//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Element's of What-now? // Story: Equestria's Crippled Daredevil // by Pixel Berry //------------------------------// "*Yawn* What a rest," was the first thing I said, opening my eyes, seeing that I was still in Zecora's hut. "So it wasn't a dream..." I sat up on the couch, looking down at my lifeless legs. "*Sigh*" At that moment, I saw Zecora walk in, looking well rested. "I see that you are up, And I may say, sup." "Hey Zecora, not trying to be mean or anything, but I thought this whole thing was a dream." "No need to fret, for I thought the same, But may I play that Flappy Bird game?" "Shouldn't we eat first?" Zecora just nodded. She went to another room, which I assumed was the kitchen. And with little effort, I got off the couch, onto my wheelchair. I wheeled my way to the same room, seeing Zecora setting the table for both of us. I assumed that the side that had to chair was my spot. I set myself up there. I waited for awhile, seeing Zecora making something to eat. She came back with a two wooden bowls of salad. I was about to dig in with some utensils, but there were none. "Um, Zecora?" She lifted up her head from her bowl, seeing bits of leafy green on her cheeks. "Do you have any utensils that I can use?" She nodded her head and went to a nearby drawer. She took out a fork and spoon and carried them back in her teeth. I thanked her, then took the utensils from her grasp. We continued without speaking to each other. I would sometimes take out some flower pedals in the salad, but Zecora didn't mind. Other than the flowers, I nearly cleaned the whole plate. When I finished my salad, I noticed that she also poured some water in a wooden mug. I thanked her again and took a sip from the cup. The rest of the morning consisted of me watching Zecora make different brews in her cauldron, and sometimes asking what she's making. Obviously, Zecora would always answer in rhymes, sometimes in some vocabulary that I didn't understand. Sometimes while I watch her, I would get this itch on my shoulder, but nothing else. I know that many people in my situation would start wondering how they are even in a hut with a rhyme-talking zebra, but I saw movies in this situation that's much worse, so I just played along, ignoring the voice in the back of my head asking all of these questions regarding of what I should do. Zecora was almost finished with an antidote for something called 'The Blue Flu' until we heard a knock on the door. I stayed next to the cauldron while Zecora approached the door, seeing through a nearby window first, but what surprised me was that I thought I saw a blue winged pony with a rainbow mane. Zecora opened the door. I didn't see who was outside but I knew it was that same thing from yesterday. "Miss Sparkle, you seem better, It seems that you've gotten my letter." "Sparkle, sparkle... Why does it sound so- Wait a minute! Twilight Sparkle!?' As on cue, I saw the Alicorn of the hour walk into the hut, with the other five, and Spike on the Alicorn's back, all of them looking at me with stunned looks on there faces. I lowered my head, trying to not make eye contact, but what I didn't see was a pair of light cerulean eyes starring back at me. "Wah!" I almost fell off my wheelchair, until the same mare pushed down my feet rest, placing me back to my original, balanced state. Next came a wave of questions from the mare. "HiWhat'syournameMynameisPinkiePieIworkatSugarCubeCornerwithMr.andMrs.Cakeandtheretwoadorablefoals.Theresuperduperfunandcute.Thesearemyfriends!" She waved her pink hoof to the other five. She zipped to every mare she pointed out. "ThisisTwilightSparkleandSpike!ThisisRarity!ThisisApplejack!ThisisFluttershy!AndthisisRainbowDash!AndweretheElementsofHarmony!" Pinkie finished. "Uhh..." Everything was silent as I tried to process what just happened. "C-can you talk Ms. Creature?" The yellow mare named Fluttershy. I shook my head to clear my mind. "Uhh... Y-yeah, I can talk." Some of the mares were a bit shocked at me finally speaking. Rarity was on her famous fainting couch and Pinkie gave me a big grin. I gave a small smile back. "Excuse me, but what are you?" Twilight asked. "I-I'm a Human or a Homo Sapiens to be scientific." I answered. Everything became silent once more, then Rainbow Dash interrupted the silence. "Why are you sitting I that 'thing'?" She pointed at my wheelchair. "O-oh, Well I-I'm paralyzed from the waist, down." I said. Still confused looks. "I can't move my legs." I said bluntly. Rainbow gave a guilty look. Probably guilty on asking the question. "B-But don't worry! I was born like this, so it's completely normal for me." Everyone looked less tense. "A-At first I thought the crash made that happen." Twilight said. "How do you know about the crash?" I asked. "I-well-Uhh..." Twilight started. "TwilightdidsomefancyandhardspelltotakesomethingfromawholedifferentworldanditseemedthatTwilightwantedtogetyourwheelchairandsinceyouwereonit,youcameaswellwithyourbag!" Pinkie explained in one breath. Both me and Twilight had are jaws dropped. "I didn't even tell you that, Pinkie. How did you know?" "Just a hunch." She shrugged. "Anyhoo! If you must know, like Pinkie said, I did try to summon an item in your world, and I saw your wheelchair, but not you. So I used my magic to summon it, and strangely, it was in the air. Why was that?" Twilight asked. "Well, I kinda, rather, sorta, tried to break a record in my world." That got Rainbow's attention. "You did? What happened?" Rainbow came up to me, hovering over. I started boasting. "Oh nothing interesting. Just using a huge ramp to break the world record of fastest wheelchair speed." Rainbow's jaw dropped next. "How is that not interesting!?" She continued "It's like me doing a Double Rainboom and acting like I flew to Twilight's Library." She stated. "Wait? What's a Double Rainboom?" Rainbow was about to answer that until Pinkie popped out of nowhere and pulled out a photo. "This!" "You can also search up the video on Youtube to see the official fan-made episode." Pinkie said. This threw both me and Rainbow off guard. Making us utterly confused. "Yeah..." I finally said. "Um, excuse me Ms. Creature? Do you have a name? If you want to tell us that is." Fluttershy squeaked, making my heart explode over the cuteness I see before my eyes. "I-It's Ally." I said, getting a approved glance from Fluttershy. 'OMG She's so cute!' "I'm sorry to interrupt, darling." Rarity finally spoke. "But I couldn't help but notice your exquisite taste in fashion." That compliment gave me a confused stare in return from me. "The skirt and jacket goes so well and the white socks and shirt as well." She started walking up, feeling my fabric and looking at my bracelet. "Simple, but cute." She said. "Um, not to be mean, but I really just threw these on when I got up yesterday." "Y-yesterday? Please don't tell me that you went to sleep with them?" She asked, looking a little pale, even though she was white enough. "Well I'm not really fond of sleeping in the nude." Rarity stood silent. "Anyways!" Twilight got all of our attention. "I know that everypony would like to ask Ally many questions, but I think we should leave the forest first. No offense Zecora." Zecora just wave a hoof. Twilight got the approval of taking be back to Ponyville, and at first, Fluttershy was going to push me out, but I politely asked if I could move myself. She gladly let me do it on my own. And I surprised the mares at how fast and easy I maneuvered through the forest, having close calls from trees and some animals passing by. As I sped off ahead, Rainbow caught up with me, telling me that Twilight wanted her to keep an eye on me. I just rolled my eyes and continued wheeling away. ~ We were finally out of the forest and were on our way to Twilight's House/Library. As we got to the Town Hall, all of the ponies we saw ran away, having a scared look as I made eye contact to some of them. But in less then a minute, the town looked like a ghost town instead. I just shrugged it of. 'Too bad. I would've shown them how to have fun!' I thought with a devilish grin on. Luckily, none of the mare saw my evil grin. But what I didn't see was one unicorn mare starring directly at me. Instead of fear in her eyes, they were full of interest and curiosity. As I wheeled passed her, she actually started following us from a distance. Still looking at me. It made me uneasy. 'I know I wanted all eyes on me, but this is ridiculous!' I thought. I couldn't take it anymore, and so I turned around, a whole 180 degrees, and started looking at the startled mare. As I stated before, she was a mint green unicorn. Her hair was a bluish-green color with white highlights. Her cutie make was a Lyre. When I realized who she was I got a little uneasy. 'Damn! It's that obsessive human mare, Lyra!' "Can I help you?" I finally said. Lyra was a little stunned at me speaking to her. But she started speaking. "Um, Can I, um, touch your hand?" "Huh? "Can I touch your hands?" "Touch my what?" "Your hands... Can I touch them?" She asked shyly. "Uh, sure." I reached out my and towards her, she stepped back at first, then placed her hoof on it. She had a small smile on her muzzle and started messing with my fingers, spreading them, then putting them together. She then grabbed my hand and started rubbing my palm on her other hoof. I then pulled out my hand, and reached over to pet her. At first she was confused on what I was doing, then relaxed as I rubbed my hand on her mane. I then started scratching the back of her ear, and she actually started twitching her hind-hoof like a dog would if you scratch there tickle spot. I then left my hand from her head and she opened her eyes again, making me see her golden eyes. "Sorry, but I need to go." I spoke. "Oh, o-ok. Can we see each other again? I liked it when you scratch that one spot I couldn't reach." she asked, making me chuckle a bit. "Ok then. I'll see ya later miss..." "Lyra. Lyra Heartstrings." "Ally." We shook hoof/hand before we separated. I saw that the main six were waiting for me, seeing the whole thing. "Shall we continue?" "Sure..." Twilight answered. We then continued our trip to the Library.