Leaving the library, we headed straight to where we make camp only to be intercepted by three little fillies. "Hey, hey mister", says a white unicorn with a pink and purple mane.

"Just when you think it would be any easy, quiet walk back", I mumble mostly to myself. "Hello there little one, and who might you be?"

"I'm Sweetie Belle, this is Scootaloo and on my other side is Applebloom", she says while motioning towards an orange pegasus with a purple mane and an earth pony with a yellow coat, red mane and pink bow in her hair.

"Well, I'm Mongoose and this here is best friend, Boxer. Now if you'll excuse us we really need to be somewhere", I say while starting to move passed them.

"But we wanted to get our cutie marks by helping you..." Scootaloo says a little downtrodden.

"What were you gonna help us do?" Boxer asks.

"You look new here so we were gonna show you around Ponyville and get our cutie marks as tour guides", Sweetie Belle said despondently.

"Do you like being a tour guide?"

"Not really..."

"Then why would you want a cutie mark in being a tour guide?"

"We don't, we just want our cutie marks already", Scootaloo says.

"Good things come to those who wait. I wouldn't rush this", I say.

"That's what everypony else says."

"I'm sure you'll figure out what your cutie marks are eventually. Don't worry about it. Now if you'll excuse us we really need to go."

"Can we go with you? Maybe we can keep you safe."

"Thanks but no, we don't need protecting despite what we look like. We are actually very skilled fighters who had some very close calls with death", I say while moving away.

After managing to get away from the 3 fillies. We continue on our direct path out of town. Little do we know that the fillies had decided to follow us to keep us safe regardless of what they were told. We didn't have much issue getting back. The only other thing to really happen was Boxer got hit by a grey mare with a blonde mane and tail. She of course profusely apologized but Boxer didn't really mind much since she hit him in a spot that wasn't currently injured.

"See I told you they need protecting. If they can't even avoid getting hit by Ditzy, how can they hope to stay safe?" Scootaloo asks her friends.

"It didn't look like it hurt 'em. He just sorta stood there", Applebloom said.

"He could have easily fallen over and hurt himself", Scootaloo replies.

"Hey look, they're heading into The Everfree Forest!" Sweetie Belle almost yells.

"We better go stop them before they get hurt ... more than they already are", Scootaloo says while chasing after us.

"Ah don't know about this", Applebloom says mostly to herself.

Reaching the forest was relatively simple. Boxer speaks up " It would appear that we have followers."

"Yeah, they seem to be very insistent. I say let them follow us. If they get into trouble we can save them, right?"

"It should be easy enough if our second encounter is anything like our first in this forest."

"Dude, if it will be anything like our first encounter they could easily die. I don't want that to happen again anytime soon. If I have to deal with anything like these past few days ever again, there is something very wrong with the world."

"It wasn't that bad. Just some wolves and a mother bear and her cub."

"My point exactly, that is a very dangerous situation for defenseless fillies. I don't want to be responsible if they die."

"Anyway we're here. We should wait and see how long it takes for them to find us."

"What are you 2 talking about?" Jules asks.

"Just some fillies who thought it would be fun to follow us. They don't think we're very capable of protecting ourselves", I say.

"Look at you, I mean you're covered in bandages and new to town. If I didn't know better I'd say you need protecting too."

"So because we're covered in bandages we need more protection instead of less? Did you ever think that bandages means we fought well enough to live and drive off, if not kill, our attacker."

"I guess but bandages mean injury and that is usually a sign weakness."

Right then we hear "RUN! They're chasing us!"

Boxer and Jules rush to grab guns while I move towards the source of screaming. As I start moving towards them, they come rushing through some bushes and run into me. I look up to see 3 timber wolves and 1 of them looks familiar. Upon seeing me the wolf immediately starts snarling and getting ready for an attack. The other 2 start to spread out. I put myself in between the wolves and the fillies.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

With that, all three wolves died. Turning around I ask the fillies, "Are you alright?"

"What was that?", Scootaloo asks while rubbing her ears.

"It would appear that you 3 disobeyed us and got into trouble. Luckily though Boxer and Jules were smart enough to finish the fight before it started. Now are you ok? Did you get bit anywhere?" I ask again while still trying to make sure they're ok.

"Yeah, we're fine. Jus' a couple o' scratches. We're really sorry for disobeying ya", Applebloom says looking glum.

"You're not hurt and that's what matters now come on I'll take you 3 home", I say while heading to grab a gun.

"Just one question though, What made such that loud noise and stopped the wolves so quickly?" Scootaloo asks.

"Well, that would be a gun. And the reason they stopped moving so quickly was a combination of what guns are and where the wolf got shot", I say.

"Oh ok."

"Now come on. I need to get you 3 back home quickly so where do y'all live?"

"Ah live at Sweet Apple Acres", Applebloom says.

"You can drop me off at Carousel Boutique. That's where my sister lives", Sweetie Belle says.

"Can you give me directions since I don't know this town?"

"Sweet Apple Acres is on the southern edge of town and The Everfree."

"That's pretty close. We can start there. Hop on, I'll fly us there", I say while spreading my wings.

Flying out of the trees with the 3 fillies wasn't too hard. They're pretty light, however that doesn't say much as they like to move around and throw off my balance just enough. The flight was a short one, landing in front of the Apple family house hold. I let the fillies down and knock on the door.

"Well howdy there Mongoose. Ah see y'all have met the crusaders", Applejack says.

"Yes well, I just wanted drop off Applebloom and tell you what about what happened earlier today. And Probably explain some things that you most likely heard", I say.

"Is something the matter?"

"No, the problem has been neutralized. But these three fillies felt the need to follow Boxer and me into the forest and wound up getting attacked by 3 Timberwolves. Luckily these 3 ran straight towards us and we stopped the wolves."

"Is that true?" she asks the 3 fillies.

"Yeah, it's true..." they reply.

"Do y'all now understand why The Everfree is a dangerous place?"

"But he went in there."

"Just 'cause somepony else does something don't make it safe. Now go on upstairs I'll be up in a bit."

"Ahhhh ok, bye everypony", she says while looking at the ground.

"Now what else did y'all want to tell me?" Applejack says.

"I just wanted to let you know that the loud sounds you heard were Boxer and Skippy taking care of the wolves so don't worry about that."

"Mind explaining that a tad?"

"Maybe later. I still have to take these 2 home", as I say that Scootaloo cringes a little and Sweetie Belle notices.

"What's wrong Scootaloo?"

"Oh? Nothing. I'm fine"

"Ok then."

"So which way to Carousel Boutique?"

"It's near the center of town. Just a little ways north of the library."

"Alright hold on, and try not to move around so much."

The flight to the boutique was pretty nice I got to see how big the town actually was. It was surprisingly bigger than I originally thought. Easily 100 ponies. Landing in front of the store drew more attention than intended but everyone seemed to go about their business quickly enough. I quickly knocked on the door and Rarity answered with "Hello darling and welcome to Carousel Boutique. Where everything is-"

"Rarity, I'm sorry for interrupting but I'm not here to buy something. I came by to drop off Sweetie Belle."

"Oh? I'm sorry, where are my manners? Please come in, have a seat, would you like some tea?"

"Umm, No thanks I really am just here to drop off Sweetie Belle."

"I know dear, but I find it's best to talk when one has tea. Don't you agree?"

"I... guess so?", I say unsure of what to answer.

"Now what did Sweetie Belle do this time?"

"This happens on a regular basis?"

"She and her friends have been known to get into trouble quite often."

"Well this is probably the first time this has ever happened to her and her friends."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"She followed Boxer and I into the forest-"

"The Everfree Forest?"

"Yes, what is the big deal about this forest?"

"Sweetie Belle! You know better than to go into The Everfree Forest. Whatever were you thinking?"

"We just wanted to make sure Mongoose and Boxer would be safe. They don't seem like they're very safe."

"You should never go into that forest. It's just too dangerous. The "Big Deal" is that the forest is unnatural. That is the one place where no pony controls any aspect of it. Making it the only truly wild place in all of Equestria."

"So Everyone is scared of the uncontrollable?"

"Yes, Aren't you?"

"No, that's just one more adversity to overcome."

"What else did she and her friends do?"

"Well it wasn't her fault but 3 Timberwolves decided to attack the group of them. They were able to run towards where Boxer, Skippy and I were and we took care of the problem. I just wanted to make sure you knew about that and not to worry about any loud noises you heard recently."

"Oh my, thank you for telling me. And thank you for keeping my little Sweetie Belle safe from those terrible wolves."

"It was no trouble at all. Now if you'll excuse me I still need to drop Scootaloo off at her home."

"Come by anytime you or your friends need anything."

"I will and thank you for the tea."

Author's Note

I know I said this would be the original intro but writing stuff down didn't work out that way. I should put up eventually and I will tell you when I do.