Relics of a Savage Past

by maxxxxxx

The bow

The six mares trotted through the spacious grasslands, coalescing into smaller groups of conversation to keep themselves occupied. Their hooves and wings were sore and the day was only half over, hours of walking lay ahead. Twilight held the blank map suspended in her magic, examining it as she had on and off for hours. A frustrated growl escaped her throat as she rolled the map back up, stuffing it into a pouch in her dull green bag that rested on her back.

“Still nothing?” Rainbow Dash said, prompted by Twilight's outburst. Twilight had told everypony to stay together just in case, and Dash didn't want to fly on ahead with the ever present chance that one of those things would come after them. She had watched her friend hold the map in every position possible, looking at it in different angles under different levels of light, but nothing changed. Her attempts to unlock it's secrets through her magic also failed, much to the small herd's surprise. Twilight turned to Rainbow with an exasperated sigh.

“No, not a thing. If all we have to go on is that they haven't attacked anything in the west, we could be searching for a very long time.”

“We don't have a very long time Twi! Ponies could be dying right now!”

“I know... I'm doing the best I can Dash. I know that if I don't get this map to work many more ponies will die. I- I just don't know what to do, I've tried everything, really I have. ” Tears began to well up in Twilight's eyes as she thought of the lives that could be right as they spoke, being snuffed out. She shut her eyes tight, squeezing small drops from their corners. I failed. I failed the princess, I failed Ponyville... All those poor ponies that- that died. A tender hoof was gently placed on her shoulder, pulling her mind away from the crushing guilt she was drowning herself in. Opening her eyes, Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash, her face wore a reassuring smile, one that instilled both confidence and compassion.

“I know Twi, I'm sorry. We all know what's at stake, and you of all ponies don't need to be reminded of it. Princess Celestia was right, if anypony can figure out that map it's you. It'll come to you, just take it easy.” Rainbow retracted her hoof, but held her eyes and smile on her friend. With a sniffle, Twilight wiped her eyes with her foreleg and returned a grateful smile.

“Thank you Rainbow, you're right, we just need to keep calm. Like I said, with the six of us together we can do anything.”

“That's right we can! Especially with me on this mission!” Dash boasted, taking to the air and gesturing to her chest with her hoof. With a lighthearted giggle Twilight shook her head, the two proceeded forward, their spirits raised. Though, for the yellow pegasus that walked only a short distance behind them, her spirit was anything but elevated. Nervously, Fluttershy's eyes darted back and forth, scanning the horizon and her surroundings. Her ears twitched at every unknown sound.

T-this was a bad idea, we shouldn't be out here like this. Celestia should have sent the entire royal guard or the Wonderbolts or anypony else. I can't face that thing again, I just can't! I want to be home, I want to be safe! Dash nearly died saving my life, now because of that, she's permanently disfigured. I shouldn't be here, I'll just get somepony killed. Why? Why did they bring me? If that thing comes back, I don't know what I'll do. I- I just want this to stop! Fluttershy began trembling as she thought back to their first encounter with that monster. She could replay it perfectly in her mind, as much as she wished she could just forget it. She especially remember the blood, dripping onto her from her friend. Then, the claws. Those long menacing claws that haunted her thoughts. I don't want to go through that again. As Fluttershy struggled against her mounting panic, Pinkie Pie jauntily bounced up to her.

“Hey, why the long face?” She gave an exaggerated frown.

“I- I'm just scared, like always.” She lowered her head in shame.

“Aw, don't worry! Aunty Pie promises she wont let any scary monster hurt you!” Her frown broke into a happy grin as she pulled Fluttershy into a tight hug. Though the pegasus didn't share her enthusiasm.

“That's what I'm afraid of...” she whispered. As Pinkie tried to comfort Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity took the rear of the group.

“Ah can't stop worrying about Apple Bloom.” Applejack said, breaking the lengthy silence between the two mares.

“I know how you feel, I shutter every time I think of poor Sweetie Belle being all alone with those things on the loose.” Rarity concurred, turning her head towards the now distant Ponyville with a fretful look.

“According to the letter the princess sent us before we left, looks like none of the places that those things attacked got hit twice. Guess Dash was right, they were looking for those relics. It didn't find anything in Ponyville so they should be safe.” Applejack prayed she was right as she imagined what that thing could do to her family. She knew that leaving their town alone to search for the relics had left them all weary and worried for the folks back home. All their friends and family. But they also knew that some of them had friends and family outside Ponyville, and that all of them could be in danger. It was a tough choice, but she knew they were doing the right thing.

“I really hope you're right Applejack I-” Rarity began, but was cut off as she bumped into Fluttershy, who was standing frozen facing towards her.

“Fluttershy dear? What's the matter?” Fluttershy didn't answer, only staring off far behind the mares with a petrified expression. Her lips quivered and her breathing became rapid and shallow.

“I- it's... No! I- I have to-” She sputtered, fear overwhelming her ability to speak.

“Everypony run!” Rainbow's voice echoed through the valley. All eyes but Fluttershy's looked to her, floating in mid air with her hoof pointed to where Fluttershy's eyes were glued. As what was happening dawned on everypony, they whipped around. Rapidly approaching the herd was the metallic monster, its long claws drawn. It was too late to out run it, it was already nearly upon them.

“In the air now!” Twilight commanded. On cue, as they had practiced, Rainbow and Twilight flew towards their flightless friends. Rainbow grabbing Rarity and Twilight following behind carrying Applejack. Looking back, Dash's heat skipped a beat. The monster was only meters away and Fluttershy was paralyzed with terror. She stared at it as it came closer, her eyes wide and heart pounding.

“Fluttershy! Fly away!” Dash screamed, fighting her instinct to save her friend. No! I can't drop Rarity! There's nothing I can do! Gritting her teeth she ascended higher into the air, out of reach of the menacing claws. She took a deep breath and shouted, “Pinkie! Save her!”

“Got it!” Pinkie called back only a moment before tackling Fluttershy as hard as she could, sending her flying more than two of her own body lengths. Deftly, Pinky back hopped just as the shiny steel blades sliced into the earth. She skidded back, her hooves sliding along the smooth grass. The beast lurched back, its head swiveling towards Fluttershy before it ripped its long nails from the dirt.

“Twilight do something!” Rainbow cried pleadingly as she turned toward Twilight who hovered in the air beside her. With an unsure glance at the monster her horn began to light up. As she thought, no sooner than as she began her spell, the high pitch whistle screeched from the thing, even as high up as she was it held the same painful effect as her horn fizzled out. A splitting headache struck her as the sound blared into her mind. In her reflexive wince of pain she nearly dropped Applejack who was holding on to Twilight for dear life. Twilight's eyes reflected the fear in Dash's as she looked helplessly back at her friend. With a determined growl Rainbow bared her teeth.

“Rarity, hold out your back legs and hold on tight!” Before Rarity could question her, Dash dived at high speed towards the monster.

“You get away from her you meanie!” Pinkie yelled as the creature stomped up to Fluttershy, who could one sit and stare as it approached and drew back it's claws. Tears silently poured down her muzzle and she mouthed the same word over and over. 'No'

“Now!” Dash yelled as Rarity swung her hind legs out, locking her joints for maximum impact and preparing for the pain she was sure she was in for. With a loud ding her hooves struck the back of its head, which consisted of the back side of the thin plate that made up its face and the central column that ran it's length. She winced as the pain shot up her legs, but the force of the impact was enough to knock it off balance as it staggered forward, catching it's self with it's claw in the ground. Struggling under the weight and speed, Rainbow furiously flapped her wings, lactic acid searing at her muscles. Pinkie swiftly darted around the beast and grabbed hold of Fluttershy, yanking her nearly limp body away and throwing her friend onto her back. Rearing onto her hind legs, Pinkie put her hooves under Fluttershy's wings and spread them.

“Fluttershy! Fly!” Her five friends screamed simultaneously. Her eyes were shut tight and she and Pinkie remained grounded. They all watched helplessly as the monster stood. Suddenly, Fluttershy's eyes shot open and her body flooded with adrenaline as it's claws slid against one another, producing that dreadful sound.

“No!” Fluttershy yelled in a chilling, high pitched screamed. On instinct she wrapped her hooves around Pinkie and ascended into the air towards her friends faster than any of them had seen her fly before. In only a moment, they were all out of it's reach, and breather a mostly collective sigh of relief.

“So what's the plan now Twilight?” Applejack looked up towards her friend who was the only thing keeping her from the ground.

“We fly west until out wings give out. I want to put as much distance between us and that thing as possible,” Twilight said looking back down at it. It paced around in a circle, looking up at them with it's soulless mask.

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Applejack concurred, shooting an angry look down towards it.

“Rarity, you alright?” Rainbow said apologetically. “Sorry, I just didn't know what else to do.”

“Yes, I'm alright dear. I'm just thankful we all got away in one piece.”

“Yeah, so am I.” Rainbow looked from her passenger back to Twilight. “Twi, we should get moving. My wings are already sore and we need to cover a lot of distance.”

“You're right. Let's get moving. I don't know how much longer my wings have either.” With a nod from Rainbow Dash, Twilight turned westward, their original course. A shout from Applejack stopped her in mid air.

“Twilight the map!” Applejack watched as the rolled up paper fell by her, plummeting towards the ground.

“I got it!” Pinkie yelled triumphantly as she swung her legs out, catching the map between her back hooves mid fall. Lifting her lower body she brought her lets up in front of Fluttershy's face. “Here,” Pinkie said amiably to the still shaken pegasus.

“O- okay...” She said softly as she took the parchment between her teeth. Twilight wiped her brow with her foreleg and gave a silent sigh before beginning to glide forward once again. Rainbow followed close behind.

“We are supposed to be heading west correct?” Rarity mused out loud.

“That's the plan. Why?” Rainbow said keeping her eyes forward.

“Because I think Fluttershy is heading south.” At once they all came to a stop and turned. Indeed, Fluttershy had separated from the group and was flying south fast with Pinkie Pie.

“Where in Equestria is going on with her?!” Dash growled impatiently.

“I don't know but we need to follow her. Come on!” Twilight said. Banking in the direction Fluttershy was speeding off to, Twilight and Rainbow followed as quickly as they could.

She's flying fast and in a straight line. Where does that mare mare think she's going? She's been acting really shaken since the first attack but this doesn't make any sense at all? Fluttershy, what's happening to you? Worry overtook Dash's anger as she hastened to follow her friend.
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She glided silently, her dull eyes blank, devoid of any feelings or thoughts as she soared over the canopy of a small forest. Pinkie, having long since given up on trying to talk to Fluttershy, hung there quietly, picking shapes out of clouds. Suddenly, with a rush of air, she found the pegasus falling into a high speed dive towards the trees as she retracted her wings.

“Um, aren't we going maybe a teensy tiny bit too fast?” Pinkie looked wearily at the rapidly approaching canopy. Fluttershy remained stoic and mute. Her face remained expressionless as they plunged through the trees. Branches and vines smacked into their faces until the ground came in to view. Just inches before the pair would have slammed at full speed into the ground Fluttershy's wings flourish open like a parachute, breaking their fall. With one powerful beat of her wings she elevated once more before easing into a gently glide. She released Pinkie, the pink mare tumbling on the ground before coming to a stop. Shaking off the dirt and twigs she spat out several small leaves that she had inhaled.

“And I thought train food was bad! Bleh!” Pinkie quipped as she got to her hooves. “Fluttershy?” She called out, looking around the dimly light woods, the tall trees selfishly obscuring the sunlight. A rustle in the brush behind her caught her attention as she saw a flowing pink tail slip deeper into the forest.

“Pinkie! Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash called amidst Rarity's grumbles and they landed in on the forest floor, followed closely by Twilight and Applejack.

“Rainbow Dash, next time to you think you could at least try to avoid some of the branches?” Rarity scoffed.

“You think that was bad? I think I ate a caterpillar!” Pinkie counted as she tried to hack up the suspected insect.

“Girls, we have bigger problems!” Twilight intervened. “Pinkie, where is Fluttershy?”

“Oh, she went that way!” Pinkie pointed her hoof where she said her friend's tail vanish.

“What are we waiting for! Let's go!” Rainbow Dash said as she took off after her friend, every thought of what might happen to her playing through her mind as she tore through saplings and branches. Hang on Fluttershy, I'm coming for you! Behind her she could hear with wings and hooves of her friends trying to keep up. A small pink and yellow figure up ahead caught Dash's eye, slowing down accordingly she landed right beside her. The blank map was laying crumpled on in the dirt beneath her. She was nearly curled up in a ball as she looked over a particularly large fallen log.

“Fluttershy, what's-” A swift hoof pressed against Dash's lips silencing her, but Fluttershy's eyes didn't avert, they were fixed on what lay over the log. Two monsters paced back and forth. They were far enough away that Dash knew, had they noticed them, they would still have time to flee. The trudging through the growth came louder as Twilight and the others caught up. Dash turned to them, gesturing with a hoof to her lips to keep quite. The urgency in her movement brought them to a stop as they all wearily looked around. With her head, Dash motioned them to come closer, cautiously they approached.

“What is it Rainbow?” Twilight said in a hushed tone.

“There's two of those things, those monsters, just up ahead.”

“Then we need to leave. Fluttershy, do you still have the map?” Twilight turned to Fluttershy, but no answer came. Instead, with a motion of her hoof, Fluttershy beckoned her to look over the downed tree. After a moment of debate within herself, she gave in and peered over. It was just as Dash had said, two of those monsters were pacing back and forth at regular intervals. Squinting her eyes, Twilight saw what lay beyond them. A raised stone structure jutted out from the leafy floor, mushrooming into a flat platform surrounded by a luminescent field of light. Within it was an object Twilight had never seen the likes of. No matter how she looked at it, the strange object, both in composition and structure, was unique to her. A long dark, metal object, at least as long as an average pony, with an elongated but thin circular tube extended from its other, wider end that possessed several part protruding from it. A flexible strap was anchored to it's sides.

“What is that?” Twilight asked in awe and confusion, not expecting and answer. To her surprise, an answer came.

“That's a relic. It's the bow.” Fluttershy said with an almost entranced voice. All eyes turned to Fluttershy, her own eyes fixated on the supposed relic.

“H-how do you know that sugar cube?” Applejack looked over to the relic, no matter how she looked, it bared no resemblance to a bow.

“The map told me,” Fluttershy said simply.

“It told you? Like... it talked?” Twilight held back her astonishment.

“Not exactly, but it showed me... It's really hard to explain but you have to believe me, that's the bow and we need to get it!” She faced Twilight, her voice earnest and her eyes alight with conviction. For a long moment, Twilight didn't know what to say, the jarring shift in her friend's actions and demeanor making her unnerved.

“Alright... we have the element of surprise, they don't seem to have noticed us yet. Rainbow, we'll distract them and give you an opening, as soon as you see it, grab the relic and we'll all run. Fluttershy, will you be okay? Maybe you should wait here.” As much as it pained her, Twilight knew that she was unstable. Fluttershy had nearly cost both Dash and Pinkie their lives, they way she was acting, she didn't want to risk anypony else. With a fearful glance at the monsters guarding their target, Fluttershy shook her head.

“No, I think I should wait here...” she said, looking at the ground in shame.

“It's alright Fluttershy, you found the relic, we'll do the rest.” Turning from the downcast pegasus, Twilight looked to her friends. “Is everypony else ready?” With a unanimous nod affirming it, they were ready.

“I only have one shot with my magic, I'll use a spell to separate them, then move in.” Readying herself for a fight, Twilight began charging her horn. Suddenly, the blaring whistle sounded and her magic fizzled out as pain surged through her head.

“No! They know we're here! Move n-” Before she could say another word, a monster leaped up from behind the tree, claws ready to tear into their flesh. Screams rang out as the six scattered, ducking behind trees and under the log.

“Dash! The relic!” It's automatic! They don't even need to see us to sense magic! But, I got at least one spell in back in Ponyville!?

“I'm on it!” Rainbow flapped her wings, jettisoning into the air, leaving behind her characteristic colored trail as she raced towards the relic.

“Right behind you Dashie!” Pinkie yelled, running right behind Rainbow. The second monster sprang from their side, and charged at them.

“Pinkie Pie look out!” Dash yelled, looking back at her friend right in the beasts path, fighting herself not to turn and help.

“It's okay! I've got it!” Suddenly Pinkie came to a dead stop just before she would have collided with it. It's momentum so great that it slid along the ground right past Pinkie. In a blur it spun around and charged once again. Pinkie stayed put as it sprinted for her until it was less than a meter away, right within range of it's claws. Stomping its foot forward it drew it's arm back, preparing to swing down with all it's force. Then, with breathtaking acceleration it's arm released, swinging down at the mare. Merely a split second before being cut to pieces, Pinkie launched herself between its legs, getting behind it and keeping herself tight against the back of it's leg.

“bleh!” Pinkie jeered, sticking her tongue out,“bet you can't catch me!” The monster sung its leg back, trying to turn bring her into range of it's deadly blades, but the small pony proved too agile. Rainbow Dash, satisfied that Pinkie could take care of herself, brought her eyes forward with a cocky smile. The stone structure was only feet away now. Looks like we're getting better at this! Those things aren't so tough! With renewed confidence she sped up, reaching her hooves out towards the bow. The moment she made contact with the glowing sphere surrounding it, it pulsed with an intensely bright light. A surge of energy tore through her body, singeing hairs and kicking her backwards, slamming her to the ground and leaving her in a daze. Her body convulsed as residual bolts electrocuted her muscles.

“Rainbow!” Twilight cried as she watched her friend get thrown by the immense energy. She ran to her friend's aide as fast as she could.

“Twilight, watch out! It's coming after you!” Rarity screamed as her pursuer detached and made a bee line for the alicorn. Twilight dipped under the space between the ground and the fallen tree, but the monster simply sliced through it with it's razor claws unabated. As she ran towards Dash, from the corner of her eyes she could see the one Pinkie was distracting losing interest in her and also running at Rainbow. No! They aren't after me! How could I be so stupid, they go after the easiest target! In a streak of orange, Applejack rammed herself head first into the leg of the creature that was nearly at Twilight's tail. She focused all her weight on the back of its knee's joint, successfully toppling it.

“Keep going Twilight! Ah can keep this one busy! Save Rainbow!” Applejack called out as she stepped between it and her friends. Following Applejack's lead, Pinkie to slammed full force into it's knee, knocking it down as well.

What do we do when I get to her?! She can't fly in her condition and we can't keep these things busy forever. With Dash out we only have two fliers, these things will catch anypony on hoof, somepony would have to get left behind! All of us can't get out of this! What do I do? I can't lose anypony, I just won't! Her eyes became cloudy with tears as she came to a stop beside Rainbow Dash, crushing hopelessness, nearly bringing her to the ground.

“I'm so sorry... I did this, I- I think I just cost us our lives. Forgive me girls... forgive me.” Through her hazy eyes, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure by the stone alter that housed the bow. She was reaching out a hoof towards the bubble of energy.

“No! Fluttershy don't touch it!” Twilight's plea came too late as Fluttershy's hoof made contact with the white sphere. She shut her eyes tight, unwilling to watch. After a moment, when no sound came, she reopened her eyes, then stared in amazement. The pure white sphere had changed to a light yellow, matching that of Fluttershy's coat, then the bubble vanished. She stared at the object for a long moment, taking in it's every detail. Before she knew it, her hoof was slowly reaching for it.

“Their coming for ya! Get out of there!” Applejack warned as the two monsters charged.

“Fluttershy, we have to go!” Twilight grabbed Dash's coat at the back of her neck between her teeth, and pulled. Fluttershy seemed completely enamored with the bow as she took it into her hooves. Twilight stopped, terror struck as the two monsters jumped at once at them from opposite sides. There was nowhere to run. Twilight threw herself over Rainbow Dash and shut her eyes tight. Suddenly, a loud crashing sound rang from above her. Looking up all she could see was a blur of yellow and silver. Fluttershy had lunged at the monster, slamming the bow into it's head. The sheer force of the impact from the fat end of the unusual bow crumpling its faceplate like paper as the hit sent it skipping across the forest floor, coming to a stop only by slamming into a tree.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight said in slack jawed bewilderment. Her friend landed between the injured monster and herself. The remaining creature had been knocked away, it slowly stood as though the impact had stunned it. Fluttershy stood on her hind legs, her tail and wings keeping her balanced as she held the long, metal bow, ready to strike with it's blunt end. In a flash, the monster with the disfigured face jumped up and ran at full speed towards her. Just like Pinkie, she didn't move. Waiting for the moment when it reared back it's claw for the strike, and so it did. However, she held her ground. With a twirl of her bow she intercepted the claws, dinging loudly against her weapon, but it didn't even scratch. Almost effortlessly, she repelled it's arm and ducked low, narrowly avoiding the second swipe of its other arm, it's blade cutting off fine strands of her mane. Without missing a beat she dropped her one hood and swept her hind leg under it, forcing it to crash to the floor once again.

“Fluttershy! Behind you!” Rarity called from behind a tree. Is that truly sweet, timid Fluttershy? I knew she was capable of bravery but nothing quite like this! What in Equestria has gotten into her?

Without turning as the other monster charged she pulled back on a mechanism on the bow. As she plunged the metal piece back into place it clicked with a very distinct sound. The beast swung it's claw without the wind up, in one fluid motion. Twilight almost again shut her eyes, but, something compelled her to watch. As though she had eyes in the back of her head she fell to the ground, rolling in the dirt out of the way of the blades. The moment she was on her back she aimed the hole of thin cylinder at the creature as it turned towards her for round two. It was only in that instant that Twilight could see her face. It was stark and focused, her eyes narrowed and her body steady. Suddenly...

Bang!

A deafening crack exploded from the bow. Shrapnel was sheered from the monsters body as was torn to pieces by an invisible force. The force was so great that it's mangled body was sent flying along with its various parts that were no longer attached. Carefully, Twilight followed the trajectory of the hole that was made in the creature. At the end of that path, a deep circular hole was left in the trunk of a large tree. Quickly, Fluttershy got to her hooves, and hurried over to the remaining monster that was just now beginning to stagger to it's feet. Before it could, she was there, hovering the tube of the bow over its face. It was only now that her expression changed. Fear, anger, remorse, compassion and rage all torrented through her eyes as tears began pouring from their corners. Her breathing became rapid and shallow as the it looked down the metal tube, and then at her. Her breathing sped up even more and her body trembled. Clenching her jaw, she somehow pulled a small mechanism at the bottom of the bow and the explosion rang out once again.

The monster's face and neck were unrecognizable as shards of metal imbedded themselves into the ground and nearby trees. It went limp and fell to the ground, leaving Fluttershy standing over it. Tears flowed down her cheeks, dripping on to it's body and the forest floor. The bow was held tight in the position she had fired it, her face contorted with anger and regret.

“T- Twi... Fluttershy, she did all that.” Rainbow Dash sat up, her pain all but forgotten as she stared stupefied at her once meek friend.

“Y-yes... she did.” Twilight whispered in equal astonishment.

“Help me over there Twilight, she needs help.” Dash got to her hooves and, with Twilight's shoulder to lean on, limped to Fluttershy's side.

“Shy, it's okay,” Rainbow said softly, detaching from Twilight. “It's over now.” Dash placed her hoof on the bow, which she found surprisingly warm, and lowed it's end to the ground. “You did what you had to, you saved all our lives and, I'm proud of you Fluttershy. So don't cry okay?”

“Y-yes... I didn't have a choice. It was them or us. I- I did the right thing Rainbow. It was the right thing.” Her breaths steadied and she dropped to all fours, bringing her head through trough the strap, allowing the bow to rest against her side. It seemed a perfect fit. She began to wipe away her tears as Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie joined her around the metal corpse.

“That was amazing Fluttershy,” Applejack said trying to lighten the mood, “how did ya know how to use that bow?”

“This isn't a bow.” Swaying her body slightly she brought the not bow into her hoof and stood it on it's wide end. She smiled up at it before continuing. “This is the Blue Jay fifty caliber anti material high precision rifle. It it's the most advanced gun of it's kind, in the right hooves it can hit a target over three kilometers away. It's shell is made out of ultra high strength compressed carbon nanotubes, making it harder than diamond but lighter than titanium. It's skeleton is made out of high quality steel alloys. The barrel is lined with high durability ceramic that resists warping at extreme temperatures to ensure accuracy. It uses the most advanced quantum compression and decompression to store over a thousand rounds in minimal space. The exit velocity of the standard anti personnel round is four-thousand feet per second. It comes equipped with three types of rounds including depleted uranium high kinetic rounds.” She practically cooed as she spoke, her eyes enamored with her rifle as though under a trance.

“How do you know all that?” Twilight voiced one of the many questions on everypony's minds, evident by the agreeing nods and dumbfounded looks. Fluttershy didn't take her eyes off the rifle for even a moment as she responded.

“I- I don't know. It's like with the map, it just... told me. I knew how to use it perfectly as soon as I touched it. It felt great, I wasn't afraid. I could do anything!” Then, her eyes drifted to the mangled scraps left over from the confrontation. She stared at them for a few, drawn out seconds before her expression again became stoic before she continued, “and I did... Let's leave, we have six more relics to find and there are bound to be more of these things.” She swung her rifle onto her back before spinning around and trotting off, leaving her bewildered friends worried and confused, and all looking instinctively to Twilight.

“I don't know girls, but she's right, if the other relics are anything the that bo- like that rifle, we can't let these things get to them. I'll see if there's more to that rifle once we stop for the night, until then, let's follow her.” Twilight reason, sound as ever, put her friends at ease as they followed her and Fluttershy through the trees. Fluttershy marched ahead, her mind flooded with power and adrenaline, but also, an unexpected clarity.

That was amazing! I- I've never felt anything like that. I knew how strong I could be. I was fast, I was brave and I was accurate. I know I can do it again and again. With this rifle, I'll never be scared again. With this rifle, I'm free.