Back at the beach the rest of the squad were talking, well, except for GC who was circling the water ready to pick up Trixie when she called. Loophole had taken the white jewel to the wagon and placed it on the front steps. Nearby, Sunrise was holding Trixie’s hat curiously, her mouth turned into a grin as she looked at the others. She put the hat on her head and picked up her cape and tried to put it on, it was quite tricky due to it being bigger than her.
The collar part slipped down her shoulders, she got annoyed and simply undid it and walked towards the others, then she saw something on the ground nearby, so she went towards it. It moved and looked feathery, so soft, so fluffy!
What could it be? She smiled as she innocently walked towards it. Then her face turned sad as she saw what it was, a poor bird. A small one, it was a brown bird. Sunrise wasn’t good with birds. But then she heard her name be called out.
”Sunrise!” Loophole called, “Get over here!”
Sunrise looked towards Loophole. She was older, not exactly an adult, but it was best to respond and listen to her. Even if she’s a bit of a jerk.
”You’re too young to go too far alone, you’re just a teeny, tiny baby-boo,” Loophole chuckled. “Who cries at night! About something in Manehattan! Waa! Waa!”
”Excuse me?” Sunrise asked as she picked up the injured bird and walked over to her. She wanted to help this bird the best she could. The legs of it were twitching, and its breathing was... Off in a way.
Loophole chuckled, “We all agree that since Trixie and GC are gone, it means I’m the leader, I’m the oldest!”
”We had no such agreement...” Stated Minty. “Also, you’re 16, I’m 17. There’s a difference there.”
”Well, it’s just makes sense,” Loophole laughed at her grammar mistake,. “Just look at ya’ll! Sunrise is a baby,”
“I'm three years away from being a teenager...” Sunrise said quietly, cradling the bird in her arms.
“Sunrise is an orphan, too!” Loophole continued, “Minty looks like some stupid OC!”
”So?” Minty asked, slightly annoyed. Not bothering to ask what an OC was in this context. “Also, you don’t just say that to someone who lost-“
Loophole laughed, “Tiny is an illiterate idiot!”
”Tiny yak, this one no at fault. No fault, was abandoned snow, in it,” Tiny said. Of course, struggling in grammar.
Minty grumbled slightly, “Okay, Loophole. You need to stop-“
Ignoring Minty, she then pointed at Stardust, “Also, she’s obsessed with being optimistic!”
All Stardust did was make a big smile. “But it’s good!”
Minty, Sunrise and Tiny stared at Loophole angrily, Minty was the first to speak up.
”Did you not learn your lesson from last time?” She asked, “Do not joke about things that others are insecure about, it’s rude. Also, is very hurtful!”
Stardust stared at Minty, “I am not insecure of being optimistic. I’m proud!”
”Yeah!” Exclaimed Sunrise, “You’re just a big bully, Loophole!”
”If you’re gonna behave like this, then you don’t deserve friends!” Minty added.
Loophole stopped their yelling from getting to her by blocking her ears. Tiny grumbled and went to lay on the grass next to Sapphire, who was asleep on her back. Minty rolled her eyes and looked at Sunrise and noticed she was holding something feathery.
”Oh! Watcha got there?” Asked Minty.
Sunrise looked at it, it was a small brown bird with a yellow beak. The eyes were barely open, and it was not breathing very well.
”I found the bird on the ground,” Sunrise informed, “It looks sick,”
Minty had a closer look, the sparrow looked visibly aged. Feathers were also missing, and it had wounds, a predator must have gotten it but may have not been able to eat it for some reason. She felt bad for the small bird, but it was a part of life, she watched as the bird slowly passed away in Sunrise’s arms, there was nothing they could do about it.
”Will it be okay?” Sunrise asked innocently, unaware of the bird’s fate. “I-It’s not breathing!” Her voice cracked. “It-It stopped moving! Help!”
Minty sighed, knowing it was best to tell the truth, “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do-or could have done! It must have escaped a predator... But wasn’t able to recover...”
”So...” Sunrise responded sadly, “It’s...”
Minty nodded sadly, “It’s not going to make it... but I’m sure if we make a little funeral, it would be happy,”
Sunrise nodded with a sigh, she looked down at it sadly, wishing she was able to save it, “Okay...” She sniffled as tears started to appear in her eyes.
”But I’m sure it lived a great life, and I’m sure it felt happy and safe in its last moments,” Minty assured, in the claws of someone who cared for it...”
About almost half an hour went by since the bird was buried. Minty was nowhere to be found as she had gone for a nice walk. Sunrise was gently paddling in the water, a few tears in her eyes, relating to the bird’s death. Loophole was asleep on a cloud.
Minty happily walked along a dirt path that led through a park. She entered the park and saw that many ponies were walking around peacefully. A few looked at her oddly, never seeing a Kirin before in their life. The stares were mostly ignored by her as she walked through.
Trees and other flora scattered around. Natural dirt pathways led through the park, and there was a playground near a large fountain. The large fountain had a waterfall at the edge of it that had water run down the cliff and all the way to the falls. Wood benches were also present, along with a few food stands.
Minty spotted a family flying kites and a few foals running around with ice cream. Neihagra Falls park was really popular, especially at this time. She ignored the strange stares as she peacefully strolled through. Then she heard some loud, pained squeaking. There was an occasional hiss, but whatever it was sounded like it was in pain.
She looked around as saw it in a cage! The same bat pony as before! What was he doing here? Also, why was he in a cage with some foals throwing stones at him and laughing. Minty was disgusted at the foals' behaviour.
It was gonna be risky, she was nervous. She took a few deep breaths. But it was gonna be worth it. Sure, the bat pony might have been mean to her. But that doesn’t mean he deserves what these foals are doing to him.
She decided to teach them a lesson, so she ran over and got in between the foals and the cage. Staring at them, slightly annoyed.
”What are you kids doing?” Minty asked, “You shouldn’t be doing this, he doesn’t like it.”
The foals stared at her in disgust, wondering what she was. Never seeing a Kirin before. If it were not for the scales and the horn shape, they would have assumed she was a really hairy unicorn with deer hooves. “What the heck are you?” A filly asked.
”Some sort of pink branch headed swamp monster?” Asked a colt.
”Kirin, I’m from a long way away. I am from the forest. Not too far from mountain kirin tribe at the Peaks of Peril...” Minty answered nicely, despite being slightly annoyed, “But can you stop throwing rocks at him? He clearly doesn’t like it. Maybe picture yourselves in your shoes. Perhaps you could throw the rocks into the water!” She suggested with a smile. “No one will get hurt. The fish may be surprised, but they won’t get hurt.”
The foals whispered to each other before walking away. Minty let out a sigh of relief as she went to the cage. That went so much better than it could have gone! Way much better. She was actually a bit concerned the foals would attack her, too!
“It’s okay, they’re gone now...” Minty said softly as she undid the latches on the cage door and opened it.
Before she joined Trixie, she would get some rude remarks about kirins. Some ponies would be scared she’d transform into a nirik, or somehow summon them, and burn them to a crisp! Some thought she was ugly and ignored her. However, plenty of ponies were nice! Some asked her questions since they never saw a kirin before. Some greeted her kindly and treated her like anypony else.
It took a while for the bat pony to leave the cage. The poor thing had bruises and gashes all over his body. He slowly got out and hisses at Minty.
“Uh... you’re welcome? But I don’t think many are going to accept a hiss as a thank you.”
The bat pony’s ears perked up as he looked to his side. A buff stallion unicorn stallion and a buff earth pony mare stood there looking angrily. The three foals were behind them with huge smiles on their faces.
”Uh, hello?” Minty greeted.
The stallion got into her face, “What the flying flip did you say to my child!?”
Minty’s heart was racing as she explained, “A-all I did was tell them to stop throwing stones at the cage...”
The stallion growled, “And what’s wrong with that?”
”Well... there was someone in it and I wanted to help them. It’s the right thing to do.”
”Rubbish!” Shouted the mare, “You’re not a pony! You don’t deserve to be around us ponies! You didn’t have permission to go close to our children!”
“I-I’m sorry?” Minty question. The family was being extremely rude! Just because she was a kirin didn’t mean she was any less of a being than them.
”Not enough!” Shouted the stallion, “Non-ponies like you don’t belong here! Go back to where you belong!”
”That’s not very nice!” Minty exclaimed, “I have as much of a right to be here as you do-“
The Mare bucked her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. She put a hoof on her bruised cheek as she stared at them in shock. The bat pony was gone now, properly didn’t want to be part of the drama.
“Go ahead children. Put this branch horned slob in its place!” The stallion grinned.
One foal threw stones at her, she levitated them in her magic before they hit. But then the other filly wacked her in the face with a stick, cutting her cheek.
“That’s enough!” Minty scolded as she got up, “I did nothing to hurt you, you’re being unreasonable...” She ignored the stinging pain of the cut on her right cheek. The mare held a large cactus in her forelegs, Minty didn’t have enough time to dodge before she slammed it on her face. She exclaimed in pain as she fell to the floor. The mare slammed the cactus onto her multiple times, each time hurting more than the previous.
After a while, she tossed it aside and walked away. Laughing with her family, leaving Minty alone on the ground, crying. “This c-can’t get any worse... right?” She sniffled just before it started to rain heavily, soaking her through. “Suppose it can... “ She sighed in despair.
Soon enough, Minty returned, running, Sunrise had spotted tears in her eyes. It wasn’t raining at the shore, only at the park. Sunrise wondered why she was so wet and sad.. Minty ran into Loophole’s wagon and slammed the door. Loophole had to allow others in her wagon since they had their belongings stored in there. Except for Trixie, Stardust and Sunrise. Their stuff was in Trixie’s wagon. Tiny was asleep near the door and the slam scared him, he jolted awake and looked at the door.
Sunrise walked up to the door with concern, “M-Minty?” She questioned.
”Pink fluffy kirin okay?” Asked Tiny.
”She’s possibly jus5 being a crybaby,” Loophole shrugged.
“Shut up, Loophole!” Shouted Sunrise, who immediately gasped, believing she said something very rude. “I’m sorry-forgive my mouth... just let me just check on her,” she apologised as she opened the door and fluttered in.
She landed on the ground of the wagon. The floorboards creaked slightly, the walls were a darker wood. There were shelves and boxes filled with stiff, along with the folded up tents and sleeping bags. In the corner was Minty, facing the wall with a fluffy mint-green blanket around her.
”Minty?” Asked Sunrise as she slowly walked towards her.
She could hear Minty sniffling then, “Ow!” She cried.
Sunrise rushed over, Minty looked at her, tears streaming down her cheeks and cactus spikes on her nose, plus a gash on her cheek. “What happened?” Sunrise asked with worry.
Minty sighed, “Don’t worry about me...”
“Why? You’re my friend!”
“A pathetic one who can’t defend herself or anyone else to save a life!” She shouted, annoyed.
Sunrise patted her back to comfort, only for Minty to exclaim in pain, “S-sorry!” Sunrise apologised. “What happened?” She asked.
Minty cried and dropped the blanket. It was that moment that a Sunrise noticed plenty of gashes, bruises and cactus spikes over her body. Sunrise gasped and teared up. She was badly hurt!
“I just wanted... to be strong for once, but I just made it worse... I tried to defend someone in need but... I was worthless,” Minty sobbed.
Sunrise felt worse, “B-but you tried your best,”
Minty looked at her, “Bit I couldn’t stick up for them, I just managed to be there, so they could run while I get beaten to a pulp... eatery single time I try to stick up for someone I end up getting beaten because I can’t fight!” She cried
”That's not true, remember back at the Crystal Empire? You stood up for GC when Loophole made fun of her name!” Sunrise exclaimed as Minty painfully removed more cactus spikes from her body.
”Yeah, but that clearly did not work! She still made fun of everyone... I’m a failure...” Minty sobbed as she curled up.
”But that’s not your fault... that’s hers!”
Minty whimpered, not saying anything else, Sunrise sighed, “You’re brave... smart... kind and honest. You are a great friend, please understand,” She said softly. Minty did not respond, leaving Sunrise to head towards the door, Not knowing how to handle it. Besides being told that an upset dragon usually needs alone time. Maybe it’s not so different for kirins and ponies?
“I’ll be here for you if you need to talk... like how you were for me,” She said, recalling overhearing some ponies saying that to their upset friend. Before going out the door. Tiny looked at her, waiting for an answer, “She was in a fight...” Sunrise sighed, sad that she couldn’t help.
”Could be worse,” Stardust shrugged.
Sunrise gasped, “Worse!? She’s badly hurt!” She started to tear up, “She’s really hurt!” She was angry at how Stardust didn’t seem to acknowledge Minty’s attitude!.
Tiny nodded, “Tiny will shall agree will that horrible!”
Stardust rolled her eyes, “Well, she could be dead! We could just be happy she’s alive! Look on the bright side! Maybe I can write a song!”
”I dunno... I...” Sunrise sighed, “There’s nothing happy about her being hurt...”
“I guess so? Unless it’s slapstick!” Stardust said happily.
“Stardust!” Sunrise shouted, “Ugh, You’re being as bad as Loophole! You don’t care, do you? You don’t care about anything!? All you care about is happy, happy, happy!”
“N-No I don’t!” Stardust responded, “I-I’m sorry... I didn’t mean for her to get hurt? What happened, anyway? Had a run in with a bull?”
Sunrise sighed, “I’m not sure... It’s not your fault. But I think someone attacked her... She thinks she’s useless.” She looked down to the ground with sadness.
Stardust gasped and stared at the door sadly, “But... But no one’s worthless... Or useless. Everyone plays their part, everyone is important and special in their own way. No matter who they are or what they do, they’re far from worthless!”
Sunrise nodded. “That’s true. No one, anywhere was a mistake. That’s a horrible way to think about yourself.” She then looked at the door, “I hope Minty will be okay...”