Titian's Quest- The Seven Beasts

Titian was asleep in the hay bed and his eyes shifted wildly under his eyelids as he was having a nightmare. In the nightmare Titian was running darkness and he didn’t know where he was going as he past rows of gravestones in the darkness. He stopped as pair of red eyes opens up and row of smiling sharp teeth. Titian turned around and started to fall into the darkness. Titian gasped as he woke up and cold sweat drips down his face. He looked around to see Zeeboo frozen in place as she was unwrapping the bandages his leg and he looked at her. “What?” He asked.

“Sorry,” She said and snapped out of it. “Your leg is okay for travel.” She smiled and Titian got up. Titian put away the letters but a letter came through and it was from the Princesses. He grabbed it and opened it up to read it.

Dear Titian,
We have located the fourth beast for you and we hope you get there safety. The fourth beast can be found nearby Appaloosa and the locals say it looks like a giant red pig with tusks.
From, Princess Luna

Titian put on his saddle bag and looked at Zeeboo. “Zeeboo, can you teleport me to a place?” He asked and pulled out his map to show her where Appaloosa was. Zeeboo looked worried and rubbed her chin. “It’s important that I get there.”

“That far…I can’t do it alone…but I think if I get all the abada in the camp we can do it.” She said and Titian nodded. Zeeboo left the hut and Titian sat down in the hut to wait for Zeeboo to return.

~~~

Titian was standing inside a magic circle and surrounded by at least twenty abadas. “Alright we all ready?” Titian asked and he was getting nervous. “Just make sure I don’t get stuck in a wall or someone.” Few smirked and nodded. “Alright hit me.” Titian closed his eyes and he heard chanting from the group and he stood still. The chanting faded and Titian felt someponies hot breathe on him. He opened his eyes to see a big black nose and he backed up a bit to see a buffalo. “Ummmm…hello?”

“Who are you?” The buffalo asked and snorted. Titian smiled and noticed he was surrounded by buffalo. “Well?”

“I’m Titian Maple…Can you point me to Appaloosa please?” Titian said and the buffalos looked down and muttered. “Wh-”

“There no more Appaloosa!” A familiar voice said and the buffalo moved to reveal
Braeburn. Titian’s face drain of blood again to see his old friend with bandages over his left eye, wrapped around his sides and right front leg.

“Braeburn…” Titian walked to his old friend. “What happened?” Braeburn was shaking and a small female rushed to him.

“Sorry but he’s not ready yet to be walking around.” The little buffalo said and helped Braeburn into a teepee.

“A great pig beast destroyed their homes, many dead but the one survived we took under our care.” A buffalo said and he had dark fur coat wearing feather dress hat. “I am Chief Thunderhooves, come traveler and I will tell you more.” Titian followed Thunderhooves into a different teepee and they sat down cross from each other. “The beast show up the day after the traditional stampeding and newer tradition of eating apple pies with the ponies of Appaloosa. It fought with all that tried to stop it and only few survive the battle, Braeburn.” As the buffalo something in Titian’s belly lit up. “Now the beast is found in Appaloosa and it never went after the ponies that left.” Titian stood up and Tunderhooves stay the rage in Titian’s eyes. “You will not defeat this beast but if you are dead set on facing it, Appaloosa is north of here.” Titian bowed to Thunderhooves and took off to Appaloosa. “Good luck, Traveller!”

~~~

Titian walked on the streets of Appaloosa and looked to see buildings torn down. Some of the ruins were blood cover and he saw dead bodies in the ruins. The flame in his belly was set ablaze and his eyes darted looking for the beast. “WHERE ARE YOU?!” Titian yelled and he saw the beast come out from between buildings.

The beast was twice the size of Titan and the jewel was between the beasts eyes but it was smaller than the other beast’s jewel. The tusks he heard about were longer than Titian’s leg and the beast had big hump on its back. It fur was red as blood and had black strips on its hump. The beast snorted and smirked. “Another pony…no…you are the warrior that killed my brothers and sister.” Titian snorted and started to kick dirt up. “A challenge accepted.” Both charge at each other and neither Titian nor the beast was backing down. As the two collide and Titian lost as he was lighter and was thrown through a building. Titian stood up from the ruble and eyes widen as he was hit once more being hit into another building. Titian stood up once more and felt his saddle bags come off and blood dripping from his forehead. He was covered in cuts and scruffs but he found he there was a tree behind him. “Most would have died from that.” Titian snorted and stood his ground with his head ready to charge once more. He let out air come out of his nostrils, as the air went out it looked like smoke and his cap was tater from his travels. He could tell which wind blew as his mane blew to the right and while his cape flapped to the left. “You have strong body but it will not keep you alive!” Titian snarled and both charge once more and colliding once more but they in locked in place. Titian pushed but the beast would push as well and neither would move from their spot. “You…are…strong…”

“It…isn’t…my…body…that…pushes…me…” Titian said and eyes were locked with the beast’s eyes. “…It…is…my…will!” Titian pushed harder and started to push back the beast. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Titian screamed and using his head as a scoop he threw the beast into the air. Titian turned around and as the beast land he used his hind legs to hit the beast. Titian’s hind hooves connected to the beast’s hump, causing a loud cracking sound and sending the beast flying through several buildings. Titian breathed slowly, picked up his saddle bags and walked to the beast.

“It isn’t your will alone.” The beast said and looked at Titian as its back legs didn’t move. “I saw rage, fear and regret in your eyes as we were locked.” The beast closed its eyes and Titan smashed the jewel on the beast’s head. He heard the last breath of the beast leave its body and Titian left for the camp.

~~~

Titian enters the camp and everyone looked at as he covered in cuts and trail of blood from his wound. “Ow…” He said and fainted on the ground as he was rushed to.

~~~

Titian opened his eyes and saw he was in a teepee. He sat up and looked to see he had few bandages on his wounds. He saw Braeburn eating an apple and smiled seeing Titian up. “Your finally awake, Cousin.” He said.

“I’m not your cousin…though I am every close with the apple family.” Titian said and got up. He moved and lay beside his friend. “How long was I out?”

“A few hours, here have something to eat.” Braeburn pushed an apple to Titian and Titian ate the apple. “You really have change since I last saw you, how your sister and Isa?”

“Amur, she’s dating a young stallion her age and when I get back I’m going have to scare him…because I’m her older and only brother…” He trailed off. “Isa…she’s pregnant…and…and….” Tears formed and he started to shake. “For nine months I’ve been in a different country healing from a stupid mistake.”

“Does Brooch she’s going be a granny?” Braeburn asked and smiled but Titian’s eyes flared with rage as he heard his mother’s name. “Ti-” Titian stood up and looking to Braeburn’s eyes.

“DON’T SAY THAT BUCKING BITCH’S NAME!” He yelled and the earth rumbled. Titian’s eyes flashed red and Braeburn shivered in fear and turned very same. “SHE ONLY BRINGS PAIN TO MY FAMILY! SHE IS NOT PART OF MY LIFE AND SHE’S NEVER GOING BE PART OF MY CHILDREN’S LIFE!” Titian had tears running down his cheeks and shaking as he yelled. Someone coughed and Titian looked over his shoulder to see buffalo and the ponies that survived the attack.

“Titian…I’m sorry…I should have known…” Braeburn said and Titian walked over to where he was laying before. Titian curled in a ball and his back turned to everyone as he cried himself asleep.