"Honeydew huh." The stallion says, starting to sound a bit calmer. I nod slightly, not sure on what to say. "Where are you from?" He asks. An unusual question if you ask me, and something I can't really answer. As much as I'd like to.
"Well. Its kinda complicated." I say nervously. But he doesn't seem convinced. Spike walks over to the Pegasus and looks up at him, he smiles and then speaks.
"Calm down Nebula. At least give him a chance to get though the door." The dragon chuckles. "I'm pretty sure he means us no harm. And besides. You can't just leave him outside to fend for himself. Not at the moment."
"I could chuck him out into the cold if I wanted to. But something tells me Mum wouldn't be too happy." The stallion, who, I'm guessing is called Nebula, says as he looks away from the purple dragon.
"Your starting to sound too much like your father." Spike smiles, I can tell he's about to say something else. But Nebula cuts him off.
"Do not mention him, Ok! Why can't you get that into your tiny little head!" The red-brown pony yells. But Spike doesn't seem phased, maybe he's used to it, he doesn't seem insulted and just smiles.
"But you and Shadow get along so well. Why don't you wanna talk about him?" The dragon asks. Nebula seems enraged by this, I don't know why, what did his dad do to make his son show such hatred towards his own father. I know people get annoyed with their parents from time to time and sure some people might not like their parents a great deal but this, this I've never seen.
"We did get along well, but not now, not after what he did." Nebula says, he sounds calmer but there's anger in his voice. The smile on Spike's face disappears and he starts to look just as annoyed as the Pegasus.
"He was trying to save you and Crimson, if he hadn't of done what he did then both of you would probably be dead!." Spike snaps, making me move back a bit, maybe I should go get Twilight and tell her that their arguing.
"If he was trying to save us then he wouldn't have gotten himself captured." The Pegasus says firmly, yet calmly. Spike shakes his head slowly and sighs.
"He couldn't help it. He was out numbered. I may not have been their but from what Crimson told me, there where a lot of monsters. And as powerful as Shadow is he isn't invincible, and believe it or not, even he can be harmed, you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened, if you weren't there you wouldn't have been able to fly your brother to safety." Spike says, starting to calm down. I smile, glad that they've stopped yelling. I want to say something, but something tells me I would either get ignored or yelled at, so I stay quiet.
*Somewhere in the Everfree Forest*
I wander alone though the dark woods. I'm scared, petrified even. How did I even end up here? A couple of hours ago I was in town trying to figure out where I was and how I got here, and now. I'm lost. And I have a strange feeling that I'm being followed.
Why I didn't stay in town I don't know. Why I didn't listen to what I was told is a mystery to me. Everybody said to stay away from the forest and make sure I'm inside after dark. But I didn't. I thought I'd be OK. But I was wrong. And now I don't know where I am or where I'm going. I can't just turn around and go back the way I came, because I've turned and changed direction so many times I have no idea which direction I came from.
Theres something following me, hidden in the bushes, not wanting to reveal itself. I don't know what it is and to be honest, I don't want to know, but hopefully they don't plan on hurting me, I don't really want to die here.
I stop walking and look around me. The temperature is dropping rapidly and as I stand there, shivering in the cold, whatever has been following me has started to circle the area where I'm stood. But yet they still don't come out of the bushes.
"H-Hello.." I try to speak but my voice is shaky. Theres no response. And all I see is flash of yellow in the undergrowth. "Hello.." I repeat, slightly loader. The leaves stop moving and a deep voice fills my ears.
"What are you doing here?" They say, there voice is almost emotionless and I can't quite tell where it's coming from.
"W-Who are you?" I ask. Unable to speak clearly as the ground seems to freeze beneath my feet...hooves.. "W-What do you want?"
"I want to know why your here." The voice says as a flash of yellow light almost blinds me. When I open my eyes again. A dark purple pony is stood before me. There eyes are golden-yellow and a few sparks of energy flicker around the horn on there head as they stand there, motion less. I take a few steps back as they stare at me.
"W-Who are you?" I repeat. Hoping for an answer this time. But I don't get one. They take a step closer to me before they speak.
"I asked you a question and I expect an answer. What are you doing here? Its dangerous." He asks me the same question again. Starting to sound more annoyed. I want to answer, but I don't know how. I have to think of something. But what?..
"Um..Its complicated. I never meant to come here. I'm just a little lost that's all. If you could tell me how to get back to town that would be very helpful." I try to sound innocent but I don't think he believes me. I don't blame him to be honest. I shouldn't have been so stupid as to go for a walk though the Everfree Forest. But what I don't understand, is if it's so dangerous here, then why is he in the forest as well? I could ask, but something tells me he didn't just decide to wander aimlessly into the woods. That and, well, I don't want to annoy him anymore then I already have..
"Theres no point going back to town, you wouldn't be able to find your way though the forest for a start. Just stay with me and you'll be fine." He says. I'm not sure whether to believe him. I don't know who he is or whether I can trust him. But he seems to want to help me, and maybe tomorrow he can take me back to Ponyville. Maybe. But for some reason, I don't feel safe around him..
"I dunno." I mutter. "I hardly know you and you expect me to follow you. I think I'll just find my own way back." I say as I turn around. I'm about to walk away before he speaks.
"Who the hell are you?" He asks, his voice filled with anger and confusion.
"I'm Xephos," I smile as I turn my head to face him. "and I've been on a few adventures in my time, I think I can get back to town on my own." I say, almost laughing. He seems slightly confused considering that less than five minutes ago I was asking for his help.
"Just 'cos you have a sword. Doesn't mean you can survive the monsters that lurk in the shadows after sun set." He smirks. All anger and aggression in his voice seems to disappear.
"Monsters.." I mutter, "What do you mean by monsters?" I ask. Suddenly very confused. The smile on my face disappears and my body grows tense, and not just from the cold wind that blows though the clearing. He looks at me like I'm an idiot.
"Surly you know." He says. I shake my head slightly. "Where have you been over the past few months?" He asks. I don't speak. I don't know what to say. What does he mean by monsters? This is not Minecraft. Then again, I do look allot like my original skin at the moment.. I look up at him as he stands there silently, probably waiting for me to answer, his scarf blowing in the wind. After a couple of minutes of silence, his ears perks up and he rises his head, looking around. I don't hear anything, and as his yellow eyes dart back and forth, I know we're in trouble.
"What is it?" I ask. "I can't hear anything." He holds the tip of his hoof against his mouth and I stay quiet. "What's going on?" I whisper.
"Just stay still." He mutters. I can only just hear his voice, and I start to hear growls and snarls coming from the trees the moment he stops talking. He looks at me wide-eyed and stumbles backwards before yelling: "Behind you!" I turn my head and a green creature with dark, soul-less eyes stares at me..
The creature explodes and I fly forwards, landing on top of the purple stallion. He immediately pushes me off him and lifts me to my feet with his magic. But the moment the yellow glow disappears, the pain in my hind legs becomes prominent.
I wince in agony as he shakes the dust out his fur. Not daring to turn my head and look at the damage that's been done. "You ok?" He asks.
"N-No.." I whimper. He slowly walks over to me and wraps his hoof around my shoulder. He presses his horn against mine and a bright glow of yellow and blue surrounds us before everything goes white.
The moment my vision returns, I start to feel dizzy. I lay down on the wooden floor and take deep breaths, trying to stay awake, but I can feel my self slipping into unconsciousness. I can hear voices, two, his and somebody elses. Feminine but quite deep, they also seem to be talking in rhyme. My vision starts to go hazy as I see to purple hooves stand in front of me.
"Xephos. Xephos!" He calls my name, but he seems to be getting farther and farther away. His voice fades after a few seconds and everything goes dark...