//------------------------------// // Where Shall It Lead // Story: Acceptance // by _Al_Coda_ //------------------------------// They all gazed into the dark, thick greenery of the Everfree Forest “Wow this forest looks terrifying” Pipp muttered “Oh, well it can’t be that bad, it’s like a wolf in sheep's clothing, looks scary on the outside but actually really sweet on the inside” Izzy suggested “First off, that would be a sheep in wolf’s clothing and second, I don’t think that applies to deep, dark, beast filled forest” Pipp said, as she looked sharply through the trees Sunny stepped in front ready to take the lead “Well whatever’s in the forest, big or small, that’s where the lantern wants us to go, so that where we’re going” Zipp flew forward and landed next to Sunny “Yeah and we'll be going through together, no creature will dare try to mess with us,” she looked over at her sister, who still seamed uneasy about trekking through the uncharted territories of Everfree. She made her over to Pipp and draped her wing over the little pegasus as she spoke “It’s okay Pippy you don’t need to worry about a thing when you have you, very brave, older sister protecting you, but if you’re too scared to go on a little stroll through the forest then there’s no shame in calling it quits” Pipp pushed Zipp away from her and took a few steps towards the woods, “Ugh I don’t need you to protect me and besides I’m not scared, I’m…just a bit unsure about it, that’s all.” She scoffed Zipp snickered “Okay if you say so” Sunny smiled, now that everyone was on board, they could start their quest “Well, if we’re ready to go then let’s get going!” Zipp grinned at her sister “After you m’lady” Pipp scowled at Zipp’s remark “Don’t try anything Zephyrina” Zipp groaned “Mmh, full name” Pipp smiled as she turned and trotted ahead, her sister following quickly behind. Pipp squeaked in fear when Zipp stepped on a small twig as the made their way in, “I thought you said you weren’t scared” Zipp teased “You did the on purpose!” Pipp mumbled and Zipp simple laughed under her breath They had been walking for about half an hour now in mostly silence besides the soft ringing of lantern, Sunny muttering to herself as the marked their journey through the forest on a small map and the pegasus sisters going at each other's throats ever so often Pipp heard a soft growl coming from behind her “Ugh! Cut it out Zipp!” she snapped “I’m not doing anything” Zipp replied, sounding genuinely confused Hitch turned to look where Pipp was standing and his eyes widened in shock “P-Pipp, whatever you do, don’t make any sudden movements” Pipp froze, she heard the growling again though it was more audible and now she knew wasn’t coming from her sister for Zipp stood in front of her, both Hitch and Zipp looking above her head, Pipp slowly turned around to see what loomed behind her, she carefully yet quickly moved away from the creature, all five of them now cautiously watching it as its growling got louder “That...that's a manticore” Pipp said, her voice shaking with fear, the manticore slowly approached them and noticeably keeping its eyes on Hitch Izzy softly tapped the stallion on the shoulder “Hitch, I don’t think that it wants to hurt us, from the looks of it seems like its protecting something,” she whispered Hitch looked back at the beast before his gaze shot to the bushes when he heard a small whine, his eyes widened at the sight “I think your right Izz,” he slightly lifted his hoof in the direction of the shrubs “look over there” he said She followed his instructions and gasped as her eyes fell on three smaller manticores “Aw, she's just protecting her cubs.” Hitch nodded in agreement; he looked up at the Manticore then back at her cubs. He inhaled deeply as he took a step forward “Hitch, what are you doing?” she rasped Izzy called back to her “Don’t worry, I think he knows what he’s doing” The large being growled at Hitch as he moved closer. Hitch softly hushed the manticore as he stepped “It’s ok, we don’t want to hurt you,” he looked back to the bushes where the cubs sat then back up at the creature he approached “and I know you don’t want to hurt us” he reached out to touch the manticores paw, but she quickly pulled back. Hitch sat down and kept his eyes on her as he held out his hoof to her The manticore hesitantly placed her paw on the stallion's hoof, hitch lifted his other hoof to softly stroke her paw, the manticore rested on the ground as he did so, he looked back up at her as he continued petting her paw “Hmm, I can see you’re just a mama trying to protect her babies, right?” The manticore nodded then she pulled her paw from Hitch’s hold and walked over to where her children were, she looked at Hitch and she hummed softly signifying for him to come over to where she stood, Hitch slowly made his way over to her and her cubs he smiled at the young manticores then up at their mother, “Well now that everything is in understanding we will be taking our leave” Hitch said The manticore gave Hitch a small lick on his muzzle before turning and walking away, her cubs running closely behind her and Hitch went back over to the others who all, besides Izzy, stood in amazement “That was great Hitch” Izzy chirped Hitch chuckled “Eh, it’s just what I do,” he looked down at the glowing lantern “now that we’re done with all the manticore business, we should get going” he said as he started in the way the bright beam pointed “Yes, of course,” Sunny replied with a somewhat nervous laugh “we only have so much time, you know?” Zipp hovered off the ground “Alright guys, enough chitchat, let's get this show on the road!” Now they all trekked in the direction that the lantern shined in, and now the trip seemed cheerier as they all talked and laughed with one another, thought their funny would soon be cut short for a pair of small beady eyes watched them trot along, hidden away by the thick green of Everfree