StH:Flames of Equestria

Chapter 2: We Come in Peace

The gentle rays of the sun streamed through the large window of Golden Oak Library, casting the main room in gentle yellow beams across the pages of Advanced Magical Theories, a book of which the lavender mare, Twilight Sparkle, was currently engrossed in. Her brow furrowed as she absorbed each line, her quill and notepad right beside her, ready to jot down notes on any particularly interesting concepts.

The library had been quiet throughout the whole of the morning—perfect for diving deep into research without the distractions of Ponyville's daily bustle. Sure, ponies not looking to check out a book was slightly annoying but it did give her time to catch up with a bit of the studies she had less time focusing on ever since she came to Ponyville. Learning about friendship is well and good but she can’t forget about everything else she loves to study.

Across the room, Spike was completely absorbed in his latest comic, the colorful illustrations reflecting in his wide, fascinated eyes. He leaned closer, his face nearly pressed to the page as he read through the daring exploits of the comic's hero, a dragon not too unlike himself—if you didn’t count the cape and ridiculously oversized sword.

“You’re really into that series, aren’t you, Spike?” Twilight observed with a gentle smile, “Been seeing you read it a lot actually.”

“Oh, you have no idea, Twilight! Flamedra the Brave just defeated the Shadow Serpent, and she’s about to face her arch-nemesis, the Ice Wyvern! I mean, it’s just so,” The little drake sighed softly. “… epic!”

"You know, Spike," The lavender mare mused, "this Flamedra the Brave sounds like just your type. With all that bravery, the cool cape, and oversized sword... Are you sure you don’t have a little crush on her?”

Spike's cheeks turned a noticeable shade of pink as he sputtered, his comic book nearly slipping from his claws. "Wha—Twilight, no! I mean, she’s awesome, but that doesn’t mean I... y’know...”

“Oh, Spike, I’m just teasing you!” She reached over to ruffle the spines on his head, making him squirm and swat her hoof away with a playful pout.

“Geez, Twi,” Spike muttered, still blushing but now grinning a little. “What’s got you all silly today?”

The mare shrugged, a soft smile lingering on her face. “I don’t know, Spike. I’m just… happy, I guess.” She glanced around the cozy library, her gaze lingering on the rows of well-loved books and the peaceful quiet of the morning. “It’s nice to have these little moments together. No magical emergencies, no stressful study deadlines—just us.”

Spike’s grin grew a bit softer, and he nodded, setting his comic down for a moment. “Yeah, it is kinda nice, isn’t it? Feels like we don’t get many days like this.” He took a deep breath, leaning back and relaxing a little more. “Sometimes I forget how nice it is to just hang out. We should do it more often.”

“Definitely.” She squeaked softly as she patted her now rubbing belly. “ In fact, I’m getting a little hungry. Are you up for a food run?”

Spike’s eyes lit up, his grin widening as he sat up straighter. “You kidding?! You had me at food! I could go for some gemstones right about now.” He rubbed his belly in anticipation, then hopped off his seat, ready to tag along.

“Gemstones, huh? I was thinking something more along the lines of something I don’t have to go digging in the dirt for… but I’m sure Pinkie Pie has a stash of gem sprinkles she could let you borrow for whatever we get.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about! Alright, let’s go!” Spike hurried to the door, holding it open with an exaggerated bow. “After you, Miss Sparkle,” he said in a faux-sophisticated tone.

Twilight laughed, trotting out the door with a gracious nod. “Why, thank you, Sir Spike,” she replied in the same tone, stepping out into the fresh morning air.

The two strolled through Ponyville, basking in the easy pace of the morning, greeting familiar faces as they went.

Ponies waved and smiled as Twilight and Spike walked by, the warmth of the morning sun casting a golden glow over the bustling streets of Ponyville. Twilight felt her shoulders relax even further, soaking up the cheerful atmosphere. She glanced over at Spike, who was practically bouncing beside her, his excitement for a tasty treat practically infectious.

Twilight chuckled, nudging Spike gently. “Easy there, Spike. You’re already drooling!”

Spike wiped his mouth quickly, cheeks turning pink as he shot her a sheepish grin. “Am not… okay, maybe a little. But can you blame me? Those gem are practically calling my name!”

Twilight laughed, shaking her head in amusement. “I suppose I can’t. Reading does work up an appetite.” She hummed to herself. “I do wonder what I’ll have though."

Twilight tapped her chin thoughtfully, considering her options. “You know, a flower burger does sound pretty good right now. Maybe with some of those wild daisies and a sprinkle of dandelion greens... or I could go for a pizza! Extra mushrooms, for sure. There’s something so satisfying about that cheesy, earthy taste.”

Spike’s eyes sparkled with agreement. “Both sound amazing, Twilight! Although I might have to pass on the mushrooms,” he added with a slight grimace. “But hey, we could split the pizza—half with mushrooms for you, and the other half with gem sprinkles for me!”

Twilight’s eyes brightened as she nodded eagerly. “You know what, Spike? That’s a great idea! A split pizza and a nice spot outside—it’s the perfect day for it.”

Spike beamed with excitement, already imagining his half covered in colorful gem sprinkles. “Awesome! I can already taste-”

The little drake’s words were halted by the sound of a pony screaming.

~~~

Earlier…

As Tails hovered in place above the treeline, his heart skipped a beat at the sight Knuckles had mentioned—the town. It stretched out just beyond the thinning forest, peaceful and unsuspecting in the morning light, with buildings lined neatly along winding paths and ponies moving through the streets in their daily routines. It seemed almost surreal to him after the intense scramble they’d been through.

Tails touched down beside the group, his eyes still glinting with a mix of curiosity and relief. “I saw movement in the town just beyond the forest,” he announced, “but… I couldn’t make out who or what they are. They don’t look like Mobians, though. It’s hard to say from this distance.”

Knuckles raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed. “Not Mobians? Well, that narrows it down to just about anything.” He gave a quick glance at the soldiers. “If they’re friendly, we’ll be fine. If not, we’ll deal with it.”

“Either way,” Lieutenant Freya spoke up, her expression calm but focused. “We should maintain caution, Master Prower..”

Sonic released a deep sigh. “If my speed was up to par I could have gone in and out in a flash without much worry…still, looking as it look, it can’t be worse than facing down Eggman’s fortress, right?”

“We both know we can’t judge a book by its cover, Sonic.” Tails offered as a rebuttal. “But we are desperate…and desperate times call for desperate measures?” He looked at every face around him, each one agreeing with his words. The two tailed fox turned away from them soon after. "So then…Since I'm the team leader… It's my responsibility to make sure it’s safe. I’ll go in first, alone.”

“Woah hang on now kid.” Knuckles frowned, stepping forward. “You’re not going in there by yourself, Tails. You don’t even know what we’re dealing with.”

“I know, Knuckles. But if they see a whole group coming toward them, it might seem… threatening, even if we are hurt. If I go alone, keep my distance…be nice, maybe I can get a read on how they react before we make any big moves.”

Sonic crossed his arms, frowning. “I’d rather not let you do something so dangerous, Tails. Going in alone like that? It’s risky.”

Tails just smiled, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, really? As opposed to you, Sonic ‘I’ll-dash-headfirst-into-Eggman’s-fortress-without-a-second-thought’ the hedgehog?”

The blue hedgehog couldn’t help but look away, scratching his cheek. “Hey, that’s different. I’m used to the crazy stuff. But you… well, I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

Tails placed a reassuring hand on Sonic’s shoulder, his gaze steady. “I’ve been through plenty of danger, Sonic, and I know how to handle myself. It was just you and me for a long time after all. Besides, like you said, I’m team leader right now—I’ve got to make this call and keep us all safe. But trust me, I’ll be careful.” He frowns. “I don’t want to lose anyone else today.”

Sonic could only sigh before shaking his head. “Okay…I get it, Tails. Just… promise me you’ll pull back if things look bad.”

Tails nodded, his gaze steady but shadowed with the same weight of loss that lingered over them all. "I promise, Sonic. No unnecessary risks—I just want to be sure we're not stepping into anything we can’t handle.”

With that he nods towards the others, adjusting his pack before making the long trek towards his destination.

The group watched in silence as Tails began his cautious approach, each of them wearing expressions that betrayed their worry and respect for their young leader. Despite the countless times Tails had proven himself capable, moments like this still brought out Sonic’s protective side. Sonic clenched his fists but forced himself to relax, reminding himself of the trust he’d placed in Tails time and time again.

Knuckles crossed his arms and muttered to Sonic, “The kid’s got guts, I’ll give him that. Let’s just hope those ‘locals’ have a sense of decency.”

Sonic nodded, not taking his eyes off Tails' figure. “They’d better. He’s tough, but… still. If anything happens…” He left the sentence unfinished, not wanting to entertain the thought.

~~~

Tails took each step carefully, his pace steady and unhurried as he made his way along the dirt path. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows along his path and illuminating the quaint town just ahead. He kept himself visible, deciding that attempting to hide would only make him look suspicious. His twin tails flicked occasionally, a silent, reassuring rhythm as he moved.

"Okay, Tails… you can do this," he muttered softly, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness. "Just be nice… be friendly… be kind. All of that comes natural to you." he sighs, “Let’s just hope the locals are the same…”

As the fox got closer to the encroaching village he couldn’t help but fully take notice of the ones he saw walking around from afar, more than a little surprised.

Whoa…

He blinked, trying to take in the sight: horses—just tall enough to reach his neck. Even from a distance he could see that their wide, expressive eyes and pastel-colored coats made them look more whimsical than the animals he knew from Mobius.

As Tails observed the village scene more closely, he couldn't help but let his mind race through the possibilities. Are they… work animals? he wondered, his eyes scanning the bustling little creatures. But then he caught sight of a few in deep conversation, their animated expressions and clear engagement in discussion making it obvious that these weren’t just ordinary animals.

No, he thought, there’s too many for that, and they’re clearly… talking. The realization settled over him with an odd mix of surprise and curiosity. So, they really are the locals…

He would enter the town proper now and there was no turning back, more than a few of the small horses taking notice the strange, clearly singed, fox boy. They weren’t reacting with fear, which was a blessing, but it was clear they’d never seen anything quite like him before. Some ponies paused mid-conversation, ears twitching as they tried to make sense of the unusual figure walking down their path, while others exchanged curious murmurs, eyes locked on his twin tails.

Tails made sure to keep his posture friendly and open, giving a small wave to a few who stared a bit longer. He could hear faint snippets of conversation drifting through the air.

“What…in Celestia’s name is that?”

“Is that a fox? Walking on two legs?”

“Look! It has two tails!”

Tails blinked in surprise, his ears perking up as he fully processed what he was hearing. They’re… speaking my language? He’d expected to need some time to decode their way of communicating or even face a language barrier altogether, but here they were, chattering in a language he understood perfectly. It was both reassuring and a little strange.

Still, he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth…

The fox chuckled to himself, deciding to watch his wording lest he says something... awkward here.

A pure scream caused the young fox to stop and turn on the spot, his eyes spotting a mint green little horse looking at him with their mouth agape and eyes wide. The sound itself caused any of the horses who had not seen him to promptly turn his way. Once again…no going back.

The one responsible for the sudden shift in attention—a mint-green pony with wide, astonished eyes—stood frozen, her mouth still agape from the scream she’d let out moments before.

Deciding, if nothing else but to clear the air, the fox cleared his throat before speaking softly and kindly, "Uh… hi there…Sorry if I startled you! I, uh, didn’t mean to drop in unannounced."

The green pony blinked, her expression shifting to something almost reverent as she cautiously approached him. "Are… those real?”

Tails tilted his head slightly, glancing back at his twin tails before turning his gaze back to the green pony. “My tails?” He chuckled. “Yep! One hundred percent genuine fox tails.”

The green pony huffed. "Not those!" she exclaimed, her tone almost exasperated with curiosity. "I mean those things at the end of your legs! Are those… real?"

Now the fox was confused. He looked down at his feet, inspecting them. “You mean… my shoes?”

The green pony rolled her eyes, clearly getting frustrated. “Your other legs, dummy!”

Tails’s ears flicked back in confusion before quickly catching on, laughing a little as he realized what she was talking about. “Oh, you mean my arms!” He lifted them slightly, wiggling his fingers. “And these are called—.”

“Hands! I knew it!” the mint creature exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I've read about them in books, but I never thought I’d actually see them!" Her horn began to light up as a soft magical aura wrapped around the fox’s apendage. He blinked in surprise, feeling the gentle yet firm grip of her magic as she began to turn his hand this way and that, examining it from every angle.

His mind finally caught up with what he was looking at. “Whoa, that’s… Like Silver’s PKE powers,” Tails muttered, adjusting to the strange sensation. He looked over towards the creature, her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she continued to study his hand, carefully moving each finger with her magic.

“Wow…look at them!” she mused, “I’ve seen pictures and dragons have something like them but…these are much different…and! Fingers! Five of them! They’re like little bendy branches!” She giggled, clearly fascinated. “Can you wiggle all of them at once? How many can you bend at the same time? Do they ever get tangled? What’s it like to hold things with them? And—oh, oh! Can they feel things too, like soft and rough textures?”

Tails blinked, trying to keep up, his ears flicking back in slight bewilderment. “Uh, well… yeah, they can feel things. And, um, they don’t usually get tangled unless its between wires, I guess?” He rubbed the back of his head, clearly lost. He had expected a lot of things but not this.

“Lyra what are you…What in Celestia’s name is that?!”

Tails glanced up to see a new creature approaching, her eyes widening in shock as she took in the sight of him. This pony, a cream-colored mare with a blue and pink mane, seemed both startled and deeply confused by both himself and the other creature’s lack of personal space around him.

The green one, whom he now knew as Lyra, gave a dismissive wave with her hoof, as if she’d heard the question a hundred times already. “Bon Bon, come on! It’s not a what; it’s a who! Meet… uh…” She paused, looking at Tails expectantly.

“Oh, I’m…ah…Miles…Miles Power…,” he introduced himself, giving a small, polite wave with his free hand. “But my friends call me Tails.”

Bon Bon’s eyes narrowed slightly, processing this information with visible suspicion, though she tried to keep her tone polite. “Miles… Power. Well, that’s certainly an interesting name.” She shot a quick look at Lyra, who was still eagerly examining Tails’s hand, then back to Tails himself. “And you’re… from around here?”

“Not exactly,” Tails admitted, his tone friendly but cautious. “I… kind of just arrived, actually. My friends and I sort of ended up here unexpectedly.” He rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, giving a sheepish grin.

“Friends?” Bon Bon asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah… ya see—” Tails began, only to stop mid-sentence as a new figure approached. This one was a lavender colored creature with what looked like a dragon upon her back. Her hair a deep navy blue with streaks of pink and purple with a horn slipping from between the fringes…a unicorn.

Actually… He thought to himself. The mint green horse was a unicorn too…and I can clearly see many pegasi and normal horses in the mix.

The lavender mare glanced between Lyra and Tails, her expression shifting from concern to curiosity as she took in the unusual scene.

“I heard a scream,” she said, her tone gentle but alert. “I thought someone was in trouble.” Her gaze lingered on Tails, clearly fascinated but trying to remain composed. “And… I’m guessing you’re the reason for all the excitement?”

“Guess…you could say that.” The fox told her. He sighed before frowning. “Listen, before this gets out of hand and stuff my friends need help. A lot of them…badly.”

The suddenness of Tails’s words wasn’t lost on the lavender mare. She blinked, processing the urgency in his voice. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “You’re friends…are they far?”

The fox shook his head. “Not too far…on the edge of the forest actually. It was a miracle we were able to get that far.

The mare’s expression softened, and she glanced at the small dragon on her back. “Spike, we might need to organize some supplies. Medical equipment, blankets, maybe even food. Go and get over to Ponyville general. Tell the doctors they might have their hooves full in a moment.” She looked back at Tails. “I don’t know what’s going on…but…You’ve come to the right place if you need help.”

~~~

Fluttershy’s cottage stood peacefully under the early afternoon sun, a picturesque scene of serenity as birds chirped around the cozy home. Inside, however, the atmosphere was tense as Fluttershy worked tirelessly. The wounded creature she had picked up lay unconscious on her sofa, breathing shallowly but steadily. Her medical supplies were strewn across the room, some now tainted with his dark blood, while bandages wrapped across his most severe wounds.

The minutes stretched on in silence, punctuated only by the creature's faint, labored breathing and Fluttershy’s whispered reassurances. Her normally steady hooves trembled slightly as she worked. Every new bruise, cut, or jagged gash she uncovered made her wince with worry, yet she pressed on. She had bound a makeshift splint on what looked like a broken leg, staunched the deeper wounds, and tried to clean his burns with the gentlest touch. It was exhausting, but the mare was more than determined to see this though.

It was quite some time before the mare breathed a sigh of relief, noticing his breathing had eased—no longer shallow gasps, but still far from steady. She dipped the cloth back into a bowl of cool water, wrung it out, and lightly dabbed it across his brow again.

“I…I think you’re through the worst of it...at least for now” she whispered to the creature, though one would think it was to herself more then anything. She’d seen plenty of injured animals in her time, but this was entirely different. His body, though vaguely similar to other creatures she’d tended, was alien to her. She had no idea how deep his injuries went—or hurt him further. Every minute she spent carefully treating him only made her realize how little she knew.

As Fluttershy leaned forward to adjust the bandage around his arm, his hand shot up, his fingers closing firmly around her hoof. The sudden grip startled her, and she froze, her heart pounding as she stared down at him. His face remained slack, eyes closed, but his brows knit together in a painful expression. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, a single word escaped his lips:

“Maria…”

The name hung in the air, heavy with a sorrow Fluttershy couldn’t fully understand but instinctively recognized. The way he said it, the quiet ache that seemed to echo from somewhere deep within him, tugged at her heart. Gently, she placed her free hoof over his hand, letting him hold on as she spoke softly.

“Shh… it’s okay. You’re safe now,” she murmured, unsure if he could hear her but hoping her voice might somehow reach him.

His grip on her hoof slowly loosened, and his face softened as if her words had calmed something within him. He still lay unconscious, but his breathing had settled into a steadier rhythm, no longer punctuated by pained gasps. Fluttershy gently pried her hoof free, watching him with sympathy.

Fluttershy settled back, her gaze lingering on the creature's face, softened and at ease for the first time since she’d found him. The name "Maria" echoed in her mind, and though she knew nothing of who this person might have been, she understood that they meant something deeply important to him.

Carefully, she tucked the blanket around him, her every motion deliberate and gentle, not wanting to disturb the fragile peace he’d found in sleep.