//------------------------------// // The Rush // Story: RWBY: Shadows of Our Past // by ExaltedDarkrai //------------------------------// "Wh-What was that?" asked a confused and scared Fluttershy. "What kind of creatures have the ability to wipe out 3 Equestrian cities in such a short time." "Who cares!" replied a hasty Rainbow Dash, who was extremely riled up. "We need to get back to Ponyville before that barrier closes." "Rainbow is right" Applejack was trying to remain calm in the stressful situation, and she was the only one to find success in that front, as all of the Element Bearers were frightened, with a matching look on their face. Even Pinkie showed considerable fear. "There's no point getting riled up, Twilight can get us out of here." "Me! How am I supposed to..." "Teleportation?" asked Applejack, taking her out of her panic phase. "Oh. Right, sorry, I'm just a little... frazzled after that message." "I-It's alright darling." started Rarity, trying to hide her overwhelming fear. "It happens to the best of us at our worst." "Yeah, there's no point in getting all worked up over it right now. We don't even know if these "creatures" have even made it out here yet." said Rainbow, getting over her fear after realizing that Twilight could teleport them back to Ponyville." "Rainbow is right, now everypony gather around..." "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh" Twilight started to gather herself, only for her heart, as well as the other girl's' hearts to plummet straight back down again at the sudden menacing growl. Turning around, the 6 mares were greeted with a sight that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. All six of the ponies grew horrified looks and shrank down at the look of a horrifying creature that looked ready to pounce. The creature could at it's core can only be described as a massive wolf. A wolf with massive teeth that could tear through anything, by the looks of it. A wolf with fur so dark that it would be almost invisible a night, if not for it's red eyes, with bright yellow irises. A wolf, that just so happened to be five time the size of a normal wolf. In height it stood just under the height of 2 normal sized ponies. In length, it measured about the length of 3 ponies, including their tales. The wolf had massive ears and crimson claws. At first sight these claws appeared to be stained in blood, when in actuality, it's their natural color. The fangs were this shade as well. It's tale was about two feet long and at the moment curved up, showing it's readiness for action. However, besides it's size, it's weirdest feature is the top of it's back. Instead of tufts of fur pointing op like most animals, it almost seamed as if the top of it's back was on fire. It clearly wasn't, but it looked as if the top of it's back was moving like a flame. It was natural, because it is clearly still connected to the body, but it still moved like a shadow. That's probably the best way to describe this massive, black beast... ...a giant shadow. The beast simply glared at the group of ponies, an occasional growl reminding them they weren't just hallucinating. None of them had the courage to speak, fearing that sound would prone it to attack. Oddly enough, Fluttershy, while looking like she may literally die from fear, was the first to speak. "W-what is t-that?" "I-I don't know, I've n-never seen anything like it before." said Twilight, dazed not only by it's menacing appearance, but the fact that she had never heard or read of this creature in any of the books in the Canterlot Archives, The Castle of the Two Sisters, her own library, or any of the books Princess Celestia had given her. "So, are we gonna run oooor, is getting eaten on out to-do list?" "No, running would only provoke it to attack." Applejack answered, knowing about wolves due to their constant intrusion on her farm. Although she never had seen a wolf quite like this before "What about flying, will flying work?" "Aren't ya supposed to be the Element of Loyalty" asked Applejack while starring at the Pegasus. "I really think that doing something would be better than nothing right now. I don't think a party will calm this guy down." said Pinkie as stressed as she has ever looked in her life. "I agree with Pinkie, this beast doesn't look like the conversational type." Rarity replied, clearly wanting to get as far away from this beast as possible. Twilight suddenly dawned a look of confidence and without taking eye contact off the beast said... "Alright, everypony listen. I'm going to scream "now" and you are all going to run back to me and I'll teleport us out of here, ok?" A collective group of "alright"s and "okay"s signified an understanding from her friends. After a few seconds she yelled the signal. "Now!" Twilight then activated her horn. A lavender colored aura surrounded her horn and then began to spark. one flash of light later and Twilight disappeared and reappeared about 50 feet away. The rest of the ponies did their part of the plan and ran like their was no tomorrow. However, the beast chased them down with no hesitation, and turned a simple rush to Twilight into a life-threatening chase. The beast was directly behind them snarling and growling which only made them even more scared, now knowing how close it was. Leading the front of the chase was Rainbow Dash and Applejack, whose athleticism kept them in the front of the pack. Pinkie followed close behind, putting her usual hyperactive behavior to good use. Rarity and Fluttershy followed up the rear. All their previous crazy adventures giving them the endurance and speed they needed to at least stay ahead of the beast. When they finally reached Twilight, they all piled behind her and got ready for her to teleport them. "Alright lets get out of h..." "Graaaagh" *slash* "AAAAAAH" "Twilight!" As Twilight got ready to cast the spell, the beast came up behind her and slashed her down her side with it's claws. All her friends saw it coming but were too petrified with fear to warn her. It wasn't as bad as it could have been though. Only 2 of it's 3 claws cut her and it wasn't that deep, but still deep enough for blood to seep out. Twilight was still on her feet, but still recoiling from the pain. Meanwhile, the beast had backed up and was preparing for the final strike. "Twilight are you ok?" asked Fluttershy who was most likely seconds away from bursting into tears. Applejack looked at her injured friend who was leaning against Rarity and writhing in pain, then turned to leer the beast. "That's it!" she said, while gritting her teeth. `` She charged the beast, her face filled with rage. But the beast showed no fear. He knew he was stronger and faster than this pony and more importantly, it knew that pony was lower on the food chain. When Applejack got close enough, the beast tried a horizontal slash with it's claws. Applejack however ducked underneath it and turned around preparing to attack the beast. She reeled in her hind legs while still ducking and when she couldn't reel them back any farther, she sent her legs flying back, bucking the beast from underneath it's jaw. It staggered back in response. "Yeehah!" celebrated Applejack. "Take that you var...mint." Applejack lost all confidence after seeing the result on the her attack had on the creature. Nothing. ` The monster only stepped back a couple of times and showed no physical injuries or willingness to stop. "What? H-how did it...?" Applejack was at a loss for words. She could knock down trees with her bucking power, but the beast simply shook off the attack as a minor setback, as nothing. "Didn't you hear Princess Celestia, we can't hurt these brutes." Rarity said, setting Applejack straight "Then what are we supposed to do to...*gasp!*" Apple began to ask, only to be interrupted by the beast. The beast jumped up and came down on Applejack. It's crimson claw came straight down over the pony and gave her a gash that went even deeper than Twilight's cut, and went from the very top of the pony's side to the bottom of it. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH" yelled the farm pony who had three massive marks going straight down her. The recoil of the attack sent her flying back several feet and writhing in agony. The initial strike was most likely the most painful thing she had ever experienced. "Applejack!" shouted Rainbow Dash, who was hovering midair. "Urrrrgh." the farm pony was barely conscious. The fear of what might become of her if she fell asleep the only thing keeping her up. "Alright, my turn!" "Rainbow! No!" Twilight called, not wanting another friend to get hurt. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was going to go make sure Applejack was okay, while Rainbow was charging at the beast through the air. Her body being chased by a line of red, yellow, and blue, she yelled as she approached the monster who had hurt her friend. However when she arrived at the beast, it simply swatted her away like a common insect. The mare went tumbling to side and ended up covered in bruises. "Ugh." she mumbled while grabbing her shoulder Twilight glanced over from Rainbow to AJ laying on the ground while Fluttershy made sure she was breathing healthily. Twilight's expression then turned from fear to anger. "Rarity, hold it back for me!" The alicorn ordered. Her horn then began to gather that same lavender aura and began to charge and store magic into it. "Excuse me! How do you suppose I do that." asked Rarity still fearing for her life. "Just use your horn and blast it while I get ready!" "Oh dear." she whimpered after looking over to see the beast glancing over at the three of them and surrounding her horn with her own light blue magic. The beast was now charging at the Pinkie, Rarity, and Twilight, and Rarity then began the blast bursts of magic at the beast. It, however, effortlessly shrugged it off and continued to keep on running at the three of them. "Twilight, it's not working." "Just keep going. I only need a little longer" Rarity continued to blast away, but to no avail. Rainbow Dash had gotten up and saw the beast headed toward her three friends and yelled... "Run! Move! Just do something besides sit there! He's coming right for ya!" Pinkie and Rarity both looked at Twilight in response to Rainbow's comment and realized she was still holding her ground, giving them the confidence and assurance to keep to the plan. Twilight looked up to see the beast not being phased by Rarity's strikes and then turned to Pinkie, whose mane was half-deflated and looked extremely worried, and had an idea. "Pinkie, do you have your... ugh, party cannon." Twilight asked, in pain from concentrating on her spell and dealing with her wound. "I...yeah, I always have it with me. I don't think this is the right mood for using it though." Pinkie answered "It doesn't matter, use it on...argh, that creature!" "But I..." "Pinkie." Twilight then looked at Pinkie with a reassuring smile. "Just show him a good time." Pinkie looked down at the ground, like she was mulling something over. Then she looked up triumphantly, her hair all poofed up again with her own look of confidence on now, and said... "Now that, I can do." Then out of nowhere, a light blue cannon appeared, wielded by the pink pony herself. She aimed it at her massive target and yelled. "For Glory!" A stream of confetti and streamers blasted out of her weapon and hit the monster square in the face. it pushed him back a couple feet and he had to shake off the blow, but after he was back to charging and was feet away from his target. Luckily, that party cannon had given Twilight just enough time. She looked up, her magic stored in her horn and her face gave a look of anger and rage. "Enough!" she yelled before firing her attack From her horn came a myriad of lavender blast sent straight at the beast that exploded on impact. hundreds of magical lasers blasted from her horn headed straight for her opponent. The beast staggered and recoiled from the powerful attack. However, the attack took to much out of it, and the beast fell to the ground, head still facing the three ponies. Twilight then readied her horn for one final attack. She then quickly thought in her head about what she was about to do, "Should I really do this to a living creature. I've never done anything like...this to anything before." She then looked over to her friend, Applejack and saw her struggling to move... and that gave her the answer she needed. Her look of deep thought then changed to anger once more as she set her sights on finishing the beast She created a massive needle or spike above her, the tip aimed directly for the beast's forehead. "This is for hurting me and my frends." she said dryly before driving the needle straight into the monsters head. It made no sound as it took the shock of the blow...and died. She didn't want to see anymore blood than she needed to, some blood still pouring out the sides of the wound, detached the needle from her magic and let it sit there clogging the blood The lovable Princess of Friendship, had just killed the beast. Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow in the distance looked at the beast in shock and surprise, only to be followed by Twilight's own look of surprise and horror at what she had done. "I...I killed it." She said sadly as tears filled her eyes. She knew it was a beast, she knew it hurt her and her friends, she knew it tried to kill them. But she still was mortified by her actions of taking another's life away, even if it was an animal. Fluttershy helped Applejack off the ground, the farm pony still cringing at the pain. "T-thanks...sugarcube." Rainbow and them trotted over to the other half of their friends, Applejack leaning against Fluttershy to stay up, and simply stared at the lifeless beast. "I-It's dead." said Fluttershy in horror as tears filled her eyes as well "Twilight, I'm not gonna lie. That. Was. Awesome. I di..." Rainbow began before being interrupted by... "IT IS NOT AMESOME, I BUCKING KILLED IT." All the ponies staggered at Twilight's sudden out burst, even Twilight after a couple seconds. No one had ever heard Twilight scream or have any sort of moment like that before. No on had ever heard her swear either, which had shocked all of them even more. That's because she has never sworn before in her entire life. "I-I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash. I just...I just killed it." Twilight apologized "No, I'm sorry Twilight. I shouldn't said something so dumb like that," "Besides you were just protecting us darling, you didn't mean to..." "No Rarity, I KNEW what I was doing. I KNEW I was going to kill it. I just...It hurt you girls and I wanted to...Oh Celestia why?" she said somberly, sitting down and covering her eyes with her hooves. No one said anything, or knew what to say. The group was just filled with sadness and dodgy eyes. Then, a group of slow hoofsteps broke the silence. Twilight then felt a hoof touch her shoulder, making her look up out of curiosity to see a compassionate smile and a friendly face belonging to Applejack, who had stumbled her way over to Twilight, leaving Fluttershy's side. "Listen Twi, I know you're feeling pretty down right about now, but we need to get back to Ponyville right about now before... you know." Twilight then smiled and said... "You're right. Lets go everypony!" "What about teleporting back to Ponyville and getting cake. I added the cake part on my own. Almost being eaten really makes you hungry." "I don't think I'll be able to teleport us all back that far away after using all that magic. Looks like I've screwed up once again." Twilight said in a tone of defeat. "It's fine Twilight, a little running never hurt anypony!" replied Rainbow Dash Everypony dawned a look of confidence except for Rarity who gave a disgusted look, as well as sending a glare right at Rainbow Dash. All six of the ponies began running back toward their home with great speed. Some struggling more than others. The barrier was more than halfway closed now, and closing more every second. The ponies, not sure they would get back in time, grew even more frightened by the large variety of strange noises they were hearing. As well as the variety of things they were seeing. Creatures very similar to the one they had just fought (a smaller variety being much more common),a variety that stood on two legs that they didn't get a good look at, a variety with wings and a sharp beak, were all things they saw while running back. Twilight, out of the corner of her eye, thought she saw one that even resembled a pony as well. These beasts either ignored them, looked their way only to then shrug them off, or gave chase for a short time only to give up. Only three of the smaller wolf creatures cared enough about them to properly chase them. "Keep running!" yelled Twilight after looking behind her to see the threat behind her. "Wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon!" yelled back Rainbow, an annoyed tone in her voice. Ponyville was now in sight. The beast was still hot on their trail but the ponies kept running. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were the first to enter the town, gathering looks of worry, relief, curiosity, and fear from some surrounding ponies as they hurried Rarity in next. Fluttershy was still trotting away from the beast with AJ and Twilight leaning against her sides also attempting to trot away. She somehow managed to keep up with the others despite this, however. Twilight, who had calculated their distance and speed, as well as how fast Fluttershy could go without the added weight, put on grim look while saying... "Fluttershy, you have to leave me, you'll never make it in time carrying me." "No, let me go." started AJ. " I'm not as important as Twilight, leave me behind." Fluttershy then put on an angry stare and yelled... "Never!" She then pushed AJ and Twilight into the town with amazing strength, then jumped into the air, spread her wings, and flew faster then she ever had before. The beasts responded by running even faster. With almost no time left at all, Fluttershy flew much closer to the ground to avoid hitting her head on the barrier and barely made it into the town. The barrier then closed, and the monsters began to claw on the impenetrable force field.