Chapters Fire Mane's Changed Adventures:
A New Friend is a Friend Too: 1
Author's Note
Fire Mane's POV
A New Friend is a Friend Too: 1
I still do recall leaving my home in Cloudsdale, it was just a week ago, I had said my fair wells to mother Easy Breeze.
Leaving my parents' home, in search for myself and my own home had been easy, exciting at first. Only a few days later it had sunk in, just how hard my adventure really was in the first place.
Finding myself, is more than merely finding a home. I need a place to call my own, and a job to be proud of. For some reason, weather duties wasn't sounding overly exciting in my ears.
I had been born a black Pegasus, my mane is a fiery red, it always had been. A rather long tuft of hairs falling down in my face, with only my ears to hold it in place. My deep blue eyes lightening up the looks of a night sky, even when I do smile, which I had a pension for, in part because I had a sense of who actually was my friend in the first place.
As it turned out, I had been flying towards Ponyville and came close to the forest. The Everfree forest, nonetheless, of all forest I could approach.
My teacher had told me that I can't know myself if I didn't challenge my abilities. I guess it is why I had failed to realise, what was about to happen. I'm landing just outside of the dark and forbidding forest. Why ever in the name of Celestia and Luna would I possibly go down this close to a place like this. Normally I wouldn't chance it, it isn't the place any pony would even fly over, by the tales I've heard. Short of the Apples, who practically lives in the forest.
What shocked me is what came from just behind the next large boulder, behind a few more trees just inside of the forest. At first it was but a whine out of pain, then I thought there was a pony, but realised I had been entirely wrong on the presumptions here. Yet, the feel of pain persisted, so if it isn't a pony, maybe it was just an injured critter, and I could as well take a few more steps and see who or what was hiding behind the boulder.
Intermittently casting weary glances right and left, trying to predict where my threat could come from, and what they would be, but thankfully found none at this point. Pointing one ear towards the one I was trying to save, while the other scanned for unexpected noises, just as wearily as my eyes, darting back and forth. I may be an adventurer right now, but it didn't make me into an unfazeable hero who death-defiantly moved through untold dangers.
Naturally, unless I turned back I'm bound to see who was hiding behind the boulder, and that's where I had just ended up. What I see is something not too unlike a pony, but something was off with her. Then I realised what it is I have before my eyes, a Changeling. Alone and lost, she didn't pose a threat, so I could safely approach.
For a moment I was close to burst out laughing, I had a Changeling before me, after all the excitement and turmoil I had gone though, on my way as I investigated what I was doing here in the first place. This forest isn't the place where you leave your fillies or colts, it is the place you leave behind.
She had apparently made a few more whinnies and moaned in pain as I make the final few steps up to her, where she lay on the ground. Yet I couldn't quite stop a small smile of amusement from touching my lips, as I look at the creature I had before me. She may look like it, but apparently she isn't actually a pony, no more so, then a Zebra or Donkey, though our history had made us wary of her, and her kind after Chrystalis mistake to attack Canterlot and the wedding between Cadence and Shining Armour.
Since I'm not a mare comfortable seeing anyone in pain, I have to make a choice at this point, either I run off the fastest I could, or I tried to do something for her, where she lay. If I failed, I would have to find someone else capable of helping her. Since she is a Changeling, I have no idea where I would ask. The one Pony I knew of, willing to try would be Flutter Shy, since it is her part to help any and all critters already.
I had invested too much time to just run off, and she did not seem to present any threat at this point, so I step up, looking closer at her. What else am I to do?
As I look at her, I could see she tried to hold on to the image she had been trying to make, but the time faded away and her regular pony form melted away. The flank I could see is littered with scrapes and bruises, just as I could see more of these on the rest of her black body. What made me wince is the deep gush on her flank. Thankfully, none of the wounds are fatal of their own, but wounds had a tendency to mount up.
As I looked closer still, listening in on hear breathing and heart my mane slipped down onto her neck, and this is when I was hit by the worst shock yet. Not so much a scare, but the way it hit me like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. How does one prepare to learn something so unexpected about one's self? Even if it clashed with a reference to Luna, or more precise in her dark, grievous and scary form of Nightmare.
What my shock told me about her was less of a problem, even if I may not have believed her, had she just told me up front.
Fire Mane's Changed Adventures:
Once I knew what I had before me, and what I was looking at, things slowly started to clear up for me. A severely injured Changeling, and one I wasn't going to see as an enemy, for what it is worth. Actually, I was starting to see her as a potential friend.
Looking at my mane as it hang down before my eyes, something suddenly became clear, this isn't the old and ordinary mane I had as I left my home. It is still the same fiery red it had always been, but it is a mane you would have been looking at, if you had Luna before you, only she's an Alicorn, but I had thought myself a Pegaus mare. This isn't the type of mane a Pegaus would grow under any circumstances.
Then something more came to mind, we had been reading in class of how Cadence had been born a Pegasus to, but later ascended into an Alicorn. Maybe this explained my situation.
What we had red back in the class in Cloudsdale did not go into anything of this, so my mane is a pure mystery to me. Yet, I realised it isn't just strands of hair anymore. For what it was worth, it is aiding me in seeing something I couldn't have seen before, but it is merely a small detail in a much greater change. As an Alicorn, I would also have a horn in my forehead, with which I could perform actual magic. Not just the regular weather magic we had been doing before. Walking on clouds and the like is easy for a Pegasus, but this is an entirely different kind of magic of which I had no prior experience.
Knowing I couldn't just pull her out of the forest caused me to consider my options. I could always try the more common Unicorn magic, like levitating her out of the darkness of the forbidding forest, in hope to avoid any of the resident wolves would find us, before I could get her on her hooves.
Uncertainty in my abilities made me try out a few things along the way, starting with looking around for the small objects for a good test to grow accustomed to handling what I had in mind. Levitation was supposedly among the first and easiest spells in the book, but I didn't even have the book at hoof.
After a few trials and tests, I felt sufficiently comfortable and secure in what I had before me, and lifted her up from the cold dark ground where she had been found. Now I moved towards the line of trees, carrying my charge with me, in hope I could actually save her. I just couldn't see these wolves have her, for whatever good it may do for them. The Changeling wasn't up for a fight at this point.
Since I'm not sure how far it would or how bad she is doing, I had chosen to stop, just beyond the limit of the unforgiving forest. Keeping her on level with my eyes, I could finally have a good look at her, in order to see. This is when I felt her brush against my mane again, only to get a new glimpse into her situation, even if it only told me about her state of mind and how she would view me. It didn't tell me much I didn't know at this point, so I simply moved to examine her body.
What I found wasn't directly life-threatening, for all I could say. Just as I can't do anything for her here, short of a minor cleaning her coat off, and sealing skin-deep wounds. So I chose to proceed to take her, to where I thought I could help her.
Moving in haste, I soon found the first choice less than available, since the hut was empty, and the Zebra not there. Now I moved her out of the forest, before I make a dash for the next choice I could think of, which is in the outskirts of Ponyville. As I approach I soon realised, it would be best chance, not just because she was known to be easy to find, but due to her general sympathetic character in general. She had after all even tried to turn Discord himself towards less hurtful paths.
I knock on her door, only to hear hoofsteps behind it, giving me short time to prepare, now as it is either going to work, or would she turn me away?
Fire Mane's Changed Adventures:
The hoofsteps stop, just behind the door. There is a brief moment of quiet, and the door open up to reveal a yellow pony with pink mane and tail.
“Flutter Shy, is it? I'm Fiery Mane. I would need your help with a Pony I found in the forest, but I can't really do much for her on and of myself!” I blurted out.
“Yes, I'm Flutter Shy. A Pony who would need my help, then let me see her. I'll see what I can do for her!” she responded.
“She's right here behind me!” I pointed out, taking a step to the side and pushing my deeply wounded friend to the fore, in order for Flutter Shy to help her.
“I think I have seen a Pony like this, a few years back. If she is your friend, I guess I could help her, Fiery, but only because you asked me to!” Flutter Shy pointed out with a strange tone to her voice, in part due to the confusion, as she saw a Changeling.
“As you mention, I recall the tale of the 'Canterlot Wedding', and Chrystalis failed attempt at ruining it all. She would be wise, not trying anything the likes on me, even though I'm new at this as an Alicorn, and shouldn't be known among the ranks of the Changelings, more than anywhere else, for that matter. I think you'd be among the very first to actually see me. Maybe that's good!” I responded.
“You can as well take her inside. I have everything we need in there anyway. I'd assume you can help me with a few things, as we go, even though I'd lead you through the process!” she pointed out.
My new friend, the as of yet unnamed Changeling floated in through the door after me before Flutter Shy closed the door behind us.
“I may be new to this magic, but I'd suppose it is preferable to hoof or mouth in this case!” I observed sombrely.
“With the kinds of injuries your new friends have sustained, yes, I'd think you're right. The antiseptics are no fun to get in your mouth, and the bandages will be both cleaner, and more precisely applied, if you handle it with magic!” Flutter Shy pointed out.
She moved around, helping me to pick up what she thought we were to need, in order to help my friends; bandages, antiseptics, cotton swabs, bottles of seine solution.
“Time for the preparations, if you start with pouring up solution in the first bucket and open the package of cotton swabs, then drench the first, and you can get started, cleaning her up!” Flutter Shy pointed out in a manner that indicated she knew what she was doing.
This was in part why I had tried to find her in the first place, her knowledge, expertise and experience in helping others. She had certainly helped wounded critters countless times, and it certainly did show now. Once she got into it, she knew what she was doing, and demanded obedience out of me.
Unlike her, I'm not the element of kindness, though I certainly have my talents, I just haven't had much time to explore them. I can fly and know where my limits are to this point. I know about how much I can pull in weather duties. My talents as a Pegasus, these I have mapped out fairly well.
On the scale in Cloudsdale, I'm fairly average, which I could live with. In Equestria, I guess I'm fairly good. Only in Ponyville would I find the impossible, the Pegassus by the name Rainbow Dash, she had been legendary for a great while by now. I guess I could count Flutter Shy among the better flyers, even if she never showed it, aside from the one time, when she helped Rainbow Dash with the hurricane to grant Cloudsdale more water. I guess her kindness never fail. Even if she was asked what seems impossible, that is.
And here I barge in on her, asking her to help me with a Changeling. Even if I knew she is safe and friendly, but I'm the only pony to know it, at this time. Apparently it was linked to the new part of my talents. Something I had to get used to.
“Will do!” I merely responded as I started out following her instructions, and it wasn't all that hard, and I noticed I grew better at it by the minute.
“You're doing pretty good, Fiery!” Flutters pointed out as she watched me treating the Changeling where she lay.
“Aside from your instructions, I guess I'm motivated to help her!” I responded.
“Most of us are rather uncomfortable with a Changeling in the midst, after the latest confrontation!” Flutter Shy suggested.
Fire Mane's Changed Adventures:
Author's Note
Changeling POV
Enabled: 4
”Thank you, Flutter Shy. Your help will not be forgotten!” I told her.
“You're welcome. Besides, it is your friend Fiery Mane who pulled you here, and trusted both you, and me in the first place!” she pointed out.
“I'll send you something extra, just to show my appreciation, from time to time!” I responded.
“Just glad you're better, and that I could help!” Flutter Shy suggested, in a shy voice.
“That sure is Flutter Shy!” Fiery Mane pointed out with a small giggle on her voice.
“If you don't mind, I guess this is the time when I reclaim my regular disguise. I'd feel more comfortable among Ponies, looking more like them!” I said.
“They sure would feel more comfortable, if you can act like one of them too, which wouldn't come out as very convincing, as long as you don't look like one of them!” she responded.
“Thanks again. I guess we had better keep moving, you have others to tend to, a Pony as kind as you always have!” I continued.
“Yes, I have, but it is always nice to see a new Pony, guess I'll see you some time. Best of luck with your adventure!” she then said.
“Yes, I guess I'll see you soon enough. It is interesting to see a Changeling up close with no hostilities between us. Not that I see all that many Alicorns either!” Flutter Shy pondered.
“She was the first Changeling I have seen. The only Alicorns I have seen are the once who were in Cloudsdale. Celestia and Luna, I think it was!” Fiery Mane responded.
Funny thing, I had had my fair share of Alicorns and Changelings was what I saw all day. Although I had not seen all that many Ponies. This had proven to be quite the exhilarating and refreshing experience, even if I wouldn't go as far, as to say I would hurt myself in order to revisit this situation. The pain had been too great, to me.
In the end, I am still happy to be on my way. Not that I had anything against Flutter Shy or her critters. Maybe I had been worrying about having another Pony stepping in on us? What would the next Pony say? How would he or she react on seeing a Changeling in Flutter Shy's home? I did not hold any illusion as to how they would react on seeing her tending to me and my injuries.
“You seems to be relieved of leaving her, as pleasant a Pony as she is!” Fiery enquired with an amused smile on her face.
“I don't really know her, even if you knew of her. Besides, I have had my share of pampering for a day. She has done all she could for me, which I will be eternally grateful for. I think it is best, we leave her to her regular duties. On the other hoof, there is always the off chance other Ponies stroll in on us!” I pondered.
“She was my second choice, the Zebra wasn't home. I did not feel comfortable hanging around in the forest. Every Pony knows of Flutter Shy as the element of Kindness. Once there, I did notice why, I could feel it. My guess is that you did feel the effects too. Maybe we could find another place to rest, before we start up a real adventure, exploring the land?” she responded.
“I guess a day to rest after the events I was through couldn't hurt. I take it you have a good idea as to where we could go? Preferably, some place private. Some place where we don't directly see other Ponies, for a while!” I pointed out.
“At least, I know where to go and who to ask for what we need!” she responded.
“Then we had better be off. I could use the rest!” I pointed out.
“Right this way, I think she will give us the directions to the perfect spot to hide. You may consider a good disguise for the trip, though!” she pointed out.
I soon noticed she did take me towards Ponyville proper, just a side tour for a good spot where I could stop and effect the disguise she knew I wanted to have, for the time we would be moving around amongst Ponies. It would be as much for their comfort as it is for mine.
Once at the clearing, she stopped at the centre. Looking around, just to see if there were any Ponies, but apparently, we can have a moment to ourselves here.
Having a black Alicorn with a fiery mane would most likely draw any attention away from me. I did not like to stick out. What was I going to be looking like?
The first change was just a plain white Pegasus, since I figured we would be flying, since it would be convenient. I could both see and feel the changes coming over me.
First my horn went away, that is a fairly simple change. Now my body changed in order to look like a Pony, by body slowly covered with fur, then my wings changed into the standard Pegasi variety.
“That is a good start, though no Pony would accept a plain white Pegasus without a Cutie Mark, even at the side of a black Alicorn with a fiery mane like myself!” she pointed out, I knew she was right, too.
“Oh yeah, the Cutie Mark. Would this work?” I enquired, changing to a light blue, adding a white cloud with a silver line as border.
“I guess that is bold enough to sell the deal. Time to go see Pinkie Pie about where we could rest, Silver Lining!” she exclaimed.
