Deep within the heart of the Undiscovered West

Home of only the best of the best

Lived a happy family of tigers

Ones that could have passed on as giant ligers

The mother was a kind and gentle soul

With young fluffy cubs no bigger than a bowl

And a powerful mate as strong as he was proud

With a roar powerful enough to silence a crowd

They lived high above their homeland forest

One that could've attracted a sea of tourists

Flourishing with creatures big and small

Some being big with others being tall

Predator and prey lived side by side

Seeing the forest as a home and a guide

One that would lead them out of any danger

Taken care of by the tiger braver than a ranger

Such was the peace they were unaware

Of the approaching wave of pain and despair

That would soon fall upon their king

One being heavier than the feather from a wing

One day, the father tiger set out on patrol

Around the vast land that he held in his control

Leaving his mate to care for the young

Making them behave with gentle sharp tongue

Before going out into the safety of the trees

Doing so with the swiftness of a flock of bees

A very long time the king was gone

Looking as lonely as an abandoned fawn

Prowling through bushes, bonds and streams

Determined to keep enemies out by any means

Oblivious that the enemy just walked through his door

Leaving a trail of blood larger than a shore

When the king returned, he came upon a scene

One too strong to even be called mean

In front of his eyes lay his cubs and his mate

All having met a horrible fate

Done by the vile creatures known as ponies

Their hoofprints showing they were surely cronies

Blood flowed from their bodies in crimson rivers

Ones so big that he gave him shivers

Shivers he wasn't able to really focus on

Ones that were there and were soon all gone

The father tiger just stood rocked where he was

His heart beating fast with his mind abuzz

Unable to believe the sight he was seeing

A scene that would forever scar any being

As quickly as the horror came it was vanished

Into the void in which it was banished

The harsh truth hit the king hard and fast

Making an injury useless to any cast

Soon his fiery eyes welled with tears

Ones that spoke louder than his fears

The agony inside him swelled inside

Growing larger with the strength of a tide

Then he let it out in an agonized roar

One stronger than the hide of a boar

It echoed in the cave and out into the air

Listened to by any who would even care

The Undiscovered West went abruptly quiet

Sounding seconds away from going into a riot

Yet the roar of their king kept them still

Making them want to go on a rage-filled kill

The roaring went on for what seemed like hours

Going higher than the tallest towers

It went on even as the sun slowly set

As if knowing the rage that the king would soon get

The king soon lost his powerful voice

Leaving him to make a fateful choice

One that would decide the fate of his kind

And lay to rest his grief-filled mind

He quietly lay with his cubs and mate

Going through memories that caused him to elate

Memories that brought him such color and joy

Happiness he felt since he was a little boy

With each happy moment his sadness grew

Growing to the size of a whole pirate crew

Along with the rage that was coiling within

Increasing to where it couldn’t even fit a bin

When the sun rose, something began to snap

One that would lead the king straight into a trap

Going as wild and as hot as his fire

Wanting to fulfill his ultimate desire

Soon, that fire exploded from the king

Roaring as loud as a siren eager to sing

It coiled around him with the slickness of a snake

Hot enough to make just anything bake

Slowly, the king emerged from his cave

Creeping out of the mountain like an ocean’s wave

He looked out into the land that was his home

One that was soon to be his very own tome

He stayed where he was, as silent as a rock

Standing over the forest as if he was on a dock

Glaring at the ponies that were trekking through the trees

Looking like a colony of dotted honeybees

The flames around him continued to flicker

Doing so that might as well have drawn a snicker

Then from his lips drew a growl

One so deep it was thicker than a towel

Then that snarl turned into a loud roar

His claws unsheathing in preparation to gore

The snow and ground tore apart as he ran

Into the forest with his revenge set to plan

He watched as the hunters froze where they were

Unaware of the slaughter that was yet to occur

Done by the one who’s pain they had caused

His eagerness to kill shining within his claws

For a moment, the hunters were all oblivious

Not knowing they were about to face their nemesis’

One that would make them all turn into roaring flame

And melt into the forest they tried to claim

In a flash of blue fire, the king attacked

Leaving the hunters strongly taken aback

Unable to retaliate against the grieving king

And stop him from unleashing the justice he would bring

Left and right, he let his flames fly

Into the hunters that he wanted to die

He let his teeth sink into each hunter’s skull

Until the life in their eyes were very much dull

His claws sunk deep and hard in their flesh

Leaving them looking like bloodied mesh

Letting their blood flow form each form

Just like the ones the king continued to mourn

The ponies did all they could to push him back

As the king went at them with the strength of a wolf pack

Their bullets shot and tore through his skin

Just like how his claws went through each shin

But the dying king continued his assault

Determined to kill the ones that were clearly at fault

He roared, yowled, snarled and added a growl

One that sounded every bit as foul

Aimed at the ones who destroyed all he had

Ones who he saw as even greater than bad

Soon the ponies slowly began to retreat

Realizing this is enemy could not be beat

Their fear soon overriding their glee

A fear that caused each one of them to flee

But the king of the mountain would not let them go

Not until each one was buried within the snow

And paid with their lives for this tragical sin

One that came in the form of pony skin

And so, the king continued to slay

Leaving each pony to rest where they lay

Making the snow run red with blood

Into a river the size of a flood

With a final lunge, the king ended each pony’s life

Ending what would have been an endless strife

Creating an artform of bodies where he stood

One that was obscured by the giant towering wood

With a final roar, he released his pain

Letting it soar for all to obtain

Until the last of his hurt left his body

Leaving him feeling every bit foggy

In his coat of red, he began his trek home

Taking his time to do his usual roam

His nose took in the blood of the dead

Ones that would keep the scavengers well fed

Finally, he reached the top of his home

The one that would also become his own tome

Towards the bodies of his fallen family

The ones that made him feel every bit manly

He lay beside them like a big furry cloth

Pulling them in with the gentleness of sloth

Letting his body warm the ones that were cold

Coldness that matched how much he was old

As his life ebbed away, the sun shined in his cave

As if thanking him for the sacrifice he so bravely gave

Thanking him for all that he selflessly made

And retaliating against those who had paid

The king closed his eyes as he took his final breath

Holding those close that he’d soon join in death

The ones that he had failed to help continue live

And hope they’d find it in their hearts to forgive

With a final exhale, his life flowed away

Becoming a ghost that flew into the light

Soaring above in all the animals in sight

The subjects of the forest watched him as he vanished

Away from the domain of those that he banished

Feeling their hearts all weep in sorrow

A pain that could continue on into tomorrow

As sad as they were, they all stood tall

For they refused to let themselves all fall

Knowing a new king would take his place

And continue the bloodline of the whole tiger race

Even with this knowledge, all swore in their heart

That no matter how far that they were apart

Even as the whole forest fell and grew

And their bodies and minds turned to that of dew

They would never forget their legendary king

The one who could surely defeat all in any ring

With the grandness of a giant water-flowing fountain

The legendary fire-wielding king of the mountain.

Author's Note

For any who are curious as to where I got this idea, click the link I have placed here to a 2015 movie that cuts me pretty deeply. A tragic and emotional scene from the movie called Tiger an Old Hunter's Tale. Where a father tiger gets revenge for his entire race and his family, just like the one you just read. Warning though...the following video contains violence and brutality that may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised all over the video.