The Sanguine Chronicles

The Sanguine Chronicles

Chapter 2

On The Road to Answers

It was a beautiful sunset as our three adventurers walked along the road from Hoofville to Ponyville. However, they were getting exhausted of walking.

“Hey I think we should stop.” Jessica said panting and her legs shaking. Forrest and Sanguine halted. Sanguine looked to Forrest.

“She is right. The woods can be dangerous for traveling at night.” Forrest replied.

“Oh come on, It cannot be that bad. Can it?” Sanguine asked.

“I have been in these woods since I could fly. Trust me when I say it can be dangerous.” Forrest stated firmly. Sanguine merely shrugged

“Very well. We best gather supplies for camp.” Sanguine said.

“Well I can get us a camp near that tree. Forrest said pointing to a thick and sturdy evergreen.

“I have light spells so I’ll grab some water.” Jessica said and left with the canteens. Sanguine looked back to Forrest

“I guess I’ll help you then Forrest.” He said. “Hmm. I’ll grab some branches for a fire.” Sanguine said as he started looking for fallen twigs. Before long, Sanguine had a large pile of twigs and branches made in a fire pit. Forrest looked shocked at the amount of wood they had.

“How did he get all this?” Forrest thought. After a few minutes, the tree base of the tree propped up a small lean-to. “Well…we’re done.” Said Forrest. He panted before he collapsed onto the ground.

Despite all the wood grabbing, Sanguine was still wide awake. He picked Forrest up and carried him into the lean-to. He set him down on the ground inside the shack before leaving to get some food. “Something tells me this guy is not as normal as I hoped. I mean what was that he just did?” He thought as he drifted into a nap. He woke up heard a knock on the on the shack. It was Jessica back with plenty of water floating in her magic. She set the canteens on the inside of the shack.

“Phew! Looks like you did some good work Forrest.” She said.

“Thanks Jessica. It was tiring but that stranger is still out getting food.” He said. Jessica was shocked. She looked out to see Sanguine holding a bag in his mouth with berries and flowers.

“How?” She asked. Sanguine placed the bag on the floor

“I don’t know. I just found these and smelled them. They don’t seem dangerous.

“Well we have plenty of food for tonight and tomorrow so we should get some sleep.” Jessica said yawning and curling up on the ground. So the trio ponies laid down on the floor and fell fast asleep.

The next morning the trio was up not long past 7 o clock. Sanguine yawned “morning guys.” he said.

“Morning” replied Jessica as she rubbed the sand from her eyes and Forrest did the same.

“Now then, we best get walking again.” Sanguine said as he grabbed the sack of food.

“Agreed. If we go at the same pace as yesterday, we will be there by dawn tomorrow.” Forrest said looking at the map. Jessica refilled the water into three canteens and distributed them. Then they continued down the path.

“So Sanguine. Found any new memories?” Forrest asked hopefully.

“I did have some memory flash last night. However, it was too blurred to make anything out." Sanguine said. Jessica frowned before putting on a face of determination.

“Well when we get to Ponyville, we can find out more from the library and perhaps the princess.” She said. Sanguine was puzzled by this new information.

“Princess?” Sanguine asked confused.

“You haven’t heard? Princess Twilight lives in that town. Maybe she will have some answers too.” Forrest said and this made Sanguine smile.

“Whelp all the more reason to keep moving. Onward! Wow I really need something better to say.” Sanguine said.

So the three continued on. After a while they had slowed in their pace. Suddenly there was a rustling in the woods next to the path. Forrest looked around into the woods.

“That cannot be good.” He said. Then a large manticore came out of the woods and roared at them. Jessica and Forrest were petrified for a moment before Jessica managed to speak.

“Run!” she yelled.

Forrest tried to fly back but the manticore swatted him into the ground. Forrest tried to crawl back but the manticore had him practically pinned. The manticore picked up Forrest who lay unconscious and limp like a bag of broken bones. The creature was about to slash his head…when suddenly.

“No!” Yelled Sanguine and Suddenly, Sanguine erupted into a black and red aura. His body was pulsing with a red and black glow. “You think you can mess with me. Well let’s see how good of a play toy you make.” Sanguine spoke in a demented sounding voice. “Let’s Play!”

Sanguine shot forward into the manticore at the speed of an asteroid. The creature flew into a tree. Its front now bleeding from the strong hit. “Aww look at you, one hit and you’re broken as you should be. Now I’ll be taking what I want from you.” Sanguine said as he placed a hoof on the manticore. An aura enveloped the two and a flash went off. The manticore was there but still highly injured and could barely move. “I’m letting you live but if you come near me or my own again, I will take the rest of that energy. Now GO!” He yelled.

The manticore sprinted away into the forest. Sanguine picked up his friends and held them close. He looked at Jessica and in the place of that demented expression seemed another who was kind and honorable. “Hang on tight! He said and then he started galloping. After a few seconds he was jetting through the sky like a bullet. They didn’t stop until they landed in a small alley in PonyVille. Sanguine set them down. His glow slowly dissipated and then Sanguine passed out.

“Sanguine? Are you okay?” She asked in a panic as she put her ear to his chest.

“Phew. Just magic burnout thank Celestia.” She said as she grabbed the two in her aura and pulled them to a more comfortable place in the alley. She set Forrest into a way where his body would heal properly. As for what happened earlier, Jessica didn’t know what to think. So they all fell asleep in that alleyway. They had reached their destination. They were now in Ponyville…