Hurricane knew he was a flirt (honestly, if he had been blessed with good looks, why shouldn’t he use them), spoiled (really, the only pony who had called his that was Lightning, who was just bitter that their parents recognised how great he was and how not great she was) and he knew he was arrogant (was it really bragging if it was true?).
However, he also knew that he was a gallant at heart, so of course he had to comfort this beautiful filly who was belittled by Swift Flight and ran away in tears.
And beautiful she was, with her neon green coat that shone in the sunlight, her naturally flowing pine green mane with seafoam streaks. Her eyes though, were especially beautiful and quite unique as well. They were a bright yellow, like a wolf’s, except, more ponish.
Thus, he decided to follow her. She was running and her wings were spread out, her hooves barely touching the ground, telling him that she was going to take off. What he hadn’t expected was that she was going to go to the forest. Fool. Didn’t she know what dangerous beasts resided in there?
Had it been anypony else, it would not have been worrying, however, if somepony couldn’t even stand up to a fellow pegasus, how could they fight monsters and wild animals? Maybe it was a bit condescending, however, he didn’t expect the filly’s fighting skills to be all that great.
It was then, that all of a sudden, a lion cub emerged from the bushes. It was big, around the same size as an average teenage filly and a bit shorter than a typical teenage colt. Which meant it was just a little shorter than Hurricane. That would make it easier for him to kill it should it attack.
He summoned his spear with a burst of magic and grasped it, waiting for the right moment to attack, when the filly did the most astonishing thing that he had ever seen. She petted the cub and much to his confusion, the lion seemed to actually like it, if its purring was anything to go by. He decided to banish his spear back to his dorm.
Soon enough, a whole gathering of baby animals had surrounded her, and she seemed to be talking to them. And not the “who’s the good boy, yes you are”, talking, but actually conversing with them, as though she could understand them. How odd.
Then an elephant calf made it’s way to her and she followed it to who knows where after it trumpeted and tugged at her. Therefore, Hurricane too trailed after it. He hoped that whatever the purpose the elephant was taking the filly away for was exciting.
It wasn’t. Well, it was impressive, but not the action-packed impressive that Hurricane had been hoping for. The elephant had led them to a dead tree. What now?
The filly seemed to understand why, though, for she walked towards the tree purposefully. She started stroking the tree with one of her wings, channelling her magic and sending it into the tree. She didn’t really think that she could bring a dead tree back to life, did she?
Apparently she did, as she kept sending bursts of raw magic into the tree. As for how he knew it was raw magic, well, Pegasus and earth ponies usually used raw magic for their purposes. It was only the unicorns who insisted on using spells. Spells were more precise, according to them.
It actually worked, much to his amazement. The dead leaves were now a healthy green, the bark rejoining. Soon the tree stood erect and proud.
Most pegasi would’ve sputtered at seeing this, questioning just how could a weakling like her be capable of something like that, but Hurricane wasn’t most like most pegasi. Instead, he whistled loudly, calling out,
“An impressive bit of magic over there”
She turned around, finally aware of his presence. He gave her his best grin, one that made even the toughest, coldest fillies swoon, but this particular filly seemed to be unfazed, much to his chargrin.
“You’re Hurricane Twist aren’t you, record holder for most won spear fights”, she stated and he couldn’t help but internally preen. But then she just had to add, “Lightning Blaze’s twin brother.”
He tried not to acknowledge that they were related, even though the entire camp knew that they were twins. He then realised that his smile had become more of a grimace and was quick to correct that.
“That’s me alright, sweetheart”, he winked, hoping to at least see a blush on her face, but alas, her heart seemed to be made of stone or maybe she was just too idiotic.
The first option seemed to be the case, for then she stated, “Also said to be the biggest flirt in the academy, if I’m right”, looking all unimpressed. Still, he didn’t let that get him down. At least his reputation preceded him.
"I have no idea where I got that reputation from, sweetheart", he responded to the, admittedly true, accusation with as much grace as he could.
"Sheesh, I wonder", she grumbled. He was slightly surprised. This did not sound like the filly who had crumbled before Swift Flight.
"So you do have some spunk in you! I wouldn't have thought, after the whole incident with Swift", he relayed his surprise.
The filly seemed to be horrified, and rightly so, as she replied, “Wait, you saw that!”
He finally came to the point he had been most curious about. "How could you just let her say all of that to you? How could any pegasus let somepony say such things about them?“, he inquired, his voice unwillingly leaning towards the more emotional side rather than the casual tone he had hoped to maintain.
"It's not like she was wrong", she ruefully laughed. "Besides, her words did not upset me all that much. They were just the tipping point", she admitted.
This filly had inferiority complexes alright. Speaking of inferiority complexes, he’d always suspected that Lightning had them. It would explain why she was always so cold and bitter.
"Still, if I were in your place I would've already challenged her to a duel, beautiful or not", he mumbled the last part. He knew better than to compliment another filly in front the filly he was trying to date, or at least flirt with.
"I don't like fighting, I've never had", she shrugged, turning away.
A Pegasus who didn’t like fighting! Next she would be saying that she was exchanging her wings for a horn and becoming a prissy unicorn! Still, he managed to keep his feelings regarding the statement under check, replying in a blasé manner.
"I don't understand your way of thinking, I love fighting and battles, but to each their own, love. But still, you should stand up for yourself. Battles are sometimes necessary. You like nature, don't you? Well, predators eat prey, don't they, only those who are strong survive, right? And guess what, you're acting like a prey animal, running away instead of standing your ground, darling", he pointed out, hoping that the nature comparison would help her see things from his perspective.
He questioned himself why he cared so much, when the answer came to him. Pegasi were a warrior race and a pegasus not wanting to fight was an insult to his pride. Plus, the filly was gorgeous and he’d always had a weakness for pretty faces.
After a while, she replied, "You do have a point". "And stop calling me darling”, she added. She definitely had no interest in him then. But he still hoped that they could be friends.
"Sure, whatever you say, sweetheart", he laughed and flew off. That didn’t mean he couldn’t tease.
Hurricane was yet again met with the sight of Swift insulting his new friend, who, he embarrassedly realised he still didn’t know the name of.
"Hey didn't I tell you to leave. This arena is for fighters, actual pegasi, not wimps", Swift scoffed. Ok, there was no way he was going to stand this. But just as he started approaching them, his friend replied,
"What is it with you and coming after me? Careful, or one might think that you have ah, other intentions", she smirked and Hurricane choked on his own spit.
There was creative insults and there was just, that. It was good to know that there was still some hope for her.
“How dare you!”, Swift growled, her hoof flying forwards. Ok, this time he was definitely going to intervene, when his friend, astonishing him yet again, and by the looks of it, Swift as well, caught the hoof and twisted it until he heard a soft crack.
Hurricane winced sympathetically when Swift yelped and cradled her hoof. That’s got to have hurt. Of course, that didn’t stop him from being extremely proud of his friend.
"Please leave me be", his friend stated, politely, as though she just hadn’t utterly humiliated Swift Flight, who, despite shooting the other a scathing glare, did what was asked.
"Huh, guess you do get to see miracles every now and then", Hurricane couldn’t help but remark.
"Hurricane", she greeted, turning around.
"For somepony who doesn't like fighting, that was quite brave. I never did get your name though", he remarked.
"Really? You followed and gave advice to somepony whose name you didn’t even know? “, she said incredulously.
When she put it that way, it did come across as a little creepy.
“It’s Clematis, by the way”, she added. Fitting, considering her way with plants and animals, though it was a bit of a unique name. ‘A unique name for a unique filly’, he couldn’t help but muse.
"Rare name, I must say. And as for following somepony I didn’t know, well, I was intrigued", he shrugged, trying to pass it off as a normal occurrence.
"Anyway, thanks for encouraging me, I guess", she said.
"You guess! Come on, I was the epitome of encouraging, if I do say so myself. By the way, do you know you look absolutely gorgeous when you're enraged, darling?", he smirked.
"Didn't I tell you to not call me darling?", Clematis raised an eyebrow.
"Sure, whatever you say sweetheart", he grinned and walked away. Well, he may not have gained a new fillyfriend but at least he gained a new friend.