I stop in between the house and the forest, standing there as I close my eyes. I steady my heartbeat as I breathe in. I notice everything in the world around me as I breathe out and open my eyes.
The racing hearts of a family of mice trying to be unnoticed. The smell of fear-sweat from a rabbit that fled moments ago. The eyes of six manticores staring hungrily at me and the leaves set loose by a wyvern amongst the treetop, waiting to scavenge their kills.
I breathe in once more and spring forward as I breathe out, upon the beasts before they can react. My sword swings to the right and up, slicing a scorpion tail in half. My spare arm reaches to the left to grab a tail as it plunges for my neck. A simple squeeze and I feel as much as hear the joint pop in a spurt of ichor. I spin around on my right leg, my left slamming into a leonine side, shattering bones and sending a body flying a dozen meters into a tree, making splinters fly off into the darkness.
Another swing of my sword severs a third tail, and a punch to a shoulder sends a second body crashing into another tree. I spin around and catch the last threatening stinger. I look into the beast's eyes, and I see fear. It tries to pull away in panic, but my grip is too strong. I raise my sword and press the tip to its throat, making it stop moving entirely.
The only noises in the forest are the pained yowls of the stingerless manticores, backing away from me, and the faint noises of movement from one of the distant beasts. This lasts for several seconds until “Stop!” is yelled from behind me. My head slowly turns around until I see eight equines staring at me with mixes of awe, fear and in one case, anger.
Fluttershy is trying to Stare me down, but it has little effect. “Let him go! He did nothing to you!”
I tilt my head slightly but keep my arms motionless. I keep my hold on my emotions and monotonely respond “Incorrect. He and his pack tried to kill me and all of you.”
Fluttershy seems to deflate slightly at that, but still has some steel in her voice as she says “But that still doesn't mean you can hurt them!”
Some steel enters my own voice as I respond with “No it doesn't. It means I can kill them.” At that, she realizes that she's trying to look threatening to a creature that just dealt with an entire pack of massive, lethal creatures in just a few seconds. She leaves a streak of color as she retreats behind a nearby bush.
All of the others back off slightly and I turn back to the motionless manticore. I stare into its eyes for another few moments before lowering my sword, releasing its tail and leaning back slightly.
Everything around me stops for just a second before I release a roar directly into the thing's face, making a deafening amount of noise for several seconds during which every other manticore flees into the distance and the equines have their hooves clamping down on their ears.
The manticore wastes no time vanishing after its packmates to the sounds of birds protesting in the distance. I stare after it, making sure it's gone before I vanish my sword into the immaterium and turn around to face the ponies.
They are all afraid. They saw me fight. They heard what I said, and know that I meant it. They are too innocent for this. They are too innocent for me.
I look down at the ground, sighing. “You should all head home. The manticores won't be back, and it's likely none of them will ever threaten any of you again. This forest and its creatures remember me now, and most now know that I will protect you. But there are still dangers here.”
I turn back towards the forest and begin walking into its depths without saying anything further. They all watch me go with mixed emotions before following my advice and leaving, first to Zecora's house to have a heartfelt discussion, and then to their own homes to think on the day's events.
Twilight enters her treehouse late in the evening, tired from running and walking all day. “Hi spike. I'm home.”
“Twilight! What happened? I've been worried all day!”
“Well, first we went after Applebloom, then Chaplain tried to run us over with some smoke-spewing contraption, then we went to Zecora's house and were almost attacked by manticores but Chaplain fought them off, then we had a chat with Zecora - we're friends now by the way – then we all came back to Ponyville.”
Spike looks a little dumbfounded at that, but eventually responds with “......um...are you okay?”
“Yeah, but I need to send a letter to the princess, okay?”
Spike scrabbles around for parchment and a pen for a few seconds before saying “Ready!”
“Alright. 'Dear Princess Celestia...”
Wasnt it great when adverts were only a couple minutes long at th end of the program, so we could have uninterupted 25 minute episodes. With credits and themes that didnt take up 20% of the viewing time.
Spike:We,re going to need a bigger letter.
6650866
dear princess celestia. i realized a friend is a killer today. the end.
more please!
heh.
it just feels like this song fits to me it just for some reason fits
6663826 I don't see it......
6664393 that or i like the beats either way
6663826 Whelp, thanks to you, I just wasted three minutes of my life...
6699557 YAY!
Sooo is the Everfree not part of Equestria anymore? Cause I'm pretty sure having the capital in it at one point means it was at the very least, which would mean they would have to formally relinquish all claims to it for it not to be/another nation would have to claim it and they let them have it, and Chaplain doesn't seem like the type to taunt the sisters despite his banishment.
6700923 By wasting three minutes of my life, I think it would be best to take seventy years from yours. You understand, right?
6701352 I'm planning on addressing that next chapter.
6701427 I got eternity
6703794 Damn... *Looks around for any anti-immortal weaponry. Then gasps in realization*
Be back in a few!
*Five minutes later, JATT is seen pushing the mane six wearing their elements in through the door*
AJ: ... uhh, J, what're we doin' here?
Pinkie: Wheee! Unexplainable transitions!
JATT: Doesn't matter, FIRE THE FRIENDSHIP CANNON AND SEND THIS BITCH BACK TO THE STONE AGE!
6706049 *Chaplain bursts in through the wall*
Enough of this nonsense. Back to the story!
*Pushes the mane six back out of the comments section*
Back to your nonsense, without my buddies if you please.
*leaves through a different wall*
6706130 GOD DAMN IT CHAPLAIN! Sigh... I wonder where I can find a mirror to capture people and throw into space at this hour...
6706049 i would not piss of a void god if i were you (brings out a phone) hmm who should i call? hmm ill go with... the plauge docter from scp containment vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/makingthecrossover/images/4/42/SCP-049.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140704180815
6706049 and also i can kill you right with just making a mutation to you that kinda kills you just kinda
6706520 Oh shit. It's splitting time.
Thief: ahhhh...
*Cracks neck, then pulls out a slightly tarnished surgical knife. He is covered head to toe in a gray uniform*
... let's get this party started.
Joker: Righty ho then! I'll man the cannons!
*drags a large, rusty cannon, with a faded balloon symbol on it*
Granted, she's an older model, but she'll do!
6706549 ...... .... .. VOID DEATH SAVE ME!!
6706549 better idea (pulls out a joker card) FACE YOUR BROTHER DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN!!
6707120
6706549
Okay, while this is amusing, my story's comments section is not the place for an entire roleplaying session. please take it elsewhere.
6707397 hmmm nahh
6707397 Joker: Ahhhhh... do we have to?
Thief: It's probably best to listen to the author. Don't wanna incur Chaplains rage.
Joker:fiiiiiine
Correction, they are too innocent to live if they are going to just roll over for anything trying to kill them.
6775207
So what if they want 2nd place Darwinism awards?