1: Meeting With a Monster
"You're a psychopath!"
"I prefer creative."
~Unknown
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*BOOM*
Ugh... Rainbow moaned atop her cloud bed, her eyes opening sluggishly as she heard the boom once again. Ever since the strange creature came to the Everfree, there had been those kind of booms every now and then, sounding like a cannon of sorts. Sometimes it was sporadic cracks, or just a loud boom, it was always from that creature. She had no idea what it was doing, but she was aggravated by it, but it was far away so she wasn't bothered by it much.
Though she couldn't say the same for poor Fluttershy, whose animals were always frightened by it.
Now Rainbow, being the caring fried she is towards Fluttershy, contemplated heading off to the Everfree to give the creature a piece of her mind. But was she was warned time and time again by Twilight not to go in there, something about what the princess told her. Anytime Rainbow talked about the creature, Twilight would get a slightly anxious look on her face and tell her not to worry about it. This of course, confused Rainbow Dash greatly, she was just curious about the thing, and wanted to know what they could do about it.
For one thing, what if it attacked Ponyville? From what she knew, it carried weird weapons, all of which from what she heard from several pegasi guards were like small cannons. They only ever saw the thing when it was walking around the woods, carrying around a large pack and a weapon of black metal that fired something that could kill a Manticore in a couple of hits. Whatever it was, it was dangerous, and it warranted Royal intervention, as several guards were patrolling the Everfree Forest's edge constantly, armed with the latest in armor and weapon enhancements.
But... for now, she could do nothing, and her friends couldn't either. By order of Princess Celestia, they are not allowed to go into the forest. Rainbow sighed, flapping her wings and flying down to the ground. Once she landed she popped a few bones and started flying low into Ponyville. She looked all around, eyeing the ponies getting up and getting ready for the day. She saw Derpy Hooves flying around, leaving everyone their morning paper and mail they both shared a brief wave and continued about their business.
The rainbow mare eventually found herself outside Sugarcube corner, and when she went inside, she saw Ms. Cake working the counter. "Heya Ms. Cake," She started. "Got any coffee?"
"Sure I do sweetheart." Ms. Cake smiled. "Pinkie's still asleep, that's why I'm working the counter today if you were wondering. Poor thing was kept up all night by the explosions from the Everfree."
Dash looked up from where she was leaning, raising an eyebrow in question. "Explosions?"
Ms. Cake sighed sadly. "Yes, that creature in the Everfree has been, setting off some kind of bombs lately." She looked around the shop, noticing a few other customers wandering in. "I'm not sure what the thing is doing, but its been scaring off the local animal population, one of the pony guards was even injured when he want into the Everfree."
A mare with an orange coat and blue mane had walked up, hearing the conversation. "Ohmygosh, what happened?" She asked.
"The poor dear stepped on something and it exploded," This got shocked gasps from everypony. "I'm not sure how, but whatever it was almost killed him." Lifting up a small cup, she pushed it over to Dash. The smell of fresh coffee beans wafted around the room, with a small hint of vanilla mixed in somewhere. "He was taken to the hospital earlier this morning after the explosion."
Rainbow took her cup, nodding to Ms. Cake and dropping two bits onto the counter before walking over to a booth and sitting down. The shop soon started filling up with other ponies getting ready for the day, wanting to get some breakfast before going about doing their jobs, others just wanted a place to hang out for the day. Rainbow however, just sat drinking from her cup, idly popping a few pretzels into her mouth from a nearby container.
Her mind was a mosh pit of thoughts, most concerning the creature of the Everfree. Rainbow really wanted to know why it was there, where it had come from, and what its purpose was. So far, it has no done anything to disturb Ponyville, save for the occasional explosion or crack and boom of its weapons. And nopony even knows what it looks like, save for the bits and pieces of the few ponies who saw it. And even then, for some reason they were told to be hush hush about it.
Taking a sip from her cup, Dash sighed. I just don't understand why everypony is being so weird about this, just another weird creature me and the girls could take out no problem! Rainbow knew she was a fast flyer, and the other girls had their own merits and talents that would help them. They've faced down Discord, and Twilight took on Tirek of all things by herself! Of course, she had all of Princess Celestia's, Luna and Cadence's power inside of her... Dash shook her head, setting down her cup with a heavy sigh.
The more the mare thought the more she was convinced somepony was hiding something from her, she needed answers as to why they were not doing anything.
Luckily, she got it, in the form of a very minty green mare.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Rainbow spotted said mint green unicorn coming into the store, she trotted over to buy a coffee and a donut, and turning around she spotted Rainbow. "Oh, Hi Rainbow!" Lyra greeted, trotting over. "How are you this morning?"
Dash sighed. "I could be better, Lyra." Looking up, she saw Lyra's smile, it was very infectious and Dash found herself smiling back. "How bout you?"
Lyra took a seat across from Dash, setting her cup down and grinning. "I'm doing fine, Bon Bon is too." Taking a sip of her drink, she continued. "Were you woken up from the explosions too?"
"No," Dash shook her head, her prismatic mane swaying with her head movements. "I was already awake, I was just trying to go back to sleep." She chuckled, Lyra joining in soon after. After a few minutes of welcome silence, Dash said. "I just don't get it."
Tilting her head, Lyra asked. "Don't get what?"
Looking out of the window, Dash gestured to the outside. "That thing in the Everfree." She told Lyra, swirling what was left of her coffee around in her cup. "I just don't understand why nopony's doing anything about it. me and the elements could easily take it down!" She growled, "But no, we're all sitting on our flanks cause we're not allowed into the Everfree, I mean, we don't even know what it looks like!"
Dash really didn't understand it at all, and she probably never would.
Until a certain Unicorn spoke up that is.
Lyra rose an eyebrow and looking around, she said. "What if I could show you what it looks like?"
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Everfree Soldier
Written by: Dustchu.
MLP:FIM belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.
I own only my OC's and certain elements.
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Rainbow shot her a look, raising an eyebrow in question. She took another long sip of her coffee before sitting her up down. Her eyes never leaving Lyra's golden ones. "You... you know what it looks like?" She asked, a hesitant tone to her voice.
Lyra only smiled mischievously in reply, taking a bite of her food. "You know me, always a sucker for new and weird things." She nodded. "I do know what it looks like, and I can show you."
"Why show me?" Rainbow didn't know why Lyra would show her something like that, if she was telling the truth that is.
Lyra only smiled. "I've seen how you've acted anytime somepony mentioned the creature, and you're looking like you really want to know more even though the Princess herself decreed the Everfree off limits to everypony." She reached into her saddlebags, pulling out a small piece of paper and pushed it over to Dash.
Picking up the paper, Dash began to read.
FROM THE DESK OF HER MAJESTY, PRINCESS CELESTIA
It has been declared that no being be allowed entry into the Everfree, by order of Princess Celestia.
Anypony who defies the order is subject to imprisonment for up to five years, and a fine of twenty thousand bits.
To anypony who sees the creature you are to report it immediately to the nearest guard, for the creature has been deemed extremely dangerous and will not listen to reason.
Below the words was the royal seal of the royal sisters, along with the pony who wrote this. Rainbow could only stare in disbelief at the charges, it was unreal to think anypony could pay that much just for entering a forest when they were told not to. No, its more then insane, it was outrageous! She shook her head, placing down the paper. "Seriously? This has turned into a nightmare, now there's a fucking fine!?" She questioned, snarling lightly.
"I know how you feel, even flying over the forest is forbidden and only for guards." Lyra shook her head. "Anyway, I do have something I can show you regarding the creature," Lyra looked around the shop, her eyes lingering on each occupant. "But I can't show you here... are you free today?" She asked, turning back around to face Dash.
Rainbow thought for a moment. For now she had a few months off from the Weather Team, and the Wonderbolts were on summer break. "Yeah I'm free."
"Good," After finishing off her breakfast, Lyra stood up and said. "Meet me at Hoofington Way, House number 13." She said, trotting out of the shop, leaving behind Dash who felt like she was told to meet up for a hitpony mission.
This'll be interesting.
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After finishing up with her own coffee, Rainbow had left Sugarcube corner and was trotting aimlessly through Ponyville. The mare passing by several royal guards dressed in their usual golden armor and wielding their spears. They trotted past her with little more than a nod, leaving to patrol the Everfree no doubt. She paid them no mind, she didn't hate the guard, she just didn't see the point in acting all stern like they were.
Where's the fun at? Rainbow pondered, walking past several ponies going about their day. Her thoughts had wandered to Lyra and what she had suggested earlier over their breakfast. Somehow she knows what it looks like... but how can she? The thing is hidden deep in the Everfree, and nopony's allowed insid- She cut her thoughts off there, a sudden look of realization overtaking her features. Did... did Lyra go into the forest?! That was one theory, another was Lyra somehow got one of the guards to talk... but that seemed unlikely.
Now that brought up the question, how did Lyra get into the forest to begin with? Did she sneak in? That's one way, but how did she get past all of the guards patrolling the perimeter?
Guess I'll ask her when I go to her house? Again, she was wondering, if she should take her up on her offer. Or should she turn her in? She immediately banished that thought, while she was loyal to Equestria, her loyalty to her friends trumped everything and everypony else. She wasn't going to turn in Lyra like that, no way no how. I am curious though, I should go see what she knows. With a smile she took flight, flapping her wings and taking off towards Lyra's home.
She knew the way to the lyrist player's house, after all the two were friends to a degree. Everypony in Ponyville knew each other, and were friends to a degree. Rainbow was especially good friends with Bon Bon, mostly so she could bum free candy off of her. On some nights the three would get together and play a game of poker or three, drink some hard cider and talk about colts they fancied or gossip about some new things happening. It was fun, even more when she won...
Which was a lot actually.
House 13, house 13... Aha! There it is! She pumped a hoof in triumpth as she spotted the small two story house. It being one of the few houses near the Everfree Forest, like Fluttershy's and Derpy's. It was two stories tall, big enough to have several rooms, and near the back - after doing a once around - she saw a celler, which was currently open and flew down to it. She landed on the grass with a thump and peered inside, her form blocking any sunlight from entering. "Hey Lyra, you down there?"
A mop of two tone coored hair popped up, along with a horn and a pair of bright golden eyes. "Were you followed?"
Rainbow glanced up high above, then behind her. "Uhh, no..." She looked past Lyra and into the basement. "Sooo... about th-" She suddenly found herself yanked inside the basement, pulled in by Lyra's magic and the cellar door shut tight. Her vision was darkened and she couldn't see a thing, but that changed when Lyra struck a match in front of Rainbow, nearly blinding her. "Fuck!"
"Sorry!" Lyra apologized sheepishly, sticking the match into a lantern and lighting up the cellar. "Follow me!" She told Rainbow, turning around and trotting away with the Lantern hovering above her head. Rainbow shook her head and blinked her eyelids several times to clear her vision before folllowing.
"Why're we down here?" Dash questioned, looking at the cobwebs that were spun around the old boxes and crates.
