Flynn awoke by icy needles of rain falling on his face. His eyes slowly peeled themselves open. A cloudy sky greeted him with gray and streaks of raindrops, dripping from said clouds to the ground. He squinted as rain pecked his eyes. The drone of pattering rain filled his ears. Flynn sat up, rubbing the raindrops from his eyes. He looked around. He was laying in a small clearing surrounded by dense forest. Trees stood tall over him as the rain came down.

Flynn glanced to the ground and saw his helmet lying next to him. He stood up from his sitting position. Needles of rain pecked his armor. His hands reached and grabbed for his helmet, bringing it close to his view, inspecting it. His thumb rubbed along the side of the helmet. His hand traced around the visor, admiring its intricacies. It didn't look damaged in any way; the visor was intact. Perfectly polished.

His hands rested on either side of the helmet, holding it up to examine it further. His finger trailed along the metal. The material was smooth and cold, despite how warm it was. Flynn pulls it over his head. The HUD flickers to life, as a cushioned rubber ring slowly tightens and compresses around his neck, creating an artificial environment.

Flynn was asleep.

The Doom Slayer was reawakened.

The Doom Slayer started through the forest listening to nothing but the pouring rain. As he moved forward he progressively felt something odd take over. Something… feels different. He expected himself to be back to where he first fought Davoth when first awoke, or some remote part of the Earth where he could not get back to cities or civilization.

Even the flowers and plants were different, ones he didn't think existed dotted the forest floor in large frequency. What also didn’t add up was how different the trees looked. The Doom Slayer trudges on through the thick forest while commanding his armor to do a complete scan of the surrounding area.

The scan revealed nothing interesting at first, carbon based life, oxygen nitrogen atmosphere, no radio, infrared, or ultrasonic communications detected, etc. Then the Doom Slayer's armor started giving him readouts on the more mystical aspects of his surroundings. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he stared at the trees towering high above him.

The foliage swayed back and forth in the wind that gently rustled them. The trees were thick and old and had long, twisted branches and twigs which hung down like long strands of hair. He walked slowly, feeling the rotting forest floor sink beneath his feet. He stared over the undergrowth, past the trees, to the mist lingering in the space beyond. The air smelled of mold and mildew, the decay of plant and animal matter.

The Doom Slayer turned to his left and halted. In front of him, was a large opened doorway of a castle. Said castle was covered in ivy and vines with a few torches in front. There were plants, grass, and trees growing from the inside behind the brick wall. Doom Slayer couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. The Doom Slayer strolled along the forested path, meticulously examined the castle, leaving no stone unturned, and the evidence was unmistakable; a fierce battle had transpired within these walls.

The data displayed on his armor indicated that the castle had likely been deserted for well over a millennium, judging by the estimated age of the inflicted damage. Nevertheless, the ruins had been recently disturbed, suggesting that someone frequented this place. The Slayer yearned to uncover the fate of the original inhabitants.

The Doom Slayer discerned a faint, ethereal sound of someone in distress. His armor promptly detected a surge in temperature approximately one mile away from his present position. Without hesitation, the Slayer initiated a sprint, his mind resolute, as the trees whizzed by in a blur, hastening him towards the origin of the distressing cries.

A few minutes earlier…

Three young individuals made their way out of town. Rain poured down onto them as they walked. Ponyville, one of the small towns of Equestria, was a peaceful and harmonized place where ponies lived peacefully and lived together by the magic of friendship. On this day the trio were starting their way towards a forbidden area, one they were told to never venture. But since their older siblings weren’t around to watch them, this gave the Cutie Mark Crusaders the perfect opportunity to successfully sneak out of town and into said forbidden place.

“Uh, why’re we going in here?” Scootaloo asked as they entered the Everfree outskirts.

“Well, y'all remember Winona’s favorite ball?” Applebloom reminded her two friends, both of which nodded. “Well, while ah was in the middle of playing fetch with her, ah kinda bucked the ball too hard and it flew all over the Everfree. So that’s why we’re here.” She finished, pointing at the Everfree forest.

“But doesn’t she have more balls?” Sweetie Belle wondered aloud. “Surely she still has some of those few balls to play with, right?”

“Well, yeah she does. But that one ball was her most favorite. Ah couldn’t just replace it.” Applebloom explained.

The trio proceeded onward until they reached the edge of the Everfree forest. They found an isolated clearing, a dirt path stretched long and far. The ground was covered with a thick layer of grass, and trees lining the edges. There were several bushes on either side of the path, with leaves as soft as silk.

Applebloom led the way through the forest. The other two trailed close behind. As she walked, she noticed the flowers blooming from every side. It was like walking through a field full of colorful daisies, all growing together and swaying gently in the breeze.

The forest had become too quiet. The only three inhabitants seemed to be the three of them as they made their way into the entrance, following the path along the swamp, past more trees, quickly approaching a new spacious area. The air had felt thick between them. None of them had spoken since they had started walking. The only sounds they heard were their footsteps and the occasional breeze that seemed to blow through the leaves above.

Finally, Sweetie Belle broke the silence. “So, how close are we?” She asked, turning to her shoulder towards Applebloom.

“We should be just about… here…” Applebloom said, gesturing to the left of her. The path suddenly widened, allowing for more space to walk on. “It’s this way.”

They followed the path up a hill. The path narrowed considerably, making for difficult climbing. Each step took its toll. The crusaders soon came to rest near a large stone. A single flower grew in front of it, surrounded by vines with a few branches reaching toward the sky. All that could be seen from the top of the hill was a cliff, and the view below.

Scootaloo looked down and gasped. The sight before them filled her with awe. Below them stretched a vast valley of tall trees and sparkling streams. In the distance lay a round yellow ball, bobbing lazily against the surface of a lake.

“There it is!” Applebloom cheered. “That’s Winona’s ball we’ve been looking for. Come on girls!”

Applebloom jumped off to the first cliffside branch and climbed down carefully. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo followed behind. One step at a time they continued to climb down, careful not to slip and fall. Eventually they reached the bottom and Applebloom scanned the area cautiously, eyes darting around for any sign of danger. When nothing showed, she relaxed.

“Looks clear.” She smiled, turning to face the others. She pointed at the lake. “Alright, we should be able to get in and out without getting wet.”

The three of them start their way closer. The water of the pond seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. The sun hung directly overhead, casting a warm orange glow across the water.

After walking for some time the trio arrived at the lake itself. Sweetie Belle’s eyes darted to the ball floating on the lake’s surface. Her horn lights up slightly as she stared at the ball, levitating it in the air with her magic. Subconsciously she motions the ball towards her and brings it down gently onto the grassy shore.

Applebloom reaches for the ball and takes it into her hands. Swiftly she zips open the pocket of her saddlebag and puts said ball inside. Then she closes the bag once again and throws a strap over her back.

“Alright, now let’s get on outta here before my sister finds out where we are!” Applebloom laughs as she starts towards the path leading back to the hilltop.

She beckons for her friends to follow, and the three make their way up the hill. Once they reach the crest of the hill, round around a tree and start moving slowly towards the Everfree Forest. Sweetie Belle stayed close to Applebloom, staring ahead into the dark forest.

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her ears flicked back. Sweetie Belle gazed at Applebloom who continued walking. After a moment, Sweetie Belle follows suit, her gaze also scanning the darkness.

Progressively, a new feeling takes over her. Something’s wrong. A deep uneasiness begins to settle in Sweetie Belle's stomach. She glances over her shoulder and scans the area with her eyes, trying to find anything that might give her an indication of what she's sensing. However, nothing is visible beyond the trees. She continues walking.

After another minute or so, Sweetie Belle notices something move to her left. Instantly, she snaps her head in that direction. Nothing. Yet again Sweetie Belle tries to scan the area, but she can’t seem to locate whatever it was that startled her.

Sweat drips down her forehead. What if she really did see something? She looks away from the darkening trees and stares down the mountain path. She hopes that there was nothing there. With a shaky breath she looks back at the woods, searching desperately for a shadow.

Suddenly she feels a tap to her shoulder. Turning around, almost jumping back when she sees Applebloom and Scootaloo next to her and watching her with confusion written all over her face.

“Y’all alright Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom asks, placing a hand on Sweetie Belle's arm reassuringly.

“Yeah, you seem a bit on edge. Is everything alright?” Scootaloo asks, her tone laced with concern.

Sweetie Belle inhales deeply and then exhales slowly, composing herself.

“Yeah, I'm fine! Just… lost in thought for a second, sorry.” Sweetie Belle chuckled nervously.

“Well hey, ah guess we're lucky we got here fast then huh?” Applebloom commented, her gaze now set on her shoes as she kicked a pebble on the ground. She then lifts her head up, smiling sheepishly. “Anyways, let's get goin'.”

Applebloom began to trot forward once again. Sweetie Belle hurried after her and Scootaloo, desiring to get out of this forest and never come back. Her eyes remain glued to her surroundings, her mind racing with the tension that still had a grip on her. She shakes her head slightly, focusing on keeping her balance.

“No reason to get distracted.” Sweetie Belle muttered, forcing herself to stop thinking about whatever strange feeling she had just experienced.

She needed to keep moving. She needs to…

Sweetie Belle’s thoughts suddenly halted at that very second by an ear shattering roar that bounced and echoed throughout the forest. Terror washed over the crusaders. The trio stopped to listen intently, trying to pinpoint the sound's source. Their ears pinned back against their heads, and their nostrils flared.

Slowly, they turned to look back into the path behind them when they heard a faint thump, and the ground shook. For a while nothing could be heard but the sound of their own heartbeat. A few moments later, they heard another thump, and another. They watch over each other, waiting, listening for more sounds. Slowly they begin walking again, making sure to keep alert.

Just a little farther, Sweetie Belle thought, Just a little farther and we'll be safe.

The crusaders kept on retreating backwards until they paused abruptly when they saw something coming into view down the path from afar. The trio’s eyes widened at the sight, their breaths hitched.

Standing afar from the three young fillies stood a giant manticore. Its massive body stood at least ten feet high. Its long sharp claws extended from its paws and arms and its tail whipped back and forth menacingly. Its fur was a deep purple with black highlights. The huge creature was adorned with a pair of red horns, which rose from its head like two small horns atop a big head. A red stripe ran down its back, disappearing beneath its thick coat.

“What is that...thing?” Sweetie Belle questioned quietly, her pupils shrinking.

“Ah don't know...” Applebloom replied, taking a few tentative steps back. “Ah’ve never even seen a manticore before.”

“Me neither..” Scootaloo says, shivering slightly.

The Manticore roared, sending a loud shockwave through the air. Sweetie Belle felt her legs wobbling under her. She quickly steadied herself before her, Applebloom, and Scootaloo turned on their heels and ran with all their might. The creature bellowed as it began to chase, every stomp of its legs shook the ground under their feet. Its heavy paws pounding the earth were a horrible reminder of how large it was.

Sweat beaded along Sweetie Belle's brow, her chest tightening. She pushed her legs harder and faster. Her heart was pounding as she tried to increase her pace, constantly feeling her feet about to slip from the shaking ground. She stumbled a bit, nearly falling over. But she recovered quickly and quickened her pace once more.

Just a bit farther, Sweetie Belle thought, almost there!

A low, resonant growl interrupted Sweetie Belles’ thoughts. At the same time, the trio gradually raised their heads and observed the gargantuan, reptilian feet that clutched the earth with black talons. Sweetie Belles’ gaze ascended the muscular legs, up to the massive heaving chest and finally to the thick musculature of the neck. Even in the shade of trees, Sweetie Belle could distinctly perceive the animal's majestic mane.

Sweetie Belle gazed upwards and noticed the colossal creature's head towering twenty feet in the air. Its rectangular jaws opened and closed, savoring the air, while its razor-sharp teeth dripped with blood. The nostrils located at the end of its snout flared open with a rumbling snort, and its small, black eyes peered into Sweetie Belles’ own.

The manticore growled and took a step forward.

The crusader’s screams echoed through the Everfree.

Author's Note

And that’s chapter 2 my little shimmerings! It appears the crusaders are in quite a tense situation, and with the monster in pursuit of them, the Doom Slayer isn’t far behind. I I’ll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!

See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!