Humans, the creatures of legend in a world where their offspring are treated as animals, pets and common playthings by poachers. The divine beings able to create anything, and not with magic, but with the mind. Great skyscrapers, which truth be told, did scrape the sky and could be seen as far as tens of miles away. They created the beautiful scenery of boutique flowers and the powerful arts of every century. They created the ultimate soldiers, the ultimate weapons. They were able to truly do anything, perhaps because magic wasn't there to hold them back, or was it? Magic can come in many forms, and perhaps maybe the true magic the humans held wasn't physical, but mental and spiritual, maybe it was hidden deep down? Or maybe not.
I ran, as quick as I could. It was really exhilarating despite the fact my own life, as well as the one I now protect is in danger. I can see how parents react when their kids are in trouble. It can drive them crazy and put them up to devices others would think more than twice of doing. Although she wasn't exactly human, either way, I've had a dog before and for her, I would kill to protect. She was family just the same as my sibling and parents.
So right now I've grown an attachment to the little girl and my purpose has evolved more than just to protect her, I almost see her as family. It's also the least I can do, considering I have nothing else to do.
The brush was ever-increasing, but I could sense a final showdown. They would get one big surprise, though, I could promise that. I continued to hear shouting and directions and then I erupted out from the foliage and protection of the forest to a sight that made me slightly crack my tooth. It was those two again, dammit!
Not just that, though, they brought plenty of company with them too. A whole line of golden-armored guards as well. I looked up at the shaking form of Rose, and I couldn't blame her. The spears were all pointing this way. I tried to calm her with a warm smile, and surprisingly it did wonders as she nuzzled my neck; just like my dog.
The two hybrids had stern looks, but so did I. It reminded me of a western showdown, but just who would draw the pistols first?
"Princess!" Another, familiar, voice yelled from behind as I could hear crackles of popping twigs and crushed leaves. I was surrounded, nowhere to go. I kind of liked it, though. Maybe I could get them to back up if I showed them a little strength.
"Twilight, please, stay back." The white hybrid seemed a little scared. It would make sense, she was protecting her daughter I suppose, but who's the father?
Or is it the other one who is the mother? I'm just going to confuse myself if I pry further.
"Creature, I know you can understand me." I slightly chuckled as I slowly lowered Rose onto the ground, letting her rest on our packed stuff. She was sound to fall back asleep.
"Sister, be careful," the other said as the white hybrid approached me. Surprisingly she gave a warm smile to me. Her ethereal mane was quite the sight though, it actually made me want to touch it very badly.
As she stood in front of me, eye-to-nose respectively, I had to know. Holding back every ounce of strength I could considering I wouldn't hurt a peaceful animal. It always made me sick to my stomach when people would enjoy hurting defenseless animals. Well, I guess we're all animals. Sapience isn't a definer of something that isn't an animal.
The guards tensed and raised their spears, all shouting. "Get away from her you beast!" One of them yelled with confidence. But before the princess could silence them I tried a little trick that always seemed to work in the animal kingdom. I just glared at them all. I couldn't exactly say how scary I was, but they all seemed to have a bead of sweat travel down their heads, so I'd assume very.
I actually chuckled as the other hybrid slightly tensed as well, but then only glared back. I smiled afterwards sending her off guard again; a genuine smile. Then trees cracked and broke as more ponies came rushing out.
"I've got you this time!" The same cyan pony screamed as she rammed for my head. I simply stood a step to the right and directed hybrid to do the same as the pegasus avoided hitting us and yelled in anger as she landed and turned around.
"Calm down there Rainbow, we've got 'im." I turned to see the first pony I saw when coming here and huffed in defeat. Damn cowpony.
I actually forgot that I hadn't exactly touched the ethereal hair yet. I mean, come on it's flowing in non-existent wind. I'd expect and sane human would want to touch it, not the other way around. Risk is the only way for reward.
It felt quite odd actually. It felt extremely soft, yet it did feel like some kind of energy was there; my sixth sense told me so, so I decided not to doubt it.
"I think he likes your hair," an annoying pink pony commented. Why was she annoying, she was jumping up and down in place like she was begging for a toy. On top of that, her hair showed off a slight physcopathic personality.
"I think I've figured that one out." It's odd, she talks like everyone's her kid when it's ponies. I slowly sat down and observed Rose as she slept. Completely peaceful and innocent.
The hybrid slowly sat down as well and observed the girl with me. I was waiting for someone to say something, as well, I couldn't exactly speak at the moment.
"It must be hard for her." I slightly tensed. "To have her mother killed like that." Like that? They killed her! I turned my head in anger towards the hybrid. I quickly got to my feet and bore my teeth at the hybrid. I was getting worked up and angry. Damned ponies killed a mother. I had almost forgotten about how murderous they are.
That's when a spear was heading right for me. The hybrid gasped as she saw its vector. Actually, all of the non-combative ponies gasped. I merely bore one eye at the spear and quickly grasped the handle before it reached my face. Then, like a twig I broke it in two and let it drop to the ground.
"Wait!" The hybrid was now standing, "please." I looked at her. She really didn't look like a murderer. None of them do, but they did it, right? My head slightly shut down as I thought it over. Did they kill Rose's mother? I've never been the one to think before words or actions. It's a problem, but it's what makes me, me I suppose.
She slowly approached me and lit her horn. "I think you deserve to know." She then placed it on my forehead and my mind became clear and was full of gruesome, yet revealing images.
Rose slowly walked with her mother. She was free from the ponies. Her other and she both were glistening with glee over their escape. That man was their savior for sure, but it didn't matter now. He sacrificed his own life for theirs. They would live it the best they could and the first plan was to run as far away from the ponies as possible.
Newly built energy of happiness propelled them forward at high speeds, with even the thorns and heavy brush collapsing in their wake. Meanwhile, I was watching with Celestia from the sideline; we were there, but not in the realm of the living, it was a memory of course.
I knew what was coming once I heard it, but I still felt myself go limp at the images. As some people would scream at their T.V. screen for their characters to run I did the same, but then remembered I couldn't speak anyway, that didn't stop the hybrid, god I really need to learn her name, from saying it to me.
"It's no use. This has already been set in stone sadly." Then came another low piercing and terrifying growl from the predator of the accursed forest of the Everfree.
The mother went limp at the image and it looked like she was practically giving up on life, but that didn't stop her from pushing her daughter out of the way before the mutated lion's jaws slowly ripped her to shreds. She screamed in agony as her daughter stared in horror, tears swelling up in her eyes at the hopeless situation. By this point, the princess couldn't continue to watch, but I could and every moment of it made me angry. Why is fate always so cruel? Why does she have to take every bit of joy out of people's lives? And yet, while some wouldn't blame the animal, I only looked at it with hate. I would remember the scar running down its right eye.
The girl wept as the gnawing of bone and ripped muscle was heard. Rose had watched it all and was shaking worst than a leaf in autumn. She cried and cried, and then as the animal bore its eyes into her, she cried more. Then it simply saw the hopelessness the creature held and it left Rose, to wallow in suffering as she saw the lifeless, destroyed and blood stained body of her mother. As the animal left Rose slowly dragged her body to the dead corpse in front of her, looking into the lifeless orbs staring off into space, and yet a smile was held on the mother's face. She was laughing at death.
Rose could only sit there and wallow in pain as every bit of emotion escaped her form. She was now alone in a world of suffering and agony; I made the right choice. As the picture faded to dark the hybrid turned to me.
"Why did you attack young Spike?" her eyes were slightly aggressive as she demanded the answer. I simply stared, I couldn't answer if I wanted to. She knew of the letter as well as she continued to stare at me until a light bulb appeared on top of my head. I tried my best at imitating writing. Needless to say, she got the message and I could finally communicate.
To everyone, it was a few seconds, but to me and Celestia it was a few hours of non-stop exchanges of events, names and such. Nothing of history, though. I was glad about that, I'd rather not talk about human history right now, or at least in front of practical dozens of ponies.
I also learned her sister's name apparently and her student's name. That conversation went swimmingly. The blush she had when I asked about her "daughter" was priceless. I didn't know ponies or well horses, let's be honest, could blush.
Apparently, I was probably not going to be granted rights to the general public, which wasn't exactly the best option, but I suppose putting a roof over Rose's head and being able to protect her more closely was ideal. At least I could communicate, although she never stated where I would be staying at all. It would all be explained at the library in town, the same place I spied on them at and knocked out the young dragonling known as 'Spike'.
"Sister, art thou fine?" Luna asked, blushing as Celestia gave her the face of disappointment.
"You need to focus Luna. Please, focus on adapting to modern language." Luna nodded faintly, then seemingly scowled at me. I simply sighed as Twilight walked over and observed me and Rose, almost melting at the sight of the young girl sleeping. It was weird, she looked very human, not Equestrian human, but Human human.
"Princess what happened?" The third hybrid asked.
"We shall discuss it at the library. It is rather confidential let's put it." I nodded at this, although none of the ponies seemed to notice. I simply shrugged. I slowly lifted up Rose and the equipment and waited for directions. The rest of the group, the "elements of harmony" as they were called, aside from Twilight, gave me on and off looks of concern. Although the yellow pegasus looked the most concerned, but not about other ponies or the princesses, but for me and Rose. I simply ignored it as we walked into the library, becoming irritated as I would have to explain humanity to them. That was not going to be fun at all.