Noticing the small puddle of red expanding under him, Twilight panicked. She looked around the area. Wolf had drifted somewhat far away from ponyville, he was closer to the edge of Everfree. The hospital being too far away and his injuries being too severe, she had only one choice, his only hope. Fluttershy. A clap of thunder shook the area, drowning out the sound of the running water near her. The storm was picking up again.
* * * * *
"Good afternoon Angel. It's lunch time."
The white bunny just looked at the salad placed before him, then back up to the yellow Pegasus, a frown on his face. He stomped his leg on the ground to show his dissapointment. He turned his head away from her, pouting, his little arms crossed. He would show her that he meant business. He turned back around to see if his strategy was working. His black eyes cracked open, expecting her to give him a more proper meal. He was met with the sight of her bright blue eyes staring right at him, practically ordering him to eat. Or else. His resolve shattered by the terrifying sight, he took out a leaf of lettuce reluctantly, preparing for the worst. He gulped before placing it in his mouth, and chomping down on it. The burst of flavor nearly overloaded his senses. He jumped into the bowl before him and began to chow down.
Fluttershy gave a satisfied look to the bunny, who was now completely hidden in the bowl, and she said in her usual, soft voice:
"That's better."
She looked around her cottage and sighed at the sight of the cute little animals eating before her. She enjoyed seeing the looks of satisfaction on their faces. It made her feel good. She had made it a personal rule to never deny help to those who would need it. A loud boom reverberated through the cottage. Fluttershy yelped and hid behind a couch, the noise obviously scared her. A look of worry on her face, she said one thing.
"Oh...this storm's going to be a big one..."
With precision timing, another loud noise shattered the silence again. But this one was different. It was just as loud, but it was different. There were five sounds in rapid succesion. She looked towards the door. The sound repeated again, and the door moved forward ever so slightly in perfect synchronization with the sounds. Fluttershy peeked her head out of the couch to get a better look. The sounds came again, but this time accompanied by a voice.
"Fluttershy, open up! Please!"
She recognised the voice. It was Twilight. Her tone was unusual. Scared, desperate.
"Oh Twilight, you startled me..."
Her wings unfolded from her sides and she lifted up off the ground into the direction of the door. She opened it and nearly fainted out of shock. Twilight was standing in the doorway, a large object on her back. Her violet coat had been painted red by what could only be blood, obviously coming from the object on her back. She was panting, the weight was obviously too much to bear. But somehow she managed, despite the rain, despite the wet, slippery ground, she managed to bring that thing all the way up to her. The shock dissipating, she picked him up with a strenght no one had ever seen her have before, not even herself. She carried him straight into the cottage, dripping blood and rainwater. She put him down on the couch and rushed to get her first aid kit. She flew upstairs with speed that could compete with Rainbow Dash. She frantically searched through the bathroom, but it wasn't there. Immediately remembering which room it was in, she flew into the bedroom and frantically tossed away the covers, looking for it. Under her pillow maybe? No, not there either. Under the matress? No...She finally looked under the bed and grabbed the bag that lay there. Flying back down the stairs, she caught a glimpse of Twilight, she was now inside, and the door behind her was closed. She was standing above the wounded creature, what was either tears os stray drops of water dripping flowing from her eyes. Fluttershy could barely make out what she was saying.
"You always have to be the hero..."
Fluttershy opened the kit, and took out the bottle of alcohol and a few large bandages. She unscrewed the top of the bottle with on quick movement of her hooves and poured it on the open wound. The creature spasmed a bit as the alcohol burned away any bacteria that would have infected it. She expertly wrapped the bandages around the cut. She made sure to wrap it extra tight so that the bleeding would stop completely. She looked back up to Twilight, care flooding her.
"He'll be alright...He should be back up by tommorow."
Twilight gave no reaction. She didn't even flinch. It was obvious that she wasn't leaving.
"You're welcome to stay here until he gets better."
With that Fluttershy left the two alone. With nothing else to do, Twilight got on the couch, next to Wolf. She made sure not to disturb him, he needed his rest. After some expertly executed maneuvers, she was curled up tightly next to Wolf. Her head was somewhat uncomfortable however. With a few quick movements, she lay her head down on his shoulder. It just felt perfect being there. Giving off one final sigh before closing her eyes, she drifted to sleep.
The next day...
Twilight woke up as the suns morning rays slipped through the window into her eyes. She had slept like a baby. Something felt different however. Something on top of her. She realised it was his arm, he was holding her tightly. She sighed. Nothing could ruin this morning. Or so she thought...She realised that Nyx was left alone in the house! She nearly bolted out of the cottage, but then she realised that she wasn't alone. She was with Rainbow Dash and the Royal Guards. She was safe...
Fluttershy gently hovered next to them, dusting the windows. Twilight got up. She managed to get off the couch without waking him up. Quite an achievement...She trotted over to Fluttershy ever so lightly, and whispered to her.
"Thank you Fluttershy..."
"It's nothing Twilight, I'd do it for anypony...or anything in this case."
A groan from behind interrupted them. They both turned around to see Wolf getting up off the couch. He jumped a bit as the wound on his chest sent a wave of pain through him.
"Damn...That smack did more damage than I thought..."
He looked around the unfamiliar room.
"Um...Twi? Where are we?"
Fluttershy backed down and hid behind a table.
"We're in Fluttershy's cottage."
He looked down to the hiding Pegasus.
"I assume that's..."
"Yes."
"Why is she hiding?"
"She's afraid of you."
"Rightfully so..."
Mustering all of her courage, Fluttershy left her table behind and hovered above the two. With a voice that was barely audible she spoke to him.
"Um...Hello..."
Wolf turned to face her, he was suprised that she managed to face her fears and talk.
"Hello."
With nothing else to say, she said the one thing she had in her mind.
"I've never seen anything with so many scars..."
"These are nothing compared with the scars I've got up here..."
He brought a finger up to his head. Silence returned to it's rule in the cottage.
Deep within Everfree Forest...
The Unicorn hit the Pegasus messenger as hard as he possibly could, his anger turned into rage.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE KILLED IT?!"
"He killed the Ursa Major my Lord!"
"THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, THIS IDIOT HAS DEFEATED EVERYTHING WE'VE THROWN AT HIM!!!"
The sound of flapping wings met their ears. Another Pegasus appeared out of nowhere.
"My lord! We've found him!"
"WHERE IS HE?!"
His loud voice startled the Pegasus messenger.
"He is currently resting in the cottage of Fluttershy, the bearer of the Element of Kindness. Twilight Sparkle is with them."
"What is his condition?"
"He is badly injured my Lord."
Lord Night turned back to his Lieutenant nearby.
"Darkmane, take a unit of Unicorns and destroy them once and for all!"
"Yes my Lord."
He would have left, but his master's voice interrupted him.
"Burn it to the ground."
A sinister smile appeared on Darkmane's face.
"With pleasure."
Back at Fluttershy's cottage, half an hour later...
Fluttershy had warmed up to him, more then anything Twilight had ever seen. It still wasn't much however, but it was a start. Something caught Wolf's eye through the window. He looked more carefully. Four black figures were on the edge of the forest, facing the cottage. All of a sudden, four dark blue lights appeared above them.
"GET DOWN!!"
He lunged forward and tackled the two mares to the ground, just as a hail of glowing blue arrows came through the walls and utterly destroyed the cottage.
"STAY DOWN!!"
The barrage of arrows continued on for about a minute, but to them it seemed like an eternity. As the glowing projectiles ceased, they got up. Wolf looked through one of the many holes in the wall. Fluttershy was devastaed. Her home had been completely destroyed. Wolf saw the entire treeline nearly covered in the same dark figures. All of a sudden, fireballs appeared above their heads.
"Oh shit..."
He turned around to face the two dumbstruck mares.
"GET OUT, GET OUT NOW!!"
He ran towards them and grabbed them. The wall behind him was set ablaze as a wall of fire emerged through it. He didn't stop running, he just bulldozed through the door and jumped off the balcony into the mud pit below. He landed on his feet, and let go of them, just as the raging inferno past over his head, nearly setting his hair on fire.
"RUN, RUN!!"
Under the cover of the smoke they obeyed and ran into the distance.
"DON'T STOP, JUST KEEP GOING!"
Behind the smoke screen, Darkmane was satisfied with his work. But he needed to confirm their deaths. He flew up above the smoke and much to his dismay he saw them running off towards a hill.
"DAMN!"
A voice from below him. It was one of his Unicorns.
"Sir, shall we pursue?"
"No..."
He sighed in the air.
"Lord Night's going to love this..."
He looked towards them as they climbed the hill and turned around.
On the hill...
They watched as the cloud of smoke that was once Fluttershy's home rose high into the air for all to see. Tears flowed freely from Fluttershy's face as she watched in horror as her home was reduced to ash. Twilight was trying to comfort her. Wolf knelt to the ground and hugged them closely.
"Don't worry..."
He looked to the smoke. He could make out a small winged figure above the smoke. He immediately recognized it. His eyes locked on it, he could practically see the white's of it's eyes.
"...You'll get yours."
Wolf could have sworn that he heard it reply:
"I'll be waiting."
End chapter 27