Author's Note

I hope you are all enjoying this fic, and once again, please yell at me if I mess anything up grammar wise. Thank ya and see you next time! (Hopefully in a couple of days)

Hidden Escort

Peeking through the library's window I see Twilight looking through a book seemingly about cures. I sigh, watching them all freak out in earnest. I then watch Rarity very realistically throw a fit about her new hairdo, surpassing all known fits before. I smile a bit at her acting, and then realize that it's probably not all just acting. After Spike adequately names all of them according to their 'curses' and Applebloom leaving to help with their issues. Finally, when the search for the missing Applejack is over and they decide to leave as well, I follow them from a large distance away.

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Well, as far as I remember nothing particularly amazing happens in that episode.. Sure is taking longer than it though. It's been almost thirty minutes and all that's happened is 'Hairity' tripping multiple times and 'Appletiny' crashing into tree's while riding 'Rainbow Crash'. Kinda boring, but hey, I have to make sure the show goes on like it did before.

As if life at that moment decided to jinx me, a thorny, Venus Flytrap looking plant moved towards them from the brush, I instantly lock onto it and watch it's movements. It moves slowly and opens it mouth as they get closer. This makes me reach out and telekinetically wrap it up with it's own vines, and move it away from the group. A few more plants that looked similar tried the same over the next ten minutes but were easily pushed away or blocked by small walls I made.

What a coincidence that all of these plants showed up now... Good thing these barely took any magical power or else I might have more issues than just plants.

After a few more minutes of going forward, I hear a rustle near me. I peek from behind the tree and notice something that was never hinted to be around during this episode. I stare in surprise and horror as the large creature walks through the path they just walked through and turn towards them as they are a distance away. It begins to growl, and the smell of it's saliva permeates the air in a small area around it.

A FUCKING MANTICORE!?!? What is this shit!?! That wasn't shown at all... It doesn't matter, I need to stop it!!

I step towards it and realize how much bigger than me it is. I hesitate as it moves into a pouncing position. I can feel every nerve in my body telling me to do nothing. To run away and live again another day. A stronger feeling rises through my body, one that I never thought would enter my mind or body. The feeling to help those I care about and protect them from harm, no matter what. I push my body and mind forward and start create and earth dome around the manticore. I feel quite a bit of magic drain from my body and a bead of sweat fall down my face. The manticore understandably tenses up immediately, scared of the earth that is about to encircle him. It gains the courage it needs and swipes at the earth, destroying a bit of the almost complete dome with ease. Noticing this, it jumps through the small hole it made. I look at this situation in disappointment and then past it, noticing that they are farther away now.

I just need it to not focus on them. As long as it doesn't interrupt them, it'll work out like the episode did!

I throw a rock with a bit of magical power behind it at the manticore, which proceeds to hit it's side and a yelp resounds from it's mouth. It looks towards me instantly with piercing eyes and starts sprinting towards me. I feel my eyes open wide in terror and fling myself backwards with a small push of telekinesis. I feel my body jerk in the air and get forced about ten feet away and use telekinesis to make sure I land on my feet, the manticore seemly looking at me with a bit more concern.

Yeah, I'd be concerned too.. God that felt weird, glad I didn't fuck it up and hit my head and end up dying horribly.

I look at what seems to be a him, judging by the dangling bit between his legs, and get another rock ready. The manticore begins to chase me and I start throwing rocks at him lightly while using telekinesis to move my body backwards, this time by just floating backwards.

Just follow me.. I won't hurt you, at least won't try to.. I hope these rocks aren't hurting it, I am throwing them pretty gently with my magic.

After a couple seconds of this, it stops and I stop with it.

What are you up to?....

It turns around and starts sprinting away at an amazing pace, back towards the girls.

NO! You're not getting away!!

I reach out with my magic and pull on his back left leg, holding it in place. This causes a momentum problem for the manticore and I watch as his body flies forward while his leg doesn't. A snap sounds throughout the forest as well as a roar of pain. I wince at my mistake and hurry to him. The leg is indeed snapped in half, bent in an unnatural way. The manticore continues to whine at his pain and wriggle around. I sigh and raise my hand.

Maybe I can do It again... Like with Thunderlane...

I focus on healing his leg and I see small strands of sand rise from the ground and wrap around it. I smile at what is happening as the manticore seems to be scared and swipes at me, missing completely.

Jeez, can't you feel it getting better? I don't even know how I'm doing this really. Hopefully the 'magic of friendship' can fix your leg.

After a small while the sand stream stops and the manticore gets up, and seems to test it's leg before looking at me.

"You know, it isn't nice to throw rocks at strangers." the manticore says in a deep and gruff voice before laying back down and licking it's paws.

I stare at him with my jaw slightly open and groan. I immediately stop my magic and slump against a nearby tree.

"If you could talk, you probably should have. I don't know of many manticores that can." I say while glaring at him.

"Well that's because I'm not a manticore, dimwit", it says with a bit of attitude.

I watch a deep green, almost sickly aura, envelop him completely and shrink down to a small pony's size. His skin, or more accurately put, carapace is a deep green color that almost seems black. A changeling stands before me, shaking his back left leg in the air and nodding approvingly.

"You did really well at healing for a novice. I've been watching you and those six for a while now, but seeing as I can't beat you I might as well stop trying. I am a mercenary after all, nothing matters but my payment. Good thing I received it in advance eh?" the changeling says with a smile that made my back shiver.

Well, this is going quite calmly.. Strange, but I suppose solo Changelings aren't as barbaric or at least not as desperate. I suppose Chrysalis and her nest really do have problems.

I notice that it was the fancy shoulder pads that some of the seemingly higher up changelings had in the show itself. It also looks a bit taller than the ponies do.

I wonder if this one is something important or perhaps just is well known. Wait was he a manticore because he wanted to...

"So why a manticore? What, you like getting dirty with the animals?" I say with a smirk.

It raises it's head up and looks towards me in an instant. "No of course not! Lust can be used as food but I'm not THAT desperate! Dear god, you'd have to be obsessed with the taste of lust to want that! Though, I do know of some of us that would, specifically one by the name of Dopple... But no! I would never!" it says with disgust and horror in it's voice.

"It was a joke.. Beings in this place really are oblivious huh?" I say while walking towards the group to make sure they are safe.

Annoyingly enough the Changeling decided to start following me. I then attempt, multiple times, to 'shoo' it away. The Changeling decided to keep following me, shrugging off or just ignoring my attempts. I stop and groan again, turning towards it.

"What do you want?" I say with a stern tone.

"Oh nothing, just wanted to come with you and join your adventures!" it says with a happy tone.

My god, I checked if this was a crappy fanfic right?

"How about no. I'm not going on any adventures and I'm surely not going to take you with me if I do. After all I don't even know what your name is, or ANYTHING about you!" I say with as much of an angry tone I can make without making too much noise.

The changeling simply smiles and gets really close to my face. "Because I'm a changeling which is useful, and I won't betray you. I promise you that. Though I will need my payment in advance!"

Great. This will go well, right?

"Oh yeah, my name is Xirandine" Xirandine says with enthusiasm, striking a proud pose.

Nice, I have a pompous mosquito now.