Author's Note

The following trio of episodes contain mild violence and partial vore. Viewer discretion is advised.

Episode Seven: Hydra, Part One

"And that's all I have to do?"

"Well, you also have to make sure it's pointed at me..."

The video shifts from a flat sea of brown to Fluttershy standing ankle-deep in a bog, wearing boots that come up to her knees.

"And why couldn't Twilight have been here to do this, again?"

Fluttershy sighs. "I've told you that twice already. How many times do you need to hear it, Rainbow?"

"Twice," answers Rainbow, adjusting the frame. "I just want it on camera."

Fluttershy reaches up and rubs her face. "You know this isn't going in the episode, right? This part's going to be cut out, and no one's ever going to see it."

"I know. I'm going to cut it out myself and hold onto this little piece. Just for fun."

"I don't think tormenting your friends is fun, but if it means we can move on, fine. Twilight isn't here because today, we're studying the hydra, and the last time we were here and encountered a hydra, she almost died."

There's a pause.

"Well, last time, you just said she was scared of this place. You didn't say she almost died. That changes everything. I can't tease her with something like that anymore!"

"You shouldn't be teasing in the first place."

"Hey, I only tease in good fun. It's different when you're actually hurting someone, instead of just poking at them." She sighs. "You're right, Fluttershy. I'm sorry I asked."

"I forgive you. And Twilight will, too. Now come on, let's go find that hydra."

Fluttershy turns and starts trudging through the mire, with Rainbow Dash following right behind her. For a moment, the only sound that can be heard is the wet sucking sound of their boots sloshing through the mud.

"Why do we have to wear the boots, again? What's wrong with just going barefoot?"

"Leeches," answers Fluttershy. "They live all over this place. Here, and back at Beaverly Lake. I mean, they're cute, but I don't want to take them out of their home or fill any of our many swimming lakes with parasites. You understand."

"Most of it, yeah."

"Just most of it?"

"Well, not why you think leeches are cute. I mean, have you looked at their mouths?"

"With the three-pronged jaws and the fact that they have sixty teeth that all face inward? Yes, I'm aware of what leeches and lampreys look like."

"And you still think they're cute?"

Fluttershy looks back, smiles, and nods.

"Sometimes, I wonder why we're friends... This revelation has me scratching my head."

"That's lice, not leeches."

"Parasites, all of them."

"Well, you're no-- quiet down." Fluttershy lowers her voice, then beckons Rainbow over as she moves into the bushes. "Look, over there."

The camera peers through the bush, and a large, four-headed hydra appears on the other side.

"Are we rolling?" whispers Fluttershy.

"Yeah," whispers Rainbow back. "No way am I missing this beastie..."

"Okay." Fluttershy takes a deep breath. "We've just come across a hydra in his natural habitat. Fans of the show know that I've walked right up to manticores and timberwolves with no problem. You might then be confused as to why I'm not just sauntering up to the hydra. This is because, even with manticores being dangerous, they can be handled safely by a professional such as myself. Even dragons can be interacted with safely if you know how. Hydras, on the other hoof, are actually inherently dangerous. Do not approach a hydra, ever."

"What happens if you do?" asks Rainbow.

The hydra cries out with three of its four heads, then the fourth joins in.

"Let's just leave it at the fact that they eat creatures smaller than them. And since we're smaller than they are, being in range of its mouth is probably a bad idea."

"You sayin' I can't take this thing on?" scoffs Rainbow. "I take that as a challenge."

"This one probably won't kill you," noted Fluttershy. "That bellow he just let out was a mating call. He's looking for a female."

"So, there's probably a female around here, huh? All we have to do is find her and bring her here."

One of the hydra heads turns to face the camera.

"Just because he's calling for a mate doesn't mean there's one here," clarifies Fluttershy. "If I called Spike's name, he wouldn't show up. He's nowhere near here."

The hydra begins to approach slowly, keeping its heads low.

"Well, yeah, but why would he be making so much noise if he didn't think it was going to do any good? Clearly, there's something out here."

"The reason he's being loud is to broadcast as far away as he can. That way, he can call the female to him no matter how far away she is. The louder he calls, the further his voice carries. If he wants it to go really far, he'll be really loud."

Standing right over them, he lets out a powerful roar that peaks the microphone.

"Yeah, like that," whimpers Fluttershy. "Run!"

Immediately, the view goes blurry, and the flapping of wings covers most other sounds. This lasts for a minute or so, then Rainbow's voice comes back as the view stabilises. "Woohoo! That was quite the rush! Sure was fun to avoid him, wasn't it, Fluttershy?"

Silence follows the question.

"Fluttershy?"

A scream comes from below, and the camera turns quickly to see Fluttershy with her right leg caught in the mouth of one of the hydra's heads, the one with the longest neck.

"Hold on, Fluttershy! I'm coming!"

The camera starts spinning, coming to a hard stop when it hits the ground, bouncing a little bit, but soon coming to a rest with the image slightly skewed. That is, it's tilted ten to fifteen degrees to the left. Thankfully, it's pointed at the hydra, so everything is visible as Rainbow comes in to punch it in the throat hard enough to cause it to cough up Fluttershy's leg.

Fluttershy tries to fly away, and does manage to, but as she turns around, another head and neck wraps around Rainbow and starts squeezing her. She had been doing well against the head that had grabbed Fluttershy, and even against a second head, she was managing to hold, but the second that a third head with a third brain came up from behind, she was bound.

She's still fighting, though, as she manages to kick away the heads that approach her from below, or let them bite their own neck.

"Go on!" shouts Rainbow. "I'll be fine!"