A door appeared among the dense foliage. It opened, and the small form of a sleeping animal flopped out. The door slammed shut and disappeared.
Fluttershy hated going into the Everfree. Still, every once in a while it was necessary to make the journey, for herbs absent from the shops and carts of Ponyville. On these rare treks through the forest, Fluttershy always tried to get in and out as quickly as possible. Thanks to some herbal maps Zecora had given her, the length of the trips had been mercifully cut down.
Fluttershy trotted home at a brisk pace through the woods, a medicinal pouch draped over one of her wings. The pouch contained uncommon but extremely useful fauna she'd collected thanks to Zecora's recommendation. The plant cured most ailments, and a batch this big would probably last her until next spring.
She only had about two more miles left to walk now. Thank Celestia for that. When she got home, she was going to take a nice hot bath. She felt she deserved it after spending the last few hours attending to the monotonous (not to mention dangerous) chore of stocking up on plants in the Everfree. Yes, a bath was just what the doctor or–
Somepony was crying. Somepony was alone in the woods, crying.
Fluttershy stifled a shriek of surprise. Who in Equestria would be out here on their own (ignoring the fact that she was, in fact, out here on her own)? She looked around, searching for the direction of the melancholy sound, all thoughts focused on finding whoever was sobbing. She finally triangulated the source of the crying and began walking slowly in that direction. It would be best not to surprise whoever was weeping.
Fluttershy drew close to the origin of the sound, a clearing just through a patch of bushes. She hesitated, then poked her head over the bush to see whoever might need her comfort.
It wasn't pony. It sounded like pony, but it wasn't. It was some sort of... dog? No, not a dog. Raccoon? Not quite... what was it? Fluttershy wracked her brain for some identifying attribute of the animal before her, but couldn't. She prided herself on knowing everything about animals. How could she not–
Fluttershy stopped herself mid-thought. This wasn't the time critique her animal cataloguing skills, now was the time to comfort the poor... thing.
She tiphoofed forward. The thing's eye's were closed, tears streaming out from eyelids screwed shut. Even as she crept onward to provide solace for the creature, she couldn't help but notice how cute it was. An inappropriate thought considering its current condition, but she couldn't help it. It was cute.
Before long she side by side with the creature. She laid down next to it, then patted its back with a gossamer touch.
"There there, it's gonna be okay..."
The creature's head jerked up, startled. Moisture still ran down the thing's face. It looked at her, and Fluttershy gasped.
Its eyes! Golden rings circled the perimeter of its strangely intelligent gaze. They were beautiful. Yet, they were undeniably sad. No, not just sad, those eyes conveyed a torrent of emotions: confusion, pain, mourning. Seeing such a combination made Fluttershy want to start crying herself. Despite this, Fluttershy stayed resolute. She needed to get the creature back to her cottage.
"Alright, come here little guy." She lifted the creature with care, and placed him on her back. Its eyes looked on her with something more now. Gratitude, perhaps?
She stood up. "My name's Fluttershy. I'm gonna take you home and get you something to eat, okay?" She walked forward carefully, so as not to spill her passenger, and resumed her journey home. "We'll head on back to my cottage, make sure you're healthy, and get you settled. How does that sound?"
"Ound."
Fluttershy almost tripped over her own hooves. "Wh-who was that?"
"Oy," the animal responded.
"Y-you can t-talk?" stuttered Fluttershy.
"Alk! Oy alk!" said the creature.
"Oh, w-wow! I've never met a talking animal before!" Now she wanted to know more than ever what this creature was. She quickened her pace, homeward bound.
The cottage was brimming with life as she entered. Many of its occupants stood to greet their caretaker, but back off quickly when they realized she carried a passenger. New animals often elicited much of their caretaker's attention.
Although Fluttershy wanted to take care of the animal as soon as possible, she knew she'd need to put away the herbs she'd gathered first, otherwise her furry friends might get into them. These particular herbs were dangerous in large enough doses, so she wasted no time in locking them in the cupboard.
She set the creature into a bundle of towels she arranged on couch, forming a sort of nest. The animal got up and circled the towel-bed, pawed at it a bit, then sat back down. Its inquisitive gold eyes focused on Fluttershy with quiet intensity. While this wasn't quite unnerving, it certainly added a level of discomfort to Fluttershy's already busy mind.
Ignoring the staring creature, she flapped across the cottage to the bookshelf. She stacked a few volumes of animal encyclopedias in her hooves and carried them to the nearby cozy chair. She sat down and began flipping through the first one.
"Time to find out what you are..."
"Are," yawned the thing.
"That's right. But never you mind, just get some rest," Fluttershy cooed. "When you wake up, I'll have a nice meal ready for you, I promise!"
"Meal," it agreed.
She went back to the book, flipping through it for any clues to animal's origin or species. She scanned the illustrations and photographs for a familiar looking image, and perused the index for helpful descriptions.
Two hours and a stack of books later, Fluttershy was no closer to finding what she wanted. She sighed and set down the final volume, deciding to make the supper she'd promised, as well as for the rest of the animals and herself.
While she didn't strictly know the creature's diet, she could infer a bit from its appearance. It was about the size of a dog, and looked like a combination between that, a raccoon, and maybe a woodchuck. All of this, in addition to its somewhat sharp teeth, pointed to it being an omnivore.
It also had a corkscrew tail, although Fluttershy could infer little from that.
She made up some chopped pieces of mouse mixed in edible leaves in a personal dish for the creature. She'd long since gotten over carnivorous behavior. It was simply nature.
She made a couple bowls of leaves for the herbivores and dishes of meat for the carnivores. Omnivores could go between as they pleased. The rest of her animal's shared food, but the new patient could have a private meal tonight.
Fluttershy had just begun on her daisy sandwich when she felt a light tap on her hoof. She looked down to find Angel Bunny, pointing into the other room. Fluttershy left her sandwich and hurried into the living room.
She found the new creature squirming in its towels, breathing heavily and whining a whistley moan. It was having a nightmare. As she got closer, she could hear it mumbling under its breath.
"Ake... no Ake, no... Ake..." Tears streamed once more down it's face.
Fluttershy considered its words. Ache... no ache. Was it hurt? No, she would've seen it, recognized it earlier. Maybe it was reliving a past injury? If this creature had the intelligence its speech suggested, that could be it. But how to help it?
Fluttershy settled down on the couch next to her patient, cuddling up against it, gently enough that it wouldn't wake.
"Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed..."
The creature's thrashing slowed, then stopped entirely. Its mumbling became harder and harder to hear, until it too ceased. The thing resumed its peaceful slumber.
Fluttershy returned to kitchen without a sound, finished her sandwich, and delivered supper to her animal friends. She placed the new creature's meal on the couch.
"Please leave his meal alone, and try not to make to much noise. I think he's going to need his sleep. If he wakes up and you think he needs something, come get me."
The animals nodded their affirmation, and Fluttershy went off to get the bath she'd promised herself. After half an hour of soaking, she got out, dried off, and checked on her new ward. Once she knew he was okay, she trotted over to the stairs and... turned around. She laid down on the couch next to the creature, nuzzling up next to it to keep it warm.
The thing opened it's eyes briefly, looked over the sleeping mare, the closed its eyes once more, content for the moment.
"Ake..."
Fluttershy blinked awake, the already half remembered dreams
doors and roses
fading entirely with the rising of the sun. She turned to her newest ward and found the towel-bed empty, along with last night's food bowl. He was eating. That was a good sign.
Fluttershy stretched and got to her hooves, heading to the kitchen to make herself breakfast, the usual piece of toast with a jam spread. Her meal complete, she went about making her animals' morning meal, much the same menu from the previous night. She scattered the bowls of food around the cottage for her animals to eat as they pleased. She couldn't help but notice as she placed them that the creature from yesterday was nowhere to be found.
Not that she was worried. Based on the thing's condition and its willingness to come with her, she doubted it had left. Maybe it was exploring outside.
She stepped outside into the early morning sunshine, relishing the damp air and chirping tunes of the songbirds through the lush trees. Morning was her favorite time; it was a time when the whole world felt clean and rejuvenated. Whatever happened yesterday, or last week, or last month didn't matter. Today anything might happen. A fresh start. The thought always comforted her.
She found the creature at the edge of the Everfree, its high pitched cries punctuating the quiet tranquility of the morning with harsh questions.
"Ake? Olan? Suze? Eddie? Ake? AKE!?"
That word, the one it kept repeating, "Ake", was laced with desperate longing. Hearing the emotion behind the cries brought with them a sudden realization.
Not ache. Ake. Ake must've been his friend, or mate. Somehow, this poor creature had been separated from its friend, and now he missed them. Then another thought struck her. I don't even know this little guy's name!
Fluttershy flittered down beside the melancholy animal and ran a comforting hoof through its fur. The creature ceased its yelling and stared at her, curiosity defining its strange golden eyes.
"Shy?" it asked.
It remembered her name. It remembered her name from yesterday. Fluttershy could only recall saying her name once. If this creature was that smart, if it could understand speech that well... maybe it could answer questions as well as ask them.
"What your name, little guy?" she cooed, hoping to coax a response.
The creature hesitated, as if debating its next move, then replied, "Oy."
He'd said that yesterday too. "Oy alk."
"Oy," she repeated. And to her awe and delight, Oy nodded.
Fluttershy tapped the front door of the Golden Oaks Library.
There was a shuffle of footsteps, a quick reply of "Coming!", more shuffling, and a series of crashes. After about a minute, the door was opened by a dazed purple dragon.
"Oh, hey Fluttershy, and... friend..."
"His name's Oy," corrected Fluttershy. "And actually, he's why I'm here. Is Twilight home?"
Spike shook his head. "No, but she should be back soon. You can wait inside. Just keep... Oy... under control. Twilight would kill me if it ate any books."
Fluttershy giggled. "Oh, I don't think he'll do that. Thank you, Spike."
"No problem," he replied, guiding her to a nearby table.
Fluttershy sat down, Oy dangling around her neck. "What was that crash we heard?" she inquired.
"Oh, that? I tripped over some boxes. We got a new shipment of books from the Canterlot branch. We're gonna need to reshelve soon."
"Shelve?" asked Oy.
"Yeah, sort in the new books with the old. Maybe take some of spare cop– Woah! Did... did that... did Oy just talk?"
Fluttershy smiled. "That's why I'm here. None of my animal catalogs had anything about him, or any talking animals. I thought Twilight might have something."
"That's so cool! Say something else, little guy!"
"Guy."
"That's awesome."
The door opened and shut. "What's awesome?"
Spike ran over to Twilight. "Twi, you gotta see this! Fluttershy's got a new pet that talks!"
Twilight smirked, setting down her shopping bags being held in her magic. "Spike, I think you're overreacting. Animal's can't talk."
"Alk."
"Sweet Celestia, did that thing just talk?" gaped Twilight. Fluttershy nodded. "That's amazing! I've never seen anything like it! I mean, I know you can communicate with animals, but a non-equine, griffon, or draconic lifeform using our language is unheard of! What is it? Where'd you find it? Why didn't you come to me with this earlier?"
Fluttershy eeped at the sudden enthusiasm. "Uhm... I don't know what he is. That's why I brought him here."
Twilight frowned. "Really. I gave you some of the most extensive flora and fauna books for your birthday last year. You couldn't find this little guy in them?"
She shook her head.
"Alright. Where'd you find him? And when?"
"Yesterday, in the Everfree forest, on my way back from picking herbs. He was by himself, crying."
"Well, whatever he is, he's not indigenous to the Everfree. I memorized the species that live there, and nothing matches his characteristics. I suppose he could be a creature that was altered magically, some kind of chimera. But I'm jumping to conclusions. I'll look through a couple animal encyclopedias. Oh, what are we calling him, by the way?"
"He calls himself Oy."
"Oy," agreed Oy.
"Fascinating."
"Hey Twi?"
"Yes Spike?"
"I think you might be over-thinking this a bit. He's a talking animal, right?"
"Yes..."
"So just ask him what he is!"
Twilight blinked. "Right in my face. Stupid of me." She shook her head. "Spike's right. Let's ask him a few questions. Is that alright, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy nodded.
"Great. Then lets get started," Twilight said. She settled down in a chair, and Fluttershy took another, allowing Oy to remain on her back. "Let's see... okay, Oy, if you can, could you please tell us what kind of creature you are?"
Oy looked at Twilight, golden eyes flashing. "Umble."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Mumble?"
Oy shook his head. "No. Umble."
"Tumble?"
"Umble blur."
"Umbleblur?"
"Ill umble blur."
Fluttershy giggled. "I think that might be all we can get for that one."
"That's still pretty impressive in my book," commented Spike.
Twilight nodded in agreement. "Okay... where are you from? Or rather, where did you come from?"
Oy remained silent for a minute or so, obviously thinking. "Ose. Ower. Door."
Twilight frowned. "That's still pretty tricky. So... let's see, ower, ower... tower?"
"Es."
Twilight beamed. "Tower! Yes! Okay, and I guess door means door."
"Es."
"Great! Now, that leaves ose... stop me when I hit it. Glows, rose–"
"Es! Ose!" Oy barked.
"Rose, tower, door..." Twilight repeated. She shook her head in confusion. "I've never heard of anyplace like that. I'll have to get back to you on that one, Fluttershy."
"It's no problem, Twilight. Take all the time you need."
"Thanks. Still, I'll try to have it soon."
Fluttershy left a few hours later, having enjoyed the rest of the morning talking with Twilight and Spike, speculating on what the creature, the 'Ill umble blur', was, and where it had come from. Not much progress had been made, despite Twilight looking through a number of old bestiaries. Fluttershy wasn't worried. She knew Twilight would find something sooner or later. She wasn't one to give up easily. With the small animal perched on her back, she headed for home, content that, for now, at least, it could rest and be content there.
For now, at least.
