It must've have been raining before I arrived, as my boot prints we easily visible in the fading light. There was just enough to see by, but there was no chance of me hitting anything with my rifle. Hell, I'd never done a live night shoot!! We followed the tracks until we couldn't see them any more, so I stopped and made sure we were alone before turning my attention to the fillies, and started speaking in a whisper.
“Hey, do you two have anything in your bags that can be used for a fire?”
They looked each other in confusion, and then started rummaging around. Moments later I was given a stack full of what looked like paper, but it was thin like sugar paper and glowing, being informed that they had "liberated" them from Twilight. Okay, radioactive paper, that can't be healthy!! Crouching down, and feeling around, my hands found what they were looking for, a nice long stick. Taking the strange paper and wrapping it around one end, I prepared to strike a match when I saw five sets of glowing green eyes, and a set of some very pissed off red ones.
Well, look who came back for more pain. “Girls, when I light this, I want you to promise not to scream, okay?”
I felt two warm bodies pull up close behind my legs and struck the match. The sets of eyes seemed to think twice before the red ones advanced on me. “Hey there Smokey, back for some more?” I asked as I held the match out, watching him eye it cautiously. I slowly drew it back and he came closer. That's when the match hit the paper and all hell broke loose. The area was bathed in a strange blue light, coming from my makeshift torch. I could now see how many Timber-wolves there were, and even on my own I'd have trouble getting away!! There had to be forty of the bloody things!!!
Thankfully for myself and the fillies, the hell that broke out was simply the wolves as they panicked and tried to get away, running in to tress, rocks and each other. Smokey was the last to go, with what sounded like a disappointing growl. I'll have to deal with him later, Scootaloo needs help!! But there was one question at the forefront of my mind, and I just had to ask it.
“Girls, what exactly is in this stu.....you know what, never mind. I don't even want to know!!”
We resumed our trek, and eventually make it back to the clearing, where Applebloom, of all ponies, was almost sick at remembering what happened here. I was about to tell her it was okay, that they were safe now, but I couldn't outright lie to her. Thankfully, and worryingly, a pained whisper came from behind me as Scootaloo spoke.
“It's okay Applebloom, we're almost home. We can get help there”
The distraught filly's ears perked at her friends voice, and she nodded once, taking the lead along the way they had come to the clearing. I fell in to step behind, checking my watch and noting it was past 8 in the evening. Ponyville is going to be hive of activity when we arrive.
It didn't take long, perhaps another hour or so, to reach the Ponyville side of the Everfree. Even still, I kept an eye out for anything that might cross our paths. We snuck in to an alley way and Sweetie Belle led the way towards the hospital, treating it as some kind of sneaking game. As we crossed a main road, I saw a gathering around the town hall. Damn, that must be all the adult ponies who live here. That's a lot of ponies!!
As we entered another alley on the other side, I caught the tail end of a speech, which could only be coming from one pony......
“....so as I was saying, we have searched every house from top to bottom twice, all the shops and community buildings, and there is still no sign of the fillies. There can be only one place they've gone, even though we have told them never to go there alone. So we will spread out along the border of the Everfree, and look for signs of them there!”
As Twilight finished up, she turned to the mayor and informed her of what to do next. “I shouldn't be long, but if they went to see Zecora, then they're probably still with her. I'll be back in a jiffy” Preparing to venture in to the forest alone, she was shocked when a little colt ran up to her.
“Miss Sparkle, Miss Sparkle, we found something!”
“Pip, how many times do I have to say call me Twilight? Now what have you found?”
The colt gave her a bashful smile, and turned around. “Come on, I'll show you”, he called as he started galloping off to a section of the border. Twilight sighed and followed, stopping at what she saw. There in the mud were the tracks of three fillies. And about thirty metres further along, where Pipsqueak now stood waiting, were more tracks heading in to Ponyville. Two belonged to fillies. The other set, she had no clue about, and she instantly set about gathering more information.
“Everypony come here!!!” She had been given permission to us the Traditional Royal Voice in emergencies, such as now, and once she had most of the other ponies around her she continued. “Pip has found these tracks. There are three filly tracks going out, but two coming in. With something else!”
There were audible gasps all round, and before mass panic set in, an all ready panicked Twilight stepped in.
“Here's what's going to happen. AJ and Pinkie, you head around town and see if you spot any signs of them. Rainbow and Fluttershy, gather up the other Pegasi and start a patrol over the town. Rarity and I will follow these tracks. Everypony else, make a perimeter around the town. Nothing in, nothing out. Not even Celestia or Luna themselves!!”
By this point, we had made it to Ponyville General. I marched straight in not worrying about scaring any ponies that maybe in reception. Instead it was deserted. Shrugging, I set Scootaloo gently down on the desk, and turned towards the other two.
“I am going to get help, stay here okay?”
I got two nods as they climbed up next to Scootaloo to wait. Right, time to find a nurse. As I walked round one corner, I heard a loud gasp. Easing myself against the wall, I spotted Nurse Redheart fussing over Scootaloo and giving orders to a orderly. I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding in. She's safe now, and so are the other two. Time to patch myself up and get out of here.
I turned back to the corridor and looked for a supply cupboard. There was one half way down the hall, so I slipped inside and couldn't believe my luck, it was stocked with everything I needed.
Placing my gear on the floor, I took my jackets and t-shirt off, then grabbed some swabs and cleaned the area, getting my first good look. It was a clean cut, and not very deep as I thought. Another inch or so and it could've punctured a lung. I grabbed a bottle of anti-septic and hesitated slightly. Grabbing a spare bandage, I shoved it in my mouth as I poured the liquid on in copious amounts, the bandage doing it's job and muffling my groans. After emptying the bottle, I slapped a dressing on it and began to wrap a bandage around my midsection. Tying it off, I put my clothes back on and picked up my gear.
Hopefully, the lobby is clear, as I hadn't seen any other exits on the way in. As I came close, Scootaloo, Redheart, and the orderly had disappeared. Now was my chance to slip out and observe from a distance. As I approached the corner, I heard two very animated voices talking to what must be other ponies.
“....and then there was a second loud bang, and the dog's head exploded!”
“An' when the other two came runnin', it stood up and told them to leave us alone.”
“It then said something and finished with shouting 'I.....am the Demon of the Everfree, and now you shall die'.”
“An' on the way back through the forest, it faced down a load o' Timber-wolves, mainly one called 'Smokey', an' when it lit some of Miss Sparkles special paper, it set off a blue flame an' scarred them all away!!”
“And the best part is, it did most of that after helping Scootaloo and carrying her all the way back!”
“Well, shoot, Ah don' think Ah like the sound o' this critter.” Thanks AJ, for giving me a chance!!
“I can't say that I agree with you Applejack.” Ah, Miss Rarity, giving a chance before judging me. “Sweetie Belle, didn't you say that it was injured as well?”
“Yeah, when it....I think it was actually a he.....was bandaging Scootaloo up, I noticed some blood on his side, but we started to walk before I could ask him about it. And he used the last bandage to carry Scoots.” Damn, they saw that?
“You see Applejack my dear? He held the lives of the fillies over his own. What kind of critter, as you so kindly put it, would do such a thing?”
“He sounds pretty cool to me, standing up for others. But I think I know what's bugging AJ. It's that he killed those Diamond Dogs without thinking from what they said.” To the point as always, Dash.
The next voice I heard, while as adorable as you'd think, shocked me with the content of what it conveyed.
“um, he killed them to protect others. Isn't that the role of a soldier? If you don't mind me saying...”
Oh god, right in the hnng metre!!!
“I wonder if he likes parties?” Fuck, why couldn't she be locked up in this reality?? Okay, ways of avoiding a pink ball of fluff......nope, got nothing.
“Girls, until we know exactly what we're dealing with nopony is allowed to go anywhere on their own. They must be with at least one other outside. It, or even he, may seem to have out best interests at heart, but there is no denying 'he' is dangerous.” Ah, the rationality and level headedness of Ponyville's resident freak-out mare, one miss.....
“Twilight Sparkle!!”
“Yes mayor? Oh, of course, I'll be right back girls.”
At the latching of the door, I realised now was my chance to escape, and a luck would have it, the light switch for the lobby was just within reach. I recalled the layout as best as I could and clicked the lights off.
“What in tarnation? Who the hay turned out the lights?”
“I'll get them.....wait, what's that sound??”
All panic stopped as they started to listen closely. I carried on making my way towards the door, albeit a bit slower, but still, even I could hear it now.
Thud......thud......thud.......thud.........thud....
“It's heading to the door, RD get the lights.”
I realised I still had a sheet of Twilight's “special” paper and my matches. Well, it worked as a pretty good flashbang before, let's see if it works again. As I struck the match I could hear two little fillies draw in their breath in excited anticipation. The little flame pulsed amidst the slight gust from, I'm guessing, Rainbow's wings, as I touched it to the paper. As expected it flared really bright, but I all ready had my eyes closed, and I finally made it to door which I had cracked open just as there were two squeals of joy.......followed by five screams of terror.
One final thought flew through my head as I ran outside. Fuck. I think maybe I should be in the running of the going now. The fast running.