The Lady Of The Forest
He had spent a few hours with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, carefully loosening his legs, stretching his good wing and gently moving his bad one to get some blood flowing through it. In the meantime the three fillies showed him the farm, their tree house and told him about their quest for their Cutie Marks. Seeing the three together made him happy and sorrowful at the same time.
“I wish I had friends like you when I was your age.” he said. Not wanting to kill the mood he added quickly: “I’m sure you get your cutie marks very soon, with all the crazy stuff you try together.” He put a hoof to his chin thinking.
“Have you ever tried slacklining?” he offered in the end. And with that disaster was sure to happen.
He was resting beneath a tree overlooking the farm later the day, taking a nap. Slacklining with the crusaders had proven to be quite the fun. He did not join in of course, battered as he already was, but helping the three fillies with his rudimentary knowledge of the sport and seeing them try their luck on the line had been entertaining none the less. Turned out, that Scootaloo had a good sense of balance and even managed to do a few tricks. But when Apple Bloom tried her luck with karate, the three of them ended up covered in pine sap.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had to go home afterward and Apple Bloom joined her siblings in their chores. Stormheart felt his concussion catching up with him and grew very tired. He opted for a brief nap in the shadow of a tree at the border of the orchard. It was a sunny day and a light breeze was whistling the leaves. He greatly preferred laying in the grass to going back to a stuffy room.
He could hear singing. The sweetest little voice humming and small birds chirping in response. He was not fully awake yet and did not want to, so it became part of his dream, as he slumbered on.
He was venturing through the Everfree Forest with the crusaders, all four of them clad in iron mail, wearing a red cloak. Their coat of arms was a yellow pony on blue. They made their way through the thick undergrowth, hacking a path with their mighty swords, when they came upon a clearing.
They stared in wonder at the sight before them. On the clearing sat a deep green alicorn with a flowing watery blue mane. She sat next to a wellspring, the creatures of the forest gathered around her in court. She sang with an angelic voice and the birds joined her in choir.
The crusaders recognized the alicorn, for they had come for her. She was Lady Of The Forest. Their quest was at its end. They fell on their knees and bowed their heads before her. She would gift them with her sigil and they would rise as Knights of Equestria.
But before that could happen Stormheart finally woke up. His mind still in a state between dream and reality, he witnessed the strangest scene. The Lady Of The Forest was sitting in an apple orchard not far from him. Forest critters had gathered around her in court. She was humming a song and the birds joined her in choir. Only that the lady was a yellow pegasus mare with pink hair.
He rubbed his eyes to clean out the sleep, he blinked several times to clear his vision and shook his head to clear his mind, but she was still there. He was awestruck.
By now Fluttershy had noticed, that he was awake. She stopped humming and stud up. She nodded to the critters around her and slowly the gathered animals dissipated in all directions, leaving the two pegasi alone.
She walked over to the still stunned colt and smiled warmly. “You are awake. You were fast asleep when I arrived earlier. You looked so cute and peaceful, I couldn't bring myself to wake you. Did I wake you? Oh, I hope I didn't wake you?!” she said, confident at first, then more and more concerned she might have offended anypony.
Colts don't like to be called cute. Especially when they are not all that small anymore. So Stormheart was actually a bit offended. Then he noticed he had been drooling in his sleep. Feeling caught, he quickly wiped it away with his hoof. “It's quite alright my lady. Eh... I mean miss Fluttershy.” he answered, still in the mindset of his dream, but quickly corrected himself.
The yellow mare hid a giggle behind her hoof. “Please, just call me Fluttershy.” she motioned to the blushing colt. He looked away to hide his face, but then thought to do better. He nodded and smiled happily at her. “Gladly.” he said.
She nodded, than remembered why she had come in the first place. “I came by change your bandages.” she explained and quickly got her saddlebags, which were laying nearby. He got on his legs and followed her a few steps, meeting her on her way back.
“If I may?” she asked politely. He nodded and stretched out his one good wing to allow easier access to the bandages. “Of course.” he answered.
The yellow pegasus got to work. She carefully unwrapped her patient and checked his injuries. All the while humming a sweet melody. She started with his shoulder, then continued on his wing.
For Stormheart it was a difficult situation. Being near the yellow mare alone made his heart beat faster and his face go red. Every time she touched his skin it tickled in a strange but not a bad way. A fluffy feeling was growing in his stomach and worst of all, he could not place any of it.
Only when she began re bandaging his wing did he realize what was happening to him. It mad him blush even harder, he let his ears sink and made a grumpy face. The colt suppressed a sarcastic comment about himself and hoped the whole ordeal would be over soon. If he were not in it, he would laugh about the impossibility of the situation. He, a hot headed young colt, falling for the older mare that took care of him after an injury. Ho cliche could you get? He just hoped, that she did not notice his stupid behavior. He would surely sink into the ground in shame if anypony did.
After a few minutes, which seemed for Stormheart to stretch for an eternity, the pink maned pegasus had finished bandaging his wing. His shoulder was left bare. Fluttershy searched around in her saddlebags.
“You shoulder looks good. Just don't try galloping and heavy lifting for a few days. You can remove the bandages from your wing tomorrow and start moving it around. But don't try to fly as long as your muscles hurt even slightly.” she told him till she found what she was looking for. “Ah, here it is!” she exclaimed and turned to him with a corked bottle in her muzzle. She placed it on the ground in front of him.
“Drink this, it is a potion I got from my friend Zecora. It will make you go into molt and help you regrow all of your feathers in no time. In the meantime make sure to eat a lot.” she explained, making sure not to leave anything important out.
“OK?!” the blue colt answered reluctantly as he uncorked the bottle. He had never even heard of such a potion, but he trusted Fluttershy. So he took the bottle in his muzzle, threw his head back and emptied it in one go. He made a face when he put the bottle back down. The potion was bitter, tasting like a bazillion of herbs and leaving a tingling sensation on his tongue. But sure enough, shortly after he had finished it, a few feathers fell from his raised wing.
“Oh wow! This is strong stuff!” he exclaimed. “Tell your friend my thanks. Oh and thank you. You know, for taking care of me and all.” he said trying hard to keep his composure.
“It was nothing.” she assured him. “I love to take care of all creatures big and small. It's my special talent.” she explained. That did not normally include ponies, but since Twilight had told her friends how the doctor at the local clinic had acted, when she had brought Spike to him, the six of them tried not to depend on his medical skills.
“Oh my, I should go home now. The animals don't care for themselves!” Fluttershy said in the end, quickly packed her things and swung the saddlebags over her back. “Be sure to come by if you need anything. My cottage is at the edge of the Everfree Forest. You can't miss it. Good bye. Get well soon!” she said as she took flight and waved her hoof at him.
“Will do! See you.” Stormheart said as he saw her off and waved his own hoof.
He had not noticed, how late it had gotten until now. It was late afternoon, quickly approaching dusk. He had slept longer, than he had planned to. With a slow trot he headed back to the farmhouse. Maybe he could help at the house, be useful, or at least less useless than he felt.
Back at the Farm he meet Apple Bloom who introduced him to her grandmother Granny Smith. The three of them prepared dinner and soon Applejack and Bigmac joined them at the kitchen table. True to Fluttershys words he was very hungry and nearly matched Bigmac in his appetite.
The Applefamily discussed the days events and future task on the farm. Stormheart did not join conversation. He retired early and quickly fell into a troubled sleep.
He dreamed of a swarm. A black wall of clouds, devastating anything that stood in it's way, a legion of ancient spirits unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. They came from the north, thunder was their name, lightning was their call. The blue colt watched in terror as they approached the peaceful land he was flying above. Then his heart froze as bright eyes settled upon him. “We see you.” he heard the north wind call.