Elements of Failure

Chapter 3

The small group made its way slowly along the path, with the death of Fluttershy, the group had become even more somber and quiet. The dark blue mist slipped past them quietly and unnoticed, moving deeper into the woods.

Rainbow Dash was still softly sniffling over the loss of her friend, Pinkie Pie doing her best to help Rainbow Dash feel better, but even Pinkie was having a hard time dealing with the loss.

Twilight took a deep breath and broke the silence as they walked towards the castle. "Look girls, things are too dangerous out here," she started as she came to a stop and turned to face them. "We've already lost two ponies on this trip, I wouldn't blame you if you girls want to turn back. I can continue on my own."

Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at each other then back towards Twilight. "Twilight dear, things look bad now but we've come too far to give up now." Rarity said giving her a weak smile.

"Yea, we're in this together, let's stop that meanie Nightmare Moon." Pinkie agreed. Rarity nodded as she looked at Twilight, putting on her best smile. The three turned towards Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash looked back at the three, quiet for a few moments before she spoke up. "I'm not going back, I'm going to see this through to the end Twilight. You can count on it." Rainbow Dash said rearing up and clopping her hooves together. "I owe Fluttershy that much."

Twilight smiled back at them and nodded. "Thank you, let's try to be more careful as we go." She said looking back at the path. "Looks like the forest gets darker." She said noticing the tree line get thicker and the canopy cutting off what little moonlight they had.

They pushed on and moved deeper into the forest, taking it slow as it started to get darker. As the canopy got thicker overhead, their path became harder to navigate.

"This is getting bad Twilight dear, maybe we should use our magic to help." Rarity suggested as she nearly tripped over a tree root. "I can barely see my hoof in front of my muzzle."

"Your right Rarity, hang on a moment." Twilight replied and the group came to a stop. Twilight's horn started to light up as she pushed magic into her horn, light slowly starting to brighten up the area.

Once there was a enough light in the area, Rarity gave a cry of shock at the sight of the trees surrounding them. The group looked around at all the ghastly features on the trees. Panic started to build up inside of the ponies.

Pinkie Pie pushed her fear down as best she could and walked up to one. Twilight turned towards Pinkie Pie, and the shadows on the tree shifted. "Pinkie! Run!" Twilight yelled one of the branches on the tree moving like it was going to hit Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie looked over at Twilight then back at the tree, the features of the tree shifted into a evil grin and Pinkie Pie gave a shocked cry of surprise and bolted into the woods away from the tree.

"Pinkie!" Rarity yelled and the group tried to run after her, but the trees seemed to move to block the path Pinkie Pie was taking and the group had to find a way around to get out of the grove of trees.

In Pinkie's panicked state, she lost her sense of direction and leapt to get over a falling tree. She landed in a small lake and splashed to get her bearings, coughing. Her splashing attracted a small group of crocodiles that slowly made their way over to her, not making a sound.

Pinkie Pie didn't notice the crocodiles as she started to swim towards shore. She let out a loud cry of pain as she felt something bite into one of her hind legs. She tugged her leg and looked back at the crocodile holding her leg in its mouth.

Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash had found their way out of the grove of trees and started to look for Pinkie Pie. They heard her cries of pain and started to gallop towards the sounds. The brush and brambles made the path to the lake hard to navigate, slowing them down.

Pinkie Pie screamed in pain again as the crocodile holding onto her hind leg twisted around and pulled as it bit down harder, shattering the bone. She pulled her hind leg hard before suddenly feeling it come loose. She looked back and screamed seeing her leg was gone.

The loss of her back leg made her panic more and start to thrash around as she tried to get to shore. But her progress was slow and her thrashing attracted more of the crocodiles. She screamed in pain again as her other back leg was caught in the jaws of another crocodile.

She kicked her front legs hard to try and pull herself free, looking ahead she saw Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash come from the brush, eyes widening when they saw her in the lake with the bask of crocodiles. "H.. help me!" Pinkie Pie screamed towards them.

The three of them watched in horror and shock as the crocodile holding her back leg twisted and ripped it free, Pinkie Pie letting out another scream of pain. She struggled and thrashed in the water, much more desperate to get out of the water. Just then, another crocodile grabbed onto her left haunch tearing loose a chunk of flesh.

Rainbow Dash took the air and went to help but when she lowered down to grab Pinkie, one of the crocodiles leapt up and snapped its jaws at Rainbow Dash, just missing her. "Pinkie... I'm so sorry," Rainbow Dash said as she flew back to shore.

"Help... me..." Pinkie Pie pleaded weakly, the loss of blood getting to her and her thrashing died down. The rest of the crocodiles coming in and each biting on her, pulling her flesh loose. Her cries of pain died down to soft cries of help.

Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked away, tears streaming down their faces. "I.. I'm sorry Pinkie, please forgive me," Twilight said and closed her eyes tears rolling down her cheeks. She bit her bottom lip before her horn flared with energy and she released a bolt of magic. The bolt streamed passed the crocodiles and caught Pinkie Pie in the chest, instantly killing her.

After the mercy kill, Twilight turned around "L.. let's go, don't look back." She said and trotted back to the path. Rainbow Dash and Rarity followed after her, not looking back at the crocodiles feasting on what was left of Pinkie Pie.