>One moment, she was diligently keeping an eye out for her caregiver's return.
>The next, she was picking herself up off of an unknown city street.
>The earth pony filly started dusting herself off.
>First was her maroon coat, with the most debris appearing on her left side.
>Next, she brushed her seafoam green mane and tail, bits and pieces falling to the street below.
>Finally, she tended to her namesake, the huge red bow bouncing in earnest as she dusted it off.
>The buildings on either side of the street were too tall for her to look over.
>That is, if she wanted to avoid damaging them.
``Why are all the buildings broken?''
>Her maroon hooves stomped an even bigger crater into the pavement as she turned her whole body, craning her neck at all the funny looking structures.
>Some residents had started carefully filing out, summoned by the shaking.
>She finally looked down, having taken in enough of the skyline that she could see.
>What greeted her eyes was a large pothole filled with indiscernible rock.
``I thought the roads didn't do that anymore...''
>She then noticed the crowd of people forming along the nearby sidewalks.
>Instead of rearing her head back in a panic, she lowered her head towards one of the crowds.
>Most of the crowd scattered to a safe distance, save for one curious soul.
>A little girl was staring at the filly in wonder.
>Her mother was insistently tugging on her arm, but she refused to budge.
>Ribbon got her head low enough, chin resting on the ravaged pavement.
>Two massive yellow eyes locked onto the curious girl.
>They wouldn't know it, but they were the same age.
``Hi!''
>It was gentle enough to avoid overloading the young child's ears.
>''Hi...''
>The mother had stopped trying to pull away her daughter, and stared at the filly, slackjawed.
>''You're pretty...''
>Ribbon lowered her muzzle to the ground, flustered.
``Thanks! You look so adorabl--''
>She felt something latch onto her nose.
>The little girl had pushed herself into the maroon muzzle, hugging as much fur as her small form would allow.
>''You're a pretty pony!''
>The mother wore a face that described her internal conflict.
>She was torn between d'awwing at the scene and getting her daughter to safety.
>More of the bystanders drew closer at the heartwarming scene, fully convinced that the oversized filly wasn't here to harm them.
>Ribbon smiled.
>She wanted to do something to show she appreciated the hug, but with what she had in mind, where they were now was too risky.
>She slowly pulled her face away, nudging for the little girl to follow her.
>The child took off like a rocket after the face, the mother reluctantly giving chase.
>Ribbon again lowered her head, this time above a previously untouched section of roadway.
>She soon felt that familiar feeling of the girl hugging her nose once more.
``Now I can hug you back.''
>She got on her haunches, flank landing firmly in her impact crater.
>Up came one of her forehooves, casting a shadow over the girl
>People feared for the worst, some opting to sprint out into the street for her.
>The hoof meanwhile traveled overhead safely.
>Ribbon rested it behind the girl, and gently pressed it against her snout.
>The girl gave a yelp of half surprise, half joy when she was pressed between the two walls of fur.
>Those would-be heroes backed off after realizing her intentions.
>Conversations broke out amongst the spectators as the hug continued.
>''It's just a... giant filly.''
>''How... normal.''
>''I know, right?''
>''This one's the most normal one that's appeared so far.''
>''You think she's related to any of them?''
>''Hopefully not that third one.''
>''Oh yeah, for sure.''
>A series of flashing lights caught everyone's attention.
>The mother gently pulled her child away as a fire engine pushed through the crowd.
>This particular vehicle had a few dents at the corners near the front and back.
>''Bye bye giant pony...''
``Bye bye little girl.''
>Ribbon looked at the girl with that same smile.
>The girl returned it as she clasped her mother's hand.
>''Do you have... a name?''
``Yes. Ribbon.''
>''Hi Ribbon, I'm Suzie!''
>The filly noticed the engine had taken center stage in front of her form.
>Out of the cabin hopped a firefighter.
>Soon, the whole crew was looking on in awe.
>''So, why did we take this call again?''
>''Why do you think?''
>''Woah, another one? Must be our lucky day!''
>''Or unlucky.''
>''Don't be such a downer! Last one saved us; I've got my hopes up.''
>''Just sayin'.''
``Excuse me?''
>The side conversations dropped as the filly pulled her head up from the ground.
``I think... I'm lost. I was wondering if... if you've seen Gabby.''
>The engine's driver took point on this one.
>''Who?''
>Ribbon tried again, using her forehooves to gesture a bit.
``You know, Gabby! Purple hair, purple fur; wait, can you even call that fur? Anyway, weird antennae-thingies coming out of her head behind her ears, long tail that isn't made out of hair, have you seen her?''
>The firefighters looked at each other, dumbstruck.
>''No way...''
>''It can't be.''
>''How?''
>''What are the odds?''
>Ribbon trained her yellow eyes on the crew.
``What's wrong?''
>The driver spoke up to her again.
>''Gabby, that was her name, right?''
``Yep!''
>''I think.... She's the one who got our truck off the roof.''
>The filly beamed.
``That sounds like something she'd do!''
>''Ribbon, was it? We were on call at the time and--''
>''Not to mention scared out of our minds!''
>''Quiet, you! Anyway, we were responding to an emergency, so we had to leave before we could see where she went...''
>Ribbon's ears drooped a bit.
>''That, was a few hours back.''
>One of the other firemen piped up.
>''The radio's been abuzz with something like a giant monster fight? Like, something out of a terrible B-movie. Sounds like she might have been involved.''
>The filly bolted to her hooves in a hurry, causing a tremor that set off car alarms and knocked everyone off their feet.
``Where was that? How do I get there?''
>The driver picked himself up, using the truck for support.
>''Last bit I remember hearing suggests it was at the bay area.''
>He pointed down the street behind him.
>''You'll need to go that way until you see a park. It's about 30 blocks or so from here. Once you see it, any of the streets to your left will take you straight to the bay.''
>Ribbon crouched down and pushed her muzzle against the crew as a way of thanking them.
``Thank you so much!''
>The crew all tipped their hats.
>''No problem, ma'am. Now, if you'll excuse us...''
>Everyone piled into the fire engine.
>One swift u-turn later, it charges off down the street, taking the first right turn that it can.
>Ribbon stood to her full height, unintentionally intimidating the bystanders who had gotten so close to her.
``Go this way until I see a park. Got it.''
>The crowd in her way dispersed, allowing her safe travel.
>She looked down around her and waved.
``Uh, goodbye everyone! Hope to see ya again!''
>She then got to walking, her steps gently shaking the surroundings.
>As she traveled into the distance, little Suzie was enthusiastically waving from the sidewalk.
