//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The night robbers // Story: Digital storm // by SeiryuofEast //------------------------------// Everfree forest Jim's POV When my little sister and I, leave the river, we decided to search for a shelter so we could spend the night, it was rather difficult to find a place by the fact that I was so huge now. But first, we need to get out of this creepy place, while I walk thru this forest I noted that the more we saw to our surroudings more creepy it gets, like in that scene in Snow white when the princess get lost in that forest and start to seeing things because she was scared, here, it was more like the real thing, like if we have entered in a haunted house. "Jim, can we get out of this forest please?" ask Liz fearful. "I'm trying Liz, what's the matter? Are you scared?" I ask to my little sister that was still on my head while I walk. "Uh-huh, Jim I think that we are in the Everfree forest." replied Liz. "Ever-what?" I said a bit confused as I stopped my walk. "Is the most scary forest in Equestria, in this place are manticores, ursas, cockatrices that if you see it into the eyes it can turn you into stone and a lot of other monsters live here." said Liz as I can feel her tremble. "Hey is ok, look..." I moved my right arm to a tree at my side and easily push it to the ground. "See? Your big brother is now so strong that I can even take down trees like nothing, I will protect you no matter who or what could appear." I said trying to make her feel better. But my sister was still unsure about it, I was more determined than before as I try to find the way out of this forest that scare her. One good thing that I had learn is that these big ears that I have were not just for decoration, the range of my hearing was more vast than before and the sound of the rumbles that I do with every step I made, were causing that every critter who were close to us to drives off. At least I don't have to worry for any attacks for now, unless there was a creature bold enough to defend its territory from invaders. "By the way Jim, what we are now? You look like a monstrous rabbit and I look like a puppy with a ring for a necklace." asked Lizz, I can feel that she want change this atmosphere. "Well do you remember the anime that I show you the past year? Where 7 kids were chosen to have some creatures as companions that evolve into bigger and powerful beings?" I ask to my sister. "I think I remenber it, Digimon was it? I don't put it too much atention, because at that time, you decided to reject and not see My little pony, so I don't watch your anime because I was angry at you for that." replied Liz a little upset in her tone. "What a prideful sister that I have." I thought a bit upset as I continue explaining to Liz. "Well to simple put it, we are now digimons. You are a now a Salamon, a holy type rookie level digimon." I said to Liz. "I see, and what are you?" Liz asked me, she sound curious about it what makes me feel relaxed a bit, at least she is no scared now. "I'm now Cherubimon vice, a fallen angel ultimate level digimon, and a very powerful one. But I still don't know how to use my powers." I explain to Liz. "Ohhhh...Wait you said fallen angel? What that's mean Jim?" ask Liz. "Well basically it means evil angel, like Lucifer." I replied. "Ehh?!..." shout Liz surprised. "Jim are you a bad guy now?" asked Liz worried about it. "What? No, I'm still me, just because I look like a evil monster rabbit, that doesn't mean that I would act like one." I said a bit upset while I clarified to my sister. "I see, I'm sorry for said that to you Jim." replied Liz, by her tone I could tell that she feel bad for what she said before. "Hey..." I moved my right arm hand over my head where Liz was and with one finger I gently rub her head "Is ok, I know that you really don't mean to said that." I said trying to cheer her up. "Thank you Jim, you are the best brother." said Liz with a more calm tone while I chuckled a bit in response. After that conversation with my sister, we both continue our way thru the forest, for a while Liz stay in silent but she start to hum the intro song of my little pony and I let her be. She needs a distraction for everything that we seeing here and even is nobody or anything were coming to attack us, the sole images of this forest could give goose bumps to anyone who can't defend himself, I'm glad that Liz has me at her side while we are in this mess. then suddenly Liz stopped her hum. "Jim look!..." exclaim Liz as she move her paw pointing to some direction. "Is a path, it has to be the one to get out of here." said Liz. I move my head to the direction where Liz was pointing and saw that the trees were separated in the distance from where we watching, effectively it looks like something was dividing the forest in that direction by the ground. I walk at that place and we encounter a path on the ground, one side was going to a deep part in this forest while the opposite direction, as far as our sight could tell, was leading to a open road. "That direction..." said Liz looking to the direction that lead deep into forest. "It has to be the way to the ruins of the old castle of the pony sisters, while the other could led us to Ponyville, we can go out of here Jim!" exclaim Liz excited. "Yeah let's go, the less scary and creepy the better." I replied. With this resolved, we follow the direction in the path to where my sister said before, the path that could lead to Ponyville. While I march on that way, we were leaving that forest, it didn't take us too long until we finally reach to the entrace of the woods, as we continue thru the way, we finally reach to a crossroad with signs in it dividing the paths in the road. Saddly I couldn't read what was written in the signs, it was in a strange dialect and I doubt that Liz could understand it, but before infront of us in the distance crossing a bridge we can see the houses of Ponyville from our position. "We made it Jim!..." exclaim my sister excited as she point with her right paw to the town. "We are at Ponyville, it's looks so beautiful and peaceful at this hour, I can't wait to meet the ponies, come on Jim we only have to cross that bridge over there and we officially have entered to Ponyville." said Liz joyful. I heard my sister's words, she sound so happy about this to even forget about her bruises and tiredness, for her it was a dream come true to finally meet the characters of her favorite cartoon show, what kid doesn't have a dream like that? But, as I watch to the town of ponies in the distance for a while, there was no light on in the houses, the habitants of that town were probably sleeping at this moment. Then I look down to my body thinking for a brief moment. "Isn't going to be easy, but is the right decision." I thought looking to my huge arms. "Jim? What's matter? Come on, let's go to Ponyville." said Liz a little concerned as I took a deep breath. "Liz...We aren't going to that town." I said with a firm tone. "Eh?! Why not?" exclaim Liz as she sound hurt. Then I move my right hand to her so she can go jump on it and move her in front of my face so we could discuss this better. "Liz, I know that you want to go to Ponyville, but look at me, If I go at this time of the night, it would become a big mess." I told to Liz. "But, but...Can we come in the morning then? Please Jim" plead Liz to me and I shake my head. "Look Liz, you and I know that I ain't a bad guy right?..." I ask to my sister who nod in response. "Well these ponies doesn't know that, If I go to that town at any hour of the day, the ponies will get scared of me and probably something bad would occur. It will be like those cartoons when a guy who look evil, in the end is known that he was innocent, but the damage will be still done, do your understand?" I said explaining to Liz, I could see how she was tremble with the sadness in her eyes for what I said to her. "Then...Can I come alone for a while?" ask Liz with her hurtful tone, I feel really bad for her right now. "No Liz, you are my responsability, I can't leave you alone now, this world is new to us, especially me, I would never forgive myself If something bad happen to you, please understand, we only have each other now." I told to my sister in a firm tone. "O-ok Jim, I-I under-stand." said Liz sobbing as tears were coming out her eyes. "No, no Liz don't do this to me, put those tears back into your eyes, crying isn't fair and you know it." I thought looking to my sister's tears for a while, until finally I sigh in defeated. "Fine...Look Liz, I don't how or when, but we will find a way to go into the town." I said trying to comfort my sister. "Yo-you promise?" said my sister still in tears. "Yes, I promise, but we aren't going to that town yet, we aren't prepared to go now." I told to Liz. "Is-is ok Jim I can wait." replied Liz sobbing a bit. "Good, then wipe those tears..." I said as I move my left arm to Liz and with the tip of my finger I wipe the tears of Liz's right cheek. "We are in the world of your favorite show, just wait for a bit more to meet those ponies ok?" I said smiling trying to make her feel better. "Thank you Jim..." said Liz while moving her left paw to wipe the rest of her tears on her face and look back to me. "Maybe we could find a pony that could help us get into the town." said Liz with a better mood. "We will see what we can do, but for now, we shou-" I try to say but I was suddenly interrupt by the sound of a great roar surprising me on the spot. "Liz did you hear that?..." I said in alert looking around us for the animal that made that noise. "It sounds like the roar of a monster, we have to be...Liz?" I look back to my sister face and I encounter that she was red like a tomato. "Don't..." said Liz in a lower tone with a angry expression looking to me. "Liz, don't tell that it was-" I try to say guessing what she mean but she interrupt me again. "DON'T LAUGH!!!" exclaim Liz angry at me. Suddenly in Liz shout I could feel a sonic wave hitting me in the face making me take a step back, after a few seconds I recover from that, surprisingly that doesn't hurt me much, it anoy me more than hurt me. When I look back to my sister on my hand, she was now panting tired with her tongue out. "That was...Puppy howling?" I said in surprise looking to Liz. "Puppy...howling?" ask Liz confused while panting a little. "That was one of your special techniques." I told to my sister. "I don't understand." replied Liz recovering her composure. "I explain later, for now let's find something to eat and some shelter, I'm starting to get hungry too, ok?" I said to Liz. "Yeah, my little tummy is asking for food." said Liz rubbing her stomach as I put her back on my head. I look around and closer to us I found behind a wood fence some apple trees and a road a side of the fence leading to another place. The trees that were closer looks smaller and don't have much apples, those weren't going to be much useful, but still, I extend my arm to one tree and grab a apple to give it to Liz, and she quickly consumed it in a few seconds and trow the core to the ground. "How it was?" I ask to Liz. "Delicious, but I'm still hungry." replied Liz. "What is in that direction?" I ask to Liz as I point with my right hand in the direction of the road a side of the fence of the apple trees. "That way should lead to Applejack's family farm, Sweet apple acres. Is a farm of apples." replied Liz. "Excellent let's go there then." I said walking to the way of that farm. "What are you going to do? Are we going to ask Applejack and her family for help?" ask Liz curious about it. "You will see." I replied smirking. "Still, I can't believe that my sister with that small body, can produce that scary sound." I thought as I walk to the path, mentally laughing about what just happened. Sweet apple acres farm "Jim, I don't think that this is a good idea, Applejack and her family will get mad at us if they know about it." said Liz unsure with what I was doing. "I don't like it either, but is this or starving the night." I replied. When Liz and I reach closer to the apple farm, it was a marvelous sight, there was apple trees and apple trees everywhere, in the earth I never have the chance to visit a farm with this level of product prodution. When we walk over the fence, I have to be really careful to not make my steps to rumble, the less I want right now is to call the atention of this Applejack and her family, I really wish to know how to float right now, it would made this job more easily. The plan that I have was quite simple: 'I just going to tear off some apple trees of the ground', but not any normal apple tree, I'm going for the ones most matures that have more apples on it, those may have the most tasteful ones too. To be fair, it was a little extreme from my part doing something like this, but we are short of time and we still have to find shelter so don't blame me. Liz and I try not to get closer to the house and barn keeping distance far away from those, the less atention the better. Then I was infront of the first apple tree, even in the dark night i could see perfectly the apples in it, they look so juicy and I can bet that they were tasteful too, but I remained calm, with my right arm I grab it from the trunk and easily I tearing it off the ground without making too much noise, a few apples to fell from it by doing this, then I put the tree under my left arm. I repeat this action a few times until I end up carrying six apple trees in my arm, I think that this quantity is quite enough for Liz and me, at least for the dinner and the breakfast for tomorrow. With my prizes in my arm, it was time for us to leave the 'crime scene' so we silently go back for were we come from, walking over the fence to go out this apple farm without being noticed. After a while, we where back at the crossroad from before, as Liz and I decide where to go now, our decision was to avoid any encounter with a pony for now, so Liz told me that we should go to the forest outside Ponyville, she said that at least in that place are not dangerous creatures like in the Everfree forest. I follow my sister instructions as she guide me to this forest that she mentioned before, passing thru the road that go to the Everfree until we come across in front of us a cottage a side of the road. Liz told me that this was the home of a pony named Fluttershy, she then tell me that Fluttershy was one her favorites characters of the show, by the tone of her voice I could tell that she was sad by the fact to not meet this pony right now, but I told her and assured her that she will eventually meet her, that she just have to be a little patience about it. After that, Liz and I continue our way until we finally find and entered to the forest that she mentioned before. As we were walking in this forest we try to find the best place for us to spend the night, until we encounter a cave that looks big enough for me to enter and even has a river a side of it. The perfect site with a water source nearby and a ceiling In case it rains, when we where closer to the entrace of the cave I drop the apple trees that I was carrying on the making a loud sound, after that we hear a angry roar coming from the cave alerting us, in a moment, from the cave comes out a bear walking on his two legs and it looks angry. That was until his face hit my belly, he then start to look up slowly as he meet my face looking down to it, the poor bear quickly change his mood from angry to scared as it start to shake in fear while I let out a menacing growl. "Boo!" I shout to the bear. With that simple sound the bear fall on the ground screaming and quickly stood up in his four legs tripping once on its way as its get out of this place leaving Liz and I alone, after seeing this I couldn't resist the urge and I end up laughing about the scared poor bear for a while. "Jim!..." exclaim my sister angry making me stop. "Stop being mean." said Liz with stern tone. "Sorry Liz, I just couldn't resist it." I replied as I apologise to Liz. "Apology accepted..." said Liz as she look to path where the bear ran away. "Still, that bear looks familiar." said Liz unsured. "You think?" I said without much interest in the creature. After our encounter with the bear I finally left Liz back on the ground, then I grab the apple trees and start to taking all the apples off them, stacking them in a mound, then I grab the branches of the trees and with the stones that where around us I used them to make a campfire. My only problem now was how I'm going to light the fire, while my sister was already eating some apples I was dealing with the bonfire, just then I remember how Liz use her attack on me before, at that moment she was angry at me, maybe a strong emotion could be the key. I move my hand infront of me closing my fingers in a fist, then I start to concentrate, If I am correct, Cherubimon vice has the ability to create lightnings, I should be able to do it, just like Liz unconsciously did her special attack at me. My hand was trembling as the seconds pass without anything happening, meanwhile my head was starting to hurt, I was starting to get frustrated until finally, a spark of dark electricity cross my fist for a few seconds. "I made it, now I just have to..." I thought moving my hand in front of the campfire. Again, I start to concentrate harder, feeling that emotion to make appear that spark in my hand again. Then the spark reappear in my hand, this time I try to control it, but it was so difficult that I was starting get a headache, but it was enough time to made my fingers snap pointing to the campfire and I end up shooting a little spark to the wood catch it fire in it, bringing light to our humble camp, Liz who was watching this got closer to me. "Wow, Jim you can shoot electricity from you hands!" exclaim Liz as she sit on the ground. "How do you do it? Can you teach me? Please please please!" said Liz excited while I sigh tired for what I just do. "Well..." I said as I sit on the ground too. "That's my ability as Cherubimon vice, but that was so hard to do, I feel that my head was about to explode." I replied to Liz looking to her. "I see, then what are mine abilities Jim? Can I spit fire from my mouth? Or can I control water? I know, I can made earthquakes right?" said my imaginative sister smiling in joy. "The true is Liz, most or your abilities are physical attacks, only your puppy howling has some effect, in this case, make your opponent stunned." I explain to Liz. "What? Not fair Jim, you can tear down trees with one arm and shoot electricity while I just howl? Why you are the one with the cool stuff?" said Liz disappointed. "Hey don't be so down, I told you that it was too hard for me to do it and it was even only a small spark, I don't think I could use that often." I said to Liz. "If you say so." replied Liz still a little upset. After that, Liz and I haved our dinner of apples, I was surprised with the taste of this fruits, these are the most tasty apples that I could have the pleasure of savour it, If I could meet this Applejack, I will congratulate her and her family for this wonderful work with this apples, that's of course, If she doesn't ran scared of me or try to kill me for stealing her trees. When with finish our dinner, we leave half the apples for tomorrow as I move them inside the cave, I decided to leave the fire on in the campfire to keep us warm for the rest of the night. Then Liz and I move to the entrace of the cave as I take a seat on the ground, leaning my back on the stone wall, then I put Liz on my belly so she lie down on it to sleep while I move my right hand on her body to keep her safe while we sleep. "Jim...Do you think that we will see our parents again?" said Liz with her unsure tone looking to me with her puppy eyes as I look back to her and smile. "Of course Liz, we will meet them again, we will find the way to do it, I promise." I replied rubbing her back gently. "Thank you, good night Jim, I..." Liz try to say but she suddenly yawn and lower her head rubbing it on the fur of my belly before she continue. "Love you." Liz said falling into sleep. "Today you suffered a difficult night, no wonder that the tiredness finally got you." I thought looking to my sister with a warm smile. "Good night Liz, I love you too." I said as I close my eyes. Sweet apple acres farm Applejack's POV It was early in the morning as I wake up, I think it was around the 8:00am more or less, usually I wake more earlier but with the extra job I did in the farm yesterday, I decided to take one hour more to sleep. Then I stand off to make my bed so I could go out my room and before I exit my bedroom I grab my hat to go to the bathroom. When I finish my business in the bathroom, I go down stairs to meet my granny, I think my big brother Bic Mac and my little sister Applebloom would be already working together at the farm, Applebloom doesn't have to go to the school today so she help us in the morning before she go to play. As I entered to the kitchen I was expeting to meet granny, but instead she was not there, maybe she was out with my siblings in the farm. After going out the house I start to looking for my family at the farm, I was getting a bit worried for not finding them yet, until I finally find the members of my family reunited in the apple orchards, look's like something was happening, as I trot closer to them I could see their faces with a concerned expression while they look down to the ground. "Good morning everypony, what's the matter?" I said to my family as Granny Smith turns to look me. "Hi sweetheart, and this doesn't look like a good morning to us." replied my grandmother with a sad tone. "Not good? Why is that?" I ask a little confused. "Look to the ground there sis." said Applebloom pointing with her hoof to the ground as I look to that direction. "What the-" I stopped, surprised and scared for what I saw. There on the ground for what I know, where there supposed to be big apple trees before were now empty holes with a few fell apples at the sides of those holes, but what was suprised me more, was the fact that around to those holes were huge footprints. "What the hay happen here?" I said still looking down to the footprints.