Chapter Five
**********
Drex jumped back as the large timberwolf lunged at him, its teeth just narrowly grazing where his neck was. The few timberwolves that surrounded them nipped at his legs and snarled at him if he got too close to the edge of the circle. He quickly jumped away from the edge of the circle, only to be tackled and knocked down by the alpha. He picked himself up, his sore body slowly being commanded by his thoughts.
Shit, this sucks. Drex thought to himself as he scoped his surroundings. He was facing a timberwolf, one that was bigger than the other four surrounded the two of them. But Drex, he was bigger than his opponent. However, to his knowledge, a timberwolf may be made from just wood but that does not mean it doesn't have muscle. It could even have more strength than he does for all he knew.
He locked eyes with the alpha, and they slowly circled one another, waiting to see who would make the first move. As they circled Drex saw how the timberwolves around them would close in the gap so he couldn't run, but they also kept their distance from him. Like they were afraid to get too close to him. But not because they were scared what he could do to them, but because what the alpha would do if they interfered.
During his distraction the alpha lunged once more. Drex jumped left, away from the claws, but was clipped and three red streaks were visible on his shoulder, nothing that was lethal, but an annoyance. He had no knowledge how to fight in his current body, not to say it stopped him from trying.
This time he attacked, lunging at wolf he checking it with his right shoulder. To his surprise, Drex hit the wolf hard enough to lift it off the ground and send it flying lightly. The wolf tumbled through the dirt. The wolf snarled as it picked itself up, a piece of it's bark had been cracked and a few chips fell off on the left side of its ribs, where Drex had hit it. The wolf's green eyes flashed a little brighter as it got more angry, anger fuelled by its pain.
Once more it charged at Drex, but this time he doesn't try dodging, instead, he met it head on and charged as well. As the wolf jumped in the air again, Drex let instinct control his body and he lowered his head. With one powerful bound he shot toward the air-born wolf and his head came into contact, square in its chest. The timberwolf hit the ground hard and spat sap-like blood from its mouth due to the impact. The crack on its side became bigger, a large gash now ran from the side to a large broken area on its chest.
Drex landed not too far from the immobile wolf, he felt only slightly dazed. His head did not hurt, not like one would after head-butting a solid object and going full speed. In fact, he didn't even feel a mild headache. The timberwolf got up rickety, its bark fell off in bits; its snarling became louder, more ferocious. It barked a command and the other wolves pounced on Drex.
He reacted quickly and jumped at the closest, bringing his claws over its right eye. It howled in pain as chips were torn off its face as Drex's claws dug in; the wolf turned tail and ran into the safety of the woods. The others, on the other hand, faired a bit better. One snapped at Drex's forearm, but he reeled it away before the wolf's jaw could clamp down on it. He dodged, bobbed, and weaved as two of the wolves tried biting him.
Drex roared in pain as a sharp sensation was felt on his right leg. He looked back to see the third timberwolf had sneaked behind him and clamped its jaw around his leg. He pulled free of its grip and kicked it in the face, chipping it a little. That one, too, ran away. One of the wolves jumped on his back while he was distracted and sunk its teeth into him. Drex stifled a scream this time and pushed himself onto his find legs, lifting his forelegs off the ground. He worked past the pain coming from his leg where the previous wolf bit him. The one on his back was either too stupid, shocked, or oblivious to get off him. Drex grunted as rough bark dug into his back as the timberwolf on was crushed.
He rolled over and sluggishly stood up, he had exerted most of his strength hitting the trees before the timberwolves showed up. Another sharp pain shot through him, his eyes open wide in shock; this time he didn't hold back a scream. His scream was loud enough that the nearby birds flew away in fear. He looked down to see the alpha timberwolf's jaw clamped tightly around his left arm, its teeth sinking into his deltroid. He figured that during the skirmish with the others, the alpha was given enough time to regain enough strength to pull itself up, and while he slowly got up after crushing the one on his back the alpha took its chance.
Pain and anger soon controlled him as his blood ran down and did the only thing he saw rationale at the time. He grabbed its back with his free paw and bit into the timberwolf, his teeth breaking though the wooden exterior and his jaw clamping around its neck. The wolf bit in other places on his arm, ripping into new spots and trying to force Drex to feel as much pain to make him let go.
His mouth felt like it was getting hotter, but it did not get dry. He figured that it was just the pain, but it kept getting hotter and hotter, not stopping. The heat that grew in Drex's mouth was not his imagination, the timberwolf began to feel the heat too. It began to panic, letting go of Drex and trying to break free from his grip. Drex knew he had it now, he strengthened his grip around the wolf and bit harder, hearing cracks and wood snapping. The wolf could feel the heat get hotter to the point where it started howling in pain, squirming to wretch free of the grip. Drex could feel the his mouth getting hotter, but not the heat, he did not feel the pain.
"Stay still god dammit!" Drex shouted without releasing the wolf.
He bit the wolf once more, this time his mouth exploding into flame as his teeth made contact with the wood. The wolf was soon aflame, fire caught on the twigs and smaller branches that made up its body.
"Holy shit!" Drex yelped in panic, letting go of the wolf and jumping back. The fire from his mouth was gone as fast as it had appeared, with only traces of light smoke coming from his mouth showing evidence that it actually happened.
The alpha rolled around and howled as the fire spread across its body, bits and pieces burned off. Soon the green light was put out in its eyes as the timberwolf stopped moving, fire had engulfed its body. Drex watched the burning corpse, speechless and exhausted. He turned his head to see the fifth timberwolf still around. It did not try attacking him or running away, it simply sat in place and stared at the burning pile that was its alpha. It lifted its head and looked back at Drex, and nothing happened. It just stared at him for what seemed like an endless amount of time.
The wolf got up and walked away like nothing had happened, turning invisible as it slid into the darkness of the forest.
Finally, Drex's legs gave up and he collapsed on the spot. Blood streamed out of his open wounds, not a lot, but a nasty amount. He laid there panting, fatigue had caught up to him as he felt his eyelids grow heavy. He heard the sound of footsteps getting closer, he thought that the wolf from before came back to finish him.
***
"As it turns out it was just Zecora who heard the sound of howling and came to inspect. She helped me limp all the way to her hut, bandaged me up, and you know the rest." He finished his story to Twilight and Allison, both of them speechless. Drex took pleasure in the expressions of confusion, awe, and disbelief he received from the two.
"WHAT?!" Twilight blurted. Her outburst shocked Allison a little who was standing right beside her. "You were able to breathe fire? Only dragons should have the capability to do that."
"Not so Twilight," Drex corrects her. "Allison and I are different than just about any creature you've read about or encountered. Unicorns have their magic, cockatrice have their paralysing stare, and we pokémon have our moves.
"Moves are abilities that we learn by fighting and getting stronger. These moves can be used for offence, defence, buffeting, or even screwing around with our opponent, it all depends on what the move is. We pokémon hold one or two types of thirteen elements: water, grass, fire, electricity, steel, ground, rock, flying, psychic, dark, ghost, fighting, ice, poison, bug, dragon, and normal. If a pokémon falls within one of those categories they can hold and harness that element's potential in a certain way. Allison and I are both fire types, so we can each use fire, but we can't control stray flame. Yes, confusing I'm sure.
"But yes, I can breathe fire just like a dragon, that is a move called Flamethrower, but I can also do other moves. When fire was emitted from my mouth I didn't fell it come out so it couldn't have been a Flamethrower, it was most likely a move called Fire Fang. I did not breathe fire, but instead much like how the name suggests, my fangs were wrapped in flame like a blanket to maximize my biting damage. And if I had to guess when I toppled the trees I was using the move Head Butt."
"Didn't you just say that how you were able to do that was a mystery? And can you produce fire from your body in any way?" Twilight asked confused.
"No, Head Butt is a move, but not like normal head-butting, it's stronger. And well, I can breathe fire, and sometimes produce fire from other places, but others are... Ah, it's so confusing to explain this to someone who is new to pokémon!"
"Maybe I can help," Allison said. "We can't produce fire from any place from our body, but sometimes we can. And some moves we learn aren't even fire based, some are normal type or something else relating to our element. Like Drex's Head Butt. Though there are a few exceptions. Drex and I are both just fire types, but I can learn a few psychic moves."
"This is all very confusing," Twilight said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "You said that you learn these moves by fighting, why is it by fighting?"
"That's how we get stronger and are able to defend ourselves more easily, like how birds learn to fly. It's second nature to us."
Before Twilight could ask another question a familiar western voice was heard from the entrance to Zecora's hut. "Zecora? Sorry to bother you but did Twilight and another girl with nine tails come by?"
"Applejack, is that you?" The unicorn asked confirming Applejack's question. Allison check as well to find the rest of the girls with her. "How'd you know we where here?"
"I saw you two following Zecora into the forest." Dash answered "I figured that seeing as though you two primarily organized the search he might be here. So is he?"
"Yeah, I'm here." He called from the other room. They gasped in shock.
"My goodness, what happened to you?" Rarity asked, frightful of seeing his appearance.
"I just explained it to these two? Do I really have to re-tell the story?" He groaned. The all shook their heads vigorously, interested as to what happened. "Oh for fu-"
/One Story Later/
"So what you're sayin' is that pokémon have abilities called moves?" Applejack asked after Drex had finished telling his story again.
"Yep," he said dryly.
"And these moves are used for offence and defence for primarily fighting, which is also how you learn them?" Dash asked.
"And buffing or debuffing opponents," Allison added.
"And you just learned how to use two of these moves by fighting off timberwolves?" Rarity asked, least impressed by the story besides Fluttershy, though were both thankful for him to be safe.
"That pretty much sums the whole thing up." Drex concluded.
"One last question," Applejack said raising a hoof. "Why did you you go into the forest in the first place?" Allison and Drex looked at each other uncomfortably.
"It's best if we don't discuss that." Allison said sadly, a tinge of pain hung in the air.
"Good news my new friend, the salve is ready to mend." Zecora said entering the room with a small jar. Happy to change the subject Allison took it from Zecora with her paws, though however improbable it may have seemed.
Drex painfully rolled out of the bed, every muscle hurt in his body no matter how he moved. Twilight and Applejack helped him down as he put three of his four paws gently on the ground, his left arm hanging in a sling. "Thanks again Zecora, I don't think I'd be here if it weren't for you."
"I require no thanks from a friend, I am just glad you did not meet a bitter end." The zebra gave them a small bottle that had a fragrance that would ward off any predators as they bid her a final farewell and left.
"So, what happens now?" Drex asked, silently wincing at the pain.
"Now we go to the hospital to get you checked up." Twilight insisted. "I trust Zecora and her remedies, but we can't rely on her judgement alone. I want to make sure you truly don't have any broken bones or contracted a disease from the timberwolves."
"Eh, I've done enough fighting for one day so I'll just go along with it." Drex said even though he knew there was nothing else wrong with him. It was far past sundown by the time they exited the forest, and much like how Zecora had promised, nothing bothered them.
"It's gotten pretty late, if it's fine with the rest of you, I think I'll be going home." Rainbow Dash yawned.
"Go ahead Dash, I'm fine with the rest of you going home." Drex said thankful to the help they've given him and Allison.
"Great! See you guys tomorrow." They wave to her goodbye as she flies off to her cloud home.
"Well, I suppose we should be going home too. Goodnight Twilight and Allison. And Drex?" He perked his ears a little showing his attention. "I do hope you get better soon."
"I'll make sure to through you a get-well-soon party so you'll hopefully get better quicker than you can say. Boythatwasagreatget-well-soonparty." Pinkie said cheerfully and hopped away.
"Um, if you need anything you can come over to my place... If you want I guess." Fluttershy said trying to be as helpful as possible. Though they weren't ponies she still had trouble at being more outspoken. With her gone it was just Drex, Allison, Twilight and Applejack.
"Aren't you going too Applejack?" Drex asked wondering why she hasn't left too.
"Not just yet. I told Allison that you and she can stay in our barn so ya got a place to sleep. I figured that I'll have ta show ya where A'h live first of all."
"Really? Hey thanks!"
"Sorry Drex, but while your still bandaged you'll have to stay at the library with Spike and I. No offence Applejack but I think it would be best if he slept somewhere more hygienic while he's bandaged up. He might get an infection sleeping in the barn." Twilight said trying not to hurt her friend's feelings.
"None taken Twi, and yer probably right. Though it ain't that dirty it's better to be safe than sorry."
***
"My my," Doctor Stable muttered to himself going over the X-rays. "Well this would explain quite a bit Mr. Drex."
"So what is it Doc? Do I check out?" Drex asked sitting on the bed.
"Has he contracted a disease?" Twilight asked nervously.
"No no. He checks out fine. No infections, diseases, fractured bones, internal damage. Just some cuts and bites that will mend within time. And even we use some of Zecora's potions, things around the hospital have gotten better."
"A few cuts and bites?" Drex asked alarmed. "Doc, those things nearly ripper me to shreds!"
"And they would have if not for your peculiar anatomy." He replied coolly. "If your story is true then it would be a mystery as to how you could topple a tree with just your head. But we ran some quick tests from the X-rays and found out some interesting things about yourself."
"Like what?" Allison asked just as curious as the rest of them. Doctor Stables levitated a clip board to himself to look over the findings.
"Well, his bones are much more fortified and hardened than that of a normal ponies'. By my guess it would take a solid blow with a sledge hammer to even fracture a bone let alone break it. So the reason why you suffer no brain damage is because it is behind a solid wall."
"And that's why they weren't able to rip my arm from my socket?" He asked impressed with his new body.
"A bit. But your bones aren't the only things that are different from a ponies'. Your muscle tissue is a little thicker and more dense. If it wanted to rip your arm off it would have to have first gotten through all that muscle." He set the clip board aside. "You're quite lucky Mr. Drex, only a few cuts and bites, nothing broken, and no longer term or permanent damage. Just give it a few weeks and you'll heal up nice and fine, and I'm sure Zecora's medicine will help the process. Even we have prescribed some of her ointments and potions to patients. But I recommend that you stay off that arm for the time being, there's a chance that if you push yourself while its in that condition there will be long term damage."
"Anything else?"
"No, but..." Doctor Stables looked to Allison. "Ms. Allison, you are relatively the same species as him, are you not? With your permission we'de like to... study, you as well. Just to see if your structure is the same as Mr. Drex's. It wouldn't be much, just a few X-rays, a blood sample, perhaps a physical, all with your consent of course. All strictly for medical and scientific research, I promise you."
"Well... I don't know." She hesitated. "Today has been rather hectic for me and may not be the best time to ask me. But perhaps on a later date."
"Understandable, but please, if you change your mind come down."
"I will," she said leaving the room with the others.
"Well, you're right about one thing," Drex yawned as they walked through the hospital and out the doors to outside. "It has been a big day, and I could use the rest."
"Sleep sure sounds nice right about now." Applejack agreed. "Come on Allison, A'h'll show ya where mah place is. Then we can all get some rest."
"Yeah, rest, I'd like that." Drex commented dreamily. "We'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Guess so." Twilight and Drex went in one direction to the library while Applejack and Allison left to the farm. The library was dark, Twilight figured that Spike was already in bed.
"Up stairs is the guest room." The purple unicorn guided him upstairs, it was a slow process for him with one leg bandaged and another unable to move. She pushed open a door to a small room, a single bed was inside with dark blue covers and a desk with a lamp on it. He crawled into the bed, a his body was a little bigger than the bed with his legs just dangling a little. But he didn't care how big he was or how small the bed was, he just cared for how comfy it was.
"Like clouds," he mumbled, already half asleep.
"I guess that means you like it?" Drex nodded slowly. "Glad to know, see you tomorrow Drex." She heard him say something back that sounded like 'Good-night', but was too slurred and muffled to be sure.
***
"There's the farm, and here's where you'll be sleepin'." She opened the barn doors. Stacks of hay were piled in some places in either blocks bound tightly together or in loose piles. A wagon and a plow sat in one corner on the opposite side and plenty buckets used to hold apples in another. "Sorry for the mess, and the lack of quality, but A'h afraid it's the best we have. Ah suppose you can just find a spot on one of th' hay stacks, Ah'll get some sheets and a pillow for ya." Before she trotted off to get the items she turned back to Allison, something was on her mind.
"Something the matter?"
"Well, it's just that. Rarity offered ya a nice bed and that's comfortable and all, so why'd ya turn it down?"
She was silent in thought for a moment, for only a brief moment. "At the time, I didn't want to be separated from Drex, we have no idea where we are, how we got here, or how to get back, and I was scared. So I felt that if I had a familiar face with me at all times, I wouldn't be so scared. Especially his."
"So ya love him?" Applejack asked absent-mindedly.
"What?!" Her face went bright red and she started stammering words. "N-no. It's not, not like that! He's just a really good friend! That's all! He's helped me out a lot in things like this before. I- I guess you could say he's what gives me my strength."
"Uh, sorry about that. Ah'll go get ya those sheets." Applejack left hastily and a bit embarrassed. By the time she had returned with a sheet, blanket, and pillow, Allison had already curled up on a pile of loose hay and had started to sleep. Applejack smiled a little and put the items by Allison. "Ya've had a rough day, haven'tcha?" Applejack yawned, drowsiness kicking in. "Ah guess we all have."