“Right. Everyone ready?” Robert asked. There were various rumbles of ascent from the menagerie of animals before him.

“Do be careful. The forest is ever so dangerous.” Fluttershy said. There was a moment of silence as the assembled group of carnivores tried to determine if she was actually serious. Robert cleared his throat.

“We'll certainly do that.” he assured her. Even Angel found it hard to keep a straight face. The group turned and trouped off into the forest, setting out on the path to Zecora's at first. Mid-way through though, they turned off into a path used so seldomly it was almost invisible. Barry led the way, picking through the branches, and occasionally using his claws to shear on off when it had the audacity to snap back and hit him in the face. Robert couldn't help but laugh, which set the rest of them, and after a moment, Barry himself to laughing.

They stopped in a small clearing for their one and only packed meal, prepared by Fluttershy, and heard clearly the sound of the train leaving for the Crystal Empire. Twilight and friends being out of town had been the perfect chance for the trip, since Fluttershy wouldn't be worried about them, and Bulk Biceps had agreed to watch the herbivores. And Angel had agreed to watch him. Robert was still unsure what exactly to make of Bulk Biceps. Possibly the biggest pony he'd ever seen, including Big Mac, he was one of the few who he didn't have to look down to talk to. And yet, he never really seemed to have much to say. He was enthusiastic, sure enough, but it didn't translate much into conversation. On the other hand, Robert was able to discern that he was a surprisingly intelligent pony. Which made his choice of employment as an odd-job pony all the more curious. Even though the thought had occurred to him, that they shared the idea that free time was as valuable as work, he was still not sure what to say on those occasions he found himself talking to the big pony. Which was too bad. The lack of neck strain was quite welcome.

A thought for another day he decided, as they set out. Barry was leading the way because he was the one who knew the path to the stream. His mate did, but was more focused on keeping their cub from wandering to far away. Derrick on the other paw, wandered far and wide, occasionally coming back to ensure they were all there, and then disappeared again. The only one he seemed to get along with at all was Bobby, who seemed to find it amusing that the others didn't. Manny trotted along, oblivious to just about everything. Even those tree branches that Barry missed because they were over his head, that swatted Manny didn't seem to faze him, or even be noticed. Robert was even less sure what to make of him, but he seemed generally harmless, at least as much as a big cat of any kind could be considered harmless, especially one with a scorpion tail. He made a mental note to ask Twilight how that had happened, or if she knew. 'When a mommy cat, and daddy scorpion love each other very much.' Robert wiped that thought out of his head.

The bobcat and the terrier spent the vast majority of the time... arguing. It wasn't a physical altercation, though he'd learned enough to know not to bet against the little guy in any battle. Instead they seemed to be half way between wanting to kill one another, and being the closest family he'd seen in some time.

The stream in the forest was further in than any of the others had gone, with the exception of Manny. Of course, he didn't seem to care about that any more than he did the rest of the things, but there was no way to tell. Barry let them know they'd reached the stream in his own fashion of course. He took two steps past a branch and fell in. Everyone laughed, despite Barry's own grumbling, but he picked himself up and shook off.

Fishing techniques were as varied as the carnivores who applied them. Barry and his mate taught their cub how to stand in the water, and snap up the huge fish out of the water. He mastered it fairly quickly, and was soon managing to snatch the with ease. Rita's method was to simply wait on the shore and lunge into the water. That lead to a huge spray of water and a significantly wet bobcat washing up on one shore or the other. Manny laid down on the shore, and would occasionally lash out with his tail and spear a fish clear through without even looking. Bobby wasn't interested in fish, but he spent his time digging along the shore for worms and grubs. Derrick? He took a slightly unconventional approach. He climbed a tree, and waited in the branches. When the fish he wanted appeared, he dropped out with an even larger spray of water than Rita, and then emerged some distance down stream, trailing fish guts and enjoying himself immensely. Robert for his part, stuck with the bear method. He wasn't quite as fast as the bears at it, but it was far more fun than his usual method.

Camping on the side of the river was relaxing, everyone bedded down for the night. At the same time, Robert found himself suddenly, disturbingly sleepless. So he climbed a tree. It wasn't quite so arduous as climbing the one he'd claimed as a home closer to Ponyville, which was a twisted and knotted trunk that had contained the house quite comfortably, but at the same time necessitated one to work their way back and forth up the limbs, or climb the long sloping stairs that the previous Pegasus occupants had installed for company.

Of course, there was the option of flying, but his wings did not do well in the close confines of the branches, and he rarely slept inside the house unless the weather was bad. Still, here deep in the heart of the Everfree, the trees were tall and straight, with few branches to use as holds, and so were rarely climbed. Like Derrick, the lack of holds mattered little when one had claws with which to grab. Up he climbed, sinking blow after blow into the bark of the tree, and pulling himself inexorably higher into the crown.

Once there, he settled himself down, and waited. He wasn't sure what he was waiting for, but it wasn't long before he found it. The flare of magic being fed on was not something he'd ever expected to see in Equestria. Thaumovores were not entirely unheard of, particularly not out in the wild lands. He'd had to deal with a few in his travels to Equestria. Most of them preferred plants, of which there were more than a few that gathered magic naturally in the course of growing. Others preferred to attack those plant gatherers. Robert had been the victim of one of the latter and had taught it a lesson in choosing your targets.

Having found and identified the source of the disturbance though, he felt oddly at ease. He spread his wings, and leaped from the tree, swirling round and round until he landed softly at it's base. He laid down, and fell asleep.

---

“Robert?” Luna's voice echoed across the grassland of his dream. He perked his ears up and swiveled them around. “Robert? Are you here?”

He slid through the grass, disturbing it slightly as he moved. Luna was standing on a rock outcropping. He vaguely recognized it. Both that it was familiar, and that it was out of place here.

“Robert?” she called again.

“Yes princess?” he asked from behind her. Luna started.

“We would appreciate thou not stopping our heart.” she said patting her chest.

“Apologies princess.”

“It is quite alright.” she considered her words. “Where are you in the waking world?”

“Deep in the Everfree.” he waved a paw, and a map arose from the surface of the rock. He had no talent in walking the dream, but in his mind he was as powerful as his imagination could manage. A soft blue light indicated his position.

“I advise you to remain there. An old foe from our past has arisen. He is beginning to drain magic from ponies, and I would not wish you harmed.” Luna sighed. “My sister has enacted a plan to capture him, but...”

“You do not approve.” Robert nodded. “And why might that be?”

“She intends to use Discord.” Luna replied.

“He will betray you, given a chance.” Robert nodded.

“You seem confident.” Luna said.

“I foresaw somethings, before I came to Equestria. Discord's betrayal is one such thing.”

“You did not warn us?” Luna asked.

“What I saw in my visions is what must happen.” Robert smiled. “Too many see the future, and foolishly seek to change what is to come. I understand that visions of the future are not for us to use in changing it, but for us to use in preparing for what is to come.”

“I have heard this once before.” Luna said. “And I did not believe him either.”

“And what happened?” Robert asked.

“I spent one thousand years on the moon.” she replied, surprisingly bitter.

“The future is, as the past, difficult to change, and harder still to change for the better.” Robert nodded. “But there are things that we haven't seen yet, and things that are still to come.”

“Meaning?” she asked.

“Many can see the future. Some can see the end of things. Few of those dare look past it. I have dared. The future holds many promises. Of victory, and failure.” he looked into the distance. “I have always had a philosophy when it comes to gambling Princess.”

“Would you care to share it with me?” she asked.

“Bet on the long shot. But never count out the wild cards.” Robert shrugged. “And always put a few on the sure thing.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” Luna nodded. “I admit to being unsure why Celestia has kept her back.”

“Because her magic is her greatest strength, a strength which would be wasted against a monster who consumes magic.” Robert replied.

“I always believed her friends were her greatest strength.” Luna said, confused.

“They are. But friendship is magic. Twilight has worked out the formulae. If you ever have trouble sleeping, ask her to explain it.” Robert smiled. “In any case, if you give him the chance now, the consequences will be... disastrous.”

“A vision?” she asked. He nodded.

“One that can come about a thousand ways. Not a one ends with there being anything left of Equestria, but a few motes of ash drifting into the crater it once occupied.” the voice was so solemn that she turned sharply to him.

“How?” she asked, fearing the answer.

“Dovale's Annihilator.” he spoke the words quietly. “White Dawn leads. Dawn Seer guides.”

“I had always wondered why he wrote such a thing.” Luna nodded.

“Take heart.” Robert said, touching her shoulder. “Each moment that passes, the future grows clearer.”

“Then hope remains?”

“Hope ALWAYS remains. Sometimes that is all that remains.” Robert shrugged.

“Thank you. Sleep well.”

“Guard us well Princess.” They bowed.

----

The trip ended sooner than they would have liked, but fleeing the outskirts of Twilight's battle turned out to be far more important than lunch. It was impossible not to feel Twilight's power, the strength of four Alicorns combined together. And the strength of Tirek, who'd absorbed every single pony he could find. Robert had spoken to the animals. Barry, his mate and cub, Manny, Bobby, and Rita and Runt headed deeper into the forest. Derrick turned back with Robert.

He arrived just in time to see Tirek drain the power from Twilight. And see him turn towards him. With her gone, he was the next strongest beacon of power. Tirek started towards him. Robert took wing and disappeared into the forests. Tirek came on. He didn't need eyes to see him. Tree's snapped and crackled under his weight and from his magic. Robert found his spot, and turned to stand his ground.

“Come out, come out. I can smell your magic.” Tirek roared. “Come out, or I'll come in there and get you.”

“Here's Robbie!” Robert leaped through the air. Tirek sneered and grabbed him by the tail.

“A tiger? I didn't know Tiger's had magic.” Tirek raised him into the air, and drained his magic. “I guess I know where next I'll go.”

“I shouldn't think you'd think that a good idea.” Robert smiled.

“And why not?” Tirek asked.

“You know what happens, when you have a tiger by the tail?” Robert asked.

“What?” Tirek demanded.

“Nothing good.” Robert threw himself upwards and his claws sunk into Tirek's hand. “Let's see how you like it.” Robert bit him. Tirek roared in pain and swatted him away. With him came a hunk of flesh. Pain flared again, and he roared. Robert landed in a tree. “Well, well. It seems you're magically delicious!” Robert leaped into the air, wings beating him upwards. Tirek, wound on one hand already healing, swatted at him with the other. He stopped in mid swipe, eyes going cross.

You'd pause too, if you had a Wolverine using your dangly bits for a jungle gym. Derrick found a likely spot and took a bite out of evil himself. Tirek roared and clamped his legs together. It wasn't his brightest idea, because all it did was annoy the Wolverine and hurt himself. Robert landed on his arm, and drew back for another bite. Tirek knocked him away, then sat down, hard. Derrick let go and dropped to the ground an instant before Tirek hit. He scampered forwards and bit a front leg. Tirek jerked up and kicked out, sending him flying. Robert leaped up and caught the wolverine, then dropped back. Tirek's horns charged, and fired. The pair sprinted clear. A moment later, the elements of harmony rose into the air, charged with rainbow light. And curbstomped Tirek.

A moment later, the rainbow began. Robert looked up. “Oh, sh--”

Author's Notes:

Could not decide which ending amused me more, so you get two of them to choose from. Both are 'technically' canon to the story so which ever you think is funnier is the one that ends the story.