//------------------------------// // 14. Attacked // Story: SweetieMash Minecraft Adventures : Return of the Nightmare. // by CristalGalaxy //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle's ear perked up as she heard a small whisper coming from her left. Rumble...? She opened her muzzle to ask what he was saying, when a muffled "Ooof!" followed by a groan of pain echoed through the cave. Heavy hoof steps could be heard throughout the cramped up space. The atmosphere became heavy. Something was wrong... Fear rippled through Sweetie Belle's body and she almost screamed when something pressed against her. But she recognised the reassuring fur of her coltfriend and a wave of relief emanated from her. "Something's not right," whispered Button, just as something came crashing into him. Sweetie screamed loudly and grabbed his hoof in a desperate attempt to hold him up. But a sticky substance ran down her own hoof and she shivered. Celestia, she knew that substance all too well... Her mind went numb as memories came flooding back, blocking any logical way of thinking and therefor cutting out any chance of getting away. Sweetie's ears shot down... then up again when she heard a familiar voice shouting instructions nearby : "Get Rumble, Diamond! We gotta get 'em all outta here fast! Scoots is preparin' all the food out there, so that means we can heal them!" "Yup, he's here! But... I can see something else! It's... pretty big... What is it...?" Diamond's inquiring voice made Sweetie Belle jump. Not knowing was dangerous in this world... Her mind fazed away as she thought of what could be standing directly in front of Diamond Tiara, perhaps preparing to kill her in a single strike. Button's hoof moved a little in hers, bringing her back to reality and she screamed hysterically, more memories and pictures entering her brain. She couldn't loose her friends...! She just couldn't! "Get away from that Diamond! Don't die!" Her cries bounced off the walls. A torch was lit and Sweetie saw Diamond Tiara at a few hoofsteps away, staring at her with suprise. She was supporting Rumble who was sweating in pain. The sudden outburst was still echoing along the cave... But neither Applebloom nor Sweetie Belle were paying attention to that anymore. All that mattered was the huge dark green, ugly and menacing unicorn who was directly staring down at Diamond Tiara's mane with his beady little eyes. It was at least twice their size, all making them wonder how the hell it could fit in such a tight cave. It seemed curious and blinked a few times as if it was the first time he had seen something it could kill. But then it levitated it's giant hoof up, preparing to strike Diamond's head and crush it. Button's hoof disappeared from Sweetie's and, in a flash, he was pushing Diamond out of the way of the thing. They both grunted as they fell on the hard and cold floor. Although they had forgotten about Rumble, who had passed out a few minutes ago and had sadly been too heavy to push away alongside Diamond. Sweetie Belle cried in anger and despair as she saw his leg get crushed under the thing's arm. Tears came up to her eyes and she brought her sword out, trying to ignore Applebloom's sobs, pushing away her own. This wasn't a game. She was supposed to have learned that long ago, but the fake safety that her friends had provided her couldn't last forever. Her gaze hardened and she charged the thing with a scream... It didn't really process what was happening and took the first hit with a loud groan. But it then reacted and tried to grab Sweetie Belle, who was dodging his magic blasts. Good thing it was slow. Sweetie was throwing her own green blasts at him, but they didn't have much effect on it, barely scratching it or burning for a second before flickering away with a little 'poof! And before she knew it, the thing had managed to grab her and was pulling her forward with it's magic. Sweetie heard a shout coming from her left as she desperatly tried to wiggle out of the thing's grasp. She had now arrived at the height of it's head, and immediatly knew those tiny little black and souless eyes were going to haunt her dreams for a long time. Finally, just as she was loosing hope, pink hooves took her away, yanking her off the gravitational pull the magic had created. In the corner of her eye, she saw Applebloom pulling Button towards the exit, Rumble on her back. Something hit the ground next to Diamond and her, so she rolled to the side, barely avoiding another hit that halfway cracked the stone where they had been a second ago. Deciding this was probably the best time to run, Sweetie scrambled to her hooves and forced her friend to do the same. They both darted for the cave entrance before the white unicorn remembered something. She left Diamond embrace the sunlight outside and turned back into the depths of the dark cave. "What the heck do ya think you're doing?!" screamed Applebloom behind her. "Sweetie Belle!" Button cried out, but his voice wasn't as loud, proof of his current weakness. The unicorn didn't reply to any of them and continued galloping forward. She knew exactly where that coward chicken was hiding and it didn't seem too hard to get to. Her breath became a little unsteady when she rushed pass the beast, but it was fortunatly too slow to realise that his enemy was running pass him. In the corner of her eye, she saw the name tag 'Ogre' appear. Yeah, that certainly was the perfect name! Sweetie finally arrived at the place where she had slept while recovering, and saw a leather boot lying on the ground. It was one she had left behind... And inside that small leather boot, a small head popped out. Sweetie Belle let a smile curl up on her lips as she opened her arms. Helper ran to them and buried his beak in her fur, softly clucking. His feathers were slightly shaking. Thank Celestia... Now I've gotta get back to the others! she thought while standing up. She trotted forwards as silently as she could, before starting to gallop when she neared the place where the Ogre was. It once again tried to catch her and once again failed. Sweetie Belle victoriously grinned. Although apparently this time the ogre had enough of loosing. So it did the only possible thing there was to do : It ran after her. The unicorn's smile faded and she found herself screaming as she neared the exit of the cave. Three curious heads popped out from the sunlight and immediatly started placing blocks to cover up the entrance. Sweetie could hear the heavy hoofsteps behind her and breathed out in relief as she jumped out the cave. Scootaloo silently cursed as she fumbled with the cobblestone to block the thing in, panick making her loose her grip. Sweetie Belle didn't help out, already knowing they were going to make it in time considering how slow the ogre ran. Helper shook himself and blinked a few times at her. She let out a stressed laugh and patted his head : "We're out boy! We made it!" But the chicken wasn't looking in her direction. He seemed to be staring at what had cast a sudden shadow over them both. So Sweetie turned around... to face Button's cold eyes and strict frown. His head was still bleeding from the hit he had gotten, although the wounds were now closing up. His usually cheerful face was just... so... terrifying! His muzzle was scrunched up and his chin lifted high. Sweetie Belle gulped as he leaned in. Never had she seen him so angry. "Never do that again you hear?" he said, staring at her with the iciest glare she had ever seen. "Never." Then he turned his tail and walked away, furious. Sweetie froze. Amongst the silence, Helper gave out a small, sorry cluck.