“Help!” Scootaloo screamed, kicking at the purple monster that held them to no effect. “Somepony help!”
“Don’t be afrai-frai-fraid,” the bear said in an attempt to calm Scootaloo down. It was a bit ineffective, what with the Manticore it was holding and all. “We’re your f-f-f-friends!”
As Scootaloo kept screaming, now crying as well, Apple Bloom noticed the metallic wires move but not the plaster it held. “Scoots…” Apple Bloom said in nothing more than a whisper while also nudging the Pegasus slightly.
It was more than enough to get Scootaloo’s attention in her panicked state. Her eyes immediately flew open while her mind kept going to places she wished they would stay out of.
“Put down those two or I will run you through!”
The damaged bear slowly turned its upper body to face the Zebra, giving Zecora the full view of the Manticore. “H-h-hello sir or ma-ma-maddam! Do any of these children be-be-belong to you?”
Zecora simply nodded and inclined her head towards Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, not able to speak with her staff now clenched tightly between her teeth. “Help!” Scootaloo called out upon seeing Zecora.
“Wo-wonderful!” The bear turned back to the dismembered purple creature. “Return the ch-children to their par-parents while I look for the ow-ow-ow-owners of this little skamp!”
Zecora kept her aggressive pose despite…his words. In the time he spoke, Zecora was able to get a good look at both him and his friend. The bear was obviously male, he had broad shoulders and muscles strong enough to hold back a Manticore whilst getting stung. Repeatedly. Without flinching. She really hoped she could run away fast enough with the fillies if this came to a fight.
The purple one was much more intimidating. Zecora figured that the Manticore must have gotten the jump on it considering the state it was in. Its face was completely missing, so was its left arm. The numerous gaping, yet strangely not bleeding, wounds it had seemed minor in comparison. She was impressed that it was able to walk at all.
She reached up to hook her weapon between her fetlock and ulna, allowing her to speak. “Your motives I do not understand, so release them where you stand!”
To her unending relief, the rabbit put the two fillies down.
Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sprinted towards Zecora, seeking shelter behind her from the monsters. As Apple Bloom passed, Zecora noticed the cut she had on her side as well as the small brown plaster.
She relaxed slightly, but never put her weapon away.
“H-h-hi there little guy or girl!” She heard the bear say near some bushes. For some reason the Manticore he held flailed around even more wildly. “Is this your-your-your mommy or daddy?”
Zecora’s jaw went slack at what the bear did next. He released the Manticore, causing the dangerous creature to spin around and smash into the bear with its head.
Even with a blow powerful enough to have snapped any pony in two, the bear was merely knocked back onto his behind. “Please do no-no-not damage the animatronics or we will have to ca-ca-ca-kill-call security!”
The Manticore payed the bear no more mind, dipping its head into the bushes and pulling out its cub before sprinting away. “Please come again, Freddy will miss you!” Freddy said, his tone rapidly changing from cheerful, to pleading, to sad.
“Your name is Freddy?” Zecora asked once she was sure the Manticore was gone. Not that she was expecting it to return while its young was nearby.
“Y-y-yup!” Freddy replied, his tone once more cheerful.
“That you are not a complete threat, I have established already.” Zecora briefly looked at the rabbit again. He had not so much as twitched since he had put the fillies down. “Why are you here? I doubt you are but a sightseer.”
Zecora risked a glance behind her to check on the fillies in her care. Besides the scratch and the growing bruise on Apple Bloom's barrel, the two fillies seemed fine. Physically at least.
Freddy said nothing for several seconds, seemingly lost in thought. “Kindly take u-u-us to your local authoritie—oh, hello Chica!” said Freddy, lifting a paw as if in greeting.
Zecora cautiously looked back, not wanting to be taken by surprise in case it was a trick. What she saw nearly made her heart stop.
Standing not even a meter from her was a towering yellow creature, its arms spread to the sides to make itself look bigger. It also wore a dirty white bib with the words ‘LET’S EAT!!!’ written on it. However, none of those scared Zecora.
Its head did.
Its ‘beak’ was opened unnaturally wide, almost as if the lower jaw had been chopped off. Zecora could see not one, but two sets of teeth and a mishmash of metal within, ready to consume any who dared get too close. She also idly noted that the eyes were sunken deeply into its skull.
Even more unnerving to the experienced Zebra was the fact that there were no indicators that the creature approached. Not the rustling of leaves, not the grass parting where it stepped, or even the shadow that she only now noticed.
“Aaaaaah!” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom screamed. Before either of them could flee, Zecora put a hoof on each of their tails. They protested very loudly against this, but she paid them no mind. With the silent and sudden appearance of this new creature, she could not be sure how many were still around them.
“Do not flee, just remain close to me,” Zecora tried to reassure the fillies, but struggled to keep her own growing fear at bay. “I will take you to the guard.”
“Wo-wo-wonderful!” Freddy exclaimed. “Please lead the wa-wa-way!” As he said those words, the yellow creature straightened up causing Zecora to tighten her grip on the staff, prepared to strike.
Fortunately it was not necessary as it just walked past the two ponies and lone Zebra to stand next to Freddy.
With her heartbeat somewhat under control, Zecora’s thoughts drifted towards Sweetie Belle. These creatures may not seem aggressive, but there was no way to be certain. I truly hope to discover, Zecora thought to herself, glancing at the three intimidating animals, that this is just a case of not judging a book by its cover.
Her legs burned. Breathing burned. The branches attacking her stung, but Sweetie Belle never stopped running.
Zecora said to get help, to tell somepony that there was a Manticore.
The leafy roof slowly gave way to clear blue skies and the dark trees that nearly formed solid walls gave way to rows of dead looking trees.
Sweetie Belle knew this was where the Apple family grew Zap Apples every now and then. She was so close!
It didn’t take her long to reach the Apple family’s house. Not even bothering with the manners Rarity had drilled into her mind, she started hammering at the door. “Help!”
With the sound of frantic hoof beats, the door soon opened to reveal Applejack. Needless to say, the farm mare was very surprised to see Sweetie Belle so exhausted; she had never looked like this no matter how much crusading she did with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
“Apple Bloom, Scootaloo,” Sweetie managed to say in between breaths. As she took in another breath to speak again, Applejack put a hoof to her muzzle.
“Woah there, filly, get yer breath back.”
Doing as she was told, Sweetie Belle took several deep breaths. Once Applejack thought she had enough, she removed her hoof from Sweetie Belle’s muzzle. “Zecora said there was a Manticore in the forest while we were gathering herbs, you have to go help! Apple Bloom and Scootaloo weren't with us!"
“Big Mac!” Applejack called into the house. “Get out here! Hurry!” Applejack faced Sweetie Belle again, a much more serious expression on her face. “Where are they?”
“We went directly south from Zecora’s hut, they should be around there somewhere.”
Applejack nodded to the filly, stepping aside to allow her to enter the house. “Granny! Keep an eye on Sweetie Belle and our guest, we’ll be right back!”
Seeking the comfort of the house, Sweetie Belle entered just as Big Mac began talking to Applejack. She watched the two gallop towards the Everfree Forest.
Finally having a chance to take a breather, Sweetie Belle went into the kitchen. Mere moments after she sat down, her face met the table, too tired to even keep it lifted up.
“Hi.”