is emanating from and quicken your pace.
>The noise gets louder as you draw closer, and you spot brief flashes of light on the cave wall.
>Twilight's shadow appears briefly.
>A monstrous, three-headed creature also flashes across the stone wall.
>This is it.

>You race around the corner just in time to almost catch a full-force stream of fire from the hydra.
>You duck back behind the wall until it ceases.
>Peeking your head around the corner, Twilight is taking cover behind a rock in your direction.
>She looks up and your eyes meet.
>You throw your torch into the room to shed some light on the area.
>You draw your massive broadsword just as the beast decides to start stepping toward the two of you.
>Twilight sees your actions and won't stand for it.
>With new-found encouragement, she bolts from her cover and starts strafing the beast, casting fireballs as she runs.
>You jump out from your cover and rush the hydra with a mighty war cry.

>You engage one head in combat.
>Twilight distracts the other two.
>One snaps it's jaws at her and, when that fails, the second breathes another bout of flame.
>The beast is quick, despite it's size and apparent inability to move properly.
>You fight with all of your might, slashing at and parrying strikes from the singular head you're engaged with.
>A large gash is able to be made in the one head's throat, causing it to roar in agony.
>As it recoils from the strike, you quickly double up on it and get another swipe in.
>The head comes clean off and falls to the ground, shriveling up and disappearing.
>One down, two more to go.
>You waste no time in engaging the middle head.
>Unfortunately, this is the one that breathes fire.
>Without a shield for protection, you're forced to duck behind cover and strike only in between bursts when it can still chomp at you.
>As you're concentrating on the one head, you are broadsided by another.
>It takes a chomp out of your shoulder, but thank the Gods it's your bad one.
>You hadn't notice until now.
>Two more heads have taken the place of the one previously cut off.
>You are now in a fight against three heads at once.

>You hack and slash as they make strike.
>You're only able to parry most of them as they don't give you time to strike back.
>Finally, an opportunity presents itself and you drive you blade deep into the next of one of the new heads.
>The creature roars in pain and, withdrawing your sword, you take another head off.
>Again, the head grows back after several minutes and with yet another two.
>Five heads now occupy the body of this wretched beast.
>This is impossible.
>This creature is damn near immortal and the chances of it killing the two of you are significantly higher than when you first started.
>Twilight is having the exact same thoughts.
>The battle rages, and you're growing exhausted.
>You could still fight, but the demoralizing reality of your situation is impeding on your ability to stay alive.

>For the third time, you take the head off a neck.
>Twilight fires a successful series of fireballs at the one head you're fighting just as you cut it off.
>As you continue to fight, expecting a sixth head to take it's place, you take notice of something.
>The area where it should have grown back is glowing red, and then blackens into a crust.
>Several minutes go by and still the head does not grow back.
>You give a quick glance at Twilight and see that she notices the exact same thing.
>You may have just figured this out.
>With renewed vigor, you fight more aggressively.
>Twilight keeps a steady flow of fire attacks on the creature to both disorientate it and cauterize and heads you cut off.
>With the second head gone, your theory is cemented as strategy as the two of you begin to work together to fight this beast.
>The third and fourth heads come down, and the final one should be quick work.
>The hydra changes it's attack pattern when it realizes it may lose this fight.
>It retreats deeper into the cavern, blasting fire to cover it's escape.
>The two of you follow carefully.
>It knows this place better than either of you.
>The path splits; one going high, one low.
>Breaks in the wall allow visuals for the higher path to keep watch over the lower one.
>Seeing as Twilight has the ranged spells, that would be her best position.
>You ready yourselves and pursue the creature.

>It's hard to pinpoint where the hydra is.
>The acoustics of the cave resonate sound from all over so that its growls and roars come from all directions.
>You're relying on sight for this one.
>The growls from the beast keep you on edge and make you paranoid.
>It can jump out from anywhere and you're not about to let your guard down for a second to give it the opportunity.
>You eventually lose sight of Twilight completely, but trudge onward.
>Then you hear a roar, and explosion, then followed immediately by a shriek.
>That was Twilight's scream.
>You double back until you find a suitable face in which to climb up to Twilight's path.
>The fighting rages as you hurry to join the fray.
>A welcome sight is spotted when the light from the sun starts to break through the fog from outside.
>It's reflection off the snow illuminates much of the entrance, allowing you to move much more quickly.
>As you near the end of the cave, you spot Twilight get thrown into view and slides across the snow.
>She rights herself and fires off a fireball.
>The hydra also steps into view and strikes at Twilight.

>You take the opportunity of jumping on the hydra with it's back turned.
>Stabbing it repeatedly in the back.
>The beast throws you off and tries to hit you with a stream of flames.
>It burns your back as you move to find something to shield you.
>A transparent purple wall is conjured at your back, deflecting the flames away from you.
>It's gone as soon as the fire dissipates.
>The hydra, sensing your injury, saunters over to finish the kill.
>Three more fireballs strike the beast; one in the face.
>The hydra is, once again, distracted and allows you to find recover.
>As it turns around, though, it swipes you with it's tail, knocking you to the side and loosing your weapon from your grasp.
>The beast appears to have had enough of these games and charges straight at Twilight.
>Expecting another bout of fire and and not a rush, Twilight is caught by surprise.
>The hydra lunges at her and chomps hard on her hind leg as she turns to run.
>It flails her about for a bit before releasing her with a throw.
>Twilight tumbles through the air and slams into the ground.
>Her stunned body slides across the snow and nearly off the edge of the cliff.
>Half her body slips off.
>She kicks with her hind legs to find footing and weakly flaps her wings but to no avail.
>She's slipping fast and claws desperately with her forehooves for anything to save her life.

>As she was thrown from the hydra's mouth, you manage to pull yourself to your feet.
>You're exhausted, but watching her body hit the rock and slide off kicks your legs into high gear.
>You sprint over to her, reach down and swiping up the handle of your broadsword as you pass it.
>The hydra sees you going for Twilight and roars and it runs for you.
>Twilight slips from the ledge entirely and begins to free fall to the jagged ice and rock far before.
>You dive and slide across the snow, stopping yourself by lodging your blade into a nearby outcrop of rocks and reaching out and grabbing her leg.
>You stare into her big, purple eyes.
>Her face has the look of wonderment and confusion as to why you, her rival and competitor, saved her.
>She dangles precariously over the ledge and you struggle to pull her to safety.

>The hydra appears over you and lunges its jaws at you.
>Quick to react, you remove you broadsword from it's wedged position and slash the hydra across the throat in one mighty swing.
>The hydra recoils and lets out another shriek.
>The wound is deep and vicious.
>The only thing holding the neck on is its final layer of skin.
>The head comes back down in a final attempt to strike.
>With every last bit of strength in your body, you force the blade upright and into the mouth of the hydra.
>The blade clearly protrudes from the back and the hydra begins thrashing about in a hysterical rampage.
>It slams into the walls and whips its head back and forth, both from writhing and agony and to also try and dislodge the blade.
>With one final toss of its head, the blade slips out, sending it flying like a spear.
>One last mighty roar is given as the final bits of its flesh tears and drops the full weight of the head to the ground where it dissolves.
>After a long and grueling battle, and with no other heads to regenerate this one, the creature is at last dead.

>You let out a breath of relief when the hydra is put down for good.
>You remember Twilight is still hanging by your arm when she starts to slip from your grip.
>How you are even still holding on, you'll never know.
>Without the strength to physically pull her up, you settle for just swinging her side to side to build momentum.
>Twilight flaps her wings to help and eventually is able to get her hooves on the ledge to pull herself up with your help.
>She inspects the decapitated body of the hydra.
>Her quarry was lost, and she bows her head in defeat.
>When she looks at you to admit defeat and give thanks for saving her life, she gasps and covers her mouth with her hoof.
>Your broadsword, your lifetime companion, pinned you through the stomach to the rock below.
>The hydra had managed to hurl it just right in its final moments.
>You shudder at the feel of the cold steel in your abdomen is coupled with the howling wind and snow of the mountain.
>Killed by your own weapon.
>How ironic.
>Your mind races with the question of whether you are victorious for slaying the hydra, or a failure for dying.
>Would you be granted redemption for your heroics, or be damned a traitor for assisting the enemy?
>Twilight sits in silence and watches as a final smile graces your face.
>You let out a long, slow exhale as your final breath.

>Twilight sits alone on this barren mountaintop.
>After some time, she stands and turns toward the sky.
>The clouds part and the storm ceases.
>Two pillars of light shine down from the heavens.
>One casts its light over Twilight.
>The other enraptures your body.
>A featherweight feeling is felt by Twilight as she and your impaled corpse rise from the battlefield back into the heavens.
>When faced by both Celestia and your father, Twilight is not needed to explain the happenings.
>They witnessed everything.
>They know of your teamwork and of your self-sacrifice to save an enemy turned comrade.
>And for that, you're deemed a hero.
>With Celestia, Twilight, and various other ponies in attendance, your body is placed on a bed and marched down a line of soldiers standing at attention, one half pony, one half human.
>Your pallbearers are also mixed in race.
>Your body is gently placed upon a funeral pyre; two copper pieces placed over your eyes.
>With the touch of a torch, the pyre goes up in flames as both races watch in silent respect.
>With your human soul still very much intact, you are wished and blessed to live an existence of valor in the afterlife.
>With your epic quest behind you, you are finally laid to rest.