Atom woke up, dazed, confused and uncomfortable. It had stormed loudly the night before. As he hops off his small leaf bed, he heads out of his broken down abode. It was an old shed he found in the Everfree Forest, he never found out who it belonged to, so he decided to use it as his own. Atom snatches his bag from a shelf, groggily opens the door and tries his luck at stepping across the thorny bushes without getting pricked. He gave up and levitated his small Draconequus body above the bushes and shrubbery to get on the main path. As Atom walked through the forest he saw a silhouette of a rampaging Manticore. He had seen this particular one before. He shrugged it off and got on his regular shortcut to Ponyville. Even though only a few ponies there treated him nicely. He never learned their names, all he knew was that the nicest one was a yellow pegasus with a light pink mane. But otherwise, he was miserable. Whenever he walked through Ponyville, everypony stared at him with an unsettling malevolence. Children were not allowed to say his name, and doors and shutters shut wherever he goes. As he was halfway through the shortcut, at the hill he always crossed, the Manticore he had nonchalantly dismissed was behind him, hissing with ill-will toward him. He knew it would strike, and he would have to fight back. Atom hated doing this. It's paw shot through the air clawing his cloak.
"Great," he grumbled,
"I'll have to get this fixed now." He deftly dodged another swipe, this time aiming for his head. Even though he was only a child, his senses and abilities were at their peak. He evaded blow after blow and eventually weared the Manticore out.
This is my opening! He thought. He whipped his snake tail at the raging animals ear, making it cry out in pain. The angry Manticore lashed out, both claws at once, lunging for Atom, Atom bucked his cloven hoof at the creatures chest, ending it's rampage.
"Next time, don't attack me at all." He said, trying in vain to fix his cloak with his Draconequus magic.
I hate doing this . . . He thought sadly, glancing at the limp and almost lifeless animal. As he made his way through the tangles of thorny bushes and tall, dark trees. He focused his sight on a peculiar apple tree. They were oddly gray and dark, and didn't look edible. He sensed a strong magic emanating from the tree. He floated himself to examine one of the fruits and extended a paw to reach it. It was stuck to the tree very well, and wouldn't budge. Atom tugged hard at the gray apple, but it wouldn't move.
What the . . . ? He wondered to himself. Then, suddenly, a magical shock came down the stem of the fruit and zapped his outstretched paw.
"Ouch!" he yelped. He immediately covered his mouth, as soon as he noticed the horrible stench behind him. He quickly turned his head and was confronted face to face by a Timberwolf. He knew how to deal with these kinds of animals. He had seen an orange earth pony do this to protect a purple and green baby dragon, similar in size to him. Atom reached for the nearest rock, and threw it hard at the largest of the four Timberwolves' throat. It's wooden frame clattered on the ground. The other three, obviously enraged, leaped at him with surprising agility. He looked in a hurry for another projectile, but he couldn't. He swiped at one of them with his talon, a solid impact. The branches and leaves making up the body fell on the ground. He bolted for the murky forests clearing, but the last two Timberwolves were after him. They lunged at him again and again, almost rythmically. This didn't allow him to attack, only to dodge each attack. One of his wooden assailants grew tired and went out of step in their combat choreography, so he took the risk and whipped his tail at both of their heads. Their keen yellow eyes faded out, and their compartments clustered on the dark terrain. Atom ran away, knowing that they would come back for him, once their body parts had been built back up.
"Uh oh . . ." He thought aloud,
"I better get out of here!" He dashed for the nearest clearing and didn't look back. He came across a familiar hut. He usually stayed away because he knew, if it belonged to a pony, they wouldn't like him around. However, Atom was starving today, and had to take a chance. He knocked on the door, hoping somepony would open it. A serious looking zebra came out.
"Well well, look who we have here," She said in a rythmic voice. Atom mused at her poetic way of speech.
"I haven't seen any Draconequus for an entire year." Atom was slightly afraid. He saw all the potions, herbs, and medicines were in the zebra's house.
"Well come on in, do not be afraid," She started again.
"This is delightful, it would be nice if you stayed." He tugged his cloak tighter on and walked in. He found a letter on a low hanging shelf that was sent to Zecora.
Zecora must be the zebra's name. Atom thought. He was proud of himself for his simple analyzing techniques. He watched the zebra stir the concoction in her cauldron. Zecora added a few herbs and a bit of a potion next to her. Atom wondered what Zecora was brewing.
"What are you making, Zecora?" He asked. The zebra looked surprised that the small creature of chaos had said her name.
"How did you know my name?" Zecora asked.
"Have I accumulated some kind of fame?"
"I read a letter that was to you." Atom answered.
"Well, as for what I am brewing," She began.
"It is for a pony, that I will be viewing." Atom wondered who this pony that someone this deep in the Everfree knew. He knew Ponyville was close to this town, so maybe it was a pony from there.
Maybe everypony would be nicer to me if I did some errands and jobs or something . . . Atom thought.
I think I'll deliver this potion Zecora brewed to the pony.
"Miss Zecora?" He started nervously. He had never thought of doing something kind before. He thought maybe it would change his image. He was always considered a menace in Ponyville.
"Can I deliver the brew to your friend?" The more he thought about ponies respecting him, the more eager he got. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.
"I would be grateful, but it's almost moon." He knew that the zebra was talking about night time. He had woken up later than usually today after all.
"But please, give it to a earth pony, named Applebloom." Atom was glad that he could do a job for somepony.
"Where is Applebloom?" He asked. This was vital information he had to know, obviously.
"My dear friend lives in Ponyville," Zecora began once more,
"And be careful, outside, it's quite a chill."
She probably means it's cold. I already have this black cloak. I think I'll be okay. He assured himself.
"Okay, I'll take it to Ponyville! Thanks, Zecora." said Atom, already out the door. He was sure he could accomplish this, and maybe make a new friend that understands him.
I'll go ask around Ponyville. He thought, hopefully. Zecora told him the path from her hut to Ponyville, and he gladly took the advice.
I can't believe I'm doing something for someone for once. Ponies would become nicer to me. Zecora is a zebra I gotta remember for now. He thought giddily. He crosses the river, with aid of Stache, his sea serpent buddy. Atom never learned Stache's real name, as he seems do dismiss the question in a dramatic theatrical fashion, but that's the kind of creature he was. He eventually came to a clearing, where he could start to see the farmland near Ponyville.
I'll look for Applebloom over there. He felt overjoyed at the fact that people would recognise him as a friend, and was in a hurry to turn over a new leaf.
This'll be a great day! He thought.
As Atom entered the farmland near Ponyville, he saw a bit of shrubbery and trees concealing a house-like structure. He was curious, and decided he would go observe the building. It was a colorful treehouse with a light red roof, with wooden stairs leading down to the grassy soil. He started towards the building and began to climb up the stairs. He heard three little fillies talking inside.
"Sweetie Bell, that'll never work!"
"Will too Scootaloo! You're just chicken! Right Applebloom?"
"Yeah, it's a good idea!"
Aha! That's Applebloom! Thought Atom. He knocked on the door. The door flew open energetically and Atom was greeted by three cheerful ponies. Immediately their faces changed to show fear.
"Eeeek! Discord!" the three fillies said in unison. Atom was confused. He was only delivering something.
"No, m-m-my names Atom, a-and I just wanted to deliv-"
"Aaaaaah! Help!" The fillies screamed again. Atom was on the verge of tears. He only wanted to deliver the potion from Zecora.
Why does everypony do this to me! Atom had just about had it. His sorrow turned to rage.
"I just wanted to deliver this!" He shouted in anger. The three fillies were startled, adding to their fear.
"Get your paws of them!" shouted a mare's dominant voice. It was the orange pony Atom had seen protect the small dragon.
Finally, an adult. Thought Atom, with a wave of relief.
"Applejack! Help us!" screeched the ponies.
So the mare's name was Applejack.
"N-no, you don't get it. I was only deli-"
"I ain't gonna hear a word from you! Get away from the farm!" Atom was startled. He dropped the parcel that the potion was in. There were tears in his eyes but he didn't show them that. Atom ran. He didn't want to see those ponies ever again. He dashed past the clearing, back into the shade provided by the Everfree Forest, and allowed himself a moment to breathe.
"Why does everypony act this way . . ." He cried to himself. He heard a rough growl. He turned around to face the Timberwolves that had ambushed him before.
"I don't have time for this!" He yelled, and ran past them, bashing them, and making their body clatter on the dark soil. Atom levitated on his way back to his shed. He got pricked by the thorns, but he didn't care. He went back to the river to greet Stache.
"How's it going tyke! You look a tad gloomy there kiddo." Atom didn't want to be rude to Stache. He was a friend after all.
"I don't want to talk about it, Stache. Can you please just let me pass?" Stache frowned with concern.
"Okay, but if ya wanna tell me about it, feel fre-" Atom was already across the river and was heading home. When he got to the shed, he picked up his diary. It was the only outlet for his anger and sorrow. Atom picked up the quill he stole from the sofa shop and began to write . . .
