Isle of She-Beasts

Somewhere in the jungles, on Dr. Grogar's island.

Despite the seemingly morbid outlook, deep in the wilderness, natural faunas still thrive. A whole flock of sheep were grazing in a field, together with a herd of cattle, and goats.

The island wasn't entirely populated by Beast-Folks, on first glance. In some parts, the animals the mad doctor had transported from around the world have learned to thrive, with the Beast-Folks and chimeras alike. Unfortunately, this does not spare the dangers of predatory for most animals.

A little lamb, with a bell worn around his neck, was prancing in a field, chasing after a butterfly. Little did he know, danger lurks near. The little lamb had strayed too far from the herd, as he innocently chased the butterfly into the darkest parts of the jungle, where he had lost the insect.

Suddenly, something wet and slimy had dripped down from the trees, and splashed on top of his head, like raindrop. But there was no rain. Something was wrong. The little lamb felt a presence. He sniffed the air, cringing at the foul scent from what had splashed on him. But then, his ears perked up in alarm at the sound of something breathing. It was big and heavy. It was moving in the trees. The little lamb looked up and let out an alarming bleat, once his horror was fully realized.

It wasn't until a loud blaring bellow, almost as loud as a car horn, rang out in the air, startling the little lamb back to his senses. Instincts kicked in as he quickly turned and ran in the opposite direction, just as a trunk swung behind him, nearly swatting the lamb away.

With another angry bellow, the beast chased after the lamb, through the trees, crushing the underbrushes, determined to chase the young ungulate, out of parts unknown. The lamb turned its head to see the silhouette of an elephant, with horns and dangerously sharped and curved tusks, thundering behind him.

Why the beast wanted to hurt him, the little lamb doesn't know. All that mattered to him was to escape and get back to his mother as quickly as he could. Thankfully, the chase didn't last long.

Behind him, the monstrous elephant let out another bellowing roar. This time, it sounded more agonizing, as if the monster was in a great deal of pain. The little lamb quickly came to a stop as he looked behind him to see the monstrous elephant was no longer chasing him. The little lamb looked behind him to see the exit wasn't too far. Still, being curious, especially for an animal his age, the little lamb proceeded to turn back and see what might've happened to the beast that was chasing him.

The little lamb cautiously poked his head, from behind a tree, to find the monstrous elephant. Dead. At the claws of a much bigger threat. A creature shrouded under the shadows of the trees, hindering the lamb's perception of the sheep's shape, size, and identity. The lamb watched as the predator feasted on its latest kill. How it was able to bring down such behemoth is uncertain. And the lamb would rather not having to find out. He tried to leave as quietly as he could, until he accidentally stepped on a stick, emitting a loud snap.

*SNAP*

This unfortunately didn't go unheard. With a loud bleat, the lamb raced out of the trees, with his bell sounding the alarm for all the other animals in the herd to hear. But the alarm was sounded too late.

In a frightening grand entrance, a large chimera of indescribable nightmare thundered from the trees, roaring and screaming a bloodcurdling howl as it chased after the little lamb. The little lamb galloped like he's never galloped before, struggling to escape his untimely demise. However, the chimera's main interest wasn't on the small, meaningless ungulate. Instead, it focused its attentions on a whole herd of feast ahead.

In a mix of frightened moos, bleats, and cries, the herd immediately took off running from the predator, who continued to chase after its frightened meal. During the chaos, the mother of the little lamb had broken off from the herd, searching for her baby. Unfortunately, without the protection in the number of the herd, she became an easy prey for the chimera, who quickly lunged in and ate her up.

The poor little lamb watched in horror and grievance as the monster quickly ate up his mother. The monster then arched its head up to let out a triumphant roar that echoed for miles.

With a sad bleat, the little lamb sadly took its leave. Little does he know, unfortunately, that this will not be the last confrontation he has with the monster.

Meanwhile, up in his abode, high above the surrounding jungles of the island, built like a fortress, where he can look down on his land, his creations, as if he was a higher being.

Dr. Grogar looked out the window, fuming and brooding in silence. Deciding to break the silence, he reached out to his left, picking up a rusty bronze bell from its perch, on a wooden pedestal. With a flick of his wrist, he rang the bell.

As if replying to the call, the doors opened, with the sounds of footsteps, approaching him from his right. The footsteps grew louder the closer they approached him. Upon reaching a closing distance, the sound of a fine Chinese clicking on its plate was faint, but rang. Without having to turn his head and looked, the mad doctor reached out to pick up his tea and plate.

"Thank you, Bray," Dr. Grogar thanked his butler, and took a dainty sip of his tea.

The mad doctor grumbled in his wheelchair.

“If it wasn’t for this damn disease, I would be out and about, in polite society…” Dr. Grogar grumbled to his butler. "The fools had failed to see my pursuit at its full potential. My work was made to demonstrate of what humanity is capable of. We could change the world. The powers to create and to change, right at our fingertips."

"It's a pity your moment of triumph was marred by a little...accident, sir," Bray replied.

Dr. Grogar fumed as he recalled the tragic incident that had branded him an outcast forever and the days that lead up to it.

"The fools," Grogar muttered. "All their time, moneys, and resources wasted on some child fantasy's of attempting to bring dinosaurs back from the dead. Why wasting all our efforts on rebuilding the past, when we could've used our efforts to move forward into the future? To make something new? My first successful experiment, Predator 00, was proof of that!"

Bray, however, said otherwise, "Hmmm. If memory serves me right. Originally, it was a Megalania that they expected from you."

"They expected me," Dr. Grogar emphasized. "I, on the other hand, aimed to exceed their expectations. Which was precisely what I had succeeded.”

Dr. Grogar wheeled himself over to a holographic blueprint, detailing the genetic codings used in the making of a fearsome lizard-like beast.

“I have revolutionized biology,” Dr. Grogar ranted, while his trusty butler could do nothing but be the soundboard.

“The start of a new era of humanity,” Dr. Grogar continued. “The stepping stone to a grand evolution! A generation of a new breed of life forms with abilities and intelligence, unlike anything we’ve ever seen, in the world.”

“Playing God has always fascinated me since I was a boy,” The mad doctor said, with a moment of nostalgia. “If had my ways, then once I have succeeded in perfecting my experiments, I could find a cure to any genetic diseases. Only then, I wouldn’t be confined to this chair.”

“I expected nothing less of your potential, doctor,” Bray nodded. “But then, why are you still in this chair, if you wanted to find the cure?”

“My cure required dangerous genetic manipulations!” Grogar growled. “Experiments I could never perform on humans to begin with! I started with animals. When I became the chief scientist of Tambelon, my superiors expected me to bring back a dinosaur. Instead, I created a new beast, using one of the Megalania’s direct descendants. The Komodo dragon. By re-engineering its genetic makeup, I have created a new breed of apex predators. A perfect example of advanced evolution made possible by mankind’s scientific advancement. Predator 00 was created!”

Dr. Grogar turned his head and scowled at the portrait, with hundreds of darts, of an elderly man, in his 70s, with a long white beard and mustache.

“Dr. Starswirl, however, deemed that I went too far! Both he and his protégé, Celestia and Luna, had branded me a madman and irresponsible!”

“…Well, there was that incident regarding Predator 00,” Bray added. “Somehow, the beast got lose from his cage and attacked many people who had come to behold the fruit of your labor doctor.”

“But it wasn’t my fault!” Dr. Grogar exclaimed furiously. “It was a set up! In favor of an entire system that was rigged against me! Nobody believed me, but I had figured it out. My Predator couldn’t have escaped on his own. He was set loose, by the meddling of Sombra, Chrysalis, and their entourage! All so they could get me in their…partnerships.”

Grogar said the last word, venomously.

“They wanted me to make them an entire army of superhuman soldiers, to continue satisfying their selfish gain. Ha! But I showed them!”

Dr. Grogar laughed to himself, in glee at the memory of when he turned the table on the aforementioned criminal masterminds.

“And now, they will be hunted and slaughtered like the pigs they are, once I have perfected my next hunter!”

Grogar and his butler looked upon a large tank with a yellowish green liquid, within it contains a massive humanoid figure that is barely visible thanks to the liquid.

"Look at him, Bray. Magnificent, isn't he?" Dr. Grogar said with pride.

"Indeed, he is sir." Bray replied with a nod.

"My ultimate Hunter is almost ready. As soon as Shade brings that boy to us, we can at last begin the final preparations." The old doctor explained.

Within the tank, the figure drowsily opens his eyes and emits a low growl before closing them again.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the jungle

Spike, Sunset, Sweetie, and their new traveling companion, the newly dubbed Leggy Lamb, were trekking through the jungles in search of their friends.

Sunset Shimmer was sniffing the air with her nose, until she picked up a scent.

"That way!" Sunset pointed.

"You sure?" Spike asked.

"Sure, I'm sure."

"Okay. Here's hoping we don't run into another out-of-control freak, like Tirek back there...or even, Chrysalis..."

"You and me both, Spike," Sunset agreed, uneasily.

"Speaking of which...after seeing both Tirek and Chyrsalis mutated...what's the story with the others? Or do I even want to know?"

"Trust me, Spike. I think it's better you'd rather not find out," Sunset replied, with an eerie tone and disturbed expression to match. "But I can tell you this. From what the older She-Beasts have told us, before they..."

Sunset made a slight nudging motion of her head in Sweetie's direction. Spike immediately got the general idea that all other She-Beasts on the island have been – in a lack of better terms – humanized, and lost their identies.

"From what we've been told," Sunset continued. "After Dr. Grogar mutated them to be his own monsters, the criminal overlords went their separate ways to make their own turfs, on the island."

"Really?" Spike replied, feeling his whole body turning cold and covered in goosebumps. "So, where are they now? Not counting Tirek the Big Hungry Centaur..."

"Well, from what I've heard, Chrysalis resides in a large hive, somewhere in the swamps, just hatching a whole swarm of...parasites like her..." Sunset cringed in disgust, emphasized by how she stuck her tongue out, as if nearly throwing up.

"I'm sorry I asked," Spike frown.

Personally, to the young man, if he's never been more afraid of women before, then he's certainly is now. Except he only has one to worry about. Or so he presumed.

"Okay, enough about Chrysalis," Spike shook his head, getting back on topic, while also changing the direction, all the same. "What's the story about the other crooks? Where are they now?"

"Sombra was rumored to be taking up residents in the underground caverns," Sunset Shimmer answered. "The Storm King resides in the treetops. And Cozy Glow resides somewhere in the mountains."

Spike could barely swallow a lump in his throat. It took him almost an entire week to get used to the existence of She-Beasts. Chimeras, such as the Piranha-Gulls, the Octo-Diles, and the strange chimeric beast of a gorilla that nearly killed him and the girls on their first meeting. Now, he had to deal with knowing that five of the world's most wanted criminals are wandering on the island, as derange, psychotic, bloodthirsty beasts. And it was all the work of a mad scientist who owns the island, pulling the strings, as if he was an evil dictator – or even a god. There are things man was never meant to tamper. And one of them was playing God.

In his subconsciousness, Spike's hand reached out and clasped onto something warm, soft, but also strong, it gave him a feeling of security and safety. In response, it tightened its grip on his hand, with a firm and gentle hold.

"I'm scared too, Spike," Sunset spoke, with a caring and reassuring tone.

"Huh?" Spike looked to the Tiger-Woman on his right, before he looked down and realized he was holding her hand. "Oh! Sorry!" He apologized.

On his left, Sweetie let out a hissy fit, as she wrapped her arms around Spike, smothering him in her breasts, pulling him away from the Tiger-Woman.

"Easy there, Sweetie!" Spike yelped to the former She-Beasts, who continued to exhibit more cat-like traits by the seconds.

Sunset simply chuckled, with Leggy bleating that sounded almost like a chuckle.

It was still a surreal experience for Spike. He never thought that in a million years or so, he would ever find himself forming some kind of bond, or attachments, with the She-Beasts, or hardly any women, at all. Initially, female animals are different stories, prior to his arrival on the island. He gets along just fine with animals, both male and female.

Once again, Spike felt rather conflicted, since technically speaking, the She-Beasts are all female animals. It's the fact alone, that they started out as normal women, was why Spike still felt rather on edge in their very presence. Still, all the same, he was happy to have overcome his gynophobia, progressively. And in his honest opinion, there's no other women he would rather befriend with than the She-Beasts.

The friends hadn't gone far, when Sunset stopped them.

"Oh my goodness! STAND BACK!"

In response, Leggy let out a startled bleat and looked as if she was about to faint on the spot. Sweetie let out a startled yelp that sounded exactly like a cat.

"What? What is it?" Spike asked, while getting into a defensive stance, turning his head in random directions, expecting something to jump out and attack.

"Hey there, little guy!" Sunset cooed.

"Huh?"

Spike and others looked to see Sunset squatting down on all four, with her nose and eyes at the same level of a tiny little lizard. A gecko. The little lizard looked at Sunset curiously, licking its eyes with its tongue, when the Tiger-Woman slowly reached out for it. In response, the gecko quickly scurried away and disappear into the faunas of the jungle. Spike was still recovering from his shock, as well as the others, and was having trouble processing at what they just witnessed. Who would've thought Sunset had this side of her, especially towards such animals?

"I see you have a soft spot for the little guys," Spike commented. "All that fuss over a gecko? Really?" He chuckled, half-heartedly, due to the near heart attack from earlier. “I thought there was a poisonous snake, or something.”

"I can't help it," Sunset giggled, with a blush. "He reminded me of my pet gecko, Ray."

Spike was colored intrigued, "Ooh, you have a pet gecko?" He smiled. "Tell me more."

"Gladly," Sunset complied. "I first met him when Fluttershy was doing a charity pet photo shoot for the local animal shelter, in our town. I was the odd one out, because I didn’t have a pet. So, Fluttershy helped me to find one and when I first laid eyes on him… There was this…feeling, like we were made for each other!”

At the last part, Sunset had a heartfelt look in her eyes. The same kind of look that lovers would have for each other, their families, as well as their pets. Without a doubt, in Spike’s mind, Sunset was practically glowing at the thought of her gecko.

Spike smiled as he sympathizes the feeling, “I felt the same way about my parrot, Peewee,” He said.

But before their conversation could continue, Sunset, once again, stopped Spike.

“Shhh!” She shushed.

Spike, however, didn’t get the message, “No, really. When me and—“ He was immediately silenced, when Sunset covered his mouth.

“No, for real! Shhh!”

After seeing the dreadful look on her face, that spells alarm and genuine terror, Spike immediately complied.

Aside from the sounds of their breathing, all around Spike and his group, the surrounding environment was eerily silent. Not a single hoot, holler, or chirp of an animal was heard.

It was all too silent, that Spike was nearly convinced that he was all alone. It scared him, even more than his fear of women, which hardly mattered anymore, at this point.

All he could think of, at this moment was to survive. To be ready for the danger. To escape the danger. To live and breathe another day. Trouble is he has no idea what the danger is.

“Sunset?” He whispered. “Just…what did you hear?”

Suddenly, as if answering his question, a large crash was heard from the trees. Something huge was crushing the underbrush, breaking the branches off the trees. And with a loud thud, the ground beneath them shook so hard, that Spike and his group almost fell.

Soon as it was over, they all regained their footings.

“What was that?” Spike asked, still keeping his voice a whisper.

“Just follow me,” Sunset advised. “But be quiet.”

Very quietly, and carefully, Spike and his group all crept through the leaves and bushes, heading towards the source of the commotion, to investigate.

They gasped out of shock at what they found. A huge rhinoceros-like creature, with a thick coat of fur, laid still, on top of a pile of crushed branches, bushes, and trees.

Its eye was staring up at the sky, colorless and lifeless, with its tongue hanging open, releasing a vile stench.

“Is that…a woolly rhino?” Spike asked.

“A dead one at that,” Sunset confirmed, as she crept forward to sniff the corpse. “Yuck! And a fresh one to add to it…”

“What could’ve taken down an animal this size?” Spike asked, before he had a look of dread as a horrifying thought occurred to him. “Is it Shade? Has he found us?”

“No. I don’t think so,” Sunset shook her head, as she inspected some wounds on the rhino. “These patterns don’t exactly match up. Even for a hunter, Shade couldn’t have made scratches this deep.”

At the mention of scratches, Spike remembers the huge ugly scar that Sunset wore across her back. Remembering the night when Shade first attacked and destroyed their former camp, Spike was in total agreement with Sunset.

“But if Shade didn’t kill this thing, then…what did?” He asked.

Suddenly, from their left, the sound of trees rustling was heard, along with the sound of something huge and heavy, crushing the underbrush.

For further emphasis, the ground shook more violently the closer the heavy footsteps came.

“I think we’re about to find out,” Sunset said as she dragged Spike and leading the others, into the trees, in the opposite direction.

Once safely hidden behind the trees, Spike and his party peeked from behind, awaiting to see the arrival of the mysterious newcomer.

Squinting his eyes, straining for a better look, Spike felt his heart beating with anticipation, while anxiously hoping it wasn’t one of the criminal overlords Sunset had mentioned earlier. If it was Tirek, or something bigger, then there’s always a bigger fish. But, unfortunately, Spike gets the scary feeling that’s always the case on Grogar’s island.

Looking at the trees on the other side, Spike could see something big, misshapen, moving in the shadows of the tree. Spike strained to get a closer look at the cause of the movements, to see the colors of the foliage suddenly moving out of the place.

It was at that moment that Spike realized that some of the leaves from the trees were transforming into a different texture. The supposed leaves changed to reveal a thick body that is pitch black as coal, with a rocky and spiky surface.

"It can camouflage!" Spike gasped, screaming quietly, looking up higher, until he could see the face of the newcomer.

As if appearing out of thin air, stepping into the light of day, was a creature that Spike recognized, but didn’t expect to see.

"Whoa!" Spike exclaimed in a mixture of fright and amazement at what he saw. "Is that...a dragon?"

On first glance, the animal has the overall appearance of a Komodo Dragon, except it appeared to be ten times bigger than an average one, almost dwarfing a fully grown elephant. Its entire body was coated with jet black plated scales like those of a crocodile, enforced with long sharp bronze colored spikes along the neck, back, and tail, like a horned lizard. Its entire head appeared crocodilian, with rows of jagged sharp teeth protruding from the bottom and top lips, lining up the snout that curves and sharpens into a beak, like a hawk's. Its eyes are bright red and yellow, which are located beneath the spiky ridges, protruding from its brows. The creature stood on all four legs, with sharp claws that can cut meat like butter. Its spiky tail was slithering, like a very fat snake, but the tip snapped in the air, like a very long whip. A closer look reveals the flexibility and prehensile capability, like those of a chameleon, upon seeing the tail curling itself into the shape of a crooked hook.

Spike watched as the dragon crawled towards the dead woolly rhino. Using the sharp tip of its beak, tearing into the carcass, ripping it apart, and eating the meats. It even used its sharp claws to hold the dead animal in place, as it continued to feast. Almost as if the claws are the forks and the beak is the knife.

"...That’s not just any dragon, Spike," Sunset Shimmer confirmed, dreadfully. “That’s Ēferno! The Eternal flame. And Predator 00!”

Spike blinked his eyes in bewilderment, "Ee-what-now?" He asked.

“I’ll tell you later. But for now, let’s just…move very slowly,” Sunset advised. “Be careful not to make a sudden movement, or make a sound. We don’t want to alert him…”

Unfortunately, they hadn’t gotten very far, when Leggy peek from behind the brushes and was startled at the sight of the large dragon-like creature.

“BAAAH!!!” Leggy bleated in alarm.

In response, Spike and Sunset quickly covered the screaming sheep’s mouth.

Spike turned to look back, seeing the dragon snapping his head up, at the sound of the sheep’s scream. Fresh blood from the meat dripped from his lips and fangs, as the dragon turned his head in different directions, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. The tail was swaying, slowly, left and right, as if it was also searching for anything, or anyone attempting to attack from behind.

After a long silence, the dragon resumed to feast on its meal, with a low growl. Spike and the others all let out a collective sigh of relief.

“That was close,” Spike exclaimed.

“Way too close for comfort,” Sunset agreed. “Come on. Let’s go. But be quiet.”

Without wasting another second, Spike and his group turned to flee from the dragon. Spike kept his head low, so that the dragon wouldn’t be able to see him. But at the same time, he kept his heaving and breathing chest off the short grasses.

He was sweating up a storm as he heard himself crushing the sticks, leaves, and grasses beneath him. His thoughts were running wild.

If he can hear himself, then would the dragon be able to hear as well? And if so, then how long will it take for the dragon to find him and eat him and his friends? What does death at the claws of a beast feel like? Is it slow and painful? Or was it just a quick relief of all mortal attachments?

Spike can’t think on those thoughts at the moment. He had to stay focus on the task at hand. Escape from the dragon called Ēferno.

Speaking of whom, Spike wondered how Sunset knew about the dragon? Turning to his right, Spike was in awe at the sight of the Tiger-Woman, silently creeping across the jungle floor, with minimal to no effort.

Even though Spike knows she’s half-tiger, he wondered how she learned to stalk the jungle as a natural predator.

As for Sweetie, even though she was no longer a She-Beast, the feral jungle woman was moving with the elegance and grace of a cat. Spike wondered if her original She-Beast form was a cat, or a panther. Either way, she seemed to be just as capable, which would explain for all the times he’s caught glimpses of her, in the trees, now and then, watching him.

How long has she been stalking him? And how long has she, and the other former She-Beasts, been on the island? And what could be the entire purpose of their dance? If only Sweetie could talk and understand him, then he would have all the answers he wanted to know.

Finally, for Leggy, the anthropomorphic sheep was only able to sneak, by mimicking what Spike and the other two women were doing. But she fumbled and tripped over a tree root, causing her to fall to the ground with a hard thud.

Luckily, her fall went unheard. Spike looked back to see he and his group were at a distance of roughly 28 feet between themselves and the dragon. It’s likely that they were out of earshot.

After they hide behind a tree, the group looked back to see the dragon was still consuming his latest kill, before moving on.

“I think we’re safe, for now,” Sunset confirmed.

“Oh! Thank goodness,” Spike breathed rapidly, with Sweetie copying. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack and die of fright!”

After a moment of relief and composure, Spike found his voice to ask some burning questions.

"Okay, Sunset," He began to ask. "What do you know about that thing?" Spike pointed towards the dragon, behind them. “What did Dr. Grogar used to create it? And why did you call it Predator 00?”

But before Sunset could answer, however, Leggy perked her head up and turned in a different direction.

“Leggy?” Spike exclaimed, as he and Sunset were both startled by the sheep. “What’s the matter?”

“Baaah!” With a bleat, Leggy took off sprinting.

“Leggy! Where are you going?” Spike asked, as he and the others gave chase.

“Come back!” Sunset joined, with Sweetie being the last to follow.

Running past the eaten carcass of the woolly rhino, with its fresh raw stench fouling the air growing duller the farther away Spike and the other ran.

It wasn’t long before Spike and his group were running under the dark shades of the trees.

As they followed after the sheep, Spike looked around him to see the downed trees, broken branches, and crushed grasses. Most likely the work of the dragon. It all looked like a crime scene, just showing what this dragon is capable of. Spike couldn't help but quiver at the very sight of the destroyed forest, knowing that they were the work of a huge animal. And no ordinary big animal for that matter. But a fantasy made real.

Of all the creatures from myths and legends that Spike was most captivated, the dragon has earned its spot in his heart. However, the extent of his admiration isn't in Dr. Grogar's favor, now that he's learned that the madman of a scientist had succeeded in making a living specimen possible. And Spike was not looking forward to being the monster's next meal.

'Sounds like a horrible way to go out,' Spike thought dreadfully. 'To be eaten by your favorite creature.'

Spike quickly cleared his head of all unwanted thoughts, on the dragon. He focused on the task at hand, with Sunset and Sweetie, until they eventually caught up to Leggy Lamb.

"Leggy!" Spike panted heavily, almost out of breath from all the running. "Come on. We can't stay here any longer. We gotta go! There's a dragon out here. Do you understand?"

But Leggy didn't budge. Her eyes were fixated on a clump of tangled thorny vines. Spike, Sunset, and Sweetie all followed Leggy's gaze to see what she had suddenly galloped away for.

Upon a closer look, they find, caught in a tangle of thorny vines, and quivering, was a small little lamb, with a bell worn around his neck. The little lamb let out a few frightful bleats, until Leggy bleated in response to calm the young one. Soon, the ringing of the bell stopped, as Leggy reached out for the little lamb. However, the thorns proved themselves to be a difficult obstacle between her and the lamb.

Sunset walked over and urged Leggy to the side, "Stand back."

Everyone watched the Tiger-Woman unsheathe her claws, slashing across the thorns, cutting the vines, to release their captive. Once freed, the little lamb leapt into Leggy's arms. She wrapped her arms around the lamb's head, pulling him close to her chest, like a mother soothing their child.

"Aw!" Spike and Sunset both said together, with Sweetie wrapping her arms around Spike, lovingly.

"That's so adorable!" Sunset squealed, with a loud rumbling purr. "Kinda makes me want to have a child of my own."

Spike didn't comment on that. His attention was all focused on the sweet tenderness between Leggy and the little lamb. A half-animal, half-human hybrid, like Leggy, behaving like a paternal parent to an actual animal, like the little lamb. It defies all logics, but seemed just right. Two different worlds, coming together, and yet, became one big happy family.

Wanting to get acquainted with the little lamb, to let it know that he's a friend, Spike slowly walked up to the lamb at a reasonable distance.

"Hey there, little guy!" Spike waved to the lamb and talked in a soft voice. "My name is Spike. This is Leggy. We're friends," He said, introducing himself and the anthropomorphic sheep.

The little lamb looked to Leggy, who responded with some bleats of her own, as if to confirm that both she and Spike are indeed acquaintances, or friends. With that, the little lamb walked over to check Spike out, before it looked nervously at Sunset Shimmer and Sweetie.

"Hi," Sunset greeted, much to the little lamb's fright, as it ducked behind Leggy's legs for protection. "Oh no! It's okay, it's okay," Sunset said, attempting to coax the frighten lamb. "I'm not going to eat you..."

"Yeah, this is Sunset. That's Sweetie," Spike introduced the Tiger-Woman and feral woman. "They're also our friends! And Sunset's a good tiger. She won't hurt you, I promise..."

With another bleat of encouragement from Leggy, the little lamb looked back at Sunset. While cautious and weary, especially for a young animal his age, the little lamb was still uncertain. Still, after a nudge from Leggy, the little lamb went up to Sunset, who slowly and gently held her clawed hands up for a gentle scratch, under his chin.

Though startled, the little lamb melted into the loving scratch from the tiger-woman.

"Wow! He's so soft!" Sunset commented.

Spike smiled as he joined in petting the little lamb's wool. Upon touching the lamb's fluffy wools, Spike's hands practically melted at the softness of the little sheep's wool. It was unlike any other sheep he had pet before. This lamb's wools were as soft as a pillow, with the bounce of a ball.

Sweetie too wanted to have a feel of the lamb's wool. Unfortunately, her sudden approach to the little ungulate startled him so much, in his frantic impulsive response, the little lamb was kicking his legs and screaming, squirming in Leggy's arms, trying to keep the feral woman away.

Spike and Sunset quickly pulled Sweetie away, while Leggy hugged the lamb close to her chest as she continued to stroke his wools, gently calming him down.

"I think we need to work on your peopling skills," Spike said to Sweetie, who could only tilt her head to the side, in confusion.

"What the...Oh my!"

Without warning, the ground beneath Spike and his group trembled, to what sounded like thunderclaps. But the fact that there was no cloud in the sky, let alone a drop of rain, Spike and his group knew for an obvious fact that it wasn't thunder. Something big was crashing through the foliage. The young man and his entourage of anthropomorphic female genetically altered humanoids, plus lamb, turned around, in time to see the trees waving in the winds. Behind them, Spike could barely make out the outline of a large creature, moving through the woods.

Then, as if making a grand entrance, in a display of magnificent and intimidation, the creature revealed itself, as if it appeared out of thin air. The tree barks turned into thick rows of grainy scales that are as black as volcanic soot and hardened lava, and pale sandy bronze spikes. It was none other than the dragon.

"IT CAN camouflage!" Spike screamed at the top of his lungs, which was quickly silenced by Sunset.

The dragon immediately snapped its head in their direction, as if it was attracted by the sound of Spike's voice. With a low hissing growl, the dragon crept forward, slamming its claws on the ground. Each step makes a more powerful tremor than the last as the dragon got closer and closer. Too close for Spike and his group's comfort. Then, to add to the unsettling atmosphere, the dragon bent down to flick its long forked tongue.

"Don't move a muscle," Sunset whispered. "As long as you don't move, he won't know that you're his prey..."

"I guess he's a just a hungry carnivore searching for his..." Spike immediately ceased talking, when the dragon's forked tongue came upon them.

Knowing his reptiles, Spike was certain that the dragon was "tasting" the air, with its forked tongue. The way its eyes were locked onto him and his group, it's certain to have registered them as prey. And yet, it didn't lunge in for the kill. The dragon seemed to be deciding on what its next move should be. Spike was hoping it wouldn't consider eating him and his companions, and would just leave already.

"BAAAHH!!!"

Everyone's attention, including the dragon, turned to the frighten little lamb, who kicked and screamed, until he finally freed himself from Leggy's grip and ran off.

"Baaaah!!" Leggy called out to the little lamb.

With a loud yowling, screeching roar, akin to a hawk, the dragon gave chase after the little lamb, and the group.

Chasing the Dragons – Michael Giacchino

"Great. More running!" Spike moaned, feeling his legs were burning up from the blisters, the muscle cramps, bruises, and Shade Stalker's recent attack he has had to endure, since being shipwrecked on the island.

"Ain't like you've got a choice, Spike!" Sunset replied. "You either run for your life, or be a dragon's meal!"

Without having to look back, Spike could hear the dragon crashing through the trees, and its hissy roar was practically next to his ears. It was enough to convince him that the dragon was catching up fast.

Taking Sweetie by the hand, with his other hand secured with Sunset's, Spike set his sight forward to see Leggy and the little lamb were far ahead of them. The young man and his two She-Beasts were all that stands between the dragon and its ungulate preys.

Suddenly, Spike felt something wet and slimy hitting him on the back of his neck.

"What is this?" Spike asked, cringing at the tingling sensation.

Still, he kept on running, not daring to stop to check on what it was. Though, the skin on his neck was beginning to tingle.

"We have to split up!" Spike suggested. "It can't chase all of us!"

"No!" Sunset denied. "That's exactly what he wants. If we scatter, then he'll pick us off like rats! We have to stick together!"

Again, Spike felt something wet and slimy hitting him from behind. This time, it struck him on his left ear.

"Where is all this coming from?" Spike asked.

"Don't stop, and don't look back, Spike!" Sunset advised. "Whatever you do, do not look back at Ēferno, lest you want to keep your eyesight intact..."

Spike was just about to ask the meaning of Sunset's warning. But in the rush of the life and death adrenaline they found themselves in, now wasn't the time for questions. All that mattered was for Spike and his companions to keep running until they were safe.

They all made a sharp turn, narrowly avoiding the dragon snapping its jaws. Still, the dragon was undeterred and relentlessly chased after the man and She-Beasts.

Eventually, Spike and his two companions were able to catch up to Leggy and the little lamb. But by then, their legs were all worn out, with Spike feeling he's stepped on thousands of burning thorns, and his ribs were about to explode.

"We can't keep running forever," Spike panted heavily. "What do we do now?"

"Baaah!" Leggy bleated, directing the group's attention to a large hollowed log, sitting nearby.

"I think Leggy's onto something," Sunset exclaimed. "Hurry! Let's hide in there!"

Looking back, seeing the dragon was catching up, and that there was no other options, Spike followed as he dived into the log with Sunset and the others. Once inside, the group were all cramped up, with Spike being smothered between Sunset and Sweetie's chests, while Leggy's thick legs were wrapped around his neck, while she held the little lamb close.

"This...is...awkward," Spike muffled, with his lips puckered out, due to having both his cheeks, inadvertedly, squeezed by the girls.

Outside of the log, Spike and his party could sense the dragon's approach. The log shook and rumbled repeatedly, every few seconds. The dragon was trying to pry them out of their hiding spot. Before long, the log was lifted off the ground, before it was dropped back down. If Spike had to guess, the dragon had them in its jaws, before dropping them back down, in an attempt to break the log open.

When that failed, Spike and his group could feel themselves being lifted off the ground again, to be carried away.

"Whoa!" Spike screamed, nearly biting his own lips. "Where is it taking us?"

"I don't know," Sunset replied. "But hold on, Spike!" Spike did just that, pulling Sunset and Sweetie close. "But...not that close..." Sunset whimpered, sounding rather aroused.

Consumed with anxious fear and uncertainty, Spike could hear the rapid heartbeats of his own and his companions, as they were carried away by the dragon. What was it doing? Where was it taking them? He doesn't know. Unfortunately, their fears were all fully realized when, from a burst of adrenaline that threw them off their stomachs, the dragon had thrown them off a cliff.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" Spike screamed as he and his companions were sent falling down to the ground, at an alarming height.

They grunted and screamed with every bounce of the log, until they finally came to a stop.

"Ow..." Spike groaned, feeling a searing pain from the back of his head. "Oh man...that was intense..."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Sunset groaned. "But...are you okay, Spike?"

"Yeah...I'm fine," In actuality, Spike blushed from the fact he hadn't lost his head, completely, due to Sunset and Sweetie's breasts acting as cushions, with Leggy's legs as a makeshift seatbelt.

"Thanks."

End of Chase Music

After a moment to regain their composures, Spike and his group squeezed out of the busted up log, wobbling on their feet, as they struggled to stand up. After everything they had endured, every near-death experiences, it was a miracle that they were still standing.

Sweetie crawled away to lick a cut on her wrist, Leggy was cuddling up with the little lamb to calm it down, and lastly, Sunset checked on Spike.

"Nothing too broken," Sunset confirmed to Spike. "We've all got nothing but bumps and bruises."

The little lamb's bleat draws the entire party's attention to see that its head was covered in blood.

"Oh no, the poor kid!" Spike exclaimed as he, Sunset, and Sweetie went over to check up on it.

A stream of blood was trickling from the lamb's head, cascading down its cheek, to the bottom of its chin. Initially, Spike deduced it must've hurt its head during the fall. But upon closer look, he saw what he thought was a stone, piercing from the top of its skull.

"Hey...he's got a horn!" Spike pointed. "One of them, at least..."

"Oh he's got another one," Sunset pointed to the other side of the lamb's head. "It's just...smaller...and blunt than this one. Asymmetry. Interesting..."

"Well, with only one horn, he kinda looks like a unicorn," Spike commented. "No wait. A Kirin." The little lamb perked up at the last word.

"I think he likes that name," Sunset smiled. "Kirin."

The party's newfound fascination was brought to an abrupt halt, when the sound of the dragon's roar was heard, in the distance, atop the cliff. Spike and his group looked up to see the fearsome silhouette of the dragon. It was almost as if they were watching a movie of Harry Potter, or so.

"Something tells me this won't be the last time we'll see of him," Spike grimaced.

"Then we better get going. Now!" Sunset said as she, once again, took the lead.

Once they found a secluded area of the island’s jungle, Spike and his group, including the newly dubbed Kirin, gathered together to compose themselves.

“Man, I’ve got blisters on my blisters,” Spike frowned, before he remembered the substance on his back. “ICK! What is this stuff?” He asked.

“That would be poison,” Sunset explained. “For a dragon, as a compensation to not breathe fire, Ēferno was engineered to spit venom. One hit to the eyes is all it takes to render you blind.”

“Yikes!” Spike cringed at the revelation. “But…how do you know so much about that dragon?” He asked.

“Back in college,” Sunset began to explain. “When me and Twilight were study partners, we wrote an article on Dr. Grogar’s work. And during our research, we found that he was a promising researcher in biology and veterinary science.”

“Is that so?”

Sunset nodded, “We found out that he was one of the scientists who were tasked with bringing extinct animals back to life. But instead of something more…recent, like a thylacine, a woolly mammoth, or even a dodo, he targeted for something more…difficult.”

“Like what?” Spike asked. “A dinosaur?”

“Kinda. Something called a Megalania.”

“Whoa, for real?” Spike asked. “And…I take it that dragon...Ēferno, was his final result?”

“Not really,” Sunset shook her head. “Turns out, he had a different plan in mind than bringing something back from the dead. In actuality, he was conducting grotesque genetic experiments that were illegal and unethical. By the time the authorities could stop him, he succeeded. Thus, Predator 00 – a.k.a. Ēferno was born.”

It was a lot for Spike to process. He recalled every little details Sunset had told him, before repeating to make sure he understood.

“So, instead of reviving a dead species,” Spike began. “He thought it was a better idea to create a new species of chimeric monsters?”

“Exactly!” Sunset confirmed. “And it turns out, Ēferno was his first creation, whom he labeled Predator 00 at the time. He's only the prototype for a series of Grogar's first series of...Predators!”

“You mean…there are more? Now?!” Spike asked, silently and mentally praying that would not be the case.

“So far, no,” Sunset shook her head, much to Spike’s relief. “At least, not yet,” She added, much to Spike’s renewed horror.

“Dr. Grogar is rumored to be in the work of making some more Predators, for the sky and the sea. And if he succeeds, then the entire world is doomed.”

“And humanity will be the extinct species!” Spike muttered in horror. “This guy is seriously messed up. He should’ve been locked away in an asylum, or something!”

“My thoughts exactly,” Sunset nodded. “But no thanks to Chrysalis and Sombre, he was able to escape the law. Thus, beginning his connections with the criminals Twilight just told you about, earlier…”

“I see,” Spike looked away, feeling more troubled. “So, all this criminal masterminds. They’re all like his benefactors then? Supplying him with resources, equipments, and other…unfortunate humans, and such?” Sunset nodded to confirm. “But what did they all want from him? Like what did they have to gain?”

“I don’t know,” Sunset replied. “But frankly, I don’t care. And I’d rather not find out. All that I know was that they’re all psychopaths! They deserved to die! Grogar, especially, after what he did to us!”

Sunset looked down, distraught with her tiger-like appearance, on the brink of crying, even the sight of her claws.

“He made us all into freaks!” Sunset growled. “He…he broke us! He took away our futures, along with our humanity, and dashed them all to the winds!”

Spike felt sympathetic towards the tiger-woman. In truth, he’s grown rather fond of her She-Beast appearance. But all the same, Sunset and the She-Beasts’ happiness come first.

‘It’s still hard for me to remember that this is a woman, trapped in the body of a tiger,’ Spike thought to himself.

Subconsciously, Spike reached out to touch Sunset, scratching her behind the ears.

“I’m not a cat,” She frowned, showing indignant and disdain at Spike.

“Sorry!” Spike pulled his hands back in defense.

But quickly, Sunset’s scowl softened to a smile, “But thank you.”

Both Spike and Sunset walked up to each other and wrapped each other in a warm hug. In this moment, both Spike and Sunset felt at peace, like all the dangers they’ve faced no longer matters, as long as they have each other.

Once again, Spike felt content in his own little world, as he nuzzled into Sunset’s chest fur.

“Did I ever tell you you have soft furs?” Spike sighed.

“…I think you’ve mentioned it a couple of times,” The Tiger-Woman replied in a high-pitched whisper.

Still in his subconscious mind, Spike ran his fingers up, stroking Sunset’s back, over the fabric texture of her bikini top’s strap, and felt the bumpy and scratchy outline of a scar.

Upon feeling the scar, Spike was brought out of his stupor, as he traced the scar, scared to realize the length of it, starting from the shoulders to the waist, above her tail.

“Jesus...!” Spike exclaimed. “That is a big scar!”

“Tell me about it,” Sunset replied, sharing his grimace. “I’m lucky enough to be alive, after an attack like this, from Shade…”

“…I guess we’re all just lucky then, huh?” Spike asked, wanting to change the tone of the mood.

“I guess we are,” Sunset giggled, sounding human. “But let’s not push it. Come on. We still need to find the others.”

“Ok,” Spike complied, but quickly requested. “But…can we stay like this, just a little longer?”