1. A Bewildering Awakening
Author's Note
Always wanted to write a story involving my favorite character near and dear to my heart:
Android 21
I don’t know how long this will play out nor do I know how this will end; we’ll just have to see how this will go. Enjoy young readers!
1. A Bewildering Awakening
Twenty One’s eyes shot open, staring up in the clear blue sky, confused and disoriented. She breathes in cool, humid air. As she sat upright, her vision slowly came back to her as the sun rose behind her. The bright light of the morning made it even worse for her headache as if she had just been sleeping for hours. Slowly she rubbed the back of her head trying to figure out what happened? She finds herself in a field of grass with several trees surrounding the area; there is no sign of anyone or anything else around at all. She recalled quickly what had transpired: the clones, grouping up with Android Seventeen, Eighteen, and Sixteen. Cell’s sudden entrance, her losing control and eventually killing Sixteen, the split and birth of her Evil half, all of these events leading up to the final battle.
Just moments ago Twenty One stood side by side with Eighteen and the Z Fighters, all of them fighting her Evil half with everything they had but to no avail. Even with Goku’s Spirit Bomb the Evil half was still holding her own against it, that alone made her feel helpless with little power she had left. Yet as she stood there she was a bit confused to what happened next. Recalling her last moments she remembered saying.
“Thank you, and goodbye..” before jumping forth towards her Evil half. With a single leap she managed to knock her down. Her Evil half attempted to fight back, but was soon knocked down, both of them engulfed and evaporated by the Spirit Bomb. Yet here she was, under a peaceful sky. All around her she could see birds chirping softly and flowers blooming, all so beautiful she never thought something like this existed. This moment was perfect, yet so unlike the one that she remembered having. It felt wrong. Like it didn't really happen at all. Twenty One looked down at her body, realizing something strange about her. She was no longer in her Majin form but rather back in her lab coat with her usual short blue and red checker pattern turtleneck dress underneath, her arms clothed with black detached sleeves, and blue and red heels.
She blinked, glancing down at something sticking out at the left pocket of her coat. Curious she took it out and held it to her view; her glasses, her favorite pair with black frames. Gently she adjusted them on her face almost without thinking, forming a small smile as she did so. A sense of wholeness swelling within her, feeling a bit of herself again. She began starting her way forward through the field of grass and flowers. She approached the forest, but it was one she had never seen before. The trees were large, towering above her with branches covering nearly every surface, leaves and vines dangling from their limbs like hanging decorations. But what made it truly fascinating to Twenty One, was not the vegetation itself but rather the creatures roaming its branches. Some were huge and others were tiny, flying through the air and jumping off of branch after branch.
The thought crossed her mind if this might be heaven. But she knew that was not true though. People like her don’t deserve to go there, not after everything she has done. No, she still felt alive and she could feel everything like the natural world. But then that leaves one question… Why does everything look so different? It didn't make any logical sense; where were all the humans that lived here once upon a time? Was it just another dream? There had always been some sort of noise whenever her dreams ended, usually something akin to the buzzing of a bee or bird.
She stumbles through the forest path, watching the ground carefully as to keep from tripping over something, or someone. It wasn't too long before the trees parted and she entered a new area of nature, this place more spacious than what she had ever experienced before. Everything seemed so vibrant and full of color! From afar In this spacious area there was a cave filled with moss covered rocks and pools of water. The air smelled fresh like fresh air, as it would smell if she was still breathing. Her lungs filled with the oxygen, letting out a gentle sigh of relief. The sky was dark with no clouds or sun, giving her a feeling of freedom. She continued walking along the moss carpeted path towards the mouth of the cave; stepping inside she found it to be small and circular, just big enough to fit her in comfortably. After making sure no one was inside she decided to take a seat on the mossy floor with her feet resting against a wall to support her weight. As she relaxed into her spot her legs started to relax from sitting still for so long.
As she lay there her eyes darted all over the walls and ceiling of the cave. There weren't many other creatures that inhabited the cavern, mostly small birds with wings or bats. However the sounds of running water echoed in the distance making the atmosphere calm and relaxing. However, she still couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that gripped her. Something wasn’t right. How is she alive? Why is she here? Did Eighteen and the others gather the dragon balls and wish her back to life? No, they couldn’t have. And yet here she was still breathing, still here. So why wasn’t she dead? What happened?
Before she could dwell on the thoughts further a soft whimper broke through the silence and made her freeze in her position. Her head whipped around finding the source of the noise outside the entrance. A small pale yellow rabbit lagging along the grass with one limp paw raised above its head, looking around fearfully while its tail wagged back and forth. Twenty One immediately frowned as she noticed it looked exhausted and injured, due to how thin and worn it was. Despite its obvious exhaustion it continued to hop and run along the grass until it found shelter between two rock walls. Twenty One remained seated, watching the creature silently. After a few minutes of this the creature finally stopped moving, its chest rising and falling rapidly as it tried desperately to catch its breath. It was clearly trying to rest now.
Twenty One watched this until the rabbit collapsed onto its side and laid motionless, panting heavily. Once she saw it fall asleep she moved closer to investigate the creature. When she got closer she noticed a cut near it’s right ear that looked freshly inflicted. It must have been attacked recently because of the bloodied wound. Twenty One kneeled down beside the creature and examined the wound carefully. Though small it had certainly hurt the creature when it got hit. After checking all around its fur she pulled away some to reveal a bite mark on the rabbit’s neck, likely from something similar to an angry dog. Twenty One gently grabbed the wounded creature and turned it over, careful not to disturb the injury too much. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was indeed injured in multiple places. From a distance, she noticed a large slash across it’s side which she assumed was made with claws. Looking closer she noticed that it was bleeding sluggishly which was very concerning. If the rabbit was going to survive this attack then she definitely needed to treat it quickly.
Twenty One gently picked up the rabbit and carried it back to camp, taking extra care to stay away from the animal’s wounds and avoid causing more pain. She set her new burden down and stared down at it for a moment, unsure of what to do. She doesn’t have a medical kit so she didn't know how to tend its wounds. She didn’t want to leave the animal unattended, but what should she do? Finally, deciding on the most immediate solution she carefully takes the rabbit in her arms and stands, exiting the cave.
She kicked off into the sky in a quick burst. Her mind raced as she flew high above the forest, trying to find any signs of civilization nearby. Slightly her eyes darted to her right seeing a house, a cottage at the edge of the forest. Approaching this destination she realized it was quite close and quickly descended towards the ground. Landing on her feet she climbed up the small bridge, round a curve path, approaching the door. Right hand raised knocking three times on the wood, waiting patiently for someone to answer.
“Coming!” came a reply from a far distance. Moments later, the door opened up revealing the owner of the house. But said owner was not what made Twenty One pause. It was the fact the lady inside was not an earthling.
The owner was two feet tall, standing on all fours with a light yellow coat. She had a rose mane that curled at the tips, and a tail that curls similarly. Her eyelashes were long on each eye that curved upward. She had aqua eyes that shone in bright emerald green light. Her wings were folded neatly behind her, and her ears pointed upwards. If Twenty One didn’t know any better she looked like… a horse? No, not a horse, a Pegasus.
The yellow pegasus’s eyes blinked up at Twenty One, who seemed more shocked to see her than she was of her. “Um… hello?” The yellow pegasus uttered, still staring at Twenty One’s eyes.
“Oh um, hello, I need some help.” Twenty One replied, snapping out of her shock. “I found an injured rabbit by the forest and I think it may have been bitten by something dangerous?”
The pegasus turned her head to the rabbit in Twenty One’s arms and gasped, stepping backwards with wide eyes. “What happened?” She asked as she reached a hoof out to touch it. Her ears flicked back and forth anxiously.
Twenty One glanced down at the rabbit. “I don’t know. I didn’t have any medical kits or stems to help ease the pain, so i wandered around in hopes to find anybody to help. That’s when I spot your house.” The pegasus looked back up at her. Her eyes filled with compassion as she placed a hoof on the rabbit’s side.
“Oh poor thing” she stated, nodding her head.
“You think you can help it?” Twenty One inquired, hope growing within her mechanical heart. The yellow pegasus nodded.
“Yes. Come, come inside.”
2. An Unwelcoming Visitor
Twenty One followed the pegasus through the door of the cottage, ducking her head and entering her home. It was quite small but clean; it was cozy too. Her eyes roamed all around the living room, admiring the various bookshelves that lined the rest of the walls, filled with different types of books of varying sizes and colors. On the far end of the room were two pieces of furniture, a couch and a chair, both wooden with lime cushions and matching arm rests. One carpeted mat rested underneath them.
The pegasus led her to the living room and motioned her hoof to sit down. She did so, crossing her legs as her eyes stayed fixed upon the animal.
“Do you happen to have anything to treat that wound with?” Twenty One questioned after a short minute of silence.
“Oh yes! I believe I have some bandages lying upstairs in my room. Please, wait here.” The yellow pegasus smiled warmly at her before rolling around, starting her way towards the stairs. Twenty One sat there watching her for a few moments. Before long the pegasus came back with bandages, disinfectant, and spare bandages. Just in case. When she returned to Twenty One she set the items on the table next to her and sat down opposite Twenty One.
Twenty One took the antiseptic from the pegasus’s hoof and began cleaning the small gash on the rabbit's leg. Then wrapped the bandage around the rabbit’s torso securely securing it shut and tying it off. The pegasus watched her in fascination, her eyes never leaving her face.
While wrapping, Twenty One smiled at the pegasus. “Thank you for your help.” She smiled brightly. The pegasus nodded once.
“Oh it’s nothing,” she replied, her gaze flickering away for a moment before returning to meet Twenty One’s again. “Um, I’ve never seen anyone like you before. You’re not a pony or a Minotaur. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you?”
“Pony?” Twenty One repeated, tilting her head slightly and blinking in confusion. Is that what her or rather these ponies are referred to as? She didn't even notice she was still holding the rabbit in her arms. “Well, I am a homo sapien or rather a human being. At least, I was human. I come from a planet called Earth, where other beings like me are sentient creatures.”
The yellow pegasus nodded thoughtfully. Although something about what Twenty One said nagged at her. “Oh my, you must be the first human I’ve ever seen before. I’ve never read any animal books that never mentioned your kind. And, um, if you don’t mind me asking…what do you mean when you said you were human?”
Twenty One let the question hang there unanswered for a few seconds before replying. “I was a human,” she repeated simply. “But not anymore. I mean, I may look human on the outside, but I’m actually not. I am an artificial robotic human with unlimited energy and eternal life. But in short, I’m an Android.”
“Android? What’s that?” The yellow pegasus questioned, tilting her head further.
“Oh well, it basically means…” Twenty One hesitated, knowing that this would be a tough one to explain. She sighed and closed her eyes briefly. “In simple terms I am a program. A computer that runs on information, and I can store knowledge. I still have emotions and feelings, just like the humans we are.”
Twenty One ripped one piece of bandage. Gently wrapping it around the rabbit’s paw, making sure the pressure was applied tightly and effectively to keep it secure whilst also stopping any more blood flow. She then pulled another piece of bandage from the box that the pegasus brought out and tied it around the ankle. Satisfied that it wouldn't fall apart under any pressure. Looking up from finishing the last of the bandaging she noticed the pegasus looking at her curiously.
“Mind telling me your name?” Twenty One asked, turning her head to glance at the pegasus.
The yellow pegasus shyly looked away, shifting her feet uncontrollably in place. “Um… I’m Fluttershy.”
What did she say? “Uh, what was that? I couldn’t hear you miss.”
“Um… my name is um…Fluttershy.” She tried again, her voice wavering a bit. She could see the slight blush on her cheeks. She turned her gaze to the floor, trying hard not to make eye contact with the girl sitting across from her.
There was a soft chuckle from Twenty One and it made Fluttershy raise her head and stare. Twenty One reassuringly smiled at Fluttershy and raised her hand. “It’s okay, you can speak to me normally.” Twenty One said gently.
Fluttershy relaxed and inhaled sharply, finally meeting the other girl’s gaze. “O, okay. I’m Fluttershy.” She gave a tiny smile to emphasize how formal she wanted her introduction to go.
Twenty One smiled.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you Fluttershy. My name is Android Twenty One. But you can simply call me Twenty One for short.”
“Nice to meet you, Twenty One.” Fluttershy responded politely, giving a small curtsy.
Twenty One blinked in surprise, causing Fluttershy’s cheeks to turn a soft shade of pink. Twenty One laughed softly before continuing her work.
She finished bandaging the rabbit’s leg, taking care not to pull too tight. Twenty One nods once. “Okay, I believe this will do for now.”
“Here, let me have it.” Fluttershy said softly, Her hooves reaching out. Twenty One hands Fluttershy the bandage rabbit and watches her take it carefully. Fluttershy looks the rabbit over, checking it over for any signs of distress. Finding none, she sets it down on a small pet bed in the corner and gives it a quick pat on the head.
Fluttershy turns back to Twenty One and smiles lightly. “Don’t worry, they’ll make a full recovery.” She says comfortingly.
Twenty One smiled back with relief. “Thank goodness. I’m really glad that I have met you, if I hadn’t found your house I don’t think that poor rabbit wouldn’t have made it.”
“Me too.” Fluttershy agreed softly. “Now they’re resting. I think it’s a good time to have some tea. I can make one for you, that is if you want one.”
“I don’t mind, thank you.” Twenty One replied warmly, her tone and expression changing into one of gratitude.
Fluttershy nodded happily before starting towards the kitchen, exiting the living room.
Silence erodes through the air and cavern. It was a deafening silence that echoed throughout the chamber and left it feeling empty and hollow. There were no windows in the cavern, only torches lit and burning to give light to the chamber, keeping everything lit by firelight and providing enough illumination for their surroundings to be visible, albeit dimly. The only thing that broke the silence between them was the sound of the water moving through the chasm below them, echoing off the walls around them. It sounded almost haunting and eerie. The only things that could be heard besides that noise were the hoof-steps of whoever started down the hall.
They stopped and then continued down, passing several closed doors that contained other cages filled that were empty. Finally, they stopped at one.
The cage had metal bars along its sides and a little opening above to allow the occupant to look around. The door slid open, allowing the visitor to enter. There, a light pink coat alicorn mare sat with their back facing the visitor. Their candy mane was wild and unkempt, the fur was dirty and her tail drooped sadly in front of them, and her flank plastered with the crystal heart as a cutie mark. The alicorn mare turned to see who entered, their purple eyes narrowing at the sight of the stranger standing in their doorway. They glared at the stranger, their eyes sharp and piercing.
The visitor devilishly grinned at the Alicorn.
“Nice to meet you too, princess.”
Three small figures made their way out of town. The sun had just risen, and the air was brisk but warm. Ponyville, one of the small towns of Equestria, was a peaceful and harmonized place where ponies lived peacefully and lived together by the magic of friendship. On this day the trio were starting their way towards a forbidden area, one they were told to never venture. But since their older siblings weren’t around to watch them, This gave the Cutie Mark Crusaders the perfect opportunity to successfully sneak out of town and into said forbidden place.
“Uh, why the heck are we going in here?” Scootaloo asked as they entered the Everfree outskirts.
“Well, y'all remember Winona’s favorite ball?” Applebloom reminded her two friends, both of which nodded. “Well, while ah was in the middle of playing fetch with her, ah kinda bucked the ball too hard and it flew all over the Everfree. So that’s why we’re here.” She finished, pointing at the Everfree forest.
“But doesn’t she have more balls?” Sweetie Belle wondered aloud. “Surely she still has some of those few balls to play with, right?”
“Well, yeah she does. But that one ball was her most favorite. Ah couldn’t just replace it.” Applebloom explained.
The three continued onward until they reached the edge of the Everfree forest. They found an isolated clearing, a dirt path stretched long and far. The ground was covered with a thick layer of grass, and trees lining the edges. There were several bushes on either side of the path, with leaves as soft as silk.
Applebloom led the way into the forest, the other two following close behind. As she walked, she noticed the flowers blooming from every side. It was like walking through a field full of colorful daisies, all growing together and swaying gently in the breeze.
The forest had become too quiet. The only three inhabitants seemed to be the three of them as they made their way into the entrance, following the path along the swamp, past more trees, quickly approaching a new spacious area.
The air had felt thick between them. None of them had spoken since they had started walking. The only sounds they heard were their hoofsteps and the occasional breeze that seemed to blow through the leaves above.
Finally, Sweetie Belle broke the silence. “So, how close are we?” She asked, turning to her shoulder towards Applebloom.
“We should be just about… here…” Applebloom said, gesturing to the left of her. The path suddenly widened, allowing for more space to walk on. “It’s this way.”
They followed the path up a hill. The path narrowed considerably, making for difficult climbing. Each step took its toll. The three soon came to rest near a large stone. A single flower grew in front of it, surrounded by vines with a few branches reaching toward the sky. All that could be seen from the top of the hill was a cliff, and the view below.
Scootaloo looked down and gasped. The sight before them filled her with awe. Below them stretched a vast valley of tall trees and sparkling streams. In the distance lay a round yellow ball, bobbing lazily against the surface of a lake.
“There it is!” Applebloom cheered. “That’s Winona’s ball we’ve been looking for. Come on girls!” She encouraged, motioning forward. She jumped off to the first cliffside branch and climbed down carefully, leaving a trail of hoof-steps for Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to follow. One hoof at a time they continued to climb down, careful not to slip and fall.
Eventually they reached the bottom and Applebloom scanned the area cautiously, eyes darting around for any sign of danger. When nothing showed, she relaxed. “Looks clear.” She smiled, turning to face the others. She pointed at the lake. “Alright, we should be able to get in and out without getting wet.”
The three of them start their way closer. The water of the pond seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. The sun hung directly overhead, casting a warm orange glow across the water.
After walking for some time the trio arrived at the lake itself. Sweetie Belle’s eyes darted to the ball floating on the lake’s surface. Her horn lights up slightly as she stared at the ball, levitating it in the air with her magic. Subconsciously she motions the ball towards her and brings it down gently onto the grassy shore.
Applebloom reaches for the ball and takes it into her hoof. Swiftly she zips open the pocket of her saddlebag and puts said ball inside. Then she closes the bag once again and throws a strap over her back.
“Alright, now let’s get on outta here before my sister finds out where we are!” Applebloom laughs as she starts towards the path leading back to the hilltop. She beckons for her friends to follow, and the three make their way up the hill. Once they reach the crest of the hill, the trio turns to their right and starts moving slowly towards the Everfree Forest.
Sweetie Belle stayed close to Applebloom, staring ahead into the dark forest. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her ears flicked back. She looks over at Applebloom who continues walking. After a moment, Sweetie Belle follows suit, her gaze also scanning the darkness. Progressively, feeling takes over her. Something’s wrong. A deep uneasiness begins to settle in Sweetie Belle's stomach. She turns behind her and scans the area with her eyes, trying to find anything that might give her an indication of what she's sensing. However, nothing is visible beyond the trees. She continues walking.
After another minute or so, Sweetie Belle notices something move to her left. Instantly, she snaps her head in that direction. Nothing. Yet again Sweetie Belle tries to scan the area, but she can’t seem to locate whatever it was that startled her. Sweat drips down her forehead. What if she really did see something? She looks away from the darkening trees and stares down the mountain path. She hopes that there was nothing there. With a shaky breath she looks back at the woods, searching desperately for a shadow.
Suddenly she feels a tap to her shoulder. Turning around, almost jumping back when she sees Applebloom and Scootaloo next to her and watching her with confusion written all over her face.
“Y’all alright Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom asks, placing a hand on Sweetie Belle's arm reassuringly.
“Yeah, you seem a bit on edge. Is everything alright?” Scootaloo asks, a bit concerned.
Sweetie Belle inhales deeply and then exhales slowly, composing herself. “Yes, I'm fine! Just… lost in thought for a second, sorry.” She chuckled nervously.
“Well hey, ah guess we're lucky we got here fast then huh?” Applebloom commented, her gaze now set on her hooves as she kicked a pebble on the ground. She then lifts her head up, smiling sheepishly. “Anyways, let's get goin'.” With that, she began to trot forward once again.
Before anyone could protest, Sweetie Belle hurried after her. Her eyes remain glued to her surroundings, her mind racing with all that has happened that day.
She shakes her head slightly, focusing on keeping her balance. “No reason to get distracted.” She muttered, forcing herself to stop thinking about whatever strange feeling she had just experienced. She needed to keep moving. She needs to…
Sweetie Belle’s thoughts suddenly halted at that very second by an ear shattering roar that bounced and echoed throughout the forest. Terror washed over her, Applebloom, and Scootaloo all stopping to listen intently, trying to pinpoint the sound's source. Their ears pinned back against their heads, and their nostrils flared.
Slowly, they turned to look back into the path behind them when they heard a faint thud. For a while nothing could be heard but the sound of their own heartbeat.
A few moments later, they hear another thud.
And another.
They watch each other, waiting, listening for more sounds. Slowly they begin walking again, making sure to keep alert.
Just a little farther… They think to themselves. Just a little farther and we'll be safe.
They kept on backing up until they paused abruptly when they saw something coming into view down the path from afar. The trio’s eyes widened at the sight, their breaths hitched.
Standing afar from the three little fillies stood a giant manticore. Its massive body stood at least ten feet high. Its long sharp claws extended from its hands and arms and its tail whipped back and forth menacingly. Its fur was a deep purple with black highlights. The huge creature was adorned with a pair of red horns, which rose from its head like two small horns atop a big head. A red stripe ran down its back, disappearing beneath its thick coat.
“What is that...thing?” Sweetie Belle questioned quietly, pointing down the path.
“Ah don't know...” Applebloom replied, taking a few tentative steps back. “I’ve never even seen a manticore before.”
“Me neither..” Scootaloo says, shivering slightly.
The Manticore roared, sending a loud shockwave through the air. Sweetie Belle felt her legs wobbling under her. She quickly steadied herself before her, Applebloom, and Scootaloo turned on their heels and ran with all their might. The creature let out a roar as it began to chase, every stomp of its legs shook the ground under their hooves. Its heavy paws pounding the earth were a horrible reminder of how large it was.
Sweat beaded along Sweetie Belle's brow, her chest tightening. She pushed her legs harder and faster, her heart was pounding as she tried her best to run. Constantly feeling her hooves about to slip from the shaking ground, she stumbled a bit, nearly falling over. But she recovered quickly and quickened her pace. Just a bit farther, they’re almost there!
Twenty One and Fluttershy sipped their tea, enjoying the delicious aroma. The sweet aroma of lavender filled the parlor and the scent of vanilla wafted through the room. They both sighed with contentment at the warmth seeping into their bones. Fluttershy giggled softly at the scene before her.
“I must say,” Twenty One started. “It’s been a while since I had tea this good. The scent certainly helps me relax. And the flavor…” She hummed contently, closing her eyes. “This is truly delightful! How does your mother make such delicious tea?” she asked.
Fluttershy giggled. “I can’t help but wonder about that myself.” She lifted her cup of tea up and took a sip. The tea tasted heavenly. Fluttershy smiled softly and took another sip. This time she let out a soft sigh. “When I was a little filly, my dear Mother would always make this for me, whenever I came home from school. Sometimes she would even leave some hot chocolate with it for me and I would drink that as well.”
Tickling the bridge of her nose, Fluttershy closed her eyes, reminiscing fondly at the memories. “My brother and I used to come together with our mother to enjoy these warm afternoons. We would sit in front of the fire and listen to her stories while drinking our hot drinks. Oh, those days were beautiful.” She said dreamily, gazing off somewhere far into the distance.
“That sounds lovely Fluttershy. ” Twenty One responded sincerely, giving her new friend a smile. Fluttershy clasped her hooves together.
“Oh, I should introduce you to my friends.” She chirped, standing up.
“Your friends?” Twenty One asked curiously.
Fluttershy nods in reply.
“Yes, there’s Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and our recent friend Twilight Sparkle. There’s also Spike, her assistant.” She said enthusiastically.
Twenty One cupped her chin with her right hand, looking around curiously. “So there’s more ponies like you? Are they all mainly Pegasus?” She asked.
“Not at all.” Fluttershy answered. “We’re only one species that exist in different areas. Our family consists of three distinct races, each known as Ponies. Rainbow, myself and the others are pegasus, while Rarity, and Twilight are unicorns. Lastly, Applejack and Pinkie are normal earth ponies.”
Twenty One nodded. “Interesting….” She mused. “Does anyone else live here? In this area?” She asked.
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, it’s mostly me and my animal friends who reside here. The others lived further away but they would often visit.”
Minutes pass by as the duo talk. It was nice spending time with her. Twenty One was a wonderful listener, never interrupting or pushing Fluttershy for more details than she was willing to share. She was a great conversationalist. And not just because she knows so much, but because she really seemed to care and wanted to take things easy with her.
Suddenly Fluttershy gasped when she was struck with realization. “Oh my goodness, I just remembered!” She exclaimed, throwing both hooves over her mouth. “I was supposed to hang out with the girls at a picnic today.” Fluttershy explained. She then looked toward Twenty One. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry Twenty One, I have to go. C-Can you take care of things here until I come back?” She asked, bowing apologetically.
“Of course Fluttershy. I don’t mind at all.”
Smiling, Fluttershy nodded her head gratefully. “Thank you, Twenty One, I really appreciate it.” She said, giving her a slight bow. “Um, I’ve left the instructions of all you need to do for the chickens, critters, and the rest. I promise I’ll be back in an hour or less!”
With that, Fluttershy took her basket from across her lap and headed out of the living room. Starting her way towards the door, she stops turning to Twenty One waving her hoof goodbye. Twenty One gave her a wave back. Once she exited the cottage, Twenty One leaned back into her cushioned chair and sighed happily. Her eyes flutter shut and she smiles as she takes a moment to collect her thoughts. After a brief pause, Twenty One opened her eyes and focused her gaze out onto the wooden ceiling.
How long has it been since she was at peace like this? The last time she ever felt this kind of tranquility was before she ever became an Android. When she was a mother had a son who was a baby at the time. At least that's what she could remember in her bits of remnants.
She couldn't help but think back to that day. That was probably the happiest of her life. She missed being able to hold a baby in her arms. Being able to see him smile and laugh with joy. Seeing his adorable little cheeks flush from pure happiness as he hugged and squealed in joy. Watching him grow to be so happy and loving and full of curiosity and life. That day still lingered in her memory as if it happened yesterday.
Oh Sixteen, Twenty One thought to herself sadly, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. I’m so sorry. If I had more control, you would’ve still been here. I... I miss you so much. Everytime she thought of Sixteen, she began crying silently. She wiped her tears with her hand. The image of the two of them hugging and smiling at each other played in her mind again. Her heart ached. So much pain.
Twenty One jolted upwards in surprise, her eyes widened. Was… was that a roar she heard just now? Shifting her gaze to the window not too far away, she noticed a flock of birds flying overhead. She blinked rapidly, confused. She stood up from her seat and stepped carefully towards the window. There was definitely no breeze and the birds appeared very agitated.
There was a faint rumble coming from their direction. A thunderous growl reverberated throughout the valley, causing the earth to shake slightly. Twenty One stared at the window with wide eyes. What on earth was going on? Another roar followed closely behind the first, followed by several more, but that wasn’t what swelled more worry in Twenty One’s heart. No. She heard someone scream. Someone was screaming.
Worried, she exited out of the cottage and hurried down the path. She kicked off into the sky and sped ahead, flying over the treetops. As she flew, her eyes darted about frantically, trying to spot something, anything. All while thinking in her thoughts. Whatever this thing is, it sounds big. She better get to its location fast before it makes whoever that was screaming their meal.
Author's Note
The Cutie Mark Crusaders are in trouble, but never fear crusaders. For in next chapter of "Android 21 in Equestria," Twenty One is coming to save the day! 
