New Faces

Soft bit back a scream. She was doing very well, considering.

Reach, and suffer the pain of her broken bones moving. Grip the ground ahead of her. Brace, and take a deep breath.

Pull herself forward a few inches, suffering absolute agony with every twitch forward. Don’t scream…

She stopped, panting. A day and night before she was trying to find help. Defying her pain to try and get somepony, anypony to help. She… She couldn’t face it again.

The monster had come back. With three sharpened stakes, fairly long.

It had tossed one into the pit, and she had heard the little centaur scream.

The other two had been stabbed into her wings and then stomped into the ground. It had laughed and promised that worse was to come before leaving them once more.

One stake was still there, stuck in her left wing. She had ripped herself free with all she had, and began moving.

The little centaur had stopped screaming some time ago. She wasn’t sure why.

But she did know one thing:

If the monster came back, and did anything else, then she and the little one was not going to survive.

She looked to see how far she had gotten, staring to move a few hours after the sun had risen. It was currently setting.

She guessed that she had made it maybe a hundred feet.

She froze and began shaking at a quiet chuckle from in front of her while she was gazing back.

She looked back, and saw the monster. It always looked like a centaur, but it wasn’t.

She was sure of that.

It seemed amused.

“Such determination…” it said, smiling at her terror. “To move with everything broken like that…”

“I see that I need to do better.”

“Please.” she begged, watching it move behind her. She heard it pause, and her hope rose.

“… Please what?”

“Please stop. Please… let us go…”

“…Say it better.”

“Pretty please? Please, I beg you…”

“…What can you offer me?”

“Anything. Everything. Just… no more pain…”

She heard it hum. “Well…”

“Please.”

There was a long moment. She waited and waited until she could stand it no longer, and looked.

It smirked at her, and grabbed her hind leg the moment she did so, wrenching it.

It dragged her back, screaming the entire way, while it whistled a tune. And then with a simple effort, tossed her into the pit where she was scratched badly by the stake down there and landed heavily.

She could barely breathe from the pain. She saw the little centaur, one leg pierced by the spike, pinning him. He saw her and, struggling, moved so that he could grab onto her. Trying to find some comfort in the broken pegasus.

The thing looked down and saw them. It smirked, enjoying the agony of Soft and noting the refreshment of Rush.

That wouldn’t last long. He would draw some comfort from her, but Soft was slowly perishing from her wounds. He would realize that fairly soon, then, despair, just like the first time.

It was good. It made it feel much better, gave it power.

Everything was perfect. Nothing knew of it, and everything that did was well taken care of. And even if they did, by some miracle, find out about it…

This place was filled with magic. It would be easy to kill them all.

It paused. Voices. Coming closer.

Out here? At the edges of the farm? It must be some overeager searcher for Sweetie. Nopony was going to come out here otherwise.

It saw Rainbow and Applejack wandering nearby. They would find the pit; the blood trail of Soft would make it easy. Even if it cleaned, the pit was obvious, and there was no time to hide it.

But… maybe…

Yes… that might work…

It normally didn’t like such… direct tactics, but everything had a time and place. And this place demanded many strange tactics.

Rainbow paused as she walked, making Applejack look back.

“Rainbow?”

“I smell something.” Rainbow said, looking around. She soon spotted the blood and gasped, heading to it. Applejack did the same, and they both followed it to the pit.

They stared at it wide eyed, and approached slowly. Dreading what they might find.

They peered within, and gasped again, seeing the bloody sight below. The little centaur turned to look up at them, an unspoken request on his bloody face.

“Rainbow,” Applejack said, a bit pale.

“Darn it.”

They both started and turned to see Rainbow glaring at them.

“You spoiled the surprise.” she said, her voice a perfect match for Rainbow’s own.

They both tensed and Rainbow stepped forward, her wings spread and ready for a fight.

“What are you!?” she demanded, angry with its imitation.

“I’m a pegasus!” it yelled back.

Applejack came next to Rainbow, if anything, angrier than the pegasus. The centaur was a child, and it was very possible that the thing in front of them had done such things.

“Yer a changeling.” Applejack said, growling a little.

It stopped, and looked stunned.

“What..? No… no my… my voice…”

It trailed off, gagging a little. The pair hesitated for a moment; for some reason, it seemed to have been made mute. It rasped and seemed to be trying to speak, but no intelligible sound came out.

Then it stopped, glared once more, and jumped at them, Rainbow doing the same.

It was a little difficult to tell them apart as the two Rainbow’s wrestled, but Applejack knew.

The pony who didn’t speak was the monster.

“Rainbow!” she yelled, readying herself.

The one on top rasped, and the one below said, “Get it Applejack!”

She did so, striking the top one with everything she had and throwing it to collide with an apple tree with a large thud and slump against its base. The pair of them stared at it for a moment.

It lived, but wasn’t currently conscious. They could see it breathing still.

Rainbow got to her hooves and smirked. “Ha! Easy.” she said.

“We need ta go an get th others ta help.” Applejack said, going back to look down into the pit.

“We’re gonna find help! Jus hang on down there!”

“I’ll find help.”

“Rainbow?”

“Keep an eye on the changeling, and don’t let it get away. I can fly faster than you can run; I can get Twilight and the others in no time.”

“…Alright Rainbow. Yer not normally so… calm bout these thins.”

“We need to get help fast, and I did just get to beat up the changeling who did it. So I’m feeling better.”

Applejack nodded; that did make some sense, and Rainbow took to the air.

“Tie it to the tree or something, and keep an eye on it!”

“I will, jus hurry up!”

Rainbow shot off in a rainbow streak and Applejack sighed.

Sweetie was still missing, but they had found another pony, and a centaur. What that meant, she wasn’t sure.

She got out a rope and tied the still unconscious thing to the tree. It was a near perfect match for Rainbow, but she steeled herself. It was not her friend. It just looked and sounded like her.

She made the rope extra tight, just in case. And maybe a little more viciously than she should have.

It deserved a little pain for what it did.

“I did it Trixie.” I say, opening my eyes and seeing her. She seemed stunned for a moment as I got to my hooves, feeling as if I had slept for days.

Like I had worked hard, and then rested, and now, I was renewed. That kind of feeling.

The good kind.

The moment I thought about the wind, a faint breeze swirled around us, and Trixie yelped, surprised.

I no longer have to call?

Maybe that is what they meant to do. To give themselves to me in some tiny portion. In some way, it is as if I have a tiny bit of them inside of me, always next to me, ready to respond. That makes many things, a great many things, far easier for me to do.

I am thankful to them for their sacrifice. I feel the elements around me give their approval.

I look to the exit, and focus. With a groan, the earth shifts just a little, but I have to use more. I press my hands against it and heave in both ways. It shifts, by another small margin, but it stops there. I don’t have the strength to do it.

And then I find Trixie next to me, her horn alight and pushing with me.

The stone shifts again, and keeps moving that time as together, we push.

And with a sudden motion, the rock is free, and sunlight streams down on us, along with some dirt and small rocks. The rock rolls away, and we step out into the grass, the little unicorn rushing past us to look around in joy.

“We’re out.” Trixie says, as if she is in disbelief.

“We… Chosen, you did it!” she yells, grabbing onto my side. I smile.

“We did it Trixie.” I say, rubbing at her head.

She lets go and looks around. She scans the nearest surrounds and spots a particular bush.

“Sweetie, that bush is edible!” she says, going to it herself and using her magic to pluck it nearly bare.

I am refreshed, but they are not. I should have thought of that. They would be hungry and thirsty after the cave.

I go to the pair, and with a little effort make a bowl of one of the leaves. With a little thought, I fill it with a little water, and give it to the filly who tries to eat it in one bite.

“Easy.” I tell her, moving my hand away. “There is more.”

I have a sudden thought as Trixie opens her mouth. I look at her, and point.

With a thought, a stream of water enters her mouth and she chokes a little on it.

I laugh as she shakes her head and seems undecided whether or not to yell at me. She settles for huffing.

“Chosen!” she huffs. “Gentle.”

I nod, and begin making more leaf bowls for them. That continues until both are full, the… Trixie called it Sweetie? Sweetie is happy and Trixie relaxing in the sunlight. I notice that Sweetie’s hind leg has a wound on it. It looks dirty and poorly cared for, but considering, that is not unexpected.

I stroke her mane, getting her comfortable, and then gently shift her so I can see better. She shifts back, staring at me. She seems worried, a little bit in pain... is that a blush?

“Let me see.” I whisper to her.

“Sweetie, Chosen wants to help your leg.”

The little unicorn whinnies softly.

Trixie blinks, confused. “He isn’t growling at you, he said ‘let me see’.”

More whinnies and I am confused now.

“You understand her?” I ask Trixie.

“Or course Trixie understands her! Trixie doesn’t know what’s wrong with you two! You speak, she speaks, and neither understand, and yet, Trixie does!?”

I frown and look at Sweetie, thinking.

“If you understand, nod.” I say.

She stares at me and whinnies gently again, confused and concerned.

Trixie stares for a moment before thinking. I am thinking.

“Maybe it is something special about you?” I say, at the same time as Trixie says, “Maybe it is something special about Trixie.”

We look at each other and I find it funny. She doesn’t, but she does smile at my chuckle. She seems thoughtful for some reason.

“Help me. Her wound needs to be cleaned and cared for, or it might grow sick.” I tell Trixie.

“Sweetie, let him see. He can help, Trixie promises.” she says, going over to Sweetie and laying nearby.

Sweetie still looks unsure, but when I shift her, she grabs onto Trixie, and allows me to see.

I wince a little. It is bad. Almost crippling. Teacher can do this better, but I can at least make it better. She won’t like my cleaning it though; it is in a delicate area.

“This might hurt.” I say.

“It’s not going to be nice, just hold still Sweetie. Grip Trixie’s hoof.”

When I touch it, she flinches, tensing. I have to do this well.

A little bit of thought, and a touch of water comes from my hand to begin washing the dirt away. She tenses again, but slowly relaxes as she grows used to the feel.

Then I begin rubbing and carefully scraping at it, and she flinches badly. She holds fairly still for me, but Trixie gasps at the sudden increase in her grip, her eyes closed tight.

When in doubt, remove everything teacher taught me. Even the shell of blood if you are not sure; sickness can happen easily, and the wound must be clean.

I really wish I had teacher’s trick to put things to sleep. Best to do this in one motion I think.

I firmly grasp her leg, and shift to pin her lower half. Her breathing increases at that.

One… easy…

I swipe, and for a second, see a clean leg wound that is suddenly bleeding again.

Then I am in great pain from the horrible sound Sweetie makes.

It is worse than any scream. Her sound pierces the head like tiny spears. Like a newborn, but so much louder and somehow worse.

I act fast, and with a bit of heat and life, the wound seals again, Sweetie stopping the piercing sound and sobbing. I use a little more, just to try and ease her pain, and then get off of her, my head ringing.

Trixie pats at Sweetie as the filly grips onto her, crying a little, but slowing.

“You did very good Sweetie.” Trixie says. Then looks at me with a ‘did you have to’ look about her.

I nod, and get to my hooves. After a moment, they do the same, Sweetie sniffling a little. She shifts her leg a little and cheers up when she feels no real pain from it. So long as she doesn’t strain it, she might be able to walk normally now.

She whinnies something, and I look to Trixie. Trixie sighs.

“She said ‘thank you Mr. Chosen.’ How am Trixie is the only pony who can understand?”

“Because you are unique.” I tell her. She stares at me, and that is definitely a blush. I smile for a moment, and then look around thinking. This isn’t any good. All the trees are the same. Which way leads to home?

Trixie shakes her head to dispel her stun. “We need to get Sweetie back.” She tells me.

“Which way?” I ask, unable to determine direction in the forest.

Trixie looks around for a moment. “…That way.” she says with certainty, pointing.

Sweetie whinnies something and she shifts her hoof to the right.

…Well, a direction is a direction. The woods can’t go on forever. I head that way, and soon after, Trixie is by my side, Sweetie hovering close to her.

Perspective, pony

Chosen got to his hooves, Trixie and Sweetie too stunned by the sight of his eyes to do or say anything.

A faint breeze suddenly blew in the cave, and Trixie yelped, stunned. Where had that come from?

Chosen’s eyes slowly turned back to normal, and they both started when they heard the rock groan. Chosen frowned, and then pushed at it, and they heard it groan a little more. Trixie saw it shift, but then it seemed to stick as Chosen heaved.

Trixie hurried to his side, and heaved with him, using her magic and strength to try and help. Chosen looks down in surprise, and then pushes harder.

And together, they push the rock free form the cavern’s entrance, a small shower of dirt and small rocks raining down on the pair.

They stepped out, Sweetie hurrying past them to stand in the grass and see the sun after two days stuck in the cave.

“We’re out.” Trixie said, stunned. “We…”

“Chosen you did it!” she yelled, grabbing onto him. She felt… happy, and felt happier when he rubbed at her head.

“We did it Trixie.” he said.

Trixie’s stomach growled at her and she got off of him, and looked around. She and Sweetie hadn’t eaten for some time, and they really needed to find something.

She saw a bush that she suspected was edible, and went to it, calling, “Sweetie, that bush is edible!” as she went. A little magic, and the leaves were off and stacked in a neat pile. Trixie nodded. Water was next, but food first.

They both start eating, the leaves… tolerable especially in their hunger. Then Chosen heads over, and sits next to them, and take a leaf.

With a little motion, he make a dip in it, and placing his hand over it, it fills with a little water. Trixie was honestly stunned. Creation of even simple things like water was beyond most any kind of magic.

Chosen gave it Sweetie, who, failing to see any other way to keep the water inside, tried to get it in her mouth all at once. Chosen pulled his hand away as she succeeded.

“Easy. There is more.” he said.

Trixie opened her mouth to say something, and Chosen shot a stream of water into it, making her gag a little on it. He laughed, and she was caught between relief at the refreshment or outrage that he chose to do so that way.

She frowned faintly and huffed. “Chosen! Gentle.”

He nodded, and worked to make more of the leaf bowls. The bush filled them both, and Chosen’s water did much to help them feel much better after their imprisonment.

Then Chosen, looking at Sweetie, strokes her mane. She relaxed under his hand, and then he carefully pulled her so that she sat up, allowing him to see her injury. And other things.

She shifted back, wondering what he was doing, the motion making her leg hurt, and blushing a little.

“Let me see.” He whispered, but Sweetie only heard him growl and shrunk back slightly. Trixie noticed, and misread her fear.

“Sweetie, Chosen wants to help your leg.”

“Then why is he growling?” she asked, still staring at him.

“He isn’t growling at you.” Trixie said, confused. “He said, ‘let me see’.”

“But he did growl, and I don’t want him to see.”

“You understand her?” Chosen asked Trixie. Trixie felt put upon. Why were they pretending not to understand each other?

“Or course Trixie understands her! Trixie doesn’t know what’s wrong with you two! You speak, she speaks, and neither understand, and yet, Trixie does!?”

Chosen frowned and looked at Sweetie again. “If you understand me, nod.” he said, watching.

“Can you speak?” Sweetie asked after a moment of uncertainty.

Trixie watched and then thought for a moment, as did Chosen.

“Maybe it is something special about Trixie?” she suggested, at the same time Chosen said, “Maybe it is something special about you?”

They both stopped and Chosen chuckled at the coincidence, Trixie smiling a little at his amusement.

He was handsome when he smiled. She never really noticed before.

“Help me. Her wound needs to be cleaned and cared for, or it might grow sick.” Chosen said.

Trixie went to Sweetie, already knowing that the filly wasn’t going to appreciate that. But it was for her good.

“Sweetie, let him see. He can help, Trixie promises.”

“…O.K.” she whispered. When Chosen shifted her so that she was lying back on Trixie, she let him move her. He winced.

“This might hurt.” he said.

“It’s not going to be nice, just hold still Sweetie. Grip Trixie’s hoof.” Trixie said, Sweetie grabbing on and holding tight.

At his touch, she flinched and tensed, waiting for pain. Then she gasped faintly as warm water washed over it, gently cleaning away the dirt. It felt weird, but it didn’t hurt.

The he starts rubbing and she flinches, trying to hold still, grabbing onto Trixie as tightly as she could, making the mare gasp a little at the pressure.

Then Chosen shifts, pinning her lower half and holding her leg tightly. She tensed badly, and her breathing increased in fear. One hand was carefully places at the top of her belly, and she closed her eyes.

And with a sudden swipe, it burned like nothing else.

Sweetie screamed and Trixie yelled, completely drowned out as she screamed from the pain of it.

Her pain swiftly reduced, and she began sobbing, the pain lessoning with every second, but it was so very bad when it started.

Then Chosen get up, a bit disoriented from her scream. Sweetie shifting to hold onto Trixie, still crying, but slowing. Her leg was feeling better.

“You did very good Sweetie.” Trixie said, a touch stunned herself. She looked at Chosen, and he saw the question on her face.

He nodded and got to his hooves. Trixie did the same, and helped Sweetie up. She was sniffling, but as she moved her hind leg, she noticed that it didn’t hurt. It felt a bit restrained when she tried to move it far, but it didn’t hurt anymore. She cheered up at that, even managing to smile despite her tears.

Then she looked at Chosen.

“Thank you Mr. Chosen.” she said.

Trixie sighed. “She said, ‘Thank you Mr. Chosen.’ How is Trixie the only pony who can understand?”

“Because you are unique.” Chosen said with perfect seriousness. Trixie stares at him, stunned.

And seeing him tall, and healthy, and smiling down at her…

She blushed.

Maybe… was she… was he…

She shook her head. Now was not the time for that.

“We need to get Sweetie back to her home.” she said.

“Which way?” Chosen asked, looking around.

Trixie did the same. Everything looked the same to her.

“…That way.” she chose mostly because it looked nice.

“That way is the castle.” Sweetie said, and Trixie noticed the spires of the old ruin visible over the tree tops. Without a word, she shifted her outstretched hoof by a few feet.

Chosen blinked and then shrugged before heading that way. Trixie went after him, walking close to him, Sweetie close to her.

After a moment Trixie noticed her tail flicking to touch at him and forced herself to stop that.