Chapters Three fillies stood stiff as they stared at the manticore, whose home they just walked into. I stood up, growling at them, before letting a terrifying roar out. The fillies snapped out of their trance, turning tail and taking off in a random direction. They dove through the tree, screaming their heads off. The manticore was gaining on them, as the ran past several posts. They ended up being cornered between the manticore and a tall wall of stone. They were huddled together, two sobbing hysterically.
The sound of flapping wings filled the air, and a blur slammed into the side of the manticore, causing it to roar in pain and anger. The manticore stood back up, staring down the creature in front of it. It stared at the manticore, an angry look on it’s face, and it’s dull grey wings flared out
“Kyle! Stay inside, please!” it yelled, sending a glance to a similar creature, but without wings.The wingless one, Kyle, nodded, scrambling back inside of a large treehouse. The winged one then turned its attention back to the manticore, who started to charge it. Flapping it’s wings, the creature lifted off the ground, flying forward and slamming its fist on the manticore’s head. A loud crack filled the air, and the manticore fell down, unconscious.
The creature turned to look at the sobbing fillies, smiling softly, and kneeling down in front of them, “Hey, little ones? Are you alright?”
They nodded, before squeaking at the sound of timberwolves in the distance. Kyle stuck it’s head out of a window, yelling, “Dad! The moon’s comin’ up!” The creature frowned, before abruptly picking the fillies up, and flying up to the treehouse. He, deduced by the title dad, sat them down in a small living room, before sitting on a small pillow on the wooden floor.
“Hello, I’m Christopher Lamb.” he introduced himself, smiling softly, before pointing to Kyle, “and that kid is my son, Kyle Lamb.” One of the fillies, an orange pegasus with a purple mane spoke up.
“..I’m Scootaloo…” she murmured, looking at the winged creature curiously. The yellow one with a red mane spoke next.
“Ah’m Apple Bloom! Thank’s for savin us, mister!” she thanked, smiling. The white unicorn with a purple and pink mane was last.
“I-I’m Sw-weetie B-Belle!” she squeaked out. Kyle walked over, and sat in his dad’s lap.
“Hi! Whatcha doing this far out?” he asked curiously.
“We were heading to our friend Zecora’s house, but we got lost, and ran into that manticore!” Scootaloo explained, frowning.
Christopher sighed, glancing out of the window, “It’s too dark out now…” he murmured, shifting his wings a bit, “You can stay the night here, but do not reveal the location to anyone else. We live out here to keep to ourselves, but, if you wish, you may visit again.” The three thanked him, grinning.
“Kyle, how about you four get to know each other, while I grab the extra blankets?” Christopher asked, lightly shifting Kyle so he sat on the ground. He nodded.
“Sure, dad!” he exclaimed, claiming his father’s pillow when the man stood up, “You wanna play 20 questions?! My dad says ish a good way to get to know others!”
The fillies nodded, and Scootaloo asked her question first, butchering Christopher’s name “What are you and Christuhfer?” Kyle giggled at the mess up on his father’s name.
“Dad’s an angel, and I’m a human!” he answered, grinning happily, before asking his question, “Will you be my friends!?”
They nodded, “Sure!” Sweetie Belle asked her question next.
“What’s an angel?”
“Well, dad said they were beings of celestial wavelengths, but my mama told me they are pure and good people who help others, like Miss Lola who gave the homeless people food!” Kyle explained. “Do you guys have any family?” he asked, smiling innocently.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom nodded, while Scootaloo stiffened, “Um… my family died..” she murmured, before yelping when Kyle tackled her with a hug. He buried his face into her neck, mumbling to her.
“Mine did too… But Dad took me from the streets, and told me that he’d take care of me…” he unlatched from her, smiling sadly. Just as Apple Bloom started to ask her question, Christopher walked back in, carrying three dark green blankets. He laid them down next to the fillies, and picked Kyle up.
“It’s bedtime, Kyle. Growing children need their sleep.” he said, when Kyle tried to protest. He carried the boy into a small room, and laid him on one of the two beds. Christopher leaned down, kissing Kyle on the forehead, “Sleep well, Kyle,” he murmured, and left to tell the fillies to go to sleep.
“Time for you three to go to sleep as well.” he said as he entered the living room. Christopher picked the blankets up, laying them out for the fillies, and handing each of the three a pillow. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom settled down without a fuss, and promptly fell asleep. Scootaloo trotted over to Christopher.
“How did Kyle... lose his family?” she asked softly, keeping her eyes on her hooves. Christopher gently lifted her chin to look at her face.
“They died in an accident… He was the only survivor…” he murmured, before scooping her up into his arms, and laying her on her blanket, “Now get some sleep..”
“Twilight!” Applejack shouted, barging into the library, “Apple Bloom an’ her friends went intah the Everfree, a few hours fore sundown, but still they ain’t back!” Twilight rushed into the room, yelling for Spike to send a letter to Celestia informing her that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were missing in the Everfree Forest.
Christopher’s eyes widened when he saw multiple Royal Guards running under his trees. Several shouts sounded, saying that they haven’t found the fillies. His eyes darted around, only stopping when his gaze found Celestia. He quickly, and silently, moved back inside, and to Kyle. He shook Kyle’s shoulder lightly, causing the boy to rise.
“Kyle, you need to hide!” Christopher hissed softly, “Royal Guards, and the princess are here!” Kyle reacted quickly, scrambling out of bed, before stuffing himself in the back of the small closet. Satisfied that his son was safe, Christopher rushed back to the highest balcony, watching the guards, before noticing six ponies who seemed distraught. He moved back inside, and roused the fillies, and shushing them before they could make any noise.
“The royal guards are searching for you three, so I’m going to set you down on the ground. But I’ll be flying real fast, so it’ll feel like a teleport.” he explained quietly, scooping the trio up into his arms. Soon after that, he flew to the ground, just a bit away from the guards, and sat the three down.
“Head that way, and you’ll run into the guards. Don’t mention me, the princess doesn’t like me that much.” he murmured, pointing towards the guards. The fillies nodded, taking off. Christopher watched for a second, before flying away in a blink of an eye. He stood on the highest balcony, watching as the three fillies burst into the clearing, nearly ramming into the six distraught ones.
Three yells of the fillies names filled the air, as the fillies got group hugged. Christopher smiled softly, before returning to his son. The two promptly pushed the two beds together, and curled up next to one another.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo followed their sisters and friends out of the Everfree.
“What were you girls thinking?” Twilight demanded, shaking her head.
“We were headed for Zecora’s, but we got lost!” Scootaloo defended, pouting softly, “It’s not like we got hurt or anything!”
“But you could have gotten very hurt!” she scolded, before turning to Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow, could you bring Scootaloo back to the Orphanage and tell them what happened?” Rainbow nodded, hoisting Scootaloo up onto her back.
“Come on, kid. You need your sleep,” she said, before taking off to the orphanage.
Apple Bloom stood next to Applejack, staring at her hooves and wondering how she could lie to the element of Honesty, while Sweetie Belle was getting drilled by Rarity, slowly cracking.
“ALRIGHT! We left parts out! We were attacked by a manticore, but Christopher saved us, and was gunna let us stay the night with him and Kyle! He doesn't like being pestered so he lives in the Everfree!” she exclaimed, while 4 of the 5 mares looked unconvinced, until Applejack spoke up.
“Either ya are ah expert at lyin’, or ya are tellin tha truth..” she stated.
“Who’s Christopher?” Twilight asked, curious.
“He’s the angel who saved us!” Apple Bloom answered, causing the mares to chuckled.
“Angel’s are just a old foals tail. They don’t exist. Now, who was the pony?” Twilight said, irritation laced in her voice.
“He’s not ah pony.” Apple Bloom stated, “Neither is Kyle. Kyle’s ah hueman and Christopher’s ah angel!” She stopped speaking, and took off towards the farm.
After Twilight got home from finding the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she called out for Spike.
“Spike! Take a letter!” she told the young drake after he woke up. Spike nodded groggily, and picked up the paper and quill.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I would like to inform you that Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle are all okay. Though, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom told us a ridiculous story about an angel saving them from an angry manticore. They called the angel by the name Christopher, and spoke of a human named Kyle. Though that is impossible, since humans turn into ponies when they enter Equestria.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
“LUNA!” Celestia’s yell echoed through the halls, along with the frantic clicking of hooves on marble. She skidded to a halt at her sister’s room, a letter hanging in her magical grip. An annoyed dark blue princess opened the door.
“What is so urgent, Tia?” she asked, lightly tapping her hoof impatiently. Celestia panted a bit, lifting up the letter.
“Christopher… fillies...” she got out. Luna let out a soft gasp.
“Christopher showed himself to the ponies?!” she exclaimed, unable to believe that a violent spirit like him would do so. Celestia nodded, nudging her way into her sister’s room.
“Yes. He apparently saved three fillies from a manticore, and invited them to stay the night.” Celestia answered, sitting down on a velvet pillow. “One of the fillies, Sweetie Belle, said that Christopher’s child, Kyle, had played a game about questions with them.”
“He had a child?” Luna asked, confused. Celestia sighed, noticing her slip up.
“Yes. I’m sorry I never told you. Christopher has a child.” she admitted, “Buiat does not excuse his crimes.”
Morning
Christopher sat up in bed, softly moving Kyle off of him, and climbing out of bed. He flew into the living room, so he didn’t wake the sleeping boy. Stepping out onto the porch, he jerked back, hearing a familiar voice.
“Christopher! Where are you?” the white alicorn shouted, searching around her. He sighed, knowing Celestia would not leave until she found him. A second after that thought, he was in front of her.
“What do you want? Here to take my son away?” he demanded, his voice laced with venom and ice.
“What are you doing, showing yourself to fillies?!” Celestia demanded in resonse, angry.
“Would you rather have them dead?” he retorted, glaring, before a sleepy voice piped up.
“Dad…? Who ya talkin too?” Kyle shouted down, sitting on the edge of the porch, “Is it one of those mean princesses?” Christopher nodded.
“This is Celestia.” he stated bluntly, “She will be leaving after I erase the location of our home from her mind.” Celestia stepped back in shock. Christopher had never resorted to messing with the ponies memories… In the blink of an eye, Christopher had his pointer and middle fingers on the day princess’s forehead. He hesitated, giving Celestia the time to plant her forehooves on his chest, pushing him away.
The angel stumbled back, before disappearing. He then reappeared next to Kyle, scooping the boy up into his arm, and glaring at the princess.
“Just… just go.. and stay away… Just leave us to our misery!” he yelled, burying his face in Kyle’s hair, mumbling to himself and tears streaming down his cheeks. Celestia gasped. She’d never seen the angel break down and cry. Kyle wrapped his little arms around his father’s neck, hugging him, while glaring at the alicorn.
Celestia softly knocked on Twilight Sparkle’s door, waiting patiently. Spike opened the door, before yelling to Twilight, “Princess Celestia is here, Twilight!” He turned back to princess, welcoming her in.
“Princess!” Twilight yelled, running up and hugging the princess. Celestia hugged her student back, smiling softly.
“I assume you are aware of Christopher Lamb?” she asked, seeming a bit nervous. Twilight nodded.
“Yeah. Aren’t angel’s just a myth though?” Twilight asked, tilting her head curiously. Celestia shook her head, all while her head hung slightly in shame.
“They are real, but only one has ever been discovered.” she answered, “His name is Christopher Lamb. When we discovered him, we believed him to be an animal, and treated him so. He eventually lashed out, and escaped, killing many guards as he went. I had later learned that he was sapient, and that he was very angry.” she paused, sighing, “So I gathered the Elements, and me and Luna managed to seal him in the Everfree. After a guard had wandered too far into the Everfree, we learned he also has a child, one who was affected by the seal as well. The child had fallen into a deep sleep, and stopped aging.” Celestia sighed, shaking her head.
“And since you and Luna are no longer bearer’s of the Elements, they are free?” Twilight asked, a bit afraid.
“Yes, unfortunately. I would like you and your friends to try and gain his trust. It might be helpful to bring the fillies along, he has a soft spot for them.”
