//-------------------------------------------------------// Your Human and You: Child of the Forest -by SporeDragon- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue: The Wild Child //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue: The Wild Child Before Fluttershy, my dear sweet mother, and greatest friend, raised me to be like her, and the rest of the ponyfolk of this fair land, granting me wisdom, intelligence, and the feel to have rights of my adventures, I was told I was simply a feral human being. I know from what she told me that I was simply a baby when I was found, abandoned by the packs of the Everfree Forest. I write this now as I sit alone in my house, breathing in the lovely Spring air and awaiting mother's return. She asked me to write about my life as an accepted member of the community, or so she thinks I am. I still see the way others look at me, with disgust, and wishing I was never a part of their perfect world, but I stray. Back on track, she had asked me to write this for Princess Twilight Sparkle's grand library. Who am I to deny such an honor? Anyway, I shall begin the retelling of my life, as I do so remember it. But of course, where would I begin without how Fluttershy found me? -------Your Human and You: The Wild Child-------- -------By------- -------SporeDragon------- It was a warm, peaceful day in Ponyville. The sun was rising and the young ponies were out playing in the fresh of late spring air. The bakery was at work fixing up bread and other pastries for its daily customers. A nearby concert was echoing soft piano music across the lively little town, and couples gathered to love upon one another in the shade of the trees. The birds were singing and wind was blowing, and the sky was just the paint of perfection, thanks of course to the Pegasi. Ponies were going to work or going to friends, and were ready for a full day in the nice spring weather Fluttershy trotted happily down the trail from Ponyville to her quaint little cottage at the edge of the Everfree forest. She carelessly passed ponies and animals who were on the outer paths of the town. She was on her way to Zecora's to pick up some medicine for her poor ailed Angel Bunny. Of course she was going to stop at home and drop off a few things she had bought from the market that day, nothing special aside from the normal groceries. She arrived at her little home and went up the path to the front door. She heard a raspy cough from withing the little cottage and sighed, walking through the always-unlocked door. She hummed to herself as she dropped the groceries in the kitchen and went up to her bed, where the poor little aforementioned bunny lay helplessly in a basket. Dark bags decorated the undersides of his now pale gray eyes. "There there, Angle Bunny." Fluttershy comforted the small creature. "I'll be back soon with your medicine, and you'll be all better." She said as she left her home once more. Angel's only response was a long, painful cough. Fluttershy trotted down the path towards the Everfree forest. Oh how she hated going through these woods, but the path to Zecora's was much safer than the rest by a landslide. The path was cleared of Poison Joke, tangling vines and roots, and was even counted as part of Ponyville by some folk. She continued along the path through the would-be terrifying forest, and made her way towards Zecora's house at a quickened pace. The general ambiance of the forest creatures, and the wind softly blowing through the tall oaks and other trees. Small creatures hurried their way through the underbrush to their own little families. Fluttershy ignored what cute little creatures might be scampering this way and that, and simply turned the path corner, coming within view of Zecora, who was sitting outside her home, tending to a few plants. Zecora noticed Fluttershy and smiled, waving her hoof. "Hello there Fluttershy! It's a beautiful day, the sun high in the sky!" Zecora greeted her. "Oh, yes, it is a very nice morning" Fluttershy politely responded. "Why do you visit me today?" Zecora then asked as Fluttershy closed the distance between them. "Angel Bunny is Sick," Started Fluttershy, "... And I came to see if you had any medicine for it." She said. Zecora thought a moment, before inviting Fluttershy inside, and closing the door behind them both. Fluttershy sat down on a cushion as Zecora looked through the shelves of potions, medicines, plant parts, and other things. "What ails the bunny? Is his stomach feeling funny?" Zecora asked, pushing some things out of the way. "I don't think It's in his stomach..." Fluttershy thought out loud. "He has a really bad cough, and his eyes are pale." Zecora brightened and moved over to a different shelf. "Here, this will work quick. Two spoons a day, should do the trick." She said as she handed Fluttershy a small pouch of a fine powder. "Oh, thank you, Zecora. Angel will be so happy to feel all better." Fluttershy said with a smile, heading for the door. "It is no trouble, Fluttershy, tell the little creature I said 'hi'" Zecora said as she left. Fluttershy headed back the way she came, humming a quiet tune to herself as she headed home. A noise halted her. She looked around for the source, but saw nothing unusual. It came again. It was a wail, a kind of wail Fluttershy rarely ever heard except for when the beasts of burden known as humans had a child. There was clearly a few humans around here, clearly with a child as well. The noise came again, and stoked Fluttershy's curiosity. She walked slowly off the path and into the underbrush. Stalking slowly through the low bushes, she came upon a small clearing. Sitting in the middle of the clearing was an unguarded human child. It seemed about four or five years of age, although Fluttershy had no way of knowing how human lives were counted. She approached it and it took a step back. She could tell it was indeed male, and seemed to be scared. "Hello little human." Fluttershy softly said, approaching the animal. He recoiled and took a step back. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." She tried to reassure him. He looked confused, obviously not understanding common. Fluttershy noticed from a small patch of leaves and eaten fruit, that this human child had been alone a long time. "Maybe you should come with me?" She stated more than asked, approaching it. The defenseless creature stood still, not knowing how to act. He toyed with the thought that this thing might be his mother, since he really had no mother he remembered, only the older male who had abandoned him here. The small human tentatively crawled towards the pony, oddly unable to walk upright. Fluttershy approached it at the same steady, slow pace, as she would any wild creature. At last they where within a hoof's reach of one another, and Fluttershy laid down upon the soft grass. The human child crawled over to her and inspected her thoroughly, before climbing up onto her back. Fluttershy giggled at the feel of the meaty little human hands helping the creature of her form. "Awww.. would you like a place to stay, little guy?" She asked, smiling at the human child. He merely giggled and nuzzled his head into her coat. She took this as a yes, and slowly stood up. Fluttershy begin to walk home with the human child on her back, eager to raise it as her own child. They soon arrived back at Fluttershy's cottage. It was dark, and ponies had gone to sleep all over Ponyville. She set the human child on her bed and gave Angel his medicine . . . much to his distaste. After getting everything settled down, she tucked the human child into one side of her bed, and got on the other. She would be ready for a full time job as a mother tomorrow.