//------------------------------// // Park Everfree // Story: Sentry for Hire // by daOtterGuy //------------------------------// Timber, now in werewolf form and wearing the suit Flash had made him, alongside Flash stood on top of the metal carriage. They had not yet been noticed, but that would change once they reached the bottom of the ride. “So, what’s the plan?” Flash asked. “Wait,” Timber replied. “I’ll fill you in when we reach the bottom.” “Got it.” A small part of him knew he should press for details, but a greater part was still in that drunken state of excitement and anticipation. It was important that there was a plan, not that he knew the details. Inevitably, the carriage slowed to a stop as it reached the end, the ride operator bringing the ride to a full stop at the strange sight of the two. A ripple of curiosity and nervousness coursed through the gathered line goers. “Attention, all park goers,” Timber announced with a wide grin. The crowd’s murmur grew in loudness. He frowned. “I said, attention all park goers.” No change. Timber inhaled deeply then released a roar. The crowd immediately silenced. The only sound Flash could hear was the thrilled thumping of his own heart. “Better,” Timber grinned again. “Now, I’m sure most of you are wondering—” “Sir, I’ll need you both to step off the ride!” A security guard called out as they approached. “If you could—” Flash leaped forward and smashed the guard in the face with a swing of his bat. He grabbed the dazed guard’s arm, twisted it behind them, and used his knee to slam his entrapped victim into the ground. “Keep going, Wereoak,” Flash said. “Thanks, Warden. And call me Timberwolf. That other name was… lacking.” He cleared his throat. “Now, before I was interrupted I was going to say—” He paused for a moment then cradled his forehead in one palm “—Nevermind, the moment’s ruined. Yadda, yadda, I’m going to encase the whole park in vines now.” Confusion took over the crowd at Timber’s declaration. His eyes flashed green then he roared. Thick green vines burst through the pavement and ensnared nearby park goers. The crowd attempted to run, but were soon wrapped up in bundles of vines. They spread from their origin, wrapping around the ferris wheel and spreading further into the park. Flash watched in awe as the vines rushed past him. He left the guard (who was quickly swallowed by the vines) and approached Timber. “Phase one done. Next step.” Timber grabbed the entangled ride operator’s phone and hit the emergency dial. “911? I need the police.” A moment’s wait. “Hi! So glad you picked up. My emergency is that I have the visitors of Equestria Land ensnared within vines and I’m using them as my hostages. Bring five million dollars to the front entrance, and, when I have the money in hand, I’ll release everyone. See you soon.” He crushed the phone in his grip. “And now we wait.” “That. Was. Amazing,” Flash said, starstruck. “I didn’t even know you could do that!” “Yeah, well, I always could I was just… held back.” A flash of green sparked through Timber’s eyes. “Now, I’ll need you to make sure no one else interferes while I focus on ensnaring the park. Got it?” “Got it.” Flash nodded. He felt giddy, but an undercurrent worry prompted him to ask, “Hey, Timber, are you really feeling, alright?” “I told you, I’m fine.” “I know, it’s just… this seems really sudden especially since I had thought we were going in a different direction. I just wanted to know what changed.” “Because I have you with me.” “What do I have to do with this?” “Oh, right.” Timber chuckled. “I really should have filled you in about that. So—” A tiger clamped onto Timber’s arm. Timber roared in pain. He grasped the cat’s throat until it let go then tossed it away form him. The tiger was dazed, but was back on its paws in seconds. It growled at Timber, readying to pounce, but was halted by a firm voice. “Here, Mr. Whiskers.”  Mr. Whiskers ran back to their master, a tall willowy girl with pegasus wings and long pink hair that covered half her face. The one uncovered eye glared at them both with heavy disapproval. “Uh oh, that’s Fluttershy,” Flash said. “Is that bad?” Timber hissed out as he gingerly touched his wounded arm. “She tends to hold back when she’s with the others, but when she’s on her own—” Fluttershy whistled. Two swarms of pink butterflies flew into the area and coalesced into a bear and lion behind Timber and Flash, fangs bared. “—She likes to bring in Barry, Mr. Whiskers, and Lionel,” Flash finished. “... I just wanted one day to myself. One,” Fluttershy mumbled, then aloud,  “Shouldn’t you be lying low, Warden and… Wereoak?” “Timberwolf,” Timber corrected. “In my defense, we had every intention to do so, but Timberwolf couldn’t help himself.” “... Well, I can’t really ignore this.” She idly scratched behind Mr. Whiskers’ ears who rubbed into her affection. “Now, boys, stop them, but don’t hurt them… too much.” Barry launched himself at Timber who matched the bear’s ferocity with a roar. The two cats lunged at Flash. He whacked one of them upside the head with his bat, then rolled away from the second. He took another swing at Lionel, who took the blow and crashed into Flash.  He was thrown back by the force and impacted against an ice cream cart that tipped over, spilling packaged treats across the pavement. A sound from his right drew his attention just in time for Mr. Whiskers to leap at him. Flash fell to the ground using his weapon horizontally to push back the snarling tiger, taking several scratches for the trouble. He was outnumbered and in a bad spot. He would lose if he didn’t think up a plan to take them out. He had to— “Warden!” Timber cried, desperation and panic in his voice.  Flash put his feet underneath Mr. Whiskers’ chest and kicked him into the spilt cart. He rolled backward into a crouch and launched himself at Lionel. Lionel lunged at him. He grabbed the lion’s head, and leap-frogged over him. As Lionel crashed into the ground behind him, startled by the unexpected move, he raced toward Fluttershy who called out Lionel’s name in concern. She gasped as Flash pinned her body against his, using his bat to keep her hands up and unable to move. “Stop, or I'll kill her!” Flash shouted. The animal trio did as told and turned to their master who looked unconcerned by Flash’s declaration.  “It’s a bluff. Warden doesn’t kill. Keep attacking them.” “About that.” A roar. Bew vines burst from the ground and entangled the animals. “No!” Fluttershy shouted. “Let her go, Warden,” Timber commanded.  Flash did as he was told. Fluttershy dropped to the ground then was promptly trapped by the vines. They covered her up to her head, leaving one glaring eye uncovered. “Nice, Timberwolf,” Flash said. “Way to tie up the threat.” “Pretty easily thanks to your quick acting.” Timber tilted his head to one side, thoughtful as he eyed his new captive. “Is there a chance Fluttershy could still ruin our plans?” Warmth spread through Flash at the use of ‘our’. “Well, I mean, if the other Rainbooms show up it could be a problem since they have that rainbow lazer.” “So if all of them came together, we would probably lose?” “High chance of it, but—” “Let’s kill her.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened. Flash felt his blood run cold.  “... What?” “They can beat us if they’re together, but if we kill her, they can’t.” Timber grinned. “Win, win.” “We talked about this,” Flash said, dread setting heavily in his gut. “If you kill—” “I cross the line, I know, but—” Timber put up two clawed fingers “—I was thinking I could just go pro.” “I thought we were going to look into other options. Together.” “And we are! The together part.” Timber grasped Flash’s hand in his, a pleading look in his eyes. “I want you to go pro with me.” “What?! I just told you—” “I’d never make you kill someone. I’ll do it for you!” Timber’s tone betrayed his desperation. “You’ll be the brains, I’ll be the brawn. No need to get your hands dirty outside of some basic assistance.” “I— What?! No! This is wrong and impractical!” “So? It’ll just be how we do things. There’s no need to follow some arbitrary guidelines on ‘how to villain’.” Timber’s hands felt ice cold as they clasped Flash’s. “We can be like the greats! We can beat the greats! I just need one thing.” Apprehensively, Flash asked, “And what’s that?” “You.” Flash’s eyes widened. “I can’t do this without you. Any other path might mean you leave and… I don’t want that.” Timber gripped his hands tighter, cracking the suit and bones underneath. Flash winced. “So, I just need to know that you’re in. Ride or die, right?” Timber had lost it. This whole plan had spiraled into madness. He was completely out of his mind. Between this plan and new goal to become a full time supervillain, Flash was… seriously considering the offer. He hated to admit it, but a large part of him wanted this. He didn’t want to be separated from Timber either and that feeling was driving his brain nuts. This was like with Sunset before, a beautiful mix of partnership and crime. He could be with someone again, be tied to them inexorably. However, Timber wanted to kill someone. Fluttershy. His emotions and mind rebelled against the notion. It was a step further than he’d ever been okay with, and something he’d thought Timber never would have done. But here they were, at the brink of exactly that. “... It’s okay. I know it’s a lot. You don’t have to decide now.” Timber dropped Flash’s hands, a morose expression on his face. He bared his claws. “But, I'm still going through with this. If I’m going pro, I’m going to need funds.” He stepped toward Fluttershy. His gait was animalistic, primal. A snarl on his lips and pupils pinpricks. He was a predator ready to take his prey. Completely unlike Timber in every way. All at once, Flash’s feelings and mind clicked into place, a rapid comprehension of what he wanted, not what he thought he did. Clarity rang true as his mind focused single-mindedly on what he needed to do.  Flash electrified his gloves and lunged forward, hitting Timber in the chest with his palm. Timber roared, stunned by the attack. Flash swung his bat into Timber’s stomach, pushing him away from both himself and Fluttershy. “Why?!” Timber exclaimed.  “This isn’t you,” Flash stated, leveling his bat at Timber. “And I’m being stupid for going along with it. This isn’t what I want nor is it what you want.” “I-I trusted you!” Timber snarled. “And now you’re going to stop me?!” “Yes, because if you weren’t being corrupted by those damned powers, you would want me to. I really should have figured that out sooner, but I might be denser than I thought. Don’t worry, Timber. I’m getting you back.” Before Timber could interject, Flash added, “And then we’re going on an actual date instead of the pretend one we did today.” “W-what?!” Timber’s hackles raised in embarrassment or offense, Flash wasn’t sure. “Yeah, I really dropped the ball on this one. Really should have figured out sooner that I wanted a relationship not a partner in crime, but thems the ropes.” He shrugged. “Get ready for these beatings of affection, bud, because I’m not letting you get trapped like this.” “You— You—!” Timber growled. “Fine. I-I don’t need you. I’ll do this by myself!” Then he lunged.