//------------------------------// // Wolves and Wings // Story: Learning To Live Again // by Speedy Quill //------------------------------// Unfortunately my nightmare wasn’t a one time deal. It seemed that every time I went to sleep I found myself back in the forest. And Chrysalis was usually there. Sometimes alone, sometimes with half the horde. It always ended the same way though; immense pain and impending death. Twilight tried a few spells, hoping to help me have a dreamless sleep for one night. It nearly worked. The only problem was that instead of the whole dream, I got snippets. That was one of my more restless nights. The morning following that particular night, Twilight decided to visit Zecora. “Maybe there’s a potion you can try. I’ll see what she suggests.” I followed her out of the library. “I hope she’s got something in all those bottles and vases of hers.” “We’ll figure this out Shade. You’ll have a peaceful night before long.” As we walked through town, I realized that my hooves were dragging. By the time we were at the outskirts, I felt my heart beginning to pound. “Uh...Twilight?” “Yes?” I stopped and took a deep breath. “I think you need to go on without me.” She looked me over, concern growing in her eyes. “I was really hoping you could be there to give all the details. What if I miss something?” “I keep dreaming of Chrysalis, Everfree, and the timberwolves. Pretty straightforward.” She stared at me for a good minute before letting out a sigh. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have tried to make you go back to Everfree so soon. I’ll go on to Zecora’s.” “Right. I’ll just catch my breath and then head back.” Twilight nodded in agreement. She was about to turn to leave when her eyes lit up. “Hi Fluttershy!” I turned my head. Fluttershy was emerging from town with a full saddlebag. She smiled at us as she approached. “Hello Twilight! Hello Shade! How are you?” Twilight nodded towards Everfree. “I’m heading to Zecora’s. Shade needs a potion.” Fluttershy’s eyes glistened with concern. “Are you not feeling well?” I shook my head. “No. I’ve been having nightmares. Zecora might have something to help.” “Oh you poor thing!” Twilight turned towards the forest. “I’m heading there now. Shade isn’t ready to go in there yet.” I muttered under my breath. “I’ll never be ready to go in there.” Fluttershy put a hoof on my back. “Oh I’m sure he’s not! If I’d been through what he has, I’d be terrified of the forest.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Fluttershy, you’re terrified of the forest half the times you go in there.” Fluttershy blushed for a moment. She looked at me and I gave a weak smile. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine back at the library.” Her eyes lit up all of a sudden. “You could come with me if you want! Well...you don’t have to. But if you wanted to you could help me feed my animal friends!” Twilight beamed. “That’s a wonderful idea!” I looked at the pegasus, her eyes glittering with hope. What was the worst that could happen, right? “Okay. I’ll come.” Fluttershy danced in place. “Oh goodie! Let’s go. We can’t keep the animals waiting for too long. They can get cranky when they’re hungry. Especially Angel Bunny.” Twilight followed us to Fluttershy’s cottage. At the fork in the road she turned towards Everfree and waved goodbye. “I’ll see you in a while Shade. Try to have fun!” Fun. With animals. I guess there were crazier things that could happen. I watched her walk off to Everfree before following Fluttershy inside. “Woah!!” There were animals of all shapes and sizes covering the interior of the cottage. I’d never seen so many at once! And there was Fluttershy in the middle of all of them, dishing out food to the various creatures. I sat down at the nearby table, taking in the scene. “They all live with you?!” She giggled. “For now. Many of them were injured and need care. Some live here permanently. I have plenty of space after all.” I began looking around the room. There were indeed hutches and houses all along the walls and floors of the main room. It was an animal hotel! “Why do you take care of them?” “Well, it is my special talent. How could you not care for these little critters?” “Can’t they take care of themselves?” She joined me at the table. “For the most part. But sometimes things happen that require more than rest or special food. I have a number of animals here that have broken bones recently. If they aren’t cared for properly, their bones won’t heal in the right way and could cause them further pain.” I sat back in my chair and sighed. “I sure could have used you either of the times this one was broken.” I patted my bad leg and Fluttershy came closer. “May I?” She motioned for me to stick my bad leg up. I lifted it gently until she was holding it between her hooves. She began probing my leg with a hoof and I winced every few seconds. Her eyes grew sadder as she worked her way towards my body. “You must have hurt it really bad.” “It’s bound to happen when you hit the forest floor at a hundred miles an hour.” “The bone doesn’t seem to be sticking out in any odd places.” “I did my best to set it the first time. Zecora did a better job after the timberwolf broke it the second time. And then there's the fact I still had to walk on it the enitre time I was in Everfree." “You shouldn’t have done that! A leg needs time to rest and heal properly.” “Rest was the last thing on my mind.” She sat back in her seat, letting my leg go. “I’m surprised you’re as put together as you are physically.” I chuckled. “Trust me, I don’t feel like I am.” “How’s your back doing?” I turned around to show her. I heard an odd noise come from her. “Are...are you okay?” She squeaked a little. “Oh! I’m sorry. It’s just... I don’t see injuries this severe usually.” I turned back around to find her wiping tears from her eyes. I gave her a little smile. “I’m doing much better. I’ll be okay.” “I just hate the thought of you stuck out there. Of any creature being that helpless.” “So that’s why you took to me so quick. I’m another one of your little critters?” She smiled. “Of course not. But I do feel the need to help if I can.” I glanced at my back and sighed. “I doubt there’s much you can do Fluttershy. They’re not coming back.” I turned back to her and her smile softened. She launched from her chair and flew up to a birdhouse near the ceiling. “Could you come out for a minute?” A bird emerged from the house and hopped into Fluttershy’s hooves. She hovered back down to me and set the bird on the table. “I found him on the edge of the forest a few months ago. His wing had been broken and wasn’t healing properly. I brought him here and did what I could, but he’s not able to do more than lift off for a second.” I looked at the bird, noticing the bent wing for the first time. “He can’t fly?” Fluttershy shook her head. “He’s lived here ever since. It’s not safe for him out there.” I leaned down until my head was against the table. “I understand little guy. I can’t fly either. I guess we’re just a couple of sorry, flightless critters.” “You’re wrong about that.” I looked up at Fluttershy. “What was that?” “You’re wrong. You’re not sorry critters. Or at least not this bird. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. Sure he can’t fly anymore, but he’s learned to adapt.” “That’s nice for him.” “You know you can do the same.” “I doubt that.” Fluttershy frowned, her brow furrowing. She got right in my face, literally an inch from our noses touching. “If this little bird can learn how to live without his wings, then so can you!” I wanted to back up, but I was still in my chair. I couldn’t move out of the way of the frustrated pegasus. “Well it’s easy enough for him! He gets to live here where he can be cared for.” “And what is Twilight doing exactly?! Just giving you friendship advice?!” She had a point. I wasn’t too different from that bird. He had Fluttershy to care for him, and I had Twilight for the time being. I straightened up as Fluttershy withdrew. She brushed her mane back and sighed. “As I see it, you can live your life one of two ways; as a changeling or as a wingless changeling.” I cocked my head to one side. “What’s the difference?” “Well a wingless changeling would just sit around moping about what it lost and never let go of the pain.” Ouch. “But I'm sure a changeling wouldn’t be defined by his disability and would live life to its fullest.” I stared at Fluttershy. I couldn’t believe how blunt she’d been. Was this really the same quiet pony I’d met my first day in Ponyville? “You really don’t pull your punches, do you?” She blushed a little. “I’m sorry. But I would hate to see you waste your potential like that. You deserve to live a normal life.” “Thank you Fluttershy. Who knew you had an assertive side?” “Oh my! Was I too forward?” I smiled. She was right. I had been feeling sorry for myself for far too long. I had to learn to deal with this. ——————————— Zecora had given Twilight a small vial. Apparently it was something to help ease my night. That was as much as the zebra would say. I uncorked the vial and nearly keeled over. Couldn’t she brew a potion that smelled nice for a change? I took a deep breath and threw the contents to the back of my throat as fast as I could. I nearly gagged on the fumes alone. “You okay Shade?” Twilight appeared at the top of the stairs. I nodded as I caught my breath. “Yeah. Just dying a little.” She smiled. “I never liked the taste of potions either. I hope that Zecora’s helps.” “Well I’ll find out in a few minutes.” “I’ll give you some peace and quiet then. Goodnight Shade.” “Goodnight Twilight.” With that she disappeared back into her room. I climbed under the covers and settled in for the night. Nothing left to do but wait for sleep to come. I wondered how long the potion would- -take.... I looked around at my surroundings. I was already back in Everfree. So much for a dreamless sleep I guess. A cracking twig alerted me to the arrival of something. I spun around and found myself facing down three timberwolves. “This isn’t right... Where’s Chrysalis?” The timberwolves began to advance. I backed up towards the edge of the clearing. “It’s not supposed to happen this fast!” They were closing in. “I was supposed to actually get some sleep for once! That’s all I wanted!” They were looming over me. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I didn’t know how many more times I could relive this. I closed my eyes, praying for it to be over already. “ENOUGH!!” I felt the earth shake. Was that Chrysalis? I opened one eye to peek. Both eyes flew open as I discovered that the timberwolves were gone! I looked around the clearing for the owner of the voice I’d heard. “Hello?” Nopony was there. And yet...I get as though I was being watched. I peered into the trees, trying to separate shadow from reality. My eyes finally found something out of place. There was a pony hidden in the shadows. I could barely make them out, but it was definitely a pony. I took a step forward. “Thank you.” No response. I sat down, hoping they'd emerge from the darkness. “I’ve never seen you here before. Normally it’s Chrysalis sicking the timberwolves on me. I’ve never had anypony chase them off before.” Still nothing. Then again this was all just a dream. Perhaps it manufactured a savior of some kind and Zecora’s potion had helped it come forward. The shape moved in the shadows, staying concealed. “I’ve not seen you before. And you’re not a pony.” “Well..no. I’m a changeling.” “I do not govern the dreams of changelings.” “Govern the- Who are you?” “I think it is I who should be asking you that question.” “My name is Shade.” “And what brought about these nightmares?” “I’m...reliving a memory.” “You were attacked by timberwolves?” “Yes.” “And your Queen was there?” “No. She wasn’t. That’s a whole different story.” “And where are you now?” “Well as you can see, we’re in Everfree.” “Not this dreamscape. Where are you sleeping?” “Oh. In my bed in the library.” “Library?” “Yeah. Twilight’s library... Why would my dream ask me these questions? Surely you’d know all this since you’re in my head.” “I am not part of your dream Shade. I’m a living pony who has been called to you. Your dream put off an aura I’ve not seen before. I came to investigate.” Wait... This was a real pony?! I took a step forward. “Who are you? Can you help me? I’ve been having these nightmares for a while now. Zecora gave me a potion that was supposed to help. Maybe that’s why you’re here!” “Of course that’s why I’m here. The potion must have opened your mind to my part of the dream world. And now I can come and go as I please.” “No! Don’t go! What if they come back?” “The timberwolves will not bother you again tonight Shade. That I can promise you.” I saw the pony shift again, disappearing further into the forest. I ran forward to the edge of the clearing. “Wait!” The pony didn’t stop. I saw a flash of light and they were gone. I stood there in silence, not even realizing that the forest was melting away. Soon I was in the black void. My eyelids grew heavy, making it impossible to stay awake within my own dream. I opened my eyes to find Twilight sitting on the edge of my bed. “You were moaning a little. Did you still have a bad dream?” I stared at her for a few seconds, trying to remember what had happened. “I...I don’t think so.” She smiled. “That’s good. I’m glad you got some rest. I’ll go get breakfast ready.” She left for the kitchen and I sat up in bed. My thoughts dwelt on the mysterious pony from my dream. Zecora had opened my dreams to them on purpose. So it couldn’t be a bad thing, right? I looked out the window at the rising sun, wondering if I’d ever see that pony again.