Chapter 2: Hi, I'm Max

It's been a week and three days since the arrival of that bipedal creature in Equestria as well as that strange thunderstorm. Fourth day after his discovering in the Royal Gardens, the Princess had told her palace staff about Max so that no one hurt him by mistaking him for an intruder in Royal palace. Now he was free to roam in palace as he pleased, except for some certain places. Max was getting used to his surroundings better than before, and he even made a few friends with young ones of royal staff. No doubt that many of the staff ponies were still skeptical about him, so they used to keep a little distance from him, but no matter what, they never tried to hurt him. Beside most of the Royal Staff were really kind towards him.

"You can't catch me!" Max shouted while he was running around in the garden. "Not this time."

It was fun to play in the gardens at evening with his newly best friend.

"I doubt this!" She said trotting towards him from a little distance "I'm faster than you!"

Her name was Moonlight Luminance, but Max liked to call her by her nickname, Mina. She was daughter of one of Luna's Royal Guards. She was a bat filly with dark silver coat, and bright blue mane and tail, and bat wings of same color as her mane.

"I almost got you!" She said spreading her wings and flying above him. "You can't escape me!"

Due to being a bat pony, she also had fangs apparent on her muzzle.

"Roooar… I'm looking down to my prey now~" She said with a toothy grin exposing her fangs even more in somewhat intimidating yet cute fashion. "Incoming!"

Luna helped him get to know the other foals of his age, so he didn't have to be lonely while she and her sister would be busy with their duties. And for some reason Mina was the first filly who tried to spoke with him, and eventually start considering him a good friend, and so he started to feel comfortable around other ponies as well. Princess Luna was happy to see that he was adapting to the situations so well.

"It's not fair!" Max complained as she advanced towards him swiftly "You're using your wings!" She suddenly flew in front of him. Max tried to slowed down and ran into the other direction but as he manged to stop while his nose was almost touching upside down bat pony's muzzle.

She giggled as she tagged him with her hoof. "Gotcha!"

Max first made a frustrated expression and then he blew out. "Mina, you big cheater!"

"When did I cheat?" She asked, sounding innocent "If you remember clearly, I said that I'll not use my wings when it's your turn." She said and giggled. "By the way Max, it is your turn." She giggle and trotted away from him swiftly.

"You can't win every time!" Max shouted and ran behind her.

Knowing that she couldn't risk being slowing down, Mina ran as fast as she could so there would be no way of her bipedal friend could get to her. But Max wasn't that much slow either, he was running right behind her at some distance, as she knew.

"You walk like a turtle, speed up!" She told him as she looked behind, only to see that there was no sign of him. She stopped on her steps, and turned around. "Maxy," she said and looked around with concern. There was no response at all. "Did I say something mean?" She said "I really didn't mean to…" Then almost instantly she heard the sound as if someone was stepping on the grass, but before she could turn around and she what was there…

"Boo!"

She lost her balance and fall on her face with her wings flared open. She quickly got up and shook her head as she then who was there: Max was smiling at her as he came closer to her and booped her muzzle. "Gotcha!" She pouted at this at first but then she giggled and sat up on her haunches giving him a look of surprise.

"How did you do that?" she asked.

"I hid behind that tree," he chuckled. "I hope I didn't scare you that much."

"Scared? Me?" She giggled. "No way… I am a thestral, a creature of night, we don't get scared so… easily."

"Alright, I'll take your words for that." Max snickered at this.

"You better!" She said. crossing her forehooves and smiling with proud.

Luna was watching them from a distance. She could see that how happy he was to had a friend around to play with. Meanwhile there were many things which were troubling her and her sister.

The strange threat from that day was still a big worry for the sisters, and they couldn't ignore the seriousness of how dreadful that threat was. That's why both sisters had to stay alert about the situations this time so things wouldn't turned out as they almost did in Tirek's incident. All they knew was that dreadful creature hadn't left the Tartarus yet, so a week before they decided to send royal guards to watch over the activities all around Equestria, as well as at the Gates of Tartarus. In this way, they could at least know when the creature was close to escaping, and how much time they had to prepared themselves.

"Luna, I am ready to go to bed."

The sound of her little friend brought her back to present. She gave him an odd gaze before smiling. "Oh, you're done playing."

"Yeah, Mina has gone to her place." Max yawned. "And now I am feeling really tired as well."

Luna went to his bedroom along with him, and as usually tucked him in his bed. "Have a goodnight Max." Luna nuzzled him as he closed his eyes. Then she walked out of his room silently. Luna smiled as she looked towards the door of his room. She for some reason was feeling attached with him, and he also seemed to be feel safer around her.

"I hope everything will be fine." Luna said as she went towards the balcony once again to guard the night. "Sleep well my little ponies." She said as she looked down towards her lovely lands of Equestria.

She was still concerned about many things right now. As for her she didn't know much about the upcoming threat, except from what Celestia had told her about that. It seemed like she didn't knew much about that threat either. That was what worried her the most, seemingly none of them knew much about that evil creature.

Early next day, the Elements and Spike were gathered in Friendship Castle. Twilight had called them there to tell them something important.

"We're here sugarcube?" Applejack asked her.

"Yes, darling," Rarity said. "Is there a fashion emergency?"

"Do you need to throw a party?" Pinkie asked. "I brought the cannon!"

"Do we need to kick some bad guys flanks?" Rainbow asked, bumping her hooves. "I'm all up for this?"

"No, it's something much more serious." Twilight said to the other elements. "I received a letter from Princess Celestia," she said "She has called us to Canterlot."

They all were silent for a moment as they looked towards Twilight with concern in their eyes for some moments before Rainbow Dash smiled and exclaimed "So what are we waiting for?" She said "Let's get going!"

And they all headed towards the Ponyville railway station, where friendship express was about to arrive in a little time. While they were standing there waiting for the train, suddenly Pinkie felt a shiver going down her spine.

"Whooh!" She smiled and spoke. "This again?"

"What! What's this Pinkie?" Twilight asked in worry. "Is everything alright?"

"It was my Pinkie Sense," she explained. "It just told me to expect the unexpected!"

Everypony raised an eyebrow at this, then Twilight spoke. "Okay~ so alright." She was clearly a little confused, as for others they passed her confused looks as well, except Rainbow Dash who spoke. "Whatever that is, we can face this together!"

"Well, that kind of scares me." Spike said. "Should I be scared Pinkie?"

"I don't know." Pinkie said. "Maybe…"

"Don't worry Spike, I'll be right by your side." Twilight giggled.

In some moments Friendship Express had been arrived. Twilight along with her friends went on the train and so the train headed towards the Canterlot.

"So Max, how are you feeling right now?" Princess Celestia asked.

"I'm feeling better… but, what happened to me?" Max asked as he realized that he couldn't remember how he end up on that bed.

"Don't worry child," the Princess said caressing her hoof on Max's mane. "You were just passed out for a while… there is nothing much to worry about."

"Passed out?" Max asked in confusion.

"Yes, but don't worry, you were just a little ill and that's why…" Princess Celestia said. "But you're alright now…"

"Max?!" Luna rushed into room suddenly. "Princess Celestia, what happened to him?"

"He's fine, Lulu." Celestia replied. "But I think he'd be willing to spend some time with you."

Luna understood that Celestia didn't want to bring up the problem in front of the Max, whatever that problem might be. She just gave her sister a small nod and sat beside Max, so she could give him some company meanwhile her sister could take care of some other matters at hoof.

Princess Celestia came out of the room and looked towards the female unicorn doctor who was standing there. She had white coat, red mane and tail, and had a cutie-mark of a stethoscope in shape similar to a heart. "It's okay, he didn't know that you were there." Celestia said in reassuring tone. "So tell me Doctor, how bad is his condition?" Celestia said as she started to walk towards a certain direction along with the doctor.

"Well, when I scanned his head," she replied, looking towards the clipboard. "I saw a traumatic injury in his brain." She said with a thoughtful and concerned expression. "Well, in creatures such as ponies and griffons an injury like that can cause amnesia, and instant passing out sessions, and if too bad even… well, let's just hope it isn't too bad."

"So, is there anything we can do to help him?" Princess Celestia asked. "I'm having the feeling that poor creature has been suffered enough already."

She sighed in empathy and and nodded. "Well… I'm not sure, but…"

"But what?" the Princess asked her. "Is there something you can do?"

She nodded. "Well, probably… but that requires hospitalizing him for at least a few weeks, we need to run medical tests as well as a full body scan, to gather as much medical information as we need before we can consider trying to medicate him." She paused for moment before continuing "Otherwise, there can be many side-effects… and I'm sure that wouldn't be a pretty picture to be seen."

Princess Celestia took a sigh and then replied her. "I see. Don't worry, doctor Softheart." She said with reassuring tone. "I need a little time, so I could talk to him about this…you see, that he still feels a little wary towards strangers." She said in thoughtful tone. "But once he's sure that he's safe around you and others, then it wouldn't be a problem to hospitalize him." She paused for a moment then asked. "Any precautions for now?"

"Yes, don't let him worry too much." Dr. Softheart replied. "It's not good for his health."

"We're already making sure of that..." Princess Celestia replied. "Anything else?"

"That will be enough for now." She smiled. "Just take care of the little guy."

"I'll be going now," She said as she bowed slightly to the Princess. "Me and my staff need to make some arrangements before he arrives in hospital."

Celestia passed her a smile and nod at this, as she went towards the Palace gate. Then Princess sighed to herself as she headed towards her throne room. Poor Max, I wish I can be able to take care of him, she thought.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight called to her as she and the elements entered in throne room "We're here! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah!" Rainbow exclaimed bumping her hooves together. "Have you called us to kick some bad guys' flanks?"

"Not yet Rainbow Dash!" Applejack exclaimed to her. "Let us first know what's all the fuss about?"

Princess Celestia gave a small smile of relief as she saw them and stood up from her throne as she trotted towards her former student. "Princess Twilight, it's so good to see you and your friends again."

"It's good to see you too Princess Celestia." Twilight replied. "But, why did you called us here?"

"I will explain that in a moment." Princess Celestia replied. "This way my little ponies," She said as she leaded them towards a certain room. The elements trotted right behind the both alicorns except for Rainbow and Applejack who looked towards each other and shrugged before trotting after others.

"I guess Princess has captured a monster, and they want us to interrogate him," Rainbow squealed with amusement. "What do you think?"

"I think you're reading too much novels now a days, ain't you Rainbow?" Applejack replied.

Rainbow gave a sheepish smile at this as they kept trotting towards a certain room. Then suddenly they heard the voice of Pinkie. "Whohoho!"

"What was that Pinkie?" Twilight asked. "Oh, your Pinkie Sense again?"

"Yeah, and I feel we're almost there!" Pinkie said cheerfully.

"Um, we're almost, where?" Rainbow asked.

"Here!" Pinkie exclaimed as Princess Celestia opened the door of the room, they were standing near to, and all of them looked inside, before pink blur passed near them and grabbed whatever was that on bed in her crushing hug. "Eeeeeeeh!" Pinkie said as she hugged him. "IdontknowwhoyouareorwhatyouarebutIstillwanttobeyourfriend!" She babbled faster than he could anticipate "Wouldyouliketobemyfriendwouldyouwouldyou!"

"Don't startle him like this Pinkie!" Princess Celestia exclaimed as Pinkie released the creature from the hug as a small "squee" was heard.

Then they all noticed a fair skinned,almost hairless apish creature wearing a hoody and a pair of jeans, sitting on the bed, and probably was munching on fruit salad before Pinkie almost startled him, but for some reason he was still smiling to see them in front of him. As he noticed those new faces in front of him he stopped and gave all of them a brief look before he looked towards Celestia.

"Ah, what is that… thing?" Rainbow asked in somewhat confusion.

"He looks like…" Fluttershy said making a thoughtful expression. "..an ape, umm, a hairless ape with a little flat and cuter face…"

"Is that what you've called us for?" Twilight asked with a hint of excitement in his tone. "Is that a new species?"

Rarity as usual dramatically fainted, as Applejack gave her a deadpanned look before looking towards the creature again.

"Don't worry, Max…" Princess Celestia reassured him with a nod. "They are friends and they won't hurt you."

"Oh, okay…" Max replied, as other noticed that his voice was almost similar to a preteen colt, and that really surprised them "If you say so," he said as he looked towards others. "Hi, I'm Max."

Author Note: So, any ideas why Princess Celestia called the elements...