//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: It Started with an Insulin Pump // by AnimeFan419 //------------------------------// “Izzy, we need to talk about something.” Izzy Moonbow, a unicorn sat in a chair surrounded by her friends. None of them appeared to be very pleased with her as Izzy shrank down in her seat. “It is time we have the talk.” “Oh you mean, that talk with the birds and the bees? Because Alphabittle -“ “No Izzy, not that kind of talk. Look, we all love you we really do, it’s just that-“ “You need to learn boundaries.” A white Pegasus, Zipp said while interrupting her friend. “I thought that we agreed to break it to her gently.” “Sorry Hitch but she needs to know or else we would be getting nowhere.” “Oh please, since when have I disrespected somepony’s personal space?” Each of her friends started at each other as if trying to remember something. A flashback began as they remembered the time she took Sunny’s electric toothbrush. Then there was another flashback but this time, Izzy was eating some peanut butter and even took Pip’s phone. The next thing she knew was that she slipped and fell causing the peanut butter to splatter everywhere as a result. In the last flashback, Izzy was chasing Posey around for some reason and even tried to steal a sign from Pip’s salon. “And that was all from this morning.” Said Hitch once the flashback was over. “Yeah, that’s was pretty bad. I promise that next time I’ll respect everypony’s personal space. I know! I’ll even make an apology gift to show you all how really sorry I am and I will even make one for Posey too! It’s an Izzy promise!” Without any hesitation, Izzy ran off while her friends only stared at each other and even wondered if they should be worried but shrugged it off. Meanwhile, Izzy was wondering around town with the racoonicorns looking for and idea on what to make for her apology gift. “I saw it!” While Izzy was searching through the garbage, she poked her head out in interest. “What did you see?” Izzy asked as she approached the strange mare but as for the rest of the town, they seemed annoyed. This particular mare was Minty Red Cross. An earth pony who was the town nurse but also known as the town weirdo. “Please don’t ask, once Minty starts talking she won’t stop.” Said a random pony. “Why? I’m a bit curious.” “Okay, your funeral.” Said the stranger who then ran off as Minty began to tell her tale. “You better be careful their sir and madam, humans are dangerous creatures. They go after ponies in the middle of the night and go after unsuspecting victims to eat their brains.” As a result this scared the townsfolk and even a few foals that happened to be in the area. Gloomy, another unicorn that happened to be there began reassuring to everyone that everything was going to be fine while at the same time comforting the foals. “Didn’t we all used to think that the other pony tribes were like that? What if we are wrong about humans and they turn out to be nice. That is what my friend Sunny would say.” For a moment there was some silence and at first Izzy was worried. Once Minty was close enough to Izzy, Misty’s personality changed to a 180 degrees. The next thing she knew was that there was a huge smile on her face. “Hello new friend! My name is Minty Red Cross and I am a member of the Human Appreciation Society and it is so nice to find another open minded pony for a change. You know the whole crazy Minty thing is just an act. Not only am I apart of the Human Appreciation Society, I am as you are already know, a nurse but not only that I am also an actor. I work part time in the community theatre.” Said Minty as she held up a fake skull while also wearing an artist’s hat. At first it seemed as though Minty was absentminded but once she snapped out of it, she tossed the fake skull and artist hat. The next thing Izzy knew was that Minty was now rapidly shaking her hoof. “You know I have been exploring the forest for a while and lately I’ve heard a strange moaning sound. It sounded like a wounded creature. Want to help?” “Sure, I have no plans but it feels like I am forgetting something.” Izzy then paused for a moment. “Oh well, it is probably nothing important. Come on, let’s go!” Izzy said clearly excited as she bounced up and down with Minty leading the way. Meanwhile, Izzy’s friends were a bit worried since it has been hours since she left. “I don’t know maybe we have been a bit too hard on her.” Sunny was worried as her mind went through different scenarios as she drowned herself with worry. Hitch who had a baby dragon in his hoof, tried to reassure her. “Don’t worry she’ll be fine, this is Izzy that we are talking about.” As if on cue, Sparky hiccuped and as a result fire was everywhere and burnt some curtains as a result. “Yeah, that has been happening a lot recently. I just hope it isn’t a bad omen.” Suddenly the duo heard a knock on the door, Sunny then answered it and it was soon to reveal that it was Gloomy. “Oh hi Gloomy, what brings you to the Rainbow Bright House at this hour. Shouldn’t you still be foal sitting?” “I’m done for the day and the foals that I am taking care of are already asleep. I came here to warn you that Izzy is out in the Forbidden Forest with Minty. I heard that she was bad news so I came to let you know.” “Minty? The town wacko?” “Yup that’s the one and since it now seems like a you problem now, I’ll be out of your mane.” Just as soon as Gloomy shut the door, Hitch called all of his friends in a panic with Sunny following behind him along with Sparky who was now riding on Hitch’s back and was having the time of his life. “Hitch, this better be important, it nearly startled all my customers when I suddenly had too close down Mane Melody. I almost got hurt and one of my costumers almost got hurt because everypony left in a panic.” “I’m so sorry Pip, this was an emergency. It’s about Izzy, she’s with Minty.” “Who’s Minty?” Zipp asked out of curiosity. “She’s basically the town crazy and she’s dangerous.” “Hitch, your exaggerating. She’s not dangerous, just a bit eccentric. Plus, she used to be my foalsitter and not only that but she makes the best muffins.” Sunny disagreed by trying to defend Minty. “This is Izzy that we are talking about! She could be hurt or worse!” “Dead?” Zipp suggested. “Zipp, you are not helping.” Pip said scolding her sister. Unfortunately, it was already too late because the sherif was now having a panic attack. Luckily, Hitch always keeps a plastic bag with him just in case his panic attacks gets worse and forgets to breathe. Eventually, the bag broke and Sparky even tried helping Hitch calm down by stroking his mane which seemed to work. “So have any of you heard of the legend behind the Forbidden Forest?” Hitch asked. “Well it goes like this; many moons ago before MaretimeBay was founded, Earth Pony refugees were looking for a new place to live. One by one, they all disappeared never to be seen again.” “Oh come on Hitch, like I said Izzy will be fine. Have faith in her, besides I am more worried about the recently discovered radiation that was found in that forest. If it makes you feel better, we’ll make preparations, enlist a search party and go find her.” Reluctantly, Hitch agreed after Sunny’s reasoning. Back with Izzy and Minty, they were still wondering in the woods. That was when Izzy finally took noticed the cooler strapped around her waist. “So what is in the cooler? Snacks for our long journey.” “Nope insulin.” “Insulin?” “Yup and other supplies. Ever since Earth Ponies got their magic back some of them got this weird instinct. The instinct from what I know is is different for everypony. It is like a spectrum. In my case, I can sense a potential patient in need and it even allows me to know what kind of treatments they need.” For a moment, Izzy was distracted while Minty rambled on about the new phenomena and the explanations behind it. That was when she remembered that she was trying to respect boundaries before this whole adventure started. “Here’s a lollipop. No worries, this isn’t my first rodeo and in my field of work I have to deal with rowdy foals all the time and sometimes adults who are afraid of needles. I always keep a bag of candy just in case.” Little did Minty know was that Izzy wondered off. At first Minty began to worry until she found Izzy trapped in a net. “Izzy what are you doing?” “Oh, I just remembered that I was trying to make an apology gift for my friend, I found this shiny thing and the next thing I know, I’m trapped in this net.” “Izzy, that is an insulin pump where did you get it?” Just as soon as Minty realized what was going on she said,”Oh no.” Once she realized what was going on, she got caught in a net as well. Both mares passed out after that but when they woke up the duo found that out that they were tied together and in a cave. “Okay, what are you? Are you one of those creatures that tried to eat me?” Once Izzy and Minty regained consciousness, Minty screamed because what she saw was a human girl with blond hair wearing a pink shirt and overalls. As a result, the human girl screamed after when Izzy tried saying hello to her. Once more, Minty screamed back until it became a contest of who could scream the most. Izzy on the other hand was oblivious to the situation only smiled and bounced along. “So you to are talking horses?” The girl asked once everyone was calm. “Actually we’re ponies and Izzy over there is a unicorn.” “Hi, new friend!” Said Izzy who was still oblivious of the entire situation as make an attempt to wave her hoof. “So you are not with them. Sorry that I screamed at you.” The human girl said. She then began to free the ponies and even started a campfire. “My name is Megan and today was a really weird day. Honestly, I have no idea how I ended here. I was doing things like normal and the next thing I knew was that I was running away from crazy mutant animals. They looked angry and I think it had something to do with this.” The human girl, now known as Megan, took out a pink heart locket out of her pocket and the two ponies stared at it with awe. “You don’t say, my name is Minty and I have already introduced you to Izzy over there. I also happen to be a nurse. First off, a question; do you eat brains?” “Eww, like a zombie? No way! I’m an omnivore meaning that I eat meat and vegetables. We don’t eat ponies, if that makes you feel better and why would I want to eat my new friends?” “Aww, that’s sweet.” Said Izzy. “That is good to know, a good nurse like myself needs to know your dietary needs. Magic may have came back but it can’t do everything. Don’t ask, long story. Also, since you haven’t eaten in a while, I am also going to prescribe you some medication when we get back to town. “ “So a pony is prescribing me some medication. That’s a sentence I’d never thought that I would say.” Said Megan. “You know what, today was a really weird day, it’s better not to think about it.” There was a long silence and for a moment, there was an echo of a growl that could be heard through the cave the trio were in. “Megan was that your stomach?” “No Minty but I wish that it was.” “Why is everyone scared all of a sudden?” Izzy asked unaware of the situation. All that she was aware of was that both Minty and Megan were both as pale as a ghost. It took Izzy a moment but when she turned around, she saw a large mutated rabbit. Once Izzy realized what was going on, Izzy screamed after the monster roared and sprayed saliva on her. The group then knew that they all had to run. While they were running they accidentally bumped into the rest of the Mane 5. “Guys, your here!” Izzy said giving everyone a hug. “Oops, I forgot about respecting boundaries again.” “It’s fine, we are just glad that you okay.” Said Hitch only to be frozen in fear once he saw Megan. “Hitch this is Megan, don’t worry she doesn’t bite and she is nothing like those old stories. She is just like us and Minty even asked me to help go and find her because she had feeling that she needed help.” Hitch was now in all and quickly changed his view about the human girl. “Minty it looks like that I and the rest of the town owes you an apology.” “No need, I just pretended to be crazy because I liked to annoy other ponies. By the way you and your friends should defiantly visit the local theatre that I also work at. Anyway, what happened to you?” Minty asked pointing her hoof towards Pip who was now covered in mud. “Don’t ask.” Replied Pip showing no emotion whatsoever. That was when Megan, Minty and Izzy remembered that they were all being chased. When Hitch saw the creature, he was in danger of screaming like a little girl. “Even though that we’ve just met, I am glad that you guys are now my friends.” Said Megan who was now terrified. “Well, I did always said that if I were going to die, I wanted to die by being mauled to death by a giant bunny.” Said Minty who was now hugging everyone while also trying not to scream in terror. “I am too young too die but if I am going, I just want to say that I love you guys.” Cried Hitch. “Aww, I love you guys too.” Said Pip while Zipp only shrugged and nodded in agreement. While assuming the worst, everyone closed their eyes and continued hugging. Little did they know was that Megan’s locket began to glow and as a result, a rainbow came out of her pocket and aimed itself towards the rabbit. After being engulfed by the magical rainbow, the rabbit returned to normal and hopped along its’ merry way. Once the danger passed, everyone opened their eyes and sighed in relief. “Let’s dig this to our graves and never speak of this again.” Said Zipp while everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Just when the group was able to catch a breath, Megan fainted and Minty began to panic. “I am going to keep an eye on her pulse, somepony please call for an ambulance.” “Don’t worry, I am already on it.” Pip said as she quickly grabbed her phone and did what she was asked. Once they arrived back to town, everypony was shocked to learn that there was a human. As a result Sunny and the rest of the group was surrounded by the paparazzi who kept asking questions about said human. “So what are you planning to do to get rid of the human.” Asked one reporter. “Sunny, is it true that humans eat brains?” Asked another. “Whoa, easy there one question at a time. I would also like to add that Megan is not a monster. Remember when we used to all think that ponies from the other tribes were monsters. She is just scared and confused. I am sure that if I was far away from my home, I would be scared too. I’d say that once Megan is released from the hospital, we should work together as a community and do everything we can to bring her home, so who’s with me?” Sunny shouted while the entire crowd cheered now that they are noticed to help Megan out. Little did everypony know was that they were all being watched. In another place, in an unknown castle, there was a mysterious alicorn who was watching the entire town through a magical screen. There was also a unicorn who was by her side. “I should have known that using the rabbit was a bad idea. No matter, this is just a little setback. Misty, keep an eye on the girl. Maybe she might be useful.” The unicorn now known as Misty, tried to hide once she heard crazed laughter from the other mare.