Trees rushing by me, grass giving way to my advances, and the wind howling as I race ahead. Freedom of new life is what has been granted to me. Stopping as I reach a ledge I take in the view that lies before me. Forest as far as the eye can see and I've claimed it as my home. After all, who could challenge the might of a god?
Due to a series of events I've now shed my old life and became anew in what I assume is an unspoiled land. As for my reincarnation, I have become Xbalanque the Hidden Jaguar Sun. Taking another deep breathe of fresh air I spy lights in the far distance. Granted I've only been in this new land for a few days and there is much left to explore, but I still found it curious that others may be here.
Even more curious was the fact that the settlement was under a thick thunderstorm. I chuckle as I think to myself how it reminded me of those cheesy ‘cursed or haunted’ locations in several cartoons I've watched before. Nevertheless I decided to explore the settlement. Though that would have to wait for later. The weak pulses of energy that are emitting from the forest still call me.
In truth, I was not the only one to be brought here. My friends as well are now in this world, and knowing a few of them they would need the help. As I run back into the sea of trees I follow the pulsing energy. No doubt from how it feels it will be closer than the rest. A thunderous roar accompanied by a hissing fit of pleading assured it. While I closed in I jumped flipping in the air blessing my bolo.
The roar sounded again, much closer than before. With just a patch of brush between me and the source I charged in with my own roar that rivaled any jaguar. “You're all mine!” I cried as I see before me a pack of manticores.
“About time you showed up!” A very angry looking behemoth growled at me. Behind him was a slightly quivering winged serpent who would occasionally blast strong balls of gale wind.
“Hurry up, I don't know how much I can keep this up!” The serpent hissed in a frightened tone.
Needing no more reason I flinged my bolo to the closest manticore next to the behemoth. As soon as it made contact smashing the side of its head, another bolo branched out colliding into another that was close to the primary target. Now with a third god in the fray the pack of nine was a bit more manageable.
“Rah! Now face the might of Cabrakan!” The enraged behemoth roared as he brought up his keepsake shields and crushed the manticore’s head into paste. Now, no longer surprised by a third the manticores charged in attempting to overwhelm with their numbers.
With each swipe of their claws and sting of their tails Cabrakan grew more furious and powerful. “Go! Away!” He slammed both fists into the ground knocking the pack away. However, they came back charging in determined to kill. Even my bolos weren't affecting them to the point I thought it would.
“Damn!” I growled. “We still must be underpowered! Kukulkan, we need your help here!” The serpent trembled as he barely kept himself afloat while forcing out weak blasts of gale wind.
“Something stronger would be appreciated!” Shouted Cabrakan as he punched a manticore across the face when it lunged to him. The pack now had pushed us back against a wall. With no way out they kept their distance as they toyed with us.
Kukulkan shivered as the fear of being a meal was becoming more of a realization. “I'm sorry, but I can't. My wings keep trying to stiffen up.” He whimpered. Stopping from flinging bolos at the pack I stood in front of him and looked deep into his eyes.
“We need you man, you can drive them off with your winds. Now push that lane.” I nodded to him as Cabrakan shouted for me to help out. Kukulkan took a deep breath, his wings still stiffened with fear but with a mighty flap a tornado had formed in front of our eyes.
The pack that had toyed with us was swept into the whirlwind and were knocked about into tree, rock, and ground before it dissipated and left them badly wounded. Needing no other reason to flee the pack ran deep into the forest with the sounds of whimpers.
A wash of relief came over us as we let ourselves fall back and laugh at our encounter. “Bwa ha ha, now that was a fight! Though it was too close for my comfort.” Cabrakan chuckled out. Kukulkan though had coiled himself up in a defensive position to comfort himself. I just sighed as I was relieved to find two of my friends safe and sound.
After a few minutes of rest we get back up. “So what now?” Kukulkan asked as the shock passed.
“We find our other friends.” I reply as I climb up a tree for a better view. “And my guess is that they'll be in those far off ruins.”
“What makes you so sure about that?”
“Well if you focus hard enough, you can feel each other's energy.” Dropping down off the tree I patted Cabrakan on his shoulder and pointed to the direction of the ruins. “Ready big guy?” I smiled.
He pounded his fist into the palm of his hand with a grin. Kukulkan merely nodded as he wasn't too anxious to run into more creatures.
“Well then, let's be off!”
Elsewhere in the sea of trees near the ruins of a long forgotten castle stood three figures. Before them a hydra of immense size. With a smirk the lead figure readied his axe. Electricity sparking from both weapon and eyes he takes a step forward. "Guys new plan," To his right was a frail looking being. His eyes shining blood red as he perched on his staff, head twisted dementedly towards his side. The god of decay, Ah Puch eager to drag his first victim to the underworld. On the left hovered the third. Ah Muzen Cab, the god of bees cocked his oversized stinger located on his left arm as a swarm of his 'friends' emerged from his body. "Time to Chaac and awe!" The god of rain shouted out as he charged forward followed by his two allies.
The hydra confused by the bravado of the three beings in front of it quickly lumbered forward. It's three heads lunging forward in an attempt to snatch up a foolish meal. Instead however, what it received was a swarm of angry bees to the face followed by an axe swing cutting in deeply. Roaring in pain the middle head pulled back shaking itself of the attack. The other two then tried their luck unaware of two corpses that had appeared right below them.
“Die for your master!” Ah Puch demanded in a joyful glee. The two corpses overloaded with dark energy and with a sickening splat exploded. Bone and dark energy tore into the heads causing them as well to reel back in pain. Sensing that this is a lost cause the hydra attempted to flee. The three gods though we're not quite done, Chaac tossed his axe into the back of the fleeing hydra causing a bolt of lightning to strike where he hit.
Ah Muzen Cab buzzed by in front and slathered the area with sticky sweet honey causing the hydra to slow down. As if to add insult to injury another swarm began to assault the hydra. Surround by the front and back the lumbering beast lashed out in desperation to rid itself of the three beings. Blindly snapping at the general location of them the hydra had succeeded to now hold them in its maw, or so it thought. As the bees dissipated its vision became clear and it saw the three gods laughing. In its three mouths were corpses courtesy of Ah Puch.
With a wave of his hand he whispered one word. “Kaboom.” All three heads exploded in a gory mess of bone and flesh. The now headless hydra collapsed to the ground and Ah Puch merrily skipped to the corpse. With child filled glee he inspected the body before summoning more of his undead servants to drag it into the underworld.
“Now that was fun, but I need a rest.” The god of rain said as he rolled his shoulders.
Ah Muzen Cab flew up over the trees and spotted what seemed like a good shelter. “Why not in that spooky looking ruins?”
“Spooky? Mine kind of place! Let's go!” Wasting no time, Ah Puch jumped on top of Chaac’s shoulders and ordered him to hurry. With a chuckle Chaac followed Ah Muzen Cab to the ruins.
Unbeknownst to them, their quarrel did not go unknown. Above Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was looking out the window of her cloud home above. She was busy admiring the work that was the storm knowing it will provide much needed water to the plants below. While she did so, a bolt of lightning beyond in the Everfree caught her attention. Normally this would not pique her curiosity in anyway, but this bolt was strange.
Firstly no clouds were present to cause this, and secondly the way the bolt was shaped. It seemed off to her. Deciding that this would probably count as something to let Twilight know, Rainbow made her descent down to Ponyville.
