Dimension Jumper

by redtau


Unkind Claws

In the years that I have been traveling through dimensions I have experienced many forms of transport. I've ridden on dragons and airships, submarines and living battle tanks. I've survived orbital drops and even ridden a space elevator.

Teleportation by purple unicorn is a new one though.

It left me disoriented, my head spinning from the sudden shift in location and elevation. I patted my hands down my body, checking to see that I hadn't accidentally been given hooves or merged with my jacket. I scratched myself before I realized I was still holding the fork from the dinning room in my right hand.

The next deafening roar brought me out of my self inspection, right before I pulled off my shoes to count my toes. The workers had already fled the outer courtyard, and the two dozen guards were being pressed back by the beast.

It was huge, nearly as large as the giant timber wolf I had made not too long ago. It reminded me of a giant purple lion, but with a long whipping tail and a pair of large black horns. The teeth looked like they could crunch a guard in half, armor and all. Hell, some of the teeth looked longer and sharper than the swords the guard ponies were swinging.

Pegasai dive bombed the creature, working hard to dodge the tail as it lashed out at them. Something that large should not have a weapon that fast. Already more than a few pegasi were limping along the ground, cradling wounded wings. Earth ponies charged with spears and swords, cutting lightly into the beast's flesh and working to dodge the sweeping claws and horns.

"Everypony back!" Twilight shouted, planting her hooves. "I've got this!"

Her horn glowed and her eyes shone with an inner light. It seemed like the daylight dimmed in comparison. A layer of purple energy coated the underside of the monster, lifting it into the air. The creature flailed for a moment, and the guards gave a cheer as Twilight prepared to throw it into the forest.

It rose a total of six feet.

Then, suddenly, the energy faded away, seeming to swirl and seep into the few cuts on the creature. It crashed back to the ground, and I watched in horror as it's wounds closed over. The creature seemed even stronger and faster now, and with a swish of it's tail it downed two more pegasus guards.

"TWILIGHT!"

I turned at the chorus of voices to see the purple mare falling over. Rainbow Dash and Rarity caught her before she hit the ground. She looked exhausted.

"Twilight?! Twilight, say something!" Rarity begged of her friend. The unicorn's eyes fluttered slightly.

"So... tired...." she seemed to go limp.

Rarity began to pull her gently with her magic towards the great hall. The other element bearers retaliated against the monster, adding their own unique strengths to the fight. Applejack was bucking rocks at it with devastating force. Rainbow Dash was using her impressive speed, landing a flurry of blows while dodging the lashing tail. Fluttershy was trying to quietly fuss at the creature and ask it to stop. Pinkie Pie was...throwing confetti in it's face?

All their efforts were being ignored, the thing was staring right at me. The low growl and fearsome look told me it had found it's preferred prey.

Years of experience as a dimensional traveler had prepared me for moments like this. I appraised it's abilities, it's strength, regeneration, speed, and natural weapons. I assessed my surroundings, backup, and personal abilities. Within a split second, I had formulated a plan and acted on it.

Turn left.

RUN!

"Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit-"

The massive claws raked across the stone wall right behind me as I continued my mad dash around the courtyard. Without D or Machina to aid me, running was the best I could do. Right now, I was breaking land speed records. I thought passed a surprised Rainbow Dash, but I was too busy fleeing for my life to be certain.

Something flashed in the corner of my eye and I ducked and rolled out of instinct, the long whipping tail tracing a line in the stone where my neck had just been. The claw came crashing down right after, and I felt hot pain pour down my right leg. Hissing, I rolled over to look up at the grinning monster as it raised it's claw for the killing blow.

Golden magic wrapped around me and I was flying sideways at an alarming rate. The creature howled as it's strike missed, and gave chase. I was drawn through the open doors, down the great hall, and into the inner courtyard.

Once there, Princess Celestia dumped my useless ass unceremoniously on the earthen path while she and her sister stacked brick, stone, and timber against the large doors. I looked around, happy to see most of the guard and workers here. Twilight lay in the corner surrounded by friends, Rarity talking softly to her.

"Dear, get up. Please!" Rarity begged , trying to lift Twilight. "We need you! You can think a way out of this, and we might need the Elements!"

Twilight looked up at her friend through half closed eyes."I know..but...I'm so tired." She fought a yawn. "Can't I just rest for a little while?"

As if in answer, something large and heavy slammed against the doors, shifting the barricade slightly. The guards looked nervous. Luna leaned close to her sister.

"If this creature can absorb such power as Twilight's, mayhap we should depart dear sister." She whispered, her words punctuated by another slam against the door. "We may be more burden than aid."

Celestia shook her head slightly. "I will not abandon my little ponies."

God damn it Sarah THINK! It's big, it's mad, the ponies don't know what it is, it's sucking up power, it's healing itself. You are an inter-dimensional specialist at weird shit! THINK!

The doors buckled slightly with another slam, then there was silence. I felt an odd sensation settle over me, and something clicked in my head. Very slowly, carefully, I bent down and began to scratch at the floor with my fork. The near silence crept on for long seconds, every scratch of the ground or shift of the guard causing nerves to stretch even further.

"Sar.......Ah..."

The voice was like a dry wind, and it sent chills down my spine. Fluttershy eeped and hid partially behind her friends. Some of the guards were glancing at me. I didn't like that look. It was the kind that said "if we feed the dragon just one girl then maybe it won't eat the rest of us."

CRACK

A fist, not much bigger than mine, punched a hole in the door. It retracted, and a pair of long clawed hands, black as night began to expand the hole. Piece by piece the thick door was torn asunder, till the hole was nearly three feet across. Then the monster slinked through.

It was smaller now, more human in shape. Its hands had seven inch claws, its face looked like a battered blackened skull, its eyes glowing white. A pair of thin twisting branching antlers grew out of the sides of its head. The whole thing was wreathed in smoke and shadow, and it moved with barely a sound. It promised pain and death with every aspect and motion.

“Pfffft.” I was trying really hard not to grin.

It paused, glaring at me. “What?” it demanded, it’s voice deep and resonant.

“You look like a deer of death!” I blurted, giggling.

“WHAT!?”

“You DO! You- hehe, you look like a deadly walking hat rack!” Pinkie was giggling a little off to the side.

The creature stalked towards me. “I have fought manticores, defeated hydras, feasted on timber wolves. I have bested your guards and sapped your sorceress.”

“Right, you fear nothing but gods, dragons, low branches and clotheslines.” Even Princess Luna snorted a little at that. The thing kept stomping towards me.

“I COULD WITHSTAND ANYTHING EVEN YOUR PRINCESSES COULD THROW AT ME!” It bellowed, now only a few feet from me. If I was wrong, I was about to be very very dead.

I fell to my knees, holding my nose. “And with that breath you could probably outmatch a dragon as well.”

“I AM UNSTOPPABLE!”

It charged.

As it closed the distance to where I knelt I reached out and scratched at the ground with my fork, connecting a trio of lines together. The creature reached my lines and slammed into the invisible field, now contained by three concentric circles.

“Oh yeah?” I stood and held up my eating utensil. “Well I just beat you with a FORK!”

It raged and scratched at the wall impotently while the guards behind me gave a quick cheer.

“What IS that thing?” Rarity asked.

“It’s my own personal demon.”

“THAT!?” Twilight was shocked. “That is the spirit that was bound into your arm?”

“It’s also the thing you knocked out with your shields and spells. On more than one occasion.” I grinned, “I bet that’s why it tried to sap all your power right off. Good thing I had something stronger than your magic.”

“I’m the element of magic, what could be stronger?”

I held my fork aloft, wiggling it for effect and enjoying Pinkie’s laughter and Twilights’s groan. “Actually, the spirit I’m outfitted with has a few things that can hold it, one of which is a trio of concentric circles.” I point at the ground, where the fork's tines had carved into the earth. I then pointed my dreaded fork at D. “Now why are you attacking everyone?”

“Not everyone.” D sulked, sitting down in the circle I had scratched. “Just you.”

“Why?”

D held his tongue.

“Creature, thou shalt answer us!” Luna commanded, but D only smirked at her.

I was still reeling with the implications. D had survived, I couldn’t believe it. Not just survived but somehow thrived in the Everfree. There must be ambient spiritual energy to feed on. Either that, or he was draining it out of the beasts he claimed to have bested.

And if he had survived.

“D, where is Machina?”

He huffed with contempt. “Feh, you’ll never find her.”

I arched my eyebrow at that. “You’re protecting her?” His face, as horrific as it was, looked nervous.

I had to think this through. D was strong and sometimes impulsive, but his skills were better suited to hunting then full frontal assaults. If he had waited, attacked me alone in the castle later, I would have been done for.

Instead, he attacked here. The attack was intended to be a fast show of force, his monster form was proof of that. The attack had been quick, and he had obviously not expected the guards or the other element bearers. He must have seen us through the Fauna near the Day Court, but not known of the others.

What would cause him to attack so quickly, so desperately?

“She’s here," I said, "Machina is in the castle.”

And from the way D glared at me I knew I was right.