Scootaloo's Guardian

by Dirty Bit

Chapter 25

Scootaloo galloped as fast as her little legs could take her while avoiding the vengeful wrath of her so-called guardian as they ran into the Everfree Forest. She counted herself lucky there were several trees to swerve around, but it was unsettling to forget that Astaroth was strong enough to ram through each one with his momentum as if he were some kind of juggernaut.

When they found themselves in a clearing, Scootaloo turned around to see Astaroth clear through a patch of trees with a swing of his ax and walked up to the orange filly as he leered at her with his pupilless eyes "Are you ready to suffer, runt!?"

Scootaloo tried to speak while she caught her breath "Asta...roth...You realize we're...in a dangerous forest...right?"

Astaroth stepped further "I'm the only danger you'll worry about for that disgraceful situation you put me through earlier!! Time to punish you dearly!!" He raised his ax and brought it down to Scootaloo, but he growled when she mustered enough energy to dodge again "Hold still, you worm!!" He swung again and was met with another dodge "This will only make it worse for you!!" Scootaloo backed away from another swing and jumped into a large patch of bushes out of Astaroth's sight, making the dark golem roar in anger.

While she hid, Scootaloo took the time to reflect on what has happened in the past three days with how she had to put up with Astaroth for the sake of wanting somepony to look after her. She sighed when she felt it was nearly impossible to coax him into acting better, even though there were times he did such a thing. Scootaloo peaked out of her hiding place to see Astaroth stand and leer at the patch of bushes 'He must be waiting for me to make a move...Heh, and here I thought he was impatient...' She couldn't help but manage a smile at this. Maybe she and her friends could help him after all. While she hid, she heard a low roar behind her, and Scootaloo turned to see a chicken head with red eyes glare at her intensely. The orange filly reflexively jumped out of the bushes with a scream.

Astaroth perked up and readied his ax "That's more like it! Now come here so I can-"

Scootaloo galloped and yelled "Cockatrice!!" Right after she distanced herself from the bushes, the aforementioned beast jumped out as well to reveal its dragon-like body. While its head was not threatening, the cockatrice's eyes were more than enough to spread fear into anypony's heart. While she was being chased, the cockatrice lashed out its tail at the orange filly's hindlegs, causing her to trip. From there, it wrapped its tail around her body and drew her face to look into its eyes. Scootaloo looked back in fear as she already began to feel her legs turn to stone. Tears streamed down her eyes while she was forced to stare back at the beast 'No...Astaroth, please save me!! Please!!' She figured that the dark golem would only watch in satisfaction.

Until it happened.

The cockatrice's body was slammed and held to the ground by a large foot, and before it could distinguish the perpetrator, an object collided between its neck and severed its head. Blood spewed from its neck, and the body flailed before it shut down completely and the tail loosened its grip on Scootaloo. The orange filly quickly regained her footing and crawled away from the dismembered body with traumatized eyes. She was too scared to realized that some of the cockatrice's blood rested on her coat. Her fear softened when she looked up at her savior glaring down at her as he held his ax "Y-You saved me again...I could've died..."

Astaroth grunted "It was nothing more than a lesser beast! There's no way I'd give it the satisfaction of killing you so easily!!" That position, to the dark golem, was his to keep when the moment saw fit. He glared at the body and inspected the remains. Aside from the timberwolves he fought before, this seemed to be a more intriguing monster. His thoughts were interrupted by a constricted feeling on his leg, and he looked down to see Scootaloo hug the dark golem's leg while lightly sobbing.

Scootaloo looked up after she wiped the tears from her eyes "I-I know you don't want me to cry, Astaroth, but I'm seriously glad you saved my life! You've done it twice in one day!"

Astaroth squinted his eyes down at Scootaloo "Don't remind me..." He muttered bitterly.

Scootaloo huffed and broke the embrace on Astaroth's leg as she looked up at him "Are you sure you don't want to talk about whatever's causing you to act like this all the time?"

Astaroth growled "Why would I want to talk with you?"

Scootaloo smiled "Because I'm important and you've done so ever since I brought you into this world!" She looked at herself and some of her truama came back "I can't believe I'm covered in blood..." She whimpered.

Astaroth chuckled "I don't know why you'd be against it, runt! I sure as hell enjoy this feeling myself and yet you choose to stick with me!!"

Scootaloo glared up at Astaroth "Well I can't just let you cause destruction all the time! And besides..." She smiled again "...You still have a lot to learn about Equestria and stuff, and I'm the only pony who can do it without you having to threaten them so badly!"

Astaroth went to raise his ax until he realized that the orange filly was right. Nopony else but her was willing to even grant him the knowledge he desired so willingly. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth before he grunted "I underestimate both your courage and your sanity, runt..." While he glared, he found himself in another coughing fit.

Scootaloo widened her eyes "Hey! Are you alright?"

Astaroth was lucky to stifle this coughing fit and not hack up anything purple before he caught his breath and growled "I don't need your concern!" He then heard a growl behind Scootaloo and noticed a large silhouette looming in the shadows. The dark golem readied his ax and got in a stance as he awaited whatever was about to strike.

Scootaloo tilted her head and looked behind her after she heard the growl and quickly hid behind Astaroth "That sounds like a manticore..."

Astaroth grinned "Whatever it is, it chose the right time to come here since there's no sport in torturing or killing you!"

Scootaloo winced up at Astaroth, but smiled to know he wouldn't go out of his way and harm her if something bigger showed up. The orange filly was correct in her guess when a large manticore hopped into the clearing with an angry face and roared.

The manticore was very displeased with how it lost so many of its kind the other day and wondered if Astaroth was the one who caused it all. With another roar, the large beast leaped at him with its claws and wings stretched out.

Astaroth countered with a block and he was pushed back a few inches from the manticore's strength. He grinned while he matched the beast's force with his own "I like your eyes...They're full of hatred!" Astaroth then roared as he pushed the manticore away and readied his ax for a good swing. The blade connected with the monster's chest and elicited a pained whine.

Scootaloo winced at the ensuing carnage and chose to watch the battle from a safe distance next to a tree. She took the time to look around to make sure that no other creatures were nearby before she went back to seeing Astaroth's progress with the manticore. It was overwhelming to have experienced so much battle from the dark golem, but at the same time it was exciting. Almost like watching Rainbow Dash perform new tricks successfully.

Astaroth dodged a swipe from the manticore's large paw before he countered with a swing at its muzzle. The beast drew back with a pained roar before it glared intensely at its prey and attacked again with another swipe. Astaroth blocked and parried the next move before it knocked the manticore's paw away with his ax and landed a quick headbutt to its skull "C'mon!! At least put up a fight!" The dark golem taunted as he went to attack.

The manticore was infuriated with being shown up, and it slowly readied its scorpion tail unbeknownst to Astaroth. Scootaloo looked on the battle and her eyes landed on the manticore's tail as she gasped and called out "Astaroth!! Look out!!"

Astaroth ignored Scootaloo and made a rush towards the manticore "Gorah!!!" When he got close, the manticore grinned and launched its tail at Astaroth as the sharp end of it dug into the dark golem's chest.

Scootaloo was frightened and worried by this, until she noticed Astaroth growl and grip the tail with his free hand, then slice it off with his ax. The manticore roared in pain and drew itself back as the poison leaked from the gaping wound caused by the attack. Scootaloo could only watch in awe 'This guy's super strong!! Nopony could ever take the sting of a manticore's tail and live long enough!!'

Astaroth stumbled back a little, but he yanked the part of the tail that impaled his chest and flung it aside with the beheaded cockatrice "Grr...What a joke!" Both him and the manticore prepared for another clash, but while Astaroth stood at the ready, his vision blurred for a moment and he was left open for his opponent.

The manticore smiled to see its poison sink into its victim and did not hesitate to pounce on Astaroth and swipe at him furiously. Astaroth grunted in pain as he was pinned and beaten down by the manticore.

Scootaloo gasped in horror "Astaroth!!" She was lucky her shout was not heard by the manticore as it unleashed its pent up rage and aggresion on the dark golem, but she needed to save him before he get badly injured. She looked around and felt helpless to see him lose in another battle, but then turned to the dead cockatrice. While it was still a fearful image to behold, the orange filly had a crazy idea that she could only hope would work in her favor. She snuck towards the severed cockatrice's head and lifted it up with her forehooves, being careful not to stare into its eyes 'Time to see if that one story I had to read in class was true!' Scootaloo galloped at a treacherous distance near the two fighters, and she clenched her eyes shut and held up the head as she called to the manticore "Hey, ugly! Look at this!"

This time, the manticore's attention was grabbed by Scootaloo, and it gazed not on her, but the head that she held in her hooves. Its eyes widened when he seen the eyes of the cockatrice stare back, and its body began turning into stone.

Astaroth recovered when the manticore ceased its offensive rushed and looked to see the beast turned into a statue. Seeing his chance, he recovered onto his feet and readied his ax as he brought it down fiercely on the newly-formed statue, reducing it to a pile of scattered rubble.

When Scootaloo opened her eyes, she looked around and gasped before she beamed with joy "It worked! I can't believe it worked!!"

Astaroth turned to Scootaloo "What are you talking about? Did you plan for that monster to attack?"

Scootaloo lowered the head so that Astaroth did not look at it before she shook her own "No way! I used the head of the cockatrice you killed to help you take down that manticore when it got the drop on you!" She looked at the back of the head "They can obviously turn any pony or animal into stone just by looking into their eyes! I can't believe it still works without the body!" Realizing that she still held the dismembered head, she dropped it and winced in disgust and regret.

Astaroth grunted "So you're saying you actually helped me fight that beast? Don't make me laugh!!"

Scootaloo glared up at Astaroth "If it weren't for me, you'd be that manticore's dinner right now! That thing already gave you its poison!"

Astaroth paused "Poison?" He stared into the stab wound in his chest and looked to see a green substance slowly drip from it. The dark golem growled in irritation before he stumbled again and tried to regain his balance "Damnit..."

Scootaloo gasped "Oh no! I think the poison's already sinking in by now! We gotta get you to Zecora's place!!"

Astaroth growled "I said I don't need your concern, runt! I've had worse than this meager poison run through my body! Just take me home so I can rest!"

Scootaloo glared "Are you stupid or something!? If you don't get treated for too long, you're gonna end up dead in the water!!" She gasped and realized that she would indeed lose Astaroth if he went out for so long. A part of her chose to cry about this knowing she would lose a friend, despite his abhorrant behavior.

Astaroth leered at the orange filly "Do you mock my strength!? This is nothing compared to what I give to any unfortunate soul that dares to cross my path!!"

Scootaloo restored her glare as she shot back "I'm not mocking your strength, you idiot! You're bound to black out at any time with that stuff inside you!!"

Astaroth growled "You really are mocking me, aren't you!? I can handle this easily, and you're only working my nerve with your jabbering!" He raised his ax, but he slowly began to feel heavy when it was over his head. Astaroth slung its pole along his shoulders as he gave a groan "What is-...?" He took deep breaths while he stood.

Scootaloo scoffed "There, you see!? Now the poison's getting worse! Let's just get you to Zecora's so we can get that poison sucked out of you before it's too late!!"

Astaroth casted a softer version of his glare on Scootaloo "My answer is still no, runt...Just take me to your decrepid home so I can sleep it off..."

Scootaloo groaned in irritation "You'll be going back to sleep forever if you even do that!!" She glared up at Astaroth with a mix of anger and sadness.

Astaroth walked up and he lifted Scootaloo with his free hand "Just do it! I'll be back on my feet, and if you really are correct about this poison, I'll get myself treated!!" He dropped the orange filly "Now move along. I've had enough for today..." The dark golem seemed more calm due to the manticore's poison taking effect.

Scootaloo recovered and glared up at Astaroth before she sighed in defeat. At least he was willing to listen to her if she happened to be right, but hopefully he would still be around to do so. She trotted "Alright, fine! Let's go home already! You'd probably tick off Zecora with your attitude anyways..." She muttered the last sentence as she tried to remain strong. The orange filly felt comforted to hear Astaroth follow behind her without a word.

Luckily, the two were able to distinguish the path of trees that Astaroth knocked down to the forest's entrance, and they looked up to see the sun close to setting completely. Scootaloo winced in surprise "Geez, is it late..." She inspected herself and she turned to Astaroth "Can I please take a bath before we get back? I wanna get this blood off of me!"

She expected more lashing from him, but Astaroth was surprised when he responded in a neutral tone "Fine, but hurry it up...I'm getting tired of this..."

Scootaloo resisted both the urge to drop her jaw at this or question why he would do this. Maybe it was the poison talking? Either way, the orange filly led Astaroth to a nearby pond she was familiar with so she could clean herself off in ample time. She scrubbed herself while Astaroth sat idly by with ax in hand. When she got a good look at him while she bathed, Scootaloo couldn't help but smile at his current expression. It was almost rid of his malice and hatred. Almost. She enjoyed how gentle and tired he looked and how he was willing to comply with her to a simple request.

Maybe if she were lucky tomorrow after school, she could get Astaroth treated and he could act a little better around her and the others. But she shouldn't hold her breath knowing Astaroth's true intentions...All she could do is hope for a miracle that she could shape the dark golem into the guardian she made him out to be for both her and the rest of Ponyville.