Iron Anon: Everything Changes

>http://youtu.be/GzJMPHe-STI
>You’re woken up by something brushing against your sleeping bag
>You moan and look down to see Gus, muzzling your leg
>Why was he up so earl-
>You then see the bright sunlight shining into the cave
“What the…”
>You had actually gotten a full night’s worth of sleep
>Hell, you had been able to sleep into afternoon!
>You smile as you make your way out of bed
>You had forgotten what it felt like to roll out of bed without feeling still completely drained from the previous day
>Maybe you were finally getting out of your little rut
>Gus lets out a half bark/half whine to get you to focus
>Oh yeah
>Today’s the day, you needed to get prepared
>As you roll out of bed, you can’t help but notice the sound of song birds outside your cave
>Since you got here, you hadn't heard or seen barely anything in this damn forest and you were starting to think it was uninhabited
>Had they been hiding from you before and were just now coming back out again?
>Whatever it was, the new ambience of the forest is quite… refreshing
>You gather your empty canteen and knife prior to heading outside
>Before you leave, you turn to see the blue pony still sleeping in the shadows
>She must really be a heavy sleeper...
>Taking the bag of apples as well, you and Gus make your way down to the creek
>You strip down and go for a cool dip to wash yourself
>Not having soap kind of sucked, but you did the best you could
>While you bathe, Gus decides to take a drink
>Kind of disgusting, but he’s a dog… so whatever
>You finish bathing and let yourself air dry on a small patch of grass, while you and Gus finished the last bit of apples

>They were as good as you remembered them
>You wait a few minutes for the contaminants from your body to flow downstream before you go over to fill up your canteen
>Then you just laid there next to Gus, pretty content with white noise of the forest
>Eventually after about 20 minutes of relaxing, you get dressed and head for the road
>You were planning on doing the ‘deal’ at the same spot where you first saw them
>In no time, you reach the dirt road
>The unicorns wouldn’t be here until tonight, but you still approach with caution
“Gus, go check it out”
>You let out a tiny toot and Gus creeps out onto the road
>A few seconds later, you reason it’s safe
>You join your white friend on the road, staring in the direction towards the apple orchard and Ponyville
>You wanted to get some more apples from there for two reasons
>One, in the off chance you could take some home with you and Two, so Rainbow could have something to eat
>Before you head off, you get a better survey of the road
>You decide that you would hide in the underbrush, so you could clearly see them approach but also be able to quickly escape if things didn’t go as planned
>Gus, on the other, would be told to stay in the opposing side of the road’s bushes
>You’d explain your deal to the unicorns after revealing yourself by stepping out onto the road
>If one of those unicorns’ horns started to glow without warning, you’d whistle for Gus to flank them
>If things escaladed too far… you’d use the revolver to protect you and Gus
>Hopefully, things wouldn't come to that
>It was going to be quick and simple
>They’d show you how to get home, you’d tell them where the cave and Rainbow was
>Clean and Easy

>Satisfied with your plan, you and Gus take off down the road
>You wanted to set up an hour before the Sun started to go down, so you waste no time getting to the orchard
>As you exit the Everfree Forest, you’re again given a glimpse of the bright majestic landscape
>No time to enjoy it though
>You creep past the cottage and slip into the orchard
>As you move inwards to avoid possible detection from the road, you notice that there seemed to be no ponies working today
>You take advantage of your luck and start loading up on apples
>Halfway through, curiosity gets the best of you
>You take a stance and the kick outwards at a tree’s trunk
>It yields as much as a brick wall
>That orange pony must have some serious leg power to shake so much fruit loose
>Good thing you’d only be dealing with the unicorns tonight
>These 'normal' ponies seemed to pack as much strength as the horses back home
>As you’re just finishing up, you hear the sound of… buzzing?
>Yeah, it sounds just like a buzzing mosquito, just a bit bolder and louder
>You hear it approaching from the town and take cover in its respective direction
>That’s when you see it…
>Parallel to you and moving deeper into the orchard down a small dirt path was…
>An orange foal, riding… some kind of wooden board with wheels
>The contraption looked pretty odd to begin with… slapping a little pony on it made it even weirdier
>For a second, you hesitate to call it a pegasus seeing how its wings were so small
>No way could those petite things lift it off the ground
>Well, at least you GUESS they wouldn't
>Nothing was a given in this place

[close youtube forest ambience tab]
>The little foal seems to be the source of the buzzing, using her miniature wings to propel herself forward on the board thingy
>Your eyes follow her route from behind your tree until she stops about 60 yards from you at the base of  a tree… treehouse?!
>How the hell had you missed that?
>There was a fairly large shack suspended up in a tree, painted a dimed pink with a wooden guardrail and ramp leading up to it
>You quickly reposition yourself to hide from the treehouse’s view as well, quickly scanning the area again to see if you missed anything else so painfully obvious
>The little orange pegasus parks the contraption rather abruptly next to the ramp and then quickly trots up it
>???:”Applebloom! Is Sweetie Belle here yet?”
>In response, two little pony heads pop out of the treehouse’s window
>One had a light yellow coat with a large bowtie in her red mane while the other one was the unicorn filly from yesterday
>???:”Yeah! W’ut took you so long, Scootaloo? Sweetie Belle was just tellin’ me ‘bout the monster!”
>You quickly pair up the names
>Scootaloo:”Wait for me!”
>She scurries up quickly into the treehouse after her (apparent) friends
 >Again, curiosity over takes you
>They might know something regarding tonight’s meeting…
>Dropping the bag behind the tree and telling Gus to stay, you sneak down through the orchard to the treehouse
>You finally get to it and cling to the base of the tree, directly underneath the treehouse
>Applebloom:”Well, go on. Tell us ‘bout the dat monster!”
>Sweetie[quietly]:”I don’t know Apple Bloom, Rarity told me not to talk about it”
>Scootaloo[begging]:”Come one Sweetie Belle, tell us!”
>Sweetie:”Um, ok, well, it kind of looked like a hairless ape… but different
>Applebloom:”Wat cha’ mean?”

>Sweetie:”You see, it um, had some kind of clothing covering its whole body… It also wasn’t completely hairless, it had this little patch of scruff on its head”
>Scootaloo:”You mean like a mane?”
>Sweetie:”Uah no, no not really…”
>Sweetie[excitedly]:”It also talked to me!”
>Applebloom:”Wut it say?”
>Sweetie:”It told me-“
>Scootaloo[harsh]:”that it foalnapped Rainbow Dash?”
>You didn’t feel comfortable with the tone of that one…
>Was she Rainbow’s younger sister or something?
>Also, what was with the Rainbow ‘Dash’… A surname?
>Sweetie:”Well, not direc-“
>Scootaloo:“but that monster DID say it had Rainbow Dash!”
>Sweetie:”Well, um, ye-“
>Something shakes up above you
>Scootaloo:”AND YOU LET IT GET AWAY!?”
>Oh boy
>Applebloom:”Scootaloo! Calm down! None of us cou’d of stopped that thing…”
>Her voice fades out and drones into a moment of silence, till Scootaloo talks again but not shouting this time
>Scootaloo:”Sorry, it’s just that-… So what is Twilight and them going to do about it?”
>Sweetie:”I don’t know, Rarity took me home after I told them about the monster”
>Apple Bloom:”I he’rd that mah sister, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity are all getting prepared to go out and talk to it tonight”
>Wait, what!?
>You just wanted the unicorns!
>How were you going to deal with three more other ponies, who you knew nothing about?
>You had to go back and talk to Rainbow again ASAP
>Scootaloo:”Really?! We should go too and show that thing it shouldn’t of messed with the most awesome pegasus in Equestria!”
>Rainbow? The ‘most awesome’ pegasus?
>Yeah, right
>Apple Bloom:”U’ really think so, Scoot? Go in’tew the Everfree forest at night?”

>Sweetie:”Remember what happened last time? We should just leave this to them, they’ll get Rainbow back… Rarity promised”
>Scootaloo groans in defeat
>Scootaloo:”Fine… what are they going to do?”
>Applebloom:”Applejack said Twilight and th’m were gonna go talk to it first, ta see if it could b’ reasoned with…”
>Well, that’s better at least
>Applebloom[proudly]:”But if it doesn’t give Rainbow back, Applejack’s gonna buck t’at monster all the way into next apple bucking season!”
*gulp*
>These ponies mean business then…
>Suddenly, you hear the whine of a dog coming from inside the treehouse
>Scootaloo:”Uh, Applebloom? Why is Winona in the clubhouse?”
>You hear the little patter of tiny hooves upstairs
>Applebloom:”There, there Winona… Applejack is lettin’ me take care of her whil’ they’re all planning at Twilight’s house”
>Sweetie[concerned]:”What’s a matter with her?”
>Scootaloo:”Didn’t she get attacked by something in the Everfree forest yesterday?”
>So the pooch was Applejack’s? Applebloom seemed to be her younger sister as well
>Made sense, they were both 'normal' ponies
>You could now assume that this Rarity was the white unicorn and Sweetie Belle’s older sister
>Leaving Scootaloo to be Rainbow Dash’s younger sister… right?
>Scootaloo:”You think it was that thing that took Rainbow?”
>Apple Bloom:”Ah’ don’t know, We just fou’d her unconsh’us next to a tree. Granny said she’s just a bit shak’en an’ should be fine”
>You didn’t know how much longer these kids were going to be talking and you really didn’t want them to leave the treehouse and see you eavesdropping
>Time to go
>You scurry back to Gus, grabbing the bag of apples
“Come on”
>You both retreat back into the Everfree Forest

>The Sun was still high in the sky, but you knew you had wasted too much time back at the orchard
>It was going to begin its descent within the hour…
>You double time it back to the cave
>When you finally get there, you stop to catch your breath
>Ok you needed to feed Rainbow, ask about other ponies, go set up for the deal at the road and finally…
>Go Home
>You smile to yourself, ignoring your aching lungs as the reality that you were three steps away from leaving this place seeps in
>You rustle the fur on Gus’s head playfully
“We’re finally going home Gus”
>He looks up to you and you pat his head a few times before turning to the cave
>You push your way through the mixture of foliage and twigs, slipping past
>Before you can fully step inside, your peripherals catch something jump in the darkness
>As you make your way into the actual cavern, you turn to see Rainbow
>Rainbow:”OH-um-Hi there, um-ah-“
“…Anon”
>Rainbow:”Oh yeah, Hi there-e Anon, hehe”
>The pony is positioned up straight (as much as the rope allows her), staring at you bright eyed with a very phony but huge smile
>For a second, you’re at a loss of what to do… you just put it off as crazy pony behavior
>You drop the sack you had been slinging over your shoulder
“I brought some food”
>She keeps up the fake grin, without a word
>Ok, that’s creepy
>You begin moving toward her with an apple in hand when her pupils shrink
>Rainbow[distressed]:”STOP! Don’t come any-I mean, I’m not hunger”
>She subtle scoots closer to the wall, leaving you staring at her dumbstruck
>What the hell?
>You unstrap the canteen from your jacket
>Rainbow:”Or thirsty…”
>…
>You don’t break your suspicious stare with her as you take the bag of apples and plop them onto the sled

>Something’s up… but you don’t know what
“What?”
>Rainbow:”…”
>You raise an eye brow
"Why are you acting so weird?"
>Rainbow[nervous]:"I-I'm not acting weird"
>Hmm, maybe being kept in an isolated cave for so long was finally getting to her nerves
>You begin to re-secure the canteen to your person after taking a sip for yourself
"Ok, but at least drop that creepy smi-"
>As you let the canteen to hang off your jacket, the knot fastened to it (unexpectedly) becomes undone and it goes falling to the floor
>It hits with a distinct 'clunk' as the cap pops off, spilling its contents all over the cave's floor
"-shit"
>You bend over quickly to pick it up but all the water had escaped by then
>As you put the cap back on the canteen, you hear Rainbow speak up behind you
>Rainbow[clearly]:"I'm thirsty"
"What?"
>Rainbow:"I said I'm thirsty"
"And you just said three seconds ago that you weren't"
>Rainbow:"I-I... I didn't know I was so thirsty until I saw the water spill out"
>Bullshit.
"Well, you should have thought about that BEFORE it got split everywhere... Now I have a few questions about-"
>Rainbow:"I'm not answering anything until I get my drink, monkey"
"I don't think you have much of a choice, pony"
>You snap a finger and Gus is at your side
>She, as expected, recoils but still tries to stand firm
>Rainbow:"Oh, come on! I can't be that hard to get some more water"
"Its not, there's a clean stream pretty close by"
>Rainbow:"Then why don't you just go get some more? YOU split it"
"You had some water yesterday, you'll-"
>Rainbow:"Yeah, I only had SOME water in the last three days. Do you know what tongue feels like right now?!"
"No and I don't want to"

>Rainbow:"Its about as dry as Twilight's sense of humor. Come on man, just a sip..."
>That last bit has a surprisingly causal, almost informal tone to it
>For some reason, it causes you to reconsider...
"Fine, I'll be back in five minutes but then you WILL answer my questions, capish?
>Rainbow:"Yeah, yeah. whatever"
>You make an about face and head out of the cave, Gus naturally following behind you
>All the way to the creek, you played the scene over and over in your head
>Why was she acting so jumpy?
>Was she hiding something?
>This all seemed like some kind of ruse to get you out of the cave
>But what was the point? She was tied up and not going anywhere
>You kneel down by the water and begin filling the canteen when the pieces begin to coming together
>Rainbow didn't want you anywhere near her back in the cave, turning down both food and water
>And when you had gotten closer, she tried to scoot herself back from you
>But not like she was trying to get 'away' from you, but rather trying to bring her right side closer to the wall
>Like she didn't want you to see it or somethin-
>Then it hits you
>Last night, she had convinced you to leave her all night without a gag which would have restrained her speech
>and her teeth...
“She…”
>You let out a loud grunt of annoyance
“That damn pony!”
>You take off in a sprint as you retrace your path
>How could you have been so stupid?!
>She played you like a fiddle
>You had been doped by a god damn pony!
>You grind your teeth in angry as you run
“No, No, No, No!”
>You approach the cave to see the barrack of forest debris pushed out of place, a hole in one of the sides
>Your stomach churns as you move into the cave
>In the corner sat no pony, but instead a bundle of rope lay sprawled out across the floor

>What had once been a string of unified twine, now rested in two separate pieces, nibbled apart
>You run out of the cave to give chase… only to have a huge, broad forest of endless turns and twists appear ahead of you
>You had no way of knowing where she went, where she was
>You’re close to panicking
“Ok, Anon, think!”
>You begin pacing to avoid jumping out of your skin
>The shadows were beginning to shift around you,
>The Sun was falling
“Think dammit!”
>Ok, she wants to head back to Ponyville, right? Right.
>So she would have to go to the road and follow it back
>But you had stopped at the creek, which was directly parallel to the road
>Running back, you obviously hadn’t seen her, so where-
>You stop as your foot brushes against the remains of the firepit
>The black ash contrasted the brown dirt you were treading on
>But that’s not what caught your attention
>You crouch down to see the outline of a hoof in the dust
>You’re no tracker, but the drag line of the track shows she was pushing off in the dirt to the West
>Heading deeper into the woods…
>She knew you were heading to the road to catch her wild goose
>Rainbow was planning to head deeper in and then loop around you
>That had to be it… It had to be!
>Quickly you formulate a plan
“Gus!”
>He comes up to you at attention
>You get down on your knees and hold his face to look him in the eyes
“I need you to head back in the off chance she tries to loop to the South-West, ok?”
>He couldn’t understand you but it made you feel better
>You point off in the direction and give a fierce whistle
>He takes off
>You on the other hand, take off to the North-West, the shortest way back to the road and Ponyville
>Now, it was a race against time
>And the odds were not in your favor

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to1CA_BB3ho
>You’re running like hell now
>The Sun was descending fast
>Your calves were burning but you ignored them
>Tonight was the night,
>And you weren’t going to let her fuck this up
>Dry branches and twigs snap as you trample anything in your path
>All your senses have been heighten from what you can only call the ‘thrill of the chase’
>You scan the forest intensely, using both eyes and ears
>Not even a few minutes in and you see a blue blur to your left, disappearing behind some shrubbery
>You drop your hip and slide against the barren ground, changing directions on a dime
“I got you now”
>You mutter under your panting as you close the distance
>Side-stepping vines, leaping over logs and rocks, you finally line up behind her
>40 yards
>Her colored tail dangles in front of you, almost teasingly
>Something inside you awakens as you lengthen your strides and breathing increases
>30 yards
>She trying so hard to keep ahead, leading you through bushes and into hanging branches
>It’s not working
>20 yards
>Your teeth show through your exhausted smirk
“ITS OVER!”
>You can see her clearly now
>She’s out of breath, still struggling with her injured hoof
>10 yards
>You two are approaching another opening in the forest
>In front, there is small mound of rock and earth no taller than 30 feet
>Rainbow gets the idea to climb it to escape
>Too bad she’ll never get to execute it
>When you can almost feel her tail touch your legs, you leap
>Grabbing her torso, the two of you tumble into the middle of the clearing
>Finally skidding to a stop,
>You landing on top of her…
>She completely worn out, about 3 times worse than you

>Pushing her into the ground by her shoulders, you get up in her face
“You just couldn’t play nice?”
>Your faces are literally inches apart
>Her eyes burn of anger and bitter defeat as she tries to catch her breath
“Just had to try and screw me over, didn’t you? You four-legged cunt…”
>She at last stops huffing for air and opens her mouth…
>To spit in your face
>You pull back, startled, wiping the spit off
>You both stare at each other
>Her expression is that of an emotionless gawk while yours is a sort of confusion that melts into short tempered rage
>You pull back your right arm and form a knuckle crackling fist
>She doesn’t react
>Not even a flinch, almost daring you to do it
>Before you can send the fist home into her jaw line, a loud roar erupts from behind you
>You look over your shoulder to see…
>It.
>A cold shiver runs down your spine
>It’s a large animal, and seemed to be made from different body parts of other creatures, just like the chicken lizard from earlier
>It had the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion and the wings of a bat
>Rainbow:”…manticore”
>She speaks in a hushed whisper
>This thing…this manticore… was huge
>It was on head level with you on its four legs, but it would have at least a foot or two over you standing up
>And that’s just height
>Its bulk matched that of a grizzly bear back home
>It also had a pair of large menacing paws, which no doubt held retractable claws to boot
>But there something else about it that was… unnerving
>Everything in this place had a lush color; even the darkest of things had a sort of brightness to it
>But its tan coat and red mane look… tinted. A murky tone in contrast to everything else
>You could sense Rainbow felt it too…

>Slowly, you roll yourself off and move to the back of Rainbow, effectively putting her between you and it
>It was still a ways off but it was approaching now
“no. sudden. movements”
>She complies, slowing getting up but then trying to back up behind you
>You weren’t letting that happen so you move back sideways to block her path, using her as a potential shield
>That’s when the manitcore drops its head and begins to charge
>You turn and instinctively run towards the mound
>The sound of heavy paws and scurrying of hooves directly behind you let you know that Rainbow is following you
>Springing off with your feet, you hurdle onto the hill, clinging to earth and rock
>You climb as fast as you possibly can, not daring to look back
>The mound, while not a towering mountain, had steep slides which lucky made it difficult for the manticore to climb
>As you crawl your way to the top, you can practically feel Rainbows hooves digging into the dirt only inches from your heels
>The manticore is growling in frustration and you can hear the ‘swooshes’ of him clawing at the air, trying to latch onto one of you
>Trying to buy some time, you turn over your shoulder and pull out your Bowie, holding it by the blade
>As you had guessed, the blue pony was right behind struggling to keep up and the manticore was looming dangerously close
>You quickly twist completely around, landing flatly on your back as you pull your arm back
>The mare has enough brains to drop her head as you throw the knife at the monster
>Unfortunately, just as the knife is about to connect, a paw comes swinging up into its path
>All you see is the blade dimly twinkle as it flies off into the forest
“Damn”

>You quickly flip over and continue climbing again
>Why were you even trying to climb?
>You sure as hell couldn’t out run this thing, and it would eventually get up the mound and devour you
>There was nothing you could do to fend off the beast
>You were doomed to die here, in this god forsaken place
>It was already over.
>As the reality of your fate sinks in, you hear a quick gasp as well as the thrashing of rock becoming loose and falling down the mound
>Instantly, something latches onto your boot and, for a second, you think it’s all over… until you realize the lack of talons piercing your leg
>You look to see Rainbow had lost her grip and in an act of desperation had latched onto you
>She had no footing now and with an injured wing, she wasn’t going anywhere
>Only you were keeping her up from falling into the hands of the raging beast below
>For a second, time stands still
>You look at her and see a new pair of soft eyes looking for some show of mercy, pleading without words for you to pull her up
>But then you look past her and see the white, jagged teeth of the manticore as well as its heartless stare
>You close your eyes as you comprehend what has to be done
>The shriek of the impatient beast solidifies your resolution… your desire to survive
>You look back to Rainbow as your eyes grow cold and dark
>Using your free leg, you pull it up into your chest
>And then in a spring like action,
>Drive the sole of your foot into her face

>The feeble grip she had before breaks easily as she goes tumbling down the hill
>On the way down, her body bounces off a boulder, redirecting her path to rolling down the right side of the slope
>She finally comes to a stop on a flat ledge of protruding rock, about 7 yards above the ground
>As she struggles to get to her hooves, the pony looks up to you with a potent stare that gave you goosebumps
>Her voice is hoarse and weak from the devastating fall, but her last words still retain their venom
“Y-you *cough* YOU SON OF A-!”
>Rainbow is cut off as the cry of the manticore drowns her out, followed by a clawed paw crashing down upon her
>She quickly gets to standing on her hind limbs, pulling herself tight against the hill
>The manitcore’s claws drag against the rock underneath her hooves, missing by a few mere inches
>It lets out a roar of frustration as it continues to lash out at the prey that was just outside its reach
>Rainbow tries to press herself deeper into the mound, just before she yelps in pain when a lone talon manages to graze her leg
>Carefully you slide down the hill, trying not to make a sound
>Not that it would even matter, the beast had its fully attention on Rainbow
>You had thought back to an old saying in that final instance
>’You don’t have to out run the bear, you just have to out run the person you’re with’
>Rainbow… had been out run by you
>As you make your way into the forest again, you glance back at your dirty work
>The manticore was growing impatient and had started to try and climb again to reach the pony
>Rainbow was still clinging to the side for dear life, looking down at the manitcore as a stream of fresh blood dripped down her leg

>You didn’t have to look into her eyes to know what was going through her mind, what she was feeling…
>Not matter how well she had played the tough guy act back in the cave, you knew she was scared
>Petrified
>Not ready to die…
>You turn away
>You didn’t like doing this, even IF it was just sacrificing a pony
>But there was no other way…
>Another feminine howl of pain from behind causes you to wince
>She had been cut again, deep across her inner hind leg
>Briefly she falls, but manages to get up again despite the obvious agony
>This was torture…
>You clench both your eyes shut
>Now that you were out of harm’s way, the reality of your sin sinks in
>No.
>Not like this,
>You could never live with yourself for what you had done…
“No…”
>Abruptly, you take off in a full out sprint to the cave
>Her screams and cries echo in the back of your mind
>No one deserved that
>No ‘thing’ deserved that
>You burst through the cave’s entrance and, in the dark, stumble over to the sled
>Fingers search the webbing of the inner frame until they find and pull out an oddly shaped piece of cloth
>You wouldn’t allow it
>Rainbow may be a pony… but she had other ponies that cared about her
>People that loved her
>…You had acted so quickly to take her away from them
>And for what? Was your life really worth the sacrifice of an innocent?
>The same innocent you had so easily allowed to become your prisoner and why?
>Because she was a just pony?
>Because her kind was below you?
>Because she didn’t really have a soul?
>Without hesitation, you take off again back to the clearing without even stopping to catch your breath
>Each second feels like a minute too long
>A minute too late…
>Oh God, what have you done?!

>http://youtu.be/9Frcv5yt08c?t=2m10s
>You don’t bother to avoid bushes or thickets, you just run right through them
>A cry up ahead fuels your exhausted stamina
>At last, you stumble into the clearing
>Immediately, your eyes fall on the mound, to which you see no one
>You turn to your right just in time to see Rainbow’s limp body being thrown across the dry grass, leaving a faint crimson trail
>About 20 feet from her and approaching is the manitcore, now taking his time to enjoy the kill
>Rainbow’s body twitches before she rolls to her back, helpless, facing the beast
>Your grip on the cloth loosens as it falls to the ground, allowing a creation of twisted metal to shine in the moonlight
>The monster ever so slowly closes in on her, razor sharp teeth glistening into an evil grin
>Rainbow doesn’t try to crawl away, already knowing it was far too late for that
>Neither of them seem to notice the metallic click as your thumb presses the hammer into position
>She stares defiantly at the monster, but still trembling
>Rainbow:”I’m-m…I’m not scared of you-u”
>The creature snorts as he slowly raises his paw
>You raise your arm in perfect unison
>He opens his maw to give what can only be perceived as a chuckle
>You bring your free hand to rest under the wooden handle of the gun
>Talons shoot out from his digits as he prepares to bring them down into his victim
>Rainbow slowly closes her eyes, waiting
>Exhaling, you allow your hand to tighten its grip
>Your finger twitches against the cold steel
>http://vocaroo.com/i/s08XTwkpW3zE

>The surrounding forest canopy does well to contain and resound the shot, amplifying its thunderous clap to an almost deafening level
>White smoke erupts in powdered fume from the barrel as the outline of a lead ball rips through the air
>The sound of the blast seems to snuff out all others, your world silent and obscured by gunpowder residue
>Slowly, the white fog begins to fade away as you’re able to make out the outlines of two figures
>They both remained in the same exact position before the shot, as if you had stopped time
>Finally, your vision clears and you stare out into the soundless scene before you
>The manitcore is the first to move
>You watch his being twitch and spasm a little as if it had been shocked
>Slowly it moves its raised paw down to touch his chest
>Your jaw drops slightly, leaving you with the feeling of shock and awe
>You had aimed at the square of his back
>Only…only it wasn’t THERE anymore
>Now, in its place, was a gaping hole
>Hell, you could say it HAD no back
>You could see straight though the hole to the other side
>There wasn’t any blood either… no gore or messy splatter of organs
>It was as if someone gotten a giant cookie cutter and had just taken a chunk out of him
>Trembling and twitching, the digits of it paw reach down to hover over what was once his chest
>That… wasn’t possible
>This revolver didn’t have the power to do that much damage
>Or else it would have sent you flying ten feet back and with no hands
>The beast isn’t even able to look around to face his killer before he falls backwards, more dead than anything could ever be
>And then you catch a glimpse of Rainbow

>She still lay there, frozen
>Either by immense terrify or confusion, you couldn’t tell
>Her eyes were like bright saucers beaming at you
>You slowly lower the gun, barrel still spitting out smoke
>She begins to open her mouth but stops half way
>You try to think of something to break the silence but you can’t
>Instead you are both stuck there, staring, motionless
>Both of you are doing your best to retain composure, but she is obviously shaken by it
>It only takes a minute for Gus to run back and regroup with you after hearing the gunshot
>Before the mutt can even take notice of the manticore’s body and Rainbow a few yards away, the clopping of hooves as well as familiar shouting draws all of yours’ attention
>Applejack:”RE’INBOW! We’re coming!”
>Rarity:”If that foul creature even laid a finger on her, A FINGER!”
>Twilight:”Rainbow Dash!”
>???:”Dashie?!”
“This night just couldn’t get any better”
>You mutter under your breath but you’re sure Rainbow hears it
>They were coming right for both of you
>The gig was up… though the game had already been over the second Rainbow got loose
>You turn to face blue pony again
>At first, you think about saying something along the lines of “You owe me”, in order to get her to keep those ponies from trying to tear you apart
>But you knew that wasn’t right
>You and you alone were responsible for all of this
>It was just time to face the facts
>Instead, you give her a quick stern glance
>She returns it, without uttering a single word
>Then you whistle to Gus to let him know that you were leaving
>You two take off in flight into the woods before the others make it to the clearing