Run, That's all I could think to do. I had never been so scared in my life! It was going to get me, it was right behind me, I could feel it right behind me as I ran. I ran through the forest faster than I had ever gone before, the trees seemingly leaning in to crush me as I dashed through, the creature’s heavy footsteps falling quickly behind me. I felt my foot catch on a tree root and time slowed as I fell to the ground.

I turned quickly, now sitting up to face the creature, a tall milky white skeleton of a demonic dinosaur, a single pulsing meaty orange something in its rib cage, most likely whatever passed as a heart for this thing, to top it off he had a huge missile atop it back.

“Skullgreymon…” The word left my mouth before I could even fully process what was before me.

The creature loomed over me, and I could feel its hatred gush out of it like a furious torrent, it’s empty socket burrowing into my very soul.

“W-what do you want!?” I managed to choke out.

Skullgreymon did not answer, he simply slowly approached, not seeming to be in any hurry.

“G-get away from me,” I said, scooting back as fast as I could, fear overwhelming my mind.

A demonic laugh escaped Skullgreymon’s mouth, “If you were worthy you would stand and fight...”

Before I could reply Skullgreymon lunged forward, his jaws clamping around my form. The pain was unbearable as I felt his fangs piercing my skin and cut through my muscles, I slammed my fist against its hard bones… Wait, my fist? I looked down to see I had a human hand... my hand.

The shock from all this caused me to wake up, not in a sweat cuz dinosaur, but nonetheless I was breathing heavily. I looked around to see I was in a tent of some sort, remembering vaguely the making of the camp and dozing off in the same tent as Fluttershy. I felt something soft and feathery drape around me.

“Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked in a soft, quiet tone as she pulled me uncomfortably close.

“Fine, it was just a nightmare,” I said, shrugging her off, as I stood up and left the tent.

“I’m always here,” I heard her call after me, but it was less of a call and more a whisper. I ignored it, better not to discuss the possibility of me turning into a monster. Well, a monster of the savage kind anyways. I looked over the campsite, finding the fire already put out and Applejack and her brother were packing the cart for travel. Applebloom was most likely still asleep seeing as she wasn’t up and about. Quickly losing interest in watching Applejack go over the supplies in the back of the cart, I lazily looked over to the horizon, tall snowy topped mountains looming off and in the distance still long ways off as far as I could tell.

“We still have about two days left, Connor,” Fluttershy said as she sat down to my left, “It won’t be much longer hopefully,”

I didn’t say anything, honestly, I didn’t know what to say. Half because I was still shaken from that dream and the other half because well, I had never seen a mountain before, not in person at least, and I know I was still too far to get a good look at it but it was still… breathtaking. I can see why some people enjoy sightseeing. Can’t say I enjoy the cold though, it nipped at my skin in an almost painful way, but the misty air did smell nice, apparently we were in a point where there's still melted snow, on top of it being early morning, so I got to enjoy that nice early morning mountain air.

“Connor, are you even listenin' tah me?” Apple Bloom's voice cut me out of my daze.

“Huh?” I asked looking at her with a look that I’m sure made gawk at by the vastness of my intellect, to have made such an astute reply. Ah yes the look of admiration, looks exactly like the glare of someone who is about to slap a bitch.

“I was tellin’ ya about how great tha Crystal Empire is!” Applebloom said looking exasperated, as she glared at me, but honestly, it was more an adorable pout than a glare, which of course made me grow the stupidest grin.

“Stop smiling it ain’t funny!” She said choking down a giggle at my grin, which of course prompted me to widen it slowly, my large dino jaw ever so slightly creaking open every two seconds, Applebloom bit her bottom lip to try in vain to prevent the inevitable.

“A!” I said as my jaw fully opened, catching the filly by complete surprise, she was soon on the ground laughing her head off. Fluttershy giggled, still sitting on the left of me.

I glanced over to the cart, making sure Applejack didn’t think I was killing her sister or something. Instead Applejack was holding onto the cart for support as she laughed, Big Mac wiping a tear from his eye.

“You guys are easily amused,” I commented as I chuckled.

“Nah it’s jus… I wasn’t expecting somethin' like that from ya,” Applejack chuckled, “Though I had you pegged as the overly rough, bitter type, uh no offense."

“After the incident with Tara, I can’t blame you,” I said, a bit annoyed by the assumption but I had no reason to hold a grudge against her for it, I did almost kill her friend after all.

“So you're just going to keep callin her Tara?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep, she is Tara Strong to me now and forever,” I said adamantly.

“Why?” Applejack asked, looking both amused and confused.

“Won’t say,” I said firmly. It would remain my little in-joke.

“Okay, why?” Applejack looks a bit annoyed now.

“Because never knowing the reasoning behind her nickname will drive her mad,” I said with a sinister grin.

Silence draped over the campsite like a thin blanket.

“That’s messed up,” A deep voice said, the low baritone made me do a double-take before realizing it had come from Big Mac.

Everyone looked at Big Mac in surprise.

“Ah approve,” He finished with a nod, before hooking himself up to the cart.

Everyone’s jaws, including mine, slammed into the floor at terminal velocity.

“Why?” The mares, and filly, asked in unison.

“Don’t support kidnappers,” Big Mac shrugged.

“My man,” I said, giving him a nod of approval, and a big smile.

“As long as you don’t go one-upping her by killing somepony, I'll side with you on this one friend,” Big Mac said with a firm nod.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said shivering a bit, my nightmare resurfacing in my mind.

“You okay partner?” Applejack asked, giving me a worried look.

“Yeah, it’s just cold out here,” I quickly spurted out, she narrowed her eyes but didn’t push.

“Well pile in then, we’ve got a long two days ahead of us,” Applejack said, Applebloom quickly galloping up to the cart and scampering over the side as she hopped in. Fluttershy walked next to me as we walked to the back of the cart and found that the cart was about twice my height, so I had to grab the side and flail my legs until Fluttershy gently nudged me into the cart.

“I would have gotten in…” I muttered.

“Of course, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help you,” Fluttershy cooed because of course, she had to coo, make me feel even more like a baby.

“Hmph,” I said annoyed by this answer, this got a chuckle all around at my expense.

“You’re kinda cute when yer grumpy,” Applejack teased.

“I am a ferocious, bright yellow dinosaur. Ignore the adorably large green eyes,” I pouted suppressing a grin as I sat in the corner of the cart, the group had another good laugh and we were off. My mind started wandering off, as the girls engaged in the things that girls talk about, Fluttershy occasionally giving me a worried glance.

Twilight’s pov

“Tsunomon digivolve to…… Gabumon!” Blue light like thousands of sapphires woven together encompassed Tsunomon just a second before we were going to leave for the camp. He grew and grew before he was a small dinosaur-like creature with what seemed to be a light blue wolf pelt with navy blue stripes like a tiger. It had a large unicorn-like horn protruding from its head and had deep maroon colored eyes. Its most eye-catching feature was its strange light blue oval with pink markings on its stomach.

“Yay! I digivolved!” Gabumon cheered, jumping up and down happily.

“Took you long enough,” I remarked.

“Sorry,” Gabumon said, his joy melting into disappointment in himself. Honestly, I expected a program from the tree of harmony to have better processing.

“Welp! What's done is done, It just helps our chances now I suppose,” I said with a sigh, “Let's get going!” Gabumon nodded and together we headed to where the guards were waiting down below.

There was a group of around six guards, a standard unit. They wore dark purple plate armour with light purple highlights and a light blue gem that had a slit not unlike a dragon's iris at the center. They had dark grey fur, deep yellow eyes and black leathery wings like that of a bat. They were six of Princess Luna’s best and unlike Celestia’s guard, they were hardened veterans having been sealed in the moon with Luna long ago, only recently being released after Nightmare Moon was defeated. The problem was they were all moon blessed, I.e they were immortal as long as they never stepped into sunlight which would burn them horribly, I believe they were the true origin of the vampony myth.

“Princess, we are ready for the assault upon the invaders,” The lead guard said, drawing a blade that glowed with light blue aura, obviously enchanted. His companions drew their weapons, two more drew swords, the other three removed the crossbows from its place near their quiver and slid an arrow into it.

“Alright I will teleport us within 30 meters of the campsite, once we’re there, we will split into groups of two and surround the camp. On my cue we will rush in all at once!” I said explaining my strategy magnificently.

The crossbow wielding guards looked a bit concerned, no doubt worried about engaging Digimon so directly.

“Don’t worry to-” I began to reassure them before being cut off by a familiar voice.

“TWILIGHT, Don’t tell me you're gonna do this without me!” Rainbow whined as she landed next to me.

I let out an exasperated sigh, “Aren’t you supposed to be helping Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie with the civilians?” I asked, giving her a raised eyebrow.

“Pinkie's doing fine by herself, besides Rarity is helping out a bit when she can, and Fluttershy is heading to the Crystal Empire with Connor to see if the library has any info on those crest things!” Rainbow said waving her hoof in the air, “Besides I'm way better than any old guard.”

“Wait, you let Flutteshy go with Connor alone!?” I shouted, getting in Rainbow’s face, my anger building.

“What… uh yeah well she is his partner and stuff and well I just heard from Pinkie where they went,” Rainbow said, lurching back sweat dripping down her face.

“I… ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” I screamed at her, “He’s a psychopath and a danger to everyone around him!”

“Well I-I,” Rainbow stuttered, while staggering back away from me.

“DIDN’T THINK, no of course not, Celestia forbid you actually use the poor excuse for a brain you have,” I growled, lashing out at the mare in front of me.

“I-im sorry Twilight, I just-” Rainbow said, her ears flatting to the sides of her head.

“Just… Go back to Cloudsdale. It's obvious I can’t rely on you, so go do something I know you can do, like rearranging water bottles or something! Anything, I don’t care,” I said turning my flank to her as I faced the guards, “Alright, let's go,” and with that I channeled my teleportation magic, and in a flash of white light, and we appeared thirty one meters from the campsite to no small amount of annoyance and embarrassment on my part. Thankfully, nopony else seemed to notice.

“Alright positions everyone!” I whispered, the guards and the Gabumon nodding in acknowledgement. I and my Gabumon snuck over to the three o'clock position around the camp and waited for the rest of our group to be in position. The digimon were sitting around the campfire, though what they were talking about I couldn’t hear and I really didn’t care as they would soon be data. When I was absolutely sure the guards were in position...

“NOW” I shouted, jumping up and charging head first into the camp. I could hear Gabumon struggling to keep up behind me before I let loose a blast of magic into the back of the head of one the Goblimon, it lurched forward falling into the fire and screeching in pain as the flames jumped onto him like hungry timberwolves.

The Ogremon of the group jumped, “Shortooth!” Instead of attacking me, he foolishing attempted to save his underling from the flames, grabbing him and rolling him in the dirt, “Yo-” before he could finish his inquiry one of the guards shot an arrow into his side, causing him to let out a roar of pain.

“FOR EQUESTRIA!” I declared as I blasted another goblimon with a blast of magic.

“FOR EQUESTRIA!” The guards said as they began to engage the Goblimon, cutting at the startled monsters with their swords.

“For Moqusitama!” Gabumon squealed, trying to match our intensity, and failing miserably, didn’t even get the name right…

I slammed into the Ogremon throwing him back as I pinned him with my hooves, charging a blast of magic. The blast elicited another roar from him as he slapped me away.

“You dare attack me and my sons!? I will crush you, pony!” The ogremon roared.

“Sons!?” I couldn’t help but laugh, “As if a wad of data like you could even dream of what the bond between a parent in its child is like,”

“Wow… racist,” The Ogremon said, seemingly taken aback a bit.

“It's not racist, that would imply that you're living things, which of course you're not. You are just digital constructs,” I retorted deftly.

“Oh Yggdrasil, you're one of those,” Orgremon sighed putting a hand on his head in annoyance, “Welp, there goes any empathy I had for you or the family that is about to lose you,”

“Try if yo-” I began my taunt but this creature had no honor and thus hit me back by charging me, slamming me out of the campfire as I felt his grip on my horn, pulling me up.

“You guys need this for your magic right?” Orgremon snarled, “What happens if I snap it?” The pain was unbearable, as I felt him tighten his grip on my horn.

“Blue Blaster!” Gabumon’s voice rang out, there was a thud and I felt Ogremon’s grip on my horn dissipate as something large fell behind me. I turned to see that Gabumon had knocked the Ogremon off its feet, thankfully the guards had just finished off the last goblimon and joined us for a firing line.

“Your reign of terror will come to a close soon, Ogremon. Never again will you terrorize helpless ponies,” I said holding my head high as we prepared to fire.

Orgremon got to his feet, gritting his teeth, before saying, “All I've been doing is taking my sons camping through a new world through a portal we found...”

“LIES, you're a servant of Skullmeramon,” one the guards snapped.

“Skullmeramon?” The Ogremon looked confused, “Oh hell no, I want nothing to do with that loon, he’s nothing but trouble,”

“But you're an Ogremon,” I snorted.

“WOW, so all Ogremon are the same to you!?” Orgremon asked giving me a sickened look, “I would ask if all ponies are this racist but that would make me the racist,”

The guards looked uncomfortable, most likely, due to a threat still in front of us. It’s not like anypony could possibly consider these things actual creatures, or alive.

“Well what are you waiting for!? FIRE!” I shouted, charging a blast of magic.

The guards did hesitate for some reason, “What’s the problem?” I questioned, giving them a quizzical look, the guards wincing. I thought these were supposed to be hardened VETERENS. I guess Princess Luna's guards aren’t all they’re chalked up to be.

“Nothing Princess,” The three archers said, now preparing their crossbows.

“Alright, FIRE!” I declared majestically pointing at the foul Ogremon.

Three arrows, and a supercharged magic blast from yours truly, ripped through the Ogremon as he charged us in a counter attack, but it was too much and he was now slowly dissipating into data as he slumped to his side.

“Well at least I'll see my boys again,” Was the last thing he said as he finally dissipated.

I then realized that Gabumon hadn’t fired, “Why didn’t you attack with us Gabumon,”

“Well I … it didn’t feel right….” Gabumon mumbled, oh sweet celestia what am I going to do with this program.

“Okay…. So basically, you're “feeling” sympathy for that thing. Look, they're not real. They're just data!” I said, giving him a warm smile. It didn’t seem to put him at ease at all, it looked down at his claws and looked up at me with a questioning look.

“Am I just data?” It asked, a simple question, that I really should have seen coming, “Uh well,” it looked at me intently.

“Of course you are, You are a special digimon after all." I said gritting my teeth, it wouldn’t matter if I lied to it, as long as it didn’t find out before its program finally ends. Just had to make it think I cared about it a bit longer.

“Oh… okay I guess that makes sense,” Gabumon said nodding slowly and looking a bit relieved before he looked back to where the ogremon fell. He looked ...sad? Surely it wasn’t capable of remorse, if so that would mean… no that's crazy. They're just data… just data. Nothing but ones and zeros.

“Are you okay Princess?” One of the guards asked me.

“Of course I am, I am a princess for Celestia's sake,” I snapped at him. My patience for these guards was growing thinner by the second.

He looked taken aback before calmly replying, “Of course Princess, my apologies, I did not wish to offend,” He said, giving a quick bow.

“Be sure you don’t,” I said, giving him a glare, “Anyways, head back to Luna and report to her, I will be heading to the Crystal Empire after some preparations at Cloudsdale. It will take a few days to make a teleportation circle strong enough to teleport me straight there.”

“Of course, Princess!” He said saluting before he and his group flew off into the distance.

“Why are we going there, Twilight?” Gabumon asked.

“To settle the score,” I said with a huge grin.

Author's Note

Gonna be aimin for one chap a week from now on, this isnt promise as mush as it is a personal goal