-Merely an Animal-
Twilight's vacation started out well enough. The yacht she boarded at Manehattan was elaborate, roomy, smelled of fine cooking, and had silk beds. She immediately felt relaxed and at ease as the boat left for the open ocean. Her first stop was to be the sunny shores of Zebrica to take part in the zebras’ Rain Season Celebration. Then as the northern ocean got stormy she was to take the southern route back towards Equestria. But that year, the rainy season came early.
Twilight woke abruptly one morning and was shocked to find the room a mess. Her possessions lay scattered on the floor. The sea had been growing rougher past few days but apparently last night it had gotten dramatically worse. She made her way on shaky, seasick legs. Twilight struggled to stay upright, on the stairs leading up to the yachts pilothouse.
“Captain,” Twilight asked over the sound of the wind and rain battering the windows. “Will the weather get any better?”
She stood next to him, a middle aged and bearded stallion who was familiar with the sea. But the look on his learned face worried Twilight.
“I do not believe so.” He turned and muttered some inaudible orders to a crewmember then looked back out of the window. “We might have to cut your trip short Miss Sparkle and head back to Equestria.”
“If you believe the ocean is too dangerous then I have no problem with returning home.” Twilight replied.
The captain nodded and Twilight started to watch the waves. She soon became extremely nauseous and rushed out of the pilothouse, into her bathroom where and promptly got sick.
“Some vacation this is turning out to be,” she groaned between convulsions.
The was a sudden cracking sound emanating from the hull and Twilight went rigid with fear. She slowly peered through the door and looked into her room. At first the mare didn’t see anything amiss but as she stepped closer to the far wall she noticed several cracks emanating from the edge of the porthole. She watched, with her terror growing, as the cracks expanded out like spiderwebs following the grain of the wood.
“Captain!” Twilight screamed as she rushed back up into the pilothouse. “Captain, I think the ship is breaking apart!”
As the captain turned towards her with a questioning look, a towering wave rose against the side of the yacht. Twilight's eyes went wide as the wall of water hit. They were thrown painfully off their hooves and onto the floor. Twilight closed her eyes as she heard the sound of shattering glass and breaking wood, but it was soon overridden by the screaming wind of the storm. She opened her eyes just as the floor disintegrated into the ocean below.
The mare let out a shrill scream that was cut short as she plummeted into the frigid ocean. She fought the waves to return to the surface and as her head broke through the water a wide plank slammed against her cheek. Twilight instinctively pulled herself onto it and observed her surroundings.
The remains of the ship was just then slipping into the deeps as two large pieces. All around her were planks of wood, furniture and other items, but no bodies. Twilight hoped that the crew was alright. She noticed a large piece of the boat nearby so she paddled closer to it through the strong currents and pulled herself onto it.
She laid onto her back and looked up at the rain trying to catch her breath. For the next half hour the solitary pony clung to the planks trying to keep herself from falling into the water. Eventually the storm quieted and, although Twilight was extremely terrified, she was even more tired and quickly drifted off to sleep on the calming ocean.
Spending three days on the ocean is torture. Between the dehydration, hunger and circling sharks, it was a living hell. Twilight’s salt encrusted and sun baked body was close to shutting down when a gull landed next to her and started to peck at her side. She half heartedly shooed the bird away with a hoof before her groggy mind realised the importance of the moment.
“A bird?” She sat up and looked around through blurry eyes. “That means land is nearby!”
Sure enough, Twilight could see the green outline of an island in the distance. She Felt the slight urge to try and paddle but her weariness and the fact that the makeshift raft was already heading towards it prevented her. As Twilight drew closer to the Island she realised that it was inhabited. On the mountain dominating the jungle covered landmass sat a house. It looked small and insignificant upon the towering pinnacle of volcanic rock but she could tell that it was a grand mansion.
Her raft slid through the breakers and onto the shore. Twilight stood on flimsy legs and made her way towards the mountain and her salvation. After a few minutes of pushing headlong into the insect infested forest, the mare stumbled across a cobblestone road leading up the mountain. Twilight was slightly puzzled as to why there was a mansion on an isolated island but her main focus was just reaching it before she collapsed.
The sun was going down when she finally reached the mansion. She heaved herself up the steps and stood before the wide doors. Twilight raised a hoof and weakly knocked on the door before slumping to the ground and passing out.
“Shh, don’t try to sit up.”
Twilight opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself laying on a soft bed. A zebra stallion stood over her with a tray of water and food.
“You are quite ill after being at sea for a long time,” the zebra continued in a thick Zebrican accent. “Eat and drink slowly or you will get more ill. My name is Iroko.”
“What is this place?” Twilight asked.
“Shh, no talk now. You rest.” Iroko started to walk away. “When you feel better, my master will talk to you.”
She was soon alone in the room and able to take in her surroundings. The aged wood walls had an old yet beautiful feel to them and Twilight believed a noble of some sort lived here and could afford the finer building materials. She looked at her meal next, a fine set of delicate fruits and vegetables, soft breads and a small glass of wine alongside a pitcher of water. She sat up and lifted the tray with a slight smile on her lips.
“This is a nice change in fortune,” she sighed happily. Then her mood darkened. “I do hope the yacht's crew is alright.”
She pushed that thought aside, ate her meal and soon drifted back off to sleep. Twilight stayed in her room for another two days regaining her strength and all the while wondering who her host was. She was very much eager to thank him or her for their hospitality. Perhaps they had a boat for her to use to get back home. Twilight had often asked Iroko whenever he brought her food but he never gave an answer.
The zebra entered her room one evening and politely bowed, as was his custom and she smiled in return.
“I see that you are feeling better,” Iroko said. “Come, my master wishes to speak to you.”
Twilight slid out of bed and followed him into the long, yet well lit, hall. Paintings of wild animals and distant lands covered the wood walls. They walked down the stairs and into a long dining room where a wide fireplace roared. Sitting in front of the fire on a large, leather seat was a minotaur in a silk robe. Above the fire hung a large portrait of the same minotaur
“Come and sit with me Twilight Sparkle,” he said. “It is not often that we get visitors from Equestria. Especially ones wreathed in fame and importance as yourself.”
Twilight sat in a chair next to him and he watched her with crystal blue eyes. She looked back at him, questions forming.
“How do you know my name?” she asked.
“I adore books my dear.” He smiled pleasantly. “And, believe it or not, there are books about you and your five friends. My name is Zalion, by the way, and this is my home.”
“It’s very lovely and I too love books.” She looked around, admiring the room. She noticed, with delight, a massive bookshelf that took up one of the walls. “But why do you live so far away from civilisation?”
Zalion shrugged. “Primarily because of what I do for recreation. You ponies don’t enjoy this activity as one of your own but we minotaurs take great pleasure in the hunt. Out here I can hunt without others getting in my way.”
Twilight grimaced but understood. Carnivores had their own standards to what was considered entertainment.
“Now, I don’t want to impose upon you the belief that I’m a terrible host, boring you with topics that have no lure on your mind. But I think you will find this interesting.” Zalion noticed Iroko finish setting the table. He motioned for Twilight to follow him to the table. They sat down and he continued. “I am a hunter. A very good one, I say without meaning to boast. I scoured the world looking for animals and creatures to set my mind and body against and they all proved to be weaker. I have a hall dedicated to my kills, though I doubt you want to see that.”
Twilight nodded as she filled her plate with vegetables and fruit. Iroko filled her glass with wine and Zalion politely waited for her attention to return to him before speaking again.
“But I was starting to feel boredom with an activity I had loved since I was a calf. So I set out one last time to find an animal able to reinstate the spark of joy that the hunt brought to me. But alas, there was none that could match my ability to reason. An animal has only instincts and, occasionally, they can realise when they are being outdone. But none can reason like us higher creatures.”
Twilight nodded. Despite her uncomfort with the conversation, she couldn’t bring herself to change the topic. She was honestly interested in what the minotaur had to say.
“If hunting is no longer as ‘fun’ as it once was,” Twilight asked. “Why do you still live out here and hunt?”
Zalion smiled, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. “Because I realised something that allowed me to find new game for my hunts.”
“What did you realise?”
Zalion leaned back and pondered how he was going to answer. He stroked the curved beard on his chin and looked at Twilight with his icy eyes. “That the ability to reason doesn’t make you more than an animal. It’s your ability to survive and prove yourself the better creature that makes you such.”
Twilight tilted her head, puzzled. “I don’t understand, Zalion. How did that help you find more things to hunt?”
“Should it be that hard to realise my dear?” Zalion leaned forward. “That creatures that know how to reason are still merely animals.”
Twilight let his words take their meaning in her mind before she dropped her fork and pushed herself away from the table.
“You don’t mean you hunt other sapient creatures?” she screamed.
“Your response is expected,” he mused. “Yes, I hunt other reasoning animals. Griffins, zebras.” He paused and looked slyly at Twilight. “Ponies and even other minotaurs. To name a few. Anyone that is unfortunate enough to shipwreck on m island.”
“That’s disgusting!” Twilight wanted to run for the door and escape.
“Says the prey.” Zalion shot back. “The wolf is a wolf to its equals. It is a monster in the dumb eyes of the rabbit.”
Twilight’s mouth went dry with fear. “Please, just let me go home. I won’t tell anyone!”
“Why would I let new game get away.” Zalion laughed. “From what I have learned, you are a clever pony, very intelligent and a fine challenge for someone like me. I get shipwrecked ponies on my island all of the time and sadly, they are dimwitted and irrational creatures. So, in two days, how would you like to go for a hunt?”
“What if I refuse?” Twilight tried to sound brave.
“Then I will hand you over to Iroko who has a different opinion on fun from me. His profession, before he became my butler, was dismembering the enemies of his tribe in the most painful and gruesome way. I think you will find the hunt more pleasing. At least with me you will have a chance to live.”
Twilight felt hopeful again. “A chance to live?”
“Of course.” Zalion’s eyes twinkled again. “The rabbit runs the fastest when it knows it has an opportunity to escape. I will give you three days to elude me. If you survive, then I will have Iroko take you by boat to Zebrica where you can find transport to Equestria. I swear by this.”
“Three days,” Twilight muttered to herself.
“I’ll give you items of assistance. A canteen, knife and blanket. To give me more of a challenge, I will be using only a shortbow and small knife to hunt you.”
Twilight was starting to feel slightly more confident. “Fine. I will accept this hunt only because I have no choice. May I return to my room so I can rest?”
Zalion nodded and Twilight rushed past Iroko and out of the room. The minotaur called pleasantly after her.
“Goodnight Miss Twilight! I hope you sleep well and I shall see you at breakfast tomorrow!”
Twilight stood next to Zalion two days later. Her canteen filled with water, knife sheathed and her mottled green and brown blanket wrapped around her like a cloak. She peered through the mansion’s entrance at the jungle outside.
“Are you ready little rabbit?” Zalion asked playfully.
Refusing to giving an answer, Twilight took off into the woods without looking back.
“One hour head start,” she growled to herself. Her heart beat furiously as she barreled through the vines and bushes.
She had learned from Zalion that the Island was five miles long and three miles wide. It was dotted with caves, streams and other places one could hide. After a while she arrived at the beach, covered in scratches and out of breath. Twilight guessed that she had been running for half an hour so she decided to rest by the calming water.
She looked out across the waves and sighed. “Perhaps I should drown myself and end it now.”
She quickly dismissed the thought and continued along the shore. Twilight realised that her trail in the sand was very easy to follow so she cut back into the jungle. After another twenty minutes of turning different directions in an attempt to make her passage harder to find, she came upon a stream with a tall boulder protruding from a hill over it. It was a perfect place to rest for awhile until the strength returned to her worn legs.
Twilight briefly searched the surrounding area for edible berries or fruit, found some, then climbed the boulder. She lay upon its top, hidden inside a wide crack on its peak, and watched the path for Zalion. After several long hours he showed up.
He casually walked through the jungle, his eyes searching the ground for any sign of Twilight’s trail. He reached the far bank of the river and peered across. His icy, blue eyes clearly visible to the hiding mare. She held her breath as he sat down by the river’s edge and took a sip from his canteen. Zalion looked up towards the sky and gave a disappointed sigh before producing a pencil and paper from a sack on his side. He wrote something down, took an arrow and pinned the letter to a tree.
Twilight watched him walk away the same direction he came. Not wanting to risk it being a trap, she watched the surrounding woods for the rest of the day before climbing down from the boulder and retrieved the arrow and letter. In the fading daylight she read.
Try harder tomorrow little rabbit.
That night Twilight didn’t try to sleep. She made up her mind to put as much distance between her and the mansion that she could. The only reason she had survived thus far was because Zalion wanted to ‘play’ with her another day. Her life was nothing more than a sport to him and she feared every second of it. Never before had she been as terrified as she was now.
She reached the far side of the island just as the sun started to rise. The shore she found herself on was rocky and dangerous. Waves slammed against the stone pinnacles jutting out of the water like twisted teeth. She looked at the ground and was pleased to find that the hard surface left no tracks. Twilight knew that her abilities to track others was limited so she didn’t know if there were ways to follow somepony walking on rock. Though she doubted it.
Eventually she came across a low gorge that seemed to have been cut out by the waves. The mare admitted that this island was quite beautiful and almost made her forget about the situation she found herself in. She dropped herself slowly into the canyon and started to walk through it before remembering the arrow she had retrieved the previous day.
Never in her life had Twilight wanted to actually kill someone. But now, it seemed like a decision that could possibly save her life. She looked above her and realised that the gorge was a perfect place to set a trap. She found two pieces of driftwood, tied them together with a vine so they were the shape of a T and tied the arrow to the bottom point. Twilight then circled out of the gorge and above the point where the T hung like a pendulum across the thin canyon. She drew it back with a vine, camouflaged it and herself under an existing pile of driftwood and waited.
Sure enough, Zalion appeared on the edge of the jungle and looked across the rocky surface of the shore. Unknown to Twilight, he could see her trail quite easily. Any patch of dirt left behind by a hoof, no matter the size, was quickly taken in by his eyes. He followed the faint trail until it led to the edge of the gorge, where he paused. At first Twilight was afraid that he wasn’t going to go into the canyon but the fears dissipated as Zalion stepped forward.
Twilight could tell that the minotaur knew he was getting closer to her because he quickened his pace as he squeezed through the rock. Twilight held her breath as he neared, she already had her knife ready, held magically beside her to cut the vine. Zalion was almost directly under her when she darted the blade out, severed the tether and sent the arrow swinging down. Zalion heard it a split second before the arrow hit him and he leaped backwards, though too late. The arrow planted firmly into his right shoulder and broke off as he reeled back.
Twilights heart froze as she realised that the blow was far from fatal. Zalion cooly stood and pulled the dart from his shoulder and looked up towards the position twilight was hiding.
“Twilight, you are proving to be very exciting game indeed!” Zalion said enthusiastically. “Though it is hard to enjoy it fully now that I am injured. Well done little rabbit! I shall return home, dress my wounds and come for you tonight!”
Twilight watched him walk away, nursing his bleeding arm. The pony sighed, happy that she had bought herself more time yet still fearful for his return that night. She returned to the jungle and proceeded to head towards the deepest part. As the sun got closer to the horizon, Twilight became increasingly paranoid. In the growing darkness every noise and shape was processed by her ever terrified mind as Zalion returning. The sun had completely set when she stumbled across a cave and, against her better judgement, went inside to rest.
She had promised herself that she wouldn't stay in there for more than fifteen minutes. But an unknown amount of time later, she was awaken by the sound of someone approaching. She slowly crawled to the entrance and peered out into the darkness. She could barely see the silhouette of Zalion nearing through the trees. If she didn’t act immediately, he was going to find her.
Twilight took a deep breath and darted from the cave and into the jungle. Immediately she felt the wind of a passing arrow and the sound of it hitting a tree to her right. She mustered all of the energy available in her body and ran headlong through the vines and shadows. Twilight couldn't hear Zalion chasing her but she was certain that he was close behind.
There was a sudden noise to her left so Twilight quickly changed directions only to hear him to her right. For a few terrible seconds it seemed as if he was all around her or if there was more than just him hunting her now. She suddenly realised with horror that he was herding her somewhere! Just then she was lifted harshly into the air by her right, back leg. Twilight was dazed momentarily before discovering that her hoof was caught in a snare loop. Struggling to cut herself free with the knife and trying to ignore the sound of Zalion approaching. The rope snapped and twilight landed painfully onto her back.
“Quite a chase you put me on,” the minotaur said as he stepped out of the trees.
Twilight was already starting to run and Zalion took off after her. He drew back his bow and fired again. The arrow clipped Twilight’s ear and the mare felt blood trickle down her cheek. She couldn't keep running forever, Zalion obviously had more stamina than her. Twilight started to desperately search for a way to lose him in the darkness. An idea formed in her head and she magically picked up three long sticks and started to sharpen them as she ran down a path.
It took a great amount of concentration to do this on the move and when they were finally sharp enough she paused momentarily, used a quick spell to create a hole, planted the stakes at the bottom and hid it under a thin layer of sticks and leaves. She then continued to run for a few more yards before stopping again.
A moment later Twilight heard the sound of breaking sticks and a scream of pain. She smiled to herself and snuck back to her trap. She stopped cold when the shape of Zalion appeared in the dark, looming over the pit. The minotaur shook his head and slowly walked away.
He yelled into the surrounding jungle. “Twilight, I know you are nearby. Congratulations on eluding me one more day. Your trap worked, but it didn’t catch me. Though you have wounded me deep with sorrow. For the victim it took was a close friend. Tomorrow we end this game of ours!”
The minotaur left and Twilight stealthily approached the pit. Inside she could faintly see the body of Iroko impaled grotesquely on two of the spikes.
Twilight found another cave to sleep in that night as it started to rain. She wracked her mind for any way to survive one more day. Though Zalion was a murderer, Twilight believed that he was still going to keep his word. But that was more of a hunch than anything. She pondered her few choices of survival until she slipped off to sleep. She roused herself before the sun rose and headed in the direction of the mountain. Towards the mansion.
She needed to do one last trick, something that an expert hunter like Zalion would fall for. A simple action would not suffice. Twilight would have to lose something important to gain her life. She pulled her knife from its sheath and looked at its finely sharpened edge. A knot rose in her chest as she formed her plan. No longer would she be the rabbit. Now she would be the fox.
Where the mountain met the sea, directly under the mansion, there was a high cliff. Twilight stood near its edge and waited for Zalion to find her. Around midday he finally arrived. Approaching like a hound on the scent, he emerged from the trees, a slightly puzzled look on his face.
“I’m surprised to see you so near to my home and allowing yourself to be cornered so easily,” the minotaur said. “Have you given up and are now wishing for a quick end?”
“Yes,” Twilight said sadly with head hidden under the hood of her blanket and body concealed within its folds. “But I will not let you be the one to kill me.” She looked up at him with cold eyes. “I want you to watch as I take my own life, knowing that you never caught me.”
Zalion glowered at her and went for his bow. But too late. Twilight closed her eyes and slid backwards into the churning ocean and sharp rocks below her. Zalion rushed to the side and peered down. He saw a glimpse of blood and Twilights violet fur on and next to a razor sharp, stone pinnacle. Zalion growled as he started his climb down to make sure that this was not a trick.
When he reached the bottom he was dismayed to find one of her severed hooves next to the shore and finally was convinced that his quarry had gotten away. He picked up the hoof, turned it around in his hands then threw it angrily into the waves. The minotaur climbed back up the cliff and returned to his mansion to dwell over his prey escaping.
After a quick dinner he sat before his fireplace, trying to enjoy his wine. Eventually he grew weary and decided to retire for the night. As Zalion walked up to his room he noticed a drop of blood on the floor. He looked at it and raised an eyebrow in surprise. He looked out of the window and at the setting sun. He smiled and walked into his room.
“You cheat death once again,” Zalion said as he lit a lantern. “You have proven yourself to be quite a challenge. But the day is over and as I promised, you have won.”
Twilight stepped out of the shadows on her three good legs. The stub of her left, back leg dripped blood through the makeshift bandages. She glared darkly at him with a fiery rage.
“Before I let you go home Twilight, I am curious.” Zalion sat down at his desk and looked her over. “How did you survive the fall?”
“Sometimes when a fox is trapped,” Twilight growled. “He will bite off his own leg to escape. My hoof that you found at the cliff was severed by my knife. I teleported myself as I fell into a nearby cave, hid until you left and magically slowed my bleeding before sneaking into your house.”
“Amazing! You must have been quite desperate to do such an act. I wonder if you are starting to realise that you are more like an animal than you believed?” Zalion rubbed his chin, deep in thought before looking back at Twilight. “But why would you come back to my home before the day was up?”
“Because Zalion.” Twilight limped closer, the look of a wild beast in her eyes. “When an animal no longer is able to run away, she turns and fights. And as you said, I’m merely an animal, and I have no urge to run away. The sun is not set yet and the hunt is still on. But you are the rabbit now.”
Zalion smiled. “I disagree. You have yet to prove yourself as the wolf.”
He quickly turned and pulled open his desk drawer but was shocked to find that the knife he had hidden there was gone. The minotaur looked back at Twilight just as his own weapon entered his throat.
Twilight sat on Zalion’s old chair, enjoying the warm fire and fine food. Her hair still slightly wet from a recent shower. She lifted a glass of wine to her lips and took a sip and occasionally read from a book laid spread out on the table next to her. The mare looked down at her properly bandaged leg and sighed. She leaned back into the chair and let the fire’s warmth wrap around her.
Twilight looked up at the painting of Zalion hanging over the fireplace, raised her glass of wine in a mock toast and smiled. “It seems I proved myself the better animal, little rabbit.”
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