Ghuzrod Sunrekka Becomes Da Biggest 'n Smartest!

A few minutes earlier, not far from the site of the battle flew Rainbow Dash. The pony wore a bored expression, and only half-heartedly flew to her destination. The rush of flying over the Everfree had dulled, and even the constant threat of Pukwudgies was no longer a concern for her.

Her observation post at the top of a towering oak meant that she was out of their range and surprisingly comfortable. With the aforementioned spot coming into view, Rainbow Dash readied herself for another half-hour-long nap before having to head back to work. Nearly a week of observing the rabid horde of Pukwudgies had netted them nothing but it was a nice excuse to head somewhere quiet and catch a few zzz’s.

So the pegasus didn't complain, even as it seemed less and less likely that the monster they had been tracking would return. It was strange, in Rainbow Dash’s opinion, why would a pukwudgie herd choose such an odd nesting spot? They were supposedly afflicted with some kind of disease that made them become hyper-aggressive but they were still fairly smart, at least that's what Fluttershy said.

Yet they had settled in here of all places, far from their natural habitat, and most sources of food. It was as if they were an invading army dug in for a siege, yet they had no enemy to fight, or alpha to challenge. They didn't seem to mind the lack of conflict, as did Rainbow Dash, who by then had landed on her perch.

“Alright, let's see if I can't get some shut-eye,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

The glint of light hitting metal made her look up to find that the pukwudgies were moving. Not only that but they were attacking the green monster just outside the tower. Like a tidal wave of rage, they came at the towering biped, attempting to drown him in sheer numbers.

Already the lone creature sported dozens of injuries, his flesh nearly covered in tiny quills with blood running down his body. The pukwudgie horde had also suffered injuries, with dozens of the creatures lying dead or dying in the courtyard. Piled high around the creature’s ankles, the corpses were part obstacle, part cover, while also being a tripping hazard for the green monster.

And he was a monster, his height putting him taller than Celestia and the contest wasn't even a close one. His muscles were large, bulging, and clearly powerful enough to cleave a pukwudgie in half with little effort despite his blade being quite dull. This was despite the sword he was wielding having been made from scrap and seemingly held together hope alone.

“What in the hay?” Rainbow Dash murmured.

The intense display of violence shook her to her core, as did the sight of so many dead. Yet despite that, she couldn't look upon the lone creature with hatred or fear, only pity. Pitted against so many foes, he was clearly fighting on the defensive, backpedaling slowly but deliberately toward the tower.

“What should I do, what should I do?” Rainbow Dash asked no one in particular. “I could get Twilight, no Fluttershy would be better. But wait, she said these pukwudgies couldn't be reasoned with.”

Rainbow Dash flitted this way and that, unable to decide what she should do. Then she saw the creature fall back completely, preparing a last stand at the doorway. Though he grinned, it was a grim smile, one that declared that he was prepared to fight and die where he stood if necessary.

“I can't just leave him, can I?” Rainbow Dash whispered to herself.

Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash looked around for a weapon, or failing that at least a large rock she could drop on one of them. While she was searching the area, the creature was fighting and retreating once more, losing a toe or two in the process. By the time Rainbow Dash located a suitably big stone, he was no longer in view, having been forced further into the tower.

Hovering near the entrance, Rainbow Dash raised her rock but hesitated, stopping herself from dropping it on the unaware pukwudie below her. Though she wanted to help, she didn't know if she could bring herself to kill another creature, even in such an extreme situation. Then she heard it, an earth-shaking battle cry grim in its finality, but exuberant in its declaration.

Something in Rainbow Dash stirred, and before she knew it she was throwing the stone at the pukwudgie. The impact was brutal, with the critter being crushed flat, leaving behind nothing but a smear on the ground. Despite the revulsion she felt rising in the pit of her stomach, Rainbow Dash flew down and grabbed the bloody rock she had just used.

“Lets go you stupid spiky jerks!” she shouted.

She then took a step forward, and hefted the rock over her head, throwing it with just enough force to hit another of the pukwudgies. This impact was way less lethal, however, though it still knocked the angry little critter onto his back. That seemed to piss enough of the swarm off that a third of those that were left broke off and attacked her with volleys of quills.

“Yipe, ha can't catch me!” Rainbow Dash taunted, hopping left, then right.

She then jumped into the air, weaving through the bursts of projectiles aimed at her. Though very deadly, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel her confidence begin to climb as she avoided more and more of the attacks. Any wrong turn may mean death or at least injury, yet the pegasus felt oddly thrilled, the pony sticking her tongue out at the creatures.

Nearby, the green monster renewed its assault, the biped gaining ground due to the split focus of his foes. Up and down went his choppa, killing pukwudgie after pukwudgie until their numbers were quite noticeably starting to shrink. He was far from winning, but there was a chance at victory, a chance that was about to become far smaller.

“Haha, you can't hit me,” Rainbow Dash taunted.

As if incensed by her comments, a pukwudgie fired quills not where she was but where she was going. Unable to stop in place, Rainbow Dash veered hard to the right, only to run face-first into the wall of the tower. Her nose crunched, and she fell to the ground in a heap, where she was hit by more than a few of the spiky projectiles.

“Ow ow ow,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

In a panic she scrambled forward until she was able to hide behind a large rock. There she curled up into a tiny ball, her mind still trying to catch up with what had just happened. The quills hadn't hit anything important but she was bleeding, her nose was busted, and her wing hurt almost as bad as the time she broke it.

Faced with so much pain, she felt panic well inside of her, though she pushed it down through force of will. She then started to pluck the quills from her side, wincing each time another of the things were removed. Then when there were no more, she leaped from her hiding spot, hooves raised, ready to box any pukwudgie that crossed her path.

Only for there to be no more pukwudgies left. At least, none that were alive.

There was only the injured biped, who was busy yanking his crude sword from the face of his last victim. With the weapon free, he raised it above his head and released a victory bellow that made Rainbow Dash’s bones vibrate.

“Waaaaugh,” it cried.

Despite herself, Rainbow Dash joined, though she just kind of yelled incoherently.

“So does this mean we’re friends? Because I really don't want to fight you. Oh what am I saying, you probably don't even understand me,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Uv kourse we're mates. Anyone 'oo fights wit' me iz a pal uv mine,” he declared.

“Why do you talk like you got a mouth full of nails?” Rainbow Dash retorted.

“I got big teef, see?” he replied, pointing to the large tusks that poked out from the bottom of his jaw.

It was only then that Rainbow Dash realized just how enormous this creature was, and not only because of its big teef. It was huge, and though injured, those injuries were already closing right before her eyes. An inner green glow seemed to cause his flesh to regrow, and his wounds to stitch themselves shut, going straight to scar tissue.

“Oi ya look pretty smashed up. Yer gonna be able ta fly outta ere?” he asked.

Rainbow Dash extended her injured wing, only to wince. “I don't think so. But don't worry, my friends will know where I am and come looking,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“'Dat won't do, ere let me help ya,” he retorted.

“Hey what are you- woah!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

The ork picked her up off the ground in one of its enormous hands, carrying her along like she were little more than a football, tucked under his arm. Though sudden, he was surprisingly gentle, making sure not to squish her wing, or cause any additional injuries. Then before she knew it, the ork was striding back into the courtyard, his feet crunching over bodies, and piles of spent quills.

By the time Rainbow Dash had gathered herself, her midsection was completely covered in the ork’s blood. Trickling from what little wounds remained down his arm, and onto her, Rainbow Dash immediately felt a wave of revulsion overcome her.

“Dude just let me sit on your shoulder or something,” Rainbow Dash demanded. “Your bleeding all over me.”

“Sorry, ere ya go little pony,” he replied, dropping her on one of his enormous shoulders. “Comfy?”

Rainbow Dash shook herself like a cat, shedding the blood that had started to soak into her fur. After that she flopped down, letting her legs fall on either side of his right shoulder.

“Not bad,” Rainbow Dash answered. “Hey, do you know where you’re going?”

“Nope,” he stated. “But I'z pretty sure ya kame from 'dat way, right?”

The creature then pointed in the direction of Ponyville.

“Yeah, that's right. How'd did you know?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Deres smoke ova 'der,” replied the ork.

“Oh,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “So, uh I’m Rainbow Dash. Do you have a name?”

“I haven't really thought about it before, but no, I don't fink i have wun,” he answered with a shrug.

“Wait, you don't have a name? Did your parents not give you one?” Rainbow Dash retorted.

“Dats a long an komplicated story. Jus give me a second ta fink," he stated.

Rainbow Dash frowned but said nothing, the pony finding herself surprisingly relaxed. That was despite the fact that she was basically imitating a cat, while laying on the shoulder of a monster that made Celestia feel small. It was a weird set of circumstances, but it also put her at ease for a reason that Rainbow Dash couldn't quite put into words.

“Guzrod,” declared the ork. “Ma name iz Ghuzrod.”

“That uh, that suits you,” Rainbow Dash replied.

The rest of the trek was done in relative silence, with the towering green biped striding through the woods without a care in the world. The animals they crossed fled, with even a startled-looking wolf taking off the moment he saw the ork appear. Ghuzrod didn't seem to mind, and simply kept going, his long legs and quick pace delivering them to the edge of Ponyville in less than an hour.

Once they had cleared the forest edge, Rainbow Dash was gently placed on the ground.

“'Der ya go little wun. Kan yer make it from ere?” he asked.

“Of course I can, I’m not some kid you know!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, puffing out her chest.

Ghuzrod chuckled and patted her gently atop the head. “Well, yer get betta soon an don't go fit'n no pokey krittaz.”

“Wait, uh, don't you want to meet the rest of my friends? I know Twilight is dying to talk to you and study you but mostly that first one,” Rainbow Dash offered.

“Nah I got a bunch uv important stuff I gotta do. Ya be safe now,” he exclaimed.

And with that, he was gone, the green biped vanishing back into the woods and leaving behind a confused Rainbow Dash.

“That was…” she paused. “Weird.”