> Shadow Boxer
>  by commander sweetie belle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: sucker punched (revised) 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If celestia ever have gave mankind a gift it would be ICantThingOfAName. Thanks for editing this chapter!

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"Why is it so bloody hot today?" I wonder as I peddle my bike down the street, sweat dripping from every part of my body. Ok, maybe deciding to take my bike instead of driving my - perfectly good - car was stupid after all. But I was the one who thought it would be a good "warm up" for class, idiot. 

And this heavy black karate uniform didn't help; I mean really, this thing was 14 oz. at least for god’s sake. At least Master Clayton didn't make me carry all of my training gear. Just my belt, hand wraps, mouth piece, and the top to my GI. All of which was currently in my duffle bag, that I have slung around my shoulder. 

I started taking my bike to classes when I was about 12. My parents didn't spend much time at home, so I never spent much time with them growing up, and riding my bike is better than sitting at home with nothing to do. Now the habit’s just stuck with me, I guess. 

As I turn onto the dried canal that cuts straight through the city, a dog starts barking at me from behind a fenced off yard. "How can you have the energy to get so worked up in this heat?" I say to myself as I keep peddling down the rocky path. 

I like dogs; I had one as a kid named strawberry. Since I didn't see my parents much and I don't have any siblings, she became my best friend. We would wrestle around, or go play in a nearby park. She would even just chill with me when I was busy with something. It was a really sad day when she passed; I think I cried for a week straight. I never got another dog after her; I just never wanted to replace her.

But that was years ago, and I moved out of that little farm town when I started college. At least now there are other people within a 15 mile radius of my house, I mean really who could live in such a secluded little hole? It sucks! There's no one to talk to, and the only things to do is farming or practice martial arts. And I really hated farm work!

I stopped paying attention. I mean, the path I was on is a dried up canal, with only two directions, so it’s not like I can get lost or anything. So I just keep peddling, cursing this stupid sun, and its desire to rain down its heat on me.

Then out of nowhere a blast of white light smacks me right in my face. Before I can figure out what the hell happened I hit something; throwing me head first over the handle bars, my bag flipping over me as I landed flat on my back. I lay there on the cold stone floor. My head still spinning from the light, or the landing, hell I don't know! 

All I know is that I crashed, my head hurts, and I'm lying in some cold, damp mud. Wait... what? I roll over to my side, as I try and blink some sense back into my eyes. Finally, my vision starts to clear a bit, letting me see the wet cave wall that I was lying next to. Ok? I have never been so confused in my life. I slowly start to push myself up as I look around, to see that I was indeed in a cave.

"What the hell?" I try to say, only to be met with a burning sensation in my throat that makes me start coughing like a veteran smoker. The pain makes me put a hand to my throat, and lean over like I'm about to throw up. "Ok, not going to try that again anytime soon." I think to myself as I looked down.

That's when I noticed the floor, it was filled with small rocks over a soft mud bed, and just a little water was running in between the rocks keeping everything damp. I looked up to see what, if I had to guess, was an underground river. "How the hell did I get underground?" I think to myself as I look up at my new roof. 

There where strings of what looked like moss, dangling from some of the rocks that shot out from the ceiling. What where they called again, oh, right stalactites! Then it hits me, "I was somehow magically teleported underground, to who knows where, and I'm thinking about rocks," I facepalmed. "I'm an idiot!" the moss dangling from the ceiling gave off a green glow that provided light to the cave. It wasn't much, but I could see.

"I need to find a way out of here,” I think as I look for some... thing! I look behind me and noticed something that really throws me for a loop, a tree. For the first time sense I have been here I get on my feet, the lightweight of my bag reminds me that I still have it, And start to make my way over to the tree. It looked like it was a normal fruit tree, with long vines that hang down, large orange orbs dangled all over the vines.

As I start to make my way over to it I see something small moving along the base of the tree. Little creatures that looked almost like… frogs? Well, not really like frogs, their eyes were on two stalks that shot out from their head, and they each had one large fang that looked way too big for their little bodies. 

They were hopping around gathering the fruits from the tree, while the largest one used his one oversized tooth to spear the gathered food. He then sucked at the wound he made, and threw the fruit husk to the side when it was sucked dry, before moving on to the next one. The big one was about the size of my bag, while all the other ones looked the same size as footballs. Each one with a fang that was roughly half as long as its body.

It was incredible, they looked like little aliens. And I discovered them! Animal Planet is going to start doing back flips for the little guys, I bet they will even brake out a contract to get my own show, right on the spot!

But before I could sign anything, a green glob falls from the ceiling right in the middle of my little frogs. Everything stopped as every eye looked at the green blob. Then it slowly started to move, letting its head come out of its goopy looking body. The thing was glowing a silky green just like the ceiling. Just when I released that it was some sort of grub, all at once the frogs jumped on it. Each piercing the grub with a fang repeatedly and sucking at the bleeding holes. I never seen anything like it, they ripped it apart like it was nothing. Without me realizing it I gave out a little whistle as I watched the barbaric act of nature.

It only took 2 seconds for me to realize my mistake, as the little frog like creatures turned from the grub that was now nothing but an empty bag of flesh, and looked at me. I took as step back, keeping my eyes on the frogs. "Ok, Animal Planet can keep their contract." Then all at once they charged after me. 

The first one got right up to me faster than I expected. Not that it would be hard; I didn't try and run or anything, instead I let it get right next to me before I kicked it like I was trying to make a field goal. The little thing went flying as the other ones came at me. When they got into range, I started playing the weirdest game of kick the can (or frog thing) that you have ever seen. Maybe I should have felt bad about doing this, but hey, why not?

That's when I kicked one that was in midair, his mouth open and fang pointing right at me as he leaped at me. He went flying just like the rest of them. But I did feel a slight twinge of pain from him hitting my ankle.

As I continued to stomp, or send flying little frogs everywhere, I started to lose focus, and everything started to look like it was under water. "Crap." I don't know what happened, but now my leg is going numb. "If I lose it now the little buggers are going to kill me." I think as I try and fend them off. "As much as I hate to say it, I need to get away from these things." 

With that I sweep up my bag in my arms and start to run, it was more of a weird limp/skip thing but whatever you call it, I got away from those little monsters. I didn't see my bike anywhere, and I didn't have time to look, with my mind starting to get foggy.

Finely I got away from the little monsters, not that it did much good, and my head was still cloudy. I looked down at my leg that was still a little numb, I didn't see anything wrong with it but everything was still hazy. Now people will tell you that when you are in this kind of situation, that it’s best to hold still. But what no one ever tells you is that when you can't think straight, you don't do the smartest things.

So as it turns out, the only thing I can think of doing is put on my GI top and belt, then wrapping my hands and throwing my bag back over my shoulders. I know, not exactly helpful, but I did it. I then started to make my way through the cave in my drunken state, hoping that I could find a way to escape, before something else finds me.

                                                                                                                            

Life unfolds on a great sheet called time, and once finished it is gone forever.   – Chinese adage
> Chapter 1: new contender (revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thinks to ICantThinkOfAName and Roc Sighfor editing this chapter!

.                                                                                                                                


“Cage, I need you to get more cave slugs,” said the store owner to a white pegasus stallion with three small birds as a cutie mark, who was bringing bags of food into the small pet store. 

“Come on Mr. Flank, you can’t tell me Rick wants more of them.” replied Cage, as he lifted the last bag of food onto a shelf. “That’s, what, the sixth one this month?

“Yeah, how can that guy want more of those nasty, gooey bugs?” said Nickel, a silver pegasus mare, with a short rusty red mane.

Mr. Flank - a grey earth pony with a short green mane and tail - shot both of them a cross look. 

“First off, you don’t call him Rick. You call him Mr. Rose. And second, it’s not our business how many he wants, it’s our business to get it for him.”

“Come on, the only one that comes in here more than him is Goldie Delicious,” said Nickel as she rested her head on the counter, next to the cash register. “And all she ever wants is more cats.” 

Mr. Flank just rolled his eyes at her before turning back to Cage. 

“Just go get like, three more before we close, would ya?” 

“Ok, but you know that it’s fang frog season, and I ain’t in the mood to deal with those fangs of theirs,” replied Cage, as he trotted over to Nickel, who was still sitting at the register.

“Fine then, take Nickel to help you out,” stated Mr. Flank flatly. 

“What!?” Nickel exclaimed as she shot to attention. “I am an accountant not some… creature catcher! I don’t even like going to that cave, it’s creepy.”

“Hey, being a trapper is hard work. And you’re a cashier, not an accountant,” Cage shot back.

“You find cats,” Nickel said with a deadpan look.

“And other small game, it’s a real thing!” Cage said as he waved his hooves as if what he'd said should be obvious.

“Guys!” said Mr. Flank, trying to get some control back. “I don’t care, just go get some slugs. Nickel, if you want to have any job then you’re going. Cage, remember to bring some anti-venom with you for the fang frogs.”  

Cage gave a little nod with his head.

“You got it boss.”

“Fine,” Nickel said as she folded both hooves in front of her, pouting.


~~~~><~~~~


The two pegasi were by the back of the store with a small sky wagon filled with a couple boxes with small holes in the side as well as a crate containing several syringes of anti-venom. Cage was hooked up to the front of the wagon as Nickel brought over a blue tarp.

“Why do we need the tarp again?” Nickel asked as she threw it in with the rest of the things.

“The slugs don’t like the light, so we can use the tarp to make them more comfortable for the trip,” Cage replied.

With that, the two started to walk to the main path in front of the little store they both worked at. The old wood sign hanging over the door reads “Lucas Flank’s Small Pet Emporium.” There wasn't much else in this little road stop town; a scrapbooking store, a couple restaurants, and homes here and there. The only residents were the ponies that particularly like being out of the way or liked having hordes of pets.

With everything packed the two spread their wings and took to the air, leaving the little settlement behind as they made their way to the cave outside of town.

The city (if you could call it such,) of River Stomp didn’t have any laws about how many pets anypony could have, so it was ideal for collectors and crazy cat ladies alike. The only thing that kept it all in check was Lucas Flank himself, as he refused to deal in any larger animals at his pet store.

“So why am I coming along again? It doesn’t sound too hard to pick up a bug,” Nickel said.

Cage just kept flying as he answered. 

“You’re just going to hold the wagon in the air while I get the slugs off the ceiling, it shouldn’t take long.”

“Oh,” Nickel said, her ears splayed back on her head.

“You wanted to do more?” Cage asked, as he looked sideways at her with a small smile on his face.

Nickel just looked at the floor beneath them. 

“It’s not that, it’s just… I hate going to this cave, I swear it's the scariest in all of Equestria or something.”

“If you dislike it so much, why do you live so close to it?” Cage asked.

Scoffing, Nickel rolled her eyes and said, “Because I’m not going back to my parents, that’s for sure.”

“They’re that bad, huh?” Cage asked.

“What?! No, it’s not like that!” Nickel started to explain. “It’s just- when I was in school I would always talk about how when I finished I would be able to take care of myself. And now that I’m out I just needed some work, you know?”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” replied Cage.

“What about you? Why are you here of all places?” asked Nickel.

Cage glanced at her, before looking back to the path they were taking. “It’s hard starting out as a trapper, schools not enough, you have to prove that you are any good before you can get any real work. So starting off for a small game pet shop isn’t too bad.”

“Oh,“ Nickel said. 

And with that, the two were content to fly in silence the rest of the way. It wasn’t long before they reached the entrance to the cave, both landing with a soft thud.

Cage started to unstrap himself from the sky wagon. 

“So here’s the plan, you carry the wagon behind me, and don’t let it get too close to the ground. I’ll collect the slugs.”

“Why can’t I let the wagon touch the ground?” asked Nickel.

“It’s just so we don’t have to deal with any fang frogs,” Cage explained. “And try to make as little noise as possible.”

Nickel started hooking herself up to the wagon.

“I’m sorry if I’m too noisy for the master trapper,” she sarcastically shot back at him, dramatically clasping the last buckle into place.

“It’s not like that, Nickel,” Cage said with a hint of irritation. “There are a lot of weird things in there, and I would prefer to not have to deal with anything that we don’t have to, ok?”

Blushing, Nickel rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. 

“Oh, yeah,” her ears splayed back as she said this.

“Ok then, let’s go,” Cage said.

The pair flapped their wings and started making their way into the cave. Nothing seemed to out of place, it was just a normal cave. Rather, it was lacking of any life, which Nickel thought was strange. 

“Where is everything?” she whispered.

“Deeper in, now be quiet,” Cage didn’t look back, but kept scanning ahead.

“‘Be quiet Nickel.’ Me me me me me me,” she whispered in a high pitched voice to herself, as she made faces at Cage’s back.

After flying for only a little bit longer Cage waved his hoof to get Nickel’s attention, and pointed to a glowing group of cave slugs attached to the ceiling of the cave. He then motioned for her to come with him, as they made their way closer to the glowing mass. 

Nickel stared with large, shimmering eyes at the glowing nests that the slugs made. As Cage grabbed one of the boxes from the back of the wagon. He took off the lid, and held it upside down. With his free hoof he started to guide one of the slugs onto the inside of the lid, carefully replaced the lid once it was in and turned it back to its upright position. After placing the now occupied box back in the wagon he grabbed another box and restarted the process. 

Nickel hovered there watching, when her ear twitched to the sound of something moving in the shadows. 

“Did you hear that?” she whispered frantically to Cage, remembering what he said about there being creatures that he didn’t want to deal with.

Cage paused, as he placed the last box back into the wagon. 

“A human,” he said quietly.

“What? You can tell that from the sound?” Nickel whispered back in confusion.

“It’s a very distinctive sound,” Cage replied in a serious tone as he looked in the direction of the noise.


~~~~>>The Human<<~~~~


I must have been walking around in this cave for hours. My leg was almost completely numb, and I couldn’t seem to focus on anything. All I could do is stumble around in the faint light. My head was swimming and I feel like I am going to throw up. I’m sure I would have if I had anything in my stomach. 

As I walked along the cave floor I hit something with my numb leg, sending me to the floor yet again. 
That’s when it hit me.

“I’m going to die here,” I thought to myself. 

I pushed myself forward still straining to breathe.

As I look into the dim air above me, I see two flying angels hovering over me. One of them had a chariot behind it, no doubt to carry me to the afterlife. 

“This is it; the angels are here to take me away from this life.” 

I see them talking to each other and try to make out what they’re saying, but my head still hurts, so it’s hard to understand them.

“Sweet Celestia!” the one with the chariot screams, as she looked down on me.

The other one starts to say something, but I can’t understand him. Instead my attention is drawn to something flying at the angel, its leathery wings spread wide as it sweeps down, it lets out a scream that echoes in my mind. I look up at its face to see three bloody eyes, and a mouth lined with teeth that makes up over half its body.

 “No!” I scream in my head as I reached up to the angel, but it was no use. The demon was about to reach her. Out of instinct I searched the ground around me for a rock and when I find my weapon of salvation, I threw it at the demon, praying that by some miracle I could hit it. 

God must have been protecting his angels, because my rock slams into the face of the demon, sending it plummeting to the ground. But it was in vain as more demons started to flood out from hell itself to take me. The demons started to go after the angels, the angel highest above me started to fight them off, but the one with the chariot couldn’t move while it was still strapped to the heavy vehicle. 

My life was over, that was a fact, but where my soul ended up was still up for grabs. I don’t know how, but I did know that if the angels win then I can rest in the heavens, but if the demons prevail...

I heard the angel scream as one of the demons struck it on the wing, sending it unceremoniously to the ground. I know that there was only one thing that I could do. I must save the angels!

As quickly as my body would move I got up and ran to the fallen angel. When I got to it I stood over it protectively, trying not to fall over as I swayed on my feet. I knew that if I tried any amount of footwork that I’ll be on the floor again, so I brought both my hands up on guard and let the demons come.

The first demon flies straight at me with the fury of hell. I try and make out my target, but everything was so blurry in my vision at this point that all I can do is try and wait for it to be in reach. Then when I think it’s about to get me I threw everything I have into a strong left jab, hitting it in the wing.

I felt the breaking of bone under my fist as the demon screamed out in unholy pain. 

“I can do this!” I thought to myself as adrenaline starts to pump some of the fog out of my mind.

Then two more start to come at my face. I ducked the first one, letting him fly over my shoulder as my right straight punch plowed into the second monster, sending it to the floor in front of me.

More of the beasts started to fly around me, and I threw punch after punch trying to keep them off of the fallen angel. 


~~~~>>Cage<<~~~~


I slam my hoof on the back wing of the last Baital Bat that attacked me, now I have to help Nickel! I turn to where I last saw her and, I can’t believe what I’m seeing! 

The human was standing over Nickel fighting off the bats! Bobbing and weaving to avoid getting hit, it lashed out at them with its fists. Most of his swings were wild, but every time one made contact it hit with such force that it even killed some of the attacking bats.  

Nickel was just lying there, stunned at the sight in front of her. We both watched, as the human hit the last bat with one of its unbelievable punches. The human turned and looked down at Nickel with its vacant eyes. I held my breath. I knew that humans could be violent, but what was it going to do to Nickel? 

Then it collapsed, unconscious. I stared at the human, but my mind couldn’t piece together what just happened. Then I heard Nickel’s voice break the silence when she yelled up at me.

“Cage, get down here, something’s wrong with him!” 

That snaps me out of my stupor. I fly down to where Nickel is laying and try to help her.

“What’s wrong with him?” she asked with tears building up in her eyes , as she pointed to the human past out on the ground.

I looked at the human and saw that his face was flushed and he was sweating profusely. It didn’t take me long to notice his ankle is swollen and green and to realize what that meant.

“He’s been poisoned,” I told her.

“What!?” she shouted, but I ignored her and rush to the crate in the back of the sky wagon. I ripped off the cover of the crate that held all the anti-venom that I took with us, and grab one of the syringes.

“What are you doing?” asked Nickel as I made my way over to the unconscious human.

“I’m saving his life!” I said, before I use my mouth to take off the cap of the syringe. When the needle is ready I jam it into his thigh. “All that jumping around he did spread the poison throughout his body. Hopefully it’s not too late!” 

We both sit there waiting to see if the anti-venom has any effect, when his breathing started to calm down a bit. 

“Ok good, he’s starting to stabilize,” I told her, beginning to calm down a bit. “Help me get him into the wagon, we need to get him to the store for treatment.”

                                                                                                                                        

To know and to act are one and the same.   -samurai maxim 

	
> Chapter 2: personal trainers 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thanks to ICantThinkOfAName  and Roc Sighfor editing this chapter! they deserves all the cookies!
                                                                                                                                 


By the time Cage and Nickel got back to the store it was already night, and River Stomp didn’t have any lights other than the faint glow from ponies in their cottages getting ready for bed. Mr. Flank had already left the store, so everything was locked when Nickel barely landed before trying to yank the door open. 

“Its locked!” she yelled, looking back at Cage who was still a little way off. 

Cage quickly caught up to his companion on the ground, before pulling a key out from his mane and throwing it to Nickel. 

“Here, and don’t be so loud, you’re going to wake everypony up,” he said before he started undoing the straps that connected him to the sky wagon.

Nickel almost dropped the key that was thrown to her, but quickly got control before shoving it into the keyhole and giving it a good twist. The door popped open and she tried to hold it for Cage, who already had the unconscious human on his back and was making his way inside. 

“How is he doing?” Nickel asked quietly as Cage walked past her.

“He should be fine,” Cage replied as he made his way into a nearby room. “Can you lay some blankets out for him over there?” he tilted his head to one of the corners of the room.

“Yeah,” Nickel said as she ran off to a closet door in the hallway. She quickly gathered three blankets and threw them on the floor where Cage asked her to. 

Cage gently lowered the human off his back on to the makeshift bed when everything was organized to Nickel’s liking. He wasn’t breathing hard anymore and now looked more like he was just sleeping as he lay sprawled out on the floor. 

Cage gently lifted up the humans pant leg to see his swollen ankle.

“It looks like he just got scratched, so I bet he didn’t get that much poison in his system,” he observed before turning to make his way to the door.  

“Where are you going?” asked Nickel, there was a little twinge of panic in her voice as she spoke. “We can’t just leave him here like this!” 

“Look,” Cage sighed, “There’s nothing we can do right now, we already gave him a full dose of antivenom. Right now the best thing we can do is let him rest for the night, he should be fine in the morning, and then we can find his owner.”

“But-” Nickel started, before being cut off by Cage. 

“His body can fight off the effects of the poison if we let it, so come on. He’s not going anywhere.”

With that, Cage walked out of the room. Nickel looked at the human laying there one more time, her ears splayed back and she wore a worried look on her face as she followed Cage out, turning off the lights to the room and closing the door as she did.


~~~~>>Nickel<<~~~~


“Oh my gosh! How is the human doing?” I wondered as I flew from my home to the pet shop. “I didn’t get much sleep last night, I mean, how could I when I have a human in my work room? I always wanted a pet human. Then one just falls in my lap, and I leave him alone! No wonder my parents never let me have one!”

It didn’t take me long to get anywhere in this town, and when I saw the store I turned my wings upward just a bit so I could zip around to the back where I  left the door unlocked last night. (What? I don’t have a key and it’s not like anypony is going to steal anything in this town.) I let myself in and make my way over to where I left the human last night.

Once inside I took a few moments to straighten my feathers and mane a bit. I’d gotten up really early so I could be the first one here, so I may have skipped some brushing and things. But that didn’t mean I can’t look my best for our first real meeting.

Once done, I quietly opened the door to the examination room and slowly stick my head in so I don’t frighten him. I looked around and saw that he was still sleeping in the corner. 

“That’s no fun, now I can’t… um I don’t know, I didn’t really think about it but I don’t know anything about humans.”

“But I bet I know where I can find out,” I think as I look at one of the cabinets by the wall. I tippyhoof over to it and look inside and find what I’m looking for: a copy of the book “Your Human and You”.

“Awesome!” I say quietly so I don’t wake up the human. As I open the book and look at the table of contents. “I mean it’s not like I’m actually going to read the whole thing, its huge!” 

I find what I’m looking for - a section for new owners - on page 124. I flip to the page and start reading.




You and Your First Human



No doubt, after you get your first human, you’re going to have a lot of questions about him or her. Questions such as:

What breed of human do I have? P.125

How violent is my human? P.126-127

Is my human healthy? P.128

How can I make my human happy? P.129

And naming tips P.130

We go over all this and much more, in this section so that you can have the best experience possible with your new human.




“Oh, yeah, what breed is he?” I said out loud to no pony, as I turn the relevant page.





What breed is my human?



You may be having some trouble knowing what kind of human you have. That is because unlike other animals you can’t tell just by looking at them. Even within the same breed humans can vary greatly. However, humans are extremely good at adapting to new environments, and so often times the best way to tell what breed of human you have is to watch how they behave. For example a Mountain human will often jump down small flights of stairs, mimicking the act of jumping from rock to rock, or Miners will dig holes in soft dirt.





“Hmmmm what is he like?” I thought to myself as I looked over at the human in the corner. 

I didn’t have much time to really see what he was like, except for back in the cave. My mind goes back to when he was standing over me fighting off those bats; he had both of his hands up in front of him, and punched out at everything that came close to me.

The way he moved, I know I have seen something like that before, but where? 

Then it hit me: he was boxing! A friend at school had told me that minotaurs liked to do that as a sport. 

“So he’s a boxer,” I said with a little squeal of excitement as I looked over at him. “Just like a dog, this is so much fun! Oh, I should write this down.”

I slid open one of the drawers of the cabinet and pulled out one of the adoption packets, then rip off the first page that had all the basics. Things like the owner’s name, the human’s breed, and name and other important stuff. Just so I could keep track of everything.

“Oh, he needs a name!” I said to myself. What page was that name thing again? I quickly find it and start to read.




Naming tips



Naming your human is easy; the best way to find a name that fits well with your human is to look at him/her. It’s easy for everypony to know who you’re talking about if you’re human has freckles and you name it spot. Or, if their hair tends to grow all over the place, shaggy maybe a good name.





“What he looks like, got it!” I said as I looked over at him lying in the corner. 

I had a hard time seeing what he looked like while he was wearing all those black clothes: it completely covers him. Even his hands were wrapped in some black fabric! I couldn’t think of anything as I stare at him lying there in the shadowed corner.

I blinked, and realized I was thinking too hard about this.

“Wow, how did I miss that?” I say, as I turn back to the paper and put Shadow in the blank spot next to name, then add in Boxer under the breed section. 

“There, that seems fitting,” I thought about my expert decisions.

I look up from the paper I was writing on, and saw two brown eyes staring at me. strung 

“Oh buck, He’s awake!”


~~~~>Shadow<~~~~


I woke up lying on the floor with blankets draped around me in what looks almost like a doctor’s office. 

But that’s not the weird part. 

Oh no, the weird thing is that across the room sitting on a chair by a cabinet is a baby Pegasus. 

It was silver with a mane and tail of rusty red, and there was this picture of what looked like a small pile of coins on its flank, and it was talking to itself! In honest-to-goodness English nonetheless!

It looked up and jumps a little when it saw me staring at it. I kept my eyes locked with it as it nervously looks back at me. Then it blinked like it remembered something and snatches up a book that was lying next to it. I just sat there watching as it quickly read something and then put the book down.

It then flew over to a small basket of apples (that I just noticed, why didn't I see that sooner?)and grabbed one before flying over to me. It proffered it to me with one hoof, as if it wanted me to take it.

I took the apple from the baby Pegasus out of instinct more than anything else, then just sat there not knowing what it wanted. It watched me expectantly for a bit as if it were waiting for me to do something, though I couldn’t say what.

When I failed to do whatever it wanted it vacantly looked down at the apple I was holding. It made a face. What was It thinking? Then it looked back up at me with a smile and mimed eating some imaginary thing it was holding. 

Even though I had no idea what was going on, I wasn’t stupid and I knew that it wanted me to eat the apple. Looking down at it I remembered that it had been a while since I had eaten anything. So I lifted it up to take a bite out of it, but before I could the Pegasus reached out and snatched it away from me.

I just sat there with a stupid look on my face. 

“What the hell was that about?” I thought as I looked at the Pegasus who was holding out the apple again. 

Carefully I took the apple, slowly lifting it to my mouth, and then the Pegasus took it from me again!

“Ok if you want to be like that!” I thought as I quickly reach out and grab the apple, the sleeve of my Gi giving out a satisfying snap at my speed. 

The baby Pegasus flinched from me moving so suddenly. When it realized what I had done it looked at me like I cheated or something. Then lunged out at the apple that I was now holding in between us. I let it grab a hold of it with its hoof, but when it tried to pull the apple out of my hand I tightened my grip so it couldn’t take it from me this time.

“Hey! That’s not what you are supposed to do!” she said, (I was guessing it was a she by the sound of her voice) as she reaches out and grabs hold with both hooves. I curled my wrist so she was pulling more on my hand than the actual apple, and she started to use her back hooves and climb up my chest in an attempt to get more leverage.

She was giving it everything she had to get the apple from me as I sat there. 

“This is hilarious!” I thought to myself. 

She was putting her entire body weight into pulling, but it wasn’t getting her anywhere. Not that I mined: she wasn’t that heavy. 

I could let go and let her fall back, but I decided not to because - well to be honest, it was adorable! And she reminded me of my old dog growing up. Even the little grunts she made as she pulled made me smile. She sounded like she was an adult, but she was so small. Could she be a pony? But ponies back on my parent’s farm all had tempers, this one acted more like a puppy.

Then the door to the room opened and another Pegasus stood in the doorway. It took in the scene before it yelled. 

“Nickel, what are you doing?!” 

“Ok, there’s that temper. Maybe they are ponies.”

I sat there as Nickel (I’m assuming is her name,) kept pulling as she grunted back. 

“I’m trying to find out if Shadow’s violent, but I can’t take the apple away to find out!” she said through gritted teeth.

“Get down from there now,” the other Pegasus - a white stallion with a little longer mane and tail that was a dirty brown - said. He had three flying birds on his flank. I wonder what that was about. 

Nickel abandoned her attempts at the apple, letting go to fly over to the other pony. 

“What? I got the idea from the book.”

He pulled Nickel to the side and tried not to yell at her. “Do you know what could have happened?”

“Come on Cage, it’s fine, I can handle myself. besides look at what I already found out,” I overheard Nickel say as she lifted a piece of paper in front of him.

He just ripped it out of her hoof and through it out the doorway they were standing in.

“So Cage must be this white one,”] I thought to myself as I look at the book Nickel was reading earlier. I picked it up and looked at the front of the book. “Your Human and You” by Dr. Mac Guffin. I looked at the first page and realized that it was a pet owner’s manual.

“They think I’m a pet... Oh, I can have fun with this.”

I put the book back and started listening to what the two were talking about.

“But I still need to see if he’s healthy,” Nickel told Cage.

“I’ll do that, just go see if Goldie Delicious has the things that we need, ok?” Cage replied.

“Fine!” She said before walking off, “You always get the fun jobs,” I heard her say as she stalked off.    

With that Cage looked at me. 

“Ok big guy, I just need to make sure your ankle is ok.”

“My ankle?” I thought as I lifted up my pant leg to look at it. This made Cage stop and look at me suspiciously. 

“Did you just-”

He was cut off when another voice called out from another room. 

“Cage, what’s this ‘human’ business Nickel is talking about?”

Cage quickly looked from me to where the voice was coming from before answering.

“Coming Mr. Flank,” he then looked back at me. “Don’t move, just stay right there.” 

And then he left. 

I took the opportunity to look at my ankle. It was bruised but other than that it looked fine. Content with that I looked at a paper that was left on the cabinet. It was clear from the little bit of frayed paper still held in place by a staple that there was once a first page. 

The paper looked like basic information for a patient, so I filled it out.

Height:		6’1

Weight:		169

Age: 		23

Hair color:		black

Prior Conditions:	none

It was no different than anything I had ever filled out for a doctor before, but to be honest I never really paid much attention to them anyways. But Nickel said that she found out some info already, the least I could do was help out with this part.


~~~~>Mr. Flank<~~~~


“Cage! Nickel just left saying that she needed to get things for Shadow?” I asked, trying to keep calm.

“Yeah, about that,” Cage started. “We found a human in the cave last night, he protected Nickel and was injured so we….”

I raised a hoof to stop him. 

“So you brought it here. Ok look, Mr. Rose will be here any minute to pick up his new pets, forget about the human and get everything ready for him. We will deal with the human later.”

With that the bell over the front door rang out as Mr. Rose walked into the shop with his daughter in tow.

“Mr. Flank, it’s a pleasure to see you,” he said to me.

“Likewise, Mr. Rose.”

“I trust you have my slugs ready?”

Their exchange was interrupted by his daughter, Morning Glory. 

“Dad, I want a real pet not one of your gross slugs!”

“I’ll tell you what,” Mr. Rose bargained, looking down at Morning Glory. “You can have any pet you want from here, ok?” he looked back up at me. “Can she look at what you have in stock?”

“Of course,” I said, turning to Cage. “Get Mr. Rose’s slugs ready for transport and take Morning Glory to see the animals.”

“Yeah,” was all he said, before turning and walking off, Morning Glory following with a heavy frown.

When the two of them were out of sight Mr. Rose quietly asked if everything was alright.

“Yeah,” I replied. “All the legalities check out, we can get as many cave slugs as we need.”


~~~~>Shadow<~~~~


After filling out the rest of the form I reached over and turned on the water to a sink that was in the room. After walking around in that cave for who-knows how long I felt covered in mud and wanted to wash some of it off, and I was told to stay after all. So I took off my gi and hand wraps, then lifted off my shirt so I could try and clean myself a bit. 

I had only just started washing myself off as best as I could with my hands when I heard a small gasp. I looked over at the door, and standing there was a little green unicorn with a light purple mane and tail that had a darker purple streaks running through it. This one had a picture of a flower on its flank, and she looked just a little younger than Nickel. She was looking up at me with her mouth open and amazement in her eyes as she walked into the room. 

I knelt down as she started to get closer to me so I wouldn’t scare her. When she was in reach I lifted my hand and started to scratch the back of her ear. She pulled away as my hand got closer, but when she felt me scratching she started to melt. 

Then all at once she jumped on me, rapping her hoofs around me in a hug, I laugh a little at this, “She’s just like a little puppy.” I think as she starts to rub her face into my chest.

“Oh my god! Moonflower just got a human and told me he’s awesome, now I have one!” she cooed as she snuggled me. “And you have muscles too!”

I won’t lie: the compliment made me feel good. You see, martial arts don’t give you big muscles. If you wanted those you had to do weight training. Instead, martial arts really toned your body up so you looked chiseled rather than oversized. But try explaining that] to a cute girl. Either way it was nice to have someone notice for once, so I returned the hug.

I then lowered my head and rubbed my cheek on her, making her giggle, and she licked up my neck like a dog in return. I didn’t mind, I had been licked by dogs before and I was used to it. But I had been trying to clean off, so I let her go.

She looked disappointed by that, but quickly cheered up when she noticed the papers on the cabinet. She snatched them up and glanced over them before looking around for something. I didn’t really pay much attention, as I was already back at the sink trying to wash off the spit on my neck. She ran to the doorway and looked back and forth for a bit before running out of sight. I thought that was the last I would see of the little unicorn.

Only five minutes passed before I was bored of waiting, so I left the room to look for someone that could answer my questions. When I was out, I noticed that the building I was in was not a hospital or doctor’s office. Normally hospitals had white walls and were really clean, but this place had gray cement walls and smelled like someone was letting too many cats stay here.

I looked down the hallway, and noticed the little green unicorn bouncing happily up and down by an older unicorn stallion. He was old and his weathered red coat showed it, a blooming rose was plastered on his flank. He was signing something; I couldn’t see what it was, as the little green unicorn ran up and jumped at me. I quickly bent down to catch her, and carried her out to a room that looked like a store. 

When I joined the other ponies the older unicorn and a normal brown pony with an ice pick picture on its flank were goggling at me, mouths open like they were going to say something. 

And then Nickel burst through the door, and started talking excitedly. 

“Good news everypony, Goldie Delicious had everything we needed and she even threw in a collar. I got it engraved with his name!”

I think everyone was too surprised at what happened to react for a moment. Then the collar that Nickel was showing off glowed a light green before disappearing.

And out of nowhere I felt something snake around my neck and shut with a snap.

“Great! Then I have everything I need to adopt Shadow,” the little green unicorn I was holding chirped happily. 

The unicorn then lifted its head so she could whisper in my ear.

“And when I get you back to my bed I can start teaching you some tricks.”

And then she nibbled on my ear just a little.

My eyes went wide with comprehension. 

“Oh hhhheeeeellllllllllll no!”


~~~~>Ricky Rose<~~~~


“What is that?” I demand from Lucas.

His ears splayed back at my words before answering. 

“A human my employees found.”

I looked him straight in the eye as I addressed the issue as pointedly as I could.

“And did I just sign its adoption papers?”

“It would seem so.” 

I could feel the vein on my forehead pop out. 

“Lucas Flank, tell me why I shouldn’t have the rest of the family come pay you a visit?”

“In my defense sir, I didn’t know that was the paperwork for the human,” Lucas said nervously, as he started to take a couple steps back. 

I wasn’t getting any closer to him, but I continued to stare at him and let him know without saying a word how that was not going to cut it.

Lucas continued trying to save himself. 

“He could be a bodyguard,” he pointed out.

This caught my attention. Out of everything he could have said, I didn’t expect that.

“Explain,” I demanded.

“My trapper - he’s an expert, by the way - tells me the human will protect ponies. And having an expendable bodyguard for Morning Glory could be a good idea,” he said. “He could protect her from the other families.”

“Hmmm, that may be a good idea. Morning Glory is becoming a mare, and I can’t always be there for her. Maybe having this human could work,” I thought to myself.

I look over at Morning Glory, and I know that look she was giving the human. It’s the look that fillies give stallions when they want to lose something their fathers wished they never would. 

“Ok Mr. Flank, we will take him,” I said. “But I want him castrated.”

                                                                                                                           

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.           -Lao Tzu
> Chapter 3: Feel the Burn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special thinks to ICantThinkOfAName for editing this chapter!

Warning: this chapter is the reason I decided to put the gore tag to this story. It won’t go into anything full blown Fallout Equestria style, but it is still gore. Just thought it would be good to give you all a heads up. Anyways on with the show! 
                                                                                                                                   

When I first looked at that book and found out that they think I’m some animal, I’ll admit I thought that it would be fun to play along for a bit. You know, see how all the ponies react when I start dancing like the WD frog then stop when they try and tell someone. Or maybe when they’re sleeping I’ll reorganize their socks all over the floor to look like the Mona Lisa, and then act like I had no idea what was going on.

But I have to draw the line at being adopted to some lonely teen pony who wants to play with me, and not like fetch. 

The little unicorn was still in my arms as it looked at me with bedroom eyes. “I need an adult.” I think to myself, as I look around the room to find the only two ponies that could fall under that category. The older unicorn was talking to the only pony I have seen here that isn’t a pegasus or unicorn. They were talking quietly to each other so I couldn’t hear them, but by the way the normal pony looked it was not a happy chat.

“Looks like I’m on my own for this one.” I think to myself.  I couldn’t talk, but that’s ok, because if there’s one thing being by myself taught me it’s how to make funny faces and weird sounds when I’m bored.

I put down the little unicorn, who looked up at me with a small frown before she lifted her front hoofs up at me like she was waiting for me to pick her back up. I ignore her as I look over to the two ponies talking, and let out a loud whistle to get their attention, then put my hands up like I was going to make an announcement.

It worked as every eye was now on me, and I have to say the way that every, um pony, was looking at me was funny. Every mouth hit the floor, except for the older red unicorn who was giving me the stink eye.

I started by pointing at the little unicorn at my feet and grunting in what I hoped sounded like a"No,"before I turn my attention over to Nickel and tugged at the collar that was around my neck, before giving her the slow head shake of disappointment. Next on my list was the older unicorn as I looked at him and pointed a finger before…..

My action was cut off with a blinding flash of red light followed by the feeling of weightlessness. I felt my stomach rising into my throat for a brief moment before gravity returned and I landed on my back. I opened my eyes to see that I was in a box barely big enough for me to fit in. There where small holes along the side of the box, I looked up to see that there was a cage door trapping me inside. I struggled around to roll onto my stomach so I could get a better look at where I was now. When I looked out I could see that I was in the same room as before but the box that I was in was laying on the floor. Then it hit me “The damn things put me in a pet carrier!” I scream in my head.

“Why did you do that?” I heard the little unicorn ask.

I tried to move so I could see the older unicorn as he answered “Morning Glory, we can’t have him jumping around like that in the sky chariot, he might fall.” 

“I’m not going anywhere.” I say in my head, as I try to get out of the little container. I could have broken the plastic carrier easily if I was out side, but there was so little space in here that I could barely move. I started trying to stick my fingers out of the holes in the cage that make the door to the carrier and try and undo the lock, but the lock was really weird and the angle I was in made it hard.

Then I heard Nickel jump into the conversation “You can’t take him!” she shot out to everyone in the room.

“And why not?” asked Mr. Rose.

I cranked my head to the side to look at Nickel, who was looking around at the floor like she was looking for something, then she quickly looked up with a smile and said “Because he may already belong to somepony, here I’ll show you.” 

Then ran out of the room leaving us there to wonder what she was doing. Before long she returned with my GI top and held it up for everyone to see, as she pointed to my studio logo under the left lapel. “See, he already has a mark on his clothes.”

It was a black shield with gold stitching lining the rim of the patch. There’s a bonsai tree in the center of the patch that set on top of a lined grid with a setting sun in the background. The letters U.S.S.D was stitched into the top of the shield in thick red letters.

“If you knew about this, then why did you fill out the paper work for him?” asked the only normal pony in the room.

Nickels ears splayed back on her head, “I didn’t. I left him with Cage, he must have been the one to fill it out.” she said.
“Well then if your trapper filled it out then he must feel that it was ok, and now that I signed the paper work that means the human legally belongs to me,” said Mr. Rose to the pegasus.

Then my GI top started to glow a light green, and floated over to the little Morning Glory. I noticed her horn glowing the same shade of green, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it was the unicorn that was levitating it around. 

Morning Glory then looked up at Nickel and said “He even comes with his own clothes!” before taking a closer look at the studio patch and scrunching up her face, “Dad can we take this somewhere to get fixed?”

Mr. Rose walked over to his daughter, “Mr. Flank here doesn’t have the things that we need to do that, but assures me that he knows a place by Canterlot that has everything we need to (fix) him.”

I didn’t like the way he said that. Something about it just didn’t sound right and set off a warning bell in my head, but the little green unicorn didn’t seem to notice as she looked to Nickel and asked “Does he have anything else?”

Nickel ignored Morning Glory and looked at Mr. Flank, “Where is Cage?”

But instead the red older unicorn answered and said “I believe he is loading my slugs into the chariot out front.”

Nickel started to make her way to the front but before she could get out Mr. Flank said to her “Nickel, we are going now, so please go get the rest of the human’s things for us.”

She looked back at him with tears starting to well up in her eyes, before slowly walking off to gather my things. When I saw her face it nearly broke my heart. I wanted to go over and let her know that everything would be ok, but in truth I really didn’t know how things were going to turn out this time.

When she came back she was carrying a plastic bag filled with my clothes. They were quickly snatched up in Morning Glory’s magic. At least, magic is all I could think to call it, seeing that it was a unicorn doing it. Then, a light red glow enveloped the pet carrier I was in and I was lifted into the air.

I started floating to the front door, when Cage came in opening the door with his back, as he wiped some goop off his front hoofs and said, “I got your slugs already for the trip Mr. Rose just…”  he trailed off from what he was saying when he notices me floating there. “What’s going on?” he asked

Mr. Flank continued to walk past him and said “I am going with Mr. Rose here to take care of the human, you are in charge of the store will I’m gone.” Before walking out of the store with the two unicorns.

As I was carried out I saw Nickel walk over to a very confused looking Cage, before the doors closed, blocking them from my view. I was set in the back of a brown chariot that had two pegasi strapped to the front of it. The rest of the ponies climbed in and the pegasus in front started to flap there wings.

The last thing I heard was Cage yelling “What!?”, before we took off into the sky.


~~~~><~~~~


I have been lying in this cramped box, with Morning Glory’s big purple eyes staring in at me for the past 20 minutes. At first I was trying to stick my fingers out and undo the lock, but every time I tried Morning would start to play with my finger using her hoof. So now I lay there waiting to be let out.

At this point I was fed up with everything that has happened. All I know is that the second I’m let out of this box, I am going to grab my things and go. I really didn’t care what they tried to do to stop me, because I was done putting up with this crap.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when Morning Glory looked over her shoulder out at the sky, then back at me with a glimmer in her eyes and said, “Look, this is your new home!” then turned my prison to look out at a mountain.

I was amazed to see a city on the side of the mountain. It was made completely of stunning white stone with buildings that stretched out to the skies, each one topped with a golden roof that bulged out before forming the spires that gave the city a glow. A spring in the mountain formed a river that cut through the city, and then fell off the edge of the cliff the city made. The whole thing seemed to shine like the sun. 

“This is Canterlot, you’re going to like it here.” she said with a hint of arrogance.

“You know he can’t understand you right?” said Mr. Flank, who was now looking back at us. “Besides, first we have to go there.” he said as he pointed a hoof down to the bottom of the water fall.

We started to make our descent to the town at the bottom of the water fall. It looked like what I would imagine a town would in King Arthur’s time, the buildings here where made out of gray stone and the roofs looked like straw. I swear, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone with a scroll read in a loud voice, that the egg just replaced the worm for the lowest form of currency, it looked so old. 

We started to slow down in front of a building that had wooden beams holding it over the river, tufts of smoke where coming out of a large hole in the roof.  A couple pegasi where flying down to the river and filling up buckets with water before flying back up and disappearing inside, Every now and then steaming water would fall from the bottom of the building back into the river.

As we were landing I could see the sine in front that said “Steel Smith and Metal Working”.

“Are you sure this is the place?” asked Mr. Rose to Mr. Flank

“Yeah, they may work metal here but that’s what makes it easy for them to do work on humans as well. This is where most ponies go for this kind of thing.” replied Mr. Flank

Again the warning bell went off in my head, then as if she could read my mind Morning Glory asked “What do you mean work on humans?”

Mr. Rose levitated the plastic bag with my clothes in it, “We are here to fix his things.” he said before jumping out of the chariot and lifting me with him, “Now be a good girl and stay here, and I’ll get you some new clothes for your human, ok?”

Morning Glory’s face lit up with joy at that and she happily nodded her head as she set in the chariot. Will Rose and Flank took me into this strange building that was setting off all kinds of alarms in my head.  Flank was carrying my clothes in his mouth as I floated beside Rose.

When we got inside, I could see that there were at least six square pits filled with hot coals, all kinds of different metal carvings where hanging on the walls. One stood out to me, it looked almost like a Ying Yang Symbol but there were two ponies that had both wings and a horn flying around it, but instead of having the white and black dot it was replaced with a small moon and sun. 
The Pegasus that collected water from the river where flying around delivering it everywhere. We walked up to a unicorn that was working by one of the pits, when Flank got his attention. 

The unicorn working with the glowing hot coals turned around and said, “And what can I help you two with?”

“I was told you can castrate humans here?” asked Rose.

“Wait...what!?” I think to myself.

The unicorn that was working smiled at Rose, then said “Sure can, do it all the time, we can brand him for you too, no extra charge.”

At that I hear something scream, I looked over to where the sound came from, and to my horror there was another human here. He was stripped of all his clothes, blood was rushing down his legs as two ponies held him down with what looked like leather straps. The sound of the man screaming was like something I have never heard before, 

I may not have seen that horrible act, but I know if I did it would stay with me for the rest of my life. I watched as they carried the still bleeding man over to a metal cage with several other humans there. All of them were naked and mangled, with either fresh blood running down their legs, or patches over there thigh covering what I could only imagine to be some horrible scar.

Something inside me snapped. I knew that this was no longer just me putting up with crap. Instead now I was in a fight for my life, and if I didn’t do something fast, then I would end up just like them. My heart started to pump faster as I tried to mentally prepare myself for what was going to happen.

The unicorn that worked at this place of horror grabbed a metal poker and with his magic carefully formed the tip of it into a shape that looked like the picture on Roses flank. Then placed it in the coals letting the metal turn a cherry hot red before he said, “Ok, why don’t you take him out and we can get started.”

I waited for the flash of light to take me out of the pet carrier, when it did I was floating in a red glow between the two unicorns. I was able to move my arms and legs but I couldn’t get any leverage floating there, but I was close enough. I quickly stretched out my right leg in front of Rose and hooked it around to slam my heel into the side of his head. It wasn’t a hard kick, but it was enough to make him lose concentration of his hold and drop me to the floor as he stumbled back.

I landed on the floor and pivoted on the ball of my left foot, as I swung my leg around to deliver the hardest round house kick I could. I was a little too close to him so my shin slammed into the head of the other unicorn instead of my foot. But I was reworded with the unicorn falling limp to the floor unconscious

I started to run for the door, but by then the other ponies started to spring into action. I didn’t get far before one of the pegasi flung a net at me that wrapped around my legs, sending me face first into the floor, I quickly rolled over onto my back to see the winged pony flying right at me.

I curled my body and lifted both of my feet into the air, putting my weight on my shoulders. When the pegasus came in I pushed off the floor and shot out with both feet into its stomach, then cranked my head to the side and rolled back over my shoulders to land on my knees.

I started to take the net off my legs, when another pegasus came flying at me. I quickly got the net off and whipped it open in front of the winged pony, who quickly curled up inside the net. With my opponent inside the net, I lifted it over my head and started to swing it around before throwing him into the wall, everything on the wall shook. The thing that looked like a Ying Yang Symbol even fell off the wall into one of the coal pits, he hit the wall so hard.

The sound of hoofs stomping on the floor made me turn to see Flank charging this way. I planted my feet into a solid stance, when he jumped at me as I chambered my leg to deliver a front kick straight into the charging pony’s face. But when I tried to kick out something pulled my bottom leg out from under me, making me fall back and crack my head on the floor, letting Mr. Flank soar over me. 

Everything was replaced with a ringing in my ears that sounded like a high pitched squealing. As I looked over to see that Mr. Rose was back on his hoofs and ready for action. I reached out and found the handle to one of the coal pans that was sitting in the pit, and scooped up as much coal as I could, then flung it in a wide arch sending hot coals flying at Rose.  

He had to jump around trying not to get hit by the glowing hot coals, I knew that as long as I have to fight his magic then I would be at a disadvantage. So I ran over there as fast as I could and grabbed the hot poker that was shaped to look like his picture. By the time he was ready to fight again I slammed the shaft of the red hot poker on the side of his head knocking him to the floor.
But instead of pulling it back for a second blow I pushed it against his head, he screamed as the hot steel burned his flesh. Then I ran it up his horn to stop him from using any more magic on me. I know what I did was wrong, but at this point I would do whatever I needed to in order to escape. But I still didn’t want to kill him.

I mounted the grounded pony and used the shaft of the poker that was closer to the handle where it was not hot, to hold him there by his throat, I looked in his horror filled eyes, and lifted my right hand to knock him out with one heavy blow. I put all my weight into this one punch to finish him off but he kicked out with his front hoof, and pushed the tip of the poker up. 

When I through my punch the poker acted like a support beam catching me on my bicep. The hot metal burned into my arm making me scream out in pain. I jumped off of the pony and stumbled back. I had never felt pain like this before, this felt like my whole arm was on fire, I could even smell my own burned flesh.

I knew I had to deal with it later, but for now I still needed to get out of here, I started running for the door again but Mr. Flank and another pegasus where in my way. I knew the pegasus was fast and Flank was just a normal pony. So I focused on the pegasus who came flying at me. I did a quick feint to the left and let it fly past me, as it did I let out a left jab to its back where its wing connected to its body, A loud pop came out from the socket where the wing was connected and it fell limply to the pony’s side.

I turned just in time for Flank to barrel into my chest, he slammed straight into my solar plexus knocking the wind out of me and sending me flying backwards. I landed on my back in one of the coal pits and immediately felt hot metal on my back. When I tried to get up Flank jumped on my chest, with his added weight pushing me down into the metal, I could feel the circular plate burn into every muscle I had.

I reached up and grabbed him by his mane with my left hand, as I placed my right hand in the armpit of his front right hoof. Then pulled on his mane and pushed with my right arm, sending him rolling off me to the left. 

Then I heave both arms to the side, building momentum to roll off of the coals on the opposite side of the pit then Mr. Flank, when I stood up I could feel that the metal plate was still connected to my back. I arched my back and leaned back when I felt the plate fall off. I looked back to see that it was the weird Ying Yang Symbol that I landed on. 

At this point my body was completely numb and everything looked like it was moving in slow motion. I looked to the door to see that more ponies started to gather there. I knew there was nothing I could do against so many enemies. So I quickly looked around for something I could use, when I noticed the bag with my things in it was under an open window.

I gave it everything I could to run over and quickly grabbed the bag before I jumped, throwing myself out the window, As I looked down at the water below me I could only pray it was not too shallow. I hit the water and before I could even reach the bottom I lost control as whole body started to shake violently, I felt the stinging cold water penetrate throughout me where my back and arm were burned. I lost all my energy and let go of my bag, as darkness started to claim me and I went unconscious in my watery grave.

                                                                                                                         

The mind’s power of concentration is stronger than pin when the martial artist has learned to use the Zen technique of “mind over matter.”    - Yong Tae Lee
> Chapter 4: Water Break
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If Lyra had hands, she would give two thumbs up to ICantThinkOfAName. Thanks for editing this chapter.

                                                                                                                                        


I started coughing violently when I got splashed in the face; my entire body hurt. I grabbed at the warm mud I was laying in, struggling to move, my fingers broke into the soft ground. I felt so weak,  I barely got my head out of the water before I felt pain shoot through my back and down my right arm. The sudden shock made me take in a sharp breath of air as I winced. 

Deciding to just lay there, I opened my eyes to find out where I was. Luckily, thick clouds were rolling in, blocking the sun from hitting my eyes. But it was still hard to see as I tried to blink. When my vision cleared I could see that I was lying in a pocket of water that shot off from a smoothly flowing river. 

As I continued to look around, I noticed tufts of smoke over the treetops. I watched the smoke for a bit in the distance, as I tried to think why it gave me a feeling of urgency.

Like flipping on a light switch, All at once everything clicked and I remembered everything that just happened. Being sold as a pet, the building with the smoke coming out of the top, the other humans in the cages, and ponies. 

I looked down at my arm; the flesh was burned off in a pattern that looked like a blooming rose bud, as if there was never any skin there at all. I didn’t even want to think about what my back looked like. “The ponies did this to me,” I mentally say. “They may look cute and friendly, but they’re monsters.”

“They’ll be after me soon I’m sure, I need to get out of here,” I think as I pull my knees under me and push myself up. I had to ignore the pain as much as I could for now. Hopefully most of the ponies will stop to help the ones I hurt before coming after me. I didn’t want to be around when they started looking, though.

Getting to my feet I stumbled away from the river. I didn’t get far before I felt my burns starting to sting, I tried to ignore it as the pain continued to grow. But I never felt anything like this before; sure, I burned my hand cooking once or twice, but this was something new altogether. Finally the burning on my arm and back were too much and I had to run back to the water, trying not to trip as I lowered myself into the cold, soothing river.

I looked around for the bag with my things, but didn’t see it anywhere. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s gone. I can’t believe that I had it with me this long with all the crap I dealt with these last, what, two days. “Oh well, it’s not like I could put any of it on with my back like this.”

Every time I try to get out of the water my burns act up, so I decide that the best thing I can do is stay in the river and go down stream. Mostly because I don’t have the energy to try and swim upstream and the river is running at a calm but steady pace, so it should do most of the work for me. So I pull myself into the main stream of the river and let the current take me.

I can’t reach the bottom when I’m in the middle of the river so I stay a little over to the side so I can walk almost fully up right. I find out that if I try and float I don’t have to do much, just give a little jump every now and then because my Gi pants absorbed too much water and is weighing me down just a little. 

As I make my way down the river, the sun started hitting my back, causing it to burn even though I was in the water. I look up to see that the clouds from before have stopped moving altogether. “Why does the universe hate me so much?” I whine to myself.  “It’s not like I ran over its dog or something.”

There were some trees that hung over the river, so I quickly made my way over to the shade for protection. Just as I’m about to make it under the tree, I see a shadow dance over the surface of the water. I quickly look up and see a pegasus flying overhead. “It’s far enough up, maybe it didn’t see me yet.” I think, as I quickly try and blend in with the shadows.

It swoops down just a little upstream, looking back and forth. When it got close to the tree I was hiding under, I held my breath. Now I realize that was a bad idea, knowing that eventually I would have to breathe, making even more noise than if I just kept calm. But I still did it. It was something that, even though I knew in my mind was bad, stopping myself from doing it was a different story.

I took a silent breath and sunk deeper into the shadowy water. The Pegasus flew just past me, before another one that I didn’t see coming showed up and started talking. “Find anything?”

“No,” the first Pegasus said. “It’s like after going crazy he just disappeared into thin air.”

“Okay. I don’t think anypony else has had any other luck.” said the second to the first. “Oh well, if it’s as dangerous as everypony at the work shop says it is, then maybe it’s better if we don’t find it.”

The first one looked shocked at that, “We can’t just leave it out in the wild though …can we?”

“It’s not our problem, so I don’t see why not, let’s just finish moving this storm in and get back to the others.” said the second.

“Okay I guess.” said the first, before both of them flow away from where they were. 

I waited for as long as I could before I burst up out of the water, gasping for air. I quickly put a hand over my mouth hoping that they didn’t hear that, but after a few seconds they didn’t come back so I figured that I was clear.

It didn’t take long before the rain started to fall, it was weird, the pegasi started moving the clouds together with their hooves. I was worried they were going to have to stay with the storm, but once it started going, it became self-sufficient and the ponies left. It wasn’t a heavy rain, but enough that if I would have been back at home I would have stayed inside.

Home, it was the first time I thought about it sense I got sucked into this crazy adventure. It’s ironic, when I was back home I always dreamed about going on epic adventures, where I would have to fight to save some poor soul and become a hero. Now I was the poor soul, and I didn’t feel like a hero. 

I have been slowly going down the river for a while. The sun was starting to set over the mountains and my skin was all wrinkly at this point. “I need to get out of the water.” I think to myself, then make my way over to the bank of the river and pull myself out of the water. With the sun going down the temperature started to drop, and with the rain my burns didn’t act up. So I went under a tree and set down. 

As I set there in the rain, I started to cry softly to myself. I just wanted to go home, where the world didn’t hate me.

Out of nowhere I remembered a story one of my masters told me:




A young boy traveled cross japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the sensei.
“What do you wish from me?” the master asked.
“I wish to be your student and become the finest karateka in the land.” the boy replied. “How long must I study?”
“Ten years at least.” the master answered.
“Ten years is a long time,” said the boy. “What if I studied twice as hard as all your other students?”
“Twenty years.” replied the master.
“Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?”
“Thirty years.” was the master’s reply.
“How is it that each time I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?” the boy asked.
“The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the way.”




I don’t know why my brain works like this, but sometimes I remember the weirdest things. I laugh to myself as I think about this, “Sensei’s not even from Japan, he’s from California.”] I think to myself. But the story did help me know what I need to do. If I only think about getting home then I know I’m going to do something stupid, but if I find a way to role with the punches, then maybe I can figure something out.

If only for the time, I finally felt some determination that I was going to get through this. With that I found a tree and leaned my good shoulder on it as I tried to get some sleep.


~~~~><~~~~


I didn’t get much sleep; it felt like every ten minutes something bumped my burns waking me. And with the sun coming up the summer air started to burn again. So I got back into the river and started making my way downstream again.

As I floated along the sun started to hit my back again, no matter how I turned it always found a way to get me. Eventually the river started to go into a forest; the tree line just stopped like something was holding it back. But it blocked the sun and that is all I cared about right now.

Only a half a mile in, the forest turned on me. The trees stopped feeling like a saving sunblock and took on a menacing feel to it. It felt like things where watching me from the sides of the river, making me try to stay in the middle as far from the banks as possible. 

As I looked in between the trees, I swear I could see packs of dogs following me, only to see that the ferocious looking shapes where only pieces of wood. Sometimes I even did a double take when I thought I notice some of the dog shaped trees moving to keep up with me. But whatever it was, it was staying out of the water, so I was going to make sure to stay in.

The river started to narrow up ahead, for some reason I just felt… exposed at that point. The river only had one way to go though so I thought that if I just try and get through it fast that I should be okay. 

When I made it to the narrower part of the river I didn’t know what to think when the trees started to run along with me. I looked over to see that the trees where walking like a pack of wolfs lining both sides of the river. Their eyes glowed a sickly yellow and I could smell this horrible stench as they started to howl and snarl at me. I got the feeling that even as puppies no one would want to have one near them, and I was no exception.

I could hardly move, let alone try and fight off wooden wolves. Suddenly they all looked up, before running off with their tail in between their legs. Leaving everything still and calm where I was. “That can’t be good.” I think, before the water started to circle around me.  Forming a ring that was just longer then I could reach. 

The water around me started to rise, before giant purple scales broke out of the water. The scales rapped around picking up not only me but the whole pocket of water around me. As I was swept up I looked to where it was taking me to see the face of a purple sea monster, bigger than most of the trees around it, it had long well-kept dirty blond hair. It also had a mustache, half of which was the same color as its hair while the other half was purple.

“I’m going to die.” 

It opened its massive jaws, then I heard it speak, “Well hello there, and what’s a human doing out here in the Everfree all by yourself?” 

I just looked up at it with a confused look, I could even feel my left eye twitching. And then it happened.  Inward crazy panic.  A jumble of thoughts!  A cornucopia of mental chaos erupted from within!  I’m going to list out the insanity rather than try to translate how it actually went

The monster is talking to me?

Why does it sound like that?

Everfree is that what this place is called?

What’s wrong with its voice?

It hasn’t eaten me yet, cool!

Seriously what’s with that voice!? Is it gay or something? Do they even make gay sea monsters?
What am I thinking, you don’t MAKE sea monsters. 

As I float there paralyzed by my own mind, it said “Oh this is just amazing! I didn’t think humans could swim.” as it lifts me over to the side of the river with its tail. I was still in shock when it let go of me, so I wasn’t ready for the drop. When I hit the floor I landed on my back, making me scream before quickly rolling over.

“Oh my, you pore thing your hurt! Don’t worry my little human, I know somepony that can help.” the serpent said, before putting its fingers to its lips and letting out a loud whistle. 

I was trying to crawl away when it wasn’t looking, but the monster noticed me before I could get too far and used its tail to keep me close. Then it looked at me and said, “I love your pants, where ever did you get them?”

I felt uncomfortable with the monster checking me out, as I continued trying to escape, “Oh it looks just like the clothes I found the other day.” It said, “They were just floating down the river in a plastic bag, can you believe it? Some of it was just straps of fabric, but I did make the most fabulous gloves out of the shirt.”

It then reached down into the river and pulled out something before handing it to me. I stopped trying to run as it handed me my Gi top, belt and hand wraps. The black uniform had hair line white strips running through it, making it look like black marble. My pants where the same way, which was typical for heavy uniforms that soaked in water for too long.

After I gathered my things, I sat there and tried to think of something I could do. I didn’t stay out of obligation or gratitude, I could hardly move and was just too tired, trying to escape took the last bit of energy I had. Not to mention that the sea monster was watching me intently.

We set like this for way longer then I felt comfortable with before something came out of the forest and I heard the monster say “Zecora!” I turned to see what he – I decided that it is a he – was talking to. 

It looked like a miniature zebra carrying a bunch of different gourds with quark lids on its back. “Greetings my purple friend, I hear you have wounds to mend.” said Zecora,

“Yes well, not me, but he desperately needs your attention,” said the serpent, as he used his tail to make a circle around me, the only opening being right in front of the zebra. 

My heart jumped into my throat and every muscle in my body tensed up. It was another pony-thing, it had to be another pony-thing, didn’t it. I looked up at the sea monster then let out a breath. There’s nothing I can do with that thing here. So I set down and closed my eyes. I didn’t have the strength to fight them off so I had to just go with whatever they are going to do. Besides their talking about treating my burns so maybe it will be okay.

The zebra slowly walked around me, looking over every inch of my body with a slight smile.  When she could see my back she gasped and said, “Oh dear, your burns are quite severe” I cracked my neck around to see what she was doing. 

Zecora used her mouth to grab a greenish yellow gourd from her back and popped it open with her hoof.  "Human, hold still. This is no pill.” she said, before poring some goop on her hoof and rubbing it into the burn on my back.  “You must let me apply my ointment, for I cannot make a later appointment.”

I prepared myself, expecting to feel pain shoot through me, but it never came. Instead I felt my body start to tingle for a bit, then slowly start to go numb. The feeling started to spread throughout my body, all the pain and stress of the day flowing out of me. It felt so soothing that I couldn’t keep my eye lids open and I started to slowly slip in to a long needed sleep.


~~~~><~~~~


It felt like I just closed my eyes for a minute when I woke up, I was lying spread out, face down in the dirt. If I were to guess I would say it was somewhere around 5:00 am. I was so tired and wanted to just roll over and go back to bed, I needed the rest anyways. 
I was just about to return to my dreamless sleep, when I noticed the wall of purple scales. The sea monster had its body wrapped around where I lay, enclosing me. Part of his body was still in the river, and judging by the bubbles breaking the service every now and then, he was still sleeping. 

When I tried to move my right arm I couldn’t feel anything. I turned my head to see that the zebra from last night was cuddled up next to me, my arm resting over her. She had a small smile on her face as she lay there. “Did I sleep with a horse and sea snake last night?” 

Using my other hand I lifted my arm off of the zebra, it started to tingle when I touched it, proving that it just fell asleep from being at a weird angle all night. I tried to make a fist to get some blood flowing, the burn was almost completely scabbed over at this point. Whatever Zecora used on it worked great! 

If my back was doing half as good as my arm was then I shouldn’t have anything more than a scar by tomorrow. My focus was broken when I heard a faint howl come from far off, reminding me where I was. 

“If I’m going to get away from here then this is my chance.”] I think. As I put on my Gi top, belt and hand wraps, careful not to wake ether of the two creatures I spent the night with. Part of me felt a little bad to leave like this. I mean, they helped me, heck they stayed the night with me, which is probably the only reason that nothing in the forest tried anything over night.

There was no way I was going to stay and become something’s pet again though, but I didn’t have to be an ungrateful jerk. So I decided to write out a little thank you message in the dirt before I left. I didn’t know if they would find it but it was the only thing I could think of.

With everything set, I lowered myself back into the water. I was able to swim over the top of the sleeping serpent, getting out of his self-made holding pen. I didn’t want to test my luck out in the forest, so I stayed in the river. Now that I can swim though, I was able to go much faster than yesterday. 

Nothing tried to stop me as I kept a steady pace. I did see some more of those wolf things along the way but they were content with staying on the bank of the river and not trying to come after me in the deeper part. 

Then all at once the tree line came up. Just like entering the forest the trees stopped in a perfect line and I could see the sun again. From where it was in the sky I would say it was somewhere around 4:30pm. 

My stomach started to growl, reminding me that I didn’t eat anything since that apple that Nickel gave me. “Shut up stomach, I know it sucks but I have been busy.” I tell myself as I look around for something I could eat.

Then I saw it, a little white bunny was chilling by a wooden bridge, it had sunglasses on and was holding a sun reflector like it was trying to get a tan. And at that moment I knew that there was a god out there, and he did love me after all. 

I said a prayer of thanks for the meal I was going to eat, as I quietly swam closer to the bunny. I was taken out of my thoughts as I heard a soft gentle voice call out. “Angel? Angel there you are,” I looked up to see a yellow Pegasus with long pink hair and bright blue eyes come trotting up to the rabbit. It was probably the cutest thing I have ever seen.

“I have some nice tasty carrots for you angel, your favorite,” she said, as she set down a plate next to my prey. “Now you enjoy will I go feed the others.” The rabbit just waved a paw like it was dismissing a servant, before picking up the plate and starting to eat.

I waited in the water for the yellow pony to go behind a tree that looked like it was carved out to be a cottage. When I was sure she was gone I found a smooth rock, with the rabbit right by the bridge, I could just nail it was a rock, then take the body down river to cook it. 

I was already drooling, when I lifted the rock over my head and throe it at my soon to be dinner. Unfortunately my aim was off, sending the rock just left of the rabbits head. Startled by the flying stone, the bunny jumped to its feet and turned to see me. I was already out of the river and charging after it when it started to run to the tree.

The rabbit made it to the front door before I could, then turned to stick its tongue out at me before running inside. You think that I would have learned from Alice in Wonderland not to chase white rabbits, but taunting me like that only made me more determent to consume his fluffy white flesh.

As I burst through the front door I instantly found my target, hugging the front leg of the yellow pony that was supposed to be out back. The Pegasus gasped as I noticed that the whole building had bird houses everywhere. Animals where littered all over the place, staring at me with varying levels of shock and fear. 

I started to panic a little when I realized that in my mad quest for food, I had just run into another pet store!

My eyes met the white rabbit that led me here to see that he was giving me the smuggest smile he could muster, like he just beat me in a game of intellect. The Pegasus started to say something but it was too quiet for me to hear, and besides I needed to get out of there. I wasn’t going to be somepony’s pet! So I quickly grabbed for something to throw. Finding a book I threw it at the little white rabbit, making the pony sweep up the bunny so it wouldn’t get hit. I ran out the door and back to the river. 


~~~~><~~~~


The yellow Pegasus didn’t come after me when I ran. It was nice to not be chased for ones. However there was a town of ponies not too far from where I was, and the only cover to hide in was in the river. There was even a point in the river where it split into two paths. One looked like it went straight through the town though so I decided to go the other way. I was trying to avoid being seen by any pony so much that I spent the better part of the day neck deep in cold water.

Now as I look up I can see the sun is starting to set. “I need somewhere to spend the night.” I think to myself. I started to look around for something I could use for shelter. But at this point the only thing I could see were rocks. They were everywhere, one rock, two rock, red rock, blue rock. The only trees around were dead and the land itself looked devoid of life. 

I spotted a barn that stood out from the wasteland, it was a dull gray and looked old, which was perfect for me! I got out of the water and started making my way over to the barn. I didn’t see any ponies coming out this far so I should be safe. “If they are still looking for me, I bet they’re going to look in the barn.” I realize. “But the silo could work.”

I opened the door to the silo to see that it was empty except for a table that had a cloth on it and shelves that lined the inside walls all the way up. It was nice and warm inside the silo, witch felt so nice after being in cold water all day. I grabbed the table cloth and used it as a makeshift blanket, then I curled up on the floor and I fell asleep for the night.
                                                                                                                            


“A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action.”  –Samurai Maxim