//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Helping Hoof // Story: Double Rainbow // by TLP //------------------------------// A couple of minutes earlier, down the same coast... A seashell was kicked to the side by a cyan hoof, launching it back into the water as Rainbow Dash grunted. Walking alongside here were five other mares, one of which was exploring the coastline and the seashells with curiosity and enthusiasm. "Can you tell me why exactly we're out here again?.." Rainbow asked with slight irritation in her voice. "Fluttershy and I decided it would be a good idea if we all came along to help her out by going to the beach and see if we could pick up some trash and help out the local wildlife." Twilight responded as she used her magic to pick up a leftover Hay Burger wrapper stuck in a pile of seaweed. "Yeah, Dashie! Besides, you seemed happy when we said we were going to the beach!" Pinkie said, jumping and avoiding a pile of broken seashells. "Well, yeah! I mean, don't get me wrong, I like that we're helping out the local wildlife and all, but I thought we were gonna take a vacation on the beach. Not.. Well, this!" Rainbow said, disappointment creeping into her voice. "I don't mean to be rude here, but I have to agree with Rainbow Dash.." Rarity said. "I did get all dressed for such the occasion." "I know girls, I know.. But next time we come to the beach, it'll be a vacation." Twilight reassured. "I promise." Rarity nodded with a small smile while Rainbow just sighed and pouted slightly. "Okay, fine.." She then looked to the side and saw a random trash bag stuck on a tree branch. She then just picked the bag off and handed it to Twilight, who smiled at her and took it. After a couple minutes of picking up trash and helping out animals who were in need, they finally had their saddle bags filled with trash, and have cleared the most polluted area of the beach. As Twilight was about to hand everypony water bottles, Pinkie gasped and spoke up. "What in the seven layers of chocolate cake are those?!" She asked loudly, pointing a hoof a couple of feet in front of her. "What're ya' talking about, sugarcu-" Applejack then cut her sentence short as she looked towards Pinkie's direction. "What in tarnation.. Are ya'll seeing what ah'm seeing?" "If what you're seeing is two extremely skinny minotaurs standing on their hind legs wearing black outfits, then yep." Rainbow deadpanned as her eyes widened at what she was seeing. The six mares kept watching, until they noticed that one of the odd minotaur-like creatures was staring right at them. With a gasp of fright, the six mares ran into the brush, hiding in the vegetation as they kept looking at the two creatures with slight awe and worry. "What if those things notice us?.." Applejack asked to nopony in particular. "Then we'll try to reason with them. If they can understand us, that is.." Twilight whispered back. "What makes you thin-" Before Rainbow could finish her sentence, she was cut off when one of the creatures spoke with a hoarse and raspy voice. "Branden?.. Branden!" The mares silently gasped once more, now knowing that they could speak Equestrian to an extent, but before they could say anything related to the topic, they heard a thump. When they turned, they saw that one of the creatures had fallen onto the ground. Then, the one standing went on its knees and let out what seemed to be a small spurt of vomit before it collapsed besides the other similar-looking creature. "Oh my!" Fluttershy said out loud as she jumped out of the brush, only to be held back by Rainbow Dash biting on her tail. Spitting out her tail, she looked right into Fluttershy's eyes. "What the hay do you think you're doing, Flutters?! We can't just go out there and rush those two.. things!" She scowled. "Didn't you see their condition though, Rainbow? The least we could do is help them!" Twilight said. "Besides, they looked like they passed out anyways. They wouldn't hurt us at all!" "How would you know that?" Rainbow retorted. "Because they're unconscious!" Rainbow just sighed agitatedly. "Fine. But if those two things make a move on us, I'm gonna whoop their flanks back to sleep!" The other mares just nodded in agreement as they rushed out of the brush and towards the two creatures laying on the sand. As they got closer, they noticed that their bodies and their faces resembled that of a monkey or an ape, like an odd mix of the two mix with other creatures. As for Fluttershy, she had seen and tended to many creatures before, but these two were something new entirely. The closest thing that even came close to resembling the two creatures was also an ape or monkey. And, if they truly did hear correctly, they could speak. This definitely caught Fluttershy's curiosity, but she knew that now was not the time for that. As she and Rainbow moved and laid the other creature's head down onto the sand, they noticed that they were both wearing something that resembled a wet suit from a scuba gear set. "Were.. were this things swimming or something?" Rainbow asked, poking one of them with her hoof. "I don't know, but they may have been." Twilight said as she used her magic to try and take off the top part of what seemed to be a wet suit from one of the creatures. As she did, the mares gasped once more. The one who they straightened out onto the sand had a major bruise at the side of its head, and blood was now slowly seeping from what seemed to be its nose. "Do any of you girls have something that we can use to cover the wounds on this poor creature?" Fluttershy asked the five mares. They all nodded except for Rarity, who was now looking at her lavender scarf. "Oh.. Well, I suppose the creature needs this more than I probably ever will.." Rarity said as she took the scarf off her and used her magic to give it to Fluttershy, who quickly, but cautiously wrapped it around the creature's skull and put the end at the nose to slow down the bleeding. "What about the other one?" Applejack asked. "It doesn't look like it has any injuries on him, from what I can tell.." Twilight said as she and Fluttershy inspected the other creature. "If anything, it might've passed out due to exhaustion?" "Then we need to get these two to my cottage! I have more medical supplies that I can treat them with. Plus, we'll be closer to Ponyville General." Fluttershy suggested. The others nodded as Applejack carried the least injured creature, while Rainbow Dash carried the more heavily injured creature, while Twilight and Rarity stabalized each one with their magic. "If you say so Flutters. It's not bad that we're helping these things out, but they could be aliens for all I know!" Rainbow said as she and the others trotted at a faster-than-normal pace back to the Everfree Forest. "Ah can't believe ah'm saying this, but it could be true!" Applejack said. "It ain't like anything ah've ever seen. How about you, Twi'?" Twilight just shook her head slightly. "I can't say I know what these things are. I might have something in the myths and legends section at the library, but I don't remember reading up anything even coming close to fully-resembling these creatures.." "Either way, I think I might have to send a letter to Princess Celestia about this. She might know something about these two.." "Or maybe these two guys crashed in an airplane out in the sea and had to swim all the way over here, only to find out they're not in Florida anymore?" Pinkie suggested. The others actually stopped and looked at Pinkie. They all know they should be used to this by now, but if Twilight's twitchy eye says anything, it's that they truly haven't. Not one bit. "What?" Pinkie turned her head to the side. "It's a possibility!" "Sure it is, Pinks." Rainbow said. "Let's just get a move on before I get a head injury of my ow- Woah!" Rainbow almost then suddenly tripped over a medium-sized object. When she looked down, she saw a medium-size wooden box below her. "Oooh~!" Pinkie said as she hopped over to the box. "I wonder what's in this!" "Pinkie, we don't have time for this!" Twilight said as they continued on at a slightly slower pace due to Pinkie. "Aww... But there could be some loot in here!" Pinkie whined, putting a hoof on top of the box. "PINKIE!" They all shouted at once. Pinkie then pouted. "Aww, fine!" She then ducked under the wooden box, now carrying it on her back. "But I'm taking it with me! I need to show you all how to play Far Cry.." She muttered. Far Cr- You know what? I'll ask later." Twilight said, shaking her head. "I'll go back to the library, while the rest of you girls stay with Fluttershy until these two wake up. I'll be back by the time they do. That sound like a good plan?" The others quickly nodded. "Alright then. Let's go!" The six mares then quickly sped up the pace as they followed a trail that lead back to the Everfree Forest, which would eventually lead back towards the outskirts of Ponyville and Fluttershy's Cottage.