//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven: Tribal // Story: Flying Without Wings // by FierceRainbow //------------------------------// Tribal Applejack wasn’t the type of pony to get scared. But that voice terrified her, leaving her standing in a cold sweat. In front of her, Twilight and Rainbow Dash nervously turned their heads, eyes widening at whatever sight they saw. Swallowing hard, Applejack, shuffled around on her hooves, the pain from her side fading into the background. It was a pony. Or at least, he resembled a pony. For one thing he was far too tall, easily another mare atop Applejack. His legs, in proportion to the rest of his body, were short but stocky, his whole body ripe with lean muscles. His jaw was heavy-set, a pair of beady black eyes sinking into his face. The mane and tail were short as well, a rusty coloured spike of hair twitching at his rear, a dark scruff atop of his head. Black marks were smeared in intricate patterns, swirling around his face and torso. More of the big ponies emerged from the bushes, burly stallions and slightly shorter, leaner mares. All of them gripped long sticks of polished wood, topped of with metal sharpened to a point. Applejack’s head whipped around in panic, seeing more of them coming from all directions, brandishing their spears threateningly. “Twi-Twilight…” Applejack whimpered. Before she could ask a worried question, she felt the sharp point of a spear prodding at her rear. “Hey!” The stallion who had first appeared, and the biggest of them all, leaned forwards until his snout was pressing against her face, growling threateningly. He spoke in a thick, gruff accent, but the words were definitely Equestrian. “Hush.” Applejack gulped, stumbling forwards to bring herself closer to her marefriends, wary of her aching sides. Twilight and Rainbow both shuffled in closer, as if to protect her from the tribal ponies. Another few sharp prods sent the message that they were supposed to move. Herded carefully along, they travelled through the forest, hostility radiating of them all. Leaning close to Twilight with hope that she wouldn’t be heard, she whispered briskly in her ear. “Twi, what are we gonna do?” “I don’t know,” she whispered wearily. “But we’ve got to escape somehow.” ~~~~~~~~~~ The sun was high in the sky by the time they stopped walking. The stallion made some gruff sound and two mares scurried forwards, pushing away large leaves and branches. Once again they were prodded into moving through the entrance waiting for them. Applejack’s bruised stomach was really starting to hurt, pain shooting through her at every step. It didn’t help that her rear was beginning to hurt from the constant prodding either. There was no need to duck through the big entrance designed for ones not as small as them by comparison. Applejack narrowed her eyes at the sudden glare of sunshine without the trees as a shield. Before her was an exposed clearing of compact dirt, stretching far out on each corner. It was covered in huts and buildings that seemed to be suspiciously fur-like. Tribal ponies trotted around, talking amiably one another or hard at work, whether it be minding children the size of Applejack or sharpening spear tips. “A tribe,” Twilight breathed in awe. “I’ve never seen a real one before.” “Yeah, yeah, I don’t think this is the the time to be admiring the ponies who are going to eat us,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “At least they aren’t stabbing our buts anymore.” “They sure do seem a great deal more friendly,” Applejack noted. The locals were watching them curiously, beady eyes sparkling with interest. “Hey,” Twilight said. “None of them have wings or horns. They’re like big Earth ponies!” The mention of such parts brought a sharp reminder of why they were going on the journey to Applejack. This is all mah fault, she realized. If I didn’t go on this foolhardy mission, we’d all be safe at home right now. But we cain’t, because I want to keep Twi an’ Rainbow close to me. Who am I to say they cain’t leave me? Ain’t like I’m in control them. Applejack moved sadly the rest of the way, not even bothering a single protest when they shoved her into a bare, unoccupied tent, followed by Twilight and Rainbow. “Brutes!” Rainbow called out after them, but she found no reply. Applejack sighed heavily, lying down on her back so as to not put pressure on her stomach. Ain’t gonna do no good now. We’re stuck ‘ere, and Celestia knows what they’ll do ta us, she could feel herself giving in, slipping away from her firm, determined stand. No! We gone this far, we cain’t stop now. We’re gonna get out o’ here, an’ we’ll make it to th’ Wishin’ Cave! “Alright!” Applejack sat up suddenly, although she regretted it as her stomach throbbed painfully. She smirked at Twilight and Rainbow, who were giving her some confused looks. “Let’s get outta ‘ere.” “But how?” Dash protested. “We don’t even know where we are!” “We’d better find out what they want,” Twilight pointed out. “Who knows, maybe they’re friendly?” Rainbow Dash snorted. “If that’s true, I’ll kiss your but!” “I’ll hold you to that.” “Wait, what?” Ignoring the two’s playful banter, Applejack slipped over to the slightly open flap of the tent, cautiously peering out. Two guards stood stoically still, like Celestia’s royal bodyguards Dash liked to provoke so much. “Uh, excuse me?” Their heads whipped around, staring darkly at the small, impudent mare. A bead of sweat blossomed on Applejack’s forehead as she chuckled nervously. “Howdy there, fellas. Ya’ll wanna let us out of here?” They narrowed their eyes, staring at her for a moment longer. Finally, one of them spoke in the thick accent she’d heard before. “No. You talk to leader not now. Later.” Wrinkling her nose, Applejack stepped back into the tent. “They say we ain’t allowed to go on off an’ we have to meet this leader pony.” “Good,” Twilight nodded. “I’d like to meet him. Or her. If we explain to them that we mean no harm, I’m certain they’ll let us go.” “As if,” Rainbow grumbled. “I don’t like this. They’re trouble.” “Reminds me of a certain filly I know,” Applejack teased her, lightly nudging Rainbow’s shoulder. “She can be a real strope sometimes but she’s awful cute.” “Oh, shut up.” At that moment the flap rustled and in came one of the tribal ponies, even bigger than all the others. He stared down at the shocked Equestrians for a moment before speaking. “Hello. I am leader of tribe.”