From the pages of Hellboy, Lobster Johnson finds himself in the strange land of Equestria. Can he survive the perills this world has to offer, will the locals take kindly to him. Will he be able to find his way home, or something better, a friend?
From the pages of Hellboy, Lobster Johnson has stopped another Nazi attempt to bring down America. The leather clad crusader of justice didn't acount for the disasterous results that would follow. Bieng sucked into a world beyond his regoniction, the Lobster must withstand the multiple blows to his sanity, the creatures and beasts of the Everfree forest, and the endless pursuit of the Equestrian Solar Empire. Follow Lobster Johnson on his escapade throughout the land of Equestria. Taste the claw!
He knew the Nazi spy division was hiding at the meat locker down at Sheryl Street, conveniently located near a row of Smarty Plugs Electronics Convenience stores. Each one robed during a citywide blackout. Coincidence would be the first major thought anyone would think about. But under his close scrutiny, the vigilante traced the ski masked men on the rooftops. They spoke an awful lot of German for an American street thug. A inside source of his revealed the list of stolen parts, only furthering his suspicions. The fact that the meat locker was sold five days to a store brand that doesn’t exist sent the dark vigilante into the seemingly abandoned house of flesh. The Nazi scum would not escape the closing claw of The Lobster, not without their brains full of lead shots and their foreheads branded with his mark. So The Lobster sat patiently in the rafter beams, the shadows and dust masking his presence as he patiently waited for the condemned to enter. His goggles glowing a burning orange. Several meat hunks hanged from the ceiling, giving of the repugnant scent of raw flesh “Nien, Nien. Where you born yesterday? I said I needed the capacitors wired off to the main power stablelizers. The Fuhers dream of invading the American pigs will not be achieved if we allow mistakes to be made!” Von Stienbach, one of Hitlers paranormal science division, entred the room with his guards. The vigilante had been trailing the skinny pale doctor’s movements across New York, and according to the blueprints he found earlier within the office in the building, he was attempting to open a portal to Germany. He observed as four of the guards sat off to Stienbachs left as the scientist configured his dastardly creation. It was a huge silver ring, with a diameter of 20 feet. Multiple wire and coils ran of as a stone inner ring spun around, runes inscribed into its surface, giving off a blinding light. “It is time to begin the test; the B division is standing by in Berlin. Let us begin jumpstarting the electrical circuit. Allow full power to the pans dimensional engines, soon those American pigs will taste the Fhurers might.” “Taste justice Nazi scum!” The leather clad vigilante jumped off his perch, his twin pistol guns unleashing a precise barrage of lead. Hitting the ground the vigilante dived of to the side, avoiding the barrage of the two remaining guard’s Tommy guns. “Oh shit man it’s The Lobster, we got to scram!” Turning their backs they fled as best they could, but already The Lobster picked them off from behind. Four shots was all that was needed. Their bodies fell on the floor, bullet holes riddled there chest spilling puddles of blood. The Lobster soon fled into the shadows, avoiding Stienbachs final guard. The burly goon pulled out a grenade launcher, spinning wildly on his feet trying to catch his bearings. In desperation, the guard searched for any sign of the vigilante. Seeing a flash of orange, the goon unloaded two grenades into the darkness. A deafening explosion decimated the wall, shooting off bricks to the side, The dust settled into a disturbing silence “That’s it,” the guard panted. “The Lobsters dead.” “No matter, the portal is already synchronized. Soon the SS will storm New York from the inside, Lobster or not.” The scientist turned to the awesome power radiating from his machine. A ghostly white wall formed within the circular rings, already the vortex started to funnel the air throughout the room. “Yes. Once the pans dimensional engines engage, the allied powers will unable to depend on a crippled America.” “Taste the claw!” Steinbach turned around, the sound of a gunshot ringing in his ears. The last guard was sprawled on the ground dead, blood trickled down from between his eyes. The Leather clad vigilante stood over him, reaching down and pressing his gloved hand to the corpses head, the Lobster left a glowing red claw upon the flesh. His orange goggles stared directly at Stienbach the whole time, like a lion stares at its prey. “Doctor Stienbach, studied forty years of physics until you moved to America under false pretense of work visa. Also killed over thirteen innocent people you abducted off the streets. Found them in the freezer. Their body parts dissected to create help create this machine” “No! You can’t stop me! You can’t stop me or my glorious machine!” The doctor ran up to the terminal controls set up in front of the teleporter. The scientist started typing in a sequence, cursing German under his breath as he attempted to speed up the process. The Lobster just stood their staring, unnerving the doctor to no end. Reaching a gloved hand to his belt, the vigilante took aim with a grenade, “You won’t stop justice!” The Lobster threw the live explosive, landing right upon the teleporter terminal. “No!” the doctor screamed, but it was too late. The explosion shredded the terminal, sending scraps of steel throughout the doctors’ body as if it was nothing but butter, his own machine bringing about his own demise. The Lobster walked over to the mangled corpse and finished branding the deceased doctor when he realized that the telepoter was still active, and at full power. The Vortex began vacuming everything in the area with a unbelievable force. The vigilante’s feet flew from under him, but he managed to grab what was left of the terminal, the force almost snapping his shoulder. Grinding his teeth, he tried to pull himself, but the force was too great. The Lobster lost his grip screaming a blood curdling primal yell as he scrambled against the pull. Flying toward the teleporter, he hit the white wall, his molecules pulling apart as a wave of pain spread like fire across his body, his essence sent across the known of existence. Before the Lobster could completely blackout from the pain, a single thought of determination crossed his mind. Whatever hell awaited on the other side he would conquer and overcome, that not even death would stop him from inflicting justice.
Fluttershy could never say no to her animals. Whether it was due to her passive nature or the unbounded care she showed to them she couldn’t say. But when Angel protested against eating his usual carrot seed salad, Fluttershy could only tremble and hide behind her flowing pink mane as the bunny continued on his silent rant. For that reason only, the yellow pegasus found herself on the trail to Zacorras through the Everfree Forest. She kept her head low, her eyes shifting constantly as her hooves fell upon the worn path. “Normally I would enjoy the forest,” Fluttershy whispered to herself. “The animals here are usually such nice critters, but it seems awfully quite now….” The pegasus words trailed of into the disturbing silence of the forest. The sun was soon ready to set and Fluttershy wanted to turn tail and run, bur she knew that if she returned empty handed without ingredients for Angel’s dinner, she wouldn’t hear the end of it from the bunny. Granted she couldn’t actually hear the bunny, but she could read the bunny’s body language well enough. Fluttershy’s mind wandered of to the other aspects of her fluffy little friend as she walked down the darkening path, not noticing fog starting to creep into the path.
“Why can’t Diamond Tiara leave me alone? It’s not my fault my parents are gone!” Applebloom screamed. The little filly galloped through the Everfree forest, not much caring for the destination, as long as it was somewhere far from anypony. Her tiny little hooves pounded hard against the forest floor in a gallop. Applebloom cried the the whole way, tears dribbling down her eyes staining her bright yellow coat. She could tolerate Diamond Taira’s harassment on her and her friends most of the time, but today was different. Applebloom recalled how she and her friends where sitting next to the swings during recess, brainstorming new ideas on how to get their cutiemarks. “What if we tried playing instruments?” Scootaloo suggested. “Yeah! We could be the Cutie Mark Orchestra!” Sweetie Bells face brightened up at the idea of being able to make music. She could just imagine herself standing on stage, her white coat shimmering in the spotlight as she conducted a true piece of art. “I don’t know, remember what happened last time we made music,” Applebloom reminded.
“That’s totally different Applebloom! This time we don’t need to concentrate on making a set or anything. We can pool in all are efforts to make song!” Scootaloo stepped in placing her arm over Appleblooms neck. The orange pegasus ruffled her friends red hair, being careful not to undo her friends bow. “Well ok…” Applebloom said. “As long as I get to play guitar I’m in!” “Oh oh, look who’s heading this way!” Sweetie Bell cringed, preparing herself mentally for a verbal assault. “What are you blank flanks doing here?” diamond Tiara walked up behind them. Her lackey Silver Spoon blocking any forward escape. “Yeah what are clumsy crusaders up to now? Pig wrestling!” The dastardly divas laughed it up. The schoolfoals started to gather around the five foals, conversing amongst themselves in whispers as they observed from the sides. “Now that I look at them, they do look like pigs!” Diamond Tiara said. She took a couple steps forward kicking dirt into the trio’s faces. “For your information, we where going to form our own orchestra,” said Scootalo. She was always the brashest of trio, and only a fool wouldn’t notice the growing edge to her voice. “If you have any comments, please address them my hoof!” “For your information, BLANK FLANK, my daddy can buy and sell you orphans by the dozen, so if I where you I would head back to that shack you call an orphanage!” Scootaloos eye’s narrowed at the remark. Her friends could feel her tense up from the sheer stress. Scootaloo took two steps forward, her mind relishing the beating she was going to serve, she deserves this, she thought. “Scootaloo stop! She isn’t worth it!” Applebloom stepped between them, standing on her hind legs, arms spread defensively. “She isn’t worth it. Would Mrs. Open Hands be proud if yah beat one somepony for getting on yah nerves?” Mrs. Open Hands was the head of the local orphanage. She was a nice pony already into her fifties, and despite her age, did a very good job in raising her foster children. The orange pegasus loved her like a mother, and would do anything for her. Scootalo stared at Applebloom before giving in, sighing as she reluctantly turned away from Diamond Tiara. “No your right Applebloom. She isn’t worth it.” Scootaloo took on last look at Diamond Tiara, giving a sneer as she and her friends walked pass Silver Spoon. “Like your one to talk about disappointment Applebloom!” Diamond Tiara shouted behind them. “Your parents probably left you because they where disappointed of you becoming a no good failure!”
Applebloom stopped in her tracks. Nopony had ever dared to bring up the topic of the missing Apple family elders. It just wasn’t a subject talked about in this town, whether out of respect or formalities, nopony spoke of them. Applebloom new the story, her sister Applejack had been honest to her, “It was bout eight years ago, when yah had just come round to be one year old,” Applejack explained to her younger sister, her green eyes full of regret, “when a drought came along. It was so bad that even the orchard dried up. Momma and Poppa said they where heading to Applepalooza to get some help, they said it won’t take no long.” Applejack broke down that moment, and between sobs she finished. ”They took the train as soon as they could, they where in the back caboose, when during the night they just……” Applejack held back her tears finishing, “disappeared”
Applebloom didn’t like fighting; heck she wasn’t even good at it. But at that moment, she didn’t care, she twirled around running as hard as she could, turning on her front hooves, she pushed all her weight to her right as her flank faced Diamond Tiara, and with a force that dented trees, bucked Diamond Tiara in the nose. Diamond Tiara fell flat on her flank with a face of shock and pain. Slowly she brought a shivering hoof to her front snout, as she wiped off a small trickle of blood. Her face started to swell and bruise and turn a nasty shade of purple, which her pale violet fur only helped stand out. The actual tiara lay on the ground split in two as the surrounding fillys stared in shock. Applebloom just stood there staring down at Diamond Tiara as tears welled up in both of their eyes, “Don’t yah ever go talking of my family that way!” Applebloom just turned around and continued walking, shoving past her protesting friends. Only when she was sure she was out of site did Applebloom break into a run. She started to yell out in sadness and shame, trying to swallow in gasps that she seriously harmed another pony. She didn’t whant to face the consequences, much less the shame that would surely come from her classmates, and worse she thought, her sister and family. So she now she ran, headfirst into the Everfree forest, whising for seclusion until she could straighten out her emotions. So she continued to run, her body never faltering despite her hooves now being buckled and scratched, ignoring the ever increasing fire growing in her legs and chest, she continued until she reached a small clearing. Only then did she allow herself to rest and recuperate. She laid in the tall grass, her legs curled beneath her as she continued to weep, interrupted only by her short gasps of air. She didn’t notice a mysterious fog grow around her. The wind around her started to pick up and scream in whirling moans. Little did Applebloom know that the clearing she sat in was a fixed point in time and space that was now being bent at every possible conceivable angle, bringing something new into this Equestria.
The Lobster was being driven to the edges of his sanity. It was as if the whole of existence, including him, was covered in a veil of pitch black nothing. There was no sound, no sense, and no touch. Days had passed since he had passed through the deceased doctor’s machine, or was it minutes? The Lobster couldn’t tell, not anymore. After passing through the portal the Lobster awoke in this place, all traces of pain he felt moments ago melted into nothing. He tried to stand up or at least move his arms, but was surprised when he couldn’t feel his body respond at all, there wasn’t even a tingling to suggest disrupted circulation. It was as if his whole body had melded into air, and when he tried to gasp, no sound was to be heard.
Any normal person would instantly fall into panic, being unable to move, speak, and feel anything would send most into frenzy. But the Lobster remained calm, at least he thought so. But soon, the vigilante fell into conversation to himself, going hours into his escapades and cases. But being unable to make sound amongst his thoughts brought even more paranoia. The Lobster wasn’t one to sit still no, he had spent almost every waking hour of his vigilante career, investigating and interrogating victims in both speakeasy and streets, getting into fights and shootouts, and his favorite, uncovering Nazi espionage agents. To say the Lobster was a busy man would be and understatement and this place was getting to him. When was the last time he moved, he couldn’t say.
“At least if I was dead I wouldn’t be able to think at all,” the Lobster thought. He wasn’t one to believe in an afterlife or even less, a god. But he had run into his fair share of the occult. Facing of against floating brains, mummies, and a living skellington on fire was new to him, but he preferred to think of it as unexplained science. Yet, that same science brought me here, the Lobster thought. He rolled his shoulders to relax the numbness he felt. “Wait numbness!”
The Lobster soon felt the tingling spread from his shoulders, across his chest, and throughout his body. He could feel his senses slowly return to him. He could feel movement and touch return to his arms, as if they where building up from nothing. Soon his body was restored, floating still in the blackness. And then pain came again. The Lobster screamed, he felt as if he was going through the portal again only worse. His muscles and tissues turned inside out and strained as they twisted upon themselves. His chest contracted into impossible densities and exploded. His eye sockets where set aflame, all he wanted was for it to end. And it did, the pain ceased, but the Lobster was still conscious. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apple Bloom didn’t notice the mists, but as soon as the wind howled her attention snapped from her thoughts to the swirling vortex around her. The yellow filly looked at her surroundings, her turmoil turning into fear. The wind speed was growing faster and faster as the mist began to rise with growing storm. Branches of ancient oaks snapped and popped as they sped into the rising eye. And the sound, Apple Bloom had never heard anything like it. It was as if many ponies where screaming and churning in pain. Applebloom screamed, but the howl of storm overpowered the cries of fear. Lightning began do fall upon the clearing, as thunder began to resonate to the pulse of Equestria. Apple Bloom scuttled for cover behind the tree line, one hoof holding onto her red bow. She cowered behind a grey knarled tree as the vortex reached a crescendo. Apple Bloom felt shivers run down her spine as she heard the screams. And her eyes widened as she saw the sky. A tear about the size of an ursa minor appeared in the sky, a bright white light radiated from its core.
Apple Bloom hung to the trunk of the tree, as a huge beam shot from its center smashing against the ground, pulsing in a unequis white glow. The beams light intensity softened with every pulse allowing Apple Bloom to squint into it. Apple Bloom was filled with dread, what she saw scared her to no end. It was a skelington, one that had no natural origin on Equis. It stood on two long legs; its chest was laid bare allowing Apple Bloom to see into its ribcage. She held back nausea as she observed the creature’s heart and organs pulsing alive. Luckily for Apple Bloom, mist began to gather around the beam, blocking her view.
The tendrils of mist shifted and twisted into muscles and skin that where laid back on its owner’s body. A final layer was added to the body, forming black clothes that only made it more intimidating. Apple Bloom stared at the fully formed creature, eyeing it nervously for signs of threat. It stood a good foot taller than Celestia in height, its shoulders being wide enough to carry two Cutie Mark Crusaders. It dressed completely in black; it sported a button up rocketeer jacket, a blue claw symbol marking his chest. His pants jutted out from the side of his thighs before leveling back down to meet his tool belt, holding an impressive array of pouches and tricks. Apple Bloom looked at the creatures face and restrained a yelp. The creature had turned his head, staring directly at Apple Bloom, with big round eyes that cut through the falling darkness with a orange glow.
Apple Bloom was paralyzed, the fixed glare of the creature gluing her right to the forest floor. The creature seemed to be analyzing her. Wondering wether or not she was a friend or foe. Apple Bloom decided in a heart beat that she wouldn’t want to get on his bad side, shuddering at the thought if she did. Apple Bloom slowly took a step back, wanting to be far away from the creature as soon as possible. Turning around, Apple Bloom broke into a sprint looking back to see the creature turn away disinterested in her. She allowed herself to slowdown a little, relived that she would live. That feeling was short lived; she turned around to realize that she hadn’t been the only creature to witness the arrival. She ran back to the clearing screaming.
“Where the hell am I?” The Lobster thought. According to the blueprints from Doctor Stienbachs machine, the other end of the teleporter should have been located in a Nazi military base near the edge of Berlin. But when the Lobster opened his eyes, all he saw was a forest. There wasn’t even a receiving portal, but the thoughts of the Lobster had been put to a hold as he lay on eyes on the most cartoonish creatures he had ever seen. The Lobster struggled to keep a straight face as he observed the small equine creature before him. It stood barely three feet high with a pale olive fur coat. The Lobster stared at its eyes, amazed at how big they where. Its amaranth colored mane was held up by a light pink bow. Only after he examined the creature did he take note of its fear. Its face was in shock and its small legs trembled under her weight as she retreated backward. Turning around, it ran away into the darkness, soon disappearing from his view.
He decided he had wasted enough time already, and had better search for shelter before any predators found him. The forest was eerie enough by itself and he didn’t want to ambushed in an open space.
“Somepony Help Me!”
The Lobster heard the screaming of a little girl heading his way, he looked forward as some bushes began to rustle. Suddenly the foliage gave way as the owner of the voice burst through. The Lobster couldn’t help but feel shocked when instead of a human entering the clearing, the same equine creature as before burst through the tree line crashing into his legs. He was beginning to doubt ever hearing a voice
“This can’t be the one who cried for help! Ponies can’t speak!” His thoughts where interrupted when the creature screamed before him.
“Ahhh! The Monster!” The small pony turned to run back into the forest, but her path was blocked when bright green eyes opened at the edge of the tree line, surrounding them and blocking any form of escape. The dense foliage shook around them, followed by low growling that filled the air as a pack of wolves stepped forward into the clearing, the moonlight illuminating there forms. The Lobster was even more suprised to see that the wolves in front of him where not of flesh, but of wood, more precisely twigs.
They stood well above the small pony, but only reached to the Lobsters waist. The group parted allowing the alpha wolf to enter. Being even taller than the others, it stared menacingly at the Lobster, instantly recognizing him as the biggest threat. It raised its wooden lips showing of its sharpened teeth. Giving off a nasty snarl. The Lobster reached a hand instinctly towards his hips, closing a gloved grip around his twin pistols. He looked into the alphas eyes, his face growing grim.
“Little girl, get behind me. Keep your head down and don’t look.” The pony looked at him with even more shock.
“Holy hay bales! You speak Equestrian!” shouted the pony, her jaw dropping dangerously low.
“I said keep your head down,” he shouted, and not a moment to soon. The pony ducked to the ground just as a timber wolf lunged from behind, jaws extended for a deep strike. The Lobster twisted around, smashing his elbow into the wolfs jaw, shattering it into twigs and splinters. Two more attacked from his sides trying to overwhelm him. But he countered with a spinning kick squarely on the left ones head, knocking a few teeth loose with a nasty bone shattering crunch. The Lobster followed through with the kick, turning his body as he kneed the other wolf between its neck and chest area. All three wolves ran with tails between their legs, back into the forest, sounds of whimpering trailing their retreat.
The Lobster then turned to face the alpha, both staring intensely at each other, not wavering from the others gaze. Both silently challenged the other to make the first move. The alpha gave a bark, telling his comrades that the stranger was his. The wolves retreated into the tree line, watching from the safety of the shadows as their leader faced against the Lobster. The standoff lasted several seconds until the alpha suddenly lunged foreword with vicious speed. The Lobster tried to shoot him down, but fell on his back as the wolf pinned him to the ground, gnashing his jaws towards his face. It managed to swipe a paw at his face before the Lobster wraped his hands around the wolf’s neck, pushing against the force of nature. Summoning enough strength, the Lobster pushed with his right hand while pistol whipping the wolves face with his left. It provided enough of a distraction for him to bring his knees up and roll the wolf right off. The alpha skidded on his paws catching its grip before it lunged again, but the costumed vigilante was prepared this time, focusing a shot right on its front legs.
“TASTE THE CLAW!” And not a moment to soon, the alpha wolf stopped in its tracks only two feet away from him dropping to the ground with a splintered front leg. The Lobster stood up looking at the broken beast before him. It whimpered under his orange gaze, and he knew he could end its suffering right now.
“No,” he muttered to himself. This creature was not attacking him for simple joy hunting. Wolves, no matter if made of flesh or wood, hunted and acted as they should. As animals, and this was no exception. Besides, there are fates worse than death the Lobster thought. Reaching with his left hand, the Lobster pressed it firm grip against the squirming alphas forehead. It gave of a deep whine of pain that growed into a howl as he released his burning grip. Right there where his hand laid was an orange claw brand burning gently on the alphas forehead. The wood crackled a little as the alpha continued to whine, summoning two timber wolves. Rushing forward they assisted their fallen leader back into the tree line glancing back to give a nasty snarl before running of into the foliage. The Lobster continued to stare at the wolves, until every pair of eyes disappeared following their fallen leader. Only then did he holster his pistols and take a moment of rest. Panting heavily, he turned to look at the small pony he saved, expecting to see it cower before him after witnessing his display of action. His face turned into a frown when he was not met by fear, but to his puzzlement was instead met with curiosity.
Apple Bloom watched from the safety of the ground as the stranger fought off the timber wolves. Watching as he punched, kicked, and summoned rocks of fire from black tubes in its hands. To say Apple Bloom was amazed would be an understatement, she was stupefied. Not only had the creature fought of a pack of timber wolves, but it did it all just to protect her. She watched in awe as the supposed “Monster” stared down the alpha and held his ground against its lunges. Her mind reeled from surprise as the wolves ran away with their tails between their legs, whimpering as if they where new born cubs. She watched as the stranger hid the black tubes on the sides of his belt. Looking at his chest she couldn’t help but observe the dark blue claw symbol on the black material. It looked like a lobster claw.
“Yah saved me. Why did you save me?” The stranger turned around to look at her. She felt so small under its stare. Apple Bloom sat down staring awkwardly at the ground, the grass suddenly becoming the object of her interest. This continued for a while until the stranger suddenly spoke
“Innocents don’t deserve death,” it replied. His voice was deep, with a hint of steel backed up behind his words.
Apple Bloom couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down at hearing him speak. But at the same time she felt safe around him. That she had nothing to fear from this dark protector.
“Are you a super hero mister?” The words slipped past her mouth before she could stop them. Her eyes wavered to the ground again; she kicked her hoof out in the dirt from being so straight forward. For Celestias sake, she didn’t even know its name. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know your name and,”
“Lobster, most call me the Lobster.”
“Why they call yah that? Don’t yah have a name?” The stranger glanced at her before turning around to face the forest.
“No. Not anymore.”
Apple Bloom was taken aback by his answer, this stranger fought off a pack of timber wolves and she didn’t have a name to thank him by. “Oh no,” Apple Bloom thought, “I haven’t even thanked him yet!” Apple Bloom trotted up to the stranger pulling at the slack.
“Well stranger, my names Apple Bloom. I don’t care if yah don’t have a name, I just want yah to know that I’m really grate…” Apple Bloom didn’t get her chance to express a thank you. Her fear got the best of her as she turned around to face a rustling in the bushes at the other side of the clearing. The foliage parting to reveal….
Fluttershy came racing into the clearing. She had been wandering for a while, lost within the forest fog , jumping in shock from the slightest sound. She knew that the Everfree forest was dangerous, especially after dark. But when she heard the sounds of a little filly crying for help, she didn’t hesitate to fly at top speed. Dodging the old oaks, she burst through the tree line finding a lone scared little filly, a very familiar little filly. Apple Bloom had never been filled with so much joy, her expression changing quickly to a joyous smile as she leapt into fluttershys arms
“Fluttershy! Am I happy to see you!” She squeed as she hugged the shy pegasus. Fluttershy returned the hug, stopping only to whisper in a barely audible voice
“Are you ok? What where you doing here by yourself? If you don’t mind me asking.” Apple Bloom broke from Fluttershys hug, grinning from ear to ear.
“But I’m not alone! Look.” Apple Bloom turned around, pointing a dramatic hoof at…. nothing. Fluttershy hid behind her pink mane.
“Look at what?”
“At the Lobster! He was just here! Why did he leave?” Apple Bloom searched franticly around the clearing, hoping for any sign of the dark stranger.
“Apple Bloom, theres nobody here but us,” Fluttershy extended a wing to the small filly, gently tugging her away from some prickly bushes as the filly attempted to investigate for a seemingly nonexistent pony. “It’s really dark and we should get going, if that’s alright with you.”
Apple Bloom tugged against the appendage, craning her neck to look back for any sign of her missing friend. I hope she’s alright, Fluttershy thought, She must really be scared from wandering the forest. Fluttershy concluded to herself that this was reason enough as the pair walked back on the path to Ponyville. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apple Bloom was sent to her room after a harsh scolding from AppleJack. The Stetson wearing pony had initially cried at her return, hugging and kissing her for what seemed like minutes. But later her mood had turned rancid, as she scolded her for not only getting lost in the Everfree forest, but for her little “brawl” at school.
“Apple Bloom! Yah should know bettar than to go on hurting somepony, especially running off to avoid responsibility for your actions!”
“But sis! They was talking smack about our parents, I just couldn’t..”
“No buts missy! The Apple family does not get into fist fights. Yah might get your pride wounded but that does not give yah an excuse to just do as you please!”
“But it I was delivering justice and,”
“That is not justice!” AppleJack screamed. She looked at Apple Bloom before giving a sigh. “It does no justice to you or our family to hurt somepony over words.” Giving a final look at Apple Bloom, her sister raised a hoof pointing up the stairs to her room before turning around. “Apple Bloom, go to yah room and think about what you’ve done, will talk about this in the morning.” Apple Bloom sighed, she was now looking out the window, her gaze wandering on the edges of the Everfree forest. It was now eleven p.m and the wind had become a soft breeze.
The crickets could be heard chirping from the tall grass. It relaxed Apple Bloom as she heard the almost silent symphony of the night. It almost helped her forget the stranger she met today. She realized that besides Fluttershy, she hadn’t really told anyone of his existence. Yet Fluttershy didn’t even believe her, and she was certain that others would follow suit. No, for now she would keep this secret. She still owed that creature a thank you. Apple Bloom made up her mind, that as soon as I can, Ill head into Everfree forest to find him. Apple Bloom gave one last look out her window before heading to bed. “Huh,” she thought. “I thought I saw orange lanterns in the distance. Maybe I am seeing things.” Apple Bloom headed to bed, snuggling warmly in her sheets before dosing off, unaware of the orange pair of eyes that watched from the forest.
“But I’m sorry! I've tried to make up for it, I’m not the same as I used to be!”
“You can’t erase your faults. Your failures to the people and the ones you love have brought nothing but hurt. You must be punished, taste the claw!”
“No!”
Luna sprang out from the covers with a jolt, throwing her hooves over head as she cowered on the floor. Her breath became labored, escaping in short gasps until she took a look of her surroundings, “Oh….It was just a dream,” she realized. Taking a moment to regain at least a more decent level of breathing, Luna began to recollect her dream. She remembered that she was dreaming of Ponyville, that she was visiting Twilight Sparkle and her friends, who where all hanging out together down at the Sugar Cube Corner. She sat next to the lavender unicorn as the group laughed at another of Pinkie Pies jokes. “So I said to them, don’t be silly! Scootaloo ain't no chicken!”
Luna couldn't help but break into laughs. Just being surrounded by friends who cared filled her with joy. Even if she didn't completely understand Pinkies joke, it was way better than the constant solitude that Luna felt.
“Twilight, thank you for inviting us… I mean me, to eat lunch with you and your friends.” Twilight turned to Luna with a smile
“Don’t think of it Princess. You know what they say, keep your friends close,” Twilight's smiled quickly faded into a frown, her entire coat turning into a nasty shade of gray, “And your enemies closer.” Luna’s cheerful demeanor slipped into uneasiness as she looked at the rest of the ponies, Their coats and manes colored gray as they stared at Luna with despise in their eyes.
“What do you mean, are we not friends?” Luna tried to keep the fear from creeping into her voice without success.
“We would never be friends with Nightmare Moon,” the mane six answered, with a union, their voice melded into a almost hollow out drone.
Suddenly Luna felt the floor beneath her give away. She threw her hooves in the air, desperately hoping that one of her friends would lend a hoof. But no help came as Luna was plunged into complete darkness, watching as Ponyville shrank to a blip of light and finally disappear. She twisted in the air, flailing around for anything as she continued to descend. The sudden appearance of a white marble floor rushed up to meet Luna, hard. The cold stone knocked the wind right out of her with a jolt; Luna coughed and gasped spitting out traces of blood from her mouth.
“Why are you laying down my dear sister?” a voice asked from the surrounding darkness.
“Celestia? Is that you?” She cried. The darkness was then uplifted to reveal that Luna was in fact in Celestia’s throne room. A red embroiled carpet split the room, rolling right up to the golden throne, where the tall white alicorn sat. Celestias gaze was compassionate and caring as she looked down to her sister,
“Luna, why do you lie down in court… while your being convicted” Luna snapped her attention back to her sister, only to see a cold steeled eyes bore into her. Luna’s spine tingled with chilling dread. She had seen those eyes only once in her lifetime, and at that time, they where pointed at Discord. To be at the receiving end sent Luna’s stomach into lurches. Luna raised herself from the floor, keeping her head bent low, trying to avoid Celestia’s gaze.
“Sister, please! What am I being convicted of?” Luna asked. Her eyes crawled to meet Celestia’s.
“Don’t play coy with me sister. Or should I better say, Nightmare Moon!” Celestia spoke with the royal canterlot voice now. Stomping a hoof on the ground, and conjuring from it a silver lined mirror. But what met Luna was not her own reflection, but instead the legendary mare on the moon; Nightmare Moon.
Luna could only turn her head and sob, not wanting to see the haunting mare that was her former self. But she couldn’t, the mirror just moved into her view. Showing her the reflection of a tall black alicorn, one whose dragon shaped irises showed not compassion but hate. She tried to form words, but they escaped from her mouth as small whispers,
“Why sister?”
“Because of you ponies have been hurt and suffer. They cry for rightful justification for your crimes.” Celestia turned to her right where a jury sat, including the mane six. Twilight Sparkle took a stand, glancing at Luna with eyes full malice and hate. Luna just stared at the floor, feeling a growing resentment for herself. “We find the defendant guilty of charges against the crown.”
Each word stung hard at Luna's heart. She felt as if a huge weight was being dropped on her shoulders with every stare. Celestia stomped her hoof,
“Justice extends to every pony, no one is safe.”
“But I’m sorry! I've tried to make up for it, I’m not the same as I used to be!” Luna started to sprint forward, wanting the reach the only family figure she ever knew. But black chains appeared, tying her down hard against the floor. Any struggle being a fruitless effort.
“You can’t erase your faults. Your failures to the people and the ones you love have brought nothing but hurt. You must be punished, taste the claw!”
Lightning flashed, and Celestia disappeared from the throne. In place of the regal alicorn stood a tall black bipedal creature. His features where hidden by a black mask, but his glowing orange eyes sliced right into Luna sending chills throughout her. His sized increased as he reached to her, his hand glowing a burning dark red. Luna screamed.
“Luna are you alright? I heard you scream” Luna turned up to meet the worried face of her beloved sister.
“Celly!” Luna cried. She leaped forward, encasing Celestia into a bone crushing hug. “I had a terrible nightmare! Youwherethereandnightmaremoonwasthereandyouwhereallangryatmeand…” “Luna stop! Take a deep breath, and calm down. Tell me what’s the matter. “
Celestia waited patiently, as Luna took a breather before beginning to retell her nightmare. Celestia’s calm reassuring smile slipped into a grim frown as she listened to Luna’s tale. When Luna finished, Celestia was already deep in her own thoughts.
“I thought I lost you sister. I was so scared that you would hate me forever.”
“Luna, I could never hate you. Know that I will always be here for you, no matter what you may do. I will always love you dear sister.” Celestia embraced her sister, trying her best to comfort her. The pair sat there for a while, relishing the comfort of each other, as Celestia gently stroked her sister’s head.
“Luna nothing can hurt you in a dream, nothing in there is real.”
“I don’t know sister. The creature, it felt so real. But at the same time it was as if didn't belong to our world.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The logic was simple, where there is water there must be a source. Three hours of following a river finally yielded results for the dark vigilante. Breaking through the tree line, the Lobster found his much searched water. A mighty waterfall of at least thirty feet in height crashed down upon rocks, which then flowed into a calm lake. Kneeling down at the edge, the Lobster dipped his cupped hands into the cool water before taking a sip. Once his thirst was satisfied, he unclipped a canteen from his belt and submerged it into the lake. The dark vigilante stood up taking a moment to analyze the scenery before determining his next course of action.
Where there is a waterhole, there will be predators, and they must surely have a den, he thought. Allowing his gaze to settle upon the muddy water bank, he realized at that moment how truly bizarre this world was. He found animal prints in the mud, but unlike any other seen before. Massive paw prints similar in form of a lions dug deep into the ground, along with small claw prints hinting to that of a small chicken. Yet to what was visible to him, not a single sign of a struggle for such a prey. Moving further down into the river he discovered a trail of scales, as if a giant snake lived in the river. The Lobster picked one up observing it under close scrutiny. It was as big as his head, colored light purple, brilliantly reflecting the light of the rising sun. “Morning already?” he said to himself. He had been walking up the river all night after the incident with the young pony. Counting the hours before his arrival, he realized that he’d gone two days without sleep, Assuming that this worlds time is even close to my own. A world with wolfs made of wood and little ponies that talked, if the Lobster didn’t know any better he would say that this was hell, or at least a strange state of purgatory. But he knew better. The Lobster had seen hell himself, in different cases across New York. He knew for certain that hell was on earth. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“SOOOOOOOOO your saying you want us to come with you into the Everfree forest to find somepony that probably doesn’t even exist.” Scootaloo tilted her head waiting for a response.
“Eyup,” Apple Bloom answered.
“And all because you forgot to thank it for possibly saving you?” Sweetie Bell asked
“Aha,” Apple Bloom responded. The two friends nodded together in agreement before speaking in unison to their closest friend Apple Bloom.
“Your nuts,” they exclaimed.
Apple Bloom frowned, she expected her friends to be much more willing of the prospect of a new adventure.
“I’m not nuts. I’m just being polite. I mean, who leaves somepony who just saved your life without even a thanking him! If the same thing happened to you I bet yah would do the same,” she countered.
“But from what you said, it’s not even a pony,” Scootaloo pointed out.
“Yeah, what if it’s an invader from another world, it could be dangerous!” Sweetie Bell added.
“There’s no telling what it might do!” Scootaloo yelped.
“What if it foalnaps us and sucks our blood,” Sweetie Bell exaggerated, bearing her teeth in a rather comedic manner.
“What if it uses its alien technology to takeover ponyville,” Scootaloo exclaimed.
“And then the rest of Equestria!” added Sweetie Bell.
“Girls!” Apple Bloom interjected, “I thought yahl knew better than that!” Both crusaders turned their heads at Apple Bloom, caught midway in awkward positions. “Didn't we learn to not jump to assumptions based on someponies look?”
Apple Bloom scrutinized her glare at the two crusaders, trying as hard as she could to mirror the same glare Apple Jack gave her last night. Narrowing her eyes and pushing her bottom lip in a snarl, she smiled inwardly finding both her friends to drop their gestures and focus entirely on her…Just to drop on the clubhouse floor in laughter.
“What are you guys laughing at!” Apple Bloom cried. She expected her friends to show a little more respect. She seriously hoped she could bring her friends around to see her point of view, Maybe if I offer them Granny’s Apple pies for the next week they’ll help? Apple Bloom thought. Throwing a side ward glance to the weeping willow marking the start of the Everfree forest.
The Lobster knew things could be worse. Three weeks in the cannibal infested sewers of New York had steeled the vigilantes mind, demons and oddities constantly popping out drove him to push his body’s physical limitations. Throughout his journeys, the Lobster learned without question that there where worlds out there, beyond earth and any perceived space, I just never thought there would be one full of talking….ponies!
The vigilante had never encountered anything quite like it. It was almost as each creature had popped from the pages of a child’s coloring book, albeit colored in a wide variety of bright eye melting neon. The very idea of a intelligent race of talking ponies was stupefying, driving him to retreat into the dark woods to contemplate the possibility of insanity only for the theory to be blasted to smithereens every time he returned to reexamine the quaint little town.
“No,” The goggled hero muttered to himself. Even the ghosts and demons I fought seemed more plausible of encountering than…this! He took a moment to peer out from behind some willows to observe a ranch, with immense wide spreading acres of apple trees being cared and toiled for by two lone ponies. The first being the biggest, he was head taller than his counterpart, his height almost reaching to the vigilantes chest. His bright red coat glistened with sweat as he pulled against two plows attached to a horse collar on his neck, muscles bulging from the continuous task of tilling the soil. The second pony, though not as tall and broad as her partner, toiled just as hard. Kicking with both hind hooves and against apple trees, she pulled her long dirty blond mane into a simple ponytail, the rest cresting out in a bang from beneath a light brown Stetson hat.
“Whew, it’s almost be about noon now Mac,” stated Applejack wiping streak of sweat off with the back of her hoof. “Why don’t yah take these baskets in and buckle down for lunch, Ill finish up for yah here and meet you there.” The stout pony took a moment to reexamine his work, not wanting his sister to over exert herself like last time. They were still paying for damages for the bunny stampede. With a firm quite nod, he untied the plows from his horse collar and trotted off to a nearby house. The Lobster returned his gaze to the light orange pony. He pondered quizzically to himself why the pony was doing all the work when not a couple meters away sat a ranch of cows.
“Have these ponies even gone through industrialization?” he muttered to himself.
He turned his gaze back to the town, scanning the crowd that had collected around a local market. It was rich in variety, and went deeper than just colors. Inspecting the crowd more thoroughly, the Lobster found himself cringing, discovering that it was not just ponies that occupied this world, but also unicorns and pegasus! He watched them go about their daily business, flying on disproportional small wings, using acts of magic and telekinesis as casually as if breathing air r. It was daunting how much the world resembled a child’s fantasy, the building made completely out of candy only furthering the hero’s displeasure for this cheery reality. The Lobster took one more sweep of the town, his goggled stare piqued by a peppy pink pony skipping down the market. Her infectious bubbly personality only served to sour his mood further, which not a seconds past, turned to shock! He tensed his body as off in the distance, in the quaint little town full of oddities, he saw the same pink pony turn around and wave.
