//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Not Brazil // Story: Semper Paratus // by Eyes in the Dark //------------------------------// ,,,^..^,,, An impatience orange pegasus filly paced just inside the wooden walled tree house that sat on the far edge of Sweet Apple Acres. She had gotten an early start and really hoped her friends hadn’t slept in. She went outside to the railing for the hundredth time looking for any sign that the other crusaders would show. So far, this was proving to be a slow morning. Scootaloo had already told both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom yesterday to meet up extra early today. They had already tried so many fun things to earn their cutie marks that they were turning to drastic measures! Reading more books... Sweetie Belle had whined the entire time and Apple Bloom didn’t seem to follow how digging up old junk could help them get their cutie marks any faster, but after Twilight caught wind of their literary searching and had given them a synopsis of “Daring Do”- they were hooked. Scootaloo had borrowed a small pick from Mr. Greenhooves and got jungle expedition hats for each of them from Rarity the day prior. Sweetie Belle was supposed to bring the map and brushes while Apple Bloom was to make sandwiches for everypony and bring a couple shovels from the farm. Voices from outside made Scootaloo turn her head toward the door and in a flash was outside at the rail. A short distance away were her two comrades for cutie marks- Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. From the distance it looked like they both had packs on and Scootaloo could just make out the wood handles of shovels poking out of Apple Bloom's. Scootaloo hurried inside and shrugged into her own pack with the pick tucked into a side. She flipped an expedition hat onto her head and adjusted it with a hoof. She brought the other two hats down to the ground just in time to meet her friends. "Hey Scoots! Nice hat!" Sweetie Belle recognized the work and hadn't even seen them at Rarity's before. "There's one for the each of us," Scootaloo was saying, "and not a moment too soon! What kept you girls?" Apple Bloom fixed her hat and made a head nodding motion toward white unicorn filly who, on a closer look, appeared very tired. "I'm sorry Scoots but Rarity was up late working on some dresses and actually asked me to help... well, more stand there or give her things she needed but I didn't get to bed until late so I'm still sleepy." Scootaloo rolled her eyes, "well there's no time for naps now Sweetie! We've got a ways to go and a cutie mark to discover! Did you both get the supplies?" Apple Bloom nodded, "I gots the two shevals ya asked for and the sammiches but I ain't too certain how long it'll be before muh big bruther comes a lookin' for these." Sweetie dug into her pack and produced a rolled map which took her and Apple Bloom to hold open. "I hope we can do this before Twilight misses it, I felt bad tearing it out of that book I borrowed but the whole book would have been too heavy to carry!" The fillies looked at the map for a moment and Scootaloo gave a reassuring smile, "it's perfect! We've never had a real map when we headed into the Everfree Forest before, this should be a piece of cake!" Sweetie began to put the map away as Apple Bloom pointed out the obvious, "but whut does cake have ta do with arco-ology?" Scoots facehoofed, "it's just a something I heard Pinkie Pie say, and since we've already tried candy-making it doesn't have anything to do with 'archeology'. And Scootaloo stressed the last word to her. "Oh right, archeology..." "Well, just standing here talking about it isn't going to get us any closer to the ruins of the Royal Pony Sisters!" Sweetie Belle observed while motioning for the others to start moving. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, or CMC for short, started onto a wide path that lead away into the Everfree Forest. Little by little the path shrank and soon they had to walk single file to keep away from the forest closing in on them. But when the path disappeared all together, this time they had a map! ,,,^..^,,, Elsewhere... Daniel had rose early with the sun and used a precious amount of water and an instant coffee stick to greet the morning. After heating the coffee over his MSR stove, he stood just outside his tent with a frown on his face. The coffee was less than perfect but that wasn't really the issue. It was the forest! Brazil didn't have any of the vegetation that he had hacked down to put up camp the night prior. And he could have sworn he heard a lion's roar when he awoke... a lion?! In Brazil?! Things continued to 'not-add-up' when he thought back on the night. He had gotten up in the middle of the night to relieve himself by a tree and not even grabbed his head lamp- the moon and stars were THAT bright! And now that the morning had dawned and the sun was up, 'bright' seemed to define most of the woods. All the leaves, grass, bugs... had an unusually pastel hue to them. It was like he was in a TV set with the color saturation turned way up! He made a mental note to ask about it when he got back to the facility- maybe the portal had messed with his eyes. Daniel sipped his coffee and noted the time, now 0731. He finished his coffee with a protein bar and broke camp. Thirty minutes later and he was ready to move. He drew his machete, lined himself up with the markers he put up and started his trek again. Water was high on the priority list right now... A distant wolf howl gave him pause and he moved his holster from his ankle to his left shoulder strap, 'wolves?! In Brazil?' Not getting eaten was a little higher on the list than getting water. ,,,^..^,,, The CMC had been moving along for nearly 3 hours before Apple Bloom asked to pull out the map for a fifth time. "Ah'm tellin' ya Zecora's place wasn't this far!" The plan had changed back and forth a dozen times while they walked but all had agreed that at least 'seeing' the zebra's hut would convince them that they were heading the right way. But so far only a wild boar running across their path and some distant howls of timber wolves had even hinted that they were indeed IN the Everfree Forest. "I'm pretty sure we'll see Rambling Rock Ridge before the ruins at this rate." Scootaloo was looking over the map and pointed the way they were going, "we're still heading the right direction and Rambling Rock... hey! Did you rhyme like that on purpose Sweetie Belle? 'Cause that was pretty cool!" They all shared a giggle and put the map away, at any rate they would reach the gorge and be able to tell exactly where they were. They had a map after all. ,,,^..^,,, Daniel's swing of the blade had become a constant sound next to the random birds that eyed him before retreating a distance. He would take a sip of water and continue and find a small game trail that lead off in his general direction. More than once, he had to stop and listen to the woods around him. From experience he knew that when the forest got quiet something was going down. Daniel didn't have to wait long before the sound of an animal fight caught his ear. He drew his pistol and stood at the ready by a thick tree listening to the distant calls. It was the wolves, that much was certain. But what else? The more he stood by the more it just sounded like a dog fight... and one that was getting closer! He holstered his gun and looked up at the towering tree; the limbs were low enough that he could pull himself up without issue. Daniel laid his pack into a fork and stood on a next higher limb for a better view. Maybe a hundred yards away now, the bushes were rocking madly back and forth as the fight rocketed from one place to another. Fifty yards now and the snarls and barks were loud enough to drown out all other thoughts. Movement from one bush would spark another bout of snarls until another form would rush it and another fight would begin. But watching and listening wasn't the only thing that assaulted his senses as the fighting got closer. Within a stone's throw now and Daniel could smell something fetid, like horrible rotten meat- maybe the wolves were fighting over some food? He could see the shapes now in the shadow of his tree and with a bit of realization; Daniel noticed none had spotted him. One of the wolves stepped out of the brush in a perfect profile and Daniel's mouth dropped open at the sight. 'It couldn't be possible... THAT isn't possible...' The wolf was completely made of sticks, twigs, branches... bits and pieces of wood made up its legs and tail. The wolf's head and body looked to be mostly tree bark and other wide pieces of timber. Each foot or paw had claws, those he could plainly see. But what really caught his attention were the eyes. Not white with iris's like a normal animal but solid yellow and glowing as if of their own right. Daniel watched it take a step and look back at the bushes, its ears twitched and snarl formed on its wooden face just as another wolf of equal build flung itself out. The two wolves battled right below Daniel for a moment until three more emerged from the thicket to join in the fray. He was silent during the entire event, never moving a muscle except his eyes. It appeared this one wolf was not welcome or perhaps was part of another pack? He could only guess as the offender snapped a leg off one of the attackers and dove into the bushes heading away. The injured wolf was down but for merely a moment as the others took off without him. Daniel then witnessed something he would never forget. A light green mist surrounded the parts and pieces that had been snapped off and they began to re-attach themselves in place! It reminded him of the aurora borealis in a sense but nothing he directly saw could explain the magic-like healing he was seeing. Within just a couple minutes the leg was fully restored and the wolf flexed the leg and claw with renewed vigor. It let out an eerie howl and charged into the thicket after its pack. Daniel waited several long minutes to ensure they were indeed moving in the opposite direction before he crouched down and sat on the limb that held him up. That didn't make a bit of sense, what he just saw shouldn't have been possible. He numbly retrieved his pack and got down out of the tree, his mind in full gear to what had just transpired. His steps took him to a spot where he had just watched the fight. Deep cuts lay in the earth where wooden claws had scrambled for purchase, twigs and branches were torn from the surrounding bushes where the wolves had busted through. Daniel shook his head with a chuckle; maybe the portal had opened to some sort of weird reality where wolves were made of wood? His feet began to move without really thinking and he trudged down the scant path the wolves had just blazed for him. "I guess that gives new meaning to the name 'Timber Wolf' doesn't it?" He half joked aloud and took a swing at an offending bush. That was another nugget he would have to remember for Tony and rest on his return. He paused and glanced back over his shoulder in the direction the Timber Wolves had gone. As long as he didn't run head long into those creatures he should be fine. They looked brittle enough to whack through with his machete or axe but the whole re-building thing he saw made him wish he would have packed a flame thrower instead of his 357. ,,,^..^,,, The trio of fillies had been moving at a steady pace and had not seen any sign of the Timber Wolves, heard them, but not seen. Distant howls made them quicken their pace and a couple of times sent them into dead sprints. They huffed and puffed until they had calmed down enough to look at the map again and they couldn't believe they had gone THIS long without seeing something! Sweetie Belle was about to protest when the tree line thinned and they could all just make out a far off mountain. "We made it girls!" Scootaloo brightened and trotted quickly to the forest edge. Apple Bloom was a close second with Sweetie dragging behind, she was so tired. "Well, bah the looks of it, ah'd say we came out a bit too far North." Apple Bloom finally said poking a hoof at the map. "That looks like Rambling Rock Ridge where my sister gets her gems from, but why are we way up this way?" Sweetie Belle observed and looked at the map with Apple Bloom. "I agree with Apple Bloom," Scootaloo went on to say, "at least we have our bearing now and can easily find the ruins if we head South! Shouldn't be too far at all." The CMC had always gotten in over their heads on any expedition they set out on and this would prove no different. What felt like another hour saw the three fillies at the edge of the gorge where a rope bridge connected a short distance to the ruins. With shaky first steps, they all managed to cross it without incident and made way directly for the largest structure- the great hall. The large old oak doors took considerable strength from all three fillies to even budge open enough to wiggle through but once inside they knew this was it. Massive columns that had once held up a majestic ceiling painted with frescoes now was rubble and most of the bits exposed to the weather were long gone. Part of the wall had collapsed in a heap toward the back to create a huge berm that would be quite unsteady to try and climb- and of course this is where they would start first. A good portion of the tower was still standing defiantly against time but for now it would serve as a cool spot to rest and eat a bite before they got started. Scootaloo had finished her sandwich quickly and was already arranging the tools and brushes. They had read in one of Twilight's books that once you dig up an artifact you were supposed to carefully brush all the dirt off of it so a museum could put it on display- too easy! As the girls ended their meals and looked for a suitable place to start digging, something else was doing some digging but this kind of searching wouldn't be for a cutie mark. Outside the ruins, on the other side of the gorge, a lone timber wolf stood on the edge of the tree line and idly inspected a set of hoof prints in the shaded earth. This wolf was joined by another and another, the group sniffed the ground tentatively and a low growl was passed between them. They had been working hard most of the day to run off an intruding timber wolf and now they were hungry. And by the smell of the tracks, only young fillies had come this way... perfect. ,,,^..^,,, Daniel had popped out of the tree line some distance away and once again was staggered by what he saw. A long drop off the edge by at least 200 feet and no where to climb down or circle around. How was there a gorge in this area of Brazil?! He set his pack down and peered over the edge. There was running water down there but no way to get to it. Was that the Rio Paraguay? It wasn't at the bottom of a chasm last time he saw it and he doubted that this could have happened over seven years. He took off his olive drab colored boonie hat and ran a hand through his short hair. None of this made a lick of sense to him and he took off his m-framed sunglasses to wipe them. In an instant, out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of light like a reflection from a mirror. He instinctively dropped to the ground by his pack and put back on his sunglasses and hat. What could that have been? Daniel cursed under his breath for exposing himself in the open like he did and managed to low crawl with his pack in tow back to the tree line. He used the cover of the massive trees to round a bend that had previous been hid from view. His next curse wasn't loud but he knew at that very moment he wasn't anywhere near Brazil. Before him, just on the other side of the gorge, lay aging castle ruins and off to the left- high up on a standing tower- a glint of glass shined in different directions. Where was he? The thought of a completely foreign land was both exhilarating and slightly horrifying. He couldn't think of any countries he had been through where he had seen castle ruins in the middle of the woods. He stepped out and walked the bend keeping an eye on the gray structures just over the gorge. Sweden had quite a few medieval castles scattered all over the countryside as well as Ireland- wasn't there some stuff like that around the Czech Republic? Daniel shook his head and caught sight of the rope bridge that spanned the gap. As he approached he noticed how worn it was, not from any traffic but time. The main suspension lines were frayed in some spots and completely unraveled in others. The anchor pylons were stone formations embedded into the cliffs edge on both sides. Daniel slapped a hand against them and smirked at their solidness. The boards were closer spaced for foot traffic then they should have been but maybe whoever used this bridge wheeled carts across it too. It seemed a bit narrow for that but at the moment he was taking most oddities with a grain of salt. Daniel set his pack down and edged out a couple of steps onto the bridge before he was satisfied it would hold all his weight. On retrieving his pack, he noticed something else in the soft earth where he had set his pack. Hoof prints... There were a few prints and not very deep indicating that these were either small pack ponies or being led by someone? He scratched his head and tried to figure the number of them... three, maybe four? There were also other tracks alongside them, ones he recognized from earlier. The timber wolves. Daniel quickly reasoned against using his firearm for possibility of retaliation from the locals. He didn't want to show up asking for help only to get shot if he was wielding a gun openly. He replaced the holster on his ankle and opened his pack for an item he had not used in a while, well, since the last bow hunting season anyway. The re-curve was quick and light and saved on his limited supply of .357. Only seven arrows would fit on the side lashings of his pack and he drew two and screwed in their single blade broad-heads. If the wolves were going to be a problem maybe he could get off a shot before things got out of control. Daniel knew these wolves were bad news, that much was certain about this crazy land. And if they were following those horses, whoever they belonged to would need some help. ,,,^..^,,, What had started as a fun treasure hunt was anything but fun after only a short time on the other side of the collapsed wall. The ground was thoroughly compacted from years of settling and none of the crusaders had the body weight to properly use the shovels. The pick, on the other 'hoof', was neck breaking work for each of the fillies in turn. Scootaloo was the first to give it a go and nearly got a foot of earth moved before she passed it off. Apple Bloom fared a little better as she was used to working hard on the farm, between hers and Scoots' efforts a whaping 3 feet of soil had been pushed aside. While this was going on, Sweetie Belle had been meticulously sifting through the dirt and using a brush she had 'acquired' from Rarity. It was actually a make-up brush and the bristles were much too fine for the work she was trying to do. "Whew! If we end up gettin' our cutie marks from this, it's gotta be the hardest work we've ever had ta do!" Apple Bloom stated taking a breather from swinging the pick. A consolation from the work was that the shadow of the tower fell over them and kept the sun from its direct heat. Regardless, they were getting wore out and it was Sweetie's turn on the pick while Scoots and Apple Bloom gave the brushes a try. Sweetie had taken a couple of practice swings before giving the pick a hard strike into the earth. The point dug in and she had to use her whole body as leverage against the handle. The next hit jarred her mouth, "Owf! Hof ahf woo abble tuh swhing whis?!" Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gave her an odd look and voiced in unison, "whaaat?" Sweetie spit the handle out of her mouth, "I said, how are you able to swing this? It has to be the hardest thing ever!" Scoots rolled her eyes and went back brushing a very uninteresting looking rock and Apple Bloom just tossed another hoof-sized chunk of debris to the side. Sweetie picked back up the pick and tried again. Scootaloo had changed her sitting position slightly and in that moment was very glad and terrified she did. There were sparse trees and bushes behind the tower and she froze with wide eyes. Two yellow dots of unnatural light were looking straight at her. They blinked and another pair illuminated close by. Apple Bloom had noticed Scootaloo stop and stare behind her and was about to say something when a stench hit her nose. "Whut in all'ah Equestria..." but the question hung in her throat and the smell was forgotten as she saw the two pairs of yellow eyes now joined by a third. They were both visibly shaking as their hooves refused to move, their voices equally lost as a timber wolf materialized from the brush not 30 feet away. Sweetie Belle had been trying her hardest with the pick and upon seeing her friends out of the corner of her eye rooted to their spots, she dropped the pick while turning, "What is going...AAaaahhhhh!" The scream was loud enough to rouse both petrified fillies from their spots and they rocketed into the air and onto the berm of stones and rubble. The shriek had caused the wolves to pause but soon all three stepped out and casually made their way to the site where the girls were trying desperately to scramble away. But panic, smooth weathered stones and hooves don't mix well and the wolves clued in on it quickly... as did another observer. Daniel had heard talking and was about to shout out a greeting when he saw 'what' had done the talking. "Ponies..." His mouth moved over the word a couple times and it didn't get better with use. 'Young ponies' clicked in his mind a second later after listening to the conversation. He shook his head and was about decided on not getting involved here, that was until two of the three froze and eyed a spot 15 yards from his perch. When the white one screamed and Daniel saw the wolves walk out into the clearing, he sighed. "So much for not getting involved..." He muttered nocking an arrow and drawing the bow in a practiced motion. There were too many questions that would be left unanswered had he simply walked away. And Daniel was not one to walk away from a fight. In fact, Daniel could kill a man in a fair fight, or if he thought another man was going to start a fair fight. He let out a breath slowly and took aim on the last wolf to exit the bushes and let his arrow loose. The wolf had just rounded a tree when the arrow struck it broad side and pushed the creature toward the trunk of the tree from the blow. It let out a yelp of surprise and merely looked around for its attacker. Daniel had already strung his second arrow and took aim when it spotted him. The timber wolf's howl was cut short by another missile striking it in the neck. Both arrows had passed through and effectively pinned it to the tree. The other two wolves turned from their prey to their stuck pack mate in confusion. Daniel unclasped his machete and axe and stood in the shadows. The two timber wolves saw this and growled loudly which made the girls climb faster but more foolishly. Sweetie Belle's stone jumping ability was not as good as the others and a slip near the top sent her over backward by two body lengths. Her friends had reached the top just in time to see her fall backwards, bounce and wedge a rear hoof in between two large wall sections with a sickening snap. Sweetie Belle's world exploded in pain as she hung to one side by a broken leg and she screamed again. One of the wolves turned back to the now disabled Sweetie while the second moved in-between them and Daniel. But he had no intentions of letting something happen now. With the axe in his left and machete in his right, he stepped out onto the battlefield to meet his unworldly opponent. The timber wolf growled and snapped as Daniel poked at it with the axe head. Thinking the extension was part of the intruder, the wolf clamped down hard on it with murderous intent. Daniel merely lunged forward with the machete and drove it through the wood and bark of its shoulder. The timber wolf's eyes widened at the strike and it stumbled to the ground. Daniel used his heel for leverage and curb-stomped the blade the rest of the way through with a loud 'CRACK!' The timber wolf stuck to the tree bucked and thrashed against it and the offending arrows but to no avail. The carbon fiber shafts held fast. Daniel kicked the remaining pieces of the downed wolf and its head splintered by the effort. He dislodged his axe and spied the third wolf still approaching the wounded filly. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were still on top of the pile and had been riveted to their spots, completely unable to move at the appearance of the tall, two-legged monster that was dealing death to the timber wolves. They wanted to help Sweetie Belle, they just had to! But two great fears were battling just below and even the cries of their friend couldn't move them. Daniel was secretly grateful for the constant cries that were pouring out of the little white pony. Sure, he noted with a wince, that her predicament wasn't idle but he had to kill the wolves first. Daniel quickened his pace now that the wolf was mere feet from the trapped filly and with a leap, his axe found the back of timber wolf with a loud THUD! The axe was stuck in the middle of the wolf's back and it wholly flung itself at Daniel in a surprise twist. He had just enough time to bring the machete up to meet jagged wooden teeth. The flat of the blade his the wolf's jaw with a hollow chop as both opponents backed up to gauge the other. Daniel switched hands on his machete and bent down in a crouch. The timber wolf, thrown off balance by the axe lodged in its back stumbled to the side and mustered a wicked snarl before charging head on. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom watched the scene unfold before them not really understanding what was happening. The wolf's lounge was mighty but the pale monster had something in his right paw before the wolf had left the ground. With a small extension of what looked like his fore leg, the monster held out a small black object. Just before the wolf collided, Chaos! An explosion of sound and light shocked the area and caused the wolf's body to bust from the inside out. Fragments showed the monster and he rolled to one side in a heap. The timber wolf stuck to the tree watched in dumb fascination as his pack mate's pieces and parts were scattered to the wind. Sweetie Belle, her whimpering still on the edge of hearing, had seen it through tear soaked eyes. Daniel dusted himself off, replaced the gun and picked up his axe from in front of him. His eyes locked on those yellow orbs of the last wolf and he almost felt sorry for it not being able to fight back... almost. He hefted the axe back in a mighty swing and caught the last offender below the ear and above the jaw severing the head in two hemispheres. The axe sunk into the tree with a "thunk" and the moment the blow was delivered, the timber wolf ceased to be. The ringing in his ears quieted and the constant sobs of the little white horse reminded him of why he got involved. Daniel hadn't looked up high enough to see the other two watching him but instead had his eyes fixed on the injured one. He had decided to help it. 'It? Hmm, those screams and sobs sounded quite female- perhaps that was a safe bet.' Sweetie Belle could see the monster clear enough through her tears to know it was looking at her, but what could she do? In a feat of strength she tried to pull herself up and out of the crack that held her mangled leg but her fore hoofs found no purchase on the smooth stone. Dropping her body weight back on the injured limb only made her cry harder. But for all her effort she had lost sight of the two legged monster, her sobs stuck in her throat as it loomed within reach of her and she knew this was the end. She would die broken and without her cutie mark and her friends... surely they would see this monster devour her. But just as the end was upon her with eyes screwed tightly shut, a voice spoke out and through the pain. Deep and caring, something was touching her, lifting her body. The claws! The monster's claws... didn't hurt her? "Shh, shh, I've got you little one. I'm not going to hurt you..." Daniel was saying in his most caring tone he could muster. The white pony's purple and pink mane fell to the side as he lifted her twisted leg from between the two boulders and he saw the single short horn on its head. "A unicorn?" Daniel's voice was calm but unbelieving. He took her over to the tree shade near his pack and set her gently on the grass. Daniel took a knee next her and spoke softly, "Listen to me now, if you promise not to move I'll try to fix up your leg alright?" His mind blocked the fact that he was talking and asking a question to a little white unicorn but he understood the answer through the sobs. "I- I pr- *sob* promise." A simple answer and Daniel nodded. On standing he went to his pack and unhooked his first aid kit and went about looking for some suitable splinting materials. He snapped his fingers and Sweetie Belle jumped slightly at the noise. Daniel walked out to where his fights had taken place and picked through the debris of the fallen timber wolves. He grabbed a couple of very straight and sturdy pieces of timber and picked up his machete with them. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had climbed down to the side of the berm and were now watching the pale monster with concern. How would they get to Sweetie now? It looked like he tried to talk to her over in the shade but they couldn't hear what was said. Maybe if they threw some rocks at it and got him to chase them, maybe Sweetie could get away! But they both looked over the wrecked pieces that were once the timber wolves- if that monster could do that, what terrible things could he do to a pony? A cry escaped Apple Bloom's mouth as she saw it pick up the wood pieces and the wicked long blade, was it going to eat Sweetie?! Scootaloo looked on in desperation for some idea to come to her; some thought that would save them, only tears would come. Apple Bloom moved hesitantly at first once the monster's back to them, then stepping out in the open with tears streaming down her face, she couldn't just give up on Sweetie like that, not after all they had been through. Scootaloo saw it too and joined her out in the open, they had to do something. Daniel had what he needed and knelt down beside the white unicorn pony and drew the machete against the wood to shave off any burrs or rough spots. The pony's sobs had quieted considerably but pain was still etched in its face. Daniel noticed her eyes watching his every move as he dug into the olive drab nylon first aid bag with a red cross on the front of it and he produced a roll of elastic wrapping and some other thick gauze. Sweetie noticed that and knew what it was. Perhaps, just maybe- her life wasn't over. A small sound from behind him broke his concentration and Daniel turned to be surprised again. A butter yellow pony with a magenta colored mane and tail and a red bow behind its head and a carrot orange pony with a light purple mane and tail were standing halfway to him from the ruins, each with tears in their eyes and running down their faces. Daniel was about to speak when the little yellow one beat him to it. "P-please... d-don't *sob* h-hurt S-s-sweetie Belle..." Scootaloo was trying her best to put on a hard front but her eyes betrayed her. Seeing Sweetie in such pain and recalling what she had just witnessed was too much to make her voice form words. Instead, she stood boldly by Apple Bloom, shoulder to shoulder as she was able to find her voice. Daniel looked back at the white unicorn with a softened expression, if these were kids... just- foals, he knew it was taking some guts for those two to come out of hiding and confront him. "Sweetie Belle is it?" Daniel's voice was calm and gently toward her and she lifted her head to him. Large eyes filled with expression, intelligence... pain. Daniel wasn't beyond all compassion. "Your friends are concerned," he paused to pick out some water-proof tape, "you should call them over to comfort you." Sweetie's mouth quivered slightly, she really needed her friends close. The monster hadn't done anything aggressive toward her and even seemed to care and wanted to help her, but having it this close was scary. "S-Scootaloo?" she weakly called out, "Apple B-Bloom?" Daniel moved to the side so they could see what was going on. The two now stopped just out of reach and watched wide eyed as his hand moved. "Sweetie Belle?" She looked away from her friends to him again. Both the new comers watched every detail as he spoke and moved. "I want to help you but I need to set your leg, it’s going to hurt... a lot." There was a hesitation there but her friends had moved in closer to her head and back trying to calm her with nuzzles and light touches. Daniel was about to start when he spied a small piece of wood about as round as his thumb and twice as long- he picked it up and brushed it off, she would probably need a mouth guard for what he was about to do. "Sweetie, one more thing.." Daniel held up the hard wood piece and explained further, "you will need this." He mimed holding it in his mouth and gently reached down to her head for her to take it. Sweetie paused and looked at her friends hoping they would offer some insight or direction but both of them were still shaking and neither said a word besides a worried look. Sweetie accepted the thick stick and used a hoof to position it in her teeth, she looked back at the hulking figure, a sob escaping around the stick. "I know you are scared," Daniel started in a non-threatening tone, "but you all need to be strong for each other right now." He looked at each of them in the eyes and gently placed a hand on Sweetie's mane and gave it a smooth stroke. "Be calm and I'll have this done quickly..." Sweetie felt his claw touch her neck and smooth down her mane in a most calming manor. Again, his touch was gentle and didn't hurt her. She appreciated that when she was in so much pain. A moment later and both his claws were on her leg and she inhaled sharply at the touch. "Don't tense up Sweetie... this will only take a moment." Daniel's eye could see where the leg was broke but he silently hoped it was only one break and nothing internal was damaged. With his hands on her leg he gently followed the bone and pressed ever so slightly where the clean white skin had already started to form a nasty purple bruise. She was trembling so he would have to be quick... 'Looks like a simple fracture and had not broken the skin, good' he thought while moving his hand around the backside ready for a push. "On three, one, two..." Daniel gave the bone a shove and he felt the click of it move back into place. At the same time Sweetie had screwed her eyes closed and screamed around the wood bit. Her breath came in gasps and she cried in spite of herself. "Three..." Daniel breathed a sigh of relief knowing he could immobilize the leg to keep it from moving until better help could be had. He placed the thick gauze pieces above and below the break and the joint and taped them in place. Next, he set the two wood splints on the inside and out and taped them temporarily. Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had stopped crying and were watching with horrid fascination at the procedure. Daniel began to wrap the entire splint and finished it with more tape. The cream colored ace wrap looked dirty against the unicorn's white coat but that was neither here nor there. He lightly cradled her hoof in his hand and reached up to take the wood from her mouth noting the deep bite marks in it. Sweetie Belle's breathing had slowed a little and the pain had dulled from death to just barely tolerable. "Sweetie Belle, I'm done wrapping your leg but I need you to try to move your foot." They all looked at him in confusion until it dawned on Daniel, "I mean you hoof, can you move it? Does it feel numb?" She looked back at her hoof still in his hand and tried to move it, it twitched at first and then she bravely tried again when the pain didn't flare up. "OK, that's good enough for now." Daniel looked over the trio with some respect. They had just survived something very traumatic and they were managing to keep it together. However young these little ones were, he would sure like to meet whoever raised them. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom watched the pale figure stand and tower over them in thought and turn away to where it had defeated the timber wolves. They gingerly pulled Sweetie Belle into a hug and whispered among themselves on what to do. Daniel walked out to the tree where the first creature had been pinned and retrieved his arrows. They were OK from the fight but the shafts were scraped and roughed up. Should still fly straight enough... The axe took a bit of coaxing to remove but gave with a bit of elbow grease. Once he had collected his gear, Daniel returned to his pack and put the items away. He looked over at the three fillies huddled together and thought of something to break the ice. It would be a gamble but the water didn't figure to last longer than a couple of days at any rate. He pulled out his stainless half mug and carried it and the pack over to where Sweetie lay in the grass. Heads turned to watch him as he carefully took a seat an arms length away and pulled the drinking line from the camel bak. Daniel couldn't help but smile as the sound of water tinkling into the mug drew the ears of all three. He hadn't known they came without water but the guess was no less accurate. Scootaloo licked her lips lightly and Apple Bloom's eyes moved from the pack to the water and the small mug. Daniel held out the cup to them and when no one moved, he took a drink himself. This seemed to convince Apple Bloom who hesitantly stepped from around Sweetie to within a couple of hoofs of the monster. She summoned all her courage as she came right up to the mug and looked down in it, just water. If the creature had wanted to hurt her, it had ample opportunity to. She sat back on her haunches and reached out to take the mug in her hooves. The little silver mug felt strange to her and she smelled the water, then took a small sip. Her eyes widened at the taste! It was so clean, crisp and almost sweet. Apple Bloom tossed back the mug with gusto and held it back out with a little more confidence. Daniel had watched the whole thing carefully and note how the little bright-eyed pony carefully took the mug and after a sample, seemed to fully approve. "Do you think your friends would like some too?" Daniel asked with a light smile. Apple Bloom flinched at the sound of his voice but smiled at that and looked over her shoulder at Scootaloo," it's water Scoots, and it shur is good!" Daniel could barely believe his ears. This little one spoke with a southern accent that reminded him of home. He refilled the mug and offered it to the approaching orange filly. She took a seat beside the yellow one and in like manner took the mug for a drink. When she tilted the mug back, Daniel noticed something he hadn't seen before- this one had wings! Little wings, but maybe that was because of how small she was. He took the mug back from her out stretched hooves and began to fill it again. They were getting more comfortable with him this close so maybe they would talk to him a little. "You know," Daniel started in a conversation like tone, "there aren't any pegesus or unicorns back where I live, this must be a very special place." Scoots and Apple Bloom exchanged a look and even Sweetie had perked up at hearing that. "No pegesi or unicorns? Where're ya from?" The little yellow filly inquired. "I'm from the United States, but I don't think that has much meaning here." Daniel mused and looked down at the mug, "would one of you like to give this one to Sweetie Belle? She probably needs a drink too." Apple Bloom took the mug full of water and balanced it on one hoof while she went over and helped Sweetie to a sitting position so she could drink it. Although still in pain, she looked a little more relieved and thankful for the water. "Thank you Mister," she began in a small voice, unsure as to the 'monster's' gender. When it didn't correct her, they all took note of that. "You're quite welcome little one, " Daniel took the mug back from Apple Bloom and took another long drink himself, the water was almost out. "Can I uh, ask you a question now that all the excitement is over?" Scootaloo looked up at the creature with some trepidation. Daniel raised a brow over his sunglasses but his boonie hat hid the expression, "only if I get to ask you one too." "That sounds fair enough," Scootaloo said glancing at Sweetie, "I guess the first thing I should ask is, 'what' are you?" He took his sunglasses down to reveal his eyes and also removed his hat. The three pony's eyes looked big enough to fall out. He chuckled at that. "Well, simple enough, I'm a human. A male human of 41 years old." Daniel grinned as the answered didn't really help them but gave him an opening to ask one of his own. "Now I'll ask you one. I know Sweetie Belle's name because you called her that when I got her out of the rubble. But I don't know the names of you two." Scootaloo brightened at that, "I'm Scootaloo but my friends call me Scoots for short! And this here's Apple Bloom, her sister Apple Jack has an orchard on the other side of Ponyville!" Daniel blinked at that, there was a town called Ponyville?! Ugh... "It's a pleasure to meet you both," Daniel said, appearing as nonchalant as he could, "my name is Daniel, or Dan for short." Even Sweetie Belle perked up despite herself at hearing he had a name, by golly what a concept! Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked like they were going to rush in and start pounding him with questions at any moment; the amount of restraint they were showing was torture. "Daniel! Ah like that name!" Apple Bloom beamed with new confidence. "But if yur from that place, the United States er whatever, how did yall end up here?" Daniel placed his glasses in his hat and set it down on the glass beside him, "well, I'm not sure how much I can tell you Apple Bloom, I mean- 'this'," Daniel waved his hand at the area, "wasn't where I was supposed to go." "What do you mean? Are you lost?" Scootaloo caught on quick. "You're pretty sharp kiddo, yeah, you could say I'm lost here. At least for a week." "W-what happens a-after a week?" Sweetie Belle found her voice and was determined to be part of the conversation. Daniel leaned back on his pack and idly plucked some grass, "I have to go back I suppose. This was going to be a vacation for me." He gave them a shrewd smile, "I didn't really come here looking to fight those wolves...or even know that they could exist." "Timber wolves are terrible!" Apple Bloom interjected and on thinking about it, deflated noticeably. "Ah guess we really should be thankin' ya for saving us there. If yew hadn't show'd up when ya did..." She trailed off as the tears started to return and her little chest heaved a sob. "I really thought Sweetie was a goner, you saved all our lives!" Scootaloo managed to hold back her own emotion on it, but just barely. Daniel saw Sweetie was on the verge of another waterfall decided to change tack, "Now, now girls cut out the water-works. We can't fix the problem here if you're gonna start balling your eyes out." The fillies looked as if he had threatened to take away their favorite stuff teddy bear- 'nice going Dan, you knuckle head, they are just kids for heaven's sake!' "You're welcome," Daniel said finally with a deep sigh, "I'm glad I was able to help you. And if this forest is as mean as this," he jerked a thumb back at the scattered sticks again, "perhaps I should walk you home. That is, if you want the company." Daniel hadn't immediately thought about it but seriously doubted that Sweetie could walk very far, let alone make a run for it if anymore timber wolves decided to show. Scoots and Apple Bloom agreed and continued to watch Daniel in captive curiosity. The way he moved, his eyes, his short cut 'mane'. The questions began again as the company got more comfortable. Things like, why are they called 'hands' and not 'claws', did Daniel have any 'foals' of his own (it took him a minute to put two and two together and figure out that was their word for kids). And he learned quite a bit too. The girls were known as the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' or CMC for short and were constantly trying to earn their cutie marks. Daniel found the explanation lacking on just how a colorful tattoo just 'appears' on a pony's flank. His confusion prompted Scootaloo to point to the spot on Apple Bloom's top hind leg where the mark would just appear- when she found her special talent of course. Daniel decided to ask about that another time. The CMC had tried many things prior to their trek across the Everfree Forest, a name Daniel made a mental note of, and to the ruins of the Royal Pony Sisters, where they currently sat. The land that stretched from mountain to shore was Equestria. Daniel found that, and most of the other names amusing since they all seemed to be horse puns, Scootaloo, who was currently talking didn't seemed phased in the slightest. "And then there's Canterlot where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna rule from..." Apple Bloom was taking over this bit and told of how these two 'alicorns', that's a unicorn with pegesus wings, raised and lowered the Sun and Moon everyday. Daniel sat up at hearing that. Until that point, he had suspected some measure of supernatural elements here- especially after what he saw with the timber wolves. But for two alicorn 'sisters' to be so powerful as to affect the Sun and the Moon? That would explain a few things especially with the intensity of the Moon and stars his first night. Also, as the girls explained, only unicorns and alicorns could use magic- alicorns being the most powerful of course. For every question Daniel asked he got at least five answered while the questions the girls asked were more basic- who made your clothes, why do you wear so much, why was that water so good and what's in the pack? Daniel wasn't about to let the two able-bodied crusaders into his back pack but they remained optimistic as the day wore on. And speaking of day, Daniel glanced at his watch for the time and noticed that he had missed lunch and it was now in the afternoon. Of course, they wanted to see the watch and giggled when it beeped at them. Daniel dug into his pack for another food bar and stood to stretch a little. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom didn't shy away from his six foot figure this time but rather watched as he reached down to pluck up his shades and place them back on his face. The sun wasn't as hot as it could be and clouds were building for what looked like an afternoon storm. "What do you say I help you gather up your things you brought so we can get Sweetie Belle to some proper care..." That had been a wise card to use in motivating the two fillies to keep things in perspective. They found their dig site easily enough and started to gather what little they had brought with them. The brushes, shovels, pick... Daniel eyed these pieces carefully as he helped pack them into Scootaloo and Apple Bloom's packs. The shovels were polished and quite sturdy meaning they had smith shops and forges, the pick and shovels were all hardened steel meaning they had knowledge of metallurgy and chemistry. The brushes, which Scootaloo picked up with her teeth to put away, had a certain delicate air to them- almost like they were meant for makeup? Daniel could only guess at that point. Daniel found and dusted off three safari style hats that he stared at for a moment and looked back at the two fillies strapping on their packs. He was surprised at the quality of the hats and found it odd that such fine work would have been just handed out to 'children'. Sweetie's pack was picked up from the ground and Daniel had a sudden flashback of his fight. He had been lucky, attacking the three wolves like he did- the little pack in his hand flared something in his mind and he fought back an inkling of PTSD. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were ready and saw Daniel staring at Sweetie's pack in his hand, his mouth moved slightly but no words came out. "Daniel? Are you OK?" Scoots asked taking a couple steps toward him. Daniel blinked his eyes and looked up and around at the area, "yeah, I'm fine...", he gave a light laugh, "guess I got darn lucky with those timber wolves ya know. Looking back on it so soon..." He met both of their eyes with a weak smile and pushed the thoughts away, "let's put this place behind us, what do you say?" Scootaloo nodded and Apple Bloom trotted to Sweetie Belle who was now in and out of consciousness with the lack of adrenaline. "Sweetie? A-are ya OK, what..." Her question was lost to Sweetie's groan and near exhausted state. Apple Bloom turned to look at Daniel who was approaching with eyes on Sweetie, "she will be a-alright, won't she?" Daniel bent down and put a hand on her forehead and a hand on her side. He knew the signs of shock all too well- cool clammy skin or in Sweetie's case a sweaty coat, rapid shallow heart beat, weak breathing... He nodded at Apple Bloom, "she isn't good Apple Bloom, she's exhausted and in shock." Daniel thought a moment about something they really needed, "we'll need to get to a place she can get help.." She made a motion to the pack Daniel had in his hand and she dug into it producing a map. Daniel was pleasantly surprised by its detail and craftsmanship- and it was apparently out of a book by the jagged left side. Scootaloo had joined them and pointed a hoof toward Zecora's hut on the map, supposedly this was the three-quarter point where Sweetie Belle could get some kind of attention. "Zecora's a zebra that lives in a hut there, she makes all these potions and stuff so she's gotta have something we can use." Scootaloo was saying while Daniel studied the map more closely. If the ruins they were in was to scale on the map, which did appear that way, this 'Zecora' should be truly three-quarters of the way back through the forest. By the looks of it and as best he could figure, Daniel realized he must have stepped through the portal near the southern edge of Everfree. It was actually a fairly large forest with a river bisecting it at odd intervals. 'Huh,' he thought to himself, 'how did I manage to miss the river?' Satisfied with the direction and taking Sweetie Belle to see Zecora looked to be the best option for now. "Apple Bloom, can you carry Sweetie's pack for her?" She took it without hesitation and watched as Daniel replaced his weird floppy hat and began to shrug into his own large backpack. To the girls the pack was huge and they wondered how he didn't fall over from the shear size of it. But Daniel had much practice with similar weight and the next feat would be no different. Scootaloo looked on at Sweetie before realization dawned on her, "ya-you're going to carry her?" Daniel took a knee beside Sweetie's back and began to gently scoop up the battered filly, "unless you have a better idea Scoots," and he said with a grunt at standing back up, "I don't think either of you could carry Sweetie all the way and keep her hurt leg from getting banged up anymore." Scootaloo had to grudgingly agree and Apple Bloom started to lead the way from the ruins toward the rope bridge path. Daniel's pack 'had' been heavy before, but it was a different kind of weight. The kind you don't mind carrying when your life depended on it. Now, with a little pony in his arms and depending on him to get her to safety- Daniel was glad that he kept up his work out routine. None of the trio were particularly small, he guessed it was an age thing like with humans, but each of them had only come up to his thigh which was only a mere three feet if that. Weight-wise... he had to guess Sweetie was in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 pounds. Not unlike some large dogs from back home. The combined weight wasn't unruly to carry but Daniel was sure he'd need a break before they arrived at their destination. On rounding a blind corner to the bridge, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stopped dead in their tracks, and even took a step back which caused Daniel to stop short nearly bumping into them. What they thought was going to be an easy way out was blocked by yet another timber wolf. Daniel frowned and step his jaw, "these guys just don't give up do they?" The two fillies looked up at him as he took a step past them, "what are you doing?!" Scootaloo's voice nearly cracked while trying to stay quiet. Daniel's voice was so calm that it gave Scootaloo a rush of confidence, "the rest of his pack are gone, and if it tries anything on the bridge I'll kick it into the gorge." With him now leading the way, the two were brief steps behind. The wolf stood defiantly right on the edge of the cliff on the forest side and Daniel walked right up between the pylons on the ruins side. He had a notion that this one was the 'backup' should these three make it away from the group and break for the bridge. They hadn't counted on Daniel getting into the mix and they paid dearly for it. He looked down at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo and made a motion for them to take Sweetie Belle which they did with caring hooves. Daniel set his pack down and rolled his neck slightly going over things in his mind. No blades, don't want to risk cutting any of the ropes, don't waste the ammo... don't loose the axe off the bridge. Yep, it was time to refresh his hand to hand combat skills. Daniel tossed his hat to the pack and took a single step out on the bridge. The wolf took a firm step onto the bridge and Daniel narrowed his eyes- he took two more. The timber wolf growled and stepped again and again, it's eyes daring this creature to taunt him further. "Your packmates are dead!" Daniel jeered at his opponent, not even sure it could understand. It didn't matter anyway, he just needed to see two things for this to work out. One, that the timber wolf was committed and two, he could get it to attack first. "You just keep coming and I'll send you to meet them." The snarl that followed as Daniel took another step made Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shrink back as they held Sweetie close. How could Daniel face a timber wolf without any weapons at all?! The wolf advanced again and began to crouch and Daniel moved another foot forward and brought his arms up defensively. "You've only got one shot at me bark-butt, you better make it count!" The words incensed the wolf and it made a move, quick and low with mouth gaping and claws out. Daniel twisted to protect his groin while throwing his knee up in a Muay Thai strike. The side of the wolf's jaw caught his light-weight cargo pants and ripped a gash in them and his leg but that was the extent of it. The blow from Daniel's knee had hit just behind the ear and shocked the creature enough for a second strike to follow. His boot heel came down with the weight of the wolf and splintered one of its legs. Perhaps the same one that broke earlier? Daniel's momentum was temporarily slowed as the wolf caught a couple of vertical ropes and struggled in vain to get a leg back up onto the bridge walkway boards. Daniel kicked out with his good leg and the wolf began to fall, which in turn left him with no balance. His left foot slipped to the side and he found air to be the next thing rushing to meet him. "Daniel!" The two screams made him look down as the timber wolf tumbled into the jagged rocks and water below. Oddly enough, Daniel didn't feel like he was falling anymore. He adjusted his sunglasses from where they were about to fall off and looked skyward at the bridge. Where his foot had slipped off, it had gone between the lashings that held the foot boards in place and held him there even upside down. He hooked his other leg over the board and sat up to grab the rope railing. He spied the little faces of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom peering over his pack and he gave them a small wave. "Dan you're alright!" Scoots jumped over the pack with a huge smile, "you had us worried for a second there, we thought you went off the bridge with that timber wolf!" Daniel eased himself back up onto the bridge proper and unhooked his boot, "almost took a long walk off a short pier but he lost in the end..." Scootaloo's smile faltered at seeing Daniel inspect his leg where the wolf had gotten lucky with its teeth. "You're hurt? Are you going to be alright?" Daniel patted the filly on the head in passing, "I've had bigger scratches on my eyeball." Apple Bloomed looked horrified at that remark, "is that why ya wear those sunglasses?" He dug into his first aid kit and took out some gauze and antiseptic wipes, who would have thought he would have used the kit this much on a vacation? "Huh?" Daniel ripped the hole just a bit wider to inspect the cuts- not too deep but would need a wrap. "No, I wear these because it's bright outside... you thought I meant..." Daniel smirked, "that's just a saying Apple Bloom." She thought on that a moment and had to turn her head as Daniel mopped up the blood and dirt from his wound. Scootaloo came over to watch but didn't fare much better after Daniel started applying the antiseptic. He breathed in a sharp intake of air through his teeth as he applied pressure with a clean gauze and began to wrap his leg with tape. "Ouch, " he murmured while keep a small smile up for the filly's sake. "Now then, barring anymore run-ins with crazy creatures out here, I'd say we need to move." Daniel said shaking the girls from their squeamish musing and already gotten into his backpack. They moved to the side as he once again carefully lifted the unconscious filly up. He cradled Sweetie's head against his shoulder let her leg dangle from over his arm supporting her. "Lead the way crusaders..." Daniel gave them hope in spite of himself. Apple Bloom smiled and took them first, across the bridge and then to the edge of the Everfree forest. They had noticed a rough trail that lead away from the bridge and in the general direction they wanted to go. The day had proved quite interesting for each of them so far. And whenever thoughts drifted to Sweetie, the two fillies stole glances of her resting against the giant that kept time with them. A human that they had never seen, let alone heard of until today. They silently hoped his vacation wouldn't be a total loss.