Is all Hope Lost?

Another long walk through the Savanna, Spike, Discord, and Zecora went to search for the Kudu tribe that could help them all out to their cause against Roseblood. The sun was slowly starting to get to them, for it was really warm out in the grasslands. All three of them were starting to sweat from the scorching heat waving around them.

"Sweet Celestia." said Spike. "it's so hot out here. Can't we find some place to rest for a while?"

"Yes, I don't know how long I can keep this up if we don't find any water to drink." Discord belly-ached. Then he looked around for any shade, and he just saw a couple of isolated trees.

Zecora herself was getting a little exhausted from the long walking herself, then she said "Perhaps we have a break made, for I think it would be a good idea to find shade." Looking around for a good spot to rest in for at least half an hour, Spike suddenly had a thought.

"Wait a minute." he said. The other two stopped and immediately looked back at the baby dragon. "Discord, you can conjure up anything with your magic, right?"

"I can." Discord replied. He even had a raised eyebrow over one eye in confusion. "Why do you ask, my dear boy?"

"Because I have an idea." the baby dragon remarked. "Why not conjure a gigantic block of ice to cool us off? That can save us the trouble from walking a long distance."

Discord and Zecora looked at one another for a moment about Spike's suggestion. "Well, that is a rather good idea." said Zecora. "Perhaps that could be useful to us, my dear." and she looked at the tall Drancequus. "Let's see if this works, for I feel the scorching heat is getting much worse."

"You got it, mes amours." and with a snap of his finger, he poofed up a gigantic block of clear, blue ice shining under the bright sun. They pressed their skin against the big block of ice, and they felt instantly relaxed and cooled off by it. What's even better, they felt cold drops from the melting ice block on their bodies, dripping and dripping continuously.

"Ooh, this is much better." said Discord. "This is a brilliant idea." He suddenly poofed himself on top of the iceberg and conjured a mat and umbrella like somepony bathing under the sun in the beach. He even pulled out a pair of sunglasses out of nowhere as if he had a pocket in his skin. "This looks like a perfect way to unwind."

"You said it." Spike agreed with him. "We should have did the same thing in that heat wave that struck Ponyville last summer. Then he put his arms behind his back in relaxation.

"Ah, Spike, this was definitely a great thing you had in mind, this seems like a perfect opportunity to unwind." said Zecora. "But do not forget, we are on a very important mission. Roseblood might be planning something terrible, a plot so horrible, that we cannot possibly miss it."

"We know. But still, it's a little hot out here. Is there a heatwave going on in Zebrica right now?" Spike asked

"That I cannot tell, there are other places in the world where heat can make it look like a real Hell." Zecora replied.

"She is not wrong about that, Spike my boy. I have been to Death Desert south of Appleoosa, and it is a scorcher over in that part of Equestria, even in winter it is a death trap from mother nature. Don't ever go there."

"Heh, I'll take your word for it." Spike said with a chuckle.

They all sat in front of the ice block for another good ten minutes, and decided to get back up from the ground, and move on to look for the kudu tribe. For good measure, They all decided to take the big block of ice with them, being carried by Discord’s magic.

It was as all of a sudden, there was a rustling noise in the tall grass. Zecora saw a silhouette, a rather large one moving swiftly. They weren’t alone, for they were being watched by somepony, or something.

“Shh. We are not alone.” Said Zecora in a miser quieter voice. “Best keep your head low.”

“You mean... like a monster?” Spike Asked

“I do not know, but like I have said before, it is best to keep your head low.”

All three of them kept perfectly still, waiting for something to Pip up at them all from the grass. It was quiet, too quiet, nothing but eh wind rustling through the atmosphere. Discord conjured himself a samurai armor with nunchucks in his hands like a ninja would have.

Spike himself did his best to try and be brave, and try and fight back whatever this creature or monster was. “Who’s there?” He shouted. “Come is hot of the grass so we can see you!”

There was no response, which made it all the more eerie. After waiting three long minutes, something big leaped out of the tall grass. It was gigantic, tiger than Spike and Zecora together.

This monster was absolutely terrifying. It had long claws on all four paws while standing on all fours like scimitars. It’s teeth were as sharp as daggers, and looked like they could kill and crush anything it can munch on. This behemoth looked like a cross between a bear and a spotted hyena, except it had a much more broader head and only one eyes which was probably it’s most distinguishing feature.

Zecora was absolutely horrified to see what this monster was. “No.” She said. “It... it can’t be.”

“What’s the matter?” Asked Spike

“This monster is the Nandi Bear, something I did not believe existed at all. I never imagined it to look this strong and tall.”

“Nandi Bear?” Asked Discord. “You know about it?”

“I have read about this abomination in a book. I never would have believed that in the flesh, the beast would have a more fearsome look.”

This creature made a loud, blood-curdling roar at them, like a combination of a bear and a mountain lion. Spike gulped, and felt scared by this monster in an instant. “Is it evil?”

“Yes, the Nandi Bear creates such a disastrous mess.”

“What do you mean by that?” Asked Discord.

“This monster is known to eat brains of his victims.”

“Like a zombie?”

“In a degree, yes.” Said Zecora. “But do not worry, it is three against this evil creature.”

“Right, That shouldn’t be a.....” Discord paused for a moment and looked at her. “Wait, you didn’t rhyme this time.”

“I like saying rhymes, but you must understand that I don’t use them all the time.” Zecora remarked. “I can talk like anypony else if I want to.”

“Guys, I would hate to break up this conversation, but I want to keep my brain!” All of a sudden the Nandi Bear charged at the three, but Zecora grabbed hold of Spike and dodged at one direction, and Discord the other.

The beast growled in anger, making the ground rumble slightly like an earthquake was happening. The next thing it did was swipe his mighty paws in a frenzy at the closest creature next to him, which was Discord. Despite how fast the Bear was, the master of chaos was much faster.

“Ha! You missed me you freak of nature!” Discord taunted. He dodged one strike from the bear that swung to the right by hovering, and another that was trying to swing to the left.

Yes, the master of chaos was practically toying with the monster, making it more and more irritated and fearsome.

Spike was panicking and didn’t know what to do to stop this monster from attacking tirelessly. Despite this, Spike found a rusty spear head, and decided to use it in case the monster would charge at him.

The Bear then turned it’s attention to Zecora, who was throwing rocks at his skin. “Come and get me you horrid abomination!” She shouted to it.

Just like that, the Bear charged at Zecora, but she dodged at the last second, and kicked it in the face. Now the monster was even more angry than before, and suddenly swatted her away with his mighty paw.

“Zecora!” Spike shouted. He was about to go to his aid, but then he froze when the monster gave him a stare with his one eye. The baby dragon’s heart stopped, and felt like a deer caught in the headlights.

The beast charged at him this time with a loud roar, and Spike was running frantically trying to get away from it. The beast was chasing him tirelessly, for it was fast. Spike looked back and he screamed even louder when he saw the bear closing in on him. It even tried to bite him with his scary rows of teeth and fangs, but with a quick spurt, Spike dodged the bite with a loud snap heard.

Having enough, nd desperately wanting to eat Spike’s brain, the beast decided to jump in a great height and Spike stopped as he saw the monster about to jump him and tackle him to keep him still.

Looking at the sharp spear head, he decided to use it to his advantage. He pointed the spear at the Bear, and it was just then when he felt the I’m ense weight get on him, he heard something piercing a skin.

The Nandi Bear than roared in agony. Spike looked up and saw that the spear head pierced the bear’s chest, very deep in it’s heart, and then, it fell dead with a loud, booming thump.

Spike immediately scooted back away from it, and his two friends went to his aid. “Spike! Are you okay?” Zecora Asked in concern. “Did that monster hurt you?”

“I’m... a little bruised on my tummy, but now, he didn’t claw me” Spike replied

“You managed to kill that evil behemoth?” Discord Said in amazement. “I am rather surprised.”

“Indeed. I honestly don’t know what to say, for you have accomplished a magnificent feat this very day.”

“I... I did?” And he looked at the dead beast again.

“Oh yes. This monster was an evil abomination to Zebrica causing mayhem and havoc.” Zecora Said. “But still, we are so glad you are alright.”

“Thanks, guys. Did that monster hurt you?”

“No, I have suffered far worse pain than claws slipping at me. Of course, there will be more dangers out here that we will probably see.”

“Well, no matter. We gotta find more help.” Spike Said

“Right.” Said Zecora And Discord in unison. The zebra led the way to the Kudu village again, but what they didn’t know was that somepony was watching them.

Six mares approached the dead monster fifteen minutes later and took a look at it. “Are They here?” Asked Pinkie Pie.

Twilight and that evil smile on her face. “They’re here Alright, Pinkie.” She Said wickedly. “Come on, the sooner we follow them, the sooner we can capture Spike and bring them to our Queen.”

“Yes!” The other corrupted elements of harmony said in unison. All disc of them went off to the direction where Discord, Zecora, and Spike are heading right now, hot on their tail in the pursuit.