The 4th Tribe

Rainbow Dash moved as fast as she possibly could in her condition down the flight of stairs. She felt humiliated, having that personal moment interrupted by Storm and the girls. Why she did it in the first place, she didn't know exactly. However one thing was perfectly clear...

She needed time alone.

As she entered the lobby, she froze at the sight of both Pinkie Pie and Rarity waiting there for her. Both had concerned looks on their faces, and the current positioning betwixt the two meant she couldn't further advance.

"Dash, are you alright dear?" Rarity asked as she took a step forward. She wore a sincere grin, and was willing herself not to begin questioning the scene she saw. Pinkie had done her own signature promise to stay quiet about that matter until she herself could ease the topic in.

"No...I mean yes... I don't know!" She cried, putting her face into her hooves. This day had started out great, but it had turned into the worst day of her life. She kept crying, because for once in her life, Dash didn't have a smart-Alec remark or joke. She was embarrassed that her friends had caught her making out with somepony.

She was confused because she had no idea why, and the worst feeling was the guilt that she might have killed somepony if it wasn't for the doctors, she didn't know what she would have done. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice Rarity come over and sit next to her. She put her hoof around Dash, careful not to touch her injured wing,

"Its okay Rainbow. Tell me whats wrong." Rarity asked kindly and gently, careful in not trying to further upset the crying pegasus too much.

"I nearly..." she snorted to cease a small amount of snot from running out, "killed one of my friends... And now you probably think I'm some," she interrupted herself by sniffling, then continued, "kinda of-" Her mouth was suddenly stuffed with Rarity's hoof, cutting off what she was about to say. Rarity's voice suddenly became very stern.

"Don't you dare call yourself that Dash...But, I have to ask this: Do you like him? Her voice went from stern to something a mother would say to a scared little foal. She took her hoof away, allowing Dash to talk.

"I-I don't know..." She managed to get out between sniffles. Her mind was in chaos right now; part of her said yes, but another part was saying no, that she was nothing but a...a....

"Looks like somepony needs to LAUGH!" A sudden, cheery voice called out.  Dash's opened her eyes to see Pinkie Pie dancing around, singing a song.

(The tune goes with Smile Song, so thinking of the verses in that tune will help.)

"There's no need to cry,

To feel bad or sigh,

Because I have just the thing,

that will surely make your heart ring.

"If you truly love him Dashie,

you won't need to worry 'bout the crash,

just return to being sassy,

and you'll both be sure to have a smash.

"You've both been good friends,

and this won't cause the end,

so it's time to go and wipe those tears,

for this song should end all your fears.

"Your the fastest in the land, (yes you are)

the daredevil of your clan, (indeed it's true)

which is why you need to do your best,

and put these thoughts down for rest~!"

Pinkie finished her act with a back flip and landed right next to the now-smiling Dash. She walked over to her, her face now nearly touching hers.

"You feel better now silly?" She asked, peering right into her eyes. Dash slowly stood back up, and gave Pinkie a huge hug. She had stopped crying and now had the biggest smile Pinkie had ever seen on her.

"Thanks, Pinkie. That helped." She said as she hugged her. Rarity joined them and soon, it was a group hug.

"Come on Dash, lets go get you some cupcakes and then we'll go back to the hospital." Rarity told Dash as if she would be talking to a child. Dash left the group hug and raced toward Sugarcube Corner.

"Bet I'll get there before you chums!"

Blackness...

This was the only defining feature of where my subconscious was. It was the only thing I could see, feel, smell... Now THAT was unexpected. Being able to smell the darkness that clouded me. Sorta reminded me of disinfectant...

Don't ask, I had no idea disinfectant clouds can get that big.

To describe my current feeling of this darkness was difficult to say the least. I felt that I was on something, yet when I looked around and below me... all I saw was the Blackness. It was thick, nearly daunting to stare into this empty void.

It was like pudding, in a way.

I had to be dead. Any attempts for making sound seemed to be in vain. The dead options starting to look a lot more likely, after all I did get stabbed by a pitchfork.

Wait, whats this...

No. I was wrong. Because now I heard something... something emitting from the cold abyss I found myself in. To describe was impossible... it was an echo, yet it carried no sound. No voice.

Yet I heard it. It was small, at first. But as it volume ever-gradually grew, my anxiety increased with it. It wasn't a recognizable echo of a sound. I thought at one point that if I listened hard enough, that I barely heard a scream...

Oh lord, whats going on now...

The temperature in this plane didn't seem to remain constant either, which confused me further. In Death, it's supposed to be cold right? Not here, and this is what made me question my current state.

It was warm at first. I even thought I felt wind as I floated in my vast prison. And then, it briefly became colder. Not the cold I expected, almost as if it was the shade in a desert's sun.

The echo had evolved now. When previously it was an echo with no sound, it was slowly blending into whispers. Was it the spirits of the dead? Who knew, I couldn't see through this veil of pudding.

Then, nearly instantaneously, it stopped. Not the echo entirely, but the whispers did. This was when I noticed that my thoughts were becoming harder to compose. Was it the darkness, driving me mad to the point where I couldn't create clear thoughts?

This...is...getting... annoying...fast!

I... felt myself begin to slip away. Almost like falling backwards for no reason. The thought of Death arose again as I felt this pulling feeling. My thoughts now were... SO difficult to... form.

If... if this is... my end...

Then.... so... be it.

As long as there is bacon, if not I'M COMING BACK!

"Calm down...Oh everything's just fine..." I spat out venomously, nearly throwing the Nurse's trying to hold me in vain down.

"Matt...Please calm down." Rainbow begged, tears starting to form in her eyes.

i heard the sound of the door opening, and Storm walked himself in.

"Whats the current situation?" He asked. My response was to take my pillow and throw it as hard as I could towards him. It missed and hit just above the door, making him back up for a spit second.

He performed a small duck as he went and positioned himself next to the door. "Woah. What's doing on?!"

"Nothing really...JUST DIED AND OH, I DON'T KNOW, TURNED INTO A FUCKEN PONY!" I screamed, flailing around the bed, trying to get lose so I could run out of the room.

"Everyone, stand back!" I heard Storm shout, clearing the ponies trying to hold me down. I nearly shot up and ran out, but storm was there to stop me.

"Calm down Matt. Just ease up, and we'll talk about what happened..." There's nothing to talk about Storm...I DIED AND NOW I'M A FUCKEN PONY!

"Oh nothing...I just died and now I'm a pony! HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU?" I spat at him, spittle flying through the air. I just died...HOW AM I ALIVE???

Slap

I stopped flailing around and just stared...What...What the hell am I doing? I looked around the room at the pony's gathered there, most of them looking near tears.

"Technically, you didn't die. You just had semi-severe injuries. As for the pony bit, that was a side effect of one of the doctor's spells." He said calmly, his voice filled with concern.

"I...Did't die...?" I manged to mumble out.

I looked up at Storm who had a look of pure concern. "Are... you okay, Matt?"

I paused and looked right at him, my mind a total cluster fuck.

"I...I don't know..." I manged to spit out. I did not die...Then what was that dream about...Why did the voice lie?

"How ya feeling?" He asked me, breaking me of my concentration and major mind fuck.

"Like I just got stabbed, then died..." I  said solemnly , my head hung in shame. I had sunk into a depression, my mind running wild.

"You're lucky I was alerted in time. You should be fully-healed in about two days of bedrest." That got my attention...Would I be going back to my human form in two days?

"Cool...So, am I stuck like this?" I asked, moving my hooves over my body that was under the sheet that had somehow stayed on. Storm looked up at the ceiling, why the others looked at him with annoyed looks.

"I'm currently synthesysing a counter-remedy for you. Should be done in about a week." Wait what... YAY LIGHTING POWERS OF AWESOMENESS!!

"Really?"

His response was a cocky grin. "I've dealt with shapeshifters who gotten stuck in a form a few times. All I needed was a blood sample, and I could construct a potion that countered the effects. I could explain how using alot of technical terms, but that's not the important thing that needs to be discussed."

What did he just say?

Yes...Please no more technical terms, my brain will melt." I manged to joke out, suddenly I yawned and shifted my head.

"Anyways, we need to discuss something quite crutcial that I've discovered recently." He looked at the others, and they left the room.

I streched and yawned again." Can it wait till moring? Cause I'm kinda tried..."

"I think it'd be best if I told you about the organization hunting humans, NOW."

"Wut..."

He nodded and sat myself upon my bed. "While you were at the farm, I had encountered and pursued a thief who stole a great deal of bits from a Ms. Cheerilee. When he was cornered, I was ambushed by his allies."

Wow...And this was when I was knocked out I suppose.

He stood up again and casually walked about the room. "I had no choice but to kill them. When I absorbed the leader however, I uncovered a briefing from a pony in the shadows planning to go after a human sighting in Ponyville." He abosobed there leader...Yeah not going to touch that.

"The thief I had chased appeared to be a higher member, so I let him live and brought him here for questioning. Initially, he refused to talk. But luckily some torture got him to reveal the plot."

Yeah not going to go into that, brain turning off.

He stopped and faced me with a somber expression. "I don't know where their base is, who is leading the group, or when they'll strike next. All I do know is that they'll most likely strike when I leave. And that's why I need to train you, against the threat of this anti-human faction in your Equestria."

Fuck...My...Life...

I stared at him and sighed..."Can I just have one day where I'm not put in some random new body, and am now going to be hunted like an animal..."

“Isnt’ this this first time you’ve never been human though?” Twilight asked, rubbing the underside of her chin with a hoof.

"Maybe. When the organization crumbles, and the tonic is made, sure. 'Til then, we're going to prepare. Be ready to become more properly acquainted with your temporary body tommorow. For now, sleep."

"With pleasure..."

Annoyance.

That was a key emotion being displayed. Anyone could see it, if they were watching. The human-turned-pony stomped around in heavy steps, trying to get the feeling still of his body. The past week was hectic, and he was glad that quite soon he'd be done with it.

Although, it wasn't the worst possible thing. Learning how to gallop though, now that was something else. Those first attempts resulted in many face plants, and lots of dirt being crammed up his nasal passages. The Mane Six took great pleasure in watching him fail, and they were currently suppressing giggles at the still-stomping stallion.

"Are you alright?" Twilight called out to him. He looked over and regarded her with a snort. This however just caused a further surge of laughing from the others, which simultaneously attracted the attention of nearby passing ponies. However, he didn't care.

He was waiting for his other human friend to come, and then they could finally deal with-

"You seem annoyed."

"No, really?" He remarked with his voice dripping in sarcasm.

The individual who asked the question merely chuckled and waved the irritated pony to follow him. As they began to walk over towards the Mane Six, the annoyed pony following began to speak.

"I'm so done with this man."

His friend chuckled, but didn't slow down. "Well this is the last day before the tonic is supposed to be done-"

"Yeah, I know. This week has not been kind."

"Still having problems adjusting to the body?"

He rolled his eyes. "Been having them since I got it."

His friend nodded at this and parked in front of the group. "That was a crazy week," He turned towards the pony following him and allowed a smirk. "But I appreciate you doing it to help, Storm."

Storm nodded as he flexed his back to familiarize himself again. He did that frequently since he shape-shifted to help suit Matt's combat needs. "Yeah yeah. I still can't believe you talked me into it."

The other pony, Matt, simply smiled. "I can't believe you did some of what you did when we were learning how to fly."

Some time ago...

Still no bacon

I stretched my wings as I let out a loud yawn. Flying with Rainbow Dash was, to say the least, exhausting. She was always pushing me further, encouraging me to got the extra mile. Literally.I  had done at least seven 'extra miles' that morning alone.

But the strange thing was that she should sometimes blush when I looked at her...Now that I mention it, when I woke up, my mouth tasted like Skittles.

No...Maybe...I must inquire this further.

Rolling onto my back, I smiled up at the sky. Being a pony wasn't so bad, I mean flying is fucking awesome. I was handling it better than Storm was, that was for sure. Especially considering Storm had a choice to be a pony, where as I didn't exactly have one. I smiled again and started laughing evilly.

I might want to keep flying for a longer time than a week...

It was one of the rare days where the Pegasi whether patrols were allowing the fluffly white clouds that vaguely resemebled Pinkie Pie's mane and tail to float on their own accord  across the great blue. A soft, warm breeze ruffled my newly acquired feathers, tickilng me slightly.

Somewhere nearby, there was the faint sound of drums breaking the peace in the forest clearing. The same four beats, over and over again. O cracked one eye open. That was getting pretty annoying, wait...Where have I heard this before?

One two three four. One two three four. One two three four.

Without being aware of it, my  right front hoof tapped the ground along with the drums.

One two three four. One two three four. One two three four.

My eyes snapped open. It couldn't be. Could it? The same four beats from my dream. Over and over again.

One two three four. One two three four.

No, no fucken way...

This can't be a coincidence. I sat up and carefully scanned the forest's edge. Looking for the source of the drums.

One two three four.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!

"What the-?" My  head snapped to the left. There was nothing there and the drumming had stopped. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

What...The..Fuck....Was....That! There was a shadow in the wood's, I am not fucking around with you.

A very HUMAN looking shadow.

"Exhaustion playing tricks on me," I mumbled, laying back down in the grass. 'Still, I must miss home more than I thought if I'm seeing human-shaped shadows now.' I closed my eyes and pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind, where the wild shit is, as I began preparing himself for my afternoon sparring session with Storm. My right front hoof subcutaneously tapping out a rhythmic beat. Over and over again.

One two three four.

I chuckled. "And then, we decided to have our first heavy sparring match a few days after."

I thought back to the time when I punched basicly god in the face....

It was magical.

"Alright, you ready?"

We were both currently circling around each other, ready to strike at a moments notice. Initially, the previous sessions were of us adapting to fighting with these bodies\ They were fun, but as time went on we started getting better and rougher.

And I loved it.

The thief, Marshmallow Mist, had been moved to Canterlot for further questioning. Although, considering what Storm did to him, I personaly think the most there gonna get out is a bunch of fecal matter, and crap. If he can even talk. Storm looked like he was discated, so I began my attack fun.

I lunged with a hook, but he merely ducked under and bucked my chin using his right hind-leg.

I stumbled backwards and got back in my stance, trying to avoid not getting falconed to much.. We circled once again.

My fighting is very simple, but effective. I would wait for someone to attack me first, then block and pound them before backing off. If they had the same plan, it led to an awkward moment of just standing around, looking like idiots.

I noticed that he seemed distracted, like he was having a fight with himself,,,

Or somebritish A,I thingy.

I moved in, unlike my style and barraged him with a full volley of strikes to his head and chest. I got a good amount in before he jumped back, then I made the choice to be a dumb ass and try something fancy.

I turned around and fired a double buck right at him, but he made the smart move and ducked mid buck, pushed up above me and slammed into me, flipping me onto my back like a bit turtle. He backed up and allowed me to sand up.

We were considering doing weapon sparring with these bodies, but decided against due to how much longer we'd be in them.

Then it came to me, why not trick Storm. I did this by launching the same kind of attack for around 4 times, enough to get him stuck in a rhythm and not to expect it.

Another swing. Block. Side-Step. Reap. Repeat.

After the fourth time, I attacked. Instead of side stepping, I steeped in and slammed my hoof into his face as hard as I could, hearing something that sounded like a cannon go off as it made contact, knocking him back.

I knew it hurt like a bitch probably, but he just shrugged it off and gave me a good job hoof.

Then there was the time when we saw what you looked like." I told him."

Ponyville on a normal morning was tranquil. Ponies were still awakening, and the shops were just starting to open their doors. However, that peaceful feeling decided to pass over the town, due to a raging individual shouting at a group of laughing ponies.

Since Storm had been a pony, and we saw what he looked like, we did everything to try to keep what he looked like a secerat from him, from Pinkie taking all the mirros and hiding them in the town, to Twlight casting spells.

Why, becuase he looked like a male Pinkie Pie, with a slightly darker mane, but he looked exactly like her.

Storm was looking into a fountain, and had a really really weird look on his face. Oh...This is going to be priceless.

He started to walk over towards us, knowing what we had been doing. With tears now streaming down all of our faces, he spoke.

"Enjoying my misery, everypony?" he asked, watching tears literally stream down the faces of us, his face getting reder by the second.

And then the water came...

"And then I said, are you mad Andy Warhol?" Everypony exploded into laughs, except for Rarity, who calmly laughed, to my sadness.

"Oh oh...Tell us another one." Pinkie yelled bouncing and doing cartwheels in the air.

"That....Was awesome!" Dash yelled from the ground, having falling out of the sky she was laughing so hard. This sparked a question that I had from the moment I woke up.

"Hey Dash, when I woke up after the accident," I used carefull words not to upset her again," I tasted something like Skittles, which is a bunch of fruit in the colors of the Rainbow on Earth, Do you know why?" Suddenly everypony stopped laughing and stared at the now glowing red cheeks of Dash.

Oh this is not good...

"Um...The nurses came in and gave you a shot...That was probably it." She said it like she was under preasure. I looked towards AJ and noticed that she had a really really weird look on her face.

This calls for more investigation,.. But for another day!

"Of course, that must be it."

"Ye-Yeah..." She mumbled, looking away. She was saved by Storm trotting over to where we where. He tossed a vial at me, who caught it epicly. I was still getting used to this hoof thing, so I felt pretty good about myself. Storm took of his cap and chugged it, and with a puff of smoke later... He was standing there in human form.

"Well, I need to depart." He told us.

"Awww..." The girls cried from behind me, which was probably the saddest thing I had ever heard.

"Don't worry, I'll be back eventually." He turned towards me.

"Matt, I got some farewell gifts for ya."

PRESENTS???

ME GUSTA!

And out of the fucken blue, he pulled a entire saxophone out of his pocket. How the fuck I will never know. Ahh...Time to make some sweet saxxy music. Maybe doing a little dance, make a little love.

"Saxxy." Was my only reply, which made sense.

He handed over the necklace, and I looked at it in confusion. "It's a medal with your face on it, smiling."

"I know. It's a pager of sorts. When you're in distress, it sends me a signal."

I nodded in understanding, and watched as he crammed his hand back into my pocket once more.

He then reached in his pocket and pulled out the most epic thing of all time...The best present I had ever gotten.

In his hand...Was a One Piece Admiral's jacket in perfect condition, and it had my favorite colors, Electric blue sleeves that went prefect with my hair.

FUCKING BEST PRESENT EVER!!!

I slung it over my back, and it looked epic...

And then, he pulled out a hammer. Not some enchanted super hammer like Thor. Just a regular, nail and hammer hammer. OK...This is awkward, is this supposed to mean something?

"Is that all?" Lyra asked with a great deal of mirth, whatever that is.

"Nope. One last thing... To Matt, my first human friend in over three million years, I bequeath... a boot to the head."Was his only response before I got slammed in the head with a boot, sending me backwards and nearly dropping the vile off cure stuff. I got up and looked where Storm was, but he was gone.

"Well...That was one hell of a good bye." I said, rubbing my hoof on my head.

I stood up and shook myself off, and then an arrow flew by my head and implanted into the tree behind me.

"What the holy roman fuck w-." I was cut off by 5 more arrow's flying towards me and my friends. Luckily , who ever the fuck was shooting at us had horrible aim. Fluttershy had ducked down behind Twilight, while Dash and me looked around us, trying to find who ever was that bad of a shot.

"KILL THE HUMAN, KILL HIS FRIENDS, CUT THEM OPEN AND KILLLLLLLLL THEMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A voice screamed, accomplished by the sound of tramping hooves.

Hammer, don't fail me now.

Authors note's...

I AM BACK!!!!!!! Soviet here, and I am very very sorry for this coming out so late. School, parents, writers block from hell and mother nature herself did not like me.

Anyway, me and dumb and Shadow (are editor)  pulled an ALL NIGHTER for this, so please enjoy...

Feel free to comment, rate and even track me if you want to.

Anyway, as me and Dumb's cross is done for the time being, there will be more though, I am open to anyone that wants to crossover with me. If you do, ethier PM me on fimfiction or leave a comment below.

Also, the ideas you gave me for powers are being put into the story as I speak, so I hope you look foward to it.

And lastly, Don't forget to be awesome.

SovietBacon signing off.