Monster's Curse

Tame took in a deep breath as he enjoyed the night air, his dark blue mane waving in the breeze. The moon was at its apex, and he could already hear the howls of wolves as they greeted their god. He smirked as he continued along the path through the forest that he had found a few days ago. At least I got that. Seems it is impossible to find out anything about this place. He froze for a moment, his black cloak, shirt and pants helping him blend in with the forest night. As long as they don’t suddenly see a patch of my brown fur, I should be fine.

He took in a deep breath and stopped himself from vomiting. He still never understood why ponies would want a timberwolf anything as a pet, but then there was the odd eccentric who decided dancing with death was fun. However, the passing beasts were not his target tonight, so he allowed them to pass. No, tonight he was after a mystery, a legend.

Once more the night became silent and he started to stalk his way down the path. Tame didn’t normally believe in myths and legends, but when one hears about the deadliest monsters in existence and is challenged to capture at least one or else he would lose his reputation. Well, that just wasn’t something a professional tamer couldn’t stand for, especially when you fancied being the best with monsters.

Still, the rumors surrounding the castle he now saw from the top of a hill were intimidating. Once home to two great powers, a falling from grace happened, and their power corrupted the ponies that once lived there. Those ponies became nightmarish forms of themselves, but a powerful artifact sealed them within, never to be seen by pony eyes unless controlled by a new power. “And that power, will be me.”

Tame finally came back to the forest floor, and checked the bag that was strapped to his side. It had most of his basics, rope and hook, a machete, some emergency flares, magically imbued rope for when he finally could wrestle the beast down, and two electric collars to keep them from resisting or escaping. I’ve always hated them, but I deny that they have practically saved my life in the past when something has broken from its bonds.

The sounds of his hooves on the grass was not quite enough to occupy his mind as he crept through the forest and made slow progress to his destination.He couldn’t help but start to imagine what he might find there. If I find a lamia or a vampire, it will be interesting to see how I can capture something that is like a pony. However, if I have to go through another ruin filled to the brim with enchanted objects, I swear I am going to kill somepony. He shivered as he thought of worst case scenario. Don’t think about spirits or demons. They’ve taken plenty of tamers lives before, but no wraith is–

Sniff

“Damn.” he breathed to himself. He had been careless by not focusing, and now that he was at choke point, the bridge before the castle, the timberwolves from before must have decided to finally attack. “That or they’re a different pack and I’m just unlucky.”

He didn’t bother turning around. He knew that would probably spell doom as he would be stuck walking backwards onto a rickety bridge, and he didn’t have anywhere to go anyways. His best bet was to wait until one came out. Tame smirked as he heard a twig break underfoot. He also stopped, allowing the predator to know he was their. Three, two, one.

The stench of the beast was almost unbearable as he undid the main strap on his pack and swung around, using his momentum and weight to crash the bag into the wooden monstrosity. The creature wasn’t the only thing to go over though, and Tame watched as the timberwolf reformed next to his lost bag. More green eyes watched him now, but they would be wary after such a failure. He stepped back, and the bridge answered with its own creak. One more step, and one of the planks gave out.

Tame’s vision went spotty for a moment as the back of his skull smacked into the plank behind him. However, his hand caught one of the frayed ropes that made up the bridges sides and with a tremendous effort pulled, coming full circle and crashing onto the bridge. He sprang to his feet, his head spasming in pain. I don’t think it’s a concussion, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to have a headache in a few moments.

A quick glance back the way he had come gave him a view of a much larger wolf stepping towards the hole, probably considering whether or not to jump. Tame glared at the beast and made eye contact before letting out a slight growl. “You have your pack. You don’t want to possibly fall into a ravine where you’ll leave them behind and become a bunch of broken twigs, now do you?”

Tense moments filled the air as the two simply stared at each other. Only once the wolf had turned around did Tame let out a breath he hadn’t even known he was holding. He glanced down the side of the bridge and scowled while his hand touched the side of his dark t-shirt. “Damn.”

He continued to head onwards, deciding that it would be best to stay in the ruined castle then in the open, and that he should at least wait till day to come back, lest he want Timberwolves dining on him tonight. A quick glance at the imposing castle walls gave him an understanding of why people feared this place and its purple stone. “It will do just fine for a resting place tonight though.”

Upon getting in, he took in the large tapestries on the wall, the four hallway openings, and two different stairs that led higher within the castle. However, he dismissed them all when his eyes found a gold orb shining in the moonlight. Now to pull out my safety gloves... Tame scowled upon remembering that they were in his pack. “I can’t really leave you behind though. You might pay for my new pack, so at least I can still get something out of it.”

He kicked it against a wall and grabbed it as it bounced off and back to him. Upon contact though, visions of death and destruction flashed into his mind. His arm started to burn as the orb opened and a gold tail with a spike on the end coiled around his arm and crushed it. Battlefields full of dead soldiers and blazing cities burned into his skull as the tail slithered onto his chest. The memories stopped only once the spike was rammed into his chest. They were replaced by a message though.

Only by the power of a monster may this curse be undone. Leave without it, and you will pay the consequences.

Tame dismissed the message as he writhed on the ground. He needed a unicorn, he needed medical attention, he needed someone, and none of them would be found here. He burst through the front doors and ran back to the bridge, panting as his vision started to clear. However, as his foot touched the first plank, he bent over in pain and barely didn’t touch the next plank. However, he knew he could if he tried.

Walk away

Run for your life