//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Pony of Everfree // by Wild Vine //------------------------------// "You gonna stand there all day?" Scootaloo asked, breaking Wild Vine from his momentary silence. Wild had his eyes closed under that hood that he hadn't notice he was already a few steps away from his home, no bad has come to him as he slowly opened his eyes, taking a look up at the sky, clear and blue as it was. "Never knew how bright it was out here.. the sun hardly shines through the dense forest top.." Wild said , his eyes adjusting to the light. "Well don't worry, you'll get used to it in no time. Now cmon, lets get to Ponyville before sun down!" Sweetie Belle said nudging him to get moving. "Right.. sorry... shall.. we?" Wild this time took the lead, though it wasn't a bright idea since he was completely clueless in his sense of direction that Apple Bloom took lead instead as she ran ahead, along with her friends, to town. It was a few minutes to get from Everfree Forest to Ponyville, if they weren't going at such a calm pace however. But Zecora and Fluttershy remained with the curious stallion as he took the time to look at a stream, something he found interesting to see, such clear water, as he saw fish swimming up its long stream. They reached the bridge that went over the stream, nearing their destination, as Wild stopped on the bridge itself, looking over the festival like town ahead. It would seem Pinkie had over did it this time. Balloons were seen flying away from the town, the smell of cake seem to be much more potent the closer they got, not to mention Wild saw all kinds of other ponies of color variety walking all over the town. However, he didn't move from his little spot on the bridge, as he was shaking in his hooves, nervous more than ever. "Ya know, he reminds of certain someone, I won't lie. But he reminds me of you, Fluttershy." Zecora said though she didn't mean much harm in her words. "Your right.. but the poor thing, you must admit, must be scared on meeting new people other than us." Fluttershy said as she flew up to him. "Cmon Wild, don't worry... we'll be just fine." She snuggled up to him, his aroma seemed irresistable for some reason, she felt calmer around him. "I'm sorry.. I'll try to keep myself from running." Wild said patting her on the head. "It's strange, though, to see you stress as if your carrying a wagon, not to long ago you drove off a mighty dragon." Zecora walked up to him. "Dragons are one thing, meeting others are another, but your right.. I should try more." Feeling more confident, as he walked with Zecora and Fluttershy at his side. Though he wouldn't know what would happen once he enters into the town, he can only try to keep his confidence. Meanwhile in town, things were going swell. Games, cake and all sorts of conversations filled the air, many of the ponies were not sure what the purpose of celebrating a grass plant was called for, but it was a party and who can say no to one of Pinkies. Rarity, Twilight and Applejack were talking to one another near the center of the party where the banner was set up for Wild's arrival. Big Mac, Applejack and Apple Bloom's big brother, was serving punch behind the three ponies. Spike was elsewhere, eating his precious gemstones he loved so much. "I'm telling you, Pinkie Pie has been getting desperate for parties lately. I mean really, celebrating a plant? Poor thing." Rarity said, sipping some punch inbetween words. "I reckon she just felt.. very earth friendly today to throw us a party for grass weeds." Applejack added. "Girls girls girls, now this is Pinkie Pie were talking about. She's done alot... weirder things, don't you think?" Twilight looked around the town, seeing everypony having a fun time. "Still, everypony is having such a wonderful time, who are we to stop them?" "Hey girls!" Pinkie appeared out from the punch bowl, again one of her random moments startling every pony. "Um, hey Pinkie..great party" Twilight said with a nervous giggle. "Having a good time, Big Mac?" Pinkie turned to the stallion. "Eeyup." Big Mac nodded. "Pinkie, I'm really confused about this party.. what is the real reason behind this little festival? I mean, I, for one, could always use a chance to show my lovely dress, but still.." Rarity complained, her usual talent beside making dresses and such. "Are you all still not seeing that this is for someone new to our town? I mean. Come. ON! Why is it so hard to see that?" Pinkie demanded to know. "Well.. sweetie.. it's just that, it's hard to believe in fairy tales... such as this 'Wild Vine'. In all honesty, it sounds like you're just making things up." Twilight said in her usual educated tone. "What? Hard to believe... we're talking ponies! We live in a land that has dragons in it!" Pinkie randomly picked up Spike, from no where it seems as he was covered in frosting. "Tell me how we believe this exists, but not a desperate pony that's all lonesome!" "She brings up a mighty fine point.." Applejack sided with Pinkies logic, which even sounded harder to believe in the party. Before their arguement would commence further, Apple Bloom and her friends ran up to them. "Hey yall! We have someone you gotta meet!" Apple Bloom bounced with joy. "He's awesome!" Sweetie Belle added with a smile. "Not as awesome as... wait, where's Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked. "Up here!" some pony yelled from above. Every pony looked up to see Rainbow Dash laying on a cloud, lazyly lounging to her hearts content. "Hey, what's this about a awesome pony? You guys talkin about me? How sweet of you~" Rainbow Dash flew from her perch and landed right next to Twilight. "Oh Rainbow Dash... always full of yourself, eh?" Rarity giggled. Zecora and Fluttershy soon arrived, joining there friends in conversation, until they noticed a cloaked pony walking into town. Things seem to suddenly quiet down, all eyes were on this mysterious cloaked pony. For longest time, Zecora was under that spot light. Seeing Wild Vine like this kinda made Zecora feel uncomfortable. "Talk about all eyes on me..." Wild thought to himself as he looked around. "So much for trying to blend in..." "Everyone, I'd like yall to meet our new friend from Everfree!" Apple Bloom announced as she walked up to the cloaked pony. "Is it me or is this pony kinda creepy?" Spike commented whispering to Twlight. "Oh Spike, don't judge a book by its cover.. whoever this pony is can't be all bad if Apple Bloom isn't afraid." Twlight walked up to the pony, "Hello." "Hey.. nice to.. meet you all... ehehe." He answered. "Cmon Wild, take off that cloak of yours.. no sense in hidin'." Apple Bloom nudged him. "Wait just a second, who exactly is this?" Rainbow Dash asked. "He looks kinda shady..." "I hate to say it, but I reckon I'm sidin' on Raindow here on that fact." Applejack stepped forward. "Yes.. that fashion sense isn't really doing him any favors now." Rarity critiqued his wardrobe. "Geez take it easy will ya.." Wild thought to himself. Pinkie jumped inbetween the two groups of ponies as she had a smile on her face as usual. "Now this is a party, guys! Stop being mean to Wildy." Pinkie asked, stomping her hoove on the ground. "Look, if you're that curious.. I've already shown your friends here, who were in the forest the night I saved them." Wild finally said stepping forward. "Saved them.. from what exactly?" Spike asked. "A dragon, to be specific." Wild answered, "Much larger than you, actually." He joked of course. "A dragon?! My sister told me a wild boar came after her, not a dragon! You're in a whole heap of trouble, Apple Bloom!" Applejack seemed peeved. "Please, don't blame her... she only wanted to see if I was real." Wild Vine pulled off his hoodie, revealing to them what he looked like. A gasp was all that he recieved at first as his eyes weren't glowing as they were before last morning. Spike walked up to him giving him a closer look at his eyes, both of theirs seemed similar in a way. "Nice eyes, you part dragon?" Spike asked. "No, I was born with them, they help me see at night.." Wild answered as he removed the rest of his cloak setting it aside. The sound of the ponies chatting seem to replace their shocking gasps and silence from before. From what he can hear, they were mostly commenting on his untamed mane and tail, his eyes and his whole persona really. "So what's with your name anyway? What makes you so special?" Rainbow asked, almost challenging him. "Rainbow, watch what you say. It's not nice to ask such personal questions. Mind your manners, sweetie." Rarity walked up to Wild Vine. " Please, accept my apologies on behalf of my silly friend.. she's not really good with words... my, what a lovely mane, smells fresh and sweet." "Um, thank you.. just some herbal stuff I use..." Wild Vine nervously laughed, as he thought to himself while she got closer, "Personal space seems to lack here.. could be worse.." "Rarity.. give the guy some space. I'm sorry, she's usually not like this." Applejack pulled the mare's tail, dragging her away from his sweet scented mane as she introduced herself. "Name's Applejack, sugarcube, pleasure to meet yall." She grabbed his hoof and started to shake it rather fast. "This one's really well mannered," Wild Vine thought as he smiled, "Very nice to meet you too, got quite the shake there." He laughed as his hoof was finally free from her shaking grasp. "I'm Spike, this is Twlight Sparkle." Spike approached him, giving him a high five, or in this case a claw to hoof five. Twilight looked at him for few seconds, before speaking, almost as if she was reading him. "Hello... Wild Vine right? I think I've read about you before... in a folklore book, but I.. kinda dismissed it since, well.. its just fairy tale. Seems I was wrong to quickly judge." Wild Vine smiled, he seemed calm around the ponies, as more of the town walked up to him one by one, until the entire population of Ponyville surrounded him from all sides. Uncomfortable at first, it wasn't until Pinkie blew a rather loud horn to get everyone's attention that Wild manage to slip away. "Aaaaalllrighty then everypony, now that we've all met Wild, lets party to celebrate his first time here in Ponyville!" She announced only to have Rainbow Dash halt her fun again. "Hold it Pinkie. We still can't trust this guy just like that! He's from Everfree! If he claims to be this legend.. then the least he can do is prove it!" Rainbow demanded, now, a challenge. "Geez... must you ruin the party..." Pinkie sighed. "Look, party now, show off later. K?" Rainbow groaned as the party commenced. The music played, something Wild hadn't known existed up until now, some ponies danced about the town square, gossiping groups seem to quickly form, probably speaking about the new pony in town. Plenty of games Wild tried to play, the mares often cheered him on as he tried his best to not only have a good time, but to also conceal his powers and talents from them. Things started to settle mid afternoon around lunch time, as the clean up crew, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle started helping Pinkie Pie with her little party mess. Apple Bloom and her friends were piled ontop of one another, tired beyond what their little bodies could handle, party wise. Wild was helping with the clean up, as much as he could at least without his powers, forcing himself to use typical ways of doing things, such as sweeping with the broom handle in his mouth to avoid showing off. Eventually things were back to normal, or as normal as Ponyville can get, as Zecora took the sleeping little ponies home via a wagon. Wild did feel somewhat welcome but felt that it was a bit forced as he sat in town square alone for the meantime. He looked around the town, trying to take in the current surroundings. "So, how'd you like the party?" Twilight walked up to him, as Spike was beside her, licking a sapphire gem stone flavored icecream cone. "Oi, hey... Twilight, right? Yes, I enjoyed my stay here..." He answered. "Doesn't sound like you're enjoying it here.." "Just a bit homesick, that and I've been really trying not to show up anyone." "Show up? Come now, I'm curious to know about your special talent, I can always use that info for princess Celestia to read." Wild Vine tilted his head in confusement. Twilight quickly figured he wasn't aware that Equestria had a ruler. "Hmm.. perhaps me and my friends should take you to see her! I'm sure Princess Celestia would enjoy your company." Twilight suggested. "Still, I want to know why they call you Wild Vine," Spike chomped his cone in one bite, swallowing it whole, "haaa.. that hit the spot." "It's settled then. Wild, we're going to Canterlot!" Twilight announced proudly, "Come Spike, we should send a scroll to the princess to see if she can meet Wild here.." Before Wild could stop her, she was already gone, using her unicorn magic, she dissappeared in a flash of light and was out of his view in a blink of an eye. "That's something to get used to... the trees did say that unicorns had the power of magic, more easier than what I went through to learn." Wild said to himself as he stood. Deciding to take the time now before the trip to Canterlot, Wild Vine walked around the town, exploring to his hearts content. Above him, Rainbow Dash was following, hiding ontop of a cloud as she hovered, going slowly as not to raise suspicion on Wild Vines part. "Lets see what's so special about this guy..." Rainbow said to herself, as Wild was heading towards Sweet Apple Acres. He stopped under an apple tree, looking around to make sure no one was watching. His stomach was in need of some good fresh fruit, and the apples looked delicious. "Hope no one minds if I help myself.. this place is loaded with these sweet treasures.." Wild said to himself. Something slithered from his back, a light green worm like creature, from Rainbows point of view, and imagination. She gasped as she leaned against the edge of her cloud, trying to see what Wild was doing. The creature from his back, slithered out as it whipped towards the tree, latching onto a single apple as Wild retracted his vine, the apple picked right from the tree and was placed right into his mouth. "Mnnmmh..." He chewed, the apple was moist and juicy as he swallowed, "Haa... that's pretty darn good, I best remember to take a seed for my forest home." His vine soon slithered into his back while he walked down the path minding his own. "Man, this guy is freaky... I better tell the others before some pony gets hurt." Rainbow Dash flew from her cloud perch off back to town. Back at Twilight's tree home, Spike was busy gathering any empty unused scrolls that haven't been used yet for Twilight's constant reports on friendship for the princess to read. "Um, Twilight.." Spike tried to get her attention, carrying a large amount of scrolls. "Yes Spike? I'm busy trying to get enough room here for the Wild Vine section! That stallion sure has some kind of allure to him..." "Yeah yeah, he's amazing.. but really, does he need all these scrolls? I mean, an empty book would do just as good.." Spike complained as he tried packing all the scrolls in Twilight's bags. "Oh Spike, it doesn't hurt to be prepared, does it? Besides, I'm sure the princess will be excited to know all about this mysterious earth pony that can do magic." "Have you even seen him do such a thing?" Spike asked, stomping on Twilights bag to keep it closed, being that is was overloaded with scrolls. "Hmm.. you're right.. perhaps..." Rainbow Dash bursted in through the window, startling both Twilight and Spike. Spike fell off the luggage he spent jumping on, the scrolls scattered in every direction shortly after the bag bursted open. "Aww.... maaan...." Spike groaned. "Rainbow Dash, it's not like you to burst into some ponies home ya know." Twilight sighed, hardly hiding her sarcasm while trying to clean up. "No time for idol chit chat! That.. Wild pony is one freaky pony. He has some weird snake living in his mane!" Rainbow explained to her ability, far from the truth as it was. "What? Are you ok? You might've hit your head harder then usual..." Twilight examined her. "Ugh! I'm not injured, and my head is fine. That green stallion has issues, he just stole an apple from a tree!" "Call the guards... I'm sure they'll just slap his hooves for such a crime.." Spike teased, laughing shortly after. "Laugh all you want you little lizard, I'm telling you that I saw some green snake thing come from his mane, reach up to the tree and grab an apple... he's freaky!" Rainbow stomped her hoof on the floor in anger from Spikes joke. "Ok ok, relax. Look, we're going to Canterlot to introduce Wild Vine to the princess.. Please don't ruin it for him. I think you're just jealous since the attention seems to be on him lately." Twilight said, gathering up her things. "Also, even without wings, Spike's a dragon. Not a lizard." She finished, rewarded by a small huff from said dragon with crossed arms. "Are you mad!? I wouldn't trust that guy as far as I can throw him. Especially in Canterlot." Rainbow Dash huffed. A knocking was heard at the door, as Twilight used her magic to open it. Applejack walked in along with Rarity, all carrying there bags for the trip. "Hey yall. Twilight, you know somepony busted your window right up there?" Applejack pointed towards the window in question. "Yes.. it was Rainbow Dash here. She forgot I had something called a door that is meant to be used to enter my house." Twilight sighed. "My, what a lack of manners, shame on you Rainbow Dash." Rarity added. "Oh for Celestia sake..." Rainbow groaned. "Fine just forget that I warned you. I better get ready too.." With that said, Rainbow shot upwards, breaking through Twilights roof, again. "Now that just ain't right, what's got her wings in a tussle?" Applejack asked. "She didn't have to take it out on my roof.. it's expensive to get it repaired." Twilight started to gather the broken debris off the floor. Fluttershy soon arrived with her bouncey friend Pinkie Pie. They set there bags aside as they walked in. "Whoa, what happened in here? And whats up with Dashy?" Pinkie asked, as she noticed the hole in the window and the hole up above. "Long story..." Twilight said, writing up a letter for Celestia, informing her about their visit. She gave the scroll to Spike who took it and gone to the broken window, blowing fire onto the scroll as it vanished in the smoke. "Has anyone seen Wild Vine?" Fluttershy asked, as everyone shook there heads. "Not since the party, sugar cube. But I reckon he's out exploring the town." Applejack helped Twilight pick up after Rainbow Dash's mess. Just as the ponies were about to go out and search for him, Wild Vine was seen walking towards the house. He was talking to Big Mac about the town, and other things like his apple trees back on the farm. "So you've been working on the farm since you were just a little colt, huh?" Wild continued the conversation. "Eeyup." Big Mac said proudly. Wild laughed a bit, "You're a stallion of many words, Big Mac." From the open door of Twilights home, Rarity and Applejack stood outside waiting for them, the others were inside gathering bits for the train, and awaiting the return scroll from the princess. "My my... I never knew how.. rugged and handsome Wild and Big Mac look near each other." Rarity complimented, giggling. "Hey now, that's my brother yall eyeing up. Don't you think 'bout nothin' naughty now ya hear?" Applejack nudged her, however Rarity was lost in her mind staring at the two as they finally reached the house. "Hello Rarity, Applejack." Wild Vine greeted them as Big Mac nodded. "Well hello handsome..." Rarity giggled playing with her mane. "Ummm, howdy. Yall been talking with my big brother Big Mac I take it?" Applejack shook hooves with Wild Vine. "Yeah just about, I was over near your farm earlier today, ran into Big Macintosh here, gave him a hand with the harvest before coming here." "The harvest? But that should've taken him all day at the least. Even with the help." "He's got a fine way of working with the trees. It's like he can speak with them, the apples just came a rollin off the branches into the baskets." Big Mac explained. "Well ain't that somethin'. Cmon in yall, we're just waiting on Twilight. Her roofs been.. damaged somewhat." Big Mac followed Applejack inside, as Rarity stood infront of Wild Vine. "Um... hello.. Rarity... um, something wrong?" Wild asked blushing slightly as she leaned in, oddly sniffing his mane of all things. "You still haven't told me what you use for such a heavenly scent... it's... inviting." Rairty said, face buried in his mane. "Thank you... um perhaps we can... talk some other time Rarity." Wild Vine quickly galloped inside, as Rarity huffed, seeing that her approach was once again denied, for now at least. Something about him made her want to try again and again. Inside, Twilight and Fluttershy were working on repairing the roof, picking up the pieces trying to put them together, however the pieces weren't coming. "Uh... yall ok up there?" Applejack asked. "Not really, this is some puzzle... not the fun kind I'm used to." Pinkie Pie said as she was hanging upside down, her tail was wrapped around a railing. "Here, let me..." Wild Vine halted from going upstairs, remembering he didn't want to expose too much of his power. He's already risked his talents with helping Big Mac earlier, but then again he didn't want to leave Twilight's tree home damaged. He sighed and decided to just get it over with as he approached Twilight. "Here just uh.. let me handle this, just promise me you and your friends won't.. freak out." Wild Vine looked up at the hole. "Um, ok?" Twilight and Fluttershy joined their friend's downstairs as they looked up. Every pony inside watched Wild Vine, making him feel a tad stage shy but he didn't want to leave the tree in such a critical state. "I've danced around the issue of my own powers long enough, it'd be better if the girls see them in a ordered fashion than just randomly sprouting my vines causing panic. They're looking at me, expecting something, can't really avoid or talk my way out of this one. This tree's in pain.. I better just get this over with and deal with the reactions afterwards." He thought to himself as he took a stance, spreading his legs a bit from each other as he was about to restore the roof, and hopefully not cause too much panic.