Lost
Chapter V – Raven’s Cruelty
Grendel and Fluttershy stopped at the base of a footpath that led up a cliff, for some reason they couldn’t help but recognise it. Slowly. Grendel carried her up the hill, making sure to keep his steps as quiet as he could. As he reached the top he scanned the area seeing a small cave. For a moment he was relived they had found a new place to set camp up for the remainder of the night, but it wasn’t long before he realised why it was so familiar.
“This is the cave where I met you.” He groaned in frustration “Damn you Raven! He’s used a bloody spell on us to make us lose our direction.”
“Spell?"
“Aye…he’s done this trick before; he casts an illusion spell that causes someone to lose their way without realising it. I’m sorry Miss Fluttershy…it’s going to be a bit longer before we get you home.”
Fluttershy lowered her ears as she looked around, she began to sniffle at the realisation they were now a day behind getting her home. Her eyes watered up as she tried to hold back her tears of sadness and frustration, Grendel sat on a nearby rock and stroked her mane comforting her.
“I’m afraid Miss Fluttershy…it gets worse.”
“H-how?”
Grendel looked over the dark forest and sighed, normally when this happened he only had himself to worry about but now. Now he had someone who needed him to survive, an innocent bystander caught in his own mistake.
“Every time Raven would start his…’game’, he would do a specific routine, firstly he causes me, in this case, you, to have some form of horrific nightmare. Secondly, he casts a spell to make me lose my way and end up somewhere I recently was and finally…he sends creatures to attack before he himself turns up.”
Fluttershy didn’t respond, she merely whimpered and buried her face into his robes and began to cry softly. Grendel cursed Raven under his breath as he picked her up hugging her close to his body; he quickly looked around then up at the Cliffside where the cave was. He spotted a small alcove about fifteen feet above the entrance, it looked big enough for her to hide in as well as him if he crouched, he slid his bag off his shoulder letting it land with a thud. He carefully moved Fluttershy so she was on his back.
“Miss Fluttershy I’m going to need you to hold on tight ok?”
Fluttershy nodded as she gripped him tightly, Grendel took a deep breath before exhaling and closed his eyes. He focused his energy into his feet and crouched down slightly, opening his eyes suddenly he launched himself upwards barely grabbing the edge of the alcove with his right hand. Fluttershy squeaked in surprise clinging tighter to him as he grunted slightly.
“I’m getting old…”
Grunting loudly, he hauled himself onto the alcove and placed Fluttershy down holding her cheeks to make her look at him.
“Whatever happens Miss Fluttershy, stay hidden and don’t make a sound.”
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy looked concernedly at him.
“Please…just do it.”
He gave her a stern look and she whimpered softly nodding, he picked her up and gave her a tight hug. She hugged him holding back her tears, they heard the sounds of howling in the distance.
“I’ll be fine Miss Fluttershy, you’ll see.”
He gave her a reassuring smile before leaping down to the floor his cloak billowing behind him as he fell, he slowly stood up and calmly took out his pipe lightning it and closed his eyes. Fluttershy crawled into the alcove and curled up covering her ears with her hooves as she clenched her eyes shut, Grendel inhaled and exhaled smoke as he flexed his fingers.
“And so it begins…”
He opened his eyes and was greeted by the possessed timberwolves, each glowing a dark red growling deeply as they waited. Grendel blew a blast of smoke from his nose and clenched his fists as the alpha barked and his pack lunged for him.
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Twilight woke with a start; her mane was a mess as sweat dotted her brow. She slowly sat up in her bed rubbing her eyes groggily as she looked around her room; she looked out the window and sighed. It was the second night in a row she had been having the nightmares, it was always the same, she would be watching Fluttershy running through the forest just above the tree line like she was a ghost. She would try to yell each time to get her attention but no words ever came out, she would try moving closer to her but she couldn’t move her body. She would watch as Fluttershy was chased by the pack of timberwolves and trip over a root, Twilight would cry but again no sound would leave her, her silent tears evaporating as they fell from her cheeks.
She screamed over and over as the wolves began to surround her friend, desperately trying to help her in any way she could. Her magic wouldn’t respond and she shut her eyes tight hoping to block out the inevitable. However she slowly opened her eyes and found herself looking through Fluttershy’s eyes, she let out a noiseless scream as a black cloak shot at her from behind the wolves. The last thing she saw before she woke was three piercing red eyes.
She got out of her bed and started to make her way downstairs, she was careful not to wake Spike up as she descended them into the main room of the library and into the kitchen. Although shaken up by the nightmare she knew it was simply that, a nightmare, after all Princess Celestia herself had said Fluttershy was safe so why should she pay attention to the nightmare? She assumed it was just her subconscious channelling the excess guilt she still felt.
Still…there was this nagging feeling in the back of her mind something was wrong, she decided she would write the Princess a letter in the morning. She heard the kettle click and poured the water into her mug that had the words ‘I ♥ Reading’ on it, it was a present from Fluttershy. She smiled as she smelt the aroma waft into her nostrils and levitated the mug along with a random book off a bookshelf and carefully headed back upstairs, she laid in her bed and began to read like she had done each time she had the nightmare and slowly sipped her tea.
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“By the whore you buggers are persistent.” Grendel wheezed.
He vaulted another tree root as the wolves chased him nipping at his heels, he could sense Raven not far behind them. He had thrown a fireball at the wolves and then legged it down the pathway in an attempt to lure them away from Fluttershy’s hiding spot. So far it had worked like a charm and in the process, he had managed to trick Raven into chasing him. He darted around a tree just as one of the wolves bit down on his cloak tearing it and it stumbled, rolling over before re-joining the others in chasing him.
‘That was bloody close.’ he thought to himself.
He threw another fireball behind him, hitting one of the wolves square in the face; it let out a howl as it fell over its paws tumbling into the ground. The others leapt over the body and carried on chasing Grendel, he looked around trying to think of an idea, when the idea came, he quickly whispered to himself and suddenly vanished. The wolves came to a screeching halt and the alpha slowly scanned the area, he took a few sniffs of the air trying to catch Grendel’s scent.
Grendel softly crept around the wolves placing his hand on the trees near them; he stopped to check if the wolves hadn’t picked up his scent. Satisfied that they hadn’t he crept past them again to place his hand on the ground around them, he had a bit of difficulty holding his breath in. What he was doing was an old trick he hadn’t done in a long time, finishing his odd little movements he walked ahead of the wolves a safe distance before stopping and removing the illusion spell he cast on himself and revealed himself.
The wolves stumbled, a bit startled at the human’s reappearance; they quickly composed themselves before growling and beginning to advance on him slowly. As they did, Grendel quickly snapped his fingers, everywhere he had touched with his hand revealed a glowing insignia which suddenly shone bright.
There was an explosion that echoed throughout the forest blasting the trees and wolves apart sending them in several directions, Grendel slowly approached the smoking crater kicking one of the wolves’ limbs to one side. Satisfied they were dead he took a moment to regain his posture before turning around glaring down the pathway.
“I’ve dealt with your pawns Raven, show yourself.”
There was a brief pause before Raven slowly slipped out of a shadow he was hiding and faced Grendel, the two stood still as the wind blew. Grendel was the first to make a move, he pulled out his pipe seemingly from nowhere popping it into his mouth, as he re lit the pipe Raven tilted his head left and then to the right watching his movements curiously. Grendel inhaled deeply before letting out a long exhale, he looked at Raven as his right first clenched and engulfed in flames.
“Let’s finish this Raven, once and for all!”
Raven giggled before Grendel let out a loud cry of anger as he cast a large fireball at Raven, scorching the ground as it rocketed towards him.
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Twilight was in the kitchen making another cup of tea when she heard the explosion, she ran outside to see where the noise had come from. She was curious as to why no other pony had come out to investigate the noise, glancing around she saw the smoke in the distance coming from within the Everfree forest. Her eyes widened at the sight.
“Fluttershy…” she whispered.
She quickly went back into the library and up the stairs to where Spike was sound asleep in his basket.
“Spike…wake up.”
She said softly nudging him with her hoof; he groaned and rolled over lazily flicking her hoof with the back of his hand.
“Five more minutes mummy…”
“Spike!”
She gave him a firmer nudge that woke the dragon up; he sat up with a low grumble and stretched, he glared at Twilight.
“Twilight it’s the middle of the night...go bother Owlowiscious.”
He let out a long yawn before smacking his lips and scratching his back, Twilight gave him a serious look which told him whatever it was. It was important.
“I need you to write Princess Celestia a letter Spike.”
“Why? It’s the middle of the night.”
“Didn’t you hear the explosion?”
“What explosion?”
Twilight was startled, how had he NOT heard the explosion?
“You must have been dreaming Twilight…go back to bed and get some rest.”
“Spike I’m serious I need to send her a letter!”
Spike sighed before letting out another yawn; he hopped out of his bed and went downstairs, he returned shortly brandishing a quill and a scroll. He gave her an annoyed grunt signalling he was ready.
“Dear Princess Celestia…”
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Raven sidestepped out of the way of the fireball and raised his arm up, it clicked and five blades shot out form the tips of his fingers. A weapon he had formed using his magic many years ago, he brought them up defensively and waited of Grendel to make his next move, Grendel paused for a moment confused before taking a step back and raising his own arm up. He closed his eyes and muttered under his breath, a long wooden staff which twisted around a light red orb at the end appeared in his hand; he raised it up ready to block a sword blow and threw another fireball at Raven.
Raven dodged it again and kept his stance once more the blades on his fingers glinting in the moonlight, this confused Grendel slightly as he kept expecting Raven to retaliate. He decided it was simply Raven’s way of trying to make him slip up, he charged at Raven suddenly hoping the sudden move would catch the wooden creature off guard and brought his staff round . The orb shone a bright red as a burst of fire blasted from the tip at Raven, Raven quickly raised his hand up and it shone white as a shield of energy quickly covered him parting the flames to his sides as it roared past him. Grendel changed the direction of the staff and brought it down onto Raven who narrowly dodged it and shot backwards teasingly beckoning Grendel with his bladed fingers.
‘Why hasn’t he retaliated yet?’ he thought to himself.
Grendel growled in irritation and closed his eyes as he slammed the staff into the ground, a brilliant white light shone from the orb that made the area around the two light up, illuminating even the darkest parts of the forest. Raven shrieked in surprise becoming blinded by the light and started to flee as the light faded.
Grendel, who had not been affected by his spell, charged after the blinded Raven. Time seemed to slow down as he came closer and closer to him. He roared as he let out another fireball shoot out from his hand, he was sure it would hit home but was shocked as Raven moved his head to the side without even seeing the fireball. Grendel stepped back raising the staff defensively waiting for the retaliation, none came however.
Raven just remained as he was after regaining his sight and waited for Grendel to move, Grendel was now beginning to get annoyed at what he thought was a blatant display of arrogance and cockiness. He tapped the staff on the ground and it became engulfed in flames, he then launched several fireballs from the staff at Raven who once again dodged it. Raven simply avoided them almost as if he was dancing around them as he giggled at Grendel.
“Something about you Raven…is different.”
Raven tilted his head playfully and spun his body around.
“So what is it Raven, not enough power this time?”
Raven giggled and scratched his chin with a blade as he hovered.
“It’s almost as if you’re not even trying.”
Grendel blinked as an idea came to his mind, he smirked and his body suddenly flickered; Raven tilted his head confused before the mage fully disappeared, realising it was an illusion he turned his head round to see Grendel behind him. Before Raven could do anything, Grendel raised his hand to Ravens face and let a fireball blast into his face, or so he thought. Grendel was stunned as the fireball simply passed through Raven, he took a step back as Raven giggled and flickered himself.
“An illusion?”
He slowly turned his head back down the way he had come and his eyes widened and shook his head.
“No…NO!”
He ran past the image of Raven down the path from where he had come from as fast as he could, how could he of been so foolish as to fall for an illusion like that? Raven had changed his tactics; he wasn’t after Grendel this time.
No…he was after another.
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Fluttershy trembled in her hiding place; she had been hiding there for what seemed like hours. She had heard the wolves approach before, what she assumed, was Grendel attacking them and hearing the wolves barks disappear into the distance leaving her in an eerie silence. She had kept to her word and remained hidden and the fear for her life had kept her quiet, she didn’t know what had happened once the sounds had gone and had several times resisted crying.
She wanted Grendel to suddenly call out to her, to tell her everything is all right and to help her down, she wanted him now more than ever and she was worried about him. She choked back another sob as she curled into a ball to try and relax, she let her mind drift to various thoughts in order to try and keep her spirits up. She thought about all the things Grendel had told her about his land and how much Twilight would love to hear it, she would have to wait because Pinkie would want, nay DEMAND, a ‘Welcome back home’ party for her.
For the first time since she got lost, she giggled softly to herself, even in her darkest moment the thought of her friends little quirks cheered her up. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, her ears upright when she thought she heard a familiar noise, at first she thought it was maybe Grendel coming back but began to panic when the noise grew louder.
The rattling of wood…
She held back a cry of panic as she tried her best to quietly move herself deeper into the alcove; it was in vain however, she screamed when just below the edge of alcove she saw Raven floating upwards slowly his cloak billowing about. She pushed herself to the back of the alcove kicking at the dirt as if she was trying to break through the wall as Raven slowly came closer and closer. She screamed as Raven grabbed her tail with his hand and began to slowly drag her out on purpose, making the ordeal more terrifying for the Pegasus. She franticly kicked and flailed trying her hardest to break free as she was dragged, Raven pulled her up by her tail causing her more pain as she wriggled trying to get free, she looked right into Raven’s face and fell silent as her pupils shrank.
Raven merely giggled as he dropped the pony only to grab her around the waist holding her close to him, unlike with Grendel Fluttershy couldn’t feel any warmth just coldness and emptiness. A fireball suddenly shot past them and slammed into the stones behind them and Raven turned round to see Grendel panting with his hand up.
“Put her down Raven!”
Raven tilted his head and giggled as he tightened his grip on Fluttershy who cried out in pain as she felt him crush her wing.
“FOR GODS SAKE RAVEN SHES INNOCENT!”
Raven giggled loudly, he knew Grendel wouldn’t hit him with a spell when he had the Pegasus with him. He backed up slightly before shooting off down the side of the cliff in to the forest. Grendel swore as he lept over the edge sliding down the side himself and gave chase, there was no way in hell he was going to let Raven get away with this, he had prevented Raven from hurting anyone in the time he had been here and he wasn’t going to let that change. Raven was going to die today, that he was certain of.
He panted as he struggled to keep up with the rapidly disappearing image of Raven; he was only able to keep sight of them thanks to Fluttershy’s fur and mane colours that seemed to glow in the darkness. He was trying to desperately think of a way to get Raven to drop Fluttershy without hurting or killing her in the process and cursed him again, he burst out of the trees into a clearing as Raven turned to face him.
“Let her go Raven…this is between you and me!”
Raven ignored him, instead he giggled and produced a blade from his finger and scraped it gently on Fluttershy’s cheek, she whimpered then cried out in pain as he did it again only this time drawing blood. Grendel gritted his teeth and shook his fists by his side in anger.
“I will personally see that the demons of hell take you for this…”
Raven giggled and backed up again and shot off into the forest with Grendel in hot pursuit, he was tired but the adrenaline kept him going. All he wanted to do was save Fluttershy, he wasn’t sure what Raven had planned to do with her and cursed himself for making the damn creature in the first place. As he ran the branches of trees smacked into his face cutting up his cheeks but he didn’t care, he had been through worse and chased after Raven.
He spotted Raven bursting through into what seemed to be another clearing growling as he knew he could soon lose him. He got ready to prepare himself for a sneak attack from Raven as he burst through the trees and came to a screeching halt; Raven was at the edge of a cliff looking left and right for a way to go. Grendel panted and then smirked at Raven who turned round in frustration.
“It’s over Raven…let her go and let’s end this.”
Raven looked from Fluttershy to Grendel seemingly weighing out its options; he made a new noise in the form of a hiss and gripped her tighter. She winced in pain as she looked to Grendel with tears in her eyes and visibly shaking, Raven then slowly turned his head back to Fluttershy and giggled, changing his position he gripped her by her neck and held her over the edge of the cliff, she screamed as she tried to break free.
“RAVEN NO!”
Raven hesitated for a moment and looked at Grendel, if he had lips he would be smirking at him. Grendel growled under his breath, Raven was desperate to escape and was using Grendel’s feelings for the Pegasus against him; Grendel had been given a choice.
Kill Raven…or let him go and save Fluttershy.
“If I let you go…you must let her go as well Raven.”
Raven nodded, Grendel sighed and took a step back signalling to Raven he was willing to allow him his freedom. Raven started to pull her back in but stopped and then giggled again, he looked to Grendel and tilted his head; Grendel knew exactly what he was doing.
“NO!”
Raven dropped Fluttershy over the edge of the cliff, she screamed as she fell trying to use her uninjured wing to somehow keep her airborne but to no avail. Tears flew past her as she tumbled to the river below; Grendel suddenly sprinted to the edge and past Raven and lept off the cliff after her. He could hear Raven giggle as he sped up to the Pegasus cursing him, he came closer and closer to her reaching out with his hand. Fluttershy saw Grendel and reached out with her hoof, he grabbed her and immediately pulled her into his chest tightly.
“Whatever you do don’t let go!”
Fluttershy clung tighter at his words as they slammed into the icy river below them, the water stung her as she closed her eyes tight. They resurfaced and both let out a gasp taking in air before being pulled under again by the raging current, Grendel desperately tried to pull them up with his free hand and succeeded but only for a short moment. Having just enough time to catch their breaths before being pulled under a second time, Grendel felt something slam into his back and his breath escaped his lips as a log shot past. Franticly he tried to get above the water but couldn’t, he saw Fluttershy was struggling to hold her breath and quickly in his mind cast a spell, he wasn’t as good with water based spells as he was fire but he tried none the less.
Succeeding he shot a jet of water out of his hand which propelled the pair up and out of the water, he caught the log that had gone past them with his free hand and clung to it tightly. He and Fluttershy panted rapidly catching their breaths before they both heard a tremendous crashing of water. They looked to where they were heading and Fluttershy let out a scream, they were both heading rapidly towards a waterfall. Grendel looked around trying to find something he could try and grab onto to stop them but it was too late, he and Fluttershy went over the waterfall.
“HOLD ON!” he cried and tightly embraced her.
Fluttershy clung to him for dear life as she sobbed softly, once again her life flashed before her eyes and she suddenly felt her body being enveloped by a strange feeling. Opening her eyes she saw her and Grendel’s bodies being covered in a white glow as they came closer and closer to the bottom of the waterfall.
Raven, who had been watching from the cliff, giggled to himself. He had finally killed his creator and couldn’t help but twirl in happiness; he looked up into the night sky expecting to feel the curse lift from his body. However he felt nothing and groaned in frustration realising Grendel must still be alive.
Well…not for long anyway.
He turned around and shot off determined to finish Grendel for good.