My little Short Stories: Chronicles of Ponyland

As the pair of ponies approached the ominous-looking cave, both began to feel a chill in the air as they trotted towards the darkness within. Mist and smoke poured out of the entrance, punctuated by the occasional flash of light and ominous roar. Rocky hesitated just outside of the cave, saying a silent prayer to almighty B'zekre and all the kami in Takama-ga-hara (heaven) that they would survive the terrible ordeal ahead.

"I see the worry in your eyes, Rocky-san." Starglow commented, putting a hoof on his shoulder. "Never fear, we are both brave warriors, and shall most certainly survive this battle, and rescue the Shogun's husband."

"I really hope you are correct, Starglow." The shugenja sighed, shaking his head. "May the fortunes smile upon us in this endeavor."

Taking a deep breath, the two ponies trotted into a cave, both on edge as they cautiously trotted into the cavern's shadowy mouth. Rocky chanted a prayer to Raijin, creating a glowing and sparking light that flew ahead of the two warriors, lighting the way. As they headed deeper into the oni's lair, the magic light revealed a most grisly sight decorating the cavern's stone walls.

"By the solar fires of Amaterasu... I can't believe it." The samurai muttered in horror. "Dead ponies... there are dead ponies everywhere!"

The walls were lined with the bodies of disemboweled ponies, all decapitated and disemboweled. Their bones and hides had been hung up ritualistically to decorate the beast's lair. Both Rocky and Starglow recoiled in horror from the extremely macabre scene.

"That barbarian... he captured, killed, and devoured all of these poor ponies!" Rocky stared in horror, not wanting to believe his own eyes. "Not only do we have to rescue the daimyo's husband, but we must destroy this vile monster, as well!"

"Who will be destroying, foolish little ponies?" A sinister voice roared, sending a shiver down the two hero's spines. "How dare you sniveling equines try to sneak into my lair! I shall enjoy tearing your miserable little bodies apart, before devouring you piece by piece!"

Both samurai and shugenja spun around, only to find themselves face-to-face with the most horrifying sight they had ever set their eyes upon. A towering, muscular horned figure with crimson skin stood behind them. The bearded humanoid carried a large spiked club, and wore a leopard skin loincloth covering his waist. The large behemoth glared down at the ponies, whom both knew right away what this beady-eyed giant actually was.

"Starglow, look out!" Rocky cried out, as the large demon raised his weapon over his head. "The the oni that horsenapped the shogun's husband!"

The oni brought his massive club smashing down into the cave floor, and the two ponies barely rolled out of the massive weapon's way. Starglow began flying around and around the oni's head, and the demon swung his club wildly at the attacking Pegasus. The samurai deftly dodged the attacks, spinning and rolling out of the way of the oni's flailing club. Starglow dove at the demon, kicking him in the jaw, and breaking one of the oni's teeth. Enraged, the crimson demon suddenly swung his club upward, slamming it into Starglow's body, and sending the mare flying into the cave wall, and knocking her senseless.

"STARGLOW!" Rocky cried out, charging at the demon. The shugenja quickly chanted a prayer to Susanoo, and a lightning bolt struck the oni straight in the chest, scarring the demon, and causing him to stumble backwards. With a roar, the oni charged up a powerful fireball spell, and hurling the flaming sphere at Rocky. The stallion was struck by the fireball, and was sent flying back into the wall beside Starglow, nearly knocking the shugenja out.

"Bwa ha ha! Foolish ponies!" The Oni roared, lumbering over to where the two still-groggy ponies lay. "Did you truly believe either one of you could stand up to my unlimited power? I shall greatly enjoy ripping you limb from limb, sucking the marrow your bones!"

But as the demon readied himself for the kill, a violent and angry voice came booming from behind where the monster stood.

"FOUL ONI!" A flaming pony-like shape roared, causing the demon to turn around in shock. "GET AWAY FROM THOSE TWO!I SHALL NOT ALLOW YOU TO HARM THEM!"

Surprising everyone, the angry nirik came barreling into the cave, tackling the oni to the ground. The demon tried several times to rise, but the burning horse-like creature sent several roaring walls of flame into the beast, keeping the demon off of it's feet. This allowed Starglow and rocky to get back on their hooves, and launch thier own attacks at the oni. Mad samurai sword slashes and shugenja elemental spells filled the air, driving the beast farther and farther back into the cave.

Turning to gaze at the Nirik who had come to their rescue, Rocky gave a soft smile. "Taobao! I knew you wouldn't abandon us to this monstrous beast! Thank you for coming to our rescue!"

"I couln't just leave you to die!" Taobao replied, turning back into kirin form briefly, to speak to the stallion. "Now come on, let's send this this beast back to King Enma's domains in the underworld, where it belongs!"

The battle with the oni was fierce, as Starglow stabbed it with her blades several times, and Rocky threw lightning bolts and ice spears at the demon. Taobao kept up a wall of flame to prevent the demon from escaping. The oni fought back, smashing his club, hurling fireballs, and even trying to change shape to confuse the trio. But the ponies fought back, throwing everything they had at the demon, finally bringing the beast crashing down to the cave floor.

"Argaaaahhh!" The oni wailed in anguish, as his legs gave out from all of the battle wounds. "Curse you infernal ponies!"

"Foul oni, you will never again torment another innocent victim!" Starglow lunged forward, her body flashing a bright blue in anger, as she plunged her blade into the demon's heart. "Now, return to the underworld, and trouble the world of mortals no longer!"

There was a howl of anguish, and the oni disappeared in a large explosion of smoke and fire, leaving the three exhausted equines in the cave, trying to catch their breaths after such a fierce battle.

"It appears we managed to slay the beast." Rocky noted, as he stood up once again. "Now we have to hurry, and see if Lord Jazu is still alive."

"Sure enough, they found the missing royal consort tied up in one of the oni's closets. along with several other ponies the oni had not yet gotten around to eating. Most of the ponies, including lord Jazu, were starved and dehydrated from their captivity with the demon.

"We should take them back to my village, where my fellow kirin cad give them water, food, and sustenance." Taobao noted, as she and rocky trotted along together, leading the weary ponies out of the cave at a slow pace. "Then you two can take them back to the capital."

"I would like that very much, lady Taobao." Rocky smiled, leaning his head against the kirin mare as they trotted along. "I think I would very much like spending more time with you. And I bet I could come to visit your village more often, after this adventure is over!"

"Oh brother, that stallion's head is in the clouds again!" Stawglow sighed and laughed, following along at the tail end of the marching line of rescued ponies. "Hmmm, I wonder if there is an unattached kirin stallion back at Taobao's village I could meet...."

And as the ponies trotted away from the horrible cave, the morning sun began to come up over the horizon, signalling the dawn of another day in Hoofkaido.