On the Hunt

As I pass by a castle that the years haven't been kind to, another wind blows through the forest, bringing with it an even stronger scent of the girl. I'm getting closer and closer to her. Soon I'll have her safe back at Chuck's mansion. Well, safer than she would be anywhere else.

There's a lot of dangers in this forest, though. Far more dangerous creatures than any other forest that I've been in during my stay here. There's always at least one pair of eyes that stare at me from just beyond the darkness, and the other scents within the place keep me on my guard. I don't know what kind of creatures await me in here, but I know for a fact that I'm not making it out of this forest without tearing my claws through at least one beast. But no matter how dangerous they are, I'm still the deadliest being in this forest. And maybe the whole world.

A roar that shakes the forest floor gets my attention. I turn around to see a massive lion-like creature glaring at me, fangs glistening in the darkness. I also spy a scorpion tail and bat wings on the thing. It also seems to have suffered a head injury, if the dried blood in its mane is any indication.

"Back off, bub. You don't want this fight. Because it'll be yer last," I inform it in a deadly whisper. The creature ignores my warning and lunges at me, claws extended. I show it the same favor by extending my claws and letting out a roar of my own. The two of us collide with such force that I feel the forest shake beneath our impact. The creature slashes at me with claws that could probably cleave a tree in two. That's cute.

I bring up one of my arms and slice clean through the being's arm with a single strike. It bellows with pain as its limb falls to the forest floor. I figure that with a wound like that it will back off, so I snarl at it once more before I turn to continue on my way. My kindness is rewarded when something sharp stabs into my back. I bellow in pain as I spin around and slice though whatever attacked me. My claws slice off the creature's tail, which it apparently had used to stab me in the back.

Even as the tail falls to the floor next to the arm, I know that I'm not done suffering just yet. That tail had poison in it and I can feel the toxin coursing through my veins. I know that the poison won't kill me, that my healing factor will eventually get rid of it, but for the next couple of minutes I'm going to be going through hell. I scream in pain as my veins burn with agony, my vision starting to go red as the poison works its way through my body.

The beast senses my weakness and lunges at me with its good arm, trying to strike me down while it believes I can't defend myself. But little does this damn thing know that I'm not helpless when I'm not in control. I'm even more dangerous.

My rage takes hold and I bellow with fury as I swing towards the creature, driving my fist right through the bottom of its jaw. My claws slice clean up into the creature's brain, killing it dead with a single blow. I'm not done with it yet. Not by a longshot.

I roar at it before hurling the dead body to the ground, where I start to stab at it repeatedly with my claws. Blood sprays my costume as I unleash my fury, but I'm barely aware enough to notice that. I know that the creature is long since dead, but I don't give a damn. All I want right now is to let loose.

I drive my claws into the corpse one last time before I tear its head from its body, sending the lion head sailing into a trunk. As the head rolls to the ground I stand in place breathing heavily, trying to get control of myself while the poison's burn starts to fade. Then I hear another set of snarls and I turn to see numerous wolf-looking creatures slink out of the shadows, their bark-like skin making it look as if they had emerged from the trees.

The six of them snarl at me as they start to encircle me. I know what they want. They've come to take the beast that I just killed away from me. They think that I killed it to eat it and now they want to steal my prey from me. My kill. I roar in reply as I crouch down and tuck my arms in, glaring at each of the wolves. I have no reason to fight them, but I don't need a reason. They want to fight? Then I'll fight.

"Come on!" I roar as I charge into the first wolf, catching it off guard by my ferocity and giving me the chance to slash my claws at its neck. The bark armor that protects it is barely able to resist my claws and a moment later that wolf's head is rolling around the forest floor. I turn on my heels and tackle the next wolf to the ground, where it manages to snarl at me once before I punch a hole in its forehead.

The other wolves realize that they have to kill me quick and a moment later I feel one of their sets of teeth sink into my shoulder. I roar as I reach up with my right arm and plunge my claws through its face, slicing its jaw clean off as it falls over.

The next two attack as a pair and rush me from each side. It doesn't work. I drive my foot into the face of one of the wolves before spinning around and cleaving my other attacker in two with an X slash. It falls to splinters while I turn and slam my fist down through the other's head. The lights go out in that wolf's eyes, leaving only one left. I slowly lift my head towards the final wolf, my eyes blazing with rage and hate. The creature lets out a whimper before it turns and runs for its life.

"Like hell you'll get away!" I scream as I start to chase after it...before I realize what I'm doing and force myself to stop. I'm letting the animal inside of me take over again. I'm letting the berserker win. I snarl as I clench my fists and force myself back into control, suppressing my anger with all of my will. After a moment I feel the rage subside, but I can still feel it beneath the skin. Just waiting for another chance to come out.

"I've got to be careful," I mutter to myself as I turn and head back in the right direction. Ever since I arrived here I've been nothing but angry. And the events that have led up to this point have only made me angrier. I've got to get ahold of myself. If I don't, then I'm more of a danger to the girl than a help. And I've done plenty of terrible things while in the berserker rage. Would I kill a child though? Risk I don't want to take.

After my outburst, the creatures of the forest have all seemed to agree that pissing me off is a bad idea. Because while I trek through the forest, not once do I see another set of eyes or hear a snarl. Hell, even the birds sit like stone statues when I approach. Seems that I've really made a first impression on them, haven't I?

"Chuck, I don't know if you can hear me, but it's almost time to put that portal of Beast's into action," I say to no one, but I know that some one is listening. "I've almost got the girl, but I have a feeling that it's not going to be easy. Might be a little hectic coming back to Earth. But don't worry, I promise that you'll never have to worry about her falling into evil's hands."

"No matter what I have to do."

||X||

"We can no longer be a family," I say in the most neutral tone I can make, refusing to look at the human girl.

"Bon, don't be like that," Lyra tries to say to me, but I hold up a hoof to silence her.

"She doesn't like the sour drops, Lyra. Those are literally the greatest thing that Sugarcube corners has ever created," I remind Lyra as I turn my gaze to the human, who is spitting out the candy all over the floor. It literally hurts me to see such a divine dish be wasted so casually. "How can she not like them? Ponies came from all across Equestria to try them when they were first introduced. Even Celestia said that they were the best candy she had ever had. How?"

"Well, maybe humans like different things than us," Lyra suggests with a glare that informs me that I'm starting to annoy her. I feel a tugging at my mane and I look down to see that Imp is offering the rest of the candy to me, a large, albeit slightly puckered, smile on her face. "And it seems that even if she doesn't like them, she's still kind enough to share with somepony who does."

I can't help but smile at the girl as I reach into the box and pull out a few drops, which I toss into my mouth all at once. Good Faust are they sour. I then pull Imp into a hug that gets a laugh out of her. "Alright ya little imp, you've won me back over. We can still be a family."

"Seriously Bon?"

"Don't worry, Lyra. I was just joking around before," I say with a laugh. The three of us then leave the corner and head to the edge of town, where we wanted to take Imp to see Fluttershy's cottage. Though with the way the clouds are flashing overhead, we might soon have to make a run for cover. "So as long as we keep her away from the more poisonous of Shy's creatures, then she should be alright to play with-"

"Hey Bon...what is that?" I turn my head to where Lyra is looking to see something walking out of the forest in our direction.

Have you ever felt your heart turn to ice? Feel every emotion vanish except for the most powerful of terrors that grips at your very soul? Because as I lay my eyes upon the creature that walks towards us, that is all I can feel within the very depths of my being. The creature walks on two legs, is covered in a yellow, blue and red soaked outfit and has a look on his face that will haunt me in my dreams. But where my eyes are drawn most, are to its eyes--the two eyes that are a crimson red.

"Lyra...take Imp and run," I manage to say despite the fear.

"What? Why..." She knows. She just realized what is walking towards us. Behind me I hear Imp let out a whimper and I know that she has realized it to. In a blur of motion I take the saddle off of Lyra's back and attach it to mine, wrapping it tight as if it grips on me for dear life.

"Lyra, you have to take her and run!" I say again, unable to keep the fear out of my voice. I know she's about to argue, to tell me that I can't fight it alone. So I have to beat her the way she beat me. "Lyra, he's here for Imp. And considering how many he's killed to get to her, we can't allow her to fall into his hands. If you love her the way I love her...then you'll run and let me handle this."

I don't turn around to see if she runs. I'm afraid that if I take my eyes off of this guy I'll be dead before I can turn back around. But then I hear the sounds of hooves racing away from me and I allow myself to let out a small sigh. I've given them a chance to escape. But now I'm here. Facing this thing alone.

I don't know how it's here. I don't know if it simply avoiding Luna and the others or if all of them are dead. From the amount of blood covering its costume I fear the latter. And despite all that I've been through...I'm afraid. I'm terrified. If this thing sliced its way through not only Luna, but the Guardians of Harmony and my team, then it's on a level that we could never had prepared for. And I know I can't beat it.

For a brief moment I feel anger replace the fear, anger at myself for being so afraid. I've fought the worst creatures that Equestria has had to offer, survived battles that claimed dozens of teammates that were just as skilled as me. I've never technically been beaten by a monster or creature in combat before. But I fear that streak will end today.

But with all of my effort I force the fears back down, thinking of what will happen if this monster gets by me. Not only would Lyra and Imp be in mortal danger, but all of Ponyville might be destroyed. And whether or not Luna and her team is dead, right now...I am Ponyville's only defense. I am their only defense.

The creature finally reaches me, coming to a stop a good twenty feet away from me. Its eyes narrow and I know that it recognizes me from our previous battle. My eyes narrow in response and my body tenses, waiting for it to make the first move. But then the beast sniffs the air and turns his head to where Lyra and Imp ran to, before it starts to walk after them. I swallow my fears before placing myself between the creature and its destination, getting it to stop as its eyes narrow.

It then points to the side, telling me to get out of its way. I shake my head and plant my hooves into the ground. I make it clear that I'm not going to move. The creature then draws its finger across its neck and points to me. I spit to the side. Then it smiles at me, seemingly impressed with my response. And now it knows that I won't be moved.

SNIKT. SNIKT.

I don't move a muscle as the claws emerge from within the creature's arms, despite knowing full well what they can do. I can't allow myself to be afraid. For the mare that has been there for me when nopony else was...for the girl that I never thought I could come to love...I have to kill him. I have to stop him here. I have to protect my family

"I'll give you one chance to give up," I say to the creature. I point to him and then to the ground. His answer is to stick a single finger up before letting out a roar and racing towards me. "I thought that would be your answer." I then scream with as much courage as I can and race towards him as well, the both of us knowing that only one would survive this battle.