//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 (Part 3) // Story: The great and powerful... Merasmus!? // by The Lutece twins //------------------------------// "Hmmm, where should we go next?" Pinkie pie asked, putting her chin to her hoof. "OH OH OHH!! Fluttershy's cottage!" She yelled, bouncing up and down on Merasmus's back, causing him to grunt with each bounce. "Okay," Merasmus grunted. "And pinkie?" He asked. "Yesss?" She asked, stopping her bouncing. "Please get off my back. I don't think it can take much more of your bouncing." Merasmus grunted. "Oki doki loki!" Pinkie said, getting off Merasmus's back. Merasmus stretches and a snap is heard. Merasmus smiled as he relaxes. "Thank you." Merasmus said. "No problemo, sir!" Pinkie said. "So if I may ask, where does Fluttershy live?" Merasmus asked. "By the everfree forest!" Pinkie said. "I see." Merasmus said. "Let's go!" Pinkie yelled, trotting towards the direction of the forest. Merasmus nods and follows pinkie. "WAIT!" Pinkie yelled. She trots over to a mail box, and reaches inside, and pulls out a cupcake. "I almost forgot about this one!" She said. She shoved the vanilla frosted strawberry cupcake into her mouth, smacking slightly as she chews. "Om nom nom nom!" She said as she chewed. Merasmus raises a eyebrow. 'Did she just make heavy's chewing noise?' Merasmus thought. Pinkie pie pulls out another cupcake, and brings it towards Merasmus. "Want one?" She asks. She shoves the cupcake into Merasmus's mouth before he says anything. "Mmmph!" Merasmus said. He blinks multiple times, before chewing the cupcake. His eyes widen at the deliciousness of the cupcake. "Like it!? Despite the dust that had built up on it i bet it was good, right!?" She asked. Merasmus nods as he finishes the last bit of his cupcake. "I... I never had a cupcake that good before. In fact never had a sweet that good before!" He said. "I know! Celestia sometimes begs me to send HER some, because they're so good!" Pinkie yelled. "Now shall we be on our way again?" She asked. Merasmus nods. "Yes." He said. 'I got to know who this Celestia pony is.' Merasmus thought. "She's a wonderful pony who cares about everypony." Pinkie said. "Huh?" Merasmus asked. "You heard me!" She said. Merasmus raises a eyebrow. "Oookay than." He said, shaking his head, then looking up. As he did, he saw a blue blur with a rainbow trail behind it fly through the sky. "What was that?" Merasmus asked. "Oh! HIIII RAINBOW DASH!!!!" Pinkie yelled, waving her hoof in the air. "Rainbow Dash?" Merasmus asked. The blue blur changes towards their direction and it stops in front of Merasmus and pinkie. Merasmus could see a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail. He could see a rain cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt on her flank. "Hey, Pinkie Pie, what's up? And who's the dude with the awesome threads?" Rainbow Dash asked. 'Hmm, from her tone of voice and her physique, she's just like scout. Always acting before thinking.' Merasmus thought. "My name is Merasmus." Merasmus said. "I take it Rarity made that for you, since it's got all those jewels and stuff?" Rainbow Dash asked. "YEP! And he tried on of my mailbox cupcakes. He said it was the best thing ever!" Pinkie said. Merasmus nods. "It was. I never had a cupcake that good before." Merasmus said. "Meh, it becomes just like every other cupcake you eat. So. Where are you two love birds headed?" Rainbow giggled. "Yeah, where ARE we going, merasmus?" Pinkie said, leaning against Merasmus's side, before rolling around on the floor in a laughing fit. Merasmus facehoofs and shakes his head. "Pinkie, remember that you were going to show me Fluttershy's cottage." Merasmus said. "I know, lets go!" Pinkie said, sliding along the ground on her back, unaided. "Hey, can I tag along?" RD asked. "I don't see why not." Merasmus said. "Sweet!" RD yelled. She landed with her hooves on Pinkie's, as she was on her back still. She fluttered her wings, pushing them along faster. "We are so weird dashie." Pinkie said. Merasmus raises an eyebrow. "How far are we from Fluttershy's cottage?" Merasmus asked. "Not too far. maybe three seconds if i flew, but this might take a few minutes." RD said. "I see. Can you tell me about yourself, rainbow?" Merasmus asked. "I'm only the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria! The wonderbolts asked me to join them, but i turned them down since they couldn't compete with me." She said. 'Interesting. She said that she is the fastest pegasus ever. I may like this world after all.' Merasmus thought. "I see." Merasmus said. Suddenly rainbow dash presses her head against Merasmus's. "I'm gonna get one thing clear, okay? Hurt any of my friends, dont expect me to not find you and throw you a butt whooping you wont forget." She said, pulling her face back. "Other than that, we're cool!" She said, patting his head. Merasmus blinks multiple, then laughs. RD walks besides Merasmus. "So , how about you tell me a bit about you." RD said. "Well, I can cast magic, which I am pretty good at. I also collect artifacts as well. Old ones, like tomes, books, relics, etc." Merasmus said. "Then I'm sure you and twilight would get along quite well!" RD said. "Twilight? Who's Twilight?" Merasmus asked. "The princess of friendship, a magic slash book geek who has a baby talking dragon, and lives in that crystal castle. That Twilight Sparkle." RD said. "I see." Merasmus said. Merasmus sees what looks like a cottage ahead. "Is that it?" He asked. "Nope!" Pinkie said, trotting up to the cottage door and knocks on it. The door opens and Merasmus could see a butter yellow pegasus with a pink mane. He could see three pink butterflies on her flank. 'So this must be Fluttershy.' Merasmus thought. "Oh, hi Pinkie. Hi Rainbow. What brings you guys here?" Fluttershy said quietly. Merasmus looks over pinkie and rainbow at Fluttershy. "Hello." Merasmus said. "H-hi." Fluttershy muttered, hiding behind her mane. 'I guess she is shy and likes to be alone. And from the looks of it, she takes care of animals, which means that she knows first aid. I can see her as medic.' Merasmus thought. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Merasmus said, backing up, before tripping over a rock. Merasmus lands on his flank, causing his skull cap hat to fall off, and bombinomicon to fall out of his new robe. "What are those?" RD asked. "His skull hat and bombinomicon." Pinkie said. "Hey! You got to be careful, I'm precious cargo here!" Bombinomicon said. Merasmus stood up and places his skull hat back on. "Well sorry, it's not my fault that I tripped over a rock." Merasmus retorted. Merasmus picked up bombinomicon and saw Maud walking by. "Sorry. I must have forgotten about that one." She said in her monotone voice. "Boulder wanted me to find him some friends." She said. "Sorry about that, he has a mind of his own, literally." Merasmus said. "I hope I wasn't in the way." Maud said, before walking off. "She's such a silly pony, but she's my sister!" Pinkie said. "So...now what?" Fluttershy asked. "Well, only other pony I havn't meet is Twilight." Merasmus said. "Oh, um...I'm Fluttershy... "I'm sorry, what was that?" Merasmus asked. "I'm...I'm Fluttershy..." Fluttershy whispered. "Its nice too meet you Fluttershy." Merasmus said. "HEEEELLLLP!!!!" A voice screamed. Merasmus and the others look at where the voice screamed. Merasmus saw a lavender unicorn running towards their direction. His eyes widen when he sees wings on the unicorn. 'That must be Twilight.' Merasmus thought. But he frowns when he sees a pack four timberwolves chasing after her. 'Not these guys again.' Merasmus thought. "Ready bombinomicon?" He whispers. "Born ready." Bombinomicon said. "Get inside!!" Twilight yelled, running inside Fluttershy's cottage. Merasmus was pulled inside by pinkie, and rainbow followed. "Whaa!" Merasmus yells as he was pulled inside. As he was released he was sprawled out onto the floor. Twilight quickly closes the door as a timberwolf stuck it's head in. "Take this!" Rainbow yelled as she turns around and bucks the timberwolf out the door. Merasmus stood up and shook his head. "What's going on?" Merasmus asked. "Timberwolves, that's what!" Twilight yelled, placing herself against the door as the timberwolves tried to break the door down. "But why are they attacking?" Merasmus asked. "I stepped on a twig...but it was a pup's tail! They're reeeaaaalllly mad right now!" She said. "Bombinomicon, we may have to get a friend." Merasmus whispered. "Oh, you don't mean..." Bombinomicon whined. "Yes him." Merasmus said. "But he's a jerk." Bombinomicon said. "I know he's a bit grumpy, but we need his help." Merasmus stated. Bombinomicon mumbled something then sighed. "Fine." Bombinomicon said. "Are you...talking to a...stick?" Twilight asked, tilting her head in confusion. Merasmus takes out bombinomicon from his robe. "No I am actually talking to him. And we both have a plan to get rid of the timberwolves." Merasmus said. "How is a book going to help us? Are you just going to throw it at them, and expect them to run?" RD said. "Well, no. I can summon a friend of mine to help us get rid of the timberwolves." Merasmus said. "How, when you don't have a horn." RD said. "I'm a magician, I can cast spells." Merasmus said. "That would explain it." RD said. The sound of the timberwolves ramming the door stopped. "Wait, I think they're gone!" Twilight said. She peeked her head out the door, and pulled it back narrowly getting her head chewed off. "Never mind!" She yelled. "I need a few minutes to get ready." Merasmus said. "Do what you can, I cant keep them back much longer!" Twilight yelled as the timberwolves rammed the door again. Merasmus nods and begins to flip through the pages. "Heelpp meeeee!" Twilight pleaded. "Magicus Wallacus!" Merasmus yells. A green wall blocks the front door, preventing the timberwolves from entering. Twilight moves away from the door with a sigh in relief. "Found it." Merasmus said, placing a hoof on the page and begins to mutter the word on the page. Suddenly, there was a crash as one of the timberwolves was smart enough to smash through the window. The rest followed, growling as they got closer to the ponies, closing them in. Merasmus closes his eyes, then reopens them. They start to glow green as a green energy surrounds him and the ponies, protecting them from the timberwolves. He than starts to float of the ground, chanting louder. The wolves stopped and stared, one whimpered slightly. Merasmus stops chanting and there was a flash of light. The light dissipates, revealing a purple spinning portal on the floor. "Wh-what's that?" Twilight asked. "A friend." Merasmus said as he landed back onto the floor. A big black hoof pops from the portal, then another, the hoofs push from the floor revealing a big black stallion with a smiling pumpkin for a head, and a giant axe on his back. RD, Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy scream in unison, while the timberwolves back away from the strange creature. Merasmus points a hoof at the timberwolves. "Attack." Merasmus ordered. The pumpkin headed pony stood on it's hind legs and pulled out the axe from behind its back, then charges at the timberwolves at unbelievable speeds. The wolves dodge the attack and a couple pounce, biting at it. But it did nothing as the pony shook them off and swung his axe at them, chopping one timberwolf in half. Fluttershy gasps and looks away, tightly shutting her eyes. Rainbow Dash watches in awe, with a wide open smile. The wolves see their friend had been cut in half, and they all begin to whimper and scamper out of the broken window. "Yeah, you better run!" RD yelled. The pumpkin headed pony laughs before returning it's axe back around its back. It then turns towards the ponies. A low whimpering was heard outside. Fluttershy slowly approached the window, seeing all the wolves running into the everfree, except one pup, who waited for the last one to leave, who had been cut in half. "Ohhhh..." She said. She went out the door, slowly approaching the pup who backed away, whimpering. "Hey, it's okay, little guy. Fluttershy won't hurt you." She said, patting the pup on the head. "Wh-where's mommy?" The pup asked in a language that only Fluttershy knew. "She didn't come out. I heard so many noises..." it said. Fluttershy thinks back to the timberwolf that has been cut in half. "Oh...um..." She said. She began to tear up, until she pulled the pup into her, hugging it close as she started crying. Merasmus nods at the pumpkin headed pony. "You may go back now." He said. The pumpkin headed pony nods, then dissipates in a cloud of black smoke. As Merasmus put his bombinomicon back in his robe pocket, he heard crying. He walks towards the sound and sees Fluttershy crying, while hugging a timberwolf pup. "Fluttershy, what's wrong?" Merasmus asked. Fluttershy held the crying pup tightly as she cried. "You're pumpkin headed pony is what!!" Fluttershy yelled. "I'm sorry you had to see that, but I had no choice, it was that or... or.... I don't want to talk about it. But you know what I mean." Merasmus said, looking down. Fluttershy covered the pup's ears and whispered. "That was her mother it killed!" She said through gritted teeth, before hugging the wolf again. "Wh-what happened to mommy?" The timberwolf pup asked Fluttershy. "You tell her what happened!" She said. Merasmus looks at the timberwolf pup. "My friend... killed your mother." He said. He looks down again as a tear runs down his face as he grits his teeth. "N-no..." the pup said, backing away, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're lying!" She yelled. Fluttershy grabs the pup again. "It's okay. Fluttershy will take care of you." Fluttershy said. "But...but..." The pup stuttered. The pup could no longer keep it in, as she buried her face crying into Fluttersy's chest. Fluttershy rocked back and forth slightly. "It's okay...it's gonna be okay..." Fluttershy said with a tear dripping down from her chin. "I'm so sorry..." She sniffed. "I hate it..." Merasmus muttered. "Hate what?" Fluttershy asked. "Me, I bet..." the pup said. Merasmus shakes his head no. "The killings, I hate it. I hate death. I've been blamed for ponies deaths so many times that they labled me insane. I've lost my castle, my apartment, and I've been sent to jail because I got blamed for my roommates death. When it was my old roommate that killed him. I hate it!" Merasmus yells. "Well, we've got a little one to take care of, now." Fluttershy said, looking at the pup. "What's your name little one?" She asks. "S-sky..." the pup said. "I'm sorry about your mom, and the others seem to have left you behind, so would you be alright with it if me and my friends took care of you?" Fluttershy asked. The pup nods and hugs Fluttershy. "Actually, may I take care of the timberwolf pup? Since it was my fault that my friend killed her mother. I think it would be a good way to repay her. And say that I'm sorry." Merasmus said. "Oh, you're right. Wanna go with the nice Zebra, Sky?" Fluttershy asked. Sky shrugged, then walked over to Merasmus and stood by him, letting out a long sigh. Merasmus hugs the timberwolf pup. "I'm so sorry, I didn't knows that I killed your mother." Merasmus apologized. "She's...really gone?" Sky asked. "Ye...yes. I'm so sorry." Merasmus said as a tear falls from his face. "I didn't even get to say goodbye..." Sky said. Merasmus let's go of the timberwolf pup. "I'm sorry." Merasmus said. Sky sniffs and looks down. Twilight and the others come out of the cottage to see what happened. "What happened? We heard crying!" Twilight said. She sees the timberwolf pup as it was hugging Merasmus. "Umm..." She said. "That thing killed her mother, so Merasmus agreed to take care of her." Fluttershy said. Merasmus looks at Twilight and the others. "I didn't know that I killed her mother. I will make sure that she will be happy." He said. "But...how are you gonna take care of a timberwolf!" Twilight yelled. Sky stuck close to Merasmus for protection, hiding behind his right foreleg. "I am responsible for her mother's death, so it would be best." Merasmus said. "That's gotta be the coolest thing!" RD yelled. "But...a really bad thing too." She said. She tried to pat the pup on the head, but Sky retreated to hide behind Merasmus. "Don't let her hurt me!" Sky whimpered. "I don't wanna be here anymore..." She said. "I think we should go now, Sky is getting nervous and scared." Merasmus said. "Can I come with?" Twilight asked. Merasmus could see sky shaking her head a little. "I'm scared..." she said. "Shh, it's ok." Merasmus whispered to Sky. "I don't think so, Sky is quite scared, and I don't want her to be anymore scared." Merasmus said to Twilight. "Where are you gonna take her then?" Twilight asked. Merasmus saw Sky climb onto his back and hid in his mane. "I will take her with me, wherever I go. I will make sure that she will be happy." Merasmus said. "Okay, then." Twilight said, looking down. Sky hugged Merasmus around the neck. "Can we go? I've never been one to like being surrounded..." Sky said. Merasmus chuckles at how cute it is. "I'm sure that you will get used to it soon Sky." Merasmus said. "Okay." Sky said as Merasmus started to walk. She laid down on his back. "Th-thanks for...taking care of me." She said. Merasmus smiles and nods. "It's... no problem." Merasmus said. "I'm gonna miss my mommy..." Sky said. She sniffed before she started to cry again. Merasmus stops and pets the timberwolf pup. "Shh, it's ok, I'm here." He said. Sky hugged him tight as she continued to cry. Merasmus sighs and continues to make their way back to the town. TO BE CONTINUED