Entry 8

9th May, 2 ALR – Sunday

The past week or so have been extremely uneventful, however there was one thing that happened yesterday that was extremely unexpected and unprecedented to any of us. Before I get into that however, I’d like to point out that since Equestria is in the northern hemisphere, then all the seasons are in reverse from what I’m used to, which is incredibly annoying.

Back when I first arrived, I noticed it was a bit warm for it to be Autumn. So a few months later when it hit Summer and got warmer, I deduced that either I was in the northern hemisphere or I somehow missed half a year, which wasn't very likely. Either way, following the seasons, I went through five Spring cycles before I was sealed in that accursed stone prison.

I digress, back to the topic at hand. On the Saturday when I was helping out Applejack with her tools – again – Rainbow had come flying up to us, more specifically Applejack. Rainbow said she had heard screams coming from the Everfree and asked Applejack to meet Twilight at her castle. I offered to help, but Rainbow shot me down, saying she didn’t need help from me. Applejack however invited me to come along.

Over the past few weeks, Applejack has come to trust me more, which is a good thing. Aside from helping her with her tools, I’ve been making visits to Fluttershy and Pinkie to help with their jobs. As a result, so far Rainbow is the only one who doesn’t trust me, and I haven’t even had the opportunity to meet with Rarity.

Anyway, we went to Twilights castle, much to Rainbows displeasure, where Twilight said that the Cutie Mark Crusaders (CMC as most refer them to) – Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo – had decided to go crusading in the Everfree since they had no school today. I had no idea who the fillies were, or what their club entitled, but the term crusading made me worry. On top of the fact that they were in the Everfree without any sort of guide or protection made the others panic, with Applejack and Rainbow immediately suggesting we go after them. I agreed completely, but Rarity complained about having to go back into the forest, which annoyed me, but I could see her point being a civilian. Little did I realise she was only complaining about the dirt…

Twilight was hesitant, trying to figure out a plan before rushing on in head-first, before I pointed out that the fillies wouldn’t scream for no reason. Twilight understood what I meant so we headed into the forest.

Rainbow once again complained about me going with them, to which I explained that I survived in that forest for five damned years by myself. I knew the place better than any, and the local wildlife should know their place on the food chain. With that, none could argue the sound reasoning.

The ponies looked at me weird but I ignored them and kept on running to the forest. I wasn’t as fast as the ponies, which Rainbow made a point to ‘tease’ me about, but I challenged her to an endurance race when this was over. Of course she accepted, because she’s an arrogant and cocky little shit.

Regardless, we rushed into the Everfree to find the missing fillies, hoping that we’d find some clues to their whereabouts, without said clues being blood or something. The clues came in the form of shrill screeching, a sound that could only be made by little girls. That or guys who've been kicked in the nuts.

We turned to follow the noise, to which we found the three fillies running from a manticore. The six ponies rushed to save the fillies, with Rainbow flying straight at the manticore without a single regard for what will happen.

I remember shouting “Fool!” at the top of my lungs. The manticore swiped his claw at Rainbow, timing it perfectly to swat her out of the sky like a simple bug. His claws made deep gashes in her torso, blood spilled like a river from her body.

Twilight and her friends collectively shouted in worry, with Twilight making it a point to state that this was much larger than the previous manticore they encountered. I was a bit surprised in the fact that they had encountered a manticore before, but that didn’t matter, so I focused on the task at hand. That being killing this beast in front of me.

I walked towards the manticore, “Oi!” I shouted, to turn its attention from the downed Pegasus to me. The creature seemed to know who I was, since I saw it visibly recoil and shake with fear. I grinned and cracked my knuckles, “You’d best leave before something bad happens.”

The manticore ignored its instincts, thinking that the bigger predator would win. Little did it know that I’ve killed a dozen of its kind, and that was before I had increased speed and strength, but back then I had weapons to help. Now, I have only my hands and strength to guide me.

I jumped to the side, dodging its overhead swipe. It turned to face me, where I then dashed towards it, delivering a straight and perfect uppercut to its chin. The ponies were all watching in wide eyes, and mouths so agape that they could catch flies, all shocked by the fact I am fist fighting a manticore. Twilight teleported Rainbow to herself before shouting, “I’m taking Rainbow to the hospital, I’ll be back soon!” She then teleported away again. I laughed inwardly at the fact that she was in the hospital again.

Fluttershy said she’d escort the fillies out of the forest, which Rarity offered to join and took Pinkie Pie with her. Pinkie for some reason had her mane straight down rather than her usual puff of pink, which confused me, but I ultimately ignored it. That left only Applejack, who said she’d help but I turned her down, saying it’d be easier to fight one-on-one than the fight and protect her at the same time. So, although adamantly, she stayed far back on the side-lines.

Just in time too, as the manticore had begun to make its move again, going for a body swipe. I just barely managed to jump back in time, with only the tips of its claws grazing my chest. It’s fast. I thought, but it wasn’t fast enough. I leapt forward, wrapping my hands around its neck and swinging myself onto its back, attempting to choke it. It was a long shot as there's a large amount of muscle and fat in a manticore's neck, but it was also unable to completely get me with its claws or mouth while on the back.

The manticore swung its arms frantically, attempting to get me off. It scratched at my arms, nearly ripping them off, which hurt like a fucking bitch. I screamed in pain but didn’t release my grip. The manticore then attempted to impale me with its tail, which only proved to be its downfall.

A flash and ‘pop’ sound signified a teleportation spell being cast, which distracted me long enough for the manticore to have its chance. I wasn’t such an amateur to let this beat me however, so I let my body fall to the side, which caused the manticore to stab itself in the back of the neck.

Apparently it pierced in such a way that severed its spinal cord from its brain, immediately killing the beast. An internal decapitation, I believe it was called.

I fell off the side of the manticore, panting heavily and groaning in pain. Twilight and Applejack rushed over to help before I noticed the corpse moving. Fear rushed through my body, thinking the beast not dead, before I noticed its skin start to peel away and rip apart muscle by muscle.

Another feeling spread through my heart, one much more intense: dread. I had my doubts on what was actually happening, but I knew deep down in the core of my very being that what was happening now would end with the entire town's population, and most likely more, being murdered.

My fears became reality when, out of the corpse of the manticore, appeared a demon. One that I know of all too well. The typical demon soldier. The giant, bloody red creature lifted its body out of the corpse of the manticore, and gripped its giant axe tightly. It took one look at me and roared a powerful and incredibly loud roar. The ponies beside me almost looked like they were about to fly backwards from the sheer force or it.

I uttered a single phrase, one that I’ve said probably a bit too much.

“Fuck my life.”

Author's Note

I apologise for the delays in the last two chapters, and the size of this one. Apparently I'm not very good at keeping promises :/