Fluttershy woke up with her spirits high and back hurting more than ever before. She took her sweet time gingerly getting out of bed, making sure not to disturb her tired wings. After yesterday's feat during Tornado duty, it was only fair they deserved some rest. It all felt like an amazing dream – the way everypony cheered, the look on Rainbow Dash's face, the party Pinkie Pie threw afterwards, it was all perfect. Best day as a flier since graduating the Sun awful Flight School.
Even the prospect of having to go into the Everfree Forest didn't manage to make a dent in Fluttershy's excellent mood. Just a few days ago she dreaded Wednesdays. It was the day she had to visit an otter in the Everfree for its weekly rehabilitation exercises. Today, however, was a Wednesday like none other. A happy one. A “Fluttershy is on top of the world” Wednesday.
The mare looked over her saddlebags one last time before bidding Angel and her other critter friends goodbye. The trip wouldn't be long, but the Pegasus felt like staying outside a bit longer this time, perhaps finally allowing herself to be invited by her little patient for some delightful tea.
* * *
Now that Fluttershy got some self-confidence back, the forest didn't seem all that scary. Of course, there were still Manticores, Timberwolves and Parasprites lurking about, but they usually didn't disturb anypony and shied away from the edge of the forest, keeping to themselves in the deep and really dark parts. Now that she took more than a few frightened glances at her surroundings, the Everfree turned out to be a beautiful place. Aged trees cast shadows with their giant leaves, causing the light to dance ever so slightly with the rhythm of the wind. Colorful flowers surrounded the pony, displaying vibrant reds, yellows and blues. The green foliage under her hooves was soft, and the mare avoided the slippery moss or old tree barks lying on the ground.
The smells and sounds were a world in themselves. Birds sang their songs, bugs zipped past, some rabbits or deer rustled silently in the bushes. All the flora fought for the attention of Fluttershy's nose with scents akin to top-shelf perfumes – some of them were discreet, sweet smells, while others were so vibrant and full the pony could not help but breathe in deeply and sigh with content.
Even in her tranquil state, Fluttershy was vigilant enough to freeze in her tracks upon hearing a faint growl somewhere to her left. Suddenly, the beauty evaporated from the forest, leaving behind a dark and damp place full of predators and eyes watching her every move.
As swiftly as she could, Fluttershy ducked behind a nearby broken tree trunk and listened. Her ears twitched, picking out the low growling of timberwolves to her right. With her heart pounding hard against her chest, the mare risked a peek from hiding. Indeed, there was a pair of beasts stalking in front of a moss covered cave. The monsters didn't notice her and were staring intently at the entrance of the cavern.
Oh my, what should I do? What if these beasts are attacking some poor defenseless bunny? Or a deer, or bird? If only somepony else was here to help, thought Fluttershy, peeking ever so often at the two predators. I can't just leave...but I can't do anything by myself. I'm just a weak little Pegasus, deep in the Everfree Forest. Maybe if I could go get my friends...but that would take too long. What am I to do?
Her feverish thoughts were interrupted by a cry. It wasn't a bunny, or a deer, or any other woodland creature. It was the cry of a foal. A baby. A pony. Fluttershy froze and listened. The crying was coming from inside the cave. The sound seemed to have pushed the predators into action, making them take a few steps forward.
“No,” gasped the butter Pegasus, jumping out of hiding and propelling herself forward with her wings. She cringed at the pain in her back and feathers. With a thump she landed in front of the wolves, flaring her wings and pumping her chest forward.
“Go away!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, mauling her forehooves into the ground. The timberwolves were confused for a second and backed away. They stopped a few feet away and begun growling, sickly yellow eyes focused on the mare.
“I said, leave! Shoo! Bad wolves! How dare you harass an innocent creature! Who do you think you are, you bullies?!” continued Fluttershy, aggressively jumping forward and stomping the ground.
The wolves let their wooden ears drop and they stopped growling. The creatures weren't used to their meals being like this, and that usually meant that they were dealing with a predator rather than something edible. That simple line of reasoning allowed them to survive and have pups of their own for years, so there was no reason not to follow it right now.
Fluttershy watched as the wolves backed away slowly before leaping into a bush and disappearing out of sight. She waited a few more moments, her ears searching for any signs of the timberwolves coming back.
“They're gone,” sighed out the mare, allowing her tired body to collapse. She was shaking all over and her wings instantly zipped to her sides, painfully colliding with her rib cage. Now it was a good time to whinny in fear and take panicked breaths. “What in Celestia's name was I doing. What in Luna's name did I do. The girls will never believe any of this. I don't believe any of this. Sweet Sun, Moon and everything else, thank you,” whispered Fluttershy, slowly turning her head towards the cave.
It was all silent now, save for the regular forest sounds. With some hesitation, the mare approached the dark and damp entrance.
“Hello?” she said. There was a peculiar smell in the cave, and it made Fluttershy sick. She knew that smell, and feared for the worst. “Oh my,” she gasped, taking another step and slipping in something. It was red and sticked to the fur on her hooves.
As fast and catiously as she could, she took a few more steps inside and squinted. After her eyesight adjusted, she saw a curled up fuzzy form. A thick red trail led from the cave entrance all the way to the huddled up ball, pooling at it’s side.
“Oh my gosh! Are you alright? Hang on!” screamed Fluttershy, leaping to the side of the figure. It was an earth pony, a mare. She was curled up around a piece of cloth that was partly drenched in...the red stuff. “Hello? Please, answer me! Are you alright?” asked Fluttershy, gently checking the pony over. She didn't move nor respond. Her eyes were closed.
As the timid pony gently flipped her over to the side, she felt another wave of nausea overcome her. “You poor thing,” sobbed the mare, helplessly flailing her hooves around. There was nothing she could do for her now.
A cry erupted suddenly, startling Fluttershy enough to bump her head against the ceiling. Looking around and massaging the sore spot, she noticed the piece of cloth move.
“Goodness gracious!” whispered Fluttershy, scooping up the bundle and inspecting it. It was fairly heavy and was squirming in her hooves. It was crying.
Slowly, she unwrapped the bundle to reveal the face of a foal. It stopped crying as soon as its big, blue eyes settled on Fluttershy.
“H-Hi there, little baby unicorn,” started Fluttershy, hovering towards the exit of the cave. It was hard for her to hold the material drenched in the sickly fluid, but she would not dare to drop it, let alone put it down now. “I-I'm Fluttershy. What's your name?”
The foal stared at the butter-yellow Pegasus and reached out with its tiny hooves towards her. Instinctively, the mare lowered her muzzle and allowed herself to be grabbed. The baby smiled shyly and started talking something in its language of gurgles, blowing raspberries and disjointed syllables.
“I-I'm sorry little one...I,” she started, looking back at the cave. Was it alright to take the baby just like that? From its...its mother? Somepony would have to come back here. Leaving the foal here could provoke more dangerous creatures to come. There was no choice. She would have to take it in and look for the father.
“Hopefully, Mr. Otter with understand,” said Fluttershy under her breath, ignoring the spikes of pain in her back as she flew back to her cottage.
* * *
Back at her cottage, the first thing Fluttershy did after depositing the foal into Angel's crib was empty her stomach in the bathroom. She shuddered and whinnied, trying not to think about her hooves, chest and hair covered in...blood. She would have to take a bath or ten to rinse the thing out of her fur, and take even more time before she stopped feeling dirty and sick.
The mare stopped the cycle of scrubbing her hooves to the bare bone and hugging the toilet when she heard the foal's cry in the other room. Without a moment's hesitation she dashed towards the crib. The foal was squirming, it’s little eyes shut tight. Angle bunny was a few feet away, his hands away from his body in a 'it was like this when I got here' manner.
“Ohhh, shhh, don't cry little one, shhhh,” whispered Fluttershy, scooping the foal into her embrace and taking it to the sofa. There she lay next to it and hugged it tightly to her chest. The baby was shivering and sobbing, but apparently the mare's presence calmed him a little bit. The foal looked at Fluttershy and smiled again, reaching out for her muzzle. This time it sucked on it, causing the mare to giggle and nuzzle into the baby.
“Oh my,” gasped the Pegasus, only now noticing something strange about the baby. Wings. As it was giggling its wings opened up. Wings on the back of a foal that already had a horn. “Sweet Divine Sisters. An alicorn foal. Oh my. Oh dear. We have to...we have to get to Twilight's...”
* * *
Without knocking, Fluttershy barged into the Library, evading the surprised Spike and heading straight for Twilight.
“Um, hi there Flutter- Oh, what have you got there? A foal? Where did you- Sweet Celestia!” said Twilight in one breath. “An alicorn?! Where did you- how did you-”
“Twilight! I don't know!” replied the equally distressed Fluttershy. She held the foal in front of her like it was a bomb ready to go off, much to the delight of the little pony who was gurgling and fluttering his wings with glee.
“Okay, wait, hold on just a second,” murmured Twilight to herself, levitating over a few books and paging them over. “Where did you find this foal? Where are its parents?”
“I-I found it in the Everfree Forest, in a cave. I think its mother is d-d-d...” stuttered the Pegasus, again feeling sick to the stomach. Her hooves still being rose titned didn't help much.
“What about its father?”
“I don't know Twilight! I just saved it from a couple of timberwolves,brought it back and noticed it's a-a-an alicorn!”
“We'll have to write to the Princesses about this. I can't believe, another alicorn! And in the middle of the Everfree Forest,” mused Twilight, looking the foal over. “It does look kind of weird, don't you think?”
“O-Oh, it must be...I-I mean, I didn't give it a bath yet. I-It's sheets were covered in- I mean, oh.” Fluttershy stopped talking and brought the foal closer to herself, shaking her head violently. “Please, do write to the Princess, Twilight. I-I'll take care of it for now.”
“I'll gather up the girls and we'll help you all together,” said Twilight without turning away from the paper and quill she was writing a letter with.
“T-Thank you, Twilight. That would be wonderful. B-But I don't want to force you into this, you know, I can try and-”
“Don't be ridiculous,” Twilight cut in. “We're friends, and it's no problem. By the looks of it, you need some rest and a good cup of green tea. You can wait here, Spike will get you whatever you need.”
“Yup! Already on it!” chimed in Spike, picking himself up from the floor next to Fluttershy and dashing into the kitchen.
“Thanks, Twilight,” sighed Flutteshy, resting herself in a chair and depositing the foal on her stomach. It smiled at the mare and snuggled up to her.
* * *
The bath, which made both Fluttershy and the baby quite happy, was a long and warm one. Together the mare and foal blew bubbles into the air, splashed water on Pinkie Pie and watched one of Gummy's rubber duckies sail across the tub, maneuvering between mountains of soft and shampoo smelling bubbles. Everypony was a bit taken aback by the nature of the foal, but they quickly warmed up to the little pony, who turned out to be a colt.
“I don't know,” said Rianbow Dash, eying the baby as it was being gently dried by Fluttershy. “It still looks kind of strange, even without all that b-”
“This is an alicorn, darling” interrupted Rarity, lowering her muzzle to the happy little colt. “Of course it will look different. Have you ever seen another baby alicorn in your life?”
“Weeeelll-” tried Rainbow, but was again hushed by the pristine unicorn.
“Aww, I think he's just an adorable little angel. Don't listen to that nasty wasty Wainbow Dash, you little chubsy wubsy you,” cooed Rarity, nuzzling the little colt.
The foal was very energetic and smiled at everypony, but never allowed himself to be taken away from Fluttershy. It cried and wriggled out of grasp as soon as somepony else tried to take it away. It hit Pinkie Pie the most, as all her knowledge about handling foals and playing with foals was useless with this particular baby.
“Okay. I get it. Fluttershy and nopony else. I can take that,” said the pink mare, choking back tears of broken trust. She was immediately guided out of the library by Applejack who comforted her friend with quiet words.
“Um, Twilight? Did you send that letter to Celestia yet?” asked Flutershy, looking at the purple pony from the corner of her eye. Her muzzle was currently in the hooves of the foal and was being slobbered and sucked on like a regular pacifier, which which the baby refused to use.
“Yes, quite some times ago. Strange. The Princess usually doesn't take this long to answer. I guess I'll write her up a follow up message tomorrow. Maybe she's just really busy,” shrugged Twilight, observing the tiny alicorn play with Fluttershy.
“Oh, that's okay. I don't mind at all. I think he likes me,” giggled Fluttershy, blowing a raspberry at the foal's stomach. The baby squealed in delight and hugged her nose tightly. “He's such a little dear.”
* * *
As daylight faded away, everypony was taking their leave one by one. Applejack and Pinkie Pie never came back, Rainbow Dash confessed that it was boring watching Fluttershy playing with the foal all by herself, and Rarity claimed to have some important work to do which was being pushed back for far too long as it was.
“Really, it's no trouble at all, you can stay here for the night,” offered Twilight, stopping Fluttershy at the door to the library.
“Thanks Twilight, but I really don't want to impose. And I still have my animal friends to feed and take care of. And, um, don't be mad, but I think that you may not have proper food for the foal. It hasn't eaten all day long, and its not healthy for a foal his age to have irregular meals.”
“Well, if you put it that way,” shrugged Twilight, hugging her friend. “Take care. I'll let you know as soon as a letter from the Princess arrives.”
“Thanks Twi. Goodnight,” said Fluttershy, turning away and beginning her journey towards the cottage by the edge of Everfree.
The little one was apparently tired and rested on Fluttershy's back, secured in place by her hings over his little body. His warmth and gentle breathes on her neck made the mare feel fuzzy and happy inside. Of course, she would have to give the foal away sooner or later...but that was no reason not to enjoy its company for now.
At her cottage, Fluttershy was greeted silently by her animal friends and a disgruntled Angel bunny. The little creature hopped around in place and was kicking its empty bowl, not happy with the lack of food in it.
The mare gave an apologetic smile to everyone and deposited the foal into its crib before committing to feeding her woodland friends. Every now and then she would peek into the crib and smile at the little sleeping alicorn, or nuzzle it, causing it to shift and smile to the ceiling.
Her rounds done and lights turned out, the mare picked up the colt with her wings and cradled it all the way to her bed. It was a very brave little pony, one that has seen too much at a too young age. But it was not alone. Fluttershy would care for it, at least as long as the Princesses would permit. Maybe she could convince them to be able to take care of the baby more? Or maybe- maybe she could adopt the foal?
These and other thoughts lulled the mare into gentle sleep. Her wings wrapped around the foal and held it tight to her body and between her hooves, all nice and warm. The foal smiled. It's blue eyes sleepily opened a little bit and it looked towards its savior, its new mom.
With a flicker, the little one's bent, black horn lit with a soft green light. The foal zipped its leathery, transparent bug-like wings. It’s tiny little holed hooves tightened the grasp on the Pegasus’ muzzle. It was happy. It was loved. In the most delicious way possible.