“W-who're you?” Fluttershy timidly asked.
“I think we should just skip introductions at the moment,” Crescent Rose replied as the timberwolves began to circle them.
Counting, Crescent Rose saw eight in front of him. Normally, he would've teleported away, with Fluttershy and Elizabeak. However, with so many in front of him, flight became a far distant option. Five timberwolves, and he would've been gone in five seconds. More than five... and his options became scarce. As he saw it, he only had one option. One option, that he had not had the fullest preparation for.
Only one thing for it then. I hope I'm not in bed for a month again. Crescent Rose thought to himself.
“I need you to do two things, Fluttershy,” Crescent Rose started. “I need you to keep your eyes shut, and to not move. I'm going to get them a distance away from you, otherwise this spell will send you away with them. Understand?”
“Y-y-yes...” Fluttershy replied meekly.
“Good,” Crescent Rose replied before running full sprint from one wolf to the next.
With his horn glowing red, he marked each timberwolf to follow him, and keep away from Fluttershy. Eight wolves, eight marks; now came the tricky part. Now came the only spell that, to Crescent Rose, was not fully master-able.
The phoenix uses the fire in it's wings to create a blinding force equal to the sun's rays. There was a spell that Crescent Rose had discovered, that could imitate this ability to near fullness. Using it, could put the user in such a weakened state, that it was never taught. It was a near-forbidden spell. Crescent Rose, he just didn't care.
After marking and drawing the timberwolves away, he was ready to execute the spell. Opening his wings, he flapped them to be far enough above the wolves, but not far enough to be out of range. Keeping himself in a hover, he opened his wings to their full span, and his horn started to glow. Brighter than it had before, it glowed until the black of his horn was indistinguishable. His eyes, normally a deep, but bright blue, soon started to glow bright as well.
Burning... stings... just like before. I can't let go now. Need to... need to hold on... Crescent Rose thought as the sensations got stronger as he built his energy up.
The timberwolves couldn't look away, even as fear started to show in their eyes. Crescent Rose was able to sense Zecora and Fluttershy as he felt himself start to go over the edge. He needed to release. If he didn't, he'd bubble over, and not only send the wolves away, but even give himself a brand new set of second degree burns. He wasn't ready for those yet.
Now... the time is now. Now!
He released. He felt the heat escape from his horn and wings. He felt no pain. Not at first, anyway.
Next thing he knew, he was on the ground, weak and exhausted. He was able to see Fluttershy and Zecora running towards him. He was on the verge of blacking out, but he had a last piece of business before that, so he held on. Once they were close enough to him, he looked at Fluttershy.
“You asked who I was but a moment ago. Would you still like to know?” Crescent Rose asked the yellow pegasus.
“Y-you saved me. I'd certainly like to,” Fluttershy replied.
“Crescent Rose, or just Crescent for short, if you please,” he stated simply before his world went black.
Fluttershy felt tears and a smile forming as the black alicorn fell into unconsciousness. He saved her. Why would he do that, for somepony he never met?