The Magic of Music

Digit yawned. It was a beautiful day. Sun shining, birds singing, etc. All displayed in full glory through the goggles of a hangover.

Basically, it sucked.

“What a night... But MAN, what a party! I haven't had that much fun since I last saw Sleight's crazy fingers on the pa-” That's when he remembered what he had done nearly a month ago. “Right... Not gonna hear those beats anymore... I can't believe that actually worked.” He removed the book hidden inside the chest of drawers next to his bed. “I wonder what else you can do...”

*********************

What's with these wolves?! I've hit them with stones, whipped them with trees, and still they keep coming! They just shatter like block puppets, then reform! What is up with this hallucination?! Sleight pondered, desperately trying to escape the pack of wooden wolves. Is that...? Light! If I can get to that opening, maybe they'll give up the chase! Almost there...!

She burst from the woods. In front of her were three tiny horse-like animals, rushing toward her. Not as threatening as the dogs behind her, but she didn't feel like risking antagonizing a second group of weird beasts. She darted to the left, avoiding them.

That's when she discovered that the wolves did not give up. In fact, they were now gaining on her faster than before! Without the trees hindering their movements, she was now a much easier target. And both she and the wolves knew it.

Sleight turned to face her pursuers and assumed a rather aggressive bestial stance, screaming her deepest, angriest metal growl as if she were at a karaoke party. If life at night had taught her anything, it's how to take care of herself when she's alone, especially when winning a fight is hopeless.

Unsure what to make of the sudden change in their prey, the wolves paused. Both sides stalked around each other, the wolves waiting for an opening to pounce, and Sleight waiting for a chance to run back into the safety of the woods. But neither chance ever came. The wooden beasts were suddenly surrounded by an aura of purple light, and a moment later, they were flying over the jungle.

“Well, that was unexpected,” She thought aloud. Then she plopped to the ground, weary from all the running, but glad to be safe.

“Kab, uta bio imub?” She glanced at the rapidly approaching equines. They looked worried, if their expressions were meant to portray anything like human emotion. Odd how these tiny horses have facial  expressions. I'm probably still under the effects of whatever my 'pals' put in my soda. "Uta bio kotv?" Wait a sec... It just talked. Yep, I am DEFINITELY still doped.

“Are you talking to me, yellow horse... thing?” Interesting. The yellow one has wings, the orange one has a cowboy hat, and the purple one has both a horn and wings. Whatever they drugged me with, it's some good stuff.

...Grandpa's going to kill me...

“Hnowwatkb, ew yuv lovw uwwufmag db wepdat yinxav... Kiy ev wkuw kotv?” The purple one shook its head. Suddenly its ears perked up and its eyes went wide. “Yuew u vaf... Ew lovw wunmag!”

“Look, I have no idea what you're trying to say, and I have no idea what you're trying to do, so I'd appreciate it if you left me alone,” said Sleight, trying to get up and away from the now excited winged-unicorn, but her body was in a state of post-adrenal crash and refused to do anything more than jitter when she tried to move.

It was then that she realized she was also very cold. Last night was the winter solstice, and she just spent half of it butt-naked out in the open air. Instinctively, she balled up in an attempt to conserve whatever heat she had left.

“Ik, bio riit wkeqj! Bio povw da htaaceqj yewkiow uqb hot!” said the Pegasus. Well, it has wings, and it looks like a horse, kinda. May as well call it a Pegasus.

“Naw'v jaw ew wi biot kiova hit vipa yutpwk,” said the winged-unicorn. Ok, I just heard 'Jaw' and 'Hit'. I don't know what they're trying to do, but Screw That! Sleight struggled against her shivering and weary body, causing it to twitch violently. The three horses became alarmed. “Vwir! Ya'ta wtbeqj wi kanr!” She fought their advances, trying desperately to escape this new threat. “E giq'w wkeqm ew oqgatvwuqgv...”

Without warning, she rose into the air, surrounded by the same purple aura which had flung the timber wolves. A small glow of the same color emanated from the winged-unicorn's horn. Is that horse the one controlling me right now?

“Let me go!” Sleight yelled, scaring the little yellow Pegasus, but trying to break free was futile. Gah... I can't do a thing like this, cold and trapped inside this weird bubble. Tch. Getting beat by some deformed horses. I wonder what grandpa would say if he saw me right now, captive to midget mythical beasts. She stopped struggling and closed her eyes in acceptance of her fate.

*********************

“I'm sorry, Angel bunny. You're going to have to share with this big fella for a little while. At least until I can find a home for her.” The strange creature, which Fluttershy decided to call Littlefur, was currently wrapped tightly in a blanket and sleeping on the couch, much to the little white rabbit's ire.

Angel jumped up and kicked the invader in the flank. That got its attention, and it did not look pleased. “Vworeg tuddev...” it said sourly. “Giq'w puma pa auw bio.” The beast licked its lips and clacked its teeth, sending a very clear signal to the now terrified bunny.

“Now, now. You two shouldn't fight. And please, Littlefur, don't try to eat Angel.” It grunted and lay back down, but by now it was far too roused to be getting any sleep, indicated by its empty stare. Fluttershy sighed. “Oh dear... My usual way with animals just doesn't work with this one. This may be harder than I hoped...”

Her thoughts drifted back to Discord and how he was also immune to her usual methods of gaining trust and obedience. The only way to tame him was to become his friend. But taming Littlefur wasn't the issue; it was the language barrier. If they couldn't communicate, how would they gain each other's trust?

“Fluttershy, are you home?” called a cyan, rainbow-maned Pegasus from the window.

“Yes, Rainbow Dash. Please, come inside.” The mare entered Fluttershy's cottage a moment later. “This is Littlefur. Have Twilight or Applejack already told you about her?”

“Applejack told me that you were taking care of something weird. Uh, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash looked at the now sitting creature.

“What is it?”

“Why is it looking at me like that?” The creature was highly alert, its pink eyes staring at Rainbow Dash's face intently. “It's kinda creeping me out.”

“I'm not sure for certain, but I think it likes your mane,” Fluttershy pointed out.

The cyan pony grinned wide and flipped her rainbow-colored mane in display, closing her eyes in pride. “Well, it IS a pretty awesome mane. I mean, who else has the coloration and cool factor that I-- whoa, hey!” Littlefur had reached out and begun a thorough examination, picking up the hair in single color sections and rubbing the hair with its unpointed claws for several moments before moving on to the next section.

“E fuq'w daneaxa wkev ev ew'v quwotun finit,” it said when it finished with every section. Then she moved on to the tail.

“Aww, it's curiosity is adorable,” smiled Fluttershy as she watched Rainbow repeatedly swat away the creature's paw.

“Yeah, adorable. Anyways, I just came by to see how you were-- YIPE!!” The Pegasus found her tail in Littlefur's clutches. “Let me go, you creepy monster! Hee-yah!” She bucked, her hoof finding the snoot of a certain strange creature.

A bloody nosed creature who was now highly upset with a certain Pegasus. “Mefm pa, yenn bio?” Its red eyes became slits.

“Uh-oh...” With a grip like a rockslide, it grabbed her by the hindleg and dragged her toward the door. “I'm sorry! I won't do it again! I swear!” Rainbow Dash cried, trying to slow the relentless march of doom unsuccessfully. “Fluttershy, help me!!”