//------------------------------// // Mysterious Rescuers // Story: Forces of Nature // by DrZed //------------------------------// It's quiet in the Everfree forest, a soft breeze blows through the trees as the clouds drift by overhead, unfettered by pegasus magic. A lone cry echoes through the forest. "Yeeehaw!!!!" *Thoom* "C'mon! Ah thought flyin' horses'd be faster!" Taurence calls behind him. He lands in a crouch on a stone pillar, and leaps again, the bagged and terrified Cockatrice under one arm. The Night Guards are following along as well as they can, "How in Celestia's shining white flank is he doing that?" One pants to the other. *THOOM* - Slaytor looks bored as he scoots along, still hobbled by the leg irons, bracketed by Unicorn and earth pony Night Guards. suddenly he stops and quirks an eyebrow, "hey Number 5, 8 o' clock low, What's that?" 'Number 5' stops and looks back, "Oh, that's a Timberwolf... TIMBERWOLF!" he rears in panic. "Timber-wolf huh?" Slaytor smirks, shaking his head "Made out of wood, I bet. And I thought Bubble Dragons were the silliest things I've seen so far..." The guards gather together and face the beast with spears, and two more appear out of the mists. Slaytor sighs, "You gonna get me out of these stupid cuffs now?" - The night is fading, Celestia's sun is cresting over the mountains, beginning to push away the darkness. Zed rests before Berry Punch, Horn glowing and his hooves inscribing glowing runes in the air. "Relax, Berry. Calm your mind. Anxiety speeds the magic." He gazes into her eyes, "My friend will be here shortly." *thoom* "There he is now, as well as your friend. Sarge?" The turtle nods and the bubble flickers out seconds before Derpy bursts in through the bushes, skidding to a halt, "Berry? BERRY!" She leaps at the partially petrified pony. Dawn catches Derpy in a bubble of shimmering silver, "Easy, easy, You can't touch her yet." She takes a few steps back from the center of the clearing, pulling the encased pegasus with her. "INCOMING!" A wide stone rises from the grass just in time for Taurence to land. *THOOM!* Leaves flutter down, jarred loose from the impact and displaced air of the Minotaur's impact. The stone sinks back into the ground and he begins to gently stroke the Cockatrice's back "Easy there fella, Ah aint gonna hurt ya." The two Pegasi Guards arrive shortly after. Dawn sets Derpy on the grass next to her, giving her a reassuring smile. Pounding hooves can be heard approaching, then Slaytor and the rest of the Night Guards emerges from the brush into to the clearing, grinning, a few new scars marking his legs and neck. "I told you you shoulda taken those cuffs off sooner." Taurence tilts his head at Slaytor, "Dang Slay, What tried ta' eat you?" "Ran into some Timberwolves on the way here. Turns out spears and stun batons don't work well on magically animated wood monsters." He winks at the guards following him, "Flare grenades? Those work really well." Taurence chuckles. Turning to the newly arrived guards, he holds up the Cocatrice in his hands, somewhat calmed but thrashing it's dragon tail, the bag still over it's head. "Hey guys, wanna see my new pet?" The Guards bring up their shields. Zed rises, "Enough playing, Terry." he steps to one side, "Bring him over here." Taurence chuckles, heading over to Berry punch, a thin wall of shale coming up between himself and Berry and the rest of the ponies in the clearing. Berry sees him reach down and pull the cloth bag off the Cocatrice's head. She sqeals in fear as she sees the red glowing eyes. The fearsome draconic bird opens his mouth for a squawk, but it comes out as a hiss as Taurence gives him a squeeze, "Yall know what to do." He says softly to the creature. The Cocatrice slumps, then he glares at Berry, the glowing color of his eyes shifts to a green, and the red magic fades to green and flows off her like water. "Good boy" Taurence smiles and pets the Cockatrice again. He steps over into the bushes and sets the Draco-chicken down, "Now git on home." The Cockatrice is gone with a flap of it's wings, running away into the bushes. The wall comes down and Berry is pounce hugged by an overjoyed grey pegasus mare, "Oh Berry! I was so scared! Are you ok?" "I feel a little woozy..." Berry Punch stumbles to one side, running into and then leaning against one of Taurence's legs. Zed steps over and touches her again with his glowing horn, "Hmm.. Well, aside from the hangover, you should be fine. I sense no ill effects, but you may want to get some medical attention anyway." Taurence kneels in front of Berry with a grin, "Need a lift there darlin?" Berry smiles and plants her hooves on his shoulders, "My hero!" She kisses his cheek and then slides her legs around his neck. Taurence gently moves his arms underneath her and gently scoops her up off the ground. He steps forward and nods to Zed. Zed shares a quick look with the others in his team and turns back to the guards, "We're ready to go with you, officers."