//------------------------------// // Acceptance // Story: The Encounter // by Winter_Solstice //------------------------------// I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the sensation of flying through the air while being carried by Celestia, for my reservations about magic were long since gone. I’d only seen what I now knew to be casual telekinesis from unicorns like Rarity, but this…this was many times greater. Celestia seemed to have no trouble carrying me as I held the dog, while she also carried all of the Apple family, Pinkie and the zebra. Rainbow Dash and the gryphon kept pace as we sped off over the trees, and soon landed in front of the hospital. There were many ponies milling about and going in and out of the building. Something bad had happened here. I saw the bodies of more of those creatures, some near the edge of the trees, and one right by the building. Princess Luna was there speaking to those same two bat creatures I’d “met” over a week ago. One gave me a piercing look, which I returned in full measure. No, bud…I still don’t like you either. Celestia rushed Mac into the building, while the rest of us followed. It was a mess. There was blood on the floor and I could see what had to be pony bodies off in one corner with blankets pulled over their faces. I looked, but I couldn’t tell if one of them was Rarity. I hoped not. I was startled out of my reverie by someone tugging on my pants leg. I looked down to see Applejack’s sister there. I could tell she was speaking to me about the dog, so I knelt down again so she could see her. She then turned and addressed someone over her shoulder, and I saw a pony with a nurse’s cap come over. The nurse pony gave me a strange look at first, but then focused on her furry patient. I noticed when some of these ponies get agitated, their speech is harder to follow. That, and some had different accents than others, like Applejack and her little sister. It seemed strange to me their way of speaking should be so radically different from the other ponies I’d met, because they’d presumably all been raised in the same town. Speaking of whom, she was sitting off in a corner with her mother or grandmother, both of them staring at the door through which I assumed the staff had taken her brother. Applejack looked up at us, said something to her mother, and then came over. I’d laid the dog on the floor as the nurse examined her and Applejack’s sister hovered nearby. Applejack came up and hugged her as they both watched the nurse go through her ministrations. I stepped back, feeling very much in the way, when Applejack finally noticed me and said, “Thanks for helping.” I shrugged and nodded. I could see she was in turmoil, not only over her brother but this animal as well, and despite her words I still felt in the way and pretty useless. I looked around. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were gathered next to Twilight, who was comforting Spike. He in turn was staring at the same door Applejack had been, so that’s also probably where they'd taken Rarity. The lion-eagle creature was in discussion with Celestia, Luna and the zebra. I didn't see that bunny, and I wondered where he was. Everyone else was involved in some way with each other, and I was beginning to feel like an uninvited guest. Which I supposed I was. The truth is I simply don’t belong here. Looking upon the agitated faces of the other ponies I didn’t know, and seeing more than a few hostile expressions aimed at me, I decided it would probably be best to keep to myself as much as possible. But still, I had to see Fluttershy. I slowly approached the front desk. The pony nurse working there was doing several things at once, and at first didn’t notice me looming over her. So I cleared my throat. Startled, she looked up and cast an unfriendly eye at me. “Yes? Can I help you?” “Flutter-sy. I w-ant see Flutter-sy. Plees.” She scowled. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.” I looked around for help. All the ponies I knew were engaged with each other. I could see the pain on each of their faces, so the last thing I wanted to do was intrude. With that thought in mind, I quietly turned away and slipped back outside. I gave a curt nod to the bat ponies again, who both stared at me without speaking, and then I walked some distance away. I tried smiling and waving to some of the crowd of ponies waiting outside the hospital, but for the most part, they didn't return my gestures and looked at me with suspicion. I sighed and kept walking. I knew not to go too far, as I hadn’t yet been given permission to roam, so I found a fairly large rock strutting out of the ground away from the crowd and perched myself on it. The afternoon sun shone warmly down upon me, and that same chill in the air was present. It all looked idyllic, except of course for the bodies of those monsters I could see from my vantage point. I wondered how many ponies they’d attacked before they’d been brought down. This sent a pang through me, as I couldn’t imagine anything wanting to hurt these ponies. But I remembered my time in the Pit, and I remembered with disgust those two aliens. Then like a flash another memory surfaced: that odd room with the large cylinders. I’d told myself I would examine that room if I had the chance. I turned and stared off into the woods. I knew the general direction from which we’d come, so I was certain I could find that ship again, especially considering how big it is. Then before I could further entertain the foolish thought of leaving on my own, Celestia, Luna, the lion creature, Pinkie and Rainbow came out of the hospital. Celestia and Luna quickly took flight, followed by the lion-eagle creature. Pinkie looked around until she spotted me, then she spoke briefly to Rainbow and the two of them came over. “Are you alright, Char-Elles?” asked Pinkie. She indicated my chest as she spoke. I looked down at my tattered clothing and shrugged. “I fine, Peen-Kee. Zee-brah’s…stuff…help much. Not h-urt anymore.” Rainbow watched the two of us, and I was somewhat surprised to see concern on her face. I knew my lack of understanding Equestrian was a source of frustration for her, but despite that she’d been warmer to me since she’d made up to me in the hospital. “Twilight wants you to wait in the castle until this is all over, Char-Elles,” said Rainbow. I slowly broke down her sentence, then it became clear to me: they wanted me somewhere safe and out of the way. I nodded. That strange room in the aliens’ ship would have to wait. But then a new thought occurred to me: maybe with Pinkie and Rainbow’s help I could get in to see Fluttershy? I pointed back to the hospital. “Can I see Flutter-sy…first?” Pinkie and Rainbow exchanged looks. “Of course, Char-Elles,” said Pinkie after a moment. “Let’s make that happen.” As we were about to enter the hospital, I heard a very faint scream. All the ponies outside pricked up their ears and startled. It was plain they heard the sound better than I did. “What was that?!” said Pinkie. “It sounded like it was coming from town,” said Rainbow. I saw the two bat ponies speak urgently to each other, and then one came forward and spoke to Rainbow and Pinkie. The three then turned and sped off in the direction of the scream, with Rainbow quickly outdistancing them all. I didn’t know how much help I could be, but I followed as fast as I could. I pushed myself, and was able to keep Pinkie in sight as we bolted through town. I heard gasps from the few ponies that were outside as I ran past, knowing the sight of me probably didn’t help their anxiety. But it couldn’t be helped. These ponies had helped me in every turn. I wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to do whatever I could to help them. I noticed the section we were in was a bit more rundown than I expected, and I had time to be a bit disappointed to learn poverty was also part of this world when I came around the corner to see a crowd of ponies all clustered around a blonde Pegasus mare that was frantically crying out. The other ponies were trying to calm her down when a few of them saw me and yelled. Pinkie and Rainbow looked back and saw me, and I saw shock on their faces as they realized I’d followed. Then they both spoke to the crowd, I assumed to reassure them about me. The bat pony approached and spoke angrily to me, pointing back the way we’d come, but I shook my head. “I he-lp!” Rainbow turned and spoke to him. He backed off, but still kept an unfriendly eye on me. As I watched, all the ponies but Pinkie then began to fan out, looking as if they were searching. Pinkie walked up to me with a worried look on her face. “Char-Elles, I don’t know how much you understand, but a filly is lost. We need to find her.” I caught the words “filly” and “lost.” That was all I needed to know. “I he-lp, Peen-Kee!” Just then there was another scream, and the sounds of fighting. Pinkie and I exchanged looks, then we both turned and sprinted in the direction of the commotion. _____________________________________________________________________________________ An hour earlier Dinky paced her room, sulking. She didn’t know why her mommy was so upset, but she didn’t have to go and yell at her! As she continued to pace for a few minutes, there was a knock at her door. She scowled as her mom invited her back downstairs to make cookies. Cookies?! She wasn’t a baby! Cookies couldn’t make up for anything! She looked around, then pushed her toybox up against the door. “Go away!” Her mother apologized for yelling, but Dinky still wasn’t having it. “Go away!” She heard her mother sigh and retreat from the door. Dinky ran over to her bed and plopped facedown on it, still fuming. After a few more minutes, she rolled over on her back and stared out the window a bit longer. Then she sat up. If Mommy wouldn’t tell her what was going on, then she’d just have to find out for herself! Dinky got up and trotted to her window. Her Mom had locked it, but she had enough magic to turn the lock and open it. She hiked her little self up to the windowsill, then scrabbled with her back legs until she was able to pull herself up. She gulped as she looked down and out to the street, then slowly turned and lowered herself down onto the bricks that made up her home. They were stuck out at uneven angles and made for a natural ladder if she took her time. It took some doing, but she finally gave a sigh of relief as she felt her back hooves make contact with the street. She looked back up at her window, and felt a pang. She knew her mother would be furious with her, but there was no turning back now. She turned and trotted off. _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Prrl was getting more and more frustrated as time went on. It could hear and smell plenty of its preferred prey about, but none presented themselves as easy targets. It faded into the shadows of an alleyway, watched, listened and smelled. All were so tantalizingly close! Just as it was about to move on to another section, it froze. It could hear the footsteps of something coming by the alleyway, and from the light sound it was one of their young, alone. Perfect! But it wouldn’t do to have the creature cry out, not with so many others near, so it had to be subtle. As the small creature began to pass the alley, the Prrl made a musical sound. The creature stopped and looked into the alley. “Hello?” The Prrl changed its color to bright pink, then rolled over on its back and began to purr while comically kicking its legs into the air. The creature giggled. “You’re funny.” The Prrl rolled over onto its stomach and stuck out its bottom lip. The creature took a step forward into the alley. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings! Ponies make fun of my Mom, too.” Just then the Prrl’s stomach gurgled. The creature’s face lit up with concern. “Are you hungry? I think my Mom is making cookies. I’ll go get you some!” The Prrl frantically shook its head as its prey started to turn away and run off. The creature stopped. “What’s the matter? You don’t want cookies?! Everypony loves cookies!” The Prrl shook its head again and beckoned it forward. Just then there was a scream, and the creature turned towards the sound. “That was my Mom! I’m sorry, but I have to go.” The Prrl hissed and shook its head again, then grabbed its own neck, choked and then fell over and lay on its side. The creature gasped, and then ran all the way into the alley. “What’s the matter?! Are you hu-” the Prrl flipped over onto its feet and grabbed the prey, using one paw to cover its mouth. As it struggled, the Prrl changed its own color to black, looked around and tried to listen. The adults were all starting to come out of their homes at that one creature’s scream. It slunk deeper into the alley, keeping hold of its struggling meal. It thought about starting in on it right there, but then a shadow passed overhead as a winged creature flew by. That was too close! It would have to find someplace less conspicuous than its present location. If it killed the prey and carried it off, the Prrl wouldn’t have to worry about it giving away their position, but it liked its meals fresh. Killing it and then finding a better spot could take some time, and by then the meat could be spoiled. No, it didn’t go through all this hunt for spoiled meat! A few more creatures ran past the alley as its prey kept struggling and trying to scream. Then it bit down on the Prrl’s paw. The Prrl just smiled. Its leathery pads were so thick the prey’s tiny teeth were little more than an irritation. But then the prey did something unexpected. The protuberance on its forehead lit up, and light flashed from it straight into the Prrl’s face. It hissed and let go, clutching at its eyes. The prey then landed on its feet and let out a surprisingly loud scream as it bolted for safety. The Prrl snarled and leapt after it, catching it again in one bound. That was it, time to end this. Spoiled meat was better than no meat. Just then an adult creature stopped and saw what was going on. “Hey! Let her go!” The adult’s eyes widened with fear when it saw the Prrl and hesitated, but then came forward. “Help me!” cried Dinky. The Prrl snarled again, tightened its grip on its meal and then lunged for the adult. The adult reared up on its hind legs and struck out at its face with its front hooves, but the Prrl was too quick. It whipped past and raked the adult along its back as it sped away, still carrying its burden. The adult screamed as the claws made contact, but then gave chase, crying out for help as it did so. The Prrl doubled its efforts. If it could make it to the trees, it could lose that adult and enjoy its meal in peace. But then it looked up and saw two others in the way, with more appearing. It stopped and growled at them all, then placed one set of claws against its prey’s throat, and growled again. The Prrl kept its full attention on the adults and tried to edge away towards the forest. But it forgot about the trick the prey had pulled on it before. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Pinkie and I exchanged a look at the sound, then we both rushed to find it. After a few moments we turned a corner, and there was another of those disgusting beasts surrounded by a few ponies. Worse, it held a struggling filly in its grip, and I could see it was about to open her throat. I looked around for a rock, a heavy stick, anything! I found a good sized rock, but neither I nor the ponies seemed to want to take the chance and rush it, for fear of it killing the filly. That’s when the little scrapper made up our minds for all of us. “Let me go!” she cried as she lit up her horn and blinded the creature. It was enough for it to drop her, and that’s when I let loose with my rock. I caught it beside the head, and it hissed and turned to face me. One of the ponies rushed forward and grabbed the filly, while I and two others fell upon the beast. I didn’t look to see who they were, I just ran forward and grabbed it around the throat, then began smashing it with my fist. It hissed and snarled, lashed out with its claws and tried to bite me. I kept a firm grip on its throat and held those jaws away as the claws cut deep furrows into my arm, but I didn't dare loosen my grip. The ponies latched onto it and were biting and kicking. Suddenly, it whipped its tail and struck the ponies off. I barely had time to register that was one was Pinkie before it wrapped its snake-like body around me and began to constrict as we both fell to the street. I got it in a headlock and began to apply all of my enhanced strength. I could feel the veins popping out of my neck and arms as we both fought to finish the other off, but I grit my teeth, pushed past the pain and applied the power in my arms I didn’t know I had. After a few moments I felt the pressure ease off my chest, as my enemy’s eyes began to roll up. Even though it began to relax its grip on me, I was taking no chances. With a final roar, which I only afterwards realized came from me, I gave one more heave, then heard and felt its neck snap. It was done. I stood up and wobbled as I let it fall to the ground. Then I heard a sound I didn’t recognize. I looked up at the ponies around me, and only then did I realize it was…cheering.