Chapter 7: If I Only Had the Nerve

The three ponies and Winona walked through the forest as it had gotten dark and claustrophobic with trees on all sides and no way to tell if the trees were alive or not like those apple trees they'd run into just before meeting Tin Mare.
"I don't like this forest." Applebloom told her friends. "It's dark and creepy."
"Course I don't know, but I think it'll get darker before it gets lighter." Scarecrow said with a gulp.
"Do you..." Applebloom began nervously. "Do you suppose we'll run into any wild animals?"
"Mm..." Rarity said relatively relaxed, safe thanks to his metal body. "We might."
"Animals that..." Scarecrow began, really panicking now. "That eat straw?!"
"Some, but mostly lions and tigers and bears." Tin Mare answered.
"Lions?!" Applebloom asked.
"And tigers?" Scarecrow added.
"And bears." Tin Mare finished.
"Lions and tigers and bears." Applebloom began. "Oh my."
"Lions and tigers and bears." The group repeated. "Oh my."
"Lions and tigers and bears!" They said as they began trotting forward. "Oh my!"
"Lions and tigers and bears!" They said as they broke into a slight run. "Oh my!"
"Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!" They were about to run fully when they happened upon what looked like a winged lion that roared at them, knocking the three off their feet. The lion had a rainbow colored mane and blue fur. She looked around them, all trembling nervously.
"Put 'em up." The lion said. "Put 'em up! Which one of you first? I'll fight both of you together, if you want. I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back! I'll fight you with my eyes closed!"
The lion then noticed the ax Tin Mare was still holding.
"Oh, pull an ax on me, eh?" The lion said before turning to Scarecrow. "Sneaking up on me, eh?"
"Hear, hear." Tin Mare said. "Go away and leave us alone."
"Oh scared, huh?" The lion asked. "Afraid, huh? How long do you stay fresh in that can of yours?"
She then chuckled.
"Come on. Get up and fight you shivering junkyard!" The lion said before turning to Scarecrow. "Put your hands up you lopsided bag of hay!"
"Now that's gettin' personal, lion!" Scarecrow said, trying to sound brave but failing badly.
"Yes, get up and teach him a lesson." Tin Mare insisted.
"What's wrong with you teaching him?!" Scarecrow argued.
"Well I hardly know him." Tin Mare said as Winona began barking at the lion.
"I'll get you anyway, Pee-Wee." The lion said as she went to Winona as she rushed off when Applebloom ran up and slapped the lion as she began whimpering.
"Shame on you!" Applebloom barked.
"What did you do that for?" The lion said as she began to weep. "I didn't bite her!"
"No, but you tried to!" Applebloom argued. "Why it's bad enough picking on a straw mare, but when you go along picking on poor little dogs!"
"Well you didn't have to go and hit me, did you?!" The lion sobbed. "Is my nose bleeding?!"
"Well a'course not." Applebloom said confused. "My goodness, what a fuss you're makin'. Well naturally when you go around pickin' on things weaker than you are... Why you're nothin' but a big coward."
"You're right, I am a coward." The lion replied. "I haven't any courage at all. Look at the circles under my eyes! I haven't slept in weeks!"
"Well why didn't you try counting sheep?" Tin Mare asked.
"That doesn't do any good!" The lion insisted. "I'm afraid of them!"
"Oh, that's too bad." Scarecrow replied. "Don't you think the Wizard could help him too?"
"I don't see why not." Applebloom answered before turning to the green man. "Why don't ya come with us? We're on our way ta see the Wizard now to get her a heart."
"And her, a brain." Tin Mare added, pointing to Scarecrow.
"I'm sure he could give you some courage." Applebloom finished.
"But, wouldn't you be embarrassed to be seen in the company of a cowardly lion?" The lion asked. "I would."
"Oh of course not." Applebloom said.
"Gee that's awfully nice of you to invite me along." Lion said. "My life has been simply unbearable."
"Oh." Applebloom said comfortingly. "Well, it's alright now. The Wizard will fix everything."
"It's been in me so long, I just gotta tell you how I feel." Lion said.
"Well then come on!" Applebloom said cheerfully as Lion began to explain as they walked.
It's as sad a thing to see
When you're born to be a sissy
Without the fim and firb.
But I could show my prowess,
Be a lion not a mouse
If I only had the nerve.
I'm afraid there's no denying
I'm just a dandelion.
A fate I don't deserve.
I'd be brave as a blizzard.
"I'd be gentle as a lizard." Tin Mare added.
"I'd be clever as a gizzard." Scarecrow finished.
"If the Wizard is a wizard who will serve." Applebloom pointed out.
"Then I'm sure to get a brain." Scarecrow stated.
"A heart." Tin Mare added.
"A home." Applebloom added as well.
"The nerve." Lion finished before the group headed off.
We're off to see the Wizard,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
You'll find she is the Wiz,
The Wiz if ever the Wiz there was!
If ever the Wonderful Wiz there was,
There is because, because, because, because...
Because of the wonderful things she does!
We're off to see the Wizard,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
And the group headed off, with the forest feeling a lot less threatening then when Applebloom and her friends went into it.

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And now the gang is complete!