Chapter 6
Garren only had a few seconds to think before the pony, Rainbow Dash, would be upon him. He thought about about running, but he knew he wouldn't be able to get away. He still wanted to try to explain himself, but getting captured would make it a lot more difficult. He would try to get the ponies to see reason and if that didn't work he would have to defend himself.
"Look, I just want to ta- Unngh!" Rainbow Dash was already upon him. She grabbed him around his waist, her face smashed into his stomach. The two went tumbling into the ground. He ended up on top of, holding her down to the ground. He quickly jumped off her and backed away. If he wanted to he could have brought out his knife and reduced his pursuers to two. But hurting another one of their friends would not give any favorable effects.
Rainbow Dash looked confused for a moment at Garren's quick retreat. It quickly went away and she stood up. The pony, Applejack, ran in next to her. They both looked pretty pissed, but Garren still tried to talk his way out.
"Ok, ok look... I just want to talk to you! Can we just talk?!" Garren slightly raised his hands, not in surrender, but hoping that they would hold off from jumping him.
"I just want to say that happened to your friend was-" Hearing "friend" sparked anger in Applejack, because she was the first to come toward him. She took a leap to try and tackle him. Garren side stepped as her jump took her sailing past him. Her legs had to be extremely powerful, judging by the distance she covered. He did not want another kick to remind him of that.
Applejack's jump landed her in an unwanted position behind him. He now had a pony in front of him and behind. He now held out his hands to either side, towards the ponies. He got a glimpse of Time Fire off to the side, he was running around dodging purple blasts from Twilight Sparkle's horn. He didn't know what the blasts did, but he knew it couldn't be good. He seemed to be in a predicament, but Garren had to try to amend his own situation first.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your friend, but I swear I didn't mean to do it! It was an accident!" He hoped that they would at least consider what he said and back down, but they continued to circle him like sharks. Finally they jumped for him at the same time. Garren saw it coming and dropped to the wet ground. The two ponies collided in midair in what he thought was an extremely cartoon like moment. He rolled away before they could land on top of him.
Time Fire had managed to get away from Twilight and was now by Garren's side. If he ran right now, he might be able to make it to the other end of the clearing. Rainbow Dash would be the only one who could catch him, but If he reached the tree line, she would have much harder time flying after him. However, he still thought that he could get them to understand what had happened if they would just listen to him for a second.
"Wait, can you just listen for a moment?" He put his hands out in front of him.
Twilight said nothing, but her actions answered for her. She lowered her head and shot and purple blast from her horn, it was coming right at him. It was large enough that he couldn't jump over it over and close to the ground so he couldn't crouch down. Garren had very little time to react, so he braced himself for whatever the blast would do. But Time Fire showed his speed and jumped in front of him
His horn was was on fire again, and he released a huge, blazing blast of it impacted with Twilight's. It greatly lit up the area that was darkened by the clouds. Rainbow Dash and Applejack had started after Garren again and he was running around dodging theirs attempts at tackling him. He tried not to run as their hooves seemed much better at running through mud than his boots. He tried to stay as close as possible to Time Fire, if he should need help, but it looked like he had things well under control.
His blast of fire was rapidly pushing back Twilight's purple energy. Twilight was very surprised at the power that Time Fire possessed, it was something she and Garren shared. Her power was no match for his, In a few moments the blast got within feet of her. She realized that it was a lost cause to use magic against him, so she lit her horn brighter and she disappeared in a purple flash.
Time Fire's flames stopped and Garren was dodging Rainbow Dash, while looking around for Twilight's reappearance. It turns out that she popped up in a flash in front of him. She lit her horn and Garren ran towards her with his hand close to his lower leg. He didn't want to hurt her,, but if she attacked him, he might not have a choice. Her horn stopped glowing, but she stayed in her place, she had a smile on her face. Garren kept running with Rainbow Dash close behind. He was about 10 feet from ramming into her, when she glanced at something on her left. He looked towards his right and saw Applejack running straight at him. He reached down and took out his knife, she was too strong and getting tackled by her would not be good. He raised it over his head, but before he could bring it down, Applejack quickly turned around and kicked him with her hind legs.
This was the same way he was kicked when he first got here and it had similar results. Garren was knocked off his feet and flew back about 3 yards and slid for many more through the mud. The powerful kick sent the knife sailing through the air. It landed in front of Time Fire who was desperately trying to get back in the fight. He stopped and looked at the knife the back to Garren, he then shook his head at would he would have to do.
Oh he's not going like this. He thought as he picked up the knife with his fire magic.
Garren was still conscious, unlike last time, but he was in extreme pain. His right shoulder and chest we hurting him tremendously. He suspected that he might have a cracked rib or two. His vision was very distorted, he could see two very blurry images of Applejack. It looked as if she was swinging her head around and as the images became one and clear, he saw that she was swinging a lasso around.
He tried to crawl away, but that kick had taken much out of him. He thought it was over for him, but then he saw a flaming metal object coming straight for him. It was his combat knife, and manipulating it was Time Fire. He gained confidence upon seeing him, but it quickly went away when the knife didn't stop coming towards him. The blazing blade touched right up against his neck and Time Fire walked stood behind him.
"Stand up!" he yelled.
With his life at risk, he rose against the pain he was feeling. The pony now stood behind him in complete cover. Except for the patter of rain, nothing could be heard for a while. That is until Rainbow Dash slightly moved forward.
"Don't move! I take Celestia wants us back in her dungeon or she wouldn't have sent you three. So you don't move or I will kill him. Do not try me." To prove his seriousness he put more pressure on the knife. Garren felt as if any movement he made would result in his throat being cut.
He noticed something odd as well, the fire wasn't burning him. He guessed that it was just how Time Fire's energy looked. He took into account how Twilight's and Celestia's energies looked different from each other.
"Hold on now, partner" Applejack said as she took a cautious step forward.
"I said don't move!" Now here's whats about to happen; you three are going to stand in a line right there in view. I am leaving and going through that forest and I'm taking him with me. If I see any of you following me, he dies. Twilight, I want you to tie up Rainbow Dashes wings. IF I see her flying over me, he dies. Don't take me serious and you'll only have one thing to pursue." Time Fire sounded deadly serious and Garren hoped the ponies would heed his warning..
To his surprise, they actually did. Twilight's energy surrounded the rope and started to tie up Rainbow Dash's wings.
"Sorry Rainbow." she said as she completed the knot.
Next they all got into a straight line, with Twilight in the middle as leader.
Time fire started to move backwards and so did the knife. To keep from getting sliced, Garren also had to walk backwards. He wasn't able to see Time Fire and was unable to tell if he had just saved him or was about to kill him.
They kept walking backwards until they had reached the opposite tree line. The three mares were still in view and were watching them closely.
They walked through the forest and Time Fire carefully picked out a path with the least roots and rocks. Garren was walking backwards and if he tripped he could die as the knife was still very much on his throat.
When they were a good enough distance away, Time Fire let Garren get away from the knife.
"What the Fuck was that?!" He asked pissed.
"Sshhh. It was all a part of the plan, now be quiet."
The pony was still levitating the knife at the same level and was still moving at the same speed.
"Are you still with me?" Garren whispered.
"Yes, I told you it was all planned out."
"Well then come on!" He whispered, but had an angry, impatient tone."
"Just a little bit farther. They can still see my fire through the rain and darkness. They need to think I'm still threatening you."
The two walked slowly for maybe three more minutes, until the ponies were very hard to see.
"Alright now." Time fire said in his normal volume. He turned around and returned Garren's knife to him. He nodded and the pair took off again through the woods.
***************
Rainbow Dash tried to stretch her wings under the ropes, but Twilight had tied a secure knot. She watched the pony and the human get farther and farther in the distance. She had lost. As fast and agile as she was, she was unable to get her hooves on the human for more than a few seconds. Watching them get away reminded her that she hated losing. She hated the human, even if he was being taken hostage through the woods.
She anger at this point was the highest it had been since Applejack had first kicked the human. It was then that she saw the creature that had so badly injured her friend. Even since then, she had felt...different. She couldn't quite put her hoof on what it was exactly, but she knew it was something. So far she had managed to keep her new feelings a secret. She did not want her friends to worry about her. Although she did wonder if any of her other friends had been feeling the same way.
Forget about this, Dash. Focus on your current problems. She told herself.
"How long do I have to stay like this?!" She broke the silence that had been present since Twilight had tied her up.
"I don't know Dash, but we can't do anything right now." Twilight answered.
"We can't jus' sit here fer' ever, Twi." Applejack was ready to go after them.
"Princess Celestia wants us to bring them back. That means both of them."
"Speaking of "them", ya think she coulda' given us a bit more about that pony?"
"Yeah! Who the hay was that?!
They both looked towards Twilight, looking for answers.
"Why are you both looking at me?"
"You're the answers pony, Twilight. Don't you know who that was?"
In fact, Twilight did have a slight idea who it was, but their situation could get a lot worse if it was who she thought. She didn't like it, but for now she would have to deny anything thoughts she had.
"I have no idea who that was. Celestia just said he was a dangerous prisoner who escaped with the human."
"Yeah, ah remember. Ah jus' wish woulda' told us how dangerous he was."
"Yeah me too." Rainbow agreed.
There was a long awkward silence following that. Applejack would try to start the conversation that none of them wanted to talk about.
"Sooo...ya think he was telling the truth?"
"About his so called "accident"? Yeah I heard the lies he was shouting." Rainbow Dash was clearly very angry.
"I'm with you, Dash." Applejack agreed.
Twilight stayed silent and went over that night again. She remembered opening the portal with Rarity standing in front of it. Then having her immediately be forced back. She remembered Rarity was in pain, but had no idea just how bad it really was until they exited the forest.
"What about you Twi?" Applejack broke her thought.
"Do ya think he was tellin' the truth?"
"Oh umm...I don't know what to think right now. I just want to get out of this rain and figure out what to do next."
"Yeah too bad that wont't happen for a while." Rainbow said bleakly.
"Whatcha mean, Dash?"
"We packed so much rain in those clouds, that it could last for days."
"Well I guess we have our first move then. We have to go back to Canterlot and get the pegasi to clear the clouds. We'll lose a lot of time, but it can't keep raining like this if its not going to help."
"Why do we all have to go? I can get there in a couple of minutes." Rainbow Dash sounded like her usual confident self again."
"You can't use your wings Rainbow."
"Why not they're gone already!" She was right, the two could no longer be seen through the forest.
"If he sees you flying then we're done for. We can't risk him seeing you. We'll have to walk back. And we're all going because I need to talk to the princess and I don't want Applejack to stay out here alone."
"Sounds good ta' me!" Applejack still sounded like her normal self.
The three ponies walked slowly backwards and when the reached the opposite end of the clearing they turned around and ran back towards Canterlot Castle.
***************
Time Fire watched the fire he had started on a small log. He was almost far enough away so that he could open a portal without Celestia detecting it. It had been two days since their encounter with the three pursuing ponies. Applejack's kick left Garren injured and the lack of food was taking its toll. A good The first night after the fight, the rain finally ceased after pouring down all day.
They both took turns taking watch on the first night, but after going more than 24 hours with no signs of any other ponies, they started to relax a little.
They hadn't said much to each other in the days after the encounter. Garren felt broken because his plan to try to seek reason with them had failed. Time Fire thought it was his fault for trying to take him hostage. He seemed to understand that it was a part of his plan to get away, but still was more silent than usual.
He remembered how earlier he had wanted to see Twilight's magic. Not anymore. Twilight's magical power was strong, very strong. When he saw the blast coming towards Garren, he knew he had to stop it. It had taken a lot from him to push it back towards her so quickly. He knew he might not be able to hold off the three ponies without getting too violent.
Garren motioned for the fire to be put out and he quickly absorbed it. He rolled over with his gun next to him. Time Fire waited until he was pretty sure Garren was asleep. After about an hour he started to move, he would leave Garren just as he had done for the past two nights. He hadn't seen anything in a while so thought he'd be safe. However on this night he was unaware of the three dangers that lurked nearby, watching him.
He went off through the forest, trying to find an opening in the through the trees. Finally he found a clearing large enough where the moon light shone through bright.
Maybe now.He thought hopefully. He walked to the center of the it and looked up at the beautiful night sky. He found the night much more beautiful than day, something he shared with only a few other ponies.
His scanning across the sky eventually brought him to look at the moon. He felt guilty and sad looking at it. Many years ago, before he had been banished, he would make and go through portals almost on a daily basis. Every time he came back to this world, it would be at night. The night became his most active time. It was also a time when another certain pony was most active. This pony noticed that he enjoyed the night better than the day and was drawn to him.
This pony became his first friend. Unfortunately he didn't know that he was slowing destroying her every time he came back from earth. All the new negative thoughts and emotions that were clinging to him, spread to her. One in particular, jealousy, seemed to spread very rapidly on her.
The pony noticed that no one else enjoyed the night as much her and Time Fire.They all enjoyed the day and would rather sleep through the night. She became angry and envious at this and all of that negativity transformed her into something monstrous. The powerful pony had tried to make night eternal. For what she had done, she was also banished by Celestia. And it was all his fault.
Time Fire stared up at the stars and closed his eyes. Luna, where are you? He thought, sadly.
Minutes later he heard wing beats. They sounded to powerful to be Rainbow Dash and he doubted that she would be flying around after his threat. He knew who they belonged to and a smile grew across his face. He heard the creature they belonged to land behind him. He turned around and bowed down to the pony
"Princess Luna." He said looking up.
"It has been many years since I have seen you, Time Fire." Luna said softly. She had very mixed thoughts about seeing very old friend.
Time Fire dropped to the ground and tears formed in his eyes "Luna, I am so sorry about what I did to you. I had no idea that it was happening to you."
She looked at him lying on the ground crying. She wanted to forgive her old friend, she wanted to help him out his situation. But choosing to help him would mean going against her sister again. She know more than others how bad him being here was and decided that she would do the right thing, even if it meant possibly being banished again.
"Time Fire, I...Forgive you." She gave him the old smile, that she always used to. Time Fire felt like his old self again and ran up to give her a tight hug.
He stepped back after the embrace and Luna looked deadly serious again.
"Time Fire, I must tell you something.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to help you get the human back to Earth."
"What?! Why?! If Celestia finds out she'll punish you again. I can't stand to see you get banished again" Time Fire didn't want to see her hurt again as a result of his problems.
"The only way to get solve this problem is to get him out of here. If Celestia gets, she'll keep him locked up. All the while he'll still be influencing the world outside.
"I'm trying to get him out of here, but he got hurt and he's very slow now."
"You must...Wait a moment." Luna flew upwards and seemed to dissolve into the night.
Time Fire looked around nervous.Luna could detected anything close by that walked into the moonlight. If it was Garren and he saw him talking to another regal pony, he would definitely lose his trust, that would be bad. However If it those three mares and Garren was still sleeping, then that would be the second worst thing that could happen behind Celestia herself coming.
He waited in the clearing for a few minutes and feared the worst for himself and Garren. When Luna returned, she confirmed his fears.
"I'm afraid you must leave now. I didn't know you had Twilight Sparkle and her friends following you. This changes things..."
Time Fire interrupted her last sentence. "Twilight?! Is she close by?"
"Yes... Very. And with her involved, I'm afraid I can no longer directly help you.
"Why not?"
"Twilight has helped me tremendously in the past and has become a very good friend. Do not worry though, I will still provide help, although you probably will not see me. Now you must go."
"Thank you, Luna." Time Fire smiled and was about to head back into the forest when she called to him/
"Remember! Twilight is a friend and I would not like to see her or her companions hurt."
He nodded and went back to find Garren.
*************
Oh no. Time Fire thought
He stopped behind a tree about 15 yards from where he had left Garren. He peeked out and continued to watch the scene before him. The three ponies had found him and Applejack had already had him tied up. He was lying on his stomach and she had a triumphant hoof placed on his back.
Garren looked angry and yet extremely confused. Time Fire guessed that he probably had woken up with his limbs bound. Rainbow Dash shared his angry look, but mostly because she still had her wings tied to her back.
Twilight was crouching down to Garren's level and was talking to him.
"So do you know where he went?"
"No."
"Did he tell you when he'd be back?"
"No."
"Did he say where he was taking you?"
"No."
"Are you lying to me?"
"Yes."
"Are you ever to tell me the truth?"
He wasn't giving her anything. Time Fire smiled, it was a sign that he still trusted him.
"Quit wastin' your time, Twi. He's not talkin" Applejack pressed her hoof a little harder on his back.
"Yeah your right. Well, I guess we'll just take him back, then go looking for the pony. Now that we have him I guess you can fly again, Dash." Twilight's magic wrapped around the rope and untied it."
"YES! Finally!" she exclaimed, happy at her freedom from the rope.
"Come on, Rainbow." Twilight sounded cheery. Capturing the human had put her in a very happy mood.
She made a "platform" of magic and Apple jack put him on it. Two more ropes were attached to his legs and arms and then wrapped around Applejack and Twilight. They started pulling him back in the direction of Canterlot and he tried to appeal to them again.
"I said what happened to her was an acci- AGGHH Gah." Garren had a rope tied around around his mouth, gagging him, courtesy of Rainbow Dash.
"I don't want to hear anymore about Rarity from you!" She yelled as she flying in circles over him.
"GAHH CRGHH AGGHG" Garren tried to speak through the roping, but it was no use. For now, he was a prisoner again.
When they were a good distance away, Time Fire came from behind the tree. He observed where they had choose to rest for the night.
The log was still hot and he could see the imprints of where he laid. Next to Garren's he found something interesting; his rifle.
Time Fire picked it up with his magic and wrapped the sling around him so that the gun was resting on the top of his back.
He faced the ponies direction and said his situation out loud.
"So I have to rescue him from those three ponies, without getting caught, without dying and without hurting them."
He gave a chuckle and then sighed. Yeah, we're bucked. He said to himself as he trotted off after them.
End Chapter 6
AN: Yeah that wasn't fast at all. But something this thing called life gets in my way and changes around my plans.