13. [Audio]

[brodakota]

[North's voice comes over the network, sounding rather panicked. Surprisingly so, especially to people who know him for his quiet, patient demeanor.]

Is anyone else in Ponyville right now? 

If you are, have you seen Theta? 

It's really important that I find him, and I think it's getting dark.

[That's new...and all the more worrisome.]

Comments

[spaceracist]

[More or less completely disregarding Luna's advise to enter the forest alone (he's not alone, that's what his Spirits are for), Emile, Spikes the Hebby Repp, and Jorgie the Kab Kannon were making their way through the strange place. Unlike the other parts of Ponyville, Emile had only been in the forest very briefly, having decided that it was unlikely to be hiding the Elements of Harmony. Still, even he was capable of stealth, and though it might mean avoiding confrontation when all he wanted to do was seek it out, he was willing to try.

Now if only he could find that baby dragon.]

[brokentrust]

[Theta had, unfortunately, forgotten the most important thing one should do when they're lost, which is, of course, to stay in one place. Instead, he had taken to walking around the forest, calling for North as best he cold. It was tough though, as his little body was growing tired and the roots and other detritus of the forest floor made it difficult to walk through.

Not to mention it was getting dark. He was flinching at every noise and looking around with a tight grip on his slingshot.

Until he tripped and fell face first into a field of flowers. Mumbling encouragements to himself, Theta stood up, sneezed, and kept going. He had to find North.

He had no idea he was leaving something important behind.]

****

[Out of the corner of his eye, Emile might see something that could be the baby dragon in question fooling around in a mud puddle.]

[spaceracist]

[It's by far the most promising thing he's seen so far, so Emile calls out when he sees the little baby dragon. This is what a baby dragon looks like, right? Either that or he may have accidentally run into some hostile magic. Well, no helping it now.]

Hey! Theta, right? Your Freelancer partner's coming. You okay?

[He approaches the apparition....]

[brokentrust]

[The apparition continues to play in the mud, seemingly oblivious to the spartan-turned-pony.]

[spaceracist]

[Spikes rolls over to Theta to try and nudge at him, but Jorgie seems more cautious, sensing something not right. (As if anything in this forest reads as normal.)]

Theta! Theta?

[brokentrust]

[As Spike heads over, Theta jumps in the puddle to splash the mud around a bit before scampering away.]

[spaceracist]

[Oh, come on. Emile picks up to a trot and dashes around to try and catch up to the baby dragon, scowling. Spikes squaks his displeasure and shakes off the mud, falling behind.]

[brokentrust]

[Not!Theta looks back as if to say "Catch me if you can!" before running under a large log.

[spaceracist]

[Emile motions for Jorgie to go to the other side of the log so they can corner the little dragon/AI.]

Theta! C'mon, man. People are worried about you.

[brokentrust]

[Not!Theta has climbed up into the log and is considering what side to run out of. So sneaky.]

[spaceracist]

[After a moment of indecision, Spikes decides to join Emile on his side of the log and peeks in cautiously. Here, little dragon....]

[brokentrust]

[There's a pause. Is there someone on the other end?]

[spaceracist]

[There totally is (it's Jorgie), but the big Kab Kannon is better at being quiet and hiding than the impetuous little Hebby Repp. But will Theta take the bat and scamper to the other side?]

[brokentrust]

[Does he make a break for it? He does! Fast as his little not!dragon legs can carry him.]

[spaceracist]

[And Jorgie springs into action! He stomps down as soon as the little dragon (?) makes his way out of the log, attempting to capture him in this chubby, strong beetle arms. Spikes stays to guard his side of the log while Emile dashes over to provide support if necessary.]

[brokentrust]

[Not!Theta squirms, trying to get away. His form seems to wobble a bit as the shadow panics.]

[spaceracist]

Calm down, kid! [Emile's there pretty quickly. He'd notice something weird about the baby dragon, but he hasn't exactly been around baby dragons before.]

Just tryin' to get you back to your Freelancer.

[brokentrust]

[Nope. Gotta get away. The game's over if he's caught and we don't want the game to be over.]

[spaceracist]

[Not getting away. Not this time. Emile stays right on that little tail until they can corner and tackle the little guy.]

The hell's wrong with you?

[brokentrust]

[He's not Theta! He just wants to be free! Although it sort of looks like he's fading a bit.]

let me know if this isn't ok!

[spaceracist]

[And before long he's faded entirely away! Emile looked at his Spirits. His Spirits looked back at him. Jorgie shrugged.]

Gonna have to keep looking.

[He doesn't sound thrilled about it, but a job's a job.]

[brokentrust]

[Not too far away, there is a familiar looking tail sticking out from under a bush.]

[spaceracist]

[Silently he motions for the Spirits to take up flanking positions. Emile isn't entirely sure what's going on here, but the real Theta's got to be around here somewhere, right? He trots up a little closer.]

Theta?

[brokentrust]

[The tail scoots under the bush. Nope. No Thetas here.]

[spaceracist]

[Bullshit. Emile sneaks closer and his spirits do the same. Here, dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon....]