“Oh buck, oh buck, oh buck.” Jane stated as I roared out of the garage and into the clearing. I laughed as my heart rate continued to rise from the excitement of new territory. I spotted a trail heading off to the left of the house, deeper into the forest. After diving off into the forest, I turned the windshield wipers on to help keep the windows clear enough for me to see.

“Jane, where is this squad?” I asked, turning on the radio connecting the two vehicles. After picking up the transmitter, I held it up so Tyrock could see it through the back window. “Tyrock, Sarah, you guys there?” I asked, putting it towards my mouth, waiting a little bit for the radio to lock on to their signal.

“Well, one guy here, the other is a female.” Was the reply I got. I gave off a slight chuckle. I looked over at Jane. She was pressed up against the back of the seat making it look like it was trying to swallow her whole. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates and she had a panic like look in her eyes that screamed terror. I reached over and snapped my fingers in front of her face, not once looking away from her. When the cracking sound of my fingers sliding off one another reached her ears, she looked over at me with a grin on her face large enough to span the width of the Grand Canyon.

“This carriage is incredible!” She said as she turned to face the windshield. Her eyes then turned into pin prick as she screamed. “TREE!”

I turned to see that there was a black wooden tree right in the middle of a forked path. I yanked the wheel to the left. The mirror just barely missed clipping the tree’s trunk. I looked up to the rear view mirror, making sure Tyrock made the turn. He followed my path and just missed the tree as well.

“Stones, what the hell was that all about? Warn me next time when you want to make a detour.” I heard through the radio. I rolled down the driver side window and flipped him the bird.

After rolling the window back up, I asked Jane again. “Where is this squad at?”

“They’re about 500 yards in front of us. Heading straight from Canterlot.” Then there was a clear view of the mountain straight in front of us. I couldn’t see it clearly, but what I saw was breathtaking. I caught only a glimpse of a castle hanging off the side of the mountain with the moon rising directly behind it, making the city turn into nothing but a black form on the brightly lit sky. The stars have started shining in the dark blue sky, showing constellations that I haven’t seen before. The image of the city was perfectly burned into my retinas. Then in a flash it was gone, covered up by the forest canopy. I almost wanted to stop the truck just to see it again, but the thought of the squad coming to attack us made me shift gears and gain some more speed. We then shot into another clearing. This one was about fifty yards across. The edges of the clearing were covered in thick underbrush. Tall enough to hide a truck.

“Tyrock, get ready for ambush plan number 3!” I said into the radio as I slammed on the brakes, throwing the truck sideways.

450 yards north of current location.

Celestial guard Sergeant first class Broadhead, levitated his crossbow, searching the area for any threats. In his head, the orders he received played over and over as the rain tried it’s hardest to soak him to the bone.

“There has been an unknown disturbance in the Everfree forest, you are to search and report anything that seems like it doesn’t belong.” Captain shining armor said to him. His face might as well been made out of stone for all the emotion it showed, but it didn’t hide the strange item or the timber wolf head the last squad brought in. Whatever did this couldn’t have been in the Everfree before.

“What do you think it is sir?” Asked his second in-commanded Strong Buck, an earth pony with two double edged swords, each about a yard long and razor sharp. Both swords were holster and strapped to his sides, the grips were gold with an ebony leather handle. Many ponies say that earth ponies should use something like a hammer, but when Strong Buck starts swinging he could turn his enemies into nothing but red ribbons.

"I bet it's some kind of monster.” Said one of the three Luna guards. A bat like Pegasus with a set of electric claw gauntlet on her front hooves. The sparks they gave off light up the area in a soft blue glow. Her name was Steel Point.

“Why do you say that?” Another earth pony, a celestial guard name Black Blade. He had two black colored swords strapped to his sides. They had a razors sharp edge on one side with a serrated edge on the other.

“Because fighting a monster would actually let us use the training for once.” Said Pitch Black. Steel Points twin sister. She too was a Pegasus from Luna’s guard. She had a set of electric claws strapped to her front hooves.

“Can it you two, we are in the Everfree forest, so shut it.” Said the commander of Luna guard’s, Quick Arrow. He was a unicorn holding a longbow in his magic,scanning the area for threats. Both he and Broad Head were the commanding officers of their little squad and the pairing of the two teams hasn’t happened since Luna’s returned. Mostly because the Luna guards haven’t existed for a thousand years.

After that command, it was nothing but dead silence. Both teams were following the path that should lead them to the clearing that the Shining Armor described. Pitch Black then dropped right in front of them.

“Pitch what are…” Quick Arrow started, she stopped him by holding a hoof to her lips telling them to not make a sound. Then she pointed to her ears. Quick Arrow nodded then motion his team to spread out. As they did, he stepped closer to the confused celestial guard commander.

“What is she talking about, I can’t hear anything?” Broadhead asked in a low whisper.

“Luna guards have sharper hearing compared to the celestial guards.” Quick Arrow explained turning his ears showing him the difference between each other. “We can hear at a higher frequency than normal ponies. Almost like a bat, and if any of you make one comment about us being bat ponies, I'll turn you into an oversize shish kabob faster than you can blink.” He said holding up his longbow. Broad Head nodded then signaled his team to move out.

After going for a few hundred yards, Pitch Black and Steel Point were standing underneath a set of trees that marked the edge of a clearing. Steel Point was looking at something on the ground while Pitch Black was looking up at the tree branches overhead. When the rest of them caught up, they saw a patch of something lying on the ground. As Broad Head stepped closer, he could see that is was a bunch of wood shavings littering the ground. They were a pine color. Making them stand out in the dark woods. As he picked up a piece, there was a sound of metal scraping on wood that came above them, followed by more wood shavings. Every one aimed their weapons up towards the source. Quick Arrow raised his bow looking for anything to point it at. Then he saw the glint of steel blade in the moonlight. The blade was about twelve inches long. He didn’t waste another second as he released the bowstring letting the arrow fly directly at the being above. Then he saw something he never thought possible.

Just before the arrow struck it target, the blade flashed in the light, striking the arrow on its point, the arrow hanged in the air for a second then fell back down splitting in two. When it reached the trail, the two ends stuck into the ground about four inches apart and about two inches in front of him. Quick Arrow looked at the two pieces in front of him then back up at the being in the tree. It was gone.

“Fan out and search the area. Whatever that thing is, it not from the Everfree Forest.” Broadhead commanded as he headed for the clearing in front of them.

Stones 20 feet south of squad's location.

I slowly climbed back into the truck via the driver side window quietly slipping through the branches next to the truck.

“Well from what I can see, everything you said was true.” I whispered to Jane as I soundlessly rolled up the window. I then grabbed the radio. “Hey Tyrock you there?” I said a little louder thanks to the sound proofing from the window being close.

“Ya, what did you see?” He asked, sitting in his truck about fifty yards in front of me on the other side of the clearing, behind a handmade hideaway. Effective on hiding, not so much on being a solid wall. That’s a good thing if we needed to bail in a hurry.

“Six ponies, not much on threat level with the weapons, armor I could put a pretty good size dent in it with my fist. Four of them look like they haven’t see much action. Two of them look like they have been to a small battles, but nothing extreme.”

“What are you thinking about?” He asked. I sat there for a few seconds giving the question some deep thought. Then my eyes lit up with excitement.

“Hey Tyrock, got any spare weapons lying around in there?” I asked as Jane gave me an irritated look.

"I already told you that we can’t harm them or they will just bring more ponies back with them the next time.” She said, hitting me in the upper arm to help with her point. “They might do that anyway. I don’t know anymore!” She groan, covering her face with her hooves.

“Well I do. From the looks of it, those people have seen next to no military action. They look like they are just around for crowd control, if that even if.” I said, waving my hands to my explanation. “These kind of people, when thrown into a situation that they don’t understand, they’ll panic, make poor choices, or just full out run.”

“Hey cuz, I got a 9mm pistol, an A-k 47, and a 12 gage pump shotgun.”

“Good, use the pistol, give me a few graze donuts and then an ear full.” I said, still looking at Jane, gauging her reaction.

"I thought we agreed that you weren’t going to attack them like you did with the Timberwolves?” Her eyes penetrating deep into mine.

“No, again, we are just going to scare them.” I told her before speaking back into the radio. “Alright let’s see if these ponies like the game of ‘Guessing what the fuck is happening’.”

“You only live once, let’s do it.” Tyrock said, starting up his truck, which followed shortly of me doing the same thing. When I shot out of the hideaway, I could see Tyrock plowing out of his, throwing branches and vegetation in all directions.

The ponies were standing directly in front of us. With the sound of the truck and the head light alone, the surprise ponies were thrown into shock. Not even moving as we blared towards them. When we were about seven yards away I spun the wheel to the right then to the left throwing the truck sideways. Tyrock mirroring my actions. I kept the wheel pointing to the left, using the throttle to make me complete a full circle around them.

“Alright Tyrock, make sure you hit the armor, no were else.”

After dropping the radio, I reached into the glove department and pulled out my own 9mm. Rolling the window down, I started to release rounds at Tyrock. The darkness of the woods, the rain filled sky, and the dark cabin of the truck caused us to be nearly invisible to them. The bullets scraped off the sides and created a small spark as they bounced off into the woods. Just like I predicted the ponies started to fire upon us with their bows and arrows. They didn’t even pierce the panels or the tires. We soon stopped the trucks, facing one another with the ponies in the middle. They spread themselves out, making it so the three were facing me and three were facing Tyrock. I held in the clutch and tapped the gas, causing the engine to roar. Tyrock responded with a roar of his own inching the truck forward. I fired a shot in response. Then we floored it, charging at each other. The ponies dove out of the way as we brushed past each other leaving just centimeters between us. The two Pegasus were hovering on each side of us. One was watching with a look that could only be describe as ‘Studying’. After we past them, we spun the trucks around, facing each other.

After revving the motors a couple times, we slowly inched towards each other. When we were about three inches from each other, we punched it, slamming the push bars together with a loud bang. We then backed up and slammed into each other again. This time we didn't pull apart, instead we started a pushing contest between us, spinning the tires that threw up mud and rocks behind us. After a few seconds I felt myself losing ground, I knew it would happen. The ram runner doesn't have the same amount of torque as the ram 3500. So in a contest, the ram runner would lose to the pushing power of Big Red. After I was pushed a few feet I shifted into reverse backing away. Tyrock revved couple of times giving a sense of dominance. I spun the truck around and bailed into the forest. The vegetation soon swallowed me.

Sergeant Broadhead.

As the black beast roared off, the red one turned back towards us. The bright lights coming from what I could only assume was it eyes. When they first arrived, we tried to attack them, but we didn't even put a scratch in their armor. I’ve wasted three arrows trying to find a weak point. When they stood in front of each other and growling, Black blade suggested we hold our fire. I didn't understand why, but we did. When they slowly moved towards each other I started to understand. The beast weren't after us they were fighting among themselves. Then they started the shoving, filling the air with mud and rocks as the lightning flashed and the rain continued to pore. After the black one ran, it left the red one in the clearing, looking at us. Then the beast roared at us, throwing up mud behind it. It jumped forward a few feet.

“Sir, I suggest we back away slowly.” Black Blade whispered in my ear. I nodded and slowly placed my cross bow on my back, trying to not look like a threat. It roared a few times, still inching closer. I slowly started stepping back, keeping my eyes glued on the beast. Before we reached the edge of the clearing, it charged us.

“RETREAT!” I yelled as I turn and ran out of the clearing. After going thirty feet, I heard the beast stop. Without doing the same, I turned my head back and saw the creature a few feet from the edge of the clearing. It roared a few times at us then turned back into the clearing. We kept running until we couldn't see the clearing. Once we was a safe distance from the area, we slowed to a stop, trying to catch our breaths.

As we rested, I turned to Steel Point. “What the bucking hell was that all about?” I asked, pointing a hoof back the direction we came.

"I believe we stepped into the middle of either a war for territory or dominance.” She said, still hovering a few feet above us. “With the charge afterwards, I think it’s the formal.”

“Oh Celestia is going to love this.” Strong Buck groaned, looking back at where the creature was.

“Well, just as long as ponies continue to stay out of the forest, I think it won't be a threat.” Steel Point said, landing between Black Blade and Sharp Arrow. "I think the creatures will stay in the Everfree, and from what I could see, their territory isn't that large since it didn't chase us that far after the fight.”

“Speaking of the fight, I think we should get out of this forest before the other one finds us. I don't know what those things are or what they are capable of, and I don't want to stay here and find out.” Strong Buck said, turning towards Canterlot.

“Agree, our job was to find out about the strange sounds coming from within the forest, not to engage. We did our job, so let report back our findings.” Quick Arrow said following Strong Buck. “Let’s move out.”

Stones 230 yards south

As I drove back to the house, I grabbed my side from laughing to hard.

“Do it again, do it again?” I said into the radio, breathlessly.

“Alright, alright.” Tyrock said. “Just back away real slowly,” he said in a feminine voice. Then in a deep voice, he bowled out, “RETREAT! Hahaha.”

“Oh my god I’m crying.” I said turning towards Jane. She was looking like she was trying to figure out what I was doing.

“Why are you laughing?” She said strictly. “We need to make sure they head back to Canterlot.”

“Oh please, I have never seen a bigger group of cowards in all my years.” I said with a small tone "I bet they are on their way back to Canterlot right now with their tails between their legs.”

After I clicked the transmit button on the radio, I told Tyrock to head back to the house. When we arrived, the storm had cleared up and the moon was high in the sky. We parked the trucks back in their respective places and refilled the pistols, placing them back in the truck's glove departments.

“So do you think we are in the clear?” I asked Jane as we headed into the house.

“Maybe, but I still think we shouldn't do something like that again.” She suggested. As she headed for the door I then saw a faint glow surround the handle and Janes horn, I slowly reached down towards the sheath strapped to my right thigh. When she was a few feet from the door, I yanked the 12 inch combat knife out, throwing it into the air grabbing it by the tip of the blade.

“Hey Jane?” I said taking aim. When she turned to look at me, I threw it, aiming for her head. “Teleport.”

The knife flew perfectly, but before it could reached its target, Jane vanished, appearing next to me with a very surprised look on her face. The knife logged itself into the door just above the handle, quivering as it did.

“Stones what the hell?” Tyrock asked, running up towards me. I reached back and pulled out a second knife that was attached to my back and held the tip to his throat. We stood there for what seemed like forever, but could have only been a few seconds.

“You knew didn't you?” I asked him, he looked over towards Jane then back to me.

“Knew what?” he asked.

“That electric charge gave her back her magic, didn't it?” I said pulling my knife away. "I figured it out when I was setting up the solar panels. I asked Sarah to measure the amount of electricity that we lost when Jane got electrocuted. She told me that instead of the electricity going straight into the floor like it normally would, it just vanished. I then asked her what rate was the socket putting out, it putting out power at a slower rate than is should have been, it wasn't going through her, she was absorbing it. when I figured this out I had Sarah check the energy reading that jane was putting out. it was at a times ten factor compared to before she got electrocuted and I might not know much about magic but I know teleporting takes a lot to accomplish. More than she would have had if she didn't get a recharge. also a mark that is tattooed on her ass doesn't just appear on the floor for no fucking reason.” I yelled at him waving the knife around as I tried to vent my anger.

He sighed then looked over at Jane.

“Yes it did charge her magic, I found out just before you returned from setting up the panels,” he said, turning away from me. “She asked me to keep it quiet.”

“that's also one of the reasons I threw the knife at her,” I said slipping the knife back into the sheath. "I could tell you guys were talking about something before I showed up. something you didn't want me to know. the only question I have is why?”

“If you knew, you would try to make me return you back to your planet.” She said slowly walking up.

“so you decided to lie to a trained military personal, who by the way doesn't like being lied to.”

“if you'll just listen to me I can explain…” she started.

“no you had your chance, If you need me I'll be on the balcony. if you know what's good for you, you would stay away from me for the time being.” I said with a deep icy tone as I walked through the door, pulling the knife out as I went. I walked into the living room and turned for the stairs, leading to the second floor. When I reached the top, I saw a large picture of me and Tyrock along with both our parents.

My parents were kneeling behind me as I sat in front of them, Tyrock and his parents was the same. We were sitting in a large grassy area with a red and white checkered blanket under us. There was also an old style picnic basket sitting next to Tyrocks mom. Tyrock and I were looking at the camera like we were already trying figure out how to tear it apart. My dad was dressed in a blue and white plaid shirt with light blue jeans and a pair of caramel brown cowboy boots and a white cowboy hat on his head. My mom was dressed in a yellow sun dress. Her blond colored hair was curled and pulled back into a ponytail. Tyrocks dad was wearing a black button up shirt and a pair of black jeans. He also had black cowboy boots and a black cowboy hat on. His mom had a dark blue shirt on and a black skirt that ended at her ankles.

Tyrock and I were in a pair of striped long sleeve shirts and blue jeans. As I looked at the picture my mind flashed back to the flower being held out to me. I turned towards the balcony and stepped out into the cool crisp Everfree forest air. I headed over and leaned on the railing. I looked around at the stars in the sky, trying to find anything that looked familiar, then I set my eyes on Canterlot. There were small lights covering the city that gave it a small golden glow. My brain started to stir as I tried to figure out the equation of the possibility that allowed them to build a whole city on the side of a mountain, but I quickly gave up on that notion as I thought back on the huge scared we gave the guards. I smiled and gave a small chuckle as I flipped the knife I had in my hand.

“Well you're smiling, so I take it as you’re not going to stab me with that knife you have.” I heard Tyrock joked.

“Give it a sec, I might just sink into your chest.” I said straightening up.

“Look Stones, I know you want to go home, but I think we can do some good here. If you would just give this place a chance...” he started.

“You know what, I think this place is starting to grow on me.” I said glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

“But I had a whole speech planned out…” He said with a confused sigh.

“You always have been the one that had to plan out everything. Yeah I did wanted to go home, but then I saw something today that just makes me want to find out just what this planet has in store.” I said looking back up at Canterlot. “Also, I have a feeling that I might actually want to figure out this whole ‘magic’ thing.”

“Huh so you're starting to come around?” He said leaning back wards on the banister as he glanced at me.

“You could say that, but I also want to take a crack at hunting a manticore.” I chuckled at him. He looked at me then smiled.

"I guess you're not going to kill jane then?” He asked with a little hope in his eyes.

"I might...” I let the words linger in the air before continuing. “Or I might not, depends on the next time she lies to me or does not tell me the whole truth.” I said, spinning the knife between my fingers.

“If you want to do this job, I’m with you the whole way,” he stated holding his right arm out. “but you have to learn to trust Jane if you want to survive here, that means not killing her, she still might let us go home.”

“Fine, I'll try to walk away before I do something I'll pretend to regret.” I started as I grabbed the knife with my left.

“That's all I can ask for.” He said sighing. “And it probably all I’m going to get.” I heard him mumble under his breath.

“Alright then. Till the end of our days, let’s show those guards what a real guardian can do.” I said grabbing his hand with mine and gave it a firm shake.

Mission report: #549.2578

Mission: Investigate Disturbance in the Everfree Forest.

Commander/s Quick Arrow, Broadhead.

Report: We arrived in the Everfree at 22:00 and walked to our designated location. Before we arrived, we came across an unknown being in the tree tops. We engaged when we spotted a weapon. The being showed extreme training, being able to evade our attacks. Shortly afterward, we were attacked by two unknown creatures. The creatures were both nine feet tall and had very bright glowing eyes. One was a black color and the other was a rose red color. Both had a strong outer shell that our weapons couldn't penetrate. At first we thought they were fighting us, but then found out that they were fighting each other for territory. We left the area and concluded that these two were the creatures that attacked the Timberwolves. We also concluded that just as long as ponies stay out of the Everfree no one will get hurt, but if they do come across one of the creatures that they should leave the creature’s small territory. End of report.

Author's Note

Hey guys if your reading this thanks for reading this far. I have a few references in this chapter, if you find them comment on them. Also leave a comment on what you think about the story so far, please do I love hearing about it if I do something right. Also there are a few hidden secrets in the chapter if you find them leave a spoiler comment and I'll send you a pm letting you know if you are correct or not.

I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can.