//------------------------------// // 8 Dying Cry // Story: Alternate Beginnings: Year Seven // by Doug Graves //------------------------------// September 25th, 999 "Ah, another beautiful day!" Fluttershy exclaims, slowly walking along the path to the southern end of Ponyville. A thin cover of clouds helps keep the middle of the day nice and cool, a perfect opportunity to take the various pets of the herd out for a nice little picnic. The mares were all too busy to attend this time, but Fluttershy doesn't mind. She still has their two pets in tow, and it gives her plenty of time to spend with each of the animals. And, if she's being honest with herself, maybe help socialize Angel Bunny a little more. The four are making their way to the south end of Ponyville. It used to be a much more popular spot, but the pile of rocks serves as an uncomfortable reminder of the possibility of monsters randomly appearing from the Everfree. That does tend to put a damper on their willingness to hang out and relax around the area. Fluttershy rubs her flank, the cuts long since healed, though they occasionally twinge with phantom pain. If so many of her critter friends didn't live in the Everfree, she would probably never come this close. Speaking of cute little critters, Angel Bunny should be done with his nap by now. "Come on, Angel Bunny, it's time to play with your friends!" Fluttershy smiles back, a glance at the white lump riding along near her neck, using her mane as a blanket and sun shade. Fluttershy's request is met by a sharp pain in her withers, a natural result of the bunny kicking her. She winces, taking to the air in order to rub the spot as the bunny tries to fall back asleep. Opal, riding on her flank, digs her paws to keep her balance, thankfully keeping her claws sheathed, but otherwise seems undisturbed by the impromptu flight. Winona growls off to the side, Fluttershy immediately admonishing the collie with a stern glance, "Now, Winona, let's be nice. I did wake him up from his nap, after all. Aren't you also a little grumpy when you first get up in the morning?" Winona shakes her head, a brief flick of her nose towards Opalescence. The cat opens one eye from along Fluttershy's back, briefly sticking her tongue out and then going back to her nap. Fluttershy laughs as she lands, "Oh, I suppose you are right. After all, Applejack does get you up nice and early in the morning, every morning. It's Opal who likes her naps!" Opal lets out a quiet meow in response, barely moving from her spot. Angel Bunny kicks Fluttershy again, though more in annoyance this time. Winona shakes her head at the mare's reluctance to discipline the recalcitrant bunny, a throaty growl voicing her displeasure. When Fluttershy doesn't respond she runs forward, past the spot of the picnic, a happy bark as she spots three young fillies. "Hi, Winona!" Hedge says, perking up from her spot on the grass. "What'cha doing out here?" She looks around, smiling when she sees her dam. "Hello, Hedge," Fluttershy says as she gets close to the three fillies, "And Pomarbo, and Meringue. Do, um, does Applejack know you are out here?" Pomarbo looks up from his reader, Meringue from her partially colored page, both giving Fluttershy a cheerful smile before their heads drop back down, returning to their activity. Hedge nods to Fluttershy, "Yup! She told me to keep an eye on them. So we came out here!" Hedge points, the southern Apple orchards just across the river, the bridge a short ways north. "Well, Pinkie Pie is also supposed to be watching us, but I think she's working the lunch rush right now." Fluttershy can see, off in the distance, one apple tree after another shudder, losing their crop of apples. She lowers her body to the ground, Opal hopping off and looking for a warm spot to rest. Fluttershy tries to get her saddlebags off without disturbing Angel Bunny. Hedge slowly grows more and more perturbed watching her dam struggle, finally getting up and pulling the picnic supplies out of the saddlebags. She takes the lunch, spreading out the various plates and starting to distribute the feed among each of them. Angel Bunny perks up at the sounds and smells of the food. He hops off Fluttershy's back, moving to the closest plate and peering at the brown and gray mush. Angel Bunny growls at the lack of greens, staring at Hedge. The filly stares back, unmoving, her foreleg pointing to a different spot that has a plate of salad greens. Angel Bunny crosses his forelegs, closing his eyes and turning his head up and to the side. Winona takes the opportunity to lightly nudge Angel Bunny away from her lunch, a rumble in her throat when the bunny pushes back. Fluttershy intervenes before the larger collie can bully the bunny away, saying, "Now, you two, don't fight. Hedge, can you swap their plates?" Hedge rolls her eyes as she complies, "I don't know why you put up with that, dam." The two pets start digging into their food, trading short glares. "Now, now, Angel Bunny did save my life," Fluttershy says with a half smile, beginning on her sandwich. "It wouldn't be right to just forget that, would it?" She waves at Pinkie Pie as she makes her way over to the picnic. "Yeah, well, how long are-" Hedge is interrupted by a loud roar from the Everfree Forest, followed by a second deeper one. "What is that?" Fluttershy turns towards the Everfree, spreading her wings to cover the picnic and fillies from sight. Hedge peeks out from under one wing, Fluttershy trying to move her wing to block the filly's sight. The mare says, "I don't know, but it can't be good. It's almost like..." Fluttershy stops as a few birds fly out of the Everfree; they spot her, flying down and chirping excitedly. Fluttershy's eyes grow wide, gasping out, "Injured animals!" She hesitates, looking back at the picnic, "Oh, I don't know if I can leave them alone..." Hedge pushes past her dam's wing, starting to move towards the Everfree. She says more forcefully, "Injured animals! Come on, we have to go help them!" Pinkie Pie rushes over, a worried look on her muzzle but still a ways off. "No, Hedge, it's too dangerous! You have to stay here with your sisters!" Fluttershy starts walking forward, a glare at the filly. Both Pomarbo and Meringue are huddling at the picnic, scared looks towards Ponyville while the pets seem relatively undisturbed. "No, Mama! I can help!" The two pegasi get to the treeline, the sounds from the Forest growing louder. Hedge nearly shouts, "Please!" "Not so loud, Hedge!" Fluttershy holds a hoof to her head, a loud sigh, "Look. You stay here. If anything happens to me, you need to be able to go tell somepony. You'll go get Rainbow Dash, okay?" Pinkie Pie catches up, a curious expression on her face. "Sooo, what's the plan? Smash and grab? Shock and awe? Bait and switch?" "Umm," Hedge says, hunching down at the deep bellow of a dying creature. She scampers after Fluttershy, the three following close to the river that runs next to the Everfree. After a short distance, they spot the source of the commotion, hiding behind a field of tacktails to watch. The field of Everfree cattails wave back and forth, the foot long pods oozing with an adhesive nopony wants to tangle with. Three creatures are engaged in a fierce battle around one of the many ponds. Inside the pond is a cragadile, the large rocky beast trying to keep hunched under the water. It splashes about, trying to get to the two green logs floating in a pool of red. A small green alligator is perched on top of one of the logs, uttering a keening cry. It occasionally snaps at the cragadile, its small teeth nothing compared to the stony creature in front of it. The cragadile is facing off against a vine vixen, the tree dwelling plant monster attempting to use its long vines to wrap around the cragadile's limbs and pull it out of the water. However, it cannot stay in one place for long, as a scizard is chasing after it. The lizard-like natural predator of the vine vixen swings one of its bladed claws, trying to cut the vines supporting the fox-like creature. The vine vixen swings to a higher branch, directly above the three crouching ponies. The scizard jabs its sharp talons into the trees, rapidly climbing in close pursuit of the trailing vines. The vixen lassos the cragadile, the tree bending as the cragadile struggles to free itself. The tree snaps back up like a bow, the scizard losing its grip and falling to the ground. The vine vixen pulls hard, keeping its balance in the swaying branches as it directs the rocky beast into the scizard. The two tumble, the cragadile swiftly gaining the upper hoof. "Quick, now's our chance!" Pinkie Pie says, pointing at the baby alligator. Fluttershy hesitates, her eyes still focusing on the fierce battle at the cragadile thrashes around right next to them. "You want to rescue a helpless animal or not?" Fluttershy steels herself with a whimper, hovering up above the tacktails. She watches as the cragadile lifts the injured scizard, heaving it at the vine vixen. Fluttershy gets close to the baby alligator, holding her hooves to try to pick it up. The small green alligator turns, snapping its sharp teeth at her. She quickly backs up, a very worried look on her face as she tries to coax the alligator off the scaly log. She says in a quiet voice, "Hey, it's okay, I'm here to help you." She glances over to the three creatures. The cragadile, a pleased expression on its craggy face, watches the scizard cut the vine vixen to pieces. Satisfied its natural predator is dealt with, it utters a rocky growl in thanks. The scizard begins devouring the vine vixen, one eye watching its mortal enemy. The alligator utters a keening cry again, backing up and nearly tripping over a ridge on the log. Fluttershy gasps as she spots a lifeless eye staring at her from what she thought was a log, her head swiftly turning to see the cragadile making its way back into the water. The rock beast spots her, a roar at somepony trying to take its meal. "Catch!" yells Pinkie Pie, hurtling one of the tacktails through the air. Fluttershy shies away, holding her hooves up to ward off the incoming projectile. It hits her hoof, sticking fast despite her attempts to shake it off. "Fluttershy, hurry!" Pinkie Pie calls, pointing a hoof at the cragadile swimming towards her. Pinkie Pie watches, holding her breath as the cragadile gets closer and closer, its stony eyes hungrily watching the pegasus start to rise above the water. The scizard continues slicing the vine vixen to ribbons, mashing and chewing the plant monster as bits and pieces fall on the two ponies underneath. Hedge moves to the side, picking up one of the vines and inspecting it, a fearful glance up to the scizard. Fluttershy grimaces, unable to get the heavy tacktail off of her hoof. She flutters down, holding out her hoof and cringing as the alligator lunges forward, its jaws clamping down around the extremely sticky plant. Fluttershy starts flying up, her most commanding voice barely eking out, "Whatever you do, hold on and don't let go!" The alligator has no intention of letting go, suspended underneath Fluttershy. The pegasus flies up and away from the roiling water, making her way back to her herdmates. The cragadile stops churning the water as the two fly out of reach, sinking down to the bottom of the pond. "Hurry, 'Shy! We need to get out of here!" whispers Pinkie, one foreleg windmilling towards Ponyville. "Come on!" The earth pony's tail twitches, the mare turning to look at it and gasping. She screams, "Look out for falling objects!" as she dives to the side. The scizard impacts the ground where Pinkie Pie just was, uttering a loud cry at missing its prey. It begins to stalk towards Pinkie Pie as Hedge's wings start beating, the filly slowly taking to the air with the vine trailing behind her. The scizard turns, its eyes narrowing at the moving vine. It lunges forward, the long claws on its leg cutting halfway through the vine. It yanks down hard. Normally this would dislodge a vine vixen, sending the plant monster directly to its waiting claws, but it merely pulls the vine from Hedge's hooves, the filly letting out a loud, 'Eep!' as she tumbles, dropping down a little before she regains her balance. The scizard looks up, disappointed at the lack of a meal. It spots Hedge, moving towards the tree to begin climbing up. Out of the pond charges the cragadile, the stony beast instantly crushing the scizard as it crashes down. It's large maw drops down, rending the bladed creature in two, one half disappearing down the rocky gullet. The other half follows after, the sharp claws nothing to the craggy monster. It looks up, one eye narrowing at Hedge, the other scanning the area for a certain pink pony. Fluttershy flies over, beaming at her filly, "Hedge! You're flying!" "Mama! Help!" cries the small pegasus, her wings struggling to keep her aloft. Fluttershy looks down, the alligator still attached to the tacktail attached to her hoof. She grimaces, "I don't know if I can carry both of you, Hedge! You have to fly away!" Hedge gulps, her body slowly tipping to the side. She begins moving in that direction but losing altitude quickly, the ground starting to rush up. The cragadile moves over, large jaws ready to snatch the pegasus from the air should she fall any lower. Hedge cries as she rights herself, slowly hovering up a little higher. "That's it, Hedge! One wing at a time!" Fluttershy grimly swallows, knowing her Stare is useless against the more monstrous creatures of the Everfree. "Try to find a balance! Just a little forward motion, okay? Tip your self over just a little!" Hedge nods, choking back another tear, as she tries to steady herself. She barely tips her body, starting to move forward, less than a foot per second, her speed nowhere close to where it would need to be before her endurance runs out. The cragadile seems to know this, ready to smash a tree should they try to land in one. It looks to the side, spotting a pink pony waving to it. She yells, "Guess what?" At the cragadile's roar she says, "Nope! It's this!" She spins one of the vines around her head, the improvised lasso circling from one side to the other. "Now, this is my first time handling a vine. So, you just have to ask yourself..." She stares at the cragadile, the rocky eyes staring back. "Do you feel lucky? Punk?" The cragadile utters a deep growl, a glance up at the vine spinning around Pinkie's head. It slowly backs up, slinking back into the pond. Pinkie Pie darts forward, catching Hedge out of the air as the exhausted filly stops beating her wings. Behind them one of the two logs disappear into the pond, a few scattered bubbles taking its place. "Thanks, Pinkie," she ekes out, holding on as Pinkie Pie transfers the filly to her back. "I'm gonna... I'm gonna rest now." "I think we could all use a good rest, and a cupcake or two!" Pinkie Pie says, the three (four, counting the alligator) making their way out of the Everfree. "Good thing I came prepared!" She pulls four cupcakes out of her mane, small ones so they would all fit of course, and hoofs one to each pony. Pinkie Pie looks at the alligator, jaws still clenched around the tacktail. "You want a cupcake too?" The alligator stares back at her, slowly waving in the air. "Oh, come on, everypony likes cupcakes! All you have to do is try one!" The alligator stares back at her, slowly waving in the air. "Please? Just open up your mouth! Like this!" Pinkie Pie's jaw unhinges, the mare's mouth now large enough to devour a cake twice her size. "Pinkie Pie, please don't do that in front of the fillies," Fluttershy says, shaking her head. The alligator slowly closes one eye, then the other, before he goes back to staring at the pink mare. They return to the picnic, looking at the scene ahead of them. The two fillies are watching Winona and Angel Bunny with grins on their muzzles while Opal has her ever present smirk. Winona has Angel Bunny pinned, the bunny gritting its teeth and growling. The fillies look up, followed by the pets; Winona lets Angel Bunny up, pushing the bunny away with a growl. The fillies rush over, a quick hug to Pinkie Pie but merely looking at Fluttershy and the alligator attached to her. Fluttershy sets the alligator down, ignoring Angel Bunny's frustrated growls. She frowns at the adhesive coating the alligator's mouth. She pries away the outer lip, exposing none of the teeth, the adhesive spilling out along the gums. "Oh dear," she says, a long sigh at the problem in front of her. "What is it?" Pinkie Pie asks, tilting her head as she pronks over. "Something wrong?" "Well, there's a reason nopony uses these tacktails," Fluttershy says, pointing at her hoof, the large tacky plant still adhered to her. "They don't come off. Ever. I'm probably going to need to shave my hoof just to get it off." "Ooh, um, I'm sorry, 'Shy. I was just so worried about you saving this poor little guy that I had to do something!" Pinkie Pie sighs, rubbing her head against Fluttershy. "Oh, well, it's not really me that I'm worried about, but I accept your apology." Fluttershy grimaces, looking down at the alligator. "I'm afraid this little guy is in quite the bind. You see, the only way I can think to get the tacktail out of his mouth is if he loses all of his teeth. I just hope his tongue is okay, that we can just cut the top part off and it'll regrow." "Well, that's not so bad!" Pinkie Pie says with a nod. "Don't alligators grow their teeth back?" "Normally, all the time," Fluttershy says, pointing to the jaw line, "But I'm afraid we might need to really cut into him to get all the tack out of his mouth. You really, really don't want to swallow this stuff. And we might need to cut into his jaw deep enough, such that his teeth might never grow back." Pinkie Pie's eyes start to well with tears, the mare crouching down and petting the small green gator. "I'm sorry, little guy. I didn't mean to do this to you." Her mane slowly deflates, a long sigh as she continues stroking his back. "Well, it's not like it's the end of the world for him," Fluttershy says. "I mean, I don't think he'll be able to go out in the wild, not like this, but you could keep him as a pet." "You're right!" Pinkie Pie exclaims, her mane poofing back up as she pronks to her hooves. "You can be my pet! And, if you don't have any teeth, that means you'll be safe around foals! Or in the tub! You'll be the perfect party companion!" Pinkie Pie points a hoof at the baby alligator, "And your name will be... Gummy!" She pronks around, "Get it? Gummy? Because you don't have any teeth! You're all gums!" The alligator stares, seemingly oblivious to everything going on around it. Fluttershy smiles, "That's right, Pinkie! I love how you can look on the bright side of things." She looks back down, "Now, let's get you to the hospital so we can get you unattached to me, so you can go home with Pinkie Pie, okay? She'll take great care of you!"