//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: New Friends // Story: The Equine Masters // by OtterP //------------------------------// Melissa looked at her new clothes, admiring the much better quality than she had expected, a short sleeved shirt and the trousers were very comfortable and even elegant, something she had never worn before. They had visited Miss Rarity's shop a couple of days earlier to determine what kind of clothes would fit for her. Melissa had insisted trousers instead of a skirt, because she was going to work for Twilight in her library. Rarity had objected at first, saying that a lady like Melissa should wear a skirt, but Melissa had refused. Eventually even Rarity had admitted that trousers fit her. Melissa was riding on Twilight's back, and the tiny human girl had attracted some attention from other ponies on their way, mostly giggles and chuckles, which had embarrassed Melissa. Despite Melissa’s objections, Twilight had simply levitated Melissa on her back, because Melissa's own walking pace would have been much too slow and Twilight carrying her with her magic would have been too much trouble. Now poor Melissa couldn't do much more than hold on Twilight's mane and blush at the all the attention she was attracting. Rarity's shop had been full of elegant clothes for ponies and more formal clothes for humans, Melissa had been surprised that Rarity had a human helper too, a boy named Kevin who was helping her to make clothes for humans. Even more surprising was how caring, almost motherly, Rarity had been towards the little boy. Twilight turned her head to look at Melissa, “Say, would you like to meet another of my friends? We could go to see Pinkie Pie and buy some sweets.” “You don’t have to do that just for me, Mistress, I--” Melissa started shyly. Twilight interrupted her, “It won’t be a problem at all, Melissa.” Melissa hesitated a bit, “I would like to have a few sweets.” She almost whispered, and looked at Twilight’s grinning face. Melissa held on tighter to Twilight’s mane as she suddenly changed direction. “It is not far, Melissa.” Twilight said, looking forwards. “Look, you can see it already.” Melissa shifted her body to see past Twilight’s head, and saw the most absurd looking building she had seen in Ponyville, the whole store looked like giant gingerbread house, complete with frosting on the roof. There was a cupcake sign on the side of the building, showing that it was a store. “Your friend works there?” Melissa asked. “Not only works, she lives there also. I think you and Pinkie will get along well. The Cakes own the place and Pinkie works for them.” Twilight walked to the door and opened it with her magic, stepping inside. Melissa was looking curiously past Twilight's head and saw the store, with shelves full of different kinds of colourful cakes and candies. “Woah…” Melissa breathed and looked around the store, she could hardly believe her eyes. To her, the cakes and sweets were huge in size and she couldn’t help but start wanting to taste them. There were two other ponies in the store, and seemed to be looking to buy something. Twilight and Melissa looked to see if there was someone running the place but didn’t see anybody. Twilight walked slowly, she and Melissa looking around the shop, and then they heard noise coming from behind the counter. “Pinkie?” Twilight asked carefully while walking closer to the counter, the noise seemed to be coming from behind and under it. Twilight walked past the counter to peek around the corner; Melissa, on Twilight’s back, leaned forward to see what was behind the counter and saw... a pony’s pink flank. Only her hind legs and twitching, fluffy tail were visible, the rest of the pony was crouched inside the counter, her cutie mark was a trio of balloons, one yellow and two blue. Melissa guessed that she was Pinkie Pie, whom Twilight had talked about. Melissa blinked and noticed that beside Pinkie Pie was a human girl, also looking inside the counter. The girl turned her head and her eyes widened when she saw Twilight and Melissa. She poked Pinkie Pie on one of her legs, “Pinkie.” She said, urgency in her voice, but the pony paid no attention to her. The girl looked back and forth between Pinkie Pie and Twilight, grinned nervously and, to Melissa's surprise, kicked the pony on her leg and yelled, “Pinkie!”, causing her to jump a little and from the sound of it, bang her head on the top shelf. Finally Pinkie Pie backed out from the counter and stood up, revealing her face and similarly fluffy, dark pink mane. She rubbed her head with her hoof and looked at the girl, who put her hands on her hips and pointed at Twilight and Melissa, “We have new customers!” The girl shouted. Pinkie Pie smiled brightly when she noticed Twilight and Melissa, "Oh, hello, Twilight!" She hopped closer, causing Melissa to hold tighter on Twilight’s mane, and leaned forward to look Melissa closer. “Oh! Is this human yours? What is your name? Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie.” Melissa instinctively grabbed some of Twilight’s fur with her hand when Pinkie Pie spoke in rapid succession. “Pinkie, you are scaring her.” Twilight said, with harsher tone, pushing her away from Melissa. She looked back at Melissa, when she felt Melissa touch her fur. “I am all right…” Melissa answered, and looked at Pinkie, “G-good day, Miss. My name is Melissa.” The giant pink pony giggled. “So nice to meet you, Melissa.” She suddenly seemed to remember something and looked back behind the counter. Twilight gently levitated Melissa on the ground. The human girl who Melissa had seen with Pinkie had stood beside the open counter until now and she was slowly walking towards them, seeing Pinkie look at her, she smiled and quickened her pace, bowing to Twilight first and then coming to greet Melissa. “This is Alisa.” Pinkie introduced her, and the girl shyly raised her hand to Melissa. The girl looked like she was same age as Melissa, but with brown fluffy hair and hazel eyes. She had a grey sweater and shorts on. “Nice to meet you, Alisa. I am Melissa.” Melissa introduced herself, smiling to the girl, “Have you been here long?” She asked. “Pinkie bought me almost a year ago.” Alisa answered, and looked up at Pinkie, who grinned and sat down. Twilight and Pinkie were watching them, and Twilight chuckled as the two tiny human girls talked beside Pinkie Pie, who easily dwarfed both of them. “We have had so much fun together!” Pinkie announced, excited, leaning down towards Melissa again. Melissa looked at Alisa’s face and she was smiling happily and even laughing with Pinkie. The girl’s reaction seemed to show genuine affection to the giant pony. “Pinkie Pie is a nice mistress and good friend.” Alisa said, looking at Pinkie. This made Melissa to jump a little when she remembered her outburst few days ago; when Twilight had bought her. “Awww.” Pinkie grinned and carefully stroked Alisa with her hoof. “You should see how Alisa dances and how she can do flips. Even on my hoof!” Pinkie said, looking at Melissa, and raised her fore leg up, turning her hoof to demonstrate it. “You are new here?” Alisa asked carefully, turning to face Melissa. Melissa nodded, “Yeah… I was taken five days ago…” Alisa’s smile disappeared, “It can be tough…” She said quietly, “I remember I cried for a week… It was Pinkie who then bought me. She helped me feel happy again.” As Melissa searched the right words, the door opened and Pinkie stood up, “Hi there, Bon Bon! I haven’t seen you here for a while.” Bon Bon!? Melissa thought and quickly turned to see the pony at the door, and true enough, there was the same cream coated mare who had been on Earth when she and Joshua were taken. “Hey, Pinkie Pie.” Bon Bon greeted the pink pony, “I just returned from Canterlot… and I need something sweet right now.” She sighed. “Did something happen?” Twilight asked. Bon Bon smiled weakly, “Yeah, you could say that. Working for Blueblood wasn’t what I had expected… I decided to quit and come back here.” “What do you mean, Bon Bon?” Twilight tilted her head. “I wanted to see the Earth and be close to humans, but…” Bon Bon paused for a second, “Twilight, Blueblood is not what he claims he is… He treats humans horribly, and even…” Bon Bon swallowed. With Bon Bon’s words, Melissa felt like all warmth disappeared in an instant and she stepped forward, “Miss! Bon Bon! Remember me? A village on Earth… My name is Melissa…” Bon Bon looked at the tiny girl approaching her and after a moment her eyes widened, and she smiled, “Yes, I remember you… You were bought to Ponyville!?” “Yes, Princess Twilight is my Mistress.” Melissa came close to Bon Bon, craning her neck up to see her face. “Miss Bon Bon, you remember my brother, Joshua, did you see him?” “No, I haven’t seen him.” Bon Bon answered, “I thought you two were sent together…” “Blueblood took him before I was sent here!” Melissa said, alarm in her voice. “Oh… I’m sorry to hear that…” “Please, Miss! I need to know that he is all right, could… could you help me?” Melissa almost pleaded. “I don’t work there anymore, I don’t know anything…” Bon Bon answered quietly, wincing a bit, seeing the girl’s pleading face. “What are you talking about?” Twilight stepped closer. Pinkie and Alisa followed close behind. “Twilight, this girl volunteered when her brother was chosen by Blueblood to save him, it was the most courageous thing I’ve ever seen, but Blueblood just took them both.” Bon Bon sadly looked down at Melissa. Melissa turned to Twilight and swallowed, “Mistress… I know I am asking for a lot, but could you help me? All I want to know if Joshua is all right.” “I…” Twilight hesitated. Bon Bon looked at Twilight, “Twilight, Blueblood is not…” She paused again, “I saw how he treated those poor humans. I started to ask questions about him, but eventually got scared. I’m just an Earth pony, and he is prince, he could make my life very difficult with all the influence he has. But you, Twilight, you could… I think Melissa deserves that.” Melissa had watched as Bon Bon spoke and now turned towards Twilight, her mind raced, searching for the right words. Alisa come closer, “Melissa, I’m sorry to hear that about your brother.” “I need to know that he is all right.” Melissa almost whispered, looking at Twilight. Twilight also looked at Melissa, the way the tiny girl looked up, nearly broke her heart. She had talked about her brother, and it seemed that he was in danger. And it made Twilight’s blood boil. Before Melissa had even said a word, Twilight had already decided. “I will do it, Melissa.” Twilight said with a slight smile. Melissa’s eyes brightened, and she to a step forward, “Really!?” Twilight nodded, and Melissa nearly jumped to hug giant pony’s leg, her arms didn’t even reach half way around Twilight’s leg. “Thank you…” Melissa said, feeling herself tearing up and as she buried her face to Twilight’s fur. “What are you going to do?” Bon Bon asked. “Uh… I don’t really know…” Twilight rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “But obviously we have to travel to Canterlot.” “We?” Melissa looked up. Twilight smiled at the tiny girl, “Of course ‘we’. You will go with me and help finding your brother. I don’t even know what he looks like.” “Oh, yeah…” Melissa blushed. “Besides, we are now a team, aren’t we?” Twilight grinned and levitated Melissa into the air. Pinkie giggled and hopped around, “Twilight and Melissa are off on an adventure!” Joshua, please be all right, I will be there soon…, Melissa thought, and sighed heavily.