Each of the fillies took their guess at what was before them, but none could quite put their hoof on it. It was an entirely new creature, probably never even discovered. Its build was about the size of the three stacked together if it stood upright, and even on all fours it would be an impressive stature. It didn't have a muzzle, persay, but its nose was pointed out in imitation of one. With a few more look-overs, they decided to take turns figuring it out.
"Ah think it's some kinda monkey," Applebloom said, poking its paw with her hoof, "Since its got these appen...a-panda...th-these things on its paws!" She gestured to the fingers, looking to the others for a response.
Shaking her head, Sweetie Belle scooted her friend aside to have a go at it. "No, monkeys have fur. This thing's just all fleshy and stuff. I think it's an alien or something, an extra-terrestial invader. I bet we could find a space ship nearby!"
She was shot down as well by the third. The pegasus stood before her challenge, staring it in its pale face. "Hmm...I think aliens are supposed to be green. At least that's what Pinkie said," she stated, although the other two gave her a look that said 'well, that's just Pinkie'. Scanning the creature once more, Scootaloo gasped. "I know what this is!"
Inching closer in anticipation, her fellow crusaders awaited with wide eyes. "It's tall, with kinda thin limbs...a white, pale complexion...dark mane...odd features unlike anypony's seen...and it's wearing a suit..." Her description had them all anxiously seeking the conclusion. "It's..." Scootaloo followed Dash's advice and paused for a dramatic effect, eyes narrowed, "...Slender Mane!"
The other two breathed a sigh of relief, laughing along. "It ain't no 'Slender Mane', Scoots. That thing ain't even a pony, anyways! You silly filly..." Applebloom laughed some more as her friend's face flushed. " 'Sides, Slender Mane isn't real. It's just an old pony's tale." Scootaloo was about to argue with her friends that Nightmare Moon was just a tale, too, but droppped the argument.
The creature beside them started to stir. "We gotta move it elsewhere, girls," Applebloom took charge, as usual, "We cain't have my sis comin' out here to the fields and findin' this...eh, whatever-it-is...Let's move it. The barn's too far, so..." Looking back, she came up with the perfect place, a spot only they ever went to nowadays. "Let's get it to the clubhouse!" Agreeing, each filly grabbed a part of the being and dragged it back, intent on finding out what they were dealing with.
~//////~
Ciel stared at his tea, still wondering why it was not as he had anticipated. Surely such clever captors couldn't have made such a simple mistake. However, the proof was right there, the proof that this might be more than just a drug-related delusion. He looked up to see the two ponies staring at him, surprised. "I mean," he explained, clearing his throat, "It doesn't taste like Earl Grey tea. It's different than I expected, that's all."
"AHA!" Pinkie pointed a hoof an inch from his face, grinning. "You CAN talk, you just couldn't earlier! I knew I wasn't crazy! Not that I've ever been crazy before, but, well, you get the point." The earl ignored her, looking to the pegasus shying away.
Fluttershy timidly looked to the side, avoiding his gaze and asking, "Oh, so...y-you don't like the tea, then? I mean, i-it's fine if you don't; I can make more." Shaking his head, Ciel took another sip. "No, that's not it. In fact, this has at least helped me to speak again. I say that the tea isn't how I thought it would be because, had this all been some dream of mine, then my mind would have made it taste like a certain type I prefer."
The two gave him a blank look, although the pegasus understood some of it. "A dream?! What, are you crazy?" Pinkie rolled her eyes, trotting around to his other side, the one with the patch. "Silly filly...If I was a dream, then I wouln't be real, but I am, so that proves it. Tea doesn't mean anything. It's tea. Duh." She gently put her hoof on his patch, making another attempt to remove it. He moved away, commanding for her to leave it alone.
"Aww, but why? It' s not like there's a scar or anything there. There's no need for you to wear a patch! Unless..." she gasped, "You're a pirate!" If Ciel had a pound for every time he'd heard that...the earl sighed, correcting her, "There is a scar, it's just ON my eye, not over it. I'm blind there, actually. Now please, STOP bothering it." The pink pony shrunk away, muttering that she'd see it later on.
The pegasus, who was now a bit more up because he actually did like the tea, spoke up. "So, if you wouldn't mind me asking...what kind of animal are you? I've never seen anything like you before." She hoped her question didn't offend him, but, at the same time, she was afraid to know the answer.
"I'm a human," he repled, only to met with nother blank face, "Of course, you must not have humans here, otherwise you'd know."
Pinkie jumped back in, facehoofing. "Oh, I should've known! Sorry for making up such a ridiculous name for you, Mr. Human." For what seemed like the hundreth time, the young earl corrected her. "No, you did get my title right. My name is Ciel Phantomhive. 'Human' is my species." Pinkie gave a look like she understood, "Oh, okay...See-ahl...hmm...funny, you don't look like a seal. But hey, I don't judge, except on Steel Cook Equestria(it's something else, really, but that's copyrighted)."
"Of all the..." the earl sighed, dropping the subject. Of all the colorful mystic ponies, he had to get stuck with this one. "Look, eh, Pinkie," saying such a girlish name made his inner masculinity flinch, "Where exactly did you find me?" The bouncing pony halted and mulled it over. Then, going into a flashback, she replied, "Oh, well...I was out in Everfree forest..."
~//////~
"Wait!" She cried, chasing after the red blur in the sky. "No,no, no! Come back here! Gah!" The wind picked up, sending her target soaring over the trees. She continued to call after, but soon the dot disappeared into the misty forest. She halted at the entrance, wondering if a balloon won for eating 28 zapapple pies was really worth it.
It definitely was. She dashed into the foilage at an incredible speed, her senses leading her straight to the balloon. After crossing a rather rickety bridge, she arrived at her destination. The floating prize had its tether wrapped around a branch. Trotting over, she smiled, triumphant at last.
She stopped as her foot hit a puddle. It must've rained earlier, she reasoned. The water was red, reflecting her balloon. After splashing it about a bit, she reached up to claim her possession. "Yes! I gotcha!" She hugged it, tightly so it couldn't escape again, then felt nothing as a loud popping sounded right in her ear. She looked down to see the remnants floating down to the ground.
Staring at the shreds for a moment, she shrugged. "Oh well. It was just a balloon." She turned to leave, hearing a rustle behind her. She now realized that there was a shrubbery in the middle of the ruins. Tilting her head, she inspected it closer. "...helloooo? Anypony there?" More movement had her backing up as a shadow shifted about under the leaves, stepping in the crimson puddle once more.
Looking down, she saw that the water was still the same color as her balloon, maybe darker. A glance at her hooves had her suspecting that it wasn't rainwater at all. "Wha...Why is there...blo...?" She looked up to see an upright silhouette, its clothes wet and blood dripping from its mouth. Whatever this thing was, it was dangerous.
As it inched closer, looking around, she decided to take her chance. This thing wasn't going to hurt anypony while she was around. As the thing turned to face her, she got in the position she'd seen Applejack use to buck the orchard, kicking out as hard as she possibly could.
~//////~
"Then that's when I knocked you out colder than a turkey and dragged you bck to my place. I mean, once I realized you were just a little filly, I felt SO sorry for hurting you even more! I cleaned you up and let you rest in my bed." Pinkie smiled, sastified with her story. "It was hard though; I hd to sneak you around town and past the Cakes. Luckily, I have my ways of getting around." She winked, and Fluttershy now wondered what means she had, having seen Pinkie pop out of corners, baskets, and pastries. Before any could speak, though, there was yet another knock.
~//////~
They sat, panting, around the strange being. It had been a difficult task, involving a bit of Sweetie's attempted magic and a certain pegasus' scooter, but the fillies had hoisted the creature into their clubhouse. "Alrighty, gals..." Applebloom sighed, wiping sweat out of her mane, "...Take...hah...f-five..." They all collapsed, exhausted.
The fourth member's eyes snapped open, and it got up, taking a watch out of its pocket. "My, my..." It spoke, "How long could I have been out?" Snapping it shut, the creature stood and dusted itself off, using the wall to steady itself, inching along to the door.
"H-Hey! Hold up, mister!" Applebloom stopped in front of it, glad the thing didn't just step over or on her. It glanced down with a quizzical look. "Uh..." she tried to think of something to say, but was at a loss for words before the larger animal.
Luckily, the fearless Scootaloo hovered over. "Look, you seem kinda hurt, so maybe you should just sit back down. Besides, it took us forever just to get you over here. The least you can do is tell us what the hay you even are."
It tried to walk once more, only to find its leg started bleeding. "Hmm..." it sighed, "Seems I can't go anywhere in this condition, anyway." Sitting back down, it ran its finger through its mane and muttered to itself, "My, the young master must be mad at me right now. I've gotta get back to him soon."
Sweetie trotted over, careful not to get to close, and examined the wound. "I don't know who it is you need to get back to, but right now we've gotta take care of that injury. It looks pretty serious. Whaddya say, girls?" She looked to her friends, who already had a first aid kit and some gloves. "What'd you say your name was?" She said, facing their patient.
"My name is Sebastian Michaelis." He replied, grinning. "There isn't much need for you to help me, though. I heal rather fast, and I'm sure I'll be leaving soon. I do appreciate your consideration, though." He attempted to stand once more, but his wound was more serious than he'd thought. He couldn't place why it was so severe, then recalled the little spar he'd had with a certain shinigami. Once again on the floor, he sighed. "But...if you must..."
The three smiled ear-to-ear. "Alrighty, then, mister Sebastian..." Applebloom began, snapping her gloves back. "Time fer a little first aid by..." The three took a deep breath and proclaimed, "The Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
~//////~
The princess led their guest into the royal chambers, happy to have most of their predicament squared away. The one who they'd found out in the forest was actually out looking for someone, and, after getting his name, the two alicorns had invited him to stay at the palace.
"Here you are," Celestia opened a door via magic to reveal a regal suite, "I hope you enjoy your stay here. We'll help in any way we can in finding that young one you were looking for." Luna continued to give the creature some odd looks, still unsure about keeping him. The elder sister nudged her sibling, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Oh, y-yes," Luna added, "We welcome you here, to our castle, to Canterlot, to all of Equestria! We hope you find much delight in being a royal guest, sir..." She treid to remember his name, but for the life of her couldn't, as it was an odd one.
Grinning with razored teeth, the man spun to face them both, red mane of hair whirling with him. "It's Miss Grell," he reminded her, "And I once again thank you ever so much for letting me stay~! I'm sure I'll find that boy and my Sebas-chan in no time."