//------------------------------// // On the Edge of Everfree // Story: The Solar Steward // by kissfromarose2 //------------------------------// Deciding to take a break from this friends thing Twilight dropped Spike off at the library and took a walk around the outskirts of the town. As the town disappeared behind her, the stress of the day seemed to roll off her back. The light breeze and crisp air refreshed her senses and she found herself slowing from a stressed trot to a peaceful walk. Before she realised it she was on the edge of the Everfree forest. An imposing figure in the skyline it seemed to stretch on forever leaving only a thin line of grey sky above. Though the sky in town had been kept entirely clear for the Summer Sun Celebration, in the Everfree dark storm clouds drifted just above the trees forecasting a strange doom. Heavy with rain, they hung in the sky, seeming to reach to blot out the Sun itself. Shivering Twilight thought of all the horrible dangers that lay inside. Timberwolves, horrifying creatures of living flame,hydras, manticores. Not to mention the strange magic that took hold within. But something seemed to pull her towards it. Surely it couldn’t be all that dangerous. The princess had trained her extensively in defensive spells after all. Besides, think of all the things she could discover! She began to walk towards the forest. "Leave me alone!" The voice had come from behind her. A mare screaming in terror. Twilight hesitated for a moment then turned, galloping back towards the source of the shout at full pace. Upon reaching the source of the voice she was surprised to realise there was an entire house, set just off her path, that she had entirely missed before. In any other circumstance the overgrowing vegetation, and rather large assortment of animals surrounding it, would have made her take it as abandoned. However, the butter yellow pegasus covered in mud, unsteadily tying to stand up in the front yard told her differently. What was more worrying, however, was the two other pegasi standing over her laughing as one kicked her leg out from under her. As she hit the ground the two only laughed harder. Twilight felt her fury begin to boil over. The stallion who had tripped her spoke first, tossing his pale mane in disgust. "Seriously Clutzershy, fifteen years and you still can't fly properly? They really should just make it official and ground you." "I...I" stuttered the mare. "Yeah I mean do those wings of yours even work?" butted in the second bully, a tan stallion with three orange balls for a cutie mark. "L-leave me alone." "Sorry didn't quite catch that Lamo-shy. Maybe if you actually opened your mouth." "My name is Fluttershy." "Maybe she's a changeling? What do you reckon Dumbbell?" "Nah Hoops, they actually have wings. I bet she's just an mud pony in disguise with fake wings stuck on." "Maybe we should check." said Hoops, reaching over to tug on her yellow wings. Twilight had heard more than enough. "Get away from her!" "Why, what are you gonna do hornhead?" "This." Taking a deep breath Twilight pulled deep from her magic well. Pegasi magic was resistant to unicorn telekinesis, but if she added an extra layer of holding runes and tied it all into Clover the Clever's entanglement matrix... As her horn sparked in renewed determination the two bullies began to lift off the ground. Pale in exhaustion, Twilight looked up to find two purple spheres hanging in the air above her. Within each was a flailing pegasi spitting insults. Looking down at the still shaking mare Twilight became all the more glad she'd added in Sunset's 'shut the buck up' barrier. "See how it feels to not be able to fly?" said Twilight coldly. "If I were you I would choose your words and actions more carefully next time. Princess Luna has a zero tolerance policy towards racism." The two pegasi in front of her quivered in terror, but Twilight barely blinked. She remembered the furious tears in her mentor's eyes when a unicorn noble had disregarded her secretary for being a 'dirty feather brain' right in front of her. That hadn't stopped her from promptly disenfranchising and imprisoning him. But it hadn't stopped the whispers around court either. She took a deep breath, pulling herself back into balance, acknowledging the anger, then releasing it. "As I recall the Princess specifically stated that such laws were essential to ensure that nopony would ever be afraid to leave their home ever again. So, perhaps you should think of that before you speak slurs you do not and can not comprehend the significance of." A sudden squeak brought Twilight's attention back to the shaking mare, who's slowly emerging head had quickly tucked itself back into her ball the second Twilight had looked back. At the terrified nods of the two stallions Twilight softened slightly. "I won't report it. This time. I'm going to let you go now. I'm not like you. But I will make one thing very clear. I despise bullies. Don’t come back." And with a flick of her horn she sent the two pods sailing up into the sky and flying towards the distant city of Cloudsdale, where they would be deposited in the most convenient trashcan. Letting out a sigh her hackles finally dropped. Unsure, she cautiously took a step towards the shaking ball of yellow fur on the floor. "Um I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. It's just I really don’t like ponies who bully others. Canterlot isn't the nicest place when you're small and alone. I'm Twilight. What's your name "Fluttershy." "Sorry I cant hear you." "Fluttershy." "If you just want me to go that’s fine." Twilight said quietly. "I guess I was a bit scary back there. It's just like when I was a filly. I lose control for a split second and ponies get hurt." Sinking her shoulders, Twilight began to walk away. Cautiously a pink mane still streaked with mud peeped up from its hiding place. "Thank you." Twilight turned around. "I get it, you want me to go. I'm sorry for bothering you. I just couldn't stand by and let somepony do that." "No don’t go!" blurted the pegasus. "I'm sorry" she blushed. "I just wanted to thank you for helping me." "Oh. It was no trouble, really. Neither my BBBFF or BSBFF would let me live it down if I let some mean pony get away with bullying somepony like you. Not that there's anything wrong with you. It's just..." "It's OK. I know I'm a pushover." "I don’t think that. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is just to stand your ground." A tentative grin grew. "Let's try this again. I'm Twilight, Twilight Sparkle." "Fluttershy." The two ponies reached out, hooves an inch from connecting, to seal their newfound bond It was precisely at that moment that another pegasus fell from the sky.