Ultraman Tiga Chapter 27

Everything you've ever feared

Intro Theme: Take Me Higher

Authors Note: This chapter contains significant violence and gore. Don't worry, this is the only chapter that will contain graphic content like this. If you are squeamish to violence then I recommend that you read something else. You've been warned.

"And then the old man sat up in bed and yelled at the gnarled creature, 'I ain't got your Tailypo!"

"Yes you, HAVE!" He shouted while lunging forward. Pinkie and Fluttershy squeaked in fear while the other Ponies shook at Cory's eerie tale. "Um, Cory, this monster isn't real, is it?" quivered Fluttershy.

"Hahaha not at all." He smiled. "But this story sure did keep me awake at night when I was a kid."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and took a sip from her freshly mixed soda. "It wasn't that scary, I've heard WAY better at flight school."

"Is that so?" Cory grinned, "Then I suppose you wouldn't mind a little story I heard while I was in scouts."

"Bring it on," Rainbow Dash placed on a pair of sunglasses that she got from seemingly nowhere, "It's gonna take more than a story of some old fart eating a monsters tail."

Cory popped his knuckles and grinned. "Alright, this story is called 'Candy'. It was an early Spring Night in a small town. 'Mom', said a little filly, rubbing her eyes and standing in the doorway to her mother's room. 'Mom, the Easter Bunny is eating my candy,' she said. 'Nonsense, sweetheart,' the Mare replied. 'The Easter Bunny gives out candy, he doesn't eat it... 'The Mare lightly shook her covers and continued to speak, halfway into her pillow and halfway to her daughter, "Go back to sleep, baby..."'But, mom,' the young pony said. 'The Easter Bunny is eating candy!' She now spoke in a more serious tone, almost as if she were going to cry. Her mother sat up and opened her arms. 'Baby, I just told you. The Easter Bunny doesn't eat candy, he hands it out to little children. Besides, it's not even Easter yet. Go back to sleep,' she said in her kindest voice. 'Okay, mom,' the child sighed as she turned to walk out the Mare smiled and thought, 'Crazy kid with her lively imagination,' and went back to sleep on a in the hallway, the little girl stood for a while staring at the Easter Bunny eating her candy. She then sighed. 'Mommy said I should go back to Easter Bunny smiled. 'Good idea, child. Turn around and don't look back.' He flicked a shiny metal pendant at the child. She picked it up and cried as she saw what it was: it was a dog tag and it read 'Candy.'

"Oh hell no…" AppleJack trembled. Twilights eyes were wide in horror as her and Rarity hugged eachother. Fluttershy however, was a pale white. Just the thought of a large, gnarled, disfigured flesh eating rabbit filled her body with unbearable fear. Cory also noticed that Rainbow Dash tilted her sunglasses down, "Um, well, that threw me for a loop…"

Cory nodded and lay back on his air mattress. "Heh, it did to me at first too. Anymore stories guys?"

Rarity placed a velvet blind fold on. "I think that'll be enough for us tonight dear. Would you be so kind as to help me with my mud mask?"

Cory sighed as he stood up and walked towards Rarity. As he kneeled down next to her, he began smearing the greenish mixture on her soft Ivory fur. It felt smoother than velvet. When he was done, he wiped his hand off onto his shirt, with rarity already having cucumbers over her eyes so she couldn't scold him for being so "messy."

As Cory finally lay down, the others were already fast asleep. Redell however had deactivated himself in order to conserve energy. He sighed deeply and rolled over to one side, smiling at the fact his friends were safe and sound asleep.

XXX

Fluttershy dreamed of herself back in her cottage, laying back in her soft bed and snoring ever so softy. Her ear perked at the sound of scurrying footsteps going past her door, followed by the sudden rapid clawing at her door. She sat up in bed and wandered over to her door and slowly opened it, "Hello? "Angel Bunny? Redell?" Redell wasn't there, which was rather odd, considering the fact he always paced back and forth throughout her hallways. As she looked into the hallway, she gasped as she stepped into a puddle of a crimson, sticky substance. Blood. There were drops of it leading towards the dark, gaping staircase, and the drops eventually became small trails. As scared as she was, Fluttershy had to see what was wrong. For all she knew, it could be one of her pets that needed help!

As she slowly trotted down the stairs, she almost slipped on a puddle of blood at the beginning of the staircase. When she walked into her living room, a horrid smell of iron, the smell of blood, filled the room. She whimpered and glanced around for one of her oil lamps that were dimly lit in the corner. She grabbed hold of one from her night stand and increased the flames size, just enough for her to see a large, white hunched over creature hovering over what appeared to be one her ferrets. Fluttershy could hear the sound of tearing and squelching flesh as this monster dug into the body of her pet.

As Fluttershy began to back away, the thing stopped tearing into it's prey, and slowly turned to face her. It was a Rabbit, a large, white Rabbit. But it's face had a disfigured snout, complete with wiry whickers, sharp, crooked, jagged teeth with no lips to cover them, and two eyes that were a dark blue, but with slit pupils. Before Flutterhy could scream, the thing let out a loud, other worldly high pitched screech as it lunged towards her, blood and other bodily fluids coating it's gnarled maw.

Fluttershy darted up the stairs and away from the thing that was gaining on her, hearing it's loud ungodly wailing just feet behind her. Tears rolled down her face as Fluttershy cried, quickly galloping up the stairs and locking her bedroom door. She hid under her blankets as the demonic Bunny clawed and tore at her wooden door, breaking through within just a minute.

"Redell! Please help me!"

But the cyborg never came. Soon the thing was on her bed, ripping through the blankets. Fluttershy struggled against the thing as it came closer to her, and finally felt it's jagged teeth tear into her flesh. As Fluttershy twisted and tried to escape, she saw in the corner of her room another monster. It stood on two legs, it's body was a dark red, it had two yellow eyes, and on it's head and back where what appeared to be tentacles that you would see on a sea anemone.

Flutershy sat up from her sleeping bag, taking it deep breathes as sweat rolled down her face. Her other friends were sound asleep, asides from Rainbow Dash who was snoring quite loudly. Fluttershy lay back down on her side, and soon fell back to sleep.

XXX

"Hello?" Pinkie Pie called. She was in a dark void, and for some reason, she could smell cakes baking. As if she was back at Sugar Cube corner. She was surprised to see light fill the void as the top of what was a cookie jar was lifted from where she was captive. She was dumped into a giant bowl of what tasted and seemed like Cupcake batter. However, a smile spread across her when she saw what appeared to be her looking down at the bowl. Of course, in a much larger size.

"Hey! It's me!" she chirped, "Hi giant me!"

The giant pony she was talking too soon morphed into something terrifying. Pinkie Pie's eyes went side with fear as the identical giant morphed into a monster. It's yellow eyes burned down at her, but a smile on it's face was what frightened her the most. The thing lifted up the bowl of cup cake batter, and poured the mixture into each of the holders. Pinkie Pie popped her head and began to shake in fear at the horrible realization.

"Please!" she begged as the thing opened the oven to reveal the burning wood within, "Please don't! I can make cupcakes too if you just, nooo!"

The thing placed her inside of the fiery oven. Pinkie Pie began to sweat profusely, and the once cool mixture she was in began to rapidly heat up. At the mixture grew scalding hot and began to rise, Pinkie felt blisters form on her body while her skin peeled. Her mane was singed down to the root as well in the unbearable heat. She could not scream, all that could come out was a parched squeak from her dehydrated throat.

"No!" she shouted while sitting up in her matress. Pinkie Pie shook in fear and resisted the urge to cry. Her other friends appeared to be fast asleep, and she did not want to wake them. She placed a pillow over her head and laid back on her side with a sniffle.

XXX

Applejack bucked one of her trees as the apples showered down into the baskets. Smiling from her handy work, she wiped the sweat from her brow and gathered up a few stray apples that did not fall right into the basket She eyed one of the apples she picked up, and she had to admit, it was possibly the nicest one in the bushel.

"Hey AJ, I'm gonna go tote these apples back into the barn, Granny is expectin us to be done in about a half hour." Said Big Macintosh.

AppleJack nodded and then smiled. "Ok, but gimme a few, Ah need to get all these on the cart as well." As Big Mac walked away, she took a bite out of the apple she held. Instead of tasting the sweet and yet tart fruit, she tasted something, metallic, and yet salty. AppleJack spat out the apple bits and looked at the fruit she held. She screamed when she realized that within the apple, just under the skin, was a still pulsing heart. Blood coated her lips, chin, and hoof, and the country pony spat and nearly vomited. The taste of iron was still strong in her mouth. She looked over to the other bushels; they too, were filled with pulsing organs, kidneys, hearts, and other types of entrails. And since they were out in the hot sun, the smell was unbearable.

She made a mad dash back to her house, ignoring the fly coated entrails that hung on the trees. She busted through the door and into her kitchen where the other ponies sat down. "Granny Smith! Somethins terribly wrong with the orchard, the apples are-."

Her eyes widened at the realization of what they were eating. Like the Apples they'd pick, they were eating the guts and organs that loosely hung from the trees. Big Macintosh took a generous bite out of a liver, while Apple Bloom nibbled on the end of a small intestine. AppleJack felt her head spin, but before she fainted in her dream, she saw on the far end of the table, a large, extended green arm dashed towards her. The end of the arm where a hand should be was a mouth full of razor like teeth, which dug into her neck.

As she struggled and choked for air, the rest of the thing's body rose from under the table. It was red in color, with what appeared to be yellow bumps going down its chest and stomach. Its other hand had a cat's head that had a wicked smile, and menacing slit eyes. The thing laughed hysterically at her while pulling her in closer, almost eye to eye.

That was when Applejack's eyes snapped open, making her whole body jolt. She turned over to one side and saw that the others were still asleep. She sighed deeply and laid her head down on her pillow. That dream would be all the sleep she'd be getting for the night.

XXX

In her boutique, Rarity aligned the clothe she was sewing with the machines needle. She squinted her eyes and placed on her red specs while she fed the material through the machine. When she wasn't paying attention, the needle dug into her wrist, stabbing through the tendon in her joint and sewing her hoof to the cloth. She screamed in pain and pulled her bloodied foreleg away from the sewing machine, but when realized that the thread began to grow. The tip of the string morphed into the head of a green cat that had a demented smile, with piercing, insane looking eyes.

The nearest Mannequin she owned began to shake, and a mouth full of jagged teeth glistened in the light. The other Mannequins began to morph as well as the hopped off their support beams.

"Sweetie Belle! Please help me!" she screamed, but of course, her little sister did not come. The Mannequins crowded around her like Hyenas, and within the blink of an eye, they leaped onto her, tearing through the Ivory Unicorns flesh with ease. Rarity screamed as a pool of blood formed around her body, and her horn was savagely splintered off by the teeth of one of her attackers.

All the while, a dark red monster watched the event with a smile.

XXX

"Spiiike!" called Twilight, "Did you find that book on ancient Equestrian monsters?"

There was no reply. Twilight groaned and used her magic to sort through the books that aligned her shelf in perfect order. And there it was, Equestrian Monsters was in her magical grasp. She grabbed herself something to drink from her fridge, and trotted back into the library room where her book waited to be read. She used her magic to open up the book once, but when she did, the book closed quickly after. She used her magic again, this time is resisted much more, and Twilight had to use even more energy just to crack it open. She breathed a sigh of relief when it opened, and brought her hoof down onto it's cover when it closed. This time, she used her magic, and pried it open with her hooves. However, this was a horrifying mistake.

When the book opened, she no longer saw the pages of her book, but a wide, open carnivorous mouth with serrated teeth that aligned the cover. Before Twilight could pull away, the book closed and ripped her front hooves right off! Easily slicing through the tendon that and shattering the bones. Twilight screamed bloody murder as she fell onto her back and scooted away from her book. That was when Celestia, out of nowhere, appeared in her library with an annoyed expression on her face.

"Celestia," Twilight managed to sob, "Help me!"

Celestia glanced down at Twilights stumped forelegs and then back at her pitiful face. "Twilight, you failed. You failed Equestria!"

Twilight looked back at her hooves. They were back, but she was surrounded by the bodies of other ponies. There was Rainbow Dash, her mane frazzled and her wings savagely sawed off, Cherilee who was skinned completely, the decapitated body of Big Macintosh, and multiple other ponies.

Twilight awoke with a gasp. Tears rolled down her face as it mingled with the sweat that flowed from her brow. She shook her head and wiped her brow while taking in a few deep breathes. Not wanting to wake anypony else, she slowly laid her head back onto her fluff pillow. She pulled the covers over her head and whimpered while making sure her fore hooves were close to her chest.

XXX

Cory managed to awake from his sleep, for the third time that night to the sound of a low, guttural roar outside of the Library. With a deep yawn, he rubbed his eyes and walked over to the door and slowly opened it. The streets were empty, and by this time the oil in some of the lamps had long burned out. The only sound was that of a few crickets in the street and the many frogs that inhabited the swamp just a few miles away. He scanned the street once more, but then looked towards the sky. That's when he saw it.

A large biped monster, with anemone like tentacles on it's back and head. Its eyes were yellow, and where hands should be were heads. On one arm, there was a dark green cat's head that had a sinister yet demented smile. The other hand sported an eyeless carnivorous looking head, with long, protruding teeth. The whole thing looked like a patched together monster. Cory reached into his pocket and pulled out his Spark lens, pressing the switch and awakening the sleeping warrior with him.

Ultraman Tiga did a flip in the air and attempted to land a drop kick to the monster, but to his surprise, he passed right through the monster. Tiga glanced back at the illusion that roared mockingly at him, snapping at the warrior with its head hands mockingly. Ultraman went into a defensive position and fired a hand blast at the beast, but this too whizzed right through his adversary. The monster roared one last time before his body faded. Tiga glanced around for the monster, but after a few moments, the giant let his guard down. Tiga crossed his arms over his chest as his body glowed with a bright light, making him shrink down to human size.

Cory stood there with the spark lens in his hand before stuffing the relic into his pocket. "What was that all about?" he questioned while kicking a stone away. "These guys just keep getting weirder and weirder."

XXX

The next morning, Cory awoke with an extended yawn. He scratched the back of his head, and to his surprise, his friends were no longer there. Neither was twilight, which was strange considering the fact she was never a morning Mare. He shrugged and began rolling up the others sleeping bags and placed them in the library closet. He locked it and walked back up the stairs to freshen up, and there was Twilight laying down on the floor. Her eyes were open, but her pupils had shrunk to the size of pins. Her eye lid twitched and her mane was also disheveled as well.

"Uhh, Twilight?"

She closed her eyes and quickly shook her head. She yawned and tried to stand on all fours, but instead keeled over onto her right side. "Oh, Good morning Cory, how'd you sleep?"

"Um, great I guess. I had the weirdest dream about this monster, it was so weird though." He chuckled. Cory held up a book from his side and offered it to her. "Here, I got this Thesaurus for you yesterday. I figured that you would-"

"Please! Keep it away! No, no!" she screamed and scooted away from Cory. Her chest heaved and her eyes were wide with terror.

Cory and Spike cocked an eyebrow at the terrified Unicorn who shook in the corner of the room. Cory shrugged it off and laid the book onto her bed. "Well, it's there if you want it." He smiled. She had her face hidden by her hooves along with her tail draping over her face.

"Riight, well I'm gonna go see if Pinkie has any work for me to do." Twilight nodded and so he was off.

XXX

At the Bakery, Cory was greeted by a very worried looking Ms. Cake and and Mr. Cake. "Oh, hello Cory, would you like anything?" greeted Ms. Cake.

The human shook his head in response, "I'm just here to see if theres any work for me today. Where's Pinkie? Usually I can't walk in here without getting tackled by one of her hugs."

"She's, having some time to herself." Mr. Cake placed a tray of batter into the oven. "Since this morning she refuses to go anywhere near the kitchen, or even touch a cupcake. And it was all so sudden!"

"We've been trying to get her to come downstairs all morning!" said Ms. Cake. "Do you think you can go talk to her?"

Cory gave her a thumbs and smiled. He walked by Poundcake and his sibling her sucked on one of her stuffed animals, while Pound cake repeatedly bashed two wooden blocks together. When Cory reached the outside of Pinkie's room he noticed that it was locked. He cocked an eyebrow and knocked on the solid pink door. After a few moments of waiting, he soon felt a slimy, clamping feeling on his wrist. He flinched at first, but the realized it was only Pinkie's toothless pet alligator, Gummy.

"Oh, hey Gummy." He shook the gator off his arm and grimaced when the reptile stared at him with it's crossed eyes. Cory knocked on the door again while trying to ignore the alligator clamping onto his left leg. After waiting another minute, the door creaked open slowly. Pinkie Pie, who's coat had a slight gray tinge to it poked her head through the door way. Her eyes seemed much duller, and her mane was completely straight instead of poofy and curly.

"Oh, hey Cory. Mr. and Mr.s Cake can help you downstairs." As pinkie Pie began to shut the entrance, Cory stuck his foot in the doorway. "Pinkie, you alright?"

She nodded and tried to close it again. "Please, can I have some time alone?"

Cory could tell she was on the edge of tears. He nodded and closed the door for her. He left the bakery and walked towards Carousel Boutique. Perhaps Rarity was in better straights than the others. When he arrived at the Boutique, he noticed that Rarity was gone, the only pony that was there was Sweetie Belle who toyed with a ball of yarn between her small hooves. She smiled when Cory made his way into the Boutique.

"Cory! What're you here for? I don't think Rarity has any new clothes for you. Actually I don't think she's mad clothes for anypony." She turned her attention back to the ball she toyed with.

Cory coked an eyebrow while scratching the back of his head. "What do you mean? Is she alright?"

Sweetie Belle pushed the yarn away and trotted closer to him, "Not really. Ever since she came home this morning she's been all weird. She won't go near the sewing machine, let alone touch any of her fabrics."

Cory held his temples, "That's strange. Twilight is avoiding books, Pinkie Pie is afraid to bake, and now Rarity won't design?" Sweetie belle tilted her head to the side as Cory walked towards the steps, "I'm guessing she's not in the mood for talking?"

Sweetie belle placed a hoof on her shin. "It'd be better if you didn't go in there. She's really, well, cranky?"

"Well, I'll let this one slide." As much as he wanted to, Cory did not want to see the bad side of Rarity. Noponies temper could even compare to hers, aside from Rainbow Dash. He walked back to the door and waved good bye to Sweetie Belle who smiled and scurried up to his side, "Mind if I go with you? There's nothing to do around here when Rarity has her little meltdowns."

Cory thought about it for a moment. He needed little distractions in this case if anything was to get solved. However, he could not find it in him to say no to the small filly. "Sure, why not." He beckoned with his hand to follow him. Now there were only three stops left, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, and Fluttershy.

At Sweet Apple Acres, Cory and Sweetie Belle walked through the gate of the large Apple orchard. Bees and other flying insects pollinated the ivory and pink apple blooms. Cory held out one of his hands for a yellow finch to land on. The bird chirped at him for a few moments while Cory noticed Big macintosh walk over to him with a cart full of shovels and rakes.

Cory placed his hand down after the bird departed. "Hey Big mac, is Apple Jack here?"

"Eyup. She's over on that side of the Orchard. She's been actin kinda strange since that sleepover you all had. Ya'll didn't tell too many stories did yah?"

"Well, kinda. But everyone else except, well, me, is acting strange." Cory glanced down to Sweetie Belle who had placed a small white flower on her ear. "Such as Rarity being afraid to even do so much as touch any cloth."

Big mac chuckled and started pulling his cart passed them. "Well she's over on that side of the orchard if you need her. Feel free to help out if you want."

Cory shrugged and walked towards where Big Macintosh pointed with a hoof. Sure enough, there was AppleJack surrounded by turned over baskets. What was really strange was that her eyes were skewed and somewhat blood shot, while bags hung from them. As hysterical as she looked, Cory managed to not break out into laughter. "Um, Apple Jack, are you ok?"

Apple Jack turned to him with one ear flopped down and the other up, "You wanna trim some hay? I don't think that's in season yet!"

"I asked if you were ok.."

Apple Jack stuck a hoof in her ear and attempted to clean it out, "You wanna go and play? You got Sweetie Belle right next to you!"

"I said!" Cory face palmed and pulled Apple Jack's head closer to him. "I asked if your ok!"

"Ohh! Then why didn't yah say so!? What's goin on sugar cube!?" She gave him a skewed eyed smile.

"Why're we yelling!?" shouted Sweetie Belle.

Cory glanced at both ponies and sighed. "What's wrong with you guys? You, Pinkie, twilight and Rarity are acting all strange? I'm pretty sure I picked the right mushrooms for the stew this time…"

Apple Jack's left ear twitched. "What yah talkin bout sugar cube? If yer gonna talk loud enough fer me to hear, then speak up!"

Cory gave her a dull emotionless expression before turning away. "Well Sweetie Belle, let's just hope Fluttershy's ok."

XXX

At Fluttershy's cottage, both Cory and Sweetie Belle noticed that Angel, along with the other rabbits and animals in her home that she cared for waited at her door with expressions of sorrow, or worry on their faces. One of her small badgers began babbling in complete nonsense while jumping and pointing at the raised an eyebrow and knocked at her door. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to speak, but a shrill yell rang through the house.

"NO, GO AWAY! YOU MONSTERS AREN'T COMING IN HERE!"

Cory took a step back and raised an eyebrow. "Fluttershy?" He knocked again. "It's just me, everything alright in there?"

Fluttershy slowly opened the door and peaked outside. "Oh, hello Cory." She whispered. "Quick, come inside!"

The human shrugged and squeezed his way in followed by Sweetie Belle. There Fluttershy's house was completely, well, empty. The bird cages were gone, even Hummingway was missing. The rest of the animal cages were gone too, and for some reason so was Redell.

"Um, Fluttershy? Where's Redell?" Cory asked.

"Oh, he's helping Ms. Cheerilee out with a few schooling events." She turned her head back to the kitchen. "Would you like some food? Me and Redell baked this morning." She forced a small smile.

Cory sat down with Sweetie Belle next to him. Sweetie Belle glanced around the room and raised an eyebrow, "Geez, what's gotten into her? Fluttershy never neglects her animals."

"There's probably more to it than we know." He kicked his Moccasin type shoes off and popped his knuckles. "It's weird, everyone is fearful of what they enjoy doing. Asides from Apple Jack, she just looks like she hasn't slept in weeks."

Moments later, Fluttershy came in with a tray of sliced bread and tea. She laid the tray out to which Sweetie Belle eagerly took a bread slice and devoured it. Cory smiled while he took a sip of his tea at the fact that somepony who was related to Rarity would have such grotesque manners.

"I hope you guys don't mind how quiet it is in here. I just needed some time alone since that terrible Nightmare last night." She sighed.

Cory gave her a serious expression while he placed his tea cup on the coaster, "Nightmare?"

Fluttershy nodded and chewed her bread, which to Cory was downright adorable as she tenderly did so. "Yes, well, I had a dream that one of my bunnies was a monster, that it chased me through the house and then, and then!" she covered her face with her hooves and began to cry, "It…" she hugged Cory and cried into his shirt.

Cory gently ran his hand along her back. "It's alright; if it bothers you then I won't force you to tell me."

"And it just stood there in the corner…" she sobbed.

Cory pushed her back to face her. "Wait, what? Who stood where?"

Fluttershy sniffled and wiped the tears away with her hoof, "Yes, it was a, a monster. It was red, with these tentacles on its back and head, and it was, I can't describe it!" she covered her face again, "It was so horrible."

His brows were raised at the description she gave. It was exact to the ghostly image of the monster he witnessed the night before. Cory sat up from her couch and walked over towards the door, "I'm gonna go see Zecora, she might know something about this. Fluttershy, take care of Sweetie Belle for me."

XXX

At Zecora's home in the Everfree forest, Cory sat down with a cup of okra juice that he sipped from hesitantly. Zecora poured herself some as well and sat down in a chair opposite to him. "Well my friend, why don't you speak? And tell me of this monster, who sounds so unique?"

Cory nodded and laid back in his woven chair. "Well, all my friends, twilight, Pinkie Pie, and the others have been acting so, scared all of a sudden. Twilight won't read books, Pinkie Pie won't bake, Apple Jack's doing her job but she looks like me during exams."

Zecora's face contorted to one of utter seriousness. "Have they had dreams of some sort?"

"Yeah. Fluttershy told me that she dreamed of some sort of monster in the corner of her room." He sighed and scratched the side of his head, "But that's it…"

The Zebra sat up and grabbed a book from her shelf. She flipped through the pages before finally focusing on one, and placed book on Cory's lap.

"Is this the beast, that tormented your friends?"

Cory's eyes scanned over the image before him. The monster was all to familiar, tentacles on it's head and back, heads for hands, red skin, buttons on it's stomach and chest. There was no doubt that this "Bakugon" was the one who was tormenting his friends.

"Bakugon, I must tell, is not a monster, but a demon from hell. Who thrives on the fears, of Ponies all, and scares them from what they love doing, and from sanity they withdraw."

Cory sat back in his chair and pondered for a minute. Why would this beast be targeting his friends? It was obvious, he was scaring them from what they loved doing, but why? And then, it occurred to him. Bakugon was scaring them from what they loved doing because it was what made them who they are. Baking and making ponies happy was what Pinkie Pie the element of laughter, Reading and learning more about magic was what made Twilight the element of magic. Rarity's fashion interest is what made her the element of Generosity. It made sense now, Bakugon was trying to scare and distract them from the Elements of Harmony.

"How do you defeat Bakugon?" he asked. He knew that in reality, Tiga was powerless against Bakugon. Hence the fight the night before. The Zebra trotted over to her potion cabinet and grabbed a bottle strange, blue liquid that appeared to be full of some sort of larvae. She unscrewed the cap and poured it into the pot that contained some sort of boiling brew. The pot rattled as it glowed with a pale blue light, and from it formed the ghostly image of the monster, Bakugon. It was shown slowly coiling it's arm around a young Mare who screamed it fright while the head on Bakugon's hand morphed ito a Timber Wolf.

"When confronting this beast, you must see, it's the fears of ponies, on which he will feast. Being a human, I think it's quite clear, that this monster cannot mimic what you fear." The image of Bakugon faded as Zecora poured water into the pot to dilute the solution's magic.

XXX

"Twilight, please, I need you to help me research this thing! If we don't find a way we can all stop it, then he'll keep taunting you guys till you, who knows what!"

Cory pulled at Twilight's hips in order to get her out from under the bed. After a few more good tugs, she slipped right out, and the two crashed into the wall. Cory rubbed the back of his head before turning his attention back to the shaking Purple Mare before him.

"Twilight…" He brushed her forelock from her eyes, "I understand that you're scared. I would be too, but look, we NEED to work together."

Twilight glanced down at the floor and then back at Cory. She nodded to him and smiled, "Yes, very well. Spike! Would you get us the book on Equestrian monsters?"

"You got it!" Spike saluted her and hopped onto the ladder. He rolled down a few shelves and grabbed the largest book in her collection. He hopped down from the ladder and landed next to the human and Pony who smiled at him thankfully. Twilight placed the book down on her desk and flipped though a few pages before finally finding the familiar beast.

"Bakugon, a monster believed to only be a spirit or demon, lives off of the fears of Ponies who experience Nightmare like encounters with him. Though he cannot do harm in reality, he can have the potential to destroy a ponies spiritual self in their sleep! However, if he chooses, he can haunt them for the rest of their lives, or-"

Before Twilight could finish, the pages of the book started to flip back and forth. Twilight and Spike gasped as Cory casted a rather shocked look.

"Um, Twilight?" trembled Spike, "You're doing this, right?"

Twilight swallowed a lump in her throat, "I can't say I am Spike…"

Laughter echoed through the book as tendrils that were all too familiar with Cory and Twilight rose from the book. "Hahahhahaha how right this book is! I have to admit, the fears of the Elements are all too obvious, and now, It's time to take back what rightfully belongs to me, and that's the sanity of all beings in Equestria!"

The human dashed towards the book and closed it while placing a stack on other books onto its cover. He sighed in relief and turned back to a very shakey Twilight and Spike.

"I think we should get the others…"

XXX

Twilight shook next to Cory who had his arm wrapped around her in a calming embrace. "Alright everypony. I know that sleep may be the last thing we want since last night, but if we're ever going to be able to sleep again, we all need to hunker down and fall asleep."

"I think you guys are just making a big deal out of nothing." Raindow Dash scoffed. "I slept like a baby last night, not one thing scared me!"

Twilight nodded, "I understand Rainbow, but this is something that we five have experienced."

Apple Jack raise an eyebrow while placing on her pajama top, "And jus' how are we gonna fight this thing?"

Twilight used her magic to levitate the book over to her and Cory. "It says here that the only way to rid yourself of Bakugon is to fight him in your sleep. By doing so, you must realize that he's only a figment of everything Ponies fear, and not a part of reality. What makes him strong in this situation is how he manipulates everypony. What I'm saying is, that we all have to confront him in our dreams, and show no signs of fear."

Rarity placed a cucumber over her right eye, "It won't be easy, but if it's for our sake, then we all must give it a try." Everypony else agreed.

"Very well then." Redell reclined back in Cory's chair, "If any of you need me, I'll be right here."

The Mane six lay their heads down to sleep while Cory sat up on his mattress. It was only a half hour later when he could hear the faint yet cute snores of Twilight and Pinkie Pie that he could tell they were asleep. As the clock ticked by, Cory lay down on his floor mattress as his friends began to toss and turn in their sleep violently. He placed on a pair of ear muffs to block out the sounds of them rustling in their sheets, and gradually, he mananged to fall asleep. He dreamed that he was outside in the streets of Ponyville with Bakugon standing over him, laughing mockingly as Cory held his Spark lens. As he pressed the switch and grew to a height compatible with Bakugon, the dream tormentor shot forth his carnivorous hand and buried it's teeth into the hero's armor. Tiga fell onto his back from the force, and immediately began punching away at the head of the hand.

Tiga's spade hand shined a brilliant yellow, and with one swift motion, he sliced the hand right off of the extending arm. Bakugon bellowed in rage as he retracted the cauterized stump, but to Tiga's horror, the arm regenerated within seconds!

"Hahahaha! Your impudent attacks cannot faze me, Ultraman. As powerful as you may think you are, you're in the dream world, meaning, you're just a toy in my hand!" The two heads on Bakugon's arms formed into the faces of Kelbeam and King Molerat, two monsters Tiga defeated long ago. Kelbeam launched fireballs from his maw and lightning cackled and fired from Molerat's ears. Tiga rolled to the side and dodged the sure kill onslaught. Tiga retaliated with a chest guillotine, but Bakugon stopped the attack with his telekinesis to reverse and fire it back at Tiga.

Tiga jumped into the air and performed a drop kick, but Bakugon's arms fused together and made a large pair of metallic tongs, grabbing hold of Tiga's leg and hurling him away. Ultraman did a flip in the air and landed on his feet with his back facing the monster. When he turned around, the arms of Bakugon snaked up his body, coiling around him like a snake and constricting the giant with ease. The next thing he knew, electric energy was sent channeling through his body. Each head/hand morphed into the head of Eleking, screeching as Tiga's body jolted, shook, twitched from the frying energy. In retaliation, Tiga's body began to glow a bright red as he reversed the energy back into Bakugon. However, the electricity was channeled from his body up to his anemone hair which shot the bolts like lightning, knocking Tiga onto his back and damaging his chest plate.

Tiga crossed his forearms over his chest, and unleashed the full onslaught of his timer flash on the dream monster. At first, Bakugon roared in pain as the energies did their worst, but screams soon turned to laughs as the energy faded, and Bakugon was unharmed!

As Tiga stood on one knee, Bakugon roared mockingly at the giant's failed attempts. "Give it up, Ultraman Tiga. In the dream realm, it's my game!"

Tiga clenched his fists in rage. He had only one weapon left, and all he could do was hope that it worked. As Bakugon's arms extended towards him, Tiga gathered energy for his Zepellion Ray. Instead of using the energy for his ray, the energy traveled to his chest. As his armor glowed with light, The arms on Bakugon's body were dissolved, and were this time unable to regenerate. The dream tormentor screamed in pain and fear as Tiga spread his arms apart.

Bakugon's body began to dissolve from the feet up while Tiga forced what was left of his energy into his chest armor. The last of Bakugon gradually dissolved into nothing but particles of Darkness and light, leaving Tiga alone in the strange, eerie realm. With the tormentor no more, the gem on Tiga's forehead flashed white, and his body teleported from Bakugon's bleak and dismal world.

XXX

Cory's eyes snapped open while he sat up in his bed. Unlike before, his friends lay there peacefully, even while Rainbow Dash snored. He even chuckled as he noticed that the Cucumbers on Rarity's face were no longer on her eyes, but that Twilight had one on her mouth that was missing a large chunk of it. Redell sat in the recliner with his blue gem black, signifying his resting systems. However, he noticed that Pinkie Pie was gone. He stood up from his sleeping bag and walked to the kitchen where he saw the glow of the refrigerator light. Presumably, there was Pinkie Pie making herself a large octa-decker sandwhich. "Oh, hey Cory!" she whispered, "How'd you sleep?"

"Not terribly." He smiled. "And you?"

"Well I had a dream that I was turned into a cupcake and then got eaten, the suddenly, this weird monster that was eating me while I was a cupcake turned into a brownie like I wanted him too! And then I was hungry and ate it and when I woke up I was chewing on Apple Jack's hat. So then I came in here and made a Sandwich. Did you have any weird dreams?"

"Sure." Cory nodded. "Have a seat, and we'll talk about it."

Ultraman Tiga Chapter 27, End

Ending Theme: Brave Love Tiga

Next Chapter: Having spent a year in Equestria, Cory looks back at his past life in his home world, and the dramatic change he has gone through since arriving in Equestria. But when Jobariah appears during the chance Cory has to return home, will he abandon his friends and go back to his life on earth, or will the love he shares with them out weigh his desire to return?

Note: Sorry about the long wait guys. I've been too busy to carry on making a new chapter every week. I will write the next as soon as I can.