The Last of the Crocfolk

The Fields Outside Ponyville

Leatherfoot ran outside of the Pony village with Spike in his arms with all speed. He ignored the looks he got from all the Ponies he passed during his escape, and they hadn't tried to stop him. Fortunately for them. Once he exited the village, he ran until he reached the forest. Leatherfoot sat Spike on the ground and looked at his bleeding neck.

"I... I'm sorry for causing you bodily harm, Spike," Leatherfoot said. "But I did have to drive the point home".

"It's okay. But this wound does hurt," Spike said.

Leatherfoot knew what to do about that. He looked behind him and found a plant with arrow-shaped leaves. He picked up the plant and gave it to Spike. There was kindness in his eyes as he spoke to Spike.

"This is Arrow Weed, a medicinal herb for my people," Leatherfoot informed him. "Since Crocfolk and dragons have similar physiology, it should heal you without leaving scars".

"Thanks," Spike said taking the offered herb. "Where will you go now?"

"For now, back to the Motherswamp," Leatherfoot replied. "Which way is south?"

"Just follow the river. It flows south," Spike said.

"Thank you. I'll leave you here where you can either find your way back home or your friends come for you," Leathrfoot said.

Before Leatherfoot left, he turned to Spike. "You're not going to tell them where I'm going, are you?"

"No. It sounds to me like you're just trying to get back to your home. Besides, I can tell you're not a bad person," Spike said with a smile.

Those words brought Leatherfoot to the verge of tears. This little dragon was beginning to remind him of his friend Bluu from his gladiator days. He'd often say things like this to him as well. Leatherfoot pat Spike's head in an affectionate way.

"Thank you, Spike," Leatherfoot said. "I hope we meet each other again one day".

And with that, Leatherfoot took off into the forest. The Croc-kin warrior ran for a good ten whole minutes at a full sprint until he finally found the river Spike mentioned. This was perfect as his kind were excellent swimmers. Leatherfoot dove into the water and began his long swim back to the Motherswamp.

...

With the Main Six

Things were hectic for the Ponies back at the Castle. The Croc-kin had escaped and Spike was taken hostage. Twilight was pacing in worry, Fluttershy was bandaging Rainbow's wing, Professor Fossil was muttering to herself about what she just saw.

"That was incredible! An actual Croc-kin that's still alive!" Fossil muttered. "I'd have loved to examine him more".

"Professor, we have bigger things to worry about!" Rarity said. "Like how he took Spike as a hostage!"

"Actually, that's no longer the case!" Spike said standing in the door.

"Spike!" the Ponies shouted before rushing to Spike for a hug.

"How did you escape?" Rainbow asked.

"I didn't. Leatherfoot let me go," Spike said. "He even gave me medicinal herbs for my wound".

"Really? Why did he do that?" Applejack asked.

"Because I got a chance to get to know him a little and form a small bond with him," Spike said. "While he did cut me with his blade, he never intended to actually hurt me".

"Which way did he go?" Professor Fossil asked.

"I saw him heading west," Spike said. "Maybe he's looking for something out west".

"Either way, I'm personally glad we don't have this on our hooves anymore," Twilight said.

"Twilight, he killed a police officer. Are you sure we can just let him go?" Rarity asked.

"I don't think he'd kill some one out of rage alone. Perhaps the officer did something to set him off," Spike said.

"Maybe. But still, we may have to keep an eye out for him. Just in case," Rainbow said.

"You know, while the Crocfolk are still on the table, what does Celestia know about them?" Fossil asked. "She's over one thousand years old. Maybe she knows something about them".

That was a good question that caught everyone there by surprise. That was true. Celestia has to know something about the Crocfolk or at least heard of them.

"I'll ask Princess Celestia about it right away," Twilight said.

Twilight and the others followed her to the library, the best place for them to talk to Celestia about their reptilian ex-prisoner. Twilight conjured a crystal ball and channeled magic into it. After a few minutes of ringing, Celestia's face appeared in the crystal ball.

"Twilight, my most faithful student! How are you?" Celestia asked.

"I'm in an inquisitive mood, Your Majesty. Recently, we've come across a rare find that we thought you may know about," Twilight said.

"Oh? What is it?" Celestia asked.

"Do you know anything about a race of beings called the 'Crocfolk'?" Twilight asked.

"The Crocfolk? I haven't heard about them for a long time. I thought they were extinct," Celestia said.

"Well, one just ran out of the Castle today," Twilight said.

A look of shock came across Celestia's face. She looked like she was about to have a heart attack.

"Really? A Croc-kin is still alive?!" Celestia asked. "Then we should try to talk to them to bury the sins of our past".

"That's the thing. Professor Fossil told us that the Crocfolk were hunted to extnction. By Ponies," Twilight said. "Celestia, is there something that's being hidden?"

"Twilight, listen carefully," Celestia said. "A long time ago, I established an agency that had the sole purpose of hunting and destroying any and all threats within Equestria's borders".

"And I assume the Crocfolk were these 'threats'?" Applejack asked.

"It would sadly seem so," Celestia said with a tear in her eye. "When I found out about the agency's atrocities, I disbanded them. But it seems that some of them are still active in the shadows".

"And these active members must be the reason why this last survivor hates Ponies so much," Spike said. "He said that Ponies are the reason he's the last of his kind".

It took a while for Celestia to respond. "Twilight, I think we should try to teach him about friendship and harmony under your supervision".

"Really? Why?" Twilight asked.

"Because if he is the last of his kind, then we need to do something to help him out of his personal darkness," Celestia said. "It would also be my way of apologizing on behalf of all Ponies".

"Well, Spike told us he was heading west. We could try looking there," Twilight said.

"I'll inform the Royal Guard stationed west," Celestia said. "We have to make things right with the Crocfolk".

That may be easier said than done, though.