Fairytan Rescue (p3)
Darting off into the woods, Ponyta tried to run as fast as she could so her captors could not find her again. Still, she felt a little guilty about leaving Dragapult and all the other pokemon behind in the tent, but given how the place they've been exploded, she'd find it reasonable to think that her fellow pokemon would be able to overpower those humans.
The forest air whisked into her nostrils as soon as she was far enough from the tent, the odors of evil and artificial life that humans were surrounded with. With the first impression of humans over, all Ponyta could think about was one thing: avoid humans at all costs.
There weren't really many around as far as Ponyta could recall. Even Rookidee asked "Are you sure we are far enough from those humans, Adie?"
Ponyta couldn't reply back, but she was very sure she would never want to interact with another human ever again. One bad experience was bad enough. Two would be prompting for something more drastic.
It took Ponyta a while to tire out. She stopped in the midst of trees, hoping that they would provide enough cover so nobody could ever find them.
Rookidee landed on front of her with his face cloaked in worry. "Are you alright, Adie? You ran a lot" he asked, opening up a wing for Ponyta as a gesture of support.
"I… just don't ever want to deal with humans ever again" she said and had to lie down in the hopes that she could rest a little better.
"I understand that, Adie. I did not like those humans either… but…" Rookidee paused for a minute, looking pensive for a moment. Ponyta wondered for a bit if she should respond or not, but while she remained in doubt, Rookidee managed to collect his answer together and provide it for Ponyta "not every human is evil… I have met a few here that protect the forest…" he said, looking at Ponyta with hopeful eyes.
"So…?" Ponyta skeptically answered, twisting her head in a way it reflects such a state. The air was calm right now so far, and the ambience felt matching for the mood right now.
Ponyta wasn't really even enraged from Rookidee's less generalized answer. Sure, she did not like it at all, it seemed like he was somehow brainwashed by their recent captors.
"Maybe we will find someone. They are usually dressed in these weird costumes that look like they are super heavy. Usually they are colored like fire-type pokemon, but darker." Rookidee tried to describe. He hopped around as if looking for something and then returned his attention to Ponyta.
"So… we'll just leave our fate to humans again?" Ponyta asked, still somewhat tired, somewhat attentive, but somewhat dubious of what Rookidee seemed to imply here.
"Not the same humans" Rookidee said, looking sideways and keeping his attention to Ponyta as much as he could. Ponyta didn't really find Rookidee very wary, yet he still looked around. "Please, trust me on this" he requested strongly.
"Fine" Ponyta lied down and stopped talking for a bit. She focused on getting herself well rested for the time being, and hoped that she could get back to her family on time.
It's not like she didn't trust Rookidee at all. She didn't really trust humans, that was all. She did give it a chance, however it's not like she would be able to handle another human encounter all too well.
However, she lost track of time, and what felt like paws started caressing around her mane, and a calmer, soothing voice spoke to her "hey, there" it said in a feminine voice.
Ponyta froze. The question of who was touching her was all that was going in her mind. She begged desperately that it wasn't a human, but when she turned her head to look, she was immediately met with disappointment and a bit of panic.
Ponyta stood up and started backing away from the human, who was dressed in a reddish robe that covered most of her body. While her mind wandered around how could these species ever take being covered by stuff all over, she returned to fleeing away even if it meant she'd fall off a cliff, drastically put.
"No, wait, calm down, I won't hurt you" she said in quickened strives, as if wanting to say everything before Ponyta left earshot range.
"Roo, roo (Calm down, you can trust her)" Rookidee told Ponyta while landing on her back.
"Niii? Niii! (How? She's a human!)" Ponyta replied back, and she saw the figure of the human leaning in closer and placing one hand over her head.
"It's alright, just please calm down" she repeated once more. She maintained a soft look and tone, as if wanting to show that there is no risk in trusting her, but it still didn't convince Ponyta enough to stop worrying. Even so, it did make her stop backing away.
"Roo, kidee ki, roo roo. (Please, if we want to get home, we have to trust her.)" Rookidee stood right beside the human female, and Ponyta had this questioning feeling of who Rookidee was loyal to.
Ponyta chuffed for a bit and walked towards the human warily.
"Don't worry, we'll get you home" she said in a calmative voice, stretching her arm again for Ponyta to touch.
She looked at the human questioningly, as if trying to read her expression and attitude. Ponyta couldn't exactly read her too well, but she didn't show many signs of being untrustworthy. In a way, she showed a different mood than the poachers, but Ponyta had to keep wary.
"Ni, ni, neiii (Fine, I'll come along, but don't get close to me)" Ponyta replied, keeping some distance away from the human female.
"Ki! Rookidee? Roo kidee!(Yay! Can you hear that? She is coming along!)" Rookidee replied, feeling happy and looking at the human female. She looked back and seemed like she could easily tell what Rookidee was saying for some reason.
"Seems like you're alright. And don't worry, I'll respect your space" she held her arms back and started going back out into the forest.
There wasn't much activity going on as they strolled around the forest. Rookidee seemed fond of this human female, yet Ponyta didn't feel ready to trust a human in anything. She just gave in for the sake of making Rookidee happy, but she did not feel comfortable being around a human.
There was a brief introduction, though. The human female turned herself around while going out in the forest and checking all sorts of vegetation and terrain, like if she were looking for clues as to where they were.
"By the way, my name's Keila, Ponyta! It's nice to meet you" she replied kind-hearted and warmly, yet Ponyta didn't feel sure to even reply to her.
"Nii… (same…)" Ponyta said reluctantly, although she wonders if she truly meant that or she simply said it to not leave the human hanging. Whatever it was, she decided to not make much of it in the meantime, and hoped that the human wouldn't regard her any further.
Which did happen, to Ponyta's relief. Keila did not make much chatter to Ponyta any further and continued scouting around the forest. Eventually, the lake that Ponyta, Rookidee and Oddish were looking at was visible, and Ponyta felt like she already knew where she was.
"Nii! (We're here)" Ponyta said with some more motivation.
Rookidee looked back at her and replied. "Ki, Rooki (Yup, we already are)"
Ponyta wondered for a little as to why wasn't she led back to the lake. However, the question was answered as soon as the forest leaves started sparkling mystically, which could only mean one thing.
She was close to her family! She was close back to her temporary home. Ponyta inched a little further, hoping to see more, and soon, she could see her fellow family comprised of Galarian Rapidash and Ponyta. She was finally home, safe and sound!
Ponyta whinnied happily and dashed towards her family, quickly nuzzling them in joy. Those she recognized as her mother quickly took her in and shed tears of joy, happy about seeing her again.
Rookidee joined in the hug and nothing else was heard from Keila. She just stood there, watching the momentous occasion as it happened without intervening at all, to Ponyta's relief. She continued happily enjoying the rest of the afternoon, glad to have finally come home after a rough day with her friend Rookidee.
