//------------------------------//
// Nature of the Beast 
// Story: Extremely Loud, Intensely Bright, Drastically Tense, Exceedingly Tight 
// by h4ns 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 72: Nature of the Beast

As Bryce left from the Nuts' home for the apple farm he wasn't surprised to see Thunderlane and his fillyfriend out so late; he had seen them out late several times before. He would have gotten the slate-grey stallion's attention, but it he was hungry, and tired and would rather get home, eat whatever looked good in the fridge and head off to bed. 

As Bryce tried to make his way around the pegasus couple it was Cloudchaser who spotted him first. She locked eyes with the human for only a few second before turning back to her coltfriend. Bryce would have gone by without further incident, if not for the mare’s long, off-to-the-side glance peeking the stallion's interest.

When Thunderlane glanced back and saw the human he called, "Bryce!"

By then Bryce knew he'd been a fool to think he could get past Thunderlane without him knowing; the night had been going too well. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk with Thunderlane—their history together not included—he just wanted to get home to bed so he could rest up for tomorrow. After two weeks of non-stop work, spending time with Dinky and Apple Bloom would be a welcome relief.

But now that the stallion had seen him there was no easy way out. Giving a silent groan, Bryce turned back to Thunderlane with a two-finger salute. "Hey, Lane, what's going on?"

"Nothing much. Me and Cloudchaser were just hanging out. What about you?"

"I was just helping a few friends with dinner, and I was thinking about finding something to eat."

"That's cool, that's cool. I know If you’re hungry you could join me and Cloudchaser. We were thinking about to get some drinks."

Before Bryce could get a word in, Cloudchaser drew in close to Thunderlane. "Lane, isn't that the guy you said could move things with his mind?" She asked loud enough that Bryce could hear. When she saw Bryce looking their way she added, "Did he hear me?"

Bryce's blank stare gave his answer.

"That was all just a joke, Chase," Thunderlane said to try and amend his previous tale. "I mean look at him. The only way anypony could do something like that would have to use magic, and he's got as much magic as an earth pony."

Cloudchaser took time to look Bryce over. "Are you sure, because before you said you saw him move a barrel or something?"

"Again, all a joke. I mean, but Chase, do you see a horn? How would he be able to use magic without a horn?"

Cloudchaser narrowed her eyes at Bryce, considering what Thunderlane had just told and compared it what he'd said before. She eventually gave the thought a shrug. "If you say so, Lane. Say, do you have the time, Bryce Smiles? Flitter hates it when I'm out late"

"Why? The night's still young," Thunderlane protested.

"It's almost midnight," Bryce stated, opening the front casing of his watch. "And my name is Smales, not Smiles."

"That late?!" Cloudchaser asked shocked. "I should head home; Flitter hates it when I'm out past midnight. Maybe next time we can do something together, Lane." 

"Come on, can't you be just a half hour late?"

"Nuh uh, Flitter would kill me. See you later, Lane. It was nice meeting you, Bryce Smiles." The purple-toned pegasus walked off for home.

Thunderlane could only watch as his fillyfriend left the scene. "What was that about?" 

"Was it something I said?"

"Nah, I'm sure it's nothing," he said, only believing himself halfway. "But whatever, it's her loss. So what do you want to do, cus I know this place where the booze is strong and cheap."

"Well, I'd more like to hear how she knows about 'that which you promised never to tell'." Bryce inquired of the pegasus.

Thunderlane waved the comment off. "It's nothing. I told her about that before we got lost in the bog, and Chase, well, she believes anything you tell her."

"Well, I can believe that," Bryce said with a smirk. "It's only a quarter-to-ten." Thunderlane looked at the human's offered wristwatch confirming what he had said. "I could tell anyway; she believed you right away whenever you asked if I had a horn. But to answer your question I'm not really in the mood for drinking; especially not hard drinks. I've been working for the past two weeks without a proper break and all I want is to head home and sleep. So, see you whenever."

He walked on, thinking he had left Thunderlane behind, but instead the stallion trotted until he matched Bryce's pace. "Well can I at least walk you home? It'll make the time go by faster." When Bryce didn't respond Thunderlane took that as an 'okay'.

As they reached the outskirts of town a familiar 'whoop' escaped from under one of Thunderlane's wings. "Hey, HEY, Spits, settle down! That tickles!" He said as the baby salamander ran down the pegasus' barrel, landed on the ground and ran a few feet ahead. The salamander ignited itself to illuminate the path ahead of Bryce and its keeper. Thunderlane gave a snort at this. "Still awesome, and useful."

"Not really, I mean, the moon's out."

"Okay, not useful but still awesome. I named him Spitfire, by the way. It's like the Wonderbolts captain, but it's really because he... Because he spit up a fireball last week. I'm just glad his brother's blood was still on me or I would've gotten burnt with most of everything in my room. It's worn off of Rumble, though. I think it's because he's so willing to bathe every night."

"Well, as long as you're willing to take care of it," Bryce replied. "I would say a pet's a big responsibility, but most pets aren't physically able to burn the house down."

"Which is just another way to say he's awesome. Except for last week, that was NOT awesome." The salamander gave a 'whoop'. "I know, Spits, but I'm still ticked that you got me in trouble with my parents." 'Whoop'. "I know it was an accident, but you gotta be careful; if I get kicked out you'll go with me."

"Well, he might be kicked out anyway, if he gets as big as his brothers, or his mother."

"Yeah, but that's a long way down the road. I'm sure something will come up. But what have you been working on? I haven't seen you since we got back from...you know."

"I had some work to do on a couple of wood carvings. They took a lot more work than the little figures you took from me."

Thunderlane let out a long hiss. "About that, I wasn't lying when I said I burned'em. Well, except for two; the ones you made of me and Rumble. If you want'em back-"

"You can keep'em. I've already made new ones."

"What, of me and Rumble."

"Those, the rest and then some."

Thunderlane gave a high-pitched whistle. "All of them?! That's... That's something else."

"Nope, I’ve just had a lot of time and a lot of practice. If you want to see something special go to the arts and crafts store in town, one of the works I made is in there."

"I'll check that out some time," Thunderlane said as they neared the farm. "But next time you're free we should go out somewhere and throw back a few brews."

Bryce stopped at the fence that bordered the front edge of the farm. "Why do you want to hang out all of a sudden? The last we talked you told me I was annoying you, and now you're annoying me, a little."

"Why, do I need a reason?" The look Bryce gave told Thunderlane that he did. "Okay, sure, I said that but that was before."

"Before what?"

Thunderlane's face drew back into a slight smile. "You know, before you... Before you saved me and my brother." Bryce turned his grey eyes away and leaned himself against a fence post. The smile Thunderlane held drooped. "Did I say something wrong?"

Bryce bit his lip. "Thunderlane, I get what you're trying to do, but I would rather you let it be."

"If you're afraid this is all a set up-"

"I'm sure it isn't, but that's not my point. My point is that this isn't the kind of stuff I'm into. I don't drink, I don't like being out late, and if this bar or whatever is like I think it is; if there's loud music and bright lights I'd tense up and turn into a real tight ass."

"Are you sure you couldn't at least give it a chance? I know I was a jerk to you before, but I want to make it up to you."

"Yes, and I understand that, but I don't want you to make it up to me. I'm okay with doing something together, but not because you feel you owe me something."

Thunderlane allowed that to sink in, giving himself time to come to terms with the situation. "I wasn't trying to make it out like that, but I feel I should do something. I owe my life. Not just my life but Rumble's. I mean, you're a real hero."

Bryce cradled himself in his arms. "I'm no hero. Sure, I saved you both, but that doesn't make me a hero. I'm just a guy who missed things up and was able to correct my mistakes in the nick of time."

"You can say it if you want, Bryce, but between you and me-- and I mean between you and me-- you're a hero. Heck, not like I can tell anypony who'd believe me, right? But I'll say to you, only because you're so intent on thinking you aren't." 

Thunderlane couldn't tell, but it did mean a lot to the human. His face might not show his inner feelings, but Bryce was happy by his comment.

"But I'll think of something we can do, unless you wanna reconsider going to the bar with me tonight."

"Nah. I've been up for about two weeks, and after cooking someone else's dinner all I want to do is go inside, get something to eat, and get to bed."

"It sounds like a plan, I guess. Not my idea of a perfect night, but I’ll find something to get into. Anyway I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you whenever, Lane."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

When Bryce entered the kitchen he could see in the low light he wasn't the only one not in bed. He flipped on the light, revealing Bait laying his head down on the table. Around his foreleg was a wristband, used to hide the gnarled skin graft from view.

When the light hit the tan colt he began to stir. Parting his eyes a few millimeters he fought to suppress a yawn. "Evening, Bryce."

"Hey, Bait, what's going on?"

"I was waiting for you to return but it seems I dozed off. How did dinner go?"

"Well, the girls were happy with how it turned out. I can't speak for their mother, but if you don't see me in the morning it means I’m either dead or I had to make a run for it."

"Noted, but while I have you there is something I wanted to speak with you about."

Bryce walked over to the fridge to check what was available. "Okay, shoot."

Bait cleared his throat. "Here it goes. Bryce, it has been a while since we last talked, but you had a good reason to avoid me. In that time I have thought about what you said, and I have come to a decision: You were right."

By then Bryce had his meager supper: a third-of-a-block of cheese and a half bottle of cider. "Okay, about what?" He asked as he shut the fridge door. "I really can't remember what I said."

"It was in regards to me, and my relationship with Amethyst. I think she deserves to know the truth."

Bryce remembered their conversation as he took a seat at the table. "Well, are you sure you want to do that, Bait? You could be setting yourself up for a break-up."

"I have taken a fair amount of time to consider this, and if she were to find out about my former...vocations from somepony I wronged I feel she would not take it as well as if she heard it from me."

Bryce took a bite out of the block of cheese, washing it down with a bit of apple cider. "Well, I won't patronize you about it. If she does break up with you you'll feel worse about that than from anything I could ever say to you, but if that's your choice-"

"Yes, it is my choice,” Bait responded, knocking his hoof on the table. “I don't fully understand what it is I see in Amethyst but I love her, and if it means I must be honest with her then I will."

"Well if you feel it's right then I won't stop you. She's not my girlfriend."

"Quite right, but there is a second thing I must address, since you mention that. I must apologize for my actions regarding you and Miss Fluttershy. I realize now that when you came to me for advice I should have handled it with the same discretion and care as you have my relationship with Amethyst."

"Well, there's a difference in that; you have your girl," Bryce responded as he finished the block of cheese.

"You shouldn't let that bring you down. Right now you and she are not in a relationship, but you can be."

"Well, I'd like to have a relationship with her. I'm just afraid..."

"Afraid of what, might I ask?"

Bryce took a swig of the cider before he stated. "I'm afraid of what that would do between us."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've never been in any kind of romantic relationship with anyone. Back in my world I was always the weird one of the group. You know, the kind of guy you compare someone else against on a 1-10 scale of how likely he is to do something creepy. Hell, I'd do good to have any girl my age look at me without having to force a smile."

"Yes, yes, I can understand, but tell me what it is about Miss Fluttershy that sticks out to you."

"Well, with Fluttershy I can tell she isn't forcing it. When I'm with her she doesn't mind that she’s seen with me. Every Wednesday when we go to the Farmer's Market there are a lot of ponies looking at us, and I can almost tell they're wondering: 'What the H is that guy doing with somepony like her? She could do much better than…that thing.'"

"And does she notice?"

"I don't know. If she does she never says or does anything that lets me know, but then again I miss a lot of the obvious; I don't do subtle well."

Bait nodded in agreement. "Yes, I've seen you in such a state of ignorance before. But can I ask you what it is you feel draws you to her? I assume this, but there must have been girls in your world you felt the same feelings for, but never acted on said feelings, is that correct?" Bryce gave a nod as he finished off the cider and took the empty bottle to the sink. "Okay, what is it that separates Miss Fluttershy from the rest, minus of course the difference in species?"

"For one, she always talks to me like I want to be talked to—not at me but to me. And it's the same when I do something bad. She scolds me, but she doesn't do it to hurt me, she does it so I see what I did wrong. And even after the fact she doesn't hold what I did against me. I guess the best way to sum it up is that she doesn't let me get away with the stuff I know is wrong. She just... She brings out the good in me I've had inside and it sticks."

"That does not seem such a bad thing. The same applies to me with Amethyst. With her I want to find an occupation where I draw a clean income, and not from pulling the rug out from under somepony. I feel this next question may be a somewhat touchy subject, but I feel it matters: do you find her at all attractive?"

Bryce blew out the air in his lungs. "I don't know if it's right or wrong, but I do. I find her beautiful, for a pony."

"Yes, well, as I said it is touchy, but I'm sure she would appreciate the sentiment. But to bring the conversation back around, if this is the way you feel for Miss Fluttershy why do you not 'make the move'?"

"I mean, she likes me now," Bryce began, "but I'm afraid of how she'd react to me after we spend more and more time together. Our friendship... Our friendship is fine now, but I'm afraid of what she'll see if we make this friendship into a relationship. We've never argued about anything, and when I get upset I can be nasty."

"Do you think you would be so ill-tempered with her?" Bait questioned.

Bryce shrugged. "I wouldn't know, Bait. I wouldn't know how things would play out if we ever did get into an argument. I don't know if I would dominate her or if she would yell back at me."

"That is a good question, I suppose, but one can never know unless one tries."

"Are you saying I should get in an argument with her?"

"At this point, no. For now I would suggest the two of you go out on a date—take a night out together just the two of you. You would get to know each other better than you ever knew before."

Bryce sat back on the kitchen counter. "I just don't know if I can yet, Bait. I want to, but I'm just not ready."

"Are you sure you won't give it a try?"

Bryce shook his head. "I'm just not there, Bait. I like her, and I know she likes me, but I just don't know how to be a good boyfriend to her. If I'm going to commit to Fluttershy I want to know if it'll work, and if I can treat her like she should be treated."

Bait balanced his head on his hooves and gave a small nod. "I can see your side of this, Bryce, though I can't fully understand your state of mind. If it were me I would lay my cards out and take the chance, but then again she isn't the mare I'm trying to woo, to rephrase your earlier comment." 

Bait pushed his chair away from the table. "But this conversation has gone on long enough for the night. Unless there is anything else I think I shall retire to my bedroom." He paused as he let out a pleasured moan. "It has been a while since I had a proper bed, and I do enjoy it so. Are you sure I can have your room, Bryce? I wouldn't want you to relocate just for my benefit."

"Yeah, you can keep it," Bryce answered. "At least now I don't need to coil myself up like a snake in that small bed. That, and your pink eye makes me not want to sleep in that bed ever again."

"if that is what's bothering you I can assure you it's cleared up...mostly." He looked into Bryce's eyes. "Be honest, do my eyes still stick out?"

Bryce took a look. "They are, but they're as red as they used to be."

"Drat, and I've used the medicine the hospital prescribed."

"Well, it could be an allergic reaction."

"But it's supposed to be an allergy relief brand."

"Well, allergies to allergy relief medicine is more common than you think. I'd say go a few days without it and if it doesn't clear up to the doctor when you go in for your checkup."

"Yes, I think I might give it a chance, but for now I shall retire. Good night, Bryce. I hope you sleep well."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

With his hunger satisfied, Bryce decided to turn in for the night. As he neared the barn he could see Corn curled up outside the door. The canine perked up at Bryce's approach, thinking his boy would slip up and allow him and Winona to do as dogs do. 

That’s what Corn hoped, but Bryce was quick to dash them. "Sorry, boy. I'd like for you and her to make some puppies, but AJ said no." He gave Corn a few scratches behind the neck. "Don't worry, there's just one more week of this and the two of you can be together." 

With a whine of defeat, Corn could only watch as his boy went inside without him; another attempt for him and Applejack's dog to add to Ponyville's pet population thwarted.

Inside the barn Winona felt the same ache. She hated being locked inside the barn, but she hated being kept from Corn more. She scratched at the door a few times, hoping to win sympathy points, but Bryce ignored her as he made his way to the back of the barn, the part where he'd set up his 'room'.

Satisfied that everything was beginning to wind down Bryce started to change. As he was fitting himself into his night pants he heard Corn let out a low growl, followed by a few snarled barks. He didn't know why, but he half expected those barks to be directed at Thunderlane, who he thought had returned to make another failed attempt at dragging him along for the night.

Pulling his night pants up to his waist and tying the drawstring into a knot he made his way over to the door, sliding it open wide enough so he could see out and Winona would stay in.

From his vantage point he could see neither hide nor hair—nor feather nor mohawk, for that matter—of the stallion. He could see Corn right outside, barking in rage, but at what he couldn't tell. Opening the door a few inches more he stuck his head out, his leg in the way of Winona and the outside. Despite his much improved line-of-sight, however, he couldn't see Thunderlane.

By now he knew he would have to go out and quiet Corn; if Corn kept barking off at nothing he'd get them both in trouble. Making sure his pants would stay up by giving them a gentle tug he headed out.

He bent down to Corn and wrapped an arm around his neck. "Corn, calm down, buddy. Whatever it is it's not worth it." Corn stopped barking but his warning growls continued.

Bryce looked around, not spotting anything out of the ordinary. He was prepared to get up and go back into the barn when he spotted something moving around the side of the farmhouse. It was something he wouldn't have seen if he hadn't been looking at that spot. It had been something tall enough to have been a pony, something dark grey in color

Taking his trusty shovel up in his telekinesis, Bryce whispered to Corn, "Stay here, Corn, and back me up."

Bryce went around the house, taking the opposite side of the house from where he'd seen the movement. On his side there was nothing. He pressed himself against the side of the house as he shimmied to the far corner. As he came upon the bend he snuck a peek, and again saw nothing but dirt. It had seemed he had imagined what he’d seen, until he heard something coming from behind.

He whipped himself around, his shovel raised high to strike as he came face to face with a dark equine figure. 

"Bryce, hold it!!!" The pony shouted in time to stop the human. "It's me!!!"

As the adrenaline in his system subsided, Bryce could see who the pony was, his golden eyes in the pale light moon giving away his identity. "Thunderlane, what are you doing sneaking around here?!"

"What are you talking about?" Thunderlane asked. "I wasn’t sneaking around. I was-"

Before Thunderlane could finish Corn came bounding over, barking along the way. Thunderlane didn't have time to react as the mare-sized canine came upon him, pinning the pegasus on his back like he had the time before. 

Bryce used his shovel to prod the German Shepherd off the pegasus. "Corn, get off of him." He came between them once Corn was a safe distance away, and asked, “Thunderlane, what are you doing here?"

"I... Uh..." The stallion couldn't look away from the dog's fanged smile.

"Hey, ignore him. Answer me."

"What in tarnation are y'all doin’ down there?!" Applejack demanded as she stuck her head out her bedroom window. "And what the hay is he doin here?" She asked, looking to Thunderlane.

Bryce followed her gaze. "That's what I'm-" Bryce had to stop, unable to speak over Corn's barks. "I'm trying to- I'm- Corn, shut it!" He shouted, shoving the handle sideways into his maw. "AJ, would you come and get him, please."

Though reluctant, Applejack forced herself to go downstairs, and using her lasso pulled Corn away from the scene.

With all quiet for the time being Bryce turned to Thunderlane. “Now that he’s gone answer me. What are you doing here?"

"I wasn't here to cause trouble, if that's what you're asking. And I wasn't sneaking around. I saw you walking around and I followed you back, honest."

Bryce took a moment to look for any tells. "Okay, if you weren't sneaking around what are you here for?"

"I came back because I thought of something we could do. You see, there's this race in Whitetail Wood next weekend, and since I can't use my wings I thought it could be a chance to stretch my legs."

Bryce stare down at him for a second. "Is that everything?"

"Yeah, I mean, that's all I wanted to say." He looked off in the distance at Applejack as she tied Corn up to a fence post. "Dang, you weren't kidding when you said dogs don't like things they see as a threat."

Bryce looked on before he gave a smirk. "Yeah, I wasn't. That dogs been with me since he was a puppy that just showed one day." He turned back to Thunderlane. "I'll think about it, Lane, but I'm not much of a runner."

"That's cool. I mean, I was just throwing it out there. Not like you could beat a four-legger like me, anyway. Not with those big things at the end of your two legs." 

"Yeah, well, we'll see about that come race day. Speed's one thing but it's endurance that wins, and I’ve built up a lot endurance."

"Yeah, and Chase says I've got plenty of that. Well, back when I could still fly I had endurance. Don’t know about my legs, but we’ll find out next weekend. That’s all wanted to say, so I guess this is bye, again."

"Sure, see you whenever, Lane."

Thunderlane made his way off the farm, meeting up with Spitfire at the entrance.

Bryce made his way to the barn, where Applejack stood waiting for him. "So, care ta explain what all that hootin' and hollerin' was about?"

"Nothing, Corn just doesn't like Thunderlane."

"Uh huh... So what'd he want?"

"Nothing big. Just wanted to know if I wanted to compete with him in some race next weekend."

"You mean the Runnin' of the Leaves?"

Bryce shrugged. "I don't know, he didn't say the name."

Applejack stared into Bryce, sizing up the situation. "Why's he actin' all nice to ya all of a sudden?"

"We made up," Bryce stated in kind.

"That so? Made up how?"

"Why don't you say what it is you really want to say?"

"Fine, if ya want me to go out and say it. Bryce, Ah'm beginning ta think ya may be settin' yourself up for a fall with that featherbrain."

"There's nothing going on. We made up."

"Yeah, and ya won't tell me how."

Bryce crossed his arms in front of him. "You don't need to know the how."

They stared at each other for a while; Applejack wanting to press the answer out of Bryce and Bryce wanting Applejack to drop the matter so he could head off to bed. In the end, the latter happened. "Well, since it's so late Ah'll let ya go. But you watch yourself, Bryce, cus Ah doubt that fella's got your best interests in mind." With that said Applejack trotted off for the farmhouse, turning back once to give the human one last look. 

To Bryce it was one last warning, telling him to watch himself around Thunderlane. But her attention was more on the shovel in his hand. In her half-awake state from the time Corn first woke her up that night she almost believed she'd seen Bryce draw the tool towards him without actually touching it. She would have said something, but given how late it was she chalked it up to a mix-up between what she saw then and what she saw in her recurring dream.

In her mind she believed that, at least, but in her heart the situation still didn't seem quite right.

Once Applejack had went back inside, Bryce looked over to Corn. The way he had his ears back showed he felt ashamed. "Well, Corn, you made an ass of yourself, but you did it to defend me. So I'm conflicted."

Corn looked up, giving Bryce the puppy eyes. Can I go free now?

Bryce gave a smirk. "I think you've suffered enough." He bent down and unhitched Corn from the post.

Thank you

"Don't mention it, boy."

Can I get with Winona now?

"No." Corn responded with a low, rumbling growl as he dropped down on his belly. "I know, boy, but Applejack needs Winona to be in shape for when the sheep and cattle need to be moved, and she can't do her job if she's heavy with your puppies. As cute as they'd be, I can't let it happen. Now it's late and I'm going to bed. Sleep tight, boy, and if anything comes up don't bark; AJ hates it when you wake up the family." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Bryce awoke later to Corn away scratching at the barn door. Compared to the barking it was much softer on the ears, but that was small when compared with the fact it was 2 in the morning. He rolled out of bed, petting Winona along the way and opened the door a crack. Corn went silent. "Corn, what is it now?"

There's someone out here.

Bryce gave a grumble. "Who, Thunderlane?"

No, someone else. Someone scary.

"What, a squirrel?" Corn barked back, forcing Bryce to cover his ears. "Okay, okay, I'm coming, cripes!" He went outside, brandishing his shovel on his shoulder. 

He followed Corn a short distance out into the orchard, coming to a stop not far off from a dark shape.

Bryce narrowed his eyes to get a better view of the shape, and what he saw almost made him want to whack himself in the head with his own shovel. "You brought me out here...for that?"

It was a sheep, one of the black sheep from the Apples' herd. Judging by the horns Bryce took it to be a ram. This particular one wandering around aimlessly, a few times bumping into the surrounding apple trees. Given the way its black wool covered its eyes it was no wonder. All the while it talked in bleating words, speaking as if to an unseen demon.

Bryce took in a deep breath to calm himself, and let it go. "Okay, let's get this over with," he grumbled. He gave a wolf call to get its attention. "Hey, buddy, you lost?"

The ram heard Bryce but chose to ignore him.

"Well, the farm's behind me, and you're going the exact opposite direction."

The sheep bumped its head into another tree, letting drop a bunch of Golden Delicious apples.

"Look, it's late. Can you please come this way so I can go to sleep?"

The sheep said a few incoherent statements that failed to make any form of sense. Bryce doubted that most of the choppy utterances would be considered. words.

Bryce bit on his lip and furrowed his brow. "Okay, I guess I'll help you," he said as he propped his shovel against a tree. He came up behind the sheep and placed a hand on either side of its body. 

The sheep responded to this manhandling by biting down on his right hand, hard enough for its teeth to draw blood.

Bryce pulled back but his hand was kept in place. "You son of a bitch, let go!" Bryce yelled out as he reeled back his free hand and punched the sheep in the face, adding more force with each blow.

In order to help the situation, Corn jumped into the fray, catching one of the ram's hind legs in his maw.

With Bryce hitting him in the face and Corn biting him on the leg the ram gave into the pain and released Bryce's hand. Further driven by his pain the ram charged ahead, forcing its hind leg out of Corn's mouth.

Bryce winced as he pulled his injured hand to his chest. The ram had managed to leave a sizeable imprint in his flesh, and in place's had managed to break the skin and force the blood to come out. Bryce took his shovel in his left hand and turned back in the direction he'd came from. "Come on, Corn, let's get out of here!"

Corn obliged, and within seconds they had returned to the farmhouse, with Bryce hobbling to keep himself upright.

Not long after the black ram came charging out of the orchard, and in no time it had caught up with the human, knocking him off balance with ease. With Bryce down the ram ran up his back, its weight keeping him pinned. It would have bitten Bryce across the back of the neck if Corn hadn’t pounced, knocking them both over.

Corn and the ram got into a death struggle, starting with Corn being on top of the ram. He lunged for the ram's throat, but was diverted by a bite on the snout. As Corn yelped in pain the ram rolled them both over so it was the one on top. The ram kept its jaws planted on the dog's snout, ignoring Corn as he bit back. 

What the ram hadn’t taken into consideration was how vulnerable it had made itself. Before it could act, Bryce rolled himself over, and taking his shovel brought the blade in a wide arc that terminated across the top of the ram’s head. The shovel resonated the impact with a loud ‘clang’.

After the strike the ram continued to bite, but as time progressed its hold lessened until it went limp. Corn continued to struggle up to the point where the ram slid off his front, his mouth coming unhooked from the canine’s maw.

Corn pulled himself up and took a stand over the sheep; growling as if daring it to move.

Bryce used his shovel to stand. The blade, once a consistent curve now had a noticeable dent that ran almost the whole way across. When he looked to the ram he gave it a few pokes to confirm what he already figured to be the case. The ram was dead, and the short trickle of blood from its nose and ear confirmed the cause.

What he did next was something he never understood. Bryce kneeled down before the ram, and with a shaky hand he pressed back the wool covering its eyes. What he saw made him shudder.

Before he could do more he heard somepony come trotting over, and when Applejack arrived she gave a look of pure horror. "Bryce," Applejack began, "What'd ya do to it?"

Bryce couldn't bear to look her way. He didn't know how she would take him killing the animal—one of their herd—and there was little he could say to explain.

Applejack cleared the distance between them, stepping past the sheep when it came up in her path. She wanted to yell at him, wanted to scold him, but at the sight of how disturb he seemed by what he’d done she caught herself. Along with the bite marks and the blood on his right hand she could tell something was amiss. And when she saw what held the human in his petrified state it made her almost do the same.

She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Bryce, come inside with me,” she said close to his ear. “Try and keep yourself quiet; Ah don't want Apple Bloom seein' this." 

Bryce did as he was told, taking great care to walk with as soft a step as humanly possible on the house’s rickety floorboards. Applejack seated him at the kitchen table while she went to retrieve the first aid kit. Taking a rag and a bottle of rubbing alcohol she cleaned his wounds, apologizing beforehand for any pain it would cause. Once it was as clean as could be, the apple mare wrapped the hand in gauze bandages and taped them in place. 

Applejack put away the medical supplies and said, "Bryce, Ah'm not gonna ask you what all happened out there, but I want ya ta tell me the truth. Did ya do anything to make it hurt ya like that?"

Bryce shook his head in response.

Applejack nodded in agreement. "Ah trust that ya didn't—I just wanted to hear it from you." She walked towards the living room. "You just sit there and recover. Ah'm gonna go get Big Mac and me and him are gonna take care of that...thing." Applejack made her way upstairs, being quiet so as to not wake her little sister.

Bryce kept his seat the entire time. When he had faced the ram he had had a sneaking suspicion of what would be hidden under the ram's wool. It had been a sight that forced his stomach to turn over.

When he had seen the ram’s eyes it made him think back to two weeks ago, to the moment as he and the pegasi were escorted back to Ponyville. What he felt then was the same way he felt now, and months before when he’d been consigned to Ponyville Hospital for a night; a strange wave of emotions that had made him once run for his life. 

The ram's eyes had been the same shade, the exact same shade of red as those of the catoblepas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, far off in the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters the catoblepas smiled, or at least what could pass for its smile as its head was kept in the dirt. Though things had not gone completely to plan—Golden Eyes was meant to give the juice from the devil's snare to Bryce—the human had remembered him, and he was afraid. But this was a small victory compared to what it had waiting in the wings. 

Golden Eyes would have a second chance. After all it had given him two dosages; one for Golden Eyes to see the effects of devil’s snare for himself, the other for their ultimate victim.

The wildebeest with the large, grotesque boar's head sneered at the thought of the human, the second thing in its millennia long life it had failed to defeat. At the beginning it had decided to concede and accept defeat, but as time passed its failure weighed it down, a weight much heavier than its head.

Since Bryce's victory over him the catoblepas had found it hard to take the life of any of its past few victims. Not that he minded taking a life mind you—he took great pleasure in doing so, each and every time. No, instead he found it hard because he was weak. Mentally weak. Spiritually weak.

The beast hadn't counted on Bryce being able to defeat him in the Oneiros, the land the mind would go when at rest. Nopony had done that to it in centuries. 

But maybe there lay the difference, Bryce was not a pony, nor was he a griffin, nor a diamond dog, nor a dragon. Compared to the human all of these beings had been as easy as throwing a piece of scroll in a fire to set it ablaze, including the dragons.

Regardless of Bryce’s origins it was this defeat that had weakened him so, for not only had Bryce managed to survive, he had also taken the life of his avatar, a feat the catoblepas had thought impossible inside the Oneiros. His avatar had been weakened and scathed before but never before had it been killed, and in the process Bryce destroyed a significant portion of the catoblepas’ life force.

Despite this event the catoblepas did not allow itself to dwell on this old battle; it had lost and there was no changing its outcome. Instead he would have to bring the fight against the human in a different way: In the waking world.

The catoblepas was not a fool, however, it knew there was no chance it could take on Bryce in person. No, he would need another way, and that way had presented itself in Golden Eyes. With Golden Eyes—the name the catoblepas called the feeble Equestrian—there was a way, and that way was made all the better by Golden Eye's closeness, his friendship with Bryce. 

And it was through this 'friendship' the catoblepas was able to garner information, piece by piece.

One such piece of information was the human's dislike for murder and death, and it was this weakness that had given the catoblepas Golden Eyes. If the human had been willing to allow Golden Eyes to perish he would not have foiled the catoblepas' plan, only delayed it, but nonetheless the human's act of heroism would be his downfall, and the catoblepas would put its tool to good use. 

The catoblepas knew it would take time, but it had time and plenty of it. All it would take was a rattle of the cage, a jab every now and then, but in the end the catoblepas would have Bryce in the split of its hoof, and then he would crush him, take his life force and all would go back as it was before.

But for now the catoblepas smiled to itself. Golden Eyes had done enough for now, and pressing on too strong at this early in their murderous campaign would give him away. 

No, now was the time to retreat a safe distance and wait for the opportunity to present itself. Tomorrow was another day, and next week another week.