//------------------------------// // chapter 4 the man is back // Story: the thing in the dark // by nallokthecat //------------------------------// "Umm do you think Applejack is okay?" Fluttershy said timidly as the rest of the group pawed around the creatures’ campsite. "She's been gone an awfully long time" Rainbow Dash looked over “For the sake of whatever that thing is she better be or it'll get a sonic rainboom upside the head." Twilight looked over to Rainbow. "Rainbow if it was hostile it would have attacked not run away." "Well darling I wouldn't exactly call it peaceful." Rarity said pointing to a few skins of forest beasts tanning as well as some dried meat. Fluttershy squeaked a bit in terror; she had taken care of carnivores but it always scared her when she saw their eating habits and it seemed like she wasn't the only one. She briefly looked around to see the whole group gulp in fear a bit as they looked at the grim display. "Umm perhaps we should look for Applejack after all." Twilight said the fear in her voice evident. "No need, I’m already back with a friend." Applejack said as she and the creature walked into view. The unexpected arrivals startled Fluttershy into hiding behind a log and quivering in terror. At this the creature glanced at her but much to her relief Rainbow started to distract it. "Hey you better not have hurt Applejack you walking hunk of tin!" Rainbow said jabbing her hooves at the creature. "Calm down Rainbow" Applejack said "Sam here's mighty respectable; even saved me from fallen to ma death." The camp was silent for a moment and then much to her and everypony else's shock Fluttershy timidly asked "S-Sam?" "That’s right." Applejack said smiling "He says his full name’s Sam Maxwell." "Well way to steal my dramatic reveal there Applejack" Sam said once again silencing everypony and causing a small squeak of terror from Fluttershy again. Sam shrugged and continued. "Any way Applejack says you want to talk to me so I decided to come back and give you all a chance to say your peace." he walked over to a small log and sat down "But first, you. Yellow pony, come here for a second." Fluttershy froze in sheer terror ‘What does it want with me?!!?' she thought, panic flowing through her mind. "Well? Come on." Sam beckoned again. Fluttershy was scared of the creature, but she was even more scared of what might happen if she got it angry so she causally made her way over to Sam. She noticed he was taking off the armor on his hands which looked white with a tinge of pink. When she was there she and everypony, except Applejack, held their breath and as Sam lifted up his hand, she closed her eyes in fear. Suddenly she felt something warm and slightly soft petting her and stroking her mane. She could feel gentleness to it, as if whatever it was, it wasn't going to hurt her. She slowly opens her eyes to see Sam gently petting her. "Don't worry I promise I’m not going to hurt you." he said as he slowly stopped. Fluttershy smiled and blushed for a moment. She'd never known anyone besides her to be that gentle. She decided to give him a fair chance and, sat next to him smiling all the while. "Right, now that we've got that done I think we'd do better talking face to face.” Sam said as he took off his helmet. Fluttershy stared at him for a bit. He had a large scar of 3 claw marks going down the left side of his face. It probably went to the chin but the beard made it hard to tell. His hair was black and messy but short. The most striking thing, though, was his eyes. Those two completely different eyes. They entranced her and Fluttershy felt herself being pulled into them. Thankfully he didn't notice and she pulled out of her trance by him continuing "Alright then, let’s begin." Twilight cleared her throat and began. "Ah yes well as I said last time; hello there my name is Twilight sparkle and first of all I would like to thank you for rescuing me and Pinkie Pie early today." "Yah" Pinkie Pie cut in cheerfully "thanks super omega much Sammy" Pinkie quickly bounced up to him and hugged him tight, before bouncing right back to where she was before. Twilight continued "We would also like to invite you to the capital of Equestria, Canterlot so that you may have an audience with her royal highnesses Princesses Celestia and Luna." Sams expression immediately hardened. "Why in the world would I do that?" he said bluntly everypony starting at him in disbelief for the third time in a row. "What’s the problem?" Twilight asked a bit of worry in her voice. "The problem" he began “is that you want me, who you regard as little more than a monster, to step into your capital full of guards that could at anytime capture me, and throw me in the dungeons or worse yet, have doctors experiment on me. I’m happy that you and your friend are safe and everything but I’m not going to step on an uneven playing field." Fluttershy looked at him with concern 'He's scared oh poor thing' “B-but I-" Twilight began "Save it" Sam cut her off harshly "if your leaders want to meet me so bad they can come out here because I ain't going." “Umm I have a suggestion." Fluttershy said prompting everyone to look at her, which made her nervous. "I-I'd like to stay with him tonight to talk with him." and she cracked a small smile while their jaws dropped.