Everyone Needs A Helping Hoof

Zehren stuck his head out the door, the black lantern in mouth illuminating his face and red and black mane. His coat was white and his eyes were purple.

He looked around, stepping out when he saw no one. Four purple Will 'o' Wisps followed him out the door. He looked around again before walking away from his home in the Everfree Forest.

He parted a bush with his hoof, revealing a small garden. It was poorly made, but was well enough to grow some food. Zehren sighed as he looked about the place, before jumping over the bush.

He trotted over and set down his lantern he began to pick his produce. The wisps started to follow him, but he pointed to the lantern and they stayed put, turning blue.

Zehren felt guilty and rubbed one, enjoying the warmth it gave off. They turned purple again and he sighed, continuing to collect what he had.

Wind stared to blow calmly through the clearing. Zehren thought nothing of it at first. It was a calm wind, couldn't do more than rustle his mane and some trees.

Then it stronger.

And stronger.

Soon, Zehren had to plant his hooves apart to stay balance. He looked to sky and saw dark clouds swirling. He gasped and wheeled around to grab his lantern, but found it tipped over and the fire inside started to spread.

He growled and carefully snatched up his lantern, before bolting from the burning clearing. It was only until he was halfway back home, that he released that not only was the fire spreading fast, the wisps were still back there.

"Those little guys are gonna get me killed!"

He opened the lantern and shifted it to his hoof.

"I need a light!"

Zehren turned his head toward the way the wisps were, listening for the little noise they made when moving. When he heard nothing, Zehren called out again.

"Come on, where-"

Suddenly, his lantern was light with a purple light and three more wisps flew about his head.

"Thank Celestia you're safe, now we gotta go! Follow me."

Zehren felt the heat of the fire close to his tail and started running again. Instead of going home like he would when danger arrived, Zehren bolted pasted his home and as far away as he could go.

He saw the edge of the Everfree forest and jumped for it. Zehren made it of alive, just unconscious from hitting his head hard on a rock. Before slipping from reality, a few voices picked up in his ears.

"Hey, who's he?"

"He looks hurt!"

"Quick, somepony get Rainbow Dash!"

He saw a several pairs of grey hooves running toward him, but it was only one pony. He felt his head being lifted up, but that was all he could remember before Equestria turned black.

Zehren was walking down a long tunnel, light at end. A pony floated down on wings detached from his body. He wore a white tunic and had golden eyes and a pure white coat. His cutie mark was a golden feather.

"Hello, my friend. I am Golden Halo."

"Um, hi. I'm Zehren."

"Trust me, I know. Now, please follow me so we can check your records."

Golden was trotting on air toward a podium by the light, which dimmed to reveal the Golden Gates. Zehren beamed at seeing them and quickly stood in front of the podium.

"Alright, my friend, Zehren. Let's see here."

He started flipping through the book, smiling and nodding.

"It seems you check out, Zehren. Welcome to Heaven!"

The gates started to open, Zehren basking in light. He started walking toward the light.

"Welcome to doing whatever you-wait a minute."

"W-what?"

"It says here that you're still alive."

"But I hit my head on a fffff-fluffing rock-what the he-Heaven did I just say?"

Zehren suddenly found himself unable to curse. He glared at Golden, who was looking through the book again.

"Sorry, Zehren, but not only can you not swear when here and you're alive.

"But-but-but-"

"Bye!"

Zehren was suddenly yanked back away from the light; the feathers that were gathering at his sides fanning off. He clawed at the ground screaming,"No! Let me stay! Kill me of you have to! Let me stay!"

Zehren sat up in a bed with a jolt, the wisps turned a cheery yellow and swarming about his head. He looked around, groaning when he noticed he was in a hospital.

One wisps flew through the door, Zehren hearing it'sfairy whisper. A nurse with a white coat and a pink mane walked in, smiling to see him awake. She walked over and set a hoof on his bed.

"Hello, I'm Nurse Redheart. What's your name?"

Why's she speaking slowly? Does she think I'm an idiot?

"I'm Zehren."

Redheart smiled and put her hoof on his.

"You remember your name, that's good."

"Why wouldn't?"

Zehren wanted to say, "I," at the end of that sentence, but his mind wouldn't allow it. Redheart was looking at his vitals when he set his hoof on her shoulder.

"Why can't talk right?"

He set his hooves to his muzzle in shock. Redheart sighed and carefully set a hoof to his gauze-wrapped head.

"You got brain damage when you hit that rock. If the weather team hadn't helped you get here when they did, you would have died."

I was about to go to fucking Heaven! Why didn't they leave me?

Zehren groaned and set a hoof on his forehead. The wisps turned blue and nuzzled Zehren, causing him to smile just a little. The wisps turned purple again and one flew over to Redheart, who backed away a little.

"Wisps are nice, swear."

The wisp flew up to her ear and whispered. Zehren could understand, but Redheart was confused.

"What?"

"Wisp say, 'Thank you for helping master.'"

"Oh, you're welcome!"

The wisp flew around her head, landing on her muzzle and looked into her eyes before returning to Zehren. She smiled and waved at the little fairy before turning to Zehren again.

"Because of your brain damage, we requested for a few older fillies and colts to try and help you out. Would you like to meet them?"

Uh, just kill me now.

Zehren shrugged, not voicing his thoughts. Redheart helped him of of bed, watching as he limped a bit as he walked.

"At least you remember how. Now, please, follow me."

Zehren limped after Redheart, who lead them to the waiting room. About ten older foals were either talking, reading, or playing with some of the games.

"Hello, everyone. Please come meet Mr. Zehren."

The teenagers got up and, while some trotted over happily, others were scowling and walking slowly.

The first one was light yellow filly wearing a large trench coat. She had white and orange hooves and a red mane.

"Hi! I'm, uh..."

"Say something cool like, Winged Axe," the trench coat whispered.

Redheart facehoofed and grabbed the trench coat, yanking it off to reveal three small fillies.

"I told you three you were to young for this!"

The orange pegasus fluttered in the air.

"Come on! Please?"

"No."

The white unicorn helped up the yellow earth filly.

"But we can do it!"

"We're Cutie Mark Crusader Caretakers!"

"No, you're not. Now please leave before I call your parents!"

The three fillies huffed and began to leave. Zehren felt a little sad for them and sent three wisps over to circle their heads. They laughed as they landed on their muzzles, then the fairies zipped back over to Zehren. He waved goodbye to the fillies and they left.

"Now that that's been handled, who's next?"

A green filly with a black fedora was next. She was smiling until she noticed the wisps.

"Uh, those are Will 'o' Wisps, r-right?"

"Yes."

The filly stared to scream, running off yelling," Sorcery! Sorcery!"

Zehren watched, offended. The wisps turned light blue and looked at him. He gave them a pet, making them happy once more. Redheart cleared her throat.

"Next."

The colt was white with a green mane and was wearing a purple shirt.

"I'm Leopard Print. And I must say, your little friends match your eyes!"

"Thank you?"

"And the way the change color, fabulous!"

"Uh..."

Leopard went off on a tangent about how Zehren could wear something that changes color to match his wisps.

"Ok! That happens to be enough, Mr. Print. Please, make way for the next helper."

"Fine."

Leopard stuck his nose up and walked off. Zehren sighed and prepared to endure the hell that was picking a helper.

By now Zehren was thumping his head against the ground, not caring about his injuries. He had gone through several regular ponies, but their quirks were annoying. Others were rude to him, calling the wisp sorcery and creepy. Others called him a mental patient who was desperate for help.

Maybe they're right. Maybe I just can't be helped.

"Um, hello?"

Zehren looked up to see a brown filly wearing a grey scarf. Her black mane was braided and her brown eyes held the look of worried awe.

"Hi, filly. I'm Zehren."

"Written. Written Script."

Hurry up and say you hate my wisps, already. I know she's thinking it.

"Aw!"

Zehren looked up to see Written allowing a wisp into her hoof. She gave it a pet before it flew back to Zehren.

"Since I'm last in line, I guess I'm your helper."

"What?"

Redheart put a hoof of Zehren's back.

"It's a Ponyville hospital policy. To ensure one gets the help one needs, the pony last in is to help the one in need."

Zehren shook his head at the filly, who had laid down like him.

"I sorry, but I helpless."

"Don't say that!"

Written watched as the wisps turned blue. She frowned and put her hoof on Zehren's.

"I'll help you. You just have let me."

Zehren shook his bandaged head, looking down at Written.

"I helpless."

Written helped Zehren up, smiling despite what he said.

"I'll just have to show you that you're not."