//------------------------------// // Rhino Movement // Story: Home is where True Peace and Love Is // by MetalBrony823 //------------------------------// The safari was still in full swing, even though a minotaur just attacked the group. Luke was sure glad he brought his lightsaber with him, otherwise, the minotaur would have gored him, and his friends. What mattered was that they were all safe and sound from any attacks. As long as Luke had his saber. And his father had his magnum on him, it wouldn't be so dangerous. Wakka-Shu was still more than happy to lead the others along the way through this safari tour. The others were getting a little hot under the Zebrican sun. Still, they had plenty of water with them to keep them hydrated and refreshed. Deciding to take another quick stop, they all rested under a large tree, standing over a picnic table below it. "You guys still glad we came here?" Luke asked his closest friends. "Yeah! This is awesome!" Rainbow said with enthusiasm. "I'm so glad we came here in the first place." "I absolutely concur." Rarity added. "Despite the scorching heat from the sun, I am certainly enjoying this." and she began sweating a little. "But I am desperately parched! I need some water." and she promptly took her water bottle and drank it like crazy like she was in the middle of the Sahara desert with no oasis. Applejack just rolled her eyes while chuckling at how silly her friend was being. "Did you have to wear a sunhat, Rarity?" she asked her curiously. "Of course I did. The last thing I want is to have a swarm of mosquitoes drinking out of my skin." And then she made a shudder. "I don't even want to think about that." "Well I'm sure them little varmints wouldn't even bother trying to suck our blood dry like a bunch of vampires." "Or the Nandi bear." said Okove. "The what?" asked Twilight with a raised eyebrow. "The Nandi bear is a monstrous being that would only eat brains of any animal, including zebras, and ponies." Said Okove. “This demon is a spawn of hell, and he even brings it wherever he goes.” Spike made a small gulp of fear written all over his face. “Gosh, what kind of creature would want to suck the brains out if their victims? I would not want to be next on his list of victims.” “Oh Spike,” Twilight chuckled. “We would never let some monster like this Nandi bear try to eat your brain.” “Yeah Spike.” Said Fluttershy. “It sounds like a very evil creature who would eat brains against it’s victims free will. It would have to answer to me if he would try and hurt you at all. You would be in good hooves w Hey us,” “I know. I’m just glad that the Nandi bear is not here to suck all our brains out.” “Oh! Don’t even think about that.” Lyra Said. “This kind of creature sounds so creepy and disgusting he is with this habit.” “The Nandi bear is quite terrifying no to the bone.” Said Zecora. “But still, we have never a encountered such a foul monster like me neither have suggested before. But what I can probably say is that it’s finally gone.” “One can only hope.” Said Wakka-Shu. “But that beast is always elusive from many eyes. He would be over here, if he would be over there instrwad, like in the speed of light.” "Have there been any attacks bu this monster?" Asked Larry curiously "No. There hasn't been any attack from the Nandi bear in quite a long time." Said Okove. "Maybe it died of old age." Starlight speculated. "Or what if a group of rhinos or elephants killed him? Those animals are very strong and powerful." "Possibly." Said Wakka-Shu. "But it's like Pkove said; we can only hope. Who knows when that creature from hell could attack us by surprise." "Not a problem for us." Rainbow boasted. "No brain-sucking bear is gonna make a meal out of my brain. We're the elements of harmony after all." "Right." Said Twilight. "A monster like that wouldn't mean that much if a threat, considering the fact that we have defeated Tirek to it. "We have heard of that great accomplishment princess said Okove. "and you have done extremely well of sending him back to the pits of Tartarus, along with all your friends helping you out with it." "Come on, guys." Said Lyra. "Let's not think about it so much. Luke killed a minotaur and we're on a fun safari for crying out loud." "Of course." Said Wakka-Shu in agreement. Looking up the tree out of curiosity, Luke thought he saw something up there moving, and thought that maybe it was just a large bird up there, and decided it was nothing. Enjoying the shade a little more, the others heard a low growling noise, and Luke looked up again at the tree branches. His heart stopped when he saw large leopard at the lowest branch, looking down on him and the others. "What was that?" Asked Pinkie. "Nothing it was just a leopard." Like said, thinking it was nothing, but then his eyes perked up in sudden realization, becoming afraid again. He gasped and exclaimed "LEOPAAAARD!" Just then, the big cat jumped down from the tree with a growl, and landed on the table, looking quite fierce and angry. Luke readied his lightsaber and his dad was ready to shoot it down with the magnum to protect everyone. "No!" Said Fluttershy. "Wait. I'll handle this." "Give him the stare, Flutters." Luke said. The yellow pegasus had a bold look on her face and went up to the leopard, giving it the stare like she did with the spitting cobra a little while before. At first, the big cat made a few roars at her, baring its teeth at her. Overtime, Fluttershy didn't take her eyes of it. It took over one minute, but then the leopard started to slowly submit to her scary gaze. The next thing it did was sit on it's leg's, no longer baring it's sharp teeth. "Now, were we disturbing you?" Fluttershy asked in her kind voice. And the big cat made a few growling sounds in reply. "Oh, we didn't mean to disturb you. We didn't know you were helping your babies up there." Then the leopard made a more menacing growl at her, baring her teeth again, and looked like she was going to maul Fluttershy to death. Despite giving her the stare again, the yellow pegasus began gently soothing her with her left hoof around her soft, furry head. The cat began to calm down and lose her anger again. "Shh, it's okay. We mean you no harm. We were just finding a little shade." Then the mama leopard made a small growl. "I know you're sorry, but we mean you no harm at all." It was all of a sudden the leopard began moving around her like a cat would do, and it was trying to purr. Luke couldn't help but walk up and try to interact with the leopard himself. "W-wait Luke!" Larry warned. "It might be dangerous." Not heeding his father's warnings, Luke bent down and tried to interact with the cat since she was far more calm now. Trying to reach a hand to her slowly, the leopard looked a little cautious at him, but then she began sniffing his fingers, and it didn't take long for her to lick them, and she was starting to slowly warm up to the human. Luke smiled and he was gently stroking her head, and the leopard was enjoying it. The others looked at this with amazement. What would they all do without the stare? "Can we at least share the tree with you?" Fluttershy asked her The leopard nodded a yes, and went back to her tree to tend to her cubs. Everyone went back to the large picnic table and took their little break some more. The leopard and her cubs would even come down from the tree to interact with the others out of curiosity. After their little break under the shade, they said their byes to the leopards and hoped they will meet again soon. Continuing on with the safari, they looked around for even more animals to see and or encounter, dangerous or not. So far, nothing yet, but they know they will see something soon enough. Through their little journey, they saw many wonders like gazelles and impalas prancing about the grasslands in the Zebrican savanna, and a large lion taking down a large wildebeest with his teeth and claws with a faint thud heard over the horizon. "Oh goodness." said Fluttershy. "Poor wildebeest. I know that lion is hungry, but still, it's... a little heartbreaking to watch." Luke wrapped his arm around Fluttershy for comfort. They all watched as the lion ahead of them was busy eating the entire antelope, and then the rest of the pride came had a dip in it, and it turned into a family feast. "Wow, look at all those lions eating that wildebeest." said Applejack. "Ugh, i just can't bear to stand such a barbaric and grotesque sight." Rarity said, feeling like throwing up. "I am so glad we are not so primal like those big cats, and that Opal does not behave like that." "In Zebrica, it is survival of the fittest for all animals. The environment can be cruel in these magnificent lands." said Wakka-Shu. "It would be every animal for himself out here in the savanna. Just imagine if we were all like lions trying to find something to eat instead of going to a restaurant or working in a kitchen." "You know, he makes a good point." said Lyra. "They're just hungry, looking for food and following instincts. I can imagine if we were lions and we didn't know the skills to access kitchen supplies or go to restaurants." "Maybe." Bon Bon agreed with her best friend. "It would be a little hard to try and get food that way, we probably wouldn't even talk." "There you go." said Zecora. "At least you should all know." "At least they're not evil." said Starlight Glimmer. "I mean, Lyra's right, they are just following their instincts. Anyway, we should probably stay clear of them. They probably don't like to be bothered while we're eating." "Nopony does." said Rainbow. "Well, let's get a move on." The others agreed with her and continued with the little tour. While walking, Luke, out of curiosity "Are the hippos aggressive here?" "Well... they are not very 'Tolerant' of visitors." said Wakka-Shu. "They leave us alone and we'll leave them alone. Moreover, they are not really evil. They... can be a little territorial. Like Buffalo, it's not very wise to make a hippo angry, Luke." "Hmm. I'll take your word for it. Do they hate zebras?" "No, no, of course not." said Okove. "Hippos are just a little irritable, like munch first, ask questions later. It is best if you leave them be, unless if it's absolutely necessary, like an emergency, or if they like you." "Right. At least buffalo are a little more friendly and welcoming." Luke remarked. "Babatunde and his heard are already taking a liking to me and my dad, and are accepting, minus their anger issues of course." "Indeed. Those buffalo are very friendly." "Oh who am I kidding?" Luke said. "There's good and bad parts in everywhere in the world. And it can be dangerous out there in this evil world." "Words never true than that, my boy." said Discord. "At least we're not that wildebeest over there." Looking over at the lions eating the carcass again, and the lion pride already ate the flesh and the guts out of the wildebeest, only it's bones were remaining, along with the skull. Spike looked rather uneasy, along with the others, except for Luke and his father, who knew that it was only the circle of life and it was just the way mother nature created animals like this. In the wild, it would be "Eat or be eaten". “Come on, let’s get out of here before those lions see us,” luke suggested. “Good idea.” Said Spike. Quietly sneaking away from the lions, everyone got past them, and the Safari was still in full swing. Just then, something came charging at them, and it looked like a large group of rhinos up to twenty or thirty, almost as much as Babatunde’s herd of buffalo. They all stood still, and waited to see if they were truly going to charge at all do them at once. “Wait.” Said Okove. “It’s only good friends of ours.’ “Friends?” Said Twilight Zecora looked over and she gasped at what the rhinos looked like. “Oh no, these are a group of rhinos me and my family know.” She remarked. The rhinos were running so fast and dust was flowing through as they went by galloping. “Zecora!” Called the leader in a low, rumbling voice. “We have found you!” “Dakari!” Zecora called out “it is Dakari!” Okove recognized the leader of this herd. The rhinos all stopped in front of the group, and their leader as a male withnthe longest horns on his nose, and he was obviously the largest in his family, weighing up to somewhere like eight-thousand pounds or close to that weight. Like back home, these rhinos were large with bone and armored muscle. They were white rhinos, for they had square lips on their mouths and the other species of their family had hooked upper lips. “Zecora,” Said the leader in a deep voice. He walked up to her and hugged her. “Dakari.” She Said, hugging him back. “It is good to see you again, for it has been far too long, my friend.” “Yes. At last, we meet again.” Said the leader. “I am so glad you have came back to Zebrica after all these years. And of course, it is a pleasure to see eye you, Okove.” “Dakari.” Zecora’s brother bowed to him in respect. “Zecora returns my friends!” The rhino leader called out to his friends and family behind him. “Rejoice!” And there was a tremendous uproar among the gigantic mammals, and the sound of cheering was heard as well. Dakari looked at the group, and he asked “And who might these all be?” “These are my friends.” Said Zecora. “They will be here for me with no ends.” “Hmm. Welcome to Zebrica.” Said Dakari warmly. Then he looked at Discord. “You? The master of chaos? How dare you set foot here again!” “Now now, my good friend. I am no longer evil, I am a changed drancequus.” Discord Said calmly. “There’s no need to be so irrational now.” “He speaks the truth.” Zecora Said. “Even though he can be a little uncouth.” “But he’s a changed guy.” Spike Said. “He uses powers for good now.” “Are you... a dragon?” Asked a rhino in surprise. “Well yeah, but i’m only a baby dragon.” Spike Said modestly. “But i’m not a monster. I promise you all.” Every rhino in the herd murmured to one another while Dakari was quite intrigued to even say anything. “That is rather extraordinary. And you don’t have a hoard of gold that you Guard over for yourself. What is your name, little one?” “Spike? Well met. I am Dakari, the leader of my tribe that you all see in front of you. We come from a city called Kifaru, and we humbly welcome you to Zebrica.” “Hmm. I have so much to ask you all about.” Twilight Said excitidely. “This could be interesting to show princess Celestia and Luna.” “You know the princess’?” Asked a female rhino with her calf. “Of course. I’m Twilight Sparkle, the princess of Friendship.” Everyone gasped hearing those words. “You’re Princess Twilight?” Asked Dakari “Of course. These are my friends.” All of them introduced one another, except for Zecora, Okove, and Wakka-Shu, for the herd recognized who they all were. Discord didn’t even need an introduction, for he is famous enough as it is. “And this might sound crazy, but me and my dad come from another world.” Luke said. “But i’m not a bad human. I promise you all that.” “Well, we can certainly see that. We rhinos can tell who is good or who is bad by looking at their eyes. Well, I can assure you that if you ever want to visit our humble home of Kifaru, all of you are more than welcome to, especially the Elements of Harmony.” And another cheer was heard amongst the crowd of rhinos. Luke was even more excited to be told that he can set foot in the home of the second largest land mammal in Zebrica. “I am rather curious, what brings you here?” “We’re just going on a safari.” Luke said. “Ah, I see. Well it is the perfect weather for a safari like this. So many animals that you can find and.... wait.” The leader looked a little cautious. “I saw something move on the brush.” Everyone was starting to look alert again, and stood still. Luke readied his lightsaber, Larry readied his handgun, and they waited in silence for something to happen. The ground began shaking again, and a large, scary-looking hippo appeared, charging at Luke with it’s big mouth. The monster was charging at him and his friends at full speed, once again with his mouth open, Larry was about to shoot the mouth, and Luke was about to swing st the monster in case a bullet wouldn’t kill it. Before the hippo could hurt them all, Dakari charged at the hippo, knocking him out with his horns like a runaway freight train, knocking the hippo to the ground with a loud thud. “How dare you attack a group of innocent tourists like that!” Said Dakari in anger. “Ow! You guys were in my turf, now get out!” The hippo shouted. “Ah, I need a bath.” Then the hippo walked away in a huff. “Are you all Alright?” Asked the leader “Yeah, we’re fine.” Said Fluttershy. “It Just spooked us there.” “Don’t worry. It was probably just a grumpy hippo that is so cantekerous. Know we wish we could stay with you more, but we really need to all look for water. It was a pleasure meeting you all, and have a safe trip.” “I hope we meet again soon.” Said Twilight. “Of course. Just come and find us, princess. Kifaru is not very far from here.” “Perfect!” Then the rhino went to look for some water with grunting heard. Everyone looked at them, and Luke said “What cool, magnificent creatures.”