Loo of the Loonies

Today had been scheduled as a spa day for Rarity and Fluttershy but unseen circumstances forced Fluttershy to cancel. Instead, they decided to have tea around noon at the Boutique. Ash's awakening and apparent loss of hair, however, caused the flustered Pegasus to forget.

While she head to the library, Rarity went to Fluttershy's cottage. While she was sure that Fluttershy was just so busy that tea time simply slipped her mind, Rarity couldn't help but worry. The mysterious creature that popped out of the tree didn't appear too dangerous, despite its size, but Rarity just couldn't silence that nagging voice.

I'm sure Fluttershy is fine. After all, she has a great gift of dealing with animals.

If Rarity truly felt this way, why did her trot quicken?

"You said fur, right?"

"Yes, white fur, and it's all falling out. And it was burnt and smoking too. Oh no, what if he's already bursting to flames?"

Twilight shut her book on mystical beasts. "I don't think he's phoenix, Fluttershy. Phoenixes are birds and have feathers, not fur. He sounds more like a mammal." She looked over toward her friend. "You should know that better than anypony."

"I know but he doesn't look like any mammal I've seen. He doesn't look like any animal I've seen."

Using her magic, Twilight placed her book on a growing pile. Spike ran by, placing more texts next to her.

"I can't find anything on this thing either." The purple Unicorn groaned in frustration. "I wrote a letter to the Princess, asking for more books on Equestrian fauna but I haven't received a reply yet. Right, Spike?"

"Right," answered Twilight's scaly assistant as he began shelving the used references.

"Do you think he came from outside Equestria?" asked Fluttershy. Twilight thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"We found him in the Everfree. That's pretty deep in Equestria."

"But Zecora said she had never seen anything like him as well so he might not be native."

"Maybe..."

Both ponies stood silently thinking. Spike stood between the two, waiting for one of them to discover the obvious solution. When neither did, Spike sighed and spoke up:

"Why don't you just ask him where he's from. You said he could talk and stuff, right."

Twilight jumped up. "Of course! Why didn't we think of that before?"

"Oh, I don't think that's a good idea." The Pegasus pawed at the floor nervously. "He just woke up. I wouldn't want to answer so many questions about myself if I just got up."

Twilight's enthusiasm died down slightly. "Maybe I should go see this...whatever it is first. I didn't really get a good look at it now that I think about it."

The two ponies left the library, leaving behind the young dragon. With a huff, Spike began to clean up the remaining books. He wanted to see the creature too but once again, Spike had been excluded from the adventure.

Rarity wasn't sure what she would find at Fluttershy's cottage. Despite all her attempts, the poor drama-prone Unicorn couldn't help but entertain wild and horrid visions of the mad beast hovering over Fluttershy's torn body...

Enough! Honestly, Rarity, how can you imagine such horrid images. Frankly, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.

Despite her self-assertions, the Unicorn was in a near straight on gallop. Ponies gave her looks as she sped by, but Rarity paid no attention.

Rarity wasn't certain as to what she would find at Fluttershy's cottage but she certainly didn't expect to fin Applejack on top of the creature, who laid on the ground with much less hair and hogtied. An unpleasant bump was growing from the creature's forehead.

"I told you, I just need to relieve myself!" the creature yelled exasperatedly.

"An' Ah told ya ta tell me what ya need relievin' of," the orange Earth Pony snapped back, a large scowl on her face. "Ah told Fluttershy ya weren't goin' anywhere and Ah meant it."

"Ahem."

Applejack turned and noticed the white Unicorn standing at the doorway for the first time. Ash turned his head the same direction.

"Oh, heya Rarity. Fluttershy went tah get Twilight if ya lookin' for her."

Rarity looked at the farm pony, then at the creature, then back at Applejack. Her initial shock of hearing Ash speak had already faded away and any worries of him being a danger were banished after seeing him in such a helpless state at Applejack's hooves.

Ash stared at the Unicorn in wonder. He had never seen one before in his life and the only knowledge he had of them were from his master's texts. What he did know he could feel; Ash didn't need some book to tell him he was dealing with a very magical being.

And it speaks, too.

"Is that, the... well, you know," Rarity waved a hoof in Ash's direction, emphasizing her question.

"Yup, that's the monster we found in the Everfree."

"Can I get up now? I really need to go."

"No," Applejack answered bluntly. "This one's been makin' it real difficult around here. Keeps sayin' it needs tah 'relieve' itself but won't tell me what."

"Um, Applejack, I think he needs to use the little filly's room, if you catch my drift."

"Ohhh, well, why didn't yah just say so."

Ash glared at Applejack.

"Don't worry, dear, Applejack is always like this."

"Hey, what's that suppose tah mean? Hey, what in thunderation are yah doning?"

"Untying him of course. How else is he going to relieve himself?"

"I dunno, maybe it'll just go like that."

Ash and Rarity both gave Applejack a horrified and disgusted look. She simply shrugged in a silent reply.

Rarity returned to her work and Ash watched in amazement as his bonds began to loosen without being touched, at least physically. Blue aura coated the Unicorn's horn, the same that had covered the rope.

Applejack watched at a distance. At last, the final knot was undone. Ash stretched out, making sure blood was still flowing.

When he was finally satisfied, Ash sat up. The orange pony tensed slightly and Ash flinched. Blood may have still been flowing but his wrists were still raw and sore.

"Thanks," Ash said to his savior.

"No trouble at all. Fluttershy's bathroom is to your right."

"Thanks again, but I don't think I'd fit." Ash carefully stood to a crouch and head to the door. He hadn't gotten far before he found a noose around his neck and was pulled back.

"And where do yah think yar goin'?" demanded Applejack fiercely. The Human gasped in reply.

"Can't...breathe..."

"Applejack, honestly," rebuked Rarity, shaking her head in such a manner that each strand of her mane fell directly back in place. "There is no need for such a show of force."

Applejack turned to face her friend, giving the rope a quick tug as Ash attempted to crawl toward the door. "Well, we can't have it wandering around Ponyville. Who knows what trouble it could cause."

Rarity inspected the figure sprawled on the ground before her. His face was turning blue. "He doesn't appear to be much of a threat."

"I dunno..."

"Maybe you should loosen your rope first. I don't think Fluttershy would appreciate it if you strangled on of her patients."

"Oh, right." Applejack blushed slightly as she quickly removed the noose from Ash neck.

Color returned to Ash's face. A quiet moan groan escaped him as he slowly sat up, rubbing his neck.

Applejack glared at the Human. Ash stared back. For a few moments, they simply sat there, staring. Ash finally ended the silence:

"So, can I go now. I really, really need to, well you know..."

"Is this really necessary?"

Ash stood outside before the two ponies. Around his leg was another tied cord. The other end laid in front of Applejack.

"Yah wanna go or not?" Applejack said with another scowl. "It's either this or us watchin'."

Rarity was appalled by her friend's alternative and the look she gave demonstrated her opinions on the subject. Applejack ignored it.

With a sigh, Ash headed to the trees, where would have at least some privacy.

Ash loosened his belt. His clothes did not age well but the enchantments kept them in a usable condition.

A quiet groan of relief escaped him. The Human quickly looked behind him and, when finding himself alone, began to concentrate. Cutting the rope with magic would be effortless but what would his next step be? Ash closed his eyes, seeking instead with his mind.

To one side he could feel an immense amount of life, similar to the ponies he had met. In some, he could feel magic flowing freely through them.

I don't want to resort to violence, but if worst comes to worst, can I handle these many magic user?

Ash turned to the other direction, to the forest. His mind entered the forest only to reappear at the entrance. Ash frowned and his forehead furrowed in a mix of concentration and frustration. Again, the forest pushed him out. Ash redoubled his efforts, his brow wetting with sweat. This time he managed to enter the forest but his mind was shrouded in a mist. What he could detect through the fog was not friendly, he could tell. And that there were many of these unseen hostiles.

Ash opened his eyes and wiped away the sweat. Breathing deeply, he began to try again, hoping to find more details.

"Oi, hurry it up over there! Or did ya need to numbar two?"

"Hold your horses, I'm finishing up!" was the reply Applejack received.

"'Hold yer horses', what the hay is that suppose tah mean?" Applejack asked Rarity crossly. The Unicorn shook her head. The phrase was just as confusing to her.

"Hey guys! What's up?"

Applejack and Rarity looked up. Rainbow hovered over them with a confident grin.

"Good afternoon, Rainbow Dash," Rarity greeted, "We're keeping the creature we found in the Everfree Forest under watch while Fluttershy's out."

"Really? Cool, where is it anyways?"

"Over there, by the the trees," answered Applejack. "I'm tellin' ya, its taking too long."

"Applejack, the creature's obviously a 'he'," Rarity said. "There's no need to keep referring to him as 'it'."

Applejack snorted.

Rainbow Dash landed between the two mares. "What's he doing, then?"

"Ah, well, he, how do I say..."

"Nature's call," Applejack explained bluntly. Rarity gave her a look of disapproval.

"Oh. Hey, whats this rope for?" Rainbow Dash picked up the cord's end with her mouth.

"That's tah keep it from running off. Hey, what exactly are you doing?"

With his concentration drained, Ash gave up trying to scry the forest. He sighed deeply as he pulled up his trousers and began to tighten his belt.

If he did try to escape into the forest, who knows what he might find. Where would he go from there anyways; without any knowledge of his surroundings, the Human would be hopelessly lost. No, he'd take his chances with the magical taking ponies.

At least they're not blatantly trying to kill me Ash thought just before he felt a sharp tug from the rope tied to his leg. The Human fell to the ground and managed to spit out a mouth full of grass before being dragged back to his wardens.

"Rainbow Dash! What are you doing?" screamed Rarity. The Human that laid before her spat out grass before groaning in pain.

His unwitting tormentor spat out the rope from her mouth. "What? I didn't get to get a good look at the thing in the forest."

"What if he wasn't finished?" the Unicorn yelled. The cyan Pegasus' nonchalant shrug did nothing to improve Rarity's current mood.

"Ah don't understand why yer so upset. It's just a animal."

"Even if it's just an animal doesn't give us the right to be rude," Rarity protested undignified. "You don't treat Winona this way, do you?"

"Well, no, but Winona's family."

"I resent being called an animal," Ash said, rolling on his back. He grunted as a new pony jumped on top of his belly.

"Whoa, you can talk!" the new pony said with excitement. This one was Pegasus, like Fluttershy, but was of a cyan coloring and dark pink eyes. What really caught his attention was, however, her mane; ragged and unkempt, it was of all colors of the spectrum. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. Ash blinked and rubbed his eyes, uncertain if it were really. It can't be natural he thought. Can it?

"What are you anyways? What were doing in that tree? Can you really talk?" the colorful Pegasus bombarded Ash. With each question, she (she? Her voice is definitely feminine but deeply so) jumped and landed back on top of his stomach.

Ash turn his head to Rarity, who was busy arguing with Applejack. He turned to the Pegasus, who was still rapidly shooting out questions with enthusiasm.

The Human looked upward and groaned.

Is everyone in this country a crazy pony? Maybe I should have taken my chances with the evil forest...