Lost Soul

Sunlight danced on his face, waking him up.

"Urgh.." Longwing slowly opened his eyes. He had no idea where he was, and why his body was so sore. Smell of sweets reached his nostrils. He looked around. "What the hay?" On the table next to his bed there was a tray filled with muffins, cupcakes and all kinds of sweets. There were balloons tied to his bed. Longwing focused on the one of the balloons. "Get well soon Longwing!. What?" Pieces slowly clicked into their places. Sweets. Balloons. Get well wishes. Bandages. Hospital. He awoke completely. "Wolves!" Rainbow Dash! He looked around in panic. "Rainbow? Rainbow Dash!?"

Door to his room opened. Longwing saw Rarity and Spike entering and tried to sit. "Rarity! Where is Rainbow Dash? Is she alright? Where is she!? Argh!" Sharp jolt of pain caused him to lay down.

Rarity sped to his side and glared at him. "Longwing calm down this instant! You will hurt yourself." Seeing that pegasus obliged she smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Rainbow Dash is fine."

Spike jumped onto the bed. "You scared us a lot. Twilight said that when you emerged from the forest you looked like you've wrestled with a manticore."

Grey pegasus gave them a weak smile. "Not a manticore but close... How long have I been here?"

Spike and Rarity exchanged glances. "Well... You've been unconscious for two days."

His jaw fell. "TWO DAYS? How bad was it?"

Rarity frowned. "Very bad. Are you feeling well enough to tell us what happened?" Longwing nodded. "How about I call Twilight and the rest? We set up shifts in the hospital waiting for you to wake up."

"Okay."

White mare smiled and left the room small dragon running behind her. Right after they left Nurse Redheart entered.

"Good to see you're recovering. I should run tests if everything's alright before rest of your friends arrive. Is that ok with you?"

Pegasus nodded. "Eyup. Lets do this. I doubt they will let me go once they arrive."

Nurse left Longwing alone and returned after few minutes with a unicorn doctor. They performed several tests and magical scans which showed that Longwing's injuries were healing and no complications occurred. After the examination doctor said that Longwing has to stay in hospital for another day or two and moved him to another room, one with no machinery and with two other, currently unoccupied, beds.

After about half hour Longwing heard familiar voices closing in.

"Over here! It's that room." Door to his room opened and a pink projectile flew through it aiming directly at him. "LONGIE!" Pinkie stopped centimetres from Longwing suspended in the air by a blue aura.

"Pinkie Pie please be careful. Longwing is still fragile." Rarity placed pink pony next to bed.

"Uff. Thanks Rarity." Grey pegasus smiled sheepishly.

Before Rarity could say anything, rainbow coloured blur rushed into the room and tackled Longwing causing him to yelp.

Rainbow Dash hugged him tightly for a few moments, then she calmed down and broke the hug looking at him, one of her hooves supported on his shoulder. "Longwing you big, dumb log! Don't you ever dare to do anything like that again!"

"Don't say that you were worried about me." Grey pegasus smiled trying to look casual but failed miserably as a relief he felt crept on his face.

"One of my best friends almost got killed by the Timber Wolves. Of course I was worried!" She was smiling and shaking her head slightly. "And to that, he was the one that saved my life, if you died I would never forgiven myself." She hugged him once again. "Thank you Longwing."

He hugged her back. "It's good to see you're all right Rainbow."

"Ekhem!" Applejack loudly cleared her throat (Much to Rarity's displeasure).They both snapped back to reality and saw that there were five other ponies standing by his bed. "If ya finished cuddlin', could ya say what happened after Rainbow was wounded by the wolves?"

Rainbow Dash blushed and jumped down from his bed.

"Yeah! Dashie said that you tried to shout them down!" Pinkie started to bounce in place. "What happened next? What happened next?"

Longwing scratched his head trying to remember details of their encounter with the beasts. "Well... I tried to scare them off. One of them pounced at me but I managed to buck him in the head. I think I broke it's jaw." Fluttershy winced visibly. "Then both of them run away. I dragged Rainbow on my back and run in the direction of Ponyville." He stopped for a moment. "Truth to be told, I don't remember anything else, blood loss must have dulled me."

"You were so brave darling. A real knight!"

He smiled. "Rather a ma- a pony pressed to the wall."

"What did the doctors say?" Twilight interjected. "When will you be able to leave the hospital?"

"Well, I'm still on the painkillers so leaving bed is out of question for now. Nurse said that if nothing unexpected happens I will leave in two days."

"Thwats greht!" All eyes turned to Pinkie Pie who was stuffing her mouth with sweets. She noticed that she became a centre of attention. "Whath?" Realization hit her. "Opsie! Want some?" She held the tray covered in crumbs to others.

Rainbow Dash facehooved. "Pinkie..."
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Longwing's injuries were healing quickly. He was amazed how unicorn magic helped to mend his body, nurse told him that this treatment will prevent scars to appear. Shoot, I hoped for some badass scars.

Finally the day has come.
Nurse Redheart removed most of the bandages, leaving only few on the places that were still healing, and told Longwing that he can leave the hospital.

"And for Celestia's sake be careful! Don't overexert yourself until you're fully healed and remember about your medicines."

"Sure thing nurse! If I get wounded again, I will try to do it near to the hospital. Thank's for help." Grey pegasus grinned slyly.

White mare giggled. "You're welcome Longwing. Now go, your friends are waiting for you. Shoo!"

Longwing left his room with a big grin plastered on his face. When he entered the reception he saw six familiar ponies and small dragon.

Twillight smiled and trotted to him. "Hello Longwing! Good to see you on your hooves again."

"Eyup! Longwing is back and ready for action." He said stretching his body.

Then Twillight's smile faded a bit.

"What's wrong Twilight?"

She turned her head to Rainbow Dash. "Hey Rainbow. You remember when you said us that Longwing seemed to glow with his own light?"

Cyan mare nodded. "Yeah... What about it?"

"Well, I think I found the source of it." She pointed at Longwings flank.

"What?" He turned his head to check what was she pointing at. Then he saw it.

"A? A cutie mark?" His flank was adorned with a brass kite shield with a small steel heart on it's centre.

"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"YAY!"

"Wow!" Longwing was shocked. I have a cutie mark.

Pinkie tilted her head. "But what does it mean?"

Grey stallion looked at his cutie mark. "Shield..." He murmured to himself. He recalled his fight with the wolves, the moment when he got his mark. Twilight said that cutie mark appears when pony finds his talent. Something that makes him special. A spark flickered in his mind. The moment when pony finds out what he is destined to do. Then realization hit him. The moment when he sealed his fate refusing to leave Rainbow Dash. Decision that no matter what, he will never leave anypony behind. That was it. The path I've chosen, and realized that I have the strength to follow it.

He raised his head. "A shield means protecting. And heart..." He pondered on possibilities. It can be... His left eye twitched. No it's impossible. I'm not in... Am I?

Fluttershy pulled him from reverie. "Well. Maybe that means, that your talent is protecting your friends, ponies you care about."

Longwing nodded and a smile crept on his face. "That makes sense. Yeah... I think you're right Fluttershy."

Gathered ponies started to congratulate him. He glanced at Rainbow Dash who was looking at him, clapping her hooves silently.

Congratulations Lon.

........................................................................................................

Seven ponies and a dragon trotted across the streets of Ponyville. One grey pegaus particularly happy. Ow my gosh this is so awesome! This really calls for a celebration! He failed to notice that streets were strangely empty.

When the group reached the town square they were greeted by a storm of cheers.

Longwing stopped in his tracks stunned. "Whaa?"

Town square was filled with dozens of ponies, he could se transparents, orchestra, tables full of food. Generally a festival in full swing.
Pinkie appeared before him her nose almost touching his. "SURPRISE!" She grabbed his hoof and started to drag him in the direction of the wooden stage built next to the town hall. "This is a party we organized to celebrate your discharge from hospital! Do you like it? Do you? DO YOU?!"

He tried to articulate an answer but could only murmur incoherently. Pinkie dragged him to the centre of the stage where he was approached by a mayor of Ponyville who smiled and nodded welcoming him. She cleared her throat and raised her hoof silencing the crowd.

"Fillies and gentlecolts! We gathered here to honour a pony, who demonstrated unshakeable courage, loyalty and fortitude in the face of danger. Pony who risking his own life defended his friend from the dangers of the Everfree Forest. Inhabitants of Ponyville, applause for Longwing!" Storm of cheers erupted once more. When it silenced everypony was looking at Longwing expectantly.

Grey stallion smiled shyly. "Wow... I... I don't know what to say. I'm honored that you came here for me. And..." He looked around for inspiration and saw Pinkie bouncing around her friends. His usual sly grin returned. "Well... Let's get this party started!"

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Rainbow Dash was feeling awkward. She wasn't used to the role of- What does Rarity call it? A damsel in distress? She prefered to be a saviour, not a saved one. She was sitting by the table with five of her friends eating cake and drinking apple cider.

"Equestria ta Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow Dash snapped out of reverie, realizing that she have been staring at Longwing surrounded by the crowd for the last couple minutes.

"Ya alright sugarcube? It seems that ya spaced out for a moment." Applejack asked with a concern in her voice. "What's on yer mind?"

"Err..." Rainbow tried to think a way out of this awkward situation. "I was wondering how are the preparations for festival going." She smiled uneasily.

Rarity ceased drinking her drink. "Well the costumes are almost ready, as well as stage decorations. And now when Longwing is back in shape we can continue the rehearsals. As far as I can tell, everything is going perfectly."

Rainbow Dash exhaled happy that her friends took the bait and didn't ask about her sudden interest in performance.

Rarity giggled glancing at grey stallion talking to a group of ponies. "Looks like our friend ascended to the rank of the local hero."

"Yup. Sure he did." Murmured Rainbow feeling a sting of jealousy as she looked again at the stallion who saved her.

"Excuse me for a moment." Longwing politely bowed his head to the three mares he was talking to and trotted to the drink stand. He poured himself a glass of water and drunk it in few quick gulps. These ponies will talk me to death. Since the start of the party he was constantly surrounded by ponies that wanted to talk or dance with him, and if he understood pony body language correctly at least four mares counted on closer acquaintance. Looks like I really developed a reputation in town. He sighed and looked around, savouring the moment of peace. He was tired, he was yet to fully recover and was tiring quickly. Longwing smiled as he spotted Ditzy Doo sitting by one of the tables chatting with orange maned mare. What was her name again? Carrot... Carrot something. Ditzy's daughter Dinky almost broke his rib when they visited him in the hospital as she jumped on his chest to hug him. Dinky, Dinky, just like her mother.

He continued to scan the crowd when somepony caught his attention. A brown stallion sitting by the table on the edge of the square, observing him. Longwing tried to look casually and poured himself another glass of water. So Doctor... Still spying on me. Longwing finished his drink and put the glass on the table. I think it's time to have a chat. He raised his head and looked at Ditzy again. Smile appeared on his face. If I'm lucky I will kill two birds with one stone. Leaving the stand he searched for a pony that would help him with his plan. And he found one.

"Hey! Hey Scootaloo!"

Upon hearing her name orange filly trotted to him. "Hi Longwing! Whats up?"

He lowered his head and talked to her conspirationously. "Scoots I need your help with a very important task."

Small pegasus grinned, happy that the pony that saved her idol wanted to entrust her something important. "What needs to be done?"

"I need you to deliver a message, and you need to be discreet while doing it." Longwing started to whisper his plan to her ear. She was slightly confused but nodded and trotted into the crowd.

Grey pegasus smiled. My turn now.

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Where did he go? Brown earth pony stallion known as The Doctor scratched his head. He was watching Longwing for weeks now. At the party he attended to, by Ditzy's persuasion, month ago he felt a strange aura, upon closer examination he discovered that it was emanating from the newcomer called Longwing. Strange fellow. No matter how hard I try to read him it always end in failure. It became easy to follow him since he became friends with Ditzy.

"For ponies sake." Doctor murmured to himself frustrated. He is big as bull, he is a central figure at this party and I lost him. He snacked on butter muffin. He was right there next to the drinks stand. Then he talked to this orange filly... Scootaloo? Heh good kid. Kinda reminds me of myself, just younger... Well, minus the wings of course. Another bite. "And then he disappeared. If he is not near the food stands, or with his friends then... His eyes widened.

"Then by the laws of the cosmic comedy you must be standing right behind me, am I right?" He facehooved and shook his head.

"Eyup!" Longwing sat by the table next to Doctor. "I think we need to talk Doctor."

Brown stallion nodded. "Yes it seems we need to." He sighed. "Since I already know what are you going to ask let me start alright? I know that you are not an ordinary pony. How? Let's say that I have a nose for such cases. I've been trying to discover your nature for weeks now." Doctor sipped his tea. "Are you a pony at all?"

Longwing inhaled. "Well not quite. At least not before I came here."

Brown stallion nodded. "I see. So let me get this over with. Do you have any sinister plans concerning this land or it's inhabitants?"

Grimace of confusion crept on Longwing's face. "No. In fact I've never planned coming here, nor had any knowledge of this world's existence in the first place."

Doctor looked into his eyes suddenly a grin appeared on his face dispersing the serious atmosphere. "I believe you."

"Just like that?"

"I told you I have a nose to such cases."

Longwing chuckled. "Okay. Now my turn. You are not a pony yourself do you?"

"Well. Not completely." He turned to grey pegasus. "How did you know?"

"Don't get me wrong but... I know peop- ponies, and even in this crazy town you kinda stand out. Your questions ensured me that I'm right." He shrugged. "Simple."

Doctor laughed. "That's unusual, I was deciphered by the one who I tried to decipher. Ow man..." He shook his head. "So what now?"

Grey pegasus smiled widely. "Now. My dear strange friend. I will enjoy the party and get some food. But you-" He poked his companion and gestured in the direction of the dance floor. "- you have an important meeting to attend to."

"What?" Doctor looked in the direction pointed by Longwing. "What meet-" He saw that in the centre of the dance floor there was a blond maned, grey coated, pegasus mare standing and looking around confused. "Miss Doo? What is it about?" He turned his head to look at Longwing.

Longwing was giving him a serious stare. After few seconds he smiled warmly. "You know exactly what it is about." He looked at Ditzy then back at Doctor. "Girl likes you Doc. You should talk to her. Don't make her wait."

Doctor looked confused at first, then nervous, slighty afraid even. "*gulp* Ummm... A-alright." He stood up and made few uncertain steps before turning his head back to Longwing. "Are you sure?"

Longwing nodded. "Trust me."

Brown stallion gave him uneasy smile. "Hey that's my line." He straightened himself and continued his uncertain walk towards the dance floor.

Longwing watched Doctor approach Ditzy. Her eyes widened in surprise as brown stallion trotted to her. He said something, then bowed a little and offered his hoof to her. She hesitated at first, her cheeks red as strawberries, but finally grasped Doctor's hoof and they begun to dance, blushing like a school fillies.

Grey stallion smiled. Well done bro. Well done.

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"... she would not stop talkin' bout it so Mac had ta make her a filly size plow. Heheh. Ah had ta lock it in the barn, cause she decided that garden needs replowin'." Applejack chuckled and took a draught of the cider. As she looked to her left she saw a familiar grey pegasus, sitting down next to her with a bowl full of fruit salad. He had a wide grin plastered on his face despite the signs of exhaustion in his eyes.

"What's up Longwin'? Ya look like a foal who got a bag full of sweets."

"*munch**munch**munch* Hmmm? *gulp* I'll tell you later." He continued devouring his meal when he noticed that Rainbow Dash was unusually quiet.

"Hey Rainbow." She looked at him. "Why so gloom? Are you alright?" He asked with a concern in his voice.

She quickly made a fake smile. "W-why do you ask? I'm fine. Everything is fine, as fine as it should be at the party right?" She nervously looked at her friends.

Applejack chuckled. "Don't ya worry Longwing! She's just bein' jealous that you are the hero of the day not her." She sticked out her tongue at cyan mare.

"Hey! I'm not jealous!"

"Yeah sure ya aren't."

A word fight went through for a couple of minutes until Applejack decided that's enough teasing.

"Heheh. Anyway, so will ya tell us what made ya so happy Longwing?" Silence. "Longwing?"

When she looked to her left she saw that Longwing was lying on the table, his head in the bowl with the the remains of the salad, snoring quietly.

"Poor dear. He must still be exhausted after the operations."

Applejack giggled. "Told ya he's sweet when he sleeps."

Twilight laughed. "He should be put in bed. I will take him to the farm and teleport back lickety-split." Purple unicorn stood up and trotted to sleeping pegasus, raising him gently into the air with her magic.

"That's mighty kind of ya Twi. I feared that I would have ta carry him on mah back. Oh and could ya take Apple Bloom home too? It's getting late."

"Sure Applejack. I'll be back soon." Purple unicorn trotted away.

Rarity smiled and turned to Rainbow Dash. "So Rainbow. Looks like your knight in shining armor has left us."

Cyan mare grimaced. "My what?"

"Longwing, my dear. I mean, he was so brave back there driving the beasts away. Obviously he cares about you a lot." She gave Rainbow a warm smile.

Every second Rainbow Dash was becoming more and more uncomfortable. What is she up to? "Well we're friends. It's normal that we care for each other."

Rarity nodded. "Say what you want about Longwing, but I think he is an example how a true stallion should behave. Do you know what were his first words after he woke up?"

Rainbow slowly shook her head. "No."

"He asked where are you and if you're alright. Your health was his prime concern. A real gentlecolt." Rarity squinted her eyes slightly still looking at her friend.

Fierce blush appeared on cyan mare's cheeks. "R-really?" Unicorn nodded. "Um... T-that's nice of him... Eeee... I'll go grab some cider for us okay? Be right back." Cyan pegasus rushed hastily away from the table.

Rarity begun to giggle as big grin appeared on her face and all ponies that remained by the table looked at her quizzically.

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Next week passed uneventfully. Longwing spent this time recovering, he couldn't work, fly or walk longer distances so rehearsals for the performance were moved from the school to one of the Apple's barns.

Everything returned to normality, except for one thing that puzzled Longwing. Rainbow Dash seemed to avoid him. They were spending time together only on rehearsals and even then Rainbow was uneasy. When he asked if everything is alright she affirmed and said that theatre is just not her thing. He didn't believe her. Unable to get satisfying answer, Longwing abandoned the topic.

Finally the "Farewell Spring" festival has come. Festivities started at dawn, most of the attractions were located in the vicinity of the Ponyville's school. When the clock struck three, crowd of ponies gathered in front of large stage built next to the school. After several minutes of waiting a small dragon, dressed like a medieval page, entered the stage.

Spike cleared his throat loudly and all other voices fell silent. "Citizens of Ponyville, I have great honour to invite you all to a journey to the past, at the early years of Equestria. Times of monsters and heroes. Come closer and listen carefully, for in a moment you will hear a legend of an Ironskinned Pony."