//------------------------------// // Race into Action // Story: Neocros: The Water Dragon // by Samuel-Neocros //------------------------------// Arriving at the Wonderbolts show, Neocros covered his ears as the crowd roared over Spitfire pulling off a successful stunt. Rainbow Dash flew with a rainbow trail behind her as she flew side by side with her teammates. Neocros glanced up at her, amazed by the beautiful pegasus. The more he watched her in the air, the more he felt assured he won't lose her. After the show, he patiently waited for Rainbow Dash. Deep down he wished he could visit her place again, but he wasn't sure if she'd be okay with it as of now. As he thought for a moment, Rainbow began approaching him, hovering at eye level with him. She was surprised that he went to see her again, even with the crowd. "How's it going, Neo?" She smiled, "doing.. okay I guess." His thoughts were a little lost, he wished he told her his interest in her, but he was okay with keeping it to himself, for now. Neocros stared at the ground awkwardly, as Rainbow paid no mind to it. "I was able to pull off a new stunt! Though judging by your reaction back there, I kind of feel bad for making the crowd roar in your ears, big guy." He shrugged, his face remaining expressionless as he bowed his head. If anything, he felt bad for making her feel disappointed in herself. As they hung out, his mind would intrusively make him think of the disappearances, causing him to feel concern for Rainbow. However, seeing her in front of him assured him that she wasn't going anywhere. Rainbow Dash glanced at him as he stared at the ground. "Soo..what have you been up to?" She asked, Neocros looked back at her, and had a moment of trouble trying to say something. "Uhm... I guess... the same old thing, so far..." He rubbed the back of his head, his fingers digging into his hair as he noticed Rainbow's confused look. After the rather bad sentence, he managed a better one. "I haven't been up to much." "You don't seem to be very active recently. What's up?" Rainbow pointed out, making Neo frown. "I've just... been so worried over the missing ponies..." He admitted to her, Dash's eyes widened, but she wasn't too surprised by his feelings. They were all concerned, especially the families of these missing ponies. Rainbow Dash felt angry that she couldn't help or save them, and her friends shared that thought. "Sigh, I have been, too. I dunno what's with the guards unable to find the culprit, especially since a lot of the missing ponies have vanished in public areas! Somepony's gotta have seen what happened to them!" She told him, as Neocros nodded with each point, focusing his gaze on the ground. To Rainbow, it was a sign that he was indeed listening. In the beginning, when they would talk, she initially got annoyed with him not looking at her, but when she said something nice about him later on, he quickly thanks her, surprising Dash. She didn't even realize he was listening that whole time. "I see." He replied, voice slightly somber. "Well, not to worry, Neo. We'll find them, and me and my friends are gonna make the kidnapper pay!" She said, determined to find out who did it. Neocros nodded, eyebrows furrowing in a determined look matching her own, before softening. "I wish I could do something as well." Neo said, glancing up to see the trees nearby. "... but, I feel powerless." Rainbow's look softened as well, relating to his pain. "Yeah, me too..." "... I just..." He hesitated, but decided to say it, hoping she won't catch on, "I don't want my friends to disappear either... especially you." Her eyes widened, a bit surprised by his words. In some way, she realized that if she and her friends vanished, he would be alone, as he's generally looked at by ponies as weird, even for a dragon, and his friends were the only ones that try to understand him, even if he's not that talkative. "I won't get kidnapped, I promise you." She tells him, and tries to reach out to put an assuring hoof on his shoulder when he suddenly recoiled. She blinked, before he bit his lip. "Sorry.. I don't like touch very much..." He told her, before he reached out to touch her hoof, but quickly hesitated. He bowed his head. "I know you're used to it..." "Nah, it's okay Neo." She told him, "I won't do that again." ... Neocros was walking down the usual pathway connecting Ponyville to the Wonderbolt stadium he was just at. It had some trees and bushes around, as well as flowers reminding him that it was spring. The dragon was still worried that Rainbow would go missing as well, to the point where he hesitated on leaving the area, in fear she would literally disappear when he wasn't looking. As he carefully followed the path, he could hear the birds and cicadas in the brush, and maybe a locust or two. It felt really weird to be alone like this, and even though it was in the middle of the day, he wondered if maybe he would go missing. It was a terrifying thought, especially since the culprit could be anybody. It was then he sensed the strange aura, now much stronger than before. His body felt sickly, as if he was going to vomit, and his back started to feel cold chills running down his spine like needles and knives. It was much more sudden than before, and he wasn't expecting it. He decided to hurry his walk, not wanting to be around here for much longer. While he was thinking to himself, he passed by something that was well hidden in the same brush. Underneath a leaf, hidden in shadow, black, soulless eyes watched his every move. After getting itself stronger, it knew he was next. Not now though, it wanted his fear, then his flesh... ... Rainbow Dash rested on a cloud above a small clearing near Ponyville. She was going to take her usual nap before the next show. She sighed, relaxing on the very, very soft cloud. She was able to let her worries drift a way for a second, as the sky blue pegasus rolled over to her side with her eyes shut. However, unknown to her, a long, muddy hand reached from beneath her, and quickly snatches her leg! Rainbow's eyes snapped wide open as she's suddenly yanked off the cloud! "WHA!!?" Rainbow yelled, as she grabbed onto the cloud! She looked down, and her eyes widened with absolute horror. Below her, the hand belonged to a large beast, about the size of a minotaur! It's face was crocodile-like, and it didn't seem to have eyes, only black, empty slits in the place where eyes should be! She hung onto the cloud for her life, vigorously kicking the monster as she tried to hang on! The kicking only annoyed the monster, before it's weight pulled her down onto the ground! She felt the monster release her, allowing her to fly away to gain some distance from it. She turned to face the ugly beast, and she was able to get a good look at it. Its arms were lengthy, having three fingers and a spike on the bottom of it’s palm, and the hands had red coloring on it. Its body was covered in leathery skin in various sickly browns and greens, and a hint of red in the center of its chest. It's feet had some red coloring on it as well. The beast looked malnourished, but despite that fact, Rainbow was terrified by it. "What is that!?" She thought to herself. Rainbow Dash hovered back as the beast stared at her. She had seen many creatures, fought tons of them, but there was something about this creature that made her feel like she wouldn't survive an assault with it. Before she could fly away though, it quickly lunged at her! She screamed as it grabbed her with both arms, before slamming her down onto the ground on her belly! She felt the wind getting knocked out of her, as it rolled her onto her back, and pinned her down with it's foot on her chest! It was then the red stuff got onto her chest, and the horrifying realization came to her. She looked up at the monster that now loomed over her. It then made a chilling sound, sounding like an incomprehensible language, which chilled her to her core. Rainbow kept trying to kick and punch the beast's foot. She kept calling out for help, as the monster just stared at her, a demented smile coming to it's face. With it's long snout, it's grin looked unsettling. Rainbow then felt it press harder on her chest. ... As Neocros approached Ponyville, his body started to act up again. His heart was racing all of a sudden. He actually needed to stop just to collect himself. He started to feel panic over this, unsure what was going on. "W-what is going on?" He thought to himself, worriedly. He sat down on a small bench as he held his chest. He wasn't aware of it, but his dorsal fins were glowing faintly. As he pondered what was wrong, he suddenly felt thoughts of Rainbow going missing flooding his mind! He remembered that Dash was going to take a nap, which was something she mentioned while leaving. Without knowing why, Neocros started to think of that aura, and now this. "Neocros!" He could hear his name in his ear, in Rainbow Dash's voice. His irises shrunk, before he snapped his gaze toward the woods. Without wasting time, he sprinted toward what he felt was Rainbow Dash's location! He saw several clouds that were closer to the ground, before he suddenly sensed something deep inside him. He remembered every time he'd meet her, how she made him happy, how she looked, all of it, it drove him to see her okay. Despite his lack of evidence, he felt like the culprit was there. ... Rainbow Dash screamed out once more, as the beast growled at her. "Who are you!?" She shouted, her eyes welling up a little. The monster loomed over her, its face showing no empathy for her struggle. It began to lower its head, mouth opening slightly, as she could clearly see a bone in the back of it's throat! "Noooo!!!" a shout from a familiar dragon roared. Rainbow Dash snapped her gaze toward Neocros, and so did the beast. He arrived just in time, standing on the grass in front of them over ten feet away. “Neocros!” She cried out. Neocros froze instantly. The beast turned around, before facing him. For a moment, everything fell silent, two creatures staring at each other, the water dragon full of fear and uncertainty, while the monster stood with child-like apathy.  The fuel-feeling aura was stronger than ever here, within Neocros. It was then a horrifying thought came to Neocros, that this must’ve been the thing he was sensing all this time! Rainbow Dash blinked, glancing back and forth between the two, worried for Neocros' safety. She knew he hadn't been in a situation like this before, and was about to warn him when Neocros' eyes widened, grunting as he held onto his head, wincing from a pain in his head. Suddenly, he heard a new voice right in his ear. "You’re that dragon, right?'' The voice was deep, rugged, and monstrous in tone. The monster turned its body to fully face Neocros now. Its eyes continued to be empty and soulless, and Neocros kept his eyes away from them at all costs. Somehow, he felt like it was the monster who was talking to him. "W-w... what?" He meant to ask what are you, but he only managed a small whimper. “You, are you the dragon?” It said, eyes fixed on Neocros. Neocros didn’t want to reply, in fear of what may happen.  “So if you’re the water dragon…” The beast took a few steps toward him, and Neo took some steps back. “Then… you’re in my way. You’re in ALL of our way!”  “What you mean…?” Neocros nervously asked, terrified of what could come in reply.  It chuckled darkly, a guttural sound that made Neocros want to throw up. Rainbow Dash found it weird that Neocros was somehow communicating with the beast, but she didn’t understand what it was saying. It's eyes suddenly flashed, and two bright, sickly yellow eyes glowed from the empty sockets on it's face. “All the magic inside you is enough to make me really strong…!” Though Dash didn’t know what was happening, it was clear from how pale Neocros’ face was that he was in extreme danger!  “Run!” Rainbow shouted, not knowing why, but felt she needed to. He bolted away, sprinting as fast as he could, Neocros nearly ran out of breath, but the adrenaline fueled him to run! The beast let out a loud bellow before he heard its loud stomps rapidly approaching behind him! Neocros glanced back, and nearly had a heart attack from seeing it charging right at him! He chose not to look back, nearly tripping after glancing back. He ran past tree after tree, as he heard the hulking monster close by! Rainbow Dash saw him run, as the beast chased after Neocros! The water dragon started to lose breath fast, not pacing himself well as he could practically feel it's breath behind his neck! It was then he saw a small river, one big enough for him to swim in. It lead to a waterfall, which stood as tall as a house. He saw a huge tree fly right past him, scaring the absolute tartarus out of him as he heard the monster uprooting trees! "YOU'RE MINE!!" It roared, as Neocros jumped just in time to narrowly avoid a tree trunk rolling under him! This causes him to land hard on his ankles. He yelped, but couldn't think, only instinct was here! He was struggling with his legs, as the monster was almost in arms reach of him! Dash saw the monster start approaching Neocros as Neo struggled to get up, and her expression was full of anger. She bolted toward the creature, and used her body to quickly hit it in the shoulder, knocking the beast to the side causing it to fall flat on its side! "Go Neo!" She shouted, voice desperate as the monster released an enraged roar, nearly shattering their eardrums from how loud it was! Neocros quickly got to his feet and sprinted toward a nearby waterfall. Somehow, through the panic of it all, he heard the water, as if inviting him to swim. He had another idea though, and it was something that he couldn't think much of. As he stared at the rushing water, his irises lit up and somehow instinct took over! He jumped toward the raging stream, grabbing onto the rock under the waterfall. Somehow, the water didn't affect his grip as he started climbing the rocky wall! The monster got up, and saw Rainbow Dash flying toward Neocros, and the beast hissed in agitation. Rainbow Dash was shocked by Neocros literally going against the stream of the water, and not just that, but climbing faster than she ever seen a pony! "How're you doing that!?" She called out, but Neocros couldn't reply. He reached the top, and was about to climb over when he heard a sharp noise fly past his left ear, it sounded like a laser. Rainbow saw the beast's white streak of energy fire from it's mouth and narrowly missed the water dragon's head! Rainbow Dash quickly hovered over the raging water, and reached out. Neocros instantly grabbed her hoof, and she pulled him up. While the monster charged up another blast of energy, Neo and Dash ran. Rainbow Dash flying over the river while Neocros straight up ran through it, the current not slowing him down, something they both didn't notice while fleeing. This river though lead to a small lake, but behind the lake was a cliff. Neocros and Rainbow stopped, seeing the sheer drop in front of them. They looked around, fear coming to their faces as they realized they weren’t going anywhere.  "Oh no..." Rainbow said to herself, "This is really, really bad!" “Where you goin’ blue boy?” The beast teased darkly, Neocros had chills run up his spine. It was scary only he could hear it's voice. All Rainbow heard was a low bellow. They snapped their gazes behind them, and saw that the monster had somehow climbed up and caught up with them! "You're not touching him!" Rainbow yelled, her teeth gritting as Neocros saw her. Everything slowed down, as his mind thought of her, the fact she saved his life, and then he desired to protect her, even though he was the one who probably needed saving. Feeling braver than before, Dash charged at the monster, but the beast grabbed her chest, stopping all momentum in her. Neocros' eyes widened. "No!" It was then, Neocros started to well up in his eyes as the monster looked at him, holding Dash in one hand while staring at the water dragon. "Want her? Fight me." It taunted at him, while to Rainbow Dash it sounded like gibberish. Rainbow struggled, as she tried kicking the beast, but it kept her at a distance, so she was just kicking the air. "Neocros! Run!" She cried out, but Neocros didn't know what to do. He was stuck feeling indecisive over it all. He wanted to run, but he cared for Rainbow Dash. It was then, he had the urge to close his eyes, looking deep within himself for an answer. The monster’s smug look disappeared upon seeing him close his eyes, and it seemed like the beast was getting nervous, as if it sensed something that Dash didn't. It looked at Rainbow Dash, having an almost disappointed look on it's face. Neocros groaned as he got to one knee. He sensed the danger he was in, but he also felt a cold build up in his body, it was rising to his mouth fast! He, without thinking, opened his mouth, only for a strong burst of water to shoot out! He jumped back, surprised by this, but then his mind got to thinking as he glanced at the monster. The small noise made from the water caused it to snap its gaze at him. The dorsal fins on Neocros' back all started to glow a bright cyan glow. His heart pounding as his eyes were now like his dorsal fins! Rainbow Dash stares in awe, seeing the dragon seemingly charge up some kind of magic inside him. The monster made a deep gasp, before releasing Rainbow Dash, and before Neocros could open his mouth though, his foe quickly started running away. It fled into the brush, and disappeared. It was pretty evident that whatever Neocros was about to do, terrified the beast. Seeing that his enemy was gone, he fell to his knees, his dorsal fins stopped glowing, and he groaned in pain. For him, it felt like a sneeze, except he didn't sneeze, and was left with the pain of having the feeling linger before fading away. His body began to quiver from this. Rainbow Dash saw him there, unsure what had happened, but she could guess that maybe he was about to unleash some kind of attack, but never got the chance to release it. She flew over and hovered down to him, all she could hear from him was slow, exhausted breathing. "Hey, you okay Neocros?" She asked, visible concern for his rapid breathing. Upon hearing her voice, Neocros didn't think before he acted. He reached out, and took her hooves, startling Rainbow, before he placed them on his chest. She felt his violent heartbeat. "Woah!" He held her hooves, as he wheezed, as if begging her not to push away. His breathing began to sound a bit more calm now, the sound of his heartbeat not as violent as before, everything was becoming more stable for him. Rainbow felt awkward, but still was worried for her friend. She didn't know what was happening, why was he like this? Was it because of the move he was about to pull? Is this natural for his species? So many questions raced through her mind. Though it felt weird, she could see that her presence was helping him calm down. She hovered down, feeling for him. As Neocros felt himself coming down, he felt an urge to hug the sky blue pegasus, but something told him inside to not do so... yet. He kept holding her hooves, as his body returned to normal. He looked up to see her face, and saw that she seemed concerned, but he didn't exactly read it that way, and thought she was embarrassed of him. He glanced away, feeling ashamed, as he released her hooves. Rainbow could see a small tear on his cheek, and wondered what was wrong. "Neocros? Tell me, are you alright?" She asked. He mumbled something, but he eventually spoke up. "I.. embarrass... you..." "What? No! You're not embarrassing me, it's just...you looked like you were about to explode! Your chest was..." ".....I see..." He whispered. He tried to get to his feet, but he almost fell over, but Rainbow catches him. He didn't expect her to catch him, and asked why was she caring all of a sudden. "I may not know you well, but I'm not gonna just sit there and watch you die!" She replied. Though he wasn't dying, he did feel uneasy about the thought of it. "I'm low..." He said, holding his chest. "l-low.. on energy..." Rainbow Dash blinked, but nodded. "Let's get you to Twilight, she should know what to do!"