The 7th Element

It was a warm summers day in Ponyville and on a certain farm a brother and sister team were hard at work. A light orange mare dawning a cowboy hat with a large red stallion pulling a cart full of fresh apples. The mare bucked another tree, freeing the apples growing from its branches.

“I think thats 'nuff for today don't ya bro?”

“Eeyup.” He responded, chewing on a stem of wheat as he hauled the cart towards the farmhouse. His sister keeping up and rounding up stray apples that fell from the other trees.

“Hey Applejack!” The duo heard a call just outside of the orchard. Looking over they saw a light blue pagasus with a multicolored mane quickly fly down before landing right in front of them. “Hey Big Macintosh.”

“Howdy.” Big Macintosh nodded.

“Hey there Dash, whats goin' on?”

“Well Twilight needs to meet up with Zecora in Everfree. Fluttershy and I figured we should all go with her. The animals around there have been getting a bit rowdy lately. You in?”

Applejack looked up at her older brother. “Think ya can help granny without me?” She grinned, knowing he would be fine.

Macintosh smiled a bit. “Eeyup.” He replied before hauling off with the cart once more. Applejack and Rainbow Dash headed back along the edge of the Everfree Forest to meet their friends at a small cottage just outside of the trees. Waiting for them were four other mares, a white unicorn with a purple mane, a purple unicorn with a dark purple mane and a pink streak, a pink earth pony with a fluffy pink mane, and finally a yellow pegasus with a straight pink mane.

“There you are Applejack.” The pink pony cheered.

“Aw shucks Pinkie Pie, ya wernt waitin' that long fer me were ya?” Applejack smiled.

“Lets get going girls.” The purple unicorn grabbed their attention and lead the group into the dark forest.

“Honestly Twilight, with how often we go into this place we really should make a more distinct trail. The forest is filthy.” The white unicorn said as she watched her steps carfully.

“Well...It is a forest Rarity.” The yellow pegasus said softly. “The animals dont mind it being dirty.”

Rainbow Dash flew along side them on her back, her front hooves behind her head. “Eh leave little miss prissy be Fluttershy. She wants to complain about a little dirt on her hooves so be it.”

“Prissy? Rainbow Dash there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking pride in ones appearance.” Rarity huffed. Just then the six of them stopped at the sound of a low and loud rumbling deep into the forest. “What in Equestria was that?” Rarity asked.

“Sounded like a roar.” Twilight concluded.

“A ton of em.” Rainbow Dash added before she took off in the direction of the roars.

“Dash, wait up!” Applejack called as she and the others followed. When they managed to catch up to her she was hovering in place with a frightened look on her face. In front of them was a opening in the trees and in that opening were a pack of seven manticores attacking a young stallion and timber wolf cub. The stallion was a pegasus with a dark gray body that faded to black along his legs. His mane and tail were medium length and the darkest shade of black imaginable. The cutie mark appeared to be two black weapons of some sort crossing over a red blotch. His eyes were a dark crimson red with black slits and three old looking scars was over the left one.

“Hey I said I was sorry. I didnt mean to wake you all up.” The stallion narrowly dodged a large paw and grabbed it, throwing the manticore over his shoulder to the ground. As his back was turned one of the manticore's stingers swiped across his back. “Ahh!” He growled and he doubled over from the pain. Just then the manticore that attacked him roared as the timber wolf grabbed hold of its back leg. It then used its tail to knock the cub away. “Crash!” The stallion called before rolling out of the way of another stinger strike. Then he flipped open his wings and dashed just above the ground and caught the falling cub. He tucked his wings back in and held onto his companion as he slid on his back. “You okay buddy?” He asked, getting a soft bark in reply. The dark stallion put him back on the ground before standing between the wolf and the manticore, his wings spread out again.

“We have to help them.” Twilight worried.

“Are you nuts?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned. “We'll get thrashed out there. I'm surprised those two lasted this long.”

“We'll we gotta help 'em somehow.” Applejack insisted.

“Run for it Crash, I'll lead them away.” The stallion commanded as he jumped over a swiping paw and landing on the attacking animals head. Before another stinger swipe was able to reach him he grabbed hold and dropped back down to the ground, slamming his attacker on its back. He began to pant heavily, his energy draining. He dipped and evaded more swings from their stingers before finally being knocked over and sliding back to Crash. Recovering from the fall he looked around to see that they were surrounded and we was too tired from the venom to get away. He wrapped his arms around the timber wolf to try and protect him from the inevitable attack. Before the stingers were able to mark however, a barrier enveloped the two and the stingers simply bounced off, though they kept trying. The stallion looked over and saw the girls in the distance. The purple unicorn using magic that must have been the source of the barrier.

“I cant hold this spell for long.” Twilight grunted.

“Can't you just lift them out?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

Twilight grunted. “I cant. The barrier is getting weaker. If I try it could shatter and he'll get skewered.”

“We must do something.” Rarity pleaded.

“I'll get em!” Rainbow Dash pounded her chest. “But I cant carry the timber wolf at the same time.”

“I'll save the cub.” Fluttershy said as she hovered next to her friend.

“Okay, just hurry.” Twlilight said before the two pegasi took off towards the crumbling shield. As soon as it vanished two speeding blurs grabbed the stallion and wolf just before the manicore were able to get to them.

“Lets high-tail it outta here!” Applejack lead once Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash returned with the stallion and wolf cub in tow. Once they felt they were a safe distance away they stopped and put the strangers down, the stallion groaning as he stood upright.

“Urg...What the heck happened?” The stallion hobbled before kneeling down, Applejack helping him keep upright.

“Hold yer horses partner.” She said. “We wer able to get ya outta that scrap with them manticores.”

“Right, the manti-” The dark stallion's eyes went blank and he completely collapsed, almost taking Applejack with him.

“Shoot, he's a lot heavier than he looks.” She grunted.

Fluttershy spoke up, the timber wolf slung over her back. “Its the manticore venom, its draining their energy. We need anti-venom.”

“Don't you have some at your place? Dash asked.

“Yes, but its too far. I think Zecora may have a remedy though.”

“That isn't far, come on.” Twilight started walking off as Rainbow Dash helped Applejack carry the stallion.

A couple minutes later they reached their destination. Twilight knocked and soon a zebra decorated in gold rings greeted them. “Why hello my friends-”

“Zecora.” Twilight interupted. “These two have been injected with manticore venom, do you have anything that can help them?”

The zebra's eyes widened. “This is trouble, quick bring them in on the double.” The stallion and cub were brought in and laid down with pillows to support their heads. Zecora gave them each an oval shaped leaf and manually helped them chew. “This should stop the spread of poison, until I can mix a healing potion.” She trotted over to her herbs and mixtures and began working.

A grunt quickly came from the stallion.“Where am I?” He groaned, his eyes halfway opened.

The girls looked and Twilight was the first to speak. “Our friend Zecora's hut. She is going to try and help you and your timber wolf friend.”

“Crash, is he okay?” He tried to get up but grunted in pain.

“Its okay.” Fluttershy pushed him back down. “We brought him too, he seems to be fine.” She reassured, looking over at the now sleeping canine.

He sighed in relief. “Thank you for helping us.”

“Can we have your name dear?” Rarity asked.

“Crimson Quake.” He breathed heavily

“Its nice to meet you Crimson. We can all get better acquainted once you boys recover.” She patted his black mane as he shut his eyes to rest his body. An hour passed, Zecora finally finished the remedy and woke up Crimson and Crush to give it to them. It didn't take long before they were able to be up and about.

“I feel so much better, how about you pal?” Crimson asked the canine in a monotone voice, Crash barked happily and jumped up onto his head. “Good.”

“Its good ta see ya'll are feelin' better.” Applejack smiled.

“What happened?” Twilight asked.

Crimson gave a slight nod before explaining. “We were traveling through the forest when we stumbled across a pack of sleeping manticore. We tried to sneak past but I tripped over one of their tails, that ticked them off. Normally I could fight off two or three but a pack of seven was way too much. After I was first stung we were pretty much done for.”

“Good thing we got there in time to help.” Rainbow Dash boasted.

“Yes it is.” Crimson said as Crash hopped on his back before he made his way out. “Now if you could be so kind as to direct us to the closest town we will get out of your manes.” His exit was soon blocked by Applejack.

“Now hold on a apple pickin' minute, ya just barely survived manticore venom. Ya'll shouldn't be leaving so soon on yer own.”

Crimson waved his hoof in a dismissing motion. “We'll be fine. The anti-venom worked wonders so we will just be on our way.”

Twilight trotted up to Crimsons side. “Well the nearest town is Ponyville. Can we at least lead you there?”

Crimson sighed. “Fair enough, lead the way.”

“Twilight before your leave you take, here is that potion you asked me to make.” Zecora came with a small vile of a light blue liquid.

“Thanks Zecora.” Twilight smiled as she lifted it with her magic and placed it in her saddlebag. “We'll be back and visit soon.” She said before she and the others left the hut. The girls made their way down the forest path, with Crimson following close behind and Crash laying on his back between his wings.

“So what brings you to Ponyville?” Pinkie Pie asked, hopping around joyfully around Crimson who seemed less than amused by the cheerful mare.

“Supplies, Crash and I are building shelter in the forest and I didn't pack enough from the last town I was in.”

“Your going to live in Everfree Forest?” Rarity gasped. “I don't see how anypony can survive in such conditions.”

“I've lived in worse.” He said plainly before his and Crash's stomachs gave a low echoing growl. “That reminds me.” He turned his head back to the canine. “We need to get some more food as well.” Crash let out a whimper in response.

Applejack smiled warmly. “Well if yer hungry ya can come on down to my family's farm.” She changed her gaze to her friends. “We got enough grub for everypony.”

“Oh that sounds great!” Pinkie cheered while the others nodded and turned their attention back to Crimson.

“I wouldn't feel right about it.” He shook his head. “You all just met me on top of saving my life. If anything I should buy you all dinner.”

“What a gentlecolt.” Rarity smiled. “Dear it is no trouble at all, consider it a small welcome to town.”

Crimson looked at the warm smiles on their faces. “Okay, you win.” He sighed. The girls all smiled and continued on.

“So where you from Crimson?” Rainbow Dash asked as she flew upside down with her hooves behind her head.

Crimson averted his eyes and looked at the ground and growled a bit to himself. “Far away, I'm not even from Equestria.” By this time the group was just emerging from the forest, Sweet Apple Acres visible in the distance.