Ghuzrod Sunrekka Becomes Da Biggest 'n Smartest!

“Fluttershy are you sure we are close?” whined Rainbow Dash. “We’ve been walking all day.”

“We’ve only been out for a couple of hours, miss impatient,” Applejack added.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Really Rainbow Dash, you act like you can't fly for very long before needing a break.”

“What? I could fly all day you just watch me!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed.

Spike peeked up from Twilight's back and waved around an aged piece of paper. “The map says we are getting close to an old fort built during Luna’s rebellion.”

“Hopefully we can find this dreadful beast soon. All of this roughing it is doing a number on my hooves,” whined Rarity.

“I’m sure it's not far. Mister Squirrel said that he saw the um… monster, going this way,” Fluttershy replied, pointing further into the shadow-filled forest.

“Ooh ooh! We should ask that bear over there! I bet he knows something!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed.

“Wait, a bear? Where?” Twilight exclaimed.

The group turned to where a confused-looking bear was standing about twenty feet away. Though much larger than the ponies he was evidently still quite young, likely barely into adolescence.

“Everypony stand back. Let's not startle him,” Rainbow Dash interrupted.

“Wait, is that… Harry Junior?” Fluttershy exclaimed.

Before either party knew what was happening, the shy mare suddenly flew forward, slamming into the bear and squeezing him with a hug so tight he felt the air forcibly squeezed from his lungs. The bear himself seemed doubly confused by this and merely stood there for a few seconds before realizing who was hugging him. He then grew misty-eyed, hugging the pony back while sobbing almost as loudly as Fluttershy herself was.

“Wait, Harry Junior, didn't he disappear like last year or something?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“He did! But he's back! Oh where were you and why do you still look so young?” Fluttershy asked.

The bear groaned and growled, explaining in his own animalistic language what had happened to him.

“You crossed paths with a cockatrice? And it froze you? Oh no! How did you survive?” Fluttershy asked.

The bear grinned and began miming the action of a bipedal creature swinging around some kind of weapon. While he acted out the events, he narrated to the best of his ability, ending with Harry Junior pointing southward.

“What did he say, darling?” Rarity whispered.

Fluttershy blinked. “He says the creature saved him and was attacked by rabid jackalopes but he defeated them all as well.”

“Maybe this critter is good after all,” Applejack remarked.

“They sound pretty tough,” Spike added.

“He might be good but he still um.. Killed all the jackalopes and the cockatrice,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Well by the sounds of it, it was self defense, plus he saved Junior here,” Twilight pointed out.

“True,” Fluttershy admitted.

“Does Harry here know where he went? Is that why he was pointing?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Oh um yes. He said the green creature went this way, in the direction of the fort Spike mentioned,” Fluttershy answered.

“I knew it,” Spike muttered.

“Come on girls, and Spike, as well as Harry Junior, lets go!” Twilight proclaimed.

Together they all set off in the direction of the fort, stumbling upon it only twenty short minutes later. Though a ruin, they could see that a path had recently been beaten, the rubble had started to be cleared, and parts of the fort were being used.

“Stay quiet. We don't want to spook him,” Twilight whispered.

Pinkie Pie blew past the unicorn without a second thought. “Oh mister green guy, come out come out wherever you are!”

Twilight face hooved.

“We got you a present and some cake! I would have brought streamers and a game of pin the tail on the princess but someone wouldn't let me!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“Come on girls, we best catch up with Pinkie before she gets in a whole heap of trouble,” Applejack exclaimed.

The rest of the main six all trotted after the fleeing pink pony, chasing her up to the tower where she stood waving her forelegs in the air.

“Yoohoo are you in there?” Pinkie Pie yelled.

“Pinkie Pie, you were supposed to be quiet,” Twilight whispered angrily.

“Why? There's nobody here,” Pinkie Pie replied.

Everyone peeked their head into the tower, even Harry Junior.

“Huh, would you look at that,” Applejack muttered.

“Could use a bit of sprucing up,” Rarity remarked, only to wince when her gaze settled on the skulls displayed on the walls. “As well as a less macabre theme.”

“Woah, that's metal,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

“Are you sure it went this way?” Twilight asked the bear.

Harry Junior nodded confidently.

“Well he ain't here now,” Applejack concluded. “Now as fun as this has been I really do gotta get back to the farm.”

“And I must return to my boutique. I’m sure Sweetie Belle is worried sick by now,” Rarity added.

“Wait you guys are leaving already? But we might be on the verge of the biggest discovery in biology since the discovery of the Breezies!” Twilight declared.

“Yeah I hate to side with Rarity and AJ on this but I have to get back. Gotta hit the hay soon if wanna have a nap before work,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Perhaps we should return tomorrow. Harry Junior here would probably like to meet his dad,” Fluttershy added.

“But, but…” Twilight stuttered.

“We know where the creature lives. We can come back tomorrow,” Spike offered.

“I guess,” Twilight muttered bitterly, the mare kicking a bit of dirt in anger.

“Hey if it means that much to ya I’ll swing by and check on the place tomorrow when I’m on lunch,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Okay and then after we can meet back up and check it out together,” Twilight half asked half stated.

A chorus of agreement, mostly half-hearted, answered the eager unicorn mare.

“Okay then, well let's be off I guess,” Twilight exclaimed.

The six mares and one bear proceeded back the way they came, leaving Spike behind. The dragon didn't notice his friend’s departure, as he thought he saw a flicker of green light from the corner of his eye. It had been coming from a disturbed patch of dirt in the center of the tower, intriguing the dragon into lingering behind.

“I wonder what-”

“Spike! Hurry up we have to write a report to Princess Celestia!” Twilight shouted.

Spike rolled his eyes. “Alright alright, I’m coming.”

“What was that? I can't hear you!” Twilight yelled.

“I said I’m coming!” Spike shouted back. “Sheesh.”