The Lion and The Unicorn

“W-wait!” Dapple cried out, since Onyx had tried to once she reached the large clearing with the wishing tree. But she shouted too quiet for anyone to hear over such a distance. They both galloped towards where a bunch of ponies were gathered around a large cage, only for Alphabittle to stop them by jumping in their path, causing them to stop in their tracks. Onyx looked worried, looking beyond him, seeing the lion trapped in a cage on wheels, being pulled along by Bounty who was talking to Agate.

“Onyx!” He exclaimed, “What are you doing here? I think you had enough time with the lion!”

”You don’t understand!” Dapple gasped, like he had ran miles. “Bounty isn’t going to release her!” He paused dramatically, “he’s going to do the unspeakable!”

”He’s gonna kill and sell her corpse.” Onyx said in a dark voice. Bounty looked briefly shocked as Alphabittle glanced at him then he regained his composure.

”What on earth are you talking about!?” Bounty asked with a slightly nervous voice. “I’m gonna set her free where she belongs?” He said as the lion roared and growled at him.

“You can see she’s scared!” Dapple exclaimed.

”Trust me. All I’m going to do is take her home…” Bounty explained.

“And, what was stopping you from doing that, earlier?”

“She doesn’t trust you.” Onyx warned. “We all know you want to taxidermy her!”

Bounty dramatically gasped as he put a hoof on his chest, his mouth wide open. “Excuse you!?” He exclaimed and looked at the lion and back at her. “You are accusing me of what? Why would I want to do such thing, mate? I love animals. Have you not seen anything from my website!? I have helped all kinds, even one a far away as a kangaroo! I can help a lion!”

”Prove ot.” Dapple said, a wide smirk on his face. “Show us some legit proof you help these animals!” Bounty also grew a smirk as he opened up his phone and showed them some pictures of him releasing birds, bugs and even fish into their habitat. Dapple’s mouth opened slightly as he scrolled through them, getting a little nervous. “So? I mean big animals! Like the kangaroo you mentioned!”

“Sure…” He said, typing something on his phone and opening a video. Showing an injured kangaroo in a cage, in a boat that was sailing across the sea. How did the kangaroo get to Equestria from over the ocean? Dapple wondered.

“How did the kangaroo cross the sea in the first place?” Alphabittle wondered quietly, raising a brow. They can’t exactly swim from one continent to another

“Illegal circus.” He shrugged, soon the video showed the kangaroo in a sanctuary just outside of Zephyr Heights, Bounty waving goodbye as it hopped away, Dapple looking on worried while Alphabittle grew more annoyed.

“The Heights has a sanctuary?” Dapple asked.

“Yes!” Bounty shouted. “Now you prove that I am going to do bad things to this lion, I’m no poacher.”

”Proof!?” Dapple asked then nodded, “Ah, yes, proof!” He said, grabbing his small, old phone out his scarf and opening it up, “Proof is right here!” He said as everyone looked at the blank screen with confusion, even Onyx was puzzled at what he was trying to do here. His smug expression soon turning into slight worry as his ears drooped, he flopped onto his rump and looked at his phone with worry. “Proof.. uh… I didn’t capture anything!” He cried, looking at Onyx who glanced at him, “You have proof?”

“I do…” She paused dramatically. “Not!”

”We don’t have proof!” Dapple exclaimed, looking worried and looking at her and back at Bounty with worry. He looked at the ground sadly as Bounty boasted.

“Aha!” He laughed as he pointed at the two. “All you achieved is making yourself fools! You tried to stop me from doing my job, for what reason?” He asked getting closer to Onyx, “Now whinny off!” He said before shoving her aggressively and walking to the cage. Slapping the lion with a whip when she roared.

“Let’s go, Dap…” Onyx said as she got up and turned around.

”Hey!” Dapple exclaimed. “Are you just gonna give up on her like that!?”

”There’s nothing we can do without proof…”

“No!” He said as he got up. “You never gave up on her to this point, and I am not letting you give up on her!” He shouted at her before looking at the group of nearby unicorns. “C’mon fellow unicorns! We all know that Bounty has been a little strange?” He asked, “Surely one of you has overheard him on the phone at some point, talking to a mysterious stranger about the lion, secretly!” He asked, waving his hooves around. “Who’s side are you on, here?” The group muttered within themselves, shaking heads or shrugging. Sharing confused expressions soon turning into some relieved ones. Some of them nodded, leaving the two a little confused on what they were talking about, until one of them looked at Dapple in the eye and walked to where Bounty was. “Cornhead, I-“ Dapple said a little flabbergasted at another one joining him, soon joined by another and yet another. Each unicorn in the group, joining him on showing who’s sound they were on, Bounty’s. His ears drooped as he looked a bit heartbroken at their option. “C’mon… But why?” He asked.

”We would rather not have a blood-thirsty

Alphabittle was the only one who had seemingly not chosen sides, or at least he seemed like he was rethinking a lot of things. He looked a little sad as he started to speak. ”Dapple- I”

Suddenly there was a scream nearby that alerted. “The lion has babies! Help, they are eating my horn!” The voice shouted again. “I need a massively experienced animal catcher that can faint these things before they eat me! Help!”

”Jasper!” Alphabittle exclaimed, recognising the voice, there were more lions!? He ran towards the scream as Tufty roared, seemingly calling for the cubs. Bounty joining the chase, leaving Agate to guard the cage. Onyx had to grab Dapple before he ran away in fear, gesturing to the cage.

“Don’t even think about it.” Agate said angrily, standing as close he could while being out of Tufty’s reach.

“Agate… We can explain.” Onyx said. “We really need to let her go.”

Agate glared sternly at her then sighed, raising a foreleg, leading it on a box near the cage. “I might consider it, if you beat me at hoof wrestling.”

Dapple gasped and looked at her, getting a little deja-vu. “H-hey, it’s a trap.” He whispered to her, seeing her step forward. Watching nervously as both their forelegs and they pushed, Agate gasping as his smug expression fell, seeing her overpower his hoof with ease, a small smirk appeared on her face as his leg slowly lowered down, soon freezing in place as he regained some strength, pushing hers back a bit, bit it was seemingly no use as his went back down, just a few seconds away from being overpowered, now seemingly almost frozen in place as he started pushing back harder. His eyes caught Dapple’s wide smile as he watched on, seeing his friend finally beat Agate at something. Out of Agate’s countless, silly games, Onyx is finally about to win one. He was full of glee and determination, not noticing a smirk appear on Agate’s lips.

t “You are falling for this, aren’t you?”

“What?’

In a blink of an eye, Agate forced her foreleg down, beyond the box and on the floor as her other foreleg went under her, sending her crashing into the dirt below as he crushed her hoof under his, holding it down. “You really thought you had me, did you?” He snickered as she slowly got up, dirt on her face in in her mouth.

”The answer is no!” He barked in her face.

”C’mon, hasn’t Onyx gotten hurt enough in this story!?” Dapple explained.

”What?”

“Can you please stop messing with us!” Dapple exclaimed, Onyx using that moment to hold his four legs in her magic.

”Hey! What are you doing!?” Agate exclaimed, trying to get free as she gestured to the lock, Dapple running over to it and grabbing it in his hooves, gaining no progress.

“Hurry up, Dappies. They’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t call me Dappies!” Dapple exclaimed as he started yanking it, seeing no key. “How do I unlock this thing!” He said, aggressively yanking at it and kicking the door itself in frustration and panic.

“Use your head.”

“My head?” He raised a brow at what she meant before he gazed upwards towards his horn, gasping. “Good idea!” Dapple exclaimed, ramming his horn into the lock and jiggling it about. Soon they both froze when a familiar unicorn approached, thanks to Onyx’s loss of focus, Agate managed to buck her hard in the jaw, setting himself free.

“Agate!” Alphabittle shouted, holding Agate in some magic, as he stood next to Jasper, both of them gazing at the cage just minutes before the former ran towards it. Breaking the lock with his massive hooves. He broke open the cage and exclaimed before questions could be asked as Dapple’s mouth hung open. “Just go! I’ll buy you time. The savannah is in that direction. Near the southernmost desert just out of Equestria!” He said, recalling have seen an old map, where lions had made a home, generations ago.

”What about the cubs?” Dapple asked, Tufty listening with awe and being disappointed but a bit relived at the answer.

”There were no cubs, it was Jasper posing as a distraction for you two.”

”Y-yeah…” Jasper nervously looked aside.

“You’ve got no time to waste, just run!” He exclaimed. Onyx and Dapple wasting no time to run deep into the woods with Tufty, Jasper following behind, feeling like he should join.

The group journeyed through the woods, through the trees as cautiously and quickly as they could. Hoping to not be caught by anypony that could be following them. Eventually they made it out the forest and into the bright midday sun, the warmth beating on their coats as they journeyed on.

“It’s so bright out here…” Jasper whined. Much to Dapple’s annoyance who looked back at him.

“You’ll get used to it-“ He said before noticing somepony was missing. “Where’s Onyx?”

”Uh… Just laying over there.” Jasper pointed.

He groaned in announced as he backtracked to where she was laying, exhausted, he used his magic to try and pull Onyx, but she only laid there, allowing him to just pull him across the grass. “I feel lost! Like a fish out of the water, far from any sort of familiar sights!” She said dramatically. “Left to rot away with my wallowing thoughts…”Jasper glanced at her and back at Dapple with slight confusion as they both looked out towards the forest in the distance and back at Onyx as she dramatically just laid on the ground.

“Laying here isn’t gonna solve anything.” Dapple sighed. “I left Bridlewood many time, and I’m still alive.”

“She’s right tho. Who doesn’t feel hurt leaving behind what you once knew?”

”I feel sick in the stomach, like somepony punched me in the gut. Like I’m missing something so important. Like the comforts of Bridlewood!”

“If you feel homesick just a few metres away from Bridlewood. Imagine how Tufty Paws feels.” Dapple responded as Onyx let out a soft groan as she slowly got up, looking a little sad. “Besides, if she stays here, she’ll get caught. This is no place for her.”

”I hate it when you are right….”

”Y-yeah. Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t easy. But you also did keep a promise.” He said before whispering. “It’d be mean to break it.”

That night the four found a small cavern to take shelter in, they all sat in front of a campfire, Tufty by Onyx’s side who’s ears were flat, she laid on her belly with a sigh as she looked out into the distance. He saddened expression didn’t go unnoticed by anyone as she looked worriedly in the distance.

”You okay?” Asked Dapple, noticing her gloomy appearance.

“No. I was selfish…” Onyx sighed, guilt filling her. “her embrace felt warm and comforting. But I should have thought about what she wanted… I trued to take a mother from her cubs and almost got her killed.”

Both stallions gazed at her sadly. “Well, you do have a point.” Jasper responded.

“Maybe I should have just informed Hitch, or any animal professional first thing.” She said, sadly looking at Tufty who gazed at her. “I wanted what was best for her and didn’t do it…”

“Once again, true.” Jasper said, raising a hoof and getting a glance from Dapple. “You are a poet, you have no experience with injured wild animals. That was completely inconsiderate of you.” He said honestly.

Dapple thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, he’s actually got a point. Taking in a wild animal to take care of yourself with no experience was a little dangerous.”

”She’s likely going to die now, because of me.” Onyx said, laying on her belly, “I guess I got so wrapped up in her playful and motherly antics that I got too greedy to let her go…”

“Don’t say that!” Exclaimed Dapple as he hurried forward, putting a hoof on her shoulder. He sighed as he thought about what to say. “We are going to get her home safe. We have nothing to worry about, Tufty will get home safely.” He said, with doubt himself, but trying for her sake. “I it’s hard, but just think optimistically, for once!” He exclaimed and sighed, looking at Tufty. “For her, okay?”

Onyx looked at him sadly, It was also too late to take her to Hitch, Bounty was hunting them down and was sure to find them. Besides, they had already traveled too far in the other direction, in the direction of the lion’s lands, this was in their hooves now. “I’ll try.” She sighed, feeling like she’d mess it all up.

“Does she feel like a mother to you?” Asked Jasper after a long pause. “Well, about eight years ago your mother did-“

”Jasper.” Dapple hissed, cringing as he looked at Onyx, who clearly did not want to be reminded of that. Tufty made a noise as she worriedly looked at Onyx, knowing she was still a young mare, not any older than eighteen or nineteen. She would have lost her mother when she was still a cub- or a foal- in her case. She pushed her down with her paws just seconds before a poem started and licked her, acting like a mother lion to try and comfort a cub, she curled herself around her and allowed her to lay down against her.

“I really wanted to say that poem but… We’ll see if we can get you home.” She said, patting Tufty before she rested her head on top of hers. “If something doesn’t go wrong, like usual.”

”Onyx.” Dapple gasped, “C’mon, like i said, at least try to be a little positive, you know, for her sake?”

Onyx gazed at him and back at Tufty, who looked homesick and just as worried as she was. “I’ll try… But that’s not really my thing. Besides, I really feel something is going to happen.”

”We will succeed in this, Onyx…” Dapple said, putting a hoof on her. “I promise.”

”Can you two be quiet, I’m trying to sleep.” Jasper yawned.

“Yeah.” Dapple yawned. “We have a big trip in the morning, we better rest up.” She said, trying to get comfortable against a log, Jasper doing the same against a rock.

“Hard to sleep out here.” He grunted and mumbled. “Well, good night I guess.”

“Goodnight Jaspie…”

The group continued their journey, walking through meadows, though rivers and past mountains. Or so that’s how it felt. But they knew they were walking further from their home and towards the vast savannah. It was starting to get rather hot as they ventured across the land. Tufty didn’t mind the heat, but Jasper and Onyx sure were, the former having an exhausted expression looking like he was about the faint, while Onyx just had her monotone expression, but with ears back as she ventured forwards. “Almost there.” She tried to assure herself with a raspy voice, taking Dapple’s advice in trying to think positive. It was hard to believe that they could succeed, but she needed to keep going and not give up. “I can do… this.” She panted a bit as she walked forward, trying to keep up with the others. Concerned, Tufty gave her one big lick in the side of the face, making her groan slightly. Her occasional roaring was loud enough.

”Surely we are close!” Dapple exclaimed, seemingly already had enough of the hot sun beating down on him. After a long walk they eventually found themselves stopping under a tree near a large lake.

”We walked for miles, still no sign of a lion.” Dapple groaned as Tufty let out a sad roar as she came out the water. All three ponies holding their hooves out when she shook herself.

“Ugh!” Dapple groaned, “Oh, that’s actually kind of refreshing.” He said watching Onyx go down to the water, only going hoof-deep as she looked down into the murky water, she was quenched, but wasn’t a fan of drinking water from such a source, she walked along the edge of the water for a little bit, walking along a narrower part of the river. deciding whether to drink it or not, stopping in her tracks when she heard some humming on the other side, looking up and seeing a young zebra mare, humming to herself. Her black stripes reaching her belly.

”Hey…”

”nyati?”

Onyx was puzzled by what the Zebra said, seems she didn’t speak ponish? Maybe she should ask anyway, she might have a shot at it. “We are like, looking for a lion pride. You’ve seen any around these parts?”

“wewe ni nani?”

”Uh… What?” Onyx asked, “I am not from this land…” She said, noticing she was speaking a language she wasn’t aware of, which shouldn’t have surprised her.

”nyati? wewe ni tofauti sana na mimi!” The zebra spoke then paused

”I wish I understood what you speak…” Onyx sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be getting any help from her.

“Laiti ningeelewa unachosema.” The zebra said again, ears drooping as she gazed at Onyx.

”II better head back.” Onyx said, cocking her head, noticing the Zebra pick up her boat with a gasp as she looked into the water nearby.

“kiboko!” The zebra said after a gasp as she grabbed her toy boat and ran off after seeing some ripples in the water, Onyx looking on, not seeing anything , but stepping back cautiously. Not knowing what a kiboko was, which was soon revealed when a hippo charged at her from the water, giving her no time to dodge as she slammed right into her, smashing her to the ground.

Onyx trudged back to the tree, Dapple watching on with concern, seeing mud on her coat and seeing her expression. She slumped on the ground, Tufty running to her side and immediately grooming her like a mother to a cub, Onyx not fighting back the slightest.

“I just wanted some water to quench my thirst

While i was under the hot sun’s burst

But when I went by the water, I saw local

But only in her own language she was able to vocal

My walk ended with a hippo charging at me headfirst

Now i feel like a pile of dirt”

Jasper rolled his eyes at Onyx’s poetry while Dapple reached into a bag. “Oh, I managed to fill a few bottles with fresh water emerging from some rocks nearby.” He said passing her one when Tufty was finished her grooming, she opened it quickly and glutzed it down quickly. After a big drink she put the bottle down and rested up against her, noticing her fur was damp, she must have been in the water. Maybe she should have taken a dip, too, must be refreshing.

Jasper sighed. “I know what you said before, Dapper, but I just wish we could go home…”

”Oh, don’t you start!” Dapple scolded Jasper before looking at Onyx, who looked slightly puzzled and exhausted.

“I wonder how you managed to get to Bridlewood from such long distance…”

Tufty looked guilty for a few seconds as she gazed at Onyx and back into the distance. She couldn’t talk now, but there was a reason why she did before. A wish came true, she only wished she could talk ponish so somepony could help her get home, not talk forever. She couldn’t tell Onyx this anymore as she had lost the ability, wasn’t important for them to know, anyway. Dapple looked out in the distance as he got up, “Well, we better head back on our adventure.” He said. Tufty got up quickly, sending Onyx smacking the ground before she got up, watching as she followed the river’s path.

”Guess she knows the way?” Asked Jasper, the other two unicorns watching on before they all followed behind her.

“Tufty?” Dapple whimpered as the hot sun beat on his coat, the ground was grassier now, but it was still rather warm. The river seemed like it had gone in forever, he lifted his head and looked around puzzled, to see the lack of lion.

“Where’d Tufty go?”

”Over there.” Onyx said, pointing at a waterhole. Tufty’s ears were sown as she roared loudly between two trees, as if she were calling for someone. Maybe for her pride, which didn’t come.

”Where could they be?” Wondered Dapple. Hoping they were okay. Onyx went into the water, feeling it up against her coat, getting the refreshing coolness, joining Tufty’s side as they she gazed at her with concern.

“Do you remember the last place you saw them?” She asked.

Tufty looked as if she had realised something s she looked into the distance, after a loud roar, she started running again, making a big splash as she leaped, the other unicorns giving chase until she stopped at a large cliff leading into a ravine, Dapple gulped with fear as he looked straight down, it was a long way down. Was her family down there? They’d be dead for sure, hitting the water from this high up would be painful. “Imagine falling down there.” Jasper commented, sending a shiver down Dapple’s spine.

“Y-yeah. Wouldn’t want that…” He commented, backing up as the height started to make him a little dizzy. How were pegasi not scared of such heights!? Aren’t they scared of falling, somehow? Tufty let out a loud, pained roar, it was obvious her throat was sore now. “They have to be out here somewhere!”

”Maybe they are not…” Onyx sighed, kicking a pebble down the cliff and watching it fall, and vanish from sight. Wondering what exactly happened, the most likely scenario was somepony must have captured and tried to take her away. Maybe her family was killed somehow?

“Onyx!” Shouted Dapple. “Keep your head up, they have to be! She needs to find them!” He exclaimed, sounding like he had a bit of doubt in it himself.

Everyone looked around, waiting for a sign that her family was out there somewhere. They needed this lone lion to find her family, or else this trip would have been for nothing. She couldn’t exactly take her back home, unless they managed to get her somewhere safe before Bounty found them. Somewhere that Bounty could not get her. Hope seemed lost when minutes of silence went past.

”Lions!?” Dapple cried out, hoping his shout would get a response. “Come out! It’s just Tufty!”

“That’s not gonna work, Dapple…” Onyx sighed, sitting down, up against a boulder near the edge of the cliff, looking as Tufty approached her, nudging her. “How do we know she didn’t flee from something that killed the rest of her family?” She suggested.

”Onyx!” Dapple exclaimed then sighed, knowing that would wouldn’t be impossible. Maybe Bounty was what she fled from, maybe he got the rest of her family, would explain how she ended up where she did. “That can’t be true!” He exclaimed.

”Lions, we could you be at this time?

She is calling, for you are her pride

Out in the heat, will you please come out

Tufty is roaring, the one you are without…

She just wants her family back, to see you again

After all, she misses her cubs in the den

She just once again wants to be free, free, free

So where could you possible be, be be>?”

Dapple and Jasper gazed a bit puzzled at Onyx’s poem but then they both. gasped and Tufty’s ears perked up at a distant roar, she jumped up, looking excited and roared once more, the loudest she ever head. Everyone looked down in the distance she was staring in. waiting what was to come, eventually they saw it. The pride!

”It’s them! It’s her family!” Dapple cried out, seeing the lead male and two cubs run towards Tufty. The male licking her lovingly as the cubs tackled and climbed on her, rubbing against her. Onyx watched on with a sad smile, this was finally it, was it? The three unicorns watched on, Dapple speaking again. “See, Onyx? Told you we’d be able to do it.”

”Yeah… We did it.” She said with slight sadness, her ears perked back, keeping in her tears. Looking a bit sad at what she was saying, but it was sort of happy, too. Seeing Tufty reunited, playing with her cubs, back with her family. Finally free, where she belonged, with her family. Just like how she wanted her to end up when she first found her, here. It felt ages since they had met, even if it was only roughly two months. She smiled a bit when Tufty walked over to her and gave her a lick, she tried to not seem sad when she spoke. This was a happy moment for her, not a sad one, so she wanted yo be supporting. ”Hey Tufty, I’m so happy for you… After all this time, you finally get to go home.” She said, petting her one last time, feeling the soft, strong fur, Tufty purred as she got petted, seeming happy about going home, finally reunited with her kind, how it should be, she sadly took her hoof off, taking the bandanna with her, knowing she didn’t want it anymore. She sadly looked down at it and back up at her, knowing this would be the last time she would ever see her. This was it, the big goodbye, she never wanted it to happen, but it was happening and it had to happen. “I’ll never forget you, Tufty.” She said sadly as she muzzled her one last time before she went back to the pride, the whole lot of them seeming relived and grateful having one last look at her before greeting and affectionately interacting with each other. Jasper getting up after nervously hiding behind Dapple, the latter looking rather sad, but happy at the same time before looking at his friend to see how she was coping. ”Goodbye, Tufty.” Onyx softy said as she waved, watching the pride head into the distance, disappearing. Feeling the bittersweet moment, but now she was where she belonged. Now it was time for her and the other two to get back to where they belonged, it was going to be a long journey. She let out a sigh as she glanced out into the distance and started to walk away from her place, only taking two steps just before she froze at a familiar voice.

“Where are they?” Asked Bounty as he looked around. Onyx’s eyes widening as she looked at him, Dapple and Jasper looking just as concerned, Bounty had found them. The lions were gone, thankfully, but now they had Bounty to deal with. Everyone was nervous at what to do next.

”None of your business!” Shouted Dapple, gasping as soon as he realised Agate had a crossbow with him, ready to shoot. His ears dropped at he looked at the dangerous weapon, wondering what he would do with it, he wouldn’t actually shoot them, would he? He was a jerk, sure, but this was too far!

“They’re gone, because of some pests- Oh well… Only one less unicorn to deal with. Aim it at the one the lion liked the most.” Said Bounty as Agate pointed his crossbow at Onyx, who gasped, frozen in fear. All around her was cliff, or a large boulder, both jerks were close enough she only had a small opening. Her mouth opening wide when she looked on.

“Agate, c’mon, mate! Think about this.” Dapple begged, heart racing.

Her muttered as he adjusted the crossbow at her.. “I had one job and you made me fail, die!” She looked on, with slight fear. Looking to the large boulder to the right of her with Bounty and Agate standing right near it and the small opening to the left.

”A-Agate, don’t shoot!” Dapple exclaimed, ‘W-We can talking about this!”

“You don’t need to do this.”

”Yes I do. Besides, Onyx. I always beat you, you have no chance.” He chuckled. “I win again, do you finally get it?” He asked as Onyx took a step back, the ledge crumbling, making her heart skip a beat as she looked at him. Wondering on her next move, if she were to run, he would shoot her for sure.