The Frozen North was a harsh and unforgiving landscape few creatures dared to traverse. Among those that can survive it are the mythical Wendigoes and ponies if they wore the right gear for it. The pony running through the snow did have some gear on but it didn’t help the bleeding shoulder he had now. He kept trudging through the snow trying to get to civilization and lay low. He never meant to kill anypony nor did he expect to be hounded by what appeared to be two monsters spawned from Tartarus itself.
As he ran through the many feet of snow, his breaths grew quicker and shorter, close to hyperventilating. He looked back as the blizzard heavily rained snow…. only to see a pair of bright yellow eyes flash, causing him to gasp in fear as he ran harder through the snow. But it didn’t help that he had a bleeding shoulder, making a trail in the snow for whatever it was to hunt him better through this. One of the creatures leaped down a good distance and looked at the snow before it picked up the portion that had a red stain indicating blood. It’s eyes flashed before it started to chase him again.
“MoThEr BuCkEr WoN’t EsCaPe.” A female distorted voice told it as the snow fell from it’s invisible grasp. The crook soon tripped and fell into a cave not to far from the Crystal Empire but not close enough for anypony to hear him scream at all. As he fell to the cave floor, one of his legs snapped like a twig, exposing the bloodied bone and flesh. The pony screamed in pain as he struggled to move away. But soon, the sound of something landing was heard behind him. He slowly turned his head and in a flash, a familiar being was seen. It was at the campsite where he killed that pony. It had a pony body but… it was warped. It was taller, more muscled than anypony he’s ever seen. And the mane and tail seemed they were made out of flesh. It’s body also seemed to have a blueish tint that once may have been cyan and the mane was still a vibrant rainbow color.
He then turned and saw another creature show up. This one was taller than the other and was most definitely not a pony at all. It’s shape made it roughly six feet or so in height but the muscles made it seem so much taller. The mask on the first creature’s face, though, seemed to be even scarier than what lied beneath it. It had an extended snout area and it looked like it had two circular spots on the snout. They had lines etched in them like some ancient society built it. The other creature’s mask though was even more ferocious looking. It looked like a plain mask… if it wasn’t for the jaw bone of a Diamond Dog attached to it. He stammered a little as he pulled his head back and used his mouth to pull out the bits he stole from the corpse earlier.
“T-take it! Take the bits! Just please…. don’t kill me!” He begged. The creature with the jaw mask walked forward and growled a little… before it grabbed the bag he took the money with in it’s claws. The criminal sighed as he saw the beast start walking away. But he then grew more worried as the four legged creature approached him. As it approached, the stallion felt a warm liquid drip from his snow pants. He looked down and saw that he wet himself. But as he looked up, he watched as the monster’s blades on its wrist retracted, causing him to scream before his blood was sprayed onto the rocks next to him.
Rainbow Dash grunted as she pulled out the criminal’s head from his body with his spine still attached to him as the blood continued to squirt everywhere.
Bucking dumb ass. All he had to was turn himself in but nnnnoooo! He just HAD to make this more difficult. She mentally grumbled to herself. She finally put her trophy on her belt.
“Rainbow, I am calling the ship here. Please make sure that the rest of this thug is destroyed.” The other hunter known as Yeyinde said to her as he called the ship from his wrist bracer. Rainbow simply nodded her head as she pulled out a vial of blue neon liquid. She then poured it onto the remaining body of the pony and watched as it slowly dissolved into nothing more than liquid.
“This smells like crap no matter how often I open this freaking bottle.” Rainbow said. She walked back towards Yeyinde as the distant sound of rumbling was heard and a medium sized ship appeared before them. It was invisible to most but if they could see the heat signature on it they would see that it was a strange looking vessel that had several spikes on it. The door that lead inside opened and the two walked in. Rainbow walked over to the trophy wall and placed her latest trophy onto it.
Sometimes I love being a hunter. She thought happily as she began to head away from the wall. The ship soon shot off and sped towards Ponyville.
“C’MON APPLEJACK! YAH SAID THAT AH CAN DO THIS DELIVERY ON MAH OWN!” A little yellow filly said as her sister, an orange mare with a tied back blonde mane, rolled her eyes.
“And Ah told ya that it ain’t happenin’ while Ah still draw breath.” Applejack told her.
“Ya' don’ act like this ‘round Rainbow.” Her sister replied causing the farm mare blushed at this.
“Now ‘Bloom, Ah said ya’ ain’t doin’ the delivery an’ that’s final!” Applejack ordered as she tried to hide her blush.
“Ah bet Rainbow would-”
“Don’cha dare put Rainbow in this! Now, go and help Big Mac with the apples. Ah’m gonna see if Firefly needs help with ‘er homework.” Applejack said as she walked away. She heard her sister give off a small groan but in the end she went off to help Big Mac. Applejack went up to a nearby treehouse, the former headquarters for the now disbanded group once known as The Cutie Mark Crusaders, and looked around in it until she saw a familiar obsidian pony shape that stirred a little bit.
“Firefly, ya’ need ‘elp with anythin’?” She asked, causing the little filly to jump.
“Aunt Applejack, I was just.. waiting for Rainbow to come back.” She said to the mare.
“Ah know. So how’s yer’ homework comin’ along?” Applejack asked as she walked next to the filly. This caused the little insect pony to smile a little as she changed her shape into a small version of Rainbow but with a different color palette such as a hot pink coat where the cyan would be and a bright blue mane instead of a rainbow colored one.
“It’s coming along good some what. I’m having a little problem with figuring out which era Discord was a part of again.” She huffed a little.
“Well now Ah’m no expert on history but Ah believe it wasn’t 22 C.E.” Applejack said as she sat next to her.
“Well… when was it?” Firefly asked as she erased her old answer.
“It was around 345 C.E Ah believe.” Applejack replied.
“Okay. Thanks Aunt Applejack.” She simply said.
“Now hold on, how ‘bout ya’ take a break and we can go have a snack down at Sugarcube Corner?” Applejack asked. Before Firefly could respond a familiar rumbling was heard.
“MOMMA’S HOME!” Firefly exclaimed as she flew out almost with speed on par with her adoptive mother. This just made the farm mare shake her head even though she smiled a little bit. When the two were outside, a familiar blue pony came out of a large ship which left a short while after.
“MOMMA!” Firefly yelled happily as she hugged the mare tightly.
“Hey squirt. So, what’cha doin’?” Rainbow asked.
“Aunt Applejack and I were going to Sugarcube Corner.” Firefly replied.
“You were going to see Pinkie Pie? Without me?” Rainbow said with a raised eyebrow… though it was hard to tell with her mask still on.
“Um Dash… yah do know yer mask ain’t off right?” Applejack asked.
“Oh yeah. Thanks AJ.” Rainbow said as she took off each of the nozzles on the mask. She then took off her mask, revealing her face. Even though most of it was pony, she still had four massive canines like a giant predator.
“So, what’s going on with Sugarcube Corner?” Rainbow asked.
“Well Ah figured Firefly deserved a little break from ‘er homework and get us a snack. Feel like joinin’ us?” Applejack asked back, causing Rainbow’s stomach to growl.
“Yeah. I’m pretty hungry.” Rainbow replied.
Meanwhile, just outside of Equis’ atmosphere, a titanic ship was just nearing the planet. Inside were what seemed to be Yautja. But instead of the normal honor-bound Yautja, these were bad bloods. Yautja who went outside of the honor code and killed whoever they wished and whatever they wished. They were much buffer looking than any Yautja alive but that was from one thing that they did well…. they hunt, torture, and slaughter other members of their kind. Sitting in the main area of the ship on what seemed a throne was the largest of the Yautja. He was more muscular than any of the others and he never showed his face. His mask showed fear for it was heavily covered in scars and had two tusks tied to it. Sitting next to his throne, chewing on a large bone was his hunting hound. As he sat on his throne, a small, more intelligent Yautja approached him.
“Sir, we’ve picked up a signal on the planet.” The Yautja said. The lead Yautja turned his head slowly over to the smaller and pathetic hunter before him.
“Is there a certain reason you’ve brought this to my attention?” He asked the subordinate.
“Well sir…. it’s him.”
“.... I want a ship so that I can head down there as of yesterday.” He told him. The youngblood nodded as he headed back to his station. When the door shut, the Yautja got up and grabbed a skull of an elder Yautja.
“Oh father, first it was you. I drenched in your blood when I gutted you. Now… he’ll be next.” The Yautja said angrily as he crushed the skull in his clawed hand.
Author's Note
The CMC are disbanded not because they grew distant, they still get together at the treehouse just for old times sake, but instead they've finally earned their Cutie Marks which I will go into more detail next chapter.
“HELLO! WELCOME TO SUGAR CUBE COR- OH HI RAINBOW!” Pinkie shouted at the top of her lungs when Rainbow, Firefly, and Applejack entered the sweet store.
“Hey Pinks. Love what you did with the place but um…. could you turn down the oven heat please? I still see it burning.” Rainbow told her as she squinted. Ever since Yeyinde saved her last year from serpent blood spilling on her Rainbow has been able to see in infrared as well as normal but sometimes the two still collided with each other at times.
“Of course! Be right back!” Pinkie said happily as she zoomed off into the kitchen. After a second, Rainbow’s heat vision dulled a bit as Pinkie came back.
“Thanks Pinkie. So what’s the special for today?” Rainbow asked.
“Well… we’ve got super duper caramelt fudge brownies with almonds, blueberry cupcakes with extra blueberries, and my favorite, sweet apple cake with honey drizzle!” Pinkie said, making Rainbow’s and Firefly’s mouth water. Applejack just giggled as she ordered the apple cake for herself and watched the two pegasi order the caramelt. A few seconds after they all ordered the desserts were in front of them in all their glory. The caramelt was a large chuck of chocolate fudge, drizzled with a caramel glaze and filled with almonds, the blueberry cupcakes were just… blue cupcakes, and the apple cake was cake with apples mixed in and was lightly drizzled with sweet and fresh honey. Applejack smacked her lips as she devoured the cake in about four bites while Firefly and Rainbow ate theirs in about two or three. The farm mare couldn’t help but giggle at this.
“So… how has my favorite changeling be-” Pinkie started before Rainbow put a hoof in her mouth and glared at her.
“Don’t. Call. Her. That.” The cyan pegasus growled. After the death of Queen Chrysalis Rainbow adopted the last normal Changeling who became Firefly a moment later. The rest of her friends knew who she was and decided to give her a chance. They all grew to like her but they didn’t want the rest of the town to know who she was so they tried to hide her other self the best they could.
“Oops. Sorry. So how’s my favorite filly been?” Pinkie asked her as she rubbed the filly’s head.
“Good. School’s a pain in the flank though.” Firefly replied.
“Well don’t worry. Soon you’ll get used to it. And the little extra ingredient I’ve added to the sweets.” Pinkie said, causing Rainbow and Applejack to give her a look of fear.
“What did you add to these?” Rainbow asked. Pinkie smiled a little at this.
“Oh you know how some crystals from the empire can store some things like magic? Well for Firefly I asked Twilight if she could add some love magic into them so when I baked them into Firefly’s food to make it sweeter for her! There’s none in yours or Applejack’s but I just thought it’d be nice!” She told them.
“Whew. For a second I thought you were about to say you’ve added more sugar to the sweets.” Rainbow said in relief.
“Oh! You mean the extra three bags of sugar I placed into them?!” Pinkie asked, causing the two mare’s eyes to widen in shock.
“PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!” Applejack and Rainbow shouted. Pinkie’s eyes shrank to pinpricks in fear at her two friends raised their voices to her.
“I-I thought you’d l-like them more… I’m sorry.” She said with tears in her eyes. Applejack took a deep breath and calmed down a little at this.
“It’s alright Pinkie yah didn’t know but it’s fine.” She told Pinkie while Rainbow started to growl a little.
“I was hoping to keep my little Firefly calm. But now… SHE’S GOING TO BE WACKY LIKE YOU! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO MAKE HER TIRED WHEN SHE EATS SUGAR PINKIE?! DO YOU?!” Rainbow roared at the mare, who backed away in a scurry.
“Rainbow… I d-didn’t mean to-”
“TO DO WHAT?! MAKE MY LITTLE GIRL BOUNCE OFF THE WALLS?!” Rainbow snarled. She soon felt a slap go across her face and found that it was from “F-Firefly?” Rainbow stammered as she tried to register who it was that slapped her.
“Mom you need to calm down. I think Aunt Pinkie didn’t add anything to my caramelt at all but you are over reacting for no reason and it…. tastes like burned rubber.” Firefly said as she scrunched up her face and made a sound like she swallowed something bad that she didn’t want to eat but had to. Rainbow couldn’t help but feel guilt overtake her. She yelled at her friend for no reason.
“Gee… Pinkie I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” Rainbow said sadly.
“It’s fine silly. It’s what friends are for. But what’s weird is that Firefly is the fifth customer who says her sweets are bad.” Pinkie said as she rubbed her chin. Rainbow gave Pinkie a concerned look. Pinkie’s sweets were the best in all of Ponyville, possibly all of Equestria, so to hear that they might be bad was very alarming indeed.
“What’s wrong with them do you think Pinkie?” Rainbow asked her.
“Don’t know. Maybe the oven is just dying. It’s been here for a while. Or somepony’s messing with the oven.” Pinkie suggested.
“Ah don’t know who’d mess with yer’ oven Pinkie. Ah know a repairstallion who’d fix it fer a small price.” Applejack said to the pink mare.
“Thanks Applejack. I can sure use his number. Leave it on a napkin before you leave.” Pinkie said as she bounced away. Applejack and Firefly started to leave when they notice Rainbow wasn’t with them.
“That mare is goin’ tah be the death of the two of us. Come on Firefly Ah think yer ma is workin’ tonight.” Applejack told her with a small smile.
“Alright. Guess I’m staying with you again.” Firefly said sadly. Applejack wondered what was up and decided to get it out of the little filly.
“Firefly, what’s wrong?” She asked, making her sigh.
“It’s just….. when is momma gonna spend time with me? I mean real time together. She only spends a few minutes and then leaves for work. I’m tired of it Auntie Applejack. Why doesn’t she stay with me?” Firefly asked. Applejack couldn’t help but give a sad face as she looked at the sad filly. She and the others knew that Rainbow’s work usually included the death of a pony or some other creature but they always just told Firefly it was just work so they could cover her tracks.
“Well Firefly it’s not that she doesn’t want tah spend time with ya it’s just that this is really important work she’s doin’. Believe me when Ah say she would really want tah spend time with ya sugarcube.” Applejack lied through her teeth which caused something in her to seemingly die. It wasn’t a total lie as Rainbow did want to spend more time with Firefly but the rest of it…. was a major lie.
“Oh…. so when will she have a day off?” The filly asked.
“Ah don’t know sugarcube. Ah’ll see if Ah can get her to take a day off just fer’ you.” Applejack said to the filly, making her smile.
“T-Thanks Auntie Applejack. I’d like that.” Firefly said happily as a tear fell from her cheek.
“Anythin’ for mah little niece.” Applejack said as she gave Firefly a big hug.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Everfree Forest, things seemed to have been peaceful for once. The animals were minding their own business, the plants weren’t attacking Ponyville, it was nice. Until… there was the roaring of a machine. In that moment all of Tartarus broke loose as they all tried to escape the hot flames from the ship. Some were lucky but most weren’t, such as one Cragadile who accidentally wandered into it’s flames. When the ship was completely on the ground, a door opened, allowing three creatures to walk onto the forest floor. They were bipedal and large, about 6’00”, and were heavily muscled. They were wearing masks that were decorated with bones of the creatures they hunted.
“Sir, it seems that this forest is heavy with wildlife.” One of the creatures said as he observed the heat signatures through his mask. The leader walked out, a full 8’00”, and stepped on the head of the burned Cragadile which turned to dust instantly. He scanned the area and saw that his scout was correct.
“Very impressive Sound Wave. Now take a small group and scout ahead. I want to know exactly where he is.” He ordered the smaller creature. It nodded as three more creatures came out of the ship and followed him into the forest.
Yeyinde. Soon, the battle that began on Yautja Prime…. will be ended here. With me holding your skull in my claws.
