After their little snack and boys little eating competition as well as helping Mr. and Mrs. Cakes out by cleaning up and washing dishes in the Sugarcube Corner, Twilight, Peter, Spike along with Logan were already on their way out of the Ponyville, heading more into the countryside, just like when firstly visiting Sweet Apple Acres.
“Urgh….I think I have eaten too much goodies.” Peter sighed with a slight whimper, feeling himself full like a stuffed turkey.
“Guess I have also overdone it with that cake a little bit.” Spike was rubbing his significantly enlarged scaly belly, evident by stuffing himself with that entire chocolate cake before.
“This is what you will get when you eat too much pie.” Twilight replied in a nonchalant yet also quite in sympathy with her husbands and number one assistant feelings. Almost like the first time, Princess Celestias student arrived first time into Ponyville by getting a warm welcome from Applejack and her entire Apple Family, yet also eating too much pie at the feast they threw her, though it was all from a good will.
“Ain't me.” Logan scoffed in a very smug and rather complacent like manner grinning. “My accelerated healin' factor makes fer a fast metabolism as well as burnin' up way more calories. Stomach ache ain't a problem fer me.”
“Chm…Guess your hypersensitive immune system just couldn’t make you less grumpy then you already are. With all those hormonal changes, estrogen and mood swings…” Peter sarcastically babbled by mocking Logans enhanced immune system and otherwise even going on with his cheap gossip talk further if Logan, of course annoyed by Parkers stupid talk didn’t let his adamantium claws out with a SNIKT from his hooves.
“Ya wanna ta gut so ya feel better, bub?” Logan snarled irritated as he held his deadly blades near the young stallions muzzle.
“Boys! Boys!” Twilight intervened, trying to break up the fight among two stallions, yet also being thankful that they were outside the town so nopony saw it. “Lets just settle this quietly, wouldn’t we?” Twilight tried to moderate a rather heated situation yet also denying a faint stare to Peter, instructing her husband to not better mock the X-Men any further.
Taking in Sparkles voice of reason, Logan eventually sheathed his claws back into his hoof while Peter merely shrugged his shoulders in response, yet also taking his wifes good advice to heart before the group continued in their way.
“Either way….Where are we goin'?” Logan asked with a faint undercurrent of impatience growing within him, however more they were edging closer into the countryside, gruff stallion could feel all the nature like greenery and blooming around, birds singing as well as leaves on the branches whizzing in the air. It was strange feeling, but maybe out of the instincts, Logan felt a strange warming tingling like sensation of peace echoing beneath his chest as well as his adamantium lacked ribcage as well as started somehow felling more and more like….Home.
“We are here.” Twilight announced as she along with Peter, Spike and Logan who looked rather and quite in awe found themselves standing right in front of a small, yet nice woodland cottage, with a roof forming nothing but moss and greenery with several birdhouses posed all over it, the chimney included, being built on a small hill, being divided with a small stream with a natural bridge leading across along with several and various more birdhouses on tree etc with also several holes in ground. Yet, there were lots of cute little bunnies hopping around and birds of different colours singing, flying around or sitting in bird nests or those birdhouses.
“This is Fluttershys house?” Logan blurted out in an amazed like way as he was literally starring at the cottage build in a very sophisticated way by harmonizing with nature itself and all those bunnies and birds, once again like from some kind of fairytale.
“Whats the matter, bub? Expecting three bears along with goldilocks coming out the house to greet and invite you in yet?” Peter humorously mooted with his well-known provocative look as his second opinion sounded a way good to be rejected, though in Fluttershys case, young stallion couldn’t be that far from truth.
“Hurm. Well….A little. I guess.” Logan murmured and scratching the back on his neck with his hoof sheepishly.
“But Fluttershy simply calls it a home and that is it.” Spike merely shrugged his shoulder, stating in a very simple yet sensible manner.
“Oh! Hello there, guys!” Peter, Twilight, Spike and Logan perked themselves up by hearing a feminine shy, yet sweet little voice, as they saw Fluttershy having her head perked out from her cottage doors, greeting her friends joyously, before flipping her yellow wings, gracefully soaring into air and landing right behind the bridge as she went to meet up with her friends.
“Hello, Fluttershy.” Twilight greeted herself with her Pegasus friend happily while also going to meet up with Fluttershy.
“Hey Fluttershy. Whats up?” Peter also greeted cheerfully and waving his hoof with an honest warm smile on his face.
“Twilight…Hey, Spike.” Fluttershy greeted herself with Twilight as well as with Spike who merely waved with his fingers, however by turning her attention to Peter made a meek Pegasus feel a little uncertain with a strange sense of giddiness brewing within mares chest as well as she felt heat rising in her cheeks. “Um…Peter…” She greeted young stallion yet averting her gaze somewhat sheepishly, yet Peter didn’t seem to mind Fluttershys shy and reserved attitude at all. Finally, Fluttershy also realized Logan standing aside and despite gruff stallions stone-faced expression, pegasus politely greeted the X-Men with a smile nonetheless. “Oh. Hello there, Logan.”
“Hey there, Shy.” Logan greeted the mare back, yet his voice sounding rather hesitant and somewhat awkward, just like with Mr. and Mrs. Cakes before, obviously due to his rather extremely reserved nature as well as not helping the fact not being too good with so much meeting with so many new characters, yet this tone sounding somewhat soft and deliberated.
However and just like with Pinkie Pie before, by looking into Fluttershys deep ocean blue eyes, full of innocence and emotions, Logan once again felt a weird yet warm tingling sensation going on right within his chest, strangely filling iron-clad gruff stallion with delight and complacency as well as softening his heart. And despite and like against his own will, the X-Men tried to make at least some good impression on a meek yet kind-hearted Pegasus, so he managed a very awkward or more like a silly yet honest smile, that though cause both Peter and Spike feel rather uneasy and awkward.
“Um…..” Fluttershy though meekly muttered with her trademark and sometimes rather over-excessively reluctant and reserved attitude, a realization sparkled within Fluttershys head. “Now I just remember that I was just about to annually feed my animal friends. But, if you are not comfort with that….”
“Not at all, Fluttershy.” Just before Fluttershy could go any further with her usually unnecessary apologizing or in her case rather excuses, Peter gently placed his hoof over shy Pegasus shoulder, unwillingly causing mares heartbeat to increas as well as temperature within her cheeks growing even further to the point her face was nearly as hot as tomato. “In contrast, that’s exactly what we came for, right?” Peter then glanced upon his wife.
“That’s right, Fluttershy.” Twilight simply nod her head. “By having a day off and hanging out for today, we have thought that even Logan could use also some time out. And we have also thought that by visiting you just might be the thing.”
“Yeah. So all that brawny and clobbering punks didn’t get over his thick head. Literally, therefore it just cant get any thicker than it already is.” Peter humorously and innocently quipped and playfully bumping Logans gut with his elbow, earning a small irritating snarl from gruff stallion.
“Ooh!” Fluttershy squeaked joyously in an change of her reluctant attitude aby flipping her wing happily. “In this case….Follow me you guys.” And in the instance, Fluttershy lifted her frame into air by flying near the ground back to her cottage with Twilight, Peter, Spike soon following in pursuit.
“Come on, Logan!” Spike called upon Logan, encouraging the X-Men to come along.
Though feeling somehow dully and reluctant, yet also deeply wondering nonetheless what did his friends instored for him, Logan eventually came along by following.
“Hurm! Is this a cottage or a zoo?” Logan blurted out with an exhale filled with quite an awe, as he was finding himself along with Fluttershy, Peter, Twilight and Spike right behind the cottage, as its backyard, bounded with a wooden fence more likely resembled and being nothing but a small animal shelter of sorts.
There was a small yet nice wooden chicken house, bounded with wire fence, with nature like trees with more bird house fixed on them and bushes surrounding the backyard, yet what was the most amazing off all on that, were dozens of kinds of animals freely moving around.
There were mammals like bunnies and racoons hopping around, kittens, squirrels climbing tree, otters and beavers swimming and diving in stream, bats either flying or hanging upside down, deer, goat chewing grass along and strangely a sealion slapping his fins happily. Then there were also reptiles like land turtle moving in a very slow motion and colourful snakes hissing, yet however and arguably the most abundant were birds from the smallest to bigger ones, like hummingbirds flying and zipping through the air, various colourful singing birds singing or nesting on trees, owls, falcons, buzzards, eagles as well as some exotic ones like flamingo and tocan. Just like Logan suggested it, it more likely resembled a miniature zoo.
“I suppose that animal house would be fitting more like it. Don’t you think?” Peter chuckles in a both humorous and sheepish like way.
“Actually…Not only all these animals lives here along with Fluttershy, finding a shelter here, but she also righteously and devotedly cares for all of them on daily basics.” Twilight explained her Pegasus friends duties by which she was devoting so unyieldingly properly in detail, unwillingly causing Fluttershys cheeks to glow in embarrassment.
Those words though seemed to have quite an impression on Logan as he shifted his glance with Fluttershy. “Yer…..Actually takin' care of all these animals, Shy? On yer own?”
“Yes.” Flutteshy replied a little sheepishly before though exhaling and releasing a very sweethearted and soulful song like call that would melt even the hardest of coldest of hearts. The local birds all around by hearing the song and like they would all be reacting on Fluttershys call, they all responded simultaneously by singing on like on chorus and started flying down as well as other animals started approaching without a hint of hesitation or fear, gathering right at Pegasus, with some birds taking their seat on either Fluttershys head or exposed hooves.
Logan, being amazed by Fluttershys effort and literally finding himself staring as those animals were cuddling and treating Pegasus like one of their own, with her serving like some sort of animal whisperer of sorts. “You surely have quite a handle on those animals, Shy.”
“Not exactly that much, Logan…” Twilight though cleared her throat as she tried to explain. “Fluttershy has a very special talent.”
“Hurm? Whut kind of talent?” Logan dully asked and titling his head on the side.
“Well….” Fluttesrhy responded once again a little sheepishly while visibly enjoying herself in the company of all those animals. “You see…I can actually communicate with animals which I use to provide them with food, medical attention and other forms of care when they need it. In addition, a host of animals have also taken up a residence within my hut, which I attend to and look after.”
“What can be said. Fluttershy is just like a real-life Snow White that way, combined with showing a soft side with care and kindness. Yet though, seven little man with beards are missing.” Peter once again nonchalantly commented Fluttershys unique ability to communicate and work with animals.
“Would you….Would you like to help me out to feed and take care of those animals, guys?” Fluttershy suggested, her voice sounding promising yet also sounding hopeful and strangely yet quite not surprisingly bearing an undercurrent of uncertainty.
“Sure thing!” Peter and Twilight both spoke off unanimously without any sign of hesitation and their expressions bright and gleaming.
“Yay!” Spike cheered out by sharing Peters and Twilight passion yet glancing upon Logan. “Hey Logan! What do you think, Logan?”
“Hurm….Sure guys. It should be….Some kind of fun.” Logan dully responded, yet though seemingly disinterested as usually, yet deep down the gruff stallion seemed to be kinda thrilled with Fluttershys idea to work with animals.
“Good.” Fluttershy joyously clapped her hooves together and pointing her hoof to the edge of her cottage, where she had lots of working gear stored, including lots of bags with various animal food being stacked on each other. “Twilight, you would feed squirrels with nuts, Peter otters and sealion with fishes, Spike bunnies with carrots and salad and Logan….”
But unfortunately, before yellow Pegasus could finish her tasking, out of the sudden, Peters Spiders Sense started buzzling within the back of his head, signalizing a possible threat coming.
“What the…?!” Peter muttered inwardly for himself, before a horrible and rumbling like roar of a ferocious animal echoed, scaring away other animals with birds flying away and bunnies, deer and other mammals and reptiles scattering all over in a wild run away.
“What…Was that?” Spike stammered with quite a fright vocally present in his voice.
“Oh no! Harry! Not again!” Fluttershy exhaled with even more frightened expression as dark thoughts filled her mind.
“Who is Harry?” Logan dully asked by seeing Fluttershys more concerned side yet not getting any answer as Fluttershy along with Peter, Twilight and Spike immediately rushed their way right to the source of the disturbance with the X-Men following from behind, yet somehow started having bad feelings about this.
The group soon reached behind the cottage where they much for their horror saw a large Grizzly bear of a very chestnut brown colour fur standing up. He was roaring on top of his lungs, stomping with his powerful front paws into ground, causing it to shake and rumbling around, with drools pouring and flying from his mouth filled with clenched razor-sharp teeth and having a very menacing like look on his face, with his amber eyes gleaming with a pure anger and ferocity, being like a “I am gonna kill everything that just comes near”. Yet however and strangely, the bear occasionally bowed his head down and brushing and scratching his muzzle for ground and grass in a somewhat frantic like way.
“That’s Harry?” Logan blurted out by finding out that Harry was actually a Grizzly bear, that by the way was rampaging and seemingly very dangerous.
“What is wrong with him? Fluttershy?” Twilight murmured nervously, having her deep amethyst filled and gleaming with concern centred right on the raging bear.
“I am….Not really sure, Twilight.” Fluttershy meekly murmured, obviously not having much idea about Harrys strange behaviour. “He has been acting strange lately. He has been very distant lately, growling, snarling and very often scratching his muzzle for ground or anything like that. Yet….What is the most suspicious, he doesn’t want to eat, and I usually either serve him salmon or honey, his favourites. But right now, he is just….So vicious, savage and rampaging.” Fluttershy explained, yet concern for Harry was strongly evident in mares voice with a rising anxiety. “It doesn’t make any sense. Normally he is usually a gentle giant and getting along well with other animals.”
“Don’t worry, ladies. I got this one.” Peter stated casually while pulling out and fixing his web-shooters over his hooves yet determined leaping several meters forward to face Harry. “Hey there, Winnie the Pooh. I don’t suppose we can talk about this over a small smackerel of honey now could we?”
His answer though was one of Harrys massive paw flying down right at him. Peter nimbly leaped away from bears reach and landing on a near tree. “No dice, eh? Well, then…How about a nice pick-a-nick basket?”
The Grizzly took another swipe at the wise-cracking pony, yet missing again his target by though crushing the tree trunk with his might paw with wooden chips flying around as Peter effortlessly landed back on ground.
“Okay….I can assume that you are really pissed of right now. Now, wouldn’t it be something as a mundane and cliché as a thorn in your paw, would it?”
Harry roared, rising both of his paws together in an attempt to smash that one annoying pony. Peter though jumped up in the air as bears paws slammed the ground in a vertical motion, causing the earth to quake, as young stallion performed a backflip and landing several meters away from bears position.
“Now you are just a very mean teddy bear, you know!” Peter scolded and firing a strand of his webbing from the web-shooter on his right hoof as a sticky substance struck Harrys snout, sticking the bears mouth up, acting like a muzzle.
“Peter! Please, don’t hurt him!” Fluttershy anxiously begged Peter to not getting too far with his fight with Harry.
However, with muffled growling and fuming, Harry grabbed the webbing stuck on his muzzle with his claws and easily tearing the substance with his powerful paws like a piece of paper, freeing his mouth open again and releasing another fierce roar.
“I will keep it on mind.” Peter muttered unnervingly while keeping his distance from a bear on the loose, yet strangely, Harry though grunted with a suspicious hysterical like way and once again frantically brushing his muzzle on grass and ground quite frantically, which kinda attracted Logans attention, who started having his suspicions, like he would actually already know what was transpiring, but it was still too soon to fully judge.
“How long it has been since he last ate?” Twilight asked while taking a few cautious steps closer to her husbands side, try to consider the situation properly and eying Brutus with a both suspicions and concern in the same time.
“Not for days.” Fluttershy responded, being just as uncertain and concerned alike for her bear friends being.
Thinking, Twilight looked behind as she saw a small basked filled with fishes and using her telekinesis through her horn to levitate one, a trout so Harry could see it. “You hungry, boy?” Twilight spoke off in a soft soothing like tone, waving the fish by trying to tempt Harry with it. Brutus growled lowly, having his gleaming amber yellow eyes fixed on the fish suspiciously yet inhaling deeply by catching its sweet dovetail sent, taking a few careful steps forward as Twilight eventually released the fish from her telekinetic grasp and throwing it right into Harrys opened mouth.
The Grizzly chomped the treat several times, but suddenly s strange cracking like sound echoed coming right from his mouth, as his yellow eyes shot open like two saucers with a painful like expression forming over his furry features and whimpering like a puppy before groaning and spitting the fish out, like he would be in pain of what, his act quite shocked everypony and dragon standing around, yet Logan stared at bear with a steadily rising interest.
“Bears are omnivorous, right? They just shouldn’t be that picky.” Spike muttered awkwardly, yet unable to hide his growing nervousness about Harry, though not quite helping the situation.
“We got to bring that bear under control before he got himself hurt, or anyone else.” Twilight stated cautiously with more concern along with now worries filling her voice.
“Don’t worry, Twilight. I can do this.” Fluttershy stated, passing both Peter and Twilight by taking cautious yet determined steps and with good intentions, edging closer to Harry who stared at Pegasus cautiously and maintaining a defensive like position, like being about to lunge at every moment. “Easy….” Fluttershy spoke off in a very soft and caring voice, while carefully extending her hoof before she gently touched Harrys muzzle with a warm touch, but Grizzly didn’t seem much relaxed nor soothed. “Here you go, boy. Its gonna be okay, I promise.” Fluttershy kept talking to Harry softly in a hypnotic and psychological like perspective, extending her another hoof and gently touching bears muzzle with it.
But unfortunately and much for meek Pegasus dismay, yet another strange cracking like sound echoed right out of the Harrys mouth, sharply thrashing himself from Fluttershys embrace and releasing yet another fierce yet also painful like roar and making it into a standing like position on his back paws, being over eight feet tall. Yet, unbeknown to everypony, Logan took a few sniffs of the air and much for his awe catching up quite a rotten like sent that was coming right from Harrys mouth.
Harry opened his mouth with, exposing his sharp teeth and extending his massive paws with claws exposed, being about to crush Fluttershy with a very menacing and fierce expression.
“HARRY NO!!!” Fluttershy gasped in horror with her ocean blue eyes being as wide as two saucers staring at Harry with disbelief, yet a meek mare just found her muscles locking themselves at place against her will, unable to move an inch on her own, with Harry would crush her, if suddenly and reacting just in time, Peter didn’t intervened in a blur and snatching the mare out of the way with a speed of the bullet as Harry slammed both his paws into ground, narrowly missing his target.
“Well….that was anticlimactic.” Peter muttered humorously while holding Fluttershy in his hooves bridal style yet couldn’t be more confused about Harrys aggressive and hostile behaviour to the point by actually attacking Fluttershy.
“I….Don’t believe this….” Fluttershy stammered incoherently with her lips quivering sobered with. “Harry….Actually hates me.” She sobered with tears forming and pouring down on her cheeks, unable to comprehend what had just transpired, with Harry, who was Fluttershys dear friend and of whom she was taking care so righteously and devotedly actually attacked her.
“That did it. I have just seen enough.” Logan, who was so far standing aside and not doing a thing right then decided to intervene, snarling maliciously and having a menacing like expression on his face and taking his leather jacket off.
“Logan?” Twilight murmured confused about her gruff friends change of attitude unsettling, yet begging Logan not to do anything stupid.
“Just leave this one ta me.” Logan though declared in a way much softer and assuring like tone, before though charging forward with his trademark fierce and menacing battle cry.
“Logan, no!” Fluttershy gasped in fright, begging the X-Men not to hurt Harry.
“Don’t worry, Fluttershy. Logan knows what he is doing.” Peter tried to comfort Fluttershy a little bit, yet by hearing Logan battle cry along with his fierce attitude that usually made young stallion feel somewhat uneasy around grumpy Canadian mutant. “I hope.” He murmured.
Logan charged and tackled Harry in a full speed and with a full force like a battering ram to the ground as the Grizzly bear and the savage mutant engaged into a fierce wrestling match. Both opponents were wrestling with each other in an intense match, rolling around on the ground, with Logan and Brutus shifting their posts on the top of each other, pushing themselves to their limits and testing their strength, with Harry growling and roaring fiercely aloud that it could be heard across the entire area. Despite Harrys bulky frame, brute strength and considerable size advantage, Logan has though proved quite a match for Grizzly bear with his naturally enhanced physical attributes, amplified with his Adamantium coated skeleton along with his feral instincts.
Peter, Twilight, Fluttershy and Spike, along with and unbeknowingly all animals from either hideout or safe disatance were keeping their distance away and watching an intense brutal match that was transpiring in horror with their breaths held, cringing and not knowing how this would end and worrying about both Logan and Harry alike, though poor Fluttershys complexion turned into quite a pale colour, showing rather more concern and fear for Harry. Yet luckily, Logan didn’t yet let his adamantium claws from his hooves, meaning he must have had some sort of strategy.
Right then when things were getting a little bit too intense, Logan delivered a sharp right uppercut right into Harrys lower jaw, as bear roared on top of his lungs once again in a painful like way, as though something within his trap cracked and flew right outside and landed several meters away, which didn’t escape Spikes attention.
Logan stood from the ground as so Harry did and while the X-Men stood ready for anything as ever, the bear however on the other hoof looked like rather and somewhat confused, with his aggression and pugnacity surprisingly diminishing and rubbing his mouth with his paw, feeling no more pain.
“I ain't goin' anywhere, smokey. Whuts yer turn?” Logan snarled challengingly and standing firmly with a determined look, waiting for Harry response, yet staring at bear with a strange unreadable like look, like he would actually be trying to empathize with the beast.
Harry however snorted indifferently and once again and much everyponys dismay charging once again against Logan, growling ferally, the earth was shattering under his stomping, tackling the gruff stallion with a full force and pinning him to the ground.
However, with everypony in horror expecting yet another fierce fight to occurre, much for their awe and shock, Peter, Twilight, Fluttershy and Spike found themselves staring as Harry was pinning Logan to ground, but instead of mauling or hurting him, the bear was happily cuddling himself to and happily licking Logans face, grunting happily, like a loyal dog who hadn’t seen his owner for years.
“Aaarrrgh! Hahaharrrrgh! Argh, good boy.” Logan proceed through muffled chuckles, grunts yet strangely even laughing happily with joy, which was totally out of character, like it even wasn’t the Logan Peter knew as, usually the gruff stallion was indeed enjoying his time playing with Harry. Yet a large Grizzly eventually get off the X-Men and centring his attention right to Fluttershy with his demeanour changed and softened drastically, bearing a way more friendlier and happy expression and having a warm smile.
“Harry….?” Fluttershy softly though a little casually spoke off and taking a couple of careful yet determined steps forward to Harry, by giving another try, the meek Pegasus extended her hoof for a warm and comforting touch, though this time and much for everyponys surprise, bear extended yet wrapping his massive clawed paws around Fluttershy and pulling her into a warm bear like embrace. Despite his great strength, the beat held the mare with an extreme care, nuzzling his muzzle to Fluttershys face playfully.
“Harry!” Fluttershy squeaked with an utmost joy and happily throwing her hooves over bears neck, with some tears falling over the mares cheeks, feeling a great deal of relief that her bear friend was alright. “This is my boy.”
“I don’t get it.” Peter despite feeling more than happy for both Fluttershy and Harry just couldn’t stop wondering what did got Harry so pissed off on the first place. “One while he is one big mean teddy and right now is as tame as a kitten.”
“What is this?” Spike asked with his slitted emerald eyes gleaming with curiosity, carefully going for a peculiar thingie of interest, picking it up and much for baby dragons awe, it was one of Harrys molars, which Logan managed to tooth out from bears mouth. “Um, guys….” Spike called upon his friends to take a closer look.
“Its one of Harrys molars…” Twilight exhaled in awe by seeing a bear moral tooth that usually served for mushing and grinding bears food, both plant as well as animal food due to bears omnivorous diet.
“Looks pretty weird to me….Wait a minute.” Peter stated suspiciously while taking a closer and better proper look at tooth as his hazel brown eyes widened by turning the moral on the opposite side and spotting a small hole right within it, also having a much more orange-brown colour with an unpleasant stench coming right from it. “Is that a….?”
“Oh my!” Fluttershy gasped in an utter shock with her ocean blue eyes being as wide as pair of saucers by checking the tooth properly, when she finally got it and already knowing what was the problem with Harry this whole time. “That tooth is abscessed. And from looks of it in very bad and advanced condition, being fit only for tearing out.”
“Now I finally understand!” Twilight exhaled when a realization struck her mind like a brick. “Harry must have been having a serious toothache for several days. That might…Actually explain his odd behaviour, including being distant lately, scratching his mouth on ground as well as anything else, not eating for days due to his toothache, before it eventually reached its critical level and going into berserk.”
“He wasn’t angry or ferocious at all. He was in pain.” Peter deducted the rest of Harrys case by completing his wifes logical explanation.
“It does make sense.” Spike agreed and massaging his chin.
“Hey Logan.” Twilight shifted her attention right on Logan, her royal violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Have you….Actually knew about Harrys toothache all along?”
“I kinda git th' idea.” Logan responded somewhat offhandedly, not knowing how to put it. “I have seen as he was scratchin' his muzzle on ground. I had already seen that weird behaviour at bears, doin' this when havin' a toothache or when its broken, along th' stench commin' right from his mouth….The stench of infection. And……I have sorta…..Understood his emotions.” Logan stated with his tone turning into a more clearing one, earning a collecting gazes from others. “I kin communicate with animals on basic level, like feelin' their fears, anger, happiness or pain.” Logan explained further, though with a more offhanded like demeanour.
“Really…?” Fluttershy exhaled with her own enthusiasm deepening even further, perhaps even mere than Twilight or Spike, yet Peter, perhaps the only one didn’t seem so much surprised or amazed at all.
“You better believe it, Fluttershy.” Peter who took his part in the conversation spoke off in a very nonchalant way. “Back in NYC, during some of our runs together, you just should have seen Logan befriending and petting two ferocious Rottweilers without even breaking a sweat.”
“Like an animal empathy? Like Fluttereshy does?” Twilight dully declared with a baffled expression.
“Well….Yup.” Logan dully confirmed Twilights guess, yet a smirk formed on his features. “Check this out.” Logan proceed with a more complacent like demeanour, looking around and realizing that all the animals had already started coming out from their hideouts and all centring their collective gazes of Logan with some interest, as the X-Men denied a very strange, unreadable yet empathic like look.
And just like out of the empathy and knowing he was no threat, witnessing how he helped Harry, the animals started slowly yet steadily approaching the X-Men with confidence rising in their steps. One bold chipmunk dared to approach when he was just mere inches away from Logans hooves, having his black coral like eyes fixed on the stallion and shaking his tail happily.
“Hey there, little fella.” Logan softly said and extending his hoof in an attempt to touch the chipmunk, but when attempting so, a little furry friend cautiously flinched several feet away yet nevertheless getting back with his interest surpassing his natural carefulness before eventually touching Logans hooves with his small paws.
A small deer fawn also approached, staring on Logan with a deepening interest in his deep black eyes as Logan once again extended his front hoof so he could touch the baby deer, yet just like with the chipmunk, the fawn at first flinched a little bit, yet eventually also affectionately brushing his head over gruff stallions hoof with great sense of delight, as lots of squirrels, raccoons and bunnies also closed their gap between themselves along with birds, dropping their natural shyness flying off the trees, daring to take a seat of the extended free hoof that Logan offered them or sitting right into his manestyle that would serve like a perfect nest.
Soon, Logan literally found himself surrounded by animals from all sides, along with such as squirrels, bunnies, racoons, deer, kittens, sealion, turtles and snakes, bats, more birds flying around along with Harry himself, how placed his massive clawed paw right over animal empathic mutants shoulder. And like that, there was no sign of hesitation or trepidation between Logan and all those animals, as they all were enjoying being together with a very peaceful atmosphere, being filled with joy.
Fluttershy, Twilight and Spike, standing aside found themselves just dully staring at Logan having such a good time with all those animals, yet not quite being able to comprehend what was just transpiring and how Logan was doing this.
“Logan is just like living real life some Dr. Doolittle.” Peter nonchalantly scoffed as he watched Logan having a good time with Fluttershys animals.
“Chmm….Lucky Logan…” Fluttershy sighed in quite and uncharacteristic disappointed like tone within her meek, shy voice.
“Come on, Fluttershy. Jealous much?” Peter chuckled yet placing his hoof on Fluttershys shoulder.
“What…? No, no! Nothing like that. I mean…..” Fluttershy exhaled with yet her demeanour suddenly darkening with a quilt associating with that. “How couldn’t I just see that coming? I mean, with Harrys toothache?”
“Ain't beat yerself up about it, kid.” Logan stated in a surprisingly soft and deliberated tone in his gruff voice trying comfort Fluutershy. “Yer takin' a very good care of those animals, as evident by they all repay ya with love and affection they have fer ya. And so does Brutie here. At least ya know that we still got ta learn more from animals.”
“I guess so…..” Fluttershy gasped with a baffled expression by hearing and considering Logans honest and noble words, yet meek Pegasus giggled and happily wrapping her hooves around Logans neck into an embrace. “Thank you, Logan. For Harry, as well as all animals.”
“Well….Hurm….Yer….Welcome.” Logan stammered uneasily, yet returning the hug of his own before gently pushing Fluttershy away, while Peter, Twilight and Spike were just watching with satisfaction.
After they settled that little incident of Harrys case with a toothache and with Logans help and credit, the group could relieve and concentrate on more important matters, by carrying on with taking care and feeding Fluttershys animal friends.
While Fluttershy was treating Harry with love and care by putting some healing ointment into Grizzlys mouth, into a hole in the gums left by the abscessed tooth that Logan tore out, so it didn’t get infected, the others had their hooves full to feed the other animals.
Twilight was busy with birds of all kinds and colours, either providing singing birds with privet from bags or worms, or feeding the birds of prey like falcon, owl, eagle or vulture with raw meat, yet also not minding and enjoying her rime with some of the birds taking their seats on either young princess head of extended hoof.
Peter on the other hoof was feeding the entire school of otters along with a sea lion, having the metal basket full of fishes. Luckily and much for his relief, the knight was in this case very grateful for his wall-crawling ability so he could easily pick up quite stinky and tacky sardines with his hooves, instead of picking them into his mouth and tasking dovetail.
He was gradually throwing sardines to one otter to another, including the sea lion, with the sea mammal playfully squeaking and slapping his fins together everytime he got the treat, yet with some little otters squeaking quite impatiently and without waiting their turn stared badgering and cuddling right on Peter to get more fishes, much for Peters enjoyment.
Logan was though serving some grass and hay to couple of deer, does and a little fawn along with one goat right at the near wooden feeding place, as deer were helping themselves and freely eating right from Logans hooves without any hint of suspicious or hesitation due to their usually natural shyness.
Yet, a little fawn suddenly perked himself up as Logan was carefully and gently caressing his flank with his hoof. But, instead of shaking back or running away, little deer affectionately licked gruff stallion hoof without any signs of fear, with Logans expression though being frown yet bearing a warm smile.
Spike, however who was taking care of bunch of rabbits offering them sweet carrots and fresh salad, yet for his dismay, those cute little bunnies all literally divebombed baby dragon and eating the treats had for them instore by helping completely themselves and not letting themselves to encourage, making everypony around to burst into laughter.
“Now Angle, come on.” Fluttershy suddenly spoke in a both soft yet encouraging like tone, forcing everypony and dragon to shift their attention as they all saw Fluttershy along with a small white very cute bunny, offering him a brown bowl of fresh salad. However and much for mares dismay, the rabbit somewhat rudely rebuffed Fluttershys offer, crossing his paws and bearing a stone-faced, grouchy like expression.
“Who is th' furball?” Logan asked curiously and closing his gap between himself and Fluttershy to take a better look and meet with bunny.
“Logan, allow me to introduce you. This is Angel, my pet bunny.” Fluttershy introduced Logan to a white bunny, speaking off and addressing rabbit with his actual name. “Angel, this is Logan, our friend.” Fluttershy then on the contrary introduced Angel to Logan as the bunny found himself staring at the strange gruff stallion with a strange hairstyle and hirsute like face and so did Logan.
Fluttershy though then gently and with care took Angel into her hooves and cuddling her muzzle against bunnys furry face, though Angel, on the other hand didn’t seemed to be much thrilled. “He is so sweet and cuddly. Like an actual angel himself.”
“More like a spoiled brat if you ask me.” Spike whispered with quite some scowl on his face as a baby dragon already had some and rather unfortunate experience with Angels rather mischievous and rebellious nature.
“You have totally said it, bro.” Peter whispered back, empathizing with Spikes annoyment, which though confirmed to be rather true.
Angel, despite being Fluttershys pet, the bunny has showed himself rather and somewhat spoiled, sometimes being impatient with Fluttershys shy and reserved attitude and bossing her around so he could get what he wants at times. Yet nonetheless, the bunny actually and deeply cared for Fluttershy, being some sort of her emotional support and also displaying an intention to help a shy and meek Pegasus to stand up for herself.
But right now, Angel just had some of his mood swings not to play along and not wanting to eat a fresh, delicious salad, composed of salad, tomatoes, cucumber and of course carrots, Angels favourites.
“Come on, Angel. Please just out your lunch. There are carrots in there, your favourites.” Fluttershy once again tried to make Angel to eat the salad, which though rather turned into quite a desperate begging now, not knowing what else to do and it even didn’t help that stubborn bunny just didn’t want to yield on his owners requests.
“Some naughty boy, ain't he?” Logan grunted a little irritated, not being obviously appreciating Angels attitude of a spoiled brat at all.
“Logan….” Fluttershy spoke off with a slight gasp yet denying the mutant quite a concerned look.
“Let me try.” Logan spoke off with a strangely reserved like tone yet bearing quite a suspicious unreadable expression, which was though familiar when firstly engaging Harry with his toothache, taking the bowl of salad with his demeanour slightly darkening. “Oh, he is gonna eat it alright.”
“But…” Fluttershy muttered worryingly in protect with dark thoughts filling her mind, but the mare felt something warm soothing her shoulder, as she saw Twilight be her side, with librarian giving her shy friend a warm encouraging smile, empathically prompting Fluttershy to have a fate in Logan.
“Alright, bunny boy. Eat up.” Logan spoke off in a firm gruff tone and quite a forcing like manner serving the salad to Angle, who still didn’t seem much thrilled with gruff stallion offer and simply rebuffing it again.
Logans brows then though turned into some intense scowl, glaring the bunny with the same strange and unreadable look, just like he did with Harry before, yet strangely, actually be trying to establish some sort of empathic connection with Angel. Obviously not buying it, Angels own scowl on his fury face only deepened and crossing his paws, stubbornly not wanting to yield.
Yet stiffening and pushing forward even more, Logans scowl deepened even further, gaining on more intensity, with his irises gleaming with authority and showing his clenched teeth, with his razor-sharp canines exposed, releasing a low yet feral snarl from his throat like savage animal.
In that instance, Angels stubborn and hardened demeanour eventually broke, not being able to withstand the pressure that Logan was generating with his intense glare anymore, released a low and humble squeak and better not wanting to provoke gruff stallion even further, the bunny cautiously took the bowl of salad, taking a small piece of salad and tasting. And yet by doing so, it seemed it tasted very good to him as Angel started eating his lunch with some taste, clicking his tongue, chewing wildly before finishing his lunch completely, leaving the bowl empty, much for Frluttershys, Peters, Twilights and Spikes awe.
“Good boy.” Logan now spoke off, his tone growing significantly soft and deliberated, with his demeanour also softening just like that fast, carefully and slowly extending his hoof to Angel.
The bunny although cringed a little bit out of shyness, but when just like out of the empathy and sensing that the gruff stallion had no unholy intentions, Angel affectionately brushed his head over Logans hoof, feeling somewhat delighted by the X-mens touch, lying on his back and panting his paws and squeaking happily as Logan caressing rabbits fur on his stomach.
“That was…Pretty amazing how you handled him like that, Logan.” Twilight stated as he royal violet eyes were glowing with as well as her voice was filled with amazement.
“Ya know whut they say, kid. Tough love is th' best medicine.” Logan explained and somehow offhandedly shrugging his shoulders yet keep cuddling Angel on his belly.
“Yeah. A tough love combined with an ability to communicate with animals, that’s for sure.” Peter scoffed, trying complete Logans statement to be a little more juicy.
Later that afternoon, after finally taking care and feeding all of those animals, Peter, Twilight, Fluttershy, Spike and Logan were enjoying a nice well-deserved break, all sitting on a spread out blanket with red and white squares at the edge of Everfree Forest, having a cup of tea and homemade cookies by Fluttershys own recipe and being surrounded some of the animals, Harry included.
“Curious, Shy….” Logan asked with a curious tone in his gruff voice as he realized something as he took a sip of by the way very tasty cup of tea.
“Yes?” Fluttershy asked, furrowing her brow by wondering what Logans question was while also taking a sip from her cup.
“How come that exactly th' Pegasus just gits associated with animals and all that nature anyway?”
Logans though somewhat offhanded yet a very good question seemed to have quite some impact on Fluttershy. “Well….Eghm…I….” She stammered incoherently with also a hint of shame associating with her, not really knowing how to put it about her past.
“Ya just ain't have ta talk about it, if its too hard fer ya, girl.” Logan dismissively replied with a more carrying voice, his eyes, though hardly visibly being filled with empathy.
“No, no, Logan….Its a little funny though.” Fluttershy chuckled sheepishly before her more assertive side took over as the mare finally spoke off with a more confidence in her voice. “You see….As a little filly, I hailed from Cloudsdale…”
“A Cloud-sdale whut now?!” Logan blurted out bewildered by hearing a weird name, unwillingly interrupting Fluttershys narrating. “Whut in th' hell is that?”
“Cloudsdale.” Twilight calmly stated, trying to explain. “It is a mobile cloud city located in the skies northwest of Canterlot and Ponyville as well as home lots of Pegasus ponies. But I am sure you would also have a chance to visit it one day.”
“By the way….Skittles also resides there, having her very own house in clouds.” Peter commented with a more humorous way while taking another sip of his cup with tea.
“A flyin' city?” Logan grumbled in awe, unable to forgive himself a scoff. “Hurm. That certainly figures fer all those Pegasus havin' their heads in th' clouds all th' time, literally.”
“Riiight.” Both Peter and Twilight chuckled simultaneously, yet while Peters demeanour sounded hilarious, Twilight on the other hood was more exasperated one and slapping her face with her hoof about Logans sarcastic sense of humour while Spike merely chuckled a bit.
“Um…” Fluttershy gasped before eventually going on with her narration. “I was living there, and as Peter also mentioned along with Rainbow Dash. She though once challenged some Pegasi into race. I was the one who started the race, but….” Fluttershys demeanour though darkened with an unfortunate and rather scary memories coming back to her. “The participants accidently knocked me off the clouds and I plummeted towards the ground, the place I had never been to or seen before.”
“No way!” Fluttershys words seemed to totally stunned Logan, with the gruff stallion with his hardened nature being known to be very hard if even ever shook out, yet also feeling a sympathy for a shy Pegasus yet with such a big heart. Though, there was one thing the X-Men wondered. “Hurm….Did ya actually know, ya could fly? Yer just a Pegasus with wings ya know.”
“Um…” Fluttershy stammered as her demeanour shifted into a more both ashamed and rather embarrassed one. “Its just….I wasn’t a very good flier back then as a little filly.”
It was unfortunate, really. Unlike most Pegasus, like Rainbow Dash of Spitfire, Fluttershy was considered an average flier under normal circumstances, but unfortunately and for own dismay being incapable of flight in moments of fear or stress, as well as possessing only average physical strength at best.
However, despite her shortcoming at flying, a meek Pegasus displayed some remarkable flying feats, like whizzing past and catching up with Rainbow Dash while pulling two ponies and the Twinkling Balloon. Yet, her the most remarkable feats was when helping Rainbows Dash along with other Pegasus to create a hurricane that would carry the water to Cloudsale.
“Oh….” Logan nearly gasped by realizing the fact, yet still sympathizing with Fluttershy as well as Peter, Twilight and Spike were with her shy friend..
“But….” Fluttershys apprehensive and darkened mood though re-shifted back into a more softer and positive one with memories associating within her mind. “I was luckily saved from a rough landing by an incoming large swarm of butterflies. Yet, upon seeing all the animals and the greenery for the first time in my life, I found myself overwhelmed by the beauty of it all and even started singing.”
“However, few moments later, Rainbow Dashm unwillingly though startled the animals and scarring them into hiding with her sonic rainboom. And in the instance, I actually earned my cutie mark by comforting the animals and realizing my ability to talk through to them, identifying my special connection with animals.”
By the time Flutterrshy finished up her narration about her past and finding herself hugging Angel tight by recalling her happy moments with animals, Logan found himself to be quite touched by Fluttereshys story, which was very rare, even for the gruff stallion, finding himself nodding. “That….Changes everythin'.”
“Does it….Seems awkward to you, Logan?” Flutterehy murmured unnervingly with embarrassment.
“Ain't at all, kid.” Logan much Fluttershys awe responded in a soft and moderating tone. “Everyone is doin' and excels in that which is th' best there is whut he does. I know, whut I am sayin'.” Logans last word sounded somewhat uncertain though before going on. “No one just kin be th' best in everythin'. Yet better, they also should stuck with that whut they do. There ain't anythin' ta be ashamed off.”
Once again, Logans proud words of surprising wisdom left everypony and dragon sitting around baffled, yet filling them all with gratification, especially Fluttersehy. “Thank you, Logan. It…It means a lot to me.” Fluttershy meekly yet happily thanked Logan with shades of pink forming on mares cheeks as she planted soft kiss on mutants hirsute cheek, yet earning an unfortunate disgusting look from Spike, though baby dragon tried to hide that.
“But, there is one thing I still ain't git.” Logan then stated with a baffled look on his own as some realization occurred within his head. “Whut is that…. Sonic rainboom as ya put it, anyway?”
“You know….” Twilight then took over by though dismissing Logans question and placing her hoof over tough stallions shoulder. “That’s the topic for another time, Logan. Yet not fret, you will learn soon enough.”
“You actually might learn sooner than you think, old chum. Not to mention more things that are yet awaits you.” Peters tone sounded very promising, though bearing a faint hint mischievousness, much for Logans dismay, yet young stallion so far only wanted his gruff partner to enjoy this moment hanging out with his friends and animals alike right now.
To be continued……