Jeff the Killer

-Ponyville

*CRASH*

“Agh!”

“Erk!”

Rainbow Dash grunts as she tackles the purple mare, knocking both of them off their hooves. They both tumble in a circular motion before crashing, landing with their backs on the ground. The purple mare was first to recover, Rainbow Dash still stunned.

The purple mare swiftly lunges, attempting to pin the colorful pegasus down with her hooves.  Rainbow Dash’s hooves were quicker, though, blindly bucking at the mare and making her land on her back once more with a ‘thud’.

Taking this opportunity, Dash stands up, staggering. She puffs out a breath, leering.

“Hey!

 Hey, what is yo-”

A hoof strikes out. The mare easily manages to hit Dash square at her muzzle, shutting her up. She stumbles back, seeing stars, but keeps her legs steady. Falling was not an option.

Unfortunately, Dash already knew she was in trouble. Whenever she had to fight somepony, she was used to being the quicker opponent, knocking ponies out cold before they had a chance to take a whack at her. She was always the one to strike first in a fair fight.

This was definitely not a fight anyone could consider ‘fair’.

Dash yelped, holding her muzzle with a hoof. Her other three legs spread apart, with her wings now sprawled out.

“I can’t...” Dash struggled to regain her footing.  Dash whispered silently, “...I won’t lose!”

Even with her best efforts, she found it insufferably hard to ignore the pulsating pain coursing through her muzzle. She hesitated, something that she regretted.

Her eyes blurred, tears fracturing her vision. She darts back, her front hoof still attached to the side of her muzzle, trying to locate the purple mare befo-

*Smack!*

Another two hooves connect with her chest, causing her to slam onto the ground.

“Ahh!” Dash gasps. T-That one is gunna hurt in the morning...

All Dash’s energy seemed to have been drained from absorbing that last kick. She found it hard to move, and even harder to get up. Her body has given up. She sets her head onto the ground from exhaustion.

Dash’s head hurt, as each second sped up to a minute in her adrenaline fueled mind. Strangely, the pain did not hurt as much anymore, with her priorities now focused solely on fighting the purple pony back.

She watched as the silhouette of a pony walked toward her, slowly.

...This pony hits like a filly, but fights dirtier than a crazed mule! And I know crazy!

Dash was down, but refused to go out. Hence, only one thought was able to process through her now rattled mind.

Rage.

Anger starting to seep out of her, she started to question. What she did to deserve this? Who is she? Why me? Her restrain now at its limits, Dash starts to see red.

Thats it!

Rainbow Dash breathes through clenched teeth.I am THROUGH playing around here!

Resolve renewed, Dash looks up, to see the pony practically on top of her. Through her blurry vision, she locates the head of the pony, to see the glow of a horn.

Dash quickly pivots, to the assailant’s surprise,  and bucks her hind legs as hard as she could.

*CRACK*

An unearthly scream was heard, stunning both mares.

The purple pony fell back, shaking beneath her legs before abruptly collapsing.

Dash, taking a step back, stared at the fallen pony, trying to process what happened. Through the blurry image she was provided, she could have sworn she knew this pony...

--

As Rainbow Dash waited for her vision to return, her combatant simply laid still, the occasional twitch and slow rise and fall of her chest the only indicators that shown the mare was still alive.

What could have this pony wanted from me? I don’t remember getting on anypony’s bad side lately.

The pegasus pondered further for a couple of seconds.

...Or at least not anypony that mattered, anyway.

How many ponies have purple fur and know my name? Wait, that was a bad question. Everypony knows who I am!

Ok... SO how many ponies do I know that have purple fur?

But... now that I remember, that pony also had a horn, didn’t she? A unicorn, mare, with purple fur?

....

Nah, couldn’t be. Twilight? That egghead? She is one of my best friends, she would never be THAT crazy, right?

Yet as Dash’s hawkish vision returns, her blood runs cold. There was Twilight, her eyes rolled back, and a huge crack at where the tip of her horn used to be.

__________

• Canterlot

The Castle Courtyard was closed to the public, with only permitted staff and the Royal Guard allowed through. Celestia and Luna watches over an army of Equestria’s Finest lined up, donned in gold armor and iron tipped spears.

        Right now the nation’s soldiers just barely numbered over a couple thousand, a majority of them stationed in Canterlot. Celestia could name many of the stallions in front of her by heart, making her worry furthermore about the events following.

 Luna, on the other hoof, stood proud and unswayed, standing next to a high ranking general as he barked out orders to a large group.

Shining Armor and Cadence were nowhere to be found. Presumably too busy with their married life to remember about us, Celestia’s face gave way to a small smile.

Of course, this did not last. “ATTENN - HUTT!”

Luna stepped forwards, in front of the generals and towards the Royal Guards.

“Soon, thou shall fight an evil that has plagued the world for far too long!” Luna howled adamantly.

Many of the ponies near the courtyard perked their ears to the noise, recognizing the Royal Canterlot Voice. Luna continued,

“An evil that has been a thorn to all ponykind for millennia!”

Luna’s Night Guard made their entrance, slowly and quietly joining next to their princess. Few ponies noticed this, though, Princess Luna grabbing their full attention.

“An evil, one that has not only attacked us, but tried to destroy the way of the ponykind! We shall not be enslaved by these ... abominations!

“It shall be the time to take one’s stand from thou enemies, thou abusers, thou deceivers. Ponykind will not stand for these crimes against Equestria anymore, it must end!

Soon, the changelings shall be no more!”

Everypony except for Celestia and the Night Guard had a shocked or pained look, recovering from the ringing in their ears as well as the knowledge that this, in reality, has been an official declaration of war.

War has been absent from  Equestrian life for over a millennia.

Ever since the banishment of Nightmare Moon, the presence of true warriors have become less frequent as centuries passed.

From being the most powerful military nation in the world, Equestria has simply diminished its ranks and kept only a handful of soldiers, solely meant for keeping the peace and watching over the citizens.

The “soldiers” that Equestria used to rely on became lowly guards, inexperienced and under equipped for true combat. The Royal Army, renamed the Royal Guard over time, became for show, not possessing much of the real power they once held.

Equestrian defence and military has sunken so low that, in reality, the greatest reason that the nation has survived through the many dark times it has was simply because of fear. Fear not of Equestria’s might, but of the wrath of its alicorn rulers.

Yet, destiny had a funny way of stepping in at the most random of times.

It was finally going to happen. Many knew that it was inevitable. Changelings and ponies cannot co-exist, so one must destroy the other. On order of the princesses, Equestria will finally invade the changeling hive.

But then what, not many knew. What will be the fate of the changelings? What is their own fates, as they go into battle against a foe they know little of?

Even in fear, most of the Royal Guard were proud to march into battle, being led by their perfect and invincible leader.

It was an honor to place one’s life for the crown, and a chance to have revenge upon the very invaders that have humiliated the Equestrian Guard. Never before has Equestria ever been invaded with such ease before, especially not by such inferior numbers.

The guards outnumbered the changelings two to one at that monumental day, yet still took many humiliating defeats by the hands of them. Even so, Celestia would still ask herself if it was right to let Equestria face another war when for so long the teachings she held was of love and tolerance.

Not even Celestia knew of what would happen, and felt queasy from the thought of it.

Now that the baselines of the event were over, Celestia decided to leave early, leaving her more proactive sister to look after things. She silently excused herself to her chambers, flanked by two of her personal guards. The guards open the large doors to her chambers and instinctively positioned next to the two guards already assigned just outside the chambers.

She slumped down onto her large bed, and let her eyes close for just a second... before remembering something of “grave” importance.

Twilight’s letter!

Celestia turns around, to see the letter still where she left it; under one of her pillows.

Finding it, she levitates the parchment towards her, removing the seal and unraveling it to reveal a lengthy message. As she reads, her smile slowly turned to a small frown, and finally to shock as the letter concluded.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Excuse the brashness of this letter, but I would like your advice on a certain problem. You see, today, I found Fluttershy with a large gash on one of her legs.

When I asked her about it, though, she initially neglected it and avoided answering me. As I persisted, though, she described a very strange animal to me. It was an animal that walks, and runs in that matter, on two legs. Its size is about as tall as you are, and is supposed to be very fast.

When I checked the library for information on this creature, though, I came back empty hoofed. It was not of anything Fluttershy says she ever seen, and I was wondering if maybe you had any information of an animal like this.

What do you advise we do? Fluttershy and I plan on gathering the other Elements of Harmony to capture this creature, so if you have any knowledge, that would help alot.

Your forever faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Putting the letter back on the table, Celestia nervously pondered. Not so much from fear, but as from the implications of the event. What could this mean?

Is it possible? Celestia uneasily rises from her bed, while her head resides in the clouds. Storm clouds, considering how all the thoughts in her head insisted on racing and colliding with each other. This, however, did not earn a change in complexion from the Sun Princess.

A human, after so long, roams the world once more...?

N-no, no.  That IS impossible... impossible... within reason. It is always better safe than to regret afterwards. Celestia gathered an empty parchment and a quill, and quickly scribbles her own letter to her loyal student.

Dear Twilight,

Please hold your plans, I will be there shortly.

Your Mentor,

Princess Celestia

__________

• Deep in the Everfree Forest

A manticore, sleeping under the shade of a tall overgrowth in the forest, solemnly awakes to an intrusive odor.

An undeniably delicious scent, causing the manticore to grumble in hunger. The manticore eagerly risen and took a step out of its comfortable shade, before stopping to examine the scent further.

 The scent was something unlike anything the manticore has ever smelt before, like the meat of many of its favorite forest animals combined into one.

The smell was also accompanied by the smell of fire and ash. A forest fire?

The manticore nervously crouched low while slowly approaching the irresistible smell.

As it went further through the plant infested biome, fear morphed into simple curiosity, as well as the hopeful desire for a once-in-a-lifetime treat.

As it continued onward, it approached an opening in the forest. The manticore quietly and steadily hid in the bush closest to the site, using the trees for cover. The plantlife mixed with the manticore’s body well, making the manticore slightly strenuous to spot unless being stared straight on.

The manticore stealthily steals a couple of looks at the opening, expecting another carnivore to have beat it to the prize. Yet, the manticore did not spot anything other than plant life and strange scents. No movement, no noise.

The manticore salivates at the prospect of having an easy meal, and steps out of hiding. It reveals itself and enters the opening, only to find more oddities.

The manticore, now curious once again, looks around its surroundings, checking once again for movement or any type of animal life.

It found none.

Now satisfied it was alone, it started to follow the delicious scent once again.

As it got closer, it noticed the stench of the smoke increased as well. So did the unrecognizable stench from before, the manticore noticed.

Yet, the manticore’s curiosity told it to continue onward. It was a large and powerful manticore, not a small and wimpy bunny! Anything in the way could either be fought off, or scared away.

If lucky, maybe it will lead to an extra meal. *Grumble*  ...Yes, an extra meal would be nice.

It reached a point where the stench was highest, and looked up.

A gap, or hole, underneath a large tree, was the delicious scent seemed to end. The manticore continued slowly and carefully toward the tree.

This was too unusual. Too easy. The forest rarely gives gifts, every animal that calls the Everfree their home knows this. Something in the manticore’s head told it to stay away.

Danger.           It is a trap.            Stop.              Turn around.

Thoughts were dwindled behind bars and spat on, as thoughts of the loss became too unbearable to take. The manticore’s curiosity was the only source of courage the beast had left, ushering it to move forward and claim its prize.

The manticore to took a steady step closer, before charging into the gap.

It squeezed its head into the hole, to find pieces of some type of plump bird, strangely warm and featherless. The manticore took one of the leftover chunks, to suddenly push itself closer into the gap and started gobbling up the rest of the pieces.

It was delicious. The best thing the manticore ever had the chance to taste. Not a single piece has been wasted, the gap empty of flesh.

….......... *Thuck*

The manticore was about to poke its head back out of the gap, to suddenly feel a heavy weight collapse on top of its back and a sharp object being scraped softly onto its hide.

The manticore desperately tried to get out and see its attacker, but the strength of the assailant proved to be greater than its own. The manticore felt its entire body being pushed downward, making it very hard to move, nevermind moving its head out and into the open. It  thrashed and squirmed, causing the giant tree to whine and crack in reply.

As time passed, the manticore stopped struggling, letting out a deep, low whine not too different from a large wolf. The manticore steadily found it useless to try to resist, unable to even get an inch away from the attacker’s mercy.

Terrified, it could only listen in from the darkness of the gap underneath the tree, now acting passively while still hoping for a way out.

The attacker’s heavy weight and size made it impossible to retract its stinger to defend itself, so the attacker was free to continue scrapping its sharp... claw on the manticore’s back, causing its fur to stand upwards.

“Heh... I found you.”