Pals and Ponies

The young man didn’t know what he expected when he stepped through the swirling portal back at the underground ruins. Maybe a barren wasteland, a cityscape of towering spires, or even a fiery inferno teeming with hostile creatures.

What he didn’t expect was to find himself in a forest, eerily similar to the ones back on the island.

Towering trees with twisted branches loomed above him, their leaves a deep green that seemed to shimmer faintly under the soft light filtering through the canopy. The air smelled fresh but carried an underlying tang of something unfamiliar, a subtle hint that this forest wasn’t quite like the ones he knew.

Still he couldn't help but release a long breath, shaking his head as he adjusted his bowgun back across his shoulder. “Of course…All that buildup, and it’s just another forest,” he muttered. “Figures.”

Lamball bounded forward, undeterred by the man’s disappointment. The little creature sniffed at the ground and occasionally pawed at fallen leaves, its fluffy body bouncing with its unrelenting enthusiasm.

“Nothing ever gets you done, huh, buddy?” the young man called out, his voice softer this time. “Still be careful. New area means new Pals after all.”

Lamball gave a cheerful bleat in response, as if to say, Don’t worry, I’ve got this. The man couldn’t help but smile despite himself. He crouched low, brushing his fingers against the forest floor. The soil was soft and damp, and the occasional footprint—none of them human—hinted at the presence of wildlife.

Standing again, he scanned his surroundings. The trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their dense trunks obscuring any clear path forward. A faint mist clung to the ground, swirling lazily around his boots as he took cautious steps deeper into the woods. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and Lamball’s soft bleats, creating an almost serene atmosphere that was equal parts calming and unnerving.

“Alright,” he said aloud, his voice cutting through the quiet. “If this place is anything like the islands, there’s got to be something important nearby. Ruins, maybe? Or some kind of clue about where that portal came from.”

Lamball paused mid-bounce, tilting its head back to look at him. It let out a soft, questioning bleat before hopping to his side.

“You’re right,” he said, scratching the creature behind its ears. “First things first: Setting up a new base.”

The young man’s earlier complaints about the forest faded as he got to work. Despite the challenges, he always found a spark of excitement in setting up camp in a new place. It was part of the adventure after all—establishing a foothold in the unknown and making the unfamiliar feel just a little more like home.

He reached into his pack and pulled out a sleek, handheld device, its metallic surface cool to the touch. Clicking the screen, it came alive with a soft hum, displaying a grid of icons and information. Tapping through the interface with practiced ease, he located the command he was looking for.

“There you are,” he muttered to himself with a grin. “First things first. A Palbox.”

With one final tap, the back of the device lit up, projecting a shimmering grid of light onto the ground. Slowly but surely, like a high-tech 3D printer, the light solidified into a structure—a compact computer console that gleamed faintly under the canopy’s dim light. Its design was practical yet sophisticated, with smooth edges and a modular interface. Tiny blinking lights indicated that it was booting up.

Lamball watched the process with wide, fascinated eyes, bouncing in place as the console took shape. When it finally finished, the little creature let out an excited bleat and sniffed at the machine.

“Hold on, buddy,” the man said with a chuckle, gently nudging Lamball aside. “Let me make sure it’s working first.”

He crouched in front of the console and began typing on the interface, his fingers dancing across the holographic keyboard. The Palbox hummed to life, its screen displaying a series of readouts and diagnostics. It was designed to be a portable hub for survival, equipped with tools for communication, mapping, and resource management. Perfect for exploring uncharted territory.

He smirked as he turned towards his buddy. “Shall I call a friend or two?”

With Lamball’s enthusiastic bleat of approval, the man grinned and tapped a few more keys on the Palbox’s interface. The air behind the console shimmered with energy, rippling as another figure began to materialize. Bit by bit, the light coalesced into a small pink creature, its round body and stubby limbs giving it an adorably plump appearance. Three tufts of hair stuck up from its forehead, and its expressive eyes blinked curiously as it took in its surroundings.

The creature stood on its hind legs, swaying slightly as if adjusting to its sudden arrival. Its little nose twitched, sniffing the air. When its gaze landed on the man, recognition lit up its features. With a delighted meow, it launched itself forward, forcing the man to react quickly and catch it mid-air.

“Whoa, hey!” he laughed, wrapping his arms around the exuberant creature. “Missed me, huh?”

The pink feline-like being clung to him, nuzzling its round face against his chest with unabashed affection. Its purring vibrated softly, a sound that was as soothing as it was endearing. Lamball, not one to be left out, hopped excitedly around them, bleating as if to welcome the new arrival.

“Hehe,” the young man laughs, setting the pink creature down beside Lamball. “I take it you’re happy to be here, Cattiva?”

The pink feline-like creature, now identified as Cattiva, puffed out its chest with exaggerated confidence, closing its eyes as it meowed in response. The sound was equal parts proud declaration and melodramatic flair, as though it was assuring the man of its unwavering loyalty—or demanding his undivided attention.

The man couldn’t help but smirk at the display. “Alright, alright, I get it,” he said, patting her head. “Good to see you too.”

Lamball, ever the optimist, hopped over to nuzzle against Cattiva, bleating happily. But Cattiva’s eyes snapped open, narrowing as she side-stepped with a sharp meow, allowing the little ball of wool to topple over onto its face.

“Now now. Be nice Cat,,” the man spoke, already sensing the brewing tension. He had seen this before—Cattiva’s possessiveness over him was as predictable as the sunrise. She clearly viewed Lamball as an unworthy rival, one who somehow threatened her claim to his attention.

Lamball, oblivious to the rivalry, decided to smile and have fun elsewhere, his attention grabbed by that of a small yellow flower, much to the pink cat’s charging.

Cattiva let out a low, exasperated growl as she watched Lamball hop away with the picked flower, entirely unbothered. Her fluffy tail twitched with irritation, and with a dramatic sigh, she raised a paw to her forehead, pressing it against her fur in a comically exaggerated facepalm.

Her expression would change, however, as she felt the man’s hand rub the top of her head. She tilted her chin upward, the exasperation melting from her face as her purring resumed almost involuntarily. His voice was calm and reassuring, cutting through her lingering irritation.

“Come on, Catt,” he said, crouching beside her. “I need your help if we’re gonna get this place shipshape before nightfall. Think you can look for some edible berries around here while I clear a bit of this land for rocks and wood?”

She blinked up at him, her tail flicking thoughtfully. Her first instinct was to protest—why should she be the one to go foraging? That sounded like a task beneath her stature. But the warm look in his emerald green eyes made her pause, and she let out a reluctant but understanding meow.

“Atta girl,” he said with a grin, giving her a final scratch behind the ears before standing up. “You’re the best, Cattiva.”

That did it. Her chest puffed out again, her pride returning in full force as she meowed in agreement. Of course, she was the best. Who else could he rely on to handle such a crucial task?

Cattiva strutted off toward the edge of the clearing, her tail held high as if to show Lamball—who was still happily nosing the flower—that she was the one doing something important. Her sharp eyes scanned the underbrush, searching for any signs of berries.

The man nodded before rolling up his sleeves. “Right! Time to get to work!”

~~~

Starlight Glimmer stretched as she approached the kitchen area, her horn sparking faintly with residual magic from her sleepy state. Her usually neatly styled purple and blue mane was slightly disheveled, a few strands sticking out in various directions. The light purple unicorngave another yawn, her eyes half-lidded as she took in the familiar sight of Spike at the stove, a cheerful hum escaping him as he worked.

“Morning, Spike,” she mumbled, her voice groggy but warm.

“Morning, Starlight!” Spike replied, glancing over his shoulder with a grin. The dragon was already in his element, flipping a flat bread with expert precision. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and something sweet and cinnamony wafted through the air, instantly making Starlight feel a little more awake.

“Pancakes?” she guessed, perking up slightly as her nose twitched.

“You betcha! And not just any pancakes—cinnamon swirl pancakes with a dash of vanilla!” Spike declared proudly, holding up the spatula like a victor brandishing a trophy. “Thought I’d try something new today.”

Starlight’s stomach growled in response, and she chuckled sheepishly. “Sounds amazing. I could use something like that after the kind of night I had.”

Spike raised an eyebrow as he poured another ladle of batter onto the sizzling pan. “Rough night?”

Starlight frowned as she slid into a chair at the table, resting her head on her hoof. “A little. My horn was kind of flaring up for some reason. It was weird—like little magical sparks just kept buzzing out of it all night.”

Spike frowned as he turned back to the stove, his brow furrowing in thought. “That is weird. Twilight was kind of up late last night too. She looked like something was bothering her, but when I asked, she just waved me off. Said it was nothing.”

Hmm…” Starlight frowned, her hoof tapping on the table. “If it was just me, I’d say the same thing. But if Twilight was acting weird too…” She trailed off, her gaze drifting toward the door. “Maybe I should go check on her. Is she up yet?”

Spike shook his head, flipping another pancake with a quick flick of the spatula before answering her. “Not that I’ve seen. She was still in her room when I came down. I figured she’d need some extra rest after whatever kept her up.”

“I’ll go see if she’s awake then.” Starlight responded with a sigh, slipping from the table. “If something’s bothering her, it’s better to talk it out sooner rather than later.”

“Good idea. Twilight’s good at handling a lot on her own, but sometimes she needs a little push to open up. You know how she gets.”

Starlight gave him a wry smile. “Don’t I ever.” She headed toward the hallway, glancing back over her shoulder. “Save some of those pancakes for me, okay?”

“You got it.” Spike gave the mare a salute with his spatula. “Good luck.”

With new mission at hand, Starlight made her way down the hallway toward Twilight’s room, her mind raced with possibilities. Was this just a coincidence, or was there something bigger going on? She couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling lingering in her chest, but she pushed it aside as she reached Twilight’s door. Knocking gently, she called out, “Twilight? Are you up? It’s Starlight.”

There was a pause before a muffled voice answered, sounding tired. “Come in.”

Starlight pushed the door open and stepped into Twilight’s room. The first thing she noticed was the faint scent of parchment and ink mingling with the morning air. Twilight sat at her desk, surrounded by an organized chaos of open books, scrolls, and loose notes. Her mane was slightly frazzled, and there were faint shadows under her eyes, but nothing out of the ordinary for a late-night study session.

Still, Starlight offered a small smile, hoping to put her at ease. “Morning, Twilight. Sorry if I’m bothering you or anything.”

The young Alicorn smiled as she turned towards her friend. “You’re not bothering me, Starlight. Is something wrong?”

“No…well…maybe…” Starlight stepped further into the room, her eyes briefly scanning the mess of papers on Twilight’s desk. “I just wanted to check in on you. Spike said you were up late, and, well…” She hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck. “See, my horn was acting up last night—sparking randomly, and I couldn’t get it to stop for a while. I thought it was just me but then Spike mentioned you seemed a little off today as well so….”

Twilight’s smile faltered slightly before a frown crossed her features. “Your…horn was sparking?”

“Yeah, it was weird. It felt like it had a mind of its own, just buzzing and sparking at random intervals all night. I couldn’t sleep for a while because of it.”

Twilight leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowed in thought. “...Not just me then…”

“Uh… Twilight? You okay?”

The lavender alicorn’s ears twitched before rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. “Sorry, I just… was thinking. When did you start feeling your horn spark?”

Starlight furrowed her brow, trying to recall. “It was sometime after I went to bed. Maybe around midnight? It wasn’t strong at first, just a tingle, but then the sparks started and kept waking me up. Why?”

Twilight’s eyes darted back to the mess of papers on her desk. She picked up a scroll, unrolled it, and scanned the contents with an intensity that made Starlight shift nervously. After a moment, Twilight spoke, her voice steady but edged with concern. “That’s around the same time mine started as well.”

Starlight's eyebrows shot up, her unease deepening. “That's what I was afraid of…And you thought it was just you as well, right?”

Twilight sighed, setting the scroll back down on the desk with a quiet thud. “Indeed…I thought it was just an Alicorn thing, honestly. I woke up with a tingle in my horn and it did last a little bit but…and stopped after a while, maybe fifteen minutes?. I wrote how it felt and everything like that before falling back into bed though. I was going to bring it up with the Princess.”

“Mine went on for a bit longer… maybe an hour?” Starlight said, pacing the room. “It eventually calmed down, but not before it kept me tossing and turning. ” She grumbles a bit. “And I hate having my ten hours oof sleep interrupted.”

Twilight’s brow furrowed. “An hour? That’s significantly longer than what I experienced. And if it’s lingering that much longer for you, it could mean your magic is being affected differently—or more intensely—or my Alicorn magic subdued my own flare up after a while…” She shook her head, “Still, no matter how you look at it, two unicorns having a magic flare isn’t exactly unheard of. Magic can be unpredictable, especially at night when our minds are more vulnerable to subconscious thoughts. It could be a coincidence—something minor that caused an overload in both of us.”

Starlight could concede at her point. “True. Rare but not that rare.”

There was a gentle knock at Twilight's door, interrupting their conversation.

“Twilight, darling, are you awake? It’s Rarity. I hope I’m not intruding, but I thought I’d check in on you.”

Twilight exchanged a quick glance with Starlight before calling out, “Come in, Rarity.”

The door creaked open, and Rarity stepped inside, her pristine purple mane perfectly styled as always, though her expression carried the faintest hint of unease…and a bit of tiredness. She stopped just inside the room, her gaze flickering between Twilight and Starlight.

“Oh, good, you’re both here. I wasn’t sure if you’d be up yet, but I thought it best to speak with you sooner rather than later.” She paused, her tone growing softer. “Have either of you felt… Well, off since last night?”

Twilight and Starlight exchanged surprised looks before Starlight asked, “Did you magic flare up?”

Rarity blinked, momentarily taken aback by Starlight's bluntness, but quickly composed herself. “Why, yes, actually. It was the oddest thing! I was working on a new design—something utterly fabulous, of course—when my horn began sparking out of nowhere. It wasn’t dangerous, thank Celestia, but it was certainly distracting. I simply couldn’t concentrate after that.”

Starlight’s expression turned serious, and she glanced at Twilight. “Two is a coincidence. But three…”

“Three makes a pattern.” Twilight finishes.

Rarity blinked, her gaze darting between Twilight and Starlight, her tone laced with growing concern. “Oh dear, this isn’t just some passing oddity, is it?”

Twilight shook her head, her eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and concern. “No... I think we might just have a mystery on our hooves.”

~~~

Cattiva’s little paws moved swiftly, though every movement was laced with seething irritation. Her fluffy tail flicked wildly behind her as she picked the berries, her face contorted in a mixture of annoyance and disbelief. How dare she, a creature of grace and dignity, be reduced to this kind of demeaning work? She huffed in frustration, her soft paws delicately plucking the ripe fruits and setting them aside in a small pile, each berry more of an insult than the last.

Her ears flattened in a silent protest, and her eyes glared at the task before her as if it were a personal betrayal. She could never voice her discontent out loud, not with her master standing nearby, offering nothing but endless praise and the occasional scratch behind her ears at a job well done. As much as she hated the work, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.. The praise, the affection—it was more than she could ever resist. Yet, that didn’t stop her from grumbling inwardly as she worked, each berry she picked a small rebellion in her heart.

As she plucked the ripe fruits and placed them into a growing pile beside her, her mind began to drift toward simpler, more satisfying thoughts.

She imagined herself perched proudly on her master’s lap, her pink fur glowing under the soft light as his hand gently scratched behind her ears. Lamball, of course, would be nowhere in sight—banished from the scene entirely. Maybe she’d swat him away with a single, calculated flick of her paw. Yes, she could see it clearly now: Lamball trying to hop up, only for her to nudge him off with effortless grace.

Her master would chuckle, his emerald green eyes filled with amusement as he praised her. “Good girl, Cattiva,” he’d say, his voice warm and adoring. “You’re the best, you know that? Always so reliable.”

The thought was so pleasant, so vivid, that Cattiva’s lips curled into a smug little devious smile.

A smile that faltered as her ears flicked upwards, catching the faintest sound from deeper within the forest. It was distant at first, muffled and unclear, but unmistakably a yell. Her paws froze mid-pick, and her tail stiffened as her wide, round eyes scanned the shadowy trees around her.

Being the coward she was, her first thought was to bolt straight back to the safety of the base. Let Master handle this, she reasoned. He’s the brave one, not her after all. Her paws shifted uneasily, and she turned halfway back toward the camp, ready to flee.

But the yell came again—closer this time, clearer. It echoed through the forest, louder and more desperate

She didn’t know what to do. To stay? Run? Oh, why did she have to wonder so far from the base in the first place? The little cattiva gritted her teeth, glancing anxiously back and forth between the direction of the yell and the safety of her master’s camp.

With a resolute and tired sigh, the pink cat grumbled under her breath, muttering a string of colorful insults directed at her master. She rushed through the underbrush, her tiny paws kicking up dirt and leaves as she followed the sound. The yell came again, guiding her path, and her irritation was quickly joined by a growing sense of urgency.

Bursting through a dense patch of foliage, she skidded to a halt in an open clearing, her eyes widening at the scene before her.

Not too far away, a small, white creature with black stripes—what looked like a young horse—was pinned to the ground, struggling beneath the weight of a massive creature. The hulking beast looming over them was something akin to that of an alligator-like monster, its body seemingly made of jagged, dark-gray rocks. Its glowing yellow eyes fixed on its prey, and its sharp, stone-like claws dug into the ground around the striped horse.

“Beast of stone, release me now, Or face the wrath I will allow!” It struggled to lift the weight of the leg, pinning them to the ground. “This zebra’s life is not your feast—Turn back and leave, you stubborn beast!”

Cattiva’s paws trembled as she watched the scene unfold, her wide eyes darting between the zebra struggling beneath the rocky beast and the monster itself. She wanted to run—every instinct screamed at her to bolt back to the safety of the base.

Her claws flexed against the ground, and her ears flattened as she groaned softly, an annoyed, almost growling meow slipping from her throat. Her tail lashed wildly, frustration and fear battling within her. Another cry from the zebra snapped her focus back to the clearing.

Cattiva let out a sharp, irritated yowl, shaking her head as if to banish her hesitation. Her master’s teachings gnawed at her—kindness, compassion, all that nonsense. She clenched her tiny fists, her small form trembling. Finally, with a resigned sigh, the little cat called out, hoping to gain the beast’s attention.

And Attention she did grab, the monster’s glowing yellow eyes immediately shifting toward her, narrowing in confusion. Cattiva crouched low, her fur bristling and her tiny paws raised defensively in front of her face. She inhaled sharply before opening her maw wide.

She leaned forward and from her mouth erupted a powerful blast of condensed air, the force rippling visibly through the clearing. It struck the rocky beast squarely on its side, sending it reeling with a deep, guttural roar. The impact toppled the monster over, its massive frame crashing onto its back and sending shards of stone flying.

The black and white horse gasped as the crushing weight pinning it down was suddenly lifted. It scrambled to its hooves, panting, its wide eyes as the pink cat ran in front of it grabbing their leg. "W-What manner of creature saves the day, with power that keeps such a beast at bay?"

Cattiva didn’t acknowledge the words, her focus entirely on the monster as it shifted and began to rise. She began to pull the white and black pony with her and away from the area. If it was just another silly human then she would have fought but she wasn’t taking any chances with things twice her size and her master no where around to help.

The black and white horse…or Zebra as she called herself…stumbled slightly as Cattiva tugged at its leg, the pink cat’s small frame deceptively strong as she urged the zebra away from the clearing. The zebra’s wide eyes darted between the towering rocky beast and the determined feline dragging it toward safety.

“Wait—what are you doing to me? We cannot flee!” the zebra cried out in rhyme, its voice frantic yet resolute. “This beast must fall, or more will die—Why do you pull me, small ally?”

Cattiva ignored the zebra’s protests, letting out an impatient, demanding meow as she tugged harder. Her focus was singular: getting this striped thing out of harm’s way and getting the heck out of dodge. She wasn’t about to risk her life anymore then she already had.

The rocky alligator roared again, now fully recovered from the blast. Barely any damage could be seen upon it, though that was a given. Without hesitation it began to charge right at the odd pair, closing the distance fast. The ground quaked beneath Cattiva’s tiny paws as the massive rocky monster grew closer, its jagged claws tearing into the earth with each thunderous step. She froze for a split second, her wide eyes locking on the glowing yellow orbs of the beast bearing down on them. Letting out a panicked squeak, she did the only thing her instincts allowed—she curled herself into a tight, trembling ball, her fluffy pink tail wrapped protectively around her and prayed for a miracle.

Her small form quivered as she braced for the inevitable impact. Why, oh why, did I try to play hero? she thought miserably, her mind racing with regret. This wasn’t her fight! She should’ve just stayed back at the base where it was safe and predictable.

With a fierce snort, the zebra planted her hooves firmly into the earth, standing in the way of the advancing alligator’s path. Her body was braced, and her wide eyes narrowed with resolve. “I shall not let this beast proceed!” she cried, her voice ringing out with a clarity and strength that belied the terror she must have felt. “So stand tall, I shall, and you will never succeeded."

The cattvia groned despite herself. At least she wasn’t going to die alone. Small comforts.

The roar of the charging monster grew louder, and she squeezed her eyes shut, her heart pounding in her chest as she readied for the end.

Any second now, the blow would come…

Instead of pain, however,, there was a sudden thud followed by an ear-splitting bellow of rage.

Cattiva hesitated, one eye cracking open as she uncurled just enough to peek at what had happened. To her astonishment, as well as the black and white zebra’s, a very familiar figure was standing in front of them.

“Saw the battle alert on my system! Sorry I’m late, Cat.”

Cattiva blinked, her wide eyes locking onto the figure standing protectively in front of her and the zebra, a large sword in hand. Relief flooded her as she recognized the familiar silhouette: her master. She was even happy to see that dummy Lamball as he bounced in front of master, taking up it's only stupid battle position. Only a little bit though. And no way she would tell him that to his face!

The black-and-white zebra, still in shock and wide-eyed, stared at the unexpected duo that had leapt into the fray. “What manner of creatures are all of you—Who leaps to fight with strength so true?” the zebra asked.

The man froze mid-motion, blinking at the zebra in surprise. He yelped as he pointed a finger at the striped figure, his tone incredulous. “Holy crap, you talk!”

Cattiva let out an exasperated meow, rolling her eyes. She padded forward and gave his leg a sharp bat and pointed, her way of reminding him there was a giant monster still looming over them.

The man snapped out of his surprise, shaking his head as if to refocus. “Oh… right! Deal with that later,” he muttered, a sheepish grin flickering across his face. He reached into his pack and pulled out a blue, glowing sphere-like object that shimmered faintly in his hand. Holding it up, he cast a determined glance toward the roaring rocky alligator. “Right now... it’s time to capture a new Pal!”