The Lion and The Unicorn

Onyx had hardly slept that night, she felt drowsy as she got out of bed, making her toast and getting her accessories on before heading out the door. Visible marks were under her eyes and she felt weary, but ignored it. Wouldn’t be the first tine she felt that way. When she exited her home, walking towards the slight trail in the grass she had a slight uneasy feeling as she moved on through the fog. She stopped in her tracks and looked around her, through the moist fog she couldn’t see much, it was very thick and chilly, perfect to add some mysterious vibes to her poetry, she liked the fog. She would have been liking it at the moment if she wasn’t hearing a low grumbling noise. A small gasp left her lips as she looked to her left. The second she turned her head, something large jumped out at her, she saw a large open jaw of sharp teeth. As on instinct she leaped back, with a yelp as a roar sounded. Falling onto the damp grass below with a thud, her heart racing as her body trembled as she Shakingly looked up at the beast. The her heart stopped as her eyes want from the large paws, the drooling mouth full of sharp teeth and the violent but scared eyes. She was inches away from death, she was nearly mauled by… What appeared to be a wild cat. So many things were going her mind, she was frozen gazing at this beast that had tried to kill her, but what stopped it? Her eyes studied the rest of the form of the beast, the thin structure just shouted the creature hadn’t eaten properly for days. But finally she saw what was stopping it, the hind leg was tied in a thick rope trap, blood stained on top of it. She had only just noticed the minor healing wounds on the body. ”Lion?” Was what all she could muster, shakingly getting up. The lioness panting heavily as it gazed at her, the intense stare like daggers. She took a few steps back, glancing worriedly at the scared eyes. It didn't seem angry, it seemed hurt. A lioness scared, lost in a habitat that was not her own. This was no place for a lioness, what was she doing here?

She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the distance voice of Bounty. “We still have ten more traps! Find it! I need to get it down!” This strict voice and Bounty’s behavior from the day before made Onyx more scared for the lioness. Indeed, it seemed she was right about him being suspicious, did he want to keep the lioness as some pet or slave? Because she heard so many incidents of those in inhumane circuses from decades ago, never happened in Bridlewood, but according to same pegasi she overheard, they were big in Zephyr Heights before Haven’s mother banned them. She gazed the lion that clawed at her and growled then froze in place. As much as she wanted to run, she didn’t want to leave her fate in somepony’s hooves who seemed out of place.

”Y-you’re hurt! Let me help.” She said stepping forward, only for a violent swipe to narrowly miss her.

”Likely story, unicorn!” The lion spoke, much to her surprise. Lions don’t speak, do they? “I’m not falling for that trap!”

”It’s not a trap, I can see you need help.”

”I do not need help!” The lion roared out. Seemed this was no regular lion, unless lions could talk? This was her first time getting even close to a lion, so perhaps that’s the case. But there was more important matters than why this lioness could talk. “You are lucky you ponies don’t taste great, lr else you’d be my next meal if I managed to get my claws on you.”

A shiver went down her spine, this lion had the chance to kill her at any moment. In fact she shuddered at the thought of her eating somepony, did she do that? Or perhaps she could tell by smell, because unicorns don’t smell that bad! She gulped at the thought of a poor innocent pony getting eaten in the claws of this hungry feline. She just hoped that it was a very long time ago and ponies tasting bad was a thing lions believed for generations. “Yes, we taste bad.”

“Of course you’d say that!” She growled and perked up. ”I can tell you are scared!” The lioness teased.

”So can I.” Onyx said, finding the courage to speak. “I know you are scared that you are in an unfamiliar place. These thick, cool woods is no place for a lion.” She informed then paused. “Like a fish out of water.” She added dramatically.

“Fish? Now you are talking a load of rock kale!”

“All I want to do is release you, I feel hurt just seeing you like this. It’s either I release you and you ho home, or you end up in the hooves of some shady earth pony who is known for doing shady things to innocent animals like you.” She bluntly responded.

”As if a mere pony will be any match to me!” The lioness growled, breathing heavily, she was starting to feel weak at the lack of decent food. Which made sense. Besides the breezies, troggles and other rumored magical or monstrous creatures, only speedy birds and small agile mammals roamed Bridlewood and the surrounding woods, and pretty much all she’d have luck with. Hoping that unicorns do indeed taste bad to lions, or there’s some special reason on why she hadn’t eaten anyone yet! Surely she would have been tempted to, even if they tasted bad. She’s staving! But seeing as unicorns can use magic and fight back, maybe she was too weak, considering she seemingly couldn’t break the rope she was stuck in.

”Once I’m done, I want you to go home, to your habitat and your pride. You’ll be a lot happier and safer there.” She said bluntly to the young lioness, It was clear she was no older than the age of three, judging by her size and comparing it to whatever she had read or heard about lions. The lioness roared, chomping her teeth at Onyx, nearly biting her flank. She only kept as calm as she could, she was scared, but she felt she’d regret not helping the lioness later. She just needed to reach the rope and break it with something. She could hear the lion growling as she lifted her hoof towards the blood stained rope tightly hugging, digging into her skin. “Chill out. This will only hurt a little.” She said, taking a breath as she paused. Hearing Bounty shout again in the distance made her want to save the lion. But the lion could also attack her, but honestly, if she was going to attack, she would have done it already seeing how close to her she was now, might she wanted to stay wary, keeping calm to try and help the lion calm down. “It’ll hurt a lot less than what Bounty has in store for you.”

”How should I know if you aren’t pretending this Bounty guy is a baddie and covering up yourself, making you look good?”

”Good point. But consider the fact that many other pony want to hunt you down, or want to get you away from here. They don’t understand you are lost and scared, but I do.”

The lioness did not speak again, she only growled in pain as she glanced at Onyx, their eyes meeting once again. The lioness was clearly scared, hurt and lost. Not angry or have many malicious intentions, besides stealing of course, but if the rumours about Bounty were true, and considering the situation, the lion would not deserve it. She took a breath and had a hard look at the rope, she had no sharp things on her at the moment. But there was her horn, that was pretty sharp, but there was a risk to it. She could easily stab the lioness, not being able to see what she was doing, besides, only the point itself was sharp. So she went along the rope line to the other end, with another idea, seeing it attached to a wooden pillar hammered into the ground. She knew the lion was eyeing her, relying on her to set her free. So she didn’t hestitate to use her magic to pull the pillar out and loosen the tight rope around it. It was a struggle so she had to put more strength in her magic than expected. But after some fidgeting with it, she managed to free it and the lioness was free at last! Suddenly with a roar, the lioness pounced towards her, pushing her to the ground as she ducked to protect herself from the incoming rush as the lioness ran right over her and into the distance, vanishing into the fog. As Onyx gazed out into the fog, she had a few thing run into her mind as her heart raced, she thought she was being attacked for a second. As soon as she got up from the ground, she heard Bounty behind her.

“What!?” He cried walking to the pillar that was laid down, he was wearing a torch on his head and had a belt and a bag with various tools. “It must be stronger than we thought! It escaped.” He then pointed an accusing hoof at Onyx who only retained her normal chill composure. “You! Did you see where it went?”

”No.” was all that she said with a monotone expression before walking off. A little shaken at the encounter, but glad the lioness was safe for now. Hopefully she could get home from here, but there was nothing do do to help her at the moment. It was clear she wanted no more help and thought she was independent.

As she entered the tearoom, she was greeted by Dapple. “Hey! What’s up!?” He asked before he noticed the grass stains on her coat. “What happened to you?”

”Was ran over.”

”Ran over, how’d that happen?” He asked then paused. “It wasn’t the thief, was it?” He whispered, having a bad feeling.

”Doesn’t matter now, it’s over.” She bluntly said, not wanting to induce panic, she knew the unicorns would freak at the sight of a lion. She couldn’t blame them, they could kill a pony quickly.

”Oh, uh, okay then!”

When they sat down to drink some tea first, Dapple took a small sip as Onyx gazed at hers, thinking about the lioness earlier. She could have easily been killed on the spot. The lioness was starving after all, they are predators, she could have easily had her for breakfast but didn’t. She claimed ponies tasted terrible, which was a little relieving, but why? Or was she making something up to hide a ‘soft side’ of some sort, knowing she was trying to free her?

”I got it!” Exclaimed Dapple with a smug grin. “You are deep in thought, aren’t you?”

She knew she couldn’t hide it from him, he was good at body language. “I guess.”

“So, what are you thinking about, anyway?” He questioned before taking another sip. “The thief monster?” He was spot on, almost like he could read her mind, which wasn’t true, but felt like it.

”Yes.”

”Don’t worry.” He said jokingly, knowing Onyx rarely worried about anything. “But seriously, I hope this is over soon. I’m not sure if I cam take another day of my breakfast being snatched from me!” He said right before his stomach rumbles.

”Maybe you should try not leaving it outside unattended for a few seconds anymore. Not while the monster is out, anyway.” She suggested, Dapple resting his head on his hoof.

“I know… I’ve just been so worried about the monster. I heard a rumour it resembles a dangerous predator. Bounty said it escaped from his trap, meaning it is stronger than he thought! What if it’s here for more?” He then gasped as he whispered. “What if it wants to… Eat us!”

“It won’t.” Onyx responded, looking down at her tea. “It would have already eaten somepony if that was the case.”

”True…” He said with a sigh and then looked down. “But I’m still worried about the dangers it’ll bring.”

She only glared at him, not looking too worried. The lion would have gone home, right? Or at least found a more habitual location till she’s healthy again. “You’ll live.”

”Hello tearoom!?” Izzy’s voice boomed as she raced into the tearoom. Specks of glitter and snippets of wool trapped in her mane and splotches of paint on her body. It appeared she had been busy crafting something, which made sense. She, along with Sunny and the princesses were extremely busy this week, setting up a very important event in Zephyr Heights, also with there being another event in Maretine Bay they’ll need to prepare for about two weeks later.

“Izzy!?” Dapple exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

”Oh, hey Daps! Hey Sardonyx” Izzy greeted them.

”It’s just Onyx…” Onyx said bluntly. “Sardonyx is red…”

”Just messing with you, silly, your eyes and accessories are red!” Izzy assured before answering the question. “I Decided to jump in and check on my fellow unicorns while I pick up some crystals.” She explained, her bags full of crystals of Haven’s favourite colours. “It’s been a pretty busy week, but it’s been going crystal-tastic! Haven’s gonna love it!”

”| think my eyes are closer to-“ Onyx was about to correct her. “Magenta”

”That’s great to hear!” Alphabittle said over the counter nearby. “I had the most wonderful gift for her!” He said before sighing in defeat. “But..l It was stolen…”

”Oh no! By who?”

”We don’t know.”

”Has sneaky sneakingston the possum returned?” Asked Izzy, with a slight smirk.

”No, but we know it’s bigger. Rumours have been spreading, Bounty, the pest under already offered to help but we turned him down.”

”Oh.” Izzy said bluntly then shrugged. “Well, if you turned him down, must mean you are confident you can get this all sorted, right?!” She asked happily.

”I hope so, who knows what kind of creature it is. Magical or normal.” He shrugged and sighed.

”Lion.” Onyx said bluntly. “It’s a lion.”

Every nearby unicorn looked at her with slight confusion. ”You are speaking meteorically, right? Like a lion, as in a liar, like the thief is lying!?” Asked Izzy. “Is it a lion?”

”It’s a little far our for a lion, Onyx.” Dapple said with a puzzled look, before looking at Izzy. “Yeah, I think she’s speaking meteorically.”

”Dapple’s right,” Alphabittle agreed. “A mountain lion would make more sense, but they live beyond Zephyr Heights mountain, far away from the ponies, so I think it’d be too far for even one of them.” He paused. “Good guess, however.”

“Too bad Zipp is too busy, she’d love to solve this mystery!” Izzy exclaimed. “Oh well, I should probably be on my way back. See you!”

”Bye Izzy!”

Onyx only sat there, sadly, thinking quietly to herself. She saw the lion in pony already, so she knew it was a lion, like one from the savannah. She wasn’t really sure what would have happened if they did believe her, besides they’d hopefully help it. Too bad that Hitch was likely busy, he’d know what to do with a misplaced lion.

But just as she was finally about to take a sip of her tea a stallion came up, with a grin as he smugly walked over. Dapple glanced slightly worried at the approaching apple red stallion as he moved his messy tan and dark red mane out his face, revealing his orange eyes. Onyx simply ignored him as he put a dark red hoof on the table near her tea as she ignored him, his tan stripey sock markings dirtied by soil.

”Oh hey, Dapple-less, Not-yx You two still at it?” He asked. Getting a glance from Dapple who didn’t seem impressed. Agate was as shallow as the rest of them before magic returned, but when it did, he turned out to be rather a jerk. The month trip to Zephyr Height he had done to experience new sights a few months back didn’t help, either.

”What is it, Agate?” Dapple asked with an annoyed expression, ears down.

”Oh, you know? Your ridiculous little plays you put up there?” He asked, gesturing towards the stage, where the microphone and bongos were standing, ready to be used.

“It’s not ridiculous plays. It’s poetry, full of emotion and story! You just don’t understand!” Dapple grumbled.

” still in your, ‘it’s not a phase, mom’ stage, are you?” He asked, giving Dapple a rough noogie on the head who pushed him back.

“It’s not a phase. It’s just our performance style! If you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen, understand?” Dapple responded, raising his voice. “SO back off, Agate. You don’t scare us.”

Agate only laughed. “Oh you kids will see someday just how bad you are.” He said, picking up Onyx’s cup of tea.

”Kid!? We are like seventeen!” Dapple angrily exclaimed, he was closer to eighteen, while Onyx only turned seventeen half a year ago.

”So adorable, when you little foals play pretend on that stage and try and drink tea like us grown ups!” Said Agate before laughing. Dapple looked rather annoyed, while Onyx looked slightly concerned for him, not saying a word. Only taking her cup out of his hoof slowly, using her magic before sipping it again, almost dropping it when Agate slammed his hooves on the table. “Hey, how about you challenge me to a bet.”

”No.”

”Scared you’ll lose, huh?” He scolded. “I mean, I always beat you, you’ll never beat me, ever.”

“No, just used to your shenanigans.”

“Fine, see you later, losers!” He paused and chuckled. “Hope you realise I am coming back with you saying yes to a bet.”

“Good riddance!” Cried out Dapple and looked at Onyx’s slightly miserable expression. “Oh! Are you okay?” He asked softly.

”I’ll be fine.” She said softly as she thought about the lion. It was injured and looked as if she hadn’t eaten much at all… No one knew where the savannah was, but they knew it was far away. Too far of a distance for a lion, let alone one in a state she saw the one earlier in. If the unicorns beloved her and the lion was still in Bridlewood, she could have gotten help for her. But knowing Bounty and how scared the lion was of ponies, it might be better to stay low about her for the time being, hoping she’d be okay. Her stomach ached a bit at the thought of the lion trying to go home in the state she was, she couldn’t just leave like that! A feeling of concern filled her as she got up From her spot.

”Onyx?” Dapple asked. “Where are you going.”

”I uh…” Onyx said softly, knowing he’d know if she was lying or not. “Just heading outside, I’ll be back.”

”Can I come?”

“No.”

Dapple watched her leave in confusion before Jasper, another unicorn approached the table. “Is it just me, or is she acting a little off?” He asked then paused. “I mean more weird than usual.”

“Nah.” Dapple shrugged. “I think she had a scary encounter earlier this morning of some sort. Maybe just getting some fresh air.”

”I hope the scary encounter wasn’t from the monster.”

”S-same…” Dapple paused in thought.