//------------------------------// // A Surprise Meeting: 4 // Story: Flight of a Pet // by Ponyess //------------------------------// I had met up with Dash in a park, just outside of the village and on the other side from the forest. It's a good place to meet friends, but apparently it was a place where ponies were enjoying the day, walking their pets as well. I had never known until today since it had been out of my space, as it were. Dash had kindly slipped the collar around my neck, just as she had the day before. I had felt the same changes coming over me, just the way it had happened the day before. I'm following a path that takes me into a lightly forested area, giving me comforting shades from time to time. As Pet, I had started to find a special comfort and joy from this part, feeling the trees standing tall on all sides, even as spares as they were here. Maintaining a slight trot mere steps before Dash on my tiny Deer hooves made little to no noises out of my presence, which is good for me in my current situation. I'm as shy and easily startled as it was in my regular form. Now, as the Deer it is enhanced manifold. Then I hear steps further down the chosen path, knowing it is Pinkie Pie, walking a small pet. I'm trotting silently through the forest along the path Dash had chosen for the two of us. I feel more comfortable alone with her here in the quiet forest, than I used to be before. Maybe there is something more to the changes, or is it that I found a balance within myself in this setting, with just her here in the forest. Far from all ponies save for Dashie, I feel a joy in life. Then something brought up more joy as I started to sing in a new voice stemming from the Deer within me. It sounded nothing like my old self. I'm not the quiet whispering doormat, or the mean self yelling at every Pony to step out of the way. Now I'm just happily singing a tune from right out of the forest. Just as I quiet for a moment, as if in transition between two tunes, I happened to look up momentarily, only to look into a pair of eyes. Maybe I had heard Pinkie Pie's hoof steps too, though there is someone else here with us. To my surprise, I recognised him. I just looked at him and he looked back. Now a shy Deer, much like me, just that he still is the Earth type, while I still am the Pegasus type, even as Deer. Interesting, even as Deers, we are still who we had always been, just as Deers instead of ponies. All of a sudden, I realised it was Cheese Sandwich. He looked up curiously at me, as if he failed to recognise me for the shortest of instants. Then came the spark of recognition. I just looked at him and he looked back. Now a shy Deer, much like me, just that he still is the Earth type, while I still am the Pegasus type, even as Deer. Interesting, even as Deers, we are still who we had always been, just as Deers instead of Ponies. The endearing shy smile and a slight hint to a blush on his cheeks only made it harder, more enjoyable at the same time as well. “Nice to see you here, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her more jubilant voice, as she stopped by her side. “Hiya, Pinkie. Nice to see you too. Seems our Pets are going well together!” Rainbow Dash put forth in a greeting. “Yeah, you're right. I'm glad they go together. Would have sucked, if they couldn't be friends now!” she merely pointed out with a slight leer in her playful voice. “I'm with you all the way. Much cooler this way!” Dash exclaimed in a merry voice of hers. For a moment, I just looked quietly at her, realising that Cheese did too. A curious moment had been built up, lingering for the short duration. Nothing was said, nothing really needed to be said. Just the one glance, and a facial expression that defied words. A moment passing, then next of uncertainly. We exchanged sniffs and snorts, before standing quietly, looking up to us for recognition. She just petted me on the back of my head, quietly scratching me behind my right ear, looking fondly at me for a moment. Something told us, Pinkie Pie did the same to her pet; Cheese Sandwich. It isn't as if there was a blame, it is merely feeling like the right way. Affectionately petting her Deer, awarding me for acting properly, the way one was expecting a good pet Deer would act. By the looks, Dash was pleased to see Pinkie on her way along the track. Our little unofficial meet and greet had gone off fairly well, at least I thought I read it on her features. I am a pet right now, after all. Maybe I could ask her as we got home, when she slipped my collar off of me? From the looks, it seems to me as if Pinkie had entertained Cheese as her pet for quite the while, even if Cheese had been free to roam and do what was his place to perform, just as I am freed to perform my duties, when need be. Maybe this is why I had not seen him, as often as one may have expected. After a few more minutes, Cheese became restless, so Pinkie followed him along the train in the direction they had initially been heading. Once Pinkie Pie and Cheese was out of the way, Dash continued along our path. There was no point in sticking around, as pleasant as the meeting had been, unexpected or not. I am not sure, neither Pinkie Pie, nor Rainbow Dash gave a hint as to if it had been contrived or not. Maybe it had just been a random meeting, after all. Even if they had both known the other were taking this path, but never asked when the outing was to take place, it is still a random occurrence in my eyes. I know Dash is enjoying this little excursion just as much as I do, she knew I enjoy it, just as much as she does. I feel right at home in the forest, more so now as a Deer than I had before, even if I had felt it from the day I exiled myself from Cloudsdale and became a resident of Ponyville. Ponyville had always made me feel right at home, where I live now, just at the outskirts of the forest, where I could care for the local critters as I saw fit, which was where I belong. --- --- ---