Evolved Anon: Chapter 7 (Hairy Critters)

>Dusk is upon you and you silently slip out the house while the others are asleep.

>Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

>You land softly on the dirt outside of the Boutique and stealth your way outside of town.

>The icy wind of the night does not discomfort your journey as you soon know the dense wood will protect you.

>You find yourself at the edge of the wood. A thousand whispers call out for you to come in.

>And you oblige them.

>Whatever horrors await you within is nothing compared to what lies beneath.

>You feel the very air thicken as you take your first step.

>First things first, you need a scent to track down, your eyes turning to the soft trail of blood running down the path.

>That works.

 

>You don’t get far before you feel eyes peering down upon you.

>Logically speaking there’s nothing in this world that could possibly threaten you, save yourself.

>But… there’s something off about the wood. They seem to whisper to the night’s sky, their roots harboring some unknown menace.

>It niggles at that irrational part of your mind you oh so wish was forgotten.

>But this is bigger than you. More important than any danger you must face.

>Besides, you’re an Evolved. Not like much could happen to you right?

>Yeah, that’s the story you’re sticking to.

>You follow the path deeper into the wood with your fear in hand.

>May it be both your weapon and your shield.

>And may it-

>You look down to the barren road.

“Fuck.”

 

>This far into your quest and you’ve already lost track of the beat.

>What type of hunter are you?

>Use your head. You lie on the dirt floor and take a deep breath.

>Good, let it seep into your nostrils.

>Your eyes open. Got the scent.

>Picking yourself up you head off the beaten road and through the untamed wilds.

>And that’s what you’ve been doing for roughly the last six hours.

>All you do is follow your nose.

>You rub your eyes as you duck under a branch as the fatigue pecks away at your sanity.

>How can this creature have traveled so far and so fast?

>If only you hadn’t let it escape.

>This entire quest could’ve been avoided.

>You vault over a row of bushes and find yourself back on a different road leading down to a wobbly bridge.

>Totally safe.

 

>You step on the bridge hesitantly and are immediately greeted by the board shattering beneath you.

>When you grab the second board it too proceeds to crack in half under the pressure.

>Only by holding onto the rope do you manage to stay firmly in the air hanging by your fingertips.

“Wondrous fucking adventures.”

>Why can’t they ever be wondrous adventures of fucking?

>That’s an idea you can get behind.

>The worst thing you’d have to worry about is the prospect of AIDS and having your penis chopped off.

>That brings up an interesting thought, can you regenerate Mr. Johnson?

>Not like you’d ever actively try and find out.

>Wait a second, aren’t you forgetting something?

>Oh yeah! You’re hanging onto a broken bridge made of twine and piss.

>That’s still a thing.

 

>Screw it. You didn’t like bridges anyways.

>You let go and shift to Thunder Dust where you soar over to the other side.

>Reverting back to normal form you take a long look at the sensation of temporarily having a vag.

>So that’s why you felt like a cunt, no pun intended.

>Oh what’s this? Some ancient ruin that you strangely seemed to miss? Seems legit.

>You smack yourself in the head for letting your mind wander freely like a leaf on the wind.

>Great movie, check it out.

>Dammit what’d you just hit yourself for?!

>You slap yourself once more for good measure as you approach the doors leading to the ruins.

>This place is dusty as all hell and it looks like no ones been here in ages.

>Wonder what gave that away? The dust and cobwebs or the fact that it’s a fucking ruin.

>Christ, sometimes you really outdo yourself in the stupid department.

 

>Amidst the stale air penetrating your nose you lose track of the manticore.

>You silently curse yourself for your failure.

>Perhaps the creature is hiding somewhere within these ruins.

>After all, the scent led you here so it would only make sense.

>You run your hand across the floor and rub the dust between your fingers.

>If he had come this way then he would’ve left tracks and there’s no sign of that.

>Plus the door was closed and you’re fairly sure that monsters can’t use doors.

>Only velociraptors are so cunning, but could they- No, that’s crazy talk.

>Then again, magic and talking p0nies.

>Who’s to say they don’t have fucking dinosaurs lurking about having tea parties and discussing the fundamental laws of physics.

>Keep on track, don’t make you use your hand on you…

>You’re going to forget you ever made that thought.

 

>You decide to take a look around while you’re here.

>The cracked stone brick walls and tattered banners don’t exactly inspire confidence, but you do make out the design of one of the more intact pieces.

>It consists of two alicorns, one light the other dark revolving around the sun and moon.

>You’ve seen similar pictures in some of Twilight’s books.

>You yawn. Damn just the thought of her history lessons is enough to tire you out.

>Clearing out the rest of the room is a breeze seeing as how there’s nothing there to clear out.

>It does, however, make you much more reluctant to lie down.

>Finding one of the less torn up pieces of furniture you plop down after dusting the cobwebs off.

>Wouldn’t want Rarity chewing you out for that.

>You reach inside one of the jackets she made for you and pull out a book you managed to swipe from Twilight’s.

>Let’s see how far you get before you fall asleep.

>’Creatures of the Everfree. Darkweb Terrors. Primarily found in abandoned ruins, they-‘

>Fucking asleep.

 

>You groan and hold your arms tight against yourself, almost crushingly so.

>Thinking about it its not very comfortable maybe you should-

>Huh? Why can’t you move your arms?

>You open your eyes. Why can’t you see anything?

>Your head feels heavy. Are you upside down?!

>Holy fuck this isn’t happening. Not again.

>You didn’t even drink anything this time.

>Fuck fuck fuck! You thrash around a hand keeping you still.

“Thank Christ! Please you have to get me out of here.”

>A stabbing pain shoots in your stomach and you muffle a groan.

>You feel something flow into your belly and begin pushing through your blood stream.

>That book…

>It hisses as your body begins to go numb.

>Can’t… let it… take you…

>You can’t!

 

>The virus within fights back and begins to devour the venom pumping in your veins.

>Your muscles expand but the silk vice around your body doesn’t cease its hold.

>Fine then, try this one on for size.

>Your claws sprout forth through the webbing causing your attacker to back away with another hiss.

>The cords binding you give way to the razors you subject them to and you spread your arms wide.

“Finally!” you shout. “Can you give me some breathing room next time?”

>That’s a spider you’re talking to. Not just any normal spider, a colossal spider the size of a boulder.

>You’re going to need a big ass newspaper.

>It crawls atop the ceiling and speeds towards you with its fangs bare.

>Fuck that you’re not looking forward to another bite from those things.

>You lean upwards and cut the wire holding your legs with a snap.

>That was a bad idea.

 

>You plummet to the cold earth, the soil coated with webbing.

>Attempting to stand proves fruitless as your body clings to the fine silk left by the spider.

>You manage to roll over, eight blood red eyes gazing down through the darkness.

>The vastness of the cavern opens up to you as a single ray of light penetrates through the broken wall across the chamber.

>Right behind the spider that blocks your path.

>But wasn’t that spider on the- And here you were thinking there was only one.

>The light squish of dirt comes behind you, a third set of eyes looking down at you.

“If you fuckers want to play tough…”

>You slam your fists into the dirt and send yourself into a standing position.

“You better be ready for a fight.”

 

>The spider lunges beneath you as you leap into the air and onto its back.

>It stampedes about trying to buck you off but you won’t have any of that as you drive your claws into its carapace.

>It squeals and slumps to the floor, more of its comrades coming to meet you.

>You withdraw your claws with a splatter of green fluid and set your sights on the reinforcements.

>They seem to pop out from nowhere.

>You stab into another with the same ferocity, their blood coating your body.

>A barrage of barbs strikes your back and the effects are instantaneous.

>Your limbs go numb long enough for you to lose your balance and fall to the web-laced floor.

>The infection drives it off fast enough for you to shift into a more… mobile form.

>Lightning Cunt has never been so useful to you.

>Dodging the barbs as you ascend is easy with her speed and agility.

>If only she’d shown the same tenacity.

 

>You nosedive into a group of the Terrors, changing back at the last second and send them flying with a ground pound.

>Worked like a- ugh. Your fists are stuck. Wonderful.

>Thrashing about like a fish out of water is more than enough incentive for the others to lick their chops so to speak.

>One in particular descends down from above, the very same who tried to stick it to you.

>You pull your fists away just in time for the fearsome creature to crash into your spine and back to the floor.

>It drives its fangs into your neck and you wince as venom seeps into you.

“Haven’t you learned? GAH!”

>You grab it by the mandibles.

“That doesn’t work on me!”

>You throw it overtop you, the fangs retracting with an audible pop as the venom dribbles out.

>”Do it Anon.”

>Oh you will.

 

>Planting a foot on its belly you grab hold of its barbed leg, the virus adapting to the venom at long last.

“You will not enjoy this.”

>You pull with all your strength as the spider desperately attempts to pull back.

>But like all things in the world- *snap* they end in blood.

>Tendrils fire off your back as you beat the overturned creature with its own leg.

>Its sisters can only watch as you devastate their sibling.

>When your tendrils imbed into its stomach the cry is almost heavenly.

>The leg is pulled into your torso and you dive your head into its belly, mind foggy with the craze of blood.

>Your teeth dive into its exoskeleton and you begin to tear it apart.

>The green goop coats your clothing like an extra layer.

>You breathe deep of the musky air as you turn back to the others, your skin layered with barbs.

“Who’s next?”

 

>You crack your back as the needlelike instruments pull back into your skin.

>Nice little additions you must say. They’ll be useful later on.

“Ooooh,” you grumble, “That smells mighty delicious.”

>You turn the leg to the other side over the fire.

>It wasn’t easy getting it going, but damn if you are going to eat it raw.

>You’d already had some before and might you say it was not pleasant.

>The outer crunch was nice but the inside was far too goopy.

>You could think of it as an egg, but you actually ate the outside.

>You know it’s an exoskeleton but there’s something about it that makes it delectable.

>Spider legs… How could you have missed out on this positively divine cuisine for so long?

>You hear her as she enters the hall, “Umm…”

>You smile to Twilight, face covered in goop.

“Howdy! Care to join me for some breakfast?”

>”What- Is that a spider leg?!”

“Sure is.”

 

>You pull it off the rack Twilight levitating it out of your hands.

>”Are you crazy? Do you have any idea how poisonous those barbs are?”

“Yes,” you say grabbing it right back, “And I’m fine. I kinda had to deal with them already anyways.”

>”You killed one? We need to get out of here then, where’s there’s one-“

“There’s about two dozen others give or take. Yeah, took care of that.”

>She stares at you flabbergasted as you take a bite.

>”You make it sound so trivial.”

“I mean- at first they threw me off when they tied me up in my sleep,” you chuckle at the look of horror on her face. “It’s a long story, but needless to say it ended up delicious.”

>You hold up your hand and fish out her book.

“Thanks for this by the way. Who knew they had such great recipes for cooking in here?”

>”You stole my book?!”

“Borrowed without permission, but I had every intention of bringing it back.”

>Hey! You didn’t get slapped. Must’ve not done a good enough impression.

>But it’s still kind of nice to see her.

>Now to avoid the nagging.

 

>Like an old coach said the best defense is a good offense.

>Then again, we lost every game we played.

>Showed what the hell he knew.

“So how’d you find me?” you ask taking another chunk of spider into your mouth.

>”It wasn’t easy.”

“Yeah with the whole me leaving before giving you a chance to get ready, but please… do tell.”

>”Well I- ugh can you at least put the leg down?”

“What’s wrong with the leg?” you ask taking another nibble.

>”It’s distracting.”

>Sounds like a personal problem to you.

>Alas, you are a gentlemen after all.

“Okay just one more bite-“

>”Anon!”

“Alright fine! Jeez. You can be so impatient.”

 

>She sits on the seat across from you. It looked so lonely off by itself and you were hoping for company.

>”I was packing up today when Rarity came hollering that you went missing. It was then that I instantly knew you had left.”

>Of course. Where else would you go?

>”I gathered a few things and told her not to worry, but of course she was tying her hair in knots she was so distraught.”

“Knots? Fascinating. I’ve only seen her do that when she saw this year’s fashion line up. I had to tie up her hooves so she wouldn’t tear out her eyes.”

>”She didn’t actually try did she?”

“I’ve said too much as it is.”

>”Anyways…” she says changing the subject, “I headed out into the forest and followed your tracks to here.”

>Very true, your shoes marks do stand out amongst the dirt.

“And you just had to follow me…”

>”I did. Some one needs to make sure you’re safe.”

“Or is it to make sure someone has an eye on me?”

 

>”Anon you know I would never betray your trust.”

“And just how do I know that,” you stand up aggressively. “Do I look like a fucking psychic.”

>”Anon calm down.”

>Your arm shakes as rage builds up within you.

“I’m done being calm. I’ve been calm my whole life, patiently waiting for you to help me but all you do is question my every move. The day you work your fucking magic to cure me, then I’ll be calm!”

>”Anon! I said to calm down!”

>The hairs on your arm tighten and morph into a forest of barbs jutting through your jacket.

“Make me.”

>You stare coldly at her, “What would Rarity say?”

>Rar- You clench your eye lids and shake your head.

“She’d say not to raise my voice.”

>Damn…

 

“I’m sorry,” you sit back down no longer hungry.

>”It’s getting harder to control isn’t it?”

>You nod and hold your head between your knees.

“You never told me you know. How your work was going.”

>She averts her gaze when you peer back at her.

“Just tell me the truth. How’s it looking?”

>”It’d be for the best-“

“Twilight,” you beg her, “Please…”

>”The test have been…” she stops and swallows.

“Please.”

>”Inconclusive. I’m sorry.”

“But that’s not necessarily a bad thing right? There’s still a chance.”

>She shakes her head and looks to the flickering flames.

>”I can’t do what you ask of me.”

>Then it’s over. Twilight was your best hope.

>Now it’s a race against time.

 

>The flames crack and burn as you watch them.

“There’s no place for me here then.”

>”Don’t say that,” Twilight snaps, “You may be… you, but you’re just as much a p0ny as the next.”

“I’m dangerous. You saw what I did to the manticore. You know what I’ve done to the p0nies next to me.”

>”You’re my friend, and I will never let my friends down.”

“That’s a comforting thought, but we both knew the two ways this could end. One alive and the other…”

>She crosses the gap and holds your hand in her hoof, “And what would Rarity say to that?”

“She’d say I was a fool, but even fools are right at times.”

>”Anon, I swear to you. I will find a way to make things right. With the right amount of time I’m sure I could find a cure.”

>Once again, a comforting thought but little more.

“There’s only one cure for what I am.”

 

>You pull your hand out of her grasp and reach into the flames, clenching your teeth as it scorches your flesh.

>She covers her mouth as you withdraw the blackened crisp that was once your hand, nothing left but the bones.

“I’m not natural Twilight. I don’t belong here.”

>Flesh flows up your hand and weaves itself anew.

>“We don’t care what’s in here,” she says touching your arm. She moves it over to your chest, “We care about what’s in here.”

>You smile genuinely, your heart even flutters at the speech.

>You hold her hoof there, your skin growling beneath her touch.

“What makes you think it’s not there too?”

>You let go and put out the flames while Twilight watches.

“If we’re going to hunt this thing down then we should get moving. It already has a day’s lead on us so we have to move fast,” you look back to her. “You’re not going to let me down now are you?”

>”Never,” she follows beside you as you walk to the door. *growl*

 

>”You’re still hungry? How is that possible?”

>You stand your ground and ball your hands up.

“That wasn’t me.”

>”If it wasn’t you then-“ you stop her before she turns around, the heavy breathing drawing closer.

“Walk out the door and don’t look back. I’ll be right behind you.”

>”I’m not falling for that.”

“Figured as much.”

>You grab her around the waist and fling her through the open door, the creature snarling at your rear.

>You catch a glimpse of its mangled tail before it crashes into your chest.

>You grab it by the ears and grind your feet in an effort to slow the creature down, but it keeps on strong.

>This isn’t as fun as before.

 

>The manticore crashes through the stone doors and sends you to your back a good ten yards off.

>You dust yourself off and look at it, the infection already beginning to take hold of the creature.

>Its fur has begun to shed, patches of skin displaying its pale pink color where the chunks have dissipated.

>The eye sockets are sunken into its skull and half of its left eye has become bloodshot due to the virus.

>It bares its elongated claws and charges you.

>Your about to meet it when Twilight cuts in between you and raises a shield.

“That’s not going to stop it!”

>You toss her aside once more and meet his claws with your face instead.

>It pins your face to a nearby tree and bites into your stomach.

 

>You muffle a scream as you tear your face from its claws and pound its neck, the infection fortifying its bones.

>It yelps as you form claws and cut into its neck, narrowly missing the spine before it turns and violently throws you off.

>The missing chunks of your face reform but before you can celebrate the beast is back atop you.

“Twilight get across the bridge!”

>You struggle to hold the manticore’s attention as it barrages you with a furry of swipes.

>”Anon!” she screams when she’s safely across.

>The creature stops mid-attack and looks up to her with a feral growl.

>It moves over you and onto the bridge to Twilight.

“No you don’t!”

>You drive your claws into its side and lock them in place, the manticore roaring as its wound heals itself with your hand still intact.

>But it won’t stop, instead it wraps the length of its tail around your and pulls.

>You grab hold of a boulder with your other arm as you keep it back.

 

>”Just wait! I’ll be there to-“

“Stay back! I’ve- ggggot it!”

>You need to bring it back but with the virus it’s too strong for you to pull back with one arm.

>And you can feel your arm giving in and it’s not the one holding onto the rock.

>You double your musclemass and manage to buy yourself an extra minute of time.

>The bones in your arm crack and muscles tear and all Twilight can do is watch.

>Barbs! That’s it! You draw the power out of hiding and stick it to the infected creature.

>It roars in pain and gives one last tug- *snap*

>Your eyes widen as a new sensation pierces your being.

“FUUUUUUUU-” you muffle the scream as the breeze graces your exposed arm socket.

>You manage to grab hold of its tail before it can continue, blood escaping your wound in droves.

“You’re not getting away that easy!”

>The numbing toxin hits the manticore’s bloodstream and you throw him backwards, its claws cutting the bridge ropes.

 

>The creature picks itself up slowly and you can see your arm fusing into its core, tiny spikes jutting from its spine.

>So it can do that too huh?

>We’ll see how long he can- god DAMMIT!

>You clutch your nub as the manticore walks off, your mind fixated on the pain.

>Twilights calls to you from across the gap, “The bridge is out. I need you to fix it.”

“Just a minute, I could use a hand.”

>”I can’t help you on this end.”

>You grunt and manage to clamber back to your feet.

“It’s called a joke!”

>Seriously, how hard was that one to spot?

>Agony fills you as bone shoots from out from your arm socket and the arm begins stitching itself back up.

>You stretch your arm and rub your shoulder.

“Good as new.”

 

>You fly on over to her, “So Lightning Dust never made it back.”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

>You’re about to grab, “Thank you for pushing me out of the way. I didn’t have enough time to probably charge my shield. I owe you my life.”

>You look down vast expanse below you.

>Perhaps its for the best… A single claw cuts out from your hoof and you cut the rope.

>”Anon what are you doing?”

“Saving your life.”

>You move to the second rope, “Anon I can still help you. Just give me another chance.”

>The bridge collapses down the ravine as it echoes back up, “Please.”

“You’ve got a bright future Twilight Sparkle and I won’t cast a shadow upon it.”

>You land at the far end, far enough away that she can’t teleport safely to it.

“I’ll fix this. Keep our friends safe while I’m gone, keep Rarity safe.”

>”I will.”

>You turn your back to her, “Anon!”

“Yeah?”

>”Kick its flank for me.”

>Will do.