//------------------------------// // A Reason // Story: Equua Mangia // by Equua Mangia //------------------------------// After some time he touched down again, watching in distaste as mud dirtied his hooves. It was then he heard voices approaching. He ducked behing a bush, observing from behind it. "I swear I saw him fly off in this direction!" The rough voice of Rainbow Dash barked. "Are you sure? He could still be anywhere by now... Besides, why are we even looking for him? If he can... DO that kind of thing to Fluttershy... Maybe we should tell Princess Celestia. She can actually do something about this..." Another voice that belonged to a purple unicorn spoke with uncertainty and a small twinge of fear. "We can do something about this! He's not that strong, I was kickin' his butt before he ran away. He won't be that hard to take care of." "Now wait just a minute, sugarcube. What exactly are we plannin' on doin', here?" A new pony with something of a southern drawl asked. "Make him run so far away from here that he'll never be able to come back!" Rainbow Dash punched her hoof through the air for dramatic effect, smirking. The purple unicorn again, "How do you know he hasn't already left for good? I mean, if you hurt him as much as you say you did, he's probably not going to come back." Rainbow Dash was silent at this, and the unicorn furrowed her brow. "Exactly. Now, we should just go back and tell the Princess--" She stopped at the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Another unicorn with an abnormally long, curved horn stepped into view, her coat a pale green and her long, curly mane pale purple. Her sea green eyes were downcast with shame as she spoke. "You must be searching for Equua Mangia." She sighed, looking over the three ponies. "You three shouldn't get yourselves mixed up with him. He's not one to forgive." She turned to the unicorn, "And please don't tell your princess. I promise I've got this under control." "Right, TOTALLY under control." Rainbow Dash growled sarcasically, crossing her front legs. "You had it totally under control when he ripped off Fluttershy's wing!" "Rainbow!" The purple unicorn admonished her, casting her an angry look. Flora winced visibly and sighed, "No, your friend is right. I'm so, so sorry..." Rainbow Dash glared at the ground, not speaking. Flora Veneficia looked at the purple unicorn. "I've been searching for him all day, and I haven't seen him." She said, purposefully ommiting the fact that she had found and lost him not an hour earlier. The purple unicorn paused uncertainly before speaking, "We could help you look for him. He can't be too far away." Flora smiled sheepishly, "Ah, no. I don't want to get you into any trouble." "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be fine." The purple pony said, smiling and walking ahead. "By the way, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash." "Flora Veneficia." She answered, though still obviously against the idea of the other ponies helping her search for her cannibalistic brother. They began to walk as they spoke to each other, and Equua Mangia trailed behind them silently, observing. "So, who is he, really?" Twilight Sparkle asked suddenly, cocking her head to the side curiously. "Equua? He... He's my half-brother." Flora admitted guiltily, bowing her head. "I've been keeping him trapped in this forest far, far away from here. He isn't safe, but I don't want to kill him. He's the only blood I have left." "What is he? He's obviously not normal." "A demon. He's over a hundred years old. I've been keeping him for around 60. He wasn't always like this. He used to be... Better." "What happened to him?" "He started acting this way after Celestia destroyed his father. He became angry, very violent. But it wasn't until--" "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Equaa Mangia screamed, lifting himself into the air with massive wingbeats. "You have no right to..." He looked at the ponies, the looks of surprise and terror on their faces. He felt a lump rise in his throat and bared his teeth at them before flying away.