“Survivors! My curiosity demands satiation!”
“That voice… heh, well, well. It’s been a long time, ya’ edge lord.”
The Demon King takes in all of Sanctuary, scanning the cliffs that make up the bowl the compound itself rests within. The leaves of the small forestation to his right flutter in the wind, and his pupils dilate upon noticing the tribe of survivors standing at a distance before him.
The Demon King lowers his forefront and lets loose a deafening roar.
The explosive action caused several members of the Tribe of Harmony to wince and fold their ears against their heads, with Granny Pithecus taking a few steps forth and extending an open palm back to them.
Both Spirit and HLN-A nod to each other before trotting and floating forth to join the Gigantopithecus.
The tribe’s Pterosaur remains perched on the rooftop of their home, cautiously watching the now approaching Giga, and Vanellope remains at Rainbow Dash’s side, growling and chirping.
“Don’t try anyth’n stupid, gals,” Granny starts, although some of the ponies could’ve sworn that they saw beads of sweat going down the side of the ape’s features. “Let me do the talk’n, and keep yer dang mouths shut for Grok’s sake.”
Thunderous footsteps escort the monstrous form of the apex predator. “Well… this is certainly a surprise.” The Giga states, stopping before lowering its forefront and crawling towards them with its powerful arms and legs, its tail crashing into the ground and swaying side to side.
The beast rests its gaze on HLN-A. “A being made of metal, yet it still lives. Just like another I’ve met before.”
-Wait, what?- HLN-A inquires internally.
Its gaze shifts towards Spirit. “Ah, so the rumors amongst the Equus are true… Unicorn.”
Spirit steels his nerves, taking a breath. “Things have certainly changed a lot while I was in cryo-stasis. The last time I encountered one of your mighty brethren, they didn’t possess the ability to speak.”
“This fell’r ain’t noth’n like them,” Granny comments, garnering the dinosaur’s gaze. “It’s been a long time, Edgy Mcgee,” She greets with a tip of her hat.
……….
“And she told us not to do anything stupid?” Rainbow mutters in the background.
“Shush, Rainbow, she’s doing a thing,” Rarity answers. “I hope…”
……….
“There is something about you.” The dinosaur narrows its eyes, its nostrils suddenly intaking a surge of air. “Your scent carries with it… recognition. Yes, there’s no mistaking it.” The beast turns its head sideways, and all in attendance note a long scar stretching across the side of its neck.
“It’s just like that ape who managed to give me this scar.”
Granny stares at the Giga for a brief moment, and laughter slowly builds up from a low chuckle to raising her head and laughing outwardly with a hand resting on her stomach. The boisterous laughter echoes throughout all of Sanctuary, and various eyes shift nervously towards the laughing ape.
“Hah! Ah knew it!” Granny exclaims, bearing a mocking grin that gains a growl from the Giga. “Ah knew that mah daddy didn’t go down without a fight, woohoo!” She raises her arms above her head before lowering them and beating her chest repeatedly, all while sporting her grin.
“So tell me: how did it feel, eh? Hehehe, how did it feel to get slapped by an ape? Ah bet you came here to kill me as revenge fer what mah daddy dun did - that it? Well, good luck with that. I’ll just respawn ‘n-”
The Giga slams its tail into the ground, quaking the earth and silencing Granny’s words. “Watch your tongue, ape. Lest I pay your tribe a visit in the Redwoods.”
Granny growls. “Yall be a dang idiot if ya think you stand a chance against us together. We’ll kick your shit in!”
The beast chuckles. “Perhaps you all would. That pleases me.”
-Wai’, wha’?- The ape is dumbfounded inertly, her mouth slightly jawed.
“And as for your question, I only felt one thing as I faced your father in combat,” The dinosaur leans its enormous head in closer. “Invigorating.”
-...Da fuq?-
“What was his name?”
The predator’s question draws Granny out of her stupor. “H-his name was R’thar.”
-R’thar?- HLN-A questions upon overhearing. -Why does that sound so familiar…-
“R’thar…” The Giga repeats. “I shall remember it for the rest of my life. I promise you this.”
The Demon king rises to its full stature. He takes powerful steps forth, carefully walking over Granny, Spirit, and HLN-A, positioning himself in front of the Tribe of Harmony -- his demonic eyes resting on them.
Rainbow Dash bared her teeth cautiously as Applejack and Pinkie Pie glared back at the dinosaur. Rarity looks side to side nervously in a cold sweat; Vanellope is seemingly ready to pounce onto the Giga at any moment. But when it comes to Fluttershy, the pegasus stood with a neutral expression.
A dead silence ensues, save for the blowing leaves and roars of distant creatures. Then, a rumbling escapes from the Giga’s throat.
“Who is your Tribe Leader, Survivors?”
“I am,” The voice of Twilight answers, and those in attendance shift their gaze towards the nearby structure, the Tribe’s home - where the alicorn stood behind a stone railing with Skitters sitting on the barricade.
“If I may be so forward: why are you here, Demon king?”
……….
“Wait… is that what you guys call this thin’?” Granny inquires as she turns to HLN-A.
“It’s a nickname that a friend of mine used for it; for good reason,” The AI answers. “It kind of just stuck with us.”
“The real problem is why this Giganotosaurus is targeting us,” Spirit comments. “If that thing so chooses to destroy Sanctuary, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do.”
……….
“You? Tribe Leader?” The beast inquires in mild shock before raising its head to laugh in mockery - lowering its gaze to meet Twilight’s.
“My eyes can decipher many things with but a glance, and with you, all I see is an absolute failure.”
“Tch,” Twilight spews. “You have no right to judge any of us!”
The dinosaur looks over the tribe, grunting in disappointment. “All I see is a pathetic tribe of equines playing as survivors. I might as well kill you all here and now. And when you all respawn, I’ll hunt you down and do it again, and again, and again.”
The tribe is stunned by this, but before Applejack can refute with her angered features or Twilight tries to defend them, the yellow form of Fluttershy zips in front of the dinosaur’s closed maw.
“How dare you!” She exclaims, tapping the predator’s mouth with a forelimb - the beast staring at her with its own version of a deadpan expression. “You don’t get just to show up here and treat us like this! No! Not at all, mister! I expect an apology from you right now!”
“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash shouts with a raised forehoof. “You tell em’, Flutters!”
“We’re so dead, we’re so dead, we’re so dead,” Rarity repeats in horror.
“Will yall collect yerself, Rares?” Applejack inquired in slight comfort but with an unamused expression. “It’s not like we’re g’na stay dead. Honestly, ah’m proud of Fluttershy. That fell’r ain’t got no right ta-”
[WHOOM]
“AAUUUGH!”
The Demon King suddenly jerks its head to the left with considerable force, crashing into Fluttershy and causing her to cry out in pain.
The tribe goes silent as the pegasus is sent soaring towards a nearby cliff face, another pained exclamation sounding off as her back takes the full force of the collision, blood being spewed from her parted muzzle.
“Fluttershy!!!” Her friends scream out in unison.
Fluttershy’s eyes practically roll back into her skull, and her whole body spasms before she starts to fall down the cliffside. The pegasus hits several other out groves while falling, adding even further pain to her current condition. Finally, she reaches ground level and lets out a pained murmur upon landing on her stomach; her wings splayed out as blood leaked from her nostril and muzzle.
“Oh, my goodness!” HLN’A’s voice roars out. “Hang on, love! Ol’ HLN-A’s comin’!”
The AI jets towards the equine, leaving a stream of blue lights in their wake. “Fluttershy! Goodness me, look at you. Poor dear…”
To say that the pegasus was in bad shape would be an understatement, and HLN-A winced as Fluttershy’s right hind leg was bent… unnaturally.
“I-I’m s-s-sorry…” The yellow mare struggles, her breaths strained as waves upon waves of pain fluctuate throughout her entire form.
“I…” She coughs out blood, “I w-want… B-Bea-st Queen…”
“Shhhhh,” The AI comforts, resting a flap on the pegasus. “Don’t be sorry, mate. It takes a lot of courage to get into a Giga’s face like-”
Suddenly, HLN-A’s scanners sounded off and flashed several warning signs on their visor. “Large object inco- HOLY, HELENA!”
The AI barely manages to avoid a large boulder that had been careened towards them by the Giga. The projectile slams onto Fluttershy like a meteor, causing the local earth to shake, followed by the appropriate death message via the Tribe’s implants:
Your Tribemate Fluttershy - Lvl 23 was killed by a Giganotosaurus - Lvl 150!
“Hmmm… I commend that one’s bravery,” The dinosaur compliments. “Stupid, but brave.”
A primitive spear is thrown at the beast but ricochets off its thick hide and scales. Several more follow afterward, and the Giga’s crimson orbs turn to an enraged gathering of ponies and a Raptor.
“Get that varmint!” Applejack declares as she, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie charge forth.
“Take this, you brute!” Rarity declares as she rears onto her hind legs before tossing another spear.
“Spear! Spear! Spear! Spear! Spear! Spear! Spear!” Pinkie Pie repeats as she crafts and throws a barrage of spears in rapid succession.
Both a cyan and lavender presence floats over the Giga, with the alicorn carrying her ally, who's placed on her back. And each equine aims their bow with a drawn arrow via their forehooves.
“Take this, mother bucker!” Rainbow shouts; her arrows bounce off the Giga’s right side.
“Try to go for its eye, Rainbow!” Twilight orders. Her arrow is let loose, and the projectile travels towards the dinosaur’s right eye.
The Demon King chuckles. “If you’re going to enact a plan,” It closes its eye and turns sideways, its tail rising up into the air, “Try not to announce it like a stomping Bronto!”
Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash notice the large tail swinging at them and dodge accordingly. But the Giga laughs as it continues to turn its body while lowering itself to all fours, and its tail now swipes downward on Applejack.
[KTHOOM]
A loud crash sounds off as the Giga’s tail slams onto Applejack with incredible force, followed by the death message:
Your Tribemate Applejack - Lvl 26 was killed by a Giganotosaurus - Lvl 150!
However, the forms of Rarity and Pinkie Pie get back onto their hooves after jumping out of the way - the party mare unleashing another barrage of spears. At the same time, Rarity brings forth a bow and its accompanied arrows from her inventory, starting her own assault.
As the Giga lifts itself to its full stature and prepares to strike at its foes again, a swift and agile presence leaps off of a rock’s precipice, and Vanellope growls as she latches onto the dinosaur with her claws and scales upward. Even though the Raptor’s claws couldn’t entirely pierce the Giga’s flesh, it still offered support as it held onto scales and wrinkled areas.
“Awesome!” Rainbow shouts from above, firing another arrow. “I’m liking you more and more, Vanellope!”
Vanellope manages to get onto the Giga’s back, holding onto the beast while biting into its hide. The Giga roars out and attempts to get the Raptor off of it, thrashing around and shaking itself in place. Even so, Vanellope stays latched on - but for how long was anyone’s guess.
..........
During this time, both Applejack and Fluttershy re-emerge from the Tribe’s home.
“Round two, big fella!” The cowmare screams out.
Fluttershy remains silent with an angered expression as she takes to the sky.
..........
Pinkie Pie suddenly notices Granny Pithecus is in the process of joining the fray with Spirit, and an idea occurs to the pink mare as she gallops towards the ape.
“Hey, Granny!”
“What?!”
“Throw me!”
The ape nods in understanding. “Ah gotchya, ya little pink turd!”
The ape stops in place, Spirit galloping past her and towards Rarity. And as soon as Pinkie Pie is within range, Granny grabs onto the pink mare and raises them over her head.
“Give ‘em a load of Phiomia shit, girl! Yah!”
Pinkie Pie is thrown into the air via her lively catapult and dual-wields two spears in either forelimb, conjuring them from her inventory - ready to join Vanellope’s efforts upon the Giga’s back.
The pink pony lands flawlessly on the Raptor’s saddle and leans sideways before jabbing the Giga repeatedly with her spears, although one of them shatters upon impact.
Down below, Spirit lowers his muzzle during his gallop and swoops Rarity into the air before catching her on his back, the fashionista ‘Ooomph’s upon mounting him.
“Need a ride, Milady?” He inquires as he looks back at her over his shoulder.
“Ohoho~ My thanks, gentlestallion,” She coos while fanning herself. Then, her face suddenly shifts from a blushing flatterer to, simply put: dead serious. “Now get me closer, so I can shoot this brute!”
……….
The battle continues to progress as Twilight and Rainbow Dash rain down arrows from above, joined by Fluttershy, who retrieved her items from her recent death’s ‘bag.’ Pinkie Pie remains mounted upon Vanellope as the duo tries to cause any fathomable damage to the Island’s fiercest predator - but to no avail.
Rarity fires her bow while mounted on Spirit’s larger form, the UNI-CRN running around the Giga who, much to everyone’s shock that dwelled deep within their minds, was just standing there, observing them.
“This darn thin’ is just standing there!” Applejack roars out in frustration.
“Menacingly!” HLN-A exclaims, hovering next to the cowmare.
Granny Pithecus had long since realized the Tribe’s prominent weakness, aside from other things. And she certainly wasn’t alone, as HLN-A and Spirit had come to the same conclusion.
“Them girls got spirit, well, kind of, but they ain’t got the firepower needed to hurt the beast.” The ape assesses as she stands at a safe distance with an arm crossing her stomach while the other rests under her chin.
“No point in respawn’n over and over ag’n if ya can’t kill ‘em.” 
Within the home of Sanctuary, the earth-shaking commotion from earlier and the sounds of warcries finally stirs Spike from his slumber.
“Wh… what?” He inquires as he presses a claw against his head. “Where is-”
The Giga outside roars out, and some sort of commotion causes another quaking phenomenon, followed by the messages:
Your Tribe Leader Twilight Sparkle - Lvl 22 was killed by a Giganotosaurus - Lvl 150!
Your Tribemate Rainbow Dash - Lvl 17 was killed by a Giganotosaurus - Lvl 150!
“What in Equestria?!” Spike shouts, jumping off the lower bunk of the bunk bed and onto the home’s wooden floors. Another earth-shaking event occurs outside.
“What in Celestia’s name is going on?! And why is there a Luna damned Giga, here?!”
[KHTOOM]
Your Tribemate Pinkie Pie - Lvl 23 was killed by a Giganotosaurus - Lvl 150!
Three pillars of light suddenly manifest on the other bunk beds nearby, followed by the forms of the recently deceased ponies.
“Buuuuck!” Rainbow Dash roars out with flared wings. “Can’t believe we let that thing hit us with a boulder!”
“Sorry about that, Rainbow,” Twilight comments while rubbing her head. "I couldn't dodge it in time."
“It’s a good thing I told Vanellope to hop off before that meanie rolled onto its back,” Pinkie Pie states, lifting herself onto her hooves on the bed. “Giga’s are super heavy! Splat!”
“Girls!” Spike shouts after recovering from shock. “Not to change the subject- actually, buck it, WHY IS THERE A GIGA OUTSIDE?!”
Twilight’s ears perk up. “Spike! You’re awake! It worked!”
“Wait, what wor-OOF!” The dragon is silenced as Twilight rapidly flies into him and brings the draconian into a tight hug with her forelimbs.
“I’m so sorry for not being there for you with that mess with the Spino.”
“I-it’s ok, Twi.” The dragon responds as Twilight backs away from the hug. “But more importantly, what happened after I blacked-” His words die in his throat, and Spikes’ eyes widen in horror as his claw extends toward something else.
“T-T-T-T-Twilight… behind you.”
Both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie stared at a window positioned behind the alicorn, and as Twilight turned around, what she sees causes her to swallow a lump in her throat.
“Oh… Luna, damn it...”
“Ah!” The beast roars out. “There you are, my little Survivors.”