//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Silver Thorn 
// Story: The Guardian Shadow 
// by KnightBrony 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 4

Silver Thorn



I ran out of Scarlet's cabin to find the town in a state of utter chaos. Fires were burning everywhere, ponies were running all over the town in sheer fear and panic. I stopped a blue stallion who was running by me and asked him “What's going on, what is everyone running from?”
The stallion was so scared that all he could manage to produce was something that sounded like baby speak and the ramblings of a mad man, so I did the only sensible thing and slapped him across the face a couple times, which was strange considering I had hooves.
Seeing him back to reality, I asked “Now, are we okay?”
He nodded
“Good, now tell me what's going on, and do make it quick” I said, my voice calm but urgent
My question was met with the stallion screaming “MANTICORE!!!!”
The stallion ran off, still screaming his head off, leaving me with a terrible ringing in my ears. I looked to see if what the stallion had said, or screamed I suppose, was true. Sure enough, there it was, destroying the town and causing mass panic, a manticore. I'd seen a manticore on the show before, but this one looked worlds different than the one in the show. This one was bigger, I guessed about half as big as an Ursa Major, with silver fur, black wings, a barbed scorpion tail, and claws about as big as I was. 
The moment I saw this creature, my mind and body went into battle mode, my mind racing with different scenarios, adrenaline pumping through my blood. I assessed the situation carefully, since it wasn't just my life at stake here, but the lives of an entire village. From what I could tell, the village looked just like your average farming settlement, which meant any military help was out of the question. A few villagers were trying to hold off the manticore with pitchforks and farm tools while others were just throwing rocks at it. The rest of the village were running around screaming like headless chickens, some of them at least trying to be useful and put out the fires. Lastly, I assessed my own advantages and disadvantages. I had my brain power, my speed, a fair level of physical strength, and my Ursa Major claw, which didn't amount to much against a creature which had any number of ways it could use to kill me. Killing this manticore would be much more difficult than killing the Ursa. I could tell there was something different about this about the manticore apart from the obvious, like this thing is radiating some kind of evil aura. I thought about every possible way to beat this thing, and a thought occurred to me, maybe I should try talking to this thing, that's how Fluttershy was able to beat the manticore in the second episode, albeit that one was smaller and less scary than this one.
I was about to put this plan of kindness into motion, three arrows sprouted from the manticore's body, causing the creature to roar in anger, swiping a few of the villagers away and throwing them into the remaining houses. I looked to see who fired the arrows to see Scarlet levitating a bow with her horn and notching another arrow.
Seeing me, she yelled “Shadow get back, I'll handle this thing.”
My eyes were wide with shock “Scarlet, you can't, let me talk to it, maybe I can get it to leave peacefully” I pleaded with her
“Reason with it!? That's an Elder Manticore, a creature almost as old as the princesses, it's pure evil, the only thought in it's head is to kill and destroy” she pulled the arrow back with magic “and I won't let it destroy this place”
“Scarlet, please, give me a chance” I was almost begging by this point.
Something in my words must've reached Scarlet, cause after a few moments she lowered her bow, looked at me and said “You've got one chance, if you can't get it to leave, I'm gonna have to kill it, understood” a stern look on her face.
I let out the breath I'd been keeping in “Thank you, you won't regret this” I said, thanking her
“Villagers, lower your weapons and step back, let Shadow handle this” said Scarlet, with an air of authority about her.
The villagers stepped back, I could hear them murmuring, no doubt wondering how a strange zebra was going to save the day. I approached the manticore with the greatest caution, not wanting it to think I'm an enemy. The manticore simply stared at me as I approached, looking me over and pulling out Scarlet's arrows. I stopped just a few yards short of it, giving myself a sizable space in case I needed to run.
I used the most calming voice I could and said “Hello, how are you?”
The manticore just stared at me, no doubt trying to decide the best way to eat me.
I kept up my calm tone “Can you speak? Can you communicate in any way?”
Hearing this question, the manticore closed it's eyes, extended it's tail, and placed the stinger just above my head. I saw Scarlet raise her bow, and a few of the villager raise their weapons. I quickly held up a hoof to stop them “Wait, let's see what it does” the same air of authority Scarlet had in her voice earlier now in my tone. They lowered their weapons, all but Scarlet who still had her bow levitating with her magic “Scarlet, please” I said, a pleading tone in my voice. She lowered her bow, though she looked like she could still use it at the drop of a hat.
Seeing this, the manticore touched the main stinger on it's tail to my head, a feeling like electricity flowing through my body. I suddenly felt...connected to the manticore, like we were one mind in two bodies. The manticore looked me in the eyes, and then it spoke in my mind, an anicent voice that I could tell had seen much in it's years.
“You are very kind young zebra, most would have just let the archer girl kill me and let me rot”
“Yeah, well, I don't like seeing anything die, and couldn't just stand by and let the villagers kill you, and vice versa” 
The voice sounded a bit offended “ I was merely trying to ask for help”
“Well, you sure have an interesting way of asking” a bit of humor in my tone.
“They were the ones who attacked first, I was merely defending myself” anger rising in the manticore's voice.
“Okay, okay, I believe you, why did you need help, are you sick, cause I think the archer girl can help you if you do this whole telepathy thing and explain it to her”
“I cannot”
“Why?”
“This is an ancient skill, a power lost among the rest of my kind. It can only be used with someone whom we have the greatest trust in.”
I couldn't help but feel honored that he, I assumed it was a he, trusted me “Well thank you, but I can ask her for you, she can show me what to do if you don't trust her treating you.”
“The kind of help I require is not medical”
“Well what kind of help do you need then?”
“I need help in dying”
I was extremely shocked by this “Help in dying? I don't understand, can't you just...you know....die?”
“Death is different for manticore's, especially an Elder Manticore such as myself. We cannot die on our own, we must die with the assistance of a trusted friend or family member. Elder's are feared for our size and power, left alone by our fellow kind, to live forever in pain and solitude.” a single tear falling from the manticore's face as it finished.
“ That sounds awful! How could any creature let another of it's own kind live such a horrible life.”
“I should think someone who consorts with the pony folk should know, your princesses suffer as we do, except they have the love of their people to keep them from despair.”
I couldn't help but stop and think about this for a moment. The princesses always seemed so cheery and happy, I never would've imagined that they could feel sadness.
“ I....I never imagined that...”
“ It is alright, most do not think of this sort of thing when they consider immortality.”
“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry” I could feel tears in my eyes, overcome by the realization the Elder Manticore gave me.
“Will you help me?”
I wiped a tear from my face “Help you die?”
He nodded
I had tears streaming down my face now
“Yes....I will help end your life.”
“Thank you young one, you are very kind, and you have such a respect for life. I am sorry for asking you to do this, but I just cannot bear this pain any longer.”
“I understand, I'll try and make it as painless as I can.”
“Thank you”
“Can I ask just one thing?”
“Of course”
“What is your name?”
“Why would you need to know that?”
“ If I'm going to kill you, I at least want to know your name, please”
“My name is Silver Thorn, fifth descendant of the Grand Elder Manticore Black Thorn”
“ I shall never forget you Silver Thorn, know that I take no pleasure in taking your life.” I said, sobbing.
“ I know.” and with that he lifted his tail off my head, and stepped back, preparing himself for death. I looked around to see that the villagers had made a circle around me and Silver Thorn, curious as to what was going on. Scarlet had moved closer than the others, almost breathing down my neck. Silver Thorn growled at the crowd of people, but an upheld hoof from me stopped him. I turned to the villagers, the tears coming down even more now.
“Get back, all of you” no one moved, I was getting angry “I SAID GET BACK, NOW!!”
Everyone immediately stepped back as far as they could, obviously scared by my angry tone, even Scarlet stepped back, albeit not as far as the others. I turned back to Silver Thorn, preparing myself for what I was about to do. I took the claw off my back, held it firmly between my hooves, and drove as far as I could into Silver Thorn's chest, piercing his heart. He roared in pain, and fell over, accepting death at last. He was still breathing, short, haggard breaths, the last breaths of a dying creature. I could hear his voice in my mind, speaking in short, fractured sentences.
“ Thank you..Shadow....you have done me...a great favor”
“I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry” my tears coming down like a waterfall.
“Do not be....because of you....I can finally...move on...to the great beyond”
I pulled the claw out of his chest, allowing him his dignity in death.
“ Shadow, I must...ask one..more thing...of you”
“ Anything, what is it?” I said out loud, my voice pained and urgent.
“ I....want you...to use my remains....to do something....good....let my spirit...be with you..in your travels....may it help...guide you..*Cough*” he coughed up blood, his breathing become ever slower.
“ Of course, I will, I'll make sure you're not forgotten, not ever, I promise “ this promise made the dying manticore smile. He closed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell for the last time. Silver Thorn, fifth descendant of the Grand Elder Manticore Black Thorn, was dead. I cried, true tears of sadness and loss, the tears that only come from losing a dear friend. I felt a hoof on my shoulder, and turned to see Scarlet, tears in her eyes as well. She wrapped me in a hug, a comforting hug meant to console. I cried into her mane, not caring who saw me. She stroked my mane with her hoof, rocking me back and forth and trying to calm me down.
“Shhh, it's alright, it'll be okay, just let it out, let it out” I looked up from her mane, and looked straight into her eyes.
“No one touches the body, you understand, I'm the only one allowed near him unless I say otherwise, understand.” my voice was a mixture of pain and sadness, but with a firm tone that said I was serious.
She nodded “I understand, no one goes near him but you” she said, a comforting, sympathetic tone in her voice.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and regained my composure “Good, now, I think it's time for some rest.” I said, turning and walking back to Scarlet's cabin for some much deserved sleep.