To Love a Hybrid: How It Started

The rays of Celestia’s blessing sun shed their bright and warm light on the landscape as the celestial body rose from the horizon, signaling the beginning of a new day. Morning dew covered the few patches of grass in the quiet town of Rockville.

As its name implied, the ground in and around the town was, for the most part, rocky. Because they lacked the proper soil to grow anything, the citizens had to resolve to other methods to acquire food. Fortunately for them, when the founders of the small town arrived there, they were quick to discover that the ground was rich in minerals, so they mined and excavated it and traded it with nearby towns for food and other materials they’d need.

The town’s economy depended mostly on the rock farming industry. Most of the minerals, along with some gemstones, that circulated in Equestria came from this rocky area. Some farms were built for the sole purpose of extracting what could be found in the surface’s rock floor and a few mines were being exploited of their resources on the outskirts of town.

It was in this isolated and hardworking town that Thunderbolt woke up every morning, soon after dawn. Creaking his eyes open, he was quick to blink the weariness out of them, stretching his four legs and letting out a loud yawn as he did. But as he flipped to the side, forgetting he had spent the night on the couch, his face soon met the carpeted floor.

Ow… What the…? Then his dazed mind caught up with yesterday’s events. Oh, right. Bed’s occupied. Standing up on all four, he rubbed his face to soothe the stinging sensation the fall had left it with. He then proceeded to check on his guest and see how she was doing.

Opening the door to his room slightly, he found that the snakepony was still snoozing in the bed, her chest moving in sync with her relaxed breathing. Relieved that nothing had happened during the night, he left her there while he went to the kitchen downstairs to prepare a good breakfast, along with his daily dose of coffee.

Figuring that last night’s soup had only calmed her hunger for the night, the unicorn aimed for the big guns. Digging in his recipe repertoire, he decided to make a healthy omelet, using the remaining vegetables he had in his fridge. He’d had to restock later, but that was the last thing on his mind right now.

Chopping mushrooms, bell peppers and celery in pieces and putting them aside in a bowl for the time being, he fetched six eggs, milk and butter from the fridge, along with a large skillet from the cupboard next to it.

Setting the stove on medium heat. he melted one and a half tablespoon of butter in the skillet, adding the chopped vegetables afterwards and stirring on occasion. While they cooked, he beat the eggs with three tablespoons of milk, then shred three ounces of cheese in a bowl and set it aside.

Removing the vegetables from the stove after five minutes of cooking and putting them in another bowl, he melted another tablespoon and a half of butter in the skillet, coating the dish with it. When it started getting bubbly, he added the egg mixture and let it cook for about two minutes.

As he added the last of the ingredients on the soon-to-be-ready omelet, a delicious smell began to spread in the kitchen. Magically using a spatula to fold one edge over the vegetables, he let the dish cook until the cheese was melted to his liking, then turned off the stove and slid it into a plate, putting one third of it in another and leaving the other two for the probably hungry hybrid. Carrying the food and two forks he fetched from the top drawer next to the fridge in his telekinesis, he made his way back to his patient.

* * *

Inside the bedroom upstairs, all was quiet. The only sounds disturbing the silence were the chirping of a few birds outside and the soft breathing of the bed’s occupant. The tan-colored curtains in front of the window were closed, yet some of the sun’s warm rays still managed to get through, giving the room enough light for one to see their surroundings.

It was in this peaceful atmosphere that the snakepony slowly opened her eyes, revealing emerald irises under her eyelids. The first thing her mind registered was the warmth she felt under the blankets, and it made her want to stay there and never get out.

Then, merely a few seconds later, a light in her head clicked.

She abruptly cast out the blankets and adopted a sitting position, slowly glancing around, utterly confused. She didn’t know where she was, nor how did she end here, but she was starting to feel anxious and a little worried, if not scared. Her eyes quickly scanned the room, from the sky blue walls to every piece of furniture. One thing was certain: she wasn’t in her cave anymore, and whoever brought her here must be nearby.

That last thought only made her worry even more, to the point of nearly having a breakdown. Somepony had found her, and who knew what they’d do to her. Her mind began formulating many scenarios, each one worse that the previous, and she eventually ended as a miserable weeping ball on the bed.

Amid her crying, her ears caught on the sounds of approaching hoofsteps. At the same time, her nostrils smelled a delectable odor, which made her empty stomach growl furiously. Still, that didn’t ease her worries a bit, since thoughts of poisoned food suddenly added themselves to her already perturbed mind.

The worst thing was that she felt helpless. She was too weak to even fight back, her strength lost with days of starvation. Sighing desperately, she sat up with her head hung low, ready to accept whatever cruel fate that was coming her way. And as if on cue, there were solid knocks on the closed door, signaling her captor’s arrival.

* * *

As the unicorn stallion neared his destination, his ears perked up at the sobs coming from inside the room. Relieved that his patient had at last awoken but worried that she did in such a state, he accelerated his steps to the door, keeping the plates balanced in his magic.

Knocking a few times to let her know of his presence, he opened the door and only made one step inside before stopping himself as his eyes settled on the hybrid.

She looked crestfallen. She didn’t even look up when Thunderbolt entered. Even from this angle, the unicorn could see the tear streaks on her cheeks. Her tail took much of the space around the bed, and she was currently stroking the tip of it anxiously with her hooves, and he might have a few ideas why.

Not wanting to leave her in such a state, he attempted to engage a conversation, but to his astonishment, she broke the ice before he could open his mouth.

“Poissoned food it iss, huh? Never thought it’d be the kind of end I’d get…” she said with a sad, yet melodic voice.

“W-what…?” Thunderbolt muttered. Luckily, he regained his focus on the food floating next to him. Of all the things that could have happened, this was something he never anticipated. The fact that the creature before him could speak Equestrian sure would ease communication. The fact that she thought he was going to be her executioner and that she was willing to accept this as her fate made him worry more about her wellbeing. He didn’t know what she’d been through, only having a mere idea, but seeing her like this, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to find out.

Figuring that nothing would be accomplished by standing idly in the doorway, he deposited the food and utensils on the reading desk in the corner of the room. He then walked over to the bed and sat down in front of it, staring at the hybrid, who lifted her own confused gaze to meet his.

They remained like that for a while, Thunderbolt scanning his target for any signs of treachery from her part. Instead, the longer the unicorn stared into her emerald eyes, the more it became apparent that what stood before him was a defeated mare that had long given up hope in her life. It was a sight he had only witnessed twice among his numerous patrols, and both times there was nothing he nor his comrades could have done. This time, he wouldn’t fail a third time.

“Nopony’s dying tonight or anytime soon, miss,” Thunder said, not bearing to see her miserable form any longer. “The reason you are here is because I found you in very bad shape on my patrolling mission yesterday.”

    hat seemed to surprise her slightly, but that only lasted a little moment, as she flattened her ears against her skull.

“Patrolling, huh? Ssso you’re sssome sssort of guard or whatever it iss you poniess call it.” Thunder nodded. “Then what do you want from me? I have nothing, ssso why are you keeping me alive, then?”

“Why would you want to die?” the stallion asked, seemingly catching the mare off-guard, but only for a small moment.

“At leassst I wouldn’t need to run away anymore if I wass dead. It iss only becausse of my sssurvival inssstinct that I’m ssstill alive, I guessss, but it’d be ssso much eassier if I didn’t even exissst,” she answered.

“Because of the fact that you are a snakepony?”

“A lamia,” she corrected, but nodded nonetheless.

“Never heard of those,” the unicorn commented.

“That doessn’t sssurprisse me. Lamias aren’t even from around here to begin with. Worssse, I don’t even know how I ended here, only that my ssspeciess iss from a far away place.

“As I wass sssaying, we’re not a normal sssight around here, ssso it’ss no wonder poniess freak out. Who wouldn’t at the sssight of thiss?” she said, waving the tip of her snake tail for emphasis.

“I see.” That helped clear things in Thunder’s mind. As sad as it was, he could totally picture the lamia fleeing for her life as she was being chased by ponies who came across her, taking her for a wild predator.

“I won’t claim to know what you’ve been through,” the stallion began, “but I can understand. I’ve been to many places on my assignments, sometimes places I wish I never had to deal with, and I know that there can be a lot of ponies who aren’t too keen with what’s too different from them, as shameful as it can be.

“But,” he continued with a stern tone, getting the mare’s attention, “I am a Royal Guard. I’ve been taught by my parents to not judge others by first appearances, and I’ve sworn an oath to always help those in need of assistance.”

“Now,” he picked the hybrid’s plate, casting a basic heat spell on it, since it had gotten a bit cold during their little conversation, and a fork and held them out to her, “if you want your stomach to stop protesting, I suggest you eat. I’d really like to avoid feeding an unconscious pony again.”

As if on cue, the hybrid’s belly growled violently. Unable to hold on any longer, she snatched the plate and fork instinctively from his magic and began devouring her meal. For each bite she took, she felt she was in heaven, and she regaled in the blissful feeling the mixture of fresh vegetables, cheese and eggs brought her. All the while, the unicorn watched as he munched his own portion at a much slower pace, glad that she fared better than last night.

Only when the lamia had eaten half of her omelet did she pause to ask the question that formed in her mind after the stallion’s last statement.

“What do you mean by feeding an unconsciousss pony again?”

“You were starving to death when I found you,” Thunderbolt said after swallowing his bite from his own omelet. “Not only that, you were dehydrated and cold. It’s a miracle we managed to bring you here and put some nutriment in your system, otherwise we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

“We?” she repeated, a hint of panic in her voice, but the unicorn was quick to quell it down.

“My friend was with me last evening. He swore to keep your presence a secret, and I trust him with my life, so there’s no need to worry about other ponies finding out.”

Nodding, she finished her meal, feeling full for the first time in months. Although she was a bit reassured that nopony would know she was here, she still had questions for her savior.

“I guessss I should thank you,” she said as she met his gaze once more. “But what are you going to do with me?”

Having finished his portion, he grabbed the utensils and put them back on the desk for the time being, and returned his attention to the mare watching him uncertainly.

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “There’s no way I’m turning you in to my superior. We’re not supposed to mistreat prisoners, but that seems to go over his head, and being locked in a dungeon or whatever is the last thing you need.”

He heard her gulp nervously as her mind probably pictured such horrible scenes, but continued regardless. “And there’s no way you’re going back to that desolate place. I don’t know how you’ve managed to survive out there for who knows how long, but you’re mighty lucky to be standing here today.”

Her ears drooped and her gaze met the blanket of the bed she was still sitting on. She wasn’t willing to say it, but she was ashamed of the methods she had to resort to in order to survive. But what other choice did she have? She couldn’t simply beg for food or shelter when everypony would flee or want her hide if she’d show up in a pony town.

“So,” Thunder went on, “I thought that you could maybe stay here. There’s plenty of room available in this house, so I wouldn’t mind at all.”

She looked back into the stallion’s sapphire eyes, completely shocked by what she heard. Never did she think somepony would be willing to shelter her ever again.

“R-really?” she managed to say through her stupor, wanting to make sure her ears hadn’t tricked her.

“Sure,” he acquiesced.

Yet, there was still a little trace of doubt in the lamia’s mind. “But, won’t that causse you problemss? I mean, you live inssside of a village, don’t you?”

He approached the bed and sat on its edge, putting a comforting hoof on her shoulder. She tensed at the contact, but didn’t pull or push him away.

“If you worry about ponies stumbling on you here, don’t. Everypony in this village cares only for themselves. The only ponies who even get near my place are the mailmare, yet all she does is put the mail in the mailbox in front of the house, and my friend White Wind. Plus, I kinda live on the edge of the village. Nopony even walks by these parts, so ease your worries, miss.”

Just as he finished talking, he found himself wrapped in a hug from the mare next to him, blasting him with countless thank you. He returned the embrace, tapping her back comfortingly.

After a minute, when she finally realized what she had done, she quickly withdrew from the hug, earning herself a quizzical look from the beige coated unicorn.

“Sssorry!” she exclaimed, rubbing a forehoof with the other in embarrassment. “It’sss jussst-”

“Hush,” Thunderbolt cut her, never tearing his eyes away from her as he spoke. “I don’t mind. You’ve lived miserably on your own for so long, so it’s totally normal to be reacting this way,” he said with a genuine smile, which helped the lamia relax a bit. Turned out that bit caused her to let a loud yawn escape her lips, showing off two snake-like fangs and a forked tongue. “And how about you rest some more?” he added. “You can keep using my bed if you like.”

Nodding, she grabbed the blanket and draped it over her pony half. The snake tail trailed around the bed on the wooden floor, being too big to fit on the bed. As she settled comfortably, Thunder took the opportunity to grab the utensils from the desk and began making his way out of the room.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me,” he told her. “I’ll be doing some chores downstairs.”

“Thank you ssso much, missster… uh…” She blushed as she realized she didn’t know his name. “I didn’t get what your name wass,” she said sheepishly.

“I don’t think we’ve properly introduced ourselves in the first place. And you can drop the mister if you’d like. Name’s Thunderbolt, pleased to meet you, miss…?”

“Emerald Gleam,” she finished. “Thank you for letting me ssstay here, and everything. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay your kindnessss, but I owe you my life.”

The unicorn’s smile didn’t falter a bit. “Just getting better and regaining your lost weight will be enough. Have a good nap, Emerald Gleam.” And with that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Lossst weight?” she repeated as she looked down at herself, now noticing that she could see her ribs and how pitiful she must have looked. “Oh…”

Her self examination was interrupted by another yawn, and complied to her body’s needs. Laying her head down on the soft pillow, snuggled under the warm, thick blanket, she reminisced on this morning’s events.

This is too good to be true, yet it is. I don’t even remember exactly when was the last time I ate a proper meal and slept in a real, comfortable bed. She then flipped to face the ceiling, a frown slowly forming on her face. Stupid zebra. Why did you leave me and disappear? Because of you, my life became a nightmare! She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow, muffling the angry grunt she soon let out.

Her frustration was quickly replaced by tiredness, and it didn’t take long for the young lamia to join the world of dreams.