//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Recovery (Edited) // Story: Timbercub // by PinkiePieFox //------------------------------// There was a “Meep” and some, “Oh no, oh no, oh no!” as a butter yellow pony fluttered over to Twilight laying within her back yard. Twilight could feel herself being lifted again and she let out a groan. “Oh Twilight are you okay? Oh my, your leg. I- Let me.” She meeped again as Twilight let out another groan and slowly fluttered her eyes open to look at Fluttershy. “What, happened?” She whimpered as the pain started to kick back in. “Oh please, Twilight don't move around, let me and Mr. Bear get you inside, Okay?” Twilight laid back gritting her teeth as Fluttershy called out to her bear friend for help. Her leg throbbed and her vision blurred as she was lifted up into the arms of Mr. Bear where he cradled her as he made his way to Fluttershy’s cottage. The world spun around her, and as her eyes closed darkness enveloped her senses as she passed out. She was awake, but could not open her eyes, her body did not want to react, though she could still hear, and she heard voices. “What in tarnation happened?!” A voice spoke with a southern accent. “um” “Yeah!” Another one chimed in. “Whoever did this to Twilight better watch out, or I’ll-” There was a muffled mumble as Apple Jack shoved her hoof into Rainbows muzzle. “Could you plea-” “Now, Dash darling, I know you're just as frightened as the rest of us, but we can’t do anything without knowing what had happened first” Rarity said as Rainbow spit out Applejacks hoof. “Maybe we could, um” There was a gasp and the sound of bouncing “OH I’VE GOT TO MAKE PLANS TO GIVE TWILIGHT A “WE’RE ALL GLAD YOU'RE ALRIGHT PART-” “QUITE!” came a shout that made all the mares look around causing Fluttershy to hide behind her mane. Pinkie had frozen in the air mid bounce. “I-I’m sorry but you’re being too loud. A-and Twilight needs her rest.” Fluttershy looked at them and then all nodded. “We understand Fluttershy, we’ll be moseying along; keep us up to date, right?” Fluttershy smiled at Applejack, but Twilight did not hear anything else from them as her mind went back into the realm of dreams. It had been about a week since what happened in the Everfree forests, and it had also been six days since Twilight had been home within the Golden Oaks Library. Fluttershy had insisted that she stay at her cabin because of her leg but Twilight did not relent, and instead with the help of Fluttershy; she managed to make it home on the promise that she stayed off her hooves for the next few days. Twilight cried out in pain as she lifted her back leg off the floor slightly, hobbling around the room. There was a large cauldron and scientific equipment laying about on multiple desks along with books on Alchemy, cracked open to help with the repelling potion that she was trying to brew. “Twilight, are you walking around again?” The voice came from downstairs. “Dont make me come up there and force you back into bed!” Twilight let out a sigh, “I’m fine Spike! Just going to the restroom!” She called back to him; she was not entirely lying. She had gotten out of bed to go to the restroom; and then she promptly began, back on her project she had started with the ingredients collected from the Everfree. “Alright! Dinner will be done in about fifteen minutes, I’ll bring it up to you!” He called back causing Twilight to sigh in relief. The last thing she needed right now was to be stopped at such a crucial stage in the potion making. Sure, she could have asked Zacora to do this while she rested, but she felt obligated considering that it was her actions; no matter how inadvertently they were, that caused the Timberwolves to come hunting in Ponyville. After losing track of time, and Spike catching her work, she was forced back to bed to eat. Spike even told her if she dared to get out of bed again he would tell the Princess on her and have her deal with her instead of him. Twilight voiced her concern for this but spike leered at her until she gave in to his demands. The last thing Twilight wanted was the princess having to get involved in this; who knows what she might do. A blush formed over Twilight’s cheeks but she shook her head and concentrated on her dinner. That would be just plain embarrassing! After three more days, her leg was feeling better and she was able to walk around on it normally once more. But that’s about all she could do was walk; running or trotting was out of the question. The week had been quite, not a single attack had happened and she managed to finish her potion; now to test it. She made her way down to the main floor and straight for the door before Spike’s voice called out, “And where are you going?” Twilight froze mere feet from the door, gulping silently. “Just, out for a walk, maybe go though the market and pick up some apples.” Spike looked at her with an eyebrow raised and his arms crossed. “And I have this little potion I need to place in the fountain to keep the Timberwolves at bay so they will stop attacking.” She give a wide grin. “Right, not happening.” Spike deadpanned. Twilight groaned. “Spike its not even a mile! I’ll be alright, the entire town is out and about and nothing is going to happen. Timberwolves hunt at night anyway and it’s the middle of the day!” Twilight protested. Spike just stared at her but relented with a sigh, “Fine.” Twilight smiled and would have done a little hop for joy if she didn’t know any better. “Just be back in thirty minutes.” He declared. “Right thirty minutes.” she repeated as her magic opened the door and she headed out closing the door, she took a deep breath filling her lungs. Thats nice. She thought to herself as she got a deep whiff of fresh air, something she desperately needed after being cooped up for over a week. She had made it through town picking up the apples from the Apple Family stand taking a moment to ask Big Mac how the family was. “Is the family doing okay Big Mac?” She stated to the red stallion. “Eeyep!” was his only reply causing her to smile and nodding at him before taking up her small sack of apples and heading off towards the center of town. When she got there she sat on the fountains edge and decided to eat one of the apples with a sigh, she mainly sat down because her leg was throbbing slightly. After finishing off the apple, she stood back up taking out a small vial from her saddlebags within her magic. Before pouring it into the waters of the fountain, she looked at the green liquid inside before popping off the cork and giving it a little shake causing it to take on a purple hue. Upon touching the water it looked as if purple and green smoke swirled throughout the water for a moment before vanishing completely. She had to charge the potion with her own energy to get it to work. Considering the Timberwolves are after her and all, she had to use her own magic to make sure that the potion took effect, and that the wolves would stop their advances on ponyville and also stop hunting her. HOOOOOWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! It was almost as if time had slowed down or stopped altogether. A shiver shot up twilights spine as she slowly turned back, looking towards the Everfree forest. Other ponies stood still, some of them voicing their concerns. After a bit of nothing happening a massive flock of birds exploded upwards into the sky over the Everfree, flying like mad as several more howls echoed throughout the village. “Oh no.”