The Everfree Chronicles

by Novel Idea

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Luna, Original Character, Spike, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Main 6, Discord, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 6539

A stallion returns after a three year stay within the Everfree Forest on Celestia's orders.

When a stallion who spent a three year stay within the Everfree forest at the request of Princess Celestia returns to Ponyville the mane 6 find themselves forced into facing a foe none of them are prepared to handle. The Elements of Harmony may not be all they need to survive, if their friendship can last the journey into the heart...of the Everfree Forest.

Published 2011-10-14 15:40:17 UTC
Last updated 2011-10-14 15:40:50 UTC

Chapter 1: A Welcome Home Party, Pinkie Pie Style.

Chapter 1: A Welcome Home Party, Pinkie Pie Style

The unicorn student Twilight Sparkle was making her way, slowly through Ponyville. Taking time to enjoy the fall scenery which would be gone soon enough to allow three months of winter. It had been only a few weeks since her friends and herself had managed to overcome Discord and save Equestria using the Elements of Harmony and all six of them had been taking it easy since that chaotic event.

Today the young unicorn had decided to give herself (and Spike, her assistant) a rarely encountered day off to relax from their studies into the Magic of Unicorns. Spike had opted to go spend the day following around Rarity and helping her as needed (not much of a vacation) Twilight thought to herself, but she knew the young dragon enjoyed it, and was sure that Rarity could use the help running her Dress Shop.

Twilight, on the other hand had spent some time visiting Fluttershy for tea and was now making her way back to the Library which was her home here in Ponyville. The streets, however, were surprisingly empty on this beautifully clear day, a few ponies seen scurrying along quickly all seeming very excited for reasons unknown to the young unicorn.

“Did you hear!?” Lyra said to her friend Bon-bon as the two hustled out of Lyra’s house, seeming rather excited Lyra was absolutely beaming, but Bon-bon, much like Twilight, seemed to have no idea what was going on. “HE’s coming back today!” she said pulling along her fellow pony up and around the house leading her to some place unknown to Twilight.

“He? Who’s he…?” the lavender Unicorn asked out loud looking around for some sign of anypony to ask. But there was no one. Not even in the sky, which was so clear and perfect that Twilight was sure there would be plenty of the Pegasus Weather Teams up there clearing it. The sky, however, seemed to be making itself perfect on its own design. Sighing the Unicorn moved on to her house putting the randomness of the event aside to focus on her studies which she had planned to dive into for the rest of the night.

Approaching the massive Tree-Library which was her home Twilight took a last look around for anypony out and about but alas there was not one pony to be seen. Pushing open the top and bottom part of the wooden door she was met with quite the surprise.

The room was decorated in massively obtrusive pink, streamers, balloons, punch bowls, chips, and decorations that Twilight couldn’t even begin to place. They were scattered chaotically all throughout the room. As was almost everypony in Ponyville!

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said jumping up beside Twilight as if from no where, the brilliantly pink pony hopping circles around the Unicorn. “Hurry we need help getting everything set up before HE gets here.” She gasped breathlessly moving away from Twilight to go help Rainbow Dash who was busy hanging a welcome home sign across the birth of the upper floor, the energetic Pegasus looking very irritated at the scrutiny of Rarity, the highly strung unicorn bellow.

“But what’s going on?” Twilight asked out loud, not that anyone answered. They all seemed far too busy in preparation for someone who was, as far as Twilight could tell, coming home. Using her levitation magic she helped out with streamers and signs as best she could still having no idea what was going on. So in the end Twilight decided to make her way through the crowd to find Applejack to see if she could help illuminate the situation.

Twilight found the apple farming pony over by the food directing her brother, Big Macintosh, and her sister Applebloom in their preparation of a variety of apple based foods that they were setting up along the left side of the room. After several attempts to break her General like demeanour she got a response though it wasn’t what she had wanted.

“Sugarcube, I know this all may seem pretty crazy to you, but I promise you’ll understand soo-… Applebloom that is not where I told you that goes!” the blonde had managed to say before running off to commandeer the troops, leaving Twilight standing alone, defeated.

It wasn’t long before Pinkie’s voice echoed out painfully over the crowd. “ALL RIGHT EVERYPONY LIGHTS OFF, HATS ON, CUPCAKES IN!” she bellowed and everyone did as was generally instructed, the lights all went out leaving Twilight alone in a sea of ponies in the dark... and then silence. Obviously it was a surprise party, Twilight decided, ending up right next to Pinkie Pie.

The pink earth pony looked on the verge of a semi-nuclear explosion so much energy was being stored in that little ball of party based chaos. The silence in the room was growing to a palpable level, some of the ponies where barely breathing less they ruin the surprise. Pinkie Pie was quite beside herself, entire body vibrating with pent up excitement.

It was the first sound to break the silence, the echoing clop rang throughout Ponyville as a lone pony moved across the cobblestone. The anticipation grew all the more as ninety percent of the ponies were sure that this sound was the approach of the one they were waiting for. Indeed the hoovesteps were getting closer to the Library, it sounded like at any moment the door would open revealing the noise maker who was so busy interrupting the good silence that was filling the library.

Twilight focused as hard as she could through the over bearing silence to listen to that resounding clop. It was an odd beat, not the usual “1-2, 34” of a normal walk, it felt stilted as if one hoof was carrying the weight of two, with the other foot being dragged along afterward. The purple Unicorn pondered who this pony could be but she would not need to ponder for much longer.

The door to the library opened and light fell within the gateway, the decorations hidden out of reach of the sun’s piercing rays. The pony that entered was encompassed in too much light for Twilight to make out however, as her eyes had over time grown more accustomed to the dark. Still the ponies waited.

The new figure closed the door behind himself and stumbled in the dark a little looking for the light switch.

It happened simultaneously and instantly. The lights flared on blinding the stallion and a gigantic roar echoed out throughout all of Ponyville, reaching even the Everfree forest far on the outskirts.

“SURPRISE!!!!”

The now revealed pony fell onto his haunches overwhelmed. Though the screeching yell deafened Twilight for a moment she was able to focus enough to catch a good look of this new Stallion. He had a caramel brown coat, his back and sides covered in scars, some small and light discolorations to what appeared to be healed over wounds and gaps where flesh once was, on his back was a double bagged saddle with thickly filled pockets. His mane was a rich chocolate brown which fell about his face covering the left side completely. Twilight took an instant and noted his clothing, he wore a wide brimmed Fedora hat of a brown which matched his coat pulled titled low over the left side of his face, hiding it beneath the brim and his hair, his legs had leather wrappings which looked almost bracer like, a rudimentary armour. Taking a step forward, Twilight tried to get closer to him to but she was cut off by a sea of ponies, most predominantly within that sea being Pinkie Pie.

“Were you excited? I hope you were excited. I wanted you to be excited, I was excited, I don’t think I was ever more excited. Except for that time I saw Twilight and went all “WAAAAAAAH” but I mean who can top that? Even this couldn’t top that but it was really close you know, very very close, so were you excited?” the hyped up pony rambled all in one sentence to the colt who was sitting on his haunches blinking his one revealed eye at the lights, slowly opening it to reveal the rich mahogany orb.

“Yes, I was ver’ excit’d Pinkie Pie.” the nameless pony said. “An’ very surpris’d.” he said pulling at his hat to cover the left side of his face more beneath the brim. His pronunciation of the words felt thick and uncommon as if he wasn’t used to talking, his “p”’s sounding almost painfully deep. “I mad’ sur’ not to tell ye so this wouldn’ be happenin’.” he growled a little one open eye searching through the plethora of ponies who were all busy welcoming him back and saying how happy they were to see him. He nodded back to each one and gave thanks for them all coming to such a flamboyant party. Shortly they all had their fill and the wall of ponies dissolved into the party, DJ PON-3 starting her turntables which were set up on the second level, heavy speakers hung from the wall sending their beats down into the dancing mass. By the time Twilight got close enough to his new Pony the only ones around him were: the still hopping Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy who was currently hidden slightly behind Rarity, Rainbow Dash hovering up above their heads and Applejack looking embarrassed at the floor, pawing it with her hoof absently. Spike was there too, which made Twilight more then a little curious. It was also the first time Twilight got a good look at the Stallion, good enough to make out his cutie mark.

A pair of dice, in mid roll seemed to float majestically on his flank. Twilight could not even begin to fathom what his special talent would be with such a cutie mark.

“I’m mighty sorry, Lucky.” Applejack said making sure not to make eye contact with the new stallion. “Ye know I can’t lie to nopony.” she pleaded looking very ashamed with herself, the rich brown colt sighing and giving a tug on his hat.

“It’s a’ight lass.” Lucky said defeated shaking his head at the party and the noise, the scarred pony looked rather tired. “Jus’ was hopin’ for a wee bit o’ sleep.” he yawned, shrugging it off. Then he gave them all a rich smile which didn’t seem to match his worn and torn body. “It’s mighty fine to see ya’ll again though.” he drawled stretching his legs and getting up. Turning, Lucky faced the Unicorn Heroine. “You, little lady, must be Twilight Sparkle.” he said richly holding up his hoof to her for a shake. “I’ve heard a might good bit about you.”

His smile was infectious but it couldn’t overpower Twilight’s suspicions, but she did, regardless, shake his hoof.

“So you’ve heard a lot about me?” Twilight asked, letting her hoof fall, Lucky’s going back down to the floor as well, tapping a little to DJ Pon-3’s current beat.

“Yes indeed, though I’m surprised you never sent me any letters yourself. The girls and Spike have been messaging me for months with stories about your adventures but there hasn’t been a letter from you.” Lucky said his voice a little confused at the situation. “Either way I think I shoul’ introduce myself righ’ proper. I’m Lucky Roll, pleasure to meet yeah.” The stallion said tipping his hat to the younger Unicorn.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lucky Roll.” Was all Twilight could say, she was crushed on the inside as to why her friends hadn’t told her about this character, how come they had never let her in on that they were messaging him. But most importantly she was upset that Spike, her trusted companion and dearest friend had not told her of what was going on.

“We wanted to tell you!” Pinkie’s bubbly voice popped up. “But every time we had a spare moment when we weren’t being chased by something or some crazy antics were going on or we all had to work.”

“That’s right, sugar-cube. We didn’t mean to keep anything secret.” Applejack said, recovering from her embarrassment.

“Oh oh oh or we were making cupcakes. Delicious cupcakes.” Pinkie Pie added, the group all looking at the random pony.

“Pinkie Pie. You. Are. So random.” Rainbow Dashed said looking down at the pink earth pony with a little squint.

“Just like old times, eh?” Lucky asked laughing he pawed down at the floor, taking each of them into his field of vision one by one. “It really has b’n too long hasn’ it?”

“Three years…” Fluttershy whispered from off to the side, moving forward a little, obvious the lessons she was going through with Rainbow Dash to increase her assertiveness were taking a long time to sink in.

“Yes, exactly. Three loooooong arduous years without you over to help meeeeee.” Rarity complained slightly drawing her words out. “Just where have you been?”

“Oh ai? Well the Princess needed me to go deeper into the forest then usual. Had to look after something for her while she was busy ruling Equestria. When lil’ Luna woke up I had to move in deeper as well to make sure what I was guarding was well watched from within.” He said making no promises to tell them what he was protecting deep within the Everfree forest. “Managed to pick me up som’ new momento’s there, don’tcha know.” the Stallion said moving his head in the directions of the scars on his underside and back.

There was a moment of silence, Twilight was unsure of how to read the situation. Her friends did indeed looked as if their friend Lucky was far more beat up then usual. But for a pony to spend three years in the heart of the Everfree Forest was unheard of. To spend any extended time in that forest is extraordinarily dangerous. "The princess..?" had she heard him right? It was her princess, her teacher… and he mentioned Luna, so he has a way to receive messages from the princess, and Spike.

“You work for Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked turning her head, having spent a great amount of time with her mentor over the past years since Celestia had taken her under her wing the young Unicorn found it peculiar that she had never heard mention of someone so important as to be given a three-year long task within the mighty Everfree Forest.

“Yes indeed lil’ miss.” He said with a smile and a air of pride. “I’ve been working with the Lil’ Lady since I was just wee bit high.” Lucky said raising his hoof to reflect his height, roughly that of a pony at the same age of Applebloom or Scootaloo. “She has had me living and working the forest ever since, and acting as her personal liaison to Zecora for the Zebra Tribe.” he continued pounding his chest a little, happy with his status.

“I’ve never heard of anyone living in the forest…” Twilight said sceptically all the other ponies making non-committal faces as if it was a taboo topic.

“Well of course I had to technically live here, in Ponyville. This library to b’ ‘xact.” Roll said nodding to the raving ponies within the large library, his accent becoming less noticeable and prominent “The mayor wouldn’t let Celestia use me any other way…though I suppose I spent most of my time in safe houses I’v' made over the years anyway’… Ponyville still feels lik’ I’m back home, dontcha know?” he chuckled throwing a hoof over Rianbow Dash who had landed beside him and the other fore-hoof over Applejack in a tight hug. “And see’in ya’ll again just makes it worth it.”

Twilight went quiet as the ponies, her close friends, all talked excitingly to Lucky and watched in from the outside of the circle, even Spike was deep in the conversation that she had tuned out. She felt like she had long ago, before coming to Ponyville…before making friends a time when she felt separated from everyone there, and she wished for all her worth that she had a book to read or something to study instead of standing there silently in the life filled party.

This was different than that she decided, walking away from the group towards the punch and apple based treats, not that anyone noticed. Side stepping a mildly tipsy Apple Cider who was singing out of tune and pitch a leg tossed around his friend Chef Sandy, the two colts having right the time apparently. Pushing them from her mind and the second Dj who had jumped up behind the tables with PON-3, Vinyl’s protégé, DJ Trance taking his turn at the tables, the music’s tone and beat shifting automatically. All Twilight could focus on however, was how she felt at this moment. It was loneliness…it was different. Twilight admitted to herself surprised to find that ugly emotion was followed by the less pleasant jealousy. She was angry that this Stallion who’d been away for years could just show up and push her aside like this, taking her friends from her. Twilight got even angrier at herself for this feeling, she was a smart and rational pony. Understanding that her friends were being reunited with someone they had all known and who had been away for a long time meant a great deal to them. Twilight knew how they felt but she still felt hurt that she was being so easily pushed aside.

Grabbing onto an apple cupcake, with its granny smith apple whipped topping, Twilight began to eat methodically. It had no taste for the Unicorn though, she just felt the need to do something and, not wanting to risk the sea of ponies, eating a cupcake felt like a good idea. Though she quickly found herself choking as a hoof rapped against her back.

Lucky was beside her then, his caramel brown face near hers, a cup of punch in his mouth. “Wan’ a drink lil'missy?” he asked, feeding her the cup which she downed quickly to clear up the food she was forced to swallow by the sudden back pat.

“Aren’t you busy catching up?” Twilight asked once she had finished choking, her voice more then a little spiteful, Lucky’s taken aback face not lost on her and she felt immediately terrible for being so angry with the weathered pony.

“It was getting quite chaotic so I excus’d meself for a drink.” he said grabbing another cup and downing it quickly looking out across the dance floor. “And I thought we could use this moment to get to kno----” he began but he was interrupted.

As was the entire party. For at that moment an unpony roar echoed all across Ponyville, originating from the edge of the wild and untamed Everfree forest.

It was a cry filled with earth shattering evil which shook the turntables off their track, ponies to their knees and sent birds fleeing in all directions for miles.

Beneath the cry’s bestial blood lust there was a word so deep and unnaturally spoken from lips not meant to share the speech of civilized creatures. The word which shook through all the ponies to the bone save one.

“LLLLUUUUCCCCKKKKYYYY!!!!!!!”

The caramel pony lifted his hoof and pulled down his hat again, which had ridden up. A nervous tick he had developed over the years. Twilight being the only one near him was able to hear what he muttered under his breath. His one mahogany eye sharpening to a dangerous degree, he suddenly looked much like a warrior, a veteran of fighting off monsters that no one had ever known. His ruggedness had changed to a vicious, instinctual look of a trained warrior. His voice was so cold and uninviting it forced shivers down Twilight’s spine.

“Well don’t dat beat all.”

Chapter 2: Luck is in the eye of...

Chapter 2: Luck is in the eye of…

The Beholder, an ancient and massive tyrant which had long ago ruled deep within the mountains of the Everfree forest. Feared by Demons and Alicorns alike, this monster had been nothing but a shadow of his former self, eye-stalks swirling madly, heavily fanged mouth gaped wide as the time lost beast roared for his prey at the edge of this small, rural town. It’s many long and spindly eye stalks coiling and coalescing along its body over new scars and missing flesh, the direct cause of its most hated prey.

The beast gnashed his teeth violently roaring louder to the town of ponies. His bane had returned to a place where he would be able to pounce. How long? A year, two… time had meant very little to the demi-god beast till he had been bested by that… little pony… that Lucky Roll.

It was unable to understand how something so weak, frail and small could contend with him a monster not short of the divine. His “luck” had bested the beast time and time again, his magic and torture of other monsters within the massive dark forest had revealed to him bits and piece’s of the pony’s almost magic luck. First hand the Beholder had learned all too well that Lucky Roll was a monster in his own right. They had manage to wound and scare each other on a level of equals… and the thought filled the monster with rage froth forming at its mouth as it roared again.

“EQUALS WITH ME!?! THAT LITTLE COLT THINKS HE CAN RIVAL ME!?!?! I, ONE OF THE GREATEST MONSTERS ACROSS THIS WORLD. BESTED BY A PONY!?!?! EQUAL TO THAT PONY!?!?” the beast roared in his mind enraging himself more and more. He could hear the tell-tale clop of a single pony approaching.

It would be Lucky, it would always be him. Though the Beholder hated it, hated to admit it more then he hated to draw another breath with his prey alive there was a brotherhood between them, when one called the other would rise to battle time and time again till. In the end, the Beholder feasted it’s massive jaws on the pony’s flesh, the very through making the floating eye sphere roar in delight.

Lucky Roll coming into view at the edge of town, down the street from a massive tree building, sitting on his haunches and calmly and slowly as if there was no monster hovering at the edge of the forest before him.

XXXXXXX

“Now list’n here, ev’rypony.” Lucky said calmly, but his voice tore across the panicked welcome home party. To Twilight Sparkle’s surprise everypony was immediately quiet and attentive, even the CMC sat quietly in front of him, shivering in fear though they were. “I’ll take care of this righ’ business lik’.” His rich, chocolate voice said the words flowing deep with his accent. “Not aone of yall is to come out an’ interfere with m’… y’hear?”

To the lavender unicorn’s surprise everyone nodded and spoke words of encouragement to him. Maybe she was the only one close enough to the caramel coated pony to see the shivering in his knees or the bead of sweat on his forehead.

“What do you mean? You can't think you’re going out there alone do you?” She said turning to face Lucky, she felt a hoof touch her back and there was AJ, shaking her head.

“Not now Sugarcube, you don’t quite know how things work with Lucky…” the apple farmer said carefully pulling Twilight closer away from Lucky though she protested.

“How do you feel?” Fluttershy whispered over the slight mumbles, her head low to the ground. Little yellow body shaking more then any one else’s in the room but she found the courage to talk.

The chocolate maned Stallion smiled and walked forward reaching a hoof up he ruffled Fluttershy’s mane playfully. “Lucky as ever.” his voice rang out with nothing but confidence and passion. He turned and walked to the door, Twilight tried her best to follow but Applejack held her back eyes watching Lucky closely, as she noticed the whole room was. Everypony in Ponyville was watching this Stallion who had returned to them war torn and ravaged and they were about to send him into the fray again, Twilight realized. No one there felt good about what was happening but this was something out of their power. They were untrained to deal with anything like this and the best they could do is run from whatever was there.

Lucky’s voice cut out across the thoughts raging within the unicorn’s mind, pulling her back to the present situation. He pulled his hat low and gave them a formal, business like nod. “Time to earn mah keep.”

XXXXXXX

Lucky Roll made his way slowly down the main street of Ponyville, directly in line from the Library was the Beholder, the enemy calling for him. It was there, a tug inside of his body, he could never explain it. It was a calm stride... though his heart was racing more and more, beating rapidly against his chest. He couldn’t fight the fear, this “Luck” inside of him had always given him the best possible result. Still he felt every scar burnt into his flesh when the best outcome was something that he could not begin to recall without breaking into a cold sweat. Lucky moved at ease though, staring down the dark grey monster as if he was merely an inconvenience, the luck was there with him, he was sure in the end he’d survive… well he hoped. The worse case scenario he dies and sates the monster’s hunger who intern leaves the other ponies of Ponyville alone. At least they'd be safe then.

Stop. The luck inside him told him to stop and sit, right there where he was and so he did, lowering his haunches to the ground. There was no urge to arm himself, no urge to take a pre-emptive strike. Only to sit, maybe make conversation. Yes conversation would be ok, Lucky thought at least, sweat dripping down his face a little, he could feel it wetting his fedora hat . He hated this fear, it took all of his strength not to show it, or weakness to the monster before him. An opening must never be shown, the walls can’t come down.

“Nice t’ see ya again.” He said as calmly as he could, hoping the beast would be enraged beyond the point to see the signs of his nervousness, his fear. That small quiver in his voice.

“You dare talk to me like that…” the Beholder growled floating closer to the apparently cocky pony, its rage beaming from every eye. “Do you even comprehend how quickly I could kill you this very second.” It growled some eyes twirling and focusing on their pray.

Lucky did the best he could to laugh, a hollow and sarcastic laugh. Pulling his hat over the hair which covered half his face he gifted the monster with a cocky half grin. “Well you’d need to ask yourself. Do ye feel "Lucky"? Well… do you?” those words cut the Beholder deeper and wider then any weapon.

Lucky couldn’t help but smile genuinely at the fear which momentarily crossed the monster’s form. It was uncertain. They had both learned to fear each other after battle and battle they had seen the powers both wielded to the fullest extent. Hesitation was the side of the coin in the battle between these two which determined the fate each and every time. If Lucky could ignore his fear and follow his gut instinctively he would always turn up on top, whereas if the Beholder had never learned more, and became aware of a power that the pony before him now that he did not know anything about it would be easy for him to destroy Lucky Roll at his whim.

“Grrr you and your luck…” The beholder grumbled in his bestial tongue near enough to Lucky that the pony could smell it’s rancid odour. “You are always so sure, so ready to die for this luck of yours…” it growled so close now Lucky could almost feel the eye stalks on his flesh, sure that his shivering would give him away, his heart felt like it was fighting to rip open his chest and flee.

It was at that moment when there was a change in luck, a tug to look behind and a powerful gallop which echoed across the ghostly town.

XXXXXXX

Twilight and the group looked out the window at the large, almost house sized monster which was hovering closer and closer to Lucky.

“We can’t just leave him there like this…” The young magic user said looking to her friends, Spike was nodding furiously back to her but his tail was shivering a little in his arms. Rarity looked at a loss as to what to do. Applejack was struggling inwardly, the Apple Family gene in her demanding she go help a pony in need but her consciousness telling her they couldn’t be much help. Fluttershy had turned her head away from the scene and was muttering to herself in that tiny pitchy voice of hers seeming lost. Rainbow Dash was hovering about them, she had the urge to fly out and kick that flying eye ball in the face, or whatever she could hit. There was fear though, it had sunk it’s fangs even into the brave Pegasus’s powerful hide. Pinkie Pie was sitting there looking out the window eyes stuck on Lucky no one could read her face for it was almost as emotionless as Gummy’s, her beautiful pink coat seeming to have lost some of its sheen.

“Sugarcube I know that this is a lot different… but Lucky out there is the best pony we have when it comes to dealing with badies…like that one...” Applejack said looking out the window to their caramel defender.

“But we could use the elements of Harmony….” Twilight whined, the hatred and jealousy had moved on to concern. Whether she liked the pony or otherwise a citizen of Equestria was there staring down a monster like there was no other option. For a town he hadn’t seen in years simply out of duty.

“Darling we don’t know how that thing will react to us being there.” Rarity said calmly looking sad that she could not help in anyway, her fears at the foremost of her mind.

Twilight looked at her friends hopelessly, they were all scared but beyond that, they all knew that Lucky would be able to handle it without them getting in the way. Half their fears stemmed from causing something to go wrong in the Stallion’s plan. The unicorn looked back out the window, she didn’t need to use her magic to see the slight shiver in Lucky’s legs as he sat there, the monstrous Beholder hovering inches from his body.

“Well I’m going.”

XXXXXXXX

Lucky looked forward the shivering had stopped, was it luck or had he known what was approaching behind him. The Beholder would never know as the Caramel Coated colt stood up and tipped his hat to the monster, the lavender coat of Twilight Sparkle coming into his peripheral.

The brave stallion turned his head to see all of Ponyville behind him, everyone of them. Fluttershy hiding behind Rainbow Dash who looked ready to barrel down into the floating eye-beast, Rarity was standing tall, head held high, Applejack flanked by her big brother Big Macintosh looked ready to start bucking. Lucky couldn’t contain the emotion washing over him as he smiled genuinely and tilted his hat to everypony in Ponyville looking for all his worth their brave defender. His one visible mahogany eye turned back to focus on the beast looking for all its worth like a dagger ready to strike.

“What’ll ye do now?” The Stallion asked standing up from his sitting position, the sick euphoria of “Luck” poured over his body viciously elating him to a level of recklessness beyond his fear. “Even if you take me out, I’m sure you can’t handle all this pony.” Cheers from the crowd filled his breast with confidence, Applejack loud ‘Darn right ye can’t handle dis pony.’ her deep southern drawl ringing out over the cheers. The massive floating beast winced back eyes dancing on their stalks changing focus rapidly as it pulled further and further back away from the group.

“Lucky….” the beast growled, the word rolling on it’s tongue violently. It’s eye was focused now only on the Caramel nuisance. Every stalked looked ready to fire their magic and obliterate the pony where he stood, but the Beholder was a slow beast. It’s magic could only move its slow body so quickly and a pony would be able to catch him easily, a Pegasus much quicker. The racial pool of ponies before him provided more of a threat then their raw numbers, a Pegasus could rain down attacks from above and disable his eyes, the Unicorns with their magic could in theory repel his magic attacks and the Earth Ponies could rain attacks upon his body. It was a large group that could use its versatile nature to its advantage and adapt to any attack he delivered quickly. The Beholder, though furious and powerful knew that in order to survive long enough to enjoy the taste of the kill it wished to find in the annoying, Lucky Roll, he would not find it there today. “We will finish this later…mark my words.” It hissed, acidly pulling away and turning its back on the horde of angry equines.

Rainbow Dash moved to charge, as did Pinkie Pie, who showed up wearing a pan over her head with a wooden spoon in her muzzle having taken the time to armour up before following the rest of the herd. But Lucky stalled them raising his hood and shaking his head slowly.

“That’s not how we roll.” Lucky said loudly enough for the beast to hear him as it entered the forest the floating ball pausing for a moment it’s ears trained on that venomous voice. “A scar on the back among equals is a sign of dishon’r, don’cha know.” he said smiling at the girls as the beast roared, trees around it being up rooted and scarred beyond belief as magical beams of light flickered wildly from eye stalks.

Lucky laughed, softly, a quiver in his throat that only a few of the cheering ponies would have noticed as they celebrated the retreat of the monster. There was however one pony that was far from cheering.

A positively furious Twilight Sparkle, her purple cheeks flushed a blood black raised a hoof and smacked Lucky on the top of his head.

“What in the wide world of Equestria did you think you were doing?!” she shrilled wide purple eyes drilling wholes into the Stallion before him, her five friends giving him very similar looks all grouped together around him.

“Well I don’t know wh’t I was thinking, rightly at leas’.” he drawled on teasingly tilting his hat to them. “But right now I’m thinking’ I’m ver’ lucky to have yall for friends who’ll show up when I need them.” His lips were drawn in a teasing cocky smile as he turned from the six mares to head back to the library.

“Now, weren’ we still having a parteh, where we not!?” he echoed loud enough to shake the crowd.

XXXXXXX

The party continued long into the night, Twilight found that she couldn’t get close to Lucky to question him about earlier. After stumbling back into the Library the stallion had pardoned himself to what was now her room to rest for a while, everypony understanding that he would be spent from the encounter with the monster allowed it and continued to rave long into the night.

Shortly after the clock hit 2 a.m. the majority of ponies began to file out of the Library, though Vinyl Scratch was still moving her head to the beat coming from her tables, and Pinkie Pie was still dancing like she had just started ( Twilight would later suspect that Pinkie had been dipping her Pie into more then just the punch). Fluttershy looked completely wobbly and tired, Applejack offered to take her home and walked out the door with the yellow Pegasus leaning heavily on her flank. Rarity had left earlier with Sweetie Belle and Spike was passed out in the corner his tail wrapped in his arms and legs. After what seemed like forever but was only a few more minutes Rainbow Dash dragged out Pinkie and the rest of the ponies, without their dancing idol to worship fled to their homes for what would most likely be a long night of hard sleep. In due time the tables stopped their spinning and Vinyl made her way down from the makeshift stage seeming shaky and unstable, flanked by her protégé Trance who was keeping her up against his back. They exchanged a few words about getting their equipment the following afternoon and they too disappeared into the night leaving the purple Unicorn alone.

Shaking her horned head exhausted the spent Twilight began to make her way to the door leading to her room, she would sleep in Spike’s bed after levitating down some blankets to help keep the baby dragon warm. Well that was what Twilight would have loved to do had a sickening gurgle not erupted deep from within Spike’s chest and followed by the ensuing burp of green flames which coalesced slowly into a sealed scroll from the Princess.

“What the…?” she said out loud her horn lighting up violet to lift the scroll to her eyes in the dim light of the after party. She read it once, her slightly blood shot eyes sore from the strain. Then re-read it a few times. “Spike! Spike, get up!” she said nudging the Dragon roughly with her hoof, sure his scales would absorb any actual impact.

“Huh, wha, mommy?” his brilliant green eyes opened looking at Twilight tiredly. “You’re not mommy…” he growled disappointed rolling over when a sharp kick forced him awake. “Whaaaaaaa” he whined getting to his knees.

“Start packing our things Spike, there’s trouble and the Princess needs us and the girls to go help.” Twilight said going to open the door.

“And where are you going? Spike whined fumbling in the dark room for the Unicorn’s rucksack.

“To sleep, you can sleep while we travel, promise.” Twilight said going into the room. “I’ll get up early and go get the girls, while I’m out you give the letter to Lucky.” she ordered levitating it his way.

In the dark the Dragon could barely read the letter but he made out enough to increase his speed, the opening paragraph forcing the little dragon to hustle his tail.

“My most Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle
Disaster has stricken KnottingHoove and I’m afraid you and your friends
Are the only ones I can rely on to help them in their time of need.”