Chapter 12: Never Free: part 1
I was still running even after I stopped hearing my name being called. I knew that mare was still behind me because she never gave up, and she probably never would until I was either dead or hers. Though Running into this forest might not have been one of my better ideas considering the fact that I was now completely lost.
I had been running for a long time too considering that it was a full sprint, and it's getting dark out when it was only four when I ran off. My legs were aching and the glass in my hooves stung like someone poured hand sanitizer into a paper cut. I knew I had to find somewhere to stop and rest ,but that crazy mare could be anywhere so if I stopped I'd have to find some shelter that would give me an advantage over her. This was when I found a cave that was perfect for the situation.
"I both hate and love my luck," I said to myself as I took tentative steps toward the cave in question. The caves entrance was extremely big, and the roof looked like it had jagged teeth. I couldn't see extremely far into the cave because of the moon not giving off enough light to see further into the cave.
This is one of the times I asked myself 'where did it all go so wrong' I know the answer, but I don't want to accept it.
*** 2 years ago***
"You got everything?"
"I still think this is a bad idea, Ryan,"
"It's just a myth, Chance. Don't worry, I'll protect you from any monsters,"
"You just have to be an ass over my superstitious side,"
******
NO NO NO GET OUT OF MY HEAD. I shook my head vigorously of the memory before it could play anymore of that fucking day. I was not going to put myself through all of that again!
Once I was able to focus again I started making a plan on what to do so I could survive out here until either Arrow finds me or that crazy mare does. First off was to claim that cave which would be just setting up a fire in it, and finding a particularly hidden spot to sleep in. Secondly I'd need a weapon to defend myself; good thing there are plenty of sticks and rocks around here. Finally I'm going to need a source of fresh water. Food was in there somewhere, but I hopefully wont have to eat anything I find out here due to having no survival training on what wont kill me.
I took a few steps into the cave before lighting up my horn so I could see more than a few feet. This cave was huge, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it could fit an entire stadium in it. One thing did send up some flags though; the cave walls had scorch marks all over the entrance and I could see silhouettes in some of the walls. For most people they'd turn tail and run, but I see an opportunity here.
If whatever caused all those burns is still in here I have the ultimate defense, but if it's not I have plenty of room to run around and hide in. I dimmed the light in my horn so that i could still see, but whatever might be in here couldn't spot me as easily. When I got really deep into the cave I saw something shining in the distance which caught my curiosity.
I calmly walked toward it to see what it was, and I was not disappointing. There were bits literally everywhere in this pile; I could by a fucking mountain if I wanted to with this much money! I bet you're wondering what I did next. You see, I swan dived into that bitch! You can't blame me for doing that I mean a bit is made of fucking gold!
"So this i how scrooge mc duck lived," I said to myself as I swam around in the metal coins that absolutely filled the cave. That was until I bumped into something scaly and warm however. I heard a very loud grunt before the scaly object turned over to where I was currently sitting/floating. I was horrified to realize that the scaly object turned out to be a big green dragon.
"Another thief? Can you roast yourself because I'm tired,"
"Did you really just ask that?"
"Yes I did. Now scram before I decide to do it myself,"
"How about this, I stay and don't fuck with your stuff and you let me chill in here,"
"No,"
"Okay, how about this I am going to stay and you are not going to complain,"
"Is that a demand,"
"It is and don't think I'm scared of your scaly ass!" On the inside I've been quaking in fear this entire time. This entire conversation was just in the hopes that I could bluff the dragon into protecting me.
"You got a pair kid. Don't shit in the cave," it said before rolling back over and falling back asleep. With that said and done it was time to start setting up what I'd need to survive out here which just got significantly easier. First things first however, so I began to remove the glass that was now firmly stuck in my hooves.
Good thing about hooves is that they aren't made of flesh so they help prevent pain. Bad thing about hooves the glass took almost three hours to get each bit of it out of both of my hooves. My hooves were in extreme pain the entire time, but I couldn't worry about that because I still had other things to prioritize right now.
I went outside of the cave to get a few sticks and some leaves before returning. I piled them on top of one another while keeping a few just in case I had to try again. I began to focus on the leaves in the piles and before long there was a small fire dancing around. I sat there and stared into the fire for a long time before I started to slowly drift off to sleep.
oooo!! is he gonna be his abusive dragon uncle? :D
I fought the Everfree dragon was green not red, was it en optical illusion on Chance's part or is it his roommate?
what school is open now? or is it college? and is it bad that had the dragon asked me to roast myself i would have obliged?
6367640 I'm in high school, and the dragon did ask so it would be rude not to.
6367630 could be. or it could be pinkie disguising herself as a dragon because she has to climb the highest mountain in the everfree for the cheesiest nachos on the planet and... I went way off topic.
6367610 I don't know. This group of people that follow me around just tell me what to write... help me!
*the crowd* Keep writing.
*me* Alright, you creepy people.
6368692
Somehow that makes more sense
6368708 makes sense? No, we can't have any of that here.
6367630
6368692
Yeah he was green. Here's a link
also, awesome. that is all
6368742 I know. I just mixed up the dragon from the one in dragonshy. I should probably fix the mistake shouldn't I?
Still it was pretty gutsy standing up to a dragon like that, the adults will probably think he's already insane and the foals will think he the coolest colt of Ponyville, for doing such stupid stunt. I wander when the adults will find him, how the hell are their going to convince Chance to come back with them without risking incurring the Everfree dragon's raft or lose their dignity in front of Chance. I suppose the could try and bribe the dragon, to give him back, but that would create a bad precedent with dealing with the dragon. You could use Fluttershy's Stair, but her presence would be forced and I don't think it would look good in just presenting her like that in the story.
6368783 Remember how I said I make up the story as I go along, but I do plan certain events. What happens with the dragon is one of those certain events.
6368749
If it's not too much trouble
6368783
then again he can only stay in there for so long before he starves. all they have to do would be to wait until he got hungry and left.
on the other side of that coin no adult in there right mind would leave Chance alone with a dragon until he got hungry.
my guess is that there either gonna get the most badass pony around (Twilight because of sheer power) to "Save" him, or Zecora because maybe she knows the dragon or something and can try and talk with him about Chance.
6368833 You have gotten the closest to what will happen, but your not quite there .
Edit: I also fixed the dragon thing.
6368840
Yes!
Close enough to be right, yet wrong enough so that I can be entertained and surprised.
The perfect balance.
6368833
That would not be very wise to do that, Chance has a paranoid fear of seeing that mare again. That fact is confirmed seeing that jumped trough a glass window and ran all the way to the Everfree Forest dragon lair which must me at least a 10 km gallop none stop, all the wale having glass shards bared in his hooves, he is not well, in the noggin. With that fact clear, he will hold out as long as he physically can, no matter what, that could include starving to the point of being malnourished. Chance is disturbed, he will justify any thing he does so long as he think he is in danger, the only pony he will rely lesson to is Arrow and then again that still seem tetanuses at best.
I any way I see it he will be labeled a danger to himself, no matter what
6368801
6368892 I'm just going to sit back and watch how this conversation goes. Hopefully for awhile because I like how you guys are thinking in depth about this.
6368833
6368933 I like your compliment, but I'm conflicted by being told to continue. Alright but I want a cookie!
Arrow. how the hell dose a Pegasus lose a foal. he can fly...and he has, like, hawk vision or something. Remember "Testing Testing 1,2,3". rainbow, and i assume all pegasi, has some kind of super vision/hearing that let her see/hear things from far away. and he's a trained guard. come on arrow. Probably slowed down by that delicious milkshake
6368892
but back to the matter at hand
I think Chances relationship is better than that. i mean time after time Arrow had proven himself to be a pony Chance can count on. i think if arrow came and called, Chance would come out and listen. he has had time to calm down now and is thinking a bit clearer.
however i do agree with this statement of yours
yep, whether good or bad or stupid Chance seems to react quickly and aggressively usually before he has time to think of the consequences
all in all he clearly can't stay in the cave forever or even that long but at some point after the whole "Ran into the Everfree business" is dealt with he will be forced to meet and deal with Lyra. then we will truly see what his state of mind is.
also there's that thing with his brother but i would rather wait until it all comes out to, then talk about
6368986
It would be great if it where that easy. But have you ever deal with people with PTSD? The littles things can set the off and lash out even at those they are dearest to them out a shear terror, before they even realize consessely what append. It can also take hours or even days for them to lose the effect of the adrenalin and then they can be weak and fabled to the point they will have a hard time fending for them selves and they will still be afraid, just they won't be abed to react very strongly.
Arrow would have to be very careful and patients to get trough Chance
As for Pegassy hawk eye sight I am pretty sure that they have far better eye sight than regular ponies, but I think that Rainbow Dash is a class of her own in terms of keenest and response time, coupled with her ADD and the fact she hast to be aware and alert of every thing around her wile in flight that allow her to do so and only in flight. She can't focuses on one think at a time. Arrow is a trained soldier, but he was cate off guard and was probable just too stunned to react.
6368986
It's not that easy, even if realities it, I sure hope so after this episode, it's an irrational fear that you must have a lot of force of willpower to be able to control it, and control is one thing that chance has not. Chance would need a lot of mental discipline and training to control his fear just like that. The proof of that is in use of magic, despite having a good potential in magic his unstable emotions make it so that the object he hold in his TK field can be set unwillingly on fire proves that. he would need to learn how to meditate to calm down.
I believe a formal training in magic would certainly good for him, if he ever hope to start learning to control himself
6369099
You make some good points but i got to go to work now. be back later
6369160 I'll have the next chapter out for when you get back.
6369160 thanks, disusing with you was a plaguer. Your responses I allow me to analyze the situations more critically.
6369205 I always love seeing those types of conversations in comment sections! they are always so interesting and provide a clearer perspective on what you all think is going on.
Drake seems like a chill dude.