Fluttershy becomes lost deep within the Everfree forest, injured and chased by Timberwolves, she is rescued by a traveller who is lost in her world.
After they set off to meet with Zecora for a spot of tea and a catch up, Fluttershy and her friends find themselves attacked by a large pack of Timberwolves causing Fluttershy to become separated from the group. After becoming wounded and lost deep within an unfamiliar part of the forest and with the wolves on her tail, she is rescued from certain death by the most unusual creature.
(A huge thank you to Cirrus_Brony for his editing.) (Cover art by me.)
The girls were chatting away as they approached the cottage where Fluttershy lived; Twilight was carrying a few books on herself in her saddle bags as well as a couple of blank scrolls, and Rarity was carrying in her saddlebag what appeared to be a red and white cheque blanket. Not too far behind her was Pinkie carrying a large picnic basket humming to herself bouncing along behind everyone somehow keeping the basket intact.
“Ah sure ahm looking forward to this picnic.” Applejack said as she knocked on Fluttershy’s door.
“Me too, it’s been a while since we saw Zecora as well so it’ll be nice to catch up with her.” Twilight added.
The door opened to reveal Fluttershy cautiously poking her head out to see who was at her door, seeing the girls however she smiled and opened the door fully and stepped to one side.
“Oh hello girls, please come in.” she said quietly smiling to her friends
The girls entered her home one by one as she closed the door behind them.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t come to the gathering point.” she apologized “I lost track of time, but I did finish preparing some food we can take…if that’s ok?” she timidly said.
The girls saw on her table an array of salads and other various foods prepared in small dishes ready for transportation.
“Why darling these look simply delicious.” Rarity said as she levitated a couple of the dishes over to the basket.
“Good thing to, seeing as Pinkie wouldn’t let us see what she put in the basket It’ll be nice to have something other than just sweets to eat.” Twilight giggled.
“Hey I didn’t JUST put sweets in!” Pinkie protested as she pulled out a cake, “I put in a cake too!”
“Uh Pinkie…cakes are technically sweets.“ Rainbow stated.
“Oh…ah well.” Pinkie giggled placing the cake back into the basket.
After the girls had finished placing Fluttershy’s dishes into the basket they headed outside and began to make their way to the entrance of the pathway in Everfree forest that lead to Zecora’s house. Fluttershy held back for a moment to say goodbye to Angel.
“Now you be a good boy while we’re out ok? I’m leaving you in charge”
Angel nodded and gave her a salute before she gave him a gentle nuzzle and went to catch up with the girls. They came to the pathways entrance and began to head down it, Fluttershy hesitated a moment, always being cautious around the forest partly from her adventures inside it and partly her natural fear of the place however, recently she had slowly gained more confidence with entering the forest especially if her friends were with her. She kept quiet as she carefully looked around the trees enjoying listening to the conversations of her friends before she heard Rainbow Dash say something she thought was inevitable.
“Hey AJ wanna race?”
“Sure do! But no wings.”
“Aw spoilsport, fine.” Rainbow landed and stood next to Applejack and crouched ready to run “Care to count us down Twi?”
“Can’t we just for once walk normally to Zecora’s house? Does it always have to be-“
“READYSETGO!” Pinkie interrupted her at the top of her voice.
The second she had said go, Applejack and Rainbow were off like a shot down the pathway and soon began to disappear from view.
“Race…” Twilight sighed and face hoofed herself.
“Typical, just like two silly little fillies.” Rarity sniffed as she brushed her mane to one side.
“Well silly little fillies don’t get cake do they Pinkie?” Twilight giggled as she quickened her pace
“Nosiree-bob.” Pinkie giggled as she began to bounce quicker after Twilight.
Rarity and Fluttershy began to quicken their paces as well but Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel as if she was being watched from within the darkness of the trees. Rainbow and Applejack were neck and neck as they galloped full pelt down the pathway, eventually coming to a fork in the road where Rainbow turned her head and laughed.
“Looks like we lost the others.”
“We’d better wait for 'em here, then we can finish the race to Zecora’s.” Applejack chuckled and they both came to a slow stop by the fork.
“You’re just saying that cuz you were losing.” Rainbow teased giving her a playful bop on the side of Applejack’s face with her wing.
The two shared a laugh as they waited for the other four catching their breaths, eventually after not to long they saw Pinkie bounding up to them followed not too far by Rarity, Twilight and Fluttershy.
“So who won you guys huh, Who won? Who won?” Pinkie demanded as she looked from Applejack to Rainbow rapidly in excitement the basket still somehow not falling off her back.
“Easy Sugarcube, we was just waiting for you four to catch up before we carry on the race.” Applejack said holding Pinkie in place to keep her still.
Fluttershy thought she heard something nearby and turned her head lowering her ears to her head biting her lip as she scanned the area for anything. She squinted her eyes slightly and thought she made something out of the darkness but wasn’t too sure however, but this was enough for her to get nervous and tell the others.
“Um…girls?”
“I’m still going to beat your sorry flank anyway!” Rainbow stated as she puffed her chest out.
“You girls and your silly races.” Rarity tutted as Twilight giggled.
“Girls?” Fluttershy tried again but louder.
“Can we just get going? I want to be able to actually eat today.” Twilight said with a giggle
“Ok then well count us down already.” Rainbow said as she lined up with Applejack again.
Fluttershy heard some bushes rustling and her head darted to the location of the noise and whimpered softly as she gently nudged Twilight with her hoof but not enough to get her attention.
“T-Twilight?”
“Ok fine” Twilight rolled her eyes “Ready…set…”
“Twilight!” Fluttershy shouted as loud as she could, but to the girls it sounded just like a normal pony talking.
“Hmm? What is it Fluttershy?”
“I thought I heard something…in the b-bushes” she whispered shakily pointing with her hoof where she had heard the noise.
“Fluttershy there’s nothing-“
Twilight stopped as the bush rustled again, immediately the girls rushed to Twilight’s side as her horn began to glow in reaction, what seemed like hours passed before anything happened. The bush rustled once more and the girls gasped as the perpetrator of the noise came out of the bush.
A small snake.
The snake looked at the ponies with confusion tilting his head before it began to slither away to the other side of the pathway where it disappeared into the bushes. The girls were silent for a moment before they all began to laugh except for Fluttershy whose eyes hadn’t left the area where the snake had come from, her eyes were wide open.
“Oh Fluttershy it was just a little snake, nothing to worry about” Twilight said reassuringly before turning her head to Fluttershy, her expression dropped to one of concern as she saw her shaking like a leaf in the wind.
“Fluttershy…are you ok?”
The girls all turned to her and Pinkie gave her a light push with a hoof to see if she was still alive, she then raised a hoof to Fluttershy’s eyes and point it to where her line of vision was then squinted her eyes to see what she was seeing. She stopped when she saw what Fluttershy had seen and her eyes shot open wide and the other girls soon did the same.
There, lurking in the shadows staring right at them were at least, from what they could see, a pack of elven unusual looking Timberwolves, big ones, their eyes glowing red, and they were slowly advancing on them. Rarity was the first to scream as the wolves now knowing they had been spotted and losing the element of surprise began to run at the group of ponies. Twilight’s horn began to glow bright as she crouched her front legs slightly.
“Girls when I say close your eyes do it and then when I say now, run down the path to Zecora’s!”
“What are you doing Twilight? We can take 'em!” Applejack said preparing herself for a fight.
“These aren’t normal Timberwolves Applejack, I’m going to blind them so we can make a run for it!”
The wolves burst from the bushes blocking each end of the pathway five on each side, the alpha of the group barked what appeared to be orders as they slowly advanced; suddenly Twilight’s horn began to glow bright as she turned to her friends.
“CLOSE YOUR EYES!”
The girls complied and shut their eyes tight, however Fluttershy who was still paralyzed with fear hadn’t heard what Twilight was saying and kept her eyes wide open as she fearfully started at the wolves in front of her. A bright white light burst form Twilight’s horn covering the small area of forest in a bright white light, the wolves whined as they backed up blinking rapidly as their vision became blurred and distorted. Fluttershy blinked as well as her ears flattened again whimpering trying to see what was going on.
“RUN!”
As the light vanished, the five ponies then ran as fast as they could down the right path towards Zecora’s house leaving the dazed wolves behind them. They never once looked behind them as they were focusing on staying on the pathway and getting to Zecora’s in one piece, even if the wolves did get over their dazed like state and give chase no creature would dare go near Zecora’s hut thanks to an enchantment that protect the area around her hut.
As they broke the clearing they arrived at her hut and came to a stop breathing heavily as Rarity collapsed to the floor her mane a mess, the hut door opened and Zecora stepped out looking confused.
“Hello my friends, is something wrong? Your heavy breathing sounds like you just ran a marathon.”
Twilight took a moment to compose herself before speaking.
“Hello Zecora…we were just…running….from Timberwolves."
Zecora nodded and looked around, and then her face became more and more concerned.
“Six of you there normally is, but there is something amiss.”
Twilight looked around and her eyes widened in horror.
As the blast of light died and Twilight shouted for the girls to run, Fluttershy snapped out of her terrified frozen state she shot off down the left path in complete fear with her vision still blurred up from Twilight’s blinding spell. She ran for what seemed ages and ages, panting heavily as she tried to get as much distance between her and the wolves. She felt a sudden whack to her front leg as she collided with a root that was sticking up from a tree and crashed into the floor. She winced in pain as she landed hard on her back and rolled for a short distance before slamming into a tree and landing on her side.
She whimpered as blood trickled gently from her nose as she shakily stood up, expecting one of her friends to give her a helping hoof up, when no hoof came she looked around in a panic and whimpered once more. She was in a part of the forest she was not familiar with, and she couldn’t even see the path she was just on. She tried to make another run for it but when she put pressure on her right front hoof she cried out in pain and gently placed it on the ground.
‘O-ok if I c-can’t walk I’ll f-f-fly...’ She thought to herself
She unraveled her wings only to recall the right one back as pain shot up it and cried out again. Her eyes teared up as she began to look around panicked curling into a ball on the floor, she buried her face in her hooves and began to sob quietly.
Fluttershy was slowly limping her way through the trees her cheeks stained with tears and dry blood. She had been walking for what seemed like hours to her, every noise she heard she would quickly look in that direction and freeze with a soft whimper. Her leg and wing still hurt as she limped her way in the direction she hoped was Zecora’s hut or at least a pathway she could work her way back from. She sniffled as she tried to catch a glimpse of daylight from above the tree tops to try and figure out what time of day it was, having no such luck she decided to stop by a tree to rest and looked around nervously.
All she could hear was the sounds of the forest and not what she would want to hear, a twig snapping nearby made her stop. To her the sound of the twig snapping didn’t sound like a small animal, like a rabbit or a fox, simply walking by minding its own business. In her current fearful state of mind, that twig snapping was the sound of a timberwolf or a manticore or some other intimidating monster. She silently began to sob once more and curled up into a ball by a nearby tree.
‘Why can’t I be braver…’ she silently thought to herself.
“FLUTTERSHY!” Twilight called out as she and Applejack ran back down the pathway they had come from Ponyville to Zecora’s. They had all split into groups with Zecora Rarity and Pinkie heading in one direction as not to get themselves lost, Twilight and Applejack had gone back down the path they came from and Rainbow was flying overhead to try and spot Fluttershy from the sky.
They came to the fork in the road cautiously looking around for the Timberwolves from earlier, seeing they had long gone began to look around the area for clues as to what happened after the encounter. Twilight was trying her best to hold back her tears as she was blaming herself for Fluttershy being separated from the group, she knew Fluttershy was the most fragile of the group and didn’t take into account she may have been too terrified to do as she had asked the girls when she had performed her blinding spell.
“Twi ah think I found something.” Applejack said brining Twilight out of her thoughts.
“What is it Applejack?” She came over looking where Applejack was looking “Oh Celestia…no…”
They were looking at hoof prints in the dirt that ran down the left side of the track.
“Come on Twi we might be able to catch her up!” Applejack was about to run down before Twilight stopped her.
“Applejack this is a part of the forest we don’t know we need Zecora’s help…and besides…that’s not what’s worrying me…”
She slowly pointed a hoof at several paw prints in the dirt that were going in the direction Fluttershy had run off in.
“Oh my stars…” Applejack said softly.
Twilight laid down and let her tears fall down her cheeks.
“It’s my fault! I should have known Fluttershy was to terrified to hear me properly!”
Applejack helped Twilight up and gave her a hug.
“It’s not your fault Sugarcube…you did what was needed at the time and saved our lives, come on, we’ll go get Zecora and the others and find Fluttershy ok?” she held Twilight’s face in her hooves looking directly at her.
“Ok” Twilight sniffled as they both raced to were Zecora and the others would meet them shortly to report on what they had found.
‘Please….let her be safe’ Twilight thought as they ran back down the path.
Fluttershy was limping as fast as she could towards what she had hoped was the path from earlier, she had felt several eyes watching her for the past hour or so, and had begun to get even more unsettled and scared. She decided to try and move as quickly as she possibly could without causing further injury to her already injured leg and wing. As she came closer and close she heard a bush rustle nearby and immediately froze as she cowered at it shaking violently. She was expecting a timberwolf to launch from the bush and attack her, instead a small mouse scurried out and went past her disappearing underneath a nearby tree. She let out a sigh of relief and carried on limping to the pathway.
She came out of the trees into a small clearing and frowned realising this was what she was limping towards and closed her eyes holding back a wave of fresh tears. She rubbed her face with her good hoof and looked around at her surroundings, she could see just peaking above the tree line in the clearing a small cave on the Cliffside nearby. She decided that it was her best shot to get to the cave to get a better look at where she was in the forest and started to limp towards it, but before she could get anywhere near the edge of the clearing she whimpered and backed up.
‘W-what if there are monsters in t-the c-cave...b-but I don’t h-have a lot of options…’
Whimpering softly she started once more to the clearings edge taking one last look behind her to see if anypony…or anything was following her, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched again but decided to try and ignore it and head for the cave.
‘M-maybe if Rainbow is f-flying I c-can get h-h-her attention’
She thought as she carefully limped through the trees, she hoped they would find her soon, judging from the what she could see when she was in the clearing the sky was darkening indicating that it was sometime late in the afternoon or possibly the evening. As her body disappeared into the trees several shadows in the trees from where she entered the clearing moved and silently began to follow after her slowly.
The girls were inside Zecora’s hut, they had met back at the hut to venture down the pathway that Fluttershy had ran down and had to turn back when the tracks on the pathway abruptly stopped and disappeared rending the trail dead, Zecora had told them to go back to her hut and wait for her as she would look around herself as she had a better chance of not getting lost. Reluctantly the girls complied and went back to her hut.
Twilight was resting her head in her hooves after finishing crying with Applejack rubbing her back in support, Pinkie’s mane had become flat and lifeless as she stared out the window a big frown on her face. Rarity was sitting at the table looking down not sure what to say, the room was deathly silent as the door opened up. They all looked at the door expecting to see Zecora and Fluttershy all smiling, in anticipation Pinkie’s mane even sprung back to life. Her mane quickly returned to being flat as she returned to gazing out the window, the smiles of the girls disappeared as Rainbow Dash came in a saddened expression on her face.
“Sorry guys…I couldn’t see anything from above the trees are too thick…” she said quietly talking a seat next to Rarity “Where’s Zecora?”
“She’s looking down the path where Fluttershy….Fluttershy...” Twilight began but couldn’t stop herself from crying into her hooves again as Applejack pulled her into a hug.
“We found were Fluttershy ran off to after the wolves appeared but….” Applejack looked to the door before continuing “The wolves had gone down the same path; Zecora’s gone to try her luck at finding her before it gets dark.”
Rainbow just nodded as she Rarity and Pinkie came over to Twilight and Applejack and embraced in a group hug as Twilight softly sobbed.
Fluttershy winced in pain once more as she slowly hauled herself up the rocky pathway that lead to the cave entrance. As she got nearer she placed her hoof on part of the pathway and cried out in surprise as it gave way. She tumbled part way back down the path crying out in pain and coming to a stop in a heap in the middle of the pathway. She sobbed softly as she tried to get herself up, she had heard not too long ago the sounds of Timberwolves howling but couldn’t pinpoint whereabouts it was or how close it was to her current location.
With fear driving her she got to her hooves and began to limp back up the pathway sniffling as she did so. Tears falling from her cheeks to the dirt floor soaking the path. At last she came to the top of the pathway and to the caves entrance. She gave a cautious glance inside and saw nothing and heard nothing, which scared her more than if she had heard something. She slowly and reluctantly turned her attention away from the dark cave and glanced over the forest, she squinted her eyes to see if she could make out Ponyville or some form of building to give her an indication of where she was.
Seeing nothing she felt herself close to crying again before she spotted a small blur moving in the sky a fair distance away, focusing her gaze on it she realised it was Rainbow Dash, gasping excitedly she was about to scream her name as loudly as she could but froze when she spotted at the base of the pathway coming out of the forest several Timberwolves. Whimpering she started to run into the cave, stopping a few meters inside behind a rock shaking violently trying to stop herself crying out in fear.
Hours seemed to pass as she waited in the cave the only sounds were her shallow breathing and the dripping of water hitting the cave floor. She nervously and cautiously peaked her head out and held back the urge to squeak as she spotted the wolves approaching the entrance and hid herself once more, she heard one of the growl fiercely echoing around the cave. She scrunched her eyes tightly as the others began to growl and she heard them starting to advance.
Images raced through her mind of her life, from when she was a filly and discovering her cutie mark, to moving to Ponyville, they raced through the important events of her life such as meeting her new friends their adventures together and the good they had done for the town as well as Equestria. She whimpered as the growling grew nearer and prepared for the end.
The end however, didn’t come, she slowly opened one eye to see what was going on to see a low glowing light shine from behind her in the cave, she quickly shot a look at the wolves a look to see them terrified of something, she slowly looked to where they we relooking but could only see the light. To her the light was soothing, calming, she couldn’t understand why the wolves were in fear of it, suddenly a ball of fire shot out from the light and exploded at the base of the alphas paws causing the wolves to yelp in fear and surprise running out of the cave quickly, Fluttershy’s eyes shot open as she screamed in terror looking back to light.
She tried to make a run for it forgetting her injuries and stood on her bad hoof sending her tumbling to the floor in pain again, she began to cry and tried to crawl herself away from the approaching light source, she could hear something behind it make soft steps as it approached her Fluttershy clenched her eyes shut once more.
“Easy little one…I’m not going to hurt you.”
Fluttershy opened her eyes at the voice, it was like the light soothing and calm, she slowly looked up as the light faded and a bipedal creature emerged from the cave. It was wearing a light brown hooded cloak wrapped around it, underneath it she could just make out a dark brown pair of trousers and some form of upper clothing but was shocked as she gazed upon the face under the hood. Its skin was a light peach colour and appeared to have some form of hair around its chin; its facial features looked old as it smiled softly at her.
“W-Who are y-you…” she whimpered as it knelt in front of her
“I…am Grendel Emeric.” the creature replied.
Fluttershy tried to say something else but she felt her vision go blurry and she slowly passed out. Grendel carefully picked up the wounded Pegasus and carried her inside the cave, as he did he muttered under his breath and a small blue orb left his hand and reached the top of the cave illuminating it revealing a small camp of a bedroll, a fireplace and a few bags here and there with bits of equipment littered about. The orb shot into the fireplace igniting it and letting the fire crackled into life, he placed Fluttershy down on the bed roll as he began to mutter again under his breath, illuminating his hands in a bright whit light resting them on her body. After a few moments the light faded and Grendel sighed contently before looking outside at the darkening sky.
“All she needs is some rest…” he said to himself as he sat leaning against a rock pulling his cloak around him.
He kept his vision on the cave entrance and prepared himself, he wasn’t going to sleep that night, not while he had a creature that needed his protection.
Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes murmuring to herself softly, she winced as the bright light from the morning sun filled the cave. She realised that she had been moved from where she had passed out because she was now inside the cave, gingerly, she looked around at her surroundings. Now that the cave was more lit she was able to see what was inside it, there was a small pile of wood neatly placed in a small square column next to a campfire which was nothing more than a few burnt logs and a pile of ash, a crude but simple looking table made from a fairly large log that had been cut down the middle. She saw that it had a book, quill and inkpot resting on it as well as a few plants, and she herself was currently inside a fairly large looking piece of fabric, it reminded her of a duvet.
She gave the fabric a curious poke with her left hoof and smiled to herself at the feeling of it; it was nice and soft. She realised suddenly that the creature from the previous night wasn’t in the cave with her and she whimpered softly not wanting to be on her own again. She slowly tried to stand up wincing slightly finding her hoof to still be in pain but not as much as the previous day. As she started to make a move to the cave’s entrance she heard the sound of something approaching, quickly she lay down and scrambled back underneath the fabrics cover and closed her eyes tight shaking slightly.
The noise came closer and closer and she heard the sound of something being placed on the ground before the cover was slowly pulled back from her. Fluttershy gave a soft squeak and curled up as something stroked her head softly. Upon feeling it she started to feel relaxed and calm.
“It’s ok little one, it’s just me.”
She opened her eyes at the familiar voice and looked up to see Grendel looking back down at her a soft, reassuring smile on his old face. He sat cross legged beside her and pulled up her right hoof to his face and inspected it carefully.
“Hmm…Yes….good…good the spell is working…excellent.”
He did the same with her wing carefully opening it and closing it inspecting the base of her wing to the tip of her feathers, Fluttershy was slightly nervous as the creature inspected her, but felt a strange sense of calmness as she watched him curiously. After Grendel was satisfied he gently let go of her wing and smiled at her.
“You appear to be on the med little one, your leg and wing should be fully healed in a couple of days’ time. Now, you must be hungry.”
Fluttershy’s stomach growled loudly as she blushed slightly, she must have not eaten since lunchtime the previous day. He chuckled softly before he picked up a small bag from beside him and pulled out an apple, he smiled as he offered it to her. Fluttershy blinked before taking the apple returning the smile and began to eat it, it wasn’t as good as an apple from sweet apple acres probably because it was from the forest but it was good none the less. He smiled as he pulled a second apple and began to eat it himself savouring its juices.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I was wondering if I could inquire what your name is little one if you have one and where you came from.” Grendel asked her as she paused for a moment from her apple.
“My name is Fluttershy…I came from Ponyville…” she almost whispered her answer.
Grendel tossed his now finished apple to one side and cleaned his hands and mouth with a cloth from his bag, he pulled a second cloth from his bag and placed it next to her for her to use when she was finished.
“Ponyville…would that be that town near the edge of the forest, has a large tree in the centre of it?”
Fluttershy nodded as Grendel stroked his beard looking out of the cave exit
“Ah that must be its name; I saw that town once before in one of my nightly strolls many years ago, never did stay around long enough to see what lived there…” he muttered to himself before he turned his gaze back down to Fluttershy and smiled.
“Well Miss Fluttershy, it’s a pleasure to finally know your name; I must say you were asleep for a while. Must have been from the stress of that day’s events coupled with my healing spell…”
Fluttershy paused and looked at him slightly confused.
“Uhm…Mister Grendel…w-what do you m-mean by…that day...”
“You’ve been asleep for a couple of days Miss Fluttershy whilst your body was under the effects of my healing spell.” Grendel replied.
Fluttershy’s eyes widened in panic, she tried to scramble to her feet whimpering a little as she stood up and began to head to the exit.
“Oh no! I need to get home to my friends they’ll be so worried about me!”
Grendel quickly rose from the floor and picked her up.
“Easy Miss Fluttershy your still injured, you need rest.”
Fluttershy’s eyes watered up as she looked up at him pleadingly.
“Please…I need to get home…”
She started to cry burying her face into his robes and clung to him like a child would cling to their mother; Grendel looked down at the Pegasus in his arms and frowned as he took pity on her. He gently stroked her mane and whispered softly to her to calm her down.
“Shh…ok Miss Fluttershy…I understand, but you’re in no fit state to walk by yourself so…”
He gently placed her down on a nearby rock and quickly walked back to his makeshift camp, Fluttershy sniffled rubbing her eyes with her good leg watching him as he quickly packed up his assortment of equipment into a bag. He placed the plants he had gathered into his side pouch on his belt and rolled up the bed roll attaching it with a clip to his bag, standing up he put the bag on over his cloak and turned to her with a grin on his face.
“I’m going to take you home myself.”
Fluttershy stared at him wide eyed in shock; she didn’t know what to say. This creature who didn’t know anything about her other than her name, had not only saved her life, given her medical aid and fed her, was now offering to go out of its way to get her home. She bit her lip and tears began to well up in her eyes once more as she started to cry, Grendel walked over picking her up gently and wrapped part of his cloak around her, leaving her head poking out and resting on his shoulder and he began to head out the exit.
“Thank you…” Fluttershy whispered
She sniffled and laid her head on his shoulder closing her eyes as Grendel descended down the pathway smiling.
The girls arrived at the palace in Canterlot in complete silence, it had been two days since Fluttershy had disappeared into the forest, and the girls had spent the last day trying to find her non-stop with the help of Zecora, but to no avail. Fearing for the safety of their friend they had agreed on going to ask the Princess for assistance whilst Zecora and Rainbow Dash would stay behind and keep looking.
Out of all of the girls, Twilight had not said a word for the past day nor had she slept, all she could think about was that it was her fault and she had possibly doomed her friend. She fought to hold back her tears as they entered the throne room, Celestia sat on her throne with a smile on her face which soon disappeared into a frown of concern upon seeing the sad looks on the elements.
“My dear ponies…whatever is the matter?” she asked softly.
The girls remained silent for a moment, Rarity gave Twilight a hug as the purple unicorn struggled to keep herself from crying, Applejack stepped forward removing her hat and looking up at the Princess.
“It’s Fluttershy Princess…she’s missing…"
Applejack told the Princess the events of the day and how Fluttershy had gotten separated after Twilight had saved them from the Timberwolves; Twilight looked away from the Princess in shame and hid her face in Rarity’s mane sniffling softly. The Princess remained quiet as she listened to Applejack, after she had finished explaining what had happened and what Rainbow and Zecora where doing, she raised her hoof up and Applejack stopped talking.
“I see…this is indeed a troubling thing,” Celestia frowned as she walked over to Twilight.
Twilight looked up and her ears flattened against her head as she prepared for a verbal assault from Celestia about how she was irresponsible and it was all her fault. Instead Twilight felt the Princess embrace her tightly, like a mother hugging her child.
“It’s my fault Princess…I-if I hadn’t of… “Twilight burst into tears burying her face into Celestia’s chest as Celestia stroked her back giving her a soft nuzzle of affection.
“It wasn’t your fault my student…if you hadn’t done what you did it might have been a lot worse…as for Fluttershy’s wellbeing,”
Celestia looked towards the window of the throne room that had a view of the Everfree forest and approached and closed her eyes; her horn began to glow as she focused in on Fluttershy’s life energy. She let her mind settle and she entered a dreamlike state with her mind leaving her body and floating out of the window high above the skyline and towards the Everfree forest, she gazed down at the forest honing in on Fluttershy. When she had found her life energy she ‘flew’ down into the forest below and zipped just beneath the tree tops scanning for the little Pegasus.
As she came closer and closer she could make out the life energy of another creature, the feeling was familiar to her, it gave her a sense of peace and security. This was however short lived as she felt another creature’s life energy come into her mind; this energy was similar to the creature that was with Fluttershy but darker and more malicious. She tried to focus in on it but as she did her entire mind was clouded with the image of a black hooded creature and three piercing red eyes that glowed under its hood, it giggled slightly as the sound of wood rattling entered her mind and grew louder and louder. Unable to take it anymore she let go of the spell and returned to her body with a loud gasp, Celestia took a couple of deep breaths as she looked down at the forest as the girls, who had been watching her, and rushed to her in concern.
‘What…what in Equestria was that?’ she thought to herself.
“Princess?”
She heard Twilight call her and felt her nuzzle her side softly looking up at her with a concerned expression; Celestia looked down at her student and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Fluttershy is safe.” Celestia started, the girls immediately began to cheer as Pinkie’s mane poofed back into life.
“I-Is she really Princess?” Twilight asked with tears of joy in her eyes.
“Yes, I can sense her life energy as well as that of another”
“A-another?”
“Yes, she appears to be being assisted by a friendly creature.” Celestia said turning her gaze back to the window.
‘And if I’m not mistaken…it’s one of his kind…’ she thought to herself.
Celestia told the girls that the best thing to do was to go back to Ponyville and tell Rainbow and Zecora the news, then, to carry on as normal and wait for Fluttershy to return. The girls left the room happier and they past Princess Luna who they greeted and headed out of the palace; Luna approached her sister and saw she was looking out of the window deep in her thoughts looking worried.
“Tia…is everything alright?”
“Huh? Of Luna…well…yes and no.”
Celestia told her sister the events that had befallen Fluttershy and how she was being helped by a creature whose life energy she seemed to almost recognise. Luna gasped when she mentioned the creature her eyes lighting up in glee.
“Tia…could it really be him?”
“No Luna it’s not…granted the energy is similar to him, it’s not the same person.”
Luna looked a little saddened by this and looked out of the window along with her sister.
“There’s something else Luna…I didn’t tell this to Twilight and her friends for fear it would make them feel worse than they do now or make them do something that would end in disaster.” Celestia turned to her sister looking worried.
“What is it Tia?”
“When I was searching for Fluttershy’s life energy, I found it as well as the one who is helping her, however…I felt another energy…similar to the person with her but much more…darker and evil” she turned her gaze back to the window.
“So uhm…Mister Grendel….if you don’t mind me asking that is…what are you?” Fluttershy asked him.
They were now slowly making their way through the forest when she asked Grendel the question, Grendel pushed passed a branch that was blocking his way keeping his eyes in the direction he was heading.
“Firstly Miss Fluttershy Grendel is just fine, and secondly, I’m a human.”
Fluttershy lifted her head from his shoulder and moved herself carefully so she was facing where they were going.
“Human?”
“Yes, we evolved from monkeys many years ago, that is if you believe those quacks at the Royal University,” Grendel chuckled “Personally I think it’s a load of rubbish, we were created by the Gods otherwise, why would they grant us help in our time of need if they didn’t create us?”
Grendel stopped for a moment in his tracks to pull out a small flask of water from his pouch and offer it to Fluttershy who took it, thanking him she took a small sip as Grendel began to walk again.
“Royal University?”
“That’s right, the Royal University of Cyrium” he looked at her seeing her give a confused expression “Cyrium is the land I come from.”
Fluttershy nodded her head in understanding as she took another sip from the flask, she found it strange that she wanted to ask him these questions but part of her wanted to get to know the human who was helping her better, and another part thought that Twilight would love to hear all about this if she wasn’t able to meet Grendel, either way Grendel seemed to not mind answering her questions and she smiled feeling more comfortable.
“I see…and what do you do in Cyrium?” Fluttershy asked as she handed him back the flask.
Grendel smiled returning the flask to his pouch and stepped over a fairly large root that was sticking up from the ground, clinging a bit tighter to Fluttershy so she wouldn’t fall from his grip.
“Well, I’m part of the Council of Mages,” he saw Fluttershy give the same confused expression again and chuckled, he found it cute. “The Council of Mages is made up of individuals who dedicate themselves to art of magic.”
Fluttershy nodded as she allowed him to continue.
“The Council has been around for centuries, around the formation of the Altori Empire. The Council itself is run by the Elder Council which is made up of the most intelligent, experienced and oldest mages in Cyrium. Why, Master Ballarus must be reaching his nine hundredth birthday.”
Fluttershy gasped as her eyes widened in shock.
“Nine hundred! Do all humans have a long life span?“
“Not all humans do Miss Fluttershy; see the thing about magic is that it takes many years to master it, which is what the earlier Elders discovered. By the time a mage has mastered one school of magic he or she would be too old to be able to truly use that school to its fullest, so the second Elder Council sought help from the God Varlos, who is our God of Magic”
Grendel lifted Fluttershy slightly higher as he waded through a fairly shallow stream and up onto the other side of the bank.
“Varlos granted the Elder’s a powerful spell and said that as long as the mage was willing to learn the art, they would be granted longevity from the spell in which to master them, meaning a mage can live for up to a thousand years. Once they have taken the oath to Varlos and had the spell cast on them of course.”
Fluttershy listened in awe, her usual shyness almost fading away at the sound of Grendel’s world, she hadn’t noticed her mouth was agape and she was staring at him blankly. Grendel chuckled and closed her mouth for her; she blushed and hid her face in her mane. Grendel chuckled again finding the shyness of the Pegasus cute and brushed her mane aside to reveal her face.
“That is incredible Mister Grendel…can I ask you more? If that’s ok with you…” She half hid her face again as her usual shyness returned.
Grendel smiled and playfully poked her nose.
“Once we have set up camp for the night Miss Fluttershy, then you can ask me as much as you wish.”
He pointed up to the tree tops and Fluttershy followed the direction of his finger seeing that it was already getting darker, realising she must of awoke some time during the afternoon. She nodded as he headed for a small clearing nearby. Grendel suddenly stopped and stood still for a moment, Fluttershy looked around as he stopped expecting to see or hear some form of creature nearby and bit her lip whimpering, she couldn’t hear anything however except for what sounded like branches of trees creaking in the distance. She looked up at Grendel who was looking from left to right with his eyes, scanning every tree and shadow searching for something. He gave a soft grunt of irritation and slowly turned his head back to the clearing and headed towards it.
Far from Fluttershy’s sight in the shadows, a figure watched them carefully, a soft chattering of wood echoed from under its black robes as it tilted its head left…and then right…before chattering once more and suddenly shooting off to the left fast as if it was gliding along the forest floor.
Grendel had set Fluttershy down and began to make a small camp fire; he collected a series of small stones to form a circle before placing an adequate pile of small logs within the circle. He then rubbed his hands together kneeling down as he extended his right hand over the logs and cast a small fire spell which set the logs alight, he waited for a moment to let the fire fully start to burn before setting up the bed roll next to it. He then picked Fluttershy up and placed her inside the bed rolls covers before sitting by the tree nearby her smiling. Fluttershy felt the warmth of the fire flow over her and smiled, settling into the covers to make herself comfy, she turned her head to Grendel watching him as he wrapped himself in his own cloak and she caught him smiling back at her.
“So Miss Fluttershy, any more questions you wish to ask?”
Fluttershy thought of a question Twilight would die to know, nodding with a smile; she shifted her body as to allow the warmth of the fire flow over her back.
“I was wondering...what’s magic in your land like? I mean…how do you do it without a horn?”
Grendel looked slightly puzzled at this but shrugged it off as something pony related.
“Well, in my world anyone can be a magic user if they so wish, in my word magic energy is nearly everywhere although invisible to the naked eye. Much like rainwater in a cloud, you can’t physically see the water but you know it’s in there.”
Fluttershy nodded softly as she listened to him making mental notes.
“If someone is trained in the art, they can wield the energy and channel it through into spells using their mind, the stronger the spell, the more energy is required as well as a higher will. However, there is a slight risk when it comes to using magic, because when the energy flows through the mage, it starts to drain them of their own personal energy.”
“Slight risk?” Fluttershy asked, giving him a slightly concerned look.
Grendel nodded from under his hood.
“Aye, if a mage burns up too much of their own energy, they can potentially pass out for many days. Or sometimes…if there unlucky…”
Grendel didn’t need to finish his sentence; Fluttershy’s shocked gasp was enough to tell him she understood. Fluttershy paused for a moment before asking her next question.
“If you don’t mind sharing them...what other types of spells can you do?”
Grendel stroked his beard as he thought for a moment.
“Well, I can cast spells that are classed as destructive such as the fireball I used to scare away those wolves, I can also use healing spells and illusion spells.”
To demonstrate, he picked up a twig and muttered under his breath grasping it tightly in one hand, he then began to slowly pull the twig out. As he did, it was no longer a twig but a carrot. Fluttershy giggled as he broke the illusion reverting it back to a twig, Fluttershy began to ask him some more simpler questions about Grendel himself as was slightly startled to find out he was six hundred and twenty years old.
“But you don’t look that old Mister Grendel.”
Grendel chuckled; he had given up reminding Fluttershy to just call him Grendel.
“That Miss Fluttershy is due to the longevity spell. It slows the aging process of a mage’s body so there appearance remains young for a long period of time.”
Fluttershy nodded and yawned softly before excusing herself with a blush; Grendel smiled softly and took out a fairly long wooden pipe from his robe.
“It’s getting late Miss Fluttershy and you need your sleep, with any luck we will be at the edge of the forest by midday tomorrow.”
Fluttershy smiled warmly at him as she said good night and settled herself down; Grendel remained where he was keeping quiet and not moving a muscle. When he was absolutely certain Fluttershy had fallen asleep he placed some crushed brown powder into the pipe, he extended a finger and a small flame lit above his index finger. He watched it dance for a moment before poking his pipe and lighting it and quickly blowing out several quick puffs of smoke before extinguishing the flame. Wrapping the cloak around him for warmth he slowly exhaled smoke every now and again focusing on the sounds of the forest around them.
Fluttershy woke up; she was alone again and couldn’t see Grendel anywhere. She limped down a pathway in the forest crying softly as she darted her head back and forth from the trees whimpering at any sound she heard. She had no idea why she was alone or where she was, worse still, she had no idea where Grendel was.
She shivered as the cold wind of the night blew all around her, she looked for a way to go but for some reason her senses where playing tricks on her. One minute there was a clear pathway leading to the edge of the forest, and then the next minute it had changed to a pathway leading to a very dark cave. She bit her lip as her tears fell to the cold forest floor, the splash echoing around her. Suddenly the trees began to slowly circle in around her and she began to cower on the ground.
“MISTER GRENDEL!”
She cried for the human in vain, choking on her sobs as she franticly screamed for him to help her. Just as she was about to be crushed by the trees they stopped moving and began to move apart, she looked up fearfully to see a new pathway had opened up to her. Not hesitating for a moment that this was a pathway out of the forest, she ran, clinging onto the hope she would be free.
She kept running doing her best to ignore the increasingly rising amount of pain in her hoof which hurt with every single step; she came to a screeching halt as she saw in the distance a figure coming towards her. She focused her eyes to try and see what it was and saw it resembled that of a human, excitedly; she rubbed her tears away and ran to the figure.
“Mister Grendel! I was so afraid, I didn’t know where I was or how I got there-“
She stopped abruptly in mid-sentence, her pupil’s shrinking in pure fear and terror as silent tears began to roll down her face. The forest around her became deathly silent, no sound was heard, not the whistle of the wind or the rustle of the leaves. Just, one, sound…
A soft giggle echoed all around Fluttershy as the figure came into view of the moonlight. It’s long ripped black cloak blew about in a non-existent breeze, Fluttershy whimpered but no sound escaped her lips. Slowly, she glanced up the figure and came to a stop as she reached its head. She could see nothing but an eerie darkness inside its hood, she heard a soft rattle of wood moving underneath its cloak and then silence once more.
What seemed like an eternity passed before she heard it giggle once more before three piercing red eyes shone out of the hood, staring directly into her own. She let out a loud ear piercing scream as the creature lunged for her. The last thing she saw was its long sharp fangs…and it’s piercing, red, eyes.
Fluttershy was screaming hysterically as tears flowed from her clenched eyes, her limbs flailing ignoring the pain searing from her wing and hoof, Grendel had heard Fluttershy murmur his name in her sleep and sensed something troubling her before the Pegasus suddenly started screaming. He immediately moved to her and pulled her into a tight embrace stroking her back softly in an effort to calm her down.
“Miss Fluttershy, FLUTTERSHY!” he called out over and over.
Fluttershy’s eyes shot open and she glanced around rapidly to see she was back at the small campsite. Her tears had stopped as she panted softly her eyes still wide, she looked back and then up to see Grendel looking down at her his face full or worry.
“It’s ok Miss Fluttershy…it was just a bad dream…”
Fluttershy tried to find the words, it felt too real to her and the creatures laugh…and its eyes were unnerving. She tried once more to get the words out but her eyes watered up as she buried her face hard into his chest crying as she clung to him desperately, Grendel tightened his embrace stroking her back to calm her as he rocked himself softly.
They stayed that way for a while before Grendel stood up and went back to the tree sitting down, he arranged himself so he was still holding Fluttershy close to him and wrapped his cloak around the pair. She was still whimpering and sniffling as she kept her tight grip on him, he muttered a small spell under his breath and his eyes shone white briefly before hers did to, he watched her as she yawned and slowly fell back to sleep.
‘Hopefully that will prevent anymore nightmares tonight…’ he thought to himself.
He slowly glanced up into the shadows of the forest and glared angrily at the darkness.
The creature silently hovered a good hundred odd metres from the small campfire; it tilted its head left before slowly tilting it right and giggled softly to itself. It had tremendous fun tormenting the little Pegasus in her dream; it was even more delighted that it had angered the mage. For the first time in years, it was truly entertained.
Softly and quietly, it shot of to the right the rattling of wood softly echoing from it as it disappeared into the darkness.
Grendel stroked Fluttershy’s mane softly as the Pegasus slept soundly his eyes darting all around him, using his magic he had carefully and quietly levitated his gear together and back into the bag. Standing up carefully as to not wake her, he threw his bag onto his shoulder carrying Fluttershy in one arm; he slowly began to make his way out of the clearing. He wasn’t taking any chances of staying in the same place for much longer.
Quickly but quietly, he maneuvered his way through the trees making his way north from the abandoned camp. Looking back now and again to make sure they weren’t followed, he stopped to scan the area in front of them before he heard Fluttershy stir in her sleep and looked down at her. She blinked a couple of times and looked up at him murmuring softly, he couldn’t help but smile at her innocence.
“Mister Grendel…where are we?”
“North of the camp, we needed to move to a better location.”
“But…why?”
Fluttershy nervously looked round at her surroundings, her eyes shot open suddenly as she had a flashback from her nightmare and whimpered clinging to him.
“It’s real…isn’t it…?”
Grendel didn’t reply for a long time, he could feel her eyes on his face looking at him. He sighed and scanned the area, he couldn’t sense the creature anywhere near them and sat down by a tree and looked at her.
“Miss Fluttershy…how long do you think I’ve been in your world?”
“Uhm…I…I don’t know Mister Grendel…a couple of months?”
“Twenty years Miss Fluttershy…I’ve been here twenty years.”
Fluttershy gasped as her eyes widened looking up at him her mouth open.
“T-twenty years?”
“Aye…and all of them in this forest.”
“B-but why…surely you c-could of gone to any town or-“
Grendel raised his hand quieting her as he sighed closing his eyes.
“It’s because I cannot leave this place…not until Raven is dead.”
Fluttershy lowered her ears at the last word and whimpered softly.
“W-what do you mean…dead…who’s Raven?” she whispered.
“Raven is that creature you saw in your dreams…”
He sighed once more and hugged her tightly closing his eyes.
“You deserve to know the truth. Twenty years ago, I finally gave into my curiosity which had been bothering me for the past five hundred or so years. You see, a dear friend of mine once came to this world back when we were both still young mages, and told me all about its wonder and its connection with magical energy. I was curious and pestered him to tell me more but he had sworn to the rulers of your world he would keep the knowledge of the gateway a secret, although disheartened by this, I none the less respected his wishes.”
Fluttershy’s eyes had widened a bit hearing another human had been in Equestria.
“However, as time went by my natural curiosity got the better of me and I began to research the possibility of gateways into other realms. After nearly thirty years of searching in the Council’s archives I discovered an ancient spell once used by the first Elder council to transport themselves to different realms, naturally I was thrilled. But it was short lived.”
He paused for a moment as he let his head rest on the bark of the tree behind him and sighed to himself.
“For I could only learn the spell after harnessing the power of a rare and powerful crystal called the Sang-gar stone, a crystal that was used by the first mages to harness the energy around them. I spent the next few hundred years on and off looking for the crystal…I would have done it sooner but the war of White Pass happened…”
He stopped, closing his eyes struggling to hold back the memories of the dark and bloody war, he felt Fluttershy hug him gently. He smiled gently and hugged her back before continuing.
“When the war was over, I discovered the crystal within a cave far to the north of the Empire’s border and began at once to research its true properties. My friend caught me one night studying it and asked what it was, I lied saying it was a project I was working on involving storing different elemental energy into crystals, he bought it.”
He paused again seeing Fluttershy tilt her head at him.
“But if you needed the crystal to come here…how come your friend didn’t know what it was? Surely he would have seen one before…”
“He didn’t know what it was because when he arrived in your world, he had been summoned by your rulers. Darkness had fallen over the land to the north and he had been asked to deal with another of our kind. I didn’t need him telling me who it was…”
Grendel looked up and over her head, glaring into the night a soft growl rumbling from his throat. Fluttershy flattened her ears deciding not to ask what he meant, Grendel saw she was slightly frightened and gave her a reassuring hug.
“Sorry Miss Fluttershy…it’s a topic I don’t wish to discuss…or really remember…”
“It’s ok Mister Grendel…I’m s-sorry I asked you can stop now…if you want to.” she whispered back to him.
Grendel smiled softly and stroked her mane.
“No…you need to hear the truth, when I was sure I was ready to perform the spell I cast it and I appeared….I appeared…”
Grendel strained as he tried to remember where he had appeared in the forest and let out a frustrated sigh.
“I can’t remember, anyway, after arriving here I spent a year exploring the forest and examining its foliage and animals. I was fascinated by the connection of magic to everything, however I after a year being here, I hadn’t run into anyone and found myself feeling lonely. I decided that I should make one of the animals my familiar.”
Grendel chuckled loudly as a grin etched into his face.
“That didn’t go down to well, nearly got eaten by a hydra at one point, so in the end I resolved to create a familiar from an inanimate object. I gathered some wood together as well as my old black cloak.”
Grendel extended his hand over the amassed pile of objects he had gathered, he began to chant under his breath, his eyes shone a dull white as the assortment of objects began to hover and slowly form into a cloaked floating creature before him. As he brought the spell to a finish the creature giggled and bowed to him, smiling he bowed politely back.
“I am Grendel Emeric…I am your Master now, my wooden friend.”
The creature giggled and nodded happily.
“Now all you need is a name, Crow? No reminds too much of Master Elroth’s familiar…Hmm ah! I know!”
He looked up at the creature and grinned.
“You shall be known as…Raven.”
The creature nodded happily and spun in the air giggling as Grendel chuckled.
“Come Raven, we have much to do.”
The two headed off down a pathway with Raven floating beside him, rattling away softly behind his master.
Raven was hovering perfectly still in the middle of the path way, looking to its right not answering Grendel’s calls.
“Look Raven we haven’t got time for games we need to keep moving.”
Again, Raven did not respond, it turned its body to face the direction it was looking and started to back up. Grendel now looked concerned as he walked over to his familiar, he looked to where he was looking and tried to focus his eyes on anything however, he didn’t see anything and sighed.
“You probably saw a rabbit, now let’s-“
Grendel felt a tremendous blast of energy slam into him, shooting him into a nearby tree yelling out in pain as he fell to the floor. He looked up to see a red glow forming around Raven who was shaking itself trying to get free.
“RAVEN!”
Grendel tried to stand up but was pinned to the tree by an unseen force, his eyes widened as the red energy sunk itself into the body of Raven. He suddenly realised what was happening and cursed himself for not seeing it sooner.
“RAVEN NO!”
His cries fell on deaf ears, he watched helplessly as his familiar began to absorb the magical energy. When the red energy had vanished Raven hovered in place, Grendel was released from his grip and ran over to the familiar. He stopped though as Raven slowly turned to face him, Grendel took a step back.
Gone was the happy smiling wooden face he had enchanted on his face, in its place, was nothing but darkness. Grendel tried to speak but was silenced as three piercing red eyes shot open from within the darkness.
“No…Raven what have you done…”
Raven tilted his head to the left…then to the right…and giggled
Fluttershy was deathly silent as Grendel spoke; he had not met her gaze once, instead just kept it straight ahead. She lowered her ears as he continued.
“When I made Raven, I gave him the ability to use the energy around us to help him move and assist me in my studies. However, I foolishly didn’t account for any dark energy, that red energy took control of his body and he took off. I tried to chase him but was too fast for me, so I resorted to using a spell to prevent him from leaving the forest and killing someone.”
He looked down at Fluttershy.
“I cast a curse on the both of us…he is forbidden to leave the forest and neither am I….until one of us is dead. That's the thing about curses...they effect each side.”
Fluttershy let out a soft gasp as her eyes began to water up at his tale.
“Raven in retaliation, used some of his new powers to perform his own curse upon me. He took the spell I needed to travel to and from this world as well as the location where I needed to cast it and made me forget them in exchange for one of his arms. In some form of sick game I sensed he had cursed it so I would have to kill him for it to be broken.
“That’s why you never left….you were trying to protect us from Raven…and find your way home…” Fluttershy whispered softly.
Grendel nodded softly.
“And we have been playing a game of cat and mouse for nineteen years…each one hunting the other. And each time one of us catches the other, we flee to fight another day.”
Grendel sighed and closed his eyes.
“He was my mistake…”
Fluttershy tightly hugged him as he wrapped his arms around her burying his face into her neck.
The alpha wolf softly snored as he and his pack slept in the cave, they had been awake for two days straight and had found themselves in a different part of the forest out of their territory. After trekking back avoiding other packs, they had safety arrived home and settled to sleep. The alpha’s eyes shot open suddenly as he growled menacingly to the mouth of the cave, soon followed by his pack.
Raven hovered in front of the cave entrance and tilted his head left, and then right. This was indeed the pack from last time; he giggled rising his arm up slowly levitated the wolves up into the air. The wolves yelped in terror before howling in pain as their bodies began to be consumed in a red energy, their eyes slowly turned from their usual green to a piercing red as they were dropped to the floor.
Raven then slowly pointed his arm to the forest; obediently the wolves howled and then ran out of the cave in the direction he was pointing. Raven giggled once more before slowly following them.
Grendel and Fluttershy stopped at the base of a footpath that led up a cliff, for some reason they couldn’t help but recognise it. Slowly. Grendel carried her up the hill, making sure to keep his steps as quiet as he could. As he reached the top he scanned the area seeing a small cave. For a moment he was relived they had found a new place to set camp up for the remainder of the night, but it wasn’t long before he realised why it was so familiar.
“This is the cave where I met you.” He groaned in frustration “Damn you Raven! He’s used a bloody spell on us to make us lose our direction.”
“Spell?"
“Aye…he’s done this trick before; he casts an illusion spell that causes someone to lose their way without realising it. I’m sorry Miss Fluttershy…it’s going to be a bit longer before we get you home.”
Fluttershy lowered her ears as she looked around, she began to sniffle at the realisation they were now a day behind getting her home. Her eyes watered up as she tried to hold back her tears of sadness and frustration, Grendel sat on a nearby rock and stroked her mane comforting her.
“I’m afraid Miss Fluttershy…it gets worse.”
“H-how?”
Grendel looked over the dark forest and sighed, normally when this happened he only had himself to worry about but now. Now he had someone who needed him to survive, an innocent bystander caught in his own mistake.
“Every time Raven would start his…’game’, he would do a specific routine, firstly he causes me, in this case, you, to have some form of horrific nightmare. Secondly, he casts a spell to make me lose my way and end up somewhere I recently was and finally…he sends creatures to attack before he himself turns up.”
Fluttershy didn’t respond, she merely whimpered and buried her face into his robes and began to cry softly. Grendel cursed Raven under his breath as he picked her up hugging her close to his body; he quickly looked around then up at the Cliffside where the cave was. He spotted a small alcove about fifteen feet above the entrance, it looked big enough for her to hide in as well as him if he crouched, he slid his bag off his shoulder letting it land with a thud. He carefully moved Fluttershy so she was on his back.
“Miss Fluttershy I’m going to need you to hold on tight ok?”
Fluttershy nodded as she gripped him tightly, Grendel took a deep breath before exhaling and closed his eyes. He focused his energy into his feet and crouched down slightly, opening his eyes suddenly he launched himself upwards barely grabbing the edge of the alcove with his right hand. Fluttershy squeaked in surprise clinging tighter to him as he grunted slightly.
“I’m getting old…”
Grunting loudly, he hauled himself onto the alcove and placed Fluttershy down holding her cheeks to make her look at him.
“Whatever happens Miss Fluttershy, stay hidden and don’t make a sound.”
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy looked concernedly at him.
“Please…just do it.”
He gave her a stern look and she whimpered softly nodding, he picked her up and gave her a tight hug. She hugged him holding back her tears, they heard the sounds of howling in the distance.
“I’ll be fine Miss Fluttershy, you’ll see.”
He gave her a reassuring smile before leaping down to the floor his cloak billowing behind him as he fell, he slowly stood up and calmly took out his pipe lightning it and closed his eyes. Fluttershy crawled into the alcove and curled up covering her ears with her hooves as she clenched her eyes shut, Grendel inhaled and exhaled smoke as he flexed his fingers.
“And so it begins…”
He opened his eyes and was greeted by the possessed timberwolves, each glowing a dark red growling deeply as they waited. Grendel blew a blast of smoke from his nose and clenched his fists as the alpha barked and his pack lunged for him.
Twilight woke with a start; her mane was a mess as sweat dotted her brow. She slowly sat up in her bed rubbing her eyes groggily as she looked around her room; she looked out the window and sighed. It was the second night in a row she had been having the nightmares, it was always the same, she would be watching Fluttershy running through the forest just above the tree line like she was a ghost. She would try to yell each time to get her attention but no words ever came out, she would try moving closer to her but she couldn’t move her body. She would watch as Fluttershy was chased by the pack of timberwolves and trip over a root, Twilight would cry but again no sound would leave her, her silent tears evaporating as they fell from her cheeks.
She screamed over and over as the wolves began to surround her friend, desperately trying to help her in any way she could. Her magic wouldn’t respond and she shut her eyes tight hoping to block out the inevitable. However she slowly opened her eyes and found herself looking through Fluttershy’s eyes, she let out a noiseless scream as a black cloak shot at her from behind the wolves. The last thing she saw before she woke was three piercing red eyes.
She got out of her bed and started to make her way downstairs, she was careful not to wake Spike up as she descended them into the main room of the library and into the kitchen. Although shaken up by the nightmare she knew it was simply that, a nightmare, after all Princess Celestia herself had said Fluttershy was safe so why should she pay attention to the nightmare? She assumed it was just her subconscious channelling the excess guilt she still felt.
Still…there was this nagging feeling in the back of her mind something was wrong, she decided she would write the Princess a letter in the morning. She heard the kettle click and poured the water into her mug that had the words ‘I ♥ Reading’ on it, it was a present from Fluttershy. She smiled as she smelt the aroma waft into her nostrils and levitated the mug along with a random book off a bookshelf and carefully headed back upstairs, she laid in her bed and began to read like she had done each time she had the nightmare and slowly sipped her tea.
“By the whore you buggers are persistent.” Grendel wheezed.
He vaulted another tree root as the wolves chased him nipping at his heels, he could sense Raven not far behind them. He had thrown a fireball at the wolves and then legged it down the pathway in an attempt to lure them away from Fluttershy’s hiding spot. So far it had worked like a charm and in the process, he had managed to trick Raven into chasing him. He darted around a tree just as one of the wolves bit down on his cloak tearing it and it stumbled, rolling over before re-joining the others in chasing him.
‘That was bloody close.’ he thought to himself.
He threw another fireball behind him, hitting one of the wolves square in the face; it let out a howl as it fell over its paws tumbling into the ground. The others leapt over the body and carried on chasing Grendel, he looked around trying to think of an idea, when the idea came, he quickly whispered to himself and suddenly vanished. The wolves came to a screeching halt and the alpha slowly scanned the area, he took a few sniffs of the air trying to catch Grendel’s scent.
Grendel softly crept around the wolves placing his hand on the trees near them; he stopped to check if the wolves hadn’t picked up his scent. Satisfied that they hadn’t he crept past them again to place his hand on the ground around them, he had a bit of difficulty holding his breath in. What he was doing was an old trick he hadn’t done in a long time, finishing his odd little movements he walked ahead of the wolves a safe distance before stopping and removing the illusion spell he cast on himself and revealed himself.
The wolves stumbled, a bit startled at the human’s reappearance; they quickly composed themselves before growling and beginning to advance on him slowly. As they did, Grendel quickly snapped his fingers, everywhere he had touched with his hand revealed a glowing insignia which suddenly shone bright.
There was an explosion that echoed throughout the forest blasting the trees and wolves apart sending them in several directions, Grendel slowly approached the smoking crater kicking one of the wolves’ limbs to one side. Satisfied they were dead he took a moment to regain his posture before turning around glaring down the pathway.
“I’ve dealt with your pawns Raven, show yourself.”
There was a brief pause before Raven slowly slipped out of a shadow he was hiding and faced Grendel, the two stood still as the wind blew. Grendel was the first to make a move, he pulled out his pipe seemingly from nowhere popping it into his mouth, as he re lit the pipe Raven tilted his head left and then to the right watching his movements curiously. Grendel inhaled deeply before letting out a long exhale, he looked at Raven as his right first clenched and engulfed in flames.
“Let’s finish this Raven, once and for all!”
Raven giggled before Grendel let out a loud cry of anger as he cast a large fireball at Raven, scorching the ground as it rocketed towards him.
Twilight was in the kitchen making another cup of tea when she heard the explosion, she ran outside to see where the noise had come from. She was curious as to why no other pony had come out to investigate the noise, glancing around she saw the smoke in the distance coming from within the Everfree forest. Her eyes widened at the sight.
“Fluttershy…” she whispered.
She quickly went back into the library and up the stairs to where Spike was sound asleep in his basket.
“Spike…wake up.”
She said softly nudging him with her hoof; he groaned and rolled over lazily flicking her hoof with the back of his hand.
“Five more minutes mummy…”
“Spike!”
She gave him a firmer nudge that woke the dragon up; he sat up with a low grumble and stretched, he glared at Twilight. “Twilight it’s the middle of the night...go bother Owlowiscious.”
He let out a long yawn before smacking his lips and scratching his back, Twilight gave him a serious look which told him whatever it was. It was important.
“I need you to write Princess Celestia a letter Spike.”
“Why? It’s the middle of the night.”
“Didn’t you hear the explosion?”
“What explosion?”
Twilight was startled, how had he NOT heard the explosion?
“You must have been dreaming Twilight…go back to bed and get some rest.”
“Spike I’m serious I need to send her a letter!”
Spike sighed before letting out another yawn; he hopped out of his bed and went downstairs, he returned shortly brandishing a quill and a scroll. He gave her an annoyed grunt signalling he was ready.
Raven sidestepped out of the way of the fireball and raised his arm up, it clicked and five blades shot out form the tips of his fingers. A weapon he had formed using his magic many years ago, he brought them up defensively and waited of Grendel to make his next move, Grendel paused for a moment confused before taking a step back and raising his own arm up. He closed his eyes and muttered under his breath, a long wooden staff which twisted around a light red orb at the end appeared in his hand; he raised it up ready to block a sword blow and threw another fireball at Raven.
Raven dodged it again and kept his stance once more the blades on his fingers glinting in the moonlight, this confused Grendel slightly as he kept expecting Raven to retaliate. He decided it was simply Raven’s way of trying to make him slip up, he charged at Raven suddenly hoping the sudden move would catch the wooden creature off guard and brought his staff round . The orb shone a bright red as a burst of fire blasted from the tip at Raven, Raven quickly raised his hand up and it shone white as a shield of energy quickly covered him parting the flames to his sides as it roared past him. Grendel changed the direction of the staff and brought it down onto Raven who narrowly dodged it and shot backwards teasingly beckoning Grendel with his bladed fingers.
‘Why hasn’t he retaliated yet?’ he thought to himself.
Grendel growled in irritation and closed his eyes as he slammed the staff into the ground, a brilliant white light shone from the orb that made the area around the two light up, illuminating even the darkest parts of the forest. Raven shrieked in surprise becoming blinded by the light and started to flee as the light faded.
Grendel, who had not been affected by his spell, charged after the blinded Raven. Time seemed to slow down as he came closer and closer to him. He roared as he let out another fireball shoot out from his hand, he was sure it would hit home but was shocked as Raven moved his head to the side without even seeing the fireball. Grendel stepped back raising the staff defensively waiting for the retaliation, none came however.
Raven just remained as he was after regaining his sight and waited for Grendel to move, Grendel was now beginning to get annoyed at what he thought was a blatant display of arrogance and cockiness. He tapped the staff on the ground and it became engulfed in flames, he then launched several fireballs from the staff at Raven who once again dodged it. Raven simply avoided them almost as if he was dancing around them as he giggled at Grendel.
“Something about you Raven…is different.”
Raven tilted his head playfully and spun his body around.
“So what is it Raven, not enough power this time?”
Raven giggled and scratched his chin with a blade as he hovered.
“It’s almost as if you’re not even trying.”
Grendel blinked as an idea came to his mind, he smirked and his body suddenly flickered; Raven tilted his head confused before the mage fully disappeared, realising it was an illusion he turned his head round to see Grendel behind him. Before Raven could do anything, Grendel raised his hand to Ravens face and let a fireball blast into his face, or so he thought. Grendel was stunned as the fireball simply passed through Raven, he took a step back as Raven giggled and flickered himself.
“An illusion?”
He slowly turned his head back down the way he had come and his eyes widened and shook his head.
“No…NO!”
He ran past the image of Raven down the path from where he had come from as fast as he could, how could he of been so foolish as to fall for an illusion like that? Raven had changed his tactics; he wasn’t after Grendel this time.
Fluttershy trembled in her hiding place; she had been hiding there for what seemed like hours. She had heard the wolves approach before, what she assumed, was Grendel attacking them and hearing the wolves barks disappear into the distance leaving her in an eerie silence. She had kept to her word and remained hidden and the fear for her life had kept her quiet, she didn’t know what had happened once the sounds had gone and had several times resisted crying.
She wanted Grendel to suddenly call out to her, to tell her everything is all right and to help her down, she wanted him now more than ever and she was worried about him. She choked back another sob as she curled into a ball to try and relax, she let her mind drift to various thoughts in order to try and keep her spirits up. She thought about all the things Grendel had told her about his land and how much Twilight would love to hear it, she would have to wait because Pinkie would want, nay DEMAND, a ‘Welcome back home’ party for her.
For the first time since she got lost, she giggled softly to herself, even in her darkest moment the thought of her friends little quirks cheered her up. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, her ears upright when she thought she heard a familiar noise, at first she thought it was maybe Grendel coming back but began to panic when the noise grew louder.
The rattling of wood…
She held back a cry of panic as she tried her best to quietly move herself deeper into the alcove; it was in vain however, she screamed when just below the edge of alcove she saw Raven floating upwards slowly his cloak billowing about. She pushed herself to the back of the alcove kicking at the dirt as if she was trying to break through the wall as Raven slowly came closer and closer. She screamed as Raven grabbed her tail with his hand and began to slowly drag her out on purpose, making the ordeal more terrifying for the Pegasus. She franticly kicked and flailed trying her hardest to break free as she was dragged, Raven pulled her up by her tail causing her more pain as she wriggled trying to get free, she looked right into Raven’s face and fell silent as her pupils shrank.
Raven merely giggled as he dropped the pony only to grab her around the waist holding her close to him, unlike with Grendel Fluttershy couldn’t feel any warmth just coldness and emptiness. A fireball suddenly shot past them and slammed into the stones behind them and Raven turned round to see Grendel panting with his hand up.
“Put her down Raven!”
Raven tilted his head and giggled as he tightened his grip on Fluttershy who cried out in pain as she felt him crush her wing.
“FOR GODS SAKE RAVEN SHES INNOCENT!”
Raven giggled loudly, he knew Grendel wouldn’t hit him with a spell when he had the Pegasus with him. He backed up slightly before shooting off down the side of the cliff in to the forest. Grendel swore as he lept over the edge sliding down the side himself and gave chase, there was no way in hell he was going to let Raven get away with this, he had prevented Raven from hurting anyone in the time he had been here and he wasn’t going to let that change. Raven was going to die today, that he was certain of.
He panted as he struggled to keep up with the rapidly disappearing image of Raven; he was only able to keep sight of them thanks to Fluttershy’s fur and mane colours that seemed to glow in the darkness. He was trying to desperately think of a way to get Raven to drop Fluttershy without hurting or killing her in the process and cursed him again, he burst out of the trees into a clearing as Raven turned to face him.
“Let her go Raven…this is between you and me!”
Raven ignored him, instead he giggled and produced a blade from his finger and scraped it gently on Fluttershy’s cheek, she whimpered then cried out in pain as he did it again only this time drawing blood. Grendel gritted his teeth and shook his fists by his side in anger.
“I will personally see that the demons of hell take you for this…”
Raven giggled and backed up again and shot off into the forest with Grendel in hot pursuit, he was tired but the adrenaline kept him going. All he wanted to do was save Fluttershy, he wasn’t sure what Raven had planned to do with her and cursed himself for making the damn creature in the first place. As he ran the branches of trees smacked into his face cutting up his cheeks but he didn’t care, he had been through worse and chased after Raven.
He spotted Raven bursting through into what seemed to be another clearing growling as he knew he could soon lose him. He got ready to prepare himself for a sneak attack from Raven as he burst through the trees and came to a screeching halt; Raven was at the edge of a cliff looking left and right for a way to go. Grendel panted and then smirked at Raven who turned round in frustration.
“It’s over Raven…let her go and let’s end this.”
Raven looked from Fluttershy to Grendel seemingly weighing out its options; he made a new noise in the form of a hiss and gripped her tighter. She winced in pain as she looked to Grendel with tears in her eyes and visibly shaking, Raven then slowly turned his head back to Fluttershy and giggled, changing his position he gripped her by her neck and held her over the edge of the cliff, she screamed as she tried to break free.
“RAVEN NO!”
Raven hesitated for a moment and looked at Grendel, if he had lips he would be smirking at him. Grendel growled under his breath, Raven was desperate to escape and was using Grendel’s feelings for the Pegasus against him; Grendel had been given a choice.
Kill Raven…or let him go and save Fluttershy.
“If I let you go…you must let her go as well Raven.”
Raven nodded, Grendel sighed and took a step back signalling to Raven he was willing to allow him his freedom. Raven started to pull her back in but stopped and then giggled again, he looked to Grendel and tilted his head; Grendel knew exactly what he was doing.
“NO!”
Raven dropped Fluttershy over the edge of the cliff, she screamed as she fell trying to use her uninjured wing to somehow keep her airborne but to no avail. Tears flew past her as she tumbled to the river below; Grendel suddenly sprinted to the edge and past Raven and lept off the cliff after her. He could hear Raven giggle as he sped up to the Pegasus cursing him, he came closer and closer to her reaching out with his hand. Fluttershy saw Grendel and reached out with her hoof, he grabbed her and immediately pulled her into his chest tightly.
“Whatever you do don’t let go!”
Fluttershy clung tighter at his words as they slammed into the icy river below them, the water stung her as she closed her eyes tight. They resurfaced and both let out a gasp taking in air before being pulled under again by the raging current, Grendel desperately tried to pull them up with his free hand and succeeded but only for a short moment. Having just enough time to catch their breaths before being pulled under a second time, Grendel felt something slam into his back and his breath escaped his lips as a log shot past. Franticly he tried to get above the water but couldn’t, he saw Fluttershy was struggling to hold her breath and quickly in his mind cast a spell, he wasn’t as good with water based spells as he was fire but he tried none the less.
Succeeding he shot a jet of water out of his hand which propelled the pair up and out of the water, he caught the log that had gone past them with his free hand and clung to it tightly. He and Fluttershy panted rapidly catching their breaths before they both heard a tremendous crashing of water. They looked to where they were heading and Fluttershy let out a scream, they were both heading rapidly towards a waterfall. Grendel looked around trying to find something he could try and grab onto to stop them but it was too late, he and Fluttershy went over the waterfall.
“HOLD ON!” he cried and tightly embraced her.
Fluttershy clung to him for dear life as she sobbed softly, once again her life flashed before her eyes and she suddenly felt her body being enveloped by a strange feeling. Opening her eyes she saw her and Grendel’s bodies being covered in a white glow as they came closer and closer to the bottom of the waterfall.
Raven, who had been watching from the cliff, giggled to himself. He had finally killed his creator and couldn’t help but twirl in happiness; he looked up into the night sky expecting to feel the curse lift from his body. However he felt nothing and groaned in frustration realising Grendel must still be alive.
Well…not for long anyway.
He turned around and shot off determined to finish Grendel for good.
Twilight paced about the library, she had waited and waited for the Princess to send her reply to her late night letter. Spike had been up as well for the most part trying his best not to pass out from tiredness, he didn’t really have a choice, given he would have been woken up by the coming of Celestia’s reply.
She paced in the library her expression never changing from one of worry, Spike yawned and scratched his back before belching suddenly as a scroll shot out of his mouth in a ball of green fire. Almost instantaneously, Twilight caught the scroll with her magic and immediately began to read it. Spike mumbled to himself as he headed back to bed as Twilight’s eyes furiously scanned the scrolls contents as she read it aloud.
“My faithful student, it seems you’re still upset about Fluttershy, the nightmare you describe does…worry me somewhat and you hearing this explosion where others did not also raises my concerns for you. As such, I wish to speak with you as soon as possible.”
Twilight grumbled at the scroll before throwing it to one side.
“I DID hear an explosion…”
She sighed and slowly crept back upstairs to her bed and closed her eyes trying to fall asleep, tomorrow would be a busy day for her.
He was standing in what appeared to be an empty void; he looked around trying to see anyone else there with him but to no avail. He took a few steps forwards to see if the realm he was in had an exit, each footstep echoing like he was in a hallway. He stopped as a figure in pure white robes stood before him its face hidden from view; Grendel raised his hands up cautiously ready to use a spell at a moment’s notice. The creature however raised its arm up and he felt a sense of serenity wash over him.
“Relax child…I bear you no ill.”
Its voice was heavenly; Grendel couldn’t tell if it belonged to a woman or a man.
“Where am I?”
“You are in the Void.”
‘Ok that didn’t help’ He thought to himself with a sigh.
He was about to ask another question but was silenced by another motion of the creatures hand, again feeling an overwhelming sense of serenity.
“Do not ask why my child…simply embrace us and all will be answered.”
The creature raised both its arms up to him waiting for Grendel to come and embrace it, cautiously he began to approach him before he stopped, a flash back appearing in his mind.
‘HOLD ON!’
He felt the air scream past him as he fell over the waterfall, clutching the terrified Pegasus in his grasp. He saw at the bottom several rocks and began to franticly whisper a protection spell over the two, he realised however he didn’t have enough time to cover them both properly so at the last minute he…
“I’m dead….aren’t I?”
The creature lowered its arms and let out a soft sigh before nodding under his hood.
“Yes and no my child, you are having what you would call, a near death experience. You are only dead if you choose to be…”
“What do you mean if I choose to be? I want to be bloody alive!”
“Yes most mortals do child but…you have lived a long life and seen many dark things, surely you would wish to be free of this?”
Grendel pondered the creatures question, it was true he had lived a very long life and had enjoyed it for the most part. He had also seen many things that would have turned a normal man insane and he had grown so tired of conflict and war that had happened in his life time, but there was one thing that was holding him back, one thing he was determined to see through no matter what the cost. He smiled to himself as he took a step back.
“I thank you for your offer spirit of the Void…one day I will return here and accept it but…there is something that I must do, something I have sworn to do.”
The sprit made no movement but Grendel could sense it was smiling at him from under its hood.
“Very well my child, I shall return you to the mortal realm. We shall see each other again very soon.”
“Wait what do you mean very soon?”
His question went unanswered as he blacked out and slumped to his side, he slowly opened his eyes again his vision blurred, and he tried to focus and groaned softly feeling a sharp pain in his back and limbs. He could hear sobbing next to him, he sucked in a hiss of air as he painfully lifted his body to prop on his elbows and saw Fluttershy curled up by his body crying her eyes out.
“Miss Fluttershy? What’s wrong?” He said in a gentle voice.
Fluttershy stopped crying and her head shot up, she had a couple of cuts on her cheeks from Raven’s blade and tears stained her face, the two stared at each other for a moment neither saying a word before Fluttershy lunged into his chest clinging to him tightly and began to cry again.
“I-I thought you w-were dead Mister G-Grendel!” she said between sobs.
Grendel embraced her tightly fighting back the pain of moving as he stroked her mane softly, he let her cry into him as he gritted his teeth. He couldn’t help feel disgusted with himself, it was his fault any of this had happened, it was his fault she had been hurt and it was his fault she had nearly witnessed a sentient beings death. For the first time in many years, Grendel let trickles of tears fall from his face and he clung tighter to her crying softly.
“I’m so sorry Miss Fluttershy…I’m so sorry…”
Fluttershy heard him crying softly and looked at him.
“F-for what?”
“For everything…everything you’ve had to suffer is my fault.” he said choking back his tears.
Fluttershy tilted her head at him sniffling; he expected her to smack him and agree with him and closed his eyes turning his face away from her. Instead he felt her nuzzle his neck and wrap her hooves around it.
“I forgive you…”
Grendel was taken aback, how in the hell could she say that so easily to him? He stumbled in his mind trying to find words to say in response to her.
“Why?” was all he muster.
“Because…you are trying to right the mistakes you made, you have gone out of your way to help somepony you don’t even know and risked your life for but most importantly…”
She looked into his old eyes with her blue eyes and smiled softly as tears formed at the corner of her eyes once more. “You’re my friend, friends forgive each other…”
Grendel smiled as he tightly pulled her into a loving embrace, he cried softly into her mane as she smiled rubbing his back tears silently falling down her cheek.
Twilight briskly walked through the hallways of the palace, she had decided to come alone and left Spike in charge of the library, she knew that the girls would have wanted to come along but she had to do this alone. She wasn’t entirely sure what the Princess was going to say to her, regarding her concerns but she very certain about what she wanted to tell the Princess, she was almost one hundred percent sure she had heard the explosion. Passing by two guards who stood to attention as she walked by, she pushed open the doors to the throne room and gazed up to see both the Princesses sitting there waiting.
“Greetings my faithful student.” Celestia spoke as Twilight gave a bow to them.
“Hello Princess, how are you?”
“We are fine my dear Twilight, however, we are both worried about you.”
Luna nodded her head to the two guards that were in the room with them; they bowed and left the room leaving the three alone.
“I’m fine Princess, really I am.” Twilight insisted.
“We know you are.” Luna added.
“But why in your letter did you make it seem I was imagining things? I did hear the explosion I swear!”
Twilight was silenced as Celestia rose her hoof up at her silencing her.
“We know you did…we heard it as well.”
Twilight blinked as she tried to formulate a sentence, she was again silenced by Celestia who raise her hoof and continued. “You are wondering why nopony else heard it.”
“W-well yes Princess and I-“
“Are having conflicting thoughts on what I told you because of your nightmares?” Celestia interrupted.
“How did you…”
Celestia looked to her sister and frowned with a sigh; Luna turned to Twilight and walked over and placed a hoof on her.
“Twilight…please understand that my sister did not want to worry you or your friends.”
Twilight’s eyes slowly widened as she slowly looked back to Celestia, Celestia turned slowly to meet her gaze with a saddened expression.
“You…lied to me?” Twilight started.
Celestia sighed and came over to the other two pulling Twilight into a tight embrace, Twilight however pushed her away angrily looking up at her.
“Why would you do that? Is Fluttershy dead? How could you!” Twilight pushed her away her eyes filling with tears.
“Shh Twilight…hear me out.” Celestia said calmly pulling Twilight back into a hug. “What I said about Fluttershy being alright is true; however there is something I didn’t tell you for fear that you would become even more distressed.”
Twilight didn’t say a word but allowed her teacher to continue.
“Something is following them; I’m not sure what but its evil.”
Celestia began to tell Twilight what she had seen the day she and her friends had come to visit the Princess, Twilight remained silent nodding her head slowly, Celestia went on to explain how if she had told them what she had seen, they would of become more distressed and could of gone after Fluttershy endangering their lives.
“Do you see why I didn’t tell you Twilight?”
“I do Princess, I’m sorry for snapping at you…”
Twilight received a gently nuzzle from Celestia who smiled at her.
“I understand Twilight.”
“That doesn’t explain how only I heard the explosion…”
“Well Twilight, your magic is different compared to other Unicorns this you know.”
“Which means your ability to sense other types of magic is greater.” Luna added “The explosion you heard was caused by magic.”
“And because it was a magical explosion, only those with a heightened sense of ability such as my sister, me and you could hear it. To anypony else it wouldn’t of made a sound.”
Twilight nodded and turned her head to look out the window.
“Something still troubles you Twilight?”
“If this…thing… is evil, why haven’t you done anything about it Princess?”
Celestia walked up beside Twilight and sighed.
“As much as I would like to Twilight, the creature knows I am aware of it and has been blocking out its energy, as well as Fluttershy and her companions. I can’t sense them, and I can’t risk sending the Royal Guards into the forest blindly.”
“Then how do you know she’s ok?”
Celestia nuzzled her.
“Because my heart says so, what does yours say Twilight?”
Twilight looked to the forest out of the window and scanned it; she let her mind drift to her inner conflicting thoughts before a small smile formed on her face. She turned to Celestia and nuzzled her back.
Grendel rested against a rock with Fluttershy tucked under one of his arms, a roaring fire beside them as they overlooked the river on the indent of land they had washed up on.
“So…what happened? My memories a bit hazy...” Grendel said as he threw another stick onto the fire.
“W-well when we…”Fluttershy began but whimpered at the memory. “Fell…over the waterfall, y-you put something a-around us…”
“A barrier of protection…” Grendel finished nodding as he remembered.
“T-then I heard a crack a-as you…you…” she whimpered again “crashed into a rock with your back…”
Grendel nodded as he looked into the fire thoughtfully.
“You t-then gripped tighter t-to me and we washed up here…you didn’t let go till we stopped m-moving, you weren’t moving so I p-pulled you out and saw you weren’t breathing and…and…” Fluttershy continued before her eyes began to water up again.
Grendel hugged her as she sniffled stroking her mane.
“That was my fault…I couldn’t cast the spell over both of us in time so it was only half working on me. Explains why my back feels like it’s gone twenty rounds with a war hammer.”
He winced as he moved his leg so he could scratch it; he had inspected his injuries earlier and noted he had badly hurt his back which he now knew was from colliding into a rock. He also had bruising to his upper and lower body and a couple of fractures to his ribs and left arm, the damage was minimal to what he originally thought and was relived Fluttershy had remained unhurt from the fall.
“So what do we do now Mister Grendel…?” Fluttershy asked him as she scooted closer.
“Well…it’s still dark” Grendel looked up at the still “But I estimate it will be morning soon, and we need to find out how far away we are now from Ponyville. So in the meantime, you get some rest and we’ll head out in a couple of hours.”
“What about you Mister Grendel?”
“Me?”
“You haven’t slept since we met…aren’t you tired?”
Grendel chuckled and gave her mane a gentle stroke.
“I’m used to it, now get some rest.”
She nodded and laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes, Grendel whispered once more casting a protection spell over her dreams before pulling out his pipe from the air again. He checked his pouch for his tobacco with his free hand and sighed.
“Run out of Thistlesung leaf….bugger.”
He chuckled as he pocketed his pipe in the pouch and stroked Fluttershy’s mane softly as he watched the fire crackle.
Fluttershy awoke slowly to the sound of birds chirping, she looked around to see the morning sky and Celestia’s sun shining down at her. She smiled softly at the scene of serenity around her before realising where she was and frowned.
“Morning Miss Fluttershy.” Grendel said softly.
She looked around to see Grendel smiling at her; he took an apple out of his pouch and offered it to her. She hungrily took the apple and began to eat it delicately.
“Thank you Mister Grendel.”
He smiled as he watched her eat the apple; she stopped mid-way eating it and offered half of it to him.
“Not for me thank you, you need your strength.”
“A-are you sure? You need to eat to.”
“I’m not hungry, least not for apples.” He replied with a smile “I’ll be fine, go on and eat.”
She wasn’t totally happy with the response, she knew he hadn’t slept for three days as he’d been keeping an eye on them while she slept, and now she was concerned he wasn’t eating properly as well. She finished the apple but was determined to make him have some food by the end of the day.
“So, ready to get going?” he asked her as she wiped her mouth with some cloth her gave her.
“Mhm, but where are we going?”
He pointed to the trees on the other side of the river, she followed his hand and saw in the not too far distance the ruins of an old castle.
“Well, far as I can tell, if we get to the top of that ruined castle we can see over the trees and hopefully Ponyville.”
“T-the castle?” Fluttershy gasped “That’s where me and my friends defeated Nightmare Moon.”
“Nightmare what now?” Grendel asked tilting his head.
Fluttershy giggled and began to tell him about the whole escapade, Grendel just listened utterly amazed at the whole thing. He knew Fluttershy wasn’t the type to lie and was impressed that she was able to stand up to a Manticore, last time he saw one of those he nearly lost his legs to it.
“Incredible…with no disrespect Miss Fluttershy but had you been anyone else, I would of called them a liar.” He chuckled ruffling her mane slightly.
Raven floated over the remains of the Timberwolves, he tilted his head as he picked up a limb and then tossed it aside with a sigh. He would need a new play toy and he needed it now, looking around him he darted off into the trees his cloak billowing behind him, he came to an abrupt stop just near the edge of a bog that connected with the river and he scanned the area. He giggled when he noticed the water ripple and shot at it before suddenly plunging into the water, a few moments passed and the bog was as silent as before then suddenly, Raven appeared, his blades sinking deep into a skull of a Hydra who was roaring in anger.
The hydra flailed its head trying to dislodge Raven but he clung on, he quickly brought a barrier of energy around him so the other heads couldn’t bite at him. The hydra winced in pain as Raven begun to channel his magic through his blades directly into its skull, it roared in pain and thrashed about before falling forwards in a slump, its heads resting on a nearby bank. Just as quickly as it fell, its eyes re-opened and were a piercing red.
Raven, satisfied it was under his control, removed his blades and retracted them leaping off the hydra’s head landing in front of it and giggling again. The hydra rose up and looked down at its new master with a mixture of anger and hatred, Raven turned around and closed his eyes trying to lock in on Grendel’s energy. Finding it towards the south he then raised his arm and point to the direction he felt it, the hydra growled and dipped into the water and swam out into the river, Raven twirled as he slowly began to follow himself.
“Mister Grendel I’m feeling much better, I can walk now I think.” Fluttershy whispered.
She was being carried by Grendel as they trekked towards the castle, they were taking a route following close to the river to try and find a bridge to cross over. He had found it painful at first but after using a quick healing spell he had gotten used to walking with the aches, Fluttershy had protested several times that she was ok to walk but he was having none of it.
“That may well be, but I still insist on carrying you, until you are fully healed and that’s that.” Grendel retorted with a grin. Fluttershy let out a defeated sigh and changed the subject of the conversation, one which they had been sharing for the past hour.
“Mister Grendel…what will you do once you…you know, dealt with Raven? If you don’t mind me asking that is…”
Grendel stopped in his tracks and blinked, he hadn’t actually given it much thought, well not in recent years at any rate. He looked up thoughtfully as his mind raced through what he would be able to do once Raven was destroyed, he could visit the town of Ponyville or even meet the rulers. His happy ideas were soon crushed when he realised something, he didn’t deserve to stay here, he created a creature that could have done a lot more harm than it did and he felt guilty about all of it. Raven had on several occasions nearly attacked travellers who had taken a ‘short cut’ through the forest only for Grendel to stop him in time, and with his recent attack on Fluttershy, he had made his mind up. He would leave this world as soon as possible and return to Cyrium.
“To be honest Miss Fluttershy, I think I’ll just go back to Cyrium, its best for everyone if I did.”
He could tell that Fluttershy’s heart sunk and was upset by his answer.
“O-oh…I was asking b-because…I would like t-to of had you round for s-some tea, before you l-left…” she trailed off her answer.
Grendel’s mouth formed into a massive grin.
“It’s been over twenty years since I tasted tea…” he chuckled to himself and hugged her tightly. “Ok Miss Fluttershy…just for you, I’ll visit you before I leave for some tea.”
Fluttershy squeed at his response and blushed lightly hiding in her mane again, Grendel chuckled and playfully ruffled her mane as he continued walking. Grendel didn’t let it on but he wanted to put as much distance between where they had last seen Raven and the castle, he knew that because he had survived the fall intended to kill him, Raven would start to take things more seriously. It would probably shock Fluttershy more to learn that up until now, Raven had been simply playing a game.
Grendel didn’t really want to be in that situation with an innocent with him; he came to a stop near the river and sighed in frustration.
“I think we’re going to have to wade across the water, I don’t see us finding a bridge anytime soon.”
Fluttershy bit her lip nervously looking at the water, the current wasn’t as fast this far down the river but it still looked a bit dangerous. One wrong step and they could both be swept away down the river.
“O-ok…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be holding onto you.” He reassured her.
She nodded nervously and clung to him as he slowly began to enter the water, he moved her gently so she was sitting on his shoulders holding her back legs for support whilst her front legs held onto his head. He moved carefully into the deeper part of the river, the water began to slowly rise higher and higher on his body till just his head and part of his shoulders remained above the water and he had to swim. Fluttershy clung tighter to his head not entirely sure of the waters safety.
Grendel was about halfway across when he felt something stir in the water; he quickly looked around with his eyes and saw a ripple heading towards them. He cursed under his breath as he gripped Fluttershy’s legs tighter with one hand and blasted a jet of water with his free hand just as the hydra broke the water, narrowly missing the two, Fluttershy screamed in surprise as the pair reached the other side of the water. Grendel placed her down on the bank and gave her a stern look.
“Stay here.”
“Ok…”
Grendel then cast a spell on his feet allowing him to stand on the water and ran towards the hydra, he summoned his staff as the rest of the hydras heads appeared from the water each one growling deeply. Grendel gritted his teeth as he readied his staff, he could tell from the glowing red eyes it was under Ravens spell, he waited patiently for the hydra to make its move. Sure enough it soon attacked; it shot its middle head at Grendel opening it mouth wide baring it’s dripping sharp fangs.
Grendel shot a fireball from his staff directly into the hydras mouth before launching himself up as the fireball exploded partly down its throat. Grendel landed on the head as it reared it back in pain, gripping tightly on its spine, the other heads roared and darted for him. He lept up again avoiding one snapping him up into his mouth and landed spinning his staff around and bashing another head away.
Grendel turned round, a head snapped at him and he fell backwards off the hydra’s head and towards the water. Quickly regaining himself he landed on the water and shot a barrage of fireballs at the heads, some of them flew past but the rest exploded on contact causing the hydra to roar in pain and flail angrily. It brought its heads down hard on the water suddenly sending a large wave towards Grendel; he didn’t have enough time to react and was caught off guard as the wave took him under the water.
Grendel struggled to get out from under the water; he felt a crack to his back as the hydra slashed with its claws in an attempt to find the mage’s body. He swam up wards and came up panting hard as he took in much needed air before swearing, one of the hydras heads shot down grabbing him in his mouth and launching him into the sky. Grendel cried out as he flailed, he fell back down and summoned his staff as he rapidly approached the awaiting hydras mouth.
“MISTER GRENDEL!” Fluttershy cried out.
She felt the tears fall down her face as she watched Grendel’s body fall into the hydra’s mouth, the hydra licked its lips before letting out a belch and sighed in content. It then slowly turned to look at Fluttershy and growled before slowly advancing, she whimpered and begun to back up. The hydra then stopped and its heads reared up blinking, it let out a screech as smoke began to flow from its mouths and it looked down to its stomach.
There was a massive explosion as the Hydra suddenly blew apart disintegrating, Grendel landed in the water with a splash and slowly swam for the shore. When he clambered out he panted heavily, dripping wet and covered in hydra guts using his staff to help him stand up.
“I never…want to do that…again.” He panted as he shook himself.
He tapped his staff on the ground and the guts staining his robe disappeared, he sighed as he slumped backwards and onto his back. Fluttershy came over slowly looking at him worriedly.
“A-are you ok?”
“Been better….not the first time I’ve been eaten I have to admit…” he said chuckling between pants.
She frowned at him and smacked his head with her hoof earning her a sharp ‘ow’ as he rubbed his head.
“What was that for?”
“For worrying me!”
Grendel was about to argue and raised his hand up in protest but stopped, he thought for a moment then shrugged.
“…Fair enough.”
The pair was silent for a moment before they both began to laugh.
“Come on, we better get moving.” Grendel said with a grunt.
Raven floated above the trees, he had come to an abrupt stop when he had felt the energy controlling his hydra suddenly fade, he began to shake angrily as dark energy crackled around him forming red lightning. He suddenly lent back and let out a loud scream of anger as the sound of wood rattling followed, the sound echoed throughout the forest sending birds flying from the trees. He growled as he shot his five blades out and took off above the trees towards Grendel’s location, he suddenly dipped under the tree line and flew past the trees.
Grendel and Fluttershy turned their heads in the direction of the scream; Fluttershy whimpered before Grendel quickly picked her up and began to run towards the castle. He winced as he ran, feeling slightly weaker after having used a large amount of power over the course of the past couple of days without proper rest, he lept over roots and ducked under branches daring not to look behind him for fear of tripping over something. Fluttershy had buried her face in his chest and was softly whimpering clinging to him desperately, he panted heavily as he struggled to keep his pace up.
They arrived at the entrance to the castle’s ruins and he stopped for a moment to take a quick breath and see if he could spot Raven, satisfied for the moment that Raven wasn’t near them yet he booted the door off its hinges and ran inside. He looked around for a place to hide Fluttershy and ran down some stairs; he found an old ragged curtain that hid a small room under the stairs. He then lifted Fluttershy’s head and looked into her eyes.
“I have to fight him…if I don’t he won’t stop chasing us.”
“But Mister Grendel…you’re not in any shape to.”
Grendel kissed her forehead gently and squeezed her tightly in an embrace.
“I don’t have much of a choice…”
Her eyes welled up as he placed her into the room; she reached up and gave him a tight hug softly crying into his neck.
“W-what if he f-finds me?”
“I’m not going to give him the chance…” he replied looking into her eyes.
She softly nodded and sniffled; he wiped away her tears and smiled at her.
“You're brave Miss Fluttershy, you may not know it yet, but you are. You’ll know when it’s safe to make a run for it; do you know your way back from here?”
She nodded, although she had only been to the castle once she knew how to get back to the town from it. He smiled and he gave her one last farewell and headed back up the stairs. She closed her eyes and covered them with her hooves holding back her tears and silently prayed to Celestia.
Grendel stood at the top of the castle on its highest tower, he had his staff in one hand and the other was clenching and un-clenching. He had been in this situation several times over the past years but this time it was different, he was fighting Raven with a higher goal. To protect Fluttershy and allow her the chance to run, he closed his eyes as the wind blew around him catching under his cloak making it dance in the breeze.
He re-opened his eyes when he heard the sounds of a second cloak blowing in the wind and the rattling of wood, he was greeted by Raven hovering in front of him having launched himself up the side of the wall. His blades shone in the light of the sun as he wiggled his fingers slowly, the blades lightly clanging into one another; the two stood silently for a moment neither one breaking their gaze. Grendel knew he was at a slight disadvantage in his sleep deprived state but didn’t let it bother him.
“Well Raven…here we are again.”
Raven didn’t giggle this time, he merely growled as he rattled angrily.
“Seems a bit desperate of you, you charge me so soon after an attack. Losing your touch?” Grendel smirked as he tightened his grip on his staff.
Raven hissed at him and brought his arm up behind him preparing to strike, each blade crackled with red lightning. Grendel raised his staff up and growled at him.
Twilight looked out of the window of the library and sighed, she had returned to Ponyville on the instruction of Celestia. She had a book in front of her and was idly flicking through the pages; she let out another sigh not paying any real attention to the book. She wanted to be out looking for Fluttershy more than ever but the Princess had told her to wait at the library and she would know when to act, the words puzzled her a fair bit and had spent the journey back from Canterlot trying to decipher their meaning. She had long given up on it and decided to try and occupy her time around the library but her mind wasn’t all there, Spike had noticed it and was beginning to get concerned for her well-being.
“Twilight?” Spike said softly.
She snapped out of her trance like state at the sound his voice.
“Hmm? Oh sorry Spike I was miles away, what’s up?”
“I just thought you may have been hungry that’s all…” Spike held up a delicious looking sandwich on a plate in his claws.
“Thank you Spike, that’s very kind of you.” She smiled as she levitated the plate from him and onto her desk.
“Twilight…is something bothering you?” Spike asked with a hint of concern.
Twilight sighed as she looked out of the window again; she waited a moment before she spoke.
“I’m fine Spike; you don’t need to worry about my problems.”
She heard a stool scrape along the floor before it came to a stop next to her, Spike then hopped onto it taking a seat and smiling up at her.
“You’re my best friend Twi, talk to me.”
Twilight smiled and gave him a soft affectionate nuzzle before taking a quick bite from the sandwich and swallowing it. “Thanks Spike…it’s just this whole business with Fluttershy and the Princesses.”
“Well, I can get why your still bummed out about Fluttershy but what do the Princesses have to do with it?”
Twilight began to tell him about what the Princess had lied about, and about the creature that was following Fluttershy. She also told him that the Princess had told her to wait and she would know when she should act; Spike listened carefully nodding now and then.
“I guess all you can really do is what they say Twi.”
“I know Spike but I just can’t focus properly…”
Spike stroked his chin thinking deeply, his eyes rolled as he tried to think of something, then it came to him.
“Hey Twilight, why not go and hang out with the others? Being on your own isn’t going to make it any better and besides, you and I both know Fluttershy wouldn’t want you lot to mope about all day. That’s the last thing she’d want.”
Twilight was surprised at his advice; she thought about it and then smiled and ruffled his spines.
“Your right Spike…thank you, I’ll go see them now.”
She finished the sandwich and left the library leaving a contented and smug Spike, he then went about his daily chores whistling a merry tune to himself then stopped.
“I think I’ve earned a few gems before I do my chores…” he said with a mischievous smile and headed into the kitchen.
Grendel gritted his teeth as his feet slid along the ground; gripping tightly with both hands he held his staff up blocking Raven’s five blades. The blades dug slightly into the wood, the wood however refused to break under the great strain. Raven hissed as he lept backwards and shot several blasts of lightning as he spun in the air, Grendel span his staff deflecting some of the blasts but cried out in pain as a couple managed to hit him. The sound resonated throughout the castle as he fell to one knee his body crackling with red lightning.
He panted as smoke softly rose from him looking up at Raven who growled raising his blades up into the air, the air around them began to distort and screech as a loud thunderous boom echoed throughout the forest. Grendel’s eyes widened as he franticly stood up and began to avoid the incoming attack, just as he moved; Raven launched a large red ball of lightning that exploded where Grendel was standing. It sent rubble and stray bolts of lightning everywhere as a large dust cloud shot up from the roof, Raven raised his blades defensively trying to locate Grendel in the dust cloud.
Without warning, Raven was blown backwards in a large fiery explosion as a fireball rocketed out of the dust cloud hitting him square in the chest, letting out a pained screeched as he crashed into the ground rolling before slamming into a low wall. Grendel ran out of the dust cloud roaring loudly as his staff changed into a blazing sword, he leapt up raising the sword high and he prepared to strike, Raven hissed as he looked up part of his cloak in flames and raised a barrier around him. Grendel’s sword slammed into the barrier sending flames to the sides and a loud clang rang out, he quickly lept back as Raven suddenly slashed with his blades ripping part of Grendel’s cloak as he narrowly avoid it.
Grendel panted as sweat dotted his brow, his energy was running low and he wasn’t sure how long he could hold out for, Raven sensed this and giggled as he scrapped the blades along the ground slowly sending sparks flying. He shot at Grendel with a burst of sudden speed brining his blades inwards. Grendel had just enough time to block them with his staff before Raven swung his body round slamming it into Grendel’s stomach, he let out a wheeze as he was winded then suddenly he cried out in pain as Raven's blades sliced across his stomach.
Grendel fell to his knee again clutching at his stomach, the wound wasn’t too deep but deep enough to draw blood. He panted as he looked at Raven his blood dripping onto the floor, Raven began to giggle before it turned into a loud demented cackle. Grendel spat onto the floor as he cast a temporary healing spell to his stomach to stop the bleeding, he slowly stood up and exhaled, he then lept backwards and began to chant under his breath and closed his eyes. Raven tilted his head, raising his blades up waiting for Grendel’s attack; however, when one didn’t come he tilted his head again in confusion. He raised his arm up and the air began to distort once again as he charged his attack, just as he was about to throw the energy ball at Grendel, Grendel suddenly opened his eyes and raised his arms up. A sudden large burst of flames roared up into the sky forming a cone, Grendel then ‘gripped’ the bottom of the flaming cone and brought it down onto Raven. Raven cried out in surprise as the cone slammed into him, the energy ball he had been charging exploded as the fire collided with it and blew Grendel backwards, slamming through part of a wall and down to a lower level of the roof.
Coughing as he groaned in pain he looked around to see where Raven was, not hearing or seeing him he dusted the rubble from his robes before stumbling wearily to his feet. He groaned again, grabbing his stomach as the spell wore off and blood dripped to the floor, he cursed under his breath and began to head back into the castle to find Fluttershy. He could feel Raven still alive but couldn’t locate his magic energy; he decided that the blast probably knocked him away like himself and that gave him time to get Fluttershy out of the forest.
Fluttershy shivered as she tried to block out the sounds of the fighting above her, she sniffled as she silently let her tears fall to the stony floor. She wiped her face and sniffled again.
’You’re brave Miss Fluttershy…’
Grendel’s words echoed in her mind, she had mulled over them a fair bit, she didn’t believe she was brave, how could she be? She had to rely on Grendel during the whole time; he had been the one being brave whilst she felt completely useless. She was brought out of her thoughts by a large explosion which made her cower behind her mane whimpering, she hoped that nothing bad had happened to Grendel and felt her eyes well up again. She let out a loud scream as a second and then a third larger explosion echoed throughout the castle, dust and small rubble fell around her and she backed up to the wall. The castle was suddenly silent as the sounds of fighting came to an abrupt stop; she gulped and nervously began to head for the curtain that covered the small room she was in. She poked her head out and gave a glance around before hearing footsteps, she gasped softly and looked up but her face suddenly brightened up as a smile formed on it. She zipped out and ran up to Grendel who was slowly making his way carefully down the stairs.
“Mister G-Grendel! I w-was so-“she stopped suddenly as she saw his state. “Oh m-my g-goodness! Mister Grendel are you alight?” she looked over his body and tried to find some cloth to cover his cuts.
“I’m fine Miss Fluttershy; I’m more concerned about you, are you ok?”
“I-I’m ok Mister Grendel…is….is he.” she trailed off her answer nervous about saying the word.
“I’m afraid not…” Grendel said sadly as Fluttershy whimpered flattening her ears. “However, he isn’t anywhere near us currently. That blast knocked him away somewhere so it gives us a chance.”
“A chance for what?”
“To make a run for the edge of the forest.”
Fluttershy nodded softly as Grendel picked her up and winced in pain, Fluttershy whimpered at his wince. “I-I can walk Mister Grendel if I’m hurting you…”
“No quite alright, been through” he paused to grunt as he walked up the stairs. “Worse than this trust me.”
He gave a reassuring chuckle as he carried her swiftly out the door they had entered, Fluttershy pointed in the direction of the town and he began to quickly walk towards it. He held in the urge to groan in pain and whispered another temporary healing spell on himself, he would have cast a full one but he wanted to conserve whatever magical energy he had left in case Raven appeared again. He hoped not, he was already taking a major risk by making an attempt to flee with Fluttershy and wasn’t in a good way to fight off another attack.
He panted heavily as his walk began to quicken into a brisk jog, the thought of getting closer to the edge of the forest was spurring him on and he couldn’t help but smile. Soon this would all be over for Fluttershy and he could finally feel at peace knowing she was safe, or so he thought. As they entered a clearing, the trees nearby ripped apart as a blast of red lightning shot through them followed by a screeching Raven, his blades poised to strike.
Twilight had met up with the girls at Sugarcube corner, although being one short they were in relatively high spirits, even Pinkie’s mane was back to normal. Twilight had told the girls about the explosion, her ability and what the Princess had told her, at first they were upset and angry at her actions until Twilight calmed them down, reminding them she had done it in their best interests. Applejack was about to argue but was silenced by Rarity and let out a sigh, Mr Cake placed a tray with several assorted sugary snacks on it as well as five glasses of chocolate milk.
Twilight went to give him some bits for it but he politely refused stating it was ‘on the house’, she thanked him and the girls tucked into the treats. After Twilight had sipped some milk, she told the girls what Spike had told her about not worrying too much over the whole ordeal, as it would have been the last thing Fluttershy would have wanted.
“Why I didn’t know Spike was so good at handing out advice.” Rarity spoke up.
“Musta’ been all them books he’s been reading.” Applejack snickered.
“Not bad for a 'lil guy.” Rainbow replied nudging Applejack.
Twilight smiled and nibbled some of the cupcake that was on her plate.
“That’s why he’s my number one assistant, helping me even with non-study related issues.”
Pinkie muffled in agreement her face currently buried in a large chocolate cake she had produced out of nowhere, much to the shock of some of the other patrons. The girls hadn’t paid attention as they were used to ‘Pinkie’ behaviour.
“Still…I can’t help but wonder what the Princess meant by ‘I’ll know when to act’.”
“Well darling, you said yourself you were able to sense the strange magic that caused that explosion you heard, maybe it has something to do with that ability?”
Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie all nodded in agreement, Pinkie licked the chocolate of her face and sighed in content.
“Well Twilight, you’ll know by the end of the day!”
“What do you mean Pinkie?”
Pinkie didn’t answer as she had gasped, seeing the large cupcake Mrs Cake was bringing out to them, she rushed over. Twilight let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head, just another random Pinkie Pie moment.
Fluttershy cried out clinging to Grendel who tumbled quickly out of the way just avoiding Raven who swung for him, he summoned the air around him into his free hand and blasted Raven a short distance away into a tree. He then began to run towards the edge of the forest franticly, panting as we went; he shot a glance back to see Raven chasing after them slowly gaining. He ducked under a tree and his foot caught on a root, he fell onto his back crying out in pain as Fluttershy slipped from his grip and rolled onto the ground.
“RUN!” he yelled out as Raven burst through the trees his blades pointing out at Grendel.
Fluttershy scrambled to her hooves and took off for the edge of the forest her eyes wide in fear; she ignored the dull throb of her legs from the running as she tried to get away from the fight as fast as she could. Grendel tried to summon his staff in defence but wasn’t quick enough, he cried out as two of Raven’s blades found their target sinking deep into his shoulder. Quickly regaining himself he forced all of his strength into a kick to Raven’s chest, launching him off him just as the blades surged with lightning, Raven crashed into a tree crying out and falling to the ground.
He slowly got up shakily which surprised Grendel, it was the first time he had seen Raven truly exhausted and nearly spent of his energy. Growling as he fought back the pain from his shoulder, he summoned his staff and ignited the end before charging at Raven, Raven charged back at him swinging his hand to Grendel’s side. He blocked it and brought his leg up, kicking Raven in the head and sending him tumbling to the ground; he then swung his staff down but narrowly missed Raven’s head who rolled out the way as the area briefly was engulfed in flames. Grendel tried again but was blocked by Raven’s blades; Raven then channelled his lightning down them and into Grendel who cried out in tremendous pain falling to the ground. He tried to stand up but his limbs weren’t responding he looked up wearily as his body smoked, seeing Raven slowly rise up and bringing his hand up, extending the fingers; he was ready to end it.
Fluttershy had stopped when she heard Grendel cry out in pain, she turned on the spot breathing heavily as she looked from where she had left Grendel to where the edge of the forest was. She bit her lip unsure as what to do, her body was telling her to just run and Grendel would be fine and just run for home. It’s what he wanted right? But her heart and instinct was telling her to go back, and if she didn’t…something would happen she would regret for the rest of her life. Something in her stirred, she didn’t know what the feeling was but whatever it was, it was telling her to go back.
Swallowing hard, she turned around and ran back to where she left Grendel, despite her bodies protest and the fear she was feeling course through her. She felt different and with each step she took the sense of fear began to slowly wash away as she came closer and closer to the fight.
Raven cackled madly as his blades glinted in the sun, he was going to end it there and then, but he wanted to savour the moment. Using what magic he had left he began to form red lightning around his blades, completely hiding the blades in dark red glow, Grendel’s eyes widened as he tried to get up but couldn’t, his body still in shock from the lightning. Raven let out one last screech, a mixture of anger, joy, fury and relief in his tone and brought his blades down.
Grendel closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, he had failed in his task…failed Equestria…he had failed Fluttershy, his friend. The spirit was right, he was going to see him very soon, he waited for what seemed an eternity for death’s final strike but instead he heard the sound of bushes being rustled and the frantic galloping of hooves. He opened his eyes to just see Fluttershy head butt with all her might Raven Square in the chest, Raven was caught completely of guard and was sent into a nearly tree with a sickening crunch. The charged energy he had been casting faded from his blades as he lay there for a moment dazed and exhausted.
Fluttershy panted franticly as she stared at Raven wide eyed and mouth agape, she was in a state of shock at what she had just done and didn’t notice Grendel slowly get up. The sound of Raven letting out a groan brought her back to reality, Grendel slowly picked his staff up and he changed its form to his sword.
“It’s over Raven….”
Raven hissed and slowly got up; he tried to swing his hand with all his might but had little strength to do so. Grendel side stepped the feeble attempt and brought the sword down with a cry of anger cutting off Raven’s arm, Raven let out an ear piercing screech as his arm fell to the floor.
Fluttershy fell to the floor covering her ears with her hooves as she cried out, Grendel gritted his teeth as he began to advance on Raven trying his best to not let the screech affect him. He went to swing his sword with the remaining strength he had, but the screech overwhelmed him and he dropped the sword to cover his ears yelling. Raven took the chance and shot off into the distance quickly as Grendel panted, watching Raven disappear into the distance
“Dammit….I was so close…DAMMIT!” he roared.
He fell to his hands and knees gripping the ground, he felt Fluttershy nuzzle his cheek softly and turned to look at her, she looked concernedly at him and tried to help him stand with her head; he smiled and rose to his feet.
“Thank you Miss Fluttershy…you saved my life, and many others.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Remember how I had cursed Raven to be unable to leave the forest unless I died?”
Fluttershy nodded.
“Well…he came close…if not for you.” He smiled and kneeled down and embraced her. “I told you that you were brave…” he whispered.
She smiled and retuned the embrace nuzzling him again; they stayed that way for a moment before he suddenly picked her up and smiled.
"But what about Raven?”
Grendel looked out to the forest and sighed.
“Another time…though I haven’t seen Raven that depleted of energy before so that means I can rest properly, then hunt him down…”
He turned his gaze back to Fluttershy then to the path and began to slowly walk down it; Fluttershy rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as he softly whispered.
Twilight and the other girls had left Sugarcube corner and returned to the library all in high spirits, they had brought back with them a cupcake with added gems, from Rarity, to give to Spike to thank him for his advice. Twilight opened the door to find Spike lying on the sofa groaning, all around him were gem fragments and he rubbed his belly.
“To…many…gems.”
Twilight glared angrily at him as he realised he was no longer alone, he got up and was about to apologise but instead all he could do was let out a loud belch which knocked him off his feet into the sofa. There was a short pause before the girls began to giggle then burst out into a chorus of laughter, Spike got up and grumbled but couldn’t help but join in on the laughing.
“I should tell you off for snacking Spike but.” Twilight said inbetween giggles. “That was priceless.”
The girls giggled again as Spike dusted off the gem fragments from the sofa so they could sit down; he then noticed the cupcake with the gems on it and gaged as his cheeks bulged out, he put a hand to his mouth and ran to the bathroom slamming the door, Twilight shook her head and placed the cupcake in the kitchen before joining her friends on the sofa. “He never listens.” She sighed giggling again sitting down.
“So what ya’ll wanna do now?” Applejack asked as she leant back into the sofa.
“I think we should dress the library ready for a ‘Welcome Home Fluttershy!’ party!” Pinkie replied bouncing in place. “Pinkie how do you know when she’ll be back?” Rarity asked her.
“Because silly, it’s obvious!” she giggled.
Everyone looked to one another and shrugged sighing, Pinkie was being Pinkie again.
“Well whilst that does sound like a good idea Pinkie, I think its best if we wait untill she is actually home.” Twilight said.
“Speaking of which, ahm gunna head over to Fluttershy’s house to feed all her critters, ya’ll can come with me if you want.” Applejack said as she got up.
“Why that would be an excellent idea.” Rarity rose from her seat.
“And Rainbow, can you not antagonise Angel again?” Applejack shot her a glare.
“Hey it’s not my fault that rabbits got an attitude problem!” Rainbow shot back.
“You would know.” Applejack muttered.
“What was that?” Rainbow glared face to face with Applejack.
“Girls please, are you really going to act like fillies?” Rarity sniffed as Twilight pushed the two away from one another with her magic.
The two muttered replies of ‘No’ and ‘Whatever’, Twilight then called back to Spike who just came out of the bathroom looking a little groggy.
“Spike, were heading over to feed Fluttershy’s animals do you want to come?”
At the word ‘feed’ Spike brought his hand up to his mouth, his cheeks bulged again and he closed the door again receiving a giggle from Twilight, the girls left the library chatting amongst themselves, well by chatting they were watching Rainbow and Applejack argue over who had the bigger attitude problem, Rainbow or Angel.
Rarity sighed as she trotted ahead to walk alongside Pinkie and Twilight and let the two continue their argument behind them, as they left the town taking the bridge that led towards Fluttershy’s house Twilight suddenly stopped abruptly making Applejack walk into her.
“Hey Twilight why’d ya stop?” Applejack said as she propped her hat back up with a hoof.
Twilight didn’t reply, her eyes were wide as she let her mouth open slowly, she felt a strange energy begin to swarm around her. The girls looked a little concerned with the exception of Pinkie, who was giggling knowingly.
“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere it comes!” she giggled bouncing in place.
Twilight felt the energy swarm over her before suddenly gasped and snapped back to reality, she panted a couple of times before a smile came across her face, tears formed at the corner of her eyes. She had figured out what Celestia meant “Twilight darling are you alright?” Rarity asked her.
Twilight didn’t answer instead she shot off down the road with Pinkie following close behind repeating ‘She knows! She knows!’ the other girls shot glances of concern at one another before taking off after Twilight and Pinkie.
At the same time, in the palace of Canterlot, Princess Celestia and Luna were having a conversation with a couple of nobles and suddenly stopped talking looking to the window. They both smiled to one another and politely apologised to the nobles who nodded and left the room, they then both closed their eyes and teleported out of the palace.
Fluttershy murmured in her sleep, she had fallen asleep resting on Grendel’s shoulder and smiled happily. Grendel had slowly walked as to not jolt her awake with his movements and was humming to himself; he came closer to the edge of the forest and smiled seeing a small house in the not too far distance. He stopped and turned his head to Fluttershy and gently scratched her ear, she murmured again and slowly opened her eyes. She let out a soft yawn before realising Grendel was there and blushed; Grendel chuckled and smiled softly at her.
“Were here…” he whispered nodding towards the house.
She turned round and gasped seeing her house and tears began to form in her eyes, Grendel kneeled down and placed her gently on the ground. She slowly got up looking at the house before turning to Grendel and leaping into him hugging him tightly and crying, Grendel smiled and returned the hug stroking her back softly as she sobbed into his robes. But they weren’t tears of sadness or fear, they were tears of happiness.
“T-thank you so m-much Mister G-Grendel!” she cried between sobs looking up at him.
The old mage smiled back down and wiped the tears from her eyes, she smiled back up at him as she sniffled.
“It was no problem Miss Fluttershy…you’re my friend, it was the least I could do.”
She hugged him again as she began to giggle for no real reason other than the fact she was happy, Grendel let out a soft chuckle before wiping some tears that had formed in his own eyes. Fluttershy then tugged on his robe and began to walk beyond the forest line.
“W-would you like to come in? M-my friends would l-love to meet you.” She stopped turning around seeing he hadn’t moved from the spot. “Mister Grendel…?”
He smiled at her but she could see it was a saddened smile.
“I can’t Miss Fluttershy…not yet.”
He walked to the edge of the forest and raised his hand up, he went to move it over the line but a sudden ‘ripple’ of blue energy stopped him startling her. She then remembered what he had said about the curse and frowned, she felt her eyes watering up as she came over to him. He scooped her up and held her tightly.
“Hey…hey…no tears Miss Fluttershy…it won’t be forever.” He smiled and stroked her mane.
She sniffled and looked up at him and smiled nodding, he smiled back and placed her down on the floor.
“D-do you promise…to c-come back?”
She knew he had already promised her but she was hoping he hadn’t changed his mind.
“I said I promised and I stand by it, we will see each other again Miss Fluttershy…don’t you worry.”
She smiled and leant up and softly kissed his cheek before sniffling.
“Thank you…”
She turned around and began to walk to her house; half way to it she stopped to turn around and give a final farewell wave to Grendel who waved back smiling at her. She then watched as he turned and slowly walked back into the forest, she felt herself about to cry again, she was going to miss him and worry about his wellbeing. She shook her head thought to herself with a smile.
‘No, he wouldn’t want me to be sad and worried and he promised to come back…I trust him.’
She suddenly squeaked when she heard the sound of two familiar voices scream.
“FLUTTERSHY!”
She turned round to see Twilight and Pinkie run towards her soon followed by the other three girls who also cried her name, she felt her eyes water and she ran to them. Twilight reached her first and embraced her tightly soon followed by the others who all began to cry softly in joy, they held tightly to one another not saying a word just enjoying the group hug with their lost friend.
Twilight sniffled looking up to the forest to try and see if she could see what had helped Fluttershy, she narrowly caught the sight of a robed figure in the trees before losing sight of it. Had it been any other day or occasion she would have chased after it out of curiosity, today however, she didn’t care. She just was glad her friend was ok.
Grendel watched as the girls embrace each other and smiled to himself, he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders seeing Fluttershy safe and sound. He turned around and began to head into the forest to try and find a place to recover before stopping, he looked up to see two figures, one white and one dark blue in front of him.
“We wanted to say thank you for saving Fluttershy’s life.” Celestia said
“It was nothing…Princess Celestia.” Grendel smiled, Celestia and Luna giggled.
“Told you about us then did he?” Luna said.
“Aye…that he did Princess Luna.”
Luna giggled as Celestia smiled at him.
“Please…call us Celestia and Luna, any friend of Turil is a friend of ours.”
“If there is any way we can repay you...” Luna started.
“I appreciate the offer however…I cannot accept any reward for being the one who caused this in the first place, knowing she is safe is reward enough.”
Grendel leant against a tree letting out a sigh feeling the healing spell beginning to wear off, he felt his body fill with a sudden burst of energy and saw Celestia’s horn glowing brightly. He looked to his stomach then to his shoulder to see his wounds slowly begin to heal over leaving nothing but scars in their place, he looked up to her and smiled.
“Thank you…”
“It is the least we could do Grendel…” it was Celestia’s turn to smirk.
“I see Turil told you about me then.” He chuckled.
The three laughed together as Grendel stood up. Celestia took a step forward.
“If you wish to receive assistance in defeating him we could help you.”
“Thank you Celestia…but it’s something I must do alone; I don’t want to bring unnecessary danger to more of your subjects again.”
Celestia nodded and Grendel bowed to them, Celestia and Luna said goodbye to him and teleported to the girls. Grendel watched as the group began to talk and laugh amongst themselves, turning around he saw a pouch with a moon and sun emblem on it on the floor, curiously he picked it up and opened it up. He smiled as he inhaled deeply.
“Thistlesung leaf…”
He chuckled to himself as he placed the pouch carefully on his belt and walked into the forest soon disappearing out of sight.
A year had passed since the events that took place deep within the Everfree forest, the lives of the elements had returned to normal and the day was nothing more than a distant memory. Fluttershy’s injuries had fully healed and the nightmares had gone, she had told the girls all about what had happened in the forest. They found it hard to believe at first but knew Fluttershy wouldn’t lie to them about something like that; Twilight had taken great joy in noting down and cataloguing all she had been told about Grendel from Fluttershy, and had thanked her thousands of times.
Fluttershy had been to several random surprise parties that Pinkie had thrown to show how much she had missed her, even throwing them just by herself out of nowhere. The other girls had told Pinkie to turn it down a notch but Fluttershy didn’t mind, she knew it was just Pinkie’s way of expressing herself. On the advice of Twilight she had written several letters to Celestia talking about how she had felt during her time with Grendel, discussing in great detail about her nightmares and about his world.
To any other pony the today would off been nothing to them but another regular day, to Fluttershy and the girls however, it was the anniversary of the event and had decided to stop all they were doing and spend the day at Fluttershy’s house, just the seven of them. They included Spike in the get together as he was also part of their friendship group, they had eaten a large and wondrous lunch cooked by Applejack and Rarity followed by an array of treats from Pinkie. They then played a series of party games again led by Pinkie before settling down in the afternoon to have tea, as the afternoon turned into early evening the girls and Spike bid farewell to Fluttershy and headed for their homes. Fluttershy sat down with Angel cuddling against her, since the day she had gotten back he had a complete change in attitude doing everything he was told to do, she knew it was because he had missed her dearly.
Celestia and Luna had been taking a quick break from their duties to enjoy a spot of afternoon tea; they had spent the year doing their usual routine of raising the sun and the moon as well as court duties. They had spent some days looking out over the forest hoping to still feel Grendel’s life energy still flickering, worried about the possibility of it ever fading from existence. They could also still feel the life energy of Raven each time they felt Grendel’s.
Like the girls, they had suspended all appointments in the afternoon to have the some of the day together to remember the day’s events; they were remembering it for two reasons. The first was the safe return of Fluttershy; the other was for getting the chance to meet another human from Cyrium, they talked quietly to one another about hoping to get the chance to talk with Grendel once more before he left when they felt it.
Celestia and Luna heard inside their heads the sound of an ear piercing screech of pain followed by a sudden silence; they gasped feeling one of the life energies suddenly disappearing. However they soon smiled and looked to the window knowing which one it was.
At the same time, Twilight was in her library when she had felt the same sensation, if a little weaker than the Princesses as she didn’t hear the scream and looked out of the window confused. She shrugged it off and returned to her studies as Spike carried on cleaning the library.
In the middle of the forest was a crater, surrounding it were several destroyed and burnt trees some embers still remaining. Not a sound was heard in the area and no creatures were about. In the crater there was nothing more than several charred bits of wood, and what remained of a black cloak…
Fluttershy was in the kitchen turning on her kettle when she heard a knock at the door, curious as to who was calling on her at this time of evening she opened the door. Her eyes immediately widened and she gasped.
“Sorry I’m late…any chance we can still have tea?” Grendel smiled softly kneeling to be level with her.
Fluttershy didn’t respond, she simply stared at Grendel’s old face for a while her mouth agape, she heard him lightly chuckle before feeling his hand gently close her mouth. She whimpered as her eyes began to water, Grendel didn’t say a word but opened his arms and Fluttershy immediately embraced him tightly and began to sob happily.
“I missed you Mister Grendel…” she whispered softly.
“I missed you to Miss Fluttershy…”
The two remained in their embrace for a few more minutes before Fluttershy smiled and sniffled then led him into her house, Grendel smiled as he followed her, gently closing the door behind him.
Far to the north in the frozen artic of Equestria, something was stirring. In the snow-capped mountains a shadow was forming deep in the caves, the shadow was weak but could feel its power slowly growing back. It slowly advanced towards the mouth of the cave as a twin flash of green and red appeared in the centre of the shadow, purple energy emanating from them as a sinister smile soon followed…
----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Here is the sequel to Lost.
