//------------------------------// // In the Jungle // Story: Trapped // by Gylden Glor //------------------------------// I sigh as the two assholes lovebirds make out with proficient noises to accompany the visuals. "Are you two nearly done?" I ask, staring ahead at the dark underbrush. "We've got quite a walk to finish..." "Oh, yeah," Peter mutters, blushing. "S-sorry..." "Don't apologize," Rainbow Dash announces. "You just saved my life, sweetheart. I'll never forget that..." I roll my eyes in irritation as she slowly traces her hoof along the curve of his face, and leans in for another romantically (and disgustingly) "cute" kiss. "Just so the both of you know, I have about three dozen Changelings in Canterlot awaiting my return. And, I believe that small pony, Scootaloo, is awaiting for your return." That causes them to part with gasps. "You're right!" Rainbow Dash declares. "C'mon, let's get moving! We can finish this up tonight!" I nod, slightly insulted that they're more roused into action by the small filly than the survivors of...damnit, I don't even want to think about it. I just want to get all of this the hell over with, it's taken too much of a toll already...First those countless innocent Changelings, and now Mother, I just... I force myself into composure, and lead the way through the forest, the mountain of Canterlot looming high above us. As we walk, we converse. "Miss Dash, why don't you fly ahead and get a chariot to pick us up from Canterlot?" "What!? And leave Peter behind!? Are you kidding!? The only way I would fly to Canterlot with him is if he could fly, too." "Rainbow, I can fly. Remember? I have those powers now? I mean, I can't fly very fast, but...I ca "Well...you would hold me up. And besides, what if any of those things are on their way to Canterlot? We've gotta track then d I sigh, realizing that no matter how logical I make my argument, she won't listen to me. "Alright, Miss Dash. We will continue on our path." "Thanks, Metamorpha. You know, for a Changeling, you're pretty cool..." I stop dead in my tracks and stare at Rainbow Dash. "That was rather racist," I point out. "Sorry," Rainbow mutters in return. "The only thing I remember of Changelings is that they invaded Canterlot. Never met one before that. I also remember being stuffed into a chrysalis by your moth-" "Rainbow, stop. You're just making things worse," I hear Peter command. I sigh in relief as I continue to walk. At least I have one sane individual with me... "And, besides...it was an act of desperation. You would've done the same thing." "Yeah, I guess," Rainbow Dash mutters. We keep walking, and I hear them muttering to each other, and I'm pretty sure I hear the words "sneak away," "tonight," and "asleep." Oh, great. Now they're planning to have sex while I'm asleep. That's nice... I sigh in irritation, and look back at my own damaged wings. Unfortunately, Peter's force field couldn't protect me from the fires that occurred directly after the crash: my membranous wings were seared off. They'll grow back, as they always do, but it'll take a while... We continue walking throughout the day, and I end up deciding to block out whatever's going on around me as I struggle to overcome my internal pain... "C'mon, we can camp out in this cave for the night," Rainbow Dash announces, collecting sticks for timber. "We'll make a fire to keep warm, alright?" "And cook something," I announce, looking around for some place to hunt. While Changelings must eat love, they are able to temporarily consume meat for biological fuel: love is mostly for our magic, and as a sort of...deluxe form of feeding. "You don't mind if I hunt, do you?" "No," Peter responds immediately. "Actually, I'll come with you: I haven't had the chance to hunt yet." "You did, when we were camping," Rainbow Dash points out. "But you said you couldn't do it." "I lied," Peter immediately responds. "I could totally kill a wild animal for some food." Rainbow Dash hesitates, but a meaningful glance and some mutters from Peter cause her to sigh, and wave her hoof in dismissal. Peter and I immediately set out into the dense forest, and start to hunt: within a few moments, we've both caught one rabbit each, and I must hoof it to Peter: he's quite skilled at stalking his prey. Even more skilled than I am, which is...unsettling, to say the least. "Alright," Peter announces as we return to the cave, "let's cook it out here. I don't want Rainbow to have to smell this..." I'm about to protest, but eventually shrug it off. He proceeds to prepare a small fire just outside the cave, and procures a knife from a concealed sheath on his hip, and prepares his own rabbit rather skillfully. As he buries the organs and whatnot, he gives me the knife for my own, and I accept it. A half hour later, I've eaten the rabbit, and I'm sighing in content: I haven't eaten since I was in the bunker... Obviously, Peter is sharing similar sentiments, as he rubs his stomach before going off into the forest. "I'm gonna find some stuff for Rainbow to eat," he announces. I nod as I smother the cooking fire, and enter the cave. I found that Rainbow Dash is absent, and it takes me only a split second to realize what's going on: they're probably making love in the forest right now... I sigh as I set down for the night, and wait for the two to return. About an hour later, Peter and Rainbow Dash "sneak" back into the cave. I've already smothered the fire, and I'm laying a bit father back in the cave. I hear the two whispering to each other, and I can't resist: I take a peak. Rainbow Dash's mane, while rather crazy to begin with, has leaves and twigs stuck in it. Peter forces her to sit down as he strokes her mane into a tamed form, and he kisses her cheek when he's done: her mane is now straight, and quite pretty, and he's starting on her tail. Unfortunately, I get to watch him kiss her other cheek when he's done. Oh, fun. After a while, they lie down a small distance away from me, and immediately start to snuggle. I listen to them whisper to one another, and I squeeze my eyes shut as harsh reality hits me once more: I can never share anything like that with another Changeling... But perhaps...perhaps there is a future of the Hive with ponies...perhaps... I sigh as I curl into a ball, struggling to keep warmth to myself. I feel as if I'm a child that has been thrust into an adults' position: I must be a Queen, yet I cannot stop bemoaning my own losses. The only reason I have not cried yet is because I'm just too shocked from the events of the past few days to cry... I shut my eyes, and try to shut out reality. However, reality wishes to keep me awake tonight, as I feel a hoof on my shoulder. "What is it, Rainbow?" I grumble as I pick up my head. However, the individual before me is anything but Rainbow Dash. Instead, it's a Changeling I know all too well. "Hello," he whispers, sitting on his haunches before me. I bring myself up to my own haunches, and look at him in awe. "I watched you die," I remind him. "You watched me die," he agrees, somberly. A small silence spans between us. "How are you still alive?" I ask him. "Why are you here?" "I had to see you," he responds, immediately taking my hoof into his own. "I had to...I had to speak to you." I frown as I squeeze his hoof. "Ethan, what's going on?" I ask. "Why is everything happening like this - why is my world falling apart?" Upon seeing the Changeling, a dam of emotions comes forth, and tears finally find their ways forth as I grasp his other hoof. "Why did I have to lose you!?" Ethan smiles at me, and leans towards me. "You never did," he responds. With that, he plants a kiss on my lips, and I accept it enthusiastically. I close my eyes as I enjoy the intimate contact, and we continue to kiss for several moments before he withdraws. "I wish we had married..." I whisper. "I do, too," he responds. No more words pertaining to our past are exchanged. None are needed. Rather, he sighs as he stands, and approaches the exit of the cave. "I cannot tell you how I am alive, Metamorpha. I am bound never to speak of it. But I can tell you why I am alive." He looks back at me, and his frown deepens. "I was chosen, Metamorpha. I was chosen as a Guardian."