hampter three

Applejack was having a particularly rough week. First, her brother Big Mac, in a rare show of recklessness, decided to fix the rack holding the human-made metal collars all on his own. He hadn’t bothered to tell Applejack or their younger sister, Apple Bloom, about it. The contraption was old, rusted, and weighed a ton, and the inevitable happened—the entire rack collapsed, pinning Big Mac beneath its crushing weight. Though he was eventually freed, the damage had been done, leaving him with several painful injuries and a lengthy recovery ahead.

To make matters worse, Ponyville itself had been buzzing with unsettling news. Word had spread like wildfire across Equestria about a giant human who had escaped from the capital city of Canterlot. Reports claimed he had left a trail of destruction and death in his wake before disappearing into the wilderness. His tracks led toward Ponyville but mysteriously vanished just outside the town's limits, leaving everypony on edge.

As Applejack trotted through town toward Ponyville Hospital to pick up her brother, her thoughts wandered to the escaped human creature. Her tail swished nervously as a faint blush crept over her freckled orange cheeks. 'I reckon that big fella's still close by, just watchin' us and waitin'.' She mused to herself. 'I knew he wasn’t dead. Somethin’ that big wouldn’t go down from just a fall like that.'

Her thoughts took a sudden turn, and she shivered at the direction they were headed. 'What would it even be like havin’ him on the farm? Workin’ day and night, maybe takin’ care of the chores we can’t handle ourselves. And during breeding season… what kind of beast would he turn into? Smellin’ a human female in heat? Or… Celestia forbid, even me?' Applejack shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off the blush now burning on her orange face.

By the time she reached the hospital, the pink hue had mercifully faded. Pushing open the front door, she glanced around the quiet lobby. Only three other ponies were there, either waiting for treatment or filling out paperwork. Thankfully, her own paperwork was already taken care of, sparing her the grueling task.

Spotting Big Mac, Applejack trotted over to him. He looked tired, his usual strength muted by the strain of his injuries.

“How ya feelin’, Mac?” she asked, her voice soft with concern.

Big Mac didn’t answer right away, his expression stoic as ever. Finally, he gave a single nod.

“Still hurtin’?” Applejack pressed.

“Eyup,” he admitted, grimacing slightly as he shifted in place.

“The Docs give ya anythin’ for it?” she asked, her brows furrowing.

“I didn’t ask for it, Sis,” Big Mac replied simply.

Applejack let out a frustrated sigh and moved closer, pressing her side against his in an attempt to offer some support. “I swear to Celestia’s horseshoes, you’re more stubborn than I am!”

Big Mac shook his head. “N-nope.”

Applejack rolled her eyes and helped him toward the exit. The journey home would be slow, but she was determined to see her brother get there safely.

As they walked, Big Mac spoke up. “Ya know it’s almost apple-buckin’ season, right?”

Applejack froze mid-step, her eyes widening in realization.

“Horse-apples!” she shouted, stomping her hoof in frustration.

Big Mac shook his head with a knowing smile and reached down to pluck a stalk of wheat from the ground. Placing it in his mouth, he gave her a sideways glance.

“There’s no way you can do this alone, little sis,” he said matter-of-factly, his voice calm but firm.

“Come on, Mac! You need to rest up and get yourself better! I haven’t met an apple orchard yet that I can’t handle!” Applejack retorted, jabbing him lightly in his bandaged side.

Big Mac winced and instinctively used his rear leg to shield the injured area. Applejack immediately backed off, her ears flattening in guilt. “Oops, sorry,” she murmured.

Her brother shook his head, his usual stoic demeanor returning. He glanced out over the orchard as they neared home, his eyes scanning the hundreds of apple trees that stretched as far as the eye could see.

“I’ll take a bite outta this job by day’s end!” Applejack declared confidently, puffing out her chest.

Big Mac raised an eyebrow and offered some older sibling wisdom. “Biting off more than you can chew is just what I’m afraid of.”

Applejack scoffed, stomping her hoof. “Are ya sayin’ my mouth is makin’ promises my legs can’t keep?!”

“Eyup,” Big Mac replied without hesitation.

Applejack glared at him, her face scrunching up in frustration. “Why I outta!” she snapped, stepping closer. “This is your sister, Applejack, remember?! The most loyal of friends and the most dependable of ponies!”

Big Mac remained unphased. “But still only one Pony,” he pointed out. “One Pony plus hundreds of apple trees just doesn’t add up.”

“Don’t you use your fancy mathematics to muddy the issue!” Applejack shot back. “I’m gonna get every last one of those apples from those trees all by myself!”

As the enormity of her self-imposed task began to sink in, Applejack’s bravado wavered. She gulped nervously, her earlier confidence now tinged with doubt.

Seeing his sister’s stubbornness wasn’t going to waver anytime soon, Big Mac decided to add one last jab. “You better not use the Humans we got, little sis. That’d be cheatin’.”

Applejack shot him a glare. “That’s the whole point of havin’ Humans on the farm in the first place!”

Big Mac shook his head knowingly, his short mane shifting slightly with the motion. “I know what you’ve been up to with the males, Applejack. I’ve walked in on ‘em dog-pilin’ ya.”

Applejack’s cheeks burned bright red. “I’m a full-grown mare now! I have needs too!” she stammered, her voice rising.

Big Mac simply gave her a deadpan look. “Get a coltfriend, Sis.”

Applejack opened her mouth to argue but found no words. Instead, she let out a frustrated groan and stormed off, leaving Big Mac chuckling softly to himself as he watched her retreat.

Meanwhile, deep within the Everfree Forest, Robert was preparing to do something undeniably stupid...

"If I’m being honest here, I’m royally shitting myself," he muttered under his breath while yanking vines from the surrounding trees, their fibrous texture biting into his palms.

His mind raced with doubt, but his hands moved with determination as he fashioned the vines into a makeshift safety harness. He tied them tightly, connecting the harness to the thickest tree he could find—one that he prayed would hold his weight.

“What in the name of all that is good am I thinking? For all I know, this moat could be bottomless!” His voice cracked slightly, betraying the nerves he tried to suppress. He glanced down at the abyss, where thick fog swirled ominously. Sunlight filtered weakly through the forest canopy, doing little to illuminate what lay below.

With a deep, shaky breath, Robert looked toward the heavens, his lips pressing into a grim line. Slowly, he clasped his hands together in an unfamiliar but earnest gesture of prayer.

“God, I know I wasn’t always the most religious guy,” he began, whispering quietly to himself. “But if this isn’t as deep as I think it is… I swear, I’ll start praying more often. Scouts’ honor.”

To seal the deal, he made the sign of the cross, exhaling sharply as he steeled his nerves. The harness creaked slightly as he tugged on it, testing the vines one last time.

“This is it,” he murmured to no one in particular. “If this works, I’ll live. If it doesn’t, well… this is how my dumbass dies.”

Without giving himself time to hesitate, Robert stepped off the ledge, free-falling into the foggy abyss. His heart lurched violently as gravity claimed him, his stomach flipping like a fish out of water. Eyes squeezed shut, he felt the sickening weightlessness of the drop, fully convinced his life was about to end.

And then his feet hit solid ground.

His eyes snapped open in shock, his breath caught in his chest. He stood there for a moment, unmoving, as his brain worked overtime to process what had just happened. Looking down, he saw the ground beneath him—flat, firm, and mercifully intact. Slowly, he craned his neck upward, squinting to see the ledge he had jumped from.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he said flatly, his voice heavy with disbelief.

The top of the moat was barely above his shoulders.

“Are you serious?” His frustration boiled over as he threw his hands in the air. “I was scared out of my mind over this?”

His eyes darted back up at the ledge one more time, his face twisting in anger. “All that panic, and it’s barely taller than me!”

Still fuming, Robert climbed out of the shallow moat using the vines he’d tied earlier. Once he was back on level ground, he yanked the harness off and hurled it aside. With an accusatory glare, he pointed a finger at the sky.

“If you had anything to do with this,” he growled, “I swear—”

But his anger quickly dissipated, replaced by an exhausted sigh of relief. He lowered his hand, rubbing his temples. “Whatever. At least I’m not dead.”

Turning his attention to the mountain-like hill ahead of him, Robert stretched his aching muscles. The plan he had been forming in his head wasn’t ready to be set into motion just yet, but he knew the first steps. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, surveying the dense foliage around him.

“Alright,” he muttered. “Step one: tools. Step two: clear a path to the castle. Step three… come up with a name for this crazy project.”

As he considered his next moves, an idea struck him. He clapped his hands together. “For my first trick, I need a bow.”

Leaving his makeshift camp behind, Robert ventured back into the forest, scanning the area for the right materials. It didn’t take long for him to spot a young sapling with a strong, flexible trunk.

“This’ll do,” he said, wrapping both hands around it and giving it a firm tug.

The sapling resisted at first, its roots clinging stubbornly to the earth. Robert grunted, pulling harder, until finally the ground gave way. Dirt and roots tore free, leaving him holding the sapling like a trophy. Measuring its length, he nodded to himself.

“Perfect.”

He stripped the leaves and smaller branches, smoothing the trunk until it resembled the beginnings of a proper bow. Satisfied, Robert began collecting smaller, thinner saplings to use as potential arrow shafts.

“These should work,” he muttered, hauling the materials back to camp.

Once there, he set to work, scraping off bark with an old, jagged stone he had found earlier. He worked meticulously, smoothing the wood until it felt right in his hands. As he inspected his progress, however, a sudden realization hit him.

“Shit,” he muttered, slapping his forehead. “I need rope.”

Looking around, his eyes landed on the same type of vines he had used for the harness earlier. A grin spread across his face.

“Well, if these vines could hold me,” he said, grabbing a handful, “then they can handle being a bowstring.”

With that, he returned to his task, determined to arm himself for the challenges ahead.

Crafting the arrows had been surprisingly straightforward. Though crude, the bow passed every preliminary test he could think of—everything except the actual test fire.

Robert stood in his makeshift camp, turning the bow over in his hands. It was far from perfect, its uneven wood and improvised materials giving it a rough, primitive look. Still, it felt solid, and that was all that mattered. Holding the weapon steady, he nocked one of his arrows; a sharpened stick tipped with hardened tree sap, its fletching made of hastily glued leaves.

"Alright,"

he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with both anticipation and caution. "Time to see if this thing actually works. Or if it blows up in my face,"

His eyes scanned the surrounding area for a suitable target. It didn’t take long to find one: a sturdy tree standing a little ways off, its bark gnarled and weathered.

'Perfect,' Robert thought, his lips quirking into a small, satisfied grin.

Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he adopted the proper archery stance. Thankfully, he still remembered the basics from the elective archery course he’d taken in high school. Back then, it had seemed like a pointless skill, but now, as he held the bow steady, he couldn’t help but be grateful he’d paid attention.

'Who knew boring old High School would actually save my ass someday?' Robert thought with a chuckle.

Robert used the arrow to line up his shot, narrowing his focus as he drew the vine-string back. The bow creaked slightly under the tension, but neither it nor the string gave way. That was a good sign. He inhaled deeply, calming his nerves, and closed one eye to sharpen his aim. The tree filled his sight.

He exhaled and released.

The vine snapped forward with a sharp *TWANG*, and the arrow flew through the air in a smooth, almost mesmerizing arc. A split second later, it struck its target with a solid thunk, punching clean through the tree’s bark and embedding itself into another tree directly behind it.

Robert blinked in astonishment. His lips slowly spread into a satisfied grin.

"Yep," he said, nodding to himself. "This’ll work."

Gathering the remaining five arrows he had crafted, Robert inspected his bow one last time before slinging it over his shoulder. The next few days would be busy. He needed to gather furs and pelts to fashion sacks—something sturdy enough to carry dirt, small stones, and other materials for his project.

True, the ponies in the nearby town likely had sacks he could use. They probably had an abundance of supplies in general. But sneaking into that place wasn’t a viable option, not anymore. After what had happened in that city on the mountain, his face was undoubtedly plastered on wanted posters by now. He couldn’t even remember the name of the place, but he could vividly recall the chaos he caused vividly, screaming ponies, the destruction, and the guard he…

Robert shook his head, his jaw tightening as the memory threatened to surface. He couldn’t dwell on that now. Right or wrong, what was done was done. For now, staying out of sight and surviving on his own was the safest option.

He adjusted the bow on his shoulder and stepped deeper into the forest, his mind already planning his next steps.

*One Week Later*

Celestia and Luna had summoned their respective councils again. Despite their best efforts, the search for the Giant had gone cold. Yet, neither sister was willing to abandon the hunt.

The councils consisted of key figures; Generals from the Day and Night Armies, a renowned human tracker whose expertise spanned decades, and several members of the highest-ranking nobility who had earned seats on these exclusive assemblies.

Celestia found herself both frustrated and begrudgingly impressed. The Giant had evaded every tracker, scout, and search party sent after him. His ability to remain hidden, even after the chaos of his escape, was baffling. It left the room abuzz with confusion and tension.

Spread across the central table was a detailed map of the Everfree Forest, its surface scarred with bold X’s marking areas that had been thoroughly searched. The unmarked regions grew fewer by the day, but the heart of the forest—deep, wild, and untamed—remained untouched. It was the one place no pony dared to enter.

“Your Highness,” Easy Hooves, the lead tracker, began as he stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“Yes?” Celestia turned her attention to him, her calm tone masking the irritation creeping into her thoughts.

“Any word on the Giant?” she asked.

He sighed and shook his head. “No, Your Grace. But I believe he knows we’re tracking him.”

Luna raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. “Knows? How could a creature like that, even one of his size, comprehend our tactics?”

Easy Hooves hesitated before speaking. “Your Highness, humans are… Predictable. They leave signs; tracks, disturbances in the underbrush, bite marks on trees, even markings to claim territory. This Giant has left none of that. His movements suggest he’s deliberately avoiding detection. Or tracking a Giant is a completely different ball game then tracking mere Humans.”

Celestia leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “ Are you’re saying he’s deliberately covering his trail?”

“It seems possible, and definitely on the table of possibilities.” Easy Hooves replied. “And if I may, I believe you’re already familiar with the nature of his escape from the Capital?”

“I am,” Celestia said sharply, her features tightening. “The damage he caused during his escape is still being repaired; at great expense to the crowns.”

Easy Hooves nodded, swallowing his unease. “Yes, Your Grace. Based on our findings, the Giant’s tracks were clear and heavy as he fled the city and descended the mountain. But once he reached the outskirts of Ponyville, they became lighter, more erratic. It’s as though he realized he was being followed and adjusted his behavior.”

Luna’s gaze darkened. “So, he was frightened during this initial escape?”

“Terrified."

Easy Hooves confirmed. “Humans fear the unknown, and in the capital, everything around him was alien. Ponies especially the freindly and helpful sort, where unlike anything he’s used to."

Luna tilted her head. “And yet he didst fight, bringing death and ruin, and then did flee. What is’t, pray, that thou art suggesting, Easy Hooves?”

Thankfully Celestia translated the few bits to a more modern equestrian style, making the earth pony rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Your Highnesses, how many Guards were present during the incident?”

“Nearly a hundred,” Celestia answered without hesitation.

“There’s your answer,” Easy Hooves said, his voice steady. “He panicked. Too many unknowns—too many perceived threats. It was a fight-or-flight response, and when the fight became less favorable, he chose to run.”

The room fell silent as the tracker’s words sank in. The reasoning was sound, yet it did little to quell the tension.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by an indignant shout.

“For the love of the Crowns, just kill this bucking abomination and be done with it!”

Prince Blueblood’s voice echoed through the chamber, his expression a mix of disgust and frustration as he glared at the Royal Sisters.

Luna bristled, her temper flaring at the Prince’s disrespect. She opened her mouth to retort, but Celestia extended a wing, gently silencing her sister with a calm but firm gesture.

"Blueblood,"

Celestia began, her voice firm and commanding, cutting through the murmurs in the chamber like a blade. The assembled council members turned their attention to her, watching as the tension in the room reached this peak. Her eyes locked onto the Prince, their usually warm glow now hard and unyielding.

"You are not a member of either the Day or Night Council," she continued, her tone leaving no room for argument. "The only reason you are here is because you 'demanded' to be kept informed of the situation. That privilege, however, does not grant you the authority to dictate the actions of these respective Councils." Her words were sharp and precise, carrying the weight of a ruler addressing an unruly subject.

Luna, who had been quietly fuming beside her sister, stepped forward, her midnight blue mane flowing like an ominous tide. Her voice was a low, dangerous snarl. "The purpose of these Councils is to 'advise' us, not to issue commands. Thou would do well to remember thy place, Blueblood, and whom thou speaketh to!" Her nostrils flared in annoyance, the faint glow of her magic surrounding her horn as if daring him to challenge her further.

Celestia glanced at her sister, impressed. she was able to speak that much modern equestrian before going back to the old way of speech. And decided to make it known later, as a good teacher would do; glancing back toward her nephew.

Celestia saw Blueblood’s opening his mouth, perhaps to protest, but before he could utter a word, Celestia raised a hoof, silencing him. "Stop it." Her voice softened slightly but still held an undeniable authority. "Guards," she called, motioning to the two armored ponies stationed near the door, "escort Prince Blueblood back to his Chambers. It has clearly been a long day for him."

The guards saluted, their polished armor gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows. They approached the prince, their expressions neutral but their movements purposeful. Blueblood hesitated, his face a mix of indignation and disbelief, but he knew better than to challenge his two royal aunt's in front of others who clearly weren't in support of him.

As the guards gently but firmly guided him out of the chamber, Celestia let out a barely audible sigh. She turned to face the councils, her serene mask slipping back into place.

"Before we proceed, I wish to apologize for his outburst," Celestia said, her voice calm but tinged with fatigue. Her steady demeanor masked the weariness reflected in her voice, as she addressed the councils.

As she spoke, her sharp ears caught the fading sound of Blueblood’s voice echoing through the halls. The Prince, indignant as ever, hurled insults at the guards escorting him. Their heavy hoofsteps grew distant, yet his petulant tone lingered.

Celestia exhaled quietly, her mind already burdened with the knowledge of another impending confrontation. 'I will need to speak with Blueblood about proper decorum; especially in Luna's presence and before the Councils.'

Her thoughts were interrupted by the faint, uneven sound of a shaky exhale. She turned her head to see Luna retreating to the balcony of the chamber. The younger alicorn stepped into the open air, her gaze fixed on the horizon, where the Everfree Forest loomed in the distance beyond Ponyville.

She already knew what had happened. 'It appears that Blueblood’s statement had done more damage then I expected; time for some older sibling damage control.'

Celestia followed in silence, her golden shoes clicking softly against the polished floor. As she reached her sister, she noticed the tears that quietly traced paths down Luna's dark cheeks, catching the light of the sun.

Without a word, Celestia extended her wing, the soft feathers encircling her sister in a protective embrace. She stood beside Luna, offering comfort without intrusion, her warm presence a quiet reminder that she was not alone.

The two alicorns stood together on the balcony, their regal forms silhouetted against the brilliant sky, as the weight of their shared burdens rested heavily between them.

"Why do our subjects abhor him so?" Luna asked, her voice trembling.

Celestia's expression softened, though her tone remained firm. "They do not despise him, dear Sister. They fear him. The Ponies of today are not as they were two maybe even three thousand winters ago, remember? Fear, not hatred, drives their hearts—fear of the unknown, and it is further fueled by his actions. It does not help that he took the life of a Royal Guard, and many Humans from the pits." She added gently but firmly.

'And the Myths and Legends that have flourished over the centuries certainly serve to deepen their fear, and some fascination.'

Celestia thought, though she kept this to herself. With a soft glow of golden magic, she reached out to wipe the tears from Luna's cheeks, brushing them away as tenderly as the morning sun dispels the mist.

"You must be strong, my dear sister," Celestia continued, her voice filled with warmth and encouragement. "Now, more than ever. If you wish to prove what you believe about the Giant to our subjects, you must show them no fear, no doubt, and certainly no moments of weakness."

"But it has been nearly a week," Luna whispered, her voice cracking with worry. "Thou dost not last this long alone in the Everfree. Nay, not with the beasts that dwell therein."

Celestia smiled softly, a gesture that carried reassurance like a gentle summer breeze. She stepped closer, pressing her muzzle tenderly to Luna's in a gesture of familial love and support.

"You are forgetting something, Sister," she murmured. "He is no ordinary Human; he is a Giant. If the old tales hold even a fragment of truth, then he is managing just fine within those woods. Perhaps even thriving."

Though Luna did not respond, a faint glimmer of hope shone in her eyes, mingling with her uncertainty. Celestia held her close, offering silent strength to her younger sister as they stood together on the balcony, gazing toward the dense expanse of the Everfree Forest.

"But as your Teacher and Guide, I must say, I am truly impressed by your ability to speak so fluently in Modern Equestrian. And for such an extended time? It amazes me how intelligent and adaptable you are. In many ways, you remind me of our Father. In time, I have no doubt that you will fully acclimate to Pony Society, and when that day comes, it will be a moment of great pride for us all." Celestia offered toward her younger sister who blushed in embarrassment from her older siblings praise.

"I-i give thee thanks, Sister."

Robert's POV

"I am not doing fine!"

Robert half-shouted, his deep voice cracking with panic as he was chased by a pack of snarling manticores. "Oh, sweet baby tap-dancing Christ, this is bad!" His breath came in heavy gasps, his legs burning from the effort of outrunning the relentless beasts behind him.

He fumbled for any remaining arrows, but they were all gone. The sheer urgency of the situation left him little time to craft more. With each thunderous footstep, the manticores’ roars and growls grew louder, their presence closing in.

And then, like a flash of inspiration, Robert froze up gaining an idea. ' Maybe Zecora could help me, its a long shot but I rather it be two against seven.'

He immediately changed direction, making a beeline for the zebra’s tree hut. It wasn’t long before he saw it in the distance. But as he neared, the sound of the manticores’ roars abruptly ceased.

Confused, Robert slowed his pace and stopped, looking behind him. The manticores stood still, unwilling to cross an invisible boundary. They were agitated, but they refused to pass the line. Clearly, they feared something; or someone? on the other side.

‘They're scared of a Zebra… But not me? A human who's the size of a tree?’ Robert thought, dumbfounded by the situation. Still, he wasn’t about to complain. Not when something; or rather, someone, brushed against his leg.

"Mm, I see the Giant-folk faces trouble,
With Manticores that make the forest bubble," came a calm voice from below. Robert nearly jumped at the sudden sound.

It was Zecora, standing at his side. "My apologies, Giant-folk, for the surprise, I thought you knew I was near your legs."

'Time to experiment, hope you like being picked up.' Robert thought as he bent down and gently scooped Zecora up, making her gasp in surprise.

Standing back up. He placed her on his shoulder, and as he began to move back toward the manticores, he watched the beasts retreat, unwilling to approach him or his new zebra companion. He tried to push forward, but just as he took a step past the invisible line, Zecora shifted uneasily on his shoulder.

Finally she realized what he was trying to do and promptly warned him.

"Fool! 'Tis not me they fear, But the power of the joke that's near!"

Robert immediately pulled back, setting Zecora down on the ground with an apologetic glance. ‘Oops. My bad,’ he thought, mentally chastising himself.

"Come, I’ll give you a brew, that makes the Manticores flee from view."

She instructed, her tone no-nonsense as she turned toward her hut. Her tail lashed behind her, and Robert followed obediently, glancing over his shoulder. The manticores, frustrated but cautious, growled and stalked them from the trees, only to retreat back into the dark depths of the Everfree.

Once inside Zecora's hut, the zebra quickly returned with a small sack adorned with a blue flower painted on it. She was now wearing a cloak and other protective garments, as if preparing for something dangerous.

"Beware the pollen of this Flower, my friend,
Though it brings no wrath, its tricks never end."

She warned, her voice low and serious. "Though sealed away and secured it may seem, its effects are no jest, as wild as a dream. It will twist your thoughts and put your mind to the test, so be cautious, Giant-folk, and do not jest." She handed? Hoofed it? Regardless of the correct term of how she gave it to him. Zecora gave him the tightly sealed sack, her expression firm yet cryptic.

Robert raised an eyebrow. 'How can a plant want a laugh? What does that even mean? Does it play tricks on their minds, like some kind of magical catnip?'

After a long pause, Robert looked down at the small sealed transportation sack in his hand. 'This is Dope, isn't it?' He merely shook his head in amusement.

Tutning to leave Zecora stopped him by shooting her hoof out, latching hold of his low hanging bow.

Thankfully he noticed this, and stopped instead of dragging her along.

"May I see thy weapon of choice, Giant-folk, so grand? Perhaps its make I’ll better understand." She asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Though surprised by the request, Robert saw no harm in it. He gently lowered the bow closer toward Zecora, but she struggled to hold it, nearly dropping it before managing to steady it with her hooves. She took a moment to inspect it.

"Your Craft is of decent design, your arrows and quiver, may I see next in line?"

Robert sighed, and shook his head at her inquiry.

Zecora saw this and rubbed her chin thoughtfully, a knowing smile creeping onto her face.

"Ah, you were hunting Manticores when your arrows ran dry? Now that is a lesson, one you need not deny. Always make Extras, even when they seem not to matter, It’s better to have more, than for your arrows to scatter."

She nudged the bow back toward him, her hooves struggling to give his bow back to him.

Seeing her struggle, he grabbed it and picked it back up. Robert now holding the bow he merely slung it back over his shoulder,

"Now what of your Quiver, or have you none?
Surely carrying them by hand is not how it’s done."

'Yeah no shit, I don't exactly have one yet. Turns out there kinda hard to make especially if you've never made one before.'

Zecora raised an eyebrow when she noticed the lack of a quiver. But she watched intently, as he gestured vaguely to his side, showing her how he mostly carried the arrows under his arm.

"This is not how I wished to spend my free day,
Yet here we are, with Manticores in the distant fray." She sighed, turning tail and trotting back toward the hut and going inside.

Now having received, help by the other occupant of the forest Robert returned home keeping the sack of this crazy flower in hand wanting to see how its affects would work if it came down to it.

In the distance, Robert spotted a few manticores stalking him as if he was an oversized mouse. Yet, being the patient man he was; he merely waited for one to make a move.

They roared and nashed there sharp fangs at him, yet Robert remained steadfast against these oversized house cat hybrids.

'I'm more of a dog person.' Robert dryly joked.

After a tense moment, and seeing there intimidation tactics were not working. one of the smaller manticores finally lunged forward, intent on attacking.

With a swift motion, Robert thrust the bag toward it. The reaction was immediate; the creature recoiled, letting out a guttural roar of fear and dismay before retreating into thick leaves and trees followed by the small group they hunted in.

'Yep, this stuff isn’t a joke. Time to go home.' Robert thought, adjusting his limited gear as he began the long march back to his shelter.

Looking through the trees, as he walked. The coast seemed clear before Robert heard distant voices.

"Let's check this way and look towards the lake!"

'These ponies ventured deeper into the forest with each passing day.'

Thinking quickly, Robert slipped off the dirt path and into the shadows of nearby trees to blend in.

Yet as he moved, he did so silently not trying to shake the ground; or cause birds to be disturbed as he went.

Yet upon reaching a 'honey spot.' Robert decided to name them, he settled in and waited standing; just as the small group of Royal Guards passed by.

Their golden armors gleamed faintly in the dappled sunlight that managed to pierce the thick canopy above, the golden plate armor seemingly out of place in this untamed wilderness. Each step they took sent a soft clink of there respective plate against plate armors, as their hooves crunched on the dirt path below.

The few unicorn guards in there group carried spears, the tips sharp and polished to mirror the shine of the sun. A single pegasus among them hovered just above the group, her wing beats faint but steady, scanning the dense woods with tired eyes; oddly enough this mare looked right at him and yet? she didn’t see him; though the bags under her dark chocolate eyes might’ve explained why she hadn't spotted him.

Though their patrol was small, the way they moved together with a slight alertness, and synchronization made them appear disciplined and formidable.

Robert remained still, his breathing coming in low and shallow as the group passed by.

'Are they expanding their search?' He wondered, watching these ponies as Robert did what he could to learn from observation and zero interaction.

Yet with a gentle and low whistle of wind, she descended to the ground, her hooves landing with a soft thud against the dirt path. Her wings folded neatly against her sides as she joined her comrades in their loose formation, the quiet rustle of her feathers being the only sound she made, being on land; as her armor seemed lighter then her comrades in arms.

Robert remained still, barely daring to breathe as the group continued their patrol. The mare’s tired gaze lingered on a nearby thicket for a moment, her helmet slightly tilted as if she sensed something. Then, with a curt nod to the others, she moved along.

"Why are we even here? We haven’t found anything." Said the tired mare as she stretched her armored-covered wings.

The leader of the group, a unicorn stallion, snapped at her. "Orders are Orders. Don't question the Princess's decision, if they want this Giant our job is to find it. Once we accomplish finding it, we either report the sighting; or escort it to Ponyville then Canterlot." His voice was gruff and stern,

"But Sergeant, we've been in and out of this forest for nearly two weeks and found nothing! If the big ape doesn’t want to be found, we should maybe leave it be?" The mare argued.

"Private Silver Wing, if you don't stop questioning orders, as your acting NCO, I will punish you the next time you speak, so keep your bucking muzzle shut, and do what has been commanded of us!"

'Do these Ponies have a hierarchy? Earth Ponies, pegasus's and Unicorns all follow these Princesses? Why didn’t I notice this earlier? Maybe being half-starved to death really made me delirious," Robert thought, watching as the guards walked by, not appearing to notice him.

'They’d only need to look up to see I'm not a tree.'

After the guards had taken the path to the left, heading toward a nearby lake, Robert stepped out from his hiding spot and began making his way back home. He spent the next few hours gathering his arrows and collecting the last of the pelts needed to make some basic pelt sacks.

General third person of Ponyville POV

After Applejack's heroic actions in stopping a herd of cows from demolishing the town, Pinkie Pie and her four other friends, along with the rest of the town, had planned to throw a celebration, for the farming earth pony as a way to say ‘thank you’.

They all had gathered at the town hall, while the very few ponies who had brought their humans were made to stand, in the back to keep them separated, to stop any fights that might happen.

Twilight, together with Rarity and Pinkie, and even Mayor Mare, had been discussing the ceremony that would take place.

"Now, Twilight, you're sure Applejack will be on time?" Mayor Mare asked,

She nodded and was about to speak when Rainbow Dash cut her off.

"I haven't seen her all week, but she'll be here for sure. Applejack is never late!" The rainbow pegasus proclaimed.

This made the mayor uneasy. "Goodness, is she alright? If nopony has seen her, surely something must be wrong?"

"Don't you worry, Mayor Mare!” Pinkie Pie piped up. “She's super duper fine! I Pinkie Promise!" She smiled.

Mayor Mare just sighed while nodding her head."If you two say so, I'll take your word for it. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I need to prepare properly." She walked off.

"Wait, has anypony been to her farm?” Twilight asked, “Or see any of the other Apple family members for that matter?"

Rarity raised a hoof to calm her. "Easy darling, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom met at school, Applebloom explained the situation, she's just been working herself too much." the element of generosity explained.

"Did Applebloom say how hard she was working? Or even sleeping?" Rarity was going to answer with her mouth hanging agape before gently closing. "Applebloom didn't say anything about that or if she was getting rest."

This made Twilight sigh, gently rubbing her face with the smooth soft underside of her hoof. "I have a bad feeling about this," Twilight remarked as her three friends just brushed off her concern.

Five minutes had passed, and still no sign of Applejack. This made Twilight uneasy on the inside but she suppressed it and trotted to the podium, a deck of flashcards following beside her.

Looking over, Twilight found them to be sticking out every few notes or so she decided to fix them before speaking."Welcome, Everypony! Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on!"

Before Twilight could continue, Rainbow Dash slammed her notes, sending them everywhere, along with pushing Twilight out of the way as the rainbow-maned pony took charge.

"Did you see Applejack's sick moves out there during that stampede? What an athlete! Am I right, Ponyville? In the next few days, she's going to help me with a new trick I got cooking up! And it's going to be so awesome!"

Twilight was growing increasingly irritated by her friend’s actions but she managed to compose herself as she pushed Rainbow Dash aside to reclaim the podium.

“And as I was saying—”

Before she could finish, Pinkie Pie popped up beside her, cutting her off mid-sentence. Twilight’s eye twitched as her annoyance grew, though she kept her temper in check.

“I get to run Sugarcube Corner on my own! For the first time!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with a wide grin.

Twilight frowned, her voice dripping with exasperation. “What does that have to do with Applejack?”

“Oh! Applejack is one of the best bakers in all of Ponyville! She’s going to help me next week too! She makes everything great, so everypony can get a free sample!” Pinkie cheered.

This declaration caused an excited murmur to ripple through the crowd, many ponies cheering at the thought. Twilight, however, wasn’t in the mood to entertain it. She gently pushed Pinkie Pie aside.

“Mm-hm, that’s nice, Pinkie. Now, if I could just continue without being interrupted—”

Twilight’s words were cut off again as Fluttershy timidly raised her voice.

“I-I’m so sorry, Twilight,” Fluttershy stammered, shrinking under Twilight’s frustrated gaze, “b-but I just wanted to say… A-Applejack is going to help me with the 'Official Bunny Census,' next week. Her herding skills are perfect for counting all the newborn bunnies.”

Twilight groaned, her patience wearing dangerously thin. “Anypony else? Anypony at all? No? Good.”

Taking a deep breath, she returned her focus to the podium. “Now, as I was trying to say—”

But before she could get another word out, Mayor Mare stepped onto the stage. Twilight froze for a moment, her horn flickering as her anger began to boil over.

With a loud growl of frustration, her magic flared, incinerating the slightly disorganized flashcards in a burst of purple flames.

“NEVER MIND!”

She snapped, her voice echoing throughout the town center; the venom in her tone left no doubt as to how thoroughly ticked off Twilight had become.

Meanwhile, Mayor Mare stepped forward, reclaiming order with a composed demeanor as she began her speech.

"Ahem, and so, without further ado, it is my privilege to give the prized pony of Ponyville an award. To our beloved guest of honor, a pony of the utmost trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity, Applejack!" The crowd cheered before some curtains were pulled back showing.

As the cheers faded, it became evident that the orange farm pony was nowhere to be seen. One by one, the crowd’s excitement gave way to confusion. An awkward silence settled near the town hall, broken only by murmurs and whispered rumors that began to ripple through the gathering. As the rumors soon began;

"What if the Giant got her?" A mare whispered to her mare friend, "what if Applejack was its second kill we couldn't find?" Another one spoke up, as the rumors continued to flow.

Spike heard the growing whispers of gossip among the ponies, and it made him cling tightly to Twilight's foreleg in fear. "W-why did you lie and say that giants aren't real?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes at his question before responding with a calm, if slightly exasperated, tone.

"Because, Spike, the last time I told you a scary story, you practically lived in my room for half a month. So imagine how you'd react if I told you the truth—that an ancient creature I only used to scare you into behaving has somehow come back to life. How do you think you'd handle that?"

Before her little assistant could respond, Applejack finally arrived. "I'm here! I'm here! Sorry for bein' late!" she slurred, stumbling towards the front of the town hall.

The orange-furred farmpony staggered forward, stepping on ponies' hooves and tails by accident as she made her way to the podium. "Miss Mayor!" she called out, unceremoniously pushing the older mare aside. "Thank ya kindly for this award thingy."

As Applejack leaned over to inspect the trophy, she became captivated by her distorted reflection in the polished surface, swaying slightly as she stared at it. Her five friends watched in growing concern, though Pinkie Pie, ever the optimist, trotted over to join her in admiring the warped reflection.

"Girls,"

Rarity whispered urgently, her tone serious, "I don't think Applejack is doing well at all."

Twilight nodded, frowning deeply. Determined to figure out what was wrong, she climbed back onto the stage and approached carefully, her words measured and calm. "Applejack? Thank you for saving us from the stampede and always being there for everypony. But are you feeling alright?"

Applejack yawned loudly, blinking slowly. "Yeah, I like helpin' the Pony folk," she mumbled before abruptly collapsing right there on stage. Gasps rippled through the crowd as she jolted awake seconds later, startled and disoriented.

Shaking her head, she picked up the trophy with her muzzle and mumbled through the handle, "T-thanks for the shiny thing," before dragging it off the stage.

Twilight turned to the others, her concern mounting. "Is it just me, or does Applejack seem... off?"

The rest of the group chimed in, each offering their observations about Applejack's strange behavior—except Pinkie Pie, who cheerfully declared, "She seems perfectly fine to me!"

'I'm doing something so damn stupid,'

Robert mentally chastised himself. Instead of retreating deeper into the woodlands; those dreaded woods that ponies wisely feared.

He was heading in the opposite direction, he’d seen too much in those forests to dismiss their fear of it. Strange sights, unusual plant life, and the eerie silence that came when the birds and smaller creatures vanished when he moved as a heavy footed person.

Now, the usual forest sounds were replaced by an unnatural quiet as he stepped out of the dense cover.

He was heading toward the pony town, knowingly increasing his chances of being spotted. But more importanlty he wanted to check out the town as best he could in the day time without being spotted.

'Maybe I can return the favor and scout them out for a change? Search for anything of value to take or plan to that is.' He thought, looking through the sparse forest canopy. The sunlight filtered down brightly, yet he noticed something odd: the patrols he'd observed never came this way. 'Is this area off-limits?' he wondered, piecing together the near endless possibilities.

Before he could settle on an answer, something unexpected happened; something fell from above, landing on his head with a solid. *THUD* as a medium sized red blur fell past his face and landed on the ground.

'Ow. Wait... was that an apple?' he mulled, rubbing the sore spot as the fruit rolling around on the ground.

Leaning over, he picked up the apple and straightened back up to his full height. 'When was the last time I had a fresh apple?' He wondered, inspecting the seemingly bright red fruit.

It was slightly dirtied from the fall, but it still looked incredible compared to the scraps he'd been surviving on. He used a scrap of extra pelt he wore to wipe away the dirt, revealing a vibrant apple so perfect it could’ve been plucked straight out of a painting.

Gently, he bit into it. The taste was unlike anything he had ever experienced—sweet, crisp, and bursting with flavor that made the apples from home seem like cheap knock-offs. He savored the moment, taking smaller bites to stretch the experience.

'Perfection,' he concluded, finishing the fruit down to the core before tossing it aside.

Still hungry, he reached for another apple. This one was green and for a different section.

Sighing softly to himself, confident he was alone, he cleaned it off and bit into it. Unlike the red apple, this one wasn’t bitter but surprisingly sweet. He devoured it just as quickly and tossed the core aside, curiosity growing as he gazed at the seemingly endless wild orchard ahead.

The trees stretched out before him, a sea of green and gold dotted with apples of all kinds. 'Why the hell are they only growing apples?' he wondered, moving deeper into the orchard. 'How do they even make this profitable? Surely some apples go bad.'

He wandered into a new section, noting the differences. These trees bore fewer apples, their branches mostly bare, while buckets dotted the ground—some empty, others filled with freshly picked fruit. The sight stirred another thought in his mind. 'This place is... Organized. Way too organized for a grove of Apple Trees.'

As he continued, Robert couldn't shake the feeling that he’d stumbled into something far more cultivated; and potentially dangerous to himself than he’d anticipated.

''Let's double time it,' Robert thought, trying to remain calm as he moved steadily through the trees, avoiding the open paths of the orchard. He weaved between the trunks, making sure to stay low and undetected, until he reached an eerily empty section of the orchard. The trees here were sparse, with almost no fruit hanging from their branches.

'What the hell is going on? Are the trees sick? Or is someone harvesting them?' he wondered, eyeing the unusual sight. Walking up to one tree, he inspected the bark, giving it a gentle knock to test the sturdiness of the wood.

The sound was solid, reassuring. 'Alright, so it's the latter, not the former.'

Before he could take another step, a loud yawn broke the silence from below him.

"Aww shucks, I forgot to get this tree here some buckets!" A feminine, southern-accented voice slurred out.

Robert looked down in surprise, recognizing the speaker. 'It's the orange pony from that night a few months back. What the hell was her name? Was it... Cereal? No, wait, Applejack, that's it.'

He was confused for a moment, then couldn't help but wonder why she would think he was a tree. 'How does she and nearly every single pony mistake me for a tree? Is it because of my legs? Or these damn pants?'

He stood completely still, not daring to move as she circled around him, placing large wooden buckets beneath the trees. Applejack then moved toward him, and before he could react, she got into a stance as if preparing to buck a tree; only, she aimed her kick right at him.

The force of the attempt nearly made her stumble, and nearly fall over.

'Is she drunk? What the hell is going on?' Robert thought, stunned at her behavior. But before he could process it further, Applejack’s hooves hit him square in the solid part of his leg with a resounding thud.

Gritting his teeth against the sharp pain, Robert clutched the tree beside him to steady himself. 'God, that hurt like motherfucker!' He thought, a single tear slipping down his cheek, a testament to the force of the orange mare’s kick.

Applejack paused, glancing at him with a tilted head in confusion. "Why ain't this darn tree droppin' its apples?" She muttered exhaustion clear in her voice, before shaking her head and gettin' back into position.

'Maybe because I'm not a damn Apple tree, you off-brand cereal-named Pony!' Robert’s thoughts were a snarl of frustration, though his jaw remained clenched, refusing to relax as she prepared for another strike.

"Aww, well, I reckon I better jus' buck this tree harder!" Applejack declared, oblivious to the damage she’d already done, her voice filled with determination.

'Oh hell no!'

Panic surged in his chest. 'That first kick probably gave me a bruise the size of a carseat! What the hell kind of damage can she do with harder kicks?'

His body braced as she lined up for another bone shattering buck.

Robert barely had time to react before she reared back, her hind legs lining up perfectly with his already bruised shin. He clenched his teeth so hard he feared they might crack, every muscle in his body tensing as he braced for the inevitable.

'Shit.'

The impact hit like a freight train, pain erupting in a sharp, unbearable wave that surged through his entire body. His leg throbbed with searing agony, trembling under the strain, while his mind struggled to process the sheer force behind the kick. Words couldn’t capture the torment; it was as if his nerves had been lit on fire.

As the pain surged through him, all he could think was simple.

'I really need to get the hell out of this situation, and fast.' Yet before he could devise a plan the mare below slurred a response.

"Come on, ya old Oak! Give me yer Apples, I know ya ain’t dead—yer too thick and rooted to be!" She slurred, readyin' to kick him again.

Before Robert’s frustration could boil over into action, his mouth and brain raced ahead of his body. Instinct took over, words spilling out faster than he could process them.

"There's just one problem with your way of thinking; I’m not an Apple Tree!" he snarled, grabbing a decent-sized apple from the tree next to him for emphasis.

"That's an Apple tree!"

Robert took a step back, gripping a ripe apple from the tree next to him. His frustration had reached a boiling point, and the fruit in his hand suddenly felt like the perfect outlet. He weighed it for a moment, feeling the smooth surface against his palm, then clenched his jaw. Without hesitation, he pulled his arm back and threw the apple with all the force he could muster.

“And here’s an apple! See your discrepancy?!” he snarled, his voice carrying a sharp edge that cut through the quiet day of the orchard.

Applejack paused at the shout, her ears swiveling toward the sound, but she was too slow to react. She mumbled something incoherent just as the apple sailed through the air.

Yet Applejack froze at the sudden shout, her ears flicking instinctively toward the voice.

“H-huh?”

She muttered in felirious confusion, barely registering the sound before the apple was already in motion.

*CRACK!*

The sharp impact reverberated through the orchard, the ripe fruit colliding directly with the back of her head. The force of the blow made her jerk forward, her knees trembling as they struggled to hold her weight.

Her hat shifted crookedly, teetering on the verge of falling off as she swayed unsteadily. The orange mare blinked rapidly, her eyes unfocused, and hazey and her legs wobbled precariously under the unexpected shock.

Robert watched in shock as Applejack’s body struggled to stay upright, her legs wobbling like a newborn fawn’s. She blinked sluggishly, her expression a mixture of confusion and pain, as though her brain couldn’t quite process what had just happened.

Then, with a low groan, she gave out entirely. Her legs folded beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground in a heap, as a small dust cloud rose from around her motionless form.

Robert’s heart stopped. His mind raced as he stared at the unmoving mare.

'Fuck! D-did, I just kill her?!'

He stepped closer, his movements careful and deliberate as he crouched down to the limp pony. Gently, he slid his hand beneath her, lifting her up and with ease cradling her against his chest. Her small, warm body felt fragile in his grasp, her hat hanging askew as it brushed against his hand before falling off and floating to the ground.

With a steady hand, he reached out, bringing a finger close to her nose. He held his breath, waiting for the faintest trace of an exhale from the orange mare, his eyes fixed intently on her face for any sign of movement if she wasn't breathing.

She wasn't breathing. Or moving.

"This is bad. This is really, really bad!"

He muttered frantically, as he slowly began pacing as his mind spiraled further into panic. "I just pulled an Isaac Newton on a freaking horse."

Before his hysteria could fully take hold, a loud snore broke through the tension, startling him. He froze, staring down at the mare in his arms. The soft, rhythmic sound was unmistakable.

Letting out a long, relieved sigh, he muttered to himself, "Note to self: don't throw Apples at a Pony's head. Unless it's absolutely necessary. Or if they're wearing Armor, then it's a maybe."

Just as Robert was about to set the mare down, she shifted in his arms, nuzzling into him with a contented hum. "Mm~ Ah missed mah bed," she murmured, snuggling closer. Robert stood frozen, completely bewildered.

‘She thinks I’m her bed, doesn’t she?’ he thought, as she nuzzled deeper.

'There's my answer.'

His mind was reeling at the prospect of this mare being this close, as he tried to carefully untangle her from his rough shirt; while she gave a verbal sleep filled protest.

“Mmm! No, Granny Smith! Ah don’t wanna make more Apple Pies and Fritters…” Applejack groaned softly in her sleep, her hooves instinctively tightening around his shirt as she mumbled incoherently.

Sighing, Robert managed to gently evict her from his clothes, her fuzzy body reluctantly leaving the comfort of his shirt. He carefully lowered her against the trunk of an apple tree, trying his best to make it look natural.

‘Slowly, Robert reached down and took Applejack’s cowboy hat, carefully wiping off any stray bits of apple and dirt. He ran the fabric through his fingers, trying to make it look as clean as possible. Once satisfied, he gently placed the hat back on her head, adjusting it to fit just right. He then turned his attention to the apples scattered around her and began carefully collecting them, spilling them back into her saddle baskets.

‘You won’t be needing these anymore,’ he thought, his expression hardening as he worked.

Once he had gathered the apples and tidied up the area, he stepped back to assess his handiwork. Applejack lay there, looking surprisingly peaceful, her steady breathing the only sign of life. With a final glance, he started to gather more apples, intending to take them back to his campsite.

‘Looks like I’m going to feast on Apples,’ he mused to himself. ‘Unless there’s more to this Pony’s Farm than I what I'm seeing; I just don't want to live off apple produce for my whole life.'

As he strolled through the orchard, his eyes scanned his surroundings, his causal search would soon provided something of interest.

A large red barn stood nearby, its white picket fences surrounding it, and, to his surprise, actual food was being grown in the fields beyond. A mix of vegetables and crops spread out in neat rows, far beyond just apple trees.

'I stand corrected.' Robert mulled, seeing what else she was growing on his approach.

Lettuce, bean stalks, celery, even a few watermelons and carrots—Robert couldn’t believe his eyes. It was like stepping into a food paradise, everything he hadn't seen in months now ripe for the taking. His stomach growled in anticipation, his mouth watering at the sight of so much fresh produce.

‘Finally, a safe change from meat,’ Robert thought. He didn’t hate meat, but it had become monotonous after eating the same thing day after day, with no real variety or spice to keep things interesting. The thought of something crisp, fresh, and full of flavor made his mind race with recipes he hadn't had in so long.

After stuffing the "borrowed" saddle baskets to the brim with produce, like a kid on Christmas morning who had received nearly all he wanted and was trying to do a single trip toward their room.

Robert stood up.

Slightly taller than the apple trees, his height gave him a perfect advantage to study Ponyville from a somewhat concealed position, among the trees with only his head peeking out above the tops of said trees.

Below, the town was teeming with multicolored dots;ponies, he surmised,moving about there daily life; their activity filling the air of the town with the hum of town life.

From his vantage point, Robert could see a good portion of the small to medium-sized town. Now, with the sunlight illuminating it, the entire layout of Ponyville looked completely different, revealing details and structures that had been hidden in the shadows before. The town’s charm and character were much clearer in the daylight, offering a whole new perspective.

'One thing to note,'

Robert thought, 'I haven’t seen any Ponies in Golden or Lavender Armor around Ponyville in the short time I've seen in.'

This puzzled him.

If the armored ponies were their version of law enforcement or military, why weren’t they stationed in a small town like this? Instead, it seemed like they were searching for him in the forest.

'I guess I really shook the Hornet's nest, if they are leaving a Town so close to that forest so defenseless. Either that, or a extremely minor Presence is present and I just don't know where to look.'

Shaking his head, while stepping backwards the tall man heard a growl from behind him. thinking it was the wooden wolves Robert readied for a one-sided fight.

Looking down, Robert's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted a dog. It wasn’t a timberwolf or anything like that; this was an actual, living dog. "Oh, hey there, little buddy," Robert murmured, kneeling down to get a better look at the fuzzy creature. "Been a while since I’ve seen one of you." He smiled softly, his voice gentle as he extended a hand, "Are you a good dog?"

The small dog, surprisingly quick for it's small size, leaped up and bit down on Robert's fingers.

"Ow! You little runt!" He yelped, surprised by the sudden bite. With his other hand, he quickly set down the two saddle baskets and grabbed the dog's lower half, pulling gently to try and get it to release its grip on his fingers. "Hey! Let go, you little terror!" Robert grunted, carefully trying to avoid causing harm while trying to free his hand from the dog's bite.

"Come on, you little mutt, just let go," Robert muttered, his voice strained as the dog growled, its teeth sinking deeper into his fingers. The pain shot up his arm, but he gritted his teeth, trying to think of a way to get the little terror to release him.

'I tried to be nice, now we do it my way.'

In a last-ditch effort, he grabbed the dog's tail, giving it a sharp tug; it wasn't enough to tear the dog's tail out, but The sudden yank made the dog yelp in surprise, and pain.

Causing it to momentarily loosen its grip on his fingers. Allowing Robert to retrive his hand; allowing him to shake his bitten hand, wincing as his plan worked.

"You're a feisty one, aren't you?" Robert muttered, staring at the dog hanging from his hand. He winced, inspecting the wound on his bitten fingers.

"E-yup, that's a bleeder. I'll need to clean that up once I get back."

Before he could react further, the dog let out a sharp growl before barking wildly, its yaps filling the air. Robert cursed under his breath. Acting quickly, he hoisted the dog up with the same hand while grabbing hold of its muzzle, forcing it shut to silence the incessant barking.

"And this is why I hate small Dogs," Robert grumbled, his patience quickly wearing thin.

Just as Robert was about to get a handle on the squirming dog, a young voice called out from the other side of the barn. "Winona! Come here, girl!"

At the sound of the familiar voice, the dog, now clearly named 'Winona.' Wiggled even more frantically, straining against Robert’s grasp. Her attempts to break free were relentless, and despite Robert’s firm hold, her energy and desperation made it difficult to keep her still.

Robert’s grip tightened instinctively, but he remained cautious, hoping the situation would de-escalate before things got any more out of hand.

Robert gently pressed the dog's ear closer to his mouth, speaking in a low, calm voice to her. "Listen, Winona. Stop moving. I'm not in the mood for a fight, or violence; but if you keep squirming, I'll have no choice but to get rough. You don't want that, trust me. Just be good, and I’ll let you go, I promise."

The dog continued to growl softly, her eyes narrowed, still sizing up the giant stranger, but something in his tone seemed to make her hesitate, her wriggling slowing if only slightly.

The tiny pony, seemingly unaware of the commotion behind the large red barn, spoke up with a carefree tone. "I guess she's just chasing Squirrels again," she said, her voice carrying lightly through the air as she slowly started moving in an unknown direction, oblivious to the tension just behind the barn.

Peeking to the right, Robert didn't see her, before crawling to the left, finally spotting the filly. With a pink bow on her head, red hair, and a cream-colored coat heading to a three-story wooden home.

Peeking cautiously to the right, Robert didn’t see the filly, so he crawled to the left. That’s when he spotted her—a young pony with a pink bow on her head, red hair, and a cream-colored coat, heading toward a three-story wooden farm cabin.

The giant human watched quietly as the filly disappeared inside. He assumed she’d given up on her search, and, as promised, he dropped the dog. But not before picking up the stolen produce and saddle baskets, making sure everything was secure.

"Much appreciated, Winona. Be a good girl and run along now," he said, offering a quick smile before the demon dog bit his ankle, refusing to let him leave.

Robert gave an annoyed pain filled grunt, his patience finally snapping. "Alright, I tried to be nice, you fuzzy Demon ball." He muttered, picking the dog back up and tossing her through an open window of the barn. The soft thud that followed indicated she had landed safely, but now she was effectively locked inside.

As he doubled back the way he came, Robert sighed in relief. 'Thank God I didn't have to kill a dog.'

But just as he thought he'd gotten away, the farm dog, who he'd just spared, began barking and howling loudly. She was doing her best to warn her family of the large intruder nearby.

'But now... I wish I had.'

Robert’s heavy footfalls sent tremors through the earth as he ran, moving as if his very life depended on it; he ran like his ass was on fire.

Reaching the outskirts of the farm, post haste he accidentally stomped down on the white picket fence. That separated the forest from the orchard; the sharp *CRUNCH* of splintering wood rang out, and Robert ducked low, stumbling backward into the woods.

‘Crap! Crap! They’ll know which way I came from! I need to change how I enter the orchard next time! Wait... What if that dog is a bloodhound! I don’t know how good her tracking skills are but just to be safe, I need to find water. And fast!’

Frantic, Robert dashed through the remaining orchard and back into the woods; pushing his body harder then before to get deeper into the woods, his eyes scanning for any sign of water.

His luck held as he spotted a creek ahead. Without hesitation, he plunged into the cold water, the chill biting at his skin, and pushed forward, running with everything he had to put as much distance between himself and the apple farm as possible.

In the distance, the relentless yapping of the little dog echoed, sending a spike of panic through Robert’s chest. His heart raced, spurring him to run faster, desperate to shake off the distant yet pursuing noise.

"I’m not going in there in the Everfree in my current state, along with my sister and my little sister," came a distant, masculine voice, tinged with concern and resolve.

The words hung in the air, just barely audible, and Robert’s mind raced. 'Who was that? Doesn't matter now, I'm outta here!'

A few minutes before Twilight's POV

After witnessing Applejack's strange behavior at the ceremony, Twilight felt compelled to visit the farm pony. As she made her way through Sweet Apple Acres, the familiar sounds of the orchard greeted her. But soon, she heard something unusual—barking.

Following the sounds of frantic howls and barks coming from the barn, Twilight furrowed her brow. 'Did Applejack leave Winona in there?' With a flick of her horn, she used her magic to open the barn's red-and-white doors. To her surprise, Winona shot out of the barn like a rocket, her barking frantic and wild, as if she had gone completely mad.

"Whoa, easy there! Winona!" Twilight called out, half-shouting, startled by the dog’s sudden rush toward her. Reacting quickly, she used her magic to lift the dog into the air, holding her gently but firmly in a magical grasp.

"Winona, it’s me, Twilight! You remember me, don’t you?" Twilight said soothingly, her voice calm and reassuring. Slowly, Winona’s frantic growls subsided, and her body relaxed in Twilight’s magic. The purple mare glanced around, trying to understand what had caused the dog to be so agitated.

She perked her ears, listening closely for any sign of disturbance. Then, through the tension in the air, she heard it.

Heavy footfalls. The unmistakable sound of something large and powerful moving through the trees, snapping branches as it went. Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. 'hat is that?'

She wondered, a sense of unease creeping up her spine. 'Was it a Manticore? No, too heavy for that. And it would be running toward us not away; could it be a Hydra? No. We would have smelled the thing from a mile away, and again it also would have been running toward us.'

Twilight's gaze darted to the woods, scanning for what was fleeing from her sight, her body tense as she listened intently.

She had just begun to scan the trees diligently as the sound of hooves approached. Applebloom came rushing out of the house after seeing Twilght just standing there olding the family dog, her small face set with determination.

Big Mac trailed behind at a more leisurely pace, his large frame was slowed due to his injuries.

"Why do you have Winona like that, Twilight?!" Applebloom asked, her voice tinged with annoyance as she stamped her tiny hoof. Twilight however raised her own hoof, signaling for Applebloom to quiet down.

"Listen."

Twilight said, her voice hushed, her ears flicking toward the woods. "Do you hear that? I think the Apple farm had some kind of; 'Visitor.' "

Both Applebloom and Big Mac stopped in their tracks, their faces shifting from confusion to shock and fear as they listened to the fadding footfalls. Twilight gently placed Winona back on the ground. In an instant, the dog bolted, barking furiously as she ran toward the source of the disturbance.

Twilight, Applebloom, and Big Mac followed the dog through the orchard, every step making the tension in the air grow thicker. They reached a clearing where Applejack lay slumped against an apple tree, she appeared to be asleep. Applebloom rushed over, calling out to her older sister.

"Big sis!"

Applebloom cried, her voice breaking through the silence as she shook Applejack gently.

Applejack groggily stirred. "Huh? What’s goin’ on?" she mumbled, blinking her eyes open. Big Mac whistled sharply, calling Winona back to him. The dog returned, her bark subsiding into anxious whimpers wanting to eagerly chase down this thief.

Twilight approached Applejack cautiously, her horn glowing with magic. She bent down beside the farm pony, using her magic to scan her for injuries or signs of illness. Twilight’s brow furrowed as she focused on the readings. Something was wrong; that was now obvious.

Applejack's body seemed weak, as if she had been under strain for days.

Twilight’s concern deepened. "Applejack, what happened?" she asked softly, her voice laced with worry as she continued her magical scan.

"What happened?" Applejack repeated back with a grunted, holding the back of her head with a hoof as she tried to push herself upright. Twilight's horn was still glowing softly, and she quickly assessed the situation.

"You tell us sis."

Big Mack quipped earning a glare from Applejack. Yet thankfully, Twilight gave a more forward answer.

"It looks like Somepony threw something at the back of your head, more specifically an Apple?" Twilight explained, her voice filled with concern. The words hung heavy in the air, and the group was stunned by the realization.

Twilight’s magic flickered as she began healing the injury, the soft glow of her aura enveloping Applejack's head, making her shutter in pain. As her hoof gently pressed to the spot where the impact had occurred, but Twilight’s magical touch was working to ease the pain.

"Do ya meber anything, Applejack?" Big Mac asked, his voice rough with worry. His large frame loomed over his sister as he helped her steady herself.

Applejack grunted in pain, shaking her head. "It's all a blur. I can’t recall a thing." She murmured, rubbing her face in an attempt to shake off the disorientation. Slowly, her thoughts started to clear, and she seemed more coherent now than she had been when she’d been acting strangely in town.

"Thank ya, Twilight," Applejack added, grateful for the healing touch. "I feel better, but... what or who would treat my head as a target?" She asked, still confused about the events leading up to this point.

"Maybe Winona can track whoever we’re looking for?" asked Apple Bloom, her voice tinged with hope.

"Good idea," Twilight replied, "but let’s focus on Applejack first."

"Let it go, y’all," Applejack groaned, rubbing the back of her head. "I’ve got a job to do, and I can’t let all them apples go to waste." Her head throbbed painfully, making her grit her teeth, but she was clearly determined to get back to work.

"Applejack, stay still so I can heal your injury," Twilight insisted, her horn glowing as she prepared another spell.

"B-buck that, Twi! Stop your fancy spell and let me get back to work!" Applejack snapped, trying to step away despite her unsteady footing.

Twilight frowned, clearly not trusting her friend to take care of herself. With a spark of magic, she lifted the orange-furred pony into the air.

"Applebloom, Big Mac, let’s go," Twilight commanded, floating the stubborn earth pony alongside her as they followed Winona.

Big Mac gave a nod and whistled to the dog. "Go get 'em, girl!" he encouraged, watching as Winona darted ahead, barking and growling to guide them.

Meanwhile, Applejack wriggled in Twilight’s magical grip, her protests growing louder. "Twi! Ya better put me down right now!"

"I can’t trust you to be on your own after your display in town," Twilight countered, keeping her firm hold on her friend. "And you’ve got a concussion! Your working days are done for now!"

Applejack huffed angrily, but Twilight ignored her display as they followed Winona deeper into the orchard.

The farm dog’s barking soon led them to the property line, marked by a wooden fence where Sweet Apple Acres met the Everfree Forest. The group froze as they spotted large, unfamiliar footprints in the dirt, each one deep and heavy.

Twilight narrowed her eyes as she inspected the tracks. They weren’t from manticores, timberwolves, or even an Ursa Minor. These prints were something else entirely—far too big to belong to anything she’d seen in Ponyville. Her heart sank as recognition hit her.

These tracks matched the description Princess Celestia had mentioned in her letter: detailing the being that escaped Canterlot.

"This just got a whole lot more dangerous," Twilight muttered. She glanced back at Big Mac, who stood stoically, though his weariness showed. Applebloom stayed close to her brother, her curiosity now mingled with apprehension, and Applejack continued fuming in her magical grip.

Twilight’s gaze returned to the tracks, the pit in her stomach deepening. Whatever had passed through here wasn’t just big—it possibly could be trouble. The four ponies followed the dog, who was barking and growling for them to follow, until they came upon the wooden fence that marked where their property ended, and Everfree began, seeing the trail large footprints.

Their fuzzy companion was running for quite some time until it stopped at a creek. Wionna whined, showing she had lost its scent.

"I'm not going in there in the Ever-free in my current state, along with my sister and my little sister." Big Mac reasoned while Applebloom agreed.

"Y-yeah they can keep it, that forest is Dangerous!"

Twilight paused, deep in thought. This thing was smart, far too smart for a typical creature from the Everfree. The state of their group didn’t help matters either: a filly, a recovering stallion, and a concussed Applejack. With a sigh, she made the tough decision to forgo the pursuit.

"Let’s head back to Sweet Apple Acres, hopefully next time we can pursue." Twilight said, turning away from the tracks and walking toward the farm. Applebloom trotted beside her sister, trying to lift her spirits.

"Come on, big sis! Let’s get ya patched up!" Applebloom said with a wide grin, as though this was her chance to earn a cutie mark in the medical field.

Applejack chuckled tiredly. "I appreciate it, sis, but I got work to do! I’m the only Pony that can harvest these Apples!"

Twilight sighed heavily, her horn glowing as she gently set Applejack back on her hooves. She knew arguing with the stubborn farm pony was a losing battle.

"Fine," Twilight relented, "but promise me you’ll take a nap later, at least for a little while."

Big Mac, still quiet but clearly concerned, moved to support Applejack as they made their way back to the homestead.

"Nap? No way, no how!" Applejack retorted, her voice firm despite her unsteady gait.

Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but Applejack suddenly perked up, her eyes widening. "Oh, Pony Feathers, I need to help Rainbow Dash!" she exclaimed, stumbling away from her brother and the group, and heading toward Ponyville before anyone could stop her.

Twilight groaned, shaking her head. "That mare’s going to work herself into the ground," she muttered, sharing a worried look with Big Mac as they watched Applejack disappear down the dirt path.

Robert POV

'There's no way I lost those Ponies by going into not even the very outskirts of these woods. I know for a fact there's no wooden wolves and Manticores within the first three hundred paces.'

Going from a jog, to a slow walk, Robert began to go over the spoils of his raid, on the farmstead; trying to do a headcount, of what could have fallen out. Oddly, all the food he shoved inside the saddlebags didn't fall out. Taking out a decent-sized, celery stalk he began to eat the unclean vegetable along with the dirt it had accumulated, while growing.

"Mmmm. Earth seasoning, my favorite."

Robert said sarcastically, before spitting out the dirt-covered vegetable, 'I need to wash these but not here, maybe near Zecora's?'

Following the creek, Robert determined that he would follow the small river a little bit longer before splitting off, and going towards his zebra friend.

' Does she even see me as a friend? Or just some tall, and strong, creature that lives in these woods.' Seeing a slightly smooth path out away from the creek the giant climbed out.

Looking around, to get a sense of direction, before heading west, toward the zebra's hut. Plus being in these woods with large, amounts of free time, gave Robert the ability to explore these woods and grow quite accustomed to them.

Soon the large tree hut appeared into view, but something was. . . Off, picking up the pace, before arriving at the front of the zebra's home. The place had been thrashed, the front door had been left ajar, and most of her things were on her wooden floor. 'what has happened here?'

The zebra herself was sitting on her front step. She seemed bruised, along with her golden rings gone, minus her earrings. Upon seeing the giant walking toward her home, she seemed. Scared? That wasn't how she normally acted, especially when they first met.

Arriving at her front door the zebra slammed her door shut before she spoke up. "The Giant folk are not welcome here! Your kin brings nothing but wrath and death!" the frightened female zebra shouted.

Deciding to sit down, with a soft tremor, and setting the stolen goods behind him just in case she tried something. Robert reached over and gently knocked on her cracked door. Before the zebra flung the door open and sprayed the giant with a green fluid from a container.

"I Warned you to leave Giant folk! Now my wrath you'll face!" The green stuff burned. It felt like tear gas mixed with pepper spray.

"What the hell?!" Robert shrieked, while it burned him. "This green stuff, it burns!!" he half shouted while grunting in pain, falling to the side holding his face.

Meanwhile, Zecora was too stunned to speak or act. A human that spoke! And a giant no less. Finally snapping out of her stunned state, the zebra rushed inside. Grabbing an unbroken purple bottle before popping the cork out and galloping outside.

She knew that if the venom of the black rose of the valley. was allowed into the eyes of any animal that tried to consume the rose or its venom. Would go blind. "Giant folk stop moving!" Zecora snapped, trying to fix the issue that she caused.

Roughly twenty minutes later, the pain had subsided for Robert and Zecora seemed, sheepish and apologetic, for her actions. "you can speak?" the zebra inquired, and shockingly enough not in a rhyme.

"Yes, I can. I have just one thing I've been meaning to ask Zecora," Robert said, his face red and puffy, from the green stuff she sprayed him with.

Cautiously, nodding her head "Proceed with the question."

"Why do you only speak in rhyme?" Robert asked, causing her to smile before answering.

"The language of Ponies isn't my native tongue. Back in the native lands, we speak a different tongue."

Tilting his head in complete confusion before answering his striped friend. "Forgive my foolishness, but what on earth does that mean?"

Rolling her dull blue eyes, before heading inside to get some paper and a quill. Returning while setting the paper down, Zecora wrote the issue out.

~I had taught myself how to write, and read Equestrian, but speaking is much harder. I find that rhyming aids me better than speaking normally.~

Reading the paper before looking, downcast at the zebra, Robert just shook his head. "Alright I guess that makes sense, but what happened to your home?" he asked, seeing her fold her ears.

Robert saw her tail flicking and lashing, while he gave the piece of paper back before she began furiously writing her reply.

~A small group of ponies had broken into my home, claiming I had been holding information about you, from the public eye. Instead, they stole my treasures from my native land, and when I tried to stop them they attacked me.~ Gently sliding the paper back towards her new acquaintance.

Picking the paper up he began to read the small paragraph she left him.

"So you mean to tell me these Hunters or these Thieves, broke into your home and stole things from you, And to add salt into the wound. They had beaten you," Robert asked while she simply nodded.

"Why haven't you contacted, Law Enforcement? Or Ponyville about this issue?" his rage was slowly building before the zebra spoke up.

"The Ponies of Ponyville fear my look and even if I could, my report wouldn't be given a second look."

This had pissed Robert off; his breathing grew more forced, before he stood back up. "Which way did they go?" before she simply pointed her hoof in the direction.

While giving a few words of wisdom, "If you wish to form a Friendship with the Pony folk, try to avoid killing and unneeded violence. To much will make then fear you, to little and they will try and protect you."

Departing with haste, Zecora had spotted his goods. getting up gently; she walked towards them before scooping the saddlebags onto her back and taking them inside.

'the least I can do is clean these up for him.' Zecroa smiled, gently shaking her head knowing those ponies who messed with her were about to get scared to the bone.

It Wasn't hard to find their camp. They seemed to be enjoying their spoils. The sun had gone down about an hour ago, and the last rays of the sun were replaced by the soft glow of the moon.

Robert moved slowly his ears picking up on a conversation near their roaring fire, as one of these theives played music.

"I can't believe we tricked that scum of a Zebra to let us in! Now all these goods are ours!" said a psychotic-sounding stallion.

"If you want we can go back and enjoy some exotic marehood~," said a second depraved stallion.

'And here I thought people back home were this sick. But apparently, creatures in this world like those who work in pit fights for humans, sex rings; and these crooks are the same.' Robert mulled over in his head, their words fueling his rage.

"Yeah! next we need to find that Giant! The human pit fights all over Equestria are willing to pay a fortune, if we find that idiotic creature even offering whoever a third of the profits of it in the ring! To the group who brings it in first!"

'Of course they bring me up.' Was his only thought about that comment, as another stallion answered.

"Buck that! The big lad can wait, let's celebrate over our spoils!" Watching from the trees, Robert studied the small group consisting of two normal ponies, one flying pony, and three unicorns.

Moving closer, Robert began to study and scheme on how to acquire Zecora's things without killing or hurting these ponies, before a simple solution popped into his head.

'I don't have to kill them, but I can scare them; Shock and Awe tactics.' Acting quickly, he propelled himself through the large trees snapping branches and crushing bushes as he went before setting loose a mighty shout.

This had worked in his favor: the group of ponies, a mixture of mares and stallions, were terrified; some had weapons, others weren't so blessed. "how in the name of Tartarus did it find us?!" asked the Pegasi holding a crossbow in her hooves while flapping her wings to stay in the air.

"I don't know! I used a masking spell to cover our tracks and smell to the point, a Hydra couldn't find us!" yelled a unicorn before an earth pony spoke up, doing his best to rally the others.

"We have a chance to make some serious bits here! Try not to damage this big lad to much! We need him one piece!"

The closest ponies near him did there best to keep Robert distracted, keeping prolonged eye contact flicking there tails or ears to even whistling at him.

'If you're going to lay a trap could you not make it anymore obvious?' Robert thought as he reached up and cracked his knuckles, the sound making many of the equines shutter.

'Pussies. Its not really bones breaking its just air being pushed out. Why are all ponies such chicken shits?'

Then he heard it; a faint rustling above him. That made him instinctively look up. Through the gaps in the dense tree canopy, he caught the glint of something metallic; a net followed by nessercy weights to weigh it down.

Soon the unmistakable flutter of ropes being released. His eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen.

"Now!" shouted a mare, her voice cutting through the night like a whip.

The nets descended rapidly, tangling around his upper body and waist. For a moment, Robert staggered backwards slighyly under the sudden weight, but as he straightened, the poorly-sized nets fell short of their mark, barely reaching past his knees. Their plan had been flawed from the start, and Robert could feel his irritation boiling over into full-blown rage.

'What fucking cartoon ass trap was that? This isn't a looney tunes show!' He thought grabbing the net and beginning to pull the net off of his person.

The nets are not big enough! Run!" screamed the female pegasus, her panic evident as she flapped her wings furiously to gain altitude.

Robert, unfazed, yanked the last of the netting from his upper body and set his sights on armed pegasus. With a swift, calculated motion, he reached up and snatched her mid-flight, her startled yelp echoing through the trees, and crackling fire. Without hesitation, Robert dropped her into the tangled net her companions would soon be joining her there. Yet, the force of grabbing her caused her to lose her grip on the loaded crossbow, which clattered to the ground before discharging with a loud *CRACK*

Robert’s roar of pain shook the nearby trees as the bolt buried itself deep into his right leg. White-hot agony surged through him, his rage flaring with it. 'Ow! You little bastards! Now you're not getting away that easily, you thieving, depraved scum!'

The Pegasus, didn't seem harmed but disoriented and tangled in the netting, struggled to free herself, but Robert slung the net over his shoulder treating it as a sorta sack to catch the remaining ponies into there would be no escape; not for her, and not for the rest of them.

The rest of the pony hunters descended into chaos, their earlier bravado shattered by the towering giant who now loomed over them. Panicked shouts and frantic movements filled the air as they scrambled to evade him, but it was futile.

Robert moved methodically, his expression a mask of cold determination. Ignoring their terrified cries, he plucked each pony from their failed attempts at hiding or fighting back. Their struggles were laughable against his sheer strength, their kicks and spells proving ineffective.

One by one, he grabbed them—screaming, flailing, or frozen in fear—and unceremoniously dumped them into the oversized net they had brought to trap him. The irony was not lost on Robert as he cinched the net closed, the ponies now tangled together in the very trap they had crafted with him in mind. Their terrorized pleas and curses fell on deaf ears as Robert surveyed his handiwork, ensuring none of them had a chance to escape.

After all that was said and done, Robert tied the net closed, before he began looting their campsite. Besides finding Zecora's items that were stolen from her, they had been left in a small carriage, something he could make use of later.

"Let us go! you oversized Beast!" yelled a mare, from the tangled mess of her companions as another spoke, "Come on you idiotic Human release us!"

Tuning out the panicked shouts and protests of the captured thieves, Robert turned his attention to their disorganized campsite. Scattered supplies, stolen goods, and the spoils of their misdeeds littered the ground. Among the mess, a few wooden chests caught his eye. Most were carelessly left open, revealing mundane items or worthless trinkets, but one stood out—a decent-sized chest with a heavy steel lock keeping it secured.

Robert approached it with measured intent, his curiosity piqued. Gripping the chest, he gave it a firm shake, listening as the distinct clinking of metal confirmed his suspicion: coins.

Setting it down in front of him, he examined the lock for a moment. 'Locked, huh? Not for long.'

He thought, gripping the lock tightly. His powerful hands strained against the steel, applying steady pressure. The metal groaned in protest before finally giving way with a loud *SNAP.*

With the obstacle removed, Robert carefully flicked the chest’s lid open revealing several sacks inside.

'What did they do? Rob a bank. Were the fucked they get this money from?'

Slowly, he reached in and grabbed one, his fingers brushing against the coarse fabric. Untying the string that sealed it, he peered inside, his eyes widening slightly.

'Hold on! This is all gold?!'

Putting the chest down, he poured the sack of gold currency into his free hand before seeing the money they used.

'I could probably buy a small house with this much gold, Back home.' Gently pouring it back into the coin purse he tied it up, before tossing it back into the open chest.

'I think it's time to leave.' Robert thought, picking up the gold-filled chest and loading it onto the wooden carriage and began to load said carriage with

Deep within the badlands

"My queen, I bring urgent news from the pony capital, Canterlot," a changeling drone said, bowing low as he entered the throne chamber. His voice trembled slightly as he awaited her attention.

Chrysalis, the changeling queen, lounged on her jagged, uneven throne, the faint glow of her green, slitted eyes cutting through the darkness. Slowly, she turned her head toward her servant, a predatory smile creeping across her face. "Mmm? Do tell. You've certainly piqued my curiosity."

The drone gulped but continued. "A Giant, my queen. The ponies have discovered a living Giant!"

For a moment, Chrysalis tilted her head in confusion, but her expression quickly darkened into a glare. "Do you take me for a fool? Giants haven’t walked this world for centuries! Tell me, do you wish to meet your end as a meal for a Maulwurf?"

"N-no, my queen! I swear, I saw it with my own eyes!" The drone stumbled back, his voice cracking with panic. "I-it towered above the Ponies, a creature of enormous size!"

Her narrowed eyes scrutinized him, the corners of her mouth curling into a malicious grin. "Prove it," she said coolly, her tone dripping with menace. "Show me this so-called Giant, or I will personally feed you to the larvae as their evening feast."

With a flash of green magic, the drone transformed, his insectoid body twisting and shifting until he assumed the form of a towering human. The sight made Chrysalis pause, her eyes widening briefly in surprise before she stood and glided down from her throne.

"Curious..." she murmured, circling the trembling changeling. "Why can you not stand properly in this form?"

"I-I don't know, my queen!" the drone stammered, struggling to even rise to one knee. "This body feels... unstable, like it is fighting against me!"

Chrysalis leaned in close, examining the form with a calculating gaze. Then, with a dismissive flick of her hoof, she stepped back. "Enough. Return to your post," she ordered.

The drone shifted back into his original form with a relieved sigh, bowing deeply before scurrying out of the chamber.

Chrysalis’s wings buzzed softly as she released a sharp pheromone into the air, signaling her summons. Within moments, a battle-scarred general clad in heavy armor and a robed changeling carrying an ancient tome entered the chamber. Both bowed deeply before her.

"General. Head Guardian of the Old Knowledge," Chrysalis greeted them with a venomous smile. "I have received troubling news; a Giant has been spotted in Equestria. Head Guardian, what does the Old Knowledge say about these creatures?"

The robed changeling nodded and opened the dusty tome. Her magic flipped through its brittle pages with ease. "Giants once roamed this land in great numbers," she began. "From the far east to the frozen north, they were guardians of nature, towering over all other creatures. However, after the Great Eradication, only a hoof-full remained, most of them retreating to the Frozen North. Those Giants were said to stand between ten and sixteen feet tall."

"If I wanted a history lesson, I would have summoned a nursery drone," Chrysalis snapped, her wings twitching in irritation.

The Head Guardian flinched but continued. "Apologies, my queen. Giants are shy, reclusive creatures, fiercely protective of nature. They hold an ancient grudge against humanity, a remnant of the days when humans were used to hunt and destroy their kind."

"And how does any of this concern me?" Chrysalis hissed. "Will this creature interfere with my plans?"

"My queen," the general interjected, her voice hard and confident, "if it poses a threat, I can dispatch a battalion of elite warriors to eliminate it."

The Head Guardian immediately countered, "My queen, I must advise against this! Giants are rare and invaluable. If we capture it, it could be a powerful asset to your plans!"

The two changelings glared at each other, but Chrysalis silenced them with a sharp buzz of her wings. "Enough!" she barked. "I’ve made my decision. General, send scouts to observe this giant. Learn its habits, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Report back to me with everything they find; but do not engage."

The general bowed low. "As you command, my queen." He turned and marched out to carry out her orders.

"Head Guardian," Chrysalis continued, turning her piercing gaze to the robed changeling, "send word to all concealed drones in Equestria. Instruct them to acquire as many humans as possible; by purchase or by force; and herd them into the Everfree Forest.

Feed and water them as needed, but when winter comes, infect them with the Black Vine Virus. The forest will handle the rest."

The Head Guardian hesitated, her voice trembling with concern. "My queen, the virus is dangerous. While it won’t kill intelligent creatures, it can severely weaken them—and possibly harm the Giant as well."

Chrysalis’s eyes narrowed, her tone ice-cold. "Are you questioning my orders?"

The Head Guardian shrank under her queen’s glare. "N-no, my queen. I only wish to express my concern for the Giant’s... potential usefulness."

"Your concerns are noted and dismissed," Chrysalis replied with a cruel smirk. "If the Giant is as powerful as the old stories claim, it will survive. Now, spread false knowledge among the ponies. The more unrest we sow, the more positions we can infiltrate."

The Head Guardian bowed deeply and left, her protests silenced.

Once alone, Chrysalis ascended to her throne, her translucent wings shimmering faintly in the dim light. A twisted grin spread across her face as she considered her plans.

"Everything is falling into place," she purred. "This Giant could be a thorn in my side—or the greatest tool I’ve ever possessed." Her laughter echoed through the hive, a chilling sound that sent shivers through even the most loyal of her subjects.

Author's Note

Holy crap! Big chapter im terribly sorry for this! But I doubt you readers really care much! If it's a good story longer chapters the better right?