Vulkan walked through the brush and over small hills in the forest, it blended together like a tapestry. Very little of the forest was lush, most felt hostile and dark. To anypony this would seem to be a bad place to be, but he wasn't an anypony. Nor just anyone, he was a son of the Emperor. A light in the dark, a hope on the dawn. When men stood by his side, it mattered not where he was. Be it celebration, lamentation, battle, or anything else. His presence brought out courage in the fearful, and strength in the frail. A tower of metal and muscle. Crafted to present peek humanity perfectly. A site to see to be sure, but not all noticed this. A creature, which appeared to be a lion with wings and a scorpion tail rushed from the underbrush.
The creature let loose a roar that shook the ground near it, its voice heard by the forest and felt by the earth. It charged the man, intent to stay at the top of the food chain. This new threat would not stand in its way, no matter how tall. What the beast did not expect was for the man to match its charge. Each step from the green giant cracked the stone and rock of the ground. Clank after clank brought forth into the air by armor on the ground's form. The beast faltered somewhat before it resumed its charge. The two met in a roll of motion, the manticore attempting to find purchase on the armor. Claws and teeth not only incapable of sinking into the man, but dulled on the hard armor. In frustration it attempted to stab the man with its tail to poison him. The pair rolled and the Everfree's resident was unable to penetrate the armor or overpower the Primarch's strength. Through out the process of this battle the beast could hear its prey making odd sounds. It had never heard the sound before, it sounded loud, robust, and happy? "HOHOHO!"
As the two rummaged on the ground the manticore found itself picked up from behind. The beast's tail between the salamander's legs, incapable of reaching more than his armored back. The predator was confused before it felt a squeeze from behind. It let out a surprised squeak and began to struggle in an attempts to get away. "Hohoho, well aren't you the most playful cat I ever did see. That was some very good wrestling, I think you and I are gonna be the best of friends!" The manticore's savage nature was quickly stamped on by further squeezing it. It began to whine, "Do not worry fluffy one the hugs are nearly done, after that we shall go on an adventure together you and I!" Another round of near back breaking hugs later the manticore was on the ground, it filled its lungs with air that was squeezed out of it.
Vulkan was near by, he knelt next to the exhausted monster. The manticore didn't even flinch away when Vulkan petted its ears and head. Something in the action reassured the creature, "You wouldn't happen to know where the nearest space port is my friend?" a small audible crack was followed by a deepening of his voice, "GOTTA GIT HOME TA MY BOYZ?!" Both Vulkan and the manticore were semi oblivious to his change of voice. As for the monster itself, it seemed to understand the intent if not the words. It slowly got up and the pair walked to where ever the manticore was leading Vulkan. "SPEAKEN OF BOYZ ARE U A BOY?! I am uncertain." part way through his speech his voice returned to normal. The manticore huffed, and continued to walk. "Ah, so you are a girl then. The male members of your species must be even more playful in wrestling then you are." The sun broke through as the trees no longer covered them. The manticore and the Primarch had walked to a river, and it was in their path, the creature flew and landed on the other side.
The manticore turned to look at Vulkan on the previous side of the river. Her vision was met with nothing, she heard a bang and was startled, quickly spinning around to see he had jumped the gap. She blinked before she continued to lead, the manticore was merely surprised the man had jumped it so easily. She had expected to wait for him to find some other a way across. The forest was not as dark as the previous side though the difference was negligible. Soon masks and bottles came into view, the manticore left after Vulkan thanked her. "Hmm, not quite what I meant." Vulkan mussed as the a tree with a door came into view, "Perhaps the resident of this tree-house can tell me of this planets space ports... if they have any."
After considering possibility he walked up to the door and lightly knocked on it, "Hello!" He called out as cheerily as possible. He took a few steps from the door as he heard some sounds from inside. After a moment the door opened to reveal a most curious sight. A creature resembling a horse around four and a half feet tall, with large eyes, and black and white striped fur. The sight that met her eyes however was much more terrifying than odd. Her eyes fell on an eleven foot tall, green armored and hulking figure with black skin and red almost glowing eyes. The zebra paused mid step out of her door before he spoke again, "Hello horse friend."
Another moments pause before she spoke, "I fear my potions have caused me hallucinations, or perhaps I have drunken some beer. because never in all of my machinations, did I feel such great fear. Your form has startled me large one, my name is Zecora of the Everfree forest. It may be not fun, but I am not tourist. What is your name? I don't mean to play a game, but this visit quite the surprise. And I have never seen red glowing eyes."
"My name is Vulkan, Primarch of the Salamanders. And I myself have not met your like before, a talking horse is quite the surprise. Even if you are a little small, your speech and rhymes are very unique in my experience." the man sat down his legs semi bent, and his feet still planted on the ground as he planted himself lower. "Would you mind telling me about this planet, I happen to be a bit lost.”