Tyrants Path

Spike ran on all fours, almost looking like a cheetah with his leg movements, springing forward towards the commotion. Pinkie Pie and Rarity had trouble keeping up, shouting after him in alarm. He skidded to a stop, his wings tucked against his back as he looked around, taking in all of the carnage.

"Spike! You may have forgotten, but us mares can't run as fast as...you..." Rarity was patting her mare, searching for any imperfections when her words were stopped by the scene in front of them.

The street had been absolutely thrashed, light poles bent and smashed, some shops had been crushed in, windows shattered, and three toed footprints were littered across the ground. Some market stalls had been torn apart, though, luckily, there was no bodies and blood, meaning that Spikes plan had worked.

Rainbow Dash sped through, before turning on a dime and landing next to them, looking around the ruined square. "Well, we were planning on meeting at the castle, but I think here is a good place."

"Spike, it looks like your birthday that one time! Remember, you turned into a giant Godzilla monster and destroyed the town." Pinkie recounted, before withering at the memory when a hurt look took over Spikes features.

"Spike." Rarity called out, breaking Spikes train of thought. "What is the plan, exactly?"

"I...actually hadn't thought that far ahead." Spike mumbled out, before a throaty rumble echoed out down the street.

Another scream echoed out as a grey mare rounded the corner, before speaking in a language Spike did not understand, "I left Japony to get away from this!" And that is when the beast rounded the corner.

It was colored in brownish red color tones, perfect for a desert life style. Its jaws opened to show off its teeth as it gave a throaty hiss and rumble mixture, showing off teeth perfect for crushing bones, and even metal. Its throat had a gular pouch, colored a brownish red, and its eyes had keratinous growths on them.

Its smallish (though very strong) arms, flexed a bit, the palms facing each other as it took another step. Although it had three toes touching the ground, it technically had four toes, as the fourth toe had turned into a dewclaw.

This animals name is Tarbosaurus bataar. Of course, bataar is a misspelling, as the last name should be "баатар" or "baatar", which meant hero. A smaller relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, around 10 feet tall and 34 feet in length, and with jaws built to handle insane pressures and its strong bite.

Of course, this beast was neither hero nor villain at this particular moment, just a really smart animal.

Its blue eyes scanned the street, before landing upon Spike, the feathers on its neck, head, and back moving a bit, as if it had hackles to raise. It twirled its head curiously as it spotted Rainbow Dash as well, cocking its head as if were a curious puppy, slowly walking towards the group.

Spikes wing extended as the group took a step back, the Tarbosaurus' eyes training back onto Spike. It rumbled loudly, the primal pit in Spikes brain telling him to back down and run.

Of course, Pinkie Pie hopped over to the Tarbosaurus, the tyrannosaurid peering down at her. "Hiya! Welcome to Ponyville! I am Pinkie Pie and I-WOAH!"

Spike tackled her out of the way as the beast bit down on where she used to be, catching nothing but air. It raised its head and roared, a throaty rumble ending as it walked forward, eyes trained on Spike.

It roared, angry, then started to do a fast paced walk towards them, Spike pushing Pinkie and yelling out a command to run. Another rush of air told Spike he had narrowly missed another bite, the Tarbosaurus letting out a roar of anger.

He grasped onto Pinkie and Rarity, ignoring their yelps and jumped into the side alley, narrowly dodging a bite aimed at them. Rainbow Dash, having flown above the creature, threw a rock at its head, catching its attention.

"COME ON, YA BIG STUPID LIZARD!" She called out, drawing the dinosaurs attention. "YEAH! TALKIN TO YOU, YA BIG DRAGON REJECT!"

That is when she saw the Tarbosaurus' eyes narrow at her, glaring at her. He looked left and right, making Rainbow Dash smirk, until she saw it snap its powerful jaws onto a lamp. It took a moment before it wrenched the thing out of the ground.

"Uh-oh."

It adjusted, before flinging its head with the lamp, throwing the metal at Rainbow Dash, who dodged it last second, giving a sound of disbelief. She turned to see the dinosaur looking around for something else to throw, making her disappear in a blur of rainbows.

The Tarbosaurus flicked his head back up with a cart in his mouth, only to be confused when she disappeared into some rainbow light. He returned his gaze to the alley, to see the purple creature had disappeared, along with the mares, and gave a huff of irritation. He started walking along, sniffing the air, rumbling softly.

Spike wiped some dirt off of Rarity's body, giving an apologetic look. "Sorry, if I could have warned you, I would have."

"Well, you saved our lives. I am sure I can deal with a dirty coat while you do that." Rarity gave him a genuine smile, only for Pinkie to pat Spikes back.

"Good job saving me too, Spikey!" Pinkie explained, making Spike glare at her. "What?"

"Why did you approach that thing?"

"I wanted to give it a Ponyville welcome!"

"You wanted to give...what amounts to a building sized carnivore...a party?" Spike rubbed the bridge of his snout, feeling a headache come on.

"Well, yes, but-"

"Pinkie, darling, perhaps we shouldn't invite the dragon to eat cake until it explains itself?" Rarity mumbled out, making Pinkie rub her chin in thought.

"It isn't a dragon." Spike spoke as Rainbow Dash zoomed into the room, panting a bit. "Whatever that thing is...it's dangerous."

"Sorry, I had to lose that thing. So...why are we hiding in the Cakes shop? Isn't there a window right there?"

"It was the closest hiding place I could think of!" Pinkie exclaimed while Spike scratched his cheek, humming in thought.

That was the moment the Tarbosaurus walked by the shops window. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash gasped, and Rarity opened her mouth to scold them. Spikes hand grabbed her mouth and forced her head to the front of the store, ignoring her half a second glare, before her eyes widened.

The creature stopped mid pace and gave a soft rumble. Although the trio of mares couldn't hear it, Spike could. He felt it through the pads of his feet, and whispered to the others, "I think he knows where we are..."

"How can you tell?" Rainbow Dash whispered back, only for the Tarbosaurus to lower its head and stare into the shop, its eyes piercing into them through the window.

It lifted its head up a bit and snorted onto the glass, fogging it up with his breath, giving a curious throat rumble. He spotted Spike and roared at the glass, the walls muffling the roar. It cocked its head, before its head snapped to the right, giving a soundless hiss, before walking off, roaring loudly.

Spike removed his hand from Rarity's mouth and all four sighed, before they heard a familiar yelling outside. Spike slowly walked over, his three toe claws clicking on the ground.

"Spikey, don't!"

"I have to make sure." Spike responded, trying to stop Rarity's fears from rising any further, though his own primal feelings told him to stay with the others. He poked his head out, before suddenly tugging the door open and running outside.

"Spike!" Rainbow Dash called out, before speeding out after him. Rarity and Pinkie were close behind, worry etched on their faces.

Twilight trotted down the street, giving a grimace as she saw destruction. Luckily, no one had been injured, but she could tell that whatever wrecked the street had been very upset. She noticed the three toed footprints on the ground and gave a soft noise of apprehension.

"Don't you worry none, Twi." Applejack spoke, making Twilight stand up. "It'll work."

"I know it will. Just worried about the others." Twilight sighed softly and stared at the street. "We should find this thing."

"Well, knowin them...we should follow tha chaos until we bump into one of 'em."

"The animal or the others?"

"Do ya really need to ask that?" Applejack gave her a deadpan look, making them both giggle.

That was when their mirth had been interrupted by a dash of rainbow light and a broadcasting roar echoing out. The two mares nodded.to each other and started running, galloping towards the noise.

They ignored the random pony or griffon peeking their heads out and galloped past them. Applejack stopped, giving giving a look around the carnage. "Uh...Twi, wasn't there a streetlight here?" Applejack asked, turning to Twilight, who was busy staring up. Applejack followed her gaze and gained a concerned look when she spotted the streetlamp...buried into the side of a business. "Oh."

They heard another roar, making them both jump. It was far louder than before, Twilight giving a soft gasp as she realized where they were. "That's the same direction as Sugarcube Corner!" Her horn lit up, making Applejack blink in surprise.

In a flash, they disappeared and rematerialized in near the sugar shop, just down the street from it. And the sight made Applejack and Twilights hearts drop, staring at the massive beast. The Tarbosaurus male was staring deep into the shop, its gular pouch vibrating a bit as it gave a rumbling growl.

"HEY!" Twilights voice boomed out, making Applejack jump, the noise catching the Tarbosaurus' attention. Its eyes narrowed, and, in the daylight instead of the darkness in the forest, she was able to see long scars tracing down its side, and scars on its snout from being bitten in an intraspecific event. She even noticed the feathers on its head, neck, and back, though it was thin instead of the shaggy feathers of a flightless bird, perfect for the desert heat of its home.

It cocked its head, then glared, having recognized Twilight and Applejack, its blue eyes narrowing at them. It took a step towards them and gave a loud hiss.

"Uh...Twi?"

"Yeah?"

"What was the plan for when we met this thing?"

"Distract it."

"Right...and...how do ya reckon we do that?"

"I...didn't plan that far ahead."

"So...we should probably run, right?"

It started walking towards them, releasing a bellowing roar from its chest, challenging the alicorn and earth pony mares.

"Right."