//------------------------------// // Glowing // Story: The Lightest Touch // by DoctorDerpy //------------------------------// Fluttershy stared open-mouthed at the reflective sea of water, the surface of which was so calm, that it closely resembled a mirror. A mirror that stretched across the world, to the horizon, reflecting the sky and clouds above. The awestruck pegasus stepped forward, transfixed. As she did though, her eyes travelled downward to where the Everfree Forest’s dirt and leaf strewn floor stopped and the water begun. It was as if someone had taken a knife and sliced through the world, showing a completely new one underneath. There was a loud bark to her side and Fluttershy jumped, having forgotten that the wolf was beside her. The creature gave, what she perceived as, a reassuring look and proceeded into the mysterious new world. “W-wait!” Fluttershy panicked and tried to pull the wolf back. But as she reached out a hoof she noticed that miraculously, the wolf continued walking. It was trotting along the surface of the sea without worry. Fluttershy’s nerves calmed somewhat as she moved a bit closer. No, the creature wasn’t walking on the water, it was walking slightly below the water. There was land, but it was just a hoof or two underneath. The wolf stopped and turned to face her. It sat down in the few inches of water, waiting. Its big brown eyes looking at her. Fluttershy stared back, shivering slightly at the animal’s gaze. She knew what it wanted, but she wasn’t sure if she was capable of following through. She closed her eyes. Fluttershy remembered a wall of water, blocking her path and yet she had pushed through. This was no different to that moment. This wolf needed help and it would go against her very nature if she was to ignore a plea for help. The shaking pegasus took a step forward and then another. Soon she was right at the window’s edge, one more hoof and she would be walking into a new world altogether. She could feel the anxiety creeping in once more. “I can’t do it… I-I’m too scared!” she cried, her eyes opened, glistening with unshed tears. The creature was sitting just a few hooves away watching Fluttershy with what she felt was a pleading gaze. She took a step backwards. Fluttershy cringed as the wolf’s ears drooped and its head lowered. Shame rushed in as forceful as a wave of water. She could almost hear the feeling flowing through herself. It became louder and louder. Fluttershy’s ears perked up. The sound of rushing water was coming from behind her and she turned to see a massive wall of water flowing past the trees, taking everything else in its path and heading directly for her. Fluttershy was frozen, her body was refusing to move, she felt completely numb from head to hoof. The deep splashing and crashing of the massive wave hurt her ears. The ground was shaking. Her body was shaking. The wave hit her in a blast of force and sound. She could feel it as it flushed her through the window, her limbs flailing as she tried to breathe. The world swam in and out of focus as Fluttershy was thrown forward. She was in a state of pure panic. She was spinning, the water reflecting and distorting the world around her. And just when she thought everything would end- The yellow sopping mass of fur finally hit the wet surface as the water evened out. Fluttershy lifted her head as she took in large lungfuls of air. A soft muzzle touched her side causing her to turn her head weakly. Coughing heavily she blinked the water from her eyes and saw the large wolf, looking at her, worried. “I-I think I’m alright.” she attempted a smile, but it was interrupted by another coughing fit. When the coughing had subsided the weary pegasus stood up on shaking legs, taking her first proper look around. She noticed firstly that her first aid kit and umbrella weren’t far away so she walked over to pick them back up. The next thing she noticed was that the window to the Everfree was gone. Fluttershy shut her eyes tight, trying to keep the panic at bay. If she was stuck here, she knew her friends would find her, she was sure of that. It took a few minutes of slow, controlled breathing before she finally looked up and took in her new landscape. The watery land swept across and into the horizon with little tufts of plant life pushing their way through every now and then. Now that she was on the other side she could see that the darkened clouds were massive pillars in the sky, far larger than any cloud structure she had seen before. And the large orange sun was dipping further down the sky, getting ready to leave for the day. Squinting, Fluttershy noticed that in the distance stood the entrance to a forest of sorts, sticking out from the water. It looked relatively new, not as thick nor as tall as the Everfree but it covered a fair amount of ground all the same. As she was looking about, wide-eyed, she felt a furry warmth by her side. The wolf was pushing himself against her, giving her some small amount of comfort. It stood there for a moment before trotting off in the direction of the forest. Fluttershy looked wearily back to where the window used to be, then picked up her umbrella and placed it under her wing. She put her first-aid kit on her back once again and the yellow pony silently prayed it was going to be alright as she began to follow the wolf across the foreign landscape. ---- The sun had gone over the horizon now, casting a deep, violet-blue over the world, it was going to be night shortly. As they neared, Fluttershy could see that there was a slight incline, as the land underneath rose to meet the forest’s edge. The woodland was acting almost like an island, with the water surrounding it. It wasn’t long before they arrived at the forest entrance, the looming trees beginning to look un-inviting as the world’s light faded. Fluttershy watched as the wolf walked over the edge of the woods and through the trees. And with no small amount of trepidation, the animal caretaker followed the creature. The two walked side-by-side, through the forest and Fluttershy couldn’t help feeling a sense of déjà vu as they went. Luckily though, this forest had a lighter canopy above as the trees weren't as overgrown, so that sense of claustrophobia was absent this time. She looked to the sky for comfort as they continued to whatever lay inside the forest, Fluttershy could see a smattering of stars out now, twinkling above them. The wolf picked up its pace and ran ahead, leaving Fluttershy in its wake. The pegasus gasped and tried to follow, stumbling a little in her attempt to catch up to her furry companion. Branches whacked and scratched at her coat as she tried to keep up with the now silhouette. She could hear the wolf yapping and barking in the distance, so picked up her pace even more. And then, Fluttershy broke through the trees and stopped, looking about at the clearing she just stepped into. The trees circled around a grassy break, some tall enough to reach their branches above. The moon was out, its light filtering through the trees and illuminating the sight before her. In the middle of the clearing lay a beautiful pale-white doe, its eyes scrunched up in pain, hooves over its belly in a protective manner. The wolf had just reached the creature, placing its head by the deer’s and whimpering. Fluttershy walked tentatively into the small meadow, eyes on the deer. There were cuts and bruises all over its body, ugly marks against its perfect coat. The most noticeable thing however, was its large tummy. The deer was pregnant. “Oh my gosh!” Fluttershy fluttered over to the lightly glowing creature. She placed her two, only items on the ground and sat next to the deer ready to examine her. The deer looked up from its pained grimace and into Fluttershy’s eyes. Putting a soft hoof on its exceptionally soft fur she examined the small injuries it had. Running a hoof along each bump and bruise she smiled when she was finished. “You’re also a lucky one, Mrs Deer, your injuries aren’t too bad. But it looks like you’re having contractions, and you’ll be giving birth really soon. So I would like to stay with you, if you’re ok with that.” she smiled. Luckily Fluttershy had her first aid kit and had plenty of animal birthing experience so the deer would be just fine. ROAR A deafening sound filled the forest. This sound was louder than anything Fluttershy had ever heard before. It echoed across the land, shaking the trees and rattling the timid pegasus to the bones. The wolf growled and the deer’s breathing became sharper. Fluttershy herself, jumped in horror and shrunk down as low as she could to the grassy floor, searching the forest wildly for the source of the sound. She needn’t search for long, a huge whoosh of wind came from above as a dark figure flew past the trees. It broke through the canopy above and with an almighty crash it hit the ground, shaking the land around it. The massive black monstrosity slowly raised its head, glowing orange eyes looking right at them. It then reared its head and the demonic dragon roared, spewing scorching-hot flames into the air above.