//------------------------------// // Don't Follow the Willowy-Wisp! // Story: Bad Luck for a Bad Manager // by DarkStarWolf53 //------------------------------// "Come closer? But why?" asks Svengallop. "Because there are hostile listeners around." "Okay..." He approaches the unicorn stallion, unusually cautious. Something doesn't feel quite right... This 'Willowy-Wisp' seems nice, but why do I feel like I should run away from him..? "Why so afraid?" asks Wisp. "I... don't know." "Calm down, my friend. I'm not going to hurt you." As he speaks, the unicorn moves in much closer and brushes his muzzle against Svengallop's mane. "Whoa, wait, what are you doing?!" "You don't like me being so close?" "It's not that, I just want to know why!" "I don't get many visitors out here. Especially in the way of handsome stallions." "Uhh... thanks for the compliment..?" "You're a bit dense, aren't you?" "What do you mean?" "I'm trying to flirt with you." "Oh! Uh, well, I'm not sure how to respond to that. I mean, I've never had anyone, mare, stallion, or whatever show any interest in me..." "Well, perhaps I can remedy that." "I'm not sure..." Something about you feels 'wrong' somehow. "Come now, you shouldn't be so skittish. I'm not going to hurt you, not myself anyway..." "What do you mean you won't hurt me yourself?" "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all." "No, you definitely mean something!" "Shh, shh, come with me." "To where? And why?" "I know a nice, hidden place where you can stay." "Why hidden? What don't you want others to know?" "Let's just say I'm not exactly well liked." "Oh? Why not?" "Some have spread... disturbing... rumors about me, claiming I'm a traitor, that I lure in travelers to make them my slaves." "Is that true?" "Oh come now, why would a unicorn living in the forest as a hermit want slaves?" "Hm, good point. But why would a hermit let me come near them?" "Sometimes I get a bit lonely out here, and long for companionship. Of course, it was easier to find company before she interfered with my plans." "Who? And what did they interfere with?" "A pinto mare. I doubt you've met her though. You're still alive." A pinto mare? Pinto colors aren't that common among civilized ponies. Surely he doesn't mean... "*Ahem*. Wisp, could you tell me more about this pinto?" "What is there to tell? She's a cold, cruel, calculating killer. And very clever. I've... heard... that she managed to survive for years in the now-illegal death-battle arenas, and that she actually murdered one of the most brutal slavemasters in existence because he tried to kill her." "What else? What species is she? And what are the colors of her fur? What does she look like?" "You are asking a lot of questions." "I'm wondering if we're talking about the same pinto. The one I met kidnapped me and then sold me to the Diamond Dogs!" "Hm, perhaps. Repeating your own questions, what color and species was she? How did she look?" "She was a draft-size piebald unicorn. But she was built like a deer with a lion tail, and her horn was curved. And along with her was a huge golden griffin. I noticed both of them were battle-scarred, like they'd been in a lot of fights. They looked half-wild, like they'd kill you as soon as look at you." Wisp's ears go flat against his head. "Storm," he snarls. "By Celestia and Luna, I wish she'd bucking die already! Someone needs to hunt her down and kill her! But not quickly, no, not quickly. She needs to suffer til she begs for the sweet release of death! And even then, she shouldn't be given that mercy!" Svengallop backs away. Okay then, I believe this stallion is insane. Perhaps I should go see if there's something less bloodthirsty out here, maybe a manticore... But before he can bolt, an eerie blueish-white glow envelops his hind legs, making him fall. Behind him, Wisp's horn and eyes glow with magic. "What, leaving so soon?" asks Wisp, "I'm afraid I can't allow that." The unicorn keeps tight magic hold on Svengallop's legs, keeping him from getting up, and moves in uncomfortably close. "You're mad! Stark raving mad!" "Now is that any way to talk to someone who offered you safety, hospitality, and possibly other benefits as well?" asks Wisp, almost whispering in the other stallion's ear. "You are making me extremely uncomfortable! Please go away!" "Oh, but you'll never survive alone in the wild, my dear." "Can you at least get out of my personal space?!" "Very well. But it's getting late. You might want to stay in my den tonight, or else one of the many nocturnal predators will get you." "But how do I know you won't do something to me while I'm asleep?" "I'm no coward, pretty-colt. If I wanted to do something to you, I'd make sure you were awake and fully alert, so you could try to fight or escape. Now come, it gets later by the minute. And I'd rather have you alive than caught as prey." "...What's that supposed to mean?" "Let's just say I have use for you..." "That doesn't sound good!" "Too bad you don't have a choice!" Wisp's eyes gleam with a savage light and he tightens his magic hold, then rears up and literally throws his captive into the nearby cave. Svengallop's head strikes a nearby wall, and he goes out cold.