Chapter 9: Dead Things

Twilight Sparkle dropped to her knees beside the human. Even as her thoughts raced through every book on medicine and first aid she had committed to memory, tears began flowing steadily down her face.

Everyone knew manticore venom was incurably fatal.

The creature itself was burned down nearly to bones now. Spike rushed over to Twilight and Finn. Twilight's hooves were around the stinger in Finn's chest, trying to hold in as much blood as possible. Finn lay motionless.

"Oh no," breathed Spike.

"He… he took it for me," cried Twilight. "He took the sting for me." She reached a stained hoof up to Finn's face.

"GYYAAH!" screamed Finn, jerking awake.

Twilight screamed and stumbled back. Spike toppled over.

"Z-zombie!" he wailed.

"Zombie? Where? Where's the manticore?" Finn looked around, obviously confused, seemingly unaware of the stinger protruding from his chest.

"F-finn! You're alive!" Twilight sobbed, embracing the human in a teary hug.

"What? I know! OW!" Twilight had brushed against the stinger. Finn pushed the hysterical pony off of him and looked down.

"Oh my gob! Do I take it out or do I leave it in?" Finn asked, a trace of panic in his voice.

Spike scratched his head.

"Is anyone else confused as to why Finn isn't dead from being stung by a manticore?" he asked.

Twilight wiped her eyes.

"I… I guess his body didn't absorb any of the venom. Maybe being dead, the manticore's body stopped producing it. Or maybe since the stinger went right through you," said Twilight, gently prodding the other end, "the venom just bypassed you completely. I guess by sheer luck it missed your heart. How's your breathing?"

"Hurts a little," reported Finn, taking a deep, slightly shaky breath.

"You probably have a scratched lung. You've lost a good amount of blood, too," said Twilight, holding up her bloody hoofs. "I think I can take care of most of that with magic, but we're going to have to be careful about removing the stinger. Spike, could you use your fire to seal off both ends of it please? If there is any venom left inside, I don't want to risk it getting into Finn's wound."

Spike bent close and emitted a small burst of flame, melting the exposed end of the stinger protruding from Finn's chest. Spike repeated this on the end sticking out of his back. Finn winced as the heat of the flame singed his shirt lightly.

"All sealed up!" said Spike with a little salute.

"Alright," said Twilight. "This part's going to hurt. A lot."

Twilight's horn glowed a brilliant white and before Finn could protest, she magicked the stinger violently from chest. A small amount of blood sprayed Twilight in the face. Finn cringed but surprisingly didn't scream. Blood began to flow from his wound more heavily now. Finn fell to his knees.

"Ouughh," he moaned.

"Oh no, I think I might've nicked an artery!" cried Twilight worriedly. "Don't worry! I can fix that!"

Several minutes later, Finn was on his feet again, patting the area on his chest where there used to be a potentially mortal wound. Other than being slightly paler and a little woozy from blood loss, he was no worse for wear.

"How are you feeling?" breathed Twilight, exhausted from the emergency magical surgery.

"Pretty math I guess," responded Finn walking in a circle as if to test his capabilities. "Sore. A little dizzy I guess."

"Thank Celestia," sighed Twilight.

Suddenly, there was a multicolored flash. Finn, Twilight and Spike turned around to see Rainbow Dash, sporting a cut lip and a blacked eye beating the smoldering skeleton that used to be the manticore with her hooves, stomping bones into powder.

"And that!" she was yelling. "And THAT! And one of these!"

"Rainbow," started Twilight, but before she could finish, Jake the dog was by Dash's side, his fists stretch to many times their usual size. Jake too was pummeling the blackened skeleton. Apple Bloom was approaching the manticore skeleton carefully, but Finn could see a sharp stick in her mouth and a determined look in her eyes.

He looked to Twilight, her expression exhausted, yet slightly amused. Finn shrugged at her and smiled, then walked over to the fallen manticore and began hacking at the bones with his sword.

After ten or so minutes, the skeleton was reduced to little more than a fine black powder and everyone seemed satisfied.

Finn lives! The manticore is slain! Again! 'Cause it's a zombie! Things begin to come to a head next chapter. It's by no means the last chapter, but you know, the climax begins to get under way. Debating on doing a sequel. Let me know if ya'll want one or not. I have some good ideas for it in any case.

Next Time: Castle Crashers