Charlie Takes the Stage
By misterebony
For stagemanager06
 
Walking in the Everfree was dangerous. Walking alone was crazy.
 
Walking intending to be food for a NICE predator... well good luck. The Everfree was chalk full of nasties from tanglevines to Timberwolves and cragodiles to even manticore. Any one would not hesitate to make someone into a delicious snack at a whim.
 
Which was why Charlie seemed so out of place. The teenaged mouse person was seeking a friendly predator as he had done many a time. Sometimes those even included ones that some saw as villians or monsters. Charlie always knew there was something in the predators if just given a chance.
 
He walked among the trees, looking like a mousey angel as he walked. His form was slightly chubby and he wore only dark chocolate brown shorts, and had white fur and blue eyes. But his most distinctive feature were two wings that fluttered under his shoulders. He seemed other worldly if one saw him, but for the moment anyone seeing him seemed... unlikely.
 
"Nothing. I know I sensed someone here but I cannot find them." He said aloud, pushing through the brush. He saw a growling timnerwolf emerge from the trees and sighed. He raised a hand and fired a single blast of energy from it, just missing the creature, as it ran off yipping in fear.
 
"All I found so far is things that remind me of being a weapon again." Charlie sighed sadly and sat down on a large green rock. "It would be different, but my luck finding nice predators has been terrible. Seems all the ones I am finding anymore are becoming beasts."
 
He laid back on the rock. The green moss felt unusual but he thought little on it, he was too lost in melancholy. Had he thought on that rock more, he might have noticed it move. Might have noticed it lift his head, revealing a pony with a dark mane, red eyes, and VERY sharp teeth. Might even have noticed the head turn and look at him.
 
Instead, it wasn't until the "rock" coughed that Charlie noticed, getting spooked off and landing in the dirt beside the being. The creature stood up, easily about as big as a Belgian horse, and looked at the figure.
 
"You care to explain why you were using me as a thinking rock?" The figure said. "Sheesh, guy takes a nap and as a result gets no peace."
 
Charlie stood up and brushed himself off. "Sorry... I'm just not having a very good day."
 
"I would say not!" The ponylike creature said. "Fact is you made it a little worse by running into me. Surely you heard of me?"
 
Charlie blinked. "Ummmmm.... uhhhh...."
 
The pony put a hoof to his face in exasperation. "Ok that explains a lot." The form sat down. "Alright, we will start simple, since clearly your from out of town. *Ahem* I am Stage." He offered a hoof and Charlie shook it.
 
"Charlie. And I really am sorry. Fact is... I was looking for something and I have had no luck."
 
Stage laughed. "Looking for something in the Everfree? Only thing worth looking for is someone to eat you up! Everything else you just stay on the path. That takes you to Zecora or to the castle of the two sisters!" Stage chuckled some more. "Otherwise I'd say you want someone to eat you!"
 
Charlie nervously tapped his fingers in the awkward silence that followed. Finally Stage spoke one word.
 
"Oh."
 
Charlie scratched behind his head. "Yyyyeah... I kinda do."
 
Stage leaned in close and sniffed the mouse. He smelled very sweet, like a s'more if it could be believed. The monster pony shrugged some. After all... food was food.
 
"Well, your in luck. I could use a snack." Stage said with a lick of his lips. Charlie gave a small smile and came closer.
 
"Well that is alright by me. Enjoy your snack." He gave a hug to the giant pony. He was very soft and furry, a weakness for the teen. Stage shook his head, shrugged, and opened wide. In one quick motion he chomped around Charlie's middle. He was so sweet! The taste hit his tounge immediately and it was indeed like a s'more. He moaned a little and began to chew. The mouse only seemed to giggle some before he went silent, something Stage found odd but not worrisome. After a bit he swallowed, giving a belch soon after.
 
"Well thanks mousie. You were pretty sweet and tasty, though not very filling. Ah well, I'll just stop by Sweet Apple Acres for a burger or 50." He chuckled as he began to trot off toward the farm and the cows that were there, realizing he didn't even know the name of that mouse. Not that it mattered he was food. And food was meant to be eaten and dig-
 
"Hi!"
 
Stage stopped dead in his tracks as suddenly the mouse appeared before him good as new. He looked at his belly, then the mouse, then his belly again.
 
"Yeah probably should have mentioned I am immortal." Charlie admitted with a blush. "In fact I am one of four made by ancient alchemists. My name is Charlie.
 
Stage blinked. "Stage. Stage Manager. " he offered a hoof out of instinct which was shaken. Then he began to reason. He was immortal. Being eaten did not kill him. And he came back afterward. Stage hmmed.
 
"You dont suppose I can have a few more.... helpings?"
 
Charlie chuckled. "Bon appetit." He said. "But you might want to cook me first."
 
Stage shrugged. "Eh, we will see." And with that he opened wide. Charlie just chuckled at the turn of events. He had a feeling this would take a while.
 
He also had a feeling he would love every minute of it.
 
 
The end.