Elements of Failure

Chapter 2

The group was quiet after the sudden loss of Applejack, even the normally bouncy and happy Pinkie Pie was just silently walking along the path. Fluttershy was sniffling quietly, going over in her mind what she would say to Big Mac, Granny Smith and Applebloom when they returned to Ponyville.

Deeper into the forest, they heard a sudden loud roar of something in pain. The group paused for a moment to look at each other before continuing on a little slower looking around for anything that might jump out at them before seeing the large form of a manticore standing in front of them.

The group stopped just out of sight of the manticore and looked at each other. "What are we going to do? We have to go this way." Twilight said looking at the other ponies.

Rainbow Dash sprang up, "We'll have to make it move." She said before flying quickly towards the manticore and bucking it hard in the face, causing it to roar loudly and swipe with it's claws. Rainbow Dash managed to avoid them but got hit with its tail sending her sliding back along the ground.

"Hurry everypony, let's help!" Twilight said, the group then running out. Twilight released a bolt of magic at the manticore, hitting it in the side and causing it to roar in anger, turning to face Twilight, baring it's fangs.

Pinkie ran over quickly to move Rainbow Dash out of the way so she wouldn't get hurt worse and Rarity threw rocks at the manticore with her magic in an effort to distract it. Twilight used her own magic to push it back to keep it from getting to close.

Fluttershy stood back and watched, her eyes wide. She noticed the manticore kept its right paw up in the air and didn't put it on the ground. While it tried to swipe at Rarity and Twilight who kept assaulting it with magic, Fluttershy noticed something stuck in it's paw. "W... wait... guys hang on." Fluttershy said softly trying to get her friends’ attention.

Rainbow Dash recovered from the tail swipe and flew up into the air again. "I'm not that easy to knock down!" She yelled and flew back at the manticore and started to move around it quickly building up a small tornado until it snapped its tail out and knocked Rainbow Dash aside again.

"W.. wait please stop." Fluttershy repeated, trying to get her friends attention. Seeing Rainbow Dash get hit again caused her to wince slightly.

"Come on girls, don't give up!" Twilight said another blast of magic flying at the manticore hitting it in the chest and sending it sliding back, roaring in pain and anger once more.

Pinkie Pie galloped over and bucked it's hurt paw causing it to rear up. Now in a rage, the beast swiped a claw at Pinkie Pie who managed to avoid the claws. A streak of purple magic caught the manticore in the chest again, knocking it on it's back.

"Wait!" Fluttershy yelled causing the ponies to stop and look at her as she rushed to the manticore. "Shh... it's okay, please stop. We won't hurt you anymore." She said trying to calm the manticore who had rolled onto it's side and got back up.

The manticore snorted and looked at Fluttershy, narrowing it's eyes. Fluttershy moved in closer and leaned in, grasping a dark thorn in her teeth and pulled it loose. The manticore roared in pain and slashed one of its claws at Fluttershy and catching her in the neck, its sharp claws sending a spray of blood in the air that splattered across the ground in front of the group, whose numbers had reduced to just four now.

The group gasped loudly before bolting into the woods and away from the manticore who looked ready to pounce. Seeing the group run the manticore started to chase after them as the thorn turned back into a dark blue mist and floated away.

The group managed to lose the manticore as they went deeper into the thick jungle. Once they was safe they came to a stop and panted hard trying to catch their breath. "F.. Fluttershy... why?" Rainbow Dash said tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I.. I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash, truly I am." Twilight said trying to comfort Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash sat on a log and cried softly as Twilight, Rarity and Pinkie tried to comfort the poor pegasus. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had grown up together, the loss of the was hardest on her. "I... I should've stopped her..." Rainbow Dash said wiping her eyes with a hoof.

"Rainbow Dash... she was too fast, no one could of stopped her." Rarity said softly looking at the ground. "It all happen so quickly. There was nothing anypony could have done."

"I'm the fastest flier in all of Equestria, I should have tried!" Rainbow Dash said jumping into the air before dropping back onto the log sighing deeply. "Who am I kidding? I couldn't even save Applejack..."

"Oh Dashie...." Pinkie Pie said softly wiping her own tears from her eyes. "You tried, no one could have reached her in time..." The normally happy pony said, trying to cheer Rainbow Dash up.

The small group sat quietly for a few minutes before Rainbow Dash got up off the log and looked at Twilight. "Come on, let's get that Nightmare Moon." Rainbow Dash said with determination. The group nodded in agreement before starting towards the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters once more.