//------------------------------// // Savior - Southpaw // Story: Flarity Group Collab // by Jondor //------------------------------// Written by: Southpaw Long rays of sunlight still found their way slanting through the close canopy of leaves, but she could tell the forest was darkening. Normally she would have been concerned; the Everfree changed at night, and it was no safe place for a pony, not even for Fluttershy. But that hardly mattered as she drifted and hovered through the dark foliage, searching. Her eyes scanned almost frantically, her gaze shifting here and there to the end of each rare shaft of sunlight, until at last a little patch of green brilliance leapt out at her. Oh my gosh, yes! Fluttershy gasped and steered hard over to land with a quick fold of her wings and a fast step. She trotted to the little clump of greenery hiding in the cleft between two high shoulders of a tree’s long roots; the only place the plant seemed able to grow, she knew. The leafy green plant lay directly in a beam of Celestia’s setting sun until the yellow pegasus eclipsed that light. Her folded wings flapped a little at her sides, casting nervous shadows on the tree; she hesitated, stepping a random, fretful little four-hooved dance before it, and then came to a decision as the sunlight darkened behind her. She tugged gently at the base of the plant with lips and teeth, taking every stalk of it. Her mouth and nose were flooded with a pungent, sweet tang as she lifted it from the ground, a strong scent reminiscent of cilantro and spearmint; healthy and clean and vibrant. Magical. Her mouth clamped down and filled with stalks of healing herb, Fluttershy turned toward the sun and leapt into the air. She flapped frantically, swerving and swaying through the rapidly darkening forest. Just as she came at last back to the familiar long path, the sun finally set, and the reassuring beams of sunlight dropped away. And then she poured it on. It was much darker now as Fluttershy powered frantically along the threatening forest path, but she wasn’t without grace; in a few moments Luna’s moon lifted and shined behind her through the dark overhanging canvas, lighting her body and feathers in lovely flashes of a pale glow that was entirely lost on her. Her heart thumped and her breath began to gasp between her clenched teeth. The healing herb soaked her breaths, but it did nothing to calm her nerves like the sight of her cottage did as she burst from the forest entrance. The little yellow pegasus arrowed forward and blasted across the field to reach her home, finally shooting through the open window. Her wings closed tight for one instant and flared wide-open the next, braking her to a stop and touching her down lightly. She turned toward the bed, sick with worry. Rarity lay there, propped up with downy pillows and snoring soft and peaceful with her cheek pressed against a pillow. Her book lay fallen between sleepy hooves. Her eyelids flickered and lifted, and she smiled sweetly as her half-open gaze fell on Fluttershy. “Hiiiii,” she croaked. “Have I... been out long?” Then Rarity brought a hoof to her mouth and coughed harshly, hacking away for long moments. Finally she closed her eyes and groaned, spent and aching. “Oh this flu is simply dreadful.” Fluttershy leapt to her side, dropping the green bundle to the bed. She wrapped her hooves around Rarity, and touched her lips to the white pony’s forehead. The tips of her feathers brushed tenderly against her cheeks and ears and horn. “I brought something for you, Rarity,” Fluttershy breathed, smiling at last. “You’ll be better in no time.”