The Bear And The Mare

Chapter 2: A Mare in need

The poor bear's fragmented body whizzed through the confines of space and time, breaking barriers that no being could ever see with the naked eye.

Pain wracked his body in more ways than one. His head felt as though it had imploded internally time and time again as the seconds passed by. He felt his limbs get ripped out one by one, only for them to be re-attached to him to repeat the vicious process once more. His topaz eyes were blinded by the amalgamation of colors that covered every inch of his sights.

His body was essentially pain incarnate.

His torture was short lived, (un)fortunately.

The starry portal opened up on the new land that stood below it, spitting out it's contents. The white pieces of the suffering bear instantaneously formed him once again in quick succession. Outworld Devourer's portal quickly shut itself them moment the bear's feet finally felt the ground after his short trip past the stars.

Ursa stood on the earthy floor, wide-eyed and dazed as he failed to take in the scenery in front of him.

All of the pain that had been flung onto him had instantly melted away, leaving him to question whether he actually had experienced pain at all. His senses slowly returned to him as the sounds of the mysterious forest invaded his lengthy ears.

His navy fur bristled as the wind collided with him, blasting a a cold feeling on his pale blue chest that bore no hairs. His round feet dug the soft, grassy earth as he stood still as a statue, observing his surroundings.

"From the looks of things, this place seems hospitable at the most." He whispered to the wind.

The rays of light shone on Ursa as he admired the forest that he had been sent to, looking at the trees in wonder as the emerald leaves donned their branches like accessories. Familiar sounds of creatures entered his hears as he is entranced by the beauty of the forest.

Suddenly, a sharp, distant shriek snapped him out of his stupor.

"Another being?" He wondered.

He waited for another sound, which confirmed his assumptions.

"Please! Leave me and Angel alone!"A feminine voice pierced through the forest, alerting the bear of another soul that was within this realm. His body worked overdrive as he immediately set foot upon the direction of the noise.

"Fear not fair maiden, for I come to your aid!"

-Character switch: Fluttershy-

My hooves softly back up a tree as Angel clung to my back, shivering violently as a group of Timberwolves form a half-ring around us.

My wings became petrified as fear controlled them. There was no use flying with stiff wings, it would only lead to me losing balance and falling down to them, making their job easier.

"Angel, baby, please don't wander out on your own. Look what you've done! Mama's gonna have a talk with you when we get back home!" I quietly scolded my dear Angel as the ring of timberwolves shrunk ever so slowly. Frankly, I'm starting to doubt if we will ever get back home in this situation.

I cry out for help one more time, hoping for anypony, maybe even Zecora, to help me in this dire situation.

I could only close my eyes as I resigned to my fate. The foolish mare who loves animals, to be mauled by animals, or worse...

The growls grew ever louder, the smell of old bark invades my nostrils as I feel their presence near closer and closer.

Then I heard it.

A roar.

A mighty roar.

A roar louder than a timberwolf.

A roar...of a bear.

Character switch: Ursa

I puff out my chest as I stood tall and proud, splaying out my ruby claws to the strange, wooden threats. My eyes fired tendrils of orange magic as strength powered through my arms and towards the ruby-colored claws.

My claws were never ruby.

They were permanent stains. Stains of those who fell before my power.

I release a majestic roar which attracted the wooden wolves' attention. They snapped back their heads at me, glaring me with an emerald light from the holes that they call 'eyes'. They bared their teeth at me, briefly showing the sharp, jagged teeth that were somehow made of bark.

I slowly advanced towards them, the orange tendrils of magic flailing outwards from my eyes as I barely contained the urge to release my rage upon the pitiful creatures. They spread out, revealing the damsel in distress.

She was a small mare, with a mane that was of a similar color to the pink corals along a reef. Her buttercup coat gleamed with sweat as two small wings ruffled nervously. A small rabbit rode her back as it shivered uncontrollably, eyes shut.

The wolves had time to circle me as I observed the mare that shouting her pleas. By the time I had snapped out of it, one had already lunged at me, sinking it's teeth along my thick arm.

Pain and rage coursed my body as I prepared for what would be a hard battle. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, supplying the energy I needed to inflict as much pain as possible to these monsters.

"I'll rend your bark, degenerate!"

Character switch: Good ol' Narrator.

The enraged bear slashed his free arm towards the attacker, splintering it's wooden face as the claws dug deep inside. He pulled the timberwolf from his arm with reckless abandon, tearing more of his flesh as he held it out to his face.

The hands of his injured arm formed a fist and was sent crashing through the poor creature's head, obliterating it in the process. The glaring emerald light from it's eyes quickly faded as it's pieces of it's head fell to the ground, it's barky body falling limp.

Ursa looked at the other wolves, there were 3 others, all of whom were fuming anger from their mahogany ears at the bear's actions.

2 of them jumped at his legs, sinking their fangs on his muscle-clad thighs.

"Poor choice, wooden cubs." He bellowed ominously as he sent both his arms and one of his legs crashing down to the earthy floor, causing it to give way as he summoned the strength to do a simple skill that any bear of his kind could do.

The ground beneath Ursa gave way from his immense strength, reverberating painful shockwaves that cracked the bark of the two enemies on his legs, who were sadly at the epicenter of the miniature earthquake.Their frail bodies broke apart in one quick succession as their lifeless heads remained on Ursa's legs, their fangs still inside him.

The bear grinned devilishly, chuckling grimly at the fate of the two attackers.

His enjoyment was short lived as the last of the timberwolves leapt onto his chest, clawing and tearing his vulnerable chest as his legs and arm were entrapped in the rubble of the earth.

Howls of pain echoed the forest as the timberwolf mercilessly exacted it's revenge on the killer of it's family. It's entire body latched itself onto the bear, trying to inflict as much damage as possible before it's untimely end came.

And came it did, as Ursa used his only free hand to pull out the wooden devil. It was just in time too as it was about to aim for his neck, which Ursa tried so desperately to protect. His ruby claws held the timberwolf's back as it flailed about, gnawing and swatting the air.

Ursa's hands slowly formed a fist, crushing the timberwolf's torso as he did so. Ursa gave one last smirk to his final opponent as it split in half, it's movements falling limp.

"May you meet your brethren in the higher lands, mindless beast." Ursa panted.

He faced the terror-stricken mare, who had her eyes wide and her mouth agape at the scene that quickly unfolded within her eyes.

"Y...you..saved me...." She silently whispered, shivering violently as she maintained her gaze on the blood-lathered bear.

"The threat is gone, fair maiden. Though, I may not be able to see you any further. My reckless decisions have left me in grave condition."

"I fear that our meeting has been cut rather short." The entrapped bear groaned as he sighed heavily.

He was an entire mess.

There were various claw marks on his front. Thankfully, none were deep enough to cause a scar due to the thick hide on his bare chest. Two wooden holes on his arm expelled blood as they lay unmoved under his skin. Blood stained his light navy fur, matting it. The leather bracers that he wore were completely shredded, leaving it beyond repair. The only piece of armour that survived was the partial leather hood that valiantly defended his throat and most of his head, only revealing his eyes and muzzle for others to see.

He lightly panted, eyes slowly dimming as he slowly accepted his fate.

The buttercup mare abandoned her stupor and rushed to the injured bear, touching his navy muzzle with her soft hoof.

"Don't worry Ursa Minor, I'll get some help. It's the best that I can to do repay your efforts." She lightly nuzzled him.

"Unless you know of any magic, then I believe that it is the end for me."

"I don't know any magic, but some of my friends do."