The Last Crite's Intentions

Silence filled the air. The six ponies on the outskirt of the village couldn’t muster a single word to the rising tension in the air. If he were closer, Charlie’s running footsteps could possibly be the only sounds on the field. The first to make a sound was a single Parasprite flying ahead of the rest at which point those behind it halted their advance. It made what sounded like high-pitch squeaks in the Crites’ direction. The second sound was a loud voice from the war ship demanding surrender and cooperation of all below it and that it would not ask twice. All at once, the Crites responded to this in laughter.

“Fluttershy, what did that Parasprite say?” Twilight asked.

“It’s a bit hard to hear from here, but I think it said something like ‘Prey, surrender yourselves to our legion for I am a God among my kind and demand your submission and defeat!’” Fluttershy said calmly.

The Crite that stopped laughing first was the leader who beckoned for a smaller Crite to approach it. Upon its approach, the little Crite was picked up and hurled at the individual Parasprite obviously not expecting this. The aim was spot on as the Parasprite was hit with a resounding and audible thud even the ponies could hear. It squealed at the attack and fell behind a few of the remaining houses supposedly to be eaten alive.

The war ship immediately open fired and, in response, three groups of unicorn-horn-wearing Crites moved closer to their leader providing a barrier for protection. Two of the mid-sized Crites rolled towards the center of town with five smaller Crites in tow.

The Parasprites made a squeak-like war cry and attacked the Crites on the right side of town. It soon became hard to tell who was gaining the upper hand in that fight as dismembered body parts and flowing blood continually came out of the mix of bodies.

Charlie continued his advance now on the outskirts of the village blasting any nearby Crites causing many to cry out in pain. He even produced some makeshift knife hidden in his boot used to disembowel a few of the critters. Twilight soon realized that his bumbling movements were actually an advantage. His movements were random, wild, and agile allowing the ability to dodge needles and continue his offense. It was quite remarkable in a strange dance-like way.

Twilight snapped out of it as they needed to make a plan. “Ok, girls? What do we do about this?”

“Ay don’t think we oughtta join in on that mess,” Applejack quickly replied.

“I think we should bring the Elements of Harmony with us more often on these fun little field trips,” Rainbow Dash sarcastically said.

“Well I, for one, think we should make a compromise between these savages as it seems like the Crites might be killed before the night is over,” Rarity said.

“Rarity I don…Rarity! That’s actually a brilliant idea!” Twilight said with unexpected excitement.

“It is? How so, darling?”

“Charlie and the Crites had both said everything was taken from them, right? How about for once something is given back?”

Pinkie interrupted the thought, “We know what the Crites want, but what about Charlie? There is nothing we can offer him.”

Twilight thought about it for a moment without an exact answer. “I don’t exactly know, Pinkie. But Princess Celestia sent me a letter before this advising situational improvising. This is that moment. We need to talk to the Crite leader.”

“Ay’d rather not,” Applejack flatly said.

“We have to or a disaster is sure to happen from this.”

The other five ponies sighed at this but nodded in agreement. Twilight casted her magic of teleportation and the six ponies appeared before the Crite leader.

At first the huge Crite didn’t notice them as he sent two more mid-sized Crites towards the Parasprite battle. Looking down, he gave a startled expression followed by those closest to him glaring at the six ponies. Four of the eight remaining mid-sized Crites bared their teeth at the intrusion. However, the Crite leader raised its left claw to which they calmed down.

Despite the constant drum of turret gun fire on the barrier above, the Crite leader smiled a wide toothy grin. “Six brave little ponies dare approach an intergalactic murderer and carnivore? You all are surely brave or quite foolish. Which shall it be? Talk or death?” The Crite leader said this with a deep voice and a subtle but plainly heard noise behind it such like a knife being dragged across metal.

“Talk. We’re here to talk of peace,” Twilight said.

“Peace? What a quaint idea for simple minds and simple lives. How so?”

“Well, with three attacking forces surely you need help. We’ve come to offer that help. Rarity explain.”

Rarity was shocked and couldn’t form words at the moment being immediately thrown in the spotlight. “Well…I…um…I mean…we think you deserve a chance at peace – every living being does. Your scout told us that your kind faced extinction many times before and that you’re seeking escape.”

“Yes, we are. What about it?”

Rarity regained her composure and elegantly continued the talk. “We can offer that, darling. We just need a promise that you will stop killing our kind.”

“You have your own plan?” A questioning look came across the Crite leader’s face.

“Yes, we do.” Twilight interjected. “I control the Parasprites and can call them off. Rainbow Dash here can distract the turret gun fire while you do what needs to be done.”

“What about the demon among my kind, Charlie the Bounty Hunter?”

“Applejack and Pinkie Pie can talk him out of his advance or restrain him.” Twilight decided to ask a question that had been on her mind since the talk with the Crite scout. “I don’t get it. What makes Charlie such a ‘demon among your kind’?”

“Come a little closer and I’ll show you.”

Twilight hesitated but carefully approached the large Crite within inches of it.

Its smile only increased the closer she got. “You really are foolishly brave. Let me explain something to you.” He raised his left claw to emphasize the point he was about to make. “We Crites fear nothing. We are never scared, afraid, or any such thing. We are wary, though, of threats. Charlie is a lifelong threat of the Crites. Possibly not the only one. He doesn’t look like much though, so, here’s a good example.”

The large Crite pointed towards the Parasprites. “Notice the bodycount of Crites and Parasprites from the first attack to the present time. At first, Crites and Parasprites were being killed in even pace. However, we are quick learners and, as such, learned the enemy’s movements on the fly. For if you look closely right now you’ll notice no Crites dying now. They are simply toying with their newfound food source.” Twilight saw the truth in the large Crite’s words as Parasprites were being ripped apart at the Crites’ leisure. Any missteps were corrected by the two mid-sized Crites sent just moments ago.

The large Crite continued pointing its claw to its right and towards the sky. “Notice the war ship with its multiple turrets. This barrier protects us. As of right now, I’ve ordered one of my magical troops to engage and disarm their weaponry. Second,” he pointed toward the center of town. “Two of my closest ones with some little ones are entering the ship we came in as we speak. Watch what is about to happen.” Twilight watched as the Crites boarded their own ship and one of the magical Crite groups fired upon the war ship destroying a few turrets in the process. The ship in the center of the village took off and flew above the war ship and landed on it presumably attempting to board it.

“As you can see, these small things are of no importance to us but mere distractions. The real problem,” the large Crite pointed towards Charlie, “is him. No doubt you’ve noticed the agility. However, look closely at the weapon. It is a grade 4 Terracorp military pulse rifle capable of disintegrating organics, metals, and any matter in general with explosive rounds highly modified with an attached fail-safe nuclear weapon triggered upon death of holder or tampering. Simply put, he’s on a suicide run that could very well decimate this entire planet…wiping out my race either way…and yours as well.”

Twilight could only muster up a few words. “It can’t be.”

“It is. We Crites may be considered monsters to other species. However, we can be taken at face value for who we inherently are. We are Crites but not ‘hypo-crites.’ You’ve been travelling with a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask, how are you able to speak our language?”

“I’ve been biologically enhanced by my mother. I’ll tell you more once all is said and done, but we agree to stop killing your kind if you help us in our time of need.”

“Agreed.” Twilight immediately changed the Parasprites back to their normal state. The Crites then had a chance at refocusing their attention on soldiers dropping from lines on the war ship onto the planet below. Twilight sent Rainbow Dash to distract the ship’s turret fire which was not a problem for the fastest flier in Equestria. Then, she sent Pinkie Pie and Applejack to subdue the raging bounty hunter. The remaining magical Crite group moved in on Charlie long before this containing him in a reverse barrier. However, he emitted some sort of shocking electrical pulse seemingly strong enough to disrupt the magic. Then, he brutally murdered the group. Twilight looked up and saw the Crite leader watching this with what looked like great sadness.

The smaller Crites made quick work of the war ship’s ground troops while the last turret was also destroyed. “It is only a matter of time before our boarding crew has control of the ship,” The Crite leader remarked before returning his attention to the bounty hunter. “Now, all we can do is hope for fate to provide salvation.”

Charlie continued his rampage murdering every Crite in his path towards the Crite leader. Applejack and Pinkie Pie headed him off.

Continuing his run he yelled, “Get outta of the way! I have a job to do!”

“I reckon that can wait pardner!” Applejack was the first to tackle Charlie and grab hold after Pinkie made a miss on the first attempt. On the ground, Charlie shook her off and started his run again. Charlie was nearing the Crite leader with rapid speed. Applejack luckily found some rope nearby next to a wagon, made a lasso, and caught Charlie’s legs in it. Pinkie Pie caught up to Charlie giving him a hug (hold) so strong he had no hope of freeing himself. Being within forty yards or so of the Crite leader, Charlie stared at it with hate burning in his eyes. With the little free movement offered him, Charlie pulled a switch out of his pocket intending to flip it.

“I’ll see you in the afterlife, you fucking monstrosity!!”

“Charlie!!!” The thunderous roar immediately caught the attention of all listening ears within the village. Charlie hesitated in his action long enough to look up and notice the Crite leader calling out to him.

“I’ll do you in abomination! You fucking monster!”

“Blood for blood, huh!?” The surrounding Crites burst into laughing. The Crite lifted his left claw to silence them. “Young drunk Charlie from Grover’s Bend! All grown up, ready to save the universe from monsters blacker than a midnight sky burning embers for their eyes! Yet, life and experience has corrupted young Charlie! For he, forced to kill a friend, must now make a decision to release his inner demon or complete his mission in ultimate sacrifice!” The Crite leader turned to Twilight and asked that she release the bounty hunter. Twilight felt this could be a bad mistake but, deep down, something told her to comply so she called out for Pinkie Pie and Applejack to release their hold. They reluctantly did so but maintained a close distance as Charlie rearmed himself and entered the Crite leader’s barrier.

“Worst mistake you’re going to make this day, monster! I’ll blow your fucking head off! I should have killed you back in that white container and yet I hesitated. Not out of fear, understand!?”

The Crite leader calmly spoke in its deep grinding voice, “Yes, Charlie, we Crites already understand this. You have already tried killing our entire species four times before this. We know not to make the same mistake again.”

“The other one! Where’s the other one that was on that fucking ship with you!?”

For the first time, the Crite leader stopped smiling, closed its mouth, and looked like it had genuine sadness in its eyes.

“I won’t ask again! Where is the other fucking Crite!? Two of you escaped and the other should be about your size!”

“…Dead, Charlie. You killed her…”

“You lie! You fucking Crites and your fucking little games! You’ve been playing your fucking games with me my whole fucking life! Now, where is the other Crite!!?”

“…Dead, Charlie. She bled to death…giving birth to the twelve Crites seen closest to me.” Twilight remembered the twelve mid-sized Crites surrounding this one though only eight were in his presence right now eyeing Charlie not with intimidating glares but what seemed like apprehension. “…I watched her die…I watched her die…slowly…painfully. You lost a best friend, Charlie. I lost family. Your friend died quickly. She died slowly whimpering the whole time…blood everywhere from the shot wound.”

Charlie took a moment in his agitation to look at the eight Crites by the Crite leader’s side but said nothing trying to maintain his anger.

“I’ve had a long time to think on the way here, Charlie. With the dangerously low oxygen levels in that ship obviously needing repair, I couldn’t hatch the eggs for company. For a moment, I was surely the last Crite surviving in a ship lacking oxygen to sustain anything living besides myself. After refrigerating her eggs, I knew my time could be up at any moment. Silence, Charlie, has a way of flooding the mind with memories. My mother’s words returned in my mind…of you…killing my kind over and over and over. Charlie, you may not know but we Crites have collective memory passed from generation to generation. I remember Grover’s Bend…and the slaughter…both human and Crite. It’s in our nature, Charlie, to be cold-hearted…murderous…but extinction is not something we ever knew before you.”

“Expecting me to weep and cry, you monster? Everyone I knew is dead and it’s your specie’s fault. I’m returning the favor.” Charlie started to reach for the switch in his pocket again but Twilight ran forward and calmly touched his arm.

“Charlie, please don’t destroy our world. Just hear him out.”

Charlie returned his arm to his gun but kept it aimed at the Crite leader.

The Crite leader spoke again, “Do you want to know what was on my mother’s recording, Charlie? It was her and father’s death on that abandoned station. She wanted to make sure I understood how dangerous you are and those you influence – that you are the demon among my kind. Half of the recording was my father being shot and electrocuted and my mother kicked to frozen pieces. The other half was a message. She kept repeating to change the way we Crites behave unless we want to continue a road that leads only to extinction. While you were returning to the comfort of Earth, I was listening to my father and mother’s agonizing deaths and my mother’s words over and over again until I could recite every syllable.”

“So, what you want from me? To just let you go? I know exactly what you Crites do – how you lie - and I will never allow it.”

“Charlie, we know...I know. As said before, I had a lot of time to think on that ship alone…completely alone. Being the last Crite, with mother’s words in my head, my desires for preserving my species became unbearable. Charlie we will not fight you if you desire to kill us at this very spot, so here is the deal: Death or Life. You can kill us all right now and be done with it but forever carry the stain of blood on your hands and broken bodies – tearful and deprived – in your heart. We were contained for many generations so it would be a release. Or, you can allow us to find a planet of our own to which we guarantee not to over-extend the deal beyond that planet for we dare not betray your trust. Understand, Charlie, we know full well the consequences of crossing you.”

“The first choice looks plenty appealing to me. I have nothing to go back to. Why should you?” Charlie began to take aim at the Crite leader whose eyes only grew sadder.

Twilight then had a brilliant idea from the unfurling situation. Something in what was said in the conversation caught her attention and she was willing to make a gamble on it. “Wait, Charlie. I have to ask the Crite leader something.” Charlie didn’t return to his original stance but stopped his movements. The large Crite turned his eyes gleaming softly in the light at Twilight. “You said Crites had a collective memory, right? Are there any memories from a previous generation of Crites that would be useful to Charlie?”

The large Crite was quiet for a while pondering the question but still looking awfully sad. “Maybe…maybe…” Then, its eyes lit up as it realized something. “Charlie, that abandoned station my mother was in had research labs, remember?” Charlie nodded. “That station was meant to biologically enhance organisms as weapons of war. Crites were one of the suggested species to conduct experiments on and, thus, there were files on Grover’s Bend. Charlie, Brad Brown had children. I can give you their names if you like. Maybe you wouldn’t feel so alone.”

“Brad…Grover’s Bend. I’m not alone…even Ethan.” Tears began to form in Charlie’s eyes. “How could I have been so blind? Ethan watched me leave hoping for me to come back.”

Twilight spoke up. “I know it’s hard, Charlie, but can’t you find it in your heart to live and let live?”

“I…don’t know. It’s been so long. So much has happened.”

“Even more reason to let it go, Charlie. If the Crites step outside the deal, we ponies will take up arms with you.”

The Crite leader chimed in reassuring that they wouldn’t.

For what seemed like an eternity, silence hung in the air until Charlie hesitantly lowered his weapon. “It’s a deal, but I will be back in your worst nightmares if any of you step out of line.”

“Deal,” the large Crite began to smile again.

*****

The Crite’s helped fix the ship they came in so Charlie could go back to Earth. Charlie wanted to step on board the ship but realized Crites are not the cleanest creatures and had the ponies clean the grime from it. The Crite leader gave Twilight the list of names back on Earrth who were relatives of Brad Brown. She then gave the list to Charlie as he didn’t want to go near the Crite leader. The Crites took the Terracorp War ship and made preparations to make leave including taking some Parasprites along as a form of cattle for future sustenance given their ability to propagate. However, they did not leave without saying goodbye to Charlie and the ponies. Charlie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity refused to touch any of them opting only to wave goodbye. Fluttershy rubbed a few of the small ones’ bellies. Pinkie Pie fed cupcakes to a few reluctant Crites who, after hearing her whisper something in their ears, seemed to find the cupcakes more appealing. Twilight shook the claw of the Crite leader and waved goodbye.

The Crites took off into the sky with hopes of salvation leaving behind those hoping they stay true to their word. Charlie soon got onto his own ship and said goodbye to his new friends though he was still bitter about the whole deal with the Crites. However, he seemed much lighter in appearance and personality. It must have been because he was given a chance to reunite with the offspring of a friend long ago and a friend he had almost forgotten. Twilight hoped that he could find inner peace and a return to innocence lost.

*****

Twilight was in her library ready to write a letter to Celestia which felt odd given how long it has been since the last one. It didn’t take her long to form the words on the parchment.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned that every situation is different - yet the same – as all included parties of interest seek a means to their own end. However, the benefit given to both should outweigh the loss in either one. It is this compromise that builds upon any social relationship though the means of obtaining it could be tricky and involves much needed improvised thinking. Instead of thinking of how to save one life or another, one needs to think on how to save both. Who knows as it could be just another way of finding friends in the most unlikely place.

Signed,
Princess Twilight

Twilight lowered the quill and walked to the nearest window to stare out into the night sky. She watched the stars come out and wished the best of luck to her two new friends.