The Heart of Pleasure
By Haunter Rayne
Ch 76 – Deer Hunting

By the time Twilight and her friends had reached the Thicket the excitement was over and the entire community was in an uproar. ‘Uhh, wasn’t this place all peaceful-like last time we was here?” Applejack asked.

The massive gates to the city were not even guarded as there was clearly no need. Dozens of deer were standing in squadrons all formed in a line with one another. No one missed seeing the ponies entry and no one seemed to bother to care. Orders were shouted from those dressed in heavy red armor while the soldiers armed themselves with weapons and little potions of forest magic in containers around their necks.

“Excuse me?” Twilight asked to a deer who rushed passed her. “”I’m sorry, could I just have a moment?” She tried to another who just turned away from her.

“Ohhhhh noooo!” Fluttershy gasped making the others jump as she stared pointing to deeper within the city. There they saw a beautiful central structure in the center of town that looked as if it had been torn in half. Furthermore, tree branches were gathered all around while frozen in unnatural and violent positions.

“What happened?!” Rarity gasped in breathy expression. “We were just here not that long ago! I definitely would have remembered if their city looked like this.”

“Twilight?! Princess Twilight Sparkle? Is that you?” A new voice called out to them as the mane six turned to see a tall pale doe staring their way. After first looking left and looking right she quickly hurried their way. “My name is Queen Fyr. King Aspen is my husband. Please don’t argue and come with me quickly!” She urged and led them the around side of a building just as Aspen came from behind them while consulting with Blackthorn.

Once they were standing in a quieter part of the city Twilight looked up to the doe who now stood before them. “It a pleasure to meet you Queen Fyr. We came here to try once more to convince your husband that war isn’t necessary. Ponies and deer need not fight with one another. That will not solve the trouble that haunts your forest!”

“Oh you are such a sweet little thing. I am so glad to hear you say those words for I feel the same way. Unfortunately, you are too late. My husband is even beyond my counsel after what has recently happened.” Fyr fretted with her head hung low.

“Nonsense...” Called a deep voice as Fyr looked up in surprise and the ears of all the ponies lowered. “You can all come out from behind there.” Aspen called. “I can think of no other than Twilight and my friends who my wife would scurry away from my approach.” Slowly one doe and six mares stepped back into view while all wearing guilty expressions. Quickly though Aspen stepped up to Fyr and raised her chin. “As for you… please, never allow me to hear such words come from you lips again. I love you, I would never be beyond your reach.”

Quickly Fyr blushed to that but Twilight spoke up wanting to not waste time as the formations of deer begin their march. “Your Majesty, if you would please hear me! War is not necessary! I come here on behalf of all pony-kind to plead for your understanding! We have no desire to fight with you!”

“Well, I am glad to hear it.” Aspen but now seemed more interested in nuzzling with his wife than addressing Twilight properly. “I love you darling… remember that. Are the fawns ready for their escape?”

The ponies looked on not understanding why Fyr started to cry as she nodded. “Don’t do this… I need you with me.”

“You will be a spectacular ruler. Lead our families away while our soldiers and I buy you time. We may lose this fight but it will battle for the ages.” Aspen told her, speaking intimately as if this would be the last they see of each other.

“Wha- bu- Wait please!” Twilight stumbled over her words in confusion. “There doesn’t have to be a battle at all!”

With a fallen expression Fyr mumbled, “Explain to them darling. They don’t understand. They didn’t come all this way just to be ignored by you. Honor me by treating them now with the respect that you should have back in their Canterlot.”

With a nod Aspen kissed her deeply before she fled from his arms and rushed back into the city. “I’m afraid that there does have to be a battle Princess. But it is not with Equestria.”

“WHAT?!” All of the mane six shouted as they as Aspen turned to watch his forces march their way into the woods.

“Not moments after I returned home there was an attack within the Thicket itself. Not on woodland creatures or magical beasts but against me personally and within my very home in front of my wife no less.” He explained while pointing to the ruined building overhead. “It was an assassination attempt on my life.”

“That’s horrible!” Rarity screamed.

“Is every deer alright?” Pinkie shouted next.

“Oh de- uh, I mean oh my!” Fluttershy whimpered as Dash raised an eyebrow at her.

Twilight was next to speak as she hurriedly stated, “King Aspen... I PROMISE you, I swear that Equestria did not-”

“Stop… I know this Twilight.” Aspen told her. Looking around to the group of ponies he told them, “No citizens were harmed. It did not take long to find that the attackers were singularly focused. The point of the assault was to send a message. The culprit knows it was me who had attacked him with the forest. He wanted me to understand that he could draw my blood, just as I drew his.” The stag explained as he showed them the cut upon his cheek.

“So that means… all this destruction was from you attacking the were-panther right in the middle of your city?” Dash asked.

“No… In this case he sent his forces. Somehow he’s made copies of different creatures using black stone and shadow. Furthermore, no matter the race of each creature, they all possess the Timberwolves ability to reform themselves after being destroyed. And it would appear that he has an army now.”

“We know.” Twilight said. “We saw as a massive dark force charged into the forest but we couldn’t see where it came from. I’m just sorry that we didn’t get here until now. It moved faster than we were able to keep up with.”

“Worry not my pony friends… all of this will be over soon. One way or another, the conflict between the panther and our forest ends today.” Aspen said as he walked passed them to follow after his soldiers.

Now the Thicket looked absolutely abandoned as Twilight called out, “Wait! What do you mean by that? What is it that you’re planning to do?!”

Aspen stopped and remained quiet for a moment. The ears of all the ponies lowered as they could feel the somber air about him. “What am I planning? Why… nothing but the end of our race Twilight. After today the deer will be no more in the Everfree Forest.” Then without another word he stepped on to rejoin his forces.

Now the ponies stood alone in the glorious woodland city. “What just happened?” Fluttershy was the one to ask this time.

“Does any pony else feel like we’ve been asking that a lot lately?” Dash added in.

Twilight stepped forward to turn back and look at all of them. Everypony quieted down as they could all see how worried she looked. “Ohhhhh! This is terrible! Don’t you see?!” She asked but everypony shook their heads. “Ugh… Listen to me. Aspen and his soldiers just went off on a war march. He said good bye to his wife where she as she took the baby deer off in the opposite direction. Now this city is utterly and completely deserted! If the soldiers planned on coming back then they would’ve just had their families wait for them here!”

“Well… I mean… Obviously.” Pinkie began. “But why wouldn’t they plan on come back? Are they abandoning their families for some reason?”

“NO PINKIE!” Twilight shouted accidentally frightening all of her friends. “It is because Aspen and every single deer that just marched forward doesn’t plan on coming back alive! There is only one reason for a leader to send their troops off like that. This isn’t about going into a battle to win. It’s about drawing the fight out as long as possible, even knowing that every single one of them are going to lose!”

“But, but, but, but that’s horrible!” Rarity cried.

Dash was next as she shouted, “That’s just crazy! Why would any creature march off to something when they know they are going to lose?! First of all… I’m not convinced that this panther thing is beyond having it’s butt kicked! But even if it were then why wouldn’t the soldiers just escape WITH their families instead of staying behind the die?”

“Because Dash...” Twilight answered in a quieter tone. “Think about it. How long did it take us to get here, only to find that we completely missed the fight? This panther has magic where he doesn’t even need to reach you himself. Maybe they felt that they couldn’t escape in time? Maybe they thought they would be chased after? The soldiers plan to give their lives knowing they’re going to die… but it’s worth it to give their families more time to escape. The longer they can keep the fight going the more distance the others can put behind them. Hopefully enough to escape for good.”

“Twilight please!” Fluttershy pleaded as she began to cry. “This isn’t right!”

“Come on ya’ll. We’ve got to save them. There has to be another way! There’s just gotta!” Applejack encouraged and not a simple one of them thought to argue. Twilight and her friends raced off after the soldiers now hoping they could now avert an entirely different crisis from happening now.

- Halfway Between the Thicket and Ponyville -

“STOOOOOPPP!” Twilight’s voice called out as the blur of a rainbow shot forward to wave back and forth in front of Aspen’s forces.

“Just hold it, all of you! You really need to… Whoa!” Dash had raced ahead to try to help but then froze when she saw the force which the deer king had gathered. “Uh, Twilight? I think you’d better get over here!” The pegasus called out.

That was when the ponies found that there were more than just deer which gathered in the soldier’s alignment. Nearly every creature of the forest had come. Pukwudgie walked amongst the feet of Manticore, Hydra loomed over head while surrounded by a ring of Cragadile, and all around the soldiers were Timberwolves snapping themselves off from the trees in staggering numbers.

“Okay... more than what I expected.” The princess admitted but then shrugged off her surprise to race with her friends around to the front of the army. “King Aspen! We know your plan! For the good of all of you as well as the families you are trying to protect, we have come to stop you!” She shouted.

Stepping forward the mighty white stag yelled out, “You know nothing Twilight. You clearly have never seen what this beast can really do, for if you had then you would be lined up here with us to try to take this creature down!”

“That’s just it! Maybe we can take the were-panther down! Maybe there is a way to save every creature. But we won’t know if all of you senselessly through your lives away! Let us help you!”

Now Aspen snarled as he felt that the time for talk was over with. “Grrrrr! TWILIGHT! WHY?! Why must you always butt in to meddle with our affairs?!” He snapped at her. “It isn’t that we don’t appreciate good help… But this goes beyond what words can do at this point. It insults our pride! We have been challenged Twilight. I, have been challenged! We will drive this foe out of our lands! We will show this beast that the deer are not a race who will just roll over when met with an adversary!”

Now his entire army rallied with inspiration. Aspen’s determination lit a flame that burned within each of their hearts. “I will defend my king!” One deer shouted. “I will fight so my fawns can know they are part of a community to be proud of!” Yelled another. “We will defend this forest and defend the creatures in it who also call this land home!” Cried out another. Even the woodland creatures joined in all cawing and crying in agreement.

Now Twilight looked to friends nervously but each of them nodded that they had her back. “Listen to me, all of you! I care about all of those things too! Your pride is just as important! I would never try to take that away from you. But dying for pride is no answer either! The ponies of Equestria have magic! Let us help you! Let us stand together instead of making your neighbors who care about you watch as your beautiful and glorious race walk themselves needlessly into a slaughter!”

Now Aspen lowered his face so that his forces behind could not see. He doubted his actions in the face of Twilight’s words knowing that he took no joy in leading his soldiers to their deaths. But before he could respond Blackthorn raced to his side as there was a rustling from the trees behind the line of ponies. Looking beyond where the six mares stood they, saw how branches swayed and made way for something large in it’s approach. “My King, it is too late. The beast… it comes.” Blackthorn said before quickly returning to formation.

“Forgive me Princess… Twilight… Sparkle…!” Aspen began.

“Noooo…!” Twilight whimpered as her ears fell while having no idea that anything was amiss behind her.

“I bid that you leave us.” Aspen ordered them. “You will not stop us from our destiny and I would not desire to see you hurt if you were to try.”

“S-see us hurt?” Rarity stuttered nervously.

“W-wait.. US?!” Fluttershy gasped.

“Whoa h-hold on now y’all!” Applejack stuttered as she trotted in place as all of Twilight’s friends looked frightened now.

The deer king sighed as he had been meaning to warn them, not threaten them. But in his mind the time to explain was up. “THIS IS IT!” He roared causing his entire army to release their battle cries. “This will be the day that we make our stand! This will be the moment in which we fight for what we love! Ponies, you have only now to join our fight or get out of the way of it! You’re either with us or against us! We fight for the Thicket! We fight for our honor! WE FIGHT FOR EVERFREE!!!!”

The shout that came from their group resounded so powerfully that it could be heard halfway through Ponyville and almost as far as Canterlot. All six mares now stumbled over themselves in fright. But what really startled them each into falling to the ground was when a new voice called forth from almost directly behind them.

“AND THAT… IS WHAT WILL BE YOUR UNDOING ASPEN!” The voice cut through the forest like a cannon blast. Twilight and her friends huddled together on the ground for support as they watched the newcomer step through the trees.

Heavy black paws strutted out into the small cleaning where Aspen’s army had gathered. Large blue eyes scowled with murderous intent as in the distance there was a flapping of black wings. The ponies whimpered while holding onto one another at seeing the large claws on the panther’s feet extend like daggers.

“RRROOOOAAAAAAWWWLLLLL!!!!” Every creature shook as Aspen’s army hesitated upon finally seeing a clear view of their opponent for the first time.

“T-t-t-that’s him!” Fluttershy whimpered with a squeaky cry. “That is the creature I recently found sleeping in the animal sanctuary! Ohhhh he is still so scary!”

Then it was Dash’s turn as even she remained cowering in the huddle with their friends. “That’s the same thing we saw in town when it disappeared with the fake Derpy! And there’s no way those aren’t the paws that left the tracks I found all around Tirek!” She gulped, staring at the claw tips right in front of her.

“I believe that you have some vendetta against me… Deer King!” The panther’s voice thundered loudly while he looked on as if ignoring that the ponies were even there. “You picked a fight against me, not knowing that which you would have to reckon with! There is blood for you to answer for… and tears that I would have you pay penance to! I suggest your stop this madness and send your forces home before you sow more than you can reap!” Then he made a show of licking his fangs excitedly.

“Wait what?” Twilight said while suddenly looking up in surprise. “Did… the panther just ask for peace?” She thought quietly to herself in shock.

Gritting his teeth Aspen raised his head proudly. “You have revealed yourself… fiend! And that will be your last mistake! Now DIE!” He shouted as his antlers glowed with a swirling green magic.

The hearts of everypony almost jumped from their mouths as they watched the sharp points of trees hurl themselves in their direction, right where they lay at the panther’s feet. There was a thundering sound of wood smashing together as they all assumed this would be the end of them. But while the rest of her friends screamed in absolute terror, Twilight opened her eyes and gasped while shaking her friends to look up as well.

The panther had moved to stand over them as if blocking them harm, despite still seeming to otherwise ignore their presence completely. Aspen growled in frustration seeing a magical barrier appear around the black cat which splintered the trees to shards before making it anywhere near their target. “That’s twice you’ve struck first against me...” The feline announced before releasing a toothy hiss. “And now you’ll find out what happens when I strike last!”

“NO! Please!” Twilight yelled to the feline but was interrupted by Aspen.

“You stand alone before the might of the entire forest! I would see you die now!” He ordered as the deer raised their weapons and the woodland creatures barred their teeth.

“If death truly is your wish… then that is what I shall grant!” Then, ignored by all, there was more flapping of wings from both ends of the treeline.

https://youtu.be/ss_JgjdxX40

“Prepare to charge!” Aspen yelled out. Bufogren, Manticore, and Hydra snarled as their began to approach. But to their surprise the panther erupted with an outcry of his own

“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” The forest forces froze at seeing new creatures appear.
“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay!” At his call, monsters pulled themselves up from shadow at the panther’s wailing to summons.

Sling Tails, Chimera, and Moral Eels made of stone crawled out from between the trees. Timberwolves barked and snarled at the sight of Obsidianwolves gnashing their fangs without a sound. Owlbears hooted in response to nightmarish Multi-Bear and Snow Yeti’s leering at them aggressively.

Stuck in the center the ponies could only scuttle back from under the panther’s legs to move away from the fighting as Aspen’s eyes and the panther’s eyes narrowed viciously upon each other. Then with a nod the fighting began.

“Here at the starting line, never ending race,
What I've got inside, is a commonplace.” Rayne sang as his shadow hounds rushed first.
“I've been dreaming 'bout, hope for better days,
Time for dreaming's done, time to face the sun.” Aspen held his soldiers back as a wave of Cockatrice leapt forward for a surprise attack. Instantly the feet of the Obsidianwolves changed from obsidian to granite until the hounds vanished entirely leaving only the stone paws left behind.

“Flying high above the world!” Rayne’s voice rang out as the hounds reemerged now standing behind the line of Cockatrice which scattered them apart.
“It's a new life, it's a new mind,
And I will never fall.” Aspen growled as the panther smirked.

“The time is now!” Rayne roared as the two armies charged each other in full.
“I can't contain myself, I never felt so alive!” Hydra and Eel clashed together.
“The time is now!” Wolves of timber and obsidian met with tooth and claw.
“I'm past the breaking point, I set my soul on fire.” Then the entire clearing was a mass of twisting creatures fighting with all they had.

“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah.” Aspen and Rayne stood glaring defiantly of each other.
“The time is now!” The deer king nodded and looked to his troops.
Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah.” Aspen raised a hoof as his soldiers readied themselves.
“The time is now!” Then there was a thundering of hooves as the army of the Thicket raced ahead like a cavalry charge.

Forward they ran while fighting with poise and grace. Their spears were strong while their arrows hit their marks. Even as the shadowed fiends reformed, more deer where there to support the animals of the forest time and again.

Now Rayne finally raced into the fray. Aspen readied himself as three of his guard remained behind to protect their king.
“I cannot stop, see another way,
Am I looking for another cheap escape.” His claws rent spears while his fangs threw deer from where to stood into other deer like cannon fodder.
“I've been pushing forward, crushing everything,
It's a push and pull, it's a give and take!” Quickly a line formed to block the were-panther’s path. But Rayne raised his head before throwing his open jaws forward blasting a beam of magic at the ground where the deer bared his way. Flames exploded up from the earth sending the forest defenders flying back through the air.

“Flying high above!” Rayne called out as he leapt over the flames as well as the three royal guard. Aspen caught his attacker’s claws with his antlers and threw him to the side.
“And it's a new life, it's a new mind,
And I will never fall.” Now Rayne and Aspen charged at each other as the battle raged on.

‘The time is now!” Rayne and Aspen clashed with horns and claws.
“I can't contain myself, I never felt so alive.” Rayne dodged a spear to the face.
“The time is now!” Aspen growled as he took a scratch down his flank.
“I'm past the breaking point, I set my soul on fire!” Rayne spat a mist of magic which Aspen jumped to avoid but found his three guard turned to solid obsidian.

“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” Rayne grinned triumphantly as Aspen seemed unnerved.
“The time is now!” Rayne charged as they two exchanged blows from antlers to claw like a fencing dual.
“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” The panther bellowed as the deer king was suddenly ensnared with Obsidian-vines.
“The time is now!” Rayne sang out as he pounced for the killing blow only to have to shift to shadow in order to avoid a massive tree spearing down upon him.

Once he reformed he snarled seeing Aspen call vines of his own to pull Rayne’s away. Again his antlers shined with green magic as trees pummeled in the a panther’s direction only to be smashed about by an invisible force field protecting the black cat. “It is over Aspen… You’re forces are losing.” Rayne said as his tongue swiped over his teeth. To this Aspen could not help but to look back and see how his soldiers were fairing.

“Now! Hey, hey!” Arrows pelted off or through Obsidian-Cragadiles ineffectively.
“Now! Hey, hey!” A wave of black stone Flash Bees continually electrified the deer.
“Now! Hey, hey!” The Manticore were no match for the dark Chimera’s three heads.
“Now! Hey, hey!” Even the Hydra were battered around by the tails of the shadow eels.

Seeing that their forces were losing all of the deer looked around and nodded as they decided to use their magic. Each of them dripped a green fluid of raw life energy onto the grass below. Then as trees suddenly sprouted up from ground the deer ducked while Aspen moved the plants in a way resembling to Rayne like helicopter blades. Even though his entire army of Umbran creatures were felled in one blow it was still not enough to sway the tide of this fight

Taking a deep breath and raising his head up high the panther made a might call out through the forest once again.
“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” Now the creature who had swayed the trees earlier finally came worth.
“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” The smiles on deer soon faded to exasperated cries at seeing a gigantic Obsidian-Tatzlwurm tower above them.
“The time is now!” The mighty tail of the creature sliced across the field sundering full grown trees in it’s path as Aspen’s entire army was swept onto their backs. Then every creature scrambled desperately to right themselves as the entire shadow army reformed around them in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile the ponies sat helpless, watching as this all unfolded before them.

“I can't contain myself, I've never felt so alive!” Rayne returned to his own fight as Aspen charged him with his antlers.
“The time is now!
I'm past the breaking point, I set my soul on fire!” He sang as he blasted the white stag away from him with a spell.

“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” The panther vocalized confidently as woodland critters cowered now instead of fighting.
“The time is now!” Rayne sang as deer all over dropped their weapons to move back into a huddle and plead for the shadow creatures to stop.
“Hey-ay, hey-ay, hey-ay, yeah!” The panther vocalized again to the infuriated face of Aspen.
“The time is now!” Rayne yelled as he watched his opponent look around for another option, for any available hope left to him, only to then drop his head in defeat. “Checkmate!”

There was silence as the breeze blew through the forest carrying with it the frightened whimpers of those cowering on the battlefield. Rayne’s force now surrounded Aspen’s group on all sides. “Hold onto your horns Discord because you are definitely going to feel this!” Rayne thought to himself as he looked back over his shoulder.

Suddenly a fiery light erupted from the pile of deer and other creatures. All at once it made it’s way into the panther. Deer, monster, and animal collapsed in fatigue as Timberwolves fell upon all around. Then the field became absolutely covered by the number of Obsidianwolves that we now at the panther’s disposal.

“Wow! He really IS taking the magic of forest creatures to make his own dark copies of them!” Pinkie shouted as her friends scowled at her from that now being abundantly clear.

However back where the leaders now stood there was a great laughter which broke out from the black cat. “Hehehe… HaHaHA! HAHAHA! What a GREAT battle!” He shouted as if reveling in the glory. “Such an amazing fight! I will definitely look back on this day and smile! As should you for how wonderfully your soldiers fought” Rayne stated boldly. But then his smile faded as he went on to say, “The fight is over now. Yield Aspen, you have lost. It is time to end this farce.”

“FARCE?!” Aspen bellowed. “There has been no farce! My soldiers fought proudly with all they had against your denizens of evil!”

Rayne just sighed at this as he explained, “That is not what I meant. I didn’t want to spoil the fun by robbing you all of your hope for a fighting chance. But it is that hope which has been the farce to begin with.” He said as he snapped his paw tips. Instantly his army disappeared and reappeared right in between all of the deer with fangs around each of their necks.

“W-what?!” Aspen’s whole demeanor fell as he realized the truth. “You could have slayed us all at a moment’s whim without a single one of us even being able to raise a spear against you.”

“That’s right… Now, let’s have this be over with already.” The panther growled.

Aspen’s gaze shifted to a desperate scowl as he snarled out, “I don’t have to defeat your monsters! I ONLY HAVE TO DEFEAT YOU AND THEY WILL FALL!” Then he lurched forward with his antlers raised.

The panther just rolled his eyes so wide that even Twilight and her friends could see it from across the battlefield. There was a loud impact sound as Aspen drove his horns straight into a solid wall of obsidian that was suddenly raised from the ground. The stag fell onto his hind end in a daze before finally accepting that there was nothing else he could do.

However something happened then that he did not expect. Aspen noticed he was surrounded by eyes. There were dozens of pairs of eyes staring down from the trees watching the fight. “A raven? No, not just a raven… It’s you?! What- what are you doing awake?! Tales of your presence have not been heard for centuries!” Aspen gasped as a black bird with red eyes looked down to him and cawed.

Meanwhile Rayne’s heavy black panther lips watered as he stared at the downed stag sitting right before him. “I can’t believe it. You really are too stubborn for your own good. Let it never been said that I did not give you every chance to back down… But now you will die, King Aspen.” Then the ponies held onto each other’s hooves in fright as they watched the cat lower down to pounce.

No longer feeling afraid Aspen stood and raised his head proudly. “Do what you will… I shall no longer resist. But if you strike me down, you shall be faced with a force more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” Aspen said to him as Rayne leapt for the kill.

“Wait a minute...” Rayne thought mid jump at seeing Aspen really just standing there to allow himself to be slain.

“Flink!”

Everyone looked up in surprise as the panther stood behind Aspen having teleported passed while now heaving with rage and staring at the ground wide eyed. “No…!” He growled. Then his thoughts raced, “Something is wrong here! Something else is happening that I don’t understand. Who was he talking to a moment ago? Those birds? Hmm. I don’t sense magic from them. But… whether I understand it or not, I’m letting some pansy deer Obi Wan me into more trouble for myself. And I am not turning this fool warmongering king into a martyr...”

“What are you-” Aspen turned to question why he was spared. Though he was quite surprised when the panther suddenly clutched him right around the neck. With the shadow of the Arimaspi below, Rayne pulled Aspen right off his hooves and slammed the deer against the side of a tree. Then he pelted Aspen back and forth against the ground twice before raising the deer by the horns and headbutting him so hard that he went rolling halfway across the battlefield.

“Hulk-smash mother fucker...” Rayne whispered as he began to step forward. Now the king lay battered and breathless but he was alive. “I DID NOT COME HERE TO SLAY DEER!” The panther called to every creature, much to all their surprise.

“I knew it.” Twilight stated causing her friends to look at her curiously.

‘You… you lie!” Aspen gasped as he lay on the ground wheezing heavily.

The panther shook his head and returned the essence of the deer soldiers and forest creatures. “No, I don’t. You are just a blind king with a heart full of fear. That is the problem with you equines. You… fear… EVERYTHING! And that drives you to make mistakes that could have been avoided if you only took the time to stop and to think.”

Despite the exasperation of her friends Twilight could not resist squeaking out, “Technically, we are equine and they are cervids which are not a directly related species.”

“Yes but perissodactyla or cetartiodactyla, you are both ungulates who still respond to danger the same.” Rayne replied as Twilight looked on with surprise at how educated this mysterious beast seemed to be. Upon seeing this Rayne stopped to also question himself, having no idea how he knew what he did and suddenly feeling concerned that he was losing track of what knowledge he had gained from which pony.

“But… but you… You attacked this forest!” Aspen weakly called to defend his action.

“No!” Rayne roared getting back on track now. “I lived in this forest… and respected it. Yes I may have given these creatures a fright! I stolen their energies but then I returned that which I took each and every time!”

“You… You killed! You’re a murderer!” Aspen tried but it was clear that the deer were now listening to hear out what the panther had to say.

“I HUNTED! I am a CARNIVORE!” Rayne bellowed. “I killed when I wished to feed and I spared at all other times!” He looked over through the pile of animals knowing he had Fluttershy’s ability for them to understand him. “There, that Manticore… true I ate her mate. But I left her and her cubs to repopulate from the ONE that I took from this forest. Your Timberwolves I pillaged in what would seem without mercy! But in fact, never once did I decimate a pack as a whole. I ALWAYS left remnants over. I took what I would from this forest… But respected it’s ecosystem all the same!”

“No… No, but...” Aspen began but Fluttershy was the one to then stepped forward next.

“Is that true? Even as he terrorized all of you… did he just borrow your energy and then give it back? And did he really spare lives when he could?” Everyone could see the forest animals sigh and nod. Even a few new Timberwolves who ripped themselves off the trees nodded to that.

“But you Aspen...” Rayne growled. “You attacked innocents because you were angry at me! And you did so without warning or even asking if I would leave your forest! You never gave me the chance to explain myself. I didn’t even know that this forest HAD deer let alone a ruler until after you attacked me!”

“Then why… Why did you come here?! Why did you FIGHT us?!” Aspen snapped, feeling guilty as his soldiers looked to him in disappointment at having been told none of this.

“I came for THEM! To protect the ponies!” Rayne shouted causing the six mares to blush in surprise. “You call me a murderer? That I admit that I am. But not to you… and not to innocents. Any creature I’ve eaten I gave a fair fighting chance. But when I do kill… I slay VILLAINS! Villains like you Aspen.”

“Wha- But I’m not...”

“What else would you call a tyrant who threatens their neighbors with war?” Now Aspen’s face fell further in shame as the panther explained. “As I said, I never even knew you existed. If you hadn’t threatened the ponies then you would have never seen me again revealing that you live in this forest. But for as long as YOU endanger the lives of ponies, I will remain to be a threat in YOUR lives!” The panther declared with a toothy snarl.

“Wait, please!” Twilight spoke up as she dared to approach even as her friends struggled to hold her back. “So you’re saying all of this could be over with as of right now? All King Aspen has to do was say that he will no longer challenge Equestria and you will no longer threaten him?”

Slowly Aspen began to lift himself to his hooves but he did it slowly and with his antlers lowered. “And what of the forest?”

“Hmph.” Rayne sat and crossed his paws. “If the ponies are safe I will no longer torment any who live here. I WILL continue to live here and hunt when hungry… but only do so as often as I feel the need. Otherwise, I shall remain a quiet resident in this forest, out of this forest, or wherever else I choose to be.”

Twilight grimaced but shrugged toward Aspen. “I…” He hesitated but finally caved in. “I shall no longer threaten the lives or livelihood of pony kind.” Aspen grumbled bitterly.

“Then we are done here.” The panther stated dismissively as his entire army vanished in a puff of shadow. Then he turned his back and began to saunter off into the forest.

“WAIT!” Twilight cried as every her friends ran back up to her side. The great cat stopped and raised an eye to her as Aspen returned to his troops and the animals scattered on their own. “I have so many questions! Who are you? Why do you care so much about keeping ponies safe? What do we have to fear from you? What did you do with the gray pegasus that you kidnapped from-”

“DON’T YOU MENTION HER IN MY PRESENCE!” The panther roared as it rounded upon the princess.

The rest ducked their heads but Twilight only flinched. “I don’t believe that you want to hurt me. You only hurt… those who would hurt ponies. Am I right?”

“Hmph. Be careful Twilight Sparkle… Or that intelligence of yours might get you into trouble one day.” The panther smirked.

“Please, tell me something! Anything at least!” She pleaded.

Thinking for a moment the black cat looked to her and said, “You are not ready to know the truth just yet. Things are not how I feel they should be. But in time… in time you shall know. Until then I would avoid seeking me out.” He told her, meaning for that to be the final thought she was left with.

“You mean like asking Zecora about you?” Fluttershy asked, to which the panther visibly froze in his attempt to leave.

“Yessss… Like asking Zecora about me…” Rayne sneered as he didn’t know they had learned she was connected to him. His thoughts raced for an excuse as panic filled him but then he remembered how Twilight had just mentioned the fake Derpy. “Do not let my presence sway your trust of the zebra. She knows nothing of me. I don’t know what you think you might have seen but it is only a changeling and no other who’s company I keep in this forest.” He added.

Then as Twilight whimpered with that only making her want to question him more she watched as the panther took two steps away and vanished into the shadow before their eyes. “Come on sugarcube. We got a whole mess to report to Celestia and the others.” Applejack said while rubbing her back with a hoof.

As passed, Aspen had long departed for the Thicket with his bruised and battered soldiers. There were injured but not a single one of them had been killed. The white stag eventually stopped and sighed after ordering some of his scouts to rush ahead and bring their families back. But then he looked up into the trees above him as the ravens slowly started to disperse. “Just wait.. I don’t care what lies spew from that demon’s mouth. Mark my words, he WILL kill again. And you will have your chance.” He said to the red eyed raven.

“Caw!” It cried before flapping it’s wings and vanishing without even taking flight.

Author's Notes:

Wow so I am really amazed that we are now officially passed 75 chapters. When I first started this story I had no idea that it would run for so long or be this successful. I have all of you to thank for that. If you are a regular reader who has made it this far and never comments before then please feel free to drop a message and say hi. Let me know what you've thought so far. And don't worry everyone, there is much more to come.

Alright, now for the references. The Obi Wan reference was to Star Wars. I paraphrased his quote, "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." That doesn't quite fit for the situation of my story but Aspen's meaning to Rayne was similar.

Discord has warned Rayne not to commit another murder, Aspen has warned Rayne not to commit another murder, and there have been ravens present to watch each and every time Rayne previously committed another murder. You know the phrase, "What you don't know can't hurt you?" Well that doesn't apply in this case if Rayne doesn't watch his step.

The song choice here was "The Time is Now" by Atreyu. There was no lyric only version of the video that I could find.

So anyone who has seen the Avengers movie would probably recognize my Hulk reference. Rayne did to Aspen what the Hulk did to Loki near the end of the movie.

So no I'm not trying to get sciencey on my readers. The small bit about the animal classification between ponies and deer was just a joke. Rayne now has so much knowledge and so many talents and so much power that it's getting beyond him to keep track of.

So I have to give credit to one of my readers here. Many of you have made suggestions for things to happen in my story. Sometimes I take your suggestions and sometimes I don't. But here is proof that I always listen to you. GlitchyFox gave me one idea, that inspired me into a different idea, which is how I came up with Rayne saying that the Zecora who Aspen saw with the panther was just a changeling. I originally had a different lie prepared for Rayne to tell Twilight but I decided I liked this new idea so much more. So thank you GlitchyFox.

My final note is about common phrases in the English language. We all know words like 'Meanwhile' and 'All the while.' But I needed a past tense of that so I made up my own. I don't think 'As Passed' is really a thing but I like it.