Leach sat in the classroom, rubbing her hooves together to keep herself busy. Mrs. Cherilee was going on about something. She couldn't say what, as she wasn't paying even the slightest bit of attention to her. She would rather be outside exploring the world, doing something fun like her father.

"What about you Leach?" The filly looked up at her teacher upon hearing her name. "What would you like to do when you grow up?"

She sat there and thought for a moment. There was only one thing she ever wanted to do and that was to be like her father, going out everyday and saving ponies. Keeping Ponyville and anywhere that called out to him safe. She wanted to be like him. "I wanna be a hero, like my daddy."

The school bell finally rang, signaling the end of class for today. The young ponies packed their belongings and exited the small school. Most of the children were running home to their families and going out to play with their friends. Leach had a different plan for today.

Her eyes wandered the streets before settling on the Everfree forest just a few miles from where she was. Her childish mind and daydreams were about to come true for her, but she would have to prove to both herself and others that she was fully capable of doing something like this.

Tumor levitated an apple into his hand. Spring cleaning was taken care of, Carrot Top's garden had been tended to, both metaphorically and otherwise, and now he had the whole day to himself. He could feel his daughter's energy coming toward the house, only to slowly make it's way pass it.

To his knowledge, the only thing on the other side of the house that could be waiting for her was the forest. He sighed to himself. He should have known she would go off to do something like this. "Sebastian!" He called out.

Practically by clockwork a shadow appeared before him in the shape of his brother. He raised a hand and put it through the shadow. This new ethereal form he had taken to using from time to time proved to be very useful. It made him completely invulnerable and he could travel the same way he had before almost completely undetected.

"Yes brother?"

Tumor rook a bite out of his apple before talking with his mouth full. "Hey fucker. I got a job for ya."

Leach made it pass the house with ease. Normally her father could tell whenever she was near, she wasn't sure how, but he always knew. Luckily he hadn't noticed this time, she wouldn't want him interrupting her quest.

The filly made it to the edge of the forest. She could feel an odd sensation running through her veins, it was cold and seemed almost dead. It was like her body was telling her that this place was bad news.

She took a breath pushed pass her feelings before wandering into the Everfree. Although she had heard stories about this place, she had never actually gone into it. They say it was dangerous, full of creatures so evil some could turn you to stone just by looking at you. The plants and animals could take care of themselves and the clouds moved on their own!

This wasn't going to bother her though, she was brave! Leach would power through this and more, she was sure of it, nothing was going to stop her from earning her place by her father's side, saving the world and protecting the innocent.

It was at that moment she felt her bravery being turned to ask like dry paper in a furnace. A low throaty growl came from behind her, causing her body to tense up. She turned around to see a large wolf made of what looked like wood standing a mere few feet behind her. It bared it's teeth at her, the disgusting smell of it's breath leaving its mouth and surrounding her, almost making her gag.

The beast roared, causing her to scream and run deeper into the woods. The wold staying close behind her as she did so. She tripped over a wayward branch and plummeted to the ground. Turning around she could see the overgrown mutt standing over her with hunger in its eyes.

She screamed once more as it went down to bite her, only to stop at the last second and look around. Something was here, it could smell it. Leach could feel a familiar presence, one that made her feel as though she was safe.

A thick cloud soon filled the area, making it difficult to see anything. Leach felt herself being grabbed and pulled into the fog while the timberwolf frantically looked around for her. It could feel the thick cloud entering it's body and began choking on it. More and more of the gas-like clouds flowed into its body, slowly killing the wolf from the inside.

It finally lost it's grip on life and collapsed, shattering into hundreds of wood splinters. The smoke exited the wolf's body and began to form into one being being. Sebastian stood beside the wolf's destroyed body before turning his attention to Leach, who was being held against a tree by his power.

He made his way over to his niece, leaning down and putting a hand to her chin. "Are you alright, child?"

Leach nodded to her Uncle before being released from his hold and jumping up to hug him. "How did you know I was here?" She asked with tears in her eyes.

"Child, I am but a cloud floating above everything in this town. I see all, hear all. I would have come here to keep you safe regardless of your father's summons." He explained.

Leach pulled back a bit at the mention of her father. "He knows that I came here."

He nodded to the filly. "He could sense your presence move this way and called to me. He asked me to watch over you and keep you safe."

She looked a bit worried now. Was she going to get in trouble? If her father wasn't going to punish her, her mother likely would. Without a word more Sebastian lifted the filly and placed her on his shoulders before taking to the air and letting the wind push his weightless body back to Carrot Top's cottage.

When they arrived there were two figures sitting out in the front yard. One was her father, who was sitting in a chair with a pair of sunglasses and bathing in the sun. The other was her mother, who was pacing back and forth with a worried look on her face.

When Sebastian landed in the front yard and was spotted, Tumor, apparently having some sort of prior engagement with Carrot Top, simply said, "Told you."

The mare ran over to Leach as Sebastian set her down and pulled her into a hug, only to remove herself and look down at her child with a stern look. "What were you thinking!? Are you trying to get yourself hurt?"

Leach's eyes began to water as she was reprimanded. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to-"

"Sorry doesn't cut it. You...erg!" Carrot Top was at a complete loss for words, she didn't know what to say or how to deal with this. How does one react when their child is doing something so dangerous. She wasn't going to hit her, that was just plain wrong in her eyes, but she had no idea how to address it either. Much to her surprise, Tumor appeared behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Why don't you two take a break." He said, his gaze shifting between both Carrot Top and Sebastian. "I'll handle this."

The two left, Carrot Top being a bit hesitant at first, but soon complying. Tumor got down on one knee and looked at his teary-eyes daughter. "You mind telling me what the hell was going through your mind."

Despite this actually, technically, being a question, she knew her father was basically demanding to know what her intentions were. It was better to give him as straight an answer as she could, otherwise he would get mad. "I just wanted to go out into the woods and...I don't know." She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I just wanted to be like you and my uncles. Going out and fighting monsters, protecting everypony. I want to be a hero like you."

Tumor took his hand and began playing with the scruff on his chin as he thought to himself for a moment. She wanted to be like him, but the way he lived and the things he did were dangerous. He didn't know what to do about this, should he encourage her to be a hero, or push it aside, only for her to try and sneak off to do something like this again in the future. He needed to come up with some sort of middle-ground, something that would be either enough to fix the problem, or make it so it was no longer a problem.

Then an idea hatched. "So, you wanna be like me, huh?" The filly nodded. "Okay, I'll show you how." He knew there would be either one of two outcomes here. Either he will toughen her up and she will be ready for action, or she would crack under the pressure and give up. Either way, he wins...kinda. Carrot Top might not be too pleased about this, or about what's going to transpire if she agrees, but it needs to be done. This is the only way she will either be strong enough to be a hero or move on to find a new passion.

Leach's eyes widened at her father. Was he really going to train her to be like him? She hoped so. This was something she has wanted for a long time. "Really?"

"Yeah, but on one condition." She leaned forward, showing him that she was listening. "No more stupid shit, okay. Don't make me have to treat you like my father treated me. In short, you pull something like that again and I'll fuck you up."

She recoiled a bit, unable to imagine what kind of punishment he would have planned for her if she made this mistake again. "No more, I promise."

"Do you promise to obey every order I give?" He asked, it was time to get into character. If he was going to train her, he was gonna do it right.

"Yes, daddy." She replied, eager to start.

"Yes, sir." He said in a firm but powerful voice, sounding almost like a drill Sargent.

She instinctively stiffened up and straightened out her posture. She had no idea why she reacted the way she did, but it seemed like this was the way she needed to respond. "Yes, sir!"

Tumor nodded. "Now, I'm not gonna bullshit you here. In order for this to work I'm going to have to put you in some extreme situations." He explained. "I'm gonna flip ya, spin ya, flap your body around until your bones hurt. And if you scream, it's gonna make me wanna do it harder and faster. Is that clear soldier?"

[Okay, that's a little disturbing!]

She seemed almost disgusted at his words, but nodded, confirming that she was ready for whatever he could throw at her. "Yes, sir!"

He smiled before going back to a standing position. "Good, your training starts tomorrow."

Author's Notes:

You guys know the drill, inform me about any grammar errors, god knows those are my biggest weakness. Also, I will be taking suggestions for different types of training methods. So if you got any ideas, post them in the comments below and you might see them in the next chapter. That being said, deuces bitch!