it was fall in ponyville and a pair of young couples where getting prepared for a camping trip, in the white tail woods. Little did they know that it could very well be the last thing they every did together.it was an early saturday morning and the sun just started to show over the horizon.
"Come on. You have to come with us, snails it's gonna be fun."
Snails shook his head, "Diamond tiara needs me to meet her dad. She want's me to act, 'proper' or something" He turned and walked away from snips.
another colt walked up behind snips."Is he not coming with us?"
"I guess not Pipsqueak. You know, we used to do everything together now it's like we hardly see each other."
A gray mare came walking up behind The two ,carring two saddle bags."Are we going or what, Snips? you're wasting valuable sunlight."
"Hey I didn't wanna go camping, Silver spoon." Snips took a bag from Silver spoon and strapped it on."Hey, wheres Twist? isn't she supposed to be coming with us, Pipsqueak?"
Pipsqueak turned and stared off down the road he barley made out his ,Red maned, marefriend."Here she comes now."
She trotted up to Pipsqueak and kissed his check "I told you I'd be here." She then took the other bag from Silver spoon, "Is everypony set to go?"
Everyone nodded except Snips "Wait!" he disappeared inside his house, coming back out with several tiki torches."I almost forgot Silver spoon was scared of the dark."
"What? You're the one who called me over in the middle of the night, saying you where scared."
Snips leaned over to Pipsqueak, "Told you it really happened "
"Oh, whatever Snips. Just because we slept together that one time, doesn't mean that we 'Slept together.'"
Twist giggled ,"technically you slept together."
Silver spoon sat down in the dirt, "We don't have to go.Frankly I don't even care anymore."
Everyone sighed."Fine. Lets just get going we're losing sunlight ." Snips said lending a hoof to help Silver spoon up.
They started to walk toward the woods.It was mid morning by the time they arrived at the lakeside campsite. there was a cabin made for campers with a reservation Silver spoon, had one. outside the cabin was a sign that read 'Strictly No Fire.' but it was obscured by the weather marks and and leaves.it wen't unnoticed, as Twist ran up to the lake.
"This is nice isn't it guys just the four of us, at a lake and all the peace that Equestria has to offer, isn't it just splendid?" Twist opened her arms as if to hug the sky, breathing the fresh lake air.
"You know just what to say Twist." Pipsqueak added, coping her motions.
"Are you two going to help make a campfire? or do we have to do it ourselves." Snips used his magic to collect a bunch of rocks to make a circle in the grass.
"No. It's the colts job to make the fire.So you and Pipsqueak are going to do it. While me and Twist check out the cabin."
Pipsqueak walked up beside Snips ,"we could do that, shouldn't be that hard."
"Pipsqueak,"Snips said in a whiny voice."You're supposed to argue you can't just agree."
"Why would I argue ? Shes right it's a mans job to make fire." Pipsqueak pounded his chest,"And I'm a man."
"Suck up." Snips muttered as they went to go collect Fire wood.
They walked in the forest only picking up dry sticks and giant leaves. the sun was now directly above them burning intensely. the two ponies backs burned and was probably change colors by the time they finished collecting enough wood.
"Why is it so hard to find wood in a forest, of all places. It's not like it rained recently, not even a drizzle." Snips complained .
"Maybe it get's cold at night making the moisture stuck up in the trees freze and melt onto the ground in the morning."
"I wish snails was here.I hate being the dumb one in the group." Snips saw a thick dry log and grabbed it with his magic,it fell.
their was a loud whine, like a hurt animal."What was that?"
They stared at the spot where the log landed, nothing happened. they shrugged and Snips moved the log "See nothing." he let go of the log and it suddenly hurled itself at them. They dove out of the way as it split the tree behind them.
"That doesn't look like nothing, Snips." Pipsqueak said .
"Oh, be quite. I just lost focus."
Pipsqueak backed up uneasily."I don't know Snips it's just that, I've heard stories about this forest and how ponies disappear here."
"Oh toughen up Pipsqueak your letting a bunch of fairy tails get to you." Snips picked the log up ,"Come on I can just cut this up and we'll have enough wood."
They walked away but, Pipsqueak couldn't help his feeling of unease, and turned back.There was a giant horse like creature walking on it's hind legs. A look of anger washed over it's face as it vanished into thin air.
"Did you see that snips?"
Snips turned around."oh you're just imaging things."
when the two turned around there it was again.It roared angrily into snips face, he dropped the log."Sorry.Didn't see you there, did you see him Pip?"
He turned and Pipsqueak was already running away,Putting a fake smile on his face, Snips also ran off.It roared one more time before crouching back down by the tree, that he had been sleeping under when Snips hit him by mistake.
//////////////
Back at the cabin.
Twist and Silver spoon were preparing dinner for their coltfriends. With their combined cooking skills, it was an easy task. Silver spoons talent being fine dining along with Twist knowledge on sweets they could easily prepare a a meal to suit a canterlot, wedding. it had been a hour since the boys set out to get firewood, it was just past noon.
The cabin itself was a just a well managed kitchenette complete with a pullout sofa, TV, oven and fridge. The cabnits and coffee table were all made off wood, from the forest.
"They've been gone a long time,Silver spoon." Twist said worried,"Should we go look for them?"
"Neh. they're fine especially since they're both cowards,Cowards survive all the time. They would run strait back here at the first sign of trouble you know, if there is any."
The rapid pounding of hooves accompanied the door to the cabin slamming open.Pipsqueak stood in the doorway, panicked.he stared a the girls for a moment, then started shuting the curtains."We ran into something," the last curtain shut magically and then they turned to see, Snips.
"Pipsqueak you left me with that thing.What the Hay." complained, Snips."How could you do that."
"You mad? It seemed to only be mad at you, so I don't see what the big deal is." Pipsqueak couldn't hold the slow building laugh."Twist" he said, laughing now."You should have seen it, this giant horse thing walked up to Snips and Roared.It wasn't even a neigh, it roared. So what do ?, I bolted leaving Snips in the dust."
Snips had an annoyed look on his face,"You missed the part when I jumped up and kicked him in the face, you should have seen me Spoon."
Silver spoon and twist wore a look of disbelief.Pipsqueak coughed,"No. you were right behind me screaming like a little filly."
"Pipsqueak. you can't bring stuff like that up."
Twist laughed,"So it's true? you scream like a filly?"
"No. of course not."
Silver spoon smiled evilly,"there's one way we could find out, we tickle him."
Snips backed up toward the door. "Well this fire wood isn't going to make itself.Better get started." he was suddenly stopped Pipsqueak blocked the door.
"The fire can wait. I wanna see where this goes."
"Come on Pipsqueak, stop playing. I honestly don't like being tickled"
"Hold him down, Pipsqueak." Silver spoon said advancing on Snips
"Yes, ma'am." he said holding Snips in place.
As she reached Snips, the door open."The queen has arrived." Diamond tiara came in."My parents didn't show up so.."
The scene from her point of veiw was little less of X-rated.
"This isn't what it looks like."Silver spoon said backing away from Snips, Pipsqueak quickly let him go.
"Wow and you think you know a guy." Snails said .Coming up Behind Diamond tiara, with an excessive amount of bags.
"At least I'm not somepony's pet." Snips argued.
"I'm not her pet." Snails replied
"Your kinda like my pet." The pink pony said.
"Okay tiara." Snails said in deafeat.
Diamond tiara clapped her hooves together "So fillies and gentlecolts what have you been up to today?"
"Well, the boys just got back from getting fire wood." Twist told them putting the finishing touches on their dinner."They ran into a monster or something."
"Snips screamed like a little filly, we where going to test it when you guys came in." Silver spoon added.
"I'd like to see that." Tiara said.
Silver spoon nodded,"Okay Pipsqueak hold him down."
"Wait!" snips shouted.He turned and opened the window jumping through."Okay catch me If you can." He started running to the lake.
"I'm not chasing him" Tiara said.
"I better go get him before he get's lost." Silver spoon said walking after Snips.
"You better hurry back, We didn't plan on others coming, Spoon." Twist walked over to the window and shut it back."Anypony hungry?"
//////////////
Silver spoon was at the lake looking for snips, He was lost. The sun had gone most the way down behind the purple horizon.There was a dramatic change in the weather also. It got colder, Started to drizzle. Silver spoon was shaking and still couldn't find Snips.she turned onto a trail the had a set of hooves on it.
"Snips where are you?" she called out,"It's cold, quit fooling around."
There was the loud boom of thunder as rain started pouring down.after the lightning a figure in a tree caught her attention "Snips, is that you?"
It wiggled slightly,"Spoon, is that you?"
Silver spoon ran up to the hanging object, it was Snips. His body had been wrapped tightly with vines and big purple mounds of fur poked through holes in the rope.
"Snips, what happened?" she attempted to untie the vines,"Who did this to you."
"Get out of here. He'll be back soon, I just know it." His voice was quite the blood was going strait to his head. She bit down on on the vines desperately "Just go.Don't worry about me.
The vine snapped from the tree and Snips unraveled. falling on his head."Come on. I'm gonna get you outta here."
"Silver spoon! Snips!" Several voices came from further down the trail."Where'd you guys go?"
"Hold on Snips I'll get help You'll be just fine,I promise. " Silver spoon turned around and ran down the trial where she saw all her friends, excluding Diamond tiara."Somethings happened to Snips, he needs help."
Snails and Pipsqueak quickly took after Silver spoon following her all back to Snips. His bloated body laid on the ground not moving.
"What happened to him?" Pipsqueak asked looking around.
"I don't know he was like this when I got here. Snails, pick him up we need to get back to the cabin."Snips horn glowed and he lifted the Bloated purple pony into the air.They all started running back toward the cabin when, A loud roar sounded from the spot where Snips just was.
"That's the horse thing Snips hit, Silver spoon." Pipsqueak said Turning back to look.
"I thought he hit it by accident."
"He did." Snips could now make out she faint outline of the Monster,"We better move faster." he informed them.
They quickly covered the distance back to the cabin and pulled the bed from under the sofa, laying Snips on it.His usual slick blue fur was bloated and purple.He didn't lose any blood but, he was teetering in and out conscious. As all the mares gathered around him. Snails and Pipsqueak opened the curtain and looked outside. the horse monster stood outside not coming any closer to the cabin. Instead he sat on the ground his knees covered his face but they could still see it's beaming, yellow eyes.
"Hey I got an Idea." Twist said Holding the Torches that Snips Brought along."Think you, can light these Snails?"
He nodded lighting one of them everypony grabbed a torch and touched theirs to the one Snails lit.Pipsqueak opened the door and the monster stood, neighing at the sight of fire.
"Lets get him!" he mumbled through the torch
All the ponies rushed at him and he backed up into the forest. Having vanished behind the tree line Pipsqueak threw his torch into the Forest. The fire quickly slithered up a tree and started to spread around to others, He sat fire to the forest.
Place tell me about any mistakes.
"Ok guys what are we going to do the forest on fire! we're gonna get in trouble, the running of the leaves is just a few fays away." Twist said worried
Pipsqueak took hold of her shoulders,"there's nothing we can do about the fire but We need to get Snips to a hospital."
Silver spoon, sighed."I agree with Pipsqueak we can't just sit and do nothing while Snips is in there dying."
"See. So where on the same page, getting Snips help takes priority over everything else." A loud neigh sounded from inside the burning forest."Okay I don't think that thing is just going to let us leave someone has to lead it away." Looking around he only had one option, himself. They needed snails' magic to carry Snips and his pride wouldn't let him allow a mare to do it."I think I should do it." He said eventually
"But what if something happens to you?" Twist asked with a great amount of concern rising from within."I can't let you go out there by yourself."
"I have to. Don't worry i'm smart If anything happens I'll jump in the lake or something." He walked toward the forest, "Hurry and lets get Snips to Ponyville.If we run into that thing, I'll go run around the lake and catch up with you" He looked at Twist,"I promise"
"Okay.Lets get moving." Silver spoon said heading back into the cabin.
"Are you sure about this, Pip."
"Don't worry about me Twist, I'm not going to let that thing get anywhere near me."
Silver spoon came back out the cabin with Snips laying over her back."Snails can you hurry up and take him?"
Snails nodded."We'll just have to come back for tiara's stuff, once it's safe."
All the ponies made their way into the forest.It was hot and smoke was filling the air andThe sounds of the monster's neighing bouncing was off every tree. They couldn't find where it was.The sounds of it's hooves came running up behind them as they turned a large figure jumped over them.It landed with a powerful thud several hoof steps in front of them.
"Why did you burn down the forest?" Its voice was gruff and loud.he walked closer toward the group and took Pipsqueak in it's hand."Why'd you burn the forest!?"It asked louder.
Snail's swung his torch in front of the moster,"You let Pipsqueak go." and it did but not quickly enough, it's fur caught on fire.
as Pipsqueak landed he Bucked it, in the knee "Catch me if you can." Pipsqueak bolted back in the direction of the cabin and the monster gave chase.Knocking all the other ponies over as it broke past the group.
Silver spoon continued to run,"Come on lets move while Pipsqueak has his attention."
They quickly ran all the way back to Ponyville. The hospital was closed but that didn't stop the ponies from beating on the door.
"What's going on out here, Wheres the guard?" The doctor looked over the group noticing Snips,"Come get him inside, quickly.
"I'm Going back for, Pipsqueak, Tiara." Snails turned and headed back toward the forest.
//////////////
Pipsqueak pressed his back against a tree burning at the top."This was harder than I thought it was going to be." he muttered to himself.The monster was a lot faster than what he thought it was, always giving a close chase.But for now it was over.He lost it when he had jumped over a fallen tree. That didn't mean he stopped hearing it. Several times, he swore it was just toying with him.
"Pipsqueak you there?" a familiar voice said "I came back for you."
Pipsqueak peaked out from behind the tree and saw Twist with a worried expression on her face."Twist what are you doing here?"
She turned toward him."I'm so happy I found you it's safe to come back now. come on, everypony is waiting on you."
Pipsqueak nodded and followed Twist."I told you I'd be fine Twist."
"Oh, where not out of the woods yet,Squeak."
Pipsqueak stopped,"Squeak? since when have you ever called me squeak?"
Twist body began to bulge, "All I wanted was a apology from the fat one." Her head jerked back toward the sky,"But then you all set fire to my forest.It's been a sacred pace for years."
Pipsqueak backed up as Twist mane fell off.Then he ran, Twist had led him to a secluded part of the forest far away from the cabin and the lake.He was lost.The burning trees provided a bright light. Water suddenly fell down on him."Come on We can do this Weather ponies!" He looked up and saw several pegasus carrying massive buckets of water.
"Hey, down here!" Pipsqueak yelled into the air. A green pegasus saw him and flew down
"What are you doing here?" the mare asked.He pointed to Twist, her body now split in half, it was the monster."What happened with her? wait where you with that group of kids, at the hospital?"
Pipsqueak sighed in relief,"Yes.they made it."
"Then we better get you outta here,hop on." The mare spread her wings."Oh. I'm a lot stronger than I look.Don't worry about it."
The monster roared in anger and started running."Okay lets go ." He got on the pegasus back and they flew into the air, narrowly avoiding the beast claws.
The pegasus dumped it's water on a group of trees and continued toward Ponyville. "arn't you lucky we came along, who knows you might have died if I didn't show up."
Pipsqueak was half asleep, his head pressed down into the mare's mane.She landed outside the hospital where quite the amount of ponies had gathered.The recent event with the white tail woods being set on fire and the pony who had a stroke in the forest,had Ponyville up at a early hour. The forest was a good distance away but you could still see smoke and some flame, rising above the trees.
"Pipsqueak!" Twist ran out of the hospital."Where's Snails?"
Pipsqueak lifted his head of the Pegasus, then fell."I thought he was with you guys."
"No. he said he was going back to find you."
The pegasus flew into the air "I'll go see if I can find him for you."
"Okay everypony nothin' to see here, you all go on back home." Applejack said dispersing the crowd."So what exactly happened out there last night,Pipsqueak?"
Pipsqueak shrugged,"Beats the stuffing out of me. A angry horse thing trying to kill us."
"And just what did this horse thing look like?" Twilight asked walking out of the hospital.
"I don't know, tall, bony, walked on two legs,sharp mane.It looked weird, i guess."
Twilight sat and rubbed her head."I think your talking about a tigbalan."She said eventually."But that can't be right there said to be gaurdians of forest. Some like to play pranks but, I don't under stand why one would attack you for no reason, even if it's angry.Did any of you provoke some how ?"
"Um.I don't know for sure but I think Snips my have dropped a log on it's head, But we didn't see it."
"Yep that would do it. But that doesn't explain why it attacked their completely harmless."
"You go out there and tell me it's harmless.That's the scarier than nightmare moon used to be."
"That's what they do Pipsqueak, They scare kids."
"Was that all he did to Snips, Twilight, just scare him?"
"Well no.I can't explain that either.Maybe we should go have a talk with it."
"You go talk with it. I'm staying here where it's safe."
Twilight sighed, "fine.I'll go alone, Snails might be using this time to skip out on my magic class."
Applejack was about to say something but Twilight, teleported.
//////////////
at the Cabin.
"Tiara's gonna be mad if I don't get her stuff." Snails was getting all the pink pony's stuff together.For some reason she unpacked everything and they had hardly been there a day.He gathered all the bags and lifted them.As he headed for the door a figure standing outside the window caught his attention,Twilight was looking in.He walked to the door and opened it.
"What are you doing here, Twilight?"
"Making sure you aren't skipping out on your magic lessons."
"I wouldn't do that.",He lied.
"I'm just here to make sure you don't and to talk to the,tigbalan, that watches this forest."
"What's a tigbalan?"
"That's the horse monster, snails"
Snails backed up away from Twilight. "Oh,How was I supposed to know that?"
Twilight teleported behind Snails"I just assigned a book on mythical creatures on Monday, how could you forget?"
"Sorry. I just didn't get around to reading it yet."
Twilight teleported back to the door,"You better have it read by next Tuesday Snails or I'll tell Filthy rich hes wasting his Bits because you,won't take your lessons seriously."
Twilight turned to the forest, most of the fire had been put out.and she walked off.It didn't take her long to find the tigbalan.It was huddling under a tree but looked up as she walked up to it."Did you come to destroy my forest even more?" it asked it's eyes blazing with anger.
"No. I came to see why your acting the way you are."
It growled."Looking back on it, I may have handled that situation badly and it was wrong on both my and those ponies part."
It stood and towered above Twilight."My father protected this forest and no harm ever came to it. Now, my son watched his home burned and his father fail to protect it.Tell me pony, what type of message does that send to my son? Does it say his father is weak, does it say that he can't protect him or does it say The forest isn't worth protecting?"
"I don't know.I just wanted to make sure the ponies you met will be safe."
It ignored her, staring at the raising sun.he muttered something. then turned to Twilight. "The one who hit me, Snips.The one who burned the forest, Pipsqueak.and the one who burned me, I don't know his name but bring them to me to face judgement."
"What do you mean by face judgement?"
The Forest's guardian sighed."I am the defender of this forest I have obligations.So either you bring them to me so I may execute them or, I go hunt them down killing everyone in my way."
Twilight backed up,"Okay. let me think about this. I'll call Princess Celestia and she can get this whole thing straitened out. By the way my name is Twilight sparkle any yours is."
"My father never gave me a name he said I was the guardian of this forest, Tikbalang."
"alright I'll see you tomorrow with our answer."
"So be it, Miss Sparkle."
Twilight teleported back to the cabin, Snails was gone."Good. hopefully he's back in Ponyville by now."
She then teleported out of the cabin appearing outside of the hospital.Nopony was outside so she headed in.inside were several ponies, sick or just visiting. She headed upstairs to the room that Snips was in. sure enough Snails and everypony else who where at the lake, were there.Pipsqueak stood up and walked over, "So how'd it go Twilight?"
"He's not as harmless as I thought."
Pipsqueak laughed, "told you he was scary. Did he try and get you?"
Twilight shook her head."Nope.He just wan't every colt in this room dead is all."
Snails and Pipsqueak both gasped, "What did we do?"
Twilight pointed to Pipsqueak,"you burned his forest." she then pointed to snails,"You burned him. "She looked over at Snips he just was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"So, where dead.Well I'm going to do everything I never thought I'd do" Pipsqueak walked passed Twilight.
Twilight grabbed his tail,"Wait.I'm gonna get Princess Celestia and she'll sort this mess out."
"At least that makes dying fell a little better."
"You're going to be fine." Twilight told him, releasing his tail.
Please let me know about grammar mistakes.I'm still new at this
