//------------------------------// // Chapter Three // Story: Eternal Nightmare // by Jgame //------------------------------// The pack of ponies traveled their way to the edge of the Everfree Forest in silence. The Everfree Forest was a dark, foreboding and massive forest, with thick trees and abundant plant life, with only a well-worn dirt path. The only thing that cut off the forest from ever reaching Ponyville was a small, silent river with a bridge to cross over it. As the ponies neared the bridge, I examined their facial expressions. All of them wore a look of grim determination. Very well, I thought. It was time for a brief reminder of exactly who they were dealing with. Hiding underneath the bridge, I summoned a small amount of lightning to make my entrance. Fluttershy promptly shrieked. The rest were noiseless in comparison, but I could hear their breathing accelerate. I made no further noise. “What in tarnation was that?” Applejack demanded after a brief silence. “It was a thunder strike, obviously,” Pinkie Pie said. “Actually, Pinkie, the proper term is lightning strike, not thunder strike. And that can’t have come out of nowhere. Rainbow Dash, did you set off a cloud to scare us?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “What are you blaming me for?” Rainbow Dash said defensively. “She was on the ground the whole time,” Fluttershy said, “And I know Rainbow Dash never sets off clouds to scare ponies.” “Although...” Rainbow Dash said mischievously. Another brief silence followed. “I mean, that’s just what I think,” Fluttershy squeaked anxiously. “Then that can only mean… Night Mare Moon, show yourself!” Twilight Sparkle shouted at the forest. I laughed. “You will learn that I give the orders, not you. I simply wanted to inform you that going into the forest will entail that I will stop you.” “Hah, go ahead and try!” Rainbow Dash said. “I-is that it?” Twilight Sparkle asked, her voice starting to quiver again. “That’s all, my little ponies,” I assured them. There was a brief pause until the clopping of hooves could be heard, only to stop again after the ponies went over the bridge. “What are we waiting for? Let's go!” Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically. “Not so fast. Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'd really rather do this on my own,” Twilight Sparkle said. “No can do, sugarcube,” Applejack said, “we sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple.” A “hmph” of agreement went through the group. “Especially if there are candy apples in there-- what? Those things are good,” Pinkie Pie said randomly. Twilight Sparkle let out an audible sigh as the sound of hoofsteps moved deeper into the forest. I waited until it was completely silent again, and then went from under the bridge to into the forest. “So, have none of you been in here before?” Twilight Sparkle ventured a few minutes later. “Ugh, Heavens no!” Rarity said immediately, “just look at it--it's dreadful!” I saw my opportunity. Seeping into the ground below their hooves, I went to quick work. “And it ain't natural,” Applejack added. “A little more like so...” I quietly urged myself. “Folks say it don't work the same as Equestria,” Applejack continued. "What's that supposed to mean?" Twilight Sparkle asked. I continued working at the ground, rapidly yet carefully chipping away at the earth. “Nopony knows,” Rainbow Dash said ominously, “you know why?” “Rainbow, quit it,” Applejack said sternly. “”Cause everypony that has ever come in, never comes out.” Immediately afterwards, the ground beneath them gave way, sending the earth ponies and unicorns tumbling down the cliff that they had been previously standing on. “Fluttershy, quick!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,” Fluttershy said, panicked. As I took in the scene from a bird's eye view, Rainbow Dash grabbed Pinkie Pie, while Fluttershy gently took hold of Rarity. Applejack grabbed a stray branch growing out of the cliff slope. Twilight Sparkle grabbed onto a small ledge, but it was readily apparent that she would soon fall a very long way down. A broken back leg at the very least awaited her at the bottom. I had to stop myself from laughing in utter delight. Applejack let go of the branch and slid down to Twilight Sparkle. “Hold on, I'm a-comin',” she said as she attempted in vain to pull her upwards. “Applejack!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, “what do I do?” Applejack cast a brief look upwards and gave a small nod to the sky. “Let go.” “Are you crazy?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “No, I ain't. I promise you'll be safe.” “That's not true!” “Now listen here. What I'm sayin' to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe.” Twilight Sparkle hesitated, and then let go. She screamed the entire way down until Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy caught Twilight. And then Fluttershy's grip slipped, causing a panicked squeak from Twilight until Fluttershy readjusted her grip. “Sorry girls,” Fluttershy apologized as she and Rainbow Dash lowered Twilight Sparkle to the ground, “I'm not used to holding anything more than a bunny or two.” Applejack hopped from one part of the cliff face with expert grace to the next until she was with the rest of the group already waiting. I took a moment to examine their faces and postures. All of them seemed even more determined than before to continue on their fool's errand. I continued on my way speedily, and halted at the next opportunity. It took the form of a manticore, a being who was the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion, the ears of a bat, and extremely resistant to pain. They tended to have harsh mood swings, so they were either a contented housecat or a fierce lion. The slightest provocation would turn it's mood from one to the other. It wandered around lazily, not paying attention to it's surroundings. I simply moved a sharp thorn from a bush into it's path and watched as the thorn impaled itself in the manticore's paw, causing a fierce roar. As luck would have it, Twilight Sparkle and company chose that exact moment to come across it. “-But we gotta,” Twilight Sparkle said before gasping. “A manticore!” The manticore roared. “We've gotta get past him!” The manticore lept and took a swipe at Rarity, who countered with a kick to the face. “Take that, you ruffian!” Rarity said sumgly. The manticore roared with such force that Rarity's hair was comically blasted backwards. “My hair!” Rarity cried out frivolously, before deciding to retreat. “Wait,” Fluttershy said in vain. Applejack leapt on top of the manticore, impressive considering that it was twice her size, and began to ride it, yanking it's ears hard. “Yee-haw! Git along, little doggie!” “Wait,” Fluttershy said again, her voice lost in the din. The manticore soon shook off Applejack violently, although she landed on the ground and rolled, taking minimal injury. “All yours, partner,” Applejack said. “I'm on it,” Rainbow Dash said, giving a brief salute. “Wait,” Fluttershy said, once again completely ignored. Rainbow Dash flew circles around the manticore, enveloping it in a rainbow coloured vortex. The manticore effortlessly swatted Rainbow Dash like a fly. “Rainbow!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed as Rainbow Dash crash-landed in front of her. Rainbow Dash got up and the group, stood in a line while Fluttershy watched the spectacle helplessly. This was all according to plan. Sooner or later, the group would be forced to retreat and I would be victorious, without even laying a single hoof on anypony. The ragtag group charged towards their impending failure once again. “Wait!” Fluttershy yelled as she stepped in between the ponies and the manticore. With a small smile, Fluttershy walked up to the manticore as it protracted it's claws, prepared to swipe. “Shh... it's okay,” Fluttershy said as she gently nudged the manticore. The manticore retracted it's claws. After a hesitation, the manticore presented Fluttershy the thorn stuck in it's paw. “Oh, you poor, poor little baby,” Fluttershy cooed. “Little?” Rainbow Dash commented. “Now, this might hurt for just a second,” Fluttershy said. She very quickly yanked out the thorn. The manticore instantly roared in pain. “Fluttershy!” the group exclaimed. Fluttershy gave a small giggle of happiness as the manticore gave it an affectionate lick. “Aw, you're just a little old baby kitty, aren't you? Yes you are, yes you are!” The rest of the group hastily moved past the manticore. “How'd you know about the thorn?” Twilight asked once Fluttershy had caught up to the party. “I didn't,” Fluttershy simply said, “sometimes we all need to be shown a little kindness.” After the group had left, I spoke to the manticore. “You were supposed to scare them off, not give out hugs,” I growled. The manticore spun in circles, trying to locate my voice. “And the only thing cute or endearing about you is that you're too stupid to understand you're being duped.” The manticore sat down and mewed pathetically. “When I am done, I will come back and put you in a circus, mark my words.” “Meow.” “Yes, I may even give you the mercy of being with that foolish Fluttershy.” “Meow.” “Why am I speaking with a manticore in the Everfree Forest?” “Meow.” I gave up, instead speeding onwards once again where Twilight and company had gone.