//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven: Let's Finish This // Story: Bramblestar's Pony Experience // by Flagstar of Flagclan //------------------------------// Bramblestar knocked on the door. Octavia opened up and gave him a big hug, an even bigger smile on her face. He returned the hug briefly but there wasn’t much time. She seemed to understand and followed him back to Twilight’s library. On the way he explained everything that happened. There were some gasps and stunned silence between them but for the most part she was silent. “So you have to get back to your clan?” She asked sadly. “Yes. I’m sorry Octavia. I don’t want to go, but I must. I’m hoping I can come back after I deal with Mapleshade.” “If you go than I go.” They walked into the library as she said this. All the other ponies were already there and nodded in agreement. “We’re all going with you.” Twilight said. Bramblestar shook his head. He didn’t want to put anyone else in danger. “I can’t let you.” “Try and stop us.” Said Rainbowdash. He sighed. There was just no reasoning with these ponies. All the ponies put on their elements. Of course he and Octavia couldn’t wear any but he felt kind of jealous. Zecora came in with another on of her brews. It was the same one he used earlier to talk to Spiderleg. Bramblestar watched in awe as a rainbow surrounded the six mares and blasted the pot. The brew turned from blue to green. “Here we go!” Cried Pinkie as she jumped in. Zecora quickly handed Twilight a jar of the brew and told her what she had to do to get back. All the ponies jumped in until it was just him and Octavia. The zebra looked at both of them. “In the portal you two must go, if you wish to help with the show.” Bramblestar took a deep breath and grabbed Octavia’s hoof. Together they jumped through the pot. They screamed as the transformation from pony to cat began. He didn’t remember any pain when he turned into a pony but this was different. A blackness hit him and he woke up on a hot stone. He saw the clan working below on their regular duties. “Mapleshade must have put me outside her den so she could gloat.” He thought to himself. He could hear the other ponies talking to his clan mates outside the barrier. He got up and ran out the entrance, getting scared glances from all his clan mates. “Leave them be!” Squirrelstar turned around to look at him with a shocked glance. He saw that Spiderleg, Cloudtail, and Brightheart was with her. “I, I thought you were dead.” Said Squirrelstar. “I’m just as much dead as you are right now Squirrelstar, or is that really you?” She let out a loud hiss. “What do you mean?” Everypony, no every cat from the other world, smiled at her. “I mean that you’re not Squirrelstar. You’re Mapleshade!” Every cat gasped in shock except for his new friends. Squirrelstar turned back to her normal faded self. “So you caught me. Now what are you going to do?” Bramblestar leaped at her, aiming for her throat. She dodged out of the way and faded into the mist. He could just hear her parting words. “Watch out Bramblestar! I will find you and kill you! And then Thunderclan will be mine!” Octavia looked at him. She looked scared from his vicious attack yet intrigued. “Bramblestar, if we have to take care of Mapleshade, then all us ponies need to learn to fight too.” He nodded. Then he looked at Cloudtail, Spiderleg, and Brightheart. All of them were speechless. Finally Spiderleg, already knowing about the pony thing, spoke up. “Care to explain all of this Bramblestar?” “Yes. It’s a long story, so get all of the clan gathered under the high rock. And also my new friends will be staying with us.” The three cats nodded and went to go get the clan ready. Bramblestar brought his friends through the entrance and showed them where they would stay. He made sure to tell Octavia that she could stay in his den. By the time he was done all the cats had gathered below. He took a deep breath and began his story. “Cats of Thunderclan. You may not believe me, but this is a true story to be told.”