Being an Angel

(Ten years before Friendship is Magic)

As young filly Applejack walked down the orchard, following her big brother Macintosh. Closely observing how to buck the apple trees without destroying the trunk (or breaking a back leg) she saw something move from under the trunk of a fallen tree that had yet to have been cleaned up from a storm a few days ago. She ignored it thinking ‘It’s most likely just a raccoon.’ She re-focused her attention on Big Mac while he was demonstrating how to buck a tree. She than heard a small whimper, like whatever was under that trunk was hurt. Big Mac seemed to have noticed it too as he stopped in mid buck asking AJ.

”Was that y’all?”

AJ shook her head no and looked at the trunk. As Big Mac approached the trunk with caution as to not knowing what was underneath it, AJ close behind him. He lifted the trunk slowly as to not spook whatever was under it. When he moved the trunk enough for AJ to see what was under there, she saw a young colt that looked to be younger than her curled up in a ball. As she looked closer she noticed he had his cutie mark and was also covered mane to tail in scratches and bruises. The first thing to come to her mind was ‘Strange’ as she stared at his cutie mark of a pair of angel wing protruding from a red cross. He was a white pony, with what looked to be dreadlocks for a mane and tail style; but were coming undone from being unkempt. His mane looked to be black with blond streaks in it, but it was difficult to tell because of so much dirt and filth. The first thing she said came out in the sweetest and most soft voice to ever be uttered by any pony

“A-are y’all alright?”

He looked up at her with puffy red eyes and evident fear on his face.

“P-please d-don’t hit me l-like the others.”

He tried backing up in a ball that made him look smaller than physically possible. A wave of shock rose on AJ’s face, not sure what to do, she looked to her brother and said “Go get granny, she might know what to do.”

As Big Mac ran back to the farm to get their granny, AJ looked at the little colt “What’s yer name, lil’un?” He was still looking at her with fear on his face.

“S-Saving A-Angel.” He said while scooting back as AJ laid down to show him she did not want to do anything harmful to him.

“Who or what hurt y’all like that?” AJ said in a loving voice.

“I-I can’t t-tell anyone he’ll g-get mad again.” He said trying to make himself into an even smaller ball.

As Big Mac ran up into the farm house to get their granny, AJ was still trying to get some information from the colt like where he was from, who his parents were, how long he’s been out here and how he got his cutie mark at such a young age.

When Granny Smith finally got there AJ was able to get close enough to the young colt to comfort him and make sure that he was not hurt too bad; AJ told her granny what she had learned from the colt. As AJ carefully carried the colt to the hospital with Big Mac; the colt was shaking furiously, from a mixture being cold and fear. He said that it had been five days since he got lost from his parents and four days since he gained his cutie mark, he said that he was just walking through the Everfree Forest when there was a bright light and a sharp needle like pain on both his flanks.

As they walked into the hospital, the young colt started to shake even worse; he was shaking so bad that AJ was having a hard time caring him. She looked back at him and said very loving-ly “Are y’all okay?” He looked at her like he was trying to cry but did not have any tears left and said “I-I don’t like h-hospitals, I’m always told t-to lie and say that I-I was hurt playing when I-I wasn’t.” That sentence, the sentence that was just uttered out of that colt’s mouth; it had broken her heart. She stopped in mid stride and looked at him with a face of shock, fear and deep, deep sorrow for the little colt curled up on her back. She thought as she continued walking to the desk ‘Who could have done this to this lil colt.’ Her thought was soon interrupted by the mare behind the desk, a mare known for working at the hospital and was the nicest mare to work there; her name was Nurse Red Heart. “What can I do to help you little filly?” she said with a nice calming voice that seemed like it could put even the most hyper pink mare to sleep.

“U-um, yes, I found this lil’un in my family’s apple orchard and was wandering if y’all could make sure he’s not too hurt.” AJ said still semi sidetracked by her thoughts.

“Okay, well follow me to the room and we’ll check out the little colt.” said Nurse Red Heart.

Following the nurse, AJ was still trying to reassure the little colt that the hospital is okay and he needs to tell her the truth no matter what he has been told in the past. AJ was saying that it will be okay and he does not have to worry about anyone hurting him. Setting Saving Angel down on the table he said

“P-please don’t leave m-me, you’re t-the only pony who has been nice to m-me.”

With that being said AJ sat down next to him on the hospital bed, making sure that he is okay and that he knows she will not leave him. As the nurse looked over Saving Angel, she said that he was fine just some minor bruising and slight cuts that will heal in a couple of days. While the nurse was taking saving’s blood pressure and temperature; AJ noticed something on his back. When AJ took a closer look, she saw that he was missing his left wing. AJ said something to Nurse Red Heart and she looked over his wing; she said it was a birth defect and he had apparently had it since before he was even born. When Nurse Red Heart was done looking him over AJ took the colt and placed him on her back where he snuggled up into a ball and fell to sleep. She looked at him like a mother looks at a foal, not understanding why because she is just so young; she should not feel this way at this age but cannot stop herself from enjoying this feeling of love.