> "One Does Not Tame The Everfree" > by MrTyreste > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > "One Does Not Tame The Everfree" > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Imagine if you will, a land where war is nil Where love and kindness abounds and is not a climb uphill 'Tis a world not of man, yet you knew that of course No the land, Equestria, is dominated by the horse Well, ponies, to be precise, so small and so frail But hearts like those of giants, all trials they prevail Pegasi, Earth, and of course the Unicorns as well Contain such bravery, yet some could hardly tell They built towns, cities, and farms, all for their own kind Even castle towers and libraries for greater minds Yes they have it all, except one place you see A forest to the North, the one they call the Everfree Yes many have tried to claim it, some even lost their lives For Timberwolves and spirits all lie waiting inside Some ponies do so fear it,and some only shrug it off Some ponies seek adventure, in the trees aloft Yet one little filly, though so timid and so shy Has lived by its borders, these past few years gone by A Pegasus she is, that's a pony that can fly Her name is very graceful, her name is Fluttershy She waves goodbye to Angel, her little bunny friend "I'll be back soon, little one, don't follow me in" With a sigh she ventures forward, like so many times before As she goes flying into the grass and trees galore The forest is so very calm at this time of night The creatures are all sleeping, nothing left to cause a fright Her lantern in her mouth, the filly ventures forth To find a present for a friend to really show her worth The stars light up the sky, so pretty and so free It's always nice this time of night within the Everfree She travels deep enough so she can still see her home But something inside troubles her, she is not alone She tries not to let it show, for it could be for naught She's here on a mission, for that which can't be bought Setting the lantern down, the filly looks above And below and around, she's clearly deep enough At her hooves she spots something, that which she came to see A little group of flowers, nothing at a store like these Without a moment more, she picks the flowers there And stows them in her saddlebag just beneath her hair "Momma will really love these," She says with a bright smile Her mother above in Cloudsdale hasn't seen her in a while She grins and picks up the lantern that rests beside her hooves When a heavy gust of wind reveals some terrifying truths Her smile fades away as the night grows ever darker and cold When a wheezing noise comes from the bushes, from something that is old It speaks no words nor utters a sound, only breath comes by As Fluttershy uses all her strength to fight the urge to cry "Hello?" She finally breaks the silence, despite her many fears What she gets is not anger, but a voice full of tears "Go away." The voice did call, behind the old oak tree "A mortal foal from the town does not belong in Everfree." The lantern drops and silence falls The filly starts to scream Yet no sound comes from her throat Deep here in the Everfree She turns to run and save herself She tries her best to flee But she only runs deeper still Into the Everfree "Why do you run from me?" The voice did say at last A group of branches clasped around the filly, causing her to gasp The wood stuck into her skin, scratching at her coat At the time it seemed the forest really got her goat "I mean no harm!" Fluttershy starts to scream "I only meant to take a few, it isn't what it seems." The branches brush around her coat and into her bag they go The flowers fall and the voice gasps, anger starting to show "Damned pony!" It says with a shriek of hate "Why, my beautiful forest floor and trees, must you choose to rape?" "State your business promptly, lest you further anger me." "Or does one not fear her life will be claimed in Everfree?" The filly falls to her knees, scared to her very soul She isn't brave or cunning, and she's not in control Tears fall from her eyes as she starts to speak "Please sir, I beg of you, do not start to shriek." The voice calms down and a branch wipes her eye. "Little filly, you stole from me, yet here I see you cry?" The wood and trees shake and stir as a figure flees A great wooden creature comes from the Everfree "You do not understand what horrors I have seen." "Ponies from all nations have always pestered me" "From the taking of my children to the cutting of my trees" "They all try, but one does not tame the Everfree." Fluttershy rose and turned to her little bag She wipes her eyes and blows her nose upon a little rag She turns again to face the eldritch creature that she sees "Please tell me, are you the one who guards the Everfree?" The misshapen figure simply nods and turns its head around And sets the flowers that it took gently to the ground "Filly, I request of thee a game that we shall play." "Lose and you will die, but win and be on your way." She ponders for a moment, understanding what she risks "I'll play your game spirit, but please don't use any tricks." The spirit takes the form of a wooden pony then, "Answer me this riddle, and you are then forgiven." "I have been beaten, hurt, and killed" "Many have tried to tame me." "Instead of force and angry ilk" "What should be done to Everfree?" Fluttershy thought for a moment, fearing for her life Yet she remembered the gift Rainbow Dash had left behind Twenty bits she sat upon a log and gave a grin Hoping it wouldn't be long til she saw home again But the bits caught fire and were hurled towards her face And the little yellow filly once again tried to flee The branches stopped her and drug her deeper down this place "One does not, and will not, buy the Everfree." She thought once more and again remembered to look Into her bag at Sparkle's gift, a beautifully written book She sat it upon the log, but it was a sight to see The book burst into flames. "One does not teach the Everfree," She began to panic as she came ever closer still To a patch of darkness and silence, where life was surely nil One more try, she knew it to be true Until her life was snuffed out under the night sky so blue The spirit looked her in the eye "One more guess, filly." "Or you will join me in thy" "Prison of Everfree." This thing could not be tamed, nor could it be bought The spirit could not be trained, nor could it be taught The filly thought for a moment, then remembered well The hardships it endured, and the story it did tell She leapt from her flank and embraced the wooden thing The creature's eyes with joy and laughter did begin to sing "So much pain you have endured, and now at last I see." "One does not tame, but befriend, the Everfree." The creature gave a roar and the forest peeled away To reveal her cottage glowing brightly in such a way She heaved a sigh of relief as she turned the knob To find the flowers at her hooves as her heart began to throb "What a day." She said as she entered her cozy home She lost her birthday money and Twilight's precious tome But even so, a lesson she learned from the woods and trees That one does not tame, but befriend, the Everfree.