1
Sweetie Belle wandered around Ponyville looking for a way to get her cutie mark by observing others in the town. She looked down and let out a large sigh and kicked a rock to the side.
“How am I going to get my Cutie Mark?!” she yelled, to none in particular. She looked at the ground deep in thought. “I could try potion making again but after that love poison incident with Big Mac and Ms. Cheerilee, I don’t think it would be a good idea.” she whispered, trampling off in frustration.
She headed to the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse hoping to find some inspiration there. She arrived at the clubhouse and discovered that neither of the other Cutie Mark Crusaders were around. She huffed and entered the empty clubhouse. She looked around the one room clubhouse and looked at their map of Ponyville. She couldn't make out much of the map because of the red crayon that covered most of it in scribbled lines and giant red X’s. She kicked the wall and slumped to the floor in a depressed state.
“I've tried just about everything I can think of and still nothing. No Cutie Mark! Ughh, what should I do now? Everypony keeps telling me to give it time but I want it now!” she screamed.
“Sweetie Belle!? Sweetie! Are you here?!” a voice called from the outside of the clubhouse.
Sweetie Belle got up and went outside to find out who it was. She saw Rarity walking around outside looking for her.
“I’m over here Rarity!” Sweetie Belle called.
“Oh, thank goodness. Come along Sweetie, it’s getting late and you have school in the morning.” Rarity said while placing a hoof on Sweetie’s shoulder to hurry her along.
2
The light shown through the windows of Carousel Boutique and illuminated the rooms with its light. Sweetie Belle stirred and pulled the covers over her face not wanting to get out of bed. She heard a knock on her door. Sweetie Belle only tightened her grip on her covers.
“Go away!” she yelled from under her sheet.
“Sweetie, you’re going to be late for school! Get out of bed!” Rarity called from the other side. Sweetie Belle slowly uncovered herself and got out of bed. A short time later she was ready to go to school. She ate some breakfast and ran down to the school building.
3
“Good morning sister.” Luna called while entering the throne room of Canterlot Castle.
“Luna? Its morning what are you doing up? You need to be resting.” Celestia said smoothly.
Luna stuck out her tongue. “Oh, come now sister. I can be up if I please, you know that.”
“Yes, but I still would like to know why you are up at this hour.”
“Very well.” Luna looked down for a moment. “I had a strange feeling last night I wanted to ask your opinion about the matter.”
Celestia was puzzled. She looked at her sister and saw the sincerity in her eyes. “OK, what is troubling you my sister?”
“When I was out flying last night I got this strange sensation. I have never felt it before which is why it bothers me.”
“What was this feeling?” Celestia asked.
“Well, oh, how do I describe it? It was like a mixed feeling of dread and anticipation. That’s the best way to put into words but maybe I can transfer that feeling to you.”
Celestia calmly nodded for her sister to continue. Luna approached her sister. Luna’s horn began to glow and she tapped her horn to Celestia’s. Celestia’s face contorted as she tried to comprehend the feeling that overwhelmed her senses. Luna pulled away and waited for Celestia’s response.
Celestia opened her eyes and looked at her sister. She breathed heavily and shook her head slowly from side to side. “I don’t know what to make of this Luna. I can’t comprehend that sense. Although what I can tell you is that it is not from this world.” Celestia said grimly.
“What do you mean?” Luna asked.
“I mean that this feeling does not come from any pony in Equestria. I know that every pony in Equestria gives off a unique life signature. The feeling you had is your sensing of a life signature but it felt only half alive.” Celestia said, seriousness permeating her face.
4
The school bell rang and the Cutie Mark Crusaders dashed from the building in a blur. They congregated in the yard and began to discuss their usual topic.
“ OK, ladies how are we going to get our Cutie Marks?” Sweetie Belle asked the others.
“I know we can go ask Rainbow Dash to help us!” Scootaloo said grinning from ear to ear.
“You always say that Scootaloo! Ah think we should go into the forest and try to catch some animals out there. Maybe we could get our Cutie Marks as Everfree Forest Animal Catchers.” Applebloom suggested.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo thought about it for a while and nodded their approval.
“Everfree Forest Animal Catchers Yay!” they all screamed in unison and they went top speed toward the Everfree.
5
Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom arrived at the edge of the Everfree Forest a short time later.
“Well, come on guys let’s go!” Scootaloo called behind her back, already on her way into the forest.
“Hey wait up!” Sweetie Belle and Applebloom called in unison, running to catch up.
“Well, what are we looking for exactly?” Applebloom asked.
“I don’t know, just something that we can catch.” Scootaloo answered.
They continued to walk for a short while when Scootaloo spotted a Timber Wolf in the Distance.
“Hey, what about that?” Scootaloo called to the others.
“A Timber Wolf? Are you out of your mind Scootaloo? That thing could eat us in one bite.” Sweetie Belle said in a panic.
“Well, we won’t know unless we try.” Scootaloo said, charging the Timber Wolf.
“Scootaloo, No! Stop!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle yelled in unison. Scootaloo charged at the Timber Wolf alone while Sweetie Belle and Applebloom tried their best to keep up.
The Timber Wolf noticed the charge and turned to face Scootaloo. She approached rapidly and the Wolf took a swipe at her when she was in range. The Timber Wolf missed by a small margin and was correcting itself when Scootaloo jumped onto its back and clung to its neck. The Wolf snarled and ran in all directions trying to get the little hitchhiker off of its back. It eventually ran into a tree and hit its head knocking it unconsciousness and throwing Scootaloo headfirst into the tree as well.
“Scootaloo!” yelled Applebloom, running to help her friend, Sweetie Belle followed closely behind.
“Are you OK?” Sweetie Bell asked Scootaloo.
“Yeah I’m OK.” Scootaloo answered, righting herself.
“That was close! Ah thought you were a goner Scoot.” Applebloom said.
“Yeah I agree. I thought I was a goner.” Scootaloo answered, rubbing her head.
“Hey guys, I think it’s time we go. Rarity’s going to worry if I don’t get back home soon.” Sweetie Belle told the others.
“Yeah alright, I think we should go too.” Scootaloo agreed.
Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle turned to head home when they heard a growling sound behind them. They turned to see that the Timber Wolf had gotten back up and was staring them down.
“Now don’t panic. It’s going to be alight.” Applebloom said quietly. The Timber Wolf took a step forward indicating its hostility. “Run!” Applebloom wailed. They turned and ran through the forest trying to escape the Timber Wolf who was now chasing them.
They ran through the forest dodging trees. The Cutie Mark Crusaders ran for what seemed like hours while screaming all the way, the Timber Wolf close behind them.
“We should split up! We need to divide its attention for while so we can escape!” Scootaloo yelled.
“Ah agree!” Applebloom called out.
“Ok! On three! One. Two .Three!” Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle split up and went in different directions. Applebloom to the right, Scootaloo to the left and Sweetie Belle continued straight. The Timber Wolf continued to chase Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle ran in an adrenaline fueled panic and decided to climb a tree hoping to escape the rampaging wolf. “Somepony, anypony, help!” She yelled from a tree branch. The Timber wolf circled the tree and began jumping at Sweetie Belle any time she moved. She held to the tree branch like a vice.
She could feel the light pitter patter of rain coming down on top of her and the wolf. The wolf remained undaunted by the rain. It leaped and Sweetie Belle launched a leg at it hitting it in the nose. The Wolf recoiled and began to circle again. The clouds got darker and the rain became thicker as it poured down into the Everfree. Lightning struck the ground causing some wildlife to flee their homes. Sweetie Belle could feel the ground shake from the massive impacts of the lightning. Her tears were hidden by the rain as she clutched onto the branch for her life.
6
A large being stood up and shook its head trying to clear it from its daze, its massive legs whirring and clanging as they moved. It looked at its hands inspecting the damage that it had received from the crash. It turned its head to look at its current surroundings. The rain clouded his vision as it climbed out of the crater that it was standing in.
It stood still once again inspecting its surroundings and running a self-diagnostic. The diagnostic completed and reported minor damage. It initiated a repair sequence to its right side. It waited for few minutes while the repair sequence worked. When it was completed it moved away from the crater, its boots causing the earth to shake under their weight.
It walked a short distance when through the rain it heard a scream for help. It did not recognize the phrasing of the scream but it headed that direction at a quickened pace.
7
Sweetie Belle clutched to the branch. The wind and the wolf making the tree shake and bend. It took all the strength that her tiny frame could muster in order to stay attached to the branch. The wolf lunged at the tree again, hitting it hard and Sweetie Belle lost her grip and slipped off of the tree. She landed in the mud and crawled backwards until her back was against the tree. The wolf growled and revealed its sharp teeth, drool and foam frothing from its mouth. It roared as it made its final approach towards the filly.
Sweetie Belle screamed at the top of her lungs hoping that someone would hear her over the downpour. Her scream was answered by an ear shattering wail. Sweetie Belle covered her ears in pain and the wolf recoiled at the sound. She looked in the direction it came from to see only blackness. Then she heard a loud snapping sound and a large creature barreled through a tree snapping it in two. It wailed again and charged at the wolf.
The wolf turned to look at his new opponent when it was smashed in the face by a giant metal hand. The wolf flew backwards and landed against another tree. The giant walked in front of Sweetie Belle, his back to her. It made a fist and a large blade sprung from its right wrist. The giant took a defensive stance the blade in front of its face.
The wolf got up and began to circle the tree that it had just been knocked from. It barred its fangs, growling. The giant stood his ground a low rumble coming from its throat. The wolf charged at the two and was met with a blade to the face. Its nose was cut in half and it could no longer breathe. Blood was spilling from the wound. The wolf whimpered in pain and backed up for a moment. The giant retracted its blade and grabbed the wolf in its two hands and pulled. The wolf was torn in two its guts and a waterfall of blood spilling from its midsection. The giant threw the two pieces away and let out another one of its piercing cries.
The giant turned to face Sweetie Belle. The giant’s chest was heaving as it breathed quickly and deeply. It took a step forward, causing the ground too rumble beneath the filly. She tried to back away from this massive creature. But her back was already against the tree inhibiting her ability to escape. A flash of lightning illuminated the ground allowing Sweetie Belle a brief look at this monstrosity. It was nearly seven feet tall. She noticed that it had a tan appendage on the left of its body and a deep black appendage on its right that reflected the light. Its right hoof had smaller outgrowths that looked like sharpened talons. Its legs were wide which connected to large feet. The face was obstructed by a large cloth that covered its nose and mouth. It had glowing red eyes illuminating a small portion of its optical region.
Sweetie Belle whimpered, too scared to move or say anything. She curled into a ball and covered her eyes. She heard the large footsteps of the giant coming near her and she tensed even more. The footsteps stopped and she felt a large shaking in the ground. She refused to remove her hooves from her eyes. She felt a large and soft object cover her back and tighten lightly. She felt herself being lifted from the ground and placed elsewhere. She removed one hoof from her eye and noticed that the giant had placed her in its lap. She began to shake with fear and let out a small squeak. She heard a high pitched sound come from above her and noticed that the grip on her back relaxed and the giant’s hand began to stroke her along her back in a comforting manner. She continued to shake with fear, though not as badly.
The giant laid itself down and placed Sweetie belle on the ground to his side. She had somehow fallen asleep in the downpour. The giant took its scarf from its body and placed it over her. The giant noticed that the filly smiled and grabbed it like it was her own blanket. The giant remained under the tree with the young filly and remained vigil for the remainder of the night.