The effect of the Wooden Heart

"Ok Bite once again concentrated." Bite shut his eyes and start to control his breathing. "Focus your mind on our bond." Spirit suddenly felt something at his bond. "Yes Bite like that!"

"Mail for Spirit Wood and for Fluttershy!" And Bites concentration was gone. 'Oh come on! Wait... a letter for me?'

He turned around and saw a mailpony. He had two letters in his hooves. Spirit walked over to him. The mailpony gave him the letters and then flew away. Spirit put Fluttershys letter aside and carried the other to Bite. "Bite could you please give me a paw?" Bite held his paw in the air and Spirit used the claw to open the letter. "Thanks!"

He looked in the envelope and he saw two golden tickets and a letter. "Ticket for the Grand Galloping Gala. Name Spirit Wood. Plus one ticket. What is that?" He looked the letter. "... official invitation to the gala... you and a guest..." He looked away from the letter and looked at the golden tickets. "So these are the tickets but what kind of gala is that?"

Bite leaned forward and sniffed on the ticket. "Do you have an idea Bite?" Bite sniffed again but then shook his head.

He saw Fluttershy carrying a basket with food. "Hey Fluttershy, you got a letter!"

"Oh that is probably my ticket for the gala." She grabbed the letter from Spirit and opened it carefully and pulled a ticket out.

"What is this Grand Galloping Gala, I never heard about that!"

"Well to make it short it is a gala in canterlot, that reminds me I have to go to Rarity and ask her about my dress, do you want to come with me?"

Spirit nodded. "That would be good if I go to a gala I should repair my cloak I don't want to look to out of place."

The three walked in the town and as ever, observed Spirit the reactions to Bite and he was happy to see that the most just continued their doing. A few even greeted Bite. After some minutes they reached Raritys boutique and Fluttershy knocked on the door.

"Coming! Oh it is you Fluttershy. You probably came because of your dress I just finished it you can take it with you darling!" She walked inside followed by Fluttershy and behind her Spirit and Bite.

Rarity grabbed a dress with her magic and gave it to Fluttershy. "Here is it! Oh Spirit, I didn't saw you there. What brings you here?"

He reached in his saddlebag and pulled his cloak out. "Well I got a ticket for the gala and I was wondering if you could repair my cloak?"

She looked it for a second. "This old thing? No I could better make you a new one! I would be happy to do it and since this is your first visit I do it for free of course!"

She started to look for a good fabric but Spirit stopped her. "No! Please, this cloak is a symbol of my tribe. Do you see these small symbols, they show which status I have in the tribe. So could you just restore it?"

She looked closely at his cloak and was able to see some symbols. "Of course I do that. If it is what you want. When I m finished it will look better than before!"

She grabbed his cloak and stated to stitch the holes and remake the symbols. Fluttershy left him after she tried her dress on. Spirit and Bite waited so they tried to do their concentration exercises. They closed their eyes. "Ok Bite concentrate! Reach out for the bond and follow it! Good go on go on go..."

"Spirit I finished your cloak!" Spirit opened his eyes.

Spirit stood up. He rolled his eyes and whispered to Bite. "Sometimes I think they do that on purpose."

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing, nothing." He looked at his cloak and was surprised, the symbols were now clearly to see and he wasn't able to spot any rips. Spirit noticed also some stitches on the hood and the edge of the cape. He looked at Rarity and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh I am sorry I couldn't hold myself. A I saw the symbols I just had to add this!"

Spirit smiled. "It is ok. It looks amazing but just tell me you didn't changed any of the symbols!"

"No I didn't."

"Then is everything ok. And thank you by the way!"

"Oh it was nothing my dear! I am always happy to help a friend."

Spirit nodded and grabbed his cloak and went back to his tent he laid it carefully in his bag and turned to Bite. "This gala could be a great opportunity to meet ponies from a whole other city! We can observe how there behave by seeing you!"

Bite barked in agreement then closed his eyes. "Right! The concentration exercise." Spirit closed his eyes too and took a deep breath. "Good Bite from the beginning. Focus on the bond. Follow it. Stay focused. Control your breath. Concentra..."

"Spirit! Hey!"

'This is getting ridicules!' He opened his eyes and saw Rainbow Dash. "Hello Rainbow, how can I help you?"

"Do you know where Fluttershy is?"

"She is probably inside. By the way did you got an invitation like this?" He showed her the golden ticket. She looked at it for a second than nodded.

"Of course I got one! Oh I see you got a plus one ticket who are you going to take with you?"

"Well Bite of course, I want to continue my work there and therefore I need him!"

"If you say so but you shouldn't expect too much from that night. Anyway see you!" She flew over to Fluttershy and Spirit looked at the sun, then turned to Bite.

"Well I guess to start again doesn't make much sense, the sun is already going down!" So Spirit started to do at least some meditation.

Everyday the gala came nearer and as the day arrived Spirit put on his cloak and his necklace. As he was ready he catch up with the others at the station, the only who was missing was Twilight as he asked where she is answered Rarity him. "She went there earlier to help with the organization." They all entered the train and traveled in the direction of canterlot.

As they drove Bite started to sat down nervous and putting his paws on his head, Spirit meanwhile tried to relax. As Fluttershy saw this she asked him. "Is everything alright? Bite seems a bit stressed."

"This train travel just makes him uncomfortable, he will be alright when we reach the station. But I must also admit that I don't really like train rides either and I don't think my feelings help him much at the moment!" He smiled weakly to the other. They all laugh and so the ride went on till they reached the station in canterlot.

As they left the station noticed Spirit that everypony looked at Bite but no one did something only a few asked him who Bite is and he did what he always did, he explained it and tried to left a good impression.

As they reached the opening of the castle the guard looked over every invitation one by one. Spirit was the last who got checked but as he was about to enter one of the guards hold him back. "I am sorry mister but your company is not allowed to enter!"

"What! Why?"

"I am sorry sir but that are the order!"

"But he goes as my plus on dose he not count because he is no pony?"

"Again I am sorry but these are our orders. I must insist that your pet stays outside!"

Spirit was about to get really angry but luckily Twilight came just in time. "It is alright his friend is allowed to enter."

The guards instantly stepped aside and let him and Bite in. "Thanks Twilight! So who does this whole gala thing works?"

"Well you can talk with other ponies. You said you wanted to try to make a first contact with the ponies in Canterlot and Timberwolves if I remember right!"

"That is a good idea! Bite are you ready?" He turned around and looked for Bite but he didn't found him. He closed his eyes making ready to use his bond as he heard something.

"You overgrown living stick! Go away from the food!" Spirit looked at the food table and a group of ponies looking at Bite who seems to reach out for food.

Spirit starts to ran to them. 'That doesn't sound good!' He ran between the ponies and Bite. "Hello! What is the problem, if I may ask?"

One of the ponies looked at him with a very angry face. "This monster tried to eat the food! Can you explain this?"

Spirit raised an eyebrow. "He wanted to eat something. What is the problem?"

"What is the problem? What is the problem? You can't be serious, that thing dared to go close to the food. He could poison it!"

Spirit tried to cool down the situation. "Timberwolves don't have poison or anything and also Bite cleaned himself this morning very careful! You should know Timberwolves aren't that evil they..."

He was interrupted by another pony in the crowed. "I know you, your that idiot from Ponyville who talks with monsters and pretend that they would be nice!"

'Stay calm. Stay calm. An outburst will not help.' Spirit spoke up as calm as he could. "They are no monsters they are animals like every other they just look a bit different."

"Just cut that stupid talk! They are monsters, nothing more!" This was too much for Spirit he looked angry at him and Bite started growling.

Spirit to a deep breath and wanted to continue argue with that group of ponies but some guards interrupted them. "What is going on here?"

"Good you came. This pony here brought a disgusting monster in here and let him walk around alone! Arrest him!" The crowed mumbled in agreement.

That was too much for Spirit. "Enough I tried to be polite but I have enough. You didn't do anything else than insult and offend him. You..."

The guard stepped forward and held a hoof between them. "Stop! Mister follow me, we talk separately!" Spirit nodded and he followed the guard aside and the other guard took the group away. "So what happened?"

Spirit started to explain how Bite was insulted and that he just wanted to eat something. At the end the guard nodded. "You sound very reasonable but first I will look what the other side said. Just wait here for a moment. " The guard walked away and spoke with the other guard for a few seconds, then they turned back to Spirit and Bite and spoke to them.

"I m sorry mister I don't think your ... friend did something wrong but we can't help you. Don't worry we won't arrest you or something like that but neither we can do anything against the ponies since there is no evidence for your story. We would suggest that you leave before anything happened."

Spirit and Bite were silence for some moments, then Spirit nodded. "I'll do that. Also I think every chance for a good first contact is ruined..."

Suddenly Twilight interrupted him. ""What is going on here?"

The guard bowed. "Just small confrontation, your highness."

Twilight turned to Spirit. "Did somepony cause you any trouble?" Spirit took a breath and explained the situation. At the end Twilight nodded. "I could do something about that!"

Spirit shook his head. "No it wouldn't help. You even could arrest them but that wouldn't help much. I will try change their opinion on Timberwolves but not today. I will wait at the train station for you."

Twilight was about to say something but than just nodded and Spirit left. He and Bite walked to the train station and sat down to wait for the train. "This all doesn't went how I had planned. We shouldn't had go there in the first place. Someday we will come back and try it again." Bite nodded and looked down in shame. Spirit put a hoof on Bites shoulder and smiled at him. Bite laid down and took a nap, while Sprit started to meditate.

As the others arrived finally too and they ask why Spirit left so early and he explained what happened while they were waiting for the train.

The train arrived and they went inside and Spirit continued. "It was a bad idea from the beginning. Just go there and try to explain everything doesn't seemed to work always. For now I think I should keep it in Ponyville but I think I will try it on another way from now. I will show other ponies the other side of the forest."

Twilight looked at him. "How do you want to do this?"

He hung his head down again and looked to the ground "I have no idea!"

Fluttershy looked at him. "Well you could start with showing one pony bit about the forest and the creatures."

'That's a good idea!' He tapped on his chin "But who? I had to find somepony who would want to walk around the forest and encounter wild creatures!"

"Hm that reminds me you promised Bright to teach her a bit when she finished her studies and I gave you the ok. "

"Oh right I could do this, I mean it is a step in the right direction." Spirit thought about that of a moment then turned to Bite. "She is not new to you that could be helpful and she knows a few ponies in Canterlot so... what do you think?"Bite instantly started nodding so he turned to Twilight and smiled. "You can guess my answer."

She smiled to Bite and chuckled bit. "Ok then but you should tell her and me at least one day before it so I can add it to her study schedule!"

"I'll do it!"

They walked back and as Twilight was about to go to the castle shouted Spirit quickly something at her. "Could you tell Fallen that I will take his sister to a dangerous forest and show her dangerous animals? Thank you!" 'She is probably hating me for this.' Spirit and Bite quickly ran off before Twilight could say anything against it.

The next few days Spirit and Bite set up a lesson for Bright. As they finally finished they went to Twilights castle. After a while Twilight came to the door and let him in. "I spoke with Fallen and he said it is ok but I didn't told Bright yet!"

'Oh good thank you for telling Fallen Twilight.' They walked down the hall and Spirit nodded. "Ok then where is she I will tell her anything she need."

Twilight pointed at another hallway. "She is in the library studying." Spirit nodded and walked down the hallway followed by Bite as they reached the library where they found Bright sitting on a chair with a bunch of books to her left.

She was reading a book and making some notes. "Good day Bright."

She looked up. "Oh, hi Spirit and hi Bite!"

"Bright you remember I promised you to teach you a bit when you finished your current studies and Twilight gave her ok?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Well it seems Twilight has given her ok and I have some time so how about a lesson tomorrow staring in the noon is that good?"

"Of course I will be there in time!"

"Excellent! Now what you have to bring with you. First of something to make notes or not if you think you can keep everything in mind, next two magic crystals, two rocks, both things at least hoof size, a knife and food."

She looked a bit surprised but then slowly nodded.

Spirit immediately turned around. "Good I see you tomorrow." As he left the room he turned to Bite and raised an eyebrow. "Too much like my teacher?"