Ch. 3

>A chorus of crickets and frogsong.
>Twinkling fireflies.
>A twig snaps underfoot.
>Anon marches through the temperate jungle, keeping a steady pace.
>He looks back for a moment, but does not stop or slow down.
>He must have been walking for hours at this point.
>Moonlight filters through the canopy, showing his path as he follows the river south.
>His weariness is starting to catch up to him, but he does his best to hide it.
>Even from himself.
>Whether it’s legitimate caution, sheer cowardice, or hurt pride that drives him forward, he does not know.
>What he does know is that he can’t stop moving until he’s out of this forest.
>Another twig snaps.
>Anon slows down a bit.
>Something is close.
>Very close.
>He’d gotten the feeling he was being followed about an hour ago, but blew it off as paranoia.
>Anon resumes his previous pace.
>Whatever it is, it’s been getting closer and closer for the last five minutes.
>At this rate it’ll overtake him any moment now.
>Anon steels himself for this inevitability, grasping his knife.
>He walks a little faster, and a chill runs down his spine.
>Behind him he hears a low growl, and something whizzes past his face.
>Anon ducks behind a large tree, and three thuds resound next to his face.
>Cautiously, he peeks around.
>Lodged in the bark are three chitinous spikes, each longer than one of Anon’s fingers.
A: “Shit.”
>He returns his knife to its place, and instead readies his bow.
>Knocking an arrow, he prepares to draw.
“ROAR”
>A blur of brown and red crashes into the tree Anon is hiding behind.
>A massive paw swipes at him around the tree, and he falls backwards, narrowly avoiding the beast’s black claws tearing into the bark.
>Regaining his footing, Anon takes a few steps back and points his bow at the creature as it lurches around to face him.
>A disturbingly human-like lion face looks back at him.
>The bow twangs and an arrow flies.
>It shoots beside the beast’s shaggy red mane, and pierces the shoulder.
>Blood spurts from the wound and soaks into the beast’s brown fur.
>It doesn’t even flinch.
>Then it lets go of the tree and drops to all fours, the claws of its lionlike paws digging into the dirt.
>Batlike wings outstretch, and a massive chitinous tail tipped with a ball of spikes rears forward over the beast’s back.
>Anon’s eyes widen, and he darts to the nearest tree.
>He barely makes it before a volley of spikes come flying, some whizzing past and others striking the tree.
A: “Fuck.”
>He raises his bow, then leans out from behind the tree and shoots another arrow.
>The beast, with unexpected agility, sidesteps the arrow.
“ROAR”
>It charges forward, and lunges at Anon.
>He quickly moves around the tree, but the beast turns around to face him just as fast.
>It swipes a paw at him, ripping his shirt and leaving four trails of blood across his chest.
>Anon winces at the pain, but keeps his momentum and begins to run.
>As fast as he can he tries to flee.
>He can hear spikes whizzing past him.
>Just as he is about to reach another tree, two slam into his left arm.
>Anon drops his bow.
A: “AH FUCK”
>The pain is intense as searing venom courses into his veins.
>He stumbles, but doesn’t stop running.
“ROAR”
>The beast is almost upon him already.
>It lunges, and anon ducks sideways, falling into a haphazard roll.
>He jumps to his feet, and runs forward…
>...straight into a tree.
>It hurts and disorients him, but not enough to deter his survival instinct.
>Anon turns to face the beast, and draws his knife.
>The beast growls, and a volley of spikes hurtles towards him.
>He falls flat on the ground, barely avoiding them, and each one thuds into the tree behind him.
>As soon as he starts to get up, the beast is jumping towards him.
>Anon only has time to roll over onto his back before it’s landed atop him, but it overshoots its mark.
>Rather than his neck, the beast’s fangs sink into his leg.
A: “AHHHH!”
>Anon lashes out with his knife, and instantly blood sprays him in the face.
>The beast above him howls, and the taste of blood drives all thought from Anon’s mind.
>He stabs and stabs and stabs, and the beast leaps from him, furiously flapping its wings.
>Covered in blood, Anon jumps to his feet.
>Adrenaline courses through his veins.
>His pain is a wail drowned out by the screaming primality that has overtaken him.
>He yells and rushes the beast.
>It knocks him aside with a swipe of its paw, and he hits the ground hard.
>Four lines of red streak across Anon’s right arm, but he does not drop his knife.
>He starts to get up again, a guttural groan, full of malice, reverberating through his battered body.
>Looking up at the beast, his eyes widen in surprise.
>It’s limping backwards.
>Away from him.
>Anon manages to stand up.
A: “COME ON!”
>His yell is hoarse and ragged, but loud as he can muster.
>The beast, leaning to one side, grasping its blood and entrails with a forepaw, stares him dead in the eye.
>Its expression is cold.
>Unkowable.
>Anon feels a chill run down his spine.
“ROOOAAARRRRRRR!”
>Anon shuts his eyes for a second as beast shakes the trees around him with its terrible voice.
>But he does not back down.
>He can’t.
>At this point he’s too fucked up to run away.
>He stares at the beast.
>It stares back.
>With a fierce determination that he didn’t even know he had, Anon takes a step forward, barely managing to stay standing on his injured leg.
>Instantly, the beast’s resolve is broken.
>In a flurry of blood and fur and leaves, the beast is gone, hurtling loudly through the trees.
>Anon stands, half in schock and half in joy.
>A soft chuckle escapes his lips.
>His wounded leg wavers, and he falls to his knees.
>A pulse of intense pain washes through his body from his left arm.
>He looks at his arm, and winces.
A: “Fuck.”
>He grits his teeth, and grasps hold of one of the spikes.
>He pulls.
>Immediately he gasps and lets go.
>The pain is too much.
>For a few moments he just sits there, panting.
>Eventually he collects himself, and takes off his tattered shirt.
>He wads up a corner and bites down on it, then firmly takes hold of one of the spikes.
>He yanks as hard as he can, and it pops loose.
>The feeling of relief is indescribable.
>Blood oozes from the wound.
>He grits down on the cloth again, and grasps the other spike.
>He pulls, and this one comes out easier than the first.
>Anon pants, then begins to stand.
>His leg wavers.
>Anon falls back onto his ass.
>He laughs.
A: “That ugly bastard…”
>Anon looks off into the forest, in the direction the beast ran off.
>His expression fades.
>A dire realization sets in.
>He’s alive, but that isn’t going to last. Not like this.
>Any other monsters stumble upon him in his current state and he’s dead.
>Looking down at himself, Anon takes count of his wounds.
>It’s hard to tell which blood is his and which is the beast’s, but he knows where he’s hurting.
>Looking closely, he can see that he’s not bleeding too badly, all things considered.
>And he doesn’t feel nearly as bad now that he’s pried those spikes out.
>He sighs.
>At least he’s alive.
>Even if it is temporary.
>Looking up at the sky, he wonders what he should do.
>The sun is peeking over the horizon, and its soft golden rays reach out over the treetops.
A: “Okay…”
>Anon stands up slowly, and tests his injured leg.
>It hurts.
A: “Fuck.”
>He looks around.
>Unfortunately that monster went running off in the direction that Anon was trying to go.
>And he can’t go back the other way.
>He looks towards the east.
>Towards the river.
>With a nod, he hobbles forward.

~

>Chrysalis stares wide-eyed at this horrible, amazing monster that is clutching its injured arm and stumbling through the underbrush.
>She never expected him to actually drive off the manticore on his own.
>Her plan was to step in at the last second and save him.
>Then he’d fall in love with her and be hers forever.
>But he cut it open!
>She was so surprised that she forgot her plans and couldn’t do anything but watch.
>His body looked so small and frail compared to the chimeric beast, she couldn’t possibly have predicted he’d hurt it like that.
>Oh, but he did.
>Her body quivers as she remembers the look on his face when he was staring down the manticore.
>So serious.
>Covered in blood.
>Sending the manticore after him was a wonderful idea, if only to have seen that face.
>She’s practically vibrating with expectation as she stalks him through the trees.
>Her green eyes, full of desire, follow his every movement.
>She watches him step out from the forest, heading towards the riverbank.
>Curious, she gets a little closer.
>He takes a few more steps, then stops.
>He looks around.
>Did he hear her?
>Does he know she’s watching him?
>Chrysalis hides as best she can among the leaves.
>Something speaks.
>Its voice is little more than a whisper.
>He seems to hear it, too.
>He takes off his backpack.
>She stares in anticipation.
>He sits down.
>She breathes a silent sigh of relief.
>After rummaging hastily through his torn and dirty sack, he pulls out a book.
>The royal insignia of Princess Twilight Sparkle is emblazoned on its cover, a purple crystal embedded in the center.
>A faint purple light spills from the gem, and the voice echoes louder and more clearly now.
>It’s Twilight Sparkle’s voice.
>Anon holds the book, looking at it quizzically.
>Chrysalis still can’t make out what the book is saying, but she catches the words “danger” and “home”.
>What’s happening?
>Chrysalis almost can’t take it.
>He’s right there.
>Right in front of her.
>He’s in no position to fight back.
>Right?
>So why does she hesitate?
>Why does she merely hide and watch?
>She shakes her head, and curses at herself for her weakness.
>Then her gaze fixates on Anon once again.
>Her unblinking eyes blaze with intent.
>A wicked grin creeps across her face.
>She takes a step forward.
>Anon laughs, and then clutches his chest.
A: “Oof… Ow. Thanks Twilight. It’s good to hear your voice.”
>Chrysalis winces.
>A twinge of disgust and a pang of jealousy resound through her mind.
>She stands tall, and huffs.
>Anon starts to look back, but before he can turn his head a bright purple light shines out and turns to white.
>Blinded, Chrysalis squints her eyes and raises a hoof to block her face.
>Then the light disappears.
>Along with Anon.
C: “What?”
>The changeling looks around, confused for a moment, then walks over to where Anon was just sitting.
>She freezes.
>Rage builds up inside her.
>Twilight Sparkle.
>She did this.
>She teleported Anon away.
>Why didn’t Chrysalis move sooner?
>Why didn’t she stop it from happening?
>She screams in frustration.
>A pillar of green flame bursts forth around her, and from the flames a great black dragon steps forth.
C: “No.”
>The dragon’s wings unfurl, and it launches upwards into the air.
C: “I will not be denied.”
>The scales of Chrysalis’s dragonic form tremble and quiver.
>Green flames spill from her maw.
>She stares into the distance.
>Ponyville.
>Her anger grows as memories flood into her mind.
>It had been a long time since she’d been freed from the statue alongside her former allies.
>That was the last time she’d been in Ponyville.
>She shudders as she remembers the feeling of her body turning to stone.
>No.
>She won’t let that happen again.
>She has to be smart about this.
>A wave of green shimmers across her body, and her form shifts again.
>From a dragon she transforms into a blue pegasus.
>She smiles to herself, then dashes off at incredible speed, little more than a blur in the sky.

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