Chapter 5

Will 1st POV

I continue to stare down at the manticore as it’s now slowly making its way towards me. I begin stepping to my side as we end up circling each other. Neither of us are making any advances but continue to stare each other down. My fists are clenched, my nerves are at an all time high, and I haven’t blinked once as I look at my opponent’s eyes. All I can see is how it wants to eat both me and the girls, but I was damned if I was gonna let that happen.

“Leave now if you want to keep that ugly mug of yours in tact. Otherwise I’ll make you into half a manticore…”I threaten with as much malice as I can muster.

For a brief moment, I see a hint of hesitation in its eyes but is soon replaced with the same glare as it had before. It stops its movement and begins lowering itself getting ready to pounce. As it’s doing so, it unfurls it’s wings and spreads them out to try and look intimidating. With a mighty roar it launches itself at me with its sharp claws out and it’s stinger above its head ready to impale me. Time seems to slow down, I simply watch as it comes closer and close to me. As soon as it’s a few feet from me, I sway to the right, dodging it, and twist my body around. I then lift my right leg up and time seems to speed up along with my leg. I then soon land the hardest roundhouse kick I’ve ever given on the side of the monsters face. I can feel its bones break under my foot as it’s launched at breakneck speeds towards the other side of the clearing, smashing into a tree causing bark to splinter from the trunk.

I plant my foot on the ground and exhale while starring at the seemingly unconscious body of the monster. On the outside my face and body are calm and collected. However on the inside I’m have a mini panic attack…

HOLY SWEET CHRIST ON A PONY!!!!!! DID I JUST FUCKING DECK A MANTICORE IN THE FUCKING FACE?!?, I scream in my head.

I relax my posture while continuously starring at the downed manticore. It’s not moving much but it’s still breathing. Before I’m able to do anything, it starts to move slightly. It shakily and painfully starts standing itself up and weakly shakes head. It then looks over to me and I get a good look at what I’ve done to it, and boy am I proud if not surprised. The entire left side of his muzzle is pretty much smashed in with a shape of a familiar boot print. It’s missing almost all its fangs and there’s blood oozing from its nostrils. It’s eyes are glazed and I’m pretty it’s left eye is now out of focus. I calmly make my way over to it while also keeping a cold stare. As I do, it flinches and proceeds to back away, only to press its back agains the tree it flew into. I then stop just a few feet away from it while staring down its now disfigured face. I raise my right hand up slowly and extend my palm towards it. My hands starts to glow and a small ball of energy forms.

“I warned you to leave but you didn’t listen. I’m someone who keeps my promises and I’ve done just that. You’re now half a manticore like I said you’d be. This is your last chance, leave now and never return to this part of the woods…” I say in a cold demeanor.

It seems I didn’t have to say or do anything else because the manticore seems to have gotten the message. It then proceeds to wobbly limp away from me in the other direction other clearing. I dare not take my eyes off it as it sulks away. I continue my gaze until it’s past the tree line and now no longer in my field of vision. I dissipate the ball of energy in my hand and lower my arm and relax the expression on my face. Then the whole series of events then hit me like a freight train…

I, a seemingly normal human, just defeated probably one of the most dangerous creatures I’ll ever encounter in this world. My eyes widen and I look at my hands. I couldn’t help but smile like an idiot because of how cool this all is to me.

If what I just did is what think it was, things are only gonna get more interesting from here on! I think to myself excitingly.

Before I can dwell on my newfound strength and abilities, I remember why I fought the manticore in the first place. I turn around and I see the 3 girls who were starring at me slack jawed and eyes so wide I thought they’d fall out. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I calmly make my way towards them. As soon as I’m about a few feet or so away from I gently kneel down and while getting a good look at them. They all had what looked like fur covering their bodies. But if that wasn’t enough, I also notice they have tails! Not just any tails though, long tails that you’d see on a horse or something. They even had small muzzles in their faces that were still agape due to their still shocked state. If I remember correctly, I believe the term for them would be anthro horses, or I suppose due to their small stature, anthro ponies. My hypothesis is confirmed when I look down and where their feet are supposed to be I see nothing but small hooves. Yep that confirms it, I’m in of world of sentient, walking, talking ponies.

I smile warmly at the 3 fillies, I believe is the proper term, and raise my hand out to them.

“Are you kids alright? You’re not hurt are you?” I ask with genuine concern.

The filly on the right seems to snap out her shocked state and stares up at me. She’s got light yellow fur and a strawberry red mane and tail with a cute pink bow on top. She’s wearing a white T-shirt, a green checkered button up, and denim shorts. Following her is the one in the middle who has marshmallow white fur and a swirly mane and tail that’s colored light purple and pink. She’s wearing what looks to be a white sundress with pink frills on the trim. What’s strange is that she’s got what appears to be a coiling horn on her forehead. Lastly, the filly on the left has orange fur with a short pinkish purplish tomboy like mane and tail. She’s wearing an opened zipper blue hoodie and a small black T-shirt on the inside. She’s also wearing white exercising shorts. I then notice she’s got a pair of small orange wings on her back.

The yellow filly spoke first, “W-W-What are ya mister?” She asks shakily. By the tone of her voice it surprisingly sounds western.

The white filly then spoke, “Y-You’re not gonna eat us are you…?” Her voice was a bit higher pitched and squeaky.

I chuckled and sat down in front of them.

“No of course not. I’d never hurt an innocent. And no I won’t eat any of you for it would go against my very nature.” I reassured them.

The orange filly relaxes a bit and asks, “R-really? You won’t hurt us?” Her voice a touch rough like a tomboy as I thought she was.

I smile and place a hand over my heart, “I promise I won’t hurt any of you. I’d have to be cold hearted ba-, I mean person to do something like that. Especially not bothering to save you all.”

With this, all three seem relax and calm down much more. They’re all now sitting in front of me giving me curious and confused looks. It’s as if they’re trying to figure out who, or more importantly, what I am. I look to the light yellow filly and say, “To answer your question from before, little filly, my name is William Saber or Will for short. I’m a human.”

As soon as I said I was a human, they all return to to the same shocked expression from before. Was me being a human that surprising?

“Uh, you all o-“, I didn’t get to finish my sentence when all 3 fillies tackled me to the ground. I lift my head up and see they’re all starring at me with shimmering eyes and the widest smiles I’ve every seen anyone have on their faces.

“ARE Y’ALL SERIOUS?!? Y’ALL ARE ACTUALLY HUMAN?!?” The yellow filly yells.

“OH MY SWEET CELESTIA, I CAN’T BELIEVE WE FOUND A HUMAN!!!” The white filly shrieks.

“THIS IS SO COOL! I’VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD BY EVERYPONY THAT HUMANS WERE NOTHING BUT A PONYTAIL! LYRA WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!!!” The orange filly shouts.

I was a bit shocked at their sudden actions and words. I thought they’d bolt out of my sight in fear after I told them what I was. I guess sometimes you gotta expect the unexpected. While they were still going on about how amazed they were to see a human in person, or in their case as they said “in pony”, I smiled at how adorable they were are.

“Not that I don’t mind good old fashioned pile on, but do you three mind getting off of me now?” I ask.

They all simultaneously stop their antics and realize the position their in. They give sheepish smiles and giggle nervously while their faces are tinted slightly red from embarrassment. They all climb off me and I dust myself off and resume back in my sitting position.

“So now that I’ve introduced myself, how’s about I get your names?” I ask comically.

In order they smile and introduce themselves accordingly.

“Ahm Apple Bloom, pleasure ta me ya.”

“My name is Sweetie Belle.”

“Name’s Scootaloo.”

“And we’re, THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!!” They all yell at the same time.

I was surprised at their volume but I smile and laugh at the display. I couldn’t help but smile a bit bigger at how cute their names are.

“Well it’s certainly a pleasure to meet you three. I’d like to know something though if you don’t mind me asking,” I say gaining their attention, “from what I can tell, you three are ponies, correct?” They nodded, “I know that Apple Bloom is an earth pony but what are you and Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle?” I ask.

They all look at each other for a moment and then look back at me.

“Well, I’m a unicorn and Scootaloo is a pegasus.” Sweetie Belle explains, “Haven’t you ever met other ponies before Mr. Saber?” She asks curiously.

Unicorn? Pegasus? Jeez, if it’s one mythical creature after another on this planet… Next thing I know I’ll be meeting Minotaurs or, God forbid, a dragon.

“Nope, I’m afraid you three are the only ponies I’ve met since my arrival here.” I tell them. I then smirk, “Which means you three are probably the first ponies to come in contact with a human.”

Once again they go wide eyed and smile huge smiles. They all squeal with excitement and start running around in a circle.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS HUMAN DISCOVERERS!!!” They all chant.

I let out a laugh at their little celebration. It’s like they just got the the greatest gift of all time and it’s not even Christmas.

“Quick, Quick! Let’s check to see if we got our cutie marks for this” Scootaloo says ecstatically.

I arch a brow. Cutie marks? What’re cutie marks?, I wonder.

They then proceed to look at the sides of their shoulders, while those with sleeved clothing roll them up. Each of their shoulders didn’t have anything on them, causing their smiles to turn into frowns and their ears droop slightly.

“Aw, I thought for sure we’d get them this time” Sweetie Belle whines.

“Ah guess we gotta keep lookn’ now…” Apple Bloom sighs.”

With curiosity getting the better of me I finally decided to ask, “Uh girls, what exactly are cutie marks?”

They all look at me and Apple Bloom spoke up, “Y’all don’t know what a cutie mark is?” She asks. I shook my head. “Well a cutie mark is somthin’ everypony gets when they discover what they’re special talent is. It comes in tha shape of a symbol that shows up on our shoulders.” She explains while pointing to her shoulder. “Me, Sweetie Belle, n’ Scootaloo have be tryn’ everythang ta get our cutie marks but nothn’ seems to be workn’ lately.” She sighs.

I nodded in understanding despite not seeing what one actually looks like. I then notice my shadow beside me and look up. Wow, time sure does fly when you’re saving the day and getting know this planets inhabitants. I look back to the girls and smile.

“Well as much as I’d like to continue this conversation, I don’t think it would be wise to stick around in the forest any longer. Especially since the sun starting it’s decent.” I inform them.

The three look up at the sun and did indeed notice that it was starting to set. Nodding, we all start to stand up.

“OW!” Yells Apple Bloom.

I look down and see she’s sitting down rubbing her left ankle and wincing in pain. I kneel in front of her with a concerned look.

“You ok, kid?” I ask.

She looks at me then looks back her her ankle and shakes her head slightly.

“Ah think ah hurt mahself while tryin’ ta run away from tha manticore…” she tells me.

I then look at her ankle and an examine it. It’s a bit red and a little swollen. I’m no med expert but I can certainly tell the difference between a broken limb from twisted one, due to personal experiences.

“Well, you did in fact hurt yourself but it’s nothing too serious. It’s just a bit sprained. With some rest and an ice pack on this thing you’ll be good as new. But first we gotta get you and the others back home.” I tell them.

Knowing that Apple Bloom can’t walk, I turn around and extend my arms backwards while couching over slightly. I turn around and smile.

“Climb aboard kid, you’re going for a ride.” I say.

Apple Bloom is a bit hesitant at first but then smiles brightly. She hobbles over and lifts her bad leg over my left shoulder and then her right. She’s now sitting on the back of my shoulders with her legs dangling in front of me. I was about to lift myself up when I notice Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo are giving a look like they also want a ride and have a bit of a cute pouty face on their muzzles.

I chuckle and bring my arms out to a T-pose.

“Come on you two, there’s plenty of room on this ride.” I inform them.

They immediately perk up both rush over to me with their own bright smiles. Sweetie Belle then sits in my right arm and Scootaloo sits on my left. Would this be too much weight for me?, I wonder.

“Everyo- I mean, everypony ready to go?” I ask.

I see them all nodding and I then proceed to stand up. As I’m doing so, all three fillies “eep!” adorably and grip my arms and head. When I reach my full height they look around in awe because of how high they are from the ground. I smile and snort at they’re dumbstruck faces. I then notice that even though I’ve got three fillies on my arms and shoulders, I barely feel any weight on me. I don’t even feel my arms getting tired.

“Well now that we’ve got that out of the way, which way is the closest town girls?” I ask.

They all point in the same direction while saying, “That way Mr. Saber!”

I laugh and begin to walk while saying, “You got it, and please, call me Will.”

Author's Note

All I can hope is if I’m doing this right. My editor is helping helping and it’s appreciated but I’d also like to hear from you all! I’ll always accept helpful feedback.