It was a beautiful day in Ponyville for Fluttershy, much like every other day. In fact, it was so beautiful that she decided to go for a walk in the nearby forest next to her cottage. She’d never tell anypony that she would walk through the Everfree at times, it was dangers whether you’re with others or by yourself, that’s why she would never wander in too far.
She always felt at a strange ease whenever walking through the forest, perhaps because all the animals dominated it. She liked animals more than ponies sometimes, but her friends were always her favorite ponies and most relaxing to be around.
A red bird swoops down to her as quick as an ace flyer. “Oh, hello, is something wrong?” She asks her winged friend. It was a familiar one that would always stop by her place for some free food from time to time. It chirped and flapped violently, like it was trying to warn her of something. “Is someone hurt? That’s terrible, please, take me to them instantly.” She demanded sweetly, as though she was able to communicate with it.
It lead the way farther into the forest. Fearlessly, she charged in, if an animal was hurt she could not stand by and do nothing about it.
The bird lead her into a wide clearing where trees split apart in a large circle. In the center of this clearing she could see white bundle laying there, on moving. The bird flies towards the white thing and stops mid way to make sure Fluttershy is still following.
“Oh my,” she gasps approaching it. What lay down before her was none other than a white wolf. And not like a timberwolf that live inside the forest, but an actual wolf. She had never seen one before in her life, but always wanted to. She could tell from how its body slowly moved up and down that it was breathing, but that’s what worried her. Its breathing was slow and ragged, she put her hoof against its forehead and found it to be much hotter than expected. “Oh you poor thing, you must have over exhausted yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll get you home.”
But how was she to do it? It looked just about her own size, if not bigger, and she knew she wasn’t very strong physically. But as luck would have it, she spots a friend that is much bigger and stronger than her.
“Excuse me, over here.” The bear perks his head up and strolled over to her. “Could you please carry this wolf to my home. He’s not feeling well.” The bear sniffs the wolf, curious itself as it’s never seen a real wolf before. He picks up the wolf and follows Fluttershy to her home where she can nurse it back to health.
“Excuse us. Please move. Make way please.” She says to her animal friends littering her floor. They do as asked and part ways to give the bear room to walk. “Place him on the bed, I’ll be there shortly. Can you put this on his forehead?” She gives the red bird that lead her to the wolf a bag of ice to help cool his fever.
Many animals crowd around the wolf, curious for seeing a real one for the first time. Fluttershy was mixing a herbal liquid together in the meantime. The animals quickly get out of her way as she moves to her bed to give the wolf the medicine. His mouth lops open as she tilts his head forward to give him the drink. Some of the green substance spills out from between his sharp teeth, but she still manages to get him to drink.
Before even pouring half of the drink into his mouth, the wolf’s eyes open wide. He then springs out the open window next to the bed and yells out a single word: “WATER!”
Many animals run and hide, scared by the sudden outburst. Fluttershy, meanwhile, sits on her bed, still processing the event that just transpired. When her brain finally catches up to speed she quickly trots across the room and opens the door where she can see the wolf drinking out of the stream next to her home, his face completely submerged.
“That’s much better.” He huffs in between breaths as he finishes drinking his fill. “What in Nima’s name was that?”
“Um, a herbal mixture that suppose to help you regain your strength.” The wolf looks to Fluttershy as she makes herself known, two feathers hooked to his right ear swing around.
“Truly miss?” Fluttershy nods her head, slightly uncomfortable around the wolf. Not because it’s a carnivore, but because it can make social interactions with her like a normal pony. “Then I suppose that would explain for the foul taste it left in my mouth.” Two fish drop at his paws, delivered to him by a pair of ferrets.
“You looked exhausted, so I thought that you’d be hungry when you woke. I asked my friends here to get you something to eat.” Fluttershy was possibly the only pony who was least squeamish when it comes to carnivores. It was difficult at first for her, but as time moved on and she met more carnivorous and omnivorous type animals, she came to understand that meat was as necessary for some as flowers and oats were for here. Though she always did feel bad for what was being eaten.
“How’d you find me?” The wolf asks in between bites of the first fish, which was nearly gone.
“This bird lead me to you inside the forest, you were passed out. You over-exhausted yourself.” The bird that she was talking about flies around her and then in front of the wolf.
“Well friend, it seem you’ve saved my life. I suppose that means your debt is cleared.” The bird chirps in glee and flies off, happy more out of modesty for helping than for it’s slate to be cleaned. “And as for you miss, it seems you have fed me saved my own life. Now my life is in debt to you and shall forever be until I have repaid you.”
“Oh no, that’s unnecessary. I just wanted to help you, you owe me nothing., a simple act of kindness really.” Fluttershy replies, not wanting anyone indebted to her.
“I am sorry miss, kindness or not, it is upon wolf law that I must repay someone outside the pack in full equal to which they have given to me. And I implore you to accept, otherwise you would be tarnishing my honour if I do not do this.”
“Oh, well if that’s the case, then I suppose there is something you can do for me.” Fluttershy realizes, not wanting to be the one to harm his honour. “How about you tell me your name first.”
The wolf finishes the second fish and washes the blood from his mouth, cleaning the red stains. “I am Wind Blue-Eyes, member of the pack ColdFur and one of four Moon Stalkers to our alpha, Silent Shade. You may simply call me Wind for short. A pleasure to meet you miss.” He finishes his galant introduction with a bow of his head.
“Um, I’m Fluttershy, resident of Ponyville and I look after animals. You can just call me Fluttershy.” It was a failed attempt of making her own introduction as elegant as Wind’s.
“Well then, miss Fluttershy, what assistance may I aid you in?”
“Well I don’t have anything that needs taking care of anymore today. But I was planning to meet Rarity at the spa for our usual get together.”
“Then allow me to escort you there and look out for your safety. It would be but a small part of the favor.” Wind stand tall, the light of the sun shining on his fur. He looked so noble like that, like a knight.
“I see no harm in that.” She answers thinking that it would cause no harm. Wind follows close beside her as the two walk towards the town.
“Miss Fluttershy,” Wind speaks up. “What exactly is a spa?”
The yellow pegasus looks to him with a quizzical look. “You’ve never heard of one? Don’t they have spa’s where you come from?”
“No ma’am, life is not so simple like your own. I’ve travel from far from the northern mountains where the wind bites hard and winter never ends. Wolves have no need of towns or homes, we only need each other. Our home is with one another. Now, back to my question.”
“Oh yes, well a spa is a place where ponies go to relax, clean themselves, and in Rarity’s case, keep yourself young.” Fluttershy answers.
“So you would call this a place of safety?”
“Yes,” She was curious about Wind, how could a creature that can speak and be able to reason live so harshly? She notices that his attention no longer ison her, but on their surroundings. His ears are perked up to their full length, and he looks like he is on scouting for danger. “Is something wrong?”
“The residents, they seem to cower in my presence.” Fluttershy looks around their surroundings and notices that the townsfolk keep a far distance from them as well as mutter indecipherably while looking at them. “Sorry about that, the ponies here have never seen a real wolf before, so they don’t know how to react around you. Though don’t take it the wrong way, Zecora had the same problem, but we’ve all come to accept her.”
“And who might this Zecora be? Another creature not indigenous to this place?”
“Yes, she’s a zebra. She looks much like a pony, but has black and white stripes. She always says things from her homeland, but never tells us where it is.” Fluttershy opens the door to the spa where they see Rarity sitting on a chair reading a magazine.
“There you are Fluttershy. You know I was beginning to think you weren’t comaaaAAAHHHH!” She screams at the sight of Wind. “Fluttershy, there’s a-a-a-a-” She stammers lowering her voice to a whisper.
“I know Rarity, he’s with me. Rarity, I’d like you to meet Wind Blue-Eyes. I found him passed out in the Everfree, and helped him back to health. Wind, this is my good friend Rarity.” The shy mare introduces the two of them. Rarity, usually ready to make proper introductions, was all too confused to do anything.
“A pleasure to meet you miss Rarity.” Wind bows his head just as he did when introducing himself to Fluttershy.
“Likewise,” Now seeing that Rarity has faith that wolf would not attack from her dear friend, she has regained some of her composure. “Well Fluttershy, I think enough time has been wasted. Maybe we should get into the tub right now.” Before being able to agree with her, Fluttershy was grabbed by the arm and practically dragged out of the waiting room.
Having no choice but to trust Fluttershy’s judgement, Wind does the only thing he feels is necessary: sit next to the door the two mares entered and patiently wait.
“Fluttershy, are you mad? Bringing a wolf into town. What were you thinking?” Rarity demands of her friend as the two soak in the pool alone.
“Well, it wasn’t by choice, he insisted that he escort me here safely. You see, I found him inside the Everfree passed out and couldn’t just leave him there. So I had help getting him to my home and nursed him back to health. Apparently his life is indebted to me because I saved him. I don’t want him owing me anything, but it would be hurting his honour if I didn’t accept.”
“Wait a minute, not only did you show him where you live and now he’s your servant, but you went into the Everfree forest, alone?” Fluttershy shrinks just realizing that she let her secret slip. “Darling what were you thinking? You know that place is dangerous. And now you’ve brought a resident of it to your home? The only wolves we’ve ever seen are timberwolves, and they weren’t very friendly.”
“Actually, Wind isn’t a resident of the Everfree. He comes from the far north. I think somewhere near the Crystal Empire.” She corrects the white and purple mare. “But Rarity, there’s no need to be so protective. I trust Wind.”
“Darling, what do you even know about him?”
“I know that he is from the far north where it’s always winter. And Zecora his lifestyle is different than what we’re used to.”
“But do you know anything personal of him?”
“He said that he’s from the pack Cold Fur, one of four Moon Stalkers, and he seems rather fond of his honour.” Fluttershy didn’t want to admit it so straight forward, but she knew nothing of Wind.
“Sweetheart, this is your problem: you’re too trusting. You’ll instantly look at the good in somepony and believe that’s all there is. I’m not saying that’s such a bad thing, but you should also be wary of them, look for things that could potentially make them dangerous and see if those points are real.”
“What about Discord? None of you had any faith that there was any good in him. But I was able to prove that wrong.” Rarity did realize that Fluttershy did have a point. Rarity and her friends were ready to turn Discord back to stone the moment he even breathed the wrong way, but Fluttershy always tried looking for the good. And she eventually found it.
“Very well Fluttershy, you have me there. I will give Wind a chance and not judge him so hastily. But I won’t think that there isn’t anything bad he can do. But please, do ask him more of his personal life.”
“Thank you Rarity, that means a lot to me.” The pink maned mare beams.
“Now, what is this deal of him calling you miss Fluttershy?”
Author's Note
Special Thank to ArtCreatesIdeas for volunteering to make a cover art.
“Well, he certainly sounds like a gentlecolt,” Rarity relaxes in the sauna after hearing everything Fluttershy had to tell about Wind. “Such a shame he’s a wolf though.”
“It’s not so bad Rarity, I don’t mind it.” Her meek friend replies.
“Well, I think that’s enough time. Perhaps we should leave now, I’m sure Wind would like to leave as well.” The two mares hand the spa’s items back to Aloe. Both sister’s normally appeared at this time, but only the pink twin arrived to assist Fluttershy and Rarity. They were told that her sister, Lotus, was caring to a ‘special guest’.
As the pink spa pony escorts them out into the lobby, Fluttershy notes that Wind is nowhere to be seen. “Did Wind leave?”
“No, Wind didn’t leave.” They hear the wolf’s voice from behind a pair of red curtains. Aloe, with the assistance of her now present twin sister, Lotus, pull the curtains back to reveal the renowned wolf. Rarity’s eyes sparkled as she gazed upon his new appearance.
His once mangy fur was combed and trimmed to a sleek and dazzling appearance. Light shone off him like a the sun would in the small ripples of water. His belly and legs were shaved to close whiskers, while his chest still looked puffy and full.
“My, you look absolutely outstanding Wind.” Rarity said to him breathlessly.
“If anyone from my pack saw what happened to me, I would be made a mockery.” Was the only thing he could say in reply to her.
“He refused to allow us to file his claws.” Lotus informs the others.
“I keep telling you miss Lotus, a wolf must not allow his tools to dull, otherwise he runs the risk of losing a battle.” He huffs. “*A-choo* Miss Fluttershy, are you going to be any longer here? I’m beginning to feel light headed with all the strange smells in the place. Not to mention miss Lotus and miss Aloe started spraying weird scents on me.”
“If you didn’t like the fragrances then you should have told us sooner.” Aloe interjects.
“Don’t worry Wind, we’re leaving now.” Rarity stops her yellow friend from pulling out her coin purse.
“Allow me to pay this time Fluttershy, I feel it’s the least I can do for judging Wind so quickly.” The purple maned marshmallow levitates bits out of her own coin purse and gives the payment to the sisters.
“Come again anytime.” The twins say in unison. Wind felt much better stepping out and breathing in the fresh air. It truly was difficult for him to stay in such a place.
“Well, I best be off back to the boutique.” Rarity says. “It was nice meeting you Wind, I hope to see you around more. Oh, and Fluttershy,” she pulls her shy friend closer to keep Wind out of earshot. “Remember, ask him a bit of his life. Don’t back out.” Fluttershy nods understanding what Rarity was getting at. They said their goodbyes to one another and left in opposite directions.
“Are we going back to your home, miss Fluttershy?” Wind asks as the two walk side-by-side.
“No, I thought we’d go to the park.” The pegasus was having a difficult time trying to ask him questions. She’s not the straight and forward type that simply asks something out of the blue. She didn’t know how to ask him so blatantly.
“Miss Fluttershy, may I ask you something?” She looks up into Wind’s blue eyes, why would he ask her something? Though she was relieved that she had something that allowed her to avoid something she was uncomfortable with doing.
“Sure, what is it?”
“Why were you given the name ‘Fluttershy’?” She looks at him quizzically. What sort of question is that? “Is it because you flutter when in flight? And you don’t seem very shy. You are very comfortable with me, a total stranger, yet I have not seen you back away from something.”
“Well, I never really asked my parents that question. But you’re wrong about me not being shy, truth is, I’m very shy about things, especially when meeting new ponies.” She answers. “The only reason why I’m more comfortable around you is because I first thought of you as an animal, and that’s more or less how I still think of you. No offense! I-I don’t mean that you’re just an animal, I-I-I.”
“It’s quite all right miss Fluttershy. I understand, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” She lets go a relaxed sigh. Even though he said she didn’t have to be embarrassed, that doesn’t mean she didn’t feel like she wasn’t.
“Why did you ask me why my parents named?”
“Just your parents named you? No one else?” His ears perk in surprise at this bit of information.
“Of course, didn’t yours?”
“No, my name was given to me by my pack when I earned my place.” He explains. “Names are more so titles upon acts we’ve made rather than ways of identification. Some wolves can go their whole life earning as many as twenty names, but it’s only until you contribute to the pack that you earn your first name.”
“Then what do you call each other until you do get your first name?”
“Pup, friend, brother, sister, daughter, father, even by ways of uniqueness like fur color. Or in my case having blue eyes.”
“How did you get your name?”
“During a hard blizzard, my pack was desperately looking for any form of shelter. Though it was against my alpha’s orders, I ran off looking for something. I ran fast and true and never stopped until I finally found a cave. I returned to my pack and lead them to safety, that night I earned my place and was given my name Wind Blue-Eyes because they say I ran like the wind and I’m the only one in my pack to have blue eyes. Many of my packmates, especially the pups, would have died that day if I did not look for shelter.” Fluttershy found it interesting how his life was so much different than hers, but difficult too. It must be hard to go by much of your life without a name until you’ve earned it.
They find a nice, shady spot under a tree, Fluttershy sits on the bench while Wind sits next to her on the ground, staying as vigilant as a meerkat. Fluttershy found small courage in the story he told her, courage large enough to help her stop struggling what she was having difficulty with. “Wind, why did I find you passed out in the Everfree?”
“Ah, excellent question miss Fluttershy. I suppose I have not told you why I left the mountains.” He replies so easily. “I am on a journey to find my sister, Grace Foot. She abandoned the pack nearly half a moon’s light ago without a word. I intend to find her and demand an answer for her action.”
“So, it’s not acceptable to leave your pack?”
“Oh no, it’s quite acceptable to leave the pack if one so chooses. But she didn’t leave us, she abandoned us. Slipped away in the middle of the night with no explanation. Upon normal circumstances no one would have gone out looking for her, if she abandoned the pack then the pack would no longer have any connections to her. However, she is my only sibling, saying nothing to any of our packmates is one thing, but to me, I do not accept this.”
“Well if you’re searching for her then you shouldn’t indebt yourself to me, you must continue on your journey and find her!” Now Fluttershy felt guilty. Not only was she forced to accept his help, but now she is also stopping him from finding his sister.
“I’m afraid I cannot miss Fluttershy, I must aid you or it will tarnish my honour, otherwise what would the point in returning be?” Fluttershy did not understand the logic or reasoning of this, his laws were so much different than hers, it was difficult to accept this. But she had to, she didn’t want to harm his honour.
“So, why were you passed out?”
“Just two days ago I picked up on her trail after multiple dead ends. Ever since then I have not been looking after my health, merely running with little to no rest. It does not surprise me that I fainted, I am just grateful that you saved me.”
“Well if you picked up on her trail we should be out looking for her!” The timid pegasus jumps off the bench.
“Are you sure miss Fluttershy? You have no connections to Grace, you do not have to help me. I picked up on her trail once before, I’ll be able to do so again.” Fluttershy nods, she doesn’t mind, not in the slightest. It’s just a simple act of kindness.
Wind’s features soften, going from cold and collective to friendly and appreciative. But that nice expression quickly switches to alarm. With no warn of any kind, he lunges at Fluttershy and tackles her to the ground, his white body overtop hers. For only a brief second, she was terrified of him, was he only trying to gain her trust to later attack her? But her fears fled as soon as they emerged as he climbed off her unharmed body and faced away from her. She saw that his fur was standing up as he snarled at whatever was in front of him.
“Miss Fluttershy, stay back! This pony tried attacking you!” He warns her. She realizes that he wasn’t trying to attack her, but protect her.
“What? Attack Fluttershy? You silly-filly, I’d never try and harm a friend.” A familiar bubbly voice answers from the other side of Wind. Fluttershy pokes her head from behind him to see her good friend Pinkie Pie. “Hey Fluttershy, did you get a talking pet wolf?”
“Oh, hello Pinkie.” Fluttershy greets her friend. “It’s okay Wind, she’s my friend.”
“Are you sure? She just tried to assault you.” He responds while eyeing the newcomer suspiciously.
“I already told you, I’d never try and hurt my friends. I was going to give Fluttershy a huge hug because I haven’t seen her all week. I mean seriously, seven. Whole. Days. An entire week went by and I never once got to see my favorite animal caretaker. Then again she’s the only animal caretaker I know so I guess that automatically means she is my favorite. But even if I did know some other caretaker I would still consider Fluttershy my favorite.” Wind slowly relaxes as the pink bundle of fun rambles on and on about whatever she is talking about. He doesn’t abandon his guard because Fluttershy said she was fine, or the fact that he no longer thought that Pinkie Pie would not harm Fluttershy, or that she seemed like a complete airhead to him. No, the reason was: he was utterly and undoubtedly confused by her and had no idea how to handle this situation.
“So who is Wolfy, Fluttershy?” Pinkie Pie asks finally concluding her entire story that was completely irrelevant to the original topic, whatever it could have been.
“Pinkie Pie, this is Wind. I found him in the Everfree.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen a real wolf before. So where’d you come from Wind?” Wind was unsure of how to react to Pinkie Pie as she zips around and inspects him, as if she were everywhere all at the same time.
“Uh… Mountains. From the north.” He replies unsurely.
“Wow! You mean like from the Crystal Empire? How do you survive up there with all that snow and cold?”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to ask him some other time Pinkie, you interrupted us just before we were about to do something important. If you want to ask him questions you can drop by my home some time, he’ll be staying with me for a while.”
“He’s staying here? Then I guess I have to give him a Welcome Song!” Before either could stop her she pulls out a wagon from behind the tree next to them and presses a button. Needless to say, Wind was rather horrified at the end of it as confetti flies out of a couple pipes and a cake is fired at him that he only barely was able to dodge.
“Hey, I got it right this time.” And once more, before either of them could do anything, she zips away with her machine.
Wind sits there, an expression of confusion, horror, and amazement across his face as he tries processing what just happened. “Miss Fluttershy… do not take this the wrong way but, your friend is very odd, and sort of scares me.”
Author's Note
You know guys, I accidentally spelt her name Sluttershy before I corrected it. That would've been a no-no.
Don't expect chapters to come out this often. The first chapter has been done for a while now and I just finished the second yesterday after spending a few weeks, there was also all the ~~laziness~~ ~~procrastination~~ OTHER STUFF I was doing.
