//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: The Attack of the Bataling   
// Story: Sciros 
// by Sapphire Rose 12 
//------------------------------//

   After seeing Sugarcube Corner and stuffing himself with delicious creamy cake and flying around the abandoned Wonderbolts arena, he was on his way to a rundown inn where he could stay the night. 

He paid the pony at the desk and entered a room with a bed that had a hard mattress, a toilet that was clogged (from the previous users), and a light that didn't work. It's better than nothing, he thought to himself.

He set his rose on the table and sat in the wooden chair that immediately snapped, so he decided to stand instead. 

The second rose petal fell from the flower. He sighed. Rainbow Dash was so heartbroken and didn't want to fall in love. Soarin knew with every bit of his mind that he would disappear.

But, did he know that with every bit of his heart?




After waking up from 2 hours of sleep because of the room that was nearly impossible to fall asleep in, he walked outside. He tried to breathe in a breath of fresh air, but was interrupted by a cough because of the terrible smoke that was coming from a nearby campfire. 

He was greeted that day by Pinkie Pie.

"Hey, Soarin!" Pinkie Pie said. "How are ya?"

"I'm good," Soarin said. "Did you get enough sleep last night?"

"I slept like a foal last night! I was exhausted!" Pinkie Pie replied.

"Good for you," Soarin said with a yawn.

Everypony else joined them.

"Hey, Soarin," Rarity said. She giggled. "How are you today?"

Soarin wondered if Rarity was flirting with him. He sure hoped not.

Then, he heard Fluttershy squeal.

"What's wrong?"

He saw the rest of the Mane 6 were afraid as well.

"B--B--B," stuttered Pinkie Pie.

"BATALING!!" Rarity cried.

Soarin spun around to see a Bataling standing right behind him. It let out a defeaning shriek and Soarin let out a loud scream.  

"Run!" Pinkie Pie urged.

Soarin didn't hesitate to lift himself into the air. The Bataling chased them flying as its top speed.

Fortunately, Rainbow Dash and Soarin were a lot faster. Unfortunately, the others weren't. 

"Girls!" Soarin yelped.

"Get back, ya varmints!" Applejack snapped, bucking the Bataling as much as possible. 

Soarin went back after them and Rainbow Dash followed. 

"Leave my friends alone!" Soarin hollered.

The Bataling hissed and turned for Soarin. 

It flew at him and connected him with a punch in the face. 

Soarin let out a yelp of pain, but didn't fall. He flew at the bat and kicked it down.

The Bataling fell and one of its wings was damaged, but that didn't stop the creature. As Soarin landed, it hissed and bit one of his wings. 

"OW!!!" Soarin cried.

Soarin fell to his knees. He felt the Bataling had started sucking and he swore he felt his blood rush away.

Rainbow Dash was shocked. 

"Get away from him!" Rainbow Dash shouted.

She flew at the bat and wrenched the Bataling out of Soarin's wing. It hissed and flew with its unharmed wing, shakily, at Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow Dash hit it hard in the other wing. It crashed. It seemed the Bataling had given up and ran off.

Soarin looked at his wing. It was marked, but it wasn't bleeding. But, he knew that the Bataling had taken some of his because his wing looked pale.

"Are you okay?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I'm fine," Soarin claimed, wincing at the stinging pain in his wing.

"You saved us," Rainbow Dash said. "Why?"

"I care about you," Soarin replied. "That's all I can say."

Rainbow Dash was surprised. How could this stallion arrive and change their whole outlooks? He would fight and risk his life for them even though they met yesterday? This stallion was certainly not like others.

"Stay at my house," Rainbow Dash said. "I've got bandages in my first aid kit."

Soarin agreed. He was glad he didn't have to stay in that terrible inn another night. 

"Thank you," Twilight whispered.

"You're welcome," Soarin said.