//------------------------------// // Meeting // Story: New life in Ponyville // by blackthedummy467 //------------------------------// In Equestria, ponies were main genre that dwelt in all over lands. They built society, homes as many other cultures were born by their own hoof, creating a world with harmony and perfection. However they weren’t the one controlling everything in their power, a lot of places known as cave, underground territory, ancient ruin were domicile of creatures such as dragon, chimera, griffon, windigo or giant worm. They lived in peace and because of their unique behavior, ponies usually didn’t bother or come near them unless they were willing to accept. Despite all above things, staying away from them was an absolute choice. Dragon was a strong, mature species that most ponies considered them as brutal creatures in the world. Not only they were arrogant and fierce all over time, but they were also guardians of treasure which they could sacrifice themselves to protect it at any cost. Of course, a few dragons never had tendency to cause problems and finding at least one was nearly impossible without clues. -o-o-o- Deep in Everfree forest, a place where atmosphere and phenomena were operated by its own power, there had a ruin covered by tall bushes. It was surrounded by thick fog, blocking any view outside apparently. Its size wasn’t really big, even a chimera or young dragon could fit in, and if somepony could judge the exterior of it they would say it was nothing than a huge garbage can. Once looked inside it was completely different, as it was illuminated by an uncanny light and some small trees as decoration. A tomb put in the center was etched by odd words, a garland wrapped round it as memento, a watery pool lay behind the tomb and two dragon statues were at two sides of it. A dragon, who slowly opened a door from left wall of the ruin, stepping towards his tomb. He had light red skin, blue spikes like ocean, blue eyes and a spike at the top end of his tail. He looked like a baby dragon though, he still cleaned and took care of the ruin respectably. Whenever he came near that tomb, tears always filled in his eyes as he ran a claw across it, recollecting something in his mind. “Mom, I came. I’m Red, remember?” The dragon said, putting his claw back. “I’m here to tell you that I succeeded in learning everything you had taught me. For many years I have trained alone in this old place, I didn’t know what have become of the world outside, nor did I feel how to adapt myself to new environment. Now it’s my time, my chance to study them.” Red stood there, looking around. He tried to remember the time he and his dragon mother had enjoyed their life, about beautiful plain where they had ever visited. He didn’t want to think more, he should have continued on his future life. “I’m going to see how wonderful of the world is. Maybe if I can, or have a little chance, I will find a fellow of mine. I promise you, mom,” Red mumbled, holding back his tears. A bag containing some useful stuffs was the only thing that left with Red after he had decided to take a tour to new places. He looked at the tomb once more time, cleaning dust which sticked on it and went outside. He was nervous, especially when he was about to experience. Stepping out of the ruin, he suddenly caught a strange look on whatever surrounding him. Bushes had grown taller, fog was thicker, sound formed by creatures and it was too hard to anticipate without going ahead. He was intimidated at first, but standing would make his state worse. Cold air caused Red to sneeze, no wonder why the world was pretty dangerous. A sparrow appeared from nowhere, it flew above Red and landed on a branch of a tree nearby, chirping. He didn’t understand why a cute animal like it was here, in such a perilous place. It shouldn’t belong in here by any means. Red approached it, somehow kept his safe distance with it. “Hey, little fella. What are you doing on up there?” Red asked calmly, trying to have a talk with that sparrow. Red knew it never got each word of him, it turned its head to him, still chirping. At the moment he realized a very reasonable idea as he raised his claw to it in a friendly manner, prompting it to come closer to him. Red might not be the smartest dragon, but he often found how to resolve situation very well. “It’s ok, I don’t do anything harm. Please.” Red gestured to it. The sparrow waited a couple of minutes, probably testing Red’s patience. This was a first time he had ever seen a bird, just because it was small didn’t mean it had no emotion. Seeing that Red was totally innocent, it reluctantly left the branch and landed on his claw, making him smile a bit. “Okay, you are safe, my little friend. If you get lost in there and need help, I will bring you back to your home.” Red looked at it with truthful eyes. The Everfree forest was getting more and more complicated, vicious creatures had already felt his appearance and they could track him down in a matter of second. Those things weren’t compared to a group of Timberwolves as they had excellent sense of smell and their favorite food was baby dragons, chasing their victims like no tomorrow. Red knew some creatures, when he encountered one of them his best method was to run or hide, enough time for them to get bored and eventually give up. He also got a notebook, writing every detail about their tactic so he wouldn’t waste time to stand over them again. “Oh, wait a second, I forget my diary and notebook. I will come back, just don’t fly far from my ruin.” Red quickly dashed into the door, picking them up then returned to the sparrow. “I won’t survive if I journey without them, thank goodness!” The litte sparrow chippered, turning its head to a stalled road in front of Red. Looked like it was guiding him to go. Red nodded in agreement and started to leave. “I wonder what is waiting for me. Maybe destiny isn’t as bad as I thought.” Red restocked his bag, looking over the ruin. “Mom, is this what you want me to do?” The ruin itself was a temporary home. But to Red, it was still a beautiful place. “Yes, I gotta go now. Mom, you are forever in my heart!” With his last words, Red left with his little fellow and together they went to where fortune called them. Though he must start his own life, the memory of his beloved mother didn’t fade away, telling him what was wrong or right. Of course she was invisible to any other genres except Red, a vivid image that had followed him in eternal. Little did he know, his quest would change him profoundly. -o-o-o- Walking along dirty road, the view of his old home gradually disappeared and soon it was going to fade in mist. Regardless of this, Red couldn’t turn around, he promised to find a better home and he kept it as hard as steel. His company had rested on his head, sometimes it chirped joyfully as a sign for him to tramp, and he replied by giving food to it. Red now understood how friends helped him depended on how he treated them back. “Well, it seems we made this way so far. I can’t believe my body was exhausted so much.” Red smiled weakly. The sparrow heard his complaint, it furiously pecked at his forehead. Red felt a pain and he covered his head to prevent more pecks from it. “Ow, don’t do it! It was hurt!” cried Red. Red’s partner didn’t please that answer, it repeatedly attacked him. Red finally gave up as he reached out to it, holding it between his palms. “Ok, I won’t whine. No matter what happens, I won’t let myself deceive my hopes,” Red replied in a soft tone, calming his little friend. The sparrow left his claws and flew near him, chirping happily. Red signed with relief, he had no idea that getting used of speech of animals was absolutely hard. They continued to go through the dark forest, passing bushes on their road, hiding away from eyes of fierce creature. The air temperature was no longer extremely cold, the fog became thinner and there was a thing they could expect of. A light at the end of the stalled road opened before them. More steps were heard clearly, the sound of foot echoed throughout Everfree forest, Red wondered who was behind him as he turned to discern. Not a single one, excluding his sparrow who waited him impatiently. He gave it an apologetic gesture then proceeded back his quest. The light ahead of them shined bright, bringing its warm to them like a miracle, but they hadn’t touched it yet. Red began to grin and so did his little bird. Only a few steps and they could get out of this creepy forest, Red gasped for air while the sparrow was trying to say something. Red looked up at it, he knew they were going to part away and they’d find their own paths. “I guess we had our fun time, right?” Red admitted, raising his hand to wave at his bird. “I’m sure we may meet again in somewhere. Without you, I’m forever lost and nerver know how the world looks like. Thank you, little sparrow.” A smile was good enough to make the sparrow chipper in the last time as it towarded the light and left Red. He felt satisfied after helping an animal, although he needed a little effort to work out. No more waiting, Red breathed in and breathed out, filling his lungs with fresh air and decided to run to that hopeful light. Before he made an act he had heard a cry coming behind him precisely. “Ow!” A voice of unfamiliar one cried out. Red couldn’t ignore whoever being hurt or injured, he ran back to where the voice was from. Lots of bag containing medicine was scattered over ground and they were a bit mess. Red tried to gather them then classified each of them according to color on each of bag, putting them together. He quickly took a look at the figure who got up slowly, recovering his sensation. “Here you go. Are you okay?” Red asked anxiously. The figure regained after that, looking back at Red. Upon their contact, the figure turned out to be another dragon like Red. He had purple skin, green spikes, emerald-like eyes and also had spike at top end of his tail. Red held his claw, lifting him up effortlessly. “Thank, those bags are important. If I drop or break one of –” The purple dragon was shocked by all of a sudden. “Y-You are a dragon?” A shout of him caused Red to flinch, nevertheless he still forced a smile. “Well, yes. I’m a dragon,” Red assumed softly. “I’m on my quest to find a place and discover new things I haven’t seen in my life. Hey, you’re a dragon too, it’s good to know that.” The purple dragon gave Red a puzzled expression, he took all bags from Red, dusting himself off. “So you’re trying to find a suitable home for you?” He queried while circling round Red. “That’s right.” “I saw many dragons, they were adult and muscular but I haven’t met a baby dragon like you before. I must say that you look like me a lot.” “Actually, I’m not young.” “What do you mean?” “N-Nothing.” Red turned away, picking up his bag. “Since I didn’t know how to navigate this big forest, can you help me?” Seeing Red wasn’t a bad dragon plus he was too kind to help stranger in such contingency, the purple dragon stared at him two more minutes, making sure he didn’t cause any suspicion. Red also stared back at him, showing his truth. “Hm, I reckon that I can trust you. Ok, follow me,” He answered with a gentle smile, restocking medicine bags and held them tightly. “Thank you, I appreciate your kindness,” Red happily replied, earning a blush from the baby dragon. When Red tended to walk, he didn’t realize a small rock below his feet. He accidentally tripped over it and his face hit on the dirty road… THUD! His body suffered from this fall, a pain he must accept by clumsiness. A laughter formed and it came from a certain dragon who was watching him in excitement. He got close to Red, lending him a hand so he could get back on his feet. “Are you alright?” The baby dragon laughed, pointing at mud that covered Red’s mouth. “Yes, a little… hurt, but I’m definitely fine,” Red reassured, brushing off the mud. “Really? You have hit ground hard, you don’t need to lie to me.” “I-It’s ok, small wound doesn’t affect me all. Don’t you believe me?” “Of course not.” “Well, shall we go?” Both of them towarded the light. Red felt the sun was warming every part of him, his thought to establish goals wasn’t wrong as a calm, beautiful voice slipped into him, saying that he should continue and never regretted the choice he had made. The world seemed open bit by bit, what was waiting for him in there? He didn’t have much plans about it so he let it happen naturally, following his best ideal and keeping sanity as high as he could. The Everfree forest was no longer dark and sinister, Red left it behind as he saw a place filling with blue sky, aromatic plain, houses, living trees and some creatures trotting alongside their road. Red looked up at a sign with yellow color, saying ‘Welcome to Ponyville’. Red made no sound during this, but the purple dragon pushed his back, forcing him to walk. “Here we are. Welcome to Ponyville!” -o-o-o-