//------------------------------// // New Comer // Story: Equua Mangia // by Equua Mangia //------------------------------// Equua Mangia roared as he he ripped through the rope strapping him to that god-forsaken tree. He fell to the ground, forgetting for a moment how to use his wings, before stretching the leathery appendages to their full span. His wings beat furiously through the air as he breached the canopy of the Everfree Forest. He had finally freed himself, and had to escape before his “sister” returned. How he hated her, but the feeling was drowned by his sensation of freedom. He was gliding now, his shadow skipping through the tops of trees, growing and shrinking seemingly at random. He smiled, his yellow razor teeth glistened wetly in the afternoon sun. He sang to himself, ancient songs he had heard from his father when he was just a colt. Songs of war, victories, tragedy, and bloodshed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- He felt like he had been flying for hours. His wings ached, not used to the strenuous exercise after being leashed to a damned tree for so long. It was then that he saw the edge of the forest, and something just beyond. As he neared he recognized it to be a town. The colors were bright, seeming garish to him in their intensity. Equua Mangia flew closer to the town before descending, nearing a path just outside of Everfree Forest. He noticed a small cottage surrounded by trees, with animals and birds all around. He noticed a pony tending to the animals, talking and cooing to the birds and squirrels and other small animals. He ducked his head and drew nearer, slit pupils narrowing on the target, a timid-looking Pegasus of yellow and pink, butterflies on her flank. He tucked his wings close to his body and slid his lips together, figuring if she didn’t see the leathery bat wings or razor teeth, she wouldn’t realize until it was too late for her to run. Another Pegasus then joined her, blue with an unnatural rainbow mane, and spoke to the yellow Pegasus. He slowed, uncertain, and then began to trot. They noticed him nearing and did not seem to know quite what to make of the crimson pony, an odd fang design on his flank, with a long maroon mane and blood-colored eyes. It was then that the rainbow-maned Pegasus noticed that he had come out of the Everfree forest. She stepped in front of her timid friend and barked, “Who are you?” Her voice was rough and demanding, an uncommon trait in a pony, and glared at him with distrustful, rose-colored eyes. He looked up at her, cocking his head to the side curiously. “Who are you?” He asked back, his voice was smooth and could be considered charming if his tone wasn't positively dripping with blood lust. “I have to say, it is terribly impolite of you to demand somepony’s name in such a tone.” He donned a grin, his razor teeth glinting in the sunlight. “Apologize.” “Fuck off!” The rainbow pony snarled, digging her blue hooves into the dirt, as if prepared to pounce. Equua neared, an easy smile on his face. “Dear, were you raised in a barn? You certainly act like it, and if you wish to act like an animal, then you shall be eaten like one.” He flashed his teeth, licking them with a forked tongue. It was then the blue pony lunged at him, knocking him into the ground and pinning him beneath her powerful hooves, wings outstretched. “Rainbow Dash, stop it!” The yellow pony shrieked, tears welling in her eyes. The rainbow pony looked back at her, her resolution weakening as her body began to untense. She looked back down at the crimson pony coughing on the ground. Rainbow Dash stood back, staring uncertainly at Equua Mangia, unsure of what to do. He staggered to his feet and bared his teeth. He sprinted for her, thin legs moving unnaturally fast as he head butted her several meters. She yelped and fell to the ground, causing the yellow pony to scream. Equua Mangia looked at the stunned yellow pony, staring at him in fear. His grin grew wide, the flesh pulling back to a sickening degree. He galloped for her, jaws agape. “Fluttershy, run!” Rainbow Dash cried, staggering to her feet as a thin rivulet of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Fluttershy turned and ran away at full speed. She began to flap her wings, taking to the air just as Equua’s teeth pierced the feathered flesh. She screamed, flapping the other wing furiously as she tried to escape. Equua Mangia gave a vicious tug and the wing came free with a sickening rip. Fluttershy screamed and plummeted to the ground, tears flowing from her eyes and blood stained her coat. Equua laughed, then gave a started cry as he was knocked again to the grass. She bashed his skull with her hooves and he yelped when they pierced his face. He flailed his atrophied limbs desperately, managing to get an attack in and knock Rainbow Dash away. He jumped to his feet, but staggered when he walked back and away from her. He felt blood run down his face and he shook his head, watching with absent amusement as the grass beneath him turned red. He looked up to see if the Rainbow Dash would attack him again, but she seemed to be comforting the maimed Fluttershy, saying things like; “Don’t worry, we can get it reattached. It’s amazing what they can do with magic these days… Fluttershy? Fluttershy, wake up.” Equua Mangia jumped into the air, flapping his leather wings furiously. He felt so dizzy, and he began to wonder if maybe that awful Pegasus had pierced his brain, too. He began to tremble, and he could barely stay aloft. He began to wonder when he had turned so weak as this? He blamed his damned sister, then yelped as his wings trembled and he fell for a split-second. He needed to hurry up and find someplace to heal himself.