//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Easy as Pie // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Tempest glanced up at the sky. Why did it feel like she was going in circles? Why was she still in this forest?  And what else was in here-? She turned and fired a blast of magic. The tree exploded, sending wood chunks and splinters flying. She bared her teeth in challenge, and she scuffed a hoof on the ground. But again, nothing was there. The only sound was the leaves and wooden debris falling to the ground. There was a flurry of movement behind her. “Hoo,” Owlowiscious said indignantly. “I knew it wasn’t you,” Tempest said dismissively. “Your wings are silent and I heard something.”  “Hoo.”  “I did,” Tempest insisted.  “Hoo?” “I’m not being paranoid,” Tempest said through gritted teeth.  “Hoo.” Tempest scowled. “You’re not helping,” she said.  “Hoo.” “Yes, there is!” “Hoo.” “Don’t patronize me!” Tempest roared, her stress and frustration finally coming to a head. “I am not one of your weak little pony friends who needs my hoof held every time something remotely startling happens! I have seen things and done things you and your sheltered little friends couldn’t even dream of! And you think I’m overreacting?” “Hoo,” he said, his voice low and calming. And somehow, that made her angrier. Tempest knew that that hadn’t been what he’d said, but she was too furious to acknowledge that. She called up her magic to her horn again. Sparks flew, bathing the forest in unnatural light. “Go. Away,” she said. Owlowiscious blinked at her, and then flew away, disappearing into the forest. Tempest watched him go. Tempest glowered at nothing as she kept walking. She regretted snapping at Owlowiscious. He hadn’t said anything bad, not really. This had all been her fault. She was stressed and she’d taken it out on him, and now she was on her own. And regardless of what she’d sung to Twilight that one time, she wasn’t liking being alone. Every little sound made her ears twitch, and her tail was flicking nearly nonstop. And now everything smelled like smoke. She sniffed. It really did smell like smoke. What-? Oh, the fire swamp! She was getting close! She turned to look at Owlowiscious, and her proud smirk faded. He was still gone. She shook her head and kept walking. It took her a moment to realize that not all of the rocks crunching underhoof were hers. She called up magic to her horn. It exploded, sending magic crackling through the air and exploding another tree.  Her chest heaved as wooden fragments rained down. Something had been there, right? She wasn’t-? And then she felt motion behind her.  She lashed out with a hind leg and made contact. She felt a flash of vindication, but it didn’t last. Whatever she hit didn’t feel like a pony. It felt like she was kicking a bundle of sticks wrapped in a burlap bag. But whatever it was, it definitely looked like a pony sliding away. It looked up, its face covered with its hood. “You’re the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” it said, its voice scratchy as if from disuse. “Nopony else notices at first. Your talent must be something special.”  Tempest quickly ducked out of the harness, her smirk back on her face. This was something she knew. “I’ve got many,” she said lightly. “I’ll tell you later. If you’re still conscious, I mean.” The other creature faked going one way, then quickly darted the other, moving much faster than looked possible. Tempest glanced around, taking in the battlefield. Too many trees, too many branches, too crowded. Her aerial techniques would do her no good here. She was out of her element.  And in the time it took her to process this, she felt a sharp pain along her side. It was running away into the bushes. Tempest growled and fired another blast of magic, turning the dark forest into day. But whatever plant she actually hit burst into flames, bright green and searing, and filling the air with an acrid smell. Tempest cried out and covered her eyes. “Ah, ah, ah,” the specter chided from behind. “Be careful where you’re pointing that thing.”  And Tempest felt another sharp pain along her side. She looked down and saw a small strip hanging down. It was tearing off her traveling cloak! Tempest snarled. Not that she particularly cared for this cloak, but that had felt unmistakably personal. She leaped off the ground, pushed off a tree, and swung.  It seemingly melted into the shadows, and her hoof impacted a tree. At the same time, she took another hoof right to the ribs. Tempest fell to one knee, grimacing. She was fighting this pony and the forest at the same time. She could adjust her fighting style, but she was taking more hits than she was liking.  And then she saw a flash of brown.  “Owlowiscious!” Tempest nearly cheered.  Owlowiscious may have been friendly, but an owl is still a hunter. He swooped down, talons outstretched, and raked the figure’s hood. It cried out in surprise.  That little distraction was all Tempest needed. She charged forward, rearing up, and slammed her hooves down on top, making a harsh crunch. It quickly spun, lashing out with something that seemed like a hoof but was sharp against Tempest’s barrel. Tempest, riding too high on her success to acknowledge this, delivered a punishing headbutt with her horn. It scampered back, quickly pressing against a tree so Owlowiscious couldn’t get another clean hit, and lashed out again, catching Tempest in the cheek. Tempest winced at the metallic taste in her mouth. She wiped quickly and realized that the wetness didn’t return—it wasn’t hers. A little smirk flickered across her face. “If you can bleed, you can die.” Yellowed teeth flashed under the threadbare cloak. Tempest scuffed a hoof on the ground, her lips curled to bare her own, her confidence restored.  It was good to be her.