The life I wished for.

“So why are we going to Twilight’s house? I thought you were going to take us to the Everfree forest?” Scootaloo was jumping with excitement as she spoke, her little wings fluttering as she bounced.

“Well, I can only take you girls there if Twilight got what I asked her for. It is very dangerous in there.”

“Well if it’s dangerous, m-maybe we shouldn’t go in there?” Sweetie Belle was shaking a little thinking about the Everfree forest and the animals that live there.

“Well as long as Twilight got it, we won’t have any problems. Just trust me okay?” I reached down and ruffled her mane playfully. She smiled wide and giggled a little.

“Alright I trust you Brandon, so what is it that we’re getting from Twilight?”

“You’ll see what it is when we get to the Library, speaking of which, here we are.” I walked up to the door and gave it a few swift knocks. It took a minute before Spike answered the door.

“Brandon! What’s up man?” He raised his clawed hand for a high five.

“Nothin really, hey is Twi here? I need to get something from her.”

Spike was covered in a light purple aura and pulled away from the door. A familiar lavender unicorn trotted to the door with a smile.

“Oh hi Brandon! Hey there Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom. What brings you here?” She gestures for us to come inside with her hoof.

“Well I wanted to see if you got that ‘thing’ I asked about.”

“Oh yeah I did! It wasn’t easy though, I almost passed out after I was done!”

“Oh well I’m sorry to put you through so much, here’s a little something to thank you with.” I gave her a small kiss on her forehead and smiled as her ears folded back and she blushed lightly.

“So, where is it? I’m going to need it for where girls and I are going.”

“Wait, where are you taking the girls? Your not going to take them to the Everfree forest are you!?” She gave me a stern, disapproving look.

“Well I was planning to, but I need that ‘thing’ if I even want to go in there. Please Twi? You know I’ll keep the girls safe.” I wrapped my arm around her and gave a smile. She smiled and looked away.

“Well…..okay, its right over there.” She pointed over to the other side of the room.

“Aw thanks Twi you’re the best!” I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ran over to what I’ve been waiting for.

It was a sword that I had designed myself in the time I was here in Ponyville. It was a long black blade with a single blood red line through the metal. The hilt was blood red with black stars. The Blade guard was a six pointed star with red on each corner.

“Wow, thanks Twilight, its perfect! It’s just how I thought it would be!” I ran up to her and gave her a great big hug, that she returned a few moments later.

“You’re welcome Brandon. I also got one more thing for you.” She reached behind her and pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves.

“Here these are something I wiped up with my magic.” She hoofed them to me and I put them on.

“So what’s so special about these gloves? They seem pretty normal to me.”

“You need to bring it across your face. It gives you a mask. Just like you told me about in your shows.”

I passed my hand over my face and my sight instantly became clearer, I felt more aware of my surroundings.

“Wow Twi, this is awesome! How did you do that?”

“Well, I took what you told me about them and I found some spells. I mixed them together and this was the end product.”

I pulled the mask off so I could get a look at what I was wearing. The mask was white with a black trim. Spikes shot out of the top almost like a crown.

Two spikes came out of the bottom of the mask, one on each side of the chin.

“How did you get this mask to look like this? I made this design when I was still on earth.”

“The mask is connected to your mind as well. It took the shape of what you had in your mind. I’m sorry that it doesn’t make you stronger; I could only get it to improve what it covered. I will be working on it again when I get more time.”

“Well thanks for this Twi. This is all really cool. Well I’m going to get going, c’mon girls.”

“Hey Twilight! Can we take Spike with us? We won’t be gone too long! We promise!”

“Oh well, I don’t know. He does have chores to get done today…”

“Oh come on Twilight! Please let me go! I’ll do everything Twice when I get home!”

“I’m sorry Spike; we just have so much to do today.” She shook her head and placed a hoof on a sad Spike’s shoulder.

I walked up to Spike and whispered in his ear. “Here, let me talk to her.” I walked up to Twi and whispered something in her ear. She blushed lightly then shook her head and nodded.

“Alright, Spike. You can go with Brandon.”

“Really? Oh thank you Twilight!” The little dragon jumped up and gave Twilight a big hug.

“Alright, now you have fun, be careful and listen to Brandon.”

“Alright everypony, and Spike, lets go. We don’t want be out there too late.” I walked to the door and opened it for the fillies and Spike.

“Alright Twi, I’ll bring Spike home safe and sound, we wont be gone long.”

“Alright Brandon, don’t be getting into too much trouble. I know you wanted that sword…..I just hope that you don’t have to use it out there….”

“As long as nothing wants to eat us, I think we’ll be just fine.” She gave me a small glare before I walked out of the library.

“Alright, you all ready?” I put the sword on my back and tightened my gloves.

“Yep, just lead the way Brandon.” Spike nodded to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who nodded back to him.

“Well let’s get going then!” I stepped in front of the others to lead the way.

The walk wasn’t too long. I could tell Spike wasn’t used to walking very much, by the time we got to the edge of the Everfree, he was panting and sweating.

“Here Spike, hop up here onto my shoulders and take a little break.” I stretched my hand down to him gesturing for him to take it.

“Really? Thanks Brandon, you’re awesome.” He grabbed my hand and I pulled him up onto my shoulders.

“Alright, you girls ready?” I looked over to the girls. Scoots was standing there with blank expression on her face as she stared at the forest. Sweetie Belle was shaking behind her and Apple Bloom was standing close to me.

“Ah don’t know Brandon, mahybe this wasn’t such ah bright idea.”

“Y-yeah, maybe we should just…..go back.”

“Hey, don’t you worry girls; you’ll be safe as long as you stay with me. Nothing is going to happen. I promise.” I huddled all the girls together and nudged them in front of me.

“H-hey! Why are we in front?” These were the first words Scoots spoke since we left the library. She didn’t seem as brave as she was earlier that day.

“It’s just so I can see you when we’re walking. I don’t want to lose any of you in here.”

We all walked in the forest for only a few moments before we came across a wide opening. No trees were growing here, and there was no grass, just some dirt, that was as black as the night.

“Well that’s weird, this doesn’t seem normal.” I walked into the middle of the opening and grabbed a handful of the black dirt.

“It’s almost as if this was burnt….but what could have done that?” Spike jumped off my shoulders and looked around.

“I don’t know Spike, this is a bit weird. I don’t know what could have done this. I don’t think we should worry about it though. You girls want to keep going?” I didn’t get a response, I looked over to see them squished together staring at something in the trees.

“Hey, girls….what are you looking at? What’s wrong?” I got my answer from a large lion paw slamming into the ground in front of me. I looked up to see that the creature in front of me was none other than a manticore, and it didn’t seem too happy.

“Oh for the love of fuck….”