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// Welcome to the jungle there won't be fun and Games 
// Story: I think we're lost 
// by Poetic Brony 
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Arron wiped the sweat off his forehead. A jungle, he thought. Of all the places to hide something this important he just had to pick the jungle. I don't mind the outdoors but this humidity is killing me... lowering his map and compass he furrowed his brow. Wait I'm immortal now right so I guess it couldn't kill me. He frowned. So why does the heat still bother me!  

Arron shrugged off his discomfort and buried his face back into his map. He lowered it again, placed his compass back into the cargo pocket, stepped over several large ferns. He had to push the AR-15 that was hanging in front of him out of the way so he could take a seat on a fallen tree. Crossing his left leg over his right he placed the map down onto the make shift table and looked to the northeast, though he couldn't see anything beyond a few feet, the foliage was so dense. He sighed and began folding up the map. Taking off his black LL Bean backpack he opened the fist compartment to retrieve the age old journal. Stuffing the map inside the pocked in the back cover he closed it and put it back where he found it. 

"I've already been out here three days already and I still have a long way to go," he said with a sigh. Staring in the northeasterly direction he shook his head. "Hay, Arron," he said in a voice as close to Peter's as he could get. "You have a mission to fulfill, but don't worry it shouldn't be to hard for you..." He lowered his head and frowned. "Next time a godly messenger tells you to do something for them just say... no." 

Arron reluctantly got up from the log, hefted his backpack over his shoulders and continued on. He wasn't making much progress until he stumbled on something that resembled an almost discernible trail. If I had to hazard a guess, he thought. This was probably a road at one time. It's also the first real break I've gotten since I entered this damnable jungle! Shifting the wight of his backpack and tightening the straps he set off on the trail he hope continued in the direction he needed to go. 

He was very grateful that the trail though veering off to skirt some giant boulders and outcroppings it still was in the right direction though he did pull out his compass every now and again just to make sure. After another hour of hiking the trees that were really densely placed began thinning and just a few paces more and the trail widened enough so that three people could easily walk abreast of one another. 

Arron smiled, he looked up, covering his eyes as the sun's rays easily penetrated the great gaps in canopy above. He jerked his head to look at his left. Amidst the sound of all of the jungle creatures he heard something that he hoped he'd hear. He took off running, but he didn't have far to go when he found what he had heard. Quickly taking off his backpack he knelt at the river bed, using his hands like a cup he dipped them into the cool stream. Taking a tentative sip the crystal clear liquid instantly rejuvenated him when it touched his lips. 

It doesn't taste contaminated, he thought. I think I'd better fill my thermos while I'm here. Pulling out the plastic cylinder from the second compartment in his backpack. He unscrewed the lid, placing it in the water, filling it about a quarter way full before withdrawing it. He moved the thermos to slosh the water around inside a bit before tipping it over, emptying it and filling it and screwing the lid back on. 

That should do me for a while, Arron thought, getting back to his feet after pulling his backpack on. Looking up he shielded his eyes from the rays of the sun. Now that I have a clear path, a nice water source and with plenty of daylight left I should make up quit a bit of ground.  He smiled as he headed back to the trail. 

Arron followed the trial for several more miles before the light of the now waning sun made him stop. He truged through the more dense vegetation on his right to again find the stream that ran close to the trail. Several feet in and there was a nice even piece of dry ground that wasn't to far from the stream that was now more like a river. The flowing water was swifter than before and one could no longer wade across it was so deep in the middle he couldn't see the bottom anymore.

Setting his backpack down against a moss covered tree he unstrapped the tent, sleeping pad and bag that were rolled up under the backpack. When he had everything he thought he needed in a nice neat pile he unzipped the blue bag with the tent inside. The sun had all but vanished by the time he had his tent set up and had a fire ring lined with rocks near the river so there would be a good supply of water to put it out when he was done with it. There was a decent pile of dead logs, twigs and dried leaves to start the fire. 

When Arron was about to ignite the match to set the kindling inside the fire pit alight he noticed that the sounds of the jungle had ceased. Placing the match back inside the end of the survival knife he stood up, the moon was full that night and it's light lit up the river and bathed him in its soft glow. After he'd took in the look of his new surroundings he closed his eyes and concentrated. 

That's peculiar, he thought. The jungle should be teaming with night life, even back home there are nocturnal animals that come out to hunt and this place is more wild than anything we have back home in New Hampshire. So, why is the jungle so still? he frowned. "There are two possible reason," he said aloud. "One, there aren't any animals that come out at night... which is absurd, even Owlishious should have some jungle cousins or, two, something is scaring them so that they aren't making any noise." 

The second is probably the more accurate assumption, he thought. I wonder if my presence is distracting them... He folded his arms and pouted. Then why weren't all of the animals that were out during the day time not bothered by me?  Several birds even landed on a tree near me to take a look. They even whistled in response when I smiled and waved at them. If I'm not the one causing this then there's probably something else out there that's even more terrifying than me! 

Arron's frowned deepened, he reopened his eyes and looked around at the surrounding vegetation that went from amazing to creepy. That's all I need, he thought squinting into the dark recesses under the canopy. I run into a pack of timber wolves, or an Ursa Major... I don't think I'd be able to handle a minor let alone a major... then there's manticore, hydras and who knows what else!  He swallowed nervously and his hand went to the handle of one of his 1911s that hung from the double shoulder holster. A cold sweat broke out on his brow as every passing moment seemed to increase his sense of panic.  

There was a crispness mixed with the sent of rot, moss and decay. Now that Arron was on high alert it only increased his senses which wasn't helping matters. He tried looking in every direction at once, making several three-sixties he had enough. Arron closed his eyes took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds then slowly let it out through his nose. Now that he was much calmer he put his 1911 back into the holster and sunk to his knees. Clasping his hands tight he bowed his head and began to pray. 

"Dear God," he said in a humble whisper. "Please help me get through this jungle without injury. Please watch over all those I've left behind, let them know that I needed to do this alone, that this is my mission, my task, my responsibility. Give me the guidance and strength to fulfill the promises my ancestors made. In Jesus Christ name. Amen." 

I hope he heard my prayer, he thought, raising his head to the heavens. At least I feel better. He smiled as a warmth filled him. I guess my message went through. 

Getting to his feet Arron brushed the dirt off his knees and was about to ignite a match to light the fire, but a loud scream made him droop the match to the ground. Immediately he rushed over where his AR was leaning up against the tree closest to his tent. He picked it, flicked off the safety and waited. 

A lot of muffled growls and grunts mixed with words that couldn't be defined drifted through the trees, filling his ears.  Arron shut his eyes tight, took another calming breath and headed off into the brush where he thought the sounds originated. 

It wasn't long before he was back on the trail. The noise was ever more defined the longer he walked. Arron stopped and headed back into the jungle on his right. He had to really start watching his footing, attempting to keep his footfalls as quiet as he possible could. He knelt when he saw the flickers of firelight in between the jungle flora, though he couldn't see them he could definitely smell the diamond dogs even as far away as he was.   

I know Rarity said they were smelly, Arron thought with a wince. But, I didn't think they were this bad... and its only going to get worse the closer I get... its no wonder all of the animals fled! The smell made him think of the time when he helped his father run the family trash business. He couldn't help but smile when he jumped up inside the truck and became a human compactor. Sometimes I miss those days. He shook his head and continued on. 

Arron halted several yards from the diamond dog's camp. Climbing a really gnarled tree to get a better vintage point. Carefully unslinging his rifle he looked down the scope. He could see that there were four medium sized males milling around the fire, there was a really large diamond dog sitting on a mangled mesh of sticks and branches. That one must be their leader, Arron thought, adjusting the windage knob on the scope.  There were two more diamond dogs standing guard on either side of their leader. They weren't as large as their commander but they were more muscular. They were all wearing a crude set of armor that covered their chests, arms, and heads. Every once in a while they would lick their faces of droll from all of their panting, showing off the green tinted teeth inside their ugly muzzles that protruded from underneath their helmets. 

Taking his eye away from the scope Arron shuddered. Damn, he thought. I knew they were hideous in the show, but seeing them in real life is even worse! 

Turning his head away he took another breath before looking back through his scope. There really wasn't much else to see. The diamond dogs camp consisted of three tattered tents that were placed several feet from the central fire pit. The make shift throne was on the edge of the camp just within the perimeter of the firelight. Behind the throne was a pile of wooden crates, so haphazardly placed that the gems inside were spilling out onto the ground. 

No sense making my presence known, Arron thought, They're just a bunch of rough mutts out here scavenging for gems. Putting his rifle down. He was about to get down out of the tree but something caught his eye. He quickly looked back through his scope pointing it to the left of the throne, scouring the darkness he saw it again. Movement, it wasn't his imagination! He took his eye away and turned the knob to the highest resolution then took another look. There in his view was a dark coated pony, clearly a female from her contours. The diamond dogs had bound her legs, there was also a short length of rope that tethered a belt around her neck to a stake. The diamond dogs even had a dirty cloth serving as a gag in her mouth. Arron's anger grew into rage when he saw the lash marks on her flank, sides and back. The poor girls white mane and tail where disheveled and dirty, there were even sticks and other debris stuck in it. He gritted he teeth. "Slavers," he said under his breath with disgust. 

Arron turned the knob to zoom the scope back out, then he reached into his cargo pocket and pulled out two earplugs tied together with a blue plastic string. After sticking them into his ears he looked back into the scope he set the cross-hares to green then lined them up on the leaders uncovered forehead.  After taking a few calming breaths, Arron took in one last breath of air, held it, used his thumb to flick off the safety, rested his finger on the trigger and squeezed. 

The noise of the rifle made all of the diamond dogs clutch their ears. The leader's head went back and his neck bent like a twig from the impact of the bullet. The two guards already startled by the noise went wide eyed,  their now dead leader slumped over in his throne. All of the diamond dogs faces went pale. 

Arron didn't give them time to react, he fired again. This time the big guard dog to the right of the throne went down. His armor clanged against a protruding rock. The three dogs by the fire looked at their dead companions, howled and whimpered while they ran off in different directions. The last guard dog growled, took his spear in both hands and charged towards the jungle where the noise had emanated.  

Arron couldn't help but smile. "Brave dog," he said aloud. "But foolish," he , lined up the cross-hares on the angry, foaming, charging, guard dog and fired a third time. The dog let out a loud yelp before going head first into the underbrush. Satisfied, Arron got down out of his perch and calmly walked into the camp. The diamond dog that charged him was trying to stifle his whimpers. He buried his muzzle deeper into the earth. Arron pulled one of his 1911s he flicked off the safety before he kicked the dog's helmet off, leveling the barrel to the back of the diamond dog's head he pulled the trigger. The slide rocked back, sending the smoking fat forty five case flying.

Giving the dead dog a final anger filled glare, Arron put his gun away. The pony the diamond dogs had tied up was a black coated unicorn mare. There was some kind of clamp over her horn. That must be some kind of magic inhibiting device, he thought, kneeling down he pushed his AR around so it was behind his back.  "Don't worry," he calmly said with a disarming smile. "I'm not here to hurt you... I'm here to free you." 

The unicorn's bright blue eyes widened.  She squirmed a bit when he pulled out his balisong. He flicked the knife around several times to reveal the tanto blade. Arron stroked her side where there was a spot free of lash marks. "It's alright," he whispered while he used the knife to cut the ropes around her hooves. 

It took several minutes of cutting but Arron finally managed to get both her fore and hind hooves free. She immediately stood up and backed away from him, her ears were flat and her head was lowered so much so her muzzle was almost kissing the ground. Arron sighed, she's not going to trust me, he thought. Though, after the way those diamond dogs apparently treated her I can't really blame her for that.   

He put his knife back into his pocket, which made her tilt her head in either curiosity, or bewilderment, Arron wasn't sure. He shimmied over to her and took the cloth out of her mouth. She then straightened her neck so that he could take the collar off. "There you go," he said in satisfaction. She frowned in response. Arron wasn't sure why, until she started bobbing her head and pointing at the clamp where her horn was. "Ah," He said knowingly. "Gotcha!" 

Arron leaned over to get a better look at the offending device. It looked like a small metal cylinder that was fitted with two bands that had latches on them. He undid the top band and lifted it off the cylinder he took a closer look at it, shrugged and threw it behind him. When he got the second band off the cylinder fell into two pieces off her horn by themselves. 

Arron got back to his feet, and headed back to his own camp. Nothing like a job well done, he thought. He couldn't help but smile. I wonder if this is how my great uncles felt when they fought in the civil war?  





The unicorn watched the creature that saved her leave the camp. He did all of that just to save me? she thought. She looked at the boxes full of gems that the creature completely ignored.  Wait she tried to call out, but her voice wouldn't work after all of the crying she'd done, and the gag that was stuffed inside her mouth for days on end didn't help. I want to go with you... no please take me with you! she tried to yell, but the words were only unintelligible raspy noises. 

She was grateful when the large creature stopped near the fire. She gasped in awe as it stuck it's foot inside flames and pushed the logs away from each other without even so much as a flinch. I wonder if he's part dragon, she thought. She didn't have much time to ponder the question as the creature smiled in satisfaction and started off again. 

Though weak from all of the work and beatings she tried to trot after him but she collapsed after taking only a few steps. She reached out a hoof to try and stop him. Please, she thought as hard as she could. Please come back! Please don't go away! You are the first creature that treated me like an actual pony! Please! Tears welled up in her eyes, running down her already tear stained cheeks. 

Arron got to the edge of the camp. Pulling the earplugs out of his ears he used the cord to tie them together, placing them in his cargo pocket with his knife. He sighed at the sight of the diamond dog that had charged him. And here I thought they were just dumb mutts that liked gems,  he thought. He closed his eyes and said a quick prayer for the ones he killed. About to head off into the jungle and back to his own camp he heard crying behind him. He turned around to see the unicorn try to stand up only to fall down again. She held one of her fore hooves outstretched to him, she tried to rise again but didn't even get halfway before gravity overwhelmed her. 

Arron went wide eyed. Arron you freakin fool, he cursed at himself. You're going to free a unicorn and just leave her! That's like leaving a job when it's only half done!

She was still crying when he leaned over and carefully picked her up in his arms. She was really warm, so much so he was afraid she might have a fever. Arron turned a quick one eighty and walked as fast as he could back to his own campsite. It was a little over five minutes before he arrived with his patient. He set her down by his fire pit. Using the same match he was going to start it before the whole diamond dog debacle he ignited the match and lit the fire. He pulled off his AR and took off the shoulder holster that carried his two 1911s he picked up the unicorn and rushed her over to the river. 

Arron gently scrubbed all of the dirt and debris off her coat and out of her mane, cleaning out all of the many cuts that covered her while he was at it. She didn't seem to mind the treatment even when he left her in the shallow river to let the cool water flow over her. She took the time to drink greedily swallowing as much of the river's life giving liquid as she could. A few moments later her savior came back with a blanket he picked her up out of the river and wrapped her inside. He set the bundled pony down by the fire. Again he left her there for a moment before coming back, this time holding a white box with a green cross in the center. He took the blanket off her nearly dry body.  

Opening the box, Arron took out several alcohol wipes and two rolls of gauze. "This is going to sting," he told her. She nodded, bust still winced when the wipe touched her wounds. She rested her head in his lap while he wrapped the gauze around her middle covering the worst of the cuts.  

Tucking in the the end of the gauze into itself then using some of the medical tape to keep it there he rubbed her neck running her pure white mane through his fingers. "So, what's your name," he asked her breaking the silence. 

The unicorn tilted her head up at him. Her bright blue eyes went wide with glee. This is the first time any pony... or creature asked me that, she thought. "Midnight," she managed to choke out.

Arron smiled down at her. "I'm pleased to meet you Midnight, my name's Arron. I'm from New Hampshire." He stroked her head a few more times. "Where are you from?" 

The smile she was just wearing had turned into a frown upon the question. Arron, not wanting to upset Midnight any more than she already was. "Never mind," he quickly said. 

She nodded, If he really want's to know I wouldn't mind telling him all about me, but then he might abandon me just like every pony else... even my own parents who left me out here, she shooed the thoughts away. No, he's different, this Arron, from New Hampsher... I just know he is.

Midnight fell asleep in his lap, he sat in there continuing to stroke her mane. "Looks like we both have issues with our parents," he said looking up into the heavens. He thought of his future and the mission he was sent to accomplish. "I'm not sure where my path will lead, but I don't think it would be wise to take a unicorn with me," He looked down at Midnight, trying to think what he should do with her as he sat in the firelight.