The Meta

chapter three

"Pfft, he doesn't look that tough.  I bet Equestria's fastest flyer can take him on, no sweat.", Rainbow Dash said zipping in a small, tight circle.

"Ah don' know sugar cube.  He mopped the floor with them there guards.", Applejack said.

"Yea just look what he did unarmed, and I hate to say it [it] but it looks like that thing on it's back is a bladed weapon of some sort.", Twilight added to Applejack's previous comment.

"My little ponies, calm down.  Let's just see if it is a threat." Princess Celestia turned to address the Meta "Do you plan on hurting anypony?"

"Probably.", Sigma replied.

"Why?"

"Cause it's what we do as a Freelancer and his AI fragment."

"Don't know what your talking about, I do it cause it's fun."

"Yes, but that doesn't answer why you do it."

"Well because people pay us to."

*sigh* "I'm afraid we will have to turn you to stone, then."

"let's go Meta", Meta and Sigma turned to leave.

The mane six stood in an arrow formation.  Their necklaces began to glow and they started to float the air.  A giant rainbow rose from the glowing necklaces.  The rainbow was oddly in the shape of a leaf of weed.

The meta looked at the rainbow.  *sigh* he took two steps to the left and the rainbow slammed into the ground next to him.  He looked at the ground and it was turned to stone. "HAH HAH HAH, you missed me."

All the ponies had stunned looks on their faces. The freelancer and fragment started to laugh at their faces. Nothing better than shock in the morning.  Alright let's go. They turned to leave (again).  They got fifteen feet before a force slammed him off his feet.

The meta slowly stood and turned.  There was a look of rage on his face so strong it went through his helmet and froze the offender in place.  Sed offender was one Rainbow Dash.  The meta took long slow steps towards her and raised his fist.

"HEY!", Fluttershy yelled.

He turned to look at the mare.  She was glaring at him.  "you want a stare?  Here you go.".  He gave her his own immobilizing stare. She tried to fight back but his stare was much stronger than hers.  She looked away with a whimper.

"Thought as much."  He turned his attention to all the ponies. he gave them all a look then pulled his brute shot and fired a warning shot at their feet.

"I suggest you leave us alone.", Sigma warned.

"I can not and will not allow you- you- you fiends to even look my little ponies wrong.", Celestia said, her voice filled with barley controlled rage.

"Screw you. We do what we wish!!"

" He said: Screw you we do what we wish!!", Sigma repeated to the ponies.

"Well I just can't allow that."

"Repeat message."  Sigma repeated the what The Meta said, including the added bit, to the ponies.  "Try again when your ready for a real fight.  Not some pansy one shot attack you expect me to sit still for.  Sigma, are we almost out of this accursed maze.''

"I think so.  You should turn to ... the right, charge forward and just keep smashing through the hedges.  then we can leave these freaking ponies."

The meta nodded turned ninety degrees to the right and sprinted off through the hedges.

"Ah'm so mad at that son of an arrow but yah gotta won'er, why didn't we do that wi'tha fight against discord? Just smash straight through the maze.", Applejack questioned.

"No idea darling but I think Fluttershy needs our attention right now.", Rarity said looking at the yellow mare.  Fluttershy was cowering behind Princess Celestia, a look of pure terror on her face.

The mane six crowded around Fluttershy.  Twilight was the first to break the silence that had fallen over the group. "What did it feel like Fluttershy?" [bow chick- a bow wow]

"I-i-it  was t-the m-m-most terrifying thing I've ever had t-to feel.  It makes me wonder ... ... ...Is that what my stare does to others?", Fluttershy said in a small voice.  She was no longer crying but she was still shaking like a leaf.

"That thing needs to be stopped. It's impony the way it acts.", Twilight said incredibly angry, yet oddly calm.

"Ah agree but how? It could prob'ly 'ave beaten Chrysalis when she was hopped up on Shinings love juice[Bow Chick-ah Bow wow].", Applejack said.

"What do we do princess Celestia? How do we stop it?", Fluttershy uttered "Before it left it said 'Try again when your ready for a real fight. Not some pansy one shot attack you expect me to stand still for.'"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!", Rainbow Dash cut in "You can understand that thing? Wow!"

"Yes it sounds like what the growls of my manticore friend make. Princess, if its okay with you, can you answer my question, please."

"Of course Fluttershy. Only-", she paused "- I don't know how we can stop it.  We can only follow him and hope then pray."