The Price of Friendship

Mother Knows Best

The forest began to burn as Applebloom forced herself off from the ground, the thick smoke mixed with the fog made it impossible for her to see anything. She coughed as she waved her hoof through the madness calling out to her friends, “SCOOT! SWEETIE BELLE! ANYONE?” her cries were left unanswered. Worry began to take root as she ran around through the unsettling fumes, “Guys! Where are you..Slingshot? Please!” the panic stricken filly pleaded, but still no answer. Was this what she deserved..? She thought about how she'd forced Scootaloo from rescuing Sweetie Belle, but it was to save them; it was justified! Her heart felt deeply for what happened, she didn't do it out hate! She was afraid, and if she wouldn't of did what she did then all of them would be dead now! Applebloom looked down at her hoof, it was swollen from Scootaloo's attempt to break free, and the teeth marks were deeply engraved. A whimper escaped her mouth as the pain returned, but still no one was answering, and that only meant one thing: Everyone was dead and she was the only one left.

Her head hung low as she walked past sickening carcasses through the smoke and flames, “I'm never gonna make it home..” the words escaped from her lips as she fought back tears. She was supposed to be the little sister of the strongest, most honest pony in Ponyville, but it turns out she was just a weak coward with as much honesty as a thief. She finally emerged from the smoke and took a look into the forest; anything was better than staying here, and she didn't care what happened to herself anymore. She sniffled as the thought of Sweetie Belle poured into her mind, how she'd did nothing to help her now dead friend. A vision of the beast poured into her mind, but she was no longer afraid of it's image. She was more afraid of herself..she was the real monster.

Slingshot was flat on his back smiling at the sky. He didn't know what had happened after the blast, but he did know that both of his legs were broken, and he laughed. It's unsettling how much you think about your life when it's hanging from the last strand, yet it's even more unsettling to laugh about it in the face of your own mortality. The something had to be dead he thought, but he didn't have the strength to stand and check, and he couldn't leave those poor girls out there by themselves, so what could he do? He attempted to sit up straight, but the pain seared through his back and pelvis, “SHIT! That's not happening” he said through blood stained teeth and he laid back down. If only General Morningstar could see him right now, the 'Great and Powerful Slingshot', the most decorated soldier in the Royal Guard beaten by none other than himself. It would make a great book, he thought, and he laughed again..

Scootaloo propped herself against a tree, her heart was racing and she coughed up blood. The explosion had sent her a good dozen feet, and she was sure she'd broken some ribs. The filly coughed again and let out a whimper, the pain was sharp and she felt bone pushing up from inside her skin. Her head observed the scene; it looked like a massacre; bodies of dead animals littered the place, giant mortar craters engraved into the ground, and the flames scorched everything in sight. Scoot slowly took in a painful breath then exhaled, at least the monster is dead..and somebody will have to see the flames and investigate she thought trying to give herself hope, but that hope she'd once had die along with Sweetie Belle. She frowned thinking about her wonderful voice and personality, and how it had been Scootaloo's idea to go into the forest in the first place. How could she of been so stupid! This wasn't the bonding friendship that she'd expected and now they were paying the price for disobeying the rules. The hideous creature raced through her mind, but another image seemed to overtake it; it was herself. The something wasn't the monster here. It was her.

The forest felt abandoned, and the deafening silence made the something feel weary. It was always teaming with life even after it had made a kill, but why was it so silent now? It limped as quickly as it could to it's den beyond the surface, howling in pain as half of it's body was now either obliterated or burnt. It's dozen legs were now just four, and it's four legs were now just one mangled stump of bloody tissue. The colt had really dealt a blow against it, and now it was never going to recover, and neither were it's children, for it was all because of those pathetic fillies! The something halted it's movements to catch it's breath, it's bladed teeth slashing together as it let out an angry cry, “THESE FOALS WILL NOT MAKE IT FROM THE FOREST ALIVE!” it's vengeful voice bellowed, slamming a jagged arm into a tree, buckling it into the ground, “Mother will make sure of this! Mother always knows what to do!” the something said to itself through a gnarled smile. Mother knows best.

Finally, it was at it's den beneath the forest, miles of interceding tunnels and traps all set up by it were easily avoided as it crept upon the safest path. The something came to it's birthplace, a half mile wide cavern protected by a minefield of gems, “Mother!” the something hissed into the darkness, “Mother! I bring terrible news” it said again as the earth began to shake around it. Three red eyes roughly the size of the something blinked in the pitch black recesses of the cave, “You need not tell me of your failure, my child..” it's deep voice unearthed, “You have truly dishonored our kind with your defeat, and now my grandchildren had paid the price..” the mysterious creature continued, and the something backed away, “I am deeply apologetic mother, but the colt being I had underestimated!” the something said back trying to defend itself. The cave beast groaned, a glimpse of it's tree trunk sized teeth shone through whatever light managed to peek beyond the surface. It slowly leaned it's head towards the now cowering creature, “Three years old and you cannot follow simple instructions. You were to bring me the bodies of ponies, alive or dead! You manage to no only fail to do that, but to nearly kill yourself along with your offspring!” it's voice was increasing steadily, “You NOT only fail to do those simple tasks, but you treat it as if it were a game, you treat it as if it were a hunt! This is not a game, and even if it was, then you have broken the rules.” the cave beast stopped and the something was howling in the dark, “MOTHER, I MISINTERPRETED YOUR WORDS!” it cried, but the larger being did not listen, “If you break the rules there has to be a penalty. Perhaps you were not the right choice to bring me my lifeblood for the final attack. Pony blood is a sacred thing to this forest and you have soiled it with your petty child-like ways.” it tilted it's head closer to the fearful being and smiled. The something closed it's eyes as it's heart pounded away, “Goodbye, child.” were the last words it heard before death had delivered it to hell.

Applebloom felt something materialize on her flank as she ventured into the forest, the picture of a silver dagger gloated back at her. She didn't feel any happiness at it's sight, nor did she feel any amount of pride; it felt more like a reminder, a reminder of how much of a terrible filly she was, “I'm nothin' but a betrayer..” she said looking down, and now everyone who see's her (If she ever makes it out alive) will know how much of a despicable being she had been. She shook away tears and tilted her head up and a Jaggerwolf stood in her way. Her blood stopped flowing and she froze in her tracks gasping in shock. One by one more of the beasts began to appear circling her as if drawn to her location. Her legs began to shake with fear as she began to tear up, “KILL ME! DO IT YOU FREAKS!” she pleaded as if they would suddenly comprehend her speech, but they didn't seem to care about anything she did. She closed her eyes and stood strong waiting for the attack, but the beasts just kept staring.

“Fear us not, Hoof-foot.” a female voice spoke up from the crowd of wolves, and she quickly opened her eyes and looked around, “Who..who's there.” she said out of surprise, and the voice quickly answered back, “They call me the Keeper of The Forest, and I am the leader of the creatures here.” she said, as the circle of Jaggerwolves parted and something stepped forward. A larger wolf walked towards her easily three times the size of the others and from the look of it, walking on it's hind legs. It knelt down to the startled filly and smiled, “You have come at a terrible time, and we fear that not only you, but Equestria lays in danger." it said calmly. Applebloom shook her head at the nonsense, "What do you mean? S-Slingshot killed that monster..it's not alive no more..a-and how are you..talking.." the nervous mare said conclusively. The wolf being stood back up and glared at the moon, "There's a horde coming Hoof-foot and we must prepare our world for it's arrival." it said, but Applebloom still couldn't comprehend what it was talking about. "Pre-Prepare for what exactly.." Applebloom said softy. The wolf beast peered down on the filly and uttered one word, "War."

Scootaloo had been phasing in and out of consciousness for the past hour. Her breathing had become more and more sporadic as a rib jutted dangerously into her lung. She hadn't the will to cry, or she would be doing it right now, so all she did was wait. Maybe help would come, and she'd be a hero? A lone survivor? She'd always liked to be the center of attention, yet the only attention she'd die for at the moment was medical. She felt her body vibrate and spat another mouthful of blood up. Was this how it felt for Sweetie..? She tried to move, but the pain wouldn't allow her, then she felt herself vibrate again. It must be her body going into shock, the idea pierced through her mind making her even more depressed. She must be at the end of her rope. The ground began to shake again as cracks began to form, “No way..” she said through the pain as the earth itself split apart. Shadows rippled from the crevice as a giant conglomeration of black emerged from it's depths. Slowly, a mass of darkness began to take shape in front of her; thousands of jagged arms tediously emerged from thin air, a sickening bulbous body hundreds of feet tall replaced the cascading sea of shadows, and finally a grotesque misshapen head appeared amid the horrid calamity. With all the strength left in her body, she forced herself behind the tree out of the mysterious beings vision. Her rib pushed into her lung, piercing the delicate organ as it collapsed. Scootaloo closed her eyes as she began to lose consciousness one last time, but the death wasn't the only thing there to greet her.

To Be Continued...