Chapter 1 - Horrible Ending, Horrible Beginning
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Chapter 1 - Horrible Ending, Horrible Beginning
A hostage situation was something I never imagined myself in, especially not this early into a new job. I had only been working at this shitty gas station for little over a month. Why some criminals decided to hold up the world’s shittiest gas station is beyond me, but here I was stowed away in my Smoke Cabin, cowering.
My Smoke Cabin—lovingly named—was a place within the walls I found I could enter and hide, with the entrance also very out of sight; it’s a very shitty place, like I said. I would often stow away in here during work to fulfill my need for cigarettes, a bad habit I’m too stressed to consider breaking—I was a fairly heavy smoker, encroaching on smoking a pack a day.
I was in there when the first shots were fired, followed by men yelling and some women screaming. I stayed in my little hole, there was no way was I going out there. Surely, the cops would be here soon enough and the situation would be handled. It might be too late for some of them, and I felt terrible, but I couldn’t risk trying to hide anyone.
And then a shout of pain, followed by more screaming.
Fairly high-pitched screaming rang out as I heard a someone bust the doors open to the backroom, near where I was, the screaming getting louder with it. “You keep an eye on them, I’m gonna teach this bitch a lesson. Fucking stabbing me with a pen, the bitch,” the deep, gravely voice demanded. The screaming continued, relentless, until I heard a thud, cutting the voice out for but a moment. “Shut the fuck up!”
I couldn’t help myself, I pulled my wall out to the side a small degree, peering at the sight. I almost vomited, the man, pistol in hand, slammed the gun into the girl’s face until it was unrecognizable and didn’t stop; there was no more screaming from the girl, but the rising and falling of her chest indicated she was alive for now.
Tears started forming in my eyes. I knew I had to do something, but as I tried to run out, my legs betrayed me. They knew nothing other than fear, shaking enough to make me eyes dizzy.
I fell down to my side, covering my mouth as to not whimper. I knew I had to do something. It was my fault this poor girl was gonna die. I started to cry, not out loud, but I could hardly keep the quick bursts of breaths quiet. I laid there, motionless. As I heard the ripping of clothes, I laid there.
I laid there and laid there.
Until fate had decided I was finally worth disposing of as a cough rose in my throat. I knew this feeling, I was about to go into a coughing fit. It always happened if I started crying, even if just a little. They don’t last long, but this was a disaster.
I started coughing, I tried to keep it covered as much as I could, but it was too much to keep down, and trying only made the outburst worse as it all seemingly came out at once.
“Now I know for a fact walls don’t cough,” the gravelly man spoke, “Why don’t you come on out and we can talk this over.” He almost seemed kind in that statement, but even a monkey would know better.
“THREE!” he screamed, “TWO –” three gunshots in succession, burrowed through the wall above my head. I wouldn’t be alive if I were standing, “– ONE!”
Steps tapped the ground, creeping closer to where I laid, until the wall was torn off, revealing me to him and him to me. I couldn’t even look at him. Despite the incessant shaking, my body as immovable as rock, as ice shot through my veins.
“You poor, poor thing. Time to say you’re prayers, I suppose. Maybe I should let you finish pissing yourself first.”
“no.” I pushed past my lips.
“No?”
“NO!” I jumped up, adrenaline breaking me out of my cocoon of fear, ready to take him down.
Two loud gunshots and I found myself back on the ground, only having made it up to my hands and knees before I was put back down like some wild animal.
I laid there twisting in pain as the holes in my back bled, staining my olive T-shirt some shades darker.
I moaned and groaned, crying audibly as I soiled myself. I wouldn’t even be remembered as a hero dying to save that girl; instead, I would remain imaged as a coward. Perhaps it’s what I deserve, but I didn’t want any of this. I wanted to live, in spite of it all, I loved being alive and I wanted to be with my family. I wanted my mom. “M-mommy…” I coughed out, sobbing as the world around me darkened. I heard sirens in the distance as the man put one last bullet in my head.
The last thing I expected was to be staring up at a vibrant blue sky, with the tops of trees surrounding the edges of my vision. Then again, I don’t even know what the first thing I expected was. I didn’t expect to be here, that’s for sure… wherever this was.
The transition to here was practically non-existent as one moment I was grovelling on the floor in pain and the next I was here, adjusting my eyes to the bright sun breaking through to my little resting ground. Speaking of pain, I felt my back. My shirt was still wet with blood, but I couldn’t feel any bullet wounds, nor was I in any discomfort… Except my pants were filled with excrement…
I tried to stand up, only to fall back over. My legs shook as I could barely exert any movement of my own out of them. Instead, I resorted to taking my clothes off whilst lying on the ground. I didn’t really want to roam around nude, that was beyond embarrassing, but I also didn’t want to run around in the world’s shittiest jeans.
After calming my nerves, I shakily stood up and finally got a good look at my surroundings. I was in a clearing in some forest, trees surrounded me on all sides. Big thick trunks stretched to the sky, growing closer together than one would expect, leaves blocking most of the sunlight, making this the only place where I could easily see. Stepping in would be leaving the visibility behind. In the my little clearing, however, there was only one thing of interest: a bed of brilliant blue flowers.
The sun was high in the sky, meaning it had to be around noon. I didn’t have much time. I didn’t know much on how to survive, but I knew I needed food, shelter, and a fire—and a way to clean my clothes.
Even with these in mind, the urge to just lay back down and give up was overwhelming. One step at a time, I pushed myself forward. I knew if gave in I would never see my family again and I couldn’t put them through that. My mom, I couldn’t bear to see her cry. I was gonna take this second chance and get back home. So, with my objectives in mind, I crept into the forest.
After many hours stumbling, tripping, and falling through the dark, dreary, dank, damp depths of the forest, I—by some miracle—found my way back to the clearing. I dropped what I carried on the ground and fell down with it, letting the grass hold me for some time.
Sitting back up, I took inventory of my supply: a pitiful fagot I tied together with some of the vines that littered the forest, some dry leaves for kindling, and an assortment of all sorts of berries I hoped weren’t poisonous.
It took what I assumed was maybe a couple hours as the sun was starting to fall behind the trees that surrounded me, nearly casting the clearing in shadow.
I knew I’d have to make haste with my fire. I walked over to one of pillars of wood surrounding me, sometimes known as trees, and snapped one of the thinner, reachable branches off. Bringing it over to where my twigs were and I pulled one out from the vines holding them together, a thicker one, and began. Putting the twig between my hands, I started pushing one hand forward as the other went back, then the reverse, spinning the branch back and forth. Arms like pistons, I kept this up for a while, growing tired, but I was making progress. I knew I couldn’t give up.
After some time, and only one break, I managed to get a small stream of smoke to rise off the branch. Hoping I was doing this right, I tried putting the dried leaves on it, after thoroughly crumpling them up and trying not to smother it. I blew into it, hoping to get the fire going. It started to catch fire, a shock to me, but it was dying out fast. Thinking on my feet I sprinted over to the bed of blue flowers and picked them, hoping it would help my dainty little fire grow into a strong fire I could be proud of, like a father to his son.
After snatching handfuls as fast as I could, I ran back and threw them all on, too anxious to think about how stupid that was. As soon as the flowers touched the small little flame it roared up a brilliant blue, almost taking my eyebrows with it. The flame roared, sounding like laughter for but a moment, and as I breathed the flame I laughed with it. The flame took hold of the branch and died back down to an orange-red.
I kept laughing, not sure why I started, but I kept laughing. Proud of my work, I allowed myself this pleasure. Not too long after though, I stopped, realizing this one branch wouldn’t last forever. I began collecting many more branches from the surrounding trees, trying to make sure they didn’t crack too loud and reverberate through the forest. I brought them back to the fire—putting some on, putting most to the side.
Satisfied that my little survival knowledge was put to use, I decided I should probably try to eat, as I had been ignoring my whiny stomach all day. As I sat down next to the berries that I had laid on the clean-ish part of my shirt, I was almost blown away by a craving—a desire—for cigarettes. I hadn’t even touched one in hours, being distracted by the work I had to do. In vain desperation, I searched the pockets of my now brown jeans for even just part of a cigarette I knew I wouldn’t find.
After digging into the back pocket of my pants I did find one thing, however, something that would reaffirm what a dumbass I am: my lighter.
“Fuck me –” I put my head in my hands, “– I spent so long getting that fire going.”
I sat there curled up for a minute, before my craving for the holy pleasure of nicotine demanded satisfaction; realizing I wasn’t going to get it, I focused on the berries, hoping eating would distract me from it. There were different colors and different shapes: greens, reds, purples, blues, and pinks—round, oblong spheroids, and even a cube.
I tried them one by one, and to my surprise, I found them quite tasty, if a little unfulfilling. That was until I got to the cube one, pink and shimmering in the firelight. As soon as I started chewing it, I was immediately hit with the most sour sensation I’ve ever endured, followed by my tongue nearly catching fire by the heat that immediately followed. Holding back the urge to vomit, I finally quelled the burning inferno that was my tongue, but was left with the most bitter aftertaste, to my chagrin.
After finishing off the berries, now tainted by the overwhelming bitterness, I reluctantly laid down and tried to doze off, which worked out well despite my fears that fire might attract creatures, rather than scare them off. I was out cold and slept a seemingly dreamless slumber.
Waking up without incident, I looked over to my fire. It was out. I wasn’t too concerned however, as relighting it wouldn’t be a challenge with my lighter, especially with those blue flowers. I was just hoping I’d find my way out of here before I ran out of fuel for my lighter, because I’ve no idea how to keep the fire going while I’m asleep. It’s not like I can get logs with ease, not that those would last the night either.
I figured I should probably trek further into the woods today, finding a way out being of equal importance to food gathering. Finding a river, pond, or lake to wash out my clothing was also of importance to me; I wanted to get those soiled articles of clothing washed and dried as soon as possible. It’s already too late to get them completely cleaned out, but I’d have to manage.
And so, I randomly decided that I’d head west out of all directions, I couldn’t even make an educated guess as to where I should head.
Half an hour into my hike, I discovered a species of insect that was extremely bothersome. Little balls of color with wings and creepy big eyes that make me want to squash them all. Normally, I probably would’ve just left them alone, but after I tossed one a berry, they kept flying all over me, making me visibly irritated. They’re like gnats flying in your face, but the size of baseballs. I had picked up a stick and began swatting around, splatting a few. Seems they weren’t very bright though as only some of them left upon the display. They kept just rubbing against me like some kind of house cat.
On the verge of shouting in frustration I gave a swing, missing completely. I snapped. About to just scream and run as far as I could from these bubble-invading creatures, but before I could do that, however, something else—rather someone else—screamed. I didn’t know if I should be excited or worried. There was someone else out here, but on the other hand, whoever it was was clearly doing worse than me. And I knew I shouldn’t investigate like your typical white guy, but I couldn’t help it.
Creeping through the trees I found something I didn’t expect, in a clearing not dissimilar to my own encampment, I found a dark-green pony pinned down by… My eyes nearly rolled backwards as my jaw hit the floor. They… They were wolves… Wooden wolves!
What was in those fucking berries?
Then the pony screamed, the same scream as before. It sent chills down my spine, sending every hair on my body at attention, as even the little bugs stopped pestering me and took notice. I couldn’t believe this creature made that scream, but I didn’t have time to think as the unthinkable happened.
I could only watch in horror as the wooden teeth of these freakish monsters sank into the pony and began ripping it to pieces as it cried for mercy.
Familiar with my own cowardice, my knees gave way once again as I watched, unable to look away. However, when the guts started flying, so did mine as everything inside me raced its way back up my throat and I let it all out on the roots of the tree beside me.
A mistake, as those glowing green eyes that stared nowhere at all, somehow looked over in my direction. Looking nowhere and yet at me, I felt its gaze as I heard the one depart from the group and stalk towards me.
The little bugs around me, determined to make my last moments hell, flew into my face, rubbing all over. As I teared up, begging for life, the insect looked over to the wolves, to the other insects, looked back to me, let out a chirp and flew right at the wolves.
A bombardment of insects rained this day. Though saying it was effective would be an understatement as they did nothing to the wolves. That was until I saw them all tear the wolf’s attention away from me as they flew past the other wolves, letting the monsters chase them away, losing many of their brethren in their efforts.
I rose on shaky legs, leaning against the tree, silently thanking the pests. I slowly strode over to the mangled corpse. I could hardly stand to look at it, but something in me wouldn't allow me to walk away. As I got close to it, the stench of guts and gore immediately filled my nose as I dropped to my knees and threw up one more time.
I crawled a little closer, a feeling inside that there was something I had to do. I got so close I almost put my hand on the creature, not even thinking about the gruesome scene anymore, completely blanking on anything other than the vague pulse in my hand as I crept it forward. I was just about to lay my hand on it when–
“You bucking monster! How bucking dare you!” a raspy voice called out, it sounded like it came from above. And it was true, but I couldn’t believe it. Above me was a pony, complete with wings, screaming at me, tears in the corners of its eyes. It was blue with a rainbow for a mane, same with its tail.
Before I could even figure out what the hell was going on the thing flew down at me faster than I could even think and knocked me back into a tree. All the breath left my body and it felt like my chest had shattered. I tried breathing, but I hardly could, feeling like I was stabbed every time I inhaled.
I knew I had to get away from whatever this thing was, so I turned and fled as it was distracted by the other wingless—recently deceased—pony.
By some stroke of luck, I managed to slip the pony as I heard it call out, demanding my return so it could kill me. I wasn’t gonna have any of that. Seemingly though, my body wasn’t gonna have much more of this moving business. After making my way further back into the forest, my mind slipped me as I fell over. I knew I was finally going to die.
I cried for my mom one last time.
Author's Note
This guy can't contain his lunch, can he?
Here's my attempt at something without a completely overpowered main character. 
Novice writer here. Tips & Tricks of the game would be wonderful. I have a hard time writing things as I see them in my head. 
The beginning in the human world is a bit rushed, but I didn't want to stay there long and just get the story rolling.
Fun Fact: I had thought about ironically naming this story, "The Greatest Edge," from all this edge. 
Chapter 2 - Merely in Pain
“Twilight!” a cyan blur, followed by a rainbow streak, busted into the Tree-house Library, knocking various books off the many shelves that lined the library.
Stood there in the library was a mare. She had bright purple fur, bright purple eyes, and a dark purple mane with two brighter streaks—consisting of one streak of a slightly lighter purple than the rest of her mane and a streak that could be described as pink. To say she was purple would be an understatement. Her tail was identical in color to her mane, streaks and all. She had a cutie mark on her rear, a pink six-sided star—identical in color to the pink streak in her mane—with seemingly another white star hidden underneath with its points poking out where the pink star came back in from its own points, and finally it was all surrounded by five small white stars.
Twilight merely stood stock-still in the disarray, aghast at the grisly state of her library, blown apart before its time.
“Rainbow!?” Twilight yelled out. She cast her gaze over to her cyan friend, her mane was an even more frazzled mess than usual, which wouldn’t be surprising given she was the speed demon of Ponyville, but what stood out was her wide eyes, panic exuding from within.
“No time, Twilight, Olive Trekker was maliciously murdered by a malevolent monster! You have to use your crazy magic to save her!”
Twilight shifted into her best running position, eyes full of determination.
“Lead on!” She made haste, following after Rainbow to the best of her ability.
I had found myself woken up on a bed of crumpled flowers, gasping for air, but stopping on each breath as a pain rang throughout my chest, like a knife through my heart.
For many a moment, I desperately tried to suck in any air I could, but found myself not making much headway on that front. My mind raced as I feared my fate was asphyxiation, a horribly agonizing death—and as many more attempts at vacuuming in that delectable oxygen failed, I panicked further.
Twisting and turning, even as I was racked with pain, I tried to breathe. After almost what felt like minutes, one simple thought knocked me out of my stupor: ‘shouldn’t I be out by now?’
I stopped my vain struggle to breathe, and realized that I had no burn in my lungs from oxygen deprivation. I sat for longer and I felt no desire to take in any air at all, despite some of my other instincts pressuring me otherwise.
As I fought my instinct to breathe, I gazed around at the flowers I was lying in, only to find they were no longer the vibrant blue as I had found them, but withered and gray, feeble and falling apart; only the flowers around the end of my makeshift flower bed were left with their full vibrant blue intact.
Upon closer examination, I could see the annoying pests from before. Dozens of them, shriveled up like raisins, with the same withered gray of the flowers. All of them were lying around me, far too close for comfort.
I immediately made to get up, careful to not trigger the painful stabbing in my chest.
Finally up—on shaky, sore legs—my body struggled to maintain balance. Even as I gained better footing, a new pain made itself known: a migraine.
My head was splitting in two, colors dotted my sight, and my left eye was nearly blind, only vague shapes and colors making themselves known; it didn’t even seem to start until I had gotten up. Despite my body screaming for me to just lay down and die, I strode on, determined to get myself through this.
Using the trees to balance myself, I made my way west once again, back to the spot of the unfortunate green pony, which from there I would then head north, knowing some sort of civilization must be in that direction, considering the pony that I had run across, or rather, had run into me.
And at this point I didn’t care if they wanted to kill me. I was bruised, battered, and broken. Killing or helping me both seemed to be decent options at the moment; however, I still planned on returning to my family, so if they think I’ll go down easy, even like this, they can just think again.
After almost an hour’s trek of the most painful moments of my life, filled with plenty of tripping and writhing in agony, I finally found my way to the woodland edge, gazing upon beautiful rolling hills of green grass. The only clear indication of civilization in sight being a modest cottage engulfed in animals and a majestic city cradling the side of a mountain—I certainly didn’t remember something like that back home.
Considering the city on the mountain was far too vast a distance to walk, I chose the cottage. I hoped there both was and wasn’t anybody home. I needed to see a doctor and clothe myself, but I also don’t want to be kicked anymore.
I slowly limped to the cottage, each step followed by a sharp shock in my chest, as there was nothing to support myself on anymore. Surely this was some sick punishment.
As I put more distance between myself and the forest, the desire for air finally hit me; it wasn’t overwhelming, but it was certainly there now, growing as I grew further from the forest, though I continued to fight the need for it, as I approached the cottage.
Only now upon closer inspection did I notice that the roof of the little house was actually made of leaves with an array of birdhouses jutting out. Speaking of, there were differently colored birdhouses scattered everywhere. Any place with any degree of height was littered with these eyesores! Perhaps that’s the migraine talking.
Ignoring the catastrophe that was the birdhouses, I took more notice of the free-range animals. Not much for fencing around here, other than the not very long fence on the pathway close to the house… Once again, ignoring the structures, I took notice of the animals. My one good eye caught glimpses of them as I stumbled closer to the house. No animal seemed off limit to the owner of this here establishment as I saw many animals of all color and variety, far too much to absorb with an achy brain.
As I approached the door, I looked down to the less elevated ground off the side and my heart stopped. There was a bear just laying there staring at me! A feeling of rejuvenation filled me as the adrenaline now flooding my system gave me a short high. Stumbling over to the door faster than I had moved all day, I went for the handle, which pushed the door open with ease, something I was both thankful for and surprised by.
Making it inside, I made sure the door was firmly closed behind me and locked. Hopefully that might dissuade any animals, or potential visitors from visiting. Here’s hoping the owner wasn’t home to hear that.
Green floor, brown walls, and more birdhouses. Birdhouses were even littered about on the inside. Said birdhouses shook slightly, as birds popped their heads out to look at me. Ignoring them and looking down to the floor, trotting over to me were some mice. Some of the mice were covered in spots of varied hues… Wait, that’s just my migraine-induced spotty eyes. They looked up to me, tilting their heads, but I chose to ignore them for the moment.
Scrambling around to any drawers and cabinets I could find, I pulled them open hoping for painkillers, food, and clothes—in that order. All’s I found were food and a green dress made for a quadruped. I could only assume that meant one of those colorful ponies called this here house a home. Much of the food seemed to be for the critters that lived here, but there were many vegetables I could digest, which I was ultimately grateful for.
Filling my belly cured one of my ails, but sadly there were many more causing me all sorts of aches and pains. I moved farther into the house, hoping to cross off even more items off my list.
Finding what seemed to be a bedroom, I made my way inside. This seemed to be a cozy accommodation: a bed with a chest at the front, a fireplace, a few windows, and some pictures about. The pictures were probably of the owner, family, and possibly friends. I couldn’t tell.
I was lazily searching around, finding myself increasingly more tired, with the urge in me to breathe steadily growing. The more time I spent, the more painful the slowly growing burn in my lungs got. I knew I didn’t have much time, but I still kept slowing down, my muscles growing ever-resistant to my commands.
As I was finding my eyes starting to close without my consent, I heard a voice behind me gently call out.
“Hello there.”
My eyes finally obeyed as they shot open. I spun around, tripping on my own ankle and falling backwards. On my way down I smacked my head on the edge of some object, blacking out. I went down easy.
My eyes creaked open, but the light was even more painful than usual, meaning I had to keep them partially closed. I looked around the room, squinting, making it impossible to make much out. One thing that did make itself apparent though was my head throbbing, like little elves trying to break out of my skull, pounding in my head with sledgehammers.
Putting my hands up to my head, I felt a bandage. Feeling around my head, I felt the bandage went all the way to the back of my head, where some cloth or something was wrapped under it.
After wallowing in pain for some time, I only now noticed the comfy bed I was lying upon. My head had been set on pillows and I was lying under some thick blankets. How I had not noticed this first baffled me, but my everything hurt, so I didn’t pay it much mind, as I was too busy thinking about the hurt.
I heard the pitter-patter of hooves coming towards me. I had completely forgotten about the pony! My heart sped up as I tried to scoot away, finding myself barely capable of moving. My muscles refused to move as the burn for air flared once again in my chest as I finally felt like it was on the verge of exploding from my oxygen deprivation.
The pony maneuvered over to the left side of the bed. She held an ice pack under her left wing.
I got a better look at her than the last time. She had long pink hair which arched up at the top of her head turned to the side and fell back down.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t scare you, did I?”
She must have seen the fear behind my eyes, or perhaps she confused my desperation for oxygen as fear.
“I brought you an ice pack, I’m hoping it will help with that nasty crash you had earlier. I’m so sorry for scaring you like I did. I promise I will shower you with as much care as you need until you’re all healed up –” she gave a small smile as she placed my head on the ice pack, topped with a pink rag “– please tell me if there is anything you need at all.”
As much as I would have loved to stay here and exchange pleasantries with my gracious host, I had more pressing matters. Taking a gamble, I decided to place my trust into this here yellow mare.
Reaching my hand up to my chest, I started making motions with my chest and mouth, trying to get across to the best of my ability the fact that I couldn’t breathe.
Her eyes opened up in shock as she rushed her front legs onto the bed, getting her ear close to my mouth, then she planted her head on my chest.
“Oh my goodness! You’re not breathing at all!” she started tapping in place, still standing half on the bed, “I need to go get Twilight immediately,” she shook hear head and steadied herself, “No, Zecora can definitely fix this, I don’t have time for Twilight to search her books.”
I tried to listen to her, but despite my open eyes, my world began dimming, darker and darker, until the world was pitch black around me. Her rambling grew quiet as I drifted away.
Before I completely lost myself, I spotted a mass of the most inviting warmth. A light, I needed to reach out and grab it. I couldn’t see my arms, but I knew where they needed to go.
I struck them out quickly, pulling the warmth close to me wrapping my arms around it, hands holding on tight. It squirmed. I felt relieved. The pain throughout my entire body began evaporating, as if it never existed. I held on, happy to die free from suffering.
Despite what I thought, the world around me starting coming back into view. I wasn’t dying, I was recovering! My vision was becoming clearer, my focus coming back.
When I was finally able to once again make out the world around me, I finally realized I was holding the pony in a death grip. I immediately dropped her when I heard her whimpering and letting out other grunts.
As she curled up on the floor, I tried breathing. Pain. Whatever wasn’t letting me breathe hadn’t decided to let up yet.
I slid out of the bed, ignoring my own nudity, and put my hand on the yellow mare. I yanked my hand back as I felt her flinch.
Through many breaths and sobs, she spoke, “I’m sorry… please don’t hurt me. I’m sorry.”
‘I’m sorry.’ She just kept repeating this.
I wanted to comfort the poor thing, but I restrained myself. I didn’t know what these ponies were like. I didn’t want to leave her hurt, but she looked like she was going to be okay.
I brushed my hands through my hair, pulling my own head back with it. I looked to her and to the door. I had two options, and if I stayed, the rainbow one might try to kill me again. Even if the yellow one would still defend me, she probably couldn’t do much in this state.
Repeating a line from her own mantra, I mouthed silently, “I’m sorry.” I made my way through the door and closed it behind me. I made to leave her house, opening the front door and checking for the bear. Not seeing it, I decided the coast was clear and dashed my way back to the forest, free from most of the earlier pain.
Finally making my way into the forest, I continued in until I was sure no pony would see me.
I backed myself up against a tree, bringing my hands up to my face, pointer fingers slowly massaging my temples. I took a seat on the ground, back still against the tree as I sat myself into an upright sitting fetal position: knees up with my face buried in them, arms wrapped around my face.
I just stared at my legs for what felt like at least ten minutes. I couldn’t process anything in this bizarre land. It’s like it was all designed to be completely and utterly confusing beyond all belief, baffling me at every second, never offering even the slightest moment of reprieve.
Twilight was falling behind Rainbow, despite her slowing down many times to let her keep up, giving her the stink eye as if it was somehow her fault she didn’t have any wings to keep up with. If Rainbow wanted her to use her magic, she’d just have to accept she wouldn’t be able to do that.
Rainbow Dash finally landed in an opening. Twilight broke her way in, stopping, then panting for a sold minute.
“Get out of here!” Rainbow shooed the many curious predators away, grinding her teeth to dust, eyes darting left and right at maddening speeds.
“Twilight, hurry up!”
Twilight meandered up to the recently deceased corpse, gagging as she put a hoof up to her nose. “I’m sorry, Rainbow, I can’t do anything.”
“What do you mean you can’t do anything!?” Rainbow’s eyebrows threatened to shoot off the top of her face, as she stood there for moments just slowly opening and closing her mouth, mulling on words.
“There usually isn’t all that much that can be done to help from a Timberwolf attack.”
“Timberwolf? I told you this was a Bigfoot, Twilight!”
“Besides the fact that’s just ridiculous—no one’s ever even seen a Bigfoot—the evidence says otherwise,” Twilight’s face softened from her disgust and shock, into one of emotionless deadpan, contradicting the morbidly jubilant tone she would adopt as she lectured, “You see how the body was shredded apart? It looks like the examples in my book of claws and of a predator’s teeth, or more specifically, a Timberwolf. The splinters add even more evidence to my hypothesis.”
Twilight continued to circle around the shredded corpse, beginning to examine it thoroughly, even lifting up pieces in her magic.
Rainbow stood with her mouth hanging to the floor as Twilight just picked up piece after piece and examining it. “Twilight! I can’t believe you would just treat her like she was some kind of… uhm.”
Twilight’s eyes flew to the side. “Cadaver?” she suggested.
“Yeah!” Rainbow began aggressively hovering in the air, careful not to touch the corpse.
“I know, you’re right, Rainbow.” Twilight’s face melted into a frown, eyes downcast. “This might be my only opportunity to study this firsthand. The contributions I could make, even if minimal, could be important in better understanding the behavior of Timberwolves.”
“That’s so not right, Twilight.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry, I’ll restrain myself next time.” Her eyes betrayed her, still glancing back at the body, a fire of passion in her eyes “Perhaps we should just take care of her body and make sure she gets a proper burial. I’ll stay here and watch her and you get somepony to help.”
Rainbow landed on the ground behind Twilight. “No, I think I’ll stay here. You should go get somepony.”
After what felt like, to Rainbow, an eternity, her ears picked up on something nearby. Turning her gaze over to the treeline, she lowered herself ready to pounce.
She began to make the creature out as it moved between the trees, getting closer to the clearing. It held its arms to its chest, head down, as it encroached upon the clearing.
Rainbow was ready for this fight. She could avenge her friend. Twilight may not have believed her, but here the thing was coming back for its meal.
The creature neared the treeline before it then looked up. Its eyes widened as it froze in place for a moment, before turning and sprinting off in the other direction.
Looking between her friend’s mangled body and the creature, Rainbow knew what choice she had to make; she had a responsibility.
She flew off towards the Bigfoot. “Get back here!”
Author's Note
Nobody gets chapters out as fast as me.
People always describe humans as hairless apes or Minotaurs, but why never Bigfoots?
Edit: Accidentally wrote that he said something, when I meant to write he mouthed it. That's what I get for writing in the middle of the night on the verge of falling asleep.