Chapters “W-who're you?” Fluttershy timidly asked.
“I think we should just skip introductions at the moment,” Crescent Rose replied as the timberwolves began to circle them.
Counting, Crescent Rose saw eight in front of him. Normally, he would've teleported away, with Fluttershy and Elizabeak. However, with so many in front of him, flight became a far distant option. Five timberwolves, and he would've been gone in five seconds. More than five... and his options became scarce. As he saw it, he only had one option. One option, that he had not had the fullest preparation for.
Only one thing for it then. I hope I'm not in bed for a month again. Crescent Rose thought to himself.
“I need you to do two things, Fluttershy,” Crescent Rose started. “I need you to keep your eyes shut, and to not move. I'm going to get them a distance away from you, otherwise this spell will send you away with them. Understand?”
“Y-y-yes...” Fluttershy replied meekly.
“Good,” Crescent Rose replied before running full sprint from one wolf to the next.
With his horn glowing red, he marked each timberwolf to follow him, and keep away from Fluttershy. Eight wolves, eight marks; now came the tricky part. Now came the only spell that, to Crescent Rose, was not fully master-able.
The phoenix uses the fire in it's wings to create a blinding force equal to the sun's rays. There was a spell that Crescent Rose had discovered, that could imitate this ability to near fullness. Using it, could put the user in such a weakened state, that it was never taught. It was a near-forbidden spell. Crescent Rose, he just didn't care.
After marking and drawing the timberwolves away, he was ready to execute the spell. Opening his wings, he flapped them to be far enough above the wolves, but not far enough to be out of range. Keeping himself in a hover, he opened his wings to their full span, and his horn started to glow. Brighter than it had before, it glowed until the black of his horn was indistinguishable. His eyes, normally a deep, but bright blue, soon started to glow bright as well.
Burning... stings... just like before. I can't let go now. Need to... need to hold on... Crescent Rose thought as the sensations got stronger as he built his energy up.
The timberwolves couldn't look away, even as fear started to show in their eyes. Crescent Rose was able to sense Zecora and Fluttershy as he felt himself start to go over the edge. He needed to release. If he didn't, he'd bubble over, and not only send the wolves away, but even give himself a brand new set of second degree burns. He wasn't ready for those yet.
Now... the time is now. Now!
He released. He felt the heat escape from his horn and wings. He felt no pain. Not at first, anyway.
Next thing he knew, he was on the ground, weak and exhausted. He was able to see Fluttershy and Zecora running towards him. He was on the verge of blacking out, but he had a last piece of business before that, so he held on. Once they were close enough to him, he looked at Fluttershy.
“You asked who I was but a moment ago. Would you still like to know?” Crescent Rose asked the yellow pegasus.
“Y-you saved me. I'd certainly like to,” Fluttershy replied.
“Crescent Rose, or just Crescent for short, if you please,” he stated simply before his world went black.
Fluttershy felt tears and a smile forming as the black alicorn fell into unconsciousness. He saved her. Why would he do that, for somepony he never met?
Author's Note
More dialogue than I can remember writing. Yes, Zecora's gonna speak soon, I just have to work on her rhymes yet. The first part of one of three, falling for one. Wanna know who the next two are? Well, that'd be no fun, now would it? Just gonna have to wait.
While Fluttershy took Elizabeak home, Zecora carefully carried Crescent Rose back to her hut. To her relief, he was still breathing. However, such a spell had rendered him in a state of unconsciousness that even she wasn't sure he would wake up from anytime soon. All she could do was carry him back, and give him some rest. He had earned it.
Fluttershy flew back to Zecora’s hut as fast as she was able; feeling that in some way Crescent Rose’s condition was her fault. When she arrived at the hut, the yellow Pegasus’s bright cyan eyes looked over an unconscious Crescent Rose with high curiosity. He was pitch black, with a bright red mane and tail. What really interested her was his cutie mark. It was a golden crescent moon, with a red rose, fully bloomed between the horns. Looking closer, she could tell a gray shield surrounded the moon and rose. Fluttershy’s curiosity brought her to Crescent’s face. She was able to prop open one of his eyelids and noticed his were a cyan as well, though brighter than hers were.
“He seems to be ok, just unconscious,” Fluttershy said gazing at him. “Why would he save me? He doesn't even know who I am!”
“You are wrong dear Fluttershy, Crescent Rose is a different kind of guy,” Zecora replied.
“Different? I can see that! He’s an alicorn, a royal pony! I mean, why would he save somepony like me?” Fluttershy asked not taking her eyes off the alicon.
Zecora looked at her, then to Crescent Rose. She knew that Fluttershy had a valid question, but she could not answer it. They would have to wait, until he was able to walk on his own hooves again unaided. The last time it happened, he was bedridden for two weeks. She hated to see how long he would be in bed this time.
“It's true he's an alicorn pony, but he belongs not with royalty. He doesn't remember more than his name, and has made magic and protection his game. I've kept him here since to train, but I fear his happiness has long since been drained,” Zecora rhymed out to the worried pegasus.
“But, he just told me what his name was... Are you saying that's a name he's taken, because he can't remember his real one?” Fluttershy asked the zebra.
Zecora simply nodded, as she went to get an ointment and cloth for his slight burns. Fluttershy didn't move; she wanted to be here for him when he woke up. Then she could properly thank him, and maybe even help him. Still, how could a pony, and an alicorn no less, not remember his real name, but know such a powerful spell?
I have to tell Twilight. She'd know, and maybe even Princess Celestia would as well, Fluttershy thought as she watched Crescent Rose's chest rise and fall steadily with each breath.
Zecora started to apply the ointment on the burns on his hind legs. Fluttershy watched in quiet awe as the ointment cleaned them, and started to heal them near instantly. Soon, Zecora was rubbing the ointment around to the other burns on his body and forelegs.
“I have to tell Twilight, Zecora. She'd know more about where he came from, and how he can perform such powerful magic,” Fluttershy said to Zecora as the ointment was beginning to work. Zecora just turned to look at her.
“Are you sure you will be able to? I'd say his fever is as high as one-hundred-two. You'll need to apply this on the hour, or else those burns could turn fouler,” the zebra said to the pegasus.
“Yes. I'm sure. I want to thank him for saving me, but I feel helpless not being able to help him for doing it. Just tell Twilight, and bring her back with Spike. I won't leave him alone. Not for a minute,” The pegasus replied.
Zecora simply nodded, and started out the door towards Ponyville. Fluttershy in the meantime, took care to keep Crescent Rose's body as cool as she could until Twilight could come to the hut. She felt his breathing, and was still glad that even though it was weak, he was still alive. He'd make it through.
“Don't give up. Please, please wake up. You saved me, so let me save you,” Fluttershy said as she started rubbing a damp cloth on his forehead. She soon felt a tear come. The single tear turned into more. She didn't stop for five minutes.
Author's Note
This chapter was much cleaner than the draft version. Trust me. Thanks to Phase Walker for the editing.
To say that the alicorn ponies are anything less than special is an understatement. They are nothing but special; filled with all the world's strengths. Nopony truly understands how they come to be... the Regal Sisters never reveal more than they intend.
Of the known alicorns, there are four- Princess Celestia; Princess Luna; Princess Cadence; and the recently crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle. Each one earned her title and rights as an alicorn. However, there is one that was born naturally, and holds no royal seat. Nor does he desire it; rather, he wishes to remain a loyal guardian to the Keepers of the Elements of Harmony.
His name, is Crescent Rose, or Crescent for short. He takes his name from his cutie mark – a red rose in a golden crescent moon – for he no longer remembers his original name. He does not wish to know either, for when one life ends, another must begin. He did just that.
You all know Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinky Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle holding the Elements of Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic respectively. What you don't know is another Element – called Strength – exists as well, though it's taken for granted. Its bearer was Crescent Rose. He just didn't know it yet.
It was in the Everfree Forest that Crescent Rose encountered the Mane Six. Rather, he encountered one of them: Fluttershy. She was searching for her chicken, Elizabeak. Again. She ran from her home and hid deep in the forest. Again.
Fluttershy followed as best she could, and finally spotted her in the forest. Just as she was about to go to Elizabeak to take her home again, creatures that called the forest home appeared. Timberwolves; hungry ones at that.
At the sight of them, Fluttershy screamed, grabbed Elizabeak and ran. Yes, she ran instead of using her wings. She said later that in her fear, she didn't think. But her screams were loud enough for Crescent Rose to hear near Zecora's hut. At the sound of it, he took off running before starting to fly.
Using a location spell to find the timberwolves, he soon spotted Fluttershy with Elizabeak. He soon grounded himself as close to Fluttershy as he could. Steadying himself, he got ready for the wolves, as they get their most vicious when hungry.
Author's Note
I've had this idea for a while. Yes, I gave him a rose in his Cutie Mark. Just deal with it for now, OK? It's still rough, but don't worry, I'll have more later for you.