//------------------------------//
// Encounters 
// Story: Integration Is Pointless 
// by OutOfTheBlue 
//------------------------------//

      I groaned as I shifted in my seat. Because my old seat mate had gotten off, I was able to lie down in a futile attempt to get more comfortable. I was so bored I was playing "I spy" with the voices in my head... which is just sad.

~I spy with Jack's eye something that is... yellow.~

>The sun?<

~No.~

That bird flying next to us?

~Yep! Good job!~

I was just looking for a new object when suddenly, a massive explosion consumed the fromt of the train.

What was that?

>I don't know but I think we're in trouble.<

~Y-you don't know that. Trains explode randomly all the time... right?~

The remaining ponies in the car started panicking at the train slowed down. Obviously worried about the sudden explosion. As the other passengers started gathering around the door leading to the other cars, I made my way to the door of the caboose. More sounds could be heard from the cars ahead of us including screams and muffled cracking sounds.

~I've got a bad feeling about this.~

>You've got your bags, I suggest hiding in the caboose for a bit.<

~Should we tell the others to as well?~

At that moment the ponies started panicking. I don't know if they realized what was happening or if they just panicked but they were screaming and crying and generally being obnoxious.

~Scratch that, they're hysterical. No use there.~

I opened the door and slipped into the dimly lit space. I carefully closed the door behind me and started looking for a good hiding spot. A large crate in the corner caught my eye and I soon was stowed away inside it. Just as I closed the lid and found a hole to peer through, I heard an explosion rip through the car I had been in accompanied by screams and... gunshots? Does that mean....

Suddenly the door flew inward and a human in high tech combat armor came in, gun at the ready. To my horror, four more soon followed. Through my hole, I could see them look around and... dear mercy they're the Harriers.

~You don't mean...~

>The six most deadly assassins the Union has at their disposal? Yeah, and now we're doomed.<

~J-just keep quiet!~

One of them, a woman, spoke.

"Are we clear?"

One with a freaking spear strapped to his back slung his gun back over his shoulder before saying,

"Yeah, I don't see squat."

The lady turned to one who wasn't wearing a helmet but rather had on a pair of glasses with a heads up display visible in the lenses.

"Have Trace and Lenart had any escapees?"

"Negative."

"Alright. We're all set to head back to base. Once the natives notice a missing train near their capital, they'll send some of their already puny military to investigate. That's when we'll strike."

I held completely still as they exited the car and didn't breathe until their footsteps were no longer audible.

~What the heck are we supposed to do now? Where do we go?~

>Staying in the open is a horrible idea, so I suggest we head for the woods. I'd rather deal with whatever's in there than the Harriers.<

Definitely.

~But shouldn't we warn somebody? They're going to ambush the ponies!~

>Who would believe us? And besides, the ponies are stronger than they think. They have magic after all.<

Whatever, but me not dying is first priority. When should I move?

>Wait ten minutes, then leave through the back of the train.<

~Why the back?~

>I figured we didn't want to see what they did to all those ponies.<

I guess I hadn't really had time to process it, but it occurred to me. All of the ponies, other than myself, were dead. I sniffled as I felt... guilty. I lived and they didn't because I didn't warn them. I could have--

>Feel sorry for yourself later! We need to move and we can't have you breaking down now!<

~Yeah, just... push it aside for now. It'll be okay.~

I nodded before taking a deep breath and exiting my box. The smell of singed fur and charing meat filled my nostrils as I hit the floor, causing me to gag. I held my breath and dashed for the back door before coming to my senses and slowly pushing it open. As I cautiously emerged into the sunlight, I kept low to the ground as I hurried towards the forest. 

Alright, where to now?

>Water. Find a stream or something.<

~Food shouldn't be a problem. You can just eat grass.~

I nodded before setting out into the less scary forest than before. Unlike the Everfree, this forest was bright and filled with life. I distracted myself by gawking at the massive trees and bright flowers. Birds were singing and squirrels ran along the trees, scolding me whenever I approached them. It was so... odd. Not one hundred feet away an entire train was murdered and yet this place was so peaceful. I walked on and on until I realized I really didn't need to be a pony in the middle of nowhere.

~I wonder if the magicite works both ways?~

Let's try it. I need to save as much magic as I can.

I dug around in my saddlebags before pulling out the titular crystal and carefully sticking the point into the elbow of my left foreleg. I felt a cold sensation spread out from around the area and soon was human again, holding a glowing crystal that was in my arm.

>Handy. But we should keep moving. You still don't want to be out at night.<

I switched bags back to my backpack and placed the magicite in a safe place before continuing onward.

-------------------------------

The sun was nearing the horizon as I heard a marvelous sound, water. I quickened my pace and soon arrived at a gorgeous waterfall surrounded by plants and trees of all shapes, sizes, and colors. By this point I was parched so I rushed forward and started drinking mouthful after mouthful of the cold, crystal clear liquid. After I had had my fill, I stretched and began looking around for a decent place to camp.

~You could always climb a tree. You'd probably be safe.~

>Surprisingly that's good advice.<

~Hey!~

"Woah, what kind of creature are you?"

I started as a light, feminine voice filled the air around me.

>Another girl. Apart from the pegasus guard and Carrot we've only seen girls here.<

~Yeah... what's with that?~

Knock it off!

"Who said that? Who's there?" 

There was a pause before the voice said,

"Oh cool! Ssso you can talk!"

I heard a quiet slithering sound behind me and turned to find... something. It had the front of a brown pony with a forest green mane with streaks of light green in it, but around her belly, right before the area her hind legs would be, was a long snake tail as thick as her body, ergo as thick as my chest. She looked at me with bright emerald eyes and started looking me up and down with obvious curiosity and wonder.

>What the...<

~...Hay?~

"Um... I'm... a human. And you're a... snake pony?"

The creature wrinkled her nose and crossed her hooves.

"I'm not a 'snake pony,' I'm a lamia. That's different from a naga though! Nagas can hypnotize people and I can... well, apparently lamias are supposed to sing really good, but I can't. Oh! What's a human? Is that like a gorilla? Or a dragon? Or a minotaur?"

"Uh... I only know what half of those things are, so I'm assuming no. I also have no idea what a naga or lamia is."

She slithered a bit closer, obviously eager to tell me more about herself.

"Okay, sssso lamia isss a magical creature that isss both pony and ssserpant. Pretty neat, huh!"

I just stood there for a few seconds.

~Uh...~

>That's pretty obvious.<

"Yeah! It sure is! ...Soooooo... can you tell me where I am?"

She tapped her chin, her forked tongue sticking out of her mouth as she concentrated.

"Um... thisss isssss where I live, ssssso I've always jussst called it my home, but I think I have a map in my cave sssssomewhere!"

"Great! Lead the way!"

She looked at me in bewilderment and also a bit of excitement.

"You want to come into my housssse?!"

"Yeah? If that's not a problem."

She bounced up and down a bit while saying,

"Thissss isss sssso awesssome! No one ever visits me!"

"Why not?"

As I said that, her ears drooped and she coiled up a bit. She held the end of her tail in her forelegs and started petting it.

"Well, the few timesss poniessss came here before, I tried talking to them. They alwaysss ssscream and run and c-call m-me m-m-monster *gasp* and I get r-really lonely b-but I'm too ssscared to leave the foressst! Sssso I-I..."

She whimpered as tears started rolling down her cheeks. Oh man, that's just sad.

~Comfort her!~

>It is our best chance at getting out of here.<

~Not my point.~

I stepped forward and carefully wiped the tears off her cheek. She looked up at me with damp eyes, trying to figure out what I was doing.

"I know you're not a monster, monsters don't cry when they're called monsters and they definitely aren't as cute as you are."

"Y-you think I'm cute?"

"Adorable."

I hugged her and started petting her mane, hoping that running my fingers through it would help calm her down. It worked as she snuggled up against me, her snake tail lazily wrapping around my back as she hugged me.

"Y-your really warm."

I pulled away a bit and booped her on the nose.

"And you're super soft and cuddly."

She giggled before looking at the setting sun.

"It'ssss almosssst night, do you want to... well... ssstay the night with me?"

I nodded causing her to squeal in excitement.

As we walked, er, one of us walked, to her home, she babbled excitedly about how much fun this was going to be and how nice I was and just a bunch of random things.

-----------------------

After a short walk, we reached the mouth of a cave in the rocks beside the waterfall. As we entered, I was surprised at how neat and cozy it was. Blankets lined portions of the floor and lamps filled with fireflies sat on rough wooden tables. There were various books and maps around the room on shelves and framed on the walls. All in all a lot better than what I was expecting.

"Ssssso? What do you think?"

"Nice place you've got, very cozy."

She smiled before slithering over to a map hanging from the wall and pointed to a large patch of forest marked "The Nebulae Woods" which bordered on another portion labeled "The Whitetail Woods." In the middle of the Nebulae Woods was marked a waterfall called "Espir Falls."

"Sssee! We're right here!"

From the falls I could see the closest town was one to the north called "Featherborrow." It was the closest town not only to the forest, but also to some place marked "The Gryphon Kingdom."

"So all I have to do is head north for a while?"

"You bet! Jusssst keep the ssssun at your right until you reach the edge of the foresssst."

"Huh, thanks!"

We went over to some sort of nest thing made of various blankets and cushions before my serpentine friend asked,

"Are you hungry? I've got ssssome fruit if you want."

"That sounds great! I haven't eaten in a while."

She came back holding a homemade bowl with several varieties of fruit in it. As we ate the assortment of fruit, I couldn't help but wonder at what they're names were. Some were sweet, while some were sour and even a bit spicy. I suddenly realized something.

"You know, I never heard your name."

She looked up before blushing.

"Oopsss, I forgot."

"No biggie, I just figured friends should know each others names. Mine's Jack."

"I'm Verdant."

"That's a very nice name, Verdant."

"Yoursss iss too, Jack."

After we had finished our meal, Verdant coiled up inside the nest which I guess was her bed. I looked around for a place to sleep before  she grabbed me and pulled me on top of her tail. She readjusted so that I was in the middle and her pony half was lying on my chest with her muzzle tucked beneath my chin. I carefully extricated my hand from her coils and pet her back, causing her to hum in pleasure.

>Aw, who'd have thunk a snake pony thing could be adorable.<

~And so comfortable, talk about lumbar support!~

I yawned loudly as the exhaustion of running from a train wreck caught up to me. I hadn't even realized how tired I was until I was lying down. I held Verdant like a stuffed animal and shifted around a bit before looking over at my backpack.

You know, I don't think I'll ever have a "normal" day here.

>What tipped you off?<

~Who cares, normal is boring.~

Amen to that, amen to that.