A/N: So, this here is the prologue. And no, this won't be an Applejack/Fluttershy fic (friendship or romantic). It's mostly going to be about Fluttershy, but there will be a few chapters from Big Macintosh's POV. I hope you enjoy it, and I'll hopefully update again soon. Also, most chapters will probably be longer than this, though I can't say if they'll be that much longer. I like writing short chapters. And think of it this way, if I write shorter chapters, then I can update more often!
It all started with the stampede.
Stampedes where common enough around Ponyville - more common than the villagers would like, but not so common that they couldn't be prevented. The villagers reinforced their houses so they were strong enough to withstand almost anything,and almost everything in the town could quickly and easily be lifted and moved inside. Every once in a while there was a stampede that stood out from the rest, but in those cases, there was Applejack.
The day of the stampede started like any other. The sun was shining, there was a light breeze, and Ditzy Doo was sitting in Sugar Cube Corner, eating her usual breakfast muffin. Nothing seemed out of place, until the ground started shaking. Rainbow Dash, who had been in the air practicing her latest flying trick, stared into the distance in shock. "STAMPEDE!" she screamed, flying up into the clouds to her home town of Cloudsdale.
Ponies ran in every direction, cleaning up town and getting into their houses. Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell and Applebloom, who had been digging up rocks right on the outskirts of town, trying to see if one of their hidden talents was archaeology, ran straight to Sweet Apple Acres to get Applejack and Winona, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the path leading into town.
But Applejack was already running towards them, or more specifically, towards the cows running towards town.
"Put 'em up Winona!" shouted Applejack. "Come on!" She lassoed the cow in front of the pack's horn, and pulled, leading the herd of cows away from Ponyville. They ran straight past the entrance to the town, missing it by only a few feet. The cows kept running, past Ponyville and into the distance, and Applejack let them go. Winona kept running for a few feet, making sure they were really leaving, and in those few feet, her front right foot got caught in the hole the cutie mark crusaders had been digging.
With too much momentum to stop, Winona kept going, but her paw stayed caught where it was. With a sickening crack from her leg, Winona fell forward, her paw bent at an awkward angle. Fluttershy, as if sensing the injury, stuck her head out from the cottage at the edge of the village she had been hiding in. "Oh. Oh my," she said. "Winona had better come with me. That doesn't look good."
Applejack, standing just behind Winona, had teared up, frightened for her pet. Winona had been a gift for Applejack right after she came back from Manehattan, and she couldn't bear losing her like this. "Is – is she gonna be okay Fluttershy?"
"Oh, of course. Don't you worry about a thing Applejack, Winona will be fine in no time. Just leave her to me."
And with that, Fluttershy walked off towards her cottage, allowing Winona to lean heavily on her shoulder. Applejack looked after them, amazed at the careful way Fluttershy was walking so Winona didn't even have to use her broken ankle. "I really don' have to worry 'bout a thing." thought Applejack. "That filly'll fix her up 'fore you could say apples."
So, what did you think? Please review and tell me what I should change, etc. I know I said this earlier, but I should be updating again soon.