//------------------------------//
// Apes Here! Part 2 
// Story: Guardian of the Everfree 
// by KaBar42 
//------------------------------//

Guardian of the Everfree
Chapter 7

"But we will have to do something about this," Celestia began. "Twilight, what can you tell us of this creature?"

Twilight began her tale. "I was heading over to Fluttershy's cottage, to ask her for help with some animals bothering Applejack's farm. As I arrived there, I found the ape, for lack of a better word, laying down behind some bushes spying on Fluttershy. I proceeded to charge a sleeping spell. It stood up before I could release my spell. I quickly refocused the spell and released it at the ape. However the spell impacted it's chest and did not affect it." The girls looked horrified, whereas the two princesses looked… like princesses. There was a few magic resistant species, but there was no known species that was immune to a sleep spell.

"I see, so allow me to get this straight. You found a new species?" Celestia asked.
"Yes" Twilight responded. 
"You than proceeded to attack him." 
"Well, it was just a sleeping spell."
"But you said that the spell did not affect him. So there is a possibility it has never been exposed to magic."
"But thats impossible! Life can not survive without magic."
"Twilight, maybe on Anima, life can not survive without magic. Even dragons have magic. But perhaps there is the possibility of extra-animal life."

"You mean aliens?" Applejack butted into the conversation. "Princess Celestia, I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Twilight. Life can't survive with magic. How would they grow plants? How would they control the weather?"
"Applejack, did you know that Minotaurs can not control the weather?" Celestia asked. Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked appalled at this idea. Celestia continued. "The big farms can hire pegasi teams, but most of the farms deal with erratic weather. Minotaurs have both good and bad harvests."
"But, ponies also live near the Everfree." Applejack countered.
"Yes and how often do the predators leave their territories? When is a pony attacked when it isn't their fault? In countries such as Regnum Bull, the predators will wander onto Minotaur land."
"B-bbbut, what about the creatures?" Fluttershy asked.
"They take care of themselves. Bears hunt, rabbits graze. Its the circle of life."
"So its wild over there," Rainbow Dash interjected. "Its just one big Everfree over there! Its an oddity!"
"No, in fact, it is Equestria that is the oddity. I believe it is safe to assume that this creature is an alien, and it is immune to magic. We can also assume that wherever it comes from, magic doesn't exist. Thus owing to it's apparent immunity to magic. What else can you tell me about it?" Celestia asked.

"Well, its about two meters tall." Before Twilight could continue, however, she was interrupted by Luna. "That is taller than most species. The only species I can think of that are taller, are Minotaurs, who are on average 3 meters, and dragons who average in the hundreds."

"Twilight, did you say you think he will not attack in the night? Could you explain your thinking please?" Celestia asked. She truly was curious, the creature would have to attack during the night in order to not be seen by ponies. But Twilight was saying this is impossible.

"It's eyes were extremely small, it has to be a day creature only." Twilight responded.

They continued on with their discussion and debate. 

Twilight arguing that the creature would attack during the day because of it's eyes, where as Celestia was arguing that the eyes didn't matter, the pupils did. Applejack still trying to justify magic being necessary to life. The rest of them, Luna included, amazed that there was a possibility that they had first contact with an extra-animal lifeform.

And so it continued on.

(-)

Rarity looked at the clock, shocked at how late it was. "I apologize ladies, princesses," She gave a light nod over to Celestia and Luna. "I'm afraid I must head home, I can only imagine the trouble Sweetie belle could be getting into right now."

With that Rarity took her leave. As she walked out she began to think about the conversation they just had. An extra-animal life form! Maybe she would get to make him garments. Twilight did say the the creature was fully clothed. Maybe it's society was based around clothes! She hurried on home, mainly to make sure that Sweetie Bell hadn't burnt down, or was in the process of burning down the boutique.

She arrived at the boutique, and was relieved to find it hadn't been burnt down. She headed inside, where the only light on was in the living room. She called for Sweetie belle. When no response came, she became worried. She started to head up the stairs, and to Sweetie's room. When she arrived, she was greeted by a heartwarming sight. There was Sweetie belle, splayed out on the bed, on top of the covers. Rarity didn't want to disturb the sleeping filly, so she pulled an extra blanket from one of Sweetie's drawers and neatly draped it over Sweetie.

Rarity headed back down stairs to take care of a few things. Once she was done with these extra before bed chores, she headed back upstairs to her room. She stepped into bed and neatly pulled the covers over her. However after about twenty minutes, however, she could not fall asleep. And about five minutes ago, something really disgusting smelling began wafting into her nose. She neatly threw the covers off of her, lit a candle, and headed downstairs.

The stench was getting much stronger, and to her, it smelt like a rutting stallion. This worried Rarity, she had heard stories of stallions beginning to rut and forcing themselves on mare. And ocassionally, a filly, Rarity would fight tooth and hoof before she allowed a disgusting criminal to hurt Sweetie Belle. 

She found where it was strongest, the threadroom. She opened the door slowly, being cautious. She looked everywhere but could not see a crazy stallion that was rutting. She sniffed the air, and finally decided she must have left a window open. She shook her head and muttered to herself to remember to close the window from now on.

She closed the door and headed back to her room.

(-)

"This debate has been interesting, Twilight, but I'm afraid my sister and I must take our leave now. I shall leave a few platoons of guards here just on case." Celestia ended the debate.

She and her sister stood up to leave with the five ponies moving to follow. They headed to the town square where her chariot awaited. However as she and her sister were about to board the chariot, they heard a shout. After a few seconds… the alien rushed into the town square. He spotted them and instantly tried to turn the other way and run, but Luna was having none of that. Before Celestia could even react, Luna had gone into attack mode.

"HALT FOUL BEAST, THOU SHALT NOT HARM OUR LITTLE PONIES! I SHALL VANQUISH THEE!"

And with that Luna rushed the alien and tackled him. The alien at the time was raising his firebow, but when Luna tackled him, the bow went off. Twilight was right in describing it as thunder. They tumbled and Luna ended up at his feet. Before Luna could recover however, the creature kicked his right leg and hit Luna in the ribcage. Everypony could hear the crack, and the alien shot up. Celestia was impressed at how quickly he moved, considering he was bipedal.

The alien had his arm wrapped around Luna's barrel, and had one of the small firebows pointed at her head. It shouted something that was unintelligible. But Celestia understood. Stand down. And despite her sister's predicament, she saw something that made her motherly instincts flare up. The alien had an open wound. Quite a bad one at that. However despite her motherly instincts, she could not stop a look of disgust from flashing across her face. The creature yelled again. 

Celestia hesitated, but than gave the order. "Stand down everypony! He is injured." All of the guards ponys lowered their spears. The alien backed up, and once he was close enough to the forest, he lowered Luna and and rushed into the forest. Celestia rushed to Luna, and checked on her. "Do not pursue him!" She yelled to the guards. They had met a formidable challenge. A formidable challenge indeed.