>Day Over the River and Though the Woods in Equestria

Companion image is here: http://victor-whiterock.deviantart.com/art/Carnelian-Manticore-Victor-Whiterock-395772049

>You are Carnelian. Bat pony, wanderer, artisan.
>And right now you are trekking through the Everfree Forest with a strange companion and an even stranger mission.
“You didn’t have to come with me Anon. Just because I’m not an earth pony doesn’t mean I can’t get a few branches for that crazy farmer.”
>Anon gives you a critical look.
>He’s helped you a ton, and you consider him a friend, but you really hate it when he looks at you like that.
>”First of all, Applejack trusts my opinion when it comes to plant selection. Second of all, it’s not just a ‘few’ branches. We’re going to get a lot.”
>He swishes open his long coat, showing off his sword and a whole bunch of other tools and things.
>”And last of all, I’m the muscle in case we run into something nasty.”
>Why does Anon always seem like he’s ready for a fight?
>Maybe vampire hunters are just naturally aggressive?
>Even so, he makes the Night Guard look like a bunch of pacifists.
“Whatever. I still think you should’ve stayed home. Isn’t this supposed to be part of my penance for stealing?”
>Anon grins down at you.
>”Ooh, ‘penance’. Big word. I’m impressed.”
”Shut up.”
>”Ah, now. I’m just here to help out a bit. Besides, I can give Applejack a glowing report on your behalf when we get back.”
“Really?”
>”Sure. Applejack seemed quite impressed that you actually knew about cutting and grafting trees.”
“Well, like I told her, I have a lot of friends who have orchards. They showed me a few things.”
>”Be that as it may, I think she was shocked to find out that races other than earth ponies can actually grow things.”
“Heh heh, yah. According to her, unicorns can’t stand dirt and pegasi couldn’t grow weeds if their lives depended on it.”
>”Man, that’s harsh. I’m glad my little garden is doing well. I just don’t know if I could handle Applejack’s disapproval.”
>You laugh.
”So are these zap apples really that great?”
>”Hmmnnn…” Anon looks thoughtful.
>”Imagine a fruit that tastes like all the varieties of apples you’ve ever had. Throw in a couple of pear flavors too. Add a tiny bit of magic lightning, and you’ve basically got a zap apple.”
“Wow! I mean apples aren’t my favorite, but that sounds amazing.” 
>”Yep. Apparently Applejack’s grandmother discovered the first zap apple trees in this very forest.”
“She didn’t mention that. So is that where we’re headed? To where she first found them?”
>”Nope. Applejack seems to think there’s a whole other grove besides that original one. Probably thinks the trees there will make better hybrids.”
“How does she know where this other grove is?”
>”There’s a zebra who lives in these woods. I think she’s the one who told her.”
“So why didn’t she have the zebra get them?”
>”Well, you can’t go repeating this to anyone, but I think Applejack owes her too many favors already.”
“Huh.”
>Anon pats you on the head.
>”But hey, that just means we have an opportunity to get you in her good graces, right? Big Mac too.”
>He winks at you.
>You open your mouth to say something, but then reconsider.
>Ever since figuring out that you maybe have a tiny crush on the gorgeous red stallion, Anon has been mercilessly teasing you about Big Mac.
>Not wanting to give your friend any more fuel, you keep your trap shut.
>You both head deeper into the forest.
>The surroundings grow darker.
>Of course, you have no problem with the lack of light but Anon starts to slow down.
>You waggle your rump at him and smirk.
“Wanna hold onto my tail?”
>”Very funny, Miss I-can-see-in-the-dark.”
>He grunts as he trips on a root.
>You wait as he catches up.
>”Actually, can you see in the dark? Do you just have really good eyes or can you use echolocation?”
“What’s echolocation? Is that like clicking?”
>”Is that what you call it? You know, making sounds and listening to the echoes to figure out where stuff is?”
“Yah, that’s clicking. Sure, I can do that. We all can, it just takes a little practice.”
>”Well, that’s neat. I’ll tell you what. I’m going to continue on down this rabbit trail. Why don’t you scout ahead a little and see if there’s an easier way through this mess, OK?”
“Sure you can get along without me?”
>”I’ll manage. Just don’t get yourself eaten by timber wolves, hmm?”
>You roll your eyes.
>It’s not like you haven’t already spent weeks in the Everfree before meeting Anon.
>As you trot away from your companion you peer into the inky undergrowth.
>On the other hand, you never have traveled so far into this forest before.
>Determined to show Anon what you are made of you take to the air.
>You know where you’re supposed to be headed.
>If you can find a good path then Anon have to eat his words.
>Pressing on, things get darker.
>As you move through the shadows, you wonder how the other pony races get along without clicking.
>They must suffer a lot of stubbed hooves at night.
>You sniff the air.
>With the lack of sunlight here, things don’t grow in this part of the forest; they molder.
>Continuing your search for a good path you see a patch of light up ahead.
>Sure enough, there is a clearing with sunlight streaming down through the broken canopy.
>You alight on a thick tree branch on the edge of the glade and give your eyes a moment to adjust before moving on.
>You’re REALLY glad you did too, because napping near the center of the clearing is a huge furry shape.
>Big mane. Bat wings. Scorpion tail. 
>It can only be one thing.
>Manticore!
>Deciding that this is definitely not the way to go you stand up and make ready to head back.
>That’s when a small critter on the other side of the clearing decides to make some noise.
>Immediately the beast rears its head.
>Oh, Bloody Mangoes!
>You freeze as if your life depends on it.
>Which it probably does.
>The monster shakes itself and gets up.
>It starts pacing about, like a dog inspecting the boundaries of its yard.
>Then it stops.
>Cocking its head, it tests the air.
>Does it smell you?
>After an agonizing wait, the beast wanders off into the trees.
>Fortunately, it heads in the opposite direction away from you.
>You slump down onto the branch as you remember to breath.
>Maybe Anon has the right idea, bringing all that gear.
>Oh no, Anon! You can’t let him head this way!
>You spring into the air and retrace your path.
>You find the trail that Anon is using and follow it until you reach him.
>Breathlessly, you try to tell him what you’ve found.
>When you mention the word manticore, Anon puts his hand on your mouth to silence you.
>He looks around in all directions, then motions for you to follow him.
>As you trail along you try to explain that the beast didn’t follow you.
>Anon stops at a thick stand of trees and motions for you to join him.
>The two of you stand with the trees to your back and he starts taking something out of his coat.
>”Keep an eye out while I get this torch lit.”
“I told you, it…”
>”Manticores are part lion, right? Anything that’s part jungle cat is going to be really good at stalking.”
>You hear the sizzle as Anon’ torch catches fire.
>He’s so paranoid.
>That monster went the other way and…
>There, concealed beneath the shadow of a huge tree a ways off, the manticore stares directly at you.
>Certainly, if it wasn’t for your sensitive eyes you wouldn’t be able to see it at all.
>Words fail as you open your mouth.
>All you can do is tug at Anon’s leg. 
>He somehow gets the message and follows your gaze.
>”I can’t see him. Can you?”
“Y-yes.” you manage to whisper.
>”Ok, he’s obviously not going to leave us alone. Keep him in sight but don’t look directly at him.”
“What are you going to do?”
>Anon doesn’t answer, instead he rustles around in his coat.
>He kneels down and puts his hand on your withers.
>”I need you to tell me exactly where he is, OK?”
>You describe which tree the monster is laying under and Anon stands up. 
>A hiss reaches your ears and you hear Anon whispering to himself.
>”5… 4… 3…”
>He takes a step in front of you and throws something.
>BANG!!
>A small flash of light crackles near where the monster is crouched and you hear a loud squalling sound like a giant cat that has had its tail stepped on.
>The forest is in an uproar as you hear a large crashing in the bushes.
>You can’t see the manticore, but you can hear as it makes its getaway. 
>Anon sits on the ground beside you.
>”You like that? I got some firecrackers from Pinkie Pie and combined them into something with a little more oomph.”
>You’re trembling now. 
>This is all just too much!
>Anon sees your distress and starts to stroke your head to calm you down.
>”Hey, hey. It’s alright. He’s not coming back.”
>You sniffle a bit.
“Wh-why do I always get into these situations with you?!”
>”Just lucky I guess. Come on, the sooner we get those cuttings the sooner we can head back.”
>He stands up and you groan.
>What can you do? You get up and follow him.
>As you walk along you feel compelled to ask Anon about his super firecracker.
“Have you messed with a manticore before?"
>”Nah, but I’ve been hunted by scarier things than that. Heck, I’ve known vampire lords who would’ve kept something like that as a pet.”
>You can’t even bring yourself to be surprised by his statement.
>After this, Applejack owes you a lot of blood.
>Wending your way through some more brightly lit paths you manage to avoid any more giant beasties.
>Finally, Anon calls a halt.
>You look up and take in your surroundings.
>It takes a minute, but you notice that the trees all around you have dark red leaves.
>Zap apple trees!
>You would have walked right by them if Anon hadn’t noticed.
>So much for not needing his help.
>Anon hands you a pruning knife which you take in your mouth. 
>”You start taking cuttings and I’ll keep watch OK?”
“Ust ‘ee? Ptooey! I mean, just me?”
>”Well you’ve got the wings and I don’t have a ladder.”
“Oh. Right.”
>You fly up into the nearest zap apple tree and start selecting branches.
>You’re glad that Applejack had taken pains to show you what makes a suitable cutting.
>After making a few cuts with your knife you have a couple of branches clenched in your teeth.
>You take them to Anon who wraps and bundles them.
>You continue until Anon says you have enough.
>The trip back is uneventful.
>As you reach the edge of the forest, Anon congratulates you on a job well done.
>You just sigh and shake your head.
“I didn’t do anything. If it wasn’t for you I’d be manticore chow right now.”
>Anon just chuckles.
>”Come on Carnelian. You got the cuttings. You managed to avoid that overgrown kitty-cat too.”
“But it still found me!”
>”And that’s why I tagged along. I don’t expect you to be some great jungle explorer; even if you are half bat.”
“So in other words, I’m just dead weight.”
>”Why are you so negative? Think about it. If I had stumbled onto that kitty’s naptime it probably would have tried to maul me.”
>Anon plucks at one of your wings.
>”But you kept your cool. You didn’t panic and that’s probably why it decided to scope you out instead of just attacking you outright.”
>”Also, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re the one who made all these cuttings. That’ll impress the Apples.”
>You think about Anon’s words.
>Ever since leaving home you’ve been trying to cope as best you can.
>Maybe Anon’s correct and you just need to stop being so hard on yourself?
>In any case, he’s right. 
>You got Applejack’s cuttings!
>She’ll be impressed and Big Mac will be too.
>And then you’ll have all the delicious cow blood you can drink.
>Just thinking about it makes your tummy rumble.
>As you come into the last clearing before leaving the Everfree you hear a little ‘chirrrupp’ sound.
>You and Anon both slow down and look around.
>There, sitting on a log, is a little blue puffball with gossamer wings.
>A parasprite.
>Normally it wouldn’t concern you, but you’ve seen what these little pests can do to trees back home, and this bug is eyeing your cuttings hungrily.
>Anon doesn’t know why you’re so nervous, but he takes your hint to try and scoot around the obstacle.
>That’s when you hear more chirruping sounds behind you.
>You glance around and see that there are parasprites emerging from trees all over the clearing.
>And they’re all approaching you and your zap apple cuttings.
“Anon, have you ever fought parasprites before?”
>”Um, no.”
>As you get ready to defend you cargo a single thought keeps running through your mind.
>Applejack owes you a LOT of blood for this.