//------------------------------// // The 'First' Abduction // Story: Pegasus Feathers // by Vanilla Mocha //------------------------------// "Where's Sweetie going?" Loviatar asked, walking up to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "I don't know. Hey, do 'ya wanna join us?" Apple Bloom asked the pegasus. "Sure." The fancy pony replied, sitting down, careful not to get her dress dirty. Scootaloo looked around. Wherever is the sister, must be the brother. That means Ryon is around here, Scootaloo assumed. But she didn't see him. "Are you alright, Scootapoo?" Loviatar asked. "It's Scootaloo. And I'm fine." She answered, looking down. "That's nice." Loviatar said, looking at Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom leaned over and saw the gray-red pony with the long black cape and hood. "Who's that?" She asked outloud. "Oh, that's Irothrust. She's just her own kind of special, you know. She doesn't talk much, and she just demands things from ponies when she does. And..." Loviatar paused. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's eyes opened up wide and starred at Loviatar. The asked for more without even opening their mouths, which remained glued shut. Finally Apple Bloom broke the silence. "And...?" Loviatar gulped. The white in her eyes turned to a light pink as tears began to form. "I- I don't want to tell you. It's just too sad. It really is... I saw her do it, and I had nightmares for weeks and weeks. I can't tell you- I just really can't-" Her sobbing was now taking over her talking. Tears poured out of her eyes, and snot ran from her nostrils. "It's okay, Loviatar. You don't have to tell us. We understand, right Scoot?" Apple Bloom asked, reaching her hoof around Loviatar to comfort her. "Yeah. Now we'd better warn Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo said. "What do you mean, warn Sweetie Belle?"Apple Bloom asked. "Well, she's over there talking to Irothrust." Scootaloo said. "WHAT?!" Apple Bloom and Loviatar yelled at the same time. Their facial expressions were different. Apple Bloom looked concerned. But Loviatar looked slightly, in the smallest way, delighted. Even though her eyes were blue, they seemed to have a small, red glow. "Hi. I'm Sweetie Belle. What's your name?" the unicorn introduced herself. "Irothrust." the quiet rough-sounding voice crackled. The mysterious pony stood before her. Sweetie Belle couldn't make out the face- only the hazel eyes. They didn't appear scary to Sweetie, though. Instead, she looked more scared than scary. "Do you have any friends?" Sweetie Belle asked her. "Yes." Came the quiet reply. "Here at school? But you always seem so lonely." The unicorn observed. "No, not at school." She said. Sweetie could tell the pony didn't want to talk. "Can I be your friend? I promise I won't annoy you or anything." She asked. "Sure." Irothrust said, slowly closing her eyes. Then, as if an alarm went off, her eyes opened as quick as lightning. She gasped, as if she was drowning and reaching for air. Her pupils got small, and her eyes, which had gone from hazel to bright red, now looked down. Tears began to form in the sides of her eyes, but she held them in. Either a small white light that was barely visible surrounded Irothrust, or the sun was now shining down on her through the dark, cold shadows of the trees above the two fillies. She stumbled, but gained balance very quickly. Then, as speedy as it had occurred, she went back to normal. "Are you okay? Irothrust? Can you hear me?" Sweetie Belle asked, now feeling concerned for her new friend. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I just felt an abduction." She said, sounding hoarse. "An abduction?" Sweetie asked, tilting her head to one side, looking confused. "No- never mind that. I'm fine." She said, backing up slowly. "Alrightie!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, acting like as if she had not seen it at all. Irothrust sat down. Her black cape laid down her back, and covered up her hind legs as well. Some black ants climbed up her front left hoof, and got shaken off by the notified pony. Sweetie Belle sat down next to her. Now dirt was on her dress, but she didn't care. It had already been 'ruined'. Eyeing the rip in the filly's dress, Irothrust had an idea. "I can fix that for you," she began. "The rip? How?" Sweetie Belle asked, curious. "Come with me, after school. Then can I fix it. But make me a promise, okay?" Irothrust asked. "Sure, I'll be there after school-" Sweetie said, a smile climbing on her face. "That wasn't the promise." Irothrust cut in. "Then what was?" The unicorn asked, confused. "Don't tell anypony where you are going after school. And don't tell anypony what I'll do to fix it. And just don't tell them you're my friend. It's all just to protect you. Don't ask me why. If you are really a good friend, you'll meet me in the Everfree forest after school today. Alright?" The husky voice sounded worried. "Alright!" Sweetie had another voice crack. Suddenly the sound of running hooves came closer. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Loviatar now stood before Sweetie Belle. The breathed heavily, and looked exhausted. They had just darted from the other side of the schoolyard. Catching her breath, Apple Bloom said, "Sweetie... Belle... don't... talk... to... her..." Sweat ran from her forehead down the the dirt below the ponies. "She's not... the best... kind of... friend... you want..." Scootaloo added, breathing hard. "Trust us... Sweetie... it's for your... own... good..." Apple Bloom finished. "What do you girls mean?" Sweetie Belle asked, now feeling concerned. Looking at her new friend Irothrust, Sweetie had a sad, disappointed look on her face. "Come back... with us, Sweetie... Belle..." Loviatar began, "Aren't we... your... friends?" Not once did she look at Sweetie Belle, even though the unicorn turned her head to look at the pegasus. Instead, her eyes were focused on her brother, Ryon, who was talking with Snips and Snails. Sweetie Belle turned to look back at her new friend. But there was a problem. Irothrust wasn't there. But Sweetie Belle, or anypony for that matter, had not seen the pony walk away, or even hear her hooves. Where was she? And how did she escape so quickly? "I'll be... right back." Loviatar said, now walking away. "Come on, Sweetie." Apple Bloom said. "Yeah, and we... still have... ten minutes left... of recess. Wow, that was... the fastest... I've ever ran..." Scootaloo realized, still catching her breath. "Alright..." Sweetie sighed, now following her friends back to the grassy side of the playground.