Feathered Paths

Strong squalls touted the upcoming severe storm over Ponyville. The few ponies who were still outside hurried to get to their warm houses to seek shelter. Unlike other thunderstorms that were planned by the pegasi it seemed like this one would evolve into a hurricane soon and the weather patrol had its hooves full to keep the storm under control. No matter how hard they bucked the humongous nimbus, it seemed that the pegasi already lost the fight against the howling tempest.

Rainbow Dash, the leader of Ponyville's weather patrol, shouted: "Hey, listen up, everypony! This weather just got a tiny bit out of control. We have to unleash the storm now to keep the damage as minimal as possible!", and her voice almost got swallowed by the sough.

"A tiny bit is well-worded, Rainbow Dash. If you weren't so lazy, you would have come in time to fix this whole mess up!", was the angry answer from Thunderlane, the dark grey male pegasus who was in the Wonderbolts Academy together with Rainbow Dash.

"Oh yeah, Thunderlane? I thought it is your talent to deal with thunderstorms, or what else does your cutie mark symbolize? Now, to your positions, on my signal!", was Rainbow Dash's snappish response.

All pegasi of the weather team tried fiercely not to be blown away as they waited for Rainbow Dash's call.

"One!"

With strain they held their position and got ready for a final attempt to regain control over the storm.

"Two!"

The volume of the storm was deafening as every pegasus stood ready to kick into the clouds.

"Three!"

Several bolts, followed by heavy rain and thunder, stroked out of the clouds and shortly illuminated the gloomy ground below them.

At the same time, Fluttershy tried desperately to help her woodland critters to flee from the out-of-control storm. Like a hummingbird she whizzed around although she knew she couldn't help all of her friends.

"Oh no, no, no... Please don't...Come here, my friends, come to me!", she said, trying to appease the animals, who ran crisscross in panic, but without reaching any effect. Coincidentally, as she looked in the direction of the Everfree Forest, she noticed how a bird family, who tried vainly to fight against the wind, was drifted away into the wood.

"No-o-o...", she cried, but due to her mellow voice she couldn't even hear herself between the gusts around her. She sunk down on her rear hooves and began to weep. But suddenly, she stopped, stood up again and said to herself: "No, I won't let a friend of mine down when he needs me!" And with that purpose, she darted afterwards the bird family.

The trees of the Everfree Forest absorbed the most of the storm, but the raindrops still fell through the tree crowns. Although Fluttershy lived near the Everfree Forest ever since she moved to Ponyville, she still disliked the wood. It was dark and eerie, strange and dangerous creatures prowled around and magic was unbound in this part of Equestria. Nevertheless, Fluttershy ran deeper and deeper into the forest to find the bird family and didn't noticed the ominous snarls behind her.

"Oh, there you are, little birdies. Fluttershy will take you home until the storm is over", she said after finally finding the birds, who were dizzy after crashing into a tree. But then she heard the howling of the timberwolves and cringed in fear as she noticed how close they were to her position. She turned around and with the bird family in her hooves she had her back up against the tree as three hungry-looking timberwolves blocked the path back to Fluttershy's cottage.

"Oh... my..." gasped Fluttershy in mortal fear, unable to move. The timberwolves slowly approached her and licked their wooden lips in anticipation of a meal. Fluttershy started weeping and closed her eyes in contemplation of death.

She felt her heart beating faster than ever before. She heard the gnarls of the approaching timberwolves, followed by one of the wolves' howl, but strangely, it was rather a cry of pain than a command to attack. She opened her eyes again and out of nowhere a pegasus stood between her and the timberwolves, panting and his wings unfolded as a shield to protect her. Because of the dark sky she only could see the silhouette of her savior, but she was pretty sure it was somepony she has never seen before. The timberwolf who got knocked back regenerated and the group of timberwolves arranged for another attack. The wolf on the left side of the small pack jumped towards the brave rescuer of Fluttershy, but the unknown pony made a lunge and boxed the wolf into to stomach in midair. Small pieces of wood and some sticks, the remains of the defeated timberwolf, thudded on the ground behind Fluttershy's life-saver. The two other wolves searched unimpressed for another chink on the mysteriously appeared pony. Suddenly, both timberwolves assaulted the pegasus simultaneously and although the pegasus has watched them closely, it was impossible to repel two timberwolves at once.

While Fluttershy's preserver was in a struggle with the first wolf, the second wolf bit the pegasus into his left wing. Fluttershy gasped as she heard the bones break and her protector yelled in pain with a clearly male voice. Bristling with anger he twisted the neck of the wolf he was wrestling with until he crumbled away like the first one and then he fought off the last timberwolf by hitting his head with a powerful strike. The wolf whimpered as he stumbled backwards, but now he has tasted blood. The pegasus breathed heavily and his wing dangled loose and bloody on his side. With a direful bark, the wolf started to make a final assault upon the seriously injured pony. But all of a sudden, the pony leaped aside, struck out and smashed the body of the surprised wolf into pieces.

It was as if Fluttershy awakes from a nightmare, just to notice it was not a dream. She shook because of the coolness of the downpour. She breathed heavily because of the agitation of the fight. She cried because of the agony she suffered. She could feel the tiny hearts of the birds in her hooves beat very rapid due to the riot that happened. And then, she looked up to the pony who saved her. He panted for air, perspired cold sweat and seemed to be at the end of his tether. His broken wing still hung inanimate on his flank. A few seconds, he focused his shimmering eyes on Fluttershy as if he wanted to make sure she is safe and sound, and then he fainted.