The Solution

by P-Jay

Chapter 5

Ferric stiffened. Hiero barely had a moment to question why Ferric was unsheathing the broadsword slung his shoulder, or why there were screams of alarm from the front, before the caravan was bowled over by a wall of flesh. It rolled once, twice, before settling on it's side on the ground. From one side of the caravan, an 'X' appeared, as ponies began climbing out. Ferric being the first, who jumped down to the ground, his unnaturally dark silver blade held at the ready.

He narrowed his eyes at the Alpha Manticore who was currently tearing apart one of the ponies that had been pulling the caravan along, a glazed look in his eyes.

'Too late to save him...'

Ferric turned his gaze to the others. "Get behind the caravan. Don't help. Don't make a sound." He said with a startlingly confident, and serious voice, stalking towards the manticore, putting the sword's hilt in his jaw...

Hiero gulped, and scurried to do as he was told. Because even as terrifying as the manticore was, the pony getting ready to fight it so casually, seemed to radiate a vibe that shook Hiero to the core.

As if that pony had dealt with things, things that were beyond Hiero's nightmares, and still emerged victorious. He heard the roar of the manticore, as it noticed the challenger approaching, and heard the lunging of the great creature.

He peeked his head over the caravan, to watch, despite what Ferric told him to do.

He gasped, at the sight. Already, in the manticore's overconfidence against Ferric, he had already somehow sliced the tail of the beast off. It wriggled disturbingly, on the ground, frantically searching for it's stump. The manticore had reeled backed, baring it's teeth, showing off it's claws, and stretching it's wings--all four of them--as wide as they could go. It was a truly terrifying sight, one Hiero was sure even a dragon would cower away from. Apparently, Ferric was either blind, or truly nerveless, as he kept approaching without being slowed in the slightest from the display of rage. Only readying his blade once more, in response.

The manticore steadied itself, locking it's one eye on Ferric, who was startlingly close by now. It noticed the clench in his jaw, readying himself for an attack. It decided to take to the skies, flapping it's four wings once, to rise high into the air. It flexed it's claws, beginning to fly in circles, around the pony, before swooping behind the pony, and diving, to rip into his back...

What it didn't notice was Ferric bracing one hoof, and spinning with unnatural speed, his blade slicing into the manticore's paw. By time it had flinched away, it's paw was dangling by a tendon, hanging in the air. It was backing off, trying to make some sort of distance, obviously pulling away from the unexpected damage. It began to spread it's wings, clearly getting ready to take off, to flee, from this superior predator.

But...Ferric tensed, before tearing up grass and ground, streaking towards the manticore's side. Flipping the blade's hilt in his mouth, he dragged it across the Alpha's side...Tearing off both wings on it's right, as a result. He immediately bounced back, dodging the snap of the jaws that came within inches of his muzzle...But the damage was done. The manticore roared, for no reason other then fear, and pain. It's wings on the left side of it's frame flapping fruitlessly, their former partners laying limply on the ground. Rapidly backing off, slightly unbalanced from the shift of weight, and it's paw in no condition to assist with movement, it roared again--only this time, it came out as if it had stage fright.

Hiero's gaze of wonder had steadily turned into that of shock. He could understand why Ferric wasn't allowing it to back off, or admit defeat...But...Did he have to do it so savagely? He reminded himself that if the situations were tied, the manticore wouldn't have hesitated either. The pony torn in half on the ground proved that. But even still, he couldn't help but wonder...Was Ferric's frame of mind that much different from those the ponies feared?

Ferric, having been stalking towards the manticore, sword once again at the ready in his mouth, was silently looking for an opening...He aimed to finish it off, with his next move. The manticore looked down, at the ground. It was losing blood. And fast. Even now, black began to tinge the edges of it's vision...Rushing that pony would be a mistake. Yet rushing was all it knew. If it turned it's back to this pony to flee, it was as good as dead...So what to do? It couldn't keep backing away forever...

Ferric kept approaching, not giving it any ground. The look in his eyes betrayed nothing but murderous intent, his posture conveying a readiness to attack the moment it showed weakness or arrogance.

It was at this moment, Hiero was certain, staring into the beast's one eye, that it knew it was going to die. He saw the hope drain from it's eye, lowering the wings it still possessed, it's constant retreat reducing to a meek inching away. It was depressing, to see such a beast give up. Hiero couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy, even if this very same manticore had claimed many lives of ponies. The fear, of watching it's own death approach, and knowing that it can do absolutely nothing to stop it, must be worse then whats to come.

Hiero ducked back under the overturned caravan, and closed his eyes. Even through covering his ears, the roar that was abruptly cut off, ending with a gargled whimper, still made him shiver.

It was a minute, before Ferric came round the overturned vehicle, looking over the ponies huddled behind it.

"...Is everyone okay?" He asked, sheathing the broadsword across his back.

Hiero mentally answered no to Ferric's question. After all, the pony the manticore maimed first was the opposite of okay. And he himself felt scarred, from the event he just witnessed. That clash of predator versus predator, and the second when it realized it was now prey...He once again shivered, thinking that it could easily be him one day. Except, from his lack of skill along the likes of Ferric, and lack of sheer instinct and natural strength like the manticore, he was twice as likely to be put in that situation one day.

"...We're all fine, just bruises and scraps." One of the older unicorns replied, standing up. The others began to follow suit, now that the threat had been dealt with. Well...Lesser threat. Now that Ferric had asserted himself as more dangerous then the apex predator of the area, there was an unspoken dominance factor radiating from him. No-one, at least, no-one who was currently in his presence, would feel safe trying to do anything beyond being submissive. Then again, of course, Ferric was a mere pony, like the rest of them. Even if they were somewhat fearful of him, he wouldn't retaliate too violently...Right?

Either way, Hiero was glad Ferric was on their side. He muttered a few words of confirmation in response to Ferric, standing up, alongside the others, as they started to levitate the caravan upright. It took them quite some time to Synchronize...But they had time to spare, anyways. Hiero even got a chance to help, although it was briefly. Trying to align his magical wavelength to theirs was tricky...It was always wavering. Always changing, never consistent. In the few spare seconds everyone was aligned, lifting the cart upright was far easier then what could've been called cumbersome. They made sure to gather the deceased pony's remains, wrapping up the two pieces in a drape leftover from tradings, earlier that day...

Hiero fought back the urge to gag, riding with a dead pony. It felt so...Real. Disturbingly so. Knowing that if he had just been a few years older, and had he been pulling the cart, that could've been him wrapped up, to be burned at midnight.

Ferric was resting near the back, as if nothing had happened. Hiero focused on keeping his food down, for the rest of the trip. They rode in silence. Although whether or not the silence was inspired by the casualty, or the fact that a pony like Ferric was riding with them, Hiero wasn't sure.

Author's Note:

yo-kay, sorry, but i just had to get a fight scene out of my system. although it wasnt really a fight it was a pretty savage beatdown.
*crowns Ferric Prince of Savagery*
but anyways, Hiero is gonna be the first candidate for wielding one of the swords. exactly how thats gonna happen, idfk, but hey, UPDATE!! 8D