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Prickle Berry Tries to Be Careful

by David Silver

Chapter 20: 20 - Shiver Me Timbers

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They had laughed. Sure, it was lighthearted and they were quick to express comfort and solidarity, but they assured Prickle that it would blow over if they just let it lie.

Prickle did not feel nearly as certain as they were.

When school was over, she grabbed her saddlebags and got to trotting. She wasn't aiming to go any specific place, she just wanted to move her legs and think. The trotting helped calm her. Was it really that awful? She just had to be a good pony, and things would work out on their own, right?

A shriek interrupted her thoughts. Ponies ran past her in a wild gallop. One helpfully shouted as he ran, "Timber wolf!"

Prickle had heard about those, but she had never seen one before. She knew what she had to do and ducked in a hurry between two buildings, just to emerge out the other end, garbed as the town's defender. "Don't worry, everypony!" She shouted, springing into the air. "Tiny Titan is here to protect you!"

From her vantage point in the sky, she could see the beast. It was made of wood, just like she had heard. It was all jagged parts and sharp teeth and claws and it was chasing Berry Punch. The worst part was that Berry wasn't running very well. Was she sick? The poor mare was staggering wildly as the wolf stalked her.

Prickle came down just long enough to push off towards the scene of the future crime, watching the world spin beneath her rapidly as she closed in. She spun herself in mid air, bringing a hind hoof to bear, ready to kick as she came in. "You leave her alone!" she roared.

It proved to be a good thing she did. The beast was just about to snap at the swaying pony when it heard her and looked up with confusion.

Prickle landed, hoof first directly into the thing's wooden face. Timber splintered and shattered as Prickle let out a mighty war cry. She didn't even slow as she powered through it hoof first, emerging through the other end in a shower of splinters and dust.

The wolf turned back to her, wobbled, and collapsed to countless twigs and logs.

"Wow!" said Berry Punch as she threw a leg over Prickle. "You really took care of that thing." She sounded off. Maybe it was shock? She slurred her words. "Thanks a lot, foal."

"I'm Tiny Titan," corrected Prickle. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Thanks to--" she suddenly hiccuped. "--you. All that runnin' made me thirsty somethin' fierce. Wanna come with?"

Prickle jumped as another hoof tapped her on the shoulder. Pinkie Pie was standing on her other side. "Hi there! Nice job, but big mean timber wolves need more than that to make them go away."

"What?"

Even as Prickle asked, the wood began to reform, producing two, smaller, timber wolves. Pinkie pointed at the wooden terrors. "See? I'll lead one out of town, you get the other one." She waggled her rump at one, tail swaying. When the wolf bit at her, she jumped away and got to pronking as if it was a fun day. "Meet you by the Everfree!" she called out as she went.

Prickle blinked slowly at the retreating pink pony, almost missing when the other wolf lunged for her. She brought up a hoof in a sharp uppercut, knocking its head clear off its body. The rest of it simply stopped a moment, then fell apart. She had won, again, but it would reform.

She looked around quickly and grabbed the tarp off a stand. "I'll bring this back, promise," she said to nopony in particular. She gathered up the bits of wolf as quickly as she could onto the tarp, folded it up, and launched into the air with a mighty jump. She could see Pinkie and bounced after her. With three mighty leaps, she arrived at the edge of the Everfree.

Her passenger was just gathering itself together and Prickle squeaked, giving the tarp a mighty heave that send the newly-forged timber creature flying off into the forest.

"Huh, nice idea. I shoulda thought of that," complimented Pinkie as she danced around the other wolf. "Can ya take care of this one? You seem good at this."

Prickle nodded quickly and rushed for it. The movement got its attention and it turned to snarl at her. It thrust its head forward and Prickle gave a small leap just to come down on its back and drive powerfully through its body, reducing it to new splinters.

Pinkie pronked in with a broom and dustpan she hadn't had before and cleaned up the mess before tossing it all into the forest to join its friend. "Great job! Hey, you're Tiny Titan, right?" She winked at Prickle dramatically. "Nice to see you again."

Prickle smiled. Pinkie already knew who she was, so she could relax a little. "Hello Pinkie. Thanks for the help. I'll know how to handle them better next time."

"You sure will, but you don't have to do it alone." She tapped her own chest with a hoof. "We're a big family! That's what a community is after all. We can work together to keep things safe."

"What if you're not around?" asked Prickle with an uncertain voice.

Pinkie shrugged. "You already know how to handle that, but when we are around, expect one of us girls to give a hoof if we can."

"About that..." Prickle peered at the pink party planner suspiciously. "Did you talk to your friends about me?"

"Uh huh."

Prickle slumped. "I appreciate your honesty, but why?!"

"How couldn't I?" Pinkie shrugged. "Rainbow Dash and Rarity won't be quiet about it. Twilight super curious about how you work. Applejack keeps teasing Rainbow about her losing that hoof wrestling contest. I think Fluttershy's the only one not directly involved." She leaned in close to Prickle. "She says it sounds dangerous for a foal."

Prickle had not seen the princess around, so... "Does Twilight know who I am?"

"I didn't tell her! I swore I wouldn't."

Prickle pointed back into town. "What about Rarity or Rainbow Dash?"

Pinkie made a non-committal noise. "Dunno, maybe? She never said your name when I was around. Your mom's alright with this, right?" Prickle quickly nodded. "That's good. This would fall in the 'better to say' category and I'd have to tell her, but since she knows, I'm in the clear. Your secret's safe with me."

Prickle let out a long sigh of relief. "We should get back to town."

Pinkie poked Prickle. "You might want to change out of your costume. See you later!" She began pronking back to town with her usual smile.

She reached to start pulling off her suit when a soft thud stopped her. Another pony had arrived, the Mauler.

"Tiny Titan, I presume?" asked the costumed unicorn mare.

Prickle swallowed thickly, but did not retreat. "That's my name. D-did you need something?"

The Mauler nodded. "I wanted to test my mettle against Ponyville's newest, youngest, hero. Do you accept my challenge?"

"W-what?!" Prickle took a step back. "I don't even know you!"

"We will fix that." The mauler leaned her head in. "On the field of battle. The goal will be to prove supremacy, not hurt one another. The first to pin the other wins, simple at that. I'm told you have exceptional physical strength."

Prickle shook her head quickly. "I can't, not today!"

"When?"

Shoot. Prickle frowned with thought. "How about tomorrow? Just when the sun touches the horizon."

"Dramatic." The Mauler stood tall. "I like it. You have good style, Titan. Tomorrow, come with your fire for battle!" She rose into the air, horn glowing. "I look forward to getting to know you better. We will meet there." She pointed to the tall hill Prickle had met Silver Spoon on. "Are there any questions?"

"One, please." Prickle dared show her teeth in an awkward smile. "Can't we just talk, like normal ponies? We both want to help ponies out by beating up monsters and rescuing things, right?"

"A pacifist?" asked the Mauler. "I wouldn't think anyone brave enough to don a suit and battle the horrors would be at all a stranger to conflict." She clopped her forehooves together. She slowly settled back on the ground. "Are you that new?"

"Um... yes?" Prickle admitted. "I've fought two monsters." She raised a hoof. "A bugbear." She set the hoof down. "And a timber wolf."

"Such an innocent mask." She reached out a hoof to Prickle, running it along her clothed snout. "This fight will be good for you. Be prepared for it. Win or lose, you will learn. If I am lucky, you will have a lesson for me as well. Until then..." With a bright flash, she was gone.

Prickle let out a weary sigh before she slipped free of her suit and tucked it away. She got to trotting back into town, happy to be back to just plain Prickle Berry.

There was somepony waiting for her. Silver adjusted her glasses a little as Prickle came closer, then stood up tall. "I watched the whole thing, like, from the start."

Prickle blinked. "I didn't see you."

"I have a telescope." Silver waved the idea off. "You were so strong and brave! Thank you, Prickle."

Prickle's cheeks warmed. "They weren't that big of a deal. Pinkie knew how to take care of them."

"I don't care about Pinkie," stated Silver bluntly. "Like, you're the amazing one. Besides, she's an adult and she's fought dozens of monsters. You're an amazing foal!" Without a pause, Silver hugged Prickle tightly a moment. "Thank you."

Prickle gave an unsure smile. "I'm glad to help. I mean, if I wasn't... I just wouldn't do it. Did you see Berry Punch? Is she alright?"

"That lush? She's fine, last I saw." Silver turned to face the town and started walking with Prickle. "I'll walk you home!"

"Lush?" Prickle hadn't heard that word before.

Silver seemed amused by Prickle's ignorance. "Don't worry about it, TT." She saw Prickle's concerned look. "Just a nickname, like, I'll stick with Prickle if you prefer." She smiled brightly. "So... What's your absolute favorite candy?"

Prickle blinked. That was a sudden topic shift. "Bon Bon makes some really good ones. I haven't had one of hers that I didn't like."

"Bon Bon's, got it." Silver looked satisfied. "Now, I know Diamond is being a bit... odd."

"A bit?!" Prickle felt her fur fluffing up at the idea. "Is she... in love with me now?!"

"Oh no," assured Silver. "She's hoping you are though."

Prickle paled a little. "This is your fault, you did it! What do I do now?!"

Silver put a hoof on Prickle's nose. "You could go with it. Diamond Tiara would forgive everything and you'd be friends."

Author's Notes:

There are so many relationship-related typos in this chapter...

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Next Chapter: 21 - End Episode 5: Facing Issues Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 12 Minutes
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