Choose Your Own Destiny

Chapter 1

The Everfree

When I left my house on the dark and peaceful night, I set out for the Everfree Forest. Tales of horror and uncertainty flooded my memory as I approached at wooded entrance. As a young colt, I was told to never set hoof in the place. That manticores and chimeras prowled the twisted trees, seeking out their next victim. When younger the stories frightened me, giving me nightmares for weeks on end. I would awaken in a pool of sweat and tears, crying out for my mother to save me from these terrifying monsters. Of course, when my parents went missing, I had no one. I eventually learned how to deal with monsters in my dreams. I would simply tell myself that I was dreaming, that the morning would come and everything would be fine.

I took deep breaths. The puffs of my hot breath shining white against the cold black night. Winter was just ending. The air was chilled, nipping my stone-grey fur. I pulled the cloak I wore tighter around my thin body, and planted my hooves firmly on the ground. I was not going to turn back. I needed to go through the shadowed forest in order to reach the rest of Equestria. My destiny was out there somewhere, this was just the first hurdle. I sucked in a large gulp of air, the coldness flooding over my teeth. I squeezed my eyes tight, mentally repeating the words "everything will be fine, everything will be fine". A nearby owl hooted, the noise echoing through the silence. I jumped about a foot in the air and snapped open my eyes.

I quickly broke into a gallop. The hairs of my coat standing to full attention, fear was getting the best of me. My ears were pinned back and my emerald eyes went wide. My olive green mane whipped in the wind, the freezing atmosphere leaving droplets clinging to the fur on my face. After I ran a good hundred meters or so, I tripped. A stray tree root bursting through the sodden ground. It twisted and curled, wrapping around my hoof, pulling me to the ground. My chest heaved as I gasped for air. My heart raced like a thousand stallions. My head swam from the collision with the floor. When my head stopped spinning, I pulled myself to my hooves and plonked down against the dead bark of the tree that floored me. I pulled my knees to my chest, and cried.

“How pathetic,” I whimpered as I hugged my legs, sobbing into my soft fur. “A full grown stallion like me, crying because I’m scared.”

When I finally calmed down, I gave myself a good slap to the face. Not only did it waken me up to reality, it also stopped me crying like a stupid baby. I gave my head a shake, rubbing the sore patch on my cheek, and gave myself a mental scolding. I was going to make it through this forest, I won't give into fear, I'll fend off any unwanted presences, I'd pluck up my courage and march through this darkness like it was nothing. With hope in my eyes, and a swollen cheek, I set off back into the forest. The trees that lined the muddy path sneered and scowled, their trunks hollow and empty. The dirt squelched beneath my hooves as I journeyed on wards. Nothing was going to stop me.

As I reached the heart of the wood, my nerves started to set back in. From every angle I could hear the growls and chatters of nearby beasts, it was almost like they were laughing at me, taunting me. I swallowed my fear and trotted on. Glowing eyes peered at me through the black. Illuminated by the silver moon that speckled through the broken branches. Luna's moon was specifically bright tonight, as though she knew I was starting my mission and was guiding me through the night. I had always sympathized with Luna, she had felt loneliness for most of her life, and when she decided to do something about it, she was stowed away in the moon. Shunned by her sister for a thousand years, left to wallow in self pity. I wish she was around when I had my nightmares. To lead me to a happier place filled with light and happiness. But she wasn't. She was locked out of sight by her tyrant sister.

I sighed at the thought of Luna's misery before recalling my own. Never accepted as me, just because of a stupid cutie mark. I clenched my jaw and snorted. Well not anymore. I would find my cutie mark, I would finally fit in and be loved. No more torture, no more pain.

My hooves thudded softly against the saturated ground, each step bringing me closer to the edge of the woods. I felt pretty proud of myself. I was overcoming my fears and journeying on. Pretty good for a sixteen year old. Smiling to myself, I trotted on. I felt like I was on Cloud Nine, nothing could touch me, or so I thought until I heard the low rumble of a growl behind me. My ears swiveled around to find the source of the noise and I stopped. Suddenly the noise sounded again, only closer, and louder. My head snapped in the direction of the growl, I squinted my eyes to the darkness, trying to see what it was. A pair of green glowing eyes shone through the trees. The rumble came again and the creature crept forwards. My pupils shrank, I knew exactly what this thing was, I had heard stories of ponies being mauled to death by them, very little came nose to nose with one and survived. Unfortunately for me, I knew there wouldn't just be the one. They traveled in packs, protecting and hunting together. I was dead.

A wooded snout came through the gloom first, its green eyes burning away the darkness. My ears flattened and I backed away, keeping my eyes focused on the beast in front of me. It snarled, bearing rows of sharpened teeth. More growls echoed round me. There was definitely a pack. The creatures surrounded me, blocking all chance of escape. I gulped, sweat dripping down my face, tears welled up in my eyes. No I wasn't going to cry. I was going to fight, to escape, to live.

The Timberwolves were circled around me, snarling and snapping. Frightened eyes darted around the pack, looking for a possible means of escape. There were wolves at every angle, every exit was blocked. All seemed hopeless, except for one thing. One of the creatures appeared to be limping; an injury taking its toll. That was my opening. I sucked up my courage and burst into a gallop towards the injured wolf. The timberwolves pounced, snapping at the ankles that raced past them. As I neared the lone creature, I lept into the air. Claws and teeth lunged for my airborne body. I felt sharp pains as contact was made with my skin. Blood swarmed around the open wounds, deep gashes that burst with pain, my eyes blurred as they watered, and my hooves landed with a thud on the soft ground. My muscles strained as I weaved through the trees of the Everfree. Howls echoed behind me, followed by the drumming of paws. Fear tugged my mind, this could possibly be the day that I meet my end. No, it wasn’t going to end this way.

I could see a light. I was nearing the edge of the forest. I pushed my body to its limits. My muscles screamed out in pain. They were struggling.

Finally I reached the forest edge. I burst out of the darkness, every muscle and joint protested as I landed with a thud on the soft grass. I sprawled out on my side, panting heavily. Sweat was dripping down my forehead, plastering my mane to my fur.

The Timberwolves refused to leave the trees, Opting instead to stand at the timberline, snarling and growling. I couldn’t help but sigh in relief. I was the only known pony to survive a pack of Timberwolves. The painful gashes on my legs and stomach weeped blood as I lay exhausted on my side.

I had made it through the Everfree. I silently celebrated, I was too tired to make a sound though a small smile crept onto my lips. This was the start of a wondrous journey, and I had made it over the first hurdle.

As I settled down to go to sleep, there was just one sentence I could manage to croak out.

“Bring it on!”