I slowly cracked my good eye open with a groggy groan. “Th-th-the... there's something outside...” whimpered a voice that I could only distinguish as being Sweetie Belle's. I leaned my body up, stirring Scootaloo's body whom was nestled up against me.

“Huh... what I-” my voice was cut off by a shriek down the hall. The shriek was enough to not only make Scootaloo jump out of her dreams, but make me jump out of bed and rush down the hallway, past the two youngsters at my doorway.

Plowing into Mac's room, where the scream had come from, I first spotted a figure hidden under a blanket, no doubt Derpy seeing as how she was no longer on the bed. The second realization however made me shiver. There was a face, one hidden in the darkness, peering through the window with slanted yellow eyes that glowed... like something straight out of a horror book.

My initial shock of fear passed in less than a heartbeat and I charged forwards, the creature moving away. I yanked open the window and looked to the roof where it had been perched. “HEY! HEY GET BACK HERE!” I yelled down to the creature as it landed on the ground.

I rushed back out and into the hallway, leaping over the stairway railing and slamming down into the floor, losing my footing and crashing onto my side. Just as I rose to my full height, I spotted Lassie. “Come with me, NOW!” I ordered, the two of us rushing out the back door.

“OVER THERE!” Lassie barked, pointing to the bipedal, and rather lanky, creature that still had its features hidden by the darkness.

“Chase him around front, I'll go the other way and cut him off!” I yelled, quickly rushing around the other way. I could hear Lassie barking and snarling savagely as she rushed wildly after the intruder.

In seconds I had rushed around to the front of the house, Lassie beating me by just a moment's time but we both ended up meeting face to face without even so much as a good glimpse of our... whatever I should call it.

“Wha... b-b-but... I was-” Lassie began to sputter but was cut off as we heard hoofsteps, or perhaps footsteps, on top of the roof, knocking loose a few shingles. We both looked up to see the shadowy figure rushing for the top edge of the building. We ran after him but were completely mind blown as he managed to leap an almost impossible distance, landing in some tall grass far out in the field.

I grunted as he slithered off, but by goddess and thunder I wasn't gonna let this guy get away without answers. I rushed back to Cadance, Lassie at my side, quickly grabbing two random firearms. Taking Violet for myself, I tossed Lassie the lever action rifle that her, Derpy and myself had painted over.

“Protect the kids!” I yelled, grabbing a handful of shells and blindly rushing off into the tall grass and after the beast. My senses kicked into high gear. The... “Ugh!” I gagged. The stench that creature let off was aweful. I thumbed the few shells I had into the Boito 590 clone and racked the slide.

“COME ON YOU BITCH! COME OUT!” I yelled, starting to breath heavier as panic began to set in. I had only grabbed a mere four shells... what if that wasn't enough?

Another shiver went down my back as I heard a hiss nearby, almost a gurgle in a way. I spun, only now realizing this grass was up to my chest. For all I knew it could be slithering along through the grass, about to suck me under.

My grip tightened on my shotgun, almost to the point I thought I may break the pistol grip. My breath was shaky and stuttery. However, in my panic my senses kicked into an even higher gear and I almost seemed to pick out his spot in the tall grass, as if he were outlined by his own stench.

I began to wildly charge forwards and he... or she, seemed to know I was coming with deadly intent. The creature stood taller than me, a good two feet taller, as it ran through the grass and into the tall stalks of corn.

I chased after him without so much as a second thought. I was gonna get this bastard. He was gonna be six feet under. I thrashed my way into the corn, barely able to see in the darkness of the night.

I didn't follow my senses, I didn't even acknowledge even my vision. I suppose I was half on the thought I was just gonna bump into him in an open area on the opposite side of the corn field and plug him.

Charging out, I skidded to a stop in a pathway that traveled between the cornfield. My world began to spin as I starting doing 360 motions, looking around in anger, fright, confusion, hatred... everything was starting to overwhelm me so suddenly that I nearly passed out.

Stopping, I wobbled a bit and held a sturdy grip on my shotgun. I looked down the long path between the cornfield. Another shiver going down my back. It was though I could see a mirror in front of me... Like I was looking at myself in reverse... behind me...

My brows furrowed and I let out a roar as I spun on my heels. My trigger discipline was sloppy however and it really showed when the shotgun went off prematurely, blowing up dirt and rubble a few yards in front of the creature, which screeched and rushed off into the corn stalks once again. In my haste and panic, I racked the shotgun and fired again, then a third time, each shell of magnum buckshot shredding down more than a dozen stalks of corn.

However just as I went to trigger the gun a forth time, my hand twitched subconsciously, as though a natural instinct. I quickly got my bearings and realized that would not only be my last shot, but would more than likely hit nothing but corn.

I was shaking, nearly hyperventilating. I heard rustling and pivoted just a little too late as a lumbering mass bouldered into me, knocking us both to the ground. “GAH! I'M GONNA...” I trailed off as the other groaned. “D-Derreck?!” I gasped and he quickly rose to his feet, yanking me up with him.

“Better give that to me. It ain't no Minigun there Mac Eliot,” he mentioned, the pun calming me slightly and his presence here putting me at ease. With him around, regardless of ammo count... I felt the safest I could given the situation.

He took the gun and shouldered it, his trigger finger resting outside the trigger guard in a professional show of trigger discipline. “Follow me, and stay close,” he whispered, slowly stalking through the cornfield with me close behind.

After only minutes he stopped. “What the...” he brushed aside some corn and we looked out to a small expanse of openness in the cornfield. “Fuck...” he swore under his breath. Smack dab in front of us lay a perfect circular depression of the corn.

“Wha... crop circles?” I asked, my voice stuttering slightly.

“Can't be... those were debunked as just a bunch of loony farmers dicking around to get famous...” Derreck stepped forwards then froze. He turned back to me. “The kids! COME ON!” He yelled, tossing the shotgun to me.

I charged after him, not exactly sure what had him so startled all of a sudden. Lassie had a gun. And we hadn't heard a thing... Oh shit. After all those gunshots they should have at least called out to see if I was okay.

“FUCK!” I roared out, fearing for the immediate safety of the others. I charged as fast as my legs could take me and quickly burst out from the cornfield, through the tall grass and towards the farmhouse. “LASSIE! DERPY! KIDS!” I cried out, charging through the front doors.

Lassie was standing there, Daisy drawn and leveled at me. “SHIT!” I gasped as I dropped to the floor, Lassie gasping in shock from my sudden entrance. I looked up to see all their frightened faces.

I dropped the shotgun and rushed over, pulling the three fillies and Spike into a hug. “Oh goddess... oh please tell me you're okay,” I panted. I could feel them shivering in fright. I held them tighter, brushing each one of their manes and planting a kiss on their foreheads.

I looked to Lassie. “Drag down some blankets and pillows... we're all sleeping in the living room until morning. Then I'll sort this all out in the daylight,” I told her. She nodded and quickly rushed upstairs.

It was then I noticed I had left Derreck behind, without a gun. I rushed out the door and yelled out for my comrade, my voice echoing but I got no answer. A shiver went down my back... he couldn't... no... no he'd be fine... he'd have to be...

“I should...” I trailed off, looking to the others. Would it do me any good to even go looking for him in the darkness. I hadn't heard him roar in distress, or yell out for me to stop... hell, he had given me the shotgun.

I looked to the others and gave them a calming hand gesture. “I'm just going to my truck...” I trialed off and crept out to grab a few more shells to top up the gun, then rushed back to the safety of the home.

Lassie had dragged down a large quantity of blankets, pillows and cushions. I locked the front door and proceeded to the living room where everyone was hunkering down. “What now?” Lassie asked as I moved to the front window.

“You all try to get some sleep. I'll keep watch,” I replied in a very monotone voice. I kept the shotgun held in one hand, barrel pointed upwards to the roof as I stood rigid like a solid statue. In a brief moment, I felt as though the moon's gleam reflected off my bad eye, despite it being covered, and gave it a glimmering shine.

I shook it off as nothing and put on a deathly serious face. Whomever had played this sick... prank, or whatever it was, had really messed with the wrong family...

Third person...

Derpy jerked awake from her dream, vivid memories of the recent occurrence still fresh in her mind. Her heart kept pounding at a rapid pace as she shivered fearfully, looking around to the dark surrounding of the living room.

She, along with the others had passed out soon after Burdy took watch. She looked to the one source of illumination in the room, the window. Moonlight shone through the large window and basked its gleaming beams across the room, creating some rather spooky shadows. However, even with the events that had recently occurred along with the shadows, there was one thing that set her at ease. By the window stood a lone figure, still as could be. Their guardian of sorts. Never in her life had she felt so afraid yet so safe.

Next to her Scootaloo stirred in her sleep, obviously suffering a nightmare. The older grey pegasus nestled up with the filly whom quickly settled and began to doze peacefully. Derpy smiled faintly and rested her head back on her front hooves before dozing off...

Burdy's perspective...

I wasn't tired... I couldn't be. But... I felt as though I was dreaming. One moment I was looking out to the empty darkness of the Apple Family Farm, then I'd blink and everything would be in flames. One moment, fine and beautiful. The next, everything was turned to ash, the building ready to collapse.

I shook my head and took another look. I let out a sigh. Just as I thought. Nothing was wrong, aside from our midnight creeper. I let out another sigh as I closed my eyes for just a moment.

I felt wet, muddy... cold...

My body was laying flat. Without much warning my body was pulled up and out of the cold, wet ground. Long muzzle flashed erupted in the distance, along with several that were closer towards us. Gunshots cracked in the air like thunder in the night, each muzzle flash like a strike of lightning.

Snow covered the freezing ground but beneath it was still mucky, due to the tens of thousands of men that stormed across it. A younger looking man dressed with a black shirt and white pants yanked me along, muzzle loader in hand. We past men firing muzzle loaders into the oncoming mass of soldiers dressed in blue.

Many of the soldiers in blue looked frozen to the bone, malnourished and rather low on esteem. The man whom had pulled me along let out a ferocious roar, one I could not hear but simply felt.

The man I followed charged forwards valiantly, lead balls zooming past us as we charged the French soldiers of Napoleon's Grand Armée. 'How do I know who these guys are?' I asked myself as my body seemed to simply follow the man in front of me.

A French officer riding a horse fired his rifle, the lead ball slamming the man in front of me square in the chest. He winced, clenching his eyes shut as he still charged forwards, snarling like a wild beast.

He man in black clad leapt forwards, the bayonet of his rifle leading the way as he soared across a seemingly impossible gap with a single leap, tackling the French officer off his horse and impaling him with the bayonet. With the officer pinned beneath him, the Russian man fired his rifle, the gun killing the other almost instantly.

My friend yanked the rifle from the deceased corpse, now using it as a club and battering nearby enemy soldiers. Charging forwards with his club, myself following close behind, he suddenly hesitated for just a moment as a cannon went off, the ball striking him square in the chest and hurling him back, slamming his body into mine.

We were slammed into the crumbling wall of a building I had no idea was there. Our rifles, one now seeming to form in my hands, changed drastically, now bolt action repeating rifles. Men, our comrades, now charged forwards through the mucky streets of a nearly desecrated village.

There was a rapid flashing down the street coming from a dug in position. My close comrade and I charged out into the street, bullets whizzing by our bodies, volleys spitting out of the gun at a speed I would've never thought possible.

Bullets shredded through my friend, quickly tattering his uniform but ever still he charged forwards valiantly. The men in the dug out hole screamed as their water cooled machinegun fired.

My bullet riddled comrade leapt into the pit with the two enemies, impaling one with his bayonet rifle and backhanding the second with enough force that it broke the man's neck. I leapt into the trench just as my comrade was heaving the machinegun in the opposite direction, towards our enemies. The gun had a large cylindrical component around the barrel, giving it some obvious weight. Taking aim from the hip my friend let loose with his new firearm, chopping down our aggressors.

I looked in a state of near horror as the man's body shuttered from the recoil of the gun, empty shell casing littering the ground around his feet. His brows furrowed, his face slowly gaining more definition than before.

The atmosphere slowly changed and I looked back out to the battlefield where my friend and now fellow revolutionary fired his machinegun at our former brothers in arms that scattered the city streets.

Men, once our most trusted allies, now enemies, fell into pools of their own blood. It almost made me sick to my stomach. The machinegun in my friend's burly hands ceased to fire. He merely dropped the gun and began to charge forwards, roaring wildly. I followed behind, my own brows furrowing as I snarled.

Gunshots tore through both myself and my friend but didn't seem to deter us in the slightest. Charging right into the thick of it, we beat down two men and retrieved their rifles, using them against our enemies. Bullets shredded our clothing, along with our bodies but it didn't seem to bother us as we seemed to... almost regenerate, new skin healing over wounds in a matter of seconds, possibly less.

Wounds that would be considered fatal, mere bug bites to us. We charged on, slaughtering down enemy troops as we came across them. Impaling one certain soldier, my friend stopped as we both looked to the rifle the man had dropped. It wasn't Russian issue... it was British.

We heard a most unfamiliar noise and we both looked in awe as a tracked beast came to a halt just a few dozen yards away and directed it's main armament on us. The cannon shot blasted us to the side, hurling our bodies through a decrepit building wall.

I barely managed to lift my head, blood dripping down my face. My body was yanked to my feet by a now defined man. His facial features were no longer young. They were hardened, by ages of war and killing. Heavy scars littered his face. His eyes were polluted with death and hatred as he jammed a long rifle into my hands, one fitted with a scope.

We crawled over to a window and peered below to where a monstrous looking tank rained death down on our fellow Soviet comrades who charged uselessly towards the enemy line behind it. With an angry twitch of my face I shouldered the rifle. Looking through the scope I placed the aim piece on a German whom operated the turret mounted machinegun atop the tank.

With a fluid squeeze of the trigger my rifle boomed, the man's body getting jerked back before his body lifelessly slumped forwards. Without so much as a word my big friend leapt from the window, crashing down many floors below yet landing gracefully in a crouched stance.

His eyes looked upon the ruthless enemy soldiers that had devastated our country. With a vicous snarl he pulled a grenade from his dark trench coat, one that had several M24 grenade heads wired together to one single stick grenade. He surged forwards at increasing speeds, enemy soldiers taking aim on him. With his free hand he drew his Russian handgun, firing off wild shots at the enemy as he closed in on the Tiger tank.

Leaping the final distance, he yanked open the tank's hatch, several gunshots tearing into him yet barely fazing him. Yanking on the detonation pull cord, my friend dropped the bundle grenade down the hatch and slammed it shut, putting his foot over the hatch.

I could see from the constant motion in his legs that men were trying to escape the tank's interior but a sudden jolt in my friend's entire body told me the grenade had went off, undoubtedly killing all the occupants.

However even so he was still being targeted by entrenched enemies behind the tank. My friend leapt up onto the hatch, taking hold of the MG34 and turning it against its former owners. The gun chattered in his hands, each rapid gunshot now slowed in my mind. Every shot, every muzzle flash illuminating his facial features, scared by centuries of war and death.

His eyes, full of fueled hatred and pure rage, seemed to gleam with every shot from the German machinegun. A most sinister smile began to creep across his face as he chewed down dozens upon dozens of men in mere seconds.

The machinegun slowly changed to that of Russian origin, as did the tank that lay burning beneath him. Dozens of robed rebel soldiers ambushed our position. Derreck seemed to relish in the moment, the big gun shaking his entire body as it went off.

The heavy DShK machinegun nearly tore men in half as it chewed apart the ambushing force, forcing them into a retreat.

Derreck hopped down from the tank, lighting up a thick cigar and taking a puff. He took notice of an officer shooting out the knees of a man trying to escape with a child. A T55 battle tank rolled forwards towards the crippled man and his child at the order of the officer, the driver peeking up through the hatch to get a look at the ensuing carnage.

Derreck and I rushed forwards, Derreck yanking on the officer's shoulder but the officer just shoved him away, yelling something I couldn't make out. The tank continued to roll forwards and without so much as even slight hesitation Derreck drew his aging WWII handgun and shot the officer straight through the side of the head, then directed a shot through the skull of the tank driver.

Men rushed over, weapons drawn and ready, aimed in his direction. I rushed into the scene, giving a harsh backhand to a soldier that sent him off his feet as I put my back to Derreck's. My bulky comrade let out a deafening roar that made the nearby soldiers deter in fear.

I dropped my rifle, cocking back my right hand as I joined in on the roar. I felt a nearly unbearable pain shoot through my arm as my wrist bones felt as though they were dislocating. Something sharp, something pointy... began emerging through the skin between my knuckles...

I jerked, heart thumping. I looked around in shock, fearing the worst. In moments I realized, it was just another horrid nightmare. Yet even so, I must have slept standing upright because I was still in my posture I had been in when I was standing guard.

I let out a sigh as I dipped my head. Looking back out to the empty expanse of the night, I slowly removed my eye patch. Everything was a blur, as usual. I found myself looking to the moon and for a short instant something flashed through my vision. I couldn't tell what it was, but it startled me.

I quickly put my patch back on and resumed my duty. I looked to the darkness of the fields. Technically whomever it was hadn't done anything that would generally warrant death, but by goddess if I got my hands on him. I grumbled to myself as I thought about my promise I made to the others. “All night...”

Time dragged on and I even watched the entire sun rise. I felt the warmth of the morning sun raise the hair on my arm, a slight shiver going down my spine. One by one the others woke up. Derpy came to my side, my gaze still fixed on the open fields however. “Did you really stay up all night?” she asked but I didn't answer.

I ejected the shell from the chamber of Violet and loaded it back into the tube before slinging the gun across my back and looking to her. “Come on, we'll all go into town, and I'll get this mess sorted out.”

Scootaloo was still yawning and a bit groggy but nonetheless I got everyone to load into Cadance. In a serious demeanor I didn't bother playing around with my truck and drove us straight out to Ponyville, specifically to Tim Horseton's.

I looked to the others and handed Derpy a few Luna bits. “Get the kids some breakfast. Lassie, go with them,” I said and Derpy spoke up.

“You're not coming with us?” she asked.

“Get something for me too. I like my eggs over-easy. I'll meet you back at the farm, but I have to talk with Mayor Mare about this, find out who's the freak who pulled this prank.” Derpy and Lassie both nodded, my canine friend speaking up.

“If anything happens, I'll keep them safe,” she assured me and I nodded, giving her a pat on the shoulder. Not just man's best friend. As the others departed I headed to town square and to the mayor's office.

I parked Cadance out front and headed inside, looking to a secretary and asking for the mayor. She directed me to a door which I promptly went over to and knocked. “Come in,” came a reply. I entered with a look of grace, shutting the door behind me and giving a nod to the mare whom I had only met on brief occasions.

Taking my hat off I greeted her. “Howdy ma'am,” I offered her my hand which she promptly shook.

“Ahhh yes, you must be Mr. Burdick. I remember reading lots about you in the news a few months back. What can I do for you?” she asked as I took a seat. She poured a yellowish liquid into two cups. “Drink?” she asked but I shook my head.

“I try not to indulge,” I replied and she just laughed.

“Oh heaven's sakes no. This isn't liquor, merely apple cider. I wouldn't be caught dead drinking on the job,” she laughed pleasantly, to which I shrugged.

“Well, in that case, don't mind if I do. Thanks.” I took the glass of cider and downed it fairly quick. “Ahhh, that's damn fine cider,” I stated to which she chuckled.

“Indeed. So what exactly can I help you with Mr. Burdick?” she asked.

“Just Burdy, or Evan if you prefer formalities.” I licked my lips and savored the taste of the cider. “I'd like the authorities to apprehend a... it's hard to explain,” I stated and she gave me a wide eyed look.

“You... want the authorities to intervene with something?” she asked, almost in disbelief.

“Well yeah... see last night somepon... thing, scared the crap outta the fillies I was watching... and not just a simple, no harm kinda prank. It was pretty serious stuff. It even scared Derpy and myself. I'd just like them detained and questioned is all,” I stated and Mayor Mare just exhaled deeply.

“Well shoot... uhm... I uhh...” she seemed stumped. I rose a brow. “Well, truth be told Mr. Burdick... erm, Evan,” she stammered, quickly correcting herself. “You're quite possibly the closest thing Ponyville has to law enforcement, however forceful you are about it,” she said and I gave a shocked look.

“Me?!” I gasped and she nodded.

“Well... yes. Really, Ponyville has never needed any sort of law enforcement. The worst we have is a vagrant or rowdy delinquent. Whenever the Elements of Harmony are needed, it's generally a problem that threatens most of Equestria, not just Ponyville. Hay, you were the one to step in and stop Tristan-” I cut her short.

“And a rather terrible job I did at that,” I muttered, remembering how I failed to really stop him. He, to my knowledge, was still out there and at large.

“Well, not really. You freed the town of his tyranny,” she stated, as though it was a heroic act. I just sighed and got back on topic.

“Listen... I don't know where to go with this. Isn't there something, somepony you could call. A detective?” I asked.

“Well... I could call a private investigator but that may take a while...” she trailed off and I just sighed. “I'm sorry we can't do much more than that. Ponyville, aside from the odd rowdy traveler that passes through, is a rather peaceful little town. We've never had need for police or investigators,” she apologized but I just waved off her apology.

“It's alright. I'll look into it myself,” I replied. I stood up and shook her hoof once more before going to leave.

“If you ever need anything that I can assist you with, feel free to swing by,” she offered and I gave a nod before leaving. Heading back out to Cadance I took out Violet and unloaded the shotgun, putting her back into the toolbox.

Taking a seat inside the truck, I tried piecing things together from last night. That... that thing, whatever it was... it was fast. It could really move. I mean, I was a human and was generally slower than ponies but...

'Two legs,' my conscious spoke up and I rose a brow. 'It walked on two legs,' the voice in my head reminded me, my thoughts bringing up how it walked. “Yeah... yeah, how would a pony walk on two legs and go that fast?” I asked.

'Ponies don't run on two legs, they go fast on all fours' he replied and I bit my lip. I thought about how Mayor Mare said I should look into it, and how I was the closest thing to law this town had. Which made me remember how she brought up Tristan, which made me think about Trixie... which made me think about magic.

“What if... somepony cast a magic spell... say, either gave themselves a disguise... or create an illusion of a creature to make a bad prank?” I asked but my conscious didn't reply. I drove Cadance towards Trixie's stage. If anypony knew anything about that kind of magic, it'd be her. Well, or Twilight but she was away with the princesses.

I pulled Cadance up to the home of the stage magician. I went to leave but stopped for just a moment. I knew Trixie was a good pony, maybe a little arrogant and self centered, but a good pony. But irregardless, something made me grab Belladonna and holster her to my thigh.

'Detectives always carry a firearm,' my conscious spoke up. I walked up and gave a knock.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie will be with you in a moment!” came a voice from inside, making me chuckle slightly from her third person referral. Opening the door, her face turned to one of a smile. “Oh, Burdy! It's so nice to see you, come in, come in,” she offered. I took her offer and entered her dwelling, which was a little small for me.

“Here, let Trixie get you a seat,” she said, her horn glowing and pulling out a small chair for me. I gave a tip of my hat and took a seat.

“So Trixie, how are you?” I asked and Trixie smirked.

“Great and Powerful, as always!” she informed me in a powerful tone then giggled slightly. “Average,” she laughed and I chuckled. “How about you Burdy. Trixie wishes to know how you have been after your heart problems?” she asked and I just shrugged.

“I'll be fine. I'm tough as nails. But aside from that... I need to ask you something, or rather, I need your help,” I replied and she rose a brow.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie would be honored to help you in your... uhm, with what?” she asked.

“Last night I was foal sitting at the Apple Family residence and... something, scared the hay outta them... tell you the truth, it scared me a little too. It was... fast, really fast, like nothing I've ever seen before. It stood on two legs and... had nasty fangs,” I told her.

“It sounds like something from a horror story,” she stated and I nodded.

“Exactly. I have this... hunch, that maybe somepony was playing a sick joke. I know it wasn't you, but I need to know about the kind of magic required to do a stunt like that... and I figured, since you're the greatest and most powerful unicorn in all Equestria-” Trixie cut me short with a giggle and a laugh, blushing a deep hue of red across her cheeks.

“Oh, you do Trixie too much honor,” she told me, covering her blush. I merely smirked.

“Anywho, I was wondering... what would it take for... say a unicorn to cast a spell to create the illusion of a scary creature, or a transformation spell to turn themselves into that creature?” I asked, Trixie biting her lip for a second.

“Transformation magic requires the highest level of power, only a few unicorns Trixie knows, that being only Trixie and Twilight Sparkle, know how to perform transformation spells,” she told me and I exhaled in thought, rubbing my chin.

“So probably not a transformation spell then, huh?” I asked.

“It would not be anypony in Ponyville, Trixie is sure of that,” she told me. I furrowed my brow in thought. “An illusion spell is quite easy, but to create something like what you descirbed may be slightly more difficult but still easily cast by more powerful unicorns,” she informed me. “However, why anypony in Ponyville would do such a thing is beyond me.”

I began rubbing my chin as I muttered to myself. “Damn thing was like a monster.” I continued rambling but Trixie spoke up to my remark.

“Perhaps, it was truly a creature. The Apple Family Farm is rather close to the Everfree Forest. Perhaps something wandered towards the farm?” she suggested. I rose a brow.

“Y-yeah... yeah that could be it,” I commented, thinking on how exactly I'd find out what it was. Then it snapped as my conscious spoke up.

'Zecora!' I stood up but wobbled a little, my head feeling faint and my whole body rather tired. “Burdy!” Trixie gasped, jumping up and supporting part of my weight. “Are you alright?” she asked and I nodded, still a little staggered.

“Just tired. Stayed up all night keeping watch,” I murmured through a yawn. She began to gently lead me further into her small home. I could feel her magic supporting most of my weight now as my legs started to give out from under me.

“Here, let Trixie help you,” she laid me down on a small bed. I felt drowsy, my eye barely able to stay open. Trixie brushed aside some of my hair.

“This time, I'll watch over you,” she said and it was really the last thing I remembered before passing out...

I awoke to the feeling of a cold damp cloth being being padded against my forehead. My vision blurred into view and I was bestowed by Trixie, whom was gingerly tending to my forehead with the damp cloth.

“Huh?” I murmured, getting a faint smile from Trixie.

“You were out for a few hours and started to squirm in your sleep. I thought this might help. Sleep well?” she asked and I nodded, feeling refreshed and better than ever.

“Y-yeah... great actually,” I replied and she smiled back. She wiped my forehead a few more times before putting it into a basin of water.

“In your sleep, you were saying things, talking about Zecora, Chrysalis, and someone named Derreck?” she asked and I merely nodded, though had no recollection of my sleep.

“Just reliving old memories,” I replied before standing up and getting my bearings together. Trixie stood up as well and I gave her a gingerly nod. Without much warning she embraced me in a tight hug.

“Be safe,” she said. I patted her on the back and nodded, though mostly to myself. I'd have to be. I made so many promises, and now it was time to make sure I kept them. With a departing farewell, I hopped back into Cadance and made my way to the Everfree Forest.

Pulling up to the edge of the forest, I quickly came to realization I had no idea how to get to her cottage. I could've asked Fluttershy, had she been here. “Dammit!” I grumbled, shutting Cadance down and hiding the keys in the sun visor like always.

Stepping out, I decided I'd have to find her myself. 'Should be easy to find. She's always cooking up concoctions. They have a... most distinguishable smell,' my conscious spoke up.

“And how would you know this?” I asked as I made my way to the toolbox, retrieving Nightshade, the Mossberg 590A1. I didn't get an answer and simply began walking into the Everfree, shotgun leading the way.

As I walked along I felt hopeless. Sure, her cottage was somewhere in here, but it could take me ages to actually find the damn...

I sniffed audibly, a rather strange aroma catching my attention. “Oh...” I trailed off, realizing that my conscious was indeed correct. 'Told you so,' he commented, making me grunt as I moved along through the thick foliage, following my senses that were going to no doubt lead me to the alchemist zebra that I hadn't seen in ages.

In minutes I found myself stumbling across her dwelling. “Well shit... that was easy,” I mentioned. A presence beside me startled the living hell outta me.

“Hopefully finding this creature will be just as easy,” Derreck mentioned.

“GAH! DERRECK! Why do you have to keep sneaking up on me like this?!” I gasped and he blinked.

“I saw your truck parked out by the Everfree Forest... figured you might need some help. Come on, let's go see if Zecora can tell us what that beast was,” he mentioned, having somehow come to the same conclusion as I that Zecora could help us with our mystery monster.

I knocked but got no answer. “Maybe she's not home...” I trailed off but Derreck simply opened the door anyway. “EH! Derreck you can't just...” I trailed off as I saw inside, Zecora standing behind a large cauldron, stirring the contents that were glowing green, the rest of the home filled with a dark eerie smog.

“The one from another world, whose mind was so twirled. Feel free to rest in my home, you needn't have to roam,” she spoke in her rhymes.

Derreck and I took a seat as she took a large spoon and filled some wooden cups. “Some tea for you, or perhaps two?” she asked. Derreck held up two fingers. She poured two cups for us and handed it over.

I looked and took a sniff. It smelt just like chamomile tea. “Uhh... what is it?” I asked, a little skeptical that it was actually tea. If it was in fact tea, was the spooky cauldron really necessary?

“From a herb in the ground, one that is easily found,” she said, her damn rhymes confusing the hell outta me. I was going to ask but saw that Derreck had already swailed his back and was licking his lips.

“Good stuff Z, best tea I've had in ages,” he praised and she returned his praise with a smile. I decided to take a gander and tipped back the beverage. Despite the spooky way Zecora was making it, the stuff was actually really good and I almost wanted more, but needed to get to the task at hand.

“Zecora, I uhh... I know it's been a while, but I need your help with something,” I said but before I could say much else she spoke again in rhyme.

“The beast from from last night, the one that gave you such fright,” she commented and I blinked.

“H-how did you...” I trailed off and still she spoke in complicated rhyme.

“I saw it too, it's presence simply won't do.” I scratched my head, struggling to figure out what she was getting at.

“Listen... Zecora, I know it's the way you talk and all... but for a few minutes, can you just... no rhymes? This is really important and I need to know everything,” I said. Derreck nudged me.

“Idiot. I can understand what she's rambling on about,” he chuckled, getting a sharp jab from me.

“I will do my best, to fulfill your request.” I sat back and sighed, knowing she couldn't help herself.

“This... this thing, what is it?” I asked.

“It's origin I do not know, but it's darkness continues to grow,” she rhymed and again I was lost. She saw my lost expression and did her best to explain. “I can feel it, sense its intentions, ones that are not pure. When heroes are faced, evil is erased,” she told me and I sighed once again, her expression going dire.

“I apologize. It is not easy for me to-” I cut her short.

“I know... it's who you are. I'm not trying to change you but... if this is serious, I don't really wanna be trying to piece together a riddle.”

She nodded and pointed to the forest. “Back to where it last was seen, to the pastures that are green,” she informed me. I gave her a nod, along with my thanks.

“You ever need help with something, just holler my name,” I said, to which she nodded.

Just before I left, she called out to me again. “Another tea? To help the mind be free?” she offered. I gave a nod, Derreck and I both taking a tea for the road.

We found our way out of the Everfree, quickly hopping in Cadance and heading back towards the cornfields and to where we last saw that damn creature. I parked near the tall grass and we approached the corn.

Keeping Nightshade handy, I walked through the tall grass and towards the corn. “Where'd this thing go?” I asked out loud, trying to figure out where it had entered the corn so we could try and find that crop circle.

Derreck began closely looking around then called me over. “Hey Evan, come check this out...” he trailed off in a monotone voice. I walked over and knelt down beside him. There were... paw prints in the ground. Paw prints didn't even fully define it, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. There were pad marks from the base of the creatures foot, or whatever it walked on, but rather than four claw marks like that of a wolf or nearly any other creature, there were two deep claw marks in front of the paw and one behind it.

Derreck spoke up. “This thing... it's got padded feet like a dog... but claws like that of an eagle or something... this is just fucked. Keep that shotgun loaded and ready,” he commented and I nodded, following him into the corn that stood higher than either of us.

Derreck followed the trail of prints, knocking over stalks as he continued along for a few minutes until we stumbled into the large crop circle, both of us gasping loudly at the sight of a large body laying near the middle.

The two of us charged over to the bovine that lay motionless but as we approached I gagged and nearly puked. It didn't smell, in fact it had no scent at all, not even smelling like a cow. It's face... half of the skin and meat was gone, leaving just bone. Part of the neck looked like it had been chewed off.

It's lower belly had been split open by a tool that was obviously very precise. There were no jagged marks in its wounds and was a clean cut. “Oh goddess...” I groaned and Derreck knelt down.

“It didn't rot...” he commented as he gave the front leg a little wiggle. “Body isn't rigid... flies aren't buzzing around it... no blood spilled... crows haven't started picking at it... Jesus Christ...” he whispered through a sharp breath as he stood up and put a cigar in his mouth, though not lighting it.

“Derreck... what the fuck is going on?” I asked and he swallowed hard.

“I dunno... let's get the truck. Drive it down one of the middle paths. We'll load it into the box and get rid of it. The fillies don't need to see this,” he told me as we headed back to my truck. He took my wrist and looked to my watch. “Mac is supposed to be home either late tonight or early tomorrow. We'll stay here tonight with the kids, then tomorrow we'll leave them with Mac and go get the royal guard,” he stated. “Shit... if only Luna was here,” he snarled.

I drove Cadance down the middle path that went through the cornfield and stopped near where we had found our way to the crop circle. “Just drive through. No way in hell I wanna drag that thing more than a few feet,” he commented. I puttered through the corn, knocking over dozens of stalks of corn before entering the large crop circle.

Both of our expressions went dire as we entered the field, puttering over to where the cow carcass was... used to be. “What the FUCK!” Derreck yelled as he hopped out of the truck and rushed over. I parked Cadance and stepped out. “It was right here... right fucking here...” he trailed off and looked around.

There were no drag marks. No signs of something dragging it away. “That thing still weighed at least 600lbs. Nothing could've come in here without us seeing it, tossed it over its shoulder then left before we arrived... what the fuck is going on?!” he snapped, chewing on his... MY Arnie cigar.

He walked over to my truck and shut the door then spoke to me through the window. “Just... get back to the farm. Leave. Go to Canterlot. Find somepony, anypony... get the royal guard.” He looked back to the field. “I'm gonna investigate some more, figure out what the hell is going on,” he told me and I quickly drove off, only now remembering I had told the kids and Derpy to head back to the farm after they were done with breakfast. How stupid I was. I should've told them to head back to the library.

I gunned it full throttle all the way back to the farmhouse, truck nearly hitting the yellow line as the engine reached high RPM. The turbo spooled and whirred louder than the engine, the truck bouncing along through the rough terrain as I raced back to the home. Hopping out, I left the truck running. Until now I hadn't realized how late it was, mostly because I had crashed at Trixie's. My day had been dragging quite a bit and it was now late afternoon, the sun getting ready to set.

I rushed through the front door, duster coat flapping about as I skidding into the home. “EVERYPONY?! DERPY?! LASSIE?!” I cried out but got no reply. “KIDS?!” Tears started to flow from my eyes, wetness dampening my eye patch.

I rushed around, yelling their names but finding nothing. Not a single sign of their presence. Luckily I didn't find signs of struggle either, nothing scattered about. I rushed outside and no sooner had I, heard a scream come from the direction of their clubhouse. My heart began to race as I charged in the general direction, shotgun in hand.

Racing along, I came to a grinding halt by their tree house, hearing more screaming. “KIDS!” I cried out. There was a long pause before I saw them casually look down at me from over the edge of the pool Derpy and Lassie had built.

“Hey Evan... we uhhh... we did get you a sandwich but Lassie ate it,” Sweetie Belle said.

“You snitch!” Lassie giggled playfully as she splashed some water at the young filly who screamed delightfully. Those were the screams... they were just playing in the pool... oh thank heavens...

“Come on! We gotta go, everypony!” I ordered and they all looked at me. “Can... just... now please!” I said, trying not to lose my composure.

“Where are we going?” Scootaloo asked curiously.

“Just, come on, hurry!” I said. They all sighed and hopped out, walking down. I tried to hurry them back to the house without having to explain what was happening. I didn't need to scare them, seeing as how they seemed pretty calm right now.

The truck was still running and I went to hustle them into it, But Sweetie Belle spoke up in protest. “Hey wait, shouldn't we dry off first? I'm soaked,” she stated. I didn't want to lose my cool but now wasn't really the time for dilly-dawdling.

“Uhh, yeah-yeah. Just uhh hurry, we're late,” I said, the group giving me a funny look. “Just uhh, don't worry about it, we'll make it in time no problem.” The others were obviously curious about my anxiety but said nothing.

As they went into the house I pulled Lassie aside. “There's... something,” I said and she rose a brow. “I... last night, I found a crop circle when I was chasing that thing. It's huge, it's in the cornfield. Then today... I uhh... found the corpse of a cow... it was... I don't know how to explain it but I left for just a few minutes to get my truck so I could go burry the carcass and... by the time I got back the cow was gone,” I said and Lassie gulped.

“So where are we going?” she asked.

“Canterlot. Royal guard. Lunar Guard... somepony in authority. Ponyville apparently doesn't have police or investigators,” I told her. We walked over to my truck, which was still running.

“What do you think it is?” Lassie asked and I could do nothing but shake my head in worry.

“I don't know, but Derreck is out looking for it.” I looked to the home and figured they might take a few minutes and that perhaps, despite the circumstances, I should act a little more calm. I turned off the truck and leaned Nightshade against the front fender.

Lassie spoke up. “So you think you can ki-” she was cut short by a scream from inside. I didn't even hesitate, nor did Lassie as we both rushed inside. There was another scream, coming from upstairs and the two of us were up the flight of stairs in a second flat. Charging down the hall we skidded to a halt near Mac's room. Everypony was on one side of the room, Derpy valiantly standing in front of the young ones in a protective pose, her wings spread wide.

On the other side of the room loomed a hideous creature that stood nearly eight feet tall. It's limbs were pretty thin but nonetheless it gave the bipedal beast a haunting appearance. It's face was pretty rounded, with a set of eight eyes, four on each side of it's face. The largest were the front two, each set of eyes afterwards being smaller than the last. It had dozens of razor sharp teeth, which were covered in drool. The beast dripped saliva from it's hissing mouth as it looked to my family like they were food.

I will admit, I was scared shitless, but I wouldn't freeze. I wouldn't let them down. I let out a horrifying roar that caught the beast's attention. It only managed a glimpse of me as I plowed it through the window, glass shattering around us as I plunged its body into the unforgiving ground, slamming my body down onto it.

However, despite my surprise attack on the creature, it quickly gained an advantage as it's arms cocked and booted into my chest, each fist fitted with three razor sharp talons that sent me hurtling into the exterior wall of the building.

Blood oozed down my chest and I tried to breath but found myself gagging on blood, both lungs having been punctured. I staggered to my feet as my healing factor kicked in, my wounds sealing shut. I spit out the globs of blood that resided in my lungs and looked to the creature with a deathly stare.

Something inside of me clicked, a burning, hellish fuming rage. My shoulders hunkered down a little and my body widened out before I let out a second deafening roar. The creature took a cautious step back before it's limbs reconstructed themselves into a quadruple arrangement, much like that of a dogs, before rushing off.

“YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY THIS TIME!” I boomed, rushing after the creature but screeching to a halt near my truck. I grabbed Nightshade and gripped her tightly as I rushed after the creature that seemed to be moving impossibly fast.

Everytime... every time I had failed in life, every memory of those moments resurfaced in my mind. All the times I hadn't been good enough. All the times she had disowned me for not measuring up to her standards.

I couldn't help myself but to go animalistic, beyond return. I had an insatiable urge, a need... a burning desire almost. I was going to pull this thing apart, limb from limb. I couldn't stop snarling as I chased after it, my legs feeling as though they were burning. A red misting fog seemed to emulate from each footstep I took as I gained incredible speed, speeds which could only be matched by elite pegasus fliers like Rainbow Dash, or The Wonderbolts.

In moments I was hot on the creature's tail, rushing wildly into the cornfield...

Third person...

Lassie rounded the others up. “Come on, let's... wait... wait where's Scootaloo?” she asked, doing a quick head count and realizing the young filly was missing. “SHIT! SCOOTALOO WHERE ARE YOU?” She screamed out, getting no response.

“She was just here a moment ago,” Derpy replied as Lassie began to frantically sniff the ground to find where Scootaloo had gone off to. The group began to frantically look for the missing pegasus.

Downstairs, in the pantry, Scootaloo tucked herself fearfully into a cupboard, closing the door and shivering uncontrollably...

The large man charged through the heavy stalks of corn, snarling and roaring as he pursued the creature. The beast raced out into the crop circle and tuned to face the hulking man, whom was nearly foaming at the mouth.

The creature's limbs once again reformed, turning back to that of a bipedal figure. The man leveled the shotgun on the creature but his finger deterred. Flicking the safety on, the man tossed the gun aside then took a defensive pose. “I'm gonna tear you apart... and beat you to death with the wet parts of you arms!” The man said, his body nearly shaking as he tensed. A powerful hellish red aura flashed around him briefly, his eye patch lifting off and revealing his eye.

His eye, once damaged, now sported a vertically slanted pupil and iris, colored the same demonic red as his aura that soon faded, but his eye kept the red tint. “Well how about it... feel like a little one on one?” he chuckled. The beast charged, as did the man. The two plummeted into each other, the creature taking vicious swings with it's razor talons while the man threw heavy punches.

Cocking back hard, the man hit the beast in the side of the head, a metal on flesh clink echoing out while the creature itself was hurtled across the ground from the sheer, raw kinetic force transmitted from the impact.

The beast was fast to its clawed feet and once again quarreling around the man who took a most casual stance, almost as though he no longer feared the beast. Rushing once more the beast began thrashing at him uncontrollably, but the man simply tilted his body side to side, leaning back at the odd time, all the while dodging the vicious onslaught.

Having had enough, the man shot both hands forwards, catching both the beast's palms with his own before twisting its wrists in a 180 degree motion then snapping them back, shattering the creature's wrist bones.

The beast howled in anguish as the man chuckled, pulling the howling creature forwards and slamming a hard knee into its gut, making it gag and spew out a mouthful of yellowish blood. In retaliation the beast chomped down on the man's neck, chewing off a large portion of flesh and shredding his jugular.

The man staggered back, blood squirting all over himself and his fine black duster coat. The beast snarled at him, fangs gleaming with his blood. The man rushed forwards, neck wound healing shut. Just as he went and leapt at the beast, it too leapt into the air, though straight up as to let the man pass harmlessly beneath it.

As he passed beneath it, the creature drove it's talon claws into his back, stomping him straight down into the ground. As the big man was crushed into the dirt the beast began stepping on him mercilessly, blood spilling everywhere from the fatal wounds it was inflicting on him.

Landing on the ground beside him the creature kicked him brutally, sending his body crashing a few dozen yards away. Leaping through the air the beast closed the distance and slammed down on his chest, once again lancing his body with it's razor sharp talon claws, piercing vital organ after vital organ several times.

With a bout of raging fury, the man swung his right hand to the side.

SNIKT!

Three razor sharp, dark blue, metallic bladeS emerged from between his knuckles, fuming with a dark blue mystic aura. “NGAHHHHHHH!” The man roared ferociously as he swung his fist, slicing off both the beast's legs in a blinding instant.

The creature began to screech and frolic, yellow blood pouring out of it's severed limbs. The big man stood up and retrieved his shotgun that lay nearby, all his fatal wounds sealing up. Slinging the shotgun across his back, the man walked over and drew out his fifty caliber hand cannon and lined up the sights with the beast's head, right between the eyes. Pulling out a thick wad of a cigar, he put it in his mouth as he prepared to execute the creature. He gave it a deathly finishing glare, his eyes both squinting, red eye flashing.

Just as he was squeezing back the trigger his body went rigid, stiffening up beyond belief. “NGHHHH!” He grunted, now at a loss of breath. A faint, sky blue aura coated his entire body and he was yet again stifled as he tried to yell and break free of whatever had ensnared his body. He was slowly levitated into the air against his will, mind quickly cutting out and going blank...

“Scootaloo!” Lassie screamed desperately, her ear flickering as she picked up a soft whimpering. Lassie rushed over to the cupboard and yanked it open, Scootaloo screaming in fright. “Scootaloo,” Lassie gasped and the filly looked to her, tears welting in her eyes.

“I'm... I'm scared,” she whined and Lassie nodded understandingly.

“Me too, me too. Come on, I'm getting you all out of here.” She picked up the young filly and put her over her shoulder, quickly leading the others out to the front door. Just as she swung the front door open, Apple Bloom screamed. The creature stood out front of the house, quickly noticing their presence and hissing.

Lassie slammed the door shut and latched the locks just as the beast came crashing towards it. “Back, back, BACK!” Lassie yelled, rushing the others back through the main hallway. She heard the smashing of glass, no doubt the front window as the beast entered the home.

Rushing back, she caught sight of the basement door and yanked it open, rushing the others down the staircase and closing the door behind her. Scurrying down the stairs they entered the dark basement and Lassie slammed the door behind herself but then began to fret as she found there was no lock to it.

Panicking, she pulled down several shelves and slammed them up against the door, wedging several things up against it in a hope to keep the creature out. The fillies and Spike whimpered fearfully and in her clumsiness, Derpy accidentally clipped the only lightbulb with her wing, smashing it and pitching the entire room black.

Scootaloo screamed, and just moments later the first door to the basement could be audibly heard getting shaken open, torn apart by the creature. “Everyone, sssh! Sssh! Just... quiet... quiet,” Lassie whispered as she felt her way through the dark, feeling around for the shelves and thankfully finding herself a twin set of flashlights.

Clicking them on, she turned the beams to the group, whom shivered fearfully. She gave them a gesture to try and be calm as she briskly hurried over and gave Derpy the other light. Leaning over, the canine whispered to the equine pegasus. “When that thing comes through the door... I'm going to distract it. Take the kids and run... don't look back, just run. Run as far as you can, then keep running,” she told her.

Derpy looked to the canine. “B-but... but what about-” she was cut off by a thud at the door, resulting in the screaming of the young ones. “What about you?” Derpy asked and Lassie just shook her head, a tear rolling down her cheek.

There was another thump, followed by a third before the scratching sound of claw on wood echoed in the basement room. Derpy and Lassie knelt down and huddled the young ones close, hugging them lovingly and trying to keep them from what was about to come through those doors.

All their hearts raced wildly but soon it stopped. Everything just went deathly quiet. Derpy and Lassie slowly let down their guard, their postures becoming slightly more casual despite still being deathly frightened.

Lassie and Derpy slowly hunkered down with the young ones huddled between them. Lassie looked around and spotted an old style radio, slowly creeping over and picking it up, bringing it back over to the group and dialing it in. “Figured... some music might help...” She turned it on, the radio playing an Equestrian tune that sounded as though it belonged in the fifties. Even so, it was soft and gentle, and helped put the group at ease despite the events that had unfolded...

Derpy awoke suddenly to a light beaming down on her. She awoke, her crisscrossed eyes looking around frantically. Lassie stood before her and it was then Derpy noticed the three fillies and the young dragon nestled up against her, passed out. She looked back up to Lassie. “I... found a box of spare lightbulbs...” Lassie mentioned quietly.

“How... how long was I asleep?” she asked, almost fretfully. Lassie swallowed hard.

“Uhm... a few hours I guess. I think... I think it's morning outside,” she informed her and it was then Derpy noticed the radio was no longer playing. “Batteries died an hour and a half ago. Batteries in the flashlights are a different size...” she trailed off. Derpy blinked.

“What... what do you think happened to Evan?” she asked but Lassie kept silent for a long while.

“I... I don't...” Lassie went quiet again as the two of them heard steps walking along on the floor above them, along with some grumbling. “Ssssh, sssh...” Lassie hushed the mare. The steps began to stomp around and pretty soon came barreling down the basement stairs.

“Wake the kids, get ready to run!” Lassie snarled towards the direction of the door, ready to give her life when the time came. Derpy stirred the kids from their sleep, all of them drowsy but were shocked awake when the door began to thump and rattle.

Derpy held the young ones back as Lassie stepped forwards and lowered her stance, lips curling back as she snarled wildly...

Author's Notes:

Yes I know, I'm a horrible procrastinator and I prolong these chapters longer than I should... I'm sorry. But hey, now you guys can see what I do on my spare time when not writing stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr4oPhYoaQ4&feature=youtu.be