//------------------------------// // Extraction.....of some sort. And a hoof massage. // Story: How the hell did this happen? Or should that now be hay? // by Lucky424 //------------------------------// If there is a pony that controls karma in Equestria, then they are going to get the hardest bitch slap I can muster. As I made it outside, I pulled a large bench in front of the doors, which thankfully opened outwards. As the banging on the door started, I turned around, and noticed three things. First, was a few extra ponies. That all looked the same and wore golden armour. Oh shit. The second was the massive red stallion with a look on his face that made the Tsar bomb look like a fart. The third, and most disconcerting, was that they were all staring at me. I looked for an exit when the red stallion started to make his way over slowly, and started speaking with a southern twang to his voice. Yep, that's Big Mac. "Big" doesn't do him justice!! "An' jus' what do you think y’all doin' with mah sister's bow?" It was then that I realised I had tied her ribbon around the hand guard of my rifle. Before he could get any closer, I saw a gathering of lavender light to my left, and aimed my rifle at the source. I do not want to do this, but I will defend myself if I have to. The gathering of light grew brighter, until a wall appeared between me and the angry apple farmer. It then proceeded to envelop me and formed a domed structure over me, with around a 20 metre radius. I looked at the source as Twilight began to issue instructions around. “Okay, guardsponies, keep an eye on it. Big Mac, move that bench out of the way. Mayor, you need to.....” It was around then when I tuned out and walked to the wall of light to see how well it was going to hold me. I put my gloved hand out to see if it was solid, and to my surprise, it felt like jelly. Huh, that's weird. Maybe she thinks seeing this will dissuade me from escaping. Yeah, right. I gave it a few good taps in one place till the resistance broke down, and I left it be to see what would happen. There was a flutter in the dome-shield that centred on where I'd tapped it, and when I tested it again, it was a little harder. Okay, so it repairs itself and increases in strength. Interesting. Huh, this part still feels like jelly. Maybe it just repairs the broken parts?? My internal curiosity took a back seat as what ever the lavender mare was saying was coming to an end. “......and I'll go get Spike to send a letter to Celestia. I think she'd like to know about our visitor.” Oh hell no!! Not this soon!!! Acting before thinking, which I was never prone to before, I charged at a point on the wall on the opposite side of my “test” nearest an alleyway. Everything slowed down to a crawl, like an action sequence from CoD. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw a crimson streak on an intercept course from my right, and a blue blur followed by a rainbow from my left. To my combined surprise and expectations, with enough force I passed right through as I hit the wall, earning a stunned gasp from its caster as time sped back up. Making it to the alley, I heard a large crash followed by a groan as Mac didn't make the turn in time, but I could still feel Rainbow's eyes burning in to me as I made for the edge of the village. Just what are those “guards” doing?? A bolt of what looked like lightning flew past my head as I heard a deep voice call out behind me, “Stop, in the name of the Royal Pony sisters!!!!” I turned a corner at a intersection as Rainbow sped by, whilst I remained unaware of how close she had got to me. I turned to the nearest guard and looked him in the eyes causing him to stop. Okay, they're all Unicorns, so no death from above? Wait, no armour, blue mane, shield cutie mark.....shit. I saw a couple of barrels off to my right out of their sight lines, and instantly placed my challenge. “Stop? Lol, nope!!” As I took off again, I knocked the barrels over and was rewarded by some very male-sounding groans. Ouch. Sorry guys, but I'm not ready to talk yet!! I heard what I thought were birds above me before I remembered the other pony chasing me, pushing me to double my efforts. I wasn't a threat to them....okay, maybe I was, but I just wanted to go home. Sure they could've helped, but since when does our species think straight when still high on adrenaline?? I could see the tree line from my location and started to sprint towards it. I had made it about half the distance when the ground seemed to get further away and, well to be honest, I started to shit myself. “What the fuck?? Where's the fucking ground gone? Why the fuck am I flying?” I was about to continue when my “backpack” started talking.... “Yeesh, calm down!!! Stop struggling, it's hard to fly, and you're pretty heavy anyway. It'd be easier for all of us if you don't run” Rainbow Dash. We're only eight foot off the ground. I can survive that. She's holding me with her hooves, and guess what she doesn't like touched??? Reaching my hand up, I gently started massaging her left fore hoof, and her reaction was brilliant. Her cheeks suddenly looked like they were on fire, and she pulled her hooves away from their assailant. Which meant she dropped me. Landing on my ass was not the most graceful way, but it had worked. I got up as quick as I could and realised she had only made it around five metres. Damn, was I that fat? I started my sprint again before my blue “captor” regained her senses, and made it to the tree line as I heard her shout behind me. “No, wait, we don't want to hurt you!” Ignoring this, I made my way deeper in to the forest, and looked for a sturdy tree to climb to spend the night. I found a massive one with branches low enough to start climbing, and by the time I made it half way, it dawned on me how big this tree was. There was a branch coming off just above me nearly thirty foot wide, which would make a good place to get some rest. I took off my bag, webbing and armour, and made a makeshift pillow. It must've been summer, as it was gone eleven when I checked my watch, but it still felt like midday. Checking to see I hadn't been followed, or wouldn't be attacked by Smokey and his merry wolves, I settled down to get some much needed sleep. Meanwhile, in a village not that far away....... “I don't care if you are the Captain of the Royal Guard!!!! That creature is injured, and he needs our help!!” The stallion kept backing away, fearing for his life, as Fluttershy bore down on him. “Twily, I thought you said she was the timid one?” “Armour, Fluttershy thinks of the needs of anypony and anything before herself. And trust me, you don't want to stop her!!” It was then that more voices where thrown in to the debate. “Did you see it's coverings? Why if they're articles of clothing they must be for some soft of functionality instead of fashion. They looked like the colours of the forest, do you really think you could find him, Fluttershy dear? “Well, um, I don't really know.......but I'd like to try.” “And then we can throw him a party! Yay!” Pinkie suddenly shouted as she bounced around the others, totally oblivious as to the serious nature of the discussion. A look of shock and then fear washed over Applejack at some very bad memories. “Pinkie, if he's a soldier, don't y’all think he may not like parties? You remember the one you tried to throw for the guards right?” “Oh yeah. I don't know if he has a dungeon anywhere, and I'd rather not have to break out.....again” Fluttershy had managed calm down at Rarity's question, and Shining Armour took this opportunity to use his sister as a shield before speaking again. “Yes, and you are still classed as fugitive by the laws of Equestria.....but as you are one of the Element Bearers, I think we can let that slide. But, we also still need to rebuild the castle walls you broke. I understand your family works on a rock farm?” A surprisingly guilty pink face looked at him, realising it wasn't some game, and she could have been in serious trouble. “Yes sir they do. I'll go down there tomorrow and see what help I can get you” “Thank you Miss Pie. Now, on to the matter at hand. It is almost midnight, and we are in no state to go searching through the forest this late at night. Everypony is to go to their homes. The guards will remain here patrolling the town for any signs of the creature.” There were a few murmurs of dissent, the townsponies wanting to be the ones to keep their homes safe, but they were quelled by one who they thought would join them. “Listen up everypony! I know you want to protect each other, but these guys are trained for it!! We're not! If we tried to help, we'd just get in the way, so let's all just go home.” As she finished, Rainbow Dash fluttered back to the ground near her friends, ready to head home for some sleep before she got an unexpected question. “Hey sugarcube, how exactly did he get away from you? We all saw you lift him up!” “Well, h-h-he......was quite heavy, and I dropped him. He just recovered faster than me and made it to the tree line before I could get him again.” She turned away, hope her friends wouldn't notice the light blush gracing her cheeks. “Well, I can tell you dropped him, but why are y’all hiding the real reason? You can tell us sugarcube, we won't judge.” As Applejack said this, Rainbow turned back around having had time to calm down. “He...freaked out. I don't think his species can fly. I'm not sure what made him start doing it, or why, but he started to massage my hooves.” “Oh, dear, it must have been something rather good for him to make you all bashful Rainbow. Come now, what did you say? “He massaged my hooves” It was the next voice that broke her mental walls, however. “um, could you speak up a bit, we still didn't quite hear you....” “HE MASSAGED MY HOOVES!!!!” There was a stunned silence from the others until a filly like snickering came from behind them. Turning they expected to see one of the fillies laugh at Rainbow getting embarrassed, but instead they were met with a crimson stallion, who thought he was hearing things thanks to the bump on his head, trying to contain his schoolfilly-like giggles. He didn't last long, promptly bursting out it full blown laughter, which then set the others off, including Shining Armour, and worst of all, Fluttershy. As she was about to unleash some built up aggravation, a large wing draped across her back, and she turned to see a rather large pegasus stallion next to her. All she could see was a dark grey coat, shimmering teal eyes, and golden helmet. He was the leader of the pegasi guard Shining had order to follow if they didn't return by nightfall. It was then that she realised he was talking to her. “........so as I was saying, you're not the only one who doesn't like their hooves touched. Come on, I think it's best we get you home, young miss.” The laughter continued as Rainbow Dash fainted from being wrapped in the wing of a stallion she didn't know............in front of all her friends.