Celestia's POV Present Day
'Wednesday morning...,' it's been almost a hundred years since this morning felt like an omen of looming danger. It was always Saturdays or Mondays when calamities announce themselves, never Wednesdays. Just looking at the first rays of light left me with a bad taste of mouth .
"Excuse me, your excellence," I don't know how long Sun Scribe was behind me, but failing to notice his presence meant I was far more tired that I realized, "Princess Cadance requests an audience, should I tell her you're indisposed?"
'You know me to well, old friend.' "No, please let her in," 'Cadance, just what I needed. I can finally take a break of this Tartarus businesses and discuss more pleasant topics.'
"Princess Celestia," since the last two weeks I've felt weird the way Cadance addresses me, I was always; Auntie, Tia or Auntie Tia, never Princess Celestia. 'Is she angry or is it the pressure for the big day?' "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
'Or maybe Sun Scribe yet again scared somepony for my sake. We'll speak about this over-protectiveness later.' "Cadance, you know I always have time to spare for my favorite niece."
"That would be me, right?" 'on second thought, maybe she is angry.'
"Of course! Now what can I do for you?" I do my best attempt to not sound irritated.
"Ah well, it's just that Shining told me, that the guards you sent to check on Tartarus haven't sent a report yet. And well, I just wondered if there's something I can help you with?"
'Wonderful. More talk about Tartarus.' "No, don't worry about it. I'm sure they'll report anytime now," 'I hope.'
"B-but Celestia, I mean Princess Celestia aren't you worried about your guards or whatever demon may be roaming around in Equestria!"
I was honestly worried, but that didn't mean I could just charge straight to Beelzemon or whatever demon escaped from Tartarus. I'm not the warrior I was a thousand years ago, "I have faith in Canterlot finest, I'm sure the reason for the delay is just magic interference. Besides I can't leave Canterlot undefended." 'Not with Luna hiding from her righteous punishment, and all.'
"If Canterlot is the problem, I'll gladly take care of it while you go to Tartarus!" She says awfully enthusiastic.
'Okay, what's going on? Cadance never cared about ruling affairs. She rather spend her time with kids and matters that concerned the heart.' "Is everything okay, Cadance?" I couldn't stop my tone from sounding accusatory.
"Oh, it's just that I saw you so concerned with the ongoing situation, I couldn't help myself to offer some assistance, Aunt-tie?" She takes a step back clearly hurt from the implications of my question.
'Gee, then I wonder why nopony ever offers a hoof, Celestia.' I move from the window to hug my niece, "Forgive me, dear niece. It's just that this whole Tartarus situation is yet another unwanted burden on top of a long pile. Don't worry, it won't get in the way of your big day."
"I'm glad, but if you need to leave, I'll take care of Canterlot!" with that said Cadance breaks free from my hug and leaves the room.
'Maybe I should take Cadance's offer. After all the silence, from the guards I sent, is getting unnerving.'
"Princess," Sun Scribe renters the room with the daily schedule in hand, "I'll remind you that the trap you set for Princess Luna is later today."
"The National Dessert Competition, yes," 'maybe I should stay after all', "and speaking of traps, remind me later to speak with the captain to set one in Canterlot."
Beel's POV Present Day
Huh, who new I couldn't read maps to save my life.
Either that or the forest was a living labyrinth. Anyway, I spent the better part of last night, running in circles. Since for the third time in a row I found myself in front of the place I just left with determination in my eyes, and useless map in hand.
"Fantastic. How am I supposed to get back my things, if I can't even leave this damn forest!"
Unfortunately the sunrise and my screaming called all the predators in the area for some early breakfast. From every corner of my eyes the forest itself appeared to come to life, in the shape of grotesque, wood wolfs.
'Well, those are new."
Calling them a 'pack' would be a bad joke, something along the lines of 'army' would be more fitting. I instinctively reached for my guns... only to be reminded the reason I started this lovely stroll through the woods.
"Well then..." I say with a smirk on my face. By now every wolf was visibly tense, ready to counterattack my next move. All except of turning back and running, of course.
The hunt was on. It seamed the more I ran, the more wolves joined the chase. I had them well outrun, but the home advantage quickly made itself known at every twist and turn. All was going well and looked like I'll leave them behind, until I foolishly cornered myself, right in front of a massive cave.
I faced my persecutors like I have done so many times in the past. Without my weapons meant that I had to rely on my claws, an option I wasn't particularly fond of. They made me feel like the beast they always told me I was. Nonetheless it was that or becoming wood chow.
"Darkness Claw" I charged at the incoming wolves.
Before they could open their mouths, six of them were already splinters. Losing their bravado, the remaining wolves took distance and circled around me. I was readying my claws to the next attack, when the biggest wolf did a noise between a growl and a whimper. In a heart-beat I was once again alone. 'Just the way I liked it.'
"Ahh, now I better get the hell out of this da-"
A menacing growl cut short what little rest I got. 'This day just keeps on giving.' Behind me stood a towering bear, made from the very fabric of the night sky, with his eyes firmly lock on me.
'Ursas, at least they're still around.'
The imposing creature raised his gigantic paw before dishing out a swipe that dispatched most of the adjacent trees. He must have taken my dodge of his devastating attack pretty personal, because as soon he caught a glimpse of me rising from the wreckage, he let a deafening growl fill the air. I took that as my cue to resumed my running aimlessly across a forest out to get me.
~#~
"What the hell is his problem," I said between gasps of air.
Darkness reigned supreme in the woodlands, not even moonlight broke through the canopy of leaves. I was lying down behind a large tree, exhausted from non-stop running. I barely stand with my back against the tree with the hope that the bear got fed up with the merry chase just as me. A frustrated roar crossed the nearby tress, followed by heavy stomps.
A sigh of relived escaped my mouth. I threw a quick glance behind me, with no rampaging bear in sight, I stepped outside from my cover. Only to look to my right, a pair of golden eyes.
"Clever gir-"
This time he didn't waste time and delivered a powerful blow that sent me across, at least, four tress. My foreign body saved me, any normal human would have been dead on the spot. Me on the other hand, I had the dubious honor to be conscious to see the next and surely fatal blow. A blow that didn't come, I slowly got up to see the reason for the uncharacteristically show of mercy. I wasn't in the forest anymore and my aggressor simply refused to leave the safety of the wide tree wall.
I should have been concerned with just what scared the Ursa enough to prevent it to leave the green barrier, but I was too busy blowing some steam after probably the third hardest day of my life.
"Serves you right, asshole! What's the matter, too scared to leave that god-forsaken forest!" by now he had a tired face and left to the thick of the woods, "yeah, you better run. Not that it matters, when I'll come back I'll burn that entire forest! You hear me? I'll burn it!"
What kept me from passing out in the middle of the road was a mix of knowing that doing so will invite the possibility of waking up in Tartarus, and the promise of a save haven inside the red barn ahead.
Apple Bloom's POV Present Day
"But, I'm telling the truth!"
"Well, I don't see any monsters on our barn."
"I saw him entering the barn, just after screaming at an Ursa minor," 'wait that doesn't sound very believable,' "I know how it sounds, but it's the truth!"
'Great, now he's giving me the 'oh Apple Bloom' stare,' "C'mon little apple, you can hunt everfree monsters with your friends later," he stops as he's leaving the barn, "inside Ponyville, of course."
It's not like we were going to hunt monsters in the Everfree, not after Cutie Mark Crusaders: Relic Hunters. 'Never again.' I'll come back after breakfast, maybe I'll bring some for the monster, so it doesn't eat me on reflex.
"I know you have a very active imagination, but you shouldn't be joking with things like that, Apple Bloom."
"It isn't a joke, I really saw a two-legged monster going into the barn," I don't get it, I remembered waking up in the middle of the night, and seeing him struggling to open the barn's door.
I was in a bad mood. I didn't like to be called a liar. I might have caused some of the town's problems, but that didn't mean I went around telling lies. Well except that whole issue with the weird plant, but I didn't mean anypony harm with that. Luckily we were having hotcakes with apple sauce, my favorite. I wonder if monsters eat hotcakes?
"You better dig in, Apple Bloom. Today we have to work extra hard to pick your sister's share."
"No fair, Big Mac. Why does Applejack get to go to a desert contest, and we don't?"
"She deserves a little rest from time to time. Besides it's only until the afternoon."
~#~
"Thanks for the meal," I left a hotcake aside, and brought my dishes to the sink.
After cleaning my dishes, I left with the hotcake in mouth towards the barn till Big Mac stopped me, "Apple Bloom where do you think you're going with that in your mouth?"
"Insurance," I said through my teeth.
The barn was just as we left it in the morning, with no monster inside. I checked everywhere; behind the fences, behind the tools, well everywhere, everywhere except the inside haystacks. I cautiously neared the haystack, and in one swift move, I pounce on top of it. "Aha!" Empty. 'I guess, I really imagined that.'
I almost didn't notice the black creature emerging from the haystack across the barn. Lazily opening his three, red eyes. With claws as big as my eyes. Looking in my direction before opening his razor-filled mouth.
"Wha-"
"Ahhhhhhh...-"