With these arrangements decided, every pony gained specific goals to meet by the Equestria Pet Show, and each strove to prepare for what would happen during this important event. And for Twilight and Spike, in particular, it seemed to become less about showing off pets, and more about proving something personal between different ponies.
Spike wanted Twilight to know he could handle Roots, and that the Timberwolf would make a valuable addition to their household.
Meanwhile, Twilight hoped to turn the sphere of pure chaos into an amazing creation to impress her new teacher.
Fluttershy arguably felt the least constrained in her activities, despite the rigorous training schedule planned. For the pegasus delved into her naturalistic research in the hopes of casting Timberwolves as a species in a better light for ponykind to understand, and her passion enlivened more than stressed her out.
***
Fluttershy started her observations almost right after leaving the palace—venturing into the Everfree Forest after a quick stop at her cottage to gather the needed supplies. As Fluttershy had made clear to Spike, she indeed had a lot of knowledge in tracking and watching animals in their natural habitats, and in places many ponies would have thought far more dangerous on first sight than the woods. Yet the pegasus knew from days gone by how even she had used to fear this wild place where the clouds moved on their own, the vegetation grew as it wished, and the animals tended themselves without pony intervention. It had been so strange and peculiar to the young pony.
But time could change many things, as could friendship. And now Fluttershy found she could enter the Everfree Forest without the same worries that had once tormented her so often before. Through various adventures, several of which had happened alongside her dear friends, she had become less afraid of this place. And, in fact, nowadays the forest and creatures appeared to welcome her in an amiable manner—and she had just begun to learn how to communicate with the myriad of animals who resided therein.
This fact was something Fluttershy would have had trouble explaining to any pony, since it made no sense to her as well. However, she appreciated it all the same. So she sought out the Timberwolves who roamed through the undergrowth, by speaking to the birds and other animals who might have some idea of their general romping grounds.
And the birds were able to tell Fluttershy of a few areas where she might discover packs of Timberwolves—in areas even these small friends said they steered clear from due to an odd thickness to the atmosphere. Some deep-rooted instinctual fear kept her woodland friends from moving around these regions too much, excluding the wolves themselves.
It made Fluttershy wonder if these were the “pools of magic” Twilight had come across in their research, and what she might find beyond more information on the Timberwolves.
Having lived in Ponyville a fair portion of her life—after dropping there from Cloudsdale during Summer Flight Camp as a filly—she had heard numerous pony tales about locations in the Everfree Forest where odd occurrences took place, and from which “no pony ever returned.” They were warnings passed on from one generation to the next, and Fluttershy had made note of them all.
And while trekking through the Everfree Forest, following a few of the braver birds towards one of the main Timberwolf hunting grounds, the pegasus ran through a list of the ones she could remember again. There was the cloning pool that had once caused such mayhem in Ponyville with Pinkie Pie, and the region along the outskirts of the Apples’ property—particularly close to where Applejack’s grandmother, Granny Smith, had discovered the Zap Apples that had helped to establish their homestead and business. There were also tales involving a labyrinthine thicket that supposedly had a valuable treasure at its center (yet could get ponies lost forever upon entering it), trees like Venus Flytraps, ponds that could predict the future, and several concerning dangerous creatures as the “headless horse,” and others that had been sealed or laid dormant for centuries.
Tales like the headless horse had probably been made up, although they still terrified Fluttershy despite it all. Having her animal friends nearby, however, as well as Angel Bunny astride her back, made her feel a little better.
And perhaps, if it was true Timberwolves stayed to areas related to such stories and chased ponies away, she might come upon them shortly without getting into too much trouble.
This theory got tested around two hours after Fluttershy had entered the Everfree Forest, where the trees ahead pulled back to reveal a small glade. It looked like a nice place to take a rest, and to perhaps have a snack (since Angel’s tummy was growling).
But the pegasus had not taken two steps into the clearing when the birds shattered, and low growls echoed nearby.
Angel let out a shrill squeak and hid in Fluttershy’s long pink mane, while his owner noted the bright green eyes poking out from the undergrowth.
They were indeed Timberwolves, much larger than Roots and forming a solid pack. Fluttershy half-expected them to lunge forward towards her, and her whole body tensed in readiness.
But instead, a few of the creatures eased out from the vegetation before her—forming what was clearly a sort of wall between Fluttershy and the glade. They were still growling, and the pegasus took a step back, yet the pack only continued to consider her.
And then, one Timberwolf, slightly larger with a bit of a limp (due to a leg formed from a particularly knobby branch) came forward.
This, Fluttershy guessed, must be the leader of the pack.
“I’m ever so sorry for intruding in your territory” Fluttershy addressed the leader, and then decided (since they were indeed listening to her) to test her idea. “Is there something dangerous up ahead?”
The Timberwolf nodded his mighty head and gave a low bark to the other pack members. Their wall parted enough for Fluttershy to see the glade clearly, and one from among the pack kicked a stone out upon the ground.
It sank at once, almost like an ice cube dropped into hot tea.
Angel practically fainted, and Fluttershy gasped.
“Thank you!” Fluttershy exclaimed, looking around at the gathered Timberwolves. “I’ll make sure to take a note of this right away.”
With this, it seemed a certain spell had been broken, and the Timberwolves moved off deeper into the Everfree Forest.
The pegasus thought to call after them, so she could perhaps ask more questions. But something told her the Timberwolves were not yet ready for anything like an interview, and Fluttershy understood she had to respect those wishes.
But that didn’t mean Fluttershy couldn’t follow and observe them.
This encounter was one of many Fluttershy had in the Everfree Forest, and which she related to Spike during their afternoon training session.
Spike came to the cottage, like clockwork, at noon—tugged along by Roots and followed by Owlicious, who held a rubber ball in case the young Timberwolf got out of hoof. They had lunch together inside, and over the warm meal Fluttershy shared her notes, and the dragon made a copy of them so they might have another record in case some incident should befall the first set. This was an undertaking Spike carried out with great skill, having had years of experience scribing Twilight’s thoughts and letters to Princess Celestia.
Although, even then, Spike took several pauses to comment on the adventure Fluttershy had had.
“So the Timberwolves must be protecting ponies from dangerous places in the Everfree Forest.” The dragon beamed after Fluttershy had told him about her initial encounter. “In their own way, that is. That means they’re noble, just like me. You know, since they take their duties very seriously and all. Just wait until Twilight hears about this!”
At this point, Angel Bunny gagged and hopped from the room, not being the biggest fan of Timberwolves or Spike (unfortunately, in
Fluttershy’s mind).
***
Whenever Spike looked back on the events of that week, the stories Fluttershy told about her encounters would stand as stalwart reminders in his head of the skill and mastery over various creatures his pegasus friend had achieved. He had seen samples of her prowess in this area many times before, but now the fact seemed highlighted that the often socially awkward yet sweet Fluttershy could be quite courageous and assertive in her own right. Sometimes, the dragon would imagine himself traveling along by her side during those tales, and facing down huge Timberwolves without batting a lash (a metaphor that often caused his mind to digress to the love of his life, the beauty that was Rarity).
In fact, on that first day Spike had began to sink into a daydream about Rarity—
When Fluttershy announced it was time to begin their training, which actually disrupted Spike’s stupor.
Much of the instruction that day involved learning how to connect with animals by being sensitive to their needs and wants—and to help them come to trust and listen to their owners. It sounded so easy to do, yet Spike now understood it could be a challenge.
Fluttershy also often stressed that Spike needed to treat each animal as an individual.
Roots, for instance, loved to play with balls and explore. And while Spike watched, Fluttershy indulged in a game of fetch with the Timberwolf—somehow managing to throw it high into the air, where Roots leapt up with a hearty bound to catch it.
Spike thought it no wonder Timberwolf could have overpowered Spike enough to pull him as she had through town. It was almost like she could fly.
Then his gaze wandered over to a nearby tree, where Owlicious sat upon one of the branches with the ball he had brought. And the owl, in almost a casual way, tossed up the rubber ball and balanced it upon his head—before turning his neck in just such a manner that the ball rolled down along his wing.
Wow.
Spike couldn’t help but gawk at this. Owlicious really could be incredible, and he had helped out a lot with Roots.
“Hey, Owlicious.” Spike said, and the owl easily caught the ball in one talon. “Want to play a little fetch too?”
In answer, Owlicious soared up and dropped the ball. Spike caught it, and soon began two fond games of fetch. The dragon had never played fetch with Owlicious before, and the pair had so much fun Spike almost forgot it was supposed to be practice for when he would do the same thing with Roots. For Roots, herself, seemed to be having a good time and appeared somewhat reluctant to leave the place once Fluttershy announced their session was over for the day.
Spike noticed this, and a small tingle of doubt entered him.
But Owlicious managed to coax Roots towards home with the ball, and the Timberwolf obeyed.
***
Meanwhile, Twilight had begun to practice her skills upon the pure chaos. But she found it difficult, once again, to call upon the magic first used to turn the square into a sphere. Concentrating on the bonds forged between her friends did bring the magic to the surface, yet thoughts of Spike and the Timberwolf research they had done kept interfering with that focus. The alicorn princess tended to become involved in anything that required further study or had gaps—and she kept worrying a scene such as the kind that had taken place the other day would happen again.
Aside from this, however, Twilight soon discovered the choice of what to change the sphere into caused as much of a problem as her innate curiosity. She would have a concept in mind and reach the point where her magic would radiate about the sphere—only to have another thought on something that might be better ruin the whole thing. And each attempt was draining. The pony had to take breaks.
And it was while one such break that Twilight peered out the window, catching sight of Spike weaving his way through Ponyville. She saw Owlicious gliding in front, with Roots eagerly following him (probably due to the rubber ball, once more).
Yet what caught Twilight’s attention most was the way Spike was talking to Owlicious as they neared the front of the palace.
“Thanks for all your help again, Owlicious.” Twilight heard Spike say.
“Who.” Owlicious returned.
“Yes, you.” Spike replied. “Although, those moves weren’t so bad either. Why didn’t you tell me you could dive-bomb and catch a ball two inches from the ground?”
“Who.”
“Come on. There’s no need to be modest. You were great!”
Twilight listened to this exchange, shaking her head in wonderment—and with a small smile crossing her lips.