//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 : Awkward Meeting // Story: World Anew, A New Chapter Unfold // by Uber Reaper //------------------------------// To say that Inkie’s day couldn’t get any worse would be an understatement. At first, she was supposed to get to Ponyville in order to fix the pickaxe that has been broken, then she trudged through the northern portion of White Tail Woods across the train tracks through the usual path toward the train station to Ponyville. Then something bad happened. Apparently there was supposed to be no dangerous fauna in Whitetail Woods. How wrong she was, because appearantly she encountered some kind of manticore-like creature out of sheer bad luck even when she stayed on the path. Because the creature also happen to stumble on the path while marking a territory. The manticore-like creature with almost literal blazing mane were staring at her with the eyes of a predator because the earth pony mare could see the glint in it’s eyes. The shape of the mane were too different from the usual manticore, it also lacking wings, and stinger of a scorpion. So, she just stared....and stared in frozen shock. Unfortunately, predator like this tend to see a stare into the eye as a sign of challenge. The Pyroar growled and stared back in challenge as well. However, a pony like Inkie upon seeing danger, responded like anypony else would. She screamed as loud as she can while running away. Unfortunately, that action caused the Pyroar to also roar in rage in response and chased after the prey. “No, no, no, no, no!”Inkie muttered while her legs carry her through the woods as fast she it could without tripping. The Pyroar roared again and pounced. Inkie saw a shadow eclipsing her form. She knew what was coming and quickly side-stepping out of pure reflex from years of rock farming for minerals. That caused her to veer off the path into the forest of Whitetails beyond. The Pyroar struck to follow. Sweat running down her face, she didn’t care where she was heading anymore, all she wanted was to get away from the predator hot on her heels as fast as she can. The Pyroar slowly closed the distance again with ease. The chase came to an abrupt end when another Pyroar with different styled mane stepped in front of her. “Waahhh!”She backed away from the fiery kitty.”Uh...good kitty?”That just got her a roar in the face that caused her to shudder in fear. Inkie resolved not the get eaten so the flat-maned mare tried to turn around only to see the Pyroar from before shooting like bullet toward her in a pounce. The mare panicked, she had nowhere to go again. So she resolved to do something at least, and that is by ducking and closing her eyes tightly. Luck was on her side, because that action caused the pouncing male Pyroar to unexpectedly crashed into the female Pyroar with a yelp. Inkie, who was at that point too scared, opened her eyes slightly. The sight of two fiery kitty cats in a tangle of limbs. She inwardly hoof pumped and ran away quickly. The two male and female Pyroar looked at each other and nodded, resolve returned to chase after the mare. The chase went on once more. The mare were proving to be quite tenacious, as when they tried to cut off her path, she would just quickly made a sharp turn and ran again. This one happened for several minutes of cat chasing the mouse. Inkie eventually happened upon a clearing with a small boulder in the near middle of it, she tried to run for the other side. Unfortunately, she ran into the Pyroar and surprised her, causing the mare to scream again. She tried to turn around, only to find the male Pyroar emerging from the tree line. She backed against the boulder. Not having anymore idea how to get out of this situation alive.”Good kitty, please, don’t eat me.”Inkie tried to reason with them. They heard her loud and clear, although that didn’t stem them from approaching her further. The mare eyes were wet with tears at the prospect of imminent death. Just when the Pyroar about to pounce once more. Their sharp ears picked up something to their right. They looked to that direction to see a rather ticked off Salamence and Serperior shooting toward them. They reacted way too late when the Salamance 'Headbutted' the male Pyroar straight across the nose. Causing it to reel back in pain while clutching the damaged sensitive nose. While Helen, quickly summon to blade of leaves and dashed the female Pyroar, causing it to cry in pain as well despite the attack being ineffective. Both Sally and Helen quickly landed beside each other. Eyeing the reeling Pyroar couple. After a while, the male one glared at them from the surprise attack while the female just smiled. “It’s been a while since I have a fight.”The female Pyroar said while flames licking the inner of her mouth. “Then, let’s take them down dear!”The male Pyroar growled and took a deep breath. Eric seeing this, knew what was coming and reacted accordingly.”Sally, Helen! Get out of the way quick!” Sally quickly flew over to Helen and grabbed her. Taking off just in time for the Serperior to avoid a potentially fatal Flamethrower. “Retaliate with Leaf Storm, Helen! And Sally, drop her!” “As you wish!”Sally quickly dropped Helen. The Serperior summoned forth dozens of sharp leaves and launched them at the opponent. While Helen landed gracefully. The Pyroars dodged the spot that just got peppered . Unknowingly, the male Pyroar tried to unleash Flamethrower again got struck in the head with a downward Dragon Tail. Leveling his face with the ground while Sally landed beside her. “No!”The female Pyroar charged at Sally with Fire Fang who just offhandely stepped aside. “Sally! Brick Break him! Don’t let him recover!”The Salamence charged with Brick Break activated at the recovering male Pyroar. “NOW! Solar Beam!”The female Pyroar turned around just in time to witness a white beam colliding with her face, not effective, but powerful enough to knock her down. The female Pyroar didn’t know that Helen had gathered solar energy during her attempted attack at Sally. Meanwhile, the recovering female Pyroar look up just in time to witness a Brick Break to the skull. She could’ve sworn she heard something crack as she fell down again, now completely unconscious with comical swirly eyes. Eric saw the male Pyroar attempt to get up from the earlier Solar Beam. He felt he shoudl end this now.”Time for the finishing! Sally, Helen use Outrage and Leaf Blade Combo!” “Got it!”Both said simultenously. Sally eyes started to glow a menacing blood red. The female Pyroar gulped, knowing what was coming next. She watched the Salamence carefully, readying to dodge when the attack was unleashed. And Sally charged with the intention of trashing the lion repeteadly. The female Pyroar moved to jump out of the way, and tripped. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the Serperior moved away from behind her. She realized she had been tripped. She tried to got up in time, in vain. Sally was already in front of her when the first punch was unleashed. Pain, it was pain that she felt, utter pain as Sally used Outrage on her. Sally literally punched, kicked, bat a wing, headbutt all at a random pattern over and over again. Sally finished her first Outrage with a punch that send the Pyroar flying, right toward the waiting Serperior. Helen quickly slashed her Leaf Blade across the back of the Pyroar, her cry of pain is heard. She slithered back and dashed forward. Sally doing the same with one foreleg stretched outward, both attacks impact the female Pyroar at the same time. Sally and Helen just stood in that pose, until they heard the female Pyroar crumpling behind them. Eric stepped in to congratulate them. It’s been a while since he had a tag battle.”Good job, Helen!”Said Serperior nodded with a smile at the praise.”And you....too?” Sally started stumbling around in confusion, the after effect of Outrage.....while giggling. Eric just sweat dropped. The Hydreigon turned his head around the clearing, but didn’t see the Ponyta from earlier. “Hey did you guys, see the Ponyta?”Eric asked, Helen shrugged. “No, I only see pretty birdie!”Sally mumbled while trying to swat the bird circling around her head and tripped on her own tail. Eric double sweat dropped along with Helen. Sally always rather awkward when Confused. “No, I don’t see him....or her.”That only meant one conclusion to the Serperior.”The Ponyta must’ve escaped in the confusion.” Eric sighed in frustration, he was hoping to at least talk to the strange Ponyta about where they are now.”Great, so what do next then?” “I figure, it’s best if we keep heading toward the silo Sally mentioned. So-”They all heard a growl again. Helen stared over Eric’s shoulder. Eric turned his head to see a charging male Pyroar from before. Appearantly, he didn’t stay unconscious for long. Some did woke up after being knocked unconscious “Hey, I got something to say to you all!”The male Pyroar roared, a visible bruise were visible on the forehead where Sally Brick Breaked him earlier. “Uh-oh.”Eric muttered. Sally, recovered from the Confusion early, quickly flew and stood in front of him. After several attempted attacks and roasting later. It was all revealed to be a little misunderstanding when the female Pyroar calmed her mate down and explained the whole thing. Turns out that, originally, the male Pyroar were just going out it's way to scout it's territory when the mare from before stared it in the face, so of course, he thinked it's a challenge and reacted in kind by chasing her. When the mare ran into their territory and encountered the female Pyroar, they shifted their goal toward chasing her out. The male just happen to be marking their new territory after, they were somehow put to sleep and woke up in an unfamiliar place. Sally just stayed back while Eric and Helen both apologized profusely for attacking them unprovoked earlier. The Salamence just whistled innocently when Eric glared her way. “Forgive us for our misunderstanding sir and ma’am!”The Serperior bowed again in an apology. “You better! Or I’ll have you roasted on the spot.”The male Pyroar growled, more than ready to have a grass snake for dinner. Some bruises still visible. Eric in return also apologized to the pair.”Sorry for that, I thought you were going to eat that Ponyta or something.” “Just because we’re Pyroars, doesn’t mean we have to eat in an unrefined manner.”The female Pyroar admonished Eric, who grinned nerveously. The same Pyroar sported several bruises and also seems to limp. The female Pyroar shooted her mate by putting a paw on to his.”Dear, she and her trainer already apologized. Let’s just forget this and move on.” The male huffed a little flame out of his snout.”Hmmph, if you say so, dear.” “Besides, I didn’t have such a good battle in a while.”The female added while shrugging her shoulder.”I just take it in a good fun.” “Maybe this fight would have ended differently if they didn’t surprise us in the first place.”The male retorded.”I would have easily taken them, dear.” I seriously doubt he and his mate could take on Sally. Both Helen and Eric inwardly thought. Refusing to say it out loud. “Regardless, let’s put this incident behind us shall we, dear?” The male nodded begrudgingly.”.....Yes, of course.”The female smiled.”But, I still want a...” “Perfect!”The female practically bit down on her mate’s tail and dragging him away while limping. Not wanting to start another argument or battles with the strangers. Both Eric and Helen just stared at the spot where the two Pyroar stood earlier. They knew that Pokémon heals fast, but so fast that she’s actually limping away after only an hour? Both expected they male Pyroar to carry his mate, but it turns out the female seems to be stronger, what with the female population of Pyroar is higher. She did last longer in the battle earlier. They turned their head at each other in bewilderment. Eric shrugged, and Helen nodded, not caring either way on how the pair going to handle things from here on out. “So it confirms your theory, huh?”Eric said to Helen as they headed back toward Sally.”Who would’ve thought we’re in a whole different world.” Helen nodded, sad that her theory turns out correct.”It was unfortunate. Our first priority remains unchanged in getting you back to human form!” Sally heard about the last part.”What are you two talking about? Don’t left me out if it’s important.” Eric just waved it off.”Nothing important enough, probably confirming Helen’s theory when the Pyroar said about sleeping and then waking up in an unfamiliar place.”The Hydreigon said offhandedly. Sally raised a skeptical eyebrow, glancing at the Serperior in question. Helen nodded in confirmation. “I’m afraid so Sally. Do you remember what we experienced before we got here?” The Salamence put a paw to her chin in thought. It all came back to her.”Yeah, I got drowsy all the sudden and hearing a voice in my head!”He looked at both Eric and Helen, knowing what that look meant.”Wait, you guys heard it too?” Eric tapped his tiny ears on the side of head.”Heard it loud and clear. Probably forgot what the voice said by now with all the excitement though.” “Rest now my children, for when you awake, a whole new world shall be your home!”Sally and Eric glanced sharply at her, causing her to flinch.”That’s what it said.” Upon hearing the accursed bad news, Sally ears dropped and sat onto her haunches. Helen and Eric are usually correct in their theory. They were both always tried to remain logical.”So that’s it? We’re in a whole different world now? Because of some crazy psychic maniac sending us to an alien world?” “Huh, if that Ponyta earlier we’ve seen isn’t sign enough then what else? Because in school, I was never taught about any Ponyta like that.”The Hydreigon said rethorically, trying to remain optimistic during these times.”Yeah, I guess who could call the voice is the culprit.” Helen slithered forward.”Nevertheless, our priorities doesn’t change. If we are indeed in a whole different world, then it is necessary to get a lay of the land first and then find a way to change our trainer back into human form.” Eric nodded in full agreement.”I was just about to say the same thing, Helen.”He looked at Sally.”So Sally, do you still remember the way to the farm?”The Salamence nodded. “Good, then hope that the locals are much more understanding than the Ponyta alien earlier, huh?” “How do you plan to understand the locals Eric. As far as I know, even human didn’t understand how we speak, right?”Sally replied. Eric nodded.“Well, for that, I just hope that Helen still remember the penmanship that she taught herself.”He pointed at the Serperior in question. “We don’t exactly have Will to translate for us now.” “I can do that. In fact, I still remember how to write with my vines.”The Serperior confirmed. Actually making Eric sigh in relief. “Good, I can’t exactly write with these heads.”He moved the arm head to emphasize his point.”I really starting to miss my hands.” “I think you can still use those heads to grip things, Eric.”The Serperior reminded her trainer. Remembering seeing a Hydreigon grabbing something using the mouth of the heads. “I’ll remember that for later. For now, though.”He floated away, glancing over the shoulder to Sally.”Lead the way again, Sally.” “Are we getting close now, Sally?”Eric asked, while trying to rub his back. The long amount of time floating around.”My wings are getting sore here. Still not used to floating” “I think your new body is still quite fragile compared to your already toned human one, Eric.”Helen added while getting suspicious when the dead trees increased in number as they went by the path. “We’re here!”The dragon-type glanced over her shoulder.”We’ve arrived.”Sally was surprised, but it was actually more than surprised. She’s shocked. The state of the land were rather.....desolate. With many rocks littered around and jutted out from the ground. Even the surrounding trees were all dead. Except some around the edges of the clearings. Even then those dead trees were very limited in number. “That was......surprising.”Eric muttered, though he would expect something like this with the dead trees increasing in quantities. “it is, the dead trees from our way here we’re to be any indicator, it seems that this clearing can’t support plant life.”She glanced at the many rocks in the field. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure it out.”Not with that many rocks around.” “Huh, look at that!”Eric ignored Helen when she pointed at the house, windmill and silo in the distance.”Your recon skill still as good as it ever be.” Sally looked away and blushed at the praise.”It was nothing Eric.” Helen, however, noticed her reaction, but just decided to remain quiet about it.”Shall we go?” “We shall.”Eric agreed and they walked toward the farm. Tensing on the prospect of second interaction with the locals. The field was larger and wider than they first thought, they only just reached fence.”You know, I would’ve thought that the “Eric tried to strike a conversation once more. Feeling that silence won’t help the situation while this time leading the way. “Maybe they’re afraid?”Helen replied.”We are after all quite intimidating. Especially Sally’s Ability to Intimidate her opponent before fighting!” “Yeah, like I said earlier. Even without my ability, who wouldn’t be afraid of-“They were passing a spot until Sally got cut off when they felt the earth sink a little. Eric glanced over his shoulder in surprise when Sally stopped speaking.”Huh?” Sally and Helen just turned their heads toward each other. Knowing what was coming. Even if they didn’t move, their combined weight probably enough for the thing to do it’s job. Both just said.”Uh-oh!”And their fear were founded when they fell down a pit while crying out. “SALLY! HELEN!”He quickly floated over to the hole in worry and looked down. Relieved a little when Sally and Helen’s tail is visible.”Sally! Helen!” The Salamence rubbed her butt in pain.”Owww, I think I landed on my tail.” “Sally....would you please get off me?”A muffled voice sounded somewhere. Sally swiveled her head back and forth, spotting nothing, but walls of dirt. “Helen? Where are you?”Sally yelled. “You’re sitting on my head.”Helen voice came again. Sally blushed in embarassment before quickly getting up. Freeing her tail at last as well. Eric saw the whole thing and sweat dropped at the ridiculousness of Sally landing on her tail right on Helen’s head. After Sally freed herself, Eric yelled down the pit. “Are you both OK? Do you need help?”Eric yelled. “Yeah, we’re fine!”Sally replied.”Just give us a moment to get out.” Helen used her vine to rub her head.”Clever, tricking us using a fake paper to disguise the hole.” Sally just noticed Helen and proceeded to do what one does when he makes a mistake, apologizing profusely like what Helen did earlier.”Helen, sorry, sorry, sorry. I didn’t know you were there.” Of course, Helen didn’t take it to heart. It was an accident after all.”No, no, it’s fine Sally. It was just a freak accident, nothing more.” “Still, I-“Sally and Helen’s ears picked up a muffled sound up above. They looked up the hole and didn’t see Eric anymore. Meanwhile, up the hole. Eric was just sighing in relief until that relief were destroyed when his vision were filled with brown with a sudden weight on his back. He tried to shake it off. “I got him!”A female voice sounded. “Nice, Inkie!”He tried to move his right arm head only to find some weight were attached to it and putting a bag on the head as well. His left arm were soon suffered the same fate. “Hey! Get off me!”Of course, to the aliens, they probably think the three-headed hydra is just speaking gibberish. Inkie and Blinkie Pie managed to bag all of the heads of the somewhat floating small hydra-like creature, forcing it to the ground. Their earth pony strength gained from the years of rock farming were showing when they held the bagged and struggling Hydreigon by remaining on it’s back. Riding it like a rodeo. Igneous and Cloudy quickly ran over with some nets.”Quick, girls, get away.”The twins jumped off while their parents spread the net all over the struggling former-human Hydreigon. The Hydreigon still struggled even when the net is spread. “Good job. Now let’s take care of the-“Igneous were cut off by a fierce roar. “SALAMANCE!”They all turned around, widening their eyes when one angry giant-winged salamander were shooting toward them. Not anticipating one of the beast to actually able to fly at all. They all quickly dived out of the way, luckily dodging the missile. The Salamance quickly landed, turning around to snarl at them all. Stood protectively in front of the captured Hydreigon. It appears to them all as if the salamander were about to eat them all. Igneous know when to run when he sees one.”EVERYONE RUN!” They need not to be told twice. Inkie and Blinkie ran away, followed by Cloudy and Igneous. That is until Inkie bumped into something, Blinkie bumped into her and followed by their parents bumping into the twins. The family glanced upward nerveously, meeting the eyes of a very ticked off giant greenish and white snake with slittle pupil glaring down at them. Helen didn’t need to use Glare on them, just a simple glare is enough, considering how tall she is as well. The reaction was all the indication she needed to know with them all backing away. Blinkie decided to humor her by waving her right forehoof.”I don’t suppose you can let us get away, Mr. Snake?” Helen, for her part, just shook her head slowly. The Serperior looked over the terrified family and to her trainer, in the process of being freed by burning the net and bag by Sally.”Hy, Hydreigon!” ; ‘That’s it. Helen, Coil them up!’Helen and Sally couldn’t agree more. No one harms their trainer. So, said Serperior slithered toward them with lightning-quick speed. Igneous tried to stomp her once she’s close enough, to his surprise, she just slithered around his hoof as it came down. She slithered around the family who huddled closer to each other. In no time, the family were coiled together by Serperior serpentine body before giving them one tight squeeze, causing them to gasp and eyes bulging a little. The former human was already freed at this point by Sally’s Flamethrower. The flame washed over the net and bags, leaving him with actually little harm because he’s a dragon-type. He floated over to them while Sally eased herself around them, that still didn’t stop her from snarling at them from nearly capturing her trainer. “Good job, Helen.”Eric praised, Helen just nodded while tending to her charge inside her coils.”Let me speak with them.”Helen nodded and eased her coils, still not enough form them to break out though. Eric tried to approach them, while holding one arm out.”Hey, can we speak with you?” That just came out as a jumble of words to the family. “Can you understand me?”Of course, they didn’t understand. Instead they just gotten more scared as they appearant hydra floated closer to them.”Hey, I’m not going to hurt you!” They were trying to lean back as far as possible now when the hydra approachd them while speaking, Hydreigon, and Hydreigon repeatedly. To them, it appears the hydra were going to feed on them. Sally and Helen sweat dropped at their trainers obliviousness. Possibly forgetting that he’s not exactly human at the time.”Eric, did you forget?”The Hydreigon lowered his arm and stared at Sally in bewilderment.”You’re not exactly human right now?” It took Eric brains a few second to process that, he immediately blushed and grinned nerveously.”Helen, can you?”He replied without looking at the Serperior. In fact, she already did. Now, can we speak? Helen wrote on the ground with her vines. Surprising the family. The family were still rather reluctant to trust these beast that Inkie had described. Though they were expecting two more from the number Inkie told them all. Obviously, they were unprepared for the beast abilities to actually fly. And certainly not the knowledge that they were able to understand Equestrian speech at all. “Uhhh...yes?”Igneous said uncertainly. Afraid of what they were going to do if he refused. The Serperior wiped the ground and wrote something new. Good, we want explanation. Helen added at the bottom. Please bear with us. Cloudy Quartz were beginning to get even nerveous. She certainly didn’t expect the Serperior to actually write something in a form of apology. Or that it is intelligent for the matter. Let us move inside. Helen added another last part. Shall we? The family nodded. Afraid of actually refusing. What other choice do they have anyway? They were at the beast’ mercy. Helen gently uncoiled them. The family glanced uncertainly at the creatures, that is until Helen’s head motioned the family toward the house. They lead the way uncertainly. Meanwhile, Sally grinned in appreciation, at the same time giving Helen a distanced high-five at her successful penmanship negotiation. Helen responding the high-five with one her vines. “Good job, you two.”Eric said, praising his two pokémon.”Let’s get some explanation.”