The Lobster was being driven to the edges of his sanity. It was as if the whole of existence, including him, was covered in a veil of pitch black nothing. There was no sound, no sense, and no touch. Days had passed since he had passed through the deceased doctor’s machine, or was it minutes? The Lobster couldn’t tell, not anymore. After passing through the portal the Lobster awoke in this place, all traces of pain he felt moments ago melted into nothing. He tried to stand up or at least move his arms, but was surprised when he couldn’t feel his body respond at all, there wasn’t even a tingling to suggest disrupted circulation. It was as if his whole body had melded into air, and when he tried to gasp, no sound was to be heard.
Any normal person would instantly fall into panic, being unable to move, speak, and feel anything would send most into frenzy. But the Lobster remained calm, at least he thought so. But soon, the vigilante fell into conversation to himself, going hours into his escapades and cases. But being unable to make sound amongst his thoughts brought even more paranoia. The Lobster wasn’t one to sit still no, he had spent almost every waking hour of his vigilante career, investigating and interrogating victims in both speakeasy and streets, getting into fights and shootouts, and his favorite, uncovering Nazi espionage agents. To say the Lobster was a busy man would be and understatement and this place was getting to him. When was the last time he moved, he couldn’t say.
“At least if I was dead I wouldn’t be able to think at all,” the Lobster thought. He wasn’t one to believe in an afterlife or even less, a god. But he had run into his fair share of the occult. Facing of against floating brains, mummies, and a living skellington on fire was new to him, but he preferred to think of it as unexplained science. Yet, that same science brought me here, the Lobster thought. He rolled his shoulders to relax the numbness he felt. “Wait numbness!”
The Lobster soon felt the tingling spread from his shoulders, across his chest, and throughout his body. He could feel his senses slowly return to him. He could feel movement and touch return to his arms, as if they where building up from nothing. Soon his body was restored, floating still in the blackness. And then pain came again. The Lobster screamed, he felt as if he was going through the portal again only worse. His muscles and tissues turned inside out and strained as they twisted upon themselves. His chest contracted into impossible densities and exploded. His eye sockets where set aflame, all he wanted was for it to end. And it did, the pain ceased, but the Lobster was still conscious.
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Apple Bloom didn’t notice the mists, but as soon as the wind howled her attention snapped from her thoughts to the swirling vortex around her. The yellow filly looked at her surroundings, her turmoil turning into fear. The wind speed was growing faster and faster as the mist began to rise with growing storm. Branches of ancient oaks snapped and popped as they sped into the rising eye. And the sound, Apple Bloom had never heard anything like it. It was as if many ponies where screaming and churning in pain. Applebloom screamed, but the howl of storm overpowered the cries of fear. Lightning began do fall upon the clearing, as thunder began to resonate to the pulse of Equestria. Apple Bloom scuttled for cover behind the tree line, one hoof holding onto her red bow. She cowered behind a grey knarled tree as the vortex reached a crescendo. Apple Bloom felt shivers run down her spine as she heard the screams. And her eyes widened as she saw the sky. A tear about the size of an ursa minor appeared in the sky, a bright white light radiated from its core.
Apple Bloom hung to the trunk of the tree, as a huge beam shot from its center smashing against the ground, pulsing in a unequis white glow. The beams light intensity softened with every pulse allowing Apple Bloom to squint into it. Apple Bloom was filled with dread, what she saw scared her to no end. It was a skelington, one that had no natural origin on Equis. It stood on two long legs; its chest was laid bare allowing Apple Bloom to see into its ribcage. She held back nausea as she observed the creature’s heart and organs pulsing alive. Luckily for Apple Bloom, mist began to gather around the beam, blocking her view.
The tendrils of mist shifted and twisted into muscles and skin that where laid back on its owner’s body. A final layer was added to the body, forming black clothes that only made it more intimidating. Apple Bloom stared at the fully formed creature, eyeing it nervously for signs of threat. It stood a good foot taller than Celestia in height, its shoulders being wide enough to carry two Cutie Mark Crusaders. It dressed completely in black; it sported a button up rocketeer jacket, a blue claw symbol marking his chest. His pants jutted out from the side of his thighs before leveling back down to meet his tool belt, holding an impressive array of pouches and tricks. Apple Bloom looked at the creatures face and restrained a yelp. The creature had turned his head, staring directly at Apple Bloom, with big round eyes that cut through the falling darkness with a orange glow.
Apple Bloom was paralyzed, the fixed glare of the creature gluing her right to the forest floor. The creature seemed to be analyzing her. Wondering wether or not she was a friend or foe. Apple Bloom decided in a heart beat that she wouldn’t want to get on his bad side, shuddering at the thought if she did. Apple Bloom slowly took a step back, wanting to be far away from the creature as soon as possible. Turning around, Apple Bloom broke into a sprint looking back to see the creature turn away disinterested in her. She allowed herself to slowdown a little, relived that she would live. That feeling was short lived; she turned around to realize that she hadn’t been the only creature to witness the arrival. She ran back to the clearing screaming.
“Where the hell am I?” The Lobster thought. According to the blueprints from Doctor Stienbachs machine, the other end of the teleporter should have been located in a Nazi military base near the edge of Berlin. But when the Lobster opened his eyes, all he saw was a forest. There wasn’t even a receiving portal, but the thoughts of the Lobster had been put to a hold as he lay on eyes on the most cartoonish creatures he had ever seen. The Lobster struggled to keep a straight face as he observed the small equine creature before him. It stood barely three feet high with a pale olive fur coat. The Lobster stared at its eyes, amazed at how big they where. Its amaranth colored mane was held up by a light pink bow. Only after he examined the creature did he take note of its fear. Its face was in shock and its small legs trembled under her weight as she retreated backward. Turning around, it ran away into the darkness, soon disappearing from his view.
He decided he had wasted enough time already, and had better search for shelter before any predators found him. The forest was eerie enough by itself and he didn’t want to ambushed in an open space.
“Somepony Help Me!”
The Lobster heard the screaming of a little girl heading his way, he looked forward as some bushes began to rustle. Suddenly the foliage gave way as the owner of the voice burst through. The Lobster couldn’t help but feel shocked when instead of a human entering the clearing, the same equine creature as before burst through the tree line crashing into his legs. He was beginning to doubt ever hearing a voice
“This can’t be the one who cried for help! Ponies can’t speak!” His thoughts where interrupted when the creature screamed before him.
“Ahhh! The Monster!” The small pony turned to run back into the forest, but her path was blocked when bright green eyes opened at the edge of the tree line, surrounding them and blocking any form of escape. The dense foliage shook around them, followed by low growling that filled the air as a pack of wolves stepped forward into the clearing, the moonlight illuminating there forms. The Lobster was even more suprised to see that the wolves in front of him where not of flesh, but of wood, more precisely twigs.
They stood well above the small pony, but only reached to the Lobsters waist. The group parted allowing the alpha wolf to enter. Being even taller than the others, it stared menacingly at the Lobster, instantly recognizing him as the biggest threat. It raised its wooden lips showing of its sharpened teeth. Giving off a nasty snarl. The Lobster reached a hand instinctly towards his hips, closing a gloved grip around his twin pistols. He looked into the alphas eyes, his face growing grim.
“Little girl, get behind me. Keep your head down and don’t look.” The pony looked at him with even more shock.
“Holy hay bales! You speak Equestrian!” shouted the pony, her jaw dropping dangerously low.
“I said keep your head down,” he shouted, and not a moment to soon. The pony ducked to the ground just as a timber wolf lunged from behind, jaws extended for a deep strike. The Lobster twisted around, smashing his elbow into the wolfs jaw, shattering it into twigs and splinters. Two more attacked from his sides trying to overwhelm him. But he countered with a spinning kick squarely on the left ones head, knocking a few teeth loose with a nasty bone shattering crunch. The Lobster followed through with the kick, turning his body as he kneed the other wolf between its neck and chest area. All three wolves ran with tails between their legs, back into the forest, sounds of whimpering trailing their retreat.
The Lobster then turned to face the alpha, both staring intensely at each other, not wavering from the others gaze. Both silently challenged the other to make the first move. The alpha gave a bark, telling his comrades that the stranger was his. The wolves retreated into the tree line, watching from the safety of the shadows as their leader faced against the Lobster. The standoff lasted several seconds until the alpha suddenly lunged foreword with vicious speed. The Lobster tried to shoot him down, but fell on his back as the wolf pinned him to the ground, gnashing his jaws towards his face. It managed to swipe a paw at his face before the Lobster wraped his hands around the wolf’s neck, pushing against the force of nature. Summoning enough strength, the Lobster pushed with his right hand while pistol whipping the wolves face with his left. It provided enough of a distraction for him to bring his knees up and roll the wolf right off. The alpha skidded on his paws catching its grip before it lunged again, but the costumed vigilante was prepared this time, focusing a shot right on its front legs.
“TASTE THE CLAW!”
And not a moment to soon, the alpha wolf stopped in its tracks only two feet away from him dropping to the ground with a splintered front leg. The Lobster stood up looking at the broken beast before him. It whimpered under his orange gaze, and he knew he could end its suffering right now.
“No,” he muttered to himself. This creature was not attacking him for simple joy hunting. Wolves, no matter if made of flesh or wood, hunted and acted as they should. As animals, and this was no exception. Besides, there are fates worse than death the Lobster thought. Reaching with his left hand, the Lobster pressed it firm grip against the squirming alphas forehead. It gave of a deep whine of pain that growed into a howl as he released his burning grip. Right there where his hand laid was an orange claw brand burning gently on the alphas forehead. The wood crackled a little as the alpha continued to whine, summoning two timber wolves. Rushing forward they assisted their fallen leader back into the tree line glancing back to give a nasty snarl before running of into the foliage. The Lobster continued to stare at the wolves, until every pair of eyes disappeared following their fallen leader. Only then did he holster his pistols and take a moment of rest. Panting heavily, he turned to look at the small pony he saved, expecting to see it cower before him after witnessing his display of action. His face turned into a frown when he was not met by fear, but to his puzzlement was instead met with curiosity.
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Apple Bloom watched from the safety of the ground as the stranger fought off the timber wolves. Watching as he punched, kicked, and summoned rocks of fire from black tubes in its hands. To say Apple Bloom was amazed would be an understatement, she was stupefied. Not only had the creature fought of a pack of timber wolves, but it did it all just to protect her. She watched in awe as the supposed “Monster” stared down the alpha and held his ground against its lunges. Her mind reeled from surprise as the wolves ran away with their tails between their legs, whimpering as if they where new born cubs. She watched as the stranger hid the black tubes on the sides of his belt. Looking at his chest she couldn’t help but observe the dark blue claw symbol on the black material. It looked like a lobster claw.
“Yah saved me. Why did you save me?” The stranger turned around to look at her. She felt so small under its stare. Apple Bloom sat down staring awkwardly at the ground, the grass suddenly becoming the object of her interest. This continued for a while until the stranger suddenly spoke
“Innocents don’t deserve death,” it replied. His voice was deep, with a hint of steel backed up behind his words.
Apple Bloom couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down at hearing him speak. But at the same time she felt safe around him. That she had nothing to fear from this dark protector.
“Are you a super hero mister?” The words slipped past her mouth before she could stop them. Her eyes wavered to the ground again; she kicked her hoof out in the dirt from being so straight forward. For Celestias sake, she didn’t even know its name. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name and,”
“Lobster, most call me the Lobster.”
“Why they call yah that? Don’t yah have a name?” The stranger glanced at her before turning around to face the forest.
“No. Not anymore.”
Apple Bloom was taken aback by his answer, this stranger fought off a pack of timber wolves and she didn’t have a name to thank him by. “Oh no,” Apple Bloom thought, “I haven’t even thanked him yet!” Apple Bloom trotted up to the stranger pulling at the slack.
“Well stranger, my names Apple Bloom. I don’t care if yah don’t have a name, I just want yah to know that I’m really grate…” Apple Bloom didn’t get her chance to express a thank you. Her fear got the best of her as she turned around to face a rustling in the bushes at the other side of the clearing. The foliage parting to reveal….
Fluttershy came racing into the clearing. She had been wandering for a while, lost within the forest fog , jumping in shock from the slightest sound. She knew that the Everfree forest was dangerous, especially after dark. But when she heard the sounds of a little filly crying for help, she didn’t hesitate to fly at top speed. Dodging the old oaks, she burst through the tree line finding a lone scared little filly, a very familiar little filly. Apple Bloom had never been filled with so much joy, her expression changing quickly to a joyous smile as she leapt into fluttershys arms
“Fluttershy! Am I happy to see you!” She squeed as she hugged the shy pegasus. Fluttershy returned the hug, stopping only to whisper in a barely audible voice
“Are you ok? What where you doing here by yourself? If you don’t mind me asking.” Apple Bloom broke from Fluttershys hug, grinning from ear to ear.
“But I’m not alone! Look.” Apple Bloom turned around, pointing a dramatic hoof at…. nothing. Fluttershy hid behind her pink mane.
“Look at what?”
“At the Lobster! He was just here! Why did he leave?” Apple Bloom searched franticly around the clearing, hoping for any sign of the dark stranger.
“Apple Bloom, theres nobody here but us,” Fluttershy extended a wing to the small filly, gently tugging her away from some prickly bushes as the filly attempted to investigate for a seemingly nonexistent pony. “It’s really dark and we should get going, if that’s alright with you.”
Apple Bloom tugged against the appendage, craning her neck to look back for any sign of her missing friend. I hope she’s alright, Fluttershy thought, She must really be scared from wandering the forest. Fluttershy concluded to herself that this was reason enough as the pair walked back on the path to Ponyville.
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Apple Bloom was sent to her room after a harsh scolding from AppleJack. The Stetson wearing pony had initially cried at her return, hugging and kissing her for what seemed like minutes. But later her mood had turned rancid, as she scolded her for not only getting lost in the Everfree forest, but for her little “brawl” at school.
“Apple Bloom! Yah should know bettar than to go on hurting somepony, especially running off to avoid responsibility for your actions!”
“But sis! They was talking smack about our parents, I just couldn’t..”
“No buts missy! The Apple family does not get into fist fights. Yah might get your pride wounded but that does not give yah an excuse to just do as you please!”
“But it I was delivering justice and,”
“That is not justice!” AppleJack screamed. She looked at Apple Bloom before giving a sigh. “It does no justice to you or our family to hurt somepony over words.” Giving a final look at Apple Bloom, her sister raised a hoof pointing up the stairs to her room before turning around. “Apple Bloom, go to yah room and think about what you’ve done, will talk about this in the morning.” Apple Bloom sighed, she was now looking out the window, her gaze wandering on the edges of the Everfree forest. It was now eleven p.m and the wind had become a soft breeze.
The crickets could be heard chirping from the tall grass. It relaxed Apple Bloom as she heard the almost silent symphony of the night. It almost helped her forget the stranger she met today. She realized that besides Fluttershy, she hadn’t really told anyone of his existence. Yet Fluttershy didn’t even believe her, and she was certain that others would follow suit. No, for now she would keep this secret. She still owed that creature a thank you. Apple Bloom made up her mind, that as soon as I can, Ill head into Everfree forest to find him. Apple Bloom gave one last look out her window before heading to bed. “Huh,” she thought. “I thought I saw orange lanterns in the distance. Maybe I am seeing things.” Apple Bloom headed to bed, snuggling warmly in her sheets before dosing off, unaware of the orange pair of eyes that watched from the forest.