Lurking Within the Shadows (Closed)

[GoldenDaze]

 

When the little farm pony first made her way to the woods, she wasn't exactly expecting life threatening, dangerous endeavors that could easily meet with anypony's demise. This was the Whitetail Woods, why would anything horrible happen? These woods were safe, and quiet, and sure there was some wildlife, but nothing like this. Alizarin was so overwhelmed with everything happening, she couldn't help but stand there and panic. First the sand, now Apple Bloom getting shocked with some very venomous venom? Why did she agree to this?

 

The brown and crème mare stood there, watching everything happen. The poor yellow filly was laying motionless on the dirt, and it was kind of frightening to witness. She's seen this happen before one time, but Ali wasn't familiar with Apple Bloom yet. She wasn't too familiar with anypony. 

 

She listened as the yellow filly mumbled that the anecdote was in the book bag, which made Ali perk up. She ran halfway to it, surprised as Fluttershy beat her to it. "What in tarnat-" she paused, spinning her body around to face the quick-to-action Pegasus make her way to AB and settling down next to her. The short mare's ears pinned back to her head, realizing that Fluttershy wasn't such a weakling after all.

 

She would never admit that, as she trotted quickly to the little pony, who seemed to be in so much pain it was unbearable. The little mare was actually starting to feel bad, and it kind of scared her. She felt like she had to help somehow. 

 

She ended up making her way closer to the little filly, sitting right behind her and lifting up her head to get a better sip of the anecdote. The filly was losing consciousness quick, which made Ali's heart race. As Fluttershy held the anecdote up for her, Ali helped the liquid go down her throat, moving her head some more to prevent choking. "C'mon lil' filly! You're gonna be all find an' dandy after all this roughin' 'n toughin' is over with." Ali's voice was shaky, but she didn't really care in this moment. The grumpy pony turned into a caring one for a split second. 

 

Yeah, for only a second. 

 

She looked up at the group, bunching up her eyebrows. "Who 'n their right pancake flippin' mind let her run off by herself?! Anypony got a gosh darn answer?!"

[dragonofruin]

Sombra had no particular spells or knowledge of basilisks to help the poor filly, and it seemed most of the others didn't have a clue either in the face of a hurt child- save one. He was surprised by the shy mare's initiative as she took to rifling through Apple Bloom's bags for an antidote, and seemingly found one. The former tyrant stepped over, only to pause and look back over at the captain with a raised eyebrow.

 

"Unfortunately, I don't. I have ways of putting myself back together if need be, but I doubt it'd work for normal ponies. Dark magic doesn't work that way," he replied with a wrinkle of his nose. He had no idea how he could save her, as.. bad as it felt. She was a foal, and it bothered him to see her in pain while Fluttershy struggled to get her to drink the antidote. Alizarin was helping, while he could only stand there and watch with a troubled frown on his face. It was interesting to see how Alizarin's guard cracked just enough to show she cared.

 

As the farm pony turned back to snap at them, Sombra's upper lip curled with a narrowing of his eyes. It was an effort to reign back his flash of anger in retaliation to her own, but it still edged his voice. "Nopony just let her. We were all so busy trying to save you- I doubt you would've liked it if we ran off after Apple Bloom to drag her flank back just to leave you to drown. In a dire moment like that, our minds were likely focused on only one pony. The foal chose to slip off while we were distracted, as I believe I mentioned before when you asked," Sombra replied, a soft growl following his answer.

[tacobob]

 

 

 

Fire Walker tried her best not to get too close to the hurt filly. Crowding somepony like that would only cause panic and panic was never good for a hurt little pony. As she waited, more of her first aid lessons continued to pour into her head. When did she take classes on more fantastical beasts? Regular old animals rarely attacked ponies. And if they did, it was either out of defense or they were sick themselves. Basilisks were just miserable little jerks. Usually you would need to ether convince them to stop the venom and eventual shift into stone, or just stop on the little hobknockers until their skull cracked or they gave up.

 

Like the others, she heard what Apple Bloom said. And while the Pegasus mare started to rummage through the child's bags, the officer gave the filly a little bit of water from her water-skin. Or at least attempted to, as what she had heard stopped the mare in her tracks. She carried Basalisk venom antidote in her bag? Was that even a thing?  As Fluttershy made her back over, Fire Walker quickly moved out of the way and watched.

 

She could only imagine the filly acquired it from the potion-maker that lived near the entrance of the Everfree. That zebra probably had a cure for anything. She waited And there was some chatter. Some she didn't care for, but she choose not to take it personally. She turned to the others and whispered, "If this potion doesn't work, we'll need to find the Basilisk that did this to her and find a way for it to restore Apple Bloom. Either that, or just stomp on its head. I heard killing 'em usually disrupts the conversation. At least that's what I heard.", she added rather grimly.

[SteelEagle]

                                                                                                             


Apple Bloom felt herself tugged into a dusky place. It wasn't dark and it wasn't light. It wasn't blissful unawareness nor was it an active consciousness.  It was a grayish void of subdued lights and a bright blackness that tugged at her. She felt everything. Or at least it felt like she felt everything. Her body was faded but the pain wasn't. She wanted to cry or to sob or to scream or to beg for it to stop, but all she could do was suffer in a suffocating silence that was so, so loud. But at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. She tried to think about what was happening but it seemed like her memory was...well she didn't know...anything. Names, words, sounds, everything seemed to be a jumbled mess and she was starting to forget what anything was or what it felt like, except for the pain- even the reason why she was hurting seemed to fade.

 

Then she started to feel something. She couldn't describe it except it felt like she was shifted, maybe up, if up was up. It was comforting in a way that she lacked the words for. She felt another sensation. Was it- lukewarm- cool? She didn't know. She didn't understand. She knew it felt like a cooling sensation once it seemed to reached deeper inside her. There was a rubbing somewhere else, and some bass seemed to indicate...words? She didn't know what was being said. Or who was saying it Or even what it meant. But inside her well of pain it was good to know that there was something beyond it, and as the sensations continued the pain started to subside. Slowly, yes. But subside it would.

 

Apple Bloom's body twitched as she slowly imbibed the antidote. The venom of a basilisk was similar to a number of other venoms in the area and so Zecora had made a few bottles, and she was right to do so. The antidote would open her lungs up and allow her to breathe while her body reacted, first by isolating the venom and pushing into small pustules that would appear on her underbelly over time, as well as a continual foamy spittle that would help ease it out of her. Fluttershy would be able to recognize this, at least hopefully. In any case, even as the antidote went to work, Apple Bloom fell into deep unconsciousness. A foamy spittle would start within a few moments of the last drop being imbibed and it would continue out of her mouth and nose for a while, as small, brownish pustules of isolated venom appeared on her underside.

 

She wasn't out of danger, of course. If left unsupervised she could always choke, and she was deeply unconscious. But at least it was working, as ugly as it was.

OOC- Apple Bloom will be unconscious for a spell!

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

Fluttershy continued to work on Applebloom with Ali's assistance until the last drop of the antidote disappeared. After this she nodded and stood. She trotted over, gathered up the filly's bag and brought it back over. She pushed the bag under the filly's head at an angle as some rather disgusting foam began to rise and foam Abby's muzzle. 

 

"Let's focus on what needs to be done right now," She spoke, not at Ali but encompassing the question she'd asked. "Now is not the time to focus on how this happened but on how we're going to get Abby through it." She'd taken on the tone that not many ponies chose the mess with. This was BossShy at her best!  

 

"Ali, please stay right here and take this," She offered the smaller mare a bandanna from Abby's saddle bag. "As the foam comes out of her nose and nose please dab it with this. Also, it seems you've got the hang of making sure she doesn't choke, good!"

 

She glanced around. "Firewalker?" She motioned for the red pegasus to come closer. "Do you see these?" She nodded at the brown pustules beginning to form on Abby's belly. "That's the basilisk venom. The antidote will purge it as foam from her mouth, and as pustules. They will need to be lanced once they become full." It was a gnarly job but it would have to be done. "We will need something sharp to lance with." She left it up to Firewalker to find a lancing item. 

 

"Sombra. Please stand guard over this area. We don't need a basilisk or any other creature that could do harm around here right now. If something does show up, you can hold them off with your um, your dark magic." She narrowed her eyes towards the stallion, still not completely convinced of his motives but trusting him for the moment. 

[GoldenDaze]

 

Alizarin was a little taken aback when the dark unicorn named Sombra argued back with her. Her eyebrows furrowed in response, as the little yellow filly was drinking up the anecdote. "Well, er-" she fumbled with her words, frustrated at his response. He was absolutely right. And she knew that. Which is what made her irritated. She just decided to end with a, "Whatever", as it would make the situation worse. Instead, she just kept her eyebrows and nose scrunched, which was kind of cute to look at.

 

She turned to Fluttershy as she spoke next, making the farm pony roll her eyes. "Fine."

 

The mare then looked to the red Captain as she spoke next, make the small mare raise an eyebrow. "Darn tootin'! Ah didn't even think of that thin' bein' close over here. He could be 'nywhere right now." She looked dramatically around her, making sure she didn't hear a scary sound. "That can't be the huge thin' that's makin' all those thuds, right? Or is there another monster runnin' silly?" Her ear twitched, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Ah kind of like the idea of squishin' that bugger alive. Can't think of nythin' else to do." 

 

Something in Fluttershy must've snapped, as she came to terms with her confident side. The yellow pony told her to keep the bandana, which Ali did so. Following right after, foam started to spittle, in which Ali dabbed at the filly's face. The brown and crème mare nodded her head, "Yeah, I've had to deal with this type of venom before. Mah cousin Fruit Juice got basilisk vemon in 'er once, so Ah'm familiar with this ridiculous situation." Ali's voice still sounded irritated, and she kept ahold of Apple Bloom.

 

When Fluttershy ordered everypony to help from what they could, another large thud shook the ground they were laying and sitting on. "If somethin' else happens Ah'm gonna rip somepony a new one." Another thud.

 

 

[dragonofruin]

His ears pinned back against his mane and for a moment, his nostrils flared in response to that snapped whatever from the mare. He had nothing to say in the face of it beyond another soft growl rolling out of his throat, although.. the expression of hers was making it somewhat difficult to hold any anger against her for long. He chose to let it go, for now, chalking it up to stress on her part.

 

His attention moved on from Alizarin to the timid yellow-and-pink pegasus who was not so timid now as she moved among the other ponies, giving them orders- mostly focused on helping the filly as the antidote did its work to purge the cockatrice's venom from her body. The last pony Fluttershy visited was him, and he took in her narrow-eyed look with something close to indifference over his thinly veiled agitation. It was almost cute that she was trying to tell him what to do. His tail lashed behind him and he grunted, glancing back over at Alizarin and Firewalker crouched over the still-unconscious Apple Bloom.

"Normally I don't listen to the orders of ponies, but.. fine. I'll keep an eye out-.." Sombra trailed off and turned his head as something in the forest shook the ground again, followed by a second. The former tyrant moved around in a half circle around the mares, his brow furrowed as he tried to figure out which direction it could be originating from. He could agree with Alizarin, it was getting annoying. It might not even be what he was looking for, but he was already here so he might as well follow this through to the end with his current companions.

[tacobob]

 

 

Fire Walker nodded her head and went to work.

 

She had a common medical kit in her saddle bag, which she pulled out. She really hated to see anypony suffer, especially kids. Thankfully Apple Bloom would be unconscious for most, if not all of this. Maybe with some luck, it will all be just a really bad dream for her. The red mare  dropped the kit right near the poor little pony.  Inside she found a small cleaning rag which was still sealed in its air-tight bag. After opening the bag, she got the cloth wet with clean water from her canteen. She watched the little farmer for a moment and yuck. The nasty ol' boils really stood out on the filly's light coat.  After cleaning up her area, it was time to release the fluids!

 

This called for a sterilized needle which was also packaged. This is one of the times she wished she was a unicorn. A good ol telekinesis spell would do wonders, but without that, she had the very tips of her wings which were good for holding things. After she made sure the area was very clear, she proceeded to lance those suckers. These were then cleaned. Then it was antibiotics, which came in a little 'squeeze please' tube, which was applied and then it was loose gauze. Or gauzes? Was that a word? "Right, I'm done here. So far so good.", she cleaned up her little mess and waited.

 

She rather liked Alizarin. For such a little pony, she sure was feisty! And this 'Sombra' fella. She was beyond curious now. What was he? Was he even a he? The real Sombra had been killed like three times? But he was evil. Like really really evil. This one was just cranky, although she had a feeling it would be very unwise to get him mad. Fluttershy's experience at her wildlife rehabilitation center proved to be beyond useful at this situation. She had changed so much over the years. When the officer had encountered the pretty Pegasus, she was so delicate, a small breeze would knock her over. Now she was giving out commands like an experienced officer.

 

It also might be wise to head back to Ponyville once things settled. There was a small medical center they could drop Apple Bloom off, and then they would need to get a hold of her parents, er, family.

[GoldenDaze]

 

Ali sucked in a sharp breath when she saw Sombra pin his ears back. She was ready to blow up on him, if he said anything else. She was incredibly stressed out from this situation, and she didn't want to be around anymore negativity. But then he seemed to lessen his anger, which made her look away finally. She realized she had a grouchy locked look on her face, so she relaxed.

 

Some foam started coming out of AB's nose, which made Ali shift her weight a little to dab the little filly's face. "Ah wish we had a little more light. Ah can barely see jack doo doo out here." She huffed, lookin' at Sombra. Right after her glance, she heard a large thud, which was louder than the last. "'N we better find out what this creature is here, or we'll all be doomed. Somepony should check it out." Another thud shook the ground, seeming to come closer. 

 

Suddenly, a large shadow darkened the spot they were standing on even, making it pitch black. The only thing the little farm pony could see was Sombra's bright horn, and other pony's eyes. Alizarin was getting a little scared, especially when she started to count how many ponies were with her. "One.. two.. three.." she dazed off, her shock grimacing on her face. "Y'all, there's 'n extra set of eyeballs." She blinked a couple times. Maybe her eyes were deceiving her. She counted herself, Fire Walker, Fluttershy, Sombra, Applebloom was laying on her.. there was still another set. Bright red, never blinking. 

 

The short pony squinted, then opened her mouth to speak again. "Am Ah goin' insane? Do y'all see what Ah'm seein'?" 

[dragonofruin]

A quick glance was cast back over the mares to make sure they were all close by. Alizarin and Firewalker were still tending to Applebloom, and Fluttershy was at least within view. His attention shifted back to the woods, and none too soon- another, heavier thud preceded the dark veil that fell over them. Sombra's eyes glowed faintly in the dark, a glow that brightened slightly as he channeled dark magic to bring forth a few floating, oddly colored flames to try to light the darkness that'd fallen.

 

He could see the shapes of the mares and the filly, and if he looked up.. he could see a set of bright red eyes. His light sources were dim enough they didn't quite reach, but at least lit the area around him. His attention lingered on those bright eyes for a moment before he moved carefully to put himself in between the creature and the mares, his curved horn still bubbling with the hues of dark magic. If it attacked, he was ready.

 

"I see it well enough," Sombra spoke up at last, affirming what Alizarin saw. "It's saved us the trouble from having to find it."

[RainbowFoxxy]

 

Well, at least everypony had taken their orders. Fluttershy watched the whole situation unfold, her senses of highest of alerts. This was not good. It would be much better to deal with what was happening with Abby in a medical center. But, they were in the woods, in the dark, in the middle of pretty much nowhere. This was a bad situation and it irked her that things kept on tumbling downhill. Her eyes stayed narrowed as she tried to focus.

 

The thuds did not escape her, nor did the dark shadow, or the red eyes. She had a hunch as to what it might be and she would continue her vigil with Abby until the beast came near. Near enough to be a threat that could not be ignored. On it came, until the fur on her nape stood on end. She nodded to Ali and continue on with taking care of venom that oozed forth. A nasty job that she knew somepony with Ali's merits could easily handle. She felt especially confident once the mare let on that another of her family had dealt with such venom. 

 

"Keep pulling the venom away please, as soon as it comes out." She knew Ali knew this but it helped Fluttershy to say it. It was really just stilling her for what she'd do next.

 

The pegasus flexed her wings and took to the air. She flew over the others in the group and right up to those eyes. Those big red eyes. She opened her eyes wide in her patented stare and used her most commanding tones. 

 

"Stop right there!" The beast took one more thudding step and stopped as Flutters fixed her stare even more heavily on the creature. "Not one more step."

 

She huffed and flew down closer, her rage barely concealed. "We have a friend who is hurt, we've had to rescue creatures from the swamp, we've had to deal with way too much from this forest and I'm not dealing with you too!" Glare. "Now, either come out here and help us get this little filly to safety or be on your way!"

 

The creature still had not exited the shadows so she wasn't totally sure who or what she was dealing with but she didn't care. Abby was hurt and they were in danger and Fluttershy would not stand for any more abuse!

[tacobob]

 

 

 

“I do see those eyes.”, Fire Walker scooted closer to the downed filly and continued to make sure the venom was still flowing out. Whatever it was, if it intended them harm, it would have to go through the officer first before it could get to little Apple Bloom. Could this be the creature that poisoned the little farmer?

 

She waited for the next move. So far, it appeared the eyes were more of a creature that was curious, not threatening, but looking at her little group. Thankfully if it was a animal, they had things covered with Fluttershy.

[GoldenDaze]

 

Ali's ears pinned back when Fluttershy told her to keep the venom out. "Ah know, Ah know, don't gotta keep remindin' me!" She was getting way too grumpy, being stuck in the dark with a hurt filly kind of made her extremely nervous. The short mare didn't know how to control her emotions too well, so they always came out negatively. So as of this moment, Ali really wanted to scream and punch things. Too bad she had a little delicate filly in her hooves right now. 

 

After spotting the huge creature, Ali watched as the shy mare approached the monster quite bravely. The farm pony was quite impressed once again, but of course would never ever admit it. Though a lot of the shouting seemed to do nothing, as the monster never once reached out of the shadows. 

 

Alizarin had enough with the silence, finally losing her (what seemed to be) cool nature, and reached behind herself to grab a rock. She then chucked the rock right at the monster, hitting it straight in the face. "Bullseye! Try messin' with us! Now leave us be!" 

 

Throwing the rock wasn't the smartest idea to think of, as the monster roared so loud Ali's mane stuck backwards. The short mare now could get a little idea of what was staring at them, as the monster came flying at them! A very large manticore showed itself to the group.

 

 

Alizarin's eyes shrunk. She'd never seen a manticore that size, nor one in the Whitetail Woods. Why were all these bad things in the most peaceful forest? And they still haven't even seen the monster that poisoned Apple Bloom!

 

The manticore came right at Ali and Apple Bloom, and Ali felt stuck. What would they do?

[dragonofruin]

In trying to face off with the looming beast, Sombra was distracted by the approach of the yellow and pink mare, who he caught sight of in his peripheral vision. He looked over at her, both alarmed and annoyed by her attempt to talk to it? He stared at her for a moment like she was crazy, only to have his attention snatched by a frustrated Alizarin. A wordless shout escaped him as he attempted to vocalize something to shout at her about how foolish an action that was.

 

He lowered his head and lifted a foreleg across his face as the creature roared, ruffling his mane. When he dropped it, he saw exactly what it was that was menacing them: a manticore. That couldn't be it. Is that all that had been terrorizing the White Tail Woods? Weren't they said to usually live in the Everfree Forest? What was it doing out here? They were all questions he was likely not going to end up getting answers for, and not something he could dwell on either when the large beast lunged in Alizarin's direction- where Apple Bloom also was, and likely Fire Walker too.

Sombra reacted without thinking, dark magic flaring as he fired it at the manticore with the intent to not only hurt it, but distract it too.