Title:           Corporal Anon: Ch 5
Author:          CorporalAnon
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/bm13PJEP
First Edit:      Saturday 27th of October 2012 03:00:44 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Saturday 27th of October 2012 03:00:44 AM CDT

>You are Shining Armor.
>Your sister recites an incantation from the odd grimoire held aloft by her magic.
>Within seconds, the portal is closed
>Tons of fretful thoughts echo endlessly in your mind.
>What IS this thing? Just how dangerous is it? Is it carnivorous? Is it sentient? Can it perform magic?
>You have plenty of time to think as the carriage makes its way into Ponyville.
>A still silence befalls all occupants of the carriage, riders and pullers alike.
>When someone breaks the silence, you nearly jump right out of your seat
>"Sir! I think I saw something!" pipes up one of your guards.
>Your heart races into a fever pitch.
>Could this be it? Were you about to see a monster that, according the insane ramblings of the tattered book your sister held, "Had no equal in martial prowess, tenacity, capacity for destruction, intelligence, and ill will..."?
>Worse yet, are you prepared to face it in battle, should it see you and lust for battle?
"What is it? What do you see? Was it on two legs?"
>"I dunno sir, we just passed over it."
>You scramble to the back edge of the carriage, your sister quickly following suit.
>"I don't see anything..."
"Neither do I. Are you sure your mind's not playing tricks on you, soldier?"
>"Yes sir, I'm sure i saw something..."
>"What if it's capable of camouflage?" asks Twilight.
"I'm not sure if i wanna think about that..."
>The carriage lands at town hall.
>You tell your soldiers to send for a whole company of guards to divert to Ponyville
"Things can get worse. A lot worse."
 
"Why didn't we go straight for the library?", you ask. Don't you think we can get more info on what it looks like before we ask ponies if they've seen it.
>"I read all books i can find on the matter. They don't tell much more than what we found out at the bank of that creek. It's tall, two-legged, has two arms, smooth skin (no scales/little fur),  no snout, and has a straight back."
"Well, spike looks kind of like that. How do we differentiate it from a dragon?"
>"Well, aside from the smooth skin and no snout?" Twilight answered snidely. I didn't see any traces of a tail or wings."
"So basically, we ask folks if they saw a tail-less, snout-less, smooth skinned, and possibly wingless dragon?"
>"At least we ask them if that's what it looks to be." Twilight retorts.
>"By the way, why didn't you go to Canterlot? I thought the guards needed your authority on that whole "DIvert a company here immediately" kind of thing."
"That pony was one of my top-ranking officers. His orders have almost as much validation as mine. As for an order as dire as this, he has authority. Besides, I plan on overseeing this myself. If something happens, I don't want to be caught watching helplessly from Canterlot."
>"Fair enough."
>You enter town hall and request to see the mayor.
>Your status grants you instant admission.
>It doesn't take even 10 minutes of explaining the situation to convince her of the direness of the situation.
>She calls for an Emergency town meeting.
>It doesn't take long for the inhabitants to gather round town hall.
>After a short introduction, the mayor hands the reins over to you.
 
 
"Ladies and gentlecolts of Ponyville, i bring dire news." you say as your sister prepares a sketch of the monster.
"As a result of a magical anomaly, a creature from another realm has entered ours."
>The crowd mutters in a puzzled daze.
>Your speech silences them
"From what we have gathered, this creature is probably hostile. It comes from a world we do not know, but if our sources are correct, it is a place devoid of the magic Equestria so cherishes."
>The multitude chatters nervously.
"Me and my men saw a print of it's body in the mud. If what we saw was correct, this aberration is fearsome to behold indeed."
>Twilight held up the sketch
>All of Ponyville lurched and gasped in horror at what they saw.
>It was pitch black.
>long, thin, spindly arms swung past the hips.
>Red, glowing eyes marked its head, staring at the crowd emptily.
>No mouth graced it's chin
>Covering its skin were a number of odd bumps and pustules, mostly gathered about the midsection and hips.
>Worried faces and fearful expression ensnared the multitude as a whole.
"Worry not, citizens" you say assuringly. "I have sent for a n entire company of my finest soldiers to defend Ponyville. they are en route as we speak. Rest assured Ponyville, as long as me and my men are here, you can rest easy at night, knowing you have no beast to fear"
>You hoped with all your might that you were right.