//------------------------------//
// Book1. Chapter3. So many colors 
// Story: The journeys and adventures of Grand Shield. 
// by Equestriapatriot 
//------------------------------//

"Ow my head." I say and raise my hoof to rub the backside of my head.
My first attempt to open my eyes is a failure when I feel the bright light burn them. I try once more to open my eyes and end successful by the attempt. My gaze turns all over the place to figure out where I am, because I'm no longer in Stonehenge, but in a quiet forest glade. 
I try to figure out what happened and come to the conclusion that one or a few people must have seen me and thought that I were some dangerous nut job and desided to knock me out before I would get violent or something, and then dragged me here. I stood up on all four and shaked my whole body, all the way from my hooves to my wings and then started to walk to a nearby water stream and...... *Wait a minute.... All four?.....Hooves?.......WINGS!!??* I rushed as fast as I could to the stream and locked down on my reflection. The face looking back at me was a pegasus colt with light gray fur and a long dirt blonde mane and tail and with a darker beard stubble on my chin. I turned my head to inspect my long and powerful wings, and then I just remember the dream I had that started all this so long ago.

I soared through the dark night sky and bathed in the moonlight like liquid silver and stretched my wings as far i could and felt as free as one could ever feel. Other pegasuses joined me in my flight and they all smiled at me. I smiled back and felt the cool night air play with my mane and gently tickled my face, and every inch of body was tingling in a way that made my chest swell up in excitement. I looked on the ground that was so far down that I almost couldn't see it in the dark if it wasn't for the city lights down below that were shining like tiny fireflies. I could keep going for hours to come, but i felt my wings growing heavier. I looked at my sides and found the other pegasuses gone. I felt a pain starting in my front hooves as they slowly and painfully turned to hands, and then the back hooves turned to legs. It spred to my face and torso and soon the only thing unchanged was my wings growing even heavier, and eventually smaller. The ground was now pitch black and no light where to be found anywhere, but in some way my body was still illuminated, and i could see my wings disappear and then feel the gravity working on me as i fell to the ground. I tried to find something to hold on to, but I found nothing, nothing but despair...

I Felt tears running from my eyes as I snapped out of my memories.

"No need for those now.", I muttered out loud. "I'm finally home." 

I looked around the glade once again and realized that i must be in the everfree forest. *I guess I need to get out of here.*, I thought to myself. But before I did, I had to thoroughly investigate my body. I happily noted that i was a young and handsome pegasus with no defects what so ever. Or at least i thought so untill i noticed my blank flank.

"No cutie mark!", I screamed and immediately wondered what was wrong with me. My breath became heavier and i started to panic, but then i made myself calm down and think about it. * I have only been a pony for maybe a few hours, and most of them unconscious.*, I reasoned.  *I have not had time to earn my cutie mark. But i need to find something as substitute if i don't want to be either a laughing stock or an outcast when i meet the other ponies.*

"What can i use?", I murmured. "Maybe i can just cover it up with some bandages... If I had some that is. Hmm."

Finally i decided to smear some dirt on my flank and use a better solution when i figure one out. *Now i will need to find ponyville.*, I thought, and tried to figure out which way i should go. Then it hit me. * I'm  a pegasus. I can just fly above the trees to figure it out and then soar straight over there.* But i have never done this before. How do I do it?
I shaked my head and decided that the best way to figure it out was to try. So I took a few steps back and made a running start, spread my wings and jumped into the air. I flapped frenetic and clumsily with my wings in attempt to stay airborn, but after a few seconds i fell headfirst on the ground.

"Ow ow ow!", I said out loud in pain.

This was nothing like in my dream, but i did not intend to stop now. I tried and tried until I finally could stay in the air, it was not pretty, but I still was able to fly. Slowly but safely i reached the treetops, and I started to look for a settlement or other ponies. *Everything is so colorful... It's beautiful.* I thought and almost missed what i thought was ponyville. I was not sure if i could fly that far, so I landed on the ground and started to go towards that direction as I felt like humming on one of my favorite songs. I was on the second chorus when I saw the first pony. She was so fast that i almost didn't see her flying through the air, but the rainbow trail that followed her made me sure of it. It was rainbow dash, probably just practicing her signature moves. This meant that I was definitely on the right direction. I watched Rainbow dash do a few formidable loops in the air before i turned away and once again focused on getting to ponyville. 
As I walked I wondered what I should do once I got to ponyville. I had no money and I didn't know anyone there, or more exactly no one knew me. I could not tell anyone about my situation either. Because even if some of these magical stuff is normal here I think they still would believe that i was a madpony if i told them my story.

I probably got distracted by my heavy thinking because I must have gone the wrong way somehow, because i was suddenly standing on a broad road with the forest on both sides. If there were a sign standing a few feet from where i stood saying Ponyville 4 miles i would probably be lost, and since i already were on it i could just as well follow it. 

"AAAAAH! SOMEPONY HELP!!", I hear a mare yell somewhere along the way. 

I had no time to think before my body reacts on its own and gallops towards the screams. Soon I saw three ponies with a carriage that were being attacked by some kind of huge wolfish beast that were holding a young pegasus mare in one of her wings high in the air and dealing blows on an older pegasus colt with a light green coat, green eyes and a gray mane and tail with a matching mustache that was trying to fend himself and the others. Once again i heard the screams of the mare from before who was a unicorn with hair as red as fire, just as red eyes and with a whitish pink coat that was standing on the roof of the carige throwing firebolts from her horn towards the beast, but they were useless as the beast ducked easily. I had to hurry if they were to make it, and in the moment of the heat I threw myself into the air and dashed with a surprising speed and skill at the monster and hit it with my front hooves in the back of its head. It fell over and lost its grip of the mare who fell to the ground a few meters away. I flew upwards gaining more and more height until while aiming at the monster i made a loop through the air and dived down on it. The impact was massive, but at least it worked. While i was just a little scruffy the monster was either unconscious or dead. I stand up on wobbly legs and look around for signs of any more of them. I decide that if there would have been more they should have attacked by now, so instead I turned to the both ponies by the carriage who looked at me with awe. I myself felt the same way about how I acted, but I pushed my feelings aside for later.

"Are you alright?", I asked them.

They both snapped out of the trance of wonder and the colt answered my question.

"Well, we are now, thanks to you. If it wasn't for you me, my wife and Wish would have been dead for su... WISH!!",  He screamed in panic and ran to the pegasus lying on the ground. "Wish! Wish! Are you alright?!", he yelled while shaking her shoulders.

"Ow. Dad?", she murmured.

"Yes sweetheart!.. It's dad. How are you feeling?", he said and continues to shake her.

"Could you stop that. I think my wing is broken, and it hurts."

"Oh. Sorry.", he said and quickly let go of her shoulders.

"Oh my baby!", the unicorn said and suddenly hugged her daughter in a tight embrace.

"OW OW OW! Mom what did I just say?!"

"Oh sorry, sorry.", she said and loosened her grip a bit.

"What happened? Where is the worgen?"

"It's been defeated, this brave colt here saved us.", he said and pointed one hoof at me. "We owe him our lives."

She looked at me to see who I was, just as I looked at her. She had a golden brown fur that now was full of dirt and dust but still in some way looked good. Her mane was somewhat tousled, but you could see that her hazel brown hair usually was nicely combed. When i saw the wings i felt as sad as one could feel . Her wings was perfection itself, except that the wright one was bent in an unnatural angle. I felt the need to mend her into perfection once again, but I didn't know how. Although what ensnared me the most about her was her emerald eyes that was both as strong as steel and as soft as kashmir despite she was a bit groggy. 

She nodded and said.

"Thank you... Mr?"

And there one of the questions I dreaded to face was asked. My name. I don't have a pony name, at least not yet. I were sopose to pick one on my way to the town, but then this happened.

"Um? My name? Um. it is"

*Think Mikael, think! What is my name supposed to be?* 

"My name is Grand. Grand shield."

"Well, you certainly live up to your name.", the colt said and laughed. "Can you just do me one more favour? Help me carry Wish to the carriage if you're so kind?"

"Sure.", I said bent down to help him carry his daughter.

"I can walk on my own thank you very much.", Wish said and tried to stand up, but failed and blushed of embarrassment as she hid her face behind her mane.

we helped Wish up on the carriage where her mother jumped in and took care of her. The colt once again turned to me and scratched the back of his head.

"Thank you again mr Shield."

"Please, call me Grand."

"Well, thank you again, Grand. My name is Flapping wing, this is my wife Ember dance and of course my daughter Wish wing. If there is anything we can do for you, just ask and it will be done."

"It's quite good for now thank you, and for the time being I think we should get Wish to a doctor."

Oh yes, of course.", he said, then faced his carriage and frowned. "The problem is that you need two ponies to pull it. Wish is hurt and Ember needs to look after her, so..."

"I'll help you dragg your carriage.", I said and shrugged my shoulders.

"Oh, thank you my good sir.",he said and lightened up. "I was afraid to ask you since you helped us so much already."

"No worries. I am glad to help for as long as you need it."

We took our places in front of the wagon that soon was strapped on our backs, and then started to walk, with what I thought was an incredible ease.

"What are you doing on the roads?", I asked Flapping, so we could start a conversation as we walked towards Ponyville.

"My family and I are performers", he said and nodded at the wagon as if he wanted for me to look at it.

I did and read *The Fire Wings*, written in big, elegant and golden letters.

"Me and Wish are air acrobats and my wife is a fire juggler. You probably have heard of us. We are actually quite famous.", he said and walked proudly.

"Oh, sorry no. I have not.", I then saw that i had hurt Flappy's feelings so I quickly added. "But I would love to see you and your family in action."

"Of course you are", he assured. "But first my daughter need time to heal. Damn that worgen! We were supposed to go to Canterlot in a few weeks to perform at the Grand galloping gala. But I dont know if we can do that now."

"That is too bad."

"Tell me about it. It was supposed to be our chance to get to take a place next to the big shots, but I guess that will never happen."

"I'm sure your daughter will be fine by then.", I assured him.

"I do hope so.", he responded with worry.

I wanted to change the subject, so I asked. "What brings you to Ponyville?"

"We live there. Or at least we do when we're not out on the road, then this wagon is our home and castle.", he told me with warmth in his voice. "The question is though, what brings you to Ponyville?"

"I'm out to find a new home." I answered honestly.

"Yea?  What happened to your old one.? Wait... ", he quickly said when he saw the expression on my face. "You don't need to tell me. we all have things we don't want to talk about, and I guess this is one of yours?"

"Thank you.", I murmured, truly thankful for his delicacy.

"It is still me who should thank you, and now I know how."

"Yea? And what's that." I asked curiously."

"You don't have somewhere to live right now, right?"

"I guess not, no."

"Well, you do now. You will stay with us from now on, for as long as you like.", he claimed with a smile. "Isn't that right honey?!", he yelled backwards.

"Of course it is! it's the least we could do.", she yelled back.

"Then it's settled.", Flapping stated.

"Well, thank you kindly."

"No no no. Don't thank us. This is us  thanking you, remember?"

"Sure.", I chuckled.

Soon enough we arrived in Ponyville where Flapping cried to the first pony he said to get a doctor to met them up and that it was an emergency. 

The doctor with two unicorn nerses met us halfway to the hospital and asked "Flapping! What happened!"

"Doctor stable! Thank Celestia... We got attacked by a Worgen not far from here.", he told the doctor. "Wish broke her wing, and if would not have been for this young colt here we all would have been in much worse shape."

"Where is the patient?"

"I'm right here.", Wish said and tried to stand up on wobbly legs, and walk out of the carriage her self, but she was stopped by her mothers gentle but also firm hooves.

The nurses lifted her onto the stretcher and took her to the doctor. He examined her wing and frowned,

"Take her to the hospital with haste.", he ordered. "I'll be there soon." He turned to the couple and looked worried.

"What is it doctor?", Ember asked. "Is she going to be alright."

"I really can't tell now. the only thing i know that it is broken on several places, and i first have to look at the X-ray pictures to see how it will end up."

"What is the worst case scenario?", Flapping asked.

The worst case scenario is that she may not be able to fly again, but lets not get your hopes down. Now follow me, she needs all of us right now."

We darted towards the hospital with worry in our hearts. But i still couldn't help but look around the town and think. *Wow. So many colors.*