//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Mythical Creatures // Story: Definition of Expendability // by Grape Crush //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Mythical Creatures The equine, whom preferred to be called a pony, Twilight Sparkle was attempting to break her less outward friend out of a bush she had escaped to. I felt bad, more so for giving the poor girl such a scare, but a deeper part of me was relieved I still carried some fear to spread. "Fluttershy, for the thousandth time, L is not going to hurt you!" She had been trying to coax her friend out of hiding for a while now, after introductions had been made. Twilight apologized profusely for her friend's manners, which I declined out of sympathy for the cream Pegasus. I suppose if humans were just a myth here, it wasn't every day that they saw one decked out in black power armor. The skulls painted on my chest and helmet certainly didn't make me seem any less menacing to the trembling pony in the bush. She had voiced that fear long ago, to which I had tried to explain it was just simply markings my armor came with. Not entirely true, but I couldn't just tell her I had wanted the scary skulls on me. Sighing, I tried my hand at getting her to relax. Kneeling before her, trying to appear in the most unfearful way I could muster, I brought my visor face to face with her. She took a few steps back, unsure of my motives, before Twilight simply held her in place. "Fluttershy, I am very sorry if I scared you. I hope that we can get past this minor problem and be on good terms. That would be very brave of you." I cringed inwardly, addressing what I presumed to be a young lady, around my age, in the vocabulary I would use for a young child. Age was hard to tell with these two though. Twilight's voice held the weight of a woman in her twenties at least, but looks were deceiving. For all I know, this Fluttershy could be Twilight's daughter. Speaking of, she gazed back at me with wide eyes, weighing the words I had spoke to her. I attempted to speak in the softest voice I could muster, hoping it would be enough to turn this situation around. Finally, she closed the distance to me and spoke in a voice that I strained to hear. "I-It's okay... Y-You didn't mean to scare me... R-Right?" Her eyes widened further, expecting an answer from me. A simple shake of my head let her breathe a sigh of relief. Standing once again, I thought of any routes I could take to ease the tension between myself and the two miniature horses in front of me. Before finally deciding to take off my helmet. Perhaps I would be scarier with it off, but it couldn't hurt to try. My hair was longer than regulation, as most Spartan's were required to keep it as short as possible to stop the helmet from fitting incorrectly. I wasn't into beauty by any stretch of the imagination, however when I had requested to at least keep my somewhat long hair, they relented. Even going as far to design my helmet to accommodate for it. I lifted my hands to either side of my helmet, twisting it to the side it popped off with a hiss. My black bangs streaked with silver fell into my vision for a mere second. I couldn't gauge their reactions until it was fully off, hoping that it was looks of curiosity and not of fear. Quickly shaking my head, holding my helmet at my waist, I gazed into the large blue pools in front of me. The body attached however began to shake violently, hiding the large eyes behind pink hair. Twilight was much more interested, quickly hopping from behind her friend to stare at me. Gasping as her eyes met mine. "I thought that was your body! What is it that you're wearing? Is it armor? Of course it is... What am I thinking! But where is your fur? Do you not have any besides on your head? Not that there is any-" "Twilight, I would love to explain to you all about humans, but I'd like to make sure your friend isn't going to pee herself." I motioned towards the Pegasus at her side, which Twilight sheepishly smiled at. "Right, sorry, just it's so exciting! A whole new species! I can't wait to document everything!" Twilight reminded me of ONI researcher, always wanting to get their grubby little hands on every detail so they could exploit it later. For better or for worse. I wasn't exactly keen on giving her a run down on everything. I also didn't want to hurt her feelings because she seems to have good intentions. "Do we have a more secluded spot?" I sighed, not wanting my presence to be known to every sentient being here, if there was more than these two that is. Judging from the initial reactions, I knew I wasn't something that they expected to see everyday. From the sunshine and rainbows that this place seemed to emanate, I stood out like a sore thumb. And a sore thumb could cause plenty of unwanted attention from the beings here. "Well... There is my library, but it's a public place, where anypony can come to..." Did she just say anypony? "And you being a large black figure could cause some... Problems." I raised my eyebrow at her. "What kind of problems?" I knew there would be some explaining required, however she put problems as if something worse than a few ponies fleeing in fear was at stake. She looked away from me, probably so I couldn't gauge her reaction. "Don't worry about it, let's just get you to a safe spot! I can't wait to learn all about you!" She looked at me once more, her eyes filled with curiosity, to which I rolled my eyes to. Still, how her mood had shifted so suddenly at the mere mention of problems tugged at the back of my mind. "Uhm... If you don't mind. I have animals I need to tend to..." Fluttershy had finally spoken up, more than likely wanting to get as far away from me as possible. I couldn't really bring myself to blame her. She started back to her house, opening the door and quickly shutting it behind her. "She won't be scared of me forever, will she?" The last thing on my list was to put fear in potential allies. While this could all be a ploy, the doubt continued to grow that they held any ill intent on my well being. "Just give her time, as shy as she is, she's truly somepony you'd want to have around. Her kindness to other's is astounding." Twilight caught a glance of Fluttershy's home, looking guilty as if she had something to hide. Now that I think about it, this pony came off as if she had more secrets than I did. "I see. Let's try your library?" She nodded at me, turning tail quite literally. Before looking back at me with a sheepish smile. "Do you have any way you could look less... Like that?" She gestured to my entire body. "Aww, aren't I pretty?" I had always found a strange sense of happiness in cracking stupid or uncomfortable jokes. It was always a hit or miss on whether or not they make a situation better. Risks I was more than willing to take. "N-No... I m-mean yes... I think... That's not..." She stuttered out, the risk being worth it. I smiled at her while she helplessly floundered over one word and another. Her purple cheeks taking on a much lighter pink. I wasn't sure what amazed me more, how well my joke worked, or how her cheeks could turn that shade. "Don't worry about it, I know what you meant. Less menacing I presume?" She quickly nodded her head. "Yes well, it's a little hard to appear that way. If you and your friend's reaction is any indicator." She blushed once again, rubbing the back of her neck with a... Hoof? How can it even bend like that? "I suppose I could try something, I just don't know how much energy it would take. Worth a shot! Would you mind stepping near me?" Hesitantly I took a step closer, putting my helmet back on. As kind, and a little strange, she was being; it still didn't give me full reason to trust her quite yet. I stood next to the purple creature, waiting patiently for what it might do, my hands ready to defend myself. Before I could ask what exactly was happening, I felt myself being ripped away from reality. Much like I had been once before.