We've been walking for 10 minutes and we weren't getting anywhere. It was cold, wet and over all really dark. I got my foot trapped in an exposed root and fell.
"Dammit! Ugh......son of a....bitch!"
"What happened?!" Twilight asked concerned.
"I fucking tripped on a damn root and.....oh hey my foots not supposed to be facing that way." Twilight came over to me.
"Oh my! that looks painful." Applejack and Pinkie came over.
"I reckon yer not going to be walking for awhile."
"Owie wowie! That must hurt alot!"
"Would you guys shut the hell up for a moment!" I thought for a second. "Damn no other choice. We need to keep moving but its too dark we cant see that well even with Twilight's spell. I really wish this didn't happen!"
"I don't think any of my spells can fix your ankle. I'm sorry!"
"We should make camp here. I don't like the idea anymore than anypony else but Ezekiel's right, we cant see and we're getting nowhere fast.
"Twilight do you know know medical spells? And don't bullshit me! I need to know."
"Well yes but none that would fix your ankle."
"That's fine. Pinkie Applejack start setting up the tent. Twilight stay here i'll need your help." the other two went to set up the tent.
"Help with what? Unless you want to walk with your foot like that forever I cant do anything."
"I wont have to walk like this just wait you'll see. god damn this is going to hurt."
"What are you.....wait your not.."
"Yep I am! 1....2...3....AUGH!!" There was a sickening crack followed by a boat load of pain. "Twilight! Quick pain numbing spell now or you die!" Her horn quickly glowed and I felt the pain wash away and numb bliss replaced it. "Thank you Twilight......Your a life saver."
"I cant believe you just did that! you could have more damage!!"
"That where you come in, it should be a minor injury now and I need to walk in order for this mission to be successful."
"Like it or not Twi hes right. Although that was mighty foolish of you!
"I know I know. How the tent coming?"
"Almost done just sit tight for a little longer."
"Ok."
------------
Just a few minutes later and it was done. Much to Twilight's dismay I walked into the tent and laid down on my mattress.
"I really wish you wouldn't walk." Twilight said.
"Like it or not i'm walking just keep my ankle from breaking and everything will be fine." She groaned but I didn't care. there was silence which was weird because Pinkie was here and Applejack was the first one to speak.
"Hey Ezekiel?"
"Yeah?"
"Twilight told us about your rifle and I was just wonderin', wouldcha mind other gun?"
"Of course." I took it out of the holster. "Since we have some down time. Alright just like with the rifle none of you touch it unless i say you can. This is the 1895 Nagant Revolver, it fires a 7.62x38MM round which are what this is. Although it is a relatively small round it can still be effective, Fluttershy knows this and we all remember the time I almost shot Applejack. But anyway, this was the Russian's choice side arm in World War II and was used alongside the semi-auto Tokarev TT-33 pistol which was made to replace it. It wasn't until the Makarov was made that they were both replaced but despite that this revolver is still used in conflict today they're just more rarely."
"Wow you sure do know a lot about those weapons."
"Of course I do."
"How many guns are there in your world?" Twilight asked
"Thousands possibly even millions."
"And what are they're purpose?"
"Well some are for self defense, some are for home defense, some are for hunting and some are made for war."
"That sounds.....awful."
"Some parts are yes."
"And what about you? why do you have 'em?" Applejack asked.
"I'm or rather I was trying to be a gun collector."
"So you have 'em just to have 'em?"
"Well basically yes."
"Ok then.."
"And there are more like you?"
"Yep. Many more."
"I see."
"Yep." I yawned. "Well I think we should get some sleep."
"Agreed, good night."
"Good night." Applejack and I said and went to sleep.
--------------
"Ow. Ow.Ow."
"I told you you shouldn't walk"
"Yes Twilight I know but I want to and now that its lighter out I wont trip again."
She sighed. "You stubborn!"
"I know this, you've told me and its for a good cause."
"Yeah your right."
"Believe me Twilight if we we're trying to find her I would listen but for now keep those spells coming."
"I believe Ezekiel, I know you care about her."
"You bet your hind end I do! And if shes hurt I don't care if it that hydra. IT.WILL.DIE!!"
"Do you have any idea how big it is?"
"Well....no but um......oh whatever we'll just have to see what happens."
"Nothing good."
"Probably not."
we walked for 30 minutes when we saw hoof prints and much bigger foot prints not a god sign and I could feel the rage building up, and so could the others. Pinkie's tail started twitching and the other looked up in a panic.
"What are you guys doing?"
"My tail twitching! That means somethings going to fall!"
"Everyone find cover!"
I looked up and saw nothing. "Come on guys we're losing daylight. we need to keep moving." And then some creatures fell from the trees and looked they were going to attack. "Of course.....its always the trees isn't it?
"Everypony run!!"
"I am not in the mood for this! we're going to keep moving and these damned things aren't stopping us."
"But Ezekiel I don't know what those things are! they could be poisonous!!"
"Then lets not let them reach us!" I took my rifle off of my back and held it in my left hand and then took my revolver out of the holster. "Now listen here! leave us alone or there'll be consciences ya hear!!" At first they looked confused and they attacked. "Oh for the love of god!" I shot a round into the air. Now get!" Shot another one and they ran off.
"Wowie zowie nice going Ezekiel!" Pinkie said.
"Congratulate me when we find Fluttershy we need to move, we're losing daylight and i DO NOT want to waste another day!" I looked back at Pinkie who looked sad. "But thanks anyway Pinkie." She was happy again. Applejack and Twilight came up to me.
"Listen we're all worried about her but that doesn't mean you have to be a...."
"Jerk. I know where you're coming from sugar cube but don't it get the best of ya, ok?"
"Yeah sorry." They hugged me and we continued to follow the tracks.
After another 20 minute it stated to get dark. I told Twilight and the others to set up camp and went scouting ahead before it got any darker. I got 10 minutes up the path when I saw something yellow. I prayed to whatever god was in Equestria that it wasn't Fluttershy. I wanted to turn around but what if it was her? I went and investigated and to my horror it was. I ran up to her but she wasn't dead she only had cuts and scratches but she was still in bad shape.
"Fluttershy?!?!? Wake up!! What happened to you?!?!"
"Ezekiel? Oh thank Celestia its you!"
"Your going to be ok just hold on." I looked in the direction of the tent and shouted for Twilight to come help but I thought that she wouldn't here me so I fired a round off into the air. "Just hold on Flutters You'll be fine." I started to tear up. "Twilight and the others will be here in a little bit."
"No they cant. they just cant!"
"What do you mean? Why not?"
"Its a trap."
There was a loud stomping sound, I looked over to where it came from and it was the hydra and it was big really really big.
"I don't care how big you are!" I took my rifle off of my back."You messed with the wrong pony!!" It roared and I shot at it, but that didn't stop it. I grabbed Fluttershy and put her a couple feet behind me. "Back. Off!!!" I fired some more. "Shit Empty!" I grabbed some more rounds and reloaded. "Head shots just remember head shots." I said to myself and shot it in one of its heads, which made a mess but only pissed it off and another two head grew. "Why does it have to be exactly like the mythology?" I fired some more but this time in its stomach. It was starting to slow down and I backed away to put more space between us and continued to fire.
"Ezekiel are you..."Twilight began to say but stopped when she saw the hydra.
"Twilight get Fluttershy and get out of here!!" she didn't move. "Twilight!! Come on!! This is no time to hesitate! snap out of it!!" She was still stuck in place. "Dammit." I continued to back up and shoot. "Twilight! I need you!! SNAP OUT OF IT!!!" she shook her head and started towards Fluttershy when I tripped over her because I to concentrated on the hydra. One of its heads came down with its mouth wide opened. Missed me by mere inches but.....Fluttershy....
"No. no no no."
Twilight went to a slow trot then stopped beside me. "Ezekiel....I'm.....I'm...
Rage was boiling up inside me and it felt like I was going to explode. "If....If you just listened Twilight.....she wouldn't be...."
"I'm.....so....sorry..."
"No its not your fault." I looked up at the hydra who looked proud of itself. "Its the hydra's."
"Ezekiel? Are you..."
"OK!?!?! YOU WEREN'T GOING TO ASK IF I WAS OK WERE YOU?!?!?" I've never felt anger like this before. She stayed silent. "I DIN'T THINK SO." I looked at the hydra."AUGH YOUR GOING TO PAY!!" It wasn't the crazy German scientist this time it felt more like the Hulk.
"Shadow hate monster! Shadow want monster dead!" Shadow said and I agreed
I smiled "Shadow.....KILL!!!" there was a shadowy mass form around me. "Shadow? What is this?"
"Shadow give master powers so master can slay monster."
I looked at my hands. "Claws. Nice." And then I went after it. The only thing I wanted other then Fluttershy was the hydra's death and not much else. I was hacking and slashing at it but it was hardly working. After a few more seconds of slicing the hydra's armor like skin I had an idea. I climbed up in between the hydra's heads, sliced one of the heads off, looked at Twilight and jumped in.
The smell was horrid but I pushed passed it. I needed to find Fluttershy and do what ever damage it could while searching.
"We need to make this thing suffer and I have an idea how." I slashed the stomach open and jumped out of it. I could hear it shrieking in pain and I moved onto the next organ I could find. Which happened to be it lungs but I only cut one open and then I cut a whole in it side and left through the hole I made. I climbed down and went after one its legs but it almost crushed me. I ran towards Twilight.
"Where are the others!?"
"I told them to stay at the campsite!"
"You should go back! I'll handle it!" Not protesting she ran off. "Ok shadow finish it just look out for Fluttershy ok?"
"Yes master." And then I blacked out.
------------
It was day time now. I "woke up" laying on what was left of the hydra, Is it creepy I found it comfortable? I looked around and the others were here Twilight was looking me over and the other were looking for Fluttershy.
"Twilight?"
"Your ok!. Oh thank Celestia. Hey guys hes awake!" she called to the others and they both gave out a happy cheer and then continued with they're search. "Ezekiel I..."
"Skip the good morning and tell me did you have any luck finding her?"
"N......no.....sorry...."
"I see. Dammit!!" I slammed my fist down on the carcass. "Yeah you deserved that you....whatever. Well i'm going back to sleep wake me if you find her I don't think I can get up"
"Ok..." I fell asleep for real.
15 minutes later Twilight woke me up.
"Well?"
"We found her but it doesn't look good....."
"Where was she?"
"She was in one of the heads mouths she wasn't actually swallowed."
"Then how doesn't it look good?"
"She lost a lot of blood and when she fell she broke her right fore leg."
"Dammit! Is she conscious?
"Yes but just barely."
"I see. Ok." I tried to get up but I collapsed. "Where is she?"
"Right over there." she pointed.
"Ok thanks." I started crawling over.
"I could levitate you over."
"Please." I noticed that my arm was bleeding. "Twilight.....my arm...."
"I know I was a spell to slow the bleeding it was worse."
I finally reached Fluttershy and she was a mess. Twilight sat me down next her. I felt like crying and just about did bt i had to stay strong.
"Fl....Flutters?"
"Ezekiel? I'm so glad your ok."
"Forget about me and concentrate on getting better."
"Ok I'll try."
"Just stay awake ok?"
"Ok I'll.....try..."
"no-no-no-no stay awake! Fluttershy! Fluttershy!!" I saw no breathing. "NO!! God......damn....it." the others started crying as did I.
"I'm so sorry Ezekiel...."
"Shut up! Its not you fault! Its probably mine somehow."
"How could it be your fault?!"
"I don't know! But It has to be!" I closed my eyes. "Shadow reveal."
"It is a sad day master."
"Is there a way we can revive her?"
"Yes but master might not survive."
"I'll take that chance do what ever you have to do!"
"Ye...yes master."
"What in tarnation is he talking about? And what in the hay is that?"
"I think hes talking about......oh no Ezekiel you can you'll die to!"
"I don't care she needs to live. Dark magic, white magic I don't care."
"This is.....I understand....."
"Good, Shadow start whatever it is you need to do. it was nice knowing you guys tell Fluttershy I died to save her ok?"
All of them were crying. "O....o...okay..."
"It was nice knowing you guys......"
"Master it is ready"
I nodded. "Good bye everypony."
Something felt like something was being ripped from my chest and then nothing. The last thing I heard was Fluttershy's voice and everyone crying.
"I'm glad it worked. Shadow.....Watch...over......her......."
"Yes master."
And then I was gone