//------------------------------// // Back on the saddle again // Story: The "Elder One" // by HonorableMention //------------------------------// Chapter 3 – Back on the saddle again “Were here, unload the prisoners. Take the Chief out of the back, and the Manticore. Put him on a leash.” Ernest Hemingway Announced with a smirk We were unloaded, and while I felt the extreme urge to break free the chief gave me a look of concern that halted me. Hoofingway was still too powerful for me. I’d have to work on that. When the galutes that were Hoofingway’s hirelings first approached me with the concept of a leash and collar I resisted. One, I am not someone’s darn pet. Two, it was really kinky. I lunged and jumped away from all their attempts and even smacked them a few times until Hoofingway finally forced them to put on the leash with him overseeing it. “Now that our captives are well restrained, let us begin” Hoofingway commented with an insane twitch “Elder One, Hoofingway seems to be losing his sanity with every ounce of power he gains. He is going slip up and when that happens we can make a break for it, and maybe manage to defeat Hoofingway and his thugs.” Chief Redvale whispered Just then a burly Stallion emerged from Hoofingway’s wagon; He had a hammer for a cutie mark and He was a Pegasus probably the biggest one I’d ever seen. Next to that “Roid Rage” one from Hurricane Fluttershy. “Ah yes! This good Chief is J.D. Stallionger. He will keep an eye on you both to make sure you don’t pull anything ‘funny’. He is a good hunting-friend of mine so treat him properly.” Hoofingway commented while pointing to the Stallion. “Well this certainly puts a wrench in our plans.” I said to Chief Redvale in a hushed tone. “No worries Elder One, A sharp mind can out class a sharp sword.” He replied We began the long trek across Redvale’s village until we arrived at the Chief’s teepee. Along the way Bison were shocked and terrified that Hoofingway had captured their Chief, but overjoyed to see the “Elder One”. When we arrived at the Chief’s tent Chief Redvale was led inside, leaving me outside with Goon and J.D. Stallionger. Goon still gripped the side of his face, which looked like a Jig-Saw puzzle. He looked over and saw me staring and gave me a look of fear and extreme hatred. I simply chuckled at his attempt of intimidation. Once they were inside for a period I decided to kick in my social engineering skills to outsmart Hoofingway’s Hirelings. “Hey how does it feel to have a patchwork face?” I questioned the one called Goon “You shut up about my face ah’ ought to gut ye like a pig! You messed me up bad you stoopid animal!” Answered an irritated Goon “That is really well done Grammar and Spelling there Country Bumpkin. Tell me what the Backwater taste is like?” I asked attempting to get a response “Im gonna put ya on my mantle, you busted my face!” He said as he charged at me, finally I thought to myself. I easily caught him off balance and flung him into the teepee behind me. Now I could quickly maneuver without anyone holding my collar. While I was still appreciating my skill at dispatching Goon I flew into a teepee myself. Ouch! It was Stallionger He had gotten up. The Stallion snorted a breath of hot air and charged me. His eyes were full of bloodlust and rage. I hastily averted another solid charge and attempted to swipe at him. He bucked me in the face. He is really strong. I had at first averted using my Scorpion tail because the venom in it would cause a slow and painful death, I would much rather just kill the person. Stallionger was too fast for me I had to use it. I swung around right as he reared for another charge. It hit him immediately; with wicked speed it pierced him. Now he was down to my level. I took off into the sky, the clumsy leathery wings were rather hard to use, but as more of Hoofingway’s henchmen came out I needed a fairer battleground. Two more Pegasi under Hoofingway’s payroll took off into the sky to challenge me and aid Stallionger. I swung full-throttle into the first biting it’s stomach; I pulled it down to earth and threw out on the grass. Its intestines spilled out as it screamed in pain, did I just kill someone…er… somepony? I had no time to think as the second slashed at my wings, where there had been a large membrane in between my wing-bones there was now a bloody hole. I quickly lost altitude. I caught Stallionger on the way down. He broke my fall. The Stallion was fading now, and while I felt guilty about taking a life. It felt justified as it was self-defense; I was defending both myself and my friend and possibly an entire tribe! Two earth-ponies charged at me. Normally, Manticores were not exactly the “fastest” I possessed amazing agility for such a slow creature. I dodged the first of the charging ponies and slammed the second’s head into the dirt. Then I had to smack the Pegasus that had wing-clipped me. It’s super effective. He then bucked me back, and I countered this with a tail stab that immobilized him. The last of the Hirelings then fell and was defeated as I had slashed both of his legs while in mid-charge. I turned my head to see Ernest Hoofingway with Chief Redvale at the end of his horn, Hoofingway then proceeded to clap slowly. “Oh, well done! You truly are the Elder One, What a saint! More like a killer by the looks of it, sadly all your efforts will be to no avail as your precious Chief will either agree to my demands or have his brains blown all over this teepee!” He shouted twitching violently “Let him go Hoofingway, You’ve lost. It’s all over; your crazed dreams of poaching have ended. Next chance I get you’re going straight to Princess Celestia to pay for your crimes, or better yet the Bison’s tribal council.” I stated while approaching him “Don’t take another step. I MEAN IT! HIS BRAINS ALL OVER THE FLOOR! IT WILL BE ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT!” Hoofingway said while charging up his horn. “Buck This!” Said Chief Redvale as he head-butted Hoofingway “Wuh..No…Uh..I…Can’t…Lose” Hoofingway mumbled thudding to the ground. “Let us clean up this mess Elder One, and get you fixed up.” Chief Redvale said