The Kings of Crystal

The Everfree. One of the most dangerous places on the planet Equis. To the ponies at least. To its visitor, it was some kind of fresh hell. Charles was no stranger to the woods. But these woods. These woods were something else.

With an accent only an Englishman could have, he spoke to the trees. "This place is fucked. Giant cats, wooden wolves, a rock crocodile? What's next? A unicorn?" he laughed to himself, but winced as his right eye flared with pain, or at least, it would have, if it was still there. Not unlike his arm. He had flesh and bone there once. But it was all replaced. Replaced by crystal. He doesn't know how or why it happened it just did. He was asleep when it all happened, but woke up to an eye staring at him. And clutching his own mutilated arm.

"I wouldn't doubt that for a second," his stomach roared at him with a vengeance as he clutched at his aching stomach. "God I'm starving," he looked up at the grey sky. "Haven't seen anything good to eat in so long."

Another roar broke out. Charles looked at his gut, and with a delirious smile. "That wasn't you was it?" He was only answered by an ear piercing shriek. His eyes widened. There was someone out here. Someone that could help him! He ran towards the sound of heavy steps. Jumping over a shrub he spotted the large cat's back. Bat wings and scorpion tail along with it. What ever it was, it had something pinned on the tree.

"This is some fucking bullshit," he muttered staring at the back of... whatever it was.

"Nice kitty," a feminine voice squeaked out.

Looking down at his right arm Charles saw the crystal glint in what little light there was. He looked at his fingers that tipped the crystal. They weren't even allowed to be called fingers anymore, talons would have been the closest thing. Clenching his fist, he looked back at the cat. Compared to him, it was smaller than any lion, maybe he could... knock it out? Time to find out. With a quick sprint he closed the gap between him and the cat, he lifted his arm into the air. Preparing to knock the cat out with it. The cat's ears flicked up, but before it could turn to see what was running at it. Charles' hand connected with the back of the cat's skull. And a blinding white light shot out and blinded his good eye. Somehow, the crystal one was still okay. And he wished it wasn't. This was all so wrong.

Not even in the blink of an eye, the cat's skull ruptured. Followed by the body, and the rest of it. Somehow, the cat blew up, and cooked before he could put his arm down. With his mouth agape he looked at the carnage. Bone? Not even one. Probably powdered what was remaining. It was just meat, steaming, delicious meat. With a quick motion, Charles dropped to his knees and gave a cry of anguish before digging his fingers into the flesh. Shoveling hand-full after hand-full into his mouth. He didn't care if it was safe, he didn't care if he scooped up any dirt, he needed to eat. And eat he did. After finishing the pile of steamed meat he looked back up, only to meet a pair of scared eyes. He blinked and looked at what those eyes were attached to. A small butter yellow pony, with a pink mane.

"Nice... whatever you are," it whispered to him.

"The fuck are you?" he whispered right back, giving a small moist belch along with his question. With a wide eye he watched the pony hit the ground. Only to reveal a wing. A pegasus? It was at this moment, Charles felt his world begin to spin. Looking down at the meat, he stared at his blood soaked hands one more time before blacking out. Leaving neither of them awake, surrounded by the trees of the Everfree.