//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 Harrowing Horse and a Half // Story: Equinophobia // by eLLen //------------------------------// Ryan was already awake by the time morning decide to roll in. However, she didn’t actually get up until much later. A bed is clingy like that. Half asleep and limping out of drowsiness rather than a bandaged leg, she made her way down the awfully incompliant flight of stairs, passing a clock that read almost twelve in the afternoon, not that the time had any real meaning to her frazzled mind. The house was quiet in a way akin to yesterday’s trip into the living room, although without the overbearing sense of unease and caution. Loray was absent as well, off on another one of her voyages to Whereverland once again. The familiar roach-tempered rabbit sat off a ways staring with its glaring gaze. “You in charge again?” it was asked, only to respond with the incessantly impatient thumping of its foot. Ryan shrugged and turned to the kitchen, her stomach telling her its commands. The selection for her was largely the same but she took more liberty; she helped herself to a wider variety, even taking a few colder items out of the fridge. As she sat eating under the watchful gaze of the hare she considered her options for today, or more appropriately, the lack of them. Her current plan of action was to find a way home but that had the prerequisite of having full use of her leg. Even if she was healed, however, she had to admit she had no leads other than a strong determination on the route homeward. She would figure it out in the meantime, she promised herself. She rerouted her train of thought back on course as she pondered what she could do for the day. Going outside was unappealing but being cooped up in a cottage lacking air conditioning all day wasn’t a very exciting prospect either. She shrugged internally, deciding on a compromise. She would stay inside but would maybe have a short walk around if she felt like it. It would be close to the house, of course. Her choice begged the question of what to do in specifics. She had her music and the random assortment of features on her phone but those could only work for so long. She resolved to look for something to do around the place. Loray was bound to have whatever. Her makeshift breakfast finished, Ryan set herself about the room, eventually reaching a frail-looking wooden bookshelf that couldn’t quite hold its weight. Pulling a book out from the top, she opened it to find the written form of the other language dotting the pages. What else was to be expected? She observed the unfamiliar symbols that must have told some kind of tale, noting that although lacking context, they were arranged in an organized form that wasn’t far from home. Maybe their languages weren’t too different, she figured. Not able to get any more use, she put the untold literature back, already searching for a new distraction that would hopefully last longer. Fortunately, one did indeed come… By means of a snap ringing out and an upbeat phrase being drawn out in a mock-sing-song voice that echoed exaggeratedly throughout the walls. Ryan whipped around at the sudden disturbance to meet the mismatched chimeric form of a… thing, was the best way she could call it. Serpentine in nature, its head and limbs were all composed of different animals in a completely nonsensical and unnatural mixture. There were wings here and a furry paw there and a vaguely equine head on top sporting a snowy white goatee. Whether it be the deformed draconic elements mixed into the head or the rest of the freakish beast distracting her, Ryan didn’t feel her usual sense of an impending crash come to her at the sight. She, thankfully, felt only a bit uneasy: as much as one is when a complete monstrosity appears out of thin air behind you. It stopped its screeching solo mid-note, freezing in a position with its arms held high as its eyes took a quick dart back and forth, only momentarily stopping on Ryan, then dropping into a more-tame standing position (In midair, mind you). It spoke out an unknown thought with a slightly disappointed tone that shifted into a subtle-confused one. “The hell is that?” cried out Ryan. The chimera looked down at her after her sudden outburst, an eyebrow going upwards. It spoke again, its amused and inquisitive tone only hinting at its purpose. Ryan just stared back, completely at a loss. She had thought this place couldn’t have gotten more insane, only to prove its reputation was still running strong. At the silence, the thing said something again, a mischievous smile forming as it struck a pose, one paw at its hip and one claw slicking back his horns as if they were hair, only for them to spring right back into position. Ryan stared, mouth slightly open, before muttering, “What the hell is going on…?” At hearing the woman speak again, the chimera watched for a moment, eyes now narrowed. Appearing to have sudden inspiration, it smiled its conniving smile and snapped its paw (How do you snap a paw? Ryan thought). “I said, like what you see? You look so lost in that gaze of yours,” it said suddenly in perfect English with an odd perk of not moving its mouth. Ryan audibly gasped in surprise. “You can talk!” she exclaimed. “Aw, I was betting you were going to ask why my mouth wasn’t moving,” he, as its masculine voice seemed to indicate, begrudgingly pulled a gold coin from behind its back and flipped it to its other hand, then put it away in the same spot. Not that there was any spot for the coin to be. “You… can talk!” Ryan said again. The chimera raised an eyebrow, “I can? That’s new. So how are you doing?” “How are you talking?” “Well, normally I use my vocal cords but-” “No, I mean… how are you speaking in English?” “I was getting to that!” he said in mock-offense, “I’m talking to you telepathically.” As if this couldn’t get any more confusing, now there was a giant psychic serpent. “How does that work?” “I just send my words over to you and the concepts get translated in your head. Also, it requires me to essentially probe your mind for whatever language you’re speaking,” he casually added, “I hope you don’t mind.” Ryan just stared for a moment. “Uh, no?” she said, “So… who are you again?” Her perked up at that, flashing a wide grin as he put a paw to his chest, “Who am I? I’m just the Great and Powerful Discord! …Hold on, I think that was somepony else’s introduction,” he said, putting on a look of thought. “Anyways, enough about me, who are you?” “Um… Ryan,” she said. “Well, Um Ryan it’s nice to meet you,” he said surprisingly honestly, “Fluttershy doesn’t bring in intelligent animals that often.” A tinge of annoyance came at being called an animal, but she ignored it. “Fluttershy?” “Haven’t you met her? Pegasus, butter-colored, known for being weak and helpless. You’re in her house after all.” That rang a bell. “Yeah, I’ve met her… But what do you mean by her living here?” “It means what it is. She lives here,” he said, as if it should be obvious. “The only person I’ve seen living here is a human like me.” “Really?” he said amusedly, “Hmm… Care to describe her?” “Okay. She’s about my height. She has pale skin and pinkish hair. And she’s also a bit of a klutz with her hands…” she paused for a moment but Discord picked up the conversation sooner. He smiled and put a claw to his chin, saying “Interesting. Now, you’ve had your turn in twenty questions so care to answer one of mind?” “Sure?” “Ah, ah, ah. That was a question. It’s my turn. Now then.” He snapped, a regal chair appearing beneath him and a notepad into his other hand. “How did you end up in this little cottage?” Ryan, however, was more interested in the chair coming out of thin air than answering questions. A coin trick was one thing, but this was impossible! “Where did that come from?” she interrogatively exclaimed. “I already told you it’s my turn. Please hold off your own until it is over,” he lectured. “But-” she cut off as Discord scowled at her. “…fine,” she relented, not having a good feeling in any sense of the word. He perked back up just as quickly “I guess it started a few days ago-” “A few days ago,” he interrupted, scribbling wildly on the notepad. “I woke up in an apple orchard-” “The nearby apple orchard.” More scribbling. Ryan gave him a look, which he promptly ignored in favor of his notes. “I didn’t recognize it or anything around-” “You were completely lost.” He flipped a page. “And,” she said strongly with extra emphasis, “I wandered a bit looking for anything until I-” “Searched the fields.” He was holding a second notebook, the first floating next to him. “Will you stop interrupting-” “Doesn’t like to be interrupted,” he wrote before looking up at her annoyed face. He lasted all of two seconds before breaking into laughter. “You should see the look on your face!” he managed out. Ryan stared back indignantly. “Ah, I think I like you,” he said once his uproar had finally mellowed. “Do you want to hear my story or not?” she said bluntly. “No need,” he replied. “I got it all here.” He held up the books. “You have got an interesting fear by the way.” “How do you know that? I didn’t tell you that,” she said, her annoyance turning into confusion. “I put the rest together myself,” he said dismissively, “Here take a look.” He threw a book to her, opening it to the last used page. Ryan read the passage on paper aloud, “Ryan read the passage on paper aloud. She stopped as it ended abruptly.” She stopped as it ended abruptly. She looked up, her bafflement only worse than before. “That’s where we are right now, in case you’re wondering,” the chimera said. She mouthed a phrase to herself that was a bit more vulgar than “What the hell?” “Anyways, you’re not very bright are you?” he added suddenly. “Hey, I’m plenty bright! Excuse me if you don’t make any logical sense,” she shot back defensively. “Really? Because it’s pretty shady in here.” “…that was horrible.” “I’m not apologizing. Anyways, that wasn’t what I was getting at. Tell me,” his tone suddenly shifted, “Who do you think patched you up when you were ready-to-eat wyvern food?” “Loray,” she replied confidently. “Well, I can’t argue with that,” he laughed, being the only one to understand why that was so funny. “If she took care of you, then what was that horse doing that you woke up to? And just where was… Loray,” he said the name oddly, “…at the time?” “Loray must have been out somewhere. The horse was… I don’t know,” she admitted, “But it seemed content to watch me squirm a moment later,” she added with a bitter tongue. Discord merely thought for a moment. “What about that picture? Why would your human friend keep pictures of a random group of horses? She’s certainly not in any of them.” “She must be friends with them,” she shot back, “That’s why she talked to two of them when they were outside.” A thought came to her. “And I bet that’s why the horse was there. It must have been there at Loray’s request,” she concluded triumphantly. Discord shrugged. “Except that the horse lives here, as I said. And even if that was the case, that request must have been to take care of you while you slept then to watch you squirm as you awakened, correct?” “What are you implying?” “Me? Why, I’m not trying to imply anything. I’m just pointing out the blatantly-obvious facts you failed to notice.” She scowled at him. “Did it get darker in here?” he asked innocently. Before Ryan could come up with a response, the room actually became brighter as the front door opened. In walked Loray. At seeing the serpentine form occupying the room, she smiled and said something to him. “Good to see you, Loray,” he said, still sending words to Ryan as he spoke, “I was just having a conversation with my new friend Ryan here.” Loray responded with an inquiring tone, looking concerned at the figure of Ryan standing behind. “With a telepathic spell.” At another word from Loray, he added, “No, it only works on the caster. Knowing your lavender friend, she’ll find some way to break the barrier within the week, regardless. Now, I’m sorry for my haste, but I have some business to attend to. It was nice to see you, however brief.” She replied in a similar tone, albeit a bit disappointed. Ryan was also disappointed. Her reason was that she wouldn’t be able to get any straight answers out of the vague chimera. Discord turned to Ryan, speaking only to her through telepathy. “You’re quite an interesting person, Ryan. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.” He held up a hand ready to snap, then added, “Funny. I just noticed the horse you hate so much and Loray have the same color hair. What a coincidence.” He snapped, disappearing and taking all signs of his visit with him. Ryan stood staring at the empty space that once held the mixed creature, more confused than ever. Some of his riddle-talk did have some logic to it, as much as she hated to admit. She was missing something from the bigger picture; that much was obvious. And it involved Loray somehow. “Rhyan?” said the aforementioned woman. Ryan looked up at her with a simple gaze but raised an eyebrow at the clothes she wore, curiosity coming from the fact that they were indeed actual clothes this time. Although simple, she wore a cream-colored sweater and a natural-green skirt. It wasn’t unlike something that would’ve been at a clothing store. Hanging from her forearm was a bag filled with similar articles of different colors and a few variations on the fabric that made it. Well, back to the world of the language barrier. Not much in the mood for a “conversation” after Discord, Ryan gave a simple point to the bag as she sat down. Loray set down the bag next to Ryan, taking a few bits out for herself, and indicated the rest was for Ryan. She then gestured to the spot that Discord was in and then to Ryan. She got a lazy nod in response accompanied by a weak, clearly forced, smile. Although not looking satisfied, more so confused, she left to another room, probably to deal with some animal thing, Ryan figured. That was fine by Ryan. It gave her time to think. Apparently the pink-haired horse lived here along with Loray, though the chimera didn’t seem to know about the latter. And he emphasized the fact that they had the same color hair. So…what? They like to synchronize their look? It was probably something more important than that, she figured. They clearly have some connection bigger than being friends. Ugh, I don’t know, she thought, reclining against the sofa and listening to unhelpful wonderings. Fluttershy folded the clothes she’d gotten from Rarity earlier that morning. She hated having to put a sudden burden on her friend but the old Elements hadn’t chosen her as Generosity for nothing. In any case, Rarity was intrigued by the prospect of making clothes for a completely new frame. Once she got over the fact that Twilight had teleported a bipedal thing into her boutique as she was having breakfast. Clothes aside, Fluttershy walked the distance to the kitchen following an odd yet not unpleasant aroma. It smelled like food, such as when she would cook on the stove, but it certainly wasn’t anything she had made. It must have been Rhyan causing the scent. Around the corner, she was greeted by the sight of the woman in a new pair of clothes eating lunch, which happened to consist of a cooked fish. Fluttershy paused at the unexpected sight. She wasn’t surprised. She took care of animals after all and many were carnivorous. No, what surprised her was the fact that she kind of enjoyed the smell of the cooked flesh. Must be the body, she figured, though it didn’t console her bit of self-disgust. Rhyan looked up, stopping mid-chew at seeing the look she was receiving. She pointed to the freezer. The former mare nodded in turn but kept her look. At this, Rhyan paused, but then stabbed a piece on her fork and offered it. Fluttershy smiled sheepishly as she shook her head, taking a step back. Rhyan made a gesture she’d seen earlier and went back to her meal. As the pink-haired woman turned away, a knock came from the door. She smiled. Looks like Twilight had arrived early. They had agreed to meet this afternoon in hopes of identifying the language but now with Discord’s advancements, she was sure they could make progress even quicker. She opened the door, not noticing Rhyan tense up, expecting to see her friend but was instead met with the blue-haired pony that she’d met the other day. Vinyl, she remembered her name was. Vinyl looked forward. Then she looked up at the taller form in front of her. Her horn lit up as her glasses were pushed up, revealing incredulous eyes. The two stared at each other, one perplexed and the other thoroughly confused. “Uh, hi?” the mare finally said. “Hello…” she said, “It’s me, Fluttershy. I just look different.” The DJ narrowed her eyes for a moment then said, “Twilight?” “Twilight.” “Okay. So why are you a human?” she asked. “The human you brought in was terrified when she first met me. I thought that being something she recognizes would be easier on her. It’s worked well,” she added happily, “So um… what bring you here?” “It’s about the human, actually,” she said a bit awkwardly. Fluttershy nodded, figuring as much. “Just wondering how she’s getting along since I… dropped her off,” she continued. “She’s been doing well. She’s actually here now for the time being.” “Really?” she said a bit louder, “Can I see her?” “Um…” Fluttershy started. Would Rhyan be okay with this? She wondered. She looked back to see the woman staring back, hand clenched onto the table as she watched anxiously. Fluttershy expected that kind of reaction to be happening from what she’d already seen of Rhyan’s cautions nature but there was another factor she considered. She had seemed fine with the serpentine draconequus, even signing it off casually. If she could be fine with a mismatched thing like Discord suddenly appearing than surely a mere pony would be alright. However, the memory of her when she woke up came. That can be chalked up to waking up in a new environment after a brutal fight, right? The woman glanced down at Vinyl. She was the one who had saved Rhyan after all. She settled on a compromise. “Alright,” she said, “But come in slowly behind me. She’s sort of high-strung.” “Can do.” She turned to go inside. Not really sure how to say what was coming, she smiled reassuringly to Rhyan, standing midway between her and the door. Rhyan looked between her and the door. In from the doorway trotted the white-coated mare, glasses still perched up, and looking rather unsure about the whole ordeal. She spotted the human as the human spotted her. Their reactions were at the same time, although quite different. “Hey,” she said as Rhyan hissed some unintelligible phrase to Fluttershy, waving her hand towards the newcomer. “It’s alright,” Fluttershy said, trying to convey the tone instead of the words. She smiled warmly with an encouraging way. Rhyan grimaced concernedly with a disheartening way. “Her name’s Rhyan,” Fluttershy said to Vinyl, “She doesn’t speak our language but recognizes a few gestures.” “Hey, Rhyan,” she tried again, drawing closer. Rhyan paid Fluttershy a brief, expectant glance before pointing at Vinyl then at the door, saying something. Her tone was clearly mixed with hints of fear. Taking notice, Fluttershy moved closer to Rhyan, gently putting a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. It’s just a po-” Vinyl took a step too close. The human grasped her fork, holding it in the dwindling space between them. She near-yelled at the mare, indicating her and the door once again. The DJ got the message, to say the least. She froze, then retreated a few steps. “I think I she wants me to go,” she said, stating the obvious, then looked at the offending silverware, “Is that blood on the fork?” she asked incredulously. Fluttershy looked up from Rhyan with sad empathy in her eyes but addressed the question, “She was eating a fish. She’s part carnivorous.” “…I think I’ll go. Come back later when this is… sorted out… maybe.” She backed to the doorway. “Oh! Um, just wait outside. I promise she’ll be fine in a moment,” she said hurriedly. The DJ answered by exiting, shutting the door behind her with a creaking hinge. There was silence for a moment. One moment only. Rhyan broke away from Fluttershy angrily yelling something while pointing accusingly to the door, fork still in hand. The former mare just looked back, the silent words in her face preaching guilt. Rhyan looked at her for a moment before standing up with a grunt of disgust. She trudged to the stand that held the picture from yesterday. She made a circle over the group of mares then shook her head violently with a scowl. “I…” Fluttershy said, before realizing she had nothing to say, not that it would’ve made a difference. The other woman stomped up the stairs at the lack of response, picture and fork in tow. Fluttershy watched her ascent until she was out of her sight, her eyes then following the invisible path she knew the human had taken. She let out a sigh as she sat down in the now-unoccupied table spot decorated with a half-finished fish. Pushing the plate away, she reflected. She knew she’d messed up. The question was why? Her expectation of Rhyan’s reaction was too low but it didn’t make much sense to her. Discord was much worse, no offense to him, yet there wasn’t any sign of discomfort from what she’d seen. What was the difference? Well, one is a draconequus and the other is a pony, a thought hinted to her. She straightened up. Putting the theory against all of Rhyan’s actions beforehoof, she was startled by the result. It fit together with astounding accuracy. Her complete breakdown at Fluttershy’s mere presence; her curiosity at the two outside the day before; here with Vinyl and the picture; that was what she’d been trying to indicate yesterday. “She’s scared of us,” Fluttershy said aloud, her voice a whisper in the quaint cottage at the edge of town. Ryan sat on the bed, pent up emotions being driven through her eyes and onto the picture in front of her. Something’s missing she knew and thought in repetition. Something about Loray and the horse that stared back at her with its small smile in the picture. Her leg ached from the stomping around but she didn’t care. It was the second thing she was sure of: she would find out what’s missing. And if need be, leave at whatever revelation waited for her.