Walking with Fluttershy was an eye-opener. She would rarely talk to me, but her tidbits traded with animals were fountains of information. She would chat with a bird, and mention a manticore. What was once thought to be mythical beings on Terra, were now alive on this planet. Things I thought long gone from thought, were surfacing. and here I was low on ammo. In less than an hour we had arrived at a small clearing. “uh.. Mr.Marx, those trees there, the ones with no leaves, they can be chopped down, if you don’t mind I mean.”
Her gaze stayed firmly planted on the ground. I took the initiative and tried to start a conversation as I started working on the trees. “If you don’t mind Fluttershy, you can call me Marx.” I struck the tree solidly with the axe. It barely penetrated. I looked over the tree and noticed it’s bark. It was almost as strong as ceramite, yet still malleable. I chipped off a bit for the lab in my ship.
“Well, um, ok then Marx.”
I readied my axe and swung again, almost getting clean through since the bark was gone. “Yes, by the way, how did you learn to walk through the forest so well? I’m trained to walk through all terrain with ease, yet you walk through thick foliage like it’s a paved street.”
“Um, it’s not all that interesting really. I’ve just been walking in the forest so long that it comes naturally. Though, it helps since I can always float a little bit with my wings to help me get over the bigger logs.” Her gaze looked at me for only a fraction of a second after that. I I swung my axe and the tree fell over in an astounding crash.
I heard a muffled ‘ah’ as Fluttershy ran behind my leg. I looked the tree over. It was of good size, surely enough for a bed and table. I hoisted up the tree and looked down at Fluttershy. She was still cowering behind my leg. “That is all I require Fluttershy. Is there anything else I can assist with?”
Fluttershy slowly moved in front of me. “Um, well, if you don’t mind. There’s been a bit of a problem with an annoyed manticore. I;m not that scared of it, but someone to stop it if it gets grumpy would be nice.”
I stuck my axe inside the tree over my shoulder. “That seems easy enough. What do I do if it starts to get dangerous?”
Fluttershy moved towards the forest in a way to the west of her house. “Oh, well... just growl at him and it should be fine. Maybe shout a little bit, I tend to be too quiet with my animals.”
“So, you’re saying, if it tries to harm you, I should growl? Is that wise Fluttershy.” I managed to remain polite in my question, even if I was doubting her sanity.
“Oh yes. I couldn’t bear the thought of him being hurt.” I wasn’t sure if I should have been warmed to the hearts, or disgusted by the ignorance. I would comply with her... directive, but if it manages to harm a single hair on her mane, I would end it. We continued walking,with me listening to the barely audible Fluttershy as she conversed with the animals.
We arrived at a small widening of the trail. The sounds of the forest were all but gone, replaced with a silence that muffled everything else like a blanket. I stood with my hand resting on my bolter. Surprisingly, Fluttershy was the first to speak up. “Oh mantis, we’re here to help you.”
The silence broke, replaced with a rustling from the trees above us. I looked up in time to see a large beast fall from the sky and land squarely in front of me. It looked at me and drew itself to match my height. I turned on my speakers. it growled at me. The speakers feedback was not but a forewarning. I let loose a growl that could have killed some lower orcs. The manticore whined, and ran to Fluttershy. “Yes, I know he scared you, but you growled at him, he’s from far away, and doesn’t know that’s how you say hello.”
I looked at Fluttershy in disbelief. She was reasoning with an animal. I knew some animals understood speech, but I had never heard of a creature that listened to reason. I might have scoffed if it didn’t work. The manticore growled a little bit and I let loose ore feedback as a warning. “MARX, don’t scare him.”
I was taken aback, was I just admonished by Fluttershy, better yet, how did it work? “Sorry.” I muttered, turning off my speakers.
“Now, now Mantis, what’s the problem?” She looked him over, pausing her eyes at his paw. “You got another splinter didn’t you? It’s okay, you can trust me.” ‘Matis’ as Fluttershy calls him, slowly reached out a paw that could have easily crushed my helmet, and showed a splinter. It was a splinter that could have hurt the Emperor. It was easily larger than my bolter. Fluttershy slowly grabbed the splinter and pulled it out. Mantis jumped up and licked Fluttershy, I put my hand on my bolter and watched. “Down boy, down. Yes, yes I know, you’re welcome. Let me down please.” The manticore slowly let her down and growled again, a smile on his face. He leaped into the air and the silence of the trail returned. Fluttershy walked away while talking to me. “Um, if you don’t mind, I need to um get home.” I swung my tree to the other shoulder, and followed her.
Within an hour we had returned back to Fluttershy’s house. I bid her a farewell while taking the axe with me. Discord’s words started to come back to mind. Why was there a human axe here? Why did all the creatures seem to be from ancient Terra mythology? As the answers swirled in my head Discord returned. “Oh, hello there Marx, debating the curiosities of the universe I see. Want me to share some insights with you?”
I rolled my eyes and started to enter Ponyville, meriting quite a few more odd looks as I walked through town with a tree on my shoulder. “Yes Discord, tell me what an insane prince of Chaos thinks.”
“Mr.Marx, you’re home! I smiled as I added the finishing touches to my bed. It was an Imperial design.
I let my artist flow and the axehead was true. It was almost blank, except for the two-headed eagle on the head of the bed. I turned around to face my favorite little friend. “Scootaloo, welcome back.” It was almost eight, and my bed was the only piece of furniture not in the house. “I have a surprise for you.” Her eyes opened wide as I led her into the house. I walked through the doors to a small room in the back. It was blue and orange, with a bed made to look like a cloud.
“M-m-m-m-Mr.Marx, it’s amazing.” I looked at her face, it was wearing a smile so big that it threatened to envelop her face. I small tear was coming down her face. I knelt beside her. “I don’t know what to say Mr.Marx.”
I hugged her as gently as possible “Well, I thought that behind the library was nowhere to spend the night, even if I approve of the books.” Scootaloo was unconscious before I finished the sentence. I put her in her bed. I closed the door to the room and walked to the door. I had an errand to run.
The door to the library was unlocked as I walked in. I loudly walked to the corner and sat down and pulled out the book Luna gave me. It only took a few minutes before Twilight walked down. “Marx? Oh, I’m guessing you’re here for news on Scootaloo’s parents. I just got the letter a minute ago. I haven’t even read it yet.” She walked down the stairs and sat beside me. I returned the book to the pouch on my waist.
Dear Twilight
You should look behind you.
From Celestia
Twilight looked behind her in time to see Princess Celestia appear behind her. “Hello my dearest student. I got your letter and needed to check who Scootaloo was staying with.”
I stood up and addressed the princess. “She’s staying with me until I can find her an acceptable home. It’s a bit like having a daughter, only with less parents.”
Celestia flinched at my word choice. “Well, you see. Her parent’s were once wonderbolts, but they were killed by a rampaging Hydra.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. “And, does this creature still live?”
Celestia looked at me, her eyes wide. "Yes, of course. Why would we kill it, it's needed for the ecosystem. Killing it wouldn't solve anything."
This was an odd idea. Holy vengeance was the only response I could think off, Until I realized that Scootaloo still had no home. "On an unrelated note. Where will Scootaloo be staying now?"
I hid my worry as Celestia formed a response. "Orphans are rare in Equestria. I would have to find her a suitable home. She would be difficult since she's lived on her own so long."
I smiled under my helmet. "Well, your search is over. I have had brothers for as long as I can remember. Now, I can have a daughter."
Celestia smiled. "I had guessed as much."
I turned around. "If you'll excuse me, I need some sleep. I have an errand to run tomorrow." I turned and walked out of the library, I had a hydra to hunt.
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>Scout 1-1 reporting. ETA is two days. Halting incoming comms to maintain a state of meditation. I shall send updates to you on a daily basis. Everything going smoothly, Scout 1-1 reporting out.
Authors note
Leaving a comment to help my writing style would be appreciated.