//------------------------------// // Unbearable situation // Story: The Wise and the Strong // by Rezas //------------------------------// The sounds of early morning drifted through the slight opening of a window, sending the soft notes of bird song with it as Aileen, Molly, and Mew slept in one of the modified rooms of their generous host. Mannequins, rolls of cloth, and other various tools of the seamstress had been pushed into the corner of the room to make space for a good sized sofa on which the girls slept. How it had happened in the night no one was sure, but the small group had somehow curled around one another, much like a set of nesting dolls, Mew curled around Molly as the shorter girl wrapped up Aileen. The night had gone smoothly enough with the trio of ponies and their dragon companion leading them. Upon reaching the quiet town, the group had swapped good night's and promises to see each other again in the morning before heading off in their own directions, Rarity leading Molly and Aileen to her own home, the Carousel Boutique. It was here that Aileen now laid on the sofa in the early morning, eyes open and drowsy, though unwilling to move so as to not disturb her friend and her pokemon. Soon the two smaller forms woke up, eyes groggily opening and the two yawned in unison. It was super cute. Aileen gave a soft smile, petting the Mew on the head. “Morning, you two,” she said softly. Molly smiled, the mew seeming to purr a bit. “You know both of these is me?” Molly asked with a giggle, tapping her chest and the Mew. Aileen’s little smile seemed to peeter out a little. “I do,” she said quietly. “But… I think some small part of me finds it easier to think of you both as separate.” “Okay,” Molly said simply, the Mew’s head nuzzling Aileens chest. The tall girl’s smile returned and she gave a small chuckle. “...We’re still here,” the hybrid said suddenly, glancing towards the open window. “No, we’re over there,” Molly said with a giggle, pointing a inch to the left before scooting there. Aileen stared at her for several moments before she broke out into a wide grin. “You always know how to lighten the mood, don’t you?” She questioned, hugging her friend close. “Of course I do,” Molly said, smiling and hugging back tightly. The magikarp-girl held the hug for a moment or two longer before she let go and leaned back a little. “This has turned into a real mess,” she muttered. “We’re completely lost, surrounded by weird ‘ponies’, and the first intelligent life we found tried to eat Mew.” Molly shuddered a little. “Meanie heads…” She whispered, hugging both the taller girl and Mew tight. Aileen nodded her affirmative. “The question becomes… what now?” She asked, looking to her companion. “We’re a girl, a Mew, and a… a magikarp in a potentially dangerous place and we can’t keep relying on the hospitality of others… at least, not forever.” “I dunno…” Molly said simply and softly. “I… don’t know.” The taller girl continued to look at her friend for a moment before she let her gaze drift to the ground, wondering how everything had gone the way it had… until the sounds of someone shuffling around downstairs drew her attention. “...It would seem our host is awake,” she commented quietly before slowly standing to her feet. “We should go down and talk to her. Maybe we can get some answers….” The small, hopeful sentence sounded more like a question than a statement, but it was the best the taller girl could do to keep up her friend’s spirit. Molly nodded, picking Mew up and moving to go do just that. She seemed a bit more herself. Aileen gave a small smile, putting a hand to her friend’s shoulder for a moment before making her way out the door and down into the first floor of the home. The girls rounded a corner and into the kitchen that their benefactor had led them through the night before, a yawn shaking the pokegirl to her core as her bleary eyes saw a white pony at the stove. “Morning, Rarity,” she greeted only to be surprised by a yelp as the pony in front of her spun around with wide eyes. The taller girl blinked at the filly, realizing that the pony was much shorter and seemed to be quite a bit younger than the mare they’d met last night, taking in the green eyes and pale purple and pink mane. “Uh… wha-” “RAAARITYYYY!!!!” The girl suddenly screamed out in a shrill voice, the glass in the room actually shaking as Aileen slammed her hands over her ears. Molly put her elbows around Mews ears and hands around her own, falling to the floor by the screech. It was practically a attack. The scream slowly died out, giving way to the rushed steps of a pony down stairs. “Sweetie!” Rarity called in panic. “What’s wrong!?” The mare rushed onto the scene, stopping short as she looked around her. “Wha… what’s going on?” “Rarity, who are these… these… these things!?” Sweetie Belle questioned, eyes still wide in fear at the trio of creatures before her. Rarity stared at her younger sister for a moment before she gave a calming breath and looked at her sister with a motherly look. “Sweetie, they aren’t ‘things’,” she explained gently. “These ladies helped us a great deal yesterday in the Dragon Lands. They didn’t have anywhere to go, so I offered to let them stay the night. I didn’t think it’d give you such a scare.” The little pony looked towards each of the trio for several moments before she gave a little sigh, her shoulders relaxing a little. “Okay…” she finally murmured before her ears flicked up and her eyes widened before she looked to the floor and her ears fell back. “And sorry for screaming… and calling you things….” “My head…” Molly said, groaning a little, Mew whimpering a bit. “Oh, dear,” Rarity muttered, coming to put a hand on the girl’s back before looking back up to her own sister. “Sweetie, get a teapot prepared, please.” “But… isn’t it kinda early for tea?” the filly asked innocently as Aileen rubbed the side of her head. “Yes, it is, darling,” the elder unicorn answered patiently. “But it is never too early for headaches, as you’ve so aptly proved this morning.” Sweetie blinked before giving an embarrassed laugh and went about her task of preparing the teapot, Rarity once more looking towards Molly. “Are you alright, dear?” She asked worriedly, hand still on the girl’s back. “Y-yeah… ears are a bit sensitive…” Molly said simply. “Oh, I’m sorry,” the mare murmured. “We’ll get some ginger tea and get this all fixed up, alright?” With that she looked up to Aileen. “And what about you?” Aileen rubbed her ear a bit more before answering. “I’m fine,” she answered. “Bit more shocking than painful for me… but that tea sounds kinda good.” The unicorn nodded before straightening up. “Well, why don’t you two have a seat while Sweetie and I get it ready, then?” She suggested, flashing a little smile. “It shouldn’t be too long.” Molly nodded, taking a seat with Mew in her lap, the hybrid girl following and sitting down next to her. The kitchen fell silent for a few minutes before Sweetie Belle spoke up again. “Sooo…,” the filly began, glancing behind her to her guests. “Um… what are your names?” “Molly, this is mew,” Molly said, hugging said pokemon closer to herself. “And I’m Aileen,” the taller girl introduced before looking between the two white ponies. “And you’re Rarity’s… daughter?” “What?” Sweetie questioned with a laugh, looking back towards the table as Rarity froze up. “Of course I’m not Rarity’s daughter. I’m her little sister!” The tall hybrid looked between the two as Rarity relaxed and Sweetie turned back to what she was doing before she gave a look to her friend. Molly tilted her head a bit. “Mew feels like Rarity’s hiding something,” She whispered to her taller friend. The pokemons body and senses were… significantly better than the humans. By a lot. Mew has DNA of every pokemon, after all… and the traits that come with them wouldn’t be that much of a stretch. Aileen nodded at that, bringing the knuckle of her finger to her chin. “...Best not to mention it,” she answered quietly. “If she is, it’s not our place to say anything.” “Okay,” Molly said easily. It wasn’t any of their business anyway, a little secret didn’t hurt anyone… at least, not one like this. Aileen gave another nod before leaning back up as Rarity and Sweetie turned back to the table, the older carrying a tray of teacups and saucers while the filly carried the pot. “Here we are, dearies,” she said, setting a cup in front of each of them. “Hope you enjoy it.” “I’m sure we will,” Aileen answered with a smile, giving Sweetie a nod as the small unicorn filled her cup before she turned to fill Molly’s cup. After the cup was filled, Mews eyes glew, just a tiny bit, and the cup flew up in front of Molly’s mouth and allowed her to sip from it. Sweetie leaned back with her eyes widening. “How are you doing that?” She breathed, eyes darting between Mew and Molly’s foreheads. Finishing her tea, Molly tilted her head. “Doing what?” She innocently asked. Molly’s getting mischievous. “That!” Sweetie exclaimed, pointing at the teacup. “How can you do magic without a horn?” “I’m not doing any magic,” Molly said simply, the teacup setting itself down on the table in front of the group. “But, then, what was it,” Rarity piped up, her own piqued. “If you're not using magic then you must be doing it somehow.” “I am not doing anything,” Molly said, smiling. Technically that was at least half right… it was the Mew body doing it, after all. Aileen gave a small giggle of amusement as she let her teacup meet the saucer again. “Oh, come on, Mol,” she said humorously, nudging the other girl softly. “Don't keep’em in suspense.” “But it’s so fuuun,” Molly faux-whined. “Maybe for you…” Sweetie muttered only to wince as Rarity gave her a minor thumb to her elbow. “Mew is Psychic,” Molly said simply after a couple moments. “Ohhh…” Sweetie muttered before her expression became confused. “What's ‘psychic’?” “Her brain is wired to allow her access to supernatural abilities,” Aileen answered, taking a sip from her tea. “Very varies supernatural abilities,” Molly said with a smile. “Little Mew here can do a lot with it’s abilities.” Rarity stopped with her cup almost to her lips, lowering her tea. “Is that where that wave came from yesterday?” She questioned with wide eyes. “Dragons wanted to eat Mew,” Molly said simply, hugging Mew tighter and going quiet. “Oh… well that's just barbaric!” The mare said, her indignancy bordering on anger. Molly was now wrapped around Mew protectively, eyes close. Rarity’s upset expression turned soft and she looked towards the girl for a moment before her chair scooted back. The unicorn made her way around the table and wrapped her arms around the girl and her Pokemon. “Don't worry, dear. You're safe now… you all are.” Molly just nodded, smiling a little. “Thank you,” She whispered. Rarity smiled and rubbed the girl’s back. “You're very welcome, darling,” she answered before going back towards her seat, spotting the clock on the way. “Sweetie, don't you need to be on your way to school?” Sweetie’s eyes shot up towards the time price before jumping to her hooves. “I'mlatethanksRarityIhavetogobyeMollyMewAileennicetomeetyoubye!” The small filly was able to say all this, run around the table, grab her bag, hug her sister, and finally take off through the door before Aileen could even blink, let alone process the sentence. “...Molly… I think you met your match….” “Oh, please, I’ve been going easy on you,” Molly said teasingly and giggling. Molly stayed silent, hoping no one would comment on her going to school. Aileen gave her own small laugh before turning her attention to the unicorn across from her. “Thank you for everything, Rarity. Really.” “Oh, it's no problem at all, Aileen,” the mate answered. “After the Dragon Lands, we couldn't very well leave you both out there all alone, especially with those ruffians hanging about.” “Right,” the pokegirl replied before shaking her head. “But what happens next? We don't know our way around, and-and-” “Darling.” The white unicorn’s hand met the panicking girl’s, drawing the hybrid’s gaze to her. “There's no need to worry. I said you were safe and I meant it. I'll help you find your feet, and I'm sure the other girls will be just as willing to help.” “So… what is there to do around here?” Molly asked after a couple seconds. Rarity blinked and drew back before giving a small smile. “Well, there isn't much to be completely honest,” she answered, picking her cup up once more. “Most ponies are either working or at school during the week. There are of course special occasions, but… well, we haven't heard anything as of late.” “Boo,” Molly said with a pout. “It’s gonna be so boring…” Rarity gave a small giggle as she set her cup down. “Trust me,” she replied, looking to the girl with her smile. “Ponyville is a lot of things, but boring is not one of-” “RARITY!” “OHGOD!” Aileen shouted, falling backwards out of her chair as a flash revealed Twilight Sparkle. Molly yelped, jumping back a little on the seat. “W-what the?” “Twilight?” Rarity questioned, her horn lighting up and picking up a surprised Aileen. “What's wrong?” “There's something going on in the Everfree,” the purple mare answered, her mane frazzled. “Applejack came to the library dragging Mac and Granny with her. If they were worried enough to evacuate the farm…” “Should we go help them?” Molly asked, worried for her friends friends. “Th-that’s why I'm here,” Twilight answered, wringing her hands. “I'm trying to gather the girls because… I think something's coming.” “What’s this ‘something’?” Molly asked the mare, glancing at her rather quiet friend. “With the Everfree,” Rarity answered quietly. “It could be anything.” Aileen looked between the two mare's, eyes growing worried. “Wh-what do we do?” She asked, fear weighing down her voice. “We go help,” Molly said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. “It is what we do,” Rarity agreed, steeling her features and stepping towards the unicorn. “Besides, there’s never been anything we couldn’t handle before and I doubt there’s anything we couldn’t handle now-” The mare stopped short as the sound of panicked screaming reached them through the walls and windows, Aileen’s eyes going wide at the sounds. Molly didn’t hesitate, holding Mew as she bolted out of the house towards the sounds of the screams. “Molly, wait!” The hybrid girl screamed after her friend, rushing after her as Twilight and Rarity followed after. The morning sun temporarily blinded the girl making her blink rapidly until she could open them fully. She almost wished she’d stayed blind. Monsters ran through the streets of the small town, ponies of every variety running in terror as the wooden beasts tore down the streets. The group stared as the wolves of branches and trees wreaked havoc, demolishing street stands and home fronts. “What the hell are these things?” Aileen breathed, staring at the creatures as she began to back away in the same direction as the fleeing townsponies. Molly frowned. She couldn’t risk Metronome here, there were too many ponies around and she didn’t want collateral. “Mega Punch!” She called out as the Mew floated out of her arms, a tiny fist glowing. Aileen shook out of her stupor and watched as the little pokemon floated away, a look flashing over her face as the mares next to them let out gasps. “You have to call her back!” Twilight cried, running to Molly’s side. “Those timberwolves will tear her apart!” One timberwolf tried to do just that, receiving a punch that launched it back into a building and shattered it for it’s troubles. “Mega Punch!” Molly repeated the mental stimulator as another wolf jumped, Mew turning and knocking it away the same as the first. Twilight stared in awe at the display of sheer power, watching the monsters crumble against the tiny pink creature’s might. “How is it doing that-” “Twilight!” Rarity’s scream cut off the other mare and drew the attention of the group. Rarity backed up until she bumped into Aileen, eyes wide at the timberwolves that had begun to circle them. The purple unicorn’s eyes widened as she looked at the circling monsters. “Nopony make any sudden moves…” she said slowly and quietly as her friend shivered next to her. The beasts circled, drool dripping from their jaws… before one barked and snarled loudly and causing Rarity to squeal and lurch away. And the timberwolf lunged forward. A loud thud and the sounds of scraping later found Aileen in front of the unicorn, the timberwolf biting into the hard scales of her arm. “Gh, why can’t everything just. Fuck. OFF!” The girl yelled, rearing her other fist back and slamming it into the monster’s head. The timberwolf launched backward with a yelp, skidding across the ground for several feet before coming to a stop. The sounds brought Molly’s attention to the group. After a quick check, she saw that everyone else had left. “Metronome!” She called out, Mew wagging it’s finger. Swiping it’s tail, golden stars erupted in its wake and crashed into the wolves, launching them back and breaking some of them. Aileen huffed a bit as she lowered her arm and held her other hand to the dented and missing scales on it. “Twilight, Rarity, get out of here,” she hissed through gritted teeth, keeping her eyes on the now cautious timberwolves. “We’ve got this.” “But, darling, your arm-” “I’ll be fine, Rarity,” the magikarp girl insisted, not bothering to look towards the mare. “I’ve been through worse. You and Twilight just need to focus on getting these ponies to safety.” The white mare stared at her for a second or two more before nodding and turning to the purple unicorn. Twilight looked between Molly and Aileen for a moment before she let out a breath. “Stay safe, you two,” she muttered. “The girls and I will be back as soon as everypony is safe.” With that, another white flash left the two girls alone. “Metronome!” Molly exclaimed again. Mew once again wagged its finger. The ground shook, and blades of earth arose, cutting and smashing the wolves. Yet another of the beasts leapt forward, this time aiming for Molly only to find itself punched into the ground and kicked away, sliding away before getting to its feet and running away. “How long can we keep this up?” Aileen questioned, breaths coming in huffs as she prepared for another interception. “I don’t know, it had ten PP in the game, and I’ve used it two times today… so we should be fine for now,” Molly said with a worried frown. Aileen gave a nod as she tensed up, eyes locked with a timberwolf that was doing the same. “Just try to stay between me and Mew,” the girl said, worry etching into her voice. “We’ll get out of this just fine.” Molly nodded a bit. “Metronome!” She cried again. Mew wagged it’s fingers, and what looked like sharp diamond shards came from the ground, cutting all but one of the current wave to shreds. Aileen stared down the monster in front of it, tensing as the beast started to push off the ground before another timberwolf barreled into it, knocking it off-kelter before the other took off yelping, tail between its legs. The hybrid girl narrowed her eyes in confusion before she looked around and began to notice something. “Mol….” “Yeah?” Molly questioned, tensing at the tone in her voice. “These things aren’t coming after us,” the taller girl murmured, straightening up as three more timberwolves ran their way… and ran past when faced with no opposition. “Besides those first few…” Molly mumbled, irritated. “They didn’t attack until we did,” Aileen reasoned, turning her back on the torrent and facing her friend. “They’re not running towards us….” “They literally surrounded us!” Molly said in exasperation. The pokegirl opened her mouth to argue only to be interrupted by a familiar shrill scream. Aileen gasped and turned her gaze down the streets where Sweetie and two other fillies, one yellow with a red mane and the other orange with a purple mane, huddled under an up turned cart as one of the beasts stared at them, taking a step forward. Molly sent Mew, the pokemon floating over and being in front of the beats and snarling a little. The timberwolf shook its head at the sudden appearance, taking a step back and seeming to take a second to register the pokemon’s snarling before returning its own. While the beast was distracted, Molly went and started working on moving the cart off of the fillies.The wolf’s eyes darted temporarily towards the girl, taking a step back when Aileen rushed forward to help her friend. Their combined strength easily moved the cart, the fillies rushing out of the way and huddling behind them. “M-miss Molly?” Sweetie questioned, looking up at them with teary eyes. “Miss Aileen?” “Are you okay?” Molly asked, going to eye height with Sweetie. The little filly sniffed a bit, wiping the tears from her eyes before nodding slowly. “Y-yes,” she answered softly. “I-I think we’re alright.” “You should get somewhere safe,” Molly said. The unicorn nodded her head before turning to the other two. “Let’s hurry,” she said, the others nodding before the trio ran off, sticking off to the side to avoid the few remaining timberwolves that charged by, never giving the fillies a second thought. “What are they all running from?” Molly questioned with a sigh. “That’s what’s got me worried,” Aileen replied, turning to face the direction the creatures were running from. “Because the only thing a predator is afraid of… is a bigger predator.” As if on cue, a slight tremor ran through the ground, quickly followed by more and more with each one growing in intensity until it felt like an actual earthquake was upon them. Molly and Mew turned to see what was causing the quaking. The group didn’t have to wait long before and enormous figure appeared over the crest of the houses. Aileen’s eyes widened as the monster reared up on its hind legs, and gave an earth shattering roar, its red eyes filled with rage. The beast slammed back to the ground and began its walk once more, the opaque purple coat rippling with each step as stars shone within the monster giving it almost dream-like appearance. It’s yellowed claws and teeth however looked all too real. “What… the…” Molly said, eyes wide. The taller girl’s eyes stared up at the monster as she took a step back. “...Still think we got this?” she asked, voice trembling. Molly gulped. “M-maybe? Do you think transform would work?” The smaller asked back. Aileen’s eyes went wide and she looked between Mew and the monstrous bear… before a grin spread over her features. “You are the smartest girl I’ll ever know, you know that, right?” The smaller actually blushed a bit at this, thrown off by the abrupt compliment. Deciding to hide it with action, Mew went forwards. “Transform!” She shouted. The mew glew, shape growing bigger and bigger until there were two giant celestial bears now. “Mega Punch!” She shouted after, allowing the giant bear to do the normal attack Transform allowed and follow it up with a mountain sized uppercut to the enemy bears chin. The original ursa was thrown back, stumbling backward until it crashed down onto its back with a roar, shaking the ground under their feet immensely. “We’ve got to get this fight out of town,” Aileen said worriedly, watching the titanic bear start to roll back to its feet. “If this keeps up, the town’ll be flattened!” Molly nodded. “Metronome!” She shouted. She focused on fighting, trying to make the attack pick something that’d throw the ursa away. Arms glowing, the Mew-Ursa picked up the real-Ursa and tossed it far into the everfree. “Nice!” Aileen exclaimed, pumping a fist before looking back towards the fight. She heard a thud next to her. The hybrid girl turned quickly to find Molly on the ground, sweating and looking like she had a nasty headache. “Mol!” The taller girl exclaimed, kneeling next to her friend and putting a hand to her back. “What’s wrong?” “H-headache…” She whimpered. “E-exhausting…” As she said that, the Mew-Ursa stumbled a little, before shaking its head and glowing again. It was agani Mew, the pokemon floating shakily back to the two. Aileen frowned at that and held out an arm for Mew as the pokemon approached them. The mew fell into her arm, looking tired. “Easy there,” Aileen said quietly, pulling the pokemon in to her chest and putting her other arm around her friend. “Come on girls, we need to get out of here.” Molly nodded, whimpering a bit. “H-hurt… tired…” She said. “Okay, okay,” the pokegirl said soothingly, gently bringing herself and her friend up to stand, leaning the girl against her shoulder as she continued to cradle Mew. “We just have to get you two home…” Aileen lifted her eyes away from the pair and took a look around… only to realize that they had become lost during the conflict. “Crap…” she muttered before the sound of charging hooves on the road met her ears. She turned to look up the street to find six ponies rushing towards them, three being Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Twilight while the other three were completely new to the pair. The first of these was an tannish orange mare with a blonde mane that wore a faded tan blouse that extended part way down her denim skirt, a thin black belt tightened over it as a brown vest covered her shoulders and a stetson completed her look. The next was a yellow mare with a pink mane that stayed to the back of the group, fidgeting with the green long sleeve sweater she was wearing alongside her pale green skirt. The final mare to slide to a stop next to the group was pink on pink, her energetic attitude on full display through the white shirt with a pink heart design in the center, her baby blue half jacket matching up to the poofy thigh-length shorts she wore. “Girls!” Twilight exclaimed, rushing to Molly’s other side to offer another pillar of support. “We saw the ursa from all the way across town and got worried. Are you two okay?” Molly just groaned in response, still sweaty and nasty. Aileen looked to her friend with a worried look before looking back towards the unicorn. “Molly and Mew are completely worn out from facing that thing,” she finally answered. “I think what they could use now is a nice place to rest.” The purple mare nodded her head before the two began to lead the exhausted girl back towards Rarity’s house, the other mares conforming around them as they walked. The group didn’t make it halfway down the street before a shout stopped them in their tracks. “Sis!” The young voice sounded out, drawing the group’s attention to where Sweetie and the two fillies from earlier ran out from an alleyway. “Apple Bloom?” The stetson wearing mare questioned, turning to the filly that had shouted as the young pony collided with her in an vicious bear hug. “What’re ya’ll doin’ out here?” “We got turned around when they evacuated the school,” the red maned filly, Apple Bloom answered. “We couldn’t find our way to the others an’ woulda been gotten by the timberwolves if those two hadn’t saved us.” “Really?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking away from the orange and purple filly she’d been looking over only to look back to her. “That true, squirt?” The pegasus filly gave a little nod. “Yeah,” she answered, confirming her friend’s story. “Wow,” the country mare murmured before looking towards the two girls. “Thank ya’ll. If there’s ever-” “Molly and Mew need a place to rest,” Aileen interrupted. “Sorry to be short, but they’re on the edge of collapse and last time I checked that wasn’t a good thing.” “Right…” the mare said. “Let’s hurry then.” The tall girl could only give a small breath and continued to help her friend forward towards their host’s home. Molly wasn’t talking, conserving energy as Mew wrapped weakly around the tall girls arm. Aileen frowned worriedly and held the pokemon closer as they reached the Carousel Boutique. “Hang in there girls,” she muttered as she helped them through the door as Rarity held it open for them. “There’s a couch just in the foyer,” the white unicorn said, pointing as they passed and receiving a nod from the taller girl. Aileen quickly made her way to the furniture, setting Molly and Mew on the soft cushions. Molly hugged her pokemon close to her chest, swiftly falling asleep. Aileen gave a little sigh and laid a blanket over the two before sinking to the floor next to the furniture, keeping one arm protectively over the pair… even as her other arm bled from the multiple spots her scales had been torn from….