Sentient Cell

Chapters

Unique ( Edited )
Learning ( Edited )
Tonight ( Edited )
Moonlight ( Edited )
Rival ( Edited )
Monster (Edited )
Royalty
Preparations

Unique ( Edited )

What.....am.....I?

Somewhere in a little puddle of water in the Everfree Forest

'What....am....I?' was my first thought as I awoke, but I couldn't see but only feel, I was floating, or was I? I don’t know but I can feel that I am very very little, maybe at a cellular level... How do I know that? Actually, I can’t describe it I just know.

But then, I felt something touching me, well touching where I could feel, after a moment I felt full, like I ate an entire cake... What is a cake? It seems like something edible. Did I eat something? Wait, what's happening?

I feel like I'm growing, or multiplying? Or dividing? It feels like I'm tearing in two so maybe I'm dividing? What is happening to me? I can feel myself and my other self divide again... It doesn't stop!

After a while, I felt like something else, like I'm a sort of liquid. Now I can feel warmth, or is it? Then I felt something, it was refreshing, it felt good, so I moved around and felt something touch me, then I felt full again then it was all starting all over again, I began tearing apart, something of myself began to change, it was like I had an army, I felt like there were now thousands of me, but some were specialised in something, I do not know what.

After a while, I could start to see, but it was very blurry, I felt like an eye. Wait an eye? I look around with my eye and only saw dark green, it was an odd feeling, if I had an eye, shouldn't I have a face? Or a body? But as I look I noticed that I could turn my eyes in every direction, so I looked behind me, but saw only flowing liquid, was it water? Am I just an eyeball floating on water? I looked back to what seems like a forest, then saw better, there were bushes flowing through the wind, leaves falling from trees, it looked refreshing.

But then I saw the bush move more, then just like that, I saw nothing, only felt like my eyeball was liquefying, after a moment, I felt like I was being pulled, or was I being pushed? I felt something.... Licking me? No I was being drunk by something, I felt incredible warmth, but then, I felt more, I could smell, then see, now it looked as if I had two eyes, as I look through them I saw a puddle of water, I seem to look down so I look up, but it wasn't my eyes that moved, it was my head.

Realising that I had a head, I turned it around but felt a little pain and stretch at my neck when I tried to turn a full demi circle. Wait neck? I felt more, I felt dirt under my paws, paws? I looked down and saw two paws with a set of claws, I could see that I had orange fur, but I felt odd because I saw red fur when I looked down. I saw a bigger puddle of water and looked at it.

I saw a lions head, big wings, and a scorpion tail on the reflection. 'I'm a Manticore?' I tried to say, but it came out as a little growl, then just like that, I could see at the same time the sky and a set of wings in front of me while still having the sight of the puddle. I turn my head to look at my back, then I saw a big eye on my back between my wings, it was bloody, had yellow sclera, orange iris and red pupils, it was both human like and when I focused on my vision, it was cat like. I closed it and my eye socket disappeared, like a wound that was healed, I didn't feel pain when all of this happened.

I then walked through the forest, it wasn't really hard to walk, as my body was surprisingly balancing itself, after a while I felt hungry, so I searched for food until I came across an odd looking chicken, it had red eyes, dragon wings and tail but was still the size of a chicken, it seemed harmless so I started getting in a position so that I can jump and end it with one bite.

After I got in position, I noticed that my fangs weren't sharp at all, so I willed it to be sharp, and they became sharp! But my whole mouth had to become more resistant and durable now that I had fangs that could rip easily chucks of wood. After my little remodeling, I noticed that I was bigger and that my red collar fur turned slightly yellow and that my general fur turned more red.

But then, when I looked into the eyes of the chicken, I had the sudden feeling that I needed to do something about my eyes, so I closed them, and opened one big eye on my front head, but it had something on it, that was harder than stone, it had white sclera and red pupils with red iris. I made it so it would lock on the chicken's eyes.

Then I jumped, the odd chicken startled by this turned to look at me and just frowned, like it was trying to do something by just staring, then I noticed something happening on my eyes, I could see what look like little bits of rock forming on it, but when I noticed it, I took a bit of this rock to look at it on a molecular scale, I don't know how but my instinct says that I can, so I did, and when I looked at it, it was indeed a formation of stone but with one unknown particule, it was constantly changing, like a shapeshifting molecule, I took a part of it's code and added it to my DNA. And instantly after, the bits of stone forming on my eye broke and instead it was the weird chicken that started to turn to stone.

It seems like I acquired it's abilities, and it was panicking when it noticed that it's turning to stone, it then tried to run away but it was too late. Now it's just a statue but I thought of something, I closed my eyes and felt my DNA, I took a copy of the little 'sample' I got from the chicken and remodeled it.

After finishing it, I reopened my eye and looked at the statue, then the stone started to fall off and the chicken fell unconscious. Taking advantage of this, I ate it, I didn't really care about what it tastes like, I just wanted to satiate my hunger.

After that I noticed that the sun is setting and a cave was nearby so I went to the cave and slept. It was a long day, tomorrow I would need to explore and learn about the forest.

Author's Note

Here's the chapter edited, shoutout to Crimson Arrow.
I trust him so much I don't even verify if it's okay.

Learning ( Edited )

I need to know more...

I woke up and the sun was still raising over the forest, I opened the eyes on both of my wings to look around the cave I found earlier, I noticed that little crystals started to form, so I went to check them out.

They were normal crystals, "Not much use unless..." I said while thinking about a plan on what to use them for, then I got an idea.

I took one crystal with my claws and examined it, I then absorbed it through my skin, as I look at the molecules used to make these, I planted some data in my DNA. The data I planted in my DNA made it so, whenever I feel like it, I can harden all of my body as hard as the crystal, but it was still fragile when I hardened my body and punched the wall of the cave. So I changed some molecules and DNA to make the crystal-body harder than lonsdaleite, I punched again at the wall and this time, the wall shattered. Perfect for defense.

I got out of the cave and looked around for nothing especially important, but when I looked around through my many eyes while walking in the woods, I noticed some movements in the bushes, and sometimes caught glimpse of green eyes, so I guessed they were predators, so I made my body hardened, made my claws sharper, and even made my wings so they could cut through things. Then I thought of something and stopped.

I then proceed to change things in my DNA, after that, my body started to shake and I fell down, my body was spasing until.

*CRACK SPLASH* My back was tore apart, making blood splitter everywhere.

I stood up, I was taller, so much that I was nearly the height of the trees, I felt new muscle on my back, I moved them so that I could see them in front of me.

There were two massive arms, barely any skin to hide the veins, muscles and bones, it was a mess but I could see they had massive powers at their dispositions, the arm was coming out of my torn back between my wings, wings that were bigger and more muscular. The arms ended with mangled claws, with sharpened boned at the end of each displaced fingers.

I was satisfied with my work, it may look disgusting but I don't care because this is nature, and in nature you only survive. I opened many eyes everywhere on my body, on my back legs, my wings, my massive arms, the sides of my legs. Well you get it, so that they wouldn’t get a surprise attack.

Nothing happened for three minutes, then I saw movement behind me and then, some kind of wolf made of wood jumped on me, it was then crushed by my arms, then wolves made of wood jumped from everywhere, some even managed to bite me, but got their wooden teeth stuck because I was still in my hardened mode, I crushed some of them with my arms, cut through some of them with my wings and claws and even ate some, and in the end, I was covered in wood, and looked around with my eyes to see if there were more threats. When I couldn't find any, I retracted my two new arms in my back and closed it, I closed my eyes and healed the spots where the eye sockets were. Now I look like an average manticore, well beside the massive size and the fur color. My co!ar fur was now a burning yellow that ended with a bloody red. I had now blood colored fur all over my body, with marks colored a shade of orange and yellow. I looked like a tattooed big manticore now.

I resumed walking until I felt hungry again, and around the same time, a whole group of the same odd chicken were in one area. How convenient.

I proceed to feed again, their abilities to turn anything they see to stone wasn't a problem anymore, as I had an eye specialized in hunting them, so I turn them to stone, waited a few minutes then turned them back to normal, as expected, they all fell unconscious leaving me with a feast, but before I could eat them all, I sensed something... multiple things. I opened my eyes on my rear legs, then I saw a pack of manticores, they seem hungry. I turned around and looked at them, they backed away in fear, I sat down and took one little chicken and place it in front of me. They all looked confused and slowly approach, then one of them ate the chicken, then I took another one and threw it at them, they all fought for it but then I just backed away to let them eat my feast. They saw this and all jumped on the chickens to eat them.

After a while of feeding and mess cleaning, nothing was left. Then they all looked up at me in admiration and all sat down, I then got up, turned around and started walking through the forest, they all followed me but I didn't care, I found what seemed to be a family so I didn't really mind if they followed me around, after some time, I found another group of chicken, I turned to look at my little pack and motion them to stay hidden, they did as ordered and I prepared to attack.

I opened my eyes on my wings, legs and head, I then jumped in the middle of the group and the moment they looked at one of my eyes they would turn to stone, but I made sure it didn't affect the manticore that were watching me in admiration and fear. After they all got turned to stone, I waited 10 minutes and turned them back to normal, I then started to eat all of them, as I had given my last feast to my little family.

When I finished I went back to my cave where all the members of my pack would sleep, I was just glad that the cave was big enough for 10 manticores, after making sure the cave was safe and that all of my pack was asleep, I went to sleep myself. I learned a lot from today.

Author's Note

Hey guys, This week and 2 week later, I won't be posting chapters regularly anymore, as I'm moving out to my vacation spot in Tahiti, so if some times chapters wou!dn't come out that just mean I'm chilling or sleeping or doing other stuff.
Till next chapter

Tonight ( Edited )

How odd, why is tonight's night unending?

It's been three weeks since I was 'born', everyday after I took a pack of manticores under my protection, were uneventful besides the passing timberwolves and hungry manticores, now I have over thirty manticores under me and the newborns were brought to me and the parents seemed to want me to touch the newborn, I do not know why they do that but they seem to do it as a tradition now. But two days ago was glorious!.

Two days ago

I was met with a rampaging hydra, it roared at me when it saw me and the cowering manticores, as I have a 'family' to protect, I battled it, it ripped through my wings and two of my legs, but I didn't care as I gained the ability to regenerate my body from the DNA I took from one of the heads I ripped from the hydra, it took a moment before I realised that cutting its head was pointless, so I went for the body, and it was extremely effective as it took me only one slash of my bloody arms's claws to kill it.

After this, the manticores proceeded to bring it's body in the cave, I didn't know why, but I saw them devouring its heads, I was confused by this but then, I saw the heads were regenerating back and then it hit me, the regenerative abilities of the hydra work even after it's death, so that would mean we have an unlimited source of food, it was brilliant.

Present Time

I woke up in my cave full of manticores, the young were sleeping on me or besides me, I seem to be like a father to them even if their true fathers were sleeping with their mothers in some corners of the cave.

It's been a while since it's been like this, some manticores left after passing adulthood but they would eventually return after bringing food, it was often the reptile chickens as they were the easiest prey to hunt, sometimes it was ponies, the first pony they brought back dead confused me, it wore clothes and was multicolored, looking at the pony it had wings and seems to have something on its flank, I didn't know how they brought ponies as there were none in the forest so I went searching, and I eventually found some, the ponies I saw were walking on two legs with hooves, always together and in a group of three, they were little so I guessed they were children, or for them foals, but then, I heard them speak.

"Are ya sure it's safe?" The red maned one a pink bow on its head, yellow coated filly wearing a t-shirt and jeans said with fear in her voice.

"Yeah! It's so cool, we've been coming here for a while and we haven't gotten in danger once!" A purple maned, orange coated filly with black tagged t-shirt and shorts said full of pride.

"What about that time we were chased by the Timberwolves huh?" A pink and light purple maned and white coated filly with a blue skirt and white t-shirt replied with doubt.

They kept arguing about 'if they should go back to Ponyville or not'. Ponyville... A name... Sentient beings use names as identification for pretty much everything, if there are sentient beings then there's civilisation, if there is civilisation there is war... Why do I think there is war in civilisation?

There's no time to think about it, the fillies I soon learn were Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are going away as the night is coming, I need to follow them.

Soon after, I was at the border of the forest, I never found out about it, even though I've known this forest like my cave, I never found the forest exit so I just assumed the forest was endless, but now I can see the end, it was exciting, the fillies went out of the forest so then I followed, but then I stopped when I could see the outside, it was beautiful, the village that was near the forest was peaceful, I could see a mountain with a palace on it. The outside world in my reach, but...

If the ponies are the dominating species, what would they do to me? Civilisation happens because of research, as I am a unique kind of being, I am sure to be examined by them, but, at the same time, I can't help but feel safe, no, I need to return with my family, I have to protect them, besides, it's getting late and the pack need me to sleep.

So I returned to my cave to sleep, on the way I could see the wooden wolves and the reptile chickens running away from me, I guess I became the apex predator in the forest.

I arrived in my cave and saw the manticores started to run to me and all started to lick or hug me, after a while of this show of affection, I went over the big pile of fur in the middle of the cave, they all made it for me so who am I to refuse the luxury, it even had ornaments on it, truly looking like a throne, so I got on it and started to shape it, but before I go to sleep, I opened many eyes over my body to make sure there were no intruders and that the manticores weren't injured, after I was sure it was safe and they were all in good shape, I began to sleep.

I woke up the next morning in my cave, I looked at the manticores and they were all still sleeping, but then when I look at the entrance of the cave, it was not sunlight I met, it was moonlight, I was confused, sure I woke up earlier than every other manticore here but it was always sunrise, but now it was a full moon high in the sky, then I heard the manticores starting to wake, I motionned them to stay here while I go see what's going on, they all nodded and I began to march in the forest.

After a while I noticed some ponies walking in the forest, there were six of them, they all had different clothes. There was a rainbow maned and blue coated pegasus with a sport t-shirt and shorts that were white, a purple one with blue striped mane and tail with what seems like what a librarian would wear, glasses and a dull shirt with jeans, a yellow maned and orange coated pony with a hat and farm clothes, a blue maned and wihite coat with quite luxuriously clothed pony, a poofy pink maned and coat with candy like clothes and a shy pink maned and butter yellow coated mare with a normal green shirt and skirt.

Then I saw a manticores that was one of mine, it seems to be sleeping but then I saw a blue cloud go to it and pierce through its paw like a stinger, it went on a rampage but before I could go help him the ponies arrived, although because the manticore was enraged it attacked them, they kept up against him until, surprisingly, the shy one stepped up and made the ponies stop, after they stopped she went to him, he started to hit her but then he stopped and showed the thorn in his paw, the pony was shocked and proceeded to get the thorn out, after that she was being licked in affection by the manticore, then the ponies continued deeper into the forest.

I went to the manticore and motioned him to return to the cave, he nodded and returned, I then followed the ponies.

There were multiple obstacles to wherever they want to go, all made by the blue cloud, I noticed it going to a Castle after they went over the obstacle, I followed it unnoticed and found it transform into a pony, it was a bigger pony with both horn and wings, it was not as tall as me but it was certainly as tall as a normal manticore, then she spoke.

"Show yourself! I can sense you!" She exclaimed, I guess she was talking about me, but I didn't come out.

"Nevermind, I will deal with you later, after I end these foolish ponies that stand against me." She said while transforming into a cloud again and going to the other mares, I followed it and then I noticed just one pony doing something with five stones, but the cloud interrupted and took the stones, the pony leapt after her then they disappeared, I look through my eyes for where they could be and then I noticed something happening in a distant tower of the ruined castle.

When I arrived I saw the pony charging to the bigger pony with a glowing horn, I analysed the glow from afar with one of my eyes and saw that the molecules that made it was similar to one of the reptile like chickens used to make things turn to stone, but it's structure was totally different but the molecules themselves were similar, then I noticed the same structure around the stones behind the bigger pony, it was unstable but could somehow hold together, when I look back at the pony I noticed that some of her body's molecule started to form in the area where the unstable molecules were, then for a moment I saw her entire body molecules disintegrate and reconstruct where the stones are, it was marvelous, it was like teleportation! Genius! By making an area's molecules unstable, you can make yours replace the unstable ones just the moment they start to disintegrate from the instability! Ingenious!

But then, when she got to the stones, the pegacorn pony turned into a cloud and went to the purple unicorn, who was trying to do something to the stones, I don't know what she was trying to do just by making photons around the stones, after a moment the pegacorn broke the stones to pieces and the unicorn was shocked, then the other ponies came through the entrance to the room, after this, the unicorn started to say that her friends were the 'Element of Harmony' whatever that is, then, I noticed an area in mid air had unstable molecules, then a stone similar to the others appeared, the pieces of the stones started to circle around the ponies, and became after that necklaces.

I analysed the massive amount of light coming out of the ponies and then I was shocked, it was antimatter, but it was stabilized antimatter, controlled antimatter, antimatter that doesn't destroy everything upon contact, it was like seeing... Harmony between everything, Harmony between matter and antimatter, a mutual help between molecules and antimolecules. True Harmony

This anomaly of the Laws of Everything launched to the pegacorn, no, Alicorn, it seems fitting. The Alicorn was surrounded by True Harmony and disappeared.

Then the sun rose and another Alicorn came out from the SUN, the SUN, this was too much, first I found a genius way to teleport, then I witness True Harmony, and then I see a PONY come OUT of the SUN?!?

It was too much for me, too much for my conception of everything, so I left to go to the cave to rest from this suprising chain of events.

But he was noticed by a pony, while they were all happy to see Princess Luna's return, a pony noticed him, at least a glimpse of him.

'What was that? It looked like an injured manticore... Maybe it's just my imagination.' Fluttershy thought, how wrong she was, the manticore was very injured, mentally injured from this chain of events.

Author's Note

Hey guys, here's the newest chapter! Hope you like it.
Got nothing much to say besides it's hollidays for me and that I sleep a lot so the chapters will be out less often.
Also the ponies are like the 3 one in here.

Till next chapter!

Moonlight ( Edited )

A Moon is truly beautiful when you see it closer...

It's been a while since the 'revelation' I got, and the dead pony the manticores brought back was very useful, because of it's corpse and the useful anatomy data I got from it, I can now shapeshift into a pony, even if the process of doing so is gruesome, I can now shapeshift into whatever I can analyse! But it's a shame because I noticed that there were four races of ponies so far, the normal ones, unicorns, pegasi, and Alicorns. But I doubt it's just them.

I also gained the ability to speak, altought it was hard, I managed to shape my manticore form vocal cords so I can speak, even if the mouth is making my speech sound a little bit cracked or wiggly.

"I-gh-am ah an'ico-e" I tried to say, I wanted to say 'I am a manticore but it seems like my mouth and fangs formation got it out oddly. So I reformed some of my internal mouth and tongue so that it is shaped a little like one of a pony, although now my muzzle is a little stretched.

"I'm a-h man-icoe" I said, my voice was quite weak a foal like, so I made the vocal cords a little bit more thick and resistant, and re-made my mouth so it looks like one of a normal manticore, I morphed my tongue so it isn't too big or too small and then.

"I'm a manticore." I said, it was a success, my speech was quite fluid and my voice was a little booming and gentle at the same time, perfect.

"Hello, I am the apex predator of the Forest and the alpha male of the manticores." I said, it was beautiful! Now that I have a mean to introduce myself for the obligatory and unavoidable meeting with at least one pony, I need to appear less threatening.

To make this possible, I made my body shrink but it was still bigger than the average manticore to show that I AM the alpha male, I made my fangs less sharp. This should do it, as I still need to look like a manticore. Now for the manticores management, because I did my little transformation in front of the manticores, they didn't see me as unknown, then it hit me, I need to communicate with the manticores, I already can communicate but it is just with movement, so I need to make them be able to understand me and me understand them, then I remembered something I could use to make that happen.

"Parasites" I said, while I am technically a sentient cell that can shapeshift DNA and molecules structures, I still need a source, or a base of data to make it possible. In short, I need a fully healed and unscratched parasite. And because of that, the moment I was 'born' to now I didn't encountered any parasite, well, even pathogens in general, I don't know how to do it. So, I then searched for one parasite the entire night, parasite for what I know resides in living organisms to survive, much like bacteria, but what I need is not any kind of parasites, I need parasites that resides in the brain of living organisms, sure I can do with normal parasites but it will take a long time to remake the DNA structure of the parasite to make it into a cerebral parasite.

I need to have a cerebral parasite because I then can make it to make me and the manticores be telepaths, I just need to redo the DNA of the parasites so it can 'link' with another one, like an antenna.

While I was searching for a parasite, I gained quite the data of the fauna and flora of the forest, I even encountered a blue flower that makes the cells of living organisms malfunction, because it has this ability, I made sure to be immune to it by collecting it's DNA, I am a cell after all and I don't want to malfunction, imagine what would happen if I was corrupted with the abilities I have, it's going to be the end of the world because shapeshifting DNA and molecules? Pretty much everything is made of the stuff so that means I can do that, but now that I think about it, I wonder if I can control anti-molecules?

Wait, I know what can do that, it's those ponies, no not them, it was the 'Elements of Harmony' as they call it, if I can just look at the structure of the gems, I can probably shapeshift anti-matter, so anti-molecules. With this power, I can become pretty much a god, because everything is made of matter, and nothing is made of antimatter, I hope you can understand because that means that I could control everything and nothing, that means I could control, Space, Time, Reality.

But for now, I need to find a parasite... It's hilarious when I think about it, a being that can control pretty much anything struggles to find a parasite, a simple parasite that resides pretty much in anything, wait... Am I not a parasite now? Because I reside in the corpse of a manticore and pretty much became it's master.

"I'm so stupid, I can just multiplie myself and remodel my copy so that it is a cerebral parasite." I said, frustrated by the obvious answer to my problem, so I then proceeded to return to my cave.

But on my way, I saw a pony, an Alicorn, a Blue Alicorn, in the middle of the forest in front of the ruined castle looking at the night sky. She looked lost in thought, her mane full of moving stars flowing in the night breeze, her eyes gazing at the moon with guilt, luxurious clothes made of silk and with sapphire and obsidian as ornaments, the night embodied.

"A thousand years and I return, only to mourn on the evil deeds I made." She said to nothing in particular, she then started to take a walk, watching the horizon. I knew I would be noticed, so I then closed my multiple eyes so to look like a normal manticore, well, besides the whole body structure and color that is. I watched with my two normal eyes the mare, waiting for something, anything to happen.

"Are you gonna keep staring at me beast?" She said and turned to stare at me, not glare but stare with a smile. I stayed hidden because to be honest, I was creeped out.

"I remember you, you are the beast that followed me when I was Nightmare Moon." She said in a sad and regretful tone, it was a pity.

"What I did *sob* was unforgivable *sob* so I may just *sob* be a meal to *sob* a beast like you." She sobbed, then started to sob in her hands kneeling on the ground, for the first time in my little life, I felt empathy, emotions, sentiments, feelings I didn't think I had until now. So I came out, I went over her, she looked up at me with tears still trailing down her, I must say, beautiful face, maybe I should get some data on her molecules and DNA? No, not now you twisted mind of a scientist, focus, there's female in front of you, one in deep despair of deeds you don't know about, what do you do?

"At least *sob* I will be the meal of *sob* a unique and beautiful *sob* manticore." She said smiling at me, then she looked down and resumed crying, I moved my paw, making sure it hadn't claws, and patted her, her mane was very fluffy, so I started to caress her mane to calm her down. She looked like she didn't expect that as she looked up at me with wide eyes.

"What are you doing?" She said, still shocked by my action.

"Do not cry little pony, you have a family at your side, if you were to die, I don’t think they would be happy." I said, still comforting her, I then stopped and backed away then sat down.

"Y-Y-Y-You can speak? Y-Y-Y-You aren't a mindless beast?" She said full of fear now.

"Yes I can speak, and no I am not a mindless beast. I may look like a manticore but as you said, I am unique." I said, she looked confused.

"What do you mean 'unique'?" She said now with a curious tone.

"I am the apex predator of the Forest and the alpha male of the manticores." I said with power and pride, her jaw dropped.

"Y-Y-Your the master of the Everfree Forest?" She said with fear again. The master of the everfree forest? I guess so.

"Yes, I am." I said, she looked shocked, then she looked skeptical for a moment.

"Prove it." She said with an amused look on her muzzle, I smirk, then I began to roar, she looked confused by this, then, a whole pack of manticores came from every way of the forest, soon enough, there were over a hundred, from the youngest to the oldest, then, Timberwolves started to appear too, I didn't know why but I didn't care, there were hydras coming too and even the big purple and blue bears came out of their caves, I only met them once but they seem to respect me too. I looked back to the pony while smirking, her eyes were wide, her jaw dropped, even her mane looked like it stopped flowing.

"Is it enough of a proof? Because I don't know if they like you." I said while looking at the entire forest populace growling around us.

"Y-Y-Yes, I-It's enough." She said, still shocked, I roared again and soon enough, they all went back to where they were.

"So, what's your name little pony?" I said breaking through her shocked gaze. She then stood up, she was tall, not as tall as me but still a little tinier than me.

"I am Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria, it is an honor to meet you Master of the Everfree Forest." She said with a serious tone, and even did a little bow.

"Oh, a Princess? Please do not bow before me, it is an honor to meet you too." I said bowing a little. She looked a little shocked but confused too.

"With the forest in your control, I cannot imagine what kind of power you hold to do so, the forest is wild and nothing in my knowledge can control it's wilderness, and yet here you are, calling upon a power not even me and my sister's power COMBINED could control." She said with admiration.

"Please it is not much of a power I have." I said with modesty, it was true that I had a mighty power, but I was still vulnerable.

"Can I ask you to come to Canterlot? I need to introduce you to my sister!" She said fully excited now, to the point she started bouncing.

"I am sorry but as you can see, I have a pack of manticores under my protection and as you said, the forest is wild, I do not really control it, but I keep it in check." I said while turning around, I wasn't going to my cave, I still had a parasite to make.

"Oh... Perhaps me and some ponies can visit you then?" She said a little sad.

"Yes, come at the outskirts of the forest in three days, I would gladly let you visit." I said while modeling my copied DNA.

"Ok, goodnight!" She said, now fully happy while flying away, I guess I did what I intend to do to her. I even got some data on her while we were talking! Nevermind that, I still have a parasite to make.

Meanwhile...

"Oh where was it? I hope it's not an injured manticore..." Fluttershy said, it's been days since she noticed the figure, and ever since she saw it, she could see a glimpse of it whenever she went in the Everfree Forest, but now it was late at night and she was getting back to her cottage.

"I hope that that roar I heard wasn't a dangerous beast, It brought with it all kinds of things to Timberwolves to Ursa Major!" She said remembering the panic she had when she saw all the beast in the forest run to that roar, after a while she heard another roar and the beasts returned to what they were doing, even the Timberwolves that were previously chasing her didn't mind her now.

"Something is going on in the Forest..." She said now out of the Forest, she immediately took a shower and went to sleep when she got in her cottage.

"Maybe tomorrow..." She said, trailing off to the Dream World.

Author's Note

Here's the chapter, I wanted to make a Fluttershy encounter but I screwed and because I'm too lazy to rewrite, I did a Luna encounter. Hope you enjoy it!

Rival ( Edited )

Who, is that?

Finally, I finished the parasite, now I just need a test subject, and what do I see on my way to the cave? A lonely manticore, how convenient. I motionned her to come and she did so, when she got in front of me, she sat down excited, then it hit me, how do I make the parasite go in her? Then I remembered that I could just make her eat the parasite, but I didn't want her to suffer, so I made the parasite look like a piece of meat with the taste of me, I brought it on my paw and gave it to the manticore, who happily ate it.

After she finished, I focused on the parasite in her, and soon enough I got a feedback, I now felt in the gastric acid of the manticore, I felt being absorbed by the body, because I knew the flow of the blood, I went directly to the brain where I made some changes, but because I didn't want to cause pain, I made the brain sleep and so the entire manticore went asleep, in this time of sleep, I added some things in her brain, now she has the ability to talk to me through thoughts because the parasite now reside in the part of the brain where she should normally think, just to be sure, I added some memories in her brain, the general knowledge of some being sentient with a general education.

She then woke up and I immediately got a feedback from the parasite.

'Urgh, My head... What happened?' I heard in my mind.

'It worked!' I exclaimed, it made the manticore shake a little.

'Master? Is it you?' She thought to me, I nodded and she look shocked.

'What did you do? Why do I feel like I wasn't always able to think?' She thought, I then smirked.

'Because I made you able to do so, well at least think about so' I thought and she quickly licked me.

'Thank you Master! I feel so much better like this, but what did you do?' She thought.

'I just changed some things in your brain.' I replied, she seemed satisfied now looking at me with a seductive stare, she may be a manticore but she oozed hormones.

'I must ask, why did you do this to me? I don't think gaining true sentience is an ability you give to anything now is it?' She thought, because our minds are 'linked' I could see many things in my mind, all of her thoughts were linked to reproduction, so I modified the parasite to transfer only communication.

'I did this because I need to properly communicate with every manticores.' I thought harshly, she seemed taken aback and pouted.

'Your no fun Master.' She thought while pouting. 'Interesting' I privately thought.

'Now come, I need to make the rest of the pack able to communicate through thoughts.' I said while going to the cave.

Meanwhile...

"Ok, today is the day, I feel it." Fluttershy said while preparing to go in the Everfree forest again, but she was stopped by her friends.

"Fluttershy, we’re worried about you, why do you keep going in the Everfree Forest? You know that we've been noticing you going in since Princess Luna's return." Twilight said with a worried voice.

"Yes darling, the Everfree Forest is so horrid, and you can't worsen your beautiful body dear." Rarity said with a stern look.

"Yeah Flutters! Nopony is able to survive in the Everfree Forest, besides me of course!" Rainbow Dash said full of pride, this got a glare from everypony.

"What Rainbow meant was, It's too dangerous for ya, and ah don't want tah lose a friend." Applejack said still glaring at Rainbow.

"Yeahandbecausethereissomanymonstersintherethatitstoodangerousforyoutogoandthatthereisasuperscarylookingmanticorethatrulesoverallofthefrorestandthatits-" Pinkie Pie said before she got cut off by a cupcake in her mouth, brought by Spike.

"I know I know but... Wait, Pinkie what did you say?" Fluttershy said, noticing a part of Pinkie's rambling being interesting.

"Oh, thathereissomanymonstersintherethatitstoodangerousforyoutogoand-" Pinkie said before being cut by a hoof in her mouth, brought by Fluttershy.

"Not that but after." Fluttershy said.

"Oh, thatthereisasuperscarylookingmanticorethatrulesoverallofthefrorest-" Pinkie said before being cut by a hoof in her mouth, brought by Fluttershy.

"Yes that! But can you say it slower?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh, thhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttt thhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee-" Pinkie said.

"Umm, can you say it normally?" Fluttershy asked.

"Gee Fluttershy, never happy about what you ask but okay, that there is a super scary looking manticore that rules over all of the forest?" Pinkie finished, this got Fluttershy's and the girls eyes to widen.

"What? A new species of manticore and that it's ruling over the Everfree Forest?" Twilight exclaimed while thinking of all the things she could study.

"Oh, this horrid Forest got a ruffian as a ruler?" Rarity said before fainting.

"Pfff, I bet it's not even scary." Rainbow said full of pride.

"Hold it right there, just think about what that fellas is, if Pinkie's right, it's the ruler of the Everfree Forest and should ah remind you that this same forest ain't normal and is full of beasts?" AJ said.

"Oh don't worry, he's a good guy! Because I saw him confort Princess Luna when she was crying in front of the Castle." Pinkie said casually, the girls were taken aback by this.

"How kind..." Fluttershy mumbled.

"Princess Luna was crying? Why? And what were you doing in the Everfree Forest?" Twilight said.

"Oh Princess Luna was sad because of what she did as Nightmare Moon, and I was going to get some flowers for Rose because she was too scared to go in the Everfree Forest." She said, the girls thought about why would Rose need a flower from the Everfree Forest, but they shrugged it off, it was just Pinkie being Pinkie they all thought.

"Are you sure about what you saw?" Twilight said.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She Pinkie promised, it was sealed.

"Let's go girls!" Twilight exclaimed, determined to find this manticore, because it was Pinkie who said it it must be true because when Pinkie Pinkie promises, it was always true.

After a while in the forest, they heard a loud roar, Fluttershy thought she heard that roar yesterday but it was different, it sounds like it came out of a wooden flute, then when they arrived at the source, they saw something mythical, it was a big Timberwolf, but unlike the others, it wasn't scarred with countless wounds, it was clean, and it had blue eyes that ooze wiseness. And in front of it, it had a manticore with a fiery collar fur and a bloody body fur, it's eyes are unlike anything they saw, it was lifeless but at the same time it seemed so alive. Then, eyes started to open all over its body, they were terrifying, they all looked around with bloodlust in them, then it's body started to twitch, then shake madly, it looked like it's body was gonna explode, and then...

I was happily thinking with my family when a Timberwolf pack came at the entrance of the cave, but unlike the other pack, it was well organized, it was like I was looking at a trained army, then they all barked in unisson and started to scatter in two groups, and on the middle road came a massive Timberwolf, completely unscattered and had blue eyes that saw countless battle, making him look wise. But that’s not the problem, the problem is that my instinct that I didn't know I had until now started to fill me with bloodlust, it wanted me to kill him for no particular reason.

"Beast of Tartarus! Leave this Forest and leave us be! Your presence disturb the Natural flow of this Forest!" It said, it was shocking, a sentient being besides me, the manticores and the ponies was just in front of me, but for some reason I wanted to tear it apart, leaving nothing behind.

"Why would I do that? For all I care about is those manticores!" I roared at him, I opened many eyes on instinct, I noticed the ponies from before in the bushes but I didn't care, he roared and I roared in response, I wanted to tear it apart, to make him suffer, TO INFECT HIM. And so, I made my body transform, I didn't care if there were witnesses.

I needed a better head, what I have isn't enough, so I twisted my head apart making blood splatter everywhere, then I broke the bones apart, I moved my brain in my back to be safer, I tore my head apart, making countless razor sharp teeth appear, but I needed to see what I tear apart with them, so I made an eye in the mouth, but it was a weak point so I covered it with hardened mucus, about 5 layers of them. The head is done, now the body.

For the body, I needed to have more agility, so I tore the sides of my body, making spiders legs would be advantageous, it would allow me to jump and move fast, but they are weak points too, so I needed to cover them in a hard material, but it should not slow me, hmmm, bones are too slow, mucus is not resistant enough for limbs, crystal... A modifiable crystal, an all time melting crystal, that hardens upon impact. Yes, that would do the trick. So as I said/thought, I tore my sides to make multiple spider legs come out, covered by sticking molten crystal.

Hmmm, it's not enough, because it takes too much energy, I need to have a better way to transport nutriment to the body, so more blood and a better heart, but to make more blood I need to eat, oh poor little manticore, a dying manticore came to me.

'Take me Master' The brave one thought in my mind.

'Are you sure?' I thought, he nodded so I proceeded to devour him through my monstrous mouth, I moved my eye to let space for the way to my stomach, I made sure it was a painless death, the ponies I saw through my protected eyes seems to gag or vomit in the sight of what I was doing, the Timberwolf just growled at me. After I finished my meal, I made my heart bigger, but because of that, it was visible through my skin, the skin in question I turned it into the same crystal over my spider legs, but it was the crystal I always use to harden my skin, so it was near indestructible. I was ready, so I turned to my foe, who looked furious.

Then all of the pack charged at me, but were blocked by the manticore pack, it was a war.

'Master! We'll take care of them! Go for their chief!' One of them thought in my mind, I was proud and so, I rushed over my enemy.

But he did something wrong, he launched a liquid at me, this liquid was painful, it broke throught my hardened skin, I backed away to analyse the structure of the liquid.

"THE BLUE FLOWERS NECTAR" I roared at him, he just smirked at me.

"Yes it is, I watched you from afar and noticed that you were afraid of the flower, so, because I'm immune to its effect, I extracted some of its nectar." He said, I was confused, I made sure I was immune to it, to the point I tested it myself.

"THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, I MADE SURE I WAS IMMUNE TO IT! WHAT DID YOU DO?" I roared while rushing at him, he dodged and backed away.

"Oh you silly monster, I concentrated it of course, because I knew you were gonna make some immunity to it, I made sure to extract as much of the nectar as I could, I took an entire field of them." He said, it made sense, I only tested it with one flower, but didn't do it for all of them.

Then I roared and rushed at him, he tried to throw me the nectar again but I jumped and launched some sharpen bones at him through my mouth, yes I needed to make a distance way to attack him. He tried to dodge but was scarred, then I saw it, a little green liquid leaking out of the wound, I launched myself to him and as expected he dodged and backed away, but the green liquid was on the ground, I analysed it and what I found was amazing, it had cells! Like mine, but less developed because I noticed that he could only multiple, not infect, then I got an Idea and so I started to infect the cells DNA to replace them as my own, soon enough I was able to copy the form of anything I had the DNA of, in short, I have the ability to clone now.

"So your the one who made the Timberwolves, like me, your a unique cell." I stated, he seems taken aback by this.

"No... YOU WILL NOT END MY CHILDRENS LIFE!" He said while rushing at me, he was blinded by fear and rage, then, when he got close to me, I pierced his body, but not all, I devoured him to the cellular level, I needed to end him, but then I realised, I shouldn't end every last bit of him, because if he is, then the balance of this forest will end, he made the Timberwolves, he is the source of their birth, if I end him, the Timberwolves will stop existing, and the Timberwolves act as a balance, or the police of the forest so that when there is an overpopulation of a species in the forest, they are here to wipe the 'over' of the 'population', sure the forest will adapt but it will take centuries for that to happen, so I didn't end him. I let go but, I ripped all of his abilities by removing the DNA linking to them, but I let him the ability to clone, so that he can make Timberwolves again. I then reverted back to my manticore form as I see no danger anymore, the manticores and Timberwolves stopped fighting and only looked at us.

"You're a pillar of this forest, if I end you now, the balance of this forest will break." I stated while healing his body, he looked at me and growled.

"If you ever do anything monster, I will come back." He said while going away, the pack of Timberwolves followed him, I just sat there with the manticores behind, those injured came to me and I soon healed them.

After this, I turned to the frozen ponies hiding in the bushes, I could see them shake in fear, but couldn't move because of it.

"Well, are you going to come out?"

Author's Note

Here's the chapter, yep, our cell here is, like everything, weak to something.
Nothing much to say so till next chapter.

Monster (Edited )

Monster ( Edited )

What is this thing?

30 minutes ago...

Twilight's POV

It's horrible, when we arrived at the source of the roar, we were shocked to see, not only a big and seemingly wise Timberwolf, but also a manticore that was as tall but emitted a bloodlust like nothing in Equestria, not even the manticores we met felt like this one.

But then, it roared at the Timberwolf, I swear I heard them talk, but the manticores body started to twitch, and bloody eyes opened all over it's body, they were looking in every direction, as if they were scanning the area, then, I made eye contact with one of them, it was terrifying, I felt like an ant, an insignificant insect that only exists to clean the trash of the world. It's deep but wide pupil could pierce through me, it turned and twisted itself like it was trying to see me in different angles. It didn't look like it was threatening me, just looking at me. It oozed bloodlust, unrelentless will to kill, but it wasn't towards me or anything, it was towards Everything.

After this overwhelming game of stares, all of the eyes focused on the Timberwolf, but unlike the general bloodthirsty stares one of them did to me, it was a pure, unstoppable hatred, all concentrated on this one Timberwolf, I bet this kind of glare would obliterate me on a cellular scale. I looked at my friends to see if they were alright.

AppleJack had her eyes widen, she was holding her hat and was using a tree's branch as a support to stand, it was like she was having a panic attack, well, it's a good reaction considering the situation.

Rainbow Dash was trying to stay stoic and unfearful, it didn't do much because her whole body was shaking and her legs looked like they didn't even know if they should start making her run or not.

Rarity was unconscious on a conveniently sofa-shaped bush, in a dramatic faint pose with horror written on her face.

Pinkie Pie was just standing there with her mane and tail straight and she didn't even look pink anymore, she just stared at the monster of a manticore with blank eyes.

Fluttershy, surprisingly didn't hide or closed her eyes, instead, she had tears threatening to fall down her innocent face, I thought she was crying because of the stares, until I heard her say 'The poor manticore...' After she said that, I was thinking she went mad or something, but quickly got that thought out of my mind. She is my friend, and I can't mistreat or judge a friends behaviour, well, unless it's extreme behaviour.

But I had the greatest emotions battle in my mind, on one side I was consumed by curiosity and will to learn everything there is to these particular species of Timberwolf and Manticore. And on the other side, I was consumed by fear and running away with my friend with hope to be as far away as possible from these otherworldly monsters.

The latter nearly prevailed when the manticore body started to twitch and shake, it's eyes started to blink rapidly as they started tearing with blood. The manticore head twisted, turned, rotated and burst open, I saw countless razor sharp teeth inside, blood spilling out of this monstrous mouth, then a big eye formed in the esophagus, blocking the way to the stomach, I could see it starting to have layers of what looked like mucus.

Then It's whole body bursted, spider legs sprouting out of its sides, wings that were now sharp and deadly, skin that was made of unknown materials, it roared an unholy roar, a roar that should only be heard in the deepest depths of Tartarus. But then, it turned to a dying manticore, who stood up even though it had mortal wounds, then for some reason, nodded. After that, we were all shocked by what we saw. The 'manticore' committed cannibalism, an act that was supposed to be a legend, the simple term was unknown to the public, unless you have studied history deeply, but even in history books and dictionaries, the word didn't exist.

After it devoured the manticore, it's heart was bigger, we could see it through the skin. Then it jumped on the Timberwolf, who threw a blue liquid on the monster, it looked like water but I knew that water didn't have green liquid flowing in it, the monster then unexpectedly roared in pain, exclaiming that this was the 'blue flowers nectar' and that he 'made sure he was immune to it', then it hit me. 'It has a weakness!!!. Ok, even though it looked invincible even without magic it had a weakness against this 'blue flower'.

My thoughts were cut short when I heard it say.

"Well are you ponies going to come out?" It said, when I looked back at him, he was back to a manticore form, now, I was seriously doubting myself because I was thinking I was hallucinating and imagining this whole battle, but then, my doubts were shattered when I saw the Timberwolves going away with the big one limping and having parts of its body ripped out of it.

"Hello?" The now looking peaceful beast, it was shocking how, minutes ago, it looked like a monster straight out of Spike's comics. Yes, his comics, not Tartarus, because no monster in Tartarus would be as terrifying as this monster, or the ones from Spike's comic book.

"I'm sorry to have made you see this." He said regretfully while coming towards us, the only one who didn't back away was Fluttershy, but while coming towards us, he flinched when he put pressure on one of his paws, that was the signal that Fluttershy needed to fly over him.

"Oh please don't move." She said while stopping him, he sat and showed his paw, it was wounded and blood was spilling out.

"Oh no, it's bad, please don't move." Fluttershy said while patting him, he just smiled.

"You are kind, no wonder my kin keeps talking about you." He said, Fluttershy blushed.

"Oh no it's nothing, but they really are talking like you and us?" She asked, I shook my head in response.

"No they don't speak, we are communicating through thoughts." I explained, she looked shocked but nodded.

"Don't worry about the wound, I will close it." He said, Fluttershy just looked worried, but then, the wound started to close while the blood returned in , it was gruesome but so fascinating, with this ability, ponies could heal wounds without even using magic! I need to study.

"Oh, oh my." Fluttershy said while looking in awe at the show, we all watched in awe, something like this was unreal, even if we have magic, it doesn't heal wounds this fast.

"H-How is that possible!" I exclaimed, it was so preposterous I needed to know.

"I reconstruct the wound on a molecular scale that's how." He explained to me, on a molecular scale? That's impossible! Not even magic can do that!

"T-T-T-Twilight? W-W-What are you doing?" Spike said, I ordered him to stay in the Library, what is he doing here?

"Spike? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"T-T-The Princess sent a letter. It's urgent." He said while lending me the letter he had in his claws.

"What could the Princess want to make you come her- WHAT??!" I exclaimed. The letter said that a new leader was founded, and it said that a mighty manticore was the master of the Everfree Forest and that Luna met him personally.

"Y-Y-Y-You a-a-are t-the m-master of the Everfree Forest?" I asked with fear, not even the Princess could control the forest and the manticore before is the master of such a place?

"You can say that." He said, I was shocked, the being in front of me not only was monstrous, but was the master of the Everfree Forest? The same forest where countless monsters resides?

"Spike, take a letter for Princess Celestia." I said, Spike immediately took a letter and a quill.

Dear Princess Celestia.

The manticore who is the Master of the Everfree Forest is currently in front of us,
What do we do? And I add that this manticore is highly intelligent from the way he speaks.

Your faithful student. Twilight Sparkle.

I said, Spike then proceeded to send the letter.

"Now we just wait for Princess Celestia to reply." I said, the manticore just tilted its head.

"Was it a way of communication that I just saw?" He asked, how observant.

"Yes, yes it was." I replied, it became awkward, because an awkward silence fell.

"Hmm, I should study this, maybe I could master this way of communication, from the molecular view I saw, it had a slight trait of magic from a foreign source, and the magic from that dragon." He mumbled, brilliant! He described just the way of how the letters are sent!

"How did you know? Nevermind that, how can you see molecules?" I asked, it wasn't possible for anything to see molecules.

"I don't know, the only thing I know is that I just see them, or more like feel them." He replied, ridiculous, absolutely preposterous.

"What? We don't care about that! More importantly, are you sure your not a spy? Because from what I saw your both a Monster AND a spy!" Rainbow exclaimed while flying straight for the manticore.

"Hol' on right 'ere, don't go assuming this fella is a spy." AJ said while biting her tail.

"Yeah but he is still a monster." she replied while pouting. Before I could say anything, Fluttershy flew straight towards her.

"Now Rainbow you apologise this instant! You don't call something a monster! And certainly not a manticore who was just protecting its family!" She exclaimed.

"Did you not see that he literally ate his own family?!" Rainbow replied, she had a point, which Fluttershy couldn't reply.

"It's not a problem, yes I was protecting those under my protection, but the one I ate was a true warrior, a pity that we had to sacrifice him." The manticore said while separating the two angry mares.

"Hmph" Rainbow pouted while going away.

Then Spike started to burp a letter.

"Twilight! it's from the Princess!" He exclaimed while waving the letter.

"Ah yes!" I exclaimed.

Dear Twilight Sparkle

I will come to personally meet this manticore,
please come to the outskirts of the Forest so that I can
do so, I will judge if he is a threat or not.

"Okay, you heard it, we need to go to the outskirts of the Forest." I said while motioning the manticore to follow me. And we all went to meet the Princess.

Royalty

So that's what a leader is like...

Our little walk through 'my kingdom' wasn't very eventful, besides the little chat we had along the way, nothing much.

"Just a question, how did you turn into that monster and come back as a manticore?" Twilight asked.

"To be honest, I don't really know, but I know that my organic structure shapeshift whenever I will it too." I replied, hoping that it was enough to satisfy her curiosity.

"But... doesn't it hurt?" Fluttershy asked seemingly worried for my well being, I must say that her Element suit her well.

"No, not really, as I said, I can shapeshift my organic structure, so that means that I can stop my nerves from sending information that might make my brain feel pain." I replied, she doesn't seem to understand completely but she does seem pleased that I don't feel pain.

"Oh look! It's the Princess!" Twilight exclaimed while pointing outside of the Forest, I saw the tall figure of a white anthropomorphic pony, with many many ornaments on her expensive robe, her mane and tail were flowing with the wind endlessly, her amethyst eyes looking more like rubies than amethysts, a smile that could pierce through the most heartless being in existence. I must admit that I was intimidated, even thought I knew I was dangerous from the information I gather from the ponies with me, they don't have the ability to manipulate organic matter, only magic.

"Hello my little ponies." She said while hugging Twilight, she then looked at me with the same motherly smile.

"And am I right to assume that you are the Master of the Everfree Forest." She said, I was struck, I can't feel a thing for females but the hormones of my body were overwhelming, I then shut down some of the cells that this body needs to make hormones, it would be troublesome to have my brain disturbed by them.

"Yes, yes I am." I said while bowing, it is true that I didn't need to bow, but showing respect to an important figure is always better than having them as an enemy.

"Raise your head, you didn't need to bow as a fellow leader." She said with the same motherly smile, I looked at her and sensed hormones coming from her, it seemed like she was struck by me, what was it called again? Un coup de foudre? Or is it love at first sight? Maybe, because my body and hers were sending hormones, so maybe.

"I was told by my sister that you were wise and powerful, I see now that she didn't lie." She said normally, at least to the ears and eyes of the ponies, because I am no pony, and I knew that these words were driven by hormones as I sensed lust in it.

"No need to flatter me, I did only what was necessary to help a depressed mare." I said with a smile, I managed to not show my fangs because I knew that ponies were prey, and that their instincts would instantly drive them to fear me. This seems to please her, because she blushed, it wasn't visible but I noticed the blood pressure on her cheeks.

"Princess Celestia! You won't believe this! A pack of Timberwolves were attacking him and his manticores and he started to transform into a monster and went to fight the leader of the Timberwolves! It was so cool but scary too!" Spike exclaimed, he quickly covered his mouth with his claws, because of him, the Princess is now looking at me curiously.

"Is that true? That can you show us your 'Monster'?" She asked, I knew it was coming to this.

"As you wish, but it won't be pretty." I said while backing away, I looked at her and she had a look of provocation, the ponies on the other hoof were hiding behind the Princess.

Celestia's POV

"As you wish, but it won't be pretty." He said, 'oh please, do show me, I've seen many things that can be called a monster.' I thought while making a provoking stare at him. I must admit that my sister was right, he looked wise and powerful and I swear that he can see through me, because I noticed how he stared in my eyes, I noticed that he had a look of acknowledgement when he did so. I was confused as to why my little ponies were hiding behind me, was he really that terrifying?

He stopped and looked at us, I saw pity in his eyes, why? Why would he pity us?

Then, he started to shake, tremble, I wanted to go and see if he was ok, but I stopped when I saw his head twist, turn, break, and burst open, showing coutless fangs inside his monstrous mouth that used to be his head, I then saw an eye forming inside it, a bloody eyeball full of bloodlust, I was terrified, I wanted to hide like my little ponies were, my instincts screamed to run away as far as possible.

His wings now started to shift, I could see their muscles moving inside them, it was gruesome and horrible, now his wings looked like it could cut the air itself, I don't know how it was possible but they looked like they were made of pure steel.

His body was shaking, the sides of his body had a bulge to them, they looked like they would explode and burst open, which they did literally, it sent an unimaginable amount of blood around him, and four pairs of what looked like spider legs came out of his body, it was made of a material I didn't know and I knew just by looking at them, that it was a material near indestructible.

His body was now covered in blood, and eyes started to open all over it, they were like the one in the monstrous mouth but smaller.

He truly looked like a monster now, if somepony told me that THIS was a manticore before, I would laugh at them, there was no possible way that this used to be a manticore, and yet here he was, once a perfectly normal manticore -besides the height and the color of his fur- now looking like a monster coming straight out of Tartarus, no, not even Tartarus would have this kind of monster, this wasn't supposed to exist in the first place, I can't even wonder if it was a nightmare, because no nightmare can make this monster, nothing in this world can.

"Here you go, you wanted a monster? You have one in front of you." He somehow said, it was a demonic voice, an ungodly and unreal voice, I saw many things that claimed to be a monster, but this was a true monster.

"Y-You can turn b-back." I said, how shameful, I intended to stay calm but my voice wouldn't allow me to do so, I can't show fear in front of my little ponies, I am their ruler and as ruler I can't show weakness.

"Even a fellow ruler fears me, a shame really, very well." He said while doing what he did but in reverse, how did he know that I feared him? Can he read minds?

"Well, what do you think?" He asked now looking like a normal manticore.

"I-It was interesting." I replied, I can't say that it was terrifying! It's disrespectful and I might make him an enemy!

"Don't bother hiding your fears, I know that I'm a monster in the eyes of sentient beings." He said wisely, it's ridiculous, he stated my fears without even trying! I didn't expected him to be this observant!

"Now, I need to ask, was it really only because you wanted to see me personally that you came? Or is it for another reason." He said, I was now full of fear, because I sensed anger behind his words, maybe he didn't like that he was bothered? And why did I come here again?

"Yes and no, I wanted to see what my sister said was true or not, and I wanted to know if you were a threat or not to my little ponies, and it seems like you are not." I said fully composed, he was of course terrifying but he didn't attack us or any of my little ponies even thought he could have.

"I see, and I suppose you want to form a treaty with my domain?" He said, I must admit that it can be beneficial to have the Everfree Forest of all places as an 'ally'.

"Yes, although I don't ask much from the Forest besides the protections of my little ponies, is there an army under your command?" I asked, Twilight and her friends looked shocked by my statement, I am not surprised, even I am disgusted by my demand but it must be done to assure the safety of my little ponies if they ever step in the Forest?

"And why would you want to know if I have an army under my command?" He said very harshly and suspiciously, I don't blame him, nopony, or being in his case, wouldn't be suspicious if you were casually ask if you had a force by another ruler.

"It is to assur the safety of my little ponies, in case war would break, because you see, the griffins became very hostile lately and I fear that war might break against them." I said, this shocked surprisingly not him, but my little ponies.

"War! B-but Princess! War hasn't happened since, since a millenia ago!" Twilight exclaimed but before I could reply, the manticore stepped in.

"Little Twilight Sparkle, you must know that it isn't surprising that war would break, because when there's sentient beings walking on the world, sooner or later, they would begin to battle and start a war, not just sentient being, every living being in general, all fight for territory, nothing is free of the sin of greed." He said wisely, it was true, in my long life, I knew that it was true, he added every living being because it was true too.

"B-but, it doesn't have too!" Twilight replied.

"No it doesn't, but it doesn't mean it won't, you see, I added every living being because even plants are fighting other plants for territory, animals fight for others territory." He said, it was all so true and it now made me wonder, Where did he gained this knowledge?'.

"Now to answer your question, no I do not have an army, at least not one by definition, I can call upon a part of the population of the Everfree Forest to assist me in battles." He said casually, I was stunned, 'He can call the power of the Everfree Forest?' I thought. But I was then cut from my thoughts when I sensed a very familiar magic energy coming in our direction.

"Sister! Excuse me for being late!" Luna said from behind me, I turned to greet her but she wasn't even there, I looked back and I saw her hugging the manticore, who seems unfazed by the action.

"It's you!" She exclaimed, I must admit that I was jealous that she get to hug him, 'Wait what?'.

"Please Princess, you musn't taint yourself of my unclean fur." He said in a noble way, a gentlecolt, he even managed to make Luna blush!

"*gasp* What happened to you?!!" She exclaimed, now that I looked at him, he had blood all over him, poor Luna, she now has blood on her, you deserve it, 'Wait why?'. I was confused by my train of thoughts, so confused that I didn't noticed that the blood on Luna began to slither on him and then were absorbed in him.

"It seems that our meeting must end." He said while looking at a clock in a very far away house, I couldn't see it because it was too far, but I could see the outline of a clock, then I realised.

"Oh that's right, sister we need to hurry back to the Castle, we need to make the night!" Luna exclaimed while flying towards the chariot that was in Ponyville.

"I'm sorry to end this meeting but she is right, goodbye my little ponies, and goodbye to you." I said to him, I didn't really got his name, but I guess it's alright for a manticore.

"Please call me Matis." He said, 'Matis? What a weird name'.

"Very well then goodbye Matis." I said with a smile while going to the chariot, where Luna was shouting at me to hurry up.

Matis's POV

"I will be on my way myself, goodbye." I said, it was very entertaining, even though the Princess became a little annoying, it was bearable.

After saying our goodbyes and goodnights, I returned to the cave where the manticores waited for me patiently, and I noticed that the injured one from the battle were already healed.

'How was it master?' One of them asked.

'It was, interesting, but it seems like we must prepare ourselves for a war.' I warned, but none of them felt fear and looked at me with determined gaze.

'We're all ready at your command!' they thought in unisson.

'Interesting, very very interesting.'

Preparations

I need to be ready for any outcomes in the future...

Third Person's POV

Matis was very busy right now, he was preparing for war, but his current situation won't allow him to join in battle. What he currently lacks is soldiers, a settlement and an HQ.

For the food he didn't need to be worried, he was loaded of foods from fruits to beasts.

His population was still in the hundred so he couldn't go to battle even if manticores are considered extremely dangerous, he won't rest until he have at least a thousand of them, but for that he need to make the manticores reproduce faster, but he learned that the mating season is once every two years for manticores and he couldn't wait that long. So to deal with that, he changed the genes of every manticores so that the growth is going faster and that the mating season is once every month. Of course, once he is satisfied, he will undo what he did.

He didn't have any settlement around the Everfree Forest, he didn't need to because nothing would dare to enter besides the foolish and the brave. So hedon't need settlement for now.

The HQ he already have one wich is the current home/cave he resides, but he is starting to make the cave bigger and bigger for the future newborn.

"Hmm, now that I think about all of this, I don't really know much about the world beyond the forest, but is my curiosity so vast that I would dare to end my peaceful life?" Matis asked himself while looking at Ponyville.

"Of course it is, what kind of sentient being would I be if I didn't seek knowledge?"

Then he started to morph into a pony, he had the anatomy of a pegasus in his mind thanks to the poor victim of a manticore's hunt sometimes ago. But Matis wasn't a fool, he wouldn't morph into the same replica as the victim, this would raise suspicions and the pony probably had a family so it's out of the question.

For now, he morphed into a dark blue coated male pegasus with an obsidian coloured mane and tail. The ponies in this world don't really need clothes but to not stand out much he made a simple black shirt with a silver collar as an accessory. Just to be safe, he made sure that his musculature could rival the one of a manticore but with the anatomy of an anthropomorphic pegasus.

Now he was ready to explore the land of anthropomorphic ponies.

'Ponyville...

As he walked throught the little bridge that went to the little town of Ponyville, he noticed that the town was quite lively and had a variety of ponies. Some looked like nobles and other had the lives of a simple person. But before he could continue further, he stopped to think about something.

'I didn't pratice with this body's abilities.' Then he quickly turned around to go back in the forest to pratice. As he walked, he heard what sounded like a lullaby. It was pleasing, so he thought that it wouldn't matter to take a little stroll towards the hypnotizing melody.

For some reasons, his vision became more lively, as if the colour saturation of his eyes were maxed up, it was blinding but he didn't mind as long as this melody continued. Then he arrived at a little garden with a cottage and different kind of animals housing. Then he saw a pegasus mare flying around while singing to herself, she didn't sing alone because birds and every kinds of animals were following her and sung at the same rythm.

For the first time in his new life, the little cell took interest in something other than himself and the ones he protected. He wasn't in love, he was interested at the phenomenon he was witnessing, and when he used his 'Third Eye', he could see that the molecules that were the constitution of magic was flowing out of her. He could really say this was magical, but he didn't because he didn't have the courage or even the slight interest in such emotions. He was a being made to survive not to love so he just sat on the grass while listening to the relaxing lullaby.

But before he could fall asleep, the lullaby stopped and was replaced by a huge gasp, then he heard the mare mutter something. Thanks to his senses, he heard that she questionned if he heard her or not, seeing that the mare was Fluttershy, he didn't say anything and pretended to sleep but just in case, he opened one eye at a blind spot so that she couldn't see it.

What he saw was very shocking... for normal ponies. Fluttershy was dangerously close to him and had a look of curiousity, she continued to look at him for quite sometime until he felt the need to move away. To not frighten her, he made a fake sneeze so that she would back away. And she did so while blushing a lot, she didn't seem to notice that she was staring at him for nearly half an hour.

"Hmm? Oh excuse me, am I trespassing?" He lied. Well he sort of told the truth but it was a cover to keep the act of obliviousness. Sure it seems like overdoing things but he was very cautious when it comes to survival, he knew Fluttershy but he didn't know her personally, that's why he was so cautious because he learned that 'Information is power and those who lack of it are the first to die'. So, because he didn't know her personally, he didn't want to risk being in the bad side of somebody, in this case, somepony.

Fluttershy on the other hand didn't think about it at all. The only thing going throught her mind is 'What was I trying to do?!'. Sure, the stallion before her seems perfect, his muscles showed strenght and his eyes showed kindness, but he was still a stranger and Fluttershy didn't do well with strangers, so naturally the answer should be 'Yes'. Well it should be, if it wasn't Fluttershy.

"N-No, n-not really." She said timidly. She didn't expect him to smile at her in response, every elements bearer had an ability of their own like AppleJack who could tell when somepony lied. It was the same with Fluttershy but what she could tell was if the person meant true kindness or if the person was wearing a mask that showed kindness. When she looked at him, she was confused because she couldn't tell if it was a true smile or not.

"You don't need to be so kind, I will go away now." He said cutting her train of thoughts. For some reason, her detection ability was not working like it's supposed to do in presence of a pony, but it was now acting in the presence of animals. The difference between the detection in the presence of a pony and the detection in a presence of an animal is that. With a person, she could only tell if the pony meant harm or not and with an animal, she could tell their mental state, or in short, their emotions. The fact that she could tell his state of emotions confused her because it only worked on animals, this was not the only thing that confused her, the other things is that she could tell that the 'pony' in front of her was expressing a bit of sadness but a huge amount of stress, or was it consideration? She couldn't even tell what he was feeling right now but she was sure of one thing, she need to keep an eye on him, and the first step for that, is the name.

"U-Um... Can I ask your name? If you don't mind that is." She said timidly while closing her eyes to wait for an answer.

Matis was now cornered, he was thinking of every possible outcome in the situation he was in, except the fact that she would ask his name. Now he was mentally eating himself up for not preparing more before going out of his comfort zone, now he needed to think of a name as a pony because he couldn't go and say "Matis" like that, it will certainly raise suspicions because the name given to ponies are mostly representing their qualities or their expected qualities. 'But then, what is my quality?' He thought while seeing something in his memories that could be called 'a quality'. But there was always something he had as a quality! It was that he was ( self-proclaimed ) smart and strong! No, he was none of that, he is only a parasitic cell with many unique abilities. Then...

"It's Solum Cell." He said instinctivly. 'Solum Cell? I never heard a name like this before.'. Fluttershy was thinking about this name, it sounded like it came from old times, even older than when Equestria or even the three tribes existed. When she looked at him, he does have a mystical feel now, maybe that's why she couldn't tell what his emotions were?

"I'm Fluttershy." She said with more confidence. After the little time they had together for the last minutes, she now didn't see him as a bad pony anymore, just as a casual pony who was here. Wait...

"What were you even doing here?" She asked with more cautiousness. It wasn't the first time ponies were coming near her little cottage, in truth, she was quite popular amongst the males in Ponyville because of her cuteness and shyness. But now that she made friends with Twilight and the other, she was more confident and could now chase away the peepers.

"Well, I was walking around the Forest when I heard a lullaby, now that I remember it, it sounded beautiful." He said while smiling at her. This was the first time somepony said something this nice besides her friends, this made Fluttershy blush a little but with the smile he gave she started to blush even more.

"Oh yes, it was you who was singing with the other animals, I'm sorry but I couldn't help but hear your beautiful voice sing, it's probably the reason I fell asleep." He continued with another smile. This was unbearable for Fluttershy, they just met now and he is already throwing compliments, and the worst part about it is that she couldn't tell if he was flattering her only to get her heart or if he really liked her songs.

"O-oh...U-um...A-ah." She couldn't even form a phrase anymore, this was too much for her. But for 'Solum Cell' it was perfect, with his little perfomance, he could gain the trust of the rest of the Elements of Harmony as well as gaining complete cooperation of Fluttershy, but he wasn't a heartless being, he knew that he shouldn't toy with the hearts of females but he needed to do it just for now.

"Let's meet again Fluttershy, I hope I can hear you sing again in the future." He said while walking in the Everfree Forest leaving Fluttershy on the ground shaking a little.'Who is he really?' She thought as she watched his shadow disappear in the vast Forest, then it hitted her, 'Oh no! He went in the Everfree Forest! It's danger- Wait, there's Matis in the Forest. Does that mean he will be fine? I hope he is.' She thought the started to blush as she remembered their conversation just this instant.

"I should tell the girls about it." She said while walking back in her cottage.