//------------------------------// // 6. UNPLEASANT IT WAS! // Story: For Friendship and Adventure // by Jamis //------------------------------// The sun rose into the sky, Ella Jona had left to find her morning meal. The primarch for his part was in conversation with Zecora, "Yesterday I walked to the edge of the forest, I saw a small cottage between me and the town, do you know who lives there?" Zecora paused, she hadn't expected the question but the answer came to her almost immediately. "If I am not mistaken, and if I am I will be quite shaken. That the resident of that house, whose temperament could be described as a mouse. Is my dear friend Fluttershy, I would ask that you not make her cry. The shock of your form would do her no good, I don't wish to be rude but am I understood? Her name is rather apt, I fear you would leave her of all her strength sapped." the man nodded slowly after a few moments. "If you believe so, then I will not seek her directly, but if I may ask. Why then does she live so close to this forest? It seems to be the place for someone the opposite of what you have described." he tilted his head to accent his question. "Fluttershy is the pinnacle of kindness and care. Because of that it is all she can do is to share. Her watch presides of the animals near here, from mice, bears, and dear. Medical aid, and feed they often need. Without her I am sure many would fade." Zecora's opinion was clearly quite high for this Fluttershy. "Hmm, well, since I am leaving. Do believe you could give me any advice on how to approach the town? If nothing else, I would like to meet some new faces." the giant's question was common sense if there ever was such a thing as 'common sense'. "As I said before those in Ponyville are easy to scare, if you do go there seek out a certain mare. Twilight Sparkle is the curator of the tree library in town, and also a princess of great renown. She and her friends are friends to lend, so to you they are friends of a friend. Simply say my name and you will be fine, just be sure not to cross the line." The man thought to ask why a princess would be in such a small settlement, but thought better of it. She may be well known and liked but she, unlike the rulers he had heard about from Zecora, was not seen as responsible for the very raising and lowering of the sun and moon. "I do not plan to, thank you my friend. I hope I can return for a visit some day." a genuine smile graced her lips. The man stood and walked over to the zebra, after he went to a knee the two exchanged a hug. "I'd give you a better hug," the primarch stood and began to walk back a step before his voice became a little louder, "BUT I DON'T THINK YUZ WOULD DEAL WITH IT WEL!" "You truly are a strange fellow. Though I fear you are right, you would turn my bones to jello." a laugh was shared between the two before the salamander turned as he waved goodbye. The human left the hut in the forest and moved to where he was just last night. The edge of the forest was quite the sight, light from the sun met his skin. The warmth was pleasant, Vulkan's ears strained at the movements of Ella. She had began to follow him not too long after he had left Zecora's hut. He presumed that the manticore had found food and eaten already. She moved to his side after a moments deliberation. A smile chuckle escaped his lips. "Come Ella, lets go make some friends." the pair walked out of the forest, Ella Jona walked a few paces behind the giant with a slight unease in her step. Clearly she didn't venture out of the forest often, if at all. The scorpion tail twitched as her wings tensed. The two of them continued even as the cottage which apparently belonged to a 'Fluttershy' came into their vicinity. Not wanting to scare the supposedly mild tempered pony he and his companion shifted past and went to enter the town's out circles. The eighteenth primarch could see the large tree near the center of the town from his position, so with his destination in mind he began to slow his walk and thus his approach. It seems a few of the townsfolk had noticed his presence, they were not blind at the very least. He saw a large amount of them ran and yell toward a large building, 'Panic, Zecora was downplaying their reaction. Though I suppose that is partially my fault.' ... Twilight was currently reorganizing her books, again. Spike huffed as the two set to work under her new model system of organization. She had been doing this more often now that she was a princess. He didn't think she was even aware of it, though perhaps she was subconsciously. It may have been her own way of dealing with the new image, even after both her friends and the whole of Equestria had accepted her new title, she was still adjusting. 'Well, at least she kept it mostly the same this time. i could really go for a-' the young drakes thoughts were interrupted by shouts and screams. The startling sounds had sent him off the ladder he stood on and to the floor. "OWww." the baby dragon stood after a moment and Twilight rushed over. "Oh my Celestia Spike are you okay? What is going on out there?" the concerned tone of his familial figure was tinged with worry. "I better go and see, come on Spike!" the young princess lifted the dragon onto her back between her wings for support. She began to run out of the library, what met her was what seemed like the entirety of Ponyville running for the Townhall. "What is going on?" "Twilght!" the princess turned to see her friends approaching. Apple jack and Rainbow Dash moved as a pair from the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity and Fluttershy ran as another pair from the spa, their manes were freshly styled and each worry deep worry on their faces. Apple Jack spoke again for the group, "Twilight what's going on?" "I don't know, wait where's Pinkie?!" the distress from the question was quickly shattered as Pinkie appeared in the faces of her friends. "Twitchy leg! Twitchy tail! Itchy nose! And creepy shutters!" the earth ponies shouts were quickly responded to the purple alicorn. "What does that mean?!" Pinkie turned to her and shouted in semi-excitement. "I don't know! It's never happened before!" the rest of the group didn't share her excitement, especially after a someone heading for the hall shouted. "It's huge!" "Come on girls! We have to see whats going on!" Twilight directed earning determined nods from her friends and assistant. The group ran towards the edge of town and was met with a sight that stopped each of them in their tracks. Before them stood one of the scariest creature Twilight had ever seen. A manticore stood proud and strong with its eyes squinted toward the group but what scared the heroes was the thing in the foreground. It was easily twice her height, nearly three times actually. The metal was clearly armor but, its sharp angles were nothing like what the guards wore. The green was highlighted in gold that went unnoticed as the skulls of creatures adorned its armor. The massive dragon like skull that lay on its shoulder served as a stark and grim sign of strength and terror. Its exposed head was black as night, the eyes a fiery red. The group barely noticed as Spike fainted. All of them nearly joined him after it spoke. "Hello. I am looking for a Twilight Sparkle." the deep tone and strange accent seemed to cement the sheer dread that came into the princess' mind at those words. Quietly she spoke, "Oh, sweet Celestia."